Another year, another list. Thats January for birding. Coming from Niagara Falls, New York, it also means freezing, bitter cold, watching for imaginary Polar Bears while pretending to walk through an Arctic landscape, and looking for owls. On the other side of the weather coin, now that I live in Costa Rica, the first month of the year also means warm sunny days punctuated by windy weather, and migrants like Yellow Warblers and Baltimore Orioles sharing green space with Blue-gray Tanagers and other avian locals. This year, visiting Niagara Falls until January 6th gave me the chance to experience a bit of both latitudes. The locals dont always get along with the migrants. A cold, productive day spent birding with a friend from Buffalo was marked by two owls, lots of ducks, Tundra Swans, several gulls, and other targets not possible in tropical Costa Rica. This Long-eared Owl from Golden Hill was a bonus. So was this Snowy Owl. It was a gift to be reacquainted with trusty birds of winter like American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, along with less reliable ones like Wild Turkey, a Red-necked Grebe bobbing up and down on the harsh waters of Lake Ontario, and a trio of Harlequin Ducks riding the rapids above the falls. It was also cool to see a beautiful Lesser Black-backed Gull. Yes, good to be reacquainted but one day of freezing cold was enough, and a reminder to look forward to Costa Rica. On the ride back home, scanning from an airport window during a lay-over in Orlando gave me Pied-billed Grebe, and a major bonus- three Sandhill Cranes flying in the distance! I was also hoping for Boat-tailed Grackle but no feathered dice there. Back in Costa Rica, walks through coffee and fields near the house, and a few other day trips have upped the list to 250 species. As blasphemous as this will sound, the best so far was not the Golden-browed Chlorophonias, Yellow-thighed Finches, or even Red-headed Barbet seen at Cinchona. No, the best sighting so far goes to the White-eyed Vireo twitched at a yard near Turrialba. This chatty bird might be common elsewhere but in Costa Rica, its a rare vagrant, and mostly during spring migration. One has been hanging out at Birds for Beer blogger Paul Pickerings place, and when we were there, I could see why. By simply letting the vegetation grow back, Paul has created a green oasis that brings in the birds. White-eyed Vireo! The year has just started, there are hundreds of other bird species to look for, I wonder if I can reach 700 species for Costa Rica by December 31st? **As of December 30th, 680 species made it onto my year list for Costa Rica. The rest are from the western New York area, looking for birds through the windows of the Orlando airport between flights, and Israel. 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.. Today, the prevalence of social media and the increasing distrust of the public in professional journalism have all further blurred the lines between journalism as a profession and another profit-making branding exercise. Meanwhile, media personalities such as Woodward, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman and former NBC News anchor Brian Williams traded their celebrity for insider access and anodyne reporting while comedians such as Bill Maher and Jon Stewart became revered arbiters of current events by routinely bringing celebrities together with politicians to debate the news. This occurred as the profession lost resources for hard reporting, particularly of the kinds of foreign affairs issues that Sean Penn has engaged in his journalistic forays. As Melissa Chan pointed out in her Time magazine review of Penns journalism, these include interviewing Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro, and writing about his experiences covering the 2005 Iranian elections and doing disaster relief work after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. In the 1980s, television networks and newspapers were taken over by multinational corporations such as GE, Disney, Westinghouse, and media entrepreneurs such as Sumner Redstone and Rupert Murdoch . Journalists then became less practitioners of a craft that than creators and sustainers of a brand (as so brilliantly captured by Albert Brooks 1987 masterpiece Broadcast News and Sidney Lumets 1976 Network). The journalist-as-celebrity phenomenon began with newspaper reporters such as Walter Winchell, H.L. Mencken and Nellie Bly and continued in the 1950s through 1970s with print and television stars such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, and later, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Their fame came from being precisely what their counterparts today are not: independent voices enabling, and sometimes forcing Americans to confront a corrupt political system. Journalism and celebrity have been closely linked for decades. The communications and media revolution that accompanied the rise of the film industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries coincided with the rise of mass advertising and produced a cultural landscape that valued celebrities over military heroes and statesmen. Hollywood stars, it turned out, could sell newspapers, magazines and advertising. So what could be better than a celebrity journalist. The phrase today has at least three different connotations: journalists who focuses on celebrities, journalists who become celebrities in their own right, and as in this case, actors or other celebrities who engage in some forms of reporting and/or commentary. After Rolling Stone published Sean Penns interview with Mexican drug lord El Chapo, critics accused Penn of being little more than a celebrity journalist who violated core journalistic ethics. But is celebrity journalism really that different from mainstream journalism? Sean Penns journalistic avocation fits perfectly into this confusing landscape. Critics accuse him of not being a real journalist; but his part-time and unpaid writing only brings him closer in line with todays freelance-dominated profession. They say his writing leaves much to be desired; but one of the little-known secrets editors working in long-form journalism confront daily is that the more well-known the writer, the lousier the prose. Indeed, if anyone is at fault for his inelegant prose, its his editor, who clearly did not put in much effort to improve the writing something he easily could have done (and most editors do, even with the most celebrated of writers) without changing the content of the piece. In another contention against Penns story, critics claimed it was as a puff piece that didnt produce real news. On the contrary, it produced a whopper of an admission by El Chapo: that he is, in fact, the worlds biggest drug dealer, something hed never publicly admitted. That, along with the descriptions Penn provides of how easily he moved through army checkpoints with Guzmans son driving the car, is a startling confirmation of the level of corruption plaguing the Mexican war on drugs. Further accusations that Penn was too soft on El Chapo, while certainly true, must be contextualized. Even one of Mexicos most fearless journalists, Julio Scherer, did little better when he interviewed El Chapos right-hand man, Ismael Mayo Zambada, in 2010. It turns out that interviewing people who could easily kill you for asking the wrong question tends to put a damper on combative journalism. Should Penn have pressed harder, especially regarding the cartel killings of journalists, when he continued the conversation remotely? It depends on what the goal of the interview was and whether he and his editors judged that El Chapo would continue the interview if such a line were pursued. Whether the resulting story had journalistic value without such questions can and should be debated within the journalistic community and broader public sphere. Whats more, the scripted nature of Penns interview is not so different from the sit-downs that movie stars, politicians and CEOs give journalists today. If El Chapo demanded approval of the final story, that is understandable from his perspective (Penn could and, in fact, might have unwittingly revealed clues to his whereabouts, for example). But it would only have been legitimate if it was a case of all or nothing if the magazine refused to publish the story if he demanded any substantive changes, which is in fact a far from uncommon practice when high value interviews are involved. As it turned out, Chapo demanded nothing, so well never know how far Rolling Stone was willing to go to publish its exclusive. Penns sins, such as they are, arent his alone; theyre sins of the profession today. We should demand better of not only him, but of the entire industry. And he should at the very least be recognized for attempting to present El Chapos humanity, the rationales for his actions, and his understanding of the drug business without editorial comments or critique. This information challenges many of the narratives of the drug war, and its nonexistent possibility for success. Finally, its hard to contest that Penn gave his readers one hell of a caper. Its not hard to imagine it winding up at the heart of a great action-journalism movie starring, of course, Sean Penn. All of us, every single man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth were born with the same unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, if the governments of the world can't get that through their thick skulls, then, regime change will be necessary. Wade Davis: The Serpent and the Rainbow . New York: Warner Books, 1987. (First ed.: New York, Simon & Schuster, 1985.) 0446343870. xii + 371 pp. Introduction This is a very interesting and unusual book about the phenomenon of zombification in Haiti. Apparently there have been over the years several well-documented cases of people who have at one time been pronounced dead, were buried shortly afterwards, and were found much later walking about very much alive, telling improbable stories of having been raised from the grave as zombies and forced to work as slaves of some evil voodoo priest. Davis describes his travels in Haiti in an effort to find out what exactly is behind these events. His main area of expertise is ethnobotany, i.e. the study of how people use plants, particularly medically active ones; so his hypothesis is that victims of zombification are actually poisoned so as to appear dead, and are then exhumed again by the poisoner shortly after their burial. This notion was indirectly recognized even by the authorities: Article 249 of the Haitian penal code [. . .] referred specifically to the zombi poison, prohibiting the use of any substance that induced a lethargic coma indistinguishable from death [. . .] should a victim of such poisons be buried, the act would be considered murder no matter what the final result (p. 60). Davis even meets two former zombies (pp. 623, 86). Chapters 5 and 11 are a fascinating brief overview of the history of Haiti. I must say that this unfortunate country seems to have really had as sad, bloody and brutal a history as any I've read about so far, and if Gibbon had written his famous statement (about history being little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind) about Haiti, one could hardly accuse him of cynicism. The French, who colonized Haiti, set up their plantations of sugar cane and other cash crops, and they soon instituted an extremely harsh system of slavery to work these plantations (see also pp. 2323). During the years of the French revolution, the slaves revolted and after a decade of suitably brutal fighting (Fifteen hundred dogs were imported from Jamaica and taught to devour black prisoners in obscene public events housed in hastily built amphitheaters in Port-au-Prince, p. 67) managed to actually win independence from the French. But then the leaders of the revolt, beliving that the country needs to keep exporting crops to retain its strength and prosperity, promptly made efforts to re-establish the very same plantation system that had caused the revolt in the first place! (P. 70.) This led to further insurrections and eventually to a situation where the thoroughly impoverished country hardly exported anything and most of the land was in the hands of small peasants who practiced subsistence farming, and over whom the central government had only a tenuous hold (p. 71): The urban elite, though proudly Haitian, turned to Europe for cultural and spiritual inspiration [. . .] In the hinterland, however, the ex-slaves created an utterly different society based not on European models, but on their own ancestral traditions (pp. 745), including, of course, the voodoo religion (p. 76). After some time and effort, Davis gains the trust of a voodoo practitioner named Marcel Pierre and gets him to make a sample of the zombie poison (pp. 101114). Davis then tries to determine which of the substances contained in the ingredients (p. 122) might bring about the sort of coma that gets the victim mistaken for dead. Some of the fish used in the preparation of the poison turn out to contain tetrodoxin, an extremely powerful neurotoxin that is chiefly known from various species of pufferfish and causes the death of numerous people who eat these fish as a delicacy (e.g. as fugu, in Japan); pp. 13440. The symptoms of tetrodoxin poisoning are similar to those associated with zombies, including the deep paralysis (pp. 1402). Davis mentions cases from Japan of people being mistaken for dead due to fugu poisoning (p. 143). Is it all in their heads? This is the point after which I started finding Davis's efforts to explain the zombie phenomenon a bit unsatisfactory. As he rightly points out, tetrodotoxin can only explain how to get your victim to be mistaken for dead, but it doesn't explain why this victim should behave like a zombie after you exhume him/her after all, Japanese survivors of fugu poisoning don't act like zombies (pp. 1512). Pharmacologically it induces a certain condition, but that condition is mere raw material to be worked by particular cultural or psychological forces and expectations. (P. 151.) That is, Davis's idea is that the Haitians are victims of their own belief in zombies: the victim, upon recognizing his/her symptoms, firmly and genuinely believes that he/she is turning into a zombie, and acts accordingly; see also p. 163. By way of illustration of how societal beliefs and expectations may affect the cases of people mistaken for dead and/or buried alive, Davis mentions the 19th-century Victorian fear of premature burial (ch. 8): At the root of the hysterical fear of premature burial was the fact that physicians recognized, and patients suffered, a number of peculiar conditions characterized by immobility and insensibility, and known variously as trance, catalepsy, cataplexy, and suspended animation. (P. 157.) Needless to say, these conditions are no longer recognized by the medial profession. [. . .] But for the Victorians these ailments did exist, and they were discussed seriously by the leading medical authorities precisely because people were succumbing to them. (P. 159.) He also mentions similar examples from the culture of Australian aborigines (p. 160), and cases of WW1 soldiers who died of shock although they hadn't been wounded by anything (p. 161). What is there in Hatian society and culture that enables this deep-seated belief in zombies and causes the victims of tetrodotoxin poisoning to play along with this whole zombification thing after they awake from coma? This is what Davis tries to find out in the last 1/3 or so of the book, which I found a bit less interesting than the rest of it, and the thread of Davis's investigations was a bit more difficult to follow. We get treated to numerous descriptions of voodoo rituals, and a long exposition of the voodoo religion's underlying mythology (including the Serpent and the Rainbow, a pair of deities; p. 213) and the various kinds of soul-like spiritual components that they believe each person to consist of (p. 218). A zombie is obtained by depriving a person of one of these components, the ti bon ange (small good angel), which normally provides him/her with individuality and personality (p. 225). As for the ti bon ange itself, it can actually be captured and stored in a jar or bottle, and one such jar was shown to Davis (pp. 189, 200, 225); it is regarded by the believers as a kind of complementary zombie. See pp. 2267 for a handy summary of the zombification process: For the vodounist the creation of a zombi is essentially a magical process. However, the bokor [i.e. the evil voodoo practitioner] in creating a zombi cadavre may cause the prerequisite unnatural death not by capturing the ti bon ange of the living but by the means of a slow-acting poison that is applied directly to the intended victim. [. . .] the victim receives the correct dose of the poison, wakes up in the coffin, and is taken from the grave by the bokor. The victim, affected by the drug, traumatized by the set and setting of the total experience, is bound and led before a cross to be baptized with a new name. After the baptism, or sometimes the next day, he or she is made to eat a paste containing a strong dose of a potent psychoactive drug, the zombi's cucumber, which brings on a state of disorientation and amnesia. During the course of that intoxication, the zombi is taken away into the night. For more on the paste administered after the exhumation, see pp. 1969. One thing that I think is missing from this explanation is what happens to the victim afterwards. The zombies mentioned in this book were made to work practically as slaves, on somebody's plantation. Were they being given the drug all the time? If not, why didn't they escape? Was it because they were guarded well enough, or has all the traumatisation they had gone through, together with their honest belief in zombies (and their belief that they themselves are zombies now), deprived them of the will to resist? The secret societies of Haiti Anyway, instead of focusing on these questions, Davis's investigation veers into a different direction, namely the social infrastructure that makes the zombie phenomenon possible. Apparently there exist in Haiti a number of secret societies, which form a kind of social structure parallel and complementary to that of the state, and they actually exercise more influence on the day-to-day life of the people in the countryside than the state does (pp. 2879, 3146). Similar secret societies exist in West Africa (p. 237), and the idea was brought to Haiti by the African slaves. Another source that contributed to the origin of the secret societies were the bands of maroons, i.e. runaway slaves who had fled into the hinterlands of the country and formed stable communities, successfully wresting the interior of the country from French control and conducting numerous raids on the plantations (pp. 2336). In the minds of the urban elite, zombification might well be criminal, but [. . .] in the vodoun society it was actually the opposite, a social sanction imposed by recognized corporate groups whose responsibility included the policing of that society. (P. 260.) [T]he secret societies represented a legitimate political and judicial force in the vodoun society (p. 264). Davis eventually manages to establish contact with a secret society called Bizango or Shanpwel, and is even allowed to attend one of their gatherings (p. 286). There are examples of ways in which the society might help its members on pp. 273 and 292, and how its judicial apparatus works on p. 310. See p. 312 for an explicit list of transgressions that are particularly looked down upon. But some of the society's activities don't seem quite so commendable; in particular, it seems to have a ridiculous insistence that the night belongs to it alone, and is willing to enforce a kind of curfew, harassing or persecuting non-members who are found outside at night (pp. 273, 292). At the end of the book, Davis even goes so far as to consider becoming initiated into the secret society (p. 327). He also says he had been offered the opportunity to witness a zombie in the process of being taken from the grave, but declined: If the affair turned out to be fraudulent, I would have wasted the money. If [. . .] it turned out to be legitimate, I would have no way of being certain that the money had not been responsible for the victim's fate. (P. 328.) Conclusion I enjoyed this book a lot. Apart from the contents themselves, there is also its style: unlike in a typical popular-science book, this one is written as Davis' first-person narrative of his research, his travels to Haiti, the people he spoke to and the events he observed. I think it works very well and makes this book even more enjoyable to read. Of course, in a way the author is lucky that he is an anthropologist, and a fairly adventurous one too in most other fields, e.g. if he were a historian or a physicist, this sort of first-person-narrative approach would make for very boring reading :) Anyway, this first-person narrative approach also has its drawbacks, e.g. I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of the big picture in the story, to understand why he is doing whatever it is that he is doing at this particular time. But my main complaint about the book is that, as an investigation of zombification, it feels somehow incomplete. Davis has identified the drugs involved in the process, and the secret societies that form the social background to it. But I missed a clear answer to the question of what causes a person, once zombified, to keep acting like a zombie can it really be just due to the Haitians' vivid and honest belief in the reality of the whole zombification business? This explanation strikes me as unsatisfactory. It is clear that, at the end of the book, Davis' main interest is in the secret societies, but I wish that instead of dabbling in them he had directed his efforts towards a better understanding of the zombie's fate beyond the first few hours after his/her exhumation. ToRead: Davis' later book, Passage of Darkness: The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie (1988). He also wrote several other potentially interesting books, unrelated to zombies. On pp. 2528, Davis mentions Zora Neale Hurston, an African-American anthropologist who did some pioneering research on Haitian secret societies in the early 20th century. She wrote about them in her book Tell My Horse (1937). It turns out that she was also a writer (see her Wikipedia page), and some of her novels might be interesting to read, e.g. Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937). A generous selection of her works is available in two volumes in the Library of America. In the 19th century, Haiti was one of the few independent countries that were not ruled by whites. As a result American and European foreign correspondents had indulged their readers' perverse infatuation with what was known as the Black Republic, serving it up garnished with every conceivable figment of their imaginations. [. . .] cast the entire nation as a caricature, an impoverished land of throbbing drums ruled by pretentions buffoons and populated by swamp doctors, licentious women, and children bred for the cauldron. (P. 254.) Some of the titles mentioned include: Spenser St. John: Hayti: or The Black Republic (1880). John Houston Craige: Black Bagdad (1933) and Cannibal Cousins (1934). William Seabrook: The Magic Island (1929). Mentioned on p. 353. Davis comments: It was no coincidence that many of [these books] appeared during the years of the American occupation (19151934), and that every Marine above the rank of captain seemed to manage to land a publishing contract. (Pp. 2545.) Important zombie-related links Labels: books, nonfiction, zombies Lawrence J. Joyce, an attorney and practicing pharmacist from Poplar Grove, says Cruz is not a natural born citizen as the Constitution requires, but is instead "naturalized" citizen born in the Canadian province of Alberta in 1970. That disqualifies him from running for president. SPRINGFIELD - Donald Trump has threatened to initiate such a lawsuit, but he may have been beat to the punch - right here in Illinois. An objection to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's qualifications to run for president on the Illinois Republican ballot could send shockwaves nationwide if it is sustained by the Illinois State Board of Elections next week. Joyce said in a statement published Friday in WorldNetDaily: Sen. Ted Cruz was born in Canada. He has been a U.S. citizen since birth, but that was by statute. The Constitution requires one to be a natural born citizen in order to be president. And the governing case law of the U.S. Supreme Court and the whole history of the law points to the conclusion that Ted Cruz is not a natural born citizen. What is worse, is that Sen. Cruz has known about this problem for a long time now. Yet he has not even made any effort to clarify this in any formal setting, though he could have at least done that. Sen. Cruz has been whistling past the graveyard all along. That he should happen to do so within the thoughts of his own mind would be one thing, but that he should now drag the entire Republican Party through a potential nightmare simply because of his negligence, his own private, wishful thinking and his lack of due diligence is inexcusable. Joyces motion was filed on Friday with James Tenuto, assistant executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections. Joyce says he believes Dr. Ben Carson would be a better Republican nominee and president. He also is concerned that a lawsuit filed by the Democrats against Cruz could result in a Republican establishment takeover of the nomination process. Cruz' attorney from Illinois - Sharee Langenstein - will have until January 25th to respond to Joyce's complaint. At that time, the State Board of Elections will need to decide whether to allow Cruz on Illinois March 15th Republican primary ballot. Several other presidential candidates - from both Democrat and Republican parties - have outstanding objections that must be decided by the Board next week. http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/01/democrat-gop-presidential-candidates-challenged-for-march-15th-primary.html CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools are facing a $480 million budget gap and expect a $1.1 billion deficit next year. Friday, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool announced cutting 433 positions in the Central Office and administration, which would save the district $45.1 million annually. Since starting at CPS, its been my priority to streamline the administration, and weve made steady progress all along the way," Claypool said. Theres no doubt that these cuts are painful. However, with limited resources and a budget crisis not just this year but into the foreseeable future, we had no choice." As of Aug. 1, the District had 1,821 positions that are classified as administrative in Central Office and citywide units. At the end of Fridays action, the District will have reduced its administrative position count by 433 - 227 employees will receive layoff notices; 57 of those employees are on teams that are being downsized.Those 57 employees will be laid off and can reapply for 35 positions. This is a net of 192 positions. 180 vacant positions will be closed. In addition, CPS eliminated a net of 61 administrative positions between Aug. 1 and Jan. 15. Thus far, teachers have been spared cuts. Amid these challenges, we are negotiating with the CTU leadership on a multi-year agreement that would prevent midyear classroom teacher layoffs and give teachers a raise over the life of the contract," Claypool said. "Both parties agree that these good faith negotiations are ongoing and productive." But CPS is looking for major changes in Springfield, saying Chicago schools aren't getting their fair share of the state's education funding. We are also pressing Springfield to wake up to the injustice that Chicagos students face a separate but unequal education funding system," the CPS statement said. "Chicago students get only 15 percent of the states funding despite making up 20 percent of the states enrollment a difference of nearly $500 million. This inequity must end." In addition to Friday's layoffs, CPS reports efforts to lower costs by phasing out the pension pickup for Central Office employees ($2.9 million in FY16 and $11.1 million annually), reducing vacation time (a value of $250,000) and requiring non-union employees to pay more for their health care ($1.6 million in FY16 and $3.1 annually). This week, Governor Rauner suggested the state takeover the system and move towards bankruptcy, forcing CPS to reorganize. The proposal was met with resounding disapproval. With the impending doom of Snowpocolypse 2016 and with several people asking lately about our adoption, it seemed like a good time for an update! I'd much rather type a blog post than use this time to wisely clean my house, that makes being snowed in a punishment.Since mid-October we have been in the process of updating our homestudy. Yes that is a long time especially since its doesn't expire until February! But, we had to start collecting paperwork and setting up appointments. The homestudy update required new notarized personal references (thank you to all who helped--I know it's annoying), updated medical reports on the entire family, new fingerprints for local, state and federal clearances and an updated verification that we are not on the Sex Offenders Registry . Our adoption agency needed the necessary paperwork to be turned in by December. Then we met with our social worker so she could adjust ages and home or income changes.FYI to anyone in adoption realm... This time we used a channeler for our FBI clearances . The FBI is great but a little slow when it comes to getting your paperwork back. The first time we sent off our fingerprints it took over three months to get them back. That's fairly stressful considering if something goes wrong you have to start that three-month process over. Bulgaria required us to use the paper fingerprint method sent off to the FBI for our dossier. Fortunately, for our homestudy update, we were able to use the digital fingerprint method with an approved FBI channeler at the UPS store. It cost $50 per person and was worth EVERY penny to reduce stress and receive the necessary approval back within a few hours versus waiting months worrying it was getting lost in the mail or we might have to do our fingerprints over because they were smudged. Two weeks ago, our social worker completed our updated homestudy and mailed a copy to me and a copy to our agency. Since we are using Carolina Adoption Services (CAS) for our homestudy, they get all our homestudy stuff squared away. Then our adoption agency ( All God's Children ) must approve it and make sure it meets all their criteria. That is one reason it's nice to have the agency that completes your homestudy and adoption agency be the same, but that is not always possible. Fortunately, both of our agencies are super-awesome about working together. More than once I've been trying to answer questions from our adoption agency and I've been able to have CAS just call our adoption agency and work it out. That has been super helpful since CAS knows how the state of South Carolina works and can communicate with our Washington State based adoption agency, which is why they did not do our homestudy.In a few months we will send our homestudy off to be approved by the state of South Carolina. Then we will apply for our USCIS approval (immigration). Fortunately, this update will be at no charge, but if another 18 months pass before we are able to bring our child home, we will most likely need to do this again. But, of course, in 12 months we will need another updated homestudy anyway.So, we wait. My prayer is God blesses us with a referral this year. In June we will have been on the waiting list 12 months and by December it will be 18 months. Maybe this year is OUR year!!In the meantime, we continue to apply for grants as we learn about them, raise funds and pray for the child God has for us! We have about $400 needed for our matching grant to complete it. We have a few bracelets left, puzzle pieces are available for sponsorship, and we are selling coffee that also contributes to our matching grant! If you have any questions are are curious how to participate in any of these fundraisers just email me or comment below or click one of the links above.Being stuck in the house for two days makes me a little crazy. Therefore, I decided to do the sensible thing and try to put together the remaining world map puzzle piece fundraiser. Considering I didn't start in one area and moved across the map as people sponsored pieces it made working the puzzle slightly difficult. Here's what we've got left! Trust me, I spent a good 4 hours with help from Kevy Wevy here and there and his geography skills. He tries to say he doesn't know everything but I'm pretty sure it's a lie. So, we've got room for those who want to sponsor a puzzle piece! Also, if you donate to our matching grant we will make a puzzle piece for you as well! By India Today Web Desk: Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today introduced a new VX(O) BL grade of Honda City with all-new Premium and Luxurious Black Leather Interiors. The new grade is positioned alongside existing VX(O) grade available in Beige Leather Interiors and is offered in Manual Transmission in both petrol & diesel in Premium White Orchid Pearl and Alabaster Silver colours in the line-up. The 4th Generation Honda City has appealed to a large number of young buyers and the introduction of VX(O)BL is in response to the younger customer's voice. The grade also comes with Sunroof and Advanced Integrated Touchscreen Audio Visual Navigation (AVN). Dual SRS Airbags has been made as standard equipment for all grades in Honda City in addition to standard ABS & EBD. The company has also introduced Rear ISOFIX & Top Tether Anchor for Child Seats as standard equipment in the City. The newly introduced Rear ISOFIX feature in the Honda City is an international standardised system, which provides a safer, easier and quicker way to install a compatible child car seat correctly. Along with ABS & EBD already offered as standard equipment, the City now ensures maximum safety as standard equipment to customers in its segment. advertisement Announcing the newly enriched City line up, Mr. Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, "Our endeavour has always been to offer best-in-class products to our customers & we are happy to offer Premium & Luxurious Black Leather Interiors in the City. We are thankful to our customers for their tremendous response which has made the 4th Generation Honda City a huge success in India. We hope the mix of premium, luxury and safety enrichment to the City line-up will also be appreciated by our customers," he further added. Honda City is one of the most successful car brands in India with very high brand equity. First introduced in India in January 1998, Honda City has brought joy to almost 6 lakh customers across the country. Since its launch in January 2014, the 4th generation Honda City has sold more than 1.6 lakhs units across the country in just 2 years since its launch. News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles. Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used. Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year] Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006) Home Page Follow @arra By India Today Web Desk: Indian carmaker Mahidnra & Mahindra has launched a new 1.99-litre diesel engine to power the the New Generation Scorpio and the New Age XUV500. The new engine will also allow them to start selling their diesel variants in Delhi & NCR and will only be available for customers in the Delhi and NCR Region. The new engine will produce 120 HP on the New Generation Scorpio and a 140 HP on the New Age XUV500. President & Chief Executive of Mahindra & Mahindra (Automotive), Pravin Shah said, "This new engine, the development of which started in August 2014, is now ready for launch on both the New Generation Scorpio and the New Age XUV500. We do hope that our customers would enjoy driving these vehicles which deliver the performance of our currently on offer 2.2 litre mHawk engines." advertisement Many other carmakers have also been hit badly due to the Supreme Court's ban on registering diesel vehicles with engines bigger than two litre in Delhi/NCR. Mahindra & Mahindra has been one of the quickest in coming up with a strategy whereas as other manufacturers are looking to sell more petrol cars. Para-swimmer Bharat Kumar from Delhi wishes to take part in Asian Games: Here is why you should know his story. By India Today Web Desk: India has seen many remarkable athletes. Some have won World Cups, others have won medals in Olympics and Commonwealth Games. The story of Bharat Kumar is different. Bharat is an international para-swimmer who has represented India in several tournaments and won more than 50 medals. But due to fate's ugly blow, Bharat, a car-washer by profession, wants to sell all his medals in order to run the household. Image source: Twitter You must have heard such stories where Indian athletes are forced to sell their accolades in order to support their families. Well, Bharat is another addition to that hideous list. The ace swimmer has only one hand and an indomitable spirit to support him in this crucial time. Here are some facts about Bharat Kumar: Bharat has won two international titles, one silver and one gold medal He has participated in swimming contests in England, Ireland, Holland, Malaysia and China He plays at the national level and wins medals on a regular basis He started his swimming quest in 2002 at a canal that connects Ghaziabad and Vaishali in East Delhi He started practising professionally at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in 2004 Bharat had to stop his practice and had no chance to participate in international events due to financial problems Bharat also wishes to take part in the upcoming Asian Games but lacks financial support He has requested the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to support him so that he could get the equipment and take part in international competitions Bharat believes in the quote: "To be born in poverty in not a sin, but to die in poverty is". advertisement Bharat believes, "Paida hue aur ghis-ghis ke mar gaye (living a mediocre life), I don't like that life. I am a fighter, I will shout, cry, fight but will reach my goal, Nobody is born a star, you work hard for your dream to become one. You have got just one life why not live doing something worthy". Source: The Logical Indian Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section. 9 things you should definitely know about Subhas Chandra Bose. By India Today Web Desk: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897. He is considered as the most revered freedom fighter of India who built the first Indian armed force named the Azad Hind Fauj. His famous slogan, Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazdi dunga, sparked patriotism in the hearts of many Indians during the fight for independence. Even today, these words don't fail to inspire and move us. We present to you 9 lesser-known yet inspiring facts about Subhas Chandra Bose, India's Netaji: 1. Born in Odisha in the year 1897, Bose was exceptionally brilliant and secured top ranks throughout his study in school and university. He completed his BA in Philosophy with a first class score in 1918. advertisement 2. He cleared the Indian Civil Service examination in 1920 in England. Later, he resigned from his civil service job on April 23, 1921 after hearing about India's struggle for freedom. 3. Earlier, Bose had been a leader of the younger, radical, wing of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s and 1930s, rising to become Congress President in 1938 and 1939. He was expelled from Congress leadership positions in 1939, following differences with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and the Congress high command, after openly attacking the Congress' foreign and internal policies. 4. During the period of 1921-1941, he was imprisoned eleven times in various jails due to his stand for complete independence. 5. Bose believed that Gandhi's tactics of non-violence would never be sufficient to secure independence and advocated violent resistance. 6. At the outset of the Second World War, he had travelled to a number of countries, including Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, so as to seek alliance with each and to attack the British government in India. Later, he re-organised with Imperial Japanese assistance and led the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army (INA), formed with Indian prisoners-of-war and plantation workers from British Malaya, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, against the British forces. With Japanese monetary, political, diplomatic and military assistance, he formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, and regrouped and led the Indian National Army. Along with the Japanese army they brought independence to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and came all the way to Manipur in India. 7. On August 23, 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Subhas Chandra Bose memorial hall in Kolkata. Abe said to Bose's family, "The Japanese are deeply moved by Bose's strong will to have led the Indian independence movement from British rule." 8. He established the Azad Hind Radio station in Germany and led the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia. 9. Subhas Chandra Bose believed that the Bhagvad Gita was a great source of inspiration for him. Swami Vivekananda's teachings on universal brotherhood, his nationalist thoughts and his emphasis on social service and reform have had instilled a vision in him. Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section. To get more updates on Current Affairs, send in your query by mail to education.intoday@gmail.com By Vinayak Chakravorty: She is 22, fresh off the boat from Karachi and raring to go. Mawra Hocane, Pakistan's latest export to Bollywood, knows that identity itself gives her a sort of USP. "I have come from another land but I want to connect with India through my art. Bollywood is as much mine as yours. I don't make longterm plans, and that process works for me. I don't know if the current Indo-Pak socio-political situation makes things difficult for artists like me. All I know is I am prepared to go all around the world to get good work," she lets on. Mawra, whose surname Hocane is actually an anglicised spin on Hossain, makes her debut in the romantic musical tragedy Sanam Teri Kasam, slated for a February 5 release. advertisement "The film's highlights are the seven songs Himesh (Reshammiya) sir has composed. The sounds are heartfelt, I wanted to be a part of such music," she says. Mawra defines her character as "an honest, sweet girl who loves the world and is a dreamer who realises her dreams in love". "My role is one that comes once in 10 years," she claims. "I get to essay a nerdy look and a glam look, which let me play with a variety of emotions. I was offered big films with superstars In Bollywood before but I did not want to be a mere eye candy. I wanted to perform, and Sanam Teri Kasam gave me the scope." Mawra, who has been doing television in Pakistan since she was 19, looks at entering Bollywood as a natural progression. "I have done 14 projects in Pakistan and worked with the best of talent there. Bollywood looked like a logical next step." She is awed by the glamour of Hindi films. "Glamour and stardom are important to me, but personally these will always be second to content," she says. She already has a gameplan in place as far as Bollywood career goes. "I want to work with Ranbir Kapoor. The roles he does inspire me. Among directors I admire are Imtiaz Ali and Ayan Mukerji. They are young and brimming with new ideas," reasons Mawra. Karachi-born Mawra courted controversy in her country when she tweeted support for last year's Bollywood thriller Phantom, which has a blatant anti-Pakistan theme. Mawra's tweets elicited widespread rage. "I only realised the entire matter had turned into a controversy when I read about it in the papers. I am an organic sort of a person. I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. Sometimes that attitude will backfire. I don't mind," she grins. Sanam Teri Kasam also stars actors like Ali Fazal, Harshvardhan Rane, Vijay Raaz, Sudesh Berry, Murli Sharma, Manish Choudhary and others. Also read: Shiv Sena threatens to protest against Pak actors Fawad, Mahira Khan Three unknown men hired a taxi to travel from Himachal to Pathankot, they hired a driver Vijay Kumar who they later murdered and dumped his body which was discovered on Jan 20. The current whereabouts of men and the car are unknown. Three unidentified men on January 14 had booked a taxi bearing registration number HP 01D 2440 from Gaggal, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh to Pathankot. By Shashank Shekhar: Mystery shrouded Himachal Pradesh taxi driver's murder as the police is still clueless about the vehicle and three people involved in the crime. Three unidentified men on January 14 had booked a taxi bearing registration number HP 01D 2440 from Gaggal, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh to Pathankot. The driver Vijay Kumar had agreed to drop the passengers at a very nominal fare, police sources said on Friday. The incident was brought to the notice of Kangra police on January 19 by the maternal uncle of Vijay Kumar and others as he did not return. A manhunt was then launched to trace the taxi driver, whose body was recovered from a ditch near 32 Miles on January 20. "The taxi was booked on January 14 evening and had left Gaggal at 8.15 pm. We have sent three teams to Talwara in Hoshiarpur district and Pathankot in Punjab and Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir to trace the vehicle and the people involved in the crime. We have also retrieved the CCTV footage from Gaggal Chowk which shows the three men with taxi," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kangra, Vijay Saklnai said. advertisement Police in the Capital sounded an alert and asked citizens to stay vigilant. "The Alto car is missing. Search operations are on. Stay Alert!" the tweet on Delhi Police's handle read. Earlier this week, an SUV with a blue beacon was stolen from the house of the Inspector General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Anand Swarup. Also Read: Pathankot-style terror warning: Car hijacked, driver killed, Delhi Police issues terror alert City on high alert, Delhi Police conduct mock security drills Mohammed Suhail, Mohammed Afzal, Asif, Ahad, Syed Mujahid Pasha and another person was produced before the court today by the Karnataka police and the NIA officials. By Mail Today: A civil court in Bengaluru has remanded 6 ISIS suspects, who were arrested from various parts of Karnataka on Friday, into the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday till January 27. Mohammed Suhail, Mohammed Afzal, Asif, Ahad, Syed Mujahid Pasha and another person was produced before the court today by the Karnataka police and the NIA officials. According to reliable sources, all the 6 suspects will be taken to New Delhi for a detailed interrogation. In the meantime, the families of the all the suspects have urged the Karnataka government to intervene because they were innocent. However, the Karnataka government has refused to intervene in the matter till the NIA completes the probe. Also Read: 14 suspected Indian ISIS backers on Intel watch City on high alert, Delhi Police conduct mock security drills --- ENDS --- Army Dogs have been an integral part of the Armed Forces since time immemorial but their silent service to the nation will be showcased in the Republic Day parade after a 26 year hiatus. An Army dog squad rehearses for the upcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi. By Mail Today: Chiku is clearly the most affectionate of the lot while Oscar and Ceaser are no nonsense kinds. The dogged persistence of their handlers leaves no room for faltering on Republic Day when the Indian Army dogs return to Rajpath after 26 years. They have been an integral part of the Armed Forces since time immemorial but their silent service to the nation will be showcased in the Republic Day parade after a long hiatus. An army dog and his handler during a drill. A bunch of labradors and German shepherds will march with their handlers in a display of India's canine power along with military might and the soft outreach. The army dogs are no ordinary pets as their history is full of valiant tales and testifying the martial credential is the fact that Remount Veterinary Corps is decorated with a Shaurya Chakra and close to 150 commendation cards. advertisement In August last year, sniffer dog Mansi was killed in an encounter with militants in the Tangdhar area of Jammu and Kashmir along with her handler rifleman Bashir Ahmed War. The army dogs are integral part of operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast where they have assisted in recovering munitions and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 26-year hiatus The last time an army dog squad had participated in Republic Day parade was in 1990 and before that in 1963. The RVC Centre and College in Meerut Cantt has put in great effort to prepare the squad for the march past. A vigorous training programme is underway for the dogs and their handlers. The last time a dog squad had participated in the parade was in 1990. The special qualities of great sniffing power and loyalty make dogs a natural aspect of warfare tactics. The handlers claim that the inherent desire of the dog to please its master makes the task of training easier. The RVC centre prepares the dog for specialised army training as there is plenty of work cut out for them from mine detection to infantry patrol and search and rescue missions. In the parade, 36 "silent warriors" and their handlers will take part in the march past. There is already a buzz surrounding the inclusion of dog squad in the prestigious parade which will have several new dimensions this year. The dogs have undergone special training for the rigorous march past drill. Officials point out that a relation between a soldier and the dog is as old as the battlefield. Romans were the first to use trained dogs in close combats. Personnel of the RVC Centre in Meerut Cantt train dogs to take part in the upcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi. The RVC itself was founded in 1779. The army has around 1,000 trained dogs in its ranks and the RVC is tasked to maintain the strength. German Shepherd and labradors are the most preferred army dogs because of their natural ability to adapt to any training schedule. They are easy to train and have the special ability to perform the tasks required by the army. Chiku, Oscar and Ceaser are ready to bask in their moment of glory on Rajpath where French President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest. Interestingly, unlike the other contingents where selection takes place on the basis of marching prowess of the personnel involved, the parameters here are different. "We need those men who can keep the dogs fully under control. Since dog behaviour is critical to the success of the show, how well the men march comes second. We have been practising three times a day since the last four months," said Captain Anurag Boruah from the RVC. Since dogs are known not to react favourably to increased noise levels like those on Rajpath, there is practice for that too. Also Read: No camel contingent at Republic Day parade for first time in 66 years "The chances of the Islamic State about reaching Kashmir are almost zero," Geelani said in a statement. By Press Trust of India: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said the chances of Islamic State expanding its operations to Kashmir were "almost zero" and dismissed the terror outfit's reported claims in this regard. "The chances of the Islamic State about reaching Kashmir are almost zero," Geelani said in a statement. Reacting to the reported statement by the Islamic State on Kashmir, Geelani said the only thing it will do is "give the Government of India a chance to globally defame the movement of Kashmiris". Questioning the claims of Islamic State, Geelani said if the group had any sincerity, they would have "liberated the Al Aqsa mosque in West Asia". "They would have gone to help the Palestinian brothers who are being tortured and brutalised for the past 60 years," he added. advertisement Geelani said instead of solving any issues faced by the Muslims, the advent of Islamic State has plunged the Muslim world into a civil war. Also read: ISIS does not represent Islam, says Syed Ali Shah Geelani Kashmiri youth fighting for Al Qaeda in Pakistan killed in drone strike The Home Ministry convened a meeting with top officials of central intelligence and intelligence agencies and police of 13 states to discuss strategy to combat the ISIS threat. Till date, 23 Indians have been identified as ISIS recruits. While six have been reportedly killed, two have returned. By Abhishek Bhalla : After monitoring cyber activities of 14 youth inspired by the ISIS and in contact with a former member of Indian Mujahideen (IM), who happens to be the brother of a slain Indian ISIS recruit, a manhunt was launched in four states by security agencies on Friday. Among the 14 persons under watch, five have been arrested and handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after intelligence agencies learnt that they were making efforts to procure firearms and material for putting together an improvised explosive device to carry out terror strikes after receiving instructions from their handlers. Sources said the others were detained and are being questioned. Sources said most of them were in touch with Shafi Armar, the brother of Maulana Abdul Qadir Sultan Armar, a former IM member who joined ISIS and was identified as a handler for the group before he was reportedly killed in the battlefields of Syria. His name figures among the six Indians who have died fighting for ISIS, according to intelligence reports. advertisement Mail Today after speaking to ISIS-bound Indian youth in July had reported that IM members who fled the country following a crackdown ended up fighting on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border or the Af-Pak region before joining ISIS and were in touch with Indians inspired by the Sunni terror group. Four youth (three in pics) had fled India and joined the Islamic State in Syria; Bengaluru-based Mehdi Masroor Biswas (inset) was arrested for posting pro-ISIS material on social media. The government downplayed the Islamic State link of those arrested stating that those arrested were self radicalised and were influenced by the idea of jihad. "The location of Shafi Armar and his affiliation to ISIS is still not known but he is a former IM member," said a home ministry official. The raids on Friday were carried out simultaneously in four states of Karnataka, Telangana Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh leading to the arrests and detentions. The module had formed Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind , with similar ideologies to that of ISIS. Mumbai resident Munabeer Mushtaq had allegedly designated himself as 'amir' or head of the organisation which was tasked to carry out blasts at various installations in the country besides attacking some foreigners, ministry sources said. Other than Mushtaq among those arrested include Mohammad Nafees Khan of Mohammad Shareef Mounuddin Khan from Hyderabad, Najmul Huda of Mangalore and Mohammad Afzal of Bengaluru. NIA and central agency sleuths seized 42 mobile phones, including eight from 'amir', sources said. Explosive material, detonators, wires, batteries and hydrogen peroxide besides 'jihadi literature' was also seized from those arrested. The home ministry convened a meeting of top officials of central intelligence and investigative agencies and police of 13 states last week to discuss the strategy to combat the ISIS threat. The last meeting was held in August 2015 and the ministry had sought an action report from state governments. Also Read: City on high alert, Delhi Police conduct mock security drills By India Today Web Desk: Joining the debate on intolerance, actor Kajol today said there are no such dividing lines in Bollywood "Our industry will always keep reflecting on what is happening in our society. It will keep on going and everyone is welcome. There are no dividing lines, no caste, no creed and no intolerance in Bollywood," , the actor said. Kajol, who was answering a question on intolerance at the Jaipur Literature Festival, said these days people have become over sensitive. Kajol, who has worked with both Shah Rukh and Aamir, refused to react on the backlash faced by the PK star, whose controversial remarks had evoked criticism from many quarters. "These days people seem to have become oversensitive. As public personalties it is our duty to speak well and correctly. I have always said my 'Mann ki baat' and it is no different now," she said. advertisement The actor's comments came two days after Bollywood director Karan Johar called freedom of expression and democracy the two biggest jokes in India. "We are in a tough country and to speak about one's personal life in today's time can land you in jail," the director-producer had said at the ninth edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Earlier, even Dilwale superstar Shah Rukh Khan had said that there is extreme intolerance in India. Watch full video here: ALSO READ | Karan Johar on intolerance: Freedom of expression is a joke in India Shah Rukh says his comments on the intolerance issue were misconstrued Aamir Khan joins intolerance debate, says wife Kiran wants to leave India YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Prominent Istanbul-Armenian linguist Sevan Nishanian, who was transferred to Sultanhisar Open Prison in September 2015, is again taken to the closed regime of the prison. Armenpress reports Istanbul-based Agos periodical informs about the aforementioned. Nishanian's advocate Murat Akcn told the periodical that they are not aware of the reasons to take the linguist to closed regime of the prison. True, Sevan Nishanian has been moved to closed regime prison, but no one knows what the reasons of such a decision are. I will try to find out on Sunday, when I visit him, Murat Akcn said. Nishanyan, convicted for 11 years, has been in prison because of "construction infractions" since January 11, 2014. But the media had informed earlier that he was imprisoned because of publicly criticizing the Turkish Government. He always raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Nishanyan was transferred to Sultanhisar Open Prison on September 24, 2015 where the prisoners are under relatively mild conditions. Sarfaraz Alam, the Janata Dal- United (JD-U) MLA, who was accused of molesting a woman on board Rajdhani Express, was today suspended from the party. By India Today Web Desk: Sarfaraz Alam, the Janata Dal- United (JD-U) MLA, who was accused of molesting a woman on board Rajdhani Express, was today suspended from the party. Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had assured that action will be taken against Alam, as such incidents can never be tolerated. The Patna police on Friday had served notice to the JD(U) MLA to appear before it for questioning. Alam, son of RJD MP Mohammad Taslimuddin and third term MLA from Jokihaat in Araria district, has been summoned by police to appear before GRP Patna today to record his statement in connection with the incident. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on January 17 when Sarfaraz Alam, who is a third time JD(U) MLA, misbehaved with a couple on board the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express train. An FIR was registered against him with GRP Patna the next day. advertisement Also read: Case filed against JD-U MLA for misbehaving with woman on Rajdhani Express Babu is the second minister in the Congress led UDF government who has resigned in the case after former Finance Minister KM Mani. Babu tendered his resignation letter after a court in Thrissur district today ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case against the minister over corruption charges against him in the bar bribery scam. (IndiaToday Television grab Kerala Excise Minister K Babu has resigned over bar bribery allegations. He is the second minister in the Congress led UDF government who has resigned in the case after former Finance Minister KM Mani. The resignation comes following a vigilance court order that an FIR needs to be filed against the minister and a progress report must be submitted within a month, in a case where it is alleged that K Babu had taken a bribe of Rs 50 lakhs from bar owner Biju Ramesh to not increase the bar license fee. "I informed the Chief Minister as soon as I heard the news. I have submitted my resignation," said Babu speaking to the media in Ernakulam. "I haven't even got a copy of the court order yet. I have not been asked to resign. It is a personal decision. I am resigning on moral grounds based on what I heard about the order in media," added Babu. advertisement Babu who had earlier told that he would resign if there are any serious statements against him said that the court order was unusual and serious. Kerala government had shut down all bars them except those under the five star category as part of its partial prohibition policy which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court, following which bar owners put forth allegations that the then Finance Minister KM Mani and Excise Minister K Babu had taken bribe from them to not increase bar license fee and reopen closed bars. Babu said that the allegations against him was planned by CPM leaders and bar owners for their benefit. Babu's resignation comes at a time when the political circle in Kerala is preparing itself for the 2016 assembly elections. By India Today Web Desk: Leonardo DiCaprio's latest wish to play Russian leaders Putin and Lenin on screen has not gone well with the Russian communist party. So much so that the party's MP has criticized Leo for having sly eyes that are contrary to the 'kind' eyes of Lenin. ALSO READ: Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play Russian President Vladimir Putin on screen ALSO READ: Leonardo DiCaprio kissed Rihanna in a night club, but this is why you can't see the photos Communist MP Sergey Malinkovich said the 41-year-old actor has no idea of Lenin's lifestyle and "Lenin has kind eyes, and DiCaprio's eyes are sly," reports Daily Star. The MP has further advised the celebrity to move from glitzy Los Angeles to a remote Russian village where Lenin spent three years in exile to understand his life. The Revenant star recently made headlines when he said that his dream is to portray communist leader Vladimir Lenin. "Lenin, too, would be an interesting film role. I would (like) to play Rasputin too. I believe that there should be more movies about Russian history," Welt am Sonntag quoted the actor. advertisement It seems that his statement has offended Russian communist party so bad that they ripped off his posters. The Communists have even urged people to boycott DiCaprio's flims because of his bourgeois lifestyle. (With inputs from ANI) The food chain says that it is not delivering food in a lot of areas after delivery area parameters were realigned in 2009-10. By Astha Saxena: Okhla residents are not saying: 'I'm lovin' it!' And that is because international fast food chain McDonald's is not taking orders for food delivery in the minority-dominated area. An Okhla resident has recently approached the Delhi Minorities Commission alleging discrimination by the food chain's New Friends Colony outlet. The Delhi Minority Commission has sought a reply from McDonald's. Tariq Khan, a resident of Ghaffar Manzil in Okhla, filed a complaint with the Delhi Minorities Commission on January 4. In the complaint, Khan said he ordered food from the outlet for his family and some guests. After waiting for an hour, he called again. "The executive told me they cannot deliver food in our area as it is on their 'negative' list. We feel the reason behind this is the area is mostly occupied by the minority population," Khan said in his complaint to the commission. advertisement Khan has now asked the commission to intervene in the matter. "I request you to please intervene in the matter and find out the reason behind this (discrimination). The fast food outlet is giving us bizarre reasons for non-delivery. They also said that people living in the area do not pay for the food they order. How is that possible?" he said in his complaint letter. The commission has taken cognisance of his complaint. "We have issued notice to the headquarters of the food company and asked them to explain the reasons for nondelivery. The complainant has accused the company of discrimination," Qamar Ahmad, Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission told Mail Today. Ghaffar Manzil, along with other areas in Okhla like Batla House, Okhla Vihar, Zakir Nagar, Zakir Bagh, Jamia Nagar, Abul Fazal Enclave and Shaheen Bagh, has a population of around 2 lakh, of which 70 per cent is Muslim. The commission is now waiting for the food chain to respond. "We are waiting for them to reply to our notice. We need to know what the company has to say," said Ahmad. When Mail Today contacted McDonald's, they agreed that they do not deliver to a lot of areas in Okhla, as a matter of policy. They also claimed they were yet to receive any notice in this regard. Responding to the queries, McD said delivery of food in several areas including Okhla and its vicinity was stopped since 2009-10 after a realignment of delivery area parameters. The company, however, maintained that Okhla was not the only area where food delivery was unavailable. "We have not received any communication from the Minorities Commission so far? we do not discriminate between our customers at all. We are not able to deliver to a lot of areas in Okhla (and its vicinity) because they exceed our delivery area parameters which were realigned in 2009-10: and because of which a lot of areas that we were earlier delivering to are now not being covered. Unfortunately, we cannot deliver to a lot of areas in Delhi as the optimum and required standards cannot be met while delivering," Official Spokesperson, McDonald's India (North & East) said. "We have not received any communication from the Minorities Commission so far? we do not discriminate between our customers at all. We are not able to deliver to a lot of areas in Okhla (and its vicinity) because they exceed our delivery area parameters which were realigned in 2009-10: and because of which a lot of areas that we were earlier delivering to are now not being covered. Unfortunately, we cannot deliver to a lot of areas in Delhi as the optimum and required standards cannot be met while delivering," Official Spokesperson, McDonald's India (North & East) said. Also read: Union government comes up with skill development scheme: 'Nai Manzil' launched for minority community girls As soon as Modi began his speech, a group of students started raising anti-Modi slogans. However they were stopped by security personnel and other students. National Students Union of India members protest over the death of Rohith Vemula in New Delhi on Friday. By Rajat Rai: Terming Rohith Vemula's suicide a loss to the country, a visibly moved Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday he could feel the pain which his parents are going through. PM's speech comes even as fresh protests rocked the Hyderabad Central University campus on Friday with students seeking unconditional revocation of suspension of four Dalit students and action against those responsible for the alleged suicide. The university has announced Rs 8 lakh ex-gratia to Vemula's family. Modi, who was in Lucknow on Friday to attend the convocation of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, said, "Whatever may be the reason that forced Rohith to commit suicide, I could well understand and feel the grief and pain of his parents. The reasons behind the incident and the ongoing politics on the incident are two different issues but the fact is that mother India has lost a son." advertisement While mentioning Rohith in his speech, Modi's emotions were quite visible Also, based on the report by a fact-finding team, the HRD Ministry on Friday decided to set up a Judicial Commission to look into the sequence of events leading to the suicide. The Judicial Commission will submit its report within three months. The Opposition was not the one to keep quiet over PM's expression of grief. The reasons behind the incident (Rohith Vemula's suicide) and the ongoing politics on the incident are two different issues but the fact is that mother India has lost a son.- Narendra Modi The reasons behind the incident (Rohith Vemula's suicide) and the ongoing politics on the incident are two different issues but the fact is that mother India has lost a son.- Narendra Modi The Congress dismissed Modi's voicing his grief over the suicide of Rohith Vemula as crocodile tears, saying he has failed to utter a word on any action against Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya. "We all respect the PM. We humbly want to say that shedding crocodile tears will not return Rohith Vemula or do justice to the situation arising out of the suicide of the dalit scholar in Hyderabad University," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters. CPI-M leader Md Saleem also targeted the PM, questioning why he took so much time to respond. "It took so many days and so many protests nationwide to make the PM feel the pain of the family. It is the height of irresponsibleness," he said. As soon as Modi began his speech, a group of students started raising anti-Modi slogans. Shouting 'Modi go back', the students were protesting against the Rohith suicide case. However, they were stopped by the security personnel and other students. Sources say two students were detained and were moved to an undisclosed location. A source says some groups discussing the Hyderabad suicide issue had come up on various social networking platforms in the recent past and looking into the sensitivity of the issue, only 519 students who had to be given medals and degrees were issued passes and allowed to enter the campus during the convocation. Also Read: PM Modi at Ambedkar university: I feel the pain of Rohith Vemula's family The CIA has asked the Haryana Police for a status report on security ahead of the one-day visit of French President Francois Hollande with PM Modi. By Ajay Kumar: US intelligence agency CIA has asked the Haryana Police for a status report on security in Gurgaon, Faridabad and other adjoining districts ahead of the one-day visit of French President Francois Hollande with PM Narendra Modi in Gurgaon. The two leaders will visit National Institute of Solar Energy situated on the Gurgaon-Faridabad expressway on January 25 to lay the foundation of Interim Secretariat of the international solar alliance. CIA's request becomes all the more important in the wake of the arrest of a suspected Al-Qeada operative from Mewat district by Delhi police's special cell this week. Citing possible terror strikes at different places, intelligence bureau has already asked security agencies to be on high alert till Republic Day. As France is on 'friendly terms' with the United States, the CIA has been advanced to take care of security measures of Hollande's visit to India. advertisement Sources have said the premier spy agency has been focusing on By Ajay Kumar in Gurgaon Mewat district where different security agencies have arrested five suspected terrorists over the past three years. It has asked Gurgaon, Faridabad and adjoining districts police to submit details of all criminal activities taking place in their respective areas which could prove to be a threat for the event. CIA has specifically asked Gurgaon and Faridabad district administrators to provide reports of action taken especially in the adjoining vicinity of the vulnerable Aravalli mountain range known for illegal mining and other criminal activities in the past. District administrations of Gurgaon and Faridabad have already imposed section 144 under the radius of two kilome-US INTELLIGENCE agency CIA has asked the Haryana Police for a status report on security in Gurgaon, Faridabad and other adjoining districts ahead of the one-day visit of French President Francois Hollande with PM Narendra Modi in Gurgaon. The two leaders will visit National Institute of Solar Energy situated on the Gurgaon-Faridabad expressway on January 25 to lay the foundation of Interim Secretariat of the international solar alliance. CIA's request becomes all the more important in the wake of the arrest of a suspected Al Qeada operative from Mewat district by Delhi police's special cell this week. Citing possible terror strikes at different places, intelligence bureau has already asked security agencies to be on high alert till Republic Day. As France is on 'friendly terms' with the United States, the CIA has been advanced to take care of security measures of Hollande's visit to India. Sources have said the premier spy agency has been focusing on By Ajay Kumar in Gurgaon Mewat district where different security agencies have arrested five suspected terrorists over the past three years. It has asked Gurgaon, Faridabad and adjoining districts police to submit details of all criminal activities taking place in their respective areas which could prove to be a threat for the event. CIA has specifically asked Gurgaon and Faridabad district administrators to provide reports of action taken especially in the adjoining vicinity of the vulnerable Aravalli mountain range known for illegal mining and other criminal activities in the past. District administrations of Gurgaon and Faridabad have already imposed section 144 under the radius of two kilometers from the venue. Section 144 will also imposed at prominent malls, shopping centers, strategic locations and congested place from January 24 to 26. Gurgaon police has initiated a combing operation in guest houses to identify foreigner guests. On Friday, they booked three guest houses operators for not filling legitimate applications in concern FRRO department. These guest houses are identified as Trinity, Corporate Suites and Sun Trade Tower situated in DLF phase 1, sector 38 and sector 21 respectively. Gurgaon police has also registered FIRs against five guest house operators for not following the rules pertaining to foreign nationals check-in in city's hotels and guest houses. Gurgaon traffic police has also diverted traffic routes from 3 to 5 pm for motorists using the Gurgaon-Faridabad expressway to go toward Faridabad and Delhi.toward Faridabad and Delhi. Also read: Ahead of Francois Hollande's visit to India, French Consulate in Bengaluru gets threat letter PM Narendra Modi going round the National Archives of India (NAI) where he released the digital copies of 100 declassified files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, in New Delhi on Saturday. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today declassified Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files on the freedom fighter's birth anniversary. "Today (Saturday) is a special day for all the Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts on Saturday. Will go to National Archives myself for the same," Modi said in a tweet early in the morning. In another tweet, Modi said: "Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations." Grab from http://netajipapers.gov.in/ Modi also released digital copies of 100 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose following the government's decision to declassify files on the freedom fighter. The files, digitised and given "preliminary conservation treatment" by the National Archives of India, will be released on the birth anniversary of Bose. advertisement The release of the files "will meet the long-standing public demand" and "will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Netaji", a culture ministry statement said. The National Archives received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (INA) from the defence ministry in 1997. What we know so far Out of the 100 files, 33 of them are from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The rest contains communications between the Government of India and the governments of Russia and Japan. The files have been digitised and uploaded on the website of the NAI. According to the files, his Germany-based daughter Anita Bose had visited India in 1960 and stayed at the official residence of then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Congress had been sending Rs. 6,000 per year to Bose's daughter until 1964. Anita stopped getting the money after she got married to Martin Pfaff, an American citizen, in 1965. Bose's wife, Emilie Schenkl, who was a German national, refused to accept the money from Congress. Schenki was Bose's private secretary during his stay in Germany. Grab from http://netajipapers.gov.in/ The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister s Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4, last year. Netaji, one of the leading lights of the Indian freedom struggle, set up the INA during World War II to take on the British Indian Army. A former Congress president and once a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Bose's reported death in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1945 has remained a mystery. Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Enquiry committee report The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Enquiry committee concluded in a report (dated Sept 11, 1956) that Netaji met his death as a result of aircrash at Taihoku airfield at Formosa on Aug 18, 1945 and his ashes were kept at a Renkoji temple in Tokyo. Grab from http://netajipapers.gov.in/ The committe is of the view that in the last stages when Japan's defeat seemed inevitable, Netaji was prepared to shift his struggle from South East Asia to Russia via Manchuria. He left Bangkok on Aug 16, 1945, and Saigon on Aug 17, `1945, in an aeroplane for Manchuria. The plane crashed in flames at Taihoku on Aug 18, 1945. As a result of the seriousness of the burns he received, Netaji died in Taihoku hospital the same night. His body was cremated at Taihoku crematorium and his ashes were flown to Tokyo early Sept and deposited at Renkoji temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassified Netaji files at National Archives today. He also released the digital copies of 100 files related to Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today and met the family members. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassified Netaji files at National Archives today. He also released the digital copies of 100 files related to Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today and met the family members. "Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same," PM Modi tweeted today. The initiative will meet the "long-standing public demand" to access these files as well as facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, it said. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Modi, in his meeting with members of Bose family here on October 14, last year, had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to Bose and make them accessible to public. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister s Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4, last year. advertisement 14 of the files being declassified today relate to the formation and working of the three inquiries: * The Shah Nawaz Committee of 1956. * The Khosla Commission, which functioned between 1970 and 1974. * And the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry which operated between 1999-2006. Two files relate to communications between West Bengal politician and Netaji's associate Sameer Guha and Subhas Bose. There's one file from 2006 on the communication between Forward Bloc leaders and the central government. One on the construction of the Indian National Army memorial. One about conferring a Bharat Ratna to Subhash Bose. One file about the transfer of Netaji's ashes from Japan to India. One file is about the properties of the INA in the Far East. And one regarding the funeral of the widow of Netaji. Declassified #NetajiSubhasChandraBose's files at National Archives, Netaji's family members also present. pic.twitter.com/ibwQm5Yy60 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Three each of the files that will be declassified are from the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, while one was generated in 2006. Only 10 of the total files with the PMO are about the disappearance of Netaji Subhash Bose. Most of the the files that are being declassified have already been seen by Justice Mukherjee during his investigation. The PMO also has three files about the personal life of Netaji Bose, which are not being made public. These are about Netaji's wife, his daughter and his alleged mistress. Prime Minister Modi has promised Netaji's family members that ALL the files in the possession of his office will be made public. However, no deadline has been fixed. Even though all the Netaji files are not being declassified, a very important chapter in modern Indian history is about to be re-written. Also read: Subhas Chandra Bose was cremated in Taihoku: British website On Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 119th birth anniversary, let's take glimpse at his life beyond his struggle to bring India its independence. By Shreya Biswas: On this day, many moons ago, Subhas Chandra Bose was born in a Bengali family in Cuttack, Orissa. In years to come, Bose earned the title of Netaji as he dedicated his life to bring India Poorna Swaraj, the 'complete freedom' without any compromise. Also read- Modi agrees to declassify all secret Netaji files: Here's what you need to know about them There is, nonetheless, more to this hero than being a freedom fighter whom we lost to an untimely death. He was a son, a brilliant student, a beloved husband and father. So, on this day observed as Netaji Jayanti, let us take a look at Subhas Chandra Bose's life beyond his struggle to bring India its independence: Who was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose? advertisement Subhas Chandra Bose was the nationalist who initiated the organized armed struggle for India's independence from the British Empire, seeking the help of Germany and Japan. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Photo: Twitter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Photo: Twitter Jailed 11 times in his life, Netaji stood up to advocate for Poorna Swaraj (complete freedom) when the Congress Committee was fine with getting independence in phases through a Dominion status. Bose was made the president of the Indian National Congress twice, defeating Mahatma Gandhi's nominee. He was also the founder of the Indian National Army. A gem of a child Netaji was born to Prabhavati Devi and Janakinath Bose, an advocate, on January 23, 1897, in the Bengal Province of Orissa's Cuttack. As the ninth child among 14 siblings, Netaji was fondly called Ranga in his family. Young Subhas Chandra Bose, standing extreme right, with his family of 14 siblings in Cuttack. Photo: Wikipedia Creative Commons Always a brilliant student, Netaji attained an overall second position in his matriculation examination and joined the Presidency College in 1911. He was, however, expelled later for assaulting a professor named EF Oaten, who had made some anti-India comments. Netaji went on to complete his BA degree in Philosophy from Scottish Church College under the University of Calcutta in 1918. The following year, he got admission at the Fitzwilliam College in Cambridge to appear in the Indian Civil Services Examination. Netaji, standing extreme right, with friends in England. Photo: Wikipedia Creative Commons Although he cracked the examination with a fourth ranking and secured a lucrative job, as was his father's wish, Netaji could not bring himself up to serve the British government. So instead, he returned to India and joined the Indian National Congress to take part in the Independence struggle. His marriage to Emily Schenkl In June 1934, during his visit to Germany, a mutual friend introduced Netaji to Emilie Schenkl, the daughter of an Austrian veterinarian, whom he went on to hire for her English and typing skills to help him write his book, The Indian Struggle. Some eight years later, Netaji proposed to Emillie, following which the two got married in a secret Hindu ceremony in January 1942. That year, in November, Emillie gave birth to their daughter, Anita. Netaji with wife Emily Schenkl. Photo: Twitter In a letter dated March 12, 1946, Emilie wrote to Netaji's older brother, Sarat Chandra Bose, about their marriage. However, Sarat Chandra Bose is said to have not received this letter until two years later: "Your brother asked me when I was in Berlin if I would accept his proposal to marry him. Knowing him since years as a man of good character and since there was a mutual understanding and we were very fond of each other, I agreed. The only difficulty was to get the necessary marriage permission from the German Government...we decided to settle it between ourselves and got, therefore, married according to Hindu fashion in January 1942.... On November 29, 1942, a daughter was born to us." In 1948, after Netaji's death in the plane crash, Sarat Chandra Bose and his family visited Emilie in Vienna. Since then began a fond relationship between the two families. Netaji's wife, Emillie, with daughter, Anita. Photo: Twitter Emillie would write to Sarat Chandra Bose about how little Anita was growing up, and about her hope of her husband returning someday. Emillie, who could not accept Netaji's death, wrote to Sarat Chandra Bose in 1949 saying, "We can only hope that our feelings may become reality and one day that your brother will return. This is the only thing I am praying for." advertisement Netaji's only child, Anita Bose Pfaff Born in Vienna on November 29, 1942, Anita grew up using her mother's maiden name. In her letters to Sarat Chandra Bose, Emillie would write about Anita's reaction to the movie Jungle Book, who was "was frightened because of the tiger and snakes, but she liked the elephants very much". Anita went on to become a German economist, a professor at the University of Augsburg and also a politician. She wrote a biography on her father titled Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Germany, which depicts interesting facts about his life and contribution to India's freedom struggle. Netaji's niece-in-law Krishna Bose, and his daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff. Photo: PTI Anita married Professor Martin Pfaff, a former German Social Democratic Party member of the Bundestag, with whom she has three children. His living family Apart from his daughter, Netaji has been survived by three grandchildren: Peter Arun, Maya Karina, and Thomas Krishna. His nephew Sisir Bose's wife, Krishna Bose, is a politician and social worker in West Bengal. She has three children, Sumantra, Sharmila and Sugata Bose. Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases digital copies of 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose today. Photo: All India Radio News/ Twitter advertisement By Radhika Bhalla/Mail Today: The new television series Billions released last week in the Unites States, and has already won its share of fans, already reaching 8.4/10 rating on IMDb. The high-intensity Wall Street drama series starring Golden Globe and Emmy winners Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti is based on a US Attorney who goes after a hedge fund king, and the tensions that follow. In an exclusive interview with Mail Today, Giamatti shared, "I knew the two writers, Brian Koppleman and David Lavien, and then I read the script. The topic was interesting to me and the way they treated it was like a thriller to me." "Most probably it was the part and I was really intrigued to play one of the most powerful attorney in the US and arguably the most powerful law enforcement officers in the country?," The actor added. advertisement "For me it was interesting to play the good guy, a kind of guy I don't get to play that much and the whole team of people, of course," he said. The 48-year-old star is known for starring in movies like Cinderella Man, Barney's Version, Sideways, The Truman Show and Saving Mr Banks among others. Elaborating on his character in the TV series, he explained, "The guy I play, Chuck Rhodes, the US Attorney of Southern New York has a pre-existing animosity on my side against this hedge fund guy called Bobby Axelrod." "My character is interested in stepping up his game and putting the white collared criminals away. He is definitely more affected by power than anything else because the power is pretty spectacular that they have," Giamatti said. The series is already creating waves as the best series debut performance for an original series, with 2.99 million views up till now. The show will showcase in India on January 24 at 11pm on AXN channel. Giamatti was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Cinderella Man. He has won a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guilds Awards. Also read: Narcos to Jessica Jones: Six original shows you must stream on Netflix YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Under the light of regional instability, the assessment of Fitch Ratings for Armenia can be a positive signal for both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors. National Assembly RPA faction member Gagik Minasyan expressed such an opinion in an interview with Armenpress, referring to the assessment of international rating agency Fitch Ratings. It has affirmed Armenia's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'B+' with a Stable Outlook. Eventually, stability is one of the key economic factors. Of course, investors do not make decisions relying only on one rating; they usually have a complex approach to that issue. In many cases they investigate a countrys business environment through their own specialists, but that such ratings also positively impact on the decision of investors is a fact, Gagik Minasyan said. Charlotte Rampling has called the black actors boycotting the Oscar ceremony as racist towards their white counterparts, while Michael Cain said that the Oscars cannot be given to a person because he/she happens to be a black. By Reuters: Oscar nominee Rampling calls awards boycott racist toward whites Michael Caine British actress and first-time Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling said in a radio interview on Friday the boycott of the Oscars protesting the absence of black actors and directors is racist toward whites. ALSO READ: #OscarsSoWhite: Oscar fraternity pledges to bring coloured actors in by 2020 ALSO READ: #OscarsSoWhite: Director Spike Lee says he did not call for Oscars boycott In the interview, Rampling was asked by a France-based Europe 1 journalist if she felt African-American director Spike Lee was right to pledge to boycott the Oscars over the absence of blacks among the nominees. "No, I find to the contrary, that it's racist toward whites," said Rampling, who is nominated for her role in the British drama 45 Years. advertisement When asked to elaborate, Rampling said "one can never really know," but that "perhaps sometimes black actors have not earned a place in the final running." Rampling's comments came amid a wave of protest over the lack of minorities among the major nominees, including the re-emergence on social media of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, which first appeared during the 2015 awards season. On Monday, actress Jada Pinkett Smith said on her Facebook page she would boycott the Oscars, and Lee announced he would not attend. The next day the president of the academy acknowledged the lack of diversity and pledged "big changes." Lee on Wednesday said that while he will not be attending the Academy Awards, he was not calling for a general boycott of the ceremony. Rampling also criticized Lee's affirmative action advocacy in Hollywood. "There will always be problems with people saying this one is too handsome, this guy is too black, this guy is too white, there will always be someone of whom people say, 'You are too ?'" Rampling said. "And so we're going to classify everything to make thousands of little minorities everywhere?" As Rampling, speaking to Europe 1 in French, made her comments, two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine in a separate broadcast interview urged non-white actors to "be patient" as they await more recognition at Hollywood's premier awards event. Caine, speaking to BBC Radio 4, also weighed in on the Oscar selections made by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who vote for the nominees. "You can't vote for an actor because he's black," Caine told BBC Radio 4. At one point, Caine appeared to be unaware all 20 acting nominees this year were white, asking if British actor of African descent Idris Elba was nominated. "It took me years to get an Oscar," said Caine, 82, who won the first of his two Oscars in 1987, a best supporting actor award for Hannah and Her Sisters. The miscreants threatened them against extending support to the seer, who is spearheading the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. By Aravind Gowda: Muslim followers of Karnataka's most powerful seer, Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji, pontiff of the Pejawar Mutt in pilgrimage centre of Udupi, have been allegedly threatened by miscreants from West Asia. The miscreants threatened them against extending support to the seer, who is spearheading the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The seer's long-time follower and his ex-driver Mohammed Arif had made elaborate arrangements for the seer's Paryaya(ritual) in which Muslims contributed immensely. It is a tradition for Muslims in coastal Karnataka to participate in the Paryaya at the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. Recently, Arif received death threats from callers in West Asia. He has lodged a police complaint and a probe has commenced. Similarly, two other Muslim followers of the seer have also received death threats over phone. Also read: Bengaluru: Stones pelted at Pejawar Mutt seer Sri Vishweshateertha Swami's convoy --- ENDS --- While the Himachal police has ruled out a terror link, national agencies are suspecting them as terrorists as the taxi driver allegedly had links with drug smugglers. Mystery shrouded Himachal Pradesh taxi driver's murder as the police is still clueless about the vehicle and three people involved in the gruesome murder. Three unidentified men on January 14 had booked a taxi bearing No HP 01D 2440 from Gaggal, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh to Pathankot. The taxi driver Vijay Kumar had agreed to drop the passengers at a very nominal fare,police sources said on Friday. Police sources said the suspected terrorists spoke Punjabi dialect and one of them had a limp. Even though the police has released CCTV footage but their faces are beyond recognition. While the Himachal police has ruled out a terror link, national agencies are suspecting them as terrorists as the taxi driver allegedly had links with drug smugglers. Suspecting a Pathankot like incident, the security agencies are linking the incident with a possible terror strike. advertisement Another reason for suspicion is the IB alert which had cautioned state police authorities that Islamic terror groups can launch a terror strike on Republic Day eve. The incident was brought to the notice of Kangra police on January 15 by the maternal uncle of Vijay Kumar and others after Kumar did not return home. A manhunt was launched to trace Kumar whose body was recovered from a ditch near a place called 32 Miles on January 20. The place is located on Shimla-Pathankot highway and is located at a distance of 35 kms from Dharamshala. Investigations revealed that the vehicle was not driven on the Pathankot road but on a link road which indicate that the men who hired the taxi were headed somewhere else after killing the driver Vijay Kumar. "The taxi was booked on January 14 evening and had left Gaggal at 8:15 pm. We have sent three teams to Talwara in Hoshiarpur district and Pathankot in Punjab and Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir to trace the vehicle and the people involved in the crime.We have also retrieved the CCTV footage from Gaggal Chowk which shows the three men with taxi," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kangra, Vijay Saklnai said. Kangra police is also investigating whether the three men stayed in a Mcleodganj hotel. The motive of murder is still not clear. It is also not clear if the killers have abandoned the vehicle somewhere or were heading to Punjab or New Delhi. The alert issued by the Delhi Police has sent the Himachal police into tizzy as one of the theories now connecting to this incident to a possible terror attack. The security agencies are now trying to ascertain whether the murder was done to snatch the vehicle or was a general crime or the men who boarded the taxi were terrorists. Sources said the taxi driver was a former convict who was previously involved in narcotic smuggling. Kumar was married and is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. "He was the sole bread winner. The killers had crushed his head after strangulating him," Kumar's wife Sapna said. The police is also trying to find out whether the three men who hired the taxi were known to Vijay or had any rivalry with him. Though the police has sounded an alert and has appealed the people to help it locate the criminals by releasing the CCTV footage but it is still clueless about them. It is yet to recover the vehicle. Six Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had also killed a taxi driver in Gurdaspur on December 31 to snatch his vehicle to reach Pathankot Air Base. The state police has sounded an alert in Himachal Pradesh where the security has already been heightened following the IB alert and Republic Day celebrations. Alert has also been sounded in the neighbouring Punjab following the murder of taxi driver. "We are taking this matter very seriously and we are making efforts to locate the missing taxi. An alert has been sounded in Pathankot," Senior Superintendent of Police, Pathnakot R.K. Bakshi said. Also Read: Taxi driver murdered in Himachal Pradesh, police still clueless Senior Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy on Saturday announced that arrested former Bengal minister Madan Mitra will once again be made a candidate in the upcoming state assembly elections. Addressing Trinamool workers at a public meeting at Mitra's Kamarhati constituency in North 24 Parganas, Roy said, "Madan Mitra will once again be made our candidate here. This is what our party has decided." An accused in the multi-crore Sarada chit fund scam, Madan Mitra was arrested in December 2014 and has subsequently been charge-sheeted by the CBI. Roy also exalted his party workers to ensure Mitra is once again elected once again from his seat. "We must make him win and that should be our goal. I have been a candidate several times myself and I know it is the voters who ensure that a candidate wins. So whether Mitra is out (of jail) with us or not,we must ensure his victory", Roy said. The Calcutta High Court had dismissed Madan Mitra's bail plea stating that he was an "influential" leader might derail the probe. Subsequently, Mitra had tendered his resignation as a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government in a desperate attempt to remove the "influential" tag on him for bail. advertisement Mitra's lawyers have been repeatedly seeking his bail before the court on grounds of ill health. During his year-long jail term, Mitra has mostly remained admitted in the state run SSKM hospital citing ill health. Also read: Madan Mitra says he has gone from being Bahubali to Bajrangbali Madan Mitra: Do I look like a goat? According to reports, Mithun and two of his friends tried to take a selfie of the animal on their cellphones but got too close to the animal while it was on the rampage in a maize field. Boy and his friends got too close to the elephant while trying to click a selfie. By Giridhar Jha: A wild elephant trampled a 15-year-old boy to death while he was trying to take a selfie with it in the Araria district of Bihar. Mithun Paswan, a resident of Chandipur village under Palasi police station, was among the crowd of villagers that had gathered in the adjoining Majlispur panchayat to see a wild tusker which had strayed into the area from the forests of Nepal on Thursday. According to reports, Mithun and two of his friends tried to take a selfie of the animal on their cellphones but got too close to the animal while it was on the rampage in a maize field. Seeing the youngsters, the pachyderm moved menacingly towards them but while his friends ran away, Mithun was caught and trampled by the elephant. advertisement The villagers, who were watching the incident from a distance, raised an alarm which made the elephant leave the scene soon thereafter. Mithun was subsequently taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. His body was sent for post-mortem examination to Araria. An ex gratia of Rs 20,000 was paid to his family. The incident created panic in the area.The forest department officials, who were informed about the incident, were trying to locate the elephant which was believed to have entered into another village. Also Read: Selfie craze claims students' life at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai Also Read: Couple invites flak for posting insensitive photo in front of burning Dubai hotel Number plate of the stolen car was partially damaged and no document of the vehicle was recovered. Back windowpane of the car was also broken. By India Today Web Desk: In the aftermath of the Pathankot terror attack, a suspected Maruti Esteem car was recovered from Joshi Nagar area of Haibowal in Ludhiana on Saturday afternoon. The locals spotted the abandoned car and informed the police. Number plate of the stolen car was partially damaged and no document of the vehicle was recovered. Back windowpane of the car was also broken. Anti-sabotage wing was also called on at the spot to check if there were any explosives in the car. The police were trying to locate the owner of the car. An investigation is underway. In another case, cops are hunting for the killers of Himachal cabbie. Mystery shrouded Himachal Pradesh taxi driver's murder as the police is still clueless about the vehicle and three people involved in the crime. advertisement Three unidentified men on January 14 had booked a taxi bearing registration number HP 01D 2440 from Gaggal, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh to Pathankot. The driver Vijay Kumar had agreed to drop the passengers at a very nominal fare, police sources said on Friday. Watch full video here: ALSO READ: Cops hunt for the killers of Himachal cabbie For Tom Hardy, it was his infant son Louis who made him stop his drug addiction. By India Today Web Desk: Actor-producer Tom Hardy shared his story of substance abuse in his struggling days and thanked his son Louis whose birth he claims stopped him eventually from self destruction. The Mad Max Fury Road star claimed that his drug addiction was so deadly in his past that he could have sold his mother for a rock of crack. ALSO READ: Being asked about my sexuality was humiliating, says Tom Hardy ALSO READ: Tom Hardy snaps at reporter asking about his sexuality The 38-year-old actor was once plagued with alcohol and drug addiction said that the birth of his son Louis made him realise that he had to think about his family rather than focusing on himself. "After the birth of my son is when the penny dropped that there was no longer very much time for me to think about myself any more because there is somebody now on the planet who really needs me to get my act together and focus on something that is more important than me," said the 38-year-old, who also has a three-month-old child with wife Charlotte Riley. advertisement Louis, who is now 7-year-old, apparently "changed his life", as reported by Daily Mail. Tom has Louis with his ex-girlfriend Rachael Speed. According to reports, Tom started taking hallucinogens at the age of 13, and three years later he started taking cocaine and drinking alcohol. But now, Tom is a changed man after the birth of his son as he wants to spend more and more time with his family. "When I go home, I am not Tommy the actor, I am Tommy the dad, largely because my children aren't allowed to watch any of my films yet," he told the Daily Mail. "My older son really wants to watch Mad Max, but I've told him that he can't - he's got to watch the Harry Potter films first!" (With inputs from IANS) Investigative reporting from the inner city to Wall Street to the United Nations This is the blogspot version InnerCityPress.com YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Symposium dedicated to the Armenian Genocide will be organized at the Municipality of French Reims City on January 25. The symposium is initiated by Director of Research at CNRS and the Head of Department on Caucasus issues at Paris School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences, historian Claire Mouradian. Armenpress reports, Nouvelles d`Armenie informs about this. The symposium is headlined The past, present and future. The event will start at 18:30 by French time. Claire Mouradian is a specialist in 19-20th centuries Armenia and social and political history of the Caucasus. She has extensively published on pre-Soviet and Soviet Armenia, as well as on the Armenian genocide. The CNN report indicated that Kerry and the rest of the Obama administration were making an effort to present themselves as being neutral in the developing conflict, which threatens to exacerbate a proxy war in Yemen, as well limiting the prospects for a negotiated solution to the Syrian crisis. But many analysts have noted that the Saudis are concerned about the possibility of a US pivot toward Iran in the wake of the July 14 nuclear agreement and other Obama administration moves toward rapprochement. These concerns arguably gained new support on Friday when the Associated Press reported that the administration would go ahead with plans to mitigate the impact of a congressional bill that was passed last month with the intention of denying visa waivers to travelers from Iran or other areas where there is a high concentration of terrorism and support thereof. The administration has indicated that despite the legislation, some travelers who had been in Iran for the sake of certain professions including journalist would still be able to request special waivers from the government. The AP added that this was considered justified by some analysts, if only because the denial of visas to European travelers who had done business in Iran could invite reciprocal bans from the EU, making transit more difficult between the US and Europe in some cases. But criticism of the administrations comments is likely to focus on their vaguer aspects, which state that persons who have recently traveled to Iran or Iraq for legitimate business-related purposes will still be eligible to apply for waivers. This non-specific override of congressional legislation led Republican Representative and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul to say, The Obama administration is blatantly breaking the law, a law the president himself signed. This is not a difference of opinion over statutory interpretation. It is a clear contradiction of the law and the agreement we reached with the White House. President Obama is again putting his relationship with Irans supreme leader over the security of Americans. The notion of such a relationship and its consequence in a pivot toward Iran may be negatively affecting the USs relationship with its traditional allies in the Middle East. The CNN report on Kerrys visit to Riyadh quotes Saudi Arabia expert David Weinberg as saying that the governments of that nation and its regional allies are going off playbook because they dont think the U.S. is appropriately engaged with tackling the challenges of the region. Interestingly, some interpretations of the current situation suggest that at the same time that the US is pushing away the Saudis and other Gulf Arab states, it is failing to draw the Islamic Republic of Iran closer to US interests. In fact, the hardline leaders of the Iranian regime have been ramping up anti-Western rhetoric in the wake of the nuclear deal and related expectations of reconciliation. This trend was highlighted once again on Friday in a commentary piece at the Wall Street Journal, which pointed out that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is not only pushing back against cultural infiltration by Western powers; he is also continuing to encourage Iranian officials to avoid economic entanglements with the US, in favor of a locally-focused resistance economy. At the same time, Khamenei has simply ignored the regimes efforts to obstruct reformist trends inside the country, as by blocking virtually all progressive candidates for upcoming elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts. The Journal suggests that this points to Khameneis interest in limiting foreign scrutiny of political trends while simultaneously encouraging undiminished hardline control over his constituency. Another Friday editorial, this one in Reuters, linked Khameneis anti-Western measures to the discord between the Saudis and the Iranians. The piece identified these two things as the biggest threats to detente between the US and Iran. Indeed, it looks like the two may mutually reinforce each other, as Khameneis reinvigoration of hardliners encourages more of the same activities that have made Arab nations particularly fearful of Irans ascendancy. But it remains to be seen whether the mutual reinforcement of these trends will lead to any reconsideration of the Obama administrations supposed pivot toward Iran. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenias membership to EAEU has no alternative. Economist, member of Eurasian Expert Club Tatul Manaseryan expressed such an opinion in an interview with journalist on January 23. Irrespective of the fact that the Eurasian Economic Union is in the stage of capacity building, it has no alternative as a regional union. Armenias membership to the EAEU has no alternative as well, the denial of which would mean a suicide in terms of politics and economics, Armenpress reports, Manaseryan mentioned. The economist underlined that 2015 was a year of hardships for the EAEU. In his words 2016 will be a year of opportunities for Armenia. There is great demand for Information Technologies in the EAEU, and Armenia has a leading position here and can utilize its opportunities. We must succeed in forming a clear national agenda, because 2016 will be both a year of opportunities and hardship, the economist concluded. 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. [January 22, 2016] Infrared Detector Market Worth 405.2 Million USD by 2020 PUNE, India, January 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Infrared Detector Market by Type (MCT, INGAAS, Pyroelectric, Thermopile Microbolometer and Others), Technology (Cooled Infrared, and Uncooled Infrared), Wavelength (Short, Medium, and Long Infrared), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2020", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to reach USD 405.2 Million by 2020, at a CAGR of 9.83% between 2015 and 2020. Browse 89 market Tables and 53 Figures spread through 161 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Infrared Detector Market". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ir-detector-market-161116561.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The increasing awareness of IR detector in manufacturing and industrial applications, uncooled infrared technology, and wide acceptance of IR detector in different applications are the major drivers for the infrared detector market. Uncooled infrared detector technology is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2015 and 2020 The market for uncooled infrared detector technology sensors is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Features such as high reliability, smaller size, and lower costs would drive the uncooled IR detectors market. People and motion sensing application is expected to lead the infrared detector market Infrared detector is primarily used in the people and motion sensing application, and currently, it holds the leading position in the overall market. the increasing use of IR detectors in places such as airports, museums, retail shops, and libraries for counting the people and for motion detection have resulted in the dominating position of the people and motion sensing application in the infrared detector market. Asia-Pacific expected to hold the largest market share and witness rapid growth during the forecast period Asia-Pacific accounted for the largest share of the infrared detector market in 2014; the market in this region is expeced to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, mainly owing to an increased demand for infrared detectors from temperature measurement, military and defense, and industrial applications. Ask PDF Brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=161116561 The major players in this market include Excelitas Technologies Corp., (U.S.), Nippon Ceramic Co., Ltd (Japan), Hamamatsu Photonic K.K. (Japan), Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd (Japan), FLIR Systems Inc. (U.S.), Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), Texas Instruments Inc. (U.S.), Infra Tec GmbH (Germany), Raytheon Company (U.S.), Omron Incorporation (Japan), and Sofradir (France) among others. This research report categorizes the global infrared detector market on the basis of type, technology, wavelength, application, and geography. This report describes the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges for the growth of the market. The Porter's five forces analysis has been included in the report with a description of each of the forces and their respective impact on the infrared detector market. Browse Related Reports Infrared Imaging Market by Component (IR Lens System, IR Detector, and Other Components), Technology (Cooled, Uncooled), wavelength (Short, Medium, Long Infrared), Application and Geography - Analysis & Forecast to 2014 - 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/infrared-IR-sensing-imaging-market-593.html Infrared Thermography Market in Building Inspection by Application (Energy Auditing, Building Performance, & Others), Building Type (Residential, Commercial, & Others), Platform (Hardware & Software), & Geography - Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/thermography-building-inspection-market-194389420.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2016] Dos Rios Partners Announces Investment in ikan International AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The management teams of ikan International ("ikan") and Dos Rios Partners ("Dos Rios") are pleased to announce that Dos Rios recently completed an investment in ikan and MicroSearch. Founded in 2005 by CEO, Kan Yeung, and headquartered in Houston, TX, ikan is a fast-growing, entrepreneurial company that designs, markets, and distributes high quality video and film production equipment and camera accessories primarily sold under the ikan brand name. MicroSearch is a Houston-based specialty retailer and integrator of video production cameras and accessories. ikan's founding vision was to produce high-quality and affordable video production equipment backed by industry-leading service and support. Today, ikan offers more than a thousand products tailored to the needs of those engaged in motion picture production, broadcast endeavors, and still photography at all levels of proficiency from beginners, to aspiring practitioners, to industry professionals. In addition to high-quality video monitors, the company has a full range of lighting equipment, camera support and stabilization systems, teleprompters, and accessories for both studio and field video production. Yeung said, "The partnership with Dos Rios brings ew resources that secure ikan's ability to continue our rapid growth and better serve our customers and dealers. I look forward to Dos Rios' support as we pursue additional growth opportunities including new products, expanded distribution, internal improvements, and strategic acquisitions to propel the company to the next level." Kevin Benoit, a co-founding Partner of Dos Rios, offered, "We are privileged to partner alongside this strong management team in a unique and growing niche market. ikan is a remarkably nimble company that has responded swiftly to the changes in the evolving video production market with a growing portfolio of products that meet every need and budget. We look forward to working with Kan Yeung, James Tian and the rest of the ikan team to build on the company's existing legacy." ABOUT DOS RIOS PARTNERS Dos Rios Partners is a Texas-based private equity partnership formed to invest in the junior (i.e., common, preferred and/or mezzanine) securities of proven, growing niche businesses with approximately $2 $10 million in EBITDA, generally alongside strong, motivated sponsors and management teams. Dos Rios can help these small businesses with either control or non-control transactions. Dos Rios is strategically located in three major metropolitan areas and five major cities (i.e., Austin/San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston). For questions or inquiries, please contact Kevin Benoit or Joseph Mercer at (512) 298-0801 or visit http://www.dosriospartners.com. Dos Rios was represented in the transaction by Locke Lord (legal), GCG (insurance), and Montgomery Coscia Greilich, LLP (accounting). Cadence provided debt financing to support the transaction. Glaucon Capital Partners served as ikan's financial advisor. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dos-rios-partners-announces-investment-in-ikan-international-300208607.html SOURCE Dos Rios Partners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2016] Fitch Upgrades Natomas USD, CA's GOs to 'A-'; Outlook Stable Fitch Ratings has upgraded the following Natomas Unified School District, California (the district) general obligation (GO) bond ratings: --$6.96 million GO refunding bonds, series 1999, and GO bonds (election of 2002), series 2004B to 'A-' from 'BBB+'. The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY The bonds are supported by the district's full faith, credit, and unlimited ad valorem property tax pledge. KEY RATING DRIVERS PROJECTED RETURN TO STRUCTURAL BALANCE: The district is projecting a return to positive-to-breakeven general fund operations from fiscal 2016 onwards, despite ongoing labor cost pressures. LOWER BUT SOLID GENERAL FUND BALANCES: Because of net operating deficits after transfers in fiscal years 2013-2015, the district has lower but still solid general fund balances. One-time state funds for mandated cost settlements are expected to protect the general fund balance in fiscal 2016. MIXED SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT: Although the district's wealth characteristics are above average and the regional unemployment rate is much improved, there are indications of socioeconomic constraints for many of the district's families. REBOUNDING TAX BASE: The district's assessed valuation (AV) continues its strong recovery from the housing-led recession. Residential housing construction has resumed since the de facto construction moratorium was lifted in June 2015 and is expected to boost student enrollment. HIGH DEBT BURDEN; RISING CARRYING COSTS: The district's debt burden remains very high with moderate amortization. Carrying costs for debt service, pension, and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) are affordable, although pension costs will increase due to scheduled increases in pension contribution rates for two state-sponsored pension systems. RATING SENSITIVITIES The rating upgrade assumes the district's ongoing financial and administrative stability, particularly in relation to general fund structural balance, strong reserves, and good liquidity. CREDIT PROFILE Located in the northwestern portion of Sacramento County, approximately four miles north of downtown Sacramento, the district is home to approximately 73,000 residents. It is responsible for 13 schools plus four fiscally dependent charter schools. Approximately one-quarter of its student body attends charter schools. LOWER BUT SOLID GENERAL FUND BALANCES As previously anticipated by Fitch, the district ended fiscal 2015 with a lower, but still good, unrestricted general fund balance of $9.3 million or 10.4% of spending, down from a peak $19.5 million or 29.7% of spending in fiscal 2012. The general fund's net operating deficit of $4.7 million in fiscal 2015 occurred despite a 13.7% increase in general fund revenues. Concurrently, the district's general fund expenditures increased by a high 17.5%, largely caused by remuneration cost increases agreed in anticipation of ongoing funding improvements under the state's local control funding formula (LCFF). The district's current labor contracts for both certificated and classified employees include a high 6% base salary increase, 1.5% off-schedule salary increases in each of fiscals 2015 and 2016, and other remuneration enhancements. In line with previous projections, the district expects to resume balanced general fund operations in fiscal 2016 due to LCFF funding increases and rising student enrollment (up 3.5%), bolstered by approximately $5 million in one-time state funds for mandated cost settlements. The district expects to negotiate further base salary increases in fiscal 2017. A 2% increase would cost an estimated $1.3 million, effectively voiding most of the $1.8 million net operating surplus after transfers currently projected for that year. Rolling forward, such a salary increase will have the same impact on fiscal 2018, effectively meaning two years of near breakeven general fund operations. Nevertheless, general fund balances are projected to remain solidly above the district's 9% minimum unrestricted general fund balance policy. After some significant cash flow weakness in the past, the district ended fiscal 2015 with improved and solid general fund cash and investments and does not anticipate any cash flow weakness in fiscals 2016-2018. The district maintains good access to borrowable resources with $62.2 million available outside the general fund (equivalent to approximately 70% of fiscal 2015 general fund spending). The district remains committed to its policy of maintaining a minimum 9% general fund reserve, which is well in excess ofthe state's 3% minimum reserve requirement. The board has also committed additional funds for known one-time expenditures such as textbook purchases and technology upgrades. IMPROVING ECONOMY AND TAX BASE Census data indicate that the district's wealth characteristics are above average. However, the district's 63% unduplicated count of English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and foster care youths also suggests socioeconomic constraints for many of the district's families. The county unemployment rate is much improved at 5.6% in November 2015, compared to 6.8% a year prior. Employment growth has consistently outstripped labor force growth since 2012. REBOUNDING TAX BASE During fiscals 2010-2013, the district's AV declined by a cumulative 23.9%. This was due to both the housing-led recession and a de facto moratorium on new construction pending levee improvements around the Natomas flood plain to meet certain flood requirements. Subsequently, despite the continued construction moratorium, there was a partial AV rebound propelled by improving residential property prices, with AV growing by 16.8% in fiscals 2014-2016. Further tax base growth is expected, since the de facto construction moratorium was lifted in June 2015. Per city of Sacramento ordinance, residential development will be limited each calendar year to 1,000 single-family houses and 500 multiple-family units (given that the levee improvements have yet to be completed). In addition to fueling AV growth, such levels of residential construction should also increase student enrollment and related per-pupil revenues under LCFF. Competition for students from charter schools appears to be stabilizing. The city has yet to see concrete interest in commercial development beyond some retail construction. HIGH DEBT BURDEN; RISING CARRYING COSTS Overall debt equals a high $8,725 per capita and 7.7% of AV. Debt amortization is moderate at 42% in 10 years, taking into account the district's limited exposure to capital appreciation bonds. AV growth and any future GO bond refundings will determine the timing and amounts of future new money bond issuances under two outstanding voter authorizations. Fitch expects that new debt issuances to fund the district's capital master plan will keep overall debt levels high for the foreseeable future. The district's fiscal 2015 carrying costs (debt repayment, annually required pension contribution, and OPEB pay-as-you-go contributions) cumulatively totaled an affordable 15.4% of total governmental spending. However, such carrying costs are likely to rise. In addition to repayment of additional bonded indebtedness, pension costs are expected to rise over the next several years due to scheduled increases in pension contribution rates for two state-sponsored pension systems. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Fitch recently published an exposure draft of state and local government tax-supported criteria (Exposure Draft: U.S. Tax-Supported Rating Criteria, dated Sept. 10, 2015). The draft includes a number of proposed revisions to existing criteria. If applied in the proposed form, Fitch estimates the revised criteria would result in changes to less than 10% of existing tax-supported ratings. Fitch expects that final criteria will be approved and published by the end of the first quarter of 2016. Once approved, the criteria will be applied immediately to any new issue and surveillance rating review. Fitch anticipates the criteria to be applied to all ratings that fall under the criteria within a 12-month period from the final approval date. In addition to the sources of information identified in the applicable criteria specified below, this action was informed by information from CreditScope. Applicable Criteria Exposure Draft: U.S. Tax-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 10 Sep 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=869942 Tax-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 14 Aug 2012) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=686015 U.S. Local Government Tax-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 14 Aug 2012) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=685314 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=998262 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=998262 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005924/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2016] Dell and Adrian Grenier Announce Legacy of Good Short Film Contest Dell (News - Alert) and Adrian Grenier today announced the "Legacy of Good" short documentary film contest with the intent to create inspiring stories on the circular economy movement and the role of technology in creating a better future. As the Dell Social Good Advocate, Grenier will work directly with the winning filmmaker to develop and promote the film. Supporting partners committed to fostering digital storytelling include Adobe, Austin Film Society, FilmFreeway, The Huffington Post, RED Digital Cinema and SHFT. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005939/en/ The winning filmmaker will receive a cash prize of $25,000 for production costs and $20,000 (approximate retail value) of technology for use in the making of the short film, including a Dell Precision tower workstation, Dell UltraSharp 27" 5K monitor, RED Scarlet-W camera and a year's subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. Film production assistance will be provided by SHFT and Austin Film Society and FilmFreeway will serve as the film contest submission and promotion partner. As the official media partner, The Huffington Post (News - Alert) will produce a circular economy content series, including a Q&A with the winning filmmaker, and will screen the winning film. "We're looking to engage filmmakers who are passionate about social-good issues and want to drive positive change through the power of storytelling," said Grenier. "There are many inspiring examples of how innovative thinking and new technologies can help us to create a more sustainable economy and we want to bring these stories to light to help inspire broader action." A circular economy seeks to design waste out of the system, allowing us all to use resources more efficiently and for longer periods of time. The contest will be won by the entry that offers the most promise to build awareness and understanding of the benefits of the circular economy and the role of technology in a more sustainable future. Entries of a written synopsis, sample video (1-2 minutes) and supporting visuals will be accepted January 22 - March 31, 2016 at www.filmfreeway.com/festival/legacyofgood, where full rules and guidelines are available. The winner will be selected by a panel of film, circular economy and technology experts and announced on Earth Day, April 22. Adrian Grenier will present the prize package to the winning filmmaker by May 15. The final film must be 5-10 minutes long and completed by August 15, 2016. Tweet this: Enter short doc film contest on #circulareconomy from @AdrianGrenier @Dell and partners http://bit.ly/1NllTPk About Dell Dell Inc. listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. Dell looks beyond its walls to inspire sustainable practices throughout its entire ecosystem, making sustainability easier for customers, communities and partners. More at www.dell.com/environment. About Adrian Grenier Adrian Grenier is an actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur and social advocate born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and raised in New York City. As an actor he is best known for playing the iconic role of A-list movie star Vincent Chase in eight seasons of the HBO smash hit "Entourage," broadening his work behind the camera as a documentary filmmaker through his company Reckless Productions. An investor and advisor to emerging technology ventures, Grenier is a passionate environmentalist who has actively supported organizations focusing on habit-changing education. In 2009 he co-founded SHFT.com, a content creation/curation hub promoting sustainable green living through film, design, art and other platforms. Its projects include the SHFT Mobile Kitchen Classroom, which provides New York City high school students opportunities to engage in experiential lessons around food, health and sustainability. Grenier also serves as a social good advocate on behalf of Dell, championing healthier, eco-friendly choices through digital storytelling and advocacy. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005939/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2016] Fitch Affirms American Charter Schools Foundation (AZ) at 'BB' Fitch Ratings affirms the 'BB' rating on approximately $72.6 million series 2007A bonds issued by the Pima County Industrial Development Authority, Arizona (PCIDA). The bonds were issued on behalf of the American Charter Schools Foundation (ACSF). The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY The bonds are secured by a joint and several pledge of the revenues of 10 ACSF schools in Arizona (collectively, the bond schools), which primarily consist of state aid based on enrollment. The bonds are additionally secured by a debt service reserve (DSR). The schools also make annual renewal and replacement deposits. Charter payments from the state are made directly to the bond trustee. KEY RATING DRIVERS WEAK FINANCIAL PROFILE: The rating reflects a history of near break-even GAAP operations (fiscal 2015 margins were 2.2%), a very limited financial cushion, a high debt burden and adequate, albeit limited, coverage of transaction maximum annual debt service (TMADS). ACSF's financial profile has characteristics consistent with a speculative grade rating. ENROLLMENT ISSUES PERSIST: Aggregate enrollment at the 10 schools leveled out, falling 0.7% in fall 2015 (fiscal 2016), much less than the 12% decline in fall 2014 (fiscal 2015). Enrollment volatility is uneven among the 10 schools and the recent declines are a credit concern. However, the charter management organization (CMO) has a track-record of managing effectively through enrollment fluctuations, and fiscal 2015 operations were positive even with a large enrollment decline. STRUCTURAL BONDHOLDER PROVISIONS: Legal and structural security measures include a trustee intercept of state aid. This provides for payment of debt service before any pro-rata distribution of revenues to the schools, and contractual subordination of the CMO fee. RATING SENSITIVITIES MARGIN DETERIORATION: Should American Charter School Foundation's operating margin deteriorate, causing transactional maximum annual debt service coverage for the 10 bond schools to fall below 1x, or further weakening of already slim balance sheet resources, negative rating action is likely. ENROLLMENT AND RENEWAL PRESSURES: Failure to stabilize enrollment would negatively pressure the rating. Additionally, Fitch will monitor charter renewals for the 10 schools, all of which expire in 2017 or 2018. STANDARD SECTOR CONCERNS: A limited financial cushion, substantial reliance on enrollment-driven, per-pupil funding and charter renewal risk are credit concerns common among all charter school transactions which, if pressured, could have a negative impact on the rating. CREDIT PROFILE ACSF is composed of 10 high schools, nine of which operate in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area. A tenth school operates in Tucson. Enrollment in fall 2015 was 3,772, down 0.7% from fall 2014, reflecting some stabilization from fall 2014 (enrollment of 3,800, down 12% from the year before). All of the 10 bond schools are alternative schools except for South Ridge High School. The schools maintain independent charters from the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools (ASBCS). Each charter has a 15-year term (which is standard in Arizona) and expires in 2017 or 2018. The schools currently remain in good standing under their charters, and ASBCS reports a positive working relationship with the operator. Seven of the schools' charters are up for renewal in 2017; the remaining three in 2018. The ACSF bond schools each have management agreements with the Leona Group, one of the larger CMOs in Arizona. At this time, Leona manages 58 charter schools nationwide, including 25 in Arizona, including the 10 bond schools. Leona maintains dual headquarters in Arizona and Michigan. ENROLLMENT STRESSES OPERATIONS Fall enrollment fell 0.7% in fall 2015, less than the 12% decline in fall 2014. The prior two academic years saw enrollment increase modestly. Fitch views enrollment volatility negatively, but notes that fiscal 2015 operations were positive even with the large fall 2014 enrollment dip. The CMO has a track-record of managing operations through nrollment volatility. Management reports continued focus on growing enrollment, and notes that most of the schools have available physical capacity. Enrollment volatility over time is reflected in the 'BB' rating. SLIM OPERATING PERFORMANCE The 'BB' rating reflects a financial profile that Fitch considers consistent with a non-investment-grade rating. ACSF's GAAP operating margin varies year to year. Margins were 2.2% for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, which compares to 4.1% in fiscal 2014, and negative 1.1% in fiscal 2013. Management projects fiscal 2016 operating results to be somewhat slimmer than fiscal 2015, but still balanced. The ACFS bond schools, as a group, have generated slim but positive TMADS coverage in each of the last six years. Fitch defines TMADS as maximum annual debt service excluding a balloon payment in the last maturity (typically funded from the DSR). TMADS coverage was 1.3x for fiscal 2015, compared to 1.4x for fiscal 2014, and 1.1x in 2013. The annual debt service coverage requirement is 1x; a higher coverage level is required for issuance of additional bonds. LIMITED BALANCE SHEET In addition to slim operating results, ACFS has a weak balance sheet; both factors limit operating flexibility. Available funds, defined as cash and investments not permanently restricted, was $2.1 million at the end of fiscal 2015, improved from $1.5 million in 2014 and $994,000 in 2013. Fiscal 2015 available funds still represented a very slim 6.9% of operating expenses ($30.5 million) and 2.9% of outstanding debt (about $73 million). HIGH DEBT BURDEN ACSF has a high debt burden, which is typical of the sector. TMADS of $5.6 million (in 2038) represented 17.9% of fiscal 2015 operating revenues, comparable to recent years. No additional debt is planned for the ACSF bond schools at this time. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE All Arizona schools, including charter schools, transitioned to Common Core (CC) academic standards and testing in the 2014/2015 academic year. This transition means that 2014/2015 academic test results are not comparable to those of prior years, and the state is still developing a rating scale for Arizona schools. For the 2013/2014 academic year, seven of the schools met the ASBCS dashboard expectations, and three did not. The academic performance of the 10 schools varied widely; two received the highest 'A' designation, four received a 'B', and four received a 'C'. During the 2012/2013 academic year, all 10 schools met the state's academic expectations. For the 2014/2015 academic year, test results are expected to be posted publicly, but school letter grades will not be assigned. Fitch understands that 2014/2015 test results will not drive the authorizer renewal process. Seven of the 10 ACSF bond schools have charter expirations in 2017, and for five of those schools renewal is not expected to be an issue due to meeting ASBCS dashboard requirements in 2013/2014. For the other two 2017 renewal schools, ACSF reports that they have provided academic progress data to ASBCS. Given the timing of ASCSF charter renewals, the lack of comparable academic results, and the importance of academic performance historically in that process, there is uncertainty in the 2017 renewal process. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com' Applicable Criteria Charter School Rating Criteria (pub. 05 Nov 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=872774 Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 16 Jun 2014) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=750012 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=998269 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=998269 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005965/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ventings from a guy with an unhealthy interest in budgets, policy, the dismal science, life in the Upper Midwest, and brilliant beverages. Blogging to you from the Northeastern Badlands of The County of Lake, in the state currently known as Fatmanistan, DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP inside the heartland of the Banana Republic formerly known as the USA, WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! WARNING! ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE ADDICTIVE; EXCESSIVE USE MAY LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, REDUCED JOB PRODUCTIVITY, INSOMNIA, SOCIAL ALIENATION, GENITAL ULCERS, BLINDNESS, POLITICAL EROTICISM, AND / OR DEVIANT FUNAMBULISM. NOTICE: NO GUNS OR AMMUNITION ARE FOR SALE VIA THIS BLOG. (No, I will not trade my Colt Python for some lubricious adventures with your trophy wife and a future first-round draft pick.) CAVEAT: This blog is not suitable for viewing while at work, while inside a public library, while inside any public or private school, or while inside any public or private restroom. Do not view this blog while driving a motor vehicle or while piloting an aircraft. Viewing this blog may be illegal inside the EU, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and other parts of the Third World. THIS BLOG CONTAINS (albeit often very childish) ADULT-CONTENT. DISCLAIMER: This blog is a hobby, it is not a livelihood. Even though much of what I blog about relates to firearms collecting and recreational shooting, I am not an expert (by any measure) on any facet of guns, shooting, hunting, or personal defense. Entries at this blog are akin to good old-fashioned campfire chats or post hunt bourbon-fueled barroom-bluster; I offer no opinion on what you should or should not purchase, or what you should be using or doing. What does or does not work for me could be rugged-country-miles away from your tastes and your needs. All products, places, and miscellany that I review for this blog are purchased / rented / leased at retail price by me. I do not accept payment, gifts, discounts, freebies, products on loan, distilled spirits, recreational pharmaceuticals, plea-bargains, probation, parole, Papal Blessings, Presidential Pardons, or sexual favors for doing any review or blog post. TRACKING COOKIES: Google et al stick tracking cookies on everybody. If you are online, you are being spied on via one method or another, for one reason or another; 'nuff said. You may be able to minimize your online DNA residue by using Tor and Duck Duck Go. Vive la liberte! Vive all y'all! Ante omnia armari. To each of you, thanks for stopping by! YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Russia must end its direct or indirect involvement in conflicts in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and stop interfering with their EU aspirations. Armenpress reports, citing Deutsche welle, reads the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on January 21. In a resolution welcoming the progress of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on their "chosen path of closer political and economic integration with the European Union", MEPs call on Russia to end its direct or indirect involvement in conflicts in the territories. At the same time, one year after the three ratified their association and deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (AA/DCFTAs) with the EU, MEPs highlight remaining reform tasks for each country. They point out that Georgias exports to the EU rose by 15%, and Moldovas by 62% in the first year, and say they expect to similar growth in those from Ukraine. MEPs also point out that EU financial support must be matched by concrete progress on reform. Georgia: independence of media and courts MEPs worry about the independence of the judiciary and possible threats to media pluralism in Georgia, referring, for example, to a lawsuit over ownership of the "Rustavi 2" broadcaster. They back the idea of sending an EU expert mission to oversee the case. They also criticize "blurred criteria" for appointing prosecutors and investigators and also the undue pressure exerted on judges at the Constitutional Court of Georgia, pressure acknowledged by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. Moldova: the new government must deliver MEPs welcome the newly-approved government of Moldova, which is now taking office after more than a year of stalemate and "systemic political instability". They also deplore the theft of 1 billion from Moldova's banking system, and urge that those responsible be brought to justice. Ukraine: Russias shadow, corruption, Dutch referendum MEPs condemn Russias suspension of its free trade agreement with Ukraine at the very moment when the EU-Ukraine free trade deal entered into force. They deplore the "heavy trade restrictions" on Ukraines exports to Russia, voice concerns about Ukraine's economic and financial standstill and repeat the need for further EU financial assistance. They call on EU member states to avoid building new gas pipelines from Russia that bypass Ukraine, such as "Nord Stream II". They expect Ukraines leadership to fulfil its commitments to fight "endemic" corruption, which, they say, remains the biggest challenge to its reform efforts. Once, when I asked my friend from a small tribe in Burma how they would say breakfast there, she told me that they didnt have a word for it because they only ate twice a day--lunch and dinner. I happen to have a lot of friends who speak English as their second language and that made me realize that a language has a lot to do with its cultures uniqueness. Because of that there are some untranslatable words. In Japanese culture, people have a lot of appreciation towards nature and it is very important to be polite towards others. That politeness and the nature appreciation reflected on to its language and created some beautiful words that are not translatable to English. Itadakimasu "Itadakimasu" means I will have this. It is used before eating any food to express appreciation and respect for life, nature, the person who prepared the food, the person who served the food, and everything else that is related to eating. Otsukaresama "Otsukaresama" means youre tired. It is used to let someone know that you recognize his/her hard work and that you are thankful for it. Komorebi "Komorebi" refers to the sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees. Kogarashi "Kogarashi" is the cold wind that lets us know of the arrival of winter. Mononoaware "Monoaware" is "the pathos of things." It is the awareness of the impermanence of all things and the gentle sadness and wistfulness at their passing. Shinrinyoku Shinrinyoku ("forest bathing") is to go deep into the woods where everything is silent and peaceful for a relaxation. Yuugen "Yuugen" is an awareness of the universe that triggers emotional responses that are too mysterious and deep for words. Shoganai The literal meaning of "Shoganai" is it cannot be helped. However, it is not discouraging or despairing. It means to accept that something was out of your control. It encourages people to realize that it wasnt their fault and to move on with no regret. / kintsuki/kintsukuroi "Kintsukuroi" is the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver joining the pieces and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. Wabi-sabi "Wabi-sabi" refers to a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and peacefully accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay. All the onomatopoeia English has onomatopoeia, but Japanese has far more. For example, we have om-nom-nom for eating and they have paku-paku for eating normally, baku-baku for eating wildly, gatsu-gatsu for eating fast, mogu-mogu for chewing a lot, etc. Doesnt it make your head spin? The onomatopoeia for that kind of dizziness is kurukuru by the way. The image above is showing some of those onomatopoeia. As you can see, Japanese onomatopoeia is usually a repetitive sound. Although it might be a very difficult concept to understand, it adds a melody and an emotional meaning to a word. Japanese sounds poetic because of the onomatopoeia. Beside Kiev railway station there is a space the size of a small waiting room and on this dank December evening the first homeless people are filing in, some a little hesitantly as this is a new destination; until recently they were sleeping rough outside and in derelict buildings or tunnels anywhere to escape the vicissitudes of the harsh Ukrainian winter. The room has been made habitable through the installation of benches by Depaul International in response to an urgent request from the beleaguered railway authorities, struggling to cope with the hundreds of destitute people living rough in the vicinity of the station. I and fellow trustees from the London Housing Foundation (LHF), a grant-making charity providing financial support for Depauls work in the Ukraine and Slovakia, are visiting to witness at first hand the homelessness situation in these countries and the impact of Depauls work. Svetlana shows no reticence in talking about her situation. Following the loss of her identification documents she has been sleeping rough for a number of weeks. Despite an itinerant lifestyle Svetlana has been working regularly, but now the loss of her papers has rendered her unemployable. Given that the night ahead will require her to sleep sitting upright squeezed between other bodies, Svetlana is unnervingly cheerful though her chirpiness, she explains, is due to relief at not having to sleep outside in sub-zero temperatures. In the Ukraine the consequences of being without the right documents cannot be over-emphasised. This is not an issue akin to the temporary inconvenience suffered by a UK rough sleeper awaiting the arrival of a replica birth certificate to have a benefit claim authorised. In the Ukraine there is an incessant requirement for papers to be presented and stamped. Documents are essential for securing accommodation, medical care and legal employment and the result of being without documents is invariably homelessness and destitution. Throughout our visit it was reported with depressing consistency that often more than a year will elapse before lost documents are replaced and from support staff working with the homeless we heard that, astonishingly, some people had been without documents since the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. We may rhetorically speak of homeless people being invisible, but in the Ukraine it seems there is a group of destitute people who are essentially stateless, non-persons. In the last few years Depaul has worked with tenacity and imagination to provide basic services to a vast number of homeless people in the Ukraine and Slovakia. In Slovakias capital Bratislava we visit a former warehouse, upgraded with financial assistance from the LHF to shelter the homeless of the city. By UK standards it is rudimentary. The cloying, sickly-sweet smell of unwashed bodies hangs in the air. The year before the shelter opened, 26 people died on the citys streets during the brutal winter months. This figure fell to zero the year the shelter became operational. An hours drive from Odessa in southern Ukraine, Depaul has built two houses, one for men and another for women. At the womens house we meet three women determinedly re-building their lives. They have bleak stories of violent relationships, addiction and children taken into care and speak with quiet dignity about their hopes and dreams and the benefits of being away from the city and its tensions. Here, they agree, it is a fairy tale. Ave Maria. Somehow, the importance of identity, self-worth and hope is perfectly encapsulated in the aching melancholy of the piece; we are stunned by this special moment. Then one of the women who has spoken movingly about her former life as a musician opens up a battered violin case. Tenderly taking out the instrument she embarks on a beautiful rendition of Schuberts. Somehow, the importance of identity, self-worth and hope is perfectly encapsulated in the aching melancholy of the piece; we are stunned by this special moment. We spent three days witnessing the struggle of people painstakingly attempting to rebuild lives from the rubble of traumatic pasts in conditions that seemed at times unremittingly bleak. Systems, especially those requiring documentation to negotiate them, appeared designed to create barriers rather than to offer hope or encourage initiative. The resilience and unquenchable spirit of many of the homeless people we met in the face of such obstacles was remarkable. We are, of course, committed to assessing the impact of all the services we fund. But, in truth, I have no idea how Depauls essential work can be given a real numerical or financial value. What is the worth of preventing 26 people dying on the streets of Bratislava? Measure that my friends measure that. This blog was originally published in Inside Housing on 22nd January 2016 CHARLESTON -- The Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted on Friday to not increase student housing rates for 2016-17, a move designed to help keep EIU competitive with other universities in student recruitment. In addition, the board gave President David Glassman authority to take action on whether WEIU will be part of the Federal Communications Commission's reverse auction for the broadcast spectrum of participating stations. They also honored the late Robert Webb, who was EIU board vice chairman and a past president of Lake Land College. Regarding the housing rates, the board voted 5-3 to not increase these rates for the 2016-17 academic year. For example, the housing rates and seven-meal plan option for residence halls and Greek Court would remain at $4,233 per semester for fall and spring, based on double occupancy. Lynette Drake, interim associate vice president for student affairs, said not annually increasing housing rates is an action that Eastern has rarely taken in the last 40 years. She said this action follows EIU's commitment to provide affordable student housing. She said the student housing committee unanimously supports not increasing the 2016-17 rates. In response to questions from Trustee Kristopher Goetz, Drake said that Eastern's expenses for providing housing services will grow by an estimated 2.3 percent in 2016-17. Without a rate increase, she said EIU will offset rising expenses by drawing from reserve funds and continuing to be a good steward of housing revenue. Trustees Goetz and Timothy Burke joined with board Chairman Rene Hutchinson in voting against the proposal to not increase the rates. Burke and Board Vice Chairman Joseph Dively, who voted for the proposal, both expressed concerns about drawing down Eastern's reserve funds at a time when state funding levels are uncertain. Dively said not increasing the housing rates will help with marketing Eastern and keeping the university's student housing as one of the most affordable student housing options in Illinois at a time when EIU is trying to increase enrollment. "I think it's the right thing to do in the times but it is not sustainable," Dively said. Regarding the spectrum auction, Eastern reports that the FCC is preparing to conduct a reverse auction for participating stations. EIU reports that each participant may or may not relinquish its license for payment, share a channel with another broadcaster, relinquish a UHF channel and move to a high VHF or low VHF channel, or relinquish a high VHF channel and move to a low VHF channel. President Glassman said Eastern has filed an application to participate in the auction, which is scheduled to start on March 29. He said the university has approximately two months to determine if WEIU will participate in the auction and what the terms and the price will be if WEIU does participate. Goetz asked Glassman to ensure that whatever action Eastern takes with WEIU is in the best interest of the education experience for broadcast students and the general student body. "That is a paramount consideration on whether or not to participate in the action," Glassman said in response. He said FCC rules prohibit public discussions about whether the university will engage in bidding, bid strategies and the bid process. In other matters, the board paid tribute to Webb during a meeting that was attended by his widow, Lourdine, and several of his family members. He died on Oct. 5 at age 87. Webb served in many roles over the years in the community, including as a founding administrator of Lake Land and president of this college from 1972 to 1984. He was appointed to the Eastern board in August 2004 and was vice chairman at the time of his death. EIU board members noted Webb's longtime commitment to public service and community involvement, as well as being a lifelong learner. "Rest in piece my friend. Bob Webb, thank you," said Trustee Roger Kratochvil. CHARLESTON -- A probation term will follow a man's prison sentence after he admitted to two methamphetamine offenses. Slade N. Crothers, 28, for whom court records list an address of 101 Lake Land Mobile Estates, Mattoon, pleaded guilty to charges of methamphetamine possession and delivery of methamphetamine. Crothers admitted having the drug on March 16 and received a 2-1/2-year prison sentence for that conviction. A prison term of two to 10 years was required because of his criminal record. He also admitted distributing methamphetamine on Jan. 22 of last year and his three-year probation sentence for that conviction will start once he's release from prison. A charge alleging Crothers also had methamphetamine on June 28 was dismissed. Records show his prior convictions include several offenses, including one drug offense, for which he served prison time. Coles County Circuit Judge Teresa Righter sentenced Crothers by accepting a plea agreement that Assistant State's Attorney Bryant Hitchings and Public Defender Anthony Ortega recommended. In other drug cases, Righter also accepted guilty pleas from: Caleb S. Hackler, 29, whose address on record is 19 D St., Charleston, to a methamphetamine possession charge alleging he had the drug on April 10. Hackler was placed on probation for 2-1/2 years with terms including counseling and payment of about $1,300 in fines and court fees. Jail time was stayed, meaning he won't have to serve it unless it's ordered later in case of violations. The agreement also included withdrawing a petition to revoke the probation sentence Hackler received for an earlier burglary conviction. He was ordered to remain in Coles County's drug court program in that case. Righter accepted a plea agreement that Hitchings and defense attorney Bryan Robbins recommended. Michelle A. Byford, 29, for whom records list an address of 1804 Richmond Ave., Mattoon, to a charge of possession of a controlled substance alleging she had a prescription medication on Aug. 17. Byford also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge accusing her of trespassing at a Mattoon residence and she received two years of first offender probation. The sentence means she won't have a record of a conviction if she completes it successfully. Terms included substance abuse treatment and about $1,600 in fines and fees. Hitchings and Ortega recommended the plea agreement. Andrew C. Denon, 22, for whom records list addresses of an apartment at 1515 S. Ninth St., Charleston, and in Plainfield, to a delivery of cannabis charge alleging he sold marijuana on Nov. 19. Terms of Denon's two-year first offender probation sentence included substance abuse treatment and about $1,300 in fines and fees. Hitchings and defense attorney Thomas Bruno recommended the plea agreement. 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. Job Description World Together is a Korean based international relief and development Non-Governmental Organization registered and licensed by the Federal Charities and Societies Agency of Ethiopia. The organization operates in the country with the vision helping and supporting poorest segment of the population. As part of its projects, the organization runs a TVET College that provides technical and vocational training at middle level. The organization would like to hire well qualified and competent candidate for the position of Assistant Trainer / B-Level/. Therefore, those applicants who are interested and fulfill the minimum requirements indicated below are invited to apply for the position before or on the deadline. Job Title- Assistant Trainer / B-Level/ Required Position- (4) Educational Qualification- Bachelor Degree in Electrical/Electronic field of study Work Experience 4 years experiences as a trainer in accredited TVET Institution Other requirements- Have TVET Methodology training and National Competency Assessment Certificate /COC / in related field /Level-III and above. Basic computer skill. Self-motivated. Good communication skills in English Language. Closing date: Jan 30, 2016 Your rating: none Rating: 0 0 votes How to Apply Applicants can send (via electronic or ordinary mail) or submit in person application letter, updated CV, and copy of academic credentials and work experiences to the addresses indicated below until January 30, 2016. Please do not send original documents as the documents are non-returnable to applicants. Late applications will not be considered!! Address: Send/submit applications either to LG KOICA Hope TVET College or to the Office of World Together: LG KOICA Hope TVET College: In the Premises of Summit Condominium, Addis Ababa Tel. + 0118691827; 0118691828; 0118691829 E-mail: lgkhtc2014@gmail.com P.O. Box: 20125/1000, Addis Ababa World Together: CMC Road, Bole Sub City, Woreda 08, Kebele 14/15;in front of Civil Service University, about 50meters behind Palm Building, Tel. +251-116-675101 NB: Please indicate application for AST under the Subject if you apply via e-mail. 3 total views, 3 today Job Description Schedule and performing routine preventive maintenance on all appropriate equipment as directed by Maintenance Supervisor and Manager. Inspecting and maintaining all tools in excellent condition. Ensuring the proper working of all utility systems and cut-offs. Ensuring work area clean-up and safety related duties. Inspecting and helping operators to operate the machines smoothly Reporting all major repairs and need requisitions to senior maintenance technician and manager prior to any expenditure of funds. Carrying out routine scheduled maintenance work and responding to equipment faults. Diagnosing breakdown problem and changing parts. Liaising with other maintenance and production colleagues. Dealing with emergencies, unplanned problems and repairs. Planning and undertaking scheduled maintenance. Performs any additional duties assigned by senior technician and manager. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES Working well under pressure Good verbal and written Amharic and English communication skills Qualification: BSc in Mechanical or Level V in Metal Engineering Technology Management or Level IV in Metal Engineering Production Management or Level III/II in GMFA from recognized University/College. Work Experience: Minimum of 1 year experience for Degree in maintenance, Production Manufacturing or 1 year for Level V or 2 years for Level IV or 3 years for III or 4 years for level II Closing date: Feb 01, 2016 Your rating: none Rating: 0 0 votes How to Apply Email: Recruitment@askuplc.com and/or through www.ethiojobs.net or in person at Head Office (Addis Ababa): Lancha Alpaulo building 4th floor opposite to Global Hotel Please mention the title of the position you applied for on the subject line of your email, candidates who do not follow the application instruction will not be considered. Note: only short listed candidates will be contacted 10 total views, 10 today All the Buddhists in Sri Lanka are now looking forward at the up coming Vesak festival 2015.So people are making many Vesak kudu lanterns... YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Masha and Misha bears of Gyumri zoo were transported to Yerevan zoo on January 22, where they will stay for some time before leaving for Romania. The time spent in Yerevan zoo will be used for their rehabilitation and special vaccination. Director of Gyumri zoo Stepan Vardanyan told Armenpress about this. I think they will stay in Yerevan for 20-30 days: special quarantine period is required for travelling abroad, Stepan Vardanyan mentioned, adding that during this period all documentary issues will be solved. Libearty Bear Sanctuary Animal Protection Association had expressed wish to take Masha and Misha bears to specially protected park of Romania, where animals live in a natural environment. According Stepan Vardanyan, the issue of lions is still uncertain. I think taking them to Yerevan zoo too, would be the right choice, the director added. Armenuhi Mkhoyan A before and after of the Hollister brothers' marker in a Middle Haddam, Conn., cemetery. Like this blog on Facebook | Follow me on Tw... There was a mirrored symmetry to the news last week that reflects badly -- but not unfairly -- on American agriculture. On Jan. 18, Farm Futures Magazine released its updated presidential surveys among farmers for both the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus and the overall United States. The clear leaders among farmers who said theyd vote GOP in either Republican contest were billionaire Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Its not too surprising that 66 percent of Iowas farmers and 59 percent of all U.S. farmers surveyed by the magazine chose two, largely untested political ideologues with little to no record in American farm and food policy. Poll after poll, after all, shows the nations Republicans collectively favor Trump and Cruz by as much or more than all the other GOP candidates combined. The reason, say political pros, is that this years GOP presidential race is being framed as a fight between simple and complex. Cruz and Trump offer simple solutions -- build a wall, bomb till the desert glows -- for costly, complex problems like illegal immigration and terrorism. The other candidates offer government -- complex, costly -- ideas. The electorate prefers simple and cheap because, say the pundits, it understands simple and cheap. Farmers and ranchers are often the same. Sure, almost all are far more deeply involved in government (crop insurance, soil and water conservation, federal grain standards, food safety laws) than other Americans, but, hey, they like simple and cheap, too. So Trump and Cruzs simple is solid in farm country. Simple also describes how Big Ag votes for U.S. presidents. Farm Futures explained it this way: (Our) survey is dominated by commercial-sized, full-time farmers where ... about 85% or more of these growers typically vote for Republican candidates at the presidential level. Wow, if elections in farm country really are that simple -- virtually every GOP candidate is A-OK in Big Ags eyes -- why would any candidate know the difference between, say, coffee and CAFOs or ethanol and your neighbor Ethel when one party already has 85 out of 100 votes in its pocket without needing to know, well, anything? This simple, sad electoral fact explains why most farm and food policy discussions are over before they begin: theres simply nothing to talk about because no one needs to know anything about farming and food to be elected. That lack of public discourse, however, has created a policy vacuum that Big Ag is very happy to fill. Today, more than ever before, just a handful of farm and commodity groups drive nearly all policy discussions at the local, state and federal level. By design, however, this narrow policy base delivers narrow-minded policies. For example, despite overwhelming consumer support to label the origin of meat and poultry sold in the U.S. -- Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL -- a few farm and commodity groups successfully held it at arms length until they finally strangled it with global trading rules. Some of those same groups worked to ditch the Waters of the U.S. rule even as consumer anger over water quality rises to a fever pitch. Others continue to fight any state effort to label food content, and a few even continue to claim that climate change is either a hoax or conspiracy or both. None of these simple solutions solves any of the underlying problems farmers and ranchers face now or down the road. Consumers will always want to know where their food comes from and will always want its ingredients labeled. Moreover, ditching any clean water effort by any government or public interest group only invites more consumer anger and more costly court fights. In the end, farmers and ranchers will lose on every one of these issues because, as they well know, the market -- consumers, voters, eaters -- is always right. Until then, however, well continue to believe that our illegal immigration problem will be solved by building a wall that theyll pay for, and well end todays brutal terrorism by carpet bombing somewhere, maybe everywhere, until we find out if sand can glow in the dark. Sure, thatll work. The Legislature will reconvene Monday at 10 a.m. and after several bills that would mostly eliminate obsolete language, senators will take up what is likely to be extended debate on a gun-related measure (LB289) that would place statewide uniformity on firearm laws, taking away certain local firearms regulations. "We need a statute in order to continue to have safe and stable adoptions in the Nebraska, the type of adoptions that are best for children." -- Attorney Susan Sapp, testifying on an open adoption bill (LB744) introduced by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse and discussed at a Judiciary Committee hearing Friday. The bill would allow adopting parents and birth parents to have written agreements to permit continuing communication and contact after adoptions in private or agency adoptions in which children are not state wards. Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers challenged a section of the bill that said noncompliance with the agreement would not be grounds for setting aside the adoption, revoking a relinquishment of parental rights, or challenge of the adoption. The bill says it also could not be enforced by civil action. The bill was brought because of a Nebraska Supreme Court decision in May that said any agreements signed with the promise of an open adoption will remain invalid in the court's eyes. Lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Kay Swift will be honored Monday when the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music presents its 12th annual "Celebration of American Song." The program -- written, directed and narrated by UNL voice professor Alisa Belflower -- will feature "The Ladies of Broadway," with UNL music faculty, students and alumni performing songs with music and/or lyrics written by American women. The program is 7:30 p.m. in Kimball Recital Hall, 11th and R streets. Ahrens is Stephen Flaherty's writing partner, having provided numerous lyrics to songs from such musicals as "Once on This Island," "Ragtime" and "Seussical." Donna Harler-Smith will perform "Times Like This" from "Lucky Stiff" (1988) and Alfonzo Cooper will sing "Make Them Hear You" from "Ragtime" (1996) that Ahrens co-wrote with Flaherty. Swift (1897-1993) was the first woman to completely score a hit musical. Written in 1930, "Fine and Dandy" includes some of her best-known songs, with the title song becoming a jazz standard. Leana Wolt and Krista Lawrence will perform Swift's biggest hit song, "Can't We Be Friends," from the musical "The Little Show" (1929). Jacqueline Goering will sing "Nobody Breaks My Heart" from "Fine and Dandy." Both Swift songs feature Paul James' lyrics. The first half of the show celebrates pioneers like Swift who wrote music in the early 20th century, while the second half celebrates women who are writing music today. Other women being recognized include Dorothy Donnelly, Ann Ronell, Dana Suesse, Dorothy Fields, Doris Fisher, Betty Comden, Kay Thompson, Nora Bayes, Georgia Stitt, Jeanini Tesori, Shaina Taub, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Carole King, whose 1967 hit pop song "A Natural Woman" was part of "Beautiful," the 2015 jukebox musical celebrating King's life and career. Tickets are $5, $3 for seniors and students, and are available at the door. With time running out on his days as a state senator, Ken Haar of Malcolm has presented the 2016 Legislature with a clean energy agenda and is preparing to rally young Nebraskans to protect their future. "There is an urgency" now as the world accepts the reality of climate change, Haar said during an interview in his Capitol office. "There is so much to do. "My focus is on what's the future going to be like for my grandchildren," he said. Clean energy has been a calling for Haar since he came to the Legislature and there have been some breakthroughs, but so much more still sits on his plate in his eighth and final term-limited year. Haar has introduced bills to divest the state from retirement fund investments in fossil fuels while increasing investment in clean energy; provide incentive grants for solar projects; require the Public Service Commission to review electric rate increases exceeding 2 percent; and create a health and climate resiliency task force to chart the future. "For me personally, the issue of climate change is mainly academic," Haar said, noting that he is 72. "For young people, it's their lives." Haar has organized a Nebraska Youth Summit on Climate that will meet in the Capitol this week. Seventy-five young people between the ages of 15 and 25 will learn how to engage with the legislative process and be briefed on the art of community organizing during the daylong summit. This is about their future, Haar said, with the debate about the reality of man-made climate change essentially over after 195 nations came together in Paris last month to make an unprecedented and unanimous commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Haar pointed to remarks by President Barack Obama in Omaha earlier this month to answer those who might still argue whether climate change is real. "Look," the president said, "if anybody still wants to dispute the science around climate change, have at it. "You will be pretty lonely because you'll be debating our military, most of America's business leaders, the majority of the American people, almost the entire scientific community and 200 nations around the world who agree it's a problem and intend to solve it." Haar has been there all along with legislative efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase support for wind energy, solar energy and energy conservation. He was the senator who prodded his colleagues to call themselves into special session in 2011 to consider legislation to halt or at least regulate the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline that TransCanada was preparing to route through Nebraska. Haar acquired the signatures of 21 senators, but couldn't reach the required number of 25 needed to summon a special session. However, that effort -- combined with the alarm bells sounded by Bold Nebraska and other groups committed to protect the fragile Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer -- helped prompt Gov. Dave Heineman to call the Legislature into special session on his own to deal with the issue. The "tipping point" actually might have occurred when a TransCanada video ad promoting the pipeline was met with a chorus of boos as it flashed on the big TV screen at Memorial Stadium during a Husker game, Haar said. Haar is reluctant to take credit for some of the environmental victories, but he will acknowledge that "I think I kinda started a lot of stuff." Solar and wind energy development is among that stuff, but not nearly at the pace Haar would like. As he finishes his final year in the Legislature, Haar said, he is beginning to identify and encourage senators who are ready to continue the effort. And there will be some, he said. One of Haar's new bills (LB1069) provides a novel means of encouraging development of clean energy reminiscent of Sen. Ernie Chambers' successful effort 36 years ago to divest Nebraska investment in South Africa's kruggerands -- which had been donated to the University of Nebraska -- as a statement of opposition to apartheid. The action by Chambers was the first anti-apartheid legislation adopted by any state. Haar's proposed task force (LB802) would draw a road map for state policy, legislation and funding. One of the lessons he has learned in public life, he said, is just start it and the end result may turn out to be even better than he had imagined. "Don't be afraid to engage," Haar said. "Don't be disappointed if you lose." Haar, whose legislative district is 80 percent urban and 20 percent rural, lives one-half mile south of Branched Oak Lake. In the woods are a pair of bald eagles and the nests of blue heron. He has seen wild turkey, deer and a mother bobcat on the move with two kittens. An environment worth saving. A board of senators Friday examined a compromise that allows Nebraska's inspector general for child welfare to get information more easily from state courts. Inspector General Julie Rogers told the Legislature's Executive Board she had run into obstacles in the past six months gaining access to case file information and administrative records from the Office of Probation Administration and judges. Rogers' office is charged with investigating death or serious injury of youth in the child welfare system and complaints of wrongdoing to children and families. The office also provides accountability and legislative oversight of those systems that serve children, including the juvenile justice cases handled by the Office of Probation Administration. Rogers had to seek orders to get information from the courts, which was time consuming and which was sometimes denied by judges. Several senators, including Omaha Sens. Bob Krist and Heath Mello, had decided they would seek legislation to move juvenile justice matters away from the judiciary branch -- which had balked at oversight from the Legislature -- and put it back in the executive branch. But more recently a compromise was worked out -- with which neither side was completely happy -- and Krist is attempting to put it into law with the bill (LB954) heard Friday by the Executive Board. Nebraska Court Administrator Corey Steel said the compromise is something the courts accept. But if the courts had their way, oversight from the inspector general wouldn't be part of it. "We're a third branch of government, and the chief justice and the Supreme Court have the oversight over the branch," Steel said. It was difficult for probation administration to hear that the hard work that's been done over the past couple of years was overshadowed by the issue of oversight, he said. But the simple fact is that's the way business is done now. The compromise establishes a way for judges to have a standardized court order -- the language of which has not yet been worked out -- that comes along with every case to allow Rogers to access information within five days if needed for an investigation. That should mean she would not have to travel around the state for court hearings. "Let me emphasize the critical importance of inspectors general having timely and unfettered access to records and information," Rogers told the board. The problem with the compromise comes if a judge decides he or she doesn't want to comply. "A judge could say, 'That won't be part of any of my standing orders.' Is that your understanding?" Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash said to Steel. "That is correct," Steel said. But in similar situations, Steel said, he cannot think of any court that has not implemented standard court orders when worked out. "I think that we will have high success in getting that language within those court orders, (and) on myself and the chief justice (Mike Heavican) educating the judiciary on the importance of this language, letting them know that we're in support of this endeavor." Coash told Steel he wished the court had just complied with the bill the Legislature passed last year, giving Rogers the authority to provide oversight and get juvenile justice information as needed. Steel said a lot of education needs to take place as to who owns court records. "The Supreme Court does not own trial court judges' records," he said. Lost Holocaust works to be performed The South Dakota Chorale will perform two previously lost Masses composed by Marcel Tyberg, who was killed at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. The concert, part of the Abenmusik series, is at 4 p.m. Sunday at First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D St. Brian Schmidt will lead the chorale, which will be accompanied by organist Christopher Jacobson. Now in its sixth year and based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the chorale has performed at an American Choral Directors Association national conference, signed an international recording contract and released two professionally-produced recordings on major classical labels. Tickets for the concert and reception are $15, $10 for senior citizens (age 62 and older) and $5 for students (grade school through full-time college). For tickets and information go to abendmusik.org or call 402-476-9933. Alternatives to Violence is Jan. 29-31 The Lincoln Friends Meeting (Quakers) will hold a workshop Jan. 29-31 for its Alternatives to Violence Project at 3319 S. 46th St. The workshop will focus on conflict resolution before conflicts turn violent. Participants must attend all three days of the workshop, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 30 and 2 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31. Cost is $25 and includes lunch on Jan. 30 and dinner on Jan. 31, as well as snacks. The program is open to anyone interested in learning nonviolent ways to resolve conflicts. To register, call Marge Schlitt at 402-474-0682. Concert with a Cause set for Jan. 31 Concert with a Cause, the annual charity concert of Southwood Lutheran Church, will raise funds for Clinic with a Heart, a health care ministry for the uninsured and under-insured in Lincoln. The concert is 3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the church, 4301 Wilderness Hills Blvd. Concert with a Cause brings Christian musical artists and the community together in support of a chosen cause. Joel Raney, Christian composer and clinician from Oak Park, Illinois, is this years featured artist. Other performers include the Lincoln Boys Choir and Southwoods Mixed Choir and Mens Chorus. The concert is free to the public. A freewill offering will be collected. To learn more about Clinic with a Heart go to clinicwithaheart.org. For information about the concert, contact Nicole Mroczek at nmroczek@southwoodlutheran.org or 402-423-5511. Free respite training offered at SCC Free Respite Education Support Tools (REST) training to provide respite care for individuals with disabilities is 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 1 and 8 at Continuing Education Center at Southeast Community College, 301 S. 68th St. Place. Training will be led by Mary Shada, the southeast Nebraska respite coordinator, and include CRISIS respite care for addressing emergencies as well as basic respite training. Shada will focus on the key steps of preparing, caring and connecting with care recipients and their primary care providers. To register for the training, call the YWCA at 402-434-3494 ext. 103 or email mary@ywcalincoln.org. For information on respite care, go to nrrs.ne.gov/respitesearch. Paper piecing expert to speak Missie Carpenter, a quilt teacher and pattern designer from Urbandale, Iowa, will be the guest speaker 7 p.m. Tuesday of the Heritage Needlework Guild at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 315 S. 16th St., Nebraska City. Carpenter also will lead a day-long English paper piecing workshop beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Art Gallery Room of the Nebraska City Public Library. Carpenter has developed several techniques that make English paper piecing easier. English paper piecing is a quilt construction method that involves hand stitching small fabric shapes formed over pre-cut pieces of paper. In her talk, We All Start Somewhere, Carpenter will display quilts made throughout her career to illustrate how her skills improved and her technique changed. Space is limited for the workshop. Cost is $48, plus a $5 kit fee. Participants should bring a brown bag lunch and drink. For information, contact Valerie Seevers at 712-579-0277 or email k.seevers@yahoo.com. Meetings of the Heritage Needlework Guild are open to people interested in all forms of needlework and is not limited to quilters. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. French Secretary of State for development and Francophonie Annick Girardin visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Armenpress reports Madame Girardin put flowers on the memorial, paying tribute to the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. Afterwards, the Secretary of State toured in the Armenian Genocide Institute-Museum, familiarized herself with the exhibited items and the history of Mets Yegern (Genocide). In an interview with journalists Annick Girardin mentioned that she is anxious and shocked by the items exhibited in the Institute-Museum and the history of Genocide. I have brought a message from France: France stands side by side with friendly Armenia. Our country has supported and backed Armenia and will continue doing that, the Secretary of State said. Referring to the issue of adopting the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide in France, Annick Girardin mentioned that the issue continues to be discussed under the walls of French National Assembly and Senate. Today France has decision recognizing the Armenian Genocide. President of France Francois Hollande has twice been in the Republic of Armenia to participate in commemoration events dedicated to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. Today I can say that the process of adopting the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide is underway in France, Madame Girardin said. At the same time she reminded that the issue of Mets Yeghern has broadly been discussed within the sidelines of International Organisation of La Francophonie and has been denounced by the president of the organization. In her words, today we also witness similar crimes in different parts of the world and it is the duty of all of us to prevent mankind from such calamities. I think we should look forward. It is our duty to assist friendly Armenia in developing the country in the spheres of economy, tourism and education, Madame Girardin said. Contrary to popular belief, flu season isnt just restricted to winter. Different regions of the world experience flu seasons at different times. In temperate countries, such as in North America, flu strikes hardest in the winter. In tropical regions, however, it peaks with heavy monsoon rains. Many factors contribute to the increased prevalence of the flu in North America during the winter months. Colder temperatures and lower humidity levels are ideal conditions for the virus. Additionally, low temperatures keep people inside, sharing air and airborne viruses with anyone nearby. Unfortunately, influenza is not the only illness that gets worse in the winter. The shift in temperature, humidity and subsequent changes in behaviors (such as staying inside) can exacerbate a variety of ailments, from heart attacks to asthma. At HealthGrove, we looked at nine common maladies that worsen in the winter and provide explanations as to why. #1. Flu As previously mentioned, factors such as temperature and humidity greatly influence flu seasons around the world. According to the Journal of Virology, influenza epidemics peak between November and March in the Northern Hemisphere and between May and September in the Southern Hemisphere. In their studies, the scientists found the virus was most readily transmitted at low temperatures (5 degrees celsius) and low humidity (20-30 percent relative humidity) conditions that match up with typical, northern winters. #2. Norovirus Though it can strike year round, norovirus is most infectious during the winter. Also known as the winter vomiting bug, norovirus typically lasts only a few days and if you stay well hydrated, you should make a full recovery. Unfortunately, there are many different types of noroviruses. According to the CDC, you can get the bug by eating contaminated food or interacting with contaminated people or surfaces. #3. Yersinia Also known as yersiniosis, yersinia is an infectious disease spread by contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork. Common symptoms develop four to seven days after exposure and can last from one to three weeks. Abdominal pain and fever are the predominant symptoms, though rashes and joint pain can occur sometimes as well. #4. Asthma Cold air can exacerbate asthma symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Rain and wind also stir up allergens, which can make asthma worse. Additionally, working out in cold temperatures can be especially problematic the cold air causes bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways), thus making it even harder to breathe. #5. Arthritis Though no studies have shown a significant association between weather and arthritis pain, many people suffering from the disease claim there is one. Some doctors, despite the lack of scientific evidence, even provide theories as to why arthritic joint pain may worsen in the winter. Dr. James Fant, professor of medicine at the University of South Carolina, explains that as temperatures lower, muscular tissues can shrink and pull on nerves, thereby causing pain. Additionally, people tend to lead less active lifestyles in the winter, and this causes joints to stiffen. #6. Heart Attack Cold snaps can increase blood pressure, which puts more strain on the heart. Your heart also has to work harder to keep your body warm during the winter months. Biological studies have also shown that cold temperatures can contribute to atherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels. Lower temperatures activate brown fat, which converts fat to heat. This is different from the white, and more common, type what we normally think of when we think of fat. Unfortunately, as a side effect of converting fat to heat, this process also increases the amount of fat stored in blood vessels. This buildup can contribute to heart attacks. #7. Bronchitis Bronchitis, the swelling and irritation in the air passages of the lungs, often occurs in the winter. It often starts because of another illness, such as the cold or flu. The most common symptom of acute bronchitis is a frequent cough. In healthy individuals, it usually goes away on its own. Though it is not a serious illness, it can last anywhere from a few days to over a month. #8. Pneumonia Pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs, occurs more in the winter. The flu virus is one of the most common causes of viral pneumonia and since the flu often occurs in the winter, so does pneumonia. It causes the small air sacs in your lungs (alveoli) to fill with fluid. This, coupled with your bodys immune response of sending white blood cells to the area to fight infection, can make it very hard to breathe. Most healthy people recover within one to three weeks. However, it can be life-threatening for at-risk populations, such as children and the elderly. #9. Whooping Cough Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is most common in adolescents and adults. It is highly contagious and causes severe, violent, uncontrollable coughing. However, most healthy adults get over it in a few days. This condition is most fatal in young children that have not received the vaccine or those with weak immune systems. A federal judge sentenced a 24-year-old Lincoln woman to four years and three months in prison for having more than a third of a pound of meth in the freezer of a Lincoln apartment. Tiara Blanco-Liggins pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge John Gerrard sentenced her Friday to prison time, plus four years of supervised release. On Feb. 16, Lincoln police went to the apartment she shared with Anthony Shaquille Harris at 1800 Knox St. Officers were looking for a man with outstanding arrest warrants. After Blanco-Liggins answered the door and said he wasn't there, officers asked if they could look around, police said in court records. They ended up getting a search warrant after spotting a marijuana pipe and being shown a small bag of meth in a kitchen cabinet. In all, they said they found 179 grams, or 0.4 of a pound, of meth, most of it in the freezer. They also found 68 grams of marijuana, a 12-gauge shotgun and about $1,300. In September, Harris got three years and one month in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine plus five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Josh lived in an orphanage until he was 10 months old, when Maralee and Brian Bradley flew to Liberia and picked him up and loved him up and made him their firstborn son. Josh is 9 now, wearing a "Star Wars" T-shirt and eating tortilla chips at the kitchen table in south Lincoln. He has five younger siblings, three of them adopted from foster care, a blend of races and ethnicities. Four boys and two girls -- six kids in seven years. Thats right. I know, its completely bananas, Maralee says inside the two-story house that is busy and noisy and warm and loving and a little bit bananas. Brian works from the dining room table as an insurance agent and Maralee works at home as a mom -- and from the kitchen table as the writer of a blog called "A Musing Maralee." The writer part is what got Josh and his family a bunch of attention a few weeks ago, when his mom wrote a post, "To the white parents of my black sons friends. A little more than 1,000 words that have been clicked on more than 800,000 times and elicited 493 comments and led to a story in the Washington Post. (Picked up after being featured on the popular parenting site ScaryMommy -- as in, Its scary being a mommy.) It touched some kind of nerve, says Maralee. It just went nuts. She wrote her essay on Dec. 29. The grand jury decision in the Tamir Rice case had just been rendered, a police officer in Cleveland not charged for shooting a 12-year-old black boy holding a toy gun. In her post, she shared her fears for Joshs safety -- as he transitions from an adorable black boy to a strong black man -- on Facebook. She posted a photo of Tamir. Three years older than Josh. His life matters. One friend said: What can we do to help change things? Another said: Dont be ridiculous, no one would hurt Josh. And Maralee sat down at the kitchen table: Ive been wrestling with talking to you about some things I think you need to know, she began. Ive wrestled with it because I feel my own sense of shame -- shame that I didnt know or understand these issues before they touched my family. Some people are going to see him as a thug before they ever know his name, his story, his gifts and talents, she wrote about her son. Maralee started her blog four years ago, carving time out of the chaos of raising kids to write, to express what she was feeling as a parent and to connect with other parents, particularly foster parents. It really was an outgrowth of feeling kind of isolated as a stay-at-home mom. Shes 35 and Brian is 36. They met in college, married and worked in a group home for boys in Tennessee before becoming parents themselves. They are both white. Maralee grew up in Lincoln, a descendant of German Mennonites (yes, shes orderly) and Brian laughs and says he has Southern redneck roots. Theyve talked to their kids a lot about everything, including race. And racism -- particularly with Josh, whose experience being called hurtful names is included in the To the white parents blog post, along with a story of their family being reported to Child Protective Services because their children played in the street in their cul-de-sac, went barefoot and knocked on a neighbors door asking for snacks. In other words: What white kids do without repercussion. The fact is that when the white kids of the neighborhood do it, its kids being kids,' she wrote, but when the kids of color are involved its got to be addressed by authorities this isnt concern, this is harassment. The reaction from friends was immediate and wonderful, she says. People saying were sitting down and talking to our kids today. The response from strangers was mixed. They accused her of being overly sensitive and ignorant and entitled. A lot of underlying racism came through, she says. It was interesting how many people wanted to say, This isnt a problem. But a lot of readers got it, too. You put words to the hearts cry of so many people, an African-American woman wrote. You made my job in racial reconciliation just a tad easier. Maralee understands that in many ways, the color of her skin allowed her to be heard. And that being the parent of a black child -- and of biracial children and of a Native child -- has opened her eyes to what parents of color have always experienced. The reaction from black moms has been beautiful. It was basically, This is what weve been trying to say forever. But the blog is for white mothers and fathers. For me. For you, if the color applies. The world isnt colorblind, Maralee wrote. Just because you havent seen obvious examples of racism in your own life doesnt mean it doesnt exist. The purpose of the post was fairly simple: She wanted help keeping her black child safe. She wanted understanding -- for friends, and their parents, to stand with him. Be an advocate for this beautiful soul who has eaten at your kitchen table, sat next to your son at church, been at your childs birthday party. He is not the exception to the rule. He is not protected by my white privilege for the rest of his life. Josh hasnt read his moms viral words, although the other day his grandma asked him about them. He told her: "Mom wrote it for me. To help keep me safe. And now everybody read it." If you havent, you should, too. A majority of Nebraskans dont think public tax dollars should pay for charter schools, a Nebraska State Education Association poll shows. The poll, conducted by Research Associates for the NSEA, asked 900 Nebraskans equally divided among the three congressional districts their feelings about charter schools, vouchers, teacher quality and other school issues. Of those polled, 65 percent did not think charter schools should be funded with public tax dollars and 55 percent opposed using tax dollars to pay for school vouchers in Nebraska. In the face of considerable national negativity surrounding our public schools, the poll ... shows Nebraska really does like their public schools and they love their public schoolteachers, NSEA President Nancy Fulton said at a news conference Friday. It found Nebraskans have a uniquely Nebraska view of school choice. Katie Linehan, executive director of Educate Nebraska, a new organization created to advance the school-choice agenda, discounted the poll as being biased, saying the only valid information was that nearly three quarters of Nebraskans support public school choice. "Unfortunately, this survey does not give us any insight into additional education options that should be available to children and families in Nebraska," she said. "Charter schools are public schools and are held accountable for results. They are not randomly created by individuals or organizations without oversight." More than 70 percent of poll respondents said they knew about the states public school choice law that allows parents to send students to any Nebraska school. Although a Legislative bill that would have authorized charter schools in Omaha failed last year, the school choice movement has gained traction in Nebraska in recent years and is supported by Gov. Pete Ricketts. Several charter school opponents, including state Sens. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln and Tanya Cook of Omaha, spoke at the news conference. Pansing Brooks said education is the best way to combat poverty and anything that diverts the Legislature from funding public schools -- which accepts all students regardless of the challenges they face -- is a mistake. The NSEAs Fulton said charter schools nationally have had mixed results with student achievement. The success of Nebraskas public school system, she said, is evident in its 89 percent graduation rate and on the college preparatory ACT test, where Nebraska outperforms all other states with at least 80 percent student participation. Linehan said in a prepared statement that too often high quality traditional public school options for Nebraska families are limited by overcrowding, which results in thousands of children having to attend low-performing schools. Sixty-three percent of those polled in the NSEA survey gave an A or B to their public school district and 75 percent gave the same grades to public schoolteachers. Fourteen percent of the respondents gave their districts a D or F, the same grades 8 percent gave to their public schoolteachers. The quality of teachers was very important to 94 percent of those polled. Curriculum was very important to 82 percent, and class size to 62 percent. Eighty-five percent believed their school district was very important to their town, and 83 percent said an elected school board, not private individuals or businesses, should decide how tax dollars are spent. John Spatz, Nebraska Association of School Boards executive director, said he would be willing to discuss student achievement and closing the achievement gap with school choice advocates, but simply authorizing charter schools is not a solution. The risk we see is if there are charter schools its going to suck money away from the public school system, he said. Stranded for roughly 24 hours in two packed buses stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, 80 university students from Lincoln and Kearney were growing frustrated late Saturday with little sign of rescue coming. But at around 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, volunteer firemen arrived and dug out the buses, then sent the students the wrong way. Turned back east, the busloads are now on their way to an elementary school in Bedford, Pennsylvania, where they will spend at least the night. Once there, the students planned to look for something to eat. The students from Lincoln and Kearney had set off Wednesday night to participate in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. They began their return trip after Fridays march but didn't get far. For almost exactly 24 hours, the buses didnt move an inch on the turnpike outside of New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. Other buses from the Lincoln area were also caught in the storm, but they began moving again Saturday afternoon. Youth ministry assistant leader for the Lincoln Diocese Georgeanne Rashilla was on one those buses and said she expected to be back in Lincoln late Sunday morning. "The kids have been absolutely amazing," Rashilla said by cell phone. "They have been so patient." But the two chartered buses filled with University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Kearney students were stranded for hours longer. They left Washington, D.C., around 3 p.m., leaving four hours earlier than planned and also skipping scheduled stops in an effort to beat the storm. Their efforts didn't pay off. Their unexpected halt began at 9 p.m. Friday. "We have now spent more time on this bus longer than we were in Washington, D.C.," Alexa Birkel, a junior and president of UNLs Students For Life, texted Saturday afternoon. According to Marilyn Synek, who is a UNK sophomore and vice president of Kearneys chapter of Students For Life, the students were told an accident had happened on the road ahead. And so for mounting hours, the students were stuck at mile marker 133.6 in southern Pennsylvania. Weve been very calm, Synek said while waiting to be dug out. Needless to say, were very antsy. Some of the groups went and frolicked in snow to burn energy, but besides that weve been playing cards, doing homework, watching videos or playing games on our phones. Some of the students held an impromptu Mass. Firemen stopped by early Saturday morning and provided bottled water, while some of those on the bus filled their bottles with melting snow. They also shared items from a stockpile of snacks -- Pop-Tarts, crackers, fruit snacks. On both sides of me, there are brilliant, pretty hills covered in snow and trees, a very scenic view, Synek said earlier in the afternoon. But looking in front of me, I see all these trucks and buses piled up with snow on it. Birkel of Students For Life said that despite the chaos, making the trip east was well worth the trouble. The March For Life is probably our best event of the year, because it brings so many students together for a great cause and it motivates people to be more involved in the pro-life movement, she said. And we got to do exactly what we came there for, which is march for the unborn babies. Lincoln Police arrested a 17-year-old on Friday night on suspicion of attempted first degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Police were sent to the 2600 block of North Fifth Street at 8:09 p.m. after receiving a report of someone being shot, according to Capt. Don Scheinost of the Lincoln Police Department. When officers arrived, they found a 14-year-old male had been shot. The teen's injuries were not life-threatening, Scheinost said. The male suspect remained in custody at the Youth Services Center as of Saturday morning. His identity was not released. Scheinost said police were still investigating. No new information was available as of press time Saturday night. Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue used a shrewd approach to demonstrate support for a bill that has been held captive by a legislative committee since she introduced it last year. With the help of Common Cause, Crawford rounded up another 30 senators who were willing to add their names as cosponsors to the measure (LB166) that would help ensure that campaign funds are used for their intended purpose. Thats well over the 25 votes necessary to enact the bill into law. The legislation is aimed at deterring lawmakers from using campaign funds improperly. In the most recent cases former Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha withdrew $63,000 from her account to gamble at a Kansas casino. She pleaded guilty to state misdemeanor charges and was fined $500. She pleaded guilty to a felony federal charge and was placed on probation. She agreed to repay the money. The most important provision of Crawfords bill is that it would require campaign committees to submit a year-end bank statement to the commission. This would allow the commission to compare it with the report from the campaign committee, giving the commission a tool for detecting improper withdrawals. Councils crime was not discovered by the commission. It was detected by another agency. That was also the case with similar previous crimes like Sen. Ray Mosseys use of campaign funds to pay for tattoos and an escort service, and a campaign treasurers theft of campaign funds from former Sen. Scott Moore. The proposal has the unanimous support of the Accountability and Disclosure Commission, which includes Secretary of State John Gale. Its puzzling that the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee has taken no action on the bill. A similar bill also failed to get out of committee and died in 2014. And now Sen. John Murante of Gretna, chair of the committee has introduced his own bill, LB1057 that would tighten some campaign finance provisions. Its an unworthy alternative to Crawfords bill because it eliminates the crucial provision requiring committees to submit a year-end bank statement. Thats the heart of Crawfords bill. In a written statement Crawford accused Murante of trying to avoid a public discussion and vote on whether campaign account balances should be part of reform. There is a provision in the Legislatures rules to allow a vote of the full Legislature to pull a bill out of committee. That shouldnt be necessary after the show of support that Crawford was able to muster, but it might be the only option left. Crawfords LB166 would improve transparency and accountability in the use of campaign funds. The bill deserves to escape the committees clutches so it can become law. FREMONT Midland University students have staged a protest as part of class on life in the 1960s. Nearly 40 students took to the streets Thursday afternoon to protest high college tuition as part of the American Culture in the 1960s course. Students brainstormed ideas about what they wanted to protest, and unanimously chose tuition rates as their cause. Student Mariana Ramirez said that "College is getting more and more expensive and everybody is having to go into extreme debt to attend college. They protested injustices in the 1960s, so we are out here doing the same thing." Class instructor Janet Lack said the protest provided students with the opportunity to see what others did to peacefully bring about change during the 1960s. "We weren't marching in Selma, we didn't have dogs snarling at us and we weren't being sprayed at by fire hoses," Lack said. "You can't recreate the things that Dr. King and others went through, but it gave the students a little taste of how much sacrifice, effort and work it takes to make change happen." Lack said she contacted university officials and the Fremont Police Department to let them know that student protest would take place for safety reasons. This week, children and families in your neighborhood will take part in a nationwide celebration! Together with over 200,000 students from around the country, children at Christ, Faith, Good Shepherd, Messiah, Trinity, and Lincoln Lutheran will celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week. Lincoln Lutheran Schools each offer their own unique style. Lutheran schools share an unwavering commitment to sharing Gods truth with children and families. They also boast rigorous curriculum standards designed to meet and exceed state and national standards, to prepare children for college and life, while still honoring the unique gifts of each child. Lutheran school educators are professionals who are passionate about sharing their faith, maximizing the gifts of each child, and supporting the families in their care. Students in Lincoln Lutheran Schools are assessed on their ability to meet and exceed the same educational standards as other students throughout Nebraska and typically achieve among the highest testing scores in the area. Lincoln Lutheran High School students regularly achieve some of the highest ACT scores of all Lincoln high schools. At your Lincoln Lutheran Schools you can expect much more than just a rigorous academic environment. Preserving Godly values in our children is a core purpose for Lutheran schools. Children learn that they have an alternative to the values and lifestyles which are commonly demonstrated in popular culture. Challenged to be in the world, but not of the world, families in the Lutheran School community can be found reaching out with Gods love to assist Lincoln Pregnancy Center, Peoples City Mission, City Impact, Childrens Hospital, Lighthouse Family Retreat, Orphan Grain Train, and Friendship Home, to name a few. They also care very much for one another and welcome new families to their community. As children discover the world God has created for them, they learn they are loved, have a purpose in life and that it is possible to thrive in a modern world without sacrificing Gods truth. Lincoln Lutheran Schools are positioned as a vibrant and high-quality educational choice in your neighborhood, while also providing a Christian worldview and the kind of attention that will help children and families in your neighborhood succeed. Do the Lincoln Lutheran Schools sound like a place your family would enjoy? For more information about Lutheran Schools visit www.pickalutheranschool.org. YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. French government has presented its position over the two anti-Armenian resolutions included in PACE winter session to French MPs at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), stating that voting in favor of those resolutions at PACE will be not correct position towards friendly Armenia. Armenpress reports French Secretary of State for development and Francophonie Annick Girardin told the journalists about this at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. A number of states are included in PACE. France cannot interfere in their affairs. Our country is represented in that institution and we have told the French MPs that the adoption of those resolutions will be a not correct position towards friendly Armenia, Madame Girardin said, urging to wait for the end of PACE discussions. I wish to end my speech in this way: Long live Armenian-French friendship, the Secretary of State said. PACE winter session will start on January 25. Two anti-Armenian reports are included in the session agenda. One of the draft resolutions is authored by British MP Robert Walter on Escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The second draft resolution is titled Inhabitants of frontier regions of Azerbaijan are deliberately deprived of water by MP Milica Markovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Anti-Armenian resolution will be voted on January 26. The University Place Community Organization (UPCO) will hold its 2016 Annual Meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 at Huntington Elementary School, 2900 N. 48th St. Agenda items wil include an update on the University Place Shopping Center, a presentation on the growth plans at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and presentation on Once Towns, Now Neighborhoods: Lincolns Early Suburbs, by Ed Zimmer, Lincolns historic preservation specialist. Other business items will include discussion of the University Place Art Festival on April 30, the annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 26, and a spring cleanup of Dead Mans Run. There are as many reasons to check out Simply Amaizen Popcorn & Snacks as there are varieties of popcorn. Considering the number of flavors they carry, well, thats simply amazing! Owners Scott and Colleen Sims opened their snack shop in April 2011 in the southwest corner of the Clocktower Shopping Center, 70th and A streets. Simply Amaizen is simply the place to go for flavors ranging from savory and salty to sweet with candy mix-ins. Cinnamon, kettle, and caramel are included in a luscious lineup that includes chocolate- and toffee-flavored varieties. If you like popcorn, youll savor the flavors at Simply Amaizen. Theres literally a flavor for everyone, says Scott. All the popcorn youll see on the shelves at Simply Amaizen is popped and handcrafted on location to ensure freshness and please your palate. If you have a serious thirst to slake, this snack shops diverse menu has you covered there, too, with a wide variety of slushies, smoothies, and one of Lincolns best selections of vintage sodas. The retro sodas we carry have more natural flavors that enhance the taste, says Scott. Drink one of these and youll notice a huge improvement over the sweetened standard brands. The snack shop also sells ice cream (soft-serve chocolate, vanilla and swirl) with a variety of toppings. Wide distribution Scott, a 35-year homebuilder by trade, and Colleen, a dental office employee, have enjoyed rapid growth in their less than five years in the popcorn business. The home-grown, Lincoln-based business has succeeded in establishing a statewide distribution network. Simply Amaizen popcorn has popped up in 59 Nebraska communities, transporting product to convenience stores as far away as Ogallala, North Platte and McCook. In less than five years, the Lincoln business has spread its wings and expanded its horizons. It now ships popcorn nationwide, having reached virtually every state in the U.S., and has shipped product overseas. Added incentives Simply Amaizen is doing its part to save Mother Earth. Purchase popcorn in any of their decorative canisters, return the empty in a future visit and get a discount on a refill. Have a competitors empty canister? Not a problem. Bring it in, have the competitors sticker replaced with a Simply Amaizen sticker and qualify for the refill rate. Scott, a U.S. Army veteran, said his business also offers discounted rates for all current and former military personnel. The employees who greet you at Simply Amaizen represent a nice cross-section of six Lincoln high schools and four colleges. Simply Amaizen Popcorn & Snacks is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Stop on by and munch a bunch! Its Simply Amaizen! RACINE COUNTY The Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast are now taking orders for Girl Scout cookies. This years sale features eight cookie varieties for $4 per package, and gluten-free cookies for $5 per package. In addition to traditional selling methods, Girl Scouts will also sell cookies using the Digital Cookie Program, an enhancement to the traditional cookie program, which allows girls to take orders through a mobile app on their phone, and then deliver them personally or send emails to potential customers directing them to a website where they place their orders and have them shipped to their home or business. However, cookie buyers will still need to purchase cookies through a Girl Scout. RACINE The suspect accused of slamming his vehicle into the car of an off-duty police administrator on Thursday was intoxicated at the time of the crash and had a 4-year-old child as a passenger, prosecutors allege. Falandric A. Williams, 37, of the 1900 block of Taylor Avenue, was charged Friday with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing injury while driving with a minor in the vehicle and recklessly endangering safety, Racine County Circuit Court documents indicate. Both felony charges come with penalty enhancements because Williams is a repeat offender. Williams is accused of crashing a 1999 Chevrolet SUV on Thursday afternoon into a car driven by Lt. Al Days, a veteran Racine police officer, while Days vehicle was stopped for a red light at the intersection of 13th Street and Washington Avenue. Days Hyundai sedan in turn crashed into a Toyota that was stopped directly in front of Days vehicle. Despite injuries sustained in the crash, Days, worried that Williams may have been trying to drive away after the 3:10 p.m. crash, ran after the vehicle and yelled for Williams to stop. According to the criminal complaint, a passenger from the Chevy did take off running after the crash, but Williams remained with the vehicle. Once Williams was detained, police discovered that a 4-year-old child was inside the vehicle. The criminal complaint against Williams did not indicate whether he or the child were injured in the crash. Days, however, did sustain injuries when his head slammed into the steering wheel of his car, the complaint states. Days, who is the public information officer for the Police Department, suffered a concussion as well as soreness to his back, neck and shoulder area, the complaint states. The driver of the Toyota told investigators that he observed the Chevrolet flying just before the impact. According to the complaint, Williams was taken to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St., where he reportedly failed sobriety tests and registered a .214 reading on a portable breath test. The legal alcohol concentration level for driving in Wisconsin is .08. Williams was in custody Friday afternoon at the Racine County Jail. He has been assigned a preliminary hearing in Racine County Circuit Court for 9 a.m. Jan. 27. RACINE Racine Unified unions won one and lost one Friday in their effort to toss two School Board candidates off the spring election ballot. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board on Friday ruled that District 6 challenger Ernest J. NiA can stay on the ballot for the Feb. 21 primary election, while District 6 challenger Bryn Biemeck will be removed for falling one signature short of the minimum required on her nomination petition. The Racine Education Association and Racine Educational Assistants Association earlier this month challenged the veracity and accuracy of the nomination petitions of four School Board candidates. The unions contend the petitions contained errors, illegible signatures and signatures from residents living outside the district in which the candidate was running. The district reviewed the petitions and did not find any reasons to toss any of the candidates off the ballot. In response, the unions appealed the decisions made on the petitions of NiA, 403 N. Memorial Drive, and Biemeck, 2402 Prospect St., to the GAB. The GAB ruled Friday that NiA had 168 legitimate signatures enough to stay on the ballot while Biemeck had 99 valid signatures. Candidates need to collect at least 100 valid signatures to be listed on the ballot. Its a very frustrating place to be, said Biemeck, who has run unsuccessfully for the School Board in the past. I know that I needed to collect a larger buffer of signatures, but I ran into a time crunch. Maybe Im not destined to run for the School Board this year. NiA will run against District 6 challengers John Heckenlively, 410 Seventh St., and Jim Venturini, 35 Harborview, in the Feb. 21 primary. The two top vote-getters will face off in the April 5 election. Biemeck has 30 days to appeal the GABs decision to circuit court, said Reid Magney, the GABs public information officer. Biemeck said she will discuss that possibility with her advisers and decide what to do next. I have to figure out what will be the best route for me to take, she said. REA/REAA offcials did not comment on the GABs decision Friday. SOMERS Gateway Technical College has entered into an agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside to hold vehicle training for its police cadets in a parking lot on Parksides campus. The project represents yet another way Gateway and UW-Parkside are collaborating to meet the needs of area communities, according to a Gateway news release. Previously, Emergency Vehicle Operators Course training for Gateways cadets has been held at the parking lot of the former Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha. That facility is now up for sale, forcing Gateway to find a new lot to conduct the training, which is mandatory for cadets graduation. That parking lot had been unused for years and was starting to disintegrate, Gateway spokesman Bill Whyte said. It was starting to tear apart tires pretty significantly. The new training lot, located east of Parksides Tallent Hall on the east side of the campus, will cost Gateway $1.5 million to renovate, Whyte said. Gateway will fund the resurfacing of the lot to create a track design, as well as fencing for the lot for security purposes with the money. According to Mel Klinkner, Parksides vice chancellor of finance and administration, the lot was the original parking area for Parksides campus in the 1960s and 70s, until new lots closer to the main academic complex were constructed. The original lot was no longer maintained, Klinkner said. Revitalizing that area ... should be a great benefit to the communities of southeastern Wisconsin. The track will allow for other vehicle training beyond police use such as fire department training, Whyte said. He added that recent regulation changes at the state level require active police officers to go through eight hours of refresher vehicle training every two years, and the track would host those as well. Having something close by where they dont need to go somewhere overnight will be a real enhancement to our three-county police departments, Whyte said. Academic implications According to Whyte, Gateway will pay Parkside just $1 per year to use the lot. In exchange, Gateway students who earn an associates degree in the schools two-year criminal justice program will have the opportunity to enter Parksides four-year program as a junior. The partnership provides another way for Gateway Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Parkside to move forward together to assist students in realizing their career path, Terry Simmons, Gateways dean of service occupations, said in the release. Parksides Peggy James, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies, said in the release that the partnership provides important academic opportunities for students in southeastern Wisconsin. This unique collaboration of academic and physical resources adds to the relevancy of the students overall educational experience, James said.{/span} Project timeline The partnership was discussed in the chairpersons report at the January Gateway Board meeting on Thursday. Per Whyte, the official agreement has been drafted and will be up for approval at the next board meeting, once both sides attorneys look it over. Whyte added that the earliest the project could break ground is April, since the resurfacing requires the ground to thaw out. He hopes the track will be operation for training by Fall 2016. This is a win-win for both Gateway and Parkside, he said. Borrowers paying back their student loans would get a bigger break on their taxes and more students at Wisconsins technical colleges could receive need-based aid under bills Gov. Scott Walker unveiled Monday that are aimed at making higher education in the state more affordable. Critics said the plan didnt do enough to help student loan borrowers. The tax deduction borrowers can claim on their student loan interest payments is now capped at $2,500. But a proposal Walker rolled out during a visit to Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee on Monday would eliminate that limit, helping about 32,000 borrowers in Wisconsin, the governor said, and increasing their tax benefit by $165 per person on average. The proposals Walker disclosed Monday include several bills being circulated by Republican lawmakers. They would also: Create a program to provide emergency grants for college students who have unexpected expenses. Spend $700,000 to hire internship coordinators in the state Department of Workforce Development and University of Wisconsin System in an effort to connect students with local businesses and keep them in Wisconsin after they graduate. Require all students to attend financial literacy seminars during their first semester in college, and require schools to send students information about how much money they are borrowing, their interest rate and what sort of payments they will have to make after they graduate. Our college affordability legislation will help students and families make informed decisions about choosing the higher education path that is right for their future dreams and for their budgets, Walker said. Democrats countered that the proposals do not do enough to help those burdened by student loan debt. I feel like (Walker) is nibbling around the edges and its really window dressing, said state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse. In 2014, 70 percent of students at Wisconsin colleges and universities graduated with some amount of debt, the third-highest percentage of any state in the country, according to the Institute for College Access and Success Project on Student Debt. Those students average debt load was $28,810, the 17th-highest amount in the country. Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, chairman of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities and co-author of four of the bills, said he expects to hold a hearing on them soon after the co-sponsorship period ends on Jan. 20. It is my intention to try to pass as much of this package as I can before the session ends, Murphy said. Funds would increase grants Many of the proposals are aimed at helping current students. One would increase funding for the $18.8 million Wisconsin Grants program, which provides need-based grants to technical college students, by $500,000 annually. Nearly 24,000 WTCS students received grants from the program in the 2013-14 school year, a system spokesman said, but another 37,000 students who were eligible for the aid did not get grants because the program did not have enough money. The system estimates another 500 students each year would receive grants if the bill becomes law. Another proposal, which would provide one-time emergency grants to students, is meant to help low-income students pay for expenses that could otherwise derail their ability to stay in school, Murphy said. He gave the hypothetical example of a student at a technical college or other institution who drove to school but faced an unexpected $250 car repair. Without a way to pay for that, Everything spirals out of control for them, he said; the student could have to miss class and fall behind. Instead, under the emergency grant program, students would be eligible for as many as two grants, worth up to a combined $500, to pay for those costs. The bill would provide $320,000 to the technical college system and $130,000 to the UW System so campuses could administer the grants. These are proven strategies, WTCS President Morna Foy said. This new investment will make a real difference in the lives of our students, who quickly apply their talent after course or program completion. Dems say their bill helps more Democrats in the Legislature said none of the measures introduced Monday would do as much to help borrowers as their proposal to allow those who hold student loan debt to refinance it a bill Shilling pointed out has been stalled in a Senate committee. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, and Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, one of that proposals authors, said the bills Walker announced Monday will only help a small fraction of student loan borrowers. Wisconsins economy would clearly do better if we had a real policy solution to student loan debt and the governors plan isnt it, Barca and Mason said. Shilling said she has not yet decided whether she will vote for the newly introduced bills. Murphy and Walker said the new proposals will complement the four-year freeze on in-state UW System tuition, which the governor has championed as a way to keep college costs in check. Tuition prices had risen for decades before the freeze was put in place increases Walkers critics say were driven by reduced state support for public higher education. Wisconsin has cut UW System funding in five of its last six two-year state budgets. Weve done some big things, Murphy said, referring to the freeze. Weve got to be able to help our students without over-burdening our taxpayers. We are finding some good ground here. A conservative advocacy group is standing by its claim that former Sen. Russ Feingold was warned of problems at the Tomah VA Medical Center and failed to respond, which Feingold and the author of a memo central to the claim are disputing. The group, Wisconsin Alliance for Reform, featured the claim in an ad in the Green Bay Press-Gazette this week and hasnt ruled out running more such ads. Feingold responded a day later, flatly saying the attack ad is not true. The Tomah VA center has been in the headlines since an investigation by the VAs Inspector General found deficiencies in care at the facility contributed to the 2014 death of a U.S. Marine from Stevens Point, Jason Simcakoski. The facilitys director and chief of staff were fired last year after those findings were disclosed. Other lawmakers such as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, have faced blowback about their offices handling of the matter. Now comes the anti-Feingold ad, based on a memo written in 2009 by a union official at the Tomah VA facility and marked hand-delivered to Feingold then a U.S. senator and U.S. Reps. Ron Kind and Dave Obey. The memo warned that veterans were being over-prescribed narcotics at Tomah. But the author of the memo Lin Ellinghuysen, president of AFGE Local 0007, the local union representing most workers at the Tomah VA changed course last year, saying the document never was delivered to Feingold or his staff. Feingold noted that in his rebuttal to the ad, adding that his office searched for the memo and had no record of receiving it. Ellinghuysen told the Wisconsin State Journal this week that she wrote the 2009 memo to a union official at the VA medical center in Iron Mountain, Mich., after the official told her he would testify to a congressional panel about problems at his facility. Before he testified, Ellinghuysen said she told Balkum about her plans to write the memo and that Feingold and Kind represented the Tomah area in Congress. On that basis, Ellinghuysen said she mistakenly assumed Balkum would deliver the memo to them while in Washington, D.C., and wrote that on the document. Last year, when a reporter contacted Ellinghuysen to inquire about the memo, she said she contacted Balkum to ask if he hand-delivered it, and he said he did not. Attempts to reach Balkum on Friday were not successful. The memo became a public document after Ellinghuysen provided it to police when they were investigating the suicide of a former psychologist at the Tomah VA, Christopher Kirkpatrick. I made a bad assumption, Ellinghuysen said. Russ Feingold did not receive my memo addressed to Ben Balkum. A spokesman for Wisconsin Alliance for Reform, Chris Martin, asked in a statement why Ellinghuysen changed her story. Im more inclined to believe what someone wrote down at the time and submitted in an official police report than what they are now saying five years later under immense political pressure, Martin said. AFL-CIO, which is affiliated with AFGE, has contributed significantly to Feingolds past campaigns. When asked by the State Journal if anyone urged her to change her story about the memo, Ellinghuysen said no. Feingolds opponent in the November election, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, has faced questions of his own regarding his response to the Tomah VA scandal. Johnson, who succeeded Feingold in 2011, was criticized after it was reported that his office failed to act on whistleblower tips about problems at the Tomah VA. Johnson later acknowledged his office could have done more to respond. La Follette questions DFIs apostille authority Secretary of State Doug La Follette warned this week that an authentication process for local business documents used in foreign transactions now being offered by Gov. Scott Walkers administration might not be valid. But Department of Financial Institutions spokesman Tom Evenson countered that the international organization that authorizes local officials to issue apostilles which are similar to a notarized signature, but for documents used in foreign business transactions now recognizes DFI on its website as a valid authority alongside the secretary of state. Offering this service makes good business sense as it is a natural product of our notary program, allowing DFI to enhance customer service and citizen options, Evenson said. La Follette also said apostilles not issued by his office wont bear the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin and wont be maintained by his office. He called the DFI move one more of Walkers slimy efforts to take control of everything. The schism is the only one of its kind in the country. All other states have only one office or website portal recognized by the Hague Conference on Private International Law for issuing apostilles. They can also be issued by federal court clerks. DFI first inquired with the Hague about the change in late November and sent an official letter on Dec. 28, according to records released by the department. Since Jan. 4, the department has processed 32 apostilles, Evenson said. In July, La Follette sued Walkers administration for cutting funding to his office in the latest budget. His staff was cut from three full-time positions to one full-time and one part-time position, and his office was moved from a 4,000-square-foot space rented on the Square to a 600-foot office in the basement of the Capitol. La Follettes primary argument was that it would impede his ability to issue and store some 16,000 apostilles per year. A judge in September declined to order an injunction in the case, noting the apostilles arent one of La Follettes constitutional responsibilities and dont require a state seal. Is it really hard to hit the global Market? Ive been following the trends in the Bangladeshi Startup culture via social media and sites likeand so on. In my following, few years ago, Freelancing individuals used to operate as a team and got most of their tasks as a contract from the foreign providers via platforms like Odesk(now Upwork), elance, freelancer and so on. There are still lot of people out their who takes and does work fromand making a decent and happy living. The scene started to change a little bit since 3-4 years years ago and Ive found a list of startups from who truly have products of their own and they are mostly focusing local customers based in Bangladesh. I see that as a step forward made possible by the new and young techpreneurs of Bangladesh. Some of them have got fame and media coverage but most of them are not making good enough money even though theyve amazing services and products.If you look back at the very small history of Bangladesh in IT industries, we grew up using or downloading pirated software and copied digital contents and still are doing it. A whole generation have passed the message to the next generation that, we are not going to pay for digital downloads, softwares or any kind of services unless we must. its going to be very hard to sell softwares as services to this generation and the next. To avoid the risk of being a failed srartup, its best for the entrepreneurs to redesign their product to serve the global consumer as most of the tech services can be provided globally. There are markets for subscription based services and secured online payments are there to cash you back. Indian tech startups has got this very clear message across the board long ago and some of the Indian companies are already selling their services abroad. We useas the customer support ticketing system in our office which is a SAS mostly provided and operated from India.Bangladeshi professionals from New York, California, Sydney and London have been waiting to see some initiatives from the Bangladeshi startups and the response have not been good enough so far. Some of the very risk prone entrepreneurial Non resident Bangladeshis have come back to their homeland to take few businesses globally and they are undoubtedly the heroes of Bangladeshi startup scene. Depending on the service, if its not very much localized; it has never been easier than now to go global. All you need to do is to be found! thats it...When business and individuals search for services online, all they look for is local pricing and local contact numbers. Nobody check and judge a SAS service by the provider country. Once youve optimized your site targeting the western world, you need to localize your site more and more. It could be through UX, could be through supporting customers in English during Local time. You can pay for customers local numbers and those calls will be transferred to you. Only Skype wont give you enough exposure. If you can think of foreign business subsidiaries and hire people, that will also bring you new customers.Some products need to be optimized locally based on their culture, weather condition and using of colloquial language is highly required specially in the content marketing industry. Hire people who are enthusiastic about foreign cultures; who not only listen to kanye west but also knows why people drive on the right hand side in USA. If youre still trying to figure out what youre missing from your business by not going global yet is; simply the profit you could make from actual sales to millions of legitimate customers. UW-Madison student demonstrators Friday released a list of demands aimed at making the University of Wisconsin System more inclusive, adding UW to a growing group of institutions across the country where black students have sought changes from administrators to improve their experiences on predominantly white campuses. The students are calling for mandatory racial awareness training for every member of the UW System, from students to Regents, and for increased funding for mental health services, among other changes. The list of five demands was distributed during a meeting of the UW System Board of Regents, where about 20 students sat silently in the front row of public seating holding signs protesting racism on campus. Some of the students later sought to interrupt the meeting by reading a statement as the Regents moved into closed session. UW System President Ray Cross and Regent President Regina Millner had agreed to meet with the demonstrators and hear their demands on Friday afternoon. But demonstrators later canceled after UW officials denied their request to record the conversation and allow the media to observe it. The students list of five demands is aimed at improving the racial climate at all UW System schools, said Kenneth Cole, who took part in the demonstration Friday and helped organize an earlier protest at UW-Madison. The simple fact is, what weve been doing hasnt been working, Cole said. It has to do with a lack of effort, the lack of funding, the lack of real gumption to get behind this movement from the University of Wisconsin. Its not something (the university) has made a top priority. The students are demanding: A statement from Cross and Millner acknowledging the failure of progress on diversity within the UW System. Mandatory comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum and trainings for all UW System students, faculty, staff, administrators and Regents. A task force to evaluate the experiences of students of color at UW institutions. A re-evaluation of an earlier diversity plan and, if necessary, a new 10-year plan to address diversity on campus. Increased funding for mental health professionals on campus, particularly those of color. Cole said students also plan to release a list of demands specifically for officials at UW-Madison, and are working with their peers at other UW institutions to develop demands for each of their campuses. Students at more than 70 colleges and universities across the country have written lists of demands for their administrators, many of which make similar calls for diversity curriculum or increased mental health services, according to an analysis of demands by The New York Times. Millner addressed the demonstrators near the end of Fridays meeting. We welcome your input and concerns, Millner said. All of us chancellors, faculty, staff and students seek to do a better job of serving all students. Nneka Akubeze, executive director of the United Council of UW Students, said the demonstrators asked to present their demands to the Board of Regents on Friday and to the boards Education Committee on Thursday but were turned down. Millner and Cross instead planned to hold a private conversation with protest leaders after the Regents meeting, a UW spokesman said. When the demonstrators asked to record the meeting and allow media to attend, however, the UW officials said no. The expectation going in was that it would be a private opportunity to talk, UW System spokesman Alex Hummel said. Protesters wanted journalists to attend the meeting to keep Cross and Millner accountable, Cole said, ensuring the officials couldnt make promises in private that they wouldnt keep. Rather than attend the meeting without media coverage or a record of the conversation, Cole said, the demonstrators called it off. Both Cole and Millner said they would be open to future meetings between protesters and UW officials. A meeting between University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross and student activists pushing UW to create a better climate on campus for minority students drew condemnation from a prominent Republican in the state Legislature this week. Cross met for two hours on Thursday with representatives from the United Council of University of Wisconsin Students the same group that held a protest during a meeting of the UW Board of Regents last month. The students, like those at campuses across the country, have demanded the UW System take several steps to improve the experiences of black and other minority students at predominantly white colleges and universities. Those demands include mandatory racial awareness training for every student and employee of the UW System, increased funding for mental health services and new evaluations of the Systems diversity plans. Students have also called for administrators to issue a public apology for what they describe as a lack of progress on diversity within the UW System, and said after their meeting that Cross had agreed to do so. United Council shared governance chairman and UW-Fond du Lac student Lamonte Moore said the group appreciated the opportunity to meet with Cross, but will need to see more action from UW officials before they are satisfied. It was definitely a good first step, but we have a long way to go, Moore said. On Friday, state Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, sent out a press release blasting Cross for wasting time appeasing the political correctness crowd. Cross needs to prioritize the educational interests of all students, said Nass, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges. By promising to issue an official apology for unsubstantiated charges of racial injustice, he further damages the systems already tattered credibility with the public and further divides the citizens of this state, Nass wrote. Moore said Nass statement unfairly characterized the United Council, and said the changes the organization is pushing for will benefit all students by making them more culturally competent. UW System spokesman Alex Hummel declined to respond to Nass statement. Hummel confirmed that Cross will issue a statement acknowledging shortcomings in efforts to improve racial climate and plans to continue meeting with student demonstrators. Hummel said Cross has made similar statements about diversity in the past, including on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We need to do a better job of not only increasing the number of students, staff and faculty of color but also improving their experiences on our campuses, Cross wrote in a statement on Facebook. 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... [JURIST] The Kansas Court of Appeals on Friday turned down [text, PDF] a state law that would prohibit doctors from using the most common second-trimester abortion method. The Kansas Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act [text, PDF] was enacted in the spring of 2014 and it prohibited doctors from using forceps on a live fetus to remove it from the womb in pieces [Time report]; a procedure that is used in 95 percent of second trimester abortions. The court found that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment [text] provides a right to abortion and that the Kansas statute would unduly burden women seeking to exercise that right. Additionally, the court held that the issue should remain closed rather than entangling our state courts into this arena which has divided our nation for over 40 years, referencing the 43 year anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. An appeal to the Kansas Supreme Court is expected [US News report]. Abortion waiting periods and reproductive rights issues [JURIST backgrounder] have been heated topics throughout the US. In May 2015 Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin [official website] signed House Bill 1409 [bill information] into law extending the mandatory [JURIST report] waiting period for women seeking an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. In April 2015 Alabama state representativeTerri Collins [official website] proposed a bill to ban abortion [JURIST report] once a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Also in April 2015 Kansas Governor Sam Brownback [official website] signed a bill [press release] that bans all forms of dismemberment abortion unless necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. In March 2015 Arizona Governor Doug Ducey [official website] signed a bill [JURIST report] that requires abortion providers in the state to tell women that they can reverse the effects of a drug-induced abortion, in addition to barring women from buying any healthcare plan through the federal marketplace that includes coverage for abortions. Also in March 2015 the West Virginia Legislature overrode [JURIST report] the state governors veto, passing a bill that bans abortion after 20 weeks. Cabinet panel clears airport hotel plan The Cabinets Economic and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Friday cleared the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepals (Caan) proposal to lease out its 92 ropanies of land at Sinamangal for the construction of a five-star airport hotel, and other infrastructure, to host international MICE events. Fear, uncertainty grip Rangeli; protests erupt in Tarai A day after three persons were killed in police firing in Rangeli Bazaar and Dayaniya in Morang district, the whole area remained tense throughout the day on Friday, as enraged activists of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha took to the streets, burnt tyres at Katahari, Naya Bazaar and Dadarberiya among other places and obstructed vehicular movement along the Biratnagar-Rangeli road. Futures on hold Sitting behind an autoclaving machine, a pot in which water boils at a higher temperature than its normal boiling point, Suman Maharjan, 26, vents his frustration. It has been six months since he completed his fourth semester examinations, and had the sterilisation equipment needed to conduct his Masters thesis been readily available, he would have been done with his studies. His thesis aims to find the effect antibiotics have on bacteria, but with the labs at the Central Department of Microbiology at Tribhuvan Universty running low on supplies, the progress has been laboured. Iran and China agree closer ties after sanctions ease Iran and China have pledged closer economic and political ties after talks in Tehran between the two presidents. Migrant crisis: Dozens drown in shipwrecks off Greece At least 42 migrants have drowned overnight in two separate shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea, officials say. Mogadishu beach attack: 'I saved boy of 10 in Somalia' A survivor of Thursday's attack on a beach restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu has described how he and his friends went back to save a 10-year-old boy caught up in the violence. NGO returns relief cash The Forum for Community Upliftment System (Focus) Nepal, an organisation that recovered its loans from the winter relief aid distributed in Jogimara VDC on Tuesday, has returned the amount to the quake-hit families. Smuggled petro products seized The District Police Office, Sunsari, has seized a huge quantity of petroleum products illegally stored in Bhokraha and Laukahi VDCs. Tunisia protests: President vows to end 'ordeal' of unemployed Tunisia's president says he understands frustration that has led to protests over unemployment, but instability could be exploited by extremists. Zika virus travel warnings spread to Africa and Oceania Travel warnings to pregnant women have been extended to eight more countries or territories amid concerns over an illness causing severe birth defects. 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. 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Khmerization is a home to the Cambodian daily news, which is updated twice daily. Please take a tour and enjoy yourself. Thank you. To contact Khmerization please send an email to: We live in a world in which an authoritarian state, $-freeloader narcissistic U.S., controls the digital infrastructure, enjoys the dominant position in the world's technology platforms, controls the means of production for critical technologies, and harnesses a new wave of general purpose technologies, like biotech and new energy technologies, to transform the world society, economy and military, to continue feeding U.S.' parasitic needs. However, the really funny thing is that US smears China for exactly what US itself is. Why didn't NATO (US) stop the real genocide and grave Human Rights violations (since 2014) in Ukraine?! And when Russia did, the NATO (US) attacked Russia. And what about the islamofascist Saudi dictator family's atrocities in Yemen - just to mention one from the Saudi pile?! China is now not only outperforming the West technologically but also the capitalist country that has come the furthest in balancing greed for the good of the people. In contrast to communist dictatorships such as the Soviets, Mao's China, North Korea and others, modern China is more democratic than most Western countries. This is because, via a meritocratic system, political career is built from the bottom up, i.e. local politicians must show results in order to move forward, while together they later form a political communication link between Beijing and the people, which means that unlike dictatorships, it is the top that is most sensitive to grassroots dissatisfaction. And this is proven in several Western research projects which unilaterally show a popular support that is sky-high above, for example, the US. Peter Klevius art analysis: When kings possessed antidemocratic total power (as the Saudi islamofascist murderer and terrorist war criminal "king" still today), they could deliberately show off their personhood. However, when kingdom became art - not to say sign post - then a "good" king or queen became someone who like Elizabeth had to shut up and instead be filled with the content of "the eye of the beholder" - just like art, which is always excluded from its artist. My guess is that she could only really trust her husband - 'husband' is Swedish meaning 'hus' (house) and 'band' means ties like in 'bond'. However, her son Charles has an extremely poor record at that - which may be entertaining, especially for republicans. US should be the "enemy" rather than modern China And when will Liz Truss declare the islamofascist "custodians of islam", the Saudi dictator family - who has murdered, tortured, terrorized and committed war crimes - an enemy? With the U.S. dollar as the world's main reserve currency - since 1971 criminally disconnected from its promised gold connection - and with the U.S. controlling global financial and monetary flow U.S. has raised massive debt while printing money - not "out of thin air" but out of the world. The U.S. economy hence rests on financial colonialism and imperialism, i.e. forcibly robbing its value from other countries. And when excess liquidity drives up global inflation, and the Fed raises interest rates and tightens monetary policy, it also widens its interest rate gap with other countries, while attracting international capital to the otherwise empty (and doomed) U.S. dollar. The Brits should blame US, the militant financial $-freeloader (since 1971) - not modern China, the peaceful tech and wealth building rescuer at home and around the world! Bank of England is a helpless pawn against the feds. At the very moment when especially UK but also the rest of the world needs China the most, then dangerous and militant (CIA steered?) Liz Truss declares China an "enemy". Hello! It's US that 2014 ignited the low scale Ukrainian civil war to a fullblown deadly genocide against Russians, and 2022 to a real proxy war via NATO threatening Russia for the ultimate purpose of attacking China. And it is the US' antidemokratic (decoupled from democratic institutions) Federal Reserve that is behind inflation and the fall of the pound and other financial problems outside US. US is the only country in the world that can survive heavy deficit by counterfeiting money. It's US that is the root of high inflation, energy costs, supply shortages etc. (because of modern China). The feds has since 1913 been the factual dictator of US, and when US became bankrupt after a costly Vietnam war and space (incl. military) program it 1971 unscrupulously cheated with the promised dollar connection to gold. US hence started a fullblown robbing of the world with the dollar as the world currency and now culminating in an untenable money printing that together with China's economic and tech rise threatens US criminal $-freeloading. US is a theocracy if measured by how much "in god we trust" is involved in policy and politics, and that the Supreme Court is 100% religious, in stark contrast to the huge number of Atheist people in US. This has also led to US using islamists against China. How come that this US patriot shares Peter Klevius view on US? Why trust Peter Klevius instead of BBC and other trolls? Because 1. Peter Klevius has a much higher IQ (beware of IQ-phobia) than most professors or world leaders 2. Peter Klevius has a long and clean life record when it comes to women, children, crimes, drugs etc. 3. Peter Klevius has no finacial or career ties to anything he writes about 3) Peter Klevius doesn't (sadly) know (20220326) a single Russian or Chinese, and has never visited the countries nor having any other connections 4) Peter Klevius groundbreaking scientific achievements (e.g. about evolution, consciousness, sex segregation, sociology, psychoanalysis etc.) can all be dated to publications, theses (and after 1998 also on the web) or correspondence with professors considered top of their game. Possibly all of them may also qualify as first of its kind - or at the very least certainly not copied from others - as others seem to do with Peter Klevius' works, without even giving him credit. 5. Peter Klevius had the most unprivileged start of life and adulthood - but also the most privileged when it comes to brain power, dopamin-serotonin balance and psychological stability - to an extent that he can't possibly believe in the psychological non sense excuse that "we're all a little mad". US rape of the Maid of Finland Peter Klevius to Boris Johnson: It was only half of the Brits who voted Brexit, and it was only half of the Ukrainians who voted for Ukrexit. However, in Ukraine it ended with civil war instigated by UK's ally $-freeloader rogue state US. You should really have kept your peaceful Huawei instead of being pushed to the militant F35! US has already sunk below the surface but abuses the "West" as its snorkel. What most people don't realize is that by following US you step downwards in future development compared to China. Little Japan already showed the world how to beat the West in technology. China is more than ten times bigger. And when people - sooner or later - realize the difference, the backlash will be harsh. Peter Klevius asks: Which war (post WW2) has NOT been instigated by rogue state $-freeloader US? Korea, Vietnam, Serbia, Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine, Libya, Yemen, Syria etc.. US, which has also used nukes, biological wepons, and torture, tops by far the list of war criminals - and US allies are gravely complicit! We're constantly told "not to incite hatred against muslims" when we're just criticizing sharia islam for its lack of Human Rights. However, when US/CIA not only incites hatred but also weaponizes it, no one in the West seems to care. Why?! How many more should suffer and die because of US senseless behavior when facing a future where its $-freeloading is coming home to roost because of China's success? 20220221: BBC main news hour at 13:00 today for the first time didn't mention Ukraine and Putin at all - while the worst shelling against Russian populated parts of Ukraine significantly escalated, leading to a peak of over 50,000 refugees fleeing to Russia to escape the genocide the $-freeloader (and now desperate because of China's growth and success) US iniitiated, agitated and assisted with weapons (together with its coerced, or just stupid/evil Western puppets) - while continuing spitting on Putin/Russia. World economies (CIA World Factbook 2022): 1 China 2/3 US, EU 4 India 5 Japan 6 Germmany 7 Russia 8 Brazil 9 France 10 UK Dear reader, stop supporting/aiding dangerous rogue state US! Otherwise US $-desperation (i.e. that it will lose its financial stealing hegemony because of China's growth) will lead to it deliberately starting a WW3. Except for human suffering and lower standard, it would be the great reset for $-freeloader US to stand in the ruins and continue being a stealing and ruling world dictator. No other country poses a similar threat. Religion is segregation. Judaism: We are the chosen people! Christianity: Christ will forgive, you sinner! Islam: Everyone is born muslim, you infidel! Human Right is de-segregation, you human! Peter Klevius wonders if you can spot the difference between the People's republic of China, the Congress' republic of US, and the Parliament's/government's "democracy" of UK. Hint, the clue is in the word 'people' and the fact that Chinese are more satisfied with their democracy than US and UK people. Moreover, can you spot the difference between modern China and Stalin's, Mao's, Castro's, Pol Pot's etc. Communist countries? And when it comes to unjust sentencing, spying, surveilling, detaining/torturing/killing people, US is definitely worse than China. Not to mention US global meddling, militarism and dictatorial fiat $-freeloading. A US that can't manufacture its own chips but tries to hinder China from it. And if you aren't on US sponsored IS-Uyghurs side - why spit on China?! And if you aren't on US sponsored IS-Uyghurs side - why spit on China?! Why is US calling anti-islamism "human rights violation"?! And when will US stop dealing with Saudi, NATO (e.g. Turkey) etc. Human Rights violators?!Btw, Peter Klevius suggests buying Chinese property stocks now. After all, there are more rural Chinese than the entire US population, waiting for getting urban after this temporary slow down. Why doesn't Peter Klevius publish his groundbreaking science in Nature? Because he has no peers! Peer review, according to Google, is the evaluation of work by people with similar competence. Peter Klevius healthy mind and total lack of institutional/financial/political/career bias combined with extra high intelligence is unique in science - and it's precisely therefore his best scientific achievments can't be evaluated by peer-biased people but need a blog to be presented because 1) they would never be peer approved in Nature 2) they would never be produced in a "proper" form with painstaking efforts to squeeze in citations/references etc. that contribute nothing. Whom should Peter Klevius quote about EMAH/consciousness out-of SE Asia , or about hetersosexual attraction and sex segregation ? When I made my phd on sex segregated resistance against female football I was asked to quote feminists. I did, and after every quote I had to negate it. Alternatively it would have silenced the women's voices in my in-depth interviews re. thair experience about resistance. After all, it was feminists behind the 1921 ban against women's football in England, and it was the most powerful feminists in Sweden who for a decade opposed girls and women playing football after the Swedish FA had included it. So instead of me testing Nature, you test me - before "anti-feminism", "anti-out-of-Africa" and "anti-religion" are criminalized as "hate speech"! - In anthropology fossils usually get all kinds of nicknames before scientifically "baptized". However, precisely because Homo floresiensis (the definite proof that humans evolved in SE Asia) was the "missing link" that afropologists wanted to find in Africa (how could an allround mover and allround eater ever evolve on a continent?!) they needed to dismiss it at every level incl. continue calling it a "hobbit". And when it comes to EMAH/consciousness it's extremely simple - yet not "simplistic" at all. However, the culprit is what humans are most proud about, i.e. language. By giving something one doesn't comprehend but wants to put in a package, a name, will continue to contain its blurred definition. This is why EMAH only deals with 'now' and the body of past this now lands on. Of course this leads to everything having "consciousness". A brick "remembers" a stain of paint as long as it's there - and with some "therapeutical" investgation in a laboratory perhaps even longer. And a stain of paint on your skin is exactly the same. However, unlike the the brick you've also got a brain that may also be affected by the stain. This could be compared with a hollow brick where the paint has vanished from the outside but submerged so that when cutting the brick it "remembers" it and tells the cutting blade about it. And for more "sophistication" just add millions of differect colors unevenly spread. Our brain is no different from the rest of the body. If Frankenstein with tomorrow's tech had created an adult human body, then that body wouldn't be able to walk or talk etc. because it lacked the body program we've been programmed with by living. The US-led climate hoax against China : $-freeloader US uses its hegemony to cover up the worst global threat, i.e. itself. And targets China which challenges its hegemony. A sustained and coordinated campaign aimed at undermining the credibility of China. China is already way more democratic than US - especially when considering that its infrastructure today is already where it inevitably will be tomorrow in a technologically lagging US. In other words, technology itself puts ever more distinction on our behavior - compare e.g. the shift from unmarked cash to marked card/online payments. And as an extra bonus China has extremely low criminality, better privacy law, and incredible record of improving poverty and welfare both home and abroad compared to US. Just consider how US has painted itself into a corner by the 1971 cheating that disconnected the dollar from US' own means, hence creating a situation with no other return than lowering its standard (i.e. stopping printing dollar that the rest of the world have had to pay for due to US' global financial empire tentacles) or a new war (which US is already brewing). Where US uses CIA meddling, sanctions and militarism, China has risen with honest manufacturing and trade. Peter Klevius: Do note that my klevius.info is an experimental webmuseum made 2003 and deliberately hasn't been touched upon since 2007. 20211103: Why is BBC 4 news so silent about CIA's murder plot and ongoing extradition request against Julian Assange, but instead has plenty of news time to repeatedly tell listeners about some cricket player (muslim?) who 'was allegedly hurt' because of 'verbal abuse'? $-freeloader US is the main driver of dangerous global militarism and state terror. It's also a many times bigger per capita polluter than China. Why is BBC repeating the lie that "China is the biggest polluter" when in fact it's one of the smallest?! And the only reason to not use per capita would be that China, unlike e.g. similar size Africa, has a single government. But even then China shines as the by far best led country. China is the technological future that we all have to walk - not led by the Chinese, but by technology. And because of US's desperation as its dollar-thieving (since 1971) is now threatened by China irresistibly passing them technologically and economically, China actually serves as a protected "soft landing model" for the future AI world (China's new privacy law, tech crackdown etc.) is exactly what most people want), while aggressive U.S. is a threat to peace and prosperity. Google is precisely the state link Chinese companies are accused of being, and US's "alliance" with "colored" and muslims is basically Sinophobia, i.e. the fear of losing control of those whom it has abused - it simply divides the world into good colored/religious and evil Chinese/Atheists (and evil whites who disagree). US-led "anti-communism" is not about communism or any belief that China would attack the rest of the world (as the US has done, after all). Almost everyone understands that today's China has nothing in common with Cuba, the Soviet Union, Pol Pot, and Mao's China. Peter Klevius has collected US Google News China headlines for years and never seen them (algorithms) so extremely anti-China as now. US' (+its puppets) Taiwan lies in perspective: UN Resolution 2758 which was approved on October 25, 1971 states that "The representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations" and "decides to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek (i.e. Taiwan) from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." Again, U.S.-linked disinformation campaign against China is made up as it goes along. So how much of US' "anti-Communism" rant is actually Sinophobia spized with greed and fear of losing its parasitic world sucking position? Btw, the worst polluters on measure of culpability as weighted annual per capita greenhouse gas pollution taking relative per capita income into account include the Anglosphere countries US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland. Isn't it shameful that these hypocrites point finger at China?! And why is BBC so silent about the volcanic catastrophe on La Palma that not only keeps continuing but also is getting more vicious by the day?! Volcanos can at any moment start an abrupt iceage - and we are anyway already overdue to the next statistical iceage. 20210926 UK became even more a totalitarian right wing militaristic one party state when Labour cut off its left wing. And unlike China, UK has no meritocracy demand on MPs, nor has it any people's democracy even close to that of China (just consider how the Western, US steered, media told you Xi ordered less gaming for kids when in fact it was a broad demand from parent). And China forces its companies to use less energy - and the Sinophobic West of course spits on this environmental effort when some energy companies break the limits and can't deliver. The West, not China, is the biggest emitter of pollution. What's not to like about China?! Best privacy law: least crimes: best high tech: best tech control: best poverty extermination: best manufacturer: best meritocratic democracy happiness: best trust in leadership, applauded by OIC for treatment of muslims, etc. And badly behaving $-freeloader and financial (and militaristic) global dictator U.S. jailed Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in a foreign country for her normal business in an other foreign country (whose prsidential candidate was murdered by US in a third foreign country) that US didn't happen to like as it didn't like the success of Chinese Huawei. How $-freeloader US has robbed the world since 1971 China hating bigoted and hypocritical West (i.e. US+puppets) - which strangly calls itself "the international community" - worries about Taliban sharia while West's close ally, the islamofascist Saudi dictator family (behind 9/11 and most other islamic terror) has the most medieval form of sharia of any muslim country! Btw, most feminists are sharia muslims - and feminism ticks most fascism boxes . Peter Klevius to his readers: Never forget that fascism emerged in the very midst of what is now in anti-China rhetoric called "the international community" or the West. And the roots of Western fascism has never been treated but live on. Ask yourself, what if China had behaved like the murderous terror rogue state $-freeloader U.S.?! Islamism wants islamic "human rights". Feminism wants women's "human rights". Peter Klevius wants Human Rights. Together with their close ally Saudi Arabia, US and its puppet UK have among the worst Human Rights records - yet they blame China and Russia instead. Fact correcting BBC's lies: Rogue state $-freeloader U.S. is also the by far much worse per capita greenhouse gas polluter than China. Peter Klevius serious questions to you "out of Africa" believer! Ask yourself: How come that the oldest primates came from outside Africa; that the oldest great ape divergence happened outside Africa; that the oldest bi-pedals are from outside Africa; that the only australopithecines with a Homo skull lived as far from Africa you can get; that the oldest truly modern looking skull is from eastern China (and to Chris Stringer - its slightly archaic bun fits a very old age); that the oldest Africans are mongoloid; that the latest genetic mix that shaped the modern human happened in northern Asia and is traced to SE Asia; that the earliest sophisticated art (e.g. a drilled and polished perfect shiny stone bracelet from Siberia, perfect paintings and figurines) and tools (e.g. a perfect sewing needle, flutes etc) are found from Iberia to Sulawesi - but not in Africa so far; that the oldest round skulled Homo sapiens in sub-Saharan Africa is much younger than similar skulls in Eurasia; that we lack ancient enough DNA from Africa to use as evidence (although afropologists happily do), etc. etc.? Peter Klevius theory answers all these questions - and more. Peter Klevius (the only serious anthropologist?!) to afropologists: If you honestly and with simple words would explain the essence of the out-of-Africa myth/hoax to a child s/he wouldn't believe a word of your story: A cold adapted (mongoloid phenotype) population P1 (Homo sapiens), which eats everything and has almost infinite time and skills to move anywhere on land - lives all over a southern "island" (Africa) that has an easily accessible bridge (Sinai) to an other "island" (Eurasia), but somehow cannot get out for hundreds of thousands of years. And when they tried they couldn't survive on places where their primitive relatives (Homo erectus) for 2 million years had thrived all over the places from the tropics to the northern cold. Then the kid would probably ask why you keep telling things that make no sense. And when you answer by saying that this now living population P2 on the warm island - but with features seen in all cold adapted populations P3 far north of the bridge - has the oldest DNA, then the kid would probably ask you if you have ever considered the possibility that those genes were aquired in the cold north far on the other side of the bridge. And your last resort to convince the child concists of some bone fragments that fit in a shoe box together with a decent pair of shoes - and there is no agreement about what they really are - and are the only thing we have between the chimp-like Lucy and the human-like erectus. And what would you answer when the kid then asks how a tiny Lucy-like (poor bipedalism) population A4 could possibly make it out of Africa all the way over the Wallace line to Flores as well as to the Philippines, long before Homo sapiens managed to do so? Peter Klevius suggests you and your kids learn from the best: Peter Klevius theory Speciation needs isolation over time and the best evolutionary lab has been SE Asian archipelago. Like all primates, carnivores, ungulates etc. we also came out of SE Asia with a new brain setup (due to island shrinking and mainland enlargement of this new brain setup), got coldadapted in the north and then spread all over the world while mixing with other Homo sapiens in a pattern easily recognizable. Peter Klevius evolution formula. U.S. main brain asset is East Asians - same with China... East-Asians (mostly Chinese) also took most gold medals in Tokyo Olympics. China won shared gold in the gold-medal race (39 golds - why are some excluding Hong Kong's gold). Peter Klevius suggests taking the knee for Human Rights instead of for certain "races" based on skin color, religion - or sex. The main threat against Taiwan is U.S. starting a war. But China just has to wait until the Taiwanese anyway want to rejoin because of Cnina's fast growing superior R&D, high tech, infrastructure, privacy law, economy etc.. For U.S. it's just the opposite. And West's hollow rant about "liberty" and "party-democracy" echoes back against China's democracy where the Chinese vote for truly merited individuals and against corruption. And Chinese hightech will, after some political delay come near you anyway - while in the meantime being called "assertive threat from CCP". And there's no more "Communism" in China's progress than there is Christianity in U.S' militaristic war mongering, criminal sanctions, $-freeloading, extrajudicial murders, unfair justice, torture, spying on everyone, use of islamists etc.. U.S. "Americans"! Payback time! When Peter Klevius bought his Japan made Citizen Eco Drive chronograph watch it cost ~ $240 in US and ~ $340 in EU. Those ~ $100 is what "American" (i.e. U.S. people - not all Americans) $-freeloaders owe to the rest of the world because of benefitting locally by money printing and pricing the main global reserve currency - but the end is near. $100 trillions - or more?! Apoorva Mandavilli (New York Times): "Someday we will stop talking about the lab leak theory and maybe even admit its racist roots. But alas, that day is not yet here." Peter Klevius wonders what made her later delete it?! Fiat-money-world-$-freeloader-US' intention is not at all to clarify anything but instead to keep up hate against China. Would Fiat-money-world-$-freeloader-US and its UK puppet let Chinese inspect Fort Detrick and over 200 US bio-labs all over the world and UK's notorious military research at Porton Down, Salisbury. So while Chinese and "Chinese" looking people now are the most harrassed, BBC gives it no real attention while filling its news with BLM and "worries about islamophobia". Btw, if you poke any s.c. "free speech debate" you'll always find islamic efforts for "blasphemy" laws - and never laws against real blasphemy against basic negative Human Rights of 1948. When should islam pay for 1400 years of genocides? The West has abandoned Human Rights for the sake of sharia islam and is again becoming what it fought against - itself. Communistphobia (an "autoimmune" reaction now boosted by US' collapse and due aggression) led to Fascism, Nazism and WW2. Why do the worst (per capita and consumption) militant polluters and hypocrites (Fiat $-freeloader US, UK, Australia etc.) lie about China. the world's best source for cleaner tech?! Fiat $-freeloader US' influence behind Sinophobic attacks against China, the world's by far largest economy and future of tech, privacy law and Human Rights, and with less assaults, rapes and murders etc. than e.g. US and EU, while the "democratic West" turns sharia theocratic and militant. And why is islamism called "religion" and Confuzianism "propaganda"?! Peter Klevius: Why would religious precepts and Human Rights denial be more worthy of protection than political ones? After all, Human Rights are there to guide legislators and the Chinese trust their politicians much more than Westerners trust theirs. So there's a case to be made against anti-China hate propaganda which harmfully affects Chinese and "Chinese" looking people. The senseless flaw of monotheism: The pompous self-delusion of oneself as "god's" chosen individual while projecting one's "beliefs" on "god's" chosen "community" - which in turn projects a collectivist "belief" on its individuals. Freedom of thought doesn't mean freedom from law - and freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from Human Rights. The only "ideology" that flawlessly fits negative Human Rights is Atheism (not believeing in any supremacist "god"). Lod/Lydda in Israel should be a warning that convinces anyone about the necessity to abandon racist and sexist monotheist religions and instead support the basic negative Human Rights of 1948 to guide legislation and behavior for a positive human future for all. https://negativehumanrights.blogspot.com/2021/05/negative-human-rights-for-positive.html US declares Turkish murder and islamization of more than a million Armenians a genocide while UK declares China's de-islamization and education of backward Chinese Uyghurs a "genocide". Joe Biden: "China will not become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world on my watch! And history proves US is the dangerous one that wants to dictate and bully the world to keep its $-freeloader hegemony. Xi Jinping: "China will never seek hegemony, no matter how strong it becomes." And he has the longest civilization to back it up with. Peter Klevius warns the Brits about the danger posed by spy master Jeremy Fleming's delusional, dangerous and Sinophobic China "analysis" which, if followed, may lead to stagnation and even US initiated war. It's all about UK either chosing a dangerous puppet status under US decline and stagnation by supported US' populist riding on pre-existing anti-Chinese (and anti-mongoloid racism, compare e.g. footballer Son Heung-Min and BBC lacking to report hate crimes against Chinese etc) sentiments - or simply benefitting from China's success through cooperation. The "danger" of new Chibese surveillance tech becomes ok later on in the West. However, China has now better privacy protection than the West, and China's meritocratic political representation combined with the world's toughest anti-corruption, makes West look bleak in comparison. And unlike UK, China has a real written constituion that gives women the same rights as men without exeption - someting US is still lacking, as are UK's sharia courts. 20210416: US' puppet sidekick UK cowardly runs away when it cannot hide in the master's shadow anymore - leaving Afghanistan's women without protection against islamic evil. Don't respect islam as long as islam doesn't respect Human Rights! And if you don't trust Peter Klevius (2001-) on this, then trust Council of Europe's (2019) basically similar criticism of islam's main worldly (except Gabriel) representative, Saudi based and steered OIC's Human Rights violating sharia declaration CDHRI! Moreover, the most pious muslims seem to be the ones furthest distancing themselves from Human Rights. Peter Klevius to the women of Greenham Common: Aren't the Saudi allied and posturing "in cheat and global nUKes we trust" right wing Sinophobic Brexiters a bigger threat than Iran? BBC is the world's main spreader of anti-Sinoist hate speech and populist Sinophobic propaganda on an industrial scale and therefore guilty of inciting crimes against humanity! First spitting on China and then using China's reaction as an excuse for more spitting. The original (negative) Human Rights (1948) means the individual is not to be imposed an action of another individual, group, government, religion etc. Negative Human Rights hence function as the guidance and guardian against unneccessarily restricting legislation. Sharia islam, i.e. in praxis Saudi based and steered OIC's notorious* sharia declaration, is the very opposite. However, UK and BBC seem to approve of islam's Human Rights violations while calling China's efforts to stifle them "human rights abuse". The original (negative) Human Rights (1948) means the individual is not to be imposed an action of another individual, group, government, religion etc. Negative Human Rights hence function as the guidance and guardian against unneccessarily restricting legislation. Sharia islam, i.e. in praxis Saudi based and steered OIC's notorious* sharia declaration, is the very opposite. However, UK and BBC seem to approve of islam's Human Rights violations while calling China's efforts to stifle them "human rights abuse". * Similarly criticized by Peter Klevius and the Council of Europe. Are both "islamophobes"?! Global China for peace and wealth vs. "global UK" for more hate incitement, lies, threats, nukes, warmonger and miltarism under the shield of the militaristic world dictator and $-freeloader US. Compare this to UN's Resident Coordinator in China, Siddharth Chatterjee, who says "we stand in a unique position to cooperate with the Government of China and apply its successes of lifting hundreds of million people out of poverty globally. China has shown its firm belief in the principles of multilateralism. As I witnessed in Kenya, China's donations of personal protective equipment and other supplies played a critical role during the disruption in global supply chains in March 2020. And every day I am in China, I am inspired by what I see around me, what China has achieved and can achieve as a country." But US/UK do their utmost to stop "assertive Chinese influence". And a Sinophobic parliament shouts "genocide" when China protects women's Human Rights. Without a fair reason UK declares Chinese a "threat" while Brits and other "infidels" are constantly threatened by Human Rights violating islamism. 20210320: The world's master fake news troll farm BBC today still uses conspiracy theorist, warmonger and China hater Pompeo to smear China and spread anti-Sinoism - but nothing about islamist Human Rights violating atrocities (e.g. 50 children beheaded by islamists in Mocambique etc.), !? Btw, UK abducts proportionally many more children than China - and expose them to islamist child abuse. Peter Klevius feels truly ashamed of looking like a Westerner. Btw, how can you excuse US criminal behavior: First benefitting from monopolizing global web tech and then using this monopoly as a weapon against competitors?! $-freeloader US and its UK puppet don't care about the wellbeing of Chinese but want only to damage China's success. Sinophobic UK parliament should just shut up talking about China and democracy. People living legally in their own state EU were robbed of their democracy by UK! And even UK nationals are just subjects, not citizens. BBC, the world's worst war mongering and hate spreading propaganda troll farm, uses Chinese "Guantanamo"* prisoner fotage out of context as "evidence" of how "truthful" BBC is! * US detained muslim terrorist suspects outside US! BBC stereotypes whatever to fit "genocide" in China but doesn't mind US-UK-Australian torture and murder of civilians. Where China stands for tech and wealth development $-freeloader US + UK-Australia stand for spreadinng lies and militarist tensions. And why so silent about UK torture of Assange while declaring an Iranian spy suspect as "innocent" simply because she says so (Iran, like US, doesn't approve of double citizenship). Uncritical democracy with islam inevitably means the death of Human Rights. Peter Klevius probably has some half of muslims on his side in saying so. BBC welcomes Jo Johnson when he now says "China is authoritarian, almost neo-totalitarian regime". Peter Klevius wonders how that fits with a country which leadership is much more approved of than Western ones?! Even an idiot (but not BBC) can see that China's modern Communism has nothing to do with Maoism or Soviet Communism. The only criticism left the West can come up with is name calling. The welfare, progress and out of poverty success for Chinese people has nothing in common with "conventional Communism". On the contrary, it delivers exactly where s.c. "democracies" (one might even argue that China is closer to democracy than the West) often fail. "Democracies" are anyway one party states supported by at the most some half of the population compared to China's qualified majority. So China's "authoritarian" Communist "dictatorship" is as far you can get from the West's beloved Sunni islamist theocracy, steered by the murderous and war crimes committing Saudi dictator family. So why is China declared an enemy while Saudi is an ally! Moreover, China's new privacy law will protect the individual much better than any similar laws in in the West. Why? Because China's leadership thinks the individual's privacy is too important to fiddle with (read the draft). Something the West has given up (to US). And who was it that started smearing, lying, spreading rumours and conspiracy theories, military threats etc. against China in the forst place? Sinophobic racism from the West for the purpose of aiding the US $-freeloader. Peter Klevius: Every muslim is responsible for muslims racism and sexism. So stop shouting "you're not a muslim" to a muslim who believes and knows the Koran by heart! Immigration is ok - if you criminalize anti-Human Rights sharia muslims (and their accompllices)! In cheat we trust: UK decreases aid to Yemen while increasing weapons sale to the muslim Saudi dictator family and spending more on militarism. And BBC is more concerned about Uyghurs than Yemenites. And worries more about Buddhists who don't like to be attacked, raped, murdered etc. than about their radicalized muslim attackers. Lord Palmerston, UK PM who supported the Confederacy in the US civil war, hoping a dissolution of the Union would weaken the US: "The Chinese are uncivilized and the British must attack China to show up their superiority as well as to demonstrate what a civilized nation could do." US is now the worst global threat that only cooperating with China could mitigate - instead of being US' puppets. Peter Klevius: Why is US ordering 600 new nukes - i.e. the double of China's total? Why is China the only NPT state to give an unqualified negative security assurance with its "no first use"? Why isn't UK's parliament more interested in the real genocide in Yemen than the made up "genocide" in Xinjiang?! Why is UK applauding the conviction of Syrian soldiers while UK soldiers go free from similar crimes against humanity. Why isn't the real genocide that muslim Uyghurs have committed against non-muslim Uyghurs talked about?! When Dominic Raab visited Saudi Arabia he failed to raise the question of Saudi Human Rights abuses.However, in UN he lied about "China's industrial scale Human Rights abuses". He deliberately conflated unchecked BBC "reports" by East Turkestan jihadis with China's out of poverty and de-radicalization programs. And of course forgot to say sterilization was offered after three (3) children and with economical and educational incentives for muslim women tied at home by sharia. The militant $-freeloader US' spread of misinfo about China has made Chinese the most hated ethnicity while sharia muslims are the most protected - and US' puppet UK's Dominic Raab keeps spitting Sinophobia while supporting anti-Human Rights islamism. UK, which illegally still colonizes Chagos (but complains about China), in a secret ballot 'arranged' (helped by OIC) a sharia islamist to become leader of the International Criminal Court - i.e. someone who doesn't respect basic Human Rights! Should ICC now change to ICT (In Cheat we Trust)? Peter Klevius (like e.g. most really intelligent Jews is an Atheist, not confined with "faith", politics, career, finance etc.): While the West accepts OIC's Human Rights violating sharia islamism, China defends Human Rights against islamism. And unlike US' constitution, China's constitution is fully aligned with women's rights in the 1948 Human Rights declaration. So to avoid the West turning into a full muslim theocracy (OIC sharia) fractioned in infighting, we better become Sinophils instead of Sinophobes! "Anti-democratic ommunism" is now the only (empty - the only difference is that MPs in China are under harder scrutiny) argument the West still swings. Peter Klevius: SE Asia was the evolutionary laboratory that made human evolution possible. Africa doesn't tick a single box 20210127, BBC (fake) News: "We are memorizing 6 million Jews in Holocaust." Peter Klevius: So why not include the more than 6 million non-Jews?! See BBC's diabolically wild lies about Uighurs! Many Afgan women's dream is to be treated like Uighur women in China. However, the criminal militaristic war mongering rogue state U.S. abandons them and instead declares islamist Uighur terrorists not terrorists anymore and accuses China's emancipation efforts for "genocide" and "human rights violation". However, the criminal militaristic war mongering rogue state U.S. abandons them and instead declares islamist Uighur terrorists not terrorists anymore and accuses China's emancipation efforts for "genocide" and "human rights violation". The biggest scandal in anthropology: Afropologist John Hawks and faith creationists dismiss the hereto most important "missing link" in human evolution. How many have they brainwashed and kept misinformed?! 1990 islam officially and globally (via UN) rejected Human Rights (the Saudi based and steered OIC's sharia declaration witch gravely violates the most basic of Human Rights)! If Atheist Chinese had reproduced like muslims, there'd be more s.c. "Mongoloids" than the whole world population today. BBC is the world's biggest lying and faking propaganda troll - BBC's agenda has absolutely nothing to do with journalistic principles but is a mix of US pressure spiced with the worst of "Britishness" (UK cuts foreign aid from 0.7-0.5% and adds the same money to militarism) meeting in Saudi/OIC islamofascist sharia against basic Human Rights. BBC: UK has to aid Saudi war crimes and genocides cause else Russia and China would do it. UK's future is as a militaristic puppet for US (compare BBC's campaign against Johnson and Corbyn). Peter Klevius to BBC's Sinophobic muslim presenters in their ivory minaret: How many muslim women are detained in UK's sharia camps? US secretary of state, Pompeo declares Islamic State Uighur jihadi not terrorists - so they can attack China and get support from US (as in Syria). It's an irony that China now seems to offer the only defense of those very Human Rights it's accused of not following - while the West supports islamism that violates those Human Rights (compare Saudi based and steered OIC's global sharia declaration against Human Rights). Moreover, apostasy (i.e. leaving islam, which is the worst crime in islam) and the fact that the muslim man determines the faith for the children no matter who is the mother, together have to be added to any estimation of muslim population growth. US' and its puppets' Sinophobia campaign rooted in UK's appalling opium wars against Chinese people Why do Sinophobic BBC and UK parliament call it "deradicalization" in UK, US and Saudi Arabia, but "genocide" in China?! And why wasn't one-child policy against Atheist Han Chinese called "genocide" while Uighur muslims were allowed to have many children?! Btw, e.g. Sweden abducts many more children than China does in Xinjiang - and for extremely questionable reasons (read Peter Klevius' thesis Pathological Symbiosis and ask yourself why Sweden gets away with its Human Rights violations). Answer: It's all about U.S. being a lousy loser and therefore behaving appalingly badly with smear, threats, illegal sanctions, militaristic aggression etc! Btw, China is already number one in economy and most technology - and accelerating compared to US. So you stupid US puppets - take note! Shame on everyone who blinks Saudi based and steered OIC's anti-human rights sharia for all the world's muslims while spitting on China! Should BBC and some politicians be put on a Nurenberg trial after this relentless and demonizing Sinophobia campaign and deliberate lies? US is rottening fast and should therefore go for peace and cooperation! Despite using $-freeloading, sanctions, breaking treaties, murdering officials and politicians in other countries during state visits etc., hindering the use of tech previously used to monopolize US companies globally etc., US now wants to destroy Huawei and other Chinese companies, not for security but because US is inevitably losing the tech race. And no, it isn't the Chinese state support any more than US uses state support for force-feeding Apple, Google etc. and backed up by US state militaristic interventions, spying, interference, threats etc. globally. And China was the first to recognize the danger of Covid-19 - not "delaying" anything" but quite the contrary (see below)! BBC News' deliberately misleading and dangerous anti-China rant 20200706: "China ought to be our enemy! We can't do any business with China because of Hong Kong, and the sterilization of Uyghur muslims which some people (BBC and its cherry picked guests?!) think amounts to genocide". Peter Kleius: That Chinese muslims should follow the same laws as other Chinese, and that China uses similar deradicalization programmes proposed in the West, BBC thinks is "suppression". And volontary sterilization in the West BBC calls "genocide" in China. And Hong Kong's security law is similar to those in the West - and not as bad as US - and are definitely neccessary to keep "one nation" together under the immense pressure from US and its puppet regimes. 2020 4th of July: Peter Klevius wonders when US women will get the same rights as Chinese women - ERA is still lacking from US constitution? Article 2, Chinese constitution: Women shall enjoy equal rights with men in all aspects of political, economic, cultural, social and family life. Peter Klevius also wonders why aggressive and assertive US attacks peaceful China (every schism has US fingerprints) while siding with the war crimes committing murdeous islamofascist Saudi dictator family whose OIC sharia clearly denies eqaulity for women?! China is doing more good to more people than any other country today. Is this the reason?! 20200618: Why is the most cemtral witness, Inge Morelius (later aka Marelius) in the Swedish PM Palme's murder case, deleted by Google's search engine from deleted by Google's search engine from Peter Klevius revealing murder analysis ?! 20200616: When China discovers Covid-19 with a European DNA profile on a cutting board for Norwegian salmon, the BBC thinks it's the communist party. Why is BBC so quiet about Churchill's secret (until 2018) pact with Stalin in 1939 which would have divided Scandinavia between Russia and UK?! And US' NATO puppet Jens Stoltenberg repeats like a parrot his master's voice against China - while a civil war is going on inside NATO between Greece and Turkey. African Pygmy lives matter! Colonized and enslaved for more than 3,500 years by the Eurasian Bantu etc. intruders we now call Africans. It's a senseless irony that "Africans" (Bantus etc. newcomers) who enslaved and mixed with original Africans (Khoisan and especially Pygmies from whom they got their phenotype) and later were enslaved by muslim Arabs and their "African" collaborators now get a brain drop at the West African ports where islam exported slaves. Any old African genes come from Khoisan and Pygmies - and ultimately out of Asia - not Africa. "Out-of-Africa" and BLM are created by white idiots and only feed supremacism. Read "out-of-Africa" more dangerous than the Piltdown hoax Peter Klevius 20200604: What if Floyd had been white or Chinese?! And the officers members of Nation of Islam? And how do we even know that any racism was involved? And what about a fair trial? 20200603: UK's Sinophobic right wing anti-EU migration Brexiters now want to import 3 million Chinese from Hong Kong!? 20200529: In its everyday Sinophobia rant BBC today managed in one sentence to accuse Chinese, China and Xi separately - and even missing the stock smear, i.e. the "communist party". However in a very near future China will develop and export a world leading ecosystem of non-US software, hardware, fintech, social media, telecom infrastructure etc. that everyone will long for. Stubborn and dumb stiff lipped Sinophobes will become Neanderthals in no time. Sadly few politicians understand how powerful Chinese tech development is. Japan did the same but wasn't hampered by Maoist communism and was ten times smaller. High IQ and an Atheist culture they both have in common. The pro-Saudi and anti-China "party-within" UK's governing party is committing long term criminal harm to UK. China is the future and US is rottening with accelerating speed (the desperate sanctions against China tell it all). Only tech cooperation with China will benefit Brits and Americans. So why are UK politicians and BBC so eager to shoot their own PM and the Brits in the foot by being dictated by Pompeo, Trump and the Saudi dictator family, and boosted by a general Sinophobia racism? The "communist" scare mongering has no relevance because in practice China behaves in no way different than US - but is under constant smear and subversion attacks. And China's surveillance has actually developed less fast than that of US. US is a rogue state that murders and surveils in other countries (e.g. murdered top politician in Iran and surveilled Merkel - and you). And who likes ISIS and al-Qaeda etc. Uyghur jihadi terrorists anyway? Pompeo, Erdogan and Saudi steered islamofascists. 20200522: BBC and some right wing MPs call it a "draconian move" when China wants to stop foreign interference and people using Molotov cocktails. Really! So what about in UK?! 20200518: BBC again repeated the anti-China lie about "a silenced doctor" by inviting the former right wing and pro-Saudi (anti-)EU Research Group - now (anti-)China Research Group. How bad a journalist isn't Sarah Montague then when she didn't even try to question it - or is she muffled?! Eye dr. Li Wenliang wrongly spread out it could be SARS. It wasn't and just one hour later - and long before any police etc. had contacted him - he corrected his mistake (see fact check below). $-freeloader US provoking China with war ships while simultaneously "leaking" "classified" rumours. Why?! Its Sinophobia is all about trying to stop China's success as the foremost spreader of wealth and high tech both in China and the world. It's not the leadership but China's success that US can't stand. BBC sides with whoever Sinophobes - and would probably even have used Goebbels against China if he was still around. UK universities etc. are littered with dangerous Saudi (OIC) anti-Human Rights sharia jihad propaganda (incl. supprt of IS Utghur jihadi) - yet China has always been aggressively smeared all the way since UK's opium war attacks on China when it was declared "inferior" and "uncivilized". Today the problem seems to be that China is too superior and too civilized - but thankfully they have a "communist" party to blame, although the leadership has behaved better than most in the West. And when BBC talks about the "West" against China it actually means US spy organization Five Eyes (with the puppet states Australia, UK, Canada and NZ) and whoever other Sinophobes it can find elsewhere - like the Israel supporting and anti-muslim right wing Axel Springer, Europe's largest media (practically a monpoly) which is accused of e.g. censorship and interference in other countries (just like state media BBC). Should China sue BBC and UK (not to mention US) and the far-right, anti-China and anti-muslim UK "think tank" the Jackson Society (with associated Sinophobic MPs and lords) - whose Sinophobia (disguised as "against communism" etc.) complements leftist and pro-sharia jihad muslims BBC which now so eagerly gives it a platform, as well as the closely connected US spy organization Five Eyes which has demonized China for years long before Huawei or Covid-19? The lies about China they have spread are indistinguishable from those of Pompeo and Trump. Is this baseless (compared to US/UK) hate mongering really conducive to the welfare of UK? And when China reacts to this massive Sinophobia campaign then BBC calls it "aggressive Chinese propaganda". US "warns" about China "stealing" vaccine info because US knows that China now produces much better research than US. BBC anti-China fake 20200506: "Hundreds if not thousands of people were likely to have been infected in Wuhan, at a time when Chinese officials said there were only a few dozen cases." Peter Klevius fact check: BBC deliberately conflates real time confirmed knowledge with calculations in retrospect. US has made all the mistakes it accuses China for. Here's one from the top of the iceberg: Whistleblower Dr. Rick Bright, the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, pressed for urgent access to funding, personnel and clinical specimens, including viruses, which he emphasized were all critically necessary to begin development of lifesaving medicines needed in the likely event that the virus spread outside of SE Asia. He was then cut out of critical meetings for raising early alarm about the virus and ousted from his position. Chinese 5G much more reliable than US' Five Eyes, the world's most dangerous misinfo and conspiracy spreading US spy and smear organization (together with its puppet states UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) which "leaked" a 15-page dossier alleging "probing the possibility" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. As Peter Klevius has said before, it didn't come from bats to humans but from some other host animal. Fake news and anti-China propaganda videos are making false and unfounded claims about "delays" and "late" human to human transmission report. Again, it was only in retrospect anyone could have known the nature of early cases. Many weren't even connectded to the wet market and many weren't affected at all despite intimate contact. Moreover, the wrong early SARS diagnosis was corrected the very same day but spread by a "whistleblower" eye doctor (see fact check below). And despite being first affected China acted better than US etc. countries. 5eyes equals Nazi Goebbels in propaganda misinfo. Every single accusation so far has built on deliberate distortion of facts. And possble improvements in retrospect would have been exactly the same in even the best of Western countroes. Peter Klevius to Chinese people: I'm not a racist - although I certainly look like one. Origin of Sinophobia: The 19th century Opium Wars were triggered by UK's imposition of the opium trade upon China. Lord Palmerston regarded the Chinese as uncivilized and suggested that the British must attack China to show up their superiority as well as to demonstrate what a "civilized" nation could do. The resulting concession of Hong Kong compromised China's territorial sovereignty. There's also the background to South China Sea. "God", "Allah", or whichever "monotheistic" idol is a pathetic fallacy and "monotheism" is a ridiculous and dangerous self-delusion because your "god" is used to defend the undefendable. There are equally many "gods" as there are individuals - and the collective "god" only functions as cherry picked confirmation of the individual's "god". However, the collective "god" may combine individual evil - never individual good, because that can only be achieved by (negative) Human Rights. After all, as Peter Klevius always has said, the only way of being fully human is to allow others full humanhood (what else could possibly unite all humans) - without religious impositions/exclusions. Pentagon, islam - and China?! Also check out Peter Klevius theory (1992) on "consciousness"/Thalamus - the only one that fits empirical evidence. And don't miss And don't miss Anthropologist Peter Klevius vs. Afropologist John Hawks - and how the British Piltdown hoax moved to Africa . Peter Klevius asks for an independent international inquiry on BBC's racist Sinophobia and its support of sharia islamism - incl. how many victims and suffering it has caused because of its worldwide propaganda influence. In the early 1990's US accused Japan of selling superior cars in US without buying crappy cars from US. And a congress woman warned for tech theft if selling US planes to Japan - but was told that those planes wouldn't even fly without Japanese high tech. At the same time EU was created to build a trade wall against Japanese products. However, Japan is more than ten times smaller than China - and isn't at the hotbed of different coronaviruses in SE Asia. Dear reader, if you think Peter Klevius has a problem with self-assertion you're very wrong. Apart from it being connected to Peter Klevius criticism of citation cartels (see Demand for Resources, 1992:40-44) Peter Klevius main problem is your self-assertion. Is this MP a clown? Sinophobic BBC working hard for a Coup d'etat together with Saudi loving and China hating MPs against PM Boris Johnson. Peter Klevius wonders why Sinophobic state media BBC (with Tom Tugendhat etc.) goes against the state (PM, MI6 etc.) in being so extremely worried about unfounded claims about China while having no problem with the threats posed by the worst of the worst, the islamofascist Saudi dictator family's influence over UK - and BBC?! goes against the state (PM, MI6 etc.) in being so extremely worried about unfounded claims about China while having no problem with the threats posed by the worst of the worst, the islamofascist Saudi dictator family's influence over UK - and BBC?! 20200417: BBC's Sinophobic muslim Razia Iqbal together with Tom Tugendhat arrange a pathetic propaganda theatre of BBC's 22:00 news hour for the most senseless and even childish smearing of China. And how can this clown (just listen to his laughter etc.!) be a leader of UK's foreign affairs committee?! Moreover, Razia Iqbal even uses Trump as an expert! Desperate...! arrange a pathetic propaganda theatre of BBC's 22:00 news hour for the most senseless and even childish smearing of China. And how can this clown (just listen to his laughter etc.!) be a leader of UK's foreign affairs committee?! Moreover, Razia Iqbal even uses Trump as an expert! Desperate... 20200416: State media BBC's Sinophobic Uganda rooted muslim Razia Iqbal lies about Chinese "racism" against Ugandans without telling that it was a local matter that was caused by some Africans linked to a cluster of cases in the Nigerian community in Guangzhou at a time when China had already curbed Covid-19. At least eight people diagnosed with the illness had spent time in the city's Yuexiu district, known as "Little Africa". Five were Nigerian nationals who faced widespread anger - not for being Africans but because of reports that they had broken a mandatory quarantine and been to eight restaurants and other public places instead of staying home. As a result, nearly 2,000 people they came into contact with had to be tested for Covid-19 or undergo quarantine. Guangzhou had confirmed 114 imported coronavirus cases 16 of which were Africans. The rest were returning Chinese nationals. 20200407a.m.: UK's best PM, Boris Johnson, is much shorter (same as Einstein and Klevius dad) than Trump - but also much more intelligent. It's OK to say so when Trump is white - and loves to play on height, right? 20200412: The reason the Chinese government wanted extra control of DNA results was the previous failed report (see below) which wrongly indicated SARS. However, British media (BBC etc.) blatantly lie about it and first accused Shi Zhengli's lab for spreading infected bats, while some weeks later making her a hero and accusing the government. And no, it didn't spread from bats - but possibly from civet cats. Suspected animals are now forbidden from the market. Anthropologist Peter Klevius vs. Afropologist John Hawks - and how the British Piltdown hoax moved to Africa. And why would antelopes evolve in the very opposite direction to humans - at the same time? UK/Matt Hancock (20200402): "We will work (against Covid19) with our friends and allies." Peter Klevius: That excludes the best, i.e. China, which you, on order from US, have declared an "unfriendly enemy"! SINOPHOBIA RACISM. US tries to pull you away from Chinese high tech superiority so US can keep feeding you with its outdated tech and influence - just as it used to do with cars and wars. Your pick: US militarism with Saudi led islamofascism - or highspeed Chinatech towards Chinese democracy and global wealth. China is the very opposite to Cuba - and already, in practise, almost identical to Western governments. Excluding China only prolongs the democratic process - and even speeds up China's high tech inside its 1.4 billion market. Peter Klevius fact check: "COVID-19 has a natural origin and there is no evidence that the virus was made in a laboratory or otherwise engineered" (Nature). China swiftly sequenced and shared the genome worldwide. China's remarkable response on all stages was praised by WHO (but not BBC) and is in line with its superior tech advances (Mao's China would never have made it). There isn't a trace of an alleged (by BBC etc. fakes) Chinese Covid19 reporting "delay" that wouldn't have been bigger in the West. And the reason is that for China good reputation is all that matters - now when it has already won the tech competition. China's defense against West's smear campaign is called "propaganda" - in the West. Dear US, it's time to behave! You lost the tech war to little Japan long ago. Now you've lost it against big China. Get over it. So Peter Klevius advises: Do as Wall Street, shake hands instead of producing unfounded Sinophobic smear propaganda! Covid19 timeline " (Nature). China swiftly sequenced and shared the genome worldwide. China's remarkable response on all stages was praised by WHO (but not BBC) and is in line with its superior tech advances (Mao's China would never have made it). There isn't a trace of an alleged (by BBC etc. fakes) Chinese Covid19 reporting "delay" that wouldn't have been bigger in the West. And the reason is thatfor China good reputation is all that matters - now when it has already won the tech competition. China's defense against West's smear campaign is called "propaganda" - in the West. Dear US, it's time to behave! You lost the tech war to little Japan long ago. Now you've lost it against big China. Get over it. So Peter Klevius advises: Do as Wall Street, shake hands instead of producing unfounded Sinophobic smear propaganda! 17 November 2019: A retrospectively confirmed case. 1 December 2019: The first known patient started experiencing symptoms but had not been to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. No epidemiological link could be found between this case and later cases. 818 December 2019: Seven cases later diagnosed as COVID19 were documented; only two of them were linked with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. 18-29 December 2019: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) that will eventually be used for viral genome sequencing is collected from patients. 25 December 2019: Wuhan Fifth Hospital gastroenterology director Lu Xiaohong reported suspected infection by hospital staff. 26 December 2019: Zhang Jixian identified a CT scan that showed a different pattern from other viral pneumonia. 27 December 2019: She reported to Jianghan district CCDC with four cases. During the following two days, the hospital received three similar cases, who all came from Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. The hospital reported to the provincial and city CDC directly which initiated a field investigation with a retrospective search for pneumonia patients potentially linked to the market. They found additional such patients and on 30 December, health authorities from Hubei Province reported this cluster to CCDC who immediately sent experts to Wuhan to support the investigation. Samples from these patients were obtained for laboratory analyses. 30 December 2019: Wuhan Municipal Health Committee informed WHO, Weibo etc. about an "urgent notice on the treatment of pneumonia of unknown cause". There had been "a successive series of patients with unexplained pneumonia recently." However, a DNA report inaccurately indicated SARS on one patient. Late same day (17:43) ophthalmologist Li Wenliang WeChatted "There were 7 confirmed cases of SARS at Huanan Seafood Market." He included a patient's CT scan. At 18:42, he admitted that it wasn't proven SARS. 31 December 2019: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were alerted by China of an unexplained "cluster of 27 cases of pneumonia in Wuhan. US worst nightmare is a democratic China - which wouldn't change China but make it even more like one-party "democracies" in the West - because that would mean losing US only argument. US deliberately seeks Sinophobic confrontational aggression against China - which hampers the development and peace of the world. US island puppets against China and EU. US, who used to treat Japan as it now treats China, is now parasitizing on former enemy Japan in an (in vane) effort to keep China high tech down, and on the much tinier UK ally to trouble EU. Something sinister is behind when Sinophobic far right extremist politicians so desperately risk future development in UK with false accusations of "possible risks in the future", skewed presentations, and unfounded demonization of Chinese high tech. And while Klevius is posting this, all in his machine is spied on and sent to US. And why is BBC constantly only hosting Sinophobic guests who also happen to be supporters of the islamofascist Saudi dictator family and happy to allow US spying on you via US companies? The only risk Huawei poses is that the Chinese state gets fed up and makes it illegal to sell Chinese top tech to UK. China is the future of high tech, so stepping off the bus means retardation. Btw, the two main accusations against China could easily be made against US/UK as well. China wants to trade and therefore doesn't want to risk reputation. US doesn't bother about its reputation. And when it comes to clean up muslim "communities" from islamofascist extremists there's really no other difference than in numbers. Moreover, NATO/Turkey uses extremist Uyghurs against civilians in e.g. Idlib - and hypocritically accuse China when these jihadi return. Klevius to women: NATO makes a deal with the Taliban to continue sharia oppression of women, and NATO+IS=true because NATO is the main culprit behind the suffering in Idlib. Without the support from NATO the worst muslim terrorist group would never have survived. Like IS, NATO ally Hayat Tahrir al-Sham wants to create an islamic state. Turkey/NATO backs SNA well knowing that it's together with HTS. I.e. a NATO member state invades its neighbor, sides with terrorists and gets full support from NATO when its soldiers get killed while helping the terrorists. And what about Yemen?! It's truly pathetic that muslims seem more worried about islamofascism than the West! Peter Klevius to climatists: Sinophobia is a threat to the environment, because China has the slowest population growth and is the the least per capita polluter of main economies (see table below) and the main producer of alternative and conventional super high tech! Moreover, China lacks the same proportion of natural resources as e.g. Sweden, Norway etc. (e.g. hydropower) but instead has to deal with the dust smog blowing from the Gobi desert and the extreme cold from the north. And China bears the manufacturing pollution for products other countries then consume and profit on. NATO (Turkey supported by US/UK) is siding with the worst muslim terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (some 10,000 IS jihadi) against the people of Idlib while BBC News spreads misinfo propaganda against Syria, Russia and Iran - and nothing about the Saudi dictator family. BBC (20200217) wants to stop Chinese tech because China opposes islamofascist Uyghurs. Klevius suggests the world should stop dealing with US/UK because of involvement in war crimes and genoscides against Shia muslims. Why is Wikipedia allowed to spread polemical, tendentious and deliberately misleading info about islam? And not a word about islam's original supremacist enslavement, booty and humiliation ideology?! This misinfo is the most harmful of all! From a true (negative) Human Rights, as well as from a historical perspective, original islam may rather be seen as original fascism. The oldest Koranic texts and the historically verified beginning of islam both emphasize supremacism as the main tenet (blamed/excused on "Allah"). Islam conserves racism, sexism and supremacism as pointed out by true muslims (aka "fundamentalists") reinforced through sharia (e.g. by Saudi based and steered OIC's world sharia which is heavily criticized both by Klevius and the Council of Europe etc.). Islamic (and therefore muslim) supremacism is easily distinguished as it doesn't approve of Human Rights equality. And why does Wikipedia deliberately conflate the history of islam with the fairy tales of believers in islam?! Sinophobia is racism but "islamophobia" is criticism of an ideology. "Islamophobia" shouters are directly responsible for islamic hate crimes based on Koranic texts and hitting children of "infidels". The Saudi-US-UK axis of evil Chinese eyes less intrusive than Five Eyes (US and its puppets) - because China prioritizes trade and reputation while US prioritizes global spying, meddling and military control. The Saudi loving US puppets Duncan Smith, Davis, Paterson, Green, Ellwood and Seely etc. produce baseless "security" arguments for Sinophobic MPs. U.S. flu this season Feb. 2020: 19 million illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and over 10,000 deaths (China has a third less common flu than US). 2019-nCoV, 6 Feb. 2020 (estim. total death rate 0.1-0.2%, i.e. same as common flu): 28,018 cases (not illnesses) and 563 deaths. Did the eye doctors SARS rant on social media delay response in China? It wasn't SARS but much closer to common flu - but without vaccine. Instead of assisting, US/UK/BBC did the utmost to smear China with it! Klevius warning to Finland (and the rest of the world): Don't be useful idiots in US' export of militarism! It will create tension and pull fire on you in a conflict. Four balancing power blocs is safer than one or two. Moreover, China will become the world's first true democracy thanks to AI. Don't let Sinophobia blind you. US is going down unless it starts cooperating instead of trying to rule the world. Non 5G iPhone sells well - in US - where there's no true 5G. BBC's bigoted and hypocritical Pakistan rooted, Saudi raised and Cambridge schooled "muslim" (no veil, no Ramadan fasting, but yes to alcohol etc.) presenter Mishal Husain, like many Saudi/OIC supporters, represents the "security risk" between islam's "core" (OIC sharia) and "periphery" (e.g. "Euro-islam", "cultural islam" etc.). Peter Klevius suggests cooperation instead of unfounded incl. religious) hate! Klevius is ashamed over hateful, racist Western Sinophobia - and support of hateful sharia jihad. BBC's sharia supporting (?) muslim Mishal Husain now eagerly sides with Sinophobic extreme right wing politicians who support Saudi islamofascism but demonize China and Chinese (except if critcical of China). Sinophobes would treat China exactly the same if it copied US "democracy". BBC today (20200129) forgot to tell about China already having isolated the virus for vaccine (and helped Australians to do so). However, BBC repeatedly lied that the death rate is 20%. Common flu and the new corona virus deaths (~2%) are extremely rare outside very vulnerable groups - who don't travel much. BBC, who otherwise don't hesitate to spit on Trump, has no problem using his advisor when it comes to racist Sinophobia against Huawei. US is blackmailing UK so to hinder China's tech success and the "security issue" is actually US itself. Niklas Arnberg, Swedish professor in virology: "Considerably higher mortality than ordinary flu." BBC: "Death toll rises as disease spreads from China." Peter Klevius: Both are faking! Arnberg used overall death numbers although most (all?!) of these deaths have been people who could have died from ordinary flu as well. And do you really think BBC would ever have written similarly about the deadly camel flu from Saudi Arabia?! Why is BBC spending so much more time on a 2019 flu from China than on the much deadlier 2019 camel flu from Saudi Arabia?! Why is BBC only talking about Jewish victims - and why is BBC silent about the fact that most "anti-semites" (i.e. anti-Jews) are muslims? Holocaust: 6 million Jews and 11 million "others" were murdered by the German government for various discriminatory practices due to their ethnicity, Atheism, or LGBT+. Hitler: "All character training must be derived from faith." Himmler: ""We believe in a God Almighty who stands above us; he has created the earth, the Fatherland, and he has sent us the Fuhrer. Any human being who does not believe in God should be considered arrogant, megalomaniacal, and stupid." Klevius (the Atheist "other"): That's a description of me by most Americans and muslims. Btw, why are muslim sex predators (compare Koran and sex slaves) from Pakistan called "Asians"?! And why have they been protected while Klevius has been muffled?! Islam trumps LGBT rights in English schools - and hateful sexist and racist muslim supremacism defending BBC is silent as usual (e.g. about Parkfield Community School 2020). Klevius: Do you really support US/UK/BBC's disgusting racist Sinophobia madness - and their support and use of anti-Human Rights muslim islamism?! Wikipedia: In the Xinjiang riots Turkic speaking Uyghur muslims shouted/posted "kill the Han (Chinese) and Hui (Chinese speaking muslims)"! Why is BBC so silent about Iran Air Flight 655 that was recklessly shot down by US over Iran territory killing 290 incl. 66 children?! Is it the new US puppet empire agenda? Did US aggression also cause the latest plane crash? When BBC announces "the threats of 2020" the murders, terrorism and war crimes committing Saudi dictator family isn't included. As isn't US/UK militaristic meddling and proxy wars in Syria, Yemen, Iraq etc. However, China's peaceful trade and high tech manufacturing is!? Saudi based and steered Human Rights violator OIC is the main legal guidance for the world's sharia muslims. BBC eagerly supports it by neglecting to criticize it while spitting on those who do. OIC's Cairo Declaration on "Human Rights" in Islam (CDHRI) is against freedom of religion - but abuses real Human Rights for the promotion of anti-Human Rights sharia islam. The CDHRI concludes in Articles 24 and 25 that all rights and freedoms mentioned are subject to the Islamic sharia, which is the declaration's sole source. OIC hence keeps the gate open for continued islamofascism in the "muslim world" - and as a convenient tool for meddling in "hostile states". You believer in "islamophobia"! Doesn't it scare you that if Peter Klevius is right about islam but wouldn't say anything, then who would when you're doomed on the market if you do? If Marx had been called a "messenger" then Marxism would have been protected by freedom of religion, and critics called "Marxophobes". All "monotheist" religions make excuses not to fully accept Human Rights equality, but islam is by far the worst - not the least due to its origin and the fact that it's protected, unlike other threats to Human Rights. Whereas totalitarian Marxism used to be the enemy of the West, today US is on the totalitarian islamofascist side using it for Saudi gains against declared "enemies". It's truly a grim irony when BBC protects islamofascist terrorist groups by telling you that the suffering in Syria is due to the Syrian government and Russia. US could stop the muslim terrorist groups at any time - but doesn't because it wants the war and suffering to continue. Peter Klevius fact/fake check: Why does Google (and BBC) lie and fake straight up your face about China ?! When searching for 'world's biggest per capita polluters' China comes up with extra big letters despite being When searching for 'world's biggest per capita polluters' China comes up with extra big letters despite being one of the least polluting of major economies (47th on a reliable polluters list). Moreover, China is not only the world leader for alternative technologies, but its pollution number also includes the biggest production of products exported and consumed all over the world outside China. Source: EDGAR and incl. all human activities leading to climate relevant emissions, except biomass/biofuel combustion (short-cycle carbon). US/UK (NATO) don't accept muslims like Uighur islamists (other than as proxy soldiers) - but demand China to accept them. NATO's Sinophobia is a threat to world peace, environment and prosperity. NATO is all about US monopolizing space for its own militarism and to block China's success? In 1990s Russia was proposed as a member of NATO but is now demonized by US/UK (and BBC) as the "main enemy" together with "the challenge from China" (sic). But NATO members are guilty of offensive wars, occupations, annexations, use of chemical weapons, use of islamist terrorists, foreign interventions, extrajudicial murderings in other countries - and use of similar muslim "re-education" camps as China (why not just criminalize original evil islam?!). NATO (US) threatens the free flow of tech and wealth, and provokes hate and defensive attitudes among Chinese - hence forcing China (world leader in tech) using its financial muscles more for defense (China can't be starved like USSR in 1980s) than environment. Btw, Chinese per capita GDP is 1/3 of US, and total GDP much bigger than US - and faster growing. A fraction of the effort given to demonize "islamophobic" islam criticim, would do wonders to reduce Sinophobic racism against Chinese. And stop using the "Communist threat". China is now a capitalist country similar to Western powers - except technologically much better (and the West copies everything China does in surveillance). Do you really think much would change if China would be fully democratic - except chaos caused by NATO? NATO (US/UK) would be equally Sinophobic. In fact, what is called "democracy" in the West functions quite similarly as the leadership in China. Media propaganda, lying politicians and empty promises combined with silencing the real issues (compare BBC's fake "news") - and therefore a truly democratic vote. Moreover, the only reason capitalist China has a non-democratic leadership for the moment is precisely its justified fear for leaving it vulnerable for what happened in the past when UK and US meddled and attacked with great suffering for the Chinese people. NATO should turn against the real evil, the islamofascist Saudi dictator family. Peter Klevius Christmas greeting to BBC and Tesco: Ever thought about the possibility that muslim islamists don't like making Christmas cards but are encouraged by US/UK/BBC etc. to smear China. "We are foreign prisoners (muslims?) in Shanghai Qingpu prison China. Forced to work against our will (islamic Christophobia?). Please help us and notify human rights (ultimate bigotry if sharia muslims ask for HR) organisation (Saudi based and steered OIC?!)." "British" nationalist hypocrisy: Get back control - and meddle, influence, intervene, spy and control all over the world. More than half of muslims in UK are "islamophobes" (against sharia) - just like Peter Klevius, Council of Europe etc. - but opposite to BBC and many UK politicians (source: A survey of UKs muslim communities by Martyn Frampton, David Goodhart and Khalid Mahmood MP). (source: A survey of UKs muslim communities by Martyn Frampton, David Goodhart and Khalid Mahmood MP). BBC awards a white man who plays an odd sport few are interested in the title of "sports personality of the year 2019". Why?! Because cricket is a "british" colonial sports and also fits BBC's special interest in "asians" - but couldn't find a "british asian" good enough. England voted (for the second time) against Merkels islam import from Turkey. Can islam be rehabilitated from its evil origin and deeds - and can unrehabilitated islam be allowed in public and private spheres? Why is Saudi based and steered OIC's Islamic State of Gambia accusing Aung San Suu Kyi for the consequences of islamofascism OIC's sharia protects - and why isn't the murderous islamofascist war criminal and genocide committing Saudi dictator "prince" accused of anything? And why is BBC's leading muslim extremist propaganda presenter Mishal Husain allowed to "present" an absolutely one-sided pro islamist picture for BBC's compulsory fee paying listeners? Peter Klevius fact/fake check: Why does Google lie and fake straight up your face?! When searching for 'world's biggest per capita polluters' China comes up with extra big letters despite being one of the least polluting of major economies (47th on a reliable polluters list). Moreover, China is not only the world leader for alternative technologies, but its pollution number also includes the biggest production of products exported and consumed all over the world outside China. Source: EDGAR and incl. all human activities leading to climate relevant emissions, except biomass/biofuel combustion (short-cycle carbon). US/UK (NATO) don't accept muslims like Uighur islamists (other than as proxy soldiers) - but demand China to accept them. NATO's Sinophobia is a threat to world peace, environment and prosperity. NATO is all about US monopolizing space for its own militarism and to block China's success? In 1990s Russia was proposed as a member of NATO but is now demonized by US/UK (and BBC) as the "main enemy" together with "the challenge from China" (sic). But NATO members are guilty of offensive wars, occupations, annexations, use of chemical weapons, use of islamist terrorists, foreign interventions, extrajudicial murderings in other countries - and use of similar muslim "re-education" camps as China (why not just criminalize original evil islam?!). NATO (US) threatens the free flow of tech and wealth, and provokes hate and defensive attitudes among Chinese - hence forcing China (world leader in tech) using its financial muscles more for defense (China can't be starved like USSR in 1980s) than environment. Btw, Chinese per capita GDP is 1/3 of US, and total GDP much bigger than US - and faster growing. A fraction of the effort given to demonize "islamophobic" islam criticim, would do wonders to reduce Sinophobic racism against Chinese. And stop using the "Communist threat". China is now a capitalist country similar to Western powers - except technologically much better (and the West copies everything China does in surveillance). Do you really think much would change if China would be fully democratic - except chaos caused by NATO? NATO (US/UK) would be equally Sinophobic. In fact, what is called "democracy" in the West functions quite similarly as the leadership in China. Media propaganda, lying politicians and empty promises combined with silencing the real issues (compare BBC's fake "news") - and therefore a truly democratic vote. Moreover, the only reason capitalist China has a non-democratic leadership for the moment is precisely its justified fear for leaving it vulnerable for what happened in the past when UK and US meddled and attacked with great suffering for the Chinese people. NATO should turn against the real evil, the islamofascist Saudi dictator family. DEMOCRACY DENIED: WARNING TO UK VOTERS ABOUT BBC's HUMANRIGHTSPHOBIA! WHO's RIGHT ON ISLAM - BBC OR THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE? BBC undermines your most basic Human Rights. BBC's "islamophobia" propaganda machine (incl. Sayeeda Warsi) boosts OIC islam while neglecting Council of Europe's sharp ("islamophobic") criticism of OIC's world sharia (Cairo declaration). SO HOW COME THAT BBC IS ALLOWED TO MEDDLE IN THE VOTING PROCESS BY ATTACKING AND SMEARING THOSE CANDIDATES WHO SHARE THE VIEW OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE - not to mention the anti-fascist Universal Human Rights declaration of 1948?! And how come that racism against e.g. Polish people in UK is of no interest for BBC while the "problem" of "islamophobia" fills all BBC "news"? Is BBC killing UK democracy and paving the way for islamofascism?BBC undermines your most basic Human Rights. BBC's "islamophobia" propaganda machine (incl. Sayeeda Warsi) boosts OIC islam while neglecting Council of Europe's sharp ("islamophobic") criticism of OIC's world sharia (Cairo declaration). SO HOW COME THAT BBC IS ALLOWED TO MEDDLE IN THE VOTING PROCESS BY ATTACKING AND SMEARING THOSE CANDIDATES WHO SHARE THE VIEW OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE - not to mention the anti-fascist Universal Human Rights declaration of 1948?! And how come that racism against e.g. Polish people in UK is of no interest for BBC while the "problem" of "islamophobia" fills all BBC "news"? How Merkel paved the way for Brexit (Erdogan deal) and aided jihad in EU. NATO (US) with former fascist state Germany now sides with islamofascism - especially Erdogan's Ottoman aspirations - and supports Uyghur jihadism in hope of placing NATO (i.e. US) nukes between Russia and China. Peter Klevius wonders whether this ill-directed jihad propaganda will promote peace and safety? The world bully U.S. thinks it owns and rules the world after having colonized it via dollar manipulation, infiltration, spying, meddling, sanctions and the unscrupulous use of militants and militarism. Thanks to the global dollar scam, Americans have been freeloaders on the rest of the world, the biggest per capita polluters and the U.S. by far the biggest threat to world peace via weapons built with money it stole from the world. Said by Peter Klevius who has been an anti-socialist all his life. Btw. the world's industrial revolution didn's start in England but in Sweden already in the late 17th century by inventor Christopher Polhem and capitalist Gabriel Stierncrona. Without Polhem's automation to get the rich Swedish iron ore from the mains, England had no chance to start real industrial production. A nun's gear doesn't sign other women as "whores". However, what about a woman in an islamic "chastity" gear? K.S. Lal (a giant among historians): Mahmud of Ghazni had marched into Hindustan again and again to wage jihad and spread the Muhammadan religion, to lay hold of its wealth, to destroy its temples, to enslave its people, sell them abroad and thereby earn profit, and to add to muslim numbers by converting the captives. Is BBC 100% steered by muslims? Not only can you ever hear anything critical about islam and muslims - but all main channels are also occupied by sharia (OIC) supporting (i.e. against basic Human Rights equality) muslims. Nazir Afzal ('Moral maze', news, culture etc.), Mishal Husain (news, culture etc.), Samira Ahmed (news, culture etc.), Razia Iqbal (news, culture etc.). And they all keep cheating the public about it and instead pointing finger to "dumb and hateful xenophobes". Not a word about e.g. Council of Europe's harsh critcism (see below) of muslims biggest sharia organization, the Saudi based and steered OIC. Foreigners isn't the peoblem - sharia islam is! BBC's muslims and their PC supporters also meddle in UK election by demonizing "islamophobia", i.e. trying to stop critcs of islamofascism. Muslim child/youth fascism induced by an islam interpretation from family and strengthened by PC media, politicians etc. Peter Klevius: Everyone - incl. every muslim who respects Human Rights - ought to make sure to vote for an "islamophobe"! BBC and Sayeeda Warsi will make their utmost to stop critics of islamofascism in the election. Don't be robbed of your democratic right. And of course you know that the only real problem with migration is islamofascism. BBC's "man in Hong Kong" asked street terror leader Joshua Wong if they could possibly escalate violence. And they could. One day later they put a Chinese on fire in a murder attempt. While US/UK aim for militarism and war, China aims for health and wealth. One Atheism and three "monotheisms" The Saudi Aramco and OIC scams Peter Klevius: The Saudi Aramco sale is the biggest ripoff in the world. If there's any future in oil and you don't care about environment, then why buy what's at its peak when Venezuela's PDVSA is bigger and as low it can get?! Are you an "islamophobe" if you don't like islamist Human Rights violations? Islam has (via OIC's sharia declaration) abandoned the most basic anti-fascist Human Rights from 1948. Islam is hence the only religion in doing so - not even the Catholics have needed to replace Human Rights with "Catholic human rights". The seed for world fascism is dormant in Saudi based and steered OIC's world sharia - opposed by ECHR and Peter Klevius, but supported by Sayeeda Warsi. Breakit instead of Brexit because what's the point of leaving one EU while still staying in an other called UK? England voted leave. However, unfortunately BBC demonizes China on behalf of UK's relying on militarist meddling, weapons sales and islamofascist sharia finance. So you see the solution: Cut off sharia etc. islamofascist ties and open up for prospering with China - not the over-selfish game of spying and dying of US. BBC boosts stupid nationalist "Britishness" with peculiar "sports" like cricket and rugby because the world has already "colonized" football and the English language is a global property. Nigel Farage is like BBC against "islamophobia" and pro-Saudi - but Boris Johnson doesn't like letter boxes and was criticized by Theresa May for being critical against the Saudis while serving as her foreign minister. However, unfortunately BBC demonizes China on behalf of UK's relying on militarist meddling, weapons sales and islamofascist sharia finance. So you see the solution: Cut off sharia etc. islamofascist ties and open up for prospering with China - not the over-selfish game of spying and dying of US.BBC boosts stupid nationalist "Britishness" with peculiar "sports" like cricket and rugby because the world has already "colonized" football and the English language is a global property.Nigel Farage is like BBC against "islamophobia" and pro-Saudi - but Boris Johnson doesn't like letter boxes and was criticized by Theresa May for being critical against the Saudis while serving as her foreign minister. China (laws against sharia islamofascism) and EU (Human Rights against sharia islamofascism) are now the only ones protecting basic (negative*) Human Rights. * Religious people and socialists don't like negative Human Rights simply because they prefer collectives ("communities") rather than individuals. That's why the web is full of misinfo about these rights. Read Peter Klevius definition instead if you want a deep view - or listen to Lauren Chen starting from 7:11 if you want it light The Saudi "custodian of islam" has some 1.5 billion "citizens" in the muslim world Ummah nation - and demands the world to bow them no matter what (as long they aren't Shia or so, of course). China, on the other hand, keeps its citizens and laws within its own borders. IS islam IS fascism and islam (even the archbishop agrees). So why is sharia fascism not separated from an "islam" that submits to basic Human Rights? As it stands now Saudi based and steered OIC's sharia (the 1990 Cairo declaration) still stands as the basic Human Rights violation via sharia muslims all over the world. And whereas China actively tries to erase sharia islamofascism, EU keeps promoting import of it while judicially telling us it's not right, yet doing nothing to stop it. Unlike the West, China hasn't aggressively meddled militaristically in other countries around the world, but rather being the world's foremost spreader of new technology and wealth. And whereas the West has eagerly supported Mohammed's totalitarian aims, China has, in practise, implemented in law most of the Human Rights advices that The Council of Europe has directed against OIC. Against this background West's Saudi backing and China smearing is deeply bigoted and hypocritical. John le Carre: I'm depressed and ashamed of British nationalism. Nationalism needs enemies but today we really have no identifiable enemies except among ourselves. North Atlantic (sic) Treaty Organization invades a country in Mideast and attacks (with chemical weapons) a people without a country. UK's Brexit business model: Sharia finance, weapons sale and militaristic meddling?UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (sic) and Global Neo-Imperialist and Militarist Meddling, Jeremy Hunt, 15 Oct. 2019: It's wrong to accuse Donald Trump - it's Americans isolationism because American taxpayers don't want to pay between 1/2 and 2/3 of the defense of Europe. And Turkey is very skilled at finding wedges and gaps between allies. UK should be EU's bridge to US. Peter Klevius: No, EU should take care of its own defense - against whom? The Saudi dictator family who is the world's no 1 spender on weapons and islamic terror incitement and who hates EU's anti-sharia legislation? And UK taxpayers should not have to pay more for dangerous militarism. Militaristic meddling is a bad and dangerous business idea. Read K.S. Lal (free online) on islam's evil spread! A Google (i.e. U.S. web monopoly) search (20191006) reports 'islamists Hong Kong' "missing". Really! No islamists in Hong Kong? Peter Klevius also wonders if EU citizens in UK are UKongers and can peacefully demand the same rights as Joshua Wong violently demands (and eagerly broadcasted by BBC) for Hong Kongers? Really! No islamists in Hong Kong? Peter Klevius also wonders if EU citizens in UK are UKongers and can peacefully demand the same rights as Joshua Wong violently demands (and eagerly broadcasted by BBC) for Hong Kongers? Peter Klevius cong r atulates Savid Javid for abandoning the islamofascist "islamophobia" smear. BBC s bigoted hypocrite Mishal Husain and others ought to follow! BBC's Mark Mardell couldn't get a visa to China because of his extreme and hateful Sinophobia - but that didn't stop him/BBC from producing a fake anti-China program series while pretending to be there. Is Sinophobia really better than cooperation? Are EU citizens in UK included in Tom Tugenhadt's "British people"? Sinophobe Tom Tugendhat, chair of UK's Foreign Affairs Committee (who has studied islam and Arabic in Mideast) suggests that English speaking universities should consider banning Chinese students because "they might be used as leverage like Huawei". Peter Klevius wonders if one could be any more racist than this, and if he doesn't see any islamofascist sharia supremacist "leverage" at all? Btw, there are more than 50,000 Chinese muslims in Hong Kong. Peter Klevius wonders how many of them are "radical" ones and participate in BBC's lengthy anti-China propaganda "news" - while the world doesn't suffer from Chinese but from muslim violence and Human Rights violations? US/UK destroyed the lives of millions of Chinese during some hundred years of evil militaristic meddling. BBC is now busy smearing China all the time while supporting Saudi islamofascism and violent Hong Kong demonstrators - but neglecting the mass of peaceful pro-China demonstrators. BBC also "worries" about Chinese "surveillance state" while the truth is China's technological superiority. US is much more insidious in its surveillance policies but lacks the techno - can't even produce a working 5G so far. US/UK follow exactly China but utilize the meantime to smear it. And who is really behind the Hong Kong riots? Someone who can't take China's success? But the Syria tactics won't work. US (and its UK puppet) wants to be able to meddle militarily near China - therefore its interest in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Tibet, Myanmar, Uyghur extremist muslims etc. As Greta Thunberg is allegedly reported to the Swedish social authorities, Peter Klevius suggests that her parents read his thesis Pathological Symbiosis in LVU, Relevance, and Sex Segregated Emergence. Keeping in mind that Peter Klevius daughter was only 15 when she entered university and at 16 made her graduate paper about women in ancient times, it shouldn't be considered too sensitive for Greta either. Also read the attached email correspondence which clearly shows how democracy is manipulated. And why not consider Keeping in mind that Peter Klevius daughter was only 15 when she entered university and at 16 made her graduate paper about women in ancient times, it shouldn't be considered too sensitive for Greta either. Also read the attached email correspondence which clearly shows how democracy is manipulated. And why not consider Angels of Antichrist, the Social State vs the People (P. Klevius 1996) . And last but not least, Peter Klevius 1981/1992 Demand for Resources (original titel Resursbegar) Peter Klevius and the Council of Europe share exactly the same "islamophobia". Council of Europe. Resolution 2253 (2019), Sharia, Saudi based and steered OIC's Cairo Declaration and the European Convention on Human Rights: Human Rights protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The right to manifest ones religion, however, is a qualified right whose exercise, under Article 17 of the Convention, may not aim at the destruction of other Convention rights or freedoms. Human Rights protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as enshrined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. People in UK-land (especially women) will loose their Human Rights after Brexit - while sharia prevails in UK, and UK citizens in EU are protected by the European Court of Human Rights. Brexit was meant to protect UK from muslim invasion via Turkey's proposed visa free deal with Merkel. Even the possibility of temporary membership in ECHR (in case of a deal) isn't enough - especially considering UK will be out of reach of the European Court of Justice. US loosing the tech war - and starting a real one? A muslim wants to criminalize Peter Klevius islamophobia. Really! West's indulgence of islamofascism (sharia) has made its boasting against China about "democratic values" empty. The risk of you being stabbed, raped etc. by a hateful jihadi is created by your political leaders, BBC etc. - who also have arranged so it's not even called a hate crime. Peter Klevius stands for these "stops" and due huge implications - all shame on him if you can prove him wrong (click links if you need to educate yourself before saying something stupid): Stop using Stop using the misleading 'gender' instead of sex (sociology)! Stop islam's abuse of Human Rights (jurisprudence)! Stop saying humans came "out of Africa" (anthropology)! Stop talking about "consciousness" when you don't know what you're talking about (philosophy/ai). Peter Klevius: BBC supports the islamofascist Saudi dictator family's strategic use of supremacist islam which has spred muslim hate all over the world's streets, institutions etc. (and usually not correctly, if at all, reported by BBC which instead doesn't hesitate to give long coverage of "alternative news" that better suits its propaganda) - while muslim terrorist organizations keep it within muslim territories. So if true Salafists became the "gurdians of islam's holy places" then that would mean less muslim terror elsewhere. And less to cover up for BBC. How big a contributor to the suffering of islamic supremacist hate crimes has BBC's fake (and lack of) info been? Will we in the future see BBC in an international court accused of crimes against humanity? As it stands now the spill over effect of BBC's cynical support of proxy evil is stained in blood and rape etc. over innocent p 'Busco teen who was electrocuted gets new Jeep from celebrity skateboarder|Mike Vallely will air footage of his Churubusco trip on final episode of 'Drive' ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Gov. Mark Dayton named Appeals Court Judge Margaret Chutich to fill an open spot on the Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday, installing the first openly gay justice on the states highest court. Dayton said the diversity of the bench is a priority. Chutich is the third woman the Democratic governor has appointed to the court since he took office in 2011. The Democratic governor said that while he is aware of Chutichs sexual orientation, her performance over the last four years on the states appellate court trumped any other factors. Judge Chutich is just a phenomenal appointment, he said. Chutich recalled her first appearance as an attorney before the Minnesota Supreme Court, then stocked with four female justices, as a welcoming moment in her career. With her partner of 20 years in the room, she said she hopes her nomination to the states highest court will serve as a symbol to young, gay attorneys. If there are gay attorneys, I think its important that they know there arent barriers to their dreams, she said. Chutich will succeed Wilhelmina Wright, another Dayton appointee who was confirmed to a federal judgeship this week. She is a familiar choice for Dayton: She was a finalist to replace Justice Alan Page, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 this summer. Chutich is Daytons fourth pick to the bench. MADISON As the sun begins to set this weekend in northern Wisconsin, hunters will start to gather at Main Street Eds in the small town of Argonne, coyote carcasses in tow. Some will only have one; others could bring in a half-dozen or more. After a weigh-in at the tavern, hunters will take home prizes for the largest and smallest coyotes, as well as for the most killed. Also-rans will still have a shot at the gun raffle, meat raffle or door prizes. Coyote-hunting contests arent unusual around the country, and in Wisconsin, any season is open and legal season on the animals. Supporters say such hunts help control the coyote population. But theyre facing a growing backlash from conservationists and wildlife lovers, who compare them to cockfighting and dogfighting and are pushing to ban the contests. This is senseless and its bloodlust and its not about conservation, its basically about using living targets, said Melissa Smith, executive director of Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf, which fears protected wolves will be accidentally killed by coyote hunters. Were hunters, we really feel like this gives hunters a bad name that do things ethically. In 2014, California officials banned coyote hunting contests that offer prizes after a push from such conservation groups as Project Coyote and Center of Biological Diversity. In other states, like Idaho and Oregon, lawsuits from conservation groups have stopped or downsized popular hunts. An online petition is circulating to halt Saturdays event in Wisconsin. At least 80 formal coyote hunting contests and tournaments took place in 23 states over the past year, according to the Coyote Contest website, which lists such events. Others are not listed, like the one taking place in Argonne. The hunts can end with upward of 100 coyotes killed. The three-day Coyote Craze Classic in Nebraska last year took in 173 coyotes, according to the event website. Theres so many coyotes, theres so many predators in the woods here that are knocking down our deer, said John Aschenbrenner, a Forest County delegate to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, an elected body that advises the Natural Resources Board and Department of Natural Resources. Hunters typically kill anywhere from one or two coyotes to more than a dozen in these contests. Most states have no bag limit on coyotes. Hunters with the highest kill count, the mangiest kill or the largest or smallest take home cash, belt buckles, hunting gear or other prizes. Some contests ban hunting with dogs; others encourage it. Before cigarettes and chewing tobacco became popular, cigar smoking was a fashionable mens custom that was enjoyed in many settings: during recreation, business and as an after-dinner activity. The Black Rose Pamperin cigar box is a classic memento of La Crosse from the turn of the 20th century. Distinctly marketed toward men, the half-nude, Greek Goddess-inspired woman on the box was an important part of the attraction of Black Rose cigars. These cigars were even featured on the Pamperin float in the 1898 Fourth of July parade. The Pamperin Cigar Co., like its predecessor, Pamperin and Wiggenhorn, was one of the largest producers of cigars in La Crosse and employed more than 300 people at its peak. Marjorie Collins purchased the company from Franklin J. Pamperin, grandson of the founder, in 1974. She recalls him telling her that at one time the company employed 19 salesmen, who were called drummers. The drummers would board trains and fanned out all over the Midwest and the Dakotas, selling Pamperin tobacco products. Pamperin bought and processed tobacco from regional tobacco farms, especially from the Viroqua area, which had a reputation for high-quality tobacco. Eventually, the company sold only chewing tobacco, as the popularity of cigars began to diminish. By the time Collins owned the business, many of the companys customers were older men who, in their youth, had gotten leaf trimmings from the factory, called schnitzel, (or bits) for free, which they would then chew. Pamperin continued to fill orders for these products until the company closed in 1987. This cigar box is one of the objects that will be featured in the exhibition [art]ifact, Where History Meets Art, on display from Feb. 26 through April 17 at The Pump House Regional Art Center. It will be displayed alongside a new piece created by artist Sarah Pederson as a response to the history of the Pamperin Cigar Company. [art]ifact is a collaboration of the Pump House, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Public History Program, and the La Crosse County Historical Society. The car breaks down and the repair costs a few hundred dollars. A medical problem leads to a pricey bill. A family emergency means having to buy a plane ticket on short notice. For college students who dont come from well-off backgrounds, those costs often just a few hundred dollars can be more than just a headache, college officials say. They can put students behind in their classes, and even lead them to leave school entirely. Thats why Madison Area Technical College has made emergency grants available to students who face unexpected expenses, said Keith Cornille, MATC senior vice president for student development. The relatively small sums of money see students through those challenges, Cornille and others say, and can keep them on track to get a degree. These grants help students who are on the cusp of dropping out stay in school, said Amy Kerwin, vice president of community investments at the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, which helps fund emergency grant programs at MATC and nine other technical colleges in Wisconsin. Now Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans in the Legislature want to expand programs like the one at MATC by providing $450,000 in state funding for emergency grants at technical colleges and the University of Wisconsin Systems two-year campuses. If the bill passes, experts say, it could make Wisconsin the first state in the country to fund such programs. The proposal is one of six bills introduced this month as part of a package of legislation Walker and his colleagues say will help make college more affordable for students and their families. Other bills in the package would increase funding for need-based aid to technical college students, give a tax break to some borrowers paying back their student loans, hire coordinators to connect students with internships at local businesses and require students to attend financial literacy seminars so they better understand the debt they are taking on to attend school. Officials with the UW and technical college systems voiced their support for the proposals at a meeting of the state Assemblys higher education committee on Thursday. But state Democrats have called the bills window dressing that doesnt do nearly enough to address student loan debt. They have proposed legislation that would allow college graduates to refinance their debt; that bill has gone nowhere in the Republican-backed Legislature. The author of the emergency grants bill, state Rep. David Murphy, R-Greenville, countered that the Republican proposals are a better way to fight education loan debt, because they aim to lower the amount of money students must borrow in the first place. Murphy said expanding emergency grant programs in particular will help students at two-year colleges, who he said are often on a shoestring budget, when they face challenges such as car repairs. We have students that drop out because they have an emergency like that and cant get to school, Murphy told the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, which he leads. Were looking at increasing that retention rate of students, and were looking at helping our most vulnerable students. Sara Goldrick-Rab a UW-Madison professor and frequent Walker critic who studies issues that affect low-income college students said Democrats shouldnt be so quick to dismiss the Republican-backed proposals. Those bills wont be enough to stem rising college costs, Goldrick-Rab said, but they will still increase the aid to students who could really use it. Theres really no question that the need is there, she said. These are back-end band-aids (but) Ill take the band aid. This is a good start. Other aid not enough Students generally wind up needing emergency money because the grants, scholarships and loans that make up their financial aid package arent flexible enough to deal with the unexpected costs that can emerge in the middle of the school year, Goldrick-Rab said. The money comes at the beginning of the term, and its for certain things, and its often too little, and it often runs out, she said of financial aid. People who work in financial aid or student services offices have long known that, Goldrick-Rab said. When students have faced financial challenges out of the blue, she said, some school officials would help them out informally with a few dollars here or there for gas or groceries. Over the past decade, she said, a growing number of colleges and universities have made that aid more formal with emergency grant programs. More than 100 institutions provide emergency money to students, according to a report from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, where Goldrick-Rab is executive director. Forty-four of those colleges and universities are funded by the Minnesota-based education philanthropy Scholarship America, which started offering emergency grants in 2004. At MATC, also known as Madison College, students who need an emergency grant apply to the colleges Office of Financial Student Support. They fill out a form and must meet with a counselor to receive a grant, which the college pays directly to the third party who is owed money. Like many existing emergency grant programs, the bill in the Legislature would limit the aid students could receive and what it could pay for. The bill allows for students to get as many as two grants, worth up to a combined $500, in each school year; the program would bar them from using the money to pay for tuition, textbooks, groceries and other recurring costs. Keep students in school Between 2012 and 2015, schools participating in the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporations emergency aid program gave students 2,654 grants, worth about $550 on average. Great Lakes has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 31 Midwestern colleges for the next three years, including nearly $80,000 to MATC. The amount of money students request through the grant program might not seem like much, Cornille said. Critics of the bill say it pales in comparison to the large cost of attending college. But Cornille recalled a nursing student who was in the middle of her practicum a mandatory internship at a hospital when her car broke down. If she couldnt pay for her car repair, she couldnt finish her practicum; if she couldnt finish that, she couldnt complete her program and graduate. Instead, the college gave her the money she needed, Cornille said, and the student got her degree. People just need a little help in the moment, Cornille said. Without programs like this, that person stops. Research on how effective the programs have been is limited, Goldrick-Rab said. But Great Lakes found colleges retained or graduated 73 percent of students who received emergency loans, Kerwin said, compared to 67 percent retention for low-income students as a whole. The emergency-grant bill would require colleges to track how students fared after receiving a grant. Bill would expand support Emergency aid programs such as the one at MATC are typically funded by donors or grants from philanthropic organizations, not by taxpayer dollars or student fees. The bill under consideration in the state Legislature would use public money to fund the grants, giving $320,000 to technical colleges and $130,000 to UW Colleges. Four-year UW System campuses wont receive funding, Murphy said, because he wanted to start providing state support to grant programs at schools where students need tends to be greatest. Funding could be expanded to include four-year campuses in the future, he said. UW-Madison doesnt offer emergency grants, but its Dean of Students office makes interest-free loans of up to $500 for similar expenses available to students. Neither Goldrick-Rab nor Dustin Weeden, a senior policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures, knew of a program that used state funding for emergency grants, as Wisconsins would. But Weeden said the programs could become more popular as universities look to make sure they retain and graduate more of their students, and more states base higher education funding on student success. Institutions are trying to be much more proactive about student success, and helping students complete their degrees once they enroll, Weeden said. Appeals court says state Constitution protects abortion rights WICHITA, Kan. The Kansas Court of Appeals refused Friday to allow the states first-in-the-nation ban on a common second-trimester abortion method to take effect, saying in a split but groundbreaking decision that the conservative states constitution protects abortion rights independent of the U.S. Constitution. If the 7-7 ruling released on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade decision is allowed to stand, it could upend several other abortion restrictions in Kansas because a key issue in the case is whether a womans right to end her pregnancy is specifically protected by the Kansas Constitution. Tie votes from the court uphold the lower-court ruling being appealed. Flint lead problem could be eased by recoating old pipes Flints mayor has floated a shockingly high price tag to fix the Michigan citys lead-contamination problem: $1.5 billion to replace damaged pipes. Gov. Rick Snyder put the figure at $700 million. In the meantime, officials and water experts are hopeful that there is a less drastic and far cheaper step using a chemical to recoat existing pipes and contain the lead. If it works, that could make the water safe enough to drink until the damage to the system can be fully assessed. The problem is that nobody knows how badly the pipes were damaged after the states disastrous decision in 2014 to use the Flint River as the citys drinking water source without adding a chemical to control corrosion. George Zimmerman divorce finalized; keeps truck, family dog SANFORD, Fla. George Zimmerman is officially divorced. The Orlando Sentinel reports that a Seminole County judge signed the divorce order Tuesday, ending his marriage to Shellie Zimmerman. Shellie Zimmerman filed for divorce in September 2013, two months after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Later in September, Lake Mary police responded to their home after Shellie Zimmerman called 911, saying George Zimmerman had threatened her and her father with a gun. No charges were filed. Zimmerman will keep his pickup and the family dog. George and Shellie Zimmerman will each be responsible for their own debts. an arrested on suspicion of shooting firefighter NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Pulaski County Sheriffs deputies arrested a homeowner on suspicion of manslaughter after a firefighter was shot to death while responding to a medical emergency call at a rural home near Little Rock. Sheriffs office spokesman Lt. Chris Ameling said detectives took homeowner Mark Pruitt into custody for questioning shortly after firefighter Ronald Jason Adams died. Deputies placed 47-year-old Pruitt under arrest Friday evening. Ameling said he could not discuss some of the details late Friday but said physical evidence and statements from Pruitt and his wife, Tonia, who were home during the shooting, led to the arrest. DES MOINES, Iowa Donald Trump released his first television attack ad Friday as he and his chief Republican rival, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, moved into direct and more hostile contention. With the Iowa presidential caucuses just 10 days away, Trumps ad accuses Cruz of being pro-amnesty on illegal immigration. It shows Cruz tripping over his words as he tries to explain to Fox News why he proposed a Senate measure that would have granted legal status to millions of immigrants in the country illegally. Trump then says immigrants are pouring in and doing tremendous damage if you look at the crime, if you look at the economy. The attack underscored that Cruzs popularity among evangelicals and tea party followers is the biggest obstacle standing in Trumps way in Iowa at least for now. Trumps increasingly aggressive attacks on Cruz, along with his enlistment of Sarah Palin as his No. 1 surrogate, are part of his all-out push to firm up support among the states most conservative voters. Cruz attacked Trump in an ad of his own on Friday. It portrays the real estate tycoon as a fat cat developer who colluded with Atlantic City, N.J., insiders to bulldoze the home of an elderly widow for a limousine parking lot at a Trump casino. The ad shows the widow saying, He doesnt have no heart, that man. Cruzs spot challenges Trumps portrayal of himself as a peoples advocate who is paying for his own campaign and thus immune to sordid political deal-making that favors insiders over the public. By Cruzs telling, insider deals underpin Trumps sprawling business empire. On Twitter, Trump defended the property condemnation by eminent domain. Ted Cruz complains about my views on eminent domain, but without it we wouldnt have roads, highways, airports, schools or even pipelines, he wrote. Cruz is also under fire from another Republican opponent, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Trumps immigration ad amplifies a line of attack that Rubio has taken against Cruz for weeks. Trumps immigration ad was factually false, said Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler. Ted Cruz led the fight against amnesty, he said. Tyler also said that Trump had supported amnesty in the past. He pointed to an August 2013 Twitter posting from Trump: Congress must protect our borders first. Amnesty should be done only if the border is secure and illegal immigration has stopped. Cruzs operation in Iowa is widely seen as stronger than Trumps, and the attacks could further threaten the senators position; an Iowa victory is crucial to his overall campaign strategy. You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community. Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe New condos will be built at the site of a nightclub that some call a historic landmark in the gay history of Los Angeles, but a deal has been made to protect its history.On Friday it was announced that developer AvalonBay Communities had struck a deal with the preservation group Hollywood Heritage to save many of the features of the Circus Disco and incorporate them into the condo complex going up at the site. Founded in 1974 by Gene La Pietra and Ermilio Lemos on Santa Monica Boulevard near North Las Palmas Avenue, Circus Disco was opened because the Pietra and Lemos were tired of being turned away from the white, gay nightclubs. "In other discos you felt like you had to be a certain way. Act a certain way. Dress a certain way," former clubgoer Danny Munoz told the L.A. Times. "Not at Circus Disco." Under the new deal, AvalonBay would save the club's distinctive clown-head entrance, its dance floor, neon lights, and even one of its disco balls and incorporate them into the design of the new buildings. AvalonBay senior vice president Mark Janda called it "a creative solutiona solution that will tell the story of Circus Disco to future generations." The disco ball, for example, will hang in an elevator lobby. In exchange, Hollywood Heritage would pull back from their efforts to save the site, and will eventually have an exhibit at the site commemorating Circus Disco. Going up at the site of the club will be a mixed-up development that has 695 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail space. The surrounding neighborhood is generally industrial. On their website, the Los Angeles Conservancy previously listed the fate of Circus Disco as "urgent," and writes: Circus Disco played an important role in the Latina/o LGBTQ community and in its history of political organizing and coalition building. In 1983, civil rights and labor leader Cesar Chavez addressed roughly one hundred members of the Project Just Business gay and lesbian coalition at the bar, where he offered strategies for organizing boycotts and coalition fundraising. "Both [Circus Disco and Mid-City's Catch One Disco] were founded in response to the discrimination gay men of color experienced at predominately white venues in West Hollywood," said a report from the Department of City Planning Office that surveyed historic LGBTQ sites across the city. Catch One closed last year, but new owner Mitch Edelso (of Los Globos) plans on reopening it this year under a new name.Over in West Hollywood, the fight continues to preserve the home of the gay nightclub Studio One, which faces demolition. Former owner Gene La Pietra isn't particularly sad to see his old nightclub go. He sold the property in July, and told L.A. Weekly, "Take the sign off and the lights off and you have a warehouse built in 1973." Postcard Perfect The Essentials View from our room Quaint Trattoria 3) Oldest paper store in all of Italy - Legatoria. One of my dreams is to open a little paper store and keep reminding people to send letters and cards, not emails and texts! Oldest Paper Store in Italy Architecture is stunning everywhere The Regatta upon arrival Town after a brief storm The Essentials: Dolce Vista - name says it all Harvest Time! Can't wait to cook at home! was a dream for a long time - not only because it is sinking, but because my parents went on their honeymoon so it always has had special meaning for me to go with someone I love. I could barely contain my excitement as we approached - while I am always beyond excited and full of energy in a new destination, I just felt this city had a storybook feeling. Yes, it's crowded and touristy but you can steal quiet moments, like going to Piazza San Marco at night for the first time, where we pretty much had it to ourselves or grabbing a few beers from a bar late night to enjoy at "home".1) Stay out of the crowded areas - we stayed at the Charming House which felt like a real home and has a quiet residential feel off a quiet square right on the canal. While hard to find, that makes it even better and close to the grocery store for breakfast and basics. It was our oasis and amazing overall, you really feel like a local vs a tourist staying here. There is no room service and staff at night which we loved but just a note for those looking for a traditional hotel.2) Restaurants - Ristorante Linea D'Ovenzia was one of our favorites, quiet and right on the water, amazing staff and food/wine. Osteria Antica Dolo was charming in its own way - it's in a busy neighborhood but tiny and food was great.4) Yes do all the touristy stuff - while Venice is stunning and surreal, most people probably won't go back twice so don't miss Bridge of Sighs, Harry's for a bellini, Hotel Danieli for a late night cocktail.5) You don't need more than 2-3 days and definitely take water taxis as they are best option for travel and one of the best rides with a view you can get.was an unexpected hidden gem I came across in search of staying in an Agriturismo - and it was harvest season which was stunning to experience so highly recommend September to visit. An easy drive from Milan and gives you access to Croatia and Slovenia. During harvest you may hear canons going off at night to prevent storms from destroying the grapes - the lull of church bells and rolling hills will distract you though so just grab some bikes and tour around. And remember a meal without wine in Italy is breakfast!!1) Relais Dolce Vista in Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene is probably one of the best hotels we have ever stayed at - set on a small vineyard, we arrived as most of the staff was harvesting which was amazing to watch and we noted to come back and volunteer to help in years to come!2) There are amazing restaurants here and around the area- hidden for sure but worth the pursuit and the staff will help you with reservations (which are a must) and directions (again, download maps.me). Some of our favorites include Trattoria Alla Cima, Ristorante Da Giggettmiane, Da Lino Pieve di Soligo, and Pizza Belvedere.3) Bring home prosecco and enjoy by the pool or on patio or in your cozy farmhouse room. A great way to end a trip as there is not much else to do but eat or drink and be outside. The area is very local and remote so don't expect a lot of other things other than the local grocery store where I stocked up on some amazing pasta and local products! You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community. Stories like these are only possible with your help! Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe It looks like it may rain this weekend, which means you're definitely going to want to hunker down somewhere to savor some tasty food and drinks. Heck, even if it doesn't rain, you're still going to want to do that. From a coffee-infused beer and donuts pairing to a Top Chef showdown, here are some of our favorite food and drink events happening this weekend. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Coffee Beer and Donuts at Southland Beer What's better than coffee and donuts? Why, coffee beer paired with donuts, of course. The recently opened Southland Beerone of our favorite new barshas put together an excellent selection of beers brewed with coffee and paired it with round, sugary selections from their Koreatown neighbor California Donuts. Kicking off at noon, they'll be offering flights of brews like Highland Park's Wakeup on nitro, Telegraph Handlebar Abbey and Left Hand Bittersweet Imperial Coffee Milk Stout. They'll also have Smog City's Coffee Porter and some last minute surprises. More info here. Southland Beer is located at 740 S Western Ave #112 in Koreatown, (213) 908-5104 Iron Triangle Brewing Company Grand Opening One of the latest additions to L.A.'s rapidly expanding craft beer scene, Iron Triangle Brewing Company is hosting a big party this weekend at their brewery in the Arts District. Head down from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. to grab pints of their new brewswhich includes an ale, a dark ale and an IPAwhile enjoying music from The California Feetwarmers and DJ House Shoes. You can also chow down on bites from The Green Truck and The Los Lobos Truck. More info here. Iron Triangle Brewing Company is located at 1581 Industrial St, Arts District. Bone marrow toast with mushrooms at Scratch Bar & Kitchen (Photo by Danny Jensen/LAist) SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 Top Chef Duo at Scratch Bar & Kitchen At the new location of Scratch Kitchen & Bar in Encino, chef Phillip Frankland Lee will share the kitchen with fellow Top Chef contestant (and front-runner) Jeremy Ford from Miami's Matador Room. The dynamic duo will be dishing up the restaurant's usual menu offerings, which includes delicious a la carte items and a few well-priced pre fixe options. Chef Ford will also be serving 2 or 3 of his own specialties as well. The open kitchen style of Scratch Bar & Kitchen also gives diners the chance to chat with the chefs. Scratch Bar & Kitchen is located at 16101 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 646-6085. Butter lettuce salad (Photo courtesy of The Larchmont) Sunday Supper at The Larchmont The Larchmont's new chef, Chef Michael Bryant, has revamped the restaurant's menu and also launched a Sunday Supper series. The menu rotates weekly and features a la carte items as well as a family style feast for $45 per person. Highlights from this Sunday's menu include Cheddar Jalapeno Hushpuppies, Smoked Prime Rib Roast and Apple Tart Tatin. More info can be found here. The Larchmont is located at 5750 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, (323) 464-4277 Long time ago a clownish fellow lived in that country; he was a Christian, however, and his name was Klefsan.* It is told of this one that there never was a man who, when he saw Klefsan, was not compelled to laugh at his amusing and absurd remarks. Even though a man was heavy at heart, he could not restrain his laughter, we are told, when he heard that man talk. But Klefsan fell ill and died and was buried in the churchyard like other men. He lay long in the earth until the flesh had decayed from his bones, and his bones, too, were largely crumbled. Then it came to pass that other corpses were buried in the same churchyard, and graves were dug so near the place where Klefsan lay that his skull was unearthed, and it was whole. They set it up on a high rock in the churchyard, where it has remained ever since. But whoever comes to that place and sees that skull and looks into the opening where the mouth and tongue once were immediately begins to laugh, even though he were in a sorrowful mood before he caught sight of that skull. Thus his dead bones make almost as many people laugh as he himself did when alive. * A somewhat different version of this tale is found in the poem on the "Wonders of Ireland" (Reliquiae Antiquae, II, 105). See also Eriu, IV, 14. Mac Rustaing, according to a note in the LBr. commentary on the Felire (Stokes' ed., p. cxlv), was a brother of St. Coeman Brecc. But this cannot have been the case, for Coeman died in 615. In the same note it is stated that Mac Rustaing lies buried at Ross Ech (now Russagh, near the village of Street, in the north of co. West Meath), and that no woman can look at his grave without breaking wind or uttering a loud foolish laugh. This is also mentioned as one of the wonders of Erin in Todd's Irish Nennius, p. 201, and a similar story is told in the Old-Norwegian Speculum Regale about the skull of an Irish jester called Clefsan. It would seem, then, that Mac Rustaing was a famous jester in his time. Translated from the Old Norse with Introduction and Notes by Laurence Marcellus Larson (New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., & The American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1917), p. 118 (with translator's note; on Ireland):Edited with a Translation (Based on W.M. Hennessy's), Notes, and a Glossary by Kuno Meyer (London: David Nutt, 1892), p. 131 (editor's note): This page has found a new home Every minute in delay of the arrest of the head of a criminal syndicate provides the opportunity for their aids to destroy vital evidence and materials. If the PM is truly innocent, he wouldn't mind being questioned officially. The PM has breached the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) through its financial dealings under 1Malaysia Development Berhad that has defrauded its citizens and has brought the country into severe debt. The PM has also failed to answer the source of RM2.6 billion in his personal bank account. Citing it as "donation" merely invites adverse inferences and negative connotations that begs for investigation as the proper means to clarification. Criminalization under the UNCAC not only covers corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private-sector corruption. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, to extradite offenders. Countries are also required to undertake measures which will support the tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption. The Attorney-General (AG) should get used to being tried in the court of public opinion as Malaysia being a democratic nation means the public have a right to scrutinise those in positions of authority, a veteran newsman said today. Datuk A. Kadir Jasin also pointed out that Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali handles various high-profile cases like that of the prime ministers RM2.6 billion donation and SRC Internationals RM4 million bond, both of which involve public interest. As a former lawyer, politician and judge, Mohamed Apandi should be used with the publics right to judge and decide about something or an issue. I am confident that he is more than used to, and understands, the propensities of the court of public opinion, the former New Straits Times editor-in-chief said in a blog post today. He added that so long as these cases are not tried in a court of law, they will instead be tried in the court of public opinion. Even Malaysias top officials like the Inspector-General of Police, the Bank Negara Governor, and the Chief Secretary to the government should accustom themselves to public scrutiny, which, Kadir said, is par for the course. The spotlight is now on the AG after he said on Friday that he was carefully examining investigation papers submitted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion deposited in the prime ministers accounts. Last December 31, the MACC said it had submitted two investigation papers on SRC International to Mohamed Apandi after completing its probe and questioning over 100 witnesses. The MACC also said then that it had submitted one investigation paper regarding the RM2.6 billion amount to the prosecutor after speaking to the donors and domestic witnesses, adding that it was still seeking evidence and documents from several financial institutions abroad. July 3 The Wall Street Journal and the UK-based Sarawak Report website say an investigation into 1MDB traced nearly $700 million to Prime Minister Najib Razak's personal bank accounts from entities linked to the fund. The Wall Street Journal reports there were five deposits into Najib's account, including the two largest transactions of $620 million and $61 million in March 2013 ahead of general elections. 1MDB says it has never given any money to Najib. His office slams the allegations as a political sabotage to "remove a democratically-elected prime minister." Citizen's arrest of Najib if general Attorney Mohamed Apandi Ali Attorney-General, appeared reluctant to press charges July 4 Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail confirms he received documents from an official investigation making the link between Najib and 1MDB. The documents pave the way for possible criminal charges. The special task force raids offices of three companies linked to 1MDB that were allegedly involved in the fund transfer. July 7 The task force says it has frozen six bank accounts but did not specify holders or the banks involved. The team also seizes documents related to 17 accounts from two banks. July 8 The task force raids 1MDB's office. July 19 Authorities block access in Malaysia to the Sarawak Report website. July 22 Singapore authorities say they have frozen two bank accounts in connection with the investigation. July 24 The Edge media group says the publishing permits for its business weekly and its daily newspaper are suspended for three months. This came after it ran extensive reports alleging Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho and PetroSaudi International had cheated Malaysia of $1.83 billion in cash through an aborted joint venture with 1MDB in 2009. Low is close to Najib's family. July 26 Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, speaking at a party event, repeats his call on Najib to explain the 1MDB saga and the money in his accounts. July 28 The government terminates Attorney General Abdul Gani's services, citing health reasons, three months short of his retirement. Najib fires Muhyiddin and four other ministers in a surprise cabinet reshuffle. Najib later says he prefers loyalty to smart people. A parliamentary probe into 1IMDB is stalled after four lawmakers are promoted in the reshuffle. July 29 Electoral reform group Bersih calls for street rallies in Kuala Lumpur and two other cities to demand Najib's resignation. July 30 Sarawak Report claimed that Gani was fired for preparing charges against Najib. July 31 The new Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali denies the report on charges against Najib and repeats the government's line that it was part of a plot to topple Najib. Aug 3 Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission says the money in Najib's accounts came from donations, but didn't name the donors. Aug 4 Police issue arrest warrant for Clare Rewcastle Brown, who runs Sarawak Report from London, for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy. Aug 5 The anti-graft commission says it will call Najib to explain the donation, which came from the Middle East. It also says the new attorney-general has disbanded the special task force probing 1MDB. Aug 12 The Malaysian ringgit plunges to below 4 to the dollar, the lowest level in 17 years. Civil rights activists, politicians and residents are calling the contamination of drinking water in an urban U.S. city a disaster, not just an emergency. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently apologized for the water disaster in Flint, Michigan, according to the news agency CNN. Snyder said he would use all his power as governor to solve the water crisis. Snyder asked state legislators for $28 million to fund a series of immediate actions. The money would be used for things such as supplying bottled water, replacing water filters and other fixtures in high-risk areas, testing children for high lead levels and treating potential physical and emotional health issues, reports CNN. Snyder said the following statement to the people of Flint: Your families face a crisis, a crisis you did not create and could not have prevented. I am sorry and I will fix it." The Republican governor has become the target for much heated criticism because the crisis unfolded under his watch. Civil rights leaders, activists, politicians come to Flint U.S. civil rights activists visited the Midwestern city of Flint, Michigan recently. Reverend Jesse Jackson is a longtime civil rights leader. He led a delegation of activists. They addressed a crowd of concerned and angered citizens sitting in a local church. Jackson spoke later to reporters. He said the residents of Flint have been exposed to contaminated drinking and bathing water for nearly two years. Jackson described the city as "a crime scene. Who lives in Flint? Flint is an industrial, urban area of the state. It is largely an African-American city, where 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. Jackson's visit to Flint came one day after President Barack Obama declared a local state of emergency. This clears the way for federal aid to reach the residents. Obamas visit came a day after another visit by controversial filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore was raised in Flint. He made the 1989 documentary film Roger & Me. The film is about the closing of several automobile plants in Flint by CEO of General Motors Roger Smith. Speaking at City Hall, Moore said the situation is "not just a water crisis. It is a racial crisis. It is a poverty crisis. How did this happen? According to many reports, the water crisis began 2014. The city of Flint was in deep financial difficulty. To save money, the city began using water from a local river rather than using pretreated water from the water system of Detroit, a nearby city. However, the water in the Flint River is highly corrosive. Officials did not properly treat the corrosive water before sending it through lead pipes and into peoples homes. Corrosive means to cause damage to metal or other materials through a chemical process. And that is just what happened. As the corrosive water traveled through the system of old lead pipes, lead seeped or leached into the water. To make matters worse, officials did not tell Flint residents about their tainted drinking water supply for a year and a half. Now, the people of Flint are demanding to know who knew what and when. Flint has since returned to using water from Detroit. However, engineers now say its water distribution system may need replacement. This could cost as much at $1.5 billion. The Detroit Free Press called on Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to release staff emails. Critics of the governor say his emails may show a pattern of willful neglect by state officials. These same critics say the governor and his staff allegedly attempted to lessen the importance of the contamination and its effects. Health experts report finding dangerously high levels of lead in the city's children. State officials have begun importing bottled water to protect locals from further contamination. A hero doctor Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is director of pediatric residency at Hurley Children's Hospital. She is being called a hero by many. The doctor brought the problem of high levels of lead in children to the public's attention. She did this after state agencies first ignored her concerns. What lead does to a child Hanna-Attisha explains that lead-contaminated water has lifelong and generational effects. In a television interview, she says it is well-documented that high levels of lead in children can lead to learning disabilities and emotional problems that follow the child into adulthood. The World Health Organization says excess lead exposure can damage a human's nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys. High levels of lead can cause high blood pressure and anemia. It also describes lead as "especially harmful to the developing brains of fetuses, young children and to pregnant women." Additionally, the WHO warns of risks from "irreversible learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental retardation. At very high levels, lead can cause convulsions, coma and death." Investigating the crisis Earlier this month, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency. This allowed the residents of Flint to go to fire stations for a daily case of water per household. But many blame Snyder for the crisis. Michigan Attorney General Bill Shuette announced that he will investigate the crisis to determine whether any state laws were broken. In a recent statement, a civil rights organization, called the NAACP, described the Attorney Generals announcement as a "positive and much needed step in the right direction." The statement went on to say to expose a city of nearly 100,000 residents, many of them children, to toxic lead is, if not criminal, at the very least inhumane." Im Anna Matteo. And Im Dan Friedell. Fern Robinson and Lou Lorscheider wrote this story for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English, adding additional reporting from several news sources. Kathleen Struck was the editor. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story contamination n. to make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements corrosive adj. causing damage to metal or other materials through a chemical process controversial adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument : likely to produce controversy tainted adj. to make (something) dangerous or dirty especially by adding something harmful or undesirable to it irreversible adj. impossible to change back to a previous condition or state convulsions medical : a sudden violent shaking of the muscles in your body that you are unable to control coma n. a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison In 1962, President John F. Kennedy welcomed Nobel Prize winners to the White House. He said I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. Kennedys comment shows how vividly Jefferson lives in the American imagination even more than 100 years after his presidency and death. In the United States, Jeffersons name is often linked to the countrys history of self-government, slavery, separation of church and state, and public education. Founding father Jefferson was born in 1743 and raised in the hills and low mountains of Virginia. He was considered an aristocrat: his familys wealth permitted him an excellent education in classic languages, science, literature, philosophy and law. Jefferson also learned to ride horses, dance and explore the natural world. In the 1770s Jefferson supported the coming American Revolution. He became a member of the Second Continental Congress and is famous for being the lead writer of the Declaration of Independence. The document declared the American colonies separation from England. It also asserted that all men are created equal and have the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson went on to hold many positions in the countrys new state and national governments. He was a governor of Virginia, a minister to France, a secretary of state for President George Washington, and the vice president under President John Adams. Virginia planter and slave owner But Jefferson often wrote to his friends about how he most wanted to retire from public service and return to his home in Virginia. In the 1760s he designed a house on a hilltop he called Monticello the word means little mountain in Italian. Jefferson spent most of his life changing and improving the house. He hired dozens of workmen to build it. He also put some of his slaves to work on it. During his life, Jefferson owned about 600 slaves. That meant about 130 lived on Monticello at any time. They worked in Jeffersons house, tobacco and wheat farms, and on special projects such as making cabinets and nails. Jefferson expressed mixed feelings about slavery. He said he disliked the practice, and that he believed God would judge slave owners severely. In 1782, he wrote, Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever And of course, many people pointed out that Jefferson himself wrote in the Declaration of Independence all men are created equal, yet Jefferson did not use his power to end slavery. He expected future generations would permit slavery in the United States to end slowly. Jeffersons words and actions on slavery are contradictory. The contradiction is especially significant because evidence suggests he had a long relationship with a young slave at Monticello. Her name was Sally Hemings. Most historians now believe what the Hemings family has said all along: Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings six children of record. Presidential candidate: Election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson left Monticello to become the countrys third president. The election of 1800 was important for several reasons. First, it resulted in a strange situation: both Thomas Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, received the same number of electoral votes. The Constitution at the time did not require electors to say whether they were voting for president or vice president. So when the two men tied, the House of Representatives had to decide which man would take the lead position. But their votes, too, could not determine a winner. The election dragged on and on. Finally, one of Jeffersons chief political enemies, Alexander Hamilton, decided that Jefferson was the lesser of two evils. In other words, he did not like either candidate but decided Jefferson was the better choice. Hamilton persuaded some of his allies to support Jefferson over Burr. After six days and 36 votes, the House of Representatives gave the presidency to Jefferson. The strange situation provoked a change to the Constitution. The Twelfth Amendment clarifies how the president and vice president are chosen. The election of 1800 was also important because it was a break from the earlier administrations. The first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, were Federalists. In other words, they supported a strong federal government. Thomas Jefferson, on the other hand, was a Republican although the term meant something different in his time than it does for todays Republicans. Jefferson wanted to limit federal government. Historian Joseph Ellis explains that Jefferson supported the power of the states and the people themselves. So, in some sense, hes going to the federal government as the head of it to say were not going to do anything. Our job is to get out of the way and to allow the citizens of the republic to pursue their happiness without the interference of any federal authority whatsoever. The Federalists disagreed with Jeffersons point of view. However, they accepted the results of the election and permitted the government to transfer peacefully. Third U.S. president Some Federalists may have also been comforted by Jeffersons inaugural address the speech he gave when he officially became president. In it, Jefferson famously said, We are all republicans we are all federalists. Many listeners probably believed Jefferson was saying his administration would support ideas from both Republicans and Federalists. But historian Joseph Ellis points out that Jefferson did not capitalize the names of the political groups in his speech. Instead, Ellis says, Jefferson was likely saying the American public supported a strong system of state governments united under a federal bond. Indeed, Jefferson led his administration by his Republican beliefs mostly. As president he greatly lessened the power of the federal government. He cut the national debt. He reduced the military. He disliked the power of the Supreme Court over the laws Congress made. And he rejected appearances that made the U.S. president look like a European king. One of the lasting images of Jefferson in the American imagination is of him receiving guests in old clothes and slippers. But as president, Jefferson also appeared strong and powerful when dealing with foreign nations. Jefferson increased American naval forces in the Mediterranean to combat threats to U.S. ships. And he permitted American officials to buy a huge area of land from France, even though the Louisiana Purchase added to the national debt and exceeded the power the Constitution gave the president. In general, historians consider Jeffersons first term as president a success. Voters did, too, because he easily won a second term. But those last four years were more difficult. Jeffersons popularity suffered, especially when he stopped all U.S. trade with Europe. Jefferson aimed to limit American involvement in a war between Britain and France. Instead, he ruined the U.S. economy. When Jefferson returned to Monticello in 1809, he was happy to leave the presidency behind. And some people were happy to see him go. Criticisms and legacy Jeffersons critics attacked both his political ideas and his personal qualities. Even friends such as John Adams and James Madison suggested in their letters that Jefferson was too idealistic. Federalists, including Washington and Hamilton, worried Jeffersons Republican ideas would weaken the strong federal government and national economy they had worked hard to create. Jefferson is also negatively linked to the history of Native Americans and slavery in the U.S. He tried to get Indian nations to enter into treaties that ultimately took away their land. He asked that they become more like European-Americans. And his policies made them depend on the U.S. government. And Jefferson took no major action to end slavery, either in his personal life or as a public figure. In fact, historian Joseph Ellis points out that some of Jeffersons actions increased the power of the slave-holding south and supported slavery in the western states. Jefferson doesnt put his presidency or the Louisiana Purchase on his tombstone. He never claims any great credit for that. Its interesting. Because what happens is this area becomes the source of controversy that leads to the Civil War. Jefferson instead wanted to be remembered for three things: writing the Declaration of Independence, supporting religious freedom, and creating the University of Virginia. For the most part, he is. Jefferson's political opponents accused him of not being a Christian, although he said he was. But many Americans supported Jeffersons views on the separation of church and state. He wrote that government should worry only about acts that hurt other people; however, he said, it does not harm him if his neighbor says, there are 20 gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. Jefferson also famously supported free public education, especially for those who could not pay for school. He established both the idea and the architecture for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The public university remains one of the top colleges in the United States. Jefferson himself wrote proudly of these accomplishments at the end of his life. But his final years at Monticello had many sorrows. His wife, Martha, had died in 1782 after difficulty in childbirth. Five of the six children Martha had with Thomas Jefferson also died before him. So while Jefferson often wrote about how much he enjoyed family life, he returned to Monticello with only one living daughter, among those he acknowledged, and a few grandchildren. In addition, the cost of improving and maintaining the house, as well as the money he spent on fine wine and good food, had ruined him financially. Eventually, his daughter had to sell her fathers beloved Monticello and the slaves who lived there to pay his debts. Jefferson died at Monticello at the age of 83. The last detail of his life which Americans love to tell is that he passed away on Americas birthday, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Im Caty Weaver. Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story. Caty Weaver was the editor. Did you enjoy learning about America's founders? Give us your suggestions in the Comments and on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story vividly adv. seeming like real life because it is very clear, bright, or detailed aristocrat n. a member of the highest social class in some countries; a person who has more money and power than most people in society assert v. to state (something) in a strong and definite way tremble v. to shake slightly because you are afraid, nervous, excited, etc. contradictory adj. involving or having information that disagrees with other information significant adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect slippers n. light, soft shoes easily put on and taken off and worn indoors pick pocket v. to steal The United Nations says that nearly 19,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the fighting with Islamic State militants in the past two years. In addition to the 18,800 civilians deaths, the United Nations report says another 36,000 were wounded between January 2014 and October 2015. The report includes interviews from victims, survivors or witnesses of violations. Ravina Shamdasani is a U.N. human rights spokesperson. She says the numbers do not fully represent what is happening in Iraq. The report only includes the number of people directly killed by violence. It does not include many others who have died from lack of access to food, water or medical care. UN blames Islamic State U.N. observers blame most of these deaths on Islamic State militants. They say victims include those seen as being opposed to the terror groups rule. Victims have included government civil servants, doctors and lawyers, journalists and tribal and religious leaders. The report says women and children are subject to sexual violence and sexual slavery. The report finds that people judged by Islamic State's self-appointed courts face punishments, such as stoning and amputations. It details examples of public executions. The examples include shootings, beheadings, burning people alive and throwing people off of buildings. Crimes against humanity The U.N. spokesperson says some of the incidents are war crimes and crimes against humanity. She says the Islamic State targets ethnic and religious minorities. The U.N. finds pro-government forces also are guilty of human rights violations. It says it has received reports of unlawful killings and other abuses by those forces. The U.N. report notes some of these incidents may have been actions against supposed Islamic State supporters. Lisa Schlein reported on this story for VOANews.com. Ashley Thompson adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spokesperson - n. a person who speaks for someone else or a group access - n. a way of getting at or near someone or something journalists - n. news reporters; media workers amputate v. to cut off (part of a person's body) We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. The amount of fish caught worldwide is much larger than has been reported. And that could mean serious problems for the environment and nations that depend on fisheries. A new estimate places the world fish catch at 109 million metric tons. That is 32 million tons higher than countries have been reporting yearly. The same report notes that the worlds fish catch has been declining since the late 1990s. Countries report their industrial catches to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. But they do not report other kinds of fishing. These include the catches of small commercial fisheries, what are called artisanal fisheries, and fishing for recreation and individual food. Daniel Pauly at the University of British Columbia in Canada led the study. He noted that a huge amount of some catches is thrown away. For example, shrimp trawlers retain only the shrimp and the fish that they catch often eight to 10 times as much as the shrimp gets thrown away. Pauly told VOA that better estimates of the actual global catch will help ensure there will be enough fish in the future. But our figures suggest that since '96 a rapid decrease is happening. And if you project this forward you end up in a few decades having much less catch, literally no catch. So that is potentially dangerous. The online journal Nature Communications published the report Tuesday. Researchers also found ways the worlds fisheries are changing. They found that fishing fleets of larger nations are catching fish in the waters of developing countries more and more. Pauly said he was surprised by the amount of fishing done by foreign fleets in competition with local fishers. In West Africa, the figure that was most astonishing is the enormous role of foreign fishing of European and Asian vessels fishing legally or illegally and competing against local fishers. On the other hand for the U.S., Australia and some developing countries, such as the Bahamas, what was apparent is the enormous contribution of recreational fisheries, which also never get reported to the FAO. Researchers say inaccurate data also harms the development and supervision of effective policy and management measures. I'm Mario Ritter. Steve Herman reported this story for VOA. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fisheries n. a business that catches and sells fish; a part of the ocean were fish and sea creatures are available commercial adj. concerned with earning money as a business fleet n. a group of ships that work together for a business or for a country trawlers n. a boat used to catch fish with a large net potentially adv. possible, able to be real inaccurate adj. not correct or exact declining - v. shrinking decades - n. 10-year periods; many years astonishing - adj. causing a feeling of great wonder or surprise enormous - adj. huge or really big role - n. the part that someone has in a special activity or situation contribution - n. a payment; the act of giving someone something An American student has been arrested in North Korea. The arrest is the latest in a series of arrests of U.S. citizens. Analysts say North Korea uses the citizens as bargaining chips. The student is Otto Frederick Warmbier, 21, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is studying economics at the University of Virginia. He "was caught committing a hostile act against the state," the official North Korean news agency, KCNA, reported on Friday. Warmbier's actions were "tolerated and manipulated by the U.S. government," according to the dispatch. Daniel Pinkston is a professor at Troy University in Seoul. He told VOA that: We can only speculate why he has been detained. But it is quite risky to visit (North Korea) as a tourist given the sensitivities regarding anything about the state, the leadership, government, and political system, or geo-politics in general. Warmbier was a member of a trip organized by China-based Young Pioneer Tours. He was detained January 2, four days before North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in defiance of United Nation sanctions. The United States and North Korea have no diplomatic relations. The U.S. State Department has, for years, issued strong recommendations and travel warnings against visiting North Korea because of the risk of arrest and longterm detention. Many of the North Americans arrested by North Korea in recent years have had links to Christian Evangelical groups. But Warmbier's social media accounts show no religious connections. Approximately 200,000 North Koreans are believed to be in prison for their political views or religious beliefs, according to human rights groups. I'm Mario Ritter. Steve Herman reported this news for VOA News. Kathleen Struck adapted it for Learning English. Do you have an opinion to share about North Korea or student travel? Please leave us a Comment and post on our Facebook page, thank you. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bargaining chips -- n. chips or tokens or markets used in games of chance and gambling; chips used in exchange for something else economics -- n. the study of how a society or government earns and spends its money hostile -- v. showing anger or aggression manipulated -- v. controlled or influenced sensitivities -- n. feelings that might be easily offended or hurt geo-politics -- n. relations between countries or governments detained -- v. held someone or something back, usually without consent defiance -- n. push back boldly, open resistance, bold disobedience Christian Evangelical -- n. a religious group that spreads the word, or gospel, of Jesus Christ About two months after launching the Mi Pad 2 tablet with Google Android software, Chinese company Xiaomi is getting ready to sell a Windows model with the same hardware. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 with Windows 10 will be available in China starting January 26th for 1299 yuan, or about $200. That price gets you a tablet with a 7.9 inch, 2048 x 1536 pixel display, an Intel Atom x5-Z8500 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Xiaomi charges the same price for 64GB Android models but theres also Android model with 16GB of storage that sells for 999 yuan ($150). Whichever operating system you opt for, the tablet has 802.11ac WiFi, a 6190 mAh battery, a USB Type-C port, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, and a case that measures 0.3 inches thick and which weighs about 11 ounces. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 has a metal case and the tablet is available in silver, gold, or pink. via GizChina and MyDrivers Learn to embody wisdom and compassion. Please join Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Acharya Noel McLellan to explore and connect with our own humanity. Proclaiming Basic Goodness through the Shambhala Meditation practice can be a powerful antidote to the aggression and suffering of our times. On Friday, the Sakyong offers the transmission for Shambhala Meditation, an intimate practice that is simple and profound. Through Shambhala Meditation, we learn to embody wisdom and compassion, bearing witness to the display of worldly phenomena while tuning into our open hearts. Acharya McLellan hosts on Saturday, supplementing the Sakyong's teachings with guided practice and talks. NOTE: This program is being offered as a recording from a live program happening on the same dates in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Schedule Friday 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM* *We will break for lunch from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Cultivate confidence and a caring heart through Shambhala Meditation. For more information and to register, please visit www.albuquerque.shambhala.org With all the reports of brutality in New York's prisons, one has to wonder: How could this go on unchecked? Now, it seems, we have an answer: The very unit whose job it is to investigate this misconduct may be complicit. As detailed in recent articles by the Times Union's Brendan J. Lyons, a review of court records, investigative reports and interviews with current and former employees of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision suggest that DOCCS' internal affairs unit is ruled by intimidation, with employees afraid to report wrongdoing lest they be targeted as rats. That is, the unit charged with penetrating the institutional wall of silence may be just as guilty of cover-ups itself. It raises a grave question for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature: How can such a corrupt system police itself? It can't. And as we have said before, we question whether the state bureaucracy of which DOCCS is a part is up to the task, either. A stern memo won't fix this, nor will a limited investigation. There is every indication that there are systemic problems in DOCCS. Addressing them has to begin with a thorough investigation of this entire department, from its executive offices to its cell blocks. The latest revelations show an internal affairs unit plagued by nepotism, harassment, and threats of retaliation against investigators if they reported problems. Little wonder, then, that allegations have surfaced of torture of prisoners at facilities including Clinton, Greene, and Fishkill, the latter where an inmate died after an altercation with officers. DOCCS says it's making changes at "select" facilities around the state, such as installing security cameras and undertaking a pilot program on body cameras, and is working with the Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons on best practices. Cameras are all well and good, but who's going to look at the footage in the event of a complaint? Who will keep it secure during an investigation? The same watchdogs who have been sleeping, or worse, on the job? A department that either was oblivious to brutality and corruption, or chose to ignore it? The state Inspector General is looking into at least some of this, though how much no one knows. This is clearly about more than a few isolated incidents and a bad apple or two. We might have more confidence if Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott assured the public that this will be a thorough investigation of DOCCS itself. Short of the U.S. Justice Department stepping in, Mr. Cuomo could appoint a fully independent commission under the Moreland Act, headed by someone with unquestioned integrity. Recently retired Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, for one, seems an ideal choice. But if there is such a commission, unlike his prematurely aborted one on corruption, Mr. Cuomo must step back and let it do its job, including a public report on its findings. New Yorkers need to trust that their state is running a modern prison system, not a medieval one. The Times Union, Albany Blog purpose This BLOG is for LLNL present and past employees, friends of LLNL and anyone impacted by the privatization of the Lab to express their opinions and expose the waste, wrongdoing and any kind of injustice against employees and taxpayers by LLNS/DOE/NNSA. The opinions stated are personal opinions. Therefore, The BLOG author may or may not agree with them before making the decision to post them. Comments not conforming to BLOG rules are deleted. Blog author serves as a moderator . For new topics or suggestions, email jlscoob5@gmail.com Highlighting Louisiana books and authors and literary events happening in the Bayou State. 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Where are all these old words stored? ... Grave Yard Stew I'm always intrigued by our American English language and its colorful idioms. When I was a child, and my mother was sick, she would al... The world's best stuffing recipe for turkey The best stuffing comes out of the bird. You can mix it with the extra you baked in the oven and it will be delicious. In a gazillion year... Penzey's Butter Chicken Recipe Usually the web will produce the right recipe, but in this case I couldn't find the original Penzey's recipe. We made this for two ... Whither Mary Seagull When we first began summer visits to the island of Nantucket, one of the galleries had wooden sculptures of a character named Mary Seagull. ... PRETORIA England's captain Alastair Cook posted his first half-century of the series against South Africa with an unbeaten 67 as they finished on 138 for two, still 337 runs behind, at the close on the second day of the final test on Saturday. Cook and Joe Root (31 not out) added 60 for the third wicket at Centurion Park as England, who have won the series, look to get close to the hosts' first-innings total of 475 on a pitch starting to show variable bounce. Cook is 50 short of becoming the first England batsman to reach 10,000 test runs. The touring side had lost opener Alex Hales (15) cheaply before tea when he guided a wide delivery from Kagiso Rabada to Dane Piedt at point for another soft dismissal. Nick Compton (19) became Rabada's second victim when he fell lbw to a delivery that never got more than a foot off the ground from good length. South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock earlier reached his maiden test century with a fluent unbeaten 129 from 128 balls before running out of partners. De Kock smashed 17 fours and two sixes in a mixture of finesse and a brutal attack on the bowling. It was alright. I got a bit lucky with one or two dropped catches but Ill take it. Hundreds dont come around often, De Kock told reporters. I just play it as I see it. If its in my area I will try to hit it. That's the way I play for my franchise and its no different here. England, after picking up the wickets of Temba Bavuma (35) and Rabada (0) early in the morning session, the tourists may have expected to run through the South Africa tail. But a stand of 50 for the eighth wicket between De Kock and Kyle Abbott (16), and 82 for the ninth with Piedt (19), kept the England in the field until 40 minutes before tea. Frustration for the touring side was exacerbated by dropped catches, including two off De Kock. England all-rounder Ben Stokes continued his fine tour with bat and ball as he finished the South Africa innings with figures of 4-86. It was hard work, every time we got a wicket they seemed to get back in it, Stokes said. Too many chances went down as well, we really let them off the hook. (Editing by Ken Ferris) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New Delhi: Five members suspected to be involved with terror outfit Islamic State (IS) were arrested and nine others detained by the NIA in cooperation with state police agencies across India, a home ministry official said on Friday. Of the six men who picked up for interrogation by the NIA and police in Karnataka, one is a 46-year-old US-educated software engineer deported from Turkey for attempting to enter Syria, reports The Indian Express. Two of them were arrested Mohammed Afzal, 35, a software engineer with MNC IHS Global, and Najmal Huda alias Majnu, 24, a chemical engineer from Mangalore. They were allegedly planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organise training camps including of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India. Interrogation of suspects and verification of their backgrounds are in progress, the NIA said. The other four detainees were identified as Abdul Ahad, 46, a software entrepreneur with a masters degree from Kennedy-Western University in California, Syed Mujahid, 34, a shop owner from Tumkur, Mohammed Sohail, 31, a madrasa teacher from Bengaluru, and Asif Ali, 30, an IT worker also from Bengaluru. Sources said all the raids at 12 locations in six cities were conducted on tip-offs that the IS sympathisers were planning bomb attacks in several cities on Republic Day (26 January). The raids were conducted in Bengaluru, Tumkur and Mangalore in Karnataka, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Incriminating documents, mobiles, laotops and unaccounted cash and material used in making bombs were seized during the raids. Huge quantities of arms and ammunition were seized from the rented house of two of the suspects in Bengaluru, an official told IANS. Among the detainees, Afzal is suspected to be a key influence on Indians, the sources said. He was a follower of Bengaluru Islamic preacher Syed Anzar Shah Qasmi, who was arrested by Delhi Police two weeks ago for alleged links with the al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent. "The National Investigation Agency has arrested five suspected terrorists and detained nine others in a joint operation with state police organisations across India," Home Ministry Joint Secretary (Internal Security) M.A. Ganapathy said. Ganapathy said some of them were planning to organise a meeting before carrying out the attacks. He said all suspects are radicalised youths" and more information would come out once ongoing investigations are over. The suspects were planning to establish a channel of procurement of explosives and weapons, identify locations for training camps, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India, an NIA official said. The arrested men - Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohammad Nafees Khan, Mohammad Shareef Mounuddin Khan, Najmul Huda and Mohammad Afzal - are accused of encouraging youth to join the IS. Mudabbir is from Thane near Mumbai, and Nafees and Shareef from Hyderabad. Najmul lives in Mangalore while Afzal hails from Banglore. "The arrested men are in the age group of 25-35 while one is aged 54, Ganapathy said. "We have no indication so far that they were planning a terror attack in Delhi during the Republic Day function," the officer said. An NIA official, on the condition of anonymity, told IANS that four of the detained suspects were Asif, Sayed and Ahad - all from Bengaluru - and Syed Mujahid Husain from Tumkur. Of the remaining suspects, three are from Mumbai, and one each from Lucknow and Manglore. "The NIA with the help of local police picked 14 youths from different cities in raids since Thursday night. They were under security surveillance regarding their activities on the social media," the official said. The nine suspects, yet to be arrested, are being interrogated for their alleged links with IS sympathisers and their role in possible terror strikes. According to sources, the NIA is on the lookout for five to eight more suspects. Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Friday issued an alert after a taxi driver alleged carjacked by three unidentified people from Pathankot in Punjab was found dead in Himachal Pradesh. Through its official Twitter handle, the Delhi Police released photographs of three suspects and the details of a Maruti Alto car, bearing registration number HP-01D-2440, which was hired by them on January 17. The body was found on January 20. Taxi driver Vijay Kumar was later found dead at the Kalta bridge in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, a police officer said. Kumar was a resident of Gaggal in Kangra. Investigating agencies said the vehicle, registered with a travel agency, was untraceable. Security agencies relate the incident to happenings prior to the attack on Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, in which taxi driver Ikagar Singh was killed by terrorists. "People should not panic as security agencies are doing their best... The message is to just alert the people. The citizens should inform the police control room if they observe any suspicious activity," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajan Bhagat told IANS. With IANS New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on his birth anniversary. "Balasaheb Thackeray...my mind is filled with many memories. Tributes to the widely admired and respected personality on his birth anniversary," Modi tweeted. "My tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray a true nationalist & a respected mass leader on his birth anniversary," he tweeted. Bal Thackeray, an Indian politician who founded Shiv Sena, was born in Pune on 23 January, 1926. Bal Thackeray died on 17 November, 2012. PTI By Ashok Row Kavi Whats with our five percent creamy layer? Everyone is complaining about intolerance. The Bollywood bratpacks now talking about it and director Karan Johars the latest to land in the thick of things. He is reported to have said that the anti-sodomy Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is a hurdle we need to combat. I dont get it, Karan. Here is the whole LGBT community fighting it tooth and nail for over three decades. Did you not hear about or read the papers when sexual minorities all over India mobilised, held workshops, meetings, halla-bol public hearings, met up with members of parliament and political honchos to muster support to get Section 377 removed? Or were you so in your Sleeping Beauty phase that you didnt wake up to the challenge to the British Raj law by the Lawyers Collective, which was backed by hundreds of affidavits from gay men and hijras, saying they were bashed up, extorted and blackmailed by goons and policemen all over the country? This legal challenge went on from the late 1990s and culminated in the historic Delhi High Courts judgment by Justice AP Shah in July 2009 only to be overturned by the Justice Singhvi in 2013 transforming huge communities into felons on the run. Where the hell were you in that struggle when we became a miniscule minority? All 30 million or so of us dismissed in one short judgment? And there wasnt a whimper from you and Shahrukh and John and Arjun or even Dhoni. You would have led the Bollywood brigade instead of leaving ONE brave fellow like Imran Khan to hold the baby. And you talk of intolerance now? Ho boy, there is something called delayed reaction and its obvious you are in the thick of it with this Johnny-come-lately act. What is galling is that you now come out with the pansy bit after doing scores of those Koffee with Karan shows where you discuss the private life of everyone from my favourite John Abraham to the new cutie Ranvir Singh and still say that it is difficult to talk of my private life. Your digs about my private life is private have been noted even as you lean out so far out of that glass closet that I couldnt make out where your centre of gravity was. And Im not saying you need to be in the closet for political reasons. All we ask is that you make a Bollywood blockbuster on the line of sensitive films like My Brother Nikhil, made by an openly out director like Onir. But what did you do? You offered us Dostana about two straight men pretending to be gay (to get housing with Priyanka Chopra) in Miami. So straight that one of the straight guys has a pink sedan, for Shivas sake! I must say you gave me a real shock when the two hunks got lip-locked in the devastating denouement, with revulsion and disgust showing openly on their faces through that light pancake. Hell, how homoerotic and homophobic all rolled into one big Bollywood Roti-roll is that? Why do you insult us like this and insist that such films open up doors for the gay community? Now here is what I wish you would do. You can give a very sensible straight forward interview saying youre gay as a row of pink gypsy tents and be done with it. Youll be surprised how little commotion it makes. Then you can come for a meeting of the Parents of Gay and Lesbian, Transgender Children and see whats happening. Its headed by the brilliant and hard working actor Chitra Palekar, who really does her homework. After discovering what her lesbian daughter was going through, Chitra decided to catch the tiger by the tail. She went to libraries, sifted through the net and read up all there was to know about the subject. Fortified with that knowledge, she fought back in the media against other parents and fatuous fools like Baba Ramdev about how natural we are like left-handed children, for example. And shes not giving up; she has been a part of each one of the huge acceptance meets held by various gay and lesbian groups in Mumbai and fought for our rights to be what we are. She has been an inspiration to us and a terror to politicians in the Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Congress you should have seen how she tore into the city BJP boss, Ashish Shelar, last year; that he better educate his party about the hell that LGBT people go through instead of backing religious nuts like Baba Ramdev, who is now selling son-bearing Ayurvedic muck out of Haridwar. Come on Karan, you can do it. Rather than tackle subjects that you live out every day, you choose to ignore those hundreds of young gays who you say have written to you saying how grateful they were that you started talking about the subject. So talk about it. Really. The author is an LGBT rights activist and founder of the Humsafar Trust Australia's one-term Prime Minister above ... Events of interest from a libertarian/conservative perspective below The Congress smells conspiracy in the declassification of the files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It has raised doubts on governments intention behind the declassification. The way the PM has carried this out raises doubts about the intention of the Government of India. The nation needs to understand this. The BJP or any of its affiliates cant claim of any leader who were on the forefront of the freedom struggle, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said after the files were declassified at National Archives of India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the India Today TV, in one of the classified files, the nations first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Subhas Chandra Boase as a war criminal. Nehrus purported letter written to the Prime Minister of England, Clement Attlee on 27 December, 1945 four months after the plane crash in Taipei, had mentioned Bose as a war criminal. A portion of the purported letter: Dear Mr Attlee, I understand from reliable sources that Subhas Chandra Bose, your war criminal, has been allowed to enter Russian territory by Stalin. This is a clear treachery and betrayal of faith by the Russians as Russia has been an ally of the British-Americans, which she should not have done. Please take note of it and do what you consider proper and fit. We have said from the very beginning that this is a deliberate controversy. The Congress will expose and take action against this mischievous fake letter (allegedly written by Nehru to Atlee). We will take all measures to punish people once identified. Whoever is taking ownership must come forward, he said. While cautioning the media to be careful of the fabricated letter, Sharma said, We would appeal to the media to be careful before a fabricated and forged document is used to sensationalise and to defame one of Indias greatest sons. Jawaharlal Nehru was a great leader (Maha Nayak), Indias first PM and a world-class statesman. There is a need to first ascertain the authenticity of the letter before conveying something which is not only questionable but part of a criminal conspiracy. Forgery is a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code. Echoing Congress vice president Rahul Gandhis tweet, Sharma, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, Netaji was a great national leader, president of Indian National Congress and participated in the freedom struggle. Which truth the Congress has suppressed? Netaji had only one daughter and what she has said is in public domain and the country must respect her sentiments because she has been anguished by this deliberately created mischief and controversy. Netajis other close relatives like grand-nephew Sugata Bose, who is a respected Historian and Ashish Ray (journalist) - they have commented in great detail. We do not wish to join issues with others and enter into any kind of debate. Remembering Bose on his 119th birth anniversary on 23 January, Rahul Gandhi described him a man of extraordinary courage, a patriot and a charismatic leader. Netaji's contribution to India`s freedom struggle will continue to inspire us, tweeted Gandhi today. Paying homage to Netaji in the morning, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said, Congress Party can never forget his contribution to the national struggle for freedom for founding of an independent democratic republic of India. He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic. Chittopriyo Bose, one of the Netajis relatives said, No previous government did what the Modi government has done today. Were satisfied. Weve requested the PM for the declassification of files in foreign land, so that more can be known about Netaji. Congress was in power for almost 60 years and there may be some files during their tenure in West Bengal, which hasnt yet been declassified. However, the Congress maintained silence on why it refrained from declassifying Netaji files, despite remaining in power for almost six decades. Probably there was an apprehension that it would convert into a major law & order problem, besides relations between India and other nations (mentioned in the files) might get tarnished. No one was aware about the content of the files. Those days India also had friendly ties with the erstwhile USSR, a senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accused BJP of trying to create conflict between different ideologies by riding on the declassification of files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released digital copies of 100 declassified files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the National Archives of India (NAI). Even the Congress calls the Modi government move a "mischievous political campaign". "BJP, which has nothing to do with the struggle for Independence, by declassifying files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is basically making an effort to create conflict between different streams of ideology in the struggle for country's Independence," Kumar told reporters here. "The BJP whose leaders had no role in the Independence movement are basically interested in creating 'conflict' between different ideologies for political gains," Kumar, a known detractor of PM, said. Netajis family members, who arrived in Delhi for the event, broke down after seeing the files. Today also marks the 119th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter. The NAI now plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Modi, in his meeting with members of Bose family in October, had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to Bose and make them accessible to public. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4, last year. Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred to the NAI. Soundbites from the ringside Amartya Sen: Right now in the country, there is a sense of division which has often been cultivated along communal lines so much so that the word secularism is often used as a bad word We are waiting for the day when democracy and liberty would be used as a bad word too. Anand Sharma: Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign. Boses grandnephew Surya Kumar Bose: But these are not the intelligence files. What we need is the intelligence files not only of our country but also of Russia, the UK, the US, Japan to solve the mystery. Sugata Bose: The Japanese have shared with us the information they had regarding Netaji But, I believe Modi should have spoken to Abe, whether it be in Tokyo or in Delhi, or Varanasi I dont think he has spoken to him (Abe) regarding this. I do not know whether Modi has done anything on the Netaji issue. I dont feel he had spoken to Abe (regarding Netajis disappearance). He also did not pay his respect by visiting the Renkoji temple But, other Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the temple to show their respect, he said of Modis Japan tour last year: Subhash Chandra Boses kin and historian Sugata Bose. Agencies In a major anti-terror swoop across the country ahead of Republic Day, the NIA on Friday took into custody 14 people suspected to be Islamic State sympathisers and believed to be plotting attacks in different parts of the country. Of the 14 suspects detained, 13 have been arrested, according to a Home Ministry spokesman. The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities Bengaluru, Tumkur, Mangaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow with the support of local police forces. The Maharashtra ATS also conducted raids and searches at two other locations. NIA named the arrested Muttabir Mustaq Sheikh (33) from Thane district near Mumbai, Mohammad Nafees Khan (24) of Hyderabad, Mohammad Shareef Moinuddin Khan (54) of Hyderabad, Najmul Huda (25) of Mangaluru and Mohammad Afzal (35) of Bengaluru. These arrests by the NIA are the latest in the ongoing effort by Indian investigative agencies to identify people taken in by IS's radicalisation prompted by the rise of Indians joining the terror outfit. The IS doesn't have a strong on-ground presence in the sub-continent as yet. In November 2015, a report prepared by the intelligence agencies revealed that the 150 people, mostly from South India, are believed to be attracted to the IS and sympathetic to the group's activities. Over the past couple of years, the IS despite having no presence in the Indian subcontinent has acted as a strong luring factor for the youth. So far, more than 20 Indians are believed to have gone to Islamic State hold areas in Iraq-Syria to fight for the terrorist group. Of them six were killed while one returned home in Mumbai. 30 other Indians, who were radicalised by IS elements, were also prevented from travelling to the conflict zone in the West Asia. According to a report by Daily Mail, the manhunt for the recruits was launched after monitoring the cyber activities of 14 youth who were inspired by the Islamic State and were in contact with a former member of Indian Mujahideen (IM). The IM operative is also the brother of a slain Indian IS recruit. Daily Mail also adds that the IM members who fled India after a crackdown, had ended up fighting on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border before joining the IS. These IM members were also said to be in touch with Indians inspired by the terror group, which could play a large part in the radicalisation of IS sympathisers. Thus, the connection between IM, a terror group that has been responsible for several attacks in India, and the IS will be a cause for concern for Indian authorities. In fact, among the six Indians, who fought alongside IS and got killed, three were IM terrorists, including Sultan Ajmer Shah and Bada Sajid, who had joined its ranks after being in Pakistan. An earlier Firstpost article on the changing face of Islamic terrorism had pointed out, radicalisation of Indian youth into the fold of terror groups has not only emerged as one of the most potential threats, but has also posed a serious challenge for the security agencies. Among those who are currently fighting for IS are two youths from Kalyan (in the outskirts of Mumbai), an Australia-based Kashmiri, one youth from Telangana, one from Karnataka, one Oman-based Indian and another Singapore-based Indian. In January 2015, Salman Mohiuddin of Hyderabad was arrested at Hyderabad airport when he was preparing to board a flight to Dubai on way to Syria via Turkey. In May 2014, four youths from Kalyan township in neighbouring Thane district had gone to Syria to join the IS. One of them, Areeb Majeed, returned and is currently in NIA custody while the whereabouts of the other three were not yet known. On 15 September 2015, the UAE deported four Indians suspected to have links with IS. The UAE had also sent back in September a 37-year-old woman, Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph, who was allegedly involving in recruiting youths for terror organisation. In December, a 16-year-old Muslim girl from Pune was reportedly radicalised by her IS contacts abroad and brain-washed to go to Syria. According to the ATS, who interrogated the minor girl, she attracted to the IS ideology after watching a documentary on television and subsequently started regularly monitoring news on Al-Jazeera channel. She then used the internet to get in touch with IS contacts and got in touch with about 200 young persons from different countries. Her interrogation also revealed that she was told to come to Syria for medical education and for further initiation. She is currently undergoing a de-radicalisation programme. The three Mumbai youth who went missing in the latter half of December were also suspected to be part of IS sympathisers. The three youths were identified as Ayaz Sultan (23), Mohsin Sheikh (26) and Wajid Sheikh (25). MELBOURNE Defending champion Novak Djokovic returns to Rod Laver Arena for clash against Gilles Simon on Sunday as he looks to seal his place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the ninth year in a row. The Serbian world number one, farmed out to Margaret Court Arena for his third round victory over Andreas Seppi, has yet to lose a set in the tournament but might find that record under threat against the indefatigable Frenchman. In a high quality opening session on the main stadium court, the five-times champion's fourth round match follows that of his counterpart in the women's draw, Serena Williams. Williams, who already has six Melbourne Park titles in her trophy cabinet, has been similarly untroubled in reaching the last 16 and can be expected to easily deal with 21-year-old number 58 Margarita Gasparyan. Gasparyan's rather more successful compatriot Maria Sharapova, the 2008 champion, opens the day on Rod Laver Arena with an intriguing intergenerational battle against Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic. Parochial concerns mean Australia's Daria Garvrilova takes the spotlight in the evening primetime slot in Melbourne Park's biggest arena for her contest against 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro. Four-times champion Roger Federer restores some grand slam pedigree to the court when he meets Belgian David Goffin in the final match of the day. Sixth seed Tomas Berdych takes on Roberto Bautista Agut out on Margaret Court Arena, while seventh seed Kei Nishikori's attempt to avenge his five-set loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at last year's French Open is on Hisense Arena. Women's fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska also plays on Hisense as she faces Anna-Lena Friedsam, who upset U.S. Open runner-up Roberta Vinci in round three, for a place in the last eight. (Editing by Patrick Johnston) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Tehran: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Tehran on Friday to hold talks with Iranian officials about future economic and political cooperation, Iran's state TV reported. The report quoted Ebrahim Rahimpour, Iran's deputy foreign minister for Asia and Pacific affairs, as saying the Chinese president is in Tehran with a high-ranking political and economic delegation at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart President Hassan Rouhani. "This is the first visit by a Chinese president in 14 years," Rahimpour said. "During his one-day official trip, he is expected to visit Iran's supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Rouhani." The television report said total trade between Tehran and Beijing stood at some $52 billion dollars in 2014. However, that figure dropped in 2015 due to decreasing global oil prices. China is one of six world powers along with the US, Germany, France, the UK and Russia involved in the recently implemented Iranian nuclear deal, which lifted international sanctions against Tehran in exchange for limitations on the Iranian nuclear program. He is the first leader of one of those six negotiating countries to visit the Islamic Republic since the deal was finalised. AP Traveling and exploring the world is one of my passions in life, and I am so thankful to be able to travel as much as I do with amazing groups of friends. My latest adventure was a ten day trip to the Philippines between Christmas and New Year, which is no small journey from Seattle. My flight route was: Seattle to Seoul, Seoul to Manila, Manila to Boracay in a total of about 24 hours including layovers. I would have arrived on Boracay sooner, except that flights only operate during daylight hours (5am-4pm) because there are no lights on the closest airport (Caticlan - MPH) runway. I departed Seattle about 2pm Saturday afternoon, arrived in Manila around 11pm Sunday night/Monday morning, and then had to wait until 5am for the first flight out to the island of Boracay. Thankfully, one of my friends arrived in Manila around the same time, and we were able to walk out from the domestic terminal to find a bar and catch up over cheap beer. I arrived at the Caticlan Airport in the province of Aklan (next door to Boracay) around 6am Monday morning, and finally met up with the rest of our travel group around 7am. Please read on for more photos, details, and travel tips from my time on Boracay! This is the type of boat that ferries passengers to Boracay island. I booked transportation from the Caticlan Airport to our hotel through a website called My Boracay Guide because I knew I would be tired and I wanted to have everything settled ahead of time. There was a team of people who met us at the airport and handled every step of the way from our ferry tickets to our luggage to our own private ferry boat to the van that took us to the hotel. It was so convenient and the cost was nominal. Diniwid Beach on the northwest side of the island, the first beach that we visited. The beach is rocky, but so gorgeous with its clear, shallow water and white sand! There is a fancy restaurant on the side of this hill that you have to take a little elevator to reach - it felt so exclusive. A perfect place to relax at Diniwid Beach: beanbags, cold drinks, and umbrellas. Time just slips away in places like this. Our second day on Boracay, we took a day trip to neighboring Carabao Island that picked us up from White Beach. The day trip included a delicious lunch of grilled skewers, adobo and rice, and dozens of fresh coconuts (plus rum & beer). It was so much fun to see another island--especially one less developed/populated--and I absolutely recommend island hopping while on Boracay. Fresh coconuts + dark rum = deliciousness Cliff-diving was an option - see those two wooden diving boards on the right-hand side? Fresh coconuts all day! I'm still not 100% sure how this happened, but at one point during our island hopping day trip my friend Cris and I got boosted onto the back of a carabao (water buffalo) and carried up to a bat cave. Not quite the same as the horses I grew up with, but it was an adventure! One of my favorite parts of the day was finding this isolated beach. We each had our own motorcycle and driver to take us around the island, on a combination of pavement + dirt roads. In some areas kids would come running out of their homes in the villages to wave at us as we went by, and other areas like this it was just us and a few stray dogs. Of course we jumped in the water at this isolated beach--and like so many other beaches the water was crystal clear and shallow for hundreds of yards out. It was a wonderful end to the day trip. The late afternoon return boat ride to White Beach with my gal Frances - one of our planners for this trip! This is picturesque White Beach on the west side (and middle) of the island. White beach has many hotels, restaurants, shopping, and activity in general--a great place to stay while visiting Boracay! Cris and I unintentionally coordinating our dinner outfits - I think it's because she's my carabao-riding partner in crime! You have probably already seen my New Year's Eve dinner photos in this previous post , so these next few photos are from the NYE white party at Epic. It was so much fun to ring in the New Year on the beach with fireworks, great music, and a fabulous group of friends! NYE at Epic! NYE at Epic! Frances and I went to Starbucks for some much-needed coffee on New Year's Day, and found this fun sign on White Beach. A caffeinated Amber is a happy Amber! I tried paddleboarding for the first time on White Beach! It was dirt cheap (about $8 for one hour) and the water was shallow + calm. Perfect conditions for a newbie. Proof that I did stand-up paddleboarding, not just sit-down paddleboarding. Our pool access suite at the Boracay Recency Resort. We are not usually in the same location for a full week, so this vacation was a wonderful chance to kick back, relax, and enjoy not being on a time schedule. I definitely recommend visiting Boracay for a beach vacation--it is a beautiful island and well-equipped to handle tourists. I would love to visit the Philippines again at some point - I think Palawan/El Nito would be our next choice for a Philippines island vacation. I hope you enjoyed these photos and travel tips, and that you have a wonderful weekend! Numerous large Australian coal mines have had their environmental regulations relaxed, in changes the federal government hopes will make life easier for the struggling industry. Certain coal mines owned by Glencore, BHP Billiton and Whitehaven Coal have received favourable changes to their approval conditions within the past month, which in some cases reduce the environment minister's ability to demand changes and reduce public oversight of miners' compliance with approval conditions. Concerns of activists heard: Coal miners will face less strict environmental management conditions. Credit:Anita Jones The changes, many of which were initiated by the environment department rather than being requested by mining companies, come after a series of controversial coal approvals in recent years and after the federal government threatened to change environment laws in a bid to prevent green groups using the courts to challenge approvals. Google, now part of Alphabet, agreed to pay 130 million ($264 million) in back taxes in Britain, and higher taxes in the future, in a deal that could lead to the company paying more in other countries where it has been accused of evading tax, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The agreement comes after a multi-year audit by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) looking into whether Google sidestepped tax for more than a decade by allocating profits to Ireland, where its European operations are based, the FT said. Google and HMRC were not immediately available for comment. The European Union and national governments including Australia have been taking a tougher stand against profit-shielding arrangements used by multinational companies, including Google, Apple and Amazon. Starting next week, a great Sydney experiment will begin. The city will be handed to the planners. "It is something planners have dreamed of for a long time," says Sarah Hill, the incoming chief executive of the Greater Sydney Commission, the new body set up with rare clout to shape the future development of the city. Urban experiment: Sarah Hill is the new CEO of the Greater Sydney Commission. Credit:Daniel Munoz "This is that we have a real focus on the strategic big picture issues rather than assessing development," says Hill. The early tasks for the commission, a concept which enjoys the support of both Labor and the Coalition, are numerous. A 14-year-old boy has died and his friend is in an induced coma after they were hit by a car while they were riding on the same scooter in Sydney's south west on Saturday afternoon. Michael Hannon was sharing a scooter with his 14-year-old friend, who has not been named. The pair were being followed by another friend, 14, on a pushbike as they rode along Othello Avenue in Rosemeadow, near Campbelltown, at 4.05pm. The trio were riding north in the southbound lane and had just entered a T-intersection with Anthony Drive when both teens on the scooter were hit by a Ford Fiesta travelling west. Emergency services were called, but they were unable to revive Michael, who died at the scene. BUHL Teachers with guns, the CSI Refugee Center and the standoff at a federal wildlife preserve in Oregon were some of the topics the Twin Falls County Sheriff and his opponent debated Friday night at Buhl High School. The forum, moderated by Buhl School District Superintendent Ron Anthony, was organized by student Molly Tinajero for her senior project. The debate pitted Sheriff Tom Carter against Cliff Katona, a retired Idaho State Police detective who announced a year ago he would run for sheriff in 2016. Neither is officially a candidate yet the window to file for candidacy is between Feb. 29 and March 11 but both men have said they will run. With the public submitting questions, one of the first inquiries was whether teachers should carry guns in schools. A teacher with a firearm at one of the terrible, terrible acts of violence thats been precipitated on students, maybe a teacher with a firearm could have stopped that, Carter said. I guess one theory of thought is a good guy with a gun is better than no gun at all. But the problem with that is it takes training. Carter cited the Sep. 2, 2014 incident at Idaho State University when Byron Bennett, an assistant professor of chemistry, was shot when the gun he was carrying misfired. That was obviously a training issue, Carter said. I guess I can give you a good, sound, solid maybe of my thoughts on teachers with firearms. Katona said he believes there should be a consensus with the school board and parents, and he would have a concern about training. Law enforcement officers are always mindful of their weapons, but teachers might not have the same vigilance. I would be more apt to have a lock box in the classroom, Katona said. A teacher could push in a code, that way if there was an active shooter, they would have quick access to that and have the training to take care of that. Asked how they would handle a standoff situation like the one thats unfolding at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, Carter said he wont second-guess the actions of the sheriff there and his first priority would be the safety of the local citizens. I believe in cooperation with federal agents, Katona said. But Im also familiar with the 10th Amendment ... it guards against excessive government power. Its a balance of power. Im all about working together, but Im not comfortable with giving federal agents the authority to enforce state and county laws. In regards to refugee resettlement, Katona said as sheriff he would make sure refugees felt welcome but knew they are in America and must abide by American laws. He also said law enforcement should be able to monitor refugees. Katona said it could be similar to the way sex offenders are monitored. You have a right to know whos in your community, he said. But in 24 years in the ISP, he said, he never investigated a refugee for a crime. Carter said he supports the governors call to fix a broken vetting system. He said the county should be totally confident refugees can remain safe before allowing them to resettle in Twin Falls. Refugees are way more likely to become victims than they are suspects, Carter said. To the editor: As we reflect on 2015, we have a lot to be thankful for at St. Marys Food Bank. Wed like to give a special shout out to our community partners, funders and friends who helped provide millions of meals this year to individuals and families in need in Flagstaff. Agency Partners: Thanks to these agency partners, we distributed more than 2.5 million meals throughout Flagstaff in 2015: Coconino County Health Department, Flagstaff Family Food Center, St. Vincent de Paul Flagstaff, Think Jesus Project, Sunshine Rescue Mission, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff, Coconino County Community Services, Flagstaff Boys and Girls Club, Flagstaff YMCA. Special thanks to the Flagstaff Boys and Girls Club and the Flagstaff YMCA who allowed us to expand our Summer Meal Service Program to Flagstaff. Funders: Thank you to the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona Healthcare, the Geile Charitable Fund and the Molly and Joseph Herman Foundation for providing crucial financial support for our work in the Flagstaff area. Food Drives: Thank you to the students and faculty at Flagstaff High for their hard work during our Project Hunger Food Drive. They placed in the top 5 of 30 participating schools. Toys for Tots: We have worked with Toys for Tots for the past decade to provide food as an addition to the toys they provide to the Havasupai community. This year we fed 150 families! Thank you again! We look forward to another year of collaboration to feed Flagstaff and its surrounding communities. BEVERLY DAMORE St. Marys Food Bank About Me Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah I am Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah, who resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I hold a post-graduate law degree from the United Kingdom. I blog to tell MALAYSIANS THE TRUTH. View my complete profile Blog Archive Motion for Post-Conviction Relief. 08-16-2022. Includes affidavit from witness, Thomas Sowinski, who saw prosecution's star witness planting murder victim's car onto defendant's property. Tape and log of Mr. Sowinski's Nov. 5, 2005 phone call to Manitowoc Sheriff Dept was hidden from the defense, despite requests for all recordings and information, and despite duty of the State to disclose evidence, and duty not to withhold exculpatory evidence, Brady violation. The Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park has appointed four new board members, including one from Flagstaff, to its Board of Directions for 2016. GCAs all-volunteer, 15 member board is comprised of business and community leaders from all over the United States who commit their time and expertise for the benefit and improvement of the association. Grand Canyon Association provides private funding to Grand Canyon National Park for educational programs and preservation and fill other needs not currently funded by federal dollars. Joining the Board of Directors are Lyle Balenquah, Richard Foudy, Dr. Robert Lufrano, and Mark Schiavoni. These appointments reflect GCAs continued commitment to creating a diverse, collaborative board that will effectively lead GCA into the future, said Susan Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of GCA. Their professional expertise will be invaluable as we grow our capacity to serve the park. Balenquah lives in Flagstaff. A member of the Hopi Tribe, he is a member of the Greasewood clan from the Village of Bacavi. He earned bachelor's (1999) and master's (2002) degrees in anthropology from Northern Arizona University. For more than 15 years he has worked throughout the American Southwest as an archaeologist documenting ancestral Hopi settlements and their ways of life. Currently he works as an independent consultant but his experience includes time with the National Park Service, The Hopi Tribe, and the Museum of Northern Arizona. Balenquah also works as a part-time hiking and river guide in the Grand Canyon, combining his professional knowledge and training with personal insights about his ancestral history to provide a unique forum of public education. Richard Foudy, was appointed President and CEO of National Decision Systems Inc. in 1996 after joining the firm in 1982. He retired after his firm was acquired in 2006. He resides with his family in Fairfield, Conn. Lufrano is the retired chairman and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and an emergency medicine physician by training. He lives in Florida. Schiavoni, of Paradise Valley, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Arizona Public Service Company. Schiavoni oversees operations for APS non-nuclear generation, transmission and distribution, strategy, supply chain, resource management, environmental and sustainability, and customer service components. He also serves on the boards of the Valley of the Sun United Way, Heard Museum, Grand Canyon Association and Association of Edison. Matt of All Trades blog, like the title suggests, is by a Vermont author and offers offbeat musings on pop culture, media, journalism, humor, weirdness, stupid people, smart people, my life as a journalist, landscaper, photographer, married gay man, dog lover and weather geek and more. It's run by me, Matt Sutkoski, a native Vermonter living in St. Albans, Vt. Staphylococcus aureus. Credit: iStock iLexx A team of biologists and biomedical researchers at UC San Diego has developed a new method to determine if bacteria are susceptible to antibiotics within a few hours, an advance that could slow the appearance of drug resistance and allow doctors to more rapidly identify the appropriate treatment for patients with life threatening bacterial infections. In a paper published online this week in the journal EBioMedicine, the scientists reported the development of a rapid susceptibility test for Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that causes some 60 percent of hospital-acquired infections and which has spread in communities, causing pneumonia and a variety of skin and tissue infections in both healthy and immune-compromised individuals. The development is important, say biomedical scientists, because of the critical need for physicians to rapidly discriminate between drug resistant strains (commonly termed MRSA for methicillin-resistant S. aureus) and drug sensitive strains, since these infections can progress rapidly, especially MRSA strains with additional resistance to newer antibiotics designed to treat pathogens that are now appearing in hospitals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance causes two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths annually, costing the U.S. economy approximately $20-billion a year in direct health care costs and nearly eight million extra days in the hospital. Indeed, bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics much more quickly than global biomedical research efforts are delivering new drugs to market, leading to the appearance of infections caused by bacteria that are now resistant to every therapy. Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing allows doctors to discriminate between infections caused by drug sensitive bacteria, which can be treated with safe and effective antibiotics developed in what scientists call the golden age of drug discovery (the mid-20th century) such as penicillin, and those caused by drug resistant bacteria, which might require newer antibiotics, such as daptomycin or cubicin. This approach will decrease the emergence of resistance by reserving the newest drugs for those infections where they are most needed. The interdisciplinary team at UC San Diego was comprised of two infectious-disease specialists in the School of Medicine, Victor Nizet, MD, and George Sakoulas, MD; two biologists in the Division of Biological Sciences, Kit and Joe Pogliano; and Diana Quach, a bioengineering graduate student. The scientists applied a method previously developed in the Pogliano laboratories for drug discovery to antibiotic susceptibility testing. "Previously we developed a microscopy-based method that performs an autopsy on bacterial cells that allows us to determine how each cell died, and we have shown that this method can identify new antibiotics and help understand how these antibiotics work," said Kit Pogliano, a professor of biology at UC San Diego who headed the research team. "We tested to see if this method could be applied to antibiotic susceptibility testing. Surprisingly, we not only found that our method was able to accurately differentiate sensitive S. aureus strains from resistant MRSA strains, but that we were able to identify two subgroups of MRSA strains, one of which is susceptible to combinations of antibiotics that could be used in the hospital. We are excited by the accuracy and speed of this test, as well as by its unanticipated ability to identify these two types of MRSA infections, which would have been missed by other tests." Examining single cells has two key advantages over other testing methods, say the researchers. First, it is rapid, cutting days off the time for typical culture-based assays. It often takes days for a doctor to receive information on resistance, and this means that patients with life-threatening infections are often treated with the assumption that the infection is drug-resistant. Second, this method does not rely on having any detailed understanding of the bacterium causing the infection, or of the genes that convey resistance. This is particularly important in this case, since resistance to the drugs used to treat MRSA infections arise by several evolutionary pathways via different combinations of mutations, and it could also provide rapid treatment information for newly emerging bacterial pathogens, such as that which caused the infections transmitted by endoscopes. "Regardless of the type of bacterium, a healthy and growing bacterium looks different from a dead bacterium, so whenever we detect a difference in how the cells look, we know that the bacterium is sensitive to the antibiotic we have applied. When we combine careful culture conditions, cutting edge imaging methods and a detailed quantitative analysis, we can turn this simple approach into a reliable test," said Joe Pogliano, a professor of biology. "Rapid and precise identification of antibiotic sensitivity patterns allows the most potent and effective drug to be administered," said Nizet, a professor of pediatrics and pharmacy. "Equally important, more specific antibiotic therapy can help preserve the normal bacteria living in our gut microbiome that play an important role in our health and immune system function." The UC San Diego biologists say their new method has the potential to be applied to many different types of bacteria."Our new method worked surprising well at rapidly detecting antibiotic resistant strains of S. aureus," said Diana Quach, a graduate student and lead author on the study. "We are now optimizing it to provide a more accurate test for other types of antibiotic resistant bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Explore further New method allows scientists to screen natural products for antibiotics Facing an operation is like being pulled over by a customs official in a foreign country. You know that itll probably be just fine, and that for the person in charge, its a matter of procedure. They do this every day. Yet youre frightened, uncertain about the outcome and, even with people bustling around you, entirely alone. My very dear young friend Krissy Dolce is going into the hospital for a detached retina. She said I could write about her. Krissy is remarkably brave and matter-of-fact about the surgery shes facing; Im the one frantically trying to figure out what to do. I made lasagna she can heat up when she returns to her apartment. Im filling in for her classes during those few days shell need to miss. Im attempting to be of use, but I know its insufficient. Im overwhelmed by the need to be reassuring, soothing and, above all else, wise. But what can I say thats wise about heading into surgery? Its easy to state the obvious, although its calming to know that the obvious is true: For example, the anesthesia theyre using now is simply marvelous. Its entirely different from what they gave me in 1962 when I had my tonsils out. That remains one of my earliest and most terrifying memories. I recall with uncanny vividness the physical sensation of having a large mask placed over my face and being told to count backward from 10. I was 5 I could barely count forward to 10. Since then, I have tossed a bunch of body parts out the car window and onto the side of the road, including a few major organs as well as one minor digit. (The operations have always worked and I cant even be accused of littering. Everything, after all, was biodegradable.) This much I can promise: During their removal, the anesthesia got better every time. Platitudes come trippingly off my tongue. I announce, It will work out, and Life will be easier and better. You will feel stronger and more in control by the end of the week, when you have recovered. But here is what a really wise person would be able to address: Why you? There are people who could use a little more character building in their lives but youve already had plenty. Youve even had this operation before. Im trying to think of what you need to hear from me. When you came into work this morning, your makeup which is always admirably applied was particularly perfect. You looked like Lauren Bacall. When Im nervous, my makeup makes me look like Bette Davis from Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? When I commented on it, you explained, I am fighting my anxiety through aggressive glamour. And I thought, Thats my girl. So, Krissy, Im trying to think of what I might say with some authority. Im not a surgeon; I have a doctorate, not an M.D. Im a caregiver only insofar as Im your older friend and mentor. Having said that, I absolutely know in my heart you will be fine. I know because you come, as I do, from good strong Italian peasant stock that nothing is going to take the wind out of your sails, the laughter from your voice, or the light out of your eyes for very long. I also know that the astonishingly large community of people who love you are all going to be doing whatever we can beseeching, bribing and praying for the universe to hold you with particular care in the palm of its hand. Uneasy unbeliever that I am, I will ask every person I know of strong faith to send prayers your way. Ill light candles in a small re-enactment of the ritual of the church in which I was raised. Having no shame, Ill ask Virginia Woolf, Florence Nightingale, Emily Bronte and David Bowie to look after you. Ill play your favorite songs until I know youre better. If going into the hospital is like entering another land, being in exile from ordinary life, your passport is clearly stamped and your paperwork is in order. Youll come through this brief sojourn and emerge to find us all waiting at the arrival gate cheering, yelling your name, and saying, Welcome back! Many different diseases and insults can injure kidneys, resulting in kidney failure. Credit: Dr. Ghali, Bentham Science Publishers Many different diseases and insults can injure kidneys, resulting in kidney failure. Some autoimmune diseases damage glomeruli (the 'filtering units' of the kidney), while problems with the tubules (for example, impaired blood flow to the kidney at the time of renal transplantation, radio-contrast dye or drugs) can cause acute kidney injury (AKI). A common outcome in either type of injury is that immune cells infiltrate the kidney and this inflammation can result in permanent scarring. Since the discovery of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F in the early 1990s, many immune cells have proven to be a source of these cytokines, including some T helper cells, now called Th17 cells. Recent human trials of biological therapies targeting IL-17A, components of its receptor or precursor cytokines, have significantly improved clinical disease in some conditions where Th17 cells are implicatedparticularly psoriasis. We have reviewed the research that indicates that IL-17A/F and Th17 cells contribute to renal injury. Animal studies of diseases damaging glomeruli suggest that they are involved in the initial inflammatory response within the kidney. In studies of patients with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, elevated IL-17A levels and higher proportions of Th17 cells in circulating blood have been found, correlating with disease severity. Animal models of AKI have demonstrated that administration of an antibody against IL-17A reduces renal injury. Therefore, blockade of IL-17A/F signaling may be a promising avenue to explore in clinical trials as a novel therapy for the treatment and prevention of immune mediated renal diseases. More information: Joanna Ghali et al. Targeting IL-17 and IL-23 in Immune Mediated Renal Disease, Current Medicinal Chemistry (2015). Joanna Ghali et al. Targeting IL-17 and IL-23 in Immune Mediated Renal Disease,(2015). DOI: 10.2174/0929867322666151030163022 Provided by Bentham Science Publishers (HealthDay)Mortality is increased among patients with eating disorders, with higher mortality for those with anorexia nervosa (AN) compared with bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (ED-NOS), according to a study published online Jan. 15 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Manfred Maximilian Fichter, M.D., and Norbert Quadflieg, from the University of Munich in Germany, examined long-term mortality, causes of death, and predictors of early death in eating disorders. Data were reviewed for 5,839 inpatients (1,639 treated for AN; 1,930 treated for BN; 363 treated for BED; and 1,907 treated for ED-NOS) , all of whom were followed for vital status through the German civil registry office. The researchers found that the standardized mortality ratios were 5.35 for AN, 1.49 for BN, 1.50 for BED, and 2.39 and 1.70, respectively, for narrowly-defined and widely-defined ED-NOS. Earlier death was seen for patients with AN, compared with patients with BN, BED, and ED-NOS, which did not differ. Major predictors of a shorter time to death included AN diagnosis, chronicity, later age at onset, not living in a relationship, and an irregular type of discharge from index inpatient treatment. In BN only, suicidality was a univariate predictor of shorter time to death. Patients with AN mostly died from natural causes related to their eating disorder. "Mortality in AN is excessive and considerably higher than in BN, BED, and ED-NOS," the authors write. Explore further Bulimia nervosa tied to increased risk of type 2 diabetes Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This 2006 file photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from a human host. The The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, announced new guidance for doctors whose pregnant patients may have traveled to regions with a tropical illness linked to birth defects. Officials say doctors should ask pregnant women about their travel and certain symptoms, and, if warranted, test them for an infection with the Zika virus. The virus is spread through mosquito bites. (James Gathany/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP, File) Health officials say they're trying to determine if an unusual jump in cases of a rare nerve condition sometimes severe enough to cause paralysis is related to the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in at least two Latin American countries. Fears the illness might be causing thousands of birth defects already has led authorities in Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador to take the drastic step of warning women against becoming pregnant. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday expanded its warning for pregnant women thinking of visiting 22 destinations, most in Latin America and the Caribbean. But concern also has been rising about a potential link to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nerve disorder than can affect anyone. It causes muscle weakness, tingling in the arms and legs and sometimes temporary paralysis. Most people recover fully, but severe cases that affect muscles used to breathe can be life-threatening. It's thought to occur when someone's immune system overreacts and attacks its own nervous system cells, often after various types of infections. Researchers have been suspicious of the virus since French Polynesia noted a jump in cases of Guillain-Barre and microcephaly, in which a child is born with a small head, that accompanied a wave of Zika cases, though the populations were far smaller than in the recent outbreaks This January 2016 image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that has been linked in Brazil to a large number of cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect. Infants with microcephaly have smaller than normal heads and their brains do not develop properly. (Cynthia Goldsmith/CDC via AP) The World Health Organization said Salvadoran authorities reported 46 cases of Guillain-Barre in just five weeks, from Dec. 1 to Jan. 6. The full-year average for the country is 169 cases. It said that of 22 patients on which there was information, at least 12 patients had experienced a rash-fever illness in the 15 days before developing Guillain-Barre. Brazilian officials too have said they're investigating a link between Guillain-Barre and Zika. Dr. Antonio Bandeira, an infectologist with the Couto Maia Hospital in the northeastern city of Salvador, said that during last year's rainy season, when a Zika outbreak was at its peak, he had an unusual spate of patients with Guillain-Barre. "Zika was really bad here from February to July and then all but disappeared in August. In May, June and July, we had 24 patients come in with Guillain-Barre, and none since August," he said, adding that in previous years he generally only saw two or three patients with the condition per year. Nationwide, Guillain-Barre had been so rare that the Health Ministry doesn't track the exact number of cases. Still, officials here acknowledge the rise. "For sure, throughout the northeast we've quite a significant spike in cases of Guillain-Barre," said Pedro Fernando Vasconcelos, director of the Instituto Evandro Chagas health research institute, in the Amazonian city of Belem. "And that rise is closely associated to the rise in cases of Zika virus." A health worker fumigates to prevent Dengue, Chikunguya and Zika virus, at El Angel cemetery, in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. A U.S. warning urging pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin American countries where the mosquito-borne virus is multiplying threatens to depress tourism to the region, one of its few bright spots at a time of deep economic pain. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia) Local transmission of the virus was first formally confirmed in the Americas only nine months ago in Brazil, where officials became alarmed by a sudden rise in cases of microcephaly. Since the start of October, the country has recorded 3,893 cases of microcephaly, compared with 150 cases for all of 2014. Brazilian officials say they're convinced of a link. International health bodies have said that's not yet scientifically established, but they are on the alert. The CDC said Friday it had acted "out of an abundance of caution" in issuing its call for pregnant women "to consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission was ongoing." Experts said microcephaly may not have been seen in other Zika outbreaks because until now, they've occurred in much smaller populations. Brazil, a nation of about 205 million, estimates that 440,000 to 1.3 million people there have been infected, though the numbers are difficult to pin down because there are no commercial tests and most people show no symptoms. "We're just seeing the sheer size, the magnitude brings those rare cases above the radar whereas in the past the outbreaks didn't involve nearly as many people," said Scott Weaver, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. A health agent from Sao Paulo's Public health secretary shows an army soldier Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae that she found during clean up operation against the insect, which is a vector for transmitting the Zika virus, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. A U.S. warning urging pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin American countries where the mosquito-borne virus is multiplying threatens to depress tourism to the region, one of its few bright spots at a time of deep economic pain. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Guillain-Barre is very rare, too, and investigators will have the same question. El Salvador's government this week suggested that women avoid getting pregnant for the next two years, and some say they're taking that advice. "We were very lucky. My son was born before this," said 19-year-old Fatima Mejia, who was visiting a clinic in Santa Tecla, just outside the Salvadoran capital, for a checkup on her 17-day-old infant. "I'm not going to get pregnant until this passes. I'm not going to risk a child," she said. Another woman in for a checkup at the clinic, 22-year-old Sandra Barrios, also said she might avoid having more children. "If this continues I'm going to speak with my husband about an operation on myself. I already have three children and I don't want problems." In Colombia, Deputy Health Minister Fernando Ruiz told The Associated Press the country has recorded 13,531 suspected cases of Zika and said the number could rise to half a million this year. He said at least 560 cases involve pregnant women, though there have been no detected cases of microcephaly. The Health Ministry recently urged all women in the country to avoid getting pregnant while the virus is spreading, saying that could extend until July. Ruiz said there have been 12 cases of people with Guillain-Barre who had earlier had symptoms similar to those of Zika. Explore further Zika virus: US issues travel warning for pregnant women 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. HIV (yellow) infecting a human immune cell. Credit: Seth Pincus, Elizabeth Fischer and Austin Athman, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health Recent clinical trials conducted in South Africa have established that babies born with HIV should be treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) as early as possible, since earlier treatment significantly decreases their mortality and morbidity rates. However, scientists were unsure whether infants treated with ART eventually develop a "normal" immune system. Knowing how an infant reacts to ART could help determine how to design curative strategies, but studying these infants can prove challenging due to inconsistent adherence to the study's schedule and the difficulty of collecting sufficient specimens in infants. Now, scientists from The Wistar Institute, in collaboration with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University, have demonstrated that the issue of missing data can be successfully overcome using appropriate statistical methods, and as a result, they were able to show how early initiation of ART in infants preserves an expansion of naive T-cells and allows the infant's immune system to be properly reconstructed. The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE. Children born with HIV who do not receive treatment with ART experience progressive immunodeficiency that can lead to death, and if they do survive, their immune cell levels can be permanently offset. These children have low levels of naive CD4+ T-cells and other immune effectors. Studying the levels of immune cells in these infected infants could help scientists develop better treatment strategies. Scientists struggle with the frequent issue of missing data when it comes to studying these infants. Blood samples taken from these infants are routinely used for monitoring their health and response to treatment. However, it is often difficult to collect larger volumes of blood for immunological studies. Additionally, in resource-constrained settings, many infants miss visits because their caregivers may be unable to get them to a central location where samples can be routinely taken. "Despite the best efforts of pediatricians and pediatric nurses, insufficient samples and missed visits have been the norm for pediatric studies in developing countries," said Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., Director of the HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis Laboratory and Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor at The Wistar Institute. "Loss of data lead to loss of statistical power, so it's extremely important to develop methods that allow us to analyze data sets where data are randomly missing." To solve this issue, Dr. Montaner teamed with Dr. Russell Barbour from the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University and an international team of scientists to determine which methods could successfully overcome data missingness in a dataset collected in the course of a study on HIV-infected infants. While numerous methods have been suggested to address this issue, many have intrinsic problems like not being able to anticipate change over time and artificially reducing standard error. The team settled on two approaches that they believed would effectively address missing data. The first, called the Multiple Imputation (MI) method, uses the observed values as well as different imputations - values that are substituted for missing data - to fill in these gaps while not changing anything else about the data. The second approach was based on a Bayesian model, which was used to create 5,000 "alternative" instances of the dataset based on the observed data. A total of 66 HIV-infected or seronegative infants born of HIV-infected mothers were recruited at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. These infants were enrolled in the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral Therapy (CHER) trial and randomized to receive ART either as soon as they were enrolled or when their CD4+ T-cell count dropped below 20 percent. Blood samples were taken once every six months. The use of these statistical methods allowed Dr. Montaner and his collaborators to demonstrate that early ART treatment results in higher CD4+ T-cell frequency, lower cellular activation, and had higher proportions of naive T-cells. These results suggest that in infants with perinatal HIV infection early treatment may improve the chances of developing a functional immune system. "Our study offers a field-based proof of concept that certain type of data missingness can be tolerated without affecting the integrity of a study," Montaner said. "We hope this will encourage other scientists to target hard-to-reach populations, particularly in resource-constrained settings." Explore further Targeting HIV 'reservoir' could be first step to understanding how to cure the disease More information: Livio Azzoni et al. Early ART Results in Greater Immune Reconstitution Benefits in HIV-Infected Infants: Working with Data Missingness in a Longitudinal Dataset, PLOS ONE (2015). Journal information: PLoS ONE Livio Azzoni et al. Early ART Results in Greater Immune Reconstitution Benefits in HIV-Infected Infants: Working with Data Missingness in a Longitudinal Dataset,(2015). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145320 A second new case of Ebola in Sierra Leone since west Africa celebrated the apparent end of the epidemic last week is responding well to treatment, an official said Friday. The patient, the 38-year-old aunt of 22-year-old Marie Jalloh, who died of the disease on January 12, is "responding well to treatment" in a Freetown clinic, a ministry of health disease control official, Doctor Foday Dafai, said. The official added authorities had yet to determine the origin of the new outbreak. Dafai said the latest sufferer, who the World Health Organization told AFP on Thursday had been Jalloh's "primary caregiver," was in quarantine in the northern city of Magburaka when she tested positive and was transferred to the capital. After visiting the woman, Dafai indicated that "121 contacts have been identified to have been exposed to the index case and 47 of them have been classified as high risk contacts" and so were under observation. Given the potential for further infection he added "it is therefore very important that we quickly locate and isolate" anyone who may have had contact with the latest sufferer. Dafai said a vaccination program for known contacts and overseen by chief medical officer Brima Kargbo was progressing satisfactorily," but urged anybody who may have been exposed to the virus to come forward. "At the moment, we still don't know the source of infection in the first index case involving Marie Jalloh," Dafai said. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP on Thursday that 150 of Jalloh's contacts had been identified, "of which 42 are high risk." Local people expressed concern over the potential further spread of a tropical virus which is at its most infectious as people are dying or in the bodies of those who have died from a virus which emerged in 2013 in southern Guinea. "We never envisaged that the virus will return so soon just we were about to settle down after 18 months of enslavement," said 25-year-old taxi driver Osman Sesay. A week ago, the WHO had announced transmission of the virus that killed 11,315 people and triggered a global health alert had ended, with Liberia the last country to get the all-clear. Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola transmission on November 7 last year and Guinea on December 29. But officials warned that a recurrence remained possible and stressed the importance of a quick, effective response to potential new cases. "Even though the cases occurred many miles away from the capital, we still cannot say we are safe because of the mode of human transmission," said Ibrahim Jallo, a timber merchant. Traders say they fear the effect the latest cases may have on the economy. Many pharmaceuticals firms said there has been a big run on dwindling stocks of hand sanitizer gels which manufacturers say kills 99.99 percent of germs and which were widely used in the first ebola outbreak. Explore further WHO confirms second new Ebola case in Sierra Leone (Update) 2016 AFP 64 countries have laws requiring labels for foods containing GE ingredients 19 of 28 European Union members have banned cultivation of GE crops The rest of the world has the right to know what they are eating; why dont you? We have to ask, if genetically engineered foods are so good for us, why do we not have the choice whether to eat them or not? Several national polls repeatedly report that about 9 of 10 Americans support mandatory GE labeling. The Mellman Groups 2015 poll records that preference among large majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents. Why does the industry spend millions trying to suppress labeling? Their excuse is that labeling will raise the cost of food for poor people. The fast food industry made that same argument for decades to fight the legal requirement to reveal the nutrition content of their foods. Americans won that one, with fast foods remaining relatively cheap. You can walk into any fast food place and ask for their nutrition chart; they must have it ready to give to you. The FDA decides food labeling based on any material changes, already requiring labels for about 3,000 ingredients or processes in food production. Big food chains change their labels all the time. Exciting for the American consumer is that the USDA has announced its plans to write totally new guidelines for GE oversight. Long overdue, it is the reason why industry spokespersons are flooding the media with their stories. GE foods flood our supermarkets, without the right for the consumer to know. Estimates calculate that 75 percent of frozen and processed foods have GE ingredients. Over 90 percent of our corn, soya, canola, cotton seed are GE. Wheat is not yet commercially GE because farmers across the Midwest rose up and made Monsanto put that seed back on the shelf; farmers did not want to pay high prices for the seed, while not being able to sell GE wheat around the world. The science is still out on the safety of GE foods for humans, mainly because the industry keeps their research private. Editors of Scientific American concluded, Unfortunately, it is impossible to verify that genetically modified crops perform as advertised. That is because agritech companies have given themselves veto power over the work of independent researchers." Human health effects of GE food can include higher risks of toxicity, allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, and immune-suppression. Those countries that ban GE are enforcing the international law (Cartagena Protocol) of the "precautionary principle," allowing governments to act because of potential negative effects on humans and the environment. Irreversible harm may already have been done before science conclusively rules about hazards. In contrast, the science is very clear about the effects of herbicides and pesticides sprayed on our food crops, genetically engineered to withstand the poisons. Although causality is often difficult to demonstrate, Monsanto has agreed (see their website) that its glyphosate (Round-up Ready) herbicide, killing milkweed, is a major cause for the 81 percent decline of monarch butterflies. Although the monarch is a major pollinator for American farmers, Monsanto has offered only $4 million to mitigate the disaster. Senior scientist at the National Resource Defense Council, Sylvia Fallon, is clear: Glyphosate has wiped out the milkweed they [monarchs] need to survive....EPA completely ignored the impact on monarchsand seriously underestimated the toxicity for people. The World Heath Organization now classifies glyphosate as a probable carcinogen and thanks to decades of spraying, the chemical is now abundant in air and waters in U.S. rural communities. GE crops also threaten your choice for organic foods. A recent USDA study (Transgenic Feral Alfalfa 12/23/15) documents a 27 percent contamination rate of areas beyond GE fields. Already in 2014, China rejected GE contaminated corn shipments, costing U.S. agriculture almost $3 billion. Contamination of organic or hybrid crops can come from cross-pollination, mixing during storage or of the seeds before planting. As the Center for Food Safety concludes, we now have the absurd spectacle of the U.S. (the worlds leading corn and soybean producer) importing organic corn and soy from countries like Romania and India. Fear of transgenic contamination is one factor deterring more U.S. farmers from meeting Americas growing demand for organic foods. To exercise our freedom of choice, we must demand that formulation of new USDA guidelines for GE crops consider the following: -- health consequences for all species, not only of the transferred gene but of massive chemical spraying on food crops; -- rapid evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds and pesticide-resistant insects; --contamination of water/air; --and transgenic contamination of traditional or organic crops. You have the right to know. As a Vietnam veteran it has long been my desire to visit and honor as many memorial sites as I can. Now, in retirement, I have the time to to make my dream a reality. For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page Last year we heard of three North Koreans executed for watching South Korean TV dramas. Now: 15 teenagers in Yanggang Province were recently put on public trial for watching American films and branded traitors tainted by non-socialist ideology, Daily NK has learned from sources who were forced to attend the proceedings, which are conducted by the State Security Department to instill fear in the population and send a ghastly warning to others secretly engaging in activities prohibited by North Korea's drastic penal code. On the 21st, a Daily NK reporter spoke with a source in Yanggang Province, who told us that on Saturday, January 16th, a public trial was held in Hyesan City in front of the Hyesan Cinema. There, 16 and 17 year-old-students were placed on trial for watching American films before being handed over to the provincial Ministry of Peoples Security [MPS, who act as North Koreas police force] unit, for the preliminary hearing.... Fresh cases labeling the viewing of South Korean films treasonous and the subsequently grim punishments that were meted out has driven down the number of North Koreans viewing South Korean films more recently. The source speculated that the students may have watched the American movies thinking that the states tunnel vision to quash South Korean cultural content would shelter them from severe repercussions. She added that state fear tactics do little if anything to stamp out the inherent desire people have to absorb anything and everything from the outside world. In fact, they often pique the interest of the populace all the more. Nothing can change the fact that most North Koreans overwhelmingly find homegrown films stiff and monotonous, preferring to watch Chinese or foreign films. At the trial, no mention was made of the origin of the disk that held the American film in question, but everyone knew that it came [smuggled] in from China, the source pointed out. However, people do admit that punishing sensitive children harshly as a warning to others is by turns terrifying and infuriating. Criticism of the hypocrisy of the regime arose behind closed doors among many who were made to watch the show trial. It should be the Party cadres [on trial] who watch them regularly, a number of spectators pointed out afterwards. Show me anyone of those accusers who hasnt watched a foreign film at least once, parents of some of the students told Daily NKs source in private. North Korean defector Hyun Mi Yeon (43), who was sent to a re-education camp [kyohwaso] in 2014 for the crime of watching a South Korean drama while in the North, said, When I was being interrogated by the MPS for watching a South Korean drama, I witnessed all of the personnel, right up to the chief, watching these dramas themselves. The interrogators would say to residents caught watching the [South Korean] dramas, Wow, youve seen all the latest South Korean stuff! According to testimony by both defectors and those still residing in North Korea, after Kim Jong Un took over the country, surveillance units comprising personnel from various law enforcement bodies doubled down on punishments and crackdowns for those caught watching media from beyond the countrys borders, with a particular focus on rooting out South Korean programming content. Each week, we ask people working in the field of public policy what they would do if they were given a billion dollars to spend on projects. What policy initiatives would they fund, and how would they spend this money? This week, we spoke to Aashish Chandorkar, director of Capgemini Consulting. If you have your own billion-dollar plan, send it to mintonsunday@livemint.com. Selected entries will be published online. Urbanization is Indias biggest challenge today. Creating livable cities, which encourage orderly movement from resource- and opportunities-starved hinterland, can make political destinies or mar the national one. With existing mega cities grappling for funding (the last Bengaluru budget outlay was Rs6,700 crore, while Mumbais was just over Rs31,000 crore), the hope of civilizing them in a global urban sense is on the deathbed. But what if Rs6,500 crore were made available to a city with a population of a million people to turn it into a showcase? In todays world, where a minimum viable product" can get skyrocketing valuations for technology firms, why cant a well-planned, well-developed city become the motivation for others to look up and emulate the underlying process for success? So, lets spend a billion dollars on such a hypothetical city called Model Town. Finding an actual one for implementation of the plan wont be tough; as per the 2011 census, there were 12 cities with a population between 950,000 and 1.07 million. The starting point should be to create a master planhow Model Town will evolve over the next five, 20, 50 years. Large Indian cities are right now running a decade or two behind their real requirements. The new ones with resources should really start to think ahead. This planning activity should cost no more than Rs100 crorepreferably outsourced to a government entity in Western Europe or Singapore. The most neglected area of urban planning in India is mobility. We make roads to move cars, not people. So, why not change that while Model Town is small enough? Including the land acquisition cost, a dual carriageway city road cant cost more than Rs2 crore per km. In a city of a millionsay 400 sq.kmdeveloping 100km of good arterial roads inside the city is a must. Model Town should have a ring road with 100km lengthreally outside the cityat the cost of Rs8 crore per km, given the highway style features. Thats Rs1,000 crore for the road network. To ensure city roads are really useful, there have to be footpaths, signboards and directions organized properly. At twice the cost of the city roads, Rs400 crore can be allocated for this activity. Good roads should have good buses plying on them. Ideally, a city should have one bus per 1,000 residents in India. Planning a few years ahead, Model Town should place an order for 150 buses, with a buffer to account for servicing and breakdowns. At Rs4 crore outlay per bus to purchase, appoint staff, run and maintain per year, this accounts for Rs600 crore. Buses will require parking lots to ensure proper maintenance, theft avoidance and high service yield. Twenty buses can be parked in an acre, so planning ahead, 10 acres should be acquired. Including the cost of fencing, constructing depots and equipping them, this activity takes Rs25 crore. The buses should have electronic ticketing, with a fully connected back-end for real-time occupancy monitoring. The buses should have closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) to ensure safety and infrastructure to collect and record the data. The technology infrastructure can be created for Rs25 crore. Before the roads and footpaths are constructed, Model Town should plan for underground ducts for three important things: drinking water pipes, sewage pipes and fiber optic cables. The first two areas need to be planned as per the Master Plan, much before the city actually expands, providing a plug-and-play option for residents and buildings. The fiber network has to be built in advance or else the city will end up getting dug up all over again. Planning for a 100% population growth for water supply and sewage pipes, the allocation for these areas will be Rs1,000 crore in totalRs500 crore each for a network of 350km each. The fiber network trenching work for a similar length network will be allocated Rs25 crore for a basic network. Adding provisions for redundancies, maintenance points, signage and small patches of land acquisition for facilitating repairs and maintenance across all underground work at 10%, about Rs1,150 crore will be assigned for these areas. The river Sacred flows through the city, bisecting it into the old and new parts. The city has been dumping its solid waste in the river without any treatment for years, and the local businesses have been dumping toxic waste in the river water. Model Town should assign Rs1,000 crore for the beautification of the river bed inside the city and modernizing sewage treatment plants, and Rs200 crore for relocating and rehabilitating people and industries from the river bed. Model Town should invest in solar energy for all its administrative buildings and in LED lights for all its streets. The city should aspire to generate at least 100MW via solar over time, costing about Rs450 crore at the outset without any net metering. The one-time LED installation and associated infrastructure should take Rs50 crore. Another Rs200 crore will be assigned for biogas compressed natural gas (CNG) generation from urban waste, which can create capacity for the next decade for Model Town. Renewable power generation and cost-effective power usage should cost Rs700 crore. Model Town follows Indias demographic pattern and has up to 100,000 school-going children. Of these, 50,000 opt to or are forced to study in state-run schoolsabout 100 of them. The city should completely refurbish all school buildings, construct toilets for boys and girls, create play zones, and provide study equipment. Including the one-time costs, this activity should take Rs500 crore. The local government should provide well-equipped health centres at the local level25 such centres should be constructed with an outlay of Rs250 crore. This will include buildings, facilities, cost of doctors and staff, and stock of medicines. A total of Rs250 crore should be allocated for civic facilities such as gardens, fire stations, public toilets, bus stops and recreational areas. Model Town should invest in creating winter shelters for the homeless and the less-privileged residents. That still leaves Rs300 crore to be spent! Model Town should provide this amount for creating a robust technology infrastructure, which allows for near real-time monitoring of various civic functions, improved citizen interfacing, and making its operations more transparent. A billion dollars can change a real cityif the politicians, civic authorities and the residents decide to. Here. Take a billion dollars. So, is that enough money to do anything substantial in public policy in India? Why or why not? When it comes to the Union Budget in India, a billion dollarslets say Rs6,500 crore to round it offisnt a lot. In fact, any government announcement under Rs1,000 crore fails the test of materiality if included in the Union Budget. But for a state or a city, Rs6,500 crore is a lot of money. Maharashtra ran the first year of Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyaan on a similar figure, creating 24 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water storage across 6,000 villages. The last Bengaluru budget outlay was Rs6,700 crore. What are some areas of public policy that you really care about. Feel free to go as micro as you want. I care about areas which have a long-lasting impact and promote the idea of sustainable growth via institutional changes. Public policy should be future-proof while creating here and now" impact. It should also not be hostage to individual discretion as much as possibleindividuals being political leaders or the bureaucratsthough no system can completely take this factor out. I care about areas which create infrastructure to jump-start ideas, jobs and individual creativity. These include financial inclusion, labour law reforms, limiting government checks and inspections through the business lifecycle, creating the right business environment for small businesses, independence of regulators like the Reserve Bank of India, and provision of public goods with positive externalities like electricity, school education and basic healthcare. So, what is your billion-dollar public policy idea? Why is it important? My idea is to create a model city using $1 billion. The aim is to create a city which can, in turn, become a reference point and a template for other urban areas to emulate. I believe this is an idea whose time has come because India is facing a massive urbanization challenge, and unless we systematically invest in our cities, the development potential of the country will continue to remain unfulfilled. Broadly, what can $1 billion do for this particular area? See the write up. Now give us a sense of how you will spend this money? Be specific if possible. See the write up. What outcomes do you hope to see? I hope to create a model city. This city will plan ahead of time and be prepared for growth and population expansion. This city will invest in infrastructure elements like transportation, waste management and connectivity, using modern technologies and sustainable drivers of infrastructure provision like solar power. The city will also create the soft infrastructure of schools, hospitals, libraries and public spaces. Ideally, this city becomes a template and a best practices repository for urban development for other cities to get inspired by. What if I give you another billion? Would you keep spending it here? If I had another billion, we would try other public policy interventions as controlled experiments in other geographies, creating similar templates. Once a model city is established, the incremental capital expenditure can only provide scale, not necessarily differentiation. So, the ideal situation will be to leave the model city to generate its own revenue and through citizen participation, while using new funds to solve other problems where the impact is significant and visible. And finally, what if you had to just spend it on yourself? (Be decent.) If I would have to spend $1 billion on ourselves, I would probably choose to keep travelling forever, sipping fine wine. The routine can go on around the world over and over again until the money is exhausted! The views expressed here are personal. Topics Delhis unique experiment of having odd-even numbered vehicles off the roads on alternate days to combat high levels of air pollution has ignited a debate on the merits and efficacy of the policy. A recent Indian Express article, co-authored by US-based scholars Michael Greenstone, Santosh Harish, Anant Sudarshan and Rohini Pande, argued that the odd-even policy did help in reducing pollution levels. The authors used pollution data from Delhi and areas around Delhi in the National Capital Region, where the odd-even pilot scheme wasnt in force, to show that particulates pollution declined by 18 per cent" due to the scheme. The impact was greater during the day (the scheme was operational between 8am and 8pm) than during the night, they found. However, they cautioned that the scheme may not be enough to bring down pollution levels meaningfully over the long run. One of the biggest criticisms of the odd-even scheme was rooted in the fact that it interfered with peoples freedom to choose their mode of transport. Economists typically assume that people are rational enough to decide what is good for themselves, and nudges, in the form of inducements rather than blanket bans, are enough to get them to behave in a fashion that leads to desirable social outcomes. However, a discussion paper of the economics department of the University of Oxford published last year shows that there is good reason to believe that individuals, when left free, do not make the best commuting choices. The paper is based on the database of daily commuters in London, where most of the transport is provided by one company and where it is possible to track individual movements across different modes of transport. The authors have used an unanticipated event (or an external shock)a strike in the Tubeto study whether it led to any changes in commuter behaviour even after the strike ended. In case commuters did not go back to the Tube, it would mean that they have discovered a better way of reaching their destination than their usual mode of transport. Given that such choices were available even before the external shock (Tube strike) forced commuters to explore other ways, such an outcome can be inferred as proof that individual freedom might not guarantee optimal choices. According to the paper, a significant number of commuters who were forced to explore new routes during the strike were less likely to return to their pre-strike routes even after the strike ended. According to the authors, this shows that commuters were averse to experimenting with travelling options which could produce more optimal situations for them. They discovered their findings to be consistent with historical evidence where external shocks have triggered innovation. While economists typically frown upon unintended consequences of public policies, this paper seems to suggest that sometimes the unintended consequence may, in fact, be better for many individuals, and even for society as a wholesomething that we should keep in mind while judging the odd-even policy too. It is worth investigating, for instance, how many people have discarded their usual mode of transport in Delhi after the odd-even experience. Although the findings may appear to challenge conventional economic wisdom on the rationality of actors, the researchers point to earlier research in Economics which shows that individuals might stop short of searching for the most optimal outcomes after they have found results which are satisfactory to them. The concept of satisficing" behaviour was popularized by Nobel Prize-winning economist Herbert Simon, who argued in a 1959 paper that economic agents might be displaying satisficing" rather than maximizing behaviour. The term satisficing" is rooted in a combination of two wordssatisfy and suffice. Simon argued that instead of trying to find the maximum point of satisfaction (or utility), as suggested by economic theory, economic agents try to attain what might be a satisfactory level of benefits for them. For example, a company may try to position itself at a level of profit or market share which in its managements view is satisfactory. Simon, who was also a political scientist, sociologist, psychologist and computer scientist, invoked psychological theories of acts stemming from drives, and terminating when the drive is satisfied, to buttress his claims. Another research that the authors cite is by Michael Porter, a professor at Harvard Business School, who challenged the conventional notion that environmental regulations would lower the profitability of firms by bringing additional constraints into their production decisions. If correctly designed, such regulations could trigger innovations and lead to greater profits and hence overall efficiency, argued Porter. One of the apparent gains of the odd-even policy in Delhi seems to be a reduction in congestion that not only would have reduced pollution levels, but also lowered commuting time for many people. Economic theory, however, can be used to argue that laws of the market can produce an equilibrium where the disutility" from commuting time can be offset by peoples ability to have a better house or job. The theory can be extended to argue that even if a person is losing due to greater travel time, other members in his/her household might be better off due to more earnings or the experience of living in a better house. Economic agents would adjust either of the two to arrive at an equilibrium in the world of textbook economics. A 2008 paper by Swiss economists Alois Stutzer and Bruno S. Frey uses data to show that such equilibria might not exist in reality. In a detailed empirical exercise, Stutzer and Frey show that longer travel time necessarily meant lower well-being levels for not just the individual undertaking the travel but also his/her family members. While the authors attribute this commuting paradox" to several factors, it only underlines the fact that reduction in travel time can enhance economic benefits both at the macro and micro level. Despite its positive features, the odd-even scheme may not be adequate to tackle pollution in the national capital. Summarizing the research on pollution-control measures across the world, a useful article by Kaustuva Barik in the Economic and Political Weekly points to three kinds of policy measures that can be used to reduce vehicle usage: moral suasion, command-and-control measures and economic incentives. Moral suasion, as the name suggests, include public awareness campaigns to use public transport or carpooling. Command-and-control involves methods such as the odd-even policy. Economic incentives include methods such as imposing a congestion tax, higher taxes on a second car, subsidizing public transport, etc. Barik cites research which shows that while command-and-control methods might yield dividends initially, their gains are likely to taper off in the long run. The return of high pollution in Delhi after the Supreme Court made compressed natural gas mandatory for public transport vehicles is one such example. Beijing, which also has an odd-even policy in place, has witnessed a significant rise in people buying another car with a different registration number to escape the ban, thus diluting the initial reduction in congestion. Greenstone and his co-authors make a similar point. They argue that a similar policy in Mexico City ended up encouraging households to buy second cars that are old and polluting. The researchers point to the examples of Singapore and London, which have used congestion pricing (in which drivers are charged for using the roads at certain places and times), to reduce both peak congestion and pollution levels, as worthy of emulation. Barik argues that using economic incentives, such as a congestion tax, would yield double dividends in terms of reducing traffic as well as generating additional revenue, which could be used to augment public transport. A tax of Rs1,000 per month on cars and Rs500 per month on two-wheelers (taking into account just vehicles registered in Delhi) can generate a tax of more than Rs6,700 crore, according to Bariks calculations. Such funds can be used to revamp the citys public transport infrastructure, and ensure last-mile connectivity for daily commuters, reducing the demand for cars in the city. Economics Express runs weekly, and features interesting reads from the world of economics and finance. Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.com. Topics What unites Arundhati Roy and Hardik Patel, two individuals as different from each other as chalk and cheese? The answer is a provision of the Indian Penal Code: Section 124A, which defines and penalizes the offence of sedition". Both Roy and Patel have been booked under this section; the former for advocating a plebiscite in Kashmir, and the latter for his Patidar reservation agitation. Section 124A penalizes exciting disaffection" against the government established by law, or bringing it into hatred or contempt", and allows for life imprisonment in case of conviction. Strong medicine for mere words, one might think. Indeed, sedition has survived numerous attempts to get rid of it. Interestingly, in the original Indian Penal Code, drafted in 1860, it didnt even exist (hence, the A after Section 124, signifying a later amendment). It was incorporated into the code in the 1870s, as a response to the rising Wahabi movement. Initially, the section only used the term disaffection", which was interpreted by colonial judges to refer to acts or speeches that incited people to disobey the government. However, once the British realized that clever Indian nationalists were taking advantage of the loophole in the law to frame incendiary speeches that made no mention of disobedience, they added the words hatred" and contempt", more or less turning the offence into one for capturing thought crimes. Under the sedition provision, the colonial government persecuted nationalist politicians, journalists and press owners, as well as writers and poets. Despite the widespread opprobrium and contempt in which sedition was held, as a tool of the colonial rulers, in a rather surprising turn of events, the Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee of the Constituent Assembly expressly included it as grounds for restricting free speech in its first draft of the fundamental rights. The Assembly objected strongly, with Somnath Lahiri sarcastically asking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel whether he needed even more protection from his own people than the tyrannical British did. The next day, sedition was quietly removed from the draft, only for it to make another appearance during the second reading of the Constitution. Once again, the Assembly protested vehemently, with many members recalling their own prosecutions during the nationalist movement; and once again, it was swiftly withdrawn. When Article 19(1)(a) finally came into being, sedition" was not among the permissible restrictions under Article 19(2). Immediately after the Constitution came into being, the Supreme Court struck down government restrictions upon a communist magazine called the Cross Roads, as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh magazine, The Organiser. Immediately after that, the first Parliament amended Article 19(2) substantially, broadening its scope by including public order" among the permissible grounds of restriction of free speech, while also narrowing its operation by adding the word reasonable" before restrictions". During the parliamentary debates on the amendment, Jawaharlal Nehruechoing the nationalists before himexpressed his desire to get rid" of the sedition provision as quickly as possible. NonethelesssurprisinglyParliament itself made no move to repeal Section 124A, and so, inevitably, the battle moved to the courts. Before the amendment to Article 19(2), the Punjab high court had already held that sedition was incompatible with free speech in a democratic republic, and had struck it down as unconstitutional. After the amendment, the Allahabad high court did the same. Ultimately, the matter wound its way up to the Supreme Court, which handed down its decision in 1962. In a landmark judgement in the Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar case, five judges of the Supreme Court upheld sedition as constitutional. Kedar Nath Singh had been brought to court for making a rather intemperate speech, which he began by saying, Today the dogs of the CID are loitering around Barauni. Many official dogs are sitting even in this meeting. The people of India drove out the Britishers from this country and elected these Congress goondas to the gaddi and seated them on it. Today these Congress goondas are sitting on the gaddi due to mistake of the people. When we drove out the Britishers, we shall strike and turn out these Congress goondas as well...," continuing in this vein and calling for a general revolution. He was charged with sedition, and ultimately his case went up to the Supreme Court, where the constitutionality of the provision itself was challenged. To uphold sedition, the Supreme Court was obliged to indulge in a degree of textual acrobatics, since at least on the face of it, disaffection", hatred", and contempt" did not fit within any of the clauses of Article 19(2). However, the court held that in pre-Independence India, there had been two views about the interpretation of Section 124A. The dominant view was that sedition was determined simply by the content of the language used, and whether it was such as to cause disaffection, hatred or contempt. There was a minority view as well, propounded by Sir Maurice Gwyer of the Federal Court which, borrowing from English common law, effectively saw sedition as a crime against public order. In the Kedar Nath Singh case, it was this latter view that the Supreme Court latched on to: only insofar as seditious speech tended to incite public disorder, it held, could it be punished under Section 124A. Anything else was exempt. Of course, Section 124A makes no mention of public order. Effectively, to protect the provisions constitutionality, the court had to read into it a phrase that was absent from the text, and indeed, never meant to be part of the definition. This perhaps explains why Section 124A remains one of the most misused and abused provisions of the penal law: the Supreme Courts peroration that the interpretation of sedition be limited to public disorder-causing speech sits uneasily with its wide language, which makes it easy for it to be invoked against dissidents almost at will. One of the important arguments relied upon by the Supreme Court in upholding Section 124A was that the phrase reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order", in Article 19(2) of the Constitution, was of particularly wide ambit. In particular, the term in the interests of" allowed the state significant leeway to regulate speech that it felt might be inimical to public order. Lets take two examples: an article written in a newspaper or magazine praising or defending the Naxalite movement might possibly, if it persuades enough people, eventually lead to them joining the Naxals and creating public disorder. On the other hand, inciting a raging mob to immediately destroy property also has a link with public disorder, but here the link is much more proximate. Effectively, the court, in the Kedar Nath Singh case, held that the term in the interests of" was so wide that it allowed the state to criminalize both forms of expression, without any need to distinguish between the two. Interestingly, however, that point of view has been bypassed by subsequent judicial developments. Later judgements, keenly aware of the importance of free speech, and hesitating to trust the state with too much power, have insisted on a close and clear link between the suppressed speech and the feared public disorder. For instance, in a case called S. Rangarajan Etc vs P. Jagjivan Ram, the Supreme Court insisted that the relationship between speech and disorder be like that of a spark in a powder keg". In 2011, while deciding a case under now-defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (Tada), the court held that a member of a terrorist organization could not be convicted for mere membership, unless he had been involved in inciting people to lawless action. And most recently, in the famous Shreya Singhal case, the court distinguished between advocacy" and incitement", and held that only the latter could be punished consistent with Article 19(2). Consequently, there is now a difference between a Naxal-defending article and the incitement of a mob: only the latter may be punished in a manner that is consistent with the right to free speech. This suggests that the time has now come to review the Kedar Nath Singh case, which upheld sedition. The cases broad and vague tendency to disrupt public order" formulation has been replaced by a much tighter incitement" standard. And it is very clear that no matter how much you twist or stretch the English language, it is impossible to squeeze out an incitement requirement out of the terms disaffection", hatred" and contempt". In technical terms, these provisions are over-broad": that is, they punish speech which the state is permitted to (i.e., speech that incites violence), as well as speech which the state is not (i.e., speech that might spread hatred against the state, but stops short of incitement). However, the chances of the Supreme Court reviewing a 50-year old judgement, and indeed, constituting a seven-judge bench that may overrule it, are negligible. Consequently, sedition will probably continue to remain in the news; and the responsibility will continue to lie upon trial lawyers to demonstrate how sedition complaints or charges are completely frivolous, and upon the lower judiciary, to quickly throw out cases that fail to meet the Supreme Courts standard of incitement to imminent lawless action. Gautam Bhatia is a Delhi-based lawyer. His book, Offend, Shock, or Disturb: Free Speech under the Indian Constitution (OUP 2015) is available on Amazon. Case Studies is a series that looks at why we have the laws that we have and what it means to change them. Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.com. Topics BLUNT, S.D. Like a cathedral made without hands, the hill called Medicine Knoll Paha Wakan to the Dakota rises above the plain a few miles east of Pierre, just south of U.S. Highway 14 near Blunt. And on top is the evidence that Native Americans came to the site to practice what is possibly the area's oldest known religion. Near the steeper north side of the knoll is a stone effigy in the shape of a rattlesnake formed by two lines of stones. Including the contours of its body, the snake stretches a distance of 328 feet, modern archaeologists say. Royal Runge, the previous owner of the site, told the Capital Journal in 2013 that he believes the site to be at least 400 years old or older based on a nearly perfect arrowhead found at the site that archaeologists dated to about A.D. 1500 to 1675. But no one knows who made that stone effigy perhaps the best-known stone effigy in South Dakota or for what purpose. "It is a ceremonial ground, no doubt about that," Runge told the Capital Journal. But the significance is lost in time. Linea Sundstrom, an archaeological consultant who studied South Dakota's boulder effigies and wrote a report about them for the South Dakota State Historical Society, noted in her 2006 report that of the seven snake effigies that have been found in South Dakota, six are on the east side of the Missouri River near Pierre. They could be shrines associated with corn growing the area was farmed by the Arikara people centuries ago, and the Arikara were noted for growing corn or they could serve some other purpose. They might even have been shrines to pray for safe passage over the Missouri River, since the Pierre/Fort Pierre area was a crossing on an ancient trade route. Whatever the purpose of those snake effigies, the Dakota people later used the same site for religious rites. Vine Deloria Jr., in a book called "Singing for a Spirit: A Portrait of the Dakota Sioux," tells that Deloria's great-grandfather, a member of the Yanktonais Sioux, did his vision quest on top of Medicine Knoll in 1831 at about age 16 while his family camped in a draw below the northeast side of the butte. The Deloria account also makes it clear that the Dakota knew of a snake effigy "a long twisting trail of rocks arranged to resemble a rattlesnake" is how he describes it and thought of it as very old already in 1830. Paha means "hill" or "knoll," and wakan means "holy" or "sacred" thus the English name, "Medicine Knoll." But Native American religion in South Dakota isn't a fossil set in stones it's very much alive. *** More is known about the way the Dakota people worshipped, because there are still worshippers in the Pierre area following those traditional rites of the Dakota people. One of them is Raynard Howe, a descendent of Chief Bone Necklace who became sober several years ago through a life-changing experience with the traditional ways of the Dakota people. Though raised in the Roman Catholic faith, Howe wasn't attending church. He would occasionally go to a Native American sweat lodge ceremony, but not regularly, and he was using alcohol and marijuana. "But about eight years ago, there was an incident that happened with my kids," Howe said. "They were taken away by DSS (Department of Social Services). I went down to Leonard Crow Dog's Sun Dance at that time. It's down at Rosebud. I stayed down there by myself. I just prayed that I wanted to be with my kids because I missed them. After I came back to Pierre, after the Sun Dance, the Department of Social Services called and said that they could come back to me. After that I stopped using. I don't use drugs or alcohol. I stayed sober after that." Howe was moved partly by the emphasis Leonard Crow Dog placed on changing his lifestyle. It was similar to the message Leonard Crow Dog posted a few years later at an online site promoting a Sun Dance in 2012: "Tomorrow we are going to begin the Sun Dance. You need to get your sacred pipe and all your other instruments ready. Those of you who have a particular life style, we are going to break that life style so you can move in new ways. Your prayers are going to take you to a new life. Remember what you are here for. We are here to be Wakan. If you want to be Wakan, you have to act that way otherwise you will never get there." Howe spent four days at that Sun Dance eight years ago. He slept in his car and talked and listened to holy men. He didn't dance that first year. But now he sun dances every year. He goes to sweats as often as he can. He prays for himself and others. For the past six years, he has worked as an auto body technician for Beck Motors Collision Center in Pierre. The company is good about giving him time off during the summer when he takes part in the Sun Dance. "Some people say you dance for the people - so the people will live. It's not for yourself," Howe said. "People know that I sun dance, and they just kind of ask me to pray for them. Tunkashila, Wakan Tanka, that's who I pray to," he said. Tunkashila, he explains, means "Grandfather" a Dakota term for God. And even before he was following the red road, as he calls it, he had the sense that the God of his fathers was protecting him. Once in Bismarck he was stabbed in several places. "I'm still here," Howe said. "Tunkashila watches over you." *** Ann Marie Bahr, emerita professor of religious studies at South Dakota State University and an author or editor of several books on Christianity and other religions, said there are difficulties in interpreting the impact of Native American spirituality. Bahr said the Pew Religious Landscape Survey, from 2007, lists Native American Religions as less than 0.3 percent of the U.S. population. "The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) does not have a category called 'Native American Religions,'" Bahr told the Capital Journal in answer to a question about Native American spirituality. "It has a category called 'Indian religion' but there is no indication of whether this refers to Asian Indian religions or American Indian religions, leading to probable confusion on the part of respondents to the survey. For what it's worth, ARIS lists 0.1 percent of the population as belonging to 'Indian religion.'" Bahr said she has examined the methods of both surveys and said neither Pew nor ARIS seems to have taken the special circumstances of indigenous religions into account. "For example, indigenous religions are often indistinguishable from the culture of the indigenous groups associated with them. A respondent may consider Native American spiritual practices to be part of his or her culture, and may list his or her religion as 'Catholic' or 'evangelical Christian.' Consequently, it is difficult to know how many people actually practice a Native American religion. Since they are not typically institutional religions, there are no membership rolls." However, Bahr said, looking for statistics on the growth or decline of Native American religious practitioners may not be the best way to frame the question anyway. "The influence of religious or spiritual beliefs on the world may be a better measure of religious health. You can have hundreds of people sitting in a church every Sunday, but their religious beliefs may have no real impact on their lives or on the world around them. Or, you can have one person who is totally committed to a set of religious or spiritual ideals someone like Jesus of Nazareth or the Buddha and that individual may shape a large percentage of the world's population for millennia. "Certainly, Native American spirituality is having a greater impact on the world today than it had in the 19th century or for most of the 20th century, although the actual number of practitioners is probably less. As a spiritual path, it has proven useful in healing personal addictions and social disintegration. It has exercised an intellectual and inspirational role in addressing environmental problems; indeed, it has played a more significant role in this respect than have numerically larger religions like Christianity or Islam." *** Native American practitioners have addressed such issues in cooperation with other indigenous peoples around the world, Bahr said, and in conjunction with the United Nations. "Spiritual activists have proven more effective than purely political activists in renewing Native American cultures, and in drawing the world's attention to the environmental and social wisdom found there. In sum, while practitioners of Native American religions remain a small minority of the total U.S. population, there is a growing awareness of the value of Native American spirituality for addressing contemporary problems." Native Americans in Pierre who follow other roads, such as the move toward evangelical Christianity, often still express respect for the red road. One of them is Joseph Ashley a son of the later Vernon Ashley, the Crow Creek Sioux chief who died in November. Joe Ashley said though he was raised in the Episcopal faith, he liked what he found in a charismatic church in New Mexico. "That's kind of been my foundation," Ashley said. "I started in my 20s with this born again, Spirit-filled walk, and here I am in my mid-50s and I still have a lot to learn." From his father, a faithful member of the Episcopal Church, Ashley said he learned there was much to value about Native American ways. "There are a lot of parallels between Native American spirituality and Christianity. A lot of the same values are there," Ashley said. "It's not religion, it's spirituality, it's a relationship with the Creator. It's being humble, it's being generous, it's being compassionate being a good neighbor. They call that wolakota being a good neighbor, treating your neighbor in a good way, living your life in a good way. But the biggest difference is Jesus and the cross. Whereas in Native American spirituality, it's Tunkashila and the pipe the pipe being the conduit to God. But in Christianity it's Jesus." *** As an evangelical Christian, Ashley said he also appreciates the parallels, as well as the differences, in the idea of sacrifice that is at the heart of Christianity as well as in the Plains Indian rite of the Sun Dance, in which the dancers pierce themselves and tether themselves to a pole or tree, then dance in the sun. "There are similarities with Sun Dance. Sun dancers, they sacrifice they give of themselves. They pierce their flesh and tie themselves on the tree. And they do that, suffer for the people or for whatever reason they're sun dancing, for four days. The parallel to Christianity is that Jesus was the sacrifice. He died, was crucified and died on the cross for a sacrifice for all mankind, so all mankind's sins could be forgiven. So we don't have to do that because Jesus did that. We just have to trust in him." There are even parallels in the practice of seeking after God, Ashley said. "The vision quest, they call that in Dakota and Lakota, hanbleceya where a person is called to get closer to God and they go sit on a hill. There's a lot more to it than that, but I'm just simplifying it. And they spend time alone in prayer to try to get direction from God for their lives. That's one of the seven sacred rites for Dakota/Lakota people, to do that seeking a vision. Here again, the parallel to Christianity: That's a key piece, that you have to have time alone with God. Time alone, free of distraction to seek him in prayer, studying the Bible. But in Christianity you don't have to do go up on a hill or you don't have to do a certain thing." For Ashley, it's as simple as reading the Bible and praying early in the morning. In one very basic fashion, Ashley said, Native American spirituality still has much to teach mainstream culture. "Just the way society was formed, it was the whole opposite of European culture, and that's why there was such a big clash. My ancestors lived a nomadic lifestyle. They followed the buffalo. That's why they lived in tipis they needed to be mobile. They couldn't have a lot of material possessions, because whatever they had, they had to carry. So material possessions did not take on the importance that they did with Europeans," Ashley said. "Europeans came over and materialism came with them. You buy a piece of land, you set down roots and you start building and you stay in the same place and pretty soon you build your wealth. That wasn't my ancestors' way of life." Missoula County Public Schools has more than 300 students who are homeless, in transitional situations or living in poverty. That's why it was welcome news when MCPS officials learned the district would be receiving a large donation of backpacks filled with school supplies, toiletries, snacks and books by one of the country's largest charities, Feed the Children. On Friday, students from Hellgate High School's Harry Potter Alliance club lent a hand unpacking the delivery and organizing the supplies. The backpacks will be stocked in school family resource centers and distributed to students in the district's Families in Transition program. "These are things that our homeless families, especially, always have the need for," said Trish Kirschten, the district's FIT liaison. "The whole concept that we have (homeless students) in Missoula is shocking to some people. That we have such a high need in our community that we don't see very often. Probably about 60 (percent) to 70 percent of our FIT families are actually doubled up (living in someone else's house), so they actually don't qualify themselves as homeless because they have a roof over their heads. But they are also at the jeopardy of someone else's whim and desire whether they want them to stay in the house or not. So they tend to be in a fairly tenuous situation." A total of 311 K-12 students qualify for the FIT program, which helps students and parents with basic needs and referrals to external agencies. Kirschten said the Feed the Children program gives about 200 backpacks to Montana every year, then state officials select one district to receive them. Hellgate High students Natalie Kirschten, Autumn Robinson and Ailey Robinson, who were unpacking the delivery Friday, said they joined the Harry Potter Alliance out of a desire to help others. "It's about making people's day better," said Autumn Robinson, a junior and club co-president. "Usually, we do things after school. There's Harry Potter Alliances everywhere. Usually, we focus on literacy as our main theme, and we do a bunch of little stuff on the side as well." Robinson said club took on its name because members don't seek glory for their actions. "It was kind of based on the idea that in the Harry Potter books there's the house elves that kind of help out at Hogwarts School and make all the food and stuff kind of behind the scenes. And that's kind of our idea, is that we're helping everyone, but not really upfront about it," she said. "It's important to do stuff like this because it just helps everyone out and makes people's day better and it has a great impact on their attitude and the people they interact with. I think all those things are interconnected. Like, if you are in a bad mood and you act crappy to other people, then those people are in a bad mood. But if you're in a happy mood and talk to people and stuff, it has a great effect on everything." Kirschten said many FIT students' families are forced to live in hotels, homeless shelters or their cars. "By qualifying students, it allows us to offer them some additional resources in the school," she said. "Those kids who are in transition, sometimes the school building is the only thing they have that is stable. So whatever we can do to give them stability whether it's backpacks to keep their things, allows kids have a sense of belonging it's vital." Feed the Children began in 1979, and the nonprofit donated more than $344 million in food and supplies to 13.9 million people worldwide last year. As their partys caucuses and primaries get underway, Democrats face as stark a choice as any in modern times. They must decide between a revolutionary and an incrementalist: Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist who wants to transform the political system, and Hillary Clinton, a more cautious, conventional you might even say Clintonian liberal. For some voters, what matters most is ideology: What kind of progressive agenda do they prefer? For others, its electability although thats notoriously hard to predict before people actually start casting ballots. But theres another factor Democrats ought to consider: governability. How would President Sanders get his revolutionary agenda through a Congress in which at least one house will still be run by a counterrevolutionary Republican majority? Take the issue on which the two candidates diverge most sharply: health care reform. Sanders has an ambitious proposal for a European-style, government-run health insurance system (known to policy wonks as single payer). Clinton, meanwhile, merely aims to make the Affordable Care Act, based on private insurance plans, work a little better. Abstractly, thats an easy choice for most liberals and progressives (not to mention socialists): Most of them prefer single payer. A well-designed government-run system works better and far more cheaply than our crazy patchwork of public and private plans, as Sweden and other countries with single-payer systems have shown. But as Clinton reminded voters during the Democratic debate on Sunday, President Barack Obamas not-very-revolutionary health care law barely squeaked through to passage in 2010. There was an opportunity to vote for what was called the public option, she noted a government-run plan that wasnt even as ambitious as single payer. And even when the Democrats were in charge of the Congress, we couldnt get the votes for that. In other words: You cant get there from here. Clinton is probably right. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll last year found that only 26 percent of Americans want to expand Obamacare mostly Democrats. A far larger number, 42 percent, want to scale the plan back or scrap it entirely. (Most of those are non-Democrats, but once the question is before Congress, their preference matters too.) Besides, Sanders hasnt even begun to sell single payer to the American public unless you count giving his plan the comforting title Medicare for All. Almost nine months after he announced his candidacy, he still hasnt produced a full description of how his proposal would work. He released an eight-page summary before Sundays debate, but it focused on how he would pay for the plan (new taxes, mostly on the wealthy), not how it would actually deliver care. This notable lack of detail extends to other parts of Sanderss agenda too, including his proposals for free tuition at public universities and breaking up the nations biggest banks. How does Sanders intend to enact his audacious program? He says the answer is simple: Hell build a grass-roots movement so powerful that voters will sweep the GOP out of power. Nothing real will happen unless we have a political revolution where millions of people finally stand up, he said Sunday. What weve got to do is create a political revolution which revitalizes American democracy, which brings millions of young people and working people into the political process. Thats easier said than done, of course. Barack Obama tried to turn his huge 2008 electoral majority into a grass-roots movement called Organizing for America and failed miserably. If Sanders doesnt win an ever larger majority than Obama, his administration would encounter or, perhaps, engender four years of continued gridlock. Clinton had a different answer on Sunday to the question of how she would govern. I will go anywhere, to meet with anyone, any time, to find common ground. Thats what I did as first lady, when I worked with both Democrats and Republicans and its what I did as secretary of State. In other words: Come, let us reason together. Yes, thats essentially what Obama tried to do with little success once Republicans held the majority. Clinton is arguing, in effect, that she could do better, because she has a longer bipartisan track record. For progressives, Sanders is the political equivalent of a Powerball ticket: The payoff is huge, but theres only a small chance of winning. (For Sanders, remember, the revolution requires not only the presidency, but Congress too.) Clinton is more like a money market fund: not very inspiring, but youre less likely to lose the grocery money. Like Obama in 2008, Sanders is saying: Yes, we can. Clinton is saying: No, we cant not all of it, anyway. The ringleader of a conspiracy to transport methamphetamine from Seattle and sell it in Missoula was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison with no eligibility for parole the mandatory minimum in U.S. District Court on Friday. Albert Pedro Jaquez, 36, a married father of a 1-year-old girl, will also have to undergo drug treatment in prison and complete five years of supervised release. In 2000, Jaquez was convicted of second-degree murder for his role in helping a Seattle man kill another man during a robbery. He served 12 years in prison for that crime. On Thursday, Jaquezs accomplice in the drug conspiracy, Lavelle Cotton, 34, received five years in prison. In 1995, when Cotton was 14, he was convicted of murdering a 7-year-old girl during a drug money collection gone awry. The girl, Angelica Robinson, was caught in the crossfire when a gun battle erupted in a flop house after Cotton came to collect a $100 drug debt. In the meth case, both men pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in agreements with prosecutors. According to charging documents, the men were involved in the drug conspiracy from December 2014 through April 2015. Jaquez would supply the meth in Seattle and Cotton would transport and sell it in Missoula. When Cotton tried to sell drugs to a confidential informant in a parking lot on Reserve Street last April 30, Missoula police officers arrested them and found a plastic container with 1 pound of meth in it and another with 2 ounces of cocaine. Trittnie Von Rogers, who was dating Jaquez and accompanied Cotton to Missoula, was also arrested in the case. She received a three-year deferred sentence for cooperating with investigators. At his sentencing Friday, Jaquez admitted he had made poor decisions and apologized for his actions. He said he started selling drugs after he got out of prison for the murder conviction because he couldnt get a job. I sent out between 90 and 100 job applications and didnt get a single call back, he said. Thats not an excuse for what I did, but I decided to transport drugs to provide for my wife and my child. I know what I look like on paper, but thats not who I am. BILLINGS Opening more roads on federal lands will probably not significantly increase Montana elk hunters success and decrease elk populations in places where they are over management objectives, based on the findings of a recent report to the Environmental Quality Council. The report doesnt specifically state such a finding, but here is an accumulation of some of the facts that the report highlights that could lead to such a conclusion. In 2014, about half of the 25,000 elk taken during the hunting season were killed on public land. The highest hunter success rates were on private land where access was controlled, either through outfitting, an access fee or allowing only family and friends access. The majority of public land in the state that cannot be accessed by the public about 4,870 square miles are in isolated sections owned by the state and Bureau of Land Management in eastern Montana. Of these 3.1 million acres, less than one-third are considered elk habitat. The lowest elk harvest rates are in northwestern Montana, but elk in those hunting districts are also at or below population objectives. These facts are just some of the many provided to the Environmental Quality Council last week in a report and interactive map created by legislative environmental analyst Joe Kolman. The report was written at the behest of last years Legislature following the passage of House Joint Resolution 13, sponsored by Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman. In part, HJ-13 seeks a specific emphasis on identifying reduced hunter opportunity in areas where roads have been closed on federal land or where there are large landlocked areas. *** Blaming low elk harvest on the closure of roads on federal lands ignores the real problems, said Mark Lambrecht of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, in testifying before the EQC. He pointed to increasing development in elk habitat, elk herds concentrating on private lands to avoid hunters and the increase in the number of predators on federal lands as three of the biggest issues. Quentin Kujala, wildlife bureau coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said although road access can affect hunter success and elk distribution to some degree, there are many other factors involved, including available public land forage, the amount of security habitat for elk, nearby private land forage, the amount of hunting pressure during the archery and rifle seasons and hunting regulations and their effect on hunter traffic. While it is clear some level of access is necessary to get hunters to elk for harvest and retrieval ... its just as clear that road access can reach a point where elk are distributed out of the area, effectively removing them from harvest, Kujala said. The goal is to try and find some balance in that equation, Kujala said, providing access for hunters without pushing elk off public lands. Attracting elk and other wildlife to stay on public land is no easy task, he said, although his agency is on the front edge of understanding what the drivers are to wildlife distribution by collaborating on and leading new studies. Some of FWPs own biologists partnered on a 2013 study that said in part that traditional concepts of elk security habitat which consisted of large tracts of heavily timbered and low road density public lands may need to be refined to include private lands that prohibit or restrict hunter access. Also referred to as wildlife harboring, private lands holding large wildlife populations have grown to be a big challenge for FWP, with no easy answer available since private property rights are often invoked. Targeting federal lands may therefore seem like an easier political target. *** According to Kolmans report, almost 6,000 miles of forest roads have been decommissioned in the past 10 years, mainly in western Montana. The Kootenai National Forest has closed almost 4,000 miles of road to public use, but also has another 4,000 miles of roadway still open to the public. Overall, we have things pretty good in Montana, said Nick Gevock of the Montana Wildlife Federation. Theres broad satisfaction with what the Forest Service is doing. Eric Johnston, representing the U.S. Forest Services Region 1 headquarters in Missoula, said the agency is a strong advocate for access to public land but has to try to balance the wishes of people who want different experiences such as hikers versus off-highway vehicle riders. Even elk hunters have different wants, he pointed out. White has been an outspoken critic of federal road closures to motorized use and formed a pro-motorized user group Citizens for Balanced Use in 2004 to fight the Gallatin National Forests travel plan. Hes also introduced and supported legislation to study the return of federal lands to state management, even though hes said such a transfer is too technically complex a task to undertake. Neither Kolmans report nor officials on hand could answer some of Whites questions about whether road closures have led to wildlife returning to those affected public lands or if predator pressure has kept that from happening. I know predators have a definite impact in my district, White said. Its huge. He also noted that a 2013 University of Montana study found that 58 percent of off-highway vehicle owners said the most important issue facing OHV recreation is access to trails. In that year, there were more than 77,000 registered off-highway vehicles in Montana. *** No matter where elk hunters fall on the debate over road access, Kolmans report and map provide a wealth of information. For example, the hunting district with the highest success rate over the past 10 years is HD 455, a small area in the Big Belt Mountains north of Helena that is part of the Devils Kitchen management unit. Two out of every five elk hunters filled their tag in that district. The district has no inaccessible public land. For deer hunters, in 2013 more than three out of every five hunters shot a mule deer in District 680, which is bordered on the south by the Missouri River and includes portions of Chouteau and Blaine counties. The best success for whitetail hunters was in HD 260, the Bitterroot Valley, where three out of every five hunters filled their tags in 2013 even though almost 90 percent of the land is privately owned. The map and report can be found online at the EQCs website. HELENA Helenas city commission is expected to be asked to approve revised language for signage at the Hill Park fountain that honors Confederate soldiers from the Civil War. The Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council is expected to approve the revised language when it meets in February and then forward it to the city commission for consideration. Language for the sign was edited to a reasonable length by Ellen Baumler and Martha Kohl of the Montana Historical Society, Pam Attardo, the Helena/Lewis and Clark County heritage preservation officer, wrote in an email to members of the council. The fountain was given to the city in 1916 by local members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. A crucial component in the UDCs campaign to restore honor to defeated Confederate veterans, these memorials were part of a larger campaign to assert the justice of the Lost Cause, the revised language stated. The UDC openly supported the early Ku Klux Klan in its mission of white supremacy and worked to rewrite school textbooks to distort history by romanticizing the Old South. The granite fountain in Hill Park became a focal point of attention after Dylann Roof, 21, allegedly shot and killed nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015. Roof was photographed with the Confederate flag, according to online news reports, and his website contained a racist manifesto believed to have been written by him. Commissioner Andres Haladay asked the commission to have the fountain rededicated in the wake of the South Carolina shooting. The Heritage Tourism Council was asked by the city commission in July to craft language for a sign to accompany the fountain. In October, it offered the commission four options for disclaimers to accompany language for a sign. Along with returning the modified sign language to the city commission will come a commission discussion on how to implement signage that meets federal accessibility standards. The council was advised by the citys office that ensures compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act that a sign would have to be accessible to those with visual impairments. BILLINGS Elk populations north of Yellowstone National Park near Gardiner are stable based on a Jan. 2 aerial survey by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and park staff. More than 3,700 elk in 115 groups were counted by FWP biologist Karen Loveless. The largest group contained more than 550 elk. That total compares to about the same number of elk as counted in 2015, but was 25 percent higher than the 2013 count of 3,000 elk. The Gardiner area has been under the microscope this fall after FWP proposed to substantially limit the bull elk harvest in Hunting District 313 for the next two years to see if older bull numbers would rebound. The proposal has drawn strong opposition from hunting outfitters in the Gardiner area. During the survey, we counted and classified a total of 43 brow-tined bulls by antler points, Loveless wrote in her report. This is much lower than the 148 brow-tined bulls observed during 2015, however sightability of bulls varies widely during this fixed-wing survey, and for trends in bull ratios we rely on the classification survey conducted by helicopter in March each year. That March survey is the one on which FWP based its decision to cut bull tags in the hunting district. We observed a total of 116 brow-tined bulls, or 3 percent of the total elk observed in HD313, Loveless wrote. Among observed bulls we classified 65 young bulls (five or fewer points per antler) and 51 mature bulls (six or more points on one or more antler). This resulted in 44 percent six-point bulls and 56 percent five-point or smaller brow-tined bulls. There has been no collection of similar data in previous winter flights to compare with this years count. Within YNP, a total of 229 brow-tined bulls were observed during the Jan. 2 survey; these bulls were not classified by antler points, Loveless wrote. Combined with the count of brow-tined bulls in HD313, results are 345 brow-tined bulls classified among a total of 4,912 elk observed, or 7 percent of the observed population. Loveless noted that although there have been annual fluctuations in the bull elk harvest, the trend has been an increase in the number of bulls shot by hunters. The 2014 harvest of 315 bulls was the highest documented since 2006, she wrote. Harvest of six-point bulls has declined from 88 percent of the total harvest in 2004 to 48 percent of the harvest in 2014. The survey was conducted as part of the Northern Yellowstone Cooperative Wildlife Working Group survey, a collaborative effort between Yellowstone National Park and FWP used to determine the population of the Northern Range elk herd. The discovery of what looks like the aftermath of a brutal clash between two groups of prehistoric hunter-gatherers on the shore of an African lake is certain to stir up a debate about human nature that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. The biblical creation story posits that our forebears were inherently pure and peaceful and only fell into nasty struggles for dominance with the knowledge of the forbidden fruit. A corollary advanced by one school of archaeologists and anthropologists holds that our Stone Age ancestors were not inherently violent, and, apart from the odd murder, did not wage organized war until they started to coalesce into societies. Not so, proclaim proponents of a rival theory that war has deep biological roots, and weve been waging it forever. Thats what we are, argued the philosopher Thomas Hobbes; not so, declared Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Even President Obama jumped into the debate when, in his Nobel acceptance speech in 2009, he asserted that War, in one form or another, appeared with the first man. What scientists found at a place called Nataruk on what was once the shore of a lagoon on Lake Turkana in Kenya were skeletons showing unmistakable evidence of violent deaths crushed skulls, imbedded arrow or spear points and the like. According to a report of the find in the journal Nature, one man had been hit in the front of the head and stabbed in the neck; the skeleton of a pregnant woman looked like she had been tied up before she was killed. It was obviously a terribly violent encounter. But was it war? The government of Colombia and the countrys largest guerrilla group have made an unusual joint request to the United Nations Security Council. Nearing the final stages of an armistice negotiation, the two sides asked the Council to set up a mission of international experts to oversee a critical part of the proposed agreement: disarming the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a Marxist-inspired insurgency. It is a task the United Nations should embrace. The laying-down of arms is a critical prerequisite to a permanent cease-fire. Since peace talks began in Havana in 2012, the two sides have reached tentative agreements on fighting narcotics traffic, on land reform and on reparations for victims. But realizing these agreements will require peaceful collaboration on both sides, and that depends on the willingness of squads of guerrilla fighters to emerge from the jungle and relinquish their weapons. Considering the lingering mistrust between fighters who have been at war for five decades, this could be a fraught process. Hence the joint request to the United Nations to oversee it. Although President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia hailed the request as a sign that the peace process was increasingly irreversible, the handover of arms will not be easy. FARC leaders have been reluctant to surrender their weapons to the government, arguing that doing so would be seen as an act of defeat. There is currently no agreement on who would take custody of the weapons and what would ultimately happen to them. LOS ANGELES Gov. Jerry Brown has rejected parole for a third time for a follower of the cult leader Charles Manson 46 years after a series of bloody murders rocked Southern California. The Manson cult member, Bruce Davis, was convicted of the 1969 killings of the musician Gary Hinman and the stuntman Donald Shea. He was not involved in the killings of the actress Sharon Tate and six others. Mr. Brown said on Friday that Mr. Davis, 73, remained a danger to public safety. The horror of the murders committed by the Manson family in 1969 and the fear they instilled in the public will never be forgotten, the governor wrote in his decision. He said Mr. Davis had spent years playing down his role in the family. As Ive discussed twice before, Daviss own actions demonstrate that he had fully bought into the depraved Manson family beliefs, Mr. Brown wrote. He not only watched as Manson cut Mr. Hinmans face open with a sword, but held him at gunpoint while Manson was doing so. He seemed like a normal college kid looking to see the world, the group member said. Like the rest of us he had this curiosity about North Korea. I never heard him talk about religion. I never heard him speak ill of the North Korean government. The China-based tour company, Young Pioneer Tours, said on Saturday that there had been an incident, but gave few details. Mr. Warmbier was the last person from the group to go through customs, and a guide was told by officials that Mr. Warmbier was taken to a Pyongyang hospital, the company said in a statement. Gareth Johnson, Young Pioneers British chief executive officer, remained in North Korea after Mr. Warmbiers detention. It was during this time that it was discovered that there had been an incident, the statement said. Gareth remained in Pyongyang for a few days and when it became apparent that nothing would be achieved in country, he returned to China. Mr. Johnson declined to comment further on Saturday. Mr. Warmbier is an honors student from Cincinnati who is studying economics and global sustainability at the University of Virginia, according to a classmate and social media profiles. He is a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, and his Facebook page includes photographs of him on a trip to Cuba last year and at a climate change protest in New York in 2014. The State Department said Friday that it was aware of reports of the detention of an American citizen. The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the Departments highest priorities, said Mark Toner, a deputy spokesman at the State Department. In cases where U.S. citizens are reported detained in North Korea, we work closely with the Swedish Embassy, which serves as the United States Protecting Power in North Korea. WASHINGTON When President Obama secretly authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to begin arming Syrias embattled rebels in 2013, the spy agency knew it would have a willing partner to help pay for the covert operation. It was the same partner the C.I.A. has relied on for decades for money and discretion in far-off conflicts: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since then, the C.I.A. and its Saudi counterpart have maintained an unusual arrangement for the rebel-training mission, which the Americans have code-named Timber Sycamore. Under the deal, current and former administration officials said, the Saudis contribute both weapons and large sums of money, and the C.I.A takes the lead in training the rebels on AK-47 assault rifles and tank-destroying missiles. The support for the Syrian rebels is only the latest chapter in the decadeslong relationship between the spy services of Saudi Arabia and the United States, an alliance that has endured through the Iran-contra scandal, support for the mujahedeen against the Soviets in Afghanistan and proxy fights in Africa. Sometimes, as in Syria, the two countries have worked in concert. In others, Saudi Arabia has simply written checks underwriting American covert activities. The joint arming and training program, which other Middle East nations contribute money to, continues as Americas relations with Saudi Arabia and the kingdoms place in the region are in flux. The old ties of cheap oil and geopolitics that have long bound the countries together have loosened as Americas dependence on foreign oil declines and the Obama administration tiptoes toward a diplomatic rapprochement with Iran. My dear parents were such wonderful examples to me. They both overcame various obstacles in their lives and like all of us, they weren... Children are more vulnerable to online predators than ever before and Butte and rural southwest Montana kids are not immune. Local leaders are on a mission to help parents learn how to protect their kids. They say education is the key to online safety. Butte is a very reactive community, said Linda Lowney, Butte Cares executive director. But we want parents to be proactive. This is stuff every parent needs to know. In an "Internet Dangers" presentation this week, Butte Police Sgt. and Crime Prevention Officer Jimm Kilmer shared crucial tips on how parents can monitor their childrens activities online in the first of a free Raising Great Kids discussion series. Kids cyber-bulling one another online, slut-shaming, or encouraging a perceived outcast to harm themselves are serious matters that parents should monitor and stop, for example. If you wouldnt say it in person, why would you say it online? he asks parents to tell their kids. Whatever youngsters and teens write in chat rooms, on social media sites, or via texting is permanent even when they think its deleted. Kids and adults should be extra cautious about giving out personal information on popular social media sites like YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Buzz Feed, Facebook, Twitter, Vine and Tumblr. Any preying adult posing as an admiring peer can spot a vulnerable pre-adolescent or adolescent by looking at birthdates, hometowns, personal preferences and news stories. Keep personal information private, he said. Kilmer said parents must monitor closely their childs cell phone and computer to keep them safe from predators his department works to track down. More than ever, kids are glued to their smart phones their source of 55 percent of information, good or bad. In comparison, teens ranked these electronic devices in order of least importance to them: computer or laptop, 18 percent; tablet, 12 percent; iPod or MP3 player, 8 percent; and television, only 7 percent. Today, cell phones are ever-present on teens. Access to bad information and online criminals who misidentify themselves in order to lure kids to meeting in person should have parents looking over their kids shoulders regularly. Breaking bad habits such as posting questionable personal photos or sharing such photos is crucial, said Kilmer. A growing problem, even in Butte, includes teens and pre-teens sexting one another sharing photos of intimate body parts of themselves. It can lead to criminal charges of possession and possibly a charge of distribution if a teen forwards the photos to others, said Kilmer. Its high-tech flirting, he said. Its happened in the Butte school district, too. Tech-savvy kids now use cutting-edge ghost apps applications that, say, pose as a calculator to cover up photos and texts they share with peers. Unsuspecting adults need to be aware. Its time for parents to invade their kids cell phones, said Kilmer. He recommends parents and kids change their passwords to deter hackers and not share passwords with friends. Some teens can be registered as sex offenders if convicted of sexting. Kilmer, a policeman for 35 years, is a member of the Suicide Prevention Coalition and treasurer for Butte Cares and several other prevention-oriented organizations. He has given similar Power Point presentations to fifth- and sixth-grade students in most of the Butte school district elementary schools, East Middle School seventh- and eighth grade health classes, and Butte High freshman-sophomore health classes. If an issue arises among fourth-graders, Kilmer works with the school administration and teachers to give a presentation. If we have a request, we can do it, he said. Were flexible. The Crime Prevention division, with its online monitoring system and research techniques, sometimes catches predators as they plan to meet up with a child in person. Recently, Butte police arrested a 32-year-old Anaconda man in the East Middle School neighborhood. They suspected him of planning to meet with a 14-year-old girl with whom he was communicating via text messages. Heading off problems with kids and the Internet begins at a young age. Lowney suggests parents start talking to children in preschool about traffic safety, stranger danger, and alcohol and cigarettes as well as online issues. If the parents give them the information, the kids usually trust them and know that they love them and will take care of them, said Lowney. This is geared toward parents of all age groups. The Butte Cares Coalition teams up with the Butte Community Council and Kilmer to provide the free Raising Great Kids discussions to parents. All the more reason for parents to arm themselves with knowledge in how to keep their kids safe. Winter has brought more than snow to Western Montana it's brought a large elk herd to an area about 15 miles west of Butte. An estimated 200 to 300 elk have migrated to land near the Fairmont exit on Interstate 90, said Vanna Boccadori, wildlife biologist with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "They're an artifact of this winter were having," Boccadori said. "They're looking for calories." Boccadori said that with the snow cover, some of the elk have migrated from the Anaconda Range west of Anaconda. She thinks others have traveled from Brown's Gulch, east of the Fairmont exit and northwest of Butte. The herd is grazing off haystacks, some of them close to the roadway. She said that in addition to the snow making it harder for elk to find vegetation, they are under further strain because they've depleted their summer fat reserves. As winter progresses and food becomes scarcer, Boccadori predicted the situation will likely get worse for the elk. Meanwhile, the state has erected huge, temporary digital signs along the interstate in both eastbound and westbound lanes warning motorists of the intensified wildlife crossings, said Jeff Ebert, Butte district administrator with the Montana Department of Transportation. Ebert said he's not aware of crashes occurring in that section of Interstate 90 as a result of the herd but the state is trying to be "proactive" by erecting the signs. While the interstate is fenced, elk can jump or find ways to get around it, he said. Ebert said last year bighorn sheep crossing the interstate in that area raised a concern, so wildlife activity close to the roadway is not something new. Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Gary Becker in Butte said he's not aware of any elk vs. vehicle crashes so far this winter in that area. "They haven't been causing a huge problem for us," Becker said. Boccadori reiterated that the states first priority is for human safety. In a winter like this, there are patterns happening on the landscape. Wildlife are another feature of the landscape we all have to be aware of." Elk have had challenges elsewhere in the state this winter. A train plowed into a herd on Dec. 30 about three miles east of East Helena, killings 23 animals. Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Montana Rail Link responded to the mortality. Zachary Thomas Allen, 2935 Dynamic Dr., Colorado Springs, Colorado, received a deferred sentence in district court this week for an incident at the Anaconda Job Corps. Allen pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor assault. In exchange, he received a three-year deferred sentence on the burglary charge and six years in jail with all suspended on the assault charge. He is also required to pay restitution and fines. Court records say that Allen was initially charged in April 2015 after striking a fellow Job Corps student, burglarizing a building and a vehicle, and stealing personal items from other students. In other Anaconda district court action this week: Thomas Shane Stephenson, 312 E. Broadway, Apt. 2, Philipsburg, was sentenced on existing charges after violating the terms of his probation. Stephenson received a five-year commitment to the state Department of Corrections for placement in a chemical dependency program with credit for time served. In 2013, Stephenson received a three-year deferred sentence for three counts of felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. He was arrested in North Dakota in February 2015 on a warrant after violating the terms of his probation, court records say. He stole his fathers debit cards and medications, failed to submit written reports, possessed guns, gambled, and committed other offenses, records say. Jamie Marie Laub, 2900 Elizabeth Warren Ave., Butte, received a deferred sentence for felony theft. Laub was initially arrested in February 2015 after stealing parts from another mans vehicle and attempting to sell them. She pleaded guilty in November 2015. Laub received a three-year deferred sentence and was ordered to pay $9,465 in restitution plus fines and fees. Warren Francis Fisher, 416 W. Fourth St., pleaded not guilty to abusing a developmentally disabled person, a felony. Court records say that Fisher head-butted, slapped, and pulled the ears and nose of a developmentally disabled man while calling him demeaning names. Fisher was an employee of A.W.A.R.E. at the time of the incident, court records show. Witnesses reported to police officers that Fisher, during an attempt to subdue the victim, who is a resident of A.W.A.R.E, became angry and abusive. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Michael Henry Chapman, Deer Lodge, pleaded guilty to felony burglary, misdemeanor partner or family member assault, and misdemeanor assault. He received a two-year deferred sentence and a $500 fine for the burglary charge, six months in jail with all but one suspended and a $100 fine for the partner/family member charge, and six months in jail with all suspended and a $100 fine for the assault charge. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (TNS) Haitian elections officials Friday afternoon abruptly canceled Sundays planned elections amid escalating protests around the country. Hours early, the officials had halted the distribution of voting materials and began recovery of those that had already gone out. Elections officials said at a news conference that safety could not be guaranteed for voters or poll workers. The cancellation is a victory for all of the democratic sector, said Jude Celestin, the main opposition candidate in Sundays election. The electoral commissions about-face came after the international community said it is leaving the door open for Haitians to find a political consensus that could lead to the postponement of Sundays partial legislative and presidential runoff. Six foreign ambassadors along with the representative of the Organization of American States and the head of the U.N. peacekeeping stabilization mission said Friday that while they still want to see the conclusion of the electoral process, they support efforts aimed at finding a way forward that ensures the democratic renewal of state institutions. The statement makes no mention of a Jan. 24 presidential runoff or a Feb. 7 constitutional end of President Michel Martellys term, two dates that the international community had been insistent on Haiti maintaining. But they softened their stance Thursday as Celestin continued to boycott the runoff and tires and cars burned in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Also, reports trickled in that schools doubling as voting bureaus were being burned. For days, members of the private sector and Roman Catholic Cardinal Chibly Langlois have been trying to find a solution to the countrys electoral crisis, which was triggered by allegations of fraud in the Oct. 25 presidential runoff and Celestin declaring his nonparticipation. The negotiations had stalled but as of Thursday, they were back on track as both the executive and the opposition worked on their own separate proposals. Sources familiar with the talks, say the sticking point remains Feb. 7, and who would govern Haiti afterward. Martelly supporters say he should be allowed to remain in power until a new president is elected. The opposition, including a majority of senators, wants him gone. Former state economic development chief Evan Barrett is proposing a convention center atop the planned parking garage in Uptown Butte, saying its size, million-dollar view and the citys location would make it Montanas premier gathering site. Given the countys short timetable for finalizing plans and starting construction on the garage, it is essential that this concept be fully and expeditiously explored, as it could have great positive economic ramifications for all of Butte, but especially Uptown, Barrett said in a memo this week. He sent the three-page pitch to Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Matt Vincent, city-county commissioners, the Urban Revitalization Agency, and organizations including the Butte Local Development Corporation (BLDC), Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Uptown Butte, and Advantage Butte. The concept dates back at least 20 years, Barrett said, but it could be put in motion now given plans already underway. Vincent and Community Development Director Karen Byrnes noted that they sought proposals from private developers who might be interested in building and managing a parking garage that would include retail space or other uses. One company proposed to build just a garage and then sell it back to the county, but that plan didnt present any amenities, advantages or savings over public financing. The county recently chose a primary builder for a 247-space parking garage with hopes of construction starting this spring at an open site between Park and Galena streets. It could cost up to $7 million and would be funded through bonds backed by revenue from the Uptown tax-increment financing district. Barrett said he doesnt want the project delayed but believes there is time to consider his proposal and possibly make adjustments to design plans so a top-floor convention space is possible. Barrett, who led Montanas economic development efforts while Brian Schweitzer was governor from 2005 to 2013, said additional funding for convention space wouldnt have to come from a costlier bond backed by taxes. There are various public-private partnerships that could be utilized, he said. There are a number of ways to skin that cat, Barrett, who also led the BLDC for 18 years, told The Montana Standard. He said the convention space atop the garage would be nearly 25,000 square feet, making it one of the largest in Montana. His analysis of other sites in the state shows that only the Holiday Inn in Billings has a larger single room at 30,000 square feet, he said. Only that hotel, the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, and the Big Sky Resort in Big Sky would have more overall convention space, he said. The convention area at the vacant Copper King Hotel in Butte is only 14,000 square feet. The south wall of the new space in Butte could be all glass, he said, giving attendees a million-dollar view of the Highlands mountains, he said in the memo. This venue, by virtue of that view alone, would be a huge draw for conventions and meetings of all sizes, the memo says. Butte being at the crossroads of I-15 and I-90, along with our reputation as a hospitable community and a historically interesting one, makes Butte the preferred site for conventions. Barrett proposed his Historic Uptown Butte (HUB) Convention Center during a Nov. 4 public meeting on the planned parking garage. It was very well-received by the group, he said, but it was not written up in news stories. He said parking for the center would be available in the planned garage. Large conventions would help fill existing motels and hotels, and Ted and Cheryl Ackermans boutique hotel in the Miners Bank Building was an exciting model for developing more hotel space, he said. Under his plan, all meals at the center would be catered by local restaurants. That would give the restaurants a financial boost, and investment money would follow more economic activity spurred by the center, he said. You grow an economy with money from the outside, Barrett told the Standard. Convention money is outside money, every penny of it. Vincent said it is a good idea but not a new one and such a public-private partnership and possible convention center was considered even before the county put out its request for proposals on outside development of the garage. We wanted to see if there was additional risk a private developer would be willing to take, and that is where the convention space and retail space came in, Vincent said. We only got one response to the RFP, and it didnt buy us any additional time, money or structure. Byrnes said revenue from the tax-increment district would fund the planned garage and the garage will be beautiful and aesthetically pleasing and fit historic Uptown. But it wont be enough money to add substantially to costs of the current project, she said. Vincent said the proposal would add significant costs to the project and I dont see it happening without major involvement of a private developer. But he said he wants the garage built as quickly as possible, and that means construction starting this year. We will remain open to these opportunities as long as it doesnt delay the project and its affordable, he said. Nobody would love to see a 25,000-square-foot convention space in the middle of Uptown more than me, but there is only so much you can do with public funds, and we are doing everything we can do within the time frame and the funding available to us. If something comes along that allows us to make it a reality, then it will be considered. WILTON, Iowa Animals found in Iowa and the tracks they leave behind while moving around the landscape was the focus of a program at the Wilton Public Library Friday afternoon. Muscatine County naturalist Michelle Berns brought tracks, pelts and some stuffed examples of the animals to show the large group of children. "You guys are learning a little bit about dinosaurs and you have dinosaur tracks all over. We thought it would be fun for you guys to learn a little bit about some of the wild animals that live in Iowa right outside of your backyard," Berns said. the program started off with a story about animals and what their tracks look like. Then Berns pulled out drawings of about 10 animal tracks and asked the kids to identify what animal made the track. Some were easy; deer, robin, duck. Some were little trickier for the group. She also showed the children pelts from some of the animals. For others, she had stuffed toy versions. The kids got the opportunity to place the tracks on the floor near the library fireplace. Berns showed the group how various animals walked to make those tracks. "I learned about animals and their tracks and fur, how it feels. I really liked the fox," said 9-year-old Jordan Dusenberry, of Wilton. He and his brother Nicholas spread red fox and robin tracks on the library floor. WAPELLO, Iowa A balanced budget does not necessarily mean a contented city council, Wapello officials learned Thursday. The council developed the Fiscal Year 2017 spending plan last week and after making nearly $50,000 in cuts and other adjustments, was able to include spending to cover three full-time police officers. However, at Thursdays regular council meeting and during a special budget work session after the regular meeting, council member Eric Small said he was worried about the citys future ability to keep all three officers, pointing out the city also cut the Fiscal year 2016 budget by around $30,000. We have to figure out a way to sustain (the three officers), he said. During last weeks budget session, the council had discussed offering police chief Wayne Crump an early retirement option to help balance the budget. Small wondered if that option should now be withdrawn because of the cuts the city had made in the FY17 spending. My personal opinion is the early retirement should be pulled off the table, he told the council during the work session. Council member Kenny Marlette said that had been his understanding. I thought the incentives were on the table if we didnt make the cuts, he said. Mayor Shawn Maine, however, disagreed. That wasnt my understanding, he said, explaining Crump had delayed making any retirement announcement because he wanted to get information back from the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) first. Maine said Crump had now received that information and hinted a retirement decision might be near. Wayne and I met this afternoon, but Im not in a position to discuss it now, he said. Council member Larry Wagg said he favored letting Maine and Crump discuss the issue. Its up to the mayor and Wayne to come up with a mutual number, he said, reminding the rest of the council that Crump had worked around 20 years for the city. He also pointed out the citys budget had traditionally been tight and he was pleased enough cuts and other changes were possible in the budget to make it balance. I think we were lucky to get anything in the black, he said. The rest of the council eventually agreed and left the proposal intact without any changes. A Feb. 18 public hearing on the proposal was approved. City clerk Mike Delzell told the council the proposal would be published on Feb. 4. After that, the budget proposal can be cut, but it cannot be increased, he said. In other action, Maine announced the city had received a $1 million federal grant to help with the construction of the new County Highway 99 bridge at Wapello. Louisa County, which shares in the maintenance of the bridge, has also received partial funding support for the estimated $7.1 million project. Maine said he had met with Louisa County Engineer Larry Roehl and learned survey work had been completed and bridge plans were being developed. He said at least two options would be created and a public meeting held to gather citizen input. According to previous discussions, a bid-letting is scheduled for October 2017. In final action, the council learned the communitys Hometown Pride Committee had received a grant to purchase banners for city street poles. Local businessman Kevin Hardin said the committee hoped to have the banners installed before this years Chief Wapello Days in July. About Me Bagsy Born Beeston, Notts 1946, my family moved to Dorset 1959. Joined the Royal Navy age 15 years and 50 days serving 10 years. In frigates firstly then over 5 years in the Submarine Service as a Seaman/Diver, reaching the dizzy heights of Leading Seaman, before leaving to join the Merchant Service, working in Ocean Salvage and Harbour Tugs, passenger / cargo ships, trials vessels, etc. Qualified as Mate (Chief Officer) in 1976 and as Master (Captain) in 1978. For my final 20 years of 47 I worked in the Offshore Oil Industry initially on the drilling rig Stena Hunter, then the accommodation barge Borgland Dolphin and finally the Floating Production Platform Buchan Alpha. On the rigs I forged a number of long lasting friendships several of whom shared some of my extensive travels. Setting foot on Caymen, Bermuda, Bahamas and The Azores in March 2013 brought my countries / autonimous regions total to 148. The best, undoubtedly, was Antarctica, followed by Australia, Mongolia, Belize, Zimbabwe, China and Madagascar, in no particular order. Love to all our readers, your in my thoughts. Bagsy View my complete profile Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] 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 [] Netflix has started to block some VPN services in Australia, but the fight back from the affected VPN provider to bypass the restrictions was swift. Netflix recently announced it was cracking down on subscribers using VPNs, proxies, and unblockers to access the US catalogue. Melbourne-based VPN provider uFlix alerted its users on 20 January that some subscribers had issues with Netflix blocking non-Australian content when going through uFlix. Though it is only affecting a few users at the moment, we expect this number to grow, the company said. Users trying to access Netflix through a VPN service received the message: You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again. At the time, uFlix said it was working on a solution to get around the restrictions, and it did not take long for the company to find a solution. A day later, uFlix announced it had developed and tested a fix, and that it had successfully implemented it. The company said feedback from its customers has been positive, and that the USA is running just fine for everyone. SA Netflix users may be affected Many South African Netflix subscribers make use of VPN-based services like UnoTelly to gain access to Netflixs US content. There are concerns among these users that they may lose access to the content when Netflix starts to block VPN services in the country. However, UnoTelly said they have a plan. UnoTellys Kostas Polichronos told MyBroadband they continue to believe in an open and border-free Internet. We are confident that we can continue to deliver a quality service to our loyal and supportive users, said Kostas. We have backup plans, and our users will be able to continue accessing Netflix content outside their local Netflix region. More on Netflix Why Netflix wont be able to block VPN users How to save up to 60% on your Netflix data bill Netflix vs DStv can South Africans cut the cord? This is a blog that will take you through the Rum lifestyles of a fine group of people that enjoy the fun and pleasure of fine rums. We will travel to distilleries, partys, and Rum Events to bring you the Rumstyles of all those we come in contact with. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Donations can be sent to BNC at Max Obuszewski, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212 . Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast [dot] net. DETROIT As fresh businesses inhabit long-vacant buildings in Detroit, an art once teetering on obscurity is increasingly used to set them apart. Its a craft that for many years ruled the roost, said Doc Guthrie, 73. It started to go away at the advent of the computer. Guthrie is a sign painter. His courses at a Los Angeles trade school impart the essence of original pieces using a hand and paintbrush, and theyre increasingly sought-after including by a couple of University of Michigan graduates whove since returned to Detroit to ply their new craft. Kelly Golden, 28, and Jordan Zielke, 29, went full-time with their Golden Sign Company in 2013. Theyve since created elegant, hand-painted works for many of the citys new storefronts and beyond. Among their clients: Green Dot Stables, Third Man Records, the Carhartt store in Midtown, the Fowling Warehouse, Ottava Via, Detroit Bikes, Shinola, Jolly Pumpkin, Mercury Burger Bar and more. The duo paints everything by hand. They dont have any employees, and their studio is in one of the rooms where they live in a New Baltimore apartment. Most of their marketing is through pictures they take of their work and post on Tumblr and Instagram. We were cold-calling and hitting the streets, handing out business cards at the beginning ... , Golden said, adding that now, the phones been ringing. The owners of newly-opened storefront businesses like the companys original, authentic approach to sign-making. Its a throwback, a nod to Detroits legacy of handmade signs. But its also akin to the farm-to-table movement and the boom in locally-made craft beers. There is a technological backlash and a turn to the more do-it-yourself in craft, in arts, Guthrie said, adding that in LA, even race-car drivers are turning from digital to hand-painted graphics. The process for creating an artisanal sign usually begins with a rough pencil sketch. They consult with the client and come to an agreement on what itll look like. Then the image is either hand-drawn or created through computer programs. The pattern is made to scale on butcher paper. A machine is used to perforate along the lines, and they take the pattern to the work site. A bag of chalk is run along the perforations, creating a dotted line on the wall, window or other sign location. Then the image is painted using oil-based paint and brushes made of hog hair or squirrel hair, depending on the surface. Its a process widely used during the mid-20th century. Faded, vintage signs are easy to spot in Detroit, although some brighter ones recently have been revealed as blight is knocked out. Guthrie said the decline came as technology made it cheaper and easier for businesses to use vinyl or digital signs. And it all became homogeneous, he told the Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/1WrQ3r4 ). Simple and boring. The sign-makers diminished. Guthrie, now in his 22nd year of teaching the craft, was lucky to have 25 students. These days, he has 70 students and a waiting list at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. They come from across the U.S. and as far as South Korea and Australia. They remind us of who we were at that age, Guthrie said. Were just weird people who love art, who love lettering, who love signs. Businesses are saying, I dont want that generic look that stick-on look. I want that real look, he said. Carhartt creative director Brian Bennett tracked down Golden Sign after seeing its work on Instagram. Theyre expensive, but theyre worth what you pay for them, he said. If you look at doing vinyl, its more than twice (the price) to hand-paint it. Their work included not just the Carhartt insignia, but a 55-foot by 200-foot mural painted last August on the north side of the Detroit Carhartt, facing I-94. The image of workers in Carhartt gear was inspired by Diego Riveras Detroit Industry Murals, a highlight of any visit to the nearby Detroit Institute of Arts. It was a really great project for us, Bennett said. We wanted our billboard to be really handmade. The project was a collaboration that also included Detroit-based illustrators James Noellert and Mike Burdick, he said. Zielke said it took about 350 hours over 18 days as they worked to meet the deadline of the businesss opening day after slow-downs with permitting. The Carhartt one is by far the biggest, most massive thing weve ever done, and thats just so cool to drive by it on the freeway, Zielke said. Bennett said the couples dedication is remarkable; they were humble and had an extraordinary work ethic. I just loved their chemistry, he said. The two have been friends more than 10 years, and theyve been dating about six years. They met in 2005 while attending the University of Michigan School of Art and Design in Ann Arbor. She sat right across from me in class, Zielke said. Directly across from me, and I think we just struck up a conversation and became good friends. After graduating they moved to Detroit. You get out of art school, and youre like, Ooh, what now? Golden said, adding that they sought to make money doing something that we love. They found the historic signs lining Detroits streets inspiring. You go up and down Gratiot, and its just a feast for the eyes, Golden said. They incorporated Golden Sign as a side business in 2012. Meanwhile, she was making banners for Zingermans Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, and he was editor of a motorcycle magazine. They found out about Doc Guthries two-year program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and spent time there learning the craft. Its the last school in the country and probably the world that runs a full-blown sign-painting program, Golden said. Guthrie said the same. Students since 1924 have been going to the trade school to learn the fundamentals basic lettering skills, word spacing and how to paint signs with distinctive style. They also learn how to run their own business. Golden Sign also does A-frame signs the fold-up ones seen on sidewalks. And if you want to own a small piece of their work, Shinola offers paint-on monogramming by Golden Sign, Zielke said. Nick Tobier, associate professor at University of Michigans School of Art and Design, previously had the two as students. He said their work is genuine, with reverence for tradition but not limited by it. They were, I would say, like the two people in the world I knew would always be artists, he said. They inhabited that from their inside out ... Theres never been anybody like them before or since. Dan Dawson, owner of Back Room Wines on First and Main Streets in downtown Napa, plotted his career path early in life. He attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, majoring in hotel/restaurant management. After a couple of culinary apprenticeships, he went to work for the All Season Bistro and Wine Shop in Calistoga. The plan was to hone his skills as a chef and open a restaurant. That all changed the more he began to appreciate wine. I wised up when I started learning about wine, said Dawson, And I never looked back. Dawson eventually managed the All Seasons Wine Shop in Calistoga and later had stints at Dean & DeLuca and the French Laundry in the late 1990s. In 2002, he opened Back Room Wines, a name that suggests the very best wines. He carries small-production, artisan wines from Napa, Sonoma, the rest of California and Europe. Dawson is able to identify high-quality wines that are delicious, distinctive and a good value. He has an ability to communicate by writing (via a weekly newsletter) and talking. He educates customers, which he thoroughly enjoys, so that they leave a little wine-smarter than when they came in. Kyle Wood, a Napan, has been buying a mixed case of wine every month from Back Room Wines for 10 or 11 years. Its fantastic, Wood said. Dan knows my taste and picks out things I like. Every once in a while, hell send a surprise from some part of the world, like a Hungarian white wine. Wood says he no longer buys wines in grocery stores, and I get delicious wines from all over the world at Back Room. Dawson is also a very good listener and he encourages customers to be critical. Locals know wine, and if one of them passes on a Back Room recommendation, Dawson isnt fazed. The kind of feedback only helps him make better recommendations. For Dawson, taste is just part of the equation of good wine. Years ago, after a particularly good bottle, he researched the area from which it was produced, and made a connection between it and the wine. In a way, its like taking a trip to the area when you drink a bottle of wine. Dawson still researches wines, both local and international. He shares what he likes, stories that go with it and tasting notes about the wine he sells. Customers learn to depend on him. Back Room Wines moved to its current location seven years ago. It offers more space, which allows for more wine and a more relaxed place from which to taste. All wines are carefully chosen, and customer feedback is always appreciated. Dawson is confident that his customers get more for their money, which, for him, is one of the joys of being in the business. Open daily, 226-1378, or visit backroomwines.com and sign up for the newsletter. See you downtown! TOKYO _ Manekineko, lucky cat figures that invite various blessings with their beckoning paws, enjoy great popularity as good-luck charms. The figures vary in origin, size, design and type. These cats have round heads, large eyes and often hold a koban - a thin oblong gold coin in circulation from the late 16th century to around the end of the Edo period (1603-1867) - in one of their paws. "The type manufactured in Tokoname [in Aichi Prefecture] caught on after the end of World War II," said Kanji Bando, a collector of and expert on manekineko who is also a photographer specializing in cats. "It's relatively new, considering the history of manekineko dating back to the late Edo period." Bando has collected about 5,000 manekineko figures over a period of 30 years with his wife, Chihiro Arakawa. Most of their collection is on display at the Manekineko Museum in Seto. Lucky cats are made from various materials and manufacturing methods, according to Bando. Those made of clay are manufactured in various places around the nation and have different regional characteristics. Clay lucky cats in the style of the Shibahara doll, a specialty of Chiba Prefecture, have adorable, relaxing facial expressions. Papier-mache lucky cats manufactured in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, have faces that make them look like folk-art toys. Manufacture of porcelain lucky cats began in the Meiji era (1868-1912). The Seto area in Aichi Prefecture pioneered the manufacturing of such manekineko. The area's products are somewhat more slender than other lucky cats, perhaps because their style was influenced by the fox dolls made in the Fushimi style, a traditional folkcraft manufactured in Kyoto Prefecture. Porcelain lucky cats made of Kutani ware manufactured in Ishikawa Prefecture were meant for export. "These cats are painted in various colors to meet the tastes of Western people," Bando said. "They have an exotic Asian touch." Tokoname-style lucky cats are the most popular type today. These cats, however, did not hold the signature gold coin at first. A bell was originally attached to the cats' collars and was later replaced by the coin. Later, the coin came to be held by a paw. The coin at first bore kanji characters reading "senryo." "Senryo" is equal to 1,000 koban gold coins, but also means a great amount of money or something very valuable. The characters were sometimes "manryo" (10,000 koban coins). They were later lavishly boosted to "senmanryo" (10 million koban coins) and even "okumanryo" (billion koban coins). "Lucky cats that seemed to bring about luck with money became popular in the nation's high-economic growth period," Bando said. Some lucky cats have either the right paw or the left paw raised, while some have both paws raised. It is said that lucky cats with a raised right paw will attract money and ones with a raised left paw will bring people to shops or businesses. Having both paws raised is meant to invite both money and people, while some people shun lucky cats with both paws raised as it could be taken to mean that the cat has raised both paws in despair. It is said that a lucky cat with a paw raised higher than the ear will bring greater good luck. The bodies of lucky cats are usually white, but come in other colors, too. Black lucky cats, for example, are meant to expel evil. Lucky cats in the form of Kuroneko Daimyojin (great black cat deity) in the Matsushiro district in Nagano look very similar to real cats. Gold or yellow cats are meant to bring good luck with money and red lucky cats are meant to prevent diseases. Recently, lucky cats often have unconventional features. Some hold items other than a gold coin, such as a daruma doll (modeled after Bodhidharma) for good luck. To raise their appeal to people in other countries, lucky cats sometimes hold a surfboard or a bag that bears a dollar sign. Some new ones have a modern feel, decorated with glittering ornaments. Bando said he feels the blessings that Japanese seek with lucky cats have changed from luck with money to luck with relationships, and recently to luck with being able to relax. "I look forward to seeing new types of manekineko in the future," Bando said. Editors note: This is the first in a two-part series. During the late 1800s and early 1900s the nomadic people known as gypsies would temporarily reside in Napa County. Frequently, their way of life and activities garnered considerable press in the local newspapers, which added more notoriety to the gypsy mystique. A February 1911 Napa Journal article titled Gypsies About announced, A band of gypsies struck Napa Tuesday morning and located on the bank of the river on Cross Street. It continued, Marshall Boyd found that two of the women of the party, Mrs. Mary Lowis, age 25, and Mrs. Bessie Lowis, age 19, were telling fortunes without a city license and warned them to take out a license, $5 per month, or leave town. The two women did not heed the officers warning as they continued their illicit fortunetelling. Also, in an attempt to evade the law, the Lowis women drifted around town. However, by the afternoon, Boyd and fellow officer Hamilton caught up with the wandering duo on Adrian Street. The women, continued the Journal, were taken before Justice Gildersleeve, each pleaded guilty to telling fortunes illegally, and each was fined $5. Then the outfit of gypsies was directed to leave town. More than a decade later, another account of gypsies and their activities was reported by the Napa Register. The October 1922 Register headline announced, Gypsies in Local War! The center of this story, and the conflict, was a young gypsy woman named Paraska John Lee. According to the article, she was sold by her father, Steve John, king of a band of gypsies at Boise, Idaho, four years ago to Jack Lee, son of the king of another tribe of vagabonds. Paraska John Lee, 16, yesterday became the central figure in a clash between the John and Lee bands when they came together in the Napa Valley for the first time since the transaction four years ago. Before delving into the incident of 1922, the Register provided its readers with some background leading up to that event. Four years ago, so the story goes, Jack Lee of the Lee band bargained for the hand of Paraska John. She was then but 12 years of age. But nevertheless Jack Lee wanted her for his wife. According to gypsy custom, he went to the girls father, and after paying $2,000 in cash to Steve John, Jack Lee was given the custody of the girl. After that the two clans went their separate ways to wander the country. They camped out in isolated sections of the country, the Register continued, or on the edge of cities into which they went occasionally to ply their trades, fortune telling and the like. Soon, the far west called to both tribes. Unlike the gypsies of old, members of the John and Lee bands travel by automobile. And in those motor vehicles, they each started for California. The first to arrive in Napa Valley were the Johns in their Packard, two Dodges and a Ford. After roaming through the area, the John clan set up a camp outside of Calistoga near the Myrtledale Springs resort. Later, continued the Register, the second band, unaware of the presence here of Johns tribe, came into the valley. Lee brought with him his 16-year-old wife, Paraska. When the father of the latter espied his daughter, overtures for her return were begun and a near feud resulted. This account and the details of the 1922 Gypsies in Local War! saga of Napa County will continue and conclude in Part 2, on Jan. 31. A Sonoma County buyer has filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen Group of American and Hanlees Auto Group in Napa, citing Volkswagens admission that it rigged millions of cars with diesel engines to fool emission tests. The suit in Napa County Superior Court is one of dozens of individual and class-action lawsuits popping up around the nation against Volkswagen since the company admitted in September to intentionally installing emissions test defeat devices in 500,000 so-called clean diesel vehicles in the U.S., and millions more worldwide. Aaron Marroquin of Sonoma County, described as a renewable energy worker and environmentalist, bought one of the affected cars, a 2012 Passat, at Hanlees in Napa on March 11, 2012, according to the suit. As someone who works in the renewable energy field, Marroquin was attracted to the Passat because VW ads promised fuel efficiency and low air pollution, the suit alleges. Since he bought his vehicle, Marroquin has been recommending it to friends and acquaintances, touting its environmental friendliness, according to the complaint. With the revelation of VWs deceit, Marroquin has been damaged financially and has felt humiliated, betrayed, and angry, according to the suit. Plaintiff unwittingly contributed to air pollution all the while touting the vehicle as being environmentally friendly and recommending it to friends and acquaintances, the suit contends. Marroquin, the suit notes, takes pride in his commitment to the environment and his reputation in his industry, which is devoted to reducing environmental pollutants. Once Volkswagen confessed its manipulation of engine exhaust data to California and federal officials last fall, Marroquin refused to drive his Passat due to its potential environmental impact and could not sell the car because of its failure to meet state and federal emissions requirements, the suit contends. The 2012 Passat is virtually worthless, the suit asserts. He is suing for intentional misrepresentation, concealment, breach of contract, revocation of the purchase agreement, breach of express warranty, breach of Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, engaging in unfair business practices, false advertising, and for violating the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. On Oct. 6, before filing the suit, Marroquin notified Volkswagen Group of America and Hanlees that he was revoking his acceptance to purchase the vehicle based on non-conformance with their original agreement, according to the suit. Neither defendant responded to the notification, the suit alleges. Marroquin seeks damages of $43,762.40, statutory penalties of $87,524.80 as well as punitive damages, disgorgement of profits, interest, attorney fees, and any further costs incurred by the suit, according to court documents. Marroquin and his attorney, Kelly Jenkins of Santa Rosa, filed the complaint in Napa County Superior Court on Jan. 7. Marroquin has no comment, according to Jenkins. Jim Totah, a Hanlees representative, said on Friday that all inquires involving the diesel engine lawsuits are to be directed toward Volkswagen. Representatives at Volkswagen Group of America could not be reached. A case management conference is scheduled for June 15. The Internet is often accused of fueling conspiracy theories, but it also serves as an outlet for mindless conspiracy bashing. Some pundits took the start of the new year as an excuse to aggregate, and denigrate, recent conspiracy theories. Alternet published The 5 Craziest Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories of 2015 (subtitle: The indefatigable right-wing loony factory pumped out some doozies this year.). Bustle collected The Most Bizarre Conspiracy Theories of 2015 and National Memo offered This Year in Crazy: 2015 Belonged to the Wingnuts. The Guardians film critic, Peter Bradshaw, wished for fewer smug conspiracy theories in 2016. Nowadays, he lamented, there is always a malign pseudo-sophisticate dunce who can be relied upon to appear out of the online thicket, darkly insisting on a provocateur conspiracy behind everything. When major news breaks, it doesnt take long for people to come up with conspiracy theories, and it doesnt take much longer for other people to call the conspiracy theorists wacky, delusional and other unkind adjectives. Confirmation bias kicks in; both sides double down on the inflammatory rhetoric. Who is smugger, really to borrow Bradshaws word the theorists or the anti-theorists? The antis should not be so quick to assert their superiority. You dont have to be crazy to believe conspiracy theories. In a 2013 survey of 1,247 registered American voters, for example, just over a third agreed that global warming is a hoax, and half agreed that there was a conspiracy behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. When researchers look at how many people believe any conspiracy theory, the figures come in even higher. As many as 9 out of 10 people acknowledge entertaining one conspiracy theory or another. Recent psychological research reveals why we are all yes, all wired to feel the lure of conspiracy theories. Given a handful of dots, our pattern-seeking brains cant resist trying to connect them. Faced with events that have significant consequences, for example, we tend to suspect there must have been an equally significant cause. One experiment, conducted long before the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, used the context of a plane crash. If there were many casualties, people felt that big explanations, such as endemic malpractice in the airline industry, were more plausible. If there were no casualties, people were happy with smaller explanations, such as a single malfunctioning component. Its the impulse to think big common to everyone that leads some to believe that mass shootings are a ruse designed to repeal the Second Amendment, that an assassination couldnt have been pulled off by a lone gunman, or perhaps that the president is a pawn of the New World Order. But our built-in biases dont just nudge us toward believing large-scale conspiracy theories; they also shape how we interpret our everyday lives. Consider some defining event in your life, such as how you met your spouse. Youre probably tempted to think theres some deep explanation for it, such as fate or destiny. Or imagine your child receives a routine vaccination, and he screams and cries for the rest of the day. Weeks later, he shows signs of autism. Given a coincidence like that, its not hard to see why a parent might suspect that the vaccine caused the disorder. Our biases can lead us astray plenty of scientific studies have failed to find any evidence that vaccines cause autism. But without them, wed be lost, blind to cause and effect. Sometimes, the dots really are connected. If you eat a burrito for lunch and feel horribly sick later that night, youll probably blame the burrito and you might be right. If you had claimed, in the early 1970s, that a hotel burglary was, in fact, a plot by White House officials to illegally spy on political rivals and ensure President Nixons reelection, you might have been accused of conspiracy theorizing. Indeed, journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were accused by the White House and even their own editorial team at the Washington Post of propagating conspiracy theories. So if youre one of those people whos certain youd never fall for a false conspiracy theory, consider the possibility that youd never suss out a real one. A recent study, for example, found that people who reject speculative conspiracy theories (such as evidence of alien contact is being concealed from the public) are also more likely to reject documented conspiracies (such as How likely is the idea that the government has performed mind-control experiments on its own citizens without their consent? a coy reference to the CIAs very real MKUltra program). Dismissing all conspiracy theories (and theorists) as crazy is just as intellectually lazy as credulously accepting every wild allegation. The tricky part is figuring out whats reasonable and whats ridiculous, and we can do that only by honestly scrutinizing why we believe what we believe. Seen from the perspective of psychology, conspiracy theorists arent so strange. Or, looking at it another way, conspiracy theorists are weird; its just that the rest of us are weird too. Rob Brotherton is an academic psychologist and the author of Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. A large crowd filled the Caldwell Snyder Gallery on Thursday evening to honor the St. Helena Chamber of Commerces four Community Service Award winners. Honored were: Kim Phinney, Citizen of the Year, for her tireless work for St. Helena, including being a volunteer teacher for first- through eighth-graders in the art of calligraphy and being one of the leaders of the citys Parks and Rec Commission, helping with the Fourth of July fireworks and putting on the best Harvest Festival ever. Central Valley, Business of the Year, which celebrated 60 years in the hardware and construction industry in 2015, employing 250 people in five locations throughout the North Bay Area. Francisco Ortiz, Employee of the Year, who has been one of the smiling faces at the St. Helena Post Office for the past 14 years. The Stephen McCullagh Fund, Nonprofit of the Year, which dedicated a new community park in honor of the late McCullagh, an assistant scoutmaster for St. Helena Boy Scout Troop 1. Before the short ceremony, Phinney was modest. She said the honor is completely overwhelming for me. It is very hard to be in this environment (the Caldwell Snyder Gallery) being recognized for things that I think are normal to do. After hearing about the award, Phinney said she threatened her sister, Katie Leonardini, who serves on the Chambers board of directors. When Phinney told her sister, You better not let this happen, Leonardini responded, Its out of my hands. On Thursday evening, after accepting the 2015 Commemorative Sculpture from her sister, Phinney said, I would like to curse Pam Simpson, but I will thank her instead. During a short speech, she added, I follow behind so many Citizens of the Year, I will make you proud. I couldnt be up here without my husband, Dave, who works so hard so I can volunteer. Kathleen Patterson and her son, Steve, own Central Valley. Steve Patterson reflected on the award: Id just like to say thank you on behalf of the Patterson family to our community, to our customers, to our employees and to the Chamber for making Central Valley a company worthy of this recognition and of this distinction. He added, I cant thank the community enough. We feel very proud to receive this and certainly weve been around for 60 years and we look forward to serving the community for another 60. When asked what his favorite memory was from the past 10 or 15 years, Patterson paused a minute and said, Ill probably choose the most recent, that is a revitalization, a re-invigoration of the brand, which has changed from Central Valley Builders Supply to simply Central Valley. Patterson added that the move was exciting for me because it was a tribute to the past and got us focused on the future. It was exciting for the employees, it sent a positive message to the community and again about our commitment to be here for the foreseeable future. In nominating the smiling Francisco Ortiz for the honor, Katie Somple said, His positive and helpful attitude personifies the kind of customer service St. Helena encourages. He is well-known and liked by many St. Helena locals. Recently a series of unsolicited, complimentary letters to the editor were published in the St. Helena Star written by citizens affected by his positive and happy nature. After accepting the award from Joshua Cowan, Chamber board president, Ortiz simply put his hands together and said, Thank you. Sam Baxter serves as the head of the board for the nonprofit Stephen McCullagh Fund. On Thursday evening, he said, We are blown away by what weve been able to accomplish with the support of the community, which culminated with the April dedication of McCullagh Park after years of fundraising. Baxter and McCullagh grew up as best friends and afterward, Baxter said, We worked together, went to college together. He was family to all of us. To more people than we even knew, he impacted so many people beyond our close circle. His connection with people and the way he influenced people throughout his life set a huge foundation of what weve been able to accomplish, Baxter added. The 29-year-old McCullagh and 13-year-old Ryan Collins died during a Boy Scout Troop 1 hike 10 years ago after being struck by lightning in Sequoia National Park. Five others were injured. Published by an old curmudgeon who came to America in 1936 as a refugee from Nazi Germany and proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is a former law enforcement officer and a retired professor of criminal justice who, in 1970, founded the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. BarkGrowlBite refuses to be politically correct. (Copyrighted articles are reproduced in accordance with the copyright laws of the U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 107.) Micro and macro economics are the two sides of the same coin.There is close interdependence between the two.We cannot analyse the in... Lacote: OSCE observation mission deployment will contribute to respect of Armenia territorial integrity World oil prices going up How do crooks steal Peugeot and Toyota cars using JBL wireless speakers? 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IOC extends sanctions on Russia, Belarus Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions at midnight La Liga: Atletico play draw PACE lawmakers call for Azerbaijan militarys immediate withdrawal from Armenia Australia reverses decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel capital Armenia MPs meet with European Parliament colleagues, reflect on recent Azerbaijan attack Paul Pogba will be back in action this month Study: Women fake orgasm because of insecurity Nouriel Roubini: In some sense, World War III has already started Benzema says after Ronaldo left, he was motivated to get better EU considers paying Elon Musk to provide Starlink Internet to Ukraine World oil prices going up Newspaper: Karabakh delegation to head for Moscow, meeting with Putin considered probable Azerbaijan army opens fire towards Armenia positions at midnight Retired US Air Force general is offered consulting job in Azerbaijan at rate of $5,000 a day White House is puzzling over how to avoid meeting between Putin and Biden at 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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 LINCOLN College students who need money have an opportunity to receive a grant from the Nebraska Bankers Educational Foundation (NBEF). Every year, NBEF allocates up to $18,000 in scholarships through the William B. Brandt Memorial Scholarship Fund. This year, $2,000 scholarships will be given to nine students pursuing a business-related degree at one of the colleges listed below. Who is eligible : Legal residents of Nebraska Full-time students pursuing a business-related degree, i.e., finance, accounting, economics, marketing, etc. at one of Nebraskas state or privately funded colleges or universities (excluding the University of Nebraska) Students who will have achieved at least a junior- or senior-level status by the following fall academic year with a minimum GPA of 3.0 Students attending one of the following universities: Bellevue University, Chadron State College, College of St. Mary, Concordia University, Creighton University, Doane College, Hastings College, Midland University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Peru State College, Union College, Wayne State College, York College How to apply: 1. Go to www.nebankers.org/index.php/scholarships.html for the application form. 2. Include the application form, essay, and a letter of recommendation from a bank officer who works at an NBA-member financial institution. 3. Submit by Jan. 31, 2016. 4. Watch for the selection of scholarship recipients in March 2016 (all applicants will be notified). Posted by Mark Williams | January 23, 2016 The 2016 Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., will not only feature Steve McQueen's classic Chevrolet pickup truck camper, it also will include one of the most famous 2000 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 pickups. Comedian Jay Leno, former host of "The Tonight Show" and current host of "Jay Leno's Garage," will serve as auctioneer of the pickup on Jan. 29. Proceeds will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Leno's pickup is the only Harley F-150 with a factory SVT Lightning powertrain. The Ford Harley is one of 11 vehicles being auctioned to benefit charities during the Scottsdale event, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary. There's even a 2015 Chevy Colorado called the "Military Colorado" set to cross the auction block Jan. 28; proceeds from its sale will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Click here for more information about charity vehicles at this auction. The auction will be televised on the Velocity and Discovery channels; click here for a schedule. The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auto auction runs Saturday through Jan. 31. Barrett-Jackson image What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV) The governor and the Legislature are looking at the 2016 version of property tax relief, which includes the use of lids on spending and property value increases. Lids. Nothing new here folks. In fact, it was 20 years ago when there were three petition drives aimed at substantially reducing or even eliminating the use of the property tax in Nebraska. One made it to the 1996 general election ballot. Thus began a multi-faceted legislative approach to the problem with the enactment of bills and placement of two constitutional amendments on the ballot from 1996 through 2000. With some reservations, the results were generally positive in reducing property tax and restructuring state aid. The property tax growth rate was cut in half from nearly 6 percent to less than 3 percent by the property tax relief measures passed by the Legislature beginning in 1996. This was due primarily to increased state aid to local governments and tighter budget growth limitations. State aid to local governments increased thanks to revenue growth in the income tax and sales tax without increasing either state tax rate. The whole process was blessed by a period of exceptional growth in the economy. But remember, Most human affairs come down to depending on whose ox is getting gored. Martin Luther is credited with that paraphrase of Exodus 21: 29-31 in the 1520s. It is especially true in matters of property tax. Farmers want a valuation break on their vast land holdings, but they also want better schools to educate their children. An estimated 60 percent of property tax dollars statewide goes to public education. Can they have it both ways? Over time, levy limits have been effective in some smaller communities but less significant in reducing the level of property taxation. If valuation growth slows down and improvements are made in the quality of assessments, the situation could change. Governor Pete Ricketts thinks the time is right again for lids. He painted this picture in his recent State of the State Address: Commodity prices are flat or down; corn is around $3.50 a bushel, a significant drop from the $8 a bushel price in 2012; cattle prices are down 17 percent over the last year. While farm incomes are subject to fluctuations each year, property taxes go up and up, he said. And thats a threat to agriculture, the largest part of the state economy. The 2016 version of the lids (in two governor-approved bills) would tighten limits on budget growth and levy increases for all local governments, and slow the rise in government-assessed cropland values. Ricketts calls them tools to help local governments control spending in light of the $3.78 billion Nebraskans paid in property taxes last year. Remember, property taxes are assessed and collected by local governments using guidelines from the state. Ricketts repeatedly says lowering property tax bills is his number one priority. One part of the tax proposals would limit statewide aggregate growth in agricultural land valuations to 3 percent, and tighten levy and spending limits that already apply to local governments. The governor says that would trigger millions of dollars in additional state aid to school districts, anywhere from $5 million to $40 million next year. The other part of the proposal would limit school district spending by restricting the amount districts can stockpile in their reserves each year and how much potential budget growth they can carry over from year to year. At least one tax policy think tank says it is concerned about unintended consequences of the measure. And the executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials says property valuation increases should also include a floor to limit how much cropland values can drop. Larry Dix says he worries that down years on the farm could destroy some political subdivisions. Numerous exemptions to the lids have been allowed in the last 20 years to account for such things as court cases over which local governments have little control. Several high profile murder cases have stretched the budgets of Nebraska counties. There are other examples of emergencies from natural disasters and the like. While there doesnt appear to be a new approach, lets just be mindful of the vested interests of those who are advocating for or resisting the changes. Be prayerful that cool heads will prevail as solutions are sought. Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar on Saturday paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who raised an army to fight the British and whose death in an air crash continues to be a mystery even after seven decades, on his birth anniversary. "Today (Saturday) is freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Boseji's 119th birth anniversary. I pay respect to his great majesty," Lata posted on Twitter. A former Congress president and once a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Bose's reported death in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1945 has remained a mystery. He was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha. Apart from Lata, veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai and actress Gul Panag also paid tributes to Bose on the micro-blogging site. Ghai tweeted: "My mother told me that my maternal grandfather - big fan of Subhash Chandra Bose - kept my name Subhash because I was born on January 24 morning. Since then I have been his fan too." Gul wrote: "Happy birthday Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. May your ideals continue to inspire yet more generations to come. Salute! #JaiHind." -*- Priyanka Chopra proud of 'Jai Gangaajal' Actress Priyanka Chopra, who will be seen as a police officer in the forthcoming film Jai Gangaajal, has thanked filmmaker Prakash Jha for giving her a chance to be a part of the action drama, which she feels proud of. Priyanka, who is currently in Montreal, took to Twitter on Saturday to talk about Jai Gangaajal. Thank you @prakashjha27 for the support! Can't wait to share #JaiGangaajal with the world. A film I'm proud of! Thank you for fighting to tell this story, Priyanka tweeted. Jai Gangaajal, a sequel to the 2003 film Gangaajal, will also feature Jha, Manav Kaul and Rahul Bhat. The film will release on March 4. -*- 'Airlift' showcases Akshay Kumar's career best portrayal: KJo Filmmaker Karan Johar has lauded Akshay Kumar's new film Airlift calling it the actor's career best portrayal. Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, "Airlift" -- based on the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait during the 1990 Iraq-Kuwait war -- released on Friday. #airlift is a heartwarming film about the triumph of the human spirit!! @akshaykumar in his career best portrayal was the soul of the film, Karan posted on Twitter on late Friday. So proud of my friends @madhubhojwani @monishaadvani @nikkhiladvani for making this special film! @niluferq for all her hard work! #airlift, Karan added. Airlift also stars Nimrat Kaur, Feryna Wazheir and Purab Kohli. --Indo-Asian News Service sas/nn/bg ( 421 Words) 2016-01-23-16:27:34 (IANS) "Balasaheb Thackeray.my mind is filled with many memories. Tributes to the widely admired & respected personality on his birth anniversary," Prime Minister Modi said in tweet. Thackeray, who was born on January 23, 1926, began his professional career as a cartoonist with an English language daily in Mumbai, but left it in 1960 to form his own political weekly 'Marmik'. He formed Shiv Sena in 1966 to advocate the place of Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai's political and professional landscape. He passed away in November 2012 and was accorded a state funeral with a large number of mourners turning up at Shivaji Park - his favourite ground where he used to organise rallies, including the famous Dussehra rally. (ANI) Remembering the role-played by Netaji in freedom struggle, Gandhi recalled that the nation as indeed the Congress Party can never forget his contribution to the national struggle for freedom for founding of an independent democratic republic of India. He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic, said Gandhi. Netaji was born in Cuttack, Odisha. A number of functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion. Netaji Birthplace Museum in Cuttack will release a special booklet containing rare photographs and information about Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files relating to Netaji. The National Archives of India is placing these files in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. In 1997, the National Archives had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army from Defence Ministry. In 2012, it received 1,030 files and items pertaining to the Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry from Home Ministry. All these files and items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules 1997. (ANI) According to The Guardian, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the shooting as "every parent's worst nightmare". Acting mayor Kavin Janvier said that his 23-year-old daughter who taught at the school was among the dead. In a media briefing, Chief Superintendent Maureen Levy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that chaos in the immediate wake of the shooting made some of the early information unreliable. Levy said that there is a lot of information going back and forth in such incidents. The number of people injured could not be confirmed. (ANI) Two suspected Islamic State members, who were arrested in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly planning a terror attack at the ongoing Ardh Kumbh at Haridwar, will be produced before a local court this noon, ATS officials said.While Aleem Ahmed was arrested in Lucknow last night, his accomplice Rizwan Ahmed was nabbed in Kasiya area of Kushinagar district near the Indo-Nepal border.ATS officials of UP police said here today that Aleem had given Rs 50,000 to Akhkaq, for triggering a blast in Haridwar. However Akhlaq along with Meeraj, Azim and Osama were arrested by police in Roorkee in Uttarakhand early this week.Sources confirmed that the decision for the terror action was planned in Lucknow at the residence of Aleem.Aleem, a professional photographer by profession, was staying in Vasant Bihar colony in the Indira Nagar locality of the state capital. Eight people have planned the attack. However security agencies have apprehended all of them.UNI MB SV 1027 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-553014.Xml Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today.The Prime Minister remembered Netaji, saying,''his bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations.''''Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same,'' the Prime Minister tweeted.Congress president Sonia Gandhi also paid homage to Netaji. Remembering the role-played by Netaji, one of the greatest sons of India, Ms Gandhi recalled with gratitude that the Nation as indeed the Congress Party can never forget his contribution to the national struggle for freedom for founding an independent democratic republic of India.''He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic,'' Ms Gandhi said.UNI AR-SS SHS SV 1114 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0103-553062.Xml At top, Don Lassiter (front) and his son Trent in front of their event center The Farm, on property CSX wants for the Carolina Connector project. Below, an aerial photo of a concert at The Farm. (Top photo by Don Carrington) (Bottom photo from TheFarmNC.com) RALEIGH At an emergency closed-session meeting Wednesday night, less than a week after Gov. Pat McCrory announced a $272 million CSX rail terminal project near Selma, the Johnston County Board of Commissioners issued a statement opposing both the project at the current location and the railroad company's threats to use eminent domain to acquire property for the transportation hub.While CSX officials compared the project - known as Carolina Connector - to similar rail cargo hubs in Chambersburg, Pa., and North Baltimore, Ohio, Carolina Journal has confirmed that the railroad did not use eminent domain to acquire property for either project. Nor did the railroad receive significant state subsidies for the Pennsylvania or Ohio projects, even though the company has said the Carolina Connector depended upon at least $100 million in state transportation funding promised by the McCrory administration.A McCrory spokesman on Wednesday told CJ the CSX terminal would compete with other transportation projects for state funding - a point the governor failed to mention in his Jan. 14 press release on the Carolina Connector - and no decisions about funding would be made until March.At press time, the governor's office had not responded to the Johnston County commission's statement opposing the CSX project.The Carolina Connector, which company officials say will cover 450 acres, spurred immediate opposition from local property owners and other residents. Don Lassiter, 63, who owns about 45 acres between the CSX rail line and Batten Road, told CJ that at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 14 - two hours before McCrory issued a press release announcing the project - CSX acquisitions director Cameron Wilson came to Lassiter's home and said the railroad needed some of his land for the Carolina Connection terminal.Lassiter, whose 28-year-old son Trent was present at the meeting, said he was not interested in selling. The Lassiters then said Wilson told them they had no choice, and that if they could not agree with CSX on a price, the railroad's legal team would handle the matter, implying that CSX would use eminent domain.Trent Lassiter told CJ his family has owned the land since the 1700s. On the property is The Farm, a special-event facility that Trent Lassiter completed in 2013. The Farm hosts wedding receptions, business meetings, parties, and concerts. "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery has played there and is scheduled for another concert June 4. Trent Lassiter is engaged to McCreery's sister Ashley.Wood County (Ohio) Economic Development Commission executive director Wade Gottschalk told CJ that CSX did not use eminent domain to acquire the land for its North Baltimore project.Franklin County (Pa.) Area Development Corporation president Mike Ross also told CJ that CSX did not use eminent domain to acquire the land for the company's Chambersburg facility.Both Gottschalk and Ross said that little if any state funds went into the CSX projects in their areas, but CSX probably received some federal funds for each project.CSX spokeswoman Kristen Seay confirmed in an email that CSX did not use eminent domain in Ohio or Pennsylvania. And she added,She also confirmed thereIn the Jan. 14 press release announcing the Carolina Connector project, McCrory did not mention that final approval from the state might not be issued until the end of March.CSX issued a statement the same day, saying the company would spend $150 million on the project, but that theMcCrory said CSX and the Upper Coastal Plain Regional Planning Organization submitted the project for $100 million in Strategic Transportation Investments funding, which helps pay for new infrastructure. He said STI uses theMcCrory spokesman Graham Wilson said that CSX has received no guarantees that Carolina Connector will receive any state funding.Wilson said CSX requested funding for the project in October or November. To secure STI funding, a project must be evaluated on four criteria - cost effectiveness; system health; safety and suitability; and project support - and' Wilson said.he said.WTVD News first reported on the Lassiters' involvement with CSX and the experience of another landowner, Jennifer Edwards. According to the story, a CSX employee told Edwards she had six months to move.she said. The BCCI today named all-rounder Gurkeerat Mann as cover-up for star batter Ajinkya Rahane while Rishi Dhawan will replace injured pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Australia. Rahane, who split his webbing on his right hand while fielding in the fourth ODI at Canberra will be with the squad while Kumar who injured his left thumb has been ruled out."The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gurkeerat Singh Mann in the India T20I team as a cover up for injured Ajinkya Rahane," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said in a statement."Meanwhile, the BCCI medical team has confirmed that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of Indias tour of Australia after he fractured his left-hand thumb. All-rounder Rishi Dhawan has been included in the T20I team as Bhuvneshwars replacement," he added.India is currently playing Australia in the final game of the five-match ODI rubber here today. The visitors have already lost the series and are trailing 0-4.They will take on the hosts in a three-match T20 International series, starting Tuesday in Adelaide.UNI TBA SHS SV 1122 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-553057.Xml Representatives of the Taliban's 'political office' will attend the conference being held in Doha on Saturday by Pugwash conferences on Science and World Affairs, reports the Dawn. The conference 'aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,'is now in its 15th year. The Taliban said they sought to take 'healthy advantage' of the Pugwash initiative to 'relay the legal demands of our nation and our just policy to the world directly'. The conference is not the part of official peace process which recently restarted after being derailed in July after theTaliban's founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead since early 2013.(ANI) Inaugurating the global florifest (Pooppoli 2016) organised by Kerala Agricultural University ( KAU ) at RARS, Ambalavayal, he said the government is taking all possible steps to safeguard the genuine interests of farmers. Stressing the relevance of Scientific farming methods, the Chief Minister highlighted the contributions of KAU and also announced that a new agricultural college will start functioning at Ambalavayal from next academic year. The show is being arranged with cooperation of other departments, PSUs and District administration. Art programmes and sales counters offering quality seeds and planting materials are other attractions of the fest. Minister for SC/ST development P K Jayalakshmi inaugurated the exhibition being conducted as part of florifest at a function presided over by I C Balakrishnan MLA. KAU Executive Committee members M.P.Vincent MLA, P.A.Salam and Aji Francis, District Panchayat President Ushakumari, District Collector V.Kesavendra Kumar, Women's Commission Chairperson Rosakutty, Hill Area Development Authority Vice-Chairman M.D.Appachan,KAU functionaries and local body representatives, among others, were present. This year's exhibition showcases modern technologies in floriculture and horticulture facilitating knowledge sharing between entrepreneurs, scientists and international experts. Properly tapped, the potential of floriculture and horticulture can change the fortunes of wynad farmers, experts said. Flowers like Dahlia,Gladiolus, Rose and Gerbera as well as exotic fruit plants like Litchi, Raspberry, Strawberry, Rambutan, Avocado and even macadamia can be successfully grown here, they said.UNI PCH VV JK1214 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-553127.Xml twelve volunteers of the India Jananayaga kazhagam (IJK) were arrested when they burnt in effigy Sri Lanka President Sirisena here today protesting against the continued arrest nad harassment of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal fishermen by Sri Lanka navy. The volunteers led by its president Veerasekeran gathered at the Venkatasubbareddiyar statue and shouted slogans against Sri Lanka.All on a sudden ,they set fire to an effigy of Sirisena which was hidden by them.Police swung into action and seized the half-burnt effigy and put out the fire and arrested 12 including Veerasekeran.UNI PAB VV JK1255 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-553160.Xml Sambia Sohrab, the prime accused in the hit-and-run case in Kolkata in which a young Air Force officer was killed by a speeding Audi, has confessed that he was driving the vehicle, police sources said. Sambia is the son of Mohammad Sohrab, once a Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator and now close to the ruling Trinamool Congress. However, the TMC has flatly denied Sohrab having any track with the party. Besides arresting Sambia, Kolkata police had nabbed two of his friends-Noor Alam alias Johny and Shahnawaz Khan alias Shanu- on the charge that they were also in the car. But what police claimed was contested the defence personnel, who were present at the time of the incident. They have been insisting that there was only one person in the car when it hit Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud during a Republic Day parade rehearsal on Red Road on January 13. The arrest of Sambia's friends raised questions about the intention of police since his father is said to be close to a section of police bosses. Sambia was arrested in Kolkata 16 January. But his father and brother Ambia are missing. UNI KDG KK SV NS1344 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-553172.Xml Maoist rebels killed a former Sarpanch of Harni panchayat in the district today by accusing him of being a police informer. Police said here that extremists of outlawed CPI (Maoist) slit open the throat of former Sarpanch, Dinesh Tanti resulting in his on the spot death. The headless body of Tanti was recovered from the 'jungle' of Panchbhur. Sources said that extremists of outlawed CPI (Maoist) had kidnapped the former Sarpanch from Tarakant village in the district. Family members of Tanti had lodged an FIR in this connection last night itself and police had launched a search operation to find out his whereabouts. Naxalites had also left a leaflet at the spot, accusing former Sarpanch of being a police informer. His motorcycle was also found there. Police have launched a massive manhunt to nab culprits. UNI XC DH KK SV RAI1328 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-553176.Xml BJP National Executive MemberC P Radhakrishnan today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the textile city of Coimbatore next month totake part in a government function. Talking to reporters here, he said the Prime Minister would be accorded a grand welcome on the occasion. About the forthcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the former State unit president of the BJP said though it may take some time to formalise the alliance, every party is working towards it and are waiting for the appropriate 'time'. ''We will stitch together a strong alliance that will emerge victorious in the elections, he added. Mr Radhakrishnan said conserving water bodies and inter-linking of rivers to provide proper irrigation facilities will be the key points of the BJP's poll manifesto. Stating that the Union government led by Mr Modi will strive for the cause of Dalits, Mr Radhakrishnan, referring to the suicide of a Dalit research scholar at University of Hyderabad, 'one does not have the right to do anything against the nation just because he is a Dalit. Urging young Muslims in the country not to join the dreaded ISIS, he said it was the duty of the parents to make them (youths) understand that joining the terrorist group would not make their religion prosper. ''Everyone has the right to practise their own faith without hurting the sentiments and feelings of theother religions'', he added.UNI GV VV RSS1456 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-553361.Xml The Tamil Nadu Yadava Sangam wouldstage a picketing agitation before the Chennai Customs officeon January 25 demanding the Centre to implement the MandalCommittee recommendations providing 27 per cent reservationfor the backward classes. Talking to reporters here today, S Sarasumuthu Yadav saidmore than 2,500 yadavas from across the state would participate in the agitation, during which they would attempt to lock the office of the Chennai customs to press their demand. Stating that yadavas constitute more than 20 per cent of thecountry's population, predominantly in states like Uttar Pradesh,Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, he sought to knowwhy the government was not willing to provide 27 per cent reservation in jobs in Central government institutions as mandated by the Mandal Commission. He also sought to know whey the Centre, which was releasingreligion based census, was hesitant to bring in amendmentsto release the caste -based census. Observing that the agitation was aimed at retrieving the rights of the Yadava community, who constitute about eight to 10 per cent of Tamil Nadu's population, Mr Sarasumuthu Yadav said ''if our demands are not met even after this agitation, the Yadava Sangam will stage similar agitationsin front of all Central government offices to press theirdemand''.UNI GV VV RSS1503 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-553374.Xml People across West Bengal today paid glowing tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. For the first time since Netaji Subash Chandra Bose disappeared 70 years ago, his120th birthday assumed huge historical and political significance among the Indians after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made public 64 secret files, which say the Indian No 1 patriot did not die in Taipei plane crash in 1945. Ms Banerjee in September 2015, declassified 64 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in possession of West Bengal government and put them up in public domain in digitise files, dating from 1937 to 1947. "Heartfelt regard to our National hero Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on this 120th birth day, Ms Banerjee twitted from Darjeeling, the venue of the state government's main function of the most written freedom fighter against the British empire. "I've always been a great believer in the teachings of the great leader (Netaji) and imbibed them (teachings) in my daily life and activities," Ms Banerjee said. The birth anniversary of the most controversial Indian leader was being celebrated since the dawn with children and scouts taking out colourful procession remembering the leader, who founded Azad Hind Fouj to defeat the imperial colonial rule in India. Meanwhile, historian and Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Sugato Bosehas said it was not a good day to release Netaji files, making a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to declassify some 100 files of Netaji. Mr Bose, a relative of Netaji, believed that his uncle died in Taihokuor Taipai on August 18 in 1945." These files are over 50 years old, they should have been opened long back," Mr Bose told a daily, in reference to Central government's move to unwind the files from secrecy.UNI PC KK RJ AE NS1522 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-553238.Xml Police said Kuldip Singh, a resident of Narpur Varsola village under Gurdaspur police station and brother of victim Daljit Kaurt (25) has lodged a complaint with the police that his sister was married to an army personnel Jagdip Singh five years ago who used to force her to bring more dowry, and recently her in-laws have demanded a car, which could not be fulfilled. He alleged that his sister was poisoned to death by her husband, mother-in-law Harinder Kaur and sister-in-law Navpreet Kaur yesterday. On his complaint police has registered a case against her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Her body was handed over to her relatives after post-mortem at civil hospital here. UNI XC AE CS1520 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-553275.Xml 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. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has convened a meeting of the farmers and farm labourers on January 27 at Chandigarh to discuss their demands. The peasants agreed to attend the meeting but at the same time, their stir would continue until and unless their demands were conceded by the state government. Stating this here today, Sukhdev Singh Kokari, General Secretary of BKU Ekta (Ugrahan) said the farmer unions and farm laborers union would meet at Rike Kalan village near Badal village tomorrow. This meeting would take a decision regarding the mode of agitation and also review the three-day protest of all the unions at village Badal but the police did not allow them to reach at Badal and also detained some of their leaders to prevent them to reach Badal. Mr Kokari criticised the state police for detaining their leaders and cracking on farmers. He said the peasants meeting would also decided of new action to press the government for the release of detained persons. The anti-farmers policies of both the union and the state government led to suicides by the farmers, the BKU General Secretary Alleged. He was also critical of the police to arrest and repression of the state police as the state government was using police to suppress the voice of farmers. Mr Kokari said the government should ask the police not to come in the way of farmers agitation, otherwise it might aggravate the situation and great resentment prevailing among the farmers and farm labourers communities. Ryots Mr Kokari, were demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for the loss of cotton crop, Rs 20,000 per acre to farm labourers and clearance of payment to sugarcane growers. UNI XC RJ AE NS1557 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-553267.Xml The Indian arm of the American motorcycle maker, UM International, LLC UM Motorcycles is all set to launch range of motorcycles in India. The bike maker will make its debut in India with the start of Auto Expo on February 3rd, 2016 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. The American brand will unveil its Renegade range of cruiser motorcycles: Renegade Sport S, Renegade Commando and Renegade Classic. "We are thrilled and excited to bring our world-class Renegade range of cruisers, which have been designed and customized for the Indian market. The Renegade series will give Indian buyers a taste of high quality, world class cruisers which are built to tackle the diverse Indian terrain with ease and finesse," said Director-UM India and AMEA, Rajeev Mishra. "UM Motorcycles stand for design, innovation and quality all at affordable prices. We are confident that India will be delighted with our product offerings. While this would be our second time at India's Auto Expo, having already participated in the Auto Expo 2014, we are extremely excited to finally chart our official entry into India," added Mishra. The motorcycle comes with wide handlebars and hydraulic telescopic front suspension and spring rear suspension, which is ideal for a cruiser-segment motorcycle. The Renegade Sport S model and Renegade Classic will also share the same engine as the Renegade Commando. The Renegade Sport S was much appreciated when it was showcased at the 2015 EICMA in Milan. "The wait is almost over with the Auto Expo around the corner. We are extremely excited to partner with UM Motorcycles and bring their globally successful and much-awaited motorcycles to India. With this announcement, we aim at a considerable slice of the market share in the dynamic yet extremely competitive mid-size capacity cruiser market," Ayush Lohia, CEO, Lohia Auto Industries. UM International in alliance with the UP-based Lohia Auto has invested Rs. 100 crore for business expansion. Manufacturing is already underway at the Lohia Auto's Kashipur facility in Uttarakhand which will also support the Government's 'Make in India' initiative. Headquartered out of New Delhi in India, the company has started appointing dealers across India. This distribution network will continue to expand taking in tier 2 and tier 3 cities and towns going forward. (ANI) The flight G8-243 with 150 passengers aboard had taken off from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 8.20 a.m. and after getting the bomb threat was diverted to Nagpur in Maharashtra where it landed at 9.29 a.m. The GoAir Bhubaneswar office informed police. All passengers were deplaned and a thorough security check was carried out but no bomb was found inside the aircraft, said the statement from GoAir. After the relevant security clearances, the aircraft was permitted to depart at noon for the onward flight of the private carrier to Mumbai. A Delhi bound Indigo flight was also checked, which was about to take off from Bhubaneswar airport following repeated phone calls from an unidentified person in the morning. Bhubaneswar airport director Sarad Kumar said: "The person made three phone calls to the airport manager stating that bombs have been planted in GoAir flight and Indigo flight. He also used slang words to the manager. Then we immediately landed the Mumbai bound flight at Nagpur and did a security check." He said the Delhi bound Indigo flight was also thoroughly checked here, but nothing was found. Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrat Bhoi said the police is trying to trace the person who had made the hoax calls to the airport authorities. --Indo-Asian News Service cd/gt/pr/bg ( 249 Words) 2016-01-23-16:29:34 (IANS) The President paid homage to the Netaji on his 119th birth anniversary at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ms Mukherjee paid floral tributes in front of a portrait of Netaji at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan were present on the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Netaji, saying, ''His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations. ''Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same,'' the Prime Minister tweeted. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also paid homage to Netaji.Remembering the role-played by Netaji, one of the greatest sons of India, Ms Gandhi recalled with gratitude that the nation as indeed the Congress can never forget his contribution to the national struggle for freedom for founding an independent democratic republic of India.''He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic,'' Ms Gandhi said.UNI AR-SS SW AE 1633 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-553582.Xml Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari has laid the foundation stone for construction of a passenger jetty at Kanhoji Angre Island off Mumbai coast, in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Speaking on the occasion here yesterday, Mr Gadkari said his ministry has drawn up an ambitious plan to develop 78 Lighthouse across the country as tourist destination. Such identified lighthouse are in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshydwip, Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman Nicbar Islands. Mr Gadkari asserted that while developing lighthouses as tourist destinations, every effort would be made to preserve the history and heritage associated with them. He said for several years, these lighthouses and Islands had remained neglected. He said the governments decision to develop them as tourist attraction would give employment opportunity and new means of livelihood for the locals. The Chief Minister welcomed the idea of developing lighthouses as tourist attraction and said the statewould benefit from it. He said his Government has accorded high priority to tourism and announced that 2017 will be declared as VISIT MAHARASHTRA YEAR. Mumbai Port Trust has given in principle approval to Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation for undertaking works related to tourism promotion on the island. The jetty being constructed at a cost of RS 16 crore, will facilitate smooth berthing of passenger boats and embarkation/ disembarkation of passengers at the island. The jetty will be 37 metres long and 10 metre wide and connect to the island by a 150 metre long approach. The Kanhoji Angre Island lighthouse was built in 1867 by the erstwhile Government of Bombay at an expenditure of Rs 1.22 lakh. Kanhoji Angre Island, earlier known as Kennery (Khanderi in Marathi) Island is situated in mid sea, off the coast of Thal village near Alibag. The island is about 4.5 km from Thal, 9.5 km from Alibag and 23 km from the Gateway of India. Kanhoji Angre Light House marks the entry point to the Mumbai harbour and acts as prime aid to navigation of ships entering and leaving Mumbai Ports.UNI ST NV RJ AE NS1624 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-553336.Xml Maintaining that there has been polarisation of Hindu voters post-PM Narendra Modis Assam visit, AIUDF supremo and MP Badruddin Ajmal has called upon the Muslim voters to come together to keep the Hindu forces at bay. Ajmal made the appeal to Muslim voters at a party rally at minority-dominated Baghbar in western Assam yesterday, leading to reactions against the comment cutting across political parties. Addressing an AIUDF rally at Baghbar, Ajmal claimed that Hindu voters have come together after Modis visit to the state earlier this week and it was now the turn of the Muslim voters to 'unite' for their own cause. He also alleged that Congress and BJP were both responsible for Babri Masjid demolition as the Congress was in power in Uttar Pradesh when kar sevaks of BJP had demolished the mosque. Ajmals remarks have led to backlash from leaders of other political parties, with some demanding a gag on the leader. BJP state president and Union MoS Sarbananda Sonowal said Ajmals remarks are targeted at creating communal divide in the state and he cautioned the voters from falling victim to such politics. BJP leader and MP Bijoya Chakraborty demanded a gag on Ajmal for such communal remarks. State Congress president Anjan Dutta said Ajmals remarks indicated that he has lost balance of mind and said there is no room for such communal politics in the state. Leading Muslim citizens also criticized Ajmals remarks at a press conference here, warning the people of the community not to fall prey to such leaders and pointing that the indigenous Muslim population identified itself as a part of Assamese society and not by the religion they followed.UNI SG KK ADG CS1655 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-553453.Xml West Bengal today proudly remembered Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the forgotten hero of the Indian independence struggle, his 119th birth anniversary, with day-long programmes. Hundreds of people thronged Netaji's residence - Netaji Bhawan - on Elgin Road in south Kolkata to pay their homage to the great leader. Netaji Bhawan also houses the Netaji Research Bureau (NRB), a society formed by Netaji's nephew Sisir Kumar Bose in 1957. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid rich tributes to Netaji and garlanded his portrait on this occasion, being held at the Mall in Darjeeling. This is the third year in a row that the official celebrations by the Chief Minister are being held at the Mall in Darjeeling. The Chief Minister inaugurated the programmes at 1200 hrs. Speaking on the occasion Ms Banerjee said the country deserves to know what happened to Netaji, who fought for the independence of this country. Seventy-five years ago Netaji left the country but we still dont know what happened to him after that; people deserve to know the truth.We want to see the files which would bring to light the details of Netaji after he left this country, Ms Banerjee said, The Chief Minister said, Netaji must be given the title of Leader of the Nation, he deserves this honour. The truth about Netaji must come out through documentation and proof. It is our responsibility towards the youth and the future generations to share with them the truth about Netaji. The national anthem, the national song and the slogan, Jai Hind all came from Bengal. We are proud of our heritage. We congratulate all the people of Darjeeling who work hard to develop the region. That should be our only aim, Ms Banerjee said. Netaji was a true leader of the nation. A true leader does not need to reiterate that he is a leader, she added. More UNI BM KK RJ AS1629 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-553506.Xml Australia has expressed concern over the use of Indian coast to illegally migrate to Australia following the arrest of six Sri Lankan refugees while attempting to take a boat to Australia from Velankanni in Nagappattinam district. Australian official praised India's Q Branch of the state police which arrested the six Sri Lankan refugees from Tiruchy and Karur while they were illegally trying to sail to New Zealand, but later cleared it was Australia, reports Lanka Page. The official said that in the last 18 months, three futile attempts were made my human traffickers to illegally ship Sri Lankans as well as Indians to Australia. The Australian envoy added that Australia is only 3,000 nautical miles from India while New Zealand is 6,000 nautical miles,so they had planned to enter Australia.(ANI) Kerry was to attend a joint meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), reports the Dawn. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran after the kingdom executed dissident Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr. Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran and will continue those efforts in Riyadh. Kerry earlier emphasized that lessening tensions is an important objective not only for the United States but for the region.(ANI) Earlier in the day Nitish had said, "Action would be taken against Sarfraz Alam, as such conducts cannot be tolerated," An FIR was registered on Monday against Alam for harassing a couple onboard Rajdhani train. He has also been charged with misbehaving with the woman passenger. A case has been filed against the JD (U) MLA at GRP Police Station at Patna junction and he has been booked under Sections 341, 323, 290, 504 and 354A of the IPC. Alam, however, has denied the charges, saying he didn't even board the train. "These allegations are baseless. I did not even travel by that train. There is politics behind this to tarnish my image. I will initiate legal action," Alam said. "I was in Patna and I went by road and came back. The development work is underway in full swing in Bihar and some people do not like it," he added. Meanwhile, the Congress has lauded the move by the Nitish-Kumar led government "It is good that such impartial level of investigation on a party is taking place," Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said. (ANI) Over a long teaching career, I have seen a lot of change in our colleges and universities-some of it good, but much of it not. In the not-good category I would put the decline of our commitment to educate our young people for American citizenship.Those of us old enough to remember the 1970s recall the crisis higher education was then facing. The stupendous growth of colleges and universities in the post-World War II-era was coming to an end and the future looked grim.But American higher education did not curl up and die. It didn't even shrink. Instead, it maintained and added to its bulk, including a steadily growing flow of foreign students (more on them later).It did what businesses always do when supply outstrips demand: it found, exploited, and even created new markets for its goods, meaning new students.The resulting gains in access to higher education and genuine diversity in the student body have on balance been a real advance. But our redefinition of higher education has also presented us with certain dilemmas, and these must be faced up to.For example, we need to pay more attention to the internationalization of the American academy, including the steadily growing number of foreign students in our universities. Those students represent a source of much-needed enrollment and tuition revenues. Their presence gives enlivening variety to our campuses, exposing the American-born to a taste of the larger world. What is not to like about that?For one thing, as educational researchers such as Chris R. Glass of Old Dominion University and Elizabeth Gareis of Baruch College have reported , our universities are doing a terrible job with the integration of their international students. Between the cross-cultural inadequacies of native-born students and the self-congregating tendencies of foreign students, the result in many cases has been an increasingly tense and anomic campus life.And there is another side to the integration problem, involving not only the neglect of international students, but also the neglect of the institutional mission of any American college or university: the formation of young people into fully informed and fully equipped citizens of the United States, knowledgeable about their own history and institutions.A personal story will help to make that point.Several years ago, I spent a year as a visiting professor at a small graduate school that was oriented toward public policy. Its course offerings and faculty reflected the kind of task-oriented training that public sector employers want from prospective employees. But the school also had a prescribed sequence of courses that sought to teach students about the philosophical and constitutional grounding of American society.The school was also highly tuition-dependent and had reached deeply into the foreign-student pool. Those students were something of a life preserver. But while their presence enlivened the classroom, their presence also constrained what I was able to accomplish.Instead of teaching my students how to intelligently appropriate the knowledge and traditions and historical memories of America, I found it necessary to teach as if those traditions were to be regarded neutrally, a view from nowhere carrying no inherent weight. The classes had become something different from what the school had intended them to be.My experience impressed upon me that, in addition to the ideological and political constraints facing professors today, the presence of an international classroom and student body also forms a serious constraint, particularly with a view toward helping our students come into a fuller ownership of their civilizational heritage.Thus does an admissions policy that swells the balance sheet but takes no account of the school's larger mission run the risk of undermining the institution's very reason for being.That teaching experience relates to a much more general problem I see in American higher education.The idea that higher education should teach about citizenship goes back to our beginnings. Thomas Jefferson's 1818 Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia called for each citizen "to understand his duties to his neighbors and country, and to discharge with competence the functions confided to him by either" and "to know his rights; to exercise with order and justice those he retains; to choose with discretion the fiduciary of those he delegates; and to notice their conduct with diligence, with candor, and judgment."But the ideological tides have shifted dramatically and education for American citizenship is viewed skeptically. Some now question whether that should be a central part of what our colleges try to provide-or any part.The influential philosopher Martha Nussbaum has argued that patriotism itself is an inferior sentiment, and thatSuch goals, she argued,It is the job of the university, she argues, to instill that ideal, and in so doing, displace the dangerous idols of the nation-state.Nussbaum offers as an exemplar of the cosmopolitan ideal the figure of Diogenes the Cynic, who was said to have answered anyone who asked what city-state he came from, by gruffly declaring "I am a citizen of the world." He heroically declined, Nussbaum says, to identify himself with the accidents of birth,We are urged to do the same, and to educate our young along similar lines.Her view dovetails with the emerging reality of Ben Wildavsky's transnational "global university," whose smooth surfaces have no place for the expression of national identity, or for the inculcation of the civic consciousness and community of historical memory that have hitherto been thought to be essential elements in the makeup of any decent and responsible political society, particular one founded in republican or democratic institutions.The rise of that view should be a matter of grave concern.For while cosmopolitanism may be the preferred mode of affiliation for academic intellectuals and international businessmen, it is not an ideal that encourages the perpetuation of deep loyalties and the willingness to sacrifice and bear others' burdens. It is not an ideal that imposes demanding civic duties, grounded in the concrete realities of ordinary life in real families, communities, and political society.The problem with cosmopolitanism is not with the more expansive world it opens to us, but with the more proximate world it encourages us to neglect.We give far too little attention to the kind of citizens required by our free and republican form of government. Nor do we give sufficient attention to the institutions and narratives by which we form the minds and hearts and spirits of each successive generation of citizens.In short, we have come to ignore what has always been understood as a primary goal of education: the formation of reflective and responsible citizens.We are paying the price for that neglect today. All too many Americans, even nominally well-educated ones, do not understand their own political and economic systems, and are appallingly ignorant of the American past. They are bereft of any sense of love for, or profound connection to, their own nation and its traditions.Needless to say, such citizens will have neither the intelligence nor the heart to meet the rigorous challenges of a very demanding future. We will have to do better, and start doing so very soon, if we are to maintain a republican form of government. "Farmers in Bundelkhand are in pain, but that does not affect Modi and Mulayam," Gandhi said at a meeting with farmers before starting on an eight km long 'Padyatra' here. He said his party always stood with the farmers. "We waived repayment of Rs 72,000 crore of money that farmers owed to the banks and gave thousands of crores of rupees in 'Bundelkhand package', but that money got siphoned off," Gandhi said, harking back to the Congress-led UPA government. He said he would raise the issue of Bundelkhand's farmers in parliament and struggle to get for them what was their due. Modi came in, as usual, for special treatment in Gandhi's attack, being targeted for ignoring farmers and not taking any "action" in the case of the suicide on January 17 of Hyderabad university scholar Rohith Vemula. "A thought is being suppressed in Hyderabad. But Modi is only shedding tears without taking any decisive action." Modi should fulfil his promise that his government would put Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every household, said the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The Prime Minister instead had been busy multiplying the wealth of the capitalists, he added. Thousands of party activists took part in Gandhi's 'padyatra'. Uttar Pradesh is set to go to polls the next year. --Indo-Asia News Service hindi/kb/bg ( 270 Words) 2016-01-23-17:09:34 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declassified the first set of 100 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who raised an army to fight the British and whose death in an air crash continues to be a mystery even after seven decades. Modi released digital copies of 100 files at the National Archives of India following the government's decision to declassify files on the freedom fighter. The files were released on the birth anniversary of Bose, who was more popularly addressed with the honorific Netaji. Modi also launched a webportal https://netajipapers.gov.in to release the digital version of the 100 files. "As a first step, the National Archives of India is placing 100 files relating to Netaji in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitisation," a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. It added that the remaining files will be placed in the public domain after their conservation treatment and digitisation. "The Government of India has written to the concerned foreign governments to declassify all files or papers related to Netaji. The government is committed to pursue this matter with them," the statement said. Bose's family members, some of whom where present during the declassification, were overwhelmed by the decision, calling it a "great day for the entire nation". Modi also met family members of Netaji, including Professor Chitra Ghosh, Chandra Bose and Surya Kumar Bose. Modi, in a meeting with members of Netaji's family in Delhi on October 14, 2015, had announced that the union government would declassify the files relating to Netaji in a phased manner, and make them accessible to the public. Accordingly, the first lot of 33 files was declassified by the PMO and handed over to the National Archives of India on December 4, 2015. "Subsequently, the ministries of home Affairs, and external affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred to the National Archives of India," the statement added. Netaji, one of the leading lights of the Indian freedom struggle, set up the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II to take on the British Indian Army. A former Congress president and once a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Bose's reported death in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1945 has remained a mystery. The bespectacled freedom fighter was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha. The National Archives received 990 declassified files, pertaining to the INA, from the defence ministry in 1997. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that Netaji should be declared "Leader of the Nation". "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose must be given the title 'Leader of the Nation'. He deserves that honour," Banerjee tweeted minutes after Modi declassified the files. The Mamata Banerjee government on September 18, 2015 had released 64 files running into 12,744 pages in the presence of Netaji's family members, campaigning for declassification of the files to unravel the mystery surrounding his sudden disappearance over 70 years ago. The release of the files "will meet the long-standing public demand" and "will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Netaji", a culture ministry statement has said. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen said in Kolkata on Saturday that he was interested in seeing the contents of the files. But it was far more important to debate his (Subhas Chandra Bose) life and work, to follow his vision, rather than to discuss in what circumstances he died. --Indo-Asian News Service akk/sd/bg ( 598 Words) 2016-01-23-17:17:34 (IANS) He said with the arrest of Karmu, all the four criminals who executed the nefarious plan of killing jeweller Ravi Kant in the broad daylight are under police custody. A special team had been formed to nab Sharma, who was the mastermind behind the murder, Mr Maharaj added. The pistol used in the crime had also been recovered. An intensive interrogation of Rai was on to get vital clues from him.UNI DH AD RJ AE AN1800 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-553657.Xml Speaking to newsmen here, he said the arrested were identified asSyed Wasim, Fayaz, Mohammed Rafi and Mased Ahmed, all fromChamarajanagar, have seized 233 gram gold jewellery and Rs 2 lakh incash together worth Rs 7.90 lakh thus cracking two cases inChamarajanagar Town Police and one case in Metagalli Police limits. In the second operation sleuths arrested Syed Aleem, MohammedMunna and Ummer, all from Mysuru and recovered 532 gram goldjewellery, three kg silver articles together worth Rs 15 lakhsolving one case each in Udayagiri, Vidyaranyapuram, MalavalliPolice limits. Mr Dayanand said that CCB sleuths, who arrested Ravi and KiranKumar, both of Mysuru, seized 30 gram gold jewellery, seven mobilephones pertaining to one case in Narasimharaja Police limits. In the fourth operation the police have arrested Syed Irfan ofMysuru, have seized five bikes including two Bajaj Pulsor bikes,three Karizma bikes together worth about Rs. 2.5 lakh and crackedthree cases at Kalasipalya, one each in Shivajinagar and CottonpetPolice limits in Bengaluru.UNI BSP MSP KVV AK1755 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-553767.Xml Some residents had this afternoon spotted two people in Army uniforms roaming on the Achaar wali Gali in Bhagwan Nagar. The local counsellor, who reported to the police about the suspects said, "I reported to the police in the morning about seeing two suspicious people near military area, but I could not see their face." "Initially I thought that they were robbers but later when I checked my camera, I was suspicious and thus I alerted the police," he added. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ravinder Singh Cheema refused to give any details of the search operations being underway. "Routine search operation is going on in view of the Republic Day. I can't disclose more details right now," he told ANI. Earlier this moring, locals saw the car abandoned near Joshi Nagar area of Haibowal, Ludhiana called the police soon after which the cops came at the spot. The number plate of silver colour Maruti Esteem was half broken along with the broken rear panel which further raised suspicion of locals. (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) today showed its strength in Meghalaya by taking out their maiden procession in this predominantly Christian state of Meghalaya.Nearly 300 RSS cadres, dressed in khaki shorts and white shirts and armed with lathis to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, took out a march from Upper Mawprem and culminated at Balika Vidyalaya School.In Garo Hills region, the RSS cadres also took similar march in Zikzak Community and Rural Development Block under South West Garo Hills district.Most of the RSS cadres, who took part in the march, belonged to the indigenous faith Niam Khasi, Niam Tre as well as non-tribals.Altogether, 293 cadres from across 39 villages of Khasi Jaintia hills, of which 80 cadres belonging to the non-indigenous communities took part in the march, RSS Vibhag Karyawa, Shillong secretary, Makashang Khongshei said. Mr Khongshei, who joined the RSS in 1993 and underwent training at Halflong, Assam, said the RSS would further work hard and focus towards the better of the people and the nation. Anyone can join RSS and our base is to be a Rashtriya (nationalist). In India, we have 33 crores of way of worshipping god. It does not matter, Christian or non-Christian, but what we need is unity, he said.Earlier, while addressing the cadres in assembly at Balika Vidyalaya School ground, Mr Khongshei took a dig at the Meghalaya government for its failure to legislate policies that will ensure all-round development in the state. In 44 years of statehood, Meghalaya is nothing but a failed state without any hope for its people. There is no education policy, and policy for farmers and the youth. The state is still copying and pasting rules and regulations from Assam, he said. He also warned that if there is no unity from now on, Meghalaya and the rest of Northeast, will be further divided. We are witnessing this silent war from Bangladesh. People at the helm of affairs are sleeping and our NGOs are also thinking for something else. If we are still sleeping, Meghalaya has no more hope of surviving, Mr Khongshei said. UNI RRK AD AJ 2153 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-554299.Xml The parliament passed the first amendment to the Constitution of Nepal (2015) amidst sloganeering by Madhesi lawmakers late Saturday night. Three articles of the constitution have been amended. The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha has, however, dubbed the amendment proposal registered by Nepali Congress lawmaker Minendra Rijal as 'incomplete'. As soon as Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar began the House proceeding, Madhesi lawmaker Sarbendra Nath Sukla accused the Big Three parties of trying to mislead people by passing an 'incomplete' bill. "This amendment fails to fulfil our demands," he said. "Our agitation will go on." After Sukla wrapped up his speech, all Madhesi lawmakers rose from their chairs, encircled the rostrum and obstructed the House. They later walked out of the house to protest the passage of the bill. He said Rijal's proposal doesn't address their grievances. "The proposal doesn't address the demands of Madhesis, Tharus, Muslims and backward communities," he said during the Parliament meeting. Shukla blamed the government of trying to incite communal violence through the Rangeli incident where three persons lost their lives in police firing. He warned that if the Madhesi agitation was blemished, the lawmakers associated with the UDMF would continue disrupting parliament. Lawmaker of the Federal Socialist Party, Dimpal Kumari Jha, also said she would not accept the constitution amendment proposal. (ANI) The agreement was signed following a bilateral dialogue between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid Al Khalifa. "Marking progress on consular matters. EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Bahrain FM sign agreement on transfer of sentenced persons," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders. At nearly 300,000, Indians form the largest expatriate community in Bahrain. A majority of them are blue collar workers. The erstwhile ministry of overseas Indian affairs, now merged with the external affairs ministry, had started the process of exchange of prisoners, according to which, Indians lodged in jails in the Gulf countries could complete the rest of their prison terms in Indian jails and vice-versa. Earlier on Saturday, Sushma Swaraj called on Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama. The minister and the king then watched the Sarang helicopter team of the Indian Air Force in action at the ongoing Bahrain International Air Show, according to Swarup. Prior to this, Sushma Swaraj visited the India Pavilion at the air show where she was given a briefing on the Indian Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) by scientists associated with the project. Sushma Swaraj reached Manama on Saturday to attend the first ever India-Arab League ministerial meeting to be held on Sunday. --Indo-Asian News Service ab/sd/bg ( 249 Words) 2016-01-23-22:47:34 (IANS) Noted poet Uday Prakash said on Saturday that the BJP government government at the centre is trying to scuttle the award wapsi movement foreseeing the Uttar Pradesh elections which are due early next year. Uday Prakash was the first writer to return his Sahitya Akademi award, sparking a nation-wide debate on intolerance. Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, Uday Prakash said that the recent decision of some of the writers to take back the award smacks of politics. The poet said that the suicide of a Hyderabad University student has maligned the image of the government and it is trying to make it up by convincing writers to retreive their awards. "The suicide of the Hyderabad student had damaged the image of the BJP government. Ruling it savarna Hindus are turning it into a caste war. I also foresee that since the Uttar Pradesh elections are due, the government is wooing the writers to take back the award," said Uday Prakash, adding that he wouldn't reclaim his award. The poet also said that the decision of some of the writers to reclaim the award will dampen the civil society movement, and felt that they could have delayed the announcement. "The decision of some of the writers to take back the award came a bit early. This is going to weaken the civil society movement. The writers should have reviewed whether anything substantial was done by the government or not," he said. Citing the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad, he asserted that intolerance is still high in the country, and writers have to address this issue. "It's not just about Sahitya Akademi, intolerance is happening in Hyderabad, and other institutions across the country. Writers can't keep quiet in this atmosphere," he felt. The Sahitya Akademi claimed on Thursday that two writers, including Nayantara Sahgal, have agreed to reclaim their awards. However, Sahgal has denied this. (Preetha Nair can be contacted at preetha.nair@ians.in) --Indo-Asian News Service pn/vm ( 349 Words) 2016-01-23-22:49:34 (IANS) Militant organisations operating in the north eastern region have called for a total shutdown of the region from 0001 hrs to 1800 hrs on January 26. United National Liberation Front of WESEA (UNLFW), Co-ordination Committee (CorCom), Manipur Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in a joint statement today said, Citizens of Western South East Asia (WESEA) are imposed upon to observe Republic Day and reminded of the Colonial bondage once again." "This unambiguous message has been clear and consistent since the Naga People dared to declare Independent status on August 14, 1947 and the Manipur kingdom was usurped of its sovereignty and independence that recently attained from British Colonialism and annexed forcibly to Indian dominion along with the kingdoms of Tripura and Assam, it said. It was alleged that the government was trying to assimilate all distinct culture, people and territories to India. It added, "Land territories are constantly ravaged, our indigenous peoples very existence is being threatened with the ever increasing influx of Indian immigrants." UNI NS AD AJ AN2302 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-554193.Xml South Korean President Park Geun-hye called today for a meeting of five countries, excluding North Korea, to discuss the North's nuclear programme alongside long-stalled "six-party talks" that include Pyongyang.Park's comments came amid a flurry of diplomatic exchanges involving Washington and Beijing as the international community seeks to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6."In the past, six-party talks had usefulness as a framework to resolve North Korean nuclear issues via dialogue," Park said in remarks at the presidential Blue House."But even if the talks open but don't help de-nuclearise North Korea, the question of being effective will be brought up," she said.China, Pyongyang's main ally, has been calling for a resumption of so-called six-party talks among the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said talks were still the best way to resolve the problem and that the six-party talks process should resume as soon as possible.Numerous efforts to restart the six-party talks have failed since negotiations collapsed following the last round in 2008."Relevant parties, although it is not an easy matter, should find out various and creative approaches such as trying five-party talks excluding North Korea," Park said.Park also said China's role was essential in adopting strong sanctions at the United Nations Security Council, repeating her calls for Beijing to act."I expect China to take an effective measure that can make North Korea realise development of nuclear weapons is futile and come into the international community like Iran," she saidREUTERS CJ VP1530 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-551667.Xml A suspect was in custody after the shooting erupted on Friday in the Saskatchewan community of La Loche, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Trudeau. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," Trudeau said, calling it "a terrible, tragic day". Police said a lockdown was in place for much of the Friday afternoon and the public was urged to stay away from the school district. La Loche Community School is for pre-kindergarten to Grade 12, and houses at least 900 students in two buildings, according to the school's Facebook page. "We are in the preliminary stages of investigation," police said in a news release, adding: "Further details will be provided as they become available." --Indo-Asian News Service pgh/ ( 149 Words) 2016-01-23-05:47:35 (IANS) In a press statement on Friday, the UN body "condemned in the strongest terms" the attack by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda linked militant group, Xinhua news agency reported. A car packed with explosives rammed into Lido beach restaurant in Mogadishu on Thursday, after which several attackers opened fire at the restaurant, killing at least 20 people and injuring 25 others. The council reaffirmed that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," stressing that those responsible for these killings will be held accountable. The members of the council also emphasised the need to prevent and suppress the financing of Al-Shabaab. They also reiterated their determination that no terrorist attack shall dampen the UNSC's resolve to bring peace and stability to Somalia that its people deserve. --Indo-Asian News Service pgh/ ( 176 Words) 2016-01-23-07:33:35 (IANS) A British woman, who stabbed a paedophile to death in 2014, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, more than double the original sentence. Sarah Sands, 32, a mother of five children, killed her neighbour Michael Pleasted, 77, in east London. Sands armed herself with a knife and stabbed Pleasted in his flat after she learned the old man was charged with sexually assaulting young boys. The man was stabbed eight times and bled to death, Xinhua cited the media reports as saying. It said Pleasted was on bail for his trial on two charges of sexual assault on children when Sands carried out the attack in his flat in November 2014. The original case found Sands guilty by the reason of loss of control and gave her a 3.5 year jail sentence. However, the court of appeal on Friday ruled the sentence was "too lenient" as she took a knife with her and went to Pleasted's flat, which means the starting point for sentencing should have been 10 years. After Sands handed herself over to the police, she told a police officer Pleasted had touched some children "so I took care of it -- I stabbed him." She said she had not intended to hurt Pleasted but he "smirked" when he answered the door and told her the boys were all liars who had ruined his life. "Our office received a great deal of correspondence in regards to this highly emotive and sensitive case," said a spokesman for the attorney general's office. Following careful review, the case was referred to the court of appeal where the sentence was raised to 7.5 years, he added. --Indo-Asian News Service py/ ( 289 Words) 2016-01-23-08:43:35 (IANS) At least 43 asylum seekers, 32 Syrians, eight Iraqis and three Eritreans, coming from Greece, are to arrive in France on January 25, Xinhua reported. After one of the November 13 attackers was believed to have slipped into Europe among migrants registered in Greece, police in Athens and French intelligence services began intensively checking the identity of each refugee, the report added. "We cannot say or accept that all refugees, anyone fleeing war in Syria and Iraq, can be welcomed in Europe," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told BBC. With 2,000 refugees trying to reach European borders every day, Valls warned the rampant number of asylum seekers would destabilize the European Union. France pledges to take in 30,000 refugees over the next two years. --Indo-Asian News Service py/ ( 165 Words) 2016-01-23-10:29:34 (IANS) At least two people were killed in a school shooting in a remote area of Saskatchewan, Canada, and a suspect is in custody, the Star Phoenix newspaper reported, citing local aboriginal chief Teddy Clark.Canadian police declined to confirm to Reuters that there was a shooting at the La Loche school yesterday, but said they were on scene for a serious incident in the district, which is about 600 km from the central city of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan province.La Loche Acting Mayor Kevin Janvier said that police confirmed to him that one person was in custody, the Canadian Press reported."I'm not 100 per cent sure what's actually happened but it started at home and ended at the school," Janvier said.Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. In the country's worst school shooting, 14 college students were killed at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989.A hospital nurse said a number of people were being treated for gunshot wounds, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. The La Loche Health Centre and Hospital declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.La Loche Grade 10 student Noel Desjarlais told the CBC that he heard multiple shots fired at the school."I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out."A cellphone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school through the snow-covered ground and emergency personal moving in.La Loche Community School is a pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 school, which houses about 900 students in two buildings.There was an emergency at the building that houses grades 7 to 12, the school district's Facebook page said. Both that building and the elementary school were put on lockdown.Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall issued a statement on the shooting but it did not contain details."Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community," the statement said. REUTERS KU 0506 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-552953.Xml One of two Iraqi-born men arrested earlier this month on federal terrorism-related charges pleaded not guilty in Sacramento to a charge of lying about traveling to Syria and assisting a militant group.Aws Mohammed Younis al-Jayab, 23, who was arrested in Sacramento, is accused of making a false statement when he said he had gone to Turkey to visit his grandmother in late 2013 and 2014. Prosecutors say that after going to Turkey, al-Jayab went to Syria and became a member of a "rebel group, militia or insurgent organization."Al-Jayab was one of two men from the Middle East who came to the United States as refugees and were arrested on federal terrorism charges earlier this month in California and Texas.Both men are Palestinians born in Iraq. The man arrested in Houston, Omar Faraj Saeed Al-Hardan, entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in November 2009, according to a court document.He pleaded not guilty on January 13 to charges he supplied support to the militant group Islamic State and lied to US officials, the Houston Chronicle reported.Al-Jayab came to the United States in 2012 as a refugee from Syria, court documents said. REUTERS PS KU RK0640 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-552967.Xml Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said that Haiti must lay out a clear timeline for a democratic presidential election, comments that came the day the Caribbean nation delayed a vote set for tomorrow."It's disappointing that they've decided to postpone it," said Rubio, the Florida senator vying for his party's nomination to the November 2016 presidential election."They need to create a clear timeline for when it is these elections are going to happen," Rubio told Reuters during a campaign stop in New Hampshire.Haiti called off Sunday's presidential election after violent protests erupted yesterday and the opposition candidate vowed to boycott the vote over alleged fraud.Rubio has stressed his foreign policy credentials in seeking to differentiate himself from the rest of the crowded Republican field.But the first-term senator has faced an uphill battle. Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman who has tapped into voter frustration with the political establishment, leads polls ahead of presidential nominating contests.Haiti is "in our western hemisphere. We have an interest," Rubio said yesterday, noting migration from Haiti to the United States and the current community of Hatian-Americans."They (Haitian elections) cannot be continuously, indefinitely postponed because it undermines democracy," he added. REUTERS PS KU RK0650 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0421-552972.Xml Otto Warmbier, the American university student being held by North Korea, was detained before boarding his flight to China over an unspecified incident that had taken place earlier in the trip at his hotel, his travel company told Reuters today.North Korea's official KCNA news agency said yesterday that Warmbier "was caught committing a hostile act against the state", which it said was "tolerated and manipulated by the US government".Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader at Young Pioneer Tours and the only outside witness to Warmbier's detention, said the 21-year-old University of Virginia student was not with other tourists when the events that appear to have prompted his arrest occurred."What happened, happened at the hotel and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed," Guttridge told Reuters.Guttridge and colleagues at Young Pioneer Tours declined to share further details of exactly what had taken place, citing the safety of their client.Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel when the incident that led to his arrest occurred. The Yanggakdo is a towering structure on an island in the middle of the Taedong river, which cuts through central Pyongyang.China-based Young Pioneer Tours is a North Korea travel specialist that describes itself on its website as "an adventure tour operator that provides 'budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from'".During his five-day New Year's tour of North Korea, staff at Young Pioneer Tours said Warmbier had acted normally, and was keen to see daily life in one of the world's most isolated countries, which is visited by around 6,000 Western tourists a year. Ten other US citizens were on the tour."Throughout the trip, Otto behaved as a typical tourist - taking pictures, enjoying himself. We had no indication that anything untoward had happened until the airport," Guttridge said.DELAYED AT IMMIGRATIONWhen Warmbier's group reached the airport, he appeared to have been purposefully delayed at immigration, Troy Collings, director of Young Pioneer Tours, told Reuters.As the tourists checked-in at the gleaming, recently-renovated terminal, Warmbier was taken aside by two airport officials and escorted into a small immigration room behind a wooden door to one side of the check-in area."He was not dragged away and he wasn't yelled at," Guttridge said.As Guttridge waited for Warmbier to come out of the room, she instructed the rest of her tour group to board the North Korean Air Koryo flight bound for Beijing."When it became clear that he wasn't coming, I had to board the flight before it departed," said Guttridge, who still had colleagues in Pyongyang with another group of tourists. "I was the last to board the flight."As the Russian-made Tupolev airliner prepared to leave the terminal, an airport official boarded the plane and told Guttridge that Warmbier had been "taken to hospital".Soon after, a North Korean contact passed on a message concerning Warmbier's detention to Young Pioneer Tours founder Gareth Johnson, who was in Pyongyang with a separate group due to catch a train to the Chinese border."I stayed back when I heard Otto had been detained," Johnson told Reuters. "It was an automatic response. I wanted to try and work out what the situation was and it was my hope that I would at least be able to speak with him."Johnson said his company was in contact with Warmbier's family, U.S. officials and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea.Staff at the tour operator said as far as they knew Warmbier had not been in possession of any religious or political literature. Foreign visitors have been detained in the past for attempting to distribute religious literature in the country. The US and Canadian governments advise against travel there.The US State Department, in a statement, said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen had been detained in North Korea but gave no further details, citing privacy concerns.Calls to the Warmbier family home in Cincinnati, Ohio, were not immediately answered on Friday and nobody answered when a Reuters reporter knocked on the door of the house.REUTERS SHS NS1300 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-553163.Xml Becki Gray, vice president for outreach at the John Locke Foundation, urges lawmakers to reform occupational licensing laws at a Thursday legislative hearing. (CJ Photo by Barry Smith) RALEIGH Members of a legislative subcommittee on Thursday heard recommendations to eliminate the requirement for occupational licenses in many jobs, and instead move to a certification process.A subcommittee of the Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee is considering changes and modifications to the state's occupational licensing boards. Backers of the changes say they would enhance opportunities for potential entrepreneurs while protecting consumer health and safety. Opponents lodged safety concerns if occupations went unregulated and suggested potential damage to existing business owners.Jon Sanders, director of regulatory studies at the John Locke Foundation, referred lawmakers to a provision in the state constitution saying residents have a right to the fruits of their labor.Sanders said voluntary certification should be used instead of more restrictive licensing in occupations where practitioners who offer poor or ineffective services pose minimal risk of harm to the public.Sanders said.If the state moved toward voluntary certification of occupations, then it also should impose penalties high enough to discourage fraudulent claims of certification, Sanders said.Sanders said that moving toward a certification process for occupational regulation would open up "greater avenues" for lower income residents.Sanders said. Getting licensed usually requires a fee, costly education, and training, which are more burdensome for poorer workers, he said.Sanders said that restrictive licensure tends to boost the overall earnings of those already in a particular field, restricts the supply of labor to the occupation, and drives up the price of labor.Sanders said. He said that leads to higher costs for consumers.Those higher costs can affect consumers' behavior, Sanders said.Rather than use a licensed professional, consumersSanders said.Sanders said that moving to a voluntary certification model was preferable to a licensure model.Becki Gray, vice president for outreach at the John Locke Foundation, told the subcommittee that North Carolina has 154 licensed job categories compared with South Carolina's 49.Gray said.Chuck Hefren, principal program evaluator for the General Assembly's Program Evaluation Division, presented a report recommending that the General Assembly establish a commission to oversee licensing boards, eliminate a dozen boards, and consolidate 10 other boards.Bill Rowe, general counsel and director of advocacy at the N.C. Justice Center, said the review of the boards is a good idea.Rowe said. He said that was particularly true for low-income residents hoping to enter businesses regulated by the licensing boards.The N.C. State Board of Opticians is one of 12 boards that the Performance Evaluation Division has recommended reviewing.Jack Nichols, counsel for the opticians board, said the board was necessary to protect public safety. Instead of eliminating the board, he suggested that the General Assembly increase the maximum licensing fee from $200 to $300 so that the board can have more financial leeway.Nichols said 10 percent to 15 percent of drivers licensed in North Carolina are designated with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.Nichols said.Nichols also said that the increasing trend of big box department stores to have in-store optician shops threatens the viability of independent opticians' shops.Nichols said. Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Iranian counterpart today in Tehran, where they will discuss how to improve economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted.Xi was welcomed by President Hassan Rouhanimeet in Sa'dabad palace in northern Tehran. The Chinese president will meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day."China is seeking to improve bilateral ties with Iran to start a new season of comprehensive, long-term and sustainable relations with the Islamic Republic," President Xi was quoted as saying by Iran's state news agency, IRNA, on his arrival in Tehran on Friday night."Some 16 accords, including a strategic cooperation agreement, will be signed during the Chinese President's Iran visit," Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour said, according to state television.Trade between Iran and China stood at around $52 billion in 2014, Rahimpour said, but falling oil prices caused it to drop last year.The Chinese president is the first leader to visit Iran since international sanctions were lifted on January 16, after Iran reached an agreement with six major powers to limit its nuclear programme. China was one of the six.Xi is also the first Chinese president to visit Iran in 14 years, according to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA. He has visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well during his Middle East tour, which started on January 19.Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, Xi's first stop, has been at odds with Shi'ite Iran since Saudi authorities executed a Shi'ite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, on Januay 2. Riyadh severed ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad.China has called on both countries to exercise calm and restraint.REUTERS SHS NS1300 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-553175.Xml He said various vacant posts in federal government's department had been filled as per the provincial quota,reports Dawn. However, he added, small number of candidates from Balochistan applied for jobs in federal government's departments. During the question hour the minister confirmed that at present 2,552 employees were working in the Ministry of Law and Justice and its attached departments.(ANI) The Russian Army is scheduled to hold seven international drills in 2016, including the 'the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain'reports Dawn. Salyukov added that the Russian Army will also hold joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as a Russian-Vietnamese exercise. Pakistan and India both joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in July 2015.(ANI) A thirteen-year-old Palestinian girl tried to stab an Israeli security guard at a settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and was then shot dead by him, Israeli police said today.It was the latest fatality in an almost four-month long surge of violence that has raised concern of wider escalation, a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided, and it followed two stabbings this week inside settlements carried out by Palestinian teenagers, according to Israeli authorities.Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said that the teen shot dead on Saturday "had fought with her family and left her home with a knife and intending to die".Holding a knife, she ran toward the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened fire at her, Samri said. Her father arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and was arrested, she added.Other members of her family could not immediately be reached for comment.Since the start of October, Israeli forces have killed at least 149 Palestinians, 95 of them assailants according to authorities. Most the others have died in violent protests. Almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and a U.S. citizen.Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers.On Sunday, an Israeli mother of six was stabbed to death at her home in a West Bank settlement and a 15-year-old Palestinian was arrested for the attack. On Monday Israeli troops shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian who had stabbed and wounded a pregnant Israeli woman in a settlement.The bloodshed has been fuelled by various factors including frustration over the 2014 collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians seek for an independent state.Palestinian leaders have said that with no breakthrough on the horizon, desperate youngsters see no future ahead. Israel says young Palestinians are being incited to violence by their leaders and Islamist groups that call for Israel's destructionREUTERS CJ NS1533 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-553383.Xml Senior Saudi and Iranian figures clashed behind closed doors at a private meeting convened by the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to try to promote peace in Syria, participants said.The barbed exchange between Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at an invitation-only meeting on Wednesday underlined the hostility between the two Gulf rivals, who are waging proxy wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.Riyadh broke off diplomatic relations and cut off trade and transport ties with Tehran two weeks ago after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Iran. The protests erupted following the Saudi execution of a leading Shi'ite cleric that outraged predominantly Shi'ite Iranians.The standoff highlights some of the reasons U.S.-Russian-backed peace talks on Syria may not open as planned in Geneva next week. There is no agreement on who should represent opponents of the Syrian government, and Riyadh-backed rebels are demanding that Russia first stop air strikes in Syria.An official photographer snapped Faisal and Zarif shaking hands outside the room. The picture was not distributed and any warmth evaporated when they sat around the table with U.N. and other senior officials."It was a dialogue of the deaf," said one participant, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality of the session.Zarif denied any secret meeting with Prince Turki, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ambassador to the United States. Asked at a news conference the same day whether he would meet any Saudi officials in Davos, he said: "There won't be any secret meeting."Prince Turki confirmed to Reuters that he had attended the session with Zarif and others but declined comment on what was said, citing the off-the-record ground rules of the meeting.U.N. special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa of Egypt, the foreign ministers of Italy and Austria and officials from Turkey and several other Western nations were also around the table.SECTARIAN STRIFEDe Mistura opened the meeting by saying the time was ripe for the Geneva peace talks because outside powers all wanted a political solution to the five-year-old civil war in Syria, the participants said.However, several speakers questioned Russia's motives for intervening in the conflict since September with air strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad. They cast doubt on whether Moscow and Tehran wanted any deal that would involve Assad's eventual departure.Zarif said Iran supported a political solution and had set out a four-point peace plan when it was finally invited to join international diplomacy on Syria last year. It had been excluded for years at U.S. and Saudi insistence.Without naming any country, he took a veiled swipe at Riyadh by condemning those, he said, who fanned and exploited sectarian differences between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims across the region.At his news conference, Zarif accused Saudi Arabia of having spent millions of dollars to lobby the U.S. Congress against an international deal on Iran's nuclear programme. An agreement with Iran led to the lifting of U.N. sanctions on the country this week.He said Riyadh had panicked after the embassy attack and the Saudis needed to "come to their senses".Prince Turki hit back in the closed session, blasting Iran's role in the Syria conflict, the participants said. Quoting an Arabic saying, he told Zarif: "I really like what you say but when I look at what you do, I wonder."Prince Turki, the 70-year-old youngest son of the late King Faisal, accused Iran of having 10,000 fighters on the ground in Syria supporting Assad, participants said. He described the Syrian leader as a "terrorist killing his own people" who was directly kept in power by Tehran, the participants said.One participant said the prince's remarks were sharper than expected and shocked some of those attending the meeting.While declining to comment on the exchange, Prince Turki told Reuters the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had boasted publicly that Iran had 120,000 fighters in Arab countries.Iran has acknowledged that officers of its Revolutionary Guards have been killed in Syria, but it denies having a large military presence in the country or participating directly in combat operations.Officials close to Damascus and familiar with military developments have said that hundreds of Iranian fighters have joined the ground war in Syria since Russia began its air strikes last September, many of them deployed near Aleppo.A Middle East diplomat said the Iranian presence was closer to 2,000 Revolutionary Guards, but they were augmented by several thousand Shi'ite volunteers from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq who had received military training in Iran.Zarif did not respond to Prince Turki's attack in the meeting and the rest of the session was inconclusive. U.N. envoy de Mistura lamented that "this is the third year we are talking about Syria and not getting anywhere", one participant said.He said the Europeans at the table only talked about the humanitarian situation and the refugee crisis and how to stop refugees reaching EuropeREUTERS CJ AS1625 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-553530.Xml US Secretary of State John Kerry met Gulf Arab countries in Saudi Arabia today for talks aimed at pushing the Syrian peace process forward and calming their concern about the international agreement over Iran's nuclear program.Kerry began a stop in Riyadh by meeting with representatives of the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.He is also due to have talks with Riad Hijab, chair of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee, which was formed in Saudi Arabia last month, amid uncertainty about whether Syrian peace talks slated to start next week in Geneva will take place.The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before preconditions are met, including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting Kerry's hopes for talks to start next week.The peace efforts are complicated by the worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back different sides in the Syrian conflict, and concern the Arab states have about how Tehran will benefit from implementation of a nuclear deal agreed with Western powers last year.Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran worsened this month after Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on its Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties.A senior State Department official said before Kerry's arrival in Riyadh that Washington hoped Saudi Arabia would restore diplomatic ties with Iran after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement of regret this week over the embassy storming.The official said Kerry had emphasized to the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers the importance of reconciliation and that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who visited Riyadh this week, also discussed this with Saudi authorities.However, he said the United States had no plans to engage on the issue of facilitating a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, and that Washington - which has no diplomatic ties with Tehran - was not well placed to do so.Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said in several interviews this month that full relations cannot be restored until Iran changes its behavior and acts like a normal state rather than like "a revolution".Saudi Arabia and Iran each accuse the other of fomenting instability across the Middle East, and Riyadh regards Iran's backing for Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as a threat to its own security.REUTERS CJ NS1630 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-553588.Xml Syrian armed rebel groups said on Saturday they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war, even before negotiations due to start in Geneva next week.Syria's opposition has demanded an end to government sieges and a halt to Russian air raids as goodwill measures before they will attend talks set for Jan. 25. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry insists the talks must go ahead next week."We hold the Assad regime and its Russian ally responsible for any failure of the political process due to their continued war crimes" including sieges and bombardment of civilian areas, a joint statement from dozens of rebel factions said.REUTERS CJ NS1644 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-553637.Xml In Iraq's western province of Anbar, three suicide bombers drove their booby-trapped vehicles into bases of Iraqi federal police and detonated them in Kilo 70 area west of the provincial capital city of Ramadi leaving 43 policemen dead and destroying five police vehicles, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a military base and blew it up in Tal Msheheidah area killing five security members and wounding 11 others, along with destroying two military vehicles, the source said. US-led coalition aircraft carried out air strikes on IS positions in the desert area north of Ramadi killing at least 53 IS militants, the source added without giving further details. The predominantly Sunni Arab province of Salahudin has been the scene of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, which managed to retake control of key towns of the province from IS militants, except for the northern areas of the province, including the town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of Baghdad. --Indo-Asian News Service ahm/bg ( 228 Words) 2016-01-23-19:29:34 (IANS) Nearly a quarter of Niger's potential voters - 1.5 million people - will be barred from casting ballots in next month's presidential poll, the government said, after politicians failed to agree on a system for registering them. Because the voters lacked documentation to prove their identity, the Independent National Electoral Commission had proposed a system of using witnesses to vouch for them. But politicians failed to approve it at a meeting on Friday. "There was no consensus among the political class and therefore 1.5 million Nigeriens cannot exercise their right to vote on 21 February," Alkassoum Indatou, a spokesman for the presidential majority, said on state TV on Friday night. There was no immediate reaction from electoral officials or from the rights groups who regularly accuse the government of crackdowns on the opposition. The main opposition parties confirmed the impasse, saying some politicians refused to accept the voters because the country's electoral law excludes voting by witness. It was not clear whether the problems would affect some parts of the country or political blocs more than others. Tensions were already running high in Niger, a landlocked, impoverished country on the edge of the Sahara Desert. It has a population of 19 million, of which only 7.5 million are on the electoral register. In the streets of the capital Niamey, would-be voters expressed frustration at the decision. "I'm very unhappy because I wanted to choose my own representatives," said Amadou Garba, a merchant, who lost his documents in a fire. "I want this question re-examined" The opposition accuses incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou of becoming increasingly authoritarian - but the government has underscored the need for order amid security threats, including an alleged attempt to topple Issoufou last month. One of the main opposition candidates, Hama Amadou, is in jail on charges related to a baby-trafficking ring. He denies the charges and says they are politically motivated. Another presidential candidate, Adal Rhoubeid, returned to the capital, Niamey, on Friday night after being questioned over attacks in a hotel and cafe in Burkina Faso last week that killed 30 people, including many foreigners. "Tragic events (in Ouagadougou) confirm something that is becoming more and more clear: terrorism is a cancer across the Sahel and Sahara," Rhoubeid said in front of a large crowd of supporters at the airport, adding that his MDR party supported compulsory military service.REUTERS CJ PR2004 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-554158.Xml Khondaker Rezaul Hasan, officer-in-charge of local Pubail police station, told Xinhua that the dead persons included a woman school teacher. She was passing through the area on a rickshaw and was killed on the spot along with five others. Hasan said all the injured have been rushed to hospital. --Indo-Asian News Service ahm/bg ( 92 Words) 2016-01-23-21:15:34 (IANS) RALEIGH North Carolina has, over time, developed a reputation as a battleground state. Tar Heels may be surprised to learn, however, that North Carolinians, with opposing opinions, once unfortunately settled their political debate on an actual battleground -- the 1771 Battle of Alamance.The Regulator Rebellion lasted from 1768-71. (There had been prior distrust of the royal government, but it intensified after the 1759 Enfield Riots.) Opposition increased exponentially in the late 1760s. Many started to consider the North Carolina royal government as duplicitous.Hailing mainly from the Piedmont, Regulators criticized what they deemed excessive legal fees and increasingly intrusive government meddling in private matters. They also criticized what they considered political corruption and cronyism. The royal government and many eastern North Carolinians (including some future American founders), however, thought differently.A particular complaint regarded the construction of Tryon Palace, one of the largest and most ornate buildings in colonial North Carolina. Many Regulators threatened not to pay any taxes to fund its construction, a project that lasted almost four years. Although not ostentatious by modern standards, many Piedmont farmers -- who typically lived in one- or two-room dwellings -- considered Tryon Palace to be lavish.The noted evangelist Rev. Shubal Stearns of Randolph County and other Baptists from the Sandy Creek Association (founded in the 1750s) took umbrage with the colonial government. Their religious and political views fostered a defiance of government establishment. They petitioned the royal government to stick to its legitimate functions. Sheriff Edmund Fanning labeled their actions as an insurrection. The association, therefore, disbanded to avoid charges of treason.The Regulators formed in 1768, and many chose not to pay taxes. As a result, property, including horses, was seized, and farmers' livelihoods were threatened. They then took targeted action, in particular making a local sheriff ride a horse backward in Hillsborough, hoping to shame those they considered unlawful government officials. Fanning, however, intensified the situation by labeling them "rebels" and "insurgents."In 1770, Regulators assembled once again in Hillsborough -- this time to disrupt the court and bring attention to their demands. In March, Regulators, armed with clubs and whips, packed the courthouse and asked to be jury members. The court ignored their requests.Outside the courtroom, frustrated Regulators attacked a lawyer and then re-entered the courthouse, seized Fanning, and beat him, too. Both men eventually escaped, but were soon found. Under duress, both made agreements with Regulators, and Judge Richardson Henderson agreed to continue holding court the next day -- and then the judge fled town. As a result, agitated Regulators targeted Fanning. They ran him out of town, plundered his home, marched with his effigy through Hillsborough, and destroyed a church bell he had donated.The political (and some historians argue religious) conflict ended on a Piedmont field. Earlier in 1771, the Assembly passed a Riot Bill. The act made assemblies -- defined as 10 or more people -- unlawful if they refused to disperse within an hour after the bill was read to them. Law enforcement agents were not held accountable if they injured or even killed rioters while dispersing them, and the bill allowed for the establishment of emergency courts and the declaration of rioters as outlaws.The Riot Bill was invoked before the Battle of Alamance occurred. There, Piedmont farmers clashed with North Carolina militia, mainly comprised of eastern North Carolinians. Although the Regulators outnumbered the militia, they were outgunned and outmaneuvered. After two hours, Regulators fled the field, and Royal Governor William Tryon and the militia settled the political dispute.Shortly afterward, six Regulators were hanged as an example, and amnesty was offered to all who pledged an oath of allegiance.Although current political debates in North Carolina can be heated, the Old North State, thankfully, is not literally a battleground state. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called today for closer economic and security ties with China, saying both countries could be reliable partners, especially in energy. "Iran is the most reliable country in the region for energy since its energy policies will never be affected by foreigners," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Khamenei said the United States was "not honest" in the fight against terrorism in the region, and asked for more cooperation between Iran and China.REUTERS PY PR2223 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-554361.Xml When Supreme Court Hears State's Immigration Challenge, NC's Attorney General Will Be On DC's Side Of The Courtroom News Release: Raleigh, N.C. Today, the United States Supreme Court announced it would hear a challenge by North Carolina and other states to the President's overreaching executive order granting legal status to millions of illegal immigrants. However, during the Supreme Court proceedings, North Carolina's top lawyer charged with representing the citizens of North Carolina in court won't be on North Carolina's side. After refusing to join the multi-state lawsuit challenging President Obama's illegal actions, Attorney General Roy Cooper will be on the opposite side of the courtroom, sitting next to the Obama Administration. "Roy Cooper continues to side with Washington, D.C. over the best interests of North Carolina," said NCGOP Chairman Hasan Harnett. "In refusing to do his job and challenge the President's illegal executive order, he is doing what his bosses in the White House want instead of fulfilling his duties as North Carolina's chief law enforcement officer." Background: Citing long-term ramifications to public schools, health services and public safety, Governor McCrory declared President Obama's executive order represented "unconstitutional overreach" (Press Release: "Governor McCrory releases statement on immigration executive order," Office of the Governor, 11/21/2014) Governor McCrory & Lt. Governor Dan Forest called on Roy Cooper to join other states to challenge the President's illegal executive order: "Gov. Pat McCrory, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and other Republicans are pushing Attorney General Roy Cooper to have North Carolina join the roster of states suing President Barack Obama over his recent actions on immigration. The lawsuit, which is being led Texas Attorney General and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott, seeks to invalidate a set of executive actions by Obama designed to allow some 5 million people in the United States illegally to stay" (Mark Binker and Laura Leslie, "McCrory, Forest urge AG Cooper to join suit on immigration," WRAL, 12/4/2014) Cooper refused to join the lawsuit (Anne Blythe, "Cooper calls immigration lawsuit 'partisan' in letter to Forest," Raleigh News & Observer, 12/5/2014) Governor McCrory, without the support of the attorney general's office, joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the President's illegal immigration executive order ("Gov. Pat McCrory enters immigration order lawsuit," The Associated Press, 12/3/2014) "Some Governors And Attorneys General Are Split Over The Legality Of Obama's Immigration Policies" (Maxwell Tani, "Some Governors And Attorneys General Are Split Over The Legality Of Obama's Immigration Policies," Huffington Post, 2/13/2015) The Courts Have Twice Ruled In North Carolina's Favor "Judge Jerry E. Smith, writing for the majority in the appeals court, said the states had standing to challenge the program under a 2007 Supreme Court decision that said Massachusetts and other states were entitled to sue the Environmental Protection Agency over its refusal to regulate motor vehicle emissions contributing to climate change." (Adam Liptak and Michael Shear, "Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obama Immigration Actions," The New York Times, 1/19/2016) "The appeals court affirmed that ruling and added a broader one. The program, it said, also exceeded Mr. Obama's statutory authority." (Adam Liptak and Michael Shear, "Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obama Immigration Actions," The New York Times, 1/19/2016) Contact: Kara Carter NCGOP Press Secretary kara.carter@ncgop.org Your RSS feed from RSSFWD.com. Update your RSS... It was the first week of my online course, and we had to introduce ourselves to the class. I discovered that I was the only student who lived in Nebraska. Others lived in China, England, the Middle East and Africa. The discussion posts and interactions between the students of the class brought with them many differences, complications and insights that only an online class could bring. I had never been in a classroom where, during a group project, the teacher had to rearrange the members of the teams according to time zones. Here are four things that surprised me about working with other students in an online setting. 1. Different cultures can bring unexpected insights to class material. Depending on what subject a student takes and the level of student involvement, the students within an online classroom could contribute as much to a discussion as an instructor could. For example, as a psychology, philosophy or history student, one could expect a range of opinions within a physical classroom, but add to this the perspectives of online students from all over the world, and you get insights that vary more than you would ever expect. Hearing stories from African students who struggled to find Internet access to attend school, Middle Eastern students who live in areas of conflict, you get a much broader perspective on the events that shape world history. For example, I got a much different take on the Hong Kong riots from a student living in China than I would have from someone living in the U.S., and I came away with understanding more about Chinese culture as the root of Chinese political thought. It gave me the sense that the world has a much wider scope than just the locale where my laptop resides. Understand [the challenges that online learning poses for international students.] 2. You might be surprised when someone challenges your ideas about the world. Because online classrooms open themselves up to students from all over the world, they promote collaboration between different beliefs, thoughts and experiences. Online learning brings with it the opportunity to appreciate that others may not think or feel the same way about a topic and that those beliefs are valid. It promotes a sense of empathy for those whose beliefs challenge the values other students might hold, or change ideas one may identify with. For example, I once believed that unions had no purpose in the U.S. economy, but upon discussion with some of my fellow students I learned that labor unions played an important, vital role in the construction of the survival of the country, and do serve a purpose for those careers where workers are at risk for exploitation. Students can learn how to bridge differences of thought, ideally with more respect and openness toward those who think differently. Story continues Discover how to [connect with your classmates in an online course.] 3. You might be surprised when you change someone's point of view. As much as an online student gains from experiencing the world of others, others can also experience the world from your perspective. There have been students whom I have never met or have had any other contact with, who will compliment me on something I have written in a discussion post. For example, in a history class I was surprised to learn that others felt the same way about racial identification as a construct of class distinction, and as a way to subjugate workers, beginning with early American plantation owners. This not only surprises me but also reminds me that for every person out there who inspires and interests me, I can be that person for others. I can bring my unique view, culture and perspective to them, and they can gain something from it. The takeaway: Online education provides students with the opportunity to interact with students from many different places, cultures and walks of life, and this enriches education with cultural information and knowledge. This story first appeared in the Jan. 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. The Smithsonian Institution came under fire last summer when, in the midst of rape allegations against Bill Cosby, its National Museum of African Art mounted an exhibition of artwork from the comedian and wife Camille's collection. Refusing to cancel the show, the museum instead posted a statement that read in part that charges against Cosby "cast a negative light on what should be a joyful exploration of African and African American art in this gallery." However, this "negative light" also illuminated some questionable behind-the-scenes dynamics involved when a museum borrows art from collectors. Camille Cosby, a member of the museum's advisory board, was instrumental in launching the show; the couple, friends of NMAA's director Johnnetta Cole, also gave (a tax-deductible) $716,000 to cover the majority of its costs. These entanglements, which came to light in the midst of the furor, violated widely held standards in the museum world. Given that a museum's seal of approval can boost a work's value, most steer clear of exhibiting art from collectors unless it has been given or left to the institution, precisely to avoid even the appearance of any conflict of interest or self-dealing. Read More: How Hollywood Power Players Jump Through Hoops to Score a Unique Piece of Art "With art treated as an asset and with incredible attention paid to high-value marquee assets," says Maxwell Anderson, former director of the Whitney and Dallas Museum of Art and currently executive director at the New Cities Foundation, museums are becoming "more of a negotiated space and less for the public good." Take the Portland Art Museum, which has become a staging ground for important works because its state, Oregon, is one of five without use and sales tax. For more than three months ending in early 2014, Portlandians got to admire Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud" fresh off of its $142 million sale at Christie's New York. By first shipping the work to Portland instead of her Las Vegas home, hotel mogul Elaine Wynn may have been entitled to duck some $11 million in Nevada taxes. Questionable but legal, says Tom Eccles, executive director of the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College: "It's not a problem of the collector; it's a question for the government." Read More: Art & Hollywood: L.A.'s Most Expensive Masters The single-collector museum also is raising tax ethics questions as more such institutions open their doors. Eli Broad opened his $140 million museum in L.A. in September. In London artist Damien Hirst unveiled a free admission gallery in October to house his 3,000-plus works. In a stone barn on the property of Interview publisher Peter Brant's Connecticut estate stands The Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Guess founders Paul and Maurice Marciano are planning to turn the Masonic Temple on Wilshire Boulevard into a private museum to house their collection. Such founders are entitled to deduct the value of their collection and the cost of insuring and warehousing it but in November, the Senate Finance Committee decided to take a closer look at 11 private museums, including the Broad and the Brant. The committee, led by Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, sent letters asking whether "some private foundations are operating museums that offer minimal benefit to the public while enabling donors to reap substantial tax advantages." But with art prices in the stratosphere, the dance between private collectors and museums must go on. "Look at the flight of capital to the art market," says Anderson. "Compare it to the budgets of museums; it's laughable. Today, LACMA's budget is less than one painting." >>>>>>> Budapest (AFP) - "It's never too late," smiles Eva Fahidi, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who, at the age of 90, is currently starring in a sold-out duet production with a much younger dancer. "First I felt only my limits, what I can't do," the handsome white-haired Fahidi told AFP during a rehearsal in a Budapest studio. "Then slowly, as I learned to warm up, it was wonderful how my old body wanted to do something again," she added, after gracefully completing a stretch on the floor. Her show, called "Sea Lavender or The Euphoria of Being", has played to full houses eight times in Budapest's prestigious Vigszinhaz Theatre since its October launch. It now premieres in Berlin on January 24, three days before a UN-designated Holocaust memorial day marking the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps. The 100-minute long performance, which incorporates both dance and speech, looks at how an elderly woman with a traumatic past and a younger person communicate with each other. Director Reka Szabo told AFP she got the idea for the show last year when she heard Fahidi speak at a presentation of her memoir. "She talks about her life and the Holocaust in a way that makes you feel like she is not a victim but a human being trying to deal with her past, to be able to live a full life," said Szabo who runs the Symptoms dance-theatre company. - 'Gesture of death' - Fahidi was an 18-year-old schoolgirl when she was put on a train and deported from Debrecen in eastern Hungary to Auschwitz -- one of nearly 440,000 Hungarian Jews sent to death camps between May and July in 1944. Some 49 of her relatives perished in the Holocaust, including her parents and 11-year-old sister. She last saw her mother and younger sibling on a sorting ramp after arriving at Birkenau. Fahidi recalls how one insignificant gesture decided their fate. "A small movement of the finger from (camp doctor) Josef Mengele meant life or death, whether you go right to work or left to the gas chambers. I went right," she said. Story continues After the camp's liberation, it took Fahidi nearly six decades before she was ready to open up about her trauma. A 2003 visit to the camp exactly 59 years after her first journey there prompted her to write her memoir. "It dawned on me that this was my vocation, to tell as many people as I could about Auschwitz, it's the least I can do," she said. Her book -- "The Soul of Things" -- was published in German in 2004 and later translated by Fahidi into Hungarian. English and Finnish editions are also planned. - Audience moved to tears - These days, dance is Fahidi's chosen tool of expression. "Gestures and movements can be freer than words and say more about a person," she said, in reference to her duet with 36-year-old dancer Emese Cuhorka. Even her own grandchild who had previously balked at reading or hearing about the Holocaust was "amazed" by the show, Fahidi adds. One of the most powerful moments occurs when Cuhorka lifts Fahidi like a baby, according to the show's director. "People often cry when watching that scene, although it has nothing to do directly with the Holocaust," Szabo noted. The show's name, she explains, was inspired by a plant able to grow in poor soil, a symbol of Fahidi's tough life. Last April, Fahidi came once again face to face with her past when she appeared as a plaintiff at the closely covered trial of Oskar Groening, known as the "Bookkeeper of Auschwitz". Groening was sentenced to four years in jail as an accessory to murder in 300,000 cases. The pain does not fade but you learn to live with it, Fahidi says. "Not a day goes past when I don't think of Auschwitz," she observed. "But I discovered that hatred is just a burden. What happened happened, but I am still alive -- a happy person who enjoys living". By Amy Sawitta Lefevre BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australia is seeking regional cooperation to fight the "menace" of violent extremism that will be with the region for some time, the country's justice minister said on Saturday. A deadly Jan. 14 attack in Jakarta that killed eight people and an August bombing in Bangkok that ripped through a popular shrine killing 20 people, most of them foreign tourists, have injected new urgency for regional counter-terrorism efforts. "The region is subject to the same threats as the globe is and that is there is a malignant organization that has established itself in the Middle East, ISIL, and they continue to export terror around the globe," Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan told Reuters in Bangkok during a visit with his Thai counterparts to discuss security issues. Keenan, who is also Counter-Terrorism Minister, said Australia stood ready to share its expertise with regional governments. "If we can make those relationships stronger then we should seek to do so because this menace is going to be with us for some time and the more we can do to collaborate, to address it, the safer our people will be." Jakarta's gun and bomb attack was claimed by Islamic State (IS), the radical group's first assault on Indonesia. Keenan said Australia has updated its travel warning for Indonesia but has not changed the threat level which remains to "exercise a high degree of caution". Jakarta has said it is working to stem the flow of Southeast Asian militants traveling to and from Syria and Iraq but police say the nation's porous border makes it easy for people to be smuggled into Indonesia. "We don't want to change the open nature of our society. We like the fact that this is a very busy region with people passing through," said Keenan. "That's why intelligence is very important, sharing information about people who might be of concern," he said. On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged to increase cooperation on counter-terrorism and the fight against Islamic State. Australia, a staunch ally of the United States and its battle against Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan last week said Thailand has not found any evidence of IS activities in the country, following reports that IS sympathizers had crossed the Thai-Malaysia border to meet with southern religious leaders. Since 2004, insurgents have been battling for greater autonomy in Thailand's three Muslim dominated provinces where fighting between Thai security forces and Malay-Muslim separatists has killed more than 6,000 people. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam) By Greg Stutchbury MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Belarus tennis ace Victoria Azarenka was more refined than former Australian cricketer Keith Miller when it came to dismissing concerns about pressure in sport, but the sentiment was similar. Miller, a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War Two, famously quipped that pressure was being chased by a German fighter plane not playing test cricket. On Saturday, after reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open in the shadow of the cricket ground where Miller once plied his trade, twice champion Azarenka was quick to dismiss any concerns she was feeling the weight of expectation. "Pressure is if you don't win some tournaments you have absolutely no opportunity to go to any other," she said after her confident 6-1 6-1 win over Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka. "If you're not the best you don't get sponsored. "I had no money. I didn't get to eat. So that was pressure to survive," she said of her days in the junior ranks. "So pressure right now is go out there and face a big opponent? Okay. "But when you're hungry and you've got to go play and you have absolutely nothing, that's big pressure." The Belarusian's new attitude to life and sport has come about after two years of battling injury and depression, which was exacerbated by the breakdown of a relationship with American singer Redfoo. Such were the personal demons the 26-year-old was battling she said she was ready to give up the game after a quarter-final exit at the 2014 U.S. Open. "I didn't feel good about myself. I have said that many times that I had a person (ask) me, 'are you depressed?' I said, 'no'. "Because you don't allow, as an athlete, you don't really allow weaknesses to show. And then I realized, 'yes, I am'. "It started a process for me to adjust. "It's not easy. Obviously it took me over a year to be able to control all that. I had a lot of changes and emotions from last year that I still didn't know how to handle. "One of my best friends in Belarus, he pushed me. I called him one time, I said, 'I don't want to do this anymore'. "He said, 'you have to. You're this close. You've got to push through'." That advice has helped Azarenka produce some irrepressible form at Melbourne Park, having conceded only five games in her march to the last 16. She also won the Brisbane International earlier this month, her first title since 2013. She next plays unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova, who earlier tore the bottom half of the draw wide open by dumping third seed Garbine Muguruza out of the tournament, but the 2012 and 2013 champion was not taking anything for granted. "She's a very tricky opponent," Azarenka said. "It's never easy. You never know what's going to come." (Editing by Patrick Johnston) 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 Aboard a US military aircraft (AFP) - Baghdad wants the coalition engaged in the fight against the Islamic State group to train Iraqi police officers, a senior US official said Saturday. The request comes as the anti-IS partners are preparing to boost their support in the battle against the jihadists launched in August 2014. "The Iraqis very much would like more help with the training of the local police force," a senior US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They think it's made a significant difference in Ramadi," the Iraqi city retaken from IS after a fierce battle, "and they want to see it duplicated." Senior US defense officials will meet in Brussels on February 11 with defense ministers from 26 nations that are part of the US-led coalition, as well as Iraqi representatives, to see what additional contributions countries can deliver. The coalition needs to find different ways to help, beyond trainers, such as by providing military advisors, special forces soldiers, planes and aircraft for aerial intelligence, according to Washington. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met Friday with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at the Davos gathering of policymakers and business leaders and expressed his interest in getting support for police training, the US official said. After recovering Ramadi in late December, local police trained by Italian Carabinieri were deployed to provide security. Their efficiency allowed elite Iraqi Special Forces soldiers to leave the city earlier than expected to begin another mission, the US official said. "If police can hold territory" and Iraq's commandos "can move on to the next mission, that's a big deal," the official said. He described the commandos, known as the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), as Iraq's "best forces" and "most capable" soldiers. "One month of training in the eyes of the Iraqis made a significant difference ... and they are very eager to get additional assistance in the training of the police forces," the official said. The coalition's strategy is aimed at destroying IS by focusing on their power centers in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and Raqa in Syria. Istanbul (AFP) - US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday condemned the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a "terror group plain and simple" and a threat to Turkey like the Islamic State group, while hailing Ankara's cooperation in the fight against jihadists. After talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, Biden pleased his hosts with a ringing denunciation of the "outrageous" attacks by the PKK, which the Turkish military is seeking to cripple in a relentless but controversial campaign. He praised much closer cooperation in the battle against IS between Washington and Ankara, which had been accused in the past of turning a blind eye to the jihadist extremists. He also spoke of the possibility of a "military operation" in Syria should peace talks fail, but the White House later made clear he was only referring to current coalition military operations against IS. The PKK, listed as a terror group by Washington and the European Union, has killed dozens of members of the Turkish security forces in attacks since a truce collapsed in July. Turkey however has expressed concern that Washington was seeking to woo the PKK as an ally in the anti-IS fight and vehemently opposed any move to delist it as a terror group. Ankara is also concerned about the extent of US cooperation in Syria with the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey sees as a branch of the PKK. The IS group "is not the only existential threat to the people of Turkey, the PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that... it is a terror group plain and simple and what they continue to do is absolutely outrageous," Biden said. "We do agree with you that in terms of their actions Daesh (IS), PKK and (Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate) Al-Nusra... are simply terrorist groups," said Biden. Davutoglu emphasised Ankara saw no difference between those groups and the extreme-left DHKP-C. "We were pleased to have seen in the talks our approach is shared," he said. Story continues He also reaffirmed Turkey's opposition to the YPG, which he accused of carrying out ethnic cleansing in northern Syria and being "part of the PKK and receiving open support from the PKK." Biden later held over two-and-a-half hours of talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but no statement was made after the discussions. - 'Shared mission' - The US vice president praised Turkey for taking "very important steps to improve the security of its border" from IS militants who until recently controlled much of the frontier region in Syria. Biden said Turkey and the United States were coordinating ever more precisely on what is a "shared mission on the extermination of IS". "We do believe our plans together have gotten more contoured and more coordinated," he said. "We are increasingly making progress and that progress will be sped up as a result of our meeting today." He said the two sides also discussed bolstering support for Sunni Arab groups inside Syria to cut off any remaining access that IS has to the border region. "That is a priority for both our nations so we can prevent new fighters and equipment from reaching IS fighters," he added. Biden said work was continuing on finding a political solution to Syria's almost five-year civil war, saying: "We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic. We are determined." He added: "But we are prepared if that is not possible to having a military solution to this operation and taking out Daesh (IS)," he said. A US official emphasised that Biden's comments did not herald any change in US policy in Syria, saying he was referring to the simultaneous pursuit of a political solution alongside the fight against IS. - Controversial talks - Biden had Friday ratcheted up tensions with a stinging attack on Turkey's current record on freedom of expression, saying it is "not the kind of example that needs to be set". Davutoglu hit back by expressing surprise at Biden's schedule of meetings on Friday where he had met anti-government journalists and the son and wife of the jailed editor of the Cumhuriyet daily Can Dundar. In comments in pro-government newspapers Saturday, Davutoglu said "we would have expected" Biden should also have met with victims of PKK attacks. OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Burkina Faso has arrested 11 members of the dissolved presidential guard, a pillar of deposed President Blaise Compaore's regime, in connection with the raid of an armoury near the capital this week, the army said on Saturday. Friday's raid of the Yimbdi armoury came less than a week after al Qaeda fighters killed 30 people, including many foreigners, in attacks on the capital Ouagadougou, underscoring the security challenges for new President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. "Since yesterday, we have arrested a total of 11 from the RSP (presidential guard)," said Mahamadi Bonkoungou, head of the army operations unit, adding that they were still pursuing other perpetrators thought to be on the run. Army officials sought to play down the quantity of weapons seized during the raid, saying that the kalashnikovs and the rocket launchers taken were not loaded. They said the aim of the attack was to strike a military base, without giving details. The former French colony is emerging from a fragile transition period following the ousting of long-ruling Compaore in October 2014. A year later, Compaore's former spy chief General Gilbert Diendere sought to use the RSP to overthrow an interim government, just a week before presidential elections. Diendere was jailed for treason and the presidential guard was quickly dissolved, although some of its members disappeared. (Reporting by Mathieu Bonkoungou; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Marguerita Choy) By Dan Levine and Lisa Richwine (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's 92-year-old Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone should be examined by a psychiatrist hired by the ex-girlfriend who has questioned his mental competency, a California judge ruled on Friday. The decision may provide investors with new information about Redstone's capabilities. He controls Viacom and CBS Corp, although his role at the companies has grown less visible. Viacom cut Redstone's pay 85 percent to $2 million last year, the company said in a securities filing on Friday, citing "reduced responsibilities," Geriatric psychiatrist Stephen Read will conduct the court-ordered mental examination within the next 10 days, said Pierce O'Donnell, an attorney for Redstone's former girlfriend Manuela Herzer. Redstones attorneys have not indicated whether they will appeal, a development that could affect the schedule. They have argued that Herzer has filed the suit for financial gain. Read may interview Redstone for up to an hour, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Cowan said in his ruling. Redstone's attorneys acknowledge he has a speech impairment, and Cowan wrote that the executive's nurses and speech therapists may be present during the exam. Herzer and her attorneys cannot be present. Herzer's lawsuit filed in November said that Redstone had chosen her to make healthcare decisions for him in case he was not able to. It claimed the billionaire was mentally incompetent when he replaced her as his designated healthcare agent on Oct. 16 with Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. Read, in a declaration filed in November on behalf of Herzer, said he believed Redstone lacked the mental capacity to make that change. He cited testimony from Herzer and other witnesses but he had not examined Redstone in person. Redstone's primary physician, Dr. Richard Gold, told the court Redstone was fully aware of what he was doing at the time. Gold was deposed by Herzer's attorneys this month. The judge said in his ruling called Gold's deposition testimony "equivocal" and "inconsistent" with his declaration. Story continues Gold, who visits Redstone two or three times a week, also testified that "he could not understand Redstone half the time," Cowan wrote. The new exam can take place at either Redstone's home or the doctor's office if Redstone prefers, Cowan said. Redstone's advance healthcare directive makes Gold responsible for gauging whether he can manage his own care, court filings show. But the judge said Gold testified that he did not know it was his responsibility. The judge said Gold also testified that he had "no experience" making such decisions. Gold said he believed Redstone could withstand a short mental exam, Cowan said in the ruling. Still, Cowan rejected a request by Herzer's lawyers to depose Redstone. "We are gratified that the Court continues to reject Ms. Herzer's increasingly desperate and disingenuous attempts to depose Mr. Redstone," Gabrielle Vidal, an attorney for Redstone, said in a statement. Redstone's lawyers said Herzer is pursuing a "personal financial agenda." They told the judge that at the same time Herzer was removed as health care agent, Redstone had also revoked a part of his estate plan which had left Herzer "a very significant sum of money," according to the ruling. Cowan said it was "at least conceivable" that Herzer might care about Redstone's medical care even if she had a financial interest. Redstone "has not yet addressed the counter-intuitive notion as to why someone would prefer to have a person across the country care for one's medical needs in time of emergency," Cowan added. Dauman is based in New York, while Redstone lives in California. Lawyers for Redstone have filed a motion to dismiss the case. A hearing on that motion was postponed until Feb. 29. (Reporting by Dan Levine and Lisa Richwine; Editing by Richard Chang and David Gregorio) LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged on Saturday to apply pressure on the Maldives to improve the rule of law and free political prisoners after meeting the country's former president after his temporary release from jail. Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives' first democratically elected president, is serving a 13-year sentence on terrorism charges for the alleged abduction of a judge after a rapid trial last March which drew international criticism. Nasheed and his lawyer Amal Clooney met Cameron at Downing Street in London on Saturday after the former president gained permission to travel to Britain for surgery. The Maldives gained independence from the United Kingdom in the 1960s. "Following his release from prison, Mr Nasheed thanked the Prime Minister for the role the UK had played by continuing to raise his case, including with other countries," a statement from Cameron's office said. Downing Street said the two men had agreed that a Commonwealth meeting to be held in the Maldives next month would provide an opportunity to press the Maldivian government to engage in "open political dialogue and free all remaining political prisoners swiftly". "The Prime Minister told Mr Nasheed that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives and it would also continue to discuss the situation with international partners," it said. Nasheed was ousted in disputed circumstances in 2012 for ordering the arrest of a judge. The United Nations, the United States and human rights groups have said President Abdullah Yameen's government failed to follow due process and that the case was politically motivated. (Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Digby Lidstone) Much of China shivered Saturday as a teeth-chattering cold snap broke decades-old records and snow fell in some parts for the first time in years, cancelling flights and forcing many indoors. An orange alert was issued across the country as forecasts predicted eye-watering lows of -41 Celsius (-42 Fahrenheit) in some parts, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said. Orange is the second most severe cold weather warning on China's four-tier scale, and forecasters said 30-year records were on course to be shattered in several parts of the country over the weekend, with two-thirds of the country facing temperatures below -12 C. The north braced for the worst, with the temperatures predicted to plummet to -41 C in Genhe in Inner Mongolia. Neighbouring Mohe in Heilongjiang province didn't fare much better with the mercury expected to dip to -39 C. The NMC said temperatures would not peak above the freezing mark in most parts of the country, with the exception of a few spots in the south, and state-run CCTV television urged people to stay inside to avoid the frigid weather. More than 100 flights were cancelled and nearly 200 delayed in the southeast metropolis of Chongqing as snow blanketed the city for the first time in 20 years, airport authorities told AFP. Snow dumped down in several other regions where the white stuff is scarcely seen, according to CCTV citing weather officials. Bright sunshine bathed the capital Beijing where skies were clear blue, but the bright conditions brought little respite as thermometers dipped to -17 C in the morning. In the mountainous areas on the outskirts of the city, temperatures plummeted to an eye-watering -29.8 C. Even the normally tropical beaches on the southern island of Hainan were not spared, with temperatures clocking in at a cool 13 C, according to state-run CRI radio. Saturday afternoon the temperature had dropped to 6 C in the island province's capital Haikou, 13 degrees below the seasonal average according to CRI. Conditions are expected to return to slightly warmer seasonal norms from Tuesday in the north and by the end of next week in the south, CCTV said. ANKARA (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Iranian counterpart on Saturday in Tehran, where they will discuss how to improve economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Xi was welcomed by President Hassan Rouhanimeet in Sa'dabad palace in northern Tehran. The Chinese president will meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. "China is seeking to improve bilateral ties with Iran to start a new season of comprehensive, long-term and sustainable relations with the Islamic Republic," President Xi was quoted as saying by Iran's state news agency, IRNA, on his arrival in Tehran on Friday night. "Some 16 accords, including a strategic cooperation agreement, will be signed during the Chinese President's Iran visit," Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour said, according to state television. Trade between Iran and China stood at around $52 billion in 2014, Rahimpour said, but falling oil prices caused it to drop last year. The Chinese president is the first leader to visit Iran since international sanctions were lifted on Jan 16, after Iran reached an agreement with six major powers to limit its nuclear program. China was one of the six. Xi is also the first Chinese president to visit Iran in 14 years, according to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA. He has visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well during his Middle East tour, which started on Jan. 19. Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, Xi's first stop, has been at odds with Shi'ite Iran since Saudi authorities executed a Shi'ite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, on Jan. 2. Riyadh severed ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad. China has called on both countries to exercise calm and restraint. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai, Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Larry King) LARAMIE, Wyo. Being a rancher in Wyoming has never been easy. The work is hard, the weather treacherous and a person's health can be swept away on a whim. For 2015 Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee John Shelby Bell, the keys to enduring the hardships of a rancher's life were the willingness to work hard combined with an unwavering sense of optimism. "He was always cheerful and optimistic," said Shawna Otte, one of Bell's granddaughters. "When I think of him and his optimism, I can picture his cheery red cheeks and blazing blue eyes. He never said things looked bad, because he just knew he was going to work hard and it'd be OK." Though Bell died more than 20 years before the induction, his family and friends remember the qualities that made him an ideal candidate in Albany County's pool for the Wyoming cowboy distinction. Bell was born Feb. 6, 1911, on a family ranch in Toltec, situated at an elevation in excess of 7,500 feet in the north Laramie Mountain Range. The middle son of three boys and two older half-sisters, he worked the ranch with his family. His mother was wheelchair-bound because she suffered from blood clots (known as milk leg), so Bell would help with household chores, such as cooking breakfast, in addition to his outdoor duties, Otte said. Hardships were not unusual in Bell's younger years, Otte said. During a long horse-and-wagon trip to pick up supplies for the family, Bell was part of a team caught in a horrible blizzard when he was only 13. They were trapped, eating snow and rationing oats for a few days before having to make the multi-day trip home through huge snow drifts. In 1928, when Bell was 17, his entire family came down with pneumonia and his father, Bert died two days before Christmas. Otte said Bell and a friend rode west of the ranch through cruel snow and wind to perform a humble burial. The perseverance, Otte said, was just how her grandfather was wired. "I don't think he ever thought about failing," she said. Another source of strength in Bell's life was his wife, Genevieve Peterson, Otte said. Peterson was from a Mormon family in the Big Horns, but she came to a ranch near Bell's to teach. Otte said her grandmother was not impressed with Bell when they first met at a country dance. Because people living in ranch communities in those days did not often see friends, Bell was filled with exuberance when entering the dance as he shot his cowboy hat across the room with a big "yee-haw." Though Otte said Peterson swore she wanted nothing to do with such a wild man, seeing how Bell interacted with his mother that night turned the tide. "She had been raised to care for people, so when grandma saw him interact with his mother, she said, 'There's substance there,'" Otte said. The couple was married Sept. 8, 1931. Even though the two started their life together at the height of the Great Depression, Otte said they hit the ground running to regain parts of his family's ranch that were lost after Bell's father's death. He earned enough money working for a friend to begin building his own cattle herd. To supplement their income, Bell trapped animals to sell their hides and delivered mail along rural routes on the north end of Albany County. He also sold cream he milked from his cows and helped chase wild horses in the Laramie Peak area for several years, Otte said. Her grandparents' marriage was one built on negotiation, Otte said. While Bell loved living on the ranch, his wife preferred a more urbanized environment. Especially when their children were born, Otte said her grandma wanted them to receive a proper education and go to church. Though the children attended a one-room school taught by their mother, Peterson moved to Wheatland, and later on, to Laramie during winter months, while Bell would stay on the ranch. The separation was a sacrifice, but Otte said education was so important to both of her grandparents that they did what they had to for the family to stay together. "The bottom line is they knew there had to be give and take," Otte said. "Grandma loved granddad, and for that, she willingly sacrificed and lived in the middle of nowhere which was hard for her." Though he only attended school through the eighth grade, Otte said Bell was a very intelligent person and a lifelong lover of books. When it came to counting cattle or playing cards, Otte said he was a "human calculator." Bell's intelligence also allowed him to be an innovator and risk taker in ways that would benefit himself and his neighbors, Otte said. "You knew how smart he was when you met him," Otte said. Bell was one of the first cattle ranchers to use fertilizer in northern Albany County, a practice in which Otte said neighbors would follow suit. He was also a "visionary" when it came to water use, Otte said. His father saw the value of water rights and diverting water from streams to store on the hillside. Bell would create just fewer than 2,000 acres of meadows, allowing him to increase his herd. Before others in the area were doing so, Bell built irrigation and stock reservoirs and put salt licks on the hillsides away from water sources. In 1976, the family made a change to the ranch operation so Bell could spend winters in Laramie. Though he spent more time in town as he aged, Bell refused to slow down, working to break colts and helping friends during calving seasons, Otte said. In the last years of her life, Peterson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and had to be placed in a nursing home. Bell would visit his wife twice a day, caring for her in a way Otte said was reminiscent of how he treated his mother. "I don't believe in coincidences, so I always found it interesting that granddad was the main one who cared for his mom," Otte said. "I think someone much bigger and wiser than me was preparing him for what he would do at the end of (my grandmother's) life. Tough old cowboys aren't necessarily all the most gentle or loving, but there he was caring for her tenderly." A heart attack took the cowboy's life when he was 81. Otte said he wore his cowboy boots and hat until the end, and always embodied the honest, straight-dealing, hardworking values he lived by. For the man who was always more comfortable on a horse than in a car, life never changed from being about doing what he loved, supporting his family and being generous to a fault, Otte said. Today, the ranch is managed by some of Bell's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Otte, who lives in Laramie, said keeping the land in the family is as important now as it was to her grandfather when he worked hard to regain the land in the 1930s. "If you've ever owned land, you would understand," Otte said. "In that land is blood and sweat and tears of those family members who have gone before us. When I think back, I think about how it was my grandfather that started a lot of that legacy. Land is just land until you sell it, but there is something there in those mountains, fence posts and hay meadows that I still feel connected to." ___ Information from: Laramie Boomerang, http://www.laramieboomerang.com Buenos Aires (AFP) - Drinks giant Coca-Cola and car maker Renault-Nissan have each announced big new investments in Argentina in a sign of renewed foreign interest after a pro-business government took power there. The Renault-Nissan conglomerate will invest $600 million to launch construction of three new kinds of pickup truck at its plant in Cordoba, central Argentina, the government said on Friday. On Thursday, it announced that US company Coca-Cola, the world's biggest drinks maker, would invest $1.0 billion in expanding its bottling and distribution operations in Argentina over the next four years. Argentina, Latin America's third-biggest economy, emerged last month from 12 years of protectionist trade policies under former president Cristina Kirchner and her late husband and predecessor Nestor Kirchner. The new conservative President Mauricio Macri struck the deals with executives at the World Economic Forum currently under way in Davos, Switzerland, it said. Macri said the car industry is "fundamental for creating jobs in the quest to achieve zero poverty in Argentina." The Coca-Cola deal, meanwhile, is a "vital" part of his strategy to boost industry in Argentina. It is the first time Argentina has attended the Davos summit in 13 years, since the leftist Kirchners shunned it. In Davos, Macri also met with energy, oil, computing and telecom executives. Since taking office on December 10, he has pushed through economically liberal reforms to reverse Kirchner's policies. These included freeing up foreign trade and currency controls, moves that critics say will hurt poorer Argentines. He has vowed to open up Argentina to trade and investment from overseas and to improve its foreign relations. Education in America is an evolving thing: After 14 years of No Child Left Behind, President Obama replaced the much-loathed, standardized, test-heavy law with one that allows states to set their own benchmarks and standards. Now it looks like Common Core will soon follow NCLB into the dustbin. But is this something to cheer? We already know what most parents think about Common Core. Whether from genuine frustration or simply because its trendy, youd be hard-pressed to find a nice word about the curriculum from parents. But one group of people we dont get to hear from as much are teachers despite the fact that they are so often invoked by parents and politicians as being just as fed up so naturally we were very curious to hear what they had to say on the matter. More From SheKnows: 25 Hilariously wrong homework answers from kids SheKnows spoke to five educators from multiple states, who offered to give us their unfiltered thoughts on the subject. The good Melissa, an educator who lives in Colorado, says she barely noticed a difference when the new standards were implemented: I hardly noticed any changes in my curriculum (eight-grade language arts) after Common Core was put in place in my district. Mostly it felt like, yeah, Im already doing all this. The length of the standardized tests has increased, but the number of times per year students are tested in my content area has remained basically the same. David, a 10-year teaching veteran in New York, says the problem lies in a misunderstanding of what Common Core actually is: Common Core is a term that is often misunderstood. Common Core is a set of standards or topics that should be covered at each grade level. We had these same standards when we were in school. One seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience who wishes to remain anonymous says the problem lies not in the standards themselves, and in fact the math portion the one most highly criticized by parents can be extremely beneficial: Story continues I believe that the premise of the common core learning standards is a good idea. In math especially, I see children who are able to break down numbers to understand them better, they understand how to perform problems in many ways I like the fact that the standards are countrywide and a child that moves from another state will have the same knowledge as students in my class and I do not have to remediate as much to catch them up. Sue, a Colorado educator, agrees that math gets a bad rep: The math Common Core is getting beat up by those taught math in a very different way procedural. The math Common Core approach is much better. Its very different conceptual which is why it intimidates or confuses those who were not taught math that way. However, it should have been implemented at the K-1 level and worked its way through the system. Sam from Rhode Island is pretty firmly in favor of the Common Core standards and doesnt understand the backlash surrounding them, saying: One of the things I love the most about Common Core State Standards is that they are broad enough that teachers can tailor their teaching to their students while working towards the academic benchmarks that the standards set. The standards offer a great opportunity for personalizing learning. They are broad enough for teachers to write lesson plans that target benchmarks while incorporating student and teacher interests for maximum engagement. More From SheKnows: Teachers answer to Common Core math problem has parents steaming The not so good It wasnt a Common Core lovefest, though. Melissa admits that shes heard other teachers have had to change their curriculum dramatically: Even though I didnt notice much change in my area, I do remember some teachers saying their curriculum changed dramatically seventh-grade social studies and seventh- and eighth-grade science with Common Core While Sue disagrees with the idea of a nationwide curriculum: Im not in favor of a national curriculum, which is essentially what the Common Core is. The U.S. is too geographically, culturally diverse to have a national curriculum, one size fits all. Ive done work in large urban to remote rural contexts, and the educational needs/purposes of those communities are very different. She went on to outline what she sees as the problem with the Language Arts portion of the Common Core: The standards are ridiculously developmentally inappropriate. It couches desired outcomes as abstract skills to be attained rather than in terms of world knowledge knowledge of what and specific procedural knowledge knowledge of how. The focus on informational text and close reading is ridiculous. David maintains that the problem lies not in whats being taught so much as how: I think the problem that most people have is how schools choose to deliver those topics. There are modules, Pearson textbooks, Singapore Math I think as teachers/schools, we need to make educated decisions on what makes sense when delivering the information. More From SheKnows: Dad gives school a hilarious lesson in Common Core math One thing almost all of our educators agreed on was that theres a bigger problem than Common Core plaguing schools right now, and thats the heavy-handed use of standardized testing in the classroom. Our anonymous educator felt that the tests are responsible for turning happy kids into anxious ones: What I dont like is the pressure that the high-stakes testing has placed on schools, teachers and children to perform at high levels. My third-grade students are just learning skills, and they are being asked to perform tasks that they are not ready for. I have seen more students with anxiety issues currently, and the only common thread I see is the testing. Sue had strong words for the practice too: The standardized tests associated with the Common Core are stupid and a waste of instructional time. They do nothing to improve student learning, as evidenced by the recent NAEP National Assessment of Educational Progress results of U.S. fourth- and eighth-graders. While Sam finds that the testing stands directly in opposition to what Common Core is attempting to achieve in the first place: There is one aspect that, in my opinion, takes away from all the good that the CCSS are trying to achieve and that should be totally scrapped: The standardized tests used to evaluate them The standardized testing movement is incongruent with the principles of the CCSS and with learning in general. Get rid of the standardized tests, and lets see if education in this country can actually change for the better. More From SheKnows: Elementary schoolers no longer allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance Even Melissa, the teacher who didnt notice much of a change, pointed out that the testing is the biggest sticking point in her district: Standardized tests for science and social studies were added, and that extra testing has not been popular with teachers, parents or students. The conclusion? Well, its pretty much a draw. Sue says that the time has come to put these standards and their accompanying anxiety-inducing assessments to bed: In my opinion, the Common Core needs to go away, as does the crazy standardized testing practices that consume way too much instructional time and place undue stress on teachers and students. While Sam urges us to not throw the baby out with the bathwater: Should they be reviewed and revised? Absolutely. Should we throw them out entirely?Theresa Edwards (Image via Digital Vision/Getty Images) MADRID (AP) -- John Degenkolb and Warren Barguil were among six Giant-Alpecin cyclists hospitalized Saturday after being hit by a car while training in Spain, the German team said. All the riders are in stable condition after being taken to two local hospitals, Giant-Alpecin said. The other four riders involved in the incident near the Spanish town of Calpe were German Max Walscheid, American Chad Haga, Swede Fredrik Ludvigsson and Ramon Sinkeldam of the Netherlands. The team said that while training ''a car coming the other direction rode into the group of riders head on.'' Team doctor Anko Boelens told the team website that ''everyone is conscious, stable and approachable.'' ''Everyone on the team is in shock right now, and there are some major issues that we need to take care of, but we also realize that we have had some luck on our side,'' said Boelens. ''Everyone is conscious, stable and approachable, but we are waiting for the latest information and consult the doctors in those hospitals about the treatments needed for the riders.'' The emergency services for the Mediterranean region of Valencia said on their Twitter account that an ''English woman driving a car ran over six cyclists'' of Giant-Alpecin after allegedly ''driving into on-coming traffic.'' The 27-year-old Degenkolb of Germany has won 10 stages at the Spanish Vuelta, and several one-day races, including the Paris-Roubaix and the Milan-San Remo in 2015. France's Barguil, 24, finished the 2015 Tour de France 14th in the general classification, and was eighth in the 2014 Vuelta. He also won two stage at the 2013 Vuelta. In this occasional series, OZY takes to streets and neighborhoods across the globe to ask a simple question: How was your day? Stone Ramsey Sacramento, California Every morning I wake up feeling like I have one foot in prison and one foot on the streets. Literally. Being attached to an ankle monitor is cumbersome, both mentally and physically. Its like being attached to a neoball and chain. It was a part of my parole conditions. Yeah, youre free, but then again, youre not. The first thing I have to do every morning is charge [the monitor] up, no matter where Im at. Before I go to sleep, I must recharge. Every day. Its an ever-present part of my life. Even though I live at home with my wife, I feel like Im still in prison. I have to wear it because I was accused of being a high-ranking gang member in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Prison officials claimed I was in the Black Guerrilla Family. I was validated and had to serve SHU [Special Housing Unit] time before I was paroled. Thats 23-hour lockdown, seven days a week. They need three points to classify you as a prison gang member. Three points. Number one, they said I had direct contact with a member of the gang. Proof of direct contact could be a name, a letter, even a book with somebodys name in it. Anything they find on you thats a direct link to an associate or a member is a point. Number two was a tattoo. I had a dragon on my arm. And any dragon on your arm is associated with the BGF. The third was a note that they found. They didnt even tell me what was in the note. I had to walk out of a job orientation, because the company had a metal detector. I was too embarrassed to go through. Any three points and you get validated. In a nutshell, they could validate a brown paper bag. If the brown paper bag was in the cell with the gang member and he ate food out of it, thats a point. In other words, it was a sham. I spent two and a half years waiting at California Mens Colony in San Luis Obispo for a bed to open up in an SHU. During that time, I was like a pariah. No one wants to talk to you. Because if you make contact with me thats one point! So when people see you walking with your escort on the yard, they dont say, Hey, whats up, Stone? Its a real fucked-up feeling because you are in the hole, no TV, no radio. Two and a half years straight in a cell [is] a fucked-up experience. And in the SHU it gets worse. Story continues Its all gang members in there, absolutely. You get an hour out of your cell every day. When I got to Corcoran SHU, it was a totally different experience. Before I went I didnt even have a cellie, but once [you get] there, they force you to have a cellie. Aint that some bullshit? It was crazy because once I got there, I got put in with all the notables: the Aryan Brotherhood, the Eme, the Nortenos. Its a lot of politics. The tension was palpable. Like you could grab that shit out of the air. I was tossed in the hole just because of my affiliation with the Black Guerrilla Family. Ive been out now two years, but Im still on an ankle monitor. One thing about those draconian gang-validation policies is that they dont offer inmates due for parole any prerelease or re-entry services. Inmates on the main line [regular prison yard] have access to programs, but in SHU we get nothing. They basically vomit us into society, traumatized and unprepared. I have been working, and doing everything possible to stay free, despite my ankle monitor. Over a period of time, literally and figuratively, it becomes the irritated part of your flesh. It affects your psyche. I once had to walk out from a job orientation, because the company had a metal detector. I was too embarrassed to walk through. And can you imagine meeting a chick and your ankle monitor starts buzzing uncontrollably, because your parole agent wants you. Imagine being in bed with your lady and it starts buzzing? Its happened to me. In prison all you get in regard to overall hygiene is a shower, so I basically went 16 years without taking a bath. Now I have to take baths with one leg hanging off the side of the tub. I have a swimming pool and Jacuzzi in my backyard and I cant even get in it. Ive got one more year wearing this thing. But it beats being back inside. Ill take it, as long as it keeps me on this side of the wall. Related Articles By Jonathan Allen and Dustin Volz NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Des Moines Register, the largest newspaper in the state that will cast the first votes for U.S. presidential nominees in nine days, gave its coveted endorsement on Saturday to Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Hillary Clinton, it announced on Saturday. The newspaper's board said it was impressed by Clinton's "knowledge and experience" and that it had picked Rubio because the Florida senator represented the Republican party's "best hope" in the November 2016 presidential race. While the endorsements from the newspaper have the potential to boost a candidate, they often do not predict success in Iowa's distinctive, time-consuming caucus system of picking nominees, which involves voters meeting in public places to discuss their preferences. Since beginning the practice in 1988, only three of the nine candidates the newspaper has endorsed have left the state with the most votes. "It's certainly not a prediction," Amalie Nash, the paper's executive editor, said in an interview before the announcement. "We normally we do talk about viability, but it's certainly not a major factor." Nash and the board's five other members had all the leading Democratic and Republican candidates in for interviews except for the current Republican front-runners, Senator Ted Cruz and the businessman Donald Trump, who declined their invitations, the paper said. The board put emphasis on whether the candidates had the potential to heal the partisan divide that has become a hallmark of Washington politics and their plans for defusing the threat to Americans from the militant Islamist group Islamic State, Nash said. Rubio, the paper said, held the "potential to chart a new direction for the party, and perhaps the nation, with his message of restoring the American dream." Noting the presidency is "not an entry-level position," the Register praised Clinton as an "outstanding candidate" deserving of the Democratic nomination. "No other candidate can match the depth or breadth of her knowledge and experience," it said. The Register previously endorsed Clinton during her 2008 presidential run, saying she was distinguished by her "readiness to lead." Barack Obama ultimately won the Iowa caucus and Clinton finished third behind John Edwards. The paper endorsed Senator John McCain on the Republican side that year. He came in fourth in Iowa but went on to become the party's nominee before losing the general election to Obama. An endorsement for Trump had seemed unlikely after the paper published a withering editorial last July calling on him to end his "bloviating side show" and drop out of the election. Winners of the Iowa caucuses, due to be held on Feb. 1 this year, do not always go on to become their party's standard bearer in the November general election. "Iowa's role isn't to pick the eventual nominee," Nash, the Register's executive editor, said. "It's to winnow the field." (Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Dustin Volz; Editing by Sandra Maler) The Hague (AFP) - Tensions over Europe's migrant crisis bubbled over in a Dutch town Saturday as far-right politician Geert Wilders handed out fake pepper spray, saying women must defend themselves against Muslim men. Wilders, whose Freedom Party (PVV) only holds 12 seats currently in the 150-seat Dutch lower house, has seen his popularity soar on the back of the bitter refugee debate fuelling his desire of becoming the next prime minister. On Saturday following in the wake of the sexual attacks on women on New Year's Eve in Cologne, Wilders used a rally in the western Dutch town of Spijkenisse to again push his blunt message against what he calls an "Islamic invasion." "We must close the borders," Wilders said handing out fake pepper spray -- which is illegal in the Netherlands -- filled instead with red paint. Women should be allowed to carry pepper spray, he said, to protect themselves against what he termed "Islamic testosterone bombs." But his radical rhetoric drew a counter demonstration from a few dozen women protestors who shouted out: "Wilders is racist, no feminist." About 10 women were arrested at the protest, Dutch media said. The Netherlands, a country of 17 million people, took in record numbers of asylum-seekers in 2015. About 54,000 of the one million refugees, who have travelled into Europe from the Middle East and Africa, have been registered here. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned this week the EU has only about two months to tackle the crisis before a new spike in refugees in the spring. "Let me be clear: the current numbers aren't sustainable. We are running out of time. We need a sharp reduction in the coming six to eight weeks," Rutte told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday. Tensions have been simmering across the Netherlands as the government has sought to work with local provinces to find shelter for the thousands of refugees. Story continues Protests in some towns against planned refugee centres have flared into full-scale riots leading to arrests and some damage. The Dutch daily Trouw Saturday said a leaked report had warned the number of refugees could hit 93,000 this year. With Rutte's ruling coalition under strain, the Trouw reported the cabinet was planning to meet with local provinces next month to draw up a plan for housing the newcomers. Elections are not due until 2017, but according to a poll collated by national broadcaster NOS if they were held today Wilders's PVV could grab 36 seats -- enough to put it in the driving seat for coalition talks. Jake was born to Robert Jacobson Sr. and DeLoris A. Jacobson in Fulton, S.D., on Sept. 7, 1951. He spent most of his youth growing up in Wyoming and Montana. After Jake graduated from Sheridan High School, he attended and graduated from the Billings Automotive School. After graduation, Jake started working for Peter Kewitt Construction, which he continued to do for many years throughout Montana and Wyoming. During that time, Jake met his love, Delores L. Funk, and they married on May 11, 1974, in Billings, where they made their home. In their 41 years of marriage, Jake and Dee were blessed with two amazing daughters whom he was always proud of and you could always see his love for his girls in his eyes. Jake spent many years driving truck before working on the family ranch in Hysham, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Jake and Dee later moved back to Billings, where Jake worked for Cross Petroleum and enjoyed his years watching the smiling faces of his three grandchildren, whom he was blessed to spend time with on every holiday and many family vacations, not to mention weekend visits and camping trips that he loved. By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A winter storm that could bury parts of the U.S. Middle Atlantic region under 3 feet (90 cm) of snow slammed into Washington on Friday, threatening the nation's capital with record accumulations as it barreled up the East Coast. The blizzard started to blanket the Washington area during the early afternoon. Six people had died in car crashes as a wintry mix spread across Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. The storm could dump 2 to 3 feet of snow on Baltimore and the capital and bring winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour (48 to 80 km per hour) before winding down on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Philadelphia and New York were expected to get 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of snow before the storm abates. In Falls Church, Virginia, about 8 miles (13 km) west of the capital, a thick curtain of snow was already piling up on deserted streets on Friday evening, creating a peaceful tableau that disguised dangerous driving conditions. "I want to be very clear with everybody. This is a major storm," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said as the city braced for what could turn out to be one of the worst storms in its history. "This has life-and-death implications and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way." The Weather Channel said more than 85 million people in at least 20 states were covered by a winter weather warning, watch or advisory and residents up and down the East Coast scrambled to stock up on supplies. Airlines canceled more than 7,100 flights in the U.S. for Friday and Saturday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com. An additional 7,000 flights were delayed on Friday alone, reverberating to airports across the country. Washington's snowfall could eclipse the "Snowmageddon" storm of 2010 that dropped 17.8 inches (45.2 cm), AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. If forecasts prove accurate, the storm could rival the 1922 Knickerbocker storm, which dumped a record 28 inches (71 cm) on the city. 'IT'S GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE' "I think its going to be a nightmare, the rates of snow were talking about," said Marisa Kritikson, 27, a George Washington University nursing student who bought a snow shovel to dig out from her basement apartment. Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, was expecting 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm) The approaching storm led New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to return home from New Hampshire, where he was campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination. Christie declared a state of emergency as well. "The smartest thing for you all to do is stay home, stay where you are," Christie told an evening press conference. New Jersey Transit said all bus, rail and light rail service would be shut down at 2 a.m. local time on Saturday. Service would be restored as "conditions permit," the agency said. Residents along New Jersey's coast prepared for potential flooding during high tides on Saturday and Sunday. In Ocean City, emergency management officials warned of forecasts calling for the highest flood levels since Superstorm Sandy brought heavy damage in 2012. High winds and a full moon could combine to create a high tide of nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) in Atlantic City, officials said, still shy of the 10 feet (3 meters) Sandy caused in Ocean City. In New York City, the National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings for the boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Officials prepared for possible evacuations from low-lying areas. Post-Sandy reconstruction has put the area in a stronger position to face the storm, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The storm arrived in the Washington area, home to about 6 million people, after dropping 5 inches (13 cm) of snow in Arkansas and spreading a wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky. Duke Energy reported that more than 112,000 people were without power in North and South Carolina on Friday evening. In addition to snow, the Charlotte, North Carolina, area could get up to a half inch (1.3 cm) of ice, making roads dangerous. Federal offices in the Washington area closed at noon to allow employees to get home ahead of the storm. "I have nine cases of wine, half and half and coffee, firewood and all my devices are charged. All I need now is a wing and a prayer, said Liz Scherer, 54, of Silver Spring, Maryland. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the second-busiest U.S. subway system, took the rare step of suspending operations from late Friday through Sunday. The forecast prompted the Virginia National Guard to ready 400 troops to deal with emergencies. In New York, 600 National Guard personnel were on standby. (Additional reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago, Barbara Goldberg and Joseph Ax in New York, Susan Heavey in Washington; Lacey Johnson in Silver Spring, Maryland; Steve Barnes in Little Rock, Arkansas; Harriet McLeod in Charleston, South Carolina and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Diane Craft, James Dalgleish, David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker) By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's government will step up its support for Britain to remain in the European Union if it is re-elected, Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said on Saturday. However, an inconclusive result in elections expected next month could endanger a consistent response to a possible "Brexit," he said. Ireland has more to lose than other EU members if its larger neighbor, a key trading partner, votes to leave the union at a referendum due to be held by 2017 and the Irish government has been a vocal opponent of a British exit, or "Brexit". With Ireland's ruling coalition short of a majority in opinion polls and no obvious alternatives in sight ahead of elections, parties may struggle to form a new administration just as Britain finishes negotiations with the EU on winning better membership terms. "The prospect of instability is a real danger on the Brexit question but also in terms of our domestic politics," Flanagan told Reuters after a 90-minute discussion on "Brexit" with members of his Fine Gael party at its annual conference. "It is expected that a (renegotiation) text will be agreed over the next couple of months, maybe earlier and I believe it is important that the consistency of approach here in Ireland is not endangered, which it would be by an unclear election result." Addressing party members, Flanagan said a "Brexit" would be "a leap into the unknown" and that Dublin did not know what the consequences would be for trade, political relations, Britain's border along Northern Ireland or the sizable number of Irish citizens living in Britain. The government has identified a "Brexit" as a major strategic risk to the recovering economy and Ireland's Central Bank warned that withdrawal would hurt Irish exports, employment, economic growth and significantly impact the country's financial sector. A government-commissioned report estimated that trade between the two countries could fall by at least 20 percent if Britain left the 28-member bloc. Flanagan said the government would intensify its support for the 'In' campaign if re-elected, including encouraging British citizens living in Ireland to vote. "We believe we have an obligation to speak out and a duty to speak out," he said. "Should we be favored with re-election, that will become intensified in terms of people here who will be voting, we will encourage them to become registered and become involved in the debate." (Editing by Digby Lidstone) Melbourne (AFP) - Milos Raonic, with the trauma of the Canadian high school shooting weighing heavily on his mind, produced a fighting win over Viktor Troicki to reach the fourth round of Australian Open on Saturday. The Canadian power server, seeded 13, fought back from an early break in the final set before clinching a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over the 21st-seeded Serb in one hour, 46 minutes on Margaret Court Arena. Afterwards, Raonic was close to tears as he dedicated the win to the remote Saskatchewan community where four people were killed in a school shooting on Friday. "I want to take a moment and give thoughts to that community, the families, the students and the school affected and we wish you all the best," he told the crowd. "Today's victory was for that community and a quick recovery. All of Canada, and I'm sure the world, is behind you," Raonic said, before quickly departing the court. Raonic, coached by former world number one Carlos Moya, will next face either 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka or Czech Lukas Rosol. The Canadian rolled through the opening two sets for the loss of five games but struck some resistance early in the final set when he was broken in the second game. But Raonic fought back with breaks in the seventh and ninth games before completing victory over Troicki, who beat Grigor Dimitrov in last week's final of the Sydney International. Raonic has yet to drop a set in this year's Open and comes into the year's opening Grand Slam a winner over Roger Federer in the final of the Brisbane International earlier this month. The Canadian, who broke Troicki's serve five times and lost his own booming service just once, reached the quarter-finals of last year's Australian Open where he lost to eventual winner Novak Djokovic. A degree or certificate may tell an employer about your education, but it won't necessarily highlight your specific skills. Online education, however, has facilitated the rise of "microcredentials," namely digital badges , and nanodegrees , that aim to do just that. "I would say over the past three years or so, we've seen a rise in this arena in a way that we really haven't seen in the past," says Lauren Griffin, senior vice president of the recruitment agency Adecco Staffing USA. In some online classes, whether it's MOOCs or for-credit courses offered through universities, instructors have begun incorporating digital badges into their curricula. Students earn these badges once they achieve a certain milestone or develop a particular skill and can then post them on social media or an online portfolio. When somebody -- such as a potential employer -- clicks on the badge, it will link to information on how and when the badge was earned. Learn about [how online courses are experimenting with digital badges.] At the same time, Udacity, a company that offers affordable programming and technology online courses, has partnered with companies such as AT&T and Google to create online project-based "nanodegree" programs in information technology. Students select a specific IT program area, such as front-end Web development, and receive their nanodegree certification after paying about $200 a month and completing around five to eight projects to showcase their skills. "Particularly the nanodegrees, that strikes me as a breakthrough in a way for employers because it's basically saying to an employer, here's a core set of courses that you know this person has that makes them very viable for your job," says Stuart Butler, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy research organization. Experts say both badges and nanodegrees are still in their early days and the trend is continuously evolving in online education. When it comes to badges in particular, some employers in various industries have accepted them as legitimate or have at least expressed a willingness to learn more about them, while others remain more skeptical. Story continues The concepts of nanodegrees and microcredentials are catching on more so in the tech industry than in other industries, says Alex Halavais, associate professor of social technologies at Arizona State University. "I suspect that it's kind of bleeding over from the technology sector, where there's at least some more acceptance," he says. From the employer perspective, nanodegrees provide skills that are tailored to specific types of tech industry jobs, experts say. In fact, just this month, Udacity announced a new Nanodegree Plus program that guarantees learners a job within six months of graduating or their tuition money back. Choose [the right information technology training to meet your goals.] In general, Griffin, of Adecco Staffing, says more employers and recruiters she works with are on board with the idea of microcredentials than aren't. She says a badge might not be valued as much as a degree, "but it's absolutely valued." "From the hiring manager perspective, they want to see skill sets, they want to see endorsements, they want to see the complete profile of that candidate, and that now does include these microcredentials," says Jason Weingarten, co-founder and CEO of Yello, which provides software to help with recruitment . At this point, there isn't much research available on employers' perceptions of digital badges and nanodegrees from job applicants, especially when it comes to online learning and general opinions within specific industries. But in one recent survey of 114 human resources managers across various industries, only 5 percent said they weren't interested in digital badges at all, though this didn't include badges exclusively from online programs. Sixty-two percent of the respondents said they were interested in badges but also needed to learn more about them. Victoria Raish, online learning librarian for Pennsylvania State University--World Campus and Penn State University Libraries, who co-authored the study, said via email that respondents indicated that one to five badges was the most popular number they would consider. "This requires that students think judiciously about what badges they submit to potential employers," Raish says. Griffin and other experts agree that, at least for now, it's essential to make a possible employer aware of what a smaller type of online credential or certification actually represents when applying for a job. Understand [what employers really think about your online bachelor's degree.] "I think with the millennial shift as well, being the largest group in the workplace, that we will most likely continue to see increased interest because it fits in with that demographic in their learning and the access online," Griffin says. One possible challenge in the future, Weingarten of Yello says, will involve employers being able to actually validate these badges in order to consider them. For some employers, it's the skills themselves rather the type of credential or certification that matters most. This was the case for Sheryl Lun, an event-planner-turned-Web-developer who earned a nanodegree from Udacity. "It didn't really matter to them that I had a nanodegree, but just the fact that I had these projects that were working was a selling point for them," Lun says. Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center. Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com. Nairobi (AFP) - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on Saturday dismissed fears the Horn of African nation faces a food crisis, despite sweeping drought across the wider region leaving millions in need of aid. Floods and failed rains caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon have sparked a dramatic rise in the number of people going hungry in east Africa. But authoritarian and isolated Eritrea has long rejected UN food aid in favour of a policy of self reliance, and Isaias said he was not worried. "In view of the harvest shortfall that has affected the whole Horn of Africa region, President Isaias stated that the country will not face any crisis in spite of reduced agricultural output," the information ministry said, after he was interviewed by state-run media. Isaias praised the government's "judicious policy and approaches of bolstering its strategic food reserves." In November, the UN warned that Eritrea was among the countries at risk, like all the other nations in the wider region. "The current El Nino pattern, being the strongest ever recorded, has caused severe drought in the Horn of Africa nation, resulting in crop reduction by 50 to 90 percent; even failure in some regions," the United Nations said earlier this month. In Ethiopia, over 10 million people need food aid, it added. In Eritrea, few if any major foreign aid agencies are allowed operate, while the UN has limited access across the country, and most assessments are dependent on government reports. Thousands of Eritreans flee the county each month, saying they are escaping conscription and rampant rights abuses. Refugees from the repressive Red Sea state make up the third-largest number of people risking the dangerous journey to Europe after Syrians and Afghans, running a gauntlet of ruthless people smugglers to make the treacherous Mediterranean crossing. Chisinau (AFP) - Anger over a $1 billion corruption scandal and the influence of an oligarch, with the competing pull of Europe and Russia in the background, has left ex-Soviet Moldova locked in a complex political crisis with no end in sight. Thousands of people in the capital Chisinau again took to the streets on Friday calling for early elections after a new government -- the third in less than a year -- was approved on Wednesday despite demonstrators breaking into parliament and opposition lawmakers trying to halt the vote. The rallies are the latest eruption in months of political turmoil which has dogged the impoverished nation of 3.5 million. It was triggered by a $1-billion (910-million-euro) corruption scam that led to the arrest of a former premier in October. "The country has been de facto ungoverned over the past year and corruption has increased," analyst Nicu Popescu from the European Union Institute for Security Studies told AFP. "This has led to significant frustration and a rejection of the current governing class from both pro-European segments of the population and from eurosceptic segments." Wedged between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is often seen in terms of a tug-of-war between Moscow and the West, especially after it inked an historic EU association agreement in 2014 despite bitter opposition from former master Russia. But the current protests have seen both nominally pro-Western and pro-Russian forces from the right and left temporarily put aside their differences to challenge a ruling elite they accuse of using pro-European rhetoric to cover up rampant corruption. "We all decided to come together in unison against this criminal regime," pro-EU opposition leader Andrei Nastase told protestors on Friday. "We have abandoned party flags and party symbols. We have only one demand: to return democracy to the country." Around 78 percent of Moldova's population is ethnic Romanian, while Ukrainians and Russians account for around 14 percent. Story continues - Missing billion - The starting point for protesters was the one billion dollars -- a sizeable chunk of Moldova's gross domestic product -- that went missing from the banking system in 2014. Former prime minister Vlad Filat was arrested in October over allegations he was involved in the scam, but outrage continues over a failure to fully investigate the theft. "The stolen billion was the worst possible confirmation of what people suspected might be going on in terms of lack of integrity among the political class," analyst Popescu said. Now, the protesters are focusing their wrath on the figure of oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, an energy and banking tycoon who is seen as the grey cardinal of Moldovan politics and the man pulling the strings of the new government under Pavel Filip. "The best thing that the new government of Filip could do is to resign," said Chisinau-based economist Elena Gorelova. "The appointment of the new government has just meant a deepening of the political crisis in Moldova. And this isn't just a crisis between different political groups, it is a standoff between the people and the authorities." The unstable situation looks set to continue as opposition leaders vow not to give up until there are new elections and have called for another mass rally on Sunday. But analysts say that even if new elections are called it would not spell the end of Moldova's crisis as more far-reaching reform is needed. "On the surface, Moldova's prospects are bleak and uncertain," said analyst David Dalton of the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. "What they needed is wide-scale social mobilisation, in alignment with progressive parts of the political, financial, business and state elite to push thorough going institutional reforms... in short, a political and social revolution." Louis Singleton receives water filters, bottled water and a test kit from the Michigan National Guard. (Photo: Paul Sancya/AP) A number of Republican operatives and allies Friday lamented that the GOP has largely been ignoring the water crisis in Flint and warned that it sends a terrible message to the nation. This is an amoral display of political apathy by Republican leaders. Their failure to run to the crisis, roll up their sleeves and pitch in tells the world that we are still the same old Republicans who only care about those who would vote for or contribute to them, said Alex Castellanos, a political operative who is not working for any of the Republican presidential contenders. Castellanos said he agreed with an op-ed in the New York Times Thursday written by former White House speechwriter Matt Latimer, who worked for President George W. Bush. Latimer, a Flint native, wrote that the water crisis was the Republicans chance to show their worth, and to demonstrate that party leaders who have tried to refocus the GOP on poverty, like House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, mean what they say. Why arent Republican presidential candidates, he asked, shipping in water bottles and holding fund-raisers for kids now condemned to lowered expectations because their brains were poisoned by lead? To be fair, none of the Democratic presidential candidates have done any of those things either. And Republican candidates have not been entirely silent on the issue. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson issued a lengthy statement on the crisis, saying that the citizens of Flint deserve better from both their local and federal officials. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas called it a failure at every level of government. His state director wrote on Facebook that campaign volunteers were bringing fresh water to pro-life pregnancy centers in the city, which counsel women against having abortions. And former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has talked about the matter in a town hall meeting this week in New Hampshire, a spokesman said. No news coverage of Bushs remarks has yet surfaced online. Story continues But overall, Republicans have been quieter about Flint than Democrats have. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been the most active on the issue among Democratic presidential candidates, repeatedly raising the issue to call for action from state and federal officials, and calling Flint Mayor Karen Weaver to find out what the city needs. Sen. Bernie Sanders has called for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, to resign. Many Republicans resent what they see as crass political opportunism by the Democrats. [Snyder] was given bad information. Not from Republicans or Democrats but from civil servants, at both the state and federal level, said Katie Packer, who helped run Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, and is a Michigan native. When he realized the problem he acted swiftly to fix it, with local and federal help. This is not a partisan problem, she said. But in contrast to the Democrats, businessman Donald Trump and Ohio Gov. John Kasich both were asked by reporters about the issue, and gave sparing replies. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said he hadnt been briefed on it and added: Thats not an issue that right now weve been focused on. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who actually campaigned in Flint over the summer and has been the one Republican candidate to consistently visit African-American communities, has not spoken out on Flints water crisis. Its not surprising that each candidates brain power and energy, and that of their campaign staffs, is primarily focused on how to win the Iowa caucuses in just over a week on Feb. 1. But Latimers deeper point is that for Democrats like Clinton, its second nature for them to comment forcefully on a situation where poor Americans in a majority African-American city are the victim of a man-made catastrophe like the one in Flint. Every single American should be outraged, Clinton said at last Sundays Democratic debate. She noted that the city was predominantly African-American and said, Ill tell you what, if the kids in a rich suburb of Detroit had been drinking contaminated water and being bathed in it, there wouldve been action. But the inclination to speak up in the face of crises faced by poor people and racial minorities is not second-nature for many Republican politicians. And so even if demands for Republicans to visit Flint days before the Iowa caucuses are unrealistic, its the willingness to speak out on behalf of disadvantaged people that Latimer is pinpointing. Its outrageous Republicans and conservatives have not talked about the tragedy and importance of the matter, said Juleanna Glover, a veteran Republican political operative who is supporting Bush. Bob Woodson, an anti-poverty activist who has introduced House Speaker Ryan to community organizers and nonprofit programs in poor areas around the country, said that too many politicians only look at people in terms of a narrow well-polled demographic. But many of the people I know have experienced brokenness in their lives, and if you look at people in a broader context, they want candidates who understand that, Woodson said. Yet one senior adviser to a presidential candidate, who agreed to discuss his thinking on the Flint matter if his candidates name were withheld, said he sees the Flint water poisoning as a long and complicated discussion that doesnt lend itself to a GOP debate or the frenzied run up to an Iowa caucus. I dont fully understand it yet, though I plan to. Who is to blame. State EPA? Federal EPA? City managers? State government? the adviser said. It might be a place to say, Ok, we want to help, but you have to really want to find out what failed and why. But Castellanos said the GOP cant afford the luxury of waiting to find out the facts before at least expressing empathy and outrage over what is known unequivocally. Whoever is ultimately to blame, Flints children have been poisoned, with life-threatening and life-altering effects. Castellanos said GOP reluctance to speak forcefully is a tragic display that the Republican party still doesnt get it. [American Enterprise Institute President] Arthur Brooks has explained it with clarity: the party that is for people will always beat by the party that is against things, Castellanos said. Yet, at moments like this in Flint, when the countrys attention is focused on another Katrina, we find a way to tell people that we are not the party that is for people. Maybe that should be the GOP motto: Love your contributors and neighbors as yourself and screw everybody else, he said. By Joe Brock KAPISE, Malawi (Reuters) - When Mozambican troops hunting opposition fighters attacked his village this week, 10-year-old Wit Messenger turned and ran, leaving behind parents he may never see again. Messenger is among thousands of Mozambicans who have fled across the border to refugee camps in Malawi in the last month, saying Frelimo government forces are burning homes and killing civilians in a campaign against Renamo guerrillas in an escalation of a simmering conflict between old civil war foes. Spokesmen for both Frelimo and Renamo each told Reuters that the other side was responsible for attacks on their members in various parts of the country but would not give details about the violence that prompted the refugee exodus. The first Mozambicans arrived in the Malawian village of Kapise in June last year but the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) says the flow of migrants has rapidly increased this month and predicts the number could rise from 3,500 now to 5,000 in coming days, more than it can currently handle. [nL8N14Z2V8] More than half the refugees are children who walked for days from villages in Mozambique's western Tete province with just the clothes they were wearing. "I could see the houses burning up ahead, then I heard the gunshots and I ran," said Wit, waiting with hundreds of other children to be given food in a sprawling hilltop camp of makeshift tarpaulin tents. "I don't know if my parents are alive or dead. I'm scared I will never see them again," said Wit -- tearful, barefoot and wearing only a torn vest and ragged shorts. Security sources say Renamo fighters have been attacking police outposts in recent weeks near the Malawi border, where they have public support, while Frelimo forces retaliate by torching villages where they believe rebels are hiding. MEMORIES OF WAR Renamo started out as a guerrilla force backed by neighbouring powers -- the white-minority government in what was then Rhodesia and later by apartheid South Africa -- to counter the communist Frelimo movement. The latest violence has stirred memories of a civil war fought between Renamo and Frelimo from 1976 to 1992 in which a million people died and a further million fled to Malawi. Some of the Mozambicans in Kapise told Reuters that they had hidden Renamo fighters because they felt they had no choice. "Government were asking where we were hiding Renamo," said Agness Chifundo, who walked for two days with her seven children to reach Kapise. "When they couldn't find them they were burning houses and shooting. I saw five dead bodies and a woman was raped in front of me." Tete province has large coal reserves but projects by companies such as Brazil's Vale and mining giant Rio Tinto have failed in recent years due to low prices, poor infrastructure and outbreaks of unrest. Although the latest violence is far from the vast offshore gas reserves being developed off northern Mozambique by Eni and Anadarko, the violence is likely to worry investors already spooked by a global slowdown. Though the full details of the clashes in Tete remain unclear and are likely to be disputed, there have been clear signs of growing unrest between Frelimo and Renamo. Renamo's leader, Afonso Dhlakama, 63, has said he will in March seize control of six northern provinces, declaring autonomy in areas where his party won majorities in 2014's national election. He has not explained how this would be done but experts believe it would be unconstitutional. Frelimo won 57 percent of the 2014 vote against 37 percent for Renamo. Renamo disputes the result and says Frelimo is to blame for the violence. Both sides say they are democrats but also resort to violence which they are unwilling to acknowledge. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Dhlakama has been in hiding since October last year following an assassination attempt he says was ordered by Frelimo, although the ruling party denies this. Renamo's secretary general Manuel Bissopo was shot and wounded on Wednesday, hours after he accused security forces of killing members of his party. Frelimo says it was not behind the attack, in which Bissopo's bodyguard was killed. [nL8N1543KO] The police presence in the capital Maputo has increased in recent days with officers occasionally stationed outside Renamo's office there. President Filipe Nyusi, 56, says he wants to engage in peaceful negotiations with Renamo but Dhlakama has said this is disingenuous considering attacks on his members. Few think Renamo has the capacity or desire to begin another all-out conflict but there is a high risk of more violence, security experts say. "We've got a security problem brewing," one Maputo-based Western diplomat told Reuters. "We're seeing hits on senior officials and from what we're hearing the situation in Tete is bad. These refugees didn't up and leave for no reason." The refugee influx is putting strain on Malawi's stretched resources at a time when one of the worst droughts in its history means 2.8 million people are expected to go hungry. [nL8N15225W] Malawi has allocated Mozambicans some land in Kapise but it will not be enough. The UNHCR say the camps are already facing sanitation problems and there are fears of a possible cholera outbreak. "We don't want to live like this but we cannot go back," Mozambican maize farmer Robert Keness told Reuters, pointing to pit latrines near tents packed with small children. "We fear war at home." (Additional reporting by Manuel Mucari in Maputo and Mabvuto Banda in Lilongwe; editing by Giles Elgood) EXCLUSIVE: Michael Shannon plays Frank, an ambitious Las Vegas chef. One night he meets Lola (Imogen Poots), an enigmatic woman, and they hit it off. Lola cheats on Frank. Frank mistrusts Lola. But just as he is about to turn his back on her, and head to Paris, he delves further into her hot mess of a life and learns shes not what shes cracked up to be. Such is the tortured relationship in Matthew M. Ross feature directorial debut, Frank & Lola. Some first time filmmakers keep their story lines simple, but not Ross (who shouldnt be confused with American Horror Story actor Matt Ross; also here in Park City with his sophomore outing Captain Fantastic). The former Variety reporter and Filmmaker editor has crafted a complex psycho-sexual love story here, with hues of Jacques Audiards The Beat That My Heart Skipped, Francis Ford Coppolas The Conversation and Bernardo Bertoluccis Last Tango in Paris among other titles. Ross drew inspiration for Frank & Lola from a close friend, who endured a hellish relationship with a predatory boyfriend. States Ross about the angle he took,I wanted to tell a fictionalized story that imagined the immediate aftermath of that real experience, before the character, Lola, is ready to confront what has just happened to her and is still acting out and avoiding full the truth of it all, and how that denial affects both her and her new boyfriend, Frank. I chose to tell the story from Franks perspective, who comes to the table with his own complicated history and emotional baggage, because I felt like that would be a more honest perspective for me to write from (as opposed to telling it from Lolas point of view). I also had always wanted to tell something of a what if revenge fantasy, where a regular guy finds himself, through an unfortunate set of coinciding circumstances, in a position of avenging a wrong, and does so in a way that goes well beyond the usual conventions of what would be considered sane or normal behavior. Parts & Labor producers Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen initially mounted Frank & Lola and kept it alive through the lean and mean times when stars and financing fell in and out of place. The duo were previously behind Beginners which won Christopher Plummer a best supporting actor Oscar and last years Sundance entry The Witch. Frank & Lola was further fastened together by EPs Christine Vachon and Killer Films David Hinojosa, film financier and sales agent Kevin Iwashina, Ross manager Michael Diamond and producer John Baker. Through Iwashina, Lola Pictures, a Nevada-based financing and production company committed to the project. It was then that Ross decided to change the films setting to the opulence of Las Vegas a perfect match that mirrored two outsider, mysterious protagonists. After Lola Pictures signed on, production commenced with financing from Robert Halmis Great Point Media. Stated Ross in notes, The other financing had fallen through at the last minute, and Great Point, along with CAAs Ben Kramer, who found them, saved the movie at the last possible moment. About a year ago, Arclight films acquired all foreign on Frank & Lola out of Berlin. Michael Nyqvist, Justin Long, Emmanuelle Devos and Rosanna Arquette also star in the film. CAA and Preferred Content are handling domestic sales for Frank & Lola. The films press and industry screening will be held on Saturday. Related stories 'Morris From America' & 'Weiner', 'Life, Animated' Producers Win Sundance Institute Producer's Awards Ira Sachs' 'Little Men' Teen Co-Lead Michael Barbieri Signs With 3 Arts - Sundance John Krasinski's 'The Hollars': A Family Drama, Warts And All - Sundance Studio On the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion-rights supporters said Friday in Billings they need to continue to fight restrictions on reproductive services, particularly in rural areas. Ending access to abortions will not end abortions. It will end access to safe and legal abortions with medical assistance, Martha Stahl, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said at a small gathering at the Billings Public Library. Stahl was joined by two state Democratic legislators from Billings, Reps. Jessica Karjala and Kathy Kelker, for a roughly 15-minute news conference in the Royal Johnson Community Room in the library. A womans right to choose should not depend on other peoples approval, and it should not depend on where she lives, Karjala said. Roe v. Wade is the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that secured abortion rights for women. Abortion is a deeply personal decision," Kelker said. "It cannot and should not be made by anyone but the woman, perhaps her family and her physicians." The speakers blasted a Texas law, House Bill 2, that would impose severe restrictions on abortion providers, including a requirement that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital that provides ob/gyn services and is located no more than 30 miles away. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a challenge to the law in March. Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, came under fire last summer when a pro-life group's video surfaced of a top official purportedly discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Supporters say the video was unfairly edited, but the backlash was large enough to provoke action. The Republican-controlled Congress approved a largely symbolic measure to defund Planned Parenthood in December, which President Barack Obama later vetoed. In Montana, Planned Parenthood has five clinics in four cities: Billings, Missoula, Helena and Great Falls. In the past year, the organization had at least two reported cases of arson at clinics nationwide and a shooting at a Colorado Springs, Colo., clinic that left two dead. The group will continue providing medical care for women, including birth control, cancer screening, abortion counseling and other services, Stahl said. At Planned Parenthood, we will never back down, and we will never shut our doors, she said. Michael Bloomberg, billionaire financial services and media mogul, and former three-term New York City mayor, is apparently seriously considering a third-party run for the White House. According to the New York Times, Bloomberg has "instructed advisers to draw up plans for a potential independent campaign in this year's presidential race" after sensing an opportunity to shine amid the chaos of 2015's primary season. Bloomberg is appalled by the rise of fellow NYC billionaire and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's racist rhetoric, the "stumbles" of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and the rise of the openly socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to the Times. The Times reported Bloomberg would be willing to spend a shocking $1 billion of his own money on the race, approximately equivalent to the amount of money raised by both President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaigns in the 2012 presidential elections (not counting $5 billion in outside spending, such as that by parties and super PACs). The 73-year-old former mayor, who led the metropolis from 2002 to 2013, apparently aims to capitalize on his reputation as a non-ideological technocrat, reports the Times, and plans on introducing himself with a series of speeches, including detailed policy proposals, and an aggressive advertising campaign. Bloomberg would face immense challenges in any such campaign, while history offers an abundance of cautionary notes for would-be independent candidates. No candidate outside the dominant two-party system has ever won the presidency. The closest such attempt was made by Theodore Roosevelt, who ran on the Bull Moose Party ticket in 1912. Despite boasting a previous presidency under his belt, Roosevelt was only successful in splitting the Republican ticket and ensuring a win for Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Popular wisdom also credits a 1992 third-party run by Ross Perot with blowing the election against incumbent President George H.W. Bush in favor of Democrat Bill Clinton, though MSNBC's Steve Kornacki argues Perot hurt both parties more or less equally. Story continues While Bloomberg's candidacy would likely draw lustful gazes from Wall Street, where the former mayor enjoys a deep well of support, it's unclear whether he enjoys national support. A recent poll by Morning Consult found just 13% of voters would currently support a Bloomberg presidency, large margins behind Clinton at 36% and Donald Trump at 37%. The same poll found the conventional wisdom that Bloomberg's run would hurt Clinton more than Trump is likely correct. "If it was President Trump or President Bloomberg, I'd certainly rather have President Bloomberg," long-time Clinton ally Alan Patricof told the Times. "But it certainly can't help Democrats." However, according to the Times' report, Bloomberg is likely to run only if Sanders wins the nomination, opening more opportunity for him to draw votes from Democrats. VIA IMPACT WRESTLING The pro wrestling world is buzzing at the news that AJ Styles could be showing up at the Royal Rumble, but another former TNA World Heavyweight Champion made a surprise debut at Fridays NXT tapings in Orlando, FL.: Austin Aries. Aries debut was short-lived, however, as he was attacked by Baron Corbin. Corbin has had a vendetta against big name independent stars signing with the company, recently feuding with Samoa Joe and Apollo Crews. Before the attack, Aries was announced by NXT General Manager William Regal one of our biggest international signings. You can check out a clip of his entrance below complete with AUSTIN ARIES on the video screen thanks to NXTs Facebook page: Austin Aries makes his debut at NXT, immediately gets attacked by Baron Corbin. @cagesideseats #NXTOrlando pic.twitter.com/Q6SfXXOEfl Netflix&Chipotle (@PhiltheFilipino) January 23, 2016 The last year has been a big one for former TNA Champions in WWE and NXT. Aries, Samoa Joe and Cowboy James Storm have all either made appearances or become regulars, in addition to the news of Styles signing. Even former TNA Champion Bully Ray returned to WWE as one half of the Dudley Boyz. Should we be expecting Bobby Roode to show up soon, or Matt Hardy to vacate the title again and pop up on Smackdown? We wish Aries the best in his future Baron Corbin-related endeavors. Washington (AFP) - For months, people in Flint, Michigan -- a dying industrial town in the American heartland -- consumed water contaminated with lead. And the country ignored it. But the public health crisis triggered by budget cuts has ballooned into an all-out scandal, with potentially catastrophic consequences for thousands of children. This week, President Barack Obama weighed in, saying he would be "beside myself" if his children were placed at risk as kids have been in Flint, which is near Detroit. Flint has fallen on hard times since most of its General Motors factories shut down. The city lost half its population, and a third of those left live in poverty. Michigan's Republican governor Rick Snyder is in the hot seat. "To you, the people of Flint, I say tonight as I have before: I am sorry and I will fix it," Snyder said Tuesday. The next day, he was forced to release 273 pages of emails revealing his botched handling of the crisis. Many are calling for his resignation, among them film director Michael Moore, who is from Flint and even wants the governor arrested. - Brownish color - As part of cost-cutting, the city began drawing water from the Flint River in April 2014 rather than continuing to buy it from Detroit. The river was known to be dirty. Officials are accused of ignoring months of health warnings about the foul-smelling water, even as residents complained that it was making them sick. The scandal has been exacerbated by the seemingly nonchalant attitude of city officials to the outcry from residents, many of them poor African-Americans. Soon after the shift to river water, people started complaining about the taste, smell and murky color of the liquid coming out of their faucets. Some said they were having skin problems, or their hair was falling out, or they were having other medical issues. All they got was advice to boil the water before using it. In October, one of the last General Motors plants still running in Flint said it would no longer use local water because it was corrosive -- so toxic it ate away at the lead pipes in the plumbing system and exposed people to lead poisoning. Story continues Research shows the presence of lead in the blood of children, even at low levels, can stunt their development seriously and irreversibly -- in particular, the development of their brain. It will still take months to determine how bad the water in Flint really is. The scandal broke thanks to the dogged efforts of a mother named LeeAnne Walters. She had the water at her house analyzed after city authorities told her the problem was probably with her plumbing system. She received support from an independent expert at Virginia Tech University, Marc Edwards. "I worked with LeeAnne Walters early one morning in April 2015, to collect samples revealing the extent of lead in water contamination in her home. Her child had been lead poisoned," Edwards told AFP. - Dangerous levels of concentration - "We found hazardous waste levels of lead in her water, and that data and our other analysis were in a report written by an EPA employee who raised the alarm about the problem," he added. "After, that EPA employee was silenced and discredited." "We formed a 25-person team, to partner with Flint residents, and to examine every aspect of their water safety. We funded the study and provided expertise," he said. "When we had enough data in late August, we published a warning to residents, that they should not drink the water because of the lead in water contamination." Millions of Americans have since been shocked by the events in Flint, which are finally gaining national traction. And heads have started to roll. The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced the resignation of Susan Hedman, its director for the region that includes Michigan. "It's ironic when you live in the Great Lakes State and we don't have access to clean water," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said this week. Weaver was received Thursday at the White House. "I am glad that we are getting the attention that we finally deserve to have," Weaver said. "Our kids have been damaged by this lead poisoning." South African comedian Trevor Noah, the host of "The Daily Show," joked about Flint, suggesting a fundraising campaign in Africa "to save a village in America and get these people drinking the water that they so badly need." Calais (France) (AFP) - Dozens of migrants briefly boarded a moored ferry in the northern French port of Calais on Saturday in a bid to reach Britain before police removed them from the ship, officials said. The boarding -- a rare occurrence in the heavily-guarded port -- came after some 2,000 people protested nearby over living conditions in a notoriously squalid camp known as "the Jungle". "A group of 500 people forced their way through police lines and headed to the port, and 150 people were able to get into the fenced-off area. Of these, a group of some 50 managed to board a ferry," the prefecture, representing the French state, official told AFP. Operations at Calais, France's main passenger port, were halted while the migrants were "calmly removed" by police around two hours later, the port said in a statement. It estimated that between 30 and 40 migrants had boarded the "Spirit of Britain" ferry, operated by P&O. "The removal operation is now over. No more migrants are on the vessel," the port statement said. The company said the ship had just crossed from Dover, on the English side of the Channel, and "a few trucks" were still onboard but there were no passengers when the boarding occurred. An AFP reporter saw a group of migrants blocking the gangway in the bow of the ship to try to prevent police from getting on board. About 80 police from the CRS riot squad installed another gangway and then boarded the vessel. The prefecture said 24 migrants and 11 members of a pro-migrant movement called the No Borders Network were taken to a police station. Cross-Channel ferry traffic resumed at around 8.30 pm (1930 GMT). Port director Jean-Marc Puissesseau called for "the Jungle" to be relocated. "The proximity of the camp and the unprecedented number of migrants make it impossible to secure the (port) infrastructure, however much the state invests," he told AFP. Story continues Earlier, some 2,000 protesters had gathered to demand "dignified living conditions" for the camp's estimated 4,000 migrants, most of them from North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Among the protesters were people from Britain, France, Belgium and Italy. "We are here in solidarity and to denounce the inaction of the French state, which does not have the will to ensure a better life for the refugees," said Rino, a 22-year-old student from Italy who had come to Calais by bus. "Refugees welcome", "Calais, Lesbos, Lampedusa, our borders kill", "Open the borders, let them in," read the protesters' banners. - 'Worse than animals' - "No Jungle, no Jungle!" cried migrants who joined in the protests. "Here, we live worse than animals," said Wali from Afghanistan. Baraa, a Syrian refugee, said he was "happy" to see "all these people here to support us." "Their presence will make things move,and put pressure on the European Union to make things change here in Calais," he added. British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn meanwhile on Saturday visited the neighbouring town of Dunkirk, which is home to another camp named the Grande Synthe. Corbyn, a veteran left-wing campaigner before becoming Labour leader, said he wanted to "understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe". He said that Britain should do more to address the problem. "We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food -- in very cold, very wet conditions," Corbyn said. "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." BERLIN (Reuters) - A group of European Union countries including Germany is pushing for an extension of border controls in the Schengen free-travel zone to help cope with Europe's migration crisis, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. In a pre-released story, the Sunday newspaper said Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark were also among those pressing for the extension of the checks on selected Schengen borders. The initiative will be discussed at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Amsterdam on Monday, the paper reported. If successful, it would allow Germany to prolong its border controls, due to lapse in May, for a further 1-1/2 years. More than one million people arrived in Europe last year, mostly fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and north Africa, and the numbers show little sign of falling. Six Schengen members, including Germany and four other EU countries, have reinstated temporary border checks in the passport-free area. The 26-nation Schengen free travel area, a centerpiece of European integration, is under pressure from the hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees trying to reach the most prosperous EU member states. Many first arrive in Greece. Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner threatened Greece with suspension from the free-travel zone if it fails to do more to control immigration, a suggestion other EU governments, notably in Eastern Europe, have also made. "If the government in Athens does not finally do more to secure the outer borders, then we will have to openly discuss a temporary expulsion of Greece from the Schengen area," she told Welt am Sonntag. "It is a myth that the Greek-Turkish border cannot be controlled." Austria announced on Wednesday that it would cap the number of people allowed to claim asylum this year at 37,500, less than last year's total, and reduce the ceiling annually to 25,000 by 2019. European leaders meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos warned the EU could unravel if member states fail to agree a common approach to the refugee crisis and security challenges in the next few months. (Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Janet Lawrence) By Tom Bergin LONDON (Reuters) - Google has agreed to pay 130 million pounds ($185 million) in back taxes to Britain, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers and campaigners who said the "derisory" figure smacked of a "sweetheart deal". Google, now part of Alphabet Inc , has been under pressure in recent years over its practice of channeling most profits from European clients through Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no tax on them. In 2013, the company faced a UK parliamentary inquiry after a Reuters investigation showed the firm employed hundreds of salespeople in Britain despite saying it did not conduct sales in the country, a key plank in its tax arrangements. Google said late on Friday the 130 million pounds would settle a probe by the British tax authority, which had challenged the companys low tax returns for the years since 2005. It said it had also agreed a basis on which tax in the future would be calculated. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift," a Google spokesman said in a statement. The deal comes as governments around the world seek to clamp down on multinational companies shifting profits overseas to reduce their tax bills. EU competition authorities have investigated arrangements used by Amazon and a unit of Fiat in Luxembourg, Apple in Ireland and Starbucks in the Netherlands, and may start new probes. British finance minister George Osborne welcomed the deal, saying on Twitter it reflected new rules that he had introduced, but others were less impressed. John McDonnell, finance spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said the tax authorities needed to explain how they had settled on the figure of 130 million pounds, which he described as relatively insignificant. Story continues "It looks to me ... that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been made, in fact one analysis has put the rate down to about 3 percent, which I think is derisory," he told BBC Radio on Saturday. "This looks like another sweetheart deal." Prem Sikka, professor of accounting at Essex University, agreed. He said that for a company that enjoyed UK turnover of around 24 billion pounds over the period and margins of 30 percent, the settlement represented an effective tax rate in the low single digits for Google. This is a lousy number and we need to know more, he said. Richard Murphy, a tax expert who has advised the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on economic policy, said the deal was a disaster and that, based on the turnover and margins Google enjoyed, They should have been paying 200 million pounds a year. Between 2005 and 2013, Google had UK turnover of 17 billion pounds and its main UK unit reported a tax charge of 52 million pounds, filings showed. In 2014, it had UK revenues of around 4 billion pounds, according to its annual report, but has not yet published its UK tax charge. (This version of the story corrects spelling of Prem Sikka) (Additional reporting by Steve Trousdale in San Francisco and Kate Holton in London; Editing by Dale Hudson) Our Montana, a Billings nonprofit organization, has been awarded a grant from the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation to create a brochure and online map that identify and interpret Lewis and Clark sites along the Yellowstone River from Livingston to the mouth of the Big Horn River. Included will be natural, historic, educational and cultural details of William Clarks return journey down the Yellowstone River in July 1806. The project emphasizes a lesser-known part of the Expedition, said Ralph Saunders, Our Montana board member and leader of the project, and will help increase interest by sharing Clarks experiences as if you were on the trail with the Corps. According to an Our Montana news release, participants in the project include the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Our Montana, Cooper Creative and DOWL Engineering. WWE NETWORK When pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan was fired from WWE and scrubbed from their history and Hall of Fame, many thought that was the end of The Hulksters legendary career. What they failed to remember is that Hogan has proven time and again that hes a bald, orange phoenix, ready to rise up from the ashes of whatever controversy burned him to the ground. Triple H has already said he hopes WWE and Hogan can have a working relationship again, and rumors are for lack of better phrasing running wild that Hulk could be back in the fold as early as WrestleMania. WrestleZone Radio sat down with one of Hogans longtime friends, inaugural Royal Rumble winner Hacksaw Jim Duggan, to ask him what he thought of Hogans comments, and whether he thought Hogan and WWE would work together again soon. Duggans answer was direct: He thinks what Hogan said was blown out of proportion, and hes happy nobody taped him being racist on a sex tape because brother, he is way worse. From the interview: Yeah, I would hope so. I think it was a shame that the guy got branded like that. I know Hulk Hogan, hes a friend of mine and the guy is definitely not a racist. I would hate to have people tape me at home when I go off about something. I cover everybody! Im like Blazing Saddles! Ask everybody! To tape some guy at home saying something he said seven or eight years ago and blowing it totally out of proportion. The way the WWE reacted, I was kind of I felt sorry for the guy. You would hope that the WWE would bring him back. The guy said something in the heat of the moment. Who doesnt? I dont think farting around a campfire is what Hogan got fired for, Jim. I wonder if Duggan ever got made enough in his private life to punch a horse? Also, Blazing Saddles had a context where the racist people were idiots and bad guys. The worst part about anyone saying we should forgive Hulk Hogan is that the end result of forgiving him brings him back. Next time someone starts in about how the media made Hogan a victim and how great it would be to have him at WrestleMania again, heres my suggestion: Reach into the front of your underwear, pull out a roll of tape and put a giant piece of it over your mouth. WWE NETWORK Now Watch: American Tough Guy: 5 Things You May Not Know About Jacksaw Jim Duggan Port-au-Prince (AFP) - Jovenel Moise, Haiti's government-backed presidential candidate, urged a "quick" rescheduling Saturday of his country's runoff election in the wake of its abrupt postponement. His comments came less than 24 hours after Haiti's electoral authority called off the Sunday vote due to "obvious security concerns." Among those concerns are mounting opposition street protests by angry voters who say the first-round presidential election was marred by fraud that favored Moise. More than a dozen polling stations were attacked or burned in Haiti Thursday to Friday, before the cancellation. And Moise's opponent, opposition candidate Jude Celestin, has gone so far as to boycott the poll in protest. Nonetheless, Moise told a news conference Saturday that he thought "the people are ready to vote for Jovenel Moise en masse" and called for "quick organization of the second round." Moise, President Michel Martelly's hand-picked ally, took 32.76 percent of the vote over opposition flag-bearer Celestin's 25.29 percent during the October first round-vote. But with many polling stations closed due to unrest and electoral skullduggery, Celestin's supporters cried foul, accusing Martelly of mounting an "electoral coup d'etat." A runoff had been due to go ahead on December 27 but was then cancelled and moved after fraud allegations. "What I do not quite understand about the CEP's decision is that they postponed the January 24 elections, just like they postponed the December 27 elections, without saying when it will finally take place," Moise said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also called Saturday for the runoff to be held "without delay." And the electoral observation mission of the Organization of American States urged "consensual, constructive dialogue to overcome the current political crisis and complete the electoral process." The vote's indefinite postponement plunges Haiti into a fresh political crisis. Since 1986, when president-for-life Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier fled a revolt, the Caribbean island nation, which is wracked by poverty and the after effects of a devastating 2010 earthquake, has struggled repeatedly to hold credible elections. By Mark Gleeson PRETORIA, Jan 23 (Reuters) England lost opener Alex Hales cheaply and were 29 for one at tea after bowling South Africa out for 475 on the second day of the final test at Centurion Park on Saturday. Captain Alastair Cook (14) and Nick Compton (0) were not out after Hales continued his unconvincing form, falling for 15 when he was caught at point by Dane Piedt off Kagiso Rabada in the fifth over. England were still 446 runs behind after Quinton de Kock finished 129 not out to become the third South African centurion of the innings and moving rapidly on from 85 at lunch. He brought up his maiden test century from 104 balls in an aggressive innings before running out of partners. A stand of 50 for the eighth wicket with Kyle Abbott and 82 for the ninth with Piedt kept England in the field a lot longer than they had planned. Frustration for the tourists, already 2-0 up in the series, was exacerbated by dropped catches, including two off De Kock. De Kocks century followed tons on the first day for Hashim Amla and debutant Stephen Cook, offering South Africa hope of a first test win in more than 12 months and some consolation after losing the series. England had looked likely to wrap up the South African innings swiftly when they took two wickets in the first four overs under sunny skies. Temba Bavuma added only three to his overnight 32 before getting a faint edge to a leg cutter from Stuart Broad and Rabada was out first ball, trapped lbw to give James Anderson his only wicket of the innings. Abbott fell lbw to Ben Stokes for 16 and Piedt played a dogged innings of 19 off 104 balls in supporting De Kock before Stokes snagged him too. The England all-rounder finished with figures of 4-86 when he trapped Morne Morkel lbw. (Editing by Ed Osmond) Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Saturday that the refugee crisis had pushed Europe to a "make or break" point and endangered the EU's cherished passport-free Schengen area. "The refugee crisis is a bit of a make or break, from my personal perspective," Lagarde said at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Asked if it put in peril Schengen, she said: "Yes, I think so." With more than one million migrants making their way to Europe last year and more still trying now despite the winter weather, the issue has been a key theme of the annual gathering of the rich and powerful in Davos. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned Thursday that the EU was in danger of "fracturing" over several issues, including the migrant influx. Some observers believe the huge inflows of migrants means Europe needs to tighten its borders. To get to the offices of the congressional intelligence committees, you must follow a shaft of sunlight down a circular staircase, into the bowels of the Capitol, and down a corridor until you reach heavy wooden doors guarded by an armed sentry. Behind those doors, there are no windows, there is no sunlight. Behind those doors, members of Congress and their staff review our nations most secret espionage programs. And on occasion, whistleblowers have helped shine a light into this dark and secret world. But high-profile leakers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning indicated that they thought approaching Congress would be futile, even dangerous. That is because there is a history of prosecution of whistleblowers and myriad internal hurdles to clear before anyone can report possible classified wrongdoing to Congresshurdles that are greater in the intelligence arena than any other. So instead they went to the media. More From Our Partners Democracy Journal This must change. Congress must encourage whistleblowers concerned about sensitive intelligence programs to approach the committees first, not to go straight to the media. If the committees made a few changes to welcome whistleblowers, they might avoid having sensitive intelligence programs revealed, while strengthening our national security. Lets start with some context. Whistleblowers provide Congress with a critical tool for sorting truth from fiction and afford rare access to an inside perspective unfiltered by senior officials. Indeed, across all federal agencies, whistleblowers have a protected status. If they go to an inspector general (IG) or to Congress, their supervisors cannot take retaliatory action against them for sounding the alarm, regardless of the outcome. In most agencies overseen by most committees, whistleblowers can bring their concerns straight to the committees and be protected from retribution. Story continues Recommended: Why Is Bernie Sanders Against Reparations? Yet when it comes to the intelligence committees, the system dissuades whistleblowers. Since 1998, the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act has required that employees report to their agency IG, who forwards the complaint to the agency head, who decides whether to notify Congress. Employees may contact the committees directly if the IG overrules them or forwards incorrect information. Even then, the employee must notify the agency head and abide by any security procedures the agency head imposes. Heres the problem with that: If an employee believes that the problems begin with his superiors, he is very unlikely to want to use this process. Moreover, while a presidential directive protects government employees from facing retaliation, it doesnt protect intelligence-community contractors, like Snowden. Finally, even if the intelligence committees receive complaints and act on them, members or staffers have few ways to communicate the effectiveness of the system to other potential whistleblowers. All the activity remains hidden behind the classified cover sheet. This ineffective system is especially problematic because most whistleblowers have noble intentions. Michael Horowitz, the IG for the Department of Justice, recently stated that 80 percent of whistleblowers are motivated to improve the system, not tear it down. He cautioned that because normal whistleblower protections do not shield government employees who run straight to the media, those who do so may go for broke, taking as much information as possible. This is a particularly serious problem when the whistleblower has access to classified information. A few policy changes could remedy this state of affairs and make whistleblowers feel more welcome inside the classified system. First, the intelligence committees could create a classified, secure intake system for whistleblowers to reach Congress directly and confidentially with their concerns. Recommended: Standing Athwart History Yelling, 'Stop Donald Trump!' Second, Congress could release annual unclassified reports of what it has done with whistleblower complaints. Obviously, the topic of many of these complaints would be incredibly sensitive, so the committees would be able to include only the total number of complaints, the number the committee found merited further action, and perhaps the number of retaliation complaints that the committee received. Releasing these unclassified reports would create a feedback loop so that employees would know that Congress is an effective and secure avenue. Because the intelligence committees staff resources are limited, Congress can turn to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for additional auditing help. The GAO sets the highest standard for auditing and is frequently used to review complicated and sensitive military intelligence programs for the armed services committees. It could do so for some intelligence committee cases as well. Most intelligence community employees are aware of the case of Thomas Drake, a former senior executive at the National Security Agency who attempted to go to Congress with his concerns and subsequently, in 2010, was accused of espionage. The lesson of Drakes experience to those employees was clear: If you blow the whistle, Congress will not act, and you could lose your job and potentially go to jail. Years later, Edward Snowden chose to take his concerns and thousands of documents not to Congress, but to the presswhile fleeing first to China and then Russia. Until Congress demonstrates that it can fix its relationship with whistleblowers, expect more of them to take their concerns directly to the media, potentially endangering national security as programs are revealed not only to the public, but also to our adversaries. This article appears courtesy of Democracy Journal. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Nablus (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - After weeks of waiting for the funeral, Bassim Salah's family still couldn't bury his body when it was returned by the Israeli authorities too frozen and contorted to fit in the grave. The 38-year-old Palestinian was killed in November while trying to stab an Israeli border guard near an entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, according to the police. His body, like those of dozens of other Palestinians since a wave of attacks began in October, is the subject of a macabre dispute between the Israeli authorities and families seeking to grieve. His brother Saad flicks through disturbing images of the corpse, after it was handed over by the Israelis to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Before they could lay him to rest, his family in the West Bank city of Nablus was forced to watch the body slowly thaw after its return from storage in a freezer in an Israeli morgue. "We only wanted the body to bury him in an honourable way," Saad said. According to Islamic tradition, burial should take place as soon as possible after death. The Israeli government announced on October 14 that it would not return the bodies of assailants as part of a range of measures designed to curb the spate of attacks. Many funerals have been delayed, sometimes for more than three months. - 'No respect' - A total of 156 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed in three months of violence. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks. At the height of confiscations, Israel held 56 bodies, according to the Palestinians. But the majority have been released in recent weeks, with only 10 still being held. Mazen Hassan Arabeh, 37, was killed on December 3 while carrying out an attack at a checkpoint, according to the Israeli authorities. The director of Abu Dis Medical Centre said it took 20 people to carry the body when it was returned because it was "completely frozen". "It seems that they are tossing them in the refrigerator after their deaths without any regard for their shape," Abdullah Abu Hilal said. Story continues "The occupation does not respect them even when they put their bodies in a fridge." Rights groups have criticised the policy of withholding bodies, saying it increases tensions. And much of the Israeli establishment agrees. The issue has divided the Israeli military -- which supports returning the bodies -- and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who wants to avoid funerals becoming political rallies. The army has returned all the bodies from the West Bank, for which it is responsible. But those from annexed east Jerusalem, under Erdan's ministry, have been withheld. "Until now, the bodies were held as every funeral turned into disruptions of order and a show of support for terror," said a spokesman for Erdan. However, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has argued for their return to ease tensions, according to Israeli media reports. "Past experience has taught us that holding bodies brings more harm than benefit," an Israeli official told AFP. - 'Collective punishment' - Numerous marches have been organised in Palestinian communities to demand the return of the bodies. When it does hand them over, Israel imposes conditions such as that funerals take place at night. Families are also sometimes made to pay a deposit of several thousand shekels (hundreds of dollars) which is forfeited if the funeral does not pass quietly. In east Jerusalem, Mohammed Alyan is still waiting for his son's body. On October 13, Bahaa Alyan boarded a bus in Jerusalem with a friend, Bilal Ghanem, shooting and stabbing passengers and killing three people. Ghanem was arrested and Alyan was killed. His father called the retention of the bodies a "type of collective punishment and torture, especially for those from Jerusalem". Israel also destroyed the family home as punishment, but he swears he will not submit to Israeli conditions for the body's return. "We will not bury him at night or pay a guarantee, and we won't bury him outside Jerusalem," he said. By Mathieu Bonkoungou OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's army chief encouraged a coup leader in neighbouring Burkina Faso during his failed bid to seize power last year, according to a recording of a conversation in the hands of Burkina Faso judicial authorities. The recording's emergence comes after Burkina Faso issued an arrest warrant for Ivory Coast's parliament speaker Guillaume Soro for alleged links to the coup, further straining relations between the two West African neighbours. Burkina Faso authorities issued the warrant against Soro for crimes including complicity in treason last week on the basis of another recorded phone conversation. Two Burkina Faso judicial officials vouched for the authenticity of the latest recording, obtained by Reuters on Friday. Ivorian authorities were not immediately available to comment. Recorded at a time when loyalist troops were turning the tables against the putsch, a voice allegedly belonging to Ivory Coast military chief of staff General Soumaila Bakayoko asks coup leader General Gilbert Diendere for an update of the situation. "The situation is a bit difficult," Diendere responds. "Among the officers there is some hesitation. I'm not saying I'm all alone. But many are very hesitant for their future." Later, Bakayoko urges Diendere to go on the offensive or risk seeing the coup fail. "They're going to pin it all on you. You have to know that. Politically, they are going to say 'You have the highest rank. You are the general," Bakayoko says. "You are constrained to take action. So carry out something good." Last September's brief coup by the elite Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) temporarily derailed Burkina Faso's transition to democratic rule after President Blaise Compaore was ousted in late 2014. It failed after a week when loyalist regular army troops marched into the capital Ouagadougou and Diendere, Compaore's former spy chief, was arrested. ARMOURY RAID A judicial source involved in the cases against Diendere, Soro and ex-foreign minister Djibril Bassole said the recording was included in evidence files. A second judicial source added that authorities had obtained a total of three gigabytes of digital recordings. Compaore was driven from power and forced to flee Burkina Faso in October 2014 after a popular uprising following his attempt to alter the constitution to extend his 27-year rule. He now lives in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast. The two nations, once part of the same French colony share a history of close, often fraught, economic and political ties. Soro and his New Forces rebels controlled northern Ivory Coast for eight years following a 2002 civil war and were accused by then Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo's allies of receiving support from Compaore. Burkina Faso denied the allegation. General Bakayoko was the military chief of staff of the rebels. The New Forces played a crucial role in Ivory Coast's 2011 civil war, backing President Alassane Ouattara's claim to leadership after Gbagbo refused to recognise his election defeat. Burkina Faso's RSP, a pillar of Compaore's regime, was disarmed and disbanded following last year's coup attempt. But at least a dozen elite troops rejected the process and went missing. The army on Friday blamed ex-RSP members for an overnight raid on an armoury on the outskirts of Ouagadougou. Coming less than a week after al Qaeda fighters killed 30 people in a restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou popular with foreigners, the assault further exposes the security challenges facing new President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. (Additional reporting by Nadoun Coulibaly; Additional reporting and writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Andrew Roche) Northern Hotel head chef Tim Freeman defeated the famous Iron Chef Bobby Flay on the show "Beat Bobby Flay" Thursday night on Food Network. That same night, Freeman announced he will be leaving Billings and the Northern Hotel to work at a hotel and restaurant in suburban Denver. The announcement came at a viewing party for the TV debut of an episode of the cooking competition show, which featured Freeman taking on and defeating the famous Iron Chef as well as former Boston Red Sox executive chef Steve "Nookie" Postal. "I tell you, it's an amicable transition," said Mike Nelson, general manager and co-owner of the Northern Hotel. "We loved him, we're excited for him, and we're grateful for the work that he did for us and the way he pushed us to improve." Freeman has been the executive chef at the Northern since the summer of 2014. The episode of "Beat Bobby Flay" was taped in New York City in June 2015. Nelson said Freeman informed him of his intentions about three weeks ago. "Chefs usually have an 18-month to two-year shelf life at a big hotel-restaurant kind of thing," Nelson said. "I've been doing this for a long time, and I've rarely seen a chef last longer than two years. The minute you start getting national attention like that, the offers are going to come rolling in." Nelson stressed that he does not expect Freeman's departure to affect the quality of the food at the Northern. "We have two very talented and very well-trained and educated sous chefs on property that have always done the cooking for the chefs," Nelson said, explaining that the executive chef doesn't cook every meal at a hotel but has more of a directing role. "Nothing has really changed besides the guy at the helm who orders the food and shows us what to do," Nelson said. "The people who cook for (Freeman) are still here, and we will still continue to serve the same great food in TEN and in our catering department and Bernies too." Nelson said a national search is already underway for Freeman's replacement. We have a number of awesome candidates," Nelson said. "And were just really excited to invite the next guy or gal to come to Billings to teach us more about food and cooking. Amman (AFP) - Jordan's army said border guards killed 12 people trying to enter the kingdom from Syria in a clash on the frontier on Saturday. An armed forces general command official said the 12 were killed in a clash between border guards and a group of 36 people, some armed, trying to cross from the conflict-ridden country. According to information on the Jordanian military's website, an unspecified number of people were wounded while others fled back into Syria. The military official added that more than two million pills of narcotics were also seized. Jordan regularly expresses fears of jihadists infiltrating refugee groups to justify curbs on Syrian refugees massing on the border, estimating their number at 16,000. Amman has been allowing just a few dozen Syrians to cross the frontier daily amid stringent identity checks. According to UN figures, Jordan hosts upwards of 600,000 of the more than four million Syrians who have fled their native country since the civil war erupted there in 2011. Jordanian government figures put the number of Syrians to have entered the country after fleeing the conflict at more than 1.4 million. Riyadh (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia, sought Saturday to reassure Gulf allies concerned about a perceived warming of ties between Washington and Iran. He also announced that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet "very shortly" to help push peace in the war-ravaged country. Kerry spoke in Riyadh after meeting his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. "The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries," Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Iran's "support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah" in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm concerns among his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, the world's leading Shiite power whose relations with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a "coming together" of the US and Iran. "Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism," he said, adding that Arab states are ready "to confront" Iran's interference. Story continues "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is", Jubeir added, while Kerry appeared defensive and less at ease than usual. A senior State Department official earlier told journalists that the US understands Saudi anger over the embassy attack but "lessening tensions is an important objective". Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said violence against the Saudi embassy was wrong, and against Islam. - Syria peace talks - Kerry later met with King Salman and the monarch's son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. He will also hold talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks. Kerry has expressed confidence that those talks will go ahead on Monday in Geneva despite a dispute over opposition representation. On Saturday he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed by telephone the makeup of the opposition side. "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Kerry told reporters the Syria Support Group will meet "very shortly" after the first round of Syria talks "because we want to keep the process moving". The group of 20 nations and organisations has devised a plan for a political transition aimed at ending the nearly five-year war in Syria that has cost more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions. The group includes Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries who say President Bashar al-Assad can have no role in Syria's future, and Assad's allies Iran and Moscow. Kerry spoke of the "urgency" of ending the conflict but said there are no illusions "that obstacles don't still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria." Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. A Saudi-led military coalition since March has been supporting local forces and the internationally recognised government against Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels. "We have made it clear that we stand with our friends in Saudi Arabia," on Yemen and the threat from violent Sunni extremism, said Kerry, who travels Sunday to Laos in Southeast Asia. Riyadh (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia, sought Saturday to reassure Gulf allies concerned about a perceived warming of ties between Washington and Iran. He also announced that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet "very shortly" to help push peace in the war-ravaged country. Kerry spoke in Riyadh after meeting his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. "The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries," Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Iran's "support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah" in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm concerns among his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, the world's leading Shiite power whose relations with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad city. The violence broke out after the kingdom executed dissident Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a "coming together" of the US and Iran. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is," Jubeir added, while Kerry appeared defensive and less at ease than usual. Story continues A senior State Department official earlier told journalists the US understands Saudi anger over the embassy attack but that "lessening tensions is an important objective". Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said violence against the Saudi embassy was wrong, and against Islam. - Syria peace talks - Kerry later met with King Salman and the monarch's son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. He also held talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition. UN-brokered peace talks are targeted for Monday in Geneva but there is disagreement, including from Moscow, over opposition representation. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going," Kerry said. On Saturday, he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed by telephone the makeup of the opposition team. "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Kerry told reporters the Syria Support Group will meet "very shortly" after the first round of Syria talks "because we want to keep the process moving". The group has devised a plan for a political transition aimed at ending the nearly five-year war in Syria that has cost more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions. It includes Saudi Arabia, the United States and other countries who say President Bashar al-Assad can have no role in Syria's future, and Assad's allies Iran and Moscow. Kerry spoke of the "urgency" of ending the conflict but said there are still "obstacles" to finding a political settlement. "We know it's tough," he said. Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. A Saudi-led military coalition since March has been supporting local forces and the internationally recognised government of Yemen against Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels. "We have made it clear that we stand with our friends in Saudi Arabia" on Yemen and the threat from violent Sunni extremism, said Kerry, who travels Sunday to Laos in Southeast Asia. Laos' secretive communist rulers have chosen Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith to steer the single-party government as it assumes a year-long chairmanship of the ASEAN regional bloc. Bounnhang, 78, was selected for the top position of party secretary-general, state media reported on Friday, replacing 79-year-old Choummaly Sayasone, who stepped down after a decade in power. Analysts predicted Bounnhang would be awarded the top spot, and say he is unlikely to change the government's repressive status quo. "He is a party loyalist, old-time revolutionary and wily politician, who is not going to change course -- or change anything, for that matter," said Martin Stuart-Fox, a Laos historian and retired Australian professor. Laos' political leaders have tightly controlled the rural Southeast Asian nation since 1975, when communist revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy several decades after the end of French colonial rule. This week nearly 700 party members joined the five-yearly congress in the capital Vientiane to approve a mostly male central committee and 11-person politburo, the key governing bodies of the resource-rich country. The internal operations of the powerful party are largely kept secret under a regime that bars a free press and severely restricts freedom of expression. But as this year's chair for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, Laos will host a slew of diplomatic meetings that could open the hermitic nation up to greater scrutiny. Though for many years neighbouring Vietnam was the most powerful foreign player in Laos, China has poured money into the country recently, becoming its largest foreign investor in 2014. Yet Stuart-Fox said the new politburo was unlikely to lean too heavily towards either communist neighbour. "Laos will continue to balance its relations with China and Vietnam, and try to avoid taking sides," he told AFP. Washington is also increasingly courting the isolated state as part of President Barack Obama's so-called "pivot" to Asia. Story continues Obama will be the first US president to visit Laos when he attends an ASEAN summit in the capital this summer. US Secretary of State John Kerry is also scheduled to stop in Vientiane to meet with the country's leaders next week. Kerry will "affirm support for Laos as this year's ASEAN chair, and express continued US interest in a close bilateral relationship," the US State Department said. Rights groups have urged Kerry to highlight the Laos government's human rights abuses when he visits, including the disappearance of prominent community activist Sombath Somphone, who was last seen being stopped at a police checkpoint in 2012. Even with its engine light flashing, the Bakken oil field economy sputters along. The federal government late in the week estimated U.S. oil stocks at the highest point in 80 years. Thats bad news for the area formerly known Saudi Arabia of American oil, an area where higher-than-average production costs and long distances to market make the current pinch of low oil prices pretty painful. A barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude was selling for $32 Friday, after falling to $28 midweek. Yet oil production keeps on pumping for several reasons. Here are a few reasons the Bakken spigot remains open, according to observers: Oil leases are use-it or lose-it propositions for many companies. As Bakken oil development matured, mineral rights owners eager for royalty payments began demanding shorter lease terms. A lease may only be good for a couple years and will void if production doesnt start during that time. In the last 10 years, lease terms have gotten shorter and shorter, said Tom Richmond, former director of the Montana Board of Oil, Gas and Conservation. Almost all the new Bakken leases are about three years. So, if you get past that, the way to hold on to it is production. New wells are still being drilled in the Bakken when the financial conditions call for it. Last summer, Billings-based Ballard Petroleum was faced with proceeding with a drilling project it had reserved a drilling rig for back when prices were better. There was a substantial fee to pay if the rig was cancelled, said Jeff Ballard. Thats not an unusual scenario in the Bakken right now, Ballard said, although the choice isnt an easy one with drilling crews not under contract ready to work for much less than they were a few months ago. There are still sweet spots in the oil field, where high production is a sure bet, and even at low prices the payments on volume would still be worthwhile. A lot of drilling is still being done to pay off debt. There were 45 drilling rigs active Friday in the Bakken, according to Baker Hughes, a drilling equipment company. The high was 189 in October 2014. Richmond sees several forces keeping Bakken oil production going, including oil companies that are overextended financially. A company with debt to pay down needs oil to pay the bills regardless of market prices. In some cases, those businesses drilling to pay bills have nothing left over for profit, said Bill Whitsitt, former vice president of public affairs at Devon Energy. That distinction has earned them the name zombie oil companies. A zombie company is one that is producing because it has commitments to meet, but its just in that state where its meeting expenses, Whitsitt said. Its just kind of marking time, paying the bills, while they look for another strategic time. Oil companies in good financial shape are in a good position to buy the rights of struggling competitors, Whitsitt said. A company might want to buy out a competitors neighboring sites on the cheap. There are wells being shut in, meaning the production ends. However, shutting down a well can be expensive depending on the conditions, Richmond said. The lighter substances in the well rise to the top. The oil sinks to the bottom. Its not cheap to get a shut-in well pumping again. If you just shut it in, some of that fluid can be corrosive. The salt water can be very corrosive on the equipment soaking in it, Richmond said. That depends entirely where the well is located. By Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON (Reuters) - As turmoil in world markets revives memories of the 2007-2009 financial crisis, "The Big Short" director Adam McKay says he wanted to tackle the misdeeds of Wall Street in an entertaining but hard-hitting way, to ensure they are not forgotten. The movie, which has earned five Oscar nominations including best film and best director, is based on the best-selling book by Michael Lewis "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine". It stars Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt as outsiders who foresaw the credit and housing crisis that led to massive job losses and recession. "I felt like it was time once again to kind of talk about these issues," McKay told Reuters in an interview. "I mean everyone tried to act like the collapse was over with, we swept everything under the carpet, did a little bit of reform, we're done, and to me, it felt like a conversation we should be having always, or at least for the next 10 years." McKay, who says he knew people affected by the crisis, calls the film "a tragedy even though there is comedy in it". He is known for comedies like "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights" starring funnyman Will Ferrell. That entertaining background is evident in "The Big Short", namely scenes with celebrities as themselves explaining financial terminology. "One of the ideas was a question of just what would happen if that celebrity culture actually told you things you needed to hear," McKay said of the concept. The film follows the men as they become aware of the looming mortgage meltdown and bet against the American housing market, highlighting the financial misdeeds that led to the crisis. "What it really shows you is that these banks are built to make profits ... And much like a shark, they're gonna always swim towards where the injured fish is and we just have to be aware of that," McKay said. "Until we change the laws that underpin these banks and corporate structures, nothing's gonna change ... I wanted people to be a little angry, a little worried, and just to kind of give everyone a heads up like, this is still in play, this isn't just something that ends and you move on." However McKay believes change is feasible. "The idea of the banks setting their own rules will not work," he said. "The only question is do we feel pain to come to that point of change or do we do it before the pain comes." (This story has been refiled to edit lead) (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Catherine Evans) DAVOS (Reuters) - The Mexican government is speeding up efforts to extradite notorious drug boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States after his recapture earlier this month, President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Friday. Guzman was caught in early January after six months on the run following a spectacular prison break through a tunnel in his cell floor, embarrassing Pena Nieto and his government. "The order the Attorney General's office has is to speed up its work to ensure this highly dangerous criminal is extradited as soon as possible," Pena Nieto told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Guzman's lawyers are working to block his extradition. While on the run, Guzman met secretly with Hollywood A-list actor Sean Penn at a jungle hideout - a move the Mexican government says was "essential" to his capture. Penn has rejected the Mexican government's claim, accusing officials of deliberately trying to put him in the crosshairs of Guzman's feared Sinaloa cartel. (Writing by Mexico Newsroom; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve's venture into electric racing with a team co-founded by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has fizzled out after three rounds. The Monaco-based Venturi Formula E team said on Friday they had parted company with the 44-year-old Canadian driver by 'mutual agreement' following 'disagreement over the future direction of the team'. Villeneuve, who won his F1 title with Williams in 1997 and is also an Indy 500 winner, made his debut in the electric series in Beijing last October but retired after a collision. He fared better in round two in Malaysia, finishing 11th, but was ruled out of last month's race in Uruguay due to a crash in qualifying. He then had another accident in a subsequent test. "On paper it looks crap, which I'm aware of and it's frustrating, but we know how competitive we were," he had said on his personal website after damaging a chassis in Punta del Este. Villeneuve was the first Formula One champion to compete in the electric series, where the cars are both far quieter and slower and race in city centres. He will be replaced by Britain's Mike Conway. Formula E, which is now in its second season, has attracted support from car manufacturers Renault, Citroen, Audi and BMW with Jaguar due to join later this year. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar) hoth star wars The planets and galaxies created for sci-fi films such as "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and "Alien" are pretty realistic. That is, according to Robert Hurt, a visualization specialist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In a video for Wired, Hurt analyzes certain fictional planets and compares them to real-life counterparts. Hoth, the icy planet from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," is similar to a moon in our own solar system, Saturn's Enceladus. "[It's] this pristine, white, icy ball that has these fantastic geysers of ice that spray out into space," Hurt explains of the moon. It's "less hospitable" than Hoth, but still comparable. "Star Trek's" Romulus and Remus are a double-planet system, which means the two planets orbit each other. In our own system once again, Hurt explains that Pluto and its moon Charon "orbit around a mutual point in space. That would actually categorize it as a dual-planet system." As for "Alien's" LV-426, the planet's "hostile environment" is similar to that of exoplanets. Watch the video below: NOW WATCH: David Bowies last music video is a poignant meditation on mortality More From Business Insider The widow of the late billionaire co-founder of outdoor label The North Face has offered to donate a vast nature reserve he owned to the Chilean state, media said Friday. The 72-year-old US philanthropist Douglas Tompkins caused controversy when he bought up vast swathes of land in southern Chile and Argentina in the 1990s. Now his widow Kristine McDavitt says she has offered 400,000 hectares of reserve land, with woods and rare flowers, to the Chilean state so that it can open them to the public. "If we manage to work together and the state accepts the donation, it will be the biggest handover of private land in the world," she was quoted as saying by national newspaper La Tercera. "We want people from all countries to visit these places." It said she made the offer during a meeting on Thursday with Chilean president Michelle Bachelet. A passionate outdoorsman, Tompkins died last month after a kayaking accident in Chile's Patagonia region. He moved to Chile 25 years ago after selling his stake in The North Face and Esprit, another clothing brand he co-founded. He is a hero to many environmentalists and the parks he created are widely hailed as an environmental and tourism boon in both Chile and Argentina. But his nature reserve projects made him some powerful enemies in a Chile just emerging from the bloody 17-year dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Former interior minister Belisario Velasco accused the late conservationist of pressuring landholders to sell their land at cheap prices. Oslo (AFP) - Norway on Saturday announced it was temporarily suspending its controversial return of migrants from Arctic Russia, following a request from Moscow. "The Russian foreign affairs minister was in contact yesterday (Friday) with the Norwegian authorities on the subject of the return of asylum seekers via Storskog," the foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the Storskog border crossing, 400 kilometres (about 250 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. "Until further notice, there will not be any more returns via Storskog. The Russian border authorities want more coordination over these returns," the statement added. Speaking in Davos to Norwegian television channel NRK, Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Borge Brende said the Russians had made the request citing "security reasons". Some 5,500 migrants -- mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran -- crossed from Russia into Norway last year, on the last leg of an arduous journey through the Arctic to Europe. Norway is not within the European Union, but is a member of the Schengen passport-free zone. Many migrants arrived by bicycle as Russian authorities do not let people cross the border on foot and Norway considers people driving migrants across the border in a car or truck to be traffickers. In November 2015, its right-wing government decided that migrants who had been living legally in Russia, or had entered Russia legally, should be immediately returned there, on the basis that Russia is a safe country. Police police returned 13 migrants by bus to Russia on Tuesday. Two similar operations were scheduled for Thursday and Friday but were then cancelled, for what officials said were logistical reasons. Several dozen migrants had been taken to the border town of Kirkenes ahead of their expulsion, but several fled and three were given shelter in a church. Rights groups had expressed outrage at the migrants being forced to return by bike in winter, when temperatures in the far north regularly fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus four Fahrenheit). Story continues They also say that Russia has a poor record on dealing with requests for asylum. The process can take years, during which applicants run the risk of being arrested and expelled to their country of origin, said Marek Linha, head of the Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS). "It's Russian roulette, because you have no guarantee of gaining asylum, you often have to pay bribes and you can have problems with the FSB," Russia's security service, Linha said. Out of roughly 5,000 Syrians who have filed for refugee status in Russia over the last six years, only two have been granted recognition, according to the figures from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Around 2,900 Syrians have been granted temporary protection, which campaigners say is insufficient. ANKARA (Reuters) - A rocket fired from the Syrian side of the border hit a house in Turkey's southeastern province of Kilis, pro-government Sabah Daily News reported on Saturday. The newspaper's website reported that the rocket struck a house in the city center of Kilis, 10 km (6 miles) north of the border, shattering the windows of buildings in the area. On Monday one person was killed and several wounded when a mortar apparently fired from inside Syria struck a school in Kilis. The town is on the edge of a roughly 100-km strip of Syrian territory controlled by Islamic State militants. Turkish towns in the region have often seen artillery fire spill over during Syria's almost five-year civil war. Turkey's armed forces, part of an anti-Islamic State air campaign, have generally retaliated. (Reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; Editing by Janet Lawrence) Zagreb (AFP) - A pharmaceutical executive and political novice, Tihomir Oreskovic has become Croatia's premier after spending just a few years in the country and speaking only rusty Croatian, prompting some to question his credentials for the post. Little known to his countrymen before his unexpected nomination, the 49-year-old was considered a compromise, unifying figure for a new conservative coalition after a November election failed to produce an outright winner. "In terms of finance, I'm a fiscal conservative. In business terms, I'm not a supporter of risky moves and experiments... Politically, I belong to the centre ground," he told local media when he was put forward. He and 22 members of his cabinet were sworn in inside Croatia's parliament late on Friday. Born in the capital Zagreb in 1966, Oreskovic moved with his parents to Canada only two years later, where he graduated with a degree in chemistry and finished his MBA studies in finance and information systems. A citizen of both Canada and Croatia, he began his professional career in 1992 with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, then joined Teva in 2005, holding the company's top managerial positions in both countries. In 2009 he joined Croatia's largest pharma company PLIVA, which became a Teva unit, where he was president of the management board. Last April, Oreskovic was named Teva's chief financial officer for global generic medicines. Colleagues and friends describe the new premier as a hard-working manager with good diplomatic skills and his nomination has been hailed by the business community in Croatia, which is badly in need of foreign investment. Some analysts say Oreskovic's lack of complex political ties could be an advantage, but others warned that leading a company and the state were different challenges, questioning his ability to act independently. "A premier is not only in charge of economic issues... This (nomination) leaves an impression that someone was made prime minister as a facade while someone else would pull the strings," said sociologist Dusko Sekulic. Story continues A married father-of-four, Oreskovic is perceived as a discreet family man, who in his spare time enjoys mountain biking and fishing in the Croatian countryside. Although Oreskovic moved back to his homeland in 2009, the time spent abroad has left his Croatian rusty and accented, sparking jokes on social media and criticism from some commentators. He argued that although he intended to improve his Croatian, it was more important to focus on the economy, saying: "I hope Croatians will not hold my language mistakes against me." This week, Gov. Steve Bullock announced an executive order, which renews and broadens the state employee nondiscrimination and harassment policy to be more inclusive of state workers. As we recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day and continue to advance policies that promote greater social, racial, and economic justice, we commend Bullocks critical step in supporting workplace equality for all state employees and those employed by contracting companies. The governors executive order expands the state workplace policy to include discrimination or harassment based on gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy or childbirth, and military service or veteran status in the hiring of state employees. This executive order also applies to entities contracting with state agencies, so those companies must also comply with this nondiscrimination policy. The Montana Budget and Policy Center has served as a state contractor to research the economic benefits of paid family leave for Montana families. As an entity that would be subject to this expanded workplace policy, we believe this is an important step to ensuring all workers are adequately protected. Every day, people who are working hard to make ends meet are denied jobs or harassed at work simply for being who they are. Discriminatory practices negatively impact workers and their families well-being, as well as harming businesses and the economy as a whole. Gender wage gap The wage gap between men and women in Montana can be attributed to a number of things, but we know discriminatory practices play a role in hurting womens economic security. Nationally, evidence suggests that women and their families lose an average of $434,000 in income over their lifetimes, in part because of workplace inequality. The gender pay gap also has a significant impact on our entire economy. If women were compensated at the same rate as their male colleagues, we could cut the national poverty rate in half and inject hundreds of billions of dollars of income into our economy. For businesses large and small, workplace discrimination can significantly harm bottom lines and reduce competitive advantage. When individuals remain working while facing harassment, research shows that their performance suffers, which impacts a business productivity, bottom line, and ability to outperform competitors. Hiring practices based on job-irrelevant characteristics force otherwise qualified workers into unemployment. Looming worker shortage In the next 10 years, Montana will see more than 130,000 workers retire, and new workers entering the labor force will not fill that gap. As Montana faces potential worker shortages, state agencies and employers should consider policies that will attract and retain skilled workers. Combining nondiscrimination laws with other workplace policies like paid family and medical leave, fair scheduling, and fair pay laws is the best way to ensure that everyone in Montana has an equal opportunity to find and retain work, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and provide for themselves and their families. Bullocks executive action is a significant step. We hope that Montana legislators will build on this momentum and support policies that continue to strengthen our families, businesses, and state economy. By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British actress and first-time Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling said Friday that her comments calling the boycott of the Oscars protesting the absence of black actors and directors "racist toward whites," was misinterpreted. Rampling said in a statement to CBS News that she regretted that the comments she had made to a French radio journalist, which had led to backlash against the veteran actress. "I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration. I am very honored to be included in this year's wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses," Rampling said. In an interview aired earlier on Friday on Europe 1 radio, Rampling was asked if she felt African-American director Spike Lee was right to pledge to boycott the Oscars over the absence of blacks among the nominees. "No, I find to the contrary, that it's racist toward whites," said Rampling, who is nominated for her role in the British drama "45 Years." When asked to elaborate, Rampling said "one can never really know," but that "perhaps sometimes black actors have not earned a place in the final running." Rampling's comments came amid a wave of protest over the lack of minorities among the major nominees, including the re-emergence on social media of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, which first appeared during the 2015 awards season. Oscars organizers the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced major changes in its membership rules, pledging to double its membership of women and minorities by 2020, and stripping voting rights from inactive members. On Monday, actress Jada Pinkett Smith said on her Facebook page she would boycott the Oscars, and Lee announced he would not attend. Rampling also criticized Lee's affirmative action advocacy in Hollywood. "There will always be problems with people saying this one is too handsome, this guy is too black, this guy is too white, there will always be someone of whom people say, You are too Rampling said. And so were going to classify everything to make thousands of little minorities everywhere? As Rampling, speaking to Europe 1 in French, made her comments, two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine in a separate broadcast interview urged non-white actors to "be patient" as they await more recognition at Hollywood's premier awards event. Caine, speaking to BBC Radio 4, also weighed in on the Oscar selections made by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who vote for the nominees. "You can't vote for an actor because he's black," Caine told BBC Radio 4. At one point, Caine appeared to be unaware all 20 acting nominees this year were white, asking if British actor of African descent Idris Elba was nominated. "It took me years to get an Oscar," said Caine, 82, who won the first of his two Oscars in 1987, a best supporting actor award for "Hannah and Her Sisters." (Additional reporting by Amy Tennery, Melissa Fares, Gina Cherelus and Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Lisa Shumaker) Pakatan Harapan members of parliament will vote against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) at a special Dewan Rakyat sitting to debate the matter next Tuesday and Wednesday. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said it has been decided that all MPs from DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara would vote against TPPA. Of course, there are parties that will try to play up racial sentiments and accuse us of supporting the TPPA. How many times have we already declared that we dont support it? They say we support the agreement because we are Chinese. The TPPA is not by the Chinese but by the US. Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said the logic did not make sense. Even China does not support the TPPA. Those who support the TPPA are Barisan Nasional and Umno. So if we go by this logic, it would make BN and Umno Chinese, right? he said in his speech at the Penang Amanah dinner in Bayan Baru yesterday. Yesterday, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang accused DAP of supporting the TPPA on grounds that the Chinese dominated trade in Malaysia. The DAP agrees. Why? Because the Chinese control trade in Malaysia. Its the Bumiputera who are tired of TPPA, Hadi said in a video on the partys Facebook page. DAP has, to date, not made any statements in support of the TPPA. In November last year, the party said it would vote against the TPPA if the federal government could not clarify the impact of the deal on the prices of medicine. Despite this, DAP and its Pakatan Harapan colleagues have also been lately criticised by Parti Sosialis Malaysia for their pathetic mobilisation for the anti-TPPA protest scheduled in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. The protest is organised by non-governmental organisations comprising Bantah TPPA, Kongress Rakyat and student groups. January 23, 2016. By Ali Sawafta RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead on Saturday by an Israeli security guard she tried to stab at a settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli police said. Hours later, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas came out against Palestinian groups he said were encouraging youth to take part in an almost four-month long surge of violence with Israel which has raised concern of wider escalation a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided. The fatal incident on Saturday followed two stabbings this week inside settlements carried out by Palestinian teenagers, according to Israeli authorities. "There are people who want them to go, this is not acceptable. This is a generation we want to build. They send him (youths) there to be wounded or killed," Abbas told reporters in Ramallah. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said initial investigations showed the teenager killed on Saturday "had fought with her family and left her home with a knife and intending to die". Holding a knife, she ran toward the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened fire on her, Samri said. Her father arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and was arrested, she added. Eight seconds of security camera footage aired on Israeli television showed the armed guard running through the settlement gate and a young woman running after him with an object, possibly a knife, in her hand. The family of the teenager, Ruqayya Abu Eid, confirmed her death. Her mother, Reeda Abu Eid, said there had been no trouble before her daughter left the family home, a tent in the Palestinian village Anata. "Her father works in a farm and Ruqayya used to go to him. I didn't see her when she left so I expected she had gone to her father," she said. "Ruqayya is a small girl, how could she stab someone?" Since the start of October, Israeli forces have killed at least 149 Palestinians, 95 of them assailants according to authorities. Most of the others have died in violent protests. Almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and one U.S. citizen. Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers. On Sunday, an Israeli mother of six was stabbed to death at her home in a West Bank settlement and a 15-year-old Palestinian was arrested for the attack. On Monday, Israeli troops shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian who had stabbed and wounded a pregnant Israeli woman in a settlement. The bloodshed has been fueled by various factors including frustration over the 2014 collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians seek for an independent state. Palestinian leaders have said that with no breakthrough on the horizon, desperate youngsters see no future ahead. Israel says young Palestinians are being incited to violence by their leaders, including Abbas, and Islamist groups. Abbas has come under fierce criticism from rivals, including Islamist Hamas which calls for Israel's destruction, for ongoing security coordination with Israel in cracking down on militant cells. He said those actions were meant to prevent escalation. "I won't allow anyone to drag me into a battle not of my choice, I do not want a military battle," Abbas said. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell and Ali Sawafta; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Sandra Maler) Jerusalem (AFP) - A 13-year-old Palestinian girl tried to stab an Israeli guard at a West Bank settlement Saturday and was shot dead, the latest bloodshed in a months-long wave of attacks, police said. Many of the attackers have been disturbingly young and the killing of several of them by Israeli security forces has prompted questions at home and abroad. Police said Roqaya Abu-Eid was feeling suicidal after a fight with her family when she ran from her home in the West Bank village of Anata clutching a kitchen knife and rushed at a private security guard at nearby Anatot settlement. "She had a knife and intended to die," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement. "The guard opened fire, gravely wounding her and medics pronounced her dead shortly afterwards." Police said her father, who had been searching the area for her, arrived too late at the scene of the attack. They said he was questioned to see if he knew in advance of her intentions but was later released. Palestinian officials said Israel returned her body for burial by her family. Israeli media said she was to be buried on Sunday in the southern West Bank village of Yatta, where the family is originally from. A total of 156 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed in three months of attacks, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks and many of the assailants have been young people, including teenagers. Others her age have died in clashes with the army and police in the West Bank but she is thought to be the youngest killed during an attack. In November, police in Jerusalem shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian and seriously wounded her 14-year-old friend after the two girls stabbed and lightly wounded an elderly man in a market. The same month in the east Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Zeev, two Palestinian boys aged 12 and 14 attacked a security guard with knives, police said. The younger of the boys, both from Jerusalem's Shuafat refugee camp, was shot and seriously wounded and the other was arrested. Story continues Murad Ideis, 15, who allegedly stabbed to death a 38-year-old Israeli nurse and mother of six at her house in a West Bank settlement last Sunday, was later arrested in a raid on his family home. - 'Children killed without trial' - Arab Israeli MP Essawi Frej of the opposition Meretz party said in a statement that Abu-Eid could have been restrained rather than killed. "Even if she had a knife, it should have been possible to arrest a girl of that age," he said. He referred to Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who enraged Israel when she called for "thorough and credible investigations" into the deaths of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the wave of violence since October 1. She has also called on Israel to halt what she called "extrajudicial executions" in response to attacks by knife-wielding Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed her remarks as "stupid" and "immoral", but Frej said she had a valid point. "Netanyahu should examine what's happening in his country and how children are being killed without a trial," he wrote. Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - Time is running out to solve Europe's refugee crisis with the unity of the continent hanging in the balance, top officials at the elite World Economic Forum in Davos said Friday. Discussions about the waves of refugees still making their way to Europe were on many people's lips in the Swiss ski resort, with opinions ranging from calls for an ageing Europe to seize an opportunity to stark warnings of impending disaster. "We have a few weeks to concretely deliver our options... otherwise you have country-by-country solutions (and that is) the beginning of the dismantling for sure," Emmanuel Macron, the French economy minister, told an audience of billionaires and business leaders. The incessant flow of now over one million refugees to Europe from war-torn Syria and Iraq has handed the EU yet another crisis, following last year's debt battles with Greece and the face-off with Russia over Ukraine. The confirmation that at least 45 migrants drowned off the coast of Turkey and Greece early on Friday seeped into the usually upbeat Davos meetings. Macron's bleak assessment followed a warning by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who said Europe only had six to eight weeks left to solve the refugee problem. "When spring comes and the numbers quadruple, we cannot as the EU cope with the numbers any longer," Rutte said. But Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said his fellow Europeans overlooked migration coming to Poland from war-torn Ukraine, a burden not adequately acknowledged in Brussels, the EU capital. "We are alone in handling this crisis," the eurosceptic Polish minister said, while adding that the refugees from Syria and Iraq, despite all the problems, were now safe. EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini warned against the hypocrisy displayed by some EU member states that on one hand urged for European solutions, only to reject them later as too generous for refugees. Story continues "We risk this cycle that countries ask for European responses, then they prevent these European responses from taking place," she said, warning against using the crisis for electoral purposes. - 'Panic' in Europe - Mario Draghi, the powerful head of the European Central Bank, said the refugees could be an "opportunity" to stimulate economic growth, but it was too early to tell. "Our society will change, in which direction one can only guess," he said to a packed room in the Swiss ski resort. George Soros, the 85-year-old financier and one-time refugee, told a dinner of big players that the numbers of migrants were now dangerously high. "We have passed a tipping point where the influx reduces the capacity of the countries to assimilate or integrate the refugees," he said. "There is panic (in Europe)," he said darkly. But Helene Rey, one of Europe's up-and-coming economists, said it was not too late. "It is an opportunity. You have to invest in the integration of refugees and you get a return on that investment down the road," said the French academic. This view was echoed by the International Monetary Fund that said in a report released in time for Davos: "In the long run, the economic impact will depend on the speed of integration of refugees into the labour market." US Secretary John Kerry called in Davos for a 30-percent increase in humanitarian funding from the United Nations for refugees. This would bring the level of aid from $10 billion in 2015 to $13 billion this year, a State Department official said. Kerry said President Barack Obama would host a summit on refugees at the UN General Assembly in New York later this year in a sign that the issue is sounding alarms worldwide. Kenya, which has hosted refugees from Somalia and Sudan for decades, said Europe was merely getting a taste of Africa's problems. "It is new for Europe, it is not new for the rest of the world," said Kenya's Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed. "Maybe that mindset will change (in Europe), maybe it will shift so that you start looking at other people in the same way that you look at yourselves," she said. LONDON (Reuters) - Deadly militant attacks in Paris and a string of New Year's Eve sex assaults in Cologne have increased the need for Britain to leave the European Union, one of the leading 'Out' campaigners said on Saturday, citing the need to control national borders. To loud applause, Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, told a Grassroots Out campaign event that Europe's policy of taking in migrants with few checks had endangered the lives of those living in the 28-member bloc. British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership, with a vote expected to take place later this year and polls showing the outcome is likely to be close. "I'm a great believer of helping those around the world in need but it's time to put the interests of men and women and our communities first and we only do that by taking back control," Farage said. For years the face of Euroscepticism in Britain, Farage failed to win a national parliamentary seat in the 2015 election but is expected to take a leading role in the campaign for a Brexit, or British exit from the EU. On Saturday he noted that two of the men who killed 130 people in Paris in November had posed as migrants to enter the EU. Those men accused of groping and assaulting women on New Year's Eve in Cologne would, he said, have European passports in a few years and be able to enter Britain. Police have blamed the assaults on migrants, mainly from North Africa. "It's now even more serious," he told the audience of 2,000 people at the cross-party event in Kettering, central England. "The best way to insure ourselves against future terrorism is to take back control of our borders. "The European Union has made a massive, massive error with its open door policy to anyone that wants to come. To see what was happening with 1,000 young men in public sexually molesting women in the street was a very great shock." Farage was joined on the stage by Britain's former defence secretary Liam Fox from Cameron's ruling Conservative party who is also campaigning for an exit. (Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Digby Lidstone) DAPs support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and Chinese control of trade in Malaysia are reasons to oppose the international trade deal, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said in shoring up support for the anti-TPPA rally to be held in Kuala Lumpur today. DAP agrees to the trade deal, why? Because the Chinese control trade in Malaysia, he said in a three-minute clip on his Facebook page. The anti-TPPA protest today is organised by non-governmental organisations, including PAS-linked group Kongres Rakyat. Hadi made the remarks despite a previous statement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in October that there was too little information on the TPPA, making it hard to decide whether it was beneficial or not. The Penang chief minister said Malaysians needed to know the pros and cons of the trade deal instead of being kept in the dark. Yesterday, Lim said DAP federal lawmakers would join MPs from Pakatan Harapan parties PKR and Parti Amanah Negara in voting against the TPPA when it was debated at a special parliamentary sitting next week. Since its fallout DAP last year, PAS has been in sync with Umno to demonise the Chinese-dominated party. Hadi, the Marang MP, said Malaysia was bound to fall behind in the trade pact which was drafted by the United States. He said the US, being the more developed country, favoured competition under liberal capitalism and would possess the advantage over a small country like Malaysia. Our contractors will need to compete with their (TPP members) contractors who have more advanced equipment, experience and capability. We will lose when we fight them. There will also be open tender which is why DAP also supports. He said in the context of corn farming in both countries, richer counterparts in US would have larger farm acreage and stood to rake more profit than Malaysian farmers, despite selling the harvest at the same price. The US was also better protected if it violated the trade pact, he said. The US is a big country. Will we be able to take them to court? They can do anything they want. Reacting to Hadis video, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said the Islamist party leader was being racist. DAP never declared support for TPPA. Umno supports TPPA, so they must be Chinese. Racist and brainless, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said on his Facebook page. January 23, 2016. ZURICH (Reuters) - Police in Basel have banned the first anti-Islam demonstration by the German-based PEGIDA movement in Switzerland and a counter-rally by left-wing groups, they said on Friday, citing security concerns. "The cantonal police of the city of Basel have decided to withdraw authorisations granted to the two demonstrations planned on Feb. 3 on the market square," a statement said. It said the "expected participation of several groups prone to violence on both sides, from Switzerland and from abroad, led to this decision". The Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) movement originated in Germany, where thousands rally regularly in the eastern city of Dresden, raising fears about right-wing radicalisation. Riot police broke up a PEGIDA-organised march by far-right protesters in the German city of Cologne earlier this month as they demonstrated against Germany's migration policy after asylum seekers were identified as suspects in assaults on women on New Year's Eve. Police said around 1,700 people attended that rally. PEGIDA has seized on the alleged involvement of migrants in the Cologne attacks as proof that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy is flawed. Germany took in 1.1 million migrants and refugees in 2015. In Switzerland, the anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) won nearly 30 percent of the vote, the biggest share, in October's parliamentary election. That followed a referendum in which Swiss backed restrictions on foreigners living in the country. However, the Swiss branch of PEGIDA has so far gained little public attention. Basel's Young Socialists and the Young Ecologists of northwestern Switzerland had called for the counter-rally. (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Janet Lawrence) (Reuters) - A juvenile bystander sustained minor injuries when a police officer fired on a man seen brandishing a gun on the Las Vegas strip in an incident that forced the closure of the busy tourist corridor for several hours, authorities said on Saturday. An officer responded to emergency calls about a man pointing a gun at passersby on Las Vegas Boulevard near the Bellagio casino, and the individual did not comply with a number of verbal commands to surrender, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Captain Matt McCarthy said in a video news release. The officer fired his weapon, missing the suspect but grazing a nearby juvenile and the clothing of an adult, he said. The minor was treated and released. The adult was unharmed, he said. The Las Vegas Strip, typically packed with cars and pedestrians on Friday nights, was closed for several hours as authorities investigated. The gunman was facing several felony charges in the incident, McCarthy said. He did not give any other details. (Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Mark Heinrich) The first phase of a long-delayed technology project in the North Dakota Secretary of States office is nearing its go-live date. The software projects first phase, an upgrade to the states Central Indexing System, will go live on March 1. The rest of the project consists of software upgrades to allow input of information for things such as licensing, registrations and campaign finance. Secretary of State Al Jaeger said the deadline for proposals from vendors for the remaining part of the project is March 8. After this, he expects a contract to be awarded in May then have the rest of the project completed in about 18 months. Training has been implemented for the new Central Indexing System, and there have been multiple meetings with banking and lending groups to ensure the project is workable and ready to go, according to Jaeger. At this time, we have nothing specific back from the lender groups as to likes or dislikes, Jaeger said of the project. We do have a few lenders that are doing test runs, and we will be meeting with representatives of the associations early next week. When we do, we may have some feedback. Jaeger said his office has been working with county recorders across the state as well, with the transfer of more than 330,000 business files into the new system underway. Its going rather well. For all intents and purposes, its ready to go, Jaeger said. In 2004, a technology project was proposed that was intended to create an online filing system for business registrations. The original completion date was 2008; in 2014, the office was still using a paper filing system. The delays were unsuccessfully used as a campaign issue against Jaeger in his 2014 campaign for reelection by his Democratic-NPL challenger for the office. Jaeger said the project will be a plus for those filing documents. It should create a lot of efficiencies for the general process. It gives them 24/7 access, Jaeger said. I think the lenders are really going to like it. Business registrations Jaeger said his office has been maintaining a turnaround time of one to two weeks for the processing of business registrations after a couple of years of dealing with more lengthy delays. In 2012, Jaeger temporarily reduced office hours to allow staff time to catch up on a growing backlog of business registrations and other essential documents. The turnaround time on business registrations persisted even after three temporary staff positions were approved during the 2013 session. In 2015, the three positions were made permanent and three more staff positions were approved. We have the staff and resources in place. Were doing very well for now, Jaeger said. Warsaw (AFP) - Thousands of people took to the streets in more than 30 cities across Poland on Saturday to "defend freedom" and protest against the conservative government. "We are not revolutionaries," said Mateusz Kijowski, founder of the Committee for the Defence of Democracy (KOD) which organised the demonstrations. "Revolutionaries are those who destroy order, who want to impose their own rule. We want to preserve our democracy and our freedom." On a sunny but cold day in Warsaw, thousands gathered in front of Prime Minister Beata Szydlo's office, before moving to the presidential palace. Led by former premier Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the eurosceptic Law and Justice party (PiS) has been in power since an October election, and has regularly butted heads with the media and the opposition. The KOD organised marches on Saturday in 36 cities across Poland. Rallies of support were also planned in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London, Melbourne, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna. These are the latest in a series of demonstrations in reaction to recent legislation giving the government greater control of the Constitutional Court, media and other institutions. The controversial legal changes have prompted harsh criticisms both at home and across Europe. The EU recently launched an unprecedented probe to see if the Polish government violates the bloc's democracy rules and merits punitive measures. Brussels introduced the "rule of law" mechanism in 2014, giving the 28-nation bloc the right to investigate and if necessary punish any member state which violates key EU democratic and rights norms. If found at fault, a country can be stripped of its EU voting rights -- the so-called "nuclear option" -- but the procedure has not been used before and officials say they hope it does not come to that. HAMPSTEAD, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio on Friday said that Haiti must lay out a clear timeline for a democratic presidential election, comments that came the day the Caribbean nation delayed a vote set for Sunday. "It's disappointing that they've decided to postpone it," said Rubio, the Florida senator vying for his party's nomination to the November 2016 presidential election. "They need to create a clear timeline for when it is these elections are going to happen," Rubio told Reuters during a campaign stop in New Hampshire. Haiti called off Sunday's presidential election after violent protests erupted on Friday and the opposition candidate vowed to boycott the vote over alleged fraud. Rubio has stressed his foreign policy credentials in seeking to differentiate himself from the rest of the crowded Republican field. But the first-term senator has faced an uphill battle. Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman who has tapped into voter frustration with the political establishment, leads polls ahead of presidential nominating contests. Haiti is "in our western hemisphere. We have an interest," Rubio said on Friday, noting migration from Haiti to the United States and the current community of Haitian-Americans. "They (Haitian elections) cannot be continuously, indefinitely postponed because it undermines democracy," he added. (Reporting by Luciana Lopez) Negotiations over how companies can transfer personal data across the Atlantic are ongoing, and a vote is expected by February 2, 2016, U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker told Yahoo Finance editor-in-chief Andy Serwer at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. We have a comprehensive package that weve worked out over the last two years with the European Commission, said Pritzker. Were down to the last few issues. My hope is that well get all of this done shortly. EU officials are working on finalizing their position on data transfers from the European Union to the United States. This comes after the European Court of Justice struck down a 15-year-old transatlantic data-sharing privacy framework called Safe Harbor last year. Safe Harbor was the agreement under which U.S. companies were permitted to transfer Europeans personal data to the U.S. without violating EU data-protection laws. The European Commission is leading the talks on the EU side, and the onus is now on the U.S. to comply with European privacy regulations. Its complicated, but we have to keep in mind whats at stake here, said Pritzker. Trade is at stake. Our economy is at stake. The digital trade back and forth between the U.S. and Europe is about $260 billion per year and a lot of jobs. Were working to try and resolve issues that would be affected if Safe Harbor went away. And the uncertainty does not just impact big U.S. consumer tech firms. Pritzker noted that a total of 4,400 companies have benefited from Safe Harbor. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, individual country data-protection authorities will be able to halt EU-U.S. data transfers. Its important we address the issues raised by the EU, address the issues raised by the European Court of Justice, and bring Safe Harbor to the 21st century, said Pritzker. We need to move forward. Its very important for transatlantic trade. By Nick Brown and Megan Davies SAN JUAN/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chances of Puerto Rico's power utility PREPA reaching a deal with creditors to restructure its $8 billion debt were cast in uncertainty on Friday as one deadline passed and the utility baulked at the new terms offered for a new one. Puerto Rican lawmakers' failure to vote by Friday on legislation needed to make the restructuring deal work prompted a group of bondholders to offer to extend the deadline until Feb. 12, but PREPA rejected the changed terms. "We are disappointed that the ... group did not grant our requested extension, Lisa Donahue, PREPAs chief restructuring officer, said in a statement. PREPA remains willing to continue discussions with the Ad Hoc Group and other stakeholders. As the Friday deadline passed, the bondholder group issued a statement describing PREPA's refusal as "extremely disappointing and perplexing". Pressure is mounting to secure a deal at PREPA, as the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear an appeal later this year in a case that could allow Puerto Rico to push PREPA into bankruptcy, an outcome creditors dread. Reaching a deal to restructure PREPA's debt is seen as key to fixing the debt-ridden U.S. territory's finances. Needing to restructure debts totaling $70 billion, the island's leaders want U.S. Congress to allow it access to U.S. bankruptcy law or some form of court-sanctioned debt restructuring process. PREPA said in December that it had reached a deal with 70 percent of all creditors, under which the bondholders agreed to accept 15 percent cuts to repayments in exchange for new bonds with higher ratings. For that to work, Puerto Rico needs to pass legislation enabling PREPA to create a new charge on customer invoices specifically to pay the debt, so that the new bonds could earn the higher ratings that creditors expect. As part of their proposed extension, bondholders were also offering to provide $115 million of additional capital. However, PREPA said the bondholders changed the terms of that offer, conditioning it on regulatory approval by Puerto Rico's energy commission for the imposition of the additional charges to customers. Without a restructuring deal in place, the matter could devolve into litigation. (Reporting by Megan Davies and Nick Brown; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Simon Cameron-Moore) London (AFP) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has praised captain Wayne Rooney for a half-time outburst that reminded him of a pivotal moment from his time with Ajax. Van Gaal revealed that Rooney upbraided his under-performing team-mates at half-time of last weekend's Premier League match at Liverpool before going on to earn his side a 1-0 victory with a 78th-minute winner. For Van Gaal it brought back memories of a similar outburst by Frank Rijkaard at half-time of Ajax's 1995 Champions League final against AC Milan, which the Dutch club went on to win 1-0. "I think the players have to take responsibility, but at the right moment, because I have seen it in my career at the wrong moment," Van Gaal said in comments published by British newspapers on Saturday. "At the right moment you have to do it so I am very pleased. In the final in 1995 with Frank Rijkaard, for example. "It's always good, it always helps the manager and also the players. I'm asking already for more. I believe in the corrections of fellow players. I think that is more important than the correction of a manager." Former Netherlands international Rijkaard lost his temper with team-mate Clarence Seedorf at half-time in Vienna in the 1995 final, before setting up an 85th-minute winner for Patrick Kluivert. A state audit says the North Dakota Health Department stored thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses at incorrect temperatures or without temperature data over the past two years and that some of the vaccine was administered to patients. The health department disputed the audit released Tuesday. Tim Wiedrich, who heads the agencys virus response, says no non-viable vaccines were given to patients. The state analysis said nearly 2,000 Moderna doses were stored at incorrect temperatures and were administered to patients. The audit also found nearly 13,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines were issued from storage with missing temperature data. Neither the Health Department nor the auditor's office is recommending revaccination. By Mark Gleeson PRETORIA, Jan 22 (Reuters) Hashim Amla scored an unbeaten century and Stephen Cook was 91 not out to lead South Africa to 224 for one at tea on the first day of the final test against England as the hosts bid to salvage pride in a lost series. Amlas 25th test century came off 131 balls in a confident display which brought him 18 fours while Cook was nine runs short of a debut test century at Centurion Park on Friday. Amla, who gave up the captaincy after the second test to concentrate on his batting, looked effortless as he raced to three figures to cheers South Africa who lost two of the first three tests and the series. He was 102 not out at the interval. Cook, handed his debut at the age of 33 in one of five South Africa changes after defeat in Johannesburg last week, offered a straightforward chance after lunch when he got a healthy edge to a Stuart Broad delivery but was dropped by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow on 47. There was another more difficult opportunity for Bairstow down the leg side when Cook was on 76. But Cook, whose father Jimmy was dismissed first ball when he made his debut for South Africa in 1992 at the age of 39, looked organised at the crease as he brought to the test arena his dominant form in domestic competition. He hit a four off the first ball of the match when James Andersons delivery strayed down leg side. Yet another freakish catch by James Taylor at short leg was the only positive moment of the day for England as Dean Elgar was dismissed for 20 in unusual circumstances before lunch. Taylor showed a sharp presence of mind to grasp a catch after Elgars stinging shot hit him in the leg and the ball somehow got stuck around his calf, allowing him to snatch it up before it dropped to the ground. Elgar had danced down to wicket to Moeen Ali, hitting with some power, and will count himself exceedingly unlucky to have been dismissed after a lengthy review of the television evidence by the third umpire. It was the third extraordinary catch in the last two tests for the diminutive Taylor, thriving in the most dangerous position on the field. South Africa won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to take first use of a good batting wicket. Their advantage was increased by a poor England bowling display with too many balls drifting down the leg-side or pitched too short. (Editing by Ed Osmond) The Sundance Film Festival is a mecca for both seeing movies and networking, and Destri Martino wants to make sure female filmmakers have the opportunity to attend. Martino, founder of The Director List, a leading website and database for female filmmakers, is hosting an "all-female" condo in Park City, Utah, for the first week of the festival for a cost of $100 per night per person. Elsewhere, a person can expect to pay $250 to $300 per night for a room, and that's on the lower end. It's the third year Martino has rented a condo. "The group has grown each year. Three years ago, it was just four of us and last year it was six. This time, I thought we could try a little bigger, so it's 10," Martino says. "The Director List is all about getting more woman hired and removing points of blockage. Sundance is a very important place for people to connect." >>>>>>> Condo denizens this year include filmmaker and actress Jessie Kahnweiler, whose webseries The Skinny will premiere at Sundance; writer-director Celine Tricart, also a 3D and virtual reality specialist; documentary filmmaker and producer Maya Albanese; cinematographer Maria Rusche; Meredith Riley Stewart and Christina Myers, who produce and star in webseries AutocorrectFU; actress and producer Lindsey Loon, founder of the Connect Film Festival; and Fischer Cherry, filmmaker and concept artist/photographer. Last, one of the condo residents was Rainy Kerwin, director of the upcoming The Wedding Invitation. The Director List, boasting a database of more than 1,000 names, was born out Martino's 2012 Pinterest board. The website highlights the work of female filmmakers in a number of ways, including a weekly updated list of crowdfunding campaigns being directed by women. (Paul Feig is a vocal supporter of The Director List, and recently made a notable donation). "I'm all about being practical. That's what the site is all about," says Martino, a writer/director whose credits include more than 200 corporate videos and the web sitcom Mixed Blooms. Story continues See More: The Scene at Sundance Film Festival 2016 (Photos) Sony Pictures Classics on Saturday nabbed a new documentary about Frank Zappa. Eat That Question Frank Zappa In His Own Words, directed by German helmer Thorsten Schutte, zooms in on the late iconoclastic composer-musician entirely through rare archival footage from his three-decade career. With clips of TV interviews and international performances, the film explores Zappa's unconventional and irreverent handling of the media, his irrepressible quest for enlightenment and his witty self-dramatization. Sony Pictures Classics made the acquisition announcement of the doc's worldwide rights (excluding France and Germany) ahead of its world premiere on Monday at the Sundance Film Festival in the Documentary Premieres section. "I'm delighted and I'm thrilled that Sony Pictures Classics believes in the film, and I feel we're in very good hands," said Schutte. "The news of the acquisition is really the cherry on the cake of our world premiere at Sundance." The deal from NYC-based sales company Submarine was negotiated by Sony Pictures Classics with Josh Braun, Dan Braun and David Koh of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers, Eat That Question was produced by Estelle Fialon of Les Films du Poisson (France) and Jochen Laube of UFA Films (Germany), and co-produced by ARTE France and SWR. See More: THR's Photo Lounge at Sundance: Don Cheadle, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Jonas and More Stars of Park City Beirut (AFP) - Suspected Russian raids killed 47 civilians in war-ravaged eastern Syria, amid reports US forces are building up an air base to bolster their fight against jihadists further north. Meanwhile, senior diplomats scrambled to resolve the key question of who will represent Syria's opposition at crucial talks next week aimed at ending the nearly-five year war. In eastern Syria, the 47 civilians were killed in air strikes suspected to have been carried out by Russian warplanes on a jihadist-held village. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine children and two women were among the dead in Khasham, which is controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group. The village is in Syria's oil-rich Deir Ezzor province, where IS has sought to advance in recent days despite a barrage of Russian and Syrian government air strikes. The week-long IS offensive on the provincial capital has left nearly 500 people dead and sparked fears of mass killings among the 200,000 people still living there. IS declared a self-styled "caliphate" in 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq, imposing its ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic law there. In Syria, it is under fire by the government and Damascus's long-time ally Russia, as well as a US-led coalition also battling the jihadists in Iraq. - 'Ready to be used' - To bolster their fight against the group, US special forces deployed in Syria are building up an airbase in the northeast, sources told AFP on Saturday. A Syrian military source said nearly 100 "American experts" and Syrian Kurdish militia were almost done outfitting Rmeilan airfield in Hasakeh province. "The airbase will be used for helicopters and cargo planes. Its strip is now 2,700 metres (yards) long and is ready to be used by planes that will transport equipment and ammunition," the source added. A security source in northeast Syria said "American special forces and advisers are using the Rmeilan airport as a base, from where helicopters are taking off towards the fronts". Story continues The Pentagon said the US had "not taken control" of any airfield in Syria. "There has been no change to the size of mission of the US presence in Syria," said US Central Command spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder. "That being said, US forces in Syria are consistently looking at ways to increase efficiency for logistics and personnel recovery support," he said. In October, Washington authorised the deployment to Syria of up to 50 special operations troops to advise local forces battling IS. Syria's conflict first erupted with anti-government protests in 2011 but has since morphed into a bloody, complicated war that has killed more than 260,000 people. The violence has periodically spilled over into neighbouring countries, with Jordan's army saying border guards killed 12 people trying to enter the kingdom from Syria on Saturday. - Diplomatic efforts - Previous diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities have faltered, but world powers are putting their weight behind a new round of talks set to begin next week. Representatives from Syria's government and opposition are set to convene in Geneva in the coming days to discuss a political transition for their country. But the controversial question of who will represent the fractious opposition has slowed the momentum of the build-up to the negotiations. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the makeup of the opposition delegation. Kerry called Lavrov to discuss the talks following a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, with both men backing efforts to get them started "next week". "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," the statement said. Kerry was in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks with his counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, as well as Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going," Kerry said. Last week, the main coalition of opposition bodies, the High Negotiations Committee, announced that its delegation to the talks would include Mohamed Alloush from the powerful rebel group Jaish al-Islam. But Syria's ally Moscow has said it considers Jaish al-Islam to be "terrorists" and other opposition groups insisted that it was unacceptable for the delegation to be led by a member of an armed group. Thousands of protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur Saturday to denounce the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade alliance, demanding the government reject the accord in a parliamentary debate next week. The peaceful protest, involving various NGOs and opposition parties, saw scores of people wearing anti-TPP t-shirts and holding placards warning against the mammoth trade deal. While a few hundred gathered near the capital's Independence Square, around 3,000 others, mainly supporters of opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, marched to a nearby field to listen to speeches given by critics of the agreement. Prominent Malaysian opposition figure Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, told the crowd that the TPP will affect Malaysia's sovereignty and that "jobs will be reduced and prices of medicines will go up." "This (TPP) will only help the rich people. It will not help the poor people in Malaysia and I don't see any benefits for my family and I," said Mohammad Noor Ismail, a student who attended the protest. The TPP aims to create the world's biggest free-trade area including Canada, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, the United States, Japan and Australia. In October, 12 Pacific nations finally reached an agreement on the pact, a major diplomatic coup for Washington. Both China and the United States are pushing their own free trade visions for the economically vibrant and populous region. China is pointedly excluded from the TPP, part of Washington's attempt to ramp up influence in the region with its "pivot" to Asia. The trade deal will be formally signed in New Zealand next month, officials in Wellington said Thursday. Following the signing, each country has two years to complete the ratification process before the trade accord takes effect. Critics in the countries involved have vowed to fight ratification, saying it threatens labour rights and environmental protection. Story continues The Malaysian government is widely expected to sign and ratify the deal according to reports. In October, it had hailed the Pacific Rim trade deal as a boost for commerce, saying it won key concessions in areas including its controversial system of business preferences for its ethnic Malay majority. Parliament is expected to debate next week whether the country should sign the accord which involves significant market openings from Canada, the United States and Japan, and establishes mechanisms to handle disputes between foreign investors and governments. Malaysian opponents of the trade deal have criticised the secrecy of the talks and warned that the TPP could saddle consumers with higher medicine costs and provides too much protection for foreign companies. US President Barack Obama has described the deal as a foundation for "21st century trade". New York (AFP) - Three people in New York have tested positive for the Zika virus, which has been blamed for a surge in babies born with abnormally small heads in Latin America, city officials said. All three had travelled to areas outside the United States where the mosquito-borne ailment is spreading rapidly, the New York State Department of Health said, without specifying where. Officials said one person has completely recovered, while the others are still getting better. US health authorities earlier on Friday expanded a travel warning for pregnant women to avoid 22 places in Latin America and the Caribbean due to the Zika virus. It has been linked to thousands of cases of a birth defect known as microcephaly, when babies are born with abnormally small heads, which can cause brain damage. New York authorities warned anyone contemplating travel to warmer regions to take care. "We are urging residents, especially pregnant women, to check all health advisories before travelling and take preventive measures when travelling to affected countries," said New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker. Women in these areas are urged to take measures to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing long sleeves and pants, and applying insect repellent. A Bismarck police officer shot an 18-year-old Mandan man suspected of stealing a car early Saturday. The man has been arrested by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation for reckless endangerment, said Deputy Police Chief Dave Draovitch. After fleeing, the man was stopped in Emmons County and was in stable condition while being airlifted to Bismarck. The officer was not injured. Bismarck police officers are guarding the suspect at the hospital until he can be formally charged, Draovitch said. At 2:37 a.m. Saturday, Bismarck police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from Mandan, the department said in a statement. The man was driving a stolen 2014 gray Ford Escape that didnt have North Dakota license plates on it. As far as we know at this time, no one else (was) in the car, Draovitch said. An officer found the stolen vehicle in the 1100 block of South Third Street and gave verbal commands to the driver, which the driver ignored. Instead, he allegedly drove the vehicle at the officer and the officer fired his weapon into the vehicle to protect himself, according to the police statement. At 3:17 a.m., law enforcement in Emmons County used a spike strip to stop the suspects vehicle, Draovitch said. The vehicle was stopped at 3:19 a.m. near the Beaver Bay area, he said. The man had two gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a Bismarck hospital. Draovitch said the man was shot in his upper body. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been called to investigate. Draovitch said the officer fired his weapon multiple times, and any possible video evidence will be reviewed as part of the investigation into whether the officer's use of force was justified. The officer involved in the shooting is in his 20s and has between five and 10 years of service with the citys police department, Draovitch said. Per department policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation. (The officer) is a part of the investigation, too, because of the use of force. So part of that investigation is whether his force was justified, so we want to make sure thats handled properly, Draovitch said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. The last officer involved shooting in Bismarck was last February, Draovitch said. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be interviewing officers involved in the incident within next few days, and the department will release more information as it becomes available. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid pleaded Saturday for people to be "patient" after a wave of protests against poverty and unemployment in the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution. He spoke after chairing an emergency cabinet meeting as authorities said a nighttime nationwide curfew would be indefinite. The measure was imposed Friday after the spread of unrest from the central town of Kasserine, where an unemployed man died of electrocution during a protest, to the rest of the country. Anger at the January 16 death of Ridha Yahyaoui after he climbed a power pole also hit the capital where shops were burnt and looted in one suburb. It was the worst social unrest since the revolution five years ago that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia "is in danger despite the positive things which we have accomplished, particularly the transition toward democracy", said Essid, urging people to "understand that there are difficulties". "Solutions exist but some patience and optimism are needed," said Essid. The premier, who met the defence and interior ministers before the cabinet session, did not announce any firm measures to tackle unemployment and corruption which have plagued the country. On Friday he said he had "no magic wand" to solve unemployment which is more than 15 percent nationwide and 32 percent among university graduates. In a televised address on Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed understanding for the frustration vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. But he also warned against "ill-intentioned hands" exploiting the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. Calm returned to Kasserine Saturday after a day of clashes, but in the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid -- the cradle of the revolution -- teenagers torched tyres, AFP journalists said. "Security-wise, it has started to stabilise," interior ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told AFP. Story continues Nevertheless authorities said the 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew would stay. There have been 261 arrests over the unrest and 84 for curfew violations on Friday, the interior ministry said. - 'Honest leaders' needed - Analyst Selim Kharrat called the unrest "the most serious social crisis since 2011", and expressed disappointment at the cabinet's failure to announce solutions to resolve the situation. The government "missed the opportunity to give a positive signal", he said. The government "could have taken inexpensive measures" to battle corruption but has "a limited margin for manoeuvre", Kharrat said. "The demonstrations are demanding not only jobs but also honest leaders," he added. The human rights and civil society minister, Kamel Jendoubi, said he expected that Essid would soon announce measures concerning youths, jobs and "taking charge of difficult cases". He did not elaborate. Saturday's cabinet session comes after Essid earlier this month replaced his foreign and interior ministers in the first reshuffle since Essebsi took office in late 2014. The unrest echoed the public anger that erupted after the death of young fruit seller Mohammed Bouazizi in December 2011 in protest at unemployment and police harassment. Bouazizi set himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid, sparking the uprising that toppled Ben Ali -- whose rule was tainted by graft accusations -- and inspiring the Arab Spring revolts. Othman Yahyaoui on Friday said his electrocuted son was "a victim of corruption, marginalisation and unkept promises". Mehrez, a brother, said impoverished youths were being driven towards "drug trafficking and terrorism", referring to the thousands of Tunisians who have joined jihadist movements such as the Islamic State (IS) group. While Tunisia is considered a rare Arab Spring success story, the authorities have failed to resolve the problems of social exclusion and regional inequalities. Groups including the Tunisian League for Human Rights and Oxfam urged the government Friday "to adopt an economic model aimed at reducing regional disparities and social injustices". Two attacks last year targeting Tunisia's vital tourism industry killed 60 people -- all but one foreign tourists -- and were claimed by IS. The group was also behind a suicide bombing in Tunis in November that killed 12 presidential guards. After that attack a state of emergency was imposed and in December it was extended by two months until February 21. Montreal (AFP) - A small aboriginal community in western Canada was in mourning on Saturday after a high school student shot dead two brothers and two trainee teachers and left several others wounded. Friday's shooting occurred at a home and then at a nearby school in remote La Loche, in Saskatchewan province, Canadian police and other sources said. Prime Minster Justin Trudeau called it "every parent's worst nightmare." Unlike in the United States, mass shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated than south of the border. The suspected shooter, who has not been named, was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about "a person discharging a weapon in the community," RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy told reporters. Witnesses said the shooter had a shotgun and the acting mayor of La Loche, Kevin Janvier, told CTV News that the alleged gunman was a young man under 21 and a student at the school. He was being questioned on Saturday. Investigators were pursuing their probe both at the school and at a nearby residence. Candles burned all night outside La Loche Community School and on Friday night, hundreds of people held a vigil in memory of the victims. Authorities were yet to name all the dead and the exact number of wounded, but the two brothers were killed at their home, followed by the teachers at the school. The families of the two young teachers, identified as 23-year-old Marie Janvier and Adam Wood, paid emotional tribute. "My cousin Marie was among those murdered in La Loche today. She was a charming, sweet young woman and I loved her so much," Patrick Wagenaar wrote on Facebook. "My thoughts go out to my family and those affected by this tragedy. I'm so sorry." Wood's family issued a statement saying: "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time. "Adam was quite an adventurer, had a passion for life, and would often make you laugh until your stomach hurt." Story continues In Australia, Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic dedicated his Australian Open win to the victims. "Today's victory was for that community and a quick recovery. All of Canada, and I'm sure the world, is behind you," an emotional Raonic told the crowd. - 'Shot in the back' - Located deep in Canada's northern boreal forest, 600 kilometers (375 miles) north of Saskatoon, La Loche has about 3,000 inhabitants. Because it is so isolated, authorities had to send in police reinforcements and dispatch a medical helicopter to airlift some victims to a hospital. La Loche students said they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (1900 GMT). Pupils described how they fled, terrified for their lives. One boy, 13, told the Toronto Star how he watched his teacher shot dead in front of him. The teenager was in math class when he heard several shots ring out. "I got scared and I got down to, like, behind the desk," he said. The teacher told students to go against the wall, but as the children obeyed, someone fired into the classroom and hit the tutor in the back. Trudeau was in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, at the time of the shooting. The new prime minister said his Liberal government would have to reflect on Canada's current gun laws in the coming weeks and months in light of the shooting. The previous Tory government had scrapped a short-lived national registry of rifles and shotguns. Many Canadians living in rural areas own long guns like the one that appears to have been used in the shooting, and led a strong opposition to the registry they said wrongly targeted farmers and hunters. By Michelle Nichols BUJUMBURA (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council met with Burundi's president on Friday to push for peace talks and an international force to quell worsening political violence, but U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said little was achieved. The meeting came a day after rebels in the tiny African state raised the stakes in the crisis by declaring a general who led a failed coup in May as their leader, deepening concerns that Burundi is sliding back into conflict after its ethnically charged civil war ended in 2005. The 15-member council, which arrived in Burundi's lakeside capital Bujumbura on Thursday, met with President Pierre Nkurunziza in Gitega for more than two hours. It is the council's second visit to Burundi in less than a year. "I'm here to guarantee that there will not ever be another genocide in Burundi," the president told the council. Power made clear that the council wants to see more dialogue and an enhanced U.N. presence in Burundi. "None of us want the situation in Burundi to deteriorate, we're here because we want to support efforts at dialogue, because we believe as a council that a more substantial international presence here can help, we conveyed those points to the president," Power told reporters after the meeting. "In this meeting we did not achieve as much, frankly, as I think we would have liked. But we never give up, the cause of peace in Burundi is too important to give up," she said. Nkurunziza's re-election for a third term sparked the crisis, which has raised fears of an ethnic conflict in a region where memories of Rwanda's 1994 genocide remain fresh. The government insists there is no ethnic bias, but opponents say districts of Bujumbura where many Tutsis live - and which were also hotbeds of protest against Nkurunziza last year - have been targeted with some Tutsis singled out. The United Nations estimates the death toll at 439 people but says it could be higher. More than 240,000 people have fled abroad. The rebel group, FOREBU, announced on Thursday that it was now commanded by the former intelligence chief, General Godefroid Niyombare. The group said it welcomed international mediation but also called for Burundians to support their fight against Nkurunziza. "This development shows why the U.N. Security Council is concerned about the risk of a downward cycle of violence," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told Reuters. Burundi's government has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting a rebel group by training and arming Burundian refugees recruited on Rwandan soil. Nkurunziza raised those accusations again on Friday with the Security Council. "The threat is not from within Burundi, it comes from outside," he told the council. "The Rwandan government must be told to stop." Rwanda has previously dismissed the allegations. "We've expressed concern about the allegations of external interference ... and it's very important that nobody support armed opposition groups no matter what they assess the history," Power said. The president has rejected the deployment of an African peacekeeping force, saying the troops would constitute "an invading force". The issue is expected to be a focus for an African Union summit at the end of January. "It's not peacekeepers that the Burundians need. What they need is to increase their own capacity, especially their police capacity," Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev told Reuters. "Maybe what we need is some kind of policing mission, either advisors, either trainers or maybe formed police units that will be deployed in Bujumbura ... from the African Union or the U.N.," he said. Months of talks between the government and the opposition last year failed to make progress. New negotiations begun at the end of December in Uganda have already stalled. Nkurunziza backed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's mediation efforts. "We told (the Security Council) that he is somebody who knows very well the problems of Burundi," Nkurunziza told reporters after the meeting. Regional Western diplomats say the government has set too many conditions about who can attend talks to make them meaningful. They also say rebels may believe they can make more gains through force of arms than at the negotiating table. (Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Alison Williams, Drazen Jorgic, Larry King and Chizu Nomiyama) By Patrick Rucker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The leading U.S. regulator for the coal industry on Friday said it suspects Wyoming officials have wrongly allowed mining companies to forego cleanup insurance. The notice begins a formal federal review by the Interior Departments Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement. If federal officials find wrongdoing or an abuse under the law, they could assume oversight of the industry in Wyoming. Specifically, federal regulators want to know whether two now-bankrupt mining companies, Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources, have the wherewithal to cover several hundred million of dollars in future cleanup costs. At issue is a practice known as self-bonding, allowed under a decades-old mining program, in which some of the country's biggest coal companies forego insurance on a portion of future mine cleanup costs. Officials estimate that roughly $3.6 billion in self-bond liabilities could fall to taxpayers and "it is a big issue," Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell told Congress in December. Taken together, Arch and Alpha have left roughly $900 million in future cleanup costs through self-bonding in Wyoming. A spokesman said the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality said the agency had received the letter and would respond within 10 business days as required. (Editing by Bernard Orr) RIYADH (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday he was confident Syria peace talks would proceed, after he held talks with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Saudi Arabia. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going and that the U.N. representative special envoy, Staffan De Mistura, will be convening people in an appropriate manner for the proximity talks that will be the first meeting in Geneva," he told reporters in Riyadh. The Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Jan. 25 in Geneva, but there is uncertainty around the date, partly because of a dispute over who will be part of the opposition delegation. Kerry said major countries would convene after the first round of negotiations. "I won't announce a date, but we all agreed that immediately after completion of the first round of the Syria discussions, the International Syria Support Group will convene, and that will be very shortly, because we want to keep the process moving," he said. Peace efforts face huge underlying challenges, among them disagreements over President Bashar al-Assad's future and worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Tensions between the two regional rivals escalated this month after the Saudi execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric. That triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on the Saudi embassy in Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties. "None of us are under any illusions that obstacles don't still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria," Kerry said. "We know its tough. If it were easy, it would have happened a long time ago." Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country was working with the U.S. to find ways to remove Assad from power. He downplayed any change in U.S.-Iran relations after an agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programmed led them to lift sanctions on Iran. "We work with our American friends on ways to remove Bashar al-Assad from Syria and move the country towards a better future," he said. "I don't see a coming together of the United States and Iran, as some of the pundits have described it. Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism." Kerry said the lifting of sanctions presented an opportunity to work together with Iran to address some of the worries Saudi Arabia and other countries had. "Now we have the ability to begin to work together to address the concerns that Saudi Arabia and other countries have and that we have," he said. Kerry met earlier in Riyadh with representatives of the six nations of the GCC, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. He is due to hold talks with Riad Hijab, chair of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee, which was formed in Riyadh last month. (This version of the story was refiled to fix reporter's byline. No change in text.) (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Maha El Dahan; Editing by Mark Heinrich) WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it had revoked the credentials of five of six honorary Russian consuls to retaliate for what it said was Russia's harassment of U.S. diplomats, prompting an angry response from Moscow. Honorary consuls are typically U.S. citizens or green card holders who perform consular services on behalf of a foreign government, a U.S. official said, saying the five were located in California, Florida, Minnesota, Utah and Puerto Rico. A sixth, in Colorado, will not be affected. "This action is being taken in response to continued Russian interference with our diplomatic and consular operations in Russia, including, but not limited to, widespread harassment of our personnel, as well as the forced closure of the American Center in Moscow," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. "We are prepared to take further appropriate measures if there are additional efforts to impede our diplomatic and consular activities in Russia," he added. While they cooperate on some issues, such as curbing Iran's nuclear programme, ties between the two nations have deteriorated over more than a decade in part because of what Washington sees as Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly authoritarian rule. Russia's foreign ministry said it was angered by the move to strip most of its U.S. honorary consuls of their accreditation. In a statement, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the United States was spreading anti-Russian propaganda and U.S. intelligence was conducting "provocations" against Russian diplomats in the United States and elsewhere. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington and by Christian Lowe in Moscow; Editing by Jack Stubbs and Dan Grebler) Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) - UN Security Council ambassadors met for two hours with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza on Friday, but said they had made little headway in efforts to bring peace to the troubled central African nation. The ambassadors met the president at his residence outside the capital during their second trip to the country in less than a year, appealing for him to take urgent action to stop the violence sparked by his re-election. Council envoys have pushed for the government to hold talks with the opposition and agree to the presence of international troops -- such as a proposed 5,000-strong African Union force -- to restore stability. But United States Ambassador Samantha Power said after the talks the envoys "didn't achieve as much, frankly, as I think we would have liked". "There is a 'cri de coeur' from many, many people in Burundi for outside help and for urgent, urgent mediation to get a solution," Power added. Burundi has been gripped by violence since April, when Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a controversial third term, which he went on to win in July elections. More than 400 people have died since then and at least 230,000 have fled the country, but Burundi's government insists there is no need for foreign troops and has branded AU peacekeepers an "invasion force". Nkurunziza took a hard line during the meeting at his hilltop residence in Gitega, some two hours outside of Bujumbura, where he rejected calls for inclusive dialogue, renewed mediation efforts and an international intervention force. He once again accused neighbouring Rwanda of backing armed opposition groups, and denied international warnings that the violence could turn into ethnic killings. Relations between Rwanda and neighbouring Burundi are tense, with Bujumbura accusing Kigali of backing armed rebels and political opponents of Nkurunziza. Rwanda has denied all the claims. Story continues "I can guarantee that there will not be a genocide in Burundi," Nkurunziza said, adding that Burundi is "99 percent secure". - Nightly violence - Nkurunziza's refusal to compromise has raised the prospect of tougher measures ahead to stop almost nightly outbreaks of violence. Clashes in Bujumbura Thursday evening left three people dead, police said, including one youth who was shot dead by police after a grenade went off. Explosions and gunfire were heard in several places across the capital. French Deputy UN ambassador Alexis Lamek said talks with the opposition will stand a better chance of succeeding if backed by international mediation. But Angolan Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins said there was hope for a possible agreement on deploying more AU observers. The 15 council members were greeted on arrival Thursday by pro-government demonstrators telling them to stop meddling. Hundreds lined the road leading from the airport to greet the envoys with signs that read "genocide will not happen" and "stop interfering in Burundian affairs". AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed "fervent hope" that the UN ambassadors would work towards achieving the rapid deployment of peacekeepers and restart stalled talks between the government and opposition. The US and France support the AU proposal, but other UN Security Council members such as Russia, Angola and Egypt are reluctant to put too much pressure on the government. - 'Stop this bloodletting' - Nkurunziza is also balking at AU plans to deploy more rights monitors in Burundi while the United Nations is beefing up its presence in Bujumbura. Council envoys travel to Addis Ababa on Saturday to meet with AU officials about the proposal, which is expected to be a key element of talks at an AU summit in Ethiopia on January 30-31. On Thursday, two former Burundian presidents appealed to the council ambassadors to take action and pleaded for an AU force to be sent. "We really need that force," said Domitien Ndayizeye, who led the landlocked nation from 2003-2005. Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, in power from 1976 to 1987, urged the council envoys to "stop this bloodletting that is making our young people disappear". Bagaza warned that without urgent international action, Burundi could "become another Rwanda", referring to the neighbouring country's 1994 genocide. Hours before the UN diplomats arrived, Burundian rebels named a fugitive ex-general who fled after leading a failed coup bid in May as their leader. The rebel force, which announced its formation in December, calls itself the Republican Forces of Burundi, or "Forebu" after its French acronym. Addis Ababa (AFP) - UN Security Council ambassadors on Saturday turned to the African Union to map out the next steps to end violence in Burundi after President Pierre Nkurunziza rejected talks and peacekeepers. The 15 council envoys arrived in Addis Ababa a day after meeting Nkurunziza at his residence outside Bujumbura to urge him to agree to mediated talks and an African force. But Nkurunziza was unmoved by their appeals. "He's in total denial about the dangers," said Egyptian Ambassador Amr Aboulatta on the final day of the three-day visit. It was the second time in 10 months that the council traveled to Burundi to push for an end to the crisis. US Ambassador Samantha Power said this time around, she noticed "much more fear" among civil society leaders, many of whom have been forced into exile. "Urgent though the situation is on the ground, we have to take this in steps," she said. The first step will come this week when leaders at an AU summit will decide whether to endorse the peacekeeping force after the Burundian government rejected it as an "invasion army." If African leaders come out strongly in favour of the 5,000-strong force at the January 30-31 summit, the council will be under pressure to adopt a resolution backing the AU mission and contributing to its budget. The Egyptian ambassador said it was "premature" to adopt a UN resolution backing the AU force and that African leaders must "reconsider their approach" after Nkurzunziza turned down the peacekeepers. Street protests, a failed coup and now a simmering rebellion began when Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a controversial third term, which he went on to win in July elections. Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev warned that deploying the peacekeepers could have a "negative" impact on efforts to bring the government to the table for talks with its opponents. During the meeting Saturday with the African Union's peace and security council, Iliichev proposed setting up an international police mission to carry out mixed patrols in Bujumburas flashpoint districts. Story continues - More observers - France is pushing for the rapid deployment of 100 AU human rights monitors and military experts, part of whom could be sent to the border with Rwanda, accused by Burundi of arming the opposition. Kigali has dismissed the allegations, but Power said there should be pressure on Rwanda "not to interfere in the very complicated" situation in Burundi. There are currently 10 observers in Burundi and talks with the government on allowing dozens more have run into complications. "We want to see deployment as quickly as possible," French Deputy UN Ambassador Alexis Lamek said after the meeting at AU headquarters in Ethiopia. African leaders will also decide at the summit whether to scrap an Ugandan-led mediation effort that has yielded just one meeting between the government and the opposition in December. Council members were pushing for an expanded UN role in the mediation and also weighed possible financial aid as a gesture of support to the country in crisis. There was little appetite for sanctions. The European Union has cut off aid to Burundi and the United States has suspended its military training program in Burundi. AU Peace and Security Council chief Smail Chergui said it was crucial the international community "remain united on Burundi", which has been gripped by violence since April. More than 400 people have died since then and at least 230,000 have fled the country. Nkurunziza took a hard line during the meeting at his hilltop residence in Gitega, some two hours outside of Bujumbura, where he rejected calls for inclusive dialogue, renewed mediation efforts and an international intervention force. "I can guarantee that there will not be a genocide in Burundi," Nkurunziza said, adding that Burundi is "99 percent secure". Burundi is still recovering from its ethnically-charged 13-year civil war between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, with an estimated 300,000 lives lost. These days most guys who grow long, bushy beards get labeled as hipsters trying to morph into microbrewing lumberjacks from the 1890s. But the laughing wink and nod folks give to the hairy, Portlandia-style stereotype isnt always extended when the men growing the beards are Muslimor perceived to be Muslim. Now, two ministers in predominantly Muslim areas of London are being praised by a prominent Church of England official for growing beards to signal solidarity across ethnic and religious lines in the community. RELATED: Heres What Happens When People Think Bible Verses Are From the Koran Two of the most energetic priests in east London [have] recently grown beards of an opulence that would not have disgraced a Victorian sage, the bishop of London, Richard Chartres, wrote in an op-ed in The Church Times on Friday. The two priests work in parishes in Tower Hamlets. Most of the residents are Bangladeshi-Sylheti, for whom the wearing of a beard is one of the marks of a holy man. This view is shared among many Eastern cultures, but it was not so for much of the history of the West, Chartres wrote. The priests desire to reach out to the culture of the majority of their parishioners can only be applauded, " he wrote. In an interview on Friday with The Telegraph, one of the priests, the Reverend Adam Atkinson, who is the vicar of St. Peters church, explained that 85 percent of the people who live in the vicinity of his parish are Muslim. In our area there are three main groups, the poor, the cool and the Muslims, said Atkinson. He went on to note that beards cover at least two groups reasonably well. Efforts to find commonalities such as this one seem long overdue in the U.K. After he grew a beard to play Socrates in a stage role, Greek actor and writer Alex Andreou wrote an op-ed for The Guardian in 2013 about understanding the discrimination Muslim-looking men face. The olive-skinned actor described receiving suspicious, fearful looks as he walked the streets and tube stations of Londonlooks he said had never been directed toward him when he was clean-shaven. It's a difficult time to be a foreigner anywhere and look it. The crime? Having a beard. The punishment? Public humiliation or worse. I will shave as soon as my engagement is over and feel peculiarly guilty for doing it, wrote Andreou. Story continues And as some men in Sweden found out last October, someone who happens upon a group of bearded white hipsters posing for pictures might think theyre witnessing a gathering of the Islamic State and call the cops. RELATED: Donald Trump Accidentally Rallies the U.K. Against Islamophobia Suspicious looks might not be all that someone "Muslim-looking" with facial hair receives. After the terrorist attacks in Paris last November, hate crimes against Muslims in the U.K. jumped 300 percent. Meanwhile, in the United States, 56 percent of Americans say the values of Islam are at odds with Americas values and way of life, according to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. The results of a survey of 1,000 British Muslims last year found that about 30 percent reported feeling more distrust in their communities from non-Muslims than they did a few years ago. However, the response from the Muslim community in the East End has been positive, said Atkinson. A Muslim friend said I will lend you a hat and you can join me on Friday [prayers]. It was done in a jokey way but it was quite affirming. Related stories on TakePart: Muslim Apartment Tweets Mock Medias Treatment of San Bernardino Shooters Home Discrimination Against Muslims Doesnt End at the BorderIt Extends to the Workplace See How One Woman Surfer Is Making Waves in a Muslim Country Original article from TakePart Wellington (AFP) - The Vanuatu political landscape appeared to be in for a shakeup, reports said Saturday, following a snap election called after more than a quarter of MPs were jailed in a corruption scandal. Unofficial results from Friday's vote indicated a number of long-serving politicians, including former justice minister Robert Bohn and former parliamentary speaker Philip Boedoro, were set to lose their seats, according to news media reports. The official results may not be available until early next week after all ballots from outlying islands have been taken to the capital Port Vila for counting, Vanuatu Daily Post journalist Jonas Cullwick told AFP. Writing in the Post, Cullwick said newcomers "make up most of the provisional results" he had received. Fourteen MPs from the 52-seat parliament, including the deputy prime minister, were jailed last year in a corruption scandal which put the international spotlight on the integrity of Vanuatu lawmakers. The political breakdown in Port Vila follows a period of instability with four changes of prime ministers in the past four years. The election won praise from a Commonwealth Observer Group for being conducted in a "peaceful and orderly environment" but was criticised for using an electoral roll that had not been updated for more than six months. It excluded the names of people who had reached the voting age of 18 since then but retained the names of those who had died. - 'Generational change' - The election "followed wide scale destruction from Tropical Cyclone Pam as well as a challenging political environment in 2015", group chairman Hubert Ingraham, a former prime minister of the Bahamas, said in his interim report. "Vanuatu should be proud of its peoples' resilience and desire to uphold and abide by the rule of law." However, Ingraham called for the Electoral Commission to undertake "a continuous voter's registration process, develop an electronic and alphabetical register, provide for photographic voter identification, and remove deceased persons from the register." Story continues More than 260 candidates from 36 parties took part in the elections on Friday with many of the parties formed in the wake of the scandal. None of the parties were contesting more than 26 seats, however, meaning Vanuatu was set to emerge with a coalition government. "This election may herald generational change in Vanuatu politics," Anna Kirk, a research associate in the Melanesia Program at Sydney's Lowy Institute think-tank, wrote on Friday. "What is certain is that a new coalition government will assume power in Vanuatu as no one party can win sufficient votes to govern in their own right." The constitutional crisis erupted last year when the 14 lawmakers were convicted on bribery charges and hastily tried to pardon themselves. President Baldwin Lonsdale was overseas at the time and restored the convictions on his return, vowing "to clean up the mess". The original bribery allegations centred on payments of 35 million vatu ($312,000) made by Deputy Prime Minister Moana Carcasses to 13 other politicians while they were all in opposition. Vanuatu, which gained independence in 1980 and has an estimated population of more than 270,000, is still recovering from a deadly category five storm in March that destroyed homes and crops and contaminated water supplies. Washington (AFP) - Bus stops stand empty, mounds of snow in the place of passengers. A lone man stands outside the White House, the blizzard biting at his exposed ears. The mammoth storm that has blanketed large areas of the US East Coast turned Washington into a virtual ghost town on Saturday. City officials warned people to stay off the roads and remain indoors all weekend as Mother Nature hurled her worst at the US capital, in the bullseye of the storm. It appeared people had heeded the dire warnings of "life and death implications" given by Mayor Muriel Bowser, on what would normally have been a busy weekend morning in the city of 660,000. Streets were eerily empty and the handful of people braving the blizzard and gusts of icy winds stumbled warily along the deserted roads. Trains and buses were all canceled for the weekend. Outside the White House, an area that would ordinarily be packed with tourists, one man took pictures with his smartphone as two Secret Service officers stamped their feet to ward off temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 Celsius). Taisuke Tsugawa, a senior producer with the Japanese public broadcaster NHK, said he was visiting the United States to cover the February 1 caucus in Iowa, the start of the long process that will end with the election of a new US president in November. But he was not expecting anything like this, he said. "In northern Japan it's like this, but in America I've never seen anything like this before," said Tsugawa, who lives in Tokyo, which gets its fair share of wintry weather. "I quite like it, but we can't do anything for work in this situation. We can't even get to the office to do any work." A stone's throw away, another man, haplessly clasping a black umbrella, emerged from the luxurious St. Regis hotel. Toyo Shima, his head bowed to the wind, said he was too cold to stand about talking and was heading to another hotel across the street for a hot breakfast. Story continues Shima, also from Tokyo and in town on business, said he was looking forward to getting home. But with thousands of flights canceled in the US, did he fancy his chances? "I hope so. I hope it will be on Monday, but I'm not sure. I did not expect this," he said. In downtown Washington, the odd police car meandered silently down streets full of shops that were not likely to open on Saturday or Sunday. Only a few convenience stores were welcoming customers. A policeman in a high-visibility jacket held the arm of an elderly man as he attempted to negotiate a particularly treacherous sidewalk where the snow drifts went up as far as his knees. Outside hotels, groups of men tightly wrapped up against the elements forlornly shoveled snow -- as it kept falling. - 'I love it' - There were similar scenes of desolation in the normally lively neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle, which on a usual Saturday would be bustling with shoppers, and their cafes and restaurants doing brisk trade. One man giggled as he hopped gingerly along a sidewalk, desperately attempting to keep his feet as dry as possible. Three women shuffled along a main road, their faces contorted as the blizzard pounded them relentlessly. Ralston Cox was among the few out and about early in Dupont Circle, trudging through the snow and stopping occasionally to take photos with his phone. "I'm just enjoying the quiet and the snow," he said. Cox said he had been in Washington twice before in the last 20 years when the city experienced a similar winter weather onslaught. "But this is pretty spectacular," he said. "It's nice, it's very quiet. I love it," Cox added. "I am going to go home, put on a fire in the fire place and feed my cats and myself, and just come out occasionally." Hassle-free, efficient, simple. These are just a few of the words used by companies that cater to prisons and jails to describe their electronic messaging services, often likened to email for inmates. The service has proliferated in prisons as technology steadily makes its way behind bars, alongside services like electronic tablets and video visitation. Yet without formal regulation by the Federal Communications Commission, the messaging option can come with a hefty price tag for prisoners and their loved ones, according to a new report from the Prison Policy Initiative. As FCC regulations on exorbitantly priced phone calls to and from prison finally go into effect this year, making calls more affordable, electronic messaging services could take their place as the next revenue opportunity. Some of the main companies that have been exploitative in the phone and video visitation industry are the same ones providing electronic messaging, said Bernadette Rabuy, Prison Policy Initiatives policy and communications associate. Were worried about whether companies are going to see video and electronic messaging as a way to recoup the revenue that they might lose from the regulation of phone calls. Though often compared to email, electronic messaging services behind bars are very different in practice. For one, email is generally a free service. These messages are paid for on a per-message basis, sometimes costing as much as $1.25. The service isnt accessible through traditional email channels such as Gmailinstead, users must log in to a separate website, sometimes requiring its own software. Many of the services only allow inbound messages, which means inmates can receive a message but have to mail a physical letter if they want to reply. In some facilities, Rabuy says, the messages are printed out and handed to inmates. In December, the FCC published a notice asking for comment from the community on regulatory options for non-telephone communication services in prisons and jails. That request prompted Prison Policy Initiatives report, as well as feedback from others in the prison advocacy world, such as the Human Rights Defense Center. Story continues In its letter to the FCC, the HRDC affirms Rabuys concern that the biggest players in the corrections communications industry are actively seeking new profit avenues beyond phone calls. The letter notes that Securus, one of the three biggest companies that provides these services to prisons and jails, boasted in its 2015 prospectus to investors that it is expanding into unregulated areas of prison and jail communications in order to increase its profits. The comment period closes on Feb. 1, and after that it could be months before the FCC either proposes new rules to regulate the use of video visitation and electronic messaging, or another comment period may open. The battle for fair prices for phone calls to and from prisons was waged for more than a decade before regulations went into effect. Related stories on TakePart: Arkansas Jumps on the Prison Video Visitation Bandwagon Computers for Cons: The Debate Over Tablets in Prisons Heats Up The FCC Finally Reins in Predatory Prison Phone Rates Original article from TakePart Washington, D.C., was hit by a severe winter storm this weekend. As the snow falls, adults and children alike will be free to go sledding on Capitol Hill. That may seem quite ordinary, but its something of a revolution in Washington, where sledding on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol has been strictly off-limits for years. What changed? Would-be sledders have been clamoring for the ban to be lifted, so Congress effectively ended the prohibition as part of a massive $1.1 trillion spending bill approved in December. Of course, when something popular happens in Washington, someone is going to want praise. And this week, Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.s delegate to Congress, has been rushing to take credit. Ive changed the letter of the law, Norton told local radio station WMAL on Wednesday, adding: This was the quickest way to ensure there would be sledding if there was snow this season. Recommended: Why Is Bernie Sanders Against Reparations? In case the message hadnt been delivered loud and clear, Nortons office released a statement on Thursday declaring that raucous sledding joy could now take place on Capitol Hill thanks to her. It read: The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton ... expects that District of Columbia families will take advantage of potentially record-setting snowfall tomorrow and Saturday by grabbing their sleds and heading to Capitol Hill, which is now open for sledding thanks to language Norton got in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus bill. (Norton also praised her good friend Democratic Congressman Sam Farr for helping to make the change.) Of course, members of Congress are always looking for creative ways to deliver for their districts, and then, hopefully, reap the rewards after. Its a time-honored tradition. But for Norton, the Capitol Hill sledding coupand her ability to talk up her role in making it happenmust feel especially rewarding. Delegates from D.C. dont vote on the final passage of legislation; Norton is barred from performing the most essential duty of a member of Congress. Story continues To some extent, that constraint has defined Nortons time in Congress. In 2012, the Washington Post called it a fact that makes her the object of sympathy, admiration and no small amount of ridicule. Its also a sore subject in Washington, where license plates protest Taxation without Representation. Recommended: Standing Athwart History Yelling, 'Stop Donald Trump!' Despite that limitation, Norton has developed something of a reputation for a willingness to be outspoken. And when it comes to the subject of lifting the sledding ban, she has certainly raised her voice. Last February, Norton urged Capitol police to overturn the ban. Americans should be able to sled on Americas front lawn, she wrote to the Capitol Police Board chair. In March, sledders showed up to Capitol Hill in defiance of the ban, initiating a Sled Free or Die protest. Police were on hand for the act of civil disobedience, but did not seem overly concerned. Norton was ecstatic: No enforcement of #sledding ban on Capitol Hill today. Thank you Capitol Police!, she wrote on Twitter at the time. Now, Norton is celebrating again. Attention DC kids and families: Capitol Hill sledding ban has been lifted. Go for it!, Norton tweeted on Wednesday. Capitol Police warned Thursday that if conditions are unsafe they might have to limit the amount of sledding. But barring that, police will be out and about on Capitol grounds to ensure a positive and safe experience for the young sledders. Other members of Congress are excited about the snowfall, too. On Friday, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan set up a live feed from his office to track the storm. But dont expect to see hoards of lawmakers on Capitol Hill this weekend. When WMAL asked Norton if she plans to go sledding herself, she demurred: Im not among the kids. Im just their congresswoman. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has returned from his annual month-long holiday and returned to work Saturday, state media said, following rumours that he had collapsed and died in Asia. Mugabe, who turns 92 next month, met Equatorial Guinea's President Theodore Obiang Nguema for over three hours on Saturday in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, state-run newspaper The Herald said. "President Mugabe and the First Lady Grace Mugabe arrived home last night (Friday), quashing false media reports that (he) had suffered a heart attack while on his annual leave in the Far East," The Herald said. Harare last week denied rumours that Mugabe, the world's oldest national leader who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, had collapsed and died while on holiday. Despite his age, Mugabe continues to give long speeches in public, but speculation over his health grew last year when he tripped and fell down some steps at a televised ceremony. He also read a speech to parliament in September apparently unaware that he had delivered the same address a month earlier. WikiLeaks released a 2008 US diplomatic cable in 2011 saying that Mugabe was reported to have prostate cancer and had less than five years to live. His regime is accused of systematic human rights abuses and overseeing Zimbabwe's dire economic decline. After meeting in Harare, Mugabe and Nguema told reporters they had discussed relations between their countries as well as security and terrorism in Africa. While Mugabe refused to answer questions about his holiday, he told reporters they should "report (on) us (African leaders) better than they have been doing all along". A Bismarck native who has worked in Washington, D.C., since college has no regrets over his efforts to object to being drafted for the Vietnam War and, at one point, jailed after refusing to be taken into military service. Steve Mayer, 71, was born in Bismarck and graduated from St. Marys Central High School in 1962. After graduation, he entered seminary and began school at St. Marys University of Minnesota in Winona, Minn. Thats one reason I ended up with my views eventually, Mayer said of seminary. In 1966, he went to Rome for a year, eventually deciding to leave seminary. Upon his return, he went to Washington, D.C., and, in the fall of 1967, he was working as a clerk for former Sen. Milton Young, R-N.D. Once I was back here working on Capitol Hill, I became more anti-war, Mayer said. When he was to be drafted in late 1967, he began pursuing conscientious objector status on moral and religious grounds, according to Mayer. Mayer said he admires the bravery and service of those who served but they (Vietnamese) werent threatening us in any way. His case eventually led him to a hearing on his status in Bismarck in the fall of 1968; his request was rejected on the grounds that I had quit my seminary," he said. In the fall of 1969, he was in Fargo and refused to be inducted into military service. From there, he went back to Washington, D.C., where he was teaching high school. A month after refusing to be inducted in service, he was arrested and spent a night in jail. In January 1970, he turned 26 and was no longer eligible for the draft. Asked if his efforts to not be inducted into service were an attempt to run out the clock on the draft, Mayer said, I didnt look at it that way. They were misled, Mayer said of members of the public regarding the war. I did what I had to do. Mayer said his family was very supportive of his decision, though there were never any long discussions on the issue. Mayer quit teaching in the early 1970s and moved from job to job throughout the rest of the decade, including as a freelance writer, working at a film company, as a bartender and as a state employee in Maryland. From 1981 to 1992, he was a sergeant at arms for the U.S. Senate. In 1992, he joined the U.S. House of Representatives Library, where he remained until his retirement in 2007. Mayer continues to live in Washington, D.C., but visits Bismarck for a few months each summer. I cant complain. I dont have any regrets, Mayer said. By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returned home late on Friday after a month-long holiday in the Far East, just over a week after the presidency dismissed rumors that Africa's oldest president had suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Mugabe, who turns 92 on Feb. 21, is the only leader that the Southern African nation has ever known, and his health is being closely watched in and outside his ruling party, ZANU-PF. The party is deeply divided over who will eventually succeed him. The president was shown on the state television network, ZBC, arriving with his wife Grace and several security aides at Harare Airport, where he was met by one of his vice presidents, Emmerson Mnangagwa, cabinet ministers and security chiefs. Mugabe did not speak to journalists from ZBC or the state-owned press. . Reports about the declining health of Mugabe, who is showing signs of his advancing age, are common, but he likes to describe himself as "fit as a fiddle." On Saturday, Mugabe will meet another long-ruling African leader, Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who arrived in Zimbabwe on Friday on a three-day official state visit. In 2014 Mugabe was re-elected to lead ZANU-PF for another five years, automatically making him the party's presidential candidate in the next general elections, in 2018. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe, editing by Larry King) Top Republicans In Name Only are on notice, as conservatives across the country will cast their vote for Republican politicians most deserving of a RINO award. After losing Congress in the 2006 election, and the Party possibly facing the loss of the White House in 2008, conservatives are less than enthusiastic about their representatives and potential Presidential Candidates in the upcoming elections. Fed up with excessive spending, amnesty for illegal aliens, and weak positions on family values and abortion, Conservatives across the country are frustrated that their voices have fallen on deaf ears. Until now. We the People for President created a website for conservatives to vote for their favorite RINOs (Republican in Name Only) who have abandoned certain core beliefs of conservatism, and will bestow upon them a RINO Award. The Top RINO Awards are the first of their kind, where We The People across America, ourselves, will determine who receives an actual RINO award. Unable to check a You Blew It box at the voting booth, frustrated conservatives can now simply click on their favorite RINO to cast their vote, sending a message to top Republicans that the RINO is now an endangered species. This is an opportunity for We the Peoples voices to be heard. No public figure has the courage to call attention to the Republican Party, which has been conspicuously negligent in rooting out entrenched politicians, for their liberal positions on issues. The RINO awards are designed to highlight specific and crucial conservative issues that a Republican politician has abandoned. Issues such as abortion, political corruption, illegal immigration, over-spending and lack of defending the core conservative values that tug at the hearts of the conservative base, many of whom are considering staying home in future elections. These core conservative issues are what separate the elephant from the rhino; that is, true Conservatives from liberal Republicans. Votes from across America will be tallied and a top RINOs will be periodically announced for their stance on specifics issues. RINO winners will be presented with a beautiful gold rhinoceros, adding a special touch to their plush homes or offices. While America votes, Republican officials who have ignored their base will be on alert, as votes are tabulated instantly. Voters are able to immediately see their votes count and watch the competition unfold on their computer screen. In the spirit of free speech, voters also have the cathartic opportunity to post their comments addressing why they have selected their favorite RINO, as well as the opportunity to nominate other RINOs. For example, some voters have suggested awarding RINOs to Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani for his stance on abortion and Senator John McCain for his vote on amnesty. Americans also have the chance to vote for special titles to award the contenders, such as Most Likely to Have a Barak Obama Poster in their Bedroom and Most Likely to Limo an Illegal across the Border. The current nominees are Senator Jon Kyl (AZ), Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain (AZ), Senator Mel Martinez (FL), Senator Larry Craig (ID), Senator Richard Lugar (IN), Senator Olympia Snowe (ME), Senator Trent Lott (MS), Senator Chuck Hagel (NE), Senator Judd Gregg (NH), Senator Arlen Spector (PA), Senator Lindsey Graham (SC), Senator Bob Bennett (UT), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA), Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani and Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney. GILBERT for President: Conservative Principles Heartland Values In 2000 I voted for President Bush and the Republicans. I had high hopes that with the Republicans in control of the legislature and the executive branches that real change would occur in our government. I thought that the principles that we all thought the Republicans stood for would guide the Republicans to do what is best for the country. I thought I would see a new higher moral standard. What we got was corruption, bribes, moral decline, hearings with no action, tax breaks for big business, McCain Feingold and last year 15,000 earmarks. We get a Republican majority in the Senate and a President who think that the best way to handle the illegal alien problem is to give them amnesty. And just last month we had a great breakthrough with the North Koreans where they agreed to not do what they agreed to not do under Clinton. How much will it cost the American citizens this time? There has to be a change in Presidential and Congressional leadership to affect change in this country. There has to be a way to get the politicians out and the statesmen in. Those politicians who vote only for the sake of the party, the lobbyist or big business have to be removed. To bring about substantial changes in the government these new statesmen must control the House, Senate and the White House. Born 1946 in Winston-Salem, NC, married with two grown children, daughter and son, 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters, businessman, member of Biltmore Baptist Church, Asheville, NC, dad owned a small trucking company-passed away 2002, Mom worked as a cafeteria worker-passed away 1989, Eagle Scout, grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina, worked hard and long in the hot and the cold. Milked cows, slopped hogs, fed chickens, etc, graduated in 1969 from Virginia Tech with a BS in Civil Engineering, Army ROTC commission Stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Jackson, SC and Vietnam, Black Mountain Center Human Rights Advocacy Committee. Aishas Aight Born in San Francisco on September 18, 1970, Aisha Tyler was raised from the age of ten by her father, Jim, a photographer, following his divorce from her mother, Robin Gregory, a school teacher. Exhibiting an interest in comedy at an early age, Aisha studied acting at School of the Arts High School and also took improv classes on the side. The brainy, statuesque beauty attended Dartmouth College where she majored in political science while minoring in environmental policy. Soon after graduating, she married her college sweetheart, Jeff Tietjens, before moving back to the Bay Area. In 1996, the couple settled in Los Angeles so Aisha could take a shot at showbiz, starting with her making the rounds of the comedy circuit while waiting for her big break. That moment arrived half a decade later when the witty, wide-eyed wonder wowed audiences as the host of both E Televisions Talk Soup and the syndicated reality series the Fifth Wheel. She then caught a lot of attention on the big screen playing Mother Nature in The Santa Clause 2 in 2002, the same year she first made Maxim Magazines Hot 100 List. By 2003, Aisha had parlayed that success as an actress into the role of Charlie Weaver, the only regular black ever on NBC-TVs Friends. Since the series ended, the multi-talented Tyler has been busier than ever, doing everything from doing another Santa Clause sequel to making guest appearances on Nip/Tuck, Boston Legal, CSI: Miami and 24 to filling in for film critic Roger Ebert to writing Swerve, a how-to book for girls, to becoming a columnist for Jane and Glamour Magazines to playing on the World Poker Tour to posing for a nude layout in Allure Magazine (http://img167.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03521_Allure_Mai_2006_AishaTyler_122_372lo.jpg) to shooting a pilot for her very own sitcom. Aishas services are so in demand, in fact, she just had two movies released on the same weekend, The Balls of Fury and Death Sentence. The former is a martial arts spoof where she plays the henchwoman of a maniacal madman. And the latter is a revenge flick reminiscent of Death Wish where she portrays a detective investigating a case of vigilante justice. Here, she takes some time out from her hectic schedule to talk about both of her new offerings. KW: Thanks for the time. Hows it going, Aisha? AT: Good, good, thank you. KW: Did you work with real cops in preparation to play Detective Wallis in Death Sentence? AT: I did, actually. We shot the movie in Columbia, South Carolina, and I got to spend some time with the police department there. I did some ride-alongs with the head of detectives, and also spent some time with the homicide detectives. KW: Did you see anything interesting? AT: There was a huge bank robbery with gunfire exchange, and they broke the suspects in a matter of about 45 minutes with their CIA interrogation techniques. That was incredible. But the thing that you learn when you spend time with police officers is that theyre just regular people. Theyve got families and a lot of the same emotional responses that we do, but they see terrible things every day. So, I really wanted this character to be conflicted, because she really feels for what Nicky [Kevin Bacons character] was going through, since hed lost a family member incredibly violently. Yet, at the same time, shes sworn to uphold the law, and that push and pull between what she feels is right and what she knows is right is the same conflict that I think the audience is feeling when theyre watching the movie. They understand his impulse, but its clearly wrong, and its going very badly. So, I really wanted her to be a real person. Theres all this violence kind of swirling around her, and shes sort of the moral core of the story. KW: This film is based on a novel by Brian Garfield, who was also the author of Death Wish. How is this picture different? AT: Even though this movie is by the same guy who wrote Death Wish and asks What would you do to protect people you love? its really more sophisticated and a polemic against violence, not a traditional revenge movie. This is a movie about the notion that an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. Yes its a hyper-violent, thrill ride, but it also contains some rather interesting concepts at the center, which is that violence is not the answer. So, although it feels like this crazy revenge movie, its really like a thinking-mans Death Wish, because there are real consequences for this character, and the choices that he makes lead to some really dire results. KW: Do you still worry that some people might not see Death Sentence as anything deeper than a violent revenge flick offering a roller coaster ride with a lot of spectacular stunts? AT: I think that you can take it any way you like. If you just want to go and kinda get your rocks off, and see a bunch of stuff blow up and get some great action, youre going to get it from this movie. But if you want to appreciate the more sophisticated levels in the storys plot and in the dialogue, those are there, too. The movie is really saying, Violence solves nothing. Not only that, but, It will escalate to the point where you cannot extricate yourself from the situation that youve created. KW: Were you comfortable with the fact that your director, James Wan, prefers to stage real stunts over relying on computer-generated special effects? AT: Yeah, hes not a CGI guy, hes not a trickster. So, everything you see, we shot it. We made it. The result is, it feels real when youre watching it. You see a lot of action movies nowadays that look fake, but everything you see in this one really happened. That car really went off the building We really blew crap up We really shot people Well, not really, but as real as we could have made it. You know what I mean? KW: Yep. AT: And I think that its a more effective movie because of it. KW: Was your character originally written for a strikingly attractive black woman? AT: No, it wasnt. It was for a 50 year-old white guy. [laughs] KW: So, who decided to cast you? AT: It was James. He has seen me on 24, loved my character, and wanted me to do something like that. He wanted a really strong female character who could bring an emotional element to the movie. So thank God for James and his brilliant casting idea. KW: How often do you find yourself in the situation of trying to convince a casting director to give you a shot at a role not written with someone who looks like you in mind? AT: About half of the roles that Ive done in my life were not specifically written for an African-American woman. The Friends role was not written for an African-American female. When I went in for Talk Soup, they were like, Theres no way. Itd never work. This is a 25 year-old white guys job. Thats who watches the show. College boys frat boys. But I filled-in and they got so much fan mail, that I sort of got voted in even though everybody originally said there was no way theyre going to hire a black woman to do this. I remember coming in one day and they said, Youve got more fan mail than anybody in the history of the E Network. So, Ive been lucky that people have been willing to think outside of the box when looking at me. Also, Ive tried to make career choices that have kept me seen in a certain way. I try to do more intelligent roles, unusual roles, and stronger women, and thats helped me a little bit with my casting opportunities. Its great when that happens, and to be considered for more stuff. KW: So, do you think Hollywoods moving in the direction of colorblind casting? AT: Thats a really good question. Things are probably changing glacially. I cant say that theres been some big change during my career where all of a sudden everythings totally colorblind. Im just kind of an unusual actor. Or at least I hope I am. Unusual in a good way, not a weird way. KW: Are you upset about so often being typecast as the beautiful, brainy black woman? AT: Are you really asking me if a black actress is upset about being typecast as brainy and beautiful? Not that I think Im brainy and beautiful, since I think Im kind of dumb and average, but what are you talking about? Id be plenty happy, if I could keep playing scientists and cops for the rest of my career. KW: What interested you in Balls of Fury? AT: The script was hilarious and felt really new and like a movie that I wanted to see. And my character, I just knew she was going to be a blast to play. I couldnt say no. KW: Tell me a little about your character, Mahogany. AT: I play this giant, sexy, bunny Bond girl, an ice cold-blooded assassin and a foxy chick whos seven feet tall. And Im actually seven feet tall in the movie, because I have five-inch heels and a foot and a half of hair. So, I was always teetering on the brink of toppling over. Shes a badass, and I like to play badasses, generally. It was great. I worked with Christopher Walken. I was his henchwoman. Hes unbelievable, that guy. That was a great experience, and Im really proud of that movie. I just wish I could have killed more people in it. It was so well received by test audiences at the Comic Con Convention that they moved the release date up. Its just insane and a very, very funny movie. KW: What do you have coming up? AT: I just finished a movie I did in New Orleans called Black Water Transit. Its a dark, crime thriller about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was directed by Tony Kaye and has an amazing cast: Laurence Fishburne, Brittany Snow and Karl Urban. I love New Orleans. I did a movie there right before Katrina. KW: Did you interact much with any of the New Orleans natives? AT: My assistant is from there, so I went through Katrina with him. He found out his house was flooded because he saw it on the news. He had 18 relatives living in a one-room building for like a year. We were shooting in the Lower Ninth Ward., so I had a very personal experience with the devastation daily. Everybody in the crew was a New Orleanean, as were a lot of the extras and the small day players. KW: Thanks for the time, Aisha. AT: Thank you so much, I really enjoyed it. As money coming into the state's coffers continues its downward trend, North Dakota officials said Friday that they will be ordering state agencies to cut their budgets after an updated revenue forecast is released next month. Members of the Advisory Council on Revenue Forecasting met in the Harvest Room of the state Capitol on Friday morning and agreed to reduce projections for oil prices, production and rig counts for the updated forecast. The new forecast is tentatively set to be released Feb. 1. For the biennium which began July 1 general fund revenues are $215.5 million below projection, or 11.3 percent. A large portion of the shortfall comes from lower than expected sales tax collections. Its obvious there will be an allotment. How much we dont know, Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp said. The last state budget cut was in 2002 when then-Gov. John Hoeven ordered a cut of 1 percent. In the new forecast the group recommended using 1 million barrels of day of oil production for fiscal year 2016 and 900,000 barrels per day in fiscal year 2017. The group recommended setting projected North Dakota oil prices at between $30 per barrel and rising to $43 by June 30, 2017. They also project the state to average 50 rigs for the rest of the biennium. By comparison, the states March 2015 forecast used 1.1 million barrels per day with North Dakota oil prices between $43 and just shy of $53 for 2015-17. North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness said industry leaders dont see much good news in the near term. The markets not real bullish on what oils going to do. I think productions going to drop quite rapidly, Ness said. Its going to be a really rough 2016. Ness and others said the states drilling rig count could drop to as low as 30; on Friday the rig count was at 47. The price for West Texas Intermediate, a U.S. benchmark for oil, was below $32 per barrel Friday. Things cant get much worse, but weve been wrong for a year, Ness said. Sharp said most of the few hundred thousand dollars in sales tax revenue from drilling an oil well comes from completing the well by hydraulic fracturing. As of November, the most recent numbers available, there were an estimated 969 wells in the state waiting on completion. Thats a couple hundred million right there. It explains a lot, Sharp said. Agencies that are funded by state general fund dollars are required to make up to 2.5 percent cuts before reserves can be tapped. Any additional general fund shortfall can be made up by a transfer from the budget stabilization fund which is at $572 million. Funding for K-12 education is also not expected to be impacted due to dollars being available in the foundation aid stabilization fund, which is currently at $643 million. The cuts, if authorized, would immediately go into effect. The governor has the authority to order transfers from the reserve funds. Lawmakers could also later choose to order cuts beyond the 2.5 percent. Some Republican lawmakers have called for deeper cuts than 2.5 percent, among them Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood. I would hope were real cautious, Delzer said. North Dakota Bankers Association President Rick Clayburgh said despite the drop in oil prices as well as agriculture prices the state is still in strong economic shape. Clayburgh summed up the economic impact on residents by referring to what a banker told him in a recent conversation. Instead of buying a $70,000 pickup theyre buying a $30,000 to $40,000 pickup, Clayburgh said. YOUR DAY WILL COME Reacting to the murders of the youths, who were pulled out of a PH (private-hire) taxi along Picton Road in Laventille and gunned down, Rowley announced at a press conference at the Parliament Tower, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, that the army will move into Laventille and be based there on a permanent basis. As the nation still reels in shock of the boys slaughter they were shot collectively 25 times (see Page 8) Dr Rowley offered his condolences to their families saying it is unexpected that children sent to school would be gunned down. He blamed the killings on a new phase of a continuation of the criminal conduct that has besieged TT for some time by armed persons confident their actions will go undetected. Saying criminals are becoming bolder and bolder to a now intolerable point, the Prime Minister vowed officers in the criminal justice system will respond to the criminal onslaught by an armed minority on the law-abiding majority. I have today instructed the National Security Minister (Edmund Dillon) to instruct the Defence Force to operate in conditions determined by them, within the laws of Trinidad and Tobago, to operate virtually permanently on the streets of those communities where criminals have armed themselves and determined that the populations are so affected. Addressing Laventille residents, he said while they mourn today they will soon complain there are too many soldiers on their streets, but, I prefer to hear you say that than to watch your children being slaughtered in their school uniform, Dr Rowley said. The law permits that the Defence Force will operate freely and unimpeded in the presence of the police in TT. He said that given a current escalation of lawlessness, he has told Dillon to create an appropriate response forthwith. DO YOUR PART LAVENTILLE Mulling the Anti Gang Act, Dr Rowley posed a question to police how can they know a deceased person was a gang leader, but do not know this when that person is still alive. He then had some words for Laventillians. Had the police killed someone in Laventille it would have been quite unsurprising if the community wouldnt have risen up to say how awful the police behaved and everybody would have known who did what and how wrong it was. But two of our sons have been murdered in school uniform and there is silence. Nobody knows who and even those who know, are either afraid or unwilling. He said if residents encourage others to arm themselves for criminal pursuits, they (the residents) are just as unpatriotic as the killers who pulled the trigger and fired bullets into the boys. Dr Rowley urged residents to give the authorities information to head off the planned activities of criminals. If you have that information and you dont want to let the authorities know who did this...then all you are doing is protecting them (criminals) to do more and do worse. To the families who are today bereaved they can say, today is my day (of grief), and to those who know and encourage it (lawlessness), we could simply say, your day will come. We cannot as a people continue to encourage wrongdoing in this way and simply determine that the solution is the police or Government. In many instances the solution begins and ends in the household. Rowley urged people to share any information on crime that they have with the police. He vowed to do what is necessary to bring safety to the people of TT. To the criminal element, I can say to them that as ridiculous as your actions are you talk about war this is not war, this is unpatriotic, destructive action, because war usually involves a response from a combatant but certainly not innocent schoolchildren. So, if theres anybody taking over the streets in Laventille, in Enterprise, in Tobago, in Diego Martin it will be the security services of TT. With respect to who will do what and who is planning these actions, the National Security Council has met and we have determined that well do everything that is within the law to gather the information required so we can take the necessary action on the minority who terrorises us. Asked what would be different this time around, he said soldiers will remain in the hotspots working with the police, declaring, This time, theyll stay. DILLON READS RIOT ACT Dr Rowley hit out at, the nastiest of comments, posted on social media by purported bloggers which he said involved indecency and possible breaches of the law. I simply want to say to such persons that we are not prepared to allow that kind of behaviour to go unnoticed and insofar as we are able we will respond appropriately. (See Page 5A) Dillon said he had earlier read the Riot Act to heads of the Police Service (Ag Commissioner Stephen Williams), Defence Force (Brigadier General Rodney Smart) and Prisons Service (Commissioner Sterling Stewart). An intelligence- led tact would be run by the National Operations Centre (NOC), integrating the work of all security agencies, especially to stem the flow of guns and drugs into the country, he added. Minister in the Attorney Generals Office Stuart Young, promised to outfit interviewing rooms for witnesses and expedite video-conferencing facilities between the Remand Yard and Magistrates Court. In the question period, Dr Rowley said he deliberately did not list areas for joint police-army patrols, as nowhere in TT is safe from crime which is now perpetrated by mobile criminals. Asked if the use of soldiers is lawful, he said the question is a non-issue. This is a non-issue. The laws permit the Security Services to secure the State, especially when the State is under armed attack as we are now from a small minority of our own citizens who can quite properly be labelled a cancer as cancers are human cells that turn on their own. We have within our national community people operating as cancers on their own community and it falls to the community to respond and the States response either by the Police, Coast Guard or Defence Force in general is quite authorised as long as they conduct themselves within the laws of TT. Replying to Newsdays query, he said hed loved to hold crime talks with the Opposition. Is the law strict enough against illicit gun possession? He replied, We have most of what we require in that area, but we have to make it effective to work for us. Young said the laws are adequate, including two Bail (Amendment) Bills, that deny bail for 120 days, and are in place up to August. There are sufficient laws to keep known criminals off the streets. Dr Rowley added that the failure of the system is that perpetrators are confident that evidence against them will not be forthcoming, as he urged households and communities to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities and not to encourage criminal conduct. $40B on education since 2005 Speaking during a news conference at the ministrys office, Park Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Deyalsingh said Government would have to review the RHA system. There is very little value out of that expenditure, that is why we have to review the RHA system. There will be a report by the end of March or April. We will take that report to a public consultation on health, the same day we are having a public consultation on the school curriculum, he said, adding that the schools curriculum was also lacking. Does the curriculum fit the purpose, especially at the primary school level? If you want to go back to the moorings of a good education, if we can get back to the curriculum based on good values, we could solve a lot of the problems in society, Deyalsingh said. The minister was speaking against the backdrop of the two teenaged boys who were brutally murdered just minutes from their home on Thursday. I am absolutely shocked and appalled at the behaviour of the Opposition in not wanting an easier process to appoint a permanent Commissioner of Police (CoP) to lead his troops in the battle against murder. We have this convoluted process that was bequeathed to us by the UNC (United National Congrress) in the 1990s. It is not working. We have sixmonth contracts that are being rolled over time after time and we need a CoP to lead with authority. Does an acting CoP have the legitimate authority by virtue of an established office by tenure to lead his men and women and increase the detection rate? I am appalled that the Opposition does not want to employ a better, faster, transparent system of appointing a substantial CoP.It was this Opposition who rallied against (former prime minister) Patrick Manning to appoint a CoP, Deyalsingh said. Outrage, joy on social media This lad here was a TTPS child, an active member of our youth club, who wanted to be a pilot and had successfully completed an aviation course during the July/August vacation last year, but had his life taken by wannabe gangsters, the user wrote. The post with the photo of Denilson with his trophies and medals was in response to a post by a woman who wrote: 4 o clock in the morning and a dancing right now...two less criminals on the street... While many defended the boys, several persons expressed horror over their murder. We are losing our nations children, its becoming a norm now I think. Poor Denilson. What a waste of a promising life, horrific. The politicians seem clueless. Police cannot do this job alone, another user wrote. One woman who knew Denilson said he was always a loving and respectful young man with a lot of big dreams. Not because he was from Laventille he was a thug. His mom tried very hard to keep her sons away from the life they lived around, she said. Rest in Peace, Sr Paul Sr Pauls funeral service took place yesterday morning at the St Josephs Convent schools Chapel, Abercromby Street Port-of Spain, and was followed by a private internment. Relatives, friends and Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, including President Anthony Carmona, paid tribute on her sudden passing on January 18 last, after being hospitalised at Lourdes House and West Shore Hospital. Sr Paul worked in the education service for more than 35 years across Trinidad and Tobago, and also in Grenada. She joined the congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in 1952, and also was President of the Association of Principals of Assisted Schools. Speaking at the funeral service, Provincial Leader, Juliana Annetta, said in her (Paul) capacity she put her considerable qualities of leadership at the service of the entire sector of public education. Ever the pioneer, she responded to the spirit of the times with characteristic ardour and visionary enthusiasm, transforming the schools in which she worked into places where young men and women developed into sterling leaders and dynamic contributors to life, both internationally, Annetta said. She said Paul worked tirelessly for the advancement and improvement of the lot of educators, helping to bridge the gap between the Administration and Teachers Union, and exerted a definitive influence in shaping the existing Code of Ethics for the nations teachers. Annetta also said Paul will be remembered for the important role of spiritually enabling individuals to experience a sense of wholeness and harmony in the midst of the challenges of a rapidly evolving society AG: School books are coming Al-Rawi gave this assurance during debate on a private motion on textbooks in the House of Representatives yesterday. Commenting on the laptop initiative of the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government, the AG said, My children are the recipients of laptops. I see them go to school once a week. There is a class once a week with it. Stating there are no charging cards or Internet connection with the laptops, Al-Rawi said while it may have been a good intention, we are not seeing the benefit of its integration into schools. Responding to Opposition MPs concerns about the delay in the supply of textbooks to students, Al-Rawi said this gap was due to the PPs decision to call a late general election last September. Recalling the Peoples National Movement (PNM) had warned the PP that this would have happened because it held on to office until the bitter, last constitutional end, Al-Rawi said what the PNM warned about had come to pass. There was a pause, he stated. Earlier in the sitting, Deyalsingh (who was the Acting Education Minister) argued that initiatives such as the laptops and E-Books being pursued by the PP were creating an elitist system that would benefit some students, and not others. Stating that there was no integration of these technological initiatives into the education system, Deyalsingh said the PNM has a history of track record of proper integrating technology into education for the benefit of all. He declared that under successive PNM administrations, the children of cane-cutters have become users of cutting edge technology. He reminded MPs, I am from Caroni. Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachan warned that the removal of computers and educational materials from the Value Added Tax (VAT) zero-rated list, would cause parents to choose between buying food, or books, for their children. Claiming that he has not received uniform or book grants for his constituents, Rambachan said he has 3,000 pairs of khaki pants for distribution to needy students. Rambachan questioned whether a caste system was being created, or perpetuated in the education sector. Steelworkers want steel inspection He is also calling on Centrin owner, Helen Bhagwansingh, to engage in talks with the union over the situation. He made the call as he led nearly 100 workers in a demonstration outside the Sea Lots branch of Bhagwansinghs hardware store. They chanted and carried placards critical of Bhagwansinghs move to issue retrenchment notices to the 56 permanent workers at the plant on January 11 last. Some of the placards also called for a boycott of the Bhagwansingh chain of stores. Henry also called for the Tripartite mechanism which had been announced by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development to be invoked to deal with the crisis of retrenchment in the country. You would have heard the Prime Minister say that the last resort should be layoff, or retrenchment. Here it is you have a company that has been successful for 30 years make the first decision to retrench workers and close down, and are inviting some of the said workers to come on board as contractors. Henry said that in addition to the 56 permanent workers who were served with retrenchment notices, more than 150 service, temporary and casual staff, also had their jobs terminated bringing to more than 200 the number of workers affected by the companys closure. Efforts by Newsday to reach Mrs Bhagwansingh were unsuccessful as she was said to be in meetings, and other management staff were unavailable to comment on the situation. JAMESTOWN Donna Heer, 86, passed away on Jan. 21, 2016, at Ave Marie Village, Jamestown. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at St. James Basilica, Jamestown. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Jamestown. Visitation will be held from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Williams-Lisko Funeral Chapel, Jamestown, where a prayer service begins at 7:30 p.m. Donna Wiese was born Feb. 12, 1929, in Jamestown, the daughter of Gus and Angela (Brophy) Wiese. She was born at the home of her paternal grandmother, Emma Lippert; the day after her parents had traveled 20 miles to Jamestown by sleigh, during a blizzard with below zero temperatures. Donna attended elementary school at the Lippert Rural School No. 3, southwest of Eldridge, and high school at St. Johns Academy of Jamestown, graduating in 1947. She then attended the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. After her college education, she taught for two days near Spiritwood and then worked at various jobs in Jamestown, including Jamestown National Bank, Jamestown ASC (later called FSA), Jamestown Motor Supply Center (later called TSC), the Jamestown Post Office and Jamestown Livestock Company. On June 16, 1953, she married Wilbert Heer at St. James Catholic Church (now known as St. James Basilica) in Jamestown. She began working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1967 as a local operator and toll operator. In 1976, she transferred to the Public Service Department in Fargo, while still living in Jamestown. She traveled western Minnesota, North Dakota, northern South Dakota, and slipped into Montana on occasion as a coin collector of pay phones. This was a job she thoroughly enjoyed and made longtime friends. She retired in March 1986, at the age of 57. Donna enjoyed bowling, photography, traveling the United States and Europe, driving, horses and the many people she met throughout her travels. Survivors include a son, Paul (Lola) Heer, Jamestown; two grandchildren, Liza A. Heer, Bozeman, Mont., and Zach E. Heer, Lewistown, Mont.; as well as numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father in 1982 and her mother in 2002. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. James Basilica, St. Johns Academy, the Face Foundation or Parkinsons Disease Foundation P.O. Box 96268, Washington, D.C. 20090-6268. About Me National Vice President, Akhil Bhartiya Patarkar Manch. The Editor New Delhi, India News Sagar Media,Chairman: The Editor,Topix New Delhi-Agra,India News: Vice President,Delhi Chapter, The Newspaper Editor's Society. CEO:Enkay Sagar Holdings P Ltd: Former Secretary,Delhi Region International Theosophical Society. The Spiritual Motivator:Consultant. Brand Strategist:Countries,companies, 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. A group of 100 young Ivorians including 14 females are due in Morocco shortly to undergo religious training in the Rabat-based Mohammed VI institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines, and Morchidates (religious counselors) and be taught the precepts of moderate Islam as it is practiced in the North African country. According to Ivorian High Council of Imams, these youths will undergo a two-year training and are expected upon return home to teach and promote the Islam of peace, moderation, and tolerance that upholds peaceful co-existence between all believers. Chairperson of the council Boikary Fofana who was meeting with the would-be preachers expressed gratitude to President Ouattara and King Mohammed VI for the initiative which seeks to promote the universal values of peace and tolerance. This is the second batch of Ivorian religious students to be dispatched to Morocco. Another 100-member group, along with other African youths, have been already trained in Morocco since the beginning of the program. Morocco which stands up as a model in the Arab-Islamic world with regard to the tolerant Islam it has been upholding for centuries, to the Ijtihad of its theologians and to its approach to fight fundamentalism had added a new milestone to its recognized efforts to promote religious moderation and tolerance, when it set up in March 2015 the Mohammed VI Institute and offered scholarships to scores of students from Southern Saharan countries who enrolled in the Institute. The training center dispenses the values of an open, moderate Islam to preachers and counselors from all the region of North-West Africa and also from some European countries such as France, the UK and Belgium. Morocco actually believes that a sound training of religious leaders is the best tool to fight and defeat extremism and terrorism and that when endowed with the necessary tools, the preachers and other religious professionals are likely to improve their ability to safeguard their own communities, mainly the youths, against extremism and to detect among these communities any elements that seem attracted by violence and terrorism. Nicht Ihr Computer? Dann konnen Sie fur die Anmeldung ein Fenster zum privaten Surfen offnen. Weitere Informationen The Secret to Happiness is the Joy of the Lord; and the joy of the Lord is His manifest presence in your life. It is our Privilege and Responsibility to Glorify God; and we glorify God by manifesting His character every moment and in every situation. Humility and Pride You can tell a humble man that he has a problem with pride and he will agree with you; but if you tell a proud man that he has a problem with pride, he becomes your enemy. This one thing I know for sure, that whenever there is a problem with my relationship with the Lord, it is not His fault. Some people are just plain lazy; some people are just overly sensitive to gravity; others are simply economical with their energy. It's not enough to preach the Gospel; you must be the Gospel. If you can describe your life in a nutshell, there's a good probability that you're a nut. As a good Canadian, I'd like to apologize in advance for anything I might say that offends you; sometimes my mouth hits high gear while my brain is still in low. Never allow the thought, "I am of no use where I am"; because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Oswald Chambers We cannot even begin to approach the Truth until we are willing to go wherever the Truth leads us. The newest object of idol worship is 'my opinion'! Suffering is the only experience we have in common with every other human who ever lived. Having withdrawn its plans to build a 42-story residential tower with a school at the bottom on the site of the South Street Seaport's New Market Building (the one that says "Fulton Fish Market" on the front), the Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) apparently had another idea. DNAinfo reports that documents show the company submitted a draft plan to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) for a 10-story, 185-room hotel at the site. The document was released by Friends of the South Street Seaport, which has been fighting HHC's plans to remake the Seaport. HHC's Chris Curry, the vice president who has been the face of their Seaport efforts, told a recent Community Board 1 meeting that they are not going forward with that plan. "[It] doesn't mean anything to you today," he said "at this point, that is not the plan." What is HHC looking to do with the site? At this point, they say they are looking to do a short commercial project. The New Market Building site sits just to the north of the beginning of Pier 17. It is not an individual landmark and is outside the South Street Seaport Historic District. Activists wish it would be preserved. HHC has said at many meetings that the building and its supports are structurally unsound and need to be demolished. Update (1/24/2016 8:00 a.m.): HHC's Chris Curry sent Curbed NY the following statement: "The Howard Hughes Corporation remains steadfast in our commitment to the revitalization of the Seaport District, making it once again one of New York's premier destinations and a much needed community anchor for Lower Manhattan. We're pleased to have the Community Board's support on our plans to reconstruct the historic Tin Building into a 21st century center for food and commerce at the Seaport in keeping with the neighborhood's rich history. We continue to explore a revised mixed-use development plan taking into account feedback from the community and elected officials." Seaport Developer May Be Planning Hotel on Disputed Site, Documents Show [DNAinfo] Mapping New York's 10 Biggest Preservation Battles of 2015 [Curbed] City Says Historic Seaport Buildings in Danger of Collapsing [Curbed] All South Street Seaport coverage [Curbed] Welcome to It Happened One Weekend, our weekly roundup of The New York Times real estate section... The Hunt: Every "The Hunt" column begins with the Hunters describing the apartment they want, and ends with them rationalizing whatever they came away with. This is The Hunt: Dreams vs. Reality The Hunter: An immigrant from a Russian republic who got a job at a bank in Jersey City. Price Dream: $1,000 a month Reality: $1,050 a month Neighborhood Dream: Somewhere near the PATH or light rail Reality: Newport, Jersey City Amenities Dream: A roommate situation Reality: Bedroom of a shared one-bedroom apartment Summary Nastasya, from the Russian republic of Kalmykia, first visited the United States when she was a 15-year-old exchange student living in Tulsa. She liked America so much she came back and studied at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morris Township, N.J. With her degree in business, she started job hunting, but lived temporarily with an uncle in Virginia, eventually finding a job as a bank assistant in Jersey City. She knew she'd have to live with roommates, which was fine as long as she had her own room with a door and was near public transportation. She looked in Union City, but it was too far. She found someone else looking for a roommate situation, where she would have paid $1,250. But she went with something she'd already seen, getting the bedroom of a one-bedroom where two sisters shared the shoji screen-divided living room. She has everything she needs, plus a "million-dollar view" from the roof to show her guests. [The Hunt/In Jersey City, a Room of Her Own] "It's just meant to help them relax. Getting them to the point that they're comfortable, that's really the gospel for me. If they're not comfortable, there's no point in doing it." Amberrose Mergenthaler, whose business, Tranquility Services Bismarck, offers platonic massage, companionship and cuddling to customers. "They don't have any idea where it is now, and it's only going to get worse." Darrell Dorgan, of the North Dakota Energy Industry Waste Coalition, on radioactive waste that the state doesnt know where its at. Starting now, its very clear that records do need to be kept, where the waste was generated and where its disposed." Scott Radig, manager of the state health departments waste program, radioactive waste. Its a lot of fun an adrenaline rush. You just gotta find it someplace and get up and go. Auctioneer Shane Wolff, of Golden Valley, on the Greater Midwest Livestock Auctioneer competition. This is an important first step to increasing our scientific understanding of the potential uses for crystalline rock formations, including the feasibility of boreholes as an option for long-term nuclear waste disposal. DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz, in a statement. Scientists plan to use state-owned land near Rugby to test whether extremely deep crystalline rock can be used to permanently store spent nuclear waste. "It was a perfect day because no one got hurt, and the perpetrator got caught." Bismarck State College President Larry Skogen, on last weeks lockdown of the college due to a threat. "We were freaking out. We were wondering what we were supposed to do and where we were supposed to go." BSC student Gwen Lee, on her reaction to the BSC lockdown. She and another student went into a storage room to find safety. "It's a great company and it's just a tremendous chance for me. I'm just really looking forward to being a part of that organization. I just think it's a really good fit for my background." Former tax commissioner Cory Fong, on taking over as communications director for MDU Resources Group Inc. The oil export bans important with our state being such a huge energy producer. We need to be able to compete. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., reviewing accomplishments during last years session of Congress. The ending of international sanctions against Iran could soon send Iranian gas flowing across and through the South Caucasus, amping up the regions strategic significance and possibly changing the dynamics of its energy trade. For Azerbaijan, getting Iran on board with TANAP, the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Export Pipeline, could bolster Bakus largest energy-export undertaking, the Southern Gas Corridor, a chain of three big pipelines, stretching across more than 3,400 kilometers and seven countries from the Caspian Sea into Europe. TANAP is the largest and costliest section of the Corridor. Yesterday, on January 20, Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pak Aein declared that Iran may join . . .TANAP, with an aim of exporting its natural gas to the European markets. He met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today to talk non-energy projects as well, adding for good measure that Iran can join all the large-scale projects in the region. Related: Goldman Sachs Sees Oil Markets Turning Bullish Soon As a transit country, Georgia would get a share of any Iranian gas flowing through the Southern Gas Corridor. But with more Iranian gas in the region, Tbilisi fears losing the share of gas it receives from another pipeline run by Russian energy behemoth Gazprom for shipments to Armenia from Russia. Citing talks with Gazprom, Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze alleged this week that Russia wants to stop giving Georgia gas as a transit fee (10 percent of the country's annual supplies) and instead to pay cash. If Georgia declines, Russia has threatened to stop supplying gas to Armenia via Georgia altogether, Kaladze said in a January 19 interview on Rustavi2. Instead, he claimed, gas supplies to Armenia will come from Iran. Iran is Armenias fourth-largest trade partner and the only alternative to Russia for natural gas supplies. Armenia and Iran have been swapping gas for electricity. An existing, 1.1-billion-cubic-meter-capacity pipeline owned by the Armenian branch of Gazprom links the two countries and, if upgraded, could supply most or all of the roughly 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas that Armenia needs annually. Related:10 Reasons why Sub $30 Oil Is A Major Problem Kaladzes allegation came as the latest explanation for a series of highly controversial negotiations between Georgia and Gazprom over gas supplies. The talks have stoked fears that the pro-Western country could end up again dependent on Russian energy and thereby susceptible to political pressure from Moscow. Contradictory statements by Kaladze have only fed the concerns. The alleged Gazprom threat has not entirely dispelled them. Armenia cannot switch from Russian to Iranian gas overnight and such a move would require pricey infrastructure upgrades. It still would not remove Russia from Armenias gas market. The countrys entire pipeline infrastructure is owned or operated by Gazprom's local subsidiary. Related: Oil Markets Are Balancing Faster Than IEA Would Have Us Believe Moscow also had gone out of its way to ensure Armenian dependency on Gazprom energy and, by extension, Yerevans geopolitical loyalty. For that goal, Moscow even insisted on putting on a diameter limit on the Armenia-Iran pipeline. Letting Armenia fully slide away toward supplies from Iran will leave Russia with fewer options for influence-peddling. Moreover, Armenia just recently asked Russia to lower its price for gas. Either way, the return of Iran has put all sorts of energy and political dynamics in motion in the South Caucasus, though opinions diverge about how far-reaching these changes will prove to be. by Giorgi Lomsadze via Eurasianet More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The blog of Reverend Doctor Daniel Meeter of Old First Reformed Church, 729 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, (718)638-8300 She's 32 years old. She is Kurdish, too, although from Turkey, not Iraq, and she has close family ties with Yazidis. They are Kurds, too, she says. The world knows little enough about Kurds; Yazidis are even more obscure, although they've been in the headlines in recent years. In Iraq, Yazidis numbered some 500,000, many of them living near Mount Sinjar, close to the Syrian border. Their religion is an ancient and syncretic one, with elements from 3. Islam- a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an(or Koran), a religious text, considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Allah). Some Yazidi practices resemble Muslim ones: They wont eat pork, for example. But for centuries, Yazidis have been persecuted, mostly by Muslims, as devil worshippers. Y azidis no longer live in the town of Sinjar, because there's hardly any Sinjar left to live in. When ISIS forces invaded it in August 2014, they massacred or enslaved whomever they could. Thousands of women were sold as sex slaves. The rest of the population fled, some to Mount Sinjar, where they have been sheltering ever since, suffering through brutal winter and hellish summer temperatures on the mountain. Many have died. Evins route to her work with refugees has been a circuitous one. After earning a degree in humanities, she worked to highlight human rights violations against Kurds in the region known as Kurdistan, which encompasses parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran. Then based in Turkeys Kurdish region, she turned her focus onto huge dams that Turkey is building and their impact on people and the environment. She first visited northern Iraq to see how the dam-building was affecting the Tigris and Euphrates rivers , which descend from the Turkish mountains and flow through Syria and Iraq to the Persian Gulf. The Euphrates is already nearly dry. Then, as the situation in Syria deteriorated, she began to work with humanitarian nongovernmental organizations as a translator . After meeting her fiance, a Kurd from Syria who was living in Iraq, she went there to marry him and to live, and began to volunteer in the refugee camps, to which thousands of Syrians and Yazidis have fled . She was trying to figure out how to continue her studies when a native Iraqi, who was a 2014 graduate of the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, suggested she apply for a Rotary Peace Fellowship. There was a problem, however: There was no Rotary club in Iraq to sponsor her. But Evin is resourceful. Her application was taken on by the Rotary Club of Asuncion, Paraguay, and she was accepted. The peace fellowship was a milestone in my life, she says. She was captivated, first by traveling outside her region to a whole new world, and then by the people she met on the fellowship, who came from countries that she had only read about: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the United States. Evin traveled to Cambodia, where, having read about the Khmer Rouge , she met people who had suffered under the regime. I learned so much, she says, and she shared her own knowledge with the other students in the program. Kurdistan has so many difficult problems, she explains, adding that outsiders arent aware of most of them. A teacher and peace fellow who promoted music as a peace-building mechanism, for instance, didnt know that in Turkey, playing Kurdish music could lead to imprisonment. LaMonte Adams is a lieutenant in the Philadelphia Police Department who studied with Evin at the Rotary Peace Center. His first impression of her was of a quiet person and an intent listener. I found that she will tell you exactly how she feels and what she thinks about a topic, yet she always does it in the most respectful way possible, he says. She will only engage in conversations when she has a relevant opinion that will enhance the discussion. She does not talk just for the sake of talking. By the end of the program, Adams says, he considered her the standout among a group of talented peace fellows. I could not have been more impressed by an individual, he says. She is deeply passionate about issues that relate to the lives of people in her community, but is also very c oncerned about people across the globe. (Wow....! Amazing statement...) Now, Evin works for NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and for journalists, setting up interviews and translating. She goes wherever she is asked, traveling to Syria three or four times a year and spending a lot of time in the camps with displaced Yazidis and Syrian refugees. Although there are schools and international organizations, she says, conditions are poor. People live in tents, which are hot in Iraqs punishing summer and cold in winter . She also works with the United Nations and other organizations to document the stories of Yazidi women and girls. I am trying to do my best to tell anything they want to tell. Evin recounts the story of a young girl whose experience was typical. Her village was overrun by ISIS, and the girl was raped. They killed all the men; they took the women and children. Girls were sold in the bazaar. Women who wont sell are often killed . In Sinjar, recently retaken by Kurdish fighters, mass graves, including one where only older women were buried, have been discovered. The buying, selling, and mass rape of women and girls by ISIS has been well-documented, including by Human Rights Watch, which published a chilling report last year. ISIS has openly admitted that it uses enslavement and mass rape as a policy. Women are considered spoils of war. But theres another, coldly strategic reason for the selling of girls: They can be used to lure foreign fighters. I ask Evin if its easy for the women to talk after so much trauma. It depends on the woman, she says. Some are so strong. Others are not. She translated for one woman who started laughing when she told how her brother was killed. Another, she recalls, had been sold several times. She got pregnant. She had an abortion. She was telling me this, and at one point I stopped breathing. She touched my shoulder and said, Ill be OK. Evin knows her role is a sensitive one. What upsets me, she says, is the approach of journalists who come here and try to make these women talk, to get the detail of how she was raped, just to get one side of the story and attract attention. The stories can be told, she says, but you cant show her face or give her name. Once, she says, after a girl was interviewed, her face clearly visible, her family still in captivity with ISIS was killed. She feels strongly about the plight of the Yazidis, whom she calls a peaceful people, so she continues to live in northern Iraq despite conditions that have only worsened since she arrived. It used to be safer, and richer, here. These are turbulent times in a turbulent region. The UN calculates that ISIS still holds 3,000 Yazidis in captivity. More frightening for Evin is that ISIS wants to target Kurds, too. We met some ISIS prisoners and asked them who they are fighting against. They said, We are fighting the infidels called Kurds. If we find one, we kill them. A year ago, one of her cousins, a young girl, was killed in Syria. Murder and killing are a normal part of life here, she notes. But earlier this year, a nephew also died there in an explosion. My nephew was like my little brother. His death still really affects me. She supports Kurds who travel to Syria to help. They are fighting ISIS, which is the enemy of all humanity. One day, she will write all this down. She feels a responsibility to the women she meets. For now, she does her job and works on a masters degree in history, online. Theres not much I can do but tell their stories and describe what they face. When I ask her which women have inspired her most, she doesnt pause for thought. All of them. Afghan soil was not used by terrorists to attack BKU: Afghan Govt KABUL: Kabul on Friday rejected claims that the Afghan soil was used by terrorists to launch attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda. The office of the president in a statement said Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has never supported any terrorist group and has never provided sanctuaries to the terror groups. Strongly condemning the attack on Bacha Khan University, the statement said fight against terrorism was only possible through joint and sincere cooperation. Afghan government understands that there are no good or bad Taliban, since the terrorists are only pursuing to spread terror, the statement said, and insisted on joint and bold efforts to combat the menace of terrorism in the region. The statement by Afghan government comes a day after Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif telephoned President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and shared with them details of investigation into terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda. In successive messages on Twitter, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa Thursday said the army chief told Afghan leadership that investigation into the Charsadda university attack had revealed it was controlled from a location in Afghanistan through an Afghan cell phone by a TTP operative. At least 21 people were killed when four unidentified gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Charsadda and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the institution for a poetry recital to commemorate the death anniversary of the activist and leader whom the university is named after. The mastermind of the APS Peshawar attack, Umar Mansoor of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Geedar Group, had claimed the attack through a post on his Facebook page, adding that four attackers were sent to the university. However, a spokesperson from the TTP, Mohammad Khorasani, issued a conflicting statement shortly after Mansoors claim, in which Khorasani condemned the attack, terming it against Shariah. Khorasani also warned that those using TTPs name will be brought to justice. Chaudhry Nisar Ali under pressure to take action against mulana Abdul Aziz ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry came under immense pressure to take action against Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz after four key legal documents, asserting that the cleric was an absconder, were presented before the upper house by Senator Farhatullah Babar. Babar, who also sought the chairs permission to move a privilege motion against Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for misleading the house, said Nisar incorrectly stated in Senate that the government did not move against Aziz because of a lack of evidence in the case lodged against him. In a policy statement presented to Senate on Dec 30, 2015, on the implementation of the National Action Plan, the interior minister had also said that if anyone came up with documentary evidence against Aziz, immediate action will be taken regardless of political considerations. The documents Babar produced included a copy of the FIR against Aziz, dated Dec 19, 2014, arrest warrants issued against him, a court order declaring Aziz an absconder, an advertisement declaring Aziz an absconder and copy of an official notification issued to cellular companies to suspend services in areas in the vicinity of the Lal Masjid to prevent dissemination of Azizs Friday sermons. Aziz had publicly declared allegiance to, and sought the support of, Daesh, Babar claimed, adding that the government was deliberately not apprehending him [Aziz] either because of fear or complicity. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on December 19, 2014 against Lal Masjids chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz at Aabpara Police Station upon unremitting pressure exerted from protesting civil society. Babar said the documents, which were also available with the interior ministry, proved that Nisars statement in Senate on Dec 30 was not based on the truth. He urged the Senate chairman to send the matter to the privilege committee or ask the government for a formal explanation on the contradiction between the ministers statement and the facts highlighted by these documents. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani then directed that these documents be handed over to Nisar, from whom he has sought a comprehensive reply on the issue. Russian ground forces to hold military exercises with Pakistan MOSCOW: The Russian Army's Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov on Friday announced that Russian ground forces will hold its first ever military exercises with Pakistan in the coming year, according to TASS news agency. The Russian Army is scheduled to hold seven international drills in 2016, including the "the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain." "As part of interaction with our foreign colleagues in 2016, we have scheduled seven joint exercises with the involvement of the relevant units of foreign states," the Russian Army Commander-in-Chief said. The Russian Army will also hold joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as a Russian-Vietnamese exercise, Salyukov added. "The Peace Mission-2016, the joint drills of peace-keeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization code-named Indestructible Brotherhood, the Frontier-2016 joint command and staff drills, the Indra-2016 Russian-Indian exercises and the Selenga-2016 Russian-Mongolian drills will be held," the commander added. Pakistan and India both joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in July last year. The group is dominated by Russia and China, and also includes former Soviet republics in Central Asia. Pakistans full membership to the powerful SCO was approved by its Council of Heads of State at its 15th Summit. Russia sees the organisation, expanding for the first time since its creation in 2001, as a counterweight to Western alliances. Russia had lifted its embargo on arms supplies to Pakistan in June 2014 and signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan to strengthen military-to-military relations in November 2014. Shooting at school in Canada OTTAWA: Shots rang out at a school in western Canada Friday, leaving four people dead and several others critically injured in the nation's worst such shooting in a quarter of a century. Obviously, this is every parent's worst nightmare, said Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Trudeau held a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, to announce the death toll in the remote northern aboriginal community of La Loche in the province of Saskatchewan. Trudeau said five people had been killed and two others were in critical condition but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman later revised the death toll down to four. The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about a person discharging a weapon in the community, RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy told reporters. She said police were also investigating a second location in a nearby residential neighbourhood, but provided no further details. La Loche acting Mayor Kevin Janvier told the Associated Press that his 23-year-old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot to death in La Loche, an impoverished community about 600 km north of the city of Saskatoon. He also said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings at home and then made his way to the school. A neighbour and a family friend both said the suspect had shot his two younger brothers before going to the school and shooting the teacher and an assistant. After he shot his two brothers, he walked back to school and he shot ... a teacher and a girl. They're both dead. Four of them died, said Joe Lemaigre, a family friend who lives on the outskirts of La Loche. I know the family. Their mother worked in Fort McMurray and his grandfather went to Meadow Lake to do some shopping. That's when he shot them. The shooting occurred in the high school, called the Dene Building, and another location in Saskatchewan, Trudeau and Canadian police said. Authorities did not disclose the age and identify of the shooter and victims. We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day, Trudeau said. La Loche students said they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (1900 GMT). Several witnesses reported seeing a boy, who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. I ran outside the school, Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told public broadcaster CBC. There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." The town's hospital told AFP they were treating the victims for gunshot wounds. The high school and a nearby elementary school were locked down as police responded. It's just tragic and everybody's running around, said Kevin Janvier, acting mayor, adding that to his understanding the shooting took place when an individual walked in and opened fire in the building". Located deep in Canada's northern boreal forest, 600 kilometres north of Saskatoon, this town of about 3,000 is particularly isolated and authorities had to send in police reinforcements and dispatch a medical helicopter to airlift some victims to a hospital. The school shooting is Canada's deadliest in 26 years. On December 6, 1989, a 25-year-old man opened fire at the Polytechnic School in Montreal, killing 14 people, including 10 female students. Unlike in the United States, shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated than south of the border. We have experienced similar tragedies far too often in the United States and understand all too well the heartache and sadness that result from such a horrific event, said the US ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman. A flurry of condolences and declarations of shock quickly also poured in from political leaders across Canada after news of the tragedy broke. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community, said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who also expressed shock and sorrow at the horrific events." The province, he said, was preparing to send up crisis support to the community. Assembly of First Nations chief Perry Bellegarde, opposition Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, and New Democratic Party MP Georgina Joliebois, who was once the mayor of La Loche, said they too were shocked and saddened by the apparent shooting rampage. The shooting hits close to home for me as my family members attend the school, Joliebois said. Trudeau, meanwhile, said his Liberal government would have to reflect on Canada's current gun laws in the coming weeks and months in light of what happened. I am proud to support Jerod Tufte in his campaign for North Dakota Supreme Court. My husband, Brian, and I have known Tufte for years, both personally and professionally. Tuftes broad experience as a district judge, prosecutor and as an Army lawyer who deployed overseas will serve him well as he serves the state on our highest court. I have witnessed Tuftes work on a variety of things and can confidently say that he has the keen intellect and calm demeanor to be a great justice of our Supreme Court. Taliban political office to attend conference in Doha KABUL: The Afghan Taliban will send representatives to a conference organised by an international crisis group that will discuss resolving the war in Afghanistan. Representatives of the Talibans political office will attend the conference being held in Doha on Saturday by Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, a Nobel peace prize-winning group focused on resolving conflicts. The group said in a statement on Friday that the conference was aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, now in its 15th year. It is not part of the official peace process which recently restarted after being derailed in July when the Afghan government revealed that the Talibans founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead since early 2013. The official initiative involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States is due to hold its third meeting in Islamabad on Feb 6. The meetings do not include Taliban representatives, but aim to lay the groundwork for an eventual dialogue between militants and the Afghan government. The Taliban said they sought to take healthy advantage of the Pugwash initiative to relay the legal demands of our nation and our just policy to the world directly. The conference was purely for research purposes with academic debates, they said. Last year, a similar event organised by Pugwash was attended by Afghan officials, although they came in a personal capacity. Political analyst Waheed Muzhda, who was an official in the Talibans 1996-2001 administration, said the conference would not discuss the peace process but would instead focus on current circumstances in Afghanistan. Members of the Talibans Doha office are believed to be directly linked to the current leader of the group, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. He was Mullah Omars deputy and took over when his death was revealed. Some Afghan parliamentarians and civil society representatives would also participate in the event, albeit in a private capacity, another analyst said. Javid Faisal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, told The Associated Press that no government representatives would attend the Pugwash gathering.KABUL: The Afghan Taliban will send representatives to a conference organised by an international crisis group that will discuss resolving the war in Afghanistan. Representatives of the Talibans political office will attend the conference being held in Doha on Saturday by Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, a Nobel peace prize-winning group focused on resolving conflicts. The group said in a statement on Friday that the conference was aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, now in its 15th year. It is not part of the official peace process which recently restarted after being derailed in July when the Afghan government revealed that the Talibans founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead since early 2013. The official initiative involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States is due to hold its third meeting in Islamabad on Feb 6. The meetings do not include Taliban representatives, but aim to lay the groundwork for an eventual dialogue between militants and the Afghan government. The Taliban said they sought to take healthy advantage of the Pugwash initiative to relay the legal demands of our nation and our just policy to the world directly. The conference was purely for research purposes with academic debates, they said. Last year, a similar event organised by Pugwash was attended by Afghan officials, although they came in a personal capacity. Political analyst Waheed Muzhda, who was an official in the Talibans 1996-2001 administration, said the conference would not discuss the peace process but would instead focus on current circumstances in Afghanistan. Members of the Talibans Doha office are believed to be directly linked to the current leader of the group, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. He was Mullah Omars deputy and took over when his death was revealed. Some Afghan parliamentarians and civil society representatives would also participate in the event, albeit in a private capacity, another analyst said. Javid Faisal, deputy spokesman for Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, told The Associated Press that no government representatives would attend the Pugwash gathering. How to withdraw money from paypal to sri lanka The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, Dear citizens of North Dakota, As you know, Congress sent a bill to President Obamas office that would have ended over $400 million of the $500-plus million in taxpayer subsidies that Planned Parenthood is set to receive this year. More than 480,000 pro-lifers signed a Live Action petition to defund Planned Parenthood, demanding our tax dollars not be funneled to Americas largest abortion industry. Against the will of the people and the Congress, our elected president, Obama, vetoed the bill and as a result we the taxpaying Americans will be forced to continue to subsidize a corporation that kills more than 320,000 children every year. Planned Parenthood practices repeated abuses of women and girls for big business purposes. It is well known Planned Parenthood whole-heartedly supports late-term and even partial-birth abortion, while the vast majority of Americans stand against it. On Jan. 26, North Dakota representatives will meet with the rest of the House of Representatives to hold a veto override vote. I ask you, fellow North Dakotans, to contact our representatives to ask them to vote to override the presidents veto. This time we need all 240 representatives to vote once again for defunding of this corrupt organization, plus 50 in Congress to join in voting for this override. I dont know about you, but I resent my tax dollars paying for abortions. Please call our representative today. Life depends on having our voices heard. This BLOG -to a certain degree- documents work in progress, the construction of a multidimensional book. First-time readers should start at the end, reading first The Challenge and then proceed, unless risking to miss our central point. The hasty reader may skip the more metaphorical post Genesis or the Biblical Origin of Q-Orders. The entry Combinatorial Pre-Weyl-Spacesreflects our last consolidated status yet more for initiated readers, i.e. readers who known about the mathematical problems of joining discrete but combinatorial and continuous models. It supersedes older entries, which still may contain interesting heuristics and formula (sometimes with proof). In Q-Spaces - Examples there are examples, some with pictures that might give an idea of the type of structures e are workin with. Yet is hasn't been updated to the recent status i.e examples remain valid but their presentation will have to change. The three posts Going in Circles Part I, Going in Circles Part II, Going in Circles Part III, Lines, Cuts and Dedekind should be read in this order unless risking the loss of any deeper understanding. The BLOG is not -and I'm afraid will never be- like a standard text as published elsewhere or the reference bible for the subject i.e. with lengthy proofs, series of lemmata and finally the big central results. It's rather a series of essays, the same way I'm used to prepare my classes at university, that is sound in arguments and claims, yet dedicated to induce understanding, not to impress. The carpenteria -the carpenters work- to look for proofs etc. etc. I'll leave in my classes as homework, anyway. Some times they come up with counter-examples ... And I've to admit while I fairly master the task to create curiosity in my students -after 24 years of teaching- I fail completely -may be due to the lack of experience- to write one of those hyper-dense 10 pages journal-articles, that finally only those, who already knew, understand. Recognizing this inability -after 2 years of fruitless intent- was the beginning of this BLOG. Jake McSigue receives a package of bottled water through the window of his grandma's home on January 21, 2016 in Flint, Michigan For months, people in Flint, Michigana dying industrial town in the American heartlandconsumed water contaminated with lead. And the country ignored it. But the public health crisis triggered by budget cuts has ballooned into an all-out scandal, with potentially catastrophic consequences for thousands of children. This week, President Barack Obama weighed in, saying he would be "beside myself" if his children were placed at risk as kids have been in Flint, which is near Detroit. Flint has fallen on hard times since most of its General Motors factories shut down. The city lost half its population, and a third of those left live in poverty. Michigan's Republican governor Rick Snyder is in the hot seat. "To you, the people of Flint, I say tonight as I have before: I am sorry and I will fix it," Snyder said Tuesday. The next day, he was forced to release 273 pages of emails revealing his botched handling of the crisis. Many are calling for his resignation, among them film director Michael Moore, who is from Flint and even wants the governor arrested. Brownish color As part of cost-cutting, the city began drawing water from the Flint River in April 2014 rather than continuing to buy it from Detroit. The river was known to be dirty. US President Barack Obama's limousine drives past a sign for Flint, Michigan as he travels to a lunch on January 20, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Officials are accused of ignoring months of health warnings about the foul-smelling water, even as residents complained that it was making them sick. The scandal has been exacerbated by the seemingly nonchalant attitude of city officials to the outcry from residents, many of them poor African-Americans. Soon after the shift to river water, people started complaining about the taste, smell and murky color of the liquid coming out of their faucets. Some said they were having skin problems, or their hair was falling out, or they were having other medical issues. All they got was advice to boil the water before using it. A worker assembles General Motors trucks at the GM Flint Assembly Plant July 18, 2011 in Flint, Michigan In October, one of the last General Motors plants still running in Flint said it would no longer use local water because it was corrosiveso toxic it ate away at the lead pipes in the plumbing system and exposed people to lead poisoning. Research shows the presence of lead in the blood of children, even at low levels, can stunt their development seriously and irreversiblyin particular, the development of their brain. It will still take months to determine how bad the water in Flint really is. The scandal broke thanks to the dogged efforts of a mother named LeeAnne Walters. She had the water at her house analyzed after city authorities told her the problem was probably with her plumbing system. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder attends a press conference at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant on January 24, 2011 in Flint, Michigan She received support from an independent expert at Virginia Tech University, Marc Edwards. "I worked with LeeAnne Walters early one morning in April 2015, to collect samples revealing the extent of lead in water contamination in her home. Her child had been lead poisoned," Edwards told AFP. Dangerous levels of concentration "We found hazardous waste levels of lead in her water, and that data and our other analysis were in a report written by an EPA employee who raised the alarm about the problem," he added. "After, that EPA employee was silenced and discredited." The Flint Water Plant tower is shown on January 13, 2016 in Flint, Michigan "We formed a 25-person team, to partner with Flint residents, and to examine every aspect of their water safety. We funded the study and provided expertise," he said. "When we had enough data in late August, we published a warning to residents, that they should not drink the water because of the lead in water contamination." Millions of Americans have since been shocked by the events in Flint, which are finally gaining national traction. And heads have started to roll. The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced the resignation of Susan Hedman, its director for the region that includes Michigan. "It's ironic when you live in the Great Lakes State and we don't have access to clean water," Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said this week. Weaver was received Thursday at the White House. "I am glad that we are getting the attention that we finally deserve to have," Weaver said. "Our kids have been damaged by this lead poisoning." South African comedian Trevor Noah, the host of "The Daily Show," joked about Flint, suggesting a fundraising campaign in Africa "to save a village in America and get these people drinking the water that they so badly need." 2016 AFP Authorities hope the trial cull of 46 of Finland's estimated 250 grey wolves will curb illegal poaching Finland on Saturday began a controversial wolf cull that gives hunters the right to kill around one fifth of the endangered animals, in a decision that has angered environmentalists. Authorities hope the trial cull of 46 of Finland's estimated 250 grey wolves will curb illegal poaching, which some rural landowners have resorted to in recent years after seeing wolves roaming their property, sometimes killing dogs and livestock. "We wish to gain experience (to see) if this could be one solution to the conflict around wolves," Sauli Harkonen, a director tasked with hunting administration at the Finnish Wildlife Agency, told AFP. Quotas have been issued for specific regions, and the month-long cull will be carried out by licensed hunters. Harkonen said the first wolf, a male, was killed in the country's east on Saturday. Finland launched the first part of a two-year trial in 2015 in a bid to address the deep rift between animal rights activists and those who want to see wolf numbers cut. Hunters were given permission to take out 24 wolves last year, though only 17 were killed. That was the first time culls had been authorised since 2007, after the European Commission accused Finland of breaching EU protection rules on the endangered species. The conflict peaked in 2013 when a group of angry locals in the rural western municipality of Perho took the law into their own hands and killed three wolves. Twelve men were prosecuted and eventually found guilty. Poachers throughout the country's vast and remote forests reduced the total wolf population to between 120 and 135 animals in 2013, but numbers have since rebounded to around 250, similar to 2007 levels. "The cull reduces the population but the wolf is a prolific species... Wolves have spread out to new and even somewhat populous areas," Harkonen said. Some Finns house a deep-rooted aversion and fear of the animal, dating back to the 19th century, when tales of wolves eating children were rife and rewards were paid to anyone who killed a wolf. Genetic diversity concerns Rural residents regularly express concern for the safety of their dogs and livestock, while some even claim their children are in danger, though there have been no reported attacks on people in modern times. Local residents in Perho claim there are still between 10 to 20 wolves in the areaa figure they deem too high. But environmentalists worry that the cull may destroy the genetic diversity of the wolves. "All protectionists have been shocked by the high quotas... The population should be at least twice as big for it to be genetically healthy," said Mari Nyyssola-Kiisla, head of the wolf action group of the Finnish Nature League. Authorities have advised hunters to target young wolves in order to prevent a dispersion of the packs, who follow their alpha leaders. Despite that, at least one alpha female and three wolves with research collars were shot during last year's cull. Nyyssola-Kiisla feared the estimates of the population's recent recovery could be exaggerated, as the official tally was hampered by an exceptionally warm early winter and the lack of snow made tracking difficult. The Finnish hunting association disagreed. "The estimated number of packs is rather conservative since tracking wolves was very demanding towards the end of the year due to lack of snow," the association wrote in a statement, pointing out that landowners' reported wolf sightings had tripled between 2013 and 2015. The trial hunt does not apply to reindeer areas in the north of the country, where wolves are known to attack the herds. In those regions, herders can only hunt wolves that have been proven to have attacked their reindeer with special permits, valid for 21 days. Hunting is a deep-rooted, widespread tradition and hobby in Finland, with around 300,000 people registering annually for permits, one of the highest per capita rates in Europe. Elk, hare, deer and wild birds are commonly hunted. Explore further Finland approves controversial wolf hunt 2016 AFP More than 414,000 turkeys and chickens have been killed, some through a method considered a "last resort" of euthanasia, at 10 southwest Indiana farms affected by a bird flu outbreak. Testing and monitoring will continue for weeks to determine if the outbreak of the H7N8 viral strain is contained. That strain is different from one that led to the deaths of more than 48 million birds last summer. Here are some questions and answers about what happened and what's next in the response to the outbreak in Dubois County, Indiana's top turkey-producing county about 70 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky: WHEN WERE THE LAST BIRD FLU CASES CONFIRMED? Indiana's last bird flu cases were confirmed Jan. 16. Animal health officials announced the previous day that a form of the viral strain that was causing infected birds to die had been found at a turkey farm in Dubois County. The next day, officials said the virus had been detected at nine other turkey farms. Eight of those farms had a form of the viral strain that only made the birds sick; testing continues on the virus found at the ninth farm. HOW MANY BIRDS WERE EUTHANIZED? Crews on Wednesday finished euthanizing more than 258,000 turkeys at the 10 affected farms and more than 156,000 egg-laying chickens at one of those 10 farms. Those chickens did not have the virus, but officials said they were at high risk of infection due to their close proximity to a barn with infected turkeys. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BIRDS AFTER THEY WERE EUTHANIZED: All of the birds' carcasses remain in the barns where they were killed and are undergoing a type of composting in which they are placed in piles with organic material and heated so the remains will decompose. That method destroys the virus. Experts in the monthlong composting process are now supervising those efforts. WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE TO ENSURE THE VIRUS DOESN'T SPREAD? Testing and surveillance of commercial poultry farms is ongoing in a 12.4-mile radius around the first turkey farm where the virus was detected. That radius extends beyond Dubois County into four adjacent counties. As of Friday, 124 commercial poultry farms within that response area had been tested at least once and no viral cases had been found. Each will soon undergo a second round of testing. IS TESTING BEING DONE ON BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCKS? Officials are going door to door within a 6.2-mile control zone around the first turkey farm where the virus was found to ask residents if they have backyard poultry flocks. Ninety-six such flocks have been found. Seventy-six of them have been tested so far, with no virus found. Testing is continuing on the other flocks. All 96 flocks will be tested every seven days until each passes three times. HOW WERE THE BIRDS IN THE OUTBREAK EUTHANIZED? Some of the turkeys were suffocated by being covered in a liquid foam or by carbon dioxide that was pumped into their barns, and some were killed manually. All 156,000 chickens were suffocated by switching off barns' ventilation systems and turning up the heat inside. Some turkeys also died after their barns' ventilation systems were turned off and the heat was increased inside. WHICH AGENCY AUTHORIZED TURNING OFF THOSE VENTILATION SYSTEMS? Animal rights activists have decried as cruel the euthanization method of turning off poultry barns' ventilation systems and raising the heat inside to suffocate birds. Indiana's state veterinarian, Dr. Bret Marsh, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized the immediate closure of ventilation systems at all 10 affected turkey farms. WHY WAS THAT EUTHANISIA METHOD ALLOWED? Marsh said the USDA allowed that step at all 10 farms in response to concerns that the virus could become airborne and spread to adjacent farms in poultry-intense Dubois County. In some barns, the heat was also turned up, suffocating some turkeys. The USDA considers that a "last resort" method to kill infected poultry. Marsh said the USDA permitted those steps because the virus was found simultaneously at so many farms that the time needed to arrange other euthanization methods would have raised the risk of the virus spreading. Explore further Nearly all 400K birds at Indiana farms with bird flu killed 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Uber plans to resume helicopter flights at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday in spite of a cease-and-desist order from a Utah sheriff who says he could arrest pilots who land near Park City. The ride-hailing company's decision comes after a judge ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to ground the choppers during the star-studded opening weekend. Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez said that he could still ticket or arrest pilots because the companies didn't get the proper permits to land in a field not far from homes in the mountain town. "I don't want to arrest people and take them to jail. But that is an option available to me," he said. Uber and the helicopter companies say they tried to work with local authorities, but they argue that zoning laws don't apply to air travel and there was no permit to apply for. The flights Saturday are dependent on weather, but otherwise set to take off as planned, Uber spokeswoman Taylor Patterson said. "We've seen a ton of interest, people are really excited about it," Patterson said. On Thursday, Uber began offering to ferry visitors by helicopter about 40 miles from the Salt Lake City airport to the Robert Redford-founded festival in Park City. The company is charging $200 one-way during the day and $300 at night, with lower prices for customers who book ahead. Summit County moved to block the choppers the next day, after getting hundreds of complaints about the landings in a rural field beloved by sandhill cranes not far from homes, prosecutor Robert Hilder said. "It was the people who came storming into Sundance, started flying their helicopters and landing them," he said. But at a late-afternoon hearing Friday, Judge Kara Pettit decided prosecutors didn't have enough evidence for a restraining order that would have grounded the choppers. She'll take up the case again Monday, though that would come after the end of Uber's helicopter service to Park City. "There are just too many questions and issues to be able to enter an order today that there's been a violation," she said. The sheriff, though, says he sees that as a civil proceeding separate from his criminal jurisdiction, and one that won't be fully decided until next week. The helicopter companies say they did try to work with the county, even striking a last-minute deal to land the copters at a helipad owned by the sheriff's office instead. Martinez said he ultimately decided it wasn't right to let a private business use public resources. Lawyers for the helicopter companies say the zoning rules are meant for construction and development. They pointed to other issues with the quickly filed suit, including the exact owner of the land the choppers are using. "This case just can't get out of the blocks," attorney David Jordan said. While some people in Summit County have private aircraft they land within the county occasionally, the Uber flights are commercial and bring more health and safety concerns, from noise to accessibility if there's an accident, Hilder said. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have run into regulatory troubles before, but it's less common with the fledgling Uber Chopper service. "This is an interesting case. It deals with a lot that's happened in the world and happened very quickly," Hilder said. "You essentially have a revolution in transportation." Explore further Uber offers helicopter rides to Cannes Film Festival 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This image provided by The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., shows artist Salvador Dali's surrealist painting, "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's 'Angelus.'" The painting is displayed in a new exhibition at the museum about Dali's relationship with the animator Walt Disney. The painting is also the inspiration for an immersive virtual-reality experience being offered to museum visitors. (Salvador Dali/Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali/Collection of The Dali Museum via AP) Visitors to a new exhibition at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, won't just be looking at art. Thanks to virtual reality, they'll be exploring a Dali painting in a dreamy, three-dimensional world that turns art appreciation into an unforgettable, immersive experience. The new exhibition, "Disney and Dali: Architects of the Imagination," tells the story of the relationship between Salvador Dali, the surrealist artist, and Walt Disney, the great American animator and theme-park pioneer. But the museum exhibition's highlight comes after visitors have seen the Disney-Dali show's paintings, story sketches, correspondence, photos and other artifacts. As visitors leave the exhibition area, they'll be invited to don a headset to try the virtual reality experience. Called "Dreams of Dali," the VR experience takes viewers inside Dali's 1935 painting "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's 'Angelus.'" The painting depicts two towering stone figures along with tiny human figures in a bare landscape with a moody sky. Users can move around inside the painting, using Oculus Rift headsets to navigate a trippy three-dimensional environment that includes motifs from other Dali works like elephants, birds, ants and his "Lobster Telephone" sculpture. Accompanied by a haunting piano soundtrack punctuated by bird cries, the VR visuals also include a crescent moon, a stone tunnel and even an image of rocker Alice Cooper, whom Dali featured in a hologram he created in 1973. This Jan. 14, 2016 photo shows Skift.com reporter Dan Peltier using an Oculus Rift headset as he tries out a virtual reality experience presented by The Dali Museum at a preview in New York. The virtual reality experience is part of a new exhibition at the museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The exhibition explores the relationship between Walt Disney and artist Salvador Dali. The virtual reality experience takes users inside an immersive, three-dimensional landscape inspired by a Dali painting, "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's 'Angelus.'" (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz) "You actually have a three-dimensional feeling that you're inside a painting," said Jeff Goodby, whose firm Goodby Silverstein & Partners created the VR experience. "It's not just like you're inside a sphere with things being projected. It's actually like there are objects closer and further away and you're walking amidst them. It's a vulnerable feeling you give yourself up to. It's not like anything you've ever felt before." The VR experience was previewed in New York for the media 10 days before its opening Saturday at the Florida museum. Disney and Dali met in the 1940s in Hollywood, according to museum director Hank Hine. "Their sensibilities were very connected," Hine said. "They wanted to take art off the palette, out of the canvas and into the world." The exhibition looks at the castle motif that became a symbol of Disney parks, along with Dali's "Dream of Venus" pavilion from the 1939 World's Fair, which some consider a precursor of contemporary installation art. Disney and Dali also collaborated on a short animated movie, "Destino," that was eventually completed by Disney Studios. The six-minute movie, which can be found on YouTube, features a dancing girl with long dark hair, a sundial motif and a song with the line, "You came along out of a dream. ... You are my destino." Clips will be played within the gallery for the Disney-Dali exhibition and the full short will be shown at the museum's theater. This image provided by The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., shows a 1957 photo of artist Salvador Dali and Walt Disney by the beach in Spain. It is part of a new exhibition at the museum about the relationship between the two men. Museum director Hank Hine says Disney and Dali shared a vision of taking art off the canvas and into the real world. (Dali Museum/Walt Disney Family Foundation/Disney via AP) The show also displays the Dali painting that inspired the VR experience, "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet's 'Angelus.'" The surrealist work was Dali's interpretation of a 19th-century painting by Jean-Francois Millet depicting two peasants in a field, heads bowed in prayer. Dali said that his work was a "fantasy during which I imagined sculptures of the two figures in Millet's 'Angelus' carved out of the highest rocks." Museum marketing director Kathy Greif said record numbers of visitors attended its last two major shows exploring Dali's relationships with Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Given the Disney brand's immense popularity and the VR novelty, attendance expectations for this show are high as well. Dali "wanted art that took you over," said Goodby. "He wanted to take you away and do something different with your head and that's what this does." This undated image provided by The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., shows a 1955 design for Disneyland castle. The design is explored in a new exhibition at the museum about artist Salvador Dali's friendship with Walt Disney. Museum director Hank Hine says the two men shared a vision of taking art off the canvas and into the real world. (Dali Museum/WED Enterprises/Walt Disney Imagineering via AP) ___ If You Go... VIRTUAL REALITY TRAILER: "Dreams of Dali," thedali.org/dreams-of-dali DISNEY AND DALI: Exhibition through June 12 at the Dali Museum, One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, Florida; www.thedali.org or 727-823-3767. Open daily 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Thursdays until 8 p.m. Adults, $24; discounts for seniors, military, students, children. This image provided by The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Fla., shows a photo of the facade of the "Dream of Venus," artist Salvador Dali's installation at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. The work is explored as part of a new exhibition at the museum about Dali's relationship with the animator Walt Disney. Museum director Hank Hine says Disney and Dali shared a vision of taking art off the canvas and into the real world. (Dali Museum/Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali via AP) Explore further Travel industry embraces virtual reality as marketing tool 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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. BEULAH A notice sent to Beulah City Hall spells out the final working days for most of the miners and staff at Dakota Westmoreland coal mine south of town. The mine will lay off 95 employees almost all of them miners between early March and the end of April as it makes its final coal delivery to the Coyote Station power plant nearby. The Coyote Station switched suppliers and, in May, will start taking coal from a new North American Coal Corp. operation called the Coyote Creek Mining Co. now poised to dig just to the southwest of Dakota Westmoreland. North American is already the biggest coal operator in North Dakota with the Coteau Freedom mine north of Beulah and the Falkirk Mine near Underwood. In its notice to Beulah, Dakota Westmoreland president Jody Mann said layoffs will occur in three batches, starting with 10 employees laid off on March 10, 46 on March 18 and the final 39 will leave April 30. We sincerely regret this layoff has become necessary, wrote Mann, adding that the citys notice complies with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. Beulah Mayor Darrell Bjerke said the timing is made worse with the recent closure of the Beulah Job Service office, just when the laid off workers could have used the employment help. He said Job Service will set up a computer kiosk in Beulah to provide some service to job seekers. They (Job Service) are trying to ease the pain a little, Bjerke said. The Beulah site is one of seven regional office closures by Job Service North Dakota to deal with a $4 million budget shortfall. Dakota Westmoreland miner Dan Neurohr said everyone knew the layoffs were coming and some miners and staff took other mining jobs and replacements knew their jobs could be short-term. The mine had 145 employees at peak. Eighty of the pending layoffs are miners represented by the United Mine Workers of America. I hate to see it all go, said Neurohr, a longtime UMWA miner, who said he's retiring soon. Dakota Westmoreland will retain 40 miners and others to mine the half-million tons it is scheduled to deliver annually through 2021 to the MDU-Heskett Station near Mandan, and to complete reclamation. The Coyote Station power plant is operated by Otter Tail Power Co., one of four owners, along with MDU. Owners said they switched coal suppliers because North American could offer a better price. Welcome Welcome to Conservative Musings. The purpose of this blog is to discuss with everyone (conservatives, moderates, independents and progressives) the issues of the day in an intelligent discussion. We believe that discussion can lead to agreement or an agreement to disagree but it must be held in a mutually respectful environment. We learn nothing from name calling or argument for argument's sake therefore we will not allow that to happen here. We will post our point of view and want a spirited discussion of the issues. Please express your opinions, hopefully we all can learn. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Newlywed couple who lost their wedding day photographs are reunited with them by two strangers A newly married couple were reunited with their wedding photos when another couple randomly found their camera's memory card while out walking. Lauren and Brian Heiser found the card on a street in Laguna Beach, California during a trip to the Montage Hotel on December 27, according to KTLA. The SanDisk memory card was chock-full of photos - but not just any photos. They were pictures of a recent nuptials. And the couple were named Joe and Sindy. The Heisers thought with Sindy's unusual name spelling, the newlyweds would be easy to find - but Google brought up nothing. They also knew from the photo's time stamp that they'd been married on Christmas Eve. So they put an ad in the paper and on Craigslist and called local churches. Still, no one came forward. 'I would be absolutely devastated, as I'm sure most brides would be,' Lauren Heiser told the outlet. 'Bummer, that's what I thought,' said her husband, Brian. The photos encompassed the entire special day, from the bride and groom getting ready separately to the cake cutting and the first dance. 'I just felt so bad, especially for her,' said Lauren. 'Just thinking that this beautiful day goes by, you've planned and prepared and spent thousands of dollars on it, and then there's nothing to remember it by.' Lauren eventually contacted KTLA's 'Problem Solvers' line. When KTLA posted the story on their Facebook page on Thursday, it wasn't long before a woman named Sindy Magdaleno asked how she could get in touch with the couple. Sure enough, Sindy Magdaleno's Facebook page says she was recently married to a man named Josiah. Read more:http://www.queeniebridesmaid.co.uk Liberal Politics from the Heart of Bluegrass Country Five people were killed in a school shooting in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said late Friday. A suspect is reported to be in custody. Multiple victims are reported to be injured. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," Trudeau said in a brief statement from Davos, Switzerland. The shooting took place in the largely indigenous community of La Loche, population 3,000 or so, at The La Loche Community School, which serves grades 7 to 12. "The community usually pulls together really strong in times like this. Right now, La Loche is devastated," Clearwater River Dene Nation Chief Teddy Clark told the local newspaper. "Both Clearwater and La Loche, a lot of people are in shock. This is something that you only see on TV most of the time." "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told CBC News. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A Facebook post on the school's page described an emergency occurring at the Dene Building of the school. No one is being allowed in or out until further notice is given by the RCMP, according to the post. From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix: Acting Mayor Kevin Janvier said RCMP confirmed to him that one person was in custody but he did not know anything about the suspect. According to The Canadian Press, the community's fire chief said a boy with a gun was in custody. CP also reported that a government source confirmed two deaths. According to Janvier, several people were also taken to hospital. "It's just tragic and everybody's running around," said Janvier, adding that to his understanding the shooting at the school took place when an individual walked in and "opened fire in the building." #BREAKING: 5 dead, 2 critically injured in northern Saskatchewan school shooting, PM Justin Trudeau says CTV News (@CTVNews) January 22, 2016 #Saskatchewan Premier #BradWall confirms 'shootings' at school in #LaLoche. Offers full support of province, all necessary resources. CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) January 22, 2016 Updated: School shooting leaves at least two dead in #LaLoche https://t.co/Zh0RzigPK2 pic.twitter.com/PlRqjQ8cAF Metro News Canada (@MetroNewsCanada) January 22, 2016 You can't work at a book publisher for more than five minutes without someone telling you what publishers should do. You know, "to survive." "Be relevant." Something. Even literary agents, who should know better, will get in on this action. One of the most prominent agents in New York, seated next to me at an event a few years back, took the opportunity to lecture me through the appetizer course on how book publishers should band together and "build their own Amazon" to sell books. Digital disruption = solved. "Ma'am, you may have a point. You don't, for All The Reasons, but let's say you did. The book publishing industry is made of book people. Book people as a class pride themselves on knowing about everythingexcept computers, with a vengeance. They still edit 100,000-word manuscripts with pencils. I could count on one finger the number of people in this business who could program a coffee-maker. How in the world would the people in charge hire a single competent developer? If you'd seen the technological boondoggles, the 7-figure white-label 'content management systems,' these rubes have fallen for" If you really enjoy unsolicited opinions about what publishers should do, go work at Amazon to help build a New York book publishing imprint from the ground up. The book people who still talk to you afterward will be happy to tell you what you're doing wrong. (Guys, I'm not working at Amazon anymore. Can we be friends again?) All that said: I know what publishers should do. Some of you are probably familiar with TempleOS, the computer operating system designed by Terry Davis on, according to him, God's instructions. (Rob posted about it a couple of years ago here.) At first, I wasn't sure what to think. I didn't have the technical knowledge to figure out what TempleOS actually was: A real, functioning operating system along the lines of Windows or Mac OS X? Or just a strange piece of software for making your screen look like DOS crossed with Be Here Now? Worse, was Davis faking the God-talks-to-me stuff? Making a "statement" on something? Was thisart? Calculated oddness masquerading as art is a pox on civilizationthink Joaquin Phoenix in I'm Still Here or Crispin Glover's infamous 1987 appearance on David Letterman. More research on my part revealed that Davis, who admits to being schizophrenic and to having manic episodes, actually spent a decade building a functioning, though limited, operating system on the instruction of the Almighty. Among other things, it runs a program called AfterEgypt that allows the user to communicated with God through an oracle. I won't go further than thatothers have written about TempleOS and you can see videos of Terry demonstrating it on YouTube. TempleOS screenshot It would be easy to dismiss Davis and his creation. Beyond the retro look of TempleOS and the apparent incoherence of much of the text, Davis himself sometimes says regrettable, even racist, things online, which may or may not be a symptom of his mental illness. It would be easy to dismiss most things at first glance, though. Dismissing context, facts, and experience in favor of first impressions and easy answersit's kind of an American hobby in 2016. Instead, what I wanted to call out was this thoughtful essay by software engineer Richard Mittonit's Mitton's attempt to look at TempleOS as a work of programming, without any preconceived bias about religion or mental illness, without an angle or an axe to grind, simply as software. Gosh, is it a refreshing read in 2016: There are many bad things to be said about TempleOS, many aspects of it that seem poorly constructed or wouldn't work in the "real world". I'm going to ignore them here. It's very easy to be negative, but you will never learn anything new by doing so Perhaps we should instead look at TempleOS as a research operating system: what can be accomplished if you're not locked into established thinking, backwards compatibility, and market demands. What can we learn if we are only willing to listen? For me, this is what publishers should do, whether they are publishing books, websites, conferences, or, well, operating systems: "Look at this. I'll put a frame around it, because the creator cannot truly frame the work. Here is what you need to know to appreciate this. Here is how you should think about this. Consider." A good publisher is that amazing, life-changing professor from sophomore year at scale. The need for this workpublishingis more desperate than ever, and most book publishers don't even bother to pay lip service to this essential role of their business. Thankfully, technology makes publishers of us all, if we choose to accept the responsibility. Your blog can be your publishing house. Put together a Medium collection of your favorite essays on a subject, with commentary. Don't just share. Frame your selection. Offer rich, well-researched context. Stand over my shoulder and point out where I should direct my attention, what opinions and attitudes I should consider. Call out my preconceived notions. Challenge me to really look, really think, really learn, and judge for myself. Today, I challenge you to go beyond the retweet. Find worka notion, an argument, a story, a work of artthat excites you and challenges you and that you believe deserves broader attention, and give it a frame, some context, and a little push. Publish. If you're a writer interested in making your ideas and knowledge publicwriting, speaking, sharingwithout hating yourself in the morning, sign up for my weekly newsletter here. GLENS FALLS The president of the union that represents Glens Falls Police officers sent a letter this week to all Warren County supervisors and Glens Falls Common Council members, detailing the unions opposition to the proposed consolidation of the Glens Falls Police Department. Jarred Smith, president of the Glens Falls Police Benevolent Association, said the union wanted to make sure that elected officials understand its members oppose a proposal to merge the Police Department with the Warren County Sheriffs Office. We feel the city of Glens Falls needs its own police department, Smith said. Weve been here for over 100 years and wed like to continue to be here. Smith wrote that the issue of consolidation is more than simply dollars and cents and that the city needs a police department with the sole intent to do their best for the citizens and visitors to the city. We fully understand the financial situation that the city finds itself in and have attempted to work with the city to keep costs under control. However, we also feel that the matter of police consolidation is more than simply dollars and cents, Smith wrote. Glens Falls Mayor John Jack Diamond has been pushing for consolidation as a way to help the city lighten its tax burden. He has proposed paying Warren County annual sums, ranging from $1.38 million to $1.44 million per year over a 15-year period, to provide police protection in Glens Falls. Also, financial incentives of up to $400,000 are available from the state to pursue consolidation. County supervisors have not shown interest in the proposal, mainly because the annual fee to be paid by the city would cover less than 40 percent of the cost of providing police protection in Glens Falls with a similar number of officers. The Police Departments budget for 2015 was $3.9 million. Diamond said he was not surprised by the unions opposition, and it did not change his plans to continue to explore it. He said the proposal was not a reflection of any concerns about the departments abilities. City leaders met with representatives of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services on Thursday as the department nears completion of the accreditation process. I get that they are concerned about their livelihood, he said. The Common Council and Board of Supervisors would both have to approve any consolidation plan. Smith, a patrol officer with the Police Department, said a referendum that would gauge the publics interest in consolidation should be pursued by city leaders. Diamond, though, said the possibility of a referendum has been explored, and police consolidation does not qualify as subject to a referendum. The PBAs opposition was has precedent, as the union has come out against the idea when it has been raised in past years. Fire departments and rescue squads around Warren County will be getting new tablet computers in the coming months as part of a project designed to give them more information about the buildings and neighborhoods to which they are sent for emergency calls. The goal of the project is to have emergency responders better able to locate addresses and prepare for their response while en route to a call. The effort is being funded by a $30,000 state grant, which will not only provide equipment and software but also result in improvements to the E-911 databases to provide more information for emergency responders. The grant is being administered by the Warren County Planning Department. County Planner Wayne Lamothe said the grant will help improve the 911 address database, correcting conflicts and errors while also giving fire departments and rescue squads more detailed information about the addresses where they are sent. Participating departments should have the equipment by the middle of the year. The database will include identifiers for addresses, and can give responders building plans and other details, such as exact locations of calls in shopping centers, apartment complexes and other commercial buildings. If there is a fire, they will know the exact type of structure they are dealing with, Lamothe said. Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said the information will help emergency response to school campuses as well. Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty said supervisors were shown the system as it is being used in Fulton County, and the level of detail was impressive. Police agencies will be able to access the information as well, but instead of tablet computers they will use laptops that patrol cars are equipped with. Warren County Emergency Services Director Brian LaFlure said eight fire departments have expressed interest in taking part. LaFlure said the database changes were motivated in part by a state requirement that building codes departments notify fire departments of homes in their coverage areas that are built with lightweight construction, a cheaper type of building with prefabricated trusses that allows fire to spread more quickly than conventional structures, putting firefighters at greater risk of getting caught in roof collapses. Its a good project, LaFlure said. It will give them a lot of information that they can access as they respond to a call. Theyll know where the water mains, gas lines are and hydrant sizes on the streets. LaFlure said not all departments in the county could take part. Some dont have the broadband internet access required to update the tablets, while others already have laptops that could be allowed to access the new information. GLENS FALLS | Locally produced Just Water is among the brands of water charitable organizations are distributing in Flint, Michigan where lead and other contaminants have polluted the public drinking water supply. Philadelphia hip-hop artist Meek Mill, for example, contributed 60,000 bottles of Just Water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, according to celebrity news site TMZ.com. Jim Siplon, chief operating officer of Just Beverages, said the company did not initiate the musicians purchase of the water. He is one of several people who reached out to us, saying, Would you allow us to use your product in a way there? Siplon said. High levels of lead have been detected in Flints water since officials switched from the Detroit municipal system and began drawing water from Flint River to save money in 2014, according to The Associated Press. Authorities are evaluating if the change in drinking water supply is connected to an outbreak of Legionnaires disease. Siplon said he did not have any direct contact with the hip-hop artist, who was born Robert Williams, and he does not know how the musician learned about Just Water. Weve had a lot of interest from people who like our product, and Im going to let them comment on what theyre doing with our product, he said. What I am heartened by is that our product is in the mix now, so that when people are looking for water, that they think of us. Siplon said Meek Mill is not an investor in Just Beverages. If he were, I wouldnt tell you. But no, he said in an interview on Friday. Just Beverages was started in Los Angeles, and established its headquarters in Glens Falls in 2015, after setting up its sole packaging plant at the former St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church on Broad Street in Glens Falls. The company draws water from an underground well on city of Glens Falls-owned watershed property in Queensbury. Siplon on Friday acknowledged some of the companys investors are celebrities. He said the company is purposely keeping their identities confidential, for now, as part of its marketing strategy. Its simply that talking about those things overshadows the brand, he said. And right now we believe the best thing for this product and this operation is to allow the product itself to be the hero. We dont want to clutter the message. Nevertheless, rumors have circulated in Glens Falls and Queensbury in recent months after celebrities have visited the area. Comedian and actress Amy Poehler had dinner at Morgan & Co. restaurant in Glens Falls in December, according to the restaurants owners. And there were rumors that actor Will Smith landed in a private jet at Warren County airport several weeks earlier. Siplon would not say if either Poehler or Smith are investors in Just Beverages. We wouldnt comment on that. But I would say oftentimes people may be too quick to jump to those conclusions, he said. We have many notable people who are associated with our business some of which are in sectors like the ones you are talking about, and some of which are in academic sectors, and some of which are in business sectors, and some of which are in finance sectors, and some of which are in policy sectors, he said. Over time, we would like to allow them to unveil themselves as they see fit. SOUTH GLENS FALLS Enduring a cold week at South Glens Falls Village Hall saved the village about $18,000. The villages furnace died last week, but the first emergency bid was $30,300. So village officials waited while soliciting more proposals, hoping to make a decision this week. By Wednesday night, theyd gotten four bids, including one for $12,750. Thats the one they chose. It would have been far less if theyd known to buy a new furnace last summer, said trustee Tony Girard. You couldnt pick a worse time to pick out a heating system than the coldest day, he said morosely, looking at the prices. Village officials will spend more money later in the year to adjust zones for the new furnace. But bidders told them they could install a furnace on the roof now, set it to blow through the vents, and warm up the entire building. The zones can be dealt with later. The current system of vents and thermostats needs to be replaced, Mayor Joe Orlow said. Theyd have to be retrofitted. Theyre kind of obsolete, he said. Trustee Bill Hayes added that the village hall has six zones far more than necessary, he said. My opinion is, because the budget is tight, I think we ought to replace the unit, to get it operational, and leave zoning until the next budget, he said. The board agreed and pulled the money from the contingency fund, where money is set aside in the budget for emergencies. That budget line is particularly important because the village doesnt have any savings. The board also agreed to spend $2,144 on a chemical that will line the water pipes in the village. Board members hope the chemical will keep rust from shaking loose and falling into the water, which is discolored as it comes out of some residents faucets. The state Department of Health has repeatedly tested the water and says it is safe to drink. The agency also approved the use of the chemical, which is commonly used to keep water pipes from deteriorating. Hayes said residents should see improvement in water color in about two months. Editor: For obvious reasons, the U.S. gun industry and its followers, the NRA and hunting groups, are now arguing that mental illness is the real cause of mass shootings in this country, not the readily available gun. In the editorial section of the Jan. 12 JAMA, this claim is denied by several prominent psychiatrists, including Dr. Renee Binder, president of the American Psychiatric Association, who stated The link between guns and mental illness needs to be debunked because at least 95 percent of these violent acts are caused by persons without serious mental disorders. Another psychiatrist, Dr. Jonathan Metzl of Vanderbilt University, also stated (by blaming mental illness) We lose the sense of other factors such as drinking, arguing with a spouse or neighbor, having access to a firearm and a history of violence all of which are related to gun violence, but not to mental health issues. Other modern democracies, unlike the U.S., have restricted gun access in response to mass shootings, causing the gun shooting (and also gun suicide) rate to drop sharply. A good example is Australia. In 1996 in Port Arthur, Tasmania, a 28-year-old man armed with a semi-automatic rifle, shot and killed 35 people and wounded 18 others. Following this, an entirely new law on guns was passed, the National Firearms Agreement, in which strict laws regarding gun sales, possessions, license requirements, etc. were passed and more than 700,000 prohibited weapons were turned in, in a national buy-back program in 1996 and 1997. Since these gun law reforms, there have been no more mass killings with guns. Also noteworthy, between 2007 and 2012, the annual rate of homicides by firearms per 100,000 population was 31 in the U.S. or 15 times greater than the 0.2 rate in Australia. N.A. HARVEY, M.D. Queensbury My other leans in the early games: UConn over Texas Nebraska Analysis: I know - it's not easy these days, and we were ON these guys last week. I guess that means we SHOULD be on them today, but I can't. They are the worst Ft shooting team I have ever seen. Bad travel spot being at Oklahoma then home now back to the State of Texas. T-Tech played Kansas and Baylor tough at home, and they beat Texas at home. T-Tech is shooting 75% from the line in conference play and they've got the third best two-point defensive efficiency rate in B12 play - that's where WVU likes to score, inside. WVU is 9th in the Conference in turnovers - T-Tech is fourth in creating them. So fading WVU who is shooting 62% from the line and 28% from behind the arc in Conference play. 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. At least 29 people, including six Canadians, were killed in an attack on a top hotel in the capital of Burkina Faso, the latest country to be drawn into a regional jihadist battle against the West and its allies. A family statement on Sunday says surgeon Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn disappeared on Friday night. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who took office just last month, a year after a popular uprising ousted longtime leader Blaise Compaore, called on his fellow citizens to show "courage". Yesterday's violence mirrored an attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in neighbouring Mali in November that left 20 people dead. At least 13 foreigners were among the 29 people killed in the hours-long attack on the cafe and four-star Splendid hotel. "There is a very strong political will on the part of the two states to combine our efforts to fight terrorism", said Burkina Faso's prime minister, Paul Kaba Thieba. Al-Qaida is claiming responsibility, saying it is "revenge against France and the disbelieving West". But he added that the people of Burkina would "always emerge victorious". In this image taken from video from AP Television, a freed woman, center, walks past French special forces near the Splendid Hotel, early Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. One survivor of the attack at the Cappuccino restaurant said that diners first mistook the shots and explosions for firecrackers before two gunmen burst in dressed in black and brandishing assault rifles. A restaurant opposite the hotel was also attacked and a staff member, reached by telephone, said several people had been killed, but was not able to give an exact toll. The US citizen has been named as Michael Riddering, a missionary who moved with his wife to Burkina Faso to run an orphanage. The couple both grew up in the WA country, with Dr Elliot leaving school at 15 to work on his family's farm. Burkinabe forces backed by French soldiers based in neighboring Mali managed to help free at least 126 hostages though officials have said the true number of those held hostage may be higher. Three attackers were killed at the hotel and a fourth was killed when security forces cleared out a second hotel nearby. The doctor and his wife are in their 80s. "During the Ebola crisis, when it was hard to find people to do the digging, Mike would go out and join them so they could continue doing the work", Anderson said. Swiss authorities said its two nationals who were killed were also in Burkina Faso for humanitarian reasons. It's not yet known why, but it's believed they are still alive. Spider-Man, Jumanji get new release dates This bumps up Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales , the fifth in the franchise, which is now set for May 2017. Jon Watts is taking the helm for the "Spider-Man" reboot with the screenplay penned by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. He did not elaborate. "Even as we implement the nuclear deal and welcome our Americans home, we recognize that there remain profound differences between the United States and Iran". When people ask me where U.S.-Iran relations are headed following the initial implementation by both sides of the joint nuclear agreement, my thoughts turn not to big, world-moving possibilities but to something actually quite small: my purchase last July of a plane ticket from Tehran to the provincial city of Shiraz. On Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama announced sanctions on 11 individuals over Iran's ballistic missile testing in October and pledged to counter Iran's "destabilizing behavior" across the Mideast. Iran condemned the new sanctions and their Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan stated the new U.S. sanctions would have no effect. Obama claimed the release of US sailors who had strayed into Iranian territorial waters as another sign of program, as well as the release of a number of Americans held in prison by Iran. Now that the sanctions have been lifted, the USA will be holding talks with Israel on a new "military aid framework" as part of the "compensation package" because of the Iranian nuclear agreement, upgrading their quantitive military edge. Republican presidential candidates hailed the release of US prisoners by Iran this weekend but also took the time to criticize Obama's foreign policy. Speaking to parliament on Sunday, Rouhani, a pragmatic cleric elected in 2013 on promises to end Iran's years of sanctions and isolation, said he looked forward to an economic future less dependent on oil exports. Preparing for taking the measures under the JCPOA needs coordination with Iranian officials, which made the visit of the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to Tehran necessary, Bayat said. Washington still maintains separate, less comprehensive sanctions on Iran over its missile program. President Obama was right to express satisfaction - and take some of the credit - for the successful implementation of the worldwide agreement to place limitations on Iran's nuclear activities and for the release of five Americans who were held by the Islamic Republic, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who had been imprisoned for more than a year on trumped-up charges. Khamenei's nod also was needed to green-light additional talks leading to the two-country prisoner deal that culminated Saturday. "Iran's accusers", Buchanan argues, "should produce their evidence, if any, that Iran had, or still has, a nuclear bomb". The Iran nuclear deal was the product of years of careful negotiations between Tehran and the P5+1 - the permanent UN Security Council members and the European Union. If this deal is truly in the interests of the United States and Iran, whose interests would be served by scuttling it? Critics of last year's nuclear deal argued the release of the prisoners released this weekend should have been included. That funding will likely flow directly into the pockets of militant groups that Iran has historically supported in the Middle East, according to Jonathan Schanzer, a former terrorism finance analyst at the Treasury Department. "But this is not going to lead to some kind of mass benefits for Iran - not given today's oil prices", he added. "It is not coincidental that that money was exchanged and that the Iranians, I understand, verified that it had been fully delivered before they let these three people actually leave the country", he said Wednesday. State Of The Union: Obama stresses U.S. strength He touched on many issues, such as cures for cancer, the divide between Republicans and Democrats, and our military. The most used word in Obama's 2009 State of the Union address was "economy" - he said it 30 times. Gutierrez hedged a bit while Harvey looked frightened, but eventually she laughed, teasing him, "I'm not going to take your vehicle ... your mansion". Comedian/TV personality Steve Harvey hosts the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gutierrez revealed that after the Miss Universe pageant, she remained relatively silent about the incident because she wanted to "take a rest" and be with family. A month after Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia as Miss Universe 2015, the two spoke to TODAY's Natalie Morales about how the ordeal has been. Ariadna first brought up the Justin Bieber meme, where Steve's face is set into Justin's "Sorry" music video. "I did not feel like I lost anything". Gutierrez appeared on "The Steve Harvey Show" and during the interview, she playfully admonished Harvey to learn how to read after he asked her how she felt about the way he handled the situation since it happened to her. "I understand the boycott", he said. Pia added that after her family had settled in England, that's when she started to devote her time and efforts to win a Miss Philippines title. I was asking God to help me increase my global persona. For his part, Harvey said he encountered a lot of hate and even threats following his hosting mistake. I really am. I'm beyond sorry for what happened that night and that it was you. "Steve, don't beat yourself up for this anymore, let's move forward, let's be happy", she told the host. "I was careful and really concerned for her, because I knew that moment, she was hurting", Pia related. "That's not who I am". Harvey said in jest that he would not be going to Colombia for vacation, to which Gutierrez responded: "I think they're (Colombians) gonna forgive you after this interview". He has been a friend to my children thats the man I know. Celine Dion mourns husband Rene Angelil at open casket visitation Though she publicly wept at Thursday's public viewing of her husband's casket, Dion was stoic at the funeral service . Hundreds of mourners have flocked to view Celine Dion's late husband Rene Angelil before his Friday funeral. The state news agency claimed that the student entered North Korea nominally for tourism, though the real intention was to undermine North Korea's unity under the USA government's acquiescence and control. Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency identifies the student as Otto Frederick Warmbier. He was in North Korea with Young Pioneer Tours, a China-based company founded in 2008. UVA's student directory has an Otto Frederick Warmbier listed as an undergraduate commerce student. "Despite what you may hear, North Korea is probably one of the safest places on Earth to visit", the company says on its website. Johnson said Young Pioneer Tours was in touch with Warmbier's family and United States officials. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said it was aware of the report. Tensions are now running high on the Korean peninsula, as North Korea braces for fresh sanctions in the wake of the fourth nuclear test it carried out January 6. Those arrested have sometimes read statements of guilt that they later said were coerced. If confirmed, the student would be the third Western citizen held in North Korea. It said a man identified as Kim Dong Chul was being held by the North and said authorities had accused him of spying and stealing state secrets. U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, whose district includes the area where Warmbier went to high school, also tweeted Friday that his office was trying to contact the State Department "to assist however possible in getting Mr. Warmbier home". In recent years, North Korea has taken a number of Americans into custody, often for activities related to spreading Christianity and often only releasing them when a high-profile dignitary visits Pyongyang. State Department spokesman John Kirby, citing "privacy considerations", declined to comment beyond acknowledging the reports of Warmbier's arrest and stressing that the welfare of U.S. citizens was always a top priority. Critics say such trips have provided diplomatic credibility to the North. In 2014, North Korea called for a high-level US delegation to come and discuss the release of two Americans then under detention. North Korea is holding at least three South Koreans and one Canadian. South Korean-born Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced last month to hard labour for life, according to state media. Did Obama Go Too Far on Immigration? Supreme Court to Decide However, Tuesday's announcement by the Supreme Court gave them and around 20,000 other similar families in the Upstate hope. The court in 2012 and 2015 rejected conservative challenges to his signature healthcare law. The U.S. military has sent a B-52 bomber on a low-level flight over South Korea as a show of force in response to North Korea's latest nuclear test. The news from North Korea reignited fears in the worldwide community over Pyongyang's efforts to build a warhead small enough to be mounted on a missile and capable of reaching the shores of the mainland US. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the head of Japan's Defense Agency Gen Nakatani said the North's recent actions "threaten national security". Curtis Scaparrotti, head of US military deployment in South Korea, put his troops on the highest alert possible Monday to deter "any provocation coming from North Korea", an official from United States Forces Korea said, according to Reuters. "B-52 missions reinforce the US commitment to the security of our allies and partners, and demonstrate one of the many alliance capabilities available for the defense of the Republic of Korea", US Seventh Air Force commander, Lieutenant General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, said in an e-mailed statement from USFK. North Korea is likely to engage in new provocations, Gen. Lee Sun-jin, the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on a visit to Osan Air Base south of here. The six-party talks involve South Korea, the DPRK, China, the United States, Japan and Russian Federation. US leaders discussed Monday sending more strategic American weaponry to its ally South Korea days after North Korea announced it had tested a hydrogen bomb. As worldwide sanctions punishing Pyongyang for its first three nuclear tests appear to have failed in reining in the North's nuclear program, China is increasingly seen as the only real power with leverage over the Kim Jong-un regime. The test on Wednesday of what the North claimed was its first hydrogen bomb has sparked global alarm and raised tensions along the inter-Korean frontier, with Seoul reviving cross-border propaganda broadcasts. North Korea has expanded propaganda broadcasts in border areas in response to South Korea's resumption of such broadcasts, a Seoul official said on Monday. South Korean measures on the jointly run factory park in the North will take effect on Tuesday. The broadcasts - which typically include news, weather, anti-North Korea messages and K-pop - are seen as an act of aggression by the North. South Korea's president Park Geun-hye plans to make a speech to the nation on Wednesday in which she is expected to express strong will to respond to North Korea's nuclear test, a presidential official said. South Korean conservative activists hold placards showing portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un during a rally denouncing North Korea's hydrogen bomb test in Seoul on January. United Kingdom lawmakers slam Trump, but most oppose banning him Philip Davies, a Conservative, said he doesn't share Trump's views, but admires the Republican candidate's direct approach. No and members of parliament hadn't planned to ban him anyway, especially because they don't have the power to do that. North Korea's fourth nuclear test has quickly escalated into the most high-profile standoff with the belligerent, brainwashed country in three years. "Even though we do not pose any threat to them, North Koreans have used the excuse of the threat posed by the USA and our allies to develop their risky capabilities", he added. North Korea has expanded propaganda broadcasts in border areas in response to South Korea's resumption of such broadcasts, a Seoul official said on Monday. Seoul's current envoy to the talks is to meet his Washington and Tokyo counterparts Wednesday, before moving on to China for dialogue with Beijing's representative the following day. "They absolutely took notice", CNN's Will Ripley reported from the North Korean capital. The U.S. military has almost 30,000 troops in South Korea, but can also quickly deploy additional conventional forces and armaments including nuclear weapons from regional bases in Japan and Guam. "It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticize", the North's Korean Central News Agency quoted Kim as saying during a tour of the Armed Forces Ministry. The center, opened on January 1 by Kim Jong Un, is centered around a replica of the 2012 rocket that launched North Korea's first and only satellite into orbit. China fears North Korea's nuclear programme destabilises its neighbourhood and gives the United States a pretext to send weapons and forces to the region. Scaparrotti was touring the base, which is 55 kilometers south of the capital Seoul, together with South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Lee Sun-jin. South Koreans living near the Demilitarized Zone are anxious about the possibility of a North Korean attack with tensions high after Pyongyang's nuclear test last week. The display of military might came as North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un today justified his country's first hydrogen bomb test as self-defence to prevent nuclear war with the United States, in his first comments since the explosion. A top North Korean official told a rally on Friday that the broadcasts had pushed the rival Koreas to the "brink of war". Seoul's unification ministry said Monday that it will restrict entrance of South Korean workers into the Kaesong industrial complex, the only remaining symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, from Tuesday. The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber and part of the U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Pacific Command said. It may take weeks or longer to confirm or refute the North's claim that it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, which would mark a major and unanticipated advance for its still-limited nuclear arsenal. Ted Cruz Says Donald Trump's Immigration Policy Amounts to 'Amnesty' When faced with a decision between the two men, Graham said: "What does it really matter?" John Kasich, making it hard for any one of them to mount a strong challenge. The website of South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported Monday that the Korean Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea is likely to undertake hit-and-run provocations in response. Representatives of South Korea, China, the United States and Japan in six-party talks to dismantle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear program will meet this week to discuss the DPRK's fourth nuclear test, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. South Korea said Monday, January 11, that further U.S. "strategic assets" might be deployed to the Korean peninsula, following a flyover by a US B-52 bomber in response to North Korea's latest nuclear test. "The United States and South Korea are continuously and closely having discussions on additional deployment of strategic assets", the spokesman, Kim Min-seok, said. The comments are adding to media speculation that Washington could move the USS Ronald Reagan, its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier stationed in Japan, into Korean waters and also bring in B-2 stealth bombers and F-22 stealth fighter jets. North Korea's test on Wednesday angered both the United States and China, which was not given prior notice, though the USA government and weapons experts doubt the North's claim that the device it set off was a hydrogen bomb. The B-52, flying out of Andersen Air Force Base on Guam, was joined by South Korean F-15 fighter aircraft and U.S. F-16 fighter aircraft. The flight follows the recent nuclear test by North Korea. Lee, who was conducting a joint inspection of air force units, said there is a "very high likelihood" North Korea would undertake more provocative acts, and precautions are necessary. Meanwhile, the U.S. sent a heavy bomber over South Korea on Sunday in a show of force. "It is legitimate right of a sovereign state, which no one can refute", Kim was quoted saying by KCNA, as noted by Korea Times Sunday. The broadcasts, which include "K-pop" music and statements critical of the Kim government, began on Friday and are considered an insult by Pyongyang. The United States and other global powers condemned North Korea for testing another bomb, and the United Nations Security Council met in emergency session to consider increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang. "There has been an increase in troops along the border following North Korea's fourth nuclear test", Mr Kim said. Another official reportedly said that the sound coming from North Korea was "very weak", but analysts had previously noted that Pyongyang's primary concern would be to nullify the impact of South Korea's messages north of the border. 124 South Korean companies operate just north of the border at the complex, which was shut down for several months in 2013 during a period of high tensions. George Afriyie Facebook: Amartey will be regular Leicester He trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday ahead of Saturday's home clash with Stoke City, where he could make his debut. South Korean special envoy Hwang Joon-kook will meet his Japanese and United States counterparts in Seoul on Wednesday to hold "in-depth talks" on possible diplomatic responses to the North's nuclear weapon test, its first since 2013 and fourth overall. "This was a demonstration of the ironclad US commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland", said PACOM Commander Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. "The United States and South Korea are continuously and closely having discussions on additional deployment of strategic assets", Kim Min-seok, spokesman at the South Korean defense ministry, said on Monday, declining to give specifics. Other strategic assets under consideration reportedly include a USA aircraft carrier, a nuclear-powered submarine and F-22 stealth fighters. A handout picture provided by the South Korean Air Force on January 11, 2016 shows a US B-52 strategic bomber flying over South Korea with fighter jets from the two countries, over South Korea, January 10, 2016. The B-52 flew low over an air base close to the North-South border. The B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range, heavy bomber that can fly up to 15,200 meters (50,000 feet) and has the capability to carry 31,000 kilogram (70,000 pounds) of nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance, was armed with nuclear missiles and "bunker buster" bombs while crossing South Korean territory. "A lot of North Korean military commanders find US bombers especially threatening, given the destruction here in Pyongyang during the Korean War, when much of the city was flattened", Ripley said. Pyongyang claimed Wednesday that it had tested a hydrogen bomb, a thermonuclear device far more powerful than the three atomic bombs the North Korean capital has tested in the past. South Korea said Monday it will further limit access by its nationals to a joint industrial park in North Korea to ensure their safety following the North's claimed test of a hydrogen bomb last week. North Korea is likely to engage in new provocations, Gen. Lee Sun-jin, the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on a visit to Osan Air Base south of here. The order was announced by Curtis Scaparrotti, the head of United States military deployment in South Korea, who was visiting the Osan airbase, run by Washington and Seoul. China has signed up for tough United Nations sanctions on North Korea and insists it follows them, including carrying out border inspections, but it also provides large amounts of aid off the books to Pyongyang, experts and diplomats say. The complex, where South Korean factories employ North Korean workers, is an important source of revenue for the impoverished North. North Korea says U.S. university student arrested South Korean-born Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced last month to hard labour for life, according to state media. North Korea in the past has sometimes released or deported US detainees after high-profile Americans visited the country. Regularly ahead of the curve, the Review has opposed federal drug policy for nearly 50 years, was a lonely media voice against the massive freeways planned for Washington, was an early advocate of bikeways and light rail, and helped spur the creation of the DC Statehood Party and the national Green Party, In November 1990 it devoted an entire issue to the ecologically sound city and how to develop it. The article was republished widely. Even before Clinton's nomination we exposed Arkansas political scandals that would later become major issues. . We reported on NSA monitoring of U.S. phone calls in the 1990s, years before it became a major media story. In 2003 editor Sam Smith wrote an article for Harper's comprised entirely of falsehoods about Iraq by Bush administration officials. The Review started a web edition in 1995 when there were only 27,000 web sites worldwide. Today there are over 170 million active sites. In 1987 we ran an article on AIDS. It was the first year that more than 1,000 men died of the disease. In the 1980s, Thomas S Martin predicted in the Review that "Yugoslavia will eventually break up" and that "a challenge to the centralized soviet state" would occur as a result of devolutionary trends. Both happened. In the 1970s we published a first person account of a then illegal abortion. In 1971 we published our first article in support of single payer universal health care In 1970, we ran a two part series on gay liberation. i n 1965 we called for the end of the draft. In the 1960s we proposed community policing This, he said, was done between November and December 31, last year, after preconditions for such transfers had been satisfied. He made this known while speaking at the official opening of the Kumasi Zonal Office of the NPRA, the first to be established outside the Accra Head Office. The presence and visibility of the Authority in the nations second largest city, is meant to provide service providers, employers and workers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the new pensions scheme and its implementation. Dr. Nii Sowa said his outfit had so far registered 256 schemes under the mandatory second-tier occupational pension scheme and to ensure compliance, the NPRA had begun implementing its sanctions regime. They were keen to see to the proper implementation of the pension scheme, which he said, offered the Ghanaian worker, best income security after retiring from active service. He underlined its resolve to improve coverage to all in the formal and informal sectors. Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, pledged the governments determination to ensure that there was retirement security for the people. It would therefore insist that employee contributions were properly invested, he added. The Minister used the occasion to hint of the decision to wean the NPRA off government subvention. So, considering whether you are preparing your child for a stable and successful adulthood can be clouded by the daily struggle to simply keep them healthy and happy. But, evidence suggests that parents can use simple techniques to help their child build their confidence in what they can achieve. Dr Sam Wass, a developmental psychologist based at the University of East London and Cambridge University, recently told The Independent that studies show that parents should praise their children for trying hard rather than being clever. If you praise children for being clever they start shying away from hard challenges that might disprove the idea that theyre clever. So its a bad thing to do whereas praising a child for effort is a safe thing to do because a child is always in control of how much effort it puts in," he said. READ ALSO : How parenting in Ghana shapes sexist stereotypes Dr Carol Dweck, who is a leading researcher in motivation, boils the difference to promoting a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Praising a child for reading a book and describing them as clever would be an example of a fixed mindset. On the contrary, congratulating a child for working hard in order to learn how to read the book would be considered a growth mindset. This processes emphasises the importance of learning, rather than celebrating seemingly inherent talents for certain subjects and activities. A 2007 study at a New York City school co-authored by Dr Dweck suggested that children who were encouraged according to a fixed mindset saw a drop in their maths grades over two years, while children praised using growth mindset methods improved. The paper published in the Child Development journal, which involved 373 7th grade students, showed that promoting the idea that intelligence is malleable was the key to success. Explaining the study in a video for the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Dr Dweck said: They [students] had entered seventh grade with just about identical achievement test scores. "But by the end of the first term, their grades jumped apart and continued to diverge over the next two years. The only thing that differed were their mindsets." "The number one goal for kids in the fixed mindset is 'look smart at all times and at all costs.' "But in a growth mindset, where they believe intelligence can be developed, their cardinal rule is 'LEARN at all times and at all costs.' And a growth mindset can be nurtured from the beginning of a childs life, or introduced later in life but it becomes harder to change attitudes. Sal Khan, the founder of the Khan Academy non-profit education organisation, told Upworthy: "I think you can start from as soon as they can understand language. I think children naturally have a growth mindset." The more than 5000 demonstrators drawn from the workers unions of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have also called for a full disclosure of the agreement signed between the government of Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Following the recent bailout of government by the Bretton Woods institution, spokespersons of government have dropped hints about a possible takeover or sale or privatization of the Electricity Company of Ghana. The move will also lead to the partition of the Volta River Authority into two entities in order to create space or allow for the participation of private businesses. In the middle of the confusion, Ghana has been yet to determine the ownership of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO). The company siphons much of the energy that is produced by the VRA to the detriment of ordinary Ghanaian citizens. Meanwhile, Mr Joel Touhas-Bernate, Mission Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Ghana, says the increase in electricity tariffs reflected a new reality for Ghana. He said the global environment with declining commodity prices and tightening in international markets has lead to higher borrowing costs and therefore the need to raise revenues locally. According to him, the increase in tariff was necessary while steps are being taken to improve electricity supply by bringing in new producers. What this brilliant White man sitting in Washington with a cup of hot coffee in hand is simply trying to say is that, in order for private companies to find the energy sector lucrative for investment, the power sector must be restructured to pay for existing debts and to maximize profit for the new comers. Unfortunately, what Ghanas President, John Dramani Mahama and his administration is refusing to recognise is that all decisions of government have political implications. A self-styled businessman, who has been accused of defrauding a trader of GHC7, 500 under the pretext of securing him an Australian visa but failed to do so, has appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra.Tony Nikon, who also presented himself as staff of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences.The court presided over by Ms Ruby Naa Adjaley Quayson admitted Nikon to bail in the sum of GH 7,500.00 with two sureties, one to be a public servant earning not less than GHC600.00 a month.Nikon is expected to reappear on February 1.Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu said in June 2013, the complainant Augustine Frempong, resides at Dome, Accra, while the accused persons live at Kwabenya.Chief Inspector Adu said in June 2013, the complainant decided to travel to Australia and therefore needed the necessary documents to facilitate his journey.The complainant discussed the issue with Nikon who attends the same church with him (complainant).In their discussion, accused told the complainant that he was a staff of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and that he could easily secure him the travelling documents at a cost of 6,000 dollars.Based on that information, prosecution said Nikon collected GH7, 500 cedis as part payment and promised to provide the travelling documents within one and half months.Nikon after collecting the money failed to honour his promise and went into hiding.Luck run out on Nikon when he was spotted at Dome Market and the complainant caused his arrest and handed him over to the Police.Source: GNA The court, however, after listening to his explanation entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.Fofoe and Anane have been remanded into lawful custody to re-appear on February 5.The eight-member robbery gang was alleged to have robbed a businesswoman, Madam Ann Brewin of monies and a vehicle at Airport Residential Area.The robbers made away with 10,000 dollars, GHC8,000.00, an IPhone, wedding rings valued at 22,000 dollars and Hyundai bus valued GHC45,000.00.Handing sentence to Ibrahim and Dushie, the trial judge Mr Aboagye Tandoh lamented over the modus operandi of the two convicts, adding their conduct must be discouraged.The case of prosecution was that the complainant employed Fofoe as driver. On January 13 this year, the complainants husband kept 10,000 dollars in a vehicle driven by Fofoe.Fofoe, according to prosecution, conspired with one of the accused persons who is at large and they managed to recruit six others including Ibrahim and Dushie to execute the robbery.On January 14, this year whiles Fofoe and the complainant were returning from dinner, the gang robbed them of their monies and items.Ibrahim who is also a driver took over the Hyundai bus and fled with the rest of the suspects.However their vehicle was involved in an accident at Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout. The robbers fled but bystanders suspecting them, apprehended Ibrahim.Prosecution said Ibrahim was handed over to the Police and the complainants husband after visiting the accident scene caused the arrest of Fofoe.Prosecution said police are making efforts to apprehend the rest of the suspects who are at large.Source: GNA Counsel for defendant, Godwin Tamakloe was certain that the case will not move beyond the preliminary level. This case is dead on arrival. It will not move beyond the preliminary level, he told Accra-based Joy FM. The incumbent NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korle, Nii Armah Ashittey and one Nii Johnson Coleman have filed a joint suit at an Accra High Court against the Electoral Commission (EC) and the NDC Dr Rawlings. They are challenging her legitimacy to contest for a parliamentary seat under the 1992 constitution because she is not a registered voter. Her lawyer however, believes his client will emerge victorious just as she did in the first suit. She has more than a legitimate right. As we speak, she is a Parliamentary candidate elect of the National Democratic Congress no two ways about it. Asked whether Dr. Rawlings has a voters ID, her lawyer responded saying, what she has is that she has been qualified, she contested the election and won by popular votes Anita Erskine, founder of Brand Woman Africa and celebrated radio and TV show host made this known during her interaction with women at #SheHiveAccra powered by She Leads Africa on Friday. According to her, many women are reluctant to come out and share ideas with their fellow women because of fear that the other woman might overtake them in life. Such a situation, she believes is what continues to hold African women back. "If you don't at least collaborate, if you don't find it within your heart to at least celebrate, if you don't, at the end of the day find a courage to pick your phone to ask a friend for a meeting so you can communicate". Anita Erskine further touched on what women can do to overcome their worst fears in life, adding that: "Collaboration is something that holds us back. We don't do it as African women because we are always afraid that she will do better than me, because I have told her what I want to do." "There is nothing you can do on your own, trust me, absolutely nothing. And even if you did do it all on your own, it is why you are almost stagnant. One of the biggest issues that holds African women back; we don't divide and conquer," she added. On her part, Farida Alabo of Trifecta Management Services Limited urged women to be abreast with the online marketing trends currently available to grow their businesses. "There is no need to spread yourself over all social media platforms. You must align your social media presence with your goal...Don't be scared of competition, but make sure you don't become stagnant," she added. The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr said communication from the camp of Ghanas main opposition party on the issue has been contradictory therefore, it is imperative for them to get their story straight. Since the arrival of the Guantanamo bay detainees in Ghana a few weeks ago, there has been public uproar with some Ghanaians and opposition parties asking government to return them back to the United States. After weeks of public pressure on Nana Addo to state his stance on the matter after rumours circulated that the NPP flagbearer was consulted by the US before the detainees were brought into the country. But his spokesperson, Mustapha Hamid dimssied such claims. Speaking on Radio Golds Alhaji and Alhaji on Saturday, Mr. Pratt said Nana Adds hesitation to speak on the matter is questionable. When people called on Nana Addo to state his position on the Gitmo issue, it took a while for him to state his position. There was obviously some hesitation on his part to come public and to make a declaration. Indeed, he came public only after it had been alleged that on two or three occasions that the Americans consulted him and that he gave his approval as an individual that was when he came public. Even when he came public, he did not confirm or deny whether or not he had indeed spoken to the Americans and whether or not he had indeed approved the deal he didnt speak on that. He focused his attention on legal and constitutional issues and so on and left it there, he said. Mr. Pratt continued saying, Interestingly, when the allegation was first made, Mustapha Hamid who is spokesperson of Nana Akufo-Addo was the one who responded. Mustapha Hamid denied categorically that nobody had consulted Nana Addo, that Nana Addo had not met the Americans, that this whole thing had come to him as a surprise. The next person to speak was Sir John who said that Nana Addo was consulted but that was six days after the arrival of the detainees He therefore challenged Nana Addo and the NPP to come clean on the matter. Now the question that I want to pose is what is the truth? Was Nana consulted six weeks before the arrival of the detainees? Was he consulted six days before the arrival of the detainees? Was he consulted when the detainees were already in the country? Or was he not consulted at all? he asked. According to him, all of these four, five positions cannot be true. Only one can be true so why are we getting different versions of the same story from the same political party? What is happening? Why cant they tell us one story? He said since Ghanaians including the NPP have always lambasted government officials for singing from different hymn books on many different occasionsand that this destroys the credibility of government. The Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the party, Anthony Nukpenu revealed that it will consider dismissing members who take the party to court without exhausting the partys structure. Read more: Klottey Korle MP sues Zanetor Rawlings He said "I believe that the time has come for the party to take stringent measures and decisions to dismiss people from this party, we cannot continue going this way." "You have not exhausted the grievance channel of the party and you just go and file this kind of suit just to drag people up and down." Nii Armah Ashitey and Nii John Coleman are challenging the legitimacy of Dr Zanetor Rawlings to contest for a parliamentary seat under the 1992 constitution. According to them, "A declaration that the Dr Zanetor Rawlings election as a parliamentary Candidate elect for the Klottey-Korley Constituency is null and void and is of no effect as same violates the constitution of the NDC and the rules governing the conduct of the 216 parliamentary primaries." See related: Court throws out suit against Zanetor Rawlings The petition has become necessary following revelations on August, 20 2015, by a group of NDC activists and members who engaged the media to communicate how they had been financially resourced by the leadership of the NDC, led by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to illegally recruit over 10,000 Togolese citizens to register on the Ghana electoral roll in 2012. According to the five, the leader of the group, Robert Tetteyfio Adjase, accompanied by other leaders, including Hohoe chairman Harker Brempong; Ketu South chairman Doe Gadekah; Public Relations Officer (PRO) Robert Kabutey and Victor Bogah, "stated categorically that the current register is riddled with names of Togolese from Aflao to Nkwanta in the Northern Volta and that the over 76,000 Togolese found on the Ghanaian register was just an insignificant number, compared to what really is the case." Below is the full statement:Director General Criminal Investigations Department Ghana Police ServiceAccra11th January, 2016Dear Sir,PETITION FOR COMMENCEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATION OF REGISTRATION OF ALIENS (TOGOLESE CITIZENS) BY ASIEDU NKETIAH DURING THE 2012 VOTERS REGISTRATION EXERCISE. Dear Sir, We, the undersigned, wish to petition your esteemed outfit to commence criminal investigations into a manifest case of registration of Togolese Citizens, which inter alia, is in contravention of PNDCL 284. As you are already aware, Section 27 of PNDCL384 makes it an offence for any person who is not eligible to be entered into the voters register, to be registered as a voter. It specifically states as follows: Section 27Registration Offences. A person who (a) knowingly makes a false statement in or in connection with an application to have his name included in a register; or (b) having applied to have his name included in a divisional register, without withdrawing his application, applies to have his name included in another divisional register; or (c) by the use of force or threats prevents or attempts to prevent a person from exercising his right to register as a voter, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 1 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both, and shall, for a period of five years from the date of the expiration of his term of imprisonment be disqualified from being registered as a voter or voting at an election. This petition has become necessary following revelations on 20th August 2015 by a group of NDC activists and members who engaged the media to communicate how they had been financially resourced by the leadership of the NDC, led by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to ILLEGALLY recruit over 10,000 Togolese CITIZENS to register on the Ghana electoral roll in 2012. The leader of the group, Robert Tetteyfio Adjase, accompanied by other leaders of the group, including its Hohoe chairman, Harker Brempong; Ketu South chairman, Doe Gadekah; Public Relations Officer (PRO), Robert Kabutey and Victor Bogah, stated categorically that the current register is riddled with names of Togolese from Aflao to Nkwanta in the Northern Volta and that the over 76,000 Togolese found on the Ghanaian register was just an insignificant number, compared to what really is the case. Their main concern was the fact that the NDC was kicking against the call for an entirely new voters register to be used for the conduct of the 2016 general elections. This, Adjase said, was because: The NDC and its leadership know that when a new voters register is compiled they will lose the 2016 general elections. Because in the Volta Region, when it is time for registration, a lot of big men come and then we cross over to the other side of the border, bring in some Togolese, explain to them what we want them to do and then we give them motorbikes, a lot of things, promises, especially this health insurance thing. These aforementioned persons made these revelations live on various media outlets in Ghana. Please find copies attached. It is our case that, given the accusation by Messrs Adjase, Brempong, Gadekah, Kabutey and Bogah, the NDC PARTY financed their illegal activity of registering ALIENS; we the undersigned respectfully urge the CID to arrest Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the General Secretary of the NDC and Dr Kwabena Adjei, the Chairman of the Party at the time, for questioning. Counting on your cooperation. In accordance with Article 68(5) of the Constitution, the salary, allowance, facilities, pension and gratuity of the President is exempted from tax. But Dr Nduom said, "It is wrong, and absolutely wrong" for the president to be exempted from paying tax. "I prefer repealing the item in the constitution that exempts the president from paying tax. It is wrong, and absolutely wrong. You cant have the president not paying tax. What moral right does the president then have to come and ask you and I to pay tax? The new Income Tax Act as well as other taxes and levies have caused a major brouhaha in the country, with organised labour demanding reductions. See also: Speaking to the media in Accra on Thursday, 21 January 2016, Dr. Nduom believes government cannot continue to tax the easiest things it can lay hands on while it fails to widen the tax net through a proper identification system. "We need to restructure our identification system so that everyone is registered onto the system and we know what people are doing, and this can easily lead to a broadening of the tax base and making a cash-lite society. If we have an effective, efficient and robust identification system, who can evade taxes forever?" he asked. "Someone has decided that we have some deficits, we have some debts to pay and so they decided that, what is easiest to tax is what they tax. We have to think broader so that we can bring other people into the tax paying regime so we can easy collect more money,"he added. "What moral right does the president then have to come and ask you and I to pay tax?", Dr Nduom asked. In a report by Punch News, 50-year-old Dayo Kamorudeen, a taxi driver in the Lekki area of Lagos still dont understand how his wife managed to keep such a secret from him. His wife claimed to have turned to one Alfa Shehu Lukman for help over a suspicious dream she had, but in the end became a victim of sex slavery. Read her story below. The dream was frightening. I narrated the dream to him and he told me that a spirit husband was behind my problem. He said the problem required an urgent solution so that the spirit husband would not be able to kill me. He told me that after I had taken my bath the following day, I should call him and he would come with the medicine. The following morning, I took my bath and called him. When he came, he brought out a razor and some medicine he had prepared and said he would need to make an incision on my private part. I asked why he couldnt just explain how it would be done so that my husband could do it for me when he came back from work but he said that it was a taboo for husbands to handle such medicine. He told me that to ward off the spirit husband, the incision was just the preliminary treatment. He said the medicine would be rubbed on the incision after it had been made. I agreed to it and he was making the incision when he suddenly grabbed my neck and forced himself on me. He raped me on the three-seater couch in our sitting room. He told me not to worry and that the spirit husband would leave me alone so far as I heeded his instructions. I asked why he would do such a terrible thing to me when he knew my children and husband. He said what was done was done. He said he used a medicine on me while raping me and that he would leave me to my problem if I decided to make a scene. He said I would simply run mad. He said another condition that would make me to retain my sanity was that anytime he needed sex and he called me, I must always heed his call wherever I was and that I must not tell anyone. I have been his sex slave for the past two years because of this. He calls me anytime he wants sex. Sometimes he sleeps with me in our house when my husband is away, sometimes he demands that I should come to his house in Akute. The victims husband Kamorudeen, also revealed the Alfa has also attempted to rape his daughter in the past. However, Alfa Shehu Lukman who was later tracked down, denied having an affair with the woman. It would have been another day of sorrow in the already troubled North-East of Nigeria. if not for the efforts of our gallant troops fighting the insurgency. Punch news, reported that the incident happened on Friday when three suicide bombers, two females and a male suicide bombers out to create havoc were intercepted by the military. The three suicide bombers, two females and a male, attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri but were intercepted by vigilante men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road. Says commander Lafiya Dole. The suspected suicide bomber was said to have blown up herself alongside another bomber in an attempt to detonated the bomb on her when she saw the troops. The other also tried detonating his bomb at the checkpoint but was shot by the soldier before he could get any closer. Read More: Residents queue up to identify dead relatives following Boko Haram attack it was also gathered that similar attacks have also been averted by the troop in recent days. Similarly, on January 18 at Chukun Gudu, troops encountered and destroyed terrorists camps along Jillam, Bula Butube general areas. During the exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed, two AK47 rifles, two AK47 magazines, two solar panels and two GSM handsets were recovered, while one Isuzu vehicle was destroyed. On January 20, troops cleared terrorist camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa Local Government Area. While conducting operations in Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road, our gallant troops intercepted 10 Boko Haram suspects from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items. Suspects are presently undergoing interrogation. Also, troops had an encounter with terrorists during advance from Wajirok to Ajigin. During the encounter, three of the terrorists were killed 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! Aluko made the call in an interview by telephone on Saturday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). "Improvement of our environmental health will reduce the amount of money spent on managing outbreaks of preventable diseases which are mostly caused by poor sanitation, he said. According to Aluko, government needs to intensify efforts to ensure that tangible emphasis is placed on the environmental component of disease-control programme. "This is because strategies to control diseases such as Lassa fever ought to be all-embracing, involving such issues as housing, health, food safety, general hygiene, water sanitation and waste management. "A filthy environment stimulates the proliferation of rodents; the vectors of diseases, government needs to intensify efforts to tackle the menace of Lassa fever. "Such efforts must involve community and household sanitation strategies. "Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and clinical cases of the disease have existed long time ago, he said. According to the lecturer, the primary animal host of the virus a type of rat that is indigenous to most of African countries. Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Deputy Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri. Irabor said that identifying the true identity of the suspect was to avoid past mistakes where individuals were arrested based on mistaken identities. ``We are in custody of a good number of suspected terrorists that were apprehended as a result of our routine operations. ``One of those suspects is believed to be on the list of our 100 most wanted terrorists leaders,'' he said. Irabor, however, said that the army must ascertain the true identity of the suspect before final confirmation to the media. ``There are checks that must be done before final confirmation, facial attributes tended to show that he is the one. ``But then, there are other things we need to do to ensure that is he who we said he is, `` Although the facial attributes confirmed he is the one, but it is not just by looks alone. ``We have had cases where we had mistaken identity, only to come up. to say we are sorry, that is what we are trying to avoid this time, Irabor said. Speaking on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, Olu-Adegboruwa stressed that the war on corruption is taking a path of vendetta rather than prosecution of corrupt individuals. Anti-corruption fight seems to be a distraction. Corruption is not just on stealing money. It is in abuse of office. It happens on the table of the civil servant, National Assembly and other places, he said. Speaking further, If you say you want to fight corruption as a major programme it will be at the detriment of development of infrastructure. If that is the only attention you have and that is what is going on now. We dont hear stories about what we doing to tackle blackouts, tackle the rot in the educational system the judiciary, where we need to declare a state of emergency. Olu-Adegboruwa noted that way and manner which the prosecution of the corruption charges against ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuku and PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh spelt vendetta as these people had issues with the ruling party or President Buhari in the past. The lawyer also said that for the war on corruption by the administration of President Buhari to thrive, the rights of Nigerians must be respected as enshrined in the constitution. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that David was allegedly killed on Jan.10 at Agege, Lagos, with one Taiwo Balogun. ``We are making efforts to track down those criminals so that we can get to the root of that matter and get to know the people behind it. ``Detectives are still working on the case; you have to be patient with us as such cases are not cases you can just close and open your eyes and pick out the suspects, he said. They said when he refused to respond to their demands, they decided not to let him go and he called on the late police officer for a help. ``On getting to the scene, David, while trying to shoot in the air, allegedly shot two persons who later died at the hospital, one of the residents said. Malam Bunu Makinta, a beneficiary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Damaturu that, ``the individual tent is just like having a room to yourself in the camp to conduct your life privately. In the same vein, Malam Mallum Modu, another beneficiary, said some families had already formed households with a lot of privacy ``while some wives have joined their husbands in the individual tents. NAN reports that the Yobe Government distributed 1,000 pieces of mattresses and 1,400 pieces of tarpaulin to IDPs to erect individual tents in the camp. Alhaji Muhammad Lamin, Chairman Rehabilitation Sub-committee, said 30 dormitory tents had been established to shelter the IDPs. Also, Alhaji Muhammed Bukar, General Manager, Yobe Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, said the construction of borehole and toilets in the camp had improved water supply and checked open defecation. ``Cases of open defecation have grossly reduced with the provision of latrines, adequate water and sanitary kits, he said. In another development, Alhaji Musa Jidawa, Executive Secretary of SEMA, said that the IDPs camp in Damaturu would celebrate the healing of 76 boys circumcision in the camp. According to him, it is cultural for the people to celebrate this transition process in the lives of the male child. Aminu made the statement on Saturday in Yola in his speech at the 3rd edition of Adamawa Community Dialogue, organised by an NGO, Adamawa Community Advancement Initiative (ACAI). He said that a situation where a governor could collect and spend state resources at will without recourse to due process needed to be check if the country must progress. He decried the situation in the country where governors handle state and local government resources like their personal property. "A governor just send for the Accountant-General, who very often is his best friend; maybe his cousin too to bring money," he said. Aminu noted that he had had cause in the past to comment on the excesses of governors, who he said, hijacked council funds and even attempted to control the federal government through the governors forum. The former senator and PDP chieftain lauded ACAI for its effort to promote unity and good governance in Adamawa. He urged the organisation not to relent in its efforts to ensure that the state and nations resources were judiciously utilised for the benefit of the people. He condemned politics of sentiments, saying that those promoting such sentiments use it as screen to cover up their failure. ``Ethnicity, religion and other pettiness are all symptoms of non performance; people who fail use ethnicity and religion as something to hang on, he said. Aminu urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the current challenges facing the nation but remain resolute and determined to reject negative thinking and work towards nation building. Speaking at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Kerry made reference to revelation unveiled by President Buharis fight against corruption in Nigeria and how individuals kept money meant for arms deal to battle terrorism. In his words: It has been reported that over 50 people including government officials stole over $9 billion in Nigeria. 'Obviously, corruption is not a new problem. Every nation has faced it in one time or another in its development. Americas own founding fathers knew the threat of corruption all too well, warning of the dangers that it posed to democratic governance. 'But today, corruption has grown at an alarming pace and threatens global growth, global stability and indeed global future. When Nigerias President, Buhari, took office last spring, he inherited a military that was under-paid, underfed and unable to protect the Nigerian people from Boko Haram. ``We rank below a thousand, if we do not aspire to be among the world class universities, we cannot boast of robust system capable of making the country among the top economies of the world. ``We have abundance of talents who excel elsewhere but appear incapacitated at home. This is unacceptable. ``Whatever makes our abundant talents fail at home and excel abroad must be identified and neutralised for our benefit and that of our future generation, Buhari said. ``The repercussions of strike usually retard the smooth running of academic activities with heavy negative consequences. The president called on the state governments to support and encourage universities situated in their states because they were responsible for harnessing local talents and promotion of local innovations. He observed that the Treasury Single Account policy was meant to enhance accountability, transparency and revenue. ``The seemingly challenges especially in tertiary institutions should be seen as a teething problem that will gradually vanish as the policy takes roots. ``MDAs should, therefore, exhibit patience and understanding, bearing in mind that Nigerians shall surely reap from the fruits of the policy, he said. Oba Rufus Aladesanmi, Chancellor of the institution, urged the graduating students to explore ways of self employment. Aladesanmi further urged them to contribute to the technological and economic development of the country. He observed that in spite of large number of students that applies for admission, few were being admitted due to few facilities. The chancellor called on stakeholders to urgently find both short and long term solutions to the problem. Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said that the institution was graduating 8,127 students for its 19th and 22nd convocation. He explained that the figure included 845 diplomas, 5,577 first degrees, 1,620 post-graduate diplomas and Masters and 85 students as Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D). Ibrahim further explained that out of the 5,577 first degree graduates, 32 obtained First Class, 1,203 Second Class (Upper Division) 2,702 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,481 Third Class and136 Pass. On achievements made by the institution, Ibrahim said that 40 academic staff members had obtained PhD. degrees worldwide while many others were pursuing their Masters degrees. Experts say the drought is worse than the one in 1984, when years of conflict followed by the failure of rains led to a famine that killed up to a million people. This time, Ethiopia is better positioned to respond after rapid economic growth, but still risks being overwhelmed as it digs into strategic food reserves. "The scale of the need is really huge and has outstripped the Ethiopian governments ability to do this on their own," Save the Children President Carolyn Miles told Reuters from the United States after a visit to Ethiopia. The drought has mainly been blamed on El Nino, a weather pattern causing rainfall to decline in some areas of the world and floods elsewhere. Save the Children has been seeking $100 million for the next 12 to 18 months, but so far has only $30 million. "One of the hardest things right now is getting the awareness up," Miles said. The U.N. World Food Programme is also facing a funding shortfall. It needs $480 million to help meet the needs of about 7.6 million of 10.2 million at risk in coming months, but has raised just under $60 million, a WFP official said. Save the Children has ranked Ethiopia a Category 1 emergency, like the Syrian crisis. Miles said the Syrian conflict, rumbling on for five years, had "really stretched the humanitarian system", making it harder to find international support for Ethiopia. Ethiopia was showing more openness than in the past in publicising the crisis, which could help. "But because there is so much stress and strain on the humanitarian system, I am not sure how much of a difference that will make," she said. Ethiopia was using its food reserves cautiously to make them last, Miles said. Some families received rations for not all of their members, while handouts were often made only every other month. More international aid would make the government "more comfortable using (the) reserves," she said. Almost 5.8 million of those facing critical food shortages are children, with 400,000 severely malnourished or close to it, making them highly susceptible to pneumonia or malaria, Miles said. The recording's emergence comes after Burkina Faso issued an arrest warrant for Ivory Coast's parliament speaker Guillaume Soro for alleged links to the coup, further straining relations between the two West African neighbours. Two Burkina Faso judicial officials vouched for the authenticity of the latest recording, obtained by Reuters on Friday. Ivorian authorities were not immediately available to comment. Recorded at a time when loyalist troops were turning the tables against the putsch, a voice allegedly belonging to Ivory Coast military chief of staff General Soumaila Bakayoko asks coup leader General Gilbert Diendere for an update of the situation. "The situation is a bit difficult," Diendere responds. "Among the officers there is some hesitation. I'm not saying I'm all alone. But many are very hesitant for their future." Later, Bakayoko urges Diendere to go on the offensive or risk seeing the coup fail. "They're going to pin it all on you. You have to know that. Politically, they are going to say 'You have the highest rank. You are the general," Bakayoko says. "You are constrained to take action. So carry out something good." Last September's brief coup by the elite Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) temporarily derailed Burkina Faso's transition to democratic rule after President Blaise Compaore was ousted in late 2014. It failed after a week when loyalist regular army troops marched into the capital Ouagadougou and Diendere, Compaore's former spy chief, was arrested. ARMOURY RAID A judicial source involved in the cases against Diendere, Soro and ex-foreign minister Djibril Bassole said the recording was included in evidence files. A second judicial source added that authorities had obtained a total of three gigabytes of digital recordings. Compaore was driven from power and forced to flee Burkina Faso in October 2014 after a popular uprising following his attempt to alter the constitution to extend his 27-year rule. He now lives in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast. The two nations, once part of the same French colony share a history of close, often fraught, economic and political ties. Soro and his New Forces rebels controlled northern Ivory Coast for eight years following a 2002 civil war and were accused by then Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo's allies of receiving support from Compaore. Burkina Faso denied the allegation. General Bakayoko was the military chief of staff of the rebels. The New Forces played a crucial role in Ivory Coast's 2011 civil war, backing President Alassane Ouattara's claim to leadership after Gbagbo refused to recognise his election defeat. Burkina Faso's RSP, a pillar of Compaore's regime, was disarmed and disbanded following last year's coup attempt. But at least a dozen elite troops rejected the process and went missing. The army on Friday blamed ex-RSP members for an overnight raid on an armoury on the outskirts of Ouagadougou. Messenger is among thousands of Mozambicans who have fled across the border to refugee camps in Malawi in the last month, saying Frelimo government forces are burning homes and killing civilians in a campaign against Renamo guerrillas in an escalation of a simmering conflict between old civil war foes. Spokesmen for both Frelimo and Renamo each told Reuters that the other side was responsible for attacks on their members in various parts of the country but would not give details about the violence that prompted the refugee exodus. The first Mozambicans arrived in the Malawian village of Kapise in June last year but the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) says the flow of migrants has rapidly increased this month and predicts the number could rise from 3,500 now to 5,000 in coming days, more than it can currently handle. More than half the refugees are children who walked for days from villages in Mozambique's western Tete province with just the clothes they were wearing. "I could see the houses burning up ahead, then I heard the gunshots and I ran," said Wit, waiting with hundreds of other children to be given food in a sprawling hilltop camp of makeshift tarpaulin tents. "I don't know if my parents are alive or dead. I'm scared I will never see them again," said Wit -- tearful, barefoot and wearing only a torn vest and ragged shorts. Security sources say Renamo fighters have been attacking police outposts in recent weeks near the Malawi border, where they have public support, while Frelimo forces retaliate by torching villages where they believe rebels are hiding. MEMORIES OF WAR Renamo started out as a guerrilla force backed by neighbouring powers -- the white-minority government in what was then Rhodesia and later by apartheid South Africa -- to counter the communist Frelimo movement. The latest violence has stirred memories of a civil war fought between Renamo and Frelimo from 1976 to 1992 in which a million people died and a further million fled to Malawi. Some of the Mozambicans in Kapise told Reuters that they had hidden Renamo fighters because they felt they had no choice. "Government were asking where we were hiding Renamo," said Agness Chifundo, who walked for two days with her seven children to reach Kapise. "When they couldn't find them they were burning houses and shooting. I saw five dead bodies and a woman was raped in front of me." Tete province has large coal reserves but projects by companies such as Brazil's Vale and mining giant Rio Tinto have failed in recent years due to low prices, poor infrastructure and outbreaks of unrest. Although the latest violence is far from the vast offshore gas reserves being developed off northern Mozambique by Eni and Anadarko, the violence is likely to worry investors already spooked by a global slowdown. Though the full details of the clashes in Tete remain unclear and are likely to be disputed, there have been clear signs of growing unrest between Frelimo and Renamo. Renamo's leader, Afonso Dhlakama, 63, has said he will in March seize control of six northern provinces, declaring autonomy in areas where his party won majorities in 2014's national election. He has not explained how this would be done but experts believe it would be unconstitutional. Frelimo won 57 percent of the 2014 vote against 37 percent for Renamo. Renamo disputes the result and says Frelimo is to blame for the violence. Both sides say they are democrats but also resort to violence which they are unwilling to acknowledge. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Dhlakama has been in hiding since October last year following an assassination attempt he says was ordered by Frelimo, although the ruling party denies this. Renamo's secretary general Manuel Bissopo was shot and wounded on Wednesday, hours after he accused security forces of killing members of his party. Frelimo says it was not behind the attack, in which Bissopo's bodyguard was killed. [nL8N1543KO] President Filipe Nyusi, 56, says he wants to engage in peaceful negotiations with Renamo but Dhlakama has said this is disingenuous considering attacks on his members. Few think Renamo has the capacity or desire to begin another all-out conflict but there is a high risk of more violence, security experts say. "We've got a security problem brewing," one Maputo-based Western diplomat told Reuters. "We're seeing hits on senior officials and from what we're hearing the situation in Tete is bad. These refugees didn't up and leave for no reason." The refugee influx is putting strain on Malawi's stretched resources at a time when one of the worst droughts in its history means 2.8 million people are expected to go hungry. Malawi has allocated Mozambicans some land in Kapise but it will not be enough. The UNHCR say the camps are already facing sanitation problems and there are fears of a possible cholera outbreak. "We don't want to live like this but we cannot go back," Mozambican maize farmer Robert Keness told Reuters, pointing to pit latrines near tents packed with small children. Tensions were already running high in the unstable West African state which is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants across the Sahel region. Around 1.5 million of Niger's registered voters lack the documentation required to prove their identity, and the Independent National Electoral Commission had proposed a system whereby witnesses could vouch for them. But politicians failed to approve it at a meeting on Friday. "There was no consensus among the political class and therefore 1.5 million Nigeriens cannot exercise their right to vote on 21 February," Alkassoum Indatou, spokesman for the presidential majority, said on state TV on Friday night. The main opposition parties issued a statement confirming the impasse, without going into further details. It was not immediately clear whether the registration problems would affect some parts of the country or political blocs more than others. The opposition in the uranium producer accuse incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou of being increasingly authoritarian - but the government has underscored the need for order amid security threats, including an alleged attempt to topple Issoufou last month. One of the main opposition candidates Hama Amadou is in jail on charges of being linked to a baby-trafficking ring. He denies the charges and says they are politically motivated. Another presidential candidate, Adal Rhoubeid, arrived back in the capital Niamey on Friday night after being detained for questioning in relation to attacks in a hotel and cafe in Burkina Faso's capital last week that killed 30 people, including many foreigners. The meeting came a day after rebels in the tiny African state raised the stakes in the crisis by declaring a general who led a failed coup in May as their leader, deepening concerns that Burundi is sliding back into conflict after its ethnically charged civil war ended in 2005. The 15-member council, which arrived in Burundi's lakeside capital Bujumbura on Thursday, met with President Pierre Nkurunziza in Gitega for more than two hours. It is the council's second visit to Burundi in less than a year. "I'm here to guarantee that there will not ever be another genocide in Burundi," the president told the council. "None of us want the situation in Burundi to deteriorate, we're here because we want to support efforts at dialogue, because we believe as a council that a more substantial international presence here can help, we conveyed those points to the president," Power told reporters after the meeting. "In this meeting we did not achieve as much, frankly, as I think we would have liked. But we never give up, the cause of peace in Burundi is too important to give up," she said. Nkurunziza's re-election for a third term sparked the crisis, which has raised fears of an ethnic conflict in a region where memories of Rwanda's 1994 genocide remain fresh. The government insists there is no ethnic bias, but opponents say districts of Bujumbura where many Tutsis live - and which were also hotbeds of protest against Nkurunziza last year - have been targeted with some Tutsis singled out. The United Nations estimates the death toll at 439 people but says it could be higher. More than 240,000 people have fled abroad. The rebel group, FOREBU, announced on Thursday that it was now commanded by the former intelligence chief, General Godefroid Niyombare. The group said it welcomed international mediation but also called for Burundians to support their fight against Nkurunziza. "This development shows why the U.N. Security Council is concerned about the risk of a downward cycle of violence," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told Reuters. Burundi's government has accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting a rebel group by training and arming Burundian refugees recruited on Rwandan soil. Nkurunziza raised those accusations again on Friday with the Security Council. "The threat is not from within Burundi, it comes from outside," he told the council. "The Rwandan government must be told to stop." Rwanda has previously dismissed the allegations. "We've expressed concern about the allegations of external interference ... and it's very important that nobody support armed opposition groups no matter what they assess the history," Power said. The president has rejected the deployment of an African peacekeeping force, saying the troops would constitute "an invading force". The issue is expected to be a focus for an African Union summit at the end of January. "It's not peacekeepers that the Burundians need. What they need is to increase their own capacity, especially their police capacity," Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev told Reuters. "Maybe what we need is some kind of policing mission, either advisors, either trainers or maybe formed police units that will be deployed in Bujumbura ... from the African Union or the U.N.," he said. Months of talks between the government and the opposition last year failed to make progress. New negotiations begun at the end of December in Uganda have already stalled. Nkurunziza backed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's mediation efforts. "We told (the Security Council) that he is somebody who knows very well the problems of Burundi," Nkurunziza told reporters after the meeting. Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind A Bettendorf sex offender has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for trying to lure a 4-year-old girl to his home in July. Dale W. Arihood, 35, pleaded guilty in December to enticing a child and failure to comply with sex offender additional registry requirements involving a child. He will receive credit for time served in the Scott County Jail since August. According to an arrest affidavit filed earlier this year by Bettendorf police: Around 7:30 a.m. July 18, Arihood stopped on his bicycle in an alley adjacent to a home in the 500 block of Holmes Street. A family at the residence was preparing to leave on a trip. Three children, ages 2,4 and 8, were outside packing the family's van. Arihood was watching the children and asked the 4-year-old girl if she wanted to go to his place. The girl became upset and told her 8-year-old sister, who had returned from a quick trip inside the house, what had happened. Arihood left on his bicycle after seeing the older girl come out of the house. Police later searched Arihood's hotel room in Bettendorf and found more than 50 digital images of child pornography, two pairs of girl's underwear and two pairs of girl's pants. Arihood told police that he stole the clothing from a clothesline in Davenport and that he downloaded the pornography onto his computer. He also told officers that he is attracted to girls ages 4 to 18, according to the affidavit. He was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of attempted enticing away a child, an aggravated misdemeanor, in 2005 in Scott County. The conviction landed him on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. Arihood also has a third-degree burglary conviction in Muscatine County. Convicted murderer Gary M. Fortune wants a new trial. The 49-year-old Rock Island man was found guilty Dec. 23 by a Scott County jury on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree arson for the murder of Betty Simmons and the attempted murder of her husband, Jack Simmons. Fortune's attorney, Thomas Gaul, wrote in a motion for a new trial filed Thursday that the jury's verdict is contrary to the law and the weight and sufficiency of the evidence presented." Specifically, Gaul argued in the motion that there was no blood from Betty Simmons on Fortunes clothing "even through, under the state's theory that Mr. Fortune is the killer, there would almost certainly have been some blood found on the clothing." Scott County Attorney Mike Walton argued at trial that samples of blood stains taken from Fortunes shirt and shorts did not contain Betty Simmons blood, but that it does not mean that her blood is not on the shirt anywhere else. Gaul also argued in his motion that multiple witnesses gave multiple different versions of what did or did not happen and thus it could not be determined beyond a reasonable doubt what had happened. He also argued that Fortunes statement to police should have been suppressed, a request that had been denied prior to trial. Prosecutors argued at trial that Fortune broke into an apartment at 1207 E. 11th St., Davenport, about 10:50 p.m. Sept. 8, 2014, and fatally stabbed Betty Simmons, the mother of his then-fiancee, Annette Aviles. He also stabbed Jack Simmons, 54, multiple times. A surgeon testified at trial that Jack Simmons had a punctured lung and lacerated liver, among other wounds. During the attack, Jack Simmons was able to barricade himself in the bathroom. Prosecutors say Fortune then lit an umbrella on fire on the other side of the door before Simmons was able to escape through the bathroom window. The jury rejected Fortune's claims that Jack Simmons had fatally stabbed his wife and that the two men scuffled when Fortune confronted him. Fortune will be sentenced Feb. 4. The motion for a new trial likely will be heard at that time. The murder charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of life without parole. The remaining charges are Class B felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison. He must serve 70 percent of the sentence on the attempted murder and burglary charges. SIOUX CENTER, Iowa Donald Trump's visit to Dordt College on Saturday has required massive amounts of planning to prepare for the thousands expected to turn out to see the Republican presidential front-runner. Trump will speak at the B.J. Haan Auditorium at the Sioux Center college at 11 a.m. With more than 3,000 people having registered online for the rally, the event will likely be the biggest event of its kind in the school's history, said Sonya Knauss, Dordts director of public relations. In fact, it may be the largest political rally in Siouxland since an estimated 2,300 people packed the Sioux City West High School gym for a Trump rally on Oct. 27. Trump, a billionaire business developer and reality TV star, is leading the GOP race nationally and is locked in a tight fight with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for the lead in Iowa, site of the Feb. 1 caucuses, the first test of the nominating season. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for the rally, with seats available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The auditorium holds about 1,600 people. To handle the expected overflow crowd, the rally will be telecast in the colleges recreation center, which can hold about 1,000 people, Knauss said. The rec center is just north of the auditorium. Because of the heavy demand for tickets, some Trump fans asked if they could camp outside the auditorium overnight so they could line up outside the doors early in the morning. College officials said camping is not allowed on campus, and directed out-of-town guests to local hotels and campgrounds. Parking is also anticipated to be an issue Saturday, so the adjacent Sioux County fairgrounds parking lot, about a quarter mile east from the college, has been plowed for the rally. The city and the Sioux Center Community School have teamed to provide traffic control, as well. Local police and members of the Secret Service will be on hand to keep the situation peaceful, she said. Beyond hosting RAGBRAI, this is the largest event of its kind weve hosted, Knauss said. Its unprecedented in its size and preparation. Saturday will be Trump's first campaign stop in Sioux County, a treasure trove of GOP votes and one of the most Republican counties in the nation. A group of protesters is expected to greet Trump and his supporters as they arrive at Dordt. In a statement Friday, the group, which identified itself only as "Iowa caucus goers," said they will gather outside the auditorium to speak out against Trump's "out-of-touch policies to cut corporate and capital gains taxes, eliminate the estate tax and repeal the Affordable Care Act." The protesters Ive talked to said they arent protesting the schools decision to host Trump, but Trumps views, Knauss said. Were trying to make the experience as hospitable as possible for everyone. Dordt, a small private Christian college affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, addressed the decision to host Trump in a Jan. 11 email. The college said it had extended an invitation to all presidential candidates to speak at the school. Iowas unique status in presidential politics is a great learning opportunity for our students, Jeff Taylor, professor of political science at Dordt, said in the Jan. 11 statement. A trio of Democratic presidential candidate visits to the Quad-City area Saturday kicks off a busy final week of campaigning before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses. Leading the pack will be U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has three area events scheduled Saturday. He starts at 1:30 p.m. at his Davenport campaign headquarters, 736 Federal St., where he will meet with volunteers. He then has two public events: a town meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the Clinton Masonic Center, 416 S. 1st St., Clinton, and another town meeting at 7 p.m. at Centerstone Inn and Suites, 1910 Nairn Drive, Maquoketa. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. in Clinton and 6 p.m. in Maquoketa. Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and first lady, begins her Quad-City visits with a 1:30 p.m. "get out the caucus" event at Eagle Heights Elementary School, 1350 Main Ave., Clinton. Doors open at noon. She then travels to Davenport for a 4:30 p.m. "Hard Hats for Hillary Event" at Danceland Ballroom, 501 W. 4th St. Doors open at 3 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., she and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will appear at the Scott County Democrats' "Red, White & Blue" fundraising dinner at the Starlite Ballroom at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St. O'Malley also will be in Maquoketa on Saturday for a 3 p.m. event at Brick Tap, 116 W. Pratt St. Doors open at 2:45 p.m. Republican presidential candidates take the stage in the area beginning Sunday. Businessman Donald Trump will be in the main gym at Muscatine High School at noon Sunday. The school is at 2705 Cedar St., Muscatine. The doors open at 10 a.m. Both Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania will be in the area Monday. Cruz has a 9:15 a.m. event at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, 1212 E. Quarry St., Maquoketa. Santorum has an 11:30 a.m. event at the Davenport Public Library, Fairmount branch, 3000 N. Fairmount St. On Wednesday, businesswoman Carly Fiorina has scheduled an 8:30 a.m. event at Elly's Tea and Coffee, 208 W. 2nd St., Muscatine. Later Wednesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich will hold a town hall event at 6 p.m. at the River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., Davenport. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Then on Friday, Cruz will be back in the area for a 5:45 p.m. event at the Wilton Community Center, 1215 Cypress St., Wilton. More than 150 fired-up supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders hooted and hollered Saturday at his Davenport campaign office before heading out to canvas voters in local neighborhoods. Sanders and his wife, Jane, spoke to volunteers before a large get-out-the-vote effort, and the Vermont senator stressed the theme of income inequality and unfairness in America. "What we are trying to do is to make history in a very special way," he said to open the rally, which lasted about 20 minutes. "We are taking on the economic establishment and the big money interests, the political establishment and big media interests," he said. Sanders made few direct references to his main rival in the primary race, former U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. He pointed out, to cheers, that he does better than Clinton in national polls versus Republican candidate Donald Trump. "In poll after poll, we do better versus Trump and other GOP candidates than Hillary does," Sanders said. "That's true in New Hampshire, and in Iowa." Sanders stressed that high voter turnout is the key to victory next November. "We know progressives, working people, win elections when voter turnout is high. Republicans win elections when voter turnout is low," he said. He wrapped up by stressing his views on income inequality. "We all understand, the very essence of our democracy is being undermined by multi-millionaires and billionaires," he said. "Democracy is one person, one vote, not billionaires buying elections." Sanders predicted he will win the Iowa caucuses. "We will win ... with a large voter turnout. Many thousands in this great state will make that happen," he said. Volunteers included Aisha Blough, Davenport; her sister-in-law Carri Toppert, Bettendorf; and Blough's son, Caleb, 3. Blough said she comes from a politically active family, and she is carrying on the tradition with Caleb. He also went door-to-door with them one day, she added. The pair campaigned for Sanders on Friday. Many people they spoke to were on the political extremes, she said, but they also visited with two people who were undecided at first and then vowed to back the Vermont senator. Jacob Daugherty, 18, of Bettendorf, decided to campaign door-to-door for Sanders. He likes the senator, he said, because of his "genuineness," and how he pulls for regular people. "The more people know about him, the more they like him," he said. Claire Kovacs, Rock Island, and her friend, Melissa Mohr, Bettendorf, were also canvassing voters for the first time. Mohr said Sanders' values align with her own, and the senator "stands behind what he says." Early volunteer pair-ups were former Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba, and Peter Locke, Chicago. The two canvassed voters in McClellan Heights before Saturday's campaign event. Ted Priester, a Davenport attorney, said the current election season is the "most exciting in years." Brad Baltzell has never smoked a joint or ripped a bong to get high. He doesnt want to and says he never will. Although the Moline man says he wont ever smoke marijuana, the 54-year-old wonders if the drug could improve his quality of life, which has significantly declined in recent years. Four years ago, physicians discovered cancerous skin cells on his face. Thousands of dollars, three surgeries and dozens of stitches later, the licensed commercial real estate agent said hes open to rubbing cannabis oil on his face to stave off the potentially fatal disease. After every surgery, they say they get it all, but it keeps coming back," said Baltzell, who plans to apply for his medical marijuana patient card in the coming weeks. Instead of having my face stuck with needles, I think its worth the try. If the state approves his application, Baltzell will join other western Illinois patients in purchasing their product at Natures Treatment of Illinois Inc., a dispensary in Milan, whose owner expects to open within two to three weeks. Matt Stern, who owns the pot shop located off the Rock Island-Milan Parkway on Tech Drive, said state officials recently visited his new business, located next to Stern Beverage Inc., his Budweiser distribution facility. Stern said representatives of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation performed the on-site inspection, one of the final steps in the licensing process. The inspection lasted three hours. And we just have a little 2,500-square-foot place, Stern said, standing inside his retail shop. Its hard to believe were at the finish line. Terry Horstman, spokesman for the Financial and Professional Regulation agency, could not confirm any details regarding Sterns dispensary, including whether the inspection occurred. Horstman said the states Medical Cannabis Pilot Program bars his agency from commenting on the dispensary licensing process. Regulated pot sales in Illinois began Nov. 9. So far, 23 dispensaries are licensed and ready to sell. Although the four visiting state officials were impressed with his building, Stern said, they left him with a short punch list of items to attend to before they send him his official license. Initially, Stern said he plans to hire between 12 and 15 employees. Steve Seiver, Milans village administrator who toured the structure on Thursday, classified it as first class. To see it completed was just really outstanding, said Seiver, who noted the buildings extensive security. Hopefully, those that need the relief will be well served by the facility. Complete with 29 surveillance cameras, Stern said his 24/7 security system captures anything that moves on and around his bulletproof, steel-frame building. A vault is awaiting the product, which will include canisters containing the plant's harvested buds and marijuana-infused edibles. Youd be insane to try and get into this place, said Stern, who added the state will require him to save video footage for 90 days. Stern said he hopes to become the 24th dispensary to start selling the medicine, which he will purchase from a nearby cultivation center. Green Thumb Industries, or GTI, a Chicago-based medical pot company, grows about 20 different strains at its 45,000-square-foot facility in Rock Island, located less than seven miles from the dispensary. When it opens, Natures Treatment will serve patients in Illinois State Police District 7, which includes Rock Island, Henry, Mercer and Knox counties. Patients, who are allowed to purchase 2.5 ounces of the drug every two weeks, must select a dispensary with the Illinois Department of Public Health before their first visit. As of Jan. 6, 4,000 Illinoisans, including 26 under the age of 18, had been approved for medical marijuana use, according to the health department. Since the state agency began accepting applications about 16 months ago, nearly 30,000 individuals have started the process and just 5,200 have submitted a complete application. Through Jan. 31, applicants can petition the state to add debilitating medical conditions or diseases to the programs list of nearly 40 qualifying health conditions. As Baltzell begins his application, he said he needs to find a physician who can certify his condition and is willing sign off on his intended use of cannabis oil, which contains tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the plant's main psychoactive component. I dont think my nose is going to overdose on THC, said Baltzell, who also serves as the director of Tudis Tribe, a local organization that helps children with cancer. Im a fighter, and if this can get rid of the skin cancer, I will be one happy person. Darcy Rostenbach describes InTouch Adult Home Care Services of Moline as a godsend to her family. Rostenbach, 52, of Moline, said that because of InTouch, her mother, Josephine Rostenbach, 91, who has Alzheimer's disease, was able to live with Rostenbach for almost four years. InTouch is one of 30 programs that Lutheran Social Services of Illinois will be shuttering in February due to the state of Illinois inability to pass a budget for the past seven months, the agency announced Friday. The state owes Lutheran Social Services about $6 million. "It's really sad," Rostenbach said. "My dad died six years ago this coming Valentine's Day. When he died, we were able to bring our mom into our home. That's just what families do. She has advanced-stage Alzheimer's now. But back then we were able to care of her with the help of InTouch. "They came to pick her up for a small fee," Rostenbach said. "It gave structure to her days and social interaction that she wouldn't have had otherwise." Today, Rostenbach is being cared for at The Lighthouse of Silvis, her daughter said. Sharon Patten, the director of the InTouch program, said the agency at 4011 Avenue of the Cities provides a variety of services. In addition to programs for those with Alzheimer's and dementia, it serves the developmentally disabled. And it's a place for active seniors to gather. We do so much supervision during the day of people who cannot stay at home by themselves, she said. Now, people have no place to bring their loved ones during the day. Over the next four weeks, Patten said the program will be helping clients find new care facilities, and helping to find jobs for displaced employees. Pam Austin, spokeswoman for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, said the Moline program will close down in 30 days from Thursday, which would be about Feb. 21. It is very sad because we recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Moline program, so weve been doing this a while, Austin said. In addition to the closing of 30 programs, Austin said that a total of 750 positions are being eliminated statewide, which is about 43 percent of workforce employed by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. The closings will affect about 4,700 people, she added. In a news release, Mark Stutrud, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, said, The states budget deadlock has severely challenged LSSIs ability to provide services to those in need. Over the past months, LSSI has relied on a bank line of credit and available resources from our foundation to compensate for the states inability to pay its bills, Stutrud added. Currently, we are owed more than $6 million by the state for services delivered. After seven months, we can no longer provide services for which we arent being paid. Stutrud said the 149-year-old faith-based nonprofit will restructure its services in an effort to bolster its resources and maintain financial viability. The largest cuts made were to those that help seniors, including homecare. Austin said that even if the state ponied up the $6 million it owes, it would not change the financial situation in which the organization now finds itself. Its a lot more complicated than that, she said. Laura Kopp, president and CEO of Center for Active Seniors Inc. in Davenport, said in a news release that, We are saddened to hear the news about the forced closing of InTouch Adult Day Services. Caring for a dependent loved one is no easy task, she said. Research shows that individuals enrolled in Adult Day Services are able to remain in their home 18-24 months longer than those not enrolled. Maintaining this independence is often a key defining factor in the resilience of those diagnosed with Alzheimers and dementia. Programs such as InTouch Adult Day Services and Janes Place at CASI impact not only individuals and families but the community as a whole through decreased long term care costs over the lifetime of these loved ones. Kopp said that Janes Place Adult Day Services Center is ready to help those people displaced by the closing of InTouch. We urge our partners in the Illinois government to overcome any barriers standing in the way of passing a budget which will allow for the care and support of its most vulnerable populations, Kopp said. For the past 15 years, the mere mention of the word "China" has brought smiles to the faces of the global business executives who gather here annually for the World Economic Forum. This year, with Chinese stock and currency markets in turmoil, it brings a chill. China, so long described as an economic miracle, has become a contagion, setting off negative shocks in markets around the world. A correction in perceptions of China was overdue, but financial markets this month have probably been overreacting on the downside, just as they did on the way up. China's fundamentals aren't really any different from a month ago. "The issue is not whether markets bounce up and down -- of course they do, for China and everyone else -- but whether Chinese officials are willing to let the numbers bounce," explains one top financial official attending the conference. This official argues that if Chinese leaders are wise, they will stick to the free-market reform agenda -- and let the markets do the work of pruning excess industrial capacity and overborrowing among state-owned enterprises. Every time the Chinese seem to be intervening to prop up their currency or ignore bad loans, investors get the jitters. They've gone from irrational exuberance about China to a suspicion that Beijing is cooking the books. A surprise this year has been how much the perception of a slowdown in China has rocked U.S. financial markets. Only about 25 percent of the U.S. economy is tied to trade, which makes America much less vulnerable than most other countries to a softening in China's demand for imports. The fundamentals of the U.S. economy seem relatively strong, too, but that hasn't prevented psychological contagion from infecting Wall Street. Given the worries about the debt bubble in China, it's reassuring that U.S. and most European banks have cleaned up their balance sheets after the financial panic of 2008. U.S. banks have more capital, less leverage and less risk than they did before our bubble economy burst -- thanks in part to reforms enacted by Congress. China will probably have to go through a similar, wrenching process of deleveraging, but the end result will be beneficial. One boost for healthier capital markets in China is the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) that Beijing and Washington are negotiating. Talks have continued this month even amid the economic turmoil -- a sign that China's leaders are serious about fully joining the global financial system, bumps and all. "The whole structure of the BIT is about moving government out of the management of the economy, and we're making progress," says Michael Froman, the top U.S. trade negotiator, in an interview here. If China were a consumer brand, it might be comparable to Chipotle restaurants, which overnight went from having a reputation for healthy, wholesome food to coping with customer complaints about getting sick. Rebuilding the brand takes time -- but most of all, it takes transparency that can re-establish trust. "You can't paper over the issues," warns David Sable, the global CEO of the advertising firm Young & Rubicam. For the past 25 years, his company has conducted an annual survey that measures the brand reputations of countries, as well as consumer products. Brand China scores high in power and influence, says Sable, and it's rated by millennials as the best country in the world to start a career. But it ranks below average among the 60 countries surveyed in terms of its business and political transparency, legal system, corruption and government bureaucracy. Those negatives hurt, now that the China bubble has burst. Economists are sometimes slow to recognize what advertisers know instinctively, which is that perceptions matter. The great insight of John Maynard Keynes was that while financial markets are shaped by the fundamentals of real economic activity, they are ultimately driven by psychology. When investors feel buoyant, they ignore negative signals. When they get scared, they overlook the positive. This was a week when the usual Davos upbeat assessments of the global economy were tempered by fears -- about China, the Islamic State and the future of Europe. "We are living in world that in many ways is falling apart," said Klaus Schwab, the impresario of the World Economic Forum and normally an implacable optimist. But in the next breath, he hailed a "ray of hope" in the movement toward an accord in the intractable, and obscure, negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cyprus. Hope springs eternal in the mind of Davos Man. But so, too, does fear. Regarding the takeover of the federal land offices in Oregon, when are we going to stand up to the right-wing fanatics who believe they can do anything as long as they carry their assault weapons with them? Now suppose you and I take over a court house, along with our AK-47s. We stop all workers and work with the threat of gun play. We also encourage others to join in our cause and to bring their AK-47s with them. In the Midwest, our backsides would be in jail by supper time. Within the next week, wed be charged with three major felonies: 1) taking over a federal building 2) aiming firearms at law officials and 3) inciting to riot and encouraging others to do the same. This would put us in line for prison for six to eight years. Im told that one of the mercenaries said he wanted to go back to his ranch and that the officials better not even think about any punishment for this action. Wrong. His new "ranch" should be an 8- foot by 10-foot cell for eight years where he can contemplate the meaning of rule of law. Please law enforcement people, drop the phrase diffuse the situation and instead substitute enforce quickly with whatever is needed, with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. Robert Dickey Bettendorf The YMCA of Rapid City will begin offering a 12-week program next month for cancer survivors to improve their strength and quality of life. The LIVESTRONG program focuses on cardio workouts, strength training and general well-being, while also giving cancer survivors support in a small group setting. Studies prove that exercising while going through cancer treatments helps with outcome and quality of life, said Nicole Craig, wellness director. Survivors are anyone who has had cancer and they are in remission. Or theyre in treatment right now. The program is funded by a grant from the YMCA of the USA, in partnership with the LIVESTRONG Foundation. The YMCA of Rapid City was one of 21 YMCAs in the country to receive the grant in 2015. The money was used to train YMCA of Rapid City staff how run the program, how to build relationships with participants and the community, and how to deal with special needs that might arise from someone who is in treatment. "Were already certified personal trainers, but we had training on ways to work with a cancer survivor, Craig said. How to work around if they have ports or have lymphedema. The program is free to cancer survivors and one caregiver, and also includes a full membership to the YMCA during the 12-week program. The YMCA of Rapid City covers the cost of the program and membership. While Craig is manager of the program, Tony Price, associate wellness director, and trainer Matthew Orenstein will be running the classes, and designing an individual workout for each participant. Maintaining our physical activity in any form is so important, Craig said. In the last few weeks of the classes, participants will have a chance to try different types of exercises such as cycling, Pilates and yoga, and listen to guest speakers. This class is about making sure the exercises are done properly, the form is correct, and making friendships, Craig said. This class will offer camaraderie and support. Craig sees this program as an opportunity for the YMCA to provide another community resource to help improve quality of life. She encouraged health care providers interested in suggesting the program to their patients to contact her. The twice-a-week class starts Feb. 9 and is for people 18 years and older. The class size is limited to 12 survivors and one caregiver each. Participants must provide a doctors authorization stating they are healthy enough to participate in the program. The program can work around physical restrictions. A new session will start about every 13 weeks. Participants may sign up multiple times, depending on space availability, with new participants given priority. But hopefully after 12 weeks they have a grasp of what they should and can be doing (while working out) and will continue on their own, Craig said. SPEARFISH | Black Hills State University professor Steve Babbitt was honored by the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to arts and culture within the Black Hills community. Babbitt, professor of mass communication at BHSU, received the Rushmore Honors Award during at the Chambers Annual Awards Celebration Jan. 12. The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes members for their commitment and service both to the Chamber and the community each year. The Rushmore Honors Awards are awarded to four individuals each year who have made significant contributions to arts and culture in the community, have championed innovative ideas or have had success in their creative professions. Im honored and am truly fortunate to be recognized for doing things that I love to do, Babbitt said. To be involved with arts and cultural organizations over the years has been a privilege. It gives me great pleasure and personal satisfaction to have been able to participate in the promotion of creativity in our community. Babbitt was nominated for his dedication in the creation and growth of the mass communication program at BHSU, specifically the photography department, his work with the Rapid City Arts Council, and commitment to mentoring artists in the region. Babbitt will have his photo added to the display of previous Rushmore Honors Award recipients in the Civic Center Theatre. In Babbitts nomination form, he was described as a tireless arts advocate in Rapid City and throughout the state since moving here 22 years ago. His work with students has made him an exceptional mentor, said Bill Goodgion, finance director at the Rapid Area City Chamber of Commerce. Regarding teaching, as I have always said, aside from being a professional ice cream taster in Italy, I have, without a doubt the best job in the world, Babbitt said. Goodgion added that Babbitt has had his work recognized not only locally, regionally and nationally, but also internationally. Most recently, Babbitt had his work showcased at the Lessedra Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria for two years in a row. PINE RIDGE | The FBI Friday afternoon confirmed discovery of the body of a young mother of two, missing for nearly three weeks from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The body of Emily Blue Bird, 24, was found Thursday as family members and other volunteers searched for her near Pine Ridge. The discovery brought a sad end to a wrenching family drama that started shortly after the new year. According to some online bulletins, Blue Bird, 24, was last seen on the evening of Jan. 1 at the Yellow Bird convenience store near the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel on U.S. Highway 18, a few miles north of Pine Ridge and south of the Red Cloud Indian School. But late Thursday Rapid City Police Community Relations Specialist Brendyn Medina said one of Blue Birds family members had reported giving the young woman a ride to her mothers house in Pine Ridge on Jan. 2. She had not been seen since. Blue Bird's body was discovered late in the afternoon on Thursday, FBI Chief Division Counsel Kyle Loven confirmed from his Minneapolis office on Friday. Since the matter is actively being investigated by authorities, no further comment is possible at this time. Blue Birds aunt, Carla Cheyenne, of Rapid City, said Friday morning that 100 volunteers, including friends and family, had mounted a search party Thursday afternoon at Pine Ridge. One of Blue Birds relatives found the young womans body in a creek near Oglala Lakota Countys largest community at about 2:45 p.m., less than a half-hour after the search began, she said. We are so very, very, very sad, Cheyenne said. I knew her all my life, all her life. Cheyenne said Blue Bird, who was 5 feet tall and weighed about 130 pounds, was the mother of two children, Aysa, 6, and Makayla, 5. She was a happy, loving person who never got mad at anyone and had no enemies, Cheyenne said. She added that authorities had taken her nieces body for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Since her disappearance, Blue Bird had reportedly been sighted in Rapid City, Custer and Rushville, Neb., Medina said prior to the discovery of the body. Shes known as a mobile person, he added. Rapid City Police had entered Blue Bird into the National Crime Information Center, which allows law officers throughout the U.S. who might come in contact with Blue Bird to enter her name and discover she was a missing person, Medina explained. Ellen Fills The Pipe, an Oglala Sioux Tribal Council member representing the Medicine Root District and chairwoman of the tribes Law & Order Committee, had said earlier in the week that she became aware of Blue Birds disappearance via Facebook, and was worried. I am concerned about this young lady because she has children and was last seen in town, Fills The Pipe said. With no sightings of her recently by her friends or family it is of great concern because where did she go?" Facebook postings noted that family members had checked hospitals and jails and filed a missing person report. Blue Birds disappearance also was receiving attention on a website known as Justice for Native Women, described as, A blog about the many missing, unidentified or murdered indigenous women of North America. As of Friday afternoon, an online GoFundMe page established for Blue Bird had raised $597 from 19 donations toward a goal of $1,500, after surpassing its initial goal of $500. In its search for a new superintendent to replace Tim Mitchell when he leaves on June 30, the Rapid City School Board has zeroed in on four out-of-state candidates. They are: David Doty, of Sandy, Utah; Daniel Frazier, of Litchfield, Minn.; Darci Mohr, of Oak Creek, Colo.; and Lori Simon, of Hudson, Wis. Im very excited for the board and the community, Dave Davis, vice president of the Rapid City School Board, said Friday. Im highly impressed with the quality of the four candidates resumes, and I look forward to meeting them in person. Mitchell announced his resignation mid-contract last spring during a five-year tenure marred by criticism from citizens and School Board members alike for his handling of the districts finances. Mitchell has since refocused on academics and relinquished his supervision of the districts budget to Assistant Superintendent Dave Janak. The School Board identified the four candidates, all of whom have backgrounds in education, with the help of McPherson & Jacobson LLC, an executive-search firm based in Omaha. The firm vetted 16 candidates before narrowing the field to the final four. Interviews with the candidates are scheduled for Jan. 28, Jan. 29, Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, according to a press release from the district. Davis said various stakeholder groups, including district staff members, residents and students, will meet with the candidates as part of the interview process. Those meetings will be open to the public, Davis said, while final interviews with the school board will be in closed session. The Rapid City Journal on Friday spoke with the candidates by telephone: David Doty When the Canyons School District in Sandy, Utah, split off from a neighboring district in 2007, the community put Doty at the helm as superintendent. It was the first time the Iowa City native had been tasked with leading an entire district, which is about 18 miles south of Salt Lake City. I had five municipalities that had expectations, Doty said. I had a brand new board, 33,000 kids, parents, a lot of different people with expectations and demands. Doty said it was his passion and ability to communicate that got him through that difficult time. Im one of those people who is still idealistic and pretty bullish about the idea of public schools in terms of the opportunities they can and should provide for every student in our country, Doty said. I dont accept mediocrity in public education, and thats something I feel very strongly about. Doty resigned as superintendent in 2013 and went on to work as an education policy consultant with a Salt Lake City consulting firm, Education Direction, where he works today. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1989 with a bachelor of arts in Spanish. He went on to earn a masters degree in education from the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, a law degree from BYUs J. Reuben Clark Law School, and a doctorate in education leadership from BYUs David O. McKay School of Education. Before taking a leadership role in education, Doty served much of his career as an attorney for various school districts. Im experienced, Doty said. I have 25 years in and around public education, not always as a teacher or superintendent. I think I have a diverse and broad background that helps me see public schools from a variety of different angles. Daniel Frazier The superintendent of the Litchfield public school district in Minnesota for the last four years, Frazier said he is well aware of the kinds of economic challenges the Rapid City school district is facing. Not having the money to pay teachers and staff, Frazier said. Most schools out there are dealing with these same issues. Frazier, of Guthrie, Iowa, has 13 years of experience working as a superintendent in his home state, and two years overseas, according to his biography on the Litchfield public school districts website. Litchfield is about 70 miles west of Minneapolis. Ive worked in several districts, and Ive left all of them in better shape than when I found them, Frazier said. Im very much into 21st century education. We need to change our classrooms, make them more rigorous and relevant. He has a bachelor's degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, where he worked in education for 8 years; a master's degree from the University of Nebraska; a specialist degree from Drake University in Des Moines; and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He identified his ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with stakeholders as strengths that have helped him navigate choppy financial waters in the various districts he has worked for. He said he is drawn to the natural beauty of the Black Hills region and the opportunities here. Its a great community with great recreation and a lot of terrific people, Frazier said. I like the challenge, and I know theres some hard work that needs to be done, but that doesnt intimidate me. Darci Mohr Mohr knows she would like living in Rapid City because she already has. Today she works as the superintendent of the rural South Routt School District in northwestern Colorado, but when Mohr graduated from law school, her first job was as a prosecutor in Pennington County. She met her husband in Rapid City, and they eventually moved away for work. Were very excited about this potential opportunity to come home, Mohr said. South Routt is 21 miles south of Steamboat Springs. Mohr achieved an education specialist designation in administrative leadership and policy studies at the University of Colorado in Denver. Her bachelor of arts degree, also from the University of Colorado, is in English Language and Literature, and she has a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. She has worked as the superintendent in South Routt since July 2014, where she oversees a 60-person staff and 400 students in the districts four schools. Every time I come into a school district, I check the temperature of how the support staff is feeling, as well as the instructional staff, Mohr said. I think the most important things with staff morale is that every member should wake up in the morning knowing what it is they do every day that connects with and helps students, where they sit in the strategic plan and the vision of the organization. Prior to her work at South Routt, Mohr served five years as the assistant superintendent of human resources at Boulder Valley school district in Colorado, and five years as legal counsel at the Douglas County school district. Concerned about South Dakotas low teacher salaries, Mohr applauded Gov. Dennis Daugaard for his initiative in trying to raise pay. Its nice to see that its being taken seriously on a state level, she said, as opposed to just an issue for individual school districts to take on individually. Lori Simon Speaking over the phone after a hectic day of work, Simon employed a calm, even voice to lay out her 90-day approach to taking over the Rapid City school district. I need to understand the issues on a deep level, so I would want to talk to the teachers, the staff, the students, she said. As the new superintendent, I need to build strong relationships across the organization. Simon, who got her start as a kindergarten teacher, is the executive director of academics and elementary schools of Robbinsdale Area Schools in Minnesota, where she has served for 5 1/2 years. Before that she worked for eight years as a principal and assistant principal in the Saint Paul, Minn., school system. I believe one of my greatest strengths, Simon said, is my ability to look at, study, and determine the needs of a school district, then create and communicate a clear vision for moving forward. Robbinsdale is a suburb of Minneapolis. Simon has a bachelors degree in music from the University of Wisconsin, which is where she got her teaching license as well as a masters degree in elementary and special education. She became an education specialist at the University of St. Thomas, earned her superintendent license from Mankato State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Marys University of Minnesota. "Everything really rests on having a strong financial foundation, and what drives that is the district's strategic priorities," Simon said. She and her husband fell in love with the Black Hills when they visited last summer. I knew this was the district where I would love to serve as the next superintendent, she said. I am beyond excited about the opportunity to interview next week. WASHINGTON | The British Parliament set out Monday afternoon to debate a question that is often argued on this side of pond but has never before been taken up in the halls of Westminster: Is Donald Trump dangerous? Or is he merely a buffoon? The man who would Make America Great Again, it turns out, has already done a great job of unifying Great Britain. Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum took turns insulting the American billionaire. "Daft and offensive." "Ridiculous xenophobe." "Impulsive, not well informed." "Objectionable and hateful." "Buffoonery." "The orange prince of American self-publicity." "What is under his hair?" British legislators giggled as a colleague read aloud some of the puffy plutocrat's utterances on global warming ("It's freezing and snowing in New York") and on the "great" and "inexpensive" border wall he wants to build. "Let's be clear: Donald Trump is an idiot," said Gavin Newlands, an MP from the Scottish National Party. A Tory MP, declaring Trump "crazy" with "no valid points to make," said he would like to see Americans challenge Trump with the words that brought down Joe McCarthy: "Have you left no sense of decency?" "I don't think Donald Trump should be allowed within 1,000 miles of our shores," said Labour MP Jack Dromey. "Trump is free to be a fool, but he is not free to be a dangerous fool in Britain." Still, the result was good news, of sorts, for the Republican presidential candidate: While there was universal consensus that the billionaire developer is appalling, there was little interest in banning him from entering Britain if only because that would make him a martyr. Half a million Britons, reacting to Trump's pledge to ban Muslims from entering the United States, had signed a petition calling for Trump to be banned from Britain. A travel ban is up to the Home Office, not Parliament, but legislators decided to have a debate because, as Labour MP Paul Flynn said in introducing the topic, "it is very difficult to ignore a vox pop." Flynn was apologetic about the debate because it "might well be interpreted as disrespect" to America. But for Americans watching, it was useful proof that Trump is a reviled and preposterous figure to our most important ally and that America would be the laughingstock of the world if we elect him. MP Sarah Wollaston, who represents Dartmouth, noted that the Pilgrims sailed from there four centuries ago "to escape the kind of religious persecution that we are addressing today." She argued that if Britain were to ban Trump, it "would send a very clear message to the people of the United States about what we feel about those who demonize an entire people for no reason other than their religion." On Monday, Trump was at Liberty University in Virginia, warning his evangelical Christian audience that "our country is disappearing fast." Across the Atlantic, in the Grand Committee Room of Westminster Hall, Tulip Siddiq, a Muslim and an MP, was at that moment speaking about the "need to stop a poisonous, corrosive man from entering our country." She listed some of his many attacks on women, his racist "dog whistles" and his proposed ban on Muslims. Some Tories lamented the sad state of the Republican Party. Conservative Steve Double said he was "surprised" by Trump's support because he "seems to cut right against the heritage and the values that I understand the Republican Party to have." But while there was no defense of Trump in the House of Commons, most in the debate thought it counterproductive to ban him from Britain, rather than employing, as one put it, "a classic British response of ridicule." That British natural resource was in abundant supply in Parliament on Monday. Conservative Paul Scully, though calling Trump's conduct "not acceptable for an aspiring world leader," said travel bans to Britain are issued for "incitement and hatred, but I've never heard of one for stupidity." Gavin Robinson, from Northern Ireland, described Trump's style of discourse: "He throws a dead cat on the table, and people stop and listen to him." One of the most powerful contributions came from Naz Shah, a "proud British Muslim woman" who called Trump "evil" and a "demagogue." But she said she wouldn't ban Trump from Britain but rather "invite him for a curry." "Given that it is Martin Luther King Day," she said, invoking the American holiday, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." Founding political documents can be opaque instruments when it comes to the nuts and bolts of governing. But the South Dakota Constitution is fairly clear on this point: State lawmakers are barred from having a direct or indirect interest "in any contract with the state or any county thereof." Yet time and time again the financial dealings of legislators with state government becomes an issue. Here we are again. Several South Dakota lawmakers have clear conflicts. It needs to stop. We cannot trust public officials to make decisions in the best interest of all if they have a financial incentive for the state to make one decision over another. That is just too clear to argue. And yet lawmakers interviewed for a recent story published by Argus Leader Media present strings of logic that appear only loosely connected to reality. Sen. Blake Curd, a Sioux Falls surgeon, is the CEO and one of the owners of a specialty hospital that has a state contract. Curd says the constitutional prohibition doesn't apply because he wasn't CEO when the contract was signed. He was, however, one of the owners at the time and the money has continued to flow while he's been in office. Sen. Alan Solano of Rapid City signed contracts with the state as the CEO of Behavior Management Systems. The organization has received more than $7.5 million in state money over the past three years. Solano, who was appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard in 2014, believes that because his organization is a non-profit agency, his conflict is not covered by the constitution. "I have no financial interest in the organization," Solano told Argus Leader Media. That's absurd. He's the CEO. We presume he's paid. The only way for Curd or Solano to remove the conflict is either to quit their jobs or leave the Legislature. Beyond the individual cases, however, is a larger concern. Both of these lawmakers were originally appointed to their positions, though Curd had a previous stint in Pierre. The fact is that the governor's office doesn't see these conflicts as disqualifiers, despite the language in the State Constitution and South Dakota Supreme Court decisions to the contrary. Daugaard's chief of staff, Tony Venhuizen, said the administration sees a difference between people who own businesses and those working for a non-profit when it comes to state contracts. "That is always the position we have taken that an employee of an entity does not have an interest in a contract held by that entity," he said. The governor has plenty of lawyers to help interpret the constitution. But the Supreme Court seems fairly clear. In 2001, the court ruled that Rep. Carol Pitts of Brookings was in violation of the constitution because she was also an employee of South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service. Several other lawmakers have resigned in previous years after crackdowns of various types. That enforcement has traditionally fallen to the attorney general. In this iteration, Attorney General Marty Jackley says it's up to the Legislature to enforce its own rules. It's true that not every case is cut and dry. There are questions about what role spouses play, how counties figure in and whether school districts should be considered. Let's have that conversation. Right now the governor doesn't see it, and the attorney general says it's not his problem. That leaves legislative leaders to step forward, essentially asking the conflicted and potentially conflicted to police themselves. That seems unlikely. Sioux Falls Argus Leader Sturgis wants to be the next Northern Black Hills location with a new state park. But that may take awhile even though the city made its intentions known this week they would be willing to sell a 640-acre parcel of land they own south of town to the state Game, Fish & Parks Department. On Tuesday, the Sturgis City Council unanimously approved a resolution saying that the city no longer needs the area for municipal domestic water use and wants it opened to the public. The resolution went on to say that because of its location and pristine condition, the city believes the highest and best use would be for a state park. Gov. Dennis Daugaard revealed in his state of the state message earlier this month that plans are in the works for a 1,500-acre Spearfish Canyon State Park. Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie said the city has talked about possibly selling the watershed or city dams property for six or seven years. Paul Coughlin, Habitat Program Administrator for the South Dakota GF&P, said the issue of the watershed property initially came up when the city expressed interest in buying a 62-acre section of the Marcotte Game Production Area owned by GF&P near Sturgis. Ainslie said in 2012 that with development encroaching, it simply was no longer safe for hunting on the Marcotte property in Sturgis. The Sturgis City Council voted in December of 2012 to pay the 10-percent down payment of $60,810, or $10,000 per acre of the total purchase price of roughly $620,000. The city sought special legislation during the 2012 Legislative session to allow the state to sell the Marcotte Tract to the city. Coughlin, whose job it is to oversee GF&P land acquisitions, said that during negotiations on the Marcotte property the two entities discussed trading one for the other. It was just talk at that point, Coughlin said. Instead, the two agreed the city would buy the Marcotte property outright. The subject of the city dams never went away. It has been on our radar for quite some time, Coughlin said. I have yet to talk to anyone from the city yet. Coughlin said he is looking forward to having a more in-depth conversation with city officials in the near future about the watershed property. Ive never been up there, but I think from what I know of the property looking at photographs and talking to other people who have been there, it sounds like a tremendous fisheries resource and a unique place, Coughlin said. One of the concerns of both the GF&P and the city is that the road that leads to the watershed property has points that run along private property. One of the private property owners is not in favor of it, Ainslie said. That is really what kind of made us think that use by the public could not proceed unless there is better access to the property. The only road that leads directly into the property is the gated access road, which is limited to use by city maintenance crews and those with access to the Davenport cabins. Landowner Katherine Martel, of Albany, N.Y., said she will resist attempts to open the road to other users, but the public-access plan includes non-motorized trails that would lead into the area from various trailheads on public land. In the early 1900s, Jarvis Davenport had constructed four reservoirs in the upper area of the Alkali Creek drainage as part of the domestic water supply system for the city of Sturgis. In 1978, the entire 620 acres and four reservoirs were sold to the city of Sturgis. But new EPA regulations in the early 1980s mandated water treatment for above ground water sources caused the city to switch to water from deep well sources. When all those wells started to come online, the intended use of that watershed property changed, Ainslie said. Theyve just sat there. Not until recently had the city dams been used for a public purpose. The 2015 Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce Volksmarch took a route which led to the dams. Then in May of 2015, the Sturgis City Council asked the park board to develop a proposal in regards to options for use of the city dams. The Park Boards recommendations for the city dams included opening the watershed to primitive camping, hiking, biking, equestrian use as soon as possible, and to explore partnering options with government agencies with conditions of no motorized vehicle travel. This weeks passage of the resolution shows the city is serious about selling the property to the state to be opened to the public, not just for city residents, but for all, Ainslie said. Its such an easy drive off I-90 and its so beautiful up there, he said. It is a challenging hike to get up there, but it is doable. The views are just incredibly rewarding. Ainslie said he had spoken with legislators and representatives of GF&P who he said were very interested. They wanted to make sure that there was access that would be entirely on public land, that there would be areas for parking and there is public support behind it, he said. Now that all those segments have been satisfied, Ainslie hopes the project can move forward. Its not going to be in the next six to 12 months, but hopefully sooner rather than later, he said. Mike Kintigh, GF&P regional supervisor in Rapid City, confirmed that the state GF&P had been in conversation with the city of Sturgis on this property. We are talking with them, but we have not committed to anything, Kintigh said. Kintigh confirmed that access is a sticking point on the property. We want the public to be able to get to it and use it, he said. We know there are some issues with private landowners and access. The integrity of the dams on the property also is of concern to the GF&P, Kintigh said. We dont want to have to spend $500,000 to $600,000 to repair them once we got in there, he said. Ainslie said the city has maintained the property over the years by doing annual mountain pine beetle surveillance, cutting and chunking logs from infected trees, and inspecting the dams. A bill introduced in the legislature this year may make it a bit more difficult for the GF&P to make any land purchases. The bill says that no land may be acquired by the Department of Game, Fish & Parks by any means until the acquisition has been approved by the Legislature. Im not really sure what the situation is, but it would be a great outdoor opportunity for folks, Coughlin said. Amid changes in wild turkey limits, permits to hunt from a vehicle and mule deer quotas, most speakers at Thursday nights Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hunting rules open house wanted to discuss the coming shoulder seasons for elk. And many held deep concerns for the proposal to open cow elk hunting on private land for nearly six months across much of Montana. While no one at the Missoula discussion opposed the shoulder season outright, the idea of starting as early as Aug. 15 had many archery hunters worried for their personal safety. Others noted the shoulder season hunts could have an unintended consequence of leaving motherless calves to starve during the winter or shooting pregnant cow elk, doubling the recruitment losses for each animal killed. The state needs to have more tolerance for elk, hunter Brendan Conners said during the public comment period. The long-term impact of hunting six months of the year could cause a pendulum swing. Id hate to see us swing it too far. Then everyone in the room suffers. The Fish and Wildlife Commission authorized a pilot project allowing shoulder seasons for cow elk on private land in four hunting districts between Cascade and White Sulphur Springs this winter. It has also slated shoulder seasons for dozens more hunting districts throughout the state starting in August and running as long as February 2017. The goal is to reduce the number of elk harboring on private farm and ranch pastures, which are not commonly available to general season hunters. While elk populations in some public land regions of the state are struggling, the overall number is over objective by several thousand animals in parts of Region 2 around Missoula. Several speakers questioned the safety of opening the shoulder season at the same time as archery season. Bowhunter Dan Hoffman said he and many other archers use decoys when hunting. Recently when he was in an area he mistakenly thought was archery-only, a rifle hunter shot his decoy three times while he was just 15 yards away. Missoula County chief archery instructor Jeff Hill warned that ethics and safety would be the biggest concerns in managing the longer private land season. I think were going to have some fatalities with people not seeing camouflage bowhunters, Hill said. FWP Region 2 wildlife manager Mike Thompson told the audience the shoulder season idea has come about after several years of trying other means to improve the distribution of elk. The agency is attempting to balance the needs of landowners who are trying to make a living on their property with hunters who have a right to harvest public wildlife. The measures weve taken to this point did nothing but grow more elk on private land, Thompson said. The longer we wait, the more dramatic and draconian measures will have to be taken." Friday is the last day to send comments to the Fish and Wildlife Commission before it begins final debate on the 2016 shoulder season and other hunting changes. Online comments can be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday through 1.usa.gov/1SAI3oH. The commission will make a final decision on the hunting season changes at its Feb. 11 meeting. TAFT High above one of Montanas most popular snowmobile staging areas, cross-country skiers have a box seat. A network of roads, trails and railroad grades links every drainage around Lookout Pass on the Montana-Idaho border west of St. Regis. On Jan. 30, hundreds of snowmobilers will stitch together more than 50 miles of those routes for the 28th annual Super Poker Ride. In the middle, sequestered by a gate and a toppled tree, sits the Dominion Trestle. Last week, 3 feet of snow covered the trail leading to the trestle. A single set of deeply buried ski tracks was the only evidence of past visitation. The trestle hangs about 70 feet above the Dominion Creek Road, providing an owls-eye view of the surrounding drainage. The 450-foot-long Dominion Tunnel stands open, although the snow drifts only a few feet inside. Snow falls so straight on this side of Bald Mountain, the 20-foot-tall scaffold frames on the trestle shelter deep troughs in the snowbank below. That little section isnt part of the groomed route, Superior Ranger District project manager Beth Kennedy said. The Dominion Tunnel is open, but snowmobilers usually dont want to run through a dry tunnel, and its too long to haul snow inside all the way. Many visitors head up Rainy Creek Road, which leads to the Trail of the Hiawatha parking lot. The road continues to the Stateline Trail on the Montana-Idaho border, but dont plan on much access to the rail trail and its popular summertime bicycle path. They swing those big doors closed on the tunnel for the winter, Kennedy said of the Hiawatha trails dramatic starting point the 1.3-mile-long Roland Tunnel. Instead, ignore the Rainy Creek turnoff and keep moving east until you reach a little bridge crossing Dominion Creek. Turn south here and follow a gentle grade into the forest. About one mile in, the gray-black bar of the Dominion Trestle looms out of the trees. A short but steep jump-up road on the left leads to the trestle. Snowmobilers can then follow the Route of the Olympian north and east toward Saltese and Haugen. Cross-country skiers, snowshoers and anyone with a picnic can turn right and enjoy the quiet view. Repairing the Dominion Trestle was the key task in a 2010 U.S. Forest Service project to make the old Milwaukee Road grade into a public attraction. Unlike the Hiawatha route, which is restricted to bicycle traffic, the Route of the Olympian has a mixed-use schedule that shifts between motorized and nonmotorized seasons. While winter is predominantly a snowmobile time, the snow works just as well for foot-powered outings. Those turning east to follow the ghost trains eventually cross the Saltese Trestle after about 4 1/2 miles. The Montana Night Riders Snowmobile Club owns that trestle, but allows public access. Were not really in the business of owning trestles, Night Riders member Brooke Lincoln said. The reason we bought it, is if it had ended up in the hands of the Forest Service, theyd have to throw up a gate. Its going to take $1.5 million to refurbish the thing, and were trying to find the money under any rock we can turn over. Then we can bring the thing up to standards and hand it to the Forest Service on a silver platter. Snowmobilers chasing silver will be all over the Saltese Trestle on the 30th, when the poker run sends them chasing winning hands and $4,000 in prize money. Lincoln said the Route of the Olympian has been part of the local snowmobile riding system since the railroad went out, and provides about 11 miles of the poker run map. A lot of people take side trips when theyre making the run, Lincoln said. The route is all groomed and there are no difficult parts. Its a great big old snowmobile party. We always say 300 of our closest friends are coming to town for the weekend. Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials intend to monitor four wolves they improperly radio-collared in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness during an elk research project. The only way to remove those collars would be to go back in with helicopters, IDFG spokesman Mike Keckler said Thursday. And were reviewing what happened taking another look at our procedures to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. The four wolves were collared between Jan. 7 and 9 when IDFG used helicopters to capture 30 adult elk cows and 30 calves for a population study in the wilderness area. On Wednesday, Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor Chuck Mark issued a notice of noncompliance to IDFG for exceeding the limits of a special use permit to fly helicopters for the elk project. The notice of noncompliance ordered IDFG to explain how it had decided to collar wolves in violation of the permit conditions and to discuss ways of avoiding future mistakes. It did not ask the state to remove the wolf collars. A coalition of environmental groups that had sued the U.S. Forest Service in order to block the permit has amended its complaint to address the wolf collaring. Its main argument challenges the Forest Services decision to allow helicopter flights for wildlife management in federal wilderness, where agencies are supposed to use the minimal tools necessary to preserve wilderness character. Weve asked at a minimum that Idaho be prohibited from using any data from those collars for its removal program, lead attorney Tim Presso said Thursday. They have a predation management program that calls for 60 percent removal of the wolf population in the Middle Fork area. Now we understand they have multiple packs with collared wolves, and that gives them the ability to locate a large number of wolves. We think thats fundamentally incompatible with wilderness. Keckler said two capture teams with helicopters were involved in the elk project. One of the teams did not understand that the Forest Service permit was limited to elk captures only, he said. In general when our guys are up in the air, if they encounter a species they want to put a collar on, they do it, Keckler said. They saw some wolves and put collars on them. We have apologized for that. Idaho currently has 75 wolves with radio collars in its statewide monitoring program, Keckler said. Its also in the process of collaring more than 400 elk in eight areas of the state. Montana currently has 25 radio-collared wolves. The elk population in the Middle Fork between 2002 and 2011 has dropped by 43 percent, Keckler said. By placing the collars, it gives us fresh data on the population. If one stops moving because the animal dies, we can go in and retrieve the collar and determine the cause of death. Overall, the elk population in Idaho is rebounding, but in some places its not. The wilderness is one of those areas. Alfred Rsberg, Norway ( Scandinavia ) In the course of videotaping U.S. and international TV documentaries, reports and news reports I have found (and video copied) a large number of anomalous flying objects in these TV broadcasts. In this UFO blogspot I will report on UFOs found in TV broadcasts (TV footage). I will also inform about any UFO evidence recorded or obtained by a media company or government source from around the world. In addition I will report on the best Norwegian UFO cases. OUR SPONSORS Our sponsors offer the best services available and make The View From Fez possible. Please visit them by clicking on images below Welcome I hope this blogs generates discussion about the important topics of our time. Reasoned disagreement is encouraged. Clarity is important. a compilation of responses by Academics, Scholars and Concerned Citizens to the suicide of the PhD student of University of Hyderabad in January 2016. Related articles are also included along with some background material from 2013 [updated on 28 January 2016] Statement by concerned scholars following Rohith Vemulaas death How democracy in every sphere of life holds the key to Dalitsa redemption Death by Saffron: Campus Politics in the Time of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Rohith Vemula, death of a philosopher to purify higher education Ancient prejudice, modern inequality A new Dalit identity: The RSS has taken upon itself to define who is a pure Dalit and who a nationalist Email from Susie Tharu Other related articles ++++ January 21, 2016 Statement by concerned scholars following Rohith Vemulaas death The suicide of Rohith Vemula is now the subject of a ridiculous inquiry to be conducted by a Committee set up by Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani. The real reason and the politics behind it are clear to those who are willing to open their eyes. As academics, we are concerned that such a situation should prevail in Universities, and wish to register our protest. Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai was to be screened at the University of Hyderabad. The action was planned by the Ambedkar Studentsa Association. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, student goons of the RSS, used force to try and halt this. Dalit students were subjected to verbal abuse as well as physical force. As a result of agitations the ABVP had to apologise in writing. This was what caused such tremendous heartburn to the Hindutva forces. While the screening of Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai has taken place in various parts of the country, and has also given rise to conflicts in various parts of the country, it is in UoH alone that the consequences turned so aggressive with full participation of the top echelons of the University. The new Vice Chancellor, Appa Rao Podile, had five PhD students suspended. They were subjected to social ostracism as well. Thrown out of hostel, debarred from entering library, administrative spaces, they were hounded in a way that no administration has hounded any upper caste student in our memory. It is also reported that an MHRD letter designated them anti-national for opposing the hanging of Yakub Memon. The MHRD, today proclaiming autonomy of Universities, was goading UoH through several letters to take action against the ASA. Rohith had even written a letter to the Vice Chancellor a couple of weeks ago, where he suggested the University provide means of committing suicide to Dalit students. Even after this the authorities did nothing. And after the suicide, the police acted in a brutal and shameless manner, grabbing the body of Rohith and disposing of it in secrecy instead of handing it over to his relatives. As a result, we need to conclude the following: That while other conflicts, such as over communalism, over a host of issues, do remain important, when they are fought with Dalits at one end, the attitude of government and authorities becomes far more aggressive. That there is a generalised hostility to Dalits, and a great insensitivity to the burdens they carry, which is why the Hindutva offensive against the ASA could proceed so far with so little protest from across the country. This should once again force us to open our eyes, as incidents repeatedly, whether the suicide of Chuni Kotal in 1992, or the death of Balmukund Bharti, again by suicide, or so many other cases should have, that while formally the Constitution of India declares the end of casteism, in reality Brahmanism is rampant, and Dalits today have to fight the same battle as Shambuk or Ekalavya. If we are really sincere in desiring democracy and substantive equality, we must stand up and be counted in the struggle against casteism. We demand: a Removal of Smriti Irani as the Minister in charge of a Department that wrote repeated letters to UoH demanding punishment of so-called anti-national students. a Removal of the Vice Chancellor and his punishment for casteism, and for abetting suicide. a Action against all those using casteist abuse on social media against the ASA. Signatories: Sumit Sarkar Tanika Sarkar Achin Vanaik Kunal Chattopadhyay, Jadavpur University Soma Marik, RKSM Vivekananda Vidyabhavan, West Bengal State University Abhijit Kundu, Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University Maroona Murmu, Jadavpur University Kalyan Das, Presidency University Anuradha Roy, Jadavpur University Samantak Das, Jadavpur University Abhijit Gupta, Jadavpur University Sudeshna Banerjee, Jadavpur University, Suchetana Chattopadhyay, Jadavpur University Samir Karmakar, Jadavpur University Nilanjana Gupta, Jadavpur University Sanjoy Kumar Saha, Jadavpur University Nupur Dasgupta, Jadavpur University Sujata Tarafdar, Jadavpur University, Nandini Saha, Jadavpur University Mahitosh Mandal, Presidency University Debajit Dutta, Jadavpur University Ritajyoti Bandyopadhyay, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta Sujit Kumar Mandal, Jadavpur University Keshab Bhattacharya, Jadavpur University Rochana Das, Jadavpur University Gautam Gupta, Jadavpur University Mahidas Bhattacharya, Jadavpur University Abhijit Roy, Jadavpur University Partha Pratim Ray, Jadavpur University Epsita Halder, Jadavpur University Proyash Sarkar, Jadavpur University Atreyi Dasgupta, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Hematology and Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, USA Chandak Sengoopta, Birbeck College, University of London Tithi Bhattacharya, University of Purdue Bill Mullen, University of Purdue Abha Dev Habib, Miranda House, Delhi University Neshat Qaiser, Jamia Milia Islamia University Rina Ramdev, Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University Surajit Mukhopadhyay, WBNUJS Gaurang Sahay, TISS, Mumbai Padma Velaskar, TISS, Mumbai Monami Basu, Delhi University Mrityunjay Yadavendu, Delhi University Naveen Gaur, Dyal Singh College, Delhi University Nandita Narain, St. Stephens College, Delhi University. Pradip Basu, Presidency University Saikat Sinha Roy, Jadavpur University Anindya Sengupta, Jadavpur University Partha Sarathi Bhaumik, Jadavpur University Rimi B. Chatterjee, Jadavpur University Shashi Sekhar Singh, Satyavati College, Delhi University Mihir Pandey, Ramjas College, Delhi University Radrashish Chakraborty, KMC, Delhi University Roopa Dhawan, Ramjas College, Delhi University Chitra Joshi, IP College, Delhi University Debaditya Bhattacharya, Nivedita College, University of Calcutta Indrani Talukdar, BITS Pilani, Goa Vinita Chandra, Ramjas College, Delhi University Nandini Chandra, Delhi University Mithuraaj Dhusiya, Delhi University Sibaji Bandyopadhyay, formerly in CSSSC Samarpita Mitra, Jadavpur University Tilottama Mukherjee, Jadavpur University Arabinda Samanta, Burdwan University Niladri R. Chatterjee, Kalyani University Priyanka Bhattacharya, Doon School Sreejith Kalandy, Mangalkote Government General Degree College Pranav Jani, Ohio State University, USA Paramita Bhattacharjee Chakraborti, Jadavpur University Partha Pratim Basu, Jadavpur University Rina Ghosh, Jadavpur University o o o The Economic Times - January 27, 2016 How democracy in every sphere of life holds the key to Dalitsa redemption by TK Arun A sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic Republic a this is what India is supposed to be. Republic, it certainly is, and sovereign, too. Socialist is a stale joke. Secular and democratic are works in progress, too rudimentary to save the lives of Mohammad Akhlaq, lynched over beef at Dadri, or Rohith Vemula, Dalit student who penned his suicide note in English, the language of power in post-colonial India. Power is the key to the Dalitas plight. He lacks social power, others have more than their fair share. This unequal distribution of power in society is what makes India a democracy still in the making. Democracy is not just about holding elections to choose representatives of the people. It is also about reconfiguring the relations of power in society, to deliver equality to individuals as citizens. Fight for Democracya Equality does not mean an end to hierarchy. Functional hierarchies are needed, to get things done in any complex organisation. But, in a democracy, these hierarchies are meant to be context-specific, to melt away and reconfigure in a different context and be non-existent in terms of political rights. Your boss might be your boss at work, but an accommodated extra in the play you direct after work, and both of you get just one vote each to elect your MP, and are equal before the law. This is the ideal, but mere fantasy, in reality. If we understand democracy as an ongoing process, its goal is to realise this fantasy. Indian society has traditionally been hierarchical, with pure Brahmins at the top and polluting Dalits and tribal people at the bottom. The hierarchy had religious sanction. Manusmriti a which codifies the rules of propriety for Hindus a hails the Brahmin as the lord of all creation and enjoins the rest to see their duty in serving him. Birth defines your status in life and your job, to do which is your dharma. Failure to do your dharma is what gets you born into a lowly caste. Rohith Vemula apparently did not subscribe to this causal explanation for his plight: he called his birth a fatal accident, not any result of culpable delinquency in his previous birth. This rejection turns the focus on a conflict between the democratic project and the Hindu tradition that justifies present inequity in terms of sins of the dead past. This theory of transmigration of souls across time, species, caste and status, guided by achieved adherence to dharma, is preached day in and day out across India, in the name of Sanatana Dharma. To accept it is to accept oneas lot in life as the just desserts of the past, to question no iniquity and simply put oneas nose to the grindstone, to earn some reprieve at least in the next birth. This is inimical to democracy and must be resisted by Dalits and all the rest who find themselves on the bottom rungs of the traditional social hierarchy. Does this mean one must resist Hinduism to achieve democracy? Not really, at least, not all its forms. Vedanta, for example, holds Brahman to be the only reality and posits all things living and dead to be manifestations of Brahman. If you accept that the Dalit and the Brahmin are both manifestation of the selfsame Brahman, there is no reason to adore the one and shun the other. Sankara, the foremost philosopher of Advaita, accepted as much, so goes the story, after being scolded by a chandala, lowest of the low, for shrinking away from him. aAnd Participatory Growth But Sankara did not do anything to resolve the gap between his theory of the world and the discriminatory practice of the religion. It took social reformer Narayana Guru to challenge the caste system in terms of Advaita. The same understanding of unity of all things that led him to say that caste divisions are invalid also led him to say that what is important is for people to be decent, whatever their religion. Such a vision of Hinduism is at radical odds with Hindutva, as espoused by the Sangh Parivar, which sees non-Hindus as potential anti-national threats and any political action outside the framework of conflating the nation with Hindus as treason that has to be put down. While Narayana Guruas conceptual framework was consistent internally and with Advaita, he did not succeed in eradicating caste in his land. That is because of the lived reality of the lower castes and the upper castes being at two ends of a division of social labour, which valorised intellectual labour and demeaned physical labour. The means of changing that reality did not exist in his time. It is at hand now. Mass education, the internet and globalised growth make it eminently possible to break the correlation between birth and occupation, the material basis of caste. Hewers of wood can and do turn computer programmers and entrepreneurs. But participatory growth is not sufficient to empower Dalits. They need more democracy, to dismantle the present oppressive power structure. Democracy in every sphere of life and aggressive participation in the new global division of labour a these hold the key to Indiaas redemption, so also the Dalitsa. o o o ZNet Death by Saffron: Campus Politics in the Time of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Radha Surya January 25, 2016 Some images never become stale, never lose their power to re-awaken emotion and rekindle anguish. India has been bequeathed an image of this nature by the heart-rending death by suicide of Rohith Vemula on January 17, 2016 on the campus of Hyderabad Central University (HCU). Rohith Vemula, vibrant activist and promising research scholar, was a Dalit, a member of the social group formerly known as untouchables. In a poignant picture from December 2015 the youthful Rohith Vemula and a fellow student are shown leaving the student hostel from which they have been expelled by the university administration (http://bit.ly/209FLy6). The two of them carry an assortment of meagre personal possessionsaa bed roll, folded clothes, a bag and other items. As he looks away from the camera Rohith embraces an outsize portrait of exemplary Dalit intellectual B.R. Ambedkaraprincipal architect of the Constitution of India, social reformer, wide ranging thinker and writer on weighty issues in economics, politics, nation building and jurisprudence. The intellectual and activist legacy of Ambedkar is synonymous with his fierce critique of the caste system. Although his life and work were coterminous with Indiaas struggle for independence, Ambedkar was not primarily a freedom fighter. As a Dalit intellectual Ambedkar recognized that ideas of belonging implicit in conventional notions of nationhood were inapplicable to those outside the boundaries of Indiaas highly stratified caste system. In an oft quoted conversation with Mahatma Gandhi Ambedkar spoke of the untouchable as a being without a state and a nation: aYou say I have got a homeland, but still I repeat that I am without it. How can I call this land my own homeland and this religion my own, wherein we are treated worse than cats and dogs, wherein we cannot get water to drink? No self-respecting Untouchable worth the name will be proud of this land.a If the camera had continued to follow the expulsion of Rohith as he receded into the distance conceivably the portrait of Ambedkar and its modern day bearer might have blended into one. Both were outside the pale of Indian societyathe eminent scholar in a metaphorical sense, his young acolyte in a very literal sense as brought out by Rohithas ousting from his residence at an elite Indian university. The national mediaas intense scrutiny of the circumstances leading to Rohith Vemulaas final and irreversible act has brought out sobering and hitherto less widely known facts regarding discrimination encountered by Dalit students in Indiaas institutions of higher education. Soon after India attained independence in 1947 her founders created and implemented a program to reverse the damage wrought by centuries of oppression of disadvantaged groups in the caste hierarchy. The goal was to improve the socio-economic conditions of the abackwarda or scheduled castes. This program ensures that constitutionally mandated quotas will be available for qualifying members of abackwarda classes in centrally funded institutions of higher learning as well as in employment in the public sector. Although the reservations policy gives the Dalit aspirant entry to institutions of higher education, the progressive measure has not been accompanied by genuine change in social attitudes toward those who belong to the alowera orders. Consequently Dalits often find themselves at the receiving end of discrimination. Such discrimination is said to be particularly acute in institutions devoted to the study of science. In the case of Hyderabad University recent commentary has brought out the fact that nine Dalit students died by their own hand in just the last seven years. Was Rohithas victimhoodahis suspension from HCU along with four other Dalit students and his subsequent suicideathe consequence of caste oppression? Was his a case of death by casteism? The short answer must be in the negative. Because of the convoluted nature of the path that led to his undoing caste seems to have been an intermediate rather than final or determining factor. The salient elements of the trajectory that took him to his untimely death were his politics as a member of the Ambedkar Student Association (ASA) at Hyderabad Central University and his activism in questioning the right wing, ultra nationalist politics that gained the upper hand in New Delhi with the swearing in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2014 after the landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in general elections. In 2014 the BJP gained a majority in its own right in Indiaas Lok Sabha or lower house of parliament thereby bringing an end to over two decades of rule by coalition governments. Recent months have brought out the limitations of a parliamentary majority that does not extend to the Rajya Sabha or upper House of Parliament. Nevertheless the BJP and its ideological parent the secretive and sinister Hindu supremacist aculturala organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remain intoxicated by their triumph of 2014. A sweeping effort has been launched to dismantle the multi-religious, plural and diverse character of Indian society and culture and rebuild it in accordance with a majoritarian, Hindu nationalist and chauvinist view of Indiaas history and role in the world. The capture of power over Indiaas premier, centrally funded institutions of culture, research and education is key to this effort. Accordingly a series of mediocre individuals distinguishe d by their right-wing politics and slavish adulation of Prime Minister Modi have been given leadership positions in former bastions of intellectual excellence. The appointment of a former actor in B grade films and soft porn as chairman of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) has been particularly controversial. The appointment triggered months of protests by FTII students. One of their principal demands was for an institution head whose credentials were in keeping with the high standards and sterling reputation of the FTII. The students received abundant support for their cause from eminent personalities in the film world. Encountering only stonewalling from the establishment in New Delhi the students gave up their heroic strikeabut not their struggleaand resumed classes. The remaking or rather unmaking of India and of Indian institutions in a right-wing, majoritarian, ultranationalist mould is commonly called saffronization as saffron is the color associated with the BJP. Suppression of dissent in every form is intrinsic to this unmaking and it has taken a heavy toll on foreign NGOs functioning in India as well as domestic organizations. The Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry (formerly Ministry of Education) seems to have been charged with crushing dissent among student groups operating on centrally funded campuses across India. The tactic of choice involves pressuring the heads of institutions to penalize groups and individuals who question the politics of the regime in New Delhi. One such incident took place in May 2015 when the Dean of the Chennai campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) derecognized a student group called the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle at the behest of the HRD Ministry. In the case of the ASA (Am bedkar Students Association) at Hyderabad University the heavy handed tactics of the HRD ministry has led to irreversible tragedy. As in Chennai there was a conflict between two student groupsathe ASA and the student wing of the BJP, a reactionary, right wing group called Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarti Parishad (ABVP). The ABVP has chapters on campuses across India and is notorious for its belligerent and intimidating tactics and the disruption of campus events involving progressive politics. A clash took place between members of the opposing groups at HCU. An enquiry held by a university board resulted in a clean chit being given to ASA. Thereafter the ABVP used its political muscle to avenge its earlier setback. Consequently some months later the same board reversed its earlier decision and issued an order expelling five ASA members from HCU hostel for six months and prohibiting them from using public areas like the cafeteria where other students congregated. Driven into a corner, subjected to social ostracism and placed in an intolerable situation Rohith Vemula ended his life. The inexorable march of events that led to Rohith Vemulaas final irreversible act bring out the implacable nature of the forces arrayed against critical thought and activism in BJP ruled India where dissent is outlawed and majoritarian and ultra nationalist elements call the shots. As has been noted by many observers the BJP is not merely a political party that concerns itself with the political affairs of the land. The party that contests elections and holds office is part of an octopus like entity known as the Sangh Parivar whose tentacles extend into every sphere of Indian life and culture. The reach of the Sangh Parivar can be gauged from the Hyderabad instance in which a campus clash between student groups on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum quickly escalated to a level involving the intervention of two Union Ministers one of them a minister in the cabinet of PM Narendra Modi. The campus group with connections to the corridors of power in New Delhi had the clout to bring about the reversal of a decision passed by the board of a putatively autonomous university. Inescapably one is led to think that the ruthless forces brought to bear on him hounded Rohith Vemula into taking his life. In his moving and enigmatic suicide letter Rohith has written as follows: aMaybe I was wrong, all the while, in understanding world. In understanding love, pain, life, death.a How do we interpret his statement? Did he in his final moments come to think that his activism on behalf of social and political justice had become his undoing? Was he unable to live with the knowledge that he had been undermined by his best convictions? We will never know with certainty. But this much we know. As an Ambedkarite and political person he would have been appalled as he watched the saffron tide coursing through the land. He saw that Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi, scholars and rationalist thinkers, were murdered in cold blood by religious bigots. He saw the reluctance to bring the perpetrators to book. He saw the police beating up and detaining FTII students for exercising their constitutional rights and holding a peaceful protest. He saw the crackdown on dissent taking place on all sides and the tentacles of the Sangh Parivar reaching out for him. Those in a position of privilege can afford a comprehensive view of the Indian sceneaboth the crushing of dissent and the resistance. A victim does not enjoy the same luxury. On January 21, less than a week after the suicide of Rohith Vemula, Hyderabad Central University revoked the suspension of the previously suspended Dalit students. At a time when saffron is triumphant this is what it took to obtain a modicum of justice in a campus incident involving opposed student groupsaan immeasurably tragic death and the cry raised for justice for Rohith Vemula as campuses across India were rocked by protests. For the moment the saffron juggernaut has been brought up short but only at a heavy priceaone that Rohith Vemulaas countless mourners would never have willingly paid. o o o the Hindustan Times Rohith Vemula, death of a philosopher to purify higher education Kancha Ilaiah, Hindustan Times | Updated: Jan 20, 2016 08:35 IST The Dalit student whose suicide has generated political waves was a brilliant man. His letter to Prof Appa Rao, the newly appointed vice-chancellor of the university who was once believed to be anti-Dalit by the government, shows that at the time of his suicide, he was angry, upset and depressed. In his letter to the VC, written on December 18, 2015, Rohith Vemula had said, aGive us poison or long ropes to hang ourselvesa . His suicide note was far more gracious a he blamed no one but himself to have been born in such a society. Even in his final moments, Vemula made a major point. The institutions of higher education in India do not allow the Dalits to study and live with dignity. Obviously, what shocked him most was the letter of labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya that characterised his organisation a the Ambedkar Student Association (ASA) a as anti-national, casteist and extremist. It was on the basis of this letter that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) requested action against the five Dalit students who had allegedly organised a film show on the Muzaffarnagar communal riots and also held a discussion on Yakub Memonas hanging. Let us not forget it was just an academic discussion. Yet, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) first disrupted that meeting and then set the political machinery in motion alleging an attack by the Dalit students on one of their activists. Pressure mounts on Modi government to sack Dattatreya for Rohithas suicide Since the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) stormed into power in 2014, this was the fourth major assault on Dalit rights and dignity in the country. First, the ban on the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle of IIT Madras, then the burning alive of Dalit children in Haryana and, finally, general VK Singh allegedly referring to them as animals. Now, it is Rohithas death and Dattatreya and the HRD ministryas perceived involvement in it. The fact that the University of Hyderabad administration took action after the MHRD letter has raised questions on the autonomy of central universities and universities in general. If vice-chancellors had a free hand to deal, without external pressure, with campus issues impartially, universities would not have become the den of suicides and violence that they are today. In the absence of such autonomy, there will be many more Rohiths. Unfortunately, however, ever since the BJP came to power, political interference in learning institutions has seen an exponential increase. Earlier, universities were the privilege of the upper castes, but the reservation system has changed all that for the better. Non-political student organisations with modern ideologies today trump traditional, conservative groups like the ABVP in both talent and modern thinking a the creativity and dynamism of the ASA is just one example. These small but effective student groups do not need guidance from a political party to take up contentious issues such as the beef ban or to write a new cultural idiom. Rohith was a by-product of this new cultural idiom. And, he gave up his life to spread the message that such discrimination and social boycott of Dalits/tribals can no longer be tolerated. (Kancha Ilaiah is the author of aWhy I am Not a Hindua and the director of Alberuni Centre for the study of social exclusion and Inclusive policy at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad.) (The views expressed in this article are personal.) Prof. Kancha Ilaiah Director, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad o o o The Hindu, 22 January 2016 Ancient prejudice, modern inequality by Ananya Vajpeyi If Ekalavyaas dismembered digit has haunted the Hindu schoolyard from time immemorial, Rohith Vemulaas tragic suicide lays bare the deep inequality undergirding the modern state and its institutions of higher learning On Sunday, January 17, Rohith Vemula (25), a doctoral student at the University of Hyderabad, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling fan in a friendas hostel room. His death has brought to a head a long-simmering conflict between progressive student groups, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the studentsa wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), present on campuses across the country and increasingly belligerent in the prevailing climate of Hindu right-wing dominance. Rohith, a Dalit, had been involved in campus activism on diverse issues: Ambedkarite politics, protests against beef bans, the persistence of the death penalty in the Indian criminal justice system, and communal violence in Muzaffarnagar in August-September 2013, which left many dead and thousands displaced, mostly Muslims. Along with four other Dalit students, Rohith had been evicted from his hostel accommodation about a month ago, his monthly research stipend suspended, allegedly for subversive activities. The university administration as well as the State and Central governments all appear to have been strong-armed by the reactionary ABVP into expelling these five individuals on dubious charges, characterising the victimised students as acasteista , aextremista and aanti-nationala . All of them belonged to the Ambedkar Students Association, a body similar to the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), a group that had also faced harassment and intimidation from campus authorities in the summer of 2015. Caste and the Hindu Right The conflicts in both the University of Hyderabad and the IIT-M illustrate a deep fracture between the Hindu Right and Dalit-Bahujan ideologies, particularly those of the Ambedkarite strain, a fault line that cannot be papered over by electoral alliances of convenience and occasional instances of power-sharing between the two sides. The Sangh Parivar at every level, from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party down to the ABVP, stands against equality, whether between castes, religious communities, or the sexes. Instead of egalitarianism, the Hindu Right believes in an archaic arithmetic of adhikaar and bahishkaar, entitlement and exclusion, based on caste, religion and gender. If the Indian Republic is built on a plinth of equal citizenship, the Hindu Rashtra would be founded on ritual hierarchy and patriarchy as laid out for centuries in the caste system. Onto this unequal social order of considerable vintage would be layered a deadly neo-Fascist majoritarian politics that arises out of the Hindutva imagination of the modern nation. This is why, when the Ambedkar Students Association supported the screening of Nakul Singh Sawhneyas film Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai on the University of Hyderabad campus, the ABVP attacked the Dalit activist-students, driving them out of their classrooms and hostels, eventually to the limit where Rohith took the irreversible decision to end his life. Photographs he posted on his Facebook page in 2014 of his parentsa home in the small town of Guntur a a prized red refrigerator in which all the neighbours kept their water bottles, a gas burner, a fan he wryly described as asolar powereda a suggest the great distance from poverty and hardship travelled by this young man to become a doctoral student at one of the most prestigious universities in India. His journey ended violently and abruptly. But the ostracising of the Sudra and Dalit student from the institutions of education and employment, knowledge and power, is a very old theme in Indian thought on social structure and moral order. The figure of the outcaste student appears in some of our oldest texts that reflect on the relationship between self, society and sovereignty. In the Mahabharata, Ekalavya, a talented archer prince of the forest tribe of the Nishadas, goes to Dronacharya, the master who teaches young men of the Pandava and Kaurava clans how to wield their weapons. Drona will not admit Ekalavya on account of the tribal status that makes him an outsider to the caste system. Ekalavya goes away, makes an image of Drona, secretly watches him give lessons to Arjuna and the other royals, and teaches himself archery, treating the mud-and-clay Drona as a stand-in for the recalcitrant guru. When Ekalavya turns out to be a better bowman than the Kshatriya prince Arjuna, Drona asks for his right thumb as tuition fee. Ekalavya agrees, but not without understanding that he is being discriminated against yet again. Ekalavyaas initial disobedience (which makes him a secret apprentice) as well as his later compliance (which costs him his thumb) shame both Drona and his favourite pupil, the supposed beneficiary of this blatant act of prejudice, Arjuna. The story of the Nishada prince shows Drona up as a caste bigot whose classroom reeks of nepotism, even if he knows how to teach his students well, at least the high-born ones he favours. Ekalavyaas dismembered digit, a bloody and visceral embodiment of caste consciousness, has haunted the Hindu schoolyard from time immemorial. It can be read as quite literally a thumb in Dronaas eye, a jab at our conscience that is as painful for us to experience as it must have been for Ekalavya to lose the very source of his hard-earned skill. He is denied access at every stage: he cannot become Dronaas pupil, but neither is he allowed to become a great archer through his own efforts. The story of Satyakama Jabali from the Chandogya Upanishad is more complex. Satyakama has no father, and takes his mother Jabalaas name. He goes to the hermitage of the sage Gautama, and wants to be admitted. When asked about his parentage, he acknowledges honestly that he does not know his fatheras name or caste. Gautama admits him nevertheless, and performs the initiation ritual to pronounce him a twice-born Brahmin, after which his education begins in earnest. In the ancient text of the Upanishad, Gautama is willing to entertain Satyakama as a potential pupil because of his honesty: he takes the boyas love of truth (which is the literal meaning of his name, satya-kama) as proof of his essentially Brahmin nature. Once the teacher has assessed the applicantas innate worth, he then translates his positive assessment into an upanayana (bestowal of the sacred thread on the boyas body), naming Satyakama a proper Brahmin and proceeding to educate him accordingly. Satyakamaas Brahmin identity is clearly attributed to him; it cannot be proven to be intrinsic, since his mother Jabala cannot identify his father. Gautama seems to suggest that aBrahmin is as Brahmin doesa, i.e., Satyakama has the lakshana (characterising feature) of a Brahmin (because he speaks the truth), even though he does not have the gotra (lineage) of a Brahmin (because his mother was unmarried). For a modern reader, this is a confusing account. Does Gautama make an exception and admit a non-Brahmin pupil into his hermitage, or does Gautama accept Satyakama because he thinks he recognises him, despite appearances, to be a genuine Brahmin? The exchange between Satyakama and Gautama at the threshold of the ashram, as it were, raising fundamental questions about identity (Who are you? Who am I?), about rights to entry into the portals of the academy, about rule and exception in the caste system, and about the entailments of caste in the strongholds of knowledge and seats of power, is again a moment that has not left our collective conscience for two millennia. Dr. Ambedkar himself reminds us of both these characters, Ekalavya and Satyakama, who for him are damning evidence of the stubborn longevity of caste in Indian history. The more things changea Ekalavya did not die and neither did Satyakama, but Rohith did. This sad fact could lead to various conclusions. It is a reflection on the unexpected cruelty and the adamantine ideologies undergirding the modern state and its institutions of higher learning. Drona and Ekalavya, Gautama and Satyakama could to some extent negotiate the terms of their relationship. Rohith ostensibly had the might of the Indian Constitution behind him a his fundamental rights as a citizen, reservations policy for students of his socioeconomic background, and the empowering discourses of the Ambedkarite student group which gave him a certain political awareness and the radical energy to fight for the equality he fully expected and deserved, but never got. And yet, when he was rusticated and ousted from his hostel, when he and his companions felt pushed to stage a asleep-ina outside the university gates; when his stipend was withheld and he had to borrow money, and when he finally felt like he had hit a wall and had no options, Rohith was far worse off than his metaphorical brothers in the ancient literature. His heartbreaking suicide note states the piercing truth, the skewer that caste ideology drives into every heart filled with hope: aMy birth is my fatal accident.a Yes, this is the human condition: our birth, all birth, is an accident. We do not choose our father or mother, our group or community. But only in India, only in caste society, and only for Dalits does this accident of coming into an unequal life become the fatality of either living with relentless inequality and enduring its cruelties, or dying a terrible, unfair, premature and unredeemed death. Anil Kumar Meena, a first-year Dalit student at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indiaas premier medical college, had hung himself from the fan of his hostel room in March 2012. In Rohithas poignant Facebook photos, his familyas meagre possessions now stand witness to a life whose promise was extinguished. He had posted that before he got a Junior Research Fellowship, his motheras humble sewing machine had supported the family. Like December 16, 2012, the day marked by the horrendous rape and murder of a young woman Nirbhaya, let January 17, 2016 too go down in this countryas history as the dark day of the death of a student, Rohith Vemula, who was promised a chance at dignity and prosperity by our founders, and whom we abandoned, to our eternal shame. (Ananya Vajpeyi, author of Righteous Republic: The Political Foundations of Modern India (2012), is with the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi.) o o o The Tribune, 22 January 2016 A new Dalit identity: The RSS has taken upon itself to define who is a pure Dalit and who a nationalist by Apoorvanand RECOVERING from the initial stage of stupor, the RSS and its government launched an aAmbedkaritea-nationalist offensive to justify the treatment meted out to Rohith Vemula and his colleagues. They took care to offer cold, customary condolences, but after freeing themselves from this minimum obligation, the first thing they did was to question the aDalitnessa of Rohith. They claimed that he was not an authentic Dalit since one of his parents is a non-Dalit. The father comes from a backward community. Since you derive your identity from the father, Rohith could not claim to be a pure Dalit. The cynical attempt to persuade Dalits that the death of Rohith should not concern them, by suggesting that he was an imposter, shows the real inhuman nature of the politics of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As if, even if this were a fact, it would make the death of Rohith less tragic! The second thing the RSS did was to question the politics of Rohith and his organisation a Ambedkar StudentsaAssociation (ASA). The argument, barely a day after the suicide, was that the politics of the ASA had nothing to do with Dalit issues. It was raising issues which were anti-national in nature and therefore, the ASA and its members, including Rohith, do not deserve our sympathy. At least, nationalist Dalits should not come out in support of the ASA. The ASA was dubbed anti-national for having protested against the hanging of Yakub Memon and for participating in a procession to protest the attack on the screening of aMuzaffarnagar Baki Haia , a documentary on the communal violence in western UP. A strange argument was advanced to prove that Rohith and his organisation were in fact insulting Ambedkar. Since Yakub Memon was punished by the Supreme Court under the relevant laws framed under the provisions of the Constitution which was written by Baba Saheb, any act of opposition to this punishment is an affront to Baba Saheb! Rohith was guilty of this sacrilege. One of the apracharaksa of the RSS, who has been assigned the job of looking after its studentsa wing, said on camera that Rohith and the ASA never raised the question of denial of reservation to the OBCs and SC/STs in Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia; and never questioned their minority character, which again proves that they cared little for Dalits. It is again being suggested here that you will have to oppose the minority character of these institutions to prove your Dalit credentials. This argument tries to essentialise Dalit identity and intends to tie it finally with Hindutva. Dalit politics that in any manner questions the nationalism of the Hindutva variety automatically becomes anti-national and fit for attack. The RSS is also trying to deprive Dalits of the right to choose their issues and solidarities. If they make issues which are anon-Dalita in a narrow sense, and even worse, if they make Muslim issues their own, they are damned. The aggression with which the RSS is trying to devour Ambedkar is born out of the desperation to use the energy that the movements of social justice has unleashed in the last two decades. Recognising the urge of the backward and Dalit classes to participate in the democratic political process, the Sangh is devising ways to create its own brand of Dalit and backward politics. Since in its formative days the slogan was a unity of Dalit-Backwards and Muslims, the Sangh is trying to isolate Muslims and draw the rest in its fold. Organisations like the ASA are impediment in this drive as they seek to realise the liberatory potential of the project of social justice by forging an alliance of all oppressed communities. The ASA, through its activities, expressed its solidarity with the persecuted Muslims of India. This could not be tolerated. It is not surprising that even in this sombre moment, the RSS has not refrained from attacking Rohith and his friends for their incomplete and anti-national Dalithood. The reaction from the government, defending the MHRD, is even more pathetic and unconvincing. It has now been documentarily proved that the ministry gave an extraordinary treatment to the request by Bandaru Dattatreya. All of us know that no officer would take the pain of giving four reminders in quick succession in a routine matter. It is clear that there was a concerted attempt to put pressure on the university to act in a particular manner which satisfies the complainant, in this case the minister. The deception in the response of Smriti Irani is so palpable. She alleges that it was a clash between two groups of students and there was no caste angle to it. She hides a fact which is most important, that the studentsa body, for which her ministry batted, belongs to the RSS and she is also part of the Sangh Parivar. She cannot, therefore, deny partisanship in this case. Second, it is not others who are indulging in a malicious campaign by making it a caste issue. None other than her own colleague, Bandaru Dattatreya, made this allegation that casteist and anti-national groups were active on the campus! The minister seems to be perfecting the art of half-truth, but she gets exposed each time. When she produced the letter of a Congress leader to prove that her ministry was also pursuing matters raised by opposition leaders, she concealed this fact that the urgency in the latter case was missing and the university also took it lightly, whereas in this case, the university overturned its earlier decision of not punishing Rohith after it was relentlessly pestered by the MHRD to show compliance. A TV anchor raised a question many of us would find innocent, but it needs to be asked. Why did the aggrieved student body run crying to the minister? Was it sure that he, being one of them, would readily help them? Second, why did the minister believe what the student body told him? Did he investigate? For, his was not a simple forwarding note which is customarily sent by a person like him when he is approached by his constituents. He very explicitly lists the crimes of the ASA and demands intervention of the MRHD to prod the university to act against the aanti-nationala casteist criminals. He cannot claim that he was merely a neutral conduit. The role of the university is shameful, even the reaction of the Vice-Chancellor after the suicide. He is shocked and fails to understand why Rohith had to take this extreme step. But when asked why he did not think of reaching out to Rohith after his earlier anguished letter, all that he has to say is that he has to act according to rules and statutes! It is this cold, vicious, nationalist cruelty which filled Rohith with a sense of isolation from which he could recover only by breaking free of this life. Let us face with clear eyes this duplicity, this wickedness of nationalism which criminalises my existence if I seek to express my individuality. Many more lives will be lost if we do not act in time and remove it from the position of power. a The writer is a professor of Hindi at Delhi University o o o Forwarded message ---------- From: Susie Tharu Date: Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 3:16 PM Dear Friends Some of you may recall that three years ago there were a spate of students suicidesonce again mostly dalits. At that time the AP High Court had passed an order suggesting administrative measures and safeguards in universities. Barring a few desultory and soon abandoned moves to set up counselling centres neither the UGC nor the universities acted on the order. Procedural and structural safeguards such as these are essential if students from marginalized communities are to survive in these elite institutions. It may be useful now to use the order to hold administrations accountable and also to relook at these suggestions. What follows is a brief background note providing an introduction to the events that led up to order, including importantly, an implead petition by senior university teachers and three attachmentsthe petition, the recommendations that emerged from the NALSAR University of Law Consultations and the AP High Court Order. In March 2013 the Acting Chief Justice N V Ramana of the AP High Court took suo moto cognizance of a report in TOI by Nikhila Henry about nine students who had, over the previous 12 months, committed suicide in various universities in Hyderabad. Treating the report as public interest litigation, the High Court issued notices to the state, the universities and the UGC asking them to inform the court in four days about the steps being taken by them to prevent such suicides. Welcoming the move, a group of 29 senior teachers from these universities impleaded themselves in the writ petition offering to help the court understand the context behind these suicides. Their implead petition stated that failure, fear of failure, administrative indifference, hostile regulations, insult, social and academic stigmatisation and rejection, are some of the causes. In a consultation organized by Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad, representatives of the universities and the teacher-petitioners together developed a set of recommendations for administrative reforms that would provide students with formal access to protection. By Order dated 1-07-2013 the AP High Court directed the universities to implement those recommendations. We are attaching the documents Text of Andhra Pradesh High Court Order on Student Suicides NALSAR Committee Recommendations Teachers Implead Petition for Wider Circulation o o o Other related articles: What killed Hyderabad university Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula? Somi Das Students on warpath after Rohith Vemula suicide So who exactly is politicising Rohith Vemulas suicide? First a Suicide and then a Lonely Cremation Driven By Calculation, Not Compassion, Modias Tears Mean Nothing by Apoorvanand A thousand voices, a thousand stories ignored by Nikhila Henry http://www.thehindu.com/thread/politics-and-policy/article8154865.ece BJP must stop meddling with varsities, student politics Rohith Vemulaas death was an opportunity for Indian Muslims to express solidarity with other underprivileged groups by Tanweer Alam http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/rohith-vemulas-death-was-an-opportunity-for-indian-muslims-to-express-solidarity-with-other-underprivileged-groups/ Literary body condemns assault on Dalit writer Video: Failure of Understanding: An open debate with Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, VC, University of Hyderabad https://youtu.be/2vnHKKbhmYs Video in Hindi: aa aaaa aYaaa : aaaaa aaaaaa aa aaa aaa aaa aa aa aaaaa aaaaa aaaa ? (NDTV Ravish Kumar Prime Time Intro On who is responsible for suicide of Dalit Rohith Vemula ?) https://youtu.be/NP58znyJI3M scroll.in - 22 January 2016 Their founding fathers came from the most conservative Brahmin castes, with enormous faith in the culture that empowered them. They opposed the mainstream secular freedom struggle and started to mobilise along religious lines from the early 20th century. They openly admired Hitler and said that it would aprofita India to copy the Nazi approach to minorities. They stated that their top three enemies were a) Muslims, b) Christians and c) Communists. Arguing that Hindus and Muslims were irreconcilable, they propagated the two-nation theory, exactly as did their mirror opposite, the Muslim League. They along with the Muslim League supported the British even during the 1942 Quit India movement. They, along with the Muslim League, instigated unparalleled bloodshed during Partition. At the dawn of Independence in 1947, they rejected the tricolour national flag and flew only their saffron flag. In 1948, they murdered Mahatma Gandhi and distributed sweets afterwards. In 1950 they wrote bitterly against the Indian Constitution, preferring the Manusmruti instead. In 1951 they opposed Law Minister Dr Ambedkaras Hindu Code Bill that granted Hindu women the same rights as Hindu men. Dr Ambedkar resigned in disgust, so the work of drafting a Uniform Civil Code, which was his next stated goal, was never fulfilled. In 1956 they opposed all those who along with Dr Ambedkar, walked out of caste-ridden Hinduism to embrace non-casteist Buddhism. Despite continuing heinous atrocities against Dalits, they continue to oppose any questioning of aholya scriptures that enshrine the caste system. They continue to pretend to the world that their religion is the most tolerant one on the planet. In Kashmir, they bitterly opposed Article 370 granting autonomy to the region, which in great measure, fuelled militancy to grow in response. In 1987, they glorified sati in Rajasthan to make electoral gains. They bitterly opposed the Reservation policy for Dalits and Other Backward Classes until they finally realised the electoral damage of their stand. In 1992, they demolished the Babri Mosque and destroyed the fragile unity between Hindus and Muslims. They targeted and murdered Christians working for the educational and medical needs of Adivasis. In 1998 they promoted the atom bomb and even wanted to build a temple to it. They also began weaponising the bomb and started a nuclear arms race with Pakistan that has brought the subcontinent to the brink of nuclear holocaust. After engineering countless communal riots throughout the post-Independence era, they started a pogrom against Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. They carried out a witch-hunt of whistleblowers like Teesta Setalvad and her team just because they challenged the post-riot impunity of their justice system. Other communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and many other places followed as when required by the exigencies of elections. They carried out terror attacks and bomb blasts in Goa, Thane, Malegaon, Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and many others places and attempted to pin the blame on Muslims, until their game was exposed by a brave police officer, Hemant Karkare. From 2013 on, they murdered three well-known rationalists and many unknown ones, as well as threatened scores of others. Today, they and their mushrooming affiliates are giving arms training to vigilante groups across the countryside to attack minorities in the name of a beef ban and love jihad. Their rapidly growing youth wings are terrorising campuses across India, opposing all other student bodies be they secular, democratic, Gandhian, Left, Dalit or any combination of these. They violently oppose or defame all rival groups and individuals whose thinking challenges their hegemony, from Professor Sandeep Pande of the Benares Hindu University, to Sheetal Sathe of the Kabir Kala Manch, from the students of Film and Television Institute of India to those of the Ambedkar-Periyar group in Chennai and the Ambedkar Students Association in Hyderabad. Their ideology now combines a medieval cultural mindset with a free market economic model that surrenders sovereignty and natural resources to foreign multinationals, modern avatars of the East India Company. And they called Rohit Vemula, their latest victim from a section of society they oppressed for thousands of years, an aanti-nationala . 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 Judge denies conspiracy-laden effort to stop Kansas ballot drop boxes A federal judge in Kansas Wednesday denied a conspiracy-laden effort to stop the use of ballot drop boxes and electronic voting machines. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. "Incarceration Incentives in the Decarceration Era" | Main | Making a pitch for judicial second looks while asking "Did I Sentence a Murderer or a Cooperative Witness?" January 23, 2016 New Jersey appeals court upholds parole board's monitoring of sex offenders using lie detector machines As reported in this local article from New Jersey, a local "appeals court on Thursday upheld the state Parole Board's use of polygraph tests to monitor sex offenders after their release from prison." Here is more about the extended ruling: The panel of state judges largely rejected the argument of five sex offenders sentenced to lifetime supervision that the tests amounted to coerced interrogations that violated their constitutional rights. The court found, however, that the board must take steps to protect the offenders' right against self-incrimination and that the test results alone could not be used to justify punishment. Under state law, all sex offenders sentenced to lifetime monitoring can be subjected to the examinations, popularly referred to as "lie detector" tests. The tests are used to help parole officers determine whether the offenders are adhering to treatment plans and the terms of their parole. But critics point out that the tests can be unreliable, and their results aren't allowed to be used as evidence in most criminal cases. Currently, there are 7,469 offenders being monitored by the state that could be subject to polygraph tests. Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., the vice chairman of the New Jersey State Parole Board, said in an e-mail the use of the tests was "dependent upon an assessment" of each offender's case.... A 2009 Parole Board report on the use of polygraph tests described them as "an essential tool" for monitoring sex offenders. The technology, the report found, "appears to encourage honesty with parole officers and treatment providers" and prevent convicts from re-offending. But Michael C. Woyce, an attorney for the five sex offenders whom the court identified only by their initials argued the tests were unconstitutional because the subjects weren't permitted to have an attorney present, weren't read their Miranda rights and could face sanctions by refusing to answer "intrusive" questions. The Public Defender's Office, which also argued in the case, also called the tests both "unfair" and "extremely unreliable." Woyce said the technology has largely fallen out of favor in criminal courts, but persists in the monitoring of sex offenders because of the stigma attached to their crimes. "Being labeled a sex offender is a scarlet letter," Woyce said. "Because of that, the courts often not always, but often treat them differently." Woyce said offenders who do not cooperate or perform poorly on the tests can have their access to the internet revoked, be prohibited from traveling out of state, or be subject to GPS monitoring without due process. The court rejected the sex offenders' argument that they were entitled to have an attorney present during the tests under the Sixth Amendment, finding they were not the same as a criminal interrogation. "The subject can face later consequences if he chooses to leave before the examination is completed but, unlike an arrestee at a police station, he is not subject to immediate confinement if he refuses to cooperate," the judges wrote. But recognizing that New Jersey courts consider polygraph test results "unreliable proof," the 72-page ruling prohibits parole officers from using them "as evidence to justify a curtailment of an offender's activities." If in the course of a polygraph an offender admits any wrongdoing, that could be used against them, however, and the court ordered the board to adopt "regulations and practices to protect the offenders' privileges against self-incrimination." The full ruling in JB v. New Jersey State Parole Board, No. A-5435-10T2 (NJ App. Jan. 21, 2016), is available at this link. January 23, 2016 at 11:18 AM | Permalink Comments I'd be interested to know how intrusive the questions are. At some point, there's a right to tell the parole officers to jump in a lake. Whether or not NJ gets this right from a constitutional standpoint--I am concerned that the government degrades itself at some point. Posted by: federalist | Jan 23, 2016 12:03:08 PM This is another example of a type of law that could put law enforcement personnel themselves at extra needless risk of injury or murder. Some former sex offenders might become sufficiently fed up with these intrusive laws of taking a lie detector test without an attorney present, etc., that may go off the deep end and seek revenge against these laws by targeting their interrogators or other law enforcement personnel for death. In Savannah, Georgia, for example, we have had at least one case of a former sex offender actually making bomb threats against a local registry in that city. Fortunately, the threat was phony and nobody got harmed as a result of that threat. But my point is that these laws don't make us law-abiding citizens any safer but actually put those in charge of protecting our safety at needless risk to their own persons. Posted by: william r. delzell | Jan 23, 2016 12:57:22 PM It seems to me that what the court took away from SO it gave them right back. So the state can do lie detector tests BUT they cannot be used to curtail any activity (which is what the had been doing) and they have to adopt procedures against self-incrimination. Those two limitations make the ruling seem like a net LOSS for the state. It upheld the form of the examination but gutted it of almost all consequence. Why would the state in want to bother now? Posted by: Daniel | Jan 23, 2016 9:45:18 PM Daniel: Busywork! Full Employment and wasting taxpayer dollars, something they are expert at. Don Quixote lives. Posted by: albeed | Jan 24, 2016 8:47:14 AM Once again the SO is SOL. Polygraphs have been proven unreliable in criminal proceedings but it seems like it's OK to use them as some kind of trumped up evidence against SO's. (And I'm certain the SO is having to pay out of his/her own pocket for the polygraph.) This country and it's laws are going to hell in a handbasket! Posted by: kat | Jan 24, 2016 8:58:41 AM Daniel, I suspect that depends on what is meant by 'self incrimination'. Okay, new criminal charges are out, but is it admissible as part of a probation revocation hearing (even if not sufficient on its own). Also, I would suspect the court would not say an investigation that started from a polygraph examination and develops other evidence is poisoned. Of course, using it to show compliance with things like participation in therapy activities is incredibly stupid. Far easier to demand that the probationer state where they are attending then gather records from that party (even if the actual session were covered by some form of confidentiality the fact of the meeting would not be). Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Jan 24, 2016 10:59:04 AM @Soronel That's not the way I read it. "as evidence to justify a curtailment of an offender's activities." That seems to speak to admissibility, not sufficiency. It cannot be admitted "as evidence" and there is no other purpose of a probation revocation hearing but to "curtail an offenders activities". So it's out, period. Posted by: Daniel | Jan 24, 2016 3:08:12 PM It looks like it was SO week in NJ. There were other cases just issued on the constitutionality of criminalizing GPS monitoring violations. Posted by: Lou | Jan 24, 2016 8:17:34 PM Sex offender posts on this blog consistently tends to be where you find the most sympathy for concerns of governmental overreaching. Posted by: Joe | Jan 24, 2016 9:21:27 PM "At some point, there's a right to tell the parole officers to jump in a lake." On the fed level, try that and you'll be back before the judge. Answering questions that indicate evasiveness will result in a repeat of the test and if the subsequent test is "indicative of failure" it will result in additional punitive sanctions on the parolee depending on the seriousness of the questions that implied falsehood and/or a trip back to the judge. Daniel's remarks below are most likely the truest indicator of why they continue to require this on the federal level because science no longer supports the underlying theory behind lie detector testing and interpreting their results. There is no consistency from one examiner to the next. "Daniel: Busywork! Full Employment and wasting taxpayer dollars, something they are expert at. Don Quixote lives." 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Much of the content is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere and the long list of links provided gives easy access to a plethora of material on social, political, religious, educational and cultural matters, and many news items from around the world. You're in luck if you were denied tickets to next weekends HUMP! Film Festival, Dan Savages 11th annual collection of short, offbeat porn films from all over the sexual diaspora of human kink. Additional screenings were just added for Wednesday (HUMP!-day) Jan. 27, with seats still remaining for the late-night shows next Friday and Saturday. Dan Savage himself hand-picked these films screening next week at the Victoria, with a line-up of amateur straight, gay, lesbian, transgender and splosh porn that includes a sexually explicit Katy Perry parody called I Fist a Grrrl. This is not your fathers porn stash porn. Check out the trailer for this years HUMP! Film Festival below. SFist spoke with well, we cant say who we spoke with, because no real names are used in these genuine homemade porn films. A lot of my friends, they work with kids, said Filmmaker X, whose film The Collector won the Best Humor prize at the Seattle screening. They didnt want the parents to know they were in a porn festival. We wanted to make the kind of porn we'd like to watch, Filmmaker XXX told SFist (her feminist/fairy video game porn Level Up is one of the 22 films in this years show.) Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a lot of films out there that include things like pansexuality, politics, humor, and mixed-gender/bisexual group sex. And though the porn industry is growing with more homemade amateur videos, the more we can contribute to the portrayal of porn actors as normal people beautiful people who are beautiful without bleached hair and bleached assholes - the better. (NOTE: Bleached hair is also represented, if that's your thing.) Dan Savage said in a statement that We bill HUMP! as an amateur porn festival. But it's more than that. It's rare for people to watch porn that takes them outside their comfort zones it's rare for people to watch porn that, if they were home alone in front of the computer, they wouldn't choose to click on and watch. At HUMP! straight people watch gay porn, vanilla people watch kinky porn, gay people watch lesbian porn. And people laugh, they gasp, sometimes they cover their eyes. But at the end of every film people clap and cheer." HUMP! gets over the stigmas of ageism, size-ism and shame with a hardcore buffet of body types, fetishes and kink. I think one of the amazing parts about HUMP! is that it makes adjectives like dirty a positive thing, Filmmaker XXX said. It helps de-shame porn and the entire sexual experience. HUMP! just added screenings on Wednesday, January, 27 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets also remain for the 11:30 p.m. show on Friday, January 29 and 11 p.m. on Saturday, January 30. Previously: Video: Dan Savage Says Pot Can Help Women Orgasm Well this is a new one. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has unveiled the latest tool in civilization's fight against ISIS: Facebook Likes. Sandberg, not one to underestimate the influence of her company's platform, believes that by "liking" pages propagating hate, users will dampen the global reach of terrorists. Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Sandberg told those gathered a tale of German Facebookers liking a neo-Nazi Facebook page and then filling that space with messages of love. What was a page filled with hatred and intolerance," the Guardian reports her as saying, "was then tolerance and messages of hope." This technique of a like attack, she suggested, would work against terrorist organization ISIS as well. The logic being that if people who don't sympathize with terrorists fill up a Facebook-hosted ISIS recruitment page, then people who may be inclined to join the group will be presented with countering views thus leading them to not take up arms against the West. The best thing to speak against recruitment by Isis are the voices of people who were recruited by Isis, understand what the true experience is, have escaped and have come back to tell the truth," she furthered. "Counter-speech to the speech that is perpetuating hate we think by far is the best answer. Why, if ISIS pages are so easy to find the average Joe can just go ahead and "like" them, Facebook can't just shut them down, was not addressed. Whether or not the "like attack" would actually have any influence on would-be terrorists is dubious, but one thing is for sure the FBI will soon be hearing a lot of the old "I only liked the ISIS Facebook page because I wanted to combat terrorists" excuse. Previously: Facebook Disables SF Woman's Account Because Her Name Is Isis The District Attorney's Office made it known this morning that DA George Gascon would hold a 1:30 p.m. press conference today to announce corruption charges against an as-of-yet unnamed person or persons. Joining Gascon will be City Attorney Dennis Herrera and the special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's San Francisco office. Speculation has been rife that some City Hall staffers or former staffers possibly Lee's Human Rights Commission staffer Zula Jones will face charges. If you remember last August, a filing on behalf of Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow alleged corruption by numerous state and city officials. The most damning element of the filing, it appeared, was evidence obtained by the prosecution which apparently depicted Jones acknowledging her participation in a corrupt City Hall. "You got to pay to play here," Jones was quoted as saying. "We got it. We know this. We are the best at this game, uh, better than New York. We do it a little more sophisticated that New Yorkers. We do it without the mafia." We first learned that the District Attorney's office was likely investigating someone last August, but at the time Gascon would neither confirm nor deny that his office was looking into possible prosecutable offenses unveiled by the probe into Chow. Well, we now know for sure that he has been investigating someone Chow related or not. Update, 1:46 p.m.: SFist's very own Caleb Pershan reports that corruption charges have been announced against Nazly Mohajer, Zula Mae Jones, and Keith Jackson. Mohajer previously served on the Human Rights Commission with Jones, and Jackson was earlier implicated in the original charges that brought down State Senator Leland Yee last year. FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson says that "there is no acceptable level of corruption," and that the investigation has been going on for "quite some time." "We will continue to pursue this case to its logical conclusion," noted Johnson, furthering "if you violate the publics trust, we will find you and we will stop you." Apparently the three have yet to be arrested, as they are not considered flight risks. Keith Jackson, a political consultant, was charged with money laundering, grand theft, and bribery. Both Jones and Mohajer were charged with felony bribery and money laundering. We will continue to update this post as the story develops. Photo by SFist's Caleb Pershan. Update, 2:05 p.m.: A press release from the District Attorney's office has laid out the potential punishment these three face. Jackson, if convicted, could face up to 11 years and 4 months in state prison, and his bail has been set at $208,000. Jones, if convicted, could face up to 7 years and 8 months in state prison. Her bail has been set at $175,000. Mohajer, if convicted, could face 7 years and 8 months in state prison, and her bail has been set at $175,000. Any perversion of the public trust will be met with severe consequences, the statement quotes Gascon as saying. Corruption casts a long shadow on our institutions and the publics notions of fairness. This is a sad day for San Francisco, and we have a lot of work to do to repair the peoples confidence in city government. More details from the press release: According to court documents, Jackson, Jones, and Mohajer are charged with soliciting and accepting $20,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for promised political access and preferential treatment in connection with city contracts. The three defendants are also charged with money laundering. Jackson is additionally charged with six misdemeanor counts of campaign finance fraud for using straw donors to unlawfully funnel bribe money to political campaigns. In a separate scheme, defendant Jackson - who was a board member of the San Francisco Board of Education between 1995 and 1998 - is charged with grand theft for falsely promising a woman in 2012 that he could place a child in a preferred San Francisco public school in exchange for money. Related: Mayor Ed Lee's Third Inauguration Ceremony Clouded By Allegations Of Corruption, Isolation Stereotypes about San Franciscans being outdoorsy types got a boost today, as numbers released by marketing company Nielsen show that when it comes to time spent in front of a television, San Francisco ranks on the bottom of their list. The company looked at what they consider to be the top 25 markets, and broke down the viewing habits of people living in those areas. Surprise, surprise: It turns out that most San Franciscans have better things to do than spend all of their free time glued to the television. Don't get too smug, however, as we still spend a lot of time watching TV. Media site TVSpy broke down the report, and noted that "[the] overall data shows adults 25 to 54 in 24 of those top 25 watch more than three hours of live TV per day." Which: Damn, that's a lot of TV. "Cleveland viewers watch the most," TVSpy continues, "with an average of 4 hours and 42 minutes a day, followed by Baltimore (4:38), Detroit (4:37), Pittsburgh (4:31), Philadelphia (4:30) and St. Louis (4:20)." And what about us? "The market with the least amount of time watched was San Francisco, where viewers only watched a average of 2:45 minutes of live TV a day." So we, on average, watch two hours less per day of television than people in Cleveland. Which, to be fair to the good people of Cleveland, isn't really all that surprising. I mean, there's just so much more to do here. Except when it's raining. When it's raining, no one in San Francisco knows what to do other than curl up in a little ball and put on Netflix. Speaking of which, the fact that the study only covers "live TV" and doesn't include any streaming service gives one cause to wonder maybe we're not so enlightened and TV-free after all. Maybe we just prefer our laptops. All previous coverage of television on SFist. A year after Out Of The Closet and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation moved out of their space at Church and Duboce across from the N-Judah stop, a new tenant is readying for arrival. As Hoodline announces, that will be private-sector mental health service provider Sharper Future, an acronym for "Social Habilitation And Relapse Prevention-Expert Resources." They'll be offering their services for registered sex offenders people automatically placed on a Megan's Law list following their conviction of a sex crime. Obviously neighbors won't love the news, but, says Dr. Miller of Sharper Future, the center is used to the skepticisim. At a previous location they outgrew at 1540 Market Street, "we have had a positive effect on the neighborhood," she said. "We hope that over time the community will come to appreciate our positive influence on the area." "The building was selected by Sharper Future after a very extensive and lengthy search for a new home for our agency," said Dr. Miller. "As you know the commercial real estate market has become very expensive and limited in the past two years. This made our search even more difficult as we are largely funded by federal and state contracts." Six staff members will work with roughly 90 registered sex offenders who must report to the center as a condition of their parole for any period of time from five years to life. Starting February 1st, Sharper Future will "roll out services quietly." Witness says elderly man banged on window of your bus @ Divisadero & Post but driver kept going. #abc7now @SFPD pic.twitter.com/UiywjiOnrZ Katie Utehs (@KatieUtehs) January 16, 2016 The tour bus driver who struck and killed a retired San Francisco teacher as he crossed the street has been cited with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, police said Thursday. As previously reported, 82-year-old Pieter Roell was crossing Post Street as he headed south on Divisadero at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 16. Witnesses say that Roell was waving his arms and banging on the side of the "hop-on hop-off" vehicle from the San Francisco Deluxe Sightseeing Tour Bus company to get the driver's attention as he turned right onto Post from Divis. In addition. "several witnesses yelled and honked horns to warn" the driver, an officer with the San Francisco Police Department told the Chron. The driver, identified as 61-year-old Vincent Jones, was also in violation of SF law for "acting as both a driver and narrator on the bus," KRON4 reports. In an ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors last April, tour bus operators were required "to employ a second, nondriving guide to provide commentary," the Chron reported at the time. Though they reported that "most of the ubiquitous double-deck 'hop-on-hop-off' buses that prowl San Francisco already do that," they noted then that "One line, San Francisco Deluxe, doesnt do it." According to a San Francisco Deluxe dispatcher who spoke with the Chron, in April, "the company might have to raise fares to hire more employees to staff its tours." But, apparently, that's not what they did and now the investigation into Roell's death is in the hands of the District Attorney's office, which will make the decision on whether or not to prosecute Jones, SFPD spokesperson Officer Grace Gatpandan says. According to a friend of Roell's who spoke with the Chron, He was real energetic and he loved teaching, especially his work in journalism...I was always impressed with his passion and dedication to teaching and dealing with youth. Roell had taught English, social studies and journalism at the San Francisco Unified School District for "decades," friends said. He was an "avid reader, lover of cats, people, teaching," a friend told ABC7. He was "a very kind spirit and soul and he will be sorely missed." Previously: SFPD Still Not Sure Who Was At Fault After Tour Bus Driver Fatally Strikes Pedestrian Everyone's least favorite pharma bro is at it again this week as he publicly and loudly ignored a congressional subpoena demanding he travel to DC to testify in front of lawmakers. Martin Shkreli, who made news for both drastically increasing the price of life-saving drugs and purchasing the one of a kind Wu-Tang album, was arrested on charges of securities fraud last December with the terms of his bail dictating that he remain in New York state. It is his failure to seek court approval to travel to DC that has angered at least one lawmaker. Mr. Shkreli was subpoenaed to appear before Congress, and it is his responsibility to take reasonable steps to comply," Maryland Congressman Elijah E. Cummings said in a statement yesterday. "If he plans on trying to use his own intentional inaction as some kind of bogus excuse for not showing up at Tuesdays hearing, people will see right through such a juvenile tactic." Cummings is the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the representative seeks to have Shkreli testify regarding his August 2015 overnight price hike of the drug Daraprim from $13.50 a tablet to $750. Shkreli responded in what seems to be the only way he knows how by mocking the federal government on Twitter. House busy whining to healthcare reporters about me appearing for their chit chat next week. Haven't decided yet. Should I? @RepCummings Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) January 20, 2016 The aspiring rapper goes on to argue that as he is charged with securities fraud, his 5th amendment protection allows him to skip the committee hearing. Thus Shkreli has made no legal arrangements to get to DC. "Your attempt to subvert my constitutional right to the 5th amendment are disgusting & insulting to all Americans," he tweeted yesterday to both Representative Cummings and the Oversight Committee. As the fraud case against Shkreli is unrelated to the price hike he orchestrated as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, and rather focuses on his alleged "Ponzi scheme," it is unclear if the argument will hold water. Cummings doesn't appear to be messing around, however, and the statement issued by his office drives that point home. "Several federal statutes could be implicated if Shkreli does not comply with the subpoena," it notes. "The Committee could seek to hold him in contempt under 2 U.S.C. Section 194, and he could receive jail time and financial penalties under 2 U.S.C. Section 192." We won't have to wait very long to see how this very entertaining drama plays out Shrekli has only a few days to decide whether or not he will comply as the subpoena requests he appears in front of congress on January 26. But who knows, he might just cross his fingers and hope for a snow day. Found this letter. Looks important. pic.twitter.com/3Ws154SGM4 Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) January 20, 2016 All previous coverage of Martin Shrekli on SFist. It's the slow season in restaurant land, which is why they have Restaurant Week with all those (sometimes worthwhile) discounts. It's also the kickoff of Beer Week starting with tonight's gala at Fort Mason, and we hunkered down and rounded up the Bay Area's best ramen spots for your winter-warming needs. But here's what else has been happening. Michelin-starred Ame, which Inside Scoop calls "one of the more important restaurants to open in San Francisco in the last decade," is shutting its doors for good at the end of February. The much loved restaurant opened 10 years ago along with the St. Regis Hotel, and its departure means a prominent SoMa restaurant space comes up for grabs. The menu began with the inspiration of a mix of Italian and Japanese cultures from owners Lissa Doumani and Hiro Sone, who will be completely departing the SF scene with this closure after the shuttering of Urchin Bistrot last year. They will now just concentrate on Terra and Bar Terra, their side-by-side restaurants in St. Helena. The Upper Haight has just gotten a new Vietnamese option, DragonEats. As Hoodline tells us, this is a third location for the outfit, which already has fast-casual storefronts in Hayes Valley and SoMa. They take over the former Sunrise Deli space at 1671 Haight Street, and for some reason they spell banh mi "banh my." And some exciting news in SoMa: The team behind breakout Japanese hit of last year Omakase have just opened a new izakaya, Okane, at 669 Townsend in what was their Origami Market. And as Eater points out, in addition to casual, Japanese share plates, they're also doing sushi here, and the sushi tasting may just be a steal at $80, given that these are Omakase-trained chefs, and the Omakase menu is $150. After its big opening last week, mid-Market sustainability-focused restaurant The Perennial gets a feature from Jonathan Kauffman on Inside Scoop all about its "revolutionary" bar program from Jennifer Colliau, formerly of The Interval. And as Hoodline tells us, the Causwells guys, who are getting ready to open a burger spot in the Warfield Building on Market called Popsons, are already considering opening a second Popsons over by Caltrain, in the space that was Marlowe and Marlowe Burger on Townsend. There's no opening timeframe nailed down for either location, but the second Popsons at 330 Townsend would only live as long as that building does, since it's slated for demolition in the next year or two. In food business news, Pascal Rigo, the owner of La Boulangerie de San Francisco (the mini chain formerly known as La Boulange), is mixing up ventures as he buys the former bakery facility he was using in South San Francisco prior to getting bought out by Starbucks. As the Business Times reports, the facility will now house both baking operations for the La Boulangerie chain, but also be a production facility for Munchery, where Rigo now serves as Chief Customer Experience Officer. And one more closing: Embarcadero Center's Gaylord Indian Restaurant has closed, and according to Hoodline they owe $9,500 in back rent. This Week In Reviews Though it opened in the midst of the holiday rush and has therefore been a bit buried, coverage-wise, Volta is nonetheless a "spectacular restaurant" according to Pete Kane at the Weekly. From the herring plate to the mussels (which he says "were among the best I've had"), Kane is in love with the new venture from the Perbacco team, and he concludes it's "destined to show up on the pages of glossy magazines buzzing about San Francisco at the peak of the boom, and it deserves all the attention it's going to get." Michael Bauer revisits Spruce this week for his update review, giving it four stars for atmosphere and saying the design "still feels current" and it's a "restaurant that perfectly reflects the tenor of its Presidio Heights neighborhood." Prices are high, but he still loves the burger and the cauliflower soup, and says the duck breast entree is "one of the best versions Ive had." All told: three big stars. And for his Sunday review, Bauer visit Shed in Healdsburg, which just started serving dinner in November under the helm of former Etoile chef Perry Hoffman, who comes with many past accolades of his own. Bauer says that this new casual environment, within the large retail complex that is Shed, "seems to have drilled deep into [Hoffman's] well of creativity," and "already, it might be the best restaurant in Sonoma County." He loves a salad with sea urchin and kumquat, and the whole poussin (head and feet included), as well as the garden tableaux Hoffman creates on every plate. The sum total: three stars, with three and a half for food. NEW YORK | When children's author-illustrator Don Tate works on a book about slavery, he keeps in mind that a smile must be more than just a smile. "A smile is the manifestation of human emotion, therefore enslaved people smiled, frowned, laughed, cried, etcetera," says Tate, a finalist for the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award in 2013 and whose works include "Hope's Gift," the story of a slave girl in the days leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. "In books where I deal with the topic of slavery, I pair smiles, if needed, with broader context, explaining to children about the horrors the wrongness, the inhumanity of slavery." Slavery has been sentimentalized for as long it has existed and its narration remains contentious even in the 21st century. A Texas textbook set off nationwide outrage last year with its description of Africans on plantations as "workers," instead of slaves. And two recent picture books have been strongly criticized for featuring images and stories of smiling slaves, with the creators saying they had intended to celebrate the slaves, and not slavery, and detractors countering they should have tried harder. Last fall, author Emily Jenkins apologized for being "racially insensitive" after "A Fine Dessert," a collaboration with illustrator Sophie Blackall, was attacked for its cheerful depiction of a 19th-century slave mother and daughter as they prepared a blackberry recipe. Last weekend, Scholastic stopped distribution of the picture story "A Birthday Cake for George Washington," which came out in early January and told of Washington's head cook, the slave Hercules, and his daughter Delia. The publisher explained that "without more historical background on the evils of slavery than this book for younger children can provide, the book may give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves." Publishing is no less white than the movie industry, and the absence of non-white perspectives led to the founding in 2014 of the grassroots group WeNeedDiverseBooks. But diversity wasn't the issue for the creators of "A Birthday Cake for George Washington." Author Ramin Ganeshram, an award-winning journalist, is of Trinidadian and Iranian descent. Award-winning illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton has described herself as coming from a "blended background African-American, Asian, European and Jewish." Editor Andrea Davis Pinkney is widely respected, and as an author won a Coretta Scott King prize in 2013 for excellence in African-American children's literature. "Andrea Pinkney is one of the finest, most intelligent and knowledgeable editors that I know," says Doreen Rappaport, a prize-winning children's author whose books include "Escape from Slavery" and "No More! Stories and Songs of Slaves Resistance." In essays posted online after "A Birthday Cake" was published, Pinkney and Ganeshram emphasized that the book was meant to teach kids about slaves' contributions to American history, with Pinkney writing that Ganeshram "took great care in contextualizing Hercules and Delia as enslaved people, while at the same time accurately depicting Hercules as the notable figure he was." CHICAGO | Fewer than 1 in 4 high school students who've had sex have ever been tested for HIV, a troubling low rate that didn't budge over eight years, government researchers say. Young adults fared slightly better, although testing rates have declined in black women, a high-risk group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an influential preventive health panel recommend routine HIV testing at least once for teens and adults. They also advise at least yearly screening for high-risk patients including those with multiple sex partners, gay or bisexual boys and men and injection drug users. The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar advice targeting teens only. Nearly half of U.S. high school students have had sex, often without using condoms, which can help prevent the spread of HIV, which causes AIDS. About 15 percent report having had at least four sex partners. Some teens underestimate their HIV risk and have doctors who are unaware of the recommendations, according to the CDC researchers who did the study. The health agency says inadequate sex education is another challenge; in a report last month, it said fewer than half of U.S. high schools and middle schools teach CDC-recommended sexual health education including HIV-related topics. Other CDC data show there's been an overall decline in HIV cases nationwide in recent years. About 50,000 people are diagnosed each year with HIV and 1 in 4 new infections occur in those aged 13 to 24. The new study was published online Tuesday in Pediatrics. Led by CDC health scientist Michelle Van Handel, the researchers analyzed 2005-13 national health surveys involving high school students, and 2011-13 surveys involving adults aged 18 to 24. Some highlights: SCREENING RATES Overall, 22 percent of high school students reported ever have been tested for HIV and only one-third who'd had at least four sexual partners rates that remained stable during the study. The rate remained at an average 27 percent for young adult men but dipped among young women from 42 percent to 40 percent. It was much higher for black women but fell from 69 percent to 60 percent. HIV INFECTIONS Nearly 10,000 13- to 24-year-olds were diagnosed with HIV in 2014, CDC data show. The rate was minimal for 13-year-olds, climbed to almost 9 out of 100,000 for 15- to 19-year-olds and nearly tripled for 20- to 24-year olds. Van Handel said those spikes in infections underscore the importance of starting testing early. Adults aged 25 to 29 have the highest infection rate among age groups almost 36 per 100,000. Rates are higher among some other groups, including blacks. THE TESTS HIV screening can be done with simple blood draws, mouth swabs or urine tests; insurance generally covers FDA-approved lab tests as free preventive care. Routine testing offers the best chance for early detection and treatment, the CDC says. SIOUX CITY | Drilling Pharmacy in Sioux City still has plenty of influenza vaccine in stock at a time when flu season historically peaks in Iowa. While the spread of the virus statewide was recently upgraded to regional, one level below widespread, activity remains low in Siouxland, according to local health officials. Bill Drilling, a pharmacist and owner of Drilling Pharmacy, said people who opt to receive a flu shot now will still be protected from the virus that has claimed the lives of four adults in Iowa so far this season. Three flu viruses -- influenza A (H3), influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B (Victoria) -- are covered by this year's vaccines. "It's kind of curtailed," Drilling said of influenza vaccination, which was at its height at the Morningside pharmacy in late October. "People still should be getting their influenza shots." Tyler Brock, Siouxland District Health Department deputy director, said the number of hospitalizations and outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness is low compared to other years at this time. He said school absences are down as well. Last year at this time cases of influenza had been confirmed in every region of the state, and more than 161 people were hospitalized the week of Dec. 27. "There's some people getting sick, but it doesn't seem to be quite like it was last year," said Brock, who has heard of increasing reports of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which infects the lungs and breathing passages and closely mimics flu symptoms. Flu symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. RSV and influenza aren't reportable diseases in Iowa, which means doctors aren't required to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health each time a patient tests positive. Based on how they feel, Brock said people won't be able to tell whether they have RSV or influenza. If you do get sick, be sure to stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. Doctors can prescribe antiviral medications such as Tamiflu and Relenza to help patients fight off the flu. A five-day course of Tamiflu costs at least $100. The majority of insurance companies cover it. Melissa Austreim, a family practice physician at Family Healthcare of Siouxland -- South Sioux City Clinic, said often young, otherwise healthy people who don't have underlying medical conditions are able to recover from the flu without medication. "The flu is a self-limiting disease, so your body will take care of it," she said. Elderly patients, the very young, those who have pulmonary disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or another chronic condition need to see their physician as soon as symptoms develop, she said. The best time to start antivirals is within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Austreim said anti-viral medications may be given to chronically ill patients outside of the 48-hour window in hopes of reducing the length of their symptoms. "If you are within those windows and are meeting the criteria, I do think there's benefit to an anti-viral," she said. SIOUX CITY | Back in June 2012, Chris McGowan took his young sons to a City Hall ceremony in which the naming of a new Navy ship, the USS Sioux City, was to be announced. It was important to McGowan that his sons, Nick and Jake, then ages 10 and 8, respectively, see the event to gain an appreciation for their country's military. "I took them to this because I knew it was historic and something they would remember for the rest of their lives," said McGowan, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president. "Mayor (Bob) Scott said then, when they launch this ship, you guys are welcome to go with me to this." Scott stayed true to his word. McGowan's sons, now ages 14 and 12, will miss a wrestling tournament next weekend to drive more than nine hours to Marinette, Wisconsin, with their dad, Scott and a handful of other local residents to see the launching of the USS Sioux City on Jan. 30. It's another once-in-a-lifetime experience for his sons, McGowan said, one in which Sioux Cityans should take a lot of pride. "There aren't a lot of towns that get to have their name on a ship in the active Navy," McGowan said. The Jan. 30 launching of the USS Sioux City, also referred to as LCS 11, is the latest in a series of milestones since construction began in June 2013. Finishing work remains on the ship before it goes out into Lake Michigan for months of sea trials, conducted first by Lockheed Martin contractors, then Naval crews. The ship is expected to be commissioned by the Navy in 2017. It's a big honor for the city and those traveling to northern Wisconsin to see the ship slide into the Menominee River. Nancy Kielhold, who will be there with her husband, Nick, has toured Navy ships when their son, Benjamin was on active duty. She's been on decommissioned ships. Seeing a new ship before it hits the open ocean will be special, she said. "I'm so proud and honored that we're Navy parents that get to represent Sioux City," Kielhold said. "To see this ship before it serves our country is quite an honor." The Sioux City will be the 11th of the new class of ships, designed to sail nearer the coast -- in the littoral zone -- and into shallower waters than other naval vessels. The ships are designed for mine detection, clearing mines, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare. The ships in this group have been given the names of cities located in the middle of the country. Some of them are well-known, such as Omaha, Indianapolis, Detroit and St. Louis. Sioux City, along with Billings (Montana), would fall in the category of smaller, lesser-known cities to be honored. The decision on the name rests solely with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, who, when naming ships, hopes to form bonds to the Navy. "What he really looks at is an effort to connect cities, especially mid-American cities, to the U.S. Navy. It's a good way to connect folks in Sioux City and Iowa to the Navy," said Mabus' spokesman, Capt. Patrick McNally. When announcing the name back in 2012, Mabus said he was impressed with Sioux City's military history, especially the service of the late Col. Bud Day, a Sioux City native and Medal of Honor recipient who spent five years in captivity after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. Scott said Mabus told him that he remembered Sioux City after passing through several times on the way to the Black Hills as a child. There are currently no ships with Iowa-related names in the Navy's fleet, McNally said, though construction on the submarine USS Iowa began this summer. It's an honor for a sailor to serve on a ship named for a home town or home state, said McNally, a 27-year Navy veteran from Bettendorf, Iowa. Sioux Cityans should be proud as well, he said, to know that a ship bearing the name of their city someday will be docking in ports throughout the world. "There might be a USS Sioux City ball cap hanging in a foreign dignitary's office in Singapore, in Japan or an Italian port city, wherever that ship docks," McNally said. Closer to home, McGowan said he repeatedly encounters people who are excited to learn of a ship bearing the Sioux City name. It's given the city great exposure, he said, but the ship does more than that. "This ship has proven to be a source of community pride," McGowan said. NORTH SIOUX CITY -- Residents of the flood-ravaged Riv-R-Land Estates neighborhood received a financial boost Tuesday, courtesy of $200,000 from the Waitt Foundation. Tri-state area officials announced the donation during a ceremony Tuesday at the entrance to the Union County community, where residents say few families have been able to move back into their severely damaged homes. Cindy Waitt, Siouxland director of the Waitt Foundation, said the organization also has issued a $50,000 challenge to the community. In addition to the $200,000 grant, she said, the Waitt Foundation will match up to $50,000 raised by the community. The money is directed to the Siouxland Recovery Fund, but will be used specifically for residents of Riv-R-Land Estates. Cindy Waitt's brother, Gateway Inc. co-founder Ted Waitt, has a home in the area and many of his former employees lived in Riv-R-Land, she said. "I knew a lot of people this summer that could not get back into their homes, and that's not a small thing," Waitt said. Riv-R-Land residents Ken and Ann Jorgensen, who are temporarily living in Sioux City, said the Waitt donation will be a big help to the neighborhood. Officials say floodwater entered 52 of the 56 homes in the community along the Missouri River and stayed there for months. "This is a really much-needed boost for the community," Ken Jorgensen said. "A spark of hope," said Ann Jorgensen. Woodbury County Emergency Services Manager Gary Brown said the Siouxland Recovery Fund will award the money to community organizations that serve individuals and families impacted by the flood. A review board of area emergency managers, nonprofits and community leaders determines what organizations will receive the money. Although the Waitt money will be directed specifically to people who live in Riv-R-Land Estates, Brown said, the Siouxland Recovery Fund serves residents of Monona and Woodbury counties in Iowa, Dakota County, Neb., and Union County, S.D. Officials say there was $63,000 in the Siouxland Recovery Fund before the Waitt gift. SIOUX CITY | City officials are exploring a plan to help protect the historic status of a Sioux City neighborhood There are currently no guidelines in place to promote historical conversation in the Rose Hill neighborhood, which includes 152 parcels on 40 acres, according to city documents. Charlie Cowell, a planner in the citys community development department, said Friday the change includes a rezoning of the area, which will set a design standard for exterior building altercations. In 2002, Rose Hill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of historic places in the United States supported by public and private efforts to identify and protect their historical value. On Monday, the City Council will discuss the parameters, which are outlined in 45-page document. Rose Hill property owners gave preliminary approval in November 2015 for the guidelines, which dictate requirements for maintenance, windows, fences, architecture and other infrastructures. Councilman Keith Radig, a proponent of saving the city's historic buildings, said the changes are a long time coming. "This has been a pretty long process to get something going to saving and protecting historic homes in our city," Radig said. "This is a good step toward that." In 2015, Radig voted several times against demolition orders of a historic mansion in the neighborhood. The red-tagged mansion, at 1529 Grandview Blvd., was the target of heated discussion for more than two years before being razed last month. City officials are exploring options to recoup more than $104,000 in demolition costs from previous owners. Cowell said the new Rose Hill standards, if approved, would not require any owners to make immediate renovations. There would not be any immediate requirements for any property owners, Cowell said. It would be for any future projects they want to do on their homes. Cowell added the plan will give current building owners peace of mind. Really what it does is provides a mechanism to make sure the integrity of that historic neighborhood is maintained, he said. It gives a little assurance to neighbors. SIOUX CENTER, Iowa | Donald Trump wasnt afraid to brag about his lead in the polls or call out his opponents at a packed house at Dordt College Saturday. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose anyone, the Republican presidential candidate said, complete with a gun shooting gesture. Thats how loyal they are, he said about his supporters. Jabbing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Trump listed what he thought were their flaws. Bush, Trump said, had wasted $100 million in campaign spending and is in last place among Republican presidential hopefuls. He said the money should have been given to wounded war veterans instead, a comment that drew enormous applause from the Sioux Center crowd. Cruz, he said, could run for prime minister of Canada because he was born in Canada to American citizens. Trump questioned his eligibility for president and said Cruz could be sued if he wins the nomination. While more than a dozen protesters held signs near the B.J. Haan Auditorium, more than 2,000 braved the freezing weather to attend. About 1,600 were able to make it into the auditorium, and officials set up a second site at the rec center to the north, for about 400 more people. There, the speech was live-streamed. After speaking in the auditorium, Trump spoke to supporters at the rec center for about 10 minutes. Outside, one of the protesters, Kim Van Es, chair of the Sioux County Democrats, said a number of people in the area are concerned with comments Trump has made on immigrants, minorities, Muslims and women. "I feel he's really lowered the meter on what public civility is in this campaign," Van Es said. "We want people to know there are alternatives to him and his message." Inside, Trump said if he had talked about a ban on Christians, he would have met with less criticism. "I would have had less difficulty," Trump said. "As a group, as Christians, we're becoming less powerful as a force." Trump then promised, if elected, department stores would be saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays," again. "Christianity is under siege," Trump said. "(President Barack Obama) doesn't want to say 'radical Islamic terror,' like it doesn't exist. "I'm a true believer; is everyone a true believer in this room?" Trump asked the packed, loud crowd inside the auditorium. Dordt is a private, Christian college. Trump also took several minutes to insult various people, including Glenn Beck, a conservative political commentator who recently endorsed Cruz, whom Trump called a stone cold loser, the staff of the National Review, the Washington Post, which he called a tax scam, political analyst Bill Kristol, the media in general and others. Bush, however, was a particular target. I dont think this guy is a smart person, Trump said. He also mocked U.S. Sen. Lindsey Grahams endorsement of Bush before deriding an ad featuring former first lady Barbara Bush. Get out there yourself. Low energy. Weak. Pathetic, Trump said of Bush. At one point, Trump motioned to several military veterans sitting in the crowd and said the support he's gained from them is great. "I love you people," Trump said to the veterans. "Our veterans are being treated worse than illegal immigrants in this country. It's true." Trump finished with statements on how he would rebuild the military. He exited, shaking hands with the crowd before his next scheduled appearance in Pella, Iowa, where he was introduced by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. In a parting note, he implored those present to attend their caucus events Feb. 1. "You gotta go out and do your thing. We will make America great again," he said. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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 On the day that Barack Obama was scheduled to issue his State of the Union address, 10 American naval personnel were snatched by the worlds premier state-sponsor of international terrorism. The Americans were subjected to utter humiliation. They were forced to kneel before their Shia captors with their fingers interlocked behind their heads and the Iranians made sure to video the shameful spectacle and feed the footage to their propaganda apparatus in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Weapons and equipment were seized, all without a shot fired. Later, a female crew member was subjected to additional degradation and was forced into Sharia compliance by being made to cover her, heaven forbid, exposed hair. The flotilla commander was forced to apologize for his mistake and was made to thank his captors for their fantastic behavior and hospitality. The grim faces of the sailors sitting adjacent to their commander, however, tell a different story.So what led to this fiasco? Obtaining information from administration officials has proven to be more difficult than extracting an impacted wisdom tooth but from the bits and pieces provided, heres what we do know. On January 12, two American Riverine Command Boats left their point of origin from Kuwait and traveled southward toward their destination in Bahrain where the US Navy maintains a large and active presence. While in transit, they were supposed to rendezvous with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy for refueling.According to U.S. Central Command or CENTCOM, the two RCBs departed Kuwait at 9:23 a.m. At some point thereafter, one of the boats experienced a mechanical problem with its diesel engine and the crew began troubleshooting. The second boat maintained position close by. CENTCOM further noted that the boats deviated from their intended path and strayed into Iranian territorial waters, near Farsi Island where Iran maintains a military base. This deviation occurred despite the RCBs sophisticated navigational equipment and the relatively straight-forward path the RCBs were directed to take. CENTCOM did not reveal how or when it became cognizant of the alleged territorial infringement nor did it reveal the reason for why the boats strayed.At approximately 2:10 p.m. U.S Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) received a report, presumably communicated by the crewmembers, that they were being questioned by Iranians. By 2:45 p.m., NAVCENT lost all communication with the boats. The military said that at 6:15 p.m., a U.S. navy cruiser received word from the Iranians that the sailors were being held by them. Fifteen hours later, the crew and their equipment, minus two satellite phone SIM cards , were released.It is safe to assume that the Iranians scoured both boats and copied and photographed whatever they could get their hands on. We do not as yet know what information was contained on the stolen SIM cards but the Iranians would not have gone through the trouble of stealing them if they didnt think there was anything worth stealing.There are many troubling aspects to this story and chief among them is why 10 highly skilled and motivated US sailors, equipped with overwhelming firepower, surrendered without a shot? To place things into proper perspective, the RCB is a highly advanced piece of machinery that is fast, heavily armored and bristling with an assortment of deadly weapons. It can reach speeds of up to 43 knots and its armor can withstand 7.62 millimeter rounds fired from an Ak-47 assault rifle.But among its most impressive feature is its armament which includes M2HB .50-caliber heavy machine guns, M240 medium machine guns and GAU-19 .50-caliber miniguns. The latter weapon system can best be characterized as a modern-day Gatling gun on steroids. The RCB is also equipped with an Mk49 remote control weapons platform, equipped with a stabilized M2HB heavy machine gun. The system was developed by one of Israels leading defense contractors, Rafael. It has a 360 degree arc of fire, can be fired without exposing its operator to return-fire and thanks to its advanced stabilization system, can pour lead on target even in the choppiest waters. In addition to the RCBs standard mounted weapons, the sailors were equipped with M4 assault rifles as evidenced by the video footage shot by the Iranians when they were taking inventory.In sum, the RCB is a very capable and formidable offensive and defensive weapon system. Mate that to the most highly trained and motivated sailors in the world and you have what amounts to a killing machine and there were two of them!When he was interrogated by the shrill-voiced Iranian, the U.S. commander stated, The Iranian patrol boat came out when we were having engine issues and had weapons drawn so we tried to talk to them until more boats came out and took us in (emphasis added). The RCBs were initially confronted by a single Iranian patrol boat. According to Iranian video footage, that patrol boat was nothing more than a flimsy speed boat with a forward mounted Russian machinegun, sort of like a Somali technical at sea and certainly no match for the RCB. In fact, the RCB could have decimated it.It is unclear how many IRGC boats subsequently joined in but from the video footage, it does not appear to have been that many. Moreover, NAVCENT was aware of the flotillas predicament from the moment of first contact at 2:10 p.m. Thirty-five minutes elapsed before NAVCENT lost contact with the RCBs. The United States has significant assets in the Arabian Gulf and nothing in Irans military arsenal comes close to the firepower that the U.S. can bring to bear.According to CENTCOM, at the time of the incident, two carrier strike groups were operating nearby. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group was 45 miles southeast of Farsi Island and Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group was 40 miles north of Farsi Island. Fighter jets from either carrier strike group could have been dispatched to the area within minutes. The United States also maintains additional air assets in theater including a UAE-based squadron of F-22 Raptor combat aircraft as well as F-18 Hornet and F-16 Falcon fighters deployed in Bahrain.Several troubling issues still need to be addressed and remain as of yet, unanswered. Why did the RCBs refrain from defending themselves when they had the capability to do so? Whose decision was it to surrender and why? Why werent fighter aircraft dispatched to the area immediately upon word that the RCBs were being confronted by IRGC patrol craft?I am not a conspiracy theorist and I could be wrong but I believe the decision to avoid confrontation and surrender stemmed from a decision rendered at the highest echelons of the Obama administration. It is not in the nature of the U.S. military to surrender. The opposite is in fact the case. U.S. military history is replete with examples of heroism where the few defeated or outfought the many; the Battle of Samar, Bastogne, the Chosin Reservoir campaign, Khe Sanh and the Battle of 73 Easting just to name a few. In this incident, U.S. forces were well equipped to handle anything the Iranians had to throw at them. But Obama did not wish to see his State of the Union address, where he would tout his precious Iran Deal, marred by yet another confrontation with the Islamic Republic.While American sailors were being subjected to humiliation and used as propaganda tools by the Iranians, Obama issued his State of the Union address without noting the incident. Predictably, his allies in Congress and in the media cheered like mindless automatons.Following the sailors release, John Kerry, the man who experts noted was the least effective secretary of state in a half-century and who once spoke of Bashar Assad in glowing terms , absurdly thanked the Iranians for their cooperation in swiftly resolving the matter. It was a surreal moment. Iranian pirates kidnap American sailors, degrade them, violate the Geneva Conventions and our political leaders express gratitude to the savages. Meanwhile, Americas allies and enemies took note of Obamas fecklessness in the face of Iranian aggression, further undermining American credibility.The latest incident in the Arabian Gulf is but one in a series of Iranian transgressions all but ignored by the Obama administration. Since the signing of the JCPOA, Iran has violated UNSC resolutions on ballistic missile testing, has fired rockets in close proximity to U.S. naval vessels, and has extorted the U.S. into releasing convicted Iranian felons in exchange for civilian hostages it snatched in violation of all civilized standards of decency.The lack of a credible American response to these repeated and blatant transgressions will only serve to embolden the Islamic Republic. Moreover, the $150 billion cash windfall the Iranians will receive as a result of the JCPOA will not be used to build roads and hospitals but will promptly be diverted to the coffers of the IRGC, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthi rebels and other nefarious elements wishing to harm the interests of the United States and those of its allies. Our Appeaser in Chief has made the world an infinitely more dangerous place, has made a mockery of our military and has brought shame upon America. 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. Von: Rina A.Y [mailto:rina205@hotmail.com] Gesendet: Dienstag, 19. Januar 2016 08:34 Betreff: Please i need your help. Hello my dearest, Please with due respect and in the name of God. Firstly I thank you so much; inline with the message, which I have sent to you , I am more than happy in your reply to my mail. How is every thing over there in your country, i believe that you are in good health, and the atmosphere over there in your country is very nice today? Mine is a little bit warm over here in Dakar Senegal. My name is (Rina Abdel) am From Libya in North Africa, i am (23years old) but age doesn't matter in a real relationship, I am from (Libya,) 5.2ft tall, fair in complexion single, (never married ) and presently i am residing here in Dakar as a result of the war that happened in my country which i was escaped to this country Senegal were i am under refugee camp. My late father MAJOR GENERAL, (ABDEL FATTAH YOUNES). My late father He held the rank of Major General and the post of Minister of Interior, but resigned on 22nd February 2011 to defect the rebel in Libyan civil war. My father was killed by members of an anti-Gaddafi military on 28th July 2011. When rebels anti-Gaddafi military troupe attacked our house one early morning killing my parents. Equally my mother was six months pregnant and she was a senior lecturer at the university before her death, it's only me that is alive now because I am the only child to my parents, and I managed to make my way with the help of UN to Senegal, where I am leaving now as refugee. It was in an early morning attack by militant groups killed my family members both my mother and my father in a cold blood, Equally my mother was six months pregnant. Right now, as i am talking to you, i am the only person alive in my family, and I managed to make my way to this country (Senegal) where i am leaving now as a refugee under the care of a Rev. John Simon who is the priest of the ( Saint-Louis Roman Catholic Church (Senegal) here in the camp, he has been very nice to me since I came here but i am not living with him rather i live in the female's hostel because the camp have two hostels one for men the other for women. Please do not be offended for this message that comes from me please, its just that i don't know what else to do, because my situation here as the refugee is giving me a great concern, therefore, i will like you to consider my situation as an orphan, and be kind with me, as i am putting the whole of my trust on you with out fear, though i don't know who you are before, but i believe that with God all things are possible and you can not betray me at the end. I have communicated to you because of my difficult situation here in this refugee camp, Its just like one staying in the prison and i hope by Gods grace i will come out here soon. I don't have any relatives now whom i can go to, all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war the only person i have now is the Rev Fr. John Simon, who is our guardian here in this refugee camp, he has been very nice to every body in the camp, but we are not living with him, rather we are leaving in the hostel, which is divided into two sections, one for the male, and the other for the female. The Rev father Tel number is (+221- 771-756-630) if you call, please tell him that you wants to speak with me Miss. Rina Abdel, from Libya he will send for me in the hostel to come and talk with you. Here in this camp I am sending you email through the church office computer at the Rev Farther office. Because As a refugee here we don't have any right or privilege to any thing be it money, phone, computer, 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 me being in this bad situation. I was present when i saw my mother killed with six months pregnant. Please listen to this - ( because it's a secret, even no one knows about it except you and i knows about this), I have my late father's death certificate here with me, which i will send to you later, because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in one of the leading banks in Europe which he used my name as the next of kin, the total amount, is US$9.5M (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). So I will like you to help me to transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come over to meet you in your country. I kept this secret to people in the camp here the only person that knows about it is you and me. For your own information, i want you to view this news information about killing of my late Father, story through BBC WORLD NEWS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14336122 So i will like you to keep it to yourself as a secret and don't tell it to anyone because 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 deposed on you. I like honest and understanding people, truthful and honest people that have vision, hardworking and GOD fearing person. My favorite language is English and i speak English very fluently. can i trust you as a genuine friend ? 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 my condition here Attached here is my pictures for you, Awaiting to hear from you soonest Thanks and remain blessed. with lot of love. Yours Lovely Rina Abdel. Von: Rina A.Y [mailto:rina205@hotmail.com] Gesendet: Dienstag, 19. Januar 2016 16:21 Betreff: DEAR PLEASE CONTACT THIS BANK FOR MORE INFORMATION Hello my dear, How are you today? hopefully you are doing fine, i was more than happy to read your mail today, i was wondering if God have totally forgotten me here, Why i am facing all this kind of difficulties here, God have given you to me to stand for me for the claim of my Late father's wealth and help me to come out of here which i know that i did not make any mistake by chosen you. I thank you once again for your reply over my mails, and am happy to know who you are, i look forward to see you face to face, i like you very much and i want you to know that before i contacted you is the will of God that make me and you to know because i got you immediately after my 7 days, 6 to 6 fasting and prayers that's why i gave you all my trust and i believe that you will not betray me or let me down. Honey i will like to hear your voice please, just call the Reverend and tell him that you want to speak with Miss Rina Abdel, from Libya and he will send for me immediately. Here is the Reverend father's phone number once again:(+221- 771-756-630, My official camp I.D number is ( 9088 ), please call my official camp ID number for the Rev. it makes it easier for me to be located at the female hostel. We are only allowed to answer call at the Reverends office as from 11Am - 6pm, London time. but the main time i will like you to call me is 14G.M.T, that is 2oclock Senegalese time. I speak English very well not Arabic 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. Am using the church office computer to write you, Remember i trust you honey that is why i am giving you all this information! My love is for you and you alone, i will like to hear your voice please, just call the Reverend and tell him that you want to speak with me and he will send for me immediately to come and answer your call,. You can call me and ask me any question you want. Like as i told you I have informed the bank about my plans to claim this money 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. You will have 20% of the total money helping me and the remaining money will be managed by you in any business of your choice. In this regards 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 me to transfer my $ 9.5 million dollars deposited by my late father of which i am the next of kin of the Money. The contact information of the bank is as follows: ADDRESS: Name, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC . EMAIL, Rbs.bankscotland4@europe.com or rbankofscotland3@gmail.com Telephone numbers, + (44) -704-579-8722, Office Fax number, + (44) -703-1971-731. ( Account Information ) Account Name: Major General, Abdel Rina Younes Amount: 9.5 Million US Dollars Next of Kin to the Deposit: Miss Rina Abdel Account Number: BLB744008901546/QB/91/A. CONTACT PERSON, Sir Philip Hampton Group chairman and Remittance Manager DIRECT, + (44) -703-183-5165 Already i have informed this bank about my intention to claim my late father's deposit of which my name appears as the next of kin, The only thing the bank told me is to look for a foreign partner who will assist me in the transfer due to my refugee status here in Senegal, as a refugee i am not allowed direct claim of the money but through an appointed representative as the united refugee law governing refugee all over the world states, Contact them now on how to transfer the $9.5M (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) deposited by my late father of which i am the next of kin, I have mapped out 15% for your assistance and 5% for any expenses that might come up in this transfer, My dear am glad that God has brought you to see me out from this situation and i promise to be kind and will equally need you in every area of my life plus 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 my prayers is to move out from here as soon as possible, Please make sure that you Send mail to the bank now so that after the transfer you can send some money from that money for me to prepare my traveling documents to meet with you in your country, for a better life, Please let me know immediately you send the mail to the bank, Awaiting to hear from you soonest, Yours Lovely Rina Abdel, Von: Rbs.bank scotland [mailto:Rbs.bankscotland4@europe.com] Gesendet: Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2016 15:56 Cc: rina205@hotmail.com Betreff: THIS MESSAGE IS FROM ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND http://www.rbsmakeithappen.com Registered office Royal Bank of Scotland Plc.London, No.36 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh,EH2 2YB. Email.R.bankofscotland@europemail.com or rbankofscotland3@gmail.com Telephone number: + (44) -703-193-0032 Office Fax number:+ (44) -703-1971-731 Date:Jenuary-21-2016 This is a message from the Regional Telegraphic Transfer Head Office of Royal Bank of Scotland Group P.l.c London. We have been directed by the young lady Miss Rina Abdel as the chairman and Remittance Manager (Sir.Philip Hampton) to write you in respect of your mail and your ability to transfer the fund as your partner's instruction which we received in our Bank. Actually,we have earlier been informed about you by the young Lady Miss Rina Abdel (the next of kin) that she wishes you to be her trustee/representative for the claim of her late father's deposit with this Bank. Late Major General. Abdel Fattah Younes was our late customer with sum substantial amount of money he deposited with us, (USD $ 9.500,000,00). Hence you have been really appointed as a trustee to represent the next of Kin. However before our Bank will transact any business concerning the transfer of the fund to your Bank information you will sent to us or any Bank, We will like you to send the followings Documents from FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF SENEGAL which Rina Abdel must sign and confirmed, because it will be prepare on your name. And send them immediately to our Bank. 1. A power of attorney permitting you to claim and transfer the funds to your Bank account on her behalf. Note:This Power of attorney must be endorsed by a Senegalese resident lawyer.(Since the young lady is presently in Senegal). 2.The death certificate of (Her deceased father) confirming his death. 3. An Affidavit of oath from Senegalese high court, This is because the girl must SIGN the Documents. Note: The above are compulsory,and are needed to protect our interest,yours and the next of kin after the transfer has been made. 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.) If you have any question(s),please contact the Group chairman and Remittance Manager-Sir. Philip Hampton, for more directives/clarifications. Foreign Transfer Department (Sir Phillip Hampton) (For Accountant Department) Von: Rina A.Y [mailto:rina205@hotmail.com] Gesendet: Samstag, 23. Januar 2016 10:17 Betreff: Good morning darling, Good morning darling, How are you doing today, i hope you are perfectly doing good in health, happy weekend to you also, How is the atmosphere over there in my dreaming country, I hope God is in control, darling i want to know what is going on, I waited for your email yesterday to inform me whether you have heard from the bank or not, yet i did not hear from you, I hope all is well, Please i want to know whether you have gotten reply from the bank, Even the money which you promised to sent to the reverend father yesterday, I did not hear from you whether you done that or not, I hope all is well, please my darling i really want to hear from you today to know whether you have heard from the bank or not, I will stop here waiting to read from you as soon as you settle with the lawyer, Yours Lovely Rina Abdel, Von: Rina A.Y [mailto:rina205@hotmail.com] Gesendet: Montag, 25. Januar 2016 09:17 Betreff: Darling please contact this lawyer for the documents, Hello my dear , How are you today? I hope you are doing well today, I was more than happy to receive your mail with banks respond today I really appreciate all your efforts to see me out of this hell called refugee camp , God bless you for all your efforts and support for me out of here in refugee camp. I am suffering here a lot and I think that I can start a new life again in your place immediately after the transfer of my money into your account for a better life . I can see what the bank is demanding, before they transfer my late fathers money to your position . currently I have my late fathers death certificate that will give the copy to a lawyer . The only problem I have now is the power of attorney that the bank said it will be issued by a lawyer here in Senegal for me to sign my signature on it . I argued about getting a lawyer with the Reverend father and he gave me the contact of this lawyer ( Barrister George Francis) . He is one of the best lawyer, working with the United Nations here in Dakar Senegal . so I want you to contact him now by email and phone number immediately, tell him that you are my foreign partner that you need his services to prepare a power of attorney that will enable the transfer of my 9.5 million dollars from The Royal Bank Of Scotland to your account on my behalf due to my refugee status , Let me know whether he agree to help us, please contact the lawyer immediately. His contact information are as follows, George Francis (Esq) CHAMBERS & ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATES Email: (Georgefrancis7@legislator.com or Georgefrancis7@hotmail.com ) Office Tel: +221-778631194 God bless you for me, Yours Darling One. Rina Abdel . 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.... Legal Matters of Engineers, Climate Change, Environmental, Energy, and Regulatory. Also discusses updates on Construction Law, primarily environmental issues in construction. Discusses technical expert witnesses. Discusses renewable energy issues, with emphasis on wind, solar, geothermal. Discusses the disadvantages of nuclear power. 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 MOSCOW (Sputnik) Daria Chernyshova On November 6, Russia suspended all passenger flights to and from Egypt to ensure the safety of Russian passengers after Russia's A321 plane was brought down by a terrorist attack over the Sinai Peninsula. "We really hope that Russian tourism will come back sooner, rather than later. In fact the relations between the two countries are mounting and we have more cooperation in trade, investment and tourism," Moussa, Egypt's former foreign minister, said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Moussa, who also served as former Arab League Secretary-General, added that both Russia and Egypt were powerful countries and played significant roles in the Middle East. The critics of the TTIP have long instated that US companies will make trade negotiations instrumental in their attempts to alter European economic laws. A recent Control and Corporate Europe Observatory study indicated that this is exactly what the United States is already doing, Der Spiegel wrote on Friday. There is a great deal of pessimism in the EU about this, especially given the amount of secrecy surrounding this agreement Europeans, including MPs and senior EU officials, dont know what this agreement is really all about as the main provisions of this agreement remain unknown. New facts keep cropping up all the time, but no one can say for sure what is true and what is a lie, Nina Djulgerova told Radio Sputnik. We see that the ongoing migrant crisis has become a major problem for many EU countries, Von Ondarza told DW. He also said that the influx of migrants would most certainly increase with the onset of spring and if the problem is not solved other EU countries might suspend the Schengen border-free travel agreement, just like Austria did a week ago. What is also clear, however, is that attempts to solve the problem by closing the EUs internal borders would have serious economic consequences and could eventually put the very future of the euro on the line. If we close the borders, if the internal market begins to suffer then one day we will be wondering whether or not we really need a common currency if there is no single market, no free movement of workers anymore," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The World Economic Forum, which opened in Davos on January 20 was overshadowed by discussions about European unity amid fears that the demise of the Schengen area could have a devastating effect on the European business community. According to a study made by PriceWaterhouseCoopers business consultants ahead of the Davos forum, the heads of major international companies named the current migrant crisis a major risk in 2016. Mina Mehrnoush, the head of planning at the Organization for Trade Development in Iran, who leads an Iranian delegation on a visit to Moscow, said that now is a good time for establishing new contacts between the two countries organizations and companies. First, the international sanctions imposed on our country are now gone. Secondly, Russias relations with a number of its traditional trading partners are not good, which gives the Iranian firms a chance to establish a foothold in the Russian market. Until now our exchanges have been limited to agriculture, but we now have good prospects also in construction and construction materials, oil refinery and textiles. Iran wants to find a niche for itself in all these segments of the Russian economy, Mina Mehrnoush said. During their stay in Moscow, the Iranian delegation met with representatives of about fifty Russian import companies for constructive and very promising dialogue held as part of the Russian-Iranian Trade Council. In a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara, Biden said that he'd prefer a political solution to the Syrian crisis, but if diplomatic measures won't work then the United States would pursue a military solution. "We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared If that's not possible, to have a military to this operation in taking out Daesh," Biden said during a news conference, as cited by Reuters. After Biden's speech, the White House issued a statement clarifying that when Biden mentioned a military operation in Syria, he was speaking exclusively about the anti-Daesh campaign, not the Syrian government or anyone else. Press secretary of the US Embassy in Russia William Stevens told RIA Novosti that there is "widespread harassment" of personnel at US diplomatic missions in Russia. US State Department spokesman Mar Toner said that the United States is "prepared to take further appropriate measures if there are additional efforts to impede our diplomatic and consular activities in Russia." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the US course of action is in line with Washingtons plan to continue "its course of curtailing relations with our country." "US authorities have once again demonstrated their true attitude towards the issue of developing contacts between people [in the US and Russia], which is precisely the thing the honorary consuls were doing," Zakharova said. Ukraine Issue Involved According to Zakharova, the United States is trying to deflect Washingtons responsibility for the power coup in Ukraine and the subsequent civil war in the countrys southeast by leading a global anti-Russia campaign. "Its well known that the it is US who unleashed a sanctions war against Russian and is leading a large-scale Russophobic propaganda campaign all over the world, trying to deflect responsibility for the support of the armed coup in the Ukraine and the bloody war in Donbas [Ukraines southeast]," Zakharova said. On November 24, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 in Syrian airspace; Israel repeatedly conducted airstrikes in and around Damascus purportedly in order to provoke Syria into direct conflict. In December 2015, Saudi Arabia held a "Syrian opposition meeting" that brought together various Islamist groups including influential al-Qaeda affiliates. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the upcoming peace negotiations. The question regarding what forces should represent the opposition still remains unanswered. The opposition and its principal backer in the region, Saudi Arabia, insist that Bashar al-Assad should step down as part of "political transition," Philip H. Gordon, a former White House adviser on Syria and now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations told The New York Times. "They need some clarity on Assad before they are willing to de-escalate the conflict or negotiate interim steps," Gordon said. Russia and Iran, in their turn propose to add groups which represent a broader section of Syrian society, including certain Kurdish representatives. Ahead of the Geneva talks, Washington and its allies in the region have increased their military activities in Syria. At the same time, with the support of the Russian Air Force, the Syrian Arab Army is expelling extremists from their strongholds in the country. Dr Simon Usherwood from the Department of Politics at the University of Surrey in the UK outlines perhaps a contrarian theory in the present situation; that the EU will not break up. One of the core principles of the EU is that of freedom of movement of people and goods throughout EU countries. The migrant situation seems to be challenging that. In fact, as Dr Usherwood points out, the real threat is not that great. Yes border fences are being erected between some countries, but not everywhere. Yes there are problems of distribution of migrants between countries, but we are not seeing the breakdown of the basic institutions within the community. EU citizens are still free to move around albeit with a few inconveniences which were not there previously in terms of selective border checks. Dr Usherwood hints that the fences perhaps have more to do with creating the impression that member states are taking the migration problem seriously than actually doing something serious to change existing policy. After the Crimean referendum in March 2014, Russia was able to upgrade its naval forces in Crimea, as part of the military modernization plan until 2020. Providing military security as well as creating a full-fledged task force in the peninsula has been named among the top priorities for Russias Southern Military District. The twenty years of the Black Sea Fleets decay under Ukrainian rule led to a significant build-up of the US presence in the region. And, what is more, after Crimea reunited with Russia, Moscow faced a growing number of challenges, especially from the continuously expanding NATO near its borders. From this point of view, the decision to invest a large amount of resources to secure Crimea is more than logical. After the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in February 2014, the new government took the course on joining NATO. In September 2015, Kiev unveiled its new military doctrine, aimed at deepening NATO-Ukraine cooperation and achieving compatibility between their armed forces by 2020. The new government has repeatedly said they were ready to take steps to take Crimea back to Ukraine, and these steps may not only be diplomatic in nature. History has seen numerous examples of revanchist mottos turning into actions, including military actions. According to Trudeau, the situation is under control and the suspect is in custody, but it is too early to say how and why the shooting took place. Earlier, CTV reported that a "boy with a gun" was in custody following the La Loche shooting. Saskatchewan Premier Bradley Wall expressed his condolences to the victims of the shooting in a Friday statement, thanking RCMP and emergency personnel for a prompt response. La Loche Community School was put on lockdown on Friday amid an active shooter situation. LLCS said in a Facebook post that an emergency was occurring at its Dene Building and that the Ducharme elementary school was on lockdown as well. LLCS is a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school, which houses approximately 900 students in two buildings, according its Facebook page. La Loche is located about 600 kilometers (375 miles) north of Saskatoon, a city in central Saskatchewan. The RCMP spokeswoman did not release any details on the suspect or the victims, only saying that the injured had reportedly been airlifted to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, which is located about 600 kilometers (375 miles) from La Loche. RCMP said they were alerted of an active shooter situation in La Loche at around 01:00 p. m. local time (19:00 GMT) on Friday. La Loche Community School (LLCS) was put on lockdown. Levy said at the Friday night news briefing that the lockdown had been lifted and the children had been taken to a safe location. According to the RCMP spokeswoman, there was no more danger to public safety. Police are conducting two investigations at a residence in La Loche and at the La Loche Community School. LLCS is a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school, which houses approximately 900 students in two buildings, according its Facebook page. Jeremiah 17: 9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." wingssail images judy jensen Working on the Mercury Here we are, the middle of October. Summer is almost gone and what have we done in the last four and a ... CATHLAMET Eliminating hatchery steelhead on the Grays River might be good for wild fish, but it would drive anglers to other rivers and cause overcrowded combat fishing conditions. Several anglers at a meeting in Cathlamet on Wednesday predicted that scenario if the state Department of Fish and Wildlife chooses the Grays River in Western Wahkiakum County as a gene bank for wild steelhead. WDFW is continuing a process that began in 2014, when it designated the East Fork Lewis, North Fork Toutle/Green and Wind rivers as gene banks for some species of fish. Hatchery fish of those species will no longer be planted on those rivers so that they dont compete with the wild fish, the idea being to protect the genetic diversity of a specific run of fish. Several state fish management plans require WDFW to set aside wild fish streams, but they leave it up to the agency to choose which rivers. A citizens work group that met for nine months recommended the Grays River as a wild steelhead gene bank, with Mill, Abernathy and Germany creeks, which are west of Longview, lumped together as a second choice. The work group recommended against making the Elochoman River and Skamokawa Creek into gene banks. The Grays provides far more fishing than Mill/Abernathy/Germany. In 2010-11, anglers reported catching 705 winter steelhead on the Grays River, more than double the 310 caught in Mill/Abernathy/Germany. The Grays draws anglers from afar, said Dan Dettman of Longview. I run into anglers from Seattle and Eugene fishing here, he said. When a slide blocked access to the Grays recently, more people showed up fishing the banks of the Naselle River, Dettman said. All these people dont quit fishing, he said. They go someplace else. Some people dont mind combat fishing, but I do. Another advantage of fishing the Grays is that its big enough to use a drift boat, Dettman said. Mill, Abernathy and Germany creeks attract local anglers, he said. Steve Gacke of Naselle agreed that making the Grays a gene bank would shift fishing to the already crowded Naselle River. Right now, the Naselle is overrun with fishermen, he said. A problem with excess sediment in the Grays could force the issue. WDFW plans to close the hatchery because it cant keep up with dredging the outfall, said Eric Kinne, statewide WDFW hatchery manager. Its definitely going to happen, Kinne said. Its days are numbered. The agency plans to move production from the Grays to the Beaver Creek hatchery on the Elochoman River. In addition to winter steelhead, the Grays River hatchery produces coho for the Deep River, spring chinook for Cathlamet Channel and chum. Chris Vandenberg, who was a member of the citizen group studying the issue, said he favors making the Grays a gene bank so that a research project at the federal Abernathy Fish Technology Center can continue. Vandenberg, a former Skamokawa resident who now lives in Chehalis, said that research on how hatchery fish and wild fish interact is critical and can be used to fight lawsuits against hatchery fish production. Glaser said Abernathy couldnt become a gene bank until the research project there ended, and its unclear when that will happen. Cindy LeFleur, WDFW regional fish manager, said theres no schedule for when WDFW will decide whether to designate the Grays or Mill/Abernathy/Germany as gene banks. Meanwhile, anglers can continue to fish there. For now, were not proposing to close fishing anywhere in the gene bank, said WDFW biologist Bryce Glaser. Anglers would still be allowed to catch salmon from other rivers that stray into the Grays, Glaser said. CASTLE ROCK The bright, cheery exam rooms for children, painted with castles or animals, are still there. So is Dr. Reinhild Ayoub, the pediatrician who has examined kids in the rooms since 1997. Patients may not notice much difference at the Castle Rock Clinic, now that its operated by the Family Health Center. Though the clinic has been treating patients 522 of them to be exact since Nov. 3, clinic workers celebrated their grand opening on Friday. Ayoub has worked at the clinic since she and her late husband, Anwar, opened it in 1997. PeaceHealth, which runs St. John Medical Center and clinics in Longview, took over the clinic in 2009. Last summer, PeaceHealth announced that it would vacate the clinic in September, preferring to consolidate services in Longview. Im very grateful for the Family Health Center to keep it going and to keep it for the community, said Ayoub, who owns the clinic building. The Family Health Center, a nonprofit community health organization, already operates clinics in Longview, Kelso, Woodland, Cathlamet and Ocean Park. Weve wanted to be in the Castle Rock area for a long time, said Family Health Center spokeswoman Amber Rosewood. We definitely have a niche in these small communities. Our patient population struggles with transportation issues, and they struggle with finances. The majority of patients served at the Family Health Center are covered by Medicaid rather than private insurance. The FHC offers a sliding fee scale, based on ability to pay. Word of mouth has brought in patients, Rosewood said. Some of them are Castle Rock residents who previously went to Family Health Center clinics in Longview or Kelso. Weve had people who say, Ive brought my children to Dr. Ayoub since they were born, Rosewood said. Ayoub said kids request specific treatment rooms that she had painted. One has a castle modeled after one in her native Germany. Brad Goldworm, a physicians assistant, is seeing adult patients. Hes a temporary employee, and the clinic is working toward getting a permanent provider for adults, Rosewood said. The clinic also has a worker who specializes in helping people sign up for health insurance. The clinics computer system can sync with that of PeaceHealth. Our relationship with PeaceHealth is very close, so this was an easy transition, Rosewood said. Patients will need to get X-rays at Longview Radiologists at 700 Lincoln St. in Kelso. Though an upstairs conference room has been used by community groups in the past, the Family Health Center hasnt decided how to use it. For now, the Castle Rock clinic is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, though the FHC hopes to expand hours. Opening the Castle Rock Clinic has delayed work on the Family Health Centers next expansion. By mid-year, the FHC plans to offer primary care, behavioral health care and family planning at a clinic at 14th and Douglas Street in Longview, which was previously a pediatrics and OB-GYN clinic. CHEHALIS Brenda Wing of Vader was sentenced to more than 34 years in prison Friday for the 2014 death by abuse of a 3-year-old Vancouver boy who had been in her care for weeks. She is an accomplice to what I consider to be the worst case of child abuse that Ive ever seen, Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt told the courtroom after the sentencing. The sentence was identical to one handed out in September to her husband, Danny Wing, 26. The Wings pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for causing the death by abuse of 3-year-old Jasper Henderling-Warner at their Vader home on Oct. 5, 2014. Jasper had been in the couples care since the midsummer of 2014 while his mother, Nikki Warner of Vancouver, reportedly was trying to find a job and quit using drugs. According to court documents, a medical exam and autopsy revealed that Jasper was missing his front teeth, had skin infections, trauma to his face, healing fractures and multiple scrapes over his body. Brenda Wings sentencing had been put off at the last minute twice last fall because of delays in obtaining new polygraph tests by a licensed polygrapher. Judge Hunt sentenced Brenda Wing to 416 months in prison, citing the nature of the abuse, though he declined the prosecutions request for a 55-year sentence. Over two months worth of torture here, he said of Jaspers treatment, adding that Jasper died as the result of prolonged abused instead of a single injury. This is really even beyond the scope of my imagination to think that something like this could even happen, he said. This is why the accomplice is equally guilty ... theres no reason to treat her differently. Brenda Wing, 28, a mother of three children, declined to make a statement. She has 30 days to appeal her sentence, which Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said is likely. Nikki Warner, Jaspers mother, sat in court Friday in the same blue shirt she wore to Brenda Wings aborted November sentencing hearing. It read, Justice for our angel now in heaven, Jasper James Henderling-Warner. The back read Rot in hell, Danny and Brenda Wing. Evil has been seen. Before the sentencing was announced, Warner asked Judge Hunt to give the maximum punishment to Brenda Wing. She told the court about her son, whom she said loved hot dogs, Ninja Turtles and playing outside with his toys. He would have turned five this month, she said between tears. Brenda, being a mother herself, put my son through a living hell, she said. Ruth Crear, one of the first emergency responders to arrive at the Wings home the day of Jaspers death, said she got a life sentence of sorts the day she found Jasper, noting that shell live with that memory for the rest of her life. Youre not a mother, she said, looking across the room at Brenda Wing. Youre a monster. WASHINGTON Embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, grappling with a police shooting that could destroy his mayoralty, has lamented the code of silence around police brutality. But now the famously outspoken Emanuel seems to be adopting his own code of silence. The former congressman and top official in the Obama and Clinton administrations was listed as a featured panelist at the opening plenary luncheon of the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. The topic: Reducing Violence and Strengthening Police/Community Trust. This took some guts: Emanuel was, before a national audience, going to address head-on the crisis that has engulfed him since the release almost 60 days ago of video showing a Chicago policeman shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times as McDonald appeared to be walking away. Emanuels administration had resisted having the video of the killing released, and emails show involvement of the mayors office in how to deal with the PR problem. Now there are accusations of a cover-up and calls for his resignation. But Laquan McDonald didnt cross Emanuels lips at the Police/Community Trust forum. He didnt even mention the incident directly, instead proffering a variety of facts and figures indicating everything is awesome in Chicago. Chicago is at a record-high, near-70 percent graduation rate. Our sophomore class is on track, according to the University of Chicago, to get 84 percent. We now have 26,000 kids in summer jobs. ... Four years ago we were at 14,000. The overall crime over four years is down about 35 percent. We now have the largest re-entry second-chance program in the United States. We doubled the amount were now up to 400 police officers on bicycles. During the entire 45-minute session, incredibly, the elephant in the ballroom went unacknowledged. The Chicago Sun-Times previewed Emanuels appearance at the forum with the headline Emanuel to confront political demons head-on at national panel on policing. Instead, he ducked his demons. An aide pointed out that he wasnt asked specifically about McDonald, and its true that his fellow panelists werent in positions to prosecute him: Baltimore Mayor and panel moderator Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (whose city saw rioting after the Freddie Gray death in police custody), New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and former Mayor Marc Morial (whose city was found by the Justice Department to have had widespread police misconduct) and the police chief of St. Louis (who had a close view of the Ferguson affair). Asked for an update on crime in Chicago and the biggest problems you currently face, Emanuel said nothing about Topic A. Guns and gangs, he answered. After Landrieu raised the civil liberties problems for police, Emanuel asked for another turn with the microphone and mentioned high school dropout rates. Morial spoke about the need for mayors to know how many civil rights complaints there are against the police, to avoid being bit, surprised by something. Emanuel addressed Morial: Ive got nothing to add, but Im going to be a Jewish mother. Youve got to move that microphone up. Landrieu talked about the need to have a transparent inquiry after a police shooting an implicit rebuke of Emanuel. Emanuel spoke about the need to target the most violent members of gangs and the gun dealers who sell most of the guns used to commit violence. A mayor from New Jersey had a question about personal responsibility, providing another opening for Emanuel to admit failings in the McDonald case. Were not going to answer until you tell us what exit you are on the highway, Emanuel quipped. Turnpike, Rawlings-Blake corrected. Emanuel, in his answer, spoke more about summer jobs, and the role of parents in teaching right and wrong. Still, nothing about Laquan McDonald. Finally, in her last question, Rawlings-Blake made a halfhearted grasp at the elephant, asking the others to talk about the panels advertised theme: the trust between police and communities. The trust factor is not just a goal its a key ingredient to effective community policing, Emanuel said, then got as close as he would to the matter that threatens his tenure. The public has to know theres legitimate oversight, its certain and its not biased, and the truth is were working at that our city, other cities because theres been a lot of judgment that the oversight has been lax and theres not an accounting system. And that was it. The once fearless Emanuel closed with an anecdote about a woman thanking him for the fine job the police do. The code held. Thumbs down: I-1366 ruling On Thursday of last week, a King County judge ruled I-1366 unconstitutional. If you recall, I-1366 was a Tim Eyman initiative which would either cut the sales tax by 1 percent or make the Legislature have a two-thirds majority to increase taxes. State of Washington voters have voted in favor requiring a two-thirds super-majority to raise taxes five times, most recently last November. Each time the initiative has either been ruled unconstitutional by the courts or essentially ignored by the Legislature. Its time our representatives listen to the voters. We want a super-majority vote to raise taxes end of story. Those who dont want the super-majority rule say its too hard to gain two-thirds consensus on anything. State Sen. Mark Schoesler said, The transportation package passed last year, which the governor commends in almost every speech he makes, received a two-thirds majority in the Senate and House. Thats proof it CAN be done when there is bipartisan agreement. Thumbs sideways: Catholic Archdiocese The subject of Catholic priests abusing parishioners is a sensitive one. The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle recently came out with a list of priests who had either been accused, sued or convicted of misconduct. TDNs Sarah Grothjan wrote about seven priests who served locally who were included on the list. Personally, our families know some of the priests on the list.. While we applaud the Seattle Archdiocese for being open and transparent, it comes perhaps a little too late; the horrors and damage of past transgressions will always be there. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims. Thumbs down: Animal cruelty Unfortunately we read about animal cruelty way too often. This week we learned six terribly undernourished dogs were discovered near Goble, Ore., which is just across the river from Kalama off Highway 30. Five of the dogs were recovered, but sadly the sixth dog has not yet been rounded up. The good news is families have been found for three of the dogs and hopefully the remaining two will be placed with great owners soon. As of this writing there arent any leads as to whos dogs they were, so nobodys been arrested. Columbia County Animal Control is looking for the owners, so if you have information please call 503-397-1521. Lets keep shining a bright light on animal cruelty in an effort to reduce it. Thumbs up: Climate regulation bill When Gov. Jay Inslees cap and trade legislation went nowhere last year he instructed the Department of Ecology to issue similar rules. The DOE is using the Clean Air Act as its proof the agency has the authority to make such rules. We disagree. State Sen. Doug Ericksen has put forth a bill that would require climate regulations to be decided in the Legislature. We agree with Ericksen, the effects to business, jobs, families and potentially property owners is too big not to have public discourse about new regulations surrounding climate change. Right now numerous climate change bills are floating around the capital trying to gain traction. Regardless of which side of this issue you may be on, the people need to be heard. Thumbs sideways: No smoking Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is calling on legislators to pass a bill moving the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 years old. Ferguson is citing a study of 500 voters which said 65 percent of voters agree the legal smoking age should be moved to the age of 21. Anything that discourages smoking we tend to be in favor of. At the same time the current law doesnt keep underage kids from getting cigarettes and this new law wouldnt either. If the attorney general wanted to curb smoking hed raise the sin tax on cigarettes. Increased taxes and fees discourage behavior more effectively than just about anything. "John Ferolito and Don Vultaggio, the two owners of the company, looked at a map to see where it was hot. At first they thought of naming it Santa Fe, then they focused on Arizona, and the rest, as they say, is history." I wonder how the people of Arizona feel about seeing their name on a tea that isn't made there. Despite the misleading name, the teas above are some of the Arizona Tea products I have tried, and I've learned that there is a great following of that classic Arizona Green Tea in the tall green can. Click here and here to see some of the surprising products featuring this iconic image. (Just remember: It's not really "Arizona" tea!) This week in "My Country, 'Tis of Tea," my year-long research project focusing on tea in America, I couldn't wait to explore Arizona and learn more about that great Arizona company, Arizona Tea. Because of course it's an Arizona company, right? Imagine my surprise when I learned that Arizona Tea was "born in the heart of Brooklyn" in 1992. Whaaaaat? They seem to realize that people may be curious why a New York-based business named its product Arizona Tea, because one of the questions in the FAQ on their website is, "Why did you name the product Arizona?" and the answer is, tech2 News Staff Google, in partnership with the Railways telecom wing RailTel, introduced the first public Wi-Fi service at the Mumbai Central railway station. In the future, Wi-Fi services will be provided at Bandra Terminus and Surat stations of Mumbai division. In addition, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Indore stations of Western Railway shall also be covered with Wi-Fi services in the near future. RailTel will provide Internet services as RailWire via its fiber network, in partnership with Google. Railwire Wi-Fi will be available to any user who has a working mobile connection on a smartphone. The project was announced last September during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Google headquarters in Mountain View. In an statement, Google stated that even with just the first 100 stations online, this project will make WiFi available to millions of Indians, who pass through railway stations every day, making it the largest public Wi-Fi project in India and among the largest in the world by number of potential users. Commenting on the launch, Chairman and Managing Director of Railtel Shri R. K. Bahuguna of Railtel said, Our intent was to fulfill Indian Railways vision of providing Railway passengers access to high speed Internet through our Optical fiber communication network. Affordable smartphones have made it possible for the common men to experience the power of Internet. With our partnership with Google, we are very confident of rolling out a robust, scalable service at Railway stations in the near future. Speaking at the launch, Rajan Anandan, VP & Managing Director, Google South East Asia and India said, Were delighted to launch Indias first high speed public Wi-Fi service in partnership with Indian Railways. Bringing affordable Internet access to millions of people is an important part of making the Internet both easily accessible and useful for more than 300 million Indians who are already online, and the nearly one billion more who are not. By end of this year over 10 million people will be able to enjoy this experience at 100 stations spread across the country. I would like to thank the Indian Railways for their support and vision to provide a world class high speed public Wi-Fi network at the stations. This is it, folks. You can't take your eyes off of it. It haunts us, growing in stature and dimension and that line . Just look at it. ... If you havent followed the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the basic idea is that the citys water supply is contaminated with lead, leading to an outbreak of Legionnaires disease and other public health risks. The crisis has caught the attention of numerous politicians and celebrities, as well as at least one member of the Detroit Lions. Ziggy Ansah, a third-year defensive end born in Ghana, delivered 94,000 bottles of water (in honor of his number 94) to Flint to help residents without enough to drink or bathe in amid the water crisis. Lions Pro Bowl DE Ziggy Ansah, who wears No. 94, is delivering 94,000 bottles of water to Flint today. pic.twitter.com/xj027yuPZs Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) January 22, 2016 Ansah recruited some friends to help him deliver 94,000 bottles of water to Flint pic.twitter.com/AmRPTFRTWI Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) January 22, 2016 This is a pretty cool move by the 2015 Pro Bowler, giving back to his teams community in the most fundamental and important way. Earlier this week, Washingtons defensive line donated 3,600 water bottles to the city, according to defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. Dline just ordered 3600 bottles of @FIJIWater to @CCharitiesUSA in Flint, Michigan. Our Prayers are with that city and hope this can help. Terrance Knighton (@MisterRoast98) January 20, 2016 Obviously these donations arent going to solve this crisis, which led President Obama to declare state of emergency in the area, but they certainly can help. Gazipur factory fire kills 5 workers Gazipur, Jan 23 (UNB) - Five people were burned to death and 10 others suffered injuries as a fire broke out in a tyre factory at Pubail here on Statuary. The deceased could not be identified immediately. Fire fighters recovered five charred bodies from the factory, sources at Fire Service and Civil Defense control room said. Hasibur Rahman, an officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense of Joydebpur station, said the fire broke out following a boiler blast at the tin-roofed factory in Bhadon area around 4:15 pm. On information, two fire-fighting units from Joydebpur rushed in and brought the fire under control around 5:40 pm. The injured were taken to different local hospitals, including Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmdd Medical College Hospital. Nearly 40-50 people were working in the factory, locals said. More ground soldiers likely to join Iraq war: Carter U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter attends a news conference at the French Defence Ministry in Paris, France. Reuters, Washington :The U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS needs to take back the cities Mosul and Raqqa and will use "boots on the ground" as part of its strategy in doing so, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday."We need to destroy them in those two places, and I'd like to get on with that as soon as possible," Carter, speaking from Davos, Switzerland, said in an interview on CNBC.He said the coalition is using raids and bombs to take control of the routes between the two cities and cut off communication between them."That'll essentially separate the Iraqi theater from the Syrian theater," he said.Carter said more ground soldiers will probably be added to support those already there, but part of the strategy is also mobilizing local forces "rather than trying to substitute for them."Meanwhile, several members of the US-led coalition attacking the ISIS group in Iraq and Syria are doing "nothing at all" to help destroy the terrorists, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Friday.His comments mark a departure from the Pentagon's typical depiction of the 65-member coalition, which carries the slogan "One mission, many nations," and is frequently touted to highlight global resolve in the predominantly US effort to defeat the ISIS group."Many of them are not doing enough, or are doing nothing at all," Carter said in an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland."We can do a lot ourselves ... (but) we are looking for other people to play their part," he added, without singling any country out.In a separate interview with Bloomberg TV, Carter called the anti-ISIS alliance a "so-called" coalition, highlighting frustrations the Pentagon has with some partners -- particularly Sunni Arab nations -- not doing enough. "We need others to carry their weight, there should be no free riders," he said.Carter has spent the past week in Europe, primarily in Paris, where he sought to persuade allies to step up their efforts against the ISIS group.He is meeting with representatives from another 26 allied nations next month to make the same appeal.Carter reiterated calls for one such partner, Turkey, to bolster its fight against the terrorists.Turkey is allowing the United States to use Incirlik, a geographically vital air base in the south, to strike ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria, but Carter said Ankara needs to do more to secure its lengthy border with Syria. Syria opposition rules out talks before end to Russian air raids Reuters, Beirut : The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before steps including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting US Secretary of State John Kerry's insistence that talks will begin next week. With the five-year-old Syrian war showing no signs of ending, it looks increasingly uncertain that peace talks will begin as planned on January 25 in Geneva, partly because of a dispute over the composition of the opposition delegation. Peace efforts face huge underlying challenges, among them disagreements over President Bashar al-Assad's future and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia on Friday denied a report that President Vladimir Putin had asked Assad to step down last year. The Syrian government has said it is ready to take part in the Geneva talks on time. The office of UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he was still aiming "at rolling out the talks" on January 25, and would be "assessing progress over the weekend". Russia said the talks could be delayed until January 27 or 28 because of the disagreement over who would represent the opposition. George Sabra, a senior opposition official, said the obstacles to the talks were still there, reiterating demands for the lifting of blockades on populated areas and the release of detainees, measures set out in a December 18 Security Council resolution that endorsed the peace process. "There must be a halt to the bombardment of civilians by Russian planes, and sieges of blockaded areas must be lifted," said Sabra, who was this week named as a senior member of the opposition delegation to any talks. China's economy on track, assures Vice-President Li Yuanchao PTI, Davos : China's economy is on track and the country has entered a phase of steady rather than speedy growth, China Vice-President Li Yuanchao said. Li reassured participants at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here that the world's second-largest economy will remain an important driving force for global economic growth. "Despite the volatility in the world economy, China still achieved a GDP increase of over USD 500 billion (in 2015), which is estimated to be the largest in the world," he said. China's GDP grew only 6.9 per cent, but Li said the "medium-high growth rate" is likely given the country's drive to diversify its economic growth drivers. He said that China's shift in focus from speed to quality in economic growth is progressing well, with consumption accounting for 66 per cent of last year's 6.9 per cent GDP growth. Li said China would continue economic reforms and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship to preserve the momentum. There is encouraging news in the 2.2 per cent growth of the high-tech sector, 30 per cent increase in online retail sales. "For every single day last year, over 12,000 newly registered companies emerged across China," said Li adding this was an indication of invigorated entrepreneurship along with the surge in the number of technology and business incubators aimed at young entrepreneurs. China is the chair of the G20 meet of developed and emerging countries this year, a grouping that accounts for 80 per cent of the world economy. The G20 summit will be held in Hangzhou under the theme "Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." "The Hangzhou summit will focus its discussions on innovating growth models, improving global economic and financial governance, boosting international trade and investment, and promoting inclusive and interconnected development in an effort to provide new drivers for the development of the world economy," Li said. 2 killed in road crash at SUST Sylhet, UNB: Two people were killed as the private car of a teacher of Shahjalal University of Science Technology (SUST) hit them near main gate area of university campus on Saturday noon. The deceased were Mohammad Ataur Rahman and an unidentified man, aged about 60. Quoting witnesses, Akhter Hossain, officer in-charge of Jalalabad police station, said the accident took place when the car of Prof Dr. Ariful Islam, head of Mechanical Engineering department of the university, knocked them down around 12pm, leaving the unidentified man dead on the spot and Prof Ariful and Ataur injured. Later, the injured were taken to Osmani Medical College Hospital where Ataur succumbed to his injuries. Prof Ariful was driving the car and the driver was sitting beside him while the accident took place, added the OC. UK and Russia can talk Syria despite tensions Al Jazeera News :Britain's government should not shy away from talking to Russia about peace in Syria, though relations with Moscow are strained, Prime Minister David Cameron told Al Jazeera. A British inquiry on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably" approved the assassination of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London, increasing tension between Russia and the UK.Obviously we have real difficulties with our relationships with Russia because of what has happened.Judge Robert Owen said it was likely the Russian leader signed off the killing of the former spy in 2006 after a long-running feud."There is no doubt that when it comes to Syria that we need all of the players, whether it is Saudi Arabia or Iran or Russia. Everyone needs to be involved," Cameron said in a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Davos summit. "Obviously we have real difficulties with our relationships with Russia because of what has happened and it is right we take the action we announced yesterday, but when it comes to Syria, difficult as it is, we have to discuss these issues with them because the crisis will only be solved when all the players recognise that it is in their interest to have a settlement," he added. UN-backed talks between the Syrian government and opposition are scheduled for Monday, though officials have said they might be briefly delayed.When asked whether Britain would agree to accept more refugees as the crisis in the Mediterranean continued, Cameron said his government did not want to incentivise people to travel to the UK."We said we will take 20,000 refugees from the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. We don't want to provide an extra pull factor into Europe. We said we will resettle a thousand by Christmas and we did that," Cameron said. Blizzard strikes US Motorists stranded for several hours in East Coast, Kentucky to Pennsylvania highways: 11 states under emergency Two men walk in the snow after a winter storm arrived in Washington. Internet photo A massive winter storm clobbered a huge swath of the eastern United States on Saturday, pounding cities from Washington to New York with snow and stranding hundreds of motorists from Kentucky to Pennsylvania on icy interstates. Up to 85 million people are in the storm's path. Officials in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast-much of which was under blizzard warnings-said Saturday morning that they've largely been able to avoid major problems so far. But the storm was far from done. "We haven't turned the corner at all," Baltimore emergency management director Robert Maloney told CNN. "I wouldn't say we're even halfway there yet." Motorists have been stranded for hours along a roughly five-mile westbound stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike-from Breezewood to New Stanton, State Police Capt. Brian Milore told CNN. A larger stretch of the same road was closed to commercial traffic around 7 a.m. Saturday. A weather-related traffic backup on southbound Interstate 75 in Kentucky is about 35 miles long-between mile marker 76 and 41, state trooper Kendra Wilson told CNN on Saturday morning. People have been stuck on the highway for more than 12 hours. New Jersey saw some minor coastal flooding Saturday morning, though a bigger concern is snow that could fall at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an hour in some places, Gov. Chris Christie said. (See also page 14) Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said things were "surprisingly quiet overnight" in her city, echoing other officials in the region. Nearby Baltimore had considerable snow but "no major issues" until a fire around 5:30 a.m. in the northeast part of the city, which led to "one serious injury," Maloney said. Winds started to pick up around 7 a.m. in New York, with a 41 mph gust reported at John F. Kennedy airport, city emergency spokesman Frank McCarton told CNN. At that point, there hadn't been disruptions in rail services and public buses, while delayed, were moving with chains. But McCarton warned there is "low visibility" and heavy snow through late afternoon. Snowfall forecasts in the city have increased, with CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam saying 16 inches "is not out of the question." 11 states were declared for heavy snow storm under emerency. Five workers burnt to death at Gazipur tyre factory fire Five factory workers were burnt to death as fire sweeps through tyre factory at Pubail of Gazipur on Saturday afternoon. Staff Reporter : At least five workers were killed and four others injured when a fire swept through a tyre factory at Pubail of Gazipur district on Saturday afternoon. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately. The death toll may rise, as four critically injured workers were rushed to a local hospital. Morshedul Islam, Station Officer of Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said,"The fire broke out around 4:00pm. We later recovered the bodies of the deceased workers from the factory." He said, six fire fighting units from Gazipur, Tongi, Kaliganj and Kaliakoir doused the blaze in four hours. He, however, said the reason of the tragic incident could not be known immediately. Hurun-Ar-Rashid, Superintendent of Police, Gazipur district, said that the bodies were sent to the Gazipur Sadar Hosptial morgue for autopsy. Additional police personnel had been deployed in the area, the SP said. 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! Travel to Cancun The Hotel I have to admit that my grasp of both Mayan history and Spanish grammar had deteriorated in the decades since the University of Kansas released me into the world as a supposedly eduficated adult. But a week in the Yucatan worked wonders in restoring me to my former "not fully ignorant" state. It was also fun, relaxing, and delightfully free of Montezuma's Revenge! Yea!The next few blog posts contain a verbal and photographic chronicle of my recent journey to Mexico, along with my personal thoughts and observations regarding beaches, ancient civilizations, and the peculiarities of international travel. I would urge you to click on the photos for embiggenationso you can see the details of Mexican architecture, coastal scenery, fish under the sea, and other aspects of the total tourist experience.Before we begin, I want to acknowledge the wonderful job Claire did in researching and organizing the entire vacation. With her delightful company, savvy travel management, and excellent skills as translator, I was free to concentrate on simply enjoying the experience. And that I did. Thanks, Claire!We left Denver as the snow began to fall, but we left our coats in the car because we wouldn't need them in Mexico. I had my newly-procured passport in hand, and was a bit nervous. (The only other time I'd been out of the country in the past 4 decades was unintentional and a bit unnerving, which is covered elsewhere .)Fortunately, the process of getting through Customs in Cancun was relatively painless, and we were both passed through with only a cursory glance from the folks who thumped their stampers onto our passports. None of this process gave me any additional confidence that safety and security were enhanced beyond letting people pass through unscrutinized, but I suppose it's good to provide jobs to people who have no skills beyond stamp thumping.Anyway, the Costco Travel bus sign was easily visible as we exited the airport (pointedly ignoring the hordes of timeshare salespeople who scuttled like roaches from the woodwork), and the trip to the hotel went smoothly. We had selected a hotel at the far north end of town (right next to the Punta Sam ferry dock, if you want to look it up), precisely because it was separated from the main hotel zone. The hotel complex was aesthetically spectacular!As part of the check-in process at Villa del Palmar, we were offered the opportunity to receive a "VIP" card, which entitled us to discounts on meals, tours, and even groceries. All we had to do to receive this bounty was to agree to attend a timeshare presentation at the hotel. We quickly calculated that it would be easily be worth more than $100 and would only take 90 minutes, we agreed. After all -- I had no job, so it would be easy to say "NO." We scheduled our sales pitch for Saturday morning.Our snorkeling excursion to Cozumel was scheduled for Friday morning, so we were up early and out in front of the hotel before 7am. It was a lovely day, and a gorgeous location to await the shuttle.Each taxi, minivan, and bus had to check with the security guard at the gate, apparently so the hotel could track which guests were being swept away for offsite adventures. A dozen vehicles came and went, but the Cancun Scuba bus was not among them. Claire went back inside to make some phone calls, and eventually learned that the tour group had misinterpreted the words printed on our reservation. Apparently, they thought that "pick up at hotel" meant "paid customers must walk 10 miles to the scuba facility". Hmm.At that point, it was too late to make the trip that day, so we rescheduled for Tuesday, receiving assurances that they would indeed pick us up at the hotel on that day. But now we suddenly had a free day. What should we do with this bonus time?Timeshare presentation, perhaps? Oh, YES! What a delightful idea!I'd like to point out that the hotel staff was consistently friendly, attentive, and helpful. When they found out we'd been stood up by the snorkeling folks, they were quick to offer alternatives, and it really did make sense for us to get the timeshare thing out of the way. And Tony, our "membership" salesperson, did an excellent job with his pitch, and grasped our commitment to a firm "No" with reasonable quickness. But during the pitch, we were treated to an excellent breakfast buffet and a grand tour of the fancy rooms available for vacations of the future. The view from the penthouse suite was impressive, indeed. The Caribbean isOnce released from the sales program, we took our VIP card over to the travel store, where Claire used our discounts to set up tours to Chichen Itza and Tulum/Coba. After that, we spent the rest of the day reading on the beach, sitting in the hot tubs, and swimming in the pools. This was also our chance for stand-up paddleboarding and cruising in the 2-person ocean kayak.As the sun set, we had dinner at the hotel's Italian restaurant (discounted via the VIP card, of course), and it was quite good. Despite swapping a snorkel adventure for a sales pitcth, it was a delightful day! We tried to get to sleep early to prepare us for Saturday's excursion into the jungle.The next post will include photos from Mayan ruins and swimming in cenotes. If you're ready to hear tales of ancient construction marvels, human sacrifice, and in-your-face marketing techniques, please join us then. In the meantime, have a great day! 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! Parece que todos los dias la tecnologia se hace cargo de otro trabajo, y estas ocupaciones obsoletas no son una excepcion. Y es que los tiempos cambian, y debido a The S.P.D. Murder of John T. Williams On a sunny, warm Seattle August day in 2010, Native American wood carver John T. Williams was murdered by the Seattle Police Department as he walked down the crowded downtown streets while on his normal daily routine of carving small totem poles with a small pen knife, then selling them to the tourists that flock by the Seattle Public Market. Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk noticed Mr. Williams walking down the city streets and deemed him a threat, do in major part I believe - simply because he was Native American. Williams was one of many homeless Native Americans who roam downtown Seattle. These people are usually dismissed and overlooked by Seattles daily bustle of businessmen, the working class, and tourists. When the officer approached Williams from behind, and then ordered him to freeze and drop his small carving knife and a stick of carving wood he was carrying, Williams was hard of hearing in one ear, and failed to hear the police officer over the traffic and pedestrians, thus did not immediately comply; officer Birk then instantly felt that this gave him the right to use lethal force against John T. Williams. No threat was ever given by the homeless woodcarver. Officer Ian Birk coldly gunned down John T. Williams from behind, murdering him in the streets of Seattle, Wash, right in front of many horrified citizens who later professed that they felt no threat from the homeless Native American man whatsoever. The officer was fired thats it, and was allowed to live his life somewhere else, work a steady job, live in a nice house, somewhere out of media sight, and out of the publics mind; smug in the fact that he got away with legal murder with just a slap on the wrist. We must all remember that this type of legal homicide happens every day all over this nation of ours, by those sworn to Serve and Protect us. And that this violent tragedy can happen to anyone, or anybodys family members, especially if they are citizens of color. This makes it everybodys problem who believes in justice, personal safety from unwarranted persecution, and true American freedom in the society they live in. Let us still remember John T Williams, and never forget the fact that he was ruthlessly murdered by the S.P.D. 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. MILLER CITY For some, this Alexander County community repeatedly inundated with floodwaters is more than just a home, strengthening their resolve to remain. For others, enough is enough after the New Year flood, which officials reported brought more than $1 million in damages, pried away part of a levee meant to protect them, garage doors, large sheds and irreplaceable mementos. I guess its just hard to explain, Sherry Pecord said of her and Seans, her husband, choice to remain in the home he built on farmland in 1993, completing it just before the so-called great flood that year. If you dont live here, you dont get it. Im sure there are a lot of people out there who will think we are crazy for staying here, but its who he is, she said of Sean, his livelihood as a farmer and his family. Sherry moved into the home eight years ago and on Friday was hosting her daughter and newborn grandson into her house. About a quarter-mile away stood a 30-foot-by-40-foot shop swept away from their home by the floodwaters. In it were antiques handed down through family over the years and childhood memories, now lost. Standing on her driveway, Sherry can see the three-quarter mile break in the Len Small Levee that sent water across thousands of acres in Alexander County, into dozens of homes and businesses, and over roads that made Miller City into an island. Another Miller City resident, 74-year-old Karen Masterson, has had enough, she said. She has lived in her three-bedroom home for 22 years but is leaving it to instead move into a smaller cabin her daughter is providing in Thebes. Alexander County levee break will bring more challenges The grim reality of unseasonable flooding that led to a levee break in Alexander County last Little of the water engulfing her property made it into her house, unlike the 2011 flood, but it did rip away two sides of her garage where she had several valuables stored. She would have left before the flood but is waiting for a federal flood buyout. I loved my home, but I cant go through this flood every few years, Masterson, who lives alone, said. It just gets to be too much. Between 25 and 30 homes used as a primary residence were flooded, according to preliminary assessments reported by Alexander County officials to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, said Mike Turner, the countys emergency management director. No dollar value has been placed on damages to homes, but the county has offered a preliminary report to the state of more than $1 million in public expenses in connection with the flooding, excluding the levee, Turner said. IEMA expects to complete a final analysis of damages to homes and local government costs incurred by dozens of counties by the end of the month. Once completed, the agency will determine whether it believes the state is eligible for federal disaster relief, the agency said in a news release Thursday. There are two separate federal assistance programs, IEMA said. The Individual Assistance program offers grants and low-interest loans to people affected by disasters. While there is no defined damage amount for Individual Assistance, the states past experience with requests for federal assistance shows that it usually takes hundreds of homes with severe damage to qualify for the program, IEMA said. The Public Assistance program provides reimbursement up to 75 percent of eligible costs incurred by local governments as they dealt with the disaster and subsequent recovery. Alexander County Board Chairman: Evacuation will end for some Tuesday Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said Monday afternoon that the voluntary evacua The Public Assistance program has a population-based threshold, which for Illinois is $18.1 million statewide. Once the state meets that threshold, individual counties also would need to meet a threshold of $3.56 multiplied by the countys population, according to IEMA information. On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Missouri a federal disaster in connection to storms and flooding between Dec. 23 and Jan. 9. The Illinois incident period runs from Dec. 23 to Jan. 13. The state has until Feb. 12 request federal assistance. Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said financial help is needed, saying the county alone cannot afford to pay for repairs. Numerous roads were damaged and there was also damage at the Central Alexander County Public Water District. Our secondary roads got ate up pretty good. I dont think they can even make it down some of them, he said. Meanwhile, recent winter storms this week and remaining high water are slowing cleanup and repair efforts. David Willis, chairman of both the water district and the Len Small Levee District, said remaining high water has made a damage assessment of the levee impossible. Most of those repairs, however, are likely to be paid by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Still, it could be a year or two before repairs are completed, Willis said. If we have spring flooding I imagine we are going to get it because there is nothing we can do, Willis said. Sherry Pecord said she hopes help will be on the way soon, fearful of when the waters do completely recede and life seemingly returns to normal. That help includes ratcheting up the flood buyout program, repairs to the levee and help for farmers whose land was damaged by mounds of sand that will take more than a year from which to recover. I dont want people to think, Oh, the water is gone, everything is better. Its not. This is going to be a long process, and I just dont want people to forget, she said. Illinois farmers in 2015 were able to repeat the record 56 bushel per acre state-wide average yield for soybeans they set in 2014. The state produced a 544.32 million bu. soybean crop, which was less than the 547.12 million bu. crop produced in 2014, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Production 2015 Summary. It took Iowas record state-wide average yield of 56.5 bu./acre to produce a record crop of 554 million bu. to take Illinois 2014 title of the top soybean producing state. Indiana farmers had a state-wide average yield of 50 bu./acre to produce a 275 million bu. soybean crop. A state-wide average yield of 40.5 bu./acre produced a 181.44 million bu. soybean crop in Missouri. Wisconsin farmers 92.57 million bu. soybean crop was produced from a state-wide average yield of 49.5 bu./acre. U.S. total soybean production was a record 3.929 billion bu. with a record national average yield of 48 bu./acre. The previous national record soybean production was set in 2014, when a national average yield of 47.5 bu./acre produced a 3.927 billion bu. crop. Illinois farmers produced a 2.013 billion bu. corn crop with a state-wide average yield of 175 bu./acre. In 2014, a state-wide average yield of 200 bu./acre produced a 2.35 billion bu. corn crop in Illinois. Iowa farmers produced a record 2.51 billion bushels of corn with a record average state-wide yield of 192 bu./acre. With a state-wide average yield of 150 bu./acre, Indiana farmers produced a 822 million bu. corn crop. Wisconsin farmers produced a 492 million bu. corn crop with a state-wide average yield of 159 bu./acre. Missouri farmers produced a 437.36 million bu. corn crop with a state-wide average yield of 142 bu./acre. Nationally, farmers produced a 13.6 billion bu. corn crop with a national average yield of 168.4 bu./acre. In 2014, a national average yield of 171 bu./acre produced a 14.22 billion bu. corn crop. Illinois farmers harvested a 33.8 million bu. winter wheat crop with a state-wide average yield of 65 bu./acre. In 2014, they produced a 44.89 million bu. winter wheat crop with a state-wide average yield of 67 bu./acre. The total hay production in Illinois in 2015 was estimated at 1.53 million tons; in 2014, 1.755 million tons were produced. The average state-wide yield in Illinois in 2015 was 3.13 tons/acre, compared to 3.38 tons/acre in 2014. The total sorghum produced in Illinois was estimated at 3.2 million bu. for 2015, compared to 2.23 million bu. in 2014. The 2015 average state-wide sorghum yield was 94 bu./acre, down 12 bu./acre from 2014. A state-wide average yield of 77 bu./acre produced a 1.93 million bu. oat crop in 2015. In 2014, a state-wide average yield of 80 bu./acre produced a 2 million bu. oat crop. Thumbs up to the Carbondale Public Library for going an extra mile or two for the homeless. At a time when efforts to provide services and find homes for the homeless have hit a snag elsewhere, the library has found a way. This week Diana Brawley Sussman, director of the library, told how Shannon Butler, the library's social work intern, helped find shelter for at least four individuals. Butler was able to successfully bring landlord and tenant together through mediation and compromise. The library has been active in social work for years, and this is another success story for its social mission. Thumbs down to Carbondale Mayor Mike Henrys tone-deaf use of an outdated racial term during a celebration honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. During the celebration at SIU Monday, Henry repeatedly used the word negro when describing conversations and experiences King had in the 60s. At the end of Henrys talk, he acknowledged his use of the word thusly: Frankly, I dont know if its proper or not. Doesnt seem like it is. I used it today because of the historical content of my message, to show how far weve come. We dont believe Henry used the word which fell out of favor after the civil rights movement with malintent. But this white mayor clearly doesnt understand the historical context he claims to invoke. A good rule of thumb: If you are a white person, and you are speaking about a person of color, if you think a word you would like to use might not be proper, it probably isnt. Henry also said during his speech: If I have offended anyone today, you have a free pass to give me one good verbal slap in the face emphasis on the verbal. Well, here it is, Mayor Henry: You messed up. Thumbs up to Du Quoin native Amelia Eisenhauer, who will be featured this week on the final season of the Fox program, American Idol. While we dont know how Eisenhauer will fare, we at least know she will pass auditions and return to the show Feb. 4. The 16-year-old, who sings and plays the fiddle, moved to Nashville, Tenn., with her family three years ago and she attends Nashville School of the Arts. Eisenhauer visited Du Quoin this past weekend to visit her hometown and drum up support on the talent program where viewer votes send contestants ahead. So lets all lend Eisenhauer our support in this step toward stardom. And here's a Thumbs up to Virginia Smith of Ava, who began her reign as Miss Rodeo Illinois on Jan 1. She'll spend the year traveling to rodeo competitions hither and yon, promoting the professional sport of rodeo and the western way of life. Last Saturday there was a ceremonial coronation event for her in Sparta. Hat's off, Virginia. Thumbs up to the concept of Community Supported Agriculture. Today a CSA Fair will be held at Carbondale Community High School, 1301 E. Walnut St., from 9 a.m. to noon, and people can meet niche growers and farmers who raise fresh, local food. It's hard to beat that sort of diet. So if you're interested in healthy food, local economy and just good eatin', head on down to the Fair. In April 2014, President Obama's Justice Department announced plans to raise an army of volunteer lawyers to assist federal prisoners in seeking a reduction of their draconian drug war sentences. Clemency Project 2014 (CP2014) was launched as the flagship of Obama's criminal justice reform effort, dubbed the Smart on Crime Initiative. The Justice Department tapped the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) to lead a group of five public interest organizations in administering the project. At the time, NACDL President Jerry Cox proclaimed that the project's launch "marks the beginning of the end of the age of mass incarceration." "I call upon the nation's lawyers," Cox said, "to rise to this challenge in an unprecedented effort to restore hope and the prospect of an early return to freedom for the countless deserving individuals who are languishing in federal custody." One of the attorneys who answered CP2014's clarion call was Ellen Lake, an experienced sole practitioner with a civil appeals practice in Oakland, California. Having never handled a criminal case before, Lake expected to be assigned a client with a routine claim; perhaps one of the many federal prisoners who were left behind when the sentencing laws were changed to eliminate the racial disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences. Instead, she was assigned the case of 94-year-old Carlos Tapia-Ponce, one of the oldest inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), who is serving a life sentence for managing a warehouse that was the site of what to this day remains the largest cocaine seizure in history. Tapia-Ponce was essentially the salaried quartermaster or supply chain manager for the U.S. end of a Juarez, Mexico/Colombia drug transportation network. The government offered no evidence during his trial and made no claims at his sentencing that he was involved in violence or had even used firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy for which he was convicted. What Lake didn't expect was the stubborn resistance she encountered as she tried to pursue justice for an old man she believes doesn't deserve to die in prison. After spending hours reviewing her client's case file, Lake submitted Tapia-Ponce's clemency petition to CP2014. She was informed that Tapia-Ponce's case didn't meet the criteria for submission to the Justice Department under the auspices of CP2014. Lake could have ended her involvement at this point, but she refused to abandon her client. Instead, she traveled at her own expense to meet with Tapia-Ponce at the federal prison in Jessup, Georgia, and submitted the clemency petition directly to the DOJ's Office of the Pardon Attorney. At the same time, she continued to pursue a compassionate release for Tapia-Ponce through the BOP. Tapia-Ponce had been recommended for a compassionate release/reduction in sentence (CR/RIS) on two separate occasions by two different BOP wardens. The first request was filed in 2013 and denied the following year. The second petition, filed in August 2015, was still pending when Tapia-Ponce's health deteriorated to the point where he was transferred to a BOP medical center in North Carolina. Lake's repeated telephone calls to the BOP'S General Counsel's office were ignored. Concerned with her client's failing health, Lake filed a motion asking the U.S. District Court to compel the BOP to rule on Tapia-Ponce's pending CR/RIS petition. A day before the scheduled court hearing, and without informing Lake of the decision before she traveled from Oakland to Los Angeles to attend the court appearance, the BOP issued its second denial of Tapia-Ponce's petition. The government's official notice of denial confirmed Tapia-Ponce's many medical problems, including severe degenerative heart disease and prostate cancer. According to a 2015 DOJ Inspector General's Report on "The Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons," it costs the BOP $50,000 a year or more to house elderly inmates with Tapia-Ponce's medical problems. The letter of denial coldly conceded that Tapia-Ponce meets all of the BOP's criteria for a compassionate release, but still refused to release the 94-year-old prisoner to the care of his family. At the time of his arrest in 1989, Tapia-Ponce was a 68-year-old retired Mexican customs official with no prior criminal convictions. He had been married to his wife for 40 years, had two sons, six daughters and many grandchildren. The pre-sentence report prepared in 1991 notes that he "had a wonderful relationship with his family," and that his "family is the most important thing to him." Tapia-Ponce has now served 26 years in prison, during which time his wife has died. He has not seen any members of his family since his arrest. However, every week for the past 26 years, his daughters have gathered together in Juarez and spoken with their father over the telephone. What possible benefit is it to the U.S. government or any of its citizens to continue to pay for the medical care of a 94-year-old nonviolent inmate who has a loving family willing to care for him in Mexico? How does it make Americans any safer to subject this man to the torture of a slow, lonely death without the care and comfort of his family? Shame on Obama's Justice Department for such a callous lack of basic human decency. ----- 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. Unpack your old tie-dyed T-shirts, roll yourself a fat doobie and warm up the ancient VW bus. We're going to do Woodstock and the 1972 presidential election all over again. And this time, the hippies are going to win! Four years of peace, love, and single-payer health care. But do take care to clear the path for Bernie Sanders. Because if he steps in something the dog left behind, he's going to blame Wall Street and start yelling and waving his arms around. And you know how much that upsets Republican congressmen who are otherwise so eager to oblige his plans to soak the rich and give everybody free college, free health care, free Bubble Up and rainbow stew, as the old Merle Haggard song had it. OK, so I'm being a smart aleck. I was moved to satire by a couple of moments from last week's Democratic and Republican presidential debates. First, Sen. Sanders, boasting about a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that shows him beating Donald Trump by 15 points at 54 to 39 (Hillary Clinton tops Trump only 51-41). Both would be huge landslides. In 1972, Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern 61-38. The Democrat won only Massachusetts. The part Sanders left out and that Hillary was also wise enough to leave unmentioned is that the same poll shows her leading him 59 to 34 percent in the Democratic contest nationally. Twenty-five points. She'd have to be a fool to take that to the bank, although it does demonstrate why a lot of the racehorse commentary has it upside-down. See, unless Bernie manages to prevail in the Iowa caucuses, his campaign pretty much goes on life support. A New Englander nearly always wins in New Hampshire, and rarely goes anywhere after that. Almost needless to say, all polls are individually suspect. Also, the national media gives far more play to surveys depicting a close contest. They're better for journalists' careers. That would be true even if you didn't know that bringing Hillary Clinton down has been an obsessive quest in Washington and New York newsrooms for 24 years. During most of which time it's been, "Bernie who?" That Vermont socialist who's all the time yelling? That guy? Yeah, him. The guy with the Brooklyn accent and the Wacky Prof look who says "billionaire" the way some people say "ebola." Not that there's anything wrong with that. The same guy Ohio Gov. John Kasich boldly predicted would lose all 50 states if Democrats were foolish enough to nominate him. Actually, I'm confident Sanders would carry Vermont and probably Massachusetts against any Republican nominee. New Hampshire and Maine could be out of reach. Even against Trump? Well theoretical matchups mean next to nothing this far out. Also, I suspect that Bernie's big advantage -- hard for politically active readers to believe -- is that most voters know almost nothing about him. Only that he's neither Hillary nor The Donald. I also suspect that a Trump vs. Sanders matchup would bring a serious third-party challenge. Anyway, let the GOP attack machine get to work on Sanders and I'm guessing we'd soon learn that there's no great yearning among the electorate for socialism -- democratic or not. Did you know, for example, that Sanders took a honeymoon trip to the Soviet Union in 1988? George Will does. Does that make him disloyal? Of course not, merely a bit of a crank. As Sanders loyalists are quick to remind you, President Reagan went to Moscow to negotiate nuclear arms reductions with Gorbachev that year. Anyway, as a personal matter, I got my fill of Marxist faculty lounge lizards back in the tie-dyed, VW bus era. Disagree, and you're an immoral sellout. That gets old really fast. Writing in Washington Monthly, David Atkins does a manful job of trying to explain away a Gallup poll showing that while 38 percent of Americans say they'd never vote for a Muslim president, and 40 percent wouldn't support an atheist, fully 50 percent said no socialists need apply. Can Bernie persuade them otherwise? I don't see how. Most Americans don't actually hate the rich, and his despairing portrait of contemporary American life doesn't square with most people's experiences. "Against these liabilities," writes Jonathan Chait, "Sanders offers the left-wing version of a hoary political fantasy: that a more pure candidate can rally the People into a righteous uprising that would unsettle the conventional laws of politics." Meanwhile, not only has Sanders presented no realistic political scenario for enacting his vaunted reforms, serious observers also question their substance. Liberal MVP Paul Krugman: "To be harsh but accurate: the Sanders health plan looks a little bit like a standard Republican tax-cut plan, which relies on fantasies about huge supply-side effects to make the numbers supposedly add up." During the recent debate, Bernie accused Hillary of failing to take his candidacy seriously. Fair enough. But has he? ----- Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com. 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. - Lauri's book,(the second instalment of her Amogelang Sethunya series) is now out, published by Diamond Educational Publishers!!is now available in print!!! It's published by Hands-On Books. Get it HERE . It is published as an ebook by HopeRoad- London. All stories in the collection are set in Botswana. Buy it HERE My Writing Successes 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 TV Listings Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur 23 January 2016 15:00 hrs GMT Premier League Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London Capacity 26,255 The next English Premier League game sees us play Crystal Palace after the resounding victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup replay. Graeme Souness told talkSPORT radio that this is the best Spurs team he has seen since the Bill Nicholson days. He is impressed because he feels we now look like a proper team, one that doesn't lie down when the going gets tough but who battle and don't give in. He ought to know having played his part in a very successful period in Liverpool's history. Each game is just as important and each holds the same three points. We need to pick them up and keep up the pressure on everyone else. Manchester United are two points behind and Manchester City are four points ahead. If a game is televised, as this is, then it is available via various Internet live streams. Please note it is illegal in the UK to watch these in the UK so I can not list them and would not recommend that you watch them. 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You can get all your Sporting Gifts from thejust click the link and your gift will be sent directly to the delivery address you give, ideal for your birthday presents. ORDER YOURS NOW Deliver to your door Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World Our Name's Origin The name Josiah Venture comes from 2 Chronicles 34. "Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem" (vs. 1). Josiah began to seek the Lord at age sixteen. He instructed his people to clear the land of false idols and to repair the Temple of the Lord. It was then that they rediscovered "the book of the Law in the house of the LORD" (vs. 15). Josiah was cut to the heart when he found out what was written in the Law. He realized that his people were not living how God had instructed them to live, so Josiah set out to make a radical change. "Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers" (vs. 33). By the time he was 26, God had used Josiah to bring revival to the land, rebuild the house of God, and restore the Word of God to its central place. (taken from missionary Joe Brooks in Latvia) ----------------------------------- We want to see God raise up young leaders like Josiah all over Eastern Europe; young people who love the Lord and who will lead their nations back to Him! In Serbia, we are seeking to train and equip young leaders who will be the ones to lead their country back to Him as young Josiah did! Songwon Industrial Company, the second largest polymer stabilizer supplier in the world, said its joint venture company Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East (PAT ME) has started operations at its manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi. The facility is located in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), which is owned and managed by Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports in the emirate. The new plant is dedicated to manufacturing One Pack Systems (OPS) multicomponent, tailor made blends of additives in a pelletized form and then packaged in a clean, dust free environment, ready for shipping, said a company statement. With an initial capacity of 7000 MT per annum, the manufacturing facility was specifically designed to allow for future expansion to meet the increasing demand for OPS products in the Middle East region and beyond, it added. This region is one of the fastest growing markets for polyolefins and already a major consumer of OPS, says Maurizio Butti, the chief operating officer, Songwon Industrial Company. With this new facility, Songwon is in a stronger position to better meet the needs of current and future customers in the Middle East. Now we are able to offer our customers the OPS products they demand combined with all the advantages and service of a leading global supplier, with 50 years experience in breakthrough solutions. Hans Daniels, the general manager, Polysys Additive Technologies, said: "Having a plant here allows us to take full advantage of Kizads unique location with its port facilities and infrastructure. It also establishes a very effective hub for supplying customers across the entire region." Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said: "We are pleased to be providing Polysys Additive Technologies with the platform to facilitate their business growth in the region. With excellent market access through Khalifa Port, the fastest growing port in the region, world class infrastructure, integrated clustering and dedicated support services, this new facility will cater to the growing polymer industry." "By substituting import to region with locally manufactured products, Polysys Additive Technologies joins our efforts towards supporting the leaderships vision in diversifying Abu Dhabis thriving economy," he stated. PAT MEs is a joint venture between Polysys Industries, Pan Gulf Holding and Songwon Industrial Group. The new Abu Dhabi facility is the latest addition to Songwons global OPS manufacturing capability and shares identical production technology as the two other plants located in Greiz, Germany and Houston, US.-TradeArabia News Service A monster blizzard that has paralyzed the US East Coast intensified on Saturday afternoon as it barreled into New York City, prompting a travel ban on area highways as high winds whipped up record-setting tides in New Jersey and Delaware. After dumping nearly two feet of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., overnight, the storm unexpectedly gathered strength as it slammed into the New York metropolitan area, and forecasters bumped up snowfall predictions to up to 76 cm by Sunday. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a ban on all travel on New York City area roads, including on Long Island, except for emergency vehicles, as of 2:30 p.m. (1930 GMT). All bridges and tunnels into the city will also close, he said. Subways running above ground and trains operated by the Long Island Railroad and Metro North will stop service at 4 p.m. because snow falling at a rate of 3 inches per hour proved too much for plows on roads and railways, Cuomo said. Broadway theaters canceled matinee and evening performances at the urging of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who warned that the storm may rank among the top five blizzards ever to hit the nation's largest city. "We're loving it. We definitely want to come back," said Michelle Jones, 46, a mortgage company controller who had tickets to see "The Phantom of Opera" with her daughter. "We love the snow because we don't get this in Atlanta," she said, about an hour before the Broadway shutdown was announced. Heavy snow bands were moving across Long Island, New York City and northeast New Jersey, with wind gusts of up to 80 kph, the National Weather Service said. New York City buses operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were suspended at noon. New Jersey Transit, earlier on Saturday, suspended all bus, rail and light rail service. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority took the rare step of suspending operations through Sunday. More than 4,300 US flights were canceled, including virtually all travel into New York City airports, according to the FlightAware.com tracking website and transportation officials. Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York on Saturday, becoming the 11th state to take the step. "Our message, and we need the public to listen, is to stay home and to stay off the streets. That includes people who are attempting to drive, but it also includes people who are walking," said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. However, some residents said they just could not resist seeing famous monuments frosted with snow. "We haven't made snow angels yet, but we're looking forward to doing that in front of the White House," said Robert Bella Hernandez, 38. "We're just going to walk around, see some snow covered D.C. landmarks. And then when it's unsafe, maybe go back in for a minute." High winds battered the entire region, reaching 70 mph in Wallops Island, Virginia, late on Friday, and whipping up the tides, said meteorologist Greg Gallina of the National Weather Service. Tides higher than those caused by Superstorm Sandy three years ago caused major flooding along the Jersey Shore and Delaware coast and set records in Cape May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware, said NWS meteorologist Patrick OHara. A high tide of 2.74 m was recorded at 7:51 a.m. on Saturday at Cape May slightly higher than the record of 8.9 feet previously set by Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012. A high tide of 9.27 feet was recorded at Lewes, higher than the 9.2 high tide recorded in March 1962. "All the factors that affect the tides, its all happening at once," OHara said. Even so, there were no reports of evacuations along the New Jersey Shore, where thousands of residents had to abandon their homes during the devastating 2012 storm. The barrier islands in Atlantic County were experiencing significant tidal flooding, said Linda Gilmore, the county's public information officer, affecting Atlantic City and at least four other towns. While the county typically sees flooding during nor'easter storms, the current situation more dangerous than usual. Gilmore said the risk would grow more severe with each high tide through Sunday morning, but at present it was too early to draw any comparisons with Sandy. At least eight people were killed in car crashes due to icy roads in North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, and a ninth person died of a heart attack while shoveling snow in Maryland. The Pennsylvania National Guard was called in to help stranded motorists along I-78 in the western part of the state, local media reported.-Reuters US oil major Chevron said on Thursday it plans to sell 75 per cent of its South African business unit which includes a 110,000 barrel a day refinery in Cape Town. Chevron is a leading refiner and marketer of petroleum products in South Africa, the most industrialised economy in Africa, where it has had a presence for more than a century. Chevron said its call for expression of interest was in line with a three-year asset sales programme it announced in 2014. This demonstrates Chevron's continuing focus on balancing our global portfolio with our long-term business priorities, and it is aligned with our previously announced $15 billion divestment program, said Mark Nelson, the company's president for international products, in a statement. Besides the Cape Town refinery, Chevron also has interests in a lubricants plant in Durban on the east coast. Its network of Caltex service stations makes it one of South Africa's top five petroleum brands, according to its website. Chevron has already disposed of several assets in Africa's top crude exporter Nigeria, as oil majors globally looked to cut costs and streamline business models in an over-supplied oil market and plunging prices.-Reuters Indian aviation industry expects to sign several key deals with partners in the Gulf region this year, said a report citing a top official. They have been holding meetings with potential buyers during Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS), said Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation director general Dr S Christopher. Abu Dhabi expressed interest in one of Indias missiles and the deal will be taken a step further in April, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. For further details visit http://www.gdnonline.com A federal agency ordered Wyoming regulators Thursday to conduct an investigation into two bankrupt coal companies mining permits, saying the state may be allowing the firms to operate in violation of the law. The orders follow the bankruptcy of two of the countrys largest coal companies, Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources, and comes amid growing concern they may not be able to afford their hefty reclamation obligations. The combined cost of cleaning up the two companies Wyoming mines is about $900 million. The warnings mark the U.S. Office of Surface Mining and Reclamations first public foray into the raging debate over coal companies cleanup obligations. The office has largely remained silent on the issue since Alpha filed for bankruptcy in August. But in a letter responding to a petition from the Powder River Basin Resource Council, a Sheridan-based landowners group, the government gave Wyoming regulators 10 days to investigate the two firms reclamation bonds. The Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation has reason to believe that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality-Land Quality Division may be allowing Arch Coal Inc., Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC and Arch Western Resources (collectively, Arch) to operate in violation of the Wyoming Approved State Program, the agency wrote in a Thursday letter to state regulators. A similar letter was sent to the state regarding Alpha on the same day. Federal laws require companies to carry what is essentially reclamation insurance in order to maintain a mining permit. Concerns about a form of insurance known as self-bonding have grown amid a historic downturn in the coal market. Companies using a self bond are allowed to employ their own finances as collateral, but they must first pass what amounts to a financial stress test. State regulators oversee the mining sector, but ultimate authority rests with the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation. Wyoming officials have long expressed worry their federal counterparts may enter the self-bonding debate. Gov. Matt Mead, responding to questions about the development at a meeting of the Wyoming Press Association on Friday, said the letter sent by the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation represents a first. DEQ officials have never received a letter of its kind and are reviewing it to determine how to respond, he said. The state believed it was in compliance with the law at the time it approved the companies bonding obligations, Mead said, adding The best I can answer that question now is well work through that. Im not sure. The state is looking at self-bonding alternatives that offer the same level of environmental protection, but are less costly for companies, he noted. The creation of lakes at former mine sites has been floated as one, potentially cost-effective option, Mead said. The governor acknowledged regulators were attempting to walk a fine line. Coal is central to the Wyoming economy, contributing about a $1 billion in annual tax revenue and employing roughly 23,000 people. Arch and Alphas mines together employ more than 2,000 people. It puts the state in a position where we want to keep those mines open, but we cant do that if the state has to pay for reclamation, Mead said. Both Alpha and Arch have continued to operate as they navigate bankruptcy proceedings. Environmentalists and conservationists have questioned the continued mining activity, saying it may represent a violation of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Wyoming regulators rejected those calls. The deal with Alpha ensured money is set aside for mine cleanup, they said. In Archs case, they noted the company had continued to qualify for self-bonding through a subsidiary, Arch Western Resources. Conservationists hailed news of the federal governments orders. It is a big deal because it is recognition from a regulator that theres a problem here, said Shannon Anderson, a lawyer at the Powder River Basin Resource Council. It does look like there is going to be some accountability. Hopefully it will send a message to the state and the companies. Alpha has $411 million in self-bonds. The company had argued in bankruptcy filings that full payment of its reclamation liabilities would potentially harm its restructuring. But the Virginia-based firm struck a deal with state regulators in September, granting Wyoming a $61 million super-priority claim during its bankruptcy proceedings. The agreement was approved by a federal bankruptcy judge. The Powder River Basin Resource Council raised concerns over the deal and filed a compliant regarding Alphas application for a permit renewal for its Eagle Butte Mine. The group withdrew its complaint after it was threatened with contempt of court for objecting to a deal approved by a bankruptcy judge. The Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation reserved its right to object to the arraignment, however. And in its letter sent to the DEQ on Thursday, it questioned the deal. The agreement could represent a violation of mining laws, the agency wrote, because it may have allowed the bond amount to fall below the amount necessary to assure that the operator will faithfully perform all requirements of the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act and will comply with all rules and regulations and any provisions of the approved permit. An Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation spokesman did not respond to requests for comment Friday. In its letters, the agency gave Wyoming 10 days to correct deficiencies or identify good cause for the errors. Alpha and Arch officials sought to downplay the development. An Alpha spokesman noted its deal with Wyoming was approved by a bankruptcy court and said the company, supports the responsible, continued operation of two productive coal mines in the state during our restructuring process. Arch has $490 million in self-bonds, according to bankruptcy filings. As part of its Chapter 11 proceedings, the company requested $75 million from a $275 million debtor-in-possession loan be set aside to cover its reclamation liabilities. The Missouri-based company operates two mines in Wyoming. Its Black Thunder Mine near Wright is the second largest in the country. Logan Bonacorsi, a company spokesman, noted reclamation at its mines continues throughout the companys bankruptcy. We fully expect to continue our award-winning reclamation practices, and to reclaiming the land to the highest value, she said. Bear safety Weve talked about being aware of wildlife as we enjoy the Wyoming outdoors, but a recent incident underscores the need for more education. A grizzly in Yellowstone National Park killed a Montana man who was hiking in a popular area of the park. Officials urge park visitors to travel in groups, carry bear spray and take other precautions. Big goals A Kelly Walsh High School senior earned a significant honor recently when Wyomings U.S. senators and representatives nominated her for acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, which prepared students to be officers in the Navy or the Marine Corps. We wish Ashlyn Daniels the best of luck as she pursues a lofty and patriotic goal. Peak performance Grand Teton National Park welcomed more tourists in 2015 than in any other year, with 4.6 million visits. Thats an 8.2 percent increase from 2014, when 4.3 million people passed through the gates. That puts more strain on the park, and were glad managers are working on ways to improve and expand visitor facilities to share the wonders of Wyoming with as many people as possible. Narrow escape We were so glad to hear that a husband and wife escaped through the window of their truck after it fell through the ice at Boysen Reservoir while they were ice fishing. Its the first vehicle to go through the ice at the reservoir this winter, and with caution, we should do our best to make sure its the last. Officials advise checking the thickness of ice before venturing onto it, traveling with a buddy and taking other precautions. Asset forfeiture We support a push by some state lawmakers to reform the system under which the state seizes cash and other assets from people suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade. Several Judiciary Committee members have sponsored a bill that would require a criminal conviction for seizure. We hope it wins the two-thirds vote it needs to be introduced in the budget session. Bridal shows Casper will get a dose of star power this month with the appearance of Randy Fenoli, who appears on TLCs Say Yes to the Dress and other bridal reality shows, on Jan. 31 at VOWS, Wyomings Wedding Showcase. We hope local brides-and grooms-to-be take advantage of this opportunity as well as another Casper show, Bridal Extravaganza, on Jan. 23, to connect with quality local vendors. Help Yourself <&underline>Stuff to help you. Family continues suicide support Good Grief, Support will continue 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays at the 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott, by request of attendees. The family of J.R. Hunter who died from suicide in June 2015 began the support prior to the especially tough holiday season. Anyone who is grieving a suicide, death, or considering suicide is welcome and encouraged to attend. All attending this meeting, as well as the content, will be strictly confidential. The Fresh Start Cafe will be open and you can eat during the meetings. This meeting place was graciously offered by Dan Cantine of the 12-24 Club, you need not be a member to attend our meetings. Resources for small businesses Join us Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Natrona County Librarys Crawford Room to learn more about the valuable assistance available to support Wyomings businesses and economy. Funding from the State of Wyoming and local and federal government resources supports a wide variety of business services, most of which are free of charge. This presentation will connect you with the expertise in the Wyoming Business Resource Network, and you will learn how they can serve your business from start-up to expansion, to exit, and everything in-between! There is no fee for this seminar, but please register by calling 577-READ ext. 2 or visiting http://wyen.biz, and clicking on Classes. This event is organized by the Wyoming Entrepreneur Small Business Development Center in coordination with the Natrona County Library. Celebrate Recovery every Friday Looking for a nontraditional approach to recovery from your hurts, habits and hangups? Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Highland Park Community Church, just south of Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital on East Second Street. Join us in a welcoming, positive environment where you can come as you are! We start with a family meal, followed by praise and worship. At 7 p.m., theres either a lesson from Celebrate Recoverys planned curriculum or a testimony by a person who has found recovery through Christ. Then, people go to gender-specific small groups until 8:30 p.m., when dessert and fellowship conclude the evening. Child care is available at no cost. For more information, contact Chris at 265-4073. Photos with Mac OS The Natrona County Library will offer a Photos with Mac OS computer class Monday at 10 a.m. in the Crawford Room. Learn how to organize, store, and edit your photos; create photo slideshows; order prints; make greeting cards; build albums and even perform automatic face detection. Feel free to bring your MacBook with you to follow along. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information. Introduction to Windows 10 The Natrona County Library will offer an Introduction to Windows 10 computer class Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Crawford Room. Whether youre new to computers or have used them in the past, this class will help you become more comfortable using the Windows 10 interface. Feel free to bring your Windows 10 device with you to follow along. Call 577-READ ext. 2 for more information. Veterans help available Alisa Cochrane, a state of Wyoming veteran service officer, is available to meet with veterans and their families to discuss state and federal veterans benefits, Department of Veteran Affairs claims or VA healthcare at the following places and times: Casper: Jan. 26, Vet Center, 1030 N. Poplar, Ste. B, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Jan. 27 at the VA Clinic, 4140 S. Poplar, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Jan. 25, Casper College Veterans Center, Goodstein Foundation Library, Room 108A, 1 to 4 p.m. Douglas: Jan. 28, Workforce Center, 311 N. Russell Ave., 9 a.m. to noon. If there is inclement weather, please check with the staff at the outreach locations to ensure Cochrane will be available. In addition to the scheduled outreach, she is available at other times by calling 472-0212. Saturday morning watercolor Art 321, Casper Artists Guild has reopened with our first exhibit of the new year, Anything Goes. Saturday morning watercolor classes have begun, 10 a.m. to noon, with the following lineup of classes: January 30, practice session; February 6, trees, instructed by Jennifer Morss; February 13, practice session; February 20, reflections and shadows; February 27, practice session. For more information or questions about these classes, please call Ellen Black at 265-6783. We are looking forward to our next busy year of classes, workshops, exhibits and the making and sharing art! Wedding Showcase Jan. 31 The VOWS Wyoming Wedding Showcase is noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Parkway Plaza. VIP tickets are $25, general admission are $15, available only at Christinas, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendors will be there and so will Randy Fenoli, fashion and beauty expert and star of TLCs Say Yes to the Dress, and Randy to the Rescue. He will take the stage before or after the 2 p.m., fashion show and be available for questions. VIP tickets include front seating, a meet and greet and photo opportunity with Randy. The show is presented by Chris Reed of Christinas. Workshop at Art 321 ART 321 Casper Artists Guild workshop for February: Upholstery workshop, instructed by Connie Atkinson (Hi-Mark Upholstery), will be held for three consecutive months: First session, Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; second session, Saturday and Sunday, March 19and 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Third and final session, Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee is $60 for members/$80 for non-members + a $10 supply fee. Open to all levels. Register on line or stop by the gallery please. Order trees from extension office Premium quality seedling trees, shrubs and perennials are available for windbreaks and wildlife habitat enhancement from the UW/Natrona County Extension. Order forms are available at the Agriculture Resource and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, Casper, WY 82604. For more information, call Rose Jones at 235-9400. There are 40 species available: Bareroot species are 25 for $30; large tubed species, 30 for $83; small tubed species, 30 for $70; small trays are 50 for $99; XL potted species are $12 each. Order now for best selection with May delivery. Healing seminar set A Conscious co-creation/self-transformation and healing seminar taught by Cathy Hazel Adams, practitioner in Intuitive Quantum Transformation and Energy Healing, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20-21 at the Agricultural Resources Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road. Price is $130. For more information or to register, visit www.cathyhazeladams.com or call 307-797-9677. Free tax help begins The Wyoming Free Tax Service (VITA) will be opening January 26, 2016, and running through April 13, 2016. Our hours will be Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will be closed on Sunday and Monday as well as Easter Weekend, Friday March 25, and Saturday, March 26. Our location is the Aspen Creek Building, 800 Werner Court, Suite 180. This is a first come, first serve service so no appointments will be scheduled. Please bring your social security card, photo identification and appropriate paperwork that is needed, or we will not be able to assist you in your tax return. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (307) 315-1830 during our hours of operation. www.wyomingfreetaxservice.org Powerful tools for caregivers free Wyoming Dementia Care is offering family caregivers of those with dementia-related illnesses, including Alzheimers, a new self-care education program called Powerful Tools for Caregivers. The free class will meet each Tuesday for six weeks, beginning Tuesday, February 2 and ending on Tuesday, March 8 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Central Wyoming Senior Services, 1831 E. 4th St. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that provides caregivers with the tools and strategies they need to better handle the unique challenges of caregiving. The six-week curriculum includes self- care options for relaxation and exercise, ways to reduce emotions like guilt and anger, how to confidently manage caregiving demands and suggestions on how to use local resources. The three hour per week class is provided at no cost to caregivers by Wyoming Dementia Care in collaboration with Powerful Tools for Caregivers, with partial funding from a Wyoming Geriatric Education Center grant. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Call Dani Guerttman at Wyoming Dementia Care, 265-4678, for information. Open Sky Meditation Saturday Morning Sits Open Sky Meditation Group is offering a three-hour meditation practice on the second Saturday of each month through May. Meditation will start at 9 a.m. and end at noon. First hour will be meditation instruction. Second hour will be open meditation. Third hour will be a guided meditation. On Feb. 13 and May 14, we will meet in the yoga room 101 at Skelton Energy Institute, Casper College. On March 12 and April 9, we will meet in room 217 of Strausner Hall, Casper College. These sits are open to all. Please feel free to come and leave as your schedule dictates. We hope to see you there. If you have questions, feel free to call Gale Sleep at 307-251-6959. Here and Now: Dementia-focused monthly art class Every third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no charge. Here and Now is a program made possible through a collaboration between Wyoming Dementia Care and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. It is designed to provide a supportive environment for people with dementia and Alzheimers and their loved ones. The class offers a chance to experience sensory and intellectual stimulation, communicate through art and explore various art media including paint, clay, collage and printmaking. To register for class contact Dani with Wyoming Dementia Care 265-4678, ext. 106, or at wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or Zhanna Gallegos at 235-5247 or at zgallegos@thenic.org City seeks boomer input The City of Casper is updating a 2008 study that evaluated how boomer friendly the Casper community is and what services or programs are needed to support that population. Casper area residents aged 50 and older are asked to complete a survey to help identify what has changed from 2008 and how the city can best help to meet the needs of this growing population segment. The survey can be picked up at the Casper Senior Center, Casper City Hall or the Casper Recreation Center or can be accessed online at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CprSrSurvey. The survey link can also be found on the City of Casper and Casper Senior Services websites. Public forums and focus groups will follow the survey process. The study committee is scheduled to meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Casper Senior Center. The meetings are open to the public. Recommendations from the study will be presented at public meetings for additional input prior to submission to the City Council. The plan is slated for completion in late spring of 2016. Adult learning hours Fall hours for the Adult Learning Center at Casper College are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The center is closed between 11 a.m. and noon each day and all day Friday and weekends. The Adult Learning Center offers free assessment and instruction to out-of-school adult students, 16 years old and older, who need to improve their basic reading, writing and math skills in order to reach their educational and employment goals, said Chelse DePaolo-Lara, director. According to DePaolo-Lara, the Adult Learning Center also provides classes for people who want to improve their English language skills or prepare to take the citizenship exam. English as a Second Language classes are offered from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. An evening session is also offered from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays. The Adult Learning Center at Casper College is located in the Werner Technical Center on the Casper College campus, and all programs offered at the center are free of charge. For more information, call the center at 268-2230 or visit caspercollege.edu/alc. Casper Family Literacy program A local nonprofit organization, Casper Family Literacy is a free program designed to give families an opportunity to earn their HSEC/GED or ESL. While parents are attending classes, we take care of their children in a high-quality preschool and infant/toddler program. Come see us at 500 S. Wolcott St., suite 103, or call us at 472-5640 for more information. We look forward to hearing from you! Food pantry open Poverty Resistance Food Pantry, 450 S. Wolcott St., in cooperation with the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies, has fresh produce and other perishable food items for distribution to low-income families. The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Sunday to make the food more accessible to low-income working folks. Food availability info is posted on Mary Anns Facebook page whenever a new shipment arrives. Income guidelines and verification are less rigid than many other programs. Generally, if a family is eligible for free lunch or CHIP, they are eligible for the food pantry. Monthly healing service Christ Episcopal Church, 415 W. Cedar St. in Glenrock, announces the addition of a monthly healing service to our schedule. A Public Service of Healing is a traditional liturgy in the church, and all are invited to come for comfort and support. The service will be held at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. For info, call Deacon Leigh Earle, 258-2524. The Episcopal Church welcomes you! Flag drop box The American Legion Post 2 of Casper has a flag drop box (for retired flags) on Seventh Street off Center Street in front of the Elks Lodge. It is a red, white and blue old mailbox that was donated by the Sons of the American Legion. The flags are collected and disposed of in the proper manner. God bless America and our brave service members, past and present.Follow community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur on Twitter @WYOSAS. SIOUX CITY, Iowa Nestled in the hills of rural Woodbury County north of Sioux City, a small shed on stilts overlooks a field where deer frequent. The deer blind, complete with a ramp to provide access for wheelchairs, was built by the Sioux City Elks Lodge 112 to help disabled veterans once again enjoy hunting. Bill Hanson, past exalted ruler of the lodge, said the project was brainstormed about two years ago as members of the lodge were thinking of ways to serve veterans. I had knowledge from being a hunter that the (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) promotes hunting to vets from out of state for the same cost as a resident, Hanson said. We wanted to do what we could for them. Hanson said the blind is one of two in Iowa approved by the state the other is English River Outfitters, a non-profit based in Washington, Iowa. The hunting blind cost about $10,000, with much of the labor donated by contractors, and materials donated by local lumber dealers, Hanson said. About 10 members of the lodge spent more than 300 hours building the blind, he said. As a whole, its dedicated to show respect and appreciation to veterans, Hanson said. Out-of-state vets get compensated hotel stays during their trip, and half off on taxidermy services. It also serves area veterans, like Todd Landen of Sioux City. Landen, 46, served three tours of duty overseas, and was injured in Iraq by an improvised explosive device in 2006. The injuries he suffered have made tasks like walking and sitting for long periods of time difficult, Landen said. So when the U.S. Army veteran got to harvest a 10-point buck 20 minutes after settling in at the blind, he was actually disappointed he didnt get to wait longer. I was hoping it was going take a while, Landen said with a laugh. But Ill take it. Completely insulated, the blind is heated and has removable handrails so those with wheelchairs can sit right up to the window to see, aim and if lucky bag a deer. It allows the hunter to be concealed from the deer, which helps considering their sharp eyesight and heightened sense of smell. Hanson said a second hunting blind with similar features, but on wheels so its portable, has been built. Its already been used by a bow hunter and veteran, Carl Smith of Colorado, who also got a deer, Hanson said. A third one, also mobile, is in the works. We havent moved the second one yet, because theres so many deer where its at, so why bother? Hanson said. Landen said the Elks Lodge knows about the struggles he and other wounded vets live with, and said the blind made the process of hunting a seamless one. I dont know how to thank them enough, Landen said. A teenage girl walked to the podium in a Casper courtroom Friday, cradling a caramel-colored teddy bear in her arms. The first time it happened, I found myself so weak and powerless, the girl said with a loud, yet quavering voice. It was ugly and horrific and downright repulsive. I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy. The girl recounted for a judge the years of sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Rene Bustillos-Carrillo, who sat just feet away from her, handcuffed and dressed in orange jail scrubs. *** After hearing testimony from the victim and her parents, Natrona County District Court Judge Thomas Sullins sentenced Bustillos-Carillo to 18 to 20 years in prison. Just before handing down the sentence, Sullins called child sexual abuse an epidemic and said people must be deterred from committing such horrible crimes. The message needs to be that these types of crimes have a high-victim impact, as weve seen in the courtroom today, and are absolutely inexcusable, he said. The judge said he was hesitant to honor a plea agreement made in the case. The District Attorneys office charged Bustillos-Carillo last April with nine sex-abuse charges, which would have put him in prison for life. But prosecutors made a deal with Bustillos-Carrillo: If he entered pleas to two charges, they wouldnt ask for more than 20 years. With the help of a Spanish-speaking interpreter, Bustillos-Carrillo in September pleaded no contest to one count of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. The second charge pertains to another girl Bustillos-Carrillo molested. Sullins said hed go along with the agreement because he understands how extremely difficult sex abuse cases are to prosecute. The second victim, a girl born in 2000, reported the abuse in February to police. After she came forward, authorities learned Bustillos-Carrillo had been abusing another girl. Bustillos-Carrillo may face deportation to Mexico for the felony convictions. The defendants attorney, Richard Szekely, said it is up to the Wyoming Department of Corrections and the federal government to decide when Bustillos-Carrillo will be deported. *** The victims mother approached the podium with a clear plastic bag filled with her daughters prescription medications. This is only a small amount of the medication she has to take every day because she cant function, because he tortured her, the woman said. She said her daughter sleeps in bed with her now because shes terrified Bustillos-Carrillo will come after her. The girl, who was born in 1998, said the abuse started when she was 10 years old. For years, the woman said, her daughter suffered from physical ailments. She and her husband took the girl to see doctors, but they couldnt figure out why she was suffering. I had no clue why this child had black eyes sometimes, and bruises on her arms and legs, she said. After the truth came out, the woman said she asked her daughter how many times Bustillos-Carrillo raped her. Shed lost count, the girl told her mom. He is evil, the woman said. He is so incredibly evil ... The girls father told the judge his daughter is a hero for speaking out about what Bustillos-Carrillo did to her. He is a thief and a liar, the man said. He stole her innocence of being a child. He stole her childhood. He stole her happiness. *** When I was a little girl, I remember how happy I was, the teenage girl said from the podium. After the abuse started, she began abusing alcohol and harming herself. She couldnt eat. It was the most traumatic and trying time of my life, she said. I was depressed, constantly. She said the abuse happened regularly for many years. Her attacker is going to prison, but she and her family are still recovering. Maybe Im just going mad and I wont get back to where I was before this happened, she said. I hope thats not true. RIVERTON A Wyoming lawmaker says he is cancer-free after six weeks of treatment and ready for the legislative session. Sen. Eli Bebout, a Riverton Republican, says his latest medical tests show that he no longer has cancer. The disease had localized in his throat. Bebout began oncology treatments in September at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City. He then spent three months recuperating at home. The senator says he is ready to report to the Wyoming Legislature when the session begins Feb. 8. Bebout also underwent successful surgery for esophageal cancer after being elected to the Senate in 2007. Gov. Matt Mead said he disagrees with a state legislative committees recommendations to cut money from school operations and an early childhood literacy program. But Mead, speaking to journalists gathered Friday at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper for the Wyoming Press Association winter convention, said balancing the states budget is a deliberative process that provides lawmakers several chances to restore the funding. Im not highly critical of it in the sense I think theyre trying to find the answers we need to find, Mead said. Mead answered questions from journalists throughout the state in a far-ranging press conference that touched on the budget, proposed cuts and the states data trespass law. Education Week recently ranked Wyoming eighth in the country in school accountability, taking school funding into account. But on Thursday, the Joint Appropriation Committee voted to cut $45 million in public school money over the next two years. The committee also recommended eliminating funding for eight family literacy programs throughout the state. Lower prices in oil, natural gas and coal, which provide 70 percent of the states revenue, have resulted in a projected $335 million shortfall in a two-year budget, which currently totals about $3.7 billion. Mead has suggested cuts to several state programs, but did not slash education. Mead noted Wyoming has been recognized throughout the country as a place that values education. I dont think anybody in the state doesnt want to do our best in education, he said. The history of the state of Wyoming is we have really funded education well. The governor said he wants the states education system to be the best in the country. In order to do that you have to be able to attract and retain great people for education, he said. Mead also didnt recommend cuts to the literacy programs. One of the keys to making educating as great as it can be in the state is early childhood literacy, he said. Trespassing Mead also commented on trespass legislation passed by the Legislature last year, which he signed. The laws create civil and criminal penalties for people who trespass while collecting data, including taking photographs or collecting water or soil samples. The bills originally specified trespassing only involved private open land. As they progressed through the Legislature, the word private was struck in some parts of the bills. The state is being sued by a handful of environmental groups and the National Press Photographers Association over the laws. Mead said laws were meant to only punish activities on private property. People arent meant to be targeted if they have permission to be on private land or if theyre on public land. He hopes the Legislature will correct the law this year. As I look at it, I think there is some vagueness, he said. A photojournalist asked Mead why new laws were needed when there had been trespassing laws on the books for years. Mead said the collection of data adds another element to trespassing. Trespass is trespass, he said. But if youre going to trespass, you cant use the data collected through the trespass action. The data collection trespass laws came after the Western Watersheds Project collected water samples from streams crossing federal lands and found E. coli bacteria at 200 times the legal limit. The organization blamed cow manure. Several ranchers sued the environmental group, claiming its workers must have trespassed over private lands to get the data. KALISPELL, Mont. A Montana man has pleaded guilty to growing marijuana on national forest land. Smoky Alan Geldrich, 27, of Kalispell pleaded guilty Thursday to felony manufacture of dangerous drugs. His sentencing is scheduled for March 17. He admitted that he grew marijuana in buildings constructed on Flathead National Forest land in September 2013. Court documents say a U.S. Forest Service special agent found the illegal structures and discovered dozens of marijuana plants inside. Documents say Geldrich and an accomplice were later caught visiting the site carrying duffel bags stuffed with marijuana plants. A 25-year-old Great Falls man is charged with helping Geldrich grow the drug. His court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 4. PIERRE, S.D. About 13.7 million visitors to South Dakota spent nearly $3.8 billion in in 2015, officials said Thursday in calling it a strong year for one of South Dakotas most important industries. Low gas prices and landmark anniversaries such as the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the 50th Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup helped draw tourists, Secretary of Tourism Jim Hagen said. But he said visitor levels apart from those events stayed strong into the fall for a tremendous year. You can feel it in the air, Hagen said. Its palpable when youre having a good summer. Gov. Dennis Daugaard said the number of visitors increased by nearly 3 percent over 2014. Roughly 13.3 million tourists spent just over $3.7 billion in 2014, according to a report prepared for the department. Tourisms contribution to South Dakotas economy climbed 6.1 percent in 2015, generating more than $270 million in state and local tax revenue and supporting more than 50,000 jobs, according to the state Department of Tourism. Daniel Becker from Ohio spent several days in South Dakota as part of a roughly 2,300-mile road trip to explore a handful of states hed never seen before. The 44-year-old custom cabinet designer said he watched the sun rise in the Badlands, took in Mount Rushmore National Memorial and saw his first buffalo when a half-dozen of them caused a traffic jam in Custer State Park in the western part of the state. It was just breathtaking, Becker said of the park scenery. Visitors to the park were up 11 percent compared to the year before and revenue was up about 14 percent, an official said. Craig Pugsley, park visitor services coordinator, said the buffalo roundup drew record attendance and around rally time the park brought in over $200,000 more from motorcycles than during the same period last year. The weather throughout September and October was gorgeous, Pugsley said. Daugaard said 2016 is expected to be another strong year for tourism as gas prices are projected to remain low. State officials are looking forward to the centennial of the National Park Service and the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore. Robust 2015 numbers also mean the state has more money available to spend on advertising South Dakota for the following year, Daugaard said. Good tourism begets even better tourism, Daugaard said. CHEYENNE Pity the state government revenue estimators. In this volatile commodities market, nailing down a projection is like trying to capture a wave with your fingers. The new January report from the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group estimated an additional $78 million decrease for the two year biennium that begins July 1. That bumps the deficit to nearly $700 million. But undoubtedly the total shortfall will be higher. The estimating group includes fiscal experts from the legislative and executive branch of governments. Their report is based on a price of $42 per barrel oil for 2016. Yet the price last was under $30. The first page of the report contains a cautionary message from the co-authors in bold type. They warn that the states short-term revenue generating ability is more pessimistic than the bottom line reduction in the report implies. Oil prices, for example, fell 18 percent between the time oil price data was collected and the time the report was finalized and published, a period of about nine days. In other words, the Jan. 5 numbers were out of date by Jan. 14. The conflation of the impact on the states top three mineral revenue producers changed the nature of the downturn to considerably more than it had originally appeared. In his Dec. 1, 2015, budget recommendations to the Legislature, Gov. Matt Mead mentioned the cuts he had made in response to the previous estimates. His letter had an optimistic ring, however. We know the cycle will turn up again at one point, Mead wrote. As we have done before we will do once again budget for the lean times in a way that best positions Wyoming to stay healthy and move ahead. Wyoming is a strong state. This is the time to draw on our strength as we endeavor to maintain our economic growth spend within our means and prepare well for the next turnaround. The events of the last month have dimmed prospects of a turnaround within the foreseeable future. The market prices of oil and natural gas are in the tank. The future of the coal industry is precarious, with a moratorium on federal coal leases and two major companies that mine in Wyoming declaring bankruptcy. The conflation of the impact on the states top three mineral revenue producers transformed the revenue shortfall into something more substantial than just another energy blip. Sen. Hank Coe of Cody, who has served 26 years in the senate, remembers the last big energy bust that began in the 1980s and lasted into the 1990s. According to Gov. Mike Sullivans message to the Legislature in January 1993, oil and gas revenues combined plunged by nearly half a billion dollars a year from 1981 to 1992. The fiscal experts at that time estimated that production would decline by 3 to 4 percent per year for the next decade or so. Coe said the current revenue decline seems worse than it was more than 20 years ago. What makes this downturn different, he said, is the full-scale assault on coal. As the long-term chairman of the Education Committee, Coe is concerned about the effect the loss of revenue will have on schools. The states assessed valuation is projected to drop by more than $5 billion to $20.7 billion this year. The figure, which is the states tax base, foretells a drop in property tax revenues. And 60 percent of property taxes go to support the K-12 public schools. Although there has been talk of a increase in the statewide property levy or at least a study, Coe said he would have trouble supporting an increase because of the adverse impact it would have on the mineral industry, which foots most of the property tax bill. According to another projection, the loss of coal bonus money will make the state $1 billion short of money for school construction by the year 2020. This is pretty serious stuff, Coe added. This blog represents my personal views and is not reflective of the views or opinions held by any company, contractor, client or employer I work for currently or have worked for in the past. These views are not an endorsement to take any action in the markets or of any political position, figures or parties. Finding ways to work together and benefit from cross-border economic opportunities were at the top of the agenda Friday during Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschilds Borderlands Trade Conference. The second annual event, held at the Tucson Convention Center, saw more than 300 people visiting exhibitor booths, making connections and participating in workshops throughout the day. Last year we focused generally on export and import. This year were focusing on specific areas where Arizona, Sonora and Sinaloa have similar areas of work: aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical, and service professionals, Rothschild said. The mayor, who has consistently pushed for improved relations with Mexico, pointed to Tucsons proximity to the border as one of the great advantages of the region an advantage that can be built on, he said. The future of this border region is cooperation, collaboration and integration. Working together to recognize economic opportunities has never been more important, Rothschild said. Eduardo Gonzalez, head of the ProMexico trade and investment office in Phoenix, echoed Rothschilds sentiments when he invoked Arizonas traditional five Cs: copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate. Mexico and Arizonas bilateral relation is also distinguished by five Cs: collaboration, cooperation, closeness, competitiveness and cluster-development as a region, he said. Gonzalez reminded attendees of the $16 billion in bilateral trade between Mexico and Arizona, his countrys growing middle class, and expanding automotive, aerospace and medical device industries. Mexico is Arizonas largest trade partner and Mexican visitors spend more than $7 million a day in Arizona, he said. But along with economic prospects, there are also social, cultural and academic opportunities to be explored between the two countries, said Manuel Ignacio Acosta Gutierrez, mayor of Hermosillo, Sonora. We want to build and solidify a win-win relationship, he said. We are brothers divided by a border, and we must re-establish and build those relationships, be they academic, in research, water issues, and in investment. The mayor of Hermosillo was one of several Mexican elected officials at the event, including Lorenzo de Cima of Guaymas, Faustino Felix Chavez of Ciudad Obregon, Cuauhtemoc Galindo of Nogales and Carlos Felton of Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Having a strong Mexican presence speaks to the strengthening relationship between Arizona and its neighbor to the south, officials said. Juan Ciscomani, director of Gov. Doug Duceys Southern Arizona office, said the conference was a reflection of what the community wants and needs, which is a dialogue and partnership with Mexico. For us to not pay attention to our number-one trading partner doesnt make sense, and the governor knows that. Hes made a lot of efforts to improve that relationship, he said. Ricardo Pineda, Mexican consul in Tucson, forecasts the conference will keep growing because there is genuine interest among the business community and the government to keep looking for opportunities for both sides of the border. PHOENIX State lawmakers are lining up en masse to block plans by Gov. Doug Ducey to sharply slash funding to career and technical education programs. And there are enough of them to ensure they can override the governor if he balks. Legislation by Sen. Don Shooter, D-Yuma, would repeal a measure approved last year and signed by the governor to cut $30 million from the budgets of Joint Technical Education Districts, effective this coming school year. Those JTEDs are formed by school districts to provide training for careers where the costs of the equipment are too much for any single school. Ducey, in his budget proposal released earlier this month, said he was going to replace at least some of the money. But his plan would provide only $10 million a year and only for three years. Also, only JTEDs that could come up with matching funds from employers or industries would be eligible. Shooter said thats not acceptable to him or most of his colleagues. His measure, signed onto by 72 of the states 90 lawmakers enough to override a veto sends a message not only to Ducey but also to Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, who has said the JTEDs lack sufficient oversight. But Shooter said he hopes it doesnt come to that. He has already been in contact with both the governors office and Biggs to craft something acceptable to all. One key, he said, is transparency. Shooter said there is a belief among some that the JTEDs, which get extra state aid, have been operating programs that really should not qualify. There has been some mission creep, Shooter conceded, with what started out as strictly technical training expanding into other areas. Biggs has specifically questioned providing JTED funding for things such as law enforcement training. He said that, unlike programs such as welding certification, students who go through those programs cannot become police officers on graduation. There has also been some misinformation, Shooter said. He said not every program in career and technical education qualifies for the extra JTED funding. Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato has said that Duceys spending plan is not set in stone and can be modified but only if it keeps the budget in balance. Keeping that $30 million a year expenditure would mean finding a way of replacing the $20 million difference. But supporters point out that the state is flush with cash, having ending the last budget year with more than $300 million in the bank and revenues this year already running close to $200 million ahead of projections. Dear Jeanne & Leonard: My alma mater recently launched a major fundraising campaign, to which I agreed to make a substantial bequest. In response, the president of the university wrote me a very nice thank-you letter. Included with his letter, however, was a document that clearly came from my file in the development office, a document that had been enclosed by mistake. Among other things, this enclosure contained an actuarial projection of my life expectancy (i.e., it indicated the number of years the university expected to have to wait before receiving its inheritance from me). I realize why the development office would want to estimate when particular bequests are likely to arrive, and I was amused, not offended, by the enclosure. All the same, I would have preferred not to know that my beloved alma mater has in mind a specific date by which they expect me to expire. Should I let the development office know that this mistake occurred? I dont want to get anyone in trouble. Janice, Massachusetts Dear Janice: At least they didnt enclose an annotated copy of your student health records indicating which vital organ they expect to fail first. But to answer your question: Maybe someone at the school should take some heat for what happened. Your alma mater relies on alumni who think fondly of their old school to make generous contributions, and its hard to think fondly of circling vultures. Our advice: Forget about contacting the development office; write to the president of the university and let him know what happened. Hes the one whose letter seemed less sincere because of the unfortunate enclosure, and he will know exactly what to do about it. Dear Jeanne & Leonard: When the lawyer who was handling the preparation of my will died unexpectedly, a good friend referred me to the attorney whod helped him with his will. While I was satisfied with this attorneys work, he charged me a ridiculously high fee for preparing what is basically a routine document. Ive refused to pay the bill, and I assume well eventually reach some sort of compromise. What really bugs me, though, is that my friend who recommended this guy has washed his hands of the problem. All hes said is that his lawyer never overcharged him and that he feels bad about what happened. But that doesnt seem like enough. Whats your opinion? Steaming, Florida Dear Steaming: What do you want your friend to do? Pay part of the bill? Look, your buddy did you a favor by providing you with the name of a lawyer when you needed one. But that kind of favor doesnt come with a guarantee of satisfaction. Unless you believe your friend got a kickback and it doesnt sound as if you do you have no reason to be angry with him. So take it easy, Steaming. Its time to cool off. Dear Jeanne & Leonard: A friend recently bought me a coffee drink at Starbucks, which was very nice of her. But I noticed she didnt leave a tip for the barista. Under the circumstances, would it have been OK for me to put something in the tip jar myself? I wound up doing nothing, but I felt bad about it. P.G., San Antonio Dear P.G.: Dont feel bad, feel good. You made the right call. Had you tipped the barista after your friend did not, it could well have played as a criticism of her. And your friend did nothing wrong. Even though plenty of people leave tips when ordering and picking up coffee drinks at a counter, theres no need to do so (baristas arent waiters and waitresses). If tippings your pleasure, though, and youre again being treated to coffee, you can always say, Let me get the tip, at the moment the person offers to pay. But to have left a tip after your nice friend had put away her wallet would have been to suggest that in paying for your coffee, she hadnt done quite enough. The logic is simple when Pamela Victorine and her husband explain why they spent the time, effort and money to restore their newly purchased home to its 1960s look. I wanted a house that had the feel of being in Tucson and not a house that you get in Anaheim, Victorine said in the living room of the Foothills home she and her husband Marius Johnston spent the better part of the last year restoring to its original look and feel. Its a look that encompasses the post-World War II era through the mid-1970s when at least in Tucson burnt adobe walls, solid wood doors often of mahogany, and lots of windows characterized the homes that were being built. Where the terms Victorian and colonial describe a certain style of historic home that reflects a long-ago time period, the word modern, as in modern movement or modern architecture, is what describes the era that is taking some homeowners back usually not beyond their childhood as they reach retirement and decide how they want to live. Johnston and Victorine bought the home in July 2013, when they decided to retire to Tucson from the Bay Area and return to the city where Victorine spent much of her childhood. Victorine was a midtown girl, with her last home in Tucson being near Rincon High School, which she attended for a year. Her family moved away in 1961, but she never forgot the feel of the city she left. When Johnston, an artist, and Victorine, an attorney, began looking for a retirement home in Tucson, they had the idea that they wanted something that said Tucson to them. They had restored previous homes they lived in to other styles, including a 1904 Craftsman style home and another Victorian home, both in Southern California. As they set their sights on Tucson, they were thinking ranch style with masonry walls. They were thinking desert. They were thinking Tucson. A listing on MLS caught their eye, and after a small-scale bidding war, they were owners of a circa-1965, 2,100-square-foot home by noted Tucson builder Tom Gist, who was a sought-after and active spec and custom builder in Tucson from about 1950 until his retirement in 1978. According to Gists bio on the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation website, a Gist home featured elongated floor plans, large view-oriented window walls, ribbon street-facing windows, burnt adobe construction, and sumptuous mahogany interior woodwork. That is exactly what Johnston and Victorine got with their purchase. Some of the restoration work had been started by the previous owners, who had the same vision of restoration for the home. In fact, Johnston said, he and his wife were not the high bidders on the home, but it was sold to them because of their plan to continue the restoration. We let it be known that we were really into historic preservation, Johnston said. They liked what they heard, and they decided it was more important that we get the house. The previous owners had done the difficult work of pulling up the Saltillo tile throughout the house to expose the Gist-signature terrazzo floors that were polished and remain that way. The new owners work began with stripping up to five coats of white paint and primer covering the exposed interior adobe walls in the living room, entryway, dining room and master bedroom and bath. Everything was white, Victorine said. There were a lot of houses in Tucson built with burnt adobe, and they had exposed interior walls. They got painted in the 90s because people thought they were too dark. Whats happening is that people want to bring them back. Michael Fassett, currently vice president of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation board of directors and a doctor living in Los Angeles, has a Gist home in Tucson that he has restored to its original look. He said he spends every other weekend at the home and plans to live there when he retires. Fassett said he senses a misconception that people who do what hes done, and what Victorine and Johnston have done, want to go back in time with their homes but do it all the way and live as if they were in the era. This is just how youre supposed to live in Tucson. These houses were built with the desert and the sun in mind, he said. Its not like we all want to live back where we hang our clothes on a clothesline. Thats really not it. Victorine echoed the sentiment: For me, theres a bit of a Tucson nostalgia connected to this because I grew up here in the 50s. Our daughter says, Youre just trying to relive your childhood. I dont think thats true. But I wanted that feel of what houses were like when I was a kid, and that would be a variety of things. I was open to living in different kinds of houses, but when we moved here, I had no intention of buying a stucco house, which to me is like living in California. I wanted a house consistent with what I knew of Tucson. Nonetheless, when you walk into the couples living room, you see 60s- and 70s-era furniture down to the Motorola console stereo in the corner. The other stereo components in the room are a mix of that era and today. Johnston said he still has boxes of 45-rpm records and albums that the couple plays. Theres a working turntable in the room next to the CD player and a small stack of CDs signaling a newer, but already distant era. The coffee table belonged to Victorines parents, and matches some other pieces from the time. The kitchen took a little more imagination and an open mind by the couple, who chose not to take it all the way back to being the closed-in kitchen it was when the house was built. There once was a floor-to-ceiling wall separating the dining room from the kitchen. On the kitchen side was an eye-level oven and cabinets. A previous owner knocked down half the wall, and the space is more open, with the kitchen and dining room separated by a countertop stove and under-the-counter cabinets. Above the up-to-date, stainless steel refrigerator is a retro wall clock just like the one kids used to stare at in a 1960s classroom as they waited for the final bell to signal their freedom for the day. In keeping with the Gist look and design, the woodwork throughout the house is mahogany. Wood trim and a large beam in the bedroom are made of other wood species wrapped by mahogany. The front door is solid mahogany. The kitchen cabinets are mahogany, but painted white to match the rest of the kitchen. But the master bathroom cabinets show the natural wood. In the end, Johnston said, the vision is to get the house back to when it was its most beautiful when it was built. A house is more beautiful when it goes back to the way it was than if you gussy it up and modernize it, he said. The house is happy. It speaks to you. Its an aesthetic thats pleasing to me. You take an old house thats well-designed and you bring out its character, and it is more beautiful that way. Residents at a high-rise student housing facility near the Islamic Center of Tucson once again tossed alcohol bottles and other objects from their balconies into the mosques parking lot. Three times last week the first week of classes for the University of Arizona members of the center arrived to find debris littering the parking lot. Its quiet for a while, and then it happens again, said Ahmed Meiloud, the president of the Islamic Center of Tucson, 901 E. First St. Sometimes it escalates, and sometimes its a small incident. Meiloud noted that racial slurs are also occasional occurrences. Thursday, GMH Capital Partners, the Pennsylvania-based company that has owned the Sol Y Luna apartments since fall 2015, sent out a letter to residents condemning the behavior and promising retribution, including fines and evictions. GMH Capital Partners and its affiliates will not tolerate any actions involving violence or destructive behavior towards any other human being or organization, nor will any words or actions that reflect racial or religious hostility be condoned at any of our properties, reads the letter, signed by Rand Ginsburg, the senior vice president of asset services for the company. The apartments, which were previously known as Next and Level and owned by Denver-based Cardinal Group Management, house 389 and 588 beds respectively, said Bruce Pilarczyk, senior vice president of marketing and public relations for GMH Capital Partners. Were looking through video tapes now and working with local police to figure out what happened, Pilarczyk said. If an individual can be identified through the video, we will fully pursue eviction as well as turning them over to the authorities or school, he added. A sample copy of the lease for Level, the building that is now called Luna, was still on the facilitys website on Thursday. The lease noted: Tenant understands that in the event that ANY items come off a balcony or window, Tenant will be subject to an immediate $1,000 fine and potential eviction and shall be subject to criminal prosecution. Any investigation of alleged incidents will be reported to the University of Arizona and local authorities. Pilarczyk said the website is currently being updated, but the actual lease still includes the right to evict and fine residents based on inappropriate behavior, particularly on the balconies. The Islamic center first made the issue public in the fall of 2014, after more than a year of dealing with residents dropping glass bottles, trash and other objects into its parking lot. In response, surveillance cameras were installed at both the mosque and apartments, evictions were served and the UA and the city hosted a public forum. Pilarczyk said the company knew of that history when it took ownership last fall and intends to develop a similar forum with Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Kozachik in addition to sensitivity training for residents. People wonder why I have this issue with these out-of-town student housing projects, he said. Its because you flip them and youre back at square one again. Kozachik said he spoke on the phone Thursday morning with Pilarczyk and Ginsburg about next steps and will meet with a representative from the company, the Tucson Police Department and the Islamic Center next week. Pilarczyk sees the sensitivity training as a recurring program, as students cycle through the housing complex. Sol is at 1031 N. Park Ave. and Luna is at 1020 N. Tyndall Ave. Pima Community College expects to downsize its workforce to cope with lost state funding and a serious enrollment slide now in its fifth straight year. The college must cut about $5 million from its budget for the upcoming school year, making it extraordinarily likely we will be eliminating positions, David Bea, the schools finance boss, said Friday. We hope they wont be positions with people in them, Bea told members of the colleges finance and audit committee in a meeting at PCC headquarters. In anticipation of budget cuts, the college has largely stopped filling vacancies when employees leave, Bea said. Three campus vice president positions also were recently eliminated. But its too soon to say if such measures will stanch the need for further workforce cuts, Bea said. PCC had the equivalent of about 2,200 full-time employees and an annual payroll of more than $100 million in the latest Star 200 list of Southern Arizonas top employers. The colleges total budget is around $259 million this school year. Governor Doug Duceys recent budget proposal recommended that PCC receive no state funding next school year for the second straight year. The college didnt get any state funding this school year either, a loss of around $7 million. The state cuts have occurred as PCC is on orders from its accreditor to make numerous improvements to its operations, changes that have added to PCCs overhead, Bea said. It sounds to me like youre at a crossroads. It cant be business as usual, finance committee member Tracy Nuckolls told Bea. On top of the lost state funds, PCC has lost millions of tuition dollars because of a 26 percent enrollment drop since 2011. Despite a $450,000 ad campaign aimed at reversing the trend, enrollment fell by another 1,000 or so students this school year, college data show. In total, PCC is down about 6,000 students in five years. Enrollment fell from 23,000 in 2011 to about 17,000 this year. We will have to ratchet down our operations to reflect the size of our enrollment, Bea said. The impact of the budget cuts on college tuition rates has yet to be determined. Bea said it may be wise to keep any increase small so were not pricing people out when enrollment already is down. PCC still is early in its budget-setting process for the 2016-17 school year that starts July 1. Its Governing Board is due to hold a study session on the budget next month when more details should become available. 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. PHOENIX A proposal by a first-term state lawmaker to limit who can recommend medical marijuana to patients has gone up in smoke. Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, said he had introduced HCR 2019 after seeing the vast majority of the nearly 78,000 recommendations last year were being issued by naturopathic physicians. He said they were engaged in a money-making scheme. His legislation would have limited the right to make recommendations to medical doctors and osteopathic doctors. But Lawrence said Friday he has since learned that there are protections in place to ensure that all kinds of doctors including naturopaths cannot recommend marijuana without first checking a patients medical records. I did some research and found out that the people going for medical marijuana from a naturopath still go through an investigation of their medical background, he said. Its not just handed out. So Lawrence said his measure is now dead. Lawrence conceded, though, his change of heart had a big push from the outside: Following the original Capitol Media Services story earlier this month he got some calls. There were a few hundred, he laughed. But Lawrence said he returned many of those calls. And it is through those conversations that you hear from people that really need the medical marijuana, he continued. And they go about getting it legitimately instead of purchasing it on the street. The 2010 voter-approved measure allows doctors to write recommendations to patients who have certain medical conditions. That recommendation leads to a state-issued card entitling the holder to go to a state-regulated dispensary and purchase up to 2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. Nearly 88,000 Arizonans have such cards. In 2014 Will Humble, then the state health director, raised alarms over what he saw as abuses. One physician, a naturopath, over that last fiscal year, did almost 3,000 certifications, Humble said at the time. It does make you raise an eyebrow. Humble noted that the voter-approved law requires there be a bona-fide physician-patient relationship before a recommendation can be written. But the law never defined exactly what that is and exactly what would prove that the doctor wasnt just writing recommendations for anyone who comes in the door. In response, Rep. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, crafted legislation last year that said any doctor writing a recommendation for medical marijuana must identify what medical records he or she is relying on to confirm a patient has a condition for which marijuana can be recommended. That law also requires the doctor to check with a statewide database that lists any controlled substances the patient may be taking. That provision was designed to ensure that the marijuana does not conflict with any other medications. Lawrence said hes satisfied those protections, which took effect last summer, minimize the abuses he fears. That still leaves a separate measure by Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, to prohibit doctors of any kind from recommending marijuana to women who are pregnant. A small, printed piece of paper tells you for sure this is the place. Because until you get up close and see that green sheet taped in the window, youre not really sure. The building itself is pretty nondescript: blue-painted brick on the top with a thick belt of white ringing the bottom. But inside the former sofa factory, red, blue and purple swaths of fabric hanging from the 20-foot-high ceiling along with trapeze bars and hoops leave no doubt this indeed is The Circus Academy of Tucson. The lack of actual signage is no biggie to director Katherine Tesch. After all, shes always relied on word of mouth. For nearly a decade, she has taught kids and adults circus arts at rented studio space around town. Now, she has her own 5,000-square-foot warehouse on West Speedway. The school celebrated its grand opening this month. Its a wonderful place, says novelist Lydia Millet, whose 11-year-old daughter Nola is passionate about aerial silks and has studied with Tesch since she was 6. Its a great resource for Tucson. Were so lucky to have it. The academys classes range from tumbling and contortion to globe walking and aerial silks, which was what sucked in Tesch when she was 19. Watching the performers graceful acrobatics in the air was magical. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, says Tesch, 28, who was born in Phoenix, raised in Flagstaff and came to Tucson to study English, Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Arizona. She immediately hunted for people to teach her the aerial art and by graduation, I was more focused on circus than school. A rock climber and former ballet dancer, Tesch was in good shape. Still, she couldnt climb the silks or even do a single pull-up in the beginning. After my first class, I thought I would never move again, she says with a laugh. She continued to study circus arts, traveling across the world and training in Vermont, Russia, Spain and Brazil. Tesch remains devoted to aerial silks, which was the first skill she learned. The elements of art and dance make it appealing, and it gives the mind as much a workout as the body. Figuring out the tricks, you have to be able to visualize abstractly, she says. The Circus Academy has seven instructors and teaches about 50 regular students with another 50 who drop in occasionally. Tesch says her students range from 3 years old to my oldest is mysteriously over 60. Millet admits that, at first, she was nervous to see her daughter suspended by fabric way up in the air. I got over that several years ago, she says. The kids are really confident up there. It makes you feel secure to see that confidence. And, thats what circus is all about, Tesch says. Im not here to make professional circus performers, unless they want to be, she says. The kids see us do things, and they say, Thats impossible. But they start practicing until they do it. Any time things come together for a kid, I think thats what its all about. They get a lot of joy and a sense of accomplishment. Help India! By Azera Rahman, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, : Ajay, 15, is disgusted with the way children are used by political parties during election campaigns. For a mere Rs.40, children are made to work for 10 hours, he said. Support TwoCircles For 14-year-old Ekta, the ongoing road construction beside her school is a matter of concern because it has narrowed the road and choked the traffic. There are times when we have to pull small kids away from the roadside to prevent them from being run down by a vehicle, she said. Both Ajay and Ekta have not kept quiet over these issues. Using their pens furiously, these child reporters have got their voices heard through two publications Apni Duniya, a bimonthly Hindi magazine, and Bal Darpan, a biannual magazine in both Hindi and English. And they are seeking social change in what is a far cry from the let-things-be attitude that most people, especially adults, adhere to. The two are part of congregation of 40 schoolchildren under the umbrella of Bal Panchayat which is out to help underprivileged children and spread awareness about various issues and express their opinion through the magazines. Aided by national and international development programmes such as Community Aid and Sponsorship Programme India, Plan International and the Grassroots Media Initiative, the Bal Panchayat and its publications were started in 1998. The panchayat has more than 1,500 young members till date, who either move on after they turn 18 or stay on to give assistance to their younger counterparts. In the Bal Panchayat, we have weekly meetings where we discuss various issues that affect us and then decide our agenda to curb a problem, Nirmala, a Class 12 student and coordinator of the group, told IANS. Girls education, for instance, is one of the issues taken up strongly by this group. Not only do we write about this issue in our publications but also stage dramas, street plays, puppet shows and deliver lectures to promote girl education, said Neelam, 14. Health issues, like the importance of vaccination and awareness about HIV/AIDS, trend stories and environment issues, are some of the topics the young reporters address. But the issues closest to their hearts are those that pertain to children. We conducted a survey in three areas in south Delhi and found that children have a huge communication gap with their parents, said 14-year-old Ashish. Many times incidents of abuse go unnoticed as the child is scared that he will be blamed for the incident by his parents, said Ekta. We are compiling a report of the survey and will present it to the parents. We have already started street plays and puppetry shows that focus on the importance of a transparent relationship between parent and child, he added. Child labour is another issue they have been campaigning against. The journalist kids are taking up cudgels on behalf of their toiling counterparts who have to work in roadside restaurants, live in sub-human conditions and are denied an education. Other than sensitising people about this issue, we collect funds for children whose families cant afford their education. We also pass on our books to them as well as give them tuitions so that they can cope with their studies, said Nirmala. (Azera Rahman can be contacted at [email protected]) Help India! By Prashant K. Nanda, Indo-Asian News Service Agra: It was 9 a.m. on May 21, 1999. A Canberra bomber was flying on reconnaissance duty over a hill in Kargil when a Pakistani Stinger missile slammed into it, damaging the engine and portions of the plane. But the sturdy aircraft did not fail its crew, it carried them back to the base. Support TwoCircles We all are alive, said crewmembers of the warrior plane, profusely thanking the Canberra, which was phased out of the Indian Air Force Friday. The Kargil (in Jammu and Kashmir) operation was on full swing. We took off from Ambala air base on a photo reconnaissance duty and were assigned to photograph the exact positioning of our enemy in seven different locations northeast of a hill in Kargil when we experienced a violent jolt, said Wing Commander Uday Kant Jha, who was navigator of the aircraft. For a moment, we were thrown completely out of our senses. Our first reaction was we may not live beyond a few minutes, Jha told IANS, almost eight years after the Kargil conflict. The US-made Stinger missile, fired by Pakistani soldiers, damaged our starboard (right) engine. At least two meters of the jet pipe was damaged and there were some holes in other places as well, he said, narrating his experience. The IAF escort aircraft reported seeing a bright flash along with debris flying off and smoke emanating from the Canberras right engine. Jha said that initially he and his pilot A. Perumal decided to eject out of the hit plane but decided otherwise after realising that the fuel tank was intact. I salute the plane and its unchallenged valour. We are alive today because of the Canberra and its reliability, said Perumal, recounting the eventful day when he was in the cockpit. Besides the crews skill and efficiency it was the fighter aircraft that supported them ably in their return to the Srinagar air base. We returned safe within 30 minutes of the missile hit and that too with the photographs intact, which helped us in our further operation, he said. Wing Commander Jha said it was only after they reached Srinagar air base that they were able to gauge the magnitude of the damage to the craft. We simply thanked the aircraft for not falling apart in the sky. Though I got the Vayu Sena Medal and Group Captain Perumal received the Shaurya Chakra, yet we believe that a lot of credit goes to the warrior bird, Jha said. Canberra, the only bomber of the IAF until the late 1970s, was inducted into the Air Force in May 1957. The bomber was phased out Friday after serving the nation for 50 long years. The British-origin twin-engine jet bomber has been a force to reckon with in the then prevailing war scenario in the Indian subcontinent. Cruising at four-fifths the speed of sound at 40,000 feet, Canberra was the right weapons carrier then. It could carry the war well beyond the frontiers, deep into the enemy territory. It performed stellar service during the liberation of Goa in 1961, during the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan, and also during the 1999 Kargil conflict. The Canberra also served with Indias UN peacekeeping contingent in the Congo in the 1960s. Hailing its contribution, IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Major, termed the fighter plane as the eye of the nation and said: No other aircraft ever has served that long and as gloriously as the Canberra. Help India! By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net, Hyderabad: Once unknown grave of saint in the outskirts of Hyderabad is now bustling with visitors from around the city, to have a peek on the foreigners who have arrived in Hyderabad this Ramzan seeking asylum. Every Myanmar Muslim refugee taking shelter at Dargah Shah Ali Qaudri has a horror story to tell, about their loss of loved ones or the extraordinary difficulties they are facing by roaming in India for refugee status. Support TwoCircles 21 year old Noor-ul Ameen looks quite distressed sitting on the veranda of the dargah answering doubts and questions put by local Muslims, he is taking pain to explain every one approaching him with the same question, why in the world they chose Hyderabad down to south as a place for asylum? Noor has simple answer for everyone: Because people in Kolkata said go to Hyderabad it is a Muslim city where Muslims are rich and even politically powerful and can help us in any way. And his answer doesnt seem contrary to the support they are receiving from local Muslims since the news has spread like a wildfire about Rohingya Muslim refugees and the pathetic condition they are living in. Dargah Shah Ali Qadri has now become a center for the relief work for nearly 350 Rohingya Muslims from Fajar to Isha prayers loaded vehicles with relief materials are arriving in the dargah to facilitate basic amenities to refugees. But according to Syed Mohd Imam Quadri, Mutawali of the dargah police have also become a frequent visitor keeping a tab on every moving refugee. But he believes the recent visit of many high profile Muslim politicians including Zahid Ali Khan and M.I.M leaders and distribution of relief material as manifestation of their political support to the refugees have put the police to the other end. Rohingyan Muslims showing their persecution pics Mohd Imam Qadri also observed that none of these refugees are taking occupation as beggars to fulfill their needs; instead he said all of them are doing manual labor work in the construction sites, and majority of them have taken rooms on rent with help of local Muslims, they all are sangfroid and can stand on their own feet, they are just hoping for a refugee card from the Indian govt. he asserts. Fayaz Ali Salam is a Hafiz-e-Quran. He used to teach in a local Madrasa in Rakhine before his family members were allegedly killed by Buddhists monks. He said, Monks armed with deadly weapons entered our village, they first burned down all our religious structures including the madrasa where I used to teach. Then they attacked Muslims indiscriminately. They killed my father and my brother in law in front of my eyes, I ran away from my village and we travelled 8 days in forests crossing Bangladesh border till we reached India. Many veiled women also sat near the dargah taking care of their small kids, and collecting whatever relief material get into their hands. Rehmana is one among them looking after her three small kids the youngest among them is 1 year old Ayub. She claims her husband and in laws were killed in their native village and lost her parents in Bangladesh and now she is with her younger brother hoping for some relief in their new rendezvous. Mohd Ayub, another Rohingya Muslim worked in Kolkata as a manual labor for 2 months before moving to Hyderabad, he said he along with some of his 3 family members are sharing a room with other refugees and desperately looking for a job in the city. Majority of refugees are finding it difficult to communicate with local Muslims due to the obvious language barrier, but Mohd Arafat, another Rohingya Muslim who is living in Hyderabad for past 8 months are helping to translate their language in his broken Hindi. Several Muslims from across the city are visiting these refugee camps, to inspect about their authenticity as Rohingya Muslim before taking any step for charity. Shabir Ahmed, a sexagenarian is quick enough to show his Mayanmar identity card to answer any question thrown at him questioning his identity. In his native language but in a broken voice he explains to the locals how his family was massacred and how much difficulties he had borne for seeking asylum in India. Mohd Khuber, a 12 year old Rohingya Muslim said he doesnt have any idea where his whole family is, he is hardly able to pronounce the spelling of Kolkata or the present city he is living in, he just said he is following his fellow villagers. 28 year old Mohd Attaullah seems to be only politically speaking man among Rohingyan refugees, he rubbishes the claim of Myanmar govt. that riot was started as a reaction to rape and murder of a Buddhist girl by Rohingya Muslims. He said, This incident was just created as a rumor no one knows the authenticity of it, they planned our persecution long back. According to Attaullah Muslim life in Myanmar was a virtual prison from the beginning and Muslims were denied basic civil rights. He said, They didnt allow us to study, Muslims were not allowed admissions in the local schools, we were not having permission to run our own schools. Muslims were arrested and killed by Myanmar police with mere suspicion. Attaullah also criticized Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung san Suu Kyi for her silence on Rohingyan persecution in their country. He said, In the beginning Suu kyi was supportive of us, she used to speak for minority rights in our country. But later when she saw Buddhists got openly against us she took back her support and kept silent on our genocide, she doesnt want to upset vast Buddhist majority in the country by taking our side. Maybe she got colored into Myanmar politics or maybe she was like this opportunist from the beginning and just showed her real color now. Refugee showing UNHCR card Nearly everyone in the refugee camp claims to be fasting in this holy month expecting a divine intervention to their sorrows. These 350 Rohingyan Muslims are segregated in different but near corner areas of the city like Bahadurpura, Balapur and Kishanbagh. Local mosques in those areas are arranging Sehar and Iftar for these fasting refugees, in addition to this many devout Muslims are landing bulk of iftar material in the Dargah headquarter from where items are distributed among every Rohingyan Muslim refugee. These hundreds of refugees might get temporary help during this holy month, but what lies ahead for them in future is just uncertainty. With government not giving any word on the issue of refugee status to them, local police keeping a tight vigil waiting in patience for Muslim holy month to end, and the latest Assam riots in the sight. It seems difficult for these Rohingyan Muslims to get refugee status and asylum as it was provided to the hundreds of Tibetan Buddhists by the Indian govt. in this Muslim dominated city for decades. Help India! By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net, Aurangabad (Maharashtra): The present eligibility criteria of scoring at least 50% marks in the previous years examination to claim pre- and post-metric scholarship is discriminatory in nature against minority communities and should be lowered to 35% in line with schemes meant for students belonging to Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes, said a Maharashtra-based NGO. Support TwoCircles Azad Yuva Brigade (AYB), an NGO which monitors and handles issues encountered by Muslim students, raised these points in a letter written to Najma Heptulla, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs. The NGO asked her to consider reducing the eligibility criteria of Pre and Post metric scholarship of Minorities to 50% scoring, saying it was restricting some of the candidates from the educationally-backward minority community in availing benefits of the scheme. Pre and Post metric Scholarship Scheme is sponsored by the Central Government, with 100% central funding announced in 2006 for candidates of Minority communities and is implemented by the State Government/Union Territory administrations. Both these schemes ask students to secure not less than 50% marks in the previous year examination setting it as eligibility criteria for obtaining scholarship. However, similar schemes meant for other backward classes have no such condition and students are only required to pass previous year examination to claim scholarship next year. In its letter, the Brigade says so far both the schemes have proved very beneficial for minority community but the condition of securing 50% in last years exam is proving hindrance for those students who are passed with less percentage, and therefore in order to help these students continue their education, this condition should be removed. Speaking with TwoCircles.net Mubin Ansari, President of AYB said, Backwardness of Muslim community has been mentioned in various commissions and therefore it is not good to keep such condition of 50% markings from students. If schemes are meant to encourage Minority communities to increase share in education then all the passing students should be provided with scholarship so that no student leaves education in between. In addition to this, the Brigade has requested Minority Ministry to allow all the scholarship applications of candidates from drought-hit Marathwada region even if their claims have a few shortcomings. We have observed that due to drought, farmers children are compelled to leave schooling and help the families in earning a livelihood. Therefore, we have requested the Ministry to clear their scholarship applications so that denial of their scholarship should not become a reason for their drop out from education, Ansari said. Help India! Nagpur: A Bhubaneswar-Mumbai GoAir flight was diverted to Nagpur following a phone call warning of a bomb on board, said the airline in a statement on Saturday. The flight G8-243 with 150 passengers aboard had taken off from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 8.20 a.m. and after getting the bomb threat was diverted to Nagpur in Maharashtra where it landed at 9.29 a.m. Support TwoCircles The GoAir Bhubaneswar office informed police. All passengers were deplaned and a thorough security check was carried out but no bomb was found inside the aircraft, said the statement from GoAir. After the relevant security clearances, the aircraft was permitted to depart at noon for the onward flight of the private carrier to Mumbai. A Delhi bound Indigo flight was also checked, which was about to take off from Bhubaneswar airport following repeated phone calls from an unidentified person in the morning. Bhubaneswar airport director Sarad Kumar said: The person made three phone calls to the airport manager stating that bombs have been planted in GoAir flight and Indigo flight. He also used slang words to the manager. Then we immediately landed the Mumbai bound flight at Nagpur and did a security check. He said the Delhi bound Indigo flight was also thoroughly checked here, but nothing was found. Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrat Bhoi said the police is trying to trace the person who had made the hoax calls to the airport authorities. Assistant Professor Daniel Hemel on the Supreme Courts certiorari grant in United States v. Texas: In many respects, the Supreme Courts cert grant earlier this week in United States v. Texas was utterly unsurprising. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a nationwide injunction blocking a Department of Homeland Security policy that would have allowed approximately 4 million parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to seek deferred action and temporary authorization to work in the United States. The Supreme Courts own Rule 10 says that in deciding whether to grant cert, the Court considers whether a lower court has ruled on an important question of federal law that has not been, but should be, settled by this Court. United States v. Texas meets that standard by any measure. In one respect, though, the cert-stage proceedings in United States v. Texas pose a puzzle. (And no, Im not referring the Courts decision to add a fourth question regarding the Take Care Clause of Article II; as Marty Lederman and others have explained, the Court had reason to add that question even if it has no intention of going Texass way on the constitutional issue.) Im referring instead to the third question: Whether the Guidance was subject to the APAs notice-and-comment procedures. Of course, there is no mystery as to why the Supreme Court granted cert on that question: the notice-and-comment issue is one of two independent bases for the Fifth Circuits ruling, so the Supreme Court would need to reach that issue if it wants to overturn the Fifth Circuits decision on the merits. The puzzle is why the Obama administration is still litigating this issue despite the fact that DHS could moot the notice-and-comment question if it wanted to. A bit of background: In November 2014, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson sent a memo to top DHS officials outlining new policies for exercising prosecutorial discretion. Most significantly, the Johnson memo directs DHS officials to establish a process that will allow parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for deferred action. The memo states that applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and that deferred action will be limited to parents whoamong other criteriahave not been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor. DHSs approval of an application for deferred action means that the Department has decided to forbear from removing the applicant for three years. Successful applicants also may seek work authorization for a three-year period. The program is known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), and DHS planned to begin accepting applications in May 2015. In December 2014, Texas and 25 other states sued in federal district court seeking to enjoin implementation of DAPA. Texass substantive arguments are (1) that DHS lacks statutory authorization for DAPA, and (2) that DAPA violates the Take Care Clause of Article II. Texass procedural argument is that DAPA is subject to the Administrative Procedure Acts notice-and-comment requirements, and that DHS failed to comply with those requirements entirely. In February 2015, a federal district court held that Texas was likely to prevail on its notice-and-comment argument, and the court entered a nationwide preliminary injunction against implementing DAPA. In November, a Fifth Circuit panel voted to 2-1 to affirm the injunctionon the procedural ground that DHS failed to go through notice and comment and on the substantive ground that DHS lacks statutory authority for the DAPA program. I am not the first to observe that DHS could moot the notice-and-comment question by publishing the Johnson memo in the Federal Register and then finalizing it 30 or more days later. Thats all that the APAs notice-and-comment provision requires. To be sure, the notice-and-comment process is not costless, but it is also not prohibitively expensive. The White Houses regulations.gov website shows 221 proposed rules published in the last monthranging from a proposal to end the endangered-species status of the scarlet-chested parakeet to a proposal to clarify the number of charity stamps that the Postal Service can sell at any one time. The costs of notice-and-comment rulemaking are likely higher for higher-profile rules (for one thing, DHS is likely to receive more comments on its deferred action policy than on its ammonium nitrate security regulations). On the other hand, the deferred action policy is a top administration priority, and it seems like it would be well worth DHSs time to wade through a pile of public comments (most of which are electronic anyway) if going through the notice-and-comment process increases the probability that the deferred action policy will pass judicial muster. So why doesnt DHS just go ahead with the notice-and-comment process? (And why didnt DHS do this last year, when the district court first ruled on the issue?) Here are a handful of hypotheses: -- (1) The administration may believe that taking the notice-and-comment issue off the table wont measurably increase its chances of victory. The issues in United States v. Texas fall into three categories: (i) threshold questions of standing and reviewability; (ii) substantive questions as to whether the administration has the statutory and constitutional authority to implement DAPA; and (iii) the procedural question (notice and comment). If the administration wins on a threshold question, then the whole case goes away and DHS can implement DAPA. If the administration loses on the threshold questions, then it must win on both the substantive and procedural questions in order to have the Fifth Circuits decision reversed. Let p t be the administrations probability of success on the threshold issue; let p s be the administrations probability of success on the substantive questions; and let p p be the administrations probability of success on the procedural point. The administrations overall probability of success (P) is equal to: p t + (1 - p t )(p s x p p ) The administration may think that p t is so close to 1 that the rest of the terms in the equation dont matter. That is, the administration might think its arguments on standing and reviewability are airtight, and that the Court wont even reach the substantive and procedural questions. Or, the administration may think that p p is close to 1: its arguments on notice-and-comment are so strong that if the Court rules for Texas on the threshold issues, all that really matters are the substantive questions. Less likely, the administration might think that p s is close to zeroif it cant win on standing, it wont win on the substancein which case the procedural question also wont be outcome-determinative. A fourth possibility is that the administration thinks that a five-Justice majority will only rule for Texas on standing if its dead-set on striking down DAPAin which case an ideologically motivated majority will side with Texas on the substance as well. Put differently, the administration may think that p t and p s are closely correlatedin which case the notice-and-comment issue also wouldnt matter. -- (2) The administration may think that proceeding with notice-and-comment will reduce its chances of securing Supreme Court review. The administration may want to resolve the DAPA issue ASAP so that it can begin to implement the policy before President Obamas second term is out. Maybe the worry is that if DHS proceeds with notice-and-comment, the Supreme Court will remand to the Fifth Circuit to determine whether DHS had rendered the procedural issue moot. To be sure, there would still be a live case and controversy on the substantive questions (insofar as there is a case or controversy to begin with). But a remand to the Fifth Circuit would delay matters for months, pushing oral argument over to the Supreme Courts October 2016 Term. It seems pretty clear, though, that the procedural question would be moot once DHS completed the 30-day notice-and-comment process. The Court resolved an analogous question in the tax context four decades ago, and there is no reason why the Court would need to remand to the Fifth Circuit to figure it out. If there were any lingering doubt on the matter, the Supreme Court could hear arguments on the threshold and substantive questions and then remand to the Fifth Circuit if necessary. (There would be no remand if the Court rules against Texas on standing/reviewability or if the Court rules for Texas on the substance.) Which is to say: If the Supreme Court wants to hear United States v. Texas this spring, DHSs initiation of notice-and-comment proceedings wont be an obstacle. And if the Supreme Court wanted to delay consideration until the fall, it could have relisted the case for a few more weeks before granting cert. -- (3) The administration may think that going through with notice and comment on DAPA would establish a bad precedent. Notice and comment is not required under 553 for general statements of policy. The administration maintains that the Johnson memo qualifies as such a statement. Note, though, that executive agencies routinely publish planned actions in the Federal Register and solicit comments from the public even while maintaining that the APAs notice-and-comment requirement does not apply. (For a few recent examples, see here, here, and here.) DHS could easily take that route in this case, going through with notice-and-comment while sticking to its view that notice-and-comment is unnecessary. -- (4) The administration may think that Supreme Court review on the notice-and-comment question will establish a favorable precedent. That is, maybe the administration actually wants the Supreme Court to weigh in on the notice-and-comment question. In recent years, the Fifth and D.C. Circuits have whittled down the notice-and-comment exemption for general statements of policy. Those courts say that a guidance document only falls within the exemption if it genuinely leaves the agency and its decisionmakers free to exercise discretion. Even when the language of the guidance appears to allow discretion, the Fifth and D.C. Circuits will look to the agencys post-guidance conduct to decide whether the guidance is binding as a practical matter. Put differently, the Fifth and D.C. Circuits decide whether notice and comment was required at time t by looking at the way the agency acted at time t + 1. The Fifth Circuit decision in this case extends that approach even further. The Fifth Circuit held that the Johnson memo was a rule subject to the notice-and-comment requirement rather than a general statement of policy because there is a substantial likelihood that DAPA would not genuinely leave the agency and its employees free to exercise discretion. In other words, the Fifth Circuit held that notice and comment was required at time t based on the courts prediction as to how DHS would act at time t + 1. The Fifth Circuits approach has no basis in statutory text or in Supreme Court case law. Just last Term, in Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Association, the Supreme Court reversed the D.C. Circuit for conjuring up a judge-made procedural right to notice and comment that had no root in the APA. The administration may be looking for a similar ruling here. But if so, United States v. Texas would seem like a strange vehicle. One would think that the administration would choose to challenge the Fifth and D.C. Circuits approach in a case with low ideological valencelike Mortgage Bankers, in which the underlying dispute was about overtime pay for loan officers. And if one were trying to choose a case with low ideological valence, United States v. Texas would be just about the last pick. -- (5) A final possibilityperhaps not the most likely, but probably the most interestingis that the administrations litigation strategy is informed by insights from behavioral economics. (President Obama issued an executive order in September 2015 calling on agencies to incorporate behavioral science insights into their programs and policies; maybe DHS and the Solicitor General are taking a cue from the White House.) One of the more robust results in the behavioral economics literature is the compromise effect. As stated by Itamar Simonson, the compromise effect is the finding that an alternatives choice probability tends to increase when it becomes a compromise choice in the set. In one well-known study, Simonson and co-author Amos Tversky offered consumers a $170 camera and a $240 camera; 50% of subjects chose the $170 camera and 50% chose the $240 option. But when Simonson and Tversky added a third, more expensive alternative (a $470 camera), the share that chose the $240 camera jumped from 50% to 57%, and the share that chose the cheaper camera fell from 50% to 22%. (The remaining 21% opted for the high-end option.) That is, the $240 camera became more attractive when it was presented as the middle of three options, and the $170 camera became less popular when it was the cheapest of the three. Retail stores make use of the compromise effect all the time: Starbucks knows that offering a venti size in addition to a tall and a grande makes the grande look more attractive because it appears to be a compromise. Mark Kelman and coauthors have also documented a compromise effect in legal decisionmaking. Experimental subjects role-playing as jurors gravitate toward whichever punishment is framed as the middle option rather than one of two extremes. What does any of this have to do with United States v. Texas? If the Supreme Court reaches the merits questions in the case, then it (1) could reverse the Fifth Circuit on the substantive and procedural questions; (2) could reverse the Fifth Circuit on the substance but affirm on the procedural question; or (3) could affirm the Fifth Circuit on both the substantive and procedural questions. (There technically is a fourth optionaffirm on substance and reverse on procedurethough if DAPA fails on substantive grounds, it is difficult to see why the Court would bother reaching the notice-and-comment issue.) So framed, Option 2 is the moderate option bookended by two extremes. The behavioral economics literature on the compromise effect suggests that this framing makes it more likely that the Court will choose Option 2. By mooting the notice-and-comment issue, however, DHS would leave only Option 1 and Option 3 on the table if the Court reaches the merits. Of course, the administration would prefer that the Court choose Option 1. (Actually, it would prefer that the Court reverse on standing/reviewability and thus never reach the merits.) But most of all, the administration wants the Court not to choose Option 3. Option 3 means the death of DAPA. Option 2 means that the administration can implement DAPA after it goes through a 30-day notice-and-comment process. At least in relative terms, Option 2 would be a resounding victory for the administration. And if the compromise effect holds here, keeping Option 2 in the mix makes Option 3 less probable. Take this last hypothesis with several grains of salt. Its worse than predicting whats going on in the mind of Anthony Kennedy; its predicting whats going on in the minds of Donald Verrilli and Jeh Johnson as they predict whats going on in the mind of Anthony Kennedy. The bottom line, though, is that while the administrations strategy on the notice-and-comment issue initially seemed befuddling, it might turn out in the end to be brilliant. Guangdong looks to Taiwan island for economic co-operation Updated: 2016-01-23 16:50 By Zheng Caixiong in Guangzhou(chinadaily.com.cn) Guangdong's top political advisor urged political parties, groups and organizations in the province to further advance their co-operations this year with their counterparts in Taiwan island. "Guangdong's CPPCC members should play an active and constructive role in promoting the mutual co-operations between political parties and organizations between Guangdong and Taiwan provinces this year," according to Wang Rong, chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Wang made his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 4th session of the province's top political advisory body in Guangdong's provincial capital on Saturday. "The co-operations, exchanges and visits with Taiwan's grass-root political parties and those from the middle and southern region of Taiwan island should, particularly, be enhanced this year," Wang said. Wang, 58, was Party chief of Shenzhen's special economic zone before being elected as Guangdong's top political advisor last year. "The mutual visits and exchanges with Taiwan's youth and small-to-medium enterprises should also be expanded," he added. Wang promised his political advisory body would actively build a platform for the province's CPPCC members from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao as well as Chinese living abroad to participate in the administration and discussion of the State's affairs and construction of Guangdong's free trade zones and the country's "Belt and Road initiative" this year. Wang's committee would organize even more overseas CPPCC members and overseas Chinese entrepreneurs to visit Guangdong, one of the country's economic powerhouses, and seek valuable advice for the province's economic construction this year. Wang said he hoped members from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan contribute in building Guangdong's Nansha, Qianhai, and Hengqin free trade zones, located in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai respectively, into model zones of co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao's special administrative regions in the years to come. Around 977 members attended this year's CPPCC session in Guangdong province which ends on Tuesday. Contact the writer at zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn Mark Edwards Mi chael Thompson is a Research Associate and Adjunct Lecturer at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Hes also the author of the best single essay Ive ever read on Reinhold Niebuhr. The following is a recent conversation we had about his important new book on ecumenical Protestants and foreign relations, For God and Globe: Christian Internationalism in the United States between the Great War and the Cold War (Cornell). Michael also shares some thoughts on post-World War II evangelical internationalism. How did you become interested in the topic of ecumenism and Christian Internationalism? Irony of American History was on the reading list not the Obama-endorsed 2008 reissue, but the dusty old 1950s edition. This was 2003. Niebuhr first of all didnt seem to fit into the model of Protestantism-bequeathing-nationalism that scholarship seemed almost uniformly to convey. In fact, he seemed to be an insightful critic of that very dynamicespecially when reading in 2003-4 against the backdrop of unfolding operations in Iraq. Actually, it all began with that essay you mentioned in your introon Reinhold Niebuhr. In that project I was interested in Niebuhrs theology as it interacted with the changing shape of global politics on the one hand and with the ideologies of American exceptionalism and nationalism on the other. I encountered Niebuhr while taking an excellent Grad seminar on the American National Myth with Neville Meaney, a one-of-a-kind diplomatic historian at Sydney University. As part of that seminar, naturally we looked at religions role in nourishing and sustaining national mythology. We were reading a lot of old school scholarshipTuveson, Bercovitch, and some newer stuff too (although this was before the religious turnwell before Jon Butlers famous Jack-in-the-Box call). Niebuhrswas on the reading list not the Obama-endorsed 2008 reissue, but the dusty old 1950s edition. This was 2003. Niebuhr first of all didnt seem to fit into the model of Protestantism-bequeathing-nationalism that scholarship seemed almost uniformly to convey. In fact, he seemed to be an insightful critic of that very dynamicespecially when reading in 2003-4 against the backdrop of unfolding operations in Iraq. But I always had a senseas I think you did in conceiving of your bookthat there was more to Niebuhrs world than just Niebuhr. So the present project actually began with a pretty simple desire to follow Niebuhrs footsteps into the murky world of interwar Protestantism. I suppose at the outset I wanted o use Niebuhr to get beyond Niebuhr. I thought surely this theologian becoming a public intellectual on matters of foreign policy had to have some context behind him. He cant have been just some random outlier. And of course, the biographies like Fox's gave hints of that. My two-fold question then became i) what kinds of Protestant enterprises devoted themselves to reflecting on US foreign relations, and ii) what distinctive ideas did each such enterprise give rise to over time? As you know, and as other scholarship on internationalism had touched upon (all the more so recently), the sheer proliferation of knowledge production enterprises focused on international relations was a phenomenon in itself in the 1910s-30s. You had the big guns, Chatham House in the UK and the Council on Foreign Relations in the US, but you also had scores of smaller, sometimes more ephemeral ventures that also mattered in their time. International Relations seminars, forums, retreats, institutes, newsletters and much, much more. I became fascinated by this world, especially the Protestant parts (which were usually marginal or absent in existing works on internationalism). and the high ecumenical movement-- in the interwar years. Any new treatment needed to bring the the worlds that were held separate in the historiography back together. Digging around in the primary sources, and getting across the secondary scholarship, it seemed that there were two distinct but overlapping worlds, often treated by separate bodies of scholarship. You had the generations-old work on pacifism (Chatfields very strong work) or on pacifism versus Niebuhrian realismDonald Meyer et al. In another sphere altogether you had works on the ecumenical movementwhich back then, before your book and Graeme Smiths, let alone Gene Zubovichs workwas overall poorly done, and cloistered off in its own ecclesiastical-historical and missiological world. Heather Warrens book was a helpful exception. But I was struck by several things. One was the way that many actors, Niebuhr included, actually belonged to and ventured into both worlds--the surging pacifist-socialist interwar leftthe high ecumenical movement-- in the interwar years. Any new treatment needed to bring the the worlds that were held separate in the historiography back together. Another observation that struck me was how much more than mere pacifism was at stake in American liberal and radical-left Protestant reflection on war. Christian internationalists, with their missionary roots, constituted an important element in interwar anti-imperialism, which was something entirely absent from work on anti imperialism and on religion. A third thing I was struck by was just how important the late interwar ecumenical movement both in America and Europe was in the production of International Relations knowledge. Just gauging by the personnel involved, and their prominence internationally in the kind of pre-social-scientific, pre-quantitative flowering of IR in the 1940sNiebuhr, Martin Wight, Alfred Zimmern, Max Huber and othersyou could were a bigger than given credit for. So with these observations forming, I began looking for ways to give shape to the project. The World Tomorrow and the Oxford 1937 ecumenical conference which form the central foci of the book now, I had planned sections on the missionary movement, and on the World War II think-tank as a genre of institution. In the end, they are there, but as subordinate partsSherwood Eddy illustrating some of the missionary connections in the intro (and in what is a separate essay now in Modern Intellectual History), and the John Foster Dulles-led Commission on a Just and Durable Peace in the final chapter. Initially I had planned four or five distinct Protestant enterprises that would structure the study, as well as theand the Oxford 1937 ecumenical conference which form the central foci of the book now, I had planned sections on the missionary movement, and on the World War II think-tank as a genre of institution. In the end, they are there, but as subordinate partsSherwood Eddy illustrating some of the missionary connections in the intro (and in what is a separate essay now in Modern Intellectual History), and the John Foster Dulles-led Commission on a Just and Durable Peace in the final chapter. So, to answer your question about ecumenism specifically, it was Oxford 1937 that especially drew me in, and still does. I am still struck by the theological and intellectual caliber of the event, and how unlike it was anything that came before it in ecumenism, and how it was so much more than a mere precursor to the World Council of Churches. My sense is that those doing the new history of Christian human rights will address it soon and treat it with the seriousness it deserves. I have tried to do my small part toward that effortas have you in your book. Id say there is still more work to be done on it. caliber In your book, you discuss one ecumenical site familiar to many scholars (the 1937 Oxford Conference) and one not so well known (The World Tomorrow editorial team). What did each contribute to the development of Christian Internationalism? The World Tomorrow was an extraordinary, but ultimately short-lived little magazine with a strong cast of editorsReinhold Niebuhr, Kirby Page, Devere Allen, plus others coming in and out at various points. It was founded by Socialist leader Norman Thomas, became the Fellowship of Reconciliations official mouthpiece, grew its readership under Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins and was then bought out by the wealthy former missionary and arch-Christian Internationalist philanthropist, Sherwood Eddy in 1926. He was responsible for installing his former YMCA offsider Kirby Page as editor, and in 1928 also brought Niebuhr to New York to help with the journal, while paying for his salary at Union seminary. was an extraordinary, but ultimately short-lived little magazine with a strong cast of editorsReinhold Niebuhr, Kirby Page, Devere Allen, plus others coming in and out at various points. It was founded by Socialist leader Norman Thomas, became the Fellowship of Reconciliations official mouthpiece, grew its readership under Anna Rochester and Grace Hutchins and was then bought out by the wealthy former missionary and arch-Christian Internationalist philanthropist, Sherwood Eddy in 1926. He was responsible for installing his former YMCA offsider Kirby Page as editor, and in 1928 also brought Niebuhr to New York to help with the journal, while paying for his salary at Union seminary. The World Tomorrow is, I think, one of the best artifacts of what was involvedthe possibilities, difficulties, and tensions, many insurmountablein attempting to build a Protestant "left. I mean that in the Old Left, interwar sense of that word. The editorial team sought to articulate a left-wing politics more radically anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, and anti-nationalist than the Christian Century , an organ better known to readers of RIAH. The World Tomorrow was important to the development history of Christian Internationalism for several reasons, but first because of its failure. The editors wanted to stitch together what they hoped was stitchable, but in this case proved unstitchable. They ultimately faced the impossibility of trying to be all things at once: Protestant social gospellers, missionaries, pacifists, Marxian Socialists, proponents of non-violence, proponents of class warfare, and from the early 1930s, for some, self-designated realists. In that sense, I found it provided a fresh, gritty, "real time" archive of the messy and conflicted emergence of realism. As well as the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the journal was closely allied in the 1930s, through Niebuhr, with the Fellowship of Socialist Christians, which was a hugely important hub and site, along with the Theological Discussion Group youve so excellently written about, for the articulation of that new sensibility. was important to the development history of Christian Internationalism for several reasons, but first because of its failure. The editors wanted to stitch together what they hoped was stitchable, but in this case proved unstitchable. They ultimately faced the impossibility of trying to be all things at once: Protestant social gospellers, missionaries, pacifists, Marxian Socialists, proponents of non-violence, proponents of class warfare, and from the early 1930s, for some, self-designated realists. In that sense, I found it provided a fresh, gritty, "real time" archive of the messy and conflicted emergence of realism. As well as the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the journal was closely allied in the 1930s, through Niebuhr, with the Fellowship of Socialist Christians, which was a hugely important hub and site, along with the Theological Discussion Group youve so excellently written about, for the articulation of that new sensibility. The World Tomorrow in the mid-late 1920s was important for its vigorous anti-imperialism and anti-militarism. As soon as Kirby Page took over, he devoted special issues to the US in the Philippines (remember that independence was still being debated) and to the US in the Caribbean. He published symposia of prominent legal opinion on the Monroe Doctrine, all with an anti-interventionist edge, and fact finding reports coming from WILPF and others on the US occupation in Haiti. The journal vigorously opposed the US campaigns in Nicaragua and instead supported the non-state diplomatic tours that many of their fold (including Latin Americanists based at Columbia) organised. But before realism's emergence in the 1930s,in the mid-late 1920s was important for its vigorous anti-imperialism and anti-militarism. As soon as Kirby Page took over, he devoted special issues to the US in the Philippines (remember that independence was still being debated) and to the US in the Caribbean. He published symposia of prominent legal opinion on the Monroe Doctrine, all with an anti-interventionist edge, and fact finding reports coming from WILPF and others on the US occupation in Haiti. The journal vigorously opposed the US campaigns in Nicaragua and instead supported the non-state diplomatic tours that many of their fold (including Latin Americanists based at Columbia) organised. The World Tomorrow was a gathering point for them. Not just Sherwood Eddy and Kirby Page but also Samuel Guy Inmanmissionary to Mexico turned Latin Americanist scholar and anti-imperialistand others were connected. Perhaps even more important was the institutional base and outlet it provided for specifically missionary-rooted anti imperialism. In the great shock waves that swept the mainline missionary movement after World War I, mainline missionaries developed a strident anti imperialismwas a gathering point for them. Not just Sherwood Eddy and Kirby Page but also Samuel Guy Inmanmissionary to Mexico turned Latin Americanist scholar and anti-imperialistand others were connected. The World Tomorrow offered a pretty simple theology, focused on the "historical Jesus," seeing him as needing digging out from underneath all the rubbish of organized religion since Constantine. The real Jesus, not the one of contemporary churches, they argued, stood against the militaristic options of his day (Page was reading new scholarship on Josephus to get at some of this). But the essential logic was What would Jesus do? So they ran series of articles, for example, on Would Jesus be an Imperialist? Would Jesus be a Capitalist?even Would Jesus be a Christian? They essentially wanted readers to deepen their sense of Jesus as both ethical example and personal inspiration on one hand, and on the other hand to wake up to the realities of US foreign policy. If readers were more deeply aware of both Jesus and US foreign policy, editors seemed to hope, they would realise the incongruence between the two. They they could join The World Tomorrow in calling their country to heel using their democratic and social power. As part of its opposition to imperialism, militarism and nationalism,offered a pretty simple theology, focused on the "historical Jesus," seeing him as needing digging out from underneath all the rubbish of organized religion since Constantine. The real Jesus, not the one of contemporary churches, they argued, stood against the militaristic options of his day (Page was reading new scholarship on Josephus to get at some of this). But the essential logic was What would Jesus do? So they ran series of articles, for example, on Would Jesus be an Imperialist? Would Jesus be a Capitalist?even Would Jesus be a Christian? They essentially wanted readers to deepen their sense of Jesus as both ethical example and personal inspiration on one hand, and on the other hand to wake up to the realities of US foreign policy. If readers were more deeply aware of both Jesus and US foreign policy, editors seemed to hope, they would realise the incongruence between the two. They they could joinin calling their country to heel using their democratic and social power. The World Tomorrow team loved that sort of oppositional controversy. On that note, in the book, readers will also find extensive treatment of the public controversy and fame generated by The World Tomorrow's fascinating surveys of 100,000 US clergy on war and peacesurveys that even drew the Chief of Army, Douglas MacArthur, into the debate about whether patriotism or internationalism was more Christian. You can guess which side MacArthur was on. Anyway,team loved that sort of oppositional controversy. The World Tomorrow -- even though many of the subjects in my book were personally involved in both. As for Oxford 1937, the atmosphere, the theological method, and the political emphases were very different toeven though many of the subjects in my book were personally involved in both. And so too a lot had changed since the 1920s in the ecumenical movement to make Oxford 1937 what it was. The emergence of Nazism, with its pseudo theology and joining of Jesus and Volk, raised the whole question of nationalism and religion to a new pitch. Ecumenical Christians led by Jo Oldham (John Motts Scottish offsider at the International Missionary Council ) made that the central question. What was the relationship between Christianity and the claims of national identity and sovereignty? Could there be a way of theologically articulating a supranational solidarity that stood in protest to nationalisms, whether German, American or French? The World Tomorrow, Oxford ecumenists made their conception of the catholicity of the church central to their intellectual and political program. Their move in this regard can, in truth, be seen as a kind of overreach, a kind of grabbing from Catholicism, or neo-medievalism. There is something to each of these claims. But I think most of all they need to be seen as having a wariness about merely asserting a rationalistic universalism of abstract principles. The Continental Europeans in the ecumenical movement had also long stressed wariness about Anglophone ecumenical tendencies to merely baptise liberal internationalism and liberal humanism, giving the League of Nations a Christian badge. So they tried as an alternative to work intellectually upward from the concrete social reality of the Church universal -- there being a concrete body of believers whose solidarity crossed national borders. I think that that more than anything else was what the word and idea of ecumene meant to actors in the movement in the 1930s. In contrast to the anti-church message noises coming fromOxford ecumenists made their conception of the catholicity of the church central to their intellectual and political program. Their move in this regard can, in truth, be seen as a kind of overreach, a kind of grabbing from Catholicism, or neo-medievalism. There is something to each of these claims. But I think most of all they need to be seen as having a wariness about merely asserting a rationalistic universalism of abstract principles. The Continental Europeans in the ecumenical movement had also long stressed wariness about Anglophone ecumenical tendencies to merely baptise liberal internationalism and liberal humanism, giving the League of Nations a Christian badge. So they tried as an alternative to work intellectually upward from the concrete social reality of the Church universal -- there being a concrete body of believers whose solidarity crossed national borders. I think that that more than anything else was what the word and idea of ecumene meant to actors in the movement in the 1930s. For them, the transnational solidarity of the church (they used the word "supranational) needed to be recovered as the heart of the Christian witness in and against a world of hyper-nationalisms. You have to remember the context of the 1930s! This was far and away the most distinctive contribution of Oxford 1937 to the development of Christian internationalism. Another related distinctive was the theological register of their political analysis. Other more mechanistic, legalistic and institutionalist approaches to internationalism-- the League of Nations, the Outlawry of War, World Federation--were not the same, and not to be conflated with Christian internationalism, they insisted. In a secondary sense, and it was only secondary (you can read the debates and reports to confirm that sense) they advocated for a revived League of Nations as the most preferable option for future international organization. They saw it as a middle option between unfettered national sovereignty on one hand and the kinds of world-state ideas being circulated in the late 1930s. But they were never mere League enthusiasts, and in fact at Oxford 1937 several criticized what they saw as the false mystical "religion of Genevareferring to those who imbued the League of Nations with a kind of elevated reverence. Oxford also saw the strong anti-racist elements in missionary and student networks come to the fore of the ecumenical movement, whereas in the 1920s, they had operated in parallel to the more elite Europe-oriented establishment of the Life and Work and Faith and Order movements. In the book, I spend a bit of time going back over the 1920s conferences of the IMC and WSCF to show how they functioned as sites for a vigorous anti-imperialism and anti-racism, especially when seen against the world political climate of the 1920s. Manyalthough not all of those earlier emphases became glued to the Oxford 1937 emphases on church-based internationalism. Naturally, the calls to oppose race discrimination as anti Christian challenged those few American and South African delegates still in favour of segregation!. But Oxford's anti-racism was carried home, notwithstanding the contradictions with segregated churches, and as Barbara Mays has shown, affected the decades-long work of Black activists like Benjamin Mays. Oxford also cemented Christian realists engagement in the ecumenical enterprise. As you yourself know from your work, and as I also illustrate in my book, the main intellectual organizer, Jo Oldham went hard after the cadre of realist theologians at Union Seminary and in the Theological Discussion Group, and gave them major roles at Oxford 1937. My view is that this helped Niebuhr and others mature in their theological reflection, and also saw them further absorbed into the leadership of the movement at home and internationally in the 1940s. You talk in your book about the Americanization of Christian Internationalism during and after the Second World War. But wasnt the Christian Internationalism of a Niebuhr or John Foster Dulles (or even Sherwood Eddy) always Americanized? What or how did ecumenical Christians contribute to the new breed of wartime Christian nationalism (that we normally associate with evangelicals like Billy Graham)? Ah, yes! Youve picked up on one of my more provocative chapter titles. Youre right. Of course, one cant posit an un-American Christian internationalism prior to Dulles wartime work. My meaning there is specific to the argument in Chapter 7, the final chapter, and one devoted to on Dulles and the Commission on a Just and Durable Peace, which achieved extraordinary public prominence and bipartisan political influence. imago onto others. There Americanization has two meanings. One is that Dulles, who was at Oxford 1937 and reportedly impacted by it, was one of the main proponents of ecumenical internationalism in the early-mid 1940s. BUTand its a big but, he ran it all through a filter that ironed out all the theological nuance and dialectical subtleties from the Europeans, and also ran it through a filter that stressed the US experience of federation between states as a paradigm for overcoming nationalism. His whole mode of argumentation in getting at his famous Six Pillars of Peace paid homage to Oxford 1937 (in the Commissions early statements), but it really represented a transposition of sorts away from the dialectical neo-orthodox theology that was at Oxford towards a vaguer assertion of moral principles which the US ought to lead the way in universally implementing. As one German friend and critic put it, the Commission tended to view the world through projecting its own American onto others. The second and perhaps more important sense in which Dulles Americanized Christian internationalism is that he yoked it to the cause of the new bipartisan American internationalism. That is, both parties, most conspicuously the Republicans whom he represented were calling for an end to American isolationism and a new beginning for American internationalism, meaning international engagement. So whereas the critical energy of interwar Christian internationalism had been pointed against US intervention and nationalism, Dulles ironically re-routed its force to promote US intervention. In conflating US state-based internationalism with Christian internationalismcalling for Christians to exert political pressure to see the US play its international responsibilitieshe Americanized the latter, I argue. The book will explain that in more depth. Thats how Id answer the second part of your question, just briefly: Dulles simultaneously lifted the political clout of ecumenical Christian internationalism to its greatest height, but also collapsed the critical distance between it and the cause of the American nation-state. This was the very thing Oxford delegates had warned ofidentifying the cause of the nation with the cause of Christ. And yet, by the end of World War II we can already discern the contours of a Dulles who sees the American nation as the unique defender of the cause of Christ, and who calls for Christians to view the cold war in religious terms. In that sense, Dulles revived Christian nationalisman ironic progeny of ecumenical internationalismwas an easy ally with the Christian nationalism coming from the networks around Billy Graham and the Christian libertarians we find so well documented in Kevin Kruses book. Its important to say that Dulles did not represent or bring the entire ecumenical movement with him, but he was one important and influential figure in that particular re-framing, re-constituting of it. You conclude that the Christian nationalism of the Cold War era made Christian Internationalism an alien space and lost civilization (202). To what extent do you think Christian Internationalist concerns for anti-racism, human rights, and so on went mainstream in secular NGOs and INGOS during that timein ways that scholars such as David Hollinger and Matthew Hedstrom have suggested? Melani McAlister, David Swartz, Lauren Turek, David King, and many other scholars are today writing about the spread of evangelical internationalism following the Second World War. Do you see evangelical internationalism having anything in common with prewar ecumenical Christian Internationalism? Briefly, this a great question, and to be honest, one Id welcome more input on from readers and contributors at RIAH. At a broad level, Id say that yes, there is definite translation of Christian internationalist concerns, personnel and outlooks into mainstream secular NGOs and INGOs. One straight forward empirical indication of this is the generation of missionary-descended and even missionary-trained Americans in the 1950s-60s who continue their vocational trajectory via secular NGOs, in many cases playing influential roles. And in the broad history of INGOs, of course, its hard to avoid the fact of missionaries being so early on already doing such work that was professionalized, secularized and bureaucratised as part of the new Aid and Development foreign policy orientation after Point IV. One key area Ive been doing a bit of work on for example is on the roots of many postwar development operations in interwar agricultural missionary workMore on that another time, perhaps. But yes, I find both Hollinger and Hedstrom persuasive on this. Im in accord with them overall. The World Tomorrow fifty years earlier. I suspect the 1970s evangelical left shared much politically with the interwar liberal, ecumenical left. But Im not sure Wallis et al would be too representative of evangelical internationalism. Tureks excellent recent work also makes me want to look closer at parallels and contrasts on their approaches to US imperial outreach and foreign relations in Latin America. The question of evangelicalism is mixed, I think. If you take the kinds of anti-nationalist protest coming from the young Jim Wallis and post-American crowd evoked by Swartz so wonderfully in Moral Minority, you feel sometimes that you could be reading material from Kirby Page andfifty years earlier. I suspect the 1970s evangelical left shared much politically with the interwar liberal, ecumenical left. But Im not sure Wallis et al would be too representative of evangelical internationalism. Tureks excellent recent work also makes me want to look closer at parallels and contrasts on their approaches to US imperial outreach and foreign relations in Latin America. McAlisters very textured approach rightly brings to the fore an internationalism that is very global in orientation, is very peace loving and humanitarian, but at times, as she points out, perhaps also sentimentalist. My broad assessment would be that it lacks the self-consciousness about nationalism, about national identity and religious identity being in tension. I think, overall, it does not have the same caliber of engagement with the intellectual contours of international thought and international relations that we saw at Oxford 1937. So yes, some resonances, but I still feel Id need to see more in order to be persuaded they arent quite different conceptual worlds. What are you working on now? Research-wise, Im doing two things. One Im in exploratory stages on a new project on Agricultural missionaries and US environmental internationalism in the long New Deal. Looking at folk like Walter Lowdermilk, a missionary turned soil conservation activist and New Dealer, turned of all things mega-dam proponent. Second, Im working for Ian Tyrrell on a big project on the long history of American exceptionalism. There, rather than internationalists, Im spending a lot of time trying to understand 20th century evangelicals on nationalism. Im thinking about a paper on how evangelical theology has often made roomat violence to its own axiomsfor American exceptionalism. Maybe it will be called Making Room for America. 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. A rocket fired from Syria today slammed into the town of Kilis on the Turkish side of the border, wounding two people, reports said, quoting the local governorate. The rocket hit a street causing an explosion that damaged nearby buildings and wounded an 18-year-old youth and a 14-year-old Syrian refugee girl, the Anatolia agency said. Local governor Suleyman Tapsiz said that the rocket had been "fired from Syria" but did not specify who by. The Dogan agency described the rocket as Katyusha-type. The incident comes after one person was killed and one more seriously wounded Monday when a rocket fired from a jihadist-controlled area in Syria slammed into a schoolyard in Kilis. According to Turkish media reports, the army had ascertained that the January 18 attack was carried out by Islamic State (IS) jihadists and responded by destroying their positions. Kilis, a town of just under 100,000, lies just north of the Syrian border, some 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Syrian town of Azaz. Turkish officials have said it is the only town in the country with a majority of Syrians, some of the estimated 2.2 million living in Turkey who have fled the civil war at home. That area of northern Syria south of Kilis has in the last months been the scene of fierce clashes involving IS jihadists who have seized swathes of northern Syria. Were on our own: Flood levee divides Victorian town Residents on the wrong side of Echuca's "great wall" have voiced their frustrations about being left "on our own" as the Victorian town braces for rising flood levels. Palaszczuk responds to review into Australias COVID-19 response Speaking at the Housing Summit in Brisbane on Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk was asked to weigh in on the independent review into Australias COVID-19 response. Went too far: Dutton takes aim at Andrews in response to damning COVID-19 report The Opposition Leader has defended the former government's actions in Australia's coronavirus pandemic response while taking aim at Victoria for its lockdowns, which led to Melbourne being the longest locked down city in the world. Fossil fuel opponents want Indigenous woman with mining links taken off festival board Activists want the NT Minerals Council chief executive kicked off the board of the Darwin Festival because she previously worked for gas company Santos. SIOUX CENTER | Speaking before a packed audience at Dordt College Saturday, Donald Trump said Christianity in America is under attack before pouncing on his political opponents. "I'm a true believer; is everyone a true believer in this room?" Trump asked to a packed, loud crowd inside the B.J. Haan Auditorium. "Christianity is under siege," Trump continued. "(President Barack Obama) doesn't want to say 'radical Islamic terror,' like it doesn't exist." Thousands turned up for the event, with more than 3,000 registering online to attend. Lines from the auditorium doors stretched across the Dordt campus, with the hall able to hold only 1,600. The rec center to the north was set up to hold 1,000 more with the speech live streamed to the building. After his speech, Trump spent about 10 minutes talking to supporters in the rec center. Trump mentioned his earlier comments that had drawn a firestorm of criticism -- and support -- when he talked about possible measures on surveying Muslims in the U.S. and temporarily halting Muslims coming into the counry. He said that had he talked about a ban on Christians, he would have met less criticism. "I would have had less difficulty," Trump said. "As a group, as Christians, we're becoming less powerful as a force." Trump then promised, if elected, department stores would be saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays," again. The real estate mogul moved to his political rivals -- mainly former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, both of whom lag behind Trump in most national polls. Trump said Bush had "wasted" $100 million in campaign spending and is in last place among Republican presidential hopefuls. He said the money should have been given to wounded war veterans instead, a comment that drew enormous applause from the Sioux Center crowd. "I don't think this guy is a smart person," Trump said of Bush. He also mocked U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's endorsement of Bush before deriding Bush's recent political ad featuring his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush. "Get out there yourself. Low energy. Weak. Pathetic," Trump said of Bush. Outside, more than a dozen protesters held signs near the auditorium. One of the protesters, Kim Von Es, chair of the Sioux County Democrats, said a number of people in the area are concerned with comments Trump has made on immigrants, minorities, Muslims and women. "I feel he's really lowered the meter on what public civility is in this campaign," Von Es said. "We want people to know there are alternatives to him and his message." Trump questioned Cruz's eligibility to run for president, as he was born in Canada to American citizens. He said Cruz could run for prime minister of Canada, and that he could sue Cruz if Cruz wins the nomination. On the strength of his poll numbers, Trump remarked how loyal his own supporters are. "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose anyone," he said. "That's how loyal they are." Trump also took several minutes to insult various people, including Glenn Beck, whom he called a stone cold loser, the staff of the National Review, the Washington Post, which he called a tax scam, Bill Kristol, the media in general and others. Trump finished with statements on how he would rebuild the military before departing, shaking hands with the crowd before his next scheduled appearance in Pella, Iowa. In a parting note, he implored those present to attend their caucus events Feb. 1. "You gotta go out and do your thing. We will make America great again," he said. WATERLOO After allegedly fatally stabbing his girlfriends brother at his home, Martez Deroy Smith hid in the walk-in cooler of a West Fifth Street bar several blocks away. Smith, 46, of Waterloo, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Shawonyta Norman, 38, and domestic assault for allegedly shoving Latres Johnson at 1826 W. Third St. His trial continued Friday in Black Hawk County District Court. Prosecutors allege Norman intervened to stick up for Johnson during an argument with Smith on the evening of Nov. 25, 2014. More arguing followed and then appears to have de-escalated, and Norman and Smith stepped outside. Moments later, about 5:40 p.m., Norman re-entered the house grasping his chest and collapsed, and witnesses said Smith left the area. Norman was declared dead at Covenant Medical Center later that night. Surveillance videos from inside the Hunny Comb Hideout show Smith entered the sparsely populated bar about 6:05 p.m. and took a seat next to Delisha Hoosman, a bartender who was just coming off shift. Hoosman said Smith declined a drink, and they talked about the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. She testified nothing seemed out of the ordinary with Smith. After a few minutes, Smith asked for a cigarette and headed toward the front door. About that time, Officer Jessica Brownell with the Waterloo Police Department was driving past the Hunny Comb Hideout while searching for Smith and spotted him lighting up. She told jurors she drove around the block, parked her squad car and noticed Smith, now inside the bar, peering out a window. The bars security camera captured the commotion that went on inside before Brownell entered. Hoosman pushed Smith toward the back of the bar, where stairs led to a basement that was off limits to customers. Smith picked up his pace as he disappeared from the cameras view. A bartender who had just started her shift, Theresa Buttercup Boyd, also took off for the basement because she had an outstanding warrant for driving charges. Boyd said she and Smith hid in a walk-in cooler in the basement. They stood in the dark cooler and listened to the footsteps overhead, she said. It was pitch black. You couldnt see nothing, Boyd said. He didnt say nothing to me, I didnt say nothing to him. She said she didnt know Smith or why he was hiding. I dont know him, he dont know me. I was worried about myself, she said. When Brownell entered and asked about Smith, people in the bar denied seeing him, and one man at a video poker machine claimed he was the one she saw at the window. Other officers entered and looked around and eventually left. Boyd left the basement after 15 minutes, and Smith emerged after about 35 minutes and then left the bar through a side door. Brownell testified she continued to watch the bar after leaving and eventually saw a lone figure walking in the area of Grant and West Sixth streets. I walked up the sidewalk, told the male to stop walking. I shined my flashlight in his face, I saw it was Martez. I asked for his name, he said, Its me, and put his hands up in the air, Brownell said. Smiths trial continues Monday. 20. Memorabilia Costs HOW MUCH?! 19. The Indescribable Pain Of Stepping On A Creeper Toy Minecraft is an absolute phenomenon. In the span of only a few short years, the simplistic looking survival game has become one of the most wildly known games on the planet, with merchandising that rivals Star Wars at its most ridiculous (BB-8 oranges, anyone?). There are spin-off games, toys, books, online video series' and yes, even a movie in the works. Minecraft is more or less everywhere you look these days. And the reason why you're seeing so much Minecraft lately is simple; Microsoft paid a king's ransom of two and a half BILLION dollars for the series, so they aren't going to let it go to waste. To put that into perspective, Disney bought the decades-old money machine that was Star Wars for four billion, not even double what Minecraft sold for, despite being a much older and much larger money-making property. The victims of all this Minecraft overload however, are the parents. There's so much Minecraft stuff out there that anyone not familiar with the series has little chance of getting what their kids actually want, and perhaps less of a chance to understand what they're being told in the process. So, in amongst attempting to understand the advent of digital Lego, here are twenty things every parent has been forced to endure for their Minecraft-obsessed kids.Kids want a stick with an LED on the end of it? $20. How about those mystery bags that are so popular these days? Those will run you at least $5 each and they almost always end up being something like an eraser top for a pencil.Have you ever stepped on LEGO? It hurts to a point that most humans consider unreasonable, but it is nothing compared to stepping on a Creeper toy. The edges on those things are like knives. You can throw shards of broken glass on the floor at night to simulate what its like. Brittany Pillman, the daughter of the late Brian Pillman, has broken her near twenty-year silence and publicly spoken out about the ordeal of her father's passing for the first time since his untimely death in 1997. When Pillman died in his hotel room from a heart attack at the age of just 35, leaving a wife and five young children behind, the wrestling industry bandied together in a unified display of support for the grief-stricken Pillman family. The WWF continued to pay Melanie the downside guarantee in Brians contract three months after his death and later produced a tribute magazine on Pillman, from which all of the proceeds went to Melanie. A year later Melanie found herself struggling and about to lose her house, so Vince McMahon stepped in and wrote her a $10,000 cheque to help keep the family afloat. Friends of Brian decided they wanted to do their bit to help out too. Between 1998 and 2001 former wrestler Les Thatcher promoted the Brian Pillman Memorial Show, one of the hottest tickets on the independent scene each year, featuring numerous notable wrestlers all working for free. The proceeds went to Melanie to help her put the children through school, as Brian would have wanted. But Pillmans daughter Brittany, now 25, claims to have never seen any of the money because her step-mother Melanie (Brittany was Brians daughter from a previous relationship, later adopted by Melanie) blew it all on her own drug addiction. According to Brittany, her step-mother hasn't given her or Brians other children (Brian and Danielle) a single penny. When my dad died I got stuck with Melanie. Pretty soon we were left with nothing because the money went right up her nose. We had lost everything by the time I was 11, says Brittany. We were wearing hand-me-down clothes and living with two addicts. Half the time we didn't have food, or the electric was shut off because Melanie hadn't paid the bills. My Aunt Linda (Pillmans sister) always came to the rescue, paying the bills and bringing us food, even though she couldn't afford it herself. If it wasn't for her, I don't know what we would have done. I left home the minute I turned 18 and lived on my own, which I could afford to do because I was still in high school, so I got a cheque until I graduated. Once that money ran out I was bouncing around living with different family members, while Brian was with a friend in an apartment. Then six years ago Linda moved states from Ohio to Kentucky and bought a house so that Brian and I could live together as a family and have a place we could call home. Brittany believes things might have been very different for her and Brian had Linda not been there to help. Linda is our angel, Brittany smiles, I thank God every day for her loving and selfless soul. To Brian and I she was like the mother we never had. She was always there for us no matter what. Without her we would have been lost. The cost of taking in Brians children has not been easy for Linda, who has put herself in a financial hole taking care of her brothers children without any assistance. I hate to see Linda struggling financially because of us kids. It breaks my heart. Brian and I have paid to put ourselves through school, I am studying criminal justice and he is working in the field of computer science. We hope our education will lead to a good career so we can make something of our lives and pay our aunt back for everything. Unfortunately, we are both in thousands of dollars of debt each from school loans. Melanie has taken so much from us. Anything that has my fathers name on she benefits from. She took everything of my fathers. Brian and I have never seen a penny. She hasn't done a damn thing for us but use up my dads money on drugs. She still gets a cheque every three months to fund her addiction while Brian and I are trying to make ends meet. One of the saddest aspects of the Pillman family tale when told by others was how Brians widow Melanie was left alone as a single-mother with five children and another on the way, but Brittany reveals that version of events does not tell the full story. It was actually four kids that Melanie had to look after, not five. My dad had another daughter, Danielle, with a different woman. He left five kids behind with one on the way, but Melanie didn't raise Danielle, she lived with her mother. Her mom wouldn't allow her to come around because of Melanie. The only way we were able to have a relationship with Danielle was because Linda would get us together on weekends. Brittany also claims that despite how well Melanie played the role of broken-hearted widow on WWF television, things were very different when the cameras were not rolling. Melanie and my dad were in the process of getting a divorce when he died. It wasnt final so, of course, it was a pity party for her. She was already pregnant with another guys baby when dad died, and she married him less than a year later. She wont admit that though. She swears my little sister is my dads, but she isn't.Brittany believes the royalties her fathers name still generates should rightfully come to her and her family rather than Melanie. She gets a royalty cheque every three months, but anytime I asked her about it she would say, Theres not enough there to help you out. I have tried to reason with her. I have given her so many chances to do the right thing and pay back my aunt for all she has done for us, but she wont change. Ive washed my hands of her. A few years ago Brittany tried to get in touch with WWE, but she had frustratingly little success. Nobody from WWE has ever contacted me and I havent been able to get in touch with anyone. Im not really sure how to. Ive tried looking into it but my step-mom always seems to get her way. It seems like they only care about the wife, but thats not right. They should care about the children. Brittany reveals she has struggled to cope with her familys tragedies (her mother Rochelle killed herself a few years before Brian passed away) and that growing up in such a toxic environment took its toll. I took things hard. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety since I was 15-years-old due to all the trauma I took on, she admits. I am much better now. I found the Lord and it changed my life completely. Through Him I was able to take my depression, my pain, and my hurting and turn it into a story that can hopefully change lives one day. In a way I am thankful for my struggle because it has made me the person I am today. Its been a tough road for Brian and I, but I hope my dad is up there smiling, proud of us for coming through it. Brittany says that only in recent years has she been able move past the tragedy and start learning more about her famous dad. I don't really have any memories of my father and I have so many unanswered questions, she says, Now that I am getting older Im very curious about a lot of things. I would love to be able to talk to some of his friends from wrestling. I am sure they have so many stories about my dad that I would love to hear. By making this story public it is Brittanys hope that somebody will be able to help her get in touch with the right people at WWE who might be able to help get her fathers royalties redirected to her, her siblings, and Linda. She also hopes that Pillmans close friends will make themselves available for her to get in touch and talk about her father. If you have any information that you feel can help Brittany with regards to WWE, if you knew Brian well, or can do anything else at all to help, please contact James Dixon at: jamesdixonwriter@gmail.com Come meet Singapore's marine biologists and find out more about their work happening right here on our shores. Suitable for the whole family! 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How to, Facebook, YouTube, Gmail, google, xvideos, cars, covid19, UK, Visa, real estates, mother's day, father's day, Real Estate Investment Trust, Bank, School, Sales, University, Admin, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Wizkid, Buhari, Pelosi, Jagaban, Tinubu, Osinbajo, list, brainjotter, emmanuella, lordlamba, bamba, edshiran, peru, USA, Holy Ghost, Market, Health, Medical, food, hunger, election, democracy, price The great wall chinese - china Did You Know? When Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered construction of the Great Wall around 221 B.C., the labor force that built the wall was made up largely of soldiers and convicts. It is said that as many as 400,000 people died during the wall's construction; many of these workers were buried within the wall itself. Qin Dynasty ConstructionThough the beginning of the Great Wall of China can be traced to the third century B.C., many of the fortifications included in the wall date from hundreds of years earlier, when China was divided into a number of individual kingdoms during the so-called Warring States Period. Around 220 B.C., Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, ordered that earlier fortifications between states be removed and a number of existing walls along the northern border be joined into a single system that would extend for more than 10,000 li (a li is about one-third of a mile) and protect China against attacks from the north.Construction of the Wan Li Chang Cheng, or 10,000-Li-Long Wall, was one of the most ambitious building projects ever undertaken by any civilization. The famous Chinese general Meng Tian directed the project, and was said to have used a massive army of soldiers, convicts and commoners as workers. Made mostly of earth and stone, the wall stretched from the China Sea port of Shanhaiguan over 3,000 miles west into Gansu province. In some strategic areas, sections of the wall overlapped for maximum security (including the Badaling stretch, north of Beijing, that was later restored by the Ming dynasty). From a base of 15 to 50 feet, the Great Wall rose some 15-30 feet high and was topped by ramparts 12 feet or higher; guard towers were distributed at intervals along it.The Great Wall of China Through the CenturiesWith the death of Qin Shi Huang and the fall of the Qin dynasty, much of the Great Wall fell into disrepair. After the fall of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), a series of frontier tribes seized control in northern China. The most powerful of these was the Northern Wei dynasty (386-535 A.D.), which repaired and extended the existing wall to defend against attacks from other tribes. The Bei Qi kingdom (550577) built or repaired more than 900 miles of wall, and the short-lived but effective Sui dynasty (581618) repaired and extended the Great Wall of China a number of times.With the fall of the Sui and the rise of the Tang dynasty (618-907), the Great Wall lost its importance as a fortification, as China had defeated the Tujue tribe to the north and expanded past the original frontier protected by the wall. During the Song dynasty (960-1279), the Chinese were forced to withdraw under threat from the Liao and Jin peoples to the north, who took over many areas on both sides of the Great Wall. The powerful Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1206-1368) established by Genghis Khan eventually controlled all of China, parts of Asia and sections of Europe. Though the Great Wall held little importance for the Mongols as a military fortification, soldiers were assigned to man the wall in order to protect merchants and caravans traveling along the profitable trade routes established during this period.Wall Building During the Ming DynastyDespite its long history, the Great Wall of China as it is exists today was constructed mainly during the mighty Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Like the Mongols, the early Ming rulers had little interest in building border fortifications, and wall building was limited before the late 15th century. In 1421, the Ming emperor Yongle proclaimed Chinas new capital, Beijing, on the site of the former Mongol city of Dadu. Under the strong hand of the Ming rulers, Chinese culture flourished, and the period saw an immense amount of construction in addition to the Great Wall, including bridges, temples and pagodas. The construction of the Great Wall as it is known today began around 1474. After an initial phase of territorial expansion, Ming rulers took a largely defensive stance, and their reformation and extension of the Great Wall was key to this strategy.The Ming wall extended from the Yalu River in Liaoning Province to the eastern bank of the Taolai River in Gansu Province, and winded its way from east to west through todays Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Gansu.Starting west of Juyong Pass, the Great Wall was split into south and north lines, respectively named the Inner and Outer Walls. Strategic passes (i.e., fortresses) and gates were placed along the wall; the Juyong, Daoma and Zijing passes, closest to Beijing, were named the Three Inner Passes, while further west were Yanmen, Ningwu and Piantou, the Three Outer Passes. All six passes were heavily garrisoned during the Ming period and considered vital to the defense of the capital.Significance of the Great Wall of ChinaIn the mid-17th century, the Manchus from central and southern Manchuria broke through the Great Wall and encroached on Beijing, eventually forcing the fall of the Ming dynasty and beginning of the Qing (Manchu) dynasty (1644-1912). Between the 18th and 20th centuries, the Great Wall emerged as the most common emblem of China for the Western world, and a symbol both physicala manifestation of Chinese strengthand psychologicala representation of the barrier maintained by the Chinese state to repel foreign influences and exert control over its citizens.Today, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. In 1987, UNESCO designated the Great Wall a World Heritage site, and a popular claim that emerged in the 20th century holds that it is the only manmade structure that is visible from the moon. Over the years, roadways have been cut through the wall in various points, and many sections have deteriorated after centuries of neglect. The best-known section of the Great Wall of ChinaBadaling, located 43 miles (70 km) northwest of Beijingwas rebuilt in the late 1950s, and attracts thousands of national and foreign tourists every day. 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. Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir? Canl Bahis Nedir? Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir. Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir. Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr. Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr? Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr? Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr. Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr. Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler. Canl Bahis Taktikleri Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir. Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir. Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz. Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr. Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz. Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz. Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz. Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz. Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz. Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir. Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr. Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak. Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir; Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi Banka hesap bilgileri Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura. Kacak Iddaa Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir. Kacak Bahis Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor. Illegal Bahis Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr. Yasads Bahis Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler. Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir? Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir? Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir; Iddaa Bilyoner Tuttur Birebin Oley Nesine Misli Iddaa 2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir. Bilyoner Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir. Tuttur Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr. Birebin Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor. Oley 2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr. Nesine Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur. Misli 2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur. Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir. Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir. Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr. Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir. Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz. Barbara Ehrenreich in The Baffler: At around the turn of the millennium, some disturbing findings surfaced in the biomedical literature. Macrophagesimmune cells whose function is to attack and kill microbes and other threats to the bodydo not gather at tumor sites to destroy cancer cells, as had been optimistically imagined. Instead, they encourage the cancer cells to continue their mad reproductive rampage. Frances Balkwill, the British cell biologist who performed some of the key studies of treasonous immune cell behavior, described her colleagues in the field as being horrified. By and large, medical science continues to present a happy face to the public. Self-help books and websites go right on advising cancer patients to boost their immune systems in order to combat the disease; patients should eat right and cultivate a supposedly immune-boosting positive attitude. Better yet, they are urged to visualize the successful destruction of cancer cells by the bodys immune cells, following guidelines such as: Cancer cells are weak and confused, and should be imagined as something that can fall apart like ground hamburger. There is an army of different kinds of white blood cells that can overwhelm the cancer cells. White blood cells are aggressive and want to seek out and attack the cancer cells. At a more respectable level of discourse, Harvard physician Jerome Groopman wrote an entire 2012 New Yorker article on scientific attempts to enlist the immune system against cancerwithout ever once mentioning that certain types of immune cells have a tendency to go over to the other side. But the evidence for immune cell collusion with cancer keeps piling up. More here. Fort Worth Unit Hosts Congressional Staff Tour Tenth Air Force and its 301st Fighter Wing hosted the third and final leg of the Winter Air Force Reserve Staff Delegation Tour at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas on Thursday, January 21, 2016. Eleven Congressional staffers learned and experienced what the Reserve component brings - combat readiness and experience. With a tour like this, the first stop at Tinker, Air Force Base, Okla. and the second at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, the aim is to create memories that highlight the value of our citizen airmen and what they bring to the fight. The Dirty Dozen: what it means to serve as a Reservist When I was the spouse of a Reservist (which was the better part of my five years of marriage), I didn't get it. My husband would work his normal work week, then square away his uniform on Friday night for drill on Saturday and Sunday. Come Monday morning, he was back at work, and I had no concept of the toll it took - until I became a Reservist with a full-time job, too. They call it the "Dirty Dozen" here: 12 days in a row where you set your alarm for 5 a.m. to be at work by 6:30 or 7 a.m. Twelve days in a row where your spouse has to pack the kids up for church alone on a Sunday, or - if you're both Reservists - you have to find a babysitter Saturday and Sunday. Twelve days in a row that your kids are in daycare or with a sitter. Twelve days in a row where date nights don't exist because those precious hours from 6 p.m. when you get home till the time you roll into bed are spent going through mail, cleaning the house and doing laundry. For those who are geographically separated from their military unit, it also means two travel days, or working a full day Friday and then driving several hours to get to the unit's lodging facility in time to shower and crash for a few hours. Employers who honor their Reservists' duties are extra special. Although it's a federal requirement to allow Reservists to leave when they are on orders and hold their job for them, some employers find ways to make it as difficult as possible; others accommodate with alternative work locations, work-from-home options, or even "stay available by phone" or "check email" and they're good to go. During the rest of the month, part-time military service means Reservists have to stay physically fit. They abstain from activities some civilians enjoy. What they do off-duty, they know, can affect their entire military career. Prior to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," those who were in partnerships with members of the same sex had to stay "in the closet" 28 days a month for the sake of the two they serve. This is the sacrifice we all signed up for when we raised our right hand and took the oath. When someone thanks me for my service, I say - genuinely - "it's my pleasure." And it is. But I didn't get it until I experienced it. I took for granted what part-time military servicemembers do day in and day out and especially during the "Dirty Dozen." Don't take for granted what your Guard and Reserve friends and family do when they serve. They're not "weekend warriors" - they're part of a force that's ready to activate any time active duty needs a hand. They're some of the finest people and finest Americans I know. Motilal Vora says its nothing to do with Sonia-Rahul Gandhi case, the newspaper would be re-launched. In a major development, the publishers of National Herald have decided to convert the firm to a non-profit entity.The publishers of National Herald group of newspapers, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), will convert the firm from the commercial one to a non-profit entity. Mumbai Congress leader Krishna Hegde told this newspaper that the entire case against Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi ji is politically motivated. There is no substantial ground to this case. Zakir Ahmad of Congress said, whether they looted a business they paid for is not relevant. Most business people take advantage of the assets of the companies they own, BJP is issue less and they failed to deliver their promises, so hiding their face under such issues. According to AJL Managing Director Motilal Vora, the AJL Extraordinary General Meeting has decided to relaunch newspapers. However, Vora has also said that the conversion is not at all linked with the National Herald case. Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul had got bail in the National Herald case after a local court rejected complainant Subramanian Swamys opposition to the relief for them on the ground they are influential and can flee the country. The case is based on a private criminal complaint lodged by Swamy against them of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. Swamy has accused them of cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct daily National Herald. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2016 The Department of Agriculture has announced additional revisions to its highly pathogenic avian influenza response after the first outbreak of the disease in seven months was detected last week. The changes were announced in a release from USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). They are updates from an original response and preparedness plan originally release in September. The most recent version of the plan can be seen here. In the original plan, APHIS announced intentions to use a flat reimbursement rate for all depopulation and virus elimination activities. However, the agency clarified that details were still being finalized and today announced different rates will be allocated to producers based on the type of facility being depopulated and cleaned and number of birds therein. Under the updated plan, turkeys will be reimbursed at a rate of $3.55 per bird, layers at $6.45 per bird, and broilers at $1.15 per bird. The broiler reimbursement is based on an industry estimate since no broiler facilities were hit by the 2015 outbreak that caused the depopulation of over 48 million birds. All told, APHIS said the rates are to cover the cost of barn preparation, dry cleaning, and heat disinfection. Producers will have the option to do depopulation and cleaning work themselves or hire a contractor. The news comes as the Humane Society of the United States speake out against a depopulation protocol used by Department of Agriculture officials in dealing with the most recent HPAI outbreak in Indiana. In a release, the animal rights organization condemned the use of the ventilation shutdown depopulation method that turns off fans in commercial poultry housing and uses increased heat to depopulate the birds inside. HSUS Chief Veterinary Officer Michael Blackwell said there are more humane ways to mass euthanize poultry than intentionally causing heat stroke, which is absolutely a horrible way to die. He went on to say that shutting vents should only be considered as an absolute last resort, and not the first response to an outbreak. In an email to Agri-Pulse, an APHIS spokeswoman said the agency and other stakeholders made commitments to dealing with depopulation quickly, ideally within 24 hours of a presumptive positive test result. She said ventilation shutdown was listed as an approved method of depopulation in the previous response plan, and it along with water-based foam was used in the most recent depopulation incident. Trying to keep up with the news on avian flu ? Sign up for an Agri-Pulse four-week free trial subscription to stay on top of this and other food, ag, rural policy and energy issues. These rapid depopulation goals were set to stop virus amplification and widespread transmission, which would result in far greater numbers of animals being destroyed, the spokeswoman said. She added that about 400,000 birds were depopulated recently stemming from the detection of the H7N8 strain of HPAI in Indiana. The updated plan also clarifies some new points on vaccination in the event that vaccines are administered. For starters, USDA will cover the cost of the vaccine, but not the costs of its administration. In the event that vaccination is used, there may also justification for not vaccinating birds with shorter life spans such as broilers. The updated plan also makes clear that surveillance testing for layer flocks would be through serological testing of vaccinates. #30 Earlier this month, I summarized the agriculture positions of the candidates for President on both sides of the aisle. You can read that column here. Since that time, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) who is running for the Democratic nomination, (Bernie as he prefers) has released a position paper on agriculture entitled Improving the Rural Economy. When it comes to rural development, Bernie is right on target. He supports biofuels, wind energy, the Renewable Fuel Standard, broadband, improving the electric grid and improving our dams and levees. Excellent! As to agriculture, however, Bernie misses the mark. Bernie supports small farms and mid-size farms as well as regional food systems. Pointedly, Bernie withholds support for larger factory farms and our national food system. In short, he is at odds with the traditional Democratic support for American agriculture. The 2012 Democratic National Platform on agriculture states: An agricultural economy built to last is integral to the affordability of our food, the independence of our energy supply, and the security of America's middle class. Democrats support agriculture from the small farms that feed the community to the large farms that feed the world. President Obama has expanded markets for American goods that help support more than a million agriculture jobs here at home. And in the past few years, agriculture has been one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy, creating one out of every 12 American jobs. Democrats appreciate agriculture's role in securing America's food security and making our country an ambassador of food aid to countries across the world. That's why Democrats support a strong farm safety net, with increased availability of crop insurance and emergency disaster assistance to help farmers and ranchers keep their farms in business after natural disasters and crop loss. Democrats are also planning for a strong agricultural future, and President Obama has proposed increasing funding for research and development to improve agricultural productivity and continue to pursue global food security. Farms in Vermont are small, averaging just 177 acres. Dairy accounts for 70-80 percent of Vermonts agricultural sales overall but cow numbers have dropped to a population of 135,000 producing just 1.3% of the national milk supply, according to Dr. Parsons at the University of Vermont. And the Sanders agriculture issue paper emphasizes small-scale farming. This contrasts with the U.S. farm belt where farms are frequently over 1,000 acres and even a family farm can reach 5,000 acres or more. It is the efficiency of these large farms that benefits all American consumers, and low income consumers in particular. Americans spend less on food than any other country in the world, improving the quality of live for all. The Sanders issue paper says It is unacceptable that the top 10% of farms collect 75% of farm subsidies. Yet the top 10% of the farms in the U.S. are the ones that feed America. Indeed, only a few hundred thousand farmers can feed the country. Finally, while it may be logical for Bernie, who represents Vermont, to support Vermonts statute that calls for labeling foods that are genetically modified foods (GE), it is at odds with the larger needs of the country. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and many of the stakeholders in the food chain are working together to try and develop a national system for providing information to consumers on how their foods are produced. It is critical that there be one national system as fifty different state labeling schemes will totally disrupt interstate commerce. There is just one national, nutrition labeling system and there can be only one system for providing consistent information about what is in our food and how it is produced. The net impact of Sanders agriculture policies would be to drive up the cost of food for all Americans, hurt U.S. competitiveness in the world market and undercut the UN goal of global food security. Over the next few weeks and months, Americans will begin the process of selecting the nominees of the Republican and Democratic political parties. In November we will elect the 45th President of the United States. It is an extraordinary process that would make the founding fathers very proud. Our obligation as citizens is to learn as much as we can about the candidates before voting. The stakes could not be higher on a range of issues, including agriculture. Our economy and our national security depend on a strong agriculture economy. Whether the next president is a Republican or a Democrat, agriculture deserves the support of the next Administration. from the small farms that feed the community to the large farms that feed the world. Marshall Matz specializes in agriculture at OFW Law in Washington. He was Counsel to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and chaired the Obama for President, Committee on Agriculture. WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 22, 2016 - China, the worlds largest rice producer and importer, has agreed to open its market to U.S. exporters after years of negotiations between the two governments, the USA Rice Federation announced Friday. "The challenge now is to move from agreement to shipments," USA Rice CEO Betsy Ward said in a statement on the groups website. USDA officials on Thursday informed the rice industry that China had finally signed off on a phytosanitary protocol that will pave the way for trade to begin, but USA Rice officials had already been preparing for what was widely considered an imminent start to trade. A preliminary protocol was reached by USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and its Chinese counterpart, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, several months ago but the deal was delayed after Chinas Agriculture minister held off on signing it immediately, according to U.S. government and industry officials. "We have been working with APHIS for several weeks to identify U.S. mills and storage facilities interested in exporting to China and willing to comply with the insect-trapping and record-keeping requirements of the protocol," said USA Rice Chief Operating Officer Bob Cummings. "APHIS will soon contact these entities to arrange on-site inspections to assess compliance with APHIS' work plan. The insect trapping is key and a recent demand from China that many in the U.S. industry initially balked at. China and the U.S. were on the verge of completing a phytosanitary protocol about a year ago when Chinese negotiators unexpectedly added provisions to require that U.S. mills begin laying out traps for the Khapra beetle and other related or similar pests that can do severe damage to grain stocks. China wasnt just asking for the traps, though. It also demanded that mills and storage facilities keep record of what is found in the traps and make those records available to the Chinese. The Khapra beetle is very hard to kill because insecticides dont do much damage to them and they can go without eating for extended periods of time. U.S. producers said they werent worried, though, because the beetles are extremely rare in the U.S. They are more of a problem in Asia, they said. What did worry the U.S. industry was another addition to the protocol this past summer in which China sought to require U.S. mills to label all of the rice varieties in shipments. Many in the industry complained this was often not possible and the issue was settled when APHIS officials told the Chinese that variety labeling was a business matter that could not be included in a phytosanitary protocol. Following trade? We cover it on Agri-Pulse. Sign up today for a four-week free trial subscription. The latest USDA forecast shows China importing 4.7 million tons in the 2015-16 marketing year, up from 4.3 million tons in 2014-15. Its unclear how much China will buy from the U.S., but there is enormous potential. Back in 2001, when the U.S. and China reached a deal to allow China to join the World Trade Organization, China agreed to a tariff rate quota system that would allow access to 2.7 million tons of U.S. rice. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2016 - Six senators have asked the Grocery Manufacturers Association to explain how shoppers without smartphones will be able to use the so-called SmartLabel initiative GMA has proposed to get information about the food theyre buying. Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy from Connecticut, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Jon Tester of Montana, along with Independent Bernie Sanders, the Vermonter whos running for president as a Democrat, sent a letter on Thursday with the request to GMA President and CEO Pamela Bailey. They asked for a response by Feb. 17. GMA said its working on a response. The letter comes as groups representing different views on GMO labeling are talking about a compromise in meetings hosted by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has backed something similar to the SmartLabel. The progress of the negotiations, if they can be called that, has thus far been as secretive as is possible in Washington, D.C. In their letter, the senators said many consumers wont be able to use the plan (which would be voluntary on the part of manufacturers) either because they dont have smartphones or because their smartphones arent properly equipped to scan the barcode or QR code. According to the Pew Research Center, only 68 percent of American adults own a smartphone many of which do not necessarily subscribe to mobile broadband, the senators said. How will GMA ensure that consumers who dont have smartphones typically lower income, less educated, or elderly individuals are able to access important food labeling information while they are shopping in the grocery store aisles? How will GMA make these shoppers aware of the SmartLabel initiative? How will you measure the efficacy or consumer use of this initiative and will such reporting be made publicly available? The lawmakers also raised privacy concerns. Many consumers are worried about how this initiative will affect their privacy. What promises will manufacturers participating in the SmartLabel initiative make to consumers to assure their privacy and that their information will not be used or sold? Are you following food labeling issues? Agri-Pulse is the place for the latest news on the topic. Sign up for a four-week free trial subscription. Lastly, we are concerned that the SmartLabel initiative faces many technical hurdles that will affect consumer access to critical information that they will not have access to by simply reading a products label, they said. Different smartphone models vary greatly in their ability to quickly and easily scan QR codes. In a Dec. 2 press release, when GMA announced the initiative, the association said, A number of retailers have said that they can help shoppers without smartphones via their customer service desk in stores. In addition, both online and brick and mortar stores are exploring ways to make SmartLabel more accessible to their customers such as by posting the SmartLabel link on their page to allow access in one click or through customer service desks. A few days later, Jim Flannery, GMAs senior executive vice president for operations and industry collaboration, wrote, If I have no access to the Internet, Ill bet the store where Im shopping does or can access the information. The only way people cant get the information is if they really dont try looking. These Assyrian Christians Are Staying in Syria to Fight for Freedom Members of the Assyrian Gozarto Protection Forces (GPF), a Syrian Christian movement, and other Assyrian fighters rest and drink tea before heading to reinforce pro-government forces on the front line in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group, in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah on July 13, 2015. If you think the plight of Christians in Syria is a straightforward matter of Christians versus ISIS, or Christians versus various forms of radical Islam, think again. That is a major part of the story, but not the whole story. And if your only image of Assyrian Christians is that of helpless emigrants, rethink that, too. The day for Ashur (not his real name) begins like many others: He wakes just after sunrise in the town of Qamishli, in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah, eats a quick breakfast and hurries to his job as a military spokesman for the Gozarto Protection Forces, or GPF, and Sootoro. Normally, because of the enormous workload, Ashur will be at the office for 2-3 days straight. The GPF and Sootoro are Assyrian Christian response forces and police, respectively, protecting Assyrian Christian cities and village in Northern Syria from terrorist groups like ISIS and the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG. While most of the world knows about the horror that is ISIS, few know of the violent, Marxist YPG. Linked closely to the Kurdish terrorist group the PKK, the YPG has a long history of bombings, assassinations and violence in the region. In late December, 2015, a triple bomb attack, believed to have been the work of the YPG, destroyed three restaurants and killed 40 people in the Assyrian Christian neighborhood of Al-Wusta in Qamishli. In response, the GPF and Sootoro erected security checkpoints throughout their neighborhood. On January 11, 2016, YPG forces confronted the Sootoro at a checkpoint, demanding that it be taken down. When Sootoro refused, the YPG open fire with a 'technical' -- a pickup truck with a mounted machine gun -- killing young Assyrian Gabi Henry Dawoud. The Assyrian Sootoro and reinforcing GPF members returned fire. The battle raged for hours, leaving six Kurdish YPG members dead. As of the writing of this piece, the two sides are still in an intense stand-off. Ashur is worried, but firm in his resolve. "I know that death can come for me or other Christians at any moment," he said. In December of 2015, Ashur was supposed to be at one of the bombed restaurants, the Miami, playing cards with his friends. His life was spared, because at the last minute something came up that kept him at work. Ten people were killed at the Miami restaurant that night, his card-playing friends among them. A life of war and terror is not what Ashur envisioned for himself as a young man in his twenties. He dislikes fighting, and hates guns -- some even call him a "gentle teddy bear." He'd planned to obtain a bachelor's degree in economics and become a government minister. But on March 15, 2011, that changed. Three members of the GPF patrol an area of Hasaka where a major battle took place between the YPG and the GPF (The Picture Christians Project/Jeff Gardner). The Syrian civil war, or what the Assyrians call the "Crisis," broke out in 2011 following the police response to three children spray-painting anti-government slogans on the wall of a government building in Dara'a, Syria. The three were picked up by the secret police and badly beaten. Two died; one has since disappeared. The incident incited protests and, by July of that year, an armed revolution had begun. In the ensuing chaos, ISIS entered the revolution and seized the Northern Syrian city of Raqqah as its headquarters. Assyrian Christians quickly realized that the Syrian government, overwhelmed by the civil war, could do nothing to stop ISIS, and began organizing the GPF and Sootoro as protection against the Islamic State. More than two years later, they are still holding against not only ISIS but other radical Muslim groups and Kurdish Marxists. They are, quite literally, surrounded by enemies. Prior to the Crisis, Ashur says, his people were peaceful -- they didn't want to fight. "We picked up weapons because we had to," he says. "We had to protect our lives, our property. We want to live and worship in a peaceful environment. To do that in the Middle East and live is almost impossible. We must fight to survive." Their goals are simple, says Ashur: They want Syria to be reunited as a democratic society overseen by a government that respects religious freedom rather than imposing a theocracy. A member of the Sootoro is seen in the background providing protection for the students as they leave school (The Picture Christians Project/Jeff Gardner). Alongside the GPF is another response force, the Sootoro. Sootoro serve as the police in Assyrian cities, patrolling the streets and even guarding elementary schools from YPG harassment. "The YPG comes into our schools carrying guns, yelling at the teachers to stop teaching Assyrian-Christian lessons," Ashur said. "It terrifies the children, so Sootoro stands guard to make them feel safe," he added. Another threat to the children: ISIS has verbalized their intent to kill the next generation of Assyrian Christians. They won't if the Sootoro can help it. Ashur says that the Assyrian Christians just want to be treated like human beings. "Everybody treats us like second-class citizens," he says, "and ISIS wants to finish us; they want us dead." According to American Jeff Gardner, Director of Operations for the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation, "What the Assyrians want for the Middle East is what the United States wants," he says. "They don't want a religious state, but a democratic, non-sectarian government. As a nation, we should be working much closer with them." Why didn't Ashur simply emigrate? He explained that he decided to work for the GPF and Sootoro because he had to do something for his Christian faith. "I wanted to be a player instead of an observer-- or loser," he said. For him, someone who emigrates is conceding defeat. Church in the Khabour agricultural area not far from Qamishli (The Picture Christians Project/Jeff Gardner). Ashur said that he and many Assyrian Christians standing their ground in Syria are inspired to stay and fight, rather than emigrate, by a passage from the Gospel of John: "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:67-69) For many, says Gardner, the permanent label of "refugee" is a cross they'd rather not bear. Besides, he says, "If every open immigration slot for someone from the Middle East was filled, that would still leave millions behind -- what is to be done for them?" And Gardner doesn't see more open doors into Western countries as the solution. "Immigration is not the answer because immigration is not the problem; it is a symptom of a problem, namely, that the international community allows ISIS savages to roam freely," he said. Gardner's group Restore Nineveh Now, and others like it, seek to enable the GPF and Sootoro to obtain weapons, food and provide salaries and support. While the GPF is intentionally vague with the exact number of recruits in order to protect their group, they currently have about several hundred within their ranks. Thousands are waiting to join the GPF, if only they had supplies to fight. While the GPF is intentionally vague (for security reasons) about the exact number of their ranks, they have several hundred trained men at arms. Behind these forces are thousands of Assyrians waiting to join the GPF or Sootoro, if only they had supplies to fight. "Restore Nineveh Now is dedicated to supporting Assyrian Christians in Iraq and Syria," said Gardner, "and to help them gain a semi-autonomous province where they can live in peace." But they can't do it alone, he added. Prayers and donations are desperately needed. For now, those able to join the GPF or Sootoro remain committed to protecting their families, communities, property and their way of life. For Ashur, this means setting aside his dreams of finishing college and becoming a minister. For now, he sees his job as standing with his Assyrian Christian brothers and sisters against terror and persecution, while they all fight for their lives. "I'll do my best," he says, "with God's help." Assyrian Christians: Life Inside a War-Torn Nation Throughout all of the media attention given to the various people caught in Syria's civil war, one group, the Assyrian Christians, has been largely left out of the coverage. Jeff Gardner, director of operations for the Restore Nineveh Now Foundation, traveled deep into northeastern Syria to find out who the Assyrian Christians are and how they are managing to remain in their ancestral homeland. It's late in the morning, almost 11:30 a.m., but it is still chilly. I am sitting in a largish office at a training center for the Assyrian Christian defense force, the Gozarto Protection Force, and the Assyrian Christian police force, the Sootoro, in Qamishli, a city in the Hasakah province of northern Syria. The office has marble floors and a kerosene-fueled cast iron stove burning off to one side. It gives the room some warmth, but also leaves a heavy, acrid smell in the air. Across a glass coffee table from me sits Joseph. He is a tall man, well built, but with a weary look on his face. He is comfortable in brown, camouflage fatigues; on his right sleeve is a patch for the GPF, and on his left is the national flag of Syria. Also present is Ashur, my translator and military spokesman for the GPF. To relieve the constant tension that is life in Syria, we are all smoking -- even though I am a non-smoker. I spent the earlier part of the morning touring the training facility, watching young men go through "ready-up" rifle drills, RPG basics and the trickier business of manning a large machine gun mounted on the back of a pickup truck, a unit referred as a "technical." Joseph, whose days routinely run 12 -- 14 hours long, has agreed to sit with me for an interview and a photo session, although for security reasons, he has asked that I not show his face. I agree, giving him not only my word but also my camera, and he inspects every image that I take. Pointing to a photograph that pictures him from roughly the chin down, he nods his approval. As I press record on my phone's voice-recorder app, an assistant to Joseph enters the room carrying a tray with three steaming glasses of yerba mate -- an Argentine drink made with a mixture of dried leaves and twigs from the holly tree of South America, steeped in hot water and served with ample sugar. Although I am slightly annoyed at the interruption of my limited time with Joseph, having the hot mate to sip goes well with the delay in the interview caused by Ashur's translation of my questions to Joseph, and in turn, his answers to me. GPF and Sootoro recruits receive extensive operations and technical training (Jeff Gardner/The Picture Christians Project). I begin with, "Joseph, what do you do here?" He answers, "I oversee the training programs for the GPF and Sootoro, and as member of a committee, I decide which trainees will be selected for the GPF and which will serve in the Sootoro." Through my translator Ashur, Joseph continues to explain that the GPF is an Assyrian military force that fights the Islamic State, and Sootoro is an Assyrian police force operating in Qamishli. Sootoro does everything from patrolling the streets to standing guard at schools and restaurants. Its members are the keepers of the peace, public safety and security for the five Assyrian Christian neighborhoods in Qamishli. Both units, Joseph tells me, came into being by way of grinding necessity. As the Syrian civil war (which began in 2011) dragged on, government protection and services collapsed. And although ISIS, which has repeatedly attacked Assyrian Christians in the area, has made it clear that it intends to transform Syria into an Islamic State, the radical militants are not the most pressing problem for Christians in Qamishli. "We formed Sootoro and the GPF, primarily, in response to Kurdish forces here in Hasakah province [in which Qamishli is located], Syria," Joseph notes. That the Kurds in the Hasakah province pose a problem for the Assyrian Christians may come as a surprise to Americans. Most in the United States associate the name "Kurd" with the peoples of northern Iraq who fought with the U.S.-led coalition against Saddam Hussein and now are allies in the fight against ISIS. While it is true that the Kurds and Assyrians in Iraq have a working relationship, across the Tigris River in Syria, the situation is more precarious. Kurds in the Hasakah province of northern Syria belong to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party and its militia, the YPG. The YPG is so tightly aligned with the terrorist group, the Kurdish Workers' Party or the PKK, that they are nearly one and the same. Pictures of Abdullah January 21, 2016 CAIRO Complaints about Egypts recent parliamentary elections could indicate either electoral bias or just sour grapes, depending on whom you ask. On Jan. 1, Hazem Abdel Azeem, a liberal political activist, posted on JustPaste.it a testimonial on the presidents parliament. He claimed that the For the Love of Egypt alliance, which won all 120 closed-list seats in the recent parliamentary election, was established under the supervision of Egypts General Intelligence Directorate and that the meetings about its establishment were held at GID headquarters. Abdel Azeem said he was invited to those meetings, but he preferred to withdraw from the For the Love of Egypt alliance because of the blatant interference by the state agencies in the electoral process, considering it "non-neutral action," according to his post. For the Love of Egypts electoral list included the Free Egyptians Party, the Wafd Party, the Nation's Future Party, as well as some independent candidates. Yousri al-Azabawi, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor Abdel Azeems claim was nothing new merely a bid for attention that had no political content and no repercussions, except for coverage in the media. Politicians, analysts and probably many citizens already knew that For the Love of Egypt was formed under suggestions and calls from state agencies. Abdel Azeems testimony did not provide any evidence on the states bias for For the Love of Egypt in the electoral process. All of the countries make such arrangements, particularly amid deteriorating partisan life, as is the case in Egypt. This does not mean that the state showed bias during the elections, he added. In clarifying what is encompassed by the term electoral process, Azabawi said, It consists of the enactment of laws regulating the elections, the reception of the candidates applications, the appeals, the campaigns, the voting, the vote count and the announcement of the results. He explained that the formation of alliances does not fall within the scope of official procedures for which the state's interference can be considered corruption in the elections and against the neutrality of its procedures. Legislation regulating elections is the first step in the electoral process Azabawi mentioned. The 2014 constitution grants appropriate representation in parliament for the youth, Christians, people with disabilities, workers and farmers under articles 11, 243 and 244. This is known as the quota system. The quota system forced the legislative reform committee, which was tasked with drafting the electoral law, to use the closed-list system, because the party list proportional representation system allows each list to have representation in parliament, according to the percentage of votes it receives, which may not guarantee a proper representation of all of the quota groups. For instance, in the electoral race between For the Love of Egypt and the Egyptian Front, using the closed-list system allows For the Love of Egypt to win all of the seats if it has the majority of votes. Yet, if the elections were held using the party list proportional representation system, and the For the love of Egypt list won 60% of the votes compared with 40% for the Egyptian Front assuming 10 seats are reserved for lists the first six candidates of the For the Love of Egypt list and the first four candidates on the Egyptian Front list will have access to parliament. Mahmoud Kbeich, a law professor at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor that the quota system cannot be used in the party list proportional representation system. He explained, All or some marginalized groups, required to be represented according to the constitution, may be at the end of each list rather than the top of the list. The winners are those at the top of each list. Using the previous example with the same numbers, two Christian candidates the first one is No. 7 on the For the Love of Egypt list and the other is No. 5 in Egyptian Front list will never join the parliament if the elections will be done using party list proportional representation, because only the first six candidates of For the Love of Egypt list and the first four candidates of the Egyptian Front list will join the parliament according to the percentages of votes, which likely means that party list proportional representation can't guarantee the constitutional rights of the six groups of quota. Some parties have suggested to the legislative reform committee that 40% of the seats should be won based on the party list proportional representation system, 40% for a plurality voting system [by individuals system, not a list], and 20% of the seats, which are reserved for the categories having a quota, be elected based on the closed-list system. Yet, the legislative reform committee considered it unconstitutional to combine two list systems in a single law. Kbeich told Al-Monitor, The Supreme Constitutional Court may have considered this law as defective, as it includes a clear discrimination in the electoral system used for the ordinary candidates and special categories candidates. Other political parties suggested that individual seats, rather than those reserved for the lists, be assigned to candidates of the special categories (those having a quota). Yet, Kbeich said, It's impossible for the six categories to be represented in only three seats in governorates, such as the South Sinai governorate. The constituencies and number of seats in each one were determined based on population and the number of voters, under Constitutional Article 102. As a result, some constituencies have been expanded while others have been reduced. Azabawi said, All parties undoubtedly preferred the party list proportional representation system, because it guarantees that even the party winning 1% of the votes is represented in parliament. Moreover, they also preferred to adopt the usual division of constituencies. Yet, the Egyptian constitution is the reason why this system was adopted, while the committee tasked with the drafting of election law has no bias for or against any of the parties. This makes weak Abdel Azeems argument that the state is biased for the For the love of Egypt list or others. The international mission, which consists of two organizations to monitor the elections, along with a COMESA mission and local organizations, agreed that there were only minor violations and no counterfeiting during both rounds of the elections. The violations reported consisted of the use of bribes and campaigning around some polling centers of which most alliances and candidates in the parliamentary elections were accused. Regarding the candidate selection procedures, the Supreme Electoral Commission rejected six lists of candidates in the four constituencies for not completing their paperwork. However, the Administrative Court brought three of them back to the race after accepting their appeals. The Nour Party said in an Oct. 22 statement, prior to the runoff of the first-round parliamentary elections, that it was subjected to security harassments. This came after the Nour Party list lost in the first round, and none of its individual candidates won any of the individual candidates seats in the first round. The partys statement did not provide specific examples of the alleged harassment. Naguib Sawiris, founder of the Free Egyptians Party, has said more than once that his party was harassed by security forces during the elections. This came after the partys second-round election results declined, compared with the first round, also without providing specific examples of the alleged harassment. Azabawi said, Most of the complaints were probably made to justify the poor results of some parties. The elections were fair and transparent, as the monitoring organizations stated. The Administrative Court decided that many rejected lists [would] join the electoral race, which also makes Abdel Azeems argument weak. January 22, 2016 TEHRAN, Iran When two rivals constantly make contradictory strategic decisions, they are bound to eventually end up in a direct confrontation. Iran and Saudi Arabia are no exception. Since 2005, both countries have made conflicting strategic decisions. For a long time, the fluidity and magnitude of the conflicts in the Middle East delayed the emergence of any direct Iranian-Saudi confrontation. However, with the emergence of the Arab Spring, the geopolitical atmosphere of the Middle East changed and the strategic conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia became deeper and more intense. While new fields of conflict emerged, the strategic conflict between Tehran and Riyadh took on obvious ideological dimensions. The two countries have gradually become two opposite poles in a spectrum of conflicts. Over the past several years, Saudi Arabia has had to deal with an increasing number of strategic challenges. It has lost some of its allies, and it has proven incapable of managing bottom-up changes that have been taking place. Therefore, it launched a counter-revolution to contain the Arab Spring, while at the same time it pursued a policy of change when it came to its rivals. Syria has been the centerpiece of this approach, with the aim of weakening the Islamic Republics regional role. In competition with Riyadh, Tehran has meanwhile been supporting bottom-up change in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen with the objective of undermining the regional forces opposed to the axis between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanons Hezbollah movement. In this atmosphere of conflicting strategies, conflicting ideologies have started to play a role as well. Through emphasis on the contradictory nature of various religious and sectarian identities, Saudi Arabia has sought to push minorities, including Shiite Muslims, into a corner. This addition of an ideological dimension to an existing strategic conflict has been problematic. It has resulted in Shiites confronting various authorities, including the Saudi government. Indeed, it was because of these developments that Saudi Arabias conflict with Yemens Houthi movement was once again revived. At the start of the Arab Spring, however, this problem was not a strategic priority for Saudi Arabia. At that time, Riyadh was more concerned with limiting Irans regional influence and presenting Iran as a sectarian phenomenon. Saudi Arabia had some success with this approach, but it had to deal with increasing challenges at the same time. On the regional level, the confrontation between Iran and its allies with Saudi Arabia has engulfed all of the Middle East. Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain have been the main scenes of this clash of strategies. For a while, the existence of these battlegrounds prevented the emergence of any direct confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh. Moreover, while the strategic and ideological clash between Iran and Saudi Arabia continued, two new variables were introduced in the past year in regional equations. The first variable is the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which showed that the international community changed its approach toward the Islamic Republic. Although this change does not mean that the international community is in agreement with Irans regional policies, it nonetheless foresees a future for the Middle East in which Iran plays a role as a regional power. The United States and the European Union's insistence on Iran being present at the Syria peace talks in Vienna is a sign that the predicted future is approaching. The other variable is Russias military intervention in Syria, which changed the balance of the conflict in favor of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Both of these variables clashed with Riyadhs regional policies. Moreover, in addition, political and on-the-ground developments in 2015 did not proceed as expected by Riyadh. Irans participation in the Syria peace talks, the Syrian armys advancement against Saudi-supported forces and the restarting of Yemen peace talks in Geneva in accordance with the balance of power on the ground were all developments that were not welcomed by Riyadh. As far as Iran is concerned, however, the strategic atmosphere of the region changed for the better. The JCPOA unfettered Irans economic and political potentials. In the prevalent regional zero-sum game, political and battlefield developments in Syria and Yemen, as well as the advancement of Iraqi forces against the Islamic State, were viewed as gains for Iran and losses for its regional rivals. Therefore, the political developments in the region, when it comes to strategic and ideological conflicts, have resulted in relative satisfaction on Tehrans part and dissatisfaction on Riyadhs part. The latter has been the case to the extent that one can even talk of Riyadhs strategic desperation in the said areas of conflict. This desperation becomes evident if one considers the way Saudi Arabia reacted to the JCPOA and its dissatisfaction with the Syria and Yemen peace talks held in Vienna and Geneva, respectively. In an atmosphere of strategic rivalry, the challenged party has two options: compromise or orchestrate a crisis in order to change the undesired environment. Compromise occurs when the challenged player loses its ability to continue the rivalry and also when the subject and the area of conflict do not pose a threat to its existence. Saudi Arabia, however, does not fit into either of these scenarios; it has a good potential for continuing its rivalry with Iran and even expanding it. More important, losing this strategic battle can have security and existential implications for the Saudi regime. Therefore, it is predictable that changing the atmosphere of its strategic competition with Iran is a priority for the Saudi regime. During the past two years, there have been numerous international attempts to put the geostrategic conflicts in the Middle East back within a political framework. The Yemen and Syria peace talks are examples of such efforts, and also of how the latter has somewhat muted the sectarian aspects of regional rivalries. Desectarianizing the conflict is beneficial for Iran and Shiite communities in the region, because it helps them come out of the ideological-strategic isolation that they have been pushed into by Saudi Arabia. Indeed, developments since the emergence of the Arab Spring have demonstrated that sectarian ideological conflicts have made Iran and its allies vulnerable. Therefore, intensification of this aspect of the conflict and dragging Iran into it has the potential of changing the strategic atmosphere of the region. In such circumstances, the execution of peaceful Saudi Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr predictably led to the start of a crisis, and in spite of attempts at controlling it, a cut in diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Unlike Riyadh, which is strategically desperate and wants the regional atmosphere to change, Tehran is satisfied with the current trend in the region. Iranian strategists have decided to use their regional and international relations to defuse the pressures coming from Riyadh. Indeed, unlike for Saudi Arabia, continuation of the status quo is a desired strategy for Iran. This is why there was a consensus among the ruling Iranian political elite in opposing the attack on the Saudi Embassy. From a strategic point of view, the embassy attack was indeed a stupid and juvenile reaction that forced Iran into a setting predesigned by Saudi Arabia. This is why the Iranian administration strongly rejected it. Saudi Arabia, however, broke diplomatic relations with Iran as a result. For now, the crisis over the embassy attack has subsided and it has not had any major strategic consequences. However, we are likely to witness similar developments in the future. Saudi Arabia is discontent with the regional situation and has a substantial potential to wreak havoc, as has been showcased in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The crisis over the execution of Nimr and the shutting down of the Saudi Embassy shows that Riyadh is willing to use strategic surprises in order to change the atmosphere of the region. Under these circumstances, certain media personalities who have connections to the Saudi monarchs inner circle have discussed the possibility of Saudi Arabia going to war with Iran. In this vein, we should be ready for more surprises. Although Iran has been relatively successful in controlling the crisis that emerged following the embassy attack, it might not be possible to manage the next crisis. Considering the current situation, the major powers, and especially those who have the ability to affect the decision-making process in Riyadh, have an important role to play. Giving the Saudi strategists a free hand in dealing with al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, Yemen and Syria has proven to be disastrous. Is another great disaster on the way, or will Riyadh be contained? January 22, 2016 Brazilian political cartoonist Carlos Latuff is popular with my 12-year-old son who grew up seeing Latuffs cartoons on my computer and who refers to him as his "Middle Eastern politics teacher." Several of my college students with Latin American or Middle Eastern roots regularly follow Latuffs work. His passion for Palestine, his work titled Tales of Iraq War and his respect for religious values have made him rather popular among Turkish Islamists over the last decade. Latuff is known for his courageous and unapologetic stand with oppressed groups all over the world. No human concern is too distant and irrelevant for him. He is a hero to not only the left wing but also the Islamists in Turkey. For this reason in January 2015 pro-government daily Sabah praised Latuff by calling him a world-renowned Brazilian cartoonist. Yet on Dec. 8, the Official Gazette reported that Latuff's website was banned and could no longer be accessed in Turkey. The people of Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen as well as those in other Middle Eastern countries followed the developments of the Arab Spring through Latuff's cartoons. They found hope and inspiration in his drawings. People in Turkey often question if he really is not Turkish, because according to many, he understands the Turks and the situation in Turkey better than their own government. Latuff has created drawings about various turning points in Turkish politics many of which members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) would like to ignore and forget. His work includes drawings of the bombings in Uludere, a border town where 35 Kurdish villagers have become collateral damage; of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a diminutive figure dangling from his collar in the hands of young Berkin Elvan, who was a victim of police brutality in Istanbul during the Gezi Park protests; and of Erdogan as Gollum after Erdogan sued a doctor for a Gollum meme. Of the latter drawing, Latuff said that if he was residing in Turkey, he would be most likely in jail by now. (A cartoon by Latuff depicting Erdogan as Gollum from Lord of the Rings, image courtesy of the artist) As Erdogans power expanded in Turkey, Latuff would draw more of him. Interestingly, he refers to Erdogan as his muse. In 2001, for instance, he posted this cartoon of Erdogan. Latuff has not been shy to create drawings of Erdogans restrictive approach to freedom of speech and his governments attitude toward man-made disasters, such as the one in Soma. Indeed, it was Erdogans adviser Yusuf Yerkel known as the man who kicked a mourning miner to the ground in Soma who went to court to ban access to any website that had reported on this incident. The court, as expected, granted Yerkels wish ordering the negative commentary about him on social media to be taken down and banning access to Web pages that had reported on the incident. The cartoon below brought the final Internet ban to access Latuff's cartoons in Turkey. On May 16, 2014, Latuff tweeted the cartoon to Erdogan and Yerkel, with the Turkish captions that read, This is the picture we really want to see. Although pro-AKP media no longer praise Latuff, his work is ubiquitous in Turkey. Islamists as well as leftists respect his consistent advocacy, particularly on Palestinian rights. In addition, as more Turkish cartoonists are silenced, Latuff has become Erdogans virtual nemesis. (A cartoon by Latuff depicting Erdogan and Yerkel, image courtesy of the artist) Al-Monitor interviewed Latuff via email, and he appeared to be rather humble and easily approachable for a man who draws such acerbic cartoons. The text of the interview, which has been lightly edited for readability, follows: Al-Monitor: Mr. Latuff, in Turkey you are known as the Latin American or Brazilian artist who draws Erdogan. Members of the opposition left and right wing cherish your work, whereas pro-government sections detest it. Although you are popular in Turkey, many people do not know who you are and why you are interested in Turkey. Any personal information you may want to share with the [Al-Monitor] readers? Latuff: My personal life does not tell your readers much. The interest I have for Turkey is the same interest I have for other countries. I am a political cartoonist, and international affairs is my specialty. The difference is that I have been to Turkey, as well as Palestine, and this is what gives me a more personal approach. Al-Monitor: What are some of the reactions you have received from Turkey, via social media and other means? Have you visited Turkey? I recall reading you are banned from visiting Israel. Are there other countries in the region that you are banned from? Also, access to your blog and cartoons is banned in Turkey. Has this type of ban happened to you before? Latuff: Turkey is the only country where access to my cartoon blog was officially blocked. I haven't heard of a similar ban in other countries. In the case of Turkey, I have the document from the Turkish government certifying the ban. Regarding visiting countries like Egypt, Bahrain and Israel I drew many cartoons critical of [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi, King Hamad [bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain] and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu I wasn't officially informed about a travel ban. But I am almost 99% sure that I would have trouble with the authorities at the airports [of those countries]. If I spend hours at the airport in Belfast talking to the police about my cartoons, imagine [what would happen] in Cairo, Manama or Tel Aviv. I do not expect a travel ban in Turkey, but it would definitely be a risk to visit Istanbul now due to my views and cartoons about Sultan Erdogan. Al-Monitor: Turkish cartoonists and political satire in general have been facing severe legal and financial penalties, but this is the first time a foreign cartoonist is facing a legal ban in Turkey. Given the fact that you are quite interested in Palestine and your work emphasizes injustice around the world but particularly in the Middle East do you think Israeli-Turkish rapprochement [Erdogan said, "Turkey needs a country like Israel."] is one of the reasons for the ban of your work? Latuff: This ban is a clear sign that Turkey is everything but a democracy. If you punish artists for mocking politicians, then definitely you do not have a democracy. I was entirely opposed to the ridiculous depictions by Charlie Hebdo of the Prophet Muhammad, but I have no problems criticizing or even making fun of opportunistic politicians like Sultan Erdogan. Of course you will have detractors who will accuse me of being an Iranian puppet or even a Zionist; this kind of laughable accusation was also made against me in Egypt when I criticized the military junta and now Sisi. Add to the list of nonsense accusations that I would be working for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. My enemies have a fertile imagination. It is in fact a lack of argument if you don't agree with Erdogan, it is because you are an agent of Iran, Russia, outer space or whatever. Al-Monitor: You called Erdogan your muse, and you said he is an easy caricature. Why? How did this ban affect the popularity of your cartoons in Turkey? I see them more frequently in opposition media outlets, on social media and so on, but what is your impression? Latuff: When I was in Turkey in 2010, I realized that I couldn't access some websites by common means, but I also realized that people use software and apps to deceive the government block. So I think people will continue to have access to my cartoons anyway. Sultan Erdogan is good for cartoons since he is a living caricature of an opportunistic, corrupt politician. Al-Monitor: There is news in Turkish on your Twitter feed, as well as Turkish words in your cartoons. Are you connected with Turkish artists? Latuff: I don't speak Turkish or Arabic. I have friends who kindly translate for me. A Tennessee teacher's longing for a snow day - captured in a parody of Adele's "Hello," of course - has gone viral. It's also perfect timing as likely the Strawberry Plains third grade teacher finally got to take a day off for snow this week. In the aptly titled "Snow," Mary Morris is first seen wearing a fur coat and oversized sunglasses. "Snow, it's me," Morris sings in a school's hallway, "I know we just got out for Christmas/ But I'm ready for some more time/ To myself, you see/ So if you could come a day or two or maybe 23. "We need a snow day, tomorrow. Or at least a good delay." She also adds: "If it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow." Since posted on YouTube on Wednesday, the video has received nearly 900,000 views. A Blountsville man has been arrested on multiple charges after a vehicle pursuit in Blount and Etowah counties. Jonathan Clyde Harris (Etowah County Sheriff's Office) The Etowah County Sheriff's Office reports one if its deputies stopped a vehicle on U.S. 278 West near the county line on Thursday. There were two males and one female in the vehicle. The deputy said that as walked back to his patrol car to check the license information, one of the males and the female exited the vehicle on the passenger side. "The other male took off in the vehicle at a high rate of speed slinging rocks onto the patrol car," said Sgt. Phil Sims in a release. The deputy reportedly pursued the vehicle as it crossed into Blount County with speeds reaching 100 mph. He lost sight of it and notified surrounding agencies. Authorities determined the fleeing driver was Jonathan Clyde Harris, 28. Boaz police later took Harris into custody on Alabama 205 near Coosa Drive in Boaz. Deputies say a search of the vehicle revealed methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, a .40-caliber Glock handgun, a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun and drug paraphernalia. Harris was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, attempt to elude, and several moving violations. He also has warrants with the Albertville Police Department. Jail records show is being held in the Etowah County Detention Center without bond. Ateisha Bell says she feels numb after losing her son, aunt and young nephew and niece in a Saturday morning house fire in Adamsville. Eight members of her family were awakened to smoke and flames inside a residence on Veterans Memorial Drive/Highway 78 next door to a Subway restaurant, she said. Adamsville Fire Chief Scott Harbison said four members of the family, ages 63, 20, 6 and 4, were killed inside the house. A 1-year-old was transported to Children's of Alabama and is believed to be in stable condition. The fire department received a report of the fire at 9:44 a.m. Smoke could be seen wafting from outside the front of the house. Harbison said the fire was under control in 20 minutes. The fire is believed to have started in the dining room, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Harbison couldn't say if the fire started because of a space heater, or if the house had working smoke detectors. Bell watched from near busy Highway 78 as fire crews remained on the scene into Saturday afternoon. She said today was supposed to be a happy day. "It's my birthday," Bell said. Now, she said the day is anything but a happy occasion, and she can't ever imagine celebrating her birthday again. "I don't understand," Bell said. "That is my first son. That is my child. I don't wish this on nobody. It hurts." Bell identified the victims as her son, Kenny Hines: her aunt, Pearly Jones: her niece, Coren Walter, 6: and nephew Robert Walter Jr., 4. The American Red Cross responded to the scene to help the family. Alabama Death Row inmate Christopher Brooks' last minutes alive Thursday played out in a carefully scripted and rehearsed production by the Alabama Department of Corrections. When corrections officers at 6:06 p.m. Thursday pulled back the curtains over the large windows of the three witness rooms lined in a semi-circle around the execution chamber, Brooks was already strapped onto a gurney. Nine minutes earlier the U.S. Supreme Court had notified the state it wouldn't stop the execution. Brooks had on a white shirt and was wrapped tightly in a white sheet in cocoon-like fashion from above the waist down to his feet. Black straps with orange push button latches secured his chest. Brooks' arms - each with tattoos on the inside of the forearms - were also extended outward and strapped down to arm rests. What appeared to be the IV tubes ran from a hole in the wall behind the gurney up to his body, but it was not clear where the IVs were inserted. Brooks' upper body was raised slightly on the gurney and for most of the execution he looked towards the witness box to his left where two friends, his spiritual adviser, three of his attorneys, and five members of the media sat in padded chairs behind a large tinted window. The mother and two sisters of Brooks' victim, Jo Deann Campbell, sat in the witness box to Brooks' right. Five prison officials sat in a witness room in the center facing directly at the gurney. Brooks, 43, was convicted in the December 1992 brutal rape and murder of Jo Deann. Investigators linked Brooks to the crime through DNA, fingerprints, and Campbell's car and other items taken from her Homewood apartment, including a credit card he had used. Her partially clothed body had been found under her bed and she had been beaten with a barbell. Holman Correctional Facility Warden Carter Davenport stepped to Brooks' left and a corrections officer handed Davenport a microphone with a cord attached to the wall behind the gurney. Davenport then read the order from the Alabama Supreme Court setting Brooks' execution date. When finished, Davenport asked Brooks if he had any last words. Brooks said he did and proceeded to calmly make a statement with no visible emotion as the warden held the microphone to Brooks' face. "I hope this brings closure to everybody," Brooks said as he briefly, for the only time during the execution, looked over to his right at the witness box where his victims' family sat. As he looked at the witness box where his friends, spiritual advisor and lawyers sat he said he wanted to thank those closest to him. He said they were a "Godsend" and that "I will take you with me in my heart... I'll see you soon. Bye. I love y'all." Brooks, however, did not admit guilt in his statement to the 1992 brutal beating death and rape of 23-year-old Jo Deann. Davenport then handed the microphone to the corrections officer to place back on the wall. Davenport then walked through a door into the control room behind the gurney to begin administering the drugs. At 6:11 p.m., after Davenport had left, the prison chaplain who had been standing back against a wall by the witness windows approached the gurney and talked briefly to Brooks. The chaplain then knelt on one knee, holding Brooks' left hand and placing his other hand on Brooks' leg and apparently began praying. Brooks nodded a few times before closing his eyes as the 500 milligrams of midazolam hydrochloride began working into his system. At 6:14 p.m. the chaplain stood up and backed away. Brooks was still and his mouth slightly open, but his chest continued to move up and down. One of Brooks' friends, a woman, audibly cried through part of the execution and others wiped away tears. His spiritual adviser held a Bible and periodically looked at passages. The witness room, otherwise, was quiet as instructed by a corrections officer and the "Stay Seated and Quiet" signs along the walls. At 6:17 p.m. the corrections officer who, wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue trousers with white stripes down the sides and standing in a military-like at-rest position to the left of the gurney, approached to perform a consciousness test. The officer called out Brooks' name twice, pulled Brooks' left eyelid back, and pinched the backside of Brook's left arm, all to make sure he was sedated. The corrections officer returned to his at-rest position. By 6:20 Brooks' breathing had become undetectable as apparently the other two drugs - 600 milligrams of rocuronium bromide to stop breathing, and 240 "milliequivalents" of potassium chloride to stop the heart - in the lethal injection cocktail had been administered. He never appeared to struggle or move. At 6:30 p.m. the curtains were closed and visitors escorted out of the witness rooms. Prison officials said doctors declared Brooks dead at 6:38 p.m. It was the first execution in Alabama since July 2013, the first using the new drug cocktail, and the first under Prison Commissioner Jeff Dunn's leadership. Afterwards Dunn would not discuss pending lawsuits filed by death row inmates, which Brooks had joined in November. The lawsuits claim the first drug in the cocktail (midazolam) does not put the condemned inmate in deep enough sleep to prevent pain when the other two drugs are administered, in violation of the 8 th Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Witnesses at the first phase of a trial for one of the other inmates, Tommy Arthur, also had testified that corrections officers didn't pinch inmates as part of consciousness tests at two prior executions. But a lawyer for the prison system testified that wasn't true. But Dunn said that Brooks' execution went off without a hitch. "It went exactly as I expected it to," Alabama Prisons Commissioner Jeff Dunn would say after the execution. "The team is very professional and they practice to make sure that nothing went wrong." Boutwell Auditorium will serve once again as a warming station for Birmingham's homeless tonight as temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-20s. Don Lupo, of the mayor's office of citizen's assistance, announced on Facebook that the auditorium would be open and providing food both Friday and Saturday nights. Lupo wrote that his friend Tasos Touloupis from Ted's provided food for those needing a place to escape from the cold on Friday night. Donations will be accepted all day today at the auditorium. Tonight's dinner will be provided by La Paz Restaurant & Catering. Boutwell's use of a shelter from the cold made news last week, when on the then coldest night of the year, the venue was used for a Bernie Sanders rally instead. Typically, Boutwell houses about 300 a night when it's cold outside. Kelvin Datcher, state director for the Sanders campaign, said the city of Birmingham never informed the campaign their Monday, Jan. 18 rally - which was planned in less than a week - would close the warming station. Boutwell Auditorium is located at 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. A Shelby County man has filed a lawsuit claiming he was diagnosed with salmonella after eating at Johnny Ray's. The Alabama Department of Public Health launched an investigation of a foodborne outbreak at the Pelham barbecue restaurant. Four people tested positive for salmonella after eating at Johnny Ray's, located at 309 Huntley Parkway. The restaurant was closed by emergency order after the Bureau of Environmental Services visited Dec. 15, Dec. 22 and Jan. 6. The investigation is ongoing, and final test results have not yet been released. A civil complaint was filed Jan. 21 in Shelby County on behalf of Christopher Holloway. According to the complaint, Holloway bought take-out from Johnny Ray's on Dec. 30. He soon contracted salmonella poisoning and became physically ill, causing him to lose wages for missing work and spend a significant amount of money for treatment. Alyssa Noles Daniels of Cory Watson Attorneys is one of the lead attorneys representing Holloway. "Johnny Ray's failed in their duty to ensure that the food they serve was safe to eat; as a result, our client became seriously ill was hospitalized, and suffered renal failure," Daniels said. "He was extremely ill. Fortunately, he is beginning to recover, but the restaurant must be held accountable. The public trusts restaurants to serve safe food, and Johnny Ray's didn't do that." They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs and interest. Attempts to reach representatives for Johnny Ray's, or attorneys representing the restaurant, were unsuccessful. Alabama State Troopers say Friday evening's hazardous roads lead to a fatal wreck in north Alabama. Troopers say the wreck happened at about 4:40 p.m. on Alabama 53 at mile marker 53, which is about two miles south of Ardmore. Authorities say a 2005 Chevrolet Impala and 2008 GMC Sierra collided because of the icy roads. The Impala's driver was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as David R. Shelton, 30, of Pulaski, Tennessee. Troopers said he was not using a seat belt. Troopers are still investigating. Nothing further was released. New online registration system to track the use of recreational drones criticised by some. With the popularity of recreational drones in the US growing, the government is doing everything it can to track whos flying them. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that nearly 300,000 applications for unmanned aircraft have flooded their offices in the past month as part of a new law that requires a permit to operate one for recreational use. People who dont comply face jail time up to three years or a fine up to $250,000. The FAA says the registration is needed to protect people and commercial manned aircraft from collisions but some critics argue its government overreach gone amock. The FAA should not be in the business of licensing toy owners, argues Marc Scribner from the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Although the new law applies to drones between 0.55 55 pounds, Scribner says, many can only fly a few hundred meters from the operator and have 20 minutes of maximum flight time on a battery charge. There are no reported collisions between a commercial airliner and a drone but a December report by Bard College in New York identified 327 close encounters between planes and drones over the past two years. Activists who risked their lives in the 2010 revolution are losing hope for brighter future amid major economic crisis. Five years after Tunisias revolution, the pride and the high hopes for a better life seem to be fading. Yanees, a part-time taxi driver, told me on a trip to the northwestern city of Beja that life under Zine was much better and the streets much cleaner, referring to Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted following unprecedented mass protest movement that spread across the country in 2010 and later came to be known as the Arab Spring. I was in Tunisia two days after Ben Ali fled the country The scenes of thousands of people celebrating new-found freedoms were beamed into living rooms all over the world A nation turns the chapter of decades of tyranny and heads towards a transition to democracy. Today, hope of a better life is hanging by a thread, and those brave young protesters who risked their lives feel bitterly abandoned by their political leaders. For Yanees and the many young unemployed people I met in Beja, Kasserine, Tunis and many other areas told me exactly the same thing: Political freedoms are a great thing but, by the end of the day, you want to walk back home confident its safe and financially secure. It was this frustration over the lack of jobs, pervasive corruption and poverty that triggered unrest in Tunisia. This wave all started in Kasserine, when a group of angry people took to the streets following the death of 28-year-old Rida Yahyaoui. He was electrocuted after climbing a transmission tower in protest against missing out on a government job. Anger soon spread in heartland towns of Gafsa, Sidi Bouzid and reached the capital and coastal areas. It was the biggest political crisis facing President Beji Caid Essebsi. Kasserine stands for everything that went wrong with Tunisias social development programmes since its independence: The infrastructure is poor, the private sector is almost nonexistent, and the public sector remains the main job provider. But the government has cut spending to tackle its declining economy; it may not be able to offer jobs to its 700,000 unemployed who are frustrated, feeling betrayed and not willing to listen to promises any more. And here lies the problem: The economy has been in tatters for quite some time. Tourism has been hit by deadly attacks targeting holidaymakers, and rainfalls do not seem to be promising in recent times, although agriculture is the backbone of the economy. The government faces a delicate balancing act Austerity measures are needed to fix the economy, but growing demands for jobs must be addressed swiftly so that protests dont degenerate even further. Concerns abound over the fate of Mahmoud Hussein, 20, who was imprisoned for illegal protesting two years ago. Mahmoud Mohamed Hussein was arrested when he was 18 years old on January 25, 2014, with police accusing the then-teenager of illegal protesting, getting paid to protest, possessing Molotov cocktails, and belonging to a terrorist organisation. Back then, he was walking home from a peaceful demonstration to commemorate the third anniversary of the January 25 revolution. He was detained while wearing a protest scarf and a T-shirt which read: A nation without torture at el-Marg checkpoint in Cairo. Since his detention, Hussein who turned 20 in jail on January 1 has faced near-automatic detention renewals, more than 20 of which were decided in his absence from the courtroom. His latest detention renewal hearing was held on January 6, 2015 the 25th such hearing. The two-year anniversary of his imprisonment is on Monday. He is yet to be formally charged or tried for any offence. WATCH: Egypts media revolution and reality Several rights groups say the student was tortured, ill-treated and forced to sign a confession during his detention. Under Egyptian domestic law, a person may only be held for two years prior to sentencing, Wade H McMullen Jr, managing attorney at the US-based Robert F Kennedy Human Rights group, told Al Jazeera. By their own law, Egyptian authorities are required to release him from detention. The Washington DC-based group has submitted a case calling for urgent action to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in conjunction with the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, an Egyptian nongovernmental organisation, and Malek Adly, an Egyptian human rights lawyer. Asked whether he thought a release was likely on January 25, McMullen replied: The way things are going in Egypt, its really hard to predict what theyre going to do Its quite possible they could continue with the status quo. READ MORE: Egypt arrests activists ahead of revolution anniversary Exact figures of the number of young people who are detained in Egypt are not available, but rights groups agree that there are at least hundreds being held. The government has continued to use pretrial detention against any individual or dissident, McMullen said. Mahmoud attended a rally; he wasnt someone who was out there he wasnt very involved in a political movement. He was trying to make a statement. Mahmoud doesnt have political affiliation with any of the parties he has been accused of being part of. Like many of those being held, the charge Hussein faces belonging to a terrorist organisation refers to the Muslim Brotherhood, a now-banned group in Egypt. Pretrial detention is at an all-time high now, said McMullen, adding that from 2013 to 2014, there was a 360 percent increase in the number of pretrial detainees being held. Last year, a petition by Amnesty to release the student gathered more than 145,000 signatures from 138 countries. READ MORE: Egypts revolutionary conundrum In the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the January 25 uprising which led to the removal of President Hosni Mubarak Egyptian authorities have stepped up arresting activists. Egypt has led an extensive crackdown on both Muslim Brotherhood and liberal activists since 2013, when the military deposed Mubaraks successor, the democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi. Morsi, who belonged to the Brotherhood, was arrested and put on trial with most of the groups leadership and thousands of its supporters. Amnesty estimates that the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Morsis successor has arrested, charged, indicted or sentenced after unfair trials more than 41,000 people. There is a particular concern over cases such as Husseins, where the defendants are young. Freedom of speech is what we accomplished as a result of the January 25 revolution, and it is the only win that young people gained They learned how to demand their rights and the rights of others, Tito Tarek, Husseins brother, told Al Jazeera. Tito Tarek was also arrested on January 25, 2014, having attended a protest, but was released after more than two months. In light of the fact that the other demands of the revolution bread, freedom, and social justice did not materialise, freedom of speech is a win we gained from the greatest event that we participated in during modern times, and during which we lost thousands of martyrs. As young people, we will not give up our rights to freedom of peaceful speech and opinion and our rights to demand our freedoms. READ MORE: Egypt increasingly cracking down on its youth He added: I can assure you that the most difficult feeling in the world is to be detained and then to hear that your younger brother has been arrested and subjected to torture It is very hard to get used to the feeling that your younger brother is in jail and so, I miss everything about him, especially because Mahmoud is the closest brother in age to me. I miss us playing and fighting about the littlest things, and I miss the smile that would never leave his face. [I miss] everything. While he expects his brother to be released at some point, he is unsure that his sibling will be freed on Monday. Nothing in Egypt follows a process, he said. Every day, people are jailed; every day people are arrested. Some people are released, and those who are released dont know why, nor do we know why they were arrested in the first place. But, I can say that I await the day of [my brothers] release. The sense of sorrow is coupled with a sense of pride in my younger brother for his ability to endure the extent of this injustice. Follow Anealla Safdar on Twitter: @anealla Five years on, Egypt is in the throes of a radical social revolution but its political elite remain delusional. In January 2011, Egypt captivated the entire world but, more importantly, Egyptians surprised and mesmerised themselves. If revolution means, as the word implies, sending the established order and accepted norms into a spin, then what occurred in those heady winter days in 2011 was a revolution with a capital R. Many had believed that only the tyranny of death would manage to oust the ageing tyrant. Instead, millions of Egyptians taking to the streets gave Hosni Mubarak his marching orders. Egyptians are docile and apathetic, was the received wisdom. But they shook off the chains of apparent lethargy to rise up, en masse, against the despotism of the dictator, the junta and the theocrats. Egyptians need, neigh desire, the iron fist of a strongman. Although a surprising number of people lamented the downfall of Mubarak, the majority were jubilant and partied like there was a tomorrow when the news of his demise broke. In addition, the crowds sustained and uncompromising demands for bread, freedom and social justice put pay to the lie that Egyptians do not desire nor understand democracy, even if some are reluctant or passionate supporters of military or Islamist dictatorship. Fallen into a wormhole Today, it is hard to believe that those momentous events occurred only five years ago. Like a 21st century Alice, Egyptians seem to have fallen into a wormhole in which time, space and history have been warped and speeded up. In only five years, Egypt has gone through more changes in leadership than over the preceding six decades. The country has hurtled through revolution, counterrevolution, and anti-revolution, and its people have ridden the emotional rollercoaster that has taken them from the heights of elation to the depths of deflation. ALSO READ: Arabs in the eye of history Though everything promised change, nothing seems to have changed. This has led to a sense of despondency and despair, with many signing off on the revolutions death certificate or, worse, claiming that it was never born in the first place. Though everything promised to change, nothing seems to have changed. by But is this disillusionment justified? It is true that the existing order has proved remarkably adept at clinging on to power. First, the regime sacrificed its head to save its body. Then the military tried to rule directly and co-opt the revolutionaries. Failing this, it hid behind the democratic facade provided by a pliant Muslim Brotherhood. When Mohamed Morsi got too big for his boots, he was unceremoniously evicted and the loyalist he appointed to run the armed forces, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, became Egypts newly minted military dictator. The counterrevolution has been so apparently successful that it seems to have brought Egypt back to square one. However, appearances are deceptive. The incremental and unprecedented use of force and coercion, not to mention efforts to frighten the population into submission, are signs of weakness, not of strength. It betrays just how desperate the regime has become after everything has failed to keep a rebellious population in check. And even though Egypts jails are overflowing with prisoners of conscience, not to mention all the dead, other activists, critical journalists and outspoken citizens take their place, some many times over. In the face of adversity Ahmed Gamal Zyada is just one typical example of this courage in the face of adversity. A journalist who previously spent 500 days in prison, he was recently stabbed and left for dead in what his family allege was a political assassination attempt. Im not going to lie, pretend that Im a hero and say I dont feel fear, Zyada said in an interview after his release. I am afraid, but Im not going to be silent. ALSO READ: Mogamma: Egypts other great pyramid But it is not just revolutionaries who feel fear. Despite being the one with the guns, the soldiers, the police and the prison cells, the Sisi regime is the one that is acting terrified, especially so in the run-up to January 25. The trouble with the revolution was that the euphoria it aroused raised too many high expectations. by This panic was amply demonstrated this month by what has been described as the toughest security crackdown in Egypts history which has included a spate of arrests, the random, arbitrary searching of thousands of downtown apartments. The underlying reason for this fear are clear: while Egyptians have changed, their leaders have not, and they live in a delusion that the old ways can be restored through violence. A profound gulf now exists between a ruling class intent on governing as if nothing has changed and large swaths of a democratic citizenry for whom something fundamental has altered, writes Jack Shenker, who covered the revolution for The Guardian, in The Egyptians, a new book which will be released soon. In addition to the ferocity of the counterrevolution, the trouble with the revolution was that the euphoria it aroused raised too many high expectations. Problems that have accumulated over the six decades since the army took power take time to unravel. The brutality of the modern Egyptian state over the past two centuries cannot be blunted immediately. The damage done by foreign control and meddling that has been Egypts lot for more than two millennia cannot be repaired in an instant. Mini-Mubaraks When the revolution first erupted, I argued that a political revolution would fail without an accompanying social (r)evolution, to dethrone the million mini-Mubaraks, weed out endemic corruption, promote equality and egalitarianism, create a meritocracy and more. While the political revolution has stalled, the social and cultural one is in full swing. It has been spearheaded by workers demanding their rights, women struggling for equality, and the growing assertiveness of previously discreet minorities, such as atheists. Young people have perhaps been the greatest agitators for change and have given their elders lessons in courage, determination and grit schools have become breeding grounds for rebels. Whether or not Egyptians heed the call of the shrunken ranks of activist to take to the streets once again on January 25, it does not mean they never will again. Egyptians have discovered their latent ability to move immobile mountains and have broken the fear barrier. When they do eventually rise again, a deep social revolution may enable them to unleash their creativity to the maximum perhaps even reinventing democracy to suit their needs. I am deeply convinced that the future is ours and that we are now witnessing the beginning of the end of this tyrannical state, believes Khaled Fahmy, a history professor who has been chronicling the revolution. Khaled Diab is an award-winning Egyptian-Belgian journalist, writer and blogger. He is the author of Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land. He blogs at www.chronikler.com. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Suspect in custody after opening fire at school and second location in aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan. Four people were killed and at least two wounded when a gunman opened fire at a high school and a second location in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, officials said. A male suspect was in custody but officials have not yet given a motivation for Fridays shooting in La Loche, an aboriginal community 600km north of the city of Saskatoon. Initial reports said five people were killed. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Maureen Levy said authorities had seized the suspects gun. There is four individuals deceased as a result of this tragedy and there are other injuries and theyre being treated by health care professionals at this time, she told reporters. I can tell you that we have one male in custody. Public safety is no longer at risk and we have secured the firearm. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking from the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said what had happened was every parents worst nightmare. He added: The community is reeling. A student at the high school was just returning from lunch when shots were fired said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. Run, bro, run! Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loches junior and senior high school. Theres a shotgun! Theres a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots, too, so of course I started running, The Associated Press news agency reported. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. In the countrys worst school shooting, 14 college students were killed at Montreals Ecole Polytechnique in 1989. A shooting in 1992 at Concordia University in Montreal killed four. Among Canadas provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported family violence in 2014, double the national rate of 243 incidents per 100,000 people, according to a Statistics Canada report on Thursday. The teen was killed during an alleged stabbing attack outside of a settlement in the West Bank. An Israeli security guard has shot dead a 13-year-old Palestinian girl during an alleged stabbing attempt outside the Almon settlement in the occupied West Bank, situated near Jerusalem. Ruqqayah Eid Abu Eid died on the scene, becoming one of at least 29 Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the last four months, according to Defence for Children International (DCI) Palestine. Luba al-Samri, spokeswoman for the Israeli police, told local media that Abu Eid had been in an argument with her parents before leaving home with the intention of carrying out a stabbing attack. Israeli settlements make money on Palestinian expense: Human Rights Watch Abu Eids father arrived on the scene later and was arrested and taken in for questioning at a nearby Israeli settlement, Samri added. Speaking to Arabic-language media, the childs mother cast doubt on the claim that she tried to stab the security guard. There have been conflicting reports over whether Ruqayyah in fact argued with her parents before leaving home, as the Israeli spokeswoman claimed. Protests against Israels ongoing occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip boiled over into violence in recent months. Since October 1, Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 162 Palestinians, including bystanders, unarmed demonstrators and attackers. At least 25 Israelis have been killed in stabbing or shooting incidents carried out by Palestinians. Palestinian, Israeli and international rights groups have decried Israel for using excessive force and, in several cases, fatally shooting assailants who they contend could have been arrested. Referring to the uptick in fatal incidents involving children, Brad Parker, an attorney for DCI-Palestine, said that some of the incidents may amount to extrajudicial killings. International law requires that intentional lethal force only be used when absolutely unavoidable to protect life, and only when lesser means would be insufficient to apprehend a criminal suspect, Parker told Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Israeli gun guards terrorise East Jerusalem He said that the killings come at a time when Palestinian children are enduring policies and practices that contravene international law. Among those measures are intentional lethal force and administrative detention, a practice in which Israel imprisons Palestinians on secret evidence without charge or trial. These measures combined with systemic impunity are amplifying an already-dire situation for Palestinian children. A report published last month by the Ramallah-based Al-Haq rights group concluded that the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children has become a notable feature of the Israeli occupation. Upwards of half-a-million Israelis live in more than 150 Jewish-only settlements across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Residing in heavily-guarded communities, settlers are protected by both Israeli security forces and private security guards. Tahseen Elayyan, a researcher at Al-Haq, said that incidents in which private security guards use violence against Palestinians are not uncommon. In many cases, the killings have been carried out by these guards, he told Al Jazeera. The problem is that they are not part of the police or the army. This makes it even more difficult in terms of accountability. Elayyan said that settlement security guards are part of the infrastructure of the occupation and that they actively aid practices that are illegal under international law. Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_ Social media campaign raises funds for family of teacher who died after protecting Christian bus passengers in Mandera. A social media campaign to raise funds for the family of a Muslim teacher who died protecting Christians during an attack in Kenya is gaining traction, with people hailing him as a genuine hero and a symbol of the country. Salah Farah was shot after refusing to be separated from Christian passengers during an al-Shabab attack on a bus travelling from Mandera to Nairobi last month. He succumbed to his wounds on Sunday, leaving behind four young children aged between two and 10, and a pregnant wife who is expected to give birth as soon as next week. READ MORE: Muslims in Kenya offer a Christmas present to the world After his death, an online campaign was started to raise funds for the teachers family. Salah is a hero, Abdullahi Derow, the 26-year-old activist who started the #HeroSalah Twitter campaign, told Al Jazeera. He was the only male child in his family, his father is now very old and his kids are very small, Nairobi-based Derow, who is also from Mandera, said. Let's support the family of hero Salah who has since succumbed to the bullets in the Mandera bus attack #HeroSalah pic.twitter.com/wuJaTL7cbb Abdullahi Derow (@AbdullahiDerow) January 21, 2016 I tried to think about how we can do this for the family, as Kenyans, at least to appreciate what he has done not only for Kenyans but for humanity, explained Derow, who got the approval of Farahs cousin Rashid, and now guardian to his children, before launching the campaign. Rashid confirmed to Al Jazeera that the family had given the go-ahead. The children need a shelter, they need education, they need to be cared [for], Rashid told Al Jazeera. The father and mother are the same. He added: Salah was well-respected, a religious man, who had just been promoted to deputy headmaster of a big primary school he was having a lot of respect in the village. So far, the campaign has raised over 150,000 Kenyan shillings ($1,460) mainly through the M-Pesa money transfer service, with donations ranging from $200 sent by a female university professor in Canada to just a few shillings. Even if someone sends just a few shillings, it can make a big difference, Derow said. Despite being pushed out of Somalias major cities and towns, al-Shabab continues to launch deadly attacks across the Horn of Africa country. The group, which last week assaulted a military base run by Kenyan troops as part of an African Union force in the Somali town of El-Ade, has also carried out many attacks inside Kenya. Derow said the outpouring of support for the campaign was sending a clear message to al-Shabab that Kenyans were united. There is a feeling of patriotism. Kenyans are feeling by helping the family of #HeroSalah and educating his children is a defiance to al-Shabab, he said. We are one in honouring are heroes. Your rewards are in heaven brother.what you did is legendary.#HeroSalah owitichris (@owitichris) January 23, 2016 #HeroSalah you paid the ultimate price, you are a hero HEMEDI MOHA (@HemediMoha) January 23, 2016 Salah Farah told alShabab "kill all of us or leave us alone" He's gone, His kids need U #HeroSalah #KULUNFoundation pic.twitter.com/fayoW1aFzk Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) January 22, 2016 #HeroSalah you courageous spirit will always live on in us. Duncan Ondimu, OGW (@matundura78) January 23, 2016 #HeroSalah Your contribution to humanity was Awesome! Take this heart commendation, go in peace, as we live to follow your light. i feel pein (@zbeh_) January 23, 2016 Thank you #HeroSalah for sharing the same ideas with other Kenya's.you stood by us when everyone remained silent. owen (@AlfreMakau) January 23, 2016 At least 10 people killed as storm whips up record-setting tides, causing floods and dumping large amounts of snow. A massive snow storm has whipped up record-setting tides on the United States east coast, causing major flooding in New Jersey and Delaware after dumping more than half-a-metre of snow. The heaviest snow engulfed New York on Saturday and was not expected to stop until Sunday, when up to 80cm may have piled up in the nations largest city, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The mayor said the storm had strengthened beyond earlier expectations in terms of accumulation and intensity. At least 10 people died in the blizzard, and emergencies were declared in 11 states, affecting more than 60 million people, with thousands facing power outages. Roads closed New York City buses operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were due to be suspended at noon as the storm bore down on the city. Nearly 4,300 US flights were cancelled, including virtually all travel into New York City airports, according to the FlightAware.com tracking website and transportation officials. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday and was the 11th state to do so in order to get a handle on highways made impassable by the drifting snow and to shore up coastal areas where the blizzard conditions raised the danger of flooding. Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from his balcony in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Saturday said that snow had already piled up to his knees. On any other day you would be able to see the skyscrapers of New York City from here, but conditions now have caused a complete white-out, Elizondo said. The extreme conditions prompted officials to urge residents to stay inside and allow snow ploughs to clear roads. Our message, and we need the public to listen, is to stay home and to stay off the streets. That includes people who are attempting to drive, but it also includes people who are walking, said Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. However, some residents said they just couldnt resist seeing famous monuments frosted with snow. High winds battered the region, reaching 112km/h on Wallops Island, Virginia, late on Friday, and whipping up the tides, said meteorologist Greg Gallina of the National Weather Service (NWS). Tides higher than those caused by Superstorm Sandy caused major flooding along the Jersey Shore and Delaware coast and set records in Cape May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware, said NWS meteorologist Patrick OHara. This is happening right now in Ocean City, New Jersey #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/7gISbgonYe Cecily Tynan (@CecilyTynan) January 23, 2016 Record storms Records are getting close; were getting into the top five storms, Gallina said. The record high of 71cm of snow in the nations capital was set in 1922, and the deepest recent snowfall was 43cm in 2010. Many stores were left with bare shelves as residents stocked up on food, water and wine, preparing to spend the weekend indoors. The storm developed along the Gulf Coast, dumping snow over Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday. On the east coast, warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean collided with cold air to form the massive winter system, meteorologists said. Many fear there will be cuts to badly needed services, but the UN agency says these concerns are unfounded. Beirut In a small second-floor apartment in Shatila, a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Alia Abdul Haleem boils coffee on a small, rickety stove. Sitting on a set of cushions nearby, Lamia Saad, a neighbour and friend in her 20s, removes bright magenta seeds from a pomegranate and places them in a bowl. Abdul Haleem, 56, and Saad previously lived in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus. Both sought refuge in Lebanon more than three years ago as conflict made life in Yarmouk unbearable. Abdul Haleem, a widow who lives with her daughter, pays $200 a month for her apartment: a plain, five-square-metre room that serves simultaneously as a bedroom, a living room and a kitchen. Upon arrival to Shatila from Syria, Abdul Haleem received a $100 monthly housing stipend from UNRWA, the UN refugee agency, to subsidise her rent. Last July, the aid was suspended, and in recent weeks, further changes to UNRWAs medical aid policy have raised fresh fears. Now, if I become sick or my daughter is sick, I dont know if I will be able to afford treatment, Abdul Haleem told Al Jazeera. Before the war, Damascus was a beautiful city with good infrastructure. Palestinians were allowed to own property and there was no discrimination to stop us [from] working, she added. Here, it is much worse. People rely on aid from UNRWA. Without it, people will suffer. READ MORE: Memories preserved in the dark heart of Shatila Most of the 42,500 Syrian Palestinians registered with UNRWA in Lebanon live in the countrys 12 Palestinian refugee camps, supplementing a pre-existing Palestinian community of 450,000. In Lebanon, in contrast to Syria, Palestinian refugees are prohibited from owning property and working in as many as 20 professional fields. Living conditions in the camps are notoriously poor. In Shatila, whose population has skyrocketed amid the Syrian refugee influx, electricity supplies are unreliable and access to safe drinking water is limited. Poverty is endemic throughout the camp. But since the new year, these concerns have been overshadowed by growing fears over access to vital healthcare. I didn't need assistance from UNRWA in Damascus. There were opportunities for me to work and study provided by the state. Here, there is nothing. by Lamia Saad, resident of Shatila camp At the start of 2016, UNRWA established as a temporary refugee agency in 1949 to assist Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war introduced a new hospitalisation system. Palestinian refugees who had been covered fully by UNRWA for secondary medical care treatments requiring a short period of hospitalisation, such as childbirth, intensive care and medical imaging must now pay five percent of bills accrued at Palestine Red Crescent hospitals, 15 percent at government hospitals, and 20 percent at private hospitals. The policy change comes after UNRWA announced last summer that it faced a budget deficit of $101m, leading to the suspension of housing subsidies and education cuts that threatened the start of the school year in UNRWA schools across Lebanon. Zizette Darkazally, UNRWAs public information officer for Lebanon, said the changes should not be understood as cuts. The overall budget remains $10m, Darkazally told Al Jazeera. She explained that although funding for secondary healthcare has been reduced, the organisations budget for tertiary healthcare for inpatients in facilities for advanced medical treatments including cancer management, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery has increased. We raised coverage of tertiary healthcare from 50 percent to 60 by reducing coverage of secondary healthcare, in order to cover life-threatening conditions that are expensive to treat, Darkazally added. There were no budget cuts; we just readjusted the services through the budget to provide better coverage for those with very expensive-to-treat conditions, who need operations that could potentially be life-saving. But many Palestinians in Shatila originally built in 1949 for 3,000 people, but now home to more than 25,000 and elsewhere fear the worst. There is confusion. People worry they will no longer be able to afford treatment. No one thinks this change is a good thing; people just fear more and more services will disappear, said Khoda Khatab, who was born in Shatila and lost relatives during the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre. On January 12, Mohamed Omar Khedr, a 23-year-old Palestinian man who suffers from a rare blood disorder called thalassemia, set himself on fire outside a UNRWA clinic to protest against changes to the system. Khedr survived with serious injuries. Some have also blamed UNRWAs new policy for the deaths of two Palestinian women since the start of 2016, accusations that Darkazally refutes. Since then, protests have been held outside numerous UNRWA facilities in Lebanons various Palestinian camps. The protests have garnered support from Palestinian political groups including Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad. Speaking at a demonstration outside the Ain el-Hilweh camp in Sidon last Saturday, Maher Shabayta, the secretary of Fatah in Lebanon, told Lebanons Daily Star newspaper: People are dying at the doors of hospitals Palestinians are standing in one line against the arbitrary decision. READ MORE: Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in fear of deportation Darkazally stated that primary healthcare remains completely covered by UNRWA, and that the cost of prescription medicine remains the same. However, many in Shatila appear to be unaware of this. Speaking to Al Jazeera, both Khatab and Monira Qasm, a Syrian Palestinian woman whose brother drowned in the Mediterranean last year attempting to reach Europe, expressed concern that prescription medicines would soon become too expensive to afford. Darkazally said reliance on UNRWA has created panic in the Palestinian community, which has contributed to the spread of misinformation with tragic consequences. Regarding Khedrs case, Darkazally said that the adjustments to the UNRWA system would not have affected his level of care. Unfortunately, he performed a drastic action. It is tragic, she added. While last summer was the worst financial crisis that UNRWA has ever encountered, Darkazally added, there are more challenges ahead in 2016. Back in Abdul Haleems apartment, Saad observed that before the war in Syria, Palestinians were less reliant on UNRWA for assistance than in Lebanon. I didnt need assistance from UNRWA in Damascus, said Saad, removing a final, few stubborn seeds from the pomegranate. There were opportunities for me to work and study provided by the state. Here, there is nothing. Secretary of State John Kerry seeks to calm concerns of a thaw in relations with Tehran during visit to Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State John Kerry on a visit to Saudi Arabia has sought to curb concerns from Gulf Arab allies over an apparent thaw in relations between the United States and Iran. Kerry spoke on Saturday in Riyadh after meeting his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. He also held talks with Saudis King Salman and the monarchs son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries, Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Irans support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Irans interference in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those sentiments reached a new level after the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm concerns among his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, one of the Middle Easts leading powers whose relations with its regional rival, Saudi Arabia, have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters set fire to Riyadhs embassy in Tehran and at a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shia Muslims put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of what Saudi Arabia called terrorism. Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a coming together of the US and Iran. Iran remains the worlds chief sponsor of terrorism, he said, adding that Arab states are ready to confront Irans interference. Overall, I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Irans mischief and nefarious activities I dont believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is, Jubeir added, while Kerry appeared defensive and less at ease than usual. A senior state department official earlier told journalists that the US understands Saudi anger over the embassy attack but lessening tensions is an important objective. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said violence against the Saudi embassy was wrong, and against Islam. Syria peace talks Kerry also announced on Saturday that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet very shortly to help push peace in the conflict-ridden country. He will also hold talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syrias largest opposition coalition, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks. Kerry has expressed confidence that those talks will go ahead on Monday in Geneva despite a dispute over opposition representation. On Saturday, he and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed by telephone the makeup of the opposition side. Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation, a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Kerry told reporters the Syria Support Group will meet very shortly after the first round of Syria talks because we want to keep the process moving. The group of 20 nations and organisations has devised a plan for a political transition aimed at ending the nearly five-year war in Syria that has cost more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions. RELATED: Saudi Arabia vs Iran: Who is to blame for the row? The group includes Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries who say President Bashar al-Assad can have no role in Syrias future, and Assads allies Iran and Moscow. Kerry spoke of the urgency of ending the conflict but said there are no illusions that obstacles dont still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria. Mariano Rajoy says more time needed for talks as Podemos leader proposes left-wing coalition to resolve deadlock. Mariano Rajoy, Spains acting prime minister, has turned down an offer by King Felipe VI to try to form a new government, forcing a new round of talks on resolving the countrys political deadlock following Decembers inconclusive elections. The leader of the conservative Peoples Party said on Friday that more time was needed for negotiations as he did not have the necessary backing to win a parliamentary confidence vote. He added, however, that he would continue to seek support for his candidacy. I havent given up on anything, Rajoy said after meeting with Felipe. I didnt say no to my investiture; I conveyed to him [the king] that I didnt have enough support yet. READ MORE: Splintered Spanish vote heralds tough coalition talks Rajoys party won the most seats in the parliamentary election on December 20, but lost its absolute majority in the 350-seat legislature. Rajoy needed the support of the Socialist Party to be elected for another term as prime minister, but its leader Pedro Sanchez chose not to support him. The palace said the king will begin fresh talks with party leaders next Wednesday in a bid to find a candidate. Voting against Rajoy For weeks, Rajoy has sought to head a minority government with the support of the Socialists and the center-right newcomer, Ciudadanos, which got 40 seats. But the Socialists have said they intend to vote against him no matter what. Earlier on Friday, Sanchez welcomed an offer by the left-wing Podemos group to form a coalition government. READ MORE: Podemos or no podemos Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias said he wanted the Socialists, Podemos and the smaller United Left to build a government of change, with cabinet positions allotted in accordance with the results of Decembers election. Iglesias suggested he could be deputy prime minister in a Sanchez-led government. Rajoys popularity has dropped over the past four years in government mainly because of party-linked corruption scandals, unpopular laws and austerity measures brought in to help get Spain out of a severe economic crisis. Habib Essids plea comes after an emergency cabinet meeting following a wave of violent protests over unemployment. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid has pleaded for patience following a wave of violent demonstrations against poverty and unemployment, the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution. Essid spoke on Saturday after chairing an emergency cabinet meeting, as authorities said a night-time nation-wide curfew would be indefinite. Tunisia is in danger despite the positive things which we have accomplished, particularly the transition towards democracy, Essid said, urging people to understand that there are difficulties. Solutions exist, but some patience and optimism are needed, Essid added. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Tunis, said that thousands of dissatisfied people have taken to the streets in recent days, demanding immediate action against unemployment and poor economic conditions. They say we voted for this government because we had hopes that this government would tackle corruption, poverty and offer job opportunities for almost a million unemployed Tunisians, he said. The government is saying that it does not have a quick fix and that it will take some time before it can meet the peoples demands. It is quite a delicate situation for a government that just a few years ago was promising a better future. Ahelbarra said. International backing Protests over unemployment in Tunisia, which started in the western Kasserine province, intensified and spread to other parts of the country on Thursday. On Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi said in a televised address that the government would put a programme in place to try to ease the unemployment rate. READ MORE: Tunisia accuses dirty hands of fuelling unrest He also warned that members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in neighbouring Libya may use the unrest in Tunisia to sneak into the country. France will provide $1.1bn over five years to help Tunisia deal with its transition to democracy, French President Francois Hollande said on Friday. Ahelbarra said the only option for the Tunisian government at the moment is to ask for more international support to prevent a further descent towards more instability This is exactly why President Essebsi yesterday was stressing the fact that groups like ISIL are seizing the opportunity to try to further destabilise Tunisia, he said. But the problem that you have here in the country is that people are waiting for immediate decisions to be taken by the government. Meanwhile, the countrys interior ministry said on Saturday that 423 people have been arrested across the country for being involved in acts of violence. Ugandan women claim abuse and torture in audio recording that went viral and prompted government action. The Ugandan government has banned its citizens from taking jobs as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, claiming they are often abused by their employers. Wilson Muruli Mukasa, minister of gender, labour and social development, said on Friday that the government continued to receive information of our people being subjected to inhumane treatment at the hands of the employers in Saudi Arabia. The ban will remain in force until the conditions are deemed fitting, Mukasa said in a letter sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ugandas Independent magazine said the letter came days after an audio recording circulated on social media in which a number of Ugandan women claimed to be in prison in Saudi Arabia and shared stories of abuse. This recording resulted in a lot of public outcry, and many think it could have been the peak for governments final decision on the matter, the paper said. The decision came six months after Saudi Arabia and Uganda signed a memorandum of understanding that enabled Ugandan domestic workers to seek employment in Saudi Arabia. It was seen as a way of addressing high unemployment rates among young people in Uganda. Our expectations were that with the signing of the agreement, trafficking in persons to Saudi Arabia would stop, Mukasa said. Uganda becomes the fourth country after Indonesia, Ethiopia and the Philippines to ban their nationals from travelling to Saudi to work as domestic workers over concerns of abuse. According to Ugandan figures, about 500 housemaids have gone to Saudi Arabia since the deal took effect. Critics of new visa waiver regulations says US unfairly punishing dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Washington, DC The United States government has been criticised for changes to its visa waiver programme that target dual national citizens of Sudan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The new measures, voted into law by Congress in late 2015, cancel the US visa waiver for citizens of those four countries who are dual nationals of countries that are part of the programme. Such dual nationals will now be required to apply for a US visa in person. The changes also mandate people who have travelled to these countries since March 1, 2011. Critics say that this measure punishes dual nationals, some of whom may have never been to their ancestral countries, such as Jamal Abdi, policy director at the National Iranian American Council in Washington, DC. Iran rejoins world economy as sanctions are lifted If your father is an Iranian national, you are considered an Iranian national, and that applies even if you have never travelled to Iran, Abdi told Al Jazeera. But that is the circumstance that a lot of people are going to be faced with. The Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows citizens of 38 countries to travel to the US for business or tourism for up 90 days without a visa in return for reciprocity by these countries to American travellers. Some 20 million people visited the US as part of the VWP in 2014, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the programme in consultation with the state department. According to the new restrictions, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis, but it is unclear whether explanations will be given to those whose applications are rejected, evoking comparisons to the US no-fly list. Journalists, business travellers and humanitarian workers are among those eligible for waivers, which are currently being explored for dual nationals, according to the state department. The administration has defended the new limits on travellers, which come in light of the killing of 24 people in San Bernardino, California, last year by a Pakistani woman who was a permanent resident of the US and her husband, a US citizen. Since the attack, concerns have been raised about the ability of potential attackers to enter the US without scrutiny. Others argue that the regulations will only bring a false sense of security to Americans. This is a very generalised measure that is not going to be very effective, said Angelita Baeyens, programme director at the Robert F Kennedy Centre for Human Rights. It will not make the country any safer. Its just to show people that measures are being taken to help protect the US, she told Al Jazeera. Its also causing a lot of confusion when it comes to interpreting it, and the lack of clarity is an additional problem that is going to make things worse for millions of regular people, Baeyens added. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)s Joanne Lin also slammed the move, calling it a wrong-head law which discriminates based on national origin, parentage, and ancestral ancestry. Congress has passed, and the Obama administration is now implementing, an unjustified discriminatory law that is fundamentally wrong and un-American, Lin, the ACLUs legislative counsel, told Al Jazeera. The state department, however, said in a statement: US Customs and Border Protection [CBP] welcomes more than a million passengers arriving to the United States every day and is committed to facilitating legitimate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security and border protection. Earlier this week, a BBC journalist was prevented from boarding a plane to the US because of her dual British-Iranian nationality. Two online campaigns were launched condemning what the measures opponents call second-class US citizenship based on national origin. READ MORE: A new era for Iran? Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman has also circulated a letter to House representatives, calling on US President Barack Obama to waive the restrictions that would impact dual nationals and people who have travelled to Iran. Lawmakers are also being urged to sign on to the Equal Protection in Travel Act a new bipartisan legislation that would permanently repeal the restrictions on dual nationals. Only five of the 28 European Union member states have yet to be admitted into the WVP. Writing on behalf of the EU last month, David OSullivan, the EU ambassador to Washington, denounced the move as indiscriminate action against the more than 13 million European citizens who travel to the US each year. OSullivan warned that it could trigger legally-mandated reciprocal measures, and would do nothing to increase security, while instead hurting economies on both sides of the Atlantic. But some say the real target for the visa eligibility changes is Iran. The speaker of Irans parliament, Ali Larijani, has said that the changes amounted to harassment and blatantly violate the nuclear agreement signed with the US. The US state department, however, has said that the administration assured Iran that the visa regulations would not be an obstacle. State department spokesman John Kirby said that Secretary of State John Kerry made it clear that were going to implement this new legislation so as not to interfere with the legitimate business interests of Iran. Follow Dalia Hatuqa on Twitter: @DaliaHatuqa Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders hands out self-defence sprays to women, as his Freedom Party soars in polls. Dutch anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders has handed out self-defence sprays to women fearful of what he described as Islamic testosterone bombs. The publicity stunt, which occurred in the town of Spijkenisse near Rotterdam on Saturday, came in the wake of the New Years Eve sexual assaults in Cologne. Wilders, surrounded by bodyguards and police, visited a market to hand out the sprays, which contained red paint. Amid stalls selling vegetables, fish, flowers and bicycle parts, Wilders got a rock star welcome from dozens of supporters, while a small group of protesters chanted and waved placards, including one that read, Refugees are welcome, racism is not. The Freedom Party leader said that, if elected, he would close the borders immediately and have no more asylum seekers. We just cannot afford to have more. The Dutch people in a big majority dont want it It makes our people and women more unsafe, Wilders added. READ MORE: Rival groups protest Germany sex assaults The protection spray was handing out is a legal variant to pepper spray, which leaves behind a red stripe on possible assailants for a couple of days. Leontine Maris was one of the first women to get the spray from Wilders on Saturday. The 53-year-old said she votes for him though she disagrees with some of his more extreme comments. She said she was afraid not just of migrants, but also Dutch men. The whole society is going down the drain, she said. Racist, not feminist A small group of protesters awaited the right-wing politician, shouting slogans such as Wilders is a racist, not a feminist. Ten of the female protesters were arrested for not having permission to demonstrate, Dutch media reported. Student Kim Van de Kant, 22, was one of the women who protested against Wilders on Saturday. We wanted to show that Spijkenisse residents are not only Wilders supporters, even though the majority at the marketplace loves him, Van de Kant told Al Jazeera. According to Van de Kant, Wilders fans were disappointed by his short visit. Besides that, the 70 sprays that he gave away ran out quite quickly. Soaring poll numbers The stunt in Spijkenisse fits into Wilders uncompromising anti-immigrant, anti-Islam rhetoric that has propelled him to the top of Dutch opinion polls, just over a year away from parliamentary elections. As Wilders popularity soars on the back of disenchantment over immigration, Prime Minister Mark Ruttes two-party coalition is in a slump, losing ground mainly to Wilders. Wilders party currently holds 12 seats in the 150-member lower house, but a poll by Ipsos on Thursday suggested the Freedom Party would win 32 seats now. Ruttes Liberals were second with 26 seats, down from its current tally of 40. Other polls have Wilders even further ahead. Residents in the city of Taiz protest in solidarity with three Al Jazeera journalists believed kidnapped there. Crowds of residents in the Yemeni city of Taiz have staged a protest in solidarity with three Al Jazeera journalists believed kidnapped there. The demonstrators held photos of Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Hamdi al-Bokari and his crew, Abdulaziz al-Sabri and Moneer al-Sabai, who went missing on Monday. The Al Jazeera Media Network has called for their immediate release. They were covering events in the besieged city of Taiz, reporting on the human cost of the conflict. Our colleagues were simply doing their job of reporting the story and informing the world on what is taking place in Yemen, Mostefa Souag, the acting director-general of Al Jazeera Media Network, said. Bokari, a Yemeni national, was last seen around 10pm on Monday in the centre of the war-torn city. The news channel said in the statement on Thursday that there were indications that he had been kidnapped by unknown persons. Bokari has worked for Al Jazeera Arabic since 2006. Strategic gateway Al Jazeera holds their abductors responsible for their safety and security, Souag said. It is tragic to see that in times of conflict, news organisations continue to be targeted. Journalists should have the freedom to do their work without the fear of intimidation, abduction or unlawful arrest. Taiz has become a flashpoint in the ongoing war between Iran-allied Houthi fighters, who control the capital Sanaa, and forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi loyalists control Aden and much of the countrys south with the backing of an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia. Taiz is seen as a strategic gateway between Sanaa and the south. A gunman armed with a rifle has shot and killed a Canadian soldier guarding Ottawas war memorial, before being pursued by police into the national parliament building and shot dead himself. The attack began at about 9.50am on Wednesday local time (13.50 GMT) when the man shot and killed the uniformed soldier, Cpl. Nathan Frank Cirillo. It was reported by Canadian media that the suspect then stole a car and drove to nearby Parliament Hill. He was then confronted by police and killed. Video obtained by Canadas Globe and Mail showed officers moving through parliament before an exchange of gunfire is heard. A body was reported lying on the ground after the gunfire. Canadian local authorities confirmed the name of the dead gunman as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who was first identified by the US television network CBS. The 32-year-old suspect was deemed a high-risk traveler by intelligence services, and according to media reports he had recently had his passport confiscated. No information has as yet been given as to a possible motive for the attack. This kind of terrorist attack did not seem possible. by Jim Munson, a Canadian senator In a television address, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned the brutal and violent incident, adding that it was a reminder that Canada is not immune to terrorist attacks. Canada will never be intimidated, he said. Harper was holding a meeting with party members in the centre block as the gunfire erupted. PM was addressing caucus, then a huge boom, followed by rat-a-tat shots. We all scattered. It was clearly right outside our caucus door, said Tony Clement, a member of the treasury board. Another witness, Marc-Andre Viau, told the AFP news agency that he saw a man run into a meeting inside parliament, chased by police who yelled take cover. That was followed by up to 20 gunshots. People fled parliament by scrambling down scaffolding being used in renovations, witnesses told the Canadian Press news agency. Police had by this point sealed the area and were combing buildings for more gunmen, with unconfirmed reports they were positioned on roofs. Police said the investigation was active but no one else had been found. Gunfire was also reported at the nearby Rideau shopping centre, but police later said there was no such incident. Speaking to Al Jazeera from parliament at 11.30am local time (15.30 GMT), as police continued to hunt for suspects, Senator Jim Munson told how his offices had been placed in lockdown. People are quite shaken. This kind of terrorist attack did not seem possible, he said. Parliament was still sealed by police at 5:00 local time (21:00GMT), according to Al Jazeeras Jet Belgraver, who is reporting from Ottawa. When we arrived the streets were rather empty especially around the parliament buildings, she said. As we approached, the parliament buildings were cordoned off. But the scenario right now in Ottawa seemed to have calmed a little bit. Hospital officials told the Reuters news agency that they had received three patients two suspects and the soldier. One of the suspects and the soldier were confirmed dead by police at about 1pm local time. The attack came hours after Canada raised its terrorism threat level from low to medium, the highest it has been for four years. It also comes two days after two Canadian soldiers were run over and one of them killed in Quebec. Harper warned that the facts are still being gathered and said he condemned the despicable act. As world leaders meet at the World Economic Forum, we discuss the low oil price, inequality and the threat of recession. In a world of social media and technology, networking has become commonplace. Once a year, the worlds biggest and most powerful networking event, the World Economic Forums annual meeting, takes place in Switzerland. Last week, world leaders met in Davos to discuss the biggest challenges facing the global economy in 2016: Crushing markets and currencies, the falling price of oil, global inequality, migration, the rise of technology, and the threat of another recession. So, what is next for the worlds economy? Can another global financial crisis be averted? How can inequality be tackled? What does the low oil price mean for the future of Russia and the Middle East? And how can the world master the next industrial revolution? Angel Gurria, the secretary general of OECD, talks to Counting the Cost about the economic prospects for 2016 and what should be done to tackle the challenges ahead. He believes it is time for ministers and governments to go structural and to implement long-term reforms. We also talk to Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam international, about Oxfams recent report on inequality. Our report shows the pace and the scale of the crisis. We are showing today that 62 people own as much wealth as 3.5 billion poorest people half of humanity. And that this has been increasing rapidly. In 2010 this figure was 288; last year it was 80; today its 62, and in a few years time it will be just ten people owning the same wealth as half of humanity. This is dangerous, because it slows economic growth it traps people in poverty and it sparks social unrest. Its not inevitable and we are here to propose solutions and we are asking governments and business leaders to tackle it, and to tackle it urgently. Thirty years of deregulation, of privatisation, of financial secrecy, of globalisation, has resulted in exactly this, says Byanyima. Global oil prices have fallen sharply over the past months, leading to significant revenue shortfalls in many oil producing countries, but what is really behind the falling oil price? And what does it mean for the global economy? We talk to Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, who says the oil price has been the main topic in Davos. There will be more oil in the market 2016 may well be a year where we see oil prices under pressure. Low oil prices hurt the economies (the Middle East and Russia are hurt the most), but we should also see that this is not a price level which will be with us forever. Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, talks to us about Russia as global international player. How does Russia deal with the low oil price and its international standing and how has it affected business? He says, its a very big challenge for the Russian economy because its very much dependant on oil, but . it also creates new opportunies. Finland has been dubbed by some as the next sick man of Europe. Alexander Stubb, the Finnish finance minister, talks to us about unemployment, economic decline, structural reform and Finlands and Europes economic future. There are colossal challenges for all of Europe, number one is migration and asylum seekers, number two is the euro and economy, and number three is basically terrorism and security. I think this is like a 1950s and 1990s moment for Europe. In the 1950s coal and steel was integrated, in the 1990s the Cold War ended and we went for the European Union. I think the answer to all these three crises is more integration, not less. Wave of protests put Tunisias government under unprecedented pressure to deliver on the youths aspirations. A little more than five years ago, a small-town fruit seller set himself on fire. His death prompted nationwide protests by demonstrators angry at a lack of work and rampant corruption. Now, it appears to be happening again. A young job-seeker in the town of Kasserine was fatally electrocuted last week, while protesting against being turned down for a government job. And Tunisians took to the streets. As in 2011, the police have responded harshly. There are no bullets this time, but a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in place. The government rushed to blame outside players for fomenting the turmoil. But isnt that a state of denial? Is the post-revolution political system in Tunisia failing to address the aspirations of its youth? Presenter: Nick Clark Guests: Houda Mzioudet, political commentator and writer on Tunisian political affairs. Monica Marks, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a specialist in Tunisian politics. Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Lecturer in International Relations of the Middle East and North Africa at the University of Cambridge. What is the state of Egypts media five years after the toppling of Mubarak? Plus, behind the UKs surveillance reform. Five years on from the January 25 revolution that represented the high watermark of the Arab Spring, Egypts authorities and broadcast media in the country have been spreading a clear message: do not take to the streets. Last week, Egypts authorities arrested five people who ran Facebook pages marking the anniversary of the revolution. According to press freedom groups, the number of journalists in Egyptian jails is at an all-time high. The bulk of the mainstream news media in Egypt aligned itself with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi when he took power from the Muslim Brotherhood, but there are signs now that their wholesale acceptance of his rule is wavering. TV and print outlets are re-discovering their critical faculties on matters of governance, corruption and economic policy. However, there are limits to how far the government will allow dissent and those who cross the line risk much more than their jobs. Other stories on Our Radar this week: At least seven media workers in Afghanistan have been killed in a Taliban bombing in Kabul; in Yemen, a freelance reporter has been killed and a three-man crew from Al Jazeera Arabic has gone missing; Washington Post Iran correspondent Jason Rezaian has been freed after a year-and-a-half in a Tehran jail; and the veil is slowly being lifted on the mysterious story of five missing Hong Kong publishers. The Snoopers Charter: Surveillance in the UK In the UK, the government is in the midst of rewriting the countrys laws on surveillance and national security through a piece of legislation called the Investigatory Powers Bill, or IPB and journalists will be watching this story closely. Referred to by its critics as the Snoopers Charter, the bill is designed to pull together all laws regulating how the government, police and intelligence services can surveil its citizens, including journalists. The Listening Posts Flo Phillips reports on the relationship between the security state in the UK and the journalists who dare to challenge it. Returning to Egypt, five years ago, one of the anthems of the January 25 revolution was Ramy Essams Bread, Freedom and Social Justice. Since then, both he and his country have moved on; Essam has relocated to Sweden and Egypt now has another former military man in charge. Last year, Essam released Beans are caviar, its message being that Egyptians, in their enthusiasm for the Sisi government, are mistaking a basic food staple for something of gourmet value. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. This is not an ambient-electronic, celestial voyage or new age type gala. In fact, it's a scoring of actor, director Orson Welles' "Four Men on a Raft" sequence from his 1942 documentary It's All True. This was a film that the US Government expected to be sugarcoated as part of a cultural exchange program with Brazil. In turn, expectations were not met and the film's budget was severely hacked leaving Welles with black & white footage without sound. Therefore, Nashville Electric provides a backdrop of sorts, complete with synths, effects mechanisms, violin and guitar that comprises the band's instrumental makeup.Not having seen the film, I'm guessing the quartet tried to instill a musical portraiture paralleled by some of Welles' innovative camera techniques and lighting processes within the scope of their somewhat angular soundtrack developments and insinuated imagery. The band executes layers with intersecting effects amid a polytonal array of powerfully rendered sound-sculpting maneuvers on these three extended works. With streaming synths via a few vivid dreamscapes and burgeoning bass lines, guitarist Ed Pettersen and violinist Tracy Silverman add a zesty electro-acoustic element throughout. Various activities project a sense of time travel as the artists fuse wavy and reverberating passages rather seamlessly.Silverman's cyclical staccato notes on "Orson's Folly Part I" helps establish a shadowy vista among the eerie electronics permutations, where a primary theme seems to evolve out of nowhere. But the final bonus track was recorded in concert/film screening at The Stone Fox venue in Nashville, TN. Overall, this is electronic music that is a tad more experimental than the norm, complete with multidimensional excursions and a horde of persuasive schematics. 2005 .. Speaking after the attack James Duddridge, Minister for Africa, said: I condemn this barbaric and indiscriminate attack on Somalis who were simply meeting with family and friends on Lido Beach. Our thoughts are with the people of Somalia, its government and the families of those injured and killed. Attacks such as this are attempts to []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... The Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy (MCFHRD) is the FCOs dedicated strategic programme fund supporting UK global human rights and democracy work. Through targeted projects, MCFHRD aims to further British interests overseas by tackling the root causes of human rights violations, strengthening institutions and governance, supporting the promotion and protection of human []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... The events arm of the foremost International socio economics news magazine, The Economist has concluded plans to hold the 11th edition of the annual Nigeria Summit. Slated for Monday, March 7th and Tuesday March 8th, 2016 at the highbrow InterContinental Hotel, Lagos, the 2016 Nigeria Summit will bring key government ministry officials, industry and business []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... The Members of the Troika (United States, United Kingdom, and Norway) express their deep concern at delays in forming the Transitional Government of National Unity, which was due to be completed today. Advancing implementation of the peace agreement, reviving the economy, and implementing critical reforms depend on the formation of the transitional government. The Presidential []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... 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] Experience Uganda as God works in us, and New Hope Uganda. Preaching the Good News by word and example is a fundamental task for all Christians. This blog intends to help all reflect on and enhance this important ministry. The chief executive of Bank of Eufaula in Oklahoma was shot and killed on Thursday by a robber. Randy Peterson, 64, died during the robbery, said Mick Thompson, commissioner of the Oklahoma State Banking Department. The bank remained closed Friday following the incident. "It's a tragic loss to Oklahoma community banking," Thompson said. "There's not a kinder, gentler or more well-mannered gentleman than Randy Peterson." Peterson died after being shot in the stomach by a male robber who walked into the $93 million-asset bank's branch disguised as a woman, The Oklahoman reported. The suspect, 39-year-old Cedric Lamont Norris, then attempted to take two employees hostage. When they resisted, Norris shot and injured one of the employees. Norris was able to take a customer hostage and attempted to escape in a vehicle. He was stopped by a state tropper and killed after exchanging gunfire. The hostage was severely injured in the incident. It was not yet clear how much money Norris had taken and what had been recovered, FBI Special Agent Terry Weber told The Oklahoman. In his amusing book The Joy of Yiddish, Leo Rosten defines the word Chutzpah as gall, brazen nerve, effrontery. The word is perfectly applicable to the Islamic state of Iran and its leaders with their extraordinary mockery of Western values and utterances of cynicism and barefaced prevarications. This cynicism differs from the kind of utter stupidity paraded by Tawfiq Tirawi, leading member of the Palestinian Central Committee of Fatah. His breathtaking contributions to knowledge were that Israel was responsible for poisoning Yasser Arafat and, on January 16, 2016, that Adolf Hitler was not morally corrupt, he was daring. The chutzpah of Iran is vastly more skilled and adroit than the idiocy of the Palestinian leader. It is a provocative and deliberate challenge to the West and ridiculing of Western values of free speech, norms, and ethics. That challenge, and its ultimate real objective was already evident in a declaration in June 1963 by the cleric who was to become Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of the Islamic Republic. The future Supreme Leader said, I know you do not want Iran to be under the boot of the Jews. He issued a fatwa that Muslims could defend Islam by all means. The hostility against Jews, sometimes couched as the response to the Jewish conspiracy, and the idea of the West as the enemy, continued after Khomeinis death. Today, the present Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei aims to counter a Western cultural invasion (including by the little Satan Israel) of Iran that he believes seeks to destroy Islamic identity. The world is now aware of the political success of Iran scored in the nuclear deal that is supposed to curb its nuclear program in return for the relief from sanctions. Iran is now able to obtain frozen assets, worth billions of dollars. One can expect those funds will be used for destabilizing as well as positive activities. It is arguable, even improbable, that the nuclear deal will ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program. All can agree that, as a result of the deal, Iran will be stronger, politically, militarily, and economically, and that its influence in the Middle East will increase. On the issue of the deal, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on January 19, 2016 in congratulating President Hassan Rouhani made clear his position. I reiterate, he said, the need to be vigilant about the deceit and treachery of arrogant countries, especially the United States in this, nuclear, issue and other issues. Iran showed its vigilance and belligerence by test-firing ballistic missiles in violation of United Nations resolutions, as well as by detaining ten American soldiers. Deceit and treachery are familiar items in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2005-2013, perhaps on the borderline of dementia, who at the United Nations and elsewhere kept insisting that the Holocaust was a myth. But many other Iranians, while not specifically denying the Holocaust, called for a debate about it. This became more pronounced as a result of the publication on September 30, 2005 by the satirical, anti-religious, Danish journal Jyllands-Posten of 12 editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that Muslims found offensive and an insult to Muhammad and Islam. The result was protests, violent demonstrations, and riots in Muslim countries. Defenders of Jyllands-Posten held that publication of the cartoons was a legitimate exercise of free expression, regardless of its accuracy. The chutzpah of Iran became evident when its leaders held that the West was hypocritical in passing laws that punished Holocaust denial but allowing and defending freedom of speech and insults against Islam. It is the height of irony and unequalled brazenness that Iran proclaims the desirability and necessity of free speech. We know the country censors books to ensure that Iranians are protected from Western cultural onslaught. Iran prevents any expression or cartoon considered an insult of the Prophet. In January 2016, about two-thirds of the 12,000 candidates who applied to run in the February 2016 parliamentary election, were either disqualified by the Guardian Council or obliged to withdraw. The Guardian Council, which supervises elections and approves candidates, allows only one interpretation of Islamic values. Only 30 of the 3,000 supposedly reformists candidates were approved. The Iranian cultural offensive against the West began in February 2006 with the International Holocaust Cartoon Contest sponsored by the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri. It was co-sponsored by Irans Caricature House, whose director was quoted as saying, in November 2006, after the Contest that we will continue until the destruction of Israel. The cartoons were supposed to discuss the realities of the Holocaust. The organizers said they did not want to cause pain, but they did have problems with Zionism. The theme of the contest was to compare the actions of Nazi Germany and the current activities of the Israeli government. More than 1,200 cartoons were submitted, some from the U.S. and the UK. The winning cartoon, by a Moroccan artist, was of an Israeli crane constructing a wall around the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with a concentration camp on the wall. Terrorist events led to a second Cartoon Contest. On January 7, 2015 two terrorists, belonging to the al-Qaeda group in Yemen (AQAP) murdered 12 people and injured another 11 in and near the Charlie Hebdo building. The original CH building had already been firebombed because of the publication of one of CHs cartoons of Muhammad and other Islamic leaders. The new editors of the journal said they would continue to publish satirical cartoons about Islamic figures. The Iranian response to this courageous advocacy of free speech was for official authorities to organize a second Holocaust Cartoon Contest. It was sponsored by the guild called the House of Cartoon, the municipality of Tehran, and the Sarcheshmeh Cultural Complex and held in April 2015. The guild equated Israel and Nazis, and put forward a modern day version of the blood label accusation. It informed the contestants that Israel was sucking blood, using insects and animals, from Palestinian children. The Contest asked three questions. The most absurd of them, considering the thousands of publications about the Holocaust, was why didnt the West permit researchers and historians to consider the Holocaust. More to the point was that the theme of the cartoons was to be a link between Benjamin Netanyahu and Adolf Hitler. The first prize was $12,000, and the second prize $8,000. There were 839 cartoons submitted, and 312 artists listed. Among them were two Americans, John Leonard and Istvan Majoras. To her credit, Irena Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO since 2009, was critical of this contest, and also of the inclusion of Palestinian-theme posters on UNESCOs world heritage register that she vetoed. Bokova declared that UNESCO would not associate itself with documents that went against UNRSCO values and fueled hatred and anti-Semitic perceptions. Instead, she attended, together with French President Francois Hollande, on July 27, 2014, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau 70 years earlier, a ceremony honoring the victims of the Holocaust. The Iranian chutzpah is relentless It is now organizing a third Contest, with a first prize of $50,000, to be held on July 2016. It expects cartoons from 50 countries, and 312 contributions from artists. President Barack Obama on January 17, 2016, commenting on the completed nuclear deal with Iran, said, This is a good dayIran will not get its hands on a nuclear bomb. The President should now say it would be an even better day if the third Holocaust Cartoon Contest were cancelled and if the vicious antisemitism of Iran came to an end. As Americans consider who ought to lead us out of the despair of Obama's misrule, we ought to go back twenty-five years. That was when the fruits of Ronald Reagan's crusade against Communism gave us a world that ought to have produced peace and prosperity leading, over time, to more freedom and more hope for all mankind. George H. Bush was president, but the fight had been waged and won by Reagan, one of the few who saw that the Evil Empire could be defeated without firing a shot. The Warsaw Pact began disintegrating in early 1989, and the nations within the Soviet Union, beginning with the Baltic States, peeled off the Great Russian hegemony of the Soviet Union beginning in January 1991. Before the end of 1991, the Soviet Union itself would completely dissolve. American military power exercised in Desert Storm showed what had been obvious except to doctrinaire anti-American leftists since Vietnam: America can easily win any way it decides to win, and do so with almost no loss of life at all. Overwhelming victory in Desert Storm, along with the end of the Warsaw Pact, showed the Russians that all the sacrifices made to compete in a global cold war with America were worse than wasted. Aside from winning the Cold War, Reagan's work left America with the greatest fiscal windfall in our nation's history: the "Peace Dividend." Defense spending could be dramatically cut with no risk to our national security at all. The economy was strong already as a result of Reagan's pro-growth policies, and now federal spending could be cut without affecting any entitlements or domestic programs. What happened? Why are we today facing a sinister web of Islamic terrorism, a renewed Russian empire, a menacing China, and a dangerous North Korea? Why are we facing a second recession a serious economic spiral downward, global in scope, with no good way out? Why is Western Europe, which stood pretty firm against the Soviet Empire, unable to stop an army of angry refugees? Reagan inherited an America as wretched as America is today. Carter no more feared communism than Obama fears radical Islam. Carter preached austerity as blithely as Obama's flacks soothingly tell Americans that we are really in good shape economically. Carter, like Obama, leaves an America despondent and unsure. What will the next president, as the revitalizer of our nation, need to do? What did Reagan do? First, we must call our evil enemies "evil." This is not a question of being smarter or winning or showing finesse. This is straightforward moral courage. This means, also, identifying the greatest victims of this evil, the wretched people forced to live in the lands these control. The Poles, the Balts, the Czechs, and all the other victims of Soviet Communist tyranny became our best allies. Second, we should champion the true liberation of the various nationalities trapped in the wicked empire of Iran. Recall when Obama took office that the Iranian subjects agitated for relief. Obama made the same mistake that George H. Bush made in 1989, when the Chinese people sought freedom at Tiananmen Square. Liberate the Syrians, by their own hands, not our hands, just as we liberated Hungary by the will of the Hungarians. Few of these evil regimes have true legitimacy. These are thugocracies, and we ought to destabilize the power of the thugs who rule them. Create regimes that treat their people humanely and want our friendship and support. Third, we must reclaim the mantle of Judeo-Christian superiority. It was not "religion" that defeated the Soviets (after all, Marxism is nothing if not a religion itself) it was showing which moral system deserved to win the Cold War. If we are ashamed to say that the religions and moral systems of Jews and Christians are better than radical Islam, then how can we win? Moreover, we are building our battle plans upon lies, because the religions of Jews and Christians are, quite clearly, better than Marxism and better than radical Islam. Instead, we watch while Israel is driven into increasingly desperate straits and while Christians are driven from their historic homeland in Asia and Africa. We can win this new cold war, and we can recover, out of the savings we now make for defense and the stabilization of the global economy, a new and happier world. This requires, more than anything else, clear moral vision and courage. Whichever candidate can give us that, can recover the victory of Reagan, should be our next president. In was an interesting coincidence that as the Intelligence Community Inspector General Charles McCullough III was writing to the heads of the House and Senate Intelligence committees, among others, that Hillary Clinton had above-top-secret SAP (Special Access Programs) information on her private email server, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, the Daily Beast reports, is preparing to demote Gen. David Petraeus, former CENTCOM commander and CIA chief for mishandling similar SAP information while in uniform. The cases are almost identical, but Petraeus admitted his crime, apologized for it and paid a fine. Now the man who is arguably the most significant American general since World War II, who achieved a victory in Iraq that President Obama threw away, is going to be publicly humiliated and his reputation permanently tarnished. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, whistles past her own graveyard, escaping punishment thus far for exposing our most classified secrets to foreign enemies on an unsecured server in her private residence. As Fox News Catherine Herridge noted in her blockbuster report: According to court documents, former CIA Director David Petraeus was prosecuted for sharing intelligence from special access programs with his biographer and mistress Paula Broadwell. At the heart of his prosecution was a non-disclosure agreement where Petraeus agreed to protect these closely held government programs, with the understanding unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized retention or negligent handling could cause irreparable injury to the United States or be used to advantage by a foreign nation. Clinton signed an identical non-disclosure agreement Jan. 22, 2009. The IGs letter should place Hillary Clinton squarely in violation USC 18 Section 793 of the Espionage Act, which covers gross negligence in the handling of such information. Ironically, during her recent debate with Democratic-Socialist Sen, Bernie Sanders, Clinton made a statement that could come back to haunt her and be her political epitaph: There should be no bank too big to fail and no individual too big to jail. Indeed, she should not be too big to jail, for while Petraeus gave his mistress a sneaky peak at information he brought home in his briefcase, Hillary placed Americas most secret information on an unsecured server, information that that has no doubt been already obtained by foreign hackers, As Breitbart News has reported: Hillary Clinton used the company Internap as the internet service provider for her private email account during her tenure as Secretary of State. Internap, based in Atlanta, has a facility in Manhattan, near the physical location of the IP address for clintonemail.com. In March 2011, the security company RSA was hacked. The hackers got into the companys system through a malware-infested email sent to an employee, then installed a backdoor and stole data. RSA called it an extremely sophisticated cyber attack. Five different blocks of Internap hosted services -- which could include websites, email services, and email-storage and cloud services -- were hit in the 2011 attack. A computer expert tells Breitbart News that Internap networks could have been used by the hackers to help it get to RSA or other targets. China was the home source of 299 of the 338 command and control networks that the hackers used to carry out the attacks, according to an analysis at the time by cyber security expert Brian Krebbs. This is a mindboggling breach of national security, one that puts overseas operations and American lives at risk. Of course, the Clintons have a history of playing fast and loose with American secrets. As Investors Business Daily (IBD) has noted, Chinas recent test of its DF-41 ICBM with multiple warheads employed technology given to China on Bill Clintons watch: China has just tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver up to 10 independently targeted nuclear warheads, using technology given to them on President Clinton's watch to launch communications satellites. A report by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) dated Dec. 10, 1996, notes that China's MIRV technology is likely an offshoot of a "smart dispenser" for launching multiple satellites developed by China under a contract with Motorola to launch its Iridium communications satellites. This technology transfer was approved by the Clinton administration. Another instance of missile technology transfer to China under the Clinton administration aided the development of the Chinese Long March series of missiles, a mainstay of its space program, technology also put to good use in the development of its ICBMs. The Long March has proved a reliable Chinese launch vehicle, but it wasn't always so. After the failed launch of a satellite built by Loral Space & Communications Ltd. attached to a Chinese rocket in 1996, Loral provided 200 pages of data to China's Great Wall Industry Corp. to correct the guidance system problems of their Long March rockets, which blew up 75% of the time. Such data, also applicable to the guidance system of ICBMs, were previously banned from export for national security reasons after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacres until President Clinton granted a waiver. Loral Chairman Bernard L. Schwartz gave $1.5 million to the Democratic Party in 1996. As for the difference in the treatment of David Petraeus and Hillary Clinton, IBD has asked the obvious question: Which is worse -- keeping classified information in a personal journal at home or doing government business and transmitting classified data on a private email account managed from the Clinton family home? This adds a new level of premeditated secrecy and deceit to the actions of the presumptive 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. It also adds a new level of hypocrisy to the most transparent administration in history's pursuit of former CIA Director and commander of American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus. It also raises the question, how can someone who, through the same gross negligence that cost American lives at Benghazi has placed all our lives at risk, be a candidate for president and not a candidate for incarceration? Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. The battle over Floridas 25 Electoral College votes in the 2000 Presidential election will certainly come to mind when any political analyst thinks of very close, very consequential American ballot disputes. But as Edward Foley makes clear in Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States (Oxford Press, 2016), a comprehensive and entertaining history of many such battles over more than two centuries, Florida was only the latest such example. And in fact, there have been several such battles since the Supreme Court ruled in Bush v Gore in December 2000. These included the gubernatorial race in Washington State in 2004, and the Minnesota U.S. Senate race in 2008. The Minnesota dispute, which lasted well into 2009 before being settled, gave the Democrats the 60th seat in the U.S. Senate enabling the party to overcome a Republican filibuster and pass the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). Foley argues, convincingly I think, that the Founding Fathers did not adequately consider the processes for settling ballot disputes, especially when partisans on the local or state level, could corrupt an honest vote count or even use force to pressure voters, and then submit the results they were seeking for certification on a state or Congressional level. Of course, at the time of the drafting of the Constitution, the plan was for U.S. senators to be elected by state legislatures, and U.S. presidents to be elected by electors chosen by these same state legislatures. The popular election of presidents did not begin for several decades with many states first adopting the practice in 1824, and the popular election of U.S. senators not until more than a century later when the 17th Amendment was passed. In any case, the direct election of senators and presidents did not bring with it much in the way of consistent or fair processes for determining the winners in ballot disputes. I do not know Foleys personal politics, and that is a compliment, for bias does not weave through his history of ballot disputes, as it does with so much other supposed scholarship these days. Rather the individual histories of dozens of ballot disputes is very informative and Foleys judgments in individual disputes, while not always shared by this reviewer, are well argued and thoughtful. In particular the Florida recount battle in 2000 is a good example of Foleys seriousness and rigor. The author provides a history of prior Supreme Court decisions, particularly in the reapportionment cases -- Baker v Carr, and Reynolds v Sims -- that lay the groundwork for the Supreme Courts use of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to invalidate the Florida Supreme Courts decision to carry out a close to statewide recount of the under-vote. Foley calls the Florida Supreme Court a rogue court for its seeming persistence in looking for ways to keep the recount going until Democrat Al Gore could take the lead. Foley concludes his chapter on the 2000 battle with this sentence: The result was the inauguration of a president that the majority of participating voters of Florida, and the nation as a whole, had not intended to elect. This is accurate, but the truth of the matter is that had Al Gore won the recount battle, the sentence would also have been correct. Either Bush or Gore would at best have won a plurality in Florida, and Gore won a plurality nationwide, but neither candidate could claim to have won a majority in Florida or nationwide due to third party candidates. Ralph Nader won over 90,000 votes in Florida, in a state decided by 537 votes and over 2 million votes nationwide. So too, Foley believes that more voters who showed up on election day likely intended to vote for Gore than Bush. This is possible, but not so clear. The butterfly ballot in Palm Beach County, which appears to have resulted in more votes for Patrick Buchanan than he received anywhere else in Florida, was of course a ballot design created by a Democratic official to make things easier for the large number of elderly voters in the county. But there was also the matter of the announcement by CNN that polls had closed statewide in Florida, when an hour remained for voters in the panhandle counties, the states most Republican area. As I laid out in an article in the early days of American Thinker, this announcement, as well as the mistaken call that Gore had won the state before polls had closed in the central time zone, may have cost Bush several thousand votes, arguably more than Gore lost in Palm Beach County due to the ballot design Foley also discusses the post-election recounts conducted by various newspaper consortiums, and provides the results of only one of these tabulations which gave Gore a 107-vote victory -- though this survey included both under-votes and over-votes. Gore, in his various post-election attempts to find votes, had never asked for a recount or reconsideration of ballots cast out by the voting machines as over-votes. In fact, Gore had only asked for a recount of the under-vote in four heavily Democratic counties, rather than a statewide recount, demonstrating his strategy of cherry picking favorable counties. Almost all of the newspaper consortiums other vote counts using various standards for accepting ballots not completely punched through for the under-vote, produced very narrow Bush victories. Foley points out that these consortiums did not in fact get to count all the votes, and the number of missing votes was larger than the margin in any of the recounts by the newspapers. I agree with Foley that Gore might have been the choice for more of those who entered the polling place (ignoring the panhandle counties' depressed turnout), but if you spoil your ballot with a double vote, or vote for a candidate other than the one intended, these are not correctible errors. Foley also provides a convincing case that the Minnesota Senate election -- eventually producing a win for Democrat Al Franken, resulted from a much more transparent and serious approach to getting it right, than the Washington State recount which produced a very controversial win for Democrat Christine Gregoire. In Washington State, King County officials behaved much like the Florida Supreme Court, doing what they needed to do to get the result they seemingly wanted. Foleys book has an excellent history of the 1876 presidential dispute, where Democrat Samuel Tilden won the popular vote nationwide, and likely won the popular vote in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, securing enough Electoral College votes for victory. However, the votes in these three states was disputed and the Electoral College vote for all three were eventually awarded to the Republican Rutherford B. Hayes by a Commission on which there were 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Foley makes a good case that the Republican effort to change the state votes to favor Hayes were clearly fraud, but there was also the Democrats effort to deny the franchise to black voters, whose right to vote had been achieved by the 15th Amendment and who likely would have backed Hayes. There is also a chapter on the 1948 Senate primary election in Texas, when landslide Lyndon Johnson won his Partys nomination (tantamount to victory in the general election) by 87 votes after 202 ballots were discovered in precinct 13 in Jim Wells county. The voter role of those who supposedly signed in that day had 202 names recorded in alphabetical order in a different but identical ink than the sign-ins for the over 700 other voters (actual voters) that day. Interviews with those who were among the 202 late entries showed that none of them had voted, and the last legitimate name on the voter roll, indicated he signed in just as the polls were closing. Foleys chapter on the 1960 presidential election offers enough evidence to argue that Richard Nixon may have won that year rather than John F. Kennedy. Two states whose electoral votes went to Kennedy -- Texas and Illinois, were won by 46,000 and 9,000 votes respectively. One would think that Illinois would be the easier of the two states to have made a case for fraud, given the closer margin, but Foley provides evidence from those who have studied the race, indicating that over 100,000 votes may have been wrongly recorded-either as votes for Kennedy, or uncounted votes for Nixon. Foleys history makes it clear that not much had changed in Texas from 1948 to 1960, and the chances for Nixon to get a fair hearing on the fraud that occurred in the state were zero. With no chance to reverse Texas, it made no sense for Nixon to try to challenge the Illinois vote. Foley applauds Nixons decision in 1960, Gores in 2000, and others, going as far back as John Jay in the 1792 New York governor's race, for conceding their election loss, though unhappy with the results, rather than creating constitutional crises on the federal level or the state level. There are many more stories in this book that provide colorful histories of individual ballot disputes through the nations two plus centuries. As Foley notes, there is no reason to think that the next big battle, whether for the White House or some other office, will be easily resolved. There is too much at stake, and the author believes the country has entered a more partisan era, where neither side may be so willing to live by the results, if they do not believe the results are accurate tallies. Since the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi premiered last week, I must have heard the term "non-political" used a dozen or more times to describe the movie. If by "non-political" one means that the film doesn't mention Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton by name, then the description is accurate. But if "non-political" means having no political implications, the word is wildly inaccurate. 13 Hours is, according to the most reliable witnesses of the events that occurred in Benghazi on September 11 and September 12 of 2012, a gut-wrenching expose of the lies and criminal neglect perpetrated by the aforementioned president and secretary of state. Those most reliable witnesses are the five surviving warriors whose accounts of this long night are detailed in the book 13 Hours in Benghazi, upon which this cinematic presentation is based. It was their heroic efforts that doubtless saved the dozens of individuals in the CIA annex that was about a mile from the diplomatic compound where Ambassador Chris Stevens and Sean Smith were murdered. Indeed, even those two deaths might have been avoided had the annex security group been cleared immediately by their bureaucratic superior to join the fight at the ambassador's compound. One lie exploded by 13 Hours is the politically expedient deception that the Benghazi attack was caused by a demonstration that got out of hand a demonstration inspired by an internet video. The attack on the Benghazi consulate and later on the CIA annex was clearly an organized assault that employed an array of heavy weapons including machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, GPS-guided mortars, and artillery mounted on gun trucks. Indeed, a couple of the fighters in the film even joked with each other between attacks when they heard that some media had linked the violence to a "demonstration." It was as if these warriors were all too aware of how reality is regularly distorted for political purposes. Another dubious proposition that becomes hard to swallow is the official assertion that no help was available for the dozens of Americans under attack. 13 hours undermines this notion by periodically posting times on the screen during the seemingly interminable period from the first attack around 9:40 p.m. until around sunrise the next day, when the final assault took place. The movie doesn't say why military aid wasn't sent immediately, but it does vividly portray, in the person of the bureaucratic head of the CIA annex, a mentality that puts professional standing above all other considerations. It doesn't take much imagination to extend that same self-centered perspective to the AWOL president of the United States, who clearly wished to downplay a terrorist attack on 9/11 during his re-election campaign a campaign in which al-Qaeda was repeatedly said to be "decimated" and "on the run." The clear focus of the movie is on the bravery of the six protagonists, who fended off large groups of well-armed attackers in the face of bureaucratic resistance and political incompetence. When aid finally arrived, hours were lost at the Benghazi airport thanks to uncooperative Libyan officials. Then more precious time was wasted trying to locate the annex, which was only a short distance from the torched diplomatic compound. The film also emphasizes how utterly inadequate security was in Benghazi, noting that no other Western country maintained a diplomatic presence in this highly unstable city, where numerous terrorist attacks had already taken place. In short, the U.S. government's desire to project an image of cooperation, trust, and stability clearly outweighed its concern for the safety of individuals stationed there. Though the film doesn't discuss the memorial for the four slain Americans at Andrews Air Force Base, any politically sentient individual will remember the efforts by President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and U.N. ambassador Susan Rice to blame an internet video, not an organized terrorist attack, for this tragedy a misdirection campaign that went on for weeks and eventually resulted in the imprisonment of a hapless video maker. The events portrayed in the film, however, not only make this claim totally implausible, but also make all but certain the assertions by Sean Smith's mother, Tyrone Woods's father, and Glen Doherty's sister that Hillary Clinton repeated this audacious cover story to them at the memorial service. After all, as far as the secretary of state was concerned, what difference at that point would the true cause of the victims' deaths make to their relatives? Better to blame a shady foreigner in Southern California than to risk adverse political fallout. Moreover, we now know, thanks to Hillary's private email server, that shortly after the Benghazi terrorist attacks, she acknowledged the truth about the assaults to her daughter, Libya's president, and Egypt's prime minister. 13 Hours clearly portrays the neglect and effective abandonment of dozens of Americans in Benghazi during a prolonged series of terrorist attacks. In doing so, it exposes the mendacity of the Obama-Clinton internet video explanation of events that three relatives of the deceased insist the secretary of state repeated to them at the memorial service. If this highly plausible representation of what actually took place in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 has no political ramifications, then the truth, for all electoral purposes, no longer matters in America. Richard Kirk is a freelance writer living in Southern California. Opinion columnist for the North County Times (1996-2012). Online reviews: http://spectator.org/people/richard-kirk/all; blog: http://musingwithahammerkirk.blogspot.com. Prior to an Israeli Knesset conference this month concerning the delegitimization of Israel, M.K. Michael Oren called for a "legal and hasbara Iron dome." The way to counter the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) effort against Israel, opined the MK in a Jerusalem Post report, is "to go on the offensive, and bring the battle to BDS." The key, according to Oren, is "explaining the other guy [BDS]: Where they're getting funding, their means of operation, their goals." Mr. Oren's words should be heeded. To allow BDS proponents to frame the argument is to surrender the debate. It is time to lift the veil on the objectives, strategy, and methods of the cultural boycott effort against Israel and point the finger of shame where it belongs at those who seek to hold art hostage to politics. Proponents of the cultural boycott want to prevent international audiences from experiencing Israeli art and want to cut the flow of world art going into Israel. To see this solely as an Israeli problem, however, is to be looking into the wrong end of the binoculars. The cultural boycott eviscerates the role of artists to create change and build bridges, and it undermines the ideal that it is the individual, not a politically motivated third party, who should decide what he or she wishes to experience. It is a direct assault on one of the free world's most valued treasures: freedom of artistic expression. The risk posed goes far beyond Israel's borders. The more fair-minded individuals understand this, the more likely they are to stand against the boycott. BDS proponents claim that their goal is promoting human rights and Palestinian self-determination, but their rhetoric points more clearly to political ideology and their modus operandi to thought control. The strategy and tactics of the cultural BDS movement, including censorship, blacklists, intimidation, and discrimination, is repugnant to people across the political spectrum. Conspicuously absent in BDS messaging is a call for peace and coexistence. Censorship of artistic expression is essential for totalitarian regimes to thrive. If you control content and consumption, you control thought. Typically, when open, liberal societies place restraints on artistic expression, they focus on the appropriate limits of content to prevent abuse such as slander, fraud, and incitement to violence, or to protect an unwilling audience. However, when festivals refuse to exhibit Israeli films unless they are critical of that nation's treatment of the Palestinian people (as in the case of the Israeli film by Roy Zafrani, The Other Dreamers, which is about disabled children pursuing their dream), you are controlling content based on politics and undermining the ability of the populace to form an independent view of the country. If an invitation to an artist to perform is rescinded because he or she refuses to sign a political statement critical of Israel, as was initially the case with reggae artist Matisyahu and a music festival in Spain, that is restricting consumption, not to mention establishing a blacklist. If artists succumb to pressure to cancel a performance for their Israeli fans, they have lost the opportunity to learn about the country for themselves. Cultural boycott proponents routinely seek to intimidate artists, audiences, and venues. When an international artist announces an Israeli trip or tour, cultural BDS proponents often launch a multimedia campaign intended to derail the performance. They strive to impugn the artist's reputation by implying that he or she is giving a stamp of approval to false claims of Israeli colonialism, apartheid, oppression, and ethnic cleansing. They threaten to impact music sales and concert events, and they hound representatives. The cynical BDS strategy is to use the power of artists and pop culture icons to influence public opinion worldwide in support of their political agenda while simultaneously throwing the artists under the bus. Artists who happen to be Israeli face recurring discrimination based on nationality regardless of the content of their work. This cannot be acceptable to open, liberal societies around the globe that raise their voices and institute laws against discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and sexual preferences. When Israeli artists book international events, BDS proponents will pressure venues to cancel, interrupt performances, charge the stage, and physically intimidate participants. Audiences are forced to navigate a gauntlet of vitriolic chants. A clear statement by the vilified artists or venues saying that they do not wish to cancel the engagement is rarely accepted, and the onslaught of condemnation continues until the curtain goes up or, at times, even after it comes down. The cultural boycott against Israel politicizes art and eviscerates the role of artists as peace ambassadors and agents of change. The fight to counter its efforts is a battle to liberate art. The proximate target of the boycott effort is Israel, but freedom of artistic expression, fundamental to our humanity, is its ultimate victim. Lana Melman is the CEO of Liberate Art Inc., a leading expert and commentator on the cultural boycott effort against Israel, and a professional speaker. Website: www.LiberateArt.net. Donald Trump recently was the subject of a debate in the British Parliament as to whether he should be banned for his so-called hate speech against Muslims. Here are some of the things that were said about him by the M.P.s: Most of the 50 MPs present in Parliament attacked Trump for his views on Muslims, women, disabled people, global warming and other issues in the three-hour discussion but the majority of parliamentarians from both left and right dismissed the idea of banning the millionaire. Alex Chalk, a Conservative MP, said: "This is about bufoonery. And buffoonery must not be met with the blunt instrument of a ban. It must be met with the classic British response of ridicule". Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, joined the calls for him to be banned, saying people had felt "we need to stop a poisonous, corrosive man from entering the country". Hate crime is being inflamed and stoked by the words that Donald Trump is using. I draw the line of freedom of speech when it actually invites violent ideology which is what I feel is happening," she said. No doubt Trump would champion his right to freedom of speech and correctly so, I might add. In the end, the British Parliament voted not to ban him, using this sort of reasoning: Paul Scully, a member of the Conservative Party, agreed. After noting examples of people legitimately denied access into the country for offenses like "incitement" and fomenting "hatred," he offered, "I've never heard of one for stupidity" a remark that drew laughter from others present.... Other MPs called Trump a demagogue and a fool, but the majority rejected the idea of censoring him by forbidding him entry into the country. One of the main reasons, although not the only reason, for the proposed ban was Trump's statement that Muslims should not be allowed to enter the U.S. The British seem to have decided for now that it's not worth a ban, but that Trump is a proper subject for ridicule instead. But the fact that Parliament debated the issue of Trumps hate speech against Muslims was actually somewhat ironic, because Trump himself has not always defended the rights of others to free speech on that very topic. Remember back when Donald Trump was saying the following about Pam Geller, in response to the ISIS-inspired attack on her free speech get-together in Garland, Texas the attempt that ended with the perpetrators being shot dead by armed guards? The U.S. has enough problems without publicity seekers going out and openly mocking religion in order to provoke attacks and death. BE SMART Here's a video with a few more choice words from Trump on the subject: And here are some further quotes from Trump. Note especially the first one: This has nothing to do with free speech this is taunting, and all it does is cause trouble. She should be much more responsible because what shes doing is completely irresponsible! Shes a person that is doing this for her own purpose and shes doing a terrible thing for our country! if she went after, instead, JESUS, instead of the Muslim, went after JESUS, lets see how long shed last! If she went after the African-Americans, and went after the N-WORD, where she was positive on it as opposed to lets SEE how long she would last! That would also be freedom of speech! Lets see if she has the guts to do that. All shes doing, she is a provacateur! All she doing is provoking and taunting people!! I find it surprising that this is the man who is thought of by many of his supporters as a warrior for non-P.C. speech and thought. But he has not demonstrated such a tendency au contraire except as it involves his own speech. In contrast, what did Ted Cruz have to say on the subject of the attack in Garland? This sort of thing: We saw the ugly face of radical Islam in Garland, Texas, recently, Cruz said of last Sundays shooting at a Draw Muhammad event there. Thankfully, one police officer helped those terrorists meet their virgins, he quipped. ...Cruz, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, argued Saturday that the pair and others like them were emboldened by President Obamas softness on Islamic fanaticism. We cant win a war against radical Islamic terrorism with a president who wont utter the words radical Islamic terrorism, he said.... Cruz vowed that if he were elected, he would unabashedly protect freedom of speech and other liberties. Quite different, isn't it? Cruz used the occasion to criticize Obama's policy on radical Islam, but it turns out that even Obama had a better reaction than Trump. Here's Josh Earnest, speaking for the president: Q Is it time for individuals or groups or even publications to stop depicting the Prophet Muhammad in cartoons or any other types of drawings? Mr. Earnest: Well, thats obviously a judgment that we leave up to individual media organizations. The principle that I restated yesterday is one that applies, which is, that there is no expression, however offensive, that justifies an act of terrorism or even an act of violence. And that apparently is what these two individuals in Texas were trying to do. They were responding to one form of expression that they found offensive, and tried to use that as justification to carry out an act of terror. And that is something that the President has repeatedly and consistently condemned. And this is a firm principle that were going to protect when it comes to the freedom of expression, and freedom of press, and freedom of speech. Trump's anti-free speech comments about Geller weren't made years ago, either. This happened in May of 2015. However, it appears that, for many people, the incident has rapidly gone down the memory hole. As a thought experiment, let us take Hillary Clinton at her word. The dismissive excuse that she has consistently offered is that, to paraphrase, the documents were not marked correctly such as to put her on proper legal notice that the specific information revealed therein was, in fact, classified at any secrecy level. By this argument, Hillary claims it was A-OK for her to have inadvertently sent them over her unsecured home computer server because, after all, how was one to know? She cannot be faulted in any of this because she had no way of realizing at the time that she might be handling secret information which, after all, was classified as such retroactively. But isnt this admission disqualifying for a presidential candidate? It raises automatic doubts about her level of mental acuity in reading, assessing, and (most emphatically) appreciating sensitive, high-level information, especially national security info. Whenever she and/or her aides viewed a satellite image, did they assume it was from Google Maps? In effect, Hillary is saying that although she had reviewed dozens if not hundreds of emails bearing national security secrets never once did she recognize on her own that the transmissions contained state secrets. We know this because Hillary cannot admit otherwise. For if Hillary had recognized that the emails carried unsecured state secrets, this recognition would consequently have immediately burdened her with the duty and obligation to report the insecurity in her communications for correction. In all her emails released, never once has it been reported that Hillary ever questioned the propriety or security risk of her home-brew email arrangement. This despite breezily handling the most sensitive of government secrets which included, of course, her very own messages, travel itineraries, appointment schedules, details of security arrangements for high-level meetings, etc., etc. In effect, Hillary is saying with this admission, As secretary of state, I was too dull-witted to recognize state secrets when I saw them unless they bore the correct markings to alert me. How can she expect to supervise the security and administration of Americas political and military intelligence when she admits she doesnt understand the content or context, nor, especially, the delicate sources and methods? Americans are beginning to realize that Hillarys admissions in her defense are admissions of ill-witted recklessness (at best) during her tryout years as secretary of state that invariably render her disqualified to be commander in chief. In a recent Washington Post column, Former George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson warns that should Republican voters so disregard his counsel as to nominate Donald Trump, it would rip the heart out of the Republican Party. By the end of the piece, it emerges that upon Trumps nomination, Gerson and his compassionate conservative friends would rip the heart out of the party by running one of their own against the Republicans and putting the Clintons back in the White House. Gerson does not deny that Trump might defeat Hillary Clinton (that is, unless Gerson, et al. contrive his defeat and her victory by splitting the vote). Neither is Trumps ascent some ephemeral event, transitory in effect. No, the nomination of Donald Trump would mean the replacement of the humane ideal at the center of the [Republican] [P]arty and its history. There follows the invocation of Lincoln, from whom Gerson claims to derive his humane ideal. Lincolns creed was human dignity, honored by human freedom and undergirded by certain moral commitments, including compassion and tolerance. Lincoln proclaimed that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and all should have an equal chance. Lincoln, furthermore, admitted no exceptions to the Declaration of Independence and got to be the Republican presidential candidate by appealing to anti-slavery German immigrants. One supposes that he perhaps did that by being anti-slavery himself. It might even have worked on anti-slavery descendants of the Mayflower voyagers who knows? Then how has Donald Trump run afoul this code of the Republican Party, drawn up for us by Michael Gerson upon the authority of Lincoln? Trump has put forth an odious immigration policy: deportation of the millions of illegal immigrants from Mexico, a wall to prevent further illegal immigration, and a temporary moratorium on Moslem immigration and visas (until the problem of terrorism is stabilized). He has apparently also stoked angry resentment against invading Hispanics and Muslims. This assaults universality. It is ethno-nationalism and implies that the country is being weakened by the other. It is like European, right-wing, anti-immigrant populism. And at last, we get to Gersons idea of conservatism, which Trumps immigration policy is indubitably not. Conservatism is respect for institutions and commitment to reasoned, incremental change. It also has something to do with an Edmund Burke, no aspect of whose political philosophy is vouchsafed, but who is said not to be the grandfather of British nationalist leader Nigel Farage. Now let us try to take seriously Gersons version of conservatism and Republicanism. It appears that the rule of law is not among the institutions to be respected, and that hundreds of thousands of persons pouring across the southern border, at least some of them violent criminals, looks like reasoned, incremental change to Mr. Gerson. As to compassion and tolerance, has he any for such victims of violent aliens as Kathryn Steinle and the dead of San Bernardino, or for schoolchildren and medical patients already here whose access to resources is taxed by the unchecked influx of foreign persons? True conservatism weighs compassion on the scales of justice a check on compassions great danger, its inherent selectivity (see Clifford Orwin, Compassion, The American Scholar, Winter 1980). Justice, whether understood as a legal or a moral phenomenon, demands a dispassionate and rational inquiry into the merits of opposing positions. In its most famous image, justice is a blindfolded woman carrying scales and a sword. She is sensible only to the weight of the evidence and the law. Compassion (or equity, or mercy) may represent a refinement of justice, made in the final analysis. But as a starting point and basis for public policy, it is nothing but an inducement to go off half-cocked, borne away by emotion. Take Mr. Gerson. His head is filled with sympathy for Syrian refugees and impoverished Mexicans, and so he forgets to have sympathy for citizens already here, whose lives will be disrupted, if not imperiled, by the intrusion. We may credit his altruism, but the altruism has a price that others will pay. The universality he touts is bereft of all moderation and prudence. A nations policies can never be directed at the simultaneous interest of all mankind, and the visionary demand that love of foreign nationals animate American lawmaking is exactly the kind of thing against which Burke inveighs. Burkes conservatism emerges as opposition to the governance by universal theory of the French revolutionaries. A country is a tangible, specific, living being. Its institutions and laws acquire respect and fealty by prescription, by their evolution over a long period, during which a certain people in a certain place becomes accustomed to them, and ultimately prejudiced in their favor. What is more, the worth of policies and laws is revealed in their actual effects and not in their conformity to universal theories. The prescriptive evolution of laws and ways of life is a process of perfection, based upon a peoples actual experience. Universalism is precisely antithetical to that process. Turning back to this country and the example of Lincoln, Gerson reminds us that Lincoln extolled the precepts of the Declaration of Independence as applying to all human beings of all races. From this, Gerson wants to draw the conclusion that the government of the United States should be the one to secure the unalienable rights of anyone who wants to come here. Immigration to the United States is an unalienable right. Gerson imputes this view to Lincoln to Lincoln, who, before the Civil War, wanted to return the enslaved Africans to their native continent, undoing the slave trade and forestalling the proximity of the races that it portended. There is an evident divergence between Burkes position and that of American conservatives, who, with Lincoln, are defenders of the founding principles contained in the Declaration. The Declaration is nothing if not a statement of universal natural rights, of a theory applicable to everyone. But the intricate mechanisms of the Constitution, as explicated in the Federalist, are there to channel the application of those principles, preventing the kind of calamity that was to occur in France. In any case, the idea that something in the Declaration requires the deliberate radical amendment of our demography, and the wholesale importation of possibly harmful persons, without regard to national security, is bizarre. If we do not find it refuted in the writings of Lincoln and the Founders, it is because they never even considered such a thing. We close with a sentence of Lincolns, from his last debate with Stephen Douglas: I confess, when I propose a certain measure of policy, it is not enough for me that I do not intend anything evil in the result, but it is incumbent upon me to show that it has not a tendency to that result. The reader will recognize in this a concise defense of prudence as a guide to politics, one with which Burke certainly would have concurred. It may not express the conservatism of Mr. Michael Gerson, an open borders advocate, but it does express mine. Late last year, Vladimir Putin sent a trusted envoy on a delicate mission to Syria. Colonel-General Igor Sergun, head of Russia's military intelligence, was tasked with the job of telling President Bashar Assad that he must step aside in order to facilitate negotiations to end the bloody civil war. Reportedly, Assad angrily refused. Then, just a few weeks later on January 3, Sergun died. The circumstances of his death are shrouded in mystery, but some reports have him passing away in Beirut a playground for Assad and the Syrian secret police. Financial Times: Russias failed gamble in Damascus left Mr Assad more entrenched than before, and hopes for a diplomatic solution to the vicious civil war appear again to be ebbing away. UN officials have spent the past week lowering expectations that the talks between the warring factions planned for January 25 in Geneva will go ahead, let alone produce a breakthrough. It is a dramatic reversal of fortunes. News of the secret proposal delivered by Sergun a choreographed transition of power that would maintain the Alawite regime but open the door to realistic negotiations with moderate rebels added to a growing mood of optimism among western intelligence agencies in late 2015. For the US-led coalition fighting Isis, it seemed that accommodating Moscow could break years of diplomatic deadlock over Mr Assads removal a move Washington views as a precondition to cooling the sectarian tensions in Syria and Iraq that have fed the jihadi insurgency. Moscows military intervention in the conflict in support of Damascus in late September, many in Europe and the US reasoned, had reached its limit. Mr Putin had taken a look under the bonnet of the Syrian regime, one senior European intelligence official told the FT and found a lot more problems than he was bargaining for. However, Russia overplayed its hand, the official said, and Mr Assad made clear to Sergun that there could be no future for Russia in Syria unless he remained as president. Assad routinely murders those who might replace him or challenge his authority. At least a dozen Lebanese opposition M.P.s, journalists, and members of powerful families have been assassinated over the last decade. With his Hezb'allah allies in control of Lebanon, and the Syrian secret police everywhere, it wouldn't be a surprise if Assad wanted to send a message to Putin by murdering Sergun. Regime change is not going to come from the sycophants and grovelers in the Syrian military. And it's doubtful the rebels or ISIS will ever be strong enough to overthrow his rule. Assad is going to outlast President Obama the man who told him four years ago that he must step down. Apparently the snow ate the State Departments homework. CNN reports: After misplacing about 7,000 pages of documents for several months, the State Department is now asking a federal judge for more time to release former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails, blaming the blizzard currently slamming Washington. Lawyers for the department asked Judge Rudolph Contreras on Friday if State can release some of Clinton's emails on February 29, one month after it was initially supposed to turn over the last of the documents. That would also result in many emails not becoming public until after the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries. Unless there is some reason to anticipate the blizzard will last a month, this is a just a lame excuse. Has anyone else noticed that it seems like the worst (or best depending on your perspective) emails seem to be saved for last? The discloures are getting more and more damning. In fact, for those who are willing to open their eyes, there are already seven smoking guns, by the count of Investors Business Daily. There is an excellent chance that brave secret agents working for us have been killed because Hillary wanted to evade the laws requiring access to her correspondence. The New York Post sums up this explosive possibility: Fox News, which last week disclosed that messages on Clintons private server went beyond even Top Secret classification, now reports they even included material on clandestine human-intelligence sources. That is, secret agents and local assets in the field people whose very lives are in danger if theyre exposed. And this comes as President Obamas own former defense secretary, Robert Gates, admitted, the odds are pretty high that her home server was accessed by one or more hostile foreign governments. I see an excellent chance that all this delay will work to the disadvantage of Hillary and her party just as the limiting of the number of Democratic presidential debates is now harming her, preventing her from going after the surging Sanders. It now seems quite possible that Hillary will come in second to Sanders in both Iowa and New Hampshire. This will energize his base even more. Thus, if damning evidence comes to the fore and/or if a criminal referral is made by the FBI, the pressure will be on Hillary to withdraw, and for Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, or some other Obama favorite to step forward and attempt to accumulate delegates. All of this could very well lead to a Democratic convention where the party bosses and superdelegates strong-arm their choice and push aside Sanders, no matter how many delegates he is able to win in the primaries. The more momentum Sanders generates, the bitterer his followers will be. So keeping the damaging information from the public and keeping Biden, Warren, or whomever out of the race as long as possible could add to the estrangement the Sanders faction feels, possibly leading some to stay home in November, no matter who else is on top of the ticket. In 2015, smartwatches were all the hype and envy of many individuals particularly those in the tech industry. These wearables were intended to be used as an accessory and as a device that can be functional for mobile users. And with all the rave about them last year, its easy to see why so many smartwatches were introduced in the market in 2015 alone. Based on a 2015 Consumers and Wearables Report gathered by the NPD Connected Intelligence, one in every ten adults in the US own a fitness tracker. The group also discovered that 71% of people who own a smartwatch are male. The big question here now is why arent more women using a smartwatch? While many women tend to own a fitness tracker, a smartwatch is a different story. And even if they are essentially a similar piece of technology (in the sense that they are worn on the wrist), theres a lot more behind it than what we already know. Even though smartwatches offer more functionality other than counting your steps, monitoring sleep, and even tracking heart rate, there are plenty of other reasons why women arent too fond of wearing smartwatches. Here are a few reasons: Reason #5: Not too many options for women, design-wise Advertisement Perhaps one of the biggest reasons as to why not a lot of women own a smartwatch is the fact that there arent too many of these that fit our liking. Most of the smartwatches that came out in the past year all look too masculine with all their black or brown leather bands and even the bulky stainless steel bands. Except perhaps for a few models, smartwatches dont really look too pretty to wear on the wrist. Sure there are some smartwatches with a rose gold strap, but even this is a limited selection. Women want more to choose from and would certainly want to wear a smartwatch that looks chic or fitting for their personality. And honestly, the black leather straps are overrated; although functional. Women prefer something more classy yet different. We want more options than just black, brown, or rose gold. It wouldnt hurt to have a smartwatch in white, tan, or even a mint green color. Throw on some jewels and maybe wed be interested. Thankfully, one such company has already addressed this concern. At the recently concluded CES 2016, Huawei introduced a couple of new smartwatch styles for women the Elegant and Jewel. Although these two look similar, there are some key differences that separate them from each other. The Huawei Watch Jewel has a bezel embedded with 68 Swarovski Zirconia crystals while the Huawei Watch Elegant comes with the standard Huawei Watch with a rose gold body and a bezel surrounded by three rings of tiny rose gold studs. The two watches come with faux-crocodile leather that comes in white or navy blue options (yay!). Personally, I prefer the Huawei Watch Jewel in navy blue as it looks different from the common Android smartwatch design. Plus its faux-crocodile leather stamp makes it all the more likable! Reason #4: Theyre too big Advertisement Apart from the limited options we get to choose from, smartwatches are commonly scaled for those with broad hands and big forearms. And when women wear these devices, they look too big and uncomfortable on the wrist. Both Motorola and ASUS did it right with their Moto 360 2nd Gen and ZenWatch 2 (consecutively) models. The Moto 360 2nd Gen is now available with a 42mm strap for women while the ASUS ZenWatch 2 is available with a 22mm or 18mm strap. Tech companies that plan to offer smartwatches for women really should take a look at these examples. A good solution here would be to resize the watch itself. Perhaps it would be good for tech companies to offer a watch with a smaller face, a thinner strap, and a more delicate style. This would give women more options to choose from! Reason #3: We blame it on stereotyping Advertisement Going back to the rose gold color that a number of smartwatch manufacturers followed after the introduction of the Apple Watch, we hate the idea that our options have been so limited. Its 2016 and still, manufacturers think that pink is too girly and opted to create a smartwatch in this hue intended for women. In this time and age, women want to be able to choose a gender-neutral color we can easily mix and match with our daily outfit. And no, putting a rhinestone on the watch should not make it for women. Take it from the Apple Watch that was able to create different mix-and-match options for their 38mm and 42mm watches. Just like men, some of us prefer larger/thicker watches while some prefer smaller/thinner watches. Reason #2: Its not always about functionality Although it would really help if the product was functional and lived up to its name. While we can appreciate sporty-looking accessories, we want something we can wear when were dressing up or going to work. Tech companies should take after the example of fitness trackers that have developed products that attracted female owners. Take for example, the Fitbit fitness tracker that presented the Tory Burch-designed pendant necklaces and cuff bracelets in 2014 and managed to successfully hide away its Flex tracker in these accessories. Considering that these devices were intended to track activity, they were able to keep doing that as we went about with our daily routine. If our options were only limited to sporty-looking smartwatches, wed tend to leave it at home the next time we dress up for a date or even go to work. And most of the time, were really not wearing sporty apparel other than when were working out or hitting the gym. It would really be great if tech companies created a smartwatch that we could use on a daily basis. Advertisement Reason #1: We dont see the need for it Perhaps the marketing of smartwatches are to blame here women dont really see the need to have another piece of technology to carry around, unlike fitness trackers which women see as beneficial in the end as it helps understand their movement. And in the end, they can do something about their activity. With a smartwatch, in the meantime, many women think that its function is too much for this time. The best thing to do here is to market these smartwatches on how they can make things better for women. It just takes some getting used to but promise, well love it once we see what all the hype is about. So there you have it reasons why not too many women own a smartwatch. Its interesting to see how tech companies will consider these reasons and create a line of smartwatches that appeal to women. Reports coming out of the UK on Friday seem to indicate that Google has agreed to pay 130 million ($185 million) in back taxes in the country, having struck a deal with the nations tax authorities. This comes after a multi-year investigation into the companys alleged tax-avoidance policies, which culminated in the countrys government, last year, introducing new legislation to plug the loophole that has apparently been exploited by many multinational corporates over the years to conveniently route their profits to tax havens, thereby saving them millions of Pounds in UK taxes. Colloquially termed Google Tax, the new policy to start charging a levy on company profits was introduced last year after a six year long inquiry into Googles tax practices by Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK equivalent of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The controversy regarding Google and other foreign-headquartered companies not paying taxes on even a fraction of the profits they make in the country has enraged sections of the general population over the past few years and provoked strong responses in support for the tax loopholes in the country to be plugged. The search giant, along with other American companies such as Facebook, Amazon and Starbucks, has been widely criticized by commentators in the UK for the lengths to which theyve gone to avoid paying taxes in the country. In Googles case, the companys European headquarters are in Ireland a country which imposes a lower rate of tax than the UK. To shelter its profits from the taxmen, the company also routes its profits to Bermuda a controversial tax haven with zero percent corporate tax rate. Advertisement While such moves have been described as devious, calculated and, in my view, unethical by MP and former chairwoman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, Ms. Margaret Hodge, Google itself, has vociferously defended its practices. The company, however, has agreed to change those long term habits in light of the new developments. Defending the companys previously-held position, Mr. Matt Brittin, the head of Google Europe, said, we are an American company and that is where we pay the majority of our taxes, that is where we make the majority of our profits. He, however, assured that the company intends to start paying more to the UK Government coffers from now on. According to him, The rules are changing internationally and the UK government is taking the lead in applying those rules so well be changing what we are doing here. We want to ensure that we pay the right amount of tax. Samsungs latest flagship devices are always a big to-do and a focal point for the year for many consumers, as legions of fans of Samsungs devices are always anticipating The Next Big Thing from the South Korean manufacturer. While there are no hard dates yet for a launch of the Galaxy S7 and any possible variants of the device in any regions around the globe, a recent tweet from well-known evleaks places the Galaxy S7 in a March 11th launch date here in the U.S. Evleaks makes no mention of the Galaxy S7 exactly, he simply states that it looks like a Galaxy release is slated for that date, considering Samsung really only launches the next Galaxy S this early in the year though, its most likely that the Galaxy S7 is what he was referring to. March 11th will be at least a couple of weeks after Samsungs event that happens at the beginning of Mobile World Congress, which doesnt leave Samsung much time following whats thought will be the initial announcement on February 20th during Unpacked. If Samsung sticks to this date though and the rumor is true, then that means Samsung is working to launch their flagship devices faster this year in attempts to be ahead of the competition, and that shouldnt be too far off the truth as its been rumored before that Samsung might be looking to release the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge earlier than the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge from last year. Advertisement Should the launch date be coming up this soon, that will give Samsung a sizeable lead on competitors LG, HTC, and others, who are also likely to be unveiling flagship devices either at Mobile World Congress or in the weeks following the event. There are no confirmed specifications for the Galaxy S7 just yet, but rumors peg the device as coming equipped with a 5.1-inch screen while the Galaxy S7 Edge is rumored to come equipped with a 5.5-inch screen. In addition to this, Samsung has recently announced that they would be producing the Snapdragon 820 processors for Qualcomm, so there is high chance of at least one model of the Galaxy S7 coming powered by that particular processor. Virtual Reality, of course, is the latest buzzword in the consumer technology industry, and you couldnt possibly miss all the hoopla surrounding it even if you wanted to. With leading multinational corporates like Sony, Samsung and most importantly, Facebook throwing their hats in the ring, how can Google possibly be far behind? Having already created a whole new VR division within the company late last year, Google now seems to be doubling down on the sector, having hired Emmy-nominated television content producer, Mr. Scott Broock, who has now left his position as VP of content and content deal development at California-based tech startup, Jaunt VR, to join the Mountain View, CA-based company as its Global VR Evangelist. Now, what that job description entails is anybodys guess, but in his previous avatar as the VP of content at Jaunt, he led partnership deals for the company. The news itself was announced by Mr. Broock himself, who took to Twitter on Friday to declare that he is Thrilled to plug in with the team @YouTube as Global #VR Evangelist. Hitting fast forward on the future of immersive content. VR everywhere. As for that unique, wacky designation, mums the word from Google right now when it comes to actually explaining the title to the media and the public at large. It remains to be seen what his role at YouTube really is, but the video hosting service has recently been betting big on virtual reality, having already launched VR videos on its service last November, and making its YouTube app Cardboard-compliant. Advertisement As mentioned already, its not just Google that has started to bet big on the emerging virtual and augmented reality sector. Some of Googles biggest rivals Facebook, Microsoft and Apple have all been investing their time money and energy behind the fledgling sector thats expected to be a major money spinner over the next several years. While virtual and/or augmented reality is not yet mainstream, with more companies joining the bandwagon, many commentators and industry watchers seem to believe that it is only a matter of time before the sector hits primetime and mainstream consumers start spending big bucks for high quality, immersive content. Google, apparently, wants to be ready as and when that day finally comes. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is due to be announced in a few weeks at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. As with any launch, leaks are coming left, right, and center regarding the Galaxy S7. Samsung typically announces the next Galaxy S in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, so its not too far fetched to believe that will happen again this year. The Galaxy S6 saw a radical shift in design from Samsung. And were expecting the Galaxy S7 to refine the design on the Galaxy S6 as well as set the tone for 2016. Now, it appears that we have some images of what appears to be the front of the Galaxy S7 as well as the front-facing camera for the device. Looking at the front of the device with the display, it appears that it may not be as wide as the Galaxy S6 or even Galaxy S7. So its possible we could have a different sized display here this time around. The forehead of the phone appears to be a bit bigger than the other models weve seen from Samsung lately. The camera also appears to be on the right-hand side of the earpiece. And we still have the physical home button which will likely house the fingerprint sensor as well as the back button on the right side and recents on the left. Advertisement Now for the camera, there is a board of cameras here which also shows the model number SM-G930F. Which is the model number weve heard of before for the Galaxy S7. Actually the model number for the Galaxy S7 is the SM-G930, the F at the end is for a specific region. For example, in the US the carriers all have either an A, S, T, or V at the end of their model numbers. And looking at the R05 there, this appears to be the fifth revision of the camera. We dont know a ton about this camera, but Samsung always has some pretty decent front-facing cameras and we wouldnt expect anything different here with the Galaxy S7. Well be on the ground at Mobile World Congress in February to get all of the details. Verizon may have come out with a decent set of numbers as part of its Q4 earnings call last Thursday, but that has only helped divide analysts about the prospects of Americas largest wireless carrier in the near future. While analysts at Wells Fargo gave the company a thumbs up and are currently recommending the stock to their clients, those over at New Street Research arent so sure about it. Analysts at the later company apparently believe that the carrier may well face capacity constraint soon, as data usage is increasing rapidly amongst mainstream wireless subscribers. The firm says that its concerns stem from the fact that Verizon has the least network capacity per subscriber, compared to its three nearest rivals AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. According to a report published by New Street, Verizon has to either double capacity or halve share, and given that reducing market share intentionally is not an option, the company is now heavily reliant on being able to get its hands on the spectrum assets currently owned by DISH Network. Ominously for Verizon and its investors, the report concluded, We would continue to avoid the stock. New Street, meanwhile, isnt alone in its dismal outlook for Verizon. The companys doom-and-gloom theory finds an echo from analysts over at Jefferies, who have already warned that Verizons new contract-free plans have started affecting its bottom line. The investment banking firm is worried that Verizons ARPA declined 6.6 percent (in Q4), an acceleration from the 5.5 percent decline in 3Q and off-contract customers opting into lower pricing. Advertisement Meanwhile, even analysts at Wells Fargo, while maintaining their positive outlook on the Verizon stock, have recently lowered their target to the $50-$52 mark from the earlier guidance of $54-$56 per share. The stock closed at $47.05 on Friday at the NYSE. In a research note published recently, the banking and financial services company praised Verizon, saying that the companys Q4 report showed disciplined and balanced growth highlighted by strong margins and customer metrics in its wireless segment we continue to favor VZ in these volatile markets for its strong free cash flow generation, attractive dividend yield and high-quality customer base. The firm, however, pointed out a few of the challenges it expects Verizon to face this year. According to the company, the transition toward wireless installment plans, the divestiture of wireline properties to Frontier, the ramp of emerging Internet of Things and mobile video businesses are some of the most important obstacles that Verizon will have to navigate successfully, if it has to retain its position as the countrys most preferred wireless carrier. The company announced its Q4, 2015 results on Thursday, which revealed that the churn rate has gone down to as low as 0.96 percent. With 1.52 million net subscriber adds and $23.7 billion in wireless revenues, the companys Q4, 2015 results were an improvement over the same period in 2014. Verizon has also claimed that it will be the first company in the country to launch 5G services, and that it wont bring back unlimited data anytime soon, even though, its largest rival, AT&T, recently did just that for its Pay TV subscribers. Free speech: police prevent more violence at Ami Ayalon talk to Kings College Israel group What do we make the news that an Israeli students event at Kings College University, London, was attacked? The event held by students from the KCL and LSE Israeli societies was disrupted by what many think were supporters of KCL Action Palestine (KCLAP), who let off fire alarms, threw chairs and smashed a window. The invitation to the event went like this: KCL Israel Society are pleased to bring you this event. Admiral, Ami Ayalon is the former director of Israels Security Agency (the Shin Bet/Shabak) between 1996 and 2000 and is a former commander of Israels Navy. He has served as a cabinet minister and as a member of the Knesset for the Labour party. With much of the Middle East in turmoil and a stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, he will focus on discussing the steps that are needed to bring stability and security to the region from a military perspective. He will also examine the question, is there a partner for peace? and look at what relationships need to be built in the region to create a viable future peace agreement. He will also discuss his experiences as head of Israels main agency that combats terrorism, and to what extent the Israeli experience might be relevant to our own safety and security in the UK (in light of recent events in Europe). Expect an evening of challenging discussion and, of course, free refreshments. Looking forward to seeing you all! Richard Millett was there: Ayalon was head of Israels Shin Bet between 1996 and 2000 and then served as a Labour MK. He also launched a peace initiative called The Peoples Voice. Hes now in the UK being whisked around by Yachad to give various talks, the gist of which seem to be Israel needs to mend its ways. The activists leaflets, after falsely incriminating Ayalon and Shin Bet in war crimes, accused Ayalon of being overtly racist for supporting a two state solution because this implies Israeli Jews must always be a majoritydue to a fear of losing the ethnic and colonial supremacy Israel has enjoyed since 1948. As soon as the doors shut the frustrated anti-Israel activists pounded the doors and the windows looking into the talk. They screamed Free Free Palestine, Viva Viva Palestina and From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free and smashed a window Ayalons talk lasted an hour. Ironically, Ayalon was talking in front of a white board describing the rules for safe spaces at universities. But there is no safe space for an Israeli-Jew at British universities. KCL Action Palestine issued a statement: In light of the accusations surrounding yesterdays events, KCL Action Palestine would like to categorically condemn any aggression that took place at the Israe l Societys Ami Ayalon event. KCLAP had planned to challenge Ami Ayalon and inform the audience of his complicity in the torture of Palestinians as former head of the Shin Bet and the problems surrounding his current views as is within our rights and detailed on our blog (https://permissiontonarrate.wordpress.com//kclaps-stateme/). Our intention was to attend the event and shed light on Ayalons crimes and views through deliberation. That the event escalated into a disruption was beyond our control and not incited by any member of our committee. KCLAP is not connected and does not control the actions of external attendees. As stated we do not condone any aggressive reaction on our campuses. Some of our members protested after they were left out and people were arbitrarily selected to go into the event, we refute any involvement with what took place beyond this. That blog has the stated aim to rewrite the fabricated and falsified histories of yesteryear and presenting a more balanced take on contemporary affairs. They also declare: That the event escalated into a disruption was beyond our control and not incited by any member of our committee. KCLAP is not connected and does not control the actions of external attendees. Esther Endfield, President of KCL Israel society was also there: Protests by KCL action Palestine at this event was inevitable but it was never inevitable that it would turn violent, not to the point that I have just reported being assaulted to the police (which is also being investigated under a hate crime), not to the point that there were chairs thrown at the room and at me, not to the point where they were so violent that Kings College London windows have been smashed, not to the point where two police cars and two police vans along with 15 + officers came to protect the people inside the room, not to the point that in a 4 story building that on each floor the fire alarms were set off 15 + times, not to the point where my event had to be stopped and the building evacuated because college security and the police were so scared that they would light a real fire and that we wouldnt know because of the false alarms. When did I become so unsafe in one of the global universities in the world that we can no longer hold an event without being scared for our safety. Former communities secretary Sir Eric Pickles told the Commons: (Labour MP Wes Streeting) mentioned that we travelled together to France in the autumn of last year to look at anti-Semitism there and I vividly recall meeting with Jewish students and their talk of how frightened they were, of how wary they were on campuses. I cant help but reflect at the disgraceful attack upon Jewish students in Kings College in London just two nights ago, where a peaceful meeting literally about peace was broken up with obscenities and with the breaking of a window and the breaking of glass and the offering of violence. Frankly, weve seen this before we have seen broken glass, we have seen Crystal Night and if we need to know where the neo-fascists are then they truly represent the neo-fascists in that attack that occurred in Kings College. Tom Slater (Spiked): The rage against pro-Israel students, speakers and societies is, without question, the most flagrant political censorship taking place on campus today. While petty, hysterical and often hilarious restrictions on fancy dress and pole-dancing have stolen focus in recent years, pro-Israel students are being shut down because student politicos simply dont like what they say. And, while policy after policy are passed at students union AGMs in the name of protecting ethnic minorities from offence, anti-Israel fury, so often bordering on out-and-out anti-Semitism, is tacitly ignored. The Daily Mail: Tonight Universities Minister Jo Johnson criticised the protesters. He told MailOnline: Britain and Israel share many important academic links and speakers must be able to address meetings peacefully. Our universities should be safe spaces for students to expand their minds, and there can be no justification for violent intimidation that curtails free speech. The angry protest is the latest in a series of oppressive incidents reported at universities across the country. Iranian-born human rights activist Maryam Namazie faced intimidation from members of a student Islamic society when speaking at Goldsmith University in London. Students at Cardiff University also campaigned to ban Germaine Greer from speaking. At Oxford University, students have called for the pulling down on a statue of 19th Century mining magnate Cecil Rhodes over claims of racism. Well Anorak Posted: 23rd, January 2016 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSA) - Rome, January 22 - Premier Matteo Renzi on Friday reiterated his belief that dropping the Schengen Agreement scrapping border controls between most EU countries will not disarm the threat of Islamist terrorism. "Schengen has been thrown very much into doubt and that is very sad for us," Renzi told RTL radio. "Free circulation is a great European dream...you cannot stop the terrorists by suspending Schengen. Some of the terrorists of the (November 13) Paris attacks grew up in our cities. "There is fear and a lack of vision in the closure of Schengen, which threatens the European project," he said. The Schengen system has been curtailed to some degree in recent months, as seen with Sweden restoring checks on its border with Denmark in response to the refugee crisis. Former president and life Senator Giorgio Napolitano echoed the premier's words. "We must pursue a tight-knit understanding between the leaderships of the major countries (in order to) combine reception with security, rather than setting them against each other," he told the Senate on Friday. "(We must do so) without undermining the fundamental structure of Schengen". EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said suspending Schengen would cost the Union a "striking" amount of money at a time when a fledgling economic recovery is struggling for takeoff, and European Parliament President Martin Schulz said such a move would be "catastrophic" for the EU. "It seems to me that many of those who have aired closing the borders in recent days - de facto sounding the death knell of Schengen - can't or don't want to imagine the catastrophic effects it would have," told German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse in an interview. Ending Schengen would bring about "enormous economic damage" and represent a "threat to growth and jobs", he said. Also on Friday, Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan voiced support for a "European Marshall Plan" to tackle the refugee crisis via economic aid in the asylum seekers' home countries. Padoan said the plan, originally suggested by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble Thursday, was in the right "spirit". "Italy is certainly in favour of a European strategy, without forgetting that Schengen is fundamental in all this," he said. The Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was an American program to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II, in which the United States gave $13 billion (approximately $130 billion in current dollar value as of August 2015) in economic aid. Hurricane Hunters close out 2015 season The Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" closed out the year with a week of packing, loading and shipping equipment back to Keesler Air Force Base from their forward operating base at the Henry Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. According to Lt. Col. Erik Olson, the mission commander for the "Roll Up" mission, everything went smooth and he expects no major issues when the Hurricane Hunters return in May. During the rollup, 41st Aerial Port Squadron and 403rd Maintenance Group personnel packed up everything from generators to tools. The Citizen Airmen worked to clean out the forward operating base hangar. "A lot of this equipment has to go back to be serviced and swapped out in May," said Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Armada, 403rd Maintenance Group superintendent. The equipment was brought out in May for the "Roll Out" in preparation for the hurricane season, which began June 1, allowing for 53rd WRS crews to quickly respond to storms in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though the Atlantic basin storm activity was very light for storm missions due to the El Nino weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean, the Hurricane Hunters had a busy year. Two records were broken this year. "We flew Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful storm ever recorded," said 1st Lt. Leesa Froelich, the aerial reconnaissance weather officer on the flight. The hunters also flew a record-breaking six named storms in support of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, according to John Pavone, a supervisory meteorologist and aircraft coordinator with the Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination All Hurricanes at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. As the planes began flying away to wrap up the 2015 season, the winter-storm season was already revving up with a taskings flown by the squadron Jan. 13, 21, 22 and 23. The squadron gathers weather data that is sent to the NHC that's used in forecast models produced by the National Center for Environmental Prediction. If youre looking to hire a Sign Company for the design, construction, and maintenance of your business signs, youve probably already thought about some of the important factors that you should consider. After all, they are the ones wholl be responsible for the visual identity of your company. However, if youre not sure how to find a reliable sign company, here are some tips that can help you find the right fit. Keep reading for more information! The right signage company will offer you all the services youll need, from design to installation and maintenance. A one-stop shop will eliminate the need to work with several contractors and can streamline the process. Before choosing a sign company, take time to learn about them online, look at their work, and speak to a sales representative to discuss the details of your project. Remember to ask about any special services they offer, like painting or graphic design, if applicable. A great way to make your business stand out is to choose a sign that is both stylish and functional. Monument signs, for example, can mimic the look of a building. A monument sign can cover a large area and is durable. On the other hand, an awning sign can be aesthetically pleasing and can give passersby a better sense of the type of business you run. Aside from ensuring that your business is accurately represented, it also contributes to your branding efforts. If youre looking to grow your business and want to stand out from your competition, consider hiring a sign company that can help you overcome the challenges that your business might face. Arlington Sign Company is a full-service sign manufacturer that can handle the design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of your signs. Contact us today to learn more about our commercial signage options! Our goal is to help you grow your business and become more successful! When selecting a sign company, be sure to check out the companys reputation and customer service. Do they respond quickly to your requests, and do they have friendly staff? Do they seem to care about their customers? While its impossible to judge these aspects before you become a client, you can get a feel for the companys customer service by paying attention to the little details and checking their reputation online. Then, choose the sign company thats right for your needs. Choosing a sign company is crucial for your business image and success. A professional sign company is the first step in making your business successful. Not only will your business become more visible to customers, but you will get more referrals from these new customers. Arlington Sign Company can provide you with everything you need to build your brand and promote your business. If youre interested in finding the best sign company for your business, contact Arlington Sign Company today to begin your journey towards success. The size of the sign is important, as well. The storefront signage you choose should match the storefront. Signs that are too small will impede visibility. Also, make sure theres enough space between the text and design elements. Additionally, your signage should protrude from the storefront to make it stand out. If it doesnt, customers will feel that theyre being lured away from your business. If its too big or too small, youll end up getting a sign thats too bulky for the area. Wrapped vehicle graphics are also a popular way to promote a business. Wrapped delivery trucks, pest control trucks, and repair trucks all benefit from professional vehicle graphics. Custom vehicle graphics increase brand visibility and draw in new clients. The materials used for vehicle graphics include vinyl, magnetic graphics, and more. Arlington Sign Company offers full-vehicle and partial vehicle wraps, as well as custom-designed vinyl signs. If you need a new sign for your companys vehicles, contact them. While an outdoor sign is important for business branding, indoor signs are equally important. They serve a dual purpose: to attract customers and to help employees manage their responsibilities. The indoor signage helps visitors navigate the businesss environment, allowing them to spend more time doing other things. If your business has a retail store, you can create a customized logo for your storefront using signs. It is important to consider all of these aspects when choosing a signage company. According to the spokesman of the Catholic Church, the government is trying to revive the countrys fortunes through agriculture and industry with timing and foreign investment as key factors. Whilst minorities and women enjoy greater freedom, youth movements remain critical. For them, the revolutions ideals have been betrayed. For the leader of the Maspero movement, it is necessary to counter those who propagate hatred." Cairo (AsiaNews) Five years after the Egyptian Revolution broke out, the country is trying with difficulty to put behind this troubled time in its history and start over. The past five years have been a time of Islamic fundamentalism, terrorist attacks, economic crisis, unemployment, and internal security problems. For optimists, in particular Christians, it is now possible to look forward to more freedom for minorities, greater participation for women in public life, and more government investments in industry and agriculture to breathe new life into the nation. For critics, the situation has deteriorated in terms of both civil rights and the economy. The Egyptian Revolution which was part of the larger wave of protest that swept across the Middle East and North Africa that came to be known as the Arab Spring began on 25 January 2011 as mass acts of civil disobedience, demonstrations and uprisings. Eventually though, the broadly based and peaceful movement against President Hosni Mubaraks 30-year rule turned violent with scores of victims among demonstrators and police. For Egypt, the Arab Spring meant the rise to power of the radical extremist Muslim Brotherhood and Mohamed Morsi, and constant violence against liberals and Christians. However, Morsi, Egypts first democratically elected president, remained in power only until 3 July 3 2013, when he was deposed by a military coup. Today the country is led by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. For Fr Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, "after five years, we still experience a lot of turmoil; freedom and justice have not yet been fully implemented." Speaking to AsiaNews, the clergyman said that "the country is moving very slowly; problems remain; and the current leadership will have to work hard to repair the damage caused by the Muslim Brotherhood, who left a nation in crisis." What is more, events in neighbouring countries like Syria, Libya, and Sudan "do not help our recovery." For the spokesman of the Egyptian Church, "the economy is the number one problem" and the active presence of extremist groups - Islamic State, al-Qaida, the Brotherhood - makes the situation worse. Still, the country "must remain open to investment from abroad", from China and Russia for example, "even if that will take a lot of time, and time is the first thing needed for recovery." Meanwhile, the current leaders "are focusing on industry and the agricultural sector, because tourism is still very weak" and unemployment, especially among young people, is high. On the plus side that could favour investments in Egypt. At the same time, "Christians, and other minorities enjoy greater freedom, and women's participation has increased, Fr Rafic explained. These are small signs of change that confirm the country is on the path of growth and transformation. However, not everyone is so optimistic about rights and the economy. For Mina Thabet, 30, a researcher at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, and a former leader of the Maspero Youth Union, What is left of the Arab spring are the sacrifices made by a generation that tried to do something for our country by focusing on human capital and the ideals of justice and freedom. Now the situation is worse than before. Established in October 2011 in the wake of the massacre of Copts in front of the Maspero TV building, the Christian-based organisation has thousands of supporters. Along with other groups, it took part in the Tamarod (Arabic for rebellion) movement that saw a groundswell of public support (30 million according to some accounts) at the end of June 2013 that contributed to President Morsis downfall. "The government has restricted freedoms and put controls in place on every aspect of public life. We instead were hoping and struggled for ideals like equality, justice, and a free nation, Thabet said. There is no political representation, only limitations and restrictions on the rights of assembly, and free expression. Even Tahrir Square (symbol of the anti-Mubarak protests of 2011] is off-limits." Still, faced with such a critical situation, the Maspero Youth Union leader wants people "to come to Egypt, to see our beauty, our history, support the tourism industry", which is "one of the main resources of the country." In the background Islamic extremist groups, including Daesh (also known as Islamic State), continue their attacks. Only yesterday, at least nine people, including six police officers, were killed in a bomb blast during a raid on a militant hideout in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. For Thabet, "Action is needed against Muslim religious leaders and imams who use violent words to push extremist ideas. What we need to do is promote coexistence, and counter those who propagate hatred." by Melani Manel Perera Mgr Cletus Chandrasiri Perera is Sri Lankas official representative at the International Eucharistic Congress, which opens tomorrow in Cebu. The intensive schedule (Masses, catechesis, adoration, assemblies) raises awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the Churchs life and work. Asian minority churches find a great joy of life in a country where Catholics are the majority. Colombo (AsiaNews) Mgr Cletus Chandrasiri Perera, OSB, bishop of Ratnapura, is the official delegate of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) that opens tomorrow in Cebu (Philippines). "This Congress is meant to help us strengthen our understanding of the liturgy and focus our attention on the social dimension of the Eucharist, Bishop Perera said. Indeed, "The IEC is a privileged place, a stop on the path in which the universal Church gathers to celebrate the Eucharist and pray the Lord's presence. It is an event that seeks to raise awareness of the Eucharists central place in the life and mission of the People of God. Every community from around the world is invited." The congress includes number of activities, but "The daily celebration of the Eucharist will be the central moment, the bishop explained. The others include catechetical meetings, celebrations of the Word, sacramental confession, Eucharistic processions, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer meetings and plenary sessions." For Mgr Perera, celebrating the IEC in the Philippines is "a special joy". The country is home to Asias largest Catholic population, where Catholicism is the majority faith. Delegates from the other Asian nations will represent small minorities. "This time the faithful will come to Asia from Europe and America, he noted. Such a universal gathering is the true sign of unity in faith and love. Through the IEC, Christ's followers will boost the faith in the Eucharist, the 'culmen et fons, the source and summit, as Vatican Two says, of the life and activity of the Church in the world." Plus, the Philippines is home to many Sri Lankans. "I invited them to participate in such a beautiful and spiritual event in Cebu. And I shall meet them there." Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, auxiliary bishop of Ranchi, will participate in the great international meeting, which opens tomorrow in the Philippines. Catholics are a "little flock in Asia, but involved in bringing the Gospel to the whole continent." Even non-Christians come to Eucharistic celebrations to pray devoutly before the Eucharistic Lord, yet respectfully stay away from communion. Ranchi (AsiaNews) - The "little flock" of Catholics in Asia "is committed to and motivated by the Christian proclamation. I have no doubt that, despite the numbers and the work of fundamentalist forces, our witness will be strengthened by the meeting in Cebu because, with Gods strength, everything is possible, and in the Eucharist Christ gives us his very self, said Mgr Theodore Mascarenhas, auxiliary bishop of Ranchi, India, who will lead the opening prayer of the second day of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu next Monday (25 January). The Catholic Church is a small minority in Asia, he told AsiaNews, the the little flock as Saint Pope John Paul II used to say. When the decision about proposing the hosts for the 2016 IEC was being made, Cebu was one of the four candidates. Besides the long absence of the event from Asia, the witness aspect was one of the most important factors that tilted the balance in favour of Cebu. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life, the prelate noted. I am sure that the event will have a galvanising effect on the Church in the Philippines and in Asia. I am sure that the massive participation of devout Filipino and Asian Catholics will also be a witness to the rest of the world. It will be a unique experience and I am sure the love of the Eucharistic Lord will be felt throughout Asia and bring much fruit to our evangelising work. Many of those who will speak at the Congress will touch the topic of dialogue. The Eucharist has always been an inspiration to our non-Catholic brethren. In fact, many of them participate in our Eucharistic celebrations and respectfully stay away from communion, understanding that this is a moment only for Catholics. At the same time, Non-Christians come and pray devoutly before the Eucharistic Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, the IEC, just like the National Eucharistic congress held in Mumbai (India) in November 2015, will be a fulcrum of dialogue between religions. The Eucharist is also a constant stimulus for evangelisation. People here are very open to the Gospel and evangelisation takes place in various ways. Fundamentalist forces are creating direct and indirect hurdles for us, but the spirit of evangelisation is strong. The Eucharist is a very important evangelising moment. We require prayers and support to carry it on. With the strength of the Lord, all things are possible. Finally, Mgr Mascarenhas said that he attended the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Committee for International Congresses held in April 2015 in Cebu. I saw the enthusiasm and the dedication with which the preparations were going on. For me it will be a moment of enrichment and renewed dedication to my vocation, my ministry, my people and my evangelising work. by Nina Akhmatova The inquest ordered by the British government corroborated accusations against former Russian secret agent Lugovoi and his partner Kovtun, and demonstrated that radioactive polonium was used in killing the former Russian spy, turned Kremlin critic. Moscow dismisses the findings, describing the inquest as politicised, and promising repercussions on bilateral relations. So far Putin has not spoken on the matter, but the (hi)story of Russia poison factory goes back a long way. Moscow (AsiaNews) Tensions are rising between London and Moscow after a British judge released a report into the assassination of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died from poisoning in November 2006, in London. In the document, Judge Robert Owen, a High Court judge acting as the coroner, said that "maybe" the Russian state was behind the murder, that the evidence clearly points to the Russian state in the death of Litvinenko, who was poisoned with polonium-210, a highly toxic radioactive substance. The judge goes further. Taking full account of all the evidence and analysis available to me, I find that the FSB operation to kill Mr Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin, the report says. This reinforces the belief that the perpetrators of the murder were former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, now a Member of Russias Duma, and businessman Dmitry Kovtun, who laced Litvinenkos tea with the lethal substance in their last meeting, three weeks before of his death. Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun quickly dismissed the allegations as "nonsense", claiming their innocence. Russian authorities have always refused to extradite them, noting that the Russian constitution prevents the extradition of Russian citizens to foreign states. Moscows response So far, Moscow has dismissed the report. In Russia, some pro-government TV sarcastically dubbed the judge "Mr. Maybe", because the report is full of suppositions and no hard facts. When it was set up, the inquests mandate was to find facts but lay no charges. A Putin spokesman called the report a "quasi-investigation. Russias Foreign Ministry said the inquest was politicised, a farce pledging that Russia would study the 300-page document to provide a detailed answer, hinting at consequences to bilateral relations. For Russian authorities, Great Britain is to blame for the tensions for launching the inquest itself in July 2014 in the middle of the Ukrainian crisis, for purely political reasons to smear Russian leaders. Putin-Litvinenko, a highly personal row "The history between the two men dated back to their (only) meeting in 1998, at a time when Mr Putin was the newly appointed head of the FSB* and Mr Berezovsky and Mr Litvinenko still hoped that he might implement a programme of reform," Owen writes in the report. After obtaining asylum in Britain in 2000, Litvinenko regularly attacked Putin with "highly personal public criticism", including an accusation of paedophilia, AFP reports. In London, Sasha, as Alexander Litvinenko was known to friends, joined Boris Berezovsky, an anti-Putin oligarch who died under unexplained circumstances in March 2013. In the British capital, he began an investigation into links between the Kremlin and the Russian mafia, about possible connections between the KGB and important figures, like former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, and collaborated with Her Majestys secret services whose subject he had become. In short, for the coroner there was enough evidence to suggest that high officials in the Russian State might want to eliminate their former spy. On his deathbed, Litvinenko wrote a letter in which he openly accused the boss in the Kremlin of being responsible for his murder. Possible diplomatic percussions Reacting to the report, Litvinenko's widow, Marina, called for the imposition of targeted economic sanctions and travel bans against named individuals including Mr Patrushev (former head of Russia's FSB security service) and Mr Putin." In British media, few believe that the Cameron government wants to escalate the conflict with a country with which it is working on sensitive issues like negotiations on Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group. Still, British Prime Minister David Cameron cannot be seen as weak on a national security issues like the Litvinenko affaire. Calling his murder a state sponsored action as well as an absolutely appalling crime, the British leader pledged to be tough with Moscow. At present, the British government has frozen the assets of two alleged killers and some observers expect the expulsion of some Russian diplomats. Among analysts in Moscow though, few believe that the affaire will have any major impact on British Russian relations, which are already at an all-time low. For some experts, at best, the investigation can be fodder for further anti-Russia talk in international fora such as the Parliament or the European Commission. As for Putin, he remains an unknown factor since he has not said anything on the matter, and is not likely to let the matter stand as it is. The poison factory However, there are no doubts about the substance used to kill agent Sasha or its provenance. Polonium is a rare element, but certain quantities of polonium-210 isotope are produced in a Russian nuclear military facility because the Russian Federation is last country in the world to use it as a trigger or initiator for nuclear weapons, this according to a well-research book** by Italian journalist and Russia expert Francesca Mereu. The substance can only be produced in highly specialised laboratories by poison experts, which the Soviet Union and Putins Russia have often used. Indeed, in a book about his experiences with Soviet intelligence (1984-1992), a former KGB agent, Alexander Kouzminov talks about the biological unit in SVR (Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki), the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, whose poison lab, set up in 1921 before Lenins death, was known in Soviet times as Laboratory 12 or the Kamera (chamber). Under Stalin, the Kamera was located near the Lubyanka and employed the best Soviet chemists, often developing powerful and sophisticated poisons to kill victims without raising suspicion. The Kamera stopped its activities in the 1990s for lack of funding, but the unit was back in business the following decade. Like in the Litvinenko case, the poisoning in 2004 of Viktor Yushchenko, who was running for president of Ukraine, bears the hallmark of the Kamera. According to Mereu, poison produced by Laboratory 12 is also suspected in the deaths of Yuri Shchekochikhin, a Russian journalist and lawmaker, and that of many others who died during the Putin era. In her view, since he came to power poisoning has become once again a privileged tool to deal with undesirables. * FSB stands for the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossiyskoy Federatsii), the successor agency to the Soviet Unions Committee of State Security (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti, or KGB). ** Putin: The Invention of a Democratic Dictatorship. The book was originally published in Italian: LAMICO PUTIN. Linvenzione della dittatura democratica. Aliberti Editore, Reggio Emilia, June 2011. Yesterday, 40 men and women received the lectorate in Baghdads Cathedral of St Joseph. The Chaldean Patriarch emphasised womens role in the community. For Mgr Yaldo, more than 600 people came together "in an atmosphere of serenity and sharing. The celebration is part of planned events for the Year of Mercy. Baghdad (AsiaNews) "For 40 men and women, the ministry of lector (reader) is a time of great celebration for the Chaldean Church, a living community, for both sexes. As Pope Francis recently noted, we must pay more attention to women, not marginalise them, and we have listened, said Chaldean Patriarch Raphael Mar Louis Sako. Thrilled and pleased by yesterday mornings celebration in Baghdads Chaldean Cathedral of St Joseph, the prelate spoke to AsiaNews about an event the confirms the vitality of Iraqs Christian community despite years of persecution, violence, and mass exodus that have reduced its numbers by half. For this occasion, hundreds of worshippers packed the cathedral. His Beatitude Mar Sako led the Divine Liturgy accompanied by auxiliary bishops Mgr Shlemon Warduni and Mgr Basil Yaldo as well as scores of the dioceses priests. The lectorate, said the concelebrants, is rooted in the New Testament and in the tradition of the early Church. It is a "front line" service to enliven the life of parish communities and strengthen the unity between Church and its members. During the service, the Chaldean Patriarch urged politically active Christians to form a single list that can be a reference point and source of strength in the forthcoming elections. He asked everyone to provide practical support for the Chaldean League as an (non-party) instrument of political and social action by and for Christians in their native land. After the Mass, AsiaNews spoke with the patriarchs right hand man, Auxiliary Bishop Basil Yaldo, who described the event as one big celebration with a packed church, and worshippers standing outside" in the square, eager nevertheless "to bear witness by their presence." In addition to the new deacons families and relatives, "more than 600 people representing the entire Christian community" in the capital joined the service "in an atmosphere of serenity and sharing," in defiance of risks and the lack of security. "Granting these ministries gives us hope, the bishop added, because it is a sign of a Church that is alive, full of faithful. In Baghdad, many things go against Christians, but this celebration gives us hope." Finally yet importantly, This is an event that we planned for the Jubilee Year, he said, because it stands as a sign of mercy. Before that, the Holy Door was opened in a tent, here in the capital. In the coming weeks, pilgrimages will take place in various locations. We are a living Church." The Academy Released Plans To Make The Oscars More Diverse Trending News: The Is How The Academy Will Try And Make The Oscars Less White Why Is This Important? Long Story Short Long Story I wish folks stop acting like the #OscarSoWhite issue is about getting an award. Its not. The Academy Awards represents the lack of access. rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 17, 2016 Since award shows are irrelevant, let's watch movies by women and POC instead. #AltOscarParty #oscarsowhite #OscarParity Women in Media (@WomenNMedia) January 12, 2016 Because are the Oscars " the white BET awards? The Academy has responded to threats of a boycott against this years Oscars by pledging to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020, but is it enough?Married couple Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith are out, Spike Lee is out and Mark Ruffalo is thinking about it . These actors, as well as many people on social media, have been calling for a boycott of the Oscars again this year because the nominees are far from diverse actually, theyre Wonder Bread. All 20 actors are white and only a handful of the 305 nominated movies were made by directors of racial minority or by women, according to Variety But in response to the outcry, the Academy is pledging to make sure it has a more balanced cast of nominees in the future. In a statement, the Academy announced it will double the number of women and diverse member of the Academy by 2020. It also added new restrictions to voting status members by ruling that if the members arent in a film for a decade they could be removed, but only if they havent already been voting for three decades prior. The idea behind changing up the voting board is that bringing in new blood will add a more diverse cast of members and ultimately make the nominees less white. In fact, theres good research to suggest that adding diversity to any company is better for everybody (take a listen to this podcast from Reply All for more on that). But are these changes enough? Somehow I cant see Jada Pinkett Smith jumping into her gown and rushing off to the Oscars after this. These decisions will take time to roll out and movies like her husbands Concussion didnt get the credit it deserves. On the other hand, maybe movies from black directors like Straight Outta Compton or actors like Michael B. Jordan in Creed just werent good enough for a nomination. British Actor Michael Caine alluded to that argument in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. There's loads of black actors. You can't vote for an actor because he's black. You got to give a good performance, and I'm sure there were very good [performances]," Caine said. The Oscars should be awarded on merit, true, but with a pretty much all-white academy (94% as of 2012), it's hard to make the case that the Academy is picking as fairly as it could. Own The Conversation Will the Oscar changes be enough to bring back #OscarsSoWhite critics? Disrupt Your Feed: All eyes will be on Host Chris Rock to talk about this during the show. Drop This Fact: Host Chris Rock was pegged to join the boycott, but the Academy met with him on Thursday and confirmed he'll be hosting. HI Everyone... My first post here. I am an Australia Citizen, and my fiance is a Vietnamese citizen, living in Vietnam. I've been studying a lot of the threads on this board, and I think the Visa we will be going for is the subclass 309 visa (unless I've got that wrong, or someone thinks another visa is more appropriate). The question is about her child. He is under 5 years old. She is divorced, and has sole custody of the child. How this is actually formalised in Vietnamese family law, I don't know. What I simply know he agreed to let the child live full time with the mother. When we apply for our Visa, what will the government be looking for in regards to her child. I know the father has to give permission, and he has only verbally done so. But does anyone out there know - specifically in Vietnam, what sort of paperwork needs to be completed to satisfy the AU gov for a 309 visa to include her child? I assume that paperwork would also satisfy the VN gov as well? Thanks... evh Its got some nice visuals, it prompts a giggle or two and it shows that Audi can make some light-hearted fun of itself, which is always refreshing. Especially when it applies to a German brand, since the Teutons are infamously renowned for their lack of proclivity towards humor.Lets imagine for a second that up in some snow-covered mountains in the USA there is an isolated village of natives who carry on with life the same as their ancestors did centuries ago. They live in tents, they use animal hides and furs for warmth and they probably melt snow to use as drinking water.They also gather around great fires and tell stories. And since all their activities tend to be somewhat repetitive, they need some more exciting stories to keep the audience interested. Thats when Yeti comes in. No, not the European crossover from Skoda, but the legendary humanoid being a lot of people claim to have seen.This village had been terrorized by the large creature for years, having come up with a warning system and all types of shelters to protect them when the beast decided to raid their settlement. The elders know better than to stand their ground and face it head on.However, starting 2015, the Yeti has met its match. It was sent running scared by the great glacier bear that is quick as an avalanche and agile like a lynx and, what the native elders dont know, it also comes with seven seats and fully-adjustable air suspension.Yup, sorry for the spoiler, but thats basically the whole story behind this spot: the Audi Q7 looks like a bear and is capable of scaring off a fictional being. That has got to be the best USP (unique selling proposition) weve heard in a while. Why should people buy our car? Because it will scare the Yeti away. And it might also get chased by a bear in heat, but thats another story.Of course, this is just another attempt from Audi to convince us about the capabilities of its quattro all-wheel-drive system. While were not entirely sold, we do appreciate the effort of the advertising agency, which took a break from the Vorsprung durch Technik and went for a lighter approach. Well done. Now lets do something about that nuisance called Nessie as well. Arriving under the KTM umbrella, it was only a matter of time until the Mattighofen magic would begin to work. KTM CEO Stefan Pierer is not a man that makes too many mistakes when it comes to business (if any at all), even though some of his moves may seem a bit questionable at times.Pierer first declared that Husky would drop road-going models, but reconsidered his position pretty quickly, understanding the brand's potential and the fact that there still were Husqvarna fans out there, waiting for the dawn of a new era for the historic Swedish manufacturer.Husqvarna sold 21,513 units in 2015, a whopping increase over the 16,337 motorcycles that reached final customers in 2014. In absolute terms, Husky's sales grew by 32 percent in 2015, and this also means a bigger turnover.We don't have full data from Husqvarna, but the 2015 turnover increased in 2015 by a massive 41 percent. Drawing nearer double the year-ago figure, we begin to understand how much KTM's administration means for a brand that was close to disappearing into oblivion only years ago.Some might argue that the current Husqvarna line-up is nothing more than a bunch of KTM machines painted in white blue and yellow, but this is just an exaggeration.KTM admitted that Husky would be using massive input from Mattighofen at first, but calling these bike rebranded KTMs is a tad too much.Anyway, it appears that the strongest growth arrived from the North American markets, and this proves that KTM's efforts to establish a strong dealership network in the US and Canada paid off in full.We can estimate that the sales for Husqvarna will be on the rise for at least 2016, thanks to the sales of the two new 701 machines, the 701 Enduro and 701 Supermoto . For 2017, Husqvarna is said to introduce the 410 Svartpilen and 401 Vitpilen road-going motorbikes which will also drive the sales further. President Obama and his usual motorcade were heading to the White House after leaving Joint Base Andrews where the Air Force One had landed. However, the black cars were having a tough time cutting through the tiny layer of snow that was covering the asphalt, not helped by the fact that about 99 percent of the other cars caught in traffic were at least just as unprepared for this situation as they were.Even though everybody knows that Washington DC has its fair share of snowing in winter, and were not relying on interpreting natures signals for an accurate weather forecast anymore, it seems the authorities were taken by surprise by this mild blizzard and could not cope with what would count as a flurry in some parts of Northern Europe.The Presidential convoy took double the time than usual to reach the White House, and reports say that the accompanying vans were heard bumping into each other at least three or four times, as well as hitting the curbs a few times. Witnesses also indicate that as the situation was getting worse, they eventually started to make better use of their sirens. What they should have done was call the person responsible for road maintenance and have him send his resignation the next morning.But lets not exonerate the drivers of their part in all this. A simple set of winter tires (because, you know, its winter and it might snow) would have solved most of the issues, since it wasnt the snows height that was posing problems, but only the lack of traction.Things arent looking well for Washington DC and its surroundings, as a proper blizzard is currently unfolding, and based on what weve seen so far, that could spell the end of the capital city of this great nation. RIP. Bosch has begun testing autonomous driving technology in Japan, following testing in Germany and the U.S., the company has announced. Bosch said its initial goal is the development of the highway pilot, which will allow cars to drive autonomously on freeways and freeway-like roads starting in 2020. Because people there drive on the left, and because of the complex traffic conditions, Japan provides us with valuable insights for development, said Dirk Hoheisel, a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. Worldwide, nearly 2,500 Bosch engineers are working to develop driver assistance systems and automated driving further. Like the engineers in Germany and the U.S., the team in Japan is already conducting tests with automated test vehicles on public roads. The test drives are being conducted on expressways around the cities of Tohoku and Tomei in the Tochigi and Kanagawa prefectures, as well as on the two Bosch proving grounds in Shiobara and Memanbetsu. With their development activities getting under way, the new team in Japan is benefiting greatly from the findings of their colleagues in Germany and the U.S., who have been working on automated driving since 2011. Since early 2013, Bosch has been operating test vehicles on the A81 freeway in Germany and Interstate 280 in the United States. Our engineers have now completed more than 10,000 kilometers of test drives without an accident, Hoheisel said. The Bosch test vehicles guide themselves through traffic accelerating, braking, and overtaking as necessary. They also decide for themselves, and depending on the traffic situation, when to activate the turn signal and change lanes. The basis for all this is sensors that provide a detailed picture of the vehicles surroundings. In addition, Bosch said its partner TomTom provides highly accurate map data. A computer uses all this information to analyze and predict the behavior of other road users, and on that basis makes decisions about the automated vehicles driving strategy. If automated driving is to become reality in production vehicles, and not just in prototypes, the legal conditions for this have to be created. This matter is now on the political agenda in the U.S., Japan, and Germany. There are signs of impending change in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which Germany has also ratified. On April 23, 2016, amendments to the convention will come into force. The member states will then have to transfer these amendments into national law. They allow automated driving so long as the driver is able to override or disable it. In the sphere of vehicle registration law, an informal working group of UNECE (the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) has also begun looking at Regulation R.79, which only allows automatic intervention in steering up to a limit of ten kph. The validation of automated driving functions is another challenge. Using current methods, a highway pilot has to complete several million kilometers worth of testing before it can be released for production. Bosch is now working on entirely new approaches. For Bosch, automated driving is about making road traffic safer. The UN estimates that 1.25 million people worldwide are killed in road accidents each year. Ninety percent of these accidents are caused by human error. Bosch accident research predicts that increasing automation can lower accident rates even further by up to a third in Germany alone. And automated driving makes road traffic not only safer, but also more efficient. U.S. studies conclude that applying predictive driving strategies when on the freeway allow fuel savings of up to 39 percent, according to Bosch. Even before it automates driving, Bosch said it is automating parking. Boschs automatic park assist is already in production. By smartphone remote control, the system autonomously maneuvers cars into parking spaces. Bosch active parking management, for instance, makes it easier to find a parking space. Sensors installed in the pavement indicate whether or not a space is occupied. They then pass on this information to a real-time map that can be accessed on the internet, for example. This allows drivers to pick out an available space and navigate to it. And, in conjunction with Daimler, Bosch is going even further. Their aim is to revolutionize parking. Rather than having customers park and look for their cars, the vehicle drives it-self to a free parking space and then returns on command to the drop-off point. To this end, Bosch is developing the necessary infrastructure for parking structures, including occupancy sensors, cameras, and communications technology. 23 January 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova The recent slowdown in the global economy shattered many national economies, making them reconsider their corresponding policies. Four-fold decline in the oil prices over the past year in fact reduced the income of oil producing countries significantly. Azerbaijan, holding 0.5 percent of the global crude production, has encountered the impact of the current crisis as the public budget revenue dropped considerably. As a response to this uneasy challenge the government is redesigning its economic policy to get adapted to the new realities. Privatization Privatization is considered to be one of the important tools in the world economic practice to ensure inflow of foreign direct investment to the country. By privatizing state-owned enterprises, the entrepreneurs make investments in the country, on the one hand, and the government reduces the burden of the state budget, on the other hand. Currently, many large states which face economic difficulties are keen to apply this practice. President Ilham Aliyev's statement before World Economic Forum was aimed at attracting investment in Azerbaijan. "It is necessary to prepare an extensive program of privatization," he said at a meeting on economic and social issues on January 18. "We need to attract both foreign and local investors to this... In order to improve the business environment and accelerate economic recovery, we must implement a broad program of privatization. This program should be completely transparent. We need to engage international experts in this. We need to create suitable conditions for local and foreign investors to show great interest and to invest." Properties abroad Investing in real estate was and continues to be one of the most revenue-generating fields. It is the safest kind of investment in the world. It cannot be lost or stolen, but, if needed, can be granted on lease or sold for good money. Azerbaijan has also used this practice by investing in real estate abroad. The country's state oil fund SOFAZ, that accumulates and manages oil and gas revenues, has already purchased Gallery Actor, a mixed-use office and retail complex located on Pushkin Square in Moscow for $133 million, an office complex in London's West End for 177.35 million and a property in Paris for 135 million, and Pine Avenue Tower A worth $447 million in Seoul. The fund has also acquired landmark retail property Kirarito Ginza in Tokyo, Japan for 52.3 billion yen jointly with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, and agreed with the sovereign-wealth funds of Abu Dhabi and Qatar to invest a combined 350 million euros to buy and develop three separate properties in Milan. These properties are stable sources of income for the budget. It is expected that Azerbaijan can earn huge revenues from granting them on lease or selling them if needed. Banking sector Another source of income to fill the budget can be the financial and banking sector of the country. Azerbaijan's booming economy almost solely relied on the oil and gas sector in the last decade, but in recent years, the government has made a concerted effort to diversify the economy. Realizing that the energy boom cannot last forever, the state began to direct its hydrocarbon revenues to grow the non-oil sector and efforts to boost the banking sector have become part of the state strategy. In this regard, regulation of the currency market of Azerbaijan is one of the important tasks of the government. Currently, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan is taking intervention measures by purchasing or selling foreign currencies deliberately to influence the currency market of the country. Taxes One of the most stable sources of revenues to the state budget is the taxation system of Azerbaijan. In 2015, the Taxes Ministry of the country brought 7.118,2 billion manats ($4.457 billion) to the budget. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan should hold the tax reforms in the fields of administrative reforms, reforms in the application of different tax rates depending on the region and economic activity. Local production The Azerbaijani government is keen to further transfer oil and gas revenues to the development of local production. It is believed that the development of the non-oil sector will enable Azerbaijan not to depend on imports. Today, Azerbaijan can largely meet its need for building materials and food. But there is a foreign component within these locally produced goods. In the coming years Azerbaijan needs to eliminate this external component, so that the raw materials of all food produced in Azerbaijan was of Azerbaijani origin. In December 2015, Azerbaijan canceled 22 types of licenses, and narrowed a list of the licenses required for doing business in Azerbaijan from 59 to 37 to improve the economic situation in the country and to attract entrepreneurs to the doing business. Also, in early October 2015, licensing procedures for entrepreneurship were simplified, paving the way for encouraging business transparency in the country. Moreover, the number of inspections among entrepreneurs was also reduced for two years. The simplification of the licensing procedure, decrease of their number, application of online license portals offering issuing licenses, reduced amount of duties, issuance of perpetual licenses, and most important - online issuance of licenses have allowed to get licenses without making any illegal payments and avoid illegal procedures. All implemented works will create conditions for further liberalization of economy and a more flexible operation of tax and customs systems in the country. Transport Azerbaijans favorable geographic location at the crossroads of East and West can be a new pot of gold for the country to increase revenues to the state budget. In this regard, the development of the transport sector is a priority for the countrys leadership in 2016. Azerbaijan has invested billions of dollars in the development of sea, railway, road and social infrastructure. Developed infrastructure and good business climate have paved the way to attract foreign direct investment in this sector, as well. Azerbaijan also applies the principle of single window for transportation of transit cargoes through its territory via the railways, maritime transport, ports and terminals. This makes the country more attractive for entrepreneurs. Moreover, the country has recently reduced transit costs by around 40 percent for foreign carriers heading to the Kazakh port of Aktau and Turkmenbashi port of Turkmenistan. The government also applies a 30-percent discount on the services of transit of oil and oil products by railway and transshipment via the sea terminals. Capital city Baku is poised to become a major regional transportation and communications hub for the Trans-Caucasus and Central Asian republics. The case is modern Silk Road route that is expected to be as important as its processor. Ferry across the Caspian Sea, railways and highways of Azerbaijan with access through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to Turkey, made the most important link of the new Silk Road. Azerbaijan also enjoys significant opportunities to develop civil aviation. Today, thanks to Azerbaijan's favorable geographical location, which creates good opportunities in terms of the establishment of the regional transport infrastructure and logistics, the further development of civil aviation is an important part of the country's economic strategy. -- Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 10:24 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who embarked on a working visit to Swiss on January 20 to participate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, continues to hold high-level meetings here. President Aliyev has met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Davos on January 22. The presidents hailed the current level of Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations in political, economic and other areas. They discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries in economic, transport, energy, investment making and other fields. Mutual support and cooperation within international organizations was emphasized during the meeting. They also discussed other issues of mutual interest. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The next session of the special Working Group on the development of Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is scheduled for January 27-29 in Ashgabat. Turkmen Foreign Ministry and the State Enterprise on the Caspian Sea Issues under the President of Turkmenistan will be the forums organizers. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov approved the composition of the Interdepartmental Commission on the Caspian Sea, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov prior to the meeting. The uncertainty of the legal status of the Caspian Sea is one of the most discussed topics in between the five coastal states -- Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran for more than 20 years. Baku supports defining the Caspian Sea's legal status based on the sovereign rights of the littoral states, a mutually beneficial partnership, and peaceful negotiations. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of their respective Caspian maritime borders in 2003. Azerbaijan, together with Kazakhstan and Russia, agreed on the delimitation of the sea in early 2000. Turkmenistan and Iran, however, have not reached a consensus yet. Once all Caspian states ratify the Agreement on Security Cooperation in the Caspian Sea, signed in 2010 in Baku, a new impetus will be given for close cooperation between the sides. Significant progress has been achieved in drafting a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in September 2014. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. 23 January 2016 13:52 (UTC+04:00) Tehran is interested in investing in the Russian economy, particularly in the area of research and development, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's chief of staff Mohammad Nahavandian told Sputnik on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday. 'There have been discussions about working together in research and development projects, and our joint commission has been very active to work on the details of our cooperation plan, and they are mapping forward how to expand the ties. There were two persons appointed by the two presidents to look after the matter and come up with the map of future cooperation.' He said that since sanctions have been lifted against Tehran many economic opportunities have opened up. 'And now that the sanctions are lifted we have many opportunities to expand economic ties with Russia,' the Iranian official said. Nahavandian listed several projects with Russia in the past and expressed hope that they would expand to other areas in the future. 'Our cooperation with Russia has been multifaceted from oil and gas to the export of some food, agriculture products, and petrochemicals, and now there has been very advanced talks on new nuclear reactors, as well as cooperation on trade and investments,' he said. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 12:57 (UTC+04:00) Turkmenistan conducts fruitful negotiations with parties interested in the implementation of projects for the supply of Turkmen natural gas to Europe, Turkmen government said. In May 2015, a quadrilateral meeting was held in Ashgabat, which was attended by heads of energy ministries of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and representatives of the European Commission. The meeting was dedicated to the discussion of the priorities on diversification of routes for energy resources output to the global market, including those in the European direction that provides for the joint creation of multiple pipeline infrastructures. The sides discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation in the energy sector during the meeting, including the implementation of joint projects for laying of transnational transit pipelines, in particular on natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Europe. As a result of the meeting a declaration was initialed, which reflects discussed issues and confirms the desire of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the EU to continue active cooperation within international organizations on the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure energy security. Turkmenistans hydrocarbon resources could be transported to Europe via the Caspian Sea by laying a pipeline at the bottom of the sea to the Azerbaijani coast. Then the fuel can be directed to Turkey, which has common borders with the European countries. Trans-Caspian gas pipeline could become a part of Southern Gas Corridors large-scale projects. Ashgabat believes that for laying the pipe at the bottom of the Caspian Sea (legal status of which is not defined yet) consent of the parties (Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan), the territory of which the project will cover is sufficient. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 13:23 (UTC+04:00) There are still important differences between Iran and the USA, however Tehran and Washington make efforts to deal with them using diplomacy and interaction, US State Department official Alan Eyre told Trend. Eyre, the US State Departments Persian Language spokesperson said Washington and its allies will take measures to prevent Iran from destabilizing the region. However now with involving Iran in Syrian peace talks there will be more interaction rather than confrontation, and now there is a chance to reach a peaceful solution to end Syrian crisis, Eyre said. For the first time in Mid-November 2015, Tehran, the main regional ally of President Bashar al-Assad, attended an international summit in Vienna discussing solutions to put an end to the five-year long crisis in Syria. At least two summits have been hold since then and another one is expected to take place in late January. Speaking about some Arab states concern over unblocking of Irans frozen assets in international banks, following the removal of international sanctions on the country, Alan Eyre said that the reality should be accepted - that there is a possibility that Iran may use part of unblocked assets to destabilize the region. However, if we had not solved the nuclear issue, Iran could have been armed with a nuclear weapon which could worsen the situation in the region, he added. In a joint statement on Jan. 16, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the implementation of Irans nuclear deal with the P5+1, and the removal of economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The statement said the EU confirms that the legal framework, providing for lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions, is effective. Following the removal of sanctions Irans frozen assets in international banks have been released. There were speculations that the value of the countrys assets frozen in overseas banks amount to above $100 billion, meanwhile Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected these huge figures. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 14:54 (UTC+04:00) Iranian and Chinese officials signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran Jan. 23, Irans state IRINN TV reported. The two sides signed documents for cooperation in various sectors including nuclear, transportation, ICT, culture, science and education as well as economic, industrial and judicial field, investment promotion and environment protection in Tehrans Saadabad Palace. Heading a high-ranking delegation, Chinese President arrived at Tehran yesterday night at the invitation of President Rouhani. Jinpings trip to Tehran is the last leg of his three-nation tour which has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The visit is the first by a Chinese president to Iran in 14 years. The Chinese leader met with Rouhani, to discuss boosting economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Jinping will also meet Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. China is the Islamic Republics main trade partner. The value of trade exchanges between Tehran and Beijing stood at some $52 billion in 2014. However, the figure dropped in 2015 due to decreasing oil prices. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 23 January 2016 16:27 (UTC+04:00) Iran and China discussed boosting their bilateral trade to $600 billion within a ten-year period, the Islamic Republics president Hassan Rouhani said. He made the remarks during a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting with his visiting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Tehran Jan. 23, the State IRINN TV reported. Rouhani said that the parties discussed mutual strategic ties in the meeting. This trip comes in a great moment of history as the international sanctions against Iran are removed, Rouhani said, adding the parties can achieve a final agreement for cooperation in fields of mutual interests. The Iranian president further said that Iran and China had decided to prepare a comprehensive 25-year cooperation document. Finance, banking and investment issues as well as long-term agreements on energy and investment in the mining, industry and energy sectors were discussed in the meeting as well, Rouhani added. In addition to economic issues the two parties also negotiated cooperation in various fields such as security and defense as well as culture, tourism, technology and science, the Iranian president underlined. International and regional issues also discussed in the meeting, Rouhani said, adding fighting with terrorism, extremism and violence as well as conflicts that have plagued the region were on the agenda of the mutual talks. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Jeff Monson On Christmas, Jeff Monson climbed into a cage an hour outside of Moscow to fight a man 20 years his junior in the 84th professional bout of his MMA career. It lasted less than a minute. The way it ended was, Donald Njatah Nya, a 23-year-old fighter from Cameroon, hit him just behind the ear with a right hand. For a moment the punch seemed to freeze Monson in mid-air his hands still up in a defensive posture, his bulging, tattooed arms still stuck to his bulging, tattooed body then he pitched forward and landed face-first on the mat. The referee rushed in to save him then. See original here: Just two more wins and Jeff Monson can retire or can he? MMA Junkie Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beaumont's Public Health Department is moving today into its new home at 3040 College St. after more than a year of construction. Health department activities are expected to open Monday. The department's new home will gather all of the city's health-related divisions under one roof instead of the four buildings at 950 Washington Blvd., where patients must check into one place and go to another for services. The main benefit of the new health department building is ease of access to patients for the children's and adult immunizations and for the Women's, Infants and Children's nutrition program, city health director Sherry Ulmer said. The new health department arose atop the rubble of the former Texas National Guard Armory building, which reverted to city ownership after the armory closed and moved its operations to Houston. The armory building deated to the early 1960s. At the new building, people will be able to enter the front door, for which there will be ample parking, see one of five clerks arrayed right in front of visitors and be directed to the appropriate office. Ulmer credited architect Dohn LaBiche with incorporating ideas from health department employees about work flow and basic information on what the department does. The 304-seat waiting area is a major improvement compared with the cramped waiting areas at the Washington Boulevard location, which is overwhelmed each year at the beginning of the school year for immunizations and during flu season. Upstairs, the department will have conference and classrooms for training, particularly for EMS, which constitutes about half of the department's 91 employees. Also, the second floor will be the new home of Environmental Services, which inspects restaurants and issues permits for mobile food trucks or weekend food stands at events. The new building provides plenty of space for vital statistics, including birth and death records. The city has two WIC clinics, one of which is at the Target shopping center on Eastex Freeway. The clinics currently are served by one laboratory. The new building combines the two clinics and doubles the lab space, which includes functions like hemoglobin testing for anemia. The city's health department also is the primary agency for tuberculosis testing and record-keeping, required by state law. A specially walled office with hepa filters is set aside for TB patients for testing and to keep the air separate from the rest of the building to prevent the spread of the disease. The Public Health Department also is responsible for sexually transmitted disease reporting. A nurse specializing in STD treatment also will draw blood for testing and will have adequate lab space. Aledade a Bethesda, Md.-based company that helps independent physicians launch accountable care organizations announced two new partnerships this week that support value-based care. The first of the two partnerships is a first-of-its-kind, with the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. This partnership is focused on supporting independent physicians across the state in building a Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO with a focus on high-quality, preventive care and cutting-edge technology. The partnership will help provide in-person support for physicians throughout the setup and operation process. Aledade also recently formed another partnership with the Arkansas State Health Information Exchange to receive real-time information on patients, including admit, discharge and transfer data. This partnership will give Aledade access to information from 26 hospitals and 317 practices. This will allow providers in Aledade's Primary Care ACO to electronically receive updates when their patients are hospitalized. "We know that primary care providers have a strong personal connection with their patients," Erica Galvez, HIE lead at Aledade, said in a statement. "But oftentimes even they don't have access to basic data regarding their patients. By partnering with SHARE, we are able to provide basic, real time data so that providers can effectively harness health data to make informed care decisions, improve patient outcomes and drive down healthcare cost." These two regional partnerships illustrate the continued growth and shift to value-based care. More articles on accountable care: 5 lessons for integrating specialty care into ACOs Humana, ConcertoHealth launch value-based care in Detroit Cigna, Health Choice Preferred roll out ACO As hospitals come to rely more heavily on revenue cycles for efficient cashflow, health systems could seriously benefit from investing in their revenue cycle personnel. Stephanie Wells, system vice president of revenue cycle/HIM for Ochsner Health System in New Orleans spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the health system's unique focus on developing revenue cycle leaders. Ochsner's revenue cycle fellowship program, launched in 2015, aims to give fellows an expansive understanding of a financial and operational cycle that gets more complex each day. "The fellowship aims to impart a vast amount of information on someone in a short amount of time," says Ms. Wells. "The finance department has had a fellowship program for a long time, so we piggy-backed the revenue cycle program from there." Participating fellows rotate through positions and departments within the entire revenue cycle, including scheduling and pre-service to training, billing and analytics. Additionally, revenue cycle fellows participate in a myriad of classes and projects, oftentimes alongside Ochsner's finance fellows. "Participants will take general finance classes on topics such as 340B, bonds and supply chain, in addition to dedicated revenue cycle courses." Through the interdisciplinary curriculum, "fellows come to understand the interconnectedness of revenue cycle functions, and how the decisions they make in revenue affect the finance department and vis versa," says Ms. Wells. As new regulations, payment methods and technology platforms continue to complicate hospital cashflow, "revenue cycle leaders must have a terrific understanding of healthcare across the board," she adds. Outside of the fellowship, Ochsner hosts a variety of programs to support and develop revenue cycle employees. Individuals can be nominated for Ochsner's revenue cycle leader academy, a two-year program that emphasizes leadership skills and comprehensive revenue cycle education to nurture a stronger revenue cycle team. The health system also hosts revenue cycle leader training events, one day programs that bring leaders together to discuss and emphasize the interconnectedness of revenue cycle processes across the system, from access to analytics to billing. Since implementing revenue training and development programs, Ochsner has seen hospital best practices skyrocket from 38 percent to 50 percent, says Ms. Wells. In times of financial difficulty, hospitals and health systems may be tempted to cut back on training programs to reduce costs. But from Ms. Wells' experience, strong leaders are well worth the investment. "Leaders want to work for a system that invests in them. At Ochsner, we understand that the hospital system will get better as your leaders get better." The East Coast is preparing for a winter storm expected to bring a record-breaking amount of snow. The storm, which could affect more than 75 million people from Arkansas to Massachusetts, began early Friday morning. Snowfall could reach 2 feet or higher in some areas, including Baltimore and Washington, meteorologists say. Accumulation in the tristate area New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is expected to be 6 to 10 inches, with winds surging from 25 mph to 35 mph, according to ABC News. The storm is expected to last through Sunday, and many states have already declared a state of emergency. More than 2,520 flights have been cancelled, according to ABC. In anticipation of the storm and the potentially dangerous conditions it could bring, hospitals throughout the East Coast are taking measures to prepare for emergency situations. Here are five things to know about the hospitals in the path of the storm. 1. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Thursday as the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Charlottesville area, effective from Friday morning to Sunday morning, according to Daily Progress. Emergency departments and the University of Virginia Medical Center and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital both in Charlottesville will remain open during the storm. Hospital officials at both facilities said they are prepared for potential power outages with backup generators, according to the report. However, most of UVa's outpatient clinics will be closed and elective surgeries at UVa Medical Center are cancelled for Friday and Saturday. 2. In the Richmond, Va., area, local hospitals are working together to prepare for the storm. HCA Virginia Health System has set up an incident command center at Henrico Doctor's Hospital. David Donaldson, COO of Henrico Doctor's Hospital, told ABC 8 News hospital workers will stay at nearby hotels or spend the night at the hospital. Leaders from nearby hospitals said they are prepared with supplies of blood, backup generators and snow blowers. 3. Washington, D.C., may be one of the hardest hit cities. "We will be prepared to shelter in place Friday night and Saturday night," said Craig DeAtley, the emergency management director at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, according to a WJLA report. 4. Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., has cancelled all elective procedures scheduled before 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 at Mission Hospital at its Memorial and St. Joseph campuses. Additionally, the Asheville Surgery Center will be closed and all procedures moved to the afternoon on the Mission Hospital campus, but they may be cancelled depending on the weather. 5. In the Lexington, Ky., area, road crews have been preparing for the storm for the last week, according to a Lex18.com report. Several city divisions are prepared to send in extra help from private contractors to get the streets cleared. UK HealthCare hospitals and clinics will remain open during the course of the storm. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below The current landlord of the Sunflower, Pedro Donald, outside the popular Belfast bar A 300m project to redevelop part of Belfast city centre has hit a roadblock after it was refused outline planning permission. The Northside Regeneration is planning to develop a so-called 'mixed use' scheme, close to Royal Avenue, which would include housing, retail, leisure and student accommodation. But Belfast City Council has now recommended that the development be refused. The project hit the headlines last year, after it was revealed that popular and award-winning bar The Sunflower could be knocked down as part of the plans. A Save The Sunflower campaign was launched on social media, drawing support from thousands of fans of Pedro Donald's pub. Other businesses in the area are also at risk. Northside is a consortium chosen by the Department for Social Development (DSD), to develop the area which is bounded by North Street, Royal Avenue, Donegall Street and Millfield. The consortium includes global building firm Balfour Beatty and property developer Kevin McKay. The Sunflower's Pedro Donald told the Belfast Telegraph that while the refusal for outline planning was to be welcomed, "we are not resting on our laurels". He said: "It's definitely more positive than negative. But we still don't have a definite answer. "It certainly gives us more hope. "The longer we kick it down the road, the better. "Those big student blocks on York Street, by the time they get to us, there will be no need (for others). "We are all in limbo, all the businesses are in the same boat. Do we invest? Do we give the business a lick of paint, is there any point?" A Northside spokeswoman said it "remains fully committed to the development of the lands designated by the DSD for regeneration". "Further to our submission of our outline planning application, the planning authorities requested supplementary information on environmental impacts. "The extent and scope of the information requested required more time than was available within the deadline set. "Regrettably this has resulted in our application being determined as deemed refused". The consortium said it will be resubmitting its application, and "re-entering the planning application process". "There have been concerns raised by a local councillor with Northside Regeneration Ltd regarding the Sunflower bar and the development team will enter discussions with the owner of the property, where the bar is located, as part of the planning process." And the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, which has previously objected to the scheme, said: "Whilst the deemed refusal is welcome, it may not mean that unlisted historic buildings in the area are safe. "They are not protected against demolition and it is likely that another scheme for the area will emerge in due course." A spokesman for Belfast City Council said the "deemed refusal of the Northside Regeneration Ltd outline planning application on January 18, 2016" means Belfast City Council has no "comprehensive development" application for Northside to deal with at present, but that there are other planning applications which the council must determine within the Northside area. Megan McKenna waving as she arrived at the start of Celebrity Big Brother - she has now waved goodbye as the fourth housemate to be evicted Gemma Collins and Danniella Westbrook left the Celebrity Big Brother house after an explosive row sparked by dirty underwear. The former star of The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) and the ex-EastEnders actress have become increasingly frustrated with Stephanie Davis, best known for her role in Hollyoaks. In tonight's package of highlights from the Channel 5 reality series, viewers will see how the contestants made their temporary escape. Matters came to a head after John Partridge, Darren Day and Christopher Maloney found a pile of unwashed laundry. They discovered what they described as "pigeon s***" in a pair of panties. Westbrook said the knickers probably belonged to Davis. "I don't leave my s*** about," she stated. The panties became the talk of the house and e ventually, Davis confessed. "Can I just say something? Anyone who is asking about the red knickers, yeah they're mine." Westbrook took the opportunity to confront the 22-year-old over negative remarks she apparently made to other housemates. Davis was accused of saying Westbrook's breath smelled due to an abscess. The Liverpudlian denied making the comments. "You're being too paranoid about so many things," she told Westbrook. However, the clash escalated and Davis branded Westbrook "a bully", which infuriated the Londoner. During a conversation in the Diary Room with Big Brother, the Walthamstow-born actress fumed over the turn of events. "I ain't getting into an argument with her because she wants me to argue with her so people forget that she's getting into bed with somebody else every night," Westbrook said. Davis, who has a boyfriend on the outside of the house, has been seen on camera flirting with former Mr Ireland finalist, Jeremy McConnell. Westbrook packed her bags and Collins said: "Dan, let's just get our stuff and go." Former X Factor hopeful Maloney tried to persuade Westbrook to stay, but she would not listen. She told him: "There's one nasty bit of work in this house and it certainly ain't her (Collins) and it ain't me." The two women burst through the fire exit in the garden and into the camera runs. Later, they returned to the house and after talking to Big Brother, decided to remain as contestants. Collins explained why they left. "Things have been said the last couple of days, which you might not be aware of, that are hurtful to her (Westbrook) and hurtful to me. We're not made of steel. We're not made of rock. It's hurtful." Westbrook was not in a conciliatory mood with regard to Davis. "I'd be happy not to breathe the same air as her again in my life," she said. Meanwhile, immunity weekend continues in the Celebrity Big Brother house. The housemates must play for their chance to escape the next public vote on Tuesday. Towie's Collins won immunity during the first challenge which took place in Friday's eviction show. Megan McKenna became the fourth housemate to be evicted on January 22. Daniel Radcliffe's latest role did not impress everyone at premiere Daniel Radcliffe movie Swiss Army Man prompted some audience members to walk out during its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The Harry Potter star plays a farting corpse with an erection in the independent feature directed by music video duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Swiss Army Man also stars US actor Paul Dano, who can currently be seen as Pierre Bezukhov in BBC One's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. In Swiss Army Man, Dano's character Hank is stranded on a tiny deserted island. He befriends a dead body (played by Radcliffe) that has washed ashore and embraces the opportunity as his last to escape certain death. Hank muses over topics such as life and the human condition with the deceased before eventually riding the corpse across the sea, propelled by the power of the farts emanating from the dead man. Scheinart said Swiss Army Man originated with an idea of "how a man riding a farting corpse could be a feature ... about mortality and big ideas, but with fart jokes". The film divided moviegoers and critics when it made its debut at the famous Utah film festival. A steady stream of viewers walked out. "I get what they were trying to do, but it just seemed pointless," one person who left early told Deadline afterwards. Meanwhile, Esquire called it "the longest fart joke in film history". The Swiss Army Man cast and crew talked about the challenges at the film's premiere. "How can I look dead and look slightly embarrassed at the same time or, you know, what does that look like?'" Radcliffe said. "So there was a lot of that to be worked out, but 90% of that came from being in the room with Paul and the directors." "We had a good time," recalled Dano. "When you see it, we get to do some fun stuff, we get to do some silly stuff and, yeah. I spent like five weeks carrying Dan around. "And that's the thing," added Radcliffe. "I feel like there will be a lot of shots in the movie where people are like, 'Oh, that's obviously a dummy because Paul Dano wouldn't have schlepped him around like that, but he did'." Steven Moffat is quitting as executive producer of Doctor Who and will be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall Steven Moffat has quit his role as lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who, the BBC has said. He will be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall. A Doctor Who Christmas special will air later this year, while series 10, Moffat's last, is scheduled to be broadcast in 2017, with a new companion on board to replace Jenna Coleman. Chibnall will begin his tenure as executive producer of Doctor Who in 2018. Moffat said: "Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I'm just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out." He added: "While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I'll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the Tardis warm for him. "It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future." Moffat joked: "At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip." Chibnal said: "Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. "So it's a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. "I've loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I'm relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore." The Broadchurch boss also paid tribute to Moffat. "Steven's achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who's creative ambition, while growing its global popularity," he said. "He's been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it's clear he'll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult." Controller of BBC One Charlotte Moore said: "I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who. I've loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. "I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can't wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. "I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series." Moffat took over Doctor Who in 2010 and during his tenure, the show has grown into a global success. He was responsible for introducing the 11th and 12th Doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi, in addition to casting Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond and Coleman as Clara Oswald. Moffat was also at the helm for the 50th Anniversary special in 2013 which saw fans around the globe celebrate the world's longest running sci-fi series with Doctors, Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt fighting the Daleks in a feature length episode. Moffat's wife, Sue Vertue, sent a message to Doctor Who fans on her Twitter account. She wrote: "Steven thanks you all for your lovely comments and reminds you he's got a whole season to go yet!" For someone who has spent her life talking - 30 years as a lecturer in social administration, her role as the "benefits expert" on Radio Ulster's On Your Behalf for over 20 years, and as a member of various commissions and public bodies - Professor Eileen Evason doesn't talk very much about herself. "It's just the way I am. I am very much a backroom person. I do the arguments and write the reports, but I just like to sit and think the situation out rather than be at the forefront. So, yes, I am a private person - it's the way I am. I'm from an earlier era when we didn't share everything with everybody when we were younger. "We lived in a different society: and this idea that a trouble shared is a trouble halved is wrong - it's a trouble doubled. You just make somebody else miserable." It's that straightforward approach to getting the job done, while avoiding self-promotion, which made her the obvious choice as lead author of a report to help resolve the DUP/Sinn Fein impasse on welfare reform. There are still potential hurdles and potholes ahead, but the report, published earlier this week, should make it easier to implement the Fresh Start Agreement and make progress in other areas, too. Eileen Evason was born in 1947, in Birmingham. Her father was a bus driver and her mother stayed at home to look after Eileen's disabled brother. "Before that my mother was a nurse with the forces during the Second World War and she went into Belsen. She was a strong supporter of Labour and of course it was the forces' vote that delivered a Labour government in 1945. It was sad that we had to have a war to realise what matters." Evason admits to having been " ... political from the start. We had friends in Birmingham who were Labour councillors and I was out with leaflets when I was still at primary school, knocking on doors and reminding people to vote. "And it was always going to be Labour for me. I have always had this very strong sense of fairness and social justice. But the Conservative Party was a different animal back then and even though I could say I supported Labour, I never loathed Conservatives. There were good people - like McMillan and Butler - and the party, then, was actually a very good party. "But I was always aware that had it not been for the NHS and welfare state then many working-class families like mine would have been reduced to pauperism. So, it was clear at that stage that some things were working very well for working-class people like me. "I was the first member of my family, for instance, to go to university (she read social administration at Hull). But before that I'd won a scholarship from Birmingham City Council to go to an independent school, which was actually a convent and didn't entirely suit me, because I had no religious beliefs. "But I also realised that while I had to work very hard for that scholarship, there were people at the school who were only there because their parents had paid for them - and I didn't think that was fair." Given that she benefited from academic selection, I wonder how she views the continuing stalemate on the issue here. "I wouldn't have started with the transfer issue. The real problem is young Protestant males underachieving, so I would have started at the other end and said let's tackle the schools and provisions in those areas and try and get improvement there and then tackle the transfer issue later." Surprisingly, she never joined the Labour Party at university, saying that she was more interested in discos, having a good time and coming out with something that would get her a job fairly quickly. She graduated in 1968 and a year later applied for a temporary assistant lecturer post at Queen's University, Belfast. She stayed there for a couple of years and then took another post at the Ulster University in Coleraine. "I was happy enough to go there, because by that stage the bombing was getting pretty severe in Belfast." Having lived here since 1969 I wonder if she thinks Northern Ireland is now a better place: "People are more likely to work together, but less likely to live together and I do have a sense that the communities have grown further apart. In fact, I sometimes think that we're going towards something like Belgium. "I think some people could have been more gracious since the Belfast Agreement and that has soured the process for a lot of people. "Whether it can be fixed or not depends on the next generation of politicians and voters. "I think most people just want to get on with their lives and they're tired to death of all this stuff that's constantly flying around them. "We've still too many people with too much baggage - and they need to move on before we see what the next ones are like. Endless squabbling and nitpicking wears people down. "We just need to get on and do things. Politicians need to accept that they really are in charge together." A self-confessed Guardian reader, she is worried that we are drifting away from being a truly democratic state. On Jeremy Corbyn, she notes that all Labour leaders since the Sixties - apart from Tony Blair - have been vilified, but adds that "old Labour" may now look fresh to a new generation - although Corbyn is probably the wrong champion. She views today's Conservatives as the "nasty party", unlike when she was growing up: "Cameron has no idea of the real world. "Had we had politics of Left and Right in Northern Ireland we would not have got into the same mess, I think. I'd like to see a strong, vibrant Labour party here, but I don't think its possible at the moment. What I do see, though, is a lot of very good people in the voluntary sector and public sector, some of whom, in other places, would be in politics. It would be good if they got involved, but I won't hold my breath." I wonder if her experience as the "benefits expert" on a range of programmes - she used to have a national show before On Your Behalf - has given her an insight into people here: "When you get down below the nonsense we are not a nation of scroungers. I talk to a lot of elderly, vulnerable people, people with disabilities and carers and people who find it hard to make ends meet. But the vast majority are decent, fair-minded people. I do like the people here." Was she reluctant to accept the offer to address the welfare impasse? "Yes. I nearly fled from the room. People have been trying to do it for so long and then it goes pear-shaped. But I was confident unless I got something completely wrong they would implement it." And, yes, she has been disappointed by some of the response. "It's part and parcel of what I do dislike here. When I was involved in academia and first went into broadcasting you had to be able to stand over what you said. Now people, without reading, pronounce on things. I was expecting it, but it's still disappointing." I ask her why she stayed in Northern Ireland: "There was so much needed to be done that it was possible to have three careers at once - and that suited me. I might have drifted into politics in England, but I was never approached here and anyway I have a very low boredom threshold. "And, to be honest, it's easier to get things done through voluntary and public bodies here. "I think we're finally on the right path. But we need everyone to buckle down on the economy, health, skills, training and education and politicians need to lift their heads." For all of her lack of self-promotion, Eileen Evason is frank and engaging and a very shrewd observer of people and politicians. Exactly the sort of person the Assembly need. A life so far She was born in Birmingham in 1947 She came to work in Northern Ireland in 1969 - and stayed She canvassed for Labour candidates while still at primary school She likes to think while swimming She has a passion for Spain and Spanish history She really doesn't like talking about herself The Alliance Party has been accused of "blatant electioneering" after suggesting a licensing system to regulate the flying of flags. Applicants would have to apply for licences to display the Union flag, Irish tricolour and others. The permit would last for two weeks. There would also be a two-week gap between licenses being granted, and any costs for removal of flags or other expenses would be paid by the applicants. David Ford's party launched a public consultation on the proposals in an attempt to develop a framework for flag displays in public areas. The issue, which creates annual tension and confrontation, particularly at flashpoints during the marching season, has been in political limbo since the Stormont House Agreement (SHA) just over a year ago. The five main parties, including Alliance, were involved in the deal, which contained a commitment to set up a Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition by last June. At one point a statement from then First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "Good progress has been made and the recruitment of the non-political members can commence once we are in a position to progress the implementation of the SHA." Alliance along with DUP, Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionists and SDLP also formed the Stormont House Implementation Group, which attempted to progress the deal. The SHA came off the rails over welfare reform and led to new negotiations last autumn, with the future of the Assembly and Executive at stake. The resulting Fresh Start deal involved only the DUP and Sinn Fein, but reiterated plans for the commission, which it planned to set up by this March. Alliance said yesterday its consultation is intended to inform the commission of people's views. "The idea of a commission, along with many other things, has been put on the back-burner so many times that we decided to take the initiative," the party added. Ukip's David McNarry labelled it a "kick the Prods" exercise and said the timing in the run-up to May's Assembly election demonstrated it amounted to "blatant electioneering". But Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle explained: "This consultation does not question the right of people to display legal flags from private property, nor would it change the law around flying of flags on public buildings or affect people's ability to fly flags on their own homes. "But there is a need for a clear, transparent framework which could create a fairer balance between the right to celebrate events with legal flags and the right of everyone to be safe and welcome." He said the Department for Regional Development confirmed it had been deterred from removing flags due to threat of violence against staff. And he pointed to the NI Life and Times Survey showing that three out of four people did not support flag-flying in their own neighbourhoods. "Simply doing nothing is no longer an option, that's why we need an alternative. The unofficial and aggressive display of flags is often used to mark territory and is a significant barrier to ensuring public space is shared," the East Belfast MLA added. One of the first people to protest against the removal of the Union flag from Belfast City Hall has said the demonstrations should have stopped. Jamie Bryson said he is proud of what the flag protests achieved in bringing the issue to the fore, but said it is now time to turn to politics. The North Down community worker received a six-month suspended sentence last year after being convicted of taking part in unlawful public processions in 2013. Protests sprang up after Belfast City Council voted to fly the flag only on 21 statutory days instead of all year around in December 2012. Protests in support of the flag then proceeded to take place in Belfast and towns across the region. Some sparked riots and scores of people were arrested. A small demonstration continues to take place in front of Belfast City Hall each week, while a 12-hour "Union flag vigil" has been called for St Patrick's Day to start at 1pm. Mr Bryson was slammed as a "sell out" after saying on BBC Radio Ulster yesterday that the protest should be called off. In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, he paid tribute to flag protesters, but said it was time to turn to politics. "I pay tribute to all the flag protesters, to all people who sacrificed for that just cause and to all people who went to prison or ended in court because of it," he said. "That wasn't all for nothing. It brought the issue to the fore, but now is the time to use that energy and commitment to engage in political activism and make a real change." Mr Bryson went on to say that continuing to protest without a strategy is fruitless. Carl Frampton has spoken of his devastation at the death of his grandfather Jimmy McWilliams, who passed away this week. Mr McWilliams, who travelled the world over to see his grandson fight his way to global fame and the IBF super bantamweight belt, died just a few days before his 96th birthday. The boxer shared his grief in a series of tweets yesterday. The Tiger's Bay fighter wrote: "My granda would have been 96 on Tuesday but sadly passed away last night. He's at peace now. No more suffering. RIP". Frampton said that his grandfather had travelled huge distances to see him fight - and still popped a tenner into a card for him at Christmas. Friends and fans sent a welter of online condolences to the Northern Irish world champion. Craig McVeigh wrote: "Sorry for your loss Carl. He will be watching down on you Feb 27th thinking, 'What a grandson I have'. He will be proud." And Eoin Casey added: "RealCFrampton Sorry to hear that Carl. 96 is incredible. Seems you're not the only fighter in the family." NI Hospice also expressed sympathy at the boxer's loss, writing: "@RealCFrampton all your fans @NIHospice have you, Jimmy #RIP and the family in our thoughts and prayers @nichildrenshosp." Frampton's manager, the former WBA featherweight world champion Barry McGuigan, paid further tribute to Mr McWilliams. "Although I didn't know Jimmy very well - he was already quite old and frail when I met him - he had great spirit," he said. "Carl's uncle Bobby used to bring Jimmy to all the fights. He wanted to be there - he absolutely loved it. "It's a sad time for the family and my sympathy goes out to them. They are very much in my thoughts and prayers tonight." Both of Carl Frampton's grandfathers, Hugh Frampton - who died in 2014 - and Jimmy McWilliams, were reputed to have been formidable fighters in their youth. IBF super bantamweight champion Frampton's next big bout is slated for next month, when the Tigers Bay man will take on WBA super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg in a world title unification clash in Manchester on February 27. Tickets for the massive fight sold out in minutes when they went on sale back in November 2015. A Catholic priest who was investigated for what were called "safeguarding issues" is to retire following a church review. Concerns about Fr Paul Symonds date back to the 1970s, when he worked in England. The priest, who comes from England, was working as a curate in Ballymena when concerns about him were brought to the attention of the authorities. In 2009, he was arrested in London by officers from the Metropolitan Police Force's child abuse investigation team. Both Fr Symonds and the Catholic Church authorities cooperated fully with the police during their investigation. The priest stood down from his ministry while the police investigation was ongoing. However, the authorities decided that he would not be charged with any offences. In 2011, after the police had completed their work, the Catholic Church began its own inquiry into Fr Symonds, a former Jesuit priest. After five years, the investigation has finally reached the decision that Fr Symonds will live as a retired priest without any public ministry. The decision came in a statement from the Diocese of Down and Connor, which was released last night. Before his 2009 arrest, Fr Symonds had been awarded an OBE for his "tireless community work" across the Ballymena area and beyond. Nearly two decades after her 26-year-old son David drowned in the River Lagan, Ann Gorman tells of the long hard road of grief she has been travelling ever since. This time 18 years ago my dear son David was missing. He had fallen into the River Lagan while walking the dog in the early hours of New Year's Day in 1998. The dog came back that afternoon, but sadly David never returned. He remained missing for five long, hard months. At that stage, though I suspected it, I had no proof he was in the river. Dogs don't talk. I look back and remember the horror of being in the dark tunnel of despair. The pain of death is crushing, but the pain of not knowing what happened to your loved one is probably the worst there is. We were lucky because David did emerge from the river that May. Because I am a long way down the road of survival, I can honestly say I am glad I am here alive on this Earth. In those early days of searing pain, I was not so sure. I guess you could say the journey of survival started when I bought my first little blue iMac in September 1998. Back then the internet provided a fascinating new tool of information. The first words I keyed in were 'death by drowning', which brought up what I wanted to hear. Then I keyed in 'bereavement of a child', and instantly loads of chat rooms sprung up. I clicked on 'Invincible Summer', run by a lady called Carol who had lost a daughter to eclampsia. There I found a group who were all sharing stories about making a trip. At first I thought I must have got the wrong site, but when I wrote in, suddenly the mood changed. They all wrote back and shared their stories. The trip they were talking about was to meet up in Omaha, Nebraska, in May 1999. Clearly, I had landed in cyberspace America. We later renamed our group Maybound 99. Exactly a year after my son's funeral, I made the trip by myself to Omaha. There I met all these like-minded good people who had mostly lost grown-up boys. Paula and Peter's sons died in car crashes. Ricki's son was shot in the head. Bonni's son died of a drug overdose. Judy's son died of cancer, aged 26, the same age as David. Booked into a very basic Super 8 Motel, we pored over photos, shared stories, laughed and cried a lot. This was interspersed with trips to steak houses and Mexican restaurants, all organised by Ricki, our host. Since then, Paula and another of that group, Anne, have crossed the pond to visit me. I have stayed with Paula in Florida and Anne in New York. I have been back to Omaha twice to see Ricki. We are all friends now on Facebook. All of this from the tragedy of my son dying and the click of a mouse. My journey continued with many more changes. I left the job I once loved and set up my own marketing consultancy. When you are grieving, everything is a struggle. Simple tasks become onerous, but as I often explained to people, "There are no choices, you simply plod on". There are rocks to cling to - belief, love of family and friends, closeness of the one already gone and, in my case, lovely people who trusted me to look after their business. Our daughter Lara stayed with us, my husband Trevor and I, for two years and then she needed some space to breathe outside of the grieving home, so she went to Dublin where she picked up on her yoga practice. It seemed to help her so much I thought I had better try it too. This led me on another path of the journey as I am now a yoga teacher, which I absolutely love. I stumbled into my first class overweight and overwrought, but within a few weeks I could feel a sense of calm. Before David died I thought life was easily controlled. I was always making plans, fixing things, changing things and trying my best to control things. When tragedy strikes you quickly realise there is no control - all hope is gone and joy is replaced with sorrow. I could barely get up in the morning. As well as the acceptance of loss, yoga has taught me to be grateful for the moment, for the simple things in life and to trust life to bring things to me if the time is right. As my friend Ricki reminded me in my early grief: "We all get our day in the sun". All those years ago, in a Belfast Telegraph interview, I told a journalist how my son had made me an Airfix model of his favourite plane, the Second World War Flying Fortress, for my birthday. I actually brought it down to show to the journalist who wrote about it poignantly and sensitively. The story still moves me to tears to this day. Staying with that plane, fast-forward on the journey to two years ago. I was sitting at David's graveside in Newtownbreda when I heard the strange sound of an old aeroplane. I video-clipped it as it circled overhead. When I watched the news that night, it turned out to be the Flying Fortress sent over to mark the unveiling of a Second World War memorial close by in Castlereagh. What were the chances of me sitting at the graveside and this plane flying over my head? This was one of those moments where I believed there were no coincidences. Then there is the quilt story, which happened this year. My dear friend Ricki in the USA gave me the idea of getting a quilt made out of David's clothes. You rarely part with all of your children's clothes. She and I liked the idea of them literally going to the grave with us. I had been at the Europa Hotel in Belfast for a first aid training session and was walking home up Great Victoria Street when I saw a sign for a church fair. I wandered in and got chatting with a girl on a fabric stall. I enquired if she knew anyone who made quilts. She replied that she did, but at present this lady was not working. I then said: "This might sound crazy, but I am looking for someone to make me a quilt from my son's clothes which I can get wrapped in when my time comes". She then told me that the lady in question was also a newly bereaved mum of a grown-up son. We exchanged contact details and two weeks later a lovely woman called Imelda got in touch. Imelda made me the most wonderful quilt. It is way beyond my expectations. After 18 years I felt like I was handing her over a bag of rags but she wove them into four squares of life. I cried when I saw it. It is so beautiful and so telling. Imelda created this through all her pain of early grief. She said she could feel David's personality as she sewed. How wonderful is that? There is nothing that replaces death like life. It is the natural order of things. No one person can ever replace another - that is different. I am so blessed to now have two beautiful granddaughters who bring love, life, peace and joy into my life. My daughter Lara talks to them about her brother, and they laugh when they see a photo of him with long hair. I have been fortunate to have the support of my husband throughout this, and we both love to share the memories of our dear boy. When the bonds of love are strong, no one ever really leaves. At least that's what I believe. The latest bid by Henry Fitzsimons to secure High Court bail is to be re-examined next month after a voice analyst testifies at a separate hearing to establish if he had a case to answer Any further delays in the case of an alleged senior dissident republican held in custody for two years on a charge of trying to murder police officers may not be tolerated, a judge has warned. The latest bid by Henry Fitzsimons to secure High Court bail is to be re-examined next month after a voice analyst testifies at a separate hearing to establish if he had a case to answer. Adjourning the application, His Honour Judge Gordon Kerr QC advised the prosecution of the potential consequences if the expert's evidence was put back. He said: "If the preliminary inquiry is not completed on this occasion, you're likely to be faced with a position where delay has been extensive and cannot be tolerated." Fitzsimons (47) is alleged to have conspired with co-accused Colin Duffy and Alex McCrory to kill security force members. Other charges against him include attempting to murder members of the PSNI, conspiracy to possess firearms and explosives with intent to endanger life, aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm, and belonging to a proscribed organisation - namely the Irish Republican Army. He was arrested after a police Land Rover and two other vehicles came under fire as they travelled along the Crumlin Road in December 2013. Two AK47 rifles and 14 spent rounds of ammunition were later recovered, along with a hijacked and burnt-out taxi the gunmen used for their getaway. Fitzsimons, of no fixed address, was later detained along with Duffy (46), from Forest Glade in Lurgan, and McCrory (53), of Sliabh Dubh View in Belfast. Prosecutors allege the trio were secretly recorded meeting in the grounds of a large country house near Duffy's home a day after the shooting incident. It has been claimed they were holding leadership discussions about IRA activities, future direction, finances and the amount of weapons and Semtex at the organisation's disposal. Talks involved the Crumlin Road attack, the loss of the AK47s, burning out the getaway car and whether the gunmen would be recognised, the court heard. During the meeting it was allegedly stated that in future the only operations cleared would be ones with a high percentage chance of "getting a kill" or doing damage. Fitzsimons' renewed application for bail centred on the length of time taken to progress the case to trial. Defence lawyers previously argued the case it was in danger of becoming detention without trial. A preliminary inquiry to test the strength of the case against all three accused is continuing at Belfast Magistrates Court. The voice recognition expert is due to give evidence next month. Judge Kerr decided to adjourn until those proceedings were completed. Amy at 20 months old after being diagnosed with the tumour A baby girl who was sent home from hospital to die because of an inoperable tumour has had an emotional reunion with one of the surgeons who saved her 19 years on. Amy Patterson had the first opportunity yesterday to say thanks to Downpatrick-born Dr Gerry OReilly for his role in the pioneering operation. The eminent neurosurgeon embraced Amy and her parents Hazel and Trevor at their Limavady home, fulfilling a promise he made last year to pay them a visit. When Amy turned 21 in October her mother was so thankful for the years she and Trevor feared theyd never have with her, that she sought out the surgeons who gave them hope where other doctors could not. Amy told the Belfast Telegraph: It was unbelievable and a bit surreal to finally meet Dr OReilly, as Ive heard so much from my parents about him over the years. My mother actually had tears in her eyes when she saw him again. He was there for my parents during the good days and bad, and they are very thankful to him. Mrs Patterson added: This was a very special day for us all. Its very humbling that someone like Dr OReilly could come today to visit us. Gerry was a friend to us as well during that very frightening time, he walked the journey with us. Men like him just do not get the recognition that they deserve and today is all about saying thanks. Amy was a healthy and lively 16-month-old when she was discovered to have a rare tumour in her spinal cord. After a stay in Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital back in 1996, her parents heard the stark news that their daughters condition was incurable. Amy was sent home to die, said the mother-of-three. It was heartbreaking for us. I was pregnant at the time with Amys sister Hannah, and we couldnt wrap our heads around losing our first-born. It was so difficult to watch her suffer, especially because she deteriorated so quickly. The tot was in so much pain that her parents could not touch her or hold her for fear of making it worse. The Limavady woman was so desperate that she began to investigate Amys condition, and contacted Birmingham Childrens Hospital for help. Consultant neurosurgeon Dr Tony Hockley, now deceased, agreed to attempt to remove the tumour, assisted by his then senior registrar Dr OReilly, but he could not give the Pattersons much hope until theatre, where he could see what he was dealing with. Following a 13-hour operation to remove the tumour, Amy fought off a further 12 life-threatening conditions including meningitis and septicaemia during her recovery period. The story of her miraculous return to health was told on the front page of the Belfast Telegraph when the family returned home to Northern Ireland. But afterwards Amy had to relearn all her motor and language skills, and still has a weakness on the left side of her body, which makes it difficult for her to do some things. The language and linguistics student intends to be a childrens special needs teacher. She also helps her mother out at the familys Crindle Stables. Dr OReilly, now a consultant at Spire Hull and East Riding Hospital in Yorkshire, admitted that he was overcome with a mixture of pride and delight when the Pattersons got in touch with him via a Facebook appeal they made last year. The neurosurgeon, well-known for wearing cartoon character ties when working with young children, said: Throughout the setbacks and challenging times the family carried themselves with a dignity and serenity. They were always respectful and appreciative to all. A man from Northern Ireland has died in Australia after falling from a houseboat on the Murray River, near the border between New South Wales and Victoria. Builder Niall Quinn (25) was on the boat with a group of friends when he fell overboard into the river at Echuca Moama at about 1.40am local time. It is believed Mr Quinn, understood to be from Co Armagh, may have hit his head as he fell in. His friends reportedly jumped in to save him but were unable to find him. On the way down hes actually collided with the bottom deck of the houseboat and fallen into the water and gone under, NSW Police Forces Acting Superintendent Peter Hayes said. His body was located by police divers at around 3.45pm local time. Ten privately owned vessels assisted in the search. Police said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. The Republic's Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to Mr Quinns family. Martin McGuinness is one of three Sinn Fein candidates who will contest the Assembly election in the Foyle constituency, it has been confirmed. The Deputy First Minister has represented Mid Ulster for the past 19 years, but his candidacy for Foyle has been officially endorsed at the Sinn Fein Cuige Uladh AGM in Derry. While some think it is a bold move by Sinn Fein, others have pointed to the narrow margin of 1% that separated the party and the SDLP at the last vote. Speaking at the conference, Mr McGuinness said it "hasn't been an easy decision". "I have served as an MLA and MP in mid-Ulster for 19 years and it has been my great honour and privilege to do so. "I have a very deep affection for the people of south Derry. I leave mid-Ulster with a heavy heart, but I do so safe in the knowledge that Sinn Fein has never been stronger there. "I believe I can help to build on the fantastic work that Maeve McLaughlin and Raymond McCartney have already been doing. "I want to see this city and region thriving and making the most of the massive potential that we have here." There are six seats up for grabs in the constituency, where previously the SDLP won three, Sinn Fein two and the DUP one. This is the first time that the SDLP in Foyle will go into an Assembly election without Pat Ramsey, who recently retired on health grounds. SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said his party was not in the least bit daunted at the idea of meeting Mr McGuinness on the campaign trail. "It is up to parties and individuals themselves where they run," he said. "We in the SDLP are not in the least bit worried by this decision to run Martin McGuinness in Foyle. "It will actually create a bit more interest. There will be a bit more focus on politics here and as a result I expect there to be more participation, which can only be a good thing. "Martin is without a doubt a political heavyweight, and he is a Derry native. One would have to ask why he hasn't been running in Derry before now. "We do have three seats in Derry, and the SDLP has a strong record of delivering for Derry. "Elections are basically a referendum on delivery for an area, and if you look at the past nine years since Martin has been Deputy First Minister, delivery for Derry has been minimal." Sinn Fein has a tradition of moving its big hitters around the region, and it is felt to be no coincidence that Mr McGuinness is moving back to Foyle for the election where the SDLP will be led by Colum Eastwood, another Derry native. Mr McGuinness was originally moved from Foyle to Mid Ulster because he could not shift SDLP leader John Hume from his seat. Neither Mr McGuinness nor anyone from Sinn Fein was available to comment ahead of the official announcement. Enda Kenny has vowed to finish the job of securing Ireland's economic revival Enda Kenny has vowed to secure Ireland's economic recovery if Fine Gael is returned for a second term. Addressing his party's Ard Fheis in Dublin, the Taoiseach said the choice for voters in the General Election was "as stark as it is clear". "A clear choice between continuing on the path of stability and recovery; or putting our hard-won progress at risk," he added. "We must keep the recovery going." Mr Kenny, who earlier made clear he would serve a full term if re-elected Taoiseach, said voters did not want to return to dark days of the economic crisis. "I don't need to remind you about the crisis that gripped Ireland in January 2011," he told delegates at the Citywest Hotel. "You lived it - every day." He said the electorate had given the Fine Gael and Labour coalition a mandate in 2011 to haul the country "back from the brink". "Many thought that ending the bailout, rescuing the economy, and saving the country was an impossible task," he said. "But the people and the new government faced up to that crisis." The date for the imminent election has not yet been announced. Mr Kenny acknowledged his government did not get everything right in the last five years or manage to do everything it wanted to. "But working together, government and the people, we have made real progress," he said. "Thanks to your hard word and resilience, we've gone from economic wreckage to economic recovery. "Ireland is now moving in the right direction." He said he knew many people had not yet felt the recovery. "Too many families and older people are still struggling to make ends meet," he said. "Too many families are still missing a son or daughter who has had to leave Ireland to find a job. "That's why the job is not yet complete. "The recovery must be strengthened and secured." He said the Fine Gael plan had three "clear and inter-connected steps". "More and better jobs, making work pay and investing in better public services for our people," he explained. Mr Kenny reiterated his desire to abolish the Universal Social Charge if re-elected. "Over the next five years, the USC will be abolished - with measures to limit the benefits for high earners," he said. "This will cut the maximum tax rate for middle income families to 44%, from the 52% rate introduced by Fianna Fail, giving a working family earning 45,000 euro per year a boost in income of over 1,750 euro per year." He said investment in public service would see an additional 10,000 gardai, teachers, doctors, nurses and other front-line staff by 2021. The Taoiseach stressed his plan would cost money, adding: "And the money will only be there if our economy is strong. "For us the economy can never be the end in itself. "Rather, the economy is where we generate the resources that will make life better for our people. "So I say to you tonight that yes, the recovery and the economy are at the centre of our long-term plan. "But ultimately it is the lives and the well-being of our people that are, and must be, at its heart." He added: "Ireland can't afford to go back, to put its hard-won recovery at risk. "With growing international economic uncertainty, now is not the time to take risks with Ireland's economy." Reflecting on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Mr Kenny said the future of Ireland a century on looked bright. "In this, the centenary of the rising, we can say that of Ireland, our best and brightest days, are still uncounted, still to be unwrapped," he said. "We can say that the dream of our nation's heart has yet to be fulfilled. "And it is you, we, each of us, all of us who will be those necessary dreamers. "I want to thank the people of Ireland for staying the course over the last five years. "Thank you for giving Fine Gael and the Labour Party your trust. "We have worked hard to be worthy of it. "Personally and politically, I have always tried to do my best for you and for Ireland. "I am humbled, touched, and deeply privileged to be your Taoiseach. "In a few weeks, I will ask the people of Ireland for their permission, and their support, to finish the job we have started. To deliver our plan. "To keep the recovery going, in the interests of all our people." GSOC has been accessing phone records of journalists while investigating alleged leaking of information by gardai The garda watchdog has defended its decision to snoop on the phone records of journalists. Responding for the first time to the revelations that communications by journalists were being monitored, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) said that members of the public who gave information to help in garda probes did not expect to then see that information emerge in the media. GSOC has been accessing phone records of journalists while investigating alleged leaking of information by gardai. Writing in the Irish Times today, GSOC chair Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and commissioners Carmel Foley and Kieran FitzGerald say that it was legislators who made the decision to make such leaks a serious criminal offence, with a possible jail term of five years. They added that it was legislators who granted GSOC the power to access phone records and internet data when investigating serious offences. The article does not directly mention the case that started this controversy when it emerged GSOC accessed the phone records of two journalists following a complaint by a friend of the late model Katy French about alleged garda leaks. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Enda Kenny rebuked the watchdog, saying there was a difference between this kind of incident and one where national security might arise. Writing in the Irish Times today, the GSOC officers say many of those who gave information to gardai concerning investigations had overcome an understandable reluctance to get involved, and would believe that information was to remain confidential until a possible court case. These people are entitled to believe this information will be treated appropriately and lawfully by gardai, they write. Members of the public do not expect to see personal information, photos or documents appearing in newspapers, broadcasts, the internet or social media. Such publication may affect a persons good name, work, family relationships or cause unnecessary grief to a victim of crime and/or their family. Irish Independent Members of the Garda sub aqua unit at the scene near the village of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where a body was found inside a container dumped in the Grand Canal yesterday. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Members of the Garda at the scene near the village of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where a body was found inside a container dumped in the Grand Canal yesterday. Brian Lawless/PA Wire The Garda sub aqua unit at the scene near the village of Ardclough, Co Kildare A coffin is taken from the scene near the village of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where a body was found inside a container dumped in the Grand Canal yesterday. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Members of the Garda at the scene near the village of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where a body was found inside a container dumped in the Grand Canal yesterday. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Kenneth O'Brien's body was found in the Grand Canal at Ardclough in north Kildare Gardai believe a 33-year-old man whose dismembered torso was found in the Grand Canal was murdered by a West Dublin crime gang over missing drugs cash. It is understood that father-of-one Kenneth O'Brien may have been involved in laundering money for a criminal gang. CCTV footage has established that Mr O'Brien had been seen several days beforehand in the area of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where his body was found a week ago. It is understood that Mr O'Brien had left Ireland for Australia owing the gang a significant cash sum that he was due to "launder" for them, according to sources. He then returned home during the Christmas period and when he decided to stay in Dublin, the gang planned and carried out his murder. It is now believed Mr O'Brien was killed on Friday night of last week. The gang the victim is suspected of working for is based in Clondalkin in West Dublin and was previously involved in a bitter feud in that locality. Gardai have continued searching the area of Ardclough since last Saturday, when Mr O'Brien's partial remains were discovered in a suitcase in the Grand Canal. Yesterday, gardai also discovered 50,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in a farmyard, which sources say may be connected to the brutal murder gang. No arrests have been made. While gardai previously said that Mr O'Brien was not aware of any death threat against him, it has since emerged that the victim and some of his acquaintances had been receiving threatening texts, which may have been linked to his personal life. The analysis of phone data and emails is now part of the investigation. Gardai have investigated a large amount of "complicated" relationships that Mr O'Brien was involved in, but have now concluded that the strongest line in the probe is that he is a gangland murder victim. Last night, Garda checkpoints were mounted in the vicinity of the Grand Canal at Ardclough. Passing motorists were signalled to stop near the entrance of Ardclough GAA club by gardai with clipboards. Officers asked motorists and passers-by if they had used the route at the same time last week on the day the victim disappeared - and if they had seen anything suspicious in the area. A Garda spokesman said it was planned to mount a number of checkpoints in the area throughout the night in the hope of gaining new information that could further the murder probe. Investigators are trying to establish the exact movements of Mr O'Brien before he met his brutal death. He left his home on Lealand Road in Clondalkin, on the morning of Friday, January 15. His partner had already left for work and was using the family car. Detectives are trying to establish if he was collected by somebody outside his home or was meeting a person elsewhere. He had informed his partner the night before that he was travelling outside Dublin for a job and would be gone for the weekend. Gardai are currently trawling through a huge amount of CCTV footage from the Clondalkin and Ardclough areas in a bid to establish Mr O'Brien's final movements. At present, some several hundred lines of inquiry are being pursued. Officers are also expected to release some details regarding the suitcase in which Mr O'Brien's partial remains were found. Earlier this week, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald described the murder as a shocking and distressing case. Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan offered the sympathies of the force to the O'Brien family. Protesters from the Right2Water movement opposed to water taxes and austerity gather in Dublin Thousands of anti-water charge campaigners have taken part in a series of nationwide protests. Around 30 demonstrations were organised in towns and cities up and down the country as part of the sixth day of action by the Right2Water movement. The movement is led by community and political representatives and trade unions. Ahead of the main events, a number of campaigners staged a picket at the Fine Gael ard fheis in Citywest in Dublin. Campaign spokesman and general secretary of the Mandate union John Douglas said the controversial water charges should be at the top of the agenda for the forthcoming General Election. "We promised over a year and a half ago that we would make water charges the number one issue for this election and today's set of demonstrations is a step towards that objective," he said. "Water charges are an unfair imposition on the public and they serve no purpose other than a transfer of wealth from the poorest to the wealthiest in our society and they're also about lining up the future privatisation of our water services." The largest protest was staged in Dublin outside the GPO on O'Connell Street. Right2Water, backed by trade unions including Mandate, Unite, the Communication Workers' Union, power union the TEEU, and the Civil and Public Services Union, plans to follow the latest rallies with another major demonstration on the Saturday before the election day. It also plans a high profile conference with a panel of international speakers at the height of the election campaign. Right2Water's latest campaign centres on claims that households use 10% of water produced in the country compared with big business and agriculture but they pay nearly 80% of costs. It has also attacked Irish Water figures which found 61% of customers have paid a bill. Right2Water claims Irish Water should have taken in 225 million euro in charges to date but has only collected 110 million euro and it has spent 80 million euro on conservation grants. At the last major rally last August, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin. Ongoing analysis of a nationwide health survey is thought to show more than two thirds of alcohol sales are to people at risk of either damaging their health or potentially dying from their alcohol intake The alcohol industry is making tens of billions of pounds from people whose consumption is classed as "hazardous and harmful" to their health, according to reports. Ongoing analysis of a nationwide health survey is thought to show more than two thirds of alcohol sales are to people at risk of either damaging their health or potentially dying from their alcohol intake. The Guardian said research by Southampton University professor Nick Sheron, who co-founded the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), showed a large majority of alcohol sales go to high-risk drinkers. He told the newspaper: "We looked at data from the Health Survey for England and ... found that in terms of the total alcohol consumed within that survey, 69% was consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers together," Of the danger group 38% was consumed by "hazardous" or "increasing risk" drinkers who fell into the category because they exceeded the old guidelines of 14 units a week for women and 21 for men through bingeing or regular drinking. The weekly limit for men has since been reduced to 14 to be in line with that of female drinkers. The remainder of the 69% were drinkers who consumed so much alcohol they were classed as being addicted, consuming more than 50 units a week for men or 35 for women. These drinkers were at risk of developing cirrhosis and cancer as a result. Ongoing research by the University of Sheffield into alcohol sales in 2013 showed similar trends, according to the newspaper. Based on figures for that year, alcohol sales in the UK were worth 45.5 billion, meaning 14.4 billion in sales came from risky drinkers, while 9.3 billion came from harmful drinkers, equalling 23.7 billion. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the AHA, told the newspaper there was "no doubt" that the drinks industry relied "on excessive drinking to drive its profits" and suggested introducing a minimum unit price (MUP) to target high-strength drinks. Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said they opposed the introduction of a MUP because it would "disproportionately impact responsible drinkers". An intrepid explorer on the brink of making Antarctic history with a solo crossing across the ice has been taken to hospital with a potentially fatal condition. Former Army officer Henry Worsley, 55, from Fulham, London was 71 days in to his attempt to become the first adventurer to cross the continent completely unsupported and unassisted when he had to call for help. Battling temperatures of minus 44, tackling white-out blizzards and treacherous ice, the ex-lieutenant colonel had passed the South Pole, covering 913 miles and was a mere 30 miles from the finish. After spending two days unable to move from his tent, the married father-of-two took the decision to pull out of the charity adventure after his body started to suffer from exhaustion and severe dehydration. He was airlifted off the ice on Friday. Shackleton Solo team member, Catherine Gale, said Mr Worsley is being treated for peritonitis at a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile - his wife Joanna, 56, is currently on her way to be by his side. She said: "It is obviously a concerning time. He reluctantly made the decision to call the end of the expedition and clearly he pushed himself to the limits. "He had very very bad weather - the whole way it was against him. He is obviously disappointed. But everyone is in awe of what he has done - he is a great man and a fantastic person." Peritonitis occurs when the thin layer of tissue lining of the tummy becomes infected. Symptoms can include swelling of the abdomen, vomiting, chills, lack of appetite and a high temperature. Complications can be as serious as sepsis and septic shock. Embarking on his journey in November last year, 100 years after Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated and unfinished trip, Mr Worsley wanted to use the challenge to raise 100,000 for The Endeavour Fund. "Having been a career soldier for 36 years and recently retired, it has been a way of giving back to those far less fortunate than me," said Mr Worsley. Father to Max, 21, and Alicia, 19, he said he would "lick his wounds" and "come to terms with the disappointment" of not finishing the herculean feat. He added: "I must thank my followers and supporters who have so generously contributed. You have all been incredible and have made this so worth doing despite the hardship. Thank you." Mr Worsley has surpassed his original fundraising goal and garnered more than 101,000 for The Endeavour Fund - something he called "incredible" and a "huge reward" for his efforts. The charity is managed by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and supports injured or wounded veterans who wish to use sport or do an adventurous challenge as part of their rehabilitation and recovery. The UK is to get a taste of spring as temperatures rise Britons will bask in unseasonably warm weather of 15C (59F) this weekend - while across the Atlantic 50 million Americans face a massive winter storm expected to dump up to 3ft (90cm) of snow across the east coast. A state of emergency has been declared throughout a vast swathe of the eastern seaboard, with individual states in near-shutdown after thousands of flights were cancelled, schools and government offices closed and sports and entertainment events called off. Warnings are in place from Arkansas in the south to New York in the far north east, and millions of people have been stocking up on food and emergency supplies. But while Americans face the prospect of one of the worst winters in years, temperatures almost 10C above the average will leave people in the UK enjoying spring-like weather. Thermometers are likely to peak at 15C (59F) tomorrow, a far cry from the usual 6.5C (43.7F) in January, as a dip in the Atlantic jet stream pushes warmer weather over the UK from the South West. This comes days after temperatures of minus 12.4C (9.7F) were recorded in Kinbrace, Highlands, on January 19, the coldest day of the year so far, when it was also minus 8.4C (16.9F) in Upper Lambourn, Oxfordshire. US officials are expecting blizzard conditions to combine with brutally high winds, inland flooding, white-out conditions and the possibility of thunder snow - when lightning strikes through snowstorms - paralysing the eastern third of the US and potentially causing up to a billion dollars (700 million) of damage. Washington DC, which is further south than Madrid and Rome - where on Friday it was 11C (51.8F) and 13C (55.4F) respectively - was last night braced for more than 2ft (60cm) of snow and authorities have shut the underground system until Sunday. Forecasters believe it could threaten the previous snowfall record in the US capital of 28in (71cm) during a two-day period in January 1922. Up to 18in (45cm) is also expected in Philadelphia, along with 1ft (30cm) in New York. But Boston, further north, which was hit badly by snowstorms last year, is unlikely to see major snow, with a peak of 4in (10cm) predicted. The extreme weather is down to a collision of very warm and humid air flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico and meeting very cold air across the central northern states and south-eastern Canada, the Met Office said, but it will not affect the UK. Most parts of this country will be dry on Saturday, with some rain in the South and West later. Billy Payne, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "Temperatures will be above average, with highs generally of 9C (48F) to 12C (53.6F), with most places falling in the range above the January average. "Typically that is around 6.5C (43.7F) in London and most places 6C (42.8F) to 7C (44.6F) at this time of year, and around 8C (46.4F) in the South West. "Sunday will be milder still, with extensive cloud and bits and pieces of light rain and drizzle, mostly in the North and West and over hills. It could be up to 15C (59F) in places, most likely in the South and West, reaching 11C (51.8F) to 14C (57.2F) locally." The mild outlook will continue into next week, though heavy and prolonged rain is likely in the middle of the week, particularly in the North and West, with winds of up to 60mph. Temperatures will fall away again with some overnight frosts possible. Mr Payne added: "In the next week or two flooding could become a concern again, especially for areas that have been previously affected this winter." The report claims 5.7 million customers, especially in rural locations, have internet speeds so low they break regulations The chief executive of BT has admitted there is "more to do" in the roll out of Openreach's broadband service. Appearing on Saturday's Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Gavin Patterson responded to a report by MPs that states m illions of broadband customers and businesses suffer "dire" connection speeds despite BT receiving 1.7 billion in taxpayers' money to improve services. They are calling for the telecoms giant to be split from its Openreach subsidiary to end its "natural monopoly" over the nation's broadband infrastructure, amid claims 5.7 million customers, especially in rural locations, have internet speeds so low they break regulations. The chief executive said: "Over 90% of the UK can get super fast broadband today - which means that 10% today cannot. Within the next 18 months that will only be 5% and we are working with the Government to find ways to address the last 5%." He admitted in rural areas "there is more to do, there is no question about that". "But even Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Ofcom have pointed out that we will get to 95% of the UK by the end of next year," he said. The cross-party report carries the signatures of 121 MPs, including former Tory cabinet minister Grant Shapps, Lib Dem former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, Labour MP Helen Goodman and Ukip's Douglas Carswell. It concluded: "Unless BT and Openreach are formally separated to become two entirely independent companies little will change. They will continue to paper over gaping cracks. "Whilst rural SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and consumers are left with dire speeds, or even no service at all, Openreach makes vast profits and finds little reason to invest in the network, install new lines or even fix faults in a properly timely manner." On the show Mr Patterson said splitting the local loop from the rest of a telecoms company is a risk, especially when it has been tried unsuccessfully elsewhere in the world. "It is not a recipe for success. It will create huge uncertainty and it will make a weaker company that would be vulnerable to takeover and and would certainly not be in the position to invest in the sort of way we have over the last five years," he said. BT is in the process of acquiring mobile provider EE - meaning they will control 40% of the telecom market. Mr Patterson said: "We take it (the report) very very seriously which is why we will look at this in a lot of detail and will write to every single MP, not just the ones in this list, but all the MPs across all the parties to explain exactly what the conditions and the services are in their constituencies." The MPs' report called for a "bold and comprehensive solution", adding: "Openreach has so far received 1.7 billion in taxpayer subsidies to connect harder-to-reach areas of the UK to superfast services, but has repeatedly failed to deliver." It is the first report by the British Infrastructure Group (BIG) set up by Mr Shapps. He wrote: "With the UK economy now so reliant on its internet infrastructure, this BIG report contends that our future is being held back by systemic underinvestment stemming from the 'natural monopoly' of BT and Openreach." The company's alleged failure to improve ageing digital infrastructure that still largely relies on outdated copper cables was blamed for "stifling" the economy at a cost of billions each year. Responding to claims that using copper is out of date, Mr Patterson said: "We have been able to see significant technological breakthroughs with copper over the last five years. "I think fibre is part of the future and we have already got more fibre to the premise lines than anyone else in the UK. "But we have to recognise it is not affordable if you want to get coverage across the whole of the UK. Some of the more remote parts of the UK it is never going to pay back, which is why you have to use a blend of technologies." Using data from the Office for National Statistics, report researchers found around 5.7 million broadband customers had internet connections that do not reach Ofcom's "acceptable" minimum speed of 10Mbit/s, around 3.5 million of whom live in rural areas. A review by the regulator had found 42% of SMEs reported experiencing problems with their internet connectivity and 29% suffered from poor service reliability, costing the economy 11bn a year, the BIG said. BT said it took any criticism seriously, but described the report as "misleading and ill-judged", claiming the proposal to break apart the business was "wrong-headed", while a Government spokesman labelled the figures "entirely misleading". A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said its superfast broadband programme is "on track and under budget". Shadow culture secretary Maria Eagle said: "This cross-party report shows again that the Tory Government is letting down millions of households and businesses over its roll out of high speed broadband. "Tory ministers talk a lot about the global race, but as this report makes clear, the UK is now falling behind many of its international competitors when it comes to access to broadband. "Whilst we await the outcome of the Ofcom review into BT Openreach, this report shows just how far the Government still has to go to keep its promises on rolling out broadband." David Cameron has pledged to continue pushing for reforms in the Maldives after the country's ousted president, flanked by Amal Clooney, took his fight for freedom to Downing Street. Mohamed Nasheed and the human rights lawyer, who is married to Hollywood film star George Clooney, joined the Prime Minister for talks in No 10 to call for continued pressure against the regime. The country's first democratically-elected leader, who claimed he was deposed at gunpoint and was later jailed for 13 years under anti-terror laws, has been allowed to travel to Britain for surgery on his spinal cord. At a meeting of 53 Commonwealth countries in November, Mr Cameron urged leaders to toughen up their approach to the Maldives over the ''unacceptable'' actions of its government. Ministers from the group will visit the Maldives next month and are expected to send a "strong message" on the need to free all remaining political prisoners. The Maldivian government has always denied that Mr Nasheed was ousted in a military coup. Downing Street said Mr Cameron will continue to highlight concerns about the regime's actions. A spokesman said: " They agreed that, while Mr Nasheed's release was a positive step, more needed to be done and it was important for the Maldivian government to maintain momentum, which was necessary if real change is to be delivered." He added: "T he Prime Minister told Mr Nasheed that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives and it would also continue to discuss the situation with international partners, including how best the international community can make its concerns clear to the Maldivian government." Mr Nasheed's brother is acting as guarantor on an undertaking that the former premier will return to the Maldives within 30 days. Police who brought down a cannabis factory insist crime does not pay after three drug dealers were jailed. Altin Laska, 27, Mircea Rusu, 24, and Nicolae Pasc, 25, all admitted conspiring to supply cannabis at Exeter Crown Court on Friday. Devon and Cornwall Police said Albanian born Laska was handed a five-year prison term, while Romanians Rusu and Pasc both received twelve month sentences. Their arrests came as part of the force's Operation Cesta, which uncovered four cannabis factories in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Dunkeswell and Minehead which contained a crop worth more than 400,000. Last July, detectives stopped and searched Exeter-based pair Rusu and Pasc, in the West Midlands while the pair were en route to Scotland. Around 7kgs of Class B drug cannabis was found in the boot of their car. Those arrests then led police to Laska, who moved in to large scale drug dealing after the failure of his security company. The same month he was seen passing 4kgs of cannabis to another man before being arrested him at his home in Exmouth. While at that property, police also found two illegal immigrants, who were later deported. Detective Inspector Austin Goss, from the south west crime unit Zephyr, said the set up of the cannabis farms was very sophisticated. "They were organised and the harvesting of such large amounts of cannabis plants was frequent," he added. "Organised crime groups can make large amounts of money from such activity and as a result people can get exploited and violence is often used to control the share in the market. "The effect that we have had on this group shows that crime actually doesn't pay." Inspector Goss said the operation has had a significant impact on disrupting the supply of illegal drugs and hoped the local community would continue to work with police. He added: "They can be safe in the knowledge that we will take matters seriously." Actor and director Don Cheadle praised the Academy's planned membership changes to boost diversity African-American actor and director Don Cheadle has said the Academy's planned membership changes to improve diversity are a "step in the right direction". The Academy announced a new aim to double the number of female and minority members by 2020. Three new seats will be added to to its board of governors in an effort to improve diversity, and lifetime voting rights will be limited. According to US publication Deadline, Cheadle said: "I think it is a step in the right direction, a needed step." Speaking at a screening of his new movie Miles Ahead at Sundance Film Festival, he said the problem went beyond the Academy and was a broader issue in the film industry. "People really have to have access to tell the stories they want to tell. So what we really need is people in positions to greenlight those stories, not a hunk of metal," he said. Cheadle, who was nominated in 2005 in the best actor category for his performance in Hotel Rwanda, had previously joked with Oscars host Chris Rock that he was attending the evening as a valet. After the Oscar nominations were announced, with no ethnic minority actors or actresses on the list, he tweeted: "Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level." Ava DuVernay, director of last year's Oscar-nominated civil rights drama Selma, tweeted that the changes were "one good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color + women artists." She added: "Shame is a helluva motivator. We've all felt shame even when we didn't believe we were wrong. It's the fact that EVERYONE ELSE thinks you're wrong. Fix it mode kicks in." Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement on Friday: " The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up. These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact." She announced plans for an "ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity." The nominations for this year's Academy Awards have been surrounded by controversy, sparking an online campaign with the hashtag OscarSoWhite, as well as a debate about race and the film industry. Actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith will boycott the ceremony alongside director Spike Lee. Others including actors George Clooney, Mark Ruffalo, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, Viola Davis, and British director Steve McQueen have spoken of their disappointment with the lack of diversity among the nominees. But Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling and Oscar-winning actor Sir Michael Caine have expressed reservations about the campaign. In an interview on French radio station Europe 1, Rampling said the uproar was "racist to white people". She later added that her comments had been "misinterpreted". Google has agreed to pay back taxes of 130 million to the Government Google's 130 million deal with the taxman is "derisory" and must be investigated by the public spending watchdog, Labour has said. The internet giant reached the agreement with HM Revenue and Customs over taxes it has owed since 2005 and will also start to pay tax "based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business". But John McDonnell said the public would be "sceptical" about the settlement and called for the National Audit Office to launch an inquiry into the deal. The shadow chancellor said he would be demanding details of the deal from Chancellor George Osborne in parliament on Monday and criticised the HMRC for agreeing to recoup a "relatively small amount". "It looks to me from all the independent analysis that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been paid," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. The move comes after years of criticism of Google and other multinational firms over their tax arrangements in the UK and across Europe. Google's sales were valued at 3.8 billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4m in UK taxes that year. Between 2006 and 2011 the company's revenue in the UK hit around 12.6 billion but its corporation tax payments for the period totalled 11.2 million. Meg Hillier, who chairs the Common's Public Accounts Committee (PAC,) will call Google and HMRC figures before MPs to explain the deal, which she said showed the taxman "admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of 10 years". "The news that Google is paying 10 years' back tax vindicates the Public Accounts Committee's vigorous pursuit of international companies that were running rings around tax officials," the Labour MP said. "We were shocked to learn of workarounds of the tax system that were considered normal behaviour by big corporations but which appalled the individual taxpayer. "HMRC now needs to assure taxpayers that it will keep up the pressure to tackle whatever the next emerging issue is in real time, rather than years later. It is effectively admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of 10 years." The committee's previous chairwoman, Labour MP Margaret Hodge, was an outspoken critic of the firms' tax affairs and led tough questioning of companies. During PAC hearings, firms have been accused of "siphoning" off profits made in the UK to countries where they pay less tax. Mrs Hodge branded tax avoidance "immoral" and suggested that Google's tax activities were "evil". In March's Budget the Chancellor announced the introduction in April of a so-called "Google tax" targeting firms that move their profits overseas. The "diverted profits tax" is designed to discourage large companies from taking earnings out of the UK to avoid tax. Mr Osborne described the payments as a "victory" for action on tax avoidance. He said: "Good to see Google paying more tax on past profits. We want successful businesses in UK - but they should pay their taxes. "Google tax bill is a victory for the action we've taken. I introduced diverted profits tax. We now expect to see other firms pay their share." A Google spokeswoman said: "We have agreed with HMRC a new approach for our UK taxes and will pay 130 million, covering taxes since 2005. "We will now pay tax based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift and is in line with recent OECD guidance." An HMRC spokesman said: "The successful conclusion of HMRC inquiries has secured a substantial result, which means that Google will pay the full tax due in law on profits that belong in the UK. Multinational companies must pay the tax that is due and we do not accept less." Treasury minister David Gauke said: "The Google tax bill dates back to the middle of the last Labour government, which did absolutely nothing about it. Yet again it is this government that is sorting out the mess. "For Labour to complain now is at best selective amnesia and at worst shameless hypocrisy. "Of course, the details of the payment HMRC has agreed can now be examined by the National Audit Office." Wes Streeting, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, said: "HMRC and Google should be hauled before the Commons Treasury committee to explain how they've managed to agree such a paltry sum at the end of a lengthy negotiation behind closed doors. "Most people filing their tax returns this month will be appalled that a multinational giant like Google can get away with effectively determining how much tax they pay and at bargain basement prices." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Britain to join a pan-European effort to help ease the migrant crisis as he visited camps in northern France to see the squalid conditions people are living in after fleeing war, poverty and persecution. Mr Corbyn headed to the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk, and The Jungle in Calais where more than 7,000 people are sleeping rough amid the mud, wet and cold. As he met men, women and children who have fled from countries including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Corbyn spoke of the "dreadful situation" they faced camped in the swamp-like conditions. Surrounded by migrants and refugees, he said: "What I'm trying to achieve here is to understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe. "Ultimately we deal with the situation by dealing with the problem at its source, which are the wars and conflicts. "Also, there are the human needs of people. We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food - in very cold, very wet conditions. "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." Jeremy Corbyn meets migrants and refugees in the muddy conditions of the Grande-Synthe camp near Dunkirk pic.twitter.com/XNihwIGnDD Tom Pugh (@Tom_PughPA) January 23, 2016 Mr Corbyn said Britain should be part of a pan-European effort to help the people affected by the crisis. He said: "Germany has done an enormous amount, other countries have done varying amounts and I think we should be part of bringing European-wide support to people." The numbers of migrants and refugees at Grande-Synthe have steadily risen since last October, from around 800 people sleeping rough there to around 2,500 in recent weeks. Most are Kurds from Iran, Syria and Iraq looking to cross to the UK, including some 250 children, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Among those he met was 15-year-old Rekar Baber from Iraq who gained Mr Corbyn's autograph from him along with a selfie. Others included Bawand Mustafi who said before speaking to Mr Corbyn: "We are here because of the ridiculous politicians of the world. "We are here to save our lives. Now we are here we don't know what to do." MSF took action in the face of what it called a failure by the authorities to offer decent living conditions to the masses camped there in ankle-deep mud. Aid workers said people have been living in ultra-thin tents surrounded by puddles of water and food, which has attracted rats, prompting regular extermination operations. Help and donations, including food, clothing and tents, have come from volunteers who often arrive at weekends from the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Scientists say the protein, called lactoferrin, effectively kills bacteria, fungi and even viruses on contact Part of a protein found in breast milk could be used to wipe out certain types of bacteria, scientists have found. The study, by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and University College London, found that the minuscule fragment, less than a nanometre in width, is responsible for giving the protein its anti-microbial properties. This is what makes breast milk so important in protecting infants from diseases in their first months of life. The protein, called lactoferrin, effectively kills bacteria, fungi and even viruses on contact. After identifying the fragment, scientists re-engineered it into a virus-like capsule that can recognise and target specific bacteria and damage them on contact, but without affecting any surrounding human cells. Hasan Alkassem, a student who worked on the project, said: "To monitor the activity of the capsules in real time we developed a high-speed measurement platform using atomic force microscopy. "The challenge was not just to see the capsules, but to follow their attack on bacterial membranes. The result was striking: the capsules acted as projectiles porating the membranes with bullet speed and efficiency. This, the team suggested, could help boost the fight against the growing issue of antibiotic resistance by serving as "delivery vehicles" for cures. The capsules could even pave the way for treatments for previously incurable diseases such as sickle-cell disease, cystic fibrosis or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In an interview with The Times, Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, said more needs to be done by governments and experts to tackle the antibiotics issue. She said: "We need on average 10 new antibiotics every decade. If others do not work with us, it's not something we can sort on our own. "This is a global problem. I am optimistic about this. The science is crackable. It's doable." Colin Garner, honorary professor of pharmacology at the University of York and head of the charity Antibiotic Research UK, said the situation was too urgent to wait for international consensus. The pipeline of new drugs had dried up and the problem was on the brink of becoming "intractable", he told The Times. "My heart sinks when I hear the term 'global initiative'. How long has it taken the world to come to a sort of consensus about climate change?" he said. " The problem of antibiotic resistance will be at least as intractable because each nation takes a different view of what is required." The NPL findings are reported in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Chemical Science. Soft drinks companies have promised to cut sugar consumption by 20% by 2020 Sugar levels are set to be reduced by food and drink giants as they vow to cut the nation's calorie consumption. And on top of shrinking the size of popular products to bring them in line with healthy-eating guidelines, ads targeted at the under-16s will also be avoided. On Friday Kellogg's committed to cutting more than 723 tons of sugar from its cereals in 2017, including Frosties and Coco Pops - but would not specify the amounts this would be by. To tackle the country's growing childhood obesity crisis, Prime Minister David Cameron will decide next week whether to start talks on introducing a fizzy drinks sugar tax. In a soft drinks industry-wide pledge to slash levels of the sweet stuff, companies have promised to cut sugar consumption by 20% by 2020. Coca-Cola cut calories in its drinks by 5% in 2014 and is promising another drop of 5% over the next nine years. But it is understood that the seven teaspoons of sugar in a 330ml can of Coke will remain the same. Makers of Tizer, AG Barr, are aiming to slash its calories content by 5% this year, while makers of Lucozade and Ribena are working to reduce calories per 100ml by 20% on average across its drinks portfolio by 2025. Pepsi and Britvic will also be axing billboards near schools and will ban TV adverts aimed at children. Leading the calls for a sugar tax on fizzy drinks to help tackle childhood obesity is TV chef, Jamie Oliver - last year he urged ministers to be "big and bold" by introducing the levy. It is thought a 20% tax could raise more than 1 billion in a 12-month period. Next week advisers at Number 10 will circulate a draft of their plans. Industry giant Unilever also announced on Friday that it was cutting back the size of single-serving ice creams, including Ben & Jerry's, Magnum and Cornetto. The move is said to be designed to help consumers make healthier choices as part of a balanced lifestyle and will come into action in spring this year. Noel Clarke, brand building director for ice cream, Unilever UK & Ireland, said: "It was important there be no compromise to taste or quality and that's exactly what we've delivered. "Our products will still taste as good as ever, but through a process of development and resizing we will ensure our entire single-serve ice cream portfolio will contain 250 calories or fewer." A spokesman for Coca-Cola Great Britain said they have also cut their serving sizes, introducing a smaller 250ml can of Coca-Cola, as well as putting the Government's colour-coded traffic light nutrition labels on all cans and bottles. In a multimillion-pound investment to reduce sugar and calories in drinks such as Sprite, Dr Pepper and Fanta, they have cut sugar content by at least 30%, alongside increasing their marketing investments for their no-sugar alternatives. "Our actions have helped reduce our consumers' sugar and calorie intake - the Sprite and Dr Pepper reformulations alone each removed more than 10 billion calories and 2,500 tonnes of sugar from the nation's diet," the spokesman said. "Latest data shows that these actions are making a difference - sugar taken home from soft drinks has declined by 10% over the last four years and sales of diet and no-sugar soft drinks are increasing . "We have committed a further 15 million in reformulation over the next three years to help reduce the sugar and calories in our drinks even further and we fully support the British soft drinks industry's commitment on further sugar and calorie reduction." US presidential hopeful Donald Trump is making it more difficult to confront and defeat extremists, David Cameron has said. The billionaire is making the "fundamental mistake" of trying to blame all Muslims for the ideology of a minority, the Prime Minister insisted. Mr Trump, who is vying to win the Republican nomination, sparked widespread anger after he demanded a block on Muslims entering the US and claimed parts of London were "so radicalised" police were "afraid for their own lives". MPs spent three hours debating whether the tycoon should be allowed into the country after more than 570,000 people signed a petition asking the Government to bar him. Mr Cameron's warning comes after he last year branded Mr Trump's remarks as " divisive, stupid and wrong". The interventions are likely to put diplomatic relations between Britain and the US under significant strain if the businessman is elected in the November poll. Mr Cameron told US website Mic.Com: " I think the problem with what Donald Trump has said, and what some others say too, is they are making a fundamental mistake of trying to blame all of Islam and all Muslims for what is the ideology and the actions of a minority, and I think that's wrong. "In many ways, it actually helps the extremists, because they want to create a clash of civilisations between Islam and Christianity, or Islam and the West. " Actually, what's happening is not a clash of civilisations. It is a fight within Islam, where the overwhelming majority rightly see Islam as a religion of peace, and want to live in successful multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracies like ours, and make an incredible contribution to our country, as opposed to a small minority that believe this rhetoric of poisonous extremism, and many of this tiny minority then believing in violence. "So, what Donald Trump says is, in my view, not only wrong, but actually it makes the work we need to do to confront and defeat the extremists more difficult." Police on Saturday charged a 17-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in an aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. Police said the male suspect cannot be named under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Grant St Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally - a teacher and a teacher's aide. He said seven people wounded in Friday's shooting at the school are in hospital. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. The suspect was arrested at the school on Friday afternoon. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun he used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. "This is a significant event for Canada," Mr St Germaine said. "It's a huge impact on the community of La Loche. It's a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence." Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest mass shooting occurred on December 6 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Mr Park said. "She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. ... She was a fantastic person." "I loved her, I really did," said Mr Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. "I'm just so sad," he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Ms Janvier, said she worked as a teacher's aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. "The kids loved having her around," Mr Lemaigre said. "They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody." A second victim was identified as Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time," his family said. "He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously." Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it "every parent's worst nightmare." Chinese president Xi Jinping hopes for a "new chapter" in relations with Iran after the lifting of international sanctions under a historic nuclear deal, as he paid the first visit by a Chinese leader to the Islamic Republic in 14 years. "In co-operation with the Iranian side and by benefiting from the current favourable conditions, China is ready to upgrade the level of bilateral relations and co-operation so that a new chapter will start in bilateral relations," Xi said after meeting Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, according to Iranian state TV. Trade between the two countries stood at some 36 billion in 2014, but that figure dropped last year due to plunging oil prices. China is Iran's biggest trade partner, and continued purchasing oil from Iran after nuclear-related sanctions were tightened in 2012, despite US pressure. "China has always stood by the side of the Iranian nation during hard days," Rouhani said, in comments posted on his official website. Officials from the two countries signed 17 documents and letters of intent to broaden bilateral co-operation in industry, transportation, railways, ports, new technology, tourism, the environment and energy. China is one of six world powers - along with the US, Germany, France, Britain and Russia - that reached a landmark agreement with Iran last summer to lift international sanctions in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program. The deal was implemented a week ago after the UN nuclear watchdog certified that Iran had fulfilled all its commitments. The New York Skyline is seen from Exchange Place on January 24, 2016 in Jersey City. A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down Sunday, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out. / AFP / KENA BETANCURKENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images Visitors to New York's Central Park pass the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in the wake of a storm that dumped heavy snow along the East Coast. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) The Spring Street salt shed is filled with salt before an upcoming snowstorm on January 21, 2016 in New York, NY. Winter Storm Jonas was expected to hit New York City between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and the National Weather Service recently included New York City on a blizzard watch. (Photo by Bryan Thomas/Getty Images) The clear up continues in New York City following yesterday's record-setting snowfall which left at least 18 people dead and brought much of the US East Coast to an icy standstill. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Ronnie Esplin/PA Wire Snow-covered cars are seen on a residential street in the northwest of Washington, DC on January 24, 2016. A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down Sunday, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out. / AFP / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 23: A woman walks in strong winds and heavy snow fall in Central Park on January 23, 2016 in New York City. A major Nor'easter is hitting much of the East Coast and parts of the South as forecasts warn of up to two feet of snow in some areas. (Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images) A worker clears snow off the driveway of a car wash on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC on January 24, 2016. A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down on January 24, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out. / AFP / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images People participate in a giant snowball fights in Dupont Circle in Washington on January 24, 2016. Snowball fights have become a tradition after every major snow storm in the Nation's Capital. A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down Sunday, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out. /AFP / Olivier DoulieryOLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images People participate in a giant snowball fights in Dupont Circle in Washington on January 24, 2016. Snowball fights have become a tradition after every major snow storm in the Nation's Capital. A massive blizzard that claimed at least 16 lives in the eastern United States finally appeared to be winding down Sunday, giving snowbound residents the chance to begin digging out. AFP / Olivier DoulieryOLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty Images People walk on Pennsylvania Avenue in near whiteout conditions in Washington on January 23, 2016. A deadly blizzard walloped the eastern United States on Saturday, paralyzing Washington and New York under a heavy blanket of snow as officials warned millions of people to remain indoors until the storm eases up. / AFP / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: A snowplow clears snow in front of the U.S. Capitol on January 24, 2016 in Washington, DC. The blizzard that has brought massive snowfall and a standstill to the East Coast and the Mid Atlantic region has stopped. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) USA: A bulldozer clears snow on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol January 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. Heavy snow continued to fall in the Mid-Atlantic region causing "life-threatening blizzard conditions" and affecting millions of people. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the US East Coast to a standstill on Saturday, dumping as much as three feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travellers and shutting down Washington and New York City. After days of weather warnings, most of the 80 million people in the storm's path heeded requests to stay home and off the roads, which were largely deserted. But more was yet to come, with dangerous conditions expected to persist until early Sunday. In addition to snow and treacherous winds, the National Weather Service predicted up to half an inch of ice for the Carolinas and potentially serious coastal flooding for the mid-Atlantic region. ''This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was,'' Ryan Maue, a meteorologist for WeatherBell Analytics, said from Tallahassee, Florida, which also got some flakes. Snow fell from the Gulf Coast to the northeastern New England states. In nearly two dozen places, it passed the 20-inch mark by late morning, according to the weather service. Terra Alta, West Virginia, reported 28 inches. At least 11 deaths were blamed on the weather, most from traffic accidents. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights on Saturday, the bulk of them at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday, according to flight tracking service Flight Aware. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. The long-anticipated storm exceeded expectations, so forecasters increased their snow predictions for New York and points north. The new estimates were for heavy snow all the way up to just south of Boston, forecaster Patrick Burke said from the weather service's Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland. Eighteen to 24 inches were predicted for Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia; and 15 to 20 inches for New York, Burke said. Some areas outside the major cities could get up to 30 inches. ''This is kind of a top 10 snowstorm,'' said weather service winter storm expert Paul Kocin, who co-wrote a two-volume textbook on blizzards. And for New York and Washington this looks like top five, he said. ''It's a big one.'' Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Donald Walker waits to cross the street with crusted snow and ice in his beard and hair, as the snow continues to fall, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Pedestrians are seen in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Ndimyake Mwakalyelye cleans off her car after getting off work, as the snow continues to fall, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Ben Cichy pulls a sled with his sons Adrian, 18-months-old, and Logan 3, inside as they head for sledding in the snow on Capitol Hill, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP A worker clears the snow from the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court as the snow continues to fall, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP A woman crosses K Street in Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A snow-covered car is seen in a parking lot in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A statue is seen in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A woman walks past a storefront in the Georgetown neighbourhood of Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man clears snow from the sidewalk in front of a pub in the Georgetown neighbourhood of Washington, DC, as snow continues to fall on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A couple takes a walk at Lafayette Square outside the White House during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Secret Service Agent and his service dog inspect a snow plow outside the White House during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The back of a US Park Police vehicle covered with snow and ice is seen during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US Secret Service Agents stand guard outside the White House during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Snow covers a pathway of Lafayette Square outside the White House during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Snow plows clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Snow plows clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - Snow plows clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOV / AFP / MLADEN ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A bus stop electronic board informs commuters about the interrupted service during a snowstorm in downtown Washington, DC on January 22, 2016. A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slammed into Washington on January 22, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come. AFP PHOTO / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Nearly empty shelves are seen in a supermarket in Washington, DC, on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Workers repair an electric pole during a snowstorm in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Workers clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in Downtown Washington, DC January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Workers clean the snow from a street during a snowstorm in Downtown Washington, DC January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Mladen ANTONOVMLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People walk in the street during a snowstorm in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The Lincoln Memorial is seen under snowfall in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Mandel NganMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man walks past a restaurant during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A man pushes a spreader for ice melting chemicals during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A worker clears snow from a sidewalk during a snowstorm January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A person waits to cross a street during a snowstorm in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A worker clears a road in front of the Old Executive Office Building during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The White House is seen during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images An icicle hangs from the beard of an anti-abortion activist during a rally in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, 0n January 22, 2016 as the country marks the 43rd anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion. / AFP / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - The White House is seen during a snowstorm in Washington January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A member of the Secret Service clears snow from his car on Pennsylvania Avenue during a snow storm in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Bobcat clears snow from Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House during a snow storm in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A woman crosses a street during a snow storm in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The statue of US President Andrew Jackson is seen in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington on January 22, 2016. Thousands of flights were cancelled and supermarket shelves were left bare Friday as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. / AFP / PAUL J. RICHARDSPAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A tree stands in the snow by the Potomac River January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial sits in the snow January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: An exhibit is covered by snow at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A man takes a selfie in the snow January 22, 2016 in the Chinatown area of Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: the I-395 is seen covered by snow with little traffic January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: Workers shovels snow on a sidewalk January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: Pedestrians walk on H Street in the snow January 22, 2016 in the Chinatown area of Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A snowplow makes its round to clean up snow January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A pedestrian crosses the street January 22, 2016 in the Chinatown area of Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A jogger runs past the Washington Monument as snow falls January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A major snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with some areas expected to receive up to 30 inches of snow . (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A snowplow cleans up snow on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the U.S. Capitol January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A woman walks in the snow January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A snowplow cleans up snow on a street January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: Snowplows stand by on a street January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A winter snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with prediction of up to 30 inches of snow for the DC area. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A member of the U.S. Secret Service stands guard covered in newly fallen snow outside the White House January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A major snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with some areas expected to receive up to 1-2 feet of snow. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: A pro-life activist stands in the snow as he covers his mouth with tape during the 2016 March for Life January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The annual event marked the anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: Nuns from the Fraternite Notre-Dame in Chicago, Illinois are covered in newly fallen snow as they walk along Constitution Avenue while snow begins to accumulate January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. A major snowstorm is forecasted for the East Coast this weekend with some areas expected to receive up to 1-2 feet of snow. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Walker waits to cross the street with crusted snow and ice in his beard and hair, as the snow continues to fall, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) By midday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced a travel ban in New York City, ordering all non-emergency vehicles off the roads by mid-afternoon. Mayor Bill de Blasio urged Broadway theatres and restaurants to close. The city's commuter rails and above-ground segments of the subway were to shut down too, along with buses. Cab driver Mian Ayyub said he tried to pick up fares Saturday morning but gave up after getting stuck four times in two hours. Police and passers-by helped get him free. ''I've been driving a cab 28 years, but this looks like the worst.'' He parked in the East Village and went home. In Kentucky, where some places got 18 inches on Friday, hundreds of drivers on a long stretch of Interstate 75 south of Lexington were stranded overnight because of a string of crashes and blowing snow. Crews passed out snacks, fuel and water and tried to move cars one by one. Emergency shelters were opened. Motorists also were reported stranded along pockets of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Somerset County. The National Guard was called to help, said Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo. In the Washington metro area, nearly two feet of snow was on the ground by Saturday morning, and monuments that would normally be busy with tourists, were mostly vacant. All mass transit was to be shut down through Sunday. The snow alone would have been enough to bring the East Coast to a halt. But it was whipped into a maelstrom by brutally sharp winds that reached 75mph at Dewey Beach, Delaware, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, the weather service reported. From Virginia to New York, sustained winds topped 30mph and gusted to around 50mph, Mr Burke said. The wind was so strong that scientists reported trouble measuring the snowfall. And if that were not enough, the storm had bursts of thunder and lightning. Forecasters saw lightning out the window of the Weather Prediction Centre, where meteorologists were camped out. Even before the snow began to fall Friday afternoon, states of emergency were declared. Schools, government offices and transit systems closed early from Georgia to New York. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. Airlines canceled more than 5,500 flights in the US and beyond this weekend as a blizzard conditions, cold and ice hits much of the US, with East Coast cities feeling the most impact. The bulk of Saturday's 4,298 cancellations are at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday. Those cancellations centre on Philadelphia, Washington and New York, with airlines essentially shutting down all flights into those cities. But the snowstorm was greeted happily at Virginia's ski resorts. ''We're thrilled,'' said Hank Thiess, general manager at Wintergreen ski resort in central Virginia, who was expecting 40 inches of dry, powdery snow. ''Going forward, we're set up to have just a terrific second half of the ski season.'' Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe gets out of his car at State House in Harare after returning from his annual holiday (AP) Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe arrived home from a weeks-long holiday looking sprightly, quashing rumours that he had a heart attack. The 91-year-old president arrived late on Friday, joking with Cabinet ministers, military leaders and senior members of the ruling Zanu-PF party who welcomed him at Harare International Airport, according to a video published by the state-owned Herald newspaper. Mr Mugabe held talks with visiting Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang on Saturday. The presidents, two of Africa's longest-ruling leaders, are meeting before an African Union summit on January 30 to 31, a government statement said. Mr Mugabe is the chairman of the organisation of African states. Earlier this month, a website reported that Mr Mugabe suffered a heart attack while on holiday in the Far East. The Zimbabwean government dismissed the rumour, saying false reports that Mr Mugabe is dead usually circulate during his holiday every January. "You can doubt that there can be a New Year, but you cannot doubt that there will be a story on the president's alleged death every January," presidential spokesman George Charamba told the Herald newspaper. The ruling party said it is planning "the best ever" birthday party for Mr Mugabe in February. Mr Mugabe's 92nd birthday will be on February 21 but the party will be held on the 27th. This year Mr Mugabe's birthday festivities will be held at Great Zimbabwe, a pre-colonial monument popular with tourists. Thousands of supporters are expected to gather at the celebrations organised by the 21st February Movement, a youth branch of the ruling party named after the date of Mr Mugabe's birthday. Civic organisations and opposition parties have urged Mr Mugabe to cancel his birthday celebrations, saying the money would be better spent buying grain for Zimbabweans suffering from food shortages because of an ongoing drought. Mr Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. He is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, along with Mr Obiang, who came to power in Equatorial Guinea through a military coup in 1979. Relatives of 43 missing students at a Boxing Day protest in Mexico City - three more suspects have been arrested (AP) Three more suspects have been arrested over the disappearance of 43 Mexican students 16 months ago. National security commissioner Renato Sales said the suspects belong to an organised crime group that authorities believe received the students after they were taken by police in Iguala, Guerrero state. Six other people were killed on the night of September 26, 2014, including 22-year-old student Julio Cesar Mondragon. Mr Sales said one of those arrested is considered the prime suspect in Mr Mondragon's death. The authorities have arrested 113 people over the disappearances, including the ex-mayor of Iguala. Government investigators have said that police handed the Ayotzinapa teachers' college students over to members of the Guerreros Unidos cartel. The search continues for the students. Hard task: Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, believes it could take 10 years to find an agreed date You would think that there would be no trouble in arranging a fixed date for Easter, but Church life is not as easy as that. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Welby, who announced the initiative recently, reckons it might take between five and 10 years to find an agreed date. A fixed date for Easter has been elusive, despite previous attempts to produce one since the Council of Nicea first came up with a complex formula in 325 AD. That Council of Christian leaders was convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine I to gain consensus throughout Christendom, but unfortunately these good intentions were dashed by the schism centuries later between the Orthodox and Western Churches, and the split between the Roman Catholics and Protestants. Nevertheless, the ancient leaders did manage to agree about Easter, but their formula is not for the faint-hearted. Easter Day is celebrated each year on the Sunday, following the full moon that falls on or after the Spring Equinox. Simple, isn't it? This means that Easter Day can fall any time between the middle of March or April. This year it's on March 27, next year April 16, and in 2018 it's on April 1 - which will have nothing to do with All Fools' Day. The majority of people would welcome a fixed date for Easter, which would help with school and family holidays, as well as commercial life. There would be no loss of Christian solidarity if the Churches could all celebrate Easter on the same day. However, there are an awful lot of different Christian denominations, as I found out when reporting on the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Church leaders from denominations I had never even heard of paid tribute to the departed Pope in his plain wooden coffin. There is another complication, in that Easter is closely connected to the Jewish Passover, which itself is a moveable feast. So don't expect an agreement on a fixed Easter any time soon, though it will come eventually. Meantime, Dr Welby and his fellow Primates have a more immediate problem on their minds as they try to prevent a schism in the Anglican Communion over same-sex marriage. It is a sensitive issue, and many people have been deeply hurt, hence the apology from Dr Welby for the way the Church has historically treated same-sex couples. The latest suspension of the US Episcopal Church for three years because of its support for same-sex marriage is an attempt to create some breathing space. So too is this week's issue by the Church of Ireland of a booklet about Conversations on Human Sexuality. At the very least, the Anglicans deserve credit for facing up to this thorny issue. The Roman Catholics simply dismiss same-sex liaisons, while the Irish Methodists are remaining studiously silent. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has not won many friends over this topic, and it seems to deal with same-sex marriage like a rugby player tackling an opponent to the ground and then pinning him down. It is an extremely difficult issue to solve, but the conservative Presbyterians will find out soon enough that taking a hard-line on dissent is not the best way forward. Subtlety, however, is not always their strongest suit, as they have shown time and again. It was a funny coincidence that in the same week it was disclosed that the website Friends Reunited was to close down, it was also announced that the cast of Friends were to reunite for a new episode. Well, I thought it was funny. And so would Chandler, no doubt. To be honest, although the series officially ended 12 years ago, it never really went away in our house. My boys and I enjoy it so much that we watch one episode most evenings on Comedy Central channel where it plays on a seemingly never-ending loop. In fact, the dogs are so used to it playing at suppertime that as soon as the first few chords of the theme tune come on, they start to salivate like Pavlovs dogs and run into the kitchen for their din-dins. But yes, according to friends close to the friends, theyve finally agreed to come together for a two-hour special as a tribute to the director James Burrows, who is celebrating his 1000th television show this year. Although little is known about the storyline and lets face it, there have been numerous reports of a reunion over the last decade, including false reports of a feature film it appears that theyve all now signed on the dotted line for a one-off comeback. And, to paraphrase Mr Bing, could I be more happy? No. The only problem I can see is, would a close friendship like theirs withstand the passage of time and stay strong while their different circumstances and lives inevitably change beyond recognition? In the real world, we all know how hard it is to maintain contact with buddies once you split up, move away and start to lead separate lives. All this is conjecture and will remain so until we hear those familiar dulcet tones once again: So no-one told you it was gonna be this wayyyyy! as a brand spanking new episode reveals the (fictitious) truth. But in the meantime theres no harm in guessing their fate is there? So heres my prediction of what may have happened in the last Friendless decade: Rachel never really forgave Ross for the emotional blackmail that resulted in her giving up her once-in-a-lifetime chance to work in Paris. They got married for a second time but Rachel dumped Ross for good after he accidentally said Emily at the altar. Rosss job as a paleantologist progressed to new heights when he became a presenter of a TV series on Nat Geo Wild and made a fortune with merchandising toy dinosaurs with authentic voice sound effects. Meanwhile, Rachels career as a fashion buyer came to an end once the economic downturn took hold. She ended up selling her Bloomingdales and Ralph Lauren designer clothes on eBay and eking out a living as a freelance fashion reporter. They shared custody of Emma and that was going ok until she ran away from home to join a religious cult. Monica and Chandler moved to the suburbs, where Monica started a posh catering business called Mons Venus while Chandler set up his own advertising agency called BadaBing. It was about this time that Chandler started to dress like a woman, just as his dad had done before him. Monica was shocked at first but eventually got used to it and now they go shopping for lingerie together and do each others make-up. Joey got a big break, starring in a new sitcom on HBO about a neurosurgeon who swapped his brain with his pet chimpanzees as an experiment, with hilarious results. He moved to LA and has been linked with various celebrities and movie starlets but never really got over his ill-fated crush on Rachel. Will they hook up again, this time for good? Who knows! Phoebe and Mike split up in 2004 when she was sacked from her massage parlour for soliciting and arrested by the vice squad. She ended up living rough on the streets again but has recently moved in to live with her brother Frank Junior, his wife (and ex-teacher) Mrs Knight and their surrogate triplets Frank Junior Jr, Chandler and Leslie, who all look remarkably like Phoebe, are possessed with demons and communicate with each other in a secret feral language. Indonesian officials move the coffin of Canadian citizen Tahar Amer-Ouali, a victim of the Jan. 14 terrorist attacks in Jakarta, Jan. 21, 2016. Ministers, senior officials and counterterrorism experts from 19 countries are set for talks in Malaysia's capital beginning Monday aimed at devising a strategy to counter the extremist views of radical Islamic State (IS) militants. The two-day conference on "Deradicalization and Countering Violent Extremism" will be held in Kuala Lumpur amid tight security following a deadly IS attack in neighboring Indonesia's capital Jakarta that has underlined the growing threat of the militant group in the region. "The main objective of the conference is to step up cooperation among security agencies throughout the world in deradicalization programs," a statement from the Malaysian ministry of home affairs said Friday. "The participating countries will share and analyze good practices of deradicalization programs and identify target groups which are easily exposed to extremist militant ideology, and government role in rehabilitating them back to society," it said. A new evil The conference is expected to be attended by ministers in charge of fighting extremist militant threats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10-member grouping's strategic partners -- the United States, France, Australia, Britain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, China and Italy, the statement said. It added that the meeting will be divided into two main sessions one to devise a joint ministerial statement on deradicalization and the other, a plenary one, in which the ministers will explain the deradicalization programs of their respective countries. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has branded IS a new evil that has blasphemed Islam, will deliver opening remarks at the conference. Najib had ordered increased police and military presence in public and tourist areas in Kuala Lumpur after the Jakarta blasts on Jan. 14 which had left four civilians and four attackers dead. "We want the people to feel safe and reassured," he said. "We want the people to continue their business as normal and not to be overly concerned as the authorities have the situation under control," he was quoted saying by local media. Muslim-majority Malaysia has arrested more than 100 people for involvement in IS. Fifty-five Malaysians have been involved in IS in Iraq and Syria, of whom 17 had been killed, the local media quoted intelligence reports as saying. Malaysia is on the radar screens of IS, Akhbar Satar, director and senior fellow of the Centre for Fraud Management & Institute of Crime and Criminology at HELP University, told BenarNews, citing recent reports about the country in IS's online propaganda magazine Dabiq. He said IS's ideology is based on gaining sympathy from Muslims over violence occurring in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and other Islamic states. Atory Hussain, a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, cautioned that Malaysian students furthering their studies in the Middle East are being exposed to IS influence, calling for prompt action by the authorities. A standard template Malaysia began laying framework for the conference as early as October last year. Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister, said then that the talks were aimed at drawing up standard operating procedures to address radicalization moves by IS and other militant groups. "The deradicalization program is important so that a standard template can be used as the international level," he was quoted saying by the Bernama news agency. "Malaysia has a long experience in deradicalization," he said, citing as an example the country's long but successful campaign against a communist insurgency which began in the aftermath of World War II when it was under British rule, with rebels attacking rubber plantations, tin mines and towns. Malaysia's National Security Council this week discussed the setting up of a center to fight ISs extremist propaganda online. The regional, digital counter-messaging center would be set up soon, though its location had yet to be decided, Najib said, according to local media. For Immediate Release: January 22, 2016 Contact: Bill Snape, (202) 536-9351, bsnape@biologicaldiversity.org Obama Administration's Public Land Methane Rules Too Little, Too Late WASHINGTON The Obama administration today proposed long-overdue rules to start regulating methane pollution from public lands oil and gas operations, rules that would do too little to limit emissions of this dangerously powerful greenhouse gas. The Bureau of Land Managements proposed rule follows a scathing Government Accountability Office report on wasted gas from public lands and a 2012 petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Air Task Force and the Western Environmental Law Center. It would be the agencys first small steps toward controlling releases, leaks and wasteful burning of methane. Although methane is a marketable fuel, oil and gas operations frequently vent this potent greenhouse gas directly into the atmosphere or simply burn it off at the well site (a process called flaring). BLMs new proposed standards would generally bar venting (with a number of loopholes), reduce drillers ability to avoid paying royalties on gas they waste by flaring it, encourage monitoring and repair of methane leakage from oil and gas equipment and require replacement of leaky components. Although this long-overdue proposal is a positive step toward reducing the enormous methane pollution and waste that the oil industry is spewing from our public lands, it is too weak and riddled with unnecessary exemptions and loopholes, said Bill Snape, senior counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity. More important, the best way to prevent climate pollution from our public lands is to stop auctioning off these ecologically important areas to oil companies. If we are to have any hope of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, we simply must keep the vast majority of fossil fuels in the ground. The proposed rules, however, are aimed solely at reducing lost royalties from wasted gas not at addressing the underlying role of public lands methane and fossil fuels in contributing to dangerous global warming. This proposed rule primarily issues new policies, with exemptions galore, to reduce methane at the permitting stage of the operation, when drilling has already been approved, said Snape. While it begins to reduce some of the most absurd and massive forms of methane release, the standards are weak and will not prevent future significant methane emissions from oil and gas operations on BLM lands. Methane is a climate pollutant that heats the atmosphere 87 times more than the same mass of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. As a short-lived pollutant, reductions in methane are essential to avoid catastrophic climate-tipping elements and to comply with the U.S. commitment to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius. Methane also has important health implications: It is an ozone precursor that endangers public health. Experts warn that an overall methane leakage rate of greater than 2.8 percent can make burning natural gas in power plants more harmful to the climate than coal. Federal fossil fuel auctions perpetuate a conflict between the Obama administrations climate goals and its all of the above energy policy. Unleased federal fossil fuels those that the president controls - should be considered unburnable in the context of global carbon budgets and should be the first taken off the table to mitigate climate damage. More than 400 organizations and leaders working on the Keep It in the Ground campaign have called on President Obama to end new federal fossil fuel leases following a report that doing so would keep up to 450 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution in the ground and that the president has the legal authority to do so now, without Congress. Those emissions would be incompatible with any reasonable U.S. share of global carbon budgets to avoid catastrophic warming. Although the proposed BLM rule would capture the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of wasted methane, it does nothing to stop issuance of new leases for more drilling on public lands drilling we cannot afford if we hope to maintain a livable planet for wildlife and future generations. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For Immediate Release, January 22, 2016 Contact: Jonathan Evans, Center for Biological Diversity, (213) 598-1466 George Hague, Sierra Club, (951) 313-0395 Tom Paulek, Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley, (951) 368-4525 Lawsuit Challenges Southern California Freeway Threatening Low-income Neighborhoods, Wildlife, Air Quality $1.7 Billion Freeway Would Hurt Air Quality, Waste Taxpayer Money RIVERSIDE, Calif. Conservation groups today filed a second legal challenge to a massive $1.7 billion freeway project in Southern California that would cut through low-income neighborhoods, threaten wildlife preserves and worsen air pollution. The six-lane Mid County Parkway would bisect the San Jacinto Valley, paving the way for more sprawl and traffic in a rural area with a combination of agriculture, open space and wildlife preserves. This project will waste taxpayer dollars to destroy neighborhoods and wildlife areas with a polluting new freeway, said Jonathan Evans, legal director of the Environmental Health program at the Center for Biological Diversity. There are smarter, safer and cheaper 21st century transit solutions to solve existing traffic problems. This will just drive future gridlock. The Mid County Parkway would force up to 396 residents from their homes and displace businesses that employ more than 170 people. The environmental review notes that the chosen route would result in the highest impacts to residential relocations in areas with minority and low-income populations. The Mid County Parkway would worsen our regions struggling air quality and tear up neighborhoods with a permanent new source of diesel exhaust and soot, said George Hague of the San Gorgonio chapter of the Sierra Club. Instead of this wasteful new six-lane freeway, the county should be proposing cleaner and cheaper upgrades to the Ramona Expressway to improve traffic safety. Riverside County environmental documents admit the project will worsen air quality and greenhouse gas pollution while harming farmlands and sensitive wildlife preserves. Environmentally sensitive wildlife areas surrounding the freeway that would be affected by the project include the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, and important core reserves designated for conservation under regional habitat conservation plans. The freeway would cut through the San Jacinto Valley, which is home to numerous imperiled wildlife species, including the burrowing owl, Swainsons hawk, tricolored blackbird, willow flycatcher and Stephens kangaroo rat. Its also one of the most important areas for migratory birds in Southern California and is renowned as a haven for birds of prey, including bald and golden eagles and peregrine falcons. The Mid County Parkway opens the door to short-sighted efforts to pave over the beautiful San Jacinto Valley, destroy its agricultural community and degrade one of Southern Californias most important wetlands the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, said Tom Paulek of the Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley. Approving the reckless freeway destroys the possibility for sustainable land use planning to reduce urban-industrial sprawl, preserve local agriculture and protect wildlife. Todays lawsuit was filed against the Federal Highway Administration in U.S. federal court in Riverside by the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and Friends of the Northern San Jacinto Valley. Background The Mid County Parkway is proposed to replace the existing Ramona Expressway connecting Perris and San Jacinto. The freeway was originally scheduled to connect with Interstate 15, but was cut in half in the face of local opposition and now would only serve the rural areas east of Interstate 215. The $1.7 billion freeway would take away funds from other more pressing or less destructive transportation projects. The freeway design plans for intersections at town and park centers that dont yet exist and encourages sprawl-style development far from transit, jobs and social services. Less costly upgrades to the Ramona Expressway to improve safety and transportation flow were overlooked during the design process. Prior to this federal lawsuit, the same coalition filed a legal challenge to the freeway in state court in May 2015. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. This meeting will focus on the genetics, biochemistry, and biology of Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) as well as their structurally and functionally related, Specificity Proteins (Sps) along with their impact on human diseases. Significant efforts will be given to discussing the application of KLF/SP-based tools to gene editing and cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine (iPS cells). KLFs/SP proteins constitute a single family of zinc finger-containing transcription factors that exhibit homology to the Drosophila gap gene product, Kruppel. There are at least 18 KLFs and 9 Sp proteins, with a multitude of important functions including regulation of proliferation, differentiation, inflammation/immunity, metabolism, and carcinogenesis. Dysregulation of KLF/SP-mediated pathways contributes to pathological states such as obesity, cancer, and inflammatory conditions. Recent studies indicate that many of these transcription factors have the ability to reprogram somatic cells to inducible pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and to maintain the pluripotent state of embryonic stem cells; interestingly, several members can substitute for one another in establishing and/or maintaining pluripotency. This transformational discovery has elicited the attention of investigators and medical practitioners from the field of Regenerative Medicine. Molecular insights derived from zinc finger-DNA interactions, which have been derived and most thoroughly validated from work on Sp/KLF proteins has given rise to a new area of research that is growing exponentially, namely gene-editing by artificial KLF-like zinc finger proteins that allow for in vivo gene mutation, mutation repair, deletions, insertion and other type of engineering for both research and medical practice. Thus, the scope and the impact of our 2016 meeting, we will have investigators that discuss the use of Zinc finger nucleases, TALENS, and CAS/CRISPR systems. Lastly, many additional and novel roles for various Sp/KLFs in normal and disease states are only now being fully studied and explored. We expect that through the interaction fostered in this meeting will fuel subsequent collaborations, lead to the design of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for broad array diseases. This is truly and international meeting which counts with a confirmed list of speakers from USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia. A large number of oral presentations will be selected from the abstracts, and the selected talks, poster presentations, and recreational activities will provide students and postdoctoral fellows opportunities to exchange ideas and formulate new collaborations. FASEB has announced a total of 36 Science Research Conferences (SRC) in 2016. Registration opens January 7, 2016. For more information about an SRC, view preliminary programs, or find a listing of all our 2016 SRCs, please visit http://www. faseb. org/ SRC . Source: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia Czech President Zeman: Economic migrants and disseminators of hate speech must be deported ... to Algeria 23. 1. 2016 cas cteni 1 minuta The refugee crisis will intensify in 2016 and the EU will have to start a wholesale deportation of refugees, said Czech President Milos Zeman in an interview for the Pravo daily on Saturday 23rd January. Muslim preachers, disseminating hate speech must be also deported without delay. For instance, the "Cologne imam who said that the sexually assaulted women were themselves to blame for the attacks because they were provocatively dressed should be deported straight away," said Zeman but could not confirm whether such imam really exists. Nevertheless, he said if he does not, there are many other muslim hate speech preachers. In the interview, Zeman also demanded that the Dublin regulation should be fully adhered to and that people who have been refused asylum must be deported, as must be the majority of the imigrants who are economic refugees. The European Union must conclude agremeents with those countries who will be willing to accept the deportees. They should be deported, for instance, to Algeria. In Zeman's view, the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne were fully to be expected because the Koran tells men to beat their women if they are disobedient. Islamic law gives a woman's testimony before a court only half of the weight of a man's testimony. Hence the muslim community has a different relationship to women than what is customary in Europe. "I am therefore amused that our suffragettes support muslim immigration," added Zeman. In his view, it is not enough for the Czech Republic to refuse the EU immigration quotas, but it will be necessary to seal the Czech borders. If the EU does not want to commit suicide, it will start deporting the refugees as soon as possible. Source in Czech HERE 0 For some unknowable reason, an intoxicated Second Amendment Man reportedly carried his loaded gun into a screening of Michael Bay's Benghazi movie in the open-carry state of Washington where he promptly shot a woman in the shoulder. Investigators believe the 29-year-old man was intoxicated when he entered a showing of the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi at Regal Cinemas The Landing 14, 900 N. 10th Place, with a loaded gun before 8:15 p.m., he said. After he fumbled with the gun, it accidentally fired, hitting the 40-year-old woman in the shoulder, Liebman said. Medics took her to Harborview Medical Center, where she was in serious condition Friday morning. A hospital spokeswoman said she is improving and in intensive care. According to local police, the open-carry enthusiast apparently left the movie theater after shooting the women and carried the gun into a nearby restaurant where he fumbled around and dropped it again. The good news is no one in the restaurant was shot. If this Second Amendment Man was really so intoxicated that he was physically stumbling around the theater as witnesses reported, I will hypothesize that he fumbled and dropped his gun as he was interacting with the movie. Anyone that drunk may not even realize they shot someone. The only major surprise in this story is that it occurred in Washington rather than Texas, but I'm sure the latter's time will come. No word on whether or not the suspect was a "responsible gun owner" or a "good guy with a gun" until he wasn't. Atlantic City's already junk-level general obligation debt rating was slashed four notches to CCC-minus from B by Standard & Poor's late Friday, citing a "near-term liquidity crisis." The super downgrade came three days after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rejected an Atlantic City rescue package approved in the state legislature prompting Mayor Donald Guardian to announce he is considering filing for bankruptcy. S&P analyst Timothy Little noted that the city faces "potentially negative cash flow" around April 1 unless the state steps in with financial assistance. The Jersey Shore gambling hub was also placed on credit watch developing. "A default, distressed exchange, or redemption appears to be inevitable within six months, absent unanticipated significantly favorable changes in the issuer's circumstances," Little said in a statement. "The city is currently vulnerable to non-payment on its obligations and we believe it is likely to default without an unforeseen positive development." S&P placed the city on CreditWatch Developing. A CCC-level rating is "currently vulnerable and dependent on favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet financial commitments," according to the rating agency. Atlantic City officials have scheduled a city council meeting Tuesday to discuss the possibility of filing for bankruptcy, which would require state approval. New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, has argued against bankruptcy and is pushing for instead for a state takeover of Atlantic City operations. The package of bills vetoed by Christie included legislation that would have allowed the city's eight remaining casinos enter into a payment-in-lieu of taxes program for 15 years and aggregately pay $120 million annually over 15 years through PILOTs instead of a traditional property tax. The city's 2015 budget adopted in late September relied on $33.5 million in anticipated revenues from redirected casino taxes included in the rescue bills to plug a $101 million deficit. Little noted that New Jersey has a strong history of state oversight and intervention with distressed municipalities that provides potential for help from Trenton to prevent an "impending liquidity crisis." He said the triple-C minus rating could be raised if Atlantic City can achieve enough interim financing where a payment default is not considered inevitable within six months. The rating could also be dropped another notch to CC should the city indicate it will likely miss a debt payment or file for bankruptcy, according to Little. Atlantic City is rated Caa1 with a negative outlook by Moody's Investors Service. CHICAGO Bruce Rauner hasn't been able to broker a state budget, but the Illinois governor was able to move the market for Chicago school bonds in a costly direction for the school district. Leaders of the Democratic majorities in the state capital dismissed a Rauner-backed Republican proposal to take over the junk-rated Chicago Public Schools and put the district on a possible path toward bankruptcy, but it resonated with the market. With the district due in the primary Wednesday, spreads in secondary market trades shot up after the General Assembly's GOP minority leaders announced on Wednesday plans to introduce legislation backed by Rauner that could lead to state oversight and possibly bankruptcy for Chicago's schools. Democrats who control the legislature labeled it dead on arrival. One CPS bond traded at a spread of 449 basis points to the Municipal Market Data's top-rated benchmark after the announcement, up from 397 basis points before, according to data from Markit. Another trade showed a jump in a 2041 maturity of 61 basis points to a spread of 446 basis points. CPS bonds had been trading at a 350 to 375 basis point spread to the Municipal Market Data's top-rated benchmark a week earlier. Market participants were already warning that the district will pay a punishing rate on its $875 million general obligation issue. "There's no question all this state takeover/bankruptcy noise will hurt the deal and may scare off traditional muni buyers," said Triet Nguyen, a managing director at NewOak Capital LLC. "If you are interested in this deal you probably know they are insolvent but it doesn't help the prospects for the Chicago Board of Education to have the governor of the state saying your school district needs to be taken over and restructured right in front of your deal," said Brian Battle, director of trading at Performance Trust Capital Partners in Chicago. "It gives investors an excuse to demand more yield." In the district's previous bond sale, in April when it still carried low investment-grade ratings, the top yield of 5.63% on a 25-year maturity landed 285 basis points over MMD. Following a spate of downgrades, only Kroll Bond Rating Agency still rates Chicago school bonds at investment grade. It rates the new deal BBB with a negative outlook, one notch higher than existing bonds due to legal opinions on the structure. Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's rate the district B-plus, the same level as Moody's Investors Service's B1. All warn of the potential for further action with Fitch assigning a negative outlook and S&P holding it on watch with negative implications. Moody's, which is no longer asked to rate new CPS deals, has it under review for a downgrade. Despite the noise, JPMorgan appears to have built enough of a book of potential orders to release on Thursday the schedule and structure on the deal's $795 million tax-exempt series. The heavily back-loaded deal offers $46 million in a 2035 term, $181 million in a 2040 term, and $568 million in the final maturity in a 2044 term bond, according to market sources. The remainder of the transaction is selling in a taxable series. One market participant said JPMorgans release of the structure means the firm has sufficient order indications at a still unknown price level. That doesnt mean JPMorgan wont end up taking down some bonds or that the timing or size of the deal could change. This is going to be a very hard deal to place, said one public finance banker at a firm not on the deal. The district also could face further headwinds in the coming days. Schools chief Forrest Claypool was to announce administrative cuts Jan. 22, but that would be seen as a positive as the district works to shave costs. Claypool has warned the district's cash flow is so dire that teacher layoffs could come as soon as next month if the state doesn't provide an additional $480 million in aid. The district's investor presentation says it can stay afloat and avoid teacher layoffs through the fiscal year June 30 with the help of short-term lines. "Four [trading days] is a lot of time in a highly-charged political environment," Battle said. "Headline risk is really elevated right now." Buyer support will also depend on factors like market conditions, currently in the district's favor with plenty of investment cash available and strong demand for yield. Investors also give weight to the perceived strength of a double-barreled pledge that includes a statutory lien on state aid as well as the district's GO pledge. While the structure could aid bondholders in a bankruptcy filing, it can't prevent default. Several market participants said the district's need to maintain market access and attract short-term lines to stay afloat provides it strong incentive to avoid default. Many traditional buyers either can't participate due to the junk-bond ratings or are scared off by the district's struggles and reliance on short-term borrowing to pay its bills. "They're shut out already by most mutual funds who can't buy that rating and eventually will be shut out of junk funds by the amount of Chicago paper that they can buy without violating diversification requirements," said John Mousseau, director of fixed income at Cumberland Advisors Inc. CPS needs to get the deal done for the immediate budget relief it provides. About $393 million of the bond proceeds will fund capital projects; $135 million will refund variable-rate debt that is being shifted to a fixed rate; $86 million will retire short-term debt used to cover swap termination payments; and $206 million represents a scoop-and-toss restructuring. The rest will cover capitalized interest and issuance costs. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A century after women first won the right to take political office, local women in politics say theres still progress to be made on gender parity issues. As a female, honestly, I do feel that I have to prove myself more than a male would, said Coun. Vanessa Hamilton (Riverview). On Jan. 28, 1916, women were granted the right to hold provincial office and to vote in Manitoba provincial elections a first for provinces across Canada. Canadian Press Nellie McClung. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/-C.Jessop) It was a movement that had roots in the Westman region. A womans right to vote was a hot topic locally in the years leading up to 1916. In a March 1912 edition of the Brandon College Quill (now Brandon Universitys student newspaper, The Quill) a poll suggested only twenty per cent were in favour (of) unrestricted womans suffrage. The author, an E. Simpson from the Class of 1913, concluded by writing: We may be sure that in time women will take their place in helping forward the worlds large social interests by the use of the ballot and at that time Brandon college girls will not be behind their sisters in other places. She was right. One of the main drivers behind the movement, Nellie McClung, has a connection to Westman. McClung moved to Milton, a now-extinct town near Wawanesa, as a small child in 1880. There, she went to and was eventually married in the Presbyterian church. Marguerite Cory, the curator of the Sipiweske Museum in Wawanesa, said the area is still proud of McClung. Were sort of hoping, we have a celebration day in Wawanesa, to get a bus and take people around to the places that she (frequented). McClung eventually married at a local church and moved to Winnipeg, where she became involved in the suffrage cause. They were married at 7:45 in the morning, so they could get the train to Winnipeg for the honeymoon, she said. Cory is hoping to have a monument created at the church. McClungs parents are buried in the Milford cemetery and this summer, a display on the suffrage movement from the Canadian Museum of History will be at the Sipiweske Museum. It was in Winnipeg where McClung became involved in the suffrage cause in the capital. In collaboration with the Canadian Womens Press and Womens Political Equality League, she applied political pressure to spark change. A skilled and witty writer and public speaker, McClung contrasted the argument for womens suffrage against politicians pushing for the status quo, targeting then-Manitoba premier Sir Rodmond Roblin in particular. Roblin lost the 1915 election, and shortly thereafter McClung moved to Alberta. Early in 1916, on the back of an election promise and several petitions, the suffrage bill was passed. The Brandon Daily Sun afforded the story three paragraphs at the very bottom of its front page of the Jan. 29 edition, under the headline Women of Manitoba May Be Candidates or Plain Voters. Given more prominence were stories with headlines like To Rebuild Bigger and Better and Men Volunteering Now, Real Heros. Coun. Lonnie Patterson (South Centre) grew up in Wawanesa. Knowing who Nelly McClung was and the Suffragettes and their work was something that I learned at a young age, she said. Sitting at the council table today, I feel my voice is just as valid as my other colleagues around the table. Would I like to see more women in municipal office, in federal and provincial politics? For sure. Patterson said an example was the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual general meeting last November. I know our AMM executive do a lot of work, but there was only one woman that was piped in with that group, she said. Patterson said without more women at the table, policymakers will struggle to get a handle on issues like pay inequity, representation and threats to personal safety. The public-yet-personal nature of politics, Hamilton says, requires a tremendous amount of confidence. We need to give those girls, at a young age, the confidence to be able to be in leadership positions, she said. Leanne Rowat had that confidence. She wont be seeking re-election to the provincial legislature this spring after serving as MLA for the Minnedosa area for two terms. She said there was a common theme on doorsteps during her first campaign, when she was 40 years old and a mother to two young children. They said, Leanne, you cant do this you cant leave your kids, she said. Rowat, who has deep political roots in a constituency long held by Conservatives, barely won her first election. A lot of it was concern about this young mom driving two or three hours away to represent and could she do it? she said. She could. Rowat won her next election by more than 1,000 votes. She remembers one of her kids running after her car after she was elected and heading off to Winnipeg. That, she said, supplied her passion for the legislature. I had a job to do and I felt I needed to make my time worthwhile and validate it to myself and to my constituents. Now, Rowat can rattle off names from either side of the legislature who can manage the biggest portfolios in government. Those gender stereotypes are leaving. But they are still there. South of the border, Rowat says its clear Carly Fiorina, the only prominent female Republican presidential candidate, has to work harder to prove her credibility than her male counterparts. Shes strong, she knows her stuff and she has to know it in a more confident way, to a more detailed factor, Rowat said. Patterson has similar experiences. I do find myself in different rooms where I am one of a few or the only female voice in the room. There certainly are times where the male folks in the room, they can raise their voice to make a point. But I have found when I raise my voice to make a point, theres a reaction, right? You do deal with those subtle things on a regular basis because of different perceptions or thoughts, she said. For Patterson, that means the work isnt over. Their work has certainly given us a great foundation to leap off of, but were not done in terms of suffrage and inequality. tbateman@brandonsun.com Twitter: @tombatemann Already have an account? Log in here A Winnipeg woman has been released on bail for a drug charge and other offences after getting caught with a bag of morphine while allegedly shoplifting. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Do you run or own a business? Then youre faced with plenty of challenges every day. From how to increase sales, whether to hire or expand or how much to spend on marketing or to reinvest in equipment, these questions take time, money and expertise to answer. Now, Brandon University business students are ready to take their lessons out of the textbook and put them into practice on your behalf. They can help you answer some of those questions, at no cost, as part of a final project. These are final-year students who have already taken marketing, human resources and accounting courses; they are very focused on solving real business problems, like slow sales, said Michael Malazdrewicz, associate professor in business administration at BU. Students have to be creative in coming up with solutions that accommodate the reality of small businesses they have fewer people and less money to spend. Malazdrewicz says with 29 students who will work in groups, he expects them to be able to tackle about 15 local business issues, and hed like to have at least 20 for them to choose from. We let the students choose something that they want to work on, so right away business owners are in good shape the students want to help, Malazdrewicz said. Business owners will receive a formal presentation and full documentation of the proposal, something that would normally cost thousands of dollars from a consultant. Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jordan Ludwig says this is a great opportunity for local businesses to take advantage of. You get a unique and new and novel approach, and not only that, its cost-effective, said Ludwig, who is also owner-manager of Brandon Business Interiors). Weve gone through the program twice, and implemented both solutions successfully. Ludwig also graduated from the program, and says it was equally valuable from a student perspective. You get to get out in the community, and tackle a real-world problem, not a case study in a textbook, he said. BUs business administration department has a long and successful history of offering a balanced yet rigorous program of education and training for business students. Professor Malazdrewiczs course in small business management combines academic rigour with practical application, arts dean Demetres Tryphonopoulos said. This benefits both the students and the local businesses who have challenges that the students can help solve under Prof. Malazdrewiczs comprehensive and expert supervision. Business proposals should be submitted to Malazdrewicz by the end of January and students will pick their chosen projects before reading week in mid-February. Anyone interested is welcome to call or email him to find out more about submitting. He can be reached at 204-727-9610 or MikeM@BrandonU.ca. Students will work closely with each business to understand the specifics of each situation and to come up with a solution that fits the local market. Businesses will receive their presentations by the end of term, around early April. These projects are worth a substantial amount of each students course grade, Malazdrewicz said. Theyre very well prepared to tackle any business issue, and very motivated to do a good job. Throw us your toughest challenges. Submitted Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An art exhibit honouring the lives of missing and murdered indigenous women is coming to Brandon University next month. Walking With Our Sisters is a commemorative art installation that features more than 1,800 pairs of vamps the beaded tops of moccasins displayed on the ground in a winding pattern. Youre walking with all the murdered and missing women, Brandon Friendship Centre vice-president Roberta MacKinnon said. This is a very, very heavy exhibit to go through, but it is definitely worth it and it changes your perspective in life. The more than 1,600 vamps (or uppers) in the Walking With Our Sisters exhibit are currently on display at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford, Sask. The exhibit was created in 2013 to honour the lives of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada. (ErinMarie Tankupine/Facebook) MacKinnon and BU art history Prof. Cathy Mattes spearheaded the initiative to bring the exhibit to Brandon and since then, many local organizations have gotten involved including the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council and the southwest chapter of the Manitoba Metis Federation, among others. The project was created by Metis artist Christi Belcourt to memorialize the lives of the more than 1,181 indigenous women who have been murdered or reported missing in Canada since 1980. Belcourt put out the call for vamps to be made and donated by family members of missing women in 2012, and the response she received was staggering. She expected maybe 500, and she was overwhelmed when she got 1,000, MacKinnon said. Brandon is just one stop on a seven-year tour for the Walking With Our Sisters project which is currently on display in North Battleford, Sask. For MacKinnon, the project hits close to home. They have all been donated by family for myself, I would like to donate a pair because my niece went missing in 2007 and Ive had friends whove gone missing in the early 80s, MacKinnon said. The exhibit opens on Feb. 22, at Down Under at BU, and visitors are invited to walk among the vamps and take part in the ceremonial aspects of the memorial. Traditional skirts will be available for anyone who would like to wear one and tobacco will be on hand for smudging. The exhibit features a central altar for the victims of Robert Pickton, who was convicted of second-degree murder of six women and later confessed to killing 49 women. There is also a space dedicated to children who didnt make it home from residential schools, which MacKinnon expects to become its own installation in the future. Elders and counsellors will be on hand to help visitors process the emotions that may be brought out by the difficult subject matter. We dont want you taking the burdens or anything with you, so we will have somebody there to help talk you through it, MacKinnon said, adding that everyone will be given the contact information for someone to talk to, in case feelings well up in the days following. There will also be a ceremonial fire lit when the vamps arrive in Brandon on Feb. 18, and it will burn until the exhibit relocates to its next destination. While awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women is a pillar of the exhibit, MacKinnon hopes visitors walk away with a practical message. Im hoping that they become aware of what is happening in our society she said. Its very important that young women, even young men, make sure that they let people know where they are If something was to happen to you, at least there would be a starting point. Lets look after each other. The exhibit will be on display until March 6. Family members interested in donating a pair of vamps are encouraged to email wwos@gmail.com and more information about the exhibit can be found online at walkingwithoursisters.ca. ewasney@brandonsun.com Twitter:@evawasney Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As readers of this newspaper are all too aware, there has been a flurry of announcements by the Selinger government over the past few weeks. Since the start of the new year, there have been more than 100 announcements by the NDP, amounting to, by some estimates, close to $500 million in funding promises. The CBC reported that last Monday alone there were 17 projects announced by the government, to the tune of $28 million. Certainly, the NDP isnt alone in this kind of pre-election promises. Just this past fall, in the weeks leading up the federal election, Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire went on his own announcement spree, promising some $62 million in funding for everything from new housing units at CFB Shilo to the restoration of 45 hectares of wetlands. From a legal perspective, we can understand why the NDP communications office has been sent into overdrive. Under the provinces Elections Financing Act, governments are forbidden from advertising for 90 days prior to a provincial election. Since our next election is set for April 19, this means that the 90-day period kicked in on Jan, 19. As a result, if the New Democrats want to get any political traction out of initiatives they have been working on for a while (and what party wouldnt), they have to announce them now or else lose any advantage that they might have accrued with voters. Yet, as anyone who has worked in government can attest, these kinds of projects dont happen overnight. Major infrastructure projects like the construction of new bridges or the creation of 12,000 new child-care spaces in the province can take months, and in many cases years, to get off the ground, even longer if it involves other levels of government. But due to the 90-day blackout period, announcements have to be rushed out the door, sometimes even before plans are finalized or negotiations with the municipalities and federal government over funding have yet to be completed. This leads to the very real possibility that even if the NDP was to be re-elected on April 19, some of these promises will not see the light of day, either because financing falls through or the proposals simply havent been thought through sufficiently. So where did this 90-day blackout idea come from? Well, it came from us, the voters, however indirectly. Prior to the advent of fixed election laws, advertising blackouts for parties in power would only extend during the actual election period, typically the 35 days or so from when the writ was dropped to the day of the election. This changed with the trend toward fixed election dates, which many Manitobans, and Canadians in general, thought were such a great idea. While not legally binding on governments (the premier can still call a snap election at any time by requesting that the lieutenant governor dissolve the legislature), the fact that most provinces have moved toward fixed election dates shows just how appealing they are to voters. With everyone knowing in advance when an election would be held, it was expected that this would result in a more level playing field for parties. Fixed date laws were also seen as a way of curtailing the endless amount of pork barrelling that regularly occurred, as parties in power pumped dollars into key ridings in the lead-up to an election the timing of which only they knew for sure. At least, that was the expectation. While fixed election dates may have curtailed the ability of governing parties to plan elections around favourable polls certainly, the fixed election date of Oct. 19 did not work out for the Conservatives as they might have hoped they have brought on full force the unintended consequence of this sea of announcements that we now seem to be bombarded with as each fixed election day comes near. The opposition parties are accusing the NDP of trying to bribe Manitobans with their own tax dollars. Given the millions of dollars being promised on initiatives that seem short on detail, there seems to be some credence to this claim. But would the Progressive Conservatives or Liberals be any better if they were in power? Probably not, if we look to other provinces and our own experience here in the weeks leading up to the last federal election. Fixed election dates were touted as a way of improving transparency and accountability in our political system, of addressing the democratic deficit that has led to increased voter frustration and cynicism. Sadly, it appears that they have turned out to be not quite the panacea we hoped they would be. Kelly Saunders is an associate professor with the Department of Political Science at Brandon University. kellylsaunders@hotmail.com Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. We have always said that WestJets decision to start flying passenger aircraft in and out of Brandon would be a business decision nothing less, nothing more. That was the case back in September 2013 when the first Calgary-to-Brandon flight arrived on the tarmac to a glowing political class, happy business and oil executives, throngs of ardent Westman residents, and those of us merely looking for free hot dogs. And that was the case this week when, after a mere four days in operation, WestJet Encore announced it would be reducing its much-vaunted second daily Calgary-Brandon flights as of Feb. 15. When that day comes, the Brandon Municipal Airport will continue to maintain the original flights to and from Calgary. But the secondary flights will only be available four times per week. Flight WS 3250, which leaves Calgary at 7:50 p.m. and arrives in Brandon at 10:50 p.m., will be available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight departing Brandon at 6 a.m. and arriving in Calgary at 7:28 a.m. (WS 3257) will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Further still, the second flight will be removed for the summer season. The big problem facing the airline industry is the same one facing the rest of Canadas economy from those working in the oilpatch and agriculture to the rising prices we see for produce in the grocery stores. But the biggest kick to WestJets bottom line has been from the energy sector. With the downturn in the economy we are seeing less demand for travelto andfromenergymarkets into areas acrossCanada including Brandon, WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart told the Sun this week. This is a near complete turnaround from what the company was telling us only weeks before the second flight was due to touch down in Brandon for the first time. The reality is that people have been using this daily flight and so hence, we have sufficient demand in our mind, for a second one, another WestJet spokesperson, Robert Palmer, told us in late December. This news will come as a huge disappointment to travellers who were counting on the extra flight to make connecting flights in Calgary to other destinations. It also puts a damper on hopes that WestJet may open up an eastbound flight from McGill Field anytime soon. And to think that as late as last November, our federal, provincial and municipal leaders picked up shovels for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the $7.4-million expansion and redevelopment project at the Brandon Municipal Airport. In the wake of WestJets unhappy announcement, already the boo birds are saying I told you so, and decrying the apparently unnecessary expense that the City of Brandon has forced us into paying all on a promise that has fallen away on the back of the failing oil fields. But these thoughts are incredibly short-sighted. Brandon remains a growing city, even in the midst of a weak dollar and a stagnant economy. If we are to continue growing, we need to invest in infrastructure that stands to help improve our position, both economically and socially. A modern and comfortable airport may not in and of itself keep air travel in Brandon, but it certainly is a welcome attraction for families and business owners looking to this city as a possible place to settle down or invest into. Its also a mindset thing this kind of forward thinking spurs civic pride in our community and makes Brandon an even better place to live. And that is an attractive feature to have. We should also keep in mind that the loonie wont likely stay down forever, and at some point the oil industry is expected to rebound, though it may take time. In the meantime, we still have ongoing passenger air service to and from Brandon. Weve got a good thing going, even if it does have a few hiccups and problems beyond our control. So lets continue to make use of it. By Juno McEnroe Political Correspondent European Minister Dara Murphy has said Ireland would be the "most economically disadvantaged" country if Britain was to leave the European Union. Speaking at Fine Gael's ard fheis, the minister said Ireland's focus at the moment was on the four issues that Britain wants negotiated with the EU, in order to avoid a Brexit. These will be hammered out at a EU council meeting next month, he said. Britain's concerns about competitiveness, red tape, migration and opt-out options in union matters will be the focus of discussions. Motions debated at the session on Brexit warned of the consequences of Britain leaving the union for Irish jobs and trade. This could affect the 1bn in trade and services that crosses over the Irish sea weekly as well as the 200,000 Irish jobs linked to Britain, delegates heard. But Minister Murphy warned that a Brexit would harm Ireland's economy more than any other country, beside Britain itself. The Irish government, he said, was aware any deal for Britain "should not disadvantage Ireland", he said. Mr Murphy though said he could not see how any of the topics being debated would see Britain "having a competitive advantage" over Ireland. British ambassador Dominick Chilcott said the Irish dimension of the debate around Brexit was now coming into focus in the British political system. There were 1.3m Irish voters in the North, several hundred thousand living in Britain as well as another four to five million of Irish descent who would have a say in the Brexit referendum, the ambassador told the ard fheis. The Animal Rights Action Network has described as horrific, a segment on last night's Late Late Show in which a lamb was restrained. The programme featured new business ideas including a carousel to assist sheep farmers and vets in performing procedures on lambs. ARAN says the lamb featured on last night's show was distressed and terrified of the bright lights, cameras and laughing audience. The group's campaign's co-ordinator John Carmody, says the treatment of the lamb was inappropriate. Mr Carmody said: "Disturbing scenes of a gentle lamb being strapped down in bright lights with cameras on top of this poor creature and a laughing audience. "This was very disturbing for a lot of people and you could clearly tell that the poor animal was definitely terrified and was clearly suffering mentally as a result of being pinned down. "It was nothing entertaining about that in our view." ARAN released a statement saying it was "the most disturbing and uncomfortable scene on the Late Late Show". They said: "Ryan Tubridy was either clueless or he simply turned a blind eye on Friday night when a lamb was pinned down on a 'Lamb Carousel'. "The animal clearly was distressed and terrified of the bright lights, cameras and laughing audience - this prompted a deluge of calls, emails and Facebook pm's from ARAN supporters and members of the public voicing horror that the scene was left to air let alone RTE not giving a warning of what many compassionate viewers were about to witness. "ARAN urges people to turn the channel next time The Late Late Show airs in protest." By Daniel McConnell, Political Editor Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised to deliver 10,000 more Gardai, nurses, doctors and teachers by 2021, in his key-note address at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Mr Kenny did not take the occasion of his live televised address to announce the election date, as some had earlier speculated, but he gave a robust defence of his tenure, just weeks out from an election. In a speech heavily emphasising Fine Gael's credential in fixing the economy, Mr Kenny said that the people will choose between continuing the recovery or risking that recovery when they go to the polls. At the Citywest Hotel, Mr Kenny said that if re-elected, a Fine-Gael led Government would end the tax discrimination against the self-employed, but gave no time frame as to when that would happen. He also said the party would protect our 12.5% corporation tax rate which has been a cornerstone of investment and job creation. The Taoiseach said the party would aim to see 200,000 new jobs created in the next five years, adding that he wants many of the new jobs that are being created to be taken up by those who are still out of work. Mr Kenny said If he is re-elected by the people, just as we said goodbye to the Troika, we will say goodbye to the USC. He added: Five years ago, we reversed Fianna Fails decision to cut the minimum wage, which would have hurt those who earn the least. This month, we increased it again to 9.15 per hour. We reduced the USC for low and middle income earners, and increased the numbers who dont have to pay it at all to 700,000. While there was no repeat of the five-point plan which was the mantra of Fine Gael's 2011 campaign, Mr Kenny set out a three-step plan to continue the recovery. Those three streps are: More and better jobs, making work pay and investing in better public services. Do you want the recovery, the recovery you have worked for, suffered for, and made so much personal sacrifice for, to continue? Or do you want to put it at risk? Thats the only question you will be asked. Thats the only question you will answer, he said. A clear choice between continuing on the path of stability and recovery; or putting our hard won progress at risk. We must keep the recovery going, he added. Despite recent criticisms of the Health service, Mr Kenny trumpeted that Fine Gael and Labour have committed an extra 800m for the health sector this year. He said he and his party are committed to meeting the needs of an ageing population as well as reducing waiting lists. He did not repeat the 2007 commitment to end the trolley crisis, however as trolley numbers have spiked above 500 this month. Mr Kenny heavily criticised Fianna Fail for the state of the economy when they were thrown out of office in 2011. I don't need to remind you about the crisis that gripped Ireland in January 2011. You lived it every day. The public finances out of control. 300,000 jobs lost. Tens of thousands leaving the country in search of work. The banks on the brink of collapse, and Irelands international reputation in tatters. The Troika had arrived. Then Irish people gave Fine Gael and the Labour Party a mandate to fix the public finances and to get our country working again, he said. Referring to the centenary of the Easter 1916 Rising, Mr Kenny said that Ireland's best days lay ahead. We can say that the dream of our nations heart has yet to be fulfilled, he said. By Juno McEnroe political reporter Finance Minister Michael Noonan dismissed Fianna Fail claims of being responsible for the recovery and said that this was akin to Comical Ali claiming victory in Baghdad during the Iraqi war. Delivering a sharp attack on the main Opposition party, Minister Noonan told delegates at the Fine Gael ard fheis in City West to remember back to five years ago. When the economy had been in freefall, Fianna Fail had been left with just seven ministers after the rest of them ran away, he said. Fianna Fail had destroyed 300,000 jobs, added the Limerick TD, who received a standing ovation before and after his address to a packed room. Motions during a session on the economy included calls to to ensure the much-hated Universal Social Charge is abolished completely over the lifetime of the next Government-if Fine Gael are returned to power. Problems with housing, childcare, the marine sector, roads as well as a reductions in personal taxes all needed to be addressed by the next administration, delegates said. Junior finance minister Simon Harris said that "it was time to treat self employed people of this country properly", equating their tax levels with employees. Fine Gael in government would also ensure that social welfare traps would be removed if returned to power, said the Wicklow TD. The ard fheis will hear motions on food, the possibility of a Brexit, crime as well as the leader's address from Enda Kenny later today. Chinese president Xi Jinping hopes for a new chapter in relations with Iran after the lifting of international sanctions under a historic nuclear deal, as he paid the first visit by a Chinese leader to the Islamic Republic in 14 years. In co-operation with the Iranian side and by benefiting from the current favourable conditions, China is ready to upgrade the level of bilateral relations and co-operation so that a new chapter will start in bilateral relations, Xi said after meeting Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, according to Iranian state TV. Thousands attended the grand opening in St Marks Square of the Venice Carnival, celebrated under heightened security following the sexual assaults on New Years Eve in Cologne and the ongoing terror threat in Europe. Authorities have increased surveillance throughout the city and increased the number of officers on patrol, both under-cover and in uniform, but rejected a proposal to ban revellers from wearing masks. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the US East Coast to a standstill today, dumping as much as three feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travellers and shutting down Washington and New York City. After days of weather warnings, most of the 80 million people in the storms path heeded requests to stay home and off the roads, which were largely deserted. But more was yet to come, with dangerous conditions expected to persist until early Sunday. In addition to snow and treacherous winds, the National Weather Service predicted up to half an inch of ice for the Carolinas and potentially serious coastal flooding for the mid-Atlantic region. This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was, Ryan Maue, a meteorologist for WeatherBell Analytics, said from Tallahassee, Florida, which also got some flakes. Snow fell from the Gulf Coast to the northeastern New England states. In nearly two dozen places, it passed the 20-inch mark by late morning, according to the weather service. Terra Alta, West Virginia, reported 28 inches. At least 11 deaths were blamed on the weather, most from traffic accidents. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights on Saturday, the bulk of them at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday, according to flight tracking service Flight Aware. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. The long-anticipated storm exceeded expectations, so forecasters increased their snow predictions for New York and points north. The new estimates were for heavy snow all the way up to just south of Boston, forecaster Patrick Burke said from the weather services Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland. Eighteen to 24 inches were predicted for Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia; and 15 to 20 inches for New York, Burke said. Some areas outside the major cities could get up to 30 inches. This is kind of a top 10 snowstorm, said weather service winter storm expert Paul Kocin, who co-wrote a two-volume textbook on blizzards. And for New York and Washington this looks like top five, he said. Its a big one. By midday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced a travel ban in New York City, ordering all non-emergency vehicles off the roads by mid-afternoon. Mayor Bill de Blasio urged Broadway theatres and restaurants to close. The citys commuter rails and above-ground segments of the subway were to shut down too, along with buses. Cab driver Mian Ayyub said he tried to pick up fares Saturday morning but gave up after getting stuck four times in two hours. Police and passers-by helped get him free. Ive been driving a cab 28 years, but this looks like the worst. He parked in the East Village and went home. WIPEOUT!!! I promise this is best video of #Snowzilla you'll see pic.twitter.com/pBbiWElG7y Peter Doocy (@pdoocy) January 23, 2016 In Kentucky, where some places got 18 inches on Friday, hundreds of drivers on a long stretch of Interstate 75 south of Lexington were stranded overnight because of a string of crashes and blowing snow. Crews passed out snacks, fuel and water and tried to move cars one by one. Emergency shelters were opened. Motorists also were reported stranded along pockets of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Somerset County. The National Guard was called to help, said Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo. In the Washington metro area, nearly two feet of snow was on the ground by Saturday morning, and monuments that would normally be busy with tourists, were mostly vacant. All mass transit was to be shut down through Sunday. The snow alone would have been enough to bring the East Coast to a halt. But it was whipped into a maelstrom by brutally sharp winds that reached 75mph at Dewey Beach, Delaware, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, the weather service reported. From Virginia to New York, sustained winds topped 30mph and gusted to around 50mph, Mr Burke said. The wind was so strong that scientists reported trouble measuring the snowfall. And if that were not enough, the storm had bursts of thunder and lightning. Forecasters saw lightning out the window of the Weather Prediction Centre, where meteorologists were camped out. Even before the snow began to fall Friday afternoon, states of emergency were declared. Schools, government offices and transit systems closed early from Georgia to New York. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. Airlines canceled more than 5,500 flights in the US and beyond this weekend as a blizzard conditions, cold and ice hits much of the US, with East Coast cities feeling the most impact. The bulk of Saturdays 4,298 cancellations are at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday. Those cancellations centre on Philadelphia, Washington and New York, with airlines essentially shutting down all flights into those cities. But the snowstorm was greeted happily at Virginias ski resorts. Were thrilled, said Hank Thiess, general manager at Wintergreen ski resort in central Virginia, who was expecting 40 inches of dry, powdery snow. Going forward, were set up to have just a terrific second half of the ski season. Zimbabwes president Robert Mugabe arrived home from a weeks-long holiday looking sprightly, quashing rumours that he had a heart attack. The 91-year-old president arrived late on Friday, joking with Cabinet ministers, military leaders and senior members of the ruling Zanu-PF party who welcomed him at Harare International Airport, according to a video published by the state-owned Herald newspaper. Mr Mugabe held talks with visiting Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang on Saturday. The presidents, two of Africas longest-ruling leaders, are meeting before an African Union summit on January 30 to 31, a government statement said. Mr Mugabe is the chairman of the organisation of African states. Earlier this month, a website reported that Mr Mugabe suffered a heart attack while on holiday in the Far East. The Zimbabwean government dismissed the rumour, saying false reports that Mr Mugabe is dead usually circulate during his holiday every January. You can doubt that there can be a New Year, but you cannot doubt that there will be a story on the presidents alleged death every January, presidential spokesman George Charamba told the Herald newspaper. The ruling party said it is planning the best ever birthday party for Mr Mugabe in February. Mr Mugabes 92nd birthday will be on February 21 but the party will be held on the 27th. This year Mr Mugabes birthday festivities will be held at Great Zimbabwe, a pre-colonial monument popular with tourists. Thousands of supporters are expected to gather at the celebrations organised by the 21st February Movement, a youth branch of the ruling party named after the date of Mr Mugabes birthday. Civic organisations and opposition parties have urged Mr Mugabe to cancel his birthday celebrations, saying the money would be better spent buying grain for Zimbabweans suffering from food shortages because of an ongoing drought. Mr Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. He is one of Africas longest-serving leaders, along with Mr Obiang, who came to power in Equatorial Guinea through a military coup in 1979. Police in England have issued a warning that a dangerous mentally ill man has gone missing from his home. Benedict Onyemaechi, 48, was last seen on Monday January 18 at his house in Southgate, north London. The Metropolitan Police warned the public not to go near him as he is potentially dangerous but to ring the emergency services. In the event of an immediate sighting, do not approach him but call 999, a spokesman said. The British Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has issued an order for Mr Onyemaechi to seek an urgent medical assessment. Benedict Onyemaechi An MoJ order was issued on Wednesday, 20 January, under Section 42(3) of the Mental Health Act stating that Benedict Onyemaechi is thought to be unmedicated and a risk to the public, an MoJ spokesman said. The order recalled him to the NHS North London Forensic Service for urgent assessment. Mr Onyemaechi is described as a black man, 5ft 9in and stocky, a Met Police spokesman said. Anyone with information about Mr Onyemaechi can call Edmonton police. The Samaritans' 24-hour helpline number is: 116 123 LAHORE: While there is no let up in the spread of dengue, the Punjab government has increased the number of beds for... LAGOS: More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria, according to... ALMATY: Sensing that Russia has been weakened by its war in Ukraine, some of its closest allies in Central Asia are... Dubai: Iran and China agreed to expand bilateral ties and increase trade to $US600 billion ($A857 billion) in the next 10 years, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is the second leader of a United Nations Security Council member to visit Tehran after the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran in November. Expanding ties: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Credit:AP Iran emerged from years of economic isolation this month when the United Nations' nuclear watchdog ruled it had curbed its nuclear program, clearing the way for the lifting of UN, US, and European Union sanctions. The IS terrorist, Sunakim (aka Afif) was last seen alive with a gun on the streets of Jakarta during the January 14 attacks wearing a Nike cap and Adidas sneakers. It was not uncommon to see Western sneakers under the beheaders' robes and keffiyehs in the cruel video released by the terrorist group. It is obvious that these extremists did not get the memo from Islamic State dated 22nd April 2015 which banned Nike clothing, sneakers, and other products because they claimed the pronunciation of Nike is similar to an Arabic word with sexual undertones, and was contrary to Sharia law. IS fighters caught wearing Nike sneakers may be flogged. In Raqqa, and other parts of the caliphate, IS distributed pamphlets outlawing the wearing, selling or buying of Nike products, which was punishable by whipping, imprisonment or fine. The Arabic ambiguity was spelt out in the banning documents as suggesting that the word Nike, although named by the company after the winged goddess of victory in Ancient Greek mythology could mean "kiss me", "flirt", "cupid", or "whore". You have to watch your tongue carefully under IS. Last week, in a notable coup, the news organisation Agence France-Presse struck a deal to open a bureau in North Korea. The Pyongyang Foreign Correspondent's Club isn't exactly teeming with members, and even though AFP's presence is unlikely to be a harbinger of newfound openness in the Hermit Kingdom, this ranks as quite an achievement. What on earth does media access to one of the world's most closeted countries have to do with Australia's asylum seeker debate, you may ask? A orange life boat in which Australian Customs returned asylum seekers to Indonesia Credit:Michael Bachelard No, this is not a convoluted stretch of the imagination to draw a false equivalence between the hidden gulags in North Korea and the difficulty reporters strike when trying to access Nauru or Manus Island, tempting as that may seem. Instead, it's the lesson of sheer bloody persistence in taking a gradual step towards solving a problem. If a French news company can spend roughly three years in what you can only imagine must have been tedious and frustrating negotiations with North Korean state officials to open an office, surely Australians and our politicians can genuinely make a civil effort to move beyond the present impasse over asylum seekers held in detention. Queensland school students will be taught about the perils of alcohol as part of a state government crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence. But the shape that education would take remained a mystery on Saturday as the government's primary champion of reduced venue trading hours outlined his government's plan. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and State Development Minister Anthony Lynham plan to take their anti-violence message to Queensland schools. Credit:Robert Shakespeare State Development Minister Anthony Lynham, a former maxillofacial surgeon who entered politics primarily on an anti-alcohol violence platform, said there needed to be an "all encompassing" approach in Queensland schools. That would not, however, include changes to the school curriculum. Fire crews were called out to a food processing plant on Randle Street in the port-side suburb of Pinkenba on Saturday night at 8.24pm. Water was not working on the machinery fire so the 14 crews attending had to put the fire out with foam. A scene from the factory fire in Pinkenba. Credit:Nine News Brisbane Queensland Fire and Emergency Service acting inspector Mark Halverson said there was an added risk of the factory containing 15,000 tonnes of soya bean meal. The highly combustible soya bean meal, stored in the factory and took up two thirds of the factory space, was untouched by fire. Artists' impression of Cbus Property's 443 Queen Street development, with Customs House to the right. Brisbane Residents United spokeswoman Erin Evans addressed the crowd, bemoaning the lack of community consultation. "Increasingly, we don't even hear about what's happening until the builders arrive it is an appalling position," she said. "The development proposed on this site has shocked many people, and very rightly so. "This building, this place, we have one one Customs House and it is our responsibility to pass it on and protect it for future generations." Labor councillors and council candidates, along with those from the Greens, were in attendance, but none from the LNP administration were present, despite invitations for them to attend. Labor lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding said the approval showed the council, and in particular Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, had "stopped listening" to its residents. "This is a deplorable decision and I think, Graham Quirk, if this is the type of decision he's going to make over our heritage buildings, it's time to step aside," he said. The Cbus Property proposal for 443 Queen Street was deemed by the council to be code assessable, which meant it could be approved without the need for public consultation. But it would have required public submissions had Cbus Property not taken advantage of a little-known mechanism transferable development rights to the property. That allowed Cbus Property to transfer development rights it would have otherwise had over another property it owned, the NAB building on the corner of Creek and Queen streets, if it was not heritage listed. Mr Harding said that planning mechanism needed to be looked at. "That was originally a provision, a regulation, that was meant to protect buildings like (Customs House), but it's being used for the opposite purpose," he said. "So clearly we've got to change that." Cr Quirk said UQ had used the same provision, through its Mayne Trust, to transfer development rights from its heritage-listed Brisbane Arcade to other properties in the city. "You can argue the case about whether it should or shouldn't apply to a building beside a heritage building, but the reality is over the past three decades it has protected heritage buildings," he said. "This is something that has been in place and there are not too many of them left, thankfully, but there are still a few." Greens lord mayoral candidate Ben Pennings called for an end to political donations from developers. "They can pretend it doesn't impact their decisions, but we know that's not the case," he said. "We know that's not the case with the current council, we know that's not the case with the previous council." He made a rare public appearance to accept the award, at a gala dinner at Australia House in London attended by hundreds of successful Australian expatriates. Sir Lynton was named the UK's Australian of the Year on Saturday night in London, just weeks after he was controversially knighted for his role in masterminding the Conservatives' return to power in 2015. Politicians need to spend less time looking at polls and more time talking to voters, says veteran Australian political strategist Lynton Crosby. The audience included one who wouldn't have been so keen to celebrate Sir Lynton's success: member of parliament Caroline West, now Labour's shadow foreign minister. Sir Lynton said it was an honour to receive the award "the thing about Australians in London is they seem to punch above their weight in all sorts of walks of life from theatre to business and even to politics". It was for others to judge why he received this award and the knighthood he said, but hinted at his role in the election as one reason "in the last year or so an Australian has had some impact on what's gone on in this country". The election win was "quite a highlight", he said. "It was a tough election." The British media were intense and partisan, he said, "so it's a very aggressive environment in which you're operating so that makes it tough. But every election is a hard fight and the 2015 election was no different in that respect". He lamented that polls had multiplied in number and had become a "part of the political process". Before the election last May, polls had predicted either a Labour win or a hung parliament, not the sweeping win for the Conservatives that took place. Airport charges in India have long been a matter of contention. However, there seems to be a fresh controversy in the offing with the ministry of civil aviation proposing to shift from single till principle to hybrid till for all future airports. The point of argument: Will the tariffs increase or decrease with the proposed change in the draft civil aviation policy? Under the single till model, all airport activities - including aeronautical and commercial - are taken into consideration while determining the airport charges. This leads to fewer charges for the airlines which, in turn, are expected to transfer the benefits to passengers. This contrasts with the dual till model where only aeronautical activities are taken into consideration when setting the charges. Private airport operators and investors support this system because it would help them increase their revenue. The proposed hybrid till model is a combination of the two. While it would be more expensive than the single till model for the airlines, it would be cheaper than dual till. Airlines say the proposed hybrid model would mean higher airport charges, making air travel more expensive. "Under single till, the aeronautical charges are the lowest as the airport is seen a single entity with all its revenue generating potential on the non-aeronautical side. That's the fairest way too because without airlines' passengers, there would be no shops, no car parks and no way to make non-aeronautical revenues," says CEO of a domestic airline. Dual till is one end of the spectrum where no cross-subsidy happens and single till is the other extreme where any revenue (note: not profit), that is made from the non-aeronautical business, yis fully used to subsidise tariffs. Airport operators don't buy airlines' argument. They say hybrid till would consider a fair share of revenues from non-aeronautical services to subsidise the aeronautical tariffs. The operators claim the hybrid model would further encourage them to increase non-aeronautical revenues, ultimately leading to lower tariffs. Operators say hybrid till is now the most popular model internationally and India should adopt it sooner than later. Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Rome, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, New Jersey and Athens are some of the major airports that have shifted from the single till model, say operators. While some of these airports operate under dual till and hybrid models, others function under price monitoring frameworks where the onus is on the operator to reach a consensus with the users on aeronautical charges. Then there are airports that have progressively moved away from single till framework in recent years - Brussels, Milan, Madrid and Paris. Even Gatwick and Stansted airports, which had strongly enforced single till regulation, have now adopted a price monitoring framework, based on the UK airport regulator's recommendations. Those supporting the hybrid till model argue that contrary to the popular belief, evidence shows that charges at single till airports are not always lower than those at hybrid or dual till airports. Charges are also influenced by characteristics of an airport (domestic versus international, hub versus regional), the nature of ownership and the way an airport is managed. They argue that single till provides poor incentives to invest in non-aero assets or enhance non-aero services. The other big downside of the single till approach is that it creates a perverse incentive for gold-plating of assets. It also tends to curtail innovation because of disproportionate rewards on investment, and can potentially affect service quality. Airlines don't see it that way. "Abroad, the debate is between passengers and airport operators in determining tariffs. In India, passengers have the least say. The norms in Europe vary. Also, what works in Europe may or may not work in India. India is a unique and extremely price sensitive market where aviation is still in nascent stages. Passengers will be least burdened under the single till model," says CEO of an Indian airline who has seen European markets closely. Hectic lobbying is on from both the sides, even as the ministry is finalising the draft of new civil aviation policy. A ministry official says it's hard to estimate how charges would work in India because there is no real precedent and it would be the first time the country tries the hybrid till model. DIFFERENT STROKES Want existing single till model where all airport activities, including aeronautical and commercial, are taken into consideration while determining airport charges Hybrid model would mean higher airport charges, making air travel more expensive An airport should be seen as a single entity with all its revenue generating potential on the non-aeronautical side Without our passengers, there would be no non-aeronautical revenues India is a price sensitive market and hybrid till system may lead to fewer passengers Global online retail giant Amazon has ploughed Rs 1,696 crore into its India unit as part of its planned $2-billion investment over the next few years in the country to take on homegrown rivals Flipkart and Snapdeal. The investment comes at a time when the company is engaged in a battle with the Karnataka government over taxation issues. The ongoing case has restricted Amazon from growing its presence in the state, one of the key markets for online retail in India. According to documents filed with the Registrar of Companies, Amazon's India unit received the latest investment in December, bringing the total capital infused into the company to Rs 5,699 crore since July 2014. In reply to a query by Business Standard, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is "committed to invest aggressively with a long term horizon and transform the way India buys and sells". "We are very pleased with the growth momentum we are witnessing in India. At the end of Q3-2015, we saw an approx. 500 per cent YoY growth in volume, and in Q4-2015 we sold more than we did in all of 2014. As per comScore, Amazon.in is the Most Visited Ecommerce site in the country and we also had the fastest growing shopping app among all e-commerce in 2015," the company added. The investment is considered to be part of the $2 billion (approx Rs 13,500 crore) Amazon Group chief executive officer Jeff Bezos had announced during his visit to India in July 2014. In response, rivals Flipkart and Snapdeal, too, have been raising massive rounds of venture capital to stay ahead of Amazon. Flipkart has raised $2.1 billion in the period since Amazon said it would invest $2 billion in its India unit. Another massive $1 billion funding round in Flipkart is rumoured to be in the works. Snapdeal, which is backed by Japan's SoftBank, has raised $1.3 billion in the same period. The fight between tax authorities in Karnataka and Amazon India has dragged on for nearly 18 months now. Due to the ongoing status of the case, Amazon hasn't been able to add more sellers to its platform, hurting business and making it harder for the company since it has to facilitate products to be shipped from outside the state. A Karnataka finance department official said the government had told Amazon that it either needs to own up to pay value added tax for transactions on its platform by its vendors or ensure the vendors pay taxes. Amazon has disputed this. Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka and also where Amazon India is headquartered, is one of the largest e-retail markets in India. Moreover, given higher penetration of smartphones in South India, Karnataka represents a huge market for online sellers. Amazon has 21 warehouses in India so far, three of which were set up during 2015. Among the three large e-commerce in the country, Amazon is estimated to have the largest logistics capabilities. To protect its leadership in the space, Flipkart, too, has earmarked $2.5 billion for growing its logistics and supply chain, and would also allow third party online and offline sellers to ship products through it. Come April 2016 and West Bengal could see expanded operations at the Andal airport, which will also be the country's first greenfield. While the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata airport) will continue to cater to the needs of the metropolis, the Andal airport, officially called Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, in Burdwan district is poised to augment its domestic as well as international flight schedules. Industry sources said the promoter of Andal airport, Bengal Aetropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), is in advanced talks with SpiceJet and GoAir to commence operations on routes to western and southern India. "These operators will start their departure from the summer schedule and may operate the flights to not just New Delhi but to Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad as well", a person familiar with the developments told Business Standard. yu67 This move follows state-owned carrier Air India extending its Kolkata-Durgapur route to the national capital last December. According to sources, SpiceJet and GoAir are monitoring the flight occupancy rate of Air India which operates the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi route, based on which the talks have progressed. "At this moment, we are getting around 97 per cent occupancy on the Air India flight which starts from Kolkata and lands in New Delhi airport via Durgapur", BAPL's managing director, Partha Ghosh told Business Standard. Bhutanese carrier Druk Air is also poised to upgrade its presence in the airport from a technical stop to full-fledged passenger operations starting with this year's summer schedule. The airport's promoter is also keen to bring in Bangladesh based Biman Bangladesh and Nepalese carrier Nepal Airways to commence passenger operations from the airport. Neither GoAir nor SpiceJet, which is observing its 'silent period' pending a public listing, responded to queries. While the Andal airport, which started commercial operations in May 2015, is seemingly aggressive in filling its cup to the brim this year, the Kolkata airport will not feel the heat on account of loss of traffic. "The Andal airport cannot and will not affect the traffic in Kolkata airport", director of Kolkata airport A K Sharma told this newspaper. Another official in the metropolis' airport pointed out that the catchment area of Andal and Kolkata are very different, and which will therefore not affect Kolkata airport's traffic volumes. While the Andal airport's target area comprises the towns of Burdwan, Bankura, Bishnupur, Purulia, Suri, Bolpur and Rampurhat in southern West Bengal, with an additional catchment area extending to Dhanbad and Bokaro in neighbouring Jharkhand, Kolkata addresses a more metropolitan traffic. During April-November 2015, total aircraft movement in the Kolkata airport grew by 4.6% to 68,191 flights, up from 65,178 flights in the same period of 2014. While domestic take-offs and landings grew by a nominal 1.3%, those for international flights rose by nearly 22%. Passenger volume also saw a substantial increase by 13.7% at 8,021,076 footfalls during April-November last year as against the 7,056,319 footfalls during the same months in 2014. Travel agents in the state are also in sync with the "mutual coexistence" of the Kolkata and Andal airports, adding that the sales tax exemption on aviation turbine fuel till 2021 for flights refueling at the Andal airport will help in attracting more airlines. "There is going to be a huge surge in traffic on the Durgapur to other cities' routes and soon there may be a fare-war once private carriers start their operations", a travel agent having international operations told this business daily. Another city based travel agent, who is expecting cheaper air-fares atleast in the initial days after the private carriers step in said there may be a rush as "it (air-fare) will be just above the rail fare to travel to cities like New Delhi". The present airfare to Delhi from Andal is Rs. 4,724 while the one from Kolkata is Rs. 4,635. Indian lifestyle e-commerce venture Koovs.com plans to increase gross merchandise value (GMV) to 9.5 million pounds (Rs 91.59 crore) by end of this year from three million pounds (Rs 29 crore). Concentrating on just fashionable western wear, Koovs, which runs an inventory-led model, believes that it has an edge over its competition such as Myntra and Jabong as they are more of a fashion curation portal. We are a fashion house. Our private label is exclusive to us designed by our designers in London. We provide affordable western wear for the Indian market. We are not a marketplace we act like a personal shopper. We curate our apparel. While last year our GMV last year at three million pounds. This year we are on a trajectory to deliver 9.5 million pounds, said Mary Turner, chief executive officer (CEO), Koovs Plc. Koovs hopes to break even by 2019. Over the next three years we are looking at raising another 30 million pounds. The plan is break even in the next three years, by 2019 we should be at net profitable level. At gross level we have been profitable, Turner added. The company recently posted a threefold jump in sales and has raised 4.5 million pounds (Rs 43 crore). Over the next three years, it plans to raise another 30 million pounds (Rs 289 crore). The e-commerce venture is part of Koovs Plc which was founded two years ago with 22 million pounds (Rs 212 crore) through a float on AIM, the London Stock Exchanges international platform for smaller . Turner added that they have no plans of going the app-only route, but are seeing a chunk of their sales coming from mobile websites and app. Our philosophy is to give the choice to the consumer. Why would I want to dictate my customer that they can only buy through app. Sure 60 per cent of orders come from our mobile site and app, but we will cater to all, she said. The company which started its operations in India in 2014 has seen a hike in sales thanks to its brand awareness campaign. Our brand awareness has been quite low at sub one percent but now it is up at eight percent. Sixty per cent of orders come from top five metros. We are going to advertise more in Tier II and III cities as well, she said. The company at present has around 20-25 creative designers based out of its London office while its headcount in India stands at 200. We will add more people as our operations expand but we will not do it just for the sake of expanding, she added. The company however is expanding it warehousing facility. It currently has a 40,000 square feet warehouse in Gurgaon, which it plans to expand to 100,000 square feet. The lifestyle e-commerce market is touted to be at $35 billion by 2020. Turner said its strategy is to access this growth market and to become Indias top destination for affordable western fashion by 2020. A bomb scare forced diversion of a GoAir Airbus A320 plane to Nagpur, and delayed the departure of an Bhubaneshwar-Mumbai IndiGo flight on Saturday morning. The Pune Police have detained one person in connection with the incident. The arrested person is said to have made hoax calls earlier too. The Mumbai-bound GoAir aircraft with over 150 passengers had taken off from Bhubaneshwar at around 8:20 am. About twenty minutes later, the terminal managers office in Bhubaneshwar received three calls from a person who claimed he was carrying a bomb on the Mumbai-bound flight. The air traffic control alerted the pilot of the GoAir flight, who decided to land in Nagpur. The departure of the IndiGo aircraft that was supposed take off from Bhubaneswar for Mumbai was also put on hold following the threat call. The IndiGo aircraft was taxiing to the runway and was instructed by air traffic control to proceed to an isolation bay. A security check was carried out and the IndiGo plane took off for Mumbai only at 11:50 am. In a statement, GoAir said: The GoAir flight G8 243 took off from Bhubaneshwar for Mumbai at 8.20 am and post receiving the bomb threat call, was diverted to Nagpur and landed there at 9.29 am. After deplaning the 150 passengers, checks were conducted by the airport security. No bomb was found. Post clearance from the authorities, the passengers reboarded and the flight took off at 12 noon. The GoAir officials at Bhubaneshwar immediately informed the local police. The matter is being investigated. Defending the government's decision to replace Aamir Khan as the face of the Incredible India campaign, Amitabh Kant, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion, recently said that Khan had damaged India's brand identity by describing the country as intolerant. "The brand diplomat must be the best brand envoy for advancing India; he can't be the destroyer of the brand," Kant said. Sandeep Goyal, owner-promoter of the Mogae Group and founder and former chairman of Dentsu India, speaks with Veenu Sandhu on Khan's exit from the campaign and the logic of replacing him with another celebrity. Edited excerpts Do you think Aamir Khan harmed India's image through his statements and should be replaced? Replacing him because he has said something that has hurt the image of India is correct from a political standpoint. He is, after all, the ambassador for India who is standing up and saying this is an intolerant country. Till yesterday, these things didn't really matter because what you said or did was largely confined to a newspaper or TV. But now with social media opening up the frontiers of the world, everything good or bad you do or say travels. The damage has certainly been done because your own brand ambassador is running you down. If he doesn't stand by the brand he endorses, then he does not have any right to continue. The problem is that we don't have any code of conduct for brand ambassadors, not that the world over anywhere they have it. But overseas, lawyers on both sides would ensure that there is a certain code of conduct that needs to be followed. What thought goes into selecting a country's brand ambassador? When he (Khan) was selected, they would have gone through some kind of a decision-making process. Yet, I would say that 99.99 per cent of the people overseas (the target audience of the campaign) wouldn't know who Aamir Khan is. To a layman overseas, whether it is Aamir Khan or Shah Rukh Khan doesn't really matter. They wouldn't know whether the guy is a celebrity or has phenomenal brand value. So, the choice of Khan might have been for reasons other than brand value. Often, people are selected because they are a convenient solution. My PhD thesis is on human brands and I can tell you that the decision-making around brand ambassadors is not always scientific or based on any concrete research or empirical feedback. In that case, would replacing Khan with another celebrity help? Khan is just one part of the whole discussion and what does it matter if he gets replaced by Amitabh Bachchan (whose name is doing the rounds, along with Priyanka Chopra's). I frankly don't understand what Bachchan will do. Maybe I am too irreverent, but that's the way it is. The simple and credible way to go about it is to have high-quality PR agencies in countries we hope to tap putting out relevant articles. When it comes to country branding, where we are going wrong? When you globally promote a brand, you need to focus on the four pillars of building a brand: differentiation, relevance, knowledge and esteem. What is India's biggest differentiator: it's the Taj Mahal. Yet, only 23 per cent of the people today who visit India actually go to the Taj. I went to Machu Picchu in Peru last year. It's just an abandoned ruin on the top of a mountain. I am being uncharitable, but let's be honest, that's all it is. Yet, Machu Picchu draws probably a hundred times as much money as the Taj does. An NRI friend who was visiting recently told me that getting into the Taj was the biggest nightmare of his life. The people tasked with assisting tourists were brusque and unhelpful. So, the single most important differentiation we have is the Taj and look at the way we treat people who come to see it. It's pathetic. Whether you run a campaign or not, at the end of the day it is the experience, feedback and word of mouth that eventually carries. The problem with all the Incredible India advertising, on which we spend an incredible amount of money, is that we don't have focus. It's just a lot of money spent without enough strategy on how and why we are doing it. So, whether you use a brand ambassador or don't, it doesn't matter. If you want to get the average Joe on the streets of, say, New York to come to your country, you have to look at what his options are and where India stacks up on that - in terms of differentiation and relevance. The higher the floor you live on, the lower your chance of surviving a cardiac arrest, according to a new study. Canadian researchers studied 7,842 responses to cardiac arrest calls in private residences in and near Toronto from 2007 through 2012. Cases of trauma and those witnessed by 911 responders were excluded. When the cardiac arrest occurred below the third floor, 4.2 per cent of the patients survived discharge from the hospital, compared with 2.6 per cent of those on higher floors. Above the 16th floor, 0.9 per cent survived, and above the 25th, where 30 people had cardiac arrests, none lived to leave the hospital. The study is in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The time it took emergency responders to get from the building entrance to the patient was the most important factor in predicting survival. Older age and being male were also associated with lower survival. The lead author, Ian R Drennan, a doctoral candidate in the Rescu research program at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said that there are several places to make improvements: quicker access through the front door, which may be locked and unattended, assurance that the elevator will be available when responders arrive, and the proper placement and use of automated external defibrillators. "You almost have to build the building characteristics into the 911 response," he said. LIVING IN SKYSCRAPERS Researchers studied 7,842 responses to cardiac arrest calls in private residences in Toronto from 2007 through 2012 When the cardiac arrest occurred below the third floor, 4.2 per cent of the patients discharged from the hospital alive, compared to 2.6 per cent of those on higher floors The time it took emergency responders to get from the building entrance to the patient was the most important factor in predicting survival 2015 The New York Times News Service If the 64 files declassified by Mamata Banerjee last September suggested that Subhas Chandra Bose may have been alive after 1945, the 100 files put in the public domain by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, hinted otherwise. A statement was recorded by Juichi Nakamura in 1956, who claimed to be an eye witness to Netaji's death. The statement was forwarded by J N Dixit from the Embassy of Japan in 1964 to to M Kutty, then under secretary, Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Nakamura, who knew English, was employed by the Foreign Office of Taiwan for about a year and had apparently met Netaji four times. In his statement, Nakamura said that he remembered clearly that the accident took place on August 18, 1945, in which Netaji was involved. The statement was a descriptive account of Netaji's last hours. The hospital room in which Netaji was kept was rather big - 60ft long and 60ft wide. Three others injured in the crash were in the same room, while Netaji's bed was screened off. His face and head were covered in bandage. Netaji's first words to Nakamura were: a few more of my men are coming after me. Please take care of them when they come to Formosa. What apparently had surprised everyone in the room, including Nakamura, was how composed Netaji was even in pain. His last words were, "I want to sleep." He died 10 minutes later. Nakamura's account completely negates the mystery around Netaji's death which Banerjee had stoked when the West Bengal government had declassified the files last year. Her suggestion that Netaji may have been alive after 1945 were, however, derived from letters. A letter from Amiyanath Bose to Sisir Kumar Bose (sons of Sarat Chandra Bose, elder brother of Netaji) in London, dated November 18, 1949 had mentioned: For the last one month, a rather strange broadcast is being heard over the radio. We are getting this broadcast on the short-wave near 16mm. The broadcast only says "Netaji Subhas Chandra transmitter katha boltey cheyechhen (in Bengali script)". This sentence is repeated for hours. We do not quite know where it is coming from because that is not announced. It is possible, however, to find out the location of transmission. The letter was intercepted (like many or most others) by intelligence officials. While there was nothing particularly new from the 64 declassified files, the interesting thing that emerged was the intense surveillance that Netaji's family was subjected to between 1948-1968. Banerjee, however, didn't want to let go of the political mileage that was due to her for declassifying the files first. At a celebration marking Netaji's 119th birth anniversary, she demanded the status "Leader of the Nation" for him. The pre-Republic Day arrest of 13 people suspected to be linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from across India should be seen as preventive and does not necessarily mean the ISIS or Al Qaeda have managed to put down deep roots in India, a recently retired Intelligence Bureau official told Business Standard. Without minimising the ISISs potential to grow in India, the official, who did not want to be identified, said that the greater threat to India was from Indian Mujahideen, which has as its target the Prime Minister himself. The evidence of this is that bomb blasts at the PMs election rallies in Patna last year. This is not to say that ISIS is not active. But to say they are running a terrorist ring all over India would be incorrect. They have a marginal presence in India and have little support in the Indian Muslim community which is why parents of prospective IS recruits are the first to inform the police and cooperate with law enforcement agencies he said. Security Advisor Ajit Doval has himself said that the threat from Al Qaeda or ISIS is not of a magnitude that cannot be dealt with by India. According to the retired officer who spoke to Business Standard, the ISISs activities stem from Ansar ut-Tawheed Fi Bilad al-Hind (Supporters of Islamic Monotheism in India) established in 2013. In India, this group is mainly engaged in translation into Urdu from Arabic and social media activities. Late last year, those monitoring the group found evidence of alarming messages. If you are in the fortunate position to kill and American or a European, whether French, Australian or Canadian, or other unbelievers who have declared was on the Islamic state, then do so one of the messages said. The majority of the 13 who were arrested from Karnataka are, according to Karnataka police sources, said to be engaged in social media and translation activity. Given the close coordination with international intelligence tracking of jihadi websites, the NIA used information from various resources to arrest the individuals. However, this does not mean that India is in the grips of ISIS networks. That would be an affront to Indian Muslims who, by and large, do not support ISIS activities the officer said. Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks about the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit doctoral student, "insulting", students of Hyderabad Central University on Saturday vowed to step up their agitation. The prime minister's "inaction", they said, reflected his "political interests". The students rejected an appeal by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha, who, on a visit to the city, had asked them to call off their agitation and assured them of justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into Vemula's suicide following his suspension by the university. Voicing "dissatisfaction" over Modi's remarks on Friday at a Lucknow university, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, which is spearheading the stir, asked if the prime minister would now take action against his ministers. "It is highly insulting to have received a condolence statement from Prime Minister Narenda Modi. He has referred to Rohith Vemula as Bharat Mata's son. The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice condemns, in the strongest possible words, the appropriation of Rohith's politics," the JAC said in a statement. "Rohith Vemula and the other socially boycotted always stood against the Hindutva and Manuvadi politics, which the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] ministers proudly stand for," it added. "It is under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Delhi Police brutally lathicharged the protesting students, and male police officers manhandled women students and detained them. His complicity and inaction on the entire episode of events that unfolded in University of Hyderabad clearly reflect his political interests," it said. The organisation asked if Modi would "take action on the BJP ministers for the injustice meted out to Vemula and the other socially boycotted research scholars". Modi on Friday had expressed grief over Vemula's death. "...when there is news that a youth of my country, Rohith, was forced to commit suicide, what must his family have gone through? Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, and there will be politics [surrounding it], but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well," he said. Meanwhile, the hunger strike by seven students continued for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday. G Prabhakar, one of the fasting students, said the students would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. "We want to continue [the fast]. Our demands have not yet been fulfilled. They say Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death," he added. "Dismiss [Hyderabad Central University Vice-chancellor] Appa Rao Podile, the primary accused, from his post. Arrest (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to the university. Without the arrests, these [judicial commissions] don't give us confidence," Prabhakar said. Nine months after the new foreign trade policy (FTP) was introduced, garment exporters have called for changing key operational mechanisms in the export process. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has asked the textiles ministry to simplify the policys authorisation, inspection and classification norms. Among their requests is to withdraw the need for a landing certificate for exported goods, required as proof to claim benefits under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). Introduced in April 2015, the scheme aims to boost sagging exports, covering tariff lines for 5,012 items that earn duty credits. Exporters have said getting the documents to show proof of landing at the destination country entails cost and delay. AEPC says electronic shipping bills should be sufficient for declaration of intent. While filing the said bills, exporters are required to declare they are claiming rewards under MEIS and to mark Y in the reward item box. Recently, many had complained of inefficient Customs house agents inadvertently ticking N. Thus, though the item in many cases was eligible, once an N had been ticked, such shipping bills were not transmitted to the online system run by the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT). To help exporters claim MEIS benefits in such cases, DGFT has allowed them to give physical copies of the shipping bills after filing an MEIS application to its regional authorities. However, this relaxation is restricted to exports made in April and May in 2015. An extension on this has been demanded. Though the country's cumulative export in apparel was about $12.1 billion for the current financial year till December 2015, the industry has been spooked by Vietnam securing zero-duty access to the European Union market from 2017. Vietnam has already ousted India as the worlds third largest garment exporter. Indian products face restrictions such as a 9.6 per cent import duty, as an India-EU broad-based trade and investment agreement (BTIA) has yet to be finalised. Also worrying is that the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement allows export opportunities by Vietnam to the US with 17-30 per cent export duty relief. The US has accounted for 22-30 per cent of Indias garment exports in recent years. Indian exporters have to pay duty in the range of 14-32 per cent. Analysts have warned some Indian companies might shift base to Vietnam, as they did some years ago to Bangladesh to grab a duty advantage in export and in lower labour cost. AEPC Chairman Ashok G Rajani has called for a stimulus from the government, saying the garment export industry has the potential to generate 2,200 jobs on every investment of Rs 30 crore. To facilitate easier transportation and to avoid corruption, the government has been requested to learn from long-term rival Bangladesh, allowing vehicles carrying finished export merchandise and headed towards exit points like sea ports, airports and rail heads to display On Export Duty signage. So, too, for vehicles carrying input material for production of export merchandise, with a signage of On Export Processing Duty. Calls for proper identification and classification of goods have also been requested, from the current challan system followed by the government. To boost competitiveness, AEPC also wants the norms for advance authorisation for annual requirement be relaxed. Required for all duty exemption schemes, it has asked the authorisation be allowed for garment exporters only based on past performance. To further ease the procedural bottlenecks in setting up of business in the state, the Odisha government is shortly going to launch a portal e-biz with an aim to minimise physical interfaces and give approvals online to the investors. We will be the first state in the country where 15 services required by the entrepreneurs can be applied and the applications disposed of online. The services relate to water resources, commercial taxes, pollution control board consent for which fees can be paid and the approvals received online. The number of services may go up, said Sanjiv Chopra, state industries secretary and chairman and managing director of Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (Ipicol) at a seminar on Opportunities and Challenges for SMEs organized by Business Standard in association with Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), the apex industry body of Odisha. e-biz will be launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 14 at Mumbai, he added. Similarly, any industrial unit inside and outside the Idco (Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) industrial estates with an investment of more than Rs one crore and subject to inspections by multiple authorities will be covered under the Central Inspection Framework where by all the inspectors will go to a factory on one particular day after giving prior notice, Chopra said. It may be noted that Odisha government is taking conscious steps to improve its ranking in the on 'Ease of Doing Business' Index. Odisha was ranked seventh in a recent World Bank report on 'Ease of Doing Business and aims to be among the top three states. The Odisha government has already set up a special entity to fast track approvals for investment projects at Ipicol. The new entity christened State Level Facilitation Cell (SLFC) is mandated to clear investment proposals in 15-30 days. The SLFC monitors the general and special conditions of approved project proposals and facilitates timely implementation of projects. The SLFC consists of members from Idco, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), directorate of factories and boilers, water resources department on a full-time basis. For any change of post allotment matter like change in the name and style, product, constitution of the firm etc. located in industrial estates, Idco has introduced the Automated Post Allotment Application (APAA) with a simplified procedure and provision for the deemed approval. Earlier, Idco was following a manual process for which files were required to be sent from one department to other for getting approvals. Until a couple of years ago, the narrow lanes of Mandi Gobindgarh, around 60 km from Ludhiana, would be crammed with trucks and its air would smell of metal. Migrant workers, mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, would sip their tea with dark faces, blackened due to repeated shifts near the furnace. Then the town, also known as loha mandi, was the hub of secondary steel industry in India. Much of that has changed now. The town wears a deserted look. The lanes are empty and the factories are closed. The air smells cleaner. There are few workers on the streets; most have left Mandi Gobindgarh in search of jobs. The situation is not much different across Punjab. Industry seems to have run out of steam. Fresh investments have turned into a trickle. Joblessness amongst skilled workers is on the rise. ( STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ) A combination of factors has led to this state of affairs: the global commodity meltdown, industrial slowdown in the country, tax policies, and high cost of doing business. As the tables illustrate, the share of manufacturing has declined in Punjab, and since 2011-12, the rate of growth of this sector has reduced significantly. With stagnation in agriculture, this has caused Punjab to lag behind others in the march to development. Once the state with one of the highest per-capita incomes, it now stands tenth on the list. Its neighbour, Haryana, has a per-capita income 45 per cent more than Punjab's. It's no surprise that resentment against the Shiromani Akali Dal-led government is running high across Punjab. Even its most optimist supporters give the party an outside chance of winning the election to the state legislative assembly next year. The quiet factories of Mandi Gobindgarh reflect the somber mood across Punjab. "In the last two years, about a third of the 400 or so industrial units have shut down. At present, there are around 250 industrial units which are working," says Vinod Vashisht, president of the All India Steel Rerollers Association. Starting from the 1940s, the industrial units here had earned a name for themselves as a reliable source of secondary steel. Majority of the units here are electric furnaces which produce ingot from metal-scrap (mostly imported) which in turn is used by the steel rolling mills. A perfect storm According to the local industrialists, a combination of global and domestic factors has led to the reversal in their fortunes. First among them is the global slump in steel demand. Added to it is the effect of policies followed by the state government. For instance, industrialists here complain that the high electricity price in Punjab has reduced the competitiveness of the steel industry here. Neighbouring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have lower electricity prices, where some of the industrial units have migrated. Another factor which impacted the fortunes of Mandi Gobindgarh was the e-TRIP (Electronically Transporting Information within Punjab) system, which was introduced to record intra-state transactions and curb tax evasion. As this system enforced stricter tax compliance, a section of the industry in Mandi Gobindgarh found that it pushed the price of their product and made it less competitive vis-a-vis produce from other states. After they protested, the Punjab government rolled back this initiative. The condition of the textile industry in Punjab is no different, a majority of which is based in Ludhiana. Like in the case of the steel industry, the textile industry owners say the cost of electricity in Punjab is the single most important reason which has forced them to look outside the state for expansion. "The price of electricity in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is 25 per cent cheaper than in Punjab," says SP Oswal, chairman and managing director of Vardhman Group. His company, which started from Punjab, has industrial units in both Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, Oswal Group and Nahar have expanded outside of Punjab. Oswal says Punjab has the advantage of good industrial relations and an educated workforce, but where it loses out in industries like textile is its geographical disadvantage which pushes up the transport cost for exporters. A landlocked state, Punjab lies at a considerable distance from the ports on the western as well as eastern coasts. Also, it lies away from the mineral-rich regions of the country. Industrialists in Punjab are now banking on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor which will connect Dankuni in West Bengal to Ludhiana. Over the years, as diesel prices have increased, industries in Punjab have looked outside of the state to reduce their transportation costs. They have long hoped for trade with Pakistan as a solution to overcome their locational disadvantage as this would provide them with access to markets of Pakistan and Central Asia. In 2012, Punjab's deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Badal, had said leather could become a huge item of trade for the state. Entrepreneurs, he had said, would import inexpensive raw leather from Pakistan, stitch it into shoes or garments, and export it back across the border. No such thing has happened. After the Pathankot incident, the possibility of liberal trade with Pakistan looks like a remote possibility. Another reason which has discouraged the textile industry in Punjab is the imposition of VAT on yarn, while other states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat charge no VAT. A slow decline Industry in Punjab was hit first in the 1980s with the rise in militancy. In the 1990s, once the militants were subdued, industry revived. Then the Centre came up with tax sops for the northern hill states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This not only made Punjab unattractive but also caused many companies to relocate from the state to the tax-free hotspots. Satish Dhanda, vice-chairman of the Medium Industry Development Board of Punjab, says industry in Punjab has suffered because of the Free Trade Agreements which India has signed with neighbouring countries which has resulted in customs duty being reduced to negligible. "At the same time, Punjab has not been substantially compensated for its limitations because of it being a border state and losing long years to terrorism," he says. Some three years ago, Badal had created an informal group of 17 businessmen (Sunil Kant Munjal, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Onkar Kanwar, Malvinder Singh, Atul Punj, Manoj Gaur, Pramod Bhasin, Gautam Thapar and Analjit Singh were amongst them; 15 of the 17 were Punjabi) who he would call to Kapurthala House in New Delhi to devise ways to get investments into Punjab. That seems to have been an exercise in futility. Now, the Punjab government has said that it will exempt the food processing sector from VAT, central sales tax and purchase tax. It has announced a fixed price of power: Rs 4.99 per unit for the first five years for a new plant. During the second Progressive Punjab Investor Summit, 376 MoUs worth Rs 112,000 crore were signed. This includes investments by DLF Universal, GVK Industries, Adani Group, Reliance Industries and ITC. How much of this money will actually get invested? It is an open secret that states attract industry by offering them tax concessions. In Punjab, the elbow room for such incentives is simply not there. The subsidies to the agricultural sector leave little scope for tax concessions to others. The fiscal and revenue deficits of Punjab are higher than the national average. Similarly, while the national debt is 21.5 per cent of the gross domestic product, Punjab's debt is 32.2 per cent of its GDP. "The way out for Punjab is to increase its sources of revenue by raising taxes and ensure that those already taxed pay their taxes. This revenue thus generated can be used to incentivise the growth of industry in the state," says Sucha Singh Gill, former professor and head of department of economics at Punjabi University, Patiala. Industrial development in the state has also not taken advantage of its robust farm sector. Otherwise, Punjab would have had a large agro-processing industry. Experts say this is because the state government has not carried out the required reform in the farm sector. Specifically, the state government has dragged its feet on reforming the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act - needed for the growth of agro-based industries - even as other states have gone ahead and done that. First set of 100 Netaji Files declassified; PM visits National Archives, meets family members of Netaji . The Union Government has declassified the first set of 100 files pertaining to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited the National Archives for the launch of the digitized files. He also met family members of Netaji, including Prof. Chitra Ghosh, Shri Chandra Bose, and Shri Surya Kumar Bose. . . The Prime Minister of India, in his meeting with the members of Netajis family at his residence in New Delhi on 14 October 2015, had announced that the Government of India would declassify the files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a phased manner, and make them accessible to the public. . . Accordingly, the first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and handed over to the National Archives of India on 4thDecember 2015. . . Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs, and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred to the National Archives of India. . . As a first step, the National Archives of India is placing 100 files relating to Netaji in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. The remaining files too shall be placed in public domain after their conservation treatment and digitisation. . . The Government of India has written to the concerned foreign Governments to declassify all files or papers related to Netaji. The Government is committed to pursue this matter with them. . . The digitized files are being put on a website, specially designed by NIC www.netajipapers.gov.in . . SEEMA DARSHAN An initiative by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to provide an opportunity for the children to experience the border environment and to foster patriotism and nationalism among the students . . Seema Darshan is a unique initiative being taken up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, in which school children are visiting the border areas of our country and present before our soldiers and troops an array of performances showcasing the tradition and culture of our country through traditional songs and dances. Child artists would demonstrate to the jawans how they are preserving and taking forward the cultural legacy of that country for which the armed forces are constantly on the vigil and also protecting and guarding its borders. This kind of programme will not only inspire children but also boost the morale of our soldiers on this Republic Day. . . The Ministry of Human Resource Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home affairs is organizing Seema Darshan programme for students for a period of five days starting from 22nd January 2016. . . The main objective of the programme is to provide the students with a first-hand experience of the prevailing security environment in the border areas. The other objectives are to foster patriotism and nationalism among the students and to provide an opportunity for the children to experience the border environment. . . As part of this initiative, students of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti will be participating in a programme, in which 30 students each would be visiting Akhnoor and Attari Borders. During the visit the students will be taken to the detailed Army Unit in Akhnoor and BSF Unit at Amritsar and visit to the Museum/War Hero Gallery etc. will be arranged for the students. . . Only class 11th students from the schools have been included in this group. The group which has left for Akhnoor includes 16 students from Kendriya Vidyalayas (8 boys and 8 girls) and 14 students from Navodaya Vidyalayas (7 boys and 7 girls). Similarly the group that has left for Attari includes same number of students ie 16 from KVs and 14 from NVs with equal number of boys and girls in the team. The students for the groups have been selected from KVs and NVs across all the states of India including Delhi. . . GG/ RT/DS/AK/asb Sri Lankan President visits INS Vikramaditya at Colombo . . His Excellency, Maithripala Sirisena, the Honble President of Sri Lanka visited INS Vikramaditya this morning. He was received onboard by Rear Admiral Ranveet Singh, NM, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet and Captain Krishna Swaminathan, Commanding Officer of the ship. His Excellency Shri YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Vice Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, WV, RWP & Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psn, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy were also present. On his arrival onboard, the Honble President was presented a 50-menGuard of Honour and was received with the playing of Sri Lanka and Indian national anthems by the Indian Navy band. He was then introduced to the ships officers. . . This visit is very significant since it marks many firsts. It was not only the first visit of His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka to a foreign warship after assuming office in January 2015, but also the first Head of State visit to the Indian Navys biggest warship and aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya. The fact that this visit of the ship to Colombo was the first ever foreign port being visited by the ship after being inducted into the Indian Navy makes the visit of the President onboard even more remarkable. . . His Excellency, the President walked around the ship and was shown various aviation facilities onboard. He evinced keen interest in the functioning of the ship and her various aircraft. The President stated that he was very happy and honoured to be the first Head of State to visit the Indian Navys Flagship and state-of-the art aircraft carrier. The President signed the Visitors Book on completion of the visit. . . India and Sri Lanka share a very cordial multi-dimensional relationship that is both diverse and historic. The Indian Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy also share a deep and multi layered relationship, as also a history of strong bilateral engagement. This visit of the President of Sri Lanka, who is not only the Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka defence forces, but is also the current Defence Minister of Sri Lanka - to INS Vikramaditya is reflection of the strong bonds the two nations and navies have fostered between them over the years. . . DKS/CKP 6/ 2016 Just two months ago, researchers in China identified a gene that can make bacteria resistant to a last-resort antibiotic called colistin. It was a bombshell discovery for people who follow superbugs. Now that gene has been detected in at least 19 countries, and scientists are alarmed. Colistin is what doctors give you in the US when nothing else works. Because it's toxic, it can have some harmful side effects, but colistin can help defeat infections that shrug off every other antibiotic in their arsenal. If bacteria resist everything, including colistin, you're out of ... At least four people were killed and two injured in a shooting at a school in Saskatchewan, in one of the most deadly school attacks in Canada in almost three decades. "This is every parent's worst nightmare," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum. "We are grieving with the community." One suspect opened fire in a rural high school in La Roche, a Dene native community of about 3,000 people in northern Saskatchewan Friday afternoon, according to police and local media reports. Earlier ... Google has agreed to pay 130 million ($185 million) in back taxes to Britain, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers and campaigners who said the "derisory" figure smacked of a "sweetheart deal". Google, now part of Alphabet, has been under pressure in recent years over its practice of channelling most profits from European clients through Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no tax on them. In 2013, the company faced a UK parliamentary inquiry after a Reuters investigation showed the firm employed hundreds of salespeople in Britain despite saying it did not conduct sales in the country, a key plank in its tax arrangements. Google said late on Friday the 130 million would settle a probe by the British tax authority, which had challenged the company's low tax returns for the years since 2005. It said it had also agreed a basis on which tax in the future would be calculated. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift," a Google spokesman said in a statement. The deal comes as governments around the world seek to clamp down on multinational companies shifting profits overseas to reduce their tax bills. EU competition authorities have investigated arrangements used by Amazon and a unit of Fiat in Luxembourg, Apple in Ireland and Starbucks in the Netherlands, and may start new probes. British finance minister George Osborne welcomed the deal, saying on Twitter it reflected new rules that he had introduced, but others were less impressed. John McDonnell, finance spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said the tax authorities needed to explain how they had settled on the figure of 130 million, which he described as relatively insignificant. "It looks to me ... that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been made, in fact one analysis has put the rate down to about 3 per cent, which I think is derisory," he told BBC Radio on Saturday. "This looks like another sweetheart deal." Prems Sikka, professor of accounting at Essex University, agreed. He said that for a company that enjoyed UK turnover of around 24 billion over the period and margins of 30 per cent, the settlement represented an effective tax rate in the low single digits for Google. "This is a lousy number and we need to know more," he said. Richard Murphy, a tax expert who has advised the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on economic policy, said the deal was "a disaster" and that, based on the turnover and margins Google enjoyed, "They should have been paying 200 million a year." Between 2005 and 2013, Google had UK turnover of 17 billion and its main UK unit reported a tax charge of 52 million, filings showed. In 2014, it had UK revenues of around 4 billion, according to its annual report, but has not yet published its UK tax charge. Millions more vehicles are being recalled to replace defective Takata Corp air bags as another death was linked to the devices that have been found to spray metal pieces into vehicles, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Two recalls announced Friday cover 5 million air bag inflators in cars made by Ford, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co, Daimler AG, Audi AG, Mazda Motor Corp., Saab AB and BMW AG. NHTSA has been coordinating the largest-ever US automotive recall, which previously covered 23 million inflators in 19 million vehicles with Takata air bags. The agency ... The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU) has held the National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) guilty of several violations of the anti-money laundering law, issuing a penalty order that some investors say is as significant as that of the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) in December 2013. The black-money watchdog has slapped a penalty of ~1.66 crore for several counts of violating provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). NSEL has moved the appellate tribunal against the order, calling it flawed and bad in law. But, NSEL Investors Forum (NIF), a body representing 13,000 victims of the ~5,600-crore payment crisis in NSEL, said it welcomes the order and asked the Union ministry of corporate affairs, which is considering a proposal to merge the defunct bourse with its cash-rich parent Financial Technologies (India) Ltd (FTIL), to take cognisance of the order. Section 12 of the PMLA and the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005, framed under the PMLA, impose on all reporting entities obligations that include maintaining prescribed records of specified transactions, appointing a principal officer and a designated director, performing client due diligence and furnishing to director, FIU, prescribed reports including reports on suspicious transactions (STRs). FIU held that NSEL came under the purview of the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and, therefore, was guilty of failing in several of these obligations under the law. The watchdog further held that the failures were deliberate and wilful and, hence, invited penalties. NSEL has been fined ~1 lakh for each failure and the collective fine was ~1.66 crore. The order clearly proves the wilful negligence in proper safety and security of investors as well as following proper procedures of governance, Chairman of NSEL Investors Forum Sharad Kumar Saraf said in an emailed statement. The investors hope that the government of India will take cognisance of the order and issue the merger order before the deadline of February 15, 2016. NIF further urges the government to invoke PMLA and take necessary actions to recover the funds of investors, Saraf added. In response to an email seeking comments sent on Thursday, NSEL said, In our understanding FIU India has coined a new term, deemed intermediary, and based on this hitherto unknown term, in the parlance on PMLA, has wrongly assumed NSEL to be a recognised and registered association and to be a reporting entity as per the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1952. NSEL added, Going further, FIU served a notice on NSEL and its ex-non-executive/independent directors and key officials, holding office from mid-February and September of 2013. The exchange has contended that the assumption of FIU India is deeply flawed and reiterated the exemptions NSEL was granted under Section 27 of the FCRA. Notwithstanding our response, FIU has passed an order of penalty on NSEL on misconceived understanding and assumptions. The impugned order is bad in law and is against the principles of natural justice. We have appealed against the said impugned order and in the appellate tribunal. We are happy to have received a favourable response from the appellate authority. The matter is pending for further hearing. Of the penalty, a substantial portion of ~1.34 crore was on account of non-submission of STRs in respect of 134 contracts. NSEL failed to fulfil its obligations under the PMLA by not evolving a mechanism for detecting and furnishing suspicious transaction reports, resulting in failure to examine 134 contracts that were in operation during the period from February 15, 2013, to July 31, 2013, said the FIU order. It came after several oral and written submissions including hearing NSEL representatives Ashish Kakade, vice-president, P R Ramesh, advocate, last September. One of the arguments of NSEL was that it was neither registered nor recognised under FCRA and, hence, was not a reporting entity. FIU found this invalid and unacceptable. NSEL was undertaking activities that required recognition and registration. Recognition and registration are granted on the application of the entity carrying on those activities. In order to carry on those activities in a legitimate manner, it was incumbent on NSEL to take action for recognition or registration under the FCRA, the FIU said in the November order. The watchdog further held that NSEL cannot claim immunity or cannot be absolved of its obligations under the PMLA merely on the ground that it was not recognised or registered under the FCRA, as it deliberately chose to carry out activities for which it was not authorised. According to the FIU order, this deliberate act of avoidance of law was mala-fide as NSELs own admissions showed that it was aware of the risk of money laundering inherent in its operations as well as in the operations of its members. On the exchanges contention that there was no mens rea (criminal intent), FIU said, It is amply clear from NSELs own admission that it was aware that the operations of NSEL and its members were vulnerable to money laundering and financing of terrorism NSEL has not produced any evidence of any consultation with any authority including its regulator or FIU-IND as to whether it was obligated under the PMLA. What is striking is that this was done fully knowing that the operations of NSEL and its members were vulnerable to money laundering. Therefore, the mens rea is evident. FIU further added: It appears that NSEL was more concerned about interpreting the laws, etc. in a manner that would give it a reason to avoid being regulated or furnishing any reports rather than serving the public interest. NSELs persistent refusal to furnish to FIU routine information, despite repeated requests, including on its directors and senior management, and submit to the other requirements of law was also viewed adversely by the body. FIU saw ample evidence of wilful violation of law and, therefore, said NSEL could not be let off with a penalty that should normally be imposed for minor violations. Considering that these failures were deliberate and wilful and keeping in mind that the penalties have to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive, I hereby impose a fine of ~1 lakh for each failure, FIU director Praveen Kumar Tiwari said in the order. In December 2013, FMC, then the regulator of commodities markets, had declared FTIL and its top executives including founder Jignesh Shah not fit and proper to run exchanges for their role in NSEL. The findings and directions of this order, challenged by FTIL and Shah, have become the basis of proceedings by several other agencies and regulatory bodies. NSELs violations: Failure to register as a reporting entity with Financial Intelligence Unit-India Not appointing a designated director and a principal officer Not furnishing any report as required under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and rules therein Not furnishing details of its members who are also intermediaries Not furnishing details, despite repeated requests, of National Spot Exchange Limiteds board of directors and key officials Wilfully avoiding obligations of a reporting entity by choosing not to be registered or recognised under Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act Source: FIU order Billionaire investor George Soros says China is headed for a hard landing. Templeton Global Advisors says it's making a normal economic shift, while Goldman Sachs Group says investors are overstating the slowdown's impact on the world. Who to believe? Traders are struggling to decide. The Shanghai Composite Index swung between gains and losses every day this week, while anxiety over China's prospects pushed US stock volatility to an almost four-month high on Wednesday. The turbulence has gotten so extreme that China's vice-president said the government was preparing increased ... The Afghan Taliban will send representatives to a conference organised by the International Crisis Group at Doha that will discuss resolving the war in Afghanistan. Representatives of the Taliban's 'political office' will attend the conference being held in Doha on Saturday by Pugwash conferences on Science and Affairs, reports the Dawn. The conference 'aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in Afghanistan,'is now in its 15th year. The Taliban said they sought to take 'healthy advantage' of the Pugwash initiative to 'relay the legal demands of our nation and our just policy to the directly'. The conference is not the part of official peace process which recently restarted after being derailed in July after theTaliban's founder Mullah Mohammad Omar had been dead since early 2013. Four people have been killed in a school shooting in Canada's Saskatchewan province in La Loche and one man has been arrested. According to The Guardian, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the shooting as "every parent's worst nightmare". Acting mayor Kavin Janvier said that his 23-year-old daughter who taught at the school was among the dead. In a media briefing, Chief Superintendent Maureen Levy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that chaos in the immediate wake of the shooting made some of the early information unreliable. Levy said that there is a lot of information going back and forth in such incidents. The number of people injured could not be confirmed. The Centre on Saturday cleared the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project. The 22-km sea link will connect the island city at Sewri to Chirle, Nhavasheva, on the mainland in Raigad District. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed thankfulness to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Environment Minister Mr. Prakash Javadekar for issuing forest and environmental clearance. In a tweet today, Fadnavis said the BJP Government has cleared the project proposal in just few months which the previous governments could not even do for decades. He informed that besides Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project, the Union Environment Ministry also cleared Eco sensitive zone proposals for Karnala Sanctuary and Sanjay Gandhi Park. To control the damage she made with her statement on #OscarsSoWhite movement, Academy award-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling said that her comments were misinterpreted. The 69-year-old British star, nominated this year for her leading role in '45 Years,' told in an interview that she regrets that her "comments could have been misinterpreted," reports New York Daily News. Adding on to that, Rampling said that she meant to say that in an ideal world, every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration. Rampling received backlash following her French radio interview on January 22, wherein she said that all the talk of an Oscars whitewash is actually anti-white. "It is racist to whites," Rampling told during the interview. "One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to make the final list. Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay has condemned the Chinese government's spiritual cataloguing system, while terming it an attempt to control the reincarnation system of monks in Tibetan Buddhism. Highlighting China's track record of destroying 98 percent of monasteries and nunneries in Tibet as well as disrobing monks and putting them behind bars, Sangay said the Chinese government, Communist Party of China in particular, has no business in interfering in the reincarnation system. The Chinese government recently launched an online database of legal living Buddhas to counter fake living Buddhas that were using donations to support pro-independence activities in Tibet, which Tibetans view as a broader struggle to control the legacy of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Speaking here on Thursday, Sangay said the Chinese Government lacks credibility and legitimacy in spiritual matters. "So, I am sure they have plans to control the reincarnation system and the reincarnation lamas. But, it will not be credible because neither they have the legitimacy nor credibility in the spiritual matters," said Sangay. Tibetan Buddhism holds that the soul of a senior lama, or monk, is reincarnated in the body of a child who would then grow up to become a so-called living Buddha. The first list of 870 government-certified reincarnations in mainland China was unveiled by the Buddhist Association of China. Beijing says the move will prevent fake living Buddhas from cheating believers and swindle money from them. As of 2007, there were more than 100 living Buddhas in Tibet, according to the official China Daily. However, Tibetans living in Dharamsala decried the move calling it interference by China in the intricacies of Tibetan culture and religion. Members of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) staged a protest at a market place in Dharamsala town on Thursday. SFT Director, Dorjee Tsetan, said they do not accept the list as it does not feature the name of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. "We cannot imagine having a list of Tibetan Buddhist lama without His Holiness' name in that and there are many-many important Tibetan lamas-in-exile and they won't be in that list. So, on very first place we object such list. Chinese government has no authority to take such step," said Tsetan. A petition opposing the list was also signed during the protest which was mainly satirical. Protesters wore Chinese army uniform, while one of them also covered his face with the mask of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule. He has said the title of Dalai Lama could end when he dies. The search for a living Buddha such as the Dalai Lama is complex, involving divination, interpreting dreams, oracles and prayer, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition. China routinely rejects criticism of its policies in Tibet, saying its rule, since Communist Chinese troops, ended serfdom and brought development to a backward, poverty-stricken region. The Dalai Lama has denied Chinese charges he wants Tibetan independence or that he promotes violence, saying he only wants genuine autonomy for his homeland. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan on Saturday welcomed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to suspended Janata Dal (United) MLA Sarfraz Alam, who allegedly misbehaved with a woman on a train, but asked why the action was taken only after pressure from the media. "This was much needed, finally the Chief Minister has decided to sack him. In such sensitive cases, where women are getting molested the timing is also important. Why is it that it was done only after public and media pressure? Such issues should be dealt with utmost care and immediately," Paswan told ANI. An FIR was registered on Monday against Alam for harassing a couple onboard Rajdhani Express. He was also charged with misbehaving with the woman passenger. A case has been filed against the JD (U) MLA at GRP Police Station at Patna junction and he has been booked under Sections 341, 323, 290, 504 and 354A of the IPC. Alam, however, has denied the charges, saying he didn't even board the train. "These allegations are baseless. I did not even travel by that train. There is politics behind this to tarnish my image. I will initiate legal action," Alam said. Meanwhile, the Congress has lauded the move by the Nitish-Kumar led government. "It is good that such impartial level of investigation on a party is taking place," Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bahrain counterpart Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa signed an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons here on Saturday. The Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides have discussed on the possibility of concluding pending agreements. "Double taxation avoidance agreement is something which Bahrain would like to see happening with India," MEA's Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa told media here. "India would like to see an MoU on defence co-operation with Bahrain," he added. Swaraj, who is on a two-day bilateral visit to Bahrain, met the Gulf Nation's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa after her arrival earlier today. She also went to Srinath Ji Temple and Little India Market, and visited India Pavilion at Bahrain Air Show. She is in Bahrain for the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping. The India-Arab League ministerial meeting, comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials' Meeting in Bahrain in November 2014. Bahrain is an important partner for India in the Gulf with bilateral trade in 2013-14 exceeding USD 1.3 billion. Over 350,000 Indian nationals work and contribute to the development of Bahrain. A purported Islamic State group Twitter account is trying to use the hashtag #JustinBieber to get more eyeballs, especially of the teenagers, on its propaganda video. With links to the video, titled 'Message to Islamic West,' #JustinBeiber was used along with the hashtags of ISIS and ISIL, by which Islamic State is also known, reports News.com.au. This 21-year-old heartthrob has almost 74 million Twitter followers, which seems to be the easiest way to reach the mass world-wide. The video came after a warning from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this week on improvement of online campaign against Islamic State. The 15-minute video, which was professionally produced, includes filming of the execution of four men, who are shot in the back of the head at close range as they kneel on the ground with their hands bound. Footage of various attacks are also shown, as are appeals for new recruits. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday suspended Janata Dal (United) MLA Sarfraz Alam, who allegedly misbehaved with a woman on the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. Earlier in the day Nitish had said, "Action would be taken against Sarfraz Alam, as such conducts cannot be tolerated," An FIR was registered on Monday against Alam for harassing a couple onboard Rajdhani train. He has also been charged with misbehaving with the woman passenger. A case has been filed against the JD (U) MLA at GRP Police Station at Patna junction and he has been booked under Sections 341, 323, 290, 504 and 354A of the IPC. Alam, however, has denied the charges, saying he didn't even board the train. "These allegations are baseless. I did not even travel by that train. There is politics behind this to tarnish my image. I will initiate legal action," Alam said. "I was in Patna and I went by road and came back. The development work is underway in full swing in Bihar and some people do not like it," he added. Meanwhile, the Congress has lauded the move by the Nitish-Kumar led government "It is good that such impartial level of investigation on a party is taking place," Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said. The Congress Party on Saturday termed the letter showing former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru allegedly calling Subhas Bose a 'war criminal' as a fake and vowed to expose all those behind this 'mischief'. Congress leader Anand Sharma, told media here, that this was a 'deliberate' attempt by the ruling dispensation to divert attention from other important issues. Array "This mischief is a targeted one, to mislead people and try to belittle the great achievements of stalwarts of the freedom struggle. The Congress will expose and take action against this mischievous fake letter," he said. Array "We will take all measures to punish people once identified. Whoever is taking ownership must come forward," he added. Sharma further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government wanted to encash on the name Subhas Bose. "The way this matter has been brought to the limelight, it raises several questions on ruling dispensation's intentions," he added. Sharma further said that BJP can't claim any leader who was on the fore front of the freedom struggle. Array This is what the letter allegedly written by Pt. Nehru to Prime Minister Clement Atlee of England , on December 27 1945, says; "Dear Mr Attlee, I understand from reliable sources that Subhas Chandra Bose, your war criminal, has been allowed to enter Russian territory by Stalin. This is a clear treachery and betrayal of faith by the Russians as Russia has been an ally of the British-Americans, which she should not have done. Please take note of it and do what you consider proper and fit." The letter is signed, "Yours Sincerely, Jawaharlal Nehru. Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday paid homage to freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. Remembering the role-played by Netaji in freedom struggle, Gandhi recalled that the nation as indeed the Congress Party can never forget his contribution to the struggle for freedom for founding of an independent democratic republic of India. He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic, said Gandhi. Netaji was born in Cuttack, Odisha. A number of functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion. Netaji Birthplace Museum in Cuttack will release a special booklet containing rare photographs and information about Azad Hind Fauj or Indian Army. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files relating to Netaji. The Archives of India is placing these files in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. In 1997, the National Archives had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army from Defence Ministry. In 2012, it received 1,030 files and items pertaining to the Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry from Home Ministry. All these files and items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules 1997. A congressional report sent to United States lawmakers has warned that continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardise strategic stability between the two countries. The Congressional Research Service (CRS), which prepared the report, notes that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is 'designed to dissuade India from taking military action against the country'. The report notes that both India and Pakistan 'continues to expand its nuclear arsenal' but since the report is about Pakistan, it focuses on the Pakistani nuclear programme,reports Dawn. The report claimed that Pakistan has approximately 110-130 nuclear warheads. Pakistan's adoption of a doctrine called 'full spectrum deterrence' has led some observers to express concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India. Pakistan however has strengthened export control laws, improved personnel security, and international nuclear security cooperation programmes but CRS warns that 'instability' in Pakistan has 'called the extent and durability of these reforms into question'. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said that political parties opposing the Centre's move of questioning the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia are acting against the interest of the minority community. "We are doing exactly, what is prescribed in the constitution. These parties are taking a stand which is against the constitution and against the interest of the minority community," BJP leader Zafar Islam told ANI. "There are 10,000 minority institutions in the country and they are not being funded by the Central Government. But if it becomes Central University then it can be funded by the Centre," he added. The BJP leader further said that these political parties are taking a divisive stand against the Constitution. "They should know that if the Universities remain minority institutions then the government funding would not be there," he added. MP from eight parties had yesterday issued a joint statement, condemning the Central Government's questioning the minority status of AMU and Jamia Milia Universities. "We strongly condemn, and express our displeasure and deep concern over the nasty move by the Central Government to strip off the minority status from Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia Islamia," said the statement. JD (U) Rajya Sabha MP K. C. Tyagi had accused the government of being adamant to gag the freedom of minority institutions. Meanwhile, stating that AMU and Jamia were established before the Constitution came into existence, Tyagi told ANI that the government's decision to 'strip the minority status of the Universities is a conspiracy against the minorities'. United States Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Saudi Arabia hoping to ease the escalating tensions between the Sunni power and it's predominantly Shia rival Iran. Kerry was to attend a joint meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), reports the Dawn. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran after the kingdom executed dissident Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr. Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran and will continue those efforts in Riyadh. Kerry earlier emphasized that lessening tensions is an important objective not only for the United States but for the region. Coming out all guns blazing on Smriti Irani over the suicide of Rohith Vemula- a Dalit scholar in Hyderabad, the Congress on Saturday lashed out at the Union Human Resource Development minister saying that it was the first time in history that such an 'underqualified' person had been chosen for the prestigious position of an education minister. "The situation has worsened among in the education arena ever since the HRD minister assumed her position among controversy. For the first time in the history of the nation, a Prime Minister chose such an underqualified person as an education minister. It's his right to make such a choice and we have no objection to that, but when someone makes false claims especially about their qualifications and achievements, then objecting to it becomes necessary," Congress leader Anand Sharma told the media here. Asserting that there is a lot of anger among students against the Centre, he said that there has been a sudden change in environment in universities across the nations and held the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh responsible for the recent display of antagonism by the students. "There is anger simmering among the students against the government in many campuses and it is a matter of concern. We saw it in FTII in Pune, Jadavpur University in Bengal, IIT in Chennai and now in Hyderabad. The BJP and the RSS have a definite policy and strategy to corrupt the environment and bring a negative vibe to it," Sharma said. Training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking action against his own ministers - Irani and Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya- who are under the scanner over Vemula's death, the Congress spokesperson said that a 'delayed response and emotion-filled words' would not be enough and demanded an end to the 'pretense of emotions'. "It took the Prime Minister five days to react. He has a moral and a constitutional duty to take action. We need to ask that what has been done besides emotional words. Why has no action been taken against Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya? We cannot be satisfied by a belated, delayed response and some emotional words expressed by the Prime Minister," Sharma said. Maintaining that there have been contradictions ever since the suicide of Rohit, he accused the BJP of making statements that have been hurtful to the memory of the late scholar and slammed the Prime Minister for refusing to condemn such statements. "The BJP made statements which were insulting and hurtful instead of being sincere in expression of sympathies. The ministers of the government including the HRD minister and Bandaru Dattatreya, did act in a manner which calls for not only condemnation but action," Sharma said. "PM Modi should tell the country now that how he will take accountability of his senior party colleagues for calling this departed Dalit student an anti- . His refusal to condemn it and not take action against the VC amounts to shielding the culprit. We are right in demanding that the PM take action," he said. Earlier, the Congress had dubbed Prime Minister Modi's regret over Rohit Vemula's suicide as 'shedding crocodile tears' and said that he had disappointed the nation by not talking about taking action on those responsible for the Dalit scholar's death. An emotional Prime Minister Modi had expressed anguish at Vemula's suicide and said that he felt the pain of the Dalit scholar's family. "A young son of my country, Rohith, was compelled to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through, I can feel the pain. A mother has lost his son, there cannot be a bigger grief. Reasons (behind the suicide) and politics may have their own place but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son," he said. Meanwhile, the executive council of the University revoked the suspension of the other four Dalit PhD scholars who had been expelled, along with Rohith Vemula, in December last year. The announcement brought much cheer to protesting students who have been demanding that the university revoke the suspension of these students, since the day Vemula committed suicide in a hostel room. They, however, vowed to continue their agitation unless the Centre agreed to meet their other demands that include the expulsion of university vice-chancellor, Appa Rao Podile. Rohith, a second-year research scholar of Science, Technology and Society Studies Department, and others were suspended from the hostel last year following allegations that they attacked Sushil Kumar after the screening of a controversial documentary 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai'. Earlier this month, five students were thrown out of the hostel after they accused the university authorities of denying them access to campus facilities, except their classrooms and workshops. The 28-year-old victim from Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district was found hanging at the hostel room of one of his friends around 7:30 pm on Sunday. Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'late' reaction to the death of Rohit Vemula, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday accused the former of shedding 'crocodile tears and being in damage control' mode, as the Dalit scholar's suicide was affecting the Centre politically. "The Prime Minister is shedding crocodile tears over the student's death. He did not say a word for five days over this issue and his own ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani are being highlighted with grave severity in this entire issue," AAP leader Ashutosh told ANI here. Holding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) partially responsible for Vemula's death, he added that the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of BJP, had slapped false cases against the Dalit scholar and that the vice chancellor of the Hyderabad University was under constant pressure by the Union Ministers. "The boy was pushed to the limit of committing suicide and after everything that has happened since, the Prime Minister has now found the time to shed tears. Was he sleeping for the past five days?" Ashutosh added. He also accused Prime Minister Modi of taking a 'long time' to react in comparison to similar situations regarding his own ministers and said that it indicated the Centre's mentality towards the Dalits and the minorities. "Whenever it is a situation regarding a Dalit or a minority, the Prime Minister takes such a long time to react. When it was Akhlaq's death, he took around 10 days to break his silence and in Rohit's case he has taken 5 days. He has realized that this situation is causing him harm politically and now he is in damage control mode," Ashutosh said. Earlier, an emotional Prime Minister Modi had expressed anguish at Vemula's suicide and said that he felt the pain of the Dalit scholar's family. "A young son of my country, Rohith, was compelled to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through, I can feel the pain. A mother has lost his son, there cannot be a bigger grief. Reasons (behind the suicide) and politics may have their own place but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son," he said. Meanwhile, the executive council of the University revoked the suspension of the other four Dalit PhD scholars who had been expelled, along with Rohith Vemula, in December last year. The announcement brought much cheer to protesting students who have been demanding that the university revoke the suspension of these students, since the day Vemula committed suicide in a hostel room. They, however, vowed to continue their agitation unless the Centre agreed to meet their other demands that include the expulsion of university vice-chancellor, Appa Rao Podile. Rohith, a second-year research scholar of Science, Technology and Society Studies Department, and others were suspended from the hostel last year following allegations that they attacked Sushil Kumar after the screening of a controversial documentary 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai'. Earlier this month, five students were thrown out of the hostel after they accused the university authorities of denying them access to campus facilities, except their classrooms and workshops. The 28-year-old victim from Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district was found hanging at the hostel room of one of his friends around 7:30 pm on Sunday. Remembering Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described him a man of extraordinary courage, a patriot and a charismatic leader. "Netaji's contribution to India's freedom struggle will continue to inspire us," tweeted Gandhi. Earlier, paying homage to Netaji, Congress President Sonia Gandhi remembered the role-played by Netaji in freedom struggle. Gandhi recalled that the nation as indeed the Congress Party can never forget his contribution to the struggle for freedom for founding of an independent democratic republic of India. He will always live in the hearts of all Indians for his patriotic fervour and dedication to the Indian Republic, said Gandhi. Netaji was born in Cuttack, Odisha. A number of functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion. Netaji Birthplace Museum in Cuttack will release a special booklet containing rare photographs and information about Azad Hind Fauj or Indian Army. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files relating to Netaji. The Archives of India is placing these files in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. In 1997, the National Archives had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army from Defence Ministry. In 2012, it received 1,030 files and items pertaining to the Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry from Home Ministry. All these files and items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules 1997. Russia's Commander-in-Chief General Oleg Salyukov has announced that Russia will hold its first ever military exercises with Pakistan in the coming year. The Russian Army is scheduled to hold seven international drills in 2016, including the 'the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain'reports Dawn. Salyukov added that the Russian Army will also hold joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as a Russian-Vietnamese exercise. Pakistan and India both joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in July 2015. IPO is a combination of fresh issue of shares and offer for sale The initial public offer (IPO) of Precision Camshafts opens for bidding through the book building route on Wednesday, 27 January 2016. The price band for the IPO has been fixed at Rs 180-186 per share. The bidding for the IPO concludes on Friday, 29 January 2016. Precision Camshafts, promoted by first generation entrepreneurs Yatin Shah and Suhasini Shah, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of camshafts, a critical engine component in passenger vehicles. The IPO is a combination of fresh issue of shares aggregating up to Rs 240 crore and offer for sale by promoters and one of the directors. The proceeds of the fresh issue will be used for expansion. The two promoters Yatin and Suhasini Shah are selling a total of 25.86 lakh shares. Promoter group company Cams Technology has put on block 35.63 lakh shares and Jayant Aradhye, a non-executive director, is selling 30 lakh shares through the IPO. The company proposes to utilize Rs 200 crore from the net proceeds of the IPO for establishment of a new machine shop for ductile iron camshafts at its existing export oriented unit (EOU) situated at Solapur in Maharashtra. The company currently has two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities - an EOU unit and a domestic unit - both situated at Solapur, Maharashtra. The company supplies over 150 varieties of camshafts for passenger vehicles, tractors, light commercial vehicles and locomotive engine applications. A majority of the company's revenue comes from export of camshafts to various OEMs directly and indirectly. The company has long term relationships with OEMs, including General Motors, Ford Motors, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra. On consolidated basis, the company reported net profit of Rs 34.10 crore on net turnover of Rs 253.37 crore for six months ended 30 September 2015. Net profit stood at Rs 62.36 crore on net turnover of Rs 532.42 crore for the year ended 31 March 2015. Powered by Capital Market - Live News At least 100 railway stations will have Google-sponsored Wi-Fi connectivity in one year, Union minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu said here on Saturday. "In one year we will start offering Google Wi-Fi connectivity at nearly 100 major railway stations to the people," Prabhu said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the All India Saraswat Sammellan. Google's CEO Sunder Pichai had announced his company's decision to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity at 400 Indian railway stations during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Google headquarters at Mountain View in California. As part of the project 100 railway Stations will have Wi-Fi connectivity by the end of 2016. "Along with Google Wi-Fi connectivity, we are trying to ensure a better customer experience for all our travellers who use the Indian Railways at other stations too," Prabhu, who was the chief Aguest at the event, said. At least 29 people, including a woman, were killed, in an airstrike in a rebel-held area in Syria's Deir al-Zour province, a monitor group reported. Several people were also wounded, some critically, when unknown warplanes struck the town of Khusham on Saturday in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It added that it was not clear whether the strikes were carried out by Syrians or Russians. The Britain-based watchdog group said the attack on Khusham came just a day after 44 people, including 15 children and eight women, were killed in similar airstrikes against areas in eastern Deir al-Zour. Noted poet Uday Prakash said on Saturday that the BJP government government at the centre is trying to scuttle the ?award wapsi? movement foreseeing the Uttar Pradesh elections which are due early next year. Uday Prakash was the first writer to return his Sahitya Akademi award, sparking a nation-wide debate on intolerance. Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, Uday Prakash said that the recent decision of some of the writers to take back the award smacks of politics. The poet said that the suicide of a Hyderabad University student has maligned the image of the government and it is trying to make it up by convincing writers to retreive their awards. "The suicide of the Hyderabad student had damaged the image of the BJP government. Ruling it ?savarna' Hindus are turning it into a caste war. I also foresee that since the Uttar Pradesh elections are due, the government is wooing the writers to take back the award," said Uday Prakash, adding that he wouldn't reclaim his award. The poet also said that the decision of some of the writers to reclaim the award will dampen the civil society movement, and felt that they could have delayed the announcement. "The decision of some of the writers to take back the award came a bit early. This is going to weaken the civil society movement. The writers should have reviewed whether anything substantial was done by the government or not," he said. Citing the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad, he asserted that intolerance is still high in the country, and writers have to address this issue. "It's not just about Sahitya Akademi, intolerance is happening in Hyderabad, and other institutions across the country. Writers can't keep quiet in this atmosphere," he felt. The Sahitya Akademi claimed on Thursday that two writers, including Nayantara Sahgal, have agreed to reclaim their awards. However, Sahgal has denied this. (Preetha Nair can be contacted at preetha.nair@ians.in) Two burglars were arrested for breaking into a hotel room in the popular Goa beach village of Majorda, rendering a British couple unconscious with chloroform spray and stealing cash, jewellery and other articles worth Rs.4.79 lakh, police said on Saturday. According to the first information report filed at the Colva police station by 37-year-old Gerald Duncan Hardington, a resident of Sheffield in Britain, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday. The FIR said unidentified people sprayed chloroform on the couple, who were sleeping in their room at the Good Faith Guest House in Majorda and stole gold rings encrusted with precious stones, as well as other jewellery, foreign currency and Indian rupees to the tune of Rs.4.79 lakh. Two people, Mario Baptist and Ryan Dias, both local residents, were arrested later, police said. "We have recovered part of the stolen items. Investigation is on," said a police spokesperson attached to the South Goa district police. A British woman, who stabbed a paedophile to death in 2014, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, more than double the original sentence. Sarah Sands, 32, a mother of five children, killed her neighbour Michael Pleasted, 77, in east London. Sands armed herself with a knife and stabbed Pleasted in his flat after she learned the old man was charged with sexually assaulting young boys. The man was stabbed eight times and bled to death, Xinhua cited the media reports as saying. It said Pleasted was on bail for his trial on two charges of sexual assault on children when Sands carried out the attack in his flat in November 2014. The original case found Sands guilty by the reason of loss of control and gave her a 3.5 year jail sentence. However, the court of appeal on Friday ruled the sentence was "too lenient" as she took a knife with her and went to Pleasted's flat, which means the starting point for sentencing should have been 10 years. After Sands handed herself over to the police, she told a police officer Pleasted had touched some children "so I took care of it -- I stabbed him." She said she had not intended to hurt Pleasted but he "smirked" when he answered the door and told her the boys were all liars who had ruined his life. "Our office received a great deal of correspondence in regards to this highly emotive and sensitive case," said a spokesman for the attorney general's office. Following careful review, the case was referred to the court of appeal where the sentence was raised to 7.5 years, he added. Actor Boman Irani, who will host a festival celebrating the life and work of legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy on television, says classic films are "our legacy, our treasure". Commemorating the 50th death anniversary of Roy, Zee Classic will celebrate his life and work, with the "Bimal Roy Festival presented by Boman Irani". "Classic films are our legacy, our treasure. Those who don't want to see them, so be it. But the few that will see them will get influenced by them. Even if a few get influenced, they will realise that they are watching something that they have missed out, that they are deprived of," Boman told IANS. "Children of my generation had the opportunity to watch good, classic films regularly, but we don't get to see the stuff now. Now we have 180 channels and still we are unable to screen or telecast one single classic film," he rued. Boman shared that one of the first classic films he saw was Roy's movie "Do Bigha Zamin", which released in 1953. "It was completely a different kind of cinema, had a statement with the story line, about the industrialisation of the country, the plight of the farmers and issues that are even more relevant today," said the "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S." actor. He mentioned late actor Balraj Sahni's influence on him, saying that he continues to get inspired with his work in the film. "I was completely blown away by his performance in the film and realised this is what takes to be an actor. Not somebody who mouths a few lines," Boman said. "If I was born in that generation, I would totally love to work in any of the Bimal Roy films," he added. The festival, co-powered by State Bank of India, will air every Saturday starting from February 6 with "Do Bigha Zamin". Over 2,000 school students and tableaux depicting prevailing issues were part of a colourful procession taken out in the Tripura capital on Saturday to mark the 119th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As many as 26 groups of students of the 68-year-old Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan highlighted terror strikes across the world, drug menace, crimes against women, earthquakes, Tripura's achievements in different fields and incidents related to India's freedom struggle. A group of students also depicted the recent terror attack at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab. Spectators gathered in thousands by the roadside to watch the procession that was flagged off by Tripura's Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty. Government departments and NGOs also took out tableaux illustrating various national and regional issues. "We have been organising the procession on the occasion of Netaji's birthday for the past 65 years to highlight the role, sacrifice and dedication of this great freedom fighter and India's iconic leader," said school headmaster Amulya Chandra Debnath. A murder and a suicide have queered the pitch for the BJP's relations with two major communities - the Muslims and Dalits. If Mohammed Akhlaq's lynching in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh last September further alienated the Muslims who were never very close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) anyway, Rohith Vemula's suicide in Hyderabad has dealt a crippling blow to the party's recent attempts to woo the Dalits. From this standpoint, the BJP will be greatly worried about the possible electoral impact of the young scholar's fateful decision to take his own life. Apparently unused to dealing with the aftermath of a protester killing himself, the BJP has made the situation worse for itself by taking a legalistic view of the tragedy by referring to Rohith's last letter in which he absolved everyone of any responsibility for his death. "I am the only one responsible for this", he wrote. "Do not trouble my friends and enemies on this after I am gone." What the BJP failed to understand was the young man's highly-sensitive mind, which blamed his own fate of being born as a Dalit for his plight. "My birth is my fatal accident. Never was a man treated as a glorious thing made up of stardust," he wrote with a knowledge of science that is beyond the capability of the average politician. How touchy he was can also be seen from the sarcastic letter he wrote to the vice chancellor last month, asking him to provide all Dalit students with 10 mg of a poison pill and "a nice rope" with "directions to use when they feel like reading Ambedkar". This ironic letter has been seized upon by a BJP minister, Thawar Chand Gehlot, to give a legal twist to the case by suggesting that Rohith was suicidal. It is understandable that a party as crassly combative as the BJP, one of whose ministers called its opponents "haramzadon" or illegitimate offspring, and another asked beef-eaters to go to Pakistan, will not have a clue about such sensitiveness. There is little doubt that the crudity of the ministers was behind the tragedy. It followed union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya's description of the Hyderabad university campus as a den of anti-nationals following a clash between a group of Dalit and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students, in which Rohith was involved. Dattatreya apparently just could not accept the fact that his party's student wing can be targeted by the alleged anti-nationals when the BJP is in power at the centre. Hence his missive to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani for intervening. A senior colleague's anger and her own sympathies for the ABVP evidently made Irani badger the university authorities with as many as five letters for "action". Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile - (Irani's poodle?) - had no option, therefore, but to stop Rohith's monthly stipend and suspend him and four other students. What is noteworthy about the entire episode is that it has all the hallmarks of the BJP's belligerent style of functioning against all those it regards as its adversaries. One is to dub them anti-national and/or anti-Hindu, and the other is to ride roughshod over institutional autonomy. And a third is to describe all protests as "manufactured", a phrase which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley used at the time when writers and artistes were returning their awards, and is being used again - along with the term, photo-ops - as opposition politicians pour into Hyderabad. While these charges and counter-charges may be typical of political skirmishes, what will cause the BJP sleepless nights is the likelihood of the Dalits deserting the party in droves in the Hindi heartland and elsewhere. As it is, the BJP's hold on the Dalits has tended to fluctuate. In the 1990s, only one out of 10 Dalits voted for it. In 2014, however, one out of every four Dalits voted for the BJP largely because of Narendra Modi's promise of development. But the anger and distress felt by the community over the untimely death of a bright scholar cannot but have an adverse effect on the party in next year's Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, which will be the first real test for it in a state with a large Dalit population. The test will be crucial because, as the Bihar outcome has shown, the BJP's influence on the backward castes and Dalits is much less now than at the time of the last general election since Modi's appeal has begun to fade away. There is little doubt, therefore, that the Hyderabad tragedy will seriously hamper its outreach to the Dalits. For Modi, the suicide of a promising student is another headache at a time when nothing seems to be going right for him. While the economy is refusing to cross the seven percent mark, the saffron militants have begun to make life difficult for him after a relatively quiet period by calling for building the Ram temple and training children as young as eight years old in the use of firearms to fight the "enemy". These antics might have been described as irrelevant sideshows but for the death on the campus which can be ascribed to the BJP's intolerance of dissent which was noted earlier by sections of the intelligentsia. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) The dog squad of the army's Remount Veterinary Corps, who will take part in this year's Republic Day parade after nearly three decades, have been selected on the basis of merit, Army officials said on Saturday. An official said the dogs who will take part in the parade had not been pulled out of counter-insurgency operations. "The dogs undergo various kinds of training including obedience training for 12 weeks. The 36 dogs were selected on the basis of merit," an official told IANS. Major General Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, who briefed the media about the parade, said the dog squad will return to the Republic Day parade after 27 years. He said participation of the dog squad after 27 years was a form of recognition of the work done by the animal and its handler in counter-insurgency. "Dogs have done a fantastic job in counter-insurgency tasks," Sahai said. Sahai also lauded the participation of a foreign contingent in the Republic Day parade for the first time. Lt. Col. P. Bury, Commanding Officer of the 35th Infantry Regiment of the French Army, who was also present at the briefing, said they were very honoured to be the first foreign army contingent to take part in the parade. "Knowing that we are the very first foreign units that will have this honour, is a great pride for us. We are very impressed by the parade. We are very proud to represent France and to be the first foreign unit to be invited to parade at Rajpath," Bury told IANS. The Indian Army's participation will include mounted column of 61 cavalry, seven mechanized columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by Rudra and Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters. There will be 26 tableaux - 17 from states, one of each from the air force, navy and ex-servicemen and six from various ministries. There will be four items by school children. A total of 15 combined army bands, one air force, one navy, five bands of paramilitary forces and one NCC band as also one massed pipes and drums band will provide music for the parade. Sahai said Lt. Gen. Rajan Ravindran, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, will be the parade commander. He said the duration of the parade has been reduced by about 25 minutes to keep it "short, sweet and action-packed." A monster snowstorm clobbered the US East Coast from Washington to New York leaving major cities, railways and airports immobilised with the American capital right in the bull's eye buried under mounds of snow. Up to 85 million people are in the storm's path that has left at least 10 people dead nationwide. Over 160,000 homes in 13 states are without power and over 9,290 flights were cancelled from Friday, according to various media reports. Hundreds of motorists from Kentucky to Pennsylvania were stranded on icy inter-states. Nearly a 1,000 traffic crashes and 800 disabled vehicles were reported in Virginia alone. Eleven states -- Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia -- declared states of emergency. Washington has declared a "snow emergency". Dubbed "Snowmageddon 2016", the storm has already surpassed the one in February 2010 when 17 inches of snow fell on Washington and it looked like topping the calamitous "Knickerbocker Storm" of 1922, which dumped 28 inches on the capital. The weatherman offered no hopes of a letup warning of 18-40 inches of snow in some areas with 55 miles per hour (88 km per hour) wind gusts possible in Norfolk, Virginia. Snow arrived in Washington on Friday afternoon and quickly intensified, with a depth of two feet possible by the time the last flakes fall on Saturday night, according to city Mayor Muriel Bowser. Public transportation in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., was shut down as officials called on residents to hunker down and stay off the streets for a second day. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the expected snowfall for parts of his state has been upped "to about 16 to 24 inches". While things are "so far, so good", Cuomo said Saturday morning "conditions will start to deteriorate" once the centre of the storm hits New York City around 11 a.m." (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) Prime Minister Narendra Modi should find time to think about the poor and farmers rather than being worried just about industrialists, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday. Talking to farmers in Mahoba, during a stopover on his 8-km 'padyatra', Gandhi said he undertook the march to hear the problems of farmers in this region and try and find solutions. He also slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, saying he should also find time to come and see for himself how bad was the condition of farmers in the region. "By merely talking of farmers, you cannot wish away their problems. Come and see the barren lands and the dry soil here," Gandhi said. Stating that the then UPA government at the Centre had released a special package for Bundelkhand, he asked the state government why had the money not reached the beneficiaries. Gandhi also targeted the NDA government for failing to curb price rise and asked the people present if they had ever, in the past, eaten pulses costing Rs.250 a kg. Referring to Modi's promise during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign that he would bring back black money stashed in foreign bank accounts so that Rs.15 lakh is given to each Indian, he asked people to question Modi when their share would come. External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday left for Bahrain to attend the first ministerial meeting between India and the Arab League on Sunday. "This will be the first ever ministerial meeting between India and the League of Arab States Foreign Ministers," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The Arab League comprises 22 countries in West Asia and northern Africa. The Arab countries combined together are India's biggest trading partner with total trade of over $180 billion. The relationship between India and the Arab countries has already been taken to the next level called India-Arab Partnership Conference, four meetings of which have already been held with New Delhi hosting the last one in 2014. The next conference is scheduled to be held in Oman in May this year. Emerging areas of cooperation between India and the Arab countries include agriculture, dry land farming, environment protection, information and communication technology (ICT), automobiles, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), biotechnology and space. Sixty percent of India's oil and gas comes from West Asia which is an important pillar of the country's energy security. The Maghreb region provides phosphates and fertilisers for India's agricultural sector. The seven-million strong Indian diaspora in the Gulf countries is an important source of remittances. The first ministerial meeting in Bahrain on Sunday will provide new opportunities to further strengthen ties between the two sides. "India has been consistently deepening its engagement with the Arab world. Our ancient ties have transformed into a modern partnership covering a whole host of areas," spokesman Swarup told IANS. "The first ever India-Arab League ministerial meeting will unveil a new blueprint for our partnership with the very important region," he added. India is also concerned over the deepening sectarian divide in the region and the growing footprint of terror groups like the Islamic State. After Saudi Arabia executed a Shia cleric on charges of terrorism earlier this month, its missions in Iran came under attack and subsequently diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran were cut off. It is hoped that Sunday's meeting will also result in greater cooperation in counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the Arab League countries. After reaching Manama on Saturday, Sushma Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with Bahrain. Secretary (East) in the external affairs, Anil Wadhwa, who is already in Bahrain, is also scheduled to attend a meeting of senior officials of India and the Arab League countries on Saturday. Five suspected members of terror outfit Islamic State (IS) were arrested and nine others detained by the NIA in cooperation with state police agencies across India, a home ministry official said on Friday. Informed sources said all the raids at 12 locations in six cities were conducted on tip-offs that the IS sympathisers were planning bomb attacks in several cities on the Republic Day (January 26). The raids were conducted in Bengaluru, Tumkur in Karnataka and Mangalore in Karnataka, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Incriminating documents, mobiles, laotops and unaccounted cash and material used in making bombs were seized during the raids. Huge quantities of arms and ammunition were seized from the rented house of two of the suspects in Bengaluru, an official told IANS. "The National Investigation Agency has arrested five suspected terrorists and detained nine others in a joint operation with state police organisations across India," Home Ministry Joint Secretary (Internal Security) M.A. Ganapathy said. Ganapathy said some of them were planning to organise a meeting before carrying out the attacks. He said all suspects are "radicalised youths" and more information would come out once ongoing investigations are over. The suspects were planning to establish a channel of procurement of explosives and weapons, identify locations for training camps, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India, an NIA official said. The arrested men - Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohammad Nafees Khan, Mohammad Shareef Mounuddin Khan, Najmul Huda and Mohammad Afzal - are accused of encouraging the youth to join the IS. Mudabbir is from Thane near Mumbai, and Nafees and Shareef from Hyderabad. Najmul lives in Mangalore while Afzal hails from Banglore. "The arrested men are in the age group of 25-35 while one is aged 54," Ganapathy said. "We have no indication so far that they were planning a terror attack in Delhi during the Republic Day function," the officer said. An NIA official, on the condition of anonymity, told IANS that four of the detained suspects were Asif, Sayed and Ahad - all from Bengaluru - and Syed Mujahid Husain from Tumkur. Of the remaining suspects, three are from Mumbai, and one each from Lucknow and Manglore. "The NIA with the help of local police picked 14 youths from different cities in raids since Thursday night. They were under security surveillance regarding their activities on the social media," the official said. The nine suspects, yet to be arrested formally, are being interrogated for their alleged links with the IS sympathisers and their role in the possible terror strikes. According to sources, the NIA is on the lookout for five to eight more suspects. Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Friday issued an alert after a taxi driver alleged carjacked by three unidentified people from Pathankot in Punjab was found dead in Himachal Pradesh. Through its official Twitter handle, the Delhi Police released photographs of three suspects and the details of a Maruti Alto car, bearing registration number HP-01D-2440, which was hired by them on January 17. The body was found on January 20. Taxi driver Vijay Kumar was later found dead at the Kalta bridge in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, a police officer said. Kumar was a resident of Gaggal in Kangra. Investigating agencies said the vehicle, registered with a travel agency, was untraceable. Security agencies relate the incident to happenings prior to the attack on Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, in which taxi driver Ikagar Singh was killed by terrorists. "People should not panic as security agencies are doing their best... The message is to just alert the people. The citizens should inform the police control room if they observe any suspicious activity," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajan Bhagat told IANS. --Indo-Asian New Service sk-rak/tsb Shooting at a school in Canada's Saskatchewan province has left five people dead and two others seriously injured, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. A suspect was in custody after the shooting erupted on Friday in the Saskatchewan community of La Loche, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Trudeau. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," Trudeau said, calling it "a terrible, tragic day". Police said a lockdown was in place for much of the Friday afternoon and the public was urged to stay away from the school district. La Loche Community School is for pre-kindergarten to Grade 12, and houses at least 900 students in two buildings, according to the school's Facebook page. "We are in the preliminary stages of investigation," police said in a news release, adding: "Further details will be provided as they become available." France is to open its doors to more refugees coming notably from Syria as part of the "solidarity quota" agreed by the European countries, the media reported. At least 43 asylum seekers, 32 Syrians, eight Iraqis and three Eritreans, coming from Greece, are to arrive in France on January 25, Xinhua reported. After one of the November 13 attackers was believed to have slipped into Europe among migrants registered in Greece, police in Athens and French intelligence services began intensively checking the identity of each refugee, the report added. "We cannot say or accept that all refugees, anyone fleeing war in Syria and Iraq, can be welcomed in Europe," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told BBC. With 2,000 refugees trying to reach European borders every day, Valls warned the rampant number of asylum seekers would destabilize the European Union. France pledges to take in 30,000 refugees over the next two years. India and Bahrain on Saturday signed an agreement to exchange their citizens lodged in the prisons of each other's country. The agreement was signed following a bilateral dialogue between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid Al Khalifa. "Marking progress on consular matters. EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Bahrain FM sign agreement on transfer of sentenced persons," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders. At nearly 300,000, Indians form the largest expatriate community in Bahrain. A majority of them are blue collar workers. The erstwhile ministry of overseas Indian affairs, now merged with the external affairs ministry, had started the process of exchange of prisoners, according to which, Indians lodged in jails in the Gulf countries could complete the rest of their prison terms in Indian jails and vice-versa. Earlier on Saturday, Sushma Swaraj called on Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama. The minister and the king then watched the Sarang helicopter team of the Indian Air Force in action at the ongoing Bahrain International Air Show, according to Swarup. Prior to this, Sushma Swaraj visited the India Pavilion at the air show where she was given a briefing on the Indian Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) by scientists associated with the project. Sushma Swaraj reached Manama on Saturday to attend the first ever India-Arab League ministerial meeting to be held on Sunday. India's universal health coverage policy needs to be extensive, considering the role of the states and Centre and lower than expected performance of healthcare services, experts opined here on Saturday at a conference on healthcare. Given the challenges of the policy making environment in the country and the government's low spending on healthcare, the sector is not performing at the level it should have been to meet the demand of quality healthcare for India's growing population, said Rakesh Kumar, joint secretary, ministry of health and family welfare. "18 percent rural population in the country has no access to healthcare," he said at the inauguration of 'Delivering on the Promise of Universal Health Coverage in India: Policy Options and Challenges'. According to Kumar, the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country has increased. "Seventy percent of deaths in India will be caused by non-communicable diseases by 2020." "Today's conference is the culmination of collaboration between Jindal Global University, Harvard Global Health Initiative and the Harvard School of Public Health to examine legal, policy and regulatory issues relating to the universal health coverage in India,"said C. Raj Kumar, professor and vice chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University. "The conference brought together academics, policy makers, doctors, lawyers, public health practioners and government representatives to discuss and debate a central issue of public policy, which is about the efforts to achieve universal health coverage in India," he added. Explaining the impact of poor healthcare on the country, Ramanan Laxminarayan, professor, Public Health Foundation of India, said India is "very different from other countries" where "people may go into financial impoverishment because of high primary healthcare cost". Laxminarayan said the quality of healthcare services is an important issue and non-harmful care must be ensured for the people. He highlighted the achievements of public sector undertakings like railways, saying that "public sector in India does deliver". Laxminarayan said when public sector banks have an excellent level of accountability, why can't it be replicated in the healthcare sector. Highlighting the state of medical education in India, Kesav Desiraju, former secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs and former secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said the government has no interest in revising the curriculum of MBBS. "The problem is much deeper than we think at the undergraduate level," he said. Desiraju said of the 416 medical colleges in the country, about 60 percent are in the private sector. "At macro level the numbers could be impressive but we are not getting the desired results." "About 28 percent of the rural population and 20 percent of the urban population has absolutely no money to pay for healthcare services," the former secretary said. Imrana Qadeer, senior fellow, Council for Social Development and former professor, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, gave a historical perspective of universal healthcare. She said "diseases are rooted in poverty" and all healthcare plans in India focus mainly on technology while poverty reduction is never incorporated into them. Analysing India's healthcare initiatives, Peter Berman, professor of the practice of global health systems and economics, Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health and coordinator, India Health Partnership, said the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched in 2005, which has now been renamed as NHM with spending cuts, was an important policy change for the healthcare sector in India. "NRHM had set the target of spending 2-3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) on health by 2012. It had set specific targets for the Centre as well as states," he said. Rajeev Malhotra, professor, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy and executive director, Centre for Development and Finance, said universal health coverage can be quantified. "Public and private sectors have mutually reinforcing role in providing healthcare in India," he said. Stating that tracking the global impact of diseases is important, he said the breakout of Ebola upset all economic development projections in Africa. Saying that the AYUSH programme of the government has not been tapped properly, he said: "The government has to take a call whether it wants to see itself as a player or a provider...Private sector's role needs to be strengthened in the value chain." To strive towards ending income inequality, it is imperative the tax structure be reformed to raise the tax to GDP ratio, which would also entail the world's rich agreeing to higher taxes, including in India, says renowned French economist Thomas Piketty. He also advised India not to depend much on foreign inflows and shift from caste-based reservations to those based on income for creation of equal opportunity, needed for an equal society. Noting that tax structure was one of the great drivers of inequality in an economy, Piketty, a professor at the Paris School of Economics and at the London School of Economics' new International Inequalities Institute, said it must "undergo real reformation" so that the tax to GDP ratio increases. In order for income inequality to end, it was essential that the world's rich agreed to pay higher taxes, including in India. Indian elites have to accept that they have to pay higher taxes, he said at a session titled "Capital" at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday. This would allow more money to enter the government treasury, and be re-invested in public welfare, such as education and health services that everyone could access, leading to a "redistribution of wealth", said Piketty, the author of "Capital in the Twenty-First Century", a seminal work on the global dynamics of income and wealth distribution, including those leading to such inequality. US writer and journalist Sebastian Mallaby agreed with him on the benefit of more money flowing into the government treasury for utilisation on public welfare goals, noting that lack of schooling and healthcare reduced the potential for growth in an economy, because without these basic goods, a person cannot find employment and so no income can be generated. Piketty also sounded a note of caution as far as regarding foreign capital was concerned, holding no economy should become "too dependent" on capital inflows from other countries, as this could could lead to public debt to foreign governments, which could later be exploited for political gain Piketty also stressed the need for the "democratization of economic knowledge" which, in his view, would result in "democratization of the economy", a crucial step towards ending inequality. "More transparency of information was needed if the general public was to bridge the existing information asymmetry," he said. Mallaby, the Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations also concurred here, as "knowledge of financial markets and access to investment opportunities would bring increased returns on people's financial resources, which they could then re-invest, creating a virtuous circle for the economy" India's Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, who was also participating in the session moderated by academician Pratap Bhanu Mehta, observed that in the last few years, poorer countries like India have started to catch up with richer nations like America, in terms of the growth rates of their national incomes, but as far as India was concerned, it was not just income inequality that needed to be considered, but other concerns such as historical caste and class-based inequality. Piketty agreed, highlighting the need for change in the parameters for reservations in governmental institutions, from being caste-based to being income-based to help create equal opportunity, essential for an equal society, while there must be equal access to education and employment too. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Receding crude oil prices, combined with bearish global cues and a plunge in the rupee value, dented the Indian equity markets during the just-concluded weekly trade. Selling frenzy by foreign investors, coupled with falling exports and dwindling global growth, led both the bellwether indices to close the week on a flat note. Nevertheless, during the intra-week trade, both indices had touched levels previously seen during May, 2014. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (S&P Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed flat -- 19.38 points or 0.07 percent down -- to 24,435.66 points. Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) declined marginally by 15.35 points or 0.20 percent to 7,422.45 points. During the week, both indices fell in three out of five trading sessions. This receded the barometer index to a new 52-week low-- twice in the just concluded weekly trade. The broader markets, too, declined in line with the headline indices, as relentless selling took place in high beta stocks. Sector-wise, all major indices recovered their initial losses in the latter part of the week to end on a flat note, barring the media and metal indices. The Indian bellwethers were pushed south by a number of domestic and global negative cues such as the Chinese economic crisis. Selling pressure was stoked by disappointing December exports' data, which touched a 13-month low. Further, investors' confidence was eroded after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its global growth forecasts for the third time in less than a year. "Bearish global cues, plunge in the rupee value and continuous weakness in crude oil prices pulled down Indian markets throughout the week," Anand James, co-head, technical research desk with Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS. However, a relief rally on Friday helped the bellwether indices to pare their losses. Vaibhav Agarwal, vice president and research head at Angel Broking, said: "The markets ended the week on a flat note after the ECB (European Central Bank) hinted at further stimulus at its next meeting in March." In addition, stiffening of crude oil prices, which edged-up around $30-level from lows of $26-mark accelerated buying activity. "Week ended with recovery all over the globe due to oil prices rebounding from a 12-year low, posting their biggest daily gain this year," noted Dhruv Desai, director and chief operating officer at Tradebulls. Nitasha Shankar, vice president for research with YES Securities, cited that buying activity at lower levels also supported the upward movement of markets. "Indian markets ended an extremely volatile week on a flattish note. Further, headline index Nifty has formed a 'hammer candlestick' on the weekly chart indicating buying at lower levels," Shankar noted. Besides, a strengthening rupee restored investors' risk taking appetite. Even the clarification from Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao that the country has no plans to pursue a devaluation policy cheered investors. On a weekly basis, the rupee closed flat at 67.63 (January 22) to a US dollar from its previous close of 67.63 to a greenback (January 15). However, it touched a 28-month low of 68.17 to a US dollar -- its weakest level since early September 2013 during the intra-day trade on January 20. The weakness in the rupee value indicates the massive foreign funds outflow from the Indian equity and debt markets. This was evident as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net sellers during the week under review. The National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) figures showed that the FPIs were net sellers during the week ended January 22 2016. They divested Rs.8,836.59 crore or $1.30 billion in the equity and debt markets from January 18-22. Similarly, the data with stock exchanges showed that the FPIs sold stocks worth Rs.4,634.64 crore in the week under review. Nevertheless, the data further showed that DIIs bought stocks worth Rs.5,986.56 crore. "While global factors influencing the local markets are causing significant headwinds and as a result foreign investors continue to remain sellers," pointed-out Pankaj Sharma, head of equities for Equirus Securities. "One silver lining is that domestic investors largely see the correction as a buying opportunity and go long on select picks, when valuations are less demanding." (Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in) An Indian-origin businessman claiming to be a Hindu monk has pleaded not guilty after standing trial on charges that he sexually assaulted three women in the US, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced. According to Deputy District Attorney Maren Dermody, 62-year-old Gokula Nanda of West Hills was ordered to stand trial for six counts of sexual battery by fraud, three counts of sexual penetration by foreign object and two counts of sexual battery. Nanda is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on February 29 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Torrance Branch. "Nanda sexually abused the victims while claiming to be performing healing rituals at various locations, including his Eastern medicine store in Santa Clarita and a park in Torrance, between April 2011 and April 2015, according to testimony at the preliminary hearing," said a statement from the District Attorney's Office on Friday. According to media reports, Nanda, owner of Hari-Om India Market in Santa Clarita in California, was arrested on May 13 last year following allegations that he sexually assaulted female clients at meditative sessions. He was released in July on a 100,000 dollar bail pending further court proceedings. Nanda faces a possible maximum sentence of 19 years in state prison if convicted as charged. The case remains under investigation by the Torrance Police Department. Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Saturday suspended its legislator for allegedly misbehaving with a couple inside a running train, saying his conduct brought "bad image to the party". "Top leadership of the party, including president Sharad Yadav and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met here and decided to suspend Sarfaraj Alam for his behaviour and bad conduct. The incident has given a bad name to the party," state JD-U president Vashsisht Narain Singh told the media here. Alam is alleged to have misbehaved with a couple aboard the Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express. Earlier, Nitish Kumar hinted at action against Alam for his conduct with the couple. "Nobody is above the law," the chief minister said. RJD chief Lalu Prasad had also favoured action against Alam. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is a part of the ruling alliance in the state. Inderpal Singh Bedi and his wife, in an FIR registered at Patna railway station, complained that Alam, his bodyguard and another aide misbehaved with them aboard the train, an official said, adding they passed vulgar comments about the couple who boarded the train from Delhi. Patna rail superintendent of police P. N. Mishra said a four-member team sent from Patna to register a formal complaint returned from Delhi after recording the statement of the victim and other witnesses. Mishra said a summon was issued to Alam to appear before the investigation official and present his stand on Saturday following the police team having found the complainant correct prima facie. "The investigation is on into the case and the police would take action against the legislator if the charges were found to be true," Mishra said. Alam, son of former union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin, is JDU legislator from Jokihat assembly constituency in Araria district of Bihar. Singh also informed of a possible action against legislator Bima Bharti, who allegedly helped her gangster husband Awadsh Mandal to escape from police lock up. "Party is waiting for administrative report in this case, if she is found guilty, the party would take action against her." Ending decades of wait, the Indian government on Saturday declassified the first set of 100 files on revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose whereabouts after a reported air crash continues to be a mystery even after 70 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had announced during a meeting with Netaji's family members in October last year to make the hitherto secret files public, released digital copies of the documents running into around 16,600 pages at the National Archives of India, evoking overwhelming emotion, protests and even snide remarks. The files were released on the 119th birth anniversary of Bose -- popularly addressed with the honorific Netaji -- a leading light of the Indian freedom struggle, who valiantly led the Indian National Army against the British Indian Army during World War II. Modi also launched a webportal -- https://netajipapers.gov.in -- to release the digital version of the declassified documents. "As a first step, the National Archives of India is placing 100 files relating to Netaji in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitisation," a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. It added that the remaining files will be placed in the public domain after their conservation treatment and digitisation. "The government of India has written to the concerned foreign governments to declassify all files or papers related to Netaji. The government is committed to pursue this matter with them," the statement said. A number of members of Netaji's family present during the declassification were overcome with emotion. Netaji's niece Chitra Ghosh broke down in tears. His grandnephews Chandra Bose and Surya Kumar Bose were also teary eyed as they called it a "great day for the entire nation". However, Surya Bose added that the documents released during the day were not the much-needed intelligence files. In Kolkata, Sugata Bose -- another grandnephew of Netaji and Trinamool Congress MP -- found fault with Modi for choosing the revolutionary leader's birthday to declassify files, and said he should have spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to clear the air about Netaji's "death". He also remarked that the freshly declassified documents would not bring up any new information. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the PMO and handed over to the National Archives of India on December 4, 2015. "Subsequently, the ministries of home affairs, and external affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred to the National Archives of India," the PMO statement added. The National Archives received 990 declassified files, pertaining to the INA, from the defence ministry in 1997. The release of the files "will meet the long-standing public demand" and "will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Netaji", a culture ministry statement said. A former Congress president and once a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Bose's reported death in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, on August 18, 1945 has not found acceptance among many members of his extended family, political organisations, researchers, social activists and the leader's countless fans. Born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha, Bose stood fourth in the Indian Civil Service examination, but declined to join the coveted cadre as he did not want to serve the British masters. Instead, he plunged into the freedom movement. However, Modi's declassification of the Netaji files failed to impress his political opponents. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma demanded declassification of all files but accused the Modi government of efforts to stoke a controversy and misguide the people by resorting to a "mischievous political campaign". Trying to turn the pressure on the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the nation wanted to see those files which have information on whether Netaji was alive or not after August 18, 1945. Alluding to the theory that Netaji had gone to Russia in 1945, Banerjee demanded in Darjeeling that the central government talk to Russian leaders to ascertain "what happened to him there". The Mamata Banerjee government on September 18, 2015 had released 64 files running into 12,744 pages in the presence of Netaji's family members, who have campaigning for declassification of the files for years. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said in Kolkata that he was interested in seeing the contents of the files, but it was far more important to debate Netaji's life and work, to follow his vision, rather than to discuss under what circumstances he died. The silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on key issues of communal tension and violence is baffling for a leader who is hailed as a great communicator, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday. "The prime minister's silence is baffling for one termed a great communicator. He takes frequently to the microphone, TV and Twitter on various matters. Even before (BJP leader) Navjot Singh Sidhu's operation, he is wishing him well, but on key issues there is no communication," he said at a press conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival. "Soon after he became prime minister, a Muslim techie was lynched in Pune, there have been several other incidents but Modi was silent. Even in this incident (suspended Dalit research scholar's suicide in Hyderabad), it took him a week to respond. I believe his grief was genuine but it was delayed," he said. On the suicide of Rohith Vemula, Tharoor said that in an ideal world, there will be no caste, but it cannot be denied that there is caste consciousness in India, and education is not exempt. He said he has, in the recent past, received several messages from Dalit students and teachers about the discrimination they face, and even if they all may not be true, it is clear there is a perception of discrimination. He refused to answer a query about the investigations into the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. "I'm not commenting on the matter by principle and policy till police complete investigations and the case goes before a court," he said. About his presence at the JLF where he was involved in several sessions already during its first three days, he said he was only a recent politician, and had a longer stint as a writer. "I had a longer and significant career as a writer, and came into politics only to do something which was earlier manifested in my writings. Whereas I had undertaken studies of India's course, I now got the opportunity to influence it." Tharoor confessed the transition had not been "easy" but signalled that he was not going to quit. "The challenges I faced would have been easier had I not been in politics. There is a saying 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I'm not going to leave the kitchen," he said. About the recently-revealed letter, purportedly written by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1945, claiming Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was on Russian soil, Tharoor dismissed it as a "complete fake". "It is a complete fake, circulated by RSS types. One it is unsigned, and then it is in atrocious English which Panditji could have never written," he said. General Iwaichi Fujiwara, a Japanese military intelligence officer who had close ties with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian Army, had urged the Indian government in 1979 to take care of the disposition of Bose's ashes lying in a temple in Tokyo. He was assured by then Indian prime minister Morarji Desai that he would take care of the issue in "one or two years", reveal the files declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian revolutionary leader's 119th birth anniversary. In a correspondence dated March 9, 1979, from Tokyo, General Fujiwara (retired from the Japan Self Defense Forces) expressed gratitude to the prime minister for listening to his plea about the "disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo". The letter -- in file no.2/64/79-PM of the declassified files -- addressed to the Indian prime minister, came a month after Fujiwara and his delegation's visit to New Delhi. "Allow me to offer my gratitude for your understanding and sympathy with which you listened to my plea about the disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo. "Your assurance to take care of the matter in one or two years was most gratifying to me as I have dedicated most of my life to the cause of Netaji Bose and the Indian Army during war years, contributing in a small measure to the independence of India." Addressed in a Fuijiwara Asia Research Institute letterhead (Fujiwara organised the institute in the 1970s), the correspondence shows the general's dedication to furthering friendly India-Japan ties. "I shall never forget for the rest of my life the deep-felt emotion when you gave me the assurance. "I shall dedicate myself, for the rest of life, to friendly India-Japan relations in return for your sympathy and understanding with which you accorded my wishes." Describing it as "sacred", Forward Bloc MP Chitta Basu in 1988 had urged the Indian government to "take over" and "maintain" the house in Afghanistan's Kabul where revolutionary leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had put up during the great escape from then Calcutta. Uttam Chand Malhotra had hosted Netaji in 1941 in Kabul during his great escape. In a correspondence to then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, dated September 30, 1988, Basu had drawn attention to Uttam Chand's house in Mohalla Hindu Guzar in Shor Bazar, Kabul, reveals the files declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the revolutionary leader's 119th birth anniversary. "I am told that the said house is not being maintained properly and it may be dilapidated soon. For every Indian patriot, the house is a sacred place. I strongly feel that the government of India should take necessary action, to take over the house and maintain it properly as a monument of historical and national significance," said Basu. Basu had also taken the matter up with K. Natwar Singh, the then minister of state for external affairs. "I took up the matter with K. Natwar Singh, minister of state, external affairs, who was kind enough to send me a letter of acknowledgement dated June 30, 1988. Since then, I have not received any information from the ministry of external affairs." Basu, in the letter -- in the file 800/6/C/33/88-Pol of the declassified Netaji papers -- quoted a relevant portion of the book "The Talwars of Pathan Land and Subhas Chandra's Great Escape" which mentions Netaji's stay in the particular house. Subsequently, in acknowledgement of the letter, a correspondence from the prime minister dated December 2, 1988, says "the ministry of external affairs are being asked to look into this". Documents in the external affairs ministry that were declassified on Saturday reveal that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's name did not figure in the "list of war criminals" drawn by Britain after the Second World War. Following queries by the external affairs ministry through the Indian High Commission in London, Britain's ministry of defence in its reply in December 1998 had specified that it could find no evidence indicating that the British government treated Netaji as a war criminal. "With reference to the specific question as to whether Subhas Chandra Bose's name was included by the UK in its list of war criminals drawn up after the Second World War, I have been unable to find any evidence that any such action was taken by the United Kingdom," read a letter from J.J. Harding of Britain's ministry of defence. Following a petition by Kolkata-based advocate Rudra Jyoti Bhattacharjee before the Calcutta High Court enquiring if Netaji's name featured in such a list, as well as the matter being also raised in the Lok Sabha, the Indian authorities had made several enquiries with their British counterparts in 1998 and then again in 2000. In its reply, the Imperial War Museum had quoted Nigel Jarvis, a historian at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to claim that the list of war criminals was drawn up only for German and Japanese nationals and not Indians. "Jarvis informed me that Netaji Bose's name was never on the list of war criminals because he was regarded as a traitor and a political figure, not as a war criminal. "Even if he had been on any such list, his name would have been removed following his death shortly after the Second World War," Peter Simkins of the Imperial War Museum said in his reply to the Indian High Commission in 1998. "Jarvis also told me that this same question has been raised several times before and that in the past official answers have normally been supplied either by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or by the Army Historical Branch of the ministry of defence. "Jarvis also confirms that there was no list of war criminals for Indian nationals, such a list existed only for Japanese and German nationals," says the letter by Simkins. In 2015, Bengaluru-based journalist Choodamani Nagendra had sought information under the RTI about the status of Netaji as a war criminal. But the ministry of external affairs refused to give such information. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted of action against a legislator belonging to state's ruling JD(U) for allegedly misbehaving with a couple on a running train. "Nobody is above the law," Nitish Kumar told the media when asked about likely action against legislator Sarfaraj Alam who is facing charges of misbehaving with woman and her husband aboard Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express. Nitish said party will decide about action against the legislator, including Bima Bharti who had allegedly helped her gangster husband Awadsh Mandal to escape from police lock up. We have rules in the party to take action in such cases. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav will arrive here on Saturday to discuss about possible action, Nitish said. Nitish Kumar has reacted for the first time to this issue a day after state JD(U) president Vashisht Narain Singh said such behaviour, if true, cannot be tolerated at any cost. He could face action from the party. Even RJD chief Lalu Prasad had favoured action for misconduct with a woman. Additional Director General (police headquarters) Sunil Kumar said legislator Alam may be penalised by the railways for travelling without an authorised ticket and action would be taken against the train superintendent for allotting him a berth and creating the circumstances for him to travel unauthorisedly. He said the railway police have adequate evidence against Alam that he travelled in the Rajdhani express. The legislator has denied the charges and said he was not aboard the train. Inderpal Singh Bedi and his wife in an FIR registered at Patna railway station complained that JDU legislator Sarfaraj Alam, his bodyguard and another aide misbehaved with them aboard the Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express, the official said. Alam and his two men allegedly passed vulgar comments about Bedi and his wife who boarded the train from Delhi, he said. Patna rail superintendent of police P N Mishra said a four member team sent from Patna to register a formal complaint returned from Delhi after recording the statement of the victim and other witnesses. Team members also collected documentary evidence. Mishra said a summon was issued to Alam to appear before the investigation official and present his stand on Saturday following the police team have found complainant correct prima facie. "The investigation is on into the case and the police would take action against the legislator if the charges were found to be true," Mishra said. Alam, son of former union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin, is JDU legislator from Jokihat assembly constituency in Araria district of Bihar. At least 62 Islamic State militants and 48 security forces personnel were killed on Saturday in US-led coalition air strikes, four suicide bomb attacks and clashes with Iraqi security forces, security sources said. In Iraq's western province of Anbar, three suicide bombers drove their booby-trapped vehicles into bases of Iraqi federal police and detonated them in Kilo 70 area west of the provincial capital city of Ramadi leaving 43 policemen dead and destroying five police vehicles, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a military base and blew it up in Tal Msheheidah area killing five security members and wounding 11 others, along with destroying two military vehicles, the source said. US-led coalition aircraft carried out air strikes on IS positions in the desert area north of Ramadi killing at least 53 IS militants, the source added without giving further details. The predominantly Sunni Arab province of Salahudin has been the scene of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, which managed to retake control of key towns of the province from IS militants, except for the northern areas of the province, including the town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of Baghdad. The political parties here on Saturday warned of an agitation if action was taken against two young Dalit scholars who shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday during a convocation ceremony at Bhim Rao Ambedkar university. The three students - Surendra Nigam, Amrendra Arya and Ram Karan Nirmal - were on late Friday asked to vacate the accommodation provided to them as 'guests' in the varsity hostel. A case has been lodged against them. They shouted "Modi go back" and condemned the recent suicide of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula. Their degrees have also been stopped and the medal of one of the students has been withheld. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state unit said it would soon launch an agitation to protest any such move. Vaibhav Maheshwari, state spokesman of the party, told IANS they would not tolerate any such victimisation, as everyone had a right to air their opinion, even if it was different from others. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) also threatened dire consequences if there was any such move. Senior party leader of its state unit Arun Kumar told IANS that such actions by the union government were creating more Rohiths and that the party would not allow the Modi government to muzzle the voices of dissent. The Rihai Manch, a Muslim organisation, on Saturday felicitated the three students for showing courage to voice their anger against the prime minister. The management of the university however, said they would go ahead with the penal action against the three students as they had many pending complaints and had flouted discipline. They also had a shady background, a varsity official added. The three students, however, justified their action, saying efforts were underway to saffronise the higher education institutions and it was unfortunate. Rather than shedding tears here, Prime Minister Modi should have gone to Hyderabad. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday said people were of the view that her government should continue. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to Governor K. Rosaiah's address in the assembly, Jayalalithaa said that in 2011, people wanted a change and brought about a change by voting the AIADMK to power. "We have fulfilled the expectations of the people who brought about the change. Hence people are thinking that this government should continue," she said. According to her, the government has been working for the people for the past 56 months. She said it would need 36 days of the assembly session to list out the achievements of the 36 departments in the Tamil Nadu government. She said the previous DMK government, in the guise of people's welfare, only enhanced the "family welfare". Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK government has fulfilled all the poll promises made. She said at an outlay of Rs.22,028.02 crore, the government has implemented schemes like free green houses (over 2.62 lakh houses, Rs.,5159.12 crore), free cows (59,905 cows, Rs.210 crore), free goats (over 6.95 goats), free mixer/grinder, fans to over 1.63 families (Rs.6,553 crore), free laptops to over 32.67 lakh students (Rs.5,612.52 crore) free cycles to students (Rs.1,057.85 crore) and marriage assistance to over 7.72 girls (Rs.2,537.74 crore). Jayalalithaa said that under the marriage assistance scheme to poor girls, a total of 2,844 kg gold at four grams per girl was given to over 7.72 lakh girls. On the Cauvery river water issue, Jayalalithaa said her government took steps to get the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal notified in the official gazette by the central government. She also said it was due to the strong arguments put before the apex court that a favourable judgement was obtained in the Mullaperiyar Dam case to store water upto 142 feet. Student groups protesting in the University of Hyderabad over the suicide of a Dalit research scholar termed as "highly insulting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in which he described Rohith Vemula as 'Bharat Mata's son'. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for social justice, an umbrella of 14 student groups, condemned what it called 'appropriation of Rohith's politics'. "Rohith Vemula and other socially boycotted (research scholars) always stood against Hindutva and Manuvadi politics which the BJP ministers proudly stand for," the JAC said in a statement on Saturday, a day after Modi broke his silence on the issue. JAC, which continued its protest on the campus, wanted to know if Modi will take action against BJP ministers for the injustice meted out to Rohith and other research scholars. The indefinite hunger strike by seven students entered the fourth day on Saturday while four suspended Dalit students and others also continued their protest. JAC said police and the university administration are about to forcefully evict them from the protest site and appealed to students to reach there in large numbers. JAC has also called for 'Chalo Hyderabad Central University' on January 25 and appealed to students, workers, activists, intellectuals and other progressive and democratic sections of the society to reach the university. It has decided to continue the protest till all the culprits responsible for the death of Rohith and the injustice meted out to all the five Dalit research scholars are punished. It is demanding that central minister Bandaru Dattaetreya, Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and others be punished under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. It is also seeking the sacking of the vice chancellor. Other demands include Rs.50 lakh compensation to Rohith's family and employment for one family member. On a day's visit to Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for ignoring the plight of drought-hit farmers. "Farmers in Bundelkhand are in pain, but that does not affect Modi and Mulayam," Gandhi said at a meeting with farmers before starting on an eight km long 'Padyatra' here. He said his party always stood with the farmers. "We waived repayment of Rs 72,000 crore of money that farmers owed to the banks and gave thousands of crores of rupees in 'Bundelkhand package', but that money got siphoned off," Gandhi said, harking back to the Congress-led UPA government. He said he would raise the issue of Bundelkhand's farmers in parliament and struggle to get for them what was their due. Modi came in, as usual, for special treatment in Gandhi's attack, being targeted for ignoring farmers and not taking any "action" in the case of the suicide on January 17 of Hyderabad university scholar Rohith Vemula. "A thought is being suppressed in Hyderabad. But Modi is only shedding tears without taking any decisive action." Modi should fulfil his promise that his government would put Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every household, said the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The Prime Minister instead had been busy multiplying the wealth of the capitalists, he added. Thousands of party activists took part in Gandhi's 'padyatra'. Uttar Pradesh is set to go to polls the next year. --Indo-Asia News Service hindi/kb/bg Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to arrive in Uttar Pradesh on a day-long trip to Bundelkhand on Saturday, party leaders said. Rahul would arrive at Khajuraho airport in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday around 11.00 a.m. from where he will drive to Mahoba. He will reach Supa Mandi at Pawa round in noon. From there Rahul will embark on an eight km long 'Pad Yatra' from Supa railway station to Laadpur. On his way Rahul will also hold a 'Kisan Panchayat' to listen to the problems of the farmers and interact with them. Later he will hold a meeting with the women members of Rajiv Gandhi self-help group. He will be accompanied by senior party leaders of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee. He is later scheduled to go to village Mudhari from Laadpur. In Laadpur Rahul will unveil a statue of his grand mother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He will leave for Khajuraho in the evening. The Gandhi scion was initially slated to visit the region on January 22 but his programme was postponed by a day as it clashed with Uttar Pradesh visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amid a row over which caste research scholar Rohith Vemula belonged to, his mother Radhika on Saturday claimed she belongs to the Scheduled Caste but was adopted by a family from Vaddera, a backward class community. As questions are being raised as to whether Rohith, the research scholar of Hyderabad Central University who committed suicide on January 17, was a Dalit, his mother Vemula Radhika made a clarification. She told reporters that she was born in a Mala (Scheduled Caste) family but her parents left her with a Vaddera family, where she grew up. Radhika said that in 1985, she married a man from the Vaddera community and had three children with him. The couple separated due to some personal problems and she kept all three children with her. Radhika said she followed all traditions and customs of Mala as she originally belonged to the Scheduled Caste family. "Why has the country not asked the caste of Nirbhaya and why is this question being asked only in case of Rohith?" she asked, referring to the gang rape victim in Delhi. She made the clarification following a statement by Rohith's paternal grandmother that they were from the Vaddera community. Rohith was one of the five Dalit research scholars suspended by the university last year after they allegedly attacked a leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad. He committed suicide on January 17, sparking public outrage over the injustice meted out Dalit students. As per official records, he belonged to the Scheduled Caste. A case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act was booked against central minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Vice Chancellor Appa Rao and two leaders of the ABVP. The RSS on Saturday took out its maiden 'Path Sanchalan' (procession) here in the capital of Christian-majority Meghalaya. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) slammed the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government for its failure to ensure rapid development in the state and for begging for developmental funds from the central government. In Shillong, nearly 300 RSS cadres -- mostly from the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities from across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills areas -- donning khaki shorts and white shirts and armed with sticks marched from Upper Mawprem to Balika Vidyalaya School. RSS cadres also took out a road march in Zikzak area of South West Garo Hills district to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. "It is a historic moment for us (RSS) today in Meghalaya to take out Path Sanchalan in Shillong and Garo Hills to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. We were expecting at least 500 RSS cadres to take part, since the strength of the RSS in Shillong is 800," RSS Shillong unit leader Makashang Khongshei said. Khongshei, who has been associated with RSS since 1993, exuded confidence that more people will be joining the group in Meghalaya to protect the interests of the indigenous people. "We are not against any person belonging to any religious faith as our base is to be a 'Rashtriya' (nationalist). In India, there are 33 crore ways of worshipping god. Therefore, it does not matter, Christian or non-Christian, but what we need is unity," he said. Addressing the cadres, Khongshei lashed out at the failure of the government to develop the state. "In 44 years of statehood, Meghalaya is nothing but a failed state without any hope for its people. This state has no education policy, agriculture policy and no policy for youth but only corruption. If you check the records, Meghalaya is nothing but a state still copying and pasting rules and regulations from Assam," he said. On the influx of Bangladeshi migrants into the state, he alleged that people at the helm of affairs were "sleeping" as most of the areas in the state were being dominated by Bangladeshis. Russian airstrikes targeted rebel-bound weapon shipment entering Syria from Turkey as the Syrian military was making progress against the militant groups close to the Turkish borders. The Russian warplanes on Friday struck convoys crossing from Turkey into Syria and weapon depots near the Bab al-Hawa border-crossing, which is under the rebel control, Xinhua cited media reports as saying. The Russian strikes also targeted a rebel battalion near Bab al-Hawa, killing many militants. It was not the first Russian strikes against weapon convoys reaching Syria. In 2015, particularly after the Turkish air force downed a Russian war jet over Syria on November 24, Moscow carried out intensive airstrikes against the Turkey-backed rebel positions on the Syrian-Turkish borders. In separate attacks, Russian strikes also targeted the positions of the Islamic State (IS) group in several towns in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, according to the report. Meanwhile, state news agency SANA said the Syrian army continued to make progress in the northern countryside of the province of Latakia, following the recapture of the town of Salma, one of the major strong holds of the rebels in north of the coastal Latakia, the hometown of President Bashar al-Assad and the heartland of his rule. The next step for the Syrian army is to capture Rabia, the second most important rebel bastion in north of Latakia. On Friday, the military forces wrested back control over the Kaloksi Mountain in northeast Latakia, said SANA, adding that the army units also took full control over seven towns in north of Salma, becoming closer to Rabia, and thus Turkey. Citing a military source, SANA said the new military achievement on Friday came after the Syrian army killed over 150 militants, whose comrades fled toward the Turkish territories. SANA said rebel groups in the northern countryside of Latakia include the Al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front, the Ahrar al-Sahel, or Freemen of the Coast, and the rebels Brigade Sultan Abdul-Hamid, who are backed by Turkey. SANA contended that such rebel groups combine several foreign jihadists under the support of Turkey. On the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian ground operation room in Latakia is supervised by Russian officers, who are already using Hmaimim airbase in Latakia as a launching pad for the Russian airstrikes against the ultra-radical rebel positions in Syria. The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian forces are making a progress in the Turkmen Mountain in the northern countryside of Latakia amid heavy airstrikes on that area. The progress in northern Latakia also includes the battles in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and once an economic hub near Turkey. Recently, the IS militants started pulling out of the city of al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province following the progress of the Syrian army in the northern province of Aleppo, according to al-Mayadeen TV. The withdrawn militants were sent to Syria's northern city of al-Raqqa, the so-called de facto capital of the IS group, according to the report. In mid-November, 2013, the IS was in full control of the al-Bab. The recent progress of the Syrian army is seen by observers as a push to consolidate positions on ground ahead of the January 25 peace talks in Geneva between representatives of the Syrian government and opposition parties. The Russian Army's Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov has announced that Russian ground forces will hold the first ever military exercises with Pakistan in the coming year, according to TASS news agency on Saturday. The Russian Army is scheduled to hold seven drills in 2016, including "the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain." "As part of interaction with our foreign colleagues in 2016, we have scheduled seven joint exercises with the involvement of the relevant units of foreign states," Salyukov said on Friday. The Russian Army will also hold joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as a Russian-Vietnamese exercise, Salyukov added. "The Peace Mission-2016, the joint drills of peace-keeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation code-named Indestructible Brotherhood, the Frontier-2016 joint command and staff drills, the Indra-2016 Russian-Indian exercises and the Selenga-2016 Russian-Mongolian drills will be held," the commander added. Russia had lifted its embargo on arms supplies to Pakistan in June 2014 and signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan to strengthen military-to-military relations in November 2014. In August 2015, the two countries signed a landmark defence deal, which includes the sale of four Mi-35 "Hind E" attack helicopters to Pakistan. Six persons were killed and ten injured when a boiler in a tyre factory burst on Saturday in Pubail in Bangladesh's Gazipur district, 25 km north of Dhaka, police said. Khondaker Rezaul Hasan, officer-in-charge of local Pubail police station, told Xinhua that the dead persons included a woman school teacher. She was passing through the area on a rickshaw and was killed on the spot along with five others. Hasan said all the injured have been rushed to hospital. At least six Taliban militants were killed and 10 injured as clashes flared up in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, an official said on Saturday. "The security forces launched cleanup operations in Tagab district on Friday and so far six rebels including group commander Mullah Talha have been killed and 10 others injured," Xinhua quoted spokesman for the provincial government, Ahmad Nawed Frotan, as saying. A security personnel has also been killed and three others injured during the operation which still continues in the area, the official said. Taliban militants who are active in parts of Badakhshan province are yet to make any comment. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday urged "certain civil society activists" to change their negative attitude towards development and infrastructure related projects. "People should stop saying 'no' to everything," Parsekar said at a meeting of stakeholders of the feni industry, a day after activists and residents of Betul village, in South Goa, opposed the relocation of this' year's Defence Expo project to their village. "Certain people oppose everything, whether it is the third Mandovi bridge, a garbage plant or new industries, they rise up to oppose it," the chief minister said. The relocation of the Defence Expo 2016 to the Naqueri plateau in Betul, 45 km from here, has been opposed by civil society groups, local residents, as well as the political opposition. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday visited the Bahrain International Air Show in Manama and went around the Indian pavilion. "Showcasing technology and expertise. EAM @SushmaSwaraj visits the India Pavilion at Bahrain Air Show," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The minister, who reached Manama earlier on Saturday, will attend the first ever India-Arab League ministerial meeting in Manama on Sunday. She is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Bahrain later on Saturday. It was one of the earliest and most defining images of the troubles of Afghanistan ever seen, with the portrait of a teenaged girl with the haunting but mesmerising green eyes which seemed to encapsulate both the trauma and resilience of a war-torn country, but legendary American photographer Steve McCurry said it happened quite accidentally. Walking to his tent to get out of the harsh forenoon sun in Peshawar, which hosted a considerable amount of Afghan refugees who had fled after the Soviet invasion, in 1984, he came across a 13-year-old girl who became the subject of his most iconic portrait, the Afghan Girl. "You could see the trauma but she had this human spirit to move on," he said at a session, titled "Beyond The Afghan Girl", at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday, where he talked about his inspirations and travels. The girl was later identified as Sharbat Gula and McCurry and a team from the National Geographic, where the photo appeared in 1985, tracked her down 17 years later to find she had aged but was as striking. McCurry said his love for photography roughly at the same age as "The Afghan Girl" when he saw a photospread by a renowned New Zealand photographer in Life Magazine. Before he left for college, he was for a short time in Sweden and went round taking endless amateur photographs. "That was a pivotal point for me. Photography was suddenly not about birthdays or monuments but about photographing ordinary things," said McCurry, who has created unforgettable images, which span various fields but always retain the human element Studying filmmaking in Philadelphia, he suddenly decided photography was what he wanted to do, bought a one way ticket to India in 1978, and visited Dehradun, Goa, Mumbai and south India, with his initial plan of six months stay extend fourfold. Asked by JLF director William Dalrymple if he sent his photos to magazines at that time, McCurry admitted that he had only sent them to his sister. However, his photography career took off in leaps and bounds, when he arrived in Afghanistan in June 1979, just six months before Russia invaded. The world wanted to see Afghanistan, and McCurry had rolls and rolls of films of it, as well as some memorable experiences, including some hair-raising moments. Asked if his work had made a "difference" to society, McCurry responded that he believed in the power of pictures to change a person's perception, citing the case of The Afghan Girl, which led to the creation of charitable foundation ImagineAsia, set up with the assistance of local leaders to raise funds for educating children and women across Afghanistan. His new book "India" includes photos of his personal journeys around the country, and the people he emotionally connected with. "I wanted my first book on India to include my favourite photographs," he said, adding that the depth of Indian culture never failed to intrigue him, and that he had entered a 'love affair' with India from the first moment he set foot here and hoped it would never fail to welcome him. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) US Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has querried Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli about the constitution amendment proposals tabled in parliament, the authorities here said. To a querry over the phone, Oli told Blinken that the amendments were aimed at addressing genuine demands of the agitating Madhesi communities and ending the unrest in Nepal's southern belt, Xinhua cited the prime minister's political advisor Bishnu Rimal as saying on Saturday. The call to Oli has come at a time when Nepal's parliament prepares to make the first amendment in the new constitution to address the demands raised by the ethnic Madhesi minorities who have been running anti-constitution protests in the Terai region of Nepal bordering India for nearly five months. Over 50 protesters including 10 police personnel were killed in the violent clashes during the agitation launched by the Madhesi groups. The media reports suggested that the parliament will approve amendment proposals on the new constitution possibly on Saturday. A month ago, the Nepal government had tabled a bill in the parliament to amend the constitution in view of addressing two demands of the Madhesi people related to proportional representation and delimitation of constituencies. Madhesi fringe parties, under the banner of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), were rejecting the constitution amendment proposals, saying that it does not deal with their core demand of fresh demarcation of provincial boundaries. US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter has said Turkey could do more in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) militant group. "I would like Turkey to do more," Xinhua cited Carter as saying on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos about whether Turkey had done enough to help the US. According to Carter, Turkey is a long term friend and the US is strongly supportive and stands with it in terms of defence of its own territory. Carter said he was grateful to Turkey which was helping the US fight the IS by for example hosting the US aircraft in Turkey. "But the reality is that it shares a big border with Iraq and Syria, which has been porous to foreign fighters going in both directions and I think the Turks can do more," he said. Turkey was on the list of countries that can make distinctive, unique and necessary contributions to the defeat of IS, he added. The union tourism ministry has sanctioned a Tripura government project to create infrastructure along India-Bangladesh border similar to that at the Wagah border with Pakistan, a minister said here on Saturday. "Wagah-like infrastructure, including a mini-stadium, would be created at the Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) border to organise Beating Retreat ceremony," Tripura Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik told reporters. "Under the tourism ministry's 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme, the union government has sanctioned Rs.99 crore to implement a few tourism projects in Tripura, including the building of a mini-stadium and other infrastructure in the Agartala-Akhaura border." The Agartala-Akhaura check post is the second largest trading point between India and Bangladesh after Benapole and Petrapole with West Bengal. The Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks closing of the Wagah border near Amritsar every evening, is a military routine that the India-Pakistan border guards - the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers - have jointly conducted since 1959. People travel specially to the border to witness the ceremony in which the flags of the two countries are lowered by the security personnel with a number of aggressive gestures and a mutually coordinated performance. The minister said that a musical fountain at Ujjayanta Palace, introduction of battery operated car at Sipahijala wild life zoo and sanctuary and development of Dambur lake would be undertaken. Northeast India's biggest museum was set up at the historic Ujjayanta Palace, the former royal palace of Tripura's Manikya kings, which served as the state legislative assembly until 2011. Veteran poet Ashok Vajpeyi said on Saturday he wouldn't reclaim the award he has returned to Sahitya Akademi citing intolerance in the country. Vajpayee's assertion comes as writer Nayantara Sahgal refuted the Akademi's claims that she had recclaimed her award. On Thursday, Akademi said that two writers, including Sahgal, have agreed to reclaim their awards. Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of Jaipur Literature festival, Vajpeyi said that he has no intention of reclaiming the award back as intolerance still prevails in the country. "I gave up my award against growing intolerance, I don't think it has come down, The suicide of the Dalit student in Hyderabad University is one form of intolerance against Dalits," he said. He also questioned the Akademi's handling of the issue. "The Akademi passed a resolution recently saying that they can't accept the awards. It took three months for them to inform us about the policy. This is absurd. They can throw the awards in the dustbin," he said. Contrary to Akademi claims, Sahgal issued a statement on Friday saying that she hasn't reclaimed her award. "Let me make it clear: I am not taking back either the award or the cheque, which is now invalid anyway. My protest against the crushing of dissent stands, and I shall continue to speak and act for the freedom of expression," she said in a statement posted on www.indianculturalforum.in. Vajpeyi has also returned D.Litt degree awarded by Hyderabad University to protest against the suicide of PhD student Rohith Vemula. "I returned the degree as the university's action had driven a Dalit student to commit suicide. I didn't want a degree awarded by that university," he said. Vajpeyi also flayed the delayed response of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "PM's response came four days late. He made the issue into the pain of a losing son. The PM never touched the Dalit issue. I appreciate the fact that he has broken his silence. May be the tears are for real," said the poet. (Preetha Nair can be contacted t preetha.nair@ians.in) --Indo Asian News service pn/vm Writers, like Saadat Hasan Manto, brought out the horrors of Partition much more vividly than historians, but the need now is to go beyond the horrors to healing, says Pakistani-American historian Ayesha Jalal. Jalal, the grandniece of the famed Urdu writer who passed away at the age of 43 in 1955, however, also stressed that fiction cannot and should not be allowed to replace history. "Manto's short stories can embellish history but fiction cannot replace history," she said at a session titled "The Pity of Partition: Manto's Life, Times and Work Across the India-Pakistan Divide" (the title of her 2013 biography on her granduncle) at the Jaipur Literature Festival here on Saturday. She maintained Manto's legacy survives and is more relevant now because of his type of thinking, of his approach which was to question everything. "People don't think, they go with perceived wisdom. He questioned it, raised uncomfortable issues especially of human bestiality in his stories of Partition," she said. On Manto becoming a bone of contention in the subcontinent amidst the tide of "intolerance", Jalal said there was always some intolerance here but now it was growing throughout the world, but a writer like Manto is often invoked by the youth as a form of protest. She also noted that if intolerance is growing, so is the opposition to it. But like interest in his works in India, there was also a lot of interest in Pakistan, she said, but added that this was not any form of competition. "Celebrate it and him in your way," she said. On how she came to write his biography, Jalal said it was his centenary, there were accounts by some of his close friends, which are insightful but her 2013 work also has memories of his family, which did not see him very positively - and for good reason. "There were many troubles he caused, he left his family destitute, and his alcoholism was seen most negatively," she said. She confessed she had herself fallen under his spell quite early having heard his stories from her cousins and others and "could recite the doggerel used by the mental patient in 'Toba Tek Singh' even before she could recite the kalma". And then, she had come across letters to Manto from his mother and others, which formed an archive. She noted he seemed to have a sense of history for when he left the then Bombay for Pakistan, he had taken all his letters along. But above all, her rationale was that the "microcosm of Manto's life connects to the macrocosm of the Partition" for he he was one of its most celebrated victims. "Manto was non-political, writing film scripts in Bombay, was not a Muslim League supporter though being anti-colonial and for him the 'batwara' was not necessary. Bombay gave him a sense of himself. Partition, in a sense, made Manto, but it also destroyed him," said Jalal. She said that while in Bombay, he had close friends like actors Ashok Kumar and Shyam, and there was no Hindu-Muslim feeling in him, and he in fact made fun of it, like in his story "Dhobi" which was a real incident, though partly fictionalised. "He had no enthusiasm in going to Pakistan, there were no complicated political reasons but there were family reasons. His wife went to Lahore where her family was and didn't want to come back, so he also moved despite pleas by friends like Ashok Kumar and Shyam to return. "But Pakistan never proved conducive to Manto. He had an ambiguous relationship with the authorities, quickly became disillusioned, turned to drinking more, and the lack of recognition killed him," she said, adding that while he had been a heavy drinker in Delhi and Bombay, he became an alcoholic there, though he never wrote under the influence of drink. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) A dense fog has descended over Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It could continue for the next three to four days, the meteorological department has said. The fog is not just to the detriment of flights to Jammu, delayed by up to three hours; it is also a metaphor for the political situation in the state. "There is an inexplicable delay in government formation," wrote former chief minister Omar Abdullah on his Facebook page, as Mehbooba Mufti, political heir to the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, dithered over forming a government with the Peoples Democratic Party's alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The two parties had formed the government in the state after Assembly elections in 2014. Nearly a week has gone by since the meeting of the PDP during which it deliberated for more than five hours, the pros and cons of forming a government with the BJP. "From the statement issued to the media after Sunday's meeting by the PDP, it has become evident that its alliance with the BJP stands, that no conditions have been set by the PDP, that no negotiations are being conducted and the formation of the new PDP-BJP government is a foregone conclusion," Abdullah, a National Conference leader said, in effect asking, "Why the delay?" The delay is because of politics -and also economics. At the centre of the dissonance is the commonest cause for the breakdown of a marriage: money. Jammu and Kashmir contends that funds from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation following the devastating floods of 2014 are yet to be remitted to the state in full. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore in November 2015. This included Rs 1,200 crore for the reconstruction of damaged houses and Rs 800 crore for traders hit by the deluge. The state government was not satisfied, both with the quantum of the money and the pace at which it was being disbursed. One of the reasons Finance Secretary Ratan Watal was dispatched to the state was to ensure the right optics - that although Finance Minister Arun Jaitley did not visit the state, the finance secretary did, to ensure the state got its rightful share, all because of the efforts of the PDP. Union ministers - among them Nitin Gadkari, Najma Heptullah - have made a beeline to the state to meet Mehbooba Mufti. Despite Abdullah's questions about when the government would be formed, the delay is doing no harm to Mehbooba Mufti's image: She knows the chief minister's post is not going anywhere. The reason for the delay is obvious to those who understand the politics of the state. Throughout her political career, Mehbooba Mufti has been a votary of taking everyone along in the state, including those who question the Constitution. If she has managed to take the PDP to victory, it is because she enjoys a degree of support among such groups. Indians outside the state would be deluding themselves if they believed it was fully integrated into India: it is not. The fact of its separateness has given rise to a kind of politics that exists because it reaches out to the separatist discourse offering itself as a bridge between India and the separatists. It is this group that Mehbooba Mufti is trying to reassure: that doing a deal with the BJP doesn't mean selling out the interests of the state; on the contrary, it means strengthening them. It is clear to the BJP that sudden moves could break its delicate relations with the PDP - that would lead to early elections, which would be in no one's interest. "Neither the BJP nor the PDP wants elections," says a bureaucrat from the state. "The PDP does not want to appear as if it is ready to do a deal with just anyone to acquire power. Mehbooba Mufti will make up her mind in good time - when she thinks it is psychologically the right time to announce that she is ready to take the BJP's help." The BJP cannot be taken for granted either. In fact, Heptullah, during her visit, spent more time listening to BJP cadres and counselling them than she did with the PDP. She was sent to the state on the express instructions of the prime minister. This suggests the PM doesn't want the BJP to get restive - especially crucial if his Pakistan policy is to succeed and not be seen as a betrayal by the state. When the Centre announces a financial package that is in tune with the state government's expectations; when Mehbooba Mufti believes that the few challengers she faces in her own party have been defanged and will not carry more credibility with the separatists than she herself would; when she judges the BJP is virtually begging her to become chief minister so that the two can return to power then and only then will the government be formed in Jammu and Kashmir. Not a day sooner. Mrinalini Sarabhai, who died last Thursday at 97, was often compared to her contemporary, Dame Margot Fonteyn, for her divine dancing. But she was that rarest of rare artistes who transcended her excellence in the art form of her choice to leave a lasting imprint on the aesthetics of the entire society. Indian classical dancing evolved and flourished under the patronage of temples or courts of local potentates. Men and women both performed, but while men attained eminence as gurus or ustaads, women had to bear the brunt of being treated as devdasis or courtesans, not a position of esteem, and something to which no person of respectable birth or upbringing would aspire. That mould was broken in the early twentieth century, when Rukmini Devi Arundale, born into a prominent Brahmin family of the then Madras aristocracy and married to a British theosophist chose not only to perform Bharatnatyam publicly, but also espoused the cause of the devdasis and established the famed Kalakshetram at Adyar. A galaxy of women dancers blazed the sky of performing arts in India thereafter, including her own students Yamini Krishnamurthy and Leela Samson, and others such as Sitara Devi, Kumudini Lakhia, Kanak Rele, the Jhaveri Sisters, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Shovana Narayan and closer to the present times, Mallika Sarabhai, Aditi Mangaldas and Malavika Sarukkai. Mrinalini Sarabhai was a supernova among these stars. Like Rukmini Devi, she belonged to a prominent Madras family, being the second daughter of the lawyer Subbarama Swaminathan and his wife Ammu, a Congress leader in her own right. Captain Lakshmi Sahgal of the Azad Hind Fauj was her older sister. She married Vikram Sarabhai, the heir to Ahmedabad's leading business house and a renowned physicist, who pioneered the Indian space programme. She received training in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, a sort of maternal inheritance. Her public recitals made it easier for younger women of middle-class families to study and perform on stage. If the daughter-in-law of the first family of Ahmedabad could dance before outsiders, surely others could do so as well, went the argument. She travelled the world and charmed the audiences and critics alike. All through her life, she ran an elegant salon in Ahmedabad. Though Sarabhai had studied at Shantiniketan, she carried forward the tradition of Kalakshetram by establishing the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Like the Adyar institution, Darpana espoused not just dance in all its forms but also music, drama, painting and writing. Sarabhai encouraged experiments in multiple formats, such as narrating Indian epics as ballets. In that sense, she must be considered the muse for Peter Brook's stage interpretation of the Mahabharata (1985), incidentally the opus in which her daughter Mallika Sarabhai was the star performer. Her long career brought her honours too numerous to list, but what was more significant was that she continued to mentor countless young artistes well into her nineties. That frail woman in a chair at the annual Vikram Sarabhai Festival and scores of Darpana workshops was always the dominant figure. Along the way, she got involved with various cultural institutions as an advisor or trustee. She also found time to write on concerns dearest to her and an endearing autobiography. Ahmedabad of the last century had a flourishing mercantile culture, but its merchant princes also made major contributions to matters cultural and civilisational, much like the Medicis of Florence. Mrinalini Sarabhai was the best exemplar of this: the benefactress and patron saint, as well as a performer nonpareil, a true Renaissance woman. Ahead of French President Francois Hollande's visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, Rakesh Sood, India's ambassador to France from 2011-13, tells Archis Mohan why the French are looking at India to understand how to deal with its minorities and de-radicalise its youth. What is the current state of play in India-France relations? Let me first talk about the uniqueness of India-France relations. The most important aspect is cultural affinity. Indians and French have common characteristics. Intellectual arrogance - "don't come and teach us, we are unique" - is something both the Indians and the French possess. We are both argumentative . We love debating things. The third characteristic is fierce individualism. The French have maintained their autonomy, which is also something that we (Indians) have tried to do. How does it translate into foreign policy? After World War II, the French were never comfortable with the United States dominating the world order. This was unlike the United Kingdom, which found its power much diminished and played second fiddle to the US. The British gave away their strategic interests in the Gulf and West Asia to the US when they couldn't afford to maintain these. The French never did that. They retained their little pockets of influence, particularly in Africa which had a large number of French colonies. The French have never been comfortable with the US-led and British-helped Anglo-Saxon world order. They were the only country to openly oppose the US invasion of Iraq. After the Cold War, the French worked towards shaping a multi-polar world order. They have been highly supportive of India's role in the region and its strategic autonomy. In the aftermath of the Pokharan nuclear tests of May 1998, (then National Security Advisor) Brajesh Mishra and I went to France. We were told that none other than French President Jacques Chirac would receive us. Mind you, Mishra and I travelled to Paris even before the end of May. We met Chirac. He listened to what we had to say carefully and appointed senior diplomat Gerard Errera as his special representative for the strategic dialogue with India. We didn't have to do any convincing about why we did the nuclear test. We articulated our perception and regional world view. The French shared their perception and concerns. That was the key to India-France strategic dialogue - and it was a strategic dialogue in the real sense, which involved four to five components, each with lots of content, more than what India had at the time with any other country. Can you elaborate on the cooperation between India and France in the areas of nuclear energy, space and defence? Nuclear energy was a major sector of cooperation. The first discussions were between Areva (French multinational company and global leader in nuclear energy) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. When the US cut off fuel supply to Tarapur nuclear power plant in 1982, the French stepped in to provide us with enriched uranium. France and India are really the only two countries that were interested in the fast breeder reactor technology. The two countries have also worked together on thermonuclear power projects. India and France have had a long-standing cooperation in the space sector. When we started the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) our sounding rockets were French. All our satellites that weigh two tonnes and above have been launched by Arianespace (French multinational company and commercial launch service provider). The French, in turn, use our PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) to launch their smaller satellites. We are also doing joint fabrication of satellites. It's a solid relationship of equals in the space sector. On the defence side, our air force has had the longest of linkages with France. The French Alouette helicopters were used by the Indian Air Force and made in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as Chetak; the IAF flew the French fighter jets Ouragan, named Toofani, in the 1950s and 1960s. Then the Mirages, the Jaguars. Now discussions are on for Rafale jets. India and France are jointly building submarines at the Mazagaon docks. Cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism and cyber security have been added. What are the likely deliverables during Hollande's visit to India? The Rafale deal will go through. Accompanying the Rafale deal is the 50 per cent offset clause. Dassault (the manufacturer of Rafale) will have to invest much more in India to support related industries. The French TGV or Train a Grande Vitesse, that is, high-speed train", which runs at 300 to 320 km per hour and has been used across Europe, could be another sector of cooperation. The third sector could be smart cities. The French have been one of the most efficient in building cities. There is likely to be India-France cooperation in developing Chandigarh, Puducherry and Nagpur as smart cities. The solar energy sector is an area for close cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the International Solar Alliance when he was in Paris for the climate change talks last December. What about economic and commercial cooperation? The economic and commercial relationship has not picked up. India-France bilateral trade, excluding the defence sector, is worth only $10 billion. Language has been bit of a hurdle. But it shouldn't be. Around 2,500 students from India go to France every year to pursue higher education. Increasingly, given the cooperation across sectors, there will be the need to hire people, who know both French and Indian systems and languages. It is a good time to send a large number of Indian students to France. The Chinese send about 25,000 students a year to France. However, the French still do not grant long-term visas, while students like to work for two-three years. These issues need to be resolved. The India-France relationship has been that of the elites of two countries, who appreciate each other's philosophical traditions - whether it is ancient Indian civilisation and Sanskrit texts or the French tradition of Rene Descartes, Albert Camus, (Jean-Paul) Sartre... This is a drawback. It doesn't create the buzz, the excitement necessary for a relationship. We need more people-to- contact, especially among students. What are France's geo-strategic concerns in the AfPak region? How effective an ally is India against the backdrop of the terror attacks in France last year? There is a solid strategic basis to where India fits into the French geo-strategic vision. What imparts balance to India-France ties is that it's a relationship of equals. As much as 10 per cent of the 60-million population of France is Muslim, largely from the French old colonies in Africa. The French have always prided themselves on their approach to secularism, which is different from the "melting pot" approach of the UK where migrant communities congregate in specific areas like Southall. In France, religion is strictly the private affair of an individual. There has been a strict separation between the church and the state for over a century now. The French have pursued a policy of assimilation. Whatever their colour or religion, as long as migrants speak French and adopt the French way of life, they will be integrated into French society. That is why France is introspecting why despite its best efforts to integrate minority youth, they have become radicalised. The French are also quite clear that we, in India, have dealt better with radicalisation and want to learn from us. Some of their youth, including those involved in the terror attacks, had been to the AfPak region. France cannot ban its from travelling to that region, but it does wish to have our understanding of that region. The French are also strong votaries of individual rights and freedoms and want to learn from us about how to enforce laws without affecting the basic values of "equality, liberty, fraternity"of French society. The French have legitimate interests in the Indian Ocean. Reunion Islands, still administered by France, has a large Indian-origin population. The French Navy is not seen as an outsider in the Indian Ocean. Its presence there doesn't create nervousness. There is scope for cooperation in oceanography and strengthening of the maritime relationship. On Monday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah spent a few hours at the party's Makar Sankranti lunch. The usually gruff 51-year-old was self assured, and indulged in banter as he walked around, meeting party workers and journalists. Whether Shah continues to be the BJP president is expected to be decided by the end of the week. But Shah has shown no sign of nervousness about the approaching election - in fact, he has gone about taking important party decisions. On Monday evening, Shah issued a statement to nominate Union ministers Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal, J P Nadda and Rajiv Pratap Rudy to plan the party's campaign for the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which are due by April. It was yet another signal from Shah that he continues to have the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is assured to get his first full term as the BJP's 10th president. Shah completed his truncated presidential term on Saturday. The BJP president is elected once in three years by an electoral college, part of which, in turn, is elected at the end of exhaustive organisational elections. But Shah did not face the election when he was appointed to the post in August 2014. BJP insiders say if there is another contender, an election to the party president's post will take place on January 24. Otherwise, another term for Shah will be announced the same day. Shah was appointed by the BJP's 12-member Parliamentary Board to serve the remainder of the presidential term of Rajnath Singh. Singh, who had by then joined the Union council of ministers, had quit to adhere to the BJP's "one man, one post" rule. The BJP's national council later stamped its approval on Shah's appointment. In a party that is believed to be the most democratic in the Indian political system, it is difficult to say whether Shah will face a challenger in the elections. But most in the party agree that Shah is set to be elected by "consensus". But Shah's re-election wasn't as obvious after the BJP's embarrassing debacle in the Bihar Assembly polls in November. Several, including the BJP's senior-most leaders - such as L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi - had criticised the centralised nature of decision-making under Shah. Questions were also asked of Shah's style of functioning, particularly his arrogance. But the leader from Gujarat has tried to counter this since November by coming across as humbler and more accessible. He now smiles often and seems to be making an extra effort not to snub people, particularly journalists. A website, amitshah.co.in, tabulates in detail Shah's contribution in his 20-month tenure. The website explains how the BJP has become the biggest party on the planet and how Shah has travelled more than 500 km a day to all parts of India. Shah has also reached out to the state party units. The 37 state party units, currently undergoing organisational elections, play a crucial role in electing the BJP's national president. By Wednesday, the party had completed the elections in 21 state units. According to the BJP constitution, at least 50 per cent of state units should complete the election process from district, block to state level before the party's new national president can be elected. The party's "returning officer" for the elections, Rajya Sabha M P Avinash Rai Khanna, is expected to issue the notification for the election of the national president in a couple of days. Any 20 members of an electoral college of a state can jointly propose an active member as a candidate for the elections to the post of national president. In another departure from the recent past when state presidents were rarely given a second consecutive term, Shah has had to strike a compromise with powerful regional satraps. Some of these state units have, therefore, persisted with incumbent presidents. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Nandkumar Singh Chauhan and Ashok Parnami, respectively, have been re-elected. The two are close to the respective chief ministers of their state. In Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's pick, Subhash Brala, was elected by "consensus". Shah, if elected, will face a series of difficult Assembly elections and will be around at least until the time BJP prepares for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. That election would determine whether Shah might go on to lead the BJP for a longer period. HOW BJP CONDUCTS ITS ORGANISATIONAL ELECTIONS A resolution to call assembly houses for 60 days in a year was passed in the 78th Speakers' Conference at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The conference was chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Earlier in 2001, it was discussed to increase timing of assembly house but the resolution was not passed at that time. On the third day of the Speakers Conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced the resolution, a copy of which would be distributed to the speakers and Chief Ministers of all states for study and implementation. To address and solve the various public issues, it is necessary to call house for more time. The resolution has been passed for the benefit of people," said Mahajan. The main objects of the conference this year were 'changing public perception on legislatures', 'the role of legislators in strengthening public faith in democratic institutions' and 'measures to be taken to ensure attendance of members during sittings'. Announcing the resolution, Mahajan appreciated that the Bihar and Karnataka Assemblies had been meeting over 60 days a year. During the three days conference, without naming any states, Mahajan raised the issue of assemblies meeting for less number of days. Out of ideal 90 days, most of the assemblies met for less than 50 days while some even met for just 30 days. At the closing ceremony of the conference, Gujarat Governor O P Kohli called for lawmakers and speakers to understand their responsibility and run the assembly peacefully. It is speaker and public representatives responsibility to run house successfully," Kohli said. Meanwhile, Mahajan raised concerns on Parliament logjams and said that the people were "losing faith in democratic institutions like Parliament owing to logjams". A hundred secret files, which could throw some light on the controversy over the disappearance or death Subhash Chandra Bose, were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netaji's 119th birth anniversary today. The 100 files comprise over 16,600 pages of historic documents, ranging from those of the British Raj to as late as 2007, an official said, after the ceremony at the National Archives of India (NAI) here in which the Prime Minister declassified the secret papers. Also present at the ceremony were members of the Bose family and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo when the files were thrown open for public view. In addition to the 100 files, the NAI plans to release digital copies of a set of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. NAI also opened a dedicated website to store all the declassified files related to Bose. Modi and his ministerial colleagues went around glancing at the declassified files, spending over half an hour at the National Archives. He also spoke to the members of the Bose family. The move came after Modi met the family members of Netaji in October last year and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice M K Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that Bose was alive after that. The controversy has also split members of the Bose family. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4 last year. Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI. Chandra Kumar Bose, spokesperson of the Bose family and grand-nephew of Subhash Chandra Bose who was present at the ceremony, said "we welcome this step by the Prime Minister wholeheartedly. This is a day of transparency in India." However, he also said "we feel that certain very important files were destroyed during the Congress regime in order to hide the truth. We have documentary evidence to understand this. So we feel that the Indian government should take steps to ensure the release of files lying in Russia, Germany, UK, USA." He said from whatever documents "we could go through, there are only circumstantial evidence of the air crash but no conclusive evidence of the air crash." "Even in one of the letters that we saw here which was written by Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suresh Bose that there is no conclusive evidence about the air crash, only few circumstantial evidence," Chandra Bose told Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said that in one year at-least 100 railway stations across the country will have Google Wi-Fi. "We will start offering Google Wi-Fi connectivity to nearly 100 major railway stations in one year," Prabhu told reporters at the sideline of an event in Goa today. The minister said along with Google Wi-Fi, his ministry is also trying to ensure a better customer experience for all the travellers who take the Indian Railways at all the stations. Yesterday, Prabhu launched a free high-speed public Wi-Fi service in collaboration with technology giant Google at Mumbai Central station here, which became first such station in country to get such facility. Google has partnered with Railtel Corporation to provide the connectivity to the railway stations across country. In a statement issued Google had said that the four stations where free Wi-Fi facility would be provided soon are Allahabad, Patna, Jaipur and Ranchi, and other stations will follow very shortly. At least 13 people including four women and a child were killed today in Pakistan when a vehicle they were travelling in fell into a canal in the country's Punjab province here. There were 20 passengers in the van which was heading towards Changa Manga from Raiwind in the Province, according to officials. When the vehicle reached a Balloki Sulaimanki link canal in the outskirts of Lahore, one of its tyres apparently burst and the van fell in the canal. Thirteen people including four women and a child have been killed. Before the rescue teams could reach the spot, most of the passengers had drowned. A search operation was launched to locate the missing persons. "Eight men, four women and a four-year-old boy were recovered dead while the rescuers saved six people and shifted them to hospital. The search for two to three more passengers is underway," rescue official Jam Sajjad said. Though the exact cause behind the accident was being ascertained, officials said a possible tyre burst could be one of the reasons. A large number of local residents also gathered there and helped in rescue efforts. In a crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the NIA has arrested 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country. Of the 14 suspects detained yesterday, 13 have been arrested, according to a Home Ministry spokesman. The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities--Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow yesterday with the support of local police forces. Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said that certain incriminating articles, including but not limited to mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places. "These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organize training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India," it said. The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organizing themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country. According to sources, the arrested people were part of a group named 'Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind' (Army of Caliph of India), a terror group which has almost similar ideologies that of ISIS. They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received 'instructions' for carrying out 'some sensational' attacks in the country. The group had started receiving money through 'hawala' route and according to Home Ministry spokesman "Sheikh also received funds to the tune of Rs 6 lakh." All the arrested suspects were being brought to the capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that they were working on evolving a terror outfit with ideologies similar to ISIS. At least four police personnel, including two women constables, were injured when a group of people allegedly attacked them at Bhimpur village under Ganjam district's Badagada police station limits. The villagers allegedly attacked the cops after the police along with the excise personnel, raided to destroy an illegally-run country-made liquor unit in the village and nab a person from the spot yesterday. The villagers attacked the police and excise personnel, said Sub Divisional Police Officer, Aska, A K Mohanty. While one of the injured police personnel was undergoing treatment at Badagada hospital, the other three constables, including two women, were released after treatment. The condition of the injured personnel was stated to be out of danger, said inspector in-charge, Badagada police station B Routray. The Police said one platoon of police force along with at least 15 police and excise staff had jointly raided the village. They successfully destroyed the country-made liquor manufacturing unit, destroyed a large quantities of country liquor and nabbed a person from the spot. The villagers, including the women in large numbers armed with weapons like bamboo, axe and sickles prevented the police and excise personnel when they were returning. The mob also snatched away the man who was nabbed by the police, Routray added. Shots rang out at a school in western Canada today, leaving four people dead and several critically injured in the nation's worst such shooting in a quarter of a century. "Obviously, this is every parent's worst nightmare," said Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Trudeau held a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, to announce the death toll in the remote northern aboriginal community of La Loche in the province of Saskatchewan. Trudeau said five people had been killed and two were in critical condition but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman later revised the death toll down to four. The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about "a person discharging a weapon in the community," RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy told reporters. She said police were also investigating a second location in a nearby residential neighborhood, but provided no further details. Authorities did not disclose the age and identify of the shooter and victims. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau said. La Loche students said they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 p.m local time (1900 GMT). Several witnesses reported seeing a "boy," who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told public broadcaster CBC. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." The town's hospital informed the media that they were treating the victims for gunshot wounds. The high school and a nearby elementary school were locked down as police responded. "It's just tragic and everybody's running around," said Kevin Janvier, acting mayor, adding that to his understanding the shooting took place when an individual walked in and "opened fire in the building." Located deep in Canada's northern boreal forest, 600 kilometers north of Saskatoon, this town of about 3,000 is particularly isolated and authorities had to send in police reinforcements and dispatch a medical helicopter to airlift some victims to a hospital. The school shooting is Canada's deadliest in 26 years. On December 6, 1989, a 25-year-old man opened fire at the Polytechnic School in Montreal, killing 14 people, including 10 female students. Unlike in the US, shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated than south of the border. At least five persons including a woman were charred to death and two others severely injured today in Bangladesh when a tyre-melting factory caught fire after a blast in its boiler near here. The incident occurred in the evening at Gazipur's Pubail area close to Dhaka where the boiler of Smart Metal and Chemical factory exploded with a loud noise. Authorities said that of the five deceased, three were identified while the remaining bodies have burnt so badly that they could not identified immediately, DhakaTribune reported. The two injured persons, who have suffered more than 30 per cent burns, were rushed to a nearby hospital where their condition was said to be critical. Around 30 people were working in the factory when it caught fire after the explosion, creating panic among workers who rushed to save their lives. Four fire tenders were sent to the spot. The factory melt old tires to manufacture a special oil which is used for roads, the report quoted a local ward councillor as saying. Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Alam said a three-member probe committee has been formed to investigate into the incident. Owner of the factory and other management staff are said be on the run ever since the blast took place. The AAP today attacked the Delhi Police for lapses in security over the ink attack on Chief Ministrer Arvind Kejriwal, a day after a Sessions Court pulled up the law and order agency over the issue. The party demanded that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which controls the Delhi Police, should make its stand clear on its assessment of the Delhi Police in the wake of stinging court remarks. "It is shameful that following the ink-attack on the Chief Minister, the Delhi Police instead of introspecting on its failure, chose to adopt a defiant stand and tried to hide its failure and incompetence. "The Aam Aadmi Party challenges the Delhi Police Chief, B S Bassi, who does not miss an opportunity to appear before TV cameras to give political statements in violation of service rules against a democratically elected government, should now react to the court's observations about the shameful police role in the ink attack incident," AAP leader Ashutosh said. Quoting the court oder, he added that "if the Chief Minister of Delhi is not safe, one may wonder as to what will be the fate of citizens of Delhi." The party demanded that MHA should take immediate corrective steps to "restore the credibility of Delhi Police in the eyes of residents of the national capital", which has been severely dented by the "unprofessional and biased conduct of the top police brass". Aam Aadmi Party's wait for a new office has finally come to an end with Delhi government allotting a spacious bungalow to the party at Rouse Avenue in central Delhi, just opposite the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee's office. The bungalow, earlier alloted to former AAP minister Asim Ahmed Khan who was sacked over corruption charges, is being refurbished to suit the party's requirements. The structure has multiple rooms and also a decent parking space and a lawn. Notably, Delhi government had issued a notification in October 2015 that any party which has over 51 MLAs and above is entitled to a 1,000 sq m of land for its office. The move will help the party save lakhs of rupees it currently spends on its Patel Nagar office. Also, being in central Delhi, party leaders will find the location convenient due to its proximity to Delhi Secretariat. "After our victory in 2013, we became a state party. So, we are eligible to get a party office," said an AAP leader. Party sources said after the 2013 polls, AAP had the option of a plot in South Delhi, where a party office could have been built. However, the place was not convenient in terms of commuting. AAP has one office in Ghaziabad, where the party is registered. It was also given an office on Hanuman Road in central Delhi by a "well-wisher", but it had to be vacated. Following this, the office was shifted to Patel Nagar. The party has memories attached to both its offices in Hanuman Road and Patel Nagar. When its office was in Hanuman Road, the party not only saw AAP's maiden victory, but also its drubbing in Lok Sabha. The Patel Nagar office witnessed its spectacular victory in Assembly polls in February 2015 when it won 67 of the 70 seats. "We have started shifting our stuff to the new office, but it will take some time to settle down," the AAP leader added. The Patna police today arrested a noted criminal who had opened fire on a city jeweller for extortion on Saturday last resulting in his death, a senior police officer said. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said the absconding criminal Karmu Rai was arrested from Bhagwanpur village under Fatuha police station of the district. He said the arrest came on a tip off that the criminal was living there by hiding his identity. Karmu Rai was the criminal who fired on the jeweller resulting in his death on January 16 in Patna. Five of his gang men were already in the police net in connection with the daylight killing of the jeweller in Rajapur bridge area under Sri Krishna Puri police station, the SSP said adding, the police have recovered the revolver used in the crime. The arrested criminal told police that the murder of the jeweller was committed on instructions of dreaded gangster Durgesh Sharma for extortion. The Police were on the lookout for Durgesh Sharma, the SSP said. Murder of the jeweller in the heart of the capital on Saturday night had triggered a sharp criticism of the Nitish Kumar government on law and order situation. The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) today welcomed the declassification of 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and said the government must dig out details behind his disappearance. AIFB, formed by Bose himself, also asked the Centre to announce the exact number of files in its possession relating to the leader and sought formation of an expert panel to declassify the documents instead of government officials doing the job. "We welcome the move. But we want to know what had happened to Netaji... The MK Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry had emphatically proved that there was no plane accident involving Netaji on the basis of documents receive from Taiwan Government. Then what happened to him?" said AIFB secretary G Devarajan. While two earlier Commissions of Inquiry had concluded the leader had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that Bose was alive after that. Devarajan asked the Centre to announce the "exact" number of files in its possession relating to the leader and also sought constitution of an expert panel to declassify the documents. "We don't want government officials to declassify the files, but research scholars, historians and academicians should," he added. Meanwhile, 'Netaji Bhavan', which will serve as AIFB headquarters, was inaugurated in the national capital today. The inaugural function was attended by senior leaders of the party including general secretary Debabrata Biswas. "We had demanded of the government to construct a building in Netaji's name, but the same went unheeded. So, we constructed the building on our own. This building will work as party headquarters and a centre of research relating to Netaji," Devarajan said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. BJP president Amit Shah is set to start a new term from tomorrow when he is tipped to be elected unopposed to the top party post. His current term ends today and the new term will be his first full-term lasting three years. Shah's election is virtually a formality, party sources said. Seen as a close confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah was put at the helm midway during his predecessor Rajnath Singh's tenure after Singh joined the government in May 2014. Almost all BJP chief ministers, besides a number of union ministers, are likely to be in attendance tomorrow when Shah files his nomination papers and is expected to declared as the party chief. Modi is hosting a dinner for Shah and his team, including vice presidents, general secretaries and secretaries, tonight. Under Shah's stewardship, BJP scaled new heights by coming to power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir but the quite a bit of the sheen was taken off by its massive back-to-back defeats in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections, triggering some rumblings in the party. However, party sources have insisted that his "energetic and focused" leadership has strengthened the organisation by pushing its membership across the country and expanding its reach in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal where BJP had never been a force to reckon with. The party president's election in BJP is normally unopposed. Last time, senior party leader Yashwant Sinha had expressed his willingness to contest but later decided against it. (Reopens MDS14) BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Jayendra Saraswathi had to undergo imprisonment as he was uniting people. "Sri Jayendra Saraswahti had to undergo imprisonment. Why ? Because, he was integrating all Hindus and was bringing them in one platform," he said. "Those who troubled Kanchi Mutt, the law of karma will catch up with them will one day certainly," he said. The Dutch debate on asylum-seekers has come to this: Firebrand lawmaker Geert Wilders handing out self-defense sprays to women fearful of what he describes as "Islamic testosterone bombs" in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne. Wilders, surrounded by bodyguards and police, visited a market today in the largely blue-collar town of Spijkenisse to hand out the sprays, which contained red paint. Amid stalls selling vegetables, fish, flowers and bicycle parts, Wilders got a rock-star welcome from dozens of supporters, while others protested his visit, waving placards including one that read, "Refugees are welcome, racism is not." The publicity stunt fits into Wilders' uncompromising anti-immigrant, anti-Islam rhetoric that has propelled him to the top of Dutch opinion polls, just over a year away from the parliamentary election. In between shaking hands and posing for selfies with supporters, the Freedom Party leader said that, if elected, he would, "close the borders immediately and have no more asylum-seekers. We just cannot afford to have more. The Dutch people in a big majority don't want it and we cannot afford it and it makes our people and women only more unsafe." His message is gaining traction here amid a surge of refugees to Europe and following deadly attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris last year. It echoes Republican front-runner Donald Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and is similar to other populist, nationalist groups in Europe like Marine Le Pen's National Front in France. "The tendencies across Europe are very similar," said University of Amsterdam political science professor Wouter van der Brug. "Across Europe, right-wing populist parties are picking up support as a result of the asylum crisis that we're facing now, and also as a result of terrorist attacks." Leontine Maris was one of the first women to get a spray from Wilders. The 53-year-old said she votes for him though she disagrees with some of his more extreme comments. She said she was afraid not just of migrants, but also Dutch men. "The whole society is going down the drain," she said. As Wilders' popularity soars on the back of such disenchantment, Prime Minister Mark Rutte's two-party coalition is in a slump, losing ground mainly to Wilders. "Wilders is getting support across different layers of society," Van der Brug said. With high NPAs weighing down on the books of several banks, ICICI Bank has adopted a strategy of proactive action on its corporate portfolio and is focussing on higher-rated clients, its chief Chanda Kochhar said here. Besides, the banks strategy also involves increasing the proportion of retail clients in its portfolio, the top banker said. Asset quality in the retail segment continues to be healthy and stable. In the corporate sector, there continue to be challenges given the time taken for projects to generate cash flows and high leverage levels in some areas or companies. Banks are working actively to resolve these through asset sales and change in management; they are taking a strong stance vis-a-vis the promoters to ensure that these actions are taken, Kochhar told PTI at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. In cases where the promoters do not cooperate, the banks are enforcing contractual rights through the legal route, she added. Talking about her own bank, Kochhar said: ICICI Banks strategy comprises close monitoring and proactive action on the corporate portfolio; increasing the proportion of retail in the portfolio mix; and focus on higher rated clients. Kochhar, Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank, further said that the regulator RBI is also in discussions with banks at various level to address these concerns. I am confident that over time the coordinated efforts of the government, regulator and banks should help in addressing these concerns, she added. Asked about the her outlook for the banking sector's financial performance in the quarters to come, Kochhar said, In the banking sector, retail business will continue to grow at a faster pace. Corporate lending may take some time to pick-up. We will see gradual improvement as recovery in economic activity strengthens. In fact, if we look at the history of the Indian financial sector, we have never seen the level of crises that we have witnessed in other regions. Giving credit to the strong regulatory framework in the country, Kochhar said, The Reserve Bank of India has norms which are in line with, or in some areas stricter than global standards, which has resulted in healthier position of Indian banks. The capital requirement prescribed by RBI is a percentage point higher than the global standard prescribed by Basel committee on banking supervision. Banks in India are required to maintain statutory liquidity ratio, cash reserve ratio and liquidity coverage ratio requirements resulting in healthier liquidity position. Banaras Hindu University today suspended a research scholar for allegedly raping his junior after holding her captive at his room in Chittupur locality. The BHU administration suspended Vijay Kumar after an FIR was registered against him at Lanka police station under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC, an official statement from the varsity said. Vijay Kumar, a research scholar at BHU, had called the complainant girl at his rented room in Chittupur locality on Thursday evening on the pretext of guiding her forpreparation of a thesis which she had to submit, Lanka police station officerSanjiv Mishra said. As per her complaint, when she reached the room, the accused allegedly held her captive and raped her. She somehow managed to flee the next day and reached the police station, Mishra said. Vijay was arrested yesterday and produced before a magistrate in the local court today morning after which he was sent to jail, the police official said. He said that the girl's medical report is still awaited. US billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is mulling an independent bid for the White House, The New York Times reported today. The 73-year-old businessman is drawing up plans for a potential run on a third-party ticket for which he is prepared to spend USD 1 billion of his personal fortune, the Times said, citing anonymous sources briefed on the matter. The Republican-turned-independent sees a potential opening should Republican frontrunner Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders -- who is surging in polls -- win their parties' nominations, the sources said. The mogul has set a deadline for a final decision for early March, the Times reported, which would give him enough time to qualify to appear on ballots in the presidential election. Bloomberg, who served as New York mayor for a record 12 years until January 2014, is remembered for his aggressive public health policies, like banning smoking in bars and restaurants, and limiting consumption of sugary drinks. He also won plaudits as a campaigner for tighter gun laws while overhauling the city waterfront, widening green spaces, launching the popular city-bike program and restoring business optimism after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Forbes magazine ranks him as the 14th richest person on the planet, with a total net worth of USD 35.5 billion. Pakistani spy agency ISI has been called to "probe" the Pathankot terror attacks, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra today alleged and described the BJP-led government at the Centre as the "weakest" and the most "incompetent" in India's history. Mishra, who holds the Tourism and Water portfolio in the AAP government, claimed that elements against whom Indian soldiers are fighting at the border have been called to "investigate" terror strikes in India. "For the first time in independent India, Pakistani spy agency ISI's team was called by the Indian government. They say Pakistani agency will probe terror strikes in India. Pakistan's ISI has been called to India to probe the Pathankot attacks. "Those whom our soldiers are fighting at the border are being called to probe terror attacks. I think no government has been weaker, more cowardly and incompetent in independent India's history than the current dispensation in the Centre," he said. Mishra, an MLA from Karawal Nagar , was speaking at an event to mark Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's birth anniversary here. Later, through a series of tweets, Mishra sought to clarify his statements and charged that the BJP government was the first to bend before Pakistan "to this extent". "At the event to honour ex-servicemen held at Bawana, questions cropped up as to why the government was appearing to bend before Pakistan. "Why Pakistani agencies are being called to India to probe terror attacks emanating from Pakistan? Will the attacker and investigator both come from Pakistan? In this context, I said that the current government is the weakest and the most cowardly in India's history," he tweeted. BJP Kisan Morcha president Vijaypal Singh Tomar today blamed previous Congress governments for the "plight of farmers" in the country. A survey by a British organisation stated that 58 per cent farmers do not get full meals, he said. "Congress regimes and the governments formed with its support are responsible for the plight of farmers," the president of BJP's farmers' wing said. Farmers are leaving agriculture due to adversities faced by the agrarian sector, Tomar said, adding there are no irrigation facilities in 64 per cent land. "Farmers are either committing suicide or leaving their occupation. Almost 2.5 lakh farmers have ended their lives in the past several years," he said. Tomar lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for starting the JalYuktShivar scheme aimed at water conservation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's crop insurance scheme covers pre and post-harvest season. This will be in force from April 1 and help reduce farmers' suicides, he said. New technology like drones will be used to assess crop damage and payment will be promptly credited in the farmer's bank account, Tomar added. BJP MLA Khumukcham Joykisan Singh was arrested today for defying prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 imposed here since yesterday evening, after trouble broke out in the Thangal Bazar area over a dispute regarding construction of a temporary market shed. The Police had to use water cannon and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters opposing construction of the market shed at Thangal Bazar, the main marketing centre of Imphal, controlled by women and popularly known as Women Market. Two major market sheds, Lakshmi Market and New Market, were badly damaged in the January 4 earthquake. Following the arrest of Joykisan Singh, large number of protesters took to the streets in the Thangmeiband, Nagamapal and Thangal Bazar areas of Imphal West district defying the prohibitory orders. A Mumbai-bound GoAir flight carrying 150 passengers on board was diverted to Nagpur due to a hoax bomb call. The flight, which took off from Bhubhaneswar at 0820 hours landed at Nagpur at 0929 hours safely, the airline said. "GoAir flight G8 243 took off from Bhubaneshwar for Mumbai at 8.20 a.m and post receiving the bomb threat call, was diverted to Nagpur and landed at 9.29 a.m," GoAir said. All the 150 passengers were deplaned immediately after the plane landed and the security agencies carried out a thorough search of the passengers, their baggage and the aircraft. "However, no bomb was found onboard the aircraft," GoAir said. The aircraft has been cleared for departure to Mumbai. The local police is investigating the matter, GoAir said. British Prime Minister David Cameron asked the Maldives to open up its politics and release all remaining political prisoners after meeting former president Mohamed Nasheed today. Nasheed, who has been in prison in the Maldives but was granted special leave for urgent surgery, visited Cameron's Downing Street office in London, accompanied by his wife Laila Ali Abdulla and his British lawyer Amal Clooney. Nasheed's conviction last March on terror-related charges has been widely criticised by the international community. The 48-year-old ex-leader left the Maldives on Monday after resolving a last-minute legal dispute with the government over his 30-day release for spinal cord surgery in Britain. Cameron and Nasheed agreed that while his release was "a positive step, more needed to be done... If real change is to be delivered," a Downing Street spokesman said. The former British protectorate in the Indian Ocean is one of the 53 Commonwealth members. "Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group visit to the Maldives next month, the prime minister and Mr Nasheed agreed this was an opportunity for all Commonwealth members to send a consistently strong message on the need for the Maldivian government to engage in open political dialogue and free all remaining political prisoners swiftly. "Finally, the prime minister told Mr Nasheed that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives." Nasheed became the first democratically-elected president of the Maldives in 2008 and served for four years before he was toppled in what he called a coup backed by the military and police. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges relating to the arrest of an alleged corrupt judge in 2012, when he was still in power. The UN has said his trial was seriously flawed and he should be released and compensated for wrongful detention. But the Maldives' hardline President Abdulla Yameen has refused to accept the UN ruling and has been resisting international pressure to release Nasheed. Yameen is a half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled for 30 years until his defeat by Nasheed in the country's first multi-party elections eight years ago. Chief executives need to move away from short-term thinking and take bold measures to promote diversity, according to leaders gathered at the WEF annual meet. Stating that surveys confirm that people lack trust in their leaders, France's Publicise Groupe's Chairman and CEO Maurice Levy said business sector should not be held back if government is unwilling to take the necessary steps to push through the right policies, regulations and reforms. "As CEOs, we have a lot of responsibility. We can't sit and wait for the decisions by politicians. We have to insist that they make the right decisions. Otherwise, we will have more situations like Greece," he noted. International Trade Union Confederation's (ITUC) General Secretary Sharan Burrow said the central question is whether technology can be harnessed for systems change. Noting that technology is not shared on an equitable basis, she said "greed is outstripping opportunity". Participating in a session, US-based Salesforce Chairman and CEO Marc R Benioff said the problem is a lack of leaders willing to recognise the challenges and make the necessary changes. "We are in a leadership crisis. We are seeing technological shifts and changes on a scale we have never seen on this planet. These require severe and extreme leadership. Countries that are having a problem are those with the weakest leadership. There is a leadership void in this world," he said. They felt that CEOs have to turn away from short-term thinking and narrow concern for shareholders and instead take bold steps to improve workers' conditions, promote diversity and take a wider stakeholder perspective. Erik Brynjolfsson, Director of the Initiative on the Digital Economy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management in the US, said it would be a mistake to blame technology for such problems as the rise of inequality or unemployment. "The biggest misconception is the idea that technology will come for our jobs. The bigger opportunity is to use technology to enhance performance and augment human activity," he added. "Technology can be used to destroy and create jobs. There is no economic law that everyone is going to benefit equally. You have to put the policies in place," he noted. Expected to ease the travel woes in Kerala's commercial capital, the first trial run of Kochi metro was flagged off by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a test track set up at its Muttom railway yard near Aluva here. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Principal Advisor, E Sreedharan, state ministers Aryadan Muhammed, V K Ibrahim Kunju, K Babu and Anoop Jacob attended the function, organised to inaugurate the trial run of the Rs 5,180 crore Kochi Metro project, held at the 900 metre specially set up track at the yard. Flagging-off the trial run of the urban public transport system, Chandy said "it is a proud moment for the Keralites living across the world. First service of the Kochi Metro will start on November 1, the day state of Kerala was created. Noting that the foundation stone for the Kochi Metro was laid on September 13, 2012, the Chief Minister said the modern transport system "is being created in record time." Chandy also hailed the role played by Metro man Sreedharan in making the dream project of Kerala a reality. "People of Kerala are grateful to Sreedharan," the Chief Minister said, adding, the Kochi Metro is a feather in his cap. Meanwhile, BJP came down heavily on the state government, alleging that the Chief Minister was playing politics over the development works being undertaken with the assistance of central government. "It is a political stunt by the Chief Minister.Central government has allocated Rs 5000 crore for the function. But not a single Central minister was invited for the function. It is cheap politics being played just ahead of Assembly polls," senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan said. Describing Chinese assertiveness in the region as an opportunity for the US, an expert from an advisory group has said that China's move to build a base in Pakistan would bring India more closer to America. "A more assertive China with expeditionary capability could lead nations in the region to be more receptive to supporting US efforts to shape the security environment, and to US objectives in Asia," said Kristen Gunness, CEO of Vantage Point, a China-focused advocacy group. "This could specifically be an opportunity to sway those nations that are currently leery of fully supporting US efforts, for example, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, should China build a base in Pakistan, for example, potentially fall into this category and could be receptive to increased dialogue with the US," Gunness said in his testimony before US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "An implication for the US military, PLA expeditionary capabilities allow more opportunity for the US and Chinese militaries to cooperate on regional security issues particularly in the maritime domain where our two navies are well positioned to cooperate on issues such as counterpiracy, counterterrorism...," he argued. Said Thomas Bickford, senior research scientist, CAN Corporation, said India is one of the countries in the region which is going to have a lot of concerns with the Chinese assertiveness. "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. "So there's a lot of concerns in India where we would like to respond in a number of ways including more defense spending and possibly seeking the closer relationship with United States in terms of military," Bickford said. "In terms of implications for relations with our allies and partners, well, clearly, we're going to be asked to do a lot more, you can have that expectation, and things that are really important and you need to think about carefully is what is the priority between China greater commitment and losing flexibility because the more clearer and concise our commitments are, the less flexibility future US leaders might have in the crisis," he said. Jeffrey L Fieldler, Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said both the US and Japan would not sit idle if China indulges in something with India. "I'm not so sure that Japan and the United States will sit idle by when the Chinese did something serious with India given its position in the world and the need to go to the south the Indian Ocean," he said. "So, but I don't see any formal alliance arrangement that would just scare everybody. I actually don't think it's possible. So, but short of that, there's a lot of working together that is finally going out and that has never been going on before," Fieldler said. Chinese economy may continue to struggle this year, giving goosebumps to the world economy, but it should not be as bad as was being feared, according to global leaders here for the elite WEF powwow on the state of the world. Other potential risks before the global economy include Brexit (Britian's possible exit from EU) and continuing plunge in commodity markets, IMF chief Christine Lagarde and several other leaders opined as the five-day WEF Annual Meeting drew to a close today. Security concerns and refugee crisis will be the major issues as far as Europe is concerned, while Presidential candidate Donald Trump and his several controversial comments were the most talked topics about the US. Indian leaders opined that the reform process would continue in the country, even though some opined in private, that the political scenario remains bumpy and could spring some negative surprises as several state elections are expected and that would come in the way of economic planning of the central government. Some of the most soothing comments for China came from noted economist Nouriel Roubini, who is famously known as Dr Doom, when he said market analysts tend to go from one extreme to the next in their predictions. "That's why we might not want to read too much into all their recent talk of an economic meltdown in the world's second largest economy," he said. At the same time, Roubini warned that all would not be entirely well for China. "My view for the last few years on China is that we will have neither a hard nor a soft landing. I would say China is going to have a bumpy landing," he noted. Lagarde said China is continuing with its economic reforms and therefore growth might slow down slightly, but will probably still hover around 6.5 per cent - a perfectly reasonable rate. Other forecasts made here for 2016 included a peace deal for Cyprus and renewable energy getting cheaper. Some leaders also said that oil prices will bounce back, with the head of Saudi Aramco Khalid al-Falih saying that the collapse in oil prices is "irrational" and there is only one way, that is up, that oil prices can go in 2016. Technology czar Bill Gates said that the world will continue to be a better place in 2016. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today said that Chinese company Wanda will invest invest Rs 60,000 crore in next four years which will help to further strengthen the infrastructure and employment in the state. Khattar, who returned from his 5-day official visit to Japan and China today, said he had received tremendous response from the entrepreneurs and investors in both the countries. "As a result of the MoUs signed between Haryana and some companies of both countries, the infrastructure in the state would be further strengthened and ample employment opportunities would be generated for the youth in Haryana," he said while talking to the media persons at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi here. This was his 2nd foreign trip. Earlier in August last year he went to US and Canada on a similar investment trip. The Chief Minister was accompanied by state's Industries Minister Capt Abhimanyu, Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain and officials of the state Government. He said that he also invited representatives of various companies to visit Haryana, especially for its 'Happening Haryana' meet to be held from March 7-9 in Gurgaon. The foreign companies have expressed interest to invest in Haryana as a result of state government's "investor friendly" policies, Khattar said. "Wanda Company of China has signed an MoU to invest Rs 60,000 crore in the State in next four years. The state government would make available 2200 acres of land near Kharkhoda," he said. He said that the Chinese companies have shown interest in setting up of industrial parks, smart city, industrial units to manufacture cell phones and e-commerce platform. Chinese companies have also shown interest in making investment in areas of education, health, science and technology, he said. He said that he had a schedule of seven days for these two countries, but had to cut it short to five days as the French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are arriving in Chandigarh and Gurgaon. After landing at New Delhi, the Chief Minister left for Chandigarh by road. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today lauded 8-year-old Aamir Shoaib for getting his gambler father arrested for his addiction. "Aamir has shown courage and set an example by walking up to the police station to request police to act against a gambling den," Chouhan tweeted. "By getting his own father arrested and ensuring that the gambling den got closed, Aamir has set an example of social responsibility for others to emulate," he said. After failing to persuade his father Aqueel, a resident of Mandsaur district, to give up gambling, the boy mustered the courage to complain to police on January 3, police said. The class III student also guided them to the spot where gambling was going on, which led to the arrest of the gamblers including his father, they said. "Madhya Pradesh is proud of the little boy who has put into practice bookish knowledge at such a tender age. I wish him best wishes for his bright future," the Chief Minister further said. Impressed by the boy's courage, his school Principal Surendra Dabkara said, "We are proud of Aamir Shoaib and will honour him on the occasion of Republic Day. (REOPENS BES 24) Meanwhile, Chouhan also said that his government has been constructing 600 fully equipped hostels for SC/ST students across the state. "The construction of 600 fully equipped hostels for SC/ST students is being carried out across the state. Of these, the construction of 280 hostels has been completed," the Chief Minister said while dedicating the Scheduled Caste Skill Development Boys Hostel at Shyamla Hills here. "The modern and permanent arrangements for the students have been made in these hostels," he added. The fully equipped hostel at Shyamla Hills was built at a cost of Rs 1.94 crore. BJP today accused Congress of doing "petty politics" over the issue of making public files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and demanded that it apologise to the nation for "ignoring" the contribution of great freedom fighters. The party also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his action of making public files relating to Netaji, fulfilling a long-term demand and a promise made earlier, that could throw more light on the great freedom fighter's life. "BJP condemns the petty politics done by the Congress and hails Modi government's efforts to give back the respect deserved by great freedom fighters," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. He also alleged that Congress has engaged in "flattery" of only one family and totally ignored the contribution of great freedom fighters due to its "votebank politics". "Congress party should accept this reality and penance for its misdeeds. Congress should apologise to the country for the disrespect it showed to great freedom fighter," he said. Sharma said Congress has tried to confine the credit to only its first family, "brutally ignoring the contribution of Bose as well as many great freedom fighters of the country". "Not only this, Congress has repeatedly tried to spoil the image of other great nationalists and freedom fighters after independence in the country. There are indications to this effect after the Netaji files have been made public," he claimed. The BJP leader alleged that a letter written by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee has also come out "in which Nehru has termed the great freedom fighter Subhas Bose as a 'war criminal'". "This is an example how Congress has been spoiling the image of leaders having a different viewpoint," he said. Sharma said Prime Minister Modi has fulfilled the demand being made for a long time by Indians to make public files related to the life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. "Now everyone can see these files and get information pertaining to Netaji's life. BJP expresses its gratitude for this historic decision of the government," he said, adding that with these files made public, a number of mystries relating to Netaji's life will be unravelled. Attacking the Congress, he said, "While the entire country has expressed happiness over the files being made public, Congress is doing petty politics on this issue as well." The BJP leader added that the "disappointing reaction" given by Congress leader Anand Sharma on this issue reveals the "narrow-mindedness" of the opposition party. "It is known to all that Congress has undermined the contribution of a number of people who sacrificed their life for the freedom of the country and has given the credit to only one family," he said. Congress, while pitching for declassifying all files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, today said the way Prime Minister Naredra Modi has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. "Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign," party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma claimed. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has requested Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to reconsider its decision to shift its Regional Office (RO) from Itanagar to Tezpur in Assam. In a letter to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari, Tuki said that this unilateral decision of the Ministry to move out the RO to Tezpur was against the interests of the important ongoing road projects in the state, especially those under the ambitious Trans Arunachal Highway Package. "You would appreciate that it is imperative that a project like the Trans Arunachal Highways - notwithstanding its scale and importance - be effectively monitored regularly by a nodal arm of the MoRTH," an official release quoting the letter stated today. "The RO at Itanagar was operating with this mandate and taking care of the several issues related to the same in coordination with the implementing agencies of the state government," the letter stated. A policeman from Telangana suffered minor injuries after a suspect and his wife assaulted him in Parapanagrahara area of Bengaluru today, police said. "A suspect was on the radar of Telangana police. We were trying to verify his involvement in a case and a police team from here had gone to Bengaluru," a senior officer of an intelligence wing said here. "When the policeman was talking with the suspect a scuffle broke out and the suspect and his wife attacked and stabbed him," the officer said. "The policeman suffered minor stab wounds," he added. Bengaluru police had detained the couple, he added. Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, who has proposed to set up a TV channel for the House, has asked for a mechanism under which every legislature which applies for a licence to set up such a network is granted the same "as a matter of right" and without imposition of I&B ministry pre-conditions. According to Goel, since the proposed channel will be on the lines of Lok Sabha tv and Rajya Sabha tv, there should not be "any problem" in granting licences to them. He made the remarks at the 78th Conference of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies in India in Gandhinagar. He told the delegates that the Delhi Assembly has applied for a licence to start a television channel to be totally owned and run by it. "He appealed to the Speaker of Lok Sabha that as the head of POs Conference, she initiates measures to secure a mechanism wherein every legislature which applies for licence automatically gets it as a matter of right. The I&B ministry pre-conditions need to be scrapped," a Delhi government statement quoted him as saying. He also demanded from the Centre that a Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha be made as the "smooth functioning" of Opposition in legislative bodies of India is impossible without it. The position of LoP in Parliament has been unoccupied since mid-2014. He went on to the cite the "example" of Delhi Assembly where Vijender Gupta of BJP, which has three seats out of 70, has been given the status of LoP. Goel also sought the help of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in getting necessary clearances from the Centre in making legislatures paperless through 'e-vidhan project' for which Delhi Assembly is one of the applicants. He claimed that the Arunachal Pradesh Governor's role in the recent political developments in the state amounted to "encroachment" into rights of the legislature that were guaranteed under Constitution. "Recalling that Sarkaria Commission had proposed consultation with chief minister of the state, Vice President of India and Speaker, Lok Sabha, he said that there has to be a fair mechanism to appoint Governors to avoid subversion of Constitution by Governors as is witnessed in Arunachal Pradesh," he claimed in the statement. A Delta plane bound for Saipan made an emergency landing at Tokyo's Narita airport today after smoke in the cabin was reported, but no one was injured, an airport official said. The Boeing 757-200 with 97 crew and passengers on board was forced to return to the Japanese capital's airport today morning after smoke was "detected" in the cabin, the official said. The airport was temporarily closed when the plane returned, and all the crew and passengers evacuated safely, he added. Local media said airport engineers had so far found no damage in the cabin, while Delta was investigating the problem. Dense fog disrupted air and rail traffic in the city with a Jammu-bound flight diverted to Amritsar whereas another one was delayed due to poor visibility. All trains to the city were also running late. "A Jammu-bound flight had to be diverted to Amritsar whereas another flight was delayed by more than three hours and the pilot had to hold the plane in the air for an hour before making a landing at the airport here," Officer on Special duty at Air Traffic Management (ATM) Jammu airport RK Awasthi said. He said the disruption happened due to poor visibility at the airport after dense fog engulfed the region early morning. Awasthi added that flight operations have now returned to normal. "Air traffic has become normal here after the visibility improved as the weather improved," he said. The official said that the flight that was diverted to Amritsar was also expected to land in Jammu shortly. Meanwhile, several trains coming to Jammu, too, were running late owing to the dense fog. "Around 10 trains were cancelled in the past few days due to the fog in the region. Today, too, almost all the trains coming to Jammu have been delayed by several hours due to the fog in the region," an official at the Jammu railway station said. The state meteorological department said that such conditions will continue for some more days to come. "The dry weather conditions in Jammu region would continue till January 27 and on January 28, there are chances of isolated rainfall in the region," Director of the state Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said. "While the maximum temperature in Jammu was 11 degrees centigrade, which was two degrees lower than the temperature recorded in Srinagar, the minimum temperature for Jammu was recorded at 3 degrees Celsius," Lotus said. Hollywood star Leonardo Dicaprio has donated USD 15 million from his foundation in an effort to fast-track ways to preserve the planet. The 41-year-old actor made the announcement at the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award Ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, reported US magazine. "The Revenant" actor was honoured for his work in tackling the ongoing climate crisis. "Generosity is the key to our future. With that, I am pleased to announce today over USD 15 million in new commitments from LDF to fast-track cutting-edge sustainability and conservation projects around the world," DiCaprio said. A portion from the funds will go toward protecting the last remaining rain forests, including the Amazon in Ecuador, where the palm oil industry is threatening the vast span of land. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is under fire for lack of diversity in its Oscars nominations this year, has announced a series of measures to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020. The Academy's Board has approved substantive changes designed to make its membership, governing bodies, and voting members significantly more diverse. "The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up," Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement. "These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition." Beginning later this year, each new member's voting status will last 10 years, and will be renewed if that new member has been active in motion pictures during that decade. Members will receive lifetime voting rights after three ten-year terms; or if they have won or been nominated for an Academy Award. The same standards will be applied retroactively to current members. If a current member has not been active in the last 10 years they can still qualify by meeting the other criteria. Those who do not qualify for active status will be moved to emeritus status, which allows them to enjoy all the privileges of membership, except voting. The decision will not affect voting for this year's Oscars, which are scheduled to take place on February 28. The move by the Academy has been welcomed by "Selma" director Ava DuVernay, who was overlooked for a nomination last year. "Just received from The Academy. One good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color and women artists," DuVernay wrote. "Marginalized artists have advocated for Academy change for decades. Actual campaigns. Calls voiced from the stage. Deaf ears. Closed minds." Stephanie Allain, a producer of "Beyond the Lights" and a member of the academy, said she was elated, especially with the addition of three members to Board of Governors who, she assumed, would be women or people of colour. "The world is watching, basically, so what are we going to do? Are we going to do the right thing? And I think that we have," she said. The landmark decision comes after a number of Hollywood celebrities criticised the Academy for failing to recognise people of colour in four of its acting categories for the second consecutive year. Hollywood couple Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett have decided to boycott the ceremony this year after the actor and his film "Concussion" failed to get a nomination. Jada Pinkett was one of the first celebrities to slam the Academy and call for a boycott, along with filmmaker Spike Lee. Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, DuVernay, David Oyelowo, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Viola Davis and Mark Ruffalo are some of the celebrities who have criticised the Academy and Hollywood studios for ignoring non-white talent. However, Hollywood seems to be divided on the diversity debate with some celebrities criticising the appeal for quota, saying the awards should be given only on merit. The latest to wade into the row is this year's best actress nominee Charlotte Rampling, who condemned much of the protest as being "racist against whites." The "45 Years" star later clarified saying her comments were misinterpreted. "I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration. Diversity in our industry is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I am highly encouraged by the changes announced today by the academy to diversify its membership." British actor Michael Caine, a double Oscar winner, told BBC, "There's loads of black actors but you can't vote for an actor because he's black. You can't just say 'I'll vote for him, he's not very good but he's black. You've got to give a good performance - and I'm sure there were. Caine said he loved Idris Elba's performance in "Beasts of No Nation". Many feel Elba should have made it to the best actor nominees list. The Editors Guild of India has condemned the intimidation and threat to senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan by student members of ABVP at Allahabad University this week, saying it was a "brazen attack on the freedom of expression". Terming the action as "deplorable", the Guild said it finds such mob mentality to silence divergent views as "unacceptable". "The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the blatant acts of intimidation and threats to Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor of The Wire, by student members of the ABVP in Allahabad University that forced the police to intervene to escort him to safety," a statement issued by Raj Chengappa, President of the Guild said. Varadarajan was invited to deliver a lecture on "Democracy, the Media and Freedom of Expression" by the president of Allahabad University Students' Union at the varsity's senate hall on January 20. After ABVP threatened violence in the varsity, the vice chancellor withdrew permission for the programme and the lecture was delivered at a hall near the campus. "For a senior journalist to be threatened in such a manner at a leading university is deplorable. It is a brazen attack on freedom of expression, and the Editors Guild of India finds this mob mentality to silence those with divergent views unacceptable," the statement further said. The Guild said that when Vardarajan went to meet the VC in his office alongwith the Students' Union president after the lecture, the ABVP surrounded the exit and the police had to escort him to safety. A global network of organisations and individuals working to secure economic and social justice has asked Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to release human rights activist Saeed Baloch. In a letter to Sharif, the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of Saeed Baloch. He was also a Board member of ESCR-Net, which was established in 2003. "We are deeply concerned that Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act allows for Baloch to remain detained for up to three months without formally being charged with any crime," said Chris Grove, ESCR-Net Director. Baloch, general secretary of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers on January 16. He was accused of financially assisting an individual involved in organised crime and of embezzling fisheries' funds. No evidence has been produced to substantiate these accusations, which colleagues and allies assume to be false. "Baloch has been on the frontline of struggles for human rights and environmental protection, challenging powerful actors that threaten the well-being of fisherfolk and their communities," Grove said. The letter, endorsed by over 220 organisations and 50 individuals in 70 nations, calls for a prompt and independent investigation into the basis behind the charges against Baloch and ensure his immediate and unconditional release. Comprising of 196 organizations and 47 individuals from 68 countries, ESCR-Net is a global network of organizations and individuals working to secure economic and social justice through the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights. The death toll in Europe's migration crisis rose when two overcrowded smuggling boats foundered off Greece and at least 46 people drowned, more than a third of them children, as European officials remained deeply divided on how to handle the influx. More than 70 people survived, and a large air and sea search-and-rescue effort was underway off the eastern islet of Kalolimnos, the site of the yesterday's worst accident. It was unclear how many people were aboard the wooden sailboat that sank there in deep water, leaving at least 35 dead. Coast guard divers were due to descend to the sunken wreck early today, amid fears that more people had been trapped below deck. At least 800 people have died or vanished in the Aegean Sea since the start of 2015, as a record of more than 1 million refugees and economic migrants entered Europe. About 85 per cent of them crossed to the Greek islands from nearby Turkey, paying large sums to smuggling gangs for berths in unseaworthy boats. Rights groups said the deaths highlight the need for Europe to provide those desperate to reach the prosperous continent's shores with a better alternative to smuggling boats. European policy toward its worst immigration crisis since World War II has diverged wildly so far. Germany, where most are heading, has welcomed those it considers refugees. Other countries, led by Hungary, have blocked or restricted them from entering and resisted plans to share the burden of refugees. "These deaths highlight both the heartlessness and the futility of the growing chorus demanding greater restrictions on refugee access to Europe," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia program director. "A manageable crisis has become a moral test that Europe is in danger of failing dismally," he said. The UN refugee agency said daily arrivals on the Greek islands have surged to more than 3,000 in the past two days, and it cited refugee testimony that smugglers have recently halved their rates amid deteriorating weather conditions. "It is tragic that refugees, including families with young children, feel compelled to entrust their lives to unscrupulous smugglers in view of lack of safe and legal ways for refugees to find protection," said Philippe Leclerc of UNHCR Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Berlin and pledged to continue to work intensively together not only to stem the flow of people but to improve conditions in camps in Turkey and to try to bring about a peace deal in Syria. "The refugee crisis is not Germany's crisis, it is not Europe's crisis, it is not Turkey's crisis," Davutoglu said in a conference with Merkel. "It is a crisis that was born out of the crisis in Syria. If we cooperate, we can bring this crisis under control. If we throw the issue at each other, solving this issue will become more difficult. Family members of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose have suggested setting up of a committee to study the files that were declassified today and inform the public about the various landmarks in his life. "Elated ovr declassification of files, relatives suggested a committee 2 study files & inform anxious public abt landmarks of life of Netaji (sic)," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu posted on Twitter today. The Centre made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. Naidu was among a galaxy of leaders who paid floral tributes to Netaji at a function to mark his birth anniversary in Parliament's Central Hall. The Union Minister also hosted the relatives of Netaji over breakfast. "Took them around Central Hall after hosting them over breakfast," Naidu tweeted, expressing delight over his interaction with 26 members of Bose's family. "Today is a historic day with PM (Narendra) Modi releasing 100 digital files relating to Netaji Bose. Grateful to PM for the initiative of declassifying Netaji files," Naidu said. The files were declassified and put on digital display at the National Archives of India (NAI) here by Modi, who pressed a button in the presence of Bose's family members and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo. In October last year, the Prime Minister had met the family members of Netaji and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. Firefighters today battled a blaze at an oil facility in northern Libya for a second day, an official said, after an assault by jihadists aiming to seize export terminals. Libya's internationally-recognised government, meanwhile, called for Western air strikes to repel the jihadists. "Four storage tanks together containing around two million barrels of crude oil are on fire," said a security official in the Ras Lanouf region along Libya's northern coast. The blaze in one of the tanks is beyond control "and we expect it to collapse at any moment", he said. "We are now working on putting out the fires in the other three tanks." "The disaster exceeds our capacities," added the official, asking not to be named. Fighting broke out at dawn yesterday in Ras Lanouf, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. It said storage tanks filled with crude had caught fire, causing clouds of dense smoke. It called the situation "catastrophic for the enviroment" and said that nearby high-voltage power lines and electrical towers had also been downed. State agency LANA said Islamic State (IS) group jihadists were behind the attack and that the storage tanks belonged to Harouge Oil Operations. The company has 13 storage tanks with a combined capacity of 6.5 million barrels at its site, nine kilometres from Ras Lanouf port. An NOC official told AFP a committee has been formed to evaluate the damage. The attack came two days after a national unity government was formed under a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending political divisions that have seen Libya torn between rival administrations. A spokesman for Libya's recognised government in the east told AFP it was requesting a "limited intervention" by the international community to "protect oil fields from IS attacks". Hatem el-Ouraybi said the government wanted "air strikes against IS positions" in Libya. The government has previously called for an air campaign against IS, like in Iraq and Syria, but world powers are first waiting for rival sides to endorse the unity government. IS has in recent weeks launched repeated attacks from its stronghold in the city of Sirte on facilities in the "oil crescent" along the country's northern coast. Libya sits atop estimated oil reserves of 48 billion barrels, the largest in Africa. Shots rang out at a high school in Canada's western plains province of Saskatchewan, leaving five people dead and two others critically injured, the prime minister has said. The school in La Loche was on lockdown for most of the afternoon, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police urged parents to stay away while they responded to the yesterday's "ongoing serious incident." A nearby elementary school was also shuttered "as a precaution," a federal police spokeswoman told AFP. The school shooting is the deadliest in 26 years in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, said: "There was a shooting in the community, five people were killed (and) two others are in critical condition." The suspected shooter has been taken into custody and police have the situation under control, he said. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau added. Earlier, students told public broadcaster CBC they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (local time). Several patients were being treated for gunshot wounds in the remote northern town's hospital, the broadcaster added. Several witnesses reported seeing a "boy," who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told CBC. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." "Many people are in shock, that's something you usually see on television," local aboriginal chief Teddy Clark told the local Star Phoenix newspaper. La Loche is a community of 2,500 about 600 kilometers (375 miles) north of Saskatoon. Residents are mostly aboriginal. Lawmaker Georgina Joliebois, who was also once the mayor of La Loche, said she was "shocked and saddened by the shooting." "The shooting hits close to home for me as my family members attend the school," Joliebois said. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall also expressed "shock and sorrow at the horrific events," adding that the province was preparing to send up "crisis support" to the community. Five alleged drug smugglers were today arrested from a village in the district and one kilo of brown sugar was seized from them, police said. "The five-member team headed by Mada Prasad (28) from Ontimitta in Kadapa district, was arrested near Sanipai village here," Kadapa central crime Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nageswar Reddy told reporters. The other four accused were identified as Kurikalgattu Mohideen (40), Parevengala Ajubu (34) both from Kerala, S K Rahamtulla (34) of Ontimitta and Shaik Masthan Valli (45) of T Sundupalli mandal, he said. "The accused were found transporting brown sugar in five bags," police said. Acting on a tip-off, police had kept a watch on the accused for the last five days and finally nabbed them, the DSP said. "These smugglers used to rope in poor people, who are going to Kuwait for livelihood and ask them to transport the drug packets in lieu of good money. After reaching Kuwait, their henchmen used to collect the packets from the passengers," he said. The gang members have admitted that so far they had exported drugs four times to Kuwait and Qatar. The DSP said that Bhasker alias Chotu, a native of Rajampeta and presently living in Kuwait, is the kingpin of the smuggling racket. "Bhasker imports the drugs from Afghanistan and exports to Arabian countries through his operatives," he added. Further investigation into the case is on. Claiming that there is "hardly any mystery" about the disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen today said instead of getting excited by "speculations", focus should be on his message of secularism and democracy. Sen said, "right now in the country, there is a sense of division which has often been cultivated along communal lines so much so that the word secularism is often used as a bad word... We are waiting for the day when democracy and liberty would be used as a bad word too." "We are looking for a word to describe the harmony between different communities teaching them not just tolerance but respect and giving them the kind of liberty and freedom that they need... All Indians and all humans need," Sen said. "And I think if there are forces against that,....... They have to go through Subhas Chandra Bose's writings," Sen said. The Nobel laureate said that after Independence, successive governments had failed to pursue the demand of equity and justice and the present government had also failed in that. "I don't think since Independence, India has pursued the demand of equity and justice and the present government is doing even less. And I think we are in a situation where the inspiring vision of Subhas Chandra Bose is very needed in all spheres of life," he added. Sen said, "it'll be hard to think that he is alive. I don't see much mystery about it (death of Netaji). If there is any mystery, it would be nice to know it (through the releasing of the files). But I do not think it would have any profound influence on Netaji's vision," Sen said while speaking at Bose's 119th birth anniversary celebrations at the Netaji Bhawan here. "You have to concentrate on the big thing and not get excited on the wrong thing (speculations whether Netaji was dead or alive).. And not concentrating on the peculiar circumstances of his death, ignoring his message of unity, secularism, democracy will be a big mistake," Sen said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Bose, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. Describing Netaji as a pragmatic and radical leader, who was not only seeking Independence from the British but also had a vision to change society, Sen said it was "unfortunately not realised". "The relevance of his ideas remain extraordinary today and does apply to justice, to equity. He was not seeking just Independence of India. On the other hand, what we are doing here is to construct a society where there are inequities which Netaji was the first to see, analyse, investigate, condemn and want to change... So that vision remains unrealised unfortunately," Sen said. Seven young men from eastern France, including the brother of one of the jihadists behind the deadly Paris attacks, will face trial for going to Syria to fight in 2013, a judicial source has told. The seven from Strasbourg began returning to France from February 2014 onwards and were arrested in May. Two other men who went to fight in Syria's civil war died there. A 10th man named Foued Mohamed-Aggad remained there until his return to take part in the November 13 rampage at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. A total of 130 people died in the string of attacks that struck Paris in November and sent shockwaves across the world. The attacker's brother Karim is among the seven who will face trial over ties to criminals linked to a terrorist group, the judicial source said yesterday. All the suspects claimed during the investigation that they had gone to Syria for humanitarian reasons and that they returned because they could not condone the abuses of the Islamic State group -- which was then known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). They were convinced to travel to Syria by Mourad Fares, a 31-year-old Frenchman considered a key online recruiter for IS who was arrested in August 2014 in Turkey and handed over to French authorities. Ten young men left France for Syria in December 2013, travelling in smaller groups on planes through Germany and Turkey to avoid attracting attention, a probe showed. They men admit they trained in IS' ranks. The prosecution had earlier called for the men to be tried after they had been found to have sworn allegiance to IS. On the men's computers and phones, photographs were found showing them posing with their guns, as well as text messages threatening France with violence. Some 1,800 French citizens have been linked to jihadist networks, including more than 600 who are currently in Syria and Iraq and 144 who had died in fighting there. March by a contingent of 123 French soldiers, breath-taking manoeuvres by air force jets, a procession of tableaux presenting a glimpse of India's culture and the progress made by the country and all-women marching contingents of the three Services, are some of the attractions in store for guests at the Republic Day function here. The official Republic Day celebration this year is going to be 90-minutes long, 25 minutes shorter than the traditional duration of 115 minutes. A dress rehearsal held here today on Rajpath provided a majestic view of the pomp and pageantry lined up for the 67th Republic Day parade. For the first time in the history of Republic Day parade, a foreign contingent comprising 123 French soldiers will march down the Rajpath along with the Indian troops in presence of France's President Francois Hollande who will be the chief guest this year. The preview today began with four Army helicopters flying above Rajpath displaying the tricolour and the flags of Army, Air Force and Navy. At least 27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be part of the fly past over Rajpath during this year's parade. Leading the parade will be the traditional 'Ensign' formation comprising four Mi-17 V5 helicopters in an inverted 'Y' formation. The second phase was led by 'Chakra' formation of three Mi-35 helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This was followed by the Globe formation comprising one C-17 aircraft and two Su-30 MKI aircraft. The first fighter formation comprised five Jaguar aircraft in the shape of an Arrowhead, followed by five MiG-29 upgrade aircraft in similar formation. National bravery award-winning children seated in open jeeps, too, were part of the cultural pageant. In all, 23 tableaux, including 17 from the various states, provided a kaleidoscopic view of the country's economic strength, cultural heritage and development of science and technology. A giant statue of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, rare natural abode of Asiatic lions in Gir, white tiger safari and initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Digital India' are among the themes this year for the R-Day tableaux. States registering their presence this year include Assam, Goa, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Tripura, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat. Six tableaux from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New and Renewable energy, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Communication and IT, Panchayati Raj and Election Commission will also find their place at the 67th Republic Day on the Rajpath. Groups of school children presented their dances in front of the presidential dais. Viewers this year will also be greeted by a march past by a canine crack team, comprising 36 of the Army's thoroughbred Labradors and German Shepherds. A glistening all-woman CRPF team too will take part in the parade. The Women Daredevils will replace the regular CRPF male contingent this year. The parade also featured jaw-dropping stunts by Army officers on motorbikes, who executed daredevil stunts as they showcased the 'double ladder', 'human pyramid', 'bouquet' and 'chakra' formations. After the national anthem and before the departure of the President, balloons of three colours of the national flag would be released from different locations at Rajpath on Republic Day. The full dress rehearsal, however, caused traffic jams in central and south Delhi as restrictions were imposed around the venue of the parade. Kashmir is an inalienable part of India because it is Muslim and giving it up will amount to surrendering the right of Muslims, BJP MP and veteran journalist M J Akbar said today. "We had already surrendered in the two-nation theory (partition). We can't be permanently subject to it," he said delivering R N Kao memorial lecture on "The Romance of Regression: Caliphate Versus Modernity" against the backdrop of rising global threat of terror outfit Islamic State. The annual lecture commemorates the memory of Ram Nath Kao, the founder of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Akbar said the conflict between India and Pakistan has now become, without anyone quite realising it, the longest continual war in history. "What is the conflict about? This is not about geography, but about ideology. Kashmir is an inalienable part of India precisely because it is Muslim, for the Indian Constitution does not discriminate on the basis of religion," he said. Akbar said surrendering Kashmir would be surrendering my right as Indian Muslim. Raising a question whether India is condemned to a 1,000 year of war as late Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had promised, the eminent author said "we might, just now, be witnessing the consequences of the altered situation. "There are Pakistanis who are beginning to appreciate the meaning of a 'near enemy', unrecognised that they are it. A common enemy is the best reason for creating a common front, although I would always add that the past shows that any engagement with Pakistan is a walk on egg shells". On the emerging threat of Islamic State (Daesh), Akbar said, "where modernity has failed, or failed to reach, the vacuum is being increasingly filled by the romance of regression". He said the answer to the challenge of 21st century modern state is modernity which is defined as freedom for individual and democracy for the state, faith-equality as a pillar of the Constitution, gender equality and economic equality in which the poorest has a stake in growth. "Daesh, of course, rejects democracy, which is dismissed repeatedly in Daesh literature as shirq or polytheism. The bad is that democracy is not in very good health elsewhere too," the senior BJP leader said. Akbar said the nub of the challenge lay in whether nations adopt faith-supremacy or faith-equality as a fundamental principle of nationalism. "Those who believe that they can accept faith-supremacy as a tactic and tame it to their needs will discover that the long war will be won by supremacists and not by advocates of compromise," he said. The senior BJP spokesman said Daesh/IS does not recognise any border and not merely the once imposed after 1980 with nation-state as a basis of international stability.It seeks to reinvent an age when one Islamic power rule contiguous territory. "It is perfectly logical, in its view, to expand its war into Afghanistan, and then, following the same logic, into Pakistan and India, against the 'near enemy' and occupiers of Islamic space," he said. Akbar said Daesh would sneer at any one who accuse it of terrorism, and argue that this is merely a tactic to rebalance the uneven distribution of military might in the world. "Every soldier is a suicide missionary; and those who choose life on the battle field face punishment, including death, on return. A suicide missionary is fearless; how do you frighten a man who is not afraid of death?," he said. Sixty students from different Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas will be visiting Akhnoor and Attari borders and present cultural performances in front of armed personnel. As per an official statement here, the programme - 'Seema Darshan' - is an initiative taken up by the HRD Ministry in collaboration with the Home and Defence Ministries. "Under the programme, child artists would demonstrate to the jawans how they are preserving and taking forward the cultural legacy of the country for which the armed forces are constantly on the vigil and also protecting and guarding its borders," the statement said. The objective of the programme, being organised for five days starting from January 22, is to provide the students with a first-hand experience of the prevailing security environment in the border areas and also to foster patriotism and nationalism, the statement said. Only Class XI students from the schools have been included in this group. The students for the groups have been selected from KVs and NVs across all the states of India including Delhi, it said. The Defence Ministry is yet to take a decision on shifting the venue of Aero India Show, scheduled to be held next year, from Bengaluru to Goa, a senior official said. "We are currently preparing for DefExpo, scheduled in March in Goa. We are yet to decide on whether to make Goa as a permanent venue. We are putting in temporary infrastructure for the Defence Expo," Union Defence Secretary (Production) Ashok Kumar told reporters yesterday. He was in the city to chair a meeting to review preparations for DefExpo, scheduled from March 28-31 at Quittol village in South Goa. "Let the scheduled event in March take place. Let us review it. We have not taken any decision. Let the event take place," he said. Kumar said the Ministry was yet to take decision on hosting Aero Show in Goa. "It is a separate issue, the decision will be taken later," he said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had last week confirmed that the Defence Expo (DefExpo) this year will be held in Goa in March. The Defence Ministry holds Defence Expo on every alternate year, on even years, while the Aero India Show is held on odd years. Certain quarters from political and social sphere in Goa are opposing the hosting of DefExpo, alleging that it is a "land grab plan" by the Defence Ministry. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had earlier told the Legislative Assembly that DefExpo will have temporary structures and the decision whether to have the event on a permanent basis would be taken later. Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) is exploring global export opportunities for its Nylon-6 fibres GUJCON-CRF and GUJCON-PRF. "GSFC is revolutionising the business of fertilisers and industrial chemicals and has innovated and pioneered yet another revolutionary product GUJCON-CRF and GUJCON-PRF," GSFC Chairman and Managing Director Sudeep Kumar Nanda said at the launch of the products in Hyderabad yesterday. "I informed the audience comprising eminent builders, architects, dealers and suppliers of construction materials and specialty chemicals about GSFC recently exporting its first consignment of Nylon-6 to Myanmar. We have geared up to harness this field of opportunities by offering high-quality patented products. Similar products are available only in USA, Belgium, while India is the third one," he told PTI. He said, "GSFC aims to leverage opportunities in construction and infrastructure sectors in India and overseas markets. We are exploring opportunities of export of these products to African countries, Gulf countries including UAE and Dubai, Sri Lanka, Canada. Their response is positive." A small quantity of the fibres, when added to cement for secondary reinforcement, increases the serviceability, durability and life of the structures by preventing shrinkage cracks and water seepage and by enhancing performance properties such as resistance to wear and tear, impact, shock, load, abrasion, he added. Madras High Court today rejected a plea of a money changer to direct the release of Indian and foreign currencies seized by CBI last year from him in connection with theft of gold and foreign currencies from Customs and Central Excise office in Tiruchirappallli. Justice M Venugopal of Madurai bench dismissed the criminal revision petition by Rock Fort Money Changers' Director P Muruganandam after the CBI submitted that another director of the company was suspected to have aided criminals to encash gold and Rs 17.51 lakh worth foreign currency stolen from customs office. The revision petition was filed against the order of a special court. The high court held that the lower court was right in rejecting the plea for return of currencies. The trial court had power to dispose of the property but it was not expedient to release the property when the case was under investigation, Justice Venugopal said. CBI counsel submitted that acting on a tip off, the agency officials raided the residence of three persons and seized unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs. 85 lakh, suspected to bethe proceeds of the gold disposed of by them. Documents seized revealed that the petitioner firm's director Manikandan was involved in unauthorised gold transactions and illegal sale as well as purchase of foreign currencies. The returns submitted by the petitioner firm revealed thatthe available balance of foreign currency with it was nil, but the CBI recovered unaccounted foreign currency estimated at about Rs. 20 lakh from the firm, the counsel said. CBI had earlier registered a case against two Customs officials after part of gold and cash, seized in different cases, kept in the strong room were found stolen on April 18, 2015. The Madras High Court has summoned the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation in a matter of non-compliance of the order passed by the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department by a property owner at Mogappair in the city. A division bench, comprising Justice Satish K. Agnihotri and Justice P. Devadass, passed orders on a petition filed by one L.G. Ravi and directed the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai to be present on February 4 with the action taken report. The matter relates to deviations in buildings constructed in Plot Nos 67 and 71 of the adjacent building of the petitioner where sealing and de-sealing took place on court orders from time to time. The deviators had filed an appeal before the Appellate Authority (the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department), who allowed it and passed an order directing them to apply for a fresh planning permission application to Corporation of Chennai on April 25 lastr. The authority also directed them to demolish the unauthorized constructions within six months from the above date. Being an adjacent resident, the petitioner again approached the RTI and got a reply that the order passed by the Appellate authority was not implemented by the deviators and filed the present petition. The petitioner submitted that the deviators ought to have demolished the unauthorized constructions before the stipulated time on October 24 last. The petitioner said the deviators had not even obtained the revised plan said authorities ought not to have allowed them to flout the orders passed by the Appellate Authority. The petitioner prayed the Court to direct the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, to initiate action against them for not complying with the orders of the Appellate authority. Rahul Gandhi today said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting "emotional" while expressing grief over the suicide by Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University is for real, he should remove the Vice Chancellor. "I want to say if his (Modi's) tears are real, he should remove the VC.... It's ok that an inquiry has been ordered but first remove him and later take action as per the inquiry report," Rahul told newspersons on the sidelines of his padyatra in drought-hit areas of Bundelkhand region. "What happened in Hyderabad or what is happening in universities and colleges, call it intolerance or whatever, is an attempt to force one ideology on everyone," Rahul said. "This is an attempt to suppress the voice and vigour of students of all communities...The Prime Minister expressed his sadness over it ...The same say, he also shed tears but I want to ask why the Vice Chancellor, who tried to suppress one ideology which forced a student to commit suicide, has not been removed," he said. Rahul said Modi should stop speaking and start acting as the dalits, poor and others are looking to him whether he will take action or not. The Congress Vice President had visited the Hyderabad Central University and interacted with students over the issue. Earlier, during his 7-km long padyatra to highlight the plight of farmers of drought-hit Bundelkhand region, Rahul said "yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional...He paused during his speech (at BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to tell Modiji that the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220 is provided to you by farmers." "I would ask Modiji to think a little for the farmers, labourers and the poor because they too run the country and it is not only industrialists who do so. So, think about them as well," Rahul said in Mahoba, about 230 km from Lucknow. India and Bahrain today signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today held talks with her Bahraini counterpart and discussed an entire gamut of bilateral ties. Swaraj, who is here for a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to be held tomorrow, held a wide-ranging discussions with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. In a special gesture, Khalid received Swaraj at the Bahrain International Airport upon her arrival here. During her meeting with Khalid, Swaraj also recalled her call on with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who also in a rare gesture received her at an international air show here as both of them watched India's indigenously developed Druv helicopters and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft perform aerobatics in the skies. Swaraj and Khalid met for about 25 minutes after which the two leaders signed the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons. According to the pact, once an expatriate has been sentenced in the other country, the sentence can be served in the country of origin. Later on Swaraj accompanied by Khalid visited the Little India area. A massive crowed gathered at the Little India. Swaraj in a procession walked towards the Shrinath temple along with Khalid amid loud cheers and Punjabi drum beats. Both Swaraj and Khalid spent a few minutes at the temple along with the entire Indian delegation. India and Bahrain today vowed to strengthen their ties in key areas like trade and counter-terrorism besides signing an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Bahraini counterpart here. Swaraj, who is here for a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to be held tomorrow, held "wide-ranging" discussions with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. After the talks, the two leaders signed the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons. According to the pact, once an expatriate has been sentenced in the other country, the sentence can be served in the country of origin. In a special gesture, Khalid also received Swaraj at the Bahrain International Airport upon her arrival here. Immediately after landing here, Swaraj headed to the Bahrain International Air Show. On the sidelines of the air show at Sakhir Airbase, Swaraj also called on Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. King Hamad, who received her at an international air show, as both of them watched India's indigenously developed Dhruv helicopters and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft perform aerobatics in the skies. In the evening, Swaraj held comprehensive talks with Khalid as they vowed to boost ties between the two nations. "Both sides discussed the possibilities of also concluding the pending agreement," Secretary East Anil Wadhwa told reporters after the talks. "The Double Taxation Avoidance agreement is something Bahrain would like to see happen with India and India would like to see an MoU on defence cooperation with Bahrain. Bahrain is also interested in this agreement...Both sides are working towards that," he said. Asked if counter-terrorism was discussed, Wadhwa said, "whenever India and Bahrain meet, this is an issue that is always discussed, security cooperation in the region and how both sides can contribute to each other's security. India and Bahrain have cooperated really well recently in this field and this cooperation will continue". On being asked if India and Bahrain vowed to strengthen ties in security, counter-terrorism and trade, he said, it can be "summed up" in that way as there was a discussion on all the three areas. Swaraj also visited the India pavilion at the air show where the scientists gave the minister a briefing on Tejas. The Tejas flight was hailed by officials present here as a "historic event" as the country hopes to explore potential export opportunities. Wadhwa said Bahrain was facing a "crunch" due to the oil situation of the world and was looking to diversify its economy. In that context, India invited the Bahraini side to participate in India's flagship Make in India programme. Bahrain appreciated the Indian community's contribution to the Bahraini economy and hoped that the flow of workers from the country would continue, he added. In another gesture, Khalid today accompanied Swaraj to a temple in the 'Little India' area of the Bahraini capital. After their talks, both the leaders accompanied by their respective delegations visited Shrinath temple as hundreds of Indian expatriates gathered to welcome them. Swaraj and Khalid made their way to the temple passing through the by-lanes of the 'Little India' amid Punjabi music and drumbeats. The two leaders stayed at the temple for about 20 minutes. Such a massive crowd had gathered at the temple that a golf cart had to be brought through the by-lanes to take the leaders out of the area. "We are honoured to have the ministers of the two countries visit the temple and hope further strengthening of bilateral ties as a large Indian diaspora lives here," temple secretary Mahesh Bhatia said. "It is a rare gesture on the part of Bahrain Foreign Minister to accompany her (Swaraj) to the temple and visit the Little India area," an official said. A day before the key India-Arab League ministerial meeting, Wadhwa said, "External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is in Manama primarily for the ministerial meeting which has to take place as part of the executive programme of the India-Arab League process. This is the first such meeting that will take place tomorrow". "In preparation for that the Foreign Minister of Bahrain was very thankful that this process has exceeded all expectations. In fact, it has evoked a certain interest in the Arab world towards the relationship with India which can be taken forward in at least nine or 10 different areas. For the coming years, India and Bahrain are going to work together to make sure the Arab League and the India process in all these 10 fields is working satisfactorily," he said. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between political heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. Asked if there was any discussion between Swaraj and the Bahraini leadership, Wadhwa replied in the negative. The India-Arab League ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting in New Delhi in November, 2014. A number of wide-ranging issues from terrorism, security to tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are expected to be discussed. India and the Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. France and India can draw lessons from each other as both countries have been victims of terror, said a senior French Army officer, who is leading his country's marching contingent at the Republic Day parade. "The two countries have unfortunately experienced terrorism in different ways, and hence there are different experience, different answers to the terrorism matters," Lt Col P Bury, Commanding Officer of the 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade, said today in response to a query. Terrorism is expected to be one of the key areas of focus during the visit of French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. "Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism matters are very important. Different countries can share some experience and one can draw lessons from another country because what happens somewhere can happen somewhere else also," he told PTI. Talking about the Republic Day, Bury, who has twice served in Afghanistan, said it was a matter of pride and honour for his men to march down the Rajpath in such an important parade. While 136 French soldiers are in the city for the parade, 123 of them will form the marching contingent. 56 French soldiers have already been in the country to take part in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise 'Shakti 2016'. The rest flew down especially for the parade. Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area, said the Parade was evolving, and added that foreign contingent should be a regular affair. The 35th Infantry Regiment traces its origin back to 1604 when it was raised in Lorraine in France. The regiment has as many as 12 battle honours to its credit. The battalion has varied combat experiences, having served in Algeria, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan, among other places. As the global economic uncertainty weighs down on the world's elite here at WEF meeting, Vedanta group Chairman Anil Agarwal today said it presents India an opportunity to consolidate its position as a 'bright spot'. Here for the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, Agarwal said a key theme this year at Davos was around the role of technology to transform mankind and the 'fourth industrial revolution' currently under way and India is poised to lead this revolution also. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is for India to emerge as a global innovation hub, which is why he launched the 'Digital India' campaign last year -- a flagship government programme designed to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy," Agarwal said. Referring to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement here at WEF that "any economy needs multiple engines of growth", Agarwal said it is now becoming increasingly clear that services alone cannot drive India. "Manufacturing, agriculture and mining are equally important to power the economy ahead," he added. About China, he said the economic uncertainty in that country has highlighted almost every conversation, with growing concern over the slowing pace of economic growth in China. "China has become one of investors' greatest sources of anxiety and has shaken confidence with its currency moves, market regulation and criminal probes of financial executives," Agarwal told PTI about his key takeaways from Davos. "As the world's second-biggest economy, China needs to remain strong and open up its financial markets," he added. On India, he said that at this time of global economic uncertainty, India is set to become the world's fastest growing major economy by 2016. Referring to a new World Bank report which called India-led South Asia a "bright spot" in emerging markets, he said India is certainly cementing itself as the world's growth engine. He further said the Chinese slowdown has given India a clear opportunity. Agarwal said the Indian government's reform agenda is continuing to make it easier to do business in India while big-ticket reforms in mining, insurance, defence, power and oil sectors spur a great deal of interest for India among global investors. "India's geology is highly prospective for oil, bauxite, iron ore, fertiliser, gold and stone and all the resources the economy needs to grow and move people out of poverty and help job creation," he added. "Prime Minister Modi's vision is for inclusive, broad-based economic growth and this can be achieved through initiatives such as 'Make in India' and 'Find in India' which are designed to explore the natural resources we already have and unlock them for the benefit of India and its people. An Indian-origin businessman claiming to be a Hindu monk who performed healing rituals has pleaded not guilty after being ordered to stand trial on charges of sexually assaulting three women. The Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Maren Dermody said yesterday Swami Gokula Nanda of West Hills California was ordered to stand trial on December 4 last year for six counts of sexual battery by fraud, three counts of sexual penetration by foreign object and two counts of sexual battery. Nanda, 63, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on February 29 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Torrance Branch, a media release said yesterday. Owner of Hari-Om India Market in Santa Clarita in California, Nanda was arrested on May 13 following allegations that he sexually assaulted female clients in Torrance and Santa Clarita. He was released in July on a USD 100,000 bail pending further court proceedings. According to testimony at the preliminary hearing, Nanda sexually abused the victims while claiming to be a Swami by performing healing rituals at various locations, including his Eastern medicine store in Santa Clarita and a park in Torrance between April 2011 and April 2015. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 19 years in state prison if convicted as charged. The case remains under investigation by the Torrance Police Department. According to his Facebook page, Nanda studied at Sivananda Ashram at Vedanta Forrest Academy. He hails from Kalapathara in Orissa. Noted writer and poet Ashok Vajpeyi today refused to take back the Sahitya Akademi award that he had returned stating that "intolerance levels remain high" in the country. "...Intolerance levels remain high and widespread. Look at what happened to a Dalit student driven to suicide. This is also intolerance," Vajpeyi said on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature festival here. He had recently returned the D.Litt honour conferred to him by the Hyderabad Central University in protest against the "anti-dalit" attitude of authorities. Vajpeyi said although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had voiced his grief at Rohith Vemula's suicide, he had underplayed the dalit issue. "The PM emphasised the fact that a mother has lost a son but he underplayed the Dalit part of it. It must be a part of his (main) approach to the problem," Vajpeyi said. He also slammed the government on its "slow response" to the Hyderabad scholar's suicide. "I believe that this young Dalit scholar was driven to suicide. Now they are saying that there will be a judicial commission to look into his death, which is good. But all belatedly. Why have you waited six days for this event to simmer?" Vajpeyi said. The Hindi poet was among the earliest of about 40 writers who had returned their awards in the past few months to the Sahitya Akademi in protest against the literary body's silence on the killing of writer M M Kalburgi. "The Sahitya Akademi failed to rise up to the occasion. Belatedly, under pressure of so many writers returning their awards the Akademi saw wisdom and took the courage to state that it is an autonomous body and condemned all forms of violence particularly against authors," he said. "The Sahitya Akademi passed a resolution and wrote a letter to us stating that there was no policy of taking back awards. But in action, it is yet to prove that it is exercising that autonomy," he said. The writer said he is disappointed that some writers have relented and agreed to take back the awards they had returned. "It saddens me that authors are taking back awards. I feel sad. But it is their choice, I didn't ask them to give it up and I can't ask them not to take it back," he said. Terming it as an "intolerance of excellence," Vajpeyi said that individuals are being termed anti-national for not being in agreement with the government. "There is an intolerance of excellence. You have all kinds of people who enjoy no respect among their peers heading national institutions. That has not disappeared. "There is intolerance of minorities not merely of religion or faith but also of ideas and belief. If you say that you don't agree with the government then you're termed anti-national. All these levels of intolerance remain," he said. The much debated issue of intolerance will be addressed by authors at the 3rd Kolkata Literature Festival, which is an integral part of the annual Kolkata Book Fair. The Literature Festival will be inaugurated on February 4 with Ashok Vajpeyi, Sanjib Chattopadhyay and Tridib Shurud among the main speakers. When asked why a political issue was being discussed at the Kolkata Literature Festival, organizer Tridib Chatterjee said,"It has nothing to do with politics. India by nature and tradition has been a tolerant country. So Kolkata being the pilgrimage of culture, we felt that the issue of intolerance be discussed,". Noted writer Ashok Vajpeyi decided to return D.Litt given to him by Hyderabad University in protest against the "anti-dalit" attitude of authorities which has allegedly driven a dalit student to commit suicide. The 40th edition of Kolkata Book Fair will be inaugurated on January 25 and the fair will start from Januray 26 and end on Feb 7. Bolivian author Magela Baudoin and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present at the official inauguration function on January 25 before the fair begins. Bangladesh Day will be celebrated on the Fair grounds on February 2. A greater investment in basic scientific research and better use of talent will help in addressing social challenges, experts gathered at the WEF annual meet said today. The short-term pressures on science and business today are not conducive to basic research, which can take decades to deliver results, according to them. Carnegie Mellon University President Subra Suresh said, "we don't have industry supporting basic research to the extent that it used to". Experts also opined that governments can play a larger role in enabling greater private support for basic sciences. "The bargain that we have to make as politicians is to say (to businesses): we will lower your barriers, but think about investing in science," Carlos Moedas, Commissioner, Research, Science and Innovation at the European Commission, said. University of California Professor Elizabeth Blackburn said short-term pressures can stifle scientists' desire to solve complex challenges. "Let scientists have long leashes," she noted. Suzanne Fortier, Principal at McGill University, Canada, said that scientific talent is being wasted. As per the experts, another way to improve the outlook for scientific innovation is to make better use of existing talent. Political, corporate and structural changes in the sciences could improve societies' ability to leverage scientific potential, they added. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani today hailed a "new chapter" in relations with China after talks with President Xi Jinping, who is touring the region to boost Beijing's economic influence. The Asian giant and the Middle East's foremost Shiite power aim to build economic ties worth up to USD 600 billion within the next 10 years, Rouhani announced. The two leaders oversaw the signing of 17 agreements in areas including politics, the economy, security and cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy. "With the Chinese president's visit to Tehran and our agreements, a new chapter has begun in Tehran-Beijing relations," Rouhani said in a televised speech, flanked by Xi. It is the first visit to Iran by a Chinese president in 14 years, according to state agency IRNA, and comes just days after sanctions against Tehran were lifted under a historic nuclear deal with world powers. "Iran is China's major partner in the Middle East and the two countries have chosen to boost bilateral relations," IRNA quoted Xi as saying. Beijing is Tehran's top customer for oil exports, which in recent years were hit by US and EU sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme. Trade between the two countries was worth USD 52 billion in 2014. According to Iranian media, more than a third of Iran's foreign trade is carried out with China. Xi, accompanied by three deputy prime ministers and six ministers, also brought with him a large business delegation. He was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Xi's tour, his first of the Middle East as Chinese president, has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Riyadh and a number of Sunni Arab allies broke diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters angry over the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric ransacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. In Cairo, Xi offered USD 55 billion in loans and investments to the Middle East, a region where China wants to strengthen its economic presence. Israeli police say a security guard shot and killed a 13-year-old Palestinian girl who tried to stab him at the entrance to a West Bank settlement. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri says an initial investigation suggests the girl fought with her family before leaving her home with a knife ahead of Saturday's altercation. The last four months have seen near-daily Palestinian stabbing attacks that have killed 25 Israelis and an American student. At least 147 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, 102 of them identified by Israel as attackers. The rest have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops. Israel says the violence is the result of a Palestinian campaign of incitement. The Palestinians say it is rooted in frustration over Israel's nearly 50-year occupation. Kerala Tourism has emerged as one among the four winners at FITUR - the second largest travel and tourism fair in Spain. The Tourism Department has bagged the award in the destination category along with Mexico, Japan and Nepal, an official release said. The event, attended by the Who's Who of global tourism sector, had an eye catching Kerala Tourism pavilion themed on the fabled snake boat race that proved a crowd puller among delegates. A total of 9,500 companies from 165 countries are participating at the 36th edition of FITUR held from January 20-24. A large number of visitors flocked to the Kerala pavilion, which was adorned by two replicas of the snake boats, making it one of the most-photographed pavilions at the FITUR. The state pavilion, created with the stunning images of the boat races of Kerala, won the Best Stand award for design, communication and professionalism. "The award for our pavilion at the famed travel and tourism trade show is a huge honour for our state," said Kerala Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar who led the state delegation. The award, which comes in the 'Visit Kerala' year, would certainly help the state achieve further growth in foreign tourist arrivals in the future, he added. The sprawling independent pavilion of Kerala Tourism built on a 60-square metre area, had participation from four co-exhibitors representing the state's private tourism and hospitality sector. Odisha Tourism is holding road shows in different cities to attract tourists from various parts of the country. It had organised many road shows last year and this year, 10 such events will be held, Director Tourism Nitin Bhanudas Jawale said. Odisha Tourism Development Corporation has also been playing a key role in the promotion and development of the sector. It offers a wide range of facilities to tourists with its 22 strategically located hotels and restaurants, apart from facilities like boating and transportation services. Above all, Odisha is a peaceful state and the people are hospitable, Panda said, adding that the state capital Bhubaneswar is a modern city with good connectivity. The international airport in the city will also give a boost to tourism, Jawale said. US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia today hoping for an easing of tensions between the Sunni power and its predominantly Shiite rival Iran. Kerry was to attend a joint meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. He will also hold talks with King Salman and his powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the defence minister. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence against Riyadh's missions occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". "We understand the Saudi anger over the attack on their facilities in Iran," a senior US State Department official said before Kerry's arrival. "But we also understand that lessening tensions is an important objective not only for the United States but for the region". Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. Those feelings crystallised with a historic deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, and will continue those efforts in Riyadh. During his one-day stop, Kerry is also to meet Riad Hijab, general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks planned with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry arrived from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and on Sunday is to continue to Laos, in Southeast Asia. US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia today, again sought to reassure his Gulf allies concerned over perceived warming of ties between Washington and Iran. He also announced that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet "very shortly" to help push peace in the war-ravaged country. Kerry spoke in Riyadh after attending a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. "The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries," Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Iran's "support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah". Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, the world's leading Shiite power whose relations with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties this month with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti- government protests. Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a "coming together" of the US and Iran. "Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism," Jubeir said. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is". During his one-day visit Kerry, is to hold talks with King Salman and his son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Gulf Arab officials today to ease their concerns about warming US-Iranian ties and seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks. Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front when they spoke at a conference after a meeting of foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Gulf states have sided with the kingdom in its spat with Iran and backed the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of the Islamic Republic. Kerry and al-Jubeir said the US and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified "understanding" that will allow the UN-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned. "Let me assure everybody that the relationship between the United States and the GCC nations is one that is built on mutual interest, on mutual defense and I think there is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the countries that make up the GCC that the United States will stand with them against any external threat," Kerry said. Al-Jubeir denounced Iran for its "hostile and aggressive stance" against Arab nations. But he said he did not believe that the Washington would act rashly in dealing with Tehran because of the nuclear deal just put in place. It has given Tehran access to billions in formerly frozen assets. "Overall, the United States is very aware of the mischief that Iran's nefarious activities can do in the region," Jubeir said. "I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is." He criticized Iran for briefly taking 10 US sailors captive in early January, saying "normal countries do not act like this." He took a swipe at Iran by noting that in the prisoner swap that resulted in the release of four imprisoned Americans in Iran, none of the seven Iranians cleared of charges in the United States opted to return to Iran. It "tells you what a great country Iran is that no one wanted to return to it." Six of the seven are dual nationals. Kerry avoided such blunt criticism of Iran but stressed that the US shares concerns about Iran's behavior and will act against it when necessary, including imposing new sanctions as it did last week in response to Iranian ballistic missile tests. Laos' secretive communist rulers have chosen Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith to steer the single-party government, as it assumes a year-long chairmanship of the ASEAN regional bloc. Bounnhang, 78, was selected for the top position of party secretary-general, state media reported on Friday, replacing 79-year-old Choummaly Sayasone, who stepped down after a decade in power. Bounnhang, whose promotion to secretary-general of the Communist Party was anticipated by analysts, is expected to maintain the government's repressive status quo. Laos political leaders have tightly controlled the impoverished Southeast Asian nation since 1975, when communist revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy several decades after the end of French colonial rule. State media reported that nearly 700 party members joined the five-yearly congress in the capital Vientiane last week to approve a mostly male central committee and 11-person politburo, the key governing bodies of resource-rich country. The internal operations of the powerful party are largely kept secret under a regime that bars a free press and severely restricts freedom of expression. The new leaders will oversee Laos's chairmanship of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc, which will involve a cascade of diplomatic meetings and could open the hermitic nation up to greater scrutiny. But Bounnhang is unlikely to make any moves towards greater democracy or respect for human rights, said Martin Stuart-Fox, a Laos historian and retired Australian professor. "And no new diplomatic alignments," he added. Though Vietnam has historically had the most influence over Laos, China has poured money into the country in recent years, becoming its largest foreign investor in 2014. Yet Stuart-Fox said the new politburo was unlikely to lean too heavily towards either communist neighbor. "Laos will continue to balance its relations with China and Vietnam, and try to avoid taking sides," he said. Washington is also increasingly courting the isolated state as part of President Barack Obama's so-called "pivot" to Asia. Obama will be the first US president to visit Laos when he attends an ASEAN summit in the capital this summer. US Secretary of State John Kerry is also scheduled to stop in Vientiane to meet with the country's leaders next week. Kerry will "affirm support for Laos as this year's ASEAN chair, and express continued US interest in a close bilateral relationship," the State Department said. Nobel award winning economist Amartya Sen today blamed the erstwhile Left Front government for driving away large industries from West Bengal. "In political terms, I am very much on the Left. But, the Left has done a wrong here. It has driven away large industries from the state," Sen said at the Kolkata Literary Meet here. He said the Left, joining hands with the labour unions, had given too much focus on distribution of industrial income. "This resulted in large industries going away and only small Industries remaining. You may get into a situation like this if there is too much focus on distribution," Sen said. He said earlier 18 flights used to operate from Kolkata to London. "Now there is not a single flight to any European city. One has to go either to Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi and proceed. I would say that pragmatism was not there," he said. On an advisory note, Sen said "What can be done now, can be done now. What cannot be done, cannot be forgotten. There has to be sequential planning and not spot planning. The Obama administration's USD 1.7 billion payment to Iran to settle an arcane, decades-old financial dispute is prompting questions among Republican lawmakers trying to piece together the full scope of last weekend's dramatic US-Iranian prisoner swap and the lifting of many American sanctions on Tehran. The announcement's timing, just after confirmation that three Americans left Iranian airspace, is leading to calls for investigations and shedding light on a little-known fund that the president can dip into when he wants to resolve international financial disputes. Legislative efforts are already afoot to curtail that ability. US officials deny claims that the payment was a bribe to ensure the release of a total of five Americans traded for the freedom of seven people in legal trouble in the US over business deals with Iran. Sunday's financial settlement between Washington and Tehran was largely lost amid US elation over the release of the Americans and global interest in the latest benchmark in Iran's nuclear transformation. With the United Nations' confirmation that Iran satisfied the terms of last summer's nuclear agreement, it immediately recouped tens of billions in frozen assets and earned the chance to gain significantly more from suspended oil, trade and financial sanctions. The much smaller US-Iranian agreement concerned more than USD 400 million in Iranian money, dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the end of diplomatic ties, which the US-backed shah's government used to buy American military equipment. The Iranians got that money back last weekend and some USD 1.3 billion in interest. The administration said the settlement was decided on its merits, with officials arguing that Iran demanded more than USD 3 billion and, at some points during the talks, much more for an agreement. Earlier this week, however, one Iranian military commander painted the payment in a different light. Mohammad Reza Naghdi, head of the Basij paramilitary wing of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, said the wiring of the funds was a payoff for letting the Americans go. US officials insist that's not true. "There was no bribe, there was no ransom, there was nothing paid to secure the return of these Americans who were, by the way, not spies," State Department spokesman Mark Toner responded, referring to the charges that held each of the Americans in Iranian prison for years. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today said he will call a meeting of the elected representatives, office bearers, government officials and the district guardian minister to resolve the issue of treatment and disposal of waste in the district. The problem is being faced by several civic bodies in the district including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar and Kalyan-Dombivili. The Governor said he will call a meeting of the elected representatives, office bearers, government officials and the district guardian minister (Eknath Shinde) to resolve the issue and for a speed up the process to start the Taloja waste disposal plant. Rao today launched the' Swach Bhiwandi programme' under the 'Swach Maharashtra' initiative. "When I was coming to the city flying in the helicopter I saw that the city was totally dirty with garbage every where. This situation needs to be changed and a cleanliness drive should be undertaken in the coming years to make it clean," he added. "The state government will give all possible support and there is no dearth of funds for the programme," the Governor said. He also appealed corporates and industries around Thane to be part of the Swatch Bharat mission and spend 2 per cent of their profit as CSR for the projects falling under the cleanliness drive. Eknath Shinde along with other senior government officials was present for the programme. A 38-year-old man was arrested here after he allegedly tried to board a London-bound flight, along with his family, with "forged visas", police said today. The incident took place yesterday at the IGI Airport. The man, identified as Suraj, hails from Afghanistan, but possesses an Indian passport. He lives in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar area with his wife and three children, aged between seven and 12 years, police said. The family had got clearance from the immigration staff at the airport, but they were stopped while they were about to board the flight and inspection of their visas, made the airlines' staff suspicious about them. "They were taken back to the immigration department and the police were informed, following which the man, his wife and three children, were all stopped. "Then their visas were sent to the UK High Commission's office for verification, which turned out to be forged," DCP (IGI Airport) D K Gupta said, adding, Suraj, who allegedly got the visas done for his family, was then "arrested". During interrogation, Suraj told the police that he was helped by one Hafeez in procuring the forged visa documents, with which they were about to migrate to the UK, police said. The tickets to London were booked by Suraj's associate who lives there. Meanwhile, a police team is searching for Hafeez and investigation is underway, police added. Congress today pitched for declassifying all files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, but said the way Prime Minister Naredra Modi has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. "Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign", Party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma claimed. Sharma's remarks came on a day when the Prime Minister made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Netaji on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. "The way the Prime Minister has carried this out raises doubts about intentions of Modi government, the nation needs to understand this", Sharma told reporters here dismissing suggestions by some of Netaji's relatives that Congress had always tried to suppress truth about Bose. He said the Congress does not want to enter into any debate with any distant relative of Bose. "We respect what has been said by his own daughter. Netaji had only one daughter and what she has said is in public domain and the country must respect her sentiments because she has been anguished by this deliberately created mischief and controversy," he claimed. Netaji's daughter Anita Bose Pfaff has in the past said that she believed her father died in the air crash in Taihoku airport in Taiwan in August, 1945 "until proved otherwise". Sharma lamented that the Prime Minister in order to "deflect" the attention from the "miserable failure" of his government on all fronts is coming up with such ploys. At the same time, the party cautioned the media against using an allegedly "fabricated and forged document" that has surreptitiously been circulating on the internet, seeking to "defame" Jawaharlal Nehru on the Netaji issue. He noted that Nehru had defended Major General Shahnawaz Khan, Col Sehgal and Col Dhillon in the INA case in 1945-46. Warning that publication of such a "forged" document "shall not be taken quietly, he said, "If these people have the courage, they should own up the document but we will identify. Once we have identified, we will take all measures that are required to not only expose but to ensure that they are punished under the law of the land. "Netaji was a great national leader. He was the President also of the Congress. He participated in India's freedom struggle and we remember his contribution with much respect. We do not wish to enter into any discussion or debate but we must also respect the sentiments of Netaji's daughter. That is what we feel", he added. Sanitation workers of the city's civic bodies demanding payment of their salaries and arrears will stage a demonstration at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on the first day of their proposed strike starting January 27. "A massive demonstration will be staged at CM Kejriwal's residence on January 27 in which a memorandum of our demands including regular salary, payment of arrears, regularisation of contract based employees, cashless health cards among others will be presented to him," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha leading sanitation workers. The sanitation workers and other employees of the three municipal corporation -- NDMC, SDMC and EDMC -- will also go on strike from January 27, he said. "The issues of salary and arrear payment have affected all the employees of the municipal corporations, including the doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, sanitation workers and other class III and IV staff, who have not been paid salaries for upto 3 months," Gehlot said. He also claimed that not only sanitation workers but other employees of municipal corporations will join the strike. The sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) had gone on a strike in October last leading to unhygienic conditions in that area due to huge amount of undisposed filth in the streets. The strike was ended after the Delhi High Court intervened and directed the municipal corporation authorities to ensure disposal of garbage. A mine was detected by a Border Security Force (BSF) team patrolling near Indo-Pak border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The mine was found in a place close to the Basantar river near the International Border (IB) in Samba district last evening, police officials said today. It was later defused safely, they said. Union Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha today appealed to the agitating students of Hyderabad Central University to withdraw their protest following the alleged suicide of a Dalit research scholar and assured them that they will get justice. "From our ministry judicial commission has been set up. We want to tell all students...Keep faith...You will get justice. Now there is no need for continuing the agitation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. He said that based on the report of the judicial commission set up to look into the matter, the HRD ministry will take necessary steps. "From the ministry, a two-member fact-finding committee looked into the matter and gave its report. There were some shortcomings/loopholes as per the report. Based on the report, a judicial commission was set up for further inquiry. The commission will do its work and give report in three months. Based on it, the ministry will take necessary steps," he said. Asked about the demands of the agitating students for removal of the university's Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of case against them (four students), Kushwaha said, "University will look into that. There is no role of the ministry." Kushwaha was here to attend the inaugural ceremony of Navodaya Integration Meet. The ministry yesterday decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the matter. When contacted for their response to the government deciding to appoint a judicial commission and the university announcing compensation, Vemula's brother Raju said they will discuss the matter with the agitating students. Rohith's mother would come to the university today and talk to the agitating students, he said. Meanwhile, the indefinite fast launched by seven students of the university entered the fourth day today. G Prabhakar, one of the fasting students, said they would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. "We want to continue (fast). Our demands not yet fulfilled. They say (Prime Minister) Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death," he said. "(Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao, primary accused, dismiss from VC post. (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to university, arrest them. Without arresting, these (judicial commission, etc) don't give us confidence," Prabhakar said. Expressing concern over the health of the fasting students, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor of a team which examined them, said, "They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. What we had seen on the very first day and what we see today, it is a rapid deterioration of the medical status. We find their blood pressures are highly fluctuating and their sugar levels unstable." "We feel that we need to intervene and medically give some support. We have to discuss with the boys and we will see the next course of action," he told reporters . Bhopal Archbishop Dr Leo Cornelio today said the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam (Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act) was being misused. The statement comes two days after a report of Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) said that Madhya Pradesh was the worst state when it comes to attacks on Christians. Dr Cornelio said the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wanted harmony and peace and he was very particular about it, but some fringe groups were responsible for the attacks. Asked if these incidents increased after BJP came to power in the state in 2003, and particularly after Chouhan took over the reins ten years ago, the Archbishop said fringe groups were responsible for the attacks and Chouhan could not be present everywhere (to prevent such incidents). It was the duty of the law enforcing agencies to prevent the violence against Christians. These agencies should not buckle under pressure while probing such incidents, he said. Saying that fundamentalists are present in every religion, Dr Cornelio said violence is unleashed in many parts of the world in the name of Islam, though that religion believes in brotherhood, peace and love. The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act prohibits religious conversion through force, allurement and fraudulent means. It also makes it punishable to change the religion without informing the authorities. Archbishop of Bhopal, Leo Cornelio, today said the Madhya Pradesh government was yet to respond to its request regarding handing over some of the state-run schools in backward districts to the Catholic church to improve their educational standards. "A year ago, I personally asked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to hand over a couple of government schools in backward districts to us, so that we improve the educational standards in such institutes," Cornelio told reporters here. He said this while providing details of the concluding ceremony of 'Year of Consecrated life' scheduled to be held here tomorrow. "After my meeting, one of our principals wrote to the government for adoption of government schools. But we have not received any response from it. We are not worried at all over the issue," he said. According to the Archbishop, the education system in government schools needs to be improved urgently. "Students get free mid-day meal and books and other facilities, except education in government schools," he claimed. "I visit villages and I am of strong view that education system needs to be improved in government schools in Madhya Pradesh," he added. The Church is observing Year of Consecrated Life as Pope Francis dedicated the period November 30, 2014 to February 2, 2016 for it. The objectives of this year is to look to the past with gratitude; live the present with passion and embrace the future with hope, he said. "We have been asked to work for spiritual upliftment and to set new trends in education, health care, social work, rehabilitation and work for the uplift and welfare of poor and oppressed classes with more strength and devotion," the Archbishop added. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here has not received any threat letter, police said today. Reacting to the rumours that airport had recieved a threat letter, a senior police officer said this evening, "They (airport) haven't received such letter. It was just an information call in the airport control room." In wake of the arrest of the alleged IS sympathisers in past few days, the city is on high alert and the rumour of threat to airport has raised security concern. Mukesh Chhabra is turning filmmaker with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next production and the ace casting director has revealed the movie will be an out-and-out love story. The film will mark Bollywood debut of veteran actor Vinod Khanna's son Sakshi. "I am already finish writing the movie. It will be a love story. The film is in its initial stages so I can't talk much right now," Chhabra told PTI. The female lead is yet to be cast. He, however, would not quit his job of a casting professional and wants to juggle it with his directorial stint. Chhabra revealed he has "about 15" films in his kitty for casting. "I will never leave casting. This is how I started and I would do it throughout my career. Both the things will go together. Currently I am handling Anurag Kashyap's next (with Nawazuddin Siddiqui), Anubhav Sinha's 'Tum Bin 2' and an AR Rahman production..." When asked which film has been his most difficult casting ever, the 35-year-old said, "'PK', 'Rangoon', 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Chillar Party', 'Fitoor' and 'Badlapur' are some of the films where I had difficulty. 'Gangs of Wasseypur' required a large number of people so that was a task and in 'Fitoor', the problem was about finding the right kids because they are very important in the story." Chhabra feels the importance of right casting has increased a lot in the industry and the directors have realized that without (good) actors the kind of films they want to make won't work. Clashes between casting directors and filmmakers due to different choices for certain roles are common but Mukesh said he never had to compromise on his say just for the sake of the producer/director. "I have a lot of fights with the directors/producers. I don't agree with them always. I don't listen to the director always. We fight then we come to a common platform and go ahead. I have crossed that stage where one feels the pressure of having a different choice than the filmmakers. They give me respect and listen to me." The casting director recently launched his own three-day theatre fest "Khidkiyaan Theatre Festival" in Mumbai. From directors like Imtiaz Ali and Vikas Bahl to actors Manoj Bajpayee and Sushant Singh Rajput, Bollywood showed support for his initiative. The director, who hails from Delhi and was an active participant of the city's theatre culture, said he would love to direct Bollywood actors in a play. "If given a chance, I would love to helm a play starring Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin. That will be great. North Korea said today it had arrested a US student who, under orders from Washington, had engaged in an unspecified "hostile act" after entering the country on a tourist visa. The detention comes at a sensitive time, with the United States taking a leading role in efforts to secure tough international sanctions on North Korea over its latest nuclear test. Pyongyang has a history of using foreign detainees as bargaining chips to extract concessions and high-profile visits to secure their release. The student, identified as Otto Frederick Warmbier from the University of Virginia, had entered North Korea as a tourist "for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation," the North's official KCNA agency said. He was detained "while perpetrating a hostile act against the DPRK", it added, using the official acronym for North Korea. China-based Young Pioneer Tours, which organises regular trips to North Korea, said Warmbier had been a member of a New Year tour and was arrested when the group was set to return to Beijing on January 2. "We hope his release can be secured as soon as possible," the tour group said, adding that it was assisting the US State Department in the affair. State Department spokesman John Kirby, citing "privacy considerations," declined to comment beyond acknowledging the reports of Warmbier's arrest and stressing that the welfare of US citizens was always a top priority. The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North, and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there. Warmbier becomes the third North American detained in North Korea, which last month sentenced a 60-year-old Canadian pastor to life imprisonment with hard labour on sedition charges. During a recent interview that the pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, gave to CNN in Pyongyang, the North presented another ethnic Korean prisoner, whom they said was a US citizen arrested for spying in October. The term "hostile act" is a catch-all accusation that has been levelled at numerous detained foreigners in the past -- covering a range of possible charges from espionage to illicit missionary work. The fact that Warmbier is accused of acting under US direction, would suggest he faces a spying charge. National Conference (NC) today said it would lodge a complaint with Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra against some government and public sector bank employees for allegedly participating in political meetings of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). "The trend of bureaucrats, government officers and J-K bank employees openly participating in political meetings of a particular political party is not only improper but also violating the principles of neutrality and objectivity that government and public sector enterprise employees are governed by," NC spokesman Junaid Mattu said here. Taking a serious note of Director Education, Kashmir, Shah Faesal's participation at a meeting of PDP in Gupkar recently, the NC said it would register a formal complaint with the Governor on Monday to seek action against the participation of government officers in the political events. "We have nothing against Faesal and respect him and his achievements and that is why his participation in a political meeting at PDP president's residence is even more disappointing," the NC spokesman said. "If the PDP has to interact with businessmen and entrepreneurs and advocate its ideology and vision, why should the Director Education be present? "This not only falls in the realm of impropriety but also calls into question his neutrality and objectivity in discharging his professional duties," he added. Mattu said in the absence of a chief minister or the council of ministers as the state is under the Governor's rule, the officers were not obliged to attend such political meetings. Noting that the participation happened on a working day, in working hours, he said "it was a greater disappointment as it indicates misplaced priorities of a public servant". NC would also register a complaint with the Governor over the "brazen political activities" of Saadat Hussain, a J-K Bank employee on a special deputation to the former Chief Minister's grievance cell, who also attended the meeting at the PDP president's residence. "Despite Hussain's illegitimate political activities while on the payrolls of a Public Sector Bank, the J-K Bank leadership not only obliged the PDP by deputing him on a special political assignment but has also given him a carte blanche to abuse, vilify and defame public figures particularly leaders belonging to the NC," the spokesman said. Referring to the implementation of "anti-poor and anti-people National Food Security Act", the CWC took note of "massive protests by people" across the state against it and asked the Centre and the state government to take note of it. "The contradictory and confusing stand taken by the coalition government in this regard created confusion in minds of the people, which led to massive protests against NFSA," the resolution said, claiming that the Act has caused hardships and suffering to people across the state. The CWC sought immediate rollback of the NFSA and sought provision of ration to card holders on old schedule of 35 kilograms on the Census of 2011. The National Conference Central Working Committee also expressed concern "over the plight of 2014 flood victims and the lackadaisical attitude of both the Centre and the state Government in providing relief to them". "Notwithstanding Rs 44,000 crore package recommended by the previous government, only a trickle has come for the sufferers," the National Conference noted while urging the Centre to resolve the issue on immediate basis by way of rehabilitating the sufferers. In another resolution, the party expressed its deep sorrow over the demise of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Nepal's parliament today voted to amend the country's Constitution with a two-thirds majority four months after its promulgation, in a bid to resolve the political crisis involving the minority Madhesi community. The amendment aims at resolving the ongoing agitation by the Madhesi parties. The lawmakers of the agitating parties, however, boycotted the voting saying the purported amendment was incomplete and would not address their demands. "I announce that the Nepal constitution first amendment bill has been passed with a two-thirds majority in favour," said speaker Onsari Gharti Magar as lawmakers thumped their desks in agreement. The amendment addresses two key demands of the Madhesis - proportionate representation and seat allocation in the Parliament on the basis of population. When put to vote, the bill garnered 461 votes in its favour while seven lawmakers voted against it. Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur K C was among the seven lawmakers who opposed the move. The amendment includes provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in Parliament on the basis of population. For this, three articles - Article 42, Article 84 and Article 286 - were amended. With this, the number of Parliament seats in the 20 districts in the southern plains has been significantly raised. Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, are opposed to the new Constitution that divides the country into six federal provinces, claiming the federal structure incorporated in the new charter does not satisfy their demands. Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with India, are demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. Fifty-five people have been killed in violent protests by the Madhesis since last year. The government had, as late as in 1995, adopted the position that Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was killed in an air crash on August 18, 1945, even when the controversy over the INA chief's disappearance continued. "There seems to be no scope for doubt that he died in the air crash of 18th August 1945 at Taihoku. The Government of India has already accepted this position. There is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary," a Union Cabinet note of February 6, 1995, signed by then Home Secretary K Padmanabaiah, said. This was among the almost 17,000 pages of 100 secret files declassified today. The note further said "If a few individuals/organisations have a different view, they seem to be more guided by sentimentality rather than by any rational consideration." "The belief of these people that Netaji was alive and out of contact with any individual, but would appear when found necessary, has also lost relevance by now." The cabinet note was prepared for the government to take a stand on bringing the "mortal remains" of Netaji from Japan to India, kept in the Bose Academy in Tokyo. Among the documents released was also a series of letters exchanged between the government and various official agencies, after late MP Samar Guha claimed that Bose had made a speech on Radio Moscow following the signing of the Tashkent Pact between Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President Muhammad Ayub Khan in the presence of Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on January 10, 1966. Guha and several MPs had also raised the matter in Parliament, quoting Indian and Western press reports. These documents have been put up by the Archives on a separate website for digital display. The Archives also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. The papers declassified today contain 36 files of Prime Minister's office, 18 files of Ministry of Home Affairs and 46 files from Ministry of External Affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. The documents related to the death or disappearance of Netaji, documents of the three Commissions of Inquiry into it, those relating to the Indian Army or Azad Hind Fauj, the INA treasure, letters by MPs like late Samar Guha and family members and papers relating to various court cases, many of them demanding clarity on the freedom fighter's last days. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose died in an air crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a Union Cabinet note 50 years later said amidst the raging controversy over the INA chief's mysterious disappearance. However, a full five days after the air crash, a top official of the British Raj had weighed the pros and cons of "trying" Netaji as a "war criminal" and suggested that the "easiest way" would be to leave him where he was and not seek his release, suggesting that he may be alive then. This emerged from documents that form part of 100 secret files, comprising 16,600 pages which were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netaji's 119th birth anniversary here today. Reacting to the development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that Bose be given the title of "Leader of the Nation", and said the country has the right to know the truth about his mysterious disappearance. "The country has the right to know about the fate of Netaji. 75 years ago, Netaji left the country, but we still don't know the fact about his disappearance. People have the right to know the truth," Banerjee said at a function in Darjeeling. In Delhi, Congress made a strong pitch for declassifying all files related to Bose, but said the way Prime Minister has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. "Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign", party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma said. Among the declassified documents was a Union Cabinet note of February 6, 1995, signed by then Home Secretary K Padmanabaiah, which said, "There seems to be no scope for doubt that he died in the air crash of 18th August 1945 at Taihoku. Government of India has already accepted this position. There is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary." The note further said, "If a few individuals/organisations have a different view, they seem to be more guided by sentimentality rather than by any rational consideration." "The belief of these people that Netaji was alive and out of contact with any individual, but would appear when found necessary, has also lost relevance by now." The cabinet note was prepared for the government to take a stand on bringing the "mortal remains" of Netaji from Japan to India, kept in the Bose Academy in Tokyo. In the documents written five days after the air crash at Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei, Sir R F Mudie, Home Member of the Clement Attlee government's India Office, wrote to Sir Evan Jenkins, Home Secretary and the last Governor of Punjab, weighing pros and cons of how to treat Bose as a "war criminal" and its likely impact in India. "In many ways the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. "This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether," Mudie said in a letter and note dated August 23, 1945. Among the documents released was also a series of letters exchanged between the government and various official agencies, after late MP Samar Guha claimed that Bose had made a speech on Radio Moscow following the signing of the Tashkent Pact between Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President Muhammad Ayub Khan in the presence of Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on January 10, 1966. Guha and several MPs had also raised the matter in Parliament, quoting Indian and Western press reports. These documents have been put up by the National Archives on a separate website for digital display. The Archives also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. The papers declassified today contain 36 files of Prime Minister's office, 18 files of Ministry of Home Affairs and 46 files from Ministry of External Affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. The documents related to the death or disappearance of Netaji, reports of the three Commissions of Inquiry into it, those relating to the Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj, the INA treasure, letters by MPs and family members and papers relating to various court cases, many of them demanding clarity on the freedom fighter's last days. In his letter, Mudie said various options -- ranging from Bose's trial for waging war in India, or in Burma (now Myanmar) or Malaya (Malaysia) or intern him in "some other British possession e.G. Seychelles Islands" were considered. However, he analysed the extreme impact it would have on the Indians in India and abroad and warned of a volatile situation in case of his trial and finally suggested that keeping Bose "out of sight would be to some extent out of mind and agitation for his release might be less". The letter was in response to Jenkins' communication to Mudie, saying His Excellency the King would want him to analyse and advise on how to deal with Bose, the men of the Indian National Army and his civilian supporters across the length and breadth of the country. The birth place museum of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose here got 'richer' today when a scholar handed over 38 rare books written on the legendary leader's spiritual and political life. Scholar A S Sanyasi Rao from Andhra Pradesh handed over the books to the museum authorities here at Odia Bazaar on the occasion of Netaji's 119th birth anniversary and the books add up to the rich collection of the museum, which has now over 500 titles on Netaji. The museum also received a copy of a 45-minute documentary film on Netaji's INA achievements prepared by Mumbai-based Odia film maker Sai Mohapatra. The documentary profiles several Odia freedom fighters who had served valiantly in the INA. The books would be on display in the galleries soon and the documentary would be screened regularly inside the museum, informed its curator J P Das. Earlier today Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoisted the National Flag and garlanded the statue of Netaji inside the museum and paid rich tributes to the freedom fighter. "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is a son of our soil. Cuttack is witness to his early life. His life is an example of rarest courage and patriotism. We all are proud of him. I pay my heartfelt tribute to him on his birth anniversary," Patnaik said after visiting the museum. The museum witnessed day-long activities as hundreds of Netaji lovers, particularly school and college students, thronged the place to participate in the special yajna held here every year on the occasion inside the room where Netaji was born on this day in 1897. Similarly, many functions were held in the city and elsewhere in Odisha to observe Netaji Jayanti by holding padayatras, cycle rallies, art exhibitions, blood donation camps and several competitions and cultural programmes among school and college students. A new European counter-terrorism centre opening this month will improve information-sharing among national police forces whose performance is under scrutiny after the jihadist attacks in Paris in November, the director of Europol said. "It establishes for the first time in Europe a dedicated operation centre," Britain's Rob Wainwright said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. "It will provide French and Belgian police services and their counterparts around Europe with the platform they need to share information more quickly and to crack down on the terrorist groups that are active." Although the creation of the centre was announced seven months before the Paris attacks, the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings in the French capital by a team mainly based in neighbouring Belgium have given the 28-country project new impetus. "We will be working to improve intelligence sharing and to maximise our capability to track terrorist financing," Wainwright said. The centre at Europol's headquarters in the Hague will also monitor the way in which Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups "are abusing the Internet and social media, in particular for their propaganda and recruitment purposes," he added. French investigators believe the attacks that killed 130 in Paris were planned by a Belgian national, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was widely thought to have been in Syria fighting with IS forces. The apparent ease in which Abaaoud slipped back into Europe and moved around the continent has thrown into question the intelligence-sharing capabilities of EU police forces. Wainwright said the attacks had already acted as a catalyst. "In the context of what happened after the attacks in Paris, France and Belgium have established an extremely close working relationship involving Europol," he said. "What I have seen over the last few years but particularly in the last year, in the face of the worst terrorist attacks we have seen in Europe for over a decade, is intensified cooperation." Wainwright said he was deeply concerned about the "significant growth" in the faking of ID documents for use by extremists. Investigators believe at least two of the Paris suicide bombers entered Europe through Greece, posing as migrants and using Syrian passports that were not theirs. Their true identity remains unknown. Noted criminal defence lawyer Harshad Nimbalkar today said he had been appointed as the special public prosecutor in the communist leader Govind Pansare murder case. Pansare and his wife were shot by motorcycle-borne youths outside their house in Kolhapur on February 16, 2015. While his wife survived, Pansare, 82, died a few days later. "Since it is a sensitive case, I gave my consent to the state government and yesterday they formally appointed me as the special public prosecutor," said advocate Nimbalkar here. The lone arrested accused in the case Sameer Gaikwad, a former disciple of the conservative right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, has sought bail from the Kolhapur sessions court, he said. "Hearing on the bail application is on January 25. I would make sure that Gaikwad does not get bail," he said. "We have circumstantial evidence against Gaikwad and on that basis I will argue in the court," he said. Pansare was a rationalist and a known critic of the right-wing outfits in the state. Earlier, in August 2013, anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pune. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today broke his silence over JD(U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam, who has been booked for allegedly abusing a couple inside Rajdhani Express last Sunday, saying law would take its own course and hinted at his possible suspension from the party. "Be it MP or MLA, nobody is bigger than law. The police has freedom to act lawfully against those breaking law," Kumar told reporters. The CM said the Jokihaat MLA had contacted his office on January 18 and was given time to meet "me on January 19". "But, he didn't turn up which made it clear 'Mamala kuch hai' (there is something fishy)," he said. Kumar said such behaviour wouldn't be tolerated and hinted at the party initiating action against Alam. "While the police is initiating action lawfully in the matter, the party would act against him on its own," Kumar said. Later in the afternoon Kumar held a meeting with JD(U) President Sharad Yadav and state chief Basistha Narayan Singh. Though details of the meeting was yet to be known, JD(U) sources said it dealt with this issue besides other organisational matters. They said suspension of the MLA was in the offing. Alam, son of RJD MP Mohammad Taslimuddin and a third-term MLA from Jokihaat in Araria district, has been summoned by police today to record his statement at GRP Patna by 5 PM. Reports from Araria said the MLA has gone traceless. People at his residence in his village in Jokihaat and also in Araria said they were not aware of whereabouts of the MLA. Alam's mobile phone is also switched off. Rail Superintendent of Police P N Mishra told PTI, "We have given him time till 5 PM to appear and if he does not turn up by then the police will initiate lawful action." An FIR was lodged against the MLA last Monday with the GRP here for allegedly abusing a couple on board Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today accused BJP of having an ulterior motive behind declassification of files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, saying it wants "conflict" between different streams of ideology during the freedom struggle to come to the fore. "BJP, which has nothing to do with the struggle for Independence, by declassifying files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is basically making an effort to create conflict between different streams of ideology in the struggle for country's Independence," Kumar told reporters here. He said freedom fighters fought against the Britishers with different ideologies. Mahatma Gandhi, the "nayak (hero) of the freedom movement", and his followers fought against the British rule with the ideology of non-violence, while Netaji's stream was radical. But, all the freedom movement heroes had one aim to get the country free from British atrocities, Kumar said. "The BJP whose leaders had no role in the Independence movement are basically interested in creating 'conflict' between different ideologies for political gains," Kumar, a known detractor of PM, said. Earlier, the CM and Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. Two days after Maharashtra government informed the high court that 1,000 farmers committed suicide in the state in 2015, figures provided by its relief and rehabilitation department have now revealed that the total number of farmers, who ended their lives last year stands at 3,228. The state government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday that as many as 1,000 farmers killed themselves in Maharashtra in 2015. However, the relief and rehabilitation department revealed that the total number of farmers' suicides add up to 3,228, of which 1,841 farmers were eligible for compensation. The state Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse claimed that while both the figures were "correct", what the government submitted in HC was the number of farmers who had killed themselves purely for farm-related reasons and hence are eligible for compensation. Nonetheless, the opposition Congress has taken the opportunity to slam the BJP-led state government and vowed to take up the issue in the next Assembly session. The figures provided by the relief and rehabilitation department reveal that the highest number of suicides were from the Amravati division (1,179), followed by Aurangabad division (1,130). 459 farmers committed suicide in the Nashik division, 362 in Nagpur, 96 in Pune and two in Konkan division. "Though there are a large number of farmers' suicides, those eligible for compensation are comparatively less. For 2015, out of the total 3,228, as many as 1,842 farmers are eligible for compensation from the state government," an official from the department said. Criticising the state government for its "extremely casual attitude", senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis immediately clarify the government's stand on the issue. "This just shows the extremely casual attitude of government towards farm crisis. One department does not know what the other one is doing. Informing the court about only 1,000 suicides amounts to contempt of court and misleading the judiciary. Action must be taken against the officers, who briefed the lawyers and the CM must come forward and clarify the government's position," Chavan added. "We will take it up with the Governor and in both Houses of the Legislature in the upcoming Assembly session," the former Chief Minister added. Responding to the charges, Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse said that the figures submitted to the Bombay HC are true and those were the total number of farmers, who had committed suicide for farm-related reasons. "Both the figures (those submitted to the Bombay HC and that from the relief and rehabilitation department) are correct. A farmer can commit suicide for various reasons. What we have stated to the HC is the total number of farmers, who, according to the criteria of the government, have committed suicide for farm-related reasons," Khadse told Pakistani villagers try to enter in a local hospital where injured people were taken after an attack in Charsadda town, some 35 kilometers (21 miles) outside Peshawar, Pakistan. Photo: PTI Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan for facilitating the deadly Taliban attack on a prestigious university in the country's northwest that killed 21 people, mostly students, the military announced today. "We have arrested four facilitators who helped the attackers enter Pakistan and took them to Mardan before attack on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda district," Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. On Wednesday, four heavily-armed terrorists attacked the Bacha Khan University named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan via the Torkhum border, Bajwa said. According to Bajwa, the main facilitator -- "terrorist A" -- who received and made arrangements for the attackers at Torkhum border checkpost is still at large. The arrested men helped militants purchase their weapons in the country's tribal belt and relied on women close to the accused to help smuggle guns. "Women wearing traditional veils do not usually undergo a routine body search at the checkpoints," said Bajwa. He said the attack on BKU was planned and controlled from Afghanistan as the phone call of commander Umer Mansoor, who later claimed responsibility, was made from Afghanistan. Mansoor and his deputy Qari Zakir made calls to attackers from Afghanistan and on Wednesday - the day of the attack - around 10 calls were made from Afghanistan, he claimed. He said that Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has exchanged intelligence-based information with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Bajwa said one of the arrested men recently did masonry at BKU and later drafted a map to aid the attackers. On Friday, the Taliban faction behind the massacre posted a video message vowing to target schools throughout Pakistan, calling them "nurseries" for people who challenge Allah's law. The BKU assault came about an year after terrorists attacked an army-run school in Peshawar that killed nearly 150 people, most of them students. The Pakistani military intensified an ongoing offensive, named operation Zarb-e-Azb, against extremists in the tribal areas after the 2014 attack. Bajwa said the operation was progressing successfully. To a question on border management with Afghanistan, Bajwa said the issue is under consideration and a lot of measures have been taken in this direction. The Home Minister of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has escaped an assassination bid when his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb, police said today. Mir Sarfraz Bugti was returning after an official visit to his hometown Dera Bugti yesterday when an IED roadside bomb was detonated by a remote control, an official said. Bugti escaped unhurt as the bomb exploded moments after his vehicle crossed the site, the official said. At least six suspected militants and a Frontier Corps soldier were killed in an armed clash in the Mashkey area of Awaran district after the incident. Spokesman of the outlawed Baloch Republican Army (BRA) telephoned a foreign media house and claimed the responsibility for attacking Sarfaraz Bugti's convoy, Dawn newspaper reported. Baloch separatists demanding more autonomy and control over gas and mineral resources have frequently targeted security forces and pro-government figures for years in the area. A 13-year-old Palestinian girl tried to stab an Israeli guard at a West Bank settlement today and was shot dead, the latest bloodshed in a months-long wave of attacks, police said. Many of the attackers have been disturbingly young and the killing of several of them by Israeli security forces has prompted questions at home and abroad. Police said Roqaya Abu-Eid was feeling suicidal after a fight with her family when she ran from her home in the West Bank village of Anata clutching a kitchen knife and rushed at a private security guard at nearby Anatot settlement. "She had a knife and intended to die," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement. "The guard opened fire, gravely wounding her and medics pronounced her dead shortly afterwards." Police said her father, who had been searching the area for her, arrived too late at the scene of the attack. They said he was questioned to see if he knew in advance of her intentions but was later released. Palestinian officials said Israel returned her body for burial by her family. Israeli media said she was to be buried tomorrow in the southern West Bank village of Yatta, where the family is originally from. A total of 156 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed in three months of attacks, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks and many of the assailants have been young people, including teenagers. Others her age have died in clashes with the army and police in the West Bank but she is thought to be the youngest killed during an attack. In November, police in Jerusalem shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian and seriously wounded her 14-year-old friend after the two girls stabbed and lightly wounded an elderly man in a market. The same month in the east Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Zeev, two Palestinian boys aged 12 and 14 attacked a security guard with knives, police said. The younger of the boys, both from Jerusalem's Shuafat refugee camp, was shot and seriously wounded and the other was arrested. Murad Ideis (15) who allegedly stabbed to death a 38-year-old Israeli nurse and mother of six at her house in a West Bank settlement last Sunday, was later arrested in a raid on his family home. Arab Israeli MP Essawi Frej of the opposition Meretz party said in a statement that Abu-Eid could have been restrained rather than killed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today laid the foundation stone of Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University and said strength as well as intelligence is the need of the hour to deal with cyber attacks. "Strength as well as intelligence is required, because it is the cyber age," Parrikar said, adding the twin qualities would help in dealing with cyber attacks. He was addressing a near capacity crowd at Birsa Munda Stadium here after unfurling the country's tallest and biggest tricolour at Pahari Mandir and laying the foundation stone of Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University on-line. "With this (laying the foundation stone), Jharkhand has become the third state (after Gujarat and Rajasthan) to have Raksha Shakti University," Parrikar said. The Raksha Shakti University, which started in Gujarat a few years ago, offers certificate, diploma and degree courses in the field of police science and internal security. According to an official statement, the university will be established on 25 acre land near Ranchi and its total intake capacity will be 300 to 500 students every year. Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that construction work of the university would begin in June/July. Parrikar said Jharkhand has 50 per cent of the mineral resources of the country, but the state did not progress as it should have. "The state has given much to the country. And the country will also give (it back) ... I see change will come. Within the next two years the university will start functioning," he said. Remembering 1971 war martyr Albert Ekka, the defence minister said that he expects Jharkhand to contribute more to the defence and security services in the country. (REOPENS BOM 4) Parsekar also promised employment oriented industries in the state, but had cautioned the locals against some elements who try to get political mileage by resorting to labour unrest. "We need to identify such people and gently keep them aside. If we fail to discard such people we will be repenting in future," he said without naming any leader. He praised Goa's Leader of Opposition Pratapsinh Rane, who was present in the function, for always being supportive towards the government, keeping aside political affiliation. "I respect Rane because he never tried to corner the government by instigating any labour movement in the state," Parsekar said. He said his government was working for the welfare of labour class. The Helicopter Engine MRO Pvt Ltd, a joint venture company of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bengaluru and SAFRAN Helicopter Engines, France was inaugurated today. The plant is set up at Honda village of Sattari teshil where the company has purchased assets from the Goa government-run Economic Development Corporation (EDC). EDC formally had its subsidiary - Goa Auto Accessories Limited - which went into loses forcing the government to close it down in March 2014. Rallies against "the islamisation" of Europe will take place on February 6 in 14 European countries including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland, the far-right organisers have said. The demonstrations are being organised by the anti-foreigner German group PEGIDA, an acronym for "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident." Tatjana Festerling of PEGIDA made the announcement yesterday following a meeting with like-minded groups in Roztoky, near Prague. "The fight against the islamisation of Europe is our common objective," Festerling said in a statement after the meeting. The Roztoky meeting was organised by the Czech group "Bloc Against Islam" whose leader, Martin Konvicka, called Europe's policy on migrants as "stupid and suicidal". PEGIDA started life in October 2014 as a xenophobic Facebook group, initially drawing just a few hundred protesters to demonstrations in the eastern city of Dresden before gaining strength, peaking with turnouts of 25,000 people. Interest subsequently began to wane following overtly racist comments by founder Lutz Bachmann and the surfacing of "selfies" in which he sported a Hitler-style moustache and hairstyle. The group has seen a revival with the record influx of migrants to Germany in 2015, followed by a wave of sex assaults and robberies on women in Cologne on New Year's Eve blamed on young men from Arab countries. Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra today wrote to the Centre urging it to "persuade" Haryana to stop its industries from releasing untreated effluents, mainly ammonia, in Yamuna which has severely affected water supply in the national capital over the last three days. In a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Mishra complained that the increased presence of pollutants in raw water received in Delhi from Haryana has become "quite frequent" and that the "main reason" was industries located in the neighbouring state. "If the quantum of ammonia in raw water increases to 0.5 ppm (parts per million) and beyond, the operations of treatment of raw water has to be suspended as ammonia with the treating agent chlorine gives rise to Trihalomethane which is carcinogenic in nature," he said. The level of ammonia rose to 2.6 ppm at 9.30 AM on January 20, Mishra mentioned in the letter. The rise had prompted the authorities to close the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants. Water supply in New Delhi Municipal Corporation areas which includes the Lutyens' zone, North Delhi, North West Delhi, Central Delhi and parts of West and South Delhi have been severely affected due to the closures. Mishra said that the areas which "illegally" release effluents adversely affecting the quality of Yamuna water are --- industrial waste discharge near Mandora village in Haryana, industrial pollutants in river course near Khojkipur, Panipat among others. A delegation of officers from Delhi Jal Board was sent to Haryana on January 21 to meet senior officers there and apprise them about the condition and a separate quality control team was also sent for detecting the sources of pollution. "It needs to be appreciated that the quality of water cannot be compromised in any situation and all steps, which may include harsh action against the polluting industries, needs to be taken by the state of Haryana," Mishra said. Expressing satisfaction over the action taken by Tamil Nadu government in eradicating animal- borne health hazards among people in the offshoots of Western Ghats area in the state, the Madras High Court today closed a PIL which sought a direction to the government to this effect. Advocate A R Gokulakrishnan had in his Public Interest Litigation petition sought a direction to the government to take all remedial measures in preventing animal-borne health hazards to people residing in the offshoots of Western Ghats area. When the PIL came up before the division bench, comprising Justices T S Sivagnanam and R Mala, the Health Secretary and the Forest Secretary submitted that steps were taken first to eradicate animal-borne health hazards in Kodaikkanal area and then it was continued in the Western Ghats. The two appeared in person before the court in response to its Novemver 28, 2015 direction on a PIL to appear before it today for not filing reports on remedial measures taken to prevent animal-borne health hazards in Western Ghats area. The petitioner, a social activist and a permananent resident in the area, had submitted that Indian Gaurs which used to cause extensive damage to standing crops like coffee, tea, pepper, a special variety of hill banana, cardamom, beetroot and other crops, had started invading human settlements. These animals not only threatened the existence of plantation growers but also brought in and were spreading endemic diseases like rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, babesiosis, anaplasmosisn and rocky mount spotted fever and causing severe itching. He had submitted that researchers had released papers claiming that ticks and lice which breed on the skin of Gaurs are the root cause of the diseases and referred to in reports in national English dailies on information given by him. The activist said more than 50 per cent of women and children suffer from sores caused by lice breeding on Gaurs. The May 4 2006 report of experts from Institute of Microbiology, Madurai Medical College and dermatologists and entomologists from the Joint Director, Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, Hosur who visited the area confirmed the prevalence of endemic disease with more than 84 people being affected by it, he said. After the secretaries explained the action taken, the bench expressed happiness over it, hoped that the endeavor would be continued and closed the PIL. A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the State Home Secretary, the DGP and the Commissioner of Police not to grant permission to Tamil Nadu Thawheed Jamaath for holding a conference at Tiruchirappalli on January 31, claiming that it would create law and order problems. The TN Sunnath Jamaath at Triplicane moved the Court seeking to restrain The Tamil Nadu Thawheed Jamaath of Armenian Street in the city from holding the conference. The petitioner alleged that the conference was to condemn the practice of idol worship or photos of gods, among others, and claimed that it would create law and order problem and communal harmony would be badly affected if permission was granted for the conference. As there was no response to an earlier representation to the authorities, the present plea was filed, the petitioner said. When the matter came up before Justice R Mahadevan on January 22, Additional Government Pleader P Sanjay Gandhi took notice and the judge posted the matter for filing counter to January 27. Days after the FBI report concluded that the death of Sunanda Pushkar was due to poisoning, her widower and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today claimed that he has "plenty" to say on the case but would await the ongoing probe to end. "Let me say this for the last time, I will not comment on this matter, as a matter of policy as well as principle, until the police have concluded investigation," Tharoor said on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here. "Once the police have done so, come to a conclusion and presented it to a court, I will have plenty to say. But till then it will be wrong to do so and I will not do so," he said. In January last year, the Delhi Police had registered a case of murder in connection with the death of Sunanada. An All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) medical board had found poisoning as the reason for her death following which the police had sent her viscera samples to an FBI lab in Washington last year. The AIIMS medical board gave its opinion based on the FBI report that Sunanda died of "poisoning". 51-year-old Sunanda was found dead at a suite in a five-star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014, a day after her spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar on Twitter over her alleged affair with Tharoor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, saying generations of Indians remember him for his bravery and patriotism. "Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations," he tweeted. The Prime Minister chose this day to declassify secret files relating to Netaji with a view of throwing some light on his mysterious disappearance. Modi said, "Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today." The Prime Minister also put out a proclamation issued by Netaji in 1944 asking Indians to fulfil their 'duty' in liberating India. Paying tributes to Netaji, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I bow to 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. He is one of the greatest heroes of India's freedom struggle." BJP President Amit Shah also remembered Netaji on his anniversary, saying, "My tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who inspired innumerable youth with his bravery, courage and patriotism. (REOPENS DEL11) Modi later tweeted, "Today we began our efforts to declassify the Netaji files & place the truth in front of our citizens." He also said "In order to enable widespread reading & study of the Netaji files, a website has been created. Do have a look." In another tweet, he said, "It was wonderful that family members of Subhas Babu joined us today. Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "almost-a-week late" response on the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and termed his silence "baffling". "I find the PM's silence baffling. He has been hailed as a great communicator; he has been quick to take to microphone, the TV camera and Twitter to express his views on all sorts of things. But on all key issues facing our nation, there has been no communication from the PM," Tharoor said. "Even in this incident (Dalit scholar's suicide), the PM spoke almost after a week. (Congress vice president) Rahul Gandhi has been there days ago and the PM has only spoken yesterday," he said. The Congress MP was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here. Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide on Sunday night, was among five research scholars who were suspended by Hyderabad Central University (HCU) in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader. They were also kept out of the hostel. Tharoor also said that India was still very conscious of caste and there existed a perception of discrimination against Dalits. "After the tragedy, I got many letters and emails from Dalit students talking about what they say is a pervasive discrimination against Dalit students, scholars and researchers. "I am not competent enough to judge whether this is true or false but the perception is clearly there, and it is our duty as a country to address this perception," he said. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should clarify India's policy twoards Pakistan. "The Prime Minister has not clarified what policy the country is going to follow for Pakistan. If you want to engage in dialogue and establish friendly relations with Pakistan... whether or not was there was any difference in the message from India to Pakistan after the Pathankot attack," Khurshid said. The Congress leader was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here. Earlier at a session at the festival where his new book 'The Other Side of the Mountain' was launched he insisted on the importance of dialogue between the NDA government and the Opposition. "The dialogue must continue," he said. Over the issue of "intolerance," the Centre should "look at ground realities". "It has to be seen why the government has not been able to check it (intolerance). It is the responsibility of government and the society as well," he said. Subhash Chandra Bose's kin and historian Sugata Bose today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to know about Netaji's mysterious disappearance. "I do not know whether Modi has done anything on the Netaji issue. I don't feel he had spoken to Abe (regarding Netjaji's disappearance). He also did not pay his respect by visiting the Renkoji temple... But, other Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the temple to show their respect," he said of Modi's Japan tour last year. He referred to the letter of his mother Krishna Bose, widow of Netaji's nephew Sisir Bose, to Modi requesting him to "talk to the Japanese PM" in this connection. "The Japanese have shared with us the information they had regarding Netaji... But, I believe Modi should have spoken to Abe, whether it be in Tokyo or in Delhi, or Varanasi... I don't think he has spoken to him (Abe) regarding this," he claimed. "It was first from Japan that we came to know what happened in August 1945," he said. As Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi wrote to the Renkoji Temple authorities thanking the authorities for preserving and looking after the ashes of Netaji, Bose claimed. Bose, a Trinamool Congress MP, said "The PM went to Russia but has not said whether he had any discussion with the Russian President regarding Netaji. He must come out in the public about his discussions with Putin." He also claimed that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had contacted the Russians in this connection and demanded that the "outcome of Rao's communication" should also be made public. "There is much to learn from Netaji's life at this crucial moment when a combination of religious majoritarianism and unbridled capitalism threatens to overwhelm Indian democracy," Bose said. In New Delhi, on 119th birth anniversary of Bose today, the Prime Minister made public a hundred secret files, which could throw some light on the controversy over Netaji's disappearance. Keeping up the pressure on the Rohith Vemula suicide issue, Congress today demanded that the Prime Minister should "stop pretence of emotions" and take action. "Prime Minister should stop this pretence of emotions and the expressions of words of sympathy. He has a moral and constitutional duty to take action," party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters. He insisted that action was needed "as there have been contradictions" ever since the suicide of Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad. "BJP as a political party made statements which were insulting and hurtful. Instead of being sincere in expression of sympathies, the ministers of the government, including Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya did act in a manner which calls for not only condemnation but action," he insisted. He lamented that the HRD minister "who is surrounded by not one but multiple controversies remains unaccountable". The party has been demanding immediate sacking of Irani, Dattatreya and University Vice-Chacellor Appa Rao. Kolkata Police and Bengal Police today raided several places in Barasat in search of four persons allegedly belonging to a Bangladesh-based terror group and are tipped to carry out a suicide bomb attacks between January 23-26, police officials said here. Acting on an Intelligence Bureau input, sleuths of Kolkata Police and Bengal Police have initiated a search for four persons allegedly belonging to a Bangladesh-based terror group and trying to carry out a suicide bomb attacks between January 23-26, they said. According to a top officer in the Kolkata Police Intelligence section, raids were conducted at places in Barasat in the North 24-Parganas, where they were reportedly hiding for the last several days. While two of them - Anisur Rehman and Mohammed Ansari - were reportedly hiding in Barasat - the other two, details of whom were yet to be ascertained, were hiding somewhere in Malda district, the IPS officer told PTI. "We have conducted raids at places in Barasat today in search of Ansari and Anisur but, could not spot them there. We have initiated searches in other parts of the state also," another officer at the Barrackpore Commissionerate said. It was learnt that the Centre had alerted West Bengal and all other states on January 18 about a possible terror strike by Bangladesh-based Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) at 23 different locations across India. "The group is planning bomb and suicide attacks some time this weekend till January 26," an officer of the Bengal Police said quoting the alert. In view of the input, security has been stepped up at various places of public attraction in the state such as Kalighat temple, Victoria Memorial, all railway stations including Howrah and Sealdah, Howrah Bridge, Jubilee Bridge, Metro Railway stations and Dakshineswar temple. Investigations revealed that Rehman and Ansari sneaked into the India from Bangladesh some time last week taking the Ghojadanga border route. Incidentally, the warning coincided with the arrest of nine foreigners from a rented house in Kankinara of North 24-Parganas districts last week (January 15). Sources in Bengal Police said they had a tip-off about around 15 "unknown" persons staying at a rented house in Kankinara. After a brief scan of their behaviour, which appeared quite suspicious, the sleuths first detained all of them and after interrogation, arrested nine for not having valid documents to stay here. Police forces around the world have taken measures to better share crucial intelligence to thwart jihadist attacks but technology can help them do far more, international police chiefs said at the Davos gathering of policymakers and moguls. The attacks in Paris in November that killed 130 people have focused the spotlight on the cooperation between countries in fighting a growing threat. The gunmen and suicide bombers who brought carnage to the streets of the French capital had travelled from Belgium, and many were already known to the intelligence services. Juergen Stock, the head of international police agency Interpol, told the annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort: "We need to be better not just in sharing but also in sharing specific information. "The issues we are talking about really are global now." Interpol has amassed around 6,000 profiles of people earmarked as terrorists and the challenge now is to use technology to allow the regular policeman on patrol to have rapid access to the information, Stock said. "It is important that this information is available not just at the level of specialised units but also at the level of police station and patrol officer, in his car and in the street," Stock told a security forum on the final day of the Davos conference. The director of Interpol's European counterpart, Europol, told AFP in an interview that intelligence cooperation had already improved since the attacks in Paris, which were claimed by the Islamic State group. Rob Wainwright said a new European counter-terrorism centre opening this month will further improve information sharing at a time when the performance of the police and intelligence services is under intense scrutiny. "It establishes for the first time in Europe a dedicated operation centre," Wainwright said in Davos. French investigators believe the attacks that killed 130 in Paris were planned by a Belgian national, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was widely thought to have been in Syria fighting with IS. The apparent ease in which Abaaoud slipped back into Europe and moved around the continent has thrown into question the intelligence sharing capabilities of EU police forces. Wainwright said the new centre in The Hague "will provide French and Belgian police services and their counterparts around Europe with the platform they need to share information more quickly and to crack down on the terrorist groups that are active. A prominent government hospital in the national capital allegedly refused to admit a pregnant woman in labour, citing unavailability of water. The administration of the government hospital, which turned away the pregnant woman, could not be reached despite repeated attempts. According to her family, the woman, a resident of Burari of northeast Delhi, started having labour pain early in the morning, following which she was rushed to the hospital. "We reached at around 6.30 AM yesterday but the staff at that government hospital refused to admit her saying there was no water. As her condition deteriorated, we rushed her to the nearest Sushruta Trauma Centre where the doctors delivered the child. They then referred us to Lok Nayak Hospital as they did not have appropriate gynaecology specialties," the woman's brother-in-law said. According to a senior MCD health official, there was shortage of water in areas of north MCD under which the hospital falls, and therefore, the hospital administration had been asked to arrange water through Delhi Jal Board tanker. "The water tanker did not come yesterday because of which the problem happened. We have issued strict directive to the hospitals that they should store water supplied by DJB tankers. Refusing admission on this ground is not at all justified," the official said. Meanwhile, on being contacted, medical superintendent at Lok Nayak hospital, Dr Yogesh Kumar Sarin, said both the mother and child were doing well. A day after 46 migrants drowned in a choppy Aegean Sea, protesters demonstrated today at a Greek border town to demand that Greece ease transit restrictions at its heavily militarized border with Turkey. Most of the 200-kilometer land border between Greece and Turkey is separated by the Evros River known as the Meric River in Turkey. But a 12.5-kilometer stretch of land separating the two countries was previously lined with minefields and is now separated by a fence. The area is guarded with police and military patrols on land and on the river, a network of cameras and a few officers from the European border protection agency, Frontex. Wearing life vests and foil blankets, the demonstrators chanted "This fence means refugees drown!" as they kicked off two days of protests in the area. They are planning a march tomorrow toward the border fence. "It's vital that the fence is removed. It's because of the fence that refugee families are forced to travel across the Aegean, and people are drowning on a daily basis," said protester Michalis Sopatzoglou, who travelled from the Greek island of Lesbos to join Saturday's rally. At least 60 people have died in Greek waters this month while trying to cross from Turkey to the Greek islands in poor weather, using unseaworthy boats provided by Turkish smuggling gangs. High winds today disrupted plans by Greek Coast Guard divers to search for bodies off the island of Kalymnos, where most of the people in yesterday's accidents died. Marie Elisabeth Ingres, Greek mission chief for the charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said creating a "safe point of passage" at the Greek-Turkish border should be a priority. "Since the beginning of this crisis, MSF has been calling for legal and safe reception to be made available at the land border between Turkey and Greece," she told The Associated Press. "At present ... People are effectively blocked from crossing it and have no other option but to turn to illegal means to reach the continent, risking their lives and often the lives of their families at sea." More than 850,000 asylum-seekers traveled to Greek islands in 2015 on their journey to central and northern Europe, in the continent's worst refugee crisis since World War II. Only 3,600 crossed the Greek-Turkish land border in the previous 12 months. Holding a 'padyatra' in drought-hit Bundelkhand, Rahul Gandhi today took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he should think about farmers and labourers too and not just industrialists and give more funds for the backward region. The Congress Vice President reffered to Modi becoming "emotional" yesterday while expressing grief over the suicide by a dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad University and said the PM should also show empathy for the farmers who are providing "the food you eat". Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-kilometre-long foot-march, he demanded that some of the money saved by the government due to decline in crude oil prices be diverted to the region. "Yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional...He paused during his speech (at BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to say Modiji the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220 is provided to you by farmers," he said. "I would ask Modiji to think a little for the farmers, labourers and the poor because they too run the country and it is not only industrialists who do so. So, think about them as well," Rahul said. The Congress leader sought more funds for the development of the water-scarce region. "During the UPA regime, price of crude petroleum was $150 per barrel, whereas now it has fallen to just $28. A lot of money saved here can be used for development of such backward regions like Bundelkhand," he said. Rahul, at the same time, said the entire money saved need not be pumped into the region, but at least a portion of it can be utilised. Promising people of Bundelkhand that he would highlight their problems in Parliament, Rahul said he has been speaking on all these issues and voicing concern over farmers' plight during his padyatra in other parts of the country as well. Touching on the major issue of migration from this region, Rahul said had the BJP government at the Centre and SP government in Uttar Pradesh earnestly implemented UPA government's MNREGS programme, the exodus could have been checked. Rahul also congratulated partymen "for standing alongside the farmers and labourers and fighting for them". Meanwhile, Rahul, on his arrival at the Khajuraho airport from Delhi en route to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, assured party leaders that he will soon tour the Bundelkhand region lying in Madhya Pradesh, according to MP Congress Secretary Nitin Chaturvedi. The party vice president tried to understand the situation prevailing in the region, he said. Party workers briefed Rahul on condition of dalits and tribals in Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur and Damoh districts. Chaturvedi also said that Rahul has asked them to send a report on the state of affairs in the region to him. Two students, who had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at a convocation function here, today said they took the step to ensure that no Dalit student faces the same fate as Hyderabad University's scholar Rohith Veluma. Ram Karan and Amrendra Kumar Arya, who were arrested and released later on personal bonds, said they had raised their voice to oppose the alleged atrocities on Dalits. "We are followers of Baba Saheb and students of Constitution and law... A Dalit student Rohith Vemula committed suicide in Hyderabad... Students should not die in this manner and that is why we raised slogans," Karan said. Arya said, "This voice will not die down... We took this step in order to ensure that in the times to come no Dalit student faces what Rohith had to face." "The same had happened with Baba Saheb 50 years ago and today it has again happened with Rohith... Be it Allahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University or BBAU, Dalit students are being harassed," he said. The two had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convocation address at Babasaheb Bhimrao Amebdakar University (BBAU) and urged him to do "justice" in the case relating to the suicide of Rohith Vemula of the Hyderabad University. Ram Karan alleged that after yesterday's incident, the university administration threw him out of the guest house even though he had deposited the rent for two days. Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on Sunday last. He was among five research scholars who were suspended by the university. RattanIndia Solar today said it has won 40 MW solar project in Maharashtra at a tariff of Rs 4.43 per kWh. "RattanIndia Solar, through its company Sepset Constructions Limited, a part of the RattanIndia group, has won solar project of 40 MW capacity at a tariff of Rs 4.43/kWh plus a viability gap funding of Rs 49 lakh/MW in reverse e-auction conducted by Solar Energy Corporation Limited (SECI) on January 22, 2016," the company said in a statement. Overall combined capacity of 450 MW was offered in this bid, it added. Under this bid, arranging land for the project was the responsibility of the bidder. "However, the acquisition of land has become extremely challenging in the wake of new land regulations for private players as well as government which resulted in limited participation of bidders," the statement said. RattanIndia shall develop this project on its land available in Katol industrial area near Nagpur city of Maharashtra where it is already operating 4 MW of solar power plants for last more than 5 years in part of the land, it added. "RattanIndia is fully committed to provide clean and green energy at most affordable cost. Having ready land bank of over 200 acres for this project is a huge positive for us. "This also differentiates us from other players who will start land acquisition now which in itself is a huge challenge," said RattanIndia Solar CEO Anjali Rattan Nashier. RattanIndia had recently won 70 MW of solar project in Rajasthan and with this project, the group's current solar portfolio has increased to more than 240 MW which is spread across the country. With this project, the group has bagged 110 MW solar projects in a span of just 4 days. RattanIndia was also the second lowest bidder for 900 MW of NTPC solar projects in Andhra Pradesh. The group will also be implementing 10 MW of grid connected solar rooftop projects on CPWD buildings in Delhi and West Bengal which includes important government buildings like Supreme Court and Krishi Bhawan, it added. Agitating students of Hyderabad Central University today termed as "insulting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks over suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula even as the student's distraught family rejected the Rs eight lakh ex-gratia relief offered by the institution. The students vowed to step up their stir and said the PM's "inaction" reflected his "political interests". The students also rejected an appeal by Minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha, who urged them to withdraw their agitation and assured them justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the sequence of events leading to suicide of Rohith. Giving a push to the agitation, Rohith's family rejected the ex-gratia amount and also criticised the NDA government for "delay" in its response in condoling his death. Rohit's mother Radhika, sister Neelima and brother Raju, who visited the restive campus, demanded that "those responsible for his death" be brought to book. "Not Rs eight lakh, we don't want even if you give Rs eight crore from HCU, where he died," Neelima said. Radhika said, "I want to know why he died. Those responsible should be punished...Why he was suspended." "Smriti Irani (Union HRD Minister)...She called up after five days. Why it took five days. You are also a woman...You are also a mother...It took five days (to call up the family and condole the death)," Neelima added. Rohith's body was found hanging in a hostel room on HCU campus on January 17. All the seven students, including a girl, who have been on a hunger strike on the issue, were today shifted from the hunger strike camp to the HCU's health centre after their health condition deteriorated, even as the agitating students tried to prevent the officials from taking them away. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is to visit Italy and France next week to boost economic ties, in his first European tour since a nuclear deal saw sanctions lifted against the Islamic republic. The visit had been planned for last November but was cancelled after the deadly jihadist attacks in Paris. The Monday-Wednesday tour takes place a week after Tehran's deal with world powers came into force, allowing the United States and the European Union to lift economic sanctions in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear activities. Iran will seek to restore its economic relations with Rome and Paris, which were among Tehran's main economic partners before the tightening of international sanctions in January 2012. Rouhani, heading a high-powered political and business delegation, is on Monday to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, before speaking at an economic forum. The moderate cleric is also to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican, in the first official visit of an Iranian president there since reformist leader Mohammad Khatami in 1999. Since 2012, trade between Iran and Italy has slumped from around USD 7.6 billion. But now sanctions have been lifted, Italian businessmen are eager to renew ties. Italy's Deputy Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda in November visited Tehran with representatives of 178 companies and 12 banking groups. After Italy, Rouhani will travel to France to meet French President Francois Hollande. In Iran's booming automobile sector, French carmakers Renault and Peugeot hope to regain some of their pre-sanctions 30 per cent share of the market. But they face competition from German, South Korean, Chinese and Japanese manufacturers. Iran manufactures more than 1.1 million vehicles a year but hopes to increase production to 1.6 million in 2016 and 3 million in the future, in collaboration with European and Asian carmakers. "We will discuss Peugeot during the visit," the Iranian foreign ministry said. The rate of car ownership in Iran is just 100 per 1,000 people -- six times less than in Europe -- and consumers have had limited access to new vehicles under Western sanctions. Renault has already negotiated a minority stake in Iranian auto manufacturer Pars Khodro, according to Iranian officials. An RTI activist was arrested in suburban Kandivali for allegedly extorting money from a person on the pretext of exposing him, police said today. Acting on a complaint filed by a contractor, the accused, Afzal Lakhani, was arrested yesterday near Kandivali railway station in northern suburb of the city, they said. The accused had allegedly asked the contractor to pay Rs 15,000 and threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to do so, a police official said. Lakhani told the complainant he knew that the latter had paid money to the civic body to get a contract. He then allegedly asked the contractor to give him Rs 15,000 or else he would ensure that his work is stopped, police said. Subsequently, the contractor lodged a complaint against the RTI activist. "We laid a trap yesterday and arrested the accused when he was accepting the money," the police official said. Lakhani had also allegedly taken money in a similar manner from various other people, police said. He has been booked under IPC sections 384 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation), they said adding that the matter was being probed further. In a sign of improving ties between the two erstwhile adversaries, Russia's military has said it will hold its first ever defence exercises with Pakistan later this year. Russian ground forces will hold seven international drills in 2016, including the first ever military exercises with Pakistan, Army Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov said. "As part of interaction with our foreign colleagues in 2016, we have scheduled seven joint exercises with the involvement of the relevant units of foreign states. The Army will hold the Russian-Vietnamese exercise and the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain," Salyukov said, TASS agency reported today. Also, joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held, he said. "Peace Mission - 2016, the joint drills of peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization codenamed Indestructible Brotherhood, the Frontier-2016 joint command and staff drills, the Indra-2016 Russian-Indian exercises and the Selenga-2016 Russian-Mongolian drills will be held," the commander said. Russia had lifted its embargo on arms exports to Pakistan in 2014 and also signed a bilateral defence agreement to strengthen military-to-military relations between the two Cold War-era foes. In 2015, the two countries signed a landmark deal for the sale of four Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan. Warring rivals in South Sudan missed a key deadline today to forge a unity government, with rebels rejecting President Salva Kiir's creation of new regional states as fighting continues. The rivals were supposed to form a government by January 22, but rebels say Kiir's nearly tripling of the number of regional states in December undermines a fundamental pillar of an August power-sharing deal to end two years of civil war. Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang criticised "anti-peace hardliners within the government" and said they would base negotiations on the old system of 10 states and not the current 28. Garang however said rebels are "fully committed to peace and shall not entertain a return to war." Key international backers -- the so-called Troika, made up of key donors Britain, Norway and United States, as well as the European Union -- this week said the talks were "deadlocked". Amid mounting frustration, they cut payment of hotel bills for rebel delegates in Juba. Civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken country along ethnic lines. Despite the August agreement fighting continues, with the conflict now involving multiple militia forces who pay little heed to paper peace deals and are driven by local agendas or revenge attacks. Heavy fighting was reported this week in the southwestern Western Equatoria region, including street battles in the state capital of Yambio on Thursday, close to border with Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers said. The clashes were between soldiers and a local militia known as the Arrow Boys, reportedly aligned with Machar's rebels. United Nations rights monitors this week added more details to a long list of horrific abuses in the more than two-year war. The report detailed "gross violations" of human rights including "gang-rape, sexual slavery and forced abortion", in a joint report by the UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said science and technology if not rightly used, can become a danger to society. "World over there is a concern for cyber crime. The importance of technology has increased so much for good governance and development," he said. To buttress his point, Singh drew a contrast between the youths working in IT giant Infosys and terror outfit al-Qaeda, saying while one was working in the interest of society, the other was for its destruction. "I read a write-up in The Guardian newspaper published from London which was on Infosys versus al-Qaeda," he said at a convocation function of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University here. "... While one can be termed as a creative talent for the human society, the other belonging to al-Qaeda is destructive talent...One is beneficial for society while the other is destructive," he said. The Union Minister said "it will have to be seen as to how the difference in thinking has emerged...Talent cannot be used in a proper manner for the betterment of society unless thinking is right and there is commitment for human values." He said while at one time big companies were only confined to countries like America, "today we are proud that we are not behind anyone. This is not all, even the heads of Google and Microsoft are of Indian origin." "We do not want to create terror in the hearts of people by becoming the 'super power' but want to become 'global guru' ...We do not want to dominate... India was global guru and would become one soon again," he added. (REOPENS DEL73) The Indian Medical Association (IMA) today wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and condemned the raising of alleged anti-India slogans at Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. The association demanded a fair probe into the matter and appealed to the government to take strict action against anybody found to be guilty in the case. "The Indian Medical Association of over 2.6 lakh members condemns the anti-national incident which took place at JNU recently. "We appeal to the government to take strict and necessary action against any persons or organisation or group engaging in anti-national protests, speeches, debates or writing," said Dr KK Aggarwal, the Secretary General, and Dr SS Agarwal, the National President of IMA. British scientists have developed an antibiotic from human breast milk that can combat certain drug-resistant bacteria known as superbugs. The breakthrough opens a new front in the fight against superbugs, a threat that Prime Minister David Cameron has warned could plunge modern medicine "back into the Dark Ages". According to a report in The Times,a panel set up by Cameron to tackle antibiotic-resistant bugs forecast that they would cost the world ten million lives and 700 billion pounds a year by 2050 if the problem went unchecked. At present the infections kill about 700,000 people each year, including at least 10,000 in the UK. Unlike most conventional antibiotics, the new drug attacks the basic biology of bacteria in a way that makes it almost impossible for them to evolve defences. Developed at the National Physical Laboratory in southwest London, the drug can tear bacteria apart within a fraction of a second. It could also be used to treat genetic diseases such as sickle-cell anaemia by rewriting a cell's DNA, its inventors said. Scientists rigged up part of the protein into an artificial virus that rapidly bursts bacteria while leaving human cells alone. The drug acts as a microscopic "projectile", killing infectious bugs such as E.Coli and Staphylococcus aureus at a rate comparable to established antibiotics. The findings were appeared in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal. The Yavatmal unit of Shiv Sena today distributed 600 sewing machines to widows of farmers who committed suicide, to mark the birth anniversary of its founder Balasaheb Thackeray. The machines were distributed to these widows by Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray. Maharashtra Transport Minister Divakar Raote said that the farm widows would be given auto rickshaws and the driving licences so that they would be able to earn their livelihood. MPs Bhavana Gawali, Anil Desai and other party leaders were present on the occasion. One of the seven students of Hyderabad Central University, sitting on an indefinite hunger strike for past four days following the alleged suicide by a Dalit research scholar, was today taken away from the protest camp to the varsity's health centre after she felt unwell. The health condition of the 26-year-old student, Vaikhari Aryat, is stable, doctors attending to her said. "We have requested them to give up the hunger strike (in view of the health condition). We have called the medical officer to check their health condition. She (Aryat) was feeling giddy and has been taken to our health centre for first-aid," a senior security official of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) said. When contacted, Dr C Gangadhar of the university's health centre said, "We are giving her IV fluids and her condition is stable now." Mild tension prevailed on the campus when she was being taken to the health centre. Earlier in the day, one of the fasting students, G Prabhakar, said they would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. "We want to continue (fast). Our demands are not yet fulfilled. They say (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death," he said. "(Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao, primary accused, dismiss from VC post. (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to university, arrest them. Without arresting, these (judicial commission, etc) don't give us confidence," Prabhakar said. Expressing concern over the health of the fasting students, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor of a team which examined them, earlier said, "They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. What we had seen on the very first day and what we see today, it is a rapid deterioration of the medical status. We find their blood pressures are highly fluctuating and their sugar levels unstable." "We feel that we need to intervene and medically give some support. We have to discuss with the boys and we will see the next course of action," he told reporters. (Reopens BOM11) About the health condition of the remaining six students, Kumar said the condition of three of them was deteriorating and immediate medical intervention was needed. When the security personnels of the university tried to take the agitating students to hospital, other students intervened and foiled the bid. Pointing out that the Centre has ordered a judicial inquiry into the suicide of a young Dalit scholar and the incident has been regretted by the Prime Minister himself, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today charged the opposition parties with indulging in "petty politics" over the issue. "Everybody is saddened by the suicide of Rohith Vemula. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself, publicly, expressed his grief over the tragedy. A judicial inquiry has been ordered and the probe is expected to be complete within three months. Further questions should not be raised until then. Though it appears that some of our opponents want to indulge in petty politics", Paswan told reporters here. Paswan, who holds the Food and Public Distribution portfolio and heads the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) - a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance - is on a three-day visit of the district during which he will take part in a number of social and political functions. Earlier in the day, local Congress workers protesting Rohith's suicide and the alleged role played by Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani had blocked the entrance gate of the Circuit House when Paswan's cavalcade arrived. The LJP worker was accompanied by scores of workers of his own party and the BJP who clashed with the Congress activists. Situation was brought under control only after the Union Minister stepped out of his vehicle and urged the agitated Congress workers to calm down, reminding them of the judicial inquiry and the expression of regret by the Prime Minister. Significantly, the LJP was earlier a constituent of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and Paswan held a cabinet berth in the Manmohan Singh during 2004-09. He lost his post after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections which saw him losing his own parliamentary seat of Hajipur in Bihar. In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Paswan had quit the UPA and joined the NDA, and with the help of the Modi wave succeeded in reviving his political fortunes. The Bihar assembly elections, nevertheless, came as a setback to his LJP as well as the BJP as arch-rivals Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad buried their differences to stitch an alliance which went on to gain a massive three-fourth majority. However, the BJP is likely to bank on the LJP chief's appeal among Dalits to form a politically viable social coalition in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls nearly a year later and where the saffron party faces a stiff challenge, despite strong anti-incumbency against the Samajwadi Party, from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. Terming as "insulting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks over suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, agitating students of Hyderabad Central University today vowed to step up their stir and said the PM's "inaction" reflected his "political interests". The students rejected an appeal by Minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha who, on a visit to the city, asked them to call off their agitation and assured them of justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the suicide of Rohith following his suspension by the varsity. Voicing "dissatisfaction" over remarks by Modi yesterday at a university in Lucknow, the Joint Action Council (JAC) spearheading the stir asked if the Prime Minister would now take action against his ministers. "It is highly insulting to have received a condolence statement from Prime Minister Narenda Modi. He has referred to Rohith Vemula as Bharat Mata's son. Joint Action Committee for Social Justice condemns in the strongest possible words, the appropriation of Rohith's politics," the JAC said in a statement. "Rohith Vemula and the other socially boycotted stood always against the Hindutva and Manuvadi politics which the BJP ministers proudly stand for," it said. "It is under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Police brutally lathicharged the protesting students, male police officers manhandled women students and detained them. His complicity and inaction on the entire episode of events that unfolded in University of Hyderabad clearly reflects his political interests," it alleged. The outfit asked if Modi will "take action on the BJP ministers for the injustice meted out to Rohith Vemula and the other socially boycotted research scholars". Modi yesterday expressed grief over Rohith's death saying he felt the pain. "...When there is that a youth of my country, Rohith, was forced to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through. Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, there will be politics (surrounding it) but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well," a visibly emotional Modi had said. Meanwhile, the hunger strike by seven students entered the fourth day today while their colleagues continued other forms of protests. G Prabhakar, one of the fasting students, said they would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. "We want to continue (fast). Our demands not yet fulfilled. They say (Prime Minister) Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death," he said. "(Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao, primary accused, dismiss from VC post. (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to university, arrest them. Without arresting, these (judicial commission, etc) don't give us confidence," Prabhakar said. The JAC said, "After killing Rohit, Appa Rao Podile has put these lives (of fasting students) in danger. JAC for Social Justice reiterates that students will intensify the ongoing struggle until all our five demands are met." The demands are removal of the Vice Chancellor, punishing those responsible for Rohith's death, dropping the alleged false cases against students and unconditional revocation of their suspension, giving employment to a member of Rohith's family and compensation of Rs 50 lakh to his kin. Kushwaha, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, said that based on the report of the judicial commission set up to look into the matter, the HRD ministry will take necessary steps. "From the ministry, a two-member fact-finding committee looked into the matter and gave its report. There were some shortcomings as per the report. Based on the report, a judicial commission was set up for further inquiry. The commission will do its work and give report in three months. Based on it, the ministry will take necessary steps," he said. On the demands of the agitating students for removal of the university's Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of case against four students, Kushwaha said, "University will look into that. There is no role of the ministry." When asked about their response to the government deciding to appoint a judicial commission and the university announcing compensation, Rohith's brother Raju said they will discuss the matter with the agitating students. Rohith's mother would come to the university and talk to the agitating students, he said. Expressing concern over the health of the fasting students, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor of a team which examined them, said, "They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. What we had seen on the very first day and what we see today, it is a rapid deterioration of the medical status. We find their blood pressures are highly fluctuating and their sugar levels unstable." "We feel that we need to intervene and medically give some support. We have to discuss with the boys and we will see the next course of action," he told reporters. (Reopens BOM9) Kushwaha said that the whole country was saddened following the alleged suicide of the Dalit research scholar. "Pura desh dukhi hua, jab ek Vishwavidyalay ke kisi chhatra ne atmahatya ki. Karan uska kya hain ye alag baat hain (the whole country was saddened when a student of a university committed suicide. The reasons (behind the death) is another thing)," Kushwaha said in his address at the inaugural ceremony of Navodaya National Integration Meet here. "Koi vyakti apne jivan me hi, jeene ki umeed chod de, isse badi koi vidambana aur dukh ka vishay nahi ho sakta (if a person loses the hope to live during his lifetime, there cannot be a bigger irony or cause of sadness than this)," the minister said. "We need such an India wherein no one talks of either killing oneself or killing anyone else. We need to build such an India. And oneday definitely such an India will be built," he said. Kushwaha also said that children have a bigger responsibility towards maintaining the cultural legacy. "Governments, society and all have accountability towards maintaining our cultural legacy, but children have a bigger responsibility in this regard," he noted. "This cultural legacy is our identity and it is our responsibility to preserve and work for its growth," he added. At least 29 civilians were killed in air strikes suspected to have been carried by Russian warplanes on a village in eastern Syria today, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven children and one woman were among the dead in the village of Khasham in Syria's oil-rich Deir Ezzor province. Controlled by the Islamic State jihadist group, Khasham lies just 20 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital, most of which is now held by IS. The Observatory said the death toll was likely to rise as "dozens" more people were wounded. The monitor relies on a network of activists on the ground and says it distinguishes between Syrian, Russian and US-led coalition aircraft based on flight patterns, as well as the type of planes and ordnance used. Yesterday, air strikes killed at least 44 civilians in Tabiyyah Jazeera, a village adjacent to Khasham. It was unclear if those raids were carried out by Russian or regime warplanes. But the latest strikes come as Syria's government pushes to retake territory captured by IS after a fierce offensive by the jihadist group on January 16. The multi-front assault on Deir Ezzor and subsequent fighting has left nearly 500 people dead, according to the Observatory. While IS holds most of the province, the regime has clung onto parts of the provincial capital, as well as the nearby military airport. The jihadist group has also tightened its siege of the roughly 200,000 people still living inside the city. Russia, a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assad's government, began an air campaign in support of Damascus in September. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here today for the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping amid tensions between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. Swaraj, who is here on a two-day visit, will also hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of a number of Arab League countries, including her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. She will also call on Bahrain's king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa later today during the trip, which her second visit to Bahrain as the External Affairs Minister. She last visited Bahrain for a bilateral meeting in 2014. The minister will attend an international air show here in which Tejas, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, is participating. It is the first time Tejas is participating in an international air show. The ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting in New Delhi in November 2014. India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. A number of wide-ranging issues from terrorism, security to tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are also expected to be discussed. The Saudi-Iran spat could come up for discussion in terms of regional stability even as Iran is not part of the Arab League. Saudi Arabia's announcement of the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr along with 46 others, garnered condemnation from Shiites across the region. Swaraj's visit here also assumes significance as the world is facing the challenge of terrorism with a spate of attacks like the one at the Pathankot air base earlier this month. Anti-terror cooperation is expected to be a key area of collaboration between India and the Arab League. Saudi Arabia recently launched a 34-member military coalition of Muslim countries to fight terror. Pakistan was included in the coalition but it has been wary of joining the group as Iran with which it has good relations is not part of the alliance. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. A memorandum of cooperation between India and the League of Arab States was signed in 2013. In line with the agreement, the first senior officials meeting was held in 2014 while the first ministerial meeting will take place tomorrow. The ministerial meeting will take place in alternate years and will be held alternatively in an Arab League country and India. In August last year, during her visit to Egypt where the Arab League is headquartered, Swaraj had met the grouping's Secretary General Nabil El Araby. The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today called on Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as they together watched India's indigenously-developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and Dhruv helicopters perform aerobatics at an international air show here. Swaraj, who is here for a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum tomorrow, was received at the Bahrain International airport by her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. In a break from tradition, the Bahraini King received her at the Sakhir Airbase where the Bahrain International Air show was underway. King Hamad and Swaraj then together watched India's Sarang Team with Dhruv helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas perform aerobatics. On the sidelines of the air show, Swaraj and the King discussed an entire gamut of bilateral ties. During their meeting, Swaraj recalled her visit to the country in 2014. Swaraj also visited the India pavilion at the air show where the scientists present gave the Minister a briefing on the Tejas LCA being showcased here. The Tejas flight, the first at an international air show, was hailed by officials present here as a "historic event". The India-Arab League ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting in New Delhi in November 2014. A number of wide-ranging issues from terrorism, security to tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are expected to be discussed. India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today left for Bahrain to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping amid tensions between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. During her two-day stay in Manama, Swaraj will also hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of a number of Arab League countries, including her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The India-Arab League ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting here in November 2014. A number of issues such as terrorism, regional security and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are expected to be discussed. Swaraj's visit also assumes significance as the world is facing the challenge of terrorism with a spate of attacks like the one at the Pathankot air base earlier this month. Anti-terror cooperation is expected to be a key area of collaboration between India and the Arab League. India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. A memorandum of cooperation between India and the League of Arab States was signed in 2013. In line with the agreement, the first senior officials meeting was held in 2014 while the first ministerial meeting will take place tomorrow. The ministerial meeting will take place in alternate years and will be held alternatively in an Arab League country and India. The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. Tajikistan's parliament today backed changing the constitution to allow the ex-Soviet country's long-serving president Emomali Rakhmon to run for office an infinite number of times. The 63-year-old president has led the impoverished Central Asian country since 1992. Today, the lower house backed amendments saying "Rakhmon can stand for president an unlimited number of times," said lawmaker Makhmadali Vatanzoda. "The lawmakers proposed including this new article in the country's constitution." The amendments now have to be approved by the constitutional court and put to a national referendum. Tajikistan last year awarded Rakhmon the title of "Leader of the Nation", reinforcing his burgeoning personality cult. "According to the Tajik constitution, a person can stand for president twice for 7-year terms. However this does not apply to the Leader of the Nation," argued Vatanzoda, one of the authors of the amendments. Rakhmon, a former collective farm boss, won a seven-year term in a one-sided election in 2013. He is eligible to serve another term after that following constitutional reforms. The next election will be in 2020. In 2003 he had overseen another hastily-arranged constitutional referendum which, through various technicalities, allowed him to keep the post until 2020. Tajik lawmakers also backed changing the constitution to allow candidates to stand for president from the age of 30, down from 35. Tajik analysts suggested this was to allow the president's 27-year-old son Rustam Emomali, who heads the government's anti-corruption agency, to potentially stand for president in 2020. Lawmakers in the majority-Muslim country also supported a ban on faith-based political parties, apparently targeting the moderate opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, which was last year shut down and declared "terrorist". Tajikistan's secular government has raised alarm over hundreds of its citizens going to join Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Tajikistan is the poorest of the five Central Asian countries that emerged from the Soviet Union, sharing borders with war-torn Afghanistan to its south and China to the east. After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was ravaged by a five-year civil war between pro-government forces and a coalition of democratic, regional and Islamist factions. It ended with a 1997 truce after 150,000 people died. The Modi government should initiate dialogue with the Congress on Indo-Pak ties and think "out-of- -the-box" to take the peace process forward, former BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni said here today. "We need to have dialogue with our neigbours. But before that, we need a Congress-BJP dialogue, dialogue within BJP and within the Sangh Pariwar. We must think out of the box..." he said. The political commentator was speaking at a session at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival. Stating that dialogue was the sole option to resolve bilateral ties with Pakistan, he said, "There is no military solution. India needs to resolve the Kashmir issue with an open mind and the solution should be mutually accepted by India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir as well." Kulkarni, who faced an ink attack by Shiv Sena workers for hosting former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Mumbai in October, said Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lahore recently should be welcomed. "I wholeheartedly support Prime Minister for visiting Pakistan, he brought a strong human touch (to the issue,)" Kulkarni said adding that the initiative would act as a goodwill gesture with Pakistan. Stating that terrorism was a common threat for both the neighbouring countries, he suggested that it was Pakistan which suffered more by terrorism. "We need to tackle the issue of terrorism which is a common threat for India and Pakistan. More Pakistani people have been killed in the last 10 to 12 years and most of them were Muslims killed by Muslim fundamentalists," he said. Suggesting a change in the school curriculum in Pakistan he said, "School curriculum in Pakistan spreads hatred against Hinduism and non Islamic faith," he said. He added that there was a new thinking inside Pakistan which is why there is desire there that India and Pakistan should cooperate in fight against terrorism. Thousands of protesters today gathered in Kuala Lumpur to denounce the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade alliance, demanding the government reject the accord in a parliamentary debate next week. The peaceful protest, involving various NGOs and opposition parties, saw scores of people wearing anti-TPP t-shirts and holding placards warning against the mammoth trade deal. While a few hundred gathered near the capital's Independence Square, around 3,000 others, mainly supporters of opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, marched to a nearby field to listen to speeches given by critics of the agreement. Prominent Malaysian opposition figure Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, told the crowd that the TPP will affect Malaysia's sovereignty and that "jobs will be reduced and prices of medicines will go up." "This (TPP) will only help the rich people. It will not help the poor people in Malaysia and I don't see any benefits for my family and I," said Mohammad Noor Ismail, a student who attended the protest. The TPP aims to create the world's biggest free-trade area including Canada, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, the United States, Japan and Australia. In October, 12 Pacific nations finally reached an agreement on the pact, a major diplomatic coup for Washington. Both China and the US are pushing their own free trade visions for the economically vibrant and populous region. China is pointedly excluded from the TPP, part of Washington's attempt to ramp up influence in the region with its "pivot" to Asia. The trade deal will be formally signed in New Zealand next month, officials in Wellington said Thursday. Following the signing, each country has two years to complete the ratification process before the trade accord takes effect. Critics in the countries involved have vowed to fight ratification, saying it threatens labour rights and environmental protection. The Malaysian government is widely expected to sign and ratify the deal according to reports. In October, it had hailed the Pacific Rim trade deal as a boost for commerce, saying it won key concessions in areas including its controversial system of business preferences for its ethnic Malay majority. Three persons, who allegedly looted a car from a youth at NH-8 by holding him hostage at gunpoint inside his car and later shot at him, have been arrested, police said today. The incident took place last night when the youth, Prashant Yadav (24), was driving his car and heading towards his office when a group of five men intercepted him near DLF Phase III in Gurgaon. They held a gun on him and forcefully took over his vehicle, said police. They drove towards Delhi and soon crossed the border. Yadav raised an alarm when he saw police officials at a picket which also diverted the attention of the car-jackers, following which Yadav managed to open a door and jump out of the car, they said. Fearing that they could get caught, one of the accused fired a round and the bullet hit Yadav's leg. Yadav still managed to raise an alarm and the policemen over the picket communicated that matter to the nearest police station in south Delhi, following which a hot chase began, police said. The accused were intercepted in Vasant Kunj area by a police team who managed to overpower three of them, while the other two escaped. The arrested accused have been identified as Pawan, Pravin and Puneet, all residents of Haryana's Jhajjar. Their associates have been identified and the police are searching for them, police said. Later in the day, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi congratulated the team by tweeting: ""Well done team DCP South for arresting a CAR JACKER at NH8 border picket at midnight & for rescuing the victim who was shot by the robbers. Three militants, including a 17-year-old who had joined Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) along with a 'deserter' cop, were arrested by security forces in separate operations in the Kashmir valley since last night. Two Harkatul Mujahideen militants were arrested by security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district, a police official said. He said Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi alias Umar and Aijaz Ahmad Gojri alias Chota Karimullah were arrested during an operation in the orchards at Sangrama area of the district. One pistol and one hand grenade were recovered from the possession of the arrested militants, he added. In another operation, Aquib Bashir, who had joined LeT along with a 'deserter' policeman and two others on January 15, was arrested from Khuadpora area of Shopian last night following a tip off, official said. He said one AK rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds were recovered from the possession of the arrested teenager. The arrest comes a day after Gazi Fayaz Ahmad Dar, another youth who had joined LeT along with the cop, was arrested from his house in Shopian. An AK assault rifle with a magazine and 90 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Dar's possession. Aquib and Dar were among four youth including a policeman who reportedly joined LeT group together on January 15 after the cop deserted the force and ran away with four AK assault rifles and some ammunition. The cop, Constable Shakoor Ahmad Parrey who was posted as Personal Security Officer (PSO) of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bijbehara, and another youth are still absconding and efforts are on to nab them, the official said. Three persons were seen moving suspiciously near an army cantonment in Sherpur today, after which Punjab Police and Army jointly launched a search operation to trace them. The pictures of the unidentified persons were picked up by CCTV cameras installed near the cantonment early this morning, police said. Though the picture of the trio was not clear, the footage showed one of them carrying a bagpack, police said. The police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Parmraj Singh Umranangal said police were informed about the sighting of the suspects. "Then we informed this incident to the Army and a search operation was launched to trace the suspects," he informed. The suspects were seen twice moving around suspiciously on the adjoining street of the cantonment, police said. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said the time has come for the Kashmiri Pandits living in various parts of the country to return to the Valley with dignity and honour. "I had maintained that they (Kashmiri Pandits) have to come back home. Nobody is going to call them and ask them to return ... Time has come when they must return home with honour and dignity and the people here are waiting for them," Abdullah said here. "We discussed it during my tenure as Chief Minister in 1996 and at that time, we tried every method to bring the community back," he said. Abdullah, meanwhile, welcomed the Centre's move to declassify the files related to Subash Chandra Bose. "It is a very good step. Now, the doubt, which the people have, will go away. Many fingers were raised on several leaders, who have passed away, accusing them of being responsible for his death. The files will bring forth what is right and what is wrong," he said. On the issue of the prolonged impasse over the government formation in the state, Abdullah said that the coalition partners PDP and BJP are the ones to take a final call on it. "As far as the government formation is concerned, I have already made it very clear that it is for the PDP and BJP to decide. They have got the mandate from the people. I think they should soon sit down and work it out quickly so that this impasse passes away," he said. On his meeting with the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti yesterday in Srinagar, he said that he went to offer his condolences to the bereaved family. "I met her. Her father was very kind to me when I came back from England after my treatment. He met me and had a wonderful time for half an hour. So, I also felt as a human being it was my duty to pay the courtesy call. "I convey my condolences on behalf of my family to her and other family members", he said. He said he did not discuss any political issue during his meeting with Mehbooba Mufti. "I only paid condolences and had no political discussion as it was not opportune to go for condolence and discuss politics, may be some other time I will go and meet her again and discuss politics," he said. On the alleged country wide crackdown on the ISIS sympathisers, he said that the "danger" has always been there and steps should be taken to curb the menace. "I think we should always be aware that the danger is always there that is why I always say that India and Pakistan must come together so that together we can fight this menace," he said. He said that terrorism was a global menace which has to be fought by countries jointly. "There are so many terrorist groups they have to be fought because what you saw in Peshawar first they attacked a school then the university (which) shows the signs of terrorism are very active," he said. "Let us hope that January 26 passes peacefully and the president of France, who is coming to India, has a very good visit and all the other matters are discussed," he said. He said that the threat from ISIS is a global one. "It is a world menace which has to be fought together with the other global partners," he said. He dismissed reports that Kashmir based militant outfits have declared allegiance to ISIS. Mocking speculations on an alliance between Congress and CPI(M) in the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, senior TMC leader Subrata Mukherjee today said the party is not bothered about it since they are confident of retaining power for another term. "We are not bothered about who is holding whose hand in forming alliance. Since we are confident of retaining power for another term and form the government after a landslide victory in the 2016 Assembly elections in the state, we take it as a non-issue," Mukherjee, the state Panchayat and Rural Development minister said. Talking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna after garlanding the portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birthday, Mukherjee dispelled speculations of a Congress-CPI(M) alliance and said most Congress workers at the grassroots level have already joined the TMC. "The constituents of this speculative alliance are actually in panic about their political existence in the state," he said. Going a step ahead, Mukherjee even said they were confident of getting more seats this time than what they won in 2011. "There may not be even any recognised opposition party after the 2016 Assembly polls in the state," he said. Amid talks of a possible tie-up between Congress and CPI(M), AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has called the state Congress leadership to Delhi for a meeting on February 1. Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra have sent out messages to the Congress from public meetings to join hands with the Left Front to oust the Trinamool Congress. A China-based travel agency said today an American university student recently detained by North Korea is being held over an unspecified incident at his hotel before he was scheduled to board a flight for Beijing. North Korea announced his detention on Friday in a state media report accusing Otto Warmbier of committing a "hostile act" orchestrated by the U.S. Gareth Johnson, the CEO of Young Pioneer Tours, confirmed via email Saturday that Warmbier had been staying at Pyongyang's Yanggakdo International Hotel and was not with other tourists when the incident occurred. The company statement said Warmbier was detained at the Pyongyang Airport on Jan. 2, but didn't explain what exactly happened at the hotel. The company said in its statement that an airport official told one of Young Pioneer's guides after Warmbier was detained that he had been taken to a hospital. The guide attempted to go back to see him, but was unable to as airport staff ushered her through immigration, the company said. The company later learned "there had been an incident," according to the statement. Warmbier is from Wyoming, Ohio, and was studying finance at the University of Virginia. The U.S. And South Korea have been pushing for tough sanctions against the North over its latest nuclear test on Jan. 6. North Korea has detained a few Americans, South Koreans and other foreigners in recent years, accusing them of anti-North activities in what analysts say are attempts to wrest outside concessions. Real estate Business tycoon- turned politician Donald Trump is leading among the Republican presidential candidates, with his nearest rival Ted Cruz trailing behind by 14%, a latest opinion poll said. Trump, 69, has support of 34% of the likely Republican primary voters against 20% for Cruz, 45. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is the only other Republican presidential aspirant to get pass the double digit support with 11%, Fox News said. Ben Carson came fourth with 8%. Trump was also leading the poll done earlier this month with 35% support, with Cruz at 20%. With Cruz being his nearest rival at the national level, Trump has launched a scathing attack on the Texas Senator over Twitter. "Is Cruz honest? He is in bed with Wall Street and is funded by Goldman Sachs/Citi, low interest loans. No legal disclosure and never sold off assets," Trump alleged. In another tweet, he questioned the citizenship of Cruz. "Cruz did not renounce his Canadian citizenship as a US Senator - only when he started to run for POTUS (President of the US). He could be Canadian Prime Minister," Trump said. Earlier in the day, Trump unveiled his latest campaign ad aimed at Cruz and focused on illegal immigration. "Ted Cruz is a total hypocrite and, until recently, a Canadian citizen who may not even have a legal right to run for President," Trump alleged. "He didn't disclose loans, pretending he's Robin Hood, when he's just another all talk, no action politician. Had I not brought up the subject of illegal immigration, an issue which Cruz is very weak on, nobody would even be talking about it. I will build a great wall, and Mexico will pay for it," Trump said. The ad will run on TV in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Trump continues to spend $2 million per week on advertising. Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid held an emergency cabinet meeting today, after authorities declared a nighttime curfew nationwide following the worst outbreak of social unrest since the 2011 revolution. Essid met his defence and interior ministers before the cabinet session, as journalists reported relative calm in towns rocked by clashes between protesters and police in recent days. "Security-wise, it has started to stabilise," interior ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told AFP, echoing Essid's comments yesterday that the situation had been brought "under control". Five years after the overthrow of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, street demonstrations against unemployment and poverty have again shaken the North African nation. In a televised address to the nation yesterday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed understanding for the frustrations vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. But he warned against "ill-intentioned hands" exploiting the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. Anger erupted over the death on January 16 of Ridha Yahyaoui, a 28-year-old unemployed man who was electrocuted when he climbed a power pole while protesting in the central town of Kasserine. The unrest spread around the country, including to Tunis where shops were burnt and looted in one suburb, prompting the interior ministry yesterday to impose a 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM (local time) curfew. Calm returned to Kasserine this morning after a day of clashes. In the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid - the cradle of the 2011 uprising - teenagers set fire to tyres but the situation was relatively calm, a journalist said. Authorities arrested 261 people over the unrest and 84 for violating the curfew yesterday, the interior ministry said. France yesterday pledged one billion euros (USD 1.1 billion) in development aid to Tunisia over the next five years, after Essid held talks with French President Francois Hollande. While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring uprisings, the authorities have failed to resolve the problems of social exclusion and regional inequalities. Tunisia also faces jihadist violence that has devastated its vital tourism industry. Amid the nationwide crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested two men from the state for suspected links with ISIS. The two men, arrested from Mumbai and Aurangabad, have been identified as Hussain Khan and Imran Pathan and handed over to NIA, police sources said today. Khan was arrested yesterday from Mazgaon in south Mumbai, while Pathan was arrested this morning from Aurangabad district, an ATS official said. "Both men were arrested by ATS and handed over to NIA," sources in the ATS said. Both were allegedly involved in recruiting people for ISIS, they said, refusing to divulge any further information in this regard. Meanwhile, Khan was today sent in three days' transit remand by NIA court. An ATS official said more such arrests were possible, adding that NIA will probe the case. Late Bal Thackeray may have given Uddhav Thackeray the 'remote control' of power but Uddhav has handed it over to me, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Saturday. "Now that (Shiv Sena president) Uddhav Thackeray has handed over the remote control (of power) to me, other (Sena) ministers should also understand this," Fadnavis said, in an apparent reference to some Shiv Sena ministers, criticising his style of functioning. Shiv Sena was founded by Bal Thackeray. Fadnavis was speaking at an event organised on the occasion of Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary on Saturday, where the state road transport corporation (MSRTC) unveiled 'Shivshahi' luxury bus service. This alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena) government will govern the state for the full five year term, irrespective of what some may say or think, Fadnavis said. Uddhav Thackeray lauded Maharashtra transport minister Diwakar Raote of Sena for introducing the 'Shivshahi' bus service. Amidst deepening political crisis in Nepal, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli to take concrete steps to resolve the political impasse. Blinken yesterday spoke to Prime Minister Oli over phone and discussed the political crisis in Nepal. "The Deputy Secretary urged Prime Minister Oli to represent the interests of all Nepalis and take concrete steps to resolve the political impasse, emphasizing the importance of all sides working toward a compromise and not taking unilateral steps," the State Department said in a statement. During the phone call, Blinken asked Nepali authorities to exercise restraint in responding to protests. He told Oli that the US stands ready to further partner with Nepal to ensure earthquake reconstruction efforts are efficient, transparent and inclusive, the State Department said. Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essentials due to blockade imposed on the southern border of the country as a result of the protests by Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin. Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians, demand demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. So far, more than 50 people have died in the agitation. The talks between the protesting Madhesi groups and the government have not yielded any results. A five-member Congressional delegation from the US, led by Indian-American Congressman from California Ami Bera, met Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan here. During their meeting held yesterday, the US Congressmen discussed business opportunities in Maharashtra, infrastructure projects in Mumbai, the problems of public transportation, terrorism and other issues with the Governor, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said. Welcoming the delegation to Maharashtra, the Governor appreciated the support extended by the Congressmen in building closer relations between India and the US and their support for rapidly transforming strategic partnership between the two countries. The Governor told the delegation that President Barack Obama's visit to India in January, 2015 had created a new milestone in the relations between the two countries, the spokesperson said. The delegation is visiting Mumbai under the United States Visitors to India Programme. Congressmen Derek Kilmer (Washington), Billy Long (Missouri), Juan Vargas (California) and Brendon Boyle (Pennsylvania) were part of the delegation. The US is not asking countries like India and Vietnam to take sides in the Asia Pacific region, but steps Beijing is taking in the disputed South China Sea are "self-isolating" and driving countries towards America, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said. "I've been to India, Vietnam recently. We want to have good relations with them and we are not asking people to take sides," Carter said in a panel discussion in Davos on World Economic Forum meeting yesterday. "I think their position is basically right, which is we want everybody to keep being able to do what they are doing. We don't want to have to pick sides. America doesn't want to have sides either," said the Defense Secretary. Carter, however, acknowledged that countries in the region are increasingly coming to the US. "We do know that people are coming to us increasingly. Why is that? It is because China is taking some steps that I think are self-isolating, driving people towards a result that none of us wants," he said, in reference to Chinese measures in the South China Sea. "I'm not one of those people who believes conflict between the United States and China is inevitable, it's certainly not desirable, I don't think it's likely," he said. He attributed the rise of China to the peace and stability in the region, which was ensured by the US. "China's rise is, by the way, not the only rise going on in Asia. India is a rising military power. Japan, if you have noticed, is a rising military power, and there are who are doing things. Vietnam, Philippines, and so forth," Carter said in response to a question. "The US point of view is the same one we've had long- standing, which is we welcome that. We've tried to create an environment there, and we were the pivotal factor in making this so, in which over seven decades essentially everybody could follow their own destiny towards prosperity," he said. And that includes China, he added. "We never tried to obstruct China's economic rise and the lifting of hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. We've welcomed that. Nor any of these other states we talked about," the Defense Secretary said. At the same time, he argued, the US does not want to ruin a good thing, which is a system of peace and stability there. "We are not dividing the region, we don't seek to ask people to take sides," he said. China is not the only one that's making claims that the US does not agree with, and they are not the only ones that are military outposts. "We oppose all of that. And for our part, we have said everybody, not just China but everybody who is doing that should stop and not militarize," he said. The US, he asserted, will keep on doing what it has always done - fly, sail and operate everywhere law permits in the South China Sea. He said the US is helping other countries that are all coming to US for assistance in maritime security. A leading bishop in the UK has said vicars should grow beards to engage with the Muslim community. The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, praised vicars in the east end of London, which has a largely Bangladeshi Muslim population, who grew facial hair. He indicated that the current fashion for beards helped the Church form links with local communities. Writing in the 'Church Times', he said the vicars in Tower Hamlets, east London "represented a new way to (connect with)the culture of the majority of their parishioners". The Bishop wrote: "Beards are no longer confined to those excoriated by their opponents as 'trendy lefties' and websitesoffer a gallery of suggestions for the modern male of all ages". "The clergy of Tower Hamlets are safe from episcopal censure, and their desire to reach out to the culture of the majority of their parishioners can only be applauded," he wrote. One of the priests complimented by the Bishop - the Rev Adam Atkinson, Vicar of St Peter's church in Bethnal Green - said he was encouraged to grow his beard as "an icebreaker". "It is an icebreaker - St Paul said 'I become all things to all men that by all possible means I might save some'. In our area there are three main groups, the poor, the 'cool' and the Muslims and beards cover at least two groups reasonably well," the priest said. "A Muslim friend said 'I will lend you a hat and you can join me on Friday (prayers). It was done in a jokey way but it was quite affirming. Noted writer Nayantara Sahgal, who has been protesting against the "rising intolerance" in the country, today said she is waiting for the day when the culture minister drapes naked statues at Khajuraho with a saree. "The way things are proceeding now under Hindutva, I am just waiting for the day when the culture minister puts sarees on the naked statues at Khajuraho because they are in a very dramatic sexual postures," Sahgal said at a session of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet (TSKLM). While talking about censorship, the 88-year-old, who has returned her Sahitya Akademi award in protest against "rising intolerance", said the space for dissent has vanished and dissenters are now being attacked with sticks, stones, black paint and even murder. "The silence of the government is its answer. Or it is busy defending the Hindutva ideology," she said adding that censorship by mob has taken over. "It is the mob which decides what is going to be censored with threats, guns and violence," Sahgal said. On the last Lok Sabha elections, she said the polls were fought on the model of development and not Hindutva. "He (Modi) never said we would turn it into a Hindu nation. This is now the government's policy...Those who agree with us have the duty to stand up before we are converted into something which we did not wish to have," the writer said. With the odd-even scheme meeting with a fair bit of "success", Transport Minister Gopal Rai today said that he was "more anxious" the night before the rolling out of the car-rationing plan than on the eve of the Delhi polls counting day. The 15-day car-rationing pilot plan had come into effect from January 1, and the minister claimed, he was sleepless on the night of December 31, but it was during this tense period that he came up with a strategy to help make the scheme a success. "When I called up my officers in the morning of December 31, they told me that they were on off today. When bureaucrats went on the mass leave against the government, I could not sleep that night and prepared a strategy throughout the night to make odd-even a success. "I was not so tense even the night before Delhi went to polls (counting day), as I was on December 31, a day before the odd-even was to be implemented," Rai told reporters here. The transport minister said, "That night (December 31), we prepared a strategy and decided to deploy AAP volunteers to assist the civil defence personnel in doing their assigned work. Finally, we successfully implement the scheme." The 15-day-long scheme was largely welcomed from all quarters and the AAP government claimed it was a fair "success". Delhi Assembly polls was held on February 7 last year and the counting of votes took place on February 10. AAP made a stunning comeback with a mega haul of 67 seats in a 70-member House. Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) officers had on December 31 gone on mass-leave against the AAP government's decision to suspend two senior officers of its Home Department for refusing to sign on a Cabinet decision file. To support the cause, IAS officers had gone on mass-leave till afternoon that day. He added that with an aim to make the first phase of scheme a success, we had to exempt bikes from the traffic- rationing scheme. Speaking in a lighter vein, Rai also said that during the scheme, there were "less instances of quarrel" between husbands and wives, as travelling time had reduced due to congestion-free roads. (Reopens DES 10) In the meeting, minister said that they reviewed the complaints of lack of coordination between traffic police, enforcement wing and civil defence volunteers at a local level. To deal with traffic congestion, government has also set up special monitoring team, to be headed by Special Commissioner Sandeep Goel, to do a proper monitoring of traffic signals across the national capital. He added that the decision was taken after government received several complaints against improper functioning of traffic signals which were causing traffic snarls on the capital's roads. Unlike the first phase, traffic congestion is being reported in various areas including Nehru Palace, ITO, Laxmi Nagar, Bhairav Sing-Marg, INA and some other parts of South Delhi during the second phase of odd-even scheme. Rai said that as per preliminary report, opening of schools and construction and repair works are causing traffic jams during the ongoing scheme. In view of this, government has directed PWD, DMRC and DJB to carry out their construction and repair works at night to avoid traffic jam. Few days before the second phase of the road-rationing plan, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that if the scheme tuns out to be successful, government may seriously consider implementing it for 15 days every month. In order to make meaningful progress in narrowing gender gap, leaders from across the world believe it requires abandoning set expectations from men and women and getting more men to commit to address this challenge. In a session on gender parity at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2016, government and business leaders agreed that addressing gender gap has to be a men's issue too. Separately, members of the World Economic Forum's Oil & Gas community released a 'Call to Action' for the industry to close the gender gap within the sector. This was endorsed by 22 global firms including two Indian companies Reliance Industries and Essar Group. The initiative aims to build on efforts already being undertaken at individual company levels to attract, develop and retain female staff, especially in technical and senior management roles and to remove barriers that may hinder or discourage women from rising through the ranks into leadership roles. "This is good for our people, good for our stakeholders, and good for our business," the declaration on 'Call to Action' said. Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg said, it is important to address gender expectations even when young, adding "men are expected to lead and women are expected to nurture". Jonas Prising, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ManpowerGroup, USA said, "To have women not participate when they do have the skills is sub-optimisation on a massive scale." A key step in achieving progress towards gender parity is to gather the data needed to get an accurate picture of the positions of men and women in the world today, experts said. "We need a good repository of data to know where we are with men and women in the world," Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the US said. On appointing a gender-equal Cabinet after becoming Prime Minister of Canada in November Justin Trudeau said he could not have achieved the balance if he and his party had not made concerted efforts in the years running up to the election to recruit women to run for parliament. Trudeau's priority for speeding up progress in achieving gender parity: Get men involved. "Men have to be a big part of this conversation," the prime minister said. Men, he concluded, "shouldn't be afraid of the word 'feminist' and men and women shouldn't be afraid of describing themselves as feminist. The five-day annual jamboree of the world's rich and powerful came to a close in this Alpine resort today, with leaders raising concerns about economic headwinds from China, geo-political risks arising from the refugee crisis in Europe and terror attacks in various parts of the world. With regard to India, the leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) exuded confidence that its growth story would continue and the country would consolidate its position as the 'bright spot' of the world. It will also become easier to do business in the world's fastest growing economy, they felt. However, one sore point for India was that a number of government and business leaders skipped this year's meet, which ended tonight with a musical and visual performance by cellist and composer Zoe Keating. Converging under the theme of 'Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution', the 46th edition of the WEF discussed a raft of issues, including those pertaining to economic uncertainties, geo-political worries, refugee problem and innovations ahead. Among global leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the Davos meet a miss, while North Korean delegation could not come after their invitation was revoked by WEF in the wake of the nuclear test by the country. From India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley led from the front and spoke in three public sessions, besides his various other bilateral meetings and closed-door sessions. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was on one official panel of a WEF session, while he is also believed to have had a number of meetings on the sidelines. India's central bank chief also participated in a sideline expert panel discussion of University of Chicago where he remains an 'on-leave' professor. Besides, Rajan was busy giving a number of TV interviews, including in the wake of the plunge in currency markets. The Indian business leaders who were on official public sessions of WEF included Chanda Kochhar, Anand Mahindra, Sunil Mittal, Vishal Sikka, N Chandrasekaran, Ratul Puri, Srinath Sridharan, T K Kurien, Tulsi Tanti and Malvinder Mohan Singh. By Martinne Geller DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bulgari is investing more than ever in China, aiming to tap in to the growing reluctance of Chinese shoppers to buy abroad due to security fears, stricter customs checks and a devaluation of its currency. The world's third-largest watch and jewelry brand, part of luxury goods powerhouse LVMH, plans to open two boutiques in mainland China this year, Bulgari's CEO said, on top of three last year. "If you see there is a potential swing with more mainland and less travel proportion, it's one more reason to speed up your mainland investments," Bulgari Chief Executive Jean-Christophe Babin told at the World Economic Forum in Davos. China's economy grew 6.9 percent last year, its slowest rate in 25 years, putting a damper on Chinese sales of everything from food to trips abroad. These foreign visits have often been a launch pad for purchases of luxury items, since they would avoid the hefty taxes levied in China. But Babin said some Chinese consumers have become nervous about traveling to Europe and other places, due to the November attacks in Paris, where 130 people were killed. "If we sell fewer watches to Chinese when they travel -- Paris obviously because people are a bit scared -- we see conversely a strong increase in our business in China mainland." The shift to domestic purchases is also being fueled by the devaluation of the Chinese currency, which makes it more expensive to buy abroad, as well as stepped-up checks by Chinese customs on purchases made abroad. Chinese tourists returning from overseas trips are becoming subject to stricter-than-ever customs controls on what they bring back, Babin said, adding that watches are subject to a 30 percent levy plus a penalty that is a multiple of that for anyone caught not declaring the purchase. "People are quite scared to buy a $10,000 watch in Hong Kong, Zurich or Tokyo and eventually have to pay twice as much as they originally paid," Babin said. Bulgari, with annual sales estimated between 1.5 and 2 billion euros, is No. 3 behind Richemont's Cartier and Tiffany. "More than ever it makes a lot of sense for Bulgari to invest in China," said Babin. Chinese consumers, whether shopping at home or abroad, make up more than 30 percent of sales of Swiss watches, and are notorious lovers of luxury goods in general. Babin declined to give specific sales figures for its divisions, which also include leather goods and hotels. (Editing by Alexander Smith) By Martinne Geller and Tom Miles DAVOS/GENEVA (Reuters) - A rare note of optimism at Davos this year comes from the trade ministers, who will gather on Saturday for the first time since the World Trade Organization (WTO) closed the lid on 14 years of increasingly toxic stalemate. About 30 governments will be represented, forming a potential coalition willing to forge new WTO deals and move on from deadlocked talks that grew from a meeting in Doha in 2001. The WTO's 162 members, meeting last month in Nairobi, agreed to disagree about the Doha round, effectively giving licence to any country that wants to get the ball rolling on new reforms. "That negotiation was an intense process, but the results provide an excellent base for future work," European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom wrote in an op-ed published by Politico this week. "It allows us to start reflecting on new issues for the future in a positive, forward-looking spirit." The Doha round originally aimed to bolster developing countries, but the economic rise of China, India and Brazil, and the deepening negotiating quagmire led to Washington and Brussels losing interest and all but giving up on meeting the demands of Beijing and New Delhi. None of the "BRIC" economies' trade ministers will take part in Saturday's meeting, which is to be hosted by Switzerland. In the end, the Doha round went out with a whimper rather than a bang, the WTO acknowledging "different views on how to address the negotiations". That admission turned the tables on India and others who hoped to veto any move away from Doha, and gave the advantage to the U.S.-led camp who favour new avenues of trade reform. "(Doha) may be a zombie, but the WTO negotiating arm, in its new dress, is alive and well," wrote Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute thinktank. After 14 years of being stuck, nobody is rushing back into grand negotiations, but there is scope for a subset of members to pursue smaller deals in areas that are not covered by the original 1995 WTO rulebook, diplomats say. Davos is a first chance to sound out such ideas. "Anybody who has an issue that they are seeking a solution for should start having conversations and testing ideas and reaching out to potential allies and beginning to understand the concerns of opponents," said U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke. "Those conversations will unfold for a period of several months, and then I think it will begin to become clear which conversations have the potential to be more formal." Ideas floated by the EU and others range from competition policy to investment rules, small businesses, fishing regulations, and beyond. "(What) I'd support wholeheartedly -- because of the nature of what we're dealing with on the continent, especially Kenya -- would be creation of a working group on digital commerce," said Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed. "Another one is the establishment of a global value chain partnership. It's something we've been discussing." Bringing talks to the WTO could reopen the risk of a veto by Doha die-hards, but trade experts say the alternative -- seeing all trading rules being written outside the WTO, in deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership -- might be even less palatable. (Writing by Tom Miles; editing by Anna Willard) By Tom Bergin LONDON (Reuters) - Google has agreed to pay 130 million pounds ($185 million) in back taxes to Britain, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers and campaigners who said the "derisory" figure smacked of a "sweetheart deal". Google, now part of Alphabet Inc, has been under pressure in recent years over its practice of channelling most profits from European clients through Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no tax on them. In 2013, the company faced a UK parliamentary inquiry after a investigation showed the firm employed hundreds of salespeople in Britain despite saying it did not conduct sales in the country, a key plank in its tax arrangements. Google said late on Friday the 130 million pounds would settle a probe by the British tax authority, which had challenged the company's low tax returns for the years since 2005. It said it had also agreed a basis on which tax in the future would be calculated. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift," a Google spokesman said in a statement. The deal comes as governments around the world seek to clamp down on multinational companies shifting profits overseas to reduce their tax bills. EU competition authorities have investigated arrangements used by Amazon and a unit of Fiat in Luxembourg, Apple in Ireland and Starbucks in the Netherlands, and may start new probes. British finance minister George Osborne welcomed the deal, saying on Twitter it reflected new rules that he had introduced, but others were less impressed. John McDonnell, finance spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said the tax authorities needed to explain how they had settled on the figure of 130 million pounds, which he described as relatively insignificant. "It looks to me ... that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been made, in fact one analysis has put the rate down to about 3 percent, which I think is derisory," he told BBC Radio on Saturday. "This looks like another sweetheart deal." Prems Sikka, professor of accounting at Essex University, agreed. He said that for a company that enjoyed UK turnover of around 24 billion pounds over the period and margins of 30 percent, the settlement represented an effective tax rate in the low single digits for Google. "This is a lousy number and we need to know more," he said. Richard Murphy, a tax expert who has advised the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on economic policy, said the deal was "a disaster" and that, based on the turnover and margins Google enjoyed, "They should have been paying 200 million pounds a year." Between 2005 and 2013, Google had UK turnover of 17 billion pounds and its main UK unit reported a tax charge of 52 million pounds, filings showed. In 2014, it had UK revenues of around 4 billion pounds, according to its annual report, but has not yet published its UK tax charge. ($1 = 0.7010 pounds) (Additional reporting by Steve Trousdale in San Francisco and Kate Holton in London; Editing by Dale Hudson) (Corrects spelling of Prem Sikka) By Tom Bergin LONDON (Reuters) - Google has agreed to pay 130 million pounds ($185 million) in back taxes to Britain, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers and campaigners who said the "derisory" figure smacked of a "sweetheart deal". Google, now part of Alphabet Inc, has been under pressure in recent years over its practice of channelling most profits from European clients through Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no tax on them. In 2013, the company faced a UK parliamentary inquiry after a investigation showed the firm employed hundreds of salespeople in Britain despite saying it did not conduct sales in the country, a key plank in its tax arrangements. Google said late on Friday the 130 million pounds would settle a probe by the British tax authority, which had challenged the company's low tax returns for the years since 2005. It said it had also agreed a basis on which tax in the future would be calculated. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift," a Google spokesman said in a statement. The deal comes as governments around the world seek to clamp down on multinational companies shifting profits overseas to reduce their tax bills. EU competition authorities have investigated arrangements used by Amazon and a unit of Fiat in Luxembourg, Apple in Ireland and Starbucks in the Netherlands, and may start new probes. British finance minister George Osborne welcomed the deal, saying on Twitter it reflected new rules that he had introduced, but others were less impressed. John McDonnell, finance spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said the tax authorities needed to explain how they had settled on the figure of 130 million pounds, which he described as relatively insignificant. "It looks to me ... that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been made, in fact one analysis has put the rate down to about 3 percent, which I think is derisory," he told BBC Radio on Saturday. "This looks like another sweetheart deal." Prem Sikka, professor of accounting at Essex University, agreed. He said that for a company that enjoyed UK turnover of around 24 billion pounds over the period and margins of 30 percent, the settlement represented an effective tax rate in the low single digits for Google. "This is a lousy number and we need to know more," he said. Richard Murphy, a tax expert who has advised the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on economic policy, said the deal was "a disaster" and that, based on the turnover and margins Google enjoyed, "They should have been paying 200 million pounds a year." Between 2005 and 2013, Google had UK turnover of 17 billion pounds and its main UK unit reported a tax charge of 52 million pounds, filings showed. In 2014, it had UK revenues of around 4 billion pounds, according to its annual report, but has not yet published its UK tax charge. ($1 = 0.7010 pounds) (Additional reporting by Steve Trousdale in San Francisco and Kate Holton in London; Editing by Dale Hudson) US regulators on Friday announced a new recall of about 5 million vehicles with potentially defective Takata Corp air bags, covering some automakers not previously affected by one of the biggest auto safety recalls in US history. The new action brings to 28 million the number of Takata air bag inflators recalled and increases the number of vehicles affected in the United States to as many as 24 million, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. Friday's move was prompted in part by the death of the driver of a Ford Motor Co Ranger pickup truck last month, as well as new tests conducted on suspected faulty air bags. Automakers affected for the first time include Volkswagen AG and its Audi unit, Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit and Saab. Other automakers taking part in the recall announced Friday include Ford, Honda Motor Co, Mazda Motor Corp and BMW AG. "This is a massive safety crisis," NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge told reporters. The December 22 death of a Georgia man in South Carolina was the 10th worldwide linked with Takata's air bag inflators, NHTSA said. It was the ninth in the United States and first to occur in a vehicle that was not made by Honda. The 5 million vehicles covered by the new recalls for inflators in driver-side air bags include about 1 million with inflators similar to those installed on the Ford Ranger, NHTSA said. Honda recalled vehicles around the world with the same inflators used in the Ford Ranger after the death of a pregnant woman in Malaysia in 2014, while Ford conducted a limited recall for some passenger side air bags. NHTSA said 1,900 US tests of those inflators have not resulted in any ruptures. Trowbridge said last month's death caused a reassessment that required "immediate action." About 4 million other vehicles will be recalled due to additional testing on Takata driver-side air bags, including vehicles from Honda and VW, NHTSA said. NHTSA in November said tens of millions of additional vehicles with inflators containing ammonium nitrate propellant will be recalled by 2018, unless Takata can prove that they are safe. Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business professor, said the expanding recall "sheds light on the risks of having a supplier be the source for so many cars across so many ." Because of the issue, NHTSA may need to impose testing standards for common components, Gordon said. Twelve major automakers have previously recalled more than 23 million Takata air bag inflators in more than 19 million vehicles in one of the largest and most complex safety recalls ever. NHTSA could not say how many vehicles recalled on Friday may have been covered by previous recalls, including many with potentially defective passenger-side air bags. Takata's inflators can explode with too much force and spray metal shrapnel into vehicle passenger compartments and are linked to more than 100 US injuries. In November, Takata agreed to pay a $70 million fine for safety violations and could face deferred penalties of up to $130 million under a NHTSA settlement. The embattled Japanese supplier faces ongoing US criminal investigation. NHTSA in December named a former Justice Department official as a monitor to help regulators oversee the massive recalls. The Ford Ranger air bag-related death was the first reported since the July crash of a 2001 Honda Accord coupe that killed a 13-year-old driver near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Viacom Inc said on Friday it cut the total pay of its 92-year-old Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone by 85% to $2 million last year in light of his "reduced responsibilities" and that it had raised the pay of Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. In a securities filing, the media company said the total compensation of Dauman rose to $54.2 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, up from $44.3 million in the previous period, driven by a contract renewal award. The company's shares fell 44% during the period. Viacom , whose networks include Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon, has faced ratings challenges, cord-cutting by cable TV consumers, and growing concerns about the health of Redstone, its founder, and his fitness to oversee the company. Even as the company was issuing its annual proxy filing, a California judge ruled on Friday that Redstone could be examined by a doctor hired by his ex-girlfriend in a dispute over his mental competency. Also, a recent lawsuit claims that Viacom and CBS Corp , where Redstone is also executive chairman, improperly paid millions for Redstone's services even though he was "incapacitated". Viacom's filing did not describe how Redstone's responsibilities had been reduced, and a company spokesman said on Friday that he did not have more details. Viacom had outlined some of the pay changes on January 20, but it had not said that Redstone's duties had been decreased or that Dauman would get a pay increase overall. Redstone's new role meant he was no longer eligible to receive a bonus, which was $10 million in the previous fiscal year, Viacom said. Redstone's annual salary rose to $2 million in fiscal 2015 from $1,935,577 the prior year. Viacom said in the filing that for fiscal 2015 the total pay of Chief Operating Officer Thomas Dooley fell to $29.4 million from $35 million in the prior year. Dooley's employment agreement is due to expire at the end of this year, which has raised questions about whether he will stay with the company. CEO Dauman's pay last year included a stock award worth $17 million tied to the renewal of his contract. Dauman's bonus was $14 million, down from $20 million the prior year, while Dooley's bonus was $11.2 million, down from $16 million in the prior year. Viacom said both executives had requested that their bonus payments be reduced so money could be shifted to increase incentive payments at the company's operating units. While Redstone controls a supermajority of the company's Class A voting shares through his holding company, National Amusements, his health situation and the company's high executive pay have led to questions about its corporate governance. As expected, Friday's filing included a shareholder proposal calling for the company to recapitalize itself so that all shares would have an equal vote. Viacom said it opposes the measure because its current capital structure protects it from disruptive activist challenges and that Redstone's holding company would vote against it, ensuring it cannot pass. Cairn India reported a steep 99 per cent drop in its third quarter net profit as it suffered double blow of falling oil prices and high taxes. Consolidated net profit of Rs 8.69 crore, or Rs 0.05 per share, in October-December was 99.3 per cent lower than Rs 1.349/64 crore, or Rs 7.20 per share, in the same period a year ago, the company said in a statement. Cairn received $34.5 per barrel price for the oil it produced from its flagship Rajasthan fields as compared to about $68 per barrel in the third quarter of previous fiscal. The rate in October-December was 21 per cent lower than the prevailing Brent price due to the discount to international rate that have been provided in the pricing formula approved by the government. Of this price, Cairn paid $9.6 per barrel in oil cess alone. Other statutory levies like royalty and profit petroleum were separate. Companies such as Cairn and ONGC have to pay Rs 4,500 per tonne cess on domestic crude oil produced. They have been demanding that the rate be made ad valorem so that it falls when oil prices dip. Cairn India said revenue fell 42 per cent to Rs 2,039.49 crore in October-December. The Mangala enhanced oil recovery (EOR) programme, which aims to boost output by injecting polymers in the field, has yielded 19,000 barrels per day of additional production. "To ensure timely investment decision in Rajasthan block and realise fair price for our crude, we have approached the High Court to expedite the PSC extension process and allow us to export the crude. The matters are subjudice," the statement said. The High Court has directed the parties to exchange the requisite information/documents and to communicate, in a time bound manner. "In an encouraging development, Government has also supported the industry's view on rationalising the Cess charges given prevailing low oil prices," it said. Cairn India's exploration and production licence for the Rajasthan block expires in 2019 and the company is seeking a 10 year extension. The government is considering its request for extension of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC). Chief executive Mayank Ashar said, "We maintain our strategic objective of generating healthy free cash flow which has been successfully guiding us through the constantly deteriorating oil pricing scenario. "Our unwavering commitment to improve cost efficiency continues to help us to navigate through the weak oil price situation and to generate free cash flow." He said the world's largest EOR project at Mangala field in Rajasthan is yielding results. "We continue to pursue pre-development activities for our growth projects to make them future ready for rapid development on oil prices rebound." SHARE Contributed The Bob Floyd Band will perform Saturday at Corpus Christis Vino Mio Social Club. Contributed The Bob Floyd Band will perform Saturday at Corpus Christis Vino Mio Social Club. By Jesse De Leon of the Caller-Times For true music lovers, the style or the genre of a particular song matters less than how much the tune in question convincingly rocks. The way a melody is constructed, the way the instruments play off each other and how the lyrics bring it all together either connect with the listener in some way or make no impression whatsoever. Luckily for the Bob Floyd Band, different genres and styles are not seen as limitations, but rather as preconceived divisions meant to be stretched and redefined. And that is what this Austin-based quartet will do when they take the stage Saturday at Corpus Christi's Vino Mio Social Club. Asked to describe his group's music in as few words as possible, Floyd calls it a "psychedelic progressive funk reggae rock blues jamming heavy loud raw bombastic blazing driving melodic harmonic rhythmic energetic dynamic hooky blend." While that may incorporate a potentially dizzying array of divergent styles, this adventurous group relies not only on its impressive instrumental abilities but also on its genuine love of music-making to deliver one memorable performance after another. In terms of what that sounds like, imagine a group that manages to meld the styles of such divergent musical acts as 311, Incubus, Bob Marley, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse and Radiohead with a splash of the Dave Matthews Band and Phish, along with a side of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. While it may seem all-over-the-road, the Bob Floyd Band extracts just enough musical ideas from these well-known bands but skillfully re-imagines them into a sound that manages to be fresh and familiar. In fact, their creativity has been sparked from absorbing so many influences that the group has recorded one EP and is hard at work on a full-length album they hope to release in the spring. But until then, the Bob Floyd Band is quite content to continue turning its penchant for musical diversity into its signature sound. IF YOU GO What: The Bob Floyd Band When: Saturday Where: Vino Mio Social Club, 4102 South Staples St. Information: 361-728-6445 Caller-Times file Lil Wayne will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the American Bank Center. SHARE SATURDAY THEATER: The Port Aransas Community Theatre presents the "Last of the Red Hot Lover" by Neil Simon at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2327 State Highway 361. Cost: $17. Information: 361-749-6036. PERFORMING ARTS: The Harbor Playhouse will have the first of its 2016 signature series with "[Title of Show]," a musical about four friends writing a musical, at 8 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Cost: tickets range from $10 to $50. Information: www.harborplayhouse.com, 361-888-7469. Sunday CONCERT: The Lil Wayne concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the American Bank Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. Information: ticketmaster.com, americanbankcenter.com. FUNDRAISER: There will be a benefit dessert auction after a potluck at 11:45 p.m. Sunday at the Ingleside United Methodist Church, 2572 Church St., Ingleside. Proceeds will benefit Wings of the Morning: Pilots who fly sick villagers from remote regions in the Congo to the nearest hospitals. Information: 361-776-2820. For more events check Caller.com/vivacc. When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas SHARE Robin Kennedy Where is local coverage of DFPS case? Last year the Corpus Christi Caller-Times published a wide-ranging Behind Broken Doors series about local domestic violence problems. I suggest the next chapter should address the Texas foster care system by publicizing recent major developments. In December 2014, a lawsuit filed against the state Department of Family and Protective Services by Children's Rights went to trial in federal court here in Nueces County to correct perceived inadequacies in the system. On Dec. 17 U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack issued a comprehensive 255-page ruling on the case, stating the "Texas foster care system is broken, and has been that way for decades. It is broken for all stakeholders, including DFPS employees who are tasked with impossible workloads. Most importantly, though, it is broken for Texas children, who almost uniformly leave state custody more damaged than when they entered." She spelled out specific plans for improvement. This court ruling was announced in Corpus Christi by a Corpus Christi judge and immediately picked up by all major Texas cities. A short wire article on the ruling was printed on Dec. 18 and nothing since. Predictably the state will appeal to a higher court rather than attempt to implement changes. This has also been reported statewide. The citizens of Corpus Christi need to understand the ruling and the state's objections like other Texans. | BY Lynchy | M&C Saatchi has issued a public apology for a burlesque routine at its 21st Birthday Party in Sydney on Thursday night. The following is a statement sent to CB this afternoon: In regards to the article in the Sydney Morning Herald today (23 January 2016), M&C Saatchi would like to issue a public apology. On Thursday night, we held a party for our 21st birthday. At no time was there a striptease performance. However, as there was a series of performances, the consideration that a burlesque routine may not have been appropriate in this context was overlooked. This has been a strong reminder to be more diligent about ensuring these sensitivities are always at the forefront. Throughout the evening there was a diverse repertoire of acts soul diva Deni Hines, dance duo Hip Hop boys, satirical performance artistes The Bag Ladies, drag trapeze acrobat Decoda Secret, top Sydney DJ Alex Taylor, acclaimed London DJ Norman Jay MBE and Miss Burlesque Australia 2012, Briana Bluebell. We are devastated this has caused offence and concern around this issue. This was not our intent. M&C Saatchi has made huge efforts to champion gender diversity within the Group. We have a diverse workforce and the professional development of all our staff, both men and women, is of paramount importance. We have four women on the leadership team, including our General Manager, and 50% of our department heads are female. Over the last year, over half our key senior hires have been female (52%) and 72% of our employee promotions were women. In 2014, 18% of our Creative hires were female and in 2015 this increased to 30% of hires. This does not excuse the mistake we made and we have learnt a very important lesson. We hope others have too. This is a critical issue and one that M&C Saatchi will continue to promote. We are committed to doing more to further continue this important conversation. During that time, former prime minister Tony Abbott called for religious leaders to describe Islam as a religion of peace "more often, and mean it", a police accountant was murdered in Sydney's west, anti-Islam rallies were held in multiple Australian cities, US presidential hopeful Donald Trump proposed to ban Muslim immigration to his country, the federal and NSW governments prepared stronger counter-terrorism laws and two terror attacks struck Paris. The sale was the third largest commercial property deal contracted in the ACT last year, behind the $225 million to be paid by a South Korean company for the Louisa Lawson Building in Tuggeranong, specially designed for the DHS in 2013, and the $75 million paid by a vendor believed to be the Melbourne-based Juilliard Group for the nearby 134 Reed Street, Greenway trio of DHS-leased buildings. Modified On Feb 08, 2016 05:59 PM By CarDekho for Renault KWID 2015-2019 Renault has come up with the 1-litre variant of Kwid with AMT Easy-R transmission, at the Auto Expo 2016. The new version launch will further help Renault to expand Kwids success in higher segments. The 800cc variant has already crossed over 85,000 bookings and has received appreciation for its value for money aspects. This 1-litre version is expected to be launched in mid-2016 with a price tag of around Rs. 4 lac. Check out the complete Expo coverage of Renault Kwid right here French carmaker is coming up with the much awaited 1-litre petrol engine variant of its Renault Kwid hatchback. Kwid owes its success to its competitive pricing, which appealed to the Indian customers. This new Kwid will be showcased at the upcoming Auto Expo. To add fuel to the speculations, the 1-litre version of Kwid has been spied testing in Brazil for the first time. If reports are to be believed then the souped-up Kwid is expected to be launched in India, sometime in mid-2016, although Renault has not made any confirmations as of yet. This more gruntier version is expected to have a power output of 77bhp and will probably revolutionize the budget car segment in the country. The French carmaker also plans to introduce automatic transmission variants for both 800cc and 1-litre models in the future, along with dual airbags, which will be a segment-first. According to the Brazilian media reports, the spied-model is similar to the India-spec variants with exception to the chrome fog lamp housings, sizes of the rear view mirrors and body colored bumpers. Even the interiors of the two models are somewhat similar but the local tastes will determine the color themes and seat fabrics to be used in the Indian model. In Brazil, Renault Kwid is estimated to be priced at around 30,000 Reals (approximately Rs. 5 lakhs). In September last year, the 800cc petrol version of the Renault Kwid was launched in India and within just two months of its launch, it managed to secure a place in the top ten best-selling models list for the month of December. In a price conscious market like India, Renault has managed to sell around 10,600 units and the demand is so high that in some cities customers are facing a waiting period of up to 10 months. Watch Showcase Video of Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT Also Read: Renault Kwid's 1.0-liter Variant Might Come With ABS Image Source: Carplace.uol.com.br Read More on : Renault KWID Modified On Jan 25, 2016 12:07 PM By Sumit The week started of with some great news about cars which are expected to be launched at the 2016 Auto Expo. Jeep will reveal Grand Cherokee at the automobile event. Maruti Suzuki announced its lineup for the Expo and also slashed prices for S-Cross. It also featured Vitara Brezza on its website. Ford launched its all-new Endeavour at Rs 24.7 lac (ex-showroom Mumbai). Tata appointed Mr. Guenter Butschek as its new CEO & MD after a long series of negotiations. Volkswagen revealed the speculated name for its compact sedan as Ameo. In retrospect, let us check out what happened big this week in the automobile world. Volkswagen Ameo is the Official Name of Company's Compact Sedan As we reported yesterday, Volkswagens Guess the name campaign has culminated today. The upcoming compact sedan has officially donned the moniker Ameo, staying true to the market rumors. Speaking of the campaign, one can say that it was misleading at best and that's putting it politely. The video of the campaign subtly implied that the participant were addressing the car with its official moniker, but the lip movements are farthest from the pronunciation of Ameo. This might have been a marketing move aimed at cultivating mystique, but seems rather deceitful and not a smart thing to do at this point, considering the German Automakers current controversial position. So, do not fret if you were put off by the video and couldn't guess the name right. Read More BMW 3-Series to be Showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo Facelift of the weekend racers favourite car is coming to the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. The German luxury automaker, BMW will showcase the facelift of its globally coveted 3-Series model at the upcoming Auto expo, which will be held in Greater noida from 5th to 9th of February. BMW has lined-up 3 cars for the 2016 IAE showcase and in addition to 3-Series, the German automaker will also bring its 7-series and soft offroader, X1. Read More 2016 Ford Endeavour Launched at Rs. 24.75 lacs Ford has launched their flagship SUV, the Endeavour in India at Rs. 24.75 lacs (ex-showroom Mumbai). The Endeavour was amongst the first few products Ford brought to the country and it still holds immense brand value and recall. While the Endeavour has had a series of facelifts since it first broke cover, this is an all new version based on a new platform. It will be competing against the likes of Chevrolet Trailblazer and Toyota Fortuner, Read More Jeep Grand Cherokee to be unveiled at Auto Expo 2016 Confirming its presence in India, American SUV brand Jeep made its official Indian website LIVE along with its other social media portals, in the second week of January. It is highly anticipated that the American carmaker will be showcasing/launching the Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee SRT and the Wrangler Unlimited at the upcoming Auto Expo 2016. Read More Maruti S-Cross Prices Dropped By Over Rs. 2 Lacs! After a lot of discounts and offers on S-Cross, Maruti has decided to reduce the price of their premium crossover by more than Rs 2 lac. This price drop is not a discount or an offer, rather it is a revision of the price and the top end DDiS 320 Alpha variant which used to cost Rs 13.74 lac (ex-showroom Delhi), now comes with a price tag of Rs 11.69 lac, which boils down to exactly Rs 2,05,000 less. The entire DDiS320 range has faced the same Rs 2.05 lac drop, whereas the DDiS200 faces a price drop of anywhere from Rs 40,000 to Rs 66,000. Read More Maruti Suzuki Announces Auto Expo 2016 Lineup The company has said that it is transforming. This time, pavilion will be built around the theme Transformotion', which according to Maruti is Transformation through Motion. It is Maruti Suzuki 2.0 now! 2.0 because, the company is all set to release new technologies and products to stir various segments, along with existing products and Nexa Experience. The company will showcase two new SUVs/crossovers which are Vitara Brezza and Ignis along with Baleno RS featuring 1.0-liter Boosterjet engine. Read More Volkswagen Polo GTI Might be Showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo In addition to the showcase of its highly anticipated compact sedan which was recently named Ameo, Volkswagen might also showcase its Polo GTI hot-hatch at the upcoming 2016 Indian Auto Expo, which will be held in Greater Noida region from 5th to 9th of February. Read More Maruti Suzuki Further Teases Vitara Brezza! Maruti has teased again their first-ever compact SUV, which is bound to be revealed at the upcoming Auto Expo. It is the much-awaited fend by Maruti to Ford EcoSport and it will also compete with the recent entrant in this segment, the Mahindra TUV300. Speaking of the prices, it is expected that Vitara Brezza will undercut Ford EcoSport! Maruti has revealed that it will be launched in a few weeks after its reveal at the Expo. Expect it to reach showrooms around March, 2016. Read More Ford Endeavour Variants - Know The Right One For You After a long wait, Ford has finally introduced the all new Endeavour, in the Indian market. Priced competitively at Rs 24.75 lacs (ex-showroom Mumbai), Ford has ticked all the right boxes for its success. There are 2 engines on offer in India, a 2.2 liter and a 3.2 liter. The former produces 157.8 Bhp @ 3200rpm with 385Nm torque @ 1600-2500rpm, while the latter produces 197.2Bhp @ 3000rpm with 470Nm of torque @ 1750-2500rpm. The car is offered in 2 variants, namely Trend & Titanium. Trend offers same features in both the engines, but the Titanium 3.2L possesses certain extra features over the 2.2L. Here is a comprehensive look at what each variant has to offers and which one is best suited for you. Read More Mighty Endeavour Takes on the King Fortuner Toyota Fortuner is the one name that resonates with power in India. It's a masculine looking machine which has ruled the segment with hardly any competition. Cars like Santa Fe have started gaining popularity in the Indian market and with the launch of Trailblazer, things are only getting tough for the Japanese hunk. Adding to the troubles of Toyota, Americans have launched another revenge for Pearl Harbour in the form of an all new Endeavour. This next-gen Endeavour now looks much beefier, more aggressive and comes full packed with features. It even breaths fire with a 3.2L TDCi Turbo Diesel. Have the Americans packed enough gunpowder in the Endeavour shell to displace King Fortuner? Let's find out. Read More Tata appoints Mr. Guenter Butschek as its new CEO & MD Former Airbus Chief Operating Officer Guenter Butschek is now Tatas Managing Director and Chief Executing Officer of local operations. Mr. Butschek will be now responsible for all operations of Tata Motors in India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa. Read More 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. Like it or not, the Testarossa is associated with Miami Vice and a decade that was far from the epitome of good taste. This doesnt make it a bad car in fact, it is one of the archetypal Ferraris and the last twelve-cylinder to have a mid-engined layout after Maranello switched to V12s placed at the front from the 550 onward. For those interested, a pristine example will soon go under the hammer. This Testarossa had just two owners throughout its lifetime, and the first one was none other than Luigi Della Grotta, the man who convinced Enzo Ferrari to sell his cars in Canada. After many failed attempts, his persistence paid off and Il Commendatore gave the green light. The supercar was ordered through Della Grottas own dealership and was retained as his personal car, participating in various events and shows with the Luigi Ferrari Club and, later on, the Club Ferrari Quebec. It was seen on display in his dealerships and, somehow, remained unregistered from the time it was purchased until its he passed away in 2012. Its current owner purchased it from Della Grottas estate. He then made sure it had an oil change, a new battery and fuel filter. He then turned it over to Monaco Prestige for a major service in March 2015. Its engine was removed and it had its timing belts, seals, valve-cover gaskets, O-rings, shocks and brakes replaced. Receipts from the services were kept and, for the first time ever, the car was registered for the road. However, it was driven for approximately 1,000km (600 miles) and the clock now shows just 4,900km (3,045 miles). Its estimated that this 1991 Testarossa will fetch anywhere between $200,000 and $250,000 when it will be auctioned in Arizona by RM Sothebys on January 28-29. It comes with its original books, took kit, jack and, of course, the aforementioned receipts. PHOTO GALLERY After last airing in October 2014 and all the trouble in BBC, many thought that the US version of Top Gear that airs on the History Channel had been cancelled. Following a series of tweets from presenter Rutledge Wood however, we now know that isnt the case. Wood and co-presenter Adam Ferrara posted up a series of tweets showing them and Tanner Foust on set in Cuba for a special episode. Cuba is known for the huge number of classic American cars in its streets. Prior to 1960, the vast majority of vehicles in Cuba were imported from the United States. Then the US imposed an embargo, effectively cutting off the small countrys ability to import new cars. Thus, to this day, pre-1960 American models are still very much alive, many of them in perfect condition thanks to meticulous care and restoration by their owners. The tweets from the Top Gear trio show that during their Cuban adventure, theyll be driving at least three of these cars. A release date for the new season hasnt been released yet, but itll likely kick off within the next six months. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: Contributed Local businesses are being challenged to unplug for three days, starting Monday. How much time do you spend connected to your smartphone, tablet or computer? Thats the question Interior Savings is posing while issuing the challenge. It's all part of Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week, Jan 23-30. Activities will promote the balance of technology with family and friends, creative pursuits, recreation and connection to nature. The purpose of the challenge is to get everyone, not just families, thinking and talking about the positive impacts that come from unplugging. Our communities are much stronger when we take the time to connect and interact in person," said Interior Savings CEO Kathy Conway. The credit union's own staff are encouraged to take part, but Conway cautions with a smile: Its not for the faint of heart. Heres the challenge: Monday, Jan 25 is Mobile Free Day. Can you put your mobile phone away for a whole day? Perhaps the toughest of the three-day challenge, Interior Savings is encouraging a day-long ban on what many consider to be as critical as food and water. Tuesday, Jan 26 is Facebook Free Day. Though normally posting on Facebook daily, Interior Savings has committed to a day of silence on their Facebook page, and is encouraging businesses to ignore their business and/or personal Facebook feeds for the day as well. Wednesday, Jan. 27 is Email Free Day. Wherever possible, Interior Savings is encouraging businesses to call or chat with their customers, clients, and co-workers face to face instead of emailing. If you're up for the challenge, use the hashtag #unplugandplay on social media. Note: Gordon Elliott founded Campion Marine along with Ross Jardine in 1974. Kelowna's Campion Boats has weathered a storm that's left it the only fibreglass boat manufacturer in Canada. Owner Brock Elliot chalks it up to good product and great staff. Sellers of luxury items were hit hard in the 2008 economic downturn, but now, a low loonie is making Campion's American competition much more expensive. This industry fell 80 per cent, and how many can survive an 80 per cent downturn? Elliot said Friday. But Campion did. Every other (boat builder) across Canada was wiped out. To keep the company afloat, Elliot had to lay off 135 people. It was a "gut-wrenching experience," he said. Campion shrunk from 185 employees to 42, but with recent favourable conditions, he's now back up to a staff of 64. The Canadian dollar is certainly in my favour, he said. In 2013, the Canadian dollar was more than the American dollar if you were looking at a boat and you were from the States, it would have cost you 50 per cent more than today. Campion still has competition in Cleveland, South Carolina and Florida, but meanwhile, the price of American boats has gone up. American shoppers are starting to come up here, he said, noting several recent visits from U.S. residents to view the company's product. The company sells boats in more than 30 countries. I have boats on the high seas for Suriname, Hong Kong, Belgium, said Elliot, but Canada is still his core market. Campion Boats has been in the Okanagan for 42 years. It was founded by Elliots father, Gordon. We are crazy about the boat business," said Elliot. Its been commitment. And family, my family, fights the fight. The commitment of my employees and staff to fight the fight. Campion also recently acquired Reinell and Bluewater Boats from Kal Kustom Enterprises. Dear BCSC and its employees; I write to inform you that your boss has made a terrible choice and unfortunately many of you will suffer for it. Certainly, some of you are just as guilty in the matter between BCSC and U-GO Brands, as the many offences committed during the prosecution's attempt to make a phoney case against U-GO were done with purpose and malice. You are all public servants, sworn to integrity, to uphold the rule of law, and serve the citizens of British Columbia. You have failed miserably. We went to you for help telling the truth the entire time. You helped us by entrapping us and destroying a legitimate company along with facilitating the loss of shareholders' money you are supposedly mandated to protect. We never committed fraud and would not be guilty of your only charge against us had you done your job when we went to you for help. Who thought a $9-million disgorgement fee or any disgorgement fee at all would be justice in this case? You ignore the real scammers and crime. What none of you realize is that it is not us who were really on trial. It was all of you, and you have all failed to act with any integrity whatsoever. Did you know your boss could have possibly settled all this with a phone call or meeting a long time ago? How long do you think an RCMP investigation can be squashed before it all blows up? Do you think you can really get away with destroying the lives of innocent people and not suffer the consequences? How much money has been spent to suppress us? Every time you send your surveillance teams after me, you give me more bullets to bring you all down with. Its to bad none of you have a conscience, or this could all have possibly been avoided. Christopher Burke and Peter Harris Photo: Thinkstock.com Police are offering advice for women after two groping incidents in North Vancouver. Trust your instincts and be aware of your surroundings. If at all possible, travel in pairs, especially if you are out walking late at night," said Insp. Jennifer Hyland. Please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police. RCMP believe the incidents may be related. A woman was grabbed from behind and groped while walking on Lonsdale Avenue in the early evening of Jan. 11. Seven days later (Jan. 18), another incident occurred at 2 a.m. when a man grabbed a woman's buttocks as she was walking on East 15th Street. In both cases, the man ran off after accosting the female, police say. Both times, the suspect was wearing a black hoodie. However, beyond that, descriptions are different. In one, he was described as being a Caucasian male in his 30s, six feet tall, of medium build and with dark hair. In the other, the male was described as being five feet eight inches tall, wearing light colored jeans, running shoes and a hoodie with a logo on the back. While police cannot confirm there is a link, investigators say they took place in the same general area. Anyone with information or who witnessed suspicious activity in the area is asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Photo: Contributed - Google Street View Another long-serving newspaper is stopping the presses for good. After 141 years, The Nanaimo Daily News will stop publishing next week. The newspaper on Vancouver Island made the announcement Friday on social media, thanking its advertisers and readers for their support on Facebook and Twitter. The paper, which publishes five times a week, will close on Jan. 29. Its website lists 10 staff members on its news team, including three reporters and a photographer. Black Press bought the paper from Glacier Media in December 2014. The media company also owns the Nanaimo News Bulletin, which publishes twice a week. On its website, Black Press says it is the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with operations in British Columbia and Alberta. It also has holdings in Washington, Hawaii, California and Ohio, and employs 3,500 people. Photo: Contributed One person is dead after a shooting in Port Coquitlam Friday, just after 9 p.m. Coquitlam RCMP were called to the 2100 block of Rindall Avenue after reports of shots fired. Once officers arrived, they found one person suffering from gunshot wounds, reported Sgt. Stephanie Ashton, media spokesperson. Despite the efforts of emergency medical staff the victim succumbed to their injuries. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has now taken custody of the investigation. Police believe the shooting is connected to criminal activity. RCMP are asking anyone with information relating to the case to contact the IHIT information line by calling 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at [email protected] For those who wish to remain anonymous, they can send a tip to the Solve Crime website or by phone at 1-800-222-8477. Photo: Google Maps Drive BC is reporting some B.C. highways are undergoing avalanche control Saturday. Highway 1 will be closed in both directions from four km east of Field to the B.C.-Alberta border because of avalanche control Saturday from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Highway 23 is now open to single lane, alternating traffic from Mica Village to Mica Dam (5.6 km). Highway 31 is closed in both directions 12 km north of Trout Lake to 8 km south of junction with Highway 23 (10.9 km) because of avalanche control, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Photo: Contributed - Facebook The winch rescue helicopter team from Vernon Search and Rescue was able to extract two cold snowmobilers from a deep gully in the Shuswap Saturday morning. The chopper team was requested by Shuswap Search and Rescue after the two men were finally located Friday evening after an all-day search but darkness made it too late for a rescue attempt. They are both stable but very cold and very tired, said Leigh Pearson, spokesperson for Vernon S&R. We had to wait until daylight to respond. Pearson said the two, who had been out in the snowy region for two days, were handed over to the BC Ambulance Service. The rescue took place west of Celista, in a popular snowmobiling area, said Pearson. It's one of these typical things for snowmobilers who get suckered into a gully and it gets steeper and steeper and then they can't get out, said Pearson. It's a common occurrence. Photo: Contributed - Flickr/RCMP Investigators are at the scene of a suspicious death in a Langley hotel, according to the RCMP. Officers were called to the hotel late Friday afternoon after a man was found dead in one of the rooms. The name of the hotel was not disclosed by the RCMP. Police determined the death was suspicious and as a result called in the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said Sgt. Stephanie Ashton. Investigators will remain on scene for several hours. Although police do not know of any motive at this stage, they are asking anyone with information to come forward and call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at [email protected] Photo: Contributed - RCMP UPDATE: 5:58 p.m. The owner of a Kamloops sushi restaurant says a fatal stabbing on his doorstep was a "nightmare." Hatsuki Sushi owner Sam Zhang says one woman and two men appeared to be drunk when they entered the restaurant late Friday afternoon. He says they left before placing an order, started arguing noisily outside and one of the men was stabbed. Zhang says the victim and the sobbing woman took refuge inside the restaurant, where employees tried to stop the bleeding. RCMP Cpl. Cheryl Bush says the 30-year-old victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later died. She says the suspect fled on foot and has not been located but the investigation is ongoing. Bush says the victim and the suspect were known to each other and the attack was not random. She has refused to release the suspect's name. "We're not releasing any further details," she says. "We have identified a suspect." Zhang says the restaurant was busy at the time and all his employees tried to help the victim. "It's really scary," he says. "It's just a nightmare." Kamloops RCMP are investigating a murder resulting from a serious assault in the city Friday afternoon. Police received a 911 call around 4:47 p.m. about a 30-year-old male who had suffered serious injuries after being attacked by another man near the 400 Block of Tranquille Road. The victim was transported to Royal Inland Hospital by BC Ambulance Services where he received medical treatment however he died later that night, said Staff Sgt. Edward Preto. The Kamloops RCMP Serious Crime Unit is investigating this homicide and are actively looking for the suspect, Preto said. This was not a random event and there was a connection between the victim and suspect. Police refused to release further information. Anyone with information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250 828 3000 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Photo: Contributed - transmountain.com First Nations representatives, environmental groups and others opposed to the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline project, protested outside National Energy Board (NEB) hearings in Burnaby Saturday. The demonstrators demanded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep his promise and scrap the flawed federal review process. "Prime Minister Trudeau needs to hear the voices of the British Columbians whose health and safety are threatened by this project the same people who he promised new hearings," said Peter McCartney, Wilderness Committee spokesperson. "Railroading this project through the process over the united opposition of this region will not be forgotten." "The project would bring over 400 tar sands tankers each year to BC's south coast, putting marine life and coastal communities at grave risk of a disastrous spill," said Sven Biggs, a spokesperson for ForestEthics. "These ships would carry enough oil to release 100 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year a larger climate impact than many countries." Indigenous voices from Coast Salish territories where communities could be affected by the proposed pipeline also spoke at the rally. "This current process is fundamentally flawed," said Carleen Thomas from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust Initiative. "It does not reflect the importance of Indigenous laws or obligations to protect the lands, air and waters. It does not allow the grassroots citizen an avenue to voice their concerns." It is in no way, shape or form a public process, when those who will be directly affected are left to stand outside the hearings," said Thomas. "How transparent and democratic is that?" VATICAN CITY Pope Francis will travel to the margins once again when he visits Mexico from Feb. 12 to 17. On the last day of his trip, he is scheduled to visit the city of Juarez, which sits next to the U.S. border, where will say Mass, visit prisoners and highlight the plight of migrants fleeing poverty and violence for a better life. This pope of the peripheries will echo what has long been a concern for the church in the United States: the need for a more compassionate approach to immigrants. In 2014 this was powerfully symbolized with a Mass celebrated by Boston Cardinal Sean OMalley and fellow bishops by the 30-foot border fence with Communion received by hands pushing through rusted iron slats. It is not clear whether Pope Francis will walk right up to the border fence, but bear in mind that when he visited the Holy Land he ordered his popemobile to stop so he could get out and pray at the imposing security wall that separates Israel from the West Bank. Francis makes his visit to Mexico next month at a crucial point during the U.S. presidential primaries, and his message on immigration is radically different from that of several candidates who hope to build a wall along the entirety of the border. When it comes to immigration, Francis wants to open doors rather than build barriers. And he is willing to put his words into action. His own parish of St. Peters Basilica is housing an Eritrean family (a mother with three children and two more joining her later) in a spacious Vatican-owned apartment. This follows his appeal during the Sept. 6 Angelus address, when he called on every parish and religious community in Europe to welcome a migrant family as a response to the growing refugee crisis. The old continent has been overwhelmed with more than 1 million new arrivals on its shores last year, according to United Nations figures. Yet while countries pledged to relocate 160,000 migrants, European Commission statistics show that so far just 272 have been moved. Devising a strategic, long-term response to the migrant crisis made up a key part of Francis traditional address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See (the Vatican has diplomatic relations with 180 countries). While he wants coordinated action, the Latin American pope, whose grandparents migrated from Italy, did show a keen understanding of the pressures host countries are under. Francis stressed that new migrants had a responsibility to respect the values, traditions and laws of their new home, while recognizing the fears brought about by migration regarding security, further exacerbated by the growing threat of international terrorism. Those comments show that when it comes to devising public policy in this area, the situation is anything but black and white. What is crystal clear in the popes mind, however, is the need to tell the world about Gods mercy. His new book, The Name of God Is Mercy, and written with respected Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli, reiterates this central theme of Francis pontificate. At one point he calls for the church to do more to welcome gay and divorced people. He candidly shares how his niece had to wait a long time for her husband, who was divorced, to receive an annulment. Such questions will come to the fore once again when the pope issues his response to the Synod on the Family, which concluded last October. That final summary text of that meeting did not close the door on Communion for some divorced and remarried Catholics. The popes document on the synod is likely to be issued in the early part of the year. It is expected that he too will not close off options when it comes to the divorced and remarried, and it is predicted that he will seek to give greater autonomy to local churches in this area. The next 12 months will see Francis reform of the Roman Curia start to take shape with two new departments: one for Laity, Family, Life (already announced by the pope), and the other focused on Justice, Peace and Migration. Vatican communications are also being overhauled following a review by Lord Chris Patten, former chairman of the BBC Trust. He proposed a more unified, coordinated structure that allows the church to be heard in the digital world. This would bring together what is a very fragmented group of media services. These services are spread across nine offices: the Pontifical Council for Social Communications; the Vatican press office; the Vatican Internet office; Vatican Radio; the Vatican television production studio, CTV; the Vatican newspaper LOsservatore Romano; the Vatican printing press; the Vatican photograph service and the Vatican publishing house, Library Editrice Vaticana. So far a new communications secretariat has been set up, and just before Christmas Greg Burke, an American and former Fox News Rome correspondent who had been working at the Secretariat of State, was named deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. His appointment will be a bonus for English-speaking journalists covering the church. Lord Patten has, however, been frustrated with the slow progress of change. He said in Rome last month that the reforms of the media had been described to him as peeling an onion, and therefore will take time. If you take too long peeling an onion, he added, you cry. Francis has, of course, had no trouble managing his own media profile and is likely to continue giving interviews when and wherever he sees fit. And, despite professing not to be an expert computer user, he is open to the digital world. He has described the Internet as a gift from God, and this month was due to meet in the Vatican with Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google. While the Holy Sees media strategy might seem fairly complex, a much simpler task for the pope is the creation of new cardinals, the men who will elect his successor. A consistory is expected this year with June and November seen as the most likely times. So far, Francis has appointed 31 cardinals who are under 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave. Currently there are 117 voting cardinals, which is three shy of the limit of 120 established by Pope Paul VI. More vacancies will open up as cardinals turn 80, and the ceiling of 120 can be exceeded, as it has been in the past (by John Paul II, for example). But so far there has yet to be a prelate from the United States made cardinal under this pope. Whether Francis has surprises in store for any American bishops is anyones guess. Lamb is the Vatican correspondent for the Tablet of London. He will appear monthly in the Catholic New World. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... CDC has developed interim guidelines for health care providers in the United States caring for pregnant women during a Zika virus outbreak. These guidelines include recommendations for pregnant women considering travel to an area with Zika virus transmission and recommendations for screening, testing, and management of pregnant returning travelers. Updates on areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission are available online (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/). Health care providers should ask all pregnant women about recent travel. Pregnant women with a history of travel to an area with Zika virus transmission and who report two or more symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease (acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis) during or within 2 weeks of travel, or who have ultrasound findings of fetal microcephaly or intracranial calcifications, should be tested for Zika virus infection in consultation with their state or local health department. Testing is not indicated for women without a travel history to an area with Zika virus transmission. In pregnant women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection, serial ultrasound examination should be considered to monitor fetal growth and anatomy and referral to a maternal-fetal medicine or infectious disease specialist with expertise in pregnancy management is recommended. There is no specific antiviral treatment for Zika virus; supportive care is recommended. Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (1,2). These vectors also transmit dengue and chikungunya virus and are found throughout much of the Americas, including parts of the United States. An estimated 80% of persons infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic (2,3). Symptomatic disease is generally mild and characterized by acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or nonpurulent conjunctivitis. Symptoms usually last from several days to 1 week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, and fatalities are rare. Guillain-Barre syndrome has been reported in patients following suspected Zika virus infection (46). Pregnant women can be infected with Zika virus in any trimester (4,7,8). The incidence of Zika virus infection in pregnant women is not currently known, and data on pregnant women infected with Zika virus are limited. No evidence exists to suggest that pregnant women are more susceptible to Zika virus infection or experience more severe disease during pregnancy. Maternal-fetal transmission of Zika virus has been documented throughout pregnancy (4,7,8). Although Zika virus RNA has been detected in the pathologic specimens of fetal losses (4), it is not known if Zika virus caused the fetal losses. Zika virus infections have been confirmed in infants with microcephaly (4), and in the current outbreak in Brazil, a marked increase in the number of infants born with microcephaly has been reported (9). However, it is not known how many of the microcephaly cases are associated with Zika virus infection. Studies are under way to investigate the association of Zika virus infection and microcephaly, including the role of other contributory factors (e.g., prior or concurrent infection with other organisms, nutrition, and environment). The full spectrum of outcomes that might be associated with Zika virus infections during pregnancy is unknown and requires further investigation. Recommendations for Pregnant Women Considering Travel to an Area of Zika Virus Transmission Because there is neither a vaccine nor prophylactic medications available to prevent Zika virus infection, CDC recommends that all pregnant women consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing (10). If a pregnant woman travels to an area with Zika virus transmission, she should be advised to strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites (11,12). Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite both indoors and outdoors, mostly during the daytime; therefore, it is important to ensure protection from mosquitoes throughout the entire day (13). Mosquito prevention strategies include wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)registered insect repellents, using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, and staying and sleeping in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms. When used as directed on the product label, insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, and IR3535 are safe for pregnant women (14,15). Further guidelines for using insect repellents are available online (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites) (11,15). Recommendations for Pregnant Women with History of Travel to an Area of Zika Virus Transmission Health care providers should ask all pregnant women about recent travel. Women who traveled to an area with ongoing Zika virus transmission during pregnancy should be evaluated for Zika virus infection and tested in accordance with CDC Interim Guidance (Figure). Because of the similar geographic distribution and clinical presentation of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya virus infection, patients with symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease should also be evaluated for dengue and chikungunya virus infection, in accordance with existing guidelines (16,17). Zika virus testing of maternal serum includes reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for symptomatic patients with onset of symptoms within the previous week. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and neutralizing antibody testing should be performed on specimens collected 4 days after onset of symptoms. Cross-reaction with related flaviviruses (e.g., dengue or yellow fever) is common with antibody testing, and thus it might be difficult to distinguish Zika virus infection from other flavivirus infections. Consultation with state or local health departments might be necessary to assist with interpretation of results (18). Testing of asymptomatic pregnant women is not recommended in the absence of fetal microcephaly or intracranial calcifications. Zika virus RT-PCR testing can be performed on amniotic fluid (7,9). Currently, it is unknown how sensitive or specific this test is for congenital infection. Also, it is unknown if a positive result is predictive of a subsequent fetal abnormality, and if so, what proportion of infants born after infection will have abnormalities. Amniocentesis is associated with an overall 0.1% risk of pregnancy loss when performed at less than 24 weeks of gestation (19). Amniocentesis performed 15 weeks of gestation is associated with lower rates of complications than those performed at earlier gestational ages, and early amniocentesis (14 weeks of gestation) is not recommended (20). Health care providers should discuss the risks and benefits of amniocentesis with their patients. A positive RT-PCR result on amniotic fluid would be suggestive of intrauterine infection and potentially useful to pregnant women and their health care providers (20). For a live birth with evidence of maternal or fetal Zika virus infection, the following tests are recommended: histopathologic examination of the placenta and umbilical cord; testing of frozen placental tissue and cord tissue for Zika virus RNA; and testing of cord serum for Zika and dengue virus IgM and neutralizing antibodies. CDC is developing guidelines for infants infected by Zika virus. If a pregnancy results in a fetal loss in a woman with history of travel to an area of Zika virus transmission with symptoms consistent with Zika virus disease during or within 2 weeks of travel or findings of fetal microcephaly, Zika virus RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining should be performed on fetal tissues, including umbilical cord and placenta. There is no commercially available test for Zika virus. Testing for Zika virus infection is performed at CDC and several state health departments. Health care providers should contact their state or local health department to facilitate testing and for assistance with interpreting results (4). How to Treat Pregnant Women with Diagnoses of Zika Virus Disease No specific antiviral treatment is available for Zika virus disease. Treatment is generally supportive and can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics (4). Fever should be treated with acetaminophen (21). Although aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not typically used in pregnancy, these medications should specifically be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk for hemorrhage (4,9,17). In a pregnant woman with laboratory evidence of Zika virus in serum or amniotic fluid, serial ultrasounds should be considered to monitor fetal anatomy and growth every 34 weeks. Referral to a maternal-fetal medicine or infectious disease specialist with expertise in pregnancy management is recommended. Corresponding author: Denise Jamieson, djj0@cdc.gov, 770-488-6377. 1Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC; 2Arboviral Diseases Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC; 3Office of the Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC. FIGURE. Interim guidance: testing algorithm*,, for a pregnant woman with history of travel to an area with Zika virus transmission, with or without clinical illness** consistent with Zika virus disease *Availability of Zika virus testing is limited; consult your state or local health department to facilitate testing. Tests include Zika virus reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Zika virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) and neutralizing antibodies on serum specimens. Given the overlap of symptoms and endemic areas with other viral illnesses, evaluate for possible dengue or chikungunya virus infection. Laboratory evidence of maternal Zika virus infection: 1) Zika virus RNA detected by RT-PCR in any clinical specimen; or 2) positive Zika virus IgM with confirmatory neutralizing antibody titers that are =4-fold higher than dengue virus neutralizing antibody titers in serum. Testing would be considered inconclusive if Zika virus neutralizing antibody titers are <4-fold higher than dengue virus neutralizing antibody titers. Amniocentesis is not recommended until after 15 weeks of gestation. Amniotic fluid should be tested for Zika virus RNA by RT-PCR. Updates on areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission are available online (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/). ** Clinical illness is consistent with Zika virus disease if two or more symptoms (acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis) are present. Suggested citation for this article: Petersen EE, Staples JE, Meaney-Delman, D, et al. Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:3033. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6502e1external icon. 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. Before he was charged with killing his former girlfriend, a McHenry County man repeatedly denied having any clue as to how her skeletal remains wound up inside two garbage bags that were hidden under a blue tarp in a securely sealed room of his home, according to newly released transcripts from police interviews. Police say the woman's remains were hidden inside William Ross' home along Country Club Road near McHenry for at least two years before they were found in November 2013. Advertisement At the time of the gruesome discovery, Ross was living in a motel in Las Vegas, officials said. His McHenry home along the Fox River had been closed up since the summer of 2012, and since then he had been traveling the country visiting family and friends, he told authorities. Ross, 64, is being held in McHenry County Jail on a $5 million bond awaiting trial in connection with the slaying of Jacqueline Schaefer. She was fatally shot, according to the indictment against Ross. Advertisement During the police interview in Las Vegas, Ross said he had last seen Schaefer in the fall of 2011, when she told him she was moving to Missouri. Months later, Ross sealed up his home and headed west. Police questioned why he had screwed shut windows and doors in his home; he responded that he didn't want anyone to come in and steal his belongings. He also told police that he asked a female friend who lived nearby to keep an eye on his house but never to enter it. During the interrogation, police told Ross that the woman had disobeyed his instructions and had gone inside his house. There, she noticed a bedroom door had been nailed shut, with its frame caulked and the wood trim replaced and painted, police said. Inside that room, what one officer described as a "sarcophagus," the woman found the gruesome human remains, overrun with maggots and flies, and called police. Ross, a retired salesman and engineer who had earned a master's degree from Northwestern University, insisted that he had no idea how the woman's remains got there. He said the only reason he sealed up that bedroom door so securely was to protect his "valuables" and "memorabilia" from being stolen. When shown photographs of the remains, he said, "I have no idea who did this." Advertisement He said he had not seen or heard from Schaefer since she supposedly left for Missouri. Ross' attorney, Henry Sugden, sought this month to have Ross' statements to police stricken from the record from his upcoming trial. Sugden argued that Ross, a chronic alcohol user, was too sick and shaky from alcohol withdrawal to understand his Miranda rights and that police talked over him after he had asked for a lawyer. A judge denied that request, and police told Ross they had other evidence against him. They said his fingerprints were all over the garbage bags and blue tarp that covered the woman's remains, according to the transcripts. They said they also found a receipt showing Ross had recently bought caulk. They insisted he had killed the woman and tried to hide her in that room, which Ross repeatedly denied. Sugden maintains his client's innocence and says the state has some challenges to overcome. He said no weapon or bullets had been found. He also said there is no way of knowing whether the woman was killed after Ross moved away. Sugden dismissed the fact that Ross' DNA and fingerprints were present, saying that only proved that Ross had lived there. Sugden said he intends to seek to suppress additional evidence as Ross' trial date, set for June, gets closer. Advertisement Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter. Program tonight in Valpo to examine climate change What Are Scientists Doing to Understand the Effects of Climate Change on the Region? That will be the topic of the Jan. 25 meeting of the Valparaiso Chain of Lakes Watershed Group. Joy Marburger, adjunct professor at Purdue University North Central, will be the featured speaker. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso. Advertisement Scientists from the United States Geological Survey, the United States Forest Service and from many Midwestern universities are currently assessing the effects of climate change in our immediate region. Some of these effects, according to Marburger, are a higher average temperature and erratic weather patterns. She would like to see Northwest Indiana residents become more aware of the impact of climate change globally and locally. From 2002 to 2015 Marburger was the research Coordinator for the Great Lakes Research and Education Center at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. She also has served as an environmental scientist in Florida, a wetland plant ecologist in Illinois and a biology teacher in the Peace Corps. Her talk is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a Q & A session at Greek's Pizza, one block east of the County Building. Advertisement VU nursing program renews accreditation The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Valparaiso University has renewed accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The accreditation is effective for 10 years, extending to Dec. 31, 2025. For nearly 50 years, the College of Nursing and Health Professions has established itself as an integral part of the University, offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in nursing. In fall 2008, Valpo's College of Nursing and Health Professions became the first college in Indiana to offer the DNP program, which provides students with a practice-based alternative to research centered doctoral programs. Valpo's baccalaureate, master's, and DNP program are all accredited by the CCNE. The CCNE was established in 1998 and serves as a specialized accrediting agency to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE accreditation is a self-regulatory process promoting continued self-assessment and growth by nursing programs. The CCNE board of commissioners found that Valpo's DNP program met all of its accreditation standards, including those related to institutional commitment, resources, curriculum, teaching-learning practices, and program outcomes. But you know what? Cruz doesn't care. He has no reason to care. That's because of a curious artifact known as the Electoral College. The fact that a major candidate is happy to write off so many Americans is just one more piece of evidence that this system is a bad way to elect a president and that both parties should be working to abolish it. Joseph Medill in 1855, when he left Cleveland and formed a partnership to buy the struggling Tribune. Medill, who was born in St. John, New Brunswick, and grew up in rural Ohio, would spend the rest of his life building the foundations of one of America's major newspapers. (Col. Robert R. McCormick Researc / Photo courtesy Col. Robert R. Mc) Long before critics started demanding Rahm Emanuel's resignation for not reforming the Police Department, another Chicago mayor did just that then quit. Joseph Medill occupied the office for scarcely 20 months and, in truth, was an accidental mayor and a reluctant one at that. Advertisement The accident was the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871. Less than a month before that year's municipal elections, four-fifths of the city burned and 350,000 were made homeless. Stunned, Chicago's civic leaders realized that the city's survival depended upon setting aside the political squabbling for which it was famed. So they formed an ad hoc "Citizens Fire-Proof" party and asked Medill to head its nonpartisan ticket. He was a logical choice. As editor of the Chicago Tribune, he saw its building consumed by the flames. Yet on Oct. 11 he managed to print a paper carrying a front-page editorial, beginning with the stirring words: "In the midst of a calamity without parallel in the world's history, looking upon the ashes of thirty years' accumulations, the people of this once beautiful city have resolved that CHICAGO SHALL RISE AGAIN." Advertisement The Tribune building at Dearborn and Madison streets was among those destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The newspapers publisher, Joseph Medill, would be elected mayor soon after as the candidate of the Citizens Fire-Proof party. (Chicago Tribune) Still, Medill initially declined to run. In a letter to a son-in-law, he explained that "the powers of the mayor were so restricted that he did not amount to much more than a figurehead." But his suitors kept up the pressure, and Medill relented, while driving a hard bargain. He would run if they would sponsor a bill in the Illinois legislature amending Chicago's charter by putting some teeth in the mayor's prerogatives. Should the bill fail, Medill warned, "I would feel at liberty to resign the office and slip down and out." Eventually he did "slip down and out," but not before changing the whole game of Chicago politics. Historians credit Medill with creating the mayor's office as we know it. Before him, mayors greeted visiting dignitaries and cut ribbons. The aldermen called the shots. But seizing on the powers handed him by the legislature a veto over City Council actions, authority to hire and fire city officials Medill set the stage for the strong-willed, occasionally strong-arming, mayors to come: Anton Cermak and Edward Kelly, co-founders of the Chicago Machine; the two Daleys; Jane Byrne; Harold Washington; and Rahm Emanuel. It wasn't easy. Although Medill got three times the votes of his Democratic opponent in the November election, Democrats won seven of the 20 aldermanic seats, enough to ensure that the City Council wasn't going to roll over and play dead. For his part, Medill took a thinly veiled swipe at the Democrats In his inaugural address: "When the municipal rulers of a city are sober, upright and honest men, and discharge their duties with integrity and dignity, they set an irresistible example for good before their fellow-citizens which powerfully quickens and promotes common honesty and fair dealing among all classes." The implication was clear: I and my friends are honest; you and yours are crooks. The city's population was then roughly half immigrants, and half patricians like Medill, who told a Senate committee that workers "squander the greater part of their wages in drink and tobacco." Medill denounced the spoils system, by which aldermen considered jobs and contracts as theirs to hand out. With the city's finances nearly exhausted, belt-tightening was in order, the mayor insisted. "The services of hundreds of persons now on the pay-rolls can be dispensed with." Those different perspectives set up a prequel to the Council Wars of the Washington era in the 1980s. After the Chicago Fire, aldermen and real estate developers wanted to house the homeless in the same kind of frame buildings that had burned. In his inaugural address, Medill prophesied: "If we rebuild the city with this dangerous material, we have a moral certainty, at no distant day, of a recurrence of the catastrophe." Medill won that battle, vetoing council ordinances allowing some frame construction, a victory consolidated by a new fire code that prohibited any new wooden structures in Chicago. The city limits of Medill's day are still to be seen along streets where brick-and-stone structures give way to wooden buildings. Advertisement Joseph Medill, shown in 1880, accomplished a major shift in the citys power structure while mayor but was not much enamored with holding political office. (Chicago Tribune) Extracting the police and fire departments from the spoils system was tougher going. Aldermen were shocked when the corporation counsel, at Medill's bidding, ruled that they no longer could hire the cops. Wasn't that the way things were always done? For their part, council members challenged Medill's assertion that he had the authority to revoke saloon licenses. The neighborhood saloon was many a ward heeler's headquarters, a place to press the flesh and distribute largesse. The two issues collided when Medill replaced the get-along-go-along police chief with a reform-minded cop who wasn't even a Chicagoan. Worse, the new chief ordered taverns to close at 11 p.m. The police board, an Old Guard stronghold, fired the police chief for "negligence of duty." In reality, it was for doing his duty, and Medill responded by firing two members of the police board. But when he nominated replacements, the remaining board members boycotted a meeting to confirm them, while the fired members showed up. Under the headline "When Will It End?" the Tribune reported the resulting circus as if it were a fashion show: "It is true that the ex-commissioners were present, Mr. Reno in a striped overcoat and Mr. Klokko in a silk hat, which well became his classic cast of features." In fact, the end was nigh for Medill's mayoralty. The culture wars were taking a toll on Medill, a teetotaler trying to govern a city of corner taverns. When immigrant groups organized a People's Party to oppose him a mayor's term then was two years he decided not to give them the opportunity. In August 1873, he informed the council he "would be absent from the city for an unspecified period of time." He went off on an extended European vacation, and the aldermen appointed an "acting mayor," who served the rest of Medill's term. His reforms largely survived, though, and Medill returned to his earlier loves, journalism and political kibitzing. As editor of the Tribune, he offered advice to President William McKinley, as he previously had to President Abraham Lincoln. But asked to run for the U.S. Senate, Medill declined, indicating he'd learned a lesson during his brief time in Chicago's City Hall. He expressed it in true patrician style: "Politics and office seeking are pretty good things to let alone for a man who has intellect and individuality." Advertisement rgrossman@tribpub.com A lot of progress has been made toward making railroad cars transporting hazardous materials safer. But there is a lot more to be done. Advertisement That was the basic message at a roundtable meeting Friday morning at Aurora's Central Fire Station downtown featuring U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois; U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville; and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner. Also participating were Aurora fire Chief John Lehman, Oswego Fire District Chief Michael Veseling and Joe Jones, Aurora's emergency management director. Weisner, a crusader among suburban Chicago mayors for railroad car safety, praised Durbin and Foster for their work in Congress. He said Durbin "has been on our side every day" since rail safety became more of an issue and said Foster has done "great work" as well in the U.S. House. Advertisement The issue has moved to the front-burner locally during the past few years, since the Canadian National Railroad bought the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern railroad tracks and right of way and increased the amount of railroad traffic in the city. It has affected everything, from the disruption of traffic and emergency vehicles on the crossings, to the question of the safety of railroad cars carrying hazardous materials through communities along the way, area officials have said. Durbin pointed out that five years ago, there was little crude oil hauled by the country's railroads. Today, there are more than 1.1 billion barrels a day moved by rail, with more expected. Much of that originates or moves through the Midwest, officials said. "Nowhere are cities more in danger than our cities in northern Illinois," Foster said. Two major pieces of legislation have helped the situation recently, officials at the meeting said. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act which is the first comprehensive transportation bill passed by Congress in about 10 years includes several items to improve safety of railroad tank cars. It includes a study on crude oil volatility, requires new and retrofitted tank cars to be equipped with thermal blankets, requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue regulations regarding better information to first responders on oil spills, and closes loopholes in regulations that allow shippers to keep using older-model tank cars. The other bill, the 2016 Omnibus spending bill, contains some safety measures but also funding for rail safety grants and highway-railroad grade crossings. In addition, Durbin has co-sponsored two bills that would phase out old, weaker tank cars in two years, rather than three years, and that establish a $175-a-car fee on crude and ethanol shipped in those old cars to be used for training first responders, for cleanup in the event there is an accident, for hiring additional inspectors, and for rail-line relocation. Durbin said there is no doubt that rail safety is a bigger issue than it has been, and he pointed out that the Federal Railroad Administration, during the 2015 fiscal year, collected $15 million in fines for about 6,500 violations, both records. He said a lot of that is because the "message from both sides of the aisle" in Congress had put more pressure on regulatory agencies to monitor violations. He said he knows government regulation gets a bad name and said it sometimes deserves that "in the extreme." But he said this is a case where regulation has been needed. Advertisement "It's one of the few things we can turn to to enforce safety," he said. Lehman pointed out that at the meeting, they were sitting less than 300 feet from where trains come through downtown Aurora throughout the day. At that moment, several trains roared by. Durbin, who grew up in a railroad family and even worked on the railroad himself at one time, pointed out that one train was carrying oil in one direction, and the other was carrying coal in another direction. Lehman said that in 2014 a little under 50,000 tank cars came through town; by last year, that number increased to 120,000 tank cars. "We see these through here on a daily basis," he said. Veseling said the immediate impact in the case of an accident near Aurora or Oswego would be "disastrous" and the long-term result "could be catastrophic." He said first responders still have trouble getting information from the railroads during an accident and said fire departments have to get more foam and coordinate how it would become available in the case of an explosion and fire. Advertisement "Some of your efforts have been phenomenal," Veseling told Durbin and Foster, "but there is still some work to do." slord@tribpub.com Stoga was not in her New York office last week and unavailable to speak. But in a letter she sent recently to Leverence, she insisted the tour laid out by Lehman "is going to be overwhelming for (America) and for you," and that the dog "will pick up on your stress and will not really have time to decompress before she is led into another presentation." A Wheeling man was charged with driving under the influence Jan. 19 after he allegedly drove his Range Rover into the door of BG Liquor in Buffalo Grove. (Buffalo Grove Police Department) A Wheeling man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol this week, after police say he drove an SUV through the window of an area liquor store. According to a Buffalo Grove police report, Ramakanth Gentela, 40, of the 1600 block of Woodduck Lane in Wheeling, drove a Land Rover on Tuesday to BG Liquor, 223 W. Dundee Road. Advertisement "He was attempting to park his vehicle and accidentally accelerated, causing his Land Rover to crash into a sign (belonging to the business) and then crash into the glass entrance doors, causing severe damage," an officer wrote in the police report. Police photos of the scene show the car hit and bent BG Liquor's double front glass doors, but did not break through them. According to the police report, firefighters examined the brick walls on both sides and declared the building sound for continued operation, but recommended that the owner board up his now open-air store. Advertisement The Land Rover suffered heavy front-end damage and was leaking fluid, the report said. "I could immediately smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath," the reporting officer wrote in the report. Gentela had a blood-alcohol content of 0.135, police said. The legal limit for driving is 0.08. A clerk answering the phone at BG Liquor said he was not at the store when the accident happened. The store owner did not return a call seeking comment. Reached by phone Friday, Gentela declined to comment. He is due to appear in a Waukegan court room Feb. 10, police said. rwachter@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @RonnieAtPioneer Some Illinois American Water customers could spend an additional $300 a year or more on their bills if its proposed rate increase is approved. The utility, which serves about 1.2 million people statewide, filed a request Thursday with the Illinois Commerce Commission to increase rates starting in January 2017. Advertisement Customers in the Chicago metro area who get lake water and sewer service from Illinois American Water would see a water price increase of $3.62 per month. The company has also proposed an increase in wastewater collection rates of $8.06 per month, which would go up $22.85 per month if their wastewater is also treated by the utility. Customers in the Chicago metro area who get their well water and sewer service from Illinois American Water would see their water rates increase by $5.64 per month. The company has requested a wastewater collection increase of $8.06 per month. If their wastewater is also treated by the utility, then the increase would be $22.85 more per month. Advertisement Officials from Illinois American Water said the increase is necessary to complete millions of dollars in water and sewer infrastructure upgrades. According to the utility, Illinois American Water will have invested about $342 million statewide in infrastructure from October 2013 through December 2017. The investments include $76 million locally replacing and installing fire hydrants, valves, meters and manholes, as well as improving more than 23 miles of water mains and more than 24 miles of sewer mains. Upgrades to treatment plants and wastewater pump stations are also among the improvements, according to the company. Michael Smyth, vice president of operations for Illinois American Water, said that while raising rates is unpopular, it is critical to ensure safe drinking water and reliable wastewater services. Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich, whose village is served by Illinois American Water, said the rate request is "ridiculous." "We would like to sit down with the ICC and give them our side of the story," Yukich said. "Water should never be in the hands of a company that is for-profit. It's a rotten shame this is happening." Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Yukich said it's not uncommon for Homer Glen homeowners to spend $200 or more monthly for water. To save money, residents don't always flush their toilets after use or turn some toilets in their homes off, Yukich said. Residents have stopped watering lawns, and those who do water in the summer or add water to their pools face bills in excess of $700 monthly, he said. Homer Glen is one of five communities in the Northern Will County Water Agency that is hoping to take over the water transmission line though an eminent domain lawsuit in hopes of providing cheaper water for its residents. That litigation is ongoing. Advertisement Jim Chilsen, a spokesman for the Citizens Utility Board, said the rate hike proposal is "tough news for Illinois American consumers." "It always raises questions when a profitable company asks for a rate hike," he said. "At first glance, this seems punishable. Illinois American Water will have to justify every penny." Chilsen said the board plans to read over the proposal and consult with other consumer advocate organizations during the 11-month review process. Illinois American Water's last base rate increase was approved by the ICC in September 2012. Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. From left: Alvaro Ruiz, 28, of Waukegan; Ramon Corona, 23, of Waukegan; and Hector Arroyo, 36, of Waukegan. (Gurnee Police Department) Three men are facing gun charges after a shootout erupted in a busy Gurnee intersection Thursday afternoon, police said. All three men charged were in the same vehicle. The shooter from a second vehicle was not charged because he had a concealed carry permit, police said. Advertisement William Meyer, deputy chief of the Gurnee Police Department, said both vehicles were traveling west on Washington Street when "the guns came out" at Greenleaf Street shortly after 1 p.m. "It's hard to say exactly what happened. No one really wanted to say," Meyer said. Advertisement Nobody else was in the vehicles, according to Meyer, who said "there doesn't appear to be any connection" between the gunmen on either side of the shootout. Police only recovered two guns, but Meyer said all three men were charged with the same crimes because they were involved in the same shooting, even if they had different roles. Hector C. Arroyo, 36, Alvaro Ruiz, 28, and Ramon Corona, 23, all of Waukegan, have been charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon as a felon, unlawful use of a weapon as a gang member, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no FOID, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no concealed carry license, and mob action, police said. According to Lake County Court records, all three men have lengthy criminal records that include at least one felony conviction. Bond was set at $250,000 for Arroyo, $350,000 for Ruiz and $150,000 for Corona. Meyer said police consulted with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and a decision was made not to charge the driver of the other vehicle. The intersection was closed for two hours after the shooting, and multiple shell casings were found in the intersection. Meyer said the shooting was called into police by an Illinois secretary of state police officer who heard the shots. Gurnee police stopped one vehicle, and Waukegan police pulled over the other vehicle. Advertisement Meyer said it was fortunate nobody was injured. "It was definitely very dangerous," he said. fabderholden@tribpub.com Twitter @abderholden Two candidates deemed ineligible to run for the DuPage County Circuit Court seat of retired Judge John Elsner plan to appeal the DuPage Election Commission's decision to toss out their nominating petitions. Naperville attorney Tom Laz, a Republican, and West Chicago attorney Jennifer Shilakis Wiesner, a Democrat, said they will file their appeals by Monday's deadline in order to secure spots on the ballot for the 18th Judicial Circuit opening. Advertisement Matthew Pike, of Lombard, objected to the petitions filed by Laz, questioning the validity of the signatures on Laz's petitions. After a review by the commission's attorney, six pages of signatures collected by Laz and his brother, Dave, were thrown out by the commission for a "pattern of fraud," which took Laz below the minimum threshold of 540 signatures to remain on the ballot. The commission voted 2 to 1 against Laz. Laz took issue with what he called a "lack of evidence and testimony," which he said gives him cause for appeal. He also took issue with the accusation of a "pattern of fraud," saying he was basically being accused of forgery and perjury. Advertisement Denying any fraudulent behavior, Laz said if the signatures were as questionable as the commission said, then all of them should have been thrown out rather than only six pages. "It made no sense for them to say some signatures were believable but not others," Laz said. "If they were really that bad, they should have wiped out all of them." Eliminating all of Laz's nominating petitions is something Pike's attorney Burt Odelson felt was the appropriate action for the commission to take. "The board didn't go far enough," Odelson said. "The board should have taken all of his petitions due to the high number of signatures that were not signed by the person the signature purported to be." If Laz does file his appeal by the deadline, Odelson said he would file a cross-appeal and ask the circuit court to remove all of Laz's signatures. Responding to the lack of witnesses called by the objectors, Odelson said it is up to the candidate to prove a signature in question is legitimate. In addition to appealing the commission's ruling, Laz said he also planned to file an evidentiary motion against Pike in order to depose him about why he challenged the signatures and file objections against the nominating petitions. Laz said the motion was going to be filed Friday. Odelson declined to comment on a possible deposition of Pike but said he would respond appropriately to any filing. Advertisement Shilakis Wiesner said her petitions were challenged by Joan Brennan, of Addison, over a notary issue. Shilakis Wiesner said the objection was raised over the fact that the notary who witnessed the petition circulators sign their names to affirm the petitions did not have them raise their right hands while signing, something Wiesner said she had never heard of before. "I feel pretty strongly that when I'm in front of the judges, I will prevail," Shilakis Wiesner said. The candidates' appeals must be filed by Monday. They will go to a chancery court for a ruling. If the appeals are denied, that will leave one candidate for the Circuit Court seat, Judge Liam C. Brennan, a Wheaton Republican appointed to succeed Elsner in 2014 by the Illinois Supreme Court. His term expires in December. It is not known if there is a connection between Liam Brennan and Joan Brennan, Shilakis Wiesner's challenger. Alex Keown is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. Steven Avery listens to testimony in the Calumet County Courthouse in Chilton, Wis., in 2007. (Morry Gash, AP) A former Naperville woman plays a key role in the ongoing Netflix blockbuster series "Making a Murderer," as the show explores whether a man could be convicted twice for crimes he did not commit. Penny Beerntsen, who now lives in Door County, Wis., came to Naperville in 2004 when her husband, Tom, was named chief operating officer of the Heritage YMCA group, which served Naperville, Aurora and Oswego. Those facilities now are part of the YMCA of Metro Chicago. Advertisement Penny Beerntsen's connection to the documentary television series stems back to a time when she was living in Manitowoc County, Wis. On July 29, 1985, she was sexually assaulted and beaten while jogging along Lake Michigan in the town of Two Rivers. In a police lineup, Beerntsen picked out Steve Avery as the man who committed the crime and he was subsequently convicted. DNA evidence later exonerated Avery, after serving 18 years of a 32-year sentence, according to Naperville Sun news reports. Another man was ultimately convicted. It is Avery's wrongful conviction that sets the scene for the Netflix series. Advertisement That's largely because three years after his release, Avery was arrested again. This time he and his nephew were charged with the killing of a 25-year-old photographer, whose burned remains were found in a fire pit next to Avery's trailer, according to Sun reports. Both were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The Netflix series outlines potential blunders and missteps taken by investigators and law enforcement officials that could mean the same man was twice convicted for crimes he did not commit. Beerntsen did not return calls for this story, but Michael Griesbach, assistant district attorney for Manitowoc County, said he believes Avery was involved in the photographer's death. Griesbach is author of "The Innocent Killer," a book about Avery and his convictions. "Lightning doesn't strike twice," Griesbach said. "He was not wrongly convicted a second time." Griesbach said he was the first person to tell Beerntsen that the DNA evidence from her attack exonerated Avery, which he described as a tough situation. However, Beerntsen "turned what would destroy some people's lives into a mission to serve," Griesbach said. During her time in Naperville, Beerntsen was an active speaker and volunteer with Northwestern University's Medill Innocence Project, which works to exonerate those wrongly convicted. She now is involved with Innocence Project Wisconsin, as is Griesbach, he said. Beerntsen recalled in a 2010 Naperville Sun story how she felt when she learned her testimony had helped lock up the wrong man. Advertisement "I was devastated. I knew Steven Avery wasn't a Boy Scout, but nobody should serve time for a crime they didn't commit," Beerntsen said. "I just wanted the earth to swallow me. I swear that day was harder than the day I was assaulted." gbookwalter@tribpub.com Twitter: @GenevieveBook Flash Haiti's electoral authority on Friday postponed presidential elections slated for Sunday citing security reasons. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) said serious incidents in the past hours in five Haitian departments, including attacks on at least two polling stations, led it to take the decision. "Due to the deteriorating security situation and the threats to the electoral process, the CEP has suspended the election set for January 24," it said in a press release. Local media reported the move came after opposition candidate Jude Celestin boycotted the vote and refused to commit to a new date citing electoral fraud. Over 1,000 people marched through central Port-au-Prince and outside the U.S. embassy, calling for the elections to be suspended, according to the Haiti Libre newspaper. Since the first round of presidential elections in October, during which Celestin finished second in a field of 54 candidates to ruling party candidate, Jovenel Moise, Celestin has claimed that the government of President Michel Martelly is manipulating results in favor of its candidate. Haiti has been mired in a deep political crisis since last year, which forced Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to resign and left Parliament in limbo after parliamentary elections were delayed. Friday's protesters also demanded the resignation of the CEP and the government as well as the creation of a transition government. The CEP denounced fires set at CEP regional offices in the northern department of Limbe and the central department of Lascahobas, as well as attempted fires in Thomonde, Torbeck, Artibonite, Grand Goave and Port-au-Prince. Furthermore, a polling station in the eastern department of Savanette was set on fire and armed men stole electoral materials in Fond-Parisien. "In order to protect the life of voters, electoral officials and state property, especially schools, the CEP has taken the decision (to postpone the election)," read its press release. The CEP announcement came hours after the UN Mission in Haiti (Minustah) and the international community restated their support for an "inclusive and fair" electoral process, which "guarantees the democratic renewal of state institutions." The Minustah, the United States, France, Canada, Brazil, the European Union, and the Organization of American States have all deplored recent acts of violence during the electoral process and have asked all sides to allow the Haitian people to vote without coercion or violence. Haiti, a country of 10 million that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, held the first round of legislative elections on Aug. 9, followed by the first round of presidential elections and second round of legislative polls on Oct. 25. China Aid Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence. Updated at 11:45 a.m. CDT on Jan. 26, 2016 (Guiyang, GuizhouJan. 22, 2016) After serving two administrative detention and one criminal detention sentences, the pastor of a house church in Chinas southern Guizhou province was arrested on suspicion of divulging state secrets today, shortly after officials rejected his colleagues administrative reconsideration application on Jan. 11. Li Guozhi, also known by his alias, Yang Hua, was last seen donning a black hood as officials herded him into an unidentified vehicle. As a pastor of Huoshi Church, which the government has been serially targeting, he was detained twice consecutively for a total of 10 days. According to previous notices delivered to family members, Li originally served time in administrative detention for the crime of obstructing justice and gathering a crowd to disturb social order. On the day he was scheduled to be released from his second administrative detention in late December, authorities added the charge of illegally holding state secrets and transferred him to criminal detention. Following another accusation that Huoshi Church had been using its venue to hold religious activities while it was not authorized to do so, officials imposed a fine that began on Nov. 22, even though the church consistently reported all religious events to the government. The original notice, delivered on Nov. 18, informed the church that they had three days to comply with legal stipulations, otherwise, a fine of 10 Yuan [U.S. $2.00] per day for every square meter of church property would be imposed. After the church refused, the Guiyang Municipal Urban Management Administrative Law Enforcement issued an administrative penalty notice to church members Su Tianfu, Zhang Xiuhong, and Liang Xuewu, under whose names the venue is officially registered, stating that the church had 15 days to pay the fine. If they failed to do this, an additional 3 percent per day charge would be added to the overall expense, totaling 110,296 Yuan (U.S. $16,768.00). Su, who is a pastor at Huoshi Church, informed a China Aid reporter that he had applied for an administrative reconsideration: otherwise, we dont have the money to pay the fine. On Jan. 11, the Guiyang Municipal Peoples Government rejected his application. Li Guozhis arrest notice, Su Tianfus administrative reconsideration rejection notice and the administrative penalty verdict from the Guiyang Municipal Management Administrative Law Enforcement can be read in full below. A translation of Lis administrative reconsideration application is forthcoming. China Aid exposes religious freedom abuses, such as those experienced by Huoshi Church, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China. Nanming Sub-bureau of the Guiyang Municipal Public Security Bureau Arrest Notice Nanming District, Guiyang (Criminal) Arrest (2016) No. 043 Wang Hongwu: After receiving approval from the Nanming Peoples Procuratorate, our bureau arrested Li Guozhi at 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 22 on suspicion of divulging state secrets. He is currently detained at Nanming Detention Center. Nanming Sub-bureau of the Guiyang Municipal Public Security Bureau 01/22/2016 Note: the address of the detention center is Wangcheng town, Nanming District Guiyang Municipal Peoples Government Rejection of Administrative Reconsideration Notice Guiyang Municipal Peoples Government Administrative Reconsideration Rejection [2016] No. 01 The applicant: Name: Su Tianfu, Male, Han Nationality ID No. 5225021975073031111 Address: Apartment 1, Entrance 5, 14 Huinong Lane, Nanming District, Guizhou The respondent: Name: Guiyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau Legal representative: Mei Jun Position: Director We have received an administrative reconsideration application, which was in regards to the Ban Notice issued by the Guiyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, [titled], Guiyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau Ban Notice [2015] No. 2, on Jan. 6, 2016 from applicant Su Tianfu. After investigation, our department thinks that: Administrative reconsideration applicants must be citizens, legal persons or other organizations, whose legitimate rights and interests have been infringed on by specific administrative acts; that is, only citizens, legal persons or other organizations whose legitimate rights and interests have been violated are qualified for administrative reconsideration. Huoshi Church in Guiyang is not a legal organization because it has not been registered. Therefore, it is not a violation of the applicants lawful rights and interests for the respondent to issue a Ban Notice, [Guiyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau Ban 2015, No. 2]. The applicant is not eligible for administrative reconsideration. The applicant submitted an application for reconsideration that does not match the provisions of Article 2 and Article 10, paragraph 1 of the Administrative Reconsideration Law of the Peoples Republic of China. According to the provisions of Article 17 of the Administrative Reconsideration Law of the Peoples Republic of China, we decided: the applicants application for administrative reconsideration is inadmissible. If the applicant does not accept this decision, he can bring an administrative lawsuit to the Peoples Court within 15 days of receiving this written decision. Guiyang Municipal Peoples Government 01/11/2015 [Editors note: This should read 01/11/2016] Guiyang Municipal Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau Administrative Penalty Verdict Guiyang Municipal Comprehensive Law Enforcement Penalty Verdict [2016] No. 0000903 Su Tianfu, Zhang Xiuhong, Liang Xuewu: According to the Law on Urban and Rural Planning for Guiyang Municipality, we have investigated your case of changing the regulated usage of rooms without permission. The investigation is already completed. Because you changed the usage of your rooms without permission for the residence at Rooms 8, 9, and 10, Floor 24, Entrance 2, Building 9, Construction District C, Huaguoyuan, you violated the stipulations of Article 41 of the Guizhou Urban and Rural Planning Ordinance. On Nov. 18, 2015, in accordance with Article 53 of the Guizhou Urban and Rural Planning Ordinance, we ordered you to change [the usage of the rooms] within three days, but you failed to do so. Now, in accordance with Article 53 of the Guizhou Urban and Rural Planning Ordinance, the following penalty verdict is being imposed: On the basis of a fine being overdue, an (additional) fine of 10 Yuan per square meter per day, for a total of 17 days [Editors Note: the church initially refused to pay the fine for 17 days, from Nov. 22-Dec. 8] will be imposed. This is a total of 110,296 Yuan. You must pay the fine at Guiyang Bank within 15 days of receiving this verdict. If you refuse to pay the fine within the prescribed time limit, an extra 3 percent of the fine will be imposed each day. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can apply to the Guiyang Municipal Peoples Government for an administrative reconsideration within 60 days of receiving this verdict or file an administrative lawsuit at the Peoples Court. Guiyang Municipal Urban Administrative and Law Enforcement Bureau [seal] 01/19/2016 China Aid Contacts Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 China's Global Newspaper Sorry, the page you requested was not found. Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Chinadaily.com.cn, try visiting the Chinadaily home page Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 22, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] DAVOS, Switzerland -- With a strong ambition to promote science and research, China is going to contribute more and more to the world's innovation, Microsoft's founder Bill Gates has said. In an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2016, Gates said China would probably become a huge participant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is already under way and bringing a fast and disruptive change for most industries. Talking about the new revolution, Gates believed the digital revolution, something he spent most of his life working on, was a huge factor. The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the ongoing transformation of our society and economy, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology and other areas of science. A key enabler of much of these new technologies is the Internet where Microsoft and Gates has been a leading contributor to the progress. "An industrial revolution is coming to increase productivity very dramatically," Gates said, "It creates opportunities, and it creates challenges." New technology changes would free some labor, so that people can do more in culture sector, according to Gates. He said China had built some advantages in science and technology through its educational system, and the country had a strong will to promote its contribution in different sciences sectors. "China obviously has a lot of people and a lot of smart people," Gates said, "Not only a lot of people college-educated, but also a lot of engineers with the quality of engineering skills. " "With the recognition that people have done something that they can be rewarded for that, many experts have been leaded to have new companies, in IT sector, biology, robots and other those things." "China is going to carry its weight," he said. An employee welds the exterior of a vehicle along a production line at a factory in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/Agencies] The Chinese government will face a particularly weighty workload this year amid great uncertainty over world economic trends and China's own challenges as it undergoes a period of economic transition. That was the thrust of remarks made by Premier Li Keqiang during the State Council's plenary meeting on Friday in Beijing. "At the moment, the world economy is developing with deep uncertainty, and the task for the Chinese government in 2016 will be heavy," he said. On Jan 6, the World Bank, headquartered in Washington, DC, cut the global growth forecast for 2016 to 2.9 percent, saying that weak growth among major emerging markets will weigh on global growth in 2016. Li noted that many world organizations also lowered their predictions for world economic growth several times in 2015, and China also has its problems and contradictions to face during this stage of transition. Therefore, the government needs to do a better job putting forward its structural reforms this year, especially its reforms on the supply side of the economy. Li also said comprehensive measures should be employed to maintain stable growth. The meeting, attended by officials from various State departments, was to discuss the draft of the Government Work Report, which will be delivered at the top legislature's annual session in Beijing after the Spring Festival. The State Council will then send the work report to provincial regions to solicit opinions. It serves as a general guideline for the government's work as it reviews progress in the previous year, makes plans and sets targets for the current year. Li said that China had met its major goal set in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2010-15), during which the country's GDP rose from 40.9 trillion yuan to 67.67 trillion yuan ($6.2 trillion to $10.3 trillion). The achievement was not easy, Li said, adding that those measures that proved effective should be further employed and developed. The government needs to make concrete progress in handling the decrease in industrial profits, maintaining stable increases in China's exports and imports, expanding effective investments as well as accelerating reforms of State-owned enterprises in 2016, Li said. He stressed that the government needs to pay attention to answering the concerns of society. This year marks the beginning of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), a new national development plan that Li described as a defining stage for China in building a moderately prosperous society. The coming five years also will be a crucial stage for China in avoiding the so-called middle-income trap that many countries have found themselves in. Wang Huiyao, president of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization, said that stabilizing China's economy will be important in giving other countries confidence in the world economy. "Having pessimistic feelings about the world economy is quite a typical phenomenon for many countries in the world, as many European countries are still in economic recovery and the US will have another year of presidential debate," he said. "China's economy continuously grows larger, and its export figures started to decrease in 2015, which means that the country's economic reliance on the world has decreased. Stabilizing China's economy will help other countries with confidence during a world economic downturn." Wang, who began a term as one of the 10 counselors of China's State Council, or the Cabinet, in early 2015, said that directly facing social concerns shows the government's strength and confidence in achieving its goals in 2016. A China Orient Asset Management Corp stand at a finance expo in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily] Two units of China Orient Asset Management Corp, a leading State-owned bad-assets management firm, said on Friday that they had formed a strategic partnership with global investment firm KKR & Co to co-invest in credit and distressed asset opportunities in the Chinese market. The two companies will look for growing opportunities in distressed debt, especially in the property sector. Edward Han, managing director and head of special situations at China Orient Summit Capital, in which China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding Ltd holds a controlling stake, said in a statement: "The three companies offer an opportunity to build a scaled platform to provide flexible capital solutions, particularly in the real estate sector which is facing increased macro and funding challenges." China's real estate market had approximately 21 trillion yuan ($3.19 trillion) of outstanding debt from financial institutions by the end of 2015, making up about 22 percent of the outstanding renminbi loans in China. The debt was predominantly in the form of commercial bank loans, trust schemes and wealth management plans, according to the central bank. Statistics from the China Banking Regulatory Commission show that the outstanding nonperforming loans of commercial banks amounted to more than 1.19 trillion yuan at the end of September and the NPL ratio rose 43 basis points from a year earlier to 1.59 percent. According to global consultancy firm KPMG LLP, the majority of the collateral underpinning these nonperforming loans is real estate. KKR said: "In real estate alone, we see a potential $40 billion to $100 billion distressed credit opportunity in China over the next two to five years." China's distressed debt market is dominated by the four largest State-owned asset management companies, but there have been signs that overseas investors are looking to the rapidly expanding market. In May, China Cinda Asset Management Co Ltd held a sales promotion of bad assets worth more than 43 billion yuan in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. The event was attended by nearly 200 institutional investors . By forming a partnership, international and Chinese investors will be able to leverage their resources and explore more collaboration. Zhong Guoxing, co-president at China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding, said: "We believe this partnership between a State-owned enterprise, a local investment manager and an international investment firm offers investors a rare opportunity to benefit from the best practices of all three parties." Wholly owned by the Ministry of Finance, China Orient is close to the end of a shareholding reform that could see the addition of strategic investors and eventual listing of the company. China National Petroleum Corp, the country's biggest oil and gas producer, plans to increase natural gas production this year and maintain crude output near 2015 levels. Natural gas output will go "higher" and oil production will remain "stable," Deputy General Manager Wang Dongjin was quoted as saying in a statement posted on the company's website. Details weren't provided. The Beijing-based company has a "limited amount" of money to invest this year and will spend on oil and gas exploration and projects that improve efficiency or promote sales, it said. Producers are struggling after oil's plunge to a 12-year low on the global market. The price collapse has delayed $380 billion worth of investments on 68 major upstream projects, according to industry consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd, and has forced suppliers from BHP Billiton Ltd to BP Plc to write down the value of assets and fire workers. CNOOC Ltd, China's biggest offshore oil explorer, has announced a cut in oil output this year for the first time since at least 1999. CNPC produced 260 million tons of oil and gas equivalent in 2015 and processed 196 million tons of oil products, according to the statement. The company aims to reduce costs by 10 percent for oil and gas production, refining, sales and transmission. CNPC's overseas oil and gas output rose 10.5 percent to 72.02 million tons last year, with about one-third coming from Iraq, CNPC said in a separate statement on Thursday. Regulations will be used to curb volatility, says top official Share prices rose on Friday after the government signaled it will curb overcapacity in industries that have been dragging down economic growth. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.25 percent to close at 2,916.56 points while the Shenzhen Component Index jumped by 1.36 percent. The Economic Information Daily reported on Friday that the government will provide 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) a year to help reduce capacity in the coal and steel sectors. Market sentiment also improved after Vice-President Li Yuanchao sought to reassure investors that the government would use regulations to curb volatility in a market that was "not yet mature". "An excessively fluctuating market is a market of speculation where only a few will gain the most benefit, when most people suffer," Li, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said in an interview with Bloomberg. China Securities Regulatory Commission Vice-Chairman Fang Xinghai told CNN at Davos that market volatility will be part of the "new normal" as China continues to transition from an economy based on investment and exports to one driven by consumption. He estimated that the current economic transition would go on for another three to five years. Fang said Chinese markets are more volatile than developed markets because they are dominated by individual investors who lack the experience of large institutional investors. China introduced a circuit breaker mechanism at the start of this year to protect small investors from big market swings. But instead of offering protection, it constrained liquidity further. Fang said that having a circuit breaker was "not an appropriate policy for China", and that the market regulator would intervene to allow markets to fluctuate more naturally. "Li's comments show that China is determined to strengthen laws and regulations to check illegal activities and market manipulation," said Deng Haiqing, chief economist at JZ Securities Co. Liu Jipeng, director of the Capital Research Center at the China University of Political Science and Law, said that regulators used to focus more on the scrutiny and approval of initial public offerings. But now they need to have strengthen regulations for companies after they list or delist. "The regulators also need to improve the systematic design of the A-share market, such as limiting share sales by major shareholders and ways to activate large-capitalization stocks such as China's four large State-owned banks," said Liu. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said on Friday that the Securities Association of China will introduce self-regulatory guidelines for sponsor institutions after a review of advance compensation for sponsor institutions was carried out in November. Bloomberg and CNN contributed to this story. Synaptics Inc, the maker of touch-screen technology used in mobile devices and computers, is nearing an agreement to be bought by a State-backed Chinese investment group that values the company at more than $110 per share, according to people familiar with the matter. A deal could be reached in early March after the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Feb 8, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are private. Synaptics, based in San Jose, California, rejected a $110 per share offer last year, a 70 percent premium to where the company was trading at the time. Talks with the Chinese group have continued in recent months, and Synaptics is ironing out details of a transaction valuing the company at about $4 billion, the people said. No final agreement has been made and talks may still fall apart, they said. An offer at the same price would reflect an almost 80 percent premium to the company's closing price on Tuesday of $62.05. Samsung Electronics Co is Synaptics's largest customer, according to Bloomberg supply-chain analysis. Synaptics also supplies Apple Inc. Chinese buyers have targeted US semiconductor companies to improve the country's domestic technology. The country buys more than half the semiconductors sold each year, and its share is growing. Yet the nation does not have one domestic manufacturer among the 10 biggest chipmakers, a list stacked with US companies. China Resources Microelectronics Ltd and Hua Capital Management trumped a bid from On Semiconductor Corp for San Jose, California-based Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc earlier this month. Hua Capital also led an acquisition of Santa Clara, California-based OmniVision Technologies Inc last year for $1.9 billion. Textile producer Shandong Ruyi Group is believed to be in takeover talks with SMCP SAS, the owner of French fashion brands Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot, according to media reports in Hong Kong. Bloomberg said the clothing group could be worth more than $1 billion in the sale. Private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired a majority stake of SMCP in June 2013, and is reported to have engaged banks last year to consider strategic options, including the sale of its stake. Demand remains strong in China for affordable luxury labels like SMCP's three brands, fueled by the country's growing middle class. With more than 1,000 stores in 34 countries, SMCP is adding shops in Hong Kong and seeking opportunities to expand in the Chinese mainland, CEO Daniel Lalonde said last year. In the first half of 2015, it added 12 outlets in Asia, where it has stores in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Sales over the same period were up 32 percent on the same period in 2014, reaching 316 million euros ($344 million). Onlines sales doubled. KKR, Lion Capital and Shandong Ruyi were not available for comments on the possible takeover. KKR bought its 65 percent of SMCP from L Capital, a private equity firm backed by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Lion Capital is a UK private equity firm focused on consumer investments, and includes British fashion retailer AllSaints. Based in eastern China, Shandong Ruyi has annual sales of more than 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion), according to its website. It has invested in clothing companies including Tokyo-based Renown Inc, which sells the Aquascutum and D'urban brands in Japan. Matthew Crabbe, APAC research director at Mintel Group Ltd, said there is a continuing trend toward Chinese consumers trading-up from mass market, to middle market, fast-fashion brands. "As their incomes have continued to rise, it was therefore inevitable that their attention would continue to shift upward, more toward the light luxury segment," said Crabbe. Zhao Ruixue contributed to this story. A woman takes a snapshot at the stand of Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd during an industry expo in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. [Photo/China Daily] Local governments have asked major Chinese home-appliance makers to return the subsidies given to boost sales of energy-efficient products after reports of widespread misappropriation. Appliance makers like Sichuan Changhong Electric Co Ltd, Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd and TCL Corporation confirmed the development and said they have received notices from the respective local finance department asking for repayment of the subsidy. According to a statement issued by Changhong in December, the Sichuan provincial finance department has decided to withdraw the 439 million yuan ($66.74 million) given to the company to subsidize sales of flat-panel televisions. TCL said the economic development bureau of Guangzhou has asked it to repay 5.72 million yuan paid as subsidies, while Skyworth said it was asked to return 138 million yuan. Preliminary estimates indicate that subsidy repayment notices sent out to companies stood at about 900 million yuan till date. That said, there are still some contentious issues that need to be thrashed out before the subsidies can be repaid, said industry experts. TCL said in a statement that it had communicated with related departments but it said it would not return the related subsidy for now. Skyworth said it has raised objections on the matter and is discussing the same with the relevant departments. In May 2012, the Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notification on promotion of energy-efficient appliances. It said consumers who buy five types of energy-efficient appliance, such as air conditioners, flat-panel TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and water heaters from June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, were entitled to subsidies. Statistics from the Ministry of Finance showed that the central government has allocated 12.2 billion yuan subsidies in total, or sales of 65 million units of energy-efficient appliances and 250 billion yuan in consumption. However, there have been several instances of misappropriation of the scheme. In 2013, the National Audit Office punished eight appliance makers including Gree Electric Appliances Inc and Midea Group for swindling subsidies by utilizing the energy-efficient appliance scheme. Liang Zhenpeng, a consumer electronics analyst, said that although the subsidy policy stimulated the development of appliances industry in the short term, it has some negative effects in the long run. Liang said enterprises chase profits, and once the subsidy policy is launched, producers or distributors would fabricate sales numbers to get the incentives. "Some enterprises just produce the types of appliances listed in the notification to enjoy the subsidy, which disrupts the market order," Liang said, adding the scheme does not promote the healthy and continuous development of the industry. Zhang Yanbin, assistant director of All View Cloud, a Beijing-based consultancy specializing in home appliances, pointed out that there are problems in some parts of the policy, and it is sometimes the distributors, not the consumers, who finally get the subsidy. He said that the government should strengthen supervision in the sales section. Technicians test solar panels at a workshop of Yingli Green Energy Holding Co in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. [Photo/Xinhua] 10 parties interested in sorting company's $1.9 billion obligations Yingli Green Energy Holding Co, the cash-strapped solar giant, has confirmed it is in talks with potential investors over a debt-restructuring plan, in an attempt to gain the upper hand on rising interest payments and falling margins. The company, based in Baoding, Hebei province, and the world's second-largest solar producer, plans to invite strategic investors, said spokesman Wang Zhixin, as it accelerates the pace of its asset reorganization, without revealing further details of what that might entail. "The difficulty the company faces is cash flow," he said. "The restructuring has attracted huge interest from companies in either capital participation or management, because there are no doubts about Yingli's technologies, distribution network and its brand." The moves come after China Banking Regulatory Commission, one of the country's top financial regulators, appealed directly to banks and financial institutions to help support the solar firm's reorganization, to achieve what it called a win-win result. A source close to the matter said at least 10 investors, including solar companies and financial institutions, have been in contact with Yingli. "Most are State-owned companies from Beijing, while others are from places such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces," the source said. Many Chinese solar companies started to see light at the end of tunnel last year after slowly reducing overcapacity, but Yingli is faced still with high levels of debt. It has been a dramatically quick fall from grace for the firm. It became the world's largest solar maker measured by shipments in 2012, but has not reported a profit for the past five years with total debts standing at around $1.9 billion at the end of the third quarter last year, raising concerns over whether it could stay afloat. The company's liabilities had topped 18.4 billion yuan ($2.8 billion), and its asset-liability ratio reached over 100 percent, according to a financial statement for the first three quarters. Commentators said a number of factors have contributed to its demise, including rising raw material prices, steep import tariffs set by the European Union and the United States, and irrational expansions at inappropriate times. Some have even suggested the company's interest payment obligations have effectively left it unable to ever return to profit. Yingli actually signed beneficial fixed-price, long-term raw material contracts in early 2000 to gain access to secure low-priced supplies. But a glut in the domestic solar panel market saw product prices fall by nearly 70 percent since 2010, wiping out any gains it made on the supply deals. BERLIN - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said it was important to recognize real signs of crisis, and calling China's slowdown "catastrophe" was an "exaggeration," according to an interview published on Friday. "On China, it was always said that two-digit growth rates were dangerous. Now the country has a growth of 6.9 percent, then suddenly it was supposed of being a catastrophe for the world economy," said Schaeuble in an interview with Spiegel Online. "Fiscal policy must be careful so that they do not promote such exaggerations," he added. China's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest annual expansion in 25 years, but in line with the government's target. Sluggish global economy and China's economic transition were among factors behind the deceleration. China is under a structure reform in a bid to shift its economic driving forces from exports and investment to consumption. The country launched a "supply-side" reform last year, aiming at reducing noneffective and low-end supply, improving products and service quality and boosting productivity by innovation. "The general direction of the reforms is right. In a longer term of about five years, China's economic transition will succeed, providing that the government has the determination to continue the reforms," Kevin Rudd, former Australian prime minister, told Xinhua in Davos, Switzerland when attending the World Economic Forum. "We see the transitions as manageable," Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said at the forum, stressing calm in the face of recent volatility. HAIKOU - Sales revenue from an offshore duty-free program in Hainan province totaled 5.54 billion yuan ($842 million) in 2015, according to customs sources. Haikou customs on Saturday said that the southern island province's two offshore duty-free stores received around 1.64 million customers and sold more than 6.49 million items last year. Hainan has two duty-free shops, with one in the provincial capital of Haikou and the other, the world's largest, in the resort city of Sanya. The State Council, China's cabinet, gave Hainan permission to run a trial duty-free program in April 2011 in an effort to make the island a world-class tourist destination by 2020. Hainan allows non-locals to make duty-free purchases twice a year before leaving the island by plane, with each time capped at 8,000 yuan. The island province has seen booming tourism since the program started. Chinese military forces aim to improve combat capabilities in extreme cold weather, Jan 10, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] The newly-established Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army will take charge of the military's space, cyberspace and electronic warfare operations, according to a senior PLA expert. In an article published by the PLA Daily on WeChat, Yin Zhuo, director of the PLA Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, said the Strategic Support Force's mission is to ensure that the PLA's military superiority is maintained in space and on the Internet. "To be specific, the service's responsibilities include targeted reconnaissance and tracking, global positioning operations and space assets management, as well as defense against electronic warfare and hostile activities in cyberspace," he said. "These are all major factors that will decide whether we can win a future war." The Strategic Support Force will form an essential part of the PLA's future joint operations, Yin said, as it will provide reconnaissance, early warning, communications and battlefield command and control for combat units, in addition to helping government departments protect China's interests on the Internet. Shao Yongling, a military strategy professor at PLA Rocket Force Command College in Hubei's Wuhan, told China Daily that in the past each branch of the PLA had its own combat support unit, resulting in overlapping functions and repeat investment. By handing these responsibilities to the Strategic Support Force, the military can avoid such redundancies, become better integrated and improve joint operation capabilities, she said. President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, announced the establishment of the Strategic Support Force on Dec 31 as a key part of the ongoing overhaul of the PLA, which started in September when he declared that China will cut troop numbers by 300,000. He described the new branch as a "new-type combat force" and tasked it with boosting integration among the PLA's support systems and between civilian and defense sectors. The PLA Daily also reported that researchers with the Strategic Support Force were focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as big data applications, cloud computing, 3D printing and nanomaterials. It quoted an unidentified researcher as saying that members of the Strategic Support Force should always prepare for "tomorrow's warfare". Vasily Kashin, a senior analyst at the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, told Russia's Sputnik news agency that the PLA Strategic Support Force's "unique structure" will bring together the Chinese military's whole scope of capacities in waging "special operations and information warfare". The expert speculated that the Strategic Support Force would be responsible for technical reconnaissance, human and technical intelligence, electronic warfare and psychological operations. Such an unparalleled concentration of intelligence and information warfare units in one branch will allow the PLA to exploit every resource to its maximum capacity, he said. The original design of the gala mascot by Han Meilin. Even top designers cannot satisfy all the people all the time. But not so great ones can aggravate most of the people most of the time. Two weeks before its broadcast, the annual Chinese Spring Festival Gala has created quite a stir online. The design crew released on its Weibo account a mascot of 3-D design for the upcoming show celebrating the lunar Year of the Monkey. It has become the target of intense criticism and even ridicule among netizens, some of whom say it is the ugliest monkey they've ever seen. These who were born in the Year of the Monkey particularly seem to resent what they call the poorly designed monkey, saying it really ruins their mood as they prepare to welcome the ben ming nian, the zodiac year of their birth. The gala, presented by China Central Television since 1983, will be aired on Feb 7, the eve of Spring Festival. The mascot, named Kangkang, which means "being healthy" in Chinese, was based on a colored ink prototype painted by the established artist Han Meilin. The 80-year-old Beijing artist is famed for painting ink animal images in which he blends folk culture designs and patterns of antiquities of and before the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). He was the leading designer of the Beijing Olympic Games mascots in 2008. The gala crew also released Han's original design, a smiling monkey with only its round, hairy head in view, with a face in yellow, emerald green and rose. Han has said on both his Sina Weibo account and blog that he had never seen the 3-D model before its introduction to the public. Han says he received a commission from CCTV in November and produced about 30 versions of the monkey. He said he was inspired by the Monkey King of Chinese legend to create the image. He painted its face in colors favored by Chinese cultural tradition. Online comments criticize the 3-D image for being ugly and in bad taste, saying the body that was added to the original ruined Han's original idea. Some posted alternate mascots, such as characters from animated films like Monkey King: Hero is Back. Other voices disagree with Han's design, particularly the puffy areas below each of the monkey's ears which, Han says, is how a monkey's cheeks swell up when chewing. Ge Yi, a Shanghai mother who worked at art museums, says Han's approach may be in line with many people's taste in art but, "aesthetically, it's not brilliant". "The cheeks look rather odd and uncomfortable. The 3-D modeling makes it look as if it were something produced a decade ago," she adds. Feng Guoliang, a painter in Beijing, says Han is simply repeating what he has painted before, and the design lacks "explosiveness and a broad, contemporary vision". "There are so many talented artists across the nation. If the gala had collected designs from the public and put them up for a vote, people might not be complaining today," he said. Passengers rest wherever they can on trains, Feb 19, 2014. [Photo/CFP] China will see travel rush for Spring Festival start on Jan 24 when students and migrant workers head to railway stations to make their journey back to their hometowns. The Ministry of Transport expects about 2.91 billion trips will be undertaken during the peak travel period around the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 8 this year. Chinese people will reunite with their families and welcome the Lunar New Year together. Let's have a look at the Spring Festival travel rush over the past years. Guangdong's top political advisor urged political parties, groups and organizations in the province to further advance their co-operations this year with their counterparts in Taiwan island. "Guangdong's CPPCC members should play an active and constructive role in promoting the mutual co-operations between political parties and organizations between Guangdong and Taiwan provinces this year," according to Wang Rong, chairman of Guangdong Provincial Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Wang made his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 4th session of the province's top political advisory body in Guangdong's provincial capital on Saturday. "The co-operations, exchanges and visits with Taiwan's grass-root political parties and those from the middle and southern region of Taiwan island should, particularly, be enhanced this year," Wang said. Wang, 58, was Party chief of Shenzhen's special economic zone before being elected as Guangdong's top political advisor last year. "The mutual visits and exchanges with Taiwan's youth and small-to-medium enterprises should also be expanded," he added. Wang promised his political advisory body would actively build a platform for the province's CPPCC members from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao as well as Chinese living abroad to participate in the administration and discussion of the State's affairs and construction of Guangdong's free trade zones and the country's "Belt and Road initiative" this year. Wang's committee would organize even more overseas CPPCC members and overseas Chinese entrepreneurs to visit Guangdong, one of the country's economic powerhouses, and seek valuable advice for the province's economic construction this year. Wang said he hoped members from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan contribute in building Guangdong's Nansha, Qianhai, and Hengqin free trade zones, located in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai respectively, into model zones of co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao's special administrative regions in the years to come. Around 977 members attended this year's CPPCC session in Guangdong province which ends on Tuesday. Contact the writer at zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn Local officials vowed on Saturday to better protect cultural heritages in downtown Beijing to balance traditional culture and improve living condition for the locals. Huang Yan, director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, said Dongcheng and Xicheng districts are the core areas of Beijing and that there will be systematic measures to relocate excessive population to safeguard historic treasures. Wang Shanfeng, head of Xicheng district government, said the district has 182 cultural relics with many of them dating back to the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. "Each community is required to report the status quo of its cultural heritages and any actions to damage the heritages will be punished," Wang said. Meanwhile, the districts have been attaching great importance to protecting the Hutong (Beijing alleyways). "The most efficient way is to decrease local population in order to reduce the possibility of causing harm to cultural heritages," Wang said. On 57 square kilometers of land, the densely-populated district of Xicheng has 1.28 million residents. In Beijing's blueprint, high ranking officials said its population should not exceed 23 million by 2020. According to the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), permanent residents should not exceed the number of 23 million. The capital's population reached 21.7 million by the end of last year. Lu Yan, director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, said at a press conference Saturday, "Considering the crowded downtown area, the population must be controlled; some will be relocated out of town." The city's mayor Wang Anshun said Friday that the population of six downtown districts will drop 15 percent in five years. From 2010 to 2014, the capital's population increased by 1.52 million, 53 percent of which were located in the six downtown districts Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Shijingshan and Fengtai - said Lian Mingyu, president of International Institute of Urban Development. On Saturday, China's top court asked every grassroots court to self-discipline, saying that it will put priority on corruption. In 2015, 721 court officers were found to use their power illegally, of whom, 686 were punished and 120 were investigated, according to a statement issued by the Supreme People's Court. Zhou Qiang, president of the top court, said that Chinese courts strictly handled crimes of corruption and defendants offering bribes, no matter how level his or her work post is in. Zhou also stated that every court officer must strictly enforce laws and learn from the high-profiled case involving Xi Xiaoming. Xi, 61, is the former vice-president of the top court. He was investigated for breaches of law and Party disciplines in July. The accusations, released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, are common commission terms for corruption. In September, Xi was expelled from the Party for the alleged graft and bribery. Chinese courts sentenced several high-ranking officials over the past year, such as the former national security chief Zhou Yongkang and the former head of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission Jiang Jiemin. Zhou was sentenced to life in prison in June, while Jiang got a 16-year prison sentence. Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn Iranian government welcomes initiative, ambassador says China's Belt and Road Initiative will bring more opportunities for the development of ties with Iran, the Iranian ambassador to China said. "In the history of the ancient Silk Road, Iran played an important role as a bridge linking China and European countries," Ambassador Ali Asghar Khaji said on Jan 15. The Iranian government welcomes the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, Khaji said, adding that the top leaders of both countries have discussed related issues during their meetings in recent years. The initiative, with a focus on infrastructure, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The initiative proposes using trade and investment to boost ties along the ancient trade routes. "Iran has been participating in Belt and Road-themed meetings, seminars and forums hosted by the Chinese government every year," Khaji said, adding that the Iranian authorities have also held seminars to discuss the initiative. During Xi's visit to Iran on Friday and Saturday, both sides were scheduled to sign memorandums of understanding on the initiative to lay a base for future cooperation on projects, he said. Iran has set up a special committee of members from government departments, enterprises and business chambers to enhance cooperation with China, he added. The ambassador said he believed the Belt and Road projects could boost economic development of countries along the routes and bring peace and stability to the region. He said China is one of the world's largest energy consumers and importers, while Iran has the richest reserves of gasoline and natural gas, which provide more potential for cooperation. "We welcome Chinese enterprises to participate in energy cooperation with Iran through various means," Khaji said, adding that such topics will also be discussed during Xi's visit. On Jan 16, the government of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region announced it would start preliminary work on a railway linking China with Iran via Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan within five years. The railway is expected to run from Xinjiang's Kashgar to Afghanistan's Herat, then through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to finally connect with the Iranian railway. Conducting preliminary work on the railway is listed in the draft of the region's 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) that is being reviewed by the regional people's congress. Representatives of transport ministries and railway departments from the five countries signed an agreement on the railway in a meeting in December 2014, Xinhua News Agency reported. Last year, Xi met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani twice, and both leaders have vowed to enhance cooperation. While attending activities marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations in September, Xi told Rouhani in New York that China is ready to join with Iran to seize the opportunities presented by Iran's nuclear deal and continue to advance bilateral ties and practical cooperation. China is willing to work with Iran to prioritize joint projects in infrastructure construction and interconnectivity and expand cooperation in fields such as railways, roads, steel, car manufacturing, electricity, advanced technologies and environmental protection, Xi said at the time, adding that cooperation in the energy and financial sectors should be given priority. Rouhani said Iran cherishes its friendly ties with China and is willing to work with China to maintain close high-level exchanges and deepen long-term strategic cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and energy. The meeting came two months after a multilateral deal - in which China played a key role - ended the 12-year Iran nuclear issue. Under the deal, endorsed by the UN Security Council, sanctions on Iran imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations will be lifted. In return, Iran will curb its nuclear program for a decade and get rid of 98 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium. Some Western countries have long suspected that Iran aims to create a nuclear bomb, but Teheran said the materials were only for civil use. China has long opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran by the US and Europe, and has objected to threats of force. China-Iran trade volume reached $51.85 billion in 2014, growing by 31.5 percent year-on-year. China mainly exports machinery, textiles, chemical and steel products, and imports crude oil, mineral ore and agricultural products in the bilateral trade, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Consensus reached In December 2015, a seminar on China-Iran Cooperation for Development of the Belt and Road Initiative was held in Haikou, Hainan province. Senior officials from government departments, the Iranian embassy to China, business chambers and think tanks attended the three-day seminar. According to a consensus agreed to at the seminar, China and Iran hope to jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road and the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, to strengthen political relations, economic ties and sociocultural communication. The two countries look forward to the construction of the Belt and Road under the principles of joint discussion, joint development and mutual sharing, to build a community of shared interests, joint responsibility and common destiny, and to achieve policy dialogue, infrastructure connection, trade integration, financial fluidity and people-to-people dialogue. Both countries agreed to organize government think tanks and businesses to attend a One Belt and One Road Karamay Forum in August of this year, to promote project cooperation between China and Iran. Farzam Kamalabadi, an Iranian-American strategist who is board chairman of the Future Trends Group in Shanghai, said China's plan to revive the ancient Silk Road has provided an opportunity for the exchange and communication of different cultures and civilizations, including between China and Asia, Islamic Arabs and Iranians, and the Christian West. "If China could fully and smoothly implement the initiative, about 70 to 80 percent of the world's population will benefit directly and the whole world order will be better united," he said. "It's a great win-win strategy." Chi Fulin, director of the China (Hainan) Institute for Reform and Development, said China and Iran should establish a stable and sustainable energy partnership and jointly build up the energy economic cooperation circle along the Belt and Road route. China could work with other Belt and Road countries including Iran to construct energy process parks, new-energy industrial parks and cross-border energy economic cooperation zones, and thus explore methods to facilitate investment and energy trade, he said. anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn Persian carpets, made in Iran, are displayed at a trade fair in Chengdu. The Belt and Road Initiative is expected to bring more Iranian goods to the Chinese market. Wang Jun / for China Daily (China Daily 01/23/2016 page6) Editor's Note: At a meeting on Jan 13, the State Council, China's Cabinet, vowed to further simplify administrative procedures and delegate central government powers to lower levels of government and market players. It also pledged to optimize services and lighten the burden on enterprises to create a better platform for business startups and innovation. The following are comments from the media: To simplify administrative procedures and delegate central government power to lower levels of government or market players marks the first step toward the demarcation of the government and the market. It is also an important move to push forward supply-side reform and expand effective demand. Simplifying procedures and decentralization will help promote business startups and innovation. Statistics indicate that in the first three quarters of 2015, there were 10.66 million newly registered market entities, up 15.8 percent year-on-year, with a registered capital of 20.7 trillion yuan ($3.15 trillion), an increase of 40.9 percent year-on-year. Despite a considerable cut in the number of items that need administrative examination and approval, irregular and low-efficiency administrative approval procedures still exist in quite a lot of areas. These considerably increase the costs for businesses. This is also against the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, a tone-setting conference convened in mid-December, which urged the administrative burden on enterprises be reduced, procedures simplified, and unreasonable intermediary services abolished. At the meeting, the State Council decided to push forward a series of measures aimed at removing the obstacles that constrain business startups, innovation and the development of services. These measures will reduce the costs for enterprises and better release their potential for development and innovation. Xinhua News Agency Simplifying administrative procedures will also serve as a major step toward promoting supply-side reform. To simplify administrative procedures does not mean delegating central government power to lower levels alone, it also means better and more efficient management by the central government. The State Council has decided to make a series of revisions to some 66 existing laws and regulations to exercise better monitoring and management of adminis-trative procedures, and provide legal guarantees for the ongoing reforms. The simplifying of administrative procedures is a consistent effort by the incumbent Chinese leadership. While it is also important for the government to transform its functions, its main purpose is to optimize the country's economic environment and nurture a new economic pattern. A modern economy powered mainly by innovation needs reduced administrative constraints and interventions. Economic development over the past decades has deepened people's perception that eliminating ineffective regulations can spur economic vigor, boost market efficiency and promote economic transformation. Lower tax burdens on enterprises and lower prices as a result of the simplification of administrative procedures will promote demand and thus offer an internal impetus to the ongoing campaign for the supply-side reform. At the same time, only by shifting more power to market players can they object to and check unreasonable administrative procedures. A core rule of the market economy is explicitly defining the limits of government power. Any crossing of the legal boundaries by a government and it should be held accountable for its breach of laws and regulations. In this aspect, many of the country's administrative organs, those below the county level in particular, still have a lot of improvements to do. China Business News To continuously stimulate market vigor has been one of the top priorities of the current government. A series of institutional and systematic reforms aimed at transforming government functions, including measures to simplify administrative procedures and optimize services, is essential to reduce restraints on market actors and create a better environment for their development. Reducing the number of items that need administrative approval, strengthening supervision and establishing a fairer and more just market order will create a source of vigor for economic development. Without market vitality, supply-side reform would simply be hollow talk. As matter of fact, the simplification of administrative procedures also needs legal guarantees. To strengthen the legal guarantees for reform, the fruits resulting from simplifying or abolishing some procedures and lowering costs should be confirmed in legal form. This is also one of the main tasks set by the State Council meeting, as indicated by the revisions made to 66 existing administrative regulations. Better management needs the support of better laws and regulations, ones that can offer generalized policy support to enterprises. yicai.com Medical staff in Gyirong county, Tibet autonomous region check the body temperature of soldiers who just flew back from relief work in Nepal, on May 6, 2015.[Photo/Xinhua] The PLA Navy's hospital ship Peace Ark is a 178-meter-long, 25-meter-wide and 14,000-ton mammoth with red crosses beaming on both its sides. Since 2010, it has sailed around the world and served tens of thousands of people, mostly in East Africa and the Caribbean where free treatment and medicine are more than welcome. Few navies in the world have such hospital ships. So why does the People's Liberation Army Navy use such a rare asset to serve so many people abroad? The answer is: It helps build an awesome but pacifist image of the PLA that is closest to that built by General Zheng He 600 years ago. Zheng's seven voyages started in 1405 during the heydays of Chinese military history. His fleet, composed of "treasure boats", was next to none. It is thus only natural for an ever-growing PLA Navy to follow in his footsteps. The PLA Navy's offer of free treatment and medicine to the needy is similar to Zheng's donation of porcelain and silk to the people around the rim of the Indian Ocean. It is also an extension of the PLA's prescribed role. If indeed the PLA must "do its best to serve people" according to China's Constitution, why cannot it serve the Chinese people as well as their counterparts across the world? Zheng's imprint upon the PLA is indelible: be strong but not assertive, formidable but not coercive. This is expressed in minimal use of force wherever possible. Some people see China's recent land reclamation in the South China Sea as an indicator of a stronger Beijing becoming overtly assertive. But it is only reclamation on Chinese-controlled islands and reefs. This is the least destabilizing effort China could possibly make to safeguard its sovereignty without resorting to force. It is also an effort to offset the land reclamations made much earlier by other claimant countries, to which most Western countries have remained silent. China's military strength is already being felt overseas. PLA Navy vessels have been patrolling the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin for seven years, and China has announced that it will build a logistic supply station in Djibouti. Also, apart from its 2,883 peacekeepers deployed overseas, China is building a standby peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops. More impressively, China is building a second aircraft carrier. But the last thing China wants is fear of China. This in part tells why all the operations by its military overseas have been humanitarian in nature. Besides, the PLA will cut the number of military personnel by 300,000 as part of its most revolutionary top-down restructuring in history. The aim is to become "leaner but stronger" and modernized by mid-century. No matter how the PLA may look like at its strongest, it is impossible to imagine China establishing hundreds of military bases overseas, increasing its nuclear warheads or conducting regular close-in surveillance off the waters of a far away country. In all likelihood, the PLA will act in the same way as Zheng did, that is, pacifist rather than assertive, giving rather than taking, keeping rather than breaking. Any involvement in wars such as the ones in Iraq and Libya on untenable evidence can never be the PLA's choice. Those wars have produced nothing other than casualties of both civilians and soldiers, exodus of endless refugees and rise of such monsters as the Islamic State. The author is an honorary fellow with the Center of China-American Defense Relations, Academy of Military Science. Chinese performers don robes and false beards to belt out tunes passed down for more than two centuries. [Photos by Johannes Eisele / AFP] Part of the nation's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Yunnan opera's audience is steadily shrinking White makeup covering their aged faces, Chinese performers - all aged over 50 - don richly-colored robes and false beards to belt out tunes passed down for more than two centuries. The "Flower Lantern" Yunnan Opera troupe performs each day on a run-down stage, their droning instruments and melismatic singing mingling with sounds from a vegetable market next door. But just a few elderly spectators sit watching, a sign of waning interest in the art despite their efforts. "The situation is getting worse each year, our stage has moved seven times and each time it gets smaller," says He Zhengcai, the group's 72-year-old director. Backstage with half-done makeup, he briefed each performer about the characters and plots for the afternoon's two hour show. He has six decades of experience, and many of the seven other actors, who looked in rusty mirrors to daub their faces with powder, are also veterans. "I normally inform everyone his or her role half an hour before the show. They prepare their lines while doing makeup." A man braves bitter cold after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the US capital. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - A winter storm that could bury parts of the US Middle Atlantic region under nearly three feet of snow slammed into Washington, D.C. on Friday afternoon, threatening the nation's capital with record accumulations as it barrels up the populous East Coast. After emergency officials planned and residents scrambled for days to stock up on supplies, the blizzard started to blanket the Washington area during the early afternoon after six people had died in car crashes as a wintry mix spread across Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. The storm could dump two to two and a half feet (61 to 76 cm) of snow on the capital and bring winds of 30 to 50 mph (48 to 80 kph) before winding down late on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. By then it would have moved over Philadelphia and New York, bringing 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of snow. Washington's western suburbs may get up to 3 feet (91 cm), forecasters said. In Falls Church, Virginia, about 8 miles (13 km) west of the capital, a thick curtain of snow was already piling up on the deserted streets on Friday evening, creating a peaceful tableau that may have disguised dangerous conditions to come. "I want to be very clear with everybody. This is a major storm," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said as the city braced for what could turn out to be one of the worst storms in its history. "This has life-and-death implications and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way." Six fatalities have been reported so far in weather-related car crashes as of Friday afternoon. Four were in North Carolina and one each in Arkansas and Tennessee. The Weather Channel said more than 85 million people in at least 20 states were covered by a winter weather warning, watch or advisory. Airlines canceled nearly 6,300 flights for Friday and Saturday, most at airports in the New York and Philadelphia areas, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com. Washington's snowfall could eclipse the "Snowmageddon" storm of 2010 that dropped 17.8 inches (45.2 cm), AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. If forecasts prove accurate, the storm could rival the 1922 Knickerbocker storm, which dumped a record 28 inches (71 cm) on the city. "I think it's going to be a nightmare, the rates of snow we're talking about," said Marisa Kritikson, 27, a nursing student at George Washington University in Washington after buying a snow shovel to dig out from her basement apartment. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio asked people to limit travel to "absolute emergencies" as he declared a winter weather emergency for the largest city in the United States. "There will be white-out conditions," he told a press conference ahead of the storm, which is expected to hit the city after midnight. New York accumulations could reach up to 18 inches (46 cm), with winds gusting to 50 miles per hour (80 kph), whipping up blizzard conditions. Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, was expecting 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm). The approaching storm led New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to come home from New Hampshire, where he is vying for the Republican presidential nomination. Residents along New Jersey's coast prepared for potential flooding during high tides on Saturday and Sunday. In Ocean City, emergency management officials warned of forecasts calling for the highest flood levels since Superstorm Sandy brought heavy damage in 2012. High winds and a full moon could combine to create a high tide of nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) in Atlantic City, officials said, still shy of the 10 feet (3 meters) that Sandy caused in Ocean City. In New York, the National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings for the boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens as officials prepared for possible evacuations from low-lying areas. Post-Sandy reconstruction has put the area in a stronger position to face the storm, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The free trade agreement signed between China and New Zealand in 2008 has greatly boosted the bilateral ties, according to John McKinnon, New Zealand Ambassador to China. "Ten years ago, I didn't expect the progress to be so great and made so fast," said McKinnon, who was New Zealand Ambassador to China from 2001 to 2004. The Sino-New Zealand FTA is the first FTA the Chinese government signed with a developed country. Since signing the FTA, New Zealand's exports to China surged from $2 billion NZ to $8.36 billion NZ in the year ending September, 2015, according to the New Zealand Consulate-General in Chengdu. China is now the second largest export destination to New Zealand, only 0.76 percent (NZ$64.26 million) behind New Zealand's exports to Australia. An increasing number of Chinese companies are investing in New Zealand, including China's dairy giants Mengniu Dairy Group Co, Yili Industrial Group Co, Bright Dairy & Food Co, and infrastructure company Beijing Capital Group. McKinnon said more New Zealand companies are investing in China. "It is widely believed among New Zealand companies and organizations that if they want to explore the overseas market, they have to take China into first consideration," McKinnon said. The number of Chinese tourists in New Zealand has seen rapid rise in recent years. China is the second largest source of New Zealand's overseas tourists following Australia. A total of 345,000 Chinese visited New Zealand from Dec 2014 to Nov 2015, 75 percent of which are tourists, according to New Zealand Consulate-General in Chengdu. Considering the increasing, McKinnon expects the number of Chinese tourists to catch up with those of Australia within five years. With President Xi Jinping starting his state visit to Iran on January 23, the China-Iran Think Tank Dialogue on "Belt and Road" was held in Tehran simultaneously. This was reportedly the first China-Iran Think Tank Dialogue on the topic of "Belt and Road" organized by the government and academic organizations. The Chinese government attaches great importance to developing closer relations with Iran because the bilateral ties are of great strategic significance and carry huge potential development, said Tian Jinchen, Secretary of Western Region Development Department of NDRC and who is responsible for promoting "Belt and Road"in the central government. He said China is willing to work together with Iran, focusing on implementation of "Five Connectivity Goals"under the framework of "Belt and Road". The two countries would jointly explore mutual complementary advantages in related fields, and develop a suitable cooperation mode to build community of responsibility, destiny and common interests. Wu Fulai, vice-chairman of Renmin University council, said that President Xi's visit would become a landmark event as the political situation of Middle East is at a turning point. As the outreach event of Xi's visit to Iran, the dialogue would also create history. "This think tank meeting will record huge achievements in the China-Iran cultural exchange in three aspects: the highest level dialogue, the largest thought collision and the newly establishment of China-Iran think tank exchange platform---as among which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, NDRC of China, Renmin University of China and Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry are going to sign the think tank's Memorandum of Understanding today." Nearly 200 guests from the governments, think tanks, financial and business fields attended the opening ceremony of the dialogue. Both sides exchanged views on the topics such as the international hotspot issues, the comprehensive analysis for "Belt and Road Initiative", cooperation and challenges from the regional perspective and the development of the bilateral relationship between China and Iran. China and Iran signed the first international think tank cooperation agreement on jointly building "Belt and Road" through the cooperation of the official and academic organizations between two major countries on Jan 23. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran), Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) & National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC), Renmin University of China. The signing of the MOU also marks a big step in the promotion of the "Belt and Road Initiative", especially on policy coordination and people-to-people ties between two big countries. The main contents include promoting exchanges and cooperation in the academic and research fields, exchanging experts or researchers, and promoting jointly research on several important projects. Mostafa Zahrani, Director General of Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies, said that the purpose of signing the agreement is to enhance the friendship and the mutual understanding between the think tanks, as well as between the people, of the two countries, especially to promote the specific cooperation and exchange projects in particular fields which can improve mutual interests. Wang Wen, the Executive Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China (RDCY), said the agreement was accomplished with the strongly support of the high level officials of the two countries, especially with the help of the leaders of Renmin University and the common efforts of the two research institutes - RDCY and IPIS. RDCY was one of the earliest think tanks to conduct the research on the "Belt and Road" and has the ability and responsibility to push forward the research cooperation worldwide, Wang said. He said the think tanks' exchanges and contacts between China and Iran were still in their initial period over the past years without any institutionalized mechanisms on cooperation and communication. "The signing of the MOU will become a useful exploration for the deep cooperation between the think tanks and embark on a new historical period of the two ancient countries on promoting policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Iran, Jan 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] China and Iran upgraded their ties to form a comprehensive strategic partnership, visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday, calling it a "new season" in bilateral relations. Xi is the first Chinese president to visit Iran in 14 years. He has visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well during a Middle East tour that began on Jan 19. China and Iran have no fundamental conflicts, and there are only consistent mutual support and mutual benefit between them, President Xi said. In history, there had been no wars or disputes between the two nations, and the two nations had conducted time-honored friendly exchanges and sincere cooperation, Xi told his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani. "The China-Iran friendship... has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape," Xi said. China hopes the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), can be implemented smoothly, President Xi said. Meanwhile, he said China is willing to see Iran strike a brand-new pose on regional and international stages. "We are happy that President Xi visited Iran after the lifting of sanctions," Rouhani said at the news conference with Xi broadcast live on state television. Both countries signed a dozen accords on Saturday, including agreements on a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route. The two countries also agreed to oppose all kinds of use of force or threatening with the use of force, imposing unjust sanctions against other countries, and terrorism in any form. Both countries believe that controversial or acute international issues should be resolved through negotiations and political dialogue, according to a joint statement signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Iran. On Jan 21, accompanied by the Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabya and Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismai, President Xi Jinping had delivered a keynote address at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo entitled, "Work together for a bright future of China-Arab relations." Xi promoted pragmatic cooperation in the four-point initiative, outlining a new blueprint for China-Arab cooperation, which received a warm response from the Middle East media. His speech focused on the Arab world and explained Beijing's diplomatic policy on the region that depicted a beautiful portrayal of China-Arab cooperation. The four-point initiative conveys far-reaching significance and demonstrates China will be a firm builder of peace and development in the Middle East. Beijing would boost regional industrialization, support regional stability and be a good envoy of communications between the Chinese and Arab peoples. Xi's speech demonstrated Chinese wisdom, reflecting the style of a large country and highlighting China's responsibility to guide the revival of the Chinese and Egyptian peoples. The constant applause in the Arab League headquarters had proven how Xi's speech would mark an impressive chapter in the history of China-Arab relations. Comments by Xu Xiujun, associate researcher with the Institute of World Economy and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; comics drawn by Chi Ying (The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com.) BEIJING - With the further dovetailing of development strategies of China and the Middle East, enormous cooperation potential will be unleashed, thanks to Chinese President Xi Jinping's ongoing trip. Xi's three-nation tour, which has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, has helped further link China's westward opening strategy and its Middle East partners' looking-east policy, in a move that has lifted bilateral ties to a new high and brought vitality to their interaction. As the two sides are attuning their needs when integrating their development blueprints, a pattern that promotes cooperation in such areas as energy, production capacity and new and high technology is taking shape. ENERGY COOPERATION BIGGER THAN JUST OIL Accounting for around one third of the current global oil output, the Middle East has played a key role in the international energy supply. Recent years have seen a vigorous implementation of China's economic adjustment and the Middle East's endeavor to build new engines for its energy sector. The strong complementarity of China and the Middle East in economy and trade has enabled the world's second-largest economy and the oil-rich region to forge stable ties in their strategic energy cooperation. During Xi's Tuesday meeting with Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, secretary-general of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), the Chinese leader said China is willing to carry out comprehensive energy cooperation with the GCC countries and offer a long-term, stable and reliable energy market for the six-member bloc. Strengthening energy cooperation will promote the development of both China and the Middle East and diversify their economic exchanges, said Wang Qiong, a research fellow with the Institute of West Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). So far, the two sides have set up multiple multilateral frameworks, including the China-Arab Energy Cooperation Conference and the China-GCC Strategic Dialogue. BEIJING - The Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to promoting connectivity and expanding trade cooperation between China and Middle East countries, experts have said. The Belt and Road Initiative was a hot topic during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran from Jan 19 to 23. Proposed by Xi in 2013, the initiative comprises both the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, with visions to connect Asian, European and African countries more closely and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. The Belt and Road routes run through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant East Asia economic circle at one end and developed European economic circle at the other. INFRASTRUCTURE IS PRIORITY "Connectivity is the artery of the thousand-mile land and maritime silk roads. To build connectivity with Middle East countries, China should start with transportation infrastructure," said Zhang Shuyu, a researcher with the University of International Business and Economics. Zhang highlighted both the necessity and compatibility of cooperation between China and the Middle East in transportation infrastructure, noting that trade cannot be smooth without convenient transportation. China has a strong competitive edge in areas such as railways, electricity, telecommunications, mechanical engineering, metallurgy and construction materials, which are needed by the Middle East. China committed $40 billion to establishing a Silk Road Fund in 2014 to support cooperation projects in countries along the Belt and Road. Infrastructure construction is important, but it is only part of the larger "1+2+3" cooperation framework, a cooperation plan proposed by Xi in 2014 at a ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing. In the framework, "one" refers to energy cooperation as the main axis; "two" stands for infrastructure construction and trade and investment facilitation; "three" refers to breakthroughs that need to be made in the high-tech areas of nuclear energy, aerospace satellites and new energy. Six Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, have inked agreements with China under the framework. China Railway Group Limited announced Friday in a statement that the company, jointly with China's AVIC International, sealed a contract worth $1.5 billion on railway construction with Egypt. Majidreza Hariri, vice president of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said Chinese companies are welcome to participate in the development of Iran's infrastructure damaged during war times. HUGE TRADE POTENTIAL "With the construction and development of infrastructure, ... the two nations (China and Iran) have paved the way for greater links along the Silk Road Economic Belt," said Sadegh Akbari, general director of the Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran, in an article on China Daily on Saturday. China promised to encourage its companies to import more non-petroleum products from Middle East nations to improve the trade mix and raise the two-way trade volume from $240 billion in 2013 to $600 billion in the coming decade. So far, China has remained Iran's biggest trading partner for six years in a row and is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia. Though the plunge in oil prices dragged down China's trade with Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2015, growth potential remains to be exploited, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shen Danyang said on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia is the top source of crude oil for China. Iran, also a big oil exporter, contributed 8 percent of China's total crude oil imports in the first 11 months of last year. China's trade with Egypt remained strong in 2015. In the first 11 months, exports to Egypt rose 12.2 percent to $10.75 billion, while total trade volume grew 10.4 percent to $11.64 billion. China also encouraged its companies to invest in such fields as energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, manufacturing and services of Middle East countries. Hariri said that the oil, gas and petrochemical industries are the first that come to mind for investment and economic cooperation between China and Iran. Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Upon the invitation by His Excellency Mr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the Peoples Republic of China, paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 to 23 January 2016. The two Heads of State deeply exchanged views on cooperation in all fields of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest under an amicable and cordial atmosphere and thus reached extensive agreements. During their over two thousand years old history of bilateral ties, China and Iran have both played important roles in spreading friendly cooperation along the Silk Road as well as in facilitation and expansion of the world trade. During the 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries on 16 August 1971, bilateral ties have witnessed outstanding achievements in political, economic, cultural and defense areas. Currently the regional and international situation is experiencing deep and complex developments. Under such circumstances, the two sides emphasize the importance of cooperation between the developing countries on international affairs and are committed to joint efforts towards realization of peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large. In view of the actual needs of upgrading the level of bilateral relations under the new conditions, both sides thus agree to establish relations based on "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" under which framework they shall further expand bilateral cooperation in the following domains: A-Political Domain 1- Both sides believe that under the current conditions of deepening multilaterization of the international order and globalization of the economy, the bilateral ties between China and Iran have gained strategic importance and the two sides regard each other as important strategic partners and thus designate the expansion of bilateral relations as a priority of their respective foreign policies. Appropriate and constant expansion of bilateral ties conforms to the common interests of both countries and contributes to safeguarding the regional and global peace, stability and development. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, Iran, Jan 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] TEHRAN -- China and Iran, two ancient civilizations, agreed Saturday to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership to boost cooperation on all fronts and carry forward their millennia-old friendship. The consensus was reached during President Xi Jinping's visit to Iran, the first in 14 years by a Chinese head of state. China and Iran have no fundamental conflicts, and there are only consistent mutual support and mutual benefit between them, Xi said during summit talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani. In history, there had been no wars or disputes between the two nations, and the two nations had conducted time-honored friendly exchanges and sincere cooperation, which date back to 2,000 years ago thanks to the Silk Road, Xi said. "The China-Iran friendship is originated from friendly exchanges in history, from mutual assistance in difficult times, from unselfish support to each other on major issues, and from our concepts of mutually-beneficial cooperation. It has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape," Xi told Rouhani. Xi's visit comes days after West-led sanctions on Iran were lifted following an announcement by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirming that Tehran had scaled back its nuclear program. China played a constructive role in prior negotiations. China hopes the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), can be implemented smoothly, Xi said, noting that China is willing to see Iran strike a brand-new pose on regional and international stages. "China stands ready to work with Iran to lift our mutually-beneficial cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and trade, energy, infrastructure, security, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges to a new stage," the president said. Xi also pointed out that China respects and supports the nations and peoples in the region to independently pursue the political systems and development paths suited to their national conditions, and the international community should help the region achieve economic and social development. Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Tehran, Iran, Jan 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] TEHRAN -- China and Iran vowed to enhance cooperation between their legislative bodies as Chinese President Xi Jinping met Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani Saturday. Xi said that China and Iran agreed during his visit to upgrade their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a move which would increase their strategic mutual trust, strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields and benefit the two peoples in a better way. China and Iran should deepen mutual understanding, boost political trust and find innovative ways for their cooperation, he said, noting that the cooperative documents signed during his visit, including the one on the Belt and Road Initiative, would help align their development plans while making good use of respective advantages of the two sides. The Chinese president said that the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue is conducive to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, which meets the common interest of the region and the whole world at large. Xi said China supports a constructive role of Iran in regional affairs and is willing to communicate and coordinate closely with Iran to facilitate long-term peace and stability in the region. Exchanges between the two legislatures are an important part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Iran, which have played an important role in advancing Sino-Iranian relations, said Xi, calling on such exchanges to be boosted at various levels. Larijani spoke highly of Xi's historic visit and thanked China for its important contribution in facilitating a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. He said Iran is willing to strengthen ties with China in an all-round manner and increase cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, energy and infrastructure. Iran sees China as a priority partner in cooperation, said the Iranian parliament speaker. Larijani said Iran highly values the Belt and Road Initiative and would like to play an active role in relevant cooperation, adding that Iran would like to communicate and coordinate closely with China in regional and international affairs while beefing up their security cooperation. The Majlis, or parliament of Iran, is keen to increase its exchanges with the People's Congress of China, Larijani said. (Photo : Reuters) F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter parked at a US naval base. Advertisement The United States government has implicated two Chinese soldiers in a case involving the theft of top secret information on the design of the F-35 jet fighter and other US military aircraft, according to a Canadian news organization. The two soldiers are believed to have conspired with Su Bin -- a Chinese aviation industry entrepreneur living in Vancouver -- who was arrested by Canadian authorities on a US warrant in 2014. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement 50-year old Su is facing extradition charges after the US government accused him of conspiring to steal secret information from the secure databases of US companies that design and build jets for the Pentagon. The aviation giant Boeing -- which manufactures the Globemaster C17 transport aircraft -- is said to have been one of these companies. A federal grand jury has indicted the Chinese national on five felony offenses in connection with the theft. The charges carry a total maximum statutory penalty of 30 years, according to a report that appears in the website of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hacking Conspiracy Citing the prosecution summary of the hacking case, The Globe and Mail reports that Su allegedly directed "two unindicted co-conspirators" to the e-mail accounts of US aviation engineers whose communications he believed would yield classified information on US military aircraft. Once inside the accounts, the China-based hackers raided corporate networks for the classified engineering manuals of the F-35 stealth fighter, the C-17 transport aircraft and the F-22 Raptor. The two would then return to Su with a lengthy list of files and ask which they should steal. The hackings allegedly took place from 2009 to 2012. In one instance in 2012, one of the conspirators is said to have written and edited a document that described the unlawful acquisition of 65 gigabytes of data. The vast store of stolen information reportedly included drawings, scans and other technical details about the C-17. The original indictment records from 2014 -- copies of which are now available on the web -- make no mention of any links to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). But the prosecution book of records more recently acquired by The Globe and Mail are said to make explicit mention of "two Chinese military officers." US officials claim to have confirmed the hackers' link to the PLA after the US government intercepted an e-mail attachment bearing one of the conspirators' "Chinese military identification," which showed "his name, rank, military unit, and year and month of birth." However, the records cited by the Globe and Mail do not say whether the two soldiers allegedly involved in the hacking scheme were working for themselves or on orders from Beijing. Ulterior Motives The Chinese government has meanwhile said that the two soldiers implicated in the issue are in no way connected to any hacking activities. Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told the press on Friday that the accusations against the soldiers are unfounded and premised on "ulterior motives." "The Chinese government and armed forces are opposed to -- and have not been -- engaged in any forms of network hacking," Hong said. Hong likewise urged the Canadian government to ensure the legal rights of Su and abide by relevant consular agreements between China and Canada in the disposition of his case. "The Chinese government has always paid high attention to safeguard legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens overseas," Hong said, adding that Beijing will continue to follow Su's case. Su remains in the custody of authorities in Vancouver pending an appeal. Advertisement TagsUS-China relations, china hackers Lawyer urges Christian farm family to keep fighting for freedom 23 January, 2016 by Tobin Perry , | ALBANY, N.Y.(Christian Examiner)After a New York appellate court unanimously turned down an appeal on a $13,000 fine levied against a couple who refused to allow a same-sex couple to marry on their farm, the couple's attorney, in an interview with Christian Examiner, urged believers to continue to fight similar unjust rulings. There's always value in fighting for the truth. I'd also say there's hope for the future in continuing to stand for the truth and freedom for all Americans. "There's always value in fighting for the truth," Caleb Dalton, the attorney for Robert and Cynthia Gifford, told the Christian Examiner. "I'd also say there's hope for the future in continuing to stand for the truth and freedom for all Americans." Dalton, who serves with the Alliance Defending Freedom, notes that while the media hasn't always reported it, religious freedom cases haven't always gone against Christians. As an example, he noted a 2015 Kentucky case, won by his organization, where the court found that the government couldn't compel a t-shirt maker to print a gay pride message with which he didn't agree. The Giffords case began when Melisa and Jennie McCarthy, a lesbian couple, were told in 2012 they couldn't hold their wedding at the couple's Liberty Ridge Farm north of Albany. The Giffords offered to allow the couple to use the property for the wedding reception and noted they have gay employees. The lesbian couple, who wanted to marry in a rustic setting, found another upstate farm for their venue. New York's Division of Human Rights ruled that the Giffords must pay the McCarthys $1,500 a piece and pay $10,000 to the state. They also were told to "cease and desist from discriminatory practices in public accommodation," according to The New American. Liberty Ridge Farm stopped allowing all weddings in August of 2014. The couple's appeal was declined earlier this month. "The Giffords are free to adhere to and profess their religious beliefs that same-sex couples should not marry, but they must permit same-sex couples to marry on the premises if they choose to allow opposite-sex couples to do so," said Judge Karen Peters, who heard the appellate case, according to Fox News. Dalton told the Christian Examiner that the caseand other religious freedom cases like itis important for all Americans, whether they are religious or not. "What all of these cases have in common is that they restrict the freedom of all Americans," Dalton said. "I'm not just talking about religious people. It's people of faith and people of no faith at all. What the courts have essentially done is declare the Giffords' backyardbecause it's a backyard businessthe government has declared it to be a free-speech free zone. That should be concerning to all Americans." Dalton illustrated his point by considering that a same-sex couple with an event coordination business can nowbecause of this rulingbe compelled to host an event for an anti-gay group like Westboro Baptist Church. Dalton estimates the Giffords have lost around $200,000 by not hosting weddings on their 100-acre farm. "It's very difficult for a 100-acre farm to make ends meet without the ability to have other income besides just growing corn on the farm," Dalton said. "That's how the Giffords have made their living is not just through farming but also through hosting and coordinating weddings. The courts have essentially told Mrs. Giffords that she cannot be wedding coordinator. She can either agree to violate her conscience or she has to get out of business." Mrs. Gifford had declined to undergo "training" that would have required to change her beliefs in order to be a wedding coordinator. The Giffords are still deciding whether they will appeal this recent decision. A conservative member of Parliament in the UK as said that children who attend Christian schools turn out as people who want to help others. According to him, children's participation in Christian events should be encouraged rather than restricted, as recently proposed by the government. The proposed regulations will impose a compulsory registration for any out-of-school religious program for under-19 children, which will involve over six hours of instruction per week. The restrictions may be applied through Ofsted Agency, which sets nationwide standards in education, child services and skills. It is proposed to be tasked with checking the work done by young members in the church. MP Steve Double warned that the new restrictions will cause an "unwarranted bureaucracy," affecting thousands of volunteers. "We should be promoting the teaching of the Bible to our children, not seeking to restrict it, because the results of that produce an awful lot of good," he was quoted as saying by The Christian Institute. Debating at Westminster Hall, he said, "Where are the Sunday school teachers who seek to inspire and incite young people to join terrorist organisations?" "I suggest there is no evidence whatever to impose such restrictions on Sunday schools and other church groups," he added. Double continued, "We are in danger of applying onerous restrictions on the many to address the actions of a few. That is the wrong thing to do." He said that teachings at the church prepare the children for socially beneficial purposes, as "they often find not just faith but a mission in life to go and serve humanity". "That is something we should be promoting, celebrating and encouraging, not restricting," said Double. Prime Minister David Cameroon has said that Sunday schools and summer camps will be outside the purview of the new regulations, and that the restrictive actions will be taken after suspicious activity is reported from any of the religious programs. One of the oldest refrains in the world is the theodicy question: how could a good God let bad things happen? That question animates Agnus Dei, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday. But the film's answer is expansive, complex, and subtly subversive. Directed by Anne Fontaine (Coco Before Chanel, Gemma Bovary) and led by an all-female cast, the movie tries to approach (but not fix) the repercussions of unspeakable cruelty with the quiet balm of beauty. Its a must-see for CT readers. Agnus Dei is set in 1945, amid the ruins of World War II. Mathilde (Lou de Laage) is a young French doctor working with the Red Cross in Poland. Through an unusual set of circumstances, she comes into contact with a convent of Polish nuns who, she discovers, are in advanced stages of pregnancy. Months earlier, a group of Russian soldiers had broken into the convent and raped the women repeatedly, staying for several days. The horror haunts them still, even while they have tried to regain their faith and practice their vocation. Full of shame, theyre convinced of the need to conceal their condition, lest they be shut down by their superiors. And yet the reminders linger in their own bodies and, nine months later, are about to arrive. Mathilde isn't Catholic; over vodka one night, she tells her fellow doctor and sometime lover Samuel (who himself is Jewish) that her parents were staunch Communists, and she seems untroubled by her lack of faith. Late in the film, it becomes clear that Mathilde and Samuel, considered by some to be the unholy interlopers in a world of peace and piety, are in fact more aware of the implications of their own vocation as doctors than some of the women in the convent. ... 1 UNC excavation crew in Galilee region of Israel uncover first known depictions of biblical heroines An excavation team in Israel has discovered the first known depiction of two biblical heroines from the Old Testament. World to reach 8 billion people in November, India to unseat China as most populous in 2023: UN By Nov. 15, the worlds population is projected to reach 8 billion, and by 2023, India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country, according to a new report from the United Nations. Single, non-religious young adults are most unhappy Americans post-COVID-19: report Young adults under 35 who are single and non-religious report the highest levels of unhappiness since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since 1972, when the General Social Survey began measuring levels of happiness among Americans, a new analysis from the Institute of Family Studies suggests. Nexus 7 2016 release rumor: New devices to appear at Google I/O event? Numerous speculations have floated online about Google's plans to add another device to its Nexus devices. If the rumors are true, then fans of the Nexus lineups may expect at least two new Nexus 7 smartphones, and a new Nexus 7 tablet. Additionally, the new iterations are said to be launched at Google's annual I/O event. According to KnowYourMobile, Google is satisfied with China-based Huawei's take on the Nexus 6P and that the two tech manufacturers will again partner for a Nexus device. Huawei is set to refresh the Nexus 7 tablet iteration, and instead of the new device being launched as a budget-friendly tablet (much like the earlier editions of the Nexus 7 made by Asus), the upcoming Huawei Nexus 7 will offer above-average specs and might even come out as a premium flagship. In addition, the industry observer said that Huawei plans to set a mid-2016 timetable for its release and might be launched in June, at the annual Google I/O conference. Meanwhile, The Bit Bag reported that instead of the Nexus 7 being a tablet iteration, it will instead be a complete lineup and, aside from the Nexus 7 (2016) tablet, will also have at least two smartphone iterations. Allegedly, Google tapped HTC to be its partner for the smartphone iterations. The industry follower added that much like last year's Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P launches, there will be two iterations for this year, one for a smartphone with a 5.0-inch display, and a premium one with a 5.5-inch screen. Should the rumor be proven true, this will not be the first time that Google and HTC partnered with a Nexus device. The Taiwan-based company was behind the Nexus 9 tablet, launched in 2014. Prior to that, HTC was also the one to manufacture Google's first Nexus smartphone, the Nexus One, in 2010. HTC One M10 release date delayed; flagship not to appear at Mobile World Congress The anticipated HTC One M10 will not be unveiled in the upcoming Mobile World Congress next month, if a new report is anything to go by. The buzz is that the Taiwan-based tech firm's flagship will be launched in a separate event where it will be the sole star of the show. Instead of showcasing the new smartphone this February, HTC allegedly chose to take the covers off the One M9 predecessor in March to give way to some minor design changes. This tweak pushed back HTC's plans to show it off during the MWC. Several prototypes of the HTC One M10 were reportedly sent back to the tech company's design team to be given improvements. It should not be a big of deal though since the launch was only delayed by a month. Meanwhile, reliable tipster LlabTooFeR claims that the HTC One M10 will arrive in a couple of variants. The first model will be fitted out with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and will only be available in the U.S. and in Europe. The second version, which will be equipped with an unidentified MediaTek processor, will be headed to China and Southeast Asia. Whether these two versions will be released and be made available to their respective markets simultaneously remains to be seen. As for the specs of the HTC One M10, the speculation is that it will boast a 23-MP rear-facing camera and a hefty 3,000-mAh battery. It will also be made resistant to water and dust and will feature a fingerprint scanner as its primary biometric security measure. There's not much info on the appearance of the HTC M10 but fans can expect a very different looking device compared to the others in its family. The smartphone is expected to don the Sense 8.0 UI based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The HTC One M10 should see the light of day by March. ISIS declares war on enemy worse than West its fellow Muslims belonging to Shia sect The Islamic State (ISIS) has found an enemy worse than the Westits fellow Muslims belonging to the Shia sect. In the latest issue of its online magazine Dabiq, ISIS declared war on Shiites who it calls "the followers of deviant desires.'' Titled "The Rafidah: Front Ibn Saba' to the Dajjal," the main article in the magazine's 13th issue contains pages of violent rhetoric directed against Shiites. "Rafida'' is derogatory term for Shiite Muslims and can be translated as "rejecters,'' according to Fox News. The Sunni terror group devoted a majority of its 56 pages in its new issue justifying the killing of Shiites or Shia Muslims, who they say are apostates to the Sunni majority. "Some of them are Jews who fake Islam to spread their deviance, just as Paul of the Jews faked Christianity to spread his deviance,'' the magazine says "The Rafidah hate Islam just as the Jews hate Christianity. They did not enter Islam longing for Allah fearing Him, rather out of spite for the people of Islam and so as to inflict harm upon them,'' it states. It also says: "Our condition dictates that we deal with the matter with courage and clarity and endeavour for a solution... The solution as we believe, and Allah knows best, is to expose the Rafidah...to fight them and stop them." While this is not the first time ISIS has called for the killing of Shia Muslims, this time around the Sunni jihadist group is calling for a concerted effort to wipe out the Shiite population of the Middle East, according to Ryan Mauro, a national security analyst for the Clarion Project. "At first glance, it may seem odd that ISIS is focusing its efforts against fellow Muslims and not the West. But this is all part of the elaborate campaign on the Islamic State's part," Mauro said. He noted that attacking U.S. and Europe is still crucial for branding purposes since this will help them make their case look favourably in the eyes of Allah, and that they are growing stronger, regardless of whatever territorial losses they suffer on the ground. ''Even though the Americans are also a major enemy, [to ISIS] the Rafidah are more severely dangerous and more murderous than the Americans,'' the analyst said. The propaganda magazine also praised the Dec. 2 terrorist attack launched in San Bernardino, California. It said the couple who staged the attack demonstrated Muslims' willingness to make sacrifice for the sake of ''fulfilling their duty to Allah.'' An article on the recently killed executioner for ISIS, "Jihadi John," and a piece blasting Saudi Arabia were also included. It likewise praised the widows of ISIS fighters. ISIS executes 10 boys for trying to escape training camp; boy shoots militants who killed his pet birds The Islamic State (ISIS) recently executed 10 boys no older than 12 years old after they attempted to escape from an ISIS training camp in Fallujah. The jihadist group is also on the lookout for a 13-year-old boy who shot an undetermined number of ISIS fighters after they killed 70 pet birds he had been breeding. Sources inside Fallujah disclosed that the ISIS had tried to stop the boy from breeding pigeons. When the boy persisted in raising the birds, ISIS militants came and killed all the birds, flogged the boy's father and slapped his mother when she tried to step in, Fox News reported. "The boy was angered and he seized one of the fighters' AK-47 and shot them all," a witness said. Currently, the boy and his family are in hiding within their community, protected by family and neighbours who also despise the ISIS. No other information was provided in the case of the 10 boys who were executed after fleeing the camp of the terror organisation. Fallujah was reportedly the first prize claimed by ISIS in 2014. Sources who spoke by phone with Fox News painted a grim picture of life under an increasingly brutal and desperate ISIS, as it prepares for an expected assault by Iraqi government forces. Baghdad has already liberated nearby Ramadi from ISIS earlier with the support from coalition forces and the Shia militias, but plans to retake Fallujah fell apart in the latter half of last year when the risk of civilian casualties was deemed too great. "The Iraqi city is now a ghost town where fearful residents turn on one another and resistance is met with unspeakable brutality," according to sources trapped inside the Pittsburgh-sized community just 40 miles west of Baghdad, Fox News reported. "They [ISIS militants] don Iraqi government uniforms to trick citizens into believing the liberation has begun, only to slaughter them when they venture from their homes. They also infiltrate local communities to root out disloyal residents. Hundreds are believed to have been killed trying to leave Fallujah, while those left behind suffer from food, water and electricity shortages,'' it said. Unlike in normal schools, schools in Fallujah are open for only a few hours during the day. Boys and girls are strictly separated and the only courses being taught pertain to weapons use, a hard-line interpretation of Islamic doctrine and learning the classical Arabic language which differs from local dialects. Under ISIS rule, Friday morning prayers are always followed by mass executions in the public square, including locking people in cages with ravenous wild animals, blowing them up, setting them on fire and driving armoured vehicles over them. Women suspected of adultery are beheaded and men believed to be homosexual are thrown from atop buildings. Those who served in the Iraqi military or police force are hunted down and killed. Locals are stripped of their identity cards and documentations to deter further defection attempts. The extremist group has sought from families to provide at least one or two child fighters depending on the size of the family and boys are forced to register for selection at age 14. "They have had almost two years to build up the city for defences, make strong points, set all sorts of booby traps, dig tunnels for ease of movement between positions," said former U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, now a foreign policy analyst. "I'd expect they'd fight much more fanatically for Fallujah." 'Jihotties': New ISIS dating site uses men displaying their masculinity to recruit brides A female jihadist dubbed "Bird of Jannah" recently posted a blog to entice young women worldwide to join the Islamic State (ISIS). "After a few minutes, I flip my niqab. He looked at me. Our eyes catch each others'. I had palpitation that is faster than the speed of light," reads a portion of her blog, CNN reported. The flowery prose reportedly refers to her first meeting with her future husband. Accompanying the texts are Islamist memes such as "She found Allah and lived happily ever after." Analysts say the site is the ISIS' own version of Match.com. It seeks to recruit women, mostly young ones to become brides of jihadists. "Where it's about romance, about a perfect life, it's about making everything bad in their past go away, because now they're going to have a perfect future," said Prof. Mia Bloom, author of the book "Dying to Kill." According to CNN, the group is using men ''displaying their masculinity online'' to recruit women as brides. They use the catch-phrase "Jihotties" to attract the ladies. "The Jihotties refers to men who are displaying their masculinity, showing what heroes they are, and how amazing they are, as good Muslim men who appear and are willing to fight," said Katherine Brown, a lecturer in Islamic studies at the University of Birmingham. It's part of an explosion of online recruiting for ISIS that's eye-catching and inviting, she added. Lorenzo Vidino, the director of George Washington University's programme on extremism, noted that the glossy presentation online appeals to people in their teens or early 20s. "But it is also very well done. It's a lot of pictures, not a lot of words." The experts said the site promises almost perfect life for the women and their jihadist. They are being offered free housing, healthcare and cars, among others. Estimates show that more than 500 Western women had left their families to travel to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS. But just like a lot of online dating sites, ISIS matching sites give false advertising. Women end up in dorms where they are brainwashed. Housing, electricity and water are insufficient and often they don't have any choice of who they marry, CNN said. "ISIS' use of foreign fighters as 'cannon fodder' suggests many of these marriages will be short-lived," a U.S counter-terrorism official told CNN. And even when they get married, their spouses probably won't live long, leaving them widows to be recycled to the next available terrorist in search of a bride, said the report. Western officials are reportedly trying to encourage young recruits, especially the women, to leave ISIS. But while some may be lucky enough to escape the group, others may just end up dead. One pastor released in Sudan but others still detained without charge A Sudanese pastor who was arrested in December has been released. However, another pastor and a Christian activist arrested at the same time are still in detention. The Rev Kowa Shamal of the Sudan Church of Christ, arrested by Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service last month, was unconditionally released a few days ago. His colleague, Rev Hassan Abduraheem and Christian activist Talahon Nigosi Kassa Ratta, also arrested last month, are still being held, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. "These cases underscore the growing and systematic harassment of Christian religious leaders in Sudan," the charity said. Both pastors were arrested at their homes. Although family members were given a reason, the pastors were among those who have objected to churches being bulldozed. Shamal's church in Hai Thiba Al Hamyida was demolished in the summer of 2014. Ratta, a member of Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, has campaigned against the confiscation of church buildings. Christians have suffered growing persecution in Sudan since the secession of South Sudan in July 2011. Sudan is designated a Country of Particular Concern by the US State Department. The arrests of Shamal and Abduraheem and Mr Ratta were in the same month that Pastor Hafiz Mengisto, senior minister of the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, was tried and acquitted of obstructing a public servant from performing the duties of his office. Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said: "Whilst welcoming the unconditional release of Reverend Kwa Shamal, we remain concerned by the continuing incarceration of Reverend Hassan Abduraheem and Talahon Nigosi Kassa Ratta. The arrest and detention of these men are arbitrary and violate their right to liberty and security of person, as articulated in article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article six of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, to which Sudan is a party. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and appeal to the international community, in particular the African Union to hold Sudan to its international obligations." Syrian opposition rules out peace talks before end to Russian air strikes The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition has ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before steps including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting US Secretary of State John Kerry's insistence that talks will begin next week. With the five-year-old Syrian war showing no signs of ending, it looks increasingly uncertain that peace talks will begin as planned on January 25 in Geneva, partly because of a dispute over the composition of the opposition delegation. Peace efforts face huge underlying challenges, among them disagreements over President Bashar al-Assad's future and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia on Friday denied a report that President Vladimir Putin had asked Assad to step down last year. The Syrian government has said it is ready to take part in the Geneva talks on time. The office of UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he was still aiming "at rolling out the talks" on January 25, and would be "assessing progress over the weekend". Russia said the talks could be delayed until January 27 or 28 because of the disagreement over who would represent the opposition. George Sabra, a senior opposition official, said the obstacles to the talks were still there, reiterating demands for the lifting of blockades on populated areas and the release of detainees, measures set out in a December 18 Security Council resolution that endorsed the peace process. "There must be a halt to the bombardment of civilians by Russian planes, and sieges of blockaded areas must be lifted," said Sabra, who was this week named as a senior member of the opposition delegation to any talks. "The form of the talks does not concern us, but the conditions must be appropriate for the negotiations," he told Reuters. Sabra's opposition council, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), was formed in Saudi Arabia last month. It groups Assad's political and armed opponents, including rebel factions fighting Damascus in western Syria. The west is the main theatre of the war between rebels and Damascus, whose military position has been bolstered since September by Russian warplanes and Iranian ground forces. Russian warplanes continued to bomb many parts of western and northern Syria on Friday, particularly Latakia province, where the government is pressing an offensive against rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Pro-government forces captured a dam 10 km (6 miles) from the town of Salma, seized last week in one of the most significant gains since Russia intervened. "They've tightened their stranglehold on (rebel) fighters in the Latakia countryside," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. Later in the day they recaptured another five villages, all in hills overlooking insurgent positions, he said, describing it as a "strategic advance" towards the Turkish border. Air strikes also hit areas in the east near where government forces have been fighting against Islamic State, which controls most of the province. Raids believed to be either Russian or Syrian killed 30 civilians near Deir al-Zor city, the Observatory said. HIJAB TO MEET KERRY While rebels have received military support from Assad's foreign enemies, states including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar and the United States, their calls for more effective weapons including anti-aircraft missiles have gone unanswered. One of the biggest rebel factions in the HNC, Jaysh al-Islam, said the opposition was facing "many pressures" to make concessions but credited Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for helping it to "overcome these pressures". The lead negotiator picked by the HNC for the hoped-for negotiations is a Jaysh al-Islam member, another potential complication facing the talks because Russia says it is a terrorist group. HNC chair Riad Hijab is due to meet Kerry on Saturday and "all the matters will be tabled clearly", Sabra said. A senior US State Department official confirmed Kerry was likely to meet Hijab to "check the tyres on the way forward (on talks)... that will hopefully kick off next week." Russia views the HNC as a Saudi attempt to dictate who represents the opposition. The HNC has said it will not join any negotiations if a third party attends, rejecting Russia's bid to expand the opposition delegation to include the Kurdish PYD and others. The Kurds control vast areas of northern and northeastern Syria where they have set up an autonomous administration which they say should be a model for settling the Syrian conflict. The opposition accuses the Kurds of cooperating with Damascus, a charge they deny. One opposition official said on Thursday the Kurds should attend on the government side. Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim told Reuters that the Syrian Kurds must be represented at peace talks or they will fail. He also accused Jaysh al-Islam of fostering the "same mentality" as al Qaeda and Islamic State. "If there are some parties that are effective in this Syria issue who are not at the table, it will be the same as what happened in Geneva 2," Muslim, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) told Reuters, referring to failed negotiations in 2014. Jaysh al-Islam last year backed away from hardline Islamist rhetoric heard from it earlier in the conflict, saying Syrians should be free to pick their form of government and Alawites were part of the Syrian nation. The Kremlin on Friday rejected a report that an envoy for Putin asked Assad to step down last year, TASS news agency reported. The Financial Times had earlier reported that the head of Russian military intelligence agency travelled to Damascus at the end of last year to ask Assad to step down only to be angrily rebuffed. U.S. forces get green light to attack ISIS fighters in Afghanistan; critics ask: Why only now? U.S. military forces are now authorised to go on offensive against Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in Afghanistan. The change in the rules of engagement for U.S. forces comes after the U.S. State Department designated ISIS-K (ISIS-Khorasan) in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a foreign terror organisation last week, CNN reported, citing U.S. defence officials. ISIS-K is reportedly the ISIS branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan that is believed to be responsible for suicide and small-arms attacks and kidnappings, targeting civilians and Afghan government officials. "The change now means that U.S. forces can actively pursue ISIS elements and attack them as a threat to the United States. Previous rules of engagement required ISIS elements to first pose a threat to U.S. forces in the area or to be pursued as part of a specific counterterrorism mission," U.S. officials said. "The consequence of the State Department designation is that there is a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to this organisation,'' they added. The officials said the extended group, who has pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was formed a year ago. They mainly include individuals who defected from Tehrik-e Taliban (TTP) and Afghan Taliban. It is led by Hafez Saeed Khan, a former member of the TTP. The recent development, however, did not sit well with some officials of the government. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, slammed the White House for not changing the rules of engagement sooner, CNN said. "It shouldn't have taken a year for the White House to identify ISIS as a threat in Afghanistan and authorise our forces to engage them," Thornberry said in a statement. "In fact, the committee understands that our military made two requests last year to combat this emerging ISIS threat, the first dating back to February 2015. Once again, the President's inaction and denial of the ISIS threat has only resulted in its growth and put our troops and our Afghan partners at greater risk." A woman whose Ford Mustang hit a light pole on the Southwest Freeway frontage road had to be removed from the wreckage with rescue equipment. Houston firefighters used the Jaws of Life to pry the car apart and extricate the driver after the accident at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hillcroft exit, according to Metro Video. Paul Drinkwater/ NBC Universal, Inc -- FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY -- DO NOT ARCHIVE -- NOT FOR RESALE This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Imagine a TV reality show that mixes "48 Hours" with "Real Housewives." That's how Juanita Jackson, a public defender with Harris County, describes "Sisters in Law," a new Houston-based reality show on the WE network starting in March. Jackson stars with five other prominent African-American female attorneys: Jolanda Jones, Vivian King, Rhonda Wills, Monique Payne and Tiye Foley. All of the women are friends in real life; they range in age from 29 to 56. Jackson said she had the idea for a reality show several years ago, but she wanted something inspiring that her daughter could watch and be proud of. In "Sisters in Law," there's no pulling hair or throwing drinks in each others' faces. "We aren't that kind of women," Jackson said. "It combines the drama we like in a reality show and the grit of reality. We have crazy and interesting lives." The show became reality in late 2013 when Jackson teamed up with friend and actress Kim Coles and producer Stacey McClain of OWN's "Raising Whitley" and shot a trailer. It was eventually picked up by Collins Avenue Productions, which produces Lifetime's "Dance Moms." They filmed eight episodes last summer, chronicling everything from their personal endeavors to their criminal cases in the court room. The trailer for the show began airing this week. Eleven local judges are featured, Jackson said, along with City Council members Larry Green, Dwight Boykins, Ron Green and Houston's new mayor, Sylvester Turner. There's even an episode showing Jones, who also starred on CBS' "Survivor," running for her current HISD school board position. And, of course, there is drama. "You put six successful women together, there will be some difficulties," Jackson said. "There are personality conflicts, but in the end we stick together." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A woman based out of Fulton, New York, has created a GoFundMe page to rally funds to get her 420 forehead tattoo removed or so she says. The GoFundMe page raised more than $970, fulfilling the goal of the page, with more than 90 people contributing in two days. The page link has been shared more than 64,000 times, according to the page. RELATED: Now you can have your tattoos preserved and hung on a wall after you die Tabitha Renea West claims to have struggled with suicide after being teased and ridiculed for the prominent tattoo. She says she was young n dumb when she got the tattoo and wants to get it removed so that she can get a job, according to the page. Many people have shown both financial and moral support for the woman, but others think she is abusing the use of the website. RELATED: San Antonio Cocktail Conference crew all get matching taco tattoos One person is claiming to be her brother, David, in the comments section of the GoFundMe page. He said: Tabitha it's ur [sic] brother David that's not what this sight is for it's for people in need I know u have a mental disability but your really making yourself look ignorant just use cover up and take this down Jesus this site is for people who have house fires or need life saving operations Tabitha. RELATED: For some Spurs, tattoos have deep meanings others not so much I dont see why she couldnt put on some makeup in the meantime to cover up the tattoo, but I digress. Click through the slideshow to see a collection of ideas for Texas Pride tattoos. twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite family photo Fort Bend County authorities on Friday asked for the public's help in a continued search for a second suspect in a 2014 murder case. Police are trying to locate a man they say accompanied suspect Eric Norris in the fatal shooting of Missouri City businessman Donald Leonetti during a poker game on July 17, 2014 in Stafford. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Blue Triangle community center, home to a prized wall painting by legendary Houston muralist John Biggers, was buzzing on Friday with calls, visitors and television crews interested in how the piece might be saved from an aging, leaky roof. A Chronicle story in Friday's paper presented the dilemma faced by the nonprofit organization that owns the building and operates on a shoestring budget. Contribution of Negro Women to American Life and Education - dedicated in 1953 - covers a wall inside a room at the Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association's headquarters in Third Ward. Warped, water-stained ceiling tiles sit directly above the wall where the mural is painted. Center leaders and supporters are facing a national artistic emergency: They must prevent further damage to the mural and find resources for preservation. Biggers, who died in 2001, was the longtime chairman of the art department at Texas Southern University. He is considered one of the most important black American artists of the 20th century. Since acquiring the community center in 2000, the Blue Triangle organization has been able to afford to patch the roof, said Charlotte Kelly Bryant, the association's founding president and current executive director. For additional income, the center rents the room with the historic mural. Waterproofing on the two small roofs that affect the mural would cost $45,000, according to an estimate the group received late last year. Another company quoted $205,000 to completely replace the roofs that cover the entire 10,000-square-foot community center complex. Contributions via PayPal can be made by visiting www.the-bluetriangle.org and clicking the DONATE button. "It's been an exciting morning," Bryant said before lunch time Friday as one local TV reporter and photojournalist prepared to broadcast live from the Biggers mural room. "My phone at home doesn't stop ringing." The calls were in addition to an onslaught of email. "There is roof damage that needs to be fixed and it's getting consistently worse," said Bryant, who hopes to attract resources for repairs, then begin preservation efforts on the mural in addition to the ongoing upkeep of the community center. The building includes a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, meeting rooms and indoor pool. "First, they need to get that roof fixed. That's the immediate thing," said Alvia Wardlaw, a Biggers scholar who is curator of the University Museum at TSU. She said there are several Biggers acolytes in Houston who have the expertise to restore the mural. Bert Samples, a TSU alumnus, Biggers student and muralist in his own right, is a conservation technician who worked on the team that restored Web of Life, a 1958 wall painting at the university. Lucy Bremond, a member of the Blue Triangle Friends a group of volunteers who support the nonprofit community center and build awareness said she had to set aside her Chronicle newspaper on Friday morning to respond to phone calls. "For me, it's been since 6:30," the retired school district administrator said. "I couldn't even finish reading it because I got phone calls and Facebook messages from people wanting to know: How do I give? How do I help support this effort?" Bryant and Bremond said center supporters had to steel themselves for the instant avalanche of interest. "To be quite honest, we weren't prepared, but we are getting prepared right now," Bremond said. "People are wanting to make donations. We're grateful for everybody that wants to help." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Barbara Bush stepped into the ring Friday to support her sons presidential campaign. She even took a jab at Donald Trump in a new ad released by the Jeb Bush campaign. The Bush family matriarch praised Jebs work ethic and caring nature in her 30-second endorsement. However, the most noteworthy line takes a swipe at the Republican front-runner and real estate mogul. READ THIS: Barbara Bush changes her mind on Jeb for president "When push comes to shove, people are going to realize Jeb has real solutions, rather than talking about how popular they are, how great they are," she said. "Hes doing it because he sees a huge need, and its not being filled by anybody." Theres no mistaking who talking about how popular they are refers to. Still, Bush doesnt exactly offer exuberant praise in an ad backing her own son. She says of Jeb: Of all the people running, he seems to be the one who could solve the problems. A phrase that sounds a little like shed prefer there were other options. SEE MORE: How the Bush family became a dynasty That poorly worded appraisal might remind people of what Barbara Bush said back in April 2013 about a potential Jeb presidential run. She said: We've had enough Bushes. It's a great country. There are a lot of great families and it's not just four families. By early 2015, Barbara Bush changed her mind and voiced support for a third Bush in the Oval Office. And now her ad spot will try to help turn around her sons fading White House prospects. See how Barbara Bush has evolved on a Jeb Bush presidential run in the gallery above. Cutting into Ted Cruz's evangelical turf, GOP rival Donald Trump debuted a new radio ad Friday featuring Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., the son of the Christian school's late founder. The ad comes as Cruz has been rolling out a series of religious backers, including Thursday's endorsement from Kansas City preacher Mike Bickle, a founder of the International House of Prayer, known for its controversial missionary work in Africa, hard-line views against homosexuality, and its 24-7 prayer rallies preparing for End Times. Trump's ad makes full use of Falwell's glowing introduction of the billionaire businessman at a Liberty University convocation on Monday, though it fell short of a formal endorsement. "I see a lot of parallels between my father and Donald Trump," Falwell says in the ad. "Mr. Trump, Dad would speak his mind. He would make statements that were politically incorrect. He speaks the truth publicly, even if it is uncomfortable for people to hear it. Dad explained that when he walked into the voting booth, he wasn't electing a Sunday school teacher, or a pastor, or even a president who shared his theological beliefs. He was electing a president of the United States to lead a nation." ERIC THAYER/STR Bickle's endorsement of Cruz has a different take. "We need a president who will first be faithful to honor God's Word," he said in a statement. "We need a president who will work to defend religious liberty, uphold our Constitution, keep our country safe and our economy sound, and speak truth to the nation. We have been praying for righteous leaders, and Ted Cruz is such a leader." Bickle also figured in to the first presidential run of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who got things underway in 2011 with a large prayer rally in Houston. Bickle has long raised hackles on the left. Right Wing Watch, a project of the left-leaning People For the American Way, notes that Bickle has called Oprah Winfrey a forerunner to the Antichrist, and preaches that all Jews will be given a chance to accept Jesus and "say yes to salvation." With more than 43,000 miles of transmission lines crackling with unimaginable numbers of electrons, the main power grid in Texas might seem a rather inhuman apparatus a mechanical spider's web of wires crisscrossing the Lone Star State. Yet looked at a certain way, the grid couldn't be more human. "The power grid is nothing but aggregated human behavior," said Michael Legatt, the Principal Human Factors Engineer for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the non-profit corporation which runs the Texas grid. "Whether it is light switches and air conditioners we turn on and off, or the system and technology we built to serve our economy, it's all a part of the human story." ERCOT is the network linking the electricity made by 550 generating units at power plants to 24 million end consumers in homes and businesses across Texas. The network is actively managed around the clock, every day of the year by trained technicians working in a control room in Taylor, Texas, to match electrical supply with demand. The balancing act is ever-changing and fiendishly complex, complicated by events like demand spikes from extreme weather and supply drop-offs when the breeze dies down on Texas' vast array of wind turbines. As Legatt's intriguing job title suggests, his innovative role with ERCOT focuses on the human aspects of a power grid. Legatt studies consumer use of electricity, how technicians can keep ERCOT reliably running, and what the connections are between these groups of people. He is uniquely suited to the task, given his doctorate in clinical health psychology and neuropsychology, along with a second Ph.D. pending in energy systems engineering. Seeing the whole picture Among Legatt's key contributions at ERCOT is the so-called Macomber Map, named for one of his mentors. It occupies a wall in the ERCOT control room, displaying power lines and critical data about their electrical loads. The Map is a sizable improvement from previous methods for conveying vital grid information, which tended to cognitively overload users. Legatt simplified and streamlined the interface, using insights from his research on how people process information. "You have these systems built by really brilliant people, most of them engineers, but the problems is, they design the user interface like engineers," said Legatt. "It's like trying to drive your car with the dashboard screens flashing from every sensor all the time." Technicians can now quickly glean information about the statewide grid situation from the Map's graphical interface in order to thwart power disruptions that could lead to blackouts. Technology springs into action Based upon the data from The Map, when demand is expected to potentially exceed supply, ERCOT issues conservation alerts. The typical drivers of these alerts are summer scorchers, with air conditioners humming all over Texas, and winter cold snaps, as folks crank the heat to stay toasty. During these peak events, consumers are asked to trim their usage for several hours by adjusting their thermostats up or down a few degrees, holding off on laundry, and engaging in similar energy-saving actions. The Map then reflects the response from consumers as they benefit the overall grid community by acting altruistically, giving up a small portion of their comfort for the greater good. "At the load level, you can see when a lot of people, whether in an office park or in homes throughout a neighborhood, make behavioral changes," said Legatt. You have the power Retail electric providers, such as Direct Energy, one of the largest in Texas, are instrumental in encouraging these voluntary changes behavior by communicating with their customer bases. "I think the real opportunity for retail electric providers is to be the point of contact for the customer," said Legatt. Direct Energy echoes ERCOT's call for conservation by sending out text messages and emails, posting alerts on customer's online account pages, and producing content for its social networks and blog. To further incentivize customers, Direct Energy has a program called Reduce Your Use Rewards. Customers can save five percent on a bill following a peak event if they reduce their consumption by a specified amount. "We say to our customers, 'Hey, you're a part of the grid. Reduce your consumption, and we'll give you a bill credit,'" said Garrett Hester, the Director of Innovation at Direct Energy. "People really like helping the grid and making their bills lower." Legatt said that, on a psychological level, people want to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, and the energy grid is a perfect example. Responsible grid citizens draw satisfaction from collectively doing the right thing. "People are willing to do a little bit," said Legatt, "Just like if your neighbor knocked on the door for cup of sugar." 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. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Theft from building, Lander Road: Staff at the Beechbrook juvenile treatment facility reported Jan. 15 that an iPad2, valued at $500, had been stolen from the Gund School sometime over the previous weekend (Jan. 8, 9, or 10). An investigation is pending. Suspicion, Chagrin Boulevard: Dispatch received a Jan. 21 call from staff at the New Directions residential drug treatment facility regarding possible drugs found in a client's room. A subsequent test of the substance proved negative for the suspected substance. Found property, West Landerwood Drive: A resident, 22, turned in a lanyard he found in his truck on Jan. 16. Harassing communications, West Landerwood Drive: A resident, 22, came to the police station to report harassing phone calls and messages left for him over a 24-hour period between the nights of Jan. 14 and 15. An investigation is pending. Warrant served, I-271: A Shaker Heights man, 46, was stopped late on Jan. 14 for a traffic violation and found to have a warrant from Garfield Heights for unpaid parking tickets. He was turned over to Garfield police and the owner of the car came and picked it up. Assist rescue squad, various locations: Police and paramedics arrived at a Landerwood residence late on Jan. 16 and transported a Pepper Pike boy, 17, to a hospital for possible alcohol poisoning. He was not a resident of the home. -- Police and paramedics responded to Ursuline College's Grace Hall about 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 16 where they found a Lakewood woman, 19, lying in a second floor hallway. She was transported by firefighters to Hillcrest Hospital. Cleveland Heights police A woman is accused of urinating in a cooler at 7-Eleven in Cleveland Heights. (File photo) Disorderly conduct, Mayfield Road: Three women were seen acting disorderly inside 7-Eleven at 3:12 a.m. Jan. 17. One of the women was seen urinating in a cooler near the bathroom. The women then left in a 2007 Chrysler. Officers stopped the Chrysler on Noble Road. The driver was arrested on an active warrant for a disorderly conduct charge in Cleveland Heights. One passenger, who officers determined was drunk, was identified as the woman who urinated in the cooler and was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Breaking and entering, South Noble Road: An unknown person broke into a house that is under construction sometime between Jan. 12 and Jan. 15. Copper piping was missing. Disorderly conduct, Canterbury Road: Officers investigated a disturbance at 8:38 p.m. Jan. 15. The officers arrested an intoxicated man and charged him with disorderly conduct. Robbery, Mayfield Road: Two men reported at 2:19 a.m. Jan. 16 that another two men robbed them at gunpoint. Officers traced one of the victim's phones to a car that stopped in a driveway on East 118th Street in Cleveland. A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were found in possession of the cellphone, a credit card, a wallet and several keys. They were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery. Passing bad checks, Monticello Boulevard: A man reported at 1:41 p.m. Jan. 17 that a childhood friend asked him to cash a $900 check because the friend did not have a valid bank account. The man then withdrew $900 and gave it to the friend. The check was later returned and the man was unable to contact the friend. Disturbance, Cedar Road: Officers investigated a disturbance at 3:12 a.m. Jan. 17 and discovered a woman had been involved in a fight with an unknown woman. The woman did not want to pursue charges. Breaking and entering, Noble Road: Noble Road Presbyterian Church reported at 9:05 a.m. Jan. 17 that someone broke into an office and rummaged through cabinets. A laptop was missing. Property damage, South Taylor Road: An unknown person uprooted a concrete garbage can sometime before 12:30 a.m. Jan. 18. It appeared a snowplow knocked over the garbage can. Disturbance, Noble Road: Officers investigated a disturbance involving a mother and daughter at 1:25 p.m. Jan. 18. The two had been arguing but no one was harmed. The two were advised to avoid each other for a while. Criminal mischief, Mayfield Road: An unknown person threw a rock through a house window just before 6:48 p.m. Jan. 19. There are no suspects. Theft, Overlook Road: An unknown person stole a package from a man's mailbox sometime Jan. 11. Amazon informed the man the package, which contained a cellphone, had been delivered that day. The man reported the theft to police on Jan. 18. Motor vehicle theft, Roanoke Road: A 2013 Honda was stolen from a driveway just before 8 p.m. Jan. 18. The car's owner left the keys in the car while he was clearing snow from his driveway. A Cleveland police officer found the car Jan. 21 on East 125th Street. It was towed. Theft, Preyer Avenue: An unknown person entered a woman's unlocked 2010 Buick sometime between 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19. The woman's wallet was taken. Fraud, Coventry Road: An unknown person used a man's identity to open a bank account sometime before Jan. 20. The bank account had been declared delinquent. The man wanted to document the incident so the bank could investigate. Disturbance, Glenmont Road: An apartment building manager reported at 2:15 p.m. Jan. 20 that she found a woman staying in a tenant's apartment while the tenant was out of town. The manager was unaware if the tenant had given the woman permission to stay in the apartment. The woman pushed the manager during an argument. The manager was uninjured. The woman was asked to leave the apartment when an officer could not verify if she was allowed to stay in the apartment. Motor vehicle theft, Superior Road: A Jeep was stolen from a parking lot sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. Jan. 20. There are no suspects. Suspicion of drunken driving, Severn Road: Officers investigating a road rage incident at 6:10 p.m. Jan. 20 discovered one of the drivers was intoxicated. The driver failed a series of field sobriety tests and was taken to the police station, where he failed a breath test. He was arrested and charged with suspicion of drunken driving. Motor vehicle theft, Severance Circle: A 1995 GMC was stolen from a parking lot. Surveillance video showed the van being stolen at 12:56 a.m. Jan. 21. Officers found a Kia Soul near the spot where the stolen van had been parked; the Kia had been reported stolen from Euclid on Jan. 20. There are no suspects. OMalley and Barry.jpg Michael O'Malley (right), who is running for Cuyahoga County prosecutor, shakes hands with The Rev. Vincent Berry during a meeting on Friday. O'Malley was seeking - and received - support from several Cleveland pastors. (Eric Heisig/cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Michael O'Malley received the support of several Cleveland pastors on Friday afternoon in his race for Cuyahoga County prosecutor, but the support wasn't necessarily as enthusiastic as he wanted. During a meeting at the Murtis H. Taylor Multi-Services Center, the pastors were clear that they didn't want Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty to receive a second term. At the same time, they appeared hesitant about O'Malley, a former assistant prosecutor and Cleveland city councilman, because of his ties to both McGinty and former County Prosecutor Bill Mason. "You got some enemies and some of them are in here," Bishop Eugene Ward told O'Malley during the meeting. O'Malley formally announced his primary challenge to McGinty on Thursday night. He has less than two months before the Democratic primary. The pastors have chosen O'Malley over McGinty because of the way McGinty handled the grand jury case involving two Cleveland police officers involved in the shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice more than a year ago on the city's West Side. Here are three takeaways from the meeting: Bill Mason looms large: O'Malley worked under Mason, a fact that troubles some of the pastors. They have long contended that Mason overcharged black men with petty crimes. "It's the Bill Mason connection," Ward told O'Malley. "Folks have a problem with Bill Mason. He has not been seen as a friend of minorities." O'Malley acknowledged that Mason is a good friend, but also said that the former prosecutor encouraged him not to challenge McGinty. "When I told Bill Mason I was running, he questioned my sanity and urged me not to," O'Malley said. "And that's the reality." Still, he often repeated that "I am my own man" and that decisions made will ultimately not be informed by Mason. 'The devil you don't know:' After the meeting concluded, Ward made it clear that he and those in attendance would be telling their congregations to vote for O'Malley, but not necessarily because they think O'Malley is the best candidate. It's because they don't want McGinty. During the meeting, Ward asked, "do I pick the devil or the witch?" He and others stressed that they feel burned by McGinty - who they say has shut himself off from their communities - and that they don't want it to happen again. O'Malley said he will meet with the pastors' congregations and he will make himself more visible than McGinty. Ward conceded that O'Malley did not answer all their questions, but he said O'Malley is better than the incumbent. "We're going with the devil you don't know," Ward said. O'Malley isn't big on specifics: During the meeting, O'Malley made several broad statements. He wants the employee makeup of the prosecutor's office to be diverse. He wants the city - and county - to feel more united. But when pressed about what he would do differently, he gave few specifics. He told the pastors that "it's your office" and said that he would not be beholden to those who donated to his campaign. One of the areas he was more specific about, though, was that he felt he was able to mend relationships with judges that McGinty has strained in the past few years. He said he wants to collaborate with the Justice System Reform Committee, a group of judges, prosecutors and police officers from across the county who met for 10 years to suggest changes to the criminal justice system. County Common Pleas Court judges voted to withdraw from the effort in November, citing McGinty's efforts to push his own reform agenda. "I have the ability to sit down and work with people, analyze the situation and come up with the plan to eliminate the problem," O'Malley said Friday. police line do not cross.jpg A Cleveland man was shot inside his West Side home Saturday. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man was shot in the wrist in his West Side home early Saturday, police said. Officers were called to a West 54th Street house about 3 a.m. for a report that shots had been fired. They found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound. The man told officers he was lying in bed when he heard gunshots and then walked downstairs into the kitchen to see what was going on. It was there that he was shot in the wrist, a report said. The man said he then crawled back into his bedroom to call police. Seven other people were inside the home during the shooting, including a five-month old girl, the report said. No one else was injured but bullets struck two vehicles parked near the house. A witness described a white Dodge Durango leaving the area after the shots were fired, but was unable to give a description of the shooter. Officers tended to the injured man at the scene using their city-issued first aid kits and then took him to MetroHealth for further treatment. His condition was not immediately available Saturday morning. Screen Shot 2016-01-23 at 3.37.31 PM.png Two women died Wednesday in a house fire in Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. (Ryllie Danylko, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has released the name of the second of two elderly sisters who died in a fire on Cleveland's East Side. Mary Wright, 89, was found dead in her East 147th Street home in Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood early Wednesday. Officials released her name Saturday. Wright's sister, Jeannette Arlington, 85, was also found dead inside the house. Her name was released Friday. The blaze began about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday and fire crews stayed on the scene for nearly four hours getting it under control. Four people inside the house were asleep when the fire began, firefighters said. Two male relatives of the sisters escaped the fire, firefighters said. One of them was injured when he went back inside in an attempt to rescue the women. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Cramer considered the latest quarter to be the strongest quarter in the company's history. For those shareholders who dumped the stock, he traced the issues to two unexpected negatives: softer sales in Europe after the Paris tragedy and the slowdown in Chinese growth to 5 percent from 6 percent. "When will Starbucks and its amazing management team finally be given the benefit of the doubt?" the " Mad Money " host asked. On Thursday evening, Starbucks reported what Jim Cramer considered to be a fantastic quarter. Yet shareholders responded by dumping the stock hard. When Cramer spoke with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on "Squawk on the Street," he thought Schultz replied to these negatives in ways that exposed the stock's sell-off as an opportunity. Schultz explained that all of European retail was weak in the wake of the Paris tragedy. But Starbucks' traffic has since bounced back to strong levels; it just wasn't included in the quarter announced. Second, Schultz took a long view of China and noted that his company's sales are still very strong as it continues to open stores daily. Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer Cramer Remix: Snowstorms could make this a winner Cramer: Oil's insane connection to rallying stocks Cramer: Oil could go to $10 "Schultz said that the company never gave guidance in China in the first place and that anyone who believes their Chinese business isn't on fire is just plain dead wrong," Cramer said. And that is where the disconnect lies. It seemed to Cramer that every year the analysts doubt the strength of Starbucks. Cramer recalled a time when critics claimed there were too many stores in the U.S. Two years ago the price of coffee spiked to more than $2, and once again critics fretted that the higher prices would hurt the bottom line. Schultz said it was a minor cost and Starbucks was hedged anyways. Eventually coffee prices were pummeled and there wasn't even a hiccup in the company's earnings. The stock did rally more than 40 percent last year, but Cramer thinks that only left Starbucks ripe for profit-taking in the wake of this most recent quarterly report. "I think it's time to start trusting Howard Schultz when he refutes the critics," Cramer said. Maybe the stock is the stock that keeps on giving, and this should be considered a one-time bargain to buy the stock at cheaper levels than it deserves. The speed of the news cycle and the media obsession with the presidential horseraces have crowded out a crucial development in the war on ISIS and related Islamic jihadist groups. House Speaker Paul Ryan has been sounding out colleagues for a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The current AUMF, which was written in 2001 and targeted groups connected to the Sept. 11 attacks, has not been renewed. Believe it or not. Bravo for Paul Ryan's statesmanship. But a new AUMF must be accompanied by a clear U.S. declaration of war against ISIS. We will never destroy them without a full-blown war declaration. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Getty Images Now, there are important details regarding the AUMF. Ryan is correctly opposed to the Obama White House ISIS strategy, which would bar widespread use of U.S. combat troops in Syria and Iraq and would place limits on the length of military options. Sound familiar? It's Iraq and Afghanistan all over again. The new speaker won't stand for it. Good for him. The White House wants to forbid "boots on the ground" and wishes to prohibit "enduring offensive ground combat operations." The use of Special Forces would be allowed, but that would expire after three years. In other words, Team Obama would tie the hands of the U.S. military and send all the wrong signals to our enemies. But if the Republicans in the House and Senate show some backbone, they can get an AUMF without all the Obama prohibitions. Heaven forbid the Joint Chiefs be able to run a war. This brings me back to the key point. In his pursuit of a new AUMF, Speaker Ryan must seek a formal U.S. declaration of war against ISIS. It is extraordinary that this has yet to be done. It should have happened 15 months ago, or surely after the horrific terrorist events in Paris. I cannot understand why the president has yet to call an emergency NATO meeting to declare war on the Islamic State which, by the way, has declared war on us. But our president wants no part of that. Remember the Obama re-election-campaign narrative? Terrorism has been defeated and is no longer a problem. So how can you declare war on something that is not a problem? Retired four-star general Michael Flynn, a recent head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said, "I don't think enough people in our country see ISIS for what it is, and I think part of that is because our leadership has really denied the fact of who this is that we are facing . . . I think they failed to tell the truth." The fact is, this is the greatest national security problem of our time. ISIS attacks from Europe to California have tragically proved that again and again. So, how can it be that the Washington leadership has not produced a war declaration which would surely rally the American people? A war declaration adds urgency, energy, and immediacy to the war. What's more, a war declaration would be a forcing device, outlining the American strategy with respect to the Islamic State and terrorism in general. What is it we want? How will we know when we get it? How does the war end? How long do we stay? What are our postwar intentions? These are a few of the questions that must be asked and answered so that the American people will know what the American government intends to do. In this way, a war resolution will not only underscore the importance of this conflict, it also will help rally Americans to the cause. It's a question of leadership, really. It's a question of commander-in-chief. It's a question of congressional responsibility. And it's a question for the presidential candidates in both parties. Answer it, please. A California judge on Friday ruled that Viacom Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone can be examined by a doctor hired by Redstone's ex-girlfriend in a dispute over the media mogul's mental competency. Allan Mayer, a spokesman for lawyers representing ex-girlfriend Manuela Herzer, said the ruling came in a court hearing in Los Angeles. Investors in Viacom are closely following the dispute, which has raised concerns about whether Redstone is capable of continuing as executive chairman of Viacom and CBS Corp, both of which he controls. Questions about Redstone's health were heightened in November after Herzer filed a lawsuit that raised doubts about the billionaire's competence. The judge rejected a request by Herzer's lawyers to depose Redstone, according to Gabrielle Vidal, an attorney for Redstone. "We are gratified that the Court continues to reject Ms. Herzer's increasingly desperate and disingenuous attempts to depose Mr. Redstone," Loeb said in a statement. Herzer had been chosen by Redstone to make healthcare decisions for him in case he was not able to, her lawsuit said, until Redstone executed a new agreement on Oct. 16 to remove her in favor of Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman. Herzer argues the mogul was mentally incompetent when he made the move. Redstone's lawyers say he is competent and that Herzer is pursuing a "personal financial agenda." Argentinas 200-peso note will feature a southern right whale native to the Argentine Sea, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. The note is to be released later in 2016. The Central Bank of Argentina announced on Jan. 15 that it will soon release an entirely new currency series. Beginning in mid-2016 it will issue its highest denomination notes ever, denominated 200 pesos and 500 pesos, and that next year a 1,000-peso note will be put into circulation, as well. The Central Bank of Argentina announced on Jan. 15 that it will soon release an entirely new currency series. Beginning in mid-2016 it will issue its highest denomination notes ever, denominated 200 pesos and 500 pesos, and that next year a 1,000-peso note will be put into circulation, as well. In addition to the three new denominations, new designs of the 20-, 50- and 100-peso notes will also start circulating in 2017 alongside the current issues. The new notes will have as themes the native fauna of various regions of the country. Each of the bills will have on the face a mammal, bird or fish typical of an Argentine region, while the back will show scenery characteristic of the depicted creatures habitat. The banks statement adds that the theme is meant to call attention to the countrys native bounty while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of preserving and promoting biodiversity. With the use of fauna and Argentinas regions instead of traditional historical characters the Central Bank seems to be trying to depoliticize its money and make it more representative of the entire nation. Connect with Coin World: This year, the 200-peso note will have a southern right whale native to the Argentine Sea, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands and the 500-peso note will show a jaguar from the countrys northeast region. The 2017 1,000-peso note will have the national bird, a hornero. Native to South America, the hornero builds mud nests that look like the old wood fired ovens known as horneros in Spanish. The 100-peso note will have a taruca, or north Andean deer that is found in the countrys northwest region. The 50-peso issue will feature an Andean condor and the 20-peso note will have a guanco, a camelid native to the Patagonian steppe and the species thought to be the ancestor of the domestic llama. Overweight Uncirculated 2007-P Little Rock Central High Desegregation silver dollar, suspected to be counterfeit, is genuine but mishandled and exhibits patches of PVC damage. A collector questioned whether the 2007-P Little Rock Central High School Desegregation silver dollar was genuine since weighed more than the statutory requirement. Readers Ask from Feb. 8, 2016, issue of Coin World: Has anyone reported a counterfeit Uncirculated Little Rock dollar? I have one that weighs 27.4 grams. It came in government packaging. When I looked at it, it looked like a circulated coin. As I looked at it more, I started to feel it just isnt right. Jerry Scherer / via email The authorizing legislation for the silver dollar, the Little Rock Commemorative Coin Act, Public Law 109-146, calls for a weight of 26.73 grams for the Uncirculated 2007-P Little Rock Central High School Desegregation silver dollar struck at the Philadelphia Mint. While the coin you have is heavier by 2.5 percent than legislated, that is not necessarily an indicator the coin might be counterfeit. The coin surfaces, however, do not look as silvery, brilliant and full of luster as they should. The piece exhibits more of a gray hue. Connect with Coin World: I took your coin to the Jan. 6 to 10 Florida United Numismatists Convention in Tampa and had it examined by two professional numismatists that are both authenticator-graders John Roberts for ANACS and Skip Fazzari for Independent Coin Graders. Both prefaced their evaluations with the proviso that they did not have a benchmark from which to make a determination, since neither had on hand another example for comparison to your coin. Both Roberts and Fazzari did not like the overall appearance of your coin, and indicated the reeded edge more resembled U.S. coin issues of a century ago. They also both noted the coins surfaces had areas that indicated handling, as well as likely polyvinyl chloride damage, from being removed from the plastic capsule and stored in a soft PVC coin flip from which chemical plasticizers leached out onto the coin. I located an example from dealer Marc T. Earle from St. Petersburg, Fla., of a known genuine Little Rock dollar still sealed in its government holder. When Roberts and Fazzari independently compared the genuine to the suspect coin, they both concluded your coin is genuine, but mishandled. Earle also used an electronic precious metals verifier, which verified your coin is made from the 90 percent silver its supposed to be. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Visit these 9 enduring favorites over Homecoming weekend Here are just nine of Columbia's true cultural and culinary institutions, all worth visiting this weekend. Travelers inside Memphis International Airport now passed banks of electronic billboards featuring Memphis Grizzlies player Tony Allen. SHARE By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal Memphis International Airport is a shell of its former self by almost any measure. But its better than it was last year, and airport officials are touting signs of a nascent turnaround as hope for a brighter future. Flights, passengers and nonstop destinations are down by two-thirds to three-fourths since Delta Air Lines gobbled up longtime hub operator Northwest in 2008 and began dismantling the once-bustling hub. Parts of the airport are like a ghost town, especially on weekends and at slack hours of the day. Dozens of gates have been idled, and half the former restaurants and shops have gone dark. Once home to as many as 300 flights a day and more than 11 million passengers a year, the city- and county-owned airport has too much space, a problem that should be remedied by a planned downsizing and modernization of the facility over the next five years. In terms of scheduled flights, Memphis is among the top 10 highest-growth airports of comparable size for the first three months of 2016. And airfares, once shockingly high, have fallen sharply. Since last spring, after Delta made a final round of cuts, the airport has well outpaced the national average in growth of available airplane seats. It has added 14 new destinations and three new airlines serving niche markets. The growth is expected to slow later this year, but positive momentum cant be denied. Actually, I think the airport is ahead of what I was expecting it to be at this point, said urban affairs blogger and public relations consultant Tom Jones, who was critical of Delta and the airport administration during Deltas down-sizing. Im encouraged by what I see out there, but were not nearly at the end of the line, which they will quickly tell you, said Jones, who marshalled a 6,000-member Facebook group, Delta Does Memphis, to air complaints about Delta and the airport in 2012. What I like best about it, is that although were a little ahead, nobody at the airport is doing any victory laps, Jones said. Airline industry observer Seth Kaplan, who authored a new book detailing how Delta engineered a business turnaround in part by reducing unprofitable service in markets like Memphis, said the airport seems to have bottomed out and now be on the rise." "Memphis has rather quickly gotten back on its feet, thanks partly to just the macroenvironment: decent national economy and falling fuel prices and also because of the airports efforts to recruit new service," Kaplan said. Robert Cockerham, a construction contractor, said he recently booked his first flight out of Memphis in years, an Allegiant flight to Fort Lauderdale; hes looking forward to using Frontiers new budget service to Atlanta, which will break Deltas high-priced monopoly starting in April. Its definitely a positive trend out there, said Cockerham, who flies two or three times a month, mostly out of Little Rock. I dont know if its the new regime or if its some of the airlines saying its an underserved market. Fares are a bright spot for an airport long known for some of the nations highest fares, owing to the anti-competitive climate of a major airline hub. Average roundtrip fares dropped $93 over three years because of the demise of Deltas hub and arrival of lower cost carriers including Southwest, Frontier and Allegiant. Memphis airfares were 30th highest among the nations busiest 100 airports in the most recent federal ranking, and officials expect that to improve in the next ranking, due out in the next few weeks. The airport consistently ranked in the top 10 most expensive before the turnaround began. Theres a point where lowering the fares will open up air travel to a whole different group of people in the Mid-South, and thats what were seeing today, airport president and chief executive Scott Brockman said. Were seeing people come to the airport who have never been here before. Feeding Memphis growth has been larger planes that more than make up for fewer flights, resulting in net increases in number of seats available. Brockman said larger planes seem to be the new normal at Memphis. Were no longer measuring in just flights per day, were not measuring in flights per week, were now measuring in seatsbecause in a lot of the cases, we had (regional jet) aircraft thats now a mainline aircraft. Its the first time since 2001 that United has brought mainline aircraft back to Memphis, Brockman said. United brought in the bigger planes for Denver and Chicago service. Small regional jets carry 50 passengers or less, and mainline aircraft can carry more than 100. American Airlines recently decided to replace 50-seaters on its Memphis to Washington National flights in April with larger, 63- and 80-passenger regional jets. The number of seats on flights departing from Memphis is expected to be up 65,000, about 12 percent, in the first three months of 2016, compared to a national average increase of about 5 percent. Memphis gained 27,000 seats, 4.8 percent in the October-December quarter of 2015, when the number of flights was basically flat from a year earlier. Kaplan expects growth to drop to single digits later this year but continue above the national average. He said if oil prices go up, it could affect the city's flights, but not as much as during Delta's decline. "The same thing is not going to happen again because Memphis isn't overserved relative to local demand today in the same way it was in the past," said Kaplan, who is managing partner of Airline Weekly. The Memphis airport in 2008 had about 280 flights a day, a large majority of them on 50-seat regional aircraft. It served nearly 11 million passengers that year, but 8.25 million never set foot outside the Memphis airport because they were catching connecting flights. The Memphis airport had 76 flights a day in December, 72 percent of which were on mainline and large regional jets. Of the 3,758,450 passengers handled by the airport last year, 98.7 percent were traveling either to or from Memphis, not making connections. The loss of connecting traffic took a huge bite out of the numbers needed to support nonstop flights, causing losses of international flights including Amsterdam and Toronto and key domestic destinations including Boston, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle and San Diego. The airport, led by senior manager of air service research and development Will Livsey, has armed itself with data on destinations that are most likely to support nonstop flights. For example, an average 75.1 passengers traveled to and from Boston each day in the April-June quarter of 2015. Thats enough people to fill a large regional jet. Boston is regarded as the No. 1 unserved nonstop destination, followed by San Francisco. Livsey said the challenge is finding the airline that has the right jets in its fleet thats willing to provide the service. Former airport board chairman Jack Sammons, who returned to the board last week after a stint at city chief administrative officer, said the airport is proving naysayers wrong. It wasnt that long ago that there were a number of people in the community that had already said a prayer over the corpse of the Memphis International Airport, Sammons said. Changes at Memphis Airport Delta Air Lines bought Northwest in 2008 and had dismantled the Memphis passenger hub by 2013. Since then, Memphis International has steadily added lower-cost flights. 2016 2008 30th in U.S. Average fare price Top 10 in U.S. 76 Daily flights 280 3.7 million Travelers per year 11 million 14 Flights added since spring --- 4 New carriers --- SHARE Ham Smythe By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal In the nearly two years since Uber and Lyft rolled into Memphis, the taxi cab companies led by Ham Smythe IV are down from about 85 cabs on the streets to 75. San Francisco-based Uber and Lyft have harnessed smartphone technology and people's private cars to make inroads into territory that had been reserved for closely regulated local taxi firms and others in the vehicle-for-hire industry. Few know that industry better in Memphis than Smythe, president of the local Yellow Cab, Checker Cab and Premier Transportation Services companies. Ride the Roo, a bus with a kangaroo on top that shuttles between Overton Square and Cooper-Young, is one of Premier's recent innovations. His father, William Hamilton Smythe III, is chairman and owner of Yellow Cab, while he owns the other firms with Memphis roots dating back to the 1850s. Smythe IV said the influx of transportation network firms has been a challenge, but one that is being met. He talked with The Commercial Appeal about how Uber and Lyft have changed the Memphis taxi industry: "Uber and Lyft are what we call transportation network companies. They came into the marketplace without regulation and without any supervision over their operations. Taxi cabs have been supervised for many, many years. We are regulated as to how much we can charge, where we have to go, the parts of town we have to serve. Uber and Lyft are able to kind of cherry-pick those things and only work in places where by definition you've got to have a credit card to use the Uber and Lyft apps. And so you, by definition, have to be creditworthy. We carry people for cash, in some of the more impoverished areas of the city, we're there available all hours of the day, 24/7, all parts of the city and we consider that to be our obligation and our privilege." Smythe said that by carving out certain areas of the taxi service, Uber and Lyft were able to come after some of traditional cab companies' business. "And that's been a challenge. But it's a challenge we've risen to. We now accept trips by app, by text, by phone call, obviously, and even by fax. You can fax us your order." The services, he said, have had an impact on drivers. While cab drivers aren't defecting to Uber or Lyft, they are finding their profits diminished. "What's happened is Uber and Lyft have lowered the ability of a driver for hire to make a living. And so people have fled the industry. So we have had some impact on drivers able to make a good living, but only because Uber and Lyft have dropped the return on investment for the drivers so low that some of these drivers are having a hard time." Still, there remain areas of the local cab business that Uber and Lyft have chosen to ignore. "There are parts of the business that we do that Uber and Lyft won't do. We do work with hospitals and other accounts that don't want to use a credit card. We do cash work. These are things that Uber and Lyft don't care to do, so there's a whole part of the marketplace that we do that they don't do, and that's good. But they've definitely lowered the price of a lot of this, such that drivers are having trouble making a living at it." The East Buntyn house before critical repairs were done. Handout photo The problem began years ago when a storm blew a few shingles off the roof of a house near the University of Memphis. The working-class homeowners kept intending to fix it, but medical bills and tax bills and life after the Great Recession kept getting in the way. Eventually, the minor maintenance deferred turned into major water and structural damage that couldn't be denied. A struggling property in the lovely East Buntyn neighborhood became a blighted one, depressing property values all around. The house for sale across the street is now a rental, making it more likely for the same thing to happen again and again. Rentals beget more rentals, which over time can transform even the neatest neighborhoods into unkempt, unsafe areas. There are a number of government and nonprofit programs to help the poorest and oldest citizens repair their homes. But in this case, as in a growing number of others, overextended working-class homeowners don't qualify. "They aren't poor enough for other assistance and can't get conventional loans for repairs," said Tk Buchanan, the UofM's community safety liaison for the University District. "Which is how we end up with chronic blight and why we're struggling to preserve property values in some of the most unlikely neighborhoods." Over the past several years, the UDistrict has used the courts to battle disinvestment by absentee landlords in its eight member neighborhoods. Buchanan says rental-related blight has been reduced by nearly half since 2012. That hasn't helped the estimated 650 low-income owner-occupants whose homes need critical repairs. "For this group, there is no assistance," Buchanan said. "Our vulnerable neighbors are absorbing punitive sanctions for property conditions they can't afford to correct, making their situations, and ours, as adjacent property owners, so much worse." UDistrict neighborhood leaders know how blight can spread like kudzu, so they aren't waiting for others to solve the problem. That's why they started Safe & Sound, a crowd-funded critical home repair program for low-income owner-occupants. They use websites like ioby and GoFundMe to raise neighborhood repair funds from neighbors. So far, they've raised about $3,000. It's not nearly enough to rehabilitate the East Buntyn house, but it was enough to complete critical repairs before it got really cold. "The triage repair we just completed was in one of our nicest, most well-preserved neighborhoods, and it was the very last structurally blighted property," Buchanan said. "Let that sink in. In essence, this one repair restored an entire neighborhood. Since we know blight is 'contagious' and ever entwined with crime, we've just gotten more 'bang for our buck' on this one deal than combined efforts at blight remediation for the last few years." Half the critical repair funds for the East Buntyn house were donated by members of the homeowners' neighborhood church. "It's humbling to see how our friends and neighbors have stepped in to help us," said the homeowner, who asked me not to use her name or address. "It's a little embarrassing. My husband and I both work, but we've had trouble making ends meet. We even had to file for bankruptcy. We didn't want the house to get in this condition. It just seemed to get real bad real fast." UDistrict leaders hope to raise more funds to rehabilitate the East Buntyn home. They are expanding the program by partnering with Jacob's Ladder CDC, a housing nonprofit based in the Beltline neighborhood, and the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Local government officials hope other neighborhoods will try Safe & Sound. "On the day he was sworn into office, Mayor Strickland challenged citizens to take a personal interest in their community," said Steve Shular, public affairs officer for county Mayor Mark Luttrell. "Here's a good example of that. With fewer government resources these days to help people in need, it's good to see others take action to help their neighbors in a very real way." Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) board president Reid Dulberger listens during a video presentation by retailer Ikea before a vote approving a property tax break for a proposed Ikea store in Memphis. The city and county mayors plan to consolidate EDGE and the Community Redevelopment Agency. When an Electrolux, Ikea or International Paper wants local tax breaks to help pay for a relocation or expansion, they wind up in Downtown in an office on Main near Beale, home of the Edge Board. Just about once each month lawyers for a PILOT applicant troop into the office. But Reid Dulberger, head of the city-county Edge Board, saw a disturbing sign last year. You may not know Dulberger, but if you do, youll find he gets on point quickly and precisely. One year does not make a trend, Dulberger said. But we as a community dont want to and will find it difficult to absorb more years like 2015. What caught his attention was this number: $178.7 million. Its the amount businesses getting PILOTs pledged to spend in 2015 on buildings and equipment in Memphis and Shelby County. While its a lot of money, it is far less than PILOT-related investments the year before, $463 million, or the year before that, $483 million, or the year before that, $660 million. In a city starved for good jobs, Edge Board tax cuts are meant to attract industry and create jobs. Indeed, the bigger the investment the bigger the tax break. But PILOT investments have ebbed each year, a disturbing sign because low investment can signal slow job growth. Why have investment dollars declined? Just as many lawyers file into Dulbergers office as ever, although their projects tend to be relatively small. Big factories and 1-million-square-foot distribution centers now are springing up over the state line in Mississippi. There was a time when if you wanted to be in the Mid-South, you had to certainly be in Shelby County if not Memphis. Thats where youd find the workforce, Dulberger said. Thats where youd find the infrastructure. No longer. Today, Memphis and its suburbs compete. Dulberger was in the audience a week ago when Federal Reserve economist James Bullard addressed the Economic Club of Memphis. Although the economy appears slower than in the summer, Bullard doubted a recession awaits the United States this year. Later I asked Dulberger whether he sensed the industrial downturn will cause PILOT applications to taper off. Dulberger, an economic development professional who earlier worked in Syracuse and Youngstown, Ohio, after graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University, sided with Bullard, but expressed concern. Consumer expenditures are still strong throughout the country, and that likely will cause more industrial expansion, said Dulberger, chief executive of the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County. The question is how strong Memphis and Shelby County will be. It was the first time I had heard him question the resiliency of the city and county, the economic core of the region, home to 722,000 of the 1,020,000 people considered working age (16 years and up) living in the nine-county Memphis metropolitan area. I asked him to explain. Dulberger pointed out the Edge Board will likely approve 10 to 12 PILOT applications in 2016, just as it did in 2015 and every other year since the agency was recast in 2011 from the old Industrial Development Board. Since 2011, the agency has cut $284 million worth of taxes for 41 companies that in turn pledged to invest a total of $2.2 billion and employ more than 9,900 people in Memphis and Shelby County. Those 41 companies in turn are forecast to pay $741.7 million in property taxes over the life of their tax breaks. PILOTs, short for Payment in Lieu of Taxes, usually last nine years. Fewer big projects, however, such as Nikes new $301 million north-side distribution center, are landing in the city. Last year, home furnishings merchant Ikea accounted for the largest PILOT investment, $64 million, after the Edge board altered rules to accommodate large retailers. Congested highways clog the citys industrial districts, and the available land for new distribution centers remains slight, while suburban Mississippi has drawn new industry to what had been relatively inexpensive rural land. In four years, the Byhalia area in Marshall County, Mississippi, has drawn 750 new jobs and $320 million worth of investment in factories and warehouses, including a Rockwool insulation plant and Volvo truck parts distribution center. Our share of the number of these projects is falling, Dulberger said. Dulberger insists Memphis isnt fading away. An urban renaissance and the cash infusion in the Medical District, a concentration of 17,000 employees in five major hospitals and the state medical school, is energizing the city, he said. Repowering the Medical District are almost $2 billion worth of projects unfolding at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and nearly completed at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Nearby, theres tourism and nightlife Downtown and Midtown supported by the new $105 million Bass Pro at The Pyramid, long-running Beale Street and the revived Overton Square. Asked if Memphis officials should scale back Edges mission expanding the industrial sector in the city and county as the city economy re-orients around science and tourism, Dulberger pointed out industrial jobs are crucial. It cant be an urban reawakening that will exclude a chunk of our population, Dulberger said. We have to provide jobs for folks of limited education or skills. Whats the remedy? PILOT tax breaks alone are not enough. Tennessees economic development arm must muscle up to compete with Mississippi, Dulberger said. A 2016 legislative agenda supported by the Edge board and the Greater Memphis Chamber touts incentives able to counter Mississippi as well as retention aid for companies that consider relocating. We need to do a number of things to be successful, Dulberger said. It takes a lot to move an economy of our size. Decline in city jobs The national recession was declared ended in June 2009, although employment in metropolitan Memphis and many other cities still fell in 2010. Heres what happened next: By 2014, the number of employed city residents had dropped by about 2,100 to 281,620, while the area of Shelby County not including Memphis gained about 3,200 working people to reach nearly 138,000. Hiring was more dramatic in the eight other counties that comprise the metropolitan area. The number of employed residents in these counties rose by almost 7,000 between 2010 and 2014 to surpass 177,250. Source: U.S. Census Bureaus American Factfinder website Legislative Agenda With the city strapped for cash, Memphis and Shelby County officials have asked the Tennessee legislature to help improve the regions economy. Among the items in the legislative agendas presented to lawmakers in Nashville: Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and the Memphis City Council presented a city-county agenda that includes a request for funding entrepreneur programs, improvements to the congested Lamar Avenue truck route and expanded health care coverage for Tennesseans. The Greater Memphis Chamber asked for support for St. Judes expansion, incentives to compete for jobs, Lamar Avenue improvements, assistance and incentive programs for businesses to remain competitive with other states, $3.45 million to support the Labor and Education Alignment Program and to start a dual-enrollment career and technical education pilot program in Shelby County, and $10 million for the Entrepreneurship Powered Innovation Center (EPIcenter) business accelerator. Source: The Commercial Appeal SHARE Reginald Sanders By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal Memphis police have arrested a man accused of knowingly exposing a woman to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Reginald Sanders, 28, has been charged with criminal exposure to HIV and violation of the sex offender registry act. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $110,000 bond. According to an affidavit, a woman told police that she has been in a sexual relationship with Sanders since Jan. 12 after she met him online and he moved in with her. The woman said she found out through the Internet that the suspect was on the state sex offender registry and was convicted of criminal exposure to HIV in 2011. She told police that he never told her of his HIV status. When he was arrested, Sanders told police that he learned he was HIV positive between 2007 to 2009. He told officers that he told the woman he was HIV-positive, according to the affidavit. Sanders is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday. January 22, 2016 - Memphis Police respond to the scene of a fatal shooting at the Sycamore Lake Apartments, located near the intersection of Sycamore View and Raleigh-LaGrange Road. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal A shooting at a Northeast Memphis apartment complex left one person dead and another in critical condition Friday afternoon, police said. Police reported shortly before 4 p.m. that a male victim was found at 2119 Westchester Circle in the Sycamore Lake Apartments. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A female victim was also apparently hit by gunfire, but was not located until later, Police Sgt. Karen Rudolph said. That person was taken to the Regional Medical Center in critical condition. No further information was released by police. Friday evening, police had blocked off one section of a parking lot at the complex with tape, and a blue tarp lay inside the area. Nearby, small yellow markers, each labeled with a number, had been placed on the ground. In the cold, people watched the officers work. Some residents said they were unaware there had been a shooting at all. A police supervisor said he couldn't comment at the moment and a security guard for the complex told reporters to leave. The area is close to Raleigh-LaGrange Road, not far from Bartlett. January 22, 2016 - Memphis Police respond to the scene of a fatal shooting at the Sycamore Lake Apartments, located near the intersection of Sycamore View and Raleigh-LaGrange Road. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal) By Stephanie Norton of The Commercial Appeal The second victim of a shooting in Northeast Memphis Friday afternoon has died and one suspect is in custody. Memphis police responded to a shooting call in the 2100 block of Westchester Circle at Sycamore Lake Apartments at 3:27 p.m. Friday. A man was found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim, a 33-year-old woman, was also hit by gunfire. She was transported to the Regional Medical Center in critical condition. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to police, she was also six- to eight-weeks pregnant. According to police, the victims were in a 1995 Honda Accord in front of 2104 Westchester Circle when they were shot by a woman. The suspect and another woman left the scene in a silver Mitsubishi. After a search of the area, officers found the vehicle in the 4000 block of Covington Pike. Victoria Seay, 18, was also taken into custody. She is charged with three counts of accessory after the fact to wit second-degree murder. According to an affidavit, Seay told police that she witnessed the shooting. She then picked up the suspect and drove her away from the scene. No information on the second suspect was made immediately available. The investigation is ongoing. The Commercial Appeal files January 22, 1951 Its report card time at St. Agnes Academy on Jan. 22, 1951, and these first and second graders lined up to get their marks from Sister Genevieve (standing), prioress, and Sister Mary Laura (right). The youngsters are (from left) Kathryne Byrne, Lindia Diana, Cathie Corrigan and Rita Marie Hogan. SHARE Jan. 23 25 years ago: 1991 The Great American Pyramid will not open before August, Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris said Tuesday. Morris said delays in several areas, possibly including financing, have combined to push a June opening date back "several weeks My best bet would be sometime in August." Pyramid developer Sidney Shlenker could not be reached for comment, but Mitzi Swentzell, executive vice president of The Pyramid Companies, said financing will be "the final piece of the puzzle, and we're very upbeat about that." 50 years ago: 1966 The Rivermont Club will become the Holiday Inn Rivermont with a convention hall to be built alongside it, pending completion of the sale of the property this week to Holiday Inns of America, Inc., by builder Harry Bloomfield. The board of directors of Holiday Inns met yesterday and gave its two top executives the go-ahead to purchase the 98-year lease on the Rivermont from Mr. Bloomfield. He is asking four million dollars for the lease. Kemmons Wilson, chairman of the board, said he and Wallace E. Johnson, president, will meet with Mr. Bloomfield early this week to make the deal final. 75 years ago: 1941 An enthusiastic audience greeted Evelyn Swarthout, concert pianist, last night when she appeared as guest artist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Burnet C. Tuthill. 100 years ago: 1916 The big pumps at the North Memphis Pumping Station in the last two days have demonstrated their effectiveness for the first time by bringing the stage of the water against the levee down to the point registered before the start of the heavy rains. The engineers pumped away 1.75 inches of rainfall or 101,000,000 gallons of water. The 1.75 inches of rain fell in 10 hours. 125 years ago: 1891 City authorities have accepted the proposal of the Sun Vapor Light Co. to light the street lamps it furnished the city all night every night for $1.50 per month per light. SHARE By Ann McFeatters WASHINGTON Imagine a governor of a large state deciding to cut costs and appointing a staff of bureaucrats who change the water supply for 100,000 people to save money but don't bother to have it treated properly for contaminants. For more than a year, the people drink dangerous water without knowing it. When doctors start seeing signs of lead poisoning, which causes behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children and kidney disease in adults problems that can last for generations, questions begin to be asked. At first, the state officials ignore the results and deny there's a problem. Local churches and charities trying to supply bottled water to terrified parents who can't afford to buy it run out. People who can afford to buy bottled water can't find it. For a while, the governor hopes it will just all go away. But then the national media swoop in and find chaos. Finally, the National Guard begins distributing free water and filters. And finally, the governor takes his head out of the sand, requests aid from the federal government he despises and admits the state, which caused the problem, can't fix it. Even then, people are having a hard time finding and getting the water, filters and lead test kits they need. Michigan. Flint. Gov. Rick Snyder. Ongoing crisis. The cows were acting crazy, losing hair, showing grotesque malformations and dying, and nobody could figure out why. And then people began putting two and two together and realized a huge chemical company had bought land nearby for a landfill for its factory. The company and government studies said the farmers didn't know how to take care of cows. Only after a courageous lawyer pursued the case did he learn that a little-known and dangerous chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid, often called C8, had been dumped in the landfill and was being improperly dumped into local water tables providing drinking water for 70,000 people. For 40 years, secret research had shown damage to and cancer in animals, and that high levels of C8 infected local factory workers. Parkersburg, W.Va. DuPont. Lawyer Rob Bilott. The Environmental Protection Agency charged DuPont with concealing knowledge of C8's toxicity and presence in the environment. DuPont was fined $16.5 million, but did not admit liability. Eventually, the EPA learned that C8 was showing up in the general public through Teflon-coated pans and in the air and water. C8 is now found all over the world, and 60,000 similar chemicals remain unregulated. In Porter Ranch, Calif., residents fear a gas leak from a Southern California Gas Co. well is making them sick. Movie-famous activist Erin Brockovich insists that after being in a home in the area for 10 minutes, she got a case of some kind of chemically induced bronchitis. Lawsuits are pending. House values are said to be plummeting. At this point there are only questions, no answers. Every state and nearly every community confronts controversies over environmental protection and jobs and dangers to health and habitat. Sometimes the hysteria is unfounded. But environmental activists are no longer widely ridiculed as "tree huggers" and "bunny counters." Nonetheless, Republican presidential candidates are on a different page. Donald Trump wants to cut the EPA. "What they do is a disgrace." He says climate change is a hoax. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wants to repeal EPA's strictures on clean air and clean power. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz voted against protecting ocean, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems. He said climate change is a pseudoscientific theory. Carly Fiorina wants to weaken the EPA. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee thinks climate change is unproven. Ohio Gov. John Kasich says environmental policymaking should be left to the states and local communities. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio wants to leave environmental protection up to businesses, not the government. Votes have consequences. Ann McFeatters is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Contact her at amcfeatters@nationalpress.com. SHARE By Noah Feldman I can't be the only one who thinks they should bring back the original "Law & Order." If NBC did, the show's first case should be one that went on trial this week in a local court in Mineola, New York. A man has been charged with homicide in the death of a police officer who was struck by an SUV. The twist is that, when the crash happened, the defendant was leaning against the guardrail. He had been driving home from a night of drinking, got involved in a minor accident and was pulled over. The policeman was hit by a different car while investigating the crash. Is the homicide charge justified? Ask Jack McCoy or really, if you want to be a hard-core "L&O" fan (and I am), ask Ben Stone. This case is begging to be ripped from the headlines by TV writers. In real life, the Nassau County district attorney filed charges against James Ryan in the death of police officer Joseph Olivieri. A New York state appeals court had already blessed the charges. In February 2015, the appellate court issued a brief ruling allowing the charges in the October 2012 crash to go forward. The court explained that, according to the grand jury, Ryan "caused two collisions" while driving under the influence of alcohol. Then, "in the immediate aftermath of those collisions, the defendant's stopped vehicle was in the eastbound High Occupancy Vehicle lane, facing perpendicular to the direction of traffic." Officer Olivieri, who had gotten out of his vehicle to investigate, "was struck and killed when the driver of a sport utility vehicle traveling in the HOV lane did not see him or the defendant's stopped car in time to avoid hitting them." The legal question comes down to whether Olivieri's death was a foreseeable consequence of Ryan's criminal act of driving under the influence. Between five and 10 minutes elapsed from the time when Ryan stopped after causing two relatively minor collisions to the time when the passing SUV hit Olivieri. The New York trial court initially dismissed the charges against Ryan in Olivieri's death. It said the accident that killed the officer wasn't part of a "continuing chain of events" set in motion by Ryan. But the appeals court reversed that decision. It said that, under New York law, it was enough for Ryan's act to have "contributed" to Olivieri's death. "The defendant's actions," the court added, "need not be the sole cause of death and, indeed, the defendant need not have committed the fatal act to be liable." The only relevant legal question, according to the appellate court, was "whether it may be reasonably foreseen that the defendant's actions would result in the victim's death." As a statement of New York law, the appellate court's ruling can't be contradicted. Claire Kincaid (a graduate of Harvard Law School, where I teach) couldn't have said it better. But the legal rule should also take into account the chain of causation between the defendant's act and the death of the officer. Foreseeability is a very loose concept. It's all well and good to say that a reasonable person foresees the probable consequences of his actions. But reciting this legal formula doesn't tell you very much about the real world. When a court finds reasonable foreseeability, what it really means is that it's making a policy judgment to assign liability. Would a person driving under the influence reasonably foresee that he would be pulled over after a fender bender? Well, sure. Would he reasonably foresee that a passing car might hit the police officer investigating the accident? That's hardly a question susceptible to a "reasonable" answer. It could happen. Then again, most times it wouldn't. Who's to say what counts as foreseeability? The New York appellate court was in fact assigning responsibility to a driver under the influence for any bad consequences that might follow. At this moment in history, we treat drunken driving as a moral wrong of the highest order, so it's easy to understand what the court was thinking. You take a huge risk if you drive while impaired, according to the court. Whatever consequences flow from that act, expect to be held criminally liable. It seems to me that the New York appellate court got it wrong, and that the Nassau County prosecutors shouldn't have brought charges. Drunken driving is a bad act, to be sure. It's a horrible tragedy that a police officer like Olivieri should've paid the ultimate price while investigating an accident caused by a driver who had too much to drink. But the truth is that Olivieri could've been in the exact same situation had the underlying accident been the result of random chance or of poor driving by completely sober drivers. The cars were aligned in a certain configuration. The SUV driver didn't read the situation correctly. None of this happened particularly because the underlying accident resulted from alcohol. There's no doubt that Ryan contributed to Olivieri's death. But he would've contributed to the same extent if the crash hadn't derived from alcohol. For this reason, it was a mistake for the New York courts to hold that Ryan could be criminally liable for the police officer's death. In minute 58 of "Law & Order," Ryan would reach a plea bargain with the police. He would get a punishment worse than if he'd simply driven drunk, but not as extreme as he would've if held responsible for Olivieri's death. The trial has begun, but there's still time for life to imitate art. Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard. MANILA, Philippines Your address says a lot about you. And it will say a lot more about your stature and business if your address is at the heart of the countrys financial district. These statements are made by an address at Three Central located in the financial district of Makati, with its glitzy constellation of business, legal, foreign, commercial and educational aspects are all within your reach. This project from Megaworld Corporation gives residents the opportunity to live just one street away from Ayala Avenue, Makatis main artery and center of major landmark business deals. Its predecessors One Central along Dela Costa St. and Two Central along Valero St. have long since been sold out and warmly received by investors and unit buyers. All three are located within the financial district in Salcedo Village. Future residents will reach Makatis skyscrapers in seconds. Multinational companies, legal offices, top foreign and local banks and embassies in RCBC Plaza, GT Tower and PBCom Tower can be accessed in no time at all. Business graduate schools such as AIM, Ateneo and La Salle are a short walk away. Even the citys health institution, Makati Med, is two blocks away. Among all the luxury high-rises that are being developed and sold now in Makati, Three Central bears the distinction of a top location. It is literally one street away from Ayala Avenue, which is guaranteed to further boost its property value in the coming years. Thats right, this star address will only go higher in value, said Megaworld VP for marketing and project head Clifford Legaspi. Once complete, the residential condominium will be distinctive in the Makati skyline, as it will rise 50 stories and echoes the architectural design of Hong Kongs famous landmark, Two International Finance Center. Moreover, shimmering blue glass clads almost the entire building, making this star address iconic its own right. It also puts residents a short stroll or drive away to Greenbelt, whether to dine in style, catch the latest blockbuster or party the night away. Its a rewarding proposition for those who work hard day in and out. Considering their hectic schedules, all units will come pre-furnished with items including split-type air conditioning, LCD TV, dining set, bed frame with mattress, refrigerator and kitchen cabinetry. All you need to do is move in with your personal items and youre all good to go to handle business matters in style, Legaspi said. Investors have a variety of options to choose their unit. Executive studio units at roughly 40 sqm and one-bedroom units at 47 sqm are the main offerings. Deluxe one-bedroom units with balcony and maids quarters are the prime corner units, measuring 78 sqm. Units can also be combined to two and three bedrooms for even bigger living spaces. Today marks the launch of Grassroots Out (shortened to GO!), a new, non-aligned third force in the splintering landscape of pre-referendum euroscepticism. According to Peter Bone, its not intended to bid for official designation as the Leave campaign but to bring together anti-EU activists at a constituency level for things like canvassing. Its launch was heralded by a piece in the Daily Telegraph sporting a triple byline: Nigel Farage, Kate Hoey, a Labour MP, and Tom Pursglove, a newly-elected Tory MP. Liam Fox, who Eurosceptic sources believe is trying to tempt Theresa May into leading the Leave campaign, will also be in attendance. Scanning their Twitter feed this morning, it was full of pictures of a cross-party canvassing session spearheaded by Farage, Bone and Pursglove. (There are also a lot of graphics suggesting close cooperation with the Leave.eu campaign, which suggests it might not be quite so equidistant as initially suggested. This could have a direct impact on the Electoral Commissions assessment of which of the two rival Out groups gets official status.) Close cooperation between Conservative MPs and Farage will also annoy many Tories: not just Europhiles in Number Ten, who wish the whole thing would go away, but possibly eurosceptics too. Many will, after all, be working with Vote Leave. Some will judge that the UKIP-fronted, migration-focused campaign offered by Leave.eu is not only unrepresentative of their reasons for opposing EU membership but actively makes the referendum harder to win. Some will judge that close association with UKIP could set back Tory progress with new Britons and in places like London, where the party continues to under-perform electorally. Yet one the Remain campaign really gets going, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for both wings of the Party to greatly irritate each other. After all, not only will many prominent Conservative politicians including most of the Cabinet be campaigning to stay in the EU, but theyll be doing so alongside politicians from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. It will be very easy, especially if the referendum is close and nerves are stretched thin, for each side to read some sort of betrayal into the actions of the other and leave the Party plagued by deep-seated resentments. MPs from the Class of 2015 have spotted the danger, and nearly all have apparently signed a letter apparently the brainchild of Will Quince, Victoria Prentice, and James Cleverly warning the Party not to slide back into the dark days of the 1990s. Europe is an issue many Tories care deeply about, and passions will doubtless run high during the campaign. Seeing members of our party on the other side from themselves, and forgiving them for being there, is something all Conservatives must get used to. Human activities utilize resources and produces waste. As the human population increases, the global consumption and utilization of resources increases. This calls for the measure of the natures capacity to meet the increasing demand by people. Ecological Footprint is one of the leading measures of the unending human demand on nature. The Ecological footprint therefore tries to take into account whether the planet has the capacity to keep up with the increasing demands of humanity. In a laymans language, ecological footprint is the effect of human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and water needed to produce the goods consumed and get rid of the waste generated. It is the amount of the environment required to produce the goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle. Calculation of footprint takes into account just about everything we do: from the way we eat, the way we travel, the house we live and other lifestyle habits that we practice each day. According to Wikipedia, An ecological footprint is a measure of human impact on Earths ecosystems. Its typically measured in area of wilderness or amount of natural capital consumed each year. A common way of estimating footprint is, the area of wilderness of both land and sea needed to supply resources to a human population; This includes the area of wilderness needed to assimilate human waste. As per Living Planet Report of 2000 done by World Wildlife Fund, total global consumption of natural resources has steadily risen by 50 percent since 1970. This does not correspond with the natural resources as the earths natural resources have decreased by over 30 percent. Due to population increase in urban areas, it is essential to consider the environmental impacts of these urban areas. Currently, according to Global Footprint Network, if everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American US citizen i.e. similar eating, transportation, living, and consumption habits, we would need 5 planets to support ourselves. How does the Ecological Footprint Work? The Ecological Footprint essentially measures the supply and demand on nature. This means that on the supply side, biocapacity represents the natural productive land areas. These include forests, fisheries, pastures and cropland. When left uninterrupted or unexploited these areas have the capacity to absorb almost all the waste produced by humans particularly carbon emissions. The ecological footprint represents the productive areas needed to provide renewable resources people are using and to also absorb the waste produced. Additionally, the productive area that is currently occupied by the human infrastructure including, building, roads, air strips and airports, is included in the footprint calculation. This is because the built-up land is no longer available for regeneration of resources. Ecological footprint helps in analyzing the pressure on our planet and ecological footprint analysis can be a useful tool to educate people to manage our ecological assets more wisely and take collective action to make sure that a nations demand for products and services remain within its borders. Understanding the Ecological Footprint Environment sustainability covers anything that is needed to save the status of future human beings. It is highly agreed that during the recent times environmental sustainability is facing challenges from several parameters. Among these challenges include food production challenges and the transportation required to reach the final consumer. Food production is singled out because it depends on water, preservatives, refrigeration, and energy, and results in emission of carbon extracts. It is understood by many that carbon emissions are the leading causes of environmental challenges followed by solid wastes and water during the food production process. The miles traveled to deliver the food to consumers is a threat to the environment. For example vehicles, ships airplanes and other machines are needed to transport the food. These machines use fuel, gas, oil and when they move they emit carbon. During the transportation, the food requires a certain temperature to preserve the food. All these are a threat to the environment. This means that the more the miles to transport the food the more carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere. In many countries, wood and timber are used for commercial purposes. In fact, wood is among the most important raw materials in todays construction industry. The increased demand for wood has led to massive destruction of forests and the ecosystem. Trees are made to use or absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. Tress help in trying to strike a balance as far as the carbon emissions and oxygen provision is concerned. Therefore the more trees are destroyed the more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere leading to problems with the ecosystem. It is because of this reason that people and countries are called upon to plant and preserve the forest cover. The need for raw materials to manufacture products has led to an increased encroachment on the natural resources which are scarce in nature. The manufacturing process in itself is a problem to the nature. These factories that are mushrooming every day use a lot of fuel for their processes. The machines emit carbon into the air creating problems in the ozone layer leading to global warming. The factories also use a lot of water to cool the machines and clean some of their products. The dirty water that is usually combined with chemicals is then released back into the rivers and oceans. This not only poses a risk to the marine life but to the people who depend on the water obtained from these water bodies. It is no wonder that water levels in these water bodies is reducing at an alarming rate and people are exposed to different water related diseases because of water contamination. Advantages of Ecological Footprint The qualitative research is conducted to highlight worst affected geographical areas and workable solutions to manage and prevent further problems to these areas. The ecological footprint gives accurate figures that prevent overdoing or under-doing improvements. It is essential to point out that correct and effective improvement plans that will lead to efficient utilization of the remaining resources hence reduce the ecological footprint. The analysis obtained from the ecological footprint can be used to gain standardized indicators and create solutions for them. The ecological footprint acts as a wakeup call to the people and countries in the world to observe and regulate their activities that put the environment at risk. If everyone observed his or her ecological footprint, there will be less environmental problems today. Problems like carbon emissions, lack of fresh air, increased desertification, global warming and increased environmental pollution would be reduced. On the other hand, the ecological footprint has its downside too. For example, it is not realistic to calculate ecological damage done on a large scale. This is because such calculations can lead to wrong analysis and figures. A country with a high population may be considered to be consuming higher resources and this could be an overestimation. Additionally, the ecological footprint does not factor or put into consideration exports and imports. Secondly, the ecological footprint majorly focuses on the damage to the environment caused by the consumption of natural resources. However, other factors also lead to the environmental damage for example carbon emissions. A good example is Hong Kong, China. Generally, the ecological footprint of China is low even though China contributes to high carbon emissions. On the other hand, on the global scale, the ecological footprint of Hong Kong is marginal. Despite the fact the city is highly populated, their consumption and utilization of natural resources is at a standard level. The people have devised ways and schemes that help them curb the overuse of natural resources. As the global population increases, so does the amount of natural resources required to sustain it. The ecological footprint is therefore a very important environmental indicator that should be observed not only by countries but individuals as well. The efforts you put as an individual to conserve the environment counts a lot. Every individual and country should check and analyze their utilization of resources and set modalities and measures to reduce or prevent over-utilization of resources as well as invest their efforts towards solving global warming problems. Image credit: Chris Potter SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. Close There are not only many Americans who are crossing the 100-year-old mark, but more are expected to join that group of centenarians, according to a new report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the turn of the millennium, there were 50,281 centenarians in 2000. But in 2014, there were 72,197 centenarians, which showed a 43.6 percent rise, with more than 80 percent of the humans being female, said the report. Improving healthcare, better medicines and healthier lifestyles have contributed to it. "In the early 1900s and before, people could count on losing about a quarter of their children to infectious diseases and other public health problems," Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrician at Boston Medical Center, told Reuters. Hence, people who are more likely to cross the 100-year mark are also more likely survive childhood illnesses, Perls explained. People born after World War II, who were called the baby boomers, are more likely to add to the increase in the centenarians. Due to genetics and lifestyle influencing women's health, there are more women than men who cross the 100-year mark. "Women are definitely winning the longevity race," Perls said. With the rise in the centenarian population, their death rate too increases, according to the report. The 2000 data shows that the death rate increased by 119 percent for Alzheimer's disease, 88 percent for hypertension, 34 percent for chronic lower respiratory diseases and 33 percent for other injuries in 2014. Death rates decreased by 31 percent for stroke, 48 percent for pneumonia and influenza and 24 percent for heart disease. The main reasons for the death rate recorded for centenarians are heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, cancer, pneumonia and influenza. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close Christians have been facing harsher persecution over the last year, according to a new report released by the advocacy group, Open Doors. LLast year has been particularly tough for Christians. Open Doors is a group documenting hostility against Christians globally. "The 2016 World Watch List documents an unprecedented escalation of violence against Christians, making this past year the most violent and sustained attack on Christian faith in modern history," Open Doors CEO David Curry said at the rollout of the list. Worryingly, 322 Christians are killed every month and 214 churches or Christian properties are destroyed. North Korea is the worst country, in which nearly 70,000 Christians are put into labor camps every year, according to Breitbart. Nigeria topped the list for the number of Christians killed, according to The Guardian. There were more than 4,000 Christians who were killed in Nigeria. But worldwide, there were 7,100 reported deaths. Just in the previous year, the number killed was closer to 4,000, according to CNN. Policymakers need to understand that many allies of the U.S. also do not support religious freedom all over the world, according to Curry. "We believe in religious freedom for all," he said, "and that does not happen in countries that we do business with every day." See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close First of formerly conjoined twin boys finally had to say goodbye to all staff and healthcare professionals at a pediatric hospital in Jacksonville, Florida after spending more than a year of medical treatment and round-the-clock care. Baby Conner Mirabal left hospital for home but had to leave his twin brother, Carter, behind in order to get further hospital care. The conjoined twins were born in December 2014 with severe multiple physical limitations- linked abdomen, fused livers, and one shared small intestine. To ensure survival, both infants underwent a series of surgeries which included a 12-hour operation to separate them. After his release from the hospital, 20-pound baby Conner got a full-day schedule of warm hugs and kisses with his parents Bryan Mirabal and Michelle Brantley. "It's teaching time. That's the fun part, getting to be a dad," remarked Mirabal as quoted saying by ABC News. In Conner's time at the hospital, around 200 healthcare staff and medical personnel attended to the twins' every need. Sadly, 16-pound Carter has to continue receiving nutritional care and a slew of medical treatments to make sure he'll have better chances of surviving once he leaves the hospital. "He's actually thriving. He just has a little bit more to go through," said Daniel Robie, one of the pediatric surgeons who did a surgery on the twins, as mentioned by Florida Times-Union. Before bidding farewell to his brother and his home for 13 months, baby Conner spent some bro-moments with his smaller twin Carter. "Conner was smiling at him and they were grabbing each other's hands. I don't think they quite understand that they're brothers yet, but they'll get there," exclaimed Brantley as reported by Tech Times. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stated that it supports the new travel guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the mosquito-born Zika virus. The ACOG, which is the largest organization that represents obstetricians and gynecologists in the U.S., is also warning women who are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, to avoid traveling to countries were the virus has been detected. "There is much that we do not yet know about the Zika virus and its effects during pregnancy, for example whether pregnant women are of greater risk of infection than non-pregnant individuals," ACOG President Dr. Mark DeFrancesco said in the statement reported by Medical Xpress. "However, because of the associated risk of microcephaly, avoiding exposure to the virus is best. That's why pregnant women and women who are considering pregnancy should delay planned travel to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are ongoing." The Zika virus, which has been reported in numerous countries in Central and South America, was linked to a birth defect known as microcephaly, which occurs when an infant is born with an abnormally small head. Microcephaly can lead to mental retardation and death in some cases. In Brazil, the authorities reported more than 3,500 cases of microcephaly this past year, which is a dramatic increase from the 150 cases that were confirmed in 2014. Due to the potential link between the Zika virus and microcephaly, the ACOG is recommending medical professionals to take more detailed patient histories for their female patients who are pregnant or have plans to get pregnant. "Because some women may have traveled to affected areas prior to this advisory, obstetrician-gynecologists and other health care providers should ask all pregnant women about recent travel, and women who have traveled to these regions should be evaluated for Zika virus infection," DeFrancesco said. "Because there is no treatment for Zika virus at this time, women should be counseled about all options available to them. When possible, delivery at a center with the appropriate levels of neonatal expertise may be warranted He added, "Of course, this is an evolving area. We encourage health care providers and patients to continue to monitor the CDC for updated information." The CDC's travel warnings initially included Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. The country and territory list was expanded to include Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde, and Samoa. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Pakistan Has Around 130 Nuclear Warheads Says US Congressional Report By Abdus Sattar Ghazali 23 January, 2016 Countercurrents.org Pakistan's nuclear warheads which are estimated to be between 110-130 are aimed at dissuading India from taking military action against it, a US Congressional report says. Pakistans nuclear arsenal is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan, the report said adding: "but Islamabads expansion of its nuclear arsenal, development of new types of nuclear weapons, and adoption of a doctrine called full spectrum deterrence have led some observers to express concern about an increased risk of nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India, which also continues to expand its nuclear arsenal." The Congressional report titled "Pakistans Nuclear Weapons" was released on January 14. It is written by Nonproliferation experts, Paul K. Kerr and Mary Beth Nikitin. Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the research wing of the US Congress, which prepares periodic reports by eminent experts on a wide range of issues so as to help lawmakers take informed decisions. "Pakistan has in recent years taken a number of steps to increase international confidence in the security of its nuclear arsenal," said the CRS report. Moreover, Pakistani and US officials argue that, since 2004 Islamabad has taken a number of steps to improve its nuclear security and to prevent further proliferation of nuclear-related technologies and materials, it said. A number of important initiatives, such as strengthened export control laws, improved personnel security, and international nuclear security cooperation programs, have improved Pakistan's nuclear security, the CRS said. "However, instability in Pakistan has called the extent and durability of these reforms into question. Some observers fear radical takeover of the Pakistani government or diversion of material or technology by personnel within Pakistan's nuclear complex," the CRS said. "While US and Pakistani officials continue to express confidence in controls over Pakistan's nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards. Furthermore, continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardize strategic stability between the two countries," it concluded. Chronic political instability in Pakistan and Islamabads military efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaeda have raised concerns about the security of the countrys nuclear weapons, the report said and added that "some observers fear that Pakistans strategic nuclear assets could be obtained by terrorists or used by elements in the Pakistani government. However, U.S. officials have generally expressed confidence in the security of Pakistans nuclear weapons." According to the CRS report: "Islamabad is expanding its nuclear arsenal and developing of new types of nuclear weapons. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Richard Olson told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on December 16, 2015, that the United States is concerned about the pace and the scope of the Pakistans missile program, including its pursuit of nuclear systems. The administration also worries that a conventional conflict in Southwest Asia could escalate to include nuclear use as well as the increased security challenges that accompany growing stockpiles, he added." The CRS report pointed out that the United Kingdoms Foreign and Commonwealth Office has argued that Pakistans strategic posture, including nuclear, is clearly framed around its perception of the threat from India. Similarly, then-DIA Director Burgess told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 10, 2011, that the persistent India-Pakistan rivalry drives Islamabad to develop its nuclear infrastructure, expand nuclear weapon stockpiles ... and seek more advanced nuclear warheads and delivery systems, including cruise missiles. Pakistan has repeatedly described its strategic doctrine as credible minimum deterrence. Islamabad has pledged no-first-use against non- nuclear-weapon states, but has not ruled out first-use against a nuclear-armed aggressor, such as India. Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com Muslim World: The Leaders Who Could Not Lead By Mahboob A Khawaja 23 January, 2016 Countercurrents.org The entire Muslim world is engaged in self-destructive conflicts. Unwarranted wars and sectarian bloodbaths are the order of the day, so unparallel in contemporary history. You wonder, what are they fighting for? Who are the real warriors fighting for human freedom and justice and who are the hired culprits to prolong proxy wars for other hegemonic powers? Both the US and Russia are competing for hegemonic strategic influence, increased sales of weaponry and to acquire direct control over the natural resources of Arab Middle East. West Europeans - the former lords of colonialism prefer their own strategic priorities wherever they could find a gap between the two competing superpowers. People are not the aim for mind control but victims of the interventionist policies and raging wars. Believe it or not, people are assumed as digits and numbers in police-run states as they could not challenge the Arab authoritarianism for decades. Unthinkable as it was that ideological adversaries like the US and Russia would collaborate to bomb the Arab people, their culture and habitats. The Middle East is not a fertile place for ideological contrasts as the Arab culture and civilization overwhelms the entire landscape. At issues are political change and the aspirations of new age generations for an effective role to shape the present and future. Yet they are denied opportunities by the authoritarian rulers to have any say in the political change. Arab Spring articulated an illusion that was fast replaced by the foreign powers with tyranny and militarization. The Muslim world as a whole is a quagmire of ethnic cliches, linguistic identities and individualistic political diversions. Islam professed a universal message of brotherhood amongst the divided people of Arabia and unity of faith to become One Ummah- One People, all equal in rights and obligations before God. The essence and spirit of this message has been neglected and its imperatives betrayed in the political governance and official policies and practices. No authoritarian Arab ruler will ever admit being part of the problem. Should humans not be moral in our political and intellectual endeavors? Do we have the remedial imagination to cure the incurable ignorance, sectarian resentment and nationalistic bloody rampage - the malice and perfidy out of the sadistic human plans and priorities across the Arabian Peninsula? Can we critically look at ourselves and ask why Muslims have become so stagnated in moral, spiritual and intellectual values that we are on the verge of destroying any hope of freedom, equality and justice for the future? Can Muslims see the mirror with a collective consciousness? Arab Authoritarianism is a Chronic Problem The authoritarian puppet Arab-Muslim leaders, propelled by egoistic Western leaders, are engaged in desperate struggle for survival with unknown disastrous consequences for the entire world. None of the self-made kings and dictators will ever surrender to the will of the people and make ways for peaceful transfer of power to the new generations. Deliberate killings of the innocents go unabated across Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon and Egypt as if there were no human conscience, knowledge, or rational thinking on the part of earth's habitants. The war syndrome represents human madness, the guilt of having plunged the whole of the mankind into cruel abyss. Nobody can imagine what is the way out of the sadistic messy plan for the future of humanity. Individual self interest has replaced the collective goodness of besieged mankind. For sure, wickedness and righteousness cannot be combined in one policy statement and decision maker's mindset. All those possessing absolute political power appear to be moving by cruel indifference towards their fellow human beings. Americans and Europeans have divided the Arab-Muslim world in sectarian identities, cliches and antagonism. The cruelty of unwanted wars is raging across the Arab- Muslim societies -Shiite-Sunnis fighting daily bloodbaths happening as if it is the normal sacrifices of the religious festival. None seem to have any sense of accountability. The leaders are comfortable and unmoved to see their people pre-occupied by killing and madness. Who is going undue the irretrievable historical mistakes in these leader's judgment? History shall see people and the leaders by their actions, not by their claims. When difficult problems erupt, intelligent and competent leaders are always conscious and open to listening to voices of reason for change and remedial action. This helps all to manage a navigational change and to solve the problems. Borrowed weapons and corrupt and failed rulers do not have the capacity to extend moral or intellectual security to the Arab masses. Most oil pumping Arab countries are merely satellites of the US Empire. Those who plan and wage wars are not innocent belligerents or acting without knowledge. They know well what they are engaged in and its consequences. Those warriors who go to Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere to kill innocent people, massacring men, women and children, fully understand what they are doing. Do the Authoritarian Leaders Listen to Voices of Reason? Tyranny complements transgression and corruption. The contemporary Muslim world is a living picture of this political stigma. To replace Bashr al-Assad, self acclaimed Arab kings and Princess, Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Ghadaffi and Sadam Hussein millions could be displaced, made refugees and exterminated and nothing will change. What if the Arab leaders had developed public institutions and islamically people-oriented system of governance, could this all be not averted? Surely, the outcome could have been different and more sustainable than the raging sectarian bloodbaths occurring daily across Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, and Lebanon and soon overlapping to Saudi Arabia. One wonders, why are the oil enriched Arab leaders buying billions of dollars worth of military hardware from America or Europe? How and against whom would it be used? If Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Egypt are any example, the militarization is meant to quell the public interest and aspirations for political change and future-building. Imagine if the Arab world had competent armed forces and leadership on the one hand, and were open to common sense diplomacy and dialogue on the other, could peace and normalcy have not been restored in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya? Any rational person wonders who is fighting whom and why? Are they not entrapped by the US warmongering in the region? America is fighting to support the failing Shiite regime in Iraq, and it is supporting Saudis so to speak against the Shiite Houtis in Yemen and anti-Assad regime in Syria. There is no sense to be made out of the political and intellectual nonsense. Critical issues call for thoughtful analysis, change, and new ideas to replace the obsolete thinking. It needs to also replace the obsessive values flourishing across the Arabian Peninsula. But the ruling elite have failed to build a foundation that addresses the imperatives of security policies, peace and conflict resolution, and human progress in a global community. Global politics is not fixed but a constantly changing phenomenon of life. Arab leaders do not comprehend the imperatives of political change. But reality will not diminish because nobody is conscious of its presence. The Arab Middle East faces many critical crises. Even a cursory examination of the American-British wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the resulting sectarian bloodbaths predictable crises show that nothing is being tackled in their proper context or by any rational analysis. At the heart of Arab discontent is the freedom of Palestine and how to normalize relations with the State of Israel. All other crises are superficial to subside the focal issue of Palestine. There are no independent public institutions to analyze the political problems and find workable solutions. No proactive thinking exists in any Arab quarter to strive for political unity and to have coherent leadership. How can leaders who cannot think intelligently, or understand the nature of the current crises, lead in any strategic direction? Few sectarian scholars and leaders are engulfed in self-inflicted madness to ensure their survival. The sectarian madness appears to have gone out of control implicating the traditional Arab-Muslim societies into hatred and fear of survival. How to Change the Role and Perceptions of Sadistic Leaders? Leaders create leaders and unite the masses when faced with formidable challenges. The contemporary Muslim leaders owe allegiance to foreign masters and lack the rational visions and capacity- to perceive and manage the phenomenon of change in political affairs. When Islam ushered universal message of human unity in faith and tolerance to build bridges across many continents, the conscientious leaders were people-oriented and were open to voices of reason and truth to manage the affairs of the state. Today, ignorance and arrogance make the Iranian leaders to focus on Shia identity contradicting the essence of Islam. The neighboring Arabs from Saudi Arabia to other oil exporting states align themselves with the Sunni sect as claims the terrorism powerhouse, the so called - Islamic State-IS. Were there any sects in the originality of Islam? After all, this all appears to be man-made precepts to further individualistic interests and disharmony in the body of Islam. Do they know how to unite the masses? If they had any sense of the originality of Islam, would be engaged in bloody sectarian warfare and killing the innocents in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere? Would they be hanging religious scholars if they knew the repercussions and the Divine punishment for such heinous crimes? Ironically, The Islamic Revolution in Iran was brought against the Shah of Iran-the infamous authoritarian king but now the Iranian leadership is supporting another dictator- Bashar Al Assad- the destructive force behind the Syrian crisis. How could Saudi hang a religious scholar just for challenging the regime? Do they know how to implement the Islamic jurisprudence and its manifestation? Islam seeks a just balance- al-mezaan in human affairs, not extremism. Leaders are crushing the human spirit of rational thinking and opportunities to dispel the disposable differences. The raging conflicts in the Muslim world are nothing other than the sectarian infested madness and horror irrelevant to the values and principles of Islam. The solution must come out of new thinking and new vision for change, dialogue between the sectarian divides and competent leadership to achieve the stated goals. What if they were organized as morally and intellectually conscientious people? What if they knew the complex nature of global politics and the freedom to think, act, and communicate with moral strength to the enemies within the Arab societies? Given the opportunities, educated generations could make the difference when time and history warrant a navigational change. The new generations are proactive and well equipped to think intelligently and compose the differences with knowledge-based creative strategies and decent effective communication to unfold an era of political tolerance, stability and normalization- away from the tyranny of bloody authoritarianism. Is this not the rational remedy much needed to restore peace and stability in the Muslim world? Recently, Chris Hedges ("The Terror We Give Is the Terror We Get" Truthdig: 2/08/2015) spelled out how the sectarian violence and terror and foreign fetched wars could undermine the future of global humanity: Terror is the engine of war. And terror is what all sides in this conflict produce in overabundance .......We torture hostages in our black sites and choke them to death by stuffing rags down their throats. They torture hostages in squalid hovels and behead them. We organize Shiite death squads to kill Sunnis. They organize Sunni death squads to kill Shiites. We produce high-budget films such as "American Sniper" to glorify our war crimes. They produce inspirational videos to glorify their twisted version of jihad. The barbarism we condemn is the barbarism we commit. The line that separates us from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is technological, not moral. We are those we fight. ....."From violence, only violence is born," Primo Levi wrote, "following a pendular action that, as time goes by, rather than dying down, becomes more frenzied." Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in global security, peace and conflict resolution with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including the latest: Global Peace and Conflict Management: Man and Humanity in Search of New Thinking. Lambert Academic Publishing Germany-May, 2012 13-Year-Old Palestinian Girl Shot Dead In West Bank By MAAN NEWS AGENCY 23 January, 2016 Maannews.com JERUSALEM (Maan) -- A 13-year-old Palestinian was shot dead Saturday after reportedly attempting to stab an Israeli security guard outside of an illegal West Bank settlement northeast of Jerusalem, Israeli police said. Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that the girl approached a gate leading into the Anatot settlement, also known as Almon, and attempted to stab a security guard. The guard immediately fired gunshots at the 13-year-old, injuring her critically, al-Samri said. The child died on site shortly after. The police spokesperson said that initial reports into the incident suggested that the 13-year-old had been in a quarrel with members of her family in the Palestinian village of Anata, west of the Anatot settlement, before leaving home with a knife in order to carry out a stabbing attack, al-Samri said. The father arrived to the scene shortly after the attack in search of his daughter before being detained for questioning, al-Samri added. The head of Anata's village council,Taha Nuaman, identified the girl as Ruqayya Eid Abu Eid. He said the girl's family lives in Anata but is originally from the city of Yatta south of Hebron. The reported attack outside of the illegal Anatot settlement is the most recent to take place amid an ongoing wave of unrest in the occupied Palestinian territory. Last week a 15-year-old Palestinian also from Yatta suspected of stabbing and killing an Israeli settler in the illegal settlement of Otneil was detained, one day before another settler was stabbed and injured by a Palestinian in the illegal settlement of Tekoa. Over 20 Israelis have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals since Oct. 1. At least 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military forces or settlers in the same time period. Last weeks incidents inside of Israeli settlements and Saturdays alleged attack at the Anatot settlement come after the majority of attacks to take place this month were carried out on military personnel near checkpoints. The Israeli army following last weeks attacks banned all Palestinian laborers from entering illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, preventing work for an estimated 11,000 Palestinians. The ban was one of several measures since violence increased in October to be implemented by the Israeli army on Palestinian communities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including road closures, sealing off movement in and out of villages and towns, and arrest campaigns.reported. While security measures have been eased over the past month according to documentation by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, many closures and restrictions on movement remain in place, particularly in the Hebron district. In a most unfortunate set of circumstances, the lives of a young Southern Illinois correctional officer and a bankruptcy attorney from Mount Vernon, Ill. crossed paths this past week. It all started with a Marion County, Ill. Sheriff's Department correctional officer losing his life in a tragic accident on a snow-covered Interstate highway last Wednesday morning. It ended two days later with the lawyer losing his job for posting a hate-filled rant about the accident on Facebook. Adam Conrad, 22 of Sandoval, Ill. was doing his job last Wednesday morning, transporting a juvenile inmate from a local lockup to a court appearance when his transport van hit a patch of ice on Interstate 57, spun out of control, crossed the median and was hit broadside by a semi towing a flatbed trailer. Mr. Conrad died in the accident. His 17-year-old passenger was badly hurt. Somewhere in the resulting traffic jam caused by the crash, was Mount Vernon, Ill. bankruptcy attorney Michael Curry. The long delay caused by rescue workers having to extricate Adam and his passenger apparently angered Mr. Curr. . Curry's anger spilled over into a series of hateful and ugly Facebook posts targeting the young correctional officer and how he was inconvenienced by the tragedy. Unfortunately, I read Mr. Curry's rant. The Facebook posts were taken down a short time later, but not before countless readers saw them. Mr. Curry suggested in one post that Adam probably shouted "Allahu Akbar" as his van spun out of control and was hit by the semi. To me, Mr. Curry was suggesting Adam was on some sort of suicide mission. He went on to suggest that Adam's accident ruined the career of the semi driver that hit him. In my mind, one of the most abhorrent comments Mr. Curry made was his rant about local law enforcement and rescue personnel at the scene. "And then there's the police who lined the Interstate in honor of their fallen brethren. A few hours after lining the Interstate to pick off speeders trying to salvage their jobs or their school day. A few hours of doing nothing to help the stranded. No one was allowed through even after one lane was cleared. Perhaps they could have honored his memory by helping those of us affected by his actions." Mr. Curry went on to rant about the fact that Adam was only 22. He was a terribly inexperienced driver, Curry suggested. He blathered on about how many businessmen missed their appointments that morning. "I know of four other lawyers stuck in traffic that now have to spend time rehearing cases." Students, he suggested, probably received an F for missing class all because of Adam's accident. Well, it turns out that Mr. Curry was just one in a group of attorneys at a law firm that handles bankruptcies. The firm's senior partner quickly condemned Mr. Curry's Facebook posts. Mr. Curry took down his rant and posted an apology, but it really was too late. On Friday, protesters showed up in front of Mr. Curry's place of business. To his credit, Mr. Curry came out and apologized for his actions. He also announced that he had resigned because his actions had reflected badly on the firm's business. Charlie and Beverly Conrad buried their son Sunday. Mr. Curry's Facebook storm just added to their grief. Oh, did I mention that Adam Conrad was also a volunteer fireman? Memorials in Adam's name may be made to the Sandoval, Ill. Fire Department. Contact Len Wells at 618-842-2159 or lenwells@wabash.net. SHARE Four weeks ago, in our cycle of Torah readings in the Jewish community, we concluded the first of the five books of Moses Genesis. Genesis concludes with the Joseph narrative the story of that Biblical figure who dared to dream and who could interpret dreams. The ultimate dreamer was the prophet. The words of the prophet are the pinnacle of dream imagery. "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places shall be made plain, the crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." These are the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., a true modern day prophet. Each year we get together to celebrate his dream and to challenge ourselves to create and realize the expansion of his dream for the future. King shared a prophetic dream that can be likened to that of the great prophets of history. The prophets of the bible were concerned with a universal social justice this too was the concern of King. The prophetic vision of King stood in direct opposition to the self-interest expressed by the people of his time. Today, as well, self-interest is in conflict with that prophetic vision. King echoed the vision of the biblical prophets. The Prophet Micah taught us: "God has told you, O man what is good God wants nothing of you except that you do justice, love kindness and walk wisely with your God." King also frequently denounced anti-Semitism. According to him, "the segregationists and racists make no fine distinction between the Black and the Jew." In a letter to Jewish leaders, he attacked anti-Semitism "within the Black community, because it was wrong. I will continue to oppose it, because it is immoral and self-destructive." In retrospect, King's adoption of these causes is not surprising given his belief that the freedom of blacks was inextricably tied to the universal right of all groups to live in peace, free from discrimination and oppression. This belief, exemplified by King's extraordinary leadership, was instrumental in shaping the close relationship between blacks and Jews that developed during the King years, a closeness that included cooperation in campaigns to end discrimination in housing and to improve educational opportunities. At this point it is important to think back to what King viewed as the basis of the natural relationship between blacks and Jews. A decade before his death, he said the groups shared an "indescribably important destiny to complete a process of democratization which is our most powerful weapon for world emula- tion." I think if King was alive today he would be saddened by the lack of progress we, as a society, have made. He would be sad that in the 21st century, racist thoughts would still be heard in the words of House and Senate leaders. He would be sad the path of nonviolence and peace doesn't seem to be an option in so many of our cities and countries around the globe. Today, as we look around our world and even our own country Ferguson, Missouri, New York City; Cleveland; Chicago and too many other cities and towns we can see there is still disparity in America. He would be saddened there is still no lasting peace in the middle east. He would urge us to support a peaceful resolution and create a separate Palestinian state which could live in harmony with Israel. He would be saddened by the opposition of our highest leaders to support programs that assure equality in education and employment opportunities. He would be sad that so many even political leaders in our own state use their understanding of God's word to justify hatred, bigotry, xenophobia and homophobia. King said: "It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people." We have so much still to learn. It is up to us Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus all people of faith to make his dream a reality. By honoring his memory, may we remember his words and echo his vision through the work of our hands. May this be God's will. Gary Mazo is rabbi of Temple Adath B'nai Israel. The audience at the Evansville Islamic Center during a One God, One Community program that included members of the Islamic Center, First Presbyterian Church and Temple Adath Bnai Israel. Submitted photo SHARE Kevin Fleming, pastor of First Presbyterian Church; Omar Atia, Iman at the Islamic Center and Gary Mazo, Rabbi at TABI gather after the One God, One Community program. Submitted photo The audience at the Evansville Islamic Center during a "One God, One Community" program watches as a group of Islamic men conduct their evening prayers. submitted photo By Sara Anne Corrigan If you want to understand another religion, ask its adherents, not its detractors or enemies. This was the single most important "rule" Andy Hubbard said he brought with him as he participated in a series of Interfaith events "One God, One Community." The series brought together members of First Presbyterian Church where he attends, Temple Adath B'nai Israel and the Evansville Islamic Society the three Abrahamic faiths for fellowship and education. More than 100 people representing the three congregations met on a recent snowy Sunday evening at the Evansville Islamic center in Newburgh for an evening of food, socializing and a program presented by Imam Omar Atia that included an explanation of his faith tradition, prayer rituals and a no-holds barred question and answer period. It marked the third in a series that began in November and is scheduled to continue for three more months. The first three segments in the series "Sacred Space, History and Theology" included meetings and meals at all three houses of worship. The remaining three, scheduled for February, March and April, will be devoted to "Ritual Practice and Holidays." The series was conceived by Kevin Fleming, pastor at First Presbyterian, Rabbi Gary Mazo of Temple Adath B'nai Israel and Atia of the Islamic Center. Participation was limited to members of those three congregations and "so far it has been ridiculously successful" Fleming said. "One hundred or more people came to each event we have seen so much progress within the community at large, understanding what it means to be part of a multi-faith movement," he said: "It was designed for us to get to know each other and to begin to build relationships so that we can talk openly and honestly." There is a great deal of ignorance about what each of the three faith traditions actually represent, he said. "What gets quoted in media (fosters) commonly held misconceptions," Flemming said. "What we hear in the media (about Christianity) tends be the voices of the evangelicals and fundamentalists. They get the press, we don't, and as result everybody thinks that's what Christianity is and it isn't. It is a problem for all three faith traditions, especially Islam in current times and, in fact, the question and answer period during Atia's lecture included some rather blunt politically tinged questions more so than at the other two events in the series, said Ed Sharf, a member of TABI, who attended all three programs. The questions were welcomed and answered by Atia, without exception. "I sat down with three Muslim women at the first meeting and it was great," said Sharf. "It wasn't all small talk; it was asking probing questions about religion and belief. It was a wonderful, civil, adult conversation that everyone should be having, but they aren't." Hubbard offered two additional observations about interfaith efforts "We should not compare our best to their worst; do not compare Mother Teresa to ISIS," and "leave room for Holy Envy." An example of Holy Envy, he said, can be described by his own envy, as a Christian, learning from the Rabbi and the Imam how deeply both Judaism and Islam respect and revere the native languages in which their religious texts were written. "We don't have that in Christianity," he said. "We should look for things in other faith traditions that speak to us in a way our own does not it broadens and enriches (our) own traditions, like trying a new food and expanding our palates." Dr. Bashar Mourad, a member of the Islamic Society who also has attended all three programs, said he has relished the coming together of the "People of the Book." "It really enhances our relationships," he said. "I liked exploring and learning about the other religions, their places of worship, the symbols; it amazes me how similar we are. There are striking similarities, and yet the highlights in the media are always about the differences." "The more interaction the better it gets and the more successful it will be," Sharf said. One God, One community is not the first interfaith initiative in town involving these three congregations: About 15 years ago the same three congregations came together for the first Interfaith Habitat build. A second was done last year, Fleming said. TABI and the Islamic Society hosted a "Laugh in Peace" comedy concert for their own members several years ago and then two years ago all three churches joined again bringing the "Laugh in Peace Comedy Tour" featuring comedians from all three faith traditions at the Victory. Interfaith Thanksgiving meals and worship services have also figured into the mix, Flemming said. Dates for the next three One God, One Community programs have not been established yet, Fleming said. Although the series was developed primarily for members of the three participating congregations over concerns for space, if someone would like to come they should call one of the three participating organizations for more informations, Flemming said. SHARE EVENTS Black History Lecture: "Speak What We Feel, Not What We Ought to Say" presented by Dexter Brewer, judicial vicar and vicar general for the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, 7 p.m. Feb. 2 in St. Bede Theater at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad. The lecture is free. Parking is available at St. Bede Hall and in the Guest House and student parking lots. Call Mary Jeanne Schumacher at 812-357-6501. Center for Congregations workshop: "Improving Your Online Presence," 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer at 1811 Lincoln Ave. Digital marketing professional Zac Parsons will offer congregational leaders a basic understanding of how people access and experience the congregation's website and other online tools. The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch and workshop materials. To register, call 812-618-2012 or visit centerforcongregations.org. St. John the Baptist Mother to Mother Ministry Spring and Summer Children's Consignment Sale: 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 6 at St. John's, 625 Frame Road in Newburgh. Due to safety, no children younger than 12 are allowed to enter the sale. Babies may be worn in soft carriers. Admission is $1. For more information, call 812-490-1000 or email m2msale@gmail.com. Faith Fest: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 6400 Oak Hill Road. Children age 3 (and potty trained) through grade 5 are invited to enjoy a day of Bible story, crafts, games, drama and music. Class sizes are limited. Register at bethlehemucc.org. The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand Program: "Forgiving What You Cannot Forget," 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Benedictine Hospitality Center at Kordes Hall on the grounds of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. Presenters will be Sisters Jane Becker and Jane Will. Cost is $75 and includes lunch. Registration deadline is Feb. 10. For more information or to register, call 800-880-2777 or 812-367-1411, ext. 2915, or visit thedome.org/programs. Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library Gallery: St. Meinrad, an exhibit of wall hangings "Healing the Earth" by artist Joanne Weis, through Feb. 28. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Weis will give a gallery talk at 10 a.m. Feb. 6. For library hours, call 812-357-6401 or 800-987-7311, or visit saintmeinrad.edu/library/hours/. Teaching from the Book of Revelation: 11 a.m. every Sunday until completion at Church of God of Prophecy, 3407 Bellemeade Ave. Speaker is Bishop William Gaddis (free). Call 812-459-2359. The Mighty Acts of God in Zion: The Storyline of the Bible: 7-8 p.m. on Tuesdays in the fellowship hall of St. Ananias Orthodox, 4411 Washington Ave. Old Friendship Church Celebrate Recovery Program: 7 p.m. on Fridays at Oak Hill Christian Center, 4901 Oak Hill Road. Traditional Roman Catholic Latin Mass: 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Paul's Chapel, 629 E. Louisiana St. music Concert: featuring Eternal Vision, 6 p.m. Sunday at Church of the Cross, 7525 N. Green River Road. Concert: featuring a string sextet, 7:30 p.m. Monday in St. Bede Theater on the St. Meinrad Archabbey campus in St. Meinrad. Members of the sextet are Alicia Choi and Robert Anemone, violins; Kristin Zimmerman Jones and Rose Wollman, violas; and Brady Anderson and Kirsten Jerme, cellos. the program is free. Parking is available in the Guest House and student parking lots. For more information, contact Mary Jeanne Schumacher during business hours at 812-357-6501. For updates the day of the performance, call 812-357-6611. meals Neighborhood Breakfast: 8-9 a.m. Jan. 30 at Bethel United Church of Christ, 3029 N. Green River Road (free). Fish Fry: 5-7 p.m. Feb. 5 at St. Wendel Knights of St. John. Menu consists of fried cod, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and drinks. Grilled cheese also will be available. The cost is $8.50 for adults and $4 for children. For more information, call Jerry Knapp at 812-963-6159. Lenten Fish Fries: 4:30-7 p.m. Feb. 12 through March 18 at Nativity Catholic Church, 3635 Pollack Ave. Menu includes fried catfish or baked tilapia dinners. Call 812-476-7186. SHARE By James Vaughn of the Courier and Press When Clay Prindle left his job at ACCESS Academy in April accepting a gig with the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Indiana, he knew he wanted to do something similar to what he was doing at ACCESS in his new role. ACCESS is a nonprofit, therapeutic day school program for children on the autism spectrum. Prindle was a program facilitator there and worked closely with students to make sure they were on task. Now, as program development specialist at GSSI, he is hoping to get the ball rolling on a special troop dedicated to young girls with similar disabilities. The Ronald McDonald Charities of the Ohio Valley awarded GSSI a $4,500 grant to start the program, dubbed Girl Scouts Achieve. "They were a little bit more generous than we were expecting," Prindle said. The grant will fund the program for girls 8-12 who live in Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. The grant will cover the girls' memberships and uniforms for a year, any supplies needed for troop meetings and the program facilitator's pay, among other things. "Normally the grants we apply for cover a few programs," Prindle said. "This is one of the first ones that has been specifically for this purpose." There's a reason for that, he said. "We are really, really hoping that if this succeeds and takes off, we can continue doing it," Prindle said. "It's such a great thing for the community. You don't realize how many people actually wanted this." For this program, he said they plan to steer away from the traditional focus of earning badges. He wants something more for these girls. "We really pride ourselves on accepting everyone," Prindle said. "Our focus a lot of the time will be on inclusion as opposed to badge achievement. We want to dial back on the badge achievement emphasis. We're working toward girls having self advocacy. We want them to be able to stand up for themselves." One of the biggest barriers for people on the autism spectrum is communication, so Prindle said the Achieve program will focus heavily on self-advocacy. "We just want to get these girls out there into the world and give them the experience they usually wouldn't have otherwise," he said. University of Southern Indiana education students will work closely with the girls as well. For now, USI is also where troop meetings will take place. Prindle is hoping to move to a more centralized location in the future to better serve girls from all eight counties. For now, the program has 15 available spots, but Prindle said he hopes to expand it in the future. "Because this is a pilot program, I didn't want us to be overwhelmed," he said. Casey DePriest, the founder and administrator at ACCESS, said she's already been putting the bug in parent's ears, but they need to know this program is going to work for their kids, she said. "It's hard for them to put their kids out there and give them the chance to try new things when so much of the time they don't have what they need," DePriest said. Prindle asked ACCESS to partner with GSSI for the program, DePriest said. "Of course we were on board with that because that's what we're about," she said. "We're excited about the Girl Scout program and the opportunities it will bring to students who don't typically get to participate in the kinds of activities other students do. We know they want to, but they just don't have access to it." DePriest said she hopes the troop is able to create a sense of inclusion for these girls. "When these kids get to go and show off what they've done as a club as a special troop they get to interact with kids from other troops and really show them that kids with disabilities can do so much given the supports and opportunities," she said DePriest said she's excited about the program. "I'm looking forward to a lot more opportunities opening up following this lead." The community can learn from something like this as well, she said. "We as a community don't ask what their story is or interact with them in that way," DePriest said. "I hope this will provide opportunities for these girls to show the community how talented they are and how many gifts they have to share." For more information, contact Prindle at cprindle@girlscouts-gssi.org. Program permission forms are available upon request via email or may be picked up from the GSSI council office at 223 NW Second St. Prospective Girl Scouts Achieve members will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through Feb. 8. Continue Reading Below Advertisement The Rube Goldberg monstrosity you're looking at above is a result of Stalin's Zveno project, which consisted of repurposing super-colossal Russian bombers like the Tupolev TB-3 to carry up to six Polikarpov I-16 fighter-bombers like winged parasites. Although, "parasites" is probably an unfair description -- in reality this was more of a symbiotic relationship, because once the full crop of fighters was firmly attached, each plane in this flying Jenga tower had to gun its engines just to get the whole ludicrous mess off the ground. But It Totally Worked! The idea was that the giant bomber could get the smaller fighters to a target that would normally be out of their range, and to that extent a Zveno could knock non-Russians on their asses more efficiently than a Russian breakfast. (Vodka. A Russian breakfast is vodka.) Once in range, the fighters detached like over-plump ticks to decimate their targets, usually Axis oil depots in Romania, German-held bridges, or anything that smelled a bit too strongly of capitalism. After transforming their target into a smoking crater, the fighter pilots could either attempt to reattach to the bomber in-flight (if they'd had a big enough Russian breakfast) or land at a nearby airfield and prepare to Voltron up again the next day. The next time you're tempted to bitch about having to parallel park, remember this photo. Continue Reading Below Advertisement While both the TB-3 and the Polikarpov were retired in 1942, by that time Zveno carriers had conducted 30 highly successful raids on the Eastern Front, thereby proving that causing your enemies to point and laugh at you makes it way easier to pelt them with bombs. Cloud News Microsoft Partners: Fed-Up VMware Customers Are Switching To Azure Cloud Kevin McLaughlin Share this Microsoft and its channel partners are looking to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding VMware's public cloud strategy by targeting its customers with an Azure-centric sales pitch. VMware's vCloud Air public cloud, despite being pitched as a "safe landing place" for VMware's private cloud customers, has struggled to gain share in a market dominated by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Last month, VMware pulled out of a planned cloud joint venture with EMC that would have combined vCloud Air with its parent company's Virtustream unit. VMware parent EMC is in the process of being acquired by Dell, and sources told CRN recently that VMware customers are putting off purchasing decisions until the deal closes. According to some Microsoft partners, all of this turmoil adds up to an excellent selling opportunity for Azure. [Related: After Extended Turmoil, Can VMware Right The Ship With vCloud Air Hybrid Cloud Service?] Alex Brown, CEO of 10th Magnitude, a Chicago-based Microsoft Azure partner, said his company is "getting significant traction in the marketplace" with Azure Site Recovery (ASR), a service that replicates VMware workloads into Microsoft's public cloud for disaster recovery purposes. Brown told CRN he's having success in pitching Microsoft's ASR service -- which uses technology from its 2014 acquisition of cloud storage vendor InMage -- to VMware customers. 10th Magnitude launched a marketing campaign earlier this month that highlights the advantages VMware customers can get from using Azure. "We are using this opportunity to go hard after VMware shops with an Azure based disaster recovery alternative that does not require them to make any changes to their on premise VMware," said Brown. "We're getting traction and have won number of deals in which we're moving VMware shops into Azure." Behind the scenes, Microsoft ASR is converting virtual machines from the VMware-compatible VMDK format into Microsoft's Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format, which lets them run natively in Azure as a native VM. This means VMware customers can use Azure for disaster recovery and pay only when they need to failover or migrate VMs. VMware's vCloud Air also has a disaster recovery-as-a-service, but Brown said his VMware customers like ASR because it doesn't require them to change their on-premise VMware configurations. Going with Microsoft can also save VMware customers money, Brown said. "In one recent case, the Azure-based solution we put in front of the [VMware] customer to move their infrastructure into Azure was half the cost of what VMware was telling them," said Brown. Microsoft recently unveiled an update to ASR that could make it even more attractive to VMware customers. The original version of ASR required VMware customers to deploy their own infrastructure VMs in Azure to handle the VM replication, but Microsoft's updated version replicates data directly to Azure, making it easier and cheaper to use. "Right now, in my opinion, Microsoft offers the best [disaster recovery-as-a-service] solution for Hyper-V or VMware customers, based on price and functionality," Aidan Finn, a Dublin, Ireland-based Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) partner, said in an email. A VMware spokesman responded to CRN's request for comment by saying that customers are choosing vCloud Air over Azure, because VMware's cloud service "leverages the same tools, technologies and skills that enterprises already have while delivering new cloud capabilities." "Our cloud service has played an important role in helping VMware customers move to a true hybrid model," said the spokesman. "VMware vCloud Air offers the most compatible cloud platform with the largest supported set of applications and operating systems." While Microsoft has discussed the ASR pitch to VMware customers in blog posts, the software giant has been relatively quiet about the competitive aspects of the technology. A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment on whether the software giant is planning any ASR marketing campaigns of its own. Jason Sauers, founder and director of connected systems at Phidiax, a Denver-based Microsoft partner, said while some VMware customers might expand their usage of Azure after seeing positive results from using the ASR product, that doesn't need to happen in order for Microsoft to succeed. "This world is a hybrid world, so it is more likely for [VMware] customers to leverage their on-premise investments as-is, with some cloud supplement to bring advanced yet affordable capabilities," Sauers told CRN. "Azure will continue to supply seamless enterprise capability for all platforms, while enabling those who want to convert to specific Microsoft offerings," added Sauers. Are you an entrepreneur? If you answered no because you dont own a business, know this: Being an entrepreneur doesnt require owning a business any more than being an accountant requires working for an accounting firm. Related: 9 'Mindsets' You Need to Switch From Employee to Entrepreneur Being an entrepreneur is all about mindset. So, are you an entrepreneur, or an employee? Lets find out: 1. Entrepreneurs improve their skills; employees improve their weaknesses. If you've ever been on a job interview, you've probably answered this question: "What have you done to improve your weaknesses?" This is a sensible question . . . to an employee. After all, employees are taught that weaknesses are bad and that they should be improved. Not entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs view focusing on weaknesses as futile; instead, they draw on their strengths. 2. Entrepreneurs may produce lousy work; employees are perfectionists. Employees, constantly under the watchful eye of their bosses, strive for perfectionism. After all, nobody wants a black mark on that all-important performance review. Yet entrepreneurs thrive on lousy work, because putting out lousy work means that at least they're producing, and its better to create and fail than to not have created at all. Related: Cultivating The Mindset of a Successful Entrepreneur 3. Entrepreneurs say 'no' to opportunities; employees embrace them. Warren Buffet said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything. Entrepreneurs, then flex their "no" muscle often to maintain their focus on what matters. Employees, on the other hand, say "yes" to everything because they fear that if they say 'no' to an opportunity, they'll miss out on their big break. 4. Entrepreneurs delegate; employees practice 'DIY.' Entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to get things off their plate. They know the monetary value of their time, and focus on the things only they can do. Employees are the opposite. They try to do everything themselves, and see it as a weakness when they cant juggle it all. They try to know every single aspect of the business. The mantra If you want it done right, do it yourself is the employees mantra. 5. Entrepreneurs mono-task; employees (try to) multitask. Theres no such thing as multitasking. Despite what employers want, this statement is true. Studies show its impossible for our brains to focus effectively on more than one thing at a time. Entrepreneurs recognize that multitasking means doing nothing well, so they mono-task instead. Employees, however, are trained to worship multitasking and beat themselves up when their brains wont cooperate. 6. Entrepreneurs thrive on risk; employees avoid it. If you ask many people in the employee mindset why they won't start a business, they'll say they need the security of their day jobs. Not having access to a pension, steady paycheck or health insurance is too risky, they say. Yet entrepreneurs thrive on risk. Without risk, theres no reward, and rather than scaring entrepreneurs away, this knowledge invigorates them. As Peter Drucker said, Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. 7. Entrepreneurs believe in seasons; employees believe in balance. Ahh, work/life balance. That is every employees most coveted dream, the most sought-after treasure. But entrepreneurs know that balance isn't achievable. Instead of seeking balance, they believe that to excel in one area of their lives, others will suffer. They accept that the areas of their lives rotate through seasons. Instead of fighting for an unachievable balance, they recognize that one thing will always have to take precedence over the others. 8. Employees are threatened by smarter people; entrepreneurs hire them. In the corporate jungle, its survival of the fittest. If youre not the smartest, most well-connected or hardest-working person in your department, youre stuck at that bottom rung of the ladder. Employees, therefore, are threatened by those who are smarter than they. They view the smarter guys as competition. Entrepreneurs hire those people. They know that without a great team, their business will fail, so they hire up. You dont have to be a startup CEO or even own your own business to be an entrepreneur, but the entrepreneurial mindset is one that attracts success. And the really good news is that there are many different ways in which you can apply these mindsets to become successful at whatever you choose to do with your career. Related: 6 Signs You Are Not Ready for Entrepreneurship Related: Albuquerque Has Embraced the Entrepreneurial Mindset for City Services Why You Should Actually Ditch Some of Your 2016 Goals Don't Let a Startup Failure Hold You Back Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved If theres one lesson Vincent Lambiase has learned in more than 30 years as a small business owner, its to avoid locating two businesses of the same kind too close together Would you open a pizza parlor near another pizza parlor or a flower shop near another flower shop? said Lambiase, owner of Beachwood Florist in Milford. By that same logic, he said, opening two medical marijuana facilities within a few miles of one another sounds like bad business. But thats exactly whats happening in Milford. Earlier this month, the state Department of Consumer Protection awarded licenses to open three more pot dispensaries in the state and two of them are in Milford. The third is in Waterbury. The Milford sites arent just in the same town, but less than two miles apart. One will be in an office building at 318 New Haven Ave., and the other is at 255 W. River St., in a building formerly occupied by the Eyesurgic Center. The facilities, expected to open in early summer, will join the six existing dispensaries in the state. State officials said the licenses were given purely on the strength of the applications. Its a coincidence, they say, that the approvals have turned Milford into the Colorado of the Northeast, while large swaths of the state remain without dispensaries. There is only one dispensary in all of densely populated Fairfield County, for example. There are none in Litchfield County. So far, sentiment in the city is mixed on the incoming businesses, which may suggest a greater acceptance since the industry was first approved in Connecticut. In 2013, when the state started considering applications for medical marijuana production facilities and dispensaries, dozens of municipalities rushed to adopt moratoriums on such businesses. Milford was among them. While some communities still have laws in place prohibiting cannabis businesses, others have modified the restrictions and many have abandoned the moratoriums completely. In Milford, the Planning and Zoning Board in 2014 established certain commercial zones, a distance from schools, that allow medical pot businesses. Milford Mayor Benjamin Blake is willing to welcome the businesses, but expressed some reservations. I understand the benefits that access to medical marijuana provides patients suffering from diseases like cancer, glaucoma, Parkinsons and MS, he said in a text message. Still, this treatment program is relatively new to Connecticut and must be carefully regulated to avoid abuses. Both of the Milford dispensary sites are in busy areas. The West River dispensary sits between the Boston Post Road and a residential neighborhood. The New Haven Avenue site is near several businesses, including Jimmys Apizza and Beachwood Florist. Lambiase for one, said he doesnt mind having a pot dispensary as a neighbor as long as everything is kept legal and businesslike. Its another regulated business, he said. I dont think it brings an undesirable faction into the area. I dont really think legalized marijuana is a great idea, but I dont believe in putting my opinions on everyone else. The best applications The three approved sites were picked from a pool of 19 applications. Department of Consumer Protection spokeswoman Lora Rae Anderson said nearly half of the applications were for sites in Milford, which is a pretty central location given that the bulk of the 8,228 medical marijuana patients registered in Connecticut live in New Haven or Fairfield counties. There are 1,941 patients in Fairfield County, and the 2,141 patients in New Haven County. Anderson said a fair number of patients live in Milford and its surrounding communities, but she wouldnt give exact figures for confidentiality reasons. The chosen Milford applicants both had strong business plans, according to Anderson, and, among other things, did a good job of showing they could run a safe, secure facility. There was a very, very rigorous process they had to go through, she said. The decision boiled down to the quality of the applications and the scores they were given during the review process. The two approved Milford applications came from Rajesh A. Patel of Rocky Hill, who won the license for the New Haven Avenue property, and Angelo DeFazio, who owns an Arrow pharmacy in Hartford and won the license for the West River Street dispensary. DeFazio received one of the states first medical marijuana sales licenses and in 2014 opened a dispensary in Hartford, Arrow Alternative Care. He is on the state pharmacy commission, which is part of the Department of Consumer Protection. But Anderson said the commission has no role in approving licenses for the pot dispensaries. The process is overseen by the departments drug control division and the legal division. Deepa Desai, a pharmacist co-owner of the New Haven Avenue dispensary, said she and her partners are focusing more on getting the business up and running than on any potential competition from the other Milford site. We arent even looking at that right now, she said. Well just have to make it work. The three new approvals would bring the number of dispensaries in New Haven County to four. The single Fairfield County dispensary the Compassionate Care Center of Connecticut/D&B Wellness, LLC, is in Bethel. Of the 19 applications submitted in this latest round, three were submitted by Organic Care LLC in Greenwich. Another Fairfield County-based business, PalliaTech, LLC in Monroe, also submitted an application. Anderson said the state would like to add more Fairfield County dispensaries, and, with the state adding about 100 registered patients a week, the application process may be re-opened again in the near future. Maybe in my backyard? To date, Desai said, she and her partners havent heard any feedback from Milford business owners or residents. She said, due to the fact that so many dispensaries have already opened in the state, the awareness is already there about what these businesses offer. Indeed, Lambiase and others in the city seemed willing to accept the dispensaries as just another pair of town businesses, though some voiced reservations. Those included a neighbor of the West River Street property, who didnt want her name used. The woman, who has a young child, said, on the one hand, its good that theres a place where those who need relief from a painful or chronic condition can get help. But shes not sure she wants it in her neighborhood. I dont think theres a reason to be concerned, she said, but added that she wants more information on the dispensary, and how it would operate. Im glad there are places people can go for help. We just want to make sure that everyone stays safe. Blake said the city is also concerned about safety, which is why Milfords planning and zoning board adopted safeguards last year, restricting any possible incoming dispensaries to certain commercial zones and away from schools. The business community is a bit less conflicted in its support. Milford Chamber of Commerce President Kathleen Alagno said shes received no complaints or comments about the dispensaries from members. These are bonified businesses, approved by the state that would be no different than any other pharmacy, she said. Lambiase regards his new neighbors as businesses as well, but he is still baffled by the idea of two similar businesses opening up so close to one another. When he first opened Beachwood, there were multiple other florists in town, but his research showed that the bulk of them were on the verge of closing, making room for a new player. But medical marijuana is a fairly new field in the state and a niche business, he said. It seems highly unlikely that the two spots wouldnt steal business from one another. Thats kind of silly, he said. Double murder trial day 4: A star witness for the prosecution backed out in the courtroom State Board of Education lays down law on race, gender teachings School boards will have to follow new requirements for notifying parents about policies involving access to bathrooms and locker rooms. A sea of change is coming over Europe, as the continents leaders wake up to the truth that EU institutions just cant cope with the tide of migrants sweeping in from Africa and the Middle East. On Thursday, Germany retreated further from the once-sacred principle of open borders, with interior minister Thomas de Maiziere declaring he could not foresee a moment when the emergency frontier checks introduced in September would be lifted. Yesterday, it was Frances turn to sound the alarm bell, as prime minister Manuel Valls warned, in apocalyptic language, that the European project itself was in grave danger from the crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, has come under fire for throwing the borders open to migrants Now it emerges that EU ministers, hitherto guardians of the flame of ever-closer union, will meet on Monday for talks on suspending the open-borders Schengen Agreement for two whole years, thereby restoring control of movement to nation states. Indeed, the future of the EU superstate, already under intense pressure from the meltdown in the one-size-fits-all currency, looks more uncertain by the day. In an excoriating interview, Mr Valls made no secret of his horror at Angela Merkels rash decision reversed too late to throw open Germanys borders to all. Prime Minister David Cameron, pictured, is resisting calls for Britain to accept 90,000 migrants per year As he pointed out, Schengen meant the whole continent suffered from her folly, as word spread by smartphone that a welcome awaited in Europe. Indeed, the German leader bears heavy responsibility for encouraging so many to risk the perilous sea crossing, which yesterday cost yet more lives. Nor did Mr Valls shrink from reminding her of the mass sex attacks in Cologne on New Years Eve, for which asylum seekers were held chiefly to blame. Of course, France has its own reasons for fearing the influx to the EU already running at 1,735 a day, while experts predict ten million will enter this year. French prime minister Manuel Valls said the European Union was under threat due to the migrant crisis With Paris in shock after Novembers terrorist attacks, the countrys economy is tanking and jobs are scarce, stoking fears of further inflaming racial tensions. Hence Frances disgracefully cynical policy of luring migrants to the Channel coast, in the hope of dumping the problem on overcrowded Britain. But as Mr Valls recognises, the only realistic answer is to hold back the tide at source. And that means strengthening controls at points of entry into the EU. What he didnt add is that theres also an urgent need to review Europes human rights laws, which often make it impossible to deport asylum seekers. Indeed, this week a British immigration tribunal punched another hole in our porous borders by ruling that migrants in France had a right to family life in the UK. Thousands of people have fled Syria to Europe causing problems on borders across the continent As for David Cameron, to his credit he is resisting EU calls for Britain to accept a quota of some 90,000 a year, while insisting there should be no change in the rule that asylum seekers are the responsibility of the first safe country they reach. But fighting to preserve the status quo is clearly not enough. So far his demands have been woefully unambitious. With the EU in disarray, and a growing appetite among our partners for radical reform, this is his golden opportunity to beef up his negotiating stance and restore real power to Britain. Almost two years before the referendum deadline, it is still not too late to secure a deal that even this paper could support. A royal example In warmly welcoming Lord Bramall to Windsor Castle while he was under groundless suspicion of child abuse, the Queen showed laudable respect for the presumption of innocence and the honour due to a war hero. Billy Connolly's choice of trousers when he was receiving a life-time achievement award left Amanda Platell wondering why he had chosen such a happy occasion to bear such a hectoring slogan Wonderful to see Billy Connolly receiving a well-deserved lifetime achievement TV award for the joy and laughter he has brought us over so many years. But why, on such a happy occasion, did he turn up wearing a pair of tartan trews bearing a hectoring eco-slogan printed on one leg? It read: We are Earths parasites. We multiply and eat Mother Earth away. If Mother dies, parasites die with her. That is why we must save the Earth. Lets set aside the trite banality of that statement. What really sticks in the craw is the hypocrisy of celebs such as Billy who preach high-minded sermons about saving the Earth while criss-crossing the globe in planes, yachts and limousines in furtherance of their careers. Climate scientists claim air travel is the biggest per-capita contributor to carbon emissions, with some saying it accounts for 5 per cent of global warming. Yet celebs who think nothing of jetting across the world to pick up their latest gong, or plug their latest project, are always the first to lecture the rest of us about our selfishness for driving to work in a Ford Fiesta and taking an annual holiday on the Costas. Its not just Connolly, whose recent tours have taken him to Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia, with a bit of Britain for good measure. Take Leonardo DiCaprio, who made an appearance at the Davos economic shindig this week to warn us about the true cost of our reckless consumerism and corporate greed. This from an actor with at least four homes, a taste for superyacht holidays and a personal fortune of $245 million made on the back of the corporate greed of Hollywood. DiCaprio was receiving a Crystal Award for his environmental campaigning. (Apparently, hes an eco role model as, when hes not flying around in a private jet, he drives a Lexus hybrid.) Fossil fuels must be kept in the ground, he said, or global warming would destroy the planet. Hed seen the melting of the snow first hand making his latest film, The Revenant. For the record, this would be the same movie filmed over nine months in 12 locations in Canada, the U.S. and Argentina. That must have left a carbon footprint even bigger than his ego yet DiCaprio still lectures the rest of us! Thats almost as hilarious as one of Billy Connollys jokes, if it wasnt so deeply irritating. Scroll down for video The trousers read: We are Earths parasites. We multiply and eat Mother Earth away. If Mother dies, parasites die with her. That is why we must save the Earth' Looking at this image of Angelina Jolie, its hard to believe this is the same woman who once beguiled a generation as the curvy Lara Croft. Today, the actress/ director/charity cam-paigner/mother of six is not so much a shadow of her former self as a mere skeleton. Alas, shes not the only high-achieving woman who seems to be paying a very high price for her commendable ambition and drive. Just look at Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Amal Clooney or Victoria Beckham all brilliantly successful women driven to prove themselves professionally and withering away in the process. After Angelina had her double mastectomy, she said she did it for her children, so that their mummy would be alive for them. If nothing else, this picture should be a wake-up call. Somethings got to give, if only for the sake of her kids. Its hard to believe this is the same woman who once beguiled a generation as the curvy Lara Croft IN just a few minutes on Radio 4s Today programme yesterday morning Michael Caine spoke more common sense than any politician has done on the show in years. On the controversy over the lack of black actors up for Oscars, Caine said: The awards should not be a box-ticking exercise, theres loads of black actors. 'In the end you cant vote for an actor because hes black. On the EU referendum, he said that he thought Britain would thrive outside the European Union and their bunch of unelected faceless civil servants. When asked if a working-class lad like him could make it in Hollywood now, Sir Michael responded that it wasnt about where you went to school but your sheer determination to be the best you could be, whatever your background. What a man. What a life. And what fantastic common sense. Make that man Prime Minister! Well, its no more daft than electing Donald Trump for President. The excellent Channel 4 documentary The Jihadis Next Door revealed that two British fanatics laughed over ISIS beheadings and ran their campaign of hatred against Britain from their homes here. Mohammed Shamsuddin has lived on benefits since the age of 18, claiming he suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome (though it hasnt stopped him working tirelessly for his warped vision of Islam). Abu Haleema is a bus driver from Kilburn, London. A bus driver? Thanks, but I think Ill walk. Bus driver Abu Haleema, pictured, is one of the extremists who appeared on Channel 4's The Jihadi Next Door Having helped to raise a grand 250,000 for cancer research, the Duchess of York was hailed as an example of real girl power. Presumably that depends on whether your definition of girlpower is shamelessly helping yourself to your ex-husbands home, fortune and royal connections. About to star in a 5 million Typhoo tea campaign, Nigella Lawson reveals shes a 12-cup-a-day addict. Good news for those of us who adore her, and a welcome departure from the substances the TV chef preferred to perk her up during her break-up from Charles Saatchi. Poisoning by polonium is a horrible way to die, and one feels for Alexander Litvinenkos widow. But Im finding it difficult to raise much moral outrage over his assassination. This man was once a spy for the successor to the KGB, one of the most secretive and brutal organisations in the world. Im afraid if youve supped with the devil, you should be careful what he puts in your tea. Eamonn Holmes' hip replacement could have more to do with pie than sex, in Amanda's opinion Tellytubby Eamonn Holmes blames his imminent double hip operation on his active sex life with wife Ruth Langsford. Why? Did she force-feed him pies every time they made whoopee? The sister of Jihadi Sid, the latest Brit believed to have become an ISIS executioner, told a select committee she was on a mission to bring him back to Britain. Konika Dhar says families like hers need more state support when their loved ones are brainwashed. Her brother became a fundamentalist a decade ago and his family knew nothing about it, she said, whereas the authorities could have stopped him. Some might think that responsibility actually starts and ends with his own family and community. Konika Dhar - sister of 'Jihadi Sid' says families like hers need more state support when their loved ones are brainwashed when she appeared before a select committee this month Celebrating her 2016 body fabulous detox, Gwyneth Paltrow cavorts in a white bikini showing off her taught stomach and, sorry to say this, a bottom more speckled in cellulite than a ripe clementine. If thats what you get from a life of mung beans, its burgers all round, girls. Former Liberal Democrat MP Ian Swales says the red doors marking homes of asylum seekers in Middlesbrough are akin the Nazis treatment of the Jews. What an insult to both the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, who would gladly have traded the gas chambers for a terraced house in a safe country where the worst they would endure was an occasional egg thrown at their front door. Drinkers who are risking or destroying their health consume nearly 70 per cent of all alcohol sold in England, a study has claimed. It has previously been found that harmful drinkers are worth 23.7billion to the industry. Now work by Professor Nick Sheron, of Southampton University, has found that those who drink to a dangerous level are the most valuable to alcohol manufacturers. Drinkers who are risking or destroying their health consume nearly 70 per cent of all alcohol sold in England, a study has claimed (file photo) The study found that 69 per cent of alcohol sales were consumed by hazardous or harmful drinkers. Of that figure, 38 per cent was consumed by increasing risk drinkers who binge drink or drink every day and consumed more than Government guidelines recommended . The rest was consumed by drinkers who consume more than 50 units a week for men and 35 a week for women. This level of drinking can result in serious health problems including cirrhosis scarring of the liver caused by continuous, long-term liver damage. Public Health England estimates that 10.8million people drink at risky levels and 1.6million are dependent on alcohol. More than one million hospital admissions a year are related to alcohol, double the number ten years ago. According to official figures, alcohol cost the NHS 3.5billion in 2013-14. The study found that 69 per cent of alcohol sales were consumed by hazardous or harmful drinkers. Of that figure, 38 per cent was consumed by increasing risk drinkers and the rest was consumed by drinkers who consume more than 50 units a week for men and 35 a week for women (file photo) Professor Sheron said: We looked at data from the Health Survey for England and did some calculations on that and we found that in terms of the total alcohol consumed within that survey, 69 per cent was consumed by hazardous and harmful drinkers together. Katherine Brown, director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, told the Guardian: It comes as no surprise to learn the drinks industry relies on excessive consumption of alcohol to boost its profits. Why else would alcohol producers spend millions of pounds on advertising each year encouraging people to drink more, and fund heavyweight lobbyists to fight against public policies designed to tackle harmful drinking? This evidence tells us two things. Firstly, the Government must take action on cheap alcohol... and secondly, the alcohol industry simply cannot be relied upon to act as messengers on public health. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: Theres no doubt that the drinks industry depends on excessive drinking to drive its profits. Drinks like high-strength white ciders are preferentially consumed by heavy and dependent drinkers, with 50 per cent of those drinking these ciders drinking more than three litres a day, and the damage these drinks do is widely known. Importantly, minimum unit pricing would target the highest strength drinks which cause the most harm, leaving the price of lower strength drinks relatively untouched. With minimum unit pricing, moderate drinkers would barely notice the difference. GPs are demanding an end to home visits because they take up too much time. Instead, they want patients to be brought to surgeries by taxi or minibus, or to be seen by paramedics. Senior GPs will vote on being allowed to opt-out of the visits as well as looking after the elderly in care homes at a crisis summit in London next week. Senior GPs will vote on whether they want to opt-out of home visits at a summit in London (file picture) They have convened the Special Conference to decide what urgent action is needed to ease the pressures on surgeries caused by immigration, the aging population and a shortage of doctors. If they vote to be able to opt-out of home visits, it could become the official policy of doctors union the British Medical Association. The BMA may then lobby the Government to change GPs contracts accordingly. But campaigners say the move would compromise the health of vulnerable patients, and is something no decent GP should even consider. Home visits were once the mainstay of GPs working lives but have been hugely scaled back in recent years. Many surgeries now ration them to terminally ill or bedbound patients. While the average GP in the 1950s did up to 30 a day, most now do only one or two if at all. The motion, to be voted on by around 360 senior GPs at next Saturdays summit, states that home visits and the care of nursing home residents should be removed from GPs contracts if services are to be sustainable. Surgeries would no longer be obliged to offer these services but could offer them if they received additional funds. Attacking the proposal, Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: Many elderly and vulnerable patients rely on these services, and their health would be compromised without them. 'Without GPs visiting care homes, many elderly residents will have to make unnecessary trips to hospital. Having access to their GP is essential to ensuring the comfort and safety of care home residents. Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, added: Refusing to do home visits would be extraordinary. I wouldnt have thought it would be anything a decent GP would even consider. Ministers are so concerned about the conference that earlier this week they promised GPs an extra 2billion by 2020. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will also announce details of a new contract for GPs next month. Campaigners say an end to home visits will put vulnerable people's health at risk (file picture) Many surgeries are already sending paramedics on home visits, and a pilot scheme has been under way in Kent since November. Others provide patients with a list of local taxi firms, or tell them to get a lift with a friend. In Ealing, London, the NHS Trust has invested 250,000 on a minibus service to ferry the elderly to surgeries. GPs argue that home visits take up to an hour, during which they could see four or five patients at the surgery, and that practices are more appropriate for treatment. Last night Dr Maureen Baker, chairman of the Royal College of GPs council, said: Patient care is paramount for all GPs and with workloads rising, we are increasingly having to prioritise our efforts on routine services in order to guarantee safe care. What Im about to say will anger people. Im sure that because Im white and a man, some will say I shouldnt have an opinion on the matter. Frankly, I dont care. I have got to speak out because the people I want to talk about are unable to do so themselves. All over this country, there are women blocked from receiving basic, essential medical care. Their physical and mental health is being harmed, their lives are being endangered and they are suffering needless pain and distress. All over this country, there are women blocked from receiving basic, essential medical care, and all because they are being prevented from speaking English And all because they are being prevented from speaking English by men who claim to love them but would rather they remain isolated and enslaved. The reason this is controversial, and people dont like to talk about it, is because they are Muslim women. But I have had to sit in my consulting room, time and time again, cut off from a patient I desperately want to help by a deliberately imposed language barrier. And it breaks my heart. This is why I cheered when David Cameron announced this week that immigrants who dont learn English could face deportation. Yes, its a tough threat, but I think it may be the only way to solve a problem that for me and other doctors has become a daily nightmare. David Cameron announced this week that immigrants who dont learn English could face deportation Ive worked mainly in inner-city hospitals that serve a diverse population. Ive had to use a translator countless times during consultations, and every single one of those patients has been a Muslim woman. Every one. Dont tell me thats a coincidence. Its because the women in many Muslim communities are explicitly banned from learning English by men who want to keep them under control and stop them being Westernised. O f course, these men make sure they can speak the language themselves because its essential to their power. Just as keeping their women voiceless is essential to keep them subjugated. Faced by this blatant repression, for too long liberal Britain has looked the other way. But I cant because it hits me in the face every day. Never mind the cost of the interpreters, though this is gobbling up millions the NHS can ill afford. Never mind that every time an interpreter is needed, I have to book a double appointment because everything needs to be said twice wasting vital time when I could be seeing someone else. Can you imagine how hard it is to explore sensitive mental health issues through a translator? All the subtle linguistic clues are lost. And theres another person in the room, so patients clam up. Its impossible to establish trust; easy to misdiagnose serious problems. Domestic violence gets hidden. Abuse of the elderly is concealed. And even if I get half an idea of whats wrong, what do I do? Refer the patient for psychotherapy? Are you serious? Talking therapy? You might as well ask a surgeon to operate using a knife and fork and wearing oven gloves. But thats just the start. For many years, I worked in A&E where interpreters are difficult to arrange, especially at night. Often, wed have to use family members. How can a woman be honest about whats troubling her when shes having to communicate through a man who bullies her? I saw wives who were clearly frightened and intimidated, yet their husbands insisted on acting as interpreters. When I said this wasnt appropriate, the husband would say they didnt want a translator because they couldnt have someone from their own community hearing private information. The result is tragic farce. Numerous times I have asked a question which the husband has translated, and the woman has given a long and complicated reply in her own language. T he man has then turned to me and said She says no, or some other monosyllabic answer. For any doctor, its totally impossible to get a grip on whats going on. The ability to communicate is fundamental for access to health care which, in turn, is fundamental for equality. But some men in immigrant communities dont regard women as deserving of equality at all. I felt such rage when I heard critics saying Camerons new proposals were demonising Muslim women. No, you idiots, he could be saving their lives! But, of course, those critics could make their voices heard only because they had eloquent mastery of English. The irony is that the section of our society to whom this debate relates will be utterly unaware of it cut off as they are by that great gulf of language. And even if Mr Cameron acts on his rhetoric, I dont for one moment think any of these women will be deported. The men will have to let them learn English or face having to cook and look after the children themselves. And that will never happen. But they wont surrender the power they hold over their wives and their daughters unless the rest of us make a stand. Down's and why we don't all have to be perfect A simple blood test has been approved that will make detecting Downs syndrome in unborn babies safer and easier A simple blood test has been approved that will make detecting Downs syndrome in unborn babies safer and easier. The current test, which is offered to women at high risk of having children with the condition, carries a small risk of causing a miscarriage. While some women opt not to have the test at all, other women lose babies who would have been born healthy. The new, non-invasive test means it will be easier for them to know the facts before they choose whether or not to abort the foetus theyre carrying. But is this a cause for celebration? Are we moving towards a time when Downs syndrome will be effectively screened out of the population? That thought makes me very sad. I support a womans right to choose, and I understand the anguish parents feel when their baby has a serious genetic condition. But doctors sometimes make having a child with Downs sound unremittingly dreadful. What about all the joy and love these children can bring to a family? Yes, they face health problems (medical textbooks are full of warnings about congenital heart defects and mental retardation), but there have been huge advances in managing these issues. I know parents like the idea that their baby may be a future Oxbridge graduate or Nobel prize winner, and I realise a Downs diagnosis shatters those dreams. But if that was what really mattered, most parents would be considered failures. Children dont all turn out geniuses: theyre all imperfect in one way or another. Surely the role of a parent is to produce well-rounded, happy and contented people who are caring and engaged in the world. And theres no reason this cant include people with Downs. As a child, I spent several summers on holiday with family friends. They had four children, one of whom had Downs. At no point did it occur to me that Tim was disabled. We all built sandcastles together; we all stayed awake telling ghost stories. A few years ago, Tim died after heart surgery. His sister told me: Id give anything to have him back. I miss him every minute. He was loved by his family and enriched their lives. He enriched mine. Now hes gone, theres a hole inside all of us. You never read about that in medical textbooks. Stop kicking dementia victims out of hospital Shocking numbers of patients with dementia are being discharged from hospitals in the middle of the night. It is estimated that last year 5,000 were sent home between 11pm and 6am from general wards where theyd been admitted for such things as falls or chest infections. This is inhuman. At night, its impossible to ensure adequate care is in place for such vulnerable patients. It is estimated that last year 5,000 dementia patients were sent home between 11pm and 6am from general wards where theyd been admitted for such things as falls or chest infections (file photo) As exhausted night staff hand over to the day shift, its easy for vital tasks such as ensuring the GP knows the patient is back at home to slip through the net. Worst of all, its horribly disruptive and disorientating for the patient and an additional stress for their loved ones. So why is it going on? Partly because hospitals have cut back on beds to save money. Bed occupancy rates are now often at 100 per cent which means absolutely every bed is being used so any urgent admission can only be accommodated by kicking someone out. And why is it that its the dementia patients who are the ones being sent home? Quite simply, its because theyre an easy target. If my mum was in a hospital bed and was woken at 3 am to be told she had to leave, I imagine thered be a small nuclear explosion. Shed be most unhappy and the nurse would soon know about it. So, knowing my mum, would the entire hospital. Mum lives alone, she doesnt have good eyesight and has problems walking. But shes sharp, articulate and knows her rights. She would stand her ground and say how preposterous it was. Shed get me on the phone (no qualms about waking me up!) and Id soon be there, too, raising hell. Im sure youd be the same. So hospital managers looking for a bed arent going to pick the likes of my mum, or you, or me. No, theyre going to look around the ward and see the confused old lady who doesnt know what day of the week it is, let alone the time, and send her home instead. They know its wrong to send any patient home at dead of night. But if they have to free up a bed, theres a perverse incentive to pick the person wholl not make a fuss, even though they are the most vulnerable. The only way to stop this is to force hospitals to operate at below full occupancy so there is more give in the system. If youre among the estimated one in ten Britons who spend their nights tossing and turning, it may be worth heading to your optician before reaching for sleeping tablets. Scientists are claiming surgery to remove cataracts the common eye condition suffered by 2.5 million people in England and Wales could be also be a cure for insomnia. Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens in the eye, resulting in blurred or misty vision. But the condition also prevents blue light from passing through the lens to the area of the brain that sets our body clock. Its thought that without this blue light, the body clock isnt reset by light during the day and this can contribute to poor sleep patterns. And regular sleepless nights increase the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes and shorten life expectancy. Scientists are claiming surgery to remove cataracts the common eye condition suffered by 2.5 million people in England and Wales could be also be a cure for insomnia (stock image) Now a new study claims patients who have their cataracts surgically removed not only see more clearly, but have a better nights sleep too. The study by the Nara Medical University in Japan asked 1,037 pensioners with cataracts, 174 of whom had had surgery, to wear a wristwatch-style sleep tracker device to record duration and quality of sleep. The study found that pensioners who had their cataracts removed slept better and remained asleep for longer compared with those who had not had surgery. An earlier study of 400 patients who had their cataracts removed found incidences of poor sleep fell from 28 per cent one month after surgery, to 15 per cent after nine months. There is mounting evidence that cataract surgery really can have an effect on peoples sleep problems and Ive seen it in my own patients, says ophthalmic surgeon James Ball from the Optegra Eye Hospital Yorkshire. Many people surgeons included see sight problems and sleepless nights as two separate issues, when in fact studies like this show they could be linked. Margaret Hibbert (pictured), from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, says her cataract surgery has cured her insomnia along with restoring her eyesight We know cataract surgery helps people see and restores independence, but its certainly worth getting your eyes checked out if you are having trouble sleeping. Receptor cells in the retina (at the back of the eye) are stimulated by blue light, transmitting to an area of the brain called the suprachaismatic nucleus, which sets a persons body clock. But cataracts block transmission of this blue light, disturbing the 24-hour light/dark cycle. Cataract surgery is the most common operation performed in the UK, with more than 300,000 procedures carried out each year. In a 45-minute operation under local anaesthethic, the surgeon makes a tiny incision to remove the affected lens, replacing it with a small plastic one. Japanese researchers say there is a significant association between cataract surgery and sleep quality. They found pensioners who had the procedure showed significantly higher sleep efficiency the ratio of time spent asleep to the amount of time spent in bed compared with those who had not. The total amount of time spent awake between first falling asleep and before final awakening was also less among those who had surgery an average of 45 minutes, compared with 50 minutes for pensioners who had not had surgery. Margaret Hibbert, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, says her cataract surgery has cured her insomnia along with restoring her eyesight. The 70-year-old was not only exhausted from surviving on as little as two hours sleep a night, but her vision was deteriorating due to cataracts in both eyes. Her cataracts were first diagnosed about eight years ago, coinciding with the start of her sleepless nights. She had reached a point where she would be able to fall asleep at a normal time but would wake up anything from five minutes to an hour later. Unable to fall asleep again, she would stay up reading. I was getting so desperate that just before my surgery I reluctantly went to my GP and received a prescription for sleeping pills, she says. I never took them. Margaret had surgery at the Optegra Eye Hospital Yorkshire. The night after my cataract surgery, I had my first full night of sleep in many, many years and have done every night since, she says. My vision is so much better now. Those years of feeling drained day in and day out are finally leaving me. The impact of not sleeping was terrible and I was afraid to nap in the day as I thought it would make the following night even worse. Model turned organic skincare guru Jo Wood has quit smoking for the sake of her grandchildren As the glamorous ex-wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, Jo Wood is known for her rock n roll lifestyle. But now the former model turned organic skincare guru has ditched the last bastion of her hellraising past and quit smoking for the sake of her grandchildren. In my prime, I was smoking 30 a day, admits mother-of-three Jo, 60. I cut it back to 20 and then to five, trying to convince myself that five was acceptable and that Im allowed a little bit of everything in moderation. But my kids kept telling me that I should give up, and their arguments made sense. I need to be as healthy as I can because I have ten grandchildren and running around after them takes up a lot of energy. Jo first turned to hypnotherapy in an effort to quit, but when this proved unsuccessful, she tried nicotine patches. Ive started the year with no nicotine in my system and I hope it stays that way, adds Jo, who is launching a new collection of Jo Wood Organics skincare in the summer. Each day is a constant struggle and I dont know if Ill be able to do it, but Id like to do it for my family. Want to increase your chances of living longer? Then get a hobby, or a pet. A new study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, shows that people with a sense of purpose have a 17 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause over a seven-year period than other people. This sense of purpose can be anything from taking part in a personal project or hobby, owning a pet or simply bringing up a family, according to researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. It is thought such activities may reduce the risk of dying by protecting against the damaging effects of stress on the body, although the precise mechanism is unclear. The cereal offenders Breakfast cereals with the highest sugar content have been named and shamed as part of a campaign to encourage parents to buy healthy food for their children. Cereal offender: Kellogg's Frosties are among the cereals with the highest sugar content Nutrition adviser Claire White has identified the worst-offending cereals in her Sugar Snub Food Guide. According to the guide, cereals with the highest sugar content include Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Chocolate Curls, which contain three teaspoons per standard serving, and Morrisons Ice Flakes and Kelloggs Frosties, which both contain almost the same amount. Children aged five should have no more than 19 grams or five spoons of sugar a day. However, latest figures from the Governments Change4Life campaign reveal that five-year-olds are eating their body weight in sugar every year the equivalent of 5,500 sugar cubes or three times the recommended amount, leading to obesity and tooth decay. White says: We should take the opportunity to encourage children to embrace a more savoury palate. More information at sugarsnub.co.uk. New risk in night feasts Midnight feasts could be damaging your health, claim experts (stock image) Midnight feasts already linked to to an increased risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes could also harm your memory. The warning comes after a study by scientists at the University of California, who tested the ability of mice to recognise a novel object. They found that those fed during their normal sleep-time were significantly less able to identify the object when it was presented to them later. The mice fed at the wrong time showed decreased activity levels of a protein called CREB in the hippocampus part of the brain, which regulates memory and learning. The study also found that midnight feasts caused the mice to grab more short naps during the day. Previous research has claimed women who eat an early dinner and avoid midnight snacks may reduce their risk of breast cancer, as increasing fasting time overnight helps bring down blood-sugar levels, which scientists think could slash the chance of developing the disease. A new app helps chronic pain sufferers manage their condition at home without repeated visits to their GP. The Pain Toolkit app allows patients to pinpoint the exact location of their pain on a body chart on their smartphone or tablet and send the information to their doctor, who will add it to their records. The app, developed by a pain sufferer and two GPs, encourages patients to use self-help techniques, including meditation, exercise and keeping a pain diary. A trial involving 300 patients in Leeds recorded a 60 per cent drop in participating GP surgeries referring patients to specialist pain clinics. In the Historico district of Mexico City, wedged between a shabby bar and discount booze shop, is El Huequito, little more than a hole in the wall dominated by an ever-turning spit of marinated pork. Theyve been selling tacos al pastor since 1959, and there are numerous branches now. But this is the original and, taco purists claim, the best. Tacos al pastor is a Middle Eastern immigrant, a close cousin of the doner kebab that arrived in the city with the Lebanese, sometime in the early Fifties. But this being Mexico, the lamb turns into pig, and the pitta bread becomes soft tortilla. God I love Mexico, and Mexicans, and Mexican food. The real thing, that is, miles removed from that sorry, grease-flecked bastardo we call British Tex-Mex, with its comedy cocktails and sweaty cheese The thin slices of pork are sweet, slightly fatty and scented with smoky allure. A whack of fiercely vibrant salsa and a pinch of raw onion add heat and texture, and the whole thing is eaten in two glorious bites. Six is a civilised serving, but a dozen is obviously better. All for under a quid. Magic, some of the finest street food in a city and country that takes al fresco eating to high art. There are a thousand similar joints all over town, and hundreds of thousands all over Mexico, most of them powered by little more than Calor Gas and sweat. La Choza 36 Gloucester Rd, Brighton, BN1 4AQ Tel: 01273 945 926 lachoza.co.uk Rating: Advertisement Theyre a truly democratic mouthful, and fillings range from grilled beef, deep-fried pork and chorizo to battered fish, pit-cooked lamb and steamed tripe, brain and tongue. Salsas, freshly made, are both ubiquitous and essential. Seriously, look beyond the endemic corruption (blame those damned politicians) and awful narco violence that blights this great land, and revel in one of the worlds most thrilling food cultures, served up in a country that never ceases to fill me with joy. God I love Mexico, and Mexicans, and Mexican food. The real thing, that is, miles removed from that sorry, grease-flecked bastardo we call British Tex-Mex, with its comedy cocktails, sweaty cheese and nachos drowned in cheap mince and despair. Sure, heroines such as Dodie Miller of The Cool Chile Co and Thomasina Miers of Wahaca have been pioneers in giving us a taste of real regional food. And the likes of Breddos Tacos, Lupita and Taqueria can be very fine indeed. But were still woefully under-served. But theres hope. In Brighton. At La Choza, a small, jolly place containing the usual Mexican restaurant mish-mash of papier-mache skulls, kitsch Jesus, Lucha Libre masks, skeletons and Frida Kahlo pictures. So far, so predictable. La Choza is a small, jolly place containing the usual Mexican restaurant mish-mash of papier-mache skulls, kitsch Jesus, Lucha Libre masks, skeletons and Frida Kahlo pictures But there are Jarritos sodas in the fridge, lurid and lovely, next to Pacifico and Negra Modelo beer. And Micheladas, beer mixed with hot sauce, lime juice and salt, on the menu. And five freshly made salsas. And home-made chorizo and Cool Chile Co blue-corn tortillas too. Emocionante stuff. All made more exciting still by a gargantuan serving of chicharrones, deep-fried pork skin, puffy, piggy and still hot from the fryer. Calamari, too, are treated with an equally adept hand and sprinkled with ground chipotle. Both dishes have the true tang of the Mexican street. Without that all-pervasive fug of fags, diesel fumes and lukewarm drains. Within minutes of our arriving, the place is packed, rammed, chock-a-block. Brightonians know a good thing when they taste it. But despite the hordes, the two front-of-house manage everyone with charm and class. A Mexican street- food salad crunchy shredded cabbage, crisp tortilla shreds, sliced jalapenos, coriander and lashings of lime is sharp and splendidly refreshing, the flavours allowed to strut and holler across the tongue. Theres no pandering to timid, tremulous English palates here. We order a shot of Herradura Blanco tequila and get stuck in. A Mexican street-food salad crunchy shredded cabbage, crisp tortilla shreds, sliced jalapenos, coriander and lashings of lime is sharp and splendidly refreshing Home-smoked pulled pork is magnificent. The sort of dish that reminds one that, yes, pulled pork was once something to revere, rather than revile. Its impossible not to be beguiled by its tenderly smoky embrace. With a splodge of naga salsa (damn, its hot), another mighty blob of verdant tomatillo and a squeeze of lime, this mouthful whizzes me to the backstreets of Acapulco. Just like the slow-cooked beef, beautifully bovine and gently spiced with cinnamon, it reminds me of very late nights in Guadalajara. Home-made chorizo mixes fat, oink and spice in perfect proportion. But by now, all conversation has ceased. Take taco, anoint with salsa (pico de gallo is sharp and sexy, chipotle rich and regal), roll, stuff in gob, drink tequila, grin. Half a dozen good-sized tacos go down, but we want more. Of course we do. Enter Vampiro, from the specials board, good rare steak drenched in stringy Oaxacan cheese. Be still my beating gob. Another triumphant taco. The whisper of masa in the tortilla, the freshness of the salsa, the spot-on cooking and spicing of the filling every element must work. And here, in this tiny Brighton backstreet, theres true Mexican magic. No fuss or hoo-ha or expensive PR. Just the taste of a food I worship and adore. Viva La Choza. Viva Brighton. And Viva Mexico too. Lunch for two, minus drinks: 35 FIVE MORE TO TRY Ay caramba! Five more places to eat great Mexican BODEGA EDINBURGH ilovebodega.com Modern Mexican in the heart of Leith. No tired old bought-in sauces and salsas here, rather ceviche of the day and excellent tacos. Plus other influences, such as Korean pork belly tacos and Moroccan slowcooked lamb tacos. Jarritos sodas, too. LUPITA LONDON lupita.co.uk This Charing Cross restaurant (below) specialises in the food of Mexico City. The tacos are decent but I love their chicharron de queso a thin cone of crisp, crunchy cheese. And good Micheladas. The tacos are decent but I love Lupita's chicharron de queso a thin cone of crisp, crunchy cheese. And good Micheladas PANCHO'S BURRITOS MANCHESTER panchosburritos.co.uk Not just burritos (not a widespread Mexican dish) but good flautas, tacos, tostadas and quesadillas. Plus those important fresh salsas. WAHACA NATIONWIDE wahaca.co.uk This chain is one reason were getting to taste real regional Mexican. Flavours are fresh and zinging, there are everchanging specials, and theres a good range of tequila and mescal. MESTIZO LONDON mestizomx.com Newspaper watchdog the Independent Press Standards Organisation has rejected a complaint made by Oren Laurent, the owner of offshore gambling company Banc de Binary, and has expressed concern over false information he gave to IPSO. In February last year, I reported Banc de Binary was facing legal action in the US from two regulators who accused it of trading unlawfully and telling investors untruthfully that its world headquarters were on Wall Street. I revealed that a court in Nevada had held that Laurent, an American-Israeli, broke US investor protection laws. Laurent complained to IPSO. He said: There has not even been a court case in Nevada. This is pure and simple fiction, but it is also very damaging fiction. Rejected: Oren Laurent heads the Cyprus-based gambling company Banc de Binary He told the watchdog: Mr Hetherington of The Mail on Sunday has a history of writing inaccurate and defamatory articles about Banc de Binary. He added: The Mail on Sunday needs to issue a retraction and apology and remove this article from its website. After finding that I had obtained hundreds of pages of evidence from the American court, Laurent shifted his ground, admitting that he was indeed facing legal action, but complaining I had claimed his company could not be trusted. Rejecting his complaint, IPSO said: It was a matter of concern that the complainant had initially sought to contend that there were no legal proceedings being brought in Nevada. IPSO also ruled that The Mail on Sunday was fully entitled to publish as a matter of opinion that Banc de Binary cannot be trusted. Thrown out: Rejecting the complaint, IPSO said: It was a matter of concern that the complainant had initially sought to contend that there were no legal proceedings being brought in Nevada This view was supported by the US court case, which is ongoing, and by the fact that Banc de Binary in Cyprus, which also operates in Britain and takes bets on exchange rates and commodity prices, had been fined repeatedly by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission for offences including giving it false information. Last Wednesday, in an unsigned statement, Banc de Binary described its allegation that I had invented the Nevada court case as unfortunate, adding: Obviously these comments were inaccurate and should not have been made. But the gambling company hit back at the press regulator: While IPSO did not uphold our complaint, we do not believe that fact makes your misstatements any less misleading and false. Also last Wednesday, on the other side of the world, the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority issued a warning to investors there, headed: Beware of Banc de Binary Limited. This follows a similar warning issued by Australias financial watchdog. In Britain, Banc de Binary appears on the Financial Conduct Authoritys official register of authorised firms with a clean record. It is licensed to operate in Cyprus, so under EU rules it must be accepted into Britain as well. So Google has coughed up 130million to the taxman in a bid to settle the long-running row over its tax affairs. It is unlikely to be the last word on this issue by a long chalk. Firstly, the sum of money is paltry given the many years in which Google paid little or no tax in the UK thanks to entirely legal but aggressive tax avoidance measures. It is hard to believe that HM Revenue & Customs and Google itself will not face criticism for this settlement from tax campaigners and politicians. Tax: Google has coughed up 130million to the taxman in a bid to settle the long-running row over its tax affairs. It is unlikely to be the last word on this issue by a long chalk Crucially, they must reveal exactly how they came up with this number. Is it based on some kind of calculation or is it just a finger in the air designed to pacify public opinion? This settlement is also likely to be only the first between Google and tax authorities. Not to mention other companies, such as Apple, eBay and Starbucks, who have been accused by various European authorities of aggressive tax avoidance. Just last week Apple boss Tim Cook reportedly visited Brussels for talks over his companys tax affairs. For years countries have been able to compete with each other to attract businesses by striking cosy tax deals. Disparities between different countries tax systems have also allowed companies to slip through the net. But aside from the continuing struggle to settle rows over historic tax issues, I also doubt this is anything like the end of the arguing for the future. Useless: It is hard to believe that HM Revenue & Customs and Google itself will not face criticism for this settlement from tax campaigners and politicians Googles settlement with HMRC includes a formula for future tax payments based partly on its revenues and not just its reported UK profits. And the Chancellor has unveiled a so-called Google tax to address the thorny problem of international companies diverting profits across their operations to ensure they pay tax in the most favourable locations. While a welcome and valiant attempt by George Osborne to treat the problem, the Google tax is fiendishly complicated and unlikely to provide the transparency needed to meet public fears that big technology companies are taking the taxman for a ride. The only real solution is international cooperation. Next week the EU is expected to unveil plans to curb tax avoidance based on long-running international talks through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. As with all EU plans there is a risk of unintended consequences and the ever present danger of Brussels intruding on national sovereignty. Shares in Home Retail were flying yesterday amid market rumours that Sainsburys was closing in on its planned takeover of the Argos owner. The stock gained 7.5p to 144.7p as talk circulated that advisers from the two companies were set to spend the weekend locked in talks to thrash out a deal. Representatives of the two sides were said to be hoping to sign off an agreement in the early part of next week, ahead of the Takeover Panels put up or shut up deadline of February 2. Talks are thought to have taken on added urgency amid market chatter that rival supermarket chain Asda, owned by US giant Walmart, was also eyeing Home Retail. Takeover talks: Home Retail stock gained 7.5p to 144.7p as talk circulated that advisers from it and Sainsbury's were set to spend the weekend locked in talks to thrash out a deal The speculation follows Home Retails rejection of Sainsburys initial approach in November. It also comes in the wake of Home Retails announcement on Monday that it had agreed to sell DIY chain Homebase, which Sainsburys formerly owned, to Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers for 340million. Under the terms of the deal, Homebase would become part of Wesfarmers subsidiary Bunnings while Home Retail would return about 200m of the proceeds to shareholders. Sainsburys, which already has Argos offshoots in some of its shops, is interested in buying the catalogue retailer to boost its presence in the online arena and fend off competition from pure internet players such as Amazon. Sainsburys (up 2.5p to 233.6p) and Home Retail declined to comment. Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 Index notched up its first weekly gain of 2016 as a bounce-back in oil prices lifted shares in energy groups. The price of a barrel of Brent Crude increased 7.2 per cent to $31.5 while US light crude put on 6.8 per cent to $31.7. The Footsie rose 126.22 points to 5900.01, also aided by hints from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi about another potential round of stimulus for the eurozone economy. Back in the markets, National Grid sparked 16.5p to 941.9p after whispers on Thursday that the UKs largest listed utility was planning a swoop for US investor-owned utility Empire District Electric Company (EDEC). Word was that National Grid was among three groups interested in buying EDEC, which supplies electricity, natural gas and water to 215,000 customers on the other side of the Pond. Shire was among the biggest winners in the UK drug industry, up 102p at 4228p, as rumours persisted that the rare disease specialist was still eyeing acquisitions despite its mega-takeover of US blood disorder treatment developer Baxalta. Chief executive Flemming Ornskov has said the company is focused on absorbing Baxalta into the group, although he did not rule out attractive smaller bolt-on deals. Market conspiracy theorists reckon now is a good time for potential bidders to make their move because share prices of firms such as US osteoporosis specialist Radius Health one of the firms talked about as a potential target have fallen in the last month or so. Elsewhere Tullow Oil topped the FTSE 250 Index with an 18.6p, or nearly 14.4 per cent, gain to 147.8p as the oil group with operations in Africa and elsewhere showed its confidence in the industrys long-term prospects by sending a huge floating oil production platform to Ghana. Bigger oil companies were also doing well on the back of the recovery in the oil price, with Royal Dutch Shell advancing 69.5p to 1388p, BP gushing 10.45p to 352.7p and BG Group rising 47.5p to 980.2p. Education publisher Pearson, however, reversed 14.5p to 757.5p as the former owner of the Financial Times dropped back after strong gains on Thursday on a reassuring trading statement. Investors took a breather from plumping up online retailer Ocado following rumours earlier in the week that US online giant Amazon was mulling a bid. Shares eased 6.1p to 275.8p. Mexico and Africa-focused MX Oil retraced 0.02p, or 4 per cent, to 0.6p after saying on Thursday that it needed 2million to invest in a project in Nigeria and was completing a conditional placing at a targeted price range of between 0.5p and 1p per new ordinary share. Aureus Mining also dimmed 1.5p, or 28 per cent, to 3.88p as the West African gold producer said operational issues at its mine in Liberia had resulted in reduced gold sales. But another miner of the yellow metal, Condor Gold, gleamed 4.25p to 24.25p after a study showed a significant increase in the potential viability of its La India gold project in Nicaragua. Emerging market-focused mobile internet services supplier Mobile Streams ticked up more than a quarter, or 1.38p, to 6.62p after winning contracts in India despite challenges in Argentina. Falling commodity prices sparked fears of a possible fund-raising at BHP Billiton yesterday despite a boost to sentiment. The inconsistency in the quality of critical illness cover has been highlighted in recent days by the case of Hein Pretorius, 44, who was involved in a motorcycle accident in August last year Breadwinners are unwittingly spending hundreds of pounds a year on financial protection insurance that is not fit for purpose. The Mail on Sunday has established that a rump of life insurance companies continue to sell so-called critical illness policies that impose such onerous terms and conditions that making a successful claim for some serious illnesses is nigh on impossible. They do not pay out on many illnesses or injuries that people in the street would deem critical. Tellingly, unlike rivals, those same companies decline to publish claims statistics, including the percentage of claims that are rejected every year fuelling suspicions that their attitude is draconian. NFU Mutual and Foresters are among the worst offenders. Also, insurers across the industry are refusing to inform long-standing customers that their cover is now inferior to that offered in new policies they are selling and that it is in their best interest to upgrade. Leading broker Alan Lakey, of Highclere Financial Services, accuses some insurers of undermining the case for protection insurance and making a mockery of the term critical. He also says the Association of British Insurers, the trade body representing the interests of the multi-billion pound industry, has done little to ensure the cover sold by its members is of satisfactory quality. He describes the statement of best practice the association published in late 2014 as lamentable. This document spells out the critical illnesses that insurers policies should cover and is promoted as helping to protect consumers. Lakey says it is so watered down that it allows insurers not to pay out for illnesses most people would consider critical. The inconsistency in the quality of critical illness cover has been highlighted in recent days by the case of Hein Pretorius, 44, who was involved in a motorcycle accident in August last year. Hein, a father-of-three from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, suffered two broken legs and a broken pelvis after being struck by an oncoming vehicle on his way to work as a manager at a hospitality company. Were it not for a passing medic who tended to him before an ambulance arrived, he might have died. His injuries were so serious that he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. He also lost his job, as he struggled to recover from his life-changing injuries. Having critical illness cover with both Legal & General and Bright Grey (part of insurer Royal London), he assumed he would receive the tax-free lump sums the policies promised, giving his family all-important financial protection. Heartless: Hein Pretorius' two insurers refused to pay him and his family as he lost only one limb Escape clause: NFU Mutuals policies have exclusions that mean it does not have to pay out. The insurer says it is now reviewing these But both insurers refused to pay up, stating the policies that Hein had taken out covered the loss of two limbs not just one. The Financial Ombudsman Service, which arbitrates in such disputes, has backed the stance of both companies. Despite that ruling, neither insurer has ruled out meeting Heins claim in the future, depending upon the extent of his recovery. Hein says: When I took out the policies I was much younger and not as financially knowledgeable as I now am. I thought the cover would protect me financially from all serious illnesses and injuries. I had no idea that the amputation of one limb would not be deemed critical. Most insurers now sell cover that will pay out on the loss of one limb. But this change applies only to new policies not long-established ones like Heins, which he took out more than seven years ago. So thousands of breadwinners could have similar inferior cover to Hein. Lakey says: There is no duty put on insurers to inform existing customers that they have improved their policies or that it would probably be best for them to upgrade. Some brokers are also reluctant to get involved for fear of falling foul of the regulator. Its a dogs dinner. MAKE SURE COVER IS FIT FOR PURPOSE There are three main types of insurance that families can buy to provide financial support in case serious illness, injury or death strikes. Most cover is bought when couples start a family, buy their first home or move house. Critical illness insurance pays out a tax-free lump sum in cases of serious injury or illness such as a stroke or heart attack. Life cover pays out on the death of a policyholder. This is often combined with critical illness cover. There is also income protection insurance, which provides a monthly income if a policyholder is unable to work. Alan Lakey, of Highclere Financial Services, says consumers buying cover especially critical illness or income protection should use an independent financial adviser who knows the market inside out. He warns against buying from a bank, building society or insurance representative on the grounds that there will be little or no choice of provider. He says: By using an independent adviser, you are more likely to end up with cover that is fit for purpose and will pay out if you need to claim. What is more of a scandal, says Lakey, is that both NFU Mutual an insurer that prides itself on its network of branches and commitment to the farming community and Foresters are still selling insurance that will not pay out for the loss of a limb. NFU Mutuals policy, for example, states that any claim for loss of hands or feet will only be met if there has been physical severance of any combination of two or more hands or feet at or above the wrist or ankle joints. On Friday, the insurer said: We are in the process of reviewing our protection range, including our critical illness offering, and are looking to improve on the number of conditions covered and the terms on which a claim can be made including for the loss of a limb. Foresters takes the same stance on amputation claims. On Friday, it defended its policy by saying it was only abiding by the statement of best practice laid down by the ABI, which says companies must pay out when two limbs are lost. Both companies, along with other insurers such as Phoenix Life and Reassure, do not publish statistics on the number of critical illness claims rejected. Terrible: What is more of a scandal, says Lakey, is that both NFU Mutual an insurer that prides itself on its network of branches and commitment to the farming community and Foresters are still selling insurance that will not pay out for the loss of a limb This is in contrast to mainstream providers, such as Legal & General and Zurich, which do. Tomorrow, Zurich will confirm that last year it met 92 per cent of critical illness claims, paying out 65 million. Unlike NFU Mutual and Foresters, it pays out if a policyholder loses one limb. Peter Hamilton, spokesman for the insurer, says: By publishing our claims statistics, we send a loud and clear message that the vast majority of claims are paid quickly and smoothly. On Friday, the ABI said: Our statement of best practice is reviewed every three years. When reviewed, it is open for public consultation. We encourage people to check what their policies cover and to speak to a broker about the right policy for them. Millions of pounds every year are stolen from people using cash machines. The Mail on Sunday shows you how to fight back against the scourge of cashpoint fraudsters. Last November, Sophie How paid 400 into a cash machine at her local Santander bank. Moments after making the deposit, the person behind her in the queue withdrew 300 from her account, the maximum allowed on her card. Sophie, 23, had accidentally left her card behind in the machine, allowing the person to shoulder surf her PIN and then use it to withdraw the cash. Conned: Sophie How, 23, had accidentally left her card behind in the machine, allowing the person to shoulder surf her PIN and then use it to withdraw the cash She reported the fraud the next day to both Santander and the police but an administrative bungle by the bank meant crucial CCTV footage that could have helped the investigation was wiped clean. Cases such as these are on the increase. Giles Mason, at Financial Fraud Action UK, says: Because a bank card is now so secure, a criminal needs both the card and the PIN to carry out a fraud. Cash machines are like honeypots to crooks. Fraudsters lurk around them using distraction techniques and special devices to trap cards, record PIN numbers or even stop cash coming out until after a customer has walked away. Sophie, from Clapham in South West London, works as a nanny and a bartender and is saving for a backpacking trip to Central and South America in the spring. She says: I was devastated when I found I had been defrauded. I had worked long, anti-social hours to earn that money and it was gone in an instant. When she contacted Santander she found the bank unsympathetic and unhelpful. She says: It refused to refund my money because there had been no wrong PIN attempts and I had left my card in the machine. Sophie reported the crime to the police who in turn requested CCTV footage from the bank. But by the time an officer visited the branch in late December to speed up the process, the footage had been deleted standard practice after 31 days. The investigation was dropped. She thought she had lost her 300 but when The Mail on Sunday intervened, Santander refunded her money. Crime: Cash machines are like honeypots to crooks. Fraudsters lurk around them using distraction techniques and special devices to trap cards, record PIN numbers or even stop cash coming out until after a customer has walked away She says: Ill never use a cash machine again to deposit money. Santander told The Mail on Sunday: We have apologised to Miss How for not providing the CCTV footage within the timeframe to help the police investigate her case, and have credited her account with 300 as a gesture of goodwill. According to Financial Fraud Action UK, 2,500 people every week are victims of similar card frauds. John Cannon, director of fraud and ID at credit reference service Noddle, says: A criminal needs certain information to get at your cash. Many now use technology, such as cash machine trapping devices and cameras, to get hold of it. Here are some of the tactics criminals are using to get at your cash. LEBANESE LOOP Crooks attach a device to a cash machine that traps the card of anyone using the ATM. The bank customer believes the card has been swallowed up, goes into the branch to complain while the crook (who has watched you tap in your PIN or used a camera to capture the number) steps in to remove the gadget, your card and money from your account. Scams: Often used in conjunction with a card-trapping device, a seemingly well-meaning passer-by will offer to help you if a machine appears to have retained your card ACTION: Do not use cash machines that look as if they may have been tampered with. If your card is not returned by the machine, report the matter to your bank immediately. Keep your banks emergency 24-hour number on your mobile. Always shield your PIN. DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES Often used in conjunction with a card-trapping device, a seemingly well-meaning passer-by will offer to help you if a machine appears to have retained your card. The crook may encourage you to try your PIN again only to memorise it, pluck your card out when you have gone and take cash from your account. ACTION: If someone crowds you at a cash machine or offers to help if your card seems to have been kept by the ATM, ignore them. Report the incident to your bank as soon as possible and cancel your card immediately. SOCIAL ENGINEERING Few people give away their bank details to a stranger calling out of the blue. But if they pretend they are from a charity you already support, then any request for your bank account details may appear plausible. Noddles John Cannon says: It just takes you to like a charity on Facebook, or for someone to wish you online a happy birthday for crooks to gather sufficient information to fool you into parting with vital pieces of your identity jigsaw. ACTION: Use the tightest security setting on your social media so only trusted friends can view. Also keep detailed personal information out of updates. Never give personal details via email or phone. SNIFFER SOFTWARE Free wifi hotspots make life easier for people constantly on the move, but they have also provided new opportunities for fraudsters. Criminals create their own free wifi signals and then eavesdrop on your online activity. Watch out: Free wifi hotspots make life easier for people constantly on the move, but they have also provided new opportunities for fraudsters Some also create websites with similar names to those of paid-for services, such as wifi offered by hotels, and lure the unwary into providing their card details. ACTION: Stay clear of free wifi services, especially if not password protected. At the very least avoid using credit card or bank details while using free wifi. Alternatively, download encryption software so any online activity is scrambled. DARK WEB Any information people give away about themselves to companies in return for a product or service should be 100 per cent secure. But sometimes organisations networks are compromised and data is then stolen and sold on the dark web. This is part of the internet where surfers remain untraced and anonymous. It was set up originally so spies could communicate securely. ACTION: There is not much you can do to stop information you have provided to a company being stolen. You can find out if your personal details are floating around on the Dark Web. Noddle, for example, provides a Web Watch service for 20 a year. For an extra 10 it will alert you to any personal information that is in wrong places or if there is unusual activity on your credit report a sign that a fraud may have been committed. Other credit agencies such as Equifax and Experian offer similar credit-checking services. To learn more about the different varieties of banking scams, visit actionfraud.police.uk. Find out how to protect yourself at getsafeonline.org or the Government website cyberstreetwise.com. For more tips on beating the fraudsters, click here. An employee of Australia Post didnt quite make it to the door, or even the letter box to deliver a mans parcel on Friday, instead the expensive package which contained hearing aids was left in his front yard. Mark Hogan complained to Australia Post using their Facebook Page when he found the discarded package, which should have been signed for, sitting a metre from his letterbox. Mr Hogan posted a complaint where he stated that he heard nothing all morning (I am not the deaf one). I went to check to see if it had arrived as the online tracking had updated to say it was delivered to our address. The post made on the Australia Post Facebook Page Walked outside to discover this! I cannot for the life of me find any explanation to justify leaving any package on the grass next to my letter box in the middle of the day on a suburban street! It appears it was simply tossed out the window of the delivery vehicle. Mr Hogan went on to say the expensive hearing equipment was not the only package he had received this way. Having things arrive that I never signed for yet says I did, happens all the time. Leaving parcels in view from the street to all walking past, I'm used to that. Watching the motorbike arrive to discover a card in the letterbox saying attempted delivery no answer collect from local office even though I was home the entire time, standard ops (sic). But this is a whole new level of incompetent blatant indifference to any level of service. There was zero effort made here! I did not accept delivery yet it says I did! The parcel easily fits in the letterbox yet your delivery man simply threw it on the grass. Disgraceful! The parcel where Mr Hogan says he found it, less than a metre from the letter box, in the front yard of his suburban home Mr Hogan is not the only dissatisfied customer Australia Post has had recently. Julie Salama of Sydney runs a cake business from home, and was forced to delay customer orders after deliveries were not made to her address. She also claims to have been home when the deliveries were due, and CCTV footage even shows a delivery driver appearing to leave a collection card without knocking. Mr Hogan is just one of more than 70 people who have complained on the Facebook page in the past 24 hour period, many complaining of missing or poorly-placed parcels. Australia Post spokeswoman has said that when nobody is home when urgent parcels arrive the 'delivery driver will look for a safe location to leave the parcel. We call this "Safe Drop".' Two Colombians accused of running an international drug smuggling operation on board a Spanish Navy ship were arrested on Thursday in Colombia, New York prosecutors said Friday. The two men allegedly ran the smuggling ring out of Cartagena and supplied New York City-based dealers, said the office of New York's special narcotics prosecutor, Bridget Brennan. Prosecutors said the two men, identified as Jorge Luis Hoayeck and Jorge Alberto Siado-Alvarez, paid thousands of dollars to midshipmen on the vessel, which belongs to the Royal Spanish Navy. The Juan Sebastian de Elcano passes through New York Harbor in a file photo from May, 2012 The Juan Sebastian Elcano was used by Colombian smugglers to ferry drugs around the world Nearly 300 lbs of cocaine were found by Spanish and U.S. authorities aboard the Juan Sebastian Elcano In 2014, the two men paid $32,000 in bribes to Spanish midshipmen serving on the ship Juan Sebastian Elcano, authorities said. The four-masted vessel is the third largest tall ship in the world at 371 feet. The sailors picked up drugs in Cartagena during a six-month international voyage and delivered them to New York traffickers in April 2014, when the Juan Sebastian de Elcano was docked on Manhattan's West Side, near the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier and museum. The Juan Sebastian de Elcano was built in 1924 and frequently travels around the world. Authorities in Spain recovered nearly 280 pounds of cocaine from the ship after it returned from its trip to New York. Authorities in Spain discovered almost 280 pounds of cocaine aboard the historic ship when it returned to its country of origin An official from the Spanish Guardia Civil examines some of the drugs found aboard the Juan Sebastian Elcano 'A tourist attraction wherever it anchors, the ship served as the perfect cover for traffickers as it hopscotched across the Atlantic Ocean and back carrying its illicit cargo,' Brennan said in a statement. The charges against the two men center on a single shipment of approximately 17 pounds of heroin and cocaine. Authorities in New York expect the men, identified as Jorge Luis Hoayeck and Jorge Alberto Siado-Alvarez, to be extradited to the United States. In 2014, seven other people were charged in the same smuggling ring, prosecutors said. A judge on Friday ordered a medical examination of Sumner Redstone as part of an ongoing court fight over the media mogul's health and mental capacity. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan said Friday that a doctor hired by the billionaire mogul's ex-girlfriend Manuela Herzer should evaluate Redstone's health and mental health. He based the ruling on the depositions of two doctors who have evaluated Redstone and believe he could undergo a short examination from another doctor. Cowan says the evaluation should last up to an hour and cannot be attended by Redstone's regular physician or attorneys handling the case. Redstone's ex-girlfriend and longtime companion Herzer has raised issues about the 92-year-old's health and decision-making capacity after she was suddenly expelled from his house in October. Redstone parted ways with Herzer after 20 years together, a woman who he briefly dated but then became one his closest friends and confidantes. She soon filed a suit asking to be restored as his caretaker arguing that he was 'mentally incompetent' describing him as a 'living ghost' and 'tragic figure.' Scroll down for video Victory: Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan said Friday that Sumner Redstone should undergo a medical examination by a doctor selected by his ex Manuela Herzer (couple above in 2012) New plan: Herzer, 51, had previously been in charge of the 92-year-old's care, but now his family is doing that led by his oldest daughter Shari (above in 2012) Herzer's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell, praised the ruling. 'Sumner asked Manuela, and she promised, to care for and protect him for the rest of his life,' O'Donnell wrote in a statement. 'Today's victory is a major milestone in honoring her commitment.' His lawyers have opposed Herzer's efforts and say Redstone receives frequent visits from a doctor and tests have shown no signs of impairment. Cowan has previously rejected attempts to have Herzer's expert physician meet with Redstone, citing privacy concerns. He changed his mind after Herzer's lawyers submitted a new request earlier this week and depositions from Redstone's physicians. One of the doctors testified that he had difficulty understanding Redstone and had to have a nurse interpret the businessman for him. Cowan however rejected a request by Herzer's attorneys to have Redstone undergo a deposition in his home. The judge said that would be invasive and probably beyond Redstone's ability. 'We are gratified that the Court continues to reject Ms. Herzer's increasingly desperate and disingenuous attempts to depose Mr. Redstone,' Redstone's attorney Gabrielle Vidal said after the hearing. Claims: An associate close to Herzer claims that Redstone (above with Megan Fox in 2014) is in a 'twilight mentality,' and was not of sound mind when he had her kicked out Herzer, 51, was banned from the billionaire media mogul's Beverly Park mansion in October for reasons that remain unclear. She began dating the Viacom and CBS CEO - who is worth an estimated $6.4billion - in the 90s, and remained a close friend and confidante after the two split, moving to a house just down the street from him. Six weeks prior, Redstone had kicked out his live-in lover of four years Sydney Holland, 44, after learning she was having an affair. At the same, Redstone appeared to be getting closer to his family, with whom he has long had a tumultuous relationship. Vanity Fair spoke with a source who said at the time: 'All of a sudden on Monday there were a bunch of lawyers and house staff standing around, and she walked back in the house and it was communicated to her that Sumner doesnt want her there anymore.' The source then added that Herzer was shocked when she got the news, and quickly grew concerned as to who would care for the 92-year-old mogul. 'She doesnt know why shes not there anymore, and theres no one around. No family. Nobody responsible. Theres a driver and a nurse supposedly running the show,' they said. Redstone's daughter Shari disputed these claims however, and said there is nothing to worry about. 'Two of Sharis three children [Brandon and Tyler Korff] visited Sumner immediately; the third [Kimberlee Korff] called from the East Coast and is seeing him next week,' said Shari's spokesperson Nancy Sterling. 'Shari also flew out to see her father [last Wednesday] and everyone was excited to be able to spend time together again as a family.' Theme: Herzer was removed from his life six weeks after Redstone split with his girlfriend of four years, 44-year-old Sydney Holland (above with Herzer in 2014) Moving on: Holland (above in 2014) was told to vacate Redstone's home in late August after the two had been dating for years In an interview with Vanity Fair earlier this year, Herzer said of meeting Redstone: 'I was so enamored. I could do no wrong. He was just for me the greatest thing since sliced bread. There was no age at that point.' She then added; 'This is the nicest guy Ive ever met... I felt a connection to him that was really like - I cant explain. It was this chemistry.' Redstone meanwhile said of Herzer: 'I have known Manuela for over 20 years. She and her children are family to me. Her house in LA is five minutes away from my house and I get to see her frequently. Manuela is one of the smartest women I have ever met.' Herzer's teenage daughter Kathrine currently stars on the show Madam Secretary - which airs on CBS. The sudden departure of Herzer echoes what happened last month to Holland, with whom Herzer was incredibly close. The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Holland's attorney Brad Rose at the time who said: 'Sydney Holland and Sumner Redstone have had a caring and wonderful relationship for over five years. 'While Sydney would have liked the relationship to have lasted for many more years to come, relationships are dynamic and ever-changing and for a whole host of circumstances, the couple has parted ways.' He then added: 'While rumor and innuendo will undoubtedly surface as a consequence of this breakup, at this time, Ms. Holland is very upset and has no further comment.' Redstone controls CBS and Viacom through National Amusements Inc., which holds nearly 80 percent of the voting stock in both media companies. He hasn't joined an investor conference call since November 2014. His longtime attorney Philippe Dauman, now Viacom's CEO, has authority to make medical decisions if Redstone is deemed incapacitated by his physician, but that has not yet happened. Herzer contends that Redstone is unable to speak and cannot meaningfully engage in decision-making about his medical care or other topics. The allegations, which Redstone's lawyers have vehemently contested, prompted a lawsuit Tuesday by a Viacom shareholder. The suit contends that company directors breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by allowing millions of dollars to be paid to Redstone while he was physically and mentally incapacitated and unable to carry out his duties as chairman. Viacom said Wednesday that Redstone's compensation in fiscal 2015 declined 85 percent to $2 million from $13 million in fiscal 2014. A key securities filing ahead of Viacom's annual shareholders meeting issued Friday did not include a signature from Redstone, as previous years have. After months of death and destruction not least the retreat from Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain few of those present had any idea that they were witnessing a turning point in Britain's wartime fortunes. It's now 75 years since that crisp January morning when a small crowd gathered at Manchester's Ringway Airport to see if a new prototype could get off the ground. Its creator, Roy Chadwick, had even brought along his elder daughter, Margaret, to share the moment. The test pilot, Sam Brown, revved up the four engines and the elegant monster tore down the runway and into the sky. It circled the airfield, banked to left and right, came back down and parked. As the crowd rushed to hear the verdict, the fuselage door flew open. Lancaster bomber creator Roy Chadwick was killed in a flying accident two years after the war ended and before he had the chance to see another of his great visions, the Vulcan, take shape On the 75th birthday of their flagship, then, one might have expected an acknowledgement of this momentous occasion in British aviation history A beaming Brown did not mince his words. 'It was marvellous!' he declared. 'Daddy, you must be very pleased,' Margaret told her father. 'Yes, I am,' Chadwick replied, 'but one cannot rest on one's laurels.' His colleague at the Avro aircraft company, general manager Roy Dobson, was less restrained. 'Oh boy, what an aeroplane!' he cried. He wasn't exaggerating. They had all just seen the maiden flight of the mighty Lancaster. Little more than 12 months later, the Lancaster was on its first operational bombing raid over enemy territory, having gone from drawing board to combat in just two years. By the end of the war, 7,377 Lancasters would have carried out more than 150,000 missions including the supremely audacious Dambuster Raids of 1943 and dropped more than 600,000 tons of bombs on the enemy, a feat unequalled by any other plane. Yet 3,249 aircraft and their crews would be lost in action. Historians and philosophers will be debating the rights and wrongs of the Royal Air Force's bombing strategy long after the last Lancaster has rusted away. But some things are beyond dispute. First, that Britain's ability to take the war to Germany was transformed by Chadwick's creation. Pre-Lancaster, much RAF bombing was hit-and-miss stuff. Thereafter, the German war effort really took a pounding. In terms of range, speed, bomb load and sheer agility, the Lancaster was in a league of its own and its pilots adored it. 'You used to treat the Lanc like a Spitfire,' as veteran Michael Maltin put it. Second, the men who flew it had the most perilous posting of the entire war Bomber Command. All volunteers, they flew not just in Lancasters but Halifaxes, Wellingtons, Stirlings, Mosquitos, Bristols and others. Their chance of survival was considerably worse than if they'd been a soldier in the Great War trenches. Indeed, Russian roulette would have been safer. Half of them 55,573 men did not survive the war. Only 30 per cent made it through without being killed, injured or captured. On the 75th birthday of their flagship, then, one might have expected an acknowledgement of this momentous occasion in British aviation history. Nothing extravagant a parade, perhaps, or a TV programme or postage stamp? There was a proper song and dance when the Spitfire marked its 75th in 2006. The Imperial War Museum has at least organised a series of family days around the Lancaster on display at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. There is also talk of a dinner next month at RAF Coningsby, home of Britain's last airworthy Lancaster. But so far, it hasn't flickered on Whitehall's commemorative radar. Nor, for that matter, has anything been planned to mark the 80th anniversary of Bomber Command itself which takes place in July. Perhaps the Ministry of Defence feels we've had too many anniversaries. In addition to the 200th of Waterloo and the 75th of the Battle of Britain last year, the MoD was spurred into action by the Daily Mail's demand for national recognition of the 70th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day celebrating victory in Europe and Japan. This year, it will be involved in major centenary events to commemorate the Battles of the Somme and Jutland. It's now 75 years since that crisp January morning when a small crowd gathered at Manchester's Ringway Airport to see if a new prototype could get off the ground. Its creator, Roy Chadwick, (pictured) had even brought along his elder daughter, Margaret, to share the moment The work of Bomber Command was omitted from the Prime Minister's VE Day speech. There was no medal for the men at the end of the war In their spiritual home of Lincolnshire which calls itself 'Bomber County' the first phase of the new International Bomber Command Centre was unveiled three months ago. It has already drawn visitors from around the world Unhappily, the dwindling band of Bomber Command veterans are well-used to such lamentable oversights by the bureaucrats. At the end of the war itself, to their enduring sadness, they were side-lined by everyone from Winston Churchill down. The work of Bomber Command was omitted from the Prime Minister's VE Day speech. There was no medal for the men. Their leader, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, was the only senior wartime commander denied a peerage. The devastation wreaked on German civilian targets was simply an embarrassment. It helps to explain why the bomber boys had to wait until 2012 by which time most survivors had passed away before a magnificent memorial to all those who never returned was finally unveiled in London next to Hyde Park Corner. It was built only through the dogged determination of the veterans and their loyal supporters, and the generosity of a few philanthropists and members of the public, not least many of our readers. Now the few surviving veterans all over 90 have one further goal. To ensure that future generations understand what they went through and why, they have chosen this month's anniversary of the Lancaster to launch a fund-raising campaign for a permanent museum and education centre telling the full story. If the Battle of Britain is forever associated with dog-fights in summer skies over the Home Counties, the work of the bomber boys was done very often by night, often in freezing conditions, from the bleaker parts of Eastern England. In their spiritual home of Lincolnshire which calls itself 'Bomber County' the first phase of the new International Bomber Command Centre was unveiled three months ago. The site overlooks Lincoln Cathedral, which for so many pilots and aircrew was their final glimpse of home, the landmark from which they took their bearings. It already draws visitors from all over the world (Bomber Command included thousands of Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and many other nationalities). The site is dominated by a memorial spire the height of a Lancaster's wingspan, soaring above a wall which will, in time, be engraved with the name of every single fatality, including ground crews killed in accidents and air raids. It has already inspired a new choral anthem, 'Strike hard, Strike sure' the Bomber Command motto. A state-of-the-art building to be called, fittingly, the Chadwick Centre will not only bring the world of the bomber boys to life but explore the complexities and debates around the bombing offensive. It will include testimonies from those on the receiving end. Reconciliation is the imperative, not triumphalism. This week, the veterans were thrilled to learn the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded 3.1 million to provide educational facilities and a digital archive. But first the building must be erected, and that is going to cost 3.8 million. The trustees hope to persuade one million people to donate 3 each. It is, surely, long overdue. The scale of sacrifice and enduring sense of loss for a father, uncle or brother were reflected in the huge demand for a ticket to see the Queen open the London memorial in 2012. It is extraordinary that Roy Chadwick left his mark on every conflict from 1914 to 1982 and yet had just a CBE to his name before his untimely death in 1947 By the end of the war, 7,377 Lancasters would have carried out more than 150,000 missions including the Dambuster Raids of 1943 Squad members of the Dambusters raid prepare to board the Lancaster bomber in 1943 The new centre is also a worthy tribute to Roy Chadwick, killed in a flying accident two years after the war ended and before he had the chance to see another of his great visions, the Vulcan, take shape. During World War I, he had worked on the Avro 504 built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. In World War II, he not only designed the Lancaster but planes like the Avro York, workhorse of the Berlin airlift after the war. His Vulcan would serve right through the Cold War to the Falklands. It is extraordinary that one man left his mark on every conflict from 1914 to 1982 and yet had just a CBE to his name before his untimely death in 1947. Compare his legacy with that of today's recipients of knighthoods and peerages. His family are touched that his name will be on the new centre. 'It is super that he's being recognised like this,' his surviving daughter, Rosemary Lapham, tells me from her Shropshire home. She recalls the loving, playful father who would enliven every car journey by treating it as an imaginary balloon ride. Obsessed with planes since childhood, he could not complete a crossword without covering the page in designs and sums always with his beloved silver propelling pencil. 'He worked so hard but the war wasn't really discussed at home,' says Rosemary, 85, who only gleaned a sense of her father's importance after the Dambusters Raids, when Guy Gibson and his squadron of Lancasters became national heroes. 'People seemed to know all about my father after that.' His admirers included George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who visited the Avro factory outside Manchester. 'The king and my father sat in the cockpit of a Lancaster and talked and talked about planes,' Rosemary recalls. But the new centre, she explains, is really about the men who flew his planes and never got the full recognition they deserved. Among the veterans raising funds for the new appeal is Syd Marshall, 91, from Boston, a flight engineer with 100 Squadron who flew 36 missions in a Lancaster. 'I was just 20 when I did the last one not even old enough to vote!' he chuckles. 'The Lancaster was the star of the show, no question. 'I flew in other planes like the Halifax but the Lancaster was ahead of its time. Everyone wanted to be in one.' H is priority is that the new centre is up and running while veterans like him are around to see it. 'I'm one of the young ones but pretty soon there won't be anyone left,' he says. That is why these anniversaries really do matter. The fact that Whitehall has overlooked the birthday of the Lancaster is, in a sense, rather fitting. As the author Leo McKinstry explains in his excellent book, Lancaster, the aircraft was born despite, rather than because of, the men from the Air Ministry. Seabird biologist David Irons drove recently to the Prince William Sound community of Whittier to check on a friend's boat and spotted white blobs along the tide line of the rocky Alaska beach. He thought they were patches of snow. A closer look revealed that the white patches were emaciated common murres, one of North America's most abundant seabirds, washed ashore after apparently starving to death. 'It was pretty horrifying,' Irons said. 'The live ones standing along the dead ones were even worse.' Starved birds: Guy Runco, director of the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, releases a common murre near the Anchorage small boat harbor in Anchorage, Alaska. Murre die-offs have occurred in previous winters but not in the numbers Alaska is seeing Tragic: In this photo from earlier this month, dead common murres lie on a rocky beach in Whittier, Alaska. Scientists say the die-offs could be a sign of ecosystem changes that have reduced the numbers of the forage fish that murres depend upon Murre die-offs have occurred in previous winters but not in the numbers Alaska is seeing. Federal researchers won't estimate the number, and are trying to gauge the scope and cause of the die-off while acknowledging there's little they can do. Scientists say the die-offs could be a sign of ecosystem changes that have reduced the numbers of the forage fish that murres depend upon. Warmer water surface temperatures, possibly due to global warming or the El Nino weather pattern, may have affected murre prey, including herring, capelin and juvenile pollock. There are about 2.8 million breeding common murres in 230 Alaska colonies, part of a worldwide population of 13 to 20.7 million birds. Awkward on land, their short, powerful wings make them extraordinary swimmers, 'flying' beneath the surface as deep as 600 feet to hunt for fish. An estimated 8,000 of the black and white birds were found dead on the Whittier beach, said John Piatt, research wildlife biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center. 'That's unprecedented, that sheer number in one location is off the charts,' he said. Researchers late last week planned to survey more remote beaches. Winter storms can affect murres' ability to hunt. An estimated 185,000 common murres died in the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Researchers estimate that 120,000 died in a 1993 winter event. But this year is different. Many gone: An estimated 8,000 of the black and white birds were found dead on the Whittier beach after starving to death. Pictured here is Katie Middlebrook and Guy Runco of Anchorage's Bird Treatment and Learning Center prepare to release a common murre near the Anchorage small boat harbor in Anchorage 'The length of time we've been seeing dead birds, and the geographic scope, is much greater than before in other die-off events,' said Kathy Kuletz, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 'We're looking at many times that. So possibly a good chunk of the population.' In 2008, Irons was lead author on a research paper that correlated natural die-offs to climate change and rising ocean temperatures. Using data from murre colonies around the circumpolar north, researchers found murres died in years when ocean surface temperature water increased by just a few degrees. Murre prey such as capelin, a forage fish in the smelt family, live in a narrow band of cool water, said Irons, who retired last year after 36 years with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and California. 'If the water (temperature) goes above that threshold, they're out of there,' Irons said. 'They either die or they move.' No one monitors forage fish off Alaska, Irons said. 'So when they're gone, no one has any information on them to show that they're gone, except birds are showing us they're gone,' he said. Federal scientists in Alaska are looking for the cause of a massive die-off of one of the Arctics most abundant seabirds, the common murre Murres high energy requirement means they have to eat prey matching 10 to 30 percent of their body mass daily. They look for fish in dense schools. 'If you don't have these dense schools of prey, they don't seem to do very well,' Irons said. Water temperatures in 2015 were above average and biologists detected signs of trouble. Murres usually found on the outer continental shelf began to show up near shore, including a Juneau boat harbor where they competed with sea lions for herring. Each spring, murres nest shoulder to shoulder on cliffs or slopes. Females synchronize laying single light bulb-shaped eggs especially suited for a ledge: if they roll, they roll in a circle instead of off the precipice. Many females in 2015, however, were too weak to breed, Kuletz said. Prediction: Water temperatures in 2015 were above average and biologists detected signs of trouble. Murres usually found on the outer continental shelf began to show up near shore, including a Juneau boat harbor where they competed with sea lions for herring Finding murre carcasses in summer is unusual but small numbers of birds were reported in Kodiak, the Alaska Peninsula and other locations. Deaths were reported along the Pacific coast as far south as California. When autumn arrived, inland Alaskans spotted what looked like skinny penguins walking on roadways. By December, murres had been spotted in near Fairbanks, roughly 360 miles from the ocean. Some were turned over to bird rehabilitation facilities. Strong North Pacific winter storms in December that prevented weakened birds from foraging may have been the final blow. A trickle of rescued birds turned into a flood. Anchorage's Bird Learning and Treatment Center received 160 stranded murres in the last three months of 2015. Another 230 murres arrived in the first five days of 2016. The USGS National Wildlife Health Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, has examined about 100 carcasses and detected no parasites or disease that may have contributed to murres not eating, said wildlife disease specialist Barbara Bodenstein. If the die-off is tied to low numbers of forage fish brought on by a warming ocean, the rest of 2016 does not bode well for murres, Piatt said. The phenomenon known as the Pacific Blob, a mass of warm water in the North Pacific, has cooled but is still around. Oceanographers predict for 2016 an extreme El Nino, the natural warming of the central Pacific that changes weather worldwide. 'What's that going to do on top of the warming effect we've had in the last six months to a year?' Piatt said. 'I'm asking because I don't know.' The porn star who has filed a $500,000 sex assault lawsuit against disgraced reality star Josh Duggar is breaking her silence about what allegedly happened during their sexual encounters. Danica Dillon claims in an interview with Hustler that Josh choked her, called her 'worthless' and a 'dirty s**t' and even spit in her face when she tried to push him away during rough intercourse. She also said that Josh's first words to her once he arrived at her hotel room during their first encounter were; 'Get undressed. Get on your knees.' His behavior was so terrifying that the young mother of two said she began to grow concerned after the incident. 'If he's done this to me, how many other girls has he done this to?' Danica told the magazine. 'Has he murdered anybody?' Scroll down for videos Opening up: Danica Dillon is detailing what allegedly happened between her and Josh Duggar during the two nights they spent together last year in a Hustler cover story (above) Claims: She said Josh, 27, called her 'worthless' and a 'dirty s**t' and even spit in her face when she tried to push him away during rough intercourse (Josh above with wife Anna last year) Danica, 29, claims she met Josh in March 2015 at a Philadelphia strip club and invited her up to his room after he paid $600 for lap dances from the adult entertainer. She said there were no 'red flags' when she first met him, but that all changed when they got behind closed doors. 'There was no intimacy, nothing,' claims Danica. 'He grabbed my head and pulled me on to him and was doing a forced blowjob. I couldnt breathe.' Danica said after that she pushed him off few times and he began to calm down, but things turned rough again when they began to have actual intercourse. 'Then he picked me up and threw me down on the bed and bent me over and was pulling my hair, calling me a dirty slut, telling me that I deserved it and that I like it,' said Danica. 'During doggy, he flipped me over and grabbed my legs, just threw me down and tossed me over. She then said he 'pressed down pretty hard, as if he was trying to push my neck into the bed, almost constricting my airway.' Danica claims this resulted in red marks on her neck which were visible after that night. Josh then forced Danica to give him another blowjob she claims, this time while telling her she was 'worthless.' Danica said when she pushed him away he spit on her, and soon after he finished and stormed out, leaving her money on a dresser. The entire encounter lasted over an hour and a half according to Danica. She claims Josh did not wear a condom. She also said that Josh had been drinking before, but that 'he didn't smell like he was wasted.' Despite what happened during their first encounter, Danica said she agreed to invite Josh back to her hotel a second time after he cornered her at an event one month later. She said that Josh told her; 'I just want to apologize because I know that you are uneasy around me and I know that I was rough with you last time but I get it. You're an actress and just because you do that in your movies doesn't mean that you like to do that stuff in your personal life.' He came back again Danica claims and this time asked for some alone time, saying; 'I want to show you that I'm a nicer person. I'm not that mean. I'm not rough. I'm sensual. 'You know everybody has their kinks and fetishes and stuff that they like, but I promise you, I've been a fan, and I really like you, and I'm really sincerely sorry.' After this Danica said she invited him to her room where they once again had unprotected sex and her paid her $1,5000, a sizable increase from the $1,000 he paid the first time. When he left Danica said he told her; 'I hope to see you again.' Josh's wife Anna was six-months pregnant at this time and home with their three children. Scared: Danica (above) said she wondered after her encounter with Josh; 'If he's done this to me, how many other girls has he done this to? Has he murdered anybody?' Trouble: Danica reportedly has photos proving she was with Josh on the nights in question and strip club workers to back her story (Josh above with son Michael last year) It now seems that Josh may also get his wish to see Danica again as Radar Online reports that she has reportedly provided some strong evidence in her case against Josh. Danica apparently has incriminating photos of the 27-year-old and has gathered a group of employees from the strip club who can back her story. Josh meanwhile is still claiming he has never even met Danica or been to the strip club she was at, while also saying he had an alibi for one of the dates in question. This lawsuit came after a summer that began for Josh with the public learning that he molested five minors as a teenager, including four of his sisters. The summer ended with the news that Josh had an account on the adult cheating website Ashley Madison and had been having sexual encounters with women outside his marriage. Danica's attorney, Marc Frumer, said that if Duggar takes the stand he will likely be questioned about his entire sexual history and past misconduct - including the fact that he molested five minors as a teenager. 'The defendant may be subject to [having to talk about] his prior bad [or] sexually abusive acts at trial,' Frumer previously told InTouch. 'They are all relevant if he takes the stand.' Furmer added; 'The defendant has a history of sexual and physical abuse towards women, particularly those he perceives as vulnerable or weak. 'He has to be held responsible for his actions.' Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar could also possibly be called to testify for hiding details of Duggar's 'prior bad acts' according to Frumer. Duggar entered a faith-based rehab program in Illinois in August to treat his infidelity and addiction to porn. He was visited by his wife Anna on Christmas, though it is not clear if she took any of the couple's four children with her on the trip. The couple wed in 2008, and are parents to five-month-old Meredith Grace, two-year-old Marcus, four-year-old Michael and six-year-old daughter Mackynzie. Josh confessed to having affairs in a letter in August shortly before he entered rehab, writing; 'I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife. 'I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.' Just a few months before that in May, it was revealed he had molested four of his sisters when he was a teenager and they were minors. Credit: Rob FennBlack Stone Cherry has shared a new single from their forthcoming album, Kentucky. The track is called "In Our Dreams," now playing on YouTube. While it's the second track to be released from Kentucky, following "The Way of the Future," "In Our Dreams" is the album's first official single. Later this month, Black Stone Cherry will be touring the U.K. in support of Kentucky on the Carnival of Madness tour alongside Halestorm, Shinedown and Highly Suspect. They'll return to the U.S. in May to play the Carolina Rebellion music festival. Kentucky will be released April 1. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. David Cameron has ordered sweeping changes to legal aid, no-win no-fee cases and the civil courts in a bid to stop the witch-hunt against British soldiers who were doing their jobs Military top brass last night welcomed David Camerons pledge to shut down ambulance-chasing lawyers but warned more still needs to be done to protect British troops from the legal witch-hunt over Iraq. As the Daily Mail revealed yesterday, the Prime Minister has promised a string of changes to legal aid and no-win-no-fee deals to try to stop lawyers hounding the Armed Forces with spurious claims. The changes include putting a new time limit on when claims can be lodged and introducing a ban on foreigners getting legal aid unless they have lived in the UK for 12 months. The blitz will help to stop new claims entering the system and halt the cash flowing to the lawyers who are hounding our troops. However, top brass say more needs to be done to protect soldiers already facing action. In an unprecedented move, the Prime Minister is also threatening to sue law firm Leigh Day to recover millions of pounds it has claimed in costs. The news follows a Daily Mail campaign revealing how troops who served in Iraq are being mercilessly hounded by legal aid lawyers. Mr Cameron said yesterday: It is clear that there is now an industry trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen and women who fought in Iraq. This is unacceptable and no way to treat the people who risk their lives to keep our country safe it has got to end. He added: Our Armed Forces are rightly held to the highest standards, but our troops must know that when they get home from action overseas this Government will protect them from being hounded by lawyers over claims that are totally without foundation. However with 1,500 claims of alleged abuse already lodged against British soldiers with the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat), ex-generals said further action was required to help those already in the system. Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, said: These are measures that are to be welcomed as the Prime Minister is now taking seriously the plight of soldiers. The Mails campaign has put the Government and the Prime Minister under pressure and the newspaper should be commended for its work on this. Many former soldiers have come to me and told me how the Mails campaign has helped them and their comrades deal with the pressures of the investigations. But military top brass have said more needs to be done to protect those already facing action It is right that they should put a stop to it. But it is not enough. It is not going to help those hundreds of soldiers who are already victim to the investigations and action needs to be taken to help them. They should have a supportive Ministry of Defence representative who informs them they are going to be investigated before they have someone knocking on their door. Lord Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, said the PM was right to draw a line in the sand and protect the freedom with which the military have to carry out its operations on behalf of the nation. He told the BBC: Once you start to contest cases, this is what the lawyers absolutely enjoy because the cost of the cases absolutely rise and their fees become excruciatingly high. That is the sort of thing the Prime Minister is trying to bear down on. No one is saying the military is above the law. A spokesman for UK Veterans One Voice added: This is a great day for members of the Armed Forces. And Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: Ambulance-chasing lawyers frankly dont make [soldiers] lives any easier with some of the cases they try to bring. 1,500 claims of alleged abuse already lodged against British soldiers with the Iraq Historical Allegations Team Falklands veteran Simon Weston also welcomed Mr Camerons clampdown. He said: A lot of these guys cant afford to defend themselves. They are bankrupted by some of the cases. Its a terrible thing to put men, women and their families who already have been through armed conflict through. Downing Street said that of 59 cases which Ihat has looked at so far, only one was actually referred to the Director of Service Prosecutions, who decided not to take a prosecution forward. Bureaucrats in charge of Britains bloated aid budget are the best-paid in Whitehall pocketing nearly twice the salary of average workers. The Department for International Development, which has 12billion a year to spend, has bucked austerity and is one of only two government departments where staff costs have gone up. Despite a string of reports showing waste and incompetence are rife in the department, the median salary at Justine Greenings DfID is a generous 52,700. Justine Greening, head of the Department for International Development where the median salary is 52,700 per year Almost a quarter of civil servants in the department are now paid more than 60,000 a year. The Department for Energy and Climate Change is not far behind, with officials taking home an average of 48,420. The analysis, by the Institute for Government, also shows that DfID and DECC were the only two ministries in Whitehall where total staff costs have actually increased since 2010, despite deep cuts elsewhere. The cost of the exorbitant salaries paid to DfID civil servants does not count towards the 0.7 per cent of national income that the government now has to spend on foreign aid. Five bureaucrats at the department took home more than the Prime Ministers 150,000, once pension benefits and bonuses are taken into account. Tory MP Philip Davies, pictured, criticised the DfID for giving its staff high salaries Last night critics asked why it was that, on top of the huge burden of our 12billion-a-year budget for foreign aid, we pay the officials who hand it out so much. Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, said: It is certainly no surprise that the most wasteful government department, where money is no object, is happy to let salaries rip for their own staff. 'You would think if they were so committed to the cause they would want more money from their budget spent on helping the worlds poorest and less on privileged bureaucrats. Instead it is the most hard pressed in the UK who have to pay for all this largesse to make some middle class people feel better about themselves. The average wage for a full-time worker in the UK is about 27,600. Across the whole civil service, the median pay is 24,980. Tens of thousands of civil servants have also lost their jobs through redundancies, and pay for many has been frozen. Jacob Rees Mogg, Tory MP for North East Somerset, said: The least productive, most fashionable and Left-wing dominated ministries are, unsurprisingly, the greatest burden on taxpayers. DfIDs annual report shows that permanent secretary Mark Lowcocks salary was 160,000-165,000. That was topped up by a 35,000 pension benefit taking his total to almost 200,000. Last night Alex Wild of the TaxPayers Alliance said: At a time when savings need to be made, the scale of pay, perks and expenses enjoyed by those in the public sector elite should be under constant scrutiny to see if taxpayers are getting value for money. Whats more, some functions of these departments could easily be scrapped which would save even more taxpayers money. A table showing the difference in civil service salaries across UK government departments Last night a spokesman for DfID said: All our staff are paid in line with standard Civil Service rules. We have some of the lowest overheads in Whitehall and we have already reduced our back office costs by a third. Half the population of Naples is now at risk from the volcano known as 'Europe's time bomb'. A new assessment has added 63 new towns and villages to the list of municipalities that would be hit if Mount Vesuvius was to erupt. The expanded danger zone - the 'yellow zone' - now stretches across the provinces of Naples and Salerno Those living in the 'yellow zone' would be showered with falling ash and rocks, sufficient to topple buildings in some cases, in the event of a significant eruption. Casting a shadow: Half of the population of Naples is now classed as being at risk of falling ash and rocks in the event of a significant eruption. Pictured, a view of Naples shows the snow-covered Mount Vesuvius These neighbourhoods can be added to the 600,000 residents who have already been warned that they live in the 'red zone', which is the area that is most at risk. The 'red zone' consists of the properties that could find themselves directly in the paths of deadly pyroclastic flows - clouds of scalding gas, ash and rock which would explode down the slopes of the volcano at terrifying speeds of up to 200mph hour. The experts have said that in the event of a big eruption and in certain atmospheric conditions, the ash and powder could reach these places further away, said city council spokesman Domenico Annunziata, reported The Independent. But theres no need to be alarmist. Were talking about falling powder, so it wouldnt be devastating. Naples, with a population of around three million, has grown up in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed the city of Pompeii in 79AD. The last great eruption, which occurred in 1631, killed 6,000 people. While a smaller explosion, in 1944, brought with it some ash clouds and lava flows. The province's emergency plan, which would be launched if warning signs of an imminent eruption are detected, requires all 600,000 residents in the red zone to be evacuated within 72 hours. Danger: The 'red zone' consists of the properties that could find themselves directly in the paths of deadly pyroclastic flows - clouds of scalding gas, ash and rock which would explode down the slopes of the volcano at terrifying speeds of up to 200mph hour. Pictured, a victim of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii At risk: Naples, with a population of around three million, has grown up in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed the city of Pompeii (pictured) in 79AD Scientists warned in April 2015 that the world is woefully unprepared for a massive volcanic eruption that could kill millions of people and destroy much of modern society. Experts at the European Science Foundation warned that there is between a five and 10 per cent probability of an eruption large enough to cause huge numbers of deaths, change the climate and poison the atmosphere occurring by the end of the century. The report also rated the worlds largest eruptions according to a scale, the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii was around VEI5. Mount St Helens explosion in 1980 was also VEI5. The report states that there have been around 20 eruptions greater than VEI5 since 1500, with only the Tambora eruption in Indonesia in 1815 reaching VEI7. However, around 75,000 years ago the explosion of a supervolcano at the site of Lake Toba on Sumatra in Indonesia was one of the worlds largest known eruptions rated VEI8. Groundbreaking? Controversial surgeon Sergio Canavero (pictured) announced plans to do a human head transplant earlier this year - horrifying many What with designer babies and genetic engineering, we have become accustomed to developments that previously would have been banned as Frankenstein science. Nevertheless, the revelation this week that a monkey has received a head transplant using a technique that is almost ready to be tried on humans retains its power to shock. Neuroscientists in China are said to have taken a major step towards that goal by decapitating two rhesus monkeys and connecting the head of one animal to the others body. The news was publicised by Sergio Canavero, a controversial Italian neurosurgeon and associate of the Chinese team, who said the success of the new method used paved the way towards a repeat operation involving humans. The news is not so much the monkey transplant, he said. Everyone in the media is saying: Hey man, its a head transplant on a monkey but this has already been done 40 years ago. The important news here is that the critics of this new method have been totally disproven. Why is this significant? Because Dr Canavero is the same man who sparked a global storm last year when he revealed his determination to attempt a human head transplant. He is planning to remove the head of a patient with muscular atrophy and attach it to a freshly decapitated donor body, to give his volunteer a physically fit body. British experts in surgery and ethics were quick to condemn the proposal. However, Dr Canavero declared: The world will never be the same again. Beyond using the technique to help people with severe illnesses or bodily paralysis, Dr Canavero predicts that people could in future get healthy new bodies at will, potentially extending their lives indefinitely, with an ever-older head on young shoulders. If this were not disturbing enough, the truth is that the Italian neurosurgeons proposal is only the latest attempt to turn a twisted dream from the darkest days of Communist Russia into reality. In the Fifties, at the height of the Cold War, Russia and the West were locked in scientific battles to achieve domination over each other most famously in the arms race and the space race. Frankenstein? Canavero could be compared to the famous fictional doctor for his ambition, that he claims will change the world forever if the operation is successful Eccentric surgeon Sergio Canavero (pictured right) claims researchers in China have carried out a head transplant on a monkey, which could take him one step closer to performing a brain transplant on Russian scientist Valery Spiridon, 30, (left) who suffers from a muscle wasting disease Journey: Valery Spiridonov, pictured at Moscow airport on Wednesday, is flying the New York to finally meet the man who may one day cut his head off and reattach it to another person's body Behind the Iron Curtain, Stalin decided to open a new front: the medical race. One night, in 1954, one of his leading experimenters, Vladimir Demikhov, and a team of surgeons operated on two stray dogs one fully grown, the other a puppy. The following morning, Demikhov, a veteran of the Red Army hospitals in World War II, unveiled a creature too appalling for even a Fifties science-fiction B-movie. He had stitched the head and upper-body of the puppy onto the neck of the larger dog, connecting their blood-vessels and windpipes. Russian surgeon Vladimir Demikhov who grafted the head and fore-paws of one dog onto another in 1959. the dog lived for 23 days after the surgery Looking every bit the mad scientist, Demikhov declared on film: You know the saying: two heads are better than one. Astonishingly, both dogs brains appeared to be fully working a first of sorts. The world was both amazed and appalled by Russias latest propaganda coup. But not everyone in the West reacted with disgust. By the mid-Sixties, Demikhov had fallen from favour in Russia, but an ambitious young American scientist, Robert White, ploughed on. In 1970, he decapitated two rhesus monkeys, and attached the head from one to the body of the other. The results were appalling to see. When the new monkey came out of the anaesthetic, it could move its facial muscles, eat and follow movements with its eyes. But it was paralysed from the neck down. The primates spinal cord, with its myriad nerve endings, was too complex to be re-attached. For breathing, the creature had to depend on a life-support ventilator. The monkey died nine days later. White performed another monkey head-swap in 2001, before his death six years ago. Of his primate subjects, he said: They followed you around the room with their eyes. Theyd try to bite your finger off. There was every indication that the brain was functioning as it was when it was on its own body. But White never succeeded in re-joining the primates spinal cords. Nor has the Chinese team. Dr Canavero sees their experiment as a crucial step, however, because he says the techniques allowed the monkey to survive without suffering a brain injury, before it was euthanised 20 hours later. The volunteer he has selected for a human head transplant is Valery Spiridonov, a computer scientist from Vladimir, 120 miles east of Moscow. Mr Spiridonov has a fatal muscle wasting disorder called Werdnig-Hoffman disease that has left him wheelchair-bound with a tiny body. I am now 30 years old, although people rarely live to more than 20 with this disease, he said last year. I can hardly control my body now. I need help every day, every minute. SPINE GLUED BACK TOGETHER TO RE-ATTACH NEW HEAD TO BODY It is already 40 years since the first monkey head transplant and since then an operation on a mouse has been carried out in China. But Dr Canavero claims all the necessary techniques already exist to carry out a full human head transplant. He believes he just needs to put the relevant techniques together to carry out the first successful operation. The new body would come from a normal transplant donor, who is declared brain dead. Both the donor and the patient would have their head severed from their spinal cord at the same time, using an ultra-sharp blade to give a clean cut. The patient's head would then be moved on to the donor's body and attached using a 'glue' called polyethylene glycol to fuse the two ends of the spinal cord together. The muscles and blood supply would be stitched up, before the patient is put into a coma for four weeks to stop them moving while the head and body heal together. During that time the patient would be given small electric shocks to stimulate their spinal cord and strengthen the connections between their head and new body. As the patient is brought out of their medically-induced coma, it is hoped they would be able to move, feel their face, and even speak with the same voice. Powerful immunosuppressant drugs would be prescribed to stop the new body from being rejected. In addition, the patient would require intensive psychological support. Advertisement While few countries would ever grant ethical approval for the operation, he argued: I consider it to be as ethical as the transplant of the heart or kidneys. At some point of time this was considered to be unethical as well. The planned procedure would involve decapitating both Spiridonov and the donor body which would probably be that of a brain-dead but otherwise healthy adult man. Spiridonovs head would be cooled down to 10c to forestall brain damage plumbed into machines that supplied it with a flow of blood, then severed at the neck and attached to the donor body. After the operation, Spiridonov would be put into a coma for a month to stop him moving while he healed. On waking, he would, it is hoped, be able to move his face and even speak with the same voice. Powerful immunity-suppressing drugs would be given to stop his head and new body rejecting each other. The single greatest risk is that Mr Spiridonov if he survived at all would be left completely paralysed, with his spinal cord remaining unattached to the donor body. He would then be condemned to a brief existence on a life-support ventilator. This outcome is considered inevitable by experts in the field, but Dr Canavero claims that regrowing a patients spinal cord is not the obstacle they believe it to be. He says the brain needs to be connected to the body by only 10-20 per cent of the nerves in the spinal cord to enable the body-brain link to be viable. The extremely sharp knife that he would use to sever the donor body from its brain would enable these nerves to be preserved and connected to the patients head, he claims. Dr Canavero says, too, that bathing the spinal cord in polyethylene glycol could provide sufficient stickiness for a repair to take. Before he puts scalpel to neck, however, he faces opposition worldwide. Back in 1987, Chet Fleming, a lawyer in St Louis, America, took out a patent on a machine designed to keep severed heads alive. Although he had never built the machine, he explained that he acquired his patent to prevent anyone from wielding such technology without a full public debate. A critical ethical question, he felt, is whose life should be extended. Is it going to be nice guys like Einstein, or guys like Hitler and Stalin? Who would decide? Controversial: Surgeon Dr Sergio Canavero claims all the necessary techniques already exist to transplant a head onto a donor body, despite widespread scepticism Dr Canavero wishes to push the boundaries of ethical debate much further. He says that in future elderly people might even clone their own bodies, creating a younger copy of themselves onto which their head could be stitched. He has named his procedure HEAVEN, an acronym for head anastomosis venture anastomosis being a term for the surgical connecting of two parts. British experts in surgery and ethics were quick to condemn the proposal. However, Dr Canavero declared: The world will never be the same again. But it sounds more like hell to Britains leading transplant expert, Simon Kay, who led the team that performed the UKs first hand transplant operation in 2013. Technically, it is entirely possible to transplant a head, he says. There are some mechanical and technical issues about maintaining bloodflow to the brain, but you could quite feasibly attach it to a donor body, he explains. There would be no great risk of rejection by the bodys immune system. He says that the insurmountable problem, however, is the current impossibility of reattaching a severed spinal cord: There is simply no way for the foreseeable future of repairing the spinal cord at the neck. Therefore, he argues, you would end up with a head that had vision and hearing and facial movement, but it would have no bodily movement, so it (a transplant) would really only be a way of keeping the head alive by maintaining bloodflow. It really sounds like a nightmarish existence. Britains leading expert in medical ethics, Professor Richard Ashcroft, adds: The proposal raises serious issues around personal identity, both for the person whose head is being transplanted, and for the relatives of the dead person whose body is used. The new body would look no different to how it did in its previous life. We have grown accustomed to the idea that the brain is the centre of the person. But it is not so simple, he adds. Changes in the body change the way your brain works. The psychological adjustment would be enormously difficult coming to terms with that. Tragic: Douglas Hurr, 84, (pictured) was found choked to death on his own hospital gown An elderly patient was found choked to death on his hospital gown by his granddaughter. Widower Douglas Hurr, 84, who was thought to have dementia, was discovered lying naked and lifeless in a side room of the hospitals acute medical unit. Staff at Leicester Royal Infirmary are now under investigation over the tragedy the latest in a string of controversial deaths there in recent years. The alarm was raised when Mr Hurr, a former Rolls-Royce engineer, was found with a piece of fabric poking out of his mouth by his granddaughter, 23-year-old Charlotte Harrop, and her mother. Doctors rushed into the room and pulled the gown out of Mr Hurrs throat but found the grandfather-of-three had already choked to death. A source said: The doctors pulled the whole gown out of his mouth. They were appalled and asking the nurses, How was this allowed to happen? Douglas was frail and it would have taken a long time to take off the gown and stuff it down his throat. Mr Hurr, who was due to undergo tests for dementia and had a history of depression, is believed to have swallowed the gown himself. Nursing staff are now under investigation amid claims they failed to carry out regular recorded checks on Mr Hurr, who had attempted to harm himself repeatedly in recent months. The tragedy is the latest in a string of controversial deaths that have occurred at Leicester Royal Infirmary. In November, a Nigerian doctor and Portuguese nurse were both convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after the death of a disabled six-year-old boy who was wrongly labelled with a Do Not Resuscitate notice at the hospital. And administrators were forced to apologise for a catastrophic error after 100-year-old great-grandmother Lydia Spilner died of dehydration in 2012 when she was taken off her drip. After its latest inspection of the hospital in 2014, the Care Quality Commission rated it as requiring improvement. Mr Hurr was admitted to the hospital with a urinary infection on New Years Day from his care home in Leicester. The retired businessman had worked as a quality engineer for Rolls-Royce before setting up his own consultancy company. Mr Hurr, a ham radio enthusiast, had kept himself active into his 80s. He had a black belt in judo and was a martial arts instructor who ran his own classes in Leicestershire for many years. He also played the bagpipes for a local pipe band. The tragedy is the latest in a string of controversial deaths that have occurred at Leicester Royal Infirmary But his health deteriorated in the months before his death and he had been forced to leave his semi-detached home in the village of Cosby, in Leicestershire, and move into a care home. Neighbours on his street said he had seemed lonely following the death of his wife Doreen in 2010. The couple had been married since 1953. Mr Hurr wrote a moving death notice in his local newspaper following her death, in which he described her as my darling wife who left me with the sweetest memories I can ever hold. One neighbour said: He never recovered from his wifes death. He was lost without her. An inquest into Mr Hurrs death opened earlier this month at Leicester City and South Leicestershire Coroners Court and was adjourned to a later date. A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a death at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The patient died on Saturday, January 2. Inquiries continue. A spokesman for University Hospitals of Leicester, one of the biggest NHS trusts in the country, said: We would again like to send our condolences to the family. Pressure is building on David Cameron from Tory MPs to seize the moment and increase his demands in Britain's EU referendum negotiations with Brussels Europe's border-free travel zone could be suspended for two years amid a warning from the French prime minister that mass immigration could kill the entire EU project. Officials will meet on Monday to discuss suspending the Schengen Agreement ripping up one of the EUs most sacred rules. The tumult triggered demands from Tory MPs for David Cameron to seize the moment and increase his own demands in Britains EU referendum negotiations with Brussels. Eurosceptics said that, with borders being re-imposed across the continent, now was the time to demand Britain should be able to impose its own limits on free movement. On a day of drama in capitals across Europe: Mr Cameron admitted he could drop his demand for a four-year ban on migrant benefits if Europe offers an alternative; The Czech PM said Britain could be offered a so-called emergency brake instead, allowing temporary limits on EU workers; A poll showed the UKs referendum race remains neck and neck with stay on 52 per cent and leave on 48 per cent; EU figures showed a staggering 1.25million migrants arrived in Europe last year; Turkey promised German chancellor Angela Merkel it would do everything it could to stem the tide of migrants; The Slovenian PM warned there would be conflicts between EU member states unless the crisis was brought under control within weeks. Some 26 countries removed border controls between each other under Schengen, but this unravelled as the migrant crisis took hold. Yesterday, French PM Manuel Valls told the BBC: Its Europe that could die, not the Schengen area. If Europe cant protect its own borders, its the very idea of Europe that could be thrown into doubt. It could disappear, of course the European project, not Europe itself, not our values, but the concept we have of Europe, that the founding fathers had of Europe. Yes, that is in very grave danger. Thats why you need border guards, border controls on the external borders of the European Union. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S SACRED RULE: THE SCHENGEN AGREEMENT The agreement was signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, on June 14 1985 by five out of the 10 member states of the European Economic Community - Belgium, France, Holland, West Germany and Luxembourg. The Schengen Agreement allows people from member states to travel freely across the continent without a passport, as all 26 participating countries agreed not to impose border controls. The countries signed up to the agreement are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Britain and Ireland chose not to join the agreement, while Croatia and Cyprus are also not members. Bulgaria and Romania are in the process of joining up. Many refugees and migrants are exploiting the Schengen zone by moving freely through Europe to find countries that are more likely to grant them asylum. In response to the spiralling migrant crisis some countries have been bringing back temporary check points between each other to stem the flow of people and get back control of who crosses their borders. In November an emergency meeting of EU justice and interior ministers discussed the possibility of re-drawing the Schengen zone with leaders posing whether it could become smaller. Advertisement He appeared blame Angela Merkel for declaring Germany would welcome 1million migrants, adding: If you say anything in Europe today, a few seconds later it is on the smartphones of people in refugee camps near Libya. Nine nations have already requested temporary border controls, and yesterday it was revealed ministers are considering suspending the border-free zone for up to two years. In Amsterdam on Monday, interior ministers will for the first time look at invoking an emergency clause to bring back checks for a prolonged period if leaders agree that there are systemic deficiencies in the control of the borders. Influx: Migrants and refugees enter a registration camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border Migrants and refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey Tory MP Peter Bone said it was now clear people around Europe wanted control, adding: We should have complete control of our borders and be able to let in exactly who we want. I hope that David Cameron is hammering this argument home in Brussels. Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman said Mr Cameron was now in a very strong position to demand fundamental change. But, on a visit to Prague yesterday, the PM gave no indication he will be more ambitious as he seeks changes ahead of Britains in/out referendum. Kept out: A migrant is lowered down from a border fence by a Spanish Civil Guard at the border between Morocco and Spain's north African enclave of Melilla Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka played down the prospect of the UK securing a four-year ban on migrants claiming benefits from their arrival in the UK. Instead, Mr Cameron may have to rely on EU legislation which allows a temporary brake on migration if it is destabilising public services. Eastern European states with large numbers of citizens in the West are adamant they will not accept curbs on in-work benefits that are discriminatory against their nationals. Mr Cameron insisted the four-year proposal was still on the table, but said he would welcome alternatives. Upset: Turkey has promised German chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured) it would do everything it could to stem the tide of migrants It is the first time an EU leader has publicly suggested an emergency brake is on the table though it has been discussed behind closed doors for months. But Steve Baker, the Tory MP who chairs Conservatives for Britain, said: The British people want their government to be able to control numbers, not shut the gate when the horse has already bolted. Former prime minister Tony Blair yesterday warned the EU would face a huge political problem if terrorists were found to be entering Europe among the refugees. The latest survey for the Independent newspaper by ORB last night revealed 52 per cent believe Britain should stay in Europe a figure unchanged from last month. Up to 2.6million pensioners have been sold rip-off bank accounts that can cost them as much as 25 a month. A Money Mail investigation revealed that over-65s are routinely being signed up to accounts with features they cannot use or do not want. In many cases people over 70 are paying for travel insurance that does not cover them. In other cases, customers who are blind and unable to drive are being sold policies with breakdown cover. The hugely expensive deals are even being pushed on the disabled. Up to 2.6million pensioners have been sold rip-off bank accounts that can cost them as much as 25 a month, often charging them for services they don't need or can;t use. File image Estimates suggest banks are making at least 300 million a year from accounts sold to the elderly. Last night experts suggested the scandal would be the next PPI. So-called packaged current accounts offer perks such as insurance and better rates on loans or savings. Customers typically pay a monthly fee of between 5 and 25 for a combination of worldwide travel, mobile phone and car breakdown cover. The accounts are very profitable for banks and have been sold to just under 11million people. Research from consumer experts Mintel indicated that one in four of these customers roughly 2.6million people were over-65. However, experts say many of the deals the elderly have been sold contain catches that can invalidate the extras. The Financial Ombudsman Service forced banks to pay compensation in nearly 1,500 cases in the six months to September. It said one 73-year-old woman upgraded to an account with travel insurance. She was rushed to hospital while visiting her daughter in Australia but when she called her insurer, she was unable to claim for medical expenses because of her age. In another case, a pensioner who had a stroke and was unable to drive or go on holiday was billed 2,400 over eight years for an account with AA cover and travel insurance he could not use. So-called packaged current accounts offer perks such as insurance and better rates on loans or savings for a monthly fee of between 5 and 25, but many older people cannot use those services Experts fear huge numbers of pensioners have been pushed into buying packaged accounts through aggressive sales tactics. Complaints about the accounts to the disputes watchdog have rocketed to around 1,000 a week. The banks have already set aside 825million for paying customers who complain. Justin Modray, of financial website Candid Money, said: Banks who are mis-selling dud deals to the elderly are taking advantage of some of their most loyal customers. This is another example of banks putting profit before people. Often customers get very poor value for money. The scandal emerged after a major push to get people to switch banks was revealed to have flopped. Despite a high-profile advertising campaign, switching numbers dropped 10 per cent last year. In 2014, 1.15million switched. But last year the number who changed banks fell to 1.03million. A spokesman for the British Bankers Association said: Packaged accounts can offer convenience and great value, but its always a good idea to consider how many of the benefits will be directly of use to you particularly if your circumstances have changed. Hello [REDACTED], you don't know me but I know you very well. As you likely know, the Ashley MAdison website was hacked a little while back and in the process some personal information from tens of millions of their clients was compromised. As scary as that sounds, moste of their families will never find out. First, they would have to actively seek out the information. Second, the files containing the information are multiple gigabytes in size and are not all that convenient to access if you don't know how. There will be some spammers who shoot out mass threatening emails to those on the lists but they can safely be ignored. Only the unlucky few will draw the attention of a true blackmailer willing to actually research a target's family and acquaintences. Unfortunately, [REDACTED], you are one of the unlucky ones. Yes, I know about your secret, that you paid for services from a company that specializes in facilitating adultery. But what makes me a threat to you is that I have also spent several days getting to know about you, your family and others in your life. All you have to do in order to prevent me from using this information against you, [REDACTED], is to pay me $2000. And before you ignore this letter consider this: You received this via first class mail. It wasn't a spam email some Nigerian sent to thousands of people. That means I spent money on it. It means I took extensive counter-forensics measures to ensure the Postal Inspector would not be able to track it back to me via post marks or via prints and DNA. It means I paid cash for a printer that couldn't be traced back to me. I have spent considerable time and money on you, [REDACTED]. So if you decide to ignore me, you can be certain that I sure as hell won't ignore you. The last man to whom I sent a similar letter decided to ignore me. Perhaps he thought I was bluffing. Feel free to contact him yourself if you wish to verify my sincerity. His name is [REDACTED] and he is a [REDACTED]. Their website is [REDACTED]. His phone number, if he hasn't changed it yet from embarrassment, is [REDACTED]. He used his office address for his credit card billing address on Ashley Madison but I was still able to track down his residential address, at [REDACTED]. From there it was a simple matter to learn that he has a wife named [REDACTED] who works for a [REDACTED]. He has a lovely college-aged daughter named [REDACTED], though she goes by [REDACTED]. So here is what I did when [REDACTED] did not pay up by the deadline. I of course anonymously contacted his wife, [REDACTED], and told her about [REDACTED]'s membership on Ashley Madison and told her how to confirm it for herself. But I didn't stop there. I also contacted [REDACTED]'s work colleagues. I also contacted his daughter. And his daughter's boyfriend. And I contacted several of his superiors, peers, and subordinates at [REDACTED]. You see, [REDACTED], if you don't comply with my demand I am not just going to humiliate you, I am going to humiliate those close to you as well. Then there was another man to whom I gave the same letter and he chose to pay. I'll call him 'Mr. Wise.' No, that isn't his real name. I am not going to share any of his information with you or anyone else. Ever. You see, HIS secret is safe with me. And he will never hear from me again. So the only real question you need to ask yourself is whether you want me to treat you like [REDACTED] or like 'Mr. Wise.' That choice is completely yours. Tory high command was accused of presiding over a fresh stitch-up last night after it emerged pro-EU propaganda is being churned out by the partys own favourite print company. The supposedly independent Britain Stronger in Europe campaign is bombarding householders with leaflets claiming it would be a disaster if Britain quit the Brussels club. But it emerged that BSE had opted to use the same print company St Ives Plc that produced David Camerons election literature. 'Stitch-up': The supposedly independent Britain Stronger in Europe campaign is bombarding householders with leaflets claiming it would be a disaster if Britain quit the Brussels club, but printed by the same company that produced David Cameron's election literature. Pictured, Lord Rose launches the BSE campaign The Tories have spent 3.9million with the London-based company, which also produced Tory campaign material for the Scottish referendum. Insiders say the relationship between St Ives and the Tories is so close that they have a member of staff based inside Central Office. Eurosceptics said the revelation suggested the Tory Pary could be working in tandem with BSE, which is headed by Will Straw and backed by big business. This is despite a key promise that the Tory party machine will remain neutral during the EU referendum campaign. Leave campaigners claim the leaflet, delivered to millions of households from this week, is riddled with errors. It repeats highly contentious claims that EU membership is worth 3,000 a year to the average household and jobs would be at risk if we quit. Pro-EU: Eurosceptics said the revelation suggested the Tory Pary could be working in tandem with BSE, which is headed by Will Straw and backed by big business It estimated that the mailshot, being delivered by Royal Mail, would cost 1.5milliopn - underlining how the big money was on the side of the campaign to stay in the EU. Tory MP Steve Baker, of Conservatives for Britain, said: It is beginning to look like someone is cheating rules which the PM wisely established to avoid rancour in our party. A source in the Vote Leave camp said: The use of this printers looks particularly dodgy given the PMs insistence the party machinery should remain neutral. Yesterday, it also emerged that Tory Central Office had tried to gag Eurosceptic MPs from publicly lobbying their local party members to vote leave - unless a pro-EU supporter was lined up to disagree with them. In a letter sent to all the partys Association Officers, a senior Tory official warned that they would be breaching party rules if they allowed their local MP free reign to speak out against the EU at their annual general meeting. The letter from Director of Organisation Alan Mabbutt said that, if their MP planned to use the event to talk in favour of Brexit, the association must ensure that the opposite view is equally strongly advocated. Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh described the situation as ridiculous He added: It is clearly an absurd letter but I have to say that nobody is going to take a blind bit of notice. Eurosceptic sources also said some Tory MPs were coming under pressure to join the new Conservatives for Reform in Europe, which they claim is a front operation for Number Ten. The group, headed by ex-minister Nick Herbert, is trying to persuade as many Tory backbenchers as possible to commit to staying in the EU once the PMs negotiation is complete. MPs are being sent letters urging them to sign up. Mr Cameron yesterday made it clear that he will personally lead an aggressive campaign to keep Britain in the EU, once his renegotiation is finished. He said he expects voters to be sick of the sight of me on their television screens by the time of the in/out vote. A suburban Phoenix school district is taking disciplinary action after a photo of students spelling out a racial slur with T-shirts sparked outrage after surfacing on social media. Tempe Union High School District spokeswoman Jill Hanks said on Friday that the discipline process remains ongoing but six girls will be punished in accordance with district policies. Hanks says Desert Vista High School students were wearing shirts to spell out 'BEST*YOU'VE*EVER*SEEN*CLASS*OF*2016' for a senior class yearbook photo. A group of girls took their letter t-shirts to make them spell something offensive this week Class photo: Students were wearing shirts to spell out, 'best*you've*ever*seen*2016,' for their yearbook photos She says the girls in the photo went off on their own and used their shirts to spell out a racial slur, 'NI**ER' Someone shared the photo online, prompting calls to the principal. Hanks says officials are 'absolutely outraged and disappointed' and the students' actions do not represent the student body. Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio said he talked to the Phoenix Police Department and learned that the girls have been threatened, according to the Phoenix New Times. 'We will be sending a community action officer to the school to monitor the situation and to talk to the girls and their families,' DiCiccio wrote on Facebook. 'They made a bad mistake as many teenagers do in life. But, any threats against these young women is going to be taken very seriously...People just need to knock off the threats and leave this to school officials and their parents. Period.' Police showed up outside the school for extra safety after the post was viewed by hurt students online, according to ABC. 'The event that took place today at Desert Vista will not be tolerated,' Tempe Union Superintendent Kenneth Baca said. 'It is unacceptable for any racial slur to be used regardless of intent. We need to understand that words matter. I can assure you the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.' Safety measures: Police showed up outside the school for extra safety after the post was viewed by hurt students online More than 11 million British workers could be replaced by robots in the next two decades, a report claims. Consultancy Deloitte said that by 2036 a huge chunk of the British workforce would be automated. Shop assistants and other retail staff were named as the employees most at risk. Around 2.2million staff could go as automated high streets become the norm in towns and cities, according to the report. Staff in schools, hospitals and offices will also be affected. Future: Consultancy Deloitte said that by 2036 a huge chunk of the British workforce would be automated, with shop assistants and other retail staff were named as the employees most at risk (file image) Workers with low incomes are more likely to lose their jobs than higher-earners. The report said people earning less than 30,000 a year were five times more likely to be replaced than those with a six-figure salary. Angus Knowles-Cutler, vice chairman of Deloitte, said the march of the machines was already well underway and nothing could be done to stop it. You either adopt the technology or your economy suffers, he said. Its hard to resist these changes. In the last 15 years automation has steadily taken over roles traditionally filled by humans. Library assistants, fishermen, typists and bank clerks have all become rarer as they are replaced by computers and machinery. As the machines take over more manual roles, they are being serviced by a growing army of programmers and IT experts. Their ranks have swelled by 101,000 in the past 15 years. Although teachers were largely safe from the worst of the changes, Mr Knowles-Cutler said there were major risks to back-office staff in the education system. Around 247,000 people working in schools, colleges and universities could soon find themselves turfed out in favour of a computer. At risk: Library assistants, fishermen, typists and bank clerks have all become rarer as they are replaced by computers and machinery (file image) And 1.4million health and social work roles face the axe. Even the British countryside is not immune to these changes. Although farmers have staved off the threat of job losses by embracing technology, their efforts have seen the launch of self-driving tractors and tracking collars attached to sheep. Across the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry as a whole, 112,000 jobs could go. Meanwhile in San Francisco, home of the Silicon Valley tech hub, waiters are already being replaced by machines. The Eatsa fast-food restaurant asks customers to order food on a tablet and collect it themselves from a hatch. The trend is expected to become more common, with 1.1million accommodation and food services workers at risk, according to the report. Elsewhere, the number of care workers may have surged in the last 15 years - but Deloitte says dramatic changes lie ahead. Sensors to detect falls and alert staff could give the elderly more independence but may lead to a drop in the number of jobs on offer. A host of Japanese robotics companies are also vying to create robot companions for the old and lonely. By contrast, the biggest growth areas in jobs have been in areas where face-to-face interaction is vital. Such employees are much less likely to be replaced by robots. The number of fitness instructors has risen by 31,000 since 2001 a career Deloitte says has only a 10 per cent chance of automation. Beauticians are also increasingly popular and largely unthreatened, with numbers rising 57,000 and a 19 per cent chance of being automated. And despite the huge transformations predicted, mechanical GPs and teachers are unlikely to appear anytime soon. The more skilled, technical and well-paid positions are still expected to be filled by people. No one is safe: Even the British countryside is not immune to these changes. Although farmers have staved off the threat of job losses by embracing technology, their efforts have seen the launch of self-driving tractors and tracking collars attached to sheep (file image) Mr Knowles-Cutler said: Within the healthcare sector, the jobs that have really declined are typists and keyboard operators. It tends to be the support jobs, rather than the frontline jobs, that are really at risk. Deloitte says the job losses will be offset by new opportunities in high-tech, higher-skilled and higher-paid industries. Its figures suggest 800,000 British jobs were destroyed by technology in the last 15 years but 3.5million were created and on average, the new positions paid 10,000 more than the old ones. The firm hopes Britain will adapt well to the robotic onslaught, with fresh roles appearing as old ones die. Mr Knowles-Cutler said: The reality is that people will have three or four careers in their working life. Peoples careers are going to have to be more flexible. We need to focus on up-skilling. The report came as business leaders and politicians in Davos discussed robotics at the summit in the Swiss ski resort. A World Economic Forum survey of executives found almost half expect artificial intelligence machines to sit on companies boards within the next decade. Advertisement Photographs of an abandoned, derelict school have emerged after a photographer ventured into the neglected property to document it's decline. The Macquarie Boys High School in Sydney's west was closed in 2009, a result of falling enrolments and after accusations the Department of Education had let it 'bleed to death'. But the amount of damage done to the school in the past seven years makes it seem as if the property has been unused for much longer. The photographer who took the images goes by the title Lost Collective and posted the images to Facebook. He described how no room in the campus had been spared, and the entire site destroyed. Even as he was shooting photographs there were teenagers at the school throwing chairs through windows, which he said seemed ordinary. This panorama of the Macquarie Boys High School basketball court also shows an example of the graffiti present in many parts of the former school The school hall exhibits a large amount of graffiti on all of the walls. The photographer said it appeared to be actively used, shown by the swept up material on the floor and gymnastic equipment on the ground A teacher's office where someone has used a dry powder fire extinguisher. Footprints can be seen tracked through the white residue on the floor Large amounts of debris are visible in this room. Graffiti is present like in many parts of the school, and even the arms on the fans are damaged In one of the school's old science classrooms, these desks, complete with built-in sinks, seem to be relatively intact The school, which has a list of well-known former pupils including radio shock-jock Ray Hadley, Parramatta Mayor David Borger, was opened in 1957. In 2007, its eventual closure was announced as it had only 25 percent of its possible 800 pupils enrolled and its number of available subjects had decreased, The Daily Telegraph reported. Parents of pupils reportedly claimed the school suffered a lack of promotion and fundraising plans, which contributed to the declining roll. At the time, there were claims the government tried to sell the school, which could have fetched more than $10 million, the Telegraph reported. The photographer said they were amazed that the stools on these desks were left as they were the last time the class had packed up When standing this room, the photographer said you almost got the feeling the school had not been left that long ago Former pupils commenting on this picture on Facebook believed this room was the former library of the school This image shows a black and white tiled floor in the school's old music block. One Facebook user saw this image and said he had been caned by a teacher in the same building Among the graffiti scrawled on this blackboard is what appears to be notes left over from an old class - and even a date written in the top left corner Lying among other debris in one of the school's many buildings, an old ball slowly rots away The Parramatta Sun reported that parents and pupils were once told the school would be leased to the University of Western Sydney. However, last year a spokesperson for New South Wales education minister Adrian Piccoli said university decided against the lease. The spokesperson also confirmed the school would be sold as it was 'surplus to educational requirements'. It was not known what the funds from the sale would be used for, the Sun reported. After news of the intended sale was announced, the NSW government was urged to reopen the school, as increasing populations in Sydney's western suburbs were putting pressure on enrolments elsewhere. People commenting on the photographs of the wrecked school on Facebook included many past pupils, who recalled their time at the school and the buildings photographs. Other people expressed their dismay at the condition of the school and frustration at its fate. Among the hundreds of comments the photos attracted were people discussing former classmates and teachers. One person, James Connell, remembered being the last pupil in the mechanic's workshop before it was closed for good. Linda Hayes said her husband and brothers all attended the school, and said it was a shame how much history - like honour shields - had been left behind. Ben Jennar suggested that sites such as the school should be leased cheaply to charitable groups to be used as shelters, education and treatment facilities. A website called Photography Hotspots , dedicated to 'helping people... find the best locations to take photographs anywhere within Australia' describes the school as attractive to anyone 'into urban exploration and enjoy ruin porn and urban decay', from a photography perspective. But also warns anyone on the property is trespassing and may be prosecuted if caught. It says anyone visiting the school should not go alone as 'it is a hotspot for teens that engage in all forms of anti-social behaviour'. Storage drawers for items once used in electronics classes sit open, as if they have been ransacked and their contents taken The gas taps in this room appear to have survived. One former pupil recalled how he and other students would light the gas directly from the taps This image shows where nature is starting to reclaim parts of the school, as plants regrow over courts, pathways and buildings A solitary flower stands out against a blurry background. The photographer said the concrete behind was littered with smashed glass and other debris An abandoned science class showing signs of damage and vandalism, as well as windows boarded up with plywood Wheat hangs in this room, silhouetted against a dark background. The photographer said the room appeared to be an old chemistry class Items left behind in an old chemistry classroom included containers with small amounts of chemicals left in them An old first aid kit and a stack of school photographs in a corner are all that is left on the shelves of this room Another of the school's many overgrown pathways shows how nature is slowly over-running the property as plants grow A sink is covered by a pile of school work and notes in this derelict room There is even a burnt out, graffiti-ed car lying in the school grounds, among an overgrown field of grass The school's old darkroom, with holes in the walls and equipment knocked over. A former pupil recalled hiding in the room to avoid attending classes A telephone, a vice and a box labelled 'animal fossils' sit on the bench of this room among what appears to be smashed glass A hallway behind the science classrooms at the school is littered with debris, chairs and a door that has been taken off its hinges There are also people who are looking for blizzard hookups on CraigsList People are posting photos of the boys across weather maps, dressed as Elsa in Frozen or rocking some of their unique early-aughts outfits Most memes feature The Jonas Brothers however - Joe, Kevin and Nick one that lets people know how much wine they will need based on predicted snowfall There have also been countless memes, Many parts of the Eastern United States are getting battered by Winter Storm Jonas, but some people are trying to find a little humor in the first big snowfall of the year. In Kentucky, Amy Saxon White posted a video on her Facebook showing a remarkable sight - a dinosaur shoveling snow. Lest anyone be alarmed, the dinosaur turned out to be her husband in a costume. And on social media, countless memes have popped up including one that uses the predicted snowfall in areas as a chart for how much wine an individual needs, ranging from one bottle to a 15 cases. Most memes however are focusing on the obvious choice for this weather event - The Jonas Brothers. Scroll down for video Boy band: Winter Storm Jonas is hitting the Eastern United States and some are trying to find humor in the blizzard Win: In Kentucky, Amy Saxon White posted a video of her husband shoveling snow in a dinosaur costume Drink up: There have also been countless memes, including one that lets people know how much wine they will need based on predicted snowfall Cool shades: Most memes feature The Jonas Brothers however - Joe, Kevin and Nick Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas are more popular than ever this week despite the fact that their family band split over two years ago thanks to the storm, with users posting photos of the boys across weather maps, dressed as Elsa in Frozen or rocking some of their unique early-aughts outfits and hair styles. Most photos are not of the three boys however but rather of Nick, showcasing the youngest brother's smoldering good looks and toned torso while adding quotes such as; 'I'm coming. How many inches do you want?' and 'Winter Storm Jonas is coming. Don't get jealous. There's enough of me to go around.' Nick also wrote about the storm on Twitter, saying; 'So... Winter storm JONAS is coming. This is awkward.' Ahead of the pack: Most photos are not of the three boys however but rather of Nick, showcasing the youngest brother's smoldering good looks and toned torso Snow doesn't bother: People are posting photos of the boys across weather maps, dressed as Elsa in Frozen or rocking some of their unique early-aughts outfits Joker: Nick also wrote about the storm on Twitter, saying; 'So... Winter storm JONAS is coming. This is awkward.' Real life: Other memes find truth in their humor, with some suggesting the snow day is the perfect opportunity to binge watch on Netflix It's brutal out: This Twitter user compared shoveling in the freezing cold to the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Revenant, where he treks across the uncharted wilderness in horrifying conditions The blizzard also has some people thinking about romance, and a few have taken to Craigslist hoping they can get lucky while stuck in their home or apartment over the weekend. In New York City these snowstorm shenanigans are nothing new, popping up with every major storm, but some of the ads are still surprisingly shocking. One nice heterosexual 48-year-old man in Queens wrote; 'I am looking for someone who is willing to meet during the bad weather. I would love to maybe have a snow ball fight or just walk in show follow by hot chocolate then cuddling and watching Netflix.' In Manhattan 'Blizzard Slave,' a heterosexual 35-year-old man said; 'Would you like someone to serve you while you are stuck inside this weekend because of the blizzard. 'SWM would be at your service. I can cook, clean, massage and do whatever is needed to make your weekend more enjoyable.' Lastly there is a gay 50-year-old man in Long Island who is looking for a quick, and specific, encounter. counselling to the students and leaders at the camp A young pastor and father has been killed by lightning during a freak storm at a church camp. Kris Guglielmucci, 39, from Adelaide, was struck and killed by lightning at Cornerstone College oval as a wild storm battered the city just after 2:30pm on Friday, reports The Advertiser. The father of four has been honoured in a touching tribute from the Victory Church, which is offering counselling to the 100 high school students and 20 leaders who attended the camp. Scroll down for video Kris Guglielmucci was working at a church camp when he was fatally struck by a bolt of lightning 'Kris was a much loved member of our staff and church and our hearts go out to Lisa and the children during this time,' the statement reads. 'Our priority now is to care for the children who attended Summerfest, the amazing youth leaders of Victory Youth and our church family.' A 19-year-old female church member who was at the scene rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious leg injuries. Churchgoers voiced their grief at the ordeal and said they were struggling to come to terms with their loss. The pastor and father of four has been honoured in a touching tribute from the Victory Church The camp at at Cornerstone College oval (pictured) has been deserted in the wake of the freak accident The church is offering counselling to the 100 high school students and 20 leaders who were at the camp 'It's a bit of a rough night there are a lot of family and friends that have just found out,' said one. The college's oval, which was dotted with children's pools, water balloons and slippery slides, was abandoned on Friday as police investigated the accident. The son of Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr has said that his father's beheading was terrible, but inevitable. Mohammed al-Nimr, who lives in Indiana, said his father had concerned Saudi Arabia's rulers as he exposed human rights abuses in the nation. Saudi Arabian officials announced on January 2 that the nation had executed Sheik Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other prisoners in a mass killing that caused global uproar. 'He spoke loudly about their tyranny. So they killed him,' Mohammed al-Nimr told CNN. The 28-year-old said he is not religious like his father, but still considers himself a believer. Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr's son Mohammed al-Nimr said he was proud of his father for exposing human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr was executed alongside 46 other prisoners in Saudi Arabia on January 2 'We are so proud of him, and we are not going to be intimidated or stop asking for freedom. My father stood peacefully for the lives of all people,' he added. Al-Nimr's execution has sparked fierce criticism from Shiite communities in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Indian-controlled Kashmir. The Saudi government said in a statement that the prisoners received fair trials and that the executions were carried out in the interest of national security. But Mohammed al-Nimr and other critics saw the cleric's killing as a way crushing opposing opinions of the nation's strict following of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism. Shiites only count for about 2million of the 18million Saudis and many say the have been marginalized by the nation. Mohammed al-Nimr said he remembers a time he and his family were not allowed to pray while on their way to Mecca. 'If we traveled outside Eastern Province, we were scared,' he told CNN. 'We were treated like criminals. We were infidels to them.' He said he doesn't see a wide difference between the Saudi regime and ISIS. Nearly 1000 members of the Muslim-American community from New York, Illinois and Michigan rallied in Times Square against the Saudi Arabian government's recent execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and 46 others, the recent massacre in Zaria, Nigeria and the pending execution of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzay Zaheer Naqvi (center), a visiting imam from California, addresses the crowd at Times Square on Sunday in New York City 'It's not about Shia or Sunni. It's about tyranny,' he told CNN. 'They are using religion to gain influence in the region. 'ISIS is the same exact picture. It's the same tree. In Saudi Arabia, the tree is trimmed because they have money. 'So they have a better image. But if you compare them, they do the same thing. They have the same ideology.' Mohammed al-Nimr moved to the United States five years ago and pursued his education - he recently earned a degree in mechanical engineering. But in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, his father continued to fight for equal rights for Shiites and other religious minorities in the country. Mohammed al-Nimr said his father spent a decade studying in Iran and Syria. 'He always had good advice for me,' Mohammed al-Nimr told CNN. 'On how to improve myself. How to be good to others. How to make positive change.' Nimr al-Nimr first made headlines in the early 2000s, when in 2003 he was detained after leading public prayers. In 2007, he sent a petition demanding economic and political freedoms to the government. 'Our dignity is more precious than the unity of this land,' he said in a 2009 sermon. Al-Nimr was the driving force behind the protests which broke out in the east of the country in 2011, where the Shiite minority claims they are fiercely persecuted. A group of Muslim men among the participants of the Times Square rally hold prayers during Sunday's rally Demonstrators hold signs during the rally in support of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzay The last time Mohammed al-Nimr saw his father was on a prison visit in the summer of 2014. Al-Nimr was detained in 2012 after he was seen on film celebrating the death of a Saudi royal. He said his father told him at the meeting that nothing would happen unless God wanted it to happen. But he sensed that everyone in the room saw death as inevitable. 'He knew they would kill him,' his son told CNN. 'He was steadfast that he would not change his statements; he would not acquiesce to them even at the threat of death. He was not afraid.' Three weeks after his al-Nimr's execution, the family is still waiting to bury him. 'We don't know what happened to my father because they never returned the body,' his son said. 'They should return him so his aunt, his brother, his mother can have a proper burial for him and have the chance to say goodbye.' Mohammed al-Nimr told CNN that he hopes to spread his father's message as the Middle East continues to be torn apart by violence. 'My father used to tell people that the roar of the word is mightier than the sound of bullets,' he said, adding that his father has become a martyr in the fight for peace. He told NPR last week that he's 'proud' of his father's actions. 'We tried to make our sound heard in the world for like more than 100 years right now,' he said. 'But by his action, what he did made the whole world see what kind of government is Saudi Arabia government. They can't face words, so they kill people.' Fearing Hillary Clinton will lose Iowa to Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Party has launched a blitz for Clinton to woo the statewith the help of some Hollywood stars. Among Hollywood's Clinton supporters were Scandal star Tony Goldwyn and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who will be traveling across Iowa over the weekend to rally support for Clinton, according to the Washington Post. With the Iowa caucus a little more than a week away, the state, which has the first say in the nomination of presidential contenders, is becoming an even battlefield among Clinton and Sanders. Scroll down for video As her campaign machinery grinds in Iowa, Hillary Clinton speaks at Hillside town hall meeting in Manchester, New Hampshire on Friday In recent polls by Loras College, Monmouth College, and Emerson College, Clinton averaged about 52 percent, while Sanders averaged around 37 percent. On the other hand, a CNN poll published Thursday had Sanders at 51 percent, beating Clinton by a margin of eight percent in the critical Iowa caucus. 'She's not doing it as well as we'd like yet, but she will. She can reach people equally by telling their stories and talking about how she's going to fix them. I'm convinced she can,' Clinton supporter and Ohio senator Sherrod Brown told the Post. Actors Tony Goldwyn, left, and Jamie Lee Curtis, right, will be traveling Iowa over the weekend to support Hillary Clinton Some recent polls show Democratic contender Bernie Sanders catching up on Hillary Clinton in Iowa He and other Democratic Party figures, including former Party chairman and Virginia senator Timothy Kaine, are currently rallying support for Clinton in Iowa. So are progressive organizations like the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the National Education Association, which according to the Post are revving up efforts to boost Clinton by knocking doors and making phone calls. Perhaps Clinton is stepping up her campaign in Iowa with her embarrassing loss eight years ago in mind. In 2008, Clinton lost Iowa not only to eventual president Barack Obama, but also to another Democratic contender, North Carolina senator John Edwards. But the former secretary of state says her campaign is stronger this time around. 'I feel very positive about the organization we've built, the enthusiasm and energy of the people who are literally showing up in below-freezing temperatures to canvass for me,' Clinton told NPR in an interview Wednesday. 'My precinct captains, my precinct teams are really all so focused on doing well in the caucus.' But the race for Iowa is going to be anything but easy, Clinton admitted. 'We're going to have to work hard, though. I always thought that would be the case,' Clinton told NPR. Julie Delpy is the latest actor to comment on the lack of diversity among this year's Oscar nominees saying that in her opinion it is still harder to be a woman in the film industry. Appearing at the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of her new film Weiner-Dog, Delpy told The Wrap; 'Two years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by the media.' She then added; 'Its funny - women cant talk. I sometimes wish I were African American because people dont bash them afterward.' Scroll down for video Thoughts: Julie Delpy (above) said in an interview at the Sundance Film Festival that it is harder being a woman than African American in Hollywood Party: Delpy has twice been nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for her work on Before Sunset and Before Midnight (above with fellow nominees Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater in 2014) Friends: She also wrote, directed, produced and starred in 2 Days in New York, acting alongside Chris Rock (above in 2012) who is hosting this year's awards Delpy went on to say; 'Its the hardest to be a woman. Feminists is something people hate above all. Nothing worse than being a woman in this business. I really believe that.' She also noted how hard it is to get films made as a woman. Delpy made the comment while speaking on a panel alongside her Weiner-Dog cast mates Danny DeVito and Kieran Culkin as well as director Todd Solondz, and at one point Culkin could be seen cringing and putting his head in his hands as Delpy answered the question. DeVito tried to help Delpy out a bit, saying; 'Its unfortunate that were xenophobic, its unfortunate that women make 30 percent less than men in various times. 'I just found out happens in the film business. women are hired for less money than men.' The comment Delpy was referencing that previously got her in trouble was made in 2014, when she said of the Academy in an interview with So Film; 'It's 90 percent white men over 70 who need money because they haven't done anything in a long time. 'You just need to give them two or three presents and they're in your pocket. It doesn't mean anything to me, so I don't really care if there are women in the selection process.' Delpy, who has twice been nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her work on Before Sunset and Before Midnight, has also worked as a director and producer in the industry, most recently on the 2012 film 2 Days in New York. On that film, which she also wrote and starred in, she acted opposite a man who will be front and center at next month's Academy Awards and may take issue with her comments - Chris Rock. Rough day: Her comments came on the same day another critical darling, Charlotte Rampling, was criticized for making a tone-def statement about race Very upset: Chelsea Clinton attacked Rampling for her comments on twitter The French-born actress' surprisingly tone-def statement came on the same day Charlotte Rampling was also criticized for comments she made about the Academy Awards. Rampling, a Best Actress nominee this year for her work in 45 Years, said of the proposed Oscar boycott in an interview with Europe 1 Radio in Paris; 'Its anti-white racism. Maybe black actors dont deserve to be on the final stretch?' She then added; Why classify people? They feel like a minority, they think: Were the black actors and there are not enough of us. Rampling later issued a statement to CBS Sunday Morning about her comments, saying; 'I regret that my comments could have been misinterpreted this week in my interview with Europe 1 Radio. 'I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration. I am very honored to be included in this years wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses.' Many have come out attacking the two women, most notably Chelsea Clinton who called Rampling's comments 'outrageous, ignorant and offensive.' Critics and those in the film industry however have said little to nothing about the comments made by the two women, who have long been critical darlings for their surprising and nuanced film work though never box-office heavyweights. Rampling, 69, made her name in films such as Georgy Girl and The Night Porter before going on to receive raves for her performances in films including Under the Sand and Swimming Pool, but has never been nominated for an Academy Award before this year. Her biggest competition in that category comes from two young actresses - 26-year-old Room star Brie Larson and Saoirse Ronan, who at just 21 years of age has received her second Oscar nomination for Brooklyn. Delpy, 46, drew international acclaim for her work in the French film Three Colors: Blue in her twenties and went on to star in a series of both big budget and independent films, but is best known stateside for her work opposite Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy. Despite being heralded as one of the best actor's of her generation, she has never been nominated for an Oscar for acting. Look-alikes: This years 20 Academy Award nominees for acting are all white Exception: There is one bright young non-white star who did receive a nomination, The Weeknd (above in december) who is nominated for Best Original Song As for the Oscar diversity issue which drew both women into making these controversial comments, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced on Friday a plan to diversify the membership moving forward. 'The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,' said Boone Isaacs. 'These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.' In a statement, the Academy said that the 'goal is to commit to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020.' The plan on doing this by inviting more diverse members to join and ending the memberships of any individuals who have not been active in the industry for over a period of 10 years. Delpy was invited to join the writing branch of the Academy in 2013 as a result of her previous nominations while Rampling will likely be asked to join the acting branch later this year. Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee led the charge in calling for a boycott of this year's Oscars following a complete absence of non-white nominees in the acting categories. Jada's husband Will Smith later said he too would be boycotting the ceremony. Films including Creed and Straight Outta Compton did receive recognition at this year's awards, but for their white star and white writers respectively. There is one bright young non-white star who did receive a nomination however this year who no one seems to be talking about - Abel Tesfaye. The 25-year-old Canadian, who is of Ethiopian decent, has been nominated for Best Original Song for his work on Earned It which appeared on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. It was a surprising nod for the pop star who is better known by his stage name, The Weeknd. As the State Department asked for an extension to publish the last of Hillary Clinton's emails, it's been revealed that at least one of them found on her private server contained extremely sensitive information. According to Fox News, an intelligence agency has identified the email as 'HCS-O', which is the code used to report on human intelligence sources in ongoing operations. A January 14 letter sent to Congress by the intelligence community's inspector general advises the Oversight committees that Special Access Program (SAP), which is intelligence beyond top secret, was identified in Clinton's emails, Fox News reported. In addition, sources told the television network that documents from the affected agencies that owned the information and have final approval on classification were also found. As the State Department asked for an extension to publish the last of Hillary Clinton's emails, it's been revealed that at least one of them found on her private server contained extremely sensitive information An intelligence agency has identified the email as 'HCS-O', which is the code used to report on human intelligence sources in ongoing operations, according to Fox News The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a December 2013 policy document that read: '[This designation] is used to protect exceptionally fragile and unique IC (intelligence community) clandestine HUMINT operations and methods that are not intended for dissemination outside of the originating agency.' It's unclear if the information contained in the former secretary of state's emails also revealed who the human source was, their affiliation or nationality, Fox News reported. Dan Maguire, former Special Operations strategic planner for Africom, told Fox News 'the disclosure of sensitive material impacts national security and exposes U.S. sources.' 'There are people's lives at stake. Certainly in an intel SAP, if you're talking about sources and methods, there may be one person in the world that would have access to the type of information contained in that SAP,' he told Fox News. 'It's pretty tough to have SAP program material out in the public domain. I mean, it's a huge foul if that occurs.' The State Department asked a federal court Friday for a one-month extension to publish the last of Clinton's emails during her time as secretary of state, citing a complex review of some messages across different agencies of the government. Dan Maguire, former Special Operations strategic planner for Africom, told Fox News 'the disclosure of sensitive material impacts national security and exposes U.S. sources' The State Department asked a federal court Friday for a one-month extension to publish the last of Clinton's emails during her time as secretary of state, citing a complex review of some messages across different agencies of the government State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the department wouldn't be able to meet its court-mandated goal of January 29. About 9,400 of 55,000 pages are left, but Toner said those remaining 'contain a large amount of material that required interagency review.' The department will make public as many as possible next week, he said, but is asking for the final deadline to be pushed back until February 29. 'State Department staff have been working extremely hard to process these emails, and we are committed to getting them out,' Toner said. 'The court's goal for this month's production represented the largest number of pages to date. The remaining emails are also the most complex to process.' Some of the most contentious emails haven't yet been published. They include two that an intelligence community auditor says are 'top secret' and others he claims are even more sensitive, containing information from so-called special access programs. Such programs suggest the emails could reveal details about intelligence sources. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the department wouldn't be able to meet its court-mandated goal of January 29 The State Department says no emails published so far contained material with 'top secret' information or any material that was marked classified at the time. The issue has nagged at Clinton's presidential campaign, with the FBI said to be examining in some capacity. Toner said the delay in publication isn't the result of 'ongoing discussion about classification' that has been made public recently. He said he couldn't comment further on ongoing litigation. Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for the 2016 nomination, exclusively used a private email account and a home server during her time in government. She said this was a decision made out of convenience and has denied doing anything wrong. An extension would push the complete publication of Clinton's emails past several of the earliest primary contests, including the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire. If they come out instead on February 29, it would be a day before the critical Super Tuesday primaries. The terrifying moment Phil Benjamin watched his baby girl stop breathing after a horrific car accident still haunts him three years on. Mr Benjamin, 34, from Queenslands Gold Coast, was heading to Sydney with his wife and two young children on December 21, 2012, who were only was only on the road for about 15 minutes before their car was hit by a truck on the M1 motorway. The crash left then two-year-old Olivia Benjamin with life-threatening injuries and a long and painful recovery. Olivia Benjamin (pictured) was two-years-old when she was involved in the car accident The truck driver, Christopher John Frank, was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm - a serious crime with a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison. But a magistrate this week downgraded that charge to one of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle - a lesser charge for which the maximum penalty is a prison sentence of three years. The decision by Magistrate John Costanzo at Southport Court has further devastated the family. We were driving along the highway, going about 50 kilometres an hour when the truck ran into the back of us, Mr Benjamin told Daily Mail Australia. The little girl who is now five suffered from a fractured skull and collapsed lung after the incident Her father Phil (pictured) is frustrated with the legal system, and has spoken out after the truck driver responsible for the accident received a down-graded charge on Thursday I looked at my wife and I said what the hell was that and then we were hit again, I saw what was going on and thought if I dont get out of the way this truck is going to go straight over the top of us, and kill us all. Mr Benjamin is angry about the courts decision to reduce the charge. If a truck driver can make the conscious decision to put his 44 tonne truck into the back of a passenger vehicle rather than taking it off the road, and a two-year-old can basically be dead and he is only going to get a slap on the wrist than there is something wrong with our legal system, he said. The court ruled that Olivia's injuries caused by the accident were not life-threatening Mr Benjamin says if his family were not in a 4WD (pictured) at the time of the accident the truck would have gone straight over the top of them. Mrs Benjamin tries not to focus on the legal battle because it is too hard to re-live the accident over again The father remembers the whole incident clearly, from the moment they were first hit to the hours spent in hospital by their infant daughters side. I dont know how I did it but I managed to get the car to the grass flail on the side of the road, but the truck driver must have realised that if he didnt get off the road he was going to go over the top of the other cars, so he came too, and thats when we were side swiped. The force of the impact snapped my seat, and Olivia was pinned behind it. I broke it free so I could get her out. There was blood coming from her mouth, her face was swelling and she was screaming mummy, mummy. Mr Benjamin says he still sees images of the accident, and his life-less daughter every day We almost lost her to cardiac arrest when she was eight months old so as I held her all I could think was not again. It was the second time in her short life I thought I was going to lose her. Mr Benjamin, his wife Amanda, now 34, and their second daughter Emily, now three, only suffered superficial wounds following the accident. But the story for Olivia couldnt have been any more different. She started having seizures at the hospital. I really thought she was going to lose her life. The third seizure she had lasted about ten minutes. She turned blue and stopped breathing, thats when she was rushed into the resuscitation room. He says it is the second time he has thought he would lose her in her first two years I just remember standing at the door watching in disbelief as the doctors worked on her. She was incubated after the seizure where she stopped breathing, a drain was inserted because she had blood on her lung, then they had to inflate her lung. The whole time a machine was breathing for her. The family were allowed to go home on Christmas Day, but had to have eyes on Olivia 24 hours a day for seven weeks after the accident. Mr Benjamin still wakes up at night, with visions of his little girl in hospital, dying, and when panic sets in he goes to her room to watch her sleep, and as she takes peaceful breaths he is brought back from the nightmare into reality. I see her blue, lying in a hospital bed. I have photos but I dont look at them because what I have seen can never be forgotten. He remembers pulling her out of the car, watching her face swell and blood come from her mouth as she screamed for her mother He admits how weak he felt in the moments following the accident. I called my mum and dad because they lived around the corner, he said. I am a grown man, I am a father but it was a cry for help. Since then he has regained his strength and been following the case with interest, but his wife Amanda has lost hope as the legal process drags into 2016. She (Amanda) doesnt want to keep re-living the accident in court, she doesnt see the point, because it has been dragging on for so long. He says he wants closure for what happened to his daughter (pictured here with Emily-middle, three, who was also involved in the crash and Sophie, 22 months) I just try not to think about the time, if it takes me 20 years I dont care, he (the truck driver) needs to be held accountable, the police who investigated need to be held accountable and the courts need to do their jobs. Mr Benjamin says getting the police to investigate the accident was a struggle. I had to push and push and push and push to even progress the case, he said. He says watching the investigation, and court process has left him angry and frustrated. I am amazed with just how flawed the system is. The court system, the Department of Public Prosecution and the Queensland Police have absolutely let us down. It is frustrating that another year has gone by and nothing has happened, and we have been told the hearing for his downgraded charge might not be for another year. I just want the courts and the police to do their job, I want him to be made accountable for what he has done to my daughter, my family. It is not known if the accident will cause any problems for Olivia down the track. This photo shows the toddler two weeks before the accident The Gold Coast Bulletin reported on last Thursdays court sitting which saw Franks charges down graded. Dr Richard Kenworthy was called as an expert and told the court that a fractured skull was not considered life-threatening. He said that it wasnt likely the injuries sustained by the little girl would be permanent, or threaten her life, even though the associated seizures and unconsciousness could. 'I dont think I can say that if she hadnt been brought to the hospital, she would not have had ongoing problems,' he told the court. Defence barrister, Christopher Wilson argued that doctors could not be certain the collapsed lung was caused during the accident, or if it was caused by medical intervention. Magistrate John Costanzo found the prosecution would not be able to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, the injury was caused by the drivers actions to a jury. He then ordered Frank to stand trial for the lesser charge. 'I had an awful feeling that was going to be the case but Id hoped that it wasnt,' Mr Benjamin said. 'Ive just lost all faith in the system.' Nine human skulls and other possible human and animal bones were found in a Los Angeles County store that sells Santeria products on Friday. Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt Steve Katz says deputies responded to the Compton business Friday after a woman complained of animal cruelty. When investigators arrived, Katz says they found a skull inside a pot. He says the coroner's office collected the skull and eight other pots that may also contain skulls. Scroll down for video A botanica called Omi Relekun was closed in Compton, California, on Friday after deputies discovered nine human skulls in the store LA County sheriffis Capt. Steve Katz says deputies responded to the shop that sells spiritual items after a woman complained of animal cruelty Los Angeles County coroner investigators were collecting items from the Compton store on N Long Beach Boulevard on Friday after the discovery. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is now looking into if the bones were 'legally possessed skeletal specimens', KTLA reported. Anthropologists and pathologists are expected to examine the bones, which could lead to an identification of origin, according to KABC. Katz said there's no evidence of a homicide and that it appears the skull may have been purchased from a legal source and was being used for a religious ceremony. Officials said there's no evidence of a homicide and that it appears the skull may have been purchased from a legal source and was being used for a religious ceremony. Pictured above is symbols on the store's front He said that it's unclear whether animal remains were found. The sign outside the store reads 'Omi Relekun' and describes itself in Spanish as a spiritual store and school. The store sells products related to Santeria, which is an Afro-Caribbean religion that mixes Roman Catholicism with a traditional African faith. Scholars say it was imported to Cuba through slaves brought from the Nigeria's Yoruba tribe. It is now widely practiced in the Caribbean. The investigation is ongoing and the sheriff's department provided no further details. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Wind farms should be built on the sides of Britain's motorways and not in unspoiled rural areas in order to reduce the impact on the landscape and generate less opposition, according to Baroness Brown, the UK's green energy ambassador. The country's 2,300-mile motorway network is an 'ideal location' for wind turbines because they are already unattractive and very few people live alongside them, Baroness Brown, also known as Professor Julia King, argued. 'You don't really want to live beside a motorway it's not good for you and it's noisy. I do a lot of driving up the east side of the country and I wonder why we don't line the sides of our motorways with wind turbines,' she said in an interview with The Independent. Wind turbines of Scout Moor windfarm, near Ramsbottom, Manchester. Baroness Brown has proposed to build wind turbines along Britain's motorway because very few people live there Baroness Brown, who is an independent peer in the House of Lords, added that 'it is harder to object to the impact on the landscape when you are beside a major road'. Britain has invested 1.25 billion in wind power, which is now the country's biggest renewable energy source. However, the Tories have vowed to 'halt the spread' of wind turbines by preventing wind farms from being 'imposed on communities without consultation or public support'. In its election manifesto, the Government pledged to stop 'the spread of onshore wind farms' and made it increasingly difficult for wind turbines to be built despite them being the cheapest of all electricity sources. Last year, the GMB union claimed that wind turbines produced just 10 per cent of their energy capacity on 12 days during the three months from October 1 to December 21. It said its 'wind watch' figures demonstrated that Britain could not rely on renewable energy and needed nuclear or gas-powdered plants to ensure its supply. A wind shortage in November forced the National Grid to use new 'last resort' measures to keep the lights on in homes across the country In late November, dozens of wind turbines had to be switched off due to safety concerns when Storm Barney hit Britain. Nonetheless, Baroness Brown believes the Government 'should be encouraging onshore wind'. 'It's clearly a very good technology and it's cheap. So it's very disappointing we haven't got stronger government support we're shooting ourselves in the foot,' said Baroness Brown, who sits on the board of the Green Investment Bank. Experts have warned that many parts of the motorway are just not windy enough to power turbines. Among the stretches that could provide scope for wind farms is the 152-turbine Clyde array on either side of the M74 near the Lanarkshire village of Abington and the 11-turbine Swinford complex by the M1 in Leicestershire. Baroness Brown's proposal was backed by Chris Huhne, who was Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary from 2010 to 2012. He told The Independent that the he supported the idea during his time as Secretary and still believes wind farms offer 'considerable potential'. He's tweeted about loving Shrek, rubber ducks and taking the odd 'goat selfie', and now Gerry Adams is publishing a book of his strangest posts in a bizarre attempt to show off his softer side. All the tweets in the compact book have been 'selected by the man himself', according to the Sinn Finn bookshop, and have been described as 'bizarre, weird and as part of a clever strategy'. Titled My Little Book of Tweets, the release is expected to be published by the end of January and priced at 6.88. Gift wrapping options are available. Odd: He's tweeted about loving Shrek, rubber ducks and the occasional selfie with a goat (pictured), and now Gerry Adams is to publish a book of his finest and strangest posts in an effort to showcase his softer side The tweets in the compact book have been 'selected by the man himself', according to the Sinn Finn bookshop, and have been described as 'as part of a clever strategy'. Pictured are some of his most memorable posts It is aimed at showing 'the lighter side' of the Sinn Fein president's personality, and 'allows the reader some insight into his private life', according to the blurb. Mr Adams has gathered close to 100,000 Twitter followers with his odd outbursts, talking fondly of his two teddy bears as well as sharing how much he enjoys children's films featuring a green ogre. He once tweeted that the teddy bears, named Ted and Tom, were in a same-sex relationship and got engaged in 2013. In the book's blurb, it states: 'Gerry Adams is a well known public figure and his tweets range across the political and the personal, the serious and the humorous, often featuring rubber ducks and teddy bears! 'This little books shows the lighter side of his personality and allows the reader some insight into his private life. On his teddy bears, Mr Adams tweeted: 'Yes ted&tom r same sex couple.But thats their business.And not the issue. RG still sez they r 2 young.Hopefully it will b ok.Codladh samh x' He later announced their engagement 'The inevitable "selfies" are included showing that many years experience of politics have taught him not to take himself too seriously!' It is unclear which of Mr Adams' tweets and selfies have made it into his new book, but among the more memorable was a post in April which read: 'I was born with a beard. Gave up shaving when I was 3 years old.' Other tweets included one that read, 'My favourite rapper is meself', while another in November 2014 stated: 'I am not & I never have been a member of Isis.' On his teddy bears, Mr Adams tweeted: 'Yes ted&tom r same sex couple.But thats their business.And not the issue. RG still sez they r 2 young.Hopefully it will b ok.Codladh samh x' Last September it was revealed that Mr Adams (left) would not be prosecuted in connection with the IRA murder of Belfast mother-of-ten Jean McConville (right) Bizarre: Titled My Little Book of Tweets, the release is expected to be published by the end of January and priced at 6.88. Gift wrapping options are available. It features Mr Adams' 'goat selfie' on the front cover Step towards peace: Last May Prince Charles became the first royal to meet Gerry Adams, warmly shaking his hand in a momentous step in the Northern Ireland peace process at the National University of Ireland Two months later, in April 2013, he added: 'Tom & Ted r officially engaged. Congratulations 2 them both. Celebrations @ Teddy Bear Picnic Party later. Yippeee!' Last September it was revealed that Mr Adams would not be prosecuted in connection with the IRA murder of Belfast mother-of-ten Jean McConville. Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the 67-year-old and six others, among them Sinn Fein's northern chairman Bobby Storey, would not face charges over the 1972 murder. The PPS made the announcement after reviewing police files on the seven individuals reported to them by detectives investigating the widow's killing. Mr Adams, a former MP for West Belfast and now an elected representative for Co Louth in the Irish Dail, was arrested and questioned for four days about the murder in 2014. It is unclear which of Mr Adams' tweets and selfies have made it into his new book, but among the more memorable include a post which reads: 'Thought I had a pen in my pocket. Discovered it is s [sic] tooth brush' Mrs McConville was dragged screaming from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women after being wrongly accused of informing to the security forces. She was interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried - becoming one of the 'Disappeared' victims of the Troubles. Mr Adams responded to the decision not to prosecute him, insisting it was 'long overdue'. He claimed at the time he had been subjected to a 'sustained and malicious campaign' seeking to link him to the murder, with political rivals exploiting the allegations for party advantage. Irish siblings dubbed the 'dolphin whisperers' helped treat a wild female Queensland dolphin named Silhouette on Monday night after a fishing hook and line was found lodged in her mouth. Silhouette was detangled from the fishing line last week by staff at the Tangalooma Island Resort just off the Brisbane coast, but staff became concerned on Monday when the mother of a two young calfs was still showing signs of being injured. Matt Poole, his brother Josh and sister Jess, from Ireland, helped carry Silhouette from the water and found that a hook had also been caught in her mouth but that she had dislodged it herself. Matt Poole (pictured middle) and his two siblings helped keep wild dolphin Silhouette (pictured) calm on Monday night as she was treated for injuries she received after a hook was lodged in her jaw Silhouette was found to have also been caught in fishing line from debris found along the Queensland coast The siblings, who are members of the Tangalooma Island Resort dolphin care team, helped keep Silhouette calm as she was given antibiotic treatment to help recover and carried her back in the water as hundreds of concerned onlookers watched. 'We, that's Jess, Josh and I, love the dolphins they're one of the big reasons we're all here,' Mr Poole said in a release. 'But we especially love Silhouette. She's a beautiful girl and a great mum with two young dolphins we had to help her through.' 'We'll never forget what happened on Monday night what we did and that feeling of complete relief and joy for Silhouette,' he said. Mr Poole (pictured second from left) and his siblings are members of the Tangalooma Island Resort dolphin care team Silhouette (pictured) was given antibiotics to help with her healing and will continue to be monitored by staff 'We, that's Jess, Josh and I, love the dolphins they're one of the big reasons we're all here,' Mr Poole said (pictured second from the right) Silhouette has been visiting the island resort for 11 years and is often fed by the care team and resort guests. Manager of the Tangalooma Marine Education and Conservation Centre, Sue Hassard, said it 'could have been much more of a traumatic rescue, given that Silhouette was already acting flighty.' She handled it well and remained relatively calm, Ms Hassard said in a resort release. 'But we especially love Silhouette. She's a beautiful girl and a great mum with two young dolphins we had to help her through,' he said (pictured second from the right) Hundreds of concerned resort guests looked on as the dolphin care team checked on Silhouette's injuries The number of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins being treated for such injuries is common because of the amount of marine debris found around the coast especially fishing hooks and lines, according to Sea World Senior Vet David Blyde. 'The problem is that these kind of fishing line entanglements can eventually cause death if they get entangled around the wrong area of the animal so unfortunately it's one of those things that is happening more and more, and we just need to be more vigilant about it,' he said. Silhouette will continue to be monitored to check that she has not ingested more stainless steel hooks, which can cause internal damage. The mother of two young dolphins, Silhouette was returned to the water and stayed relatively calm Officers are being tempted by 'the ability to hold senior positions' Former police officers are being promised more money and excitement in crass job adverts for the unit investigating allegations of misconduct by British troops. One recruitment ad online claims the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) is moving into an exciting new phase. It also says the pay scales are above market rates and contract workers who need to rent local accommodation are paid an enhanced rate to allow them to achieve this. Scroll down for video Former police officers are being offered massive pay hikes to join a team of investigators probing alleged abuses by British soldiers against people in Iraq, (file photograph of a soldier not under investigation) It continues: The nature of the work, the opportunities to travel and the ability to hold senior positions are all unusual dimensions to the IHAT contract and not readily available elsewhere in the market for policing skill sets on contract worker terms. Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer, branded the adverts crass and offensive last night. He told The Times: This encapsulates, in my mind, the direction this unit is taking. Nobody in the Army objects to scrutiny, we have always had an extremely professional Army that works hard to maintain high standards. An unacceptable industry is growing which sees former servicemen now being chased by lawyers and investigators. Mr Mercer added: Why on earth are we doing this to ourselves? In an effort to promote our Britishness and honesty, the only people getting hurt are the men and women we sent out to serve and keep us safe. A number of posts online advertise vacancies at IHAT. They require police skills and include a roles for an investigator, an intelligence analyst and a deputy senior investing officer. One post reads: The work at the IHAT is complex and challenging and there is no other inquiry like it in the UK. Prime Minister David Cameron wants to make it harder for Iraqis to bring claims of abuse against British troops. Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted to clamp down on law firms pursuing 'spurious' claims while limiting 'no win, no fee' arrangements while also imposing a UK residence test for legal aid Cameron said Friday that he had asked ministers to crack down on 'spurious' legal claims. Measures could include limiting lawyers' 'no win, no fee' arrangements and imposing a UK residence test for legal aid. Cameron accused some law firms of creating 'an industry trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen and women'. But Nicholas Mercer, the army's chief legal adviser in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, said some claims of abuse have proven true. Food and drink giants such as Kelloggs, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have vowed to slash sugar levels in their products as pressure mounts on the government to levy a sugar tax on the industry. The soft drinks industry has promised unprecedented measures to reduce the UKs sugar consumption by a fifth, including pledges to end adverts for sugary drinks aimed at under-16s and introduce healthier products. Cereal company Kelloggs has pledged to slash 723 tons of sugar from brands such as Coco Pops and Frosties by next year, according to The Sun. Food and drink giants such as Kelloggs, Coca-Cola (pictured) and Pepsi have vowed to slash sugar levels in their products as pressure mounts on the government to levy a sugar tax on the industry It comes just days before David Cameron is expected to make a decision in response to growing calls for a sugar tax to tackle childhood obesity. Coca-Cola, which owns a variety of soft drink brands such as Lilt and Sprite, is promising a five per cent cut in the sugar content of its products over the next nine years. However, the iconic 330ml Coke can will continue to carry seven teaspoons of sugar, it is understood. Japanese firm Suntory, which makes Lucozade and Ribena, aims to make a ten per cent cut in sugar by 2018 and 20 per cent by 2025 at the latest. Pepsi and Britvic are planning to ban TV adverts aimed at children and axe billboards near schools, while AG Barr, which produces sugary drink Tizer, is pushing to lower its sugar levels by five per cent this year. The move by soft drinks firms to reduce sugar in their drinks follows calls by Dame Sally Davies to impose a sugar tax. The governments chief medical officer told the businesses that they would be hit with the levy if they do not reduce portion size, offer healthy options and comply with a ban on adverts targeted at children. Speaking earlier this month, Dame Sally said: I have already put industry on notice that if they dont respond in other ways, we are going to have to have a sugar tax. She also said that reformulation, resizing, preventing promotions and changing advertising would have to take place. MPs say sugary drinks should be taxed at a rate of 20p. Cereal company Kelloggs has pledged to slash 723 tons of sugar from brands such as Coco Pops and Frosties by next year Children who are obese tend to put on more weight as they get older and are at a far higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer later in life. A study by Alison Tedstone of Public Health England said a levy would rein in demand for unhealthy food and drink. She said: The higher the tax increase, the greater the effect. A study published in the British Medical Journal shows that a 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks in Mexico led to a 12 per cent reduction in sales. A senior soft drink source told The Sun: The health lobby will say were not going anywhere near far enough. But if we can cut the nations calorie consumption from soft drinks by 20 per cent in five years, surely thats a win for everyone? Average price is $3.90 but some are selling for up to $6 each Wet weather in Victoria and New Zealand has helped decrease in supply Demand for avocados has soared in recent years due to their 'super-food' qualities and the rise of a popular hipster cafe staple - smashed avocado on toast. However, Avocados Australia chief executive has warned avocado lovers that the fruit may be a lot harder to come by this year. 'Basically its an imbalance between supply and demand,' John Tyas told Daily Mail Australia. Avocado demand has soared in recent years due to the its purported 'super-food' qualities and the rise of a popular hipster cafe staple - smashed avocado on toast Avocados Australia chief executive John Tyas (left) has warned avocado lovers that the fruit may be a lot harder to come by this year 'Each Australian is eating about 3.2 kilograms of avocado every year, so the popularity of this wonderful fruit has soared due to their amazing health benefits and some clever marketing work,' he said. Mr Tyas said Victoria and New Zealand's wet weather, and Western Australia's bush fires, which affected logistics, were some of the contributors to this years decline in production. 'There's a lot of trees in the ground and every year there are more and more avocados being produced in Australia, so consumers should expect a better outcome for prices soon.' The average price of an avocado at the moment is $3.90, with some selling for up to $6.00 each in supermarkets. A tray from the wholesaler will cost about $75. The popularity of the fruit has been attributed to TV celebrity chefs including Nigella Lawson highlighting their benefits to growing numbers of health-conscious viewers Mr Tyras said there was prices could remain high as the north Queensland season will start in late-February, 'but to meet the demand we might be struggling to get the volumes required until about April.' During the past 20 years, Australia's avocado production has increased from 18,000 tonnes a year to nearly 68,500 tonnes in 2015. Meanwhile, avocados have also gained popularity in the U.K. as avocado sales overtook oranges for the first time in the UK last year. The soaring popularity of the fruit has been attributed to TV celebrity chefs including Nigella Lawson highlighting their benefits to growing numbers of health-conscious global food TV audiences. A flavourful avocado depends on where and how it is grown, said Mr Tyas, 'if they are picked a bit too early you can get that watery flavour.' The alarming increase in space junk that is accumulating around the Earth could trigger a political crisis and armed conflict as it poses the greatest danger to military satellites, scientists say. In a report to be published in the journal Acta Astronautica, Vitaly Adushkin at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow argues that the threat of space debris constitutes a 'special political danger' because the owner of the impacted satellite 'can hardly quickly determine the real cause of the accident. Unexplained failures of defence satellites could be explained either by unregistered collision with space debris or by an intentional attack by an enemy nation. Pictures from an animation by university lecturer Dr Stuart Grey shows the rise in space debris from 1969 (pictured left) to 2015 (pictured right). There are estimated to be more than 20,000 items of space junk currently trapped in Earth's orbit But it is often difficult to establish who is responsible for the damage or destruction, Adushkin writes. 'This is a politically dangerous dilemma,' he says, according to the Guardian. Space junk comes in all shapes and sizes and is increasing at a worrying rate. There are estimated to be more than 20,000 items of space junk currently trapped in Earth's orbit, including old engine parts, dead satellites and other floating junk generated by space missions or from collisions in space. Less conservative estimates suggest there could be as much as half a billion fragments stretching from one to 10cm and trillions of even smaller particles. Small objects can become a hazard once they reach orbital speeds of up to 30,000mph, with the potential of punching a hole through spacecraft and military satellites. Nasa carefully monitors any junk larger than 10cm, which can become a serious threat to satellites and astronauts. In 2013, a Russian satellite, Blits, was damaged after colliding with one of the 3,000 pieces of debris which were created when China shot down one of its own old weather satellites. Adushkin argues that the amount of debris accumulating low Earth orbit has risen dramatically in half a century. He warned of a 'cascade process' in which blocks of debris crash into another and produce even more smaller fragments. However, scientists are working on a solution to clean low Earth orbit. Scientists on the CleanSpace One Project have revealed their clean-up satellite will capture a defunct small cube satellite in a conical net, before destroying it in the Earth's atmosphere. The SwissCube satellite has been in Earth orbit for more than five years and engineers from eSpace, Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne's Centre for Space Engineering and Signal Processing 5 Laboratory (LTS 5), and other university partners are keen for it not to become another piece of space junk. The report follows a report commissioned by Nasa in 2011 which warned that the level of space junk had reached a 'tipping point'. The UN has condemned Mr Nasheed's treatment by the current regime and called for his permanent release He was jailed for 13 years on terrorism charges but has been given 30 days temporary release to undergo surgery Advertisement He must be the busiest man in Britain so how did David Cameron manage to free up an hour in his packed diary for a date yesterday with a junior barrister? Could it perhaps have had anything to do with the fact the lawyer who visited him at No 10 was Amal Clooney, highly glamorous wife of Hollywood star George? Impeccably dressed in an elegantly tailored black coat over a tweed jacket and skirt, she smiled in her high heels for photographers as she arrived at Downing Street. Amal Clooney, right, met with Prime Minister David Cameron, centre, to raise the issue of the former president of the Maldives Mohammed Nasheed, left, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2012 and imprisoned for 13 years on terrorism charges after a dubious trial British lawyer Amal Clooney leaves after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed at 10 Downing Street Mr Cameron listened intently for about an hour as the human rights lawyer urged him to help her free the jailed former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. And there was another angle to the meeting that may have piqued the Prime Ministers interest the case has become a fight between Mrs Clooney and Cherie Blair, the barrister wife of Tony Blair, who has been hired to represent the Maldivian government. British lawyer Mrs Clooney, who was catapulted to global celebrity by her marriage in Venice to the film star in 2014, was able to take Mr Nasheed to Downing Street with her after he was granted temporary leave from prison in the Maldives to have surgery. Also at the meeting was Mr Nasheeds wife, Laila Ali Abdulla. Mr Nasheed, 48, was the first democratically-elected president of the Maldives, but he was deposed in a coup in 2012 and was sentenced to 13 years in jail last March after he was convicted under anti-terrorism laws of ordering the arrest of an allegedly corrupt judge. Mrs Clooney, right, has lobbied Mr Cameron, centre, previously on Mr Nasheed's behalf following his controversial conviction back home Mr Nasheed, pictured, was granted temporary release from prison so he could fly to London to undergo spinal surgery Mrs Clooney met with Mr Cameron in June in the House of Commons to raise Mr Nasheed's plight with the British government Mrs Clooney met with Mr Cameron in June along with Mr Nasheed's wife Laila Ali to raise the former president's plight The UN ruled in October that his incarceration was unjust, and there is growing international pressure for him to be permanently released and pardoned by the countrys hardline dictator Abdulla Yameen. But representatives of Mrs Blairs legal team for the Maldivian government argue the former president was fairly convicted of an offence of the utmost seriousness by the courts and say calls for sanctions are inappropriate. Its not the first encounter between Mrs Clooney, 37, and Mr Cameron. They met at the House of Commons in June last year to discuss the same case. She says the Prime Minister is very supportive of her efforts to free Mr Nasheed. Mr Nasheed, pictured beside his wife Laila Ali Abdulla, right, will undergo spinal surgery before he returns the the Maldives next month Mrs Clooney, pictured, accompanied her client Mr Nasheed to the unusual Saturday morning meeting in Downing Street with Mr Cameron The British government has already raised Mr Nasheed's plight with the Maldives following Mrs Clooney's earlier intervention A Downing Street spokesman said yesterday that Mr Cameron occasionally holds meetings at No 10 on a Saturday depending on his schedule. He added: The Prime Minister told Mr Nasheed that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives. Within minutes of the end of the meeting, Mr Cameron swapped his suit for casual gear and headed off for another important appointment to join wife Samantha for a weekend at Chequers. As soon as the meeting with Mrs Clooney was over Mr Cameron, right, ditched his suit and himself and Mrs Cameron, left, went to 'chillax' A Nazi concentration camp survivor whose family died at Auschwitz is tormented by a photograph of Hungarian Jews queuing on arrival at the camp which he believes may show his mother and one of his siblings. Ivor Perl, an 83-year-old Hungarian Jew, was sent to the death camp in 1944 when he was just 12, along with his family. He and his brother, then 14, survived by pretending to the Nazis they were 16 and strong enough to work in the snow. Ivor only found out after his liberation that his 45-year-old mother, four sisters and three brothers had died in Auschwitz's gas chambers. Scroll down for video The photograph shown to Ivor Perl which he believes may show his mother and one of his siblings while queuing at Auschwitz concentration camp Ivor Perl after his liberation, when he was just 14 years old Ivor Perl, pictured recently, started a new life in Britain The brothers were granted asylum in London and Ivor got on with his life: he found work in the textile industry, married and had four children. Memories of his lost family started to fade away as Ivor had no family photos or possessions with him. Grief was mainly inward and personal, as he admits to the Mirror: 'We could not grieve properly, not outwardly. Maybe being young we just wanted to get on with life.' But suddenly a black-and-white emerged from the mist of history. After he agreed to stand as witness in the trial of the so-called Bookkeeper of Auschwitz, Oskar Groening, Ivor was shown by Channel 4 photographs of Hungarian Jews queuing on arrival at Auschwitz. It was the first time that the 83-year-old of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, got in contact with such an important testimony. The epiphany came as peered into the terrified eyes of a young woman pictured while standing in line with her children. 'As I looked, the woman appeared so much as my mother does in my mind's eye in that moment,' he says, as reported by the Mirror. 'We had stumbled out from the cattle trucks. I had heard I should say I was 16 and we had been separated, but I went over to her and said, 'I want to come with you, Mummy.' But she said, 'Go back to your brother' and that is what I did. That is my last memory, and the photograph seems to capture that moment.' 'I hope it is them,' he adds. 'I can reach and touch that photo and touch them again.' However, he cannot be sure, and that uncertainty and sense of doubt haunts him. 'I can picture very little of them. In truth, I do not know if I recognise their features. And does it matter? Part of me wants to find them again, and in that sense I want it to be them. But really, what difference does it make?' Oskar Groening, a former SS junior squad leader known as the 'Bookkeeper of Auschwitz' was sentenced to four years prison His torment is heightened by the awareness of his loss. The photograph cannot bring his family back, it is just a fragment of the past which, in a way, Ivor would prefer to leave untouched. When he returned to his first home in Mako, Hungary, for the first time since he was forced on to a crowded railway car and transported to Auschwitz, he was left in shock. The place was very different from what he remembered and he wished he hadn't returned to see the reality. Ivor did not talk about his experience at Auschwitz for 50 years - but finally decided to stand witness at the Groening trial. He was quite surprised to see an old man being brought in by two carers instead of a fearful Nazi in uniform. The Bookkeeper of Auschwitz was sentenced to four years in prison but Ivor does not feel justice has been made. Advertisement Jeremy Corbyn today visited a temporary camp in Dunkirk to speak to thousands of migrants attempting to reach the UK. The Grand-Synthe settlement is home to around 2,500 migrants who are living in conditions so squalid that aid workers say it is on the brink of a sanitation crisis. Some migrants posed for selfies with the Labour leader as he chatted to locals in the muddy camp. Scroll down for videos Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (centre) inspects clothes on a visit to the Auberge Des Migrants Help Refugees warehouse near Calais Mr Corbyn is pictured folding up what appears to be a child's jacket at the centre where clothes are donated to help migrants Migrants posed for selfies with the politician as he made his way through the temporary camp, which is located close to the ferry port Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn visits a temporary camp in Dunkirk, France, where thousands of migrants and refugees attempting to reach the UK are currently living Shortly after his visit a 2,000-strong demonstration was held by left-wing French groups against the living conditions migrants experience The demonstration eventually turned sour after hundreds of migrants, pictured, broke through police lines to storm Calais port His visit comes amid a growing urgency over the migrant crisis, with French prime minister Manuel Valls warning the huge influx is putting the European Union's future in 'grave danger'. During his visit, Mr Corbyn was given a tour of the site meeting refugees and aid workers before speaking of the 'dreadful situation' faced by people camped in the swamp-like conditions. He said: 'What I'm trying to achieve here is to understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe. 'Ultimately we deal with the situation by dealing with the problem at its source, which are the wars and conflicts. Mr Corbyn, pictured, said he was trying to 'understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe' After leaving one of the tents on the site the Labour leader is surrounded by volunteers in his visit which focused on unaccompanied children Flanked by reporters and TV crews, Corbyn reaches for a baby girl's hand as she is carried through the migrant camp by her father Corbyn walks through the muddy and squalid conditions of the camp, where bin liners and rubbish surround the tents 'Also, there are the human needs of people. We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food - in very cold, very wet conditions. 'These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings.' Mr Corbyn said Britain should be part of a pan-European effort to help the people affected by the crisis. And he went on: 'Germany has done an enormous amount, other countries have done varying amounts and I think we should be part of bringing European support to people.' Photographs show the squalid conditions of the temporary set-up, where people are sleeping rough. Corbyn, flanked with volunteer groups representatives, speaks to some of the migrants in the camp during today's visit to France Volunteers and Corbyn waded through the muddy conditions to speak to some of the migrants as he visited the camp where they are living Corbyn leaves one of the tents in the camp holding a drink. His visit came amid a growing urgency over the migrant crisis One migrants in the Grand-Synthe camp played the violin as others gathered around during Corbyn's visit today in Dunkirk In one picture a young boy sits next to an open fire next to his family's tent. Some migrants threw confetti and applauded Corbyn as he left the camp, while one man shouted at him to 'sort it out'. The shanty town where thousands of people are squatting is just five miles from the ferry port and some critics claimed it will act as a magnet for migrants and become the latest 'jumping off point' for those trying to enter the UK. This month it was announced that the new encampment at Grand-Synthe would have heated tents, running water, toilets and showers and will be built close to the site of an existing rat-infested shanty town where thousands are squatting. The Labour leader visited what appears to be a makeshift shop in the camp and spoke to the man behind the counter as part of his visit Corbyn walks through the muddy conditions with aid workers as part of the visit to the camp, which houses around 2,500 migrants A young boy sits in squalid conditions next to an open fire as Corbyn visited the Grand-Synthe settlement today Corbyn, who made the visit with his wife Laura Alvarez (right), cuddles one of the migrants in the camp (left), which houses mostly Kurds from Iran, Syria and Iraq Work began immediately, with completion expected within weeks. It is less than 30 miles from the 'new Jungle' camp near Calais where around 5,000 migrants wait while they try to reach the UK on board lorries and ferries. The numbers of migrants and refugees at Grande-Synthe have steadily risen since last October, from around 800 people sleeping rough there to around 2,500 in recent weeks. Aid workers deliver eggs to the 2,500 people that have set up camp in Dunkirk where thousands of people are squatting A young boy struggles to carry a box of belongings, as a a young girl looks out of her pram near to a row of tents in Dunkirk today A mattress, sleeping bags, clothes and other belongings have been discarded in the camp, close to where migrants are living Most are Kurds from Iran, Syria and Iraq looking to cross to the UK, including some 250 children, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. The organisation took action in the face of what it called a failure by the authorities to offer decent living conditions to the masses camped there in ankle-deep mud. Aid workers said people have been living in ultra-thin tents surrounded by puddles of water and food, which has attracted rats, prompting regular extermination operations. Questions: The death of a second Russian dissident Alexander Perepilichnyy (pictured) on British soil needs a public inquiry in the wake of the Alexander Litvinenko revelations, according to Andy Burnham The death of a second Russian dissident on British soil also needs a public inquiry in the wake of the bombshell Alexander Litvinenko revelations, the shadow home secretary has said. Police initially ruled out foul play in the death of supergrass Alexander Perepilichnyy, who collapsed whilst out jogging close to his 3million home in Weybridge, Surrey, in November 2012. But at a preliminary inquest hearing last year it emerged that the 44-year-old could have been poisoned by a lethal rare plant known as Gelsemium elegens, sometimes used by Russian and Chinese hitmen, after traces of it were found in his stomach. Now shadow home secretary Andy Burnham has questioned whether the businessman's inquest should be upgraded to a public inquiry, as was the case with Litvinenko, telling the Daily Telegraph: 'It would be a mistake to assume that the Litvinenko situation is a one-off.' He said there were many questions surrounding Mr Perepilichnyy's death, adding: 'My concern is that a routine inquest may not be able to look at the larger picture and may not be able to make connections where it needs to, to understand the background.' Mr Perepilichnyy had fled to the UK after revealing 'explosive' information linked to an investigation into a 148million Russian money laundering scheme. At the time of his death he was helping to uncover fraud in Swiss bank accounts, while also being sued by a Moscow consultancy company headed up by Dmitry Kovtun. He is one of two men named as the prime suspects in the poisoning of Russian agent Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair, London in 2006. Mr Burnham's comments come in the wake of Sir Robert Owen's findings that Litvinenko was 'probably' murdered on the orders of Vladimir Putin. The retired High Court judge had the KGB spy's inquest upgraded to a public inquiry so he could investigate such claims, ruling Thursday that Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi assassinated Litvinenko. Upgrade: Mr Burnham's suggestion that the businessman's inquest be upgraded to a public inquiry comes in the wake of Sir Robert Owen's findings that Litvinenko was 'probably' murdered on the orders of Vladimir Putin Shortly before his death the murdered KGB agent claimed Russian president Putin had been caught on camera having sex with young boys, according to the inquiry into the spy's murder. When the future Russian president was a student, he was filmed abusing children in a flat where another top politician had a threesome with prostitutes, Litvinenko wrote in a sensational web post. The wild claim was recorded in Sir Robert's inquiry as part of a long list of allegations made by the assassinated spy against Mr Putin after he fled Russia and settled in Britain. A British man has been arrested after confessing to strangling his wife with a telephone cord during a row at their flat in Majorca. Warren Lyttle, 50, admitted the crime during a phone call to emergency services around 3.20am this morning. Paramedics and local police found marks on Lisa Jane Lyttle's neck when they arrived at the scene. A British man has been arrested on suspicion of strangling his wife to death in the tourist resort of Calvia, Mallorca Her husband offered no resistance when he was arrested and was today being held at a police station in Son Rapina near the scene of the crime in Costa de la Calma a short drive from Magaluf. He is expected to appear before a judge in a private court hearing on Monday. An autopsy on the 49-year-old victim was due to take place this afternoon. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil, which is holding Mr Lyttle on suspicion of homicide, confirmed: 'A British man who is resident in Majorca phoned the emergency services around 3.20am and confessed during the call to killing his wife. 'The victim was strangled with a telephone cord during a row. 'Her husband is being held at a Civil Guard station and will be handed over to a judge tomorrow or on Monday.' The man allegedly called police at 3am on Saturday morning and confessed to killing his 49-year-old wife Doctors rushed to the scene but the woman was pronounced dead. She reportedly had marks to her neck and appeared to have been strangled Mr Lyttle has lived in Majorca for around a decade but his wife lived between Britain and Spain, investigators said. It is not known what they were rowing about when Mrs Lyttle was killed. It is understood the crime happened at an apartment block called the Apartamentos Siesta in Costa de la Calma which is in the municipality of Calvia. Town hall chiefs in Calvia announced it would hold a protest gathering this afternoon in the town of Santa Ponca during which a five minute silence will be held in the victim's memory. Mayor Alfonso Rodriguez Badal condemned the killing. The town hall released a statement saying: 'The entire corporation is united in condemning this act of violence and in sharing the pain and grief of Lisa Jane's children, relatives and friends.' It added: 'The crime was reported by the author himself in a phone call to the emergency services. Local police were the first to respond and tried to revive Lisa Jane but without success. 'Paramedics could nothing to save her either.' A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: 'Following the death of a British national in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, we are in contact with the local authorities and are providing support to the family at this difficult time.' After a year and a half of delays and $9 million dollars in renovations, the Prime Ministers home in Canberra the Lodge is finally finished. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent his first night at the Lodge on Saturday and is expected to host a series of events at the home on Australia day, according to the Canberra Times. The home has been empty since Kevin Rudd stayed there in 2013 the same year renovations began in the heritage home. Ousted former PM Tony Abbott has never spent a night at the house. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife, Lucy Turnbull, (pictured) spent their first night at the Prime Minister's Canberra residence, the Lodge, on Saturday night The Lodge (pictured) has undergone more than two years of renovations that cost an estimated $9 million The renovations were expected to be complete in April 2014 and cost $3.19 million, but 18 months of delays kept Mr Abbott from ever moving in. The initial budget also spilled over by $6 million creating a final price tag of $9 million as renovations finished last month. The home has undergone bathroom upgrades, security improvements and a new kitchen, as well as asbestos removal, roof replacement, new lights and upgrades to the heating and cooling systems. Mr Turnbulls wife, Lucy Turnbull, has spent time picking furnishings and choosing artwork to hang with the help of curators at the National Gallery of Australia. Whenever the Mr Turnbull and his wife have stayed in Canberra during the four months since he took over office, the Sydney couple has stayed at their $2 million Kingston Foreshore apartment in Canberra. The forecast appears to be uncertainty and painful awkwardness when you change a news script on live TV without telling the news readers. Tami Mlcoch and Jim Scott appeared shocked and uncomfortable when weather presenter Alissa Carlson announced she was pregnant during a love broadcast - with the knowledge of the show's producers. No one had told Mlcoch and Scott and their hilarious reactions have since gone viral. Scott's confusion begins when he starts reading words from a teleprompter that had been changed by show bosses, unbeknown to him. He says: 'Well first of all, in a related weather, uh, report here, one local forecast calls for some uncomfortable mornings, followed by widespread shopping, and record-setting joy and happiness. 'We'll get to that story um, little bit - oh. Scroll down for video Alissa, Jim and Tami - So, this happened. What Happens When You Change Scripts on Live TV? 17's Alissa Carlson shocks her coworkers by shifting gears for a big announcement. Posted by KGET - TV 17 on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 KGET's Alissa Carlson (far right) finished up a weather report in front of colleagues Tami Mlcoch and Jim Scott before Scott started to read off the teleprompter Scott appeared confused after reading that 'one local forecast calls for some uncomfortable mornings, followed by widespread shopping, and record-setting joy and happiness' Scott (center) asked Carlson 'You have an additional forecast?' Carlson said: 'I do. I'm having a baby!' 'Chief meteorologist Alissa Carlson has more on that forecast. 'Im sorry, I got all mixed up here. You have an additional forecast?' Carlson said: 'I do. I'm having a baby!' Her coworkers were briefly quiet in the wake of the big news. Mlcoch said: 'I had no idea. Wow. Congratulations.' Scott also chimed in, saying: 'Nobody - I'm the last to know, obviously.' 'The forecast calls for a baby in July,' Carlson told her colleagues. Carlson's coworkers were briefly quiet in the wake of the news that she is with child There was a cut to footage of Carlson's wedding to her husband Neil along with a sign reading 'Baby on Board' Her dogs Sunny and Stormy wore bandannas and appeared next to a onesie that featured the KGET logo There was a cut to footage of Carlson's wedding to her husband Neil along with a sign reading 'Baby on Board.' Her dogs Sunny and Stormy wore bandannas and appeared next to a onesie that featured the KGET logo. 'No one here is more surprised than me. That is so awesome,' Scott told Carlson at one point. Looking at the camera, Mlcoch said: 'I am too - she didn't even tell me off-set.' KGET posted a clip of the exchange on its Facebook page on Wednesday. A mother saved the lives of seven suspected illegal immigrants after hearing their frantic cries for help coming from the back of a refrigerated fruit lorry. Tammy Harris, 34, heard banging and shouting coming from the HGV in Badsey, Worcestershire, and seven Iranian and Iraqi nationals, including two children under 16, were later found by police. It is believed the immigrants, who were arrested by officers, had stowed away after the lorry picked up its load of frozen pears from Portugal. Pictured, Police free seven Iranian and Iraqi nationals, including two children under 16, from the chilled lorry Miss Harris was walking her six-year-old son Myles back from school when she heard noises as the lorry stopped at a pelican crossing. She said: 'I was walking Myles across the road when I heard a loud bang. At first I thought the lorry had a blow out but then I heard more banging and screaming. 'It was horrific because I thought someone was trapped underneath the lorry. 'I told the driver to check his lorry and at first he wasn't keen but eventually he got out and we could here screaming. People were shouting 'help, help please save us'. 'I just had to get them out of there. I was just so worried about them because I noticed it was a chilled trailer. 'We went to the back of the lorry and could hear the screaming getting louder. It was coming from a little porthole on the back. The driver wanted to open the lorry up but I said no, we had to call the police first. 'The police arrived soon afterwards and got the immigrants out. They were all looking really cold and hunched over. They had woolly hats and gloves and scarves on. 'It took about an hour to get them out of the lorry. 'When the door opened they looked so frightened. 'Some of them were finding it difficult to get out because it was so cold. They didn't look in a very good state of mind really. I would imagine it would have been pitch black dark in there. 'I'm pretty shocked and upset by it and I just feel so disappointed in our government that they are not doing anything to help. Mother Tammy Harris, 34, heard banging and cries for help from the HGV as she used a zebra crossing 'We watch it on the news and that, but to see it in real life - it is just horrible. I'm a dead believer that more should be done about it.' It is estimated that the immigrants, who were suffering from frostbite, had been locked up in the trailer for eight hours. Immigration officers later attended Worcestershire police station where the five Iranian men, aged between 20 and 39, where being held. A further Iranian and an Iraqi national, believed to be minors, are due to be transferred to the care of social services to be independently aged assessed. A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: 'At approximately 3.35pm on Thursday, January 21, West Mercia Police received a report that it was believed there may be people travelling in the back of a lorry which was travelling through Main Road, Badsey. 'On police arrival, seven males, believed to be foreign nationals, were discovered in the back of the vehicle. 'Immigration Enforcement is now dealing with this investigation.' A spokesperson for Immigration Enforcement said: 'Where someone is found to have no right to remain in the UK, we will take action to remove them. A right-wing Dutch politician has been handing out self-defence canisters of spray laced with red paint to women to protect themselves from attack by 'Islamic testosterone bombs'. Geert Wilders, leader of the extremist Freedom Party delivered the spray to the blue-collar town of Spijkenisse where he was surrounded by a large crowd, flanked by bodyguards and police. Wilders, whose party has 12 members in the Dutch parliament, claimed women in Holland were afraid of being attacked following the mass assaults on New Year's Eve in Cologne, Germany. Controversial right wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders, centre, handed out canisters of spray laced with red paint to women in the blue-collar town of Spijkenisse as part of a publicity stunt earlier today Mr Wilders claimed if he wins next year's Dutch election he will close Holland's borders immediately Pictured: One of the canisters of spray laced with red paint that Wilders is handing out to women However, a small group of protesters greeted Wilders' 'publicity stunt with chants and banners proclaiming 'refugees welcome, racism is not. Wilders shook hands with supporters before offering an impromptu speech. He said if he was elected Prime Minister next year, he would 'close the borders immediately and have no more asylum seekers'. He said: 'We just cannot afford to have more. The Dutch people in a big majority don't want it and we cannot afford it and it makes our people and women only more unsafe.' Wilders' party currently holds 12 seats in the 150-member lower house, but a poll by Ipsos on Thursday suggested the Freedom Party would win 32 seats now. The Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberals were second with 26 seats, down from its current tally of 40. The online survey of 1,061 voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent. Other polls have Wilders even further ahead. Migrants wrapped in blankets try to keep warm this morning as they cross the Macedonian -Serbian border in the southern Serbian village Miratovac Two girls wrap in blankets and hats in the freezing temperatures in Serbia as they cross the border with their families Wilders is known for his anti Islamic rhetoric which has been far more extreme than US presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Dutch authorities prosecuted Wilders in 2011 on hate speech charges after comparing Islam to fascism and demanding a ban on the Koran. He was acquitted at the time, but he is still facing further charges over his highly controversial comments. Wilders extreme views are being replicated in other European nations, with Marine Le Pen's National Front in France also receiving a surge in popularity. Leontine Maris was one of the first women to get a spray from Wilders on Saturday. Migrants marched in the French port city of Calais during a demonstration to support migrants and refugees who live in the 'jungle' One protester waves his hands in the air as another holds a megaphone during the protest in Calais today Refugees in Miratovac, on the Serbian-Croatian border prepare for the next leg of their journey north The immigrants are facing sub-zero temperatures amid harsh winter conditions in Serbia today, pictured The 53-year-old said she votes for him though she disagrees with some of his more extreme comments. She said she was afraid not just of migrants, but also Dutch men. She said: 'The whole society is going down the drain.' University of Amsterdam political science professor Wouter van der Brug: 'The tendencies across Europe are very similar. Across Europe, right-wing populist parties are picking up support as a result of the asylum crisis that we're facing now, and also as a result of terrorist attacks. 'Wilders is getting support across different layers of society.' However, Wilders' opponents are confident the controversial politician's support will collapse when the Dutch people cast their ballots next year. Lodewijk Asscher, Deputy Prime Minister and a Labor Party member said: 'It is hard to talk about a tipping point because we have seen this phenomenon in the polls before. Geert Wilders has lost the last three elections. That is something we tend to forget.' Large numbers of migrants continue to make the perilous journey despite the risks posed by the weather At least 29 civilians have been killed in air strikes suspected to have been carried out by Russian warplanes in a village in eastern Syria. Seven children and one woman were among the dead in the village of Khasham near the city of Deir al-Zour, which is controlled by ISIS militants. The death toll was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the biggest organisation tracking developments on the ground in the war-torn country. There are around 200,000 still living inside Deir al-Zour, which is largely controlled by ISIS militants The Observatory said the death toll was likely to rise as 'dozens' more people were wounded. On Friday, air strikes killed at least 44 civilians in Tabiyyah Jazeera, a village next to Khasham. It was unclear if those raids were carried out by Russian or regime warplanes. The latest strikes come as Syria's government pushes to retake territory captured by ISIS after a fierce offensive by the militants last week. The multi-front assault on Deir al-Zour and subsequent fighting has left nearly 500 people dead, according to the Observatory. While ISIS controls most of the oil-rich province, the Syrian government has clung onto parts of the provincial capital, as well as the nearby military airport. There are around 200,000 still living inside the city. The UN has recently warned of 'sharply deteriorating' conditions there. The multi-front assault on Deir al-Zour and subsequent fighting has left nearly 500 people dead Russia, a staunch ally of tyrannical President Bashar al-Assad's government, began an air campaign and a build-up of troops on the ground in support of Damascus four months ago. Western governments have claimed unguided Russian munitions have caused hundreds of civilian deaths - a claim which Russia denies. A former army officer who walked more than 900 miles alone in a bid to become the first man to trek across the Antarctic solo has collapsed and was airlifted to hospital just 30 miles form the finish. Former Army officer Henry Worsley, 55, came agonisingly close to making history, but his body 'shut down' from exhaustion and extreme dehydration after 913 miles. After spending two days unable to move from his tent, the married father-of-two decide to pull out of the charity adventure and he was airlifted to hospital on Friday with a potentially deadly infection. Failed bid: Former Lieutenant Colonel Henry Worsley (right) came up agonisingly short in his epic bid to make history as the first adventurer to cross the Antarctic alone. He also lost a front tooth during the trek (left) Shackleton Solo team member, Catherine Gale, said Mr Worsley is being treated for peritonitis at a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile, and his wife Joanna, 56, is currently on her way to his side. She said: 'It is obviously a concerning time. He reluctantly made the decision to call the end of the expedition and clearly he pushed himself to the limits. 'He had very very bad weather - the whole way it was against him. He is obviously disappointed. But everyone is in awe of what he has done - he is a great man and a fantastic person.' Despite his expedition ending in failure, the married father-of-two still raised more than 100,000 for injured soldiers and even had Prince William pay tribute to his efforts. The Duke of Cambridge, who was patron of the challenge, said: 'Henry Worsley has achieved a great deal over this epic journey, and I am immensely proud of all his efforts. 'The courage he has shown is a source of inspiration for the wounded servicemen and women who benefit from his support of The Endeavour Fund.' Mr Worsley had embarked on his quest last November, aiming to complete Sir Ernest Shackleton's unfinished attempt of a century ago and become the first person to cross the Antarctic unaided. The former Lieutenant Colonel had passed the South Pole, battling whiteouts and treacherous ice on the way, but eventually had to call in a rescue team. Agonisingly short: The intrepid 55-year-old, who had to call off his attempt because his body 'shut down' from exhaustion and extreme dehydration, was 913 miles into a 1,100-mile trek across the Antarctic (pictured) Rescued: Having spent two days trapped in his tent, unable to move after 70 days in the Antarctic, Mr Worsley was picked up by a support plane on Friday. He said the first thing he wanted to do was get a hot cup of tea Having spent two days trapped in his tent, unable to move after 70 days in the Antarctic, he was picked up by a support plane on Friday night. In an emotional final audio message Mr Worsley said the first thing he wanted to do was get a hot cup of tea - and a piece of cake. Speaking while awaiting the arrival of his rescuers, he said: 'My journey is at an end. Worthwhile: The married father-of-two still (pictured) raised more than 100,000 for injured soldiers and even had Prince William pay tribute to his efforts 'I've run out of time, physical endurance, and simple sheer ability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal. 'My summit was just out of reach. I've spent 70 days on my own in a place I love. 'I'll lick my wounds, they will heal over time, and I'll come to terms with the disappointment. 'What will lift my spirit will be the knowledge of all your support and generosity over the past two months. 'I have exceeded my 100,000 target I said I would raise - a huge reward for my efforts. 'I cannot thank you all enough. It is incredible and does make me smile.' Mr Worsley added: 'What happens now? I have called for a pick up, and weather depending it will be here today. 'I will fly around six hours to Union Glacier and the first thing I will do is get a warm cup of tea and have some cake. 'Over the coming days I will keep you updated as I can daily of my movements, and when I gather my thoughts I will post a final message.' Mr Worsley, a descendant of Frank Worsley, Shackleton's skipper on the Endurance, set off from Berkner Island on November 14. He aimed to make the epic 1,100-mile trek totally unaided with no re-supplying and reached the South Pole on January 3. Relative: Mr Worsley, a descendant of Frank Worsley, Sir Ernest Shackleton's skipper on the Endurance expedition (left), had aimed to complete the unfinished attempt Shackleton (right) made a century ago Stuck: Shackleton attempted to cross the Antarctic on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17, but disaster struck when his ship became trapped in pack ice (pictured) Map: The route taken by Shackleton and his crew as they sailed to the Antarctic for the 1914-1917 expedition ENDURING LIFE IN THE FREEZER Grounded: The crew set out from London in August 1914, and sailed to the southern continent via Buenos Aires and South Georgia island Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, from 1914 to 1917, was an attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. The expedition left England in August 1914, and sailed via Buenos Aires and South Georgia before departing for the Antarctic on December 5. But early in the journey the ship and its 28-man crew became trapped in the pack ice of the Weddell Sea. It drifted northward throughout the Antarctic winter of 1915 and was crushed and sank on November 21 1915, stranding the crew on the ice. After months spent in makeshift camps on the ice, the party took to three lifeboats to reach the inhospitable and uninhabited Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others made an 800-mile open boat journey in the tiny James Caird boat to reach South Georgia, crossing the island on foot to raise the alarm, before returning to rescue those still stranded. The final members of the crew were finally rescued in August 1916, after a 22-month fight for their lives. Advertisement On the way he has lost a front tooth after biting on a frozen energy bar and was trapped in his tent for two days by a storm that wiped out an entire penguin colony. Mr Worsley, from Fulham, South West London, only changed his underpants once during his journey - on day 61 - and was expected to reach the finish line on the Ross Ice Shelf on Tuesday. But last Wednesday his pace slowed dramatically, and he covered just four miles in five hours, before collapsing in his tent within sight of the Transatlantic mountains. His wife pleaded for his team to pull him off the ice, but while the support crew flew to a nearby pick up point, they insisted they had to wait until Mr Worsley made the call. After spending two days in his tent, he called for help on Friday evening, and was flown six hours to Union Glacier camp. Speaking from the couple's home today, Mr Worsley's wife Joanna, 56, said he had lost more than 50lbs and was now on a drip recovering from extreme exhaustion. She said: 'I'm so very, very proud of him. I can't wait to have him home and give him a hug. 'He was suffering from total shut down and total and complete exhaustion. 'He got into his tent and he couldn't move, couldn't eat, and didn't even have the energy to boil the kettle. 'Obviously he will feel disappointed. I know he will be sad, but Shackleton never reached his goals, and what Henry has done is extraordinary.' He has raised 100,940 for the Endeavour Fund charity founded by the royal family to fund sporting and adventure challenges to help the recovery of servicemen and women. On Christmas Day he got a message of encouragement from patron Prince William who told him 'you are doing a cracking job'. Mr Worsley will stay at the Union Glacier camp until it shuts down for winter on Wednesday, when he will fly to Chile to recover before coming home. Shackleton attempted to cross the Antarctic on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-17, but disaster struck when his ship became trapped in pack ice. Britain's most married man has proposed for the ninth time - even though he's still married to wife number eight. Ron Sheppard, 67, fell for Filipino call centre worker Cristel Marquez - who is 40 years his junior - after secretly chatting her up online. The couple first met more than ten years ago, when Cristel was 15 or 16, while he was married to Wan, wife number seven, and living in Thailand. Ron Sheppard, 67, got down on one knee and proposed to Filipino call centre worker Cristel Marquez in a bar in the Philippines The couple, pictured in a recent photograph, first met more than ten years ago, when Cristel was 15 or 16, while he was married to Wan, wife number seven, and living in Thailand Weng Platino, pictured with Ron (left, on their wedding day) and (right, celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2014) gave him the boot after 11 years of marriage Ron's current wife Weng, number eight, 36, gave him the boot after 11 years of marriage because of his antics on a recent trip to the Far East. The retired holiday camp entertainer shared a bed with young female masseuse Iza Samontes, 27, on a solo holiday in the Philippines and furious Weng demanded a divorce. Father-of-eight Ron, who denied misbehaving, has now moved on and proposed to mother-of-one Cristel, 27, on New Year's Eve. He intends to adopt her son Miggs, seven. Cristel shows off her engagement ring after Ron popped the question Ron, who is still sharing a house with Weng in Martock, Somerset, said his 'quickie divorce' will be through in May - the same time as Cristel's annulment. He said: 'I was invited out there for Christmas to spend it with her family. 'She is absolutely adoring and very, very caring. 'She looked after me so well when I was over there. With my Parkinson's she took really good care of me - she even showered me to make sure I was ok. 'When I proposed I did get down on one knee - I managed to do it. She said "yes" straight away. She loves me to bits, same as I do her. I think we'll be married by September.' Ron has spent 44 of the last 47 years married and his longest union lasted 13 years and the shortest was just 10 months. He married Weng on the Isle of Wight in November 2004 and he said she was 'the one' when they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary last year. He admitted that nine months ago he started messaging other women via a dating website but claimed he 'didn't know what he was doing' due to medication he takes for Parkinson's. Ron first walked down the aisle in 1966, when he married his first wife Margaret, at the age of just 19 Ron married third wife Lesley in 1976 and they had two children together but left her five years later He said he messaged 'one or two people' sending them around 300 and Weng was upset when she saw the messages. In November, he went to the Philippines alone for a four-week charity trip, and ordered a leg massage in his hotel room, which was carried out by Iza. He met Weng after splitting from his seventh wife, Wan (together above), when she returned to her home in Bangkok after eight months Ron said there was a security lock-down due to President Obama attending a nearby economic meeting forced her to stay in his hotel room. He denies they had sex, and simply slept in the same room, but Weng demanded a divorce. Unemployed Cristel, lives in Pampanga with her mother, and Ron said she was married previously, but split up with her husband six years ago. Ron added: 'She doesn't want me just for a visa because she actually wants to stay in the Philippines, but because of of my medication it would be too expensive, so she has agreed to come over here in about six months. 'When I arrived at the airport Miggs ran up and gave me a cuddle and said 'hello daddy Ron, I love you daddy Ron'. 'It was so lovely. 'I'm going to adopt Miggs. It will take some time, but we'll do it. His English is brilliant and he prefers to speak English - it's fate.' They plan to get married in England in September. Cristel said: 'I want to marry Ron - definitely. He is a very loving person and so sweet. I'm attracted to him. I've fallen in love with him. Advertisement Parading its military might with tanks, fighter planes, missiles and the somewhat less fearsome 'dog squad', India has been flexing its muscles ahead of the country's annual lavish celebration of pomp and pageantry. With the 67th Republic Day due to take place on Tuesday, where French President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest, thousands took to the streets today to watch a dress rehearsal filled with colourful fanfare, soldiers on camels and flower petals being dropped from the sky by helicopters. The theme for this year's grand parade, a celebration of the adoption of the Indian constitution in 1950, has focused primarily on the involvement of animals. It had been suggested that camels would be dropped for the first time ever, a claim that sparked consternation amongst the Indian public, but they have been just as much apart of rehearsals as the dogs. On parade: India has been warming up for its annual Republic Day with a dress rehearsal featuring a Soviet-style showcase of military hardware and carnival-esque floats of dancers. Soldiers from the camel mounted Indian Border Security Force are pictured Show of force: Parading its military might with tanks (pictured), fighter planes, missiles and the somewhat less fearsome 'dog squad', India has been flexing its muscles ahead of the country's annual lavish celebration of pomp and pageantry Leading the way: The Indian Army dog squad will march on New Delhi's Rajpath for Republic Day for the first time in 26 years (pictured) Hollande will witness a pomp-filled spectacle that combines the Soviet-style showcasing of military hardware with carnival-esque floats In formation: An Indian Army contingent clutch their weapons in the full dress rehearsal ahead of the Indian Republic Day parade Marching for the first time in 26 years, the Indian Army dog squad appeared today on New Delhi's central avenue of Rajpath. They will be flanked in the parade by French soldiers, the first time a foreign army will march down Rajpath as part of the Republic Day celebrations, with Indian troops in full military dress uniform also appearing. On Republic Day, Hollande will witness a pomp-filled spectacle that combines the Soviet-style showcasing of military hardware with carnival-esque floats featuring dancers and traditional music. Columns of uniformed troops will march to the sound of military bagpipes as helicopters shower thousands of spectators with petals. A highlight this year will be the Indian Army's contingent of labradors and German shepherd dogs, who will march down Rajpath with their handlers. Taking to the skies: Indian fighter aircrafts also took part in a fly past during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade today Dance: There will be a carnival atmosphere at the event, which includes Indian artists from West Bengal state in bright and vibrant outfits Colourful fanfare: A Carnival-esque float from the Indian state of Goa drives past crowds of onlookers during the dress rehearsal (pictured) Making history: French soldiers will become the first foreign army to march down Rajpath as part of this year's Republic Day celebrations Warm-up for the big day: A French army band marches during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi today The 35th Infantry Regiment of the French Army will also participate in the parade, the French presidency said. France has said security will be high on the agenda after deadly Islamist attacks in Paris in November that evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and a recent militant strike on India's Pathankot air base. Snipers will be posted on rooftops along the parade route as helicopters and drones monitor from above, while 15,000 paramilitary guards will guard the venue area, expected to be declared a no-fly zone. The grand finale usually exhibits daring motorcycle stunts by the Border Security Force, followed by a spectacular fly-past by the Indian Air Force leaving the crowds with a vapour-trail of the saffron, white and green national flag. Columns of uniformed troops will march to the sound of military bagpipes as helicopters shower thousands of spectators with petals The Indian Army women's contingent take part in the full dress rehearsal for the upcoming Indian Republic Day parade on Rajpath Momentous occasion: For the first time, a contingent of French soldiers will march down the Rajpath on Republic Day along with Indian troops in the presence of President Francois Hollande, who is the chief guest for this year's celebrations From above: Indian air force helicopters throw flower petals from the sky (left), while the French Army are joined by a marching band (right) Strength in numbers: Indian security forces are also part of the Republic Day parade celebrations which will take place in full on Tuesday Advertisement They are fantastic behemoths that hark back to the golden age of industrial Britain when rail was the height of travel. Black 5 locomotives were pictured today pulling the Cumbrian Mountain Express train over the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire, making it the first steam train of the year to travel over the historic structure. They replaced the legendary Flying Scotsman steam engine, recently revamped in a 10million restoration project and set to return to public services next month. Hundreds of people were expected to try to catch a glimpse of the Scotsman but it was taken off the route earlier this week when it was discovered it needed further work on its brakes. A spokesman for the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, which runs the Cumbrian Mountain Express, said it was with 'great disappointment' the Scotsman was replaced. The firm had a back-up plan to ensure there was something different for train enthusiasts to enjoy. A spokeswoman for the company told the Cumberland News & Star: 'The Winter Cumbrian route will now be double headed by two Black 5's. It is unusual to have two steam engines pulling a train and so it will still offer a great opportunity for people to see something different.' Two Black 5 locomotives were pictured pulling the Cumbrian Mountain Express over the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire today The pair of steam engines, pictured at Appleby Station, replaced the Flying Scotsman after issues were found with its brakes The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company said it was disappointed to lose the Scotsman but that two engines pulling the express was an unusual sight and interesting for train enthusiasts A mother and two children pictured watching the steam engines pull the express train through North Yorkshire Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped an Orange County jail. The inmates were last seen at 5am Friday at the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night, Lt. Jeff Hallock, a spokesman with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said Saturday. Hallock said investigators believe they know how the three men escaped the 900-inmate jail, but for now, he wouldn't release those details. He said it's the first escape from the facility in at least the past 20 years and could be the first-ever breakout from the jail. Scroll down for video Wanted: Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after inmates (left to right) Jonathan Thieu, Hossein Nayeri and Bac Duong escaped from jail Lt. Jeff Hallock said the Orange County Sheriff's Department is doing everything it can to find the men Orange County sheriff's deputies and a search dog investigate early Saturday morning after the inmates' escaped Lt. Jeff Hallock said at a news conference 'We're exhausting all investigative resources and measures to bring these three inmates back into custody' The inmates include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who had been held on a $1million bond since October 2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been held without bond since September 2014 on charges of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. Nayeri and three other men are accused of kidnapping a California marijuana dispensary owner in 2012. They drove the dispensary owner to a desert spot where they believed he had hidden money and then cut off his penis, authorities said. After the crime, Nayeri fled the U.S. to his native Iran, where he remained for several months. He was arrested in Prague in November 2014 while changing flights from Iran to Spain to visit family. The inmates were last seen at 5am Friday at the Orange County Central Men's Jail (pictured) in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles They could have escaped anytime between Friday morning and late Friday night, Lt. Jeff Hallock said The third escaped inmate, 43-year-old Bac Duong, was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and other charges. Hallock said the sheriff's department is doing everything it can to find the men. 'Obviously the safety of the community is No. 1,' Hallock said at a news conference. 'We're exhausting all investigative resources and measures to bring these three inmates back into custody.' For a few years before we were married, my wife owned a small apartment in the old western sector of Berlin. Just down the road, in the middle-class suburb of Friedenau, was an unassuming red-brick house which I was astonished to learn was the childhood home of one of the monsters of the Third Reich Hitlers deputy, Hermann Goering. He was the strutting, corpulent Reichsmarschall whose fanatical Nazi zeal was fuelled by an addiction to morphine prescribed as a painkiller for gunshot wounds he sustained in the abortive Beer Hall putsch of 1923. As one of Hitlers most trusted deputies, he headed the SA Brownshirts and the feared Gestapo secret police before masterminding Germanys rearmament drive in the 1930s and taking over command of the Luftwaffe as it swept all before it in the invasions of Poland, France and the Low Countries. Scroll down for video Hitler's henchman Hermann Goering. As one of Hitlers most trusted deputies, he headed the SA Brownshirts and the feared Gestapo secret police before masterminding Germanys rearmament drive in the 1930s and taking over command of the Luftwaffe Could the man who led the German air force in the Battle of Britain and who organised the Holocaust really have been raised in such a dull, normal place in the area where I went shopping? For the first time it struck me that the Goerings, and other Nazi leaders, were for many Germans just the people next door, the ones you went to school with or met in the pub. But the more I was to learn about the Goerings, the more extraordinary their story became. While Hermann was condemning millions to death in the name of National Socialism, his bohemian, Nazi-hating younger brother Albert secured the release of 34 prominent Jews and other political prisoners from the concentration camps and rescued many more from certain death. He pretended they were to be used as forced labour in his factories and then allowed them to escape. As Yad Vashem, Israels official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, considers the remarkable step of awarding Albert Goering its highest honour by naming him alongside Oscar Schindler, the rescuer of Jews made famous in the film Schindlers List, as one of the Righteous Among The Nations, I have investigated the brothers contrasting and intertwined life stories for Radio 4. Different paths: Albert Goering. While Hermann was condemning millions to death in the name of National Socialism, his younger brother Albert secured the release of Jews and other prisoners from the concentration camps and rescued many more from certain death Hermann, born in 1895, and Albert, born two years later, were the sons of Heinrich and Fanny Goering, who, on the surface, appeared rather like the house in Friedenau stolidly middle-class, a little dull. Heinrich worked for the German diplomatic service as governor general of the German protectorate in what is now Namibia, and the consul in Haiti. While he was away, Fanny took a lover, a wealthy doctor and businessman called Hermann von Epenstein, who owned the Friedenau house and who acted as guardian for Hermann and Albert while Heinrich was abroad. By the 1920s, the brothers were already on widely divergent paths. Hermann was loud, overbearing and ready for action, a highly decorated First World War fighter ace who had commanded the famous squadron created by the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. One final astonishing twist...Albert was a Jew The Munich beer halls of the post- armistice years were a magnet for disaffected German nationalists. And it was in Munich that Hermann heard a rousing speech by the charismatic failed artist and political activist Adolf Hitler and joined his embryonic Nazi party. Albert, meanwhile, had spent the war in the mud of the trenches as an unglamorous signal engineer. After the war he enjoyed the kind of life portrayed in the musical Cabaret, with artist and music-hall friends, plenty of wine, good food, parties and women. He was already on his second marriage when he moved to racy, multicultural Vienna to work with a film company part-owned by two Jewish brothers, Oskar and Kurt Pilzer, who became his friends. It is no surprise that, given their wildly different lifestyles, the brothers had very little contact for a decade until, in 1938, Alberts bohemian life came to an end thanks in part to his brother. It was then that Hitler mooted the annexation of Austria and dispatched the man who had become his most trusted lieutenant. Hermann was the key player in imposing Nazi order, bullying Austrias politicians by telephone, demanding Nazis be given government positions, and finally insisting that German troops should invade. The Nazi nightmare of arrests, Gestapo swoops and political opponents being led off to the Dachau concentration camp had begun. The Pilzers were among those arrested. And this is where the story of the two Goering brothers takes its first extraordinary twist. Seven years later, in 1945, Hermann was held in the interrogation rooms at Nuremberg, awaiting trial and his inevitable execution. Albert Goering was also held by interrogators, who felt sure he was not just a witness to his brothers crimes, but probably a war criminal too. A symbolic star of David on gates at the memorial to Jews who died in Dachau concentration camp - some saved by Albert were to have been sent there Then Albert astonished the Allies by writing out by hand a list of 34 people he claimed to have helped escape the Nazis. The Pilzers were at number 24. Dr Kurt Schuschnigg, the former Chancellor of Austria, was also on the list. So was the Archduke Joseph Ferdinand of the royal Habsburg dynasty. Albert claimed that his brother Hermann was so triumphant after Austria was annexed, he allowed everyone a wish. My sister and I asked for the release of the old archduke. Hermann was very embarrassed but the next day the arrested Habsburger was free again. Albert went on to say that he was saved from the Gestapo and SS who over time had four warrants out for his immediate arrest by Hermann himself. As far as he could [Hermann] helped me, Albert claimed, adding that when it came to family, Hitlers deputy had a warm heart. Alberts claims were immediately dismissed by his Allied interrogators as far-fetched. An interrogation report said he was guilty of as clever a piece of rationalisation and whitewash as the interrogators had ever seen. It concluded: Albert Goerings lack of subtlety is matched only by the bulk of his obese brother. But two extraordinary developments helped change their minds. Kurt Pilzer, who had escaped to the United States, wrote to the Nuremberg prosecutors, pleading Alberts case. Then a new interrogator arrived, an American called Victor Parker, a fluent German speaker. Hermann Goering: The strutting, corpulent Reichsmarschall whose fanatical Nazi zeal was fuelled by an addiction to morphine Nazi defendants (L-R front row) Field Marshall Hermann Goering, Adolf Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess, Joachim Von Ribbentrop (Hitler's Foreign Minister) and Wilhelm Keitel sit in the dock of their war crimes trial at Nuremberg He was a Jewish refugee to America and his family had changed their real name, Paschkis. His aunt, Sophie, had converted to Catholicism and married the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehar, best known for writing The Merry Widow. Lehar had been detained by the Nazis because of his marriage to someone born Jewish. And by an amazing coincidence, Sophie was number 15 on Alberts list! Parker spoke to his aunt about how Albert had helped them to leave Austria. Thanks to a most unlikely twist of fate, Alberts story was validated by one of the men sent to help convict him at Nuremberg. Yet Alberts troubles were not over. He had worked as the export manager at Czech car firm Skoda, which had been converted to Nazi war production, and the post-war authorities in Prague wanted him on charges of Nazi collaboration. Now members of the Czech resistance who worked in the Skoda factory came forward and testified that Albert had helped them undermine the Nazi occupiers, passing on information to the resistance and encouraging acts of sabotage. Albert, it emerged, had not only lobbied his brother to release individual prisoners from Dachau, but also forged Hermanns signature on documents that allowed anti-Nazi activists and Jews to escape Hitlers henchmen. He took company trucks and drove away inmates as forced labourers before parking in secluded areas and allowing them to escape. The Dachau Concentration Camp, where one brother was condemning millions to death while the other was securing their release Hermann was convicted of war crimes by the Nuremberg tribunal and cheated the gallows by taking cyanide on the eve of his execution in April 1946. The following year Albert was cleared by a Czech court, but his life was in ruins. The Goering name didnt help him. He had four broken marriages, and continued to drink prodigiously, dying in obscurity in 1966, aged 69, his deeds publicly unrecognised. But now, 50 years after his death, that has begun to change, and historians talk of a Good Goering. One, William Hastings Burke, has made a case at Yad Vashem for Albert to receive Israels highest honour for a non-Jewish person and be recognised like Schindler as the Righteous Among The Nations. The Righteous are those non-Jews who risked their life, freedom and safety to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. And there is one final twist perhaps the most remarkable in the whole story. Alberts only daughter, Elizabeth Goering Klasa, who escaped after the war to Peru, has revealed a family secret. She says that Albert confided in her mother that he was not Hermanns brother, but his half-brother. Albert Goering was, by his own account, fathered by his mothers lover, Hermann von Epenstein. Albert, brother to one of Nazi Germanys leading monsters, was Jewish: von Epenstein had converted to Catholicism, but was born a Jew. So the mundane red-brick house down the road from my wifes Berlin apartment housed two remarkable Germans: one became an egomaniacal Nazi leader, the other was to risk his own life and defy the Nazis as the Good Goering. The Armys world-renowned marching bands are set to be turfed out of the spectacular spiritual home where they have trained for more than 150 years. Defence chiefs are planning a fire sale of Kneller Hall, the 18th Century home of The Royal Military School of Music, to housing developers sparking a fierce backlash from leading music figures and politicians. Selling the estate in Twickenham, South-West London, where thousands of people enjoy military concerts each summer, could raise more than 30 million for the MoD. The Armys world-renowned marching bands are set to be turfed out of the spectacular spiritual home where they have trained for more than 150 years But critics have described the move as an affront to the musicians who are often the public face of Britains Armed Forces. Composer Howard Goodall said: Kneller Hall has a cultural value far beyond what it may be worth in financial terms. The men and women trained there are highly skilled. They are among the best in the world because they are beautifully trained in a historic place. They deserve more respect than this. You wouldnt dream of closing the Royal College of Music, but Ministers seem to think this is acceptable because they are only military musicians. They are being treated like second-class musicians but they are not. They are first-class. Lyricist Don Black, who won an Oscar for Born Free, said: It is incredibly sad. Its yet another part of England that should remain as it is. Surely there are other places they can build homes on without losing such a jewel? Vick Bain, head of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, added: British Army bands are intrinsic to our national identity. To sell their beautiful and important headquarters without plans in place for their relocation is absurd. Questions have been raised over the sale of the 1709 Jacobean mansion, as the estate has been designated as Metropolitan Open Land, giving it the same protection as a green belt site. Defence chiefs are planning a fire sale of Kneller Hall (pictured), the 18th Century home of The Royal Military School of Music, to housing developers A petition against the MoDs decision has been launched, with the areas former MP, Vince Cable, warning of enormous local resistance. The school was founded at Kneller Hall by the Duke of Cambridge in 1857, soon after he witnessed a shambolic arrangement of the National Anthem to mark the birthday of his cousin, Queen Victoria, played by 20 under-prepared Army bands. But the MoD, which is hoping to sell 12 sites for 500 million and make room for 15,000 new homes, believes the building is underused. It has 60 permanent staff training about 70 recruits each year. Warning: Former defence secretary Liam Fox Eurosceptics have warned that migrants linked to a wave of sex attacks in Germany will be able to move to Britain if it remains part of the European Union. Former defence secretary Liam Fox told campaigners the New Year's Eve crime spree in Cologne, which has been blamed on migrants, revealed the 'real security issue at risk' when voters decide if they want to sever the UK's ties with Brussels. The concerns were echoed by Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who claimed that within three or four years the perpetrators would have German passports that would allow them to head to the UK. Police in Cologne are investigating a staggering 359 sexual assaults and a total of 821 complaints after a mob went on the rampage on New Year's Eve. In figures released by the state government in North Rhine-Westphalia, the full extent of crimes - ranging from pick pocketing to gang rape - police are investigating is laid bare in what has been dubbed a 'list of shame'. It shows that a total of 359 sexual assaults have been reported to German police and that 659 women are recorded as having been victims of the mob. At the launch of a cross-party campaign on Britain's future in the 28-strong bloc, Dr Fox told the meeting: 'Insecurity for our country comes from open borders and uncontrolled migration. 'I do not want the mistakes made by Angela Merkel in opening the doors to migration in Germany to be reflected in Britain's security, because Germany has discovered in Cologne and other places exactly what it can mean when you do not know who you have allowed into your country. 'Within a short time when they are given citizenship in any of the European countries that they have entered they will have the right to enter the United Kingdom if we remain a member of the European Union. 'That for me is the real security issue at risk in this referendum.' Liam Fox told campaigners the New Year's Eve crime spree in Cologne (pictured) revealed the 'real security issue at risk' when voters decide if they want to sever the UK's ties with Brussels Nearly 500 women have made sexual assault allegations following the New Year celebrations in Cologne At a packed meeting in Northamptonshire, Conservative, Labour, Ukip and Democratic Unionist Party MPs behind Grassroots Out (GO) - a cross party campaign designed to bring together ordinary voters who want to back Brexit' - set out their cases to leave the EU. It came after David Cameron raised the possibility of Britain getting an 'emergency brake' on high EU migration levels during talks in the Czech Republic on Friday. But his former leadership rival dismissed the Prime Minister's promise to secure a significant package of reforms to put before voters in a referendum that must be held by the end of next year. 'The very best that the Prime Minister can get in this renegotiation is better membership of the wrong club,' Dr Fox said. 'It's not worthless but it's not a reason to stay win the European Union.' The GO group, which has been formed in response to frustrations with other anti-Brussels campaigns that are too focused on 'party politics', will set up task forces to knock on doors during the campaign. Nigel Farage said it was time for the country to 'wake up' to the fact that EU states had been 'forced into a straitjacket of one size fits all' Established campaigns Vote Leave and Leave.EU have spent months battling it out to win the designation of the Electoral Commission as the official 'out' voice in the referendum on Britain's EU membership. Labour's Kate Hoey told supporters that 'one of the saddest things' about her party's approach was that leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell had failed to publicly maintain their previous opposition to the EU. Shadow cabinet ministers must be given the same right to campaign freely as the Conservatives, Ms Hoey said. Mr Farage said it was time for the country to 'wake up' to the fact that EU states had been 'forced into a straitjacket of one size fits all'. Iran and China have agreed to expand bilateral ties and increase trade to $600 billion (420 billion) in the next 10 years following Chinese President Xi Jinping visit to Tehran. Xi is the second leader of a U.N. Security Council member to visit Tehran and and meeting with President Hassan Rouhani following the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers last year. Iran emerged from years of economic isolation this month when the United Nations' nuclear watchdog ruled it had curbed its nuclear programme, clearing the way for the lifting of sanctions. Scroll down for video Iran and China have agreed to expand bilateral ties and increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years following Chinese President Xi Jinping visit to Tehran and meeting with President Hassan Rouhani President Xi is the second leader of a U.N. Security Council member to visit Tehran and and meeting with President Hassan Rouhani following the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers last year 'Iran and China have agreed to increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years,' Rouhani said at a news conference with Xi broadcast live on state television. 'Iran and China have agreed on forming strategic relations (as) reflected in a 25-year comprehensive document,' he said. Iran and China signed 17 accords today, including on cooperation in nuclear energy and a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, known in China as One Belt, One Road. 'China is still heavily dependent on Iran for its energy imports and Russia needs Iran in terms of its new security architecture vision for the Middle East,' said Ellie Geranmayeh, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. 'Iran plays quite an integral role for both China and Russia's interests within the region, much more than it does for the Europeans,' Geranmayeh said. Xi was quoted as saying by China's Xinhua news agency: 'The China-Iran friendship ... has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape.' The Chinese state-backed Global Times newspaper said in an editorial on Saturday that China hoped to improve ties with Iran as part of its sweeping plan to rebuild trade links with Europe and Asia and carve out new markets for its goods. Iran and China signed 17 accords today, including on cooperation in nuclear energy and a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, known in China as One Belt, One Road Xi said: 'The China-Iran friendship ... has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape' The Chinese president was to meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day Rouhani said the countries had also agreed to cooperate on 'terrorism and extremism in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen' President Rouhani and President Xi shake hands at the official arrival ceremony 'China is of course considering its self interest in strengthening cooperation with Iran, especially at a time when China is in the midst of expending efforts to push forward the One Belt, One Road initiative, Iran is an important fulcrum,' the paper said. Rouhani said the countries had also agreed to cooperate on 'terrorism and extremism in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen'. China signalled its support for Yemen's government, which is fighting an Iran-allied militia, during Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia, Iran's rival for influence in the region, this week. Iran has called on China to join the fight against ISIS and play a more active role in the region. 'Although China and Russia backed U.N. sanctions against Iran on its nuclear programme, they were also heavily pushing for special waivers to continue trading with Iran,' Geranmayeh said. 'Iran had a relationship both politically and economically with China and Russia for the last ten years in ways that it hasn't had with Europe. So it's quite natural to see it opening up first to these countries.' The Chinese president was to meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. Iran has called on China to join the fight against ISIS and play a more active role in the region The former babysitter charged with abducting toddler Lyndon Albers has been sent back to a mental health hospital as prosecutors become frustrated at the slow pace of the case. Abigail Hanna was arrested in November and charged on multiple counts in connection with the abduction of toddler Lyndon, a two-year-old girl. Hanna, 21, is facing charges of kidnapping, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a child, and breaking and entering in the nighttime. The toddler disappeared from her home during the early hours of November 20 and was found naked by the side of the road some eight miles from her home later that morning. Hanna has now been send back to a mental health facility which means her prosecution has been put on hold again. Scroll down for video... Sectioned: Abigail Hanna (pictured in November) has been sent back to a mental hospital for review. It essentially puts the case on hold Vanished: Lyndon Albers, two, was found eight miles from her parents' home. She was naked, covered in cigarette burns and with a shaved head Former couple: Abigail Hanna and her then fiance Nathan Wolters pictured last Halloween. His family said the engagement was off after her arrest in November Privilege: Abigail Hannah with (from left) her parents Laurie and David, older brother Zachary and younger brother Caleb Hanna has now returned to the Worcester Recovery Center, where she has been staying since her November arraignment. Little Lyndon was found in Rowley, Massachusetts eight miles from her home in South Hamilton and just three miles from Hanna's Topsfield home. The toddler was naked, with her head bruised and shaved and had suffered cigarette burns. She was spotted by a local couple who saw her in a pile of leaves by the side of the road approximately two and a half hours after her parents first reported her missing. Prosecutors allege Hanna kidnapped the toddler from the little girl's home in the middle of the night, shaved her head, burned her with cigarettes, and left her naked and shivering on the side of the road. According to Hanna's lawyer the 21-year-old is suffering from 'life threatening' psychiatric problems including auditory hallucinations and has 'thoughts of suicide' and 'no rational ability to participate in her defense.' 'The frustrating part is the amount of time it's taking,' said Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. 'The bottom line as we continue to move forward on this case, we are ensured that Ms. Hanna is held and will remain so until we can get a proper evaluation of her.' Hanna is due back in court February 11. Prosecutors want to hold a dangerousness hearing, but are unable to do so until there is a ruling on Hanna's competence. The hearing is where it would be decided if she is competent to stand trial. Hanna has a history of suicide attempts and was showing psychotic symptoms in her holding cell prior to arraignment, a psychologist said. Affluent: The Hannas' family home in Topsfield, Massachusetts. They worship at a local Congregational church and all three of the children went to Christian schools It has also emerged that Hanna had suffered a miscarriage about a month before allegedly abducting two-year-old Lyndon whom she babysat just once before the Albers fired her. Apparently unable to stand without assistance or to speak, the girl who appeared was a far cry from the golden-haired daughter of privilege of her Facebook postings. Hanna's parents David and Laurie live in an $875,000 property in affluent Topsfield, 40 minutes north east of Boston. Her father is a director of Boston Advisors, an investment management firm, and a Penn State University graduate. The family worship at the First Congregational Church in Hamilton, MA. They had previously spent time living abroad, with Mr Hanna working in London and his family living in the affluent commuter town of Weybridge, Surrey Taken: Lyndon Albers was taken from his parents' home some time after 3am. She was found four hours later by the side of a road eight miles away Hanna attended The Master's School, a Christian preparatory school in West Simsbury, CT, where she moved as a junior and her Facebook status still bills her as a counselor at Gordon College, an exclusive Christian establishment in Massachusetts. In November, the Albers released a statement asking for privacy and saying, 'We are extremely thankful for the incredible efforts to rescue our daughter by the Police and all emergency responders. We are extremely grateful to the kind couple who found our daughter.' The Hannas too have released a statement as they attempt to deal with the devastating fall-out of their daughter's apparently troubled spiral. They said: 'We are so thankful that [the child] is improving and wish her and her family complete healing in every way. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We also will continue to care for Abi, whom we love very much.' Nathan Wolters and Abigail Hanna (pictured) announced their engagement last November. A member of his family said it was now off The police watchdog admits it risks being overwhelmed by the soaring number of allegations that corrupt cops covered up child sex-abuse rings. Shocking figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday reveal that more than 150 investigations are under way into claims that officers protected VIP paedophiles, ignored grooming gangs and even took advantage of young people themselves. They include the repeated missed opportunities to prosecute Labour politician Greville Janner for preying on boys in care, and accusations against former Prime Minister Ted Heath that were never properly probed. More than 150 investigations are under way into claims that officers protected VIP paedophiles, including missed opportunities to prosecute Labour politician Greville Janner, (right) and accusations against former Prime Minister Ted Heath (left) that were never properly probed In a previously unseen report, the Independent Police Complaints Commission reveals that many more allegations could be made as forces go back over their old files, even though many of those accused have long since retired or died. The massive rise in cases could leave the IPCC unable to deal with other types of misconduct allegations against serving police without extra money on top of the 30 million funding boost it received last year, which would anger chief constables and crime tsars whose budgets are being squeezed. Its new strategy on handling police conduct matters relating to child abuse, quietly published this month and seen by this newspaper, states: The IPCC could face criticism if it is perceived as focusing on events which happened in the past at the expense of investigating current issues. Despite the IPCCs expansion, it is possible that as more forces complete their own reviews of practice the IPCC will become overwhelmed with referrals which cannot all be independently investigated or managed owing to capacity. Figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday show that the IPCC is currently handling 155 investigations into child-abuse allegations, across 12 police forces. Most are being investigated by the IPCC itself but in others cases it is managing local forces probes. The largest number 54 are in Essex, which include claims that officers failed to look into reports of historic abuse. There are another 51 cases concerning South Yorkshire Police, where officers in Rotherham are accused of standing by while gangs of mainly Asian men groomed and abused vulnerable teenage girls. Figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday show that the IPCC is currently handling 155 investigations into child-abuse allegations, across 12 police forces South Yorkshire crime tsar Shaun Wright was forced out of his job because he had been the town councils head of childrens services when an estimated 1,400 girls were abused. A further 31 IPCC cases concern the Metropolitan Police, many of which revolve around damaging allegations that senior figures in Scotland Yard blocked investigations into paedophile rings in order to protect high-profile politicians. The late Sir Peter Morrison, an aide to Margaret Thatcher when she was in Downing Street, is said to have got away with abusing teenage boys in public lavatories on at least two occasions because of a high-level cover-up. Wiltshire Police is at the centre of allegations that it failed to investigate former Prime Minister Ted Heath for sex offences in the 1990s, and former Leicestershire Police officers face scrutiny for the failure to prosecute Labour politician Lord Janner before he was finally charged with child sex offences last year. He died before they could be heard in court. Four forces have already faced investigation over their alleged failures to properly investigate Jimmy Savile when he was still alive Other cases concern forces in Avon and Somerset, Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Northamptonshire, the West Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Sussex. Four forces have already faced investigation over their alleged failures to properly investigate Jimmy Savile when he was still alive. Rachel Cerfontyne, deputy chair of the IPCC, said: We are conducting investigations into a range of allegations affecting 12 police forces to date and some of these are high-profile matters, involving a large number of investigations into a single force. But Adam Simmonds, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire, said: I will not give any more money to the current incarnation of the IPCC because I do not think they are competent to carry out the current level of demand to the required standard. Detective: I was told to ignore meat rack VIPs during paedophile probe Former Chief Inspector Howard Groves was investigating a West End paedophile ring with alleged links to MPs and TV stars in the 1980s A Scotland Yard detective claims he was told to ignore VIPs during a paedophile probe now being investigated by the police watchdog. Former Chief Inspector Howard Groves, who served in the murder squad during a distinguished 34-year career, was investigating a West End paedophile ring with alleged links to MPs and TV stars in the 1980s. Detectives found that boys as young as 14 were being supplied to men in Piccadilly Circus in an area known by the boys as the meat rack. Mr Groves, now 58, told The Mail on Sunday: I remember we were called to a meeting [and] told by a senior officer that if we found any establishment figures involved, the investigation would be stopped. Names of MPs, celebrities and businessmen did surface during the inquiry though Mr Groves, who retired in 2014, wasnt privy to them and 25 men were convicted. The operation was led by Met Commander Trevor Lloyd-Hughes, who died in 1986 amid claims of soliciting male prostitutes. Mr Groves said: The command not to investigate establishment figures was relayed by a senior officer and I believe must have come from Lloyd-Hughes. Mr Grovess claim is one of 31 allegations of Met corruption relating to child sex offences that the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating. Robots may be able to read your thoughts by 2030 and your innermost secrets could be hacked, an expert has warned. Nita Farahany, a professor of law and philosophy at Duke University in North Carolina in the U.S., said brain function could be used to unlock electronic devices, but the equipment used to read the mind could ultimately be worn all the time. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps, Ms Farahany said the device reading brain activity would share it with a computer and apps, which could be accessed by 'not good Samaritans'. Warning: Nita Farahany, a professor of law and philosophy, said robots may be able to read your thoughts Ms Farahany told the audience: 'It turns out every person thinks quite differently about the same thing. 'You could think a song, a little ditty in your head while you are wearing a consumer-based EEG device [a method of recording the electrical activity of the brain], and then that, which has a unique neuro signature, can be used as your passcode. 'It turns out that is an incredibly effective and incredibly safe, almost impossible to replicate passcode. 'And so there is discussion about using "pass thought". This is one of just many different ways in which I think we will ultimately end up adopting things like consumer-based EEG devices that we are wearing all the time and then you have really got to talk about privacy. 'Because you are interested in your data wearing an EEG device that reads your brain activity at all times, but you are sharing it with your computer and software and with apps. 'And it's all now part of the free apps that you are sharing with not good Samaritans.' Ms Farahany added: 'We have a lot of information down to decoding what you're thinking, what your mental health is, the progress towards Alzheimer's you may be experiencing, in the cloud and being shared. 'So the question is, what do we do in that world? And I think the idea that laws are really going to help us is not likely. 'We can't possibly know every way in which your data will be misused against you.' Her warning is not the only troubling vision to come out of the forum - scientists and political leaders have said the world must act quickly to avert a future in which autonomous AI robots roam the battlefields killing humans. Future: A survey of executives found almost half expect artificial intelligence machines to sit on companies boards within the next decade 5.1 MILLION JOB LOSSES PREDICTED DUE TO TECHNOLOGY Disruptive labour market changes, including the rise of robots and artificial intelligence, will result in a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years in 15 leading countries - and women will be worst hit, a major new study released at Davos has claimed. The projection by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is holding its annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort this week, assumes a total loss of 7.1 million jobs, offset by a gain of 2 million new positions. Women will be the biggest losers as their jobs are often concentrated in low-growth or declining areas such as sales, office and administrative roles, the report said. The technology that will change work: The report found cloud computing, big data, robots and AI will cause the biggest changes. Advertisement Angela Kane, the former German UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said the world had been slow to take pre-emptive measures to protect humanity from the lethal technology - and even admitted the discussions might be too late. Speaking at the conference, Ms Kane said: 'There are many countries and many representatives in the international community that really do not understand what is involved. 'This development is something that is limited to a certain number of advanced countries.' The deployment of autonomous weapons would represent a dangerous new era in warfare, scientists said. 'We are not talking about drones, where a human pilot is controlling the drone,' added Stuart Russell, professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley. 'We are talking about autonomous weapons, which means that there is no one behind it,' he told the forum. 'Very precisely, weapons that can locate and attack targets without human intervention.' A World Economic Forum survey of executives also found almost half expect artificial intelligence machines to sit on companies boards within the next decade. A confident Donald Trump suggested Saturday morning that his supporters are so loyal that they wouldn't even abandon him if he went on a gun rampage . 'I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay? It's like incredible!' the Republican front-runner said during a campaign rally in Sioux Center, Iowa. He hedged that statement hours later in the town of Pella that 'I could do almost anything. I don't want to if I do something bad, say "Bye-bye Mr. Trump." Or "Donald".' Trump has attracted an unusually loyal following, with pollsters reporting that large numbers are solidly behind him. At the same time, a similar base of anti-Trump Republicans say he's the one GOP presidential hopeful they would never vote for under any circumstances. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO BANG: Donald Trump said his supporters are so loyal to him that he could open fire on a crowded street and they would still stay in line LAWSUIT? The Donald floated the idea of suing Ted Cruz over the question of whether his Canadian birth rules him out of running for the White House SUPPORT: Iowa supporters rolled a mobile billboard in Sioux Center reading : 'Could God be for Trump?' He preached to the former group in the first of two Saturday rallies, lapsing into the salty language that has become a hallmark of his speeches. He commented on a raft of TV ads he has seen in Iowa bought by campaigns and super PACs supporting Ben Carson, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz that hammer him on everything from illegal immigration to foreign policy. 'Those ads are total bulls**t,' he boomed. Trump called Jeb Bush 'not a smart person,' making a 'cuckoo' motion near his head and asking: 'Who the hell wants to listen to this guy?' Minutes later Trump floated the idea of filing a lawsuit to challenge the Canadian-born Cruz's eligibility to run for president. 'He could run for the Prime Minister of Canada and I wouldnt even complain because he was born in Canada,' he joked. 'The Democrats are going to sue if he ever got the nomination within two days. There have already been two lawsuits filed, but they dont have standing. I have standing to sue. Can you imagine if I did it? Should I do it just for fun?' 'If I thought it was going to matter, maybe I would do it, maybe I wouldnt,' he said. The billionaire also took aim at the 'stupid National Review,' a storied conservative magazine that marshalled 22 right-wing thinkers to attack him in a special issue released Friday night. OVERFLOW: The Trump rally drew an estimated 1,500 people in rural western Iowa LOYAL: Iowans braved sub-freezing temperatures on a Saturday morning to see their political hero Top on his list was Internet broadcaster and former Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck, who wrote that 'Trumps potential primary victory would provide Hillary Clinton with the easiest imaginable path to the White House.' Trump shot back. 'His show is failing. He's failing,' he said, calling Beck a 'serious loser' and a 'sad sack.' 'He's always crying!' he said of Beck. 'I cried when I was one year old. I was a baby.' Trump also chided Iowans for picking 'a lot of losers' in past caucuses, referring to recent election cycles that picked Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee neither of whom went on to win the Republican nomination. He urged his fans to brave the cold on the evening of February 1 to support him in their precinct caucuses. Cruz, he said, is 'going down big, big, big!' in the polls. Migrants have been banned from a historic swimming bath in Germany after a gang of men were caught on camera masturbating in a hot tub and sexually assaulting women. Several other men were seen 'emptying their bowels' in the children's end of the main swimming pool at the Johannisbad baths in Zwickau, Saxony. Management at the historic baths are reportedly no longer allowing migrants into the facilities following the allegations while some local swimmers have stayed away after the incidents. Scroll down for video: Several other men were seen 'emptying their bowels' in the children's end of the main swimming pool at the Johannisbad baths in Zwickau, Saxony 'An asylum seeker has masturbated in the hot tub and ejaculated into the basin. This is also recorded on the surveillance camera', civilian servant Rainer Mr Kallweit said. 'Furthermore, the lifeguards have to protect women and girls from the asylum seekers. Young men wanted to forcibly penetrate the female changing room,' he said, describing another incident at another swimming pool, according to Breitbart. Police have arrested several men in connection to the incident at the baths. The men have since been released. The news comes following confirmation from the German police that the wave of sexual assaults and robberies on New Year's eve did not only happen in Cologne but that similar incidents also took place in 12 of Germany's regional states. Hundreds of women have reported they were groped and robbed by mainly North African suspects outside Cologne's main train station where crowds had gathered to ring in the New Year. It has also been claimed that several young men wanted to 'forcibly penetrate the female changing room' The sex attacks in Cologne on New Year's Eve sparked outrage after it was revealed the attackers were migrants Depraved: A note with the words, 'I'll kill you', written in German, was found on one of the men arrested in connection to the sex attacks on New Year's Eve in Cologne Similar assaults, however, also took place that night in 12 of Germany's 16 regional states, according to the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the NDR and WDR television stations, citing a report by German judicial police (BKA). 'The phenomenon of sexual violence, in part linked with robberies, is much greater than we previously thought,' the newspaper said on its website, adding that the regional states were affected to different degrees. The most affected state was North Rhine-Westphalia, which includes the city of Cologne, where 1,000 complaints have been filed, followed by Hamburg with 200. In other states the number of reported incidents was lower: Hesse (31 complaints); Bavaria (27), Baden-Wurtlemberg (25), Bremen (11) and Berlin (6). Danger: Some visitors have cancelled planned holidays to Cologne (pictured) and women are said to fear going out by themselves at night Protests were held after the Cologne attacks, with women shouting slogans and hold up a placard that reads 'Against Sexism - Against Racism' as they marched through the main railways station of Cologne One case was reported in Lower-Saxony, Brandeburg, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Like Cologne the target of the assaults were women in almost all cases. According to witnesses, the aggressors were often young men of foreign origin, between 17 and 30 years old. The assaults in Cologne, which police have blamed on young men from North Africa and other Arab countries, have ignited a fierce debate over Chancellor Angela Merkel's policy of welcoming refugees to Germany which received one million asylum seekers in 2015. A five-year-old Wisconsin boy riding in the back seat of his father's car was killed after an SUV pulled up alongside them and someone opened fire, authorities said. Police said the boy, sitting in a car seat in the back, was hit in the abdomen when another vehicle pulled up and fired multiple shots around 7.10pm in Beloit on Friday. He died from his injuries at a nearby hospital. A five-year-old boy riding in the back seat of his father's car was killed after an SUV pulled up alongside them and someone opened fire on a Beloit, Wisconsin street (pictured) on Friday Police said the boy, sitting in a car seat in the back, was hit in the abdomen when another vehicle pulled up and fired multiple shots around 7.10pm Police said they are searching for a maroon SUV that is a late 1990s or early 2000s model that could possibly be a GMC, according to WKOW. Interim Police Chief David Zibolski said the boy's father reported that the SUV had been following him but authorities have not determined for how long. Zibolski said he did not know if the father, who was not hit, was the intended target, but added that he was cooperating with authorities. Authorities said investigators have not determined how many shots were fired or how many people were inside the SUV. 'I'm certain there is someone in this community right now, one or more, that know who did this,' Zibolski said during a press conference. 'We really ask that our community in Beloit come forward and help solve this crime. We need the support and cooperation of Beloit.' Officers from the Beloit Police Department and the Rock County Sheriff's Office were searching for evidence in the street. It was also revealed star UK recruit Sam Burgess was involved in the spat Crowe confirmed the incident took place during a team meeting last month 'You didn't earn your money last season,' the Hollywood star said to Keary Crowe accused Keary, who plays for South Sydney, of being overpaid The controversial remark Russell Crowe made to a South Sydney Rabbitohs star that sent the player storming from the club has been revealed. Crowe, who co-owns the NRL club, accused five-eighth Luke Keary of being overpaid at the end of a boozy team meeting at the Hollywood star's farm near Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales central coast, according to The Sunday Telegraph. According to the newspaper, Crowe was berating a number of the team's younger players - including Cameron McInnes, when Keary, 23, defended them. Scroll down for video Russell Crowe's controversial remark to South Sydney Rabbitohs star Luke Keary has been revealed Crowe reportedly accused Keary (pictured) of being overpaid, after an intense team meeting on the Hollywood star's property Crowe reportedly shot back at Keary: 'You didn't earn your money last season.' The 23-year-old then snapped at high-profile UK recruit Sam Burgess for not sticking up for his teammates, which prompted Crowe to kick Keary out of his house. The five-eighth, who pocketed about $400,000 last season, then called a cab home about 2:30am. It comes after Crowe apologised earlier in the week for the incident, with the 51-year-old taking the blame for the bust-up. Crowe had reportedly been berating a number of younger players on the team, when Keary, 23, defended them 'You didn't earn your money last season,' Crowe reportedly spat at Keary (pictured) during the team meeting Keary reportedly criticised star recruit Sam Burgess for not defending younger players, which caused Crowe to boot the 23-year-old from his property 'Luke Keary situation entirely my fault,' Crowe tweeted on Wednesday. 'A bit of banter that went too far. I've apologised. 'He is a natural leader and great for our club.' Keary played 24 matches for Souths last season, scoring four tries. Keary reportedly stormed out of the boozy team bonding session with Russell Crowe and other Rabbitohs team members at the Oscar-winning actor's property at Coffs Harbour 'Luke Keary situation entirely my fault,' Crowe tweeted in a public apology to Luke Keary on Wednesday Sam Burgess rejoined South Sydney after temporarily switching codes and playing rugby union in the UK He is off contract at the end of the season and has reportedly attracted interest from other clubs. The Ipswich-born upcomer signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2012 but has always had ambitions to play with the Brisbane Broncos, the side he followed as a child. Keary made his debut in round 12 of the 2013 season and scored the first two tries of his professional NRL career in round 20 that year. Beaming at the camera with an angelic smile, this little boy is at first glance a picture of innocence. But though he is only six years old, and lives in the heart of British suburbia, he and his siblings are being groomed to support barbaric Islamic State terrorists. In exclusive pictures obtained by The Mail on Sunday, the children are shown posing in front of the jihadis black flag of Islam and brandishing a sword. Terrible footage has already emerged of young children groomed to support IS in Syria and Iraq but this boy was photographed inside a terraced house in suburban Luton. He was posing at the behest of his father Ibrahim Anderson, one of Britains most infamous jihadi Muslim converts. Shocking images of children were taken from the mobile phone of Ibrahim Anderson, a red-haired convert, to Islam who was arrested for setting up a stall on Oxford Street, London, to persuade people to join ISIS. This boy is only six years old, and he and his siblings are being groomed to support barbaric Islamic State terrorists In another picture, the boys older brother, eight, can be seen in a similar pose, brandishing a sword in front of the black flag, while wearing a Western T-shirt emblazoned with Kermit the Frog The third photograph shows their toddler sister, said to be under three. Wearing a pink hijab despite her age, she smiles at the camera while perching on the back-rest of a sofa Anderson was convicted at the Old Bailey on Friday of inviting support for IS in the first successful case of its kind. Disturbingly, his son is holding a sword in his left hand, apparently paying tribute to the late executioner Jihadi John, who cut the throats of his victims holding a hunting knife in the same hand. The boy also raises his right index finger, mimicking a gesture jihadis use to signify their one God. In another picture, the boys older brother, eight, can be seen in a similar pose, brandishing a sword in front of the black flag, while wearing a Western T-shirt emblazoned with Kermit the Frog. The third photograph shows their toddler sister, said to be under three. Wearing a pink hijab despite her age, she smiles at the camera while perching on the back-rest of a sofa. The black flag of Islam contains the Arabic words: There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah. But it has been appropriated by extremist groups. In the UK, it was routinely used in demonstrations by Al-Muhajiroun, the banned group which wanted to raise it above 10 Downing Street. These pictures were taken on Andersons mobile phone in October 2014 and were discovered by detectives when they raided his home two months later. They were shown to the jury at his trial. Born Andrew Anderson, he converted to Islam while serving three years in jail for a petrol station robbery in the late 1990s. He had previously been jailed for car theft. Before his arrest he was living with his wife, the mother of the children, in the Bury Park area of Luton. She too is a British convert and grew up in Nottingham. The children's red-bearded father Ibrahim Anderson talks to members of the public in suburban Luton Before his arrest, Anderson was living with his wife, the mother of the children, in the Bury Park area of Luton. File picture During the landmark court case, the jury was told that Anderson, 38, and his co-accused, Shah Jahan Khan, 63, set up a stall in Oxford Street, Central London, to recruit for IS. They were only brought to justice after a concerned Muslim passer-by contacted police. The court heard the two extremists spent two hours in August 2014 handing out leaflets promoting IS. Anderson belongs to the same group of London extremists who have urged followers to behead anyone who draws images of the Prophet Mohammed and formed vigilante sharia patrols to harass gay people Officers also found disturbing pictures on Khans mobile phone. Four young children believed to be members of his family were pictured in front of a sign reading Khilafah est 2014 an apparent reference to IS setting up their caliphate in Syria and Iraq in 2014. Anderson belongs to the same group of London extremists who have urged followers to behead anyone who draws images of the Prophet Mohammed and formed vigilante sharia patrols to harass gay people and tried to stop public drinking in East London. Other members of this group have included Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, who killed drummer Lee Rigby outside his barracks in Woolwich, South-East London, and Siddharta Dhar, the new IS executioner replacing Jihadi John. Anderson was previously charged but cleared of heckling a homecoming parade by the Royal Anglian Regiment in Luton in 2009. The convert, who also has a boy of 13, even posted one photo of his children on Facebook, but it was taken down for violating rules on hate messages. Last night Andersons 58-year-old stepfather, Martin Warner, told this newspaper that the sick extremist had always been a problem child, adding that the family had disowned him after his conversion to radical Islam. He added: I cant believe he made his children pose with the IS flag it is disgusting. He is a total idiot, a fanatic. He is the sort of person who would blow himself up or plant a bomb. He is dangerous. They should throw him in prison and throw away the key. Anderson and Khan will be sentenced on Friday. Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: Not only is this child grooming, this is child abuse. We cant have children being brought up in this country to become potential suicide bombers, groomed by their own parents. These children should be taken into care, if appropriate. Labour MP Keith Vaz said: These images are disturbing and demonstrate the extent to which people are prepared to go in support of IS. Extremists grooming their children has become a huge concern. Sources estimate that up to 100 British children under 16 are in IS-controlled Syria and Iraq. In Britain, more than 20 children have been made the subject of court orders amid fears they could be radicalised. Police say Home Office data 'does not provide a true picture' of crime Also had the highest increase in foreign born residents from 2001 to 2011 Highest in country, above London, with nearby Lincoln city ranking fifth Boston had 15 cases per 100,000 people in the year up to September 2015 The murder capital of Britain is actually a sleepy Lincolnshire town - which has also seen the highest increase in migrants in the country. Boston came top of a list of the local authorities with the most cases of murder, attempted murder or conspiracy to commit murder per 100,000 people, recently released by the Home Office. The town recorded 10 such cases in the year up to September 2015 - two homicides and eight attempted murders - meaning when adjusted for the population there were 15-per-100,000 people, placing it above the likes of London and Manchester. Boston (pictured) came top of a list of the local authorities with the most cases of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder per 100,000 people, recently released by the home office With 10 cases in the year up to September 2015 - including two homicides and eight attempted murders - Boston (pictured in March) placed above London and Manchester, with 15 per 100,000 The number of murders per 100,000 residents in the six most murderous authorities in Britain It meant that Boston is the place where it was most likely someone would kill you, try to kill you or plot to kill you. And census figures reveal it is also the authority with the highest increase in the number of foreign-born residents, which has caused controversy among residents for years. Research by the Migration Observatory, based at Oxford University, showed that there was a 467 per cent increase in the number of people born abroad between censuses in 2001 and 2011. In those ten years, the number jumped from 1,700 to 9,800, which has led a number of residents and local politicians to complain about the changing make-up of the town. Among those to be charged for homicide-related offences are Aleksandr Kudriasov, 40, Andis Apsitis, 36, and Mark Gidevic, 27, who will soon face trial for two counts of attempted murder. 10 MOST MURDEROUS PLACES Boston: 10 cases - 15 per 100,000 City of London: 1 case - 12.4 per 100,000 Gloucester: 10 cases - 8 per 100,000 Blackpool: 11 cases - 7.8 per 100,000 Lincoln: 7 cases - 7.3 per 100,000 Manchester: 33 cases - 6.3 per 100,000 Salford: 15 cases - 6.2 per 100,000 Rochdale: 13 cases - 6.1 per 100,000 Hackney: 15 cases - 5.7 per 100,000 Amber Valley: 7 cases - 5.6 per 100,000 Advertisement A fourth man, Andrej Kiselov, 39, was also charged with attempted murder and Marina Erte, 32, with assisting an offender. The charges relate to attempts to kill Algis Likso and Ramunas Kaleckas at their home in Boston in September. But Lincolnshire Police's Supt Paul Timmins said that the figures did not represent a true picture of crime in Lincolnshire. 'Using population data to compare crime rates will inevitably not provide the truest national picture but we do acknowledge that there have been a number of tragic incidents in Boston in recent years,' he told The Boston Target. He added: 'In most cases, arrests, charges and convictions followed swiftly and Lincolnshire remains a low crime county with one of the lowest recorded rates for violent crime in the country.' Second on the list of the most murderous towns in Britain was the City of London, where there were 12.4 murder-related offences per 100,000 people. 44-year-old Deyun Shi, who is suspected in the deaths of his two nephews, has been taken into custody in Hong Kong A man suspected in the Friday deaths of his two nephews in Arcadia, California, has been nabbed in Hong Kong. The nephews of 44-year-old suspect Deyun Shi were 15 and 16 years old. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Shi had also been wanted for an alleged murder attempt made Thursday. 'Detectives learned that after suspect, Deyun Shi's plane arrived at the Hong Kong airport, he was taken into custody by Hong Kong authorities,' deputies said in a Saturday release. They earlier said that on Friday, 'Detectives learned that Arcadia Police Department personnel responded to a "911'" call from a woman at the residence. 'The woman discovered her two sons, 15 and 16 year-old juveniles, suffering from blunt force trauma. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.' Scroll down for video The sheriff's department said in a Friday release: 'The suspect is considered armed and dangerous and is also wanted in connection to a spousal assault incident that occurred Thursday, January 21, 2016, in the La Canada area.' The boys' mother found her sons with blunt force trauma Friday in their Arcadia, California, home, and they were declared dead at the scene The nephews of 44-year suspect Deyun Shi were 15 and 16 years old According to CBS Los Angeles, Shi has been accused of using an ax in the assault. His wife was seeking a divorce, the television station reported. CBS Los Angeles reported the slayings happened while the teens' parents were paying a visit to Shi's hospitalized wife. Deputies wrote that Shi had fled on a Beijing-bound plane. His 2015 Yukon GMC XL has been recovered, according to deputies. Pupils at a top public school have been duped into posting explicit images of themselves online in a 'sexting' scam. Parents at Dauntsey's, one of Britain's oldest public schools and popular with Foreign Office and military families, have been warned that 42 pupils were targeted. Police are investigating whether boys as young as 11 were offered sex during online exchanges with someone they thought was an older teenage girl. Pupils at top public school Dauntsey's in Wiltshire (pictured) have been duped into posting explicit images of themselves online in a 'sexting' scam. There is no suggestion that any child in this photo were involved They were told to send explicit images of themselves via Snapchat, a mobile phone app that allows videos and pictures to be shared. However, it is understood that the 'girl' was in fact male. Parents fear that some of the photos were then sent to paedophiles. Staff discovered the scam and immediately alerted police and social services. A 17-year-old pupil has been arrested in connection with the incident and released on police bail pending further inquiries. One source told The Mail on Sunday: 'Parents are shocked and extremely angry. And it is horrendous for the boys involved, who are understandably scared and embarrassed. 'You think your kids are safe at school but it just shows how dangerous social media can be.' The use of Snapchat appears to have foiled the school's safeguards, which include teaching pupils about internet safety. Headmaster Mark Lascelles said: 'We educate pupils about online risks but there's very little we can do to stop the use of social media such as Snapchat. It is accessed via the 3G or 4G mobile phone networks or from home. It wouldn't be possible through the school's own internet service. 'There were 42 pupils who had contacts but considerably fewer actually posted images. When we discovered what was happening, we immediately asked the police to investigate and reported the situation ourselves to social services.' A report three months ago on Dauntsey's by the Independent Schools Inspectorate stated: 'The school educates all pupils in e-safety and operates suitable controls and filters regarding the use of the internet.' Children at the school were told to send explicit images of themselves via Snapchat (right), a mobile phone app that allows videos and pictures to be shared. However, it is understood that the 'girl' was in fact male Samantha Smith, chairman of the school's parents' association, said parents had been fully briefed and were 'very happy' with the school's response. 'The teachers do an absolutely brilliant job of educating children about online risks. In fact, that's how they found out so quickly about this and managed to shut it down,' she said. Snapchat is hugely popular with teenagers. More than seven billion videos are viewed on it every day. A key feature is that any image posted lasts for a maximum of ten seconds before being deleted from the company's servers. Parents are shocked and extremely angry. And it is horrendous for the boys involved, who are understandably scared and embarrassed A source at the school This has made Snapchat a popular choice among teenagers convinced that any risque photos or videos exist only fleetingly. But recipients can easily download apps that will keep a permanent record. Dauntsey's is a co-educational school where annual fees for UK boarders are almost 29,000. It has about 830 pupils half of whom are boys. The total number of boarders is about 300. Its chair of governors, Richard Handover, was also vice-chair of the controversial charity Kids Company. He was dragged into the row over founder Camila Batmanghelidjh's use of charity funds to pay for her chauffeur's daughter's education at Dauntsey's. Mr Handover declined to comment on the sexting investigation. Dauntsey's was founded in 1542 and its motto is Honor Deo (Honour To God). It is set in a 150-acre estate near Devizes, Wiltshire, and former pupils include zoologist Desmond Morris and Thomas The Tank Engine creator the Rev W. Awdry. The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, Angus Macpherson, is also a former pupil and now a governor. His spokeswoman said it was 'not appropriate' for him to comment. The school's chair of governors, Richard Handover (pictured), was also vice-chair of the controversial charity Kids Company Described in the Good Schools Guide as a 'spick and span version of Hogwarts, with its long oak tables and panelled common rooms smelling of furniture polish', Dauntsey's features among the top 100 independent schools on sixth-form academic achievement. On the school's website, Mr Lascelles writes: 'Our school community is lively, creative and caring; it is a happy place with a strong family atmosphere, where friendship matters and where the courteous informality between staff and pupils is highly valued. Our pastoral framework is simple it is one of warmth, care and discipline, where individual needs are addressed.' New mosques should be built without minarets to make them look quintessentially English and fit in with the landscape, according to former Tory chairman Baroness Warsi. Warsi, Britains first Muslim Cabinet Minister, is to launch a nationwide competition to design a new mosque as part of a campaign to boost religious tolerance. She claimed many of those in Britain are ugly, and that if new ones were built without minarets they could even look like a traditional village church. She also said the aim of her idea was to develop an authentic British Islamic brand. Baroness Warsi, Britains first Muslim Cabinet Minister, says new mosques should be built without minarets to make them look quintessentially English and fit in with the landscape Baroness Warsi said historically, the function of the tower on mosques was to issue the call to prayer. Now the call is made by a loudspeaker, so Minarets (pictured on the Central London Mosque) are no longer necessary We need a debate about what British Islam will look like in ten years time, she told The Mail on Sunday. There is a saying in Islamic thinking that Islam is like a river that takes the colour from the bed over which is flows, the bed being the country in which it is found. Here, the river of Islam flows over an English river bed and so it should reflect its colour. Historically, the function of the tower on mosques was to issue the call to prayer. Now the call is generally made with a loudspeaker. Baroness Warsi says: The need for a minaret, when someone had to go up and shout loudly from a high place to call people to prayers and be heard from a long way away, is not relevant in the UK, so you dont really need a minaret. A lot of mosques are quite ugly but they dont need to be. Instead, they should look nice: a nod to the history, heritage and culture that you find yourself in can be a good thing. She added: I would love to see a wonderful, quintessentially English-designed mosque. Police on Saturday charged a 17-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in a remote aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. Police said the male suspect can't be named under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Grant St. Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally - teacher Adam Wood, 35, and teacher's aide Marie Janvier, 23. He said seven people wounded in Friday's shooting at the school are hospitalized. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. Police responded to a call of shots fired at the school shortly after the lunch hour. Tragedy: Kevin Janvier told The Associated Press that his 23-year old daughter Marie (pictured), a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. New teacher Adam Wood, 35, was also tragically shot dead Marie (pictured in Facebook snaps) was Janvier's only child. He didn't know if the shooter knew his daughter Broken hearted: A family La Loche, Saskatchewan, pay their respects on Saturday to the victims of a Friday school shooting that left four dead and several others injured Close knit community: The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province where almost everybody knows one another Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commanding Officer Brenda Butterworth-Carr said when officers arrived at the school they saw the front door had been shot open. They entered the school, spotted the suspect and gave chase before apprehending him. He is due in court next week. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun was used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. 'This is a significant event for Canada,' St. Germaine said. 'It's a huge impact on the community of La Loche. It's a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence.' Residents lit candles and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the school. Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest mass shooting occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. Let it shine: Candles and bears were left in memory of the two teens and the beloved teachers who were shot to death on Friday, allegedly at the hands of a teenage boy Remberance: Residents lit candles and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the school and also met for a vigil to remember those who were lost In shock: Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. Pictured here are shocked community members who gathered to remember Marie Janvier and Adam Wood and the alleged gunman's brothers Candles and flowers placed as a memorial lay near the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school as police investigate the shooting The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. 'I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right,' Park told The Associated Press. 'She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. ... She was a fantastic person.' 'I loved her, I really did,' said Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. 'I'm just so sad,' he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Marie Janvier, said she worked as a teacher's aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. 'The kids loved having her around,' Lemaigre said. 'They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody.' Investigation: Police investigate the scene on Saturday at Dene High School where the horrific incident took place Safety measures: The RCMP said the first reports of shots being fired at the school came in around 1 p.m. Friday, and parents and residents were warned to stay away. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown as a precaution Fatalities: Royal Canadian Mounted Police superintendent Grant St. Germaine speaks on Saturday at a press conference. Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally - teacher Adam Wood, 35, and teacher's aide Marie Janvier, 23 A man holds a rosary on Saturday as police investigate the scene of the shooting at the community school A second victim was identified as 35-year-old Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. 'Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time,' his family said. 'He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it 'every parent's worst nightmare.' A student who was just returning from lunch when the shots were fired Friday said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. 'Run, bro, run!' Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loche's junior and senior high school. 'There's a shotgun! There's a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots too, so of course I started running.' The RCMP said the first reports of shots being fired at the school came in around 1 p.m. Friday, and parents and residents were warned to stay away. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown as a precaution. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he is in a state of disbelief. He planned to visit La Loche on Sunday and promised to provide crisis support and counseling services. He added that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman had offered the counsel of U.S. communities which have experienced school shootings. Police at the school early on Saturday. The gunman was arrested outside the school but no details have been released about him 'He noted that quite tragically the United States has more experience with the likes of what we saw in La Loche,' Wall said. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting Friday was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community of 3,000. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. 'It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning,' said Cameron, who attended the La Loche school's graduation ceremony for the past few years. 'Right now we're just in a state of shock and disbelief' Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Maureen Levy said the gunman was arrested outside the school but declined to release details about him. Pictured is Marie, the teacher shot dead by the gunman 'This is every parent's worst nightmare,' he said. 'The community is reeling,' Justin Trudeau said on Friday. Kevin Janvier told The Associated Press that his 23-year old daughter Marie, a teacher in the Saskatchewan community, was shot dead by the gunman. He said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings before killing his daughter at La Loche Community School. 'He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school,' he said. 'I'm just so sad.' Marie was Janvier's only child. He said he didn't know if the shooter knew his daughter. A family friend of the teenaged suspect said that the gunman shot his two younger brothers before going to the school and shooting a teacher and an assistant, according to The Australian. 'After he shot his two brothers, he walked back to school and he shot ... a teacher and a girl. They're both dead. Four of them died,' said Joe Lemaigre. 'I know the family. Their mother worked in Fort McMurray and his grandfather went to Meadow Lake to do some shopping. That's when he shot them.' Levy said she wasn't sure how many suffered injuries. The prime minister earlier described two injuries as critical. 'At the present time there are four individuals deceased,' Levy said. The scene: The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday following a school shooting A student who was just returning from lunch when shots were fired said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. Police confirmed an 'active and ongoing' incident at La Loche Community School in the province of Saskatchewan earlier on Friday afternoon and were warning people to stay away. The neighboring elementary school was also placed into lockdown as a precautionary measure, but it now appears that the shooter has been taken into custody. Update: Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the incident was 'every parent's worst nightmare' 'Im not 100 percent sure whats actually happened but it started at home and ended at the school,' La Loche Acting Mayor Kevin Janvier said earlier on Friday. A hospital nurse said a number of people were being treated for gunshot wounds, CBC reported. The La Loche Health Centre and Hospital declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. CBC spoke with 10th grader Noel Desjarlais who said that he heard screams as he darted away from the school. 'I ran outside the school,' Desjarlais said. 'There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out.' A cellphone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school through the snow-covered ground and emergency personal moving in. John Baglieri of CTV said on Twitter that he spoke to a student at the school who told him they saw a staff member shot. Teddy Clark, the leader of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, a branch of aboriginal government, told Saskatoon Star Phoenix: 'The community usually pulls together really strong in times like this. A Facebook post on the school's page revealed there was an emergency occurring at the Dene Building The grade 7 through 12 La Loche Community School (pictured here after the shooting) is in the remote aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan At least four people are reported to have died and another person taken into custody at La Loche Community School in Saskatchewan province, Canada (pictured on map) 'Right now, La Loche is devastated. Both Clearwater and La Loche, a lot of people are in shock. This is something that you only see on TV most of the time.' According to earlier reports the shooting happened inside the Dene building which usually holds classes for approximately 900 students aged between 12 and 18. The provincial government confirmed that there has been 'a very serious incident but the information is unclear,' saying the 'situation is dynamic and still unfolding at this time.' Opposition Leader Cam Broten said on Twitter that he was 'shocked and saddened by news of a school shooting in La Loche. My thoughts are with all students, staff and families affected.' A Facebook post on the school's page said there was an emergency occurring at the Dene Building of the school. Detained: RCMP officers later detained a suspect after reports of a gunman inside the school (pictured) 10th grader Noel Desjarlais said that he heard screams as he darted away from the school (pictured) Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall also issued the following statement to the community: 'Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. 'My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community. Thank you to the RCMP and all the emergency personnel who responded quickly to the shootings. Saskatchewan Education and Social Services will be available to provide all necessary crisis support and counselling services to the school and the community.' In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, citing an incident where a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. 'That student got 10 months,' Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. 'And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom.' Venice is just an hour or two's drive away, and so is the opera of Verona On a 'down day', children will love the complex of swimming pools The campsite has great facilities, and it can be used as a base to explore When you reminisce about childhood camping holidays in Europe, a number of things usually come to mind. Spaniards playing loud music at night; irritating group activities; sunburned Germans; frustrated teenage sexual encounters; underage drinking; baguette; enforced jolliness. But throw out the preconceptions, because in 2016, the legendary European campsite is making something of a comeback. Bliss: An Al Fresco Holidays mobile home on the shores of Lake Garda is perfect for a family holiday Peaceful: Watersports and boat trips are available on the lake, which lies just a couple of minutes away Extensive: The campsite forms a little village, with all conveniences to hand - and local delights not far away I first started considering the camping option because it is so much more affordable than a hotel. You have a degree of independence, too, which is welcome when you have small children and need the space to make a mess. The campsites are packed full of activities and facilities for children, which means crucially time off for parents. And, most importantly of all, the campsite can be used as a base from which to explore blissful Lake Garda, not as a destination in itself. That was how my family and I arrived at the Bella Italia campsite at the southern tip of Lake Garda in northern Italy, where the first murmurs of the Alps ruffle the skyline. As the sun beat down on our startled English foreheads, we were shown to our mobile home by a cheery Dutchman called Robin who worked for the package company, Al Fresco Holidays. The campsite is home to a variety of holiday providers, some offering breaks under canvas, others offering hotels. We had plumped for Al Fresco because we liked the idea of a mobile home. Not only was it affordable and allowed us to be self-sufficient, but it had that combination of unaffectedness and convenience that suits children. The home was exactly what we needed. Clean and in good working order, with mosquito nets over the windows and a complimentary cold beer in the fridge, it was just outdoorsy enough to feel like camping, and just indoorsy enough to feel like home. The campsite was run on a strict set of rules. That doesnt sound like fun, but in fact it was a great relief to know that cars would not be driving past your window after dark, and noise in the evenings would not be a problem. Comfortable: So long as you are not wedded to luxury, a mobile home is an excellent, practical option Making a splash: The highlight of the campsite is the extraordinary complex of swimming pools Picturesque: Lake Garda has no end of delights for all the family, all in easy reach of the campsite It made for a sociable atmosphere. We enjoyed many an evening barbecue (each mobile home is provided with one) with our neighbours, most of whom happened to be Irish and very clubbable. I have an eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old twins, and to holiday in an environment packed full of people of many different nationalities felt vaguely educational for them. We would often try to guess which country people had come from, which setting aside the dangers of national stereotyping marked a small milestone in the process of opening their minds to the cosmopolitanism of the world. Close at hand, there was a range of restaurants. There were convenient shops. There were gelateria and bars and internet cafes. But hands down, the best thing about the campsite was the swimming facilities. Not only am I talking water slides, but Im talking whole climbing frames in the water. Climbing frames that shoot jets of water at various angles on a regular basis. Climbing frames that automatically dump large barrels of water over the sides every few minutes. In short, fabulous fun. But enough about the campside; we did not lose sight of the fact that the real beauty of camping in Europe is that there's nothing to stop you doing it on your own terms. Not for the Simons family the sedentary vacation in which you dont leave the site for two weeks. No: the facilities were great for down-days, but we saw the campsite as a family-friendly, facilities-rich base from where we could explore the delights of Lake Garda. Of which there were very many. The Malcesine chairlift, which rises to a height of 1,760metres at the top of Monte Baldo, was breathtaking. It revolved as it travelled upwards, giving us a 360 degree view of the lake and the foothills of the Alps beyond. The old town of Sirmione, which is perched at the point of a thin spit of land jutting out into the lake, and can only be accessed by walking across a drawbridge, was charming beyond words. We had a pizza sitting at a table with a checked tablecloth overlooking the lake, while the charismatic restaurant owner played us songs on his guitar and entertained the children by enacting little plays with their teddy bears. Which, at the time, wasnt at all weird. Anyway. Venice was almost two hours' drive away allowing the family to enjoy a gondola ride And then there was the highlight: Venice. It was almost two hours drive away, but we set off early in a comfortable rental car and the journey was smooth. Funnily enough, we stumbled upon a site with free parking from where you can jump on a frequent and inexpensive boat into the city. (This site will remain a secret.) Hiring a gondola set us back 80, but the argument was this: how many times in your life do you have the opportunity? It was worth every penny. The kids were enthralled by the magical silence of the canals as we wound our way through the ancient waterways of the city; and when we floated out onto the Grand Canal, the views were little short of spectacular. Throw in the Santuario Madonna della Corona, a cathedral built into the side of Monte Baldo the interior is half cathedral, half cliff face a boat-trip, and countless ice creams, pizza slices and coffees outside cafes, and you have the makings of a near-perfect holiday. Best of all, when we were footsore, tired and overly touristed, we could settle back into the happy routine of the campsite and let the kids run riot in the magnificent pool, barrels of water and all. What, I ask you, is not to like? TRAVEL FACTS Al Fresco Holidays (0161 332 8900, alfresco-holidays.com) offers a seven-night mobile home holiday at Lake Garda in April starting at 250, a saving of 30 per cent. In August, prices start at 1109, a saving of 10 per cent. This year, Al Fresco is also able to offer free kids' clubs for children aged between six months and 16. Advertisement I wouldn't put your hand there, if I were you. Andy Whitworth's voice is calm. But the note of urgency which underpins it is enough to make me pause, my arm frozen in mid-air where it had been edging towards a tree trunk sturdy enough to lean against. On the grey bark, two huge bullet ants are waiting, shining black, even in the thin light which penetrates the canopy. One glance at them is enough for me to understand Andy's next statement. A world away from Machu Picchu: Amazonian Peru is interwoven by rivers such as the Madre de Dios They are called bullet ants because, if you are bitten by one of them, it feels like you've been shot, he says, with a broad grin his Manchester accent somehow both out of place and yet firmly at home in this jungle zone. Peru is a country well defined in our imaginations, the Andes clawing the heavens, that grand Inca settlement Machu Picchu cradled within. As of May it will be more accessible too via the launch of three direct British Airways flights every week to the capital Lima. A world of wonder and water: Manu National Park is Peru at its most remote - a jungle paradise But today, I am a long way from the well defined version of Peru on the remote edge of Manu National Park, in the Amazonian south-east of the country. And I should not, perhaps, be too surprised, that the wildlife is rather unfriendly. I am, after all, in one of the most remote parts of the planet on the edge of Manu National Park, in the Amazon, in south-eastern Peru. The largest national park in the country, spreading out for 6,626 square miles; a realm of astounding biodiversity rising to as high as 4200 metres (13,780ft) where it grazes the Andes, plunging to just 150m (492ft) in its most humid tropical depths; home, as a result, to some 15,000 plant types and over 1000 species of bird. Impossible to reach by road, it is best encountered by a boat along the Madre de Dios and Manu rivers meandering motorways of the South American interior. An oasis in the rainforest: Manu Learning Centre is a place of research - but tourists can sleep in comfort How on earth have I found myself here? Back down the trail, the Manu Learning Centre (MLC) is an oasis in the rainforest. An oddly British one too. It was founded in 2002 by Quinn Meyer, a New York-born Londoner who visited the region on a gap-year odyssey, and was shocked at its condition devoured by illegal land clearance and logging. Concerned, he set up the MLC, and a wider company, Crees (Spanish for you believe), as an eco-project designed to promote sustainable use of the rainforest working with the local community on matters like non-destructive farming practices in an area where slash-and-burn had been prevalent. Over a decade on, the MLC has a staff of more than 40, plus a host of volunteers all cataloguing the jungle around them. Tourists are welcome the fees they pay for a glimpse of the area help keep the centre going. Crees even offers escorted breaks which begin in Cusco so you can tag on Machu Picchu before you start. Andy, an ecologist who arrived as part of his PhD studies in 2011, has become part of the MLC's furniture. This place, the rainforest, is incredible, he says as we stride onward, the heat under the boughs sticky, spider monkeys flitting in the branches overhead. There will be further creature encounters the next morning where the Madre de Dios runs past the MLC's front door - chestnut-fronted macaws soaring over the clay banks, the river alive with squawks. All this happens amid an air of, if not luxury, then comfort meals of beef and rice taken in a communal dining room, everyone eating at long tables; cosy tourist quarters, beds draped in mosquito nets. I sleep happily within, lulled to slumber by the burble of insects. It is a greater level of sophistication than I had expected during my long, wearying but astonishingly beautiful journey into the jungle. The woods are lovely dark and deep: Chris also stayed at Romero Lodge - deep within the rainforest It is a strange sensation to leave Cusco and follow not the well-beaten path north-west to Machu Picchu but to go north-east into the unknown. The highway rolls through the hamlet of Oro Pesa, where warm, tasty flatbreads are readied in big ovens at a roadside bakery and on to Pisac, where Inca ruins complement Peru's main attraction. Beyond, agricultural terraces are cut decisively into the hillside, each platform evidence of generations of toil in this slanted landscape. And the road rears too. At one point, it breaks the 4000-metre (13,123ft) mark, and I feel as if I am breathing through soup, each lungful an effort. It is a relief to dip to the relative sanity of 2,908m (9,534ft) in Paucartambo where the gold-painted statues clustered around the fountain in the main Plaza de Armas salute the flamboyant Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, which takes places in the town across three noisy, colourful days every July. Dodging a bullet: As well as creatures like bullet ants, Chris caught sight of monkeys in the upper branches Then the descent really begins. The south gate of Manu National Park is a last hurrah for the Andes before the road begins a corkscrew spiral into Amazonia. The concept of cloud forest becomes literal, mist shrouding every curve, the vegetation thicker and closer with every hairpin. By the time I arrive at Cock Of The Rock Lodge, a pocket of 12 rustic bungalows on the rushing Kosnipata River, I have dropped 2,000m (6,561ft) in 20 miles. At dawn, the feathered fellow in question Peru's national bird is gaudily present at a nearby twitchers' look-out spot, plumage a bright red-orange amid the dominant green. The final miles to the MLC complete the transition from mountain kingdom to rainforest labyrinth the town of Pillcopata looking like a location from an Indiana Jones movie, a rickety bridge spanning the Kosnipata, posters from a recent election plastered onto wood houses; the road running out in dusty Atalaya a low boat waiting on the Madre de Dios. While the MLC soon feels like home, I do not have chance to put down roots. The river ebbs north-east, and modernity recedes even further. There are Amerindian families on the banks as currents tug at the boat, endless centuries of Amazonian heritage written on their faces and colossal logs in the water, each a fallen giant. At Limonal, a snake darts through the grass outside the ranger station, where photos of jaguars are fixed to the wall. Open your wings: The Peruvian jungle is home to incredible birdlife - including an array of bright macaws I am desperate to see one of these elusive animals at the next stop Romero Lodge, another timber-framed Crees retreat, slotted into a clearing just back from the river. Andy seeks to flatten expectations We almost certainly won't see them. They may see us, he advises but the sight of an unmistakably feline pawprint in the muddy trail is a thrill nonetheless. And though the big cats stay hidden, there are other joys a dusky titi monkey with her baby, days old, clutched to her chest; orinoco geese over the river. Back at the lodge, there are pisco sours with dinner, and tired dreams in the small yet soft beds. Now you (probably don't) see me: Manu National Park is home to jaguars - but you have to be lucky to spot one There will be one more halt before the Madre de Dios spits me back into something akin to urban life in the busy mining town of Puerto Maldonado, where a flight to Cusco calls. After a week of travel, Manu Wildlife Centre, with its broad cabins and gaggle of people, feels like a holiday resort. But the jungle is insistent in its majesty. Nearby, Camungo Oxbow Lake, a disembodied fragment of the Madre de Dios, abandoned by the river, is a haven of motion a pair of hoatzins, bizarrely prehistoric in appearance, eyeing me from on high; giant otters splashing in the shallows. Adjacent, a metal staircase traces its way, in 235 steps, to an observation platform which sits cradled in the arms of an enormous kapok tree. At the top, a chlorophyll ocean ebbs to each corner of the horizon. Only the shrill howl of a logger's chainsaw, carried on the wind, is a reminder of the battle in hand. Rating: Box Hill represents some sort of Holy Grail for cyclists. But theres another good reason for visiting this part of Surrey, 40 minutes or so from Central London: a proper old pub that serves delicious nosh, with five charming bedrooms offering real value for money. The Running Horses, in the village of Mickleham, is owned by the Brakspear brewery company, but dont let that put you off. Theres something for everyone here. Come at a canter: The Running Horses looks like an old pub, but has an understated sophistication Dating back to the 16th century, the main bar area, with its open fire, Scrabble and Monopoly boards and framed photographs at a tilt, will please traditionalists who dont have shares in Farrow & Ball, while the back part is given over to a more formal dining room with panelled walls, portraits and cosy booths that, I dare say, makes it a destination restaurant for foodies. Because the food is good, I eat in the bar area, but order from the restaurant: wonderfully tender wood pigeon Wellington, with hot pickled red cabbage to start, followed by baked salmon in a wicked brown shrimp and butter sauce. Im here on my own. One member of staff comes to inspect my wood pigeon and seems genuinely interested. And what room are you in, sir? he asks. Sandown, I tell him. Good choice, if I may say so. Accommodation ideal for a little horseplay: Rooms are named after famous racecourses, including Ascot It was the only one not taken, actually. But I like it a lot: French-style bed, espresso machine, creaking floorboards, grey walls, heavy duty towel rail, walk-in shower, two sash windows. All for 110 b&b. Rooms are named after racecourses. Theres Ascot, Windsor, Epsom no mention of Market Rasen or Bangor-on-Dee, I notice. The pub used to be called The Chequers, but when two horses (Colonel and Cadland) crossed the line together in the 1828 Derby at nearby Epsom, it changed its name to The Running Horses, and the signature ale for ever more has been called the Dead Heat Derby. Breakfast is low-key. There are newspapers to read, the coffee is strong and my boiled eggs are cooked to perfection. We do these sort of places remarkably well nowadays. A running tour of Lisbon is not a soft option. The Portuguese capital is famously hilly and its streets cobbled. Nonetheless, Im on a guided jog around the city part of a new package launched by Inspira Santa Marta Hotel. My calf muscles throb as I battle a challenging gradient between the flat city centre, known as Baixa, and Bairro Alto, meaning upper district. Dashing: On the tour, runners jog past the 12th-century Sao Jorge Castle, then to the Elevador de Santa Justa Running in Lisbon is similar to trail running the hills are good for fitness, says my guide, Carla, bounding alongside me. Our two-hour loop of the city begins before 8am on a Sunday, at my hotel Im already looking forward to the post-run massage. We set off down the Avenida da Liberdade, a tree-lined boulevard with designer shops and mosaic pavements. It has a touch of the Champs-Elysees and Carla explains that the Avenida was, indeed, modelled on the elegant Parisian thoroughfare. Lisbon was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake by the Marques de Pombal, she tells me, as we run into the Praca do Comercio, an enormous square that ends at the Tagus river. Early birds: The two-hour running loop begins before 8am on a Sunday outside the Inspira Santa Marta Hotel The broad, straight streets linking to the square were built with pedestrians in mind and are quite different to the old town. I see what Carla means as we head into the Moorish quarter of Alfama. We have to run in single file, weaving through the roads, washing strung above our heads. We glimpse the 12th-century Sao Jorge Castle, then head to the Elevador de Santa Justa. Built in 1902 to connect Baixa with the lofty streets around, its now a tourist attraction offering panoramic views. Pausing to admire the terracotta roofs, I feel pleased with myself. We have arrived before the lift is even open and theres not a tourist in sight. Rich reward for all that slogging. Lone Pipe-Major Iain Grant, late of the Royal Scots Regiment, in kilt and feathered bonnet, plays Amazing Grace at Edinburgh Waverley Station as we board the claret and gold carriages of the Belmond Royal Scotsman train. He is performing just for us, as if we are all monarchs of the glen. As the lament echoes across the platforms, smiling staff hold out flutes of champagne. Not a bad way to begin a Highland adventure. Ahead is four days revelling through valleys of purple heather, around icy lochs, past brooding mountains, peaks ringed with lacy collars of snow, on the way through Scotlands beautiful countryside and its historic castles. All aboard: The Royal Scotsman operates exclusively in the Highlands, twice a week throughout the summer The Royal Scotsman enables you to leave the 21st century for a gentler age. The train is not to be confused with the recently renovated Flying Scotsman, the old steam engine that, most of the time, is kept in the National Railway Museum in York, but makes occasional forays around the country after repairs that have taken 11 years. The Royal Scotsman, pulled by a diesel engine, operates exclusively in the Highlands, twice a week throughout the summer. It carries just 36 passengers in nine carriages refurbished from vintage Pullmans like an Edwardian gentlemens club. The sleeping cars have mahogany panelling, wall candle lights and prints of clan chieftains to the delight of the passengers, many of whom are American and cant wait to get kitted out in rented kilts and parade like Bonnie Prince Charlie tribute acts. One of them, Tom Russell, an Oklahoma oil man, hired his by phone from Tulsa and is fitted out on arrival in Edinburgh, with Hunting Stewart tartan, sporran, white ruff and dirk for his sock. Puts me in touch with my inner Braveheart, he laughs. The feeling of having left the real world is confirmed when a bulldog named Gary pads along the corridor followed by his mistress, the Hollywood actress Carrie Fisher, who plays Princess Leia in Star Wars. She had instructed the chef, no-nonsense Glaswegian James Souter, that Gary will only eat hamburgers and bacon with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Never been asked for anything like that for a dog before, whispers James. Elegant: The journey includes private tours of Ballindalloch Castle in the Cairngorms Cosy: The train carries 36 guests in nine carriages The skirl of the pipes has hardly faded when we rumble over the Forth Bridge, then hug the coast to Aberdeen and stable for the night on a quiet stretch of track, at which point the on-board whisky ambassador, Les Harrow, serves smoky malts. Our progress across the wild Caledonian Eden resumes next morning, rattling from Inverness and the Moray Firth, through the Torridon mountains to the Kyle of Lochalsh, gateway to Skye, skirting the whitewashed fishing cottages of Plockton (which doubled as the Summer Isles in the horror film The Wicker Man). The Belmond Royal Scotsman scores top marks for excursions. There are private tours by the ancestral owners of Cawdor Castle, Shakespeares inspiration for Macbeth, and Ballindalloch in the Cairngorms, where the outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy was welcomed. Before dinner, two of which are black tie, we gather in the Observation Car social centre of the train. Its a stylish dining room at the end of which is an open-view veranda, a bracing spot to feel the pine-fresh air and cure hangovers as the train rattles on single tracks across desolate moors. Ah, the great outdoors. Rothiemurchus in the Spey Valley is as rugged as it gets. Commandos trained here for the attack on the Nazis atomic heavy water plant in the Norwegian fjords, immortalised in the film The Heroes Of Telemark. We still find bullets in the trees which they used for target practice, says ranger, Jamie. Feeding Bambi-like deer by hand is as physical as I get. That afternoon, The Royal Scotsman crosses the River Tay, just an anglers cast from Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother, a gloomy old pile. Aye, its because they are mean, says Mary the guide. They wont pay for bigger light bulbs because they burn too much electricity. There was a curious oil painting in the drawing room of the Third Earl of Strathmore in which, seated on a throne, he was stripped half-naked, an ermine robe strategically positioned. Thats a bit risque for the 17th century, isnt it? I ask Mary. Hes trying to show us what a virile guy he is, she giggles. The last night on board is always a special celebration. At midnight, an accordionist leads the gentlemen in kilts and tuxedos, lassies in glamorous frocks, on to a deserted Dundee station platform to dance the Gay Gordons. My partner is Princess Leia. Gary, the ever present dog, tongue lolling, runs in and out of the revellers. Strictly had nothing on us. Continuing our series looking at Britains best self-catering accommodation, we check out an impressive barn conversion in the heart of the Dorset countryside that is perfect for a break with family or friends. Hatts Barn in Semley is right on the Dorset-Wiltshire border, so you get two beautiful counties for the price of one. Quintessential English countryside rolls off west to the Vale of Blackmore, made famous by Hardys Tess Of The DUrbervilles, or head east all the way to Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge. Hatts Barn in Semley is right on the Dorset-Wiltshire border, so you get two beautiful counties for the price of one Where: Look out from the property and youll see nothing but woodsmoke curling up from hamlets of stone cottages, and church spires wreathed in morning mist, writing the book on romantic rural scenery. The property: A Grand Designs-style barn conversion that sleeps five. Hatts Barn features a vast floor-to-ceiling glass wall, blonde wood, and vast mezzanine with a kitchen stocked with Le Creuset pans at one end and a woodburner at the other. Downstairs, theres a huge en suite master bedroom, a twin room and family bathroom. What to see: Fields and fields. Theres also a farmyard with chickens and guinea fowl that children will love to feed. Shaftesbury and its widescreen views of the Vale from cobbled Gold Hill, star of the 1973 Hovis advert, is a ten-minute drive away. Shaftesbury and its widescreen views of the Vale from cobbled Gold Hill, star of the 1973 Hovis advert (above), is a ten-minute drive away If you are feeling a bit more energetic, a 20-minute yomp over fields brings you to The Benett Arms in Semley for roaring fires and Sunday roasts. Who to contact: Classic Cottages (tinyurl.com/jou7vpt, 01326 555555), which has about 700 cottages in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Exmoor. How much: Rental rates for Hatts Barn are from 450 per week or 339 for a long weekend (Friday to Monday) in winter, and up to 1,170 for a week in summer. An Indian passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing after authorities received a telephone call saying there was a bomb planted on board. The GoAir plane, carrying 150 passengers, was en route from the eastern city of Bhubaneshwar to Mumbai when the call was received, and the aircraft landed in the western city of Nagpur. The passengers were offloaded and airport security searched the aircraft and baggage earlier this morning, the budget airline said. A GoAir plane carrying 150 passengers was en route from Bhubaneshwar to Mumbai when authorities received an anonymous call that a bomb had been planted aboard GoAir said 'there was no bomb found on board the aircraft' and passengers 'are now being boarded' after the plane was authorised to take off again for Mumbai. The carrier said local police were investigating the threat. Yesterday MailOnline reported how a Scandinavian Airlines plane carrying 72 people from London to Stockholm was forced to make an emergency landing after a bomb threat. The plane was parked at a remote area of the Landvetter airport in Gothenburg, on Sweden's west coast, where it was met by a bomb squad to search the aircraft. All passengers and crew were evacuated and later issued with free meal voucher which gave the terrifyingly blunt reason for their diversion as: 'Bomb'. The drama was relayed on Twitter by British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole while stranded on the plane on the tarmac. 'No sugar coating': Mr Onslow-Cole later tweeted this picture of his meal voucher given to him while he waits at Gothenburg airport which rather bluntly states the reason for it being issued was a 'bomb' for the emergency landing yesterday (Friday) British professional racing driver Tom Onslow-Cole relayed the drama on Twitter while sitting on the plane after landing at Gothenburg yesterday. He tweeted this selfie, saying: 'Anyone know what's happening?' He tweeted a selfie while pulling a worried face, saying: 'Took off for Stockholm, just landed in Gothenburg... this could get interesting. Anyone know what's happening? 'Plane came down quickly, parked straight up at the end of the runway. Crew and captain is on the bus with us #Iffy.' He later posted: 'Soooo, it was a bomb threat/scare. 'We are all safe and off the plane, big shout out to the pilot and crew for keeping their cool!' They recently made the news of their romance public. And Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice have now confirmed they are moving in together after just one month of dating following their whirlwind meeting on Strictly Come Dancing. The former Coronation Street actress, who is currently based in Manchester, revealed she's planning to relocate to London to live with Italian hunk Giovanni. Scroll down for video Roomies: Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice, seen leaving the Strictly Come Dancing tour rehearsals on Thursday night, have now confirmed they are moving in together after just one month of dating She told The Mirror: 'Im going to move to London because Im just at that age now.' Quizzed whether they would be looking for a place together, the duo both replied, 'Yes'. MailOnline has contacted Georgia's representative for comment. The happy couple were spotted heading back to their hotel together on Thursday night after a long day of rehearsals in Birmingham for the Strictly tour. See Strictly Come Dancing news Georgia May Foote moves in with Giovanni Pernice Big step: The former Coronation Street actress, who is currently based in Manchester, revealed she's planning to relocate to London to live with Italian hunk Giovanni New romance: The happy couple were spotted heading back to their hotel together on Thursday night after a long day of rehearsals in Birmingham for the Strictly tour Georgia looked gorgeous in a checked mini skirt teamed with knee-high boots and a leather jacket as she walked next to Giovanni, who was in sportswear after their day on the dancefloor together. Georgia has admitted there was an instant connection between the two, telling HELLO! magazine: 'We clicked from the word go. I was shy and nervous at first but we definitely got on really well and that gave me confidence to come out of myself.' Inseparable: Georgia has admitted there was an instant connection between the two after they were paired together for the 2015 series of Strictly The couple have been inseparable ever since Georgia broke things off with Corrie's Sean Ward. Georgia is said to have sought comfort in Giovanni following the breakdown of her relationship with her fellow soap actor Sean after a string of rows. The pair are alleged to have ended their eight-month romance shortly after the Strictly final a few weeks ago amid his 'insecurity' over the on-screen couple's relationship. Whirlwind romance: Georgia is said to have sought comfort in Giovanni following the breakdown of her relationship with her fellow soap actor Sean after a string of rows Since officially becoming an item, Georgia and her new man have taken a romantic trip to Disneyland and haven't been shy about showing their affection for each other in public. Rumours Georgia had split from Sean first began to swirl the weekend after the show wrapped up in December when she and Giovanni were spotted sharing a passionate smooch during their romantic trip to Disneyland in Paris. An onlooker said at the time: 'I couldn't believe it when I saw them together. They looked like a very happy couple. They were laughing and joking and holding hands. Going public: The couple, spotted holding hands at the Birmingham rehearsals for the Strictly tour, recently made their romance public on social media The pair are thrilled to be spending quality time together during the BBC ballroom contest's live tour, which ends on February 14. 'Its so nice to be able to spend this time together', Georgia enthused. 'We had such an amazing experience on Strictly its nice to be able to go on tour together now.' Ready to rhumba: The couple are thrilled to be spending quality time together as they tour the country with the BBC ballroom show's 2015 cast She has been hot on the global modelling circuit since making her return to the catwalk last year. But jet-setting beauty Gemma Ward, 28, still calls Australia home, having just snapped up a beachfront Byron Bay mansion for a cool $1.65 million. Located in the coast-hugging suburb of Suffolk Park, the two-storey mansion boasts three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an extensive lawn area and an in-ground swimming pool. Scroll down for video Mansion fit for a model! Gemma Ward, 28, has snapped up a beachfront Byron Bay home for a cool 1.65 million Shrouded from public view by native foliage, the property also features a spacious out-door deck fitted with a luxurious cabana and spa. The doe-eyed model will reside in the bohemian lodging with her photographer partner David Letts and the pair's cherubic daughter Naia, two. Byron Bay has been a holiday location for the family-of-three, who recently visited the idyllic region in August last year for an extended holiday. Luxury living: The property also features a spacious out-door deck fitted with a luxurious cabana and spa Spacious: Located in the coast-hugging suburb of Suffolk Park, the two-storey mansion boasts three bedrooms Family home: The doe-eyed model will reside in the bohemian lodging with her photographer partner David Letts and the pair's cherubic daughter Naia, two In Easter last year, the Perth-born model also enjoyed another visit to Byron Bay as she attended Bluesfest jazz festival with her fellow model friend Nicole Trunfio. It is also the home of Thor star Chris Hemsworth and his young family. Gemma made headlines last week when she graced the catwalk in Milan for American designer Calvin Klein's Autumn 2016 men's collection. Clad in an oversized coat and black suit pants, the stunning blonde was every inch the catwalk queen as she strutted runway alongside other high profile male and female models. Ideal location: Shrouded from public view by native foliage, the glamorous home is just moments from the local shopping village as well as the beach Chic: The glamorous home sits on a generous 1200sqm block Paradise: The property's leafy location is just moments from the shoreline of Tallow Beach Family life: Byron Bay has been a holiday location for the family-of-three, who recently visited the idyllic region in August last year for an extended holiday Gemma's surprise appearance on the Calvin Klein runway received praise from fans and the audience, who saw her participation as confirmation that the formerly retired model has returned. 'Gemma is back!!' One fan wrote on Instagram, 'an icon in the modelling and fashion world!' 'I love that she's in the men's show,' another said. Following notable absences from runway shows in 2008, she officially announced her retirement in 2009, taking a break after the sudden death of her lover, Australian actor Heath Ledger. But she made a comeback, with daughter in tow, in an idyllic campaign for the iconic Australian label Country Road in 2014. Lush: There are extensive lawn areas with established Native trees and Frangipanis dotted throughout Peaceful: The airy interior and large windows are surely a winning combination for the bohemian couple and their young daughter A change of pace: Gemma and her family were previously based in New York Sean Penn was photographed for the first time since the broadcast of his CBS 60 Minutes interview with Charlie Rose on Sunday. During his interview the 55-year-old broke his silence on the circumstances that led to him meeting Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Penn and his son Hopper Penn, 22, were spotted sitting just outside of Baja Fresh Mexican Grill in Beverly Hills on Thursday evening. Scroll down for video Casual outing: Sean Penn was spotted with his son Hopper Penn, 22, during a low-key outing at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill in Beverly Hills on Thursday evening The actor was dressed casually in beige khakis and a lightweight jacket. He wore a pair of glasses and sat cross legged beside his son, who was speaking on his phone with the hood of his sweatshirt worn over his head. The outing comes nearly one week to the date since the broadcast of his discussion with Rose, in which he spoke of his surprise that Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman risked being captured to meet him for an interview. See updates on El Chapo as Sean Penn is seen for the first time since his CBS interview Low-key: The actor was dressed casually in beige khakis and a lightweight jacket Speaking to CBS 60 Minutes, Penn told how he found and met with Guzman for seven hours in a mountain hideout last October while he was still evading Mexican officials. He was apprehended two weeks ago, after six months on the run. Penn has been drawn into a controversy over whether he may have assisted in the recapture effort, or, conversely, may have prolonged the search by keeping silent until his article was published last week. Penn said the Mexican government was 'clearly very humiliated' but insisted he had played no role in Guzman's eventual recapture. Previously: The outing comes nearly one week to the date since the broadcast of his candid discussion with Rose Rose asked the actor if he thought it was naive of him to head to Mexico and meet El Chapo without somebody knowing about it. 'I assumed they knew about it. And I say so in the article. I was stunned that he would risk our trip. I was stunned,' recounted Penn. During Sunday nights CBS interview, Penn told Rose that he regrets the fallout from the Rolling Stone article. Their meeting in a jungle hideout was the first interview anyone scored with the fugitive drug lord, and Penn said he had hoped it would spur a broader discussion on the drug war. Breaking his silence: Penn spoke with Charlie Rose during his CBS 60 Minutes interview about the circumstances that led to his meeting with the Mexican drug lord Guzman's reason for agreeing to meet with the Hollywood star was first explained as resulting from his interest in having a movie made about him. Then it seemed his interest was in a face-to-face encounter not with Penn, but with the contact who was bringing them together: Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, with whom Guzman openly flirted in recently published text messages. For his part, Penn said he had only one true mission. Guzman, he said, was someone through whom 'I could begin a conversation about the policy of the war on drugs. That was my simple idea.' Looking back: The Oscar winning actor expressed his regret that his Rolling Stone interview did not spark a wider discussion about the war on drugs Rose asked the actor whether he believed Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto's government had deliberately sought to credit him with Guzman's capture to put him at risk from the Sinaloa Cartel. 'Yes,' Penn replied. 'There is this myth about the visit that we made, my colleagues and I with El Chapo, that it was... 'essential' to his capture,' Penn said. 'We know the Mexican government, they clearly were humiliated by the notion that someone found him before they did,' added Penn. Sparking debate: The 55-year-old has been drawn into a controversy over whether he may have assisted in the recapture effort, or, conversely, may have prolonged the search by keeping silent until his article was published last week The actor, who has won Oscars for 'Mystic River' and 'Milk,' said he met Guzman 'many weeks' before his arrest, in a location far from where the kingpin fell into police hands in northern Mexico six months after staging a spectacular prison break through a tunnel in his cell floor. 'I have a terrible regret,' Penn said in the interview which aired on Sunday night. 'I have a regret that the entire discussion about this article ignores its purpose, which was to try to contribute to this discussion about the policy on the war on drugs.' 'Let's go to the big picture of what we all want: We all want this drug problem to stop,' he said, but added that the market for these illicit drugs includes many Americans. She recently returned from a dreamy trip to Paris where she enjoyed the sweet delicacies, toured the famous sites and rubbed shoulders with the European elite. But the Parisian holiday had to end for the insta-famous Natasha Oakley who has found worldwide fame by flaunting her enviable curves in various bikinis in tropical locations across the globe. Sure to please her 1.6 million Instagram followers nevertheless - the Bikini A Day fashion blogger uploaded a snap of herself sizzling in a black bikini on Friday. Scroll down for video 'Big sunglasses, little bikini': Natasha Oakley flaunts her killer bikini body in a tiny black bikini after indulgent trip to Paris The trim, taut and terrific 24-year-old provided her fans with a generous glimpse of her busty assets and sculptured body as she placed one hand on her hip. The starlet's skin still had a bronzed tone to it - a result of soaking up the sun while holidaying in Maui over the Christmas and New Year break. The Australian native styled her long blonde locks out and straight, while opting to go makeup free for the upload. All covered up: Natasha looked stylish in all black - blazer, jeans and black shirt Stunning in red: The beauty showed off her enviable figure in a red dress which included ruffles around the neck She accessorised simply with a pair of large shades. Tash captioned the ode to summer picture: 'Big sunglasses, little bikini.' Like the successful post - which received more than 42,000 likes in less than a day - Tash's career continues to go from strength to strength. The sun kissed glamour has recently covered the January issue of Women's Health Australia - a step up from her usual social media posts. The self-made model also provides advice to media organisations in regards to healthy living and choosing the perfect bikini. Her latest interview was with Teen Vogue where she spoke about her top ten tips to keep readers happy, sane and fit. Strutting her stuff: The bronze beauty shows off her killer abs in a black bikini, sun hat and a white sundress Bikini a day, literally! The beauty regularly posts snaps of herself flaunting her enviable curves in bikinis all over the globe Speaking of exercise, Tash suggested to the magazines legion of teen readers: 'It's just about getting up and doing something, once youre there, the hardest part is over,' she said. 'Most importantly find a type of fitness that you enjoy or work out with a friend. Fitness doesnt have to be grueling start with 15 minutes a day.' The successful blogger also suggested to readers to take time out and focus on goals. 'One of our favorite sayings is "this too shall pass". Anytime you are feeling down, just remember it will pass,' she said. Adding: 'What always keeps me going is to remember what my dreams and goals are. Rather than wasting time feeling bad, I work on them, whether its writing a business plan or doing a DIY project around the house.' Fantastic body! Tash owes her trim and terrific body to following a healthy diet and regular exercise routine He's been enjoying some time off travelling around the world, and though he is still in the US, James Tobin made his return to Weekend Sunrise on Saturday. Looking rather under-dressed for the cross from Cleveland, Ohio, the popular presenter donned a grey hooded sweatshirt. The 35-year-old has also thus far opted to keep his 'holiday beard', as he reported from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where a special exhibition is showing of the late David Bowie's costume collection. Scroll down for video That's not very royal! James Tobin kept his holiday beard when he returned to Weekend Sunrise on Saturday, reporting from Cleveland Ohio The host excitedly also shared a snap of Angus Young from AC/DC's famed schoolboy uniform, to which sat the handwritten lyrics to Highway To Hell. His return to Weekend Sunrise comes after he was believed to have been spending time with rumoured girlfriend Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer. The cousin of Princes William and Harry was a bridesmaid at an extravagant wedding in South Africa, and James also attended. Both James and Lady Kitty posted snaps of the stunning event on their respective Instagram accounts. Rubbing shoulders with royals: It is the presenter's first day back on air since attending a wedding with Lady Kitty Spencer whom friends have revealed he met during the Melbourne Cup racing carnival last year Globetrotter: The popular presenter has been travelling the world on his day off, which included a trip to South Africa for a wedding 'Best wedding ever,' the blonde socialite cooed on her Instagram feed on Tuesday, adding a heart emoji beside the caption. Meanwhile, James uploaded an image of the outdoor wedding reception, writing in a caption alongside it: 'What an incredible introduction to Cape Town. A truly magical couple of days.' Lady Kitty had previously been dating Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, 44, since June last year, however, their current relationship status is unknown. He's a fan: The 35-year-old shared a snap from inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which depicted AC/DC's Angus Young's iconic schoolboy outfit and handwritten lyrics to Highway To Hell But the property tycoon, who is 20 years her senior and has three children with his first wife, was nowhere to be seen during the socialite's three-week trip Down Under in November last year. Gossip magazine New Idea recently reported that Kitty and James may be romantically involved, after friends revealed they met during the Melbourne Cup racing carnival and posed together on Oaks Day. The magazine quoted a source who allegedly said: 'It's early days, but they're crazy about each other. 'James loves Kitty's sharp wit and bubbly personality, and also that she's not a stick insect like so many women he meets'. It's an annual celebrity migration. And actress Eliza Dushku was one of those celebrities, as she attended a screening of Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday. The 35-year-old former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star seemed to channel the edgy nature of the avant-garde material with her outfit, of which the focal point was a dress with a large portrait of a woman on it. Scroll down for video Out of town: Actress Eliza Dushku attended a screening of Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday Here's looking at you: The 35-year-old former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star seemed to channel the edgy nature of the avant-garde material with her outfit, of which the focal point was a dress with a large portrait of a woman on it Under said garment, she apparently wore several layers, with the bottommost being a pair of black leggings. Some industrial-looking tan boots, a black scarf and black winter coat rounded out the raven-haired beauty's eclectic ensemble. Super Size Me documentary director Morgan Spurlock seemed to enjoy himself at the screening, even taking the time to pose with a skimpily-clad male model who was part of the event. Morgan's giant fur hat only added to the hilarity. Best buds: Super Size Me documentary director Morgan Spurlock seemed to enjoy himself at the screening, even taking the time to pose with a skimpily-clad male model who was part of the event Girls star Zosia Mamet, 27, also made an appearance at the screening. The daughter of famous screenwriter and playwright David Mamet kept things relatively simple, but still chic. She opted for unique blue dress with a mid-thigh length hem and buttons all the way to the neck. She's got pockets: Zosia Mamet, the daughter of famous screenwriter and playwright David Mamet, kept things relatively simple, but still chic Buttoned up tight: Some over-the-knee white boots completed the chic but distinctive look, while her blonde locks were styled to perfection and some light rouge warmed up her youthful visage Some over-the-knee white boots completed the chic but distinctive look, while her blonde locks were styled to perfection and some light rouge warmed up her youthful visage. One of the next documentaries on the docket was Chelsea Does, featuring comedienne Chelsea Handler. She was of course on hand for her own premiere, and embraced the rustic atmosphere, donning a black and white flannel shirt, charcoal colored jeans and black rubber snow boots. Her own show: One of the next documentaries on the docket was Chelsea Does, featuring comedienne Chelsea Handler In the director's char: She was of course on hand for her own premiere, and embraced the rustic atmosphere, donning a black and white flannel shirt, charcoal colored jeans and black rubber snow boots The 40-year-old talent's blonde locks were pulled back into a tight bun for most of the snaps at the event. Several dramas also premiered at the festival on Friday, including Swiss Army Man, about a castaway trying to escape a desert island. Star of the film Paul Dano, 31, showed up with his longtime partner, actress Zoe Kazan, 32. Both were dressed appropriately for the chilly weather, and adorably both wore knit beanies. Man of the moment: War and Peace star Paul Dano cut a casually stylish figure at the annual event Cool dude: The handsome performer wore khaki trousers with a polka dot blue shirt and matching cardigan Swiss Army Man: Star of the film Paul Dano, 31, showed up with his longtime partner, actress Zoe Kazan, 32. Both were dressed appropriately for the chilly weather, and adorably both wore knit beanies Cozy in pink: Paul kept his cold weather gear pretty standard, opting for multiple layers and a winter coat, while Kazan was a little more playful, coordinating a pink sweater decorated with embroidered flowers on the front with her pink hat Paul kept his cold weather gear pretty standard, opting for multiple layers and a winter coat, while Kazan was a little more playful, coordinating a pink sweater decorated with embroidered flowers on the front with her pink hat. Drama Wiener-Dog, about several individuals' relationship with a particularly charismatic Dachshund drew another gaggle of celebs. Crowd favorite Danny DeVito, 71, who also starred in the film, looked sharp in a forest green v-neck sweater, blue jeans and some imposing-looking black boots. Sunny disposition: Crowd favorite Danny DeVito, 71, who also starred in the film, looked sharp in a forest green v-neck sweater, blue jeans and some imposing-looking black boots Happy times: Ellen, 83, looked remarkably youthful in an outfit that incorporated several different shades of blue Native touch? Julie channeled a bit of her inner hippy with a multicolored, long-sleeved frock that seemed to take inspiration from the American southwest Her again: After taking in the Maplethorpe documentary earlier, Zosia Mamet, who has a part in Wiener-Dog, somehow had time for a wardrobe change and went with a far more staid look for the premiere He was joined by co-stars and Hollywood legends Ellen Burstyn and Julie Delpy. Ellen, 83, looked remarkably youthful in an outfit that incorporated several different shades of blue, while Julie channeled a bit of her inner hippy with a multicolored, long-sleeved frock that seemed to take inspiration from the American southwest. After taking in the Maplethorpe documentary earlier, Zosia Mamet, who has a part in Wiener-Dog, somehow had time for a wardrobe change and went with a far more staid look for the premiere. Putting the boot in! Mary Elizabeth Winstead put on a leggy display in a retro mini skirt Playful: Daniel Scheinert and Mary Elizabeth Winstead pretend to have an altercation on the red carpet Boy power: Writers/directors Dan Kwan (L) and Daniel Scheinert attend the Swiss Army Man Premiere during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Popular: Prolific actress Greta Gerwig, 32, had an especially busy Friday afternoon, as she had roles in both Wiener-Dog and comedy Maggie's Plan The Mad Men actress went business casual, choosing some baggy, long grey slacks, a black turtleneck and some black pointed-toe heels for the occasion. Prolific actress Greta Gerwig, 32, had an especially busy Friday afternoon, as she had roles in both Wiener-Dog and comedy Maggie's Plan. When she made her appearance at the latter's premiere, the Arthur star radiated sophistication in a long white wrap-style dress, black heels and an impactful black coat and stainless steel clutch. Almost Vincent Chase: Heartthrob and Entourage star Adrian Grenier, 39, showed up with perfectly coiffed hair and wearing a classic black coat and scarf combination Lumberjack chic: Parks and Recreation funnyman Adam Scott, 42, contributed his name while wearing a full-on parka and sporting a very outdoorsy heavy beard Her John Hancock: SNL's Molly Shannon, 51, also signed the impressive vehicle in a matching red coat Of course there are more than just premieres at the world famous Hollywood retreat, with the stars turning up in droves for all sorts of different parties. Car company Acura hosted unique event called Acura Studio, where celebs were invited to sign a red vehicle. Heartthrob and Entourage star Adrian Grenier, 39, showed up with perfectly coiffed hair and wearing a classic black coat and scarf combination. Parks and Recreation funnyman Adam Scott, 42, contributed his name while wearing a full-on parka and sporting a very outdoorsy heavy beard. Things were fuzzy: The Hollywood Reporter generated some buzz of it's own with its guests. At the event, stars were invited to sit on a fur-upholstered couch to talk and take selfies Keeping it casual: Hollywood staple and House of Lies star Don Cheadle, 51, was on hand to promote the film he's in at the festival, Miles Ahead, a musical biopic of jazz legend Miles Davis Turning out: Ewan McGregot and Don were dapper as they hit the Miles Ahead premiere later in the day Smile! Ellen Page, who bundled up in a cozy looking dark grey sweater, decided to take a selfie with writer and director Sian Heder who created dramedy Tallulah, which of course stars the lovable 28-year-old Juno star SNL's Molly Shannon, 51, also signed the impressive vehicle in a matching red coat. The Hollywood Reporter generated some buzz of it's own with its guests. At the event, stars were invited to sit on a fur-upholstered couch to talk and take selfies. Hollywood staple and House of Lies star Don Cheadle, 51, was on hand to promote the film he's in at the festival, Miles Ahead, a musical biopic of jazz legend Miles Davis. No mystery here: True Detective star Abigail Spencer, 34, decided to add a little glamour to the affair, showing up in an eye-catching white lace dress with some funky red pumps Ellen Page, who bundled up in a cozy looking dark grey sweater, decided to take a selfie with writer and director Sian Heder who created dramedy Tallulah, which of course stars the lovable 28-year-old Juno star. True Detective star Abigail Spencer, 34, decided to add a little glamour to the affair, showing up in an eye-catching white lace dress with some funky red pumps. Another group of celebrities showed up to Indiewire's Photo Studio gathering for some conversation and what looked to be hot chocolate. A woodsy feel: Lord of the Rings megastar Elijah Wood, 34, who produced festival entry The Greasy Strangler, seemed to welcome the country vibe, and turned up in a thick brown cardigan over a burgundy button down with small white polka dots Party Time: Actor Elijah Wood at The Official 'The Greasy Strangler' Pre Party at Bar 53 presented by 50 Bleu Kicking off the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Bar 53 and 50 Bleu Lounge at Rock & Reillys hosted the celeb filled pre-party for The Greasy Strangler. Actor Elijah Wood spun hits while Sundance elite hung out in the 50 Bleu Lounge and sipped on hand crafted cocktails. In true Sundance fashion, Bar 53 and 50 Bleu Lounge at Rock & Reillys kept the party going as they held the official Morris From America after party, where celebs such as Craig Robinson, Carla Juri, Chad Hartigan, Keegan Dewitt and Chris Noth stayed warm with libations from the 50 Bleu Lounge. Casually dressed director and comedian Judd Apatow brought his daughter Maude with him to the event. The 17-year-old actress was smartly dressed in a brown knit sweater with cuffs over what appeared to be a denim dress with buttons up the front. Gina Liano is not one to sit back and let life pass her by. The Real Housewives of Melbourne star has already established herself as a successful barrister, property developer and qualified art curator. But three qualifications isn't enough for the diva who is expanding her Gina empire to include books, fashion and now beauty. Scroll down for video The boss! Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano continues to expand her growing empire with a jewellery collection, face creams and potentially vitamins The businesswoman will take to the marketplace with her own range of skin care later this year, telling Daily Mail Australia earlier this month it was an obvious business opportunity. The 49-year-old reality TV star added that she's been developing the range with a doctor. 'The guy that we have for that [cream] is an oncologist from LA and he has worked with a lot of cancer patients, and he developed a range of vitamins that feed and nourish the cells and he is also an immunologist,' she said. 'When I first met him, he actually said to me that when people put a face cream on and they get that pink plump look that it's actually an inflammatory response to damage to the cells. So the cream that I'm working on is one that feeds the nutrition to the cells. 'It restores rather than plumps it up and then damages it.' Not just a TV star! The Melbourne native has already established herself as a successful barrister, property developer and qualified art curator (pictured with Channel 9 personality Lavinia Nixon) Her next project could involve launching a range of vitamins. However, the bronzed beauty said it was an idea and she didn't want to 'overload' herself. While some would describe the beauty as overly ambitious, Gina says she does the projects because she wants to. 'It's actually a bit crazy isn't it,' she said. 'I think God always had a really busy life and I've always done a lot. I don't think I feel overly ambitious either. 'If I see something that I want to do and I just do it.' The larger than life reality starlet, who is known for her taste in haute couture fashion, launched her ready to wear jewellery line - which spans from rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets - in December. 'Enjoy shopping ': Gina Liano took to Instagram to celebrate her newest sparkly additions to her already established jewellery line, which includes rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets 'I love bling': The jewellery collection came off the back of the lawyer's love of sparkles 'It's just I love bling and so I've been thinking what can I offer the public that is consistent,' she confessed to DMA. '[I've been thinking about] The person that I am and the things that I love and jewellery is definitely apart of it.' But selling her jewellery online isn't enough for the already busy mother-of-two. She is in talks to sell her sparkly designs via home parties and believes 'it will be a great opportunity for women to earn money through a socialising revenue'. 'I think it's empowering for women,' she told DMA. 'A lot of women don't want to go back to work necessarily and something like this is fun.' Building the empire: She also has her own fragrance, line of clutches, pumps, fragrance and has penned a best-selling autobiography called Fearless Outside of jewellery, the younger sister of famous fashion designer Bettina Liano, also has her own line of bedazzled pumps and heels - which sell for a pricey $440 a pair on her official website. The bronzed beauty also sells blinged-out clutches for $360-a-piece. To add to her growing brand, the fashionista also released a self-titled fragrance and penned a best-selling autobiography called Fearless. If you thought that was enough, think again. Blinged up! The bronzed beauty dazzled in a fluro pink dress and sparkly jewels while en route to the Portsea Polo with assistant Josh Cunial recently Gina believes she not ruled by ambition The ostentatious star will return to TV screens when season three of The Real Housewives of Melbourne premieres on Arena on February 21. Country girl turned Toorak housewife Susie McLean will join seasoned cast members Chyka Keebaugh, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Jackie Gillies, Janet Roach, Lydia Schiavello and Pettifleur Berenger, for the new series. Gina said season three has been 'spectacular' for her. 'I dont know if its because I found my feet or know it better, but its been so much fun,' she said. Jessica Hart is back on home soil and spent Friday shooting a campaign for the Australian brand Portmans. The 29-year-old Australian-born model is the face of the brand and spent the day in the fashionable Sydney suburb of Paddington for the shoot. Jessica had several outfit changes throughout the day, and showed off her signature gap toothed smile in many of the snaps for the commercial shoot. Scroll down for video She's got the look: Australian model Jessica Hart is the face of Australian fashion company Portmans and spent Friday in the fashionable Sydney suburb of Paddington shooting the brand's latest campaign Peplums and posies: The 29-year-old wore a magenta pink long sleeve top and floral print pencil skirt in one of her first looks Jessica looked beautiful in a bright magenta peplum style long sleeve top paired with a navy floral printed pencil skirt for one of her first outfits. Her luscious blonde locks were styled the same way for the duration of the shoot, with a subtle curl throughout the lengths and a sophisticated side part. The model had the waist of the long sleeve top pulled in with a bulldog clip, to showcase her slender frame in the ensemble. Brightening up: The vibrant outfit stood out against the neutral coloured wall behind her Ready and waiting: As Jessica changed into her next look, she had time to squeeze in a quick hot beverage Pout and pop! The former Victoria's Secret model pushed out her famous derriere as she changed up her poses on the quiet Sydney street For her next look the Aussie beauty moved into a quiet street and posed in a more casual cool styled look. The second ensemble featured a lightweight white jumper with delicate black lace detailing on the shoulders, paired with fitted black jeans that were cropped at the ankle. Her long lean legs were accentuated by a pair of sky high black stilettos that featured a panel that covered the front of her foot. Casual cool: Her long lean legs were accentuated by a pair of sky high black stilettos That body: She wore a pair of fitted black jeans cropped at the ankle paired with a feminine white jumper In good company: Jessica is one of the Australian faces that have graced the glossy images in the Portmans advertising campaigns Jessica is one of the Australian faces that have graced the glossy images in the Portmans advertising campaigns. Past models that the brand has worked with include, Miranda Kerr, Alison Brahe, Elyse Taylor and Abbey Lee Kershaw. The blonde babe was named as the face for their summer 2015 advertising campaign, and appears to be staying on as she was spotted shooting the upcoming winter collection. Model mates: Past models that the brand has worked with include, Miranda Kerr, Alison Brahe, Elyse Taylor and Abbey Lee Kershaw Winter warmer: The blonde beauty was named as the face for their summer 2015 advertising campaign, and appears to be staying on as she was spotted shooting the upcoming winter collection International experience: The now New York-based model expertly worked angles to the camera as she varied her poses throughout the shoot The New York based stunner expertly worked her angles as she varied her poses throughout the shoot. Her long blonde tresses brushed away from her face as a gust of wind breezed down the Sydney street. She couldn't resist throwing a few sultry poses into the mix, as she bent over and flaunted her incredible figure. Simply stunning: Her long blonde tresses brushed away from her face as a gust of wind breezed down the Sydney street Busy girl: Earlier this week she spent a day shooting for Vogue Australia with internationally renowned photographer Mario Testino Earlier this week she spent a day shooting for Vogue Australia with internationally renowned photographer Mario Testino. The beauty strolled down Bondi Beach arm in arm with the legendary photographer who was in the country to guest edit the coveted fashion magazine. It's not hard to see why he chose to work with Jessica, who showed off her toned figure and sun-kissed skin in a black bikini for the beach shoot. She wasn't the only big name on set, with models Gemma Ward, Catherine McNeil and Lara Stone adding to the glamorous line-up. Bikini babe: When shooting with Mario Testino, Jess showed off her toned figure and sun-kissed skin in a black bikini for the beach shoot Keeping her cool: In a stark contrast to the Vogue Australia editorial, Jessica was bundled up for most of the fashion shoot for the Just Group brand White hot: A chic white coat was added on to a previous look, and the blonde bombshell didn't let the warm weather effect her poses In a stark contrast to the Vogue Australia editorial, Jessica was bundled up for most of the fashion shoot for the Just Group brand. A chic white coat was added on to a previous look, and the blonde bombshell didn't let the warm weather effect her poses. The 29-year-old elegantly strutted down the suburban street and giggled towards the camera as she navigated the pedestrian crossing. Flawless: Jessica showed off her beauty as she posed with her hair off her face to reveal her perfect features Perfect mix: The winter collection features the signature Portmans style that combines pretty feminine pieces with on trend luxe looks. Tiny touch up: The flawless face of Jessica needed a touch of make-up reapplied during the shoot The winter collection features the signature Portmans style that combines pretty feminine pieces with on trend luxe looks. Jessica soon swapped the white trench for a navy military inspired coat and had her golden hair draped over one shoulder. She flashed a subtle smile towards the camera as her windswept hair trailed behind her. At one point a make-up artist on set had to touch up the flawless face of the 29-year-old, and gently reapplied foundation to her cheeks. Windblown: The model had a a crew member point a fan towards her face to give her hair the effortless breezy style Pin up girl: The Australian-born beauty arrived on set in a pair of cut off denim shorts and a sheer top and had her hair in pin loose pin curls Time for a snack: It was a full day of shooting for the latest advertising campaign and Jess stopped to refuel between shots, tucking into a box of popcorn. Jessica arrived on the set in the morning in a casual pair of denim cut off shorts paired with a sheer khaki green top. The Australian model had her curls pinned throughout her hair to set, which is what gave her the effortless wave style throughout the day. It was a full-day of shooting for the campaign with Jess stopping to refuel between shots, tucking into a box of popcorn. Embracing her unique look, the blonde beauty showed off the gap between her front teeth as she smiled brightly through many of the snaps. They've confirmed they're moving in together after dating for just one month. And Georgia May Foote looked completely smitten with her Strictly Come Dancing boyfriend Giovanni Pernice as the new couple were pictured leaving the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on Friday evening, following the opening night of the live tour. The former Coronation Street actress couldn't take her eyes of the hunky dancer - whom she was partnered with during her stint on the latest series of the BBC ballroom show - as they headed back to their hotel hand-in-hand. Scroll down for video Strictly smitten: Georgia May Foote and new boyfriend Giovanni Pernice were spotted heading back to their hotel following the opening night of the SCD live tour on Friday evening Georgia, 24, unashamedly stared adoringly at 25-year-old Giovanni as they headed into the dark of the night. The Italian hunk looked pleased with himself as he proudly paraded his stunning new girlfriend on his arm. His smug expression and her loving glances was seemingly their way of proving critics - who've slammed them for moving too fast - wrong. See the latest Strictly Come Dancing updates on star Georgia May Foote A sight for sore eyes: Georgia, 24, stared adoringly at Giovanni, 25, as they strode back to their hotel hand-in-hand The cat who got the cream: While the former Coronation Street actress shot her Italian boyfriend loving glances, he looked pleased to have such a beauty on his arm Leading the way: Giovanni tightly clasped Georgia's dainty hand as they left the Barclaycard Arena Dab hand at the fame game: The professional dancer navigated the paps with ease - something he'll have to get used to now he's dating the talented actress All dolled up: Georgia looked beautiful as she sported her stage make-up for the journey home Frugal dressing at its finest: Both parties wore the same casual looks they'd been spotted in earlier in the day when they headed to the show venue Both Georgia and Giovanni chose to recycle the exact same outfits they'd been spotted in earlier that day as they headed to the show venue. However, the ex-Katy Armstrong star glammed up her casually cool look with her heavy stage make-up and a freshly-styled barnet. She looked stunning as professionally-applied contouring and bold smokey eyes intensified her naturally-pretty features. Her ombre-dyed hair was coiffed in tumbling waves with her full fringe parted in the middle. Moving too fast: The new couple recently confirmed they're planning to move in together - just one month after striking up their relationship Off-screen competition: Fellow Strictly couple Kevin and Karen Clifton were hot on their rivals' heels Holding her head high: Although she's admitted to missing her family while on tour, Frankie Bridge looked pleased with how the premiere show had went Georgia and Giovanni's appearance comes shortly after they confirmed they are to co-habit despite the fact they've only been romantically involved with one another for around a month. The TV star is currently based in Manchester but plans to re-locate to London to live with the dancing professional. 'Im going to move to London because Im just at that age now,' she told the Daily Mirror. Quizzed whether they would be looking for a place together, the duo both replied: 'Yes'. The main man: Reigning champion Jay McGuiness was greeted by a gaggle of girls as he left the show Smiles all round: Both Jay and Aliona Vilani beamed with pride following the all-important premiere Not used to this: Helen George looked a little taken aback as some fans greeted her outside the venue New-found fame: The Call The Midwife actress appeared to not know what to do with herself as a male admirer approached her for an autograph Georgia became an item shortly after she broke off her relationship with fellow former Corrie star Sean Ward who supported her and Giovanni throughout the show. She has since admitted there was an instant connection between the two, telling HELLO! magazine: 'We clicked from the word go. I was shy and nervous at first but we definitely got on really well and that gave me confidence to come out of myself.' Since officially becoming an item, Georgia and her new man have taken a romantic trip to Disneyland and haven't been shy about showing their affection for each other in public and on social media. They have certainly been spending more time together in recent weeks. And, once again, Katy Perry and Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom stepped out for an evening in each others' company on Friday night. The pair were spotted attending The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, a play at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California. Scroll down for video It's a hat-trick! Once again, Katy Perry and Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom stepped out for an evening in each others' company on Friday night - their third in as many weeks Joined in the snap with actor James Lecesne and co-star Vinessa Shaw, they certainly looked delighted to be together again. Looking typically handsome, Orlando cut a casual figure as he sported a baseball jacket and a pair of skinny jeans. Typically swarthy, he was every inch the big-screen heart-throb. Meanwhile, separated by just one person, Katy had clearly made something of an effort for their evening out together. Wearing a chunky-knit roll-neck sweater with a plaid waistcoat, she added a pair of skinny jeans to the mix which deftly showed off her fabulous figure. Topping the look with perfectly-coiffed hair and some carefully-applied make-up, she was the perfectly pretty pop star. This latest sighting of the pair, who are rumoured to be getting personal following the collapse of their last relationships, is their third outing and comes shortly after they raised eyebrows at the Golden Globes. See the latest news on Katy Perry as she spends time with Orlando Bloom Flirty: The pair shared a very flirty exchange at The Weinstein Company's star-studded Golden Globes after party, earlier this month Man about town: ust two days later they were seen getting up close and personal at the Stella McCartney Autumn 2016 Presentation at Amoeba Music in Hollywood Just two days later they were seen getting up close and personal at the Stella McCartney Autumn 2016 Presentation at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. While Katy posed up a storm on the carpet, the 38-year-old actor tried to make a low key entrance. Orlando is not really known for his love of attending fashion events these days - especially since he split with model wife Miranda Kerr - so no doubt his attendance to the event that Katy is at will set tongues wagging even further. The pair were already the talk of the town when the singing sensation and the British actor chatted intimately at the post show bash that the Weinstein Co and Netflix hosted at the Beverly Hilton sponsored by Heineken on Sunday. They were in a private enclave tucked away in the corner of the vast tented party space but seemed to carry on as if they were more than just friends. Single and ready to mingle! Orlando has been alone since splitting from his ex, Miranda Kerr Back in the day: Now separated, Orlando has a young son with the Australian performer The Golden Guitar Awards are held during the Country Music Festival in Tamworth each year. And on Saturday night the stars were out to shine for the 44th annual event, as Amber Lawrence stunned in a strapless gown, while Brooke and Samantha McClymont dazzled in sparkles. Others opted to make a statement in outfits that were more 'yee haw' than yes, especially The Hillbilly Goats who arrived in a very interesting style. Beauty in blue: Amber Lawrence was a vision in a bright blue strapless gown on the red carpet at the 44th Golden Guitar Awards, flashing her toned and tanned legs through the thigh-high split Amber Lawrence was a vision in a bright blue strapless gown on the red carpet, flashing her toned and tanned legs through the thigh-high split. A sweetheart neckline elegantly showed off her ample assets and she finished her look with shimmering gold accessories and a vibrant red lip. The brunette singer was one of the knock out's on the red carpet, followed closely behind by Brooke and Samatha McClymont. Sister act: Samantha (L) and sister Brooke McClymont (R) cut a stylish figure and dazzled in thigh-skimming frocks that showed off their bronzed pins Boho chic: Lee Kernaghan's wife Robbie Kernaghan (L) and Catherine Britt (R) both looked summery in bright kaftan style gowns by Australian designer Camilla The McClymont sisters cut a stylish figure and dazzled in thigh-skimming frocks that showed off their bronzed pins. Samantha opted for a chic black dress with embroidery from the hips down and featured a see-through panel across the chest. She wore her blonde tresses perfectly curled and loose around her shoulders, a similar style to her brunette sister's do. However Brooke went for a slightly more glamorous look, with her black and gold beaded dress sparkling under the lights. Lee Kernaghan's wife Robbie Kernaghan and Catherine Britt both looked summery in bright kaftan style gowns by Australian designer Camilla. Glamour girl: Christie Lamb was vivacious in red and flicked her sheer skirt overlay for the cameras as she posed on the red carpet A vision in white: Former X-Factor Australia sweetheart Caitlyn Shadbolt looked elegant in a chic crop and floor length skirt combination that showed off her pins in a daring split Christie Lamb was vivacious in red and flicked her sheer skirt overlay for the cameras as she posed on the red carpet. She amped up her all red look with red wedges, along with jewellery and lipstick to match. Former X-Factor Australia sweetheart Caitlyn Shadbolt looked elegant in a chic crop and floor length skirt combination that showed off her pins in a daring split. And Caitlyn wasn't the only former X-Factor Australia contestant to grace the red carpet, with Brothers 3 posing shoulder-to-shoulder at their second Golden Guitars. Becoming regulars: Former X-Factor Australia contestants Brothers 3 posed shoulder-to-shoulder at their second Golden Guitars Black to black: Troy Cassar-Daley and wife Laurel Edwards looked stylish and as they both wore all-black ensembles Glammed up: Travis Collins and Rebecca Collins opted for a glamorous look for the night, and it appears his tie matched the shoulder detailing on her dress Summer fun: Chelsea Basham went for a bohemian chic look and showed off a slice of her toned stomach in the two piece set In a classic look, Troy Cassar-Daley and wife Laurel Edwards looked stylish and as they both wore all-black ensembles. Similarly, Travis Collins and Rebecca Collins opted for a glamorous look for the night, with his tie appearing to match the shoulder detailing on her dress. Chelsea Basham went for a bohemian chic look and showed off a slice of her toned stomach in the two piece set. She added another splash of colour with sunshine yellow wedges and a stack of beaded bracelets on her right wrist. But it wouldn't be the Country Music Awards without a cowboy hat or two and boots to match. Staying true: The Sunny Cowgirls (L) made their cowboy hats look chic paired with tan ankle boots, while 8 Ball Aitken's (R) completely white cowboy look was quite the statement While The Sunny Cowgirls made theirs look chic paired with tan ankle boots, while 8 Ball Aitken's completely white cowboy look was quite the statement. However, the biggest fashion fail on the night came from The Hillbilly Goats, who strutted their stuff in what could have been a Halloween costume. Straw cowboy hats, a Mohawk, embellished corsets and fishnet stockings gave them a look that definitely made them stand out, although it wasn't for the right reasons. What were they thinking? The Hillbilly Goats donned straw cowboy hats, embellished corsets and fishnet stockings gave them a look that definitely made them stand out, although it wasn't for the right reasons Not so glam: One member of The Adam Eckersley Band took a very relaxed approach to the night and arrived in flip flops Feeling blue? Ashleigh Dallas donned a bright blue frock with lace detailing across the chest and an Elvis inspired collar around the neck paired with matching boots Others opted for a very relaxed look for the awards show, as one member of The Adam Eckersley Band arrived in flip flops. Ashleigh Dallas donned a bright blue frock with lace detailing across the chest and an Elvis inspired collar around the neck. This was paired with boots that appeared to be made with the same satin as her skirt, with the ankle boot style cutting her legs short in the outfit. The performer even went the extra mile and dyed the front of her fringe the same blue hue as her dress and shoes. One Mustered Courage band member opted to wear both a bandanna and cowboy hat and proved that you can over accessorise as a man Too much? One Mustered Courage band member opted to wear both a bandanna and cowboy hat and proved that you can over accessorise as a man She's the daughter of Australian-born Greek make-up guru Napoleon Perdis. So it's no surprise that Lianna Perdis celebrated her Sweet 16 in style with a lavish, over the top bash in Athens, Greece. The birthday girl pulled out all the stops, inviting 120 guests to party alongside her at the Venue Salon de Bricolage in Athens this week. Sweet Sixteen: Lianna Perdis, daughter of famed Australian-born make-up guru Napoleon Perdis, celebrated her 16th birthday party in style with a lavish and over the top bash in Athens, Greece this week The burgeoning businesswoman, who hopes to one day follow in her famous father's footsteps, sported an sparkly mini-dress from renowned Greek designer Dimitris Petrou. She paired the daring dress with leather boots from Dior. As expected, the teen didn't hold back when it came to her make-up, sporting bold dark red lipstick that stood out against her tanned skin. Striking: As expected, the teen didn't hold back when it came to her make-up, sporting bold dark red lipstick that stood out against her tanned skin Jam packed: 120 guests attended the lavish party, which was held in the Venue Salon de Bricolage in Athens this week She added a smokey eye and mascara, loud lashes, defined eyebrows, and blush and bronzer. The cocktail of choice for the adults was The Lianna-tini, complete with Eristoff Vodka, Vanilla Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Elderflower and passionfruit puree. To add a slice of home to the celebrations, Lianna requested a cake in the shape of The Sydney Opera House to represent her birthplace Sydney, Australia. The stylish teen previously told Daily Mail Australia that she is involved in product development for Napoleon Perdis and does guest appearances alongside her father - and she has no plans to stop there. Confident: She sported asparkly mini-dress from renowned Greek designer Dimitris Petrou Thigh's the limit! The talented teen rocked a pair of thigh-high leather boots from Dior Drinking up a storm: The cocktail of choice for the adults was The Lianna-tini, complete with Eristoff Vodka, Vanilla Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Elderflower and passionfruit puree 'I want to explore every aspect of the business and be involved as much as I can,' she said. 'Dad is always encouraging my sisters and I to learn as much as we can and work our way from the bottom up, just like he did. 'Im so inspired by my Dads work ethic and Ive seen first-hand how hard he has worked to be where he is today.' Still calls Australia home! To add a slice of home to the celebrations, Lianna requested a cake in the shape of The Sydney Opera House to represent her birthplace Spin that track: At one point the 16-year-old jumped behind the DJ decks to spin some tunes Bold look: In addition to red lipstick she sported a smokey eye and mascara, loud lashes, defined eyebrows, and blush and bronzer 'I think even if I didnt grow up surrounded by make-up and beauty I would still be obsessed with it,' she said. 'I love make up and how you can transform your look based on your mood, where youre going or how you want to be perceived. 'Make-up to me is all about still being you, just enhanced.' She cut a demure figure in an all-black ensemble when she jetted out of LAX airport on Friday. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley kept it monochrome once again when she made a glamorous exit from Paris' Le Bristol Paris hotel on Saturday, ahead of her debut at the French capital's Fashion Week for menswear. The 28-year-old looked ready to take the world's chicest city by storm as she left her luxurious digs in a militant style ankle-length jacket, which looked the perfect choice for banishing the chilly temperatures. Scroll down for video Tres chic! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley kept it monochrome once again when she made a glamorous exit from Paris' Le Bristol Paris hotel on Saturday, ahead of her debut at the French capital's Fashion Week for menswear Beneath the sizable garment, the English model looked to sport tight-fitting black trousers, though she gave them a more fashionable edge by tucking them into a pair of racy thigh-high boots. Rosie maintained the sophistication by wearing her blonde locks swept back into a low-knot, ensuring her chiseled face was the focal. The Mad Max: Fury Road actress looked be to sporting a neutral make-up palette beneath a pair of darkly tinted aviator shades. Wrapping up: The 28-year-old looked ready to take the world's chicest city by storm as she left her luxurious digs in an ankle-length jacket, which looked the perfect choice for banishing the chilly temperatures Fashionista: Beneath the sizable garment, the English model looked to sport tight-fitting black trousers, though she gave them a more fashionable edge by tucking them into a pair of racy thigh-high boots Hair envy: Rosie maintained the sophistication by wearing her blonde locks swept back into a low-knot, ensuring her chiseled face was the focal The fiancee of action favourite Jason Statham toted her essentials in a tailored leather handbag as she headed to her car that would no doubt be whizzing her off to some of the day's biggest shows. Saturday boasts collections from the likes of Kenzo, Dior Hoome and Balmain, with the lingerie designer undoubtedly sitting front row at the latter, given that she is close friends with creative director Olivier Rousteing and has fronted countless campaigns for the brand. Rosie certainly looked as though she meant business as she sauntered around the city, flashing her signature bee-sting pout as she was watched by a sea of fans. Gorgeous: The Mad Max: Fury Road actress looked be to sporting a neutral make-up palette beneath a pair of darkly tinted aviator shades Finishing touches: The fiancee of action favourite Jason Statham toted her essentials in a tailored leather handbag as she headed to her car that would no doubt be whizzing her off to some of the day's biggest shows Her Parisian outing also saw the beauty flaunt a sparkling diamond band on her wedding finger, after revealing that she and her long-time partner are engaged at this year's Golden Globes. The rock is said to be worth around $350,000 and is a vintage piece from jewellry designer Neil Lane. Rosie and Jason have been dating since 2010, with the actress gushing to SELF magazine in last year: 'We're best mates. He makes me laugh every day. I almost feel like I never had a proper boyfriend before!', she told the publication. Ready to go! Rosie certainly looked as though she meant business as she sauntered around the city, flashing her signature bee-sting pout as she was watched by a sea of fans Denise Richards, who is embroiled in a nasty legal battle with ex Charlie Sheen, has just slashed half a million dollars off the asking price for a luxury estate she purchased a year after her divorce. The former Bond girl is asking $7.3 million for the exclusive property located in Hidden Hills not far from the Kardashians after first listing it at $7.75 million last June,Yahoo.com reported Friday. The price drop comes after the actress, 44, filed suit against Sheen claiming he had evicted her from another multi-million dollar home he had allegedly promised to hold in trust for their daughters. Scroll down for video Luxury estate: Denise Richards has significantly updated this mansion she bought in 2007 after her divorce from Charlie Sheen and is listing it for sale at $7.3 million, down from the $7.75 million asking price last June Richards purchased the Hidden Hills estate for $4.4 million back in 2007 and is thought to have moved out of it in 2008 because, it was rumored, her neighbors were unhappy about her filming her E! reality series there. She first tried to sell the mansion on 1.4 acres in 2010 without success. She then opted to hold onto it and update it and has since remodeled it extensively with her own signature touches. She added another 2,500 square feet, completely overhaul the decor and add two free-form swimming pools that feature a grotto, not unlike the one at High Hefner's Playboy Mansion. Personal touches: Richards transformed the lounge into a nightclub-style room with red velvet banquettes, pub-style tables and red drapes across the large windows Hollywood style: The lounge also features a silver and black bar with matching stools, black walls and a large marble fireplace Upscale lifestyle: The property boasts a wine-tasting room with temperature-controlled cabinets and easy chairs Eating in luxury: The dining room has a glass chandelier, stuffed chairs and flounce curtains The former Playboy cover girl, 44, brought some of the Hollywood lifestyle to the remodel, nixing the country home feel it previously had and giving it the Hollywood treatment. The expansive kitchen features dark mahogany cabinets topped with cream granite and matching art deco stools at the breakfast bar. There's a pizza wall over a swell as stainless steel appliances and large windows overlooking to elaborate backyard. The living room looks more like a nightclub with black velvet curtains, red banquettes and a silver bar, while one of the bathrooms has a leopard-print toilet and a mirror-tiled clawfoot tub. Cook's delight: The expansive kitchen boasts a wall oven, mahogany cabinetry, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances Trendy: The breakfast bar faces the large windows that overlook the home's stunning landscaped backyard Proivate retreat: Richards added 2,500 square feet to the house much of which went into creating a vast master suite that includes a bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet Room for clothes and make-up: The walk-in closet is more like a room with its own fireplace, banquettes and vanity area Room to scrub: The shiny bathroom literally drips with light from an elaborate chandelier and has an enormous tiled shower, marble floor and a mirror-tiled clawfoot tub Quite an entrance: The foyer has marble floors and the sweeping staircase has a leopard-print carpet The dining room has elaborate curtains and a glass chandelier and the wine-tasting room boasts two floor-to-ceiling temperature-controlled cabinets, velvet lounge chairs and a shaggy rug. The extremely spacious master bedroom and bathroom were added by Richards and include an enormous walk-in closet that has a fireplace, banquettes and a built in vanity area with a corset chair. The property also offers an 800 square foot cabana equipped with a built-in barbecue and outdoor kitchen, dining area and a lounge area that has a stone fireplace and flat-screen TV. There's also a large pet room with individual kennels and a chandelier that opens to an outdoor play area for dogs. Room to play: the grounds boast two free-form swimming pools, plenty of grassy lawns and a cabana Natural feel: The swimming pool has waterfalls tumbling down rock faces Party time: There's also a grotto and hot tub, like the one at the famous Playboy Mansion Room for Fido and friends: Animal lover Richards also created a doggy hotel, with individual kennels opening onto a fenced outdoor play area Privacy: The backyard has several shade areas and places to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings Peaceful: A sweeping driveway approaches the house that is set back from the road in the community of Hidden Hills Richards and her three children vacated the estate and currently live in a $15,000 a month rental home. In addition to her two daughters with Sheen - Sam, 11, and Lola, 10 - the actress and reality star also has an adopted daughter Eloise, four. The Wild Things star filed a lawsuit against her ex last week, claiming Sheen, 50, had her evicted from a home he purchased for her and their family and is now cutting off the former couple's two children. The actress alleges in the court documents, which were first obtained by TMZ, that Sheen sold the home he had promised to their daughters Sam and Lola in a trust after forcing Richards and the girls to move last September and not finding them a new residence. Richards is asking a judge for $1.2 million to purchase a new home. More drama: Richards is embroiled in a legal battle with ex Charlie Sheen after she claims he evicted her and their daughters from the home he had given them. The former couple and daughters are pictured in 2012 On Saturday, Sheen's attorney Marty Singer once again slammed Richards accusing her of being 'greedy' and attempting to squeeze more money out of her former husband. Singer's remarks came after the actress' attorney Patty Glaser gave a statement to People in which she insisted that her client was acting simply 'to protect her children from the fallout of Mr. Sheen's erratic lifestyle and its enormously negative impact on their children.' 'Not only are Mr. Singer's comments about Ms. Richards blatantly inaccurate, they're also inappropriate, and unprofessional,' Glaser said. Singer in turn responded: 'Its ironic that she would comment on Charlie's lifestyle considering that it was her client who wanted to marry him. And, as a result of that marriage, Denise became a very rich woman.' His statement continued: 'Denise is simply being greedy. She isn't satisfied receiving $55,000 per month tax free more than what 99% of the people in the world make. Now, she's asking Charlie to pay her more money so she can buy a second home because one $7 million home isn't enough for her.' Happier times: Richards and Sheen are pictured in 2003, the year after they tied the knot They're currently enjoying each other's company on a winter getaway. But proving that they're more in sync than ever, Arnold Schwarzenegger and girlfriend Heather Milligan put on a coordinated display as they donned traditional Austrian outfits on Friday night. Attending the White Sausage Party at the Hotel Stanglwirt in Kitzbuhel, the 68-year-old actor was in good spirits as he took part in the merriment while his son Patrick chowed down a giant pretzel. Scroll Down For Video More in sync than ever before: Arnold Schwarzenegger and girlfriend Heather Milligan put on a coordinated display as they donned in traditional Austrian outfits on Friday night Getting stuck in: Arnold's son Patrick was also at the White Sausage Party at the Hotel Stanglwirt in Kitzbuhel Happily posing for pictures, Arnold and Heather were all smiles as they took part in the activities on offer at the annual bash. Dressed appropriately for the soiree, Heather looked great in a dirndl teamed with Mary Janes as she accessorised with a pearl necklace. Schwarzenegger on the other hand was dapper in a Loden jacket which he paired with a T-shirt, jeans and boots. Good times with good people: Arnie and Heather beamed as they posed for a picture with a reveller Looking the part: Milligan looked great in a dirndl while Schwarzenegger was dapper in a Loden jacket Having a blast! Arnold and Heather were in good spirits as they took part in the merriment on offer Not the only famous face: Former F1 champion Niki Lauda and DJ Otzi were also at the annual bash In good company: Patrick was joined at the annual party by his good friend Marc Thaler Boys will be boys: The friends pulled animated poses as they got their teeth stuck in the giant pretzels However really getting into the spirit of things, 22-year-old Patrick wore lederhosen with a sleeveless grey cardigan, checked shirt and trainers. At the party, Patrick was seen larking around with his good friend Marc Thaler as they got their teeth stuck into the food on offer. But not the only famous faces in tow, the Schwarzeneggers were seen in the company of former F1 champion Niki Lauda and DJ Otzi. Meanwhile the evening only further proved that Arnold and Heather are still going strong as they kept close to one another throughout the evening. Taking to the slopes: On Saturday, the couple attended the Alpine Skiing-World Cup Kitzbuehel men's downhill The Expendables: Jason Statham was seen chatting away with Schwarzenegger during the competition Loving the view: The 68-year-old actor beamed as he gave an interview in the finish area of the race Loved up: The couple have been an item for around three years after getting together in late 2012 Victorious: Schwarzenegger was on hand to congratulate Peter Fill of Italy on his win The couple have been an item for around three years, with the pair getting together in late 2012. Heather's union with Arnold began following the end of the former Governor of California's marriage to Maria Shriver. Maria and Arnold ended their marriage in May 2011 after it was revealed he had fathered a child, named Joseph, 20, with the couple's house keeper Mildred Baena. In their 25 year marriage, Shriver and Schwarzenegger welcomed four children - Katherine, 26, Christina, 24, Patrick, 22, and Christopher, 20. Still in demand: As Heather and Arnold left the sporting event, fans circled the actor to get pictures of him It's been dubbed Phwoar And Peace by critics over its sex scenes and a plotline featuring an incestuous relationship barely hinted at in Tolstoys epic novel. But the BBCs new sexed-up version of War And Peace has surprisingly won the backing of Sir Anthony Hopkins, the man who starred in a far more strait-laced adaptation more than 40 years ago. The veteran actor has even told critics to stop getting their knickers in a twist over the nude scenes featuring Tuppence Middleton as beautiful and alluring socialite Helene Kuragina and Callum Turner as her brother Anatole. Hopkins, 78, describes the new series as excellent and is particular impressed by Paul Dano in the role of hapless but heroic Pierre Bezukhov the part Hopkins played in 1972. Its beautifully filmed and both the direction and the acting are superlative, declared Hopkins in an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday. Its a great cast. Lily James is perfect and so beautiful as Natasha, and Paul Dano is terrific. His comments will be welcomed at the BBC as the adaptation continues to divide opinion. Even some of the current shows six million fans have expressed concern that the series is too short at just six one-hour episodes. In contrast, Hopkinss 1972 version spanned 20 episodes. The actor said: A lot is packed into each episode but the battle scenes are excellent and none of the essential story is lost. See the latest BBC updates on shows such as War and Peace The veteran actor has even told critics to stop getting their knickers in a twist over the nude scenes. Above, the cast of War and Peace Nor can he get hot under the collar over the decision by screenwriter Andrew Davies to introduce bedroom scenes. Writers of screenplays have every freedom to write in what they want, said Hopkins. The same with Shakespeare productions they are open to interpretation. He added: I dont bother myself with all that huffing and puffing protest. Its so unimportant. Everyone gets their knickers in a twist but life goes on. Sir Anthony as Pierre Bezuhov 1971 version of War and Peace Watching the new version has even inspired the Welshman to read the novel again. Itll be my third read of it, he said. It took me a lifetime to finish it the first time around. Its a great book but a bit like being on the retreat from Moscow. Hopkinss Pierre was acclaimed by the critics, but he confessed he didnt think he was the best thing in it. I didnt have much to say in those days I just learned the lines, I suppose, and hoped it would turn out OK, he said. I remember thinking Alan Dobie, who played Prince Andrei, was remarkable. He was such a restrained actor. He was very good. I thought I was a bit all over the place in it. I was in my early 30s and as an actor I was enjoying myself too much. But Hopkins, who has no plans to retire because he enjoys working so much, does not like to watch his own work these days. I rarely look back and never see anything Ive been involved in, he explained. It seems pointless, something like trying to remember dreams an exercise in futility. His new film Collide will be released in April, and later in the year he will be seen in the hotly awaited sci-fi drama Westworld. Last year, he starred in an acclaimed BBC adaptation of The Dresser alongside Sir Ian McKellen. Clint Eastwood has blasted the Oscar race row as actress Charlotte Rampling defended her comments calling the backlash 'anti-white'. When asked what he thought about the controversy surrounded Hollywood's biggest awards show, Eastwood told TMZ he didn't know anything about it. The 85-year-old then added: 'All I know is there's thousands of people in the Academy and a lot of them, the majority of them, haven't won Oscars.' Eastwood isn't one of the majority, however, having won four Academy Awards during his lengthy career - Best Director and Best Picture in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby and Best Director and Best Picture in 1993 for Unforgiven. But he slammed those calling for a boycott of the ceremony after no non-white actors were nominated in the acting categories for the second year in a row, adding: 'A lot of people are crying, I guess.' 'A lot of people are crying': When asked about the Oscars controversy, Clint Eastwood blasted those calling for a boycott Meanwhile, Rampling entered the debate early on Friday saying that plans to boycott the Oscars were misguided and calls to get more minority nominees were 'anti-white racism'. Ms Rampling's entrance into the row was notable as she is one of this year's nominees and is shortlisted for Best Actress for her role in 45 Years. But she released a statement Friday evening however saying that her comments had been 'misinterpreted.' Chelsea Clinton launched a scathing attack on Rampling on Friday in anger over her comments and took to Twitter to blasted the veteran actress and Oscar nominee. Clinton called her standpoint 'outrageous, ignorant and offensive'. He's a winner: Clint Eastwood, 85, slammed the Oscars race row saying the majority of Academy members haven't won one. He has won four Academy Awards during his long career Controversy: Actress Charlotte Rampling (right) defended her comments calling the backlash 'anti-white' Many on Twitter rallied to the actress' side after Clinton's swipe. One user wrote: 'Why? Because she has an opinion that's not the same as yours. All sides should be heard with respect'. Another added: 'What Charlotte Rampling said was absolutely correct. It's progressives like yourself who refuse to recognise it.' The British star, 69, said such politically correct thinking was a form of racism in itself. Speaking on Europe 1 radio station in Paris, where she now lives, Ms Rampling said: Its anti-white racism. Maybe black actors dont deserve to be on the final stretch?Rampling, who first made her name in classic films including Georgy Girl in the 1960s, said she was also opposed to quotas being introduced to promote black actors. Why classify people? she said. They feel like a minority, they think: Were the black actors and there are not enough of us. Referring to the vanity of some actors in general, Ms Rampling added: There will always be problems hes too handsome, hes too black, hes too white She released a statement to CBS Sunday Morning soon after, saying; 'I regret that my comments could have been misinterpreted this week in my interview with Europe 1 Radio. 'Outrageous and ignorant': Chelsea Clinton has blasted Oscar-nominated Charlotte Rampling in a Twitter rant Outspoken: Chelsea attacked Ms Rampling after she accused Oscar boycotters of 'anti-white racism' Misinterpreted? Charlotte Rampling is up for her first Oscar for 45 Years, seen here. During a Friday radio interview on Europe 1 radio station in Paris, where she now lives, Ms Rampling said of the boycott: Its anti-white racism 'I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration. I am very honored to be included in this years wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses.' Her views seemed to be supported by Sir Michael Caine, who spoke out against race coming into the nomination process. He told the BBC: 'There's loads of black actors. In the end you can't vote for an actor because he's black. You can't say 'I'm going to vote for him, he's not very good, but he's black, I'll vote for him'. 'You have to give a good performance and I'm sure people have. I saw Idris Elba (in Beasts Of No Nation)... I thought he was wonderful.' The two-time Academy Award-winner also said black actors should 'be patient'. 'Of course it will come. It took me years to get an Oscar, years,' he added. 'The best thing about it is you don't have to go. Especially the Oscars, 24 hours on an aeroplane and I've got to sit there clapping Leonardo DiCaprio. 'I love Leonardo, he played my son in a movie, but I'm too old to travel that far and sit in an audience and clap someone else.' Meanwhile, actress Ellen Page - who was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in 2008's Juno has taken the opposite stance, insisting the situation is a 'reflection of the industry' as a whole. She told The Wrap: 'Its awful, and I think what just happened in regards to the nominations two years in a row is a reflection of the industry itself, and the lack of diversity in all positions. 'I feel like we all have to be doing what we can to make a change, because were supposed to be telling stories that reflect human experience, and we cant just be showing one group of people.' The new comments came as the Academy rushed to announce new rules to counter the criticism. They pledged to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors. Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the changes on Friday. 'The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,' she said in a statement. Other changes include limiting members' voting status to a period of 10 years, to be extended only if the individual remains active in film during that decade. Changes: Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the film academy is pledging to double the number of female and minority members by 2020 and it will limit members' voting status to just ten years 'In the end you can't vote for an actor because he's black': Sir Michael Caine said in response to the growing diversity debate 'Spoiled brats': Prouder Gerald Molen, pictured left, collecting his Oscar for Shindler's List has blasted plans for an Oscars boycott. He is pictured with Steven Spielberg and Branko Lusting Lifetime voting rights will be granted only to Academy Award nominees and winners, and to members after three ten-year voting terms. Previously, all active members received lifetime voting rights. The organization also plans to diversify its leadership beyond the board of governors by adding new members to key decision-making committees, and further diversify its membership with a global campaign to identify and recruit diverse talent. Reaction came swiftly. On Saturday, Silence Of The Lambs director Jonathan Demme called for even more immediate action by the Academy. Writing on Deadline.com, Demme, who won a best Director Academy Award for the 1991 movie, said changes should be implemented straightaway for this year's round of voting. 'Its exciting that the Academy has responded so swiftly and openly with an admission of the white male dominance of our films, our industry, and our awards,' he wrote in an opinion piece published Saturday. 'Wouldnt it be so wise, and so very correct, to not wait for next year to address this enormous challenge/problem?' Demme, 71, went on: 'Instead, lets recalibrate this years votes, expanding the entries in all categories, and in this way make it possible for us all to actually watch what is presently unwatchably so mortifyingly the 'best white whatever' in all categories of the 2016 Oscar ceremony.' The director, who also helmed Philadelphia, starring Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streeps' Ricki And The Flash, also suggested that members of the Academy should be required to watch all the films released during a year before voting. Act of rebellion: Magic Mike XXL star Pinkett Smith released a video Monday announcing she would not be attending the Academy Awards due to a lack of diversity among this year's nominees Blunt talk: The Concussion star said he believes the American film industry is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to diversity Ava DuVernay, director of last year's best picture-nominee 'Selma,' tweeted that the changes were 'one good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color and women artists.' She added: 'Shame is a helluva motivator.' The diversity issue has been dividing Hollywood all week and looks set to dominate discussions surrounding the Chris Rock hosted ceremony scheduled for February 28. Black stars fail to feature on any of the four lead and supporting acting categories. It follows a 2015 shortlist which was equally homogeneous. The only black projects nominated for an Oscar - What Happened, Miss Simone? for documentary and Straight Outta Compton for screenplay - have all white nominees. Jada Pinkett Smith publicly addressed the issue with a video on her Facebook page which helped kick-start the debate about this year's lack of diversity. The Magic Mike XXL star said she would not attend the ceremony over the issue. 'I can't help ask the question: is it time that people of color, recognize how much power and influence we have amassed that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere,' she said. Backing: George Clooney, pictured here with his wife, said that the film industry was moving in the wrong direction on the diversity issue Problems: William H. Macy, who is a member of the Academy, said the Oscars have a diversity issue 'I ask the question have we now come to a new time and place, where we recognize that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledgement or respect of any group. 'That maybe it is time that we love, respect and acknowledge ourselves in the way we are asking others to do, then that that is the place of true power. I'm simply asking the question. 'Here is what I believe, the Academy has the right to acknowledge whomever they choose, to invite whomever they choose and now, I think that it is our responsibility now, to make the change.' Her husband Will backed her in an appearance on Good Morning America on Thursday. I think that diversity is the American superpower. That's why we're great, he told Robin Roberts in the exclusive interview. 'So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspirations, their influences to this beautiful American gumbo. so when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it is not reflecting that beauty. Since the Hollywood power couple came to the fore, numerous other stars have spoken out. However, Michael Moore and Spike Lee are the only two to go as far as backing the boycott. Lee said the 'real battle' against racism was taking place in the 'executive office of the Hollywood studios and TV and cable networks.' 'This is where the gate keepers decide what gets made and what gets jettisoned to "turnaround" or scrap heap,' he wrote to his combined 1.4 million followers on social media. The Chi-Raq director then pointed out that it's easier for an African-American to be President of the United States 'than be president of a Hollywood studio.' Problems: William H. Macy, who is a member of the Academy, said the Oscars have a diversity issue Lee then suggested that the powers that be should follow in the footsteps of the NFL football league, whose Rooney Rule states that minorities must be interviewed for major positions. Other stars have added their voices to the debate but will still attend the star-studded event. William H Macy, who is one of the stars of this year's Best Picture nominee 'Room', claimed some Academy voters dont even watch the films in contention - and instead vote for actors they personally favor. Oscar winner Danny Boyle also spoke about the controversy on Thursday and said that ceremonies and cinemagoers should not judge talent on skin color. Macy, who is a member of the Academy, told Mail Online: 'My take on this story is that there is no conspiracy, it is the Academy. It is mostly a bunch of white guys. And I am guilty of it too. We gravitate to our own. 'The only thing that the Academy needs to fix is that a lot of people that vote for it dont see all of the movies, so you vote for the guy you liked last year... "I didn't see this film - but I always liked that guy, or I liked that woman!" 'I think we need we need more diversity in the Academy is the way to fix this.' When asked about the possibility of quotas being introduced to award nominations though, Macy said: 'That is a stupid idea.' He then reiterated: 'That is stupid idea to have quotas, because what if there arent seven white guys that didn't do a good job? Waiting game: Michael Caine told the BBC that black actors should be patient. He said he had to wait years to win an Oscar 'You have to have four white guys, four black guys - no. It is all about the work. 'The problem is the Academy. One of the things I get about the award shows when I go in is that I know these people, some of them owe me money it is real. 'If you win one of these years it is your peers, they really voted for you. So it is the make-up of the Academy that is the only problem.' Academy Award winner and member Reese Witherspoon weighed in on Friday. 'So disappointed that some of 2015's best films, filmmakers and performances were not recognized... Nothing can diminish the quality of their work, but these filmmakers deserve recognition. As an Academy member, I would love to see a more diverse voting membership,' she wrote on Facebook. Director Danny Boyle meanwhile said that the actors in his films 'play human beings. There is only race..the human race.' He also added that he believes this scandal will change matters moving forward. 'I think everybody acknowledges that everything evolves and changes. It is going to evolve and change more, you can see that coming. Speaking out: Lupita Nyong'o criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for their lack of diversity in this year's nominees (above with fellow winners Matthew McConaughey, Cate Blanchett and Jared Leto in 2014) 'I have been very lucky to work in my career with a lot of actors from many different backgrounds and ethnicities and I am really proud of that.' Boyle expressed his surprise at Creed not receiving attention from the Academy for its black director Ryan Coogler or actor Michael B. Jordan and just a nomination for the film's white star, Sylvester Stallone. 'I thought that Ryan Coogler did a wonderful job in Creed, which is wonderful, really enjoyable movie and I was very impressed. 'There are wonderful shining lights out there which will find their way through.' Two-time Academy Award winner George Clooney said he believed Hollywood as an industry was 'moving in the wrong direction.' 'If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated.... And all of a sudden, you feel like were moving in the wrong direction,' the 54-year-old actor and director said. Oscar nominee Don Cheadle weighed in on the debate with a Twitter joke directed at this year's host Chris Rock. 'Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level,' he wrote. Lupita Nyong'o, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2014 for her performance in 12 Years a Slave, wrote on Instagram; 'I am disappointed by the lack on inclusion in this year's Academy Award nominations. 'It has me thinking about unconscious prejudice and what merits prestige in our culture.' THE 'WHITE' OSCARS: STARS SPEAK OUT ON AWARDS DIVERSITY Chorus of critics: (L to R) Idris Elba , Whoopi Goldberg, David Oyelowo and Snoop Dogg have condemned the Oscars' lack of diversity among the nominees 'This institution doesnt reflect its president and it doesnt reflect this room. I am an Academy member and it doesnt reflect me, and it doesnt reflect this nation,' - David Oyelowo 'You have to ask the question are black people normally playing petty criminals? Are women always the love interest or talking about men? Are gay people always stereotyped? Are disabled people ever seen at all?' - Idris Elba '... the idea that we could go two years in a row, where 40 actors could be nominated and none of them were black, is just crazy,' - Michael Moore 'I can't help ask the question: is it time that people of color, recognize how much power and influence we have amassed that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere,' - Jada Pinkett Smith 'How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? And let's not even get into the other branches. 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava at all. We can't act?! WTF!!' - Spike Lee 'Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains, the higher up you get the whiter it gets and this year's Academy Awards will be yet another Rocky Mountain Oscar,' - Rev Al Sharpton 'Somebody asked was I gonna watch the mother****ing Oscars. F*** no! What the f*** am I gonna watch that bulls*** for? They ain't got no n***** nominated. All these great movies and all this great s*** ya'll keep stealing from us. F*** you! F*** you! - Snoop Dog to TMZ Denial: Actress Janet Hubert (left) who played Will Smith's Aunt Viv on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air has criticized the complaints of the star's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, George Clooney and Director Spike Lee (L-R) 'Why is this a conversation that we only have once a year? Every year we get all fired up and then the rest of the year nobody says anything.... So Im not going to boycott, but Im going to continue to bitch as I have all year round because Im tired of seeing movies where no one is represented except a bit of the population, not all of it,' - Whoopi Goldberg 'If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated.... And all of a sudden, you feel like were moving in the wrong direction' - George Clooney 'Our boys are being shot left and right. People are starving. People are trying to pay bills. And youre talking about some f*****g actors and Oscars. It just aint that deep' - Janet Hubert 'When Jada comes out as Gay and her beard husband admits his first marriage ended when she walked in to him **** servicing his Sugar Daddy Benny Medina ..then I will listen to them' - Alexis Arquette Speaking out: William H. Macy, Will Smith, Danny Boyle and Lupita Nyong'o 'Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level' - Don Cheadle 'It cant be about box office, because I think black actors and stories along those lines have done very, very well, obviously' - Steve McQueen I think that diversity is the American superpower. That's why we're great. So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas, their inspirations, their influences to this beautiful American gumbo. so when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it is not reflecting that beauty' - Will Smith Its anti-white racism. Maybe black actors dont deserve to be on the final stretch? - Charlotte Rampling 'I do support the Oscar Ban movement's position that the nominations do not reflect the diversity of our community. The Oscar Ban movement reflects a larger discussion about racism in the criminal justice system. I hope the Oscar Ban movement opens the way for my peers to open their hearts to the #BlackLivesMatter movement as well' - Mark Ruffalo 'I think everybody acknowledges that everything evolves and changes. It is going to evolve and change more, you can see that coming' - Danny Boyle 'There's loads of black actors. In the end you can't vote for an actor because he's black. You can't say 'I'm going to vote for him, he's not very good, but he's black, I'll vote for him' - Sir Michael Caine Unconvinced: Sir Michael Caine, producer Gerald Molen and Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling have questioned plans for an Oscar boycott while Reese Witherspoon called for a change to Academy voting membership 'As an Academy member, I would love to see a more diverse voting membership' - Reese Witherspoon 'The idea of a boycott is ridiculous. Are their noses bent out of shape by the award nominations? Of course. That is normal in a town of egos and red carpet desires. While there were many performances of note, not all my choices for 'best' in the various categories have been realized.'I say to all my co-members: 'stop acting like spoiled brats. Look to the next awards show for recognition if you deserve it' - Schindler's List producer Gerald Molen 'I think in our industry and our business, its really about looking to whos telling what story, whos being allowed to direct, whos being allowed to act in it, and I think that needs to change' - John Kransinski 'The problem is not with the Oscars, the problem is with the Hollywood movie-making system' - Viola Davis Advertisement Nyong'o did not however say she would be boycotting the awards, but did write; 'I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and the recognition of the people who tell them'. British actor Idris Elba - who didn't receive a nomination for his role in Beasts of No Nation - addressed the issue in a speech to politicians in London on Monday. 'We need to counter what everybody has, see the lay of the land and see who has which careers in TVwho makes TV, and who is allowed on TV and when they get the opportunity which roles do they play, on and off screen,' he said. 'You have to ask the question: are black people normally playing petty criminals? Are women always the love interest or talking about men? Are gay people always stereotyped? Are disabled people ever seen at all?' Viola Davis agreed it is a wider issue than the Oscars alone. 'The problem is not with the Oscars, the problem is with the Hollywood movie-making system,' the two-time Oscar nominee told Entertainment Tonight. Actor John Kransinski added a similar complaint. 'My feelings are beyond the Oscars. Though I think its a shame, I dont know that they should be taking all the responsibility. 'I think in our industry and our business, its really about looking to whos telling what story, whos being allowed to direct, whos being allowed to act in it, and I think that needs to change. It's not just actors who have weighed in. Schindler's List producer and voting member of the Academy, Gerald Molen, has branded the diversity critics, 'spoiled brats'. 'There is no racism except for those who create an issue. That is the worst kind. Using such an ugly way of complaining,' Molen told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday 'The idea of a boycott is ridiculous. Are their noses bent out of shape by the award nominations? Of course. That is normal in a town of egos and red carpet desires. While there were many performances of note, not all my choices for 'best' in the various categories have been realized. 'I say to all my co-members: 'stop acting like spoiled brats. Look to the next awards show for recognition if you deserve it'.' 'The only comment that might have some legitimate substance is the one from Jada Pinkett. I understand her disappointment for her husband, but that doesn't mean she is correct in her analysis. 'As far as Michael Moore is concerned, he is a socialist always looking to insert his brand of racist hatred. Spike Lee haven't I heard this from him before?' 'In a liberal town like Hollywood, [saying voters are racist] makes about as much sense as saying all members of the Academy vote Republican.' He's got one too: Jonathan Demme won Best Director at the Academy Awards in 1992 for the blockbuster hit The Silence Of The Lambs. He wrote Saturday that the Academy should make changes right now and not wait In an exclusive interview with Dailymail.com, Up in the Air casting agent Lori Wyman defended the Academy and the nominees selected for this year's awards. She said she believes Academy members 'picked the best actors' in the end and that she did not believe 'people were omitted from the Oscars for their ethnicity.' She also said that when she is casting she is always 'colorblind' and just looking for the best actor. Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement on Monday that changes were coming which would hopefully result in a more diverse group of nominees, and Academy members, in the years to come. Isaacs, who in addition to being president of the Academy is also one of the invite-only group's few non-white members, said in a statement on Monday; 'Id like to acknowledge the wonderful work of this years nominees. 'While we celebrate their extraordinary achievements, I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and its time for big changes. 'The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership. 'In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much-needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond.' She then added; 'As many of you know we have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. 'But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly.' Nick Carter has tweeted an apology following his arrest in a Florida bar. The former Backstreet Boys star wrote on Saturday: 'I am human and at times it can be a struggle to balance a healthy lifestyle. I'm not perfect and for that I am sorry.' His tweet in his first since his January 13 arrest for allegedly tried to 'choke a bouncer' at the Hog's Breath Saloon in Key West. The former Dancing With The Stars contestant became angry after he was refused service, a source told TMZ. It was added that Carter and a friend arrived at the bar at 7pm already drunk and the staff asked them to leave. Scroll down for video Booked: Nick Carter has been arrested in Florida. TMZ reported on Wednesday the Backstreet Boy, according to an eyewitness, was at the Hog's Breath Saloon in Key West, in Florida Apology: On Saturday Nick Carter tweeted 'I'm not perfect' in his first message since his January 13 arrest Witnesses told TMZ that Carter's friend Michael Papayans 'headbutted' the bar manager after demanding to be given a drink. According to the source police eventually turned up to investigate the altercation and arrested Carter. He was heard telling police the bar staff acted like Navy Seals. The site also said that Carter and Papayans were already restrained by staff when the police showed up, with Papayans having a bloody face, hands and knees. The location: Hog's Breath Saloon in Key West, Florida where Nick Carter was arrested They arrested him at 8.13pm and then booked the star for misdemeanor battery. According to arrest documents, Carter's occupation was listed as 'None.' The 35-year-old is expecting his first child with his wife Lauren Kitt who he married in 2014. The couple are having a baby boy. Scuffle: Reports suggested the singer had been involved in an altercation at the Hogsbreath Saloon in Key West, where the incident happened - he is pictured here at Good Morning America in November last year Pictured: The bar where the incident is said to have happened The singer recently came second behind Bindi Irwin in the Fall 2015 season of Dancing With The Stars. He said of being runner up and his time on the show: 'This experience was a bonding experience, it was something I will always remember. Bindi deserved it, she kicked butt.' In trouble with the law before: Carter had a run in with the police in Florida in 2002 - then 21, he was busted in Tampa when on suspicion of refusing to follow police orders to vacate the nightclub Pop City Carter was last in trouble with the police in Florida in 2002 - then 21, he was busted in Tampa when on suspicion of refusing to follow police orders to vacate the nightclub Pop City. A brawl broke out inside, according to reports at the time. Tampa Police said in the report on the incident: 'The defendant was told to leave over 10 times. Busy: Carter has most recently appeared in Season 21 of Dancing With The Stars '(He) continued the argument and would not leave and was arrested without incident.' Carter, was charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting and opposing a law enforcement officer without violence. He was handcuffed, put in a police car and released on his own recognizance. Abortion opponents brave Washington cold for 'March for Life' Tens of thousands of people braved the cold in Washington on Friday ahead of a major snow storm to march in protest on the 43rd anniversary of Roe v Wade, the US Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. The large crowd gathered for the March for Life rally and listened to speakers at the National Mall before marching to the Supreme Court to show their discontent with the landmark 1973 ruling. "We have 60 million Americans killed by our own people," said Karl Menvel, a truck driver at the march, referring to abortion. An icicle hangs from the beard of an anti-abortion activist during a rally in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC 0n January 22, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) "We worry about terrorists but really we have to look at ourselves," he said. Catholic nuns and Dominican friars marched alongside Protestant evangelicals, some waving pro-life banners and placards. The crowd included students and parents with young children. Some protesters stopped for selfies in front of the city's iconic landmarks. Abortion is a hot-button political issue, with Democratic presidential candidates fiercely supporting a woman's right to choose while Republican candidates oppose the measure, some more vociferously than others. Several pro-life lawmakers spoke at the rally as did Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina, a vehement opponent of abortion who is lagging in the polls. For some people, abortion "could be the deciding factor" in how they vote in this year's presidential election, said Christian Keller, a college student who came from Nebraska for the rally. "If we can fit in all the other human rights with being pro-life, then I'd say that would be a good candidate," Keller said. At the White House, President Barack Obama -- who supports legalized abortion -- said that the anniversary affirms "a woman's freedom to make her own choices about her body and her health." The 1973 ruling "supports the broader principle that the government should not intrude on private decisions made between a woman and her doctor. "As we commemorate this day, we also redouble our commitment to protecting these constitutional rights, including protecting a woman's access to safe, affordable health care and her right to reproductive freedom from efforts to undermine or overturn them." Organizers said 200,000 people came to the rally, which they admitted was about a quarter the number seen in years past due to the dire weather forecast for the region. Police, who no longer give out crowd estimates, said only that the rally was smaller than claimed. National polls show a majority support in the United States for legal abortion. According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 50 percent of the public described themselves as pro-choice -- supporting the right to legal abortion -- and 44 percent say they are pro-life. Anti-abortion demonstrators march to the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC 0n January 22, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) Egypt since its revolution five years ago Key developments in Egypt since the January 2011 uprising that toppled the 30-year rule of president Hosni Mubarak: - The revolution - On January 25, 2011, massive anti-Mubarak protests erupt after a revolt topples Tunisia's ruler in what becomes known as the Arab Spring. On February 1, more than a million demonstrators take to the streets in the country, with a great flood of people congregating in Cairo's Tahrir Square. An Egyptian protester waves his national flag as tens of thousands gather at Cairo's Tahrir Square April 8, 2011, two months after president Hosni Mubarak was ousted Misam Saleh (AFP/File) On February 11, Mubarak resigns and hands power to the army, which suspends the constitution and dissolves parliament. About 850 people die during 18 days of revolt. - Islamist victory - From November 2011 to January 2012, Egypt holds post-revolt parliamentary elections. Islamists win about two-thirds of the seats, half of which go to the Muslim Brotherhood. In June, the parliament is dissolved when a court rules it is illegal. On June 30, 2012, Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi becomes president after winning the election with 51.7 percent of the vote. He becomes Egypt's first freely elected civilian and Islamist leader. In August, Morsi replaces Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi with military intelligence chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. - Morsi ousted, Sisi in power - On July 3, 2013, Sisi ousts Morsi after massive protests against his one-year rule, and freezes the Islamist-drafted constitution. Morsi denounces a "coup" as authorities launch a crackdown against his supporters. On August 14, security forces move against two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo, killing at least 700 people. Since Morsi's removal, at least 1,400 people have been killed in a police crackdown on protests, mostly Islamists. Tens of thousands of Morsi's supporters have been arrested and hundreds, including Morsi himself, have been sentenced to death. In December, the government declares the Brotherhood a "terrorist" organisation. In January 2014, voters overwhelmingly approve a new constitution that strengthens the role of the army. On June 8, Sisi is sworn in as president having won 96.9 percent of a vote boycotted by the Brotherhood and secular dissidents. In late 2015, a new parliament dominated by supporters of Sisi is elected. - Jihadist unrest, economic accords - On February 10, 2015, during a visit to Cairo by President Vladimir Putin, Egypt and Russia agree to jointly build Egypt's first nuclear power plant. On February 16, Cairo carries out air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in neighbouring Libya after a graphic video is released showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians there. On October 10, Egypt signs a deal with France to buy two Mistral warships. On October 31, a Russian passenger plane blows up in the Sinai, killing all 224 people on board. IS says it smuggled a bomb on board, while Moscow says an investigation has found that the plane was brought down by a bomb. The jihadist group's Egyptian affiliate, which is particularly active in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers. On December 16, Saudi Arabia pledges a total of $8 billion in investment and aid to Egypt, along with petrol supplies, over the next five years. S.Sudan government formation delayed as rebels reject new states Warring rivals in South Sudan missed a key deadline Saturday to forge a unity government, with rebels rejecting President Salva Kiir's creation of new regional states as fighting continues. The rivals were supposed to form a government by January 22, but rebels say Kiir's near tripling of the number of regional states in December undermines a fundamental pillar of an August power-sharing deal to end two years of civil war. Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang criticised "anti-peace hardliners within the government" and said they would base negotiations on the old system of 10 states and not the current 28. South Sudanese SPLA soldiers patrol in Pageri, Eastern Equatoria state Samir Bol (AFP/File) Garang however said rebels are "fully committed to peace and shall not entertain a return to war." Key international backers -- the so-called Troika, made up of key donors Britain, Norway and United States, as well as the European Union -- this week said the talks were "deadlocked". Amid mounting frustration, they cut payment of hotel bills for rebel delegates in Juba. During previous peace talks mostly held in Ethiopia, delegates have run up vast hotel and bar bills as they agreed -- and then swiftly broke -- a string of ceasefire deals. Civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken country along ethnic lines. - UN lists horrific abuses - Despite the August agreement fighting continues, with the conflict now involving multiple militia forces who pay little heed to paper peace deals and are driven by local agendas or revenge attacks. Heavy fighting was reported this week in the southwestern Western Equatoria region, including street battles in the state capital of Yambio on Thursday, close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers said. The clashes were between soldiers and a local militia known as the Arrow Boys, reportedly aligned with Machar's rebels. United Nations rights monitors this week added more details to a long list of horrific abuses in the more than two-year war. The report detailed "gross violations" of human rights including "gang-rape, sexual slavery and forced abortion", in a joint report by the UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Earlier this week the United Nations said over 200,000 South Sudanese civilians are sheltering inside peacekeepers' camps from civil war, a bleak barometer of ongoing conflict. To add to its woes, South Sudan's economy is in ruins. Its government budget depends almost entirely on oil revenues, but it is currently effectively paying to export its oil, due to falling world prices, combined with a fixed fee for the use of export pipelines to neighbour Sudan. Kerry in Riyadh to reassure allies over Iran US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia, sought Saturday to reassure Gulf allies concerned about a perceived warming of ties between Washington and Iran. He also announced that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet "very shortly" to help push peace in the war-ravaged country. Kerry spoke in Riyadh after meeting his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (R) on January 23, 2016 at the King's farm, on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh Jacquelyn Martin (Pool/AFP) "The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries," Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Iran's "support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah" in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm concerns among his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, the world's leading Shiite power whose relations with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad city. The violence broke out after the kingdom executed dissident Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shiites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a "coming together" of the US and Iran. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is," Jubeir added, while Kerry appeared defensive and less at ease than usual. A senior State Department official earlier told journalists the US understands Saudi anger over the embassy attack but that "lessening tensions is an important objective". Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said violence against the Saudi embassy was wrong, and against Islam. - Syria peace talks - Kerry later met with King Salman and the monarch's son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. He also held talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition. UN-brokered peace talks are targeted for Monday in Geneva but there is disagreement, including from Moscow, over opposition representation. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going," Kerry said. On Saturday, he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed by telephone the makeup of the opposition team. "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Kerry told reporters the Syria Support Group will meet "very shortly" after the first round of Syria talks "because we want to keep the process moving". The group has devised a plan for a political transition aimed at ending the nearly five-year war in Syria that has cost more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions. It includes Saudi Arabia, the United States and other countries who say President Bashar al-Assad can have no role in Syria's future, and Assad's allies Iran and Moscow. Kerry spoke of the "urgency" of ending the conflict but said there are still "obstacles" to finding a political settlement. "We know it's tough," he said. Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. A Saudi-led military coalition since March has been supporting local forces and the internationally recognised government of Yemen against Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels. "We have made it clear that we stand with our friends in Saudi Arabia" on Yemen and the threat from violent Sunni extremism, said Kerry, who travels Sunday to Laos in Southeast Asia. Saudi journalists at a press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir Jacquelyn Martin (Pool/AFP) US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition on January 23, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (Pool/AFP) Stan hits 400 wins, grieving Raonic next at Australian Open French Open champion Stan Wawrinka brought up his 400th tour-level win at the Australian Open on Saturday to set up a clash with Milos Raonic, who is in mourning for victims of a Canadian high school shooting. Two-time women's champion Victoria Azarenka raced into the last 16 for the loss of just five games in total, and also saw Garbine Muguruza cleared from her path as the third seed crashed to Barbora Strycova. Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne two years ago, wielded his signature one-handed backhand to devastating effect against Lukas Rosol as he rolled the Czech 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland takes part in a practice session ahead of the Australian Open on January 14, 2016 Paul Crock (AFP/File) A day after Roger Federer reached 300 Grand Slam wins, the victory was the 400th on tour for the Swiss number two, who has emerged from his compatriot's shadow to establish himself among the top men's contenders. Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, now goes into a last-16 clash with Canada's Raonic, who was fired by his grief over the high school shooting as he overwhelmed Victor Troicki 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. "Today's victory was for that community and a quick recovery. All of Canada, and I'm sure the world, is behind you," said an emotional Raonic, who was close to tears as he addressed the crowd after his match. Montenegro-born Raonic, who moved to Canada as a child, later explained that thoughts of the tragedy, which left four dead in a remote community, had given him enormous intensity as he played Troicki. "Maybe to me today's match really sort of mattered heavily, and I would do everything I can to find a way to win," he said. "But at the end of the day, to be in that situation -- there is five (four) people that will never go back to school again. "That's just far bigger than whatever thing I could have done on court today. It's especially difficult, when it's such a small community and it's a tragedy that's from within a certain group of people, most likely." Towering American John Isner thundered 44 aces as he outlasted Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4 with David Ferrer, who beat Steve Johnson 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile Azarenka, back to her best after two years of injury trouble, blew away Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1 as she accelerated into the second week. It opens up a path to the quarter-finals for the Belarusian, with Spanish world number three Muguruza no longer a concern after she was shocked by Czech veteran Strycova in straight sets. "I'm pretty happy with the way I'm playing. I just want to still keep improving from match to match, because it's only getting harder from here," said Azarenka, who hit the practice court straight after the match. Johanna Konta beat Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2 to become the first British woman to reach the fourth round in 29 years and set up a clash with Russia's Ekaterina Makarova, who ousted Czech player Karolina Pliskova. Palestinian teen tries to stab Israeli guard, shot dead: police A 13-year-old Palestinian girl tried to stab an Israeli guard at a West Bank settlement Saturday and was shot dead, the latest bloodshed in a months-long wave of attacks, police said. Many of the attackers have been disturbingly young and the killing of several of them by Israeli security forces has prompted questions at home and abroad. Police said Roqaya Abu-Eid was feeling suicidal after a fight with her family when she ran from her home in the West Bank village of Anata clutching a kitchen knife and rushed at a private security guard at nearby Anatot settlement. Israeli security forces stop a Palestinian worker at the entrance to the West Bank settlement of Tekoa south of Jerusalem after a stabbing attack Menahem Kahana (AFP/File) "She had a knife and intended to die," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement. "The guard opened fire, gravely wounding her and medics pronounced her dead shortly afterwards." Police said her father, who had been searching the area for her, arrived too late at the scene of the attack. They said he was questioned to see if he knew in advance of her intentions but was later released. Palestinian officials said Israel returned her body for burial by her family. Israeli media said she was to be buried on Sunday in the southern West Bank village of Yatta, where the family is originally from. A total of 156 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed in three months of attacks, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks and many of the assailants have been young people, including teenagers. Others her age have died in clashes with the army and police in the West Bank but she is thought to be the youngest killed during an attack. In November, police in Jerusalem shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian and seriously wounded her 14-year-old friend after the two girls stabbed and lightly wounded an elderly man in a market. The same month in the east Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Zeev, two Palestinian boys aged 12 and 14 attacked a security guard with knives, police said. The younger of the boys, both from Jerusalem's Shuafat refugee camp, was shot and seriously wounded and the other was arrested. Murad Ideis, 15, who allegedly stabbed to death a 38-year-old Israeli nurse and mother of six at her house in a West Bank settlement last Sunday, was later arrested in a raid on his family home. - 'Children killed without trial' - Arab Israeli MP Essawi Frej of the opposition Meretz party said in a statement that Abu-Eid could have been restrained rather than killed. "Even if she had a knife, it should have been possible to arrest a girl of that age," he said. He referred to Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who enraged Israel when she called for "thorough and credible investigations" into the deaths of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the wave of violence since October 1. She has also called on Israel to halt what she called "extrajudicial executions" in response to attacks by knife-wielding Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed her remarks as "stupid" and "immoral", but Frej said she had a valid point. UN council weighs next steps on Burundi crisis UN Security Council ambassadors on Saturday turned to the African Union to map out the next steps to end violence in Burundi after President Pierre Nkurunziza rejected talks and peacekeepers. The 15 council envoys arrived in Addis Ababa a day after meeting Nkurunziza at his residence outside Bujumbura to urge him to agree to mediated talks and an African force. But Nkurunziza was unmoved by their appeals. Burundian soldiers in Bujumbura after a police operation on July 1, 2015 Marco Longari (AFP/File) "He's in total denial about the dangers," said Egyptian Ambassador Amr Aboulatta on the final day of the three-day visit. It was the second time in 10 months that the council traveled to Burundi to push for an end to the crisis. US Ambassador Samantha Power said this time around, she noticed "much more fear" among civil society leaders, many of whom have been forced into exile. "Urgent though the situation is on the ground, we have to take this in steps," she said. The first step will come this week when leaders at an AU summit will decide whether to endorse the peacekeeping force after the Burundian government rejected it as an "invasion army." If African leaders come out strongly in favour of the 5,000-strong force at the January 30-31 summit, the council will be under pressure to adopt a resolution backing the AU mission and contributing to its budget. The Egyptian ambassador said it was "premature" to adopt a UN resolution backing the AU force and that African leaders must "reconsider their approach" after Nkurzunziza turned down the peacekeepers. Street protests, a failed coup and now a simmering rebellion began when Nkurunziza announced his intention to run for a controversial third term, which he went on to win in July elections. Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev warned that deploying the peacekeepers could have a "negative" impact on efforts to bring the government to the table for talks with its opponents. During the meeting Saturday with the African Union's peace and security council, Iliichev proposed setting up an international police mission to carry out mixed patrols in Bujumburas flashpoint districts. - More observers - France is pushing for the rapid deployment of 100 AU human rights monitors and military experts, part of whom could be sent to the border with Rwanda, accused by Burundi of arming the opposition. Kigali has dismissed the allegations, but Power said there should be pressure on Rwanda "not to interfere in the very complicated" situation in Burundi. There are currently 10 observers in Burundi and talks with the government on allowing dozens more have run into complications. "We want to see deployment as quickly as possible," French Deputy UN Ambassador Alexis Lamek said after the meeting at AU headquarters in Ethiopia. African leaders will also decide at the summit whether to scrap an Ugandan-led mediation effort that has yielded just one meeting between the government and the opposition in December. Council members were pushing for an expanded UN role in the mediation and also weighed possible financial aid as a gesture of support to the country in crisis. There was little appetite for sanctions. The European Union has cut off aid to Burundi and the United States has suspended its military training program in Burundi. AU Peace and Security Council chief Smail Chergui said it was crucial the international community "remain united on Burundi", which has been gripped by violence since April. More than 400 people have died since then and at least 230,000 have fled the country. Nkurunziza took a hard line during the meeting at his hilltop residence in Gitega, some two hours outside of Bujumbura, where he rejected calls for inclusive dialogue, renewed mediation efforts and an international intervention force. "I can guarantee that there will not be a genocide in Burundi," Nkurunziza said, adding that Burundi is "99 percent secure". Burundi is still recovering from its ethnically-charged 13-year civil war between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, with an estimated 300,000 lives lost. Burundian protesters hold banners as the US ambassador to the United Nations arrives at Bujumbura airport on January 21, 2016 Griff Tapper (AFP/File) Israeli-Palestinian battle doesn't end at death After weeks of waiting for the funeral, Bassim Salah's family still couldn't bury his body when it was returned by the Israeli authorities too frozen and contorted to fit in the grave. The 38-year-old Palestinian was killed in November while trying to stab an Israeli border guard near an entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, according to the police. His body, like those of dozens of other Palestinians since a wave of attacks began in October, is the subject of a macabre dispute between the Israeli authorities and families seeking to grieve. The mother of Bassim Salah at their family home in Nablus on January 3, 2016 His brother Saad flicks through disturbing images of the corpse, after it was handed over by the Israelis to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Before they could lay him to rest, his family in the West Bank city of Nablus was forced to watch the body slowly thaw after its return from storage in a freezer in an Israeli morgue. "We only wanted the body to bury him in an honourable way," Saad said. According to Islamic tradition, burial should take place as soon as possible after death. The Israeli government announced on October 14 that it would not return the bodies of assailants as part of a range of measures designed to curb the spate of attacks. Many funerals have been delayed, sometimes for more than three months. - 'No respect' - A total of 156 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed in three months of violence. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks. At the height of confiscations, Israel held 56 bodies, according to the Palestinians. But the majority have been released in recent weeks, with only 10 still being held. Mazen Hassan Arabeh, 37, was killed on December 3 while carrying out an attack at a checkpoint, according to the Israeli authorities. The director of Abu Dis Medical Centre said it took 20 people to carry the body when it was returned because it was "completely frozen". "It seems that they are tossing them in the refrigerator after their deaths without any regard for their shape," Abdullah Abu Hilal said. "The occupation does not respect them even when they put their bodies in a fridge." Rights groups have criticised the policy of withholding bodies, saying it increases tensions. And much of the Israeli establishment agrees. The issue has divided the Israeli military -- which supports returning the bodies -- and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who wants to avoid funerals becoming political rallies. The army has returned all the bodies from the West Bank, for which it is responsible. But those from annexed east Jerusalem, under Erdan's ministry, have been withheld. "Until now, the bodies were held as every funeral turned into disruptions of order and a show of support for terror," said a spokesman for Erdan. However, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has argued for their return to ease tensions, according to Israeli media reports. "Past experience has taught us that holding bodies brings more harm than benefit," an Israeli official told AFP. - 'Collective punishment' - Numerous marches have been organised in Palestinian communities to demand the return of the bodies. When it does hand them over, Israel imposes conditions such as that funerals take place at night. Families are also sometimes made to pay a deposit of several thousand shekels (hundreds of dollars) which is forfeited if the funeral does not pass quietly. In east Jerusalem, Mohammed Alyan is still waiting for his son's body. On October 13, Bahaa Alyan boarded a bus in Jerusalem with a friend, Bilal Ghanem, shooting and stabbing passengers and killing three people. Ghanem was arrested and Alyan was killed. His father called the retention of the bodies a "type of collective punishment and torture, especially for those from Jerusalem". Israel also destroyed the family home as punishment, but he swears he will not submit to Israeli conditions for the body's return. "We will not bury him at night or pay a guarantee, and we won't bury him outside Jerusalem," he said. A banner in Nablus depicting Bassim Salah Jaafar Ashtiyeh (AFP) Demonstrators in front of Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock mosque on January 22, 2016 carry portraits of 10 reported Palestinian attackers whose bodies are still in Israeli custody Ahmad Gharabli (AFP) Tunisia PM urges patience after social unrest Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid pleaded Saturday for people to be "patient" after a wave of protests against poverty and unemployment in the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution. He spoke after chairing an emergency cabinet meeting as authorities said a nighttime nationwide curfew would be indefinite. The measure was imposed Friday after the spread of unrest from the central town of Kasserine, where an unemployed man died of electrocution during a protest, to the rest of the country. Tunisian protesters clash with security forces in Kasserine, on January 21, 2016 Mohamed Khalil (AFP) Anger at the January 16 death of Ridha Yahyaoui after he climbed a power pole also hit the capital where shops were burnt and looted in one suburb. It was the worst social unrest since the revolution five years ago that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia "is in danger despite the positive things which we have accomplished, particularly the transition toward democracy", said Essid, urging people to "understand that there are difficulties". "Solutions exist but some patience and optimism are needed," said Essid. The premier, who met the defence and interior ministers before the cabinet session, did not announce any firm measures to tackle unemployment and corruption which have plagued the country. On Friday he said he had "no magic wand" to solve unemployment which is more than 15 percent nationwide and 32 percent among university graduates. In a televised address on Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed understanding for the frustration vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. But he also warned against "ill-intentioned hands" exploiting the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. Calm returned to Kasserine Saturday after a day of clashes, but in the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid -- the cradle of the revolution -- teenagers torched tyres, AFP journalists said. "Security-wise, it has started to stabilise," interior ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told AFP. Nevertheless authorities said the 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew would stay. There have been 261 arrests over the unrest and 84 for curfew violations on Friday, the interior ministry said. - 'Honest leaders' needed - Analyst Selim Kharrat called the unrest "the most serious social crisis since 2011", and expressed disappointment at the cabinet's failure to announce solutions to resolve the situation. The government "missed the opportunity to give a positive signal", he said. The government "could have taken inexpensive measures" to battle corruption but has "a limited margin for manoeuvre", Kharrat said. "The demonstrations are demanding not only jobs but also honest leaders," he added. The human rights and civil society minister, Kamel Jendoubi, said he expected that Essid would soon announce measures concerning youths, jobs and "taking charge of difficult cases". He did not elaborate. Saturday's cabinet session comes after Essid earlier this month replaced his foreign and interior ministers in the first reshuffle since Essebsi took office in late 2014. The unrest echoed the public anger that erupted after the death of young fruit seller Mohammed Bouazizi in December 2011 in protest at unemployment and police harassment. Bouazizi set himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid, sparking the uprising that toppled Ben Ali -- whose rule was tainted by graft accusations -- and inspiring the Arab Spring revolts. Othman Yahyaoui on Friday said his electrocuted son was "a victim of corruption, marginalisation and unkept promises". Mehrez, a brother, said impoverished youths were being driven towards "drug trafficking and terrorism", referring to the thousands of Tunisians who have joined jihadist movements such as the Islamic State (IS) group. While Tunisia is considered a rare Arab Spring success story, the authorities have failed to resolve the problems of social exclusion and regional inequalities. Groups including the Tunisian League for Human Rights and Oxfam urged the government Friday "to adopt an economic model aimed at reducing regional disparities and social injustices". Two attacks last year targeting Tunisia's vital tourism industry killed 60 people -- all but one foreign tourists -- and were claimed by IS. The group was also behind a suicide bombing in Tunis in November that killed 12 presidential guards. After that attack a state of emergency was imposed and in December it was extended by two months until February 21. Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid leads an emergency cabinet meeting on January 23, 2016 in Tunis Fethi Belaid (AFP) Tyres set on fire block the road in the town of Ben Guerdane on January 21, 2016, to show solidarity with protests in the central Tunisian town of Kasserine Fathi Nasri (AFP/File) Saudi says US well aware of Iran 'mischief' Saudi Arabia on Saturday said it does not see a "coming together" of Iran and the United States, which is well aware of Tehran's regional "mischief". The kingdom and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of engagement from their traditional ally Washington, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with a historic international deal -- backed by the United States and five other major powers -- which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir attends an emergency meeting of the (OIC) in the Saudi city of Jeddah, on January 21, 2016, following an attack by protesters on the Saudi embassy in Tehran STRINGER (AFP/File) "No, I don't see a coming together of the United States and Iran. Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is," he said. Kerry and Jubeir spoke after they attended a meeting of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The top US diplomat said his country "remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries". Eritrea president dismisses food crisis fears despite drought Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on Saturday dismissed fears the Horn of African nation faces a food crisis, despite sweeping drought across the wider region leaving millions in need of aid. Floods and failed rains caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon have sparked a dramatic rise in the number of people going hungry in east Africa. But authoritarian and isolated Eritrea has long rejected UN food aid in favour of a policy of self reliance, and Isaias said he was not worried. Floods and failed rains caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon have sparked a dramatic rise in the number of people going hungry in east Africa Eitan Abramovich (AFP/File) "In view of the harvest shortfall that has affected the whole Horn of Africa region, President Isaias stated that the country will not face any crisis in spite of reduced agricultural output," the information ministry said, after he was interviewed by state-run media. Isaias praised the government's "judicious policy and approaches of bolstering its strategic food reserves." In November, the UN warned that Eritrea was among the countries at risk, like all the other nations in the wider region. "The current El Nino pattern, being the strongest ever recorded, has caused severe drought in the Horn of Africa nation, resulting in crop reduction by 50 to 90 percent; even failure in some regions," the United Nations said earlier this month. In Ethiopia, over 10 million people need food aid, it added. In Eritrea, few if any major foreign aid agencies are allowed operate, while the UN has limited access across the country, and most assessments are dependent on government reports. Thousands of Eritreans flee the county each month, saying they are escaping conscription and rampant rights abuses. Lavrov and Kerry discuss Syria talks as wrangling goes on US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday discussed who should represent the Syrian opposition at crucial talks with the government as time ticks down on the meeting scheduled for next week. The talks -- part of the biggest diplomatic push yet to resolve a civil war which began almost five years ago -- were scheduled to open in Geneva on Monday. But the United Nations has said they may be delayed several days amid intense wrangling over the makeup of the opposition delegation. US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for talks on the Syria peace process in Zurich, before attending the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2016 Jacquelyn Martin (POOL/AFP/File) Kerry called Lavrov to discuss the talks following a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, with both men backing efforts to get them started in Geneva "next week". "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," the statement said. The US chief diplomat is currently in Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to meet with top Syrian opposition officials. Diplomats appear to be scrambling to resolve the key question of who will represent Syria's fractious opposition at the talks with the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Russia -- which is flying a bombing campaign in Syria in support of Assad's forces -- has disagreed with the United States and its regional allies over which groups should be allowed to take part. Last week the main coalition of opposition bodies, the High Negotiations Committee, announced a delegation to the talks on Wednesday -- but its composition quickly came under fire. The group named Mohamed Alloush, a political leader of the Saudi-backed Islamist armed group Jaish al-Islam, as its chief negotiator at the talks. But Syria's ally Moscow has said it considers Jaish al-Islam as "terrorists" and other opposition groups insisted it was unacceptable for the delegation to be led by a member of an armed group. Traditional tattoos in Myanmar are all the rage Myanmar's emergence from decades of cloistered junta rule has seen a cascade of foreign products flood the country in recent years. But it has also allowed for the revival of ancient fashions, like tattoos. With the country's borders opened up and web censorship laws dismantled, young people in Myanmar are being exposed to foreign trends on a wide scale, and a host of new counter-cultures are emerging. Yet a buzzing workshop on traditional tattooing in Yangon Saturday suggests that when it comes to body art, it's the local designs that are back in vogue. A man at the Myanmar Traditional Ink Workshop in Yangon on January 23, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP) "Our traditional style of tattooing has disappeared so we are bringing back the Myanmar style," said Tut P, 37, a professional tattoo artist from Mandalay who helped organise the Myanmar Traditional Ink Workshop. There's a long history of inking up in Myanmar, where the country's myriad ethnic minority groups donned tattoos as spiritual protection, signs of social status and antidotes to ward off disease. But the traditional practice was suppressed under British colonial rule and became taboo under the oppressive military junta that followed for nearly five decades. Now tattoo artists are reviving historic images and patterns using modern tattoo guns, which are considered safer than traditional tools. "Another difference today is that young people are choosing their own designs," said Maung Thi, 25, a tattoo artist who joined the trade six years ago. "Youths nowadays are choosing meaningful tattoos," he told AFP. "Their ideas are much better, I would say." Yadanar Thun Phyo, 20, for instance, drew her own version of a mystical Myanmar bird, which she had inked on her leg at the workshop. Though tattoos are still far more popular among men than women, she suggested that too may be changing. "Many people think that having a tattoo makes you more beautiful," she said. A tattoo artist inks a portrait of a "long neck" ethnic woman on a customer's leg in Yangon on January 23, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP) 'Russian raids' kill civilians ahead of Syria talks Suspected Russian raids killed 47 civilians in war-ravaged eastern Syria, amid reports US forces are building up an air base to bolster their fight against jihadists further north. Meanwhile, senior diplomats scrambled to resolve the key question of who will represent Syria's opposition at crucial talks next week aimed at ending the nearly-five year war. In eastern Syria, the 47 civilians were killed in air strikes suspected to have been carried out by Russian warplanes on a jihadist-held village. A Russian Defence Ministry image from November 23, 2015 said to show an explosion after airstrikes on an Islamic State oil-processing facility in Deir Ezzor province The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nine children and two women were among the dead in Khasham, which is controlled by the Islamic State (IS) group. The village is in Syria's oil-rich Deir Ezzor province, where IS has sought to advance in recent days despite a barrage of Russian and Syrian government air strikes. The week-long IS offensive on the provincial capital has left nearly 500 people dead and sparked fears of mass killings among the 200,000 people still living there. IS declared a self-styled "caliphate" in 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq, imposing its ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic law there. In Syria, it is under fire by the government and Damascus's long-time ally Russia, as well as a US-led coalition also battling the jihadists in Iraq. - 'Ready to be used' - To bolster their fight against the group, US special forces deployed in Syria are building up an airbase in the northeast, sources told AFP on Saturday. A Syrian military source said nearly 100 "American experts" and Syrian Kurdish militia were almost done outfitting Rmeilan airfield in Hasakeh province. "The airbase will be used for helicopters and cargo planes. Its strip is now 2,700 metres (yards) long and is ready to be used by planes that will transport equipment and ammunition," the source added. A security source in northeast Syria said "American special forces and advisers are using the Rmeilan airport as a base, from where helicopters are taking off towards the fronts". The Pentagon said the US had "not taken control" of any airfield in Syria. "There has been no change to the size of mission of the US presence in Syria," said US Central Command spokesman Colonel Pat Ryder. "That being said, US forces in Syria are consistently looking at ways to increase efficiency for logistics and personnel recovery support," he said. In October, Washington authorised the deployment to Syria of up to 50 special operations troops to advise local forces battling IS. Syria's conflict first erupted with anti-government protests in 2011 but has since morphed into a bloody, complicated war that has killed more than 260,000 people. The violence has periodically spilled over into neighbouring countries, with Jordan's army saying border guards killed 12 people trying to enter the kingdom from Syria on Saturday. - Diplomatic efforts - Previous diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities have faltered, but world powers are putting their weight behind a new round of talks set to begin next week. Representatives from Syria's government and opposition are set to convene in Geneva in the coming days to discuss a political transition for their country. But the controversial question of who will represent the fractious opposition has slowed the momentum of the build-up to the negotiations. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the makeup of the opposition delegation. Kerry called Lavrov to discuss the talks following a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, with both men backing efforts to get them started "next week". "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," the statement said. Kerry was in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks with his counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, as well as Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going," Kerry said. Last week, the main coalition of opposition bodies, the High Negotiations Committee, announced that its delegation to the talks would include Mohamed Alloush from the powerful rebel group Jaish al-Islam. But Syria's ally Moscow has said it considers Jaish al-Islam to be "terrorists" and other opposition groups insisted that it was unacceptable for the delegation to be led by a member of an armed group. A Syrian man rides a bike in the neighbourhood of Jobar, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on January 23, 2016 Abd Doumany (AFP) Islamic States group in Syria and Iraq Thomas Saint-Circq, Adrian Leung, Laurence Saubadu (AFP) Biden slams 'outrageous' PKK, hails Turkey help in IS fight US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday condemned the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a "terror group plain and simple" and a threat to Turkey like the Islamic State group, while hailing Ankara's cooperation in the fight against jihadists. After talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul, Biden pleased his hosts with a ringing denunciation of the "outrageous" attacks by the PKK, which the Turkish military is seeking to cripple in a relentless but controversial campaign. He praised much closer cooperation in the battle against IS between Washington and Ankara, which had been accused in the past of turning a blind eye to the jihadist extremists. US Vice President Joe Biden says the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is a threat to Turkey like Islamic State, condemning the Kurdish militants as "a terror group plain and simple" Ozan Kose (AFP) He also spoke of the possibility of a "military operation" in Syria should peace talks fail, but the White House later made clear he was only referring to current coalition military operations against IS. The PKK, listed as a terror group by Washington and the European Union, has killed dozens of members of the Turkish security forces in attacks since a truce collapsed in July. Turkey however has expressed concern that Washington was seeking to woo the PKK as an ally in the anti-IS fight and vehemently opposed any move to delist it as a terror group. Ankara is also concerned about the extent of US cooperation in Syria with the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey sees as a branch of the PKK. The IS group "is not the only existential threat to the people of Turkey, the PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that... it is a terror group plain and simple and what they continue to do is absolutely outrageous," Biden said. "We do agree with you that in terms of their actions Daesh (IS), PKK and (Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate) Al-Nusra... are simply terrorist groups," said Biden. Davutoglu emphasised Ankara saw no difference between those groups and the extreme-left DHKP-C. "We were pleased to have seen in the talks our approach is shared," he said. He also reaffirmed Turkey's opposition to the YPG, which he accused of carrying out ethnic cleansing in northern Syria and being "part of the PKK and receiving open support from the PKK." Biden later held over two-and-a-half hours of talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but no statement was made after the discussions. - 'Shared mission' - The US vice president praised Turkey for taking "very important steps to improve the security of its border" from IS militants who until recently controlled much of the frontier region in Syria. Biden said Turkey and the United States were coordinating ever more precisely on what is a "shared mission on the extermination of IS". "We do believe our plans together have gotten more contoured and more coordinated," he said. "We are increasingly making progress and that progress will be sped up as a result of our meeting today." He said the two sides also discussed bolstering support for Sunni Arab groups inside Syria to cut off any remaining access that IS has to the border region. "That is a priority for both our nations so we can prevent new fighters and equipment from reaching IS fighters," he added. Biden said work was continuing on finding a political solution to Syria's almost five-year civil war, saying: "We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic. We are determined." He added: "But we are prepared if that is not possible to having a military solution to this operation and taking out Daesh (IS)," he said. A US official emphasised that Biden's comments did not herald any change in US policy in Syria, saying he was referring to the simultaneous pursuit of a political solution alongside the fight against IS. - Controversial talks - Biden had Friday ratcheted up tensions with a stinging attack on Turkey's current record on freedom of expression, saying it is "not the kind of example that needs to be set". Davutoglu hit back by expressing surprise at Biden's schedule of meetings on Friday where he had met anti-government journalists and the son and wife of the jailed editor of the Cumhuriyet daily Can Dundar. In comments in pro-government newspapers Saturday, Davutoglu said "we would have expected" Biden should also have met with victims of PKK attacks. US Vice President Joe Biden (L) speaks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Istanbul on January 23, 2016 Kayhan Ozer (Turkis Presidential Press Office/AFP) Chad presidential elections set for April 10 Chad will hold presidential elections on April 10, the country's Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Saturday. Current head of state Idriss Deby Itno -- in power since 1990 after overthrowing former president Hissein Habre -- is expected to be designated as candidate by his party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement, on February 6. Deby, born in 1952, modified the constitution in 2004, scrapping its two-term limit on presidential tenure, and won the following elections by a huge majority. Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, in power since 1990, is expected to be designated as candidate by his party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement Francois Guillot (AFP/File) Two opposition figures, Kassire Coumakoye and Malloum Yobode, have already declared they will run. Candidates have from February 10 to 29 to file their bid. A runoff vote will be held on May 9 if no outright winner emerges from the first round in April. An oil-rich central African country with entrenched poverty, Chad is playing a pivotal role in the military campaign against the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram. The Latest: Essebsi warns IS could sneak into Tunisia TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) The latest developments on unrest in Tunisia. All times local: 9:00 p.m. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi warns that Islamic State group militants in neighboring Libya could use the unrest that has spread to cities and towns around Tunisia to sneak into the country. French President Francois Hollande, right, greets Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid before a meeting at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) But he also sent citizens an upbeat message, vowing that "we will get out of this ordeal." Essebsi spoke on national television Friday night for the first time since the unrest began nearly a week ago. He said the government would put in place a program to try to ease the jobless rate, which has spurred the crisis, but didn't elaborate. He told foreign partners that Tunisia will move forward with the democratic process it has engaged. But he told citizens that the Islamic State group "in Libya at our border finds that the moment is opportune to infiltrate into Tunisia." Authorities earlier said that a Tunisian was killed in a border skirmish with soldiers, but the infiltrators were identified only as "smugglers." ___ 3:15 p.m. France is offering 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in aid to Tunisia, including aid to regions where young people are struggling. The French and Tunisian leaders met for lunch Friday in Paris before Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid cut his visit short to deal with a spreading protest movement touched off by the death of a young jobless man. In a statement afterward, French President Francois Hollande announced 1 billion euros in aid over five years. France is the strongest European ally of Tunisia, a former French colony. ___ 2:15 p.m. Tunisia's prime minister says he understands why young people are protesting over unemployment, but the country is still suffering through the growing pains of a young democracy, compounded by the problem of terrorism. In an interview Friday with France 24 television, just before his government imposed a nationwide curfew, Habib Essid denied the situation this time where a young man was electrocuted after he climbed a transmission tower was comparable to the suicide that touched off the Arab Spring five years ago, even if both young men were anguished over a lack of prospects. Essid said Tunisia is a new democracy, and his government is aware of the difficulties it faces. ___ 1 p.m. Tunisia has declared a nationwide curfew beginning Friday night, saying the spreading unrest is a danger to public safety. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the curfew would last from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Mexico president to accelerate extradition of drug lord MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Friday he's ordering officials to accelerate the extradition of recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States. Mexico had balked at extraditing Guzman after he was captured in 2014, but his escape from a top-security prison in July apparently changed officials' minds. Pena Nieto said he'd told his Attorney General's office to "achieve the extradition of this highly dangerous delinquent as soon as possible." He made the comments during a news conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto gestures as he speaks during a panel"A New Agenda for Latin America" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Mexican marines captured Guzman on Jan. 8, six months after he tunneled out of a top-security Mexican prison his escape from a maximum security lockup. The Sinaloa Cartel chief is wanted on multiple charges in both Mexico and the U.S. Officials have already said they plan now to extradite Guzman, but have said the process could take a year or more of legal wrangling. Mexico arrests 3 more in disappearance of 43 students MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexican authorities have arrested three more suspects in the disappearance of 43 students more than a year ago in a southern state. National security commissioner Renato Sales says the suspects belong to an organized crime group that authorities say received the students after they were taken by police in Iguala, Guerrero state. Six other people were killed the night of Sept. 26, 2014, including 22-year-old student Julio Cesar Mondragon. FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2015, file photo, Relatives of the 43 missing students from the Isidro Burgos rural teachers college march holding pictures of their missing loved ones during a protest in Mexico City. Mexican authorities said on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, that they have arrested three more suspects in the disappearance of the 43 students in 2014 in southern Mexico. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) Sales said Friday at a news conference that one of the arrested is considered the prime suspect in Mondragon's death. Authorities have arrested 113 people in the disappearances, including the ex-mayor of Iguala. Key findings in AP nuclear missile corps probe Over the past two and a half years, The Associated Press has documented evidence of security problems, low morale and other troubles in the nation's nuclear missile corps. In April 2013, 19 launch officers in the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, were taken off duty and given weeks of remedial training after being found unfit to perform. The wing's deputy commander of operations complained of "rot" in the force. The officer in charge of crew training and proficiency was fired. The 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, failed a safety-and-security inspection. Nine days later, the officer in charge of security forces was relieved of duty. The unit passed a do-over in October. An internal Air Force review of the Malmstrom inspection, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that the inspection failed because security forces did not respond adequately to a simulated hostile takeover of a silo housing a nuclear missile. The Air Force implemented numerous corrective measures, mainly designed to increase and improve security forces training. Twice, the Air Force punished officers involved in separate incidents of opening the blast door of their underground launch control center while one of the two launch officers was asleep, in violation of Air Force rules. A Rand Corp. research study obtained by the AP found that missile corps members felt "burnout" from what they saw as exhausting, unrewarding and stressful work. The report also cited heightened levels of misconduct such as spousal abuse. In October 2013 the Air Force removed Maj. Gen. Michael Carey from command of the 20th Air Force, which is responsible for the entire Minuteman 3 missile force, for embarrassing, drunken behavior in Russia. In January 2014 dozens of missile launch officers were implicated in a cheating scandal at Malmstrom and were stripped of their certification in what the Air Force called the largest such breach of integrity in the nuclear force. The cheating involved the monthly test on their knowledge of how to operate the missiles. That scandal was revealed as part of a drug-use investigation that involved three ICBM launch officers. In late January, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered an independent review of the nuclear force and summoned the most senior Pentagon leaders to discuss its missteps, leadership lapses and personnel problems. In March the Air Force fired nine midlevel nuclear commanders and supervisors, allowed a senior commander to resign and said it would discipline dozens of junior officers in response to the exam-cheating scandal at Malmstrom. On Nov. 3, the Air Force fired a missile squadron commander at Minot and reassigned the vice commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming to a non-command staff job. Also, a colonel in charge of all three missile squadrons at Minot was given administrative punishment but not removed from command. On Nov. 14, Defense Secretary Hagel ordered top-to-bottom changes in how the U.S. nuclear force is operated and managed. The changes came after a series of stories from the AP that revealed problems in the nuclear force's management and morale. IMF sees 2016 negative growth for Latin America, Caribbean WASHINGTON (AP) The International Monetary Fund is forecasting that the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean will maintain this year the same overall 0.3 percent negative growth seen in 2015. Alejandro Werner is the IMF's chief economist for Latin America. He says it will be the first time the region has seen two consecutive years of economic contraction since the external debt crisis of 1982-83, which gave rise to the so-called lost decade. Werner said Friday the negative outlook is based on economic difficulties in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela, while most other countries in the region should post moderate growth. The Latest: Chinese qualifier Zhang reaches 4th round MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The latest from the Australian Open on Saturday (all times local): 11:25 p.m. Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai's unexpected run continues in Australia. Zhang, who had considered retiring from the game a few months ago, has won her third main draw match at Melbourne Park, eliminating American Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.Before this year's Australian Open, Zhang had been 0-14 at the Grand Slam matches in her nine-year career. Now, she's 3-0 to start 2016. Zhang Shuai of China celebrates a point win during her third round match against Varvara Lepchenko of the United States at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Zhang's ranking had dropped to No. 200 last year after a string of losses, prompting her to contemplate walking away from the game. She thought the Australian Open might be her last tournament, so she brought her parents with her from China. Zhang, who had an upset win over No. 2 Simona Halep in the second round, faces No. 15 Madison Keys next for a spot in the quarterfinals. ___ 10:10 p.m. Ana Ivanovic has lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Madison Keys under difficult circumstances in a third-round match that was suspended for nearly an hour while her coach, Nigel Sears, was taken to hospital early in the second set at Rod Laver Arena. The match was stopped at 1-0 in the second set when reports said Sears, father of Kim Sears, who is married to Andy Murray, slipped or fell on stairs near the coach's box. It was not known if Murray was aware of his father-in-law's health issues while winning a match against Joao Sousa at nearby Margaret Court Arena, although he did not wait for the usual TV interview on court after the match. Media reports said he left Melbourne Park immediately after the match. Ivanovic led 3-0 in the final set before allowing Keys to come back to win the match. ___ 9:55 p.m. Four-time finalist Andy Murray is through to the round of 16 after beating Portugal's Joao Sousa at the Australian Open. The second-seeded Murray converted six of nine breakpoint chances and served 13 aces in the 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory. He's beaten Sousa all seven times they've played, including at the 2015 and 2013 Australian Opens. Murray is trying to become the first man to win a Grand Slam after losing in four finals. He lost in the finals in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015. ___ 8:47 p.m. Play has resumed between Ana Ivanovic and Madison Keys at Rod Laver Arena almost an hour after they stopped for a medical emergency reportedly involving Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears, who is Andy Murray's father-in-law. Pam Shriver says on ESPN that Sears had told members of Ivanovic's coaching team that he was not been feeling well about a half hour before he fell in the stands. An Associated Press reporter saw medics strap a man, who appeared to Sears, to a stretcher and place an oxygen mask on his face before carefully carrying him out of the arena as scores of spectators stood and looked on. Ivanovic was taken off the court as medics attended to the man in the stands for about 30 minutes. Murray's match continued without interruption on Margaret Court Arena. ___ 8 p.m. For the second consecutive round, a medical emergency has caused Ana Ivanovic's match to be suspended at the Australian Open. Ivanovic won the first set against American Madison Keys 6-4 and was ahead on serve 1-0 in the second when play was stopped. Medical teams were assisting with the emergency. After about a 10-minute delay on Rod Laver Arena, both players returned to the dressing room. The stadium announcer said play would be suspended until medical teams could fully assist an injured spectator. On Thursday, Ivanovic's second-round match with Anastasja Sevastova was delayed for 30 minutes when a woman fell down the some stairs in the same stadium and was taken away on a stretcher in a neck brace. ___ 7 p.m. No offense, Vika, but John Isner has a comment about your "dabbing." Isner, originally from North Carolina, is a big fan of the Carolina Panthers, the team where the so-called dab originated, courtesy of quarterback Cam Newton. Fans at the Australian Open have seen Victoria Azarenka displaying a version of the "dab" to celebrate her victories into the fourth-round. The No. 10-seeded Isner thinks she needs to work on it. Without being asked for a critique, Isner offered one at his post-match news conference Saturday, saying that "(Newton) does it the best. Vika's, no offense, is not quite as good as his." Isner served 44 aces on Saturday to clinch a 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Feliciano Lopez and secure a spot in the fourth round. He confirmed he has no plans to celebrate with a "dab" "I won't be doing that for sure," Isner said. ___ 5:15 p.m. David Ferrer is back in the round of 16 at the Australian Open for the sixth consecutive year. The eighth-seeded Spaniard, who ended Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt's career in the second round, overwhelmed Steve Johnson of the United States 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday. Ferrer broke Johnson four times in the match and never faced a break point on his own serve. He'll next play another American, John Isner, in the fourth round. ___ 4:25 p.m. Naomi Osaka's surprising run at Melbourne Park came to an end with a loss to two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in the third round, but the 18-year-old Japanese qualifier fully expects to be back on the big stage again soon.When asked about her future goals, Osaka replied, "Oh, to be the No. 1 and to win a lot of Grand Slams and to play Fed Cup and then to play the Olympics and to be happy." That's a tall order. But Azarenka believes the big-hitting Osaka, who upset 18th-seeded Elina Svitolina in her Grand Slam main draw debut, has a bright future. Azarenka said, "She definitely surprised me with her play. ... I think she has a lot of potential, a lot of power. I'm sure we will see a lot more of her." ___ 4:15 p.m. Stan Wawrinka won his 400th tour-level match with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Lukas Rosol in the third round at the Australian Open. It's the fourth year in a row Wawrinka has made it to the fourth round at Melbourne Park. Last year as defending champion he lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. The win moved French Open champion Wawrinka into a fourth-round match against Milos Raonic, who beat Viktor Troicki. ___ 4:00 p.m. Angelique Kerber has advanced to the fourth round after beating Madison Brengle 6-1, 6-3.No. 7-seeded Kerber's win on Saturday makes her the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the draw, following No. 3 Garbine Muguruza's loss earlier in the day. Kerber, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, faces compatriot Annika Beck of Germany in the fourth round. Kerber could meet two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals. Azarenka has a fourth-round match against Barbora Styrcova. ___ 3:45 p.m. John Isner has aced his way back into the round of 16 at Melbourne Park, avenging a loss to 18th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in the same round on the same court four years ago. The 10th-seeded Isner had three of his 44 aces in the last game to clinch a 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Lopez. Isner leads the tournament with 101 aces in three matches. Lopez knocked Isner out of the Australian Open in a five-set, third-round match at Hisense Arena in 2012. Isner has only made the round of 16 at the tournament once before, in 2010. ___ 2:45 p.m. Milos Raonic has dedicated his third-round victory at the Australian Open to victims of a shooting in Canada which left four people dead and at least two injured. A gunman opened fire at the La Loche Community School in a remote aboriginal community in Saskatchewan, and at a second location. After his win over Viktor Troicki on Saturday, the 25-year-old Canadian said, "Today, before I stepped out on court it was a difficult day back home." His voice sounding emotional at times, Raonic added: "Unfortunately in Saskatchewan in a very small community there was a shooting at a high school, so I want to take a moment and give thoughts to that community. Today's victory was for that community, and a quick recovery and all of Canada, and I'm sure the world is behind you." ___ 2:30 p.m. No. 13-seeded Milos Raonic has reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the fourth time, defeating Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to advance. Raonic trailed 4-1 in the third set before winning five consecutive games and the match. He set up match point with an ace, his 14th of the match, and clinched it when No. 21 Troicki hit a forehand long. The match pitted the winners of the two Australian Open warmup tournaments Raonic beat Roger Federer for the Brisbane International title and Troicki defeated Grigor Dimitrov in Sydney. Last year as the No. 8-seeded player, Raonic had his best Australian Open result by reaching the quarterfinals and losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. ___ 2 p.m. Victoria Azarenka has cruised into the fourth round with another quick victory, dispatching Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1 in 56 minutes. The two-time Australian Open champion, seeded 14th this year, has lost just five games in three matches so far at Melbourne Park. Azarenka had 24 winners to only four for Osaka, who was making her Grand Slam main draw debut. Azarenka said after the match, "It wasn't easy for sure, especially when you don't know who you play. ... She's a little unpredictable and she surprised me with her game." Azarenka next faces Barbora Strycova, a straight-sets winner over the No. 3 seed, Garbine Muguruza earlier Saturday. ___ 12:35 p.m. Third-seeded Garbine Muguruza has become the latest casualty in the women's draw at Melbourne Park, beaten by Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-2 in the day's first match on Rod Laver Arena. Muguruza misfired frequently on her groundstrokes, finishing with 32 unforced errors, and looked a bit listless throughout the match. Since reaching last year's Wimbledon final, the Spanish player has lost in the second round of the U.S. Open and now the third round at Melbourne Park. Strycova has only been past the third round once before in 38 Grand Slam appearances when she reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2014. No. 2 Simona Halep, No. 6 Petra Kvitova and No. 8 Venus Williams have also been eliminated from the tournament. ____ 12:25 p.m. Johanna Konta has become the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open in 29 years. Konta beat No. 8 Venus Williams in straight sets in the first round and on Saturday had another straight-sets win over Denisa Allertova, 6-2, 6-2. The 47th-ranked Konta is making her debut in the main draw at Melbourne Park but has shown few jitters and a fighting spirit as she moves through the draw. Konta said she knew what to expect from Allertova, who stretched her to three sets in the first round at last year's French Open. The 22-year-old Konta was born in Australia and became a British citizen in 2012, making her the first British woman to reach the round of 16 at Melbourne Park since Jo Durie in 1987. Madison Keys of the United States reacts after winning a point against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Ana Ivanovic of Serbia wipes the sweat from her face during her third round match against Madison Keys of the United States at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Andy Murray of Britain gestures to the stands during his third round match against Joao Sousa of Portugal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill) A person is stretchered from Rod Laver Arena following a medical emergency during the third round match between Madison Keys of the United States and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Ana Ivanovic of Serbia makes a backhand return to Madison Keys of the United States during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a forehand return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland makes a forehand return to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill) David Ferrer of Spain celebrates after defeating Steve Johnson of the United States in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a forehand return to Madison Brengle of the United States during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila) John Isner of the United States celebrates after defeating Feliciano Lopez of Spain in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Milos Raonic of Canada prepares to serve to Viktor Troicki of Serbia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a backhand return to Naomi Osaka of Japan during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic hits a forehand return to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Johanna Konta of Britain makes a forehand return to Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Kerry in Riyadh to talk Iran, Syria with Gulf Arabs RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia for talks with Gulf Arab officials on their deteriorating relations with Iran and on the Syria peace process. Kerry arrived in Riyadh early Saturday from Switzerland, where he said he was going to meet with wary U.S. partners in the Gulf to discuss the way forward with Iran now that the landmark nuclear deal has been implemented. He said he would also continue pressing for consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at the United Nations-led negotiations, due to start Monday in Geneva. Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states support opposite sides in the Syria conflict and disagree on which Syrian groups should be eligible for the talks. Animosity over Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad has broadened in recent weeks after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric, prompting an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Saudi Arabia and some other Arab states then severed diplomatic relations with Iran and have launched campaigns accusing it of being behind numerous terrorist attacks around the world. REMOVES EXTRANEOUS WORD - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Zurich, Switzerland en route to Saudi Arabia after attending the World Economic Forum, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) The spat had led to fears that the Syrian political transition could be jeopardized, but each country has pledged that its rancor will not affect the negotiations. A senior State Department official said the U.S. backs its longtime partner Saudi Arabia in the feud but would like to see both Iran and Saudi Arabia put this episode behind them. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly to the delicate diplomacy, said there had been no signs yet that Saudi-Iran hostility was compromising the Syria peace effort. However, there are still serious disagreements over who can represent the opposition at the talks, which diplomats say are likely to be delayed for several days. Before leaving Switzerland, Kerry said the rivalry remained a concern. He added that despite the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. remained deeply troubled about destabilizing Iranian actions in the region. He said he would renew America's commitment to the security of its Arab friends in the Middle East while he was in Riyadh. "There is no sudden transformation in these other concerns," he said of Iran. "They exist and we will continue to be vigilant and engaged about them. And that is part of what I'm going to Saudi Arabia about: to make sure our friends see clearly how we will go forward on, together, to address those kinds of concerns." Kerry said he hoped Syria could become a focal point for improving relations, as all counties have an interest in defeating the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates like the al-Nusra Front. "There is something that does bring them closer in terms of Syria, and that is called Daesh," he said, using the Islamic State's Arabic acronym. "Both want to kill Daesh. They both want Daesh and Nusra terminated as threats." 1 rancher renounces federal grazing contract at Bundy event BURNS, Ore. (AP) A rancher from New Mexico renounced his U.S. Forest Service grazing contract at an event held by an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon to protest federal land use policies. Adrian Sewell of Grant County, New Mexico, took the action at the event attended by about 120 people at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. A group led by Ammon Bundy began occupying the area in eastern Oregon's high desert on Jan. 2. Bundy has said the federal government has no authority to enforce federal grazing contracts with ranchers. ADDS IDENTIFICATION OF ADRIAN SEWELL- Ryan Bundy, right, gestures toward Adrian Sewell at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in near Burns, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Bundy, part of an armed group occupying the refuge to protest federal land policies, says the sign will be displayed on a road leading to the area. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) Sewell said he didn't mind being the only rancher to renounce his federal contract at Saturday's gathering. "I don't mind standing out and standing alone," he said. Bundy, who had previously met with local ranchers urging them to tear up their federal contracts, also said he wasn't disappointed that Sewell was the only one to take him up on his idea. "I'm very happy he came all the way from New Mexico," Bundy said. Critics of Bundy's group also attended Saturday's event, which was held a few hours after a small counter-protest nearby. Kieran Suckling with the Center for Biological Diversity said the leaders of the armed group want to "stage another occupancy like this and to terrorize those towns the same way they have terrorized Burns. There's no town in the west that wants to be the next Burns." Katie Fite from Boise, Idaho, called the occupiers bullies and said their action could give rise to other hate-filled efforts to take over public lands. Federal authorities are trying to resolve the three-week old standoff, but have so far made no moves against Bundy's group. On Friday Bundy met briefly with a federal agent at the airport in Burns, but Bundy left because the agent wouldn't talk with him in front of the media. The short meeting occurred as Oregon officials are putting increased pressure on federal authorities to take action. The FBI has said it's seeking a peaceful resolution to the standoff. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has said she's angry because federal authorities have not dealt with Bundy's group. Bundy, speaking to The Associated Press late Friday while sitting at a desk inside one of the refuge buildings, dismissed the governor's request. "It just again shows the ignorance of some of our elected officials," he said. "It's just amazing that she would just disregard the Constitution to the point where she would think it would be OK to give the federal government that authority to come in and take some dynamic action or something like that." The group has recently bolstered a front entrance blockade with timbers and set up another checkpoint at a back entrance. The AP was not allowed to enter the area Friday without an escort from an armed militant. At community meetings, local residents have asked Bundy and his group to leave. Bundy has said he believes his group's work is appreciated by locals. He told AP the federal government had turned grazing from a "right" to a "privilege." "What we're doing is making sure it's secured as a right. And (ranchers) will make the decision on how to maintain it, how to care for it, and how to manage," he said. Sewell, the New Mexico rancher, said he had a 34,000-acre allotment and was restricted to having 85 cattle graze there. He said historically 600 cattle have grazed on the property. For the BLM and Forest Service, grazing fees are based on something called an animal unit month, or AUM. That's defined as the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. That's set through a Congressionally mandated formula. Currently, the cost is $1.69 per AUM. Grazing contracts typically run 10 years. The BLM said that in fiscal year 2014, it spent $34.3 million on livestock grazing administration and collected $12.1 million in grazing fees. Environmental groups say federal grazing fees are kept artificially low, resulting in a subsidy for ranchers. Bundy's group plans to open the 300-square-mile Oregon refuge for cattle this spring. ___ This version of the story corrects the spelling of the last name of the representative of the Center for Biological Diversity. Ammon Bundy sits at a desk he's using at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. Bundy is the leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge to protest federal land policies. The leader of an armed group occupying the refuge met briefly with a federal agent Friday, but left because the agent wouldn't talk with him in front of the media. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) Demonstrators gather near a national wildlife refuge to protest against a group occupying the land Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, near in Burns, Ore. The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon plans to have a ceremony Saturday for ranchers to renounce federal ownership of public land and tear up their federal grazing contracts. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) Ammon Bundy, right, shakes hand with a federal agent guarding the gate at the Burns Municipal Airport in Oregon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. Bundy is the leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge to protest federal land policies. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler). A grader is used on a road at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. An armed group has been occupying the refuge since Jan. 2 to protest federal land use policies. The leader of an armed group occupying the refuge met briefly with a federal agent Friday, but left because the agent wouldn't talk with him in front of the media. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service vehicle is hooked to a horse trailer at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. An armed group has been occupying the refuge since Jan. 2 to protest federal land use policies. The leader of an armed group occupying the refuge met briefly with a federal agent Friday, but left because the agent wouldn't talk with him in front of the media. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) Ammon Bundy, left, approaches an FBI gate at the Burns Municipal Airport in Oregon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. Bundy is the leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge to protest federal land policies. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler). PICTURED: A selection of pictures from the past week Highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see. This week's gallery features officers standing outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington during the March for Life rally on the anniversary of the 1973 "Roe v. Wade" decision legalizing abortion; a man's reflection is seen as he walks past a photo of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during commemorations for the slain civil rights leader in Atlanta; and a traditional Zimbabwean dancer wears a sticker of a Chinese flag on his forehead during Chinese New Year celebrations in Harare. ___ A man is reflected as he walks past a photo of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. displayed at Ebenezer Baptist Church where King preached, during an MLK holiday commemorative service in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman) This gallery contains photos published Jan. 16-Jan. 22, 2016. See the latest AP photo galleries: http://apne.ws/TXeCBN The Archive: Top photo highlights from previous weeks: http://apne.ws/13QUFKJ ___ Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers Follow AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com http://www.apimages.com/ ___ This gallery was produced by Patrick Sison in New York. A traditional Zimbabwean dancer wears a sticker of a China flag on his forehead during Chinese New Year celebrations in Harare, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. The Chinese community in the country gathered with Zimbabweans to celebrate Chinese New Year by holding a carnival and various exhibitions as part of their initiative for a cross-cultural communication. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) People walk past a poster of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers on display in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. Chinas armed forces have shut down newspapers published by the countrys seven military regions as part of a program to downsize and streamline the worlds largest standing military. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) An exiled Tibetan monk makes a point during a dialectics debate with another monk at the Kirti monastery in Dharmsala, India, Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. The debate is an essential part of their training as Buddhist monks. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) A military instructor helps a boy to shoot a rifle with blanks at a weapon exhibition during a military show in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) A statue os Russian Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky is silhouetted against the sky in downtown Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) An soldier stands underneath a multi barrel rocket launcher during a rehearsal for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. India celebrates Republic Day on Jan. 26 every year, highlighted by a march past by different branches of the military as well as a display of arms and missiles. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) A Syrian woman with her children takes a shelter in a iron box during a rainfall, after they arrived from Turkey to the Greek deserted island of Pasas near Chios on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees continue to reach Greece's shores despite the winter weather. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Michigan questions some US demands regarding Flint water DETROIT (AP) Michigan's top environmental officer was by turns cooperative and confrontational with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a letter pledging to work with the federal government to ensure the safety of Flint's drinking water but challenging the legality and scope of some federal demands. The interim director of the Department of Environmental Quality wrote Friday in a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy that the state "is committed to working" with her department and Flint to deal with the city's lead-contamination problem. But Keith Creagh said the state has "legal and factual concerns" with an EPA order a day earlier taking state and city officials to task for their efforts so far and requiring them to take specific actions. Creagh said Michigan "has complied with every recent demand" of the EPA and that Thursday's federal order "does not reference the tens of millions of dollars expended by ... the state for water filters, drinking water, testing and medical services." FILE - This Jan. 21, 2016 file photo shows the Flint River near downtown Flint, Mich. City leaders are floating a shockingly high price to replace the city's water infrastructure damaged after the states disastrous decision in 2014 to use the Flint River as the citys drinking water source without adding a chemical to control corrosion, which caused high levels of chloride from the river to react with iron in the pipes, causing lead to leach into water for a year and a half and contributing to a spike in child lead poisoning before city and state officials fully acknowledged the problem. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) "The order demands that the state take certain actions, but fails to note that many of those actions ... have already been taken," Creagh, who recently replaced an official who resigned over the water crisis, wrote in his required response to the EPA's order. Flint's water became contaminated with lead when the city switched from the Detroit municipal system and began drawing from the Flint River in April 2014 to save the financially struggling city money. The water was not properly treated to keep lead from pipes from leaching into the supply. Some children's blood has tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioral problems. Creagh wrote that state officials don't know whether it's legal for the EPA to order Michigan to take such actions. Among other requirements, the EPA said the city should: submit plans for ensuring that Flint's water has adequate treatment, including corrosion controls; ensure city personnel are qualified to operate the water system in a way that meets federal quality standards; and create a website where the public can get information. Earlier Friday, The Flint Water Advisory Task Force issued recommendations to Snyder aimed at restoring reliable drinking water in Flint. The advisory group said its recommendations are more detailed and comprehensive than what the EPA ordered, and Snyder said officials would "move as quickly as possible to determine the best way to achieve the results." Separately, Snyder announced the suspensions of two employees of the state Department of Environmental Quality in connection with regulatory failures that led to the crisis. Snyder reportedly also is hiring public relations specialists to help him deal with the Flint water crisis. Snyder chief of staff Jarrod Agen said public money won't be used to hire the Mercury firm, where Agen's wife is a senior vice president in a Florida office, according to the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Snyder spokesman Dave Murray didn't reveal how the PR team will be paid. The advisory panel's recommendations to Snyder included working with the EPA staff on a comprehensive lead-sampling program and seeking help from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in assessing an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease and its cause. "To help address both the technical issues facing Flint, as well as the public-trust issues, we believe it is imperative to have the right people and organizations involved," task force Co-Chairman Chris Kolb said. "Until the public trust starts to build, this crisis will continue." Flint's public health emergency led to local, state and federal emergency declarations, the last of which could bring up to $5 million in direct funding to the city. The federal government denied a request for additional aid through a disaster declaration, saying the program is designed for natural disasters and therefore not appropriate for the city's drinking water crisis. The government announced Friday that it had denied an appeal of that decision by Snyder. The unnamed DEQ employees who were suspended Friday pending investigations work in the agency's drinking water division, state spokesman Kurt Weiss said. The agency's director and communications director resigned last month. "Some DEQ actions lacked common sense, and that resulted in this terrible tragedy in Flint," Snyder said. While much of the blame over the crisis has been directed at Snyder and state officials, particularly the Department of Environmental Quality, some have faulted the EPA's Region 5 office for not acting more forcefully. The EPA's order to state and city officials came the same day that the agency announced that Susan Hedman, head of the agency's regional office in Chicago whose jurisdiction includes Michigan, was stepping down Feb. 1. ___ Associated Press writers John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, and David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Roger Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rogschneider and Jeff Karoub at https://twitter.com/jeffkaroub. Vehicles make their way through downtown Flint, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. Residents in the former auto-making hub a poor, largely minority city feel their complaints about lead-tainted water flowing through their taps have been slighted by the government or ignored altogether. For many, it echoes the lackluster federal response to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Downtown Flint, Mich., is shown along the Flint River, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. Residents in the former auto-making hub a poor, largely minority city feel their complaints about lead-tainted water flowing through their taps have been slighted by the government or ignored altogether. For many, it echoes the lackluster federal response to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) GOP establishment moving a little closer to accepting Trump DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Donald Trump and some mainstream Republicans are engaged in a long-distance flirtation. Both sides are coming to the realization that they'll need each other if the billionaire businessman becomes the party's presidential nominee. The GOP establishment is no fonder of Trump than when he first roiled the campaign last summer with his controversial comments about immigrants and women. But with voting beginning in just over a week, his durability atop preference polls has pushed some donors, strategists and party elders to grudgingly accept the prospect of his winning the nomination. "We'd better stop hoping for something else and accept the possibility that he's our nominee and be prepared to rally around him if that's the case," said Fred Malek, a top Republican presidential fundraiser. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican nominee who represented Kansas in the House and Senate for decades, said of Trump: "He's got this personality where I do believe he could work with Congress." Trump, too, has started to suggest that he'd look for ways to work with Republican leaders if he wins. "I'm a dealmaker who will get things done," he said Thursday during an event in Las Vegas. "There's a point at which let's get to be a little establishment. We got to get things done, folks, OK?" However, the establishment's growing acceptance of Trump's electoral prospects so far hasn't manifested itself in tangible support for his campaign. The real estate mogul has not been endorsed by any congressional lawmakers or governors, nor are there any indications of a big wave of major donors planning to get involved with his campaign, despite Trump's assertion that he's received "so many calls" from wealthy and influential Republicans. If anything, the most visible signs of support for Trump's campaign in recent days have come from those who see themselves as outside the Republican establishment. Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and a favorite of the tea party insurgency, announced her support for him on Tuesday. Amy Kremer, the former chairman of the Tea Party Express organization, announced plans this week to launch a super PAC backing Trump's candidacy. "The one thing I know for sure is that he absolutely is 100 percent pro-American and he loves this country and wants to restore it to greatness," Kremer said of Trump. "At this point, I really believe he is the only one with the ability to do that." Much of the mainstream Republican reckoning with Trump is rooted in deep disdain for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the businessman's closest rival. Cruz is seen as more likely to try to upend the web of lobbyists, donors and other powerbrokers who have long wielded enormous influence in the Republican Party. Liz Mair, a communications operative who is running one of the GOP's few anti-Trump efforts, said donors affiliated with other candidates would rather let Trump beat Cruz in the early voting states than let their least-favorite senator gain momentum. "They'd rather that he kills Cruz by winning in Iowa and New Hampshire and then try to take him down," Mair said. Even as he's taken up the anti-establishment mantle, Trump has made some quiet overtures to GOP powerbrokers. He met with Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson last year and has also reached out to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, though he hasn't spoken directly with House Speaker Paul Ryan. There are still big swaths of establishment-minded Republican voters and officials who staunchly oppose Trump's candidacy and believe both he and Cruz are unelectable in November. They say there's still plenty of time for a more mainstream candidate to mount a serious challenge. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are all seeking to beat expectations in Iowa, then be a top finisher in New Hampshire. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is also in the mix in New Hampshire. Having already been endorsed by four senators, Rubio's campaign says it's preparing to unveil a series of endorsements from high-profile elected officials in the coming weeks, part of an effort to push more mainstream Republicans to coalesce behind his candidacy. "They're not lining up behind Donald Trump," Rubio said Friday on Fox News when asked about Trump's establishment support. "They're just telling people their opinion about Ted Cruz." Still, John Catsimatidis, a major Republican and Democratic donor, said it's time for the GOP to accept that when it comes to Trump's strength, "the facts are the facts." After donating to several campaigns, including Bush's and a super PAC supporting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker before he dropped out of the race in the fall, Catsimatidis says he's now talking up Trump, a longtime friend, in conversations with other big money donors. "He showed his toughness and we need somebody tough," he said. Trump himself has been a fixture of the New York donor class for decades and already has deep relationships with many establishment players. He often talks about how he's been in politics all his life and has been seen as the "fair-haired boy" showering contributions on both Republicans and Democrats. ___ Associated Press writer Julie Bykowicz in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jill Colvin at http://twitter.com/colvinj, Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Steve Peoples at http://twitter.com/sppeoples In this Jan. 21, 2016, photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Las Vegas. Trump and some mainstream Republicans are engaged in a long-distance flirtation. Both sides are coming to the realization that they'll need each other if the billionaire businessman becomes the party's presidential nominee. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) Former Republican vice presidential candidate, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorses Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally at the Iowa State University, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) In this Jan. 19,, 2016, photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles after speaking at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona, Iowa. Trump and some mainstream Republicans are engaged in a long-distance flirtation. Both sides are coming to the realization that they'll need each other if the billionaire businessman becomes the party's presidential nominee. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) Passerby hit as Las Vegas police confront man with gun LAS VEGAS (AP) A juvenile passerby was injured Friday night after officers fired on a man who was walking in and out of traffic on the Las Vegas Strip waving a gun and pointing at people, the Las Vegas Sun reports (http://bit.ly/20kf7CA .) Capt, Matt McCarthy tells that Sun that at about 7:30 p.m., officers arrived in front of the Bellagio casino and confronted the man, the Sun reports. McCarthy says the officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands. He says the officers then fired on the man, who was not hit. Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT McCarthy says the gunfire grazed two bystanders, one of whom was a juvenile who was taken to a hospital and released in good condition. The suspect, who is known as one who frequently sells goods to tourists, was arrested and taken into custody. ___ Information from: Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at Flamingo Road at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Metro Police officers block Las Vegas Boulevard South at Flamingo Road at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Capt. Matt McCarthy said officers responded to reports of a man walking in and out of Strip traffic waving a gun and pointing it at passers-by. Arriving officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands, McCarthy said. Officers fired on the man, who was not hit. (Mikayla Whitmore /Las Vegas Sun via AP) LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Kerry tries to ease concerns about warming US-Iran relations RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Gulf Arab officials on Saturday to ease their concerns about warming U.S.-Iranian ties and seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks. Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front when they spoke at a news conference after a meeting of foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Gulf states have sided with the kingdom in its spat with Iran and backed the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of the Islamic Republic. Kerry and al-Jubeir said the U.S. and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified "understanding" that will allow the U.N.-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, center, at the King's farm, on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Kerrys trip is expected to last nine days and to encompass stops in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Cambodia, and China. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) "Let me assure everybody that the relationship between the United States and the GCC nations is one that is built on mutual interest, on mutual defense and I think there is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the countries that make up the GCC that the United States will stand with them against any external threat," Kerry said. Al-Jubeir denounced Iran for its "hostile and aggressive stance" against Arab nations. But he said he did not believe that Washington would act rashly in dealing with Tehran because of the nuclear deal just put in place. It has given Tehran access to billions in formerly frozen assets. "Overall, the United States is very aware of the mischief that Iran's nefarious activities can do in the region," Jubeir said. "I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is." He criticized Iran for briefly taking 10 U.S. sailors captive in early January, saying "normal countries do not act like this." He took a swipe at Iran by noting that in the prisoner swap that resulted in the release of four imprisoned Americans in Iran, none of the seven Iranians cleared of charges in the United States opted to return to Iran. It "tells you what a great country Iran is that no one wanted to return to it." Six of the seven are dual nationals. Kerry avoided such blunt criticism of Iran but stressed that the U.S. shares concerns about Iran's behavior and will act against it when necessary, including imposing new sanctions as it did last week in response to Iranian ballistic missile tests. Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia are longtime regional rivals who support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Relations plunged to a new low when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite opposition cleric earlier this month, drawing outrage from Shiites across the region and igniting mob attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies responded to those attacks by cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran, and accusing Tehran of being behind numerous terrorist attacks around the world over the past three decades. Riyadh and Tehran have said the mutual animosity will not affect the Syria talks. But there are serious disagreements over who can represent the opposition at the negotiations, which were initially supposed to begin on Monday but are likely to be delayed for several days. Kerry said that despite disagreements over who should attend, an "understanding" had been reached on how to begin the talks. He did not elaborate, but said the more than 20 nations and groups that make up the International Syria Support Group would meet almost immediately after the first round of peace negotiations to address any issues that arise in Geneva. Later Saturday, Kerry met with Saudi King Salman and the Saudi deputy crown prince. He also planned to see the chief negotiator for the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition. "We are quite confident that there is a way to invite the various interested stakeholders that provides for cohesion and the ability to make the process move forward," he said. Kerry is in Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his latest round-the-world diplomatic mission, which began in Switzerland and will also take him to Laos, Cambodia and China. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, shake hands after speaking to the media together at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Kerrys trip is expected to last nine days and to encompass stops in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Laos, Cambodia, and China. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to members of the media at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry walks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, center, to attend a ?Gulf Cooperation Council meeting at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) Saudi women journalists raise their hands to ask a question as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speak to members of the media at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The news conference took place after they met with the Gulf Cooperation Council. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, right, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speak to members of the media after attending the ?Gulf Cooperation Council meeting at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) The Latest: 26.8 inches of snow fails to set new NYC record WASHINGTON (AP) The latest on the blizzard slamming a large swath of the United States (all times local): 12:15 a.m. Officials say the 26.8 inches of snow that fell in New York City's Central Park is the second-most recorded since 1869. A man waits for a D train at the snow-covered 25th Avenue stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in New York. Service at above-ground stations was suspended later in the day due to a blizzard. (AP Photo/David Boe) The National Weather Service announced the new snowfall total just after midnight Sunday. That narrowly misses tying the previous record of 26.9 inches from February 2006. Officials began keeping records on snowfall totals in 1869. Snow stopped falling in New York City shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday night. A travel ban to keep non-emergency workers off the roads is set to be lifted by early Sunday morning. Transit officials suspended above-ground train service. A massive snowstorm has blanketed the East Coast with strong winds and heavy snowfall bringing cities to a standstill. At least 18 deaths have been blamed on the weather. 10:30 p.m. Saturday Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered the immediate closure of the entire 34.7-mile length of I-270 and I-70 from I-81 in Washington County to the Baltimore Beltway. The highways will remain closed until 7 a.m. on Sunday to all motorists except for emergency personnel. The closures follow snow related traffic incidents involving several tractor trailers and other vehicles on both interstates. Hogan, in a news release Saturday evening, said, "Closing I-70and I-270 will give us the time needed to deploy all our resources to clear these essential interstates as quickly as possible as we prepare to get our transportation network back up and running." Hogan urged Marylanders to stay off every road in the state. He said, "Stay safe and stay at home while crews do their jobs." The blizzard has brought much of the East Coast to a standstill and shut down the nation's capital. At least 18 deaths have been blamed on the weather, resulting from car crashes, shoveling snow and hypothermia. ___ 9:15 p.m. A university basketball team and a university gymnastics team whose buses were marooned in snow on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are heading home. Buses carrying the Duquesne (doo-KAYN') University men's basketball team and the Temple University women's gymnastics squad were among more than 500 vehicles that got stuck on the turnpike Friday night as a blizzard hit the region. National Guard members and front-end loaders started digging vehicles out Saturday. The teams say they their buses were freed Saturday night. Duquesne says 15 basketball players, coaches and support staff members helped push their bus through the snow. The blizzard has brought much of the East Coast to a standstill and shut down the nation's capital. At least 18 deaths have been blamed on the weather, resulting from car crashes, shoveling snow and hypothermia. ___ 9 p.m. New York's governor says a travel ban he instituted during a massive snowstorm will likely be lifted by morning. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) says Saturday he expects to lift the ban that barred non-emergency motorists from being on the roads by 7 a.m. Sunday. Officials had warned that police would enforce the ban so that workers could clear the roads. Cuomo says he's unaware of any arrests. The governor declared a state of emergency Saturday throughout New York City and its suburbs during the storm. Transit officials have shut down the above-ground portions of the Metro-North, Long Island Rail Road and city subway systems. Public buses stopped running at noon in New York City. Cuomo says officials will advise by 6 a.m. Sunday whether above-ground subway service will resume. More than 25 inches of snow have fallen in New York City during a blizzard that has blanketed the East Coast. ___ 8:45 p.m. Two airports in the Washington region will likely remain closed through Sunday. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which oversees Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, said Saturday evening in a statement that the airports continue to experience significant snowfall. The authority says the snow and high winds are making snow removal on the runways, roadways and parking lots difficult. Add that to the closure of roads and public transportation, and the authority says it is unlikely that normal flight operations would resume Sunday. The authority says passengers should contact their airline directly for specific flight information and to re-book any flights if necessary. The authority says it will continue to evaluate conditions to make decisions about when to open the runways. Nearly 30 inches of snow had reportedly fallen at Dulles as of 8 p.m. The blizzard has brought much of the East Coast to a standstill and shut down the nation's capital. At least 18 deaths have been blamed on the weather. ___ 7:30 p.m. Baltimore is banning nonemergency vehicles from its streets overnight to speed the cleanup from the massive East Coast snowstorm. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is announcing that the ban will be in effect from 6:30 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. It could be extended, if conditions warrant. The mayor says only police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, snow plows and BGE utility repair trucks should be on the roads during that time. City hospitals are being asked to keep the workers they need onsite, as well. City officials say the ban is necessary because crews are rescuing too many stranded drivers and need to focus on responding to emergencies and digging out the city. The mayor says the ban will help everyone get back to normal. ___ 6:30 p.m. Officials say three people have died while shoveling snow during the blizzard in New York City and two more died of hypothermia in Virginia, bringing weather-related deaths to at least 18. The New York Police Department's Chief of Department Jim O'Neill told reporters Saturday one person on Staten Island and two people in Queens died. He released no further details on the deaths. A police spokesman said the medical examiner's office will determine exactly how they died. Spokeswoman Corinne Geller says the Office of the Virginia Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed that two deaths are the result of hypothermia. Those deaths occurred in Hampton and Wise County, in southwest Virginia. State police did not release the names of the hypothermia victims or the time or circumstances of their deaths. Snow is expected to keep falling until late Saturday or early Sunday morning. ___ 5:20 p.m. The massive snowstorm that kept most of the Mid-Atlantic at home also snowed in a Virginia midwife, leaving an emergency dispatcher to walk her husband through the birthing of a baby boy. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office reports that the county's emergency communications center received a 911 call Saturday afternoon at the height of the storm. The caller said a woman was in labor but the midwife was unable to reach their home because of the storm. While the county's fire and rescue was sent to the residence, the dispatcher talked the father through the delivery of a healthy baby boy. A news release did not include the dispatcher's name or the infant's weight. ___ 5 p.m. New York's above-ground subway service has been shut down as snow continues to fall throughout the city. More than 19 inches of snow has fallen in Central Park. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority revealed a revised subway map after limiting service Saturday afternoon. Much service on the 4 and 5 lines in the Bronx, the A line to the Rockaways and the B, D, F and Q lines in Brooklyn is suspended. Bus service was shut down hours earlier. The MTA says above-ground Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad service also has been stopped. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) has declared a state of emergency in New York City and its suburbs. ___ 4:45 p.m. Forecaster Gregory Gallina of the National Weather Service says the weekend's blizzard is transitioning away from the Washington-Baltimore area, moving further north, but in doing so its "end throws" are fierce. That means strong winds of about an inch-and-a-half snow per hour and gusty nearly horizontal winds, although not the hurricane force winds seen on the coast earlier today. Gallina says the Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia region should get another two to six inches of snow before the storm ends around midnight. But in New York, the blizzard is just strong, not ending. Gallina says New York City was seeing snow fall at a rate of two to three inches per hour. ___ 4:00 p.m. Snow, ice and gusting winds are being blamed for the collapse of a roof at a historic Virginia theater near the Chesapeake Bay. The Donk's Theater roof gave in Friday as the massive winter storm gripping the East Coast swept into Mathews County, about 75 miles east of Richmond. No one was injured. The county's chief building official, Jamie Wilks, said the theater was a total loss, according to the Daily Press of Newport News (http://bit.ly/1ZJvZjS). He said the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater opened in 1947 as a movie house. It closed in the 70s but was resurrected as a country music venue, ultimately earning the title as "Home of Virginia's Lil' Ole Opry." Dolly Parton was among the country entertainers who performed at Donk's. ___ 3:45 p.m. Forty inches of snow fell in a rural area of West Virginia, not far from Harper's Ferry, according to unofficial statistics at the National Weather Service. Glengary, West Virginia, topped the charts for the East Coast blizzard with 40 inches, but 67 locations mostly in West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland reported at least two feet of snow. Dulles International Airport outside of Washington was just behind at 23.5 inches of snow, which puts it third all time for that location with another eight hours or so of snow forecast. Snow is expected to keep falling until late Saturday or early Sunday morning. High winds sometimes seeming to blow sideways are making it hard to get accurate measurements of snowfall except in official locations, meteorologists said. ___ 3:10 p.m. The powerful winter storm pummeling much of the U.S. also stymied the U.S. military on Saturday. Defense Secretary Ash Carter was heading home from a five-day trip to Paris and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. But his high-tech aircraft - known as the Doomsday Plane - wasn't able to land at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland as originally planned. Instead, the plane took a left turn and headed south. Carter was rerouted to Tampa, Florida, where he will wait until he is able to fly into the nation's capital. ___ 3:10 p.m. The head of the District of Columbia's homeland security agency says it's too early to say how long snow will shut down the city. Christopher Geldart, director of the District of Columbia's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, told Fox News that snow is still coming down at a rate of about 2 inches an hour. He says snow could continue until midnight Saturday. Geldart says plow drivers are trying to hit each of their assigned roadways at least one time during their shift. He says they are making sure first responders can get around but are not yet in the phase where they are trying to clear the roads for drivers. ___ 2:45 p.m. Gov. Tom Wolf says more than 500 vehicles are stuck in the miles-long backup in western Pennsylvania, but emergency crews have been delivering supplies and officials are working to move people to shelters if needed. Wolf told reporters Saturday afternoon that each vehicle had been checked at least once, and workers had been delivering food as well as fuel to make sure engines keep running so the heat can stay on. He says they are working to get shelters in place quickly so people can be moved to them in buses if necessary. And Wolf said the rest of the commonwealth "is in as good a state as can be expected." But he warned people to stay off the roads and said another major problem could prompt a closure of highways in the commonwealth. ___ 2:35 p.m. North Carolina troopers say a sixth person has died in the state as a result of snow and ice that have covered roads in recent days. The death brings the nationwide total to 12 people killed in a massive snowstorm that has battered the South, mid-Atlantic and East. State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Michael Baker said Saturday that a motorist died after losing control of her car and hitting a tree in Hickory. Troopers say 19-year-old Madeline Paige Scalf of High Point was killed in the Friday morning crash. ___ 1:55 p.m. Authorities say a Kentucky transportation worker has died while plowing snow-covered highways, bringing the total number of deaths from the massive snowstorm hitting the U.S. to at least 11. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says in a statement that Christopher Adams died Saturday in Christian County. The statement says Adams called a supervisor about 5:50 a.m., saying his snow plow had slid into a ditch along Kentucky Route 115. When the supervisor arrived, Adams was slumped over in his truck seat and unresponsive. An ambulance was called to the scene. Paramedics called a coroner. Officials say the 44-year-old Adams had been working since about midnight. His family has been notified, but a cause of death has not been released. ___ 1:45 p.m. Seven locations near Washington have unofficially passed the 30 inches of snow mark, as of 1 p.m. Saturday. That's according to the National Weather Service's running totals. And 36 places recorded at least two feet of snow. A trained weather spotter reported 33 inches in Berkeley County, West Virginia. A National Weather Service employee in Frederick, Maryland, and trained spotters in Loudoun County, Virginia, and Jefferson County, West Virginia, all recorded 31 inches of snow. ___ 1:15 p.m. All Broadway shows both matinees and evening performances were canceled Saturday after New York state officials declared a weather emergency. A ban on travel in New York and the suspension of public transportation forced Broadway producers and theater owners to pull the plug. Charlotte St. Martin president of The Broadway League, which represents producers says: "We expect normal operations to resume for tomorrow's Sunday matinees." The storm didn't stop the inaugural three-day BroadwayCon sort of like a Comic Con for thespians at a midtown hotel. Further north, a Rita Moreno concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center was canceled. The last time Broadway took a big weather hit was Superstorm Sandy in 2012. It darkened Broadway for four days and cost more than $8.5 million in lost revenue. ___ 1:05 p.m. The major snowstorm menacing much of the U.S. continued to deliver on its promises Saturday in the Mid-Atlantic, dumping more than 27 inches of snow by noon in the Maryland suburbs of the nation's capital. The highest amount in the unofficial numbers compiled by the National Weather Service was 27.2 inches in Clarksburg, which is in Montgomery County. Observers in Washington reported a high of 18 inches in the city's Anacostia neighborhood. Fifteen inches was reported in Baltimore. More than 2 feet of snow was reported in Allegany County in western Maryland, Carroll County in central Maryland, in the northern Virginia city of Manassas and in Purcellville in Loudoun County, Virginia. ___ 12:25 p.m. The Rev. Shaun Whittington and his church group of 96 parishioners, mostly teenagers, looked out the windows of their bus Saturday morning, after 14 hours stranded on the intestate, and saw plows finally digging out cars around them. They were on their way home to Indiana from the March for Life in Washington, D.C., when around 9 p.m. the Pennsylvania Turnpike turned into a snowy parking lot, as the blizzard dumped snow in several states. Whittington says they had enough gas to keep the buses running and DVDs to keep the kids entertained until nearly noon the next day, when plows and haulers arrived. Whittington say the group is warm, fed, and in good spirits. The group was among many stuck on the turnpike; two university sports teams were in the same predicament. Emergency crews and the National Guard were called out to help. ___ 12:10 p.m. Authorities in Maryland say a man shoveling snow has died after an apparent heart attack as a blizzard dumps snow across much of the U.S., bringing the total number of deaths from the storm to at least 10 nationwide. Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady says paramedics were called to the Fort Washington area around 10 a.m. Saturday for a report of a 60-year-old man who was shoveling and appeared to have a heart attack. Brady says medics were not able to revive the man and he died. His name wasn't released. Brady had just sent out an advisory warning of the potential for heart attacks while shoveling. He urged people over 50 and those with heart conditions to get someone else to do the job, noting that the amount of snowfall associated with this storm will be particularly challenging to shovel. Danielle Zadora, of Rochester, Ny,, left, helps her mother, Cindy Zadora, of Laurel, N.C., clean snow off her car on the parking lot of Country Inn & Suites on Harper Road in Beckley, W.Va., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Rick Barbero/The Register-Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Pedestrians walk in New York, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A massive winter storm buried much of the U.S. East Coast in a foot or more of snow by Saturday, shutting down transit in major cities, stranding drivers on snowbound highways, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) A Long Island Rail Road train arrives at the Kew Gardens station during a snowstorm, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in the Queens borough of New York. Millions of Americans awoke to heavy snow outside their doorsteps as a mammoth winter storm crawled up the East Coast. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) A group of friends help push a car into a safe parking spot after it was stuck on a snow-covered road in Huntington, W.Va., on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A blizzard brought much of the East Coast of the U.S. to a standstill Saturday. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) Snow blankets downtown Huntington, W.Va. on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A blizzard brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) A man uses cross country skies as he goes down M Street NW in the snow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in the Georgetown area of Washington. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and shutting down the nation's capital and its largest city. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Headstones are nearly covered by snow at Arlington National Cemetery, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 in Arlington, Va. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and shutting down the nation's capital and its largest city. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker gains support amid migrant crisis SPIJKENISSE, Netherlands (AP) The Dutch debate on asylum-seekers has come to this: Firebrand lawmaker Geert Wilders handing out self-defense sprays to women fearful of what he describes as "Islamic testosterone bombs" in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne. Wilders, surrounded by bodyguards and police, visited a market Saturday in the largely blue-collar town of Spijkenisse to hand out the sprays, which contained red paint. Amid stalls selling vegetables, fish, flowers and bicycle parts, Wilders got a rock-star welcome from dozens of supporters, while others protested his visit, waving placards including one that read, "Refugees are welcome, racism is not." The publicity stunt fits into Wilders' uncompromising anti-immigrant, anti-Islam rhetoric that has propelled him to the top of Dutch opinion polls, just over a year away from the parliamentary election. Firebrand Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders talks to a woman after hands out "self-defense sprays" to women fearful of being attacked by migrants in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, in the center of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Saturdays event was a trademark headline-grabbing foray into the Dutch public by the leader of the Freedom Party. Such publicity stunts have landed him atop Dutch opinion polls a year away from parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) In between shaking hands and posing for selfies with supporters, the Freedom Party leader said that, if elected, he would, "close the borders immediately and have no more asylum-seekers. We just cannot afford to have more. The Dutch people in a big majority don't want it and we cannot afford it and it makes our people and women only more unsafe." His message is gaining traction here amid a surge of refugees to Europe and following deadly attacks by Islamic extremists in Paris last year. It echoes Republican front-runner Donald Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and is similar to other populist, nationalist groups in Europe like Marine Le Pen's National Front in France. "The tendencies across Europe are very similar," said University of Amsterdam political science professor Wouter van der Brug. "Across Europe, right-wing populist parties are picking up support as a result of the asylum crisis that we're facing now, and also as a result of terrorist attacks." Leontine Maris was one of the first women to get a spray from Wilders. The 53-year-old said she votes for him though she disagrees with some of his more extreme comments. She said she was afraid not just of migrants, but also Dutch men. "The whole society is going down the drain," she said. As Wilders' popularity soars on the back of such disenchantment, Prime Minister Mark Rutte's two-party coalition is in a slump, losing ground mainly to Wilders. "Wilders is getting support across different layers of society," Van der Brug said. Whether Wilders is able to parlay his current popularity into parliamentary seats next year and a tilt at power in the splintered Dutch parliament remains to be seen. He propped up Rutte's first administration, a minority coalition of the Liberal Party and Christian Democrats, from 2010-2012, but walked out amid drawn-out negotiations over austerity measures. Two days later, the government collapsed. That decision could yet come back to haunt Wilders. "The only logical coalition he could form would be with the same parties again. And I think it's quite unlikely they will do this again with him," Van der Brug said. "They don't really trust him." Even if Wilders' party wins the next election, he would struggle to become prime minister without the support of other parties in this country where the electoral system all but guarantees coalition governments. Rutte has ruled out cooperating with Wilders unless the Freedom Party leader takes back comments made in 2014 that he would see to it that there were fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands. Those same comments also landed Wilders in trouble with Dutch prosecutors, who plan to put him on trial on charges of discrimination. That kind of criticism is not new to Wilders, who has made his name with inflammatory anti-Islam rhetoric. He was acquitted in 2011 on hate speech charges for comments including likening Islam to fascism and calling for a ban on the Quran. Wilders' party currently holds 12 seats in the 150-member lower house, but a poll by Ipsos on Thursday suggested the Freedom Party would win 32 seats now. Rutte's Liberals were second with 26 seats, down from its current tally of 40. The online survey of 1,061 voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent. Other polls have Wilders even further ahead. While Wilders is riding high, Rutte and his coalition partner are hoping to survive the next year and reap the electoral rewards of tough economic reforms that are beginning to bear fruit. The government has slashed spending and driven through an austerity package that has revived the ailing Dutch economy and is beginning to cut into unemployment. The number of Dutch workers without jobs last month was 588,000 in a nation of around 17 million, down from 700,000 early in 2014. Wilders' opponents are hoping that popular opinion shifts before the national vote. "It is hard to talk about a tipping point, because we have seen this phenomenon in the polls before," Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher, a Labor Party member, told reporters recently. "Geert Wilders has lost the last three elections. That is something we tend to forget." Firebrand Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders holds a can of pepper spray prior to handing out "self-defense sprays" to women fearful of being attacked by migrants in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, in the center of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Saturdays event was a trademark headline-grabbing foray into the Dutch public by the leader of the Freedom Party. Such publicity stunts have landed him atop Dutch opinion polls a year away from parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Firebrand Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, center, greets shoppers at a cheese stand after handing out "self-defense sprays" on a market to women fearful of being attacked by migrants in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, in the center of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Saturdays event was a trademark headline-grabbing foray into the Dutch public by the leader of the Freedom Party. Such publicity stunts have landed him atop Dutch opinion polls a year away from parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Firebrand Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders gets into his cars after handing out "self-defense sprays" to women fearful of being attacked by migrants in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, in the center of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Saturdays event was a trademark headline-grabbing foray into the Dutch public by the leader of the Freedom Party. Such publicity stunts have landed him atop Dutch opinion polls a year away from parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Firebrand Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders talks to a TV reporters as he hands out "self-defense sprays" to women fearful of being attacked by migrants in the wake of the New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Cologne, in the center of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Saturdays event was a trademark headline-grabbing foray into the Dutch public by the leader of the Freedom Party. Such publicity stunts have landed him atop Dutch opinion polls a year away from parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe returns home HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe arrived home from a weeks-long vacation looking sprightly, quashing rumors that he had a heart attack. The 91-year-old president arrived late Friday, joking with Cabinet ministers, military leaders and senior members of the ruling ZANU-PF party who welcomed him at Harare International Airport, according to a video published by the state-owned Herald newspaper. Mugabe held talks with visiting Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang on Saturday. The presidents, two of Africa's longest-ruling leaders, are meeting before an African Union summit on Jan. 30 to 31, a government statement said. Mugabe is the chairman of the organization of African states. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, right, holds hands with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasago at State House in Harare, Saturday, January, 23, 2016. Mugabe,91, who was rumored to be sick and hospitalized returned from his annual vacation Friday. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Earlier this month, a website reported that Mugabe suffered a heart attack while on vacation in the Far East. The Zimbabwean government dismissed the rumor, saying false reports that Mugabe is dead usually circulate during his vacation every January. "You can doubt that there can be a New Year, but you cannot doubt that there will be a story on the president's alleged death every January," presidential spokesman George Charamba told the Herald newspaper. The ruling party said it is planning "the best ever" birthday party for Mugabe in February. Mugabe's 92nd birthday will be on Feb. 21 but the party will be held on the 27th. This year Mugabe's birthday festivities will be held at Great Zimbabwe, a precolonial monument popular with tourists. Thousands of supporters are expected to gather at the celebrations organized by the 21st February Movement, a youth branch of the ruling party named after the date of Mugabe's birthday. Civic organizations and opposition parties have urged Mugabe to cancel his birthday celebrations, saying the money would be better spent buying grain for Zimbabweans suffering from food shortages because of an ongoing drought. Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. He is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, along with Obiang, who came to power in Equatorial Guinea through a military coup in 1979. Police charge 17-year old in Canada after 4 shot dead TORONTO (AP) Police on Saturday charged a 17-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in a remote aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. Police said the male suspect can't be named under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Grant St. Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, including a female teacher's aide who died at the scene and a male teacher who died in a hospital. He said seven people wounded in Friday's shooting at the school are hospitalized. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. Police responded to a call of shots fired at the school shortly after the lunch hour. A man holds a rosary as police investigate the scene of a shooting at the community school in La Loche, Saskatchewan, on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The shooting took place on Friday. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commanding Officer Brenda Butterworth-Carr said when officers arrived at the school they saw the front door had been shot open. They entered the school, spotted the suspect and gave chase before apprehending him. He is due in court next week. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun was used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. "This is a significant event for Canada," St. Germaine said. "It's a huge impact on the community of La Loche. It's a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence." Residents lit candles and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the school. Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest mass shooting occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Park told The Associated Press. "She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. ... She was a fantastic person." "I loved her, I really did," said Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. "I'm just so sad," he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Marie Janvier, said she worked as a teacher's aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. "The kids loved having her around," Lemaigre said. "They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody." A second victim was identified as 35-year-old Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time," his family said. "He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it "every parent's worst nightmare." A student who was just returning from lunch when the shots were fired Friday said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. "'Run, bro, run!" Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loche's junior and senior high school. "There's a shotgun! There's a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots too, so of course I started running." The RCMP said the first reports of shots being fired at the school came in around 1 p.m. Friday, and parents and residents were warned to stay away. Witnesses said some students hid in gym dressing rooms for hours. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown as a precaution. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he is in a state of disbelief. He planned to visit La Loche on Sunday and promised to provide crisis support and counseling services. La Loche, like a number of aboriginal communities in Canada's prairie provinces, has been plagued by high suicide rates and poverty. Wall added that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman had offered the counsel of U.S. communities which have experienced school shootings. "He noted that quite tragically the United States has more experience with the likes of what we saw in La Loche," Wall said. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting Friday was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community of 3,000. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. "It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning," said Cameron, who attended the La Loche school's graduation ceremony for the past few years. "Right now we're just in a state of shock and disbelief." ___ Associated Press writer Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report. ___ This story corrects victim Marie Janvier's job title at the school to educational assistant instead of teacher and her age. She is 21, not 23. Candles and flowers placed as a memorial lay near the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school as police investigate the scene of a daytime shooting at the school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Candles and flowers placed as a memorial lay near the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The shooting occurred Friday. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police investigate a house Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 where two people were killed Friday before the shooting at the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police investigate a house Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 where two people were killed Friday before the shooting at the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) A man holds a rosary as police investigate the scene of a shooting at the community school in La Loche, on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The shooting occurred Friday. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police tape surrounds a shattered window at the scene of a daytime shooting at the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police investigate the scene of a daytime shooting at the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police investigate the scene of a daytime shooting at the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The shooting left four people dead. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday Jan. 22, 2016. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the shootings occurred at a high school and another location but did not say where else. School shootings are rare in Canada. The grade 7 through 12 La Loche Community School is in the remote aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan. (Joshua Mercredi/The Canadian Press via AP) The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday Jan. 22, 2016. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the shootings occurred at a high school and another location but did not say where else. School shootings are rare in Canada. The grade 7 through 12 La Loche Community School is in the remote aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan. (Joshua Mercredi/The Canadian Press via AP) Global policymakers seek to reassure after market turbulence DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) At the end of another turbulent week in financial markets, leading global policymakers sought Saturday to ease concerns over the economic outlook for 2016 and insisted that the slowdown in China is a natural turn for an economy in transition. A high-level panel of finance officials held on the last day of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, Switzerland, attempted to look through the markets' harrowing start to the year and identify the big risks facing the global economy. Many stock indexes this week fell into bear market territory down 20 percent from recent highs and oil prices hit near 13-year lows below $27 a barrel. By the end of the week, the mood had stabilized and markets recovered. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, left, gestures while Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne listens during a panel"The Global Economic Outlook"at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. World leaders are holding a flurry of diplomatic meetings at the World Economic Forum and worried CEOs are debating about how to deal with this year's volatile markets and low oil prices.(AP Photo/Michel Euler) But unease continues to pervade markets and hung over the four-day gathering of high-powered business and world leaders here. "What on earth is going on?" asked Tidjane Thiam, chief executive of Swiss bank Credit Suisse. "Simply the worst start of any year in financial markets, ever." ___ CHINA CLOUD China has been the main trigger for the recent market drop as investors take fright over the implications of a decline in economic growth. Figures last week showed that China grew by 6.9 percent in 2015, its lowest growth rate in a quarter of a century. "I do not share the pessimistic view about the global economy suggested by these developments in financial markets," said Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda. "For example, I don't think the Chinese economy will sharply slow down or will be faced with hard landing risk in the future." Kuroda said the slowdown is a natural offshoot of what the Chinese authorities are trying to do: transform the economy from one based on investment and manufacturing into one that is more focused on consumption and services. He suggested China should impose some controls on how much money can leave the country as a means to keep the currency from falling too sharply. Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund's managing director, said China's economic transition is a "massive undertaking." Lagarde conceded that global growth in 2016 is set to be "modest" and "uneven" and faces risks, including problems in emerging markets such as Brazil. The dramatic drop in oil prices is putting a stress on many companies and countries. She stressed, however, that the IMF still expects growth to improve this year 3.4 percent from 3.1 percent in 2015. ___ EUROPE ON CUSP For years, the future of what is now the 19-country eurozone has been a central concern at this Davos-ending panel but it barely got a mention now that worries over Greece have eased. A modest pick-up in economic growth has also bolstered confidence that the single currency zone will not break up but there are new worries this year fears of a British exit from the wider 28-country European Union and a botched response to the refugee crisis. With at least another 46 people drowning in the waters of the Aegean Sea on Friday, Europe is under huge pressure to find a proper response to the crisis. European policymakers have said that a strategy on how to handle, process and relocate migrants has to be agreed upon within the next six to eight weeks before spring arrives and many more people escaping conflicts attempt the hazardous crossings, mainly into Greece and Italy. Failure to come up with a comprehensive strategy by then could spawn further problems, such as the end of the Schengen agreement, a pact that allows borderless travel between 26 European countries. Lagarde said that from a personal point of view, this is "a bit of a make-or-break" moment for the Schengen agreement. But if Europe can find a good way to manage the flow of refugees and migrants, the region can actually benefit economically from the new pool of labor. The IMF has said eurozone economic growth could rise by 0.2 percentage points, as much as 0.5 percent in countries like Germany and Sweden. ___ BREXIT FEAR Another concern vexing leaders in Davos all week has been Britain's future in the EU. Britain is the EU's second-largest economy but has, as British finance minister George Osborne said, a "different relationship" to the bloc than the others. It's not part of the Schengen agreement and doesn't use the euro. The Conservative government has promised a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU by the end of 2017. But it has shown a willingness to hold it earlier, possibly this summer, if a deal reforming its relationship with the EU is agreed upon at a summit in February. Osborne said there is "goodwill" to get a deal. Britain is seeking four reforms: changes to rules governing migration and benefits, confirmation that Britain is not part of the drive for an ever-closer union, rules to make sure that the nine non-euro EU countries don't get dominated by the euro bloc and measures to boost economic competitiveness. Osborne pointed to the EU's history of securing deals at the last minute, as it has many times on Greece's crisis. "Europe sometimes makes its decisions at the 11th hour in a crisis because the Greek banks have to open on the Monday morning or the bond has to be repaid," said Osborne. "I think in a mature and measured way we can get that agreement potentially at the February European Council." Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, speaks during a panel "The Global Economic Outlook" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. World leaders are holding a flurry of diplomatic meetings at the World Economic Forum and worried CEOs are debating about how to deal with this year's volatile markets and low oil prices. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, left, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, center, and Governor of the Bank of Japan Haruhiko Kuroda leave after a panel"The Global Economic Outlook"at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.World leaders are holding a flurry of diplomatic meetings at the World Economic Forum and worried CEOs are debating about how to deal with this year's volatile markets and low oil prices.(AP Photo/Michel Euler) Tumultuous 1st year for Saudi King Salman's 'decisive' reign RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdom's line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday. His reign so far has been marked by a boldness that one Western intelligence agency labelled as "impulsive." However, supporters and admirers of the monarch prefer to describe him as "decisive." Salman, believed to be in his mid-80s, inherited the throne Jan. 23, 2015 after the death of his 90-year-old half-brother King Abdullah, who had ruled Saudi Arabia for a decade. Almost immediately he dismissed two of his predecessor's sons as governors of Riyadh and Mecca, eliminated 12 different government committees and councils, elevated his then-29-year-old son to defense minister and placed him as a lead member on two new super-committees overseeing the country's security and economic affairs. FILE -- In this Nov. 10, 2015 file photo, King Salman of Saudi Arabia waits to receive leaders during their arrival to participate in a summit of Arab and South American leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) Since then, Salman has led his country into an aggressive new stance confronting longtime regional rival Iran, leading a military coalition fighting Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen and unsuccessfully lobbying against Iran's newly implemented nuclear deal with world powers. Domestically, he has urgently taken on economic reforms to counter the impact of plunging oil prices. Salman has also continued to concentrate power in the hands of his son, Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Though few of Saud Arabia's allies have publicly critiqued Salman's policies as king, a German intelligence analysis released by the BND spy agency last month cited concern over the kingdom's future as it tries to "establish itself as a leader in the Arab world." "The previous cautious diplomatic stance of older leaders within the royal family is being replaced by a new impulsive policy of intervention," the German report said, adding that the kingdom is "prepared to take unprecedented military, financial and political risks." The intelligence report said the concentration of economic and foreign policy power in the hands of Mohammed bin Salman carried a "latent risk" with other members of the royal family, the public and allied states in the region. In contrast to the cautious and paternal reputation Abdullah had earned, Salman's reign has been frequently described by the Saudi government press as "decisive," a term born out of his decision to launch the "Operation Decisive Storm" military intervention in Yemen. Gregory Gause, head of the International Affairs Department at Texas A&M University, says this past year has shown Salman to be "a risk-taker." While Abdullah's foreign policy also sought to counter the influence of predominantly-Shiite Iran, it was Salman who committed Saudi warplanes and ground troops outside the country's borders to fight the Shiite rebels who had forced Yemen's internationally-backed government into exile. Ten months into the Yemen war, the military intervention has proven controversial, its successes questionable; the conflict has killed 5,800 people since March and left more than 80 percent of the Yemeni population in dire need of food and water, according to international aid agencies. "King Abdullah had himself portrayed in many ways as a paternal figure. That doesn't seem to be King Salman's desire," Gause said. "They're portraying themselves as tough guys," he said, referring to the king and his defense minister son. In a recent surprise move, Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced in December the creation of a 35-nation Islamic counterterrorism military alliance that would be headquartered in Saudi Arabia. The move was interpreted as an effort to further project Saudi Arabia's leadership in the region and to counter the narrative that Saudi Arabia's arming of Syrian rebels has also aided extremist groups. Throughout the past week, Saudi newspapers marked the Islamic calendar anniversary of Salman's first year as monarch with articles proclaiming him to be the king of "decisiveness and hope." Businessmen and senior princes took out full-page newspaper advertisements expressing their loyalty and support for the king and his successors. Salman inherited a host of domestic challenges, including the need to create more affordable housing and jobs for Saudi Arabia's burgeoning young population. The collapse of the price of oil to under $30 a barrel has forced Saudi Arabia to rein back handouts to the public, including lifting some subsidies and raising petrol prices. Saudi Arabia posted a $98 billion budget deficit last year and expects an $87 billion deficit for 2016. The kingdom has been working for years to try and attract foreign investment and diversify its economy away from oil, including opening up the stock market to foreign investors in 2015. However, it's most anticipated economic move may still be yet to come. In an interview with The Economist, Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom is studying launching an initial public offering for the world's largest oil producer, Saudi Arabian Oil Co. On social reforms, Abdullah allowed for some greater women's rights, including a decision to allow Saudi women to vote and run for the first time in government elections for municipal councils. As generational and social changes take root, the Yemen war effort put calls for democratic reforms on hold, according to activists. The country's leaders have projected the Yemen war as a defense of Sunnis against Iran, which has supported Shiite militias in Iraq and the government of Bashar Assad in Syria, where Saudi Arabia is arming Sunni rebels. One month after the March 2015 launch of the Yemen war, Saudi citizens awoke to find that one crown prince had been replaced with another overnight this time from a new, younger generation of princes. Interior Minister and counter-terrorism czar, Mohammed bin Nayef, was announced as first-in-line to the throne. Mohammed bin Salman was appointed deputy crown prince and second-in-line. In Riyadh, a vague sense of pride and nationalism was whipped up by the war. The bombing campaign also helped elevate Mohamed bin Salman, who was overseeing the military intervention. "I think that they thought that it would be a way to enhance their political capital and to demonstrate that they are more a more decisive leadership than that of King Abdullah, that they are more willing to confront Iran and sort of go at it alone," said Hani Sabra, head of Middle East practice at Eurasia Group. Relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite power Iran have been tense for decades, but the divide has only widened during Salman's year on the throne. Iran seized on these tensions in September after a crush of crowds during the annual Islamic hajj pilgrimage killed at least 2,400 people, among them some 464 Iranian pilgrims, according to an independent Associated Press tally. A few weeks before that, a crane collapsed in Mecca, killing 111 people who were praying at Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba. Iran accused Saudi Arabia of negligence and called on the kingdom to share its prestigious custodianship of Mecca with other Muslim countries. Under King Salman, Saudi royals largely ignored Iran's criticisms and have yet to release details into their investigation of the stampede or adjust their official death toll of 769. Tensions with Iran only worsened after Jan. 2, when Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted of terrorism-related charges. Most of them were alleged militants convicted of allegiance with al-Qaida, but included in the mass executions was a prominent Shiite cleric and a leader of Saudi Arabia's disgruntled Shiite minority. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's execution sparked protests in Iran, with mobs ransacking the Saudi Embassy there, prompting Saudi Arabia to sever diplomatic relations altogether with its regional rival. Several other Gulf Arab allies also cut or downgraded their relations with Tehran, prompting a deepening regional stand-off in recent weeks. Toby Matthiesen, author of "Sectarian Gulf," says the Saudi response to Iran following al-Nimr's execution partially reflects declining Saudi trust in the U.S. as a strategic ally in the region following the Obama Administration's rapprochement with Iran and the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions on Tehran this month. "They wanted to seem tough, show their population that they will not tolerate any dissent," Matthiesen said. "They want to be seen as the leader of the Sunni world and they're pushing a Saudi nationalism that is based on Arabism and Sunni Islam." The sheikh's brother, Mohammed al-Nimr, told The Associated Press that his family had hoped King Salman would not sign off on the execution. When asked what he thought about Salman's past year as monarch and what's to come for Saudi Arabia, he said "the future is not comforting." "It is very painful. As Muslims, we have faith in God but the picture is bleak, it's black," al-Nimr said. ___ Follow Aya Batrawy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ayaelb FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2015 file photo, Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends a ceremony at the Diwan royal palace in Riyadh. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Yoan Valat, Pool, File) FILE - In this June 15, 2015, file photo, a Saudi man looks at the trading board at the Tadawul Saudi Stock Exchange, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) FILE - In this April 16, 2015 file photo, images of Saudi King Salman, left, Crown Prince Muqrin, center, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, right, are displayed at a shop door in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 file photo, a man stands on the rubble of the Chamber of Trade and Industry headquarters after it was hit by a Saudi-led airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) FILE - In this May 10, 2015 file photo, smoke rises from a house of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh after a Saudi-led airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) FILE - In this April 20, 2015 file photo, Saudi soldiers fire artillery toward three armed vehicles approaching the Saudi border with Yemen in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2015, file photo, a Muslim pilgrim walks through the site where dead bodies are gathered after a stampede during the annual hajj pilgrimage, in Mina, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo, File) FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2015 file photo, Saudi women vote at a polling center during the country's municipal elections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Aya Batrawy, File) FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2015 file photo, Saudi groom Hisham Saleh Edris drives his decorated car as he arrives alone at the men's section of the wedding hall in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2015 file photo, a car fills up at a gas station in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, File) FILE -- In this Dec. 14, 2015 file photo, images of King Salman, center, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef , left, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hang at the entrance of a shopping center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to mark the country's 85th anniversary. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Aya Batrawy, File) FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, file photo, a Bahraini protester holds up a picture of Saudi Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was executed by Saudi Arabia, in Daih, the largely Shiite suburb of the capital, Bahrain. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdoms line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) Bloomberg eyeing independent White House bid NEW YORK (AP) Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is taking early steps toward launching an independent campaign for president, seeing a potential path to the White House amid the rise of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders. Bloomberg has retained advisers and plans to conduct a poll after the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primary to assess the state of the race and judge whether there is an opening for him to mount an independent campaign, according to three people familiar with his thinking. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about his plans, which were first reported Saturday by The New York Times. Bloomberg has set a March deadline to decide on whether to enter the race, to ensure his access to the ballot in all 50 states. FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2015, file photo, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks during the C40 cities awards ceremony, in Paris. Bloomberg is taking some early steps toward launching a potential independent campaign for president. That's according to three people familiar with the billionaire media executive's plans. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly for Bloomberg. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File) The billionaire media executive, who served three terms as mayor of New York, is said to be concerned by Trump's lasting hold on the Republican field and is worried about the impact of Sanders' campaign on Hillary Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination. Bloomberg's efforts underscore the unsettled nature of the presidential race a little more than a week before the first round of primary voting. The months-long rise of Sanders and Trump has shaken up the political establishment in both parties and on Wall Street, who've struggled to combat their climb in primary polls. A longtime Democrat who became a Republican to run for mayor in 2001 and later switched to be an independent, Bloomberg would strongly consider a bid if the general election looked like it could turn into a contest between Sanders and Trump or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. He is not ruling out a bid if Clinton is ahead on the Democratic side, though people familiar with his plans believe it is not particularly likely Bloomberg would challenge Clinton in a general election. But they said Bloomberg has expressed concern about the damage caused by revelations she used a private email address and server while serving as secretary of state, and he fears she may emerge atop the Democratic field as a weakened nominee. The two New Yorkers have a cordial relationship, people close to them say. They met privately at Bloomberg's offices a few months before Clinton announced her campaign last April, before an event announcing a philanthropic initiative to measure and track data about issues affecting women and girls. Bloomberg has also spoken at events hosted by the Clinton Foundation. To prepare for a potential run, Bloomberg has also instructed aides to research previous third-party runs and is said to be willing to spend up to $1 billion of his own fortune, estimated to be about $37 billion, to finance his campaign. Bloomberg, 73, has no personal animus toward Trump he believes the real estate developer is "a nice guy," according to one of the people familiar with his plans and knows him from New York's social circuit and from dealings with Trump when Bloomberg was mayor. But he strongly disagrees with Trump's political positions, particularly his stance on immigration, the person said. One of the richest people in the United States, Bloomberg has previously toyed with presidential runs, but concluded ahead of the 2008 and 2012 campaigns he could not win. He delivered a powerful late endorsement of President Barack Obama's re-election effort, though he's been known to criticize the president personally in private conversations. The founder of the financial news and information provider Bloomberg LP, he was a political novice when he launched an unlikely bid for mayor in 2001. He was trailing badly in the polls before the 9/11 attacks, but then received the endorsement of the popular then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Bloomberg played up his business expertise and campaigned as the candidate best able to help steady New York's economy in the aftermath of the attacks. He won a narrow victory and was re-elected handily four years later. He then spearheaded a change to the city's charter to allow him to win a third term in 2009. He oversaw a gilded age in the nation's largest city. Manhattan shed its gritty image to become the sparkling star of film and television. Record numbers of tourists arrived. So did young professionals seeking their future. But critics noted the growing gap between the city's rich and poor. The former mayor is largely a social liberal he fought for same-sex marriage in New York and is pro-abortion rights and implemented a number of health reforms in New York City, banning smoking in public places and instituting calorie counts on menus. He has also became arguably the nation's most vocal proponent of gun control, using his fortune to bankroll candidates across the country who clash with the National Rifle Association. But liberals have found fault with his cozy ties to Wall Street and his unquestioned support for the New York Police Department, which drove down crime during his tenure but engaged in tactics that a federal judge later ruled discriminated against minorities. ___ Wider change in Hollywood sought after Academy reforms NEW YORK (AP) The widespread outrage over two straight years of largely white Oscar nominees coalesced behind three damning, viral words: "OscarsSoWhite." The hashtag, which activist April Reign is credited with creating, lent social-media unity to a tide of frustration that on Friday led to diversity reforms announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Like many others, Reign celebrated the announcement. But only for a moment. "Although we are encouraged by today's news, change must still be made," says Reign, who still plans to rally viewers in boycotting the Feb. 28 broadcast. "The nominees are still the same as they were a week ago." FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2016 file photo, John Krasinski, left, and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce the Academy Awards nominations for best performance by an actor in a leading role at the 88th Academy Awards nomination ceremony in Beverly Hills, Calif. The film academy is pledging to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors. Isaacs announced the changes Friday, Jan. 22, following a weeklong storm of criticism and calls for an Oscar boycott after academy members nominated an all-white slate of actors for the second year in a row. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) The actions announced Friday by academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs following a unanimous vote by the academy's 51-member Board of Governors were by some measure an uncommonly quick reaction to the crisis that had enveloped the Academy Awards since nominations were announced eight days earlier. But to many of those who have lobbied for change, the academy's announcement was seen as just a beginning: a first step in a growing movement for equal opportunity, on movie sets and award-show stages, in an industry that lags far behind matching the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of its moviegoing public. "I applaud their attempts to do something about it," said Don Cheadle, who was nominated for best actor in 2005 for his performance in "Hotel Rwanda." ''But, again, this is dealing with the symptom, not starting at the root cause of how we even get to results like this, which has to do with inclusion and access and the ability for people of color, women and minorities to get at entry-level positions where you can become someone who can green-light a movie." To infuse an overwhelming white, male and older academy with more diverse members who might be drawn to more varied nominees, the academy's Board of Governors voted to require that member voting status (previously a lifetime honor) be reviewed every 10 years; that the board add three new seats to be filled by Boone Isaacs; and that traditional member recruitment be expanded in a global campaign to boost diversity. The academy's goal is to double the number of women and minorities by 2020, though it hasn't disclosed its current demographic makeup. Those reforms which the academy boasted were "sweeping" and "historic" were received by many as necessary updates for an institution that the Los Angeles Times in 2012 found is 94 percent white and 77 percent male. But most who cheered the move emphasized a longer, ongoing struggle. Ava DuVernay, director of last year's best-picture nominee "Selma," called the academy's announcement "one good step in a long complicated journey for people of color and women artists." Chaz Ebert, publisher of RogerEbert.com and wife of the late critic, said, "The academy took the first step. Now let's have the studios, the production companies, agencies, unions and financiers follow suit for diversity." Cameron Bailey, the artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival where many Oscar campaigns are launched praised the academy's "impressive, bold action," but added: "Studios, you're next." Whether the academy can shift the focus onto the larger industry will be challenging. Thanks to the last two years of nominees, the Oscars have absorbed the lion's share of the spotlight on diversity. Boone Isaacs, the academy's first African-American president, will also have to contend with the concerns of older members, whose academy membership will flip to "emeritus" status if they're no longer active in the industry at the time of their review. But "active" is an imprecise, potentially fraught term in a Hollywood where even the most successful players can go years without a project getting off the ground. In an email to membership, Boone Isaacs sought to assure that even "emeritus" members will still receive annual for-your-consideration screeners from studios usually seen as the most enviable perk of academy membership. There is historical precedent for Boone Isaac's efforts to change the academy's membership. In the late 1960s, then-president Gregory Peck led a purge of older, inactive members in a bid to make the academy younger and more in touch with a changing culture. This time, the academy is trying not just to reform itself, but to spur all of the movie industry to greater diversity. Boone Isaacs pointedly signaled that the academy's actions were not sufficient for Hollywood. "The academy is going to lead," she said in a statement, "and not wait for the industry to catch up." ___ Massive snowstorm brings flooding to East Coast ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) A massive winter storm that dumped as much as 3 feet of snow on the eastern United States raised flood waters in communities up and down the Atlantic Coast Saturday, closing roads and prompting evacuations. The first round of flooding came with the morning tide. As water began overflowing into streets in some towns again Saturday night, officials said the nighttime flooding wasn't expected to be as severe. A string of resort towns was temporarily isolated Saturday morning by floodwater that inundated homes and restaurants. Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates houses along W. 7th Avenue, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in North Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Robb Nunzio) "A lot of properties have water in them. But it may not be until later Sunday that they can assess the damage," said Diane Wieland, a spokeswoman for Cape May County. Officials in other states, from North Carolina to New York, expressed similar concerns. By late Saturday morning, some people already had seen enough havoc. "When the water just started rushing down, it was as impressive as some of the videos you saw of Japan during the tsunamis," said Jason Pellegrini, owner of Steak Out restaurant in Sea Isle City, who was trapped inside by floodwaters. "It came in that fast." Another restaurant, The Lobster House, was partly submerged by the rising tide more than 20 miles away in Cape May. "It touched everywhere," said Keith Laudeman, the third-generation owner of the nearly century-old establishment on Cape May Harbor. "It even got to the equipment we moved and never thought would get touched." The water quickly receded and Laudeman said he has a crew of people preparing to clean the place so they can reopen in the coming days. In Delaware, flooding closed a popular route to the state's beaches and forced about a dozen people to leave the low-lying community of Oak Orchard. In Ocean City, Maryland, Delmarva Power cut electricity to hundreds of customers as storm surge flooding submerged equipment used to power the downtown area. Gale warnings are in effect through Sunday morning along the North Carolina coast, the National Weather Service said, with winds of 30 mph expected along with rough seas. Officials in New Jersey were assessing damage caused by the flooding. Firefighters went into a flooded area of Sea Isle City to battle a blaze at another restaurant that may have been linked to the high waters. ___ Finley reported from Philadelphia. Associated Press reporters Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware, and Ed Donahue in Washington contributed to this report. Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates houses along New York Avenue, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in North Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Robb Nunzio) Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates a bus stop along New York Avenue, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in North Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Robb Nunzio) Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates houses along W. 7th Avenue, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in North Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Robb Nunzio) Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates houses along New York Avenue, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in North Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Robb Nunzio) 5-year-old killed in Wisconsin road attack; suspect fled BELOIT, Wis. (AP) A 5-year-old boy riding in the back seat of his father's car in southern Wisconsin was killed after an SUV pulled up alongside them and someone opened fire, authorities said. Police were searching Saturday for the person responsible for the attack, which happened Friday night in Beloit, a city 65 miles southwest of Milwaukee along the Illinois border. The boy, who the Rock County medical examiner's office identified Saturday as Austin Ramos Jr., was shot at least once in the abdomen and died at a hospital. He died from "firearm related trauma" and investigators were conducting additional testing, the medical examiner's office said in its news release. Interim Police Chief David Zibolski said the sport utility vehicle had been following the father's car. He said he didn't know long the SUV had pursued the car or if the father was the intended target, but added that the father was cooperating with authorities. He said investigators hadn't determined how many shots were fired. The father was not hit. "We really ask that our community in Beloit come forward and help solve this crime," Zibolski said. "We need the support and cooperation of Beloit." Dominican Republic confirms 10 Zika cases SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) Health officials in the Dominican Republic say 10 cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in the country. Health Minister Altagracia Guzman said Saturday blood samples from 27 patients were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that 10 came back positive. The mosquito-borne virus has spread from Brazil throughout Central and South American and the Caribbean over the last year. Brazilian authorities blame it for a wave of birth defects. While international experts say the link isn't yet proven, they're taking precautions. Italians protest to urge govt to grant gay civil unions ROME (AP) Tens of thousands of people demonstrated Saturday in nearly 100 cities across Italy to urge the government to permit gay and lesbian couples to have civil unions and legally recognized families. Mirco Pierro, 39, rallied in front of the Pantheon in Rome with his partner and twin infants, saying he wanted "to defend the rights of our children, not just our rights." Pierro and his partner were married in Los Angeles but their union is not recognized in Italy and only one of them has parental rights. "They are here. They exist, they are part of our families, and it is unfair that they do not have the same rights as other Italian children," he said. "This is the main reason that bring us here." Activists demonstrate in favor of rights for gay couples prior to a debate to be opened in Italian parliament to change laws on recognition of rights for same-sex couples, in Rome, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The gay rights group Arcigay estimated that 1 million people participated in the demonstrations, calling it "a historic day for our country." The Italian government has pledged to pass legislation on civil unions for homosexual couples, along with measures allowing both parents, not just the biological parent, custody in a homosexual union. Campaigners say the lack of parental recognition causes problems on a daily basis for gay parents, from simple school permission forms to health care decisions. Italy lags behind many of its European neighbors in conferring such rights due to strong opposition in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The opposition has submitted over 6,000 amendments to the proposed civil unions legislation in a bid to stop its passage. It is scheduled to be debated next Thursday in the Senate. Activists demonstrate in favor of rights for gay couples prior to a debate to be opened in Italian parliament to change laws on recognition of rights for same-sex couples, in Rome, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Activists demonstrate in favor of rights for gay couples prior to a debate to be opened in Italian parliament to change laws on recognition of rights for same-sex couples, in Rome, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) People gather during a gay rights demonstration prior to a debate to be opened in Italian parliament to change laws on recognition of rights for same-sex couples, in downtown Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 23, 2016. Note reads ' Rainbow Families Milan, Wake Up Italy '. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Flint hospital suspected river, Legionnaires' outbreak link DETROIT (AP) The head of a Flint hospital that found Legionnaires' disease bacteria in its water system more than a year ago said he and experts suspected the Flint River was a likely source of the contaminant. Don Kooy, president of McLaren hospital, said he was surprised that Michigan and local health agencies didn't inform the public about a Legionnaires' outbreak in Genesee County in 2014-15 until just a few weeks ago. The outbreak occurred while Flint residents were repeatedly complaining about dirty tap water coming from the river a crisis that ultimately caused exposure to lead and other health problems. This Jan. 21, 2016 photo shows the water tower at the Flint, Mich., water plant. Flints mayor has floated a shockingly high price to fix the citys lead-contamination problem, saying it could millions to replace damaged pipes. (Perry Rech/American Red Cross via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT "It's a public health issue," Kooy told The Associated Press. "There were people in the city of Flint seeing brown water. It would seem logical that there would have been public reporting or public awareness about the Legionella situation." At least 87 Legionnaires' cases, including nine deaths, were confirmed across Genesee County during a 17-month period. Public officials say they haven't determined if Flint River water was responsible. Legionnaires' is a type of pneumonia. The bacteria live in the environment and thrive in warm water. People can get sick if they inhale mist or vapor from contaminated water systems, hot tubs and cooling systems. Kooy said two cases could have been related to exposure to Legionella bacteria found in the hospital. He said "it's very difficult to know" when a patient is exactly exposed but both patients were successfully treated. "We were concerned that the city water was the source of it," Kooy said, "but to this day I don't think we could make a definitive statement." McLaren hospital spent more than $300,000 on a water treatment system and also turned to bottled water for patients. "The change in (Flint) water quality was a likely factor in causing the increase in Legionnaires' disease" in Genesee County, said Janet Stout, a Pittsburgh microbiologist and Legionella expert who advised the hospital. In April 2015, Laurel Garrison, a Legionnaires' specialist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told state officials by email that the outbreak deserved a "comprehensive investigation." In an email three months earlier, Jim Collins, the head of Michigan's Communicable Disease Division, said the number of cases at that time "likely represents the tip of the iceberg." Nonetheless, there was no public announcement at that time. ___ International community appeals for dialogue, calm in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) The international community appealed for dialogue and calm in Haiti on Saturday after a presidential and legislative runoff was put on hold indefinitely. The United Nations, international election observers and foreign governments urged the volatile Caribbean country's feuding political actors to negotiate a solution to an electoral impasse that threatens to soon become a constitutional crisis. Haiti's charter requires a new government to take power Feb. 7, but election authorities say there is now no chance the country will meet that deadline to pick the next president. It is unclear whether an interim government will be set up, or another solution may be reached. Protesters toss a campaign poster of government-backed presidential candidate Jovenel Moise onto a burning barricade during a protest against President Michel Martelly's government, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A presidential runoff that had already been delayed once and faced deep public skepticism was put on hold indefinitely Friday. The Saturday protesters are demanding that Martelly leave office Feb. 7, as is required under the Constitution, and an interim government take power. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Haitians to work toward "peaceful completion of the electoral process without delay." Government officials have not addressed the impasse publicly since Friday afternoon, when the Provisional Electoral Council postponed the runoff a second time without naming a new date for the vote. The splintering council cited what it called a "deteriorating security environment" to explain its decision, but there has also been widespread opposition to the vote on the part of civil society. The opposition presidential candidate had promised to boycott the runoff. A day after protesters set fires and smashed windows, a few thousand anti-government demonstrators again took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Saturday. Young men threw rocks and lit tire barricades on fire downtown, sending black smoke billowing into the air. Many called for new elections and the immediate removal of President Michel Martelly. "He cannot stay a second longer," said Frantzo Nepha, an unemployed 24-year-old. Ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise said he was mystified that electoral authorities would again postpone the runoff without immediately providing a new date. The vote was originally supposed to be held Dec. 27. Moise, whose top finish in the first round prompted allegations of vote-rigging, told reporters he believes he is the people's choice and called for the runoff to be held soon and peacefully. "Our generation has a responsibility to show other countries in the world that we are a civilized nation," he said. Many Haitians are exasperated by the political infighting and disruptive protests. "It seems like politicians want to drag the Haitian people backward," said Karine Fenelon, as she picked out oranges at a roadside fruit stall. Some blame the election mess on the international community and especially Washington, which they believe is far too involved in Haitian affairs. "All of these so-called friends of Haiti are stopping us from moving forward," mechanic Patrick Augustin said. "Martelly's government is always taking dictation from the U.S." ___ David McFadden on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmcfadd Residents watch a crowd protesting against President Michel Martelly's government, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A presidential runoff that had already been delayed once and faced deep public skepticism was put on hold indefinitely Friday. The Saturday protesters are demanding that Martelly leave office Feb. 7, as is required under the Constitution, and an interim government take power. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) A National Police officer takes position as police work to disperse a crowd protesting against President Michel Martelly's government, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A presidential runoff that had already been delayed once and faced deep public skepticism was put on hold indefinitely Friday. The Saturday protesters are demanding that Martelly leave office Feb. 7, as is required under the Constitution, and an interim government take power. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Young men run for cover after police fire shots to disperse a crowd protesting against President Michel Martelly's government, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A presidential runoff that had already been delayed once and faced deep public skepticism was put on hold indefinitely Friday. The Saturday protesters are demanding that Martelly leave office Feb. 7, as is required under the Constitution, and an interim government take power. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) A protester chants, "Down with Martelly"during a protest against President Michel Martelly's government, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. A presidential runoff that had already been delayed once and faced deep public skepticism was put on hold indefinitely Friday. The Saturday protesters are demanding that Martelly leave office Feb. 7, as is required under the Constitution, and an interim government take power. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Iraq seeks more coalition trainers for local police ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) Senior U.S. defense and military officials say that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is asking the coalition for more police training, particularly for Sunnis who will have to secure Ramadi and other towns once Islamic State militants are ousted. Abadi specifically asked for more trainers during talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter this week at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the officials said. Aided by coalition airstrikes, Iraqi security forces retook Ramadi last month. Iraq's trained local police then moved in to help secure the town. The local police were able to take over more quickly than initially anticipated, allowing more skilled Iraqi security and counterterrorism forces to move on to other operations, the U.S. officials said. Iraqi security forces fire at Islamic State group positions during clashes in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. The Islamic State group, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq where it declared an Islamic caliphate in June 2014, suffered several defeats recently in both countries, including the loss of the Iraqi city of Ramadi and parts of northern and northeastern Syria over the past months. (AP Photo) The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss publicly the private conversation. Carter has asked coalition members to beef up their contributions to the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. And one of the several key priorities is trainers. The issue is particularly critical as security forces retake towns in the largely Sunni areas that are held by IS. Leaders want to put Sunni local police into the town in order to keep the peace and prevent IS from returning. Currently the Italian national police are conducting monthlong training sessions for the local police. They mainly receive instruction in basic soldier skills, including marksmanship, patrolling and how to locate and counter hidden explosive devices. A senior military official said countries such as Spain and Germany also are good at police training. Officials said that the victory in Ramadi has given Abadi more latitude to seek additional military aid, despite persistent political sensitivities to increasing the coalition's presence in Iraq. Carter met with a small group of key coalition countries in Paris earlier in the week and is convening a larger meeting of 26 countries next month. Officials are hoping to get some ideas about what countries may be willing to provide at that time. Inmates rappelled from roof to escape California jail LOS ANGELES (AP) Three inmates escaped from a Southern California maximum-security jail by cutting through half-inch steel bars and rappelling from the roof by a makeshift rope, authorities said Saturday as they continued hunting for the men, who include an alleged killer. "It was very well-thought-out and planned," Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday at a news conference. The inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. Friday at the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They could have escaped any time between then and late Friday night. This image provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows three jail inmates charged with violent crimes who escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men from left are, 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who is charged with murder, and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday that the inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. on Friday and could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night. (Orange County Sheriff's Department via AP) "The inmates cut through half-inch steel bars to facilitate their escape," Hallock said. They also cut through plumbing tunnels and finally made it to an unguarded area of the roof where they were able to rappel to the ground using some kind of makeshift rope, Hallock said. They were last seen wearing orange jail jumpsuits, he said. The inmates were seen at a 5 a.m. inmate count and were discovered missing at the 8 p.m. count, Hallock said. Before the nighttime count, there was some kind of disturbance at the jail that may have been part of the escape plan, Hallock said. It slightly delayed the discovery that the men were missing, he said. Some "small pieces of evidence" have been collected and investigators will be looking at surveillance camera footage, Hallock said. Earlier, Hallock said it was the first escape from the 900-inmate facility in 20 years. Investigators were working around the clock with other county agencies, the FBI and U.S. marshals, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said in a statement. "I am confident that this collaborative effort will result in returning these inmates to where they belong- behind bars," she said. The inmates include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who had been held on a $1 million bond since October 2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been held without bond since September 2014 on charges of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. Nayeri and three other men are accused of kidnapping a California marijuana dispensary owner in 2012. They drove the dispensary owner to a desert spot where they believed he had hidden money and then cut off his penis, authorities said. After the crime, Nayeri fled the U.S. to his native Iran, where he remained for several months. He was arrested in Prague in November 2014 while changing flights from Iran to Spain to visit family. The third escaped inmate, 43-year-old Bac Duong, was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and other charges. It was unclear whether the men were armed but they should be considered very dangerous, Hallock said. "I think the public should expect the worst if they're encountering them and call 911 and allow the professionals to respond," Hallock said. Orange County sheriff's deputies and a search dog investigate early Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2016, after three jail inmates charged with violent crimes escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who is charged with murder; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday that the inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. Friday morning and could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night. (AP Photo/Kevin Warn) Orange County sheriff's deputies investigate early Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2016, after three jail inmates charged with violent crimes escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who is charged with murder; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday that the inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. Friday morning and could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night. (AP Photo/Kevin Warn) This undated booking photo provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, one of three jail inmates charged with violent crimes, who escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men include Tieu, who is charged with murder; 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday that the inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. and could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night. (Orange County Sheriff's Department via AP) This undated booking photo provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, one of three jail inmates charged with violent crimes, who escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who is charged with murder; Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Saturday that the inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. and could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night. (Orange County Sheriff's Department via AP) Foodie Johanna Konta reveals secrets to her Australian Open success Johanna Konta has revealed the secret to her Australian Open success is not a faster serve or bigger forehand - but her devotion to fish, eggs and passion fruit. Konta is the first British woman to reach the last 16 in Melbourne since 1987 after she thrashed Czech Denisa Allertova 6-2 6-2 on Saturday. The victory puts her one win away from a grand slam quarter-final, which has not been achieved by a female Briton since Jo Durie made the last eight at Wimbledon in 1984. Johanna Konta is into the fourth round of the Australian Open Standing in Konta's way is Ekaterina Makarova, the world number 24 from Russia. Konta's run continues a remarkable rise for the Sydney-born 24-year-old, who knocked out eighth seed Venus Williams in round one and is already set to break the world's top 40 at the end of the tournament. Asked what her daily routine had been during an excellent first week, Konta said: "I have been going to Hunky Dory a lot. "It's a fish restaurant on Chapel Street. Unbelievable. Guys, please go. It's really is very good. I have eaten so much fish I'm actually going somewhere different now. "Otherwise no, just the same breakfast. I usually enjoy having the same breakfast. This week we have eggs - actually eggs is usually present - but we have fruit, passion fruit. "You guys need to eat passion fruit here. It's unbelievable. And toast and chia pods. I don't know how to say it, but, again, great." The chia pod, entailing chia seeds mixed with fruit and coconut milk, is a recipe of the super-food craze and it seems to be doing its work as Konta finished off world number 66 Allertova with ease. The Czech had previously beaten Konta at the French Open last year but it is a measure of how far the Briton has come that she encountered so few problems inside a packed out Hisense Arena. Konta broke twice in each set and was ruthless on her own serve, offering not a single break point to her opponent in a swift win lasting just an hour and four minutes. "I'm obviously very pleased with the results of that," Konta said. "I'm more happy with just how I was able to handle the situation out there. It wasn't easy. "Obviously the court plays differently when the roof is closed. She's a very tough player. I'm happy I was able to really just hold down and take care of things on my end and keep fighting." Allertova wore heavy strapping round her left thigh and confirmed afterwards she had not played fully-fit, although Konta was none the wiser. "She was struggling with an injury? I didn't know, I guess that shows you," Konta said. "We have seen time and time again that even with injuries players can still be very dangerous so that's not a main focus for me." The injury was not meant as an excuse from Allertova, who was generous in praising her opponent. "Jo was ruthless with me," Allertova said. Google's 130 million 'derisory' tax deal must be investigated says Labour Google's 130 million deal with the taxman is "derisory" and must be investigated by the public spending watchdog, Labour has said. The internet giant reached the agreement with HM Revenue and Customs over taxes it has owed since 2005 and will also start to pay tax "based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business". But John McDonnell said the public would be "sceptical" about the settlement and called for the National Audit Office to launch an inquiry into the deal. Google has agreed to pay back taxes of 130 million to the Government The shadow chancellor said he would be demanding details of the deal from Chancellor George Osborne in parliament on Monday and criticised the HMRC for agreeing to recoup a "relatively small amount". "It looks to me from all the independent analysis that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been paid," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. The move comes after years of criticism of Google and other multinational firms over their tax arrangements in the UK and across Europe. Google's sales were valued at 3.8 billion in Britain during 2013 but it paid just 20.4m in UK taxes that year. Between 2006 and 2011 the company's revenue in the UK hit around 12.6 billion but its corporation tax payments for the period totalled 11.2 million. Meg Hillier, who chairs the Common's Public Accounts Committee (PAC,) will call Google and HMRC figures before MPs to explain the deal, which she said showed the taxman "admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of 10 years". "The news that Google is paying 10 years' back tax vindicates the Public Accounts Committee's vigorous pursuit of international companies that were running rings around tax officials," the Labour MP said. "We were shocked to learn of workarounds of the tax system that were considered normal behaviour by big corporations but which appalled the individual taxpayer. "HMRC now needs to assure taxpayers that it will keep up the pressure to tackle whatever the next emerging issue is in real time, rather than years later. It is effectively admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of 10 years." The committee's previous chairwoman, Labour MP Margaret Hodge, was an outspoken critic of the firms' tax affairs and led tough questioning of companies. During PAC hearings, firms have been accused of "siphoning" off profits made in the UK to countries where they pay less tax. Mrs Hodge branded tax avoidance "immoral" and suggested that Google's tax activities were "evil". In March's Budget the Chancellor announced the introduction in April of a so-called "Google tax" targeting firms that move their profits overseas. The "diverted profits tax" is designed to discourage large companies from taking earnings out of the UK to avoid tax. Mr Osborne described the payments as a "victory" for action on tax avoidance. He said: "Good to see Google paying more tax on past profits. We want successful businesses in UK - but they should pay their taxes. "Google tax bill is a victory for the action we've taken. I introduced diverted profits tax. We now expect to see other firms pay their share." A Google spokeswoman said: "We have agreed with HMRC a new approach for our UK taxes and will pay 130 million, covering taxes since 2005. "We will now pay tax based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business. "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift and is in line with recent OECD guidance." An HMRC spokesman said: "The successful conclusion of HMRC inquiries has secured a substantial result, which means that Google will pay the full tax due in law on profits that belong in the UK. Multinational companies must pay the tax that is due and we do not accept less." Treasury minister David Gauke said: "The Google tax bill dates back to the middle of the last Labour government, which did absolutely nothing about it. Yet again it is this government that is sorting out the mess. "For Labour to complain now is at best selective amnesia and at worst shameless hypocrisy. "Of course, the details of the payment HMRC has agreed can now be examined by the National Audit Office." Wes Streeting, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, said: "HMRC and Google should be hauled before the Commons Treasury committee to explain how they've managed to agree such a paltry sum at the end of a lengthy negotiation behind closed doors. Drug dealers jailed after cannabis factories uncovered Police who brought down a cannabis factory insist crime does not pay after three drug dealers were jailed. Altin Laska, 27, Mircea Rusu, 24, and Nicolae Pasc, 25, all admitted conspiring to supply cannabis at Exeter Crown Court on Friday. Devon and Cornwall Police said Albanian born Laska was handed a five-year prison term, while Romanians Rusu and Pasc both received twelve month sentences. Police uncovered four cannabis factories Their arrests came as part of the force's Operation Cesta, which uncovered four cannabis factories in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Dunkeswell and Minehead which contained a crop worth more than 400,000. Last July, detectives stopped and searched Exeter-based pair Rusu and Pasc, in the West Midlands while the pair were en route to Scotland. Around 7kgs of Class B drug cannabis was found in the boot of their car. Those arrests then led police to Laska, who moved in to large scale drug dealing after the failure of his security company. The same month he was seen passing 4kgs of cannabis to another man before being arrested him at his home in Exmouth. While at that property, police also found two illegal immigrants, who were later deported. Detective Inspector Austin Goss, from the south west crime unit Zephyr, said the set up of the cannabis farms was very sophisticated. "They were organised and the harvesting of such large amounts of cannabis plants was frequent," he added. "Organised crime groups can make large amounts of money from such activity and as a result people can get exploited and violence is often used to control the share in the market. "The effect that we have had on this group shows that crime actually doesn't pay." Inspector Goss said the operation has had a significant impact on disrupting the supply of illegal drugs and hoped the local community would continue to work with police. Jeremy Corbyn urges pan-European push to help those affected by migrants crisis Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Britain to join a pan-European effort to help ease the migrant crisis as he visited camps in northern France to see the squalid conditions people are living in after fleeing war, poverty and persecution. Mr Corbyn headed to the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk, and The Jungle in Calais where more than 7,000 people are sleeping rough amid the mud, wet and cold. As he met men, women and children who have fled from countries including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Corbyn spoke of the "dreadful situation" they faced camped in the swamp-like conditions. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visits the Grand Synthe Camp in northern France Surrounded by migrants and refugees, he said: "What I'm trying to achieve here is to understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe. "Ultimately we deal with the situation by dealing with the problem at its source, which are the wars and conflicts. "Also, there are the human needs of people. We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food - in very cold, very wet conditions. "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." Mr Corbyn said Britain should be part of a pan-European effort to help the people affected by the crisis. He said: "Germany has done an enormous amount, other countries have done varying amounts and I think we should be part of bringing European-wide support to people." The numbers of migrants and refugees at Grande-Synthe have steadily risen since last October, from around 800 people sleeping rough there to around 2,500 in recent weeks. Most are Kurds from Iran, Syria and Iraq looking to cross to the UK, including some 250 children, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Among those he met was 15-year-old Rekar Baber from Iraq who gained Mr Corbyn's autograph from him along with a selfie. Others included Bawand Mustafi who said before speaking to Mr Corbyn: "We are here because of the ridiculous politicians of the world. "We are here to save our lives. Now we are here we don't know what to do." MSF took action in the face of what it called a failure by the authorities to offer decent living conditions to the masses camped there in ankle-deep mud. Aid workers said people have been living in ultra-thin tents surrounded by puddles of water and food, which has attracted rats, prompting regular extermination operations. Help and donations, including food, clothing and tents, have come from volunteers who often arrive at weekends from the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France. Migrants at the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France during a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France. A migrant sits in a tent at the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France during a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Migrants at the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France during a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Migrant children at the Dunkirk Grand Synthe Camp in France during a visit by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Adam Lallana nets dramatic winner for Liverpool in Carrow Road thriller Adam Lallana's last-minute strike gave Liverpool an astonishing first Barclays Premier League win of 2016 in a nine-goal thriller at Norwich. Jurgen Klopp's men had trailed 3-1 with under 30 minutes to go, then led 4-3 before Sebastien Bassong's stoppage-time strike levelled matters. But there was still time for substitute Lallana to mis-hit a shot into the ground and secure a 5-4 victory as Liverpool's own defensive failings were eclipsed by Norwich's at Carrow Road. Adam Lallana celebrates his goal Klopp celebrated on the pitch with a shirtless Lallana, but there is much work to do if the Reds are to advance to the Capital One Cup final at the expense of Stoke, visitors to Anfield for the semi-final second leg on Tuesday night. It had looked like new signing Steven Naismith would be an instant hero for the Canaries after Dieumerci Mbokani cancelled out Roberto Firmino's opener with a brilliant back-heel. Naismith scored his first Everton goal against Liverpool and, on his debut following his move from Goodison Park, the Scot struck again to give the Canaries a 2-1 half-time lead. Poor defending allowed Norwich to further extend their advantage when Alberto Moreno felled Naismith in the box and Wes Hoolahan converted the resulting penalty. Jordan Henderson reduced the deficit from a gaping hole in the Norwich defence and another appeared allowing Firmino to equalise with 27 minutes remaining. James Milner converted for 4-3 after capitalising on Russell Martin's dreadful pass back before the late drama. The Canaries looked lively early on, with Naismith, Nathan Redmond and Hoolahan floating around in spaces between Liverpool's defence and midfield. But it was Liverpool who struck first. Moreno and Milner combined well on the left and the latter fed Firmino. The Brazilian was played onside by Robbie Brady and his scuffed shot went in via the boot of Declan Rudd and the post. Brady recovered well to deny Milner inside the area moments later before Norwich exposed Liverpool's aerial vulnerability to draw level when the visitors twice failed to clear a corner. Graham Dorrans headed back in and Mbokani did the rest, controlling the ball with his back to goal before his improvised finish left Sakho sprawling on the floor. Liverpool's defence was again found wanting when Hoolahan beat Henderson and found Naismith, who finished brilliantly across goal for an interval lead. Naismith next stole in on the wrong side of Moreno before the left-back lunged in from behind. It might have been a foul, but Moreno made certain by recklessly bundling Naismith over from behind. Hoolahan converted the penalty. Liverpool pulled one back within moments as Firmino flicked Nathaniel Clyne's cross on to an unmarked Henderson, who swept in. The Reds equalised when Milner found Lallana, who centred for Firmino to control the ball once and prod it past Rudd. It went from bad to worse for Norwich as Martin inexplicably passed back in the direction of Rudd without looking. Milner intercepted and finished calmly to restore Liverpool's advantage only for Bassong to finish superbly from 22 yards for what he thought was the equaliser. There was another twist to come, though, as Norwich failed to clear and Lallana's shot looped over Rudd. TWEET OF THE MATCH "FULL-TIME: Norwich 4-5 #LFC. No words." - Unsurprisingly, Liverpool's official Twitter feed (@LFC) were lost for words at the final whistle as the Reds came out victorious in a nine-goal thriller. PLAYER RATINGS Norwich Declan Rudd: 5/10 Ivo Pinto: 5 Robbie Brady: 5 Russell Martin: 5 Sebastien Bassong: 5 Jonny Howson: 6 Nathan Redmond: 6 Graham Dorrans: 6 Dieumerci Mbokani: 7 Wes Hoolahan: 7 Steven Naismith: 7 Substitutes: Matt Jarvis (for Hoolahan, 70 minutes): 5 Martin Olsson (for Redmond, 70): 5 Cameron Jerome (for Naismith, 82): 5 Liverpool Simon Mignolet: 5 Nathaniel Clyne: 6 Alberto Moreno: 5 Kolo Toure: 5 Mamadou Sakho: 5 Lucas: 6 Emre Can: 6 James Milner: 7 Roberto Firmino: 7 Jordan Henderson: 7 Jordan Ibe: 6 Substitutes: Adam Lallana (for Ibe, 59): 7 Christian Benteke (for Henderson, 76): 6 Steven Caulker (for Moreno, 90): 5 STAR PLAYER Naismith. It could not be a defender. There was an unfamiliar look about Naismith, who for so long wore blue and white with Kilmarnock, Rangers and Everton before his reported 8.5million move to Norwich. He made an instant impression in yellow and green and could not be faulted for the goals. MOMENT OF THE MATCH Mbokani's goal. The Congo striker improvised brilliantly to equalise. With his back to goal, he controlled a bouncing ball and scored with a deft back-heel which bamboozled Sakho and Mignolet. VIEW FROM THE BENCH Naismith and Pinto made their Norwich debuts as two of four changes, while Liverpool made nine changes following their FA Cup replay defeat of Exeter. Both sides are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, but the substitute who made the most impact was Lallana, the match winner. MOAN OF THE MATCH Plenty of mistakes at the back on show in this game. Alan Hansen will be glad he does not have to analyse the defending having now retired from the Match of the Day sofa. WHO'S UP NEXT Norwich v Tottenham, Barclays Premier League, Tuesday, February 2 Liverpool v Stoke, Capital One Cup semi-final second leg, Tuesday, January 26 Lallana said it was "massive" result for his side but admits he feared it was not going to happen when Bassong levelled. He told BT Sport 1: "A strange afternoon but we're just delighted to get the three points in the end. When they scored in the 92nd or 93rd minute, you think it's going to be one of them days. "But Benteke nodded it down, next thing you know it's in the back of the net. It's three points which is massive for us after a few disappointing results." Milner said: "(The game) was ridiculous at times. Going up and then it's disappointing coming in at half-time, we weren't at the races. But we showed character to come back especially after conceding the goal early in the second half. "It's disappointing to concede from another set-piece. It would have been easy to roll over but we went straight back on the front foot. A great finish from the lads." Klopp said: "Unbelievable game. It was not easy today. I think we had a lot of problems in the game. I don't know what it was but it wasn't enough at the start of the game against a team searching for confidence. "But we played football, we made it 1-0, we should have made it 2-0. But set-play, set-play, set-play and they got more confidence. "Second half we came back with brilliant goals and at the end when I saw five minutes (stoppage-time) I thought...I couldn't understand why. "I don't understand this and I asked but it was not positive. But these two goals, we were a deserved winner. Four goals from set-plays, that must be a new record, I think you have to make a new list for British football. I think it is crazy what we are doing." A disappointed Alex O'Neil, the Norwich manager, said: "I think we were our own downfall, that best describes the second half defensively. We score four goals and you don't manage to win the game, that's a big, big problem. Steel used in wind farm scheme near Port Talbot 'more than likely from China' Steel used to construct a major new wind farm near Port Talbot "more than likely" comes from China, contractors have admitted. The Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project is being built less than an hour's drive from the Welsh town's steelworks - where 750 jobs are being cut. But according to reports, steel used to make the 76 giant turbines for the south Wales wind farm has come 5,000 miles away in China. Analysts say the Tata plant in Port Talbot produces the wrong kind of steel for the wind turbines The wind farm is being managed by energy firm Vattenfall, while multi-national firm Siemens is tasked with providing the hard materials and the engineering expertese. Both firms say they have been unable to use materials from Tata's plant nearby because it does not make the right kind of steel. A spokesman for Siemens told the South Wales Evening Post: "We source both British and Asian steel, and wherever possible, we seek to use local suppliers. It is fair to assume that, given the industry trade, Chinese steel is currently the cheapest in the market. It is more than likely Chinese steel being used." "One of our procurement experts believes that Tata didn't produce the right kind of steel for fabrication of the towers. It's probable that anyone appointed would have had to go abroad to source it." Business leaders have branded the news as a "slap in the face" for local workers. Last week Tata steel announced it would be axing more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and blamed cheap Chinese imports for a downturn in its business. Labour MP's for Aberavon Stephen Kinnock said more needed to be done to support the country's steel industry. He said: "I visited the wind farm site last year and was saddened when I was told that the steel for the turbines was not going to come from Port Talbot. "I've spoken with contacts in the industry and it would appear true the plant there does not make the right kind of steel for the turbines. "However, it is outrageous that it hasn't even come from the UK. This is another example of the UK government's abject failure in helping the steel industry. It really has not done enough. For example its compensation relief to help energy intensive businesses like Tata came too late and should have happened sooner." Mr Kinnock added although there are strict EU limits on so-called "state aid", he believes the UK Government should ensure that 10% of tax-payer funded projects needing steel should feature metal made in Britain. "If you change public procurement in the public sector then it will have a knock on effect to the private sector too," he added. "We are in the position we are in today because not enough has been done to support the industry in the past. Antarctic explorer Henry Worsley airlifted to hospital 71 days into record bid An intrepid explorer on the brink of making Antarctic history with a solo crossing across the ice has been taken to hospital with a potentially fatal condition. Former Army officer Henry Worsley, 55, from Fulham, London was 71 days in to his attempt to become the first adventurer to cross the continent completely unsupported and unassisted when he had to call for help. Battling temperatures of minus 44, tackling white-out blizzards and treacherous ice, the ex-lieutenant colonel had passed the South Pole, covering 913 miles and was a mere 30 miles from the finish. Henry Worsley before embarking on his adventure After spending two days unable to move from his tent, the married father-of-two took the decision to pull out of the charity adventure after his body started to suffer from exhaustion and severe dehydration. He was airlifted off the ice on Friday. Shackleton Solo team member, Catherine Gale, said Mr Worsley is being treated for peritonitis at a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile - his wife Joanna, 56, is currently on her way to be by his side. She said: "It is obviously a concerning time. He reluctantly made the decision to call the end of the expedition and clearly he pushed himself to the limits. "He had very very bad weather - the whole way it was against him. He is obviously disappointed. But everyone is in awe of what he has done - he is a great man and a fantastic person." Peritonitis occurs when the thin layer of tissue lining of the tummy becomes infected. Symptoms can include swelling of the abdomen, vomiting, chills, lack of appetite and a high temperature. Complications can be as serious as sepsis and septic shock. Embarking on his journey in November last year, 100 years after Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated and unfinished trip, Mr Worsley wanted to use the challenge to raise 100,000 for The Endeavour Fund. "Having been a career soldier for 36 years and recently retired, it has been a way of giving back to those far less fortunate than me," said Mr Worsley. Father to Max, 21, and Alicia, 19, he said he would "lick his wounds" and "come to terms with the disappointment" of not finishing the herculean feat. He added: "I must thank my followers and supporters who have so generously contributed. You have all been incredible and have made this so worth doing despite the hardship. Thank you." Mr Worsley has surpassed his original fundraising goal and garnered more than 101,000 for The Endeavour Fund - something he called "incredible" and a "huge reward" for his efforts. Myanmar releases political prisoners before power transfer By Soe Zeya Tun and Timothy Mclaughlin YANGON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Myanmar began releasing the first of about 100 prisoners on Friday, many of them political detainees, days before a parliament dominated by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi's party sits for the first time after an election win in November. The freeing of some political prisoners by the outgoing administration of President Thein Sein comes after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Myanmar to free all political prisoners during a visit on Monday. The amnesty gives a last-minute boost to the legacy of Thein Sein, whose semi-civilian government in 2011 replaced a junta that had run Myanmar for 49 years, ushering in a series of political and economic reforms. "There were 52 political prisoners among those released today," said Bo Kyi, joint secretary of political prisoner watchdog Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). According to Bo Kyi, this leaves 77 political prisoners behind bars and 408 awaiting trial. Zaw Htay, a director at the president's office, said on his Facebook page that 102 prisoners would be freed. It was unclear how many had already been freed and whether all of them were political prisoners. Zaw Htay also said that 77 death sentences would be reduced to life imprisonments. Phillip Blackwood, a New Zealand citizen jailed in Yangon's notorious Insein prison in March for two and a half years for insulting religion, was also due to be freed, according to his family. He had used a psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote a party at a Yangon bar in a case that threw a spotlight on the country's hardline Buddhist nationalists who championed the harsh sentencing. "We've been told he will be released within the next few days or it could be up to a week," said Angela Blackwood, the prisoner's mother, when contacted by phone. It was unclear whether two Myanmar citizens jailed along with Blackwood would be released. Myanmar's incarceration of more than 2,000 journalists, activists, politicians and even comedians during decades of military rule was a key factor behind Western sanctions. "While we recognize this as an important step, we remain concerned that there are still many individuals who remain jailed or on trial for simply exercising their right to freely express themselves," the U.S. Embassy in Yangon said in a statement, calling for their release. As others were walking free on Friday, NGO worker Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, arrested in October for a Facebook post deemed insulting to the military, was sentenced to six months in jail at a court in Yangon. With time served, he will be eligible for release in April. Uganda bans maids working in Saudi Arabia amid complaints of mistreatment By Yasin Kakande KAMPALA, Uganda Jan 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The government of Uganda said on Friday it will stop sending housemaids to Saudi Arabia, eclipsing a deal between the two nations to ship workers to the wealthy Gulf nation amid complaints of poor conditions and mistreatment. The ban will remain until working conditions in Saudi Arabia are "deemed fitting," the Ugandan government said. The two nations had signed a deal in July for the deployment of university graduates to work in oil-rich Saudi Arabia. It was seen as a way of addressing high unemployment rates among young people in Uganda. But the Ugandan government has gotten complaints of workers being treated inhumanely by their employers in Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Welfare. The ban also comes after an audio recording was widely circulated this week on social media of Ugandans in Saudi Arabia who said they were being tortured and imprisoned. According to official Ugandan figures, some 500 housemaids have shipped to the wealthy Arab nation since the deal took effect. However, an immigration official at Entebbe Airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 100 Ugandans on average leave each day to seek work in Saudi Arabia. Indonesia, Ethiopia and the Philippines have banned the flow of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia until they could be assured the workers were given basic labor rights. Scores of Ugandan migrants have been arrested and deported from Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations, and some Ugandans have died in confinement, such as Flora Ritah Nantezza who died in a Dubai jail. Ugandan Fatima Nambi is jailed in Kuwait on charges of carrying a baby outside wedlock. Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently returned from a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia commending efforts to improve trade and investment relations between the two countries but making no mention of protections for migrant workers. U.S. student detained in North Korea "over hotel incident" By James Pearson SEOUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Otto Warmbier, the American university student being held by North Korea, was detained before boarding his flight to China over an unspecified incident that had taken place earlier in the trip at his hotel, his travel company told Reuters on Saturday. North Korea's official KCNA news agency said on Friday that Warmbier "was caught committing a hostile act against the state", which it said was "tolerated and manipulated by the U.S. government". Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader at Young Pioneer Tours and the only outside witness to Warmbier's detention, said the 21-year-old University of Virginia student was not with other tourists when the events that appear to have prompted his arrest occurred. "What happened, happened at the hotel and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed," Guttridge told Reuters. Guttridge and colleagues at Young Pioneer Tours declined to share further details of exactly what had taken place, citing the safety of their client. Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel when the incident that led to his arrest occurred. The Yanggakdo is a towering structure on an island in the middle of the Taedong river, which cuts through central Pyongyang. China-based Young Pioneer Tours is a North Korea travel specialist that describes itself on its website as "an adventure tour operator that provides 'budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from'". During his five-day New Year's tour of North Korea, staff at Young Pioneer Tours said Warmbier had acted normally, and was keen to see daily life in one of the world's most isolated countries, which is visited by around 6,000 Western tourists a year. Ten other U.S. citizens were on the tour. "Throughout the trip, Otto behaved as a typical tourist - taking pictures, enjoying himself. We had no indication that anything untoward had happened until the airport," Guttridge said. DELAYED AT IMMIGRATION When Warmbier's group reached the airport, he appeared to have been purposefully delayed at immigration, Troy Collings, director of Young Pioneer Tours, told Reuters. As the tourists checked-in at the gleaming, recently-renovated terminal, Warmbier was taken aside by two airport officials and escorted into a small immigration room behind a wooden door to one side of the check-in area. "He was not dragged away and he wasn't yelled at," Guttridge said. As Guttridge waited for Warmbier to come out of the room, she instructed the rest of her tour group to board the North Korean Air Koryo flight bound for Beijing. "When it became clear that he wasn't coming, I had to board the flight before it departed," said Guttridge, who still had colleagues in Pyongyang with another group of tourists. "I was the last to board the flight." As the Russian-made Tupolev airliner prepared to leave the terminal, an airport official boarded the plane and told Guttridge that Warmbier had been "taken to hospital". Soon after, a North Korean contact passed on a message concerning Warmbier's detention to Young Pioneer Tours founder Gareth Johnson, who was in Pyongyang with a separate group due to catch a train to the Chinese border. "I stayed back when I heard Otto had been detained," Johnson told Reuters. "It was an automatic response. I wanted to try and work out what the situation was and it was my hope that I would at least be able to speak with him." Johnson said his company was in contact with Warmbier's family, U.S. officials and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea. Staff at the tour operator said as far as they knew Warmbier had not been in possession of any religious or political literature. Foreign visitors have been detained in the past for attempting to distribute religious literature in the country. The U.S. and Canadian governments advise against travel there. The U.S. State Department, in a statement, said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen had been detained in North Korea but gave no further details, citing privacy concerns. Kerry meets Gulf Arabs in Riyadh on Syria, Iran nuclear deal By David Brunnstrom RIYADH, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Gulf Arab countries in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks aimed at pushing the Syrian peace process forward and calming their concern about the international agreement over Iran's nuclear program. Kerry began a stop in Riyadh by meeting with representatives of the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. He is also due to have talks with Riad Hijab, chair of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee, which was formed in Saudi Arabia last month, amid uncertainty about whether Syrian peace talks slated to start next week in Geneva will take place. The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before preconditions are met, including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting Kerry's hopes for talks to start next week. The peace efforts are complicated by the worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back different sides in the Syrian conflict, and concern the Arab states have about how Tehran will benefit from implementation of a nuclear deal agreed with Western powers last year. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran worsened this month after Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on its Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties. A senior State Department official said before Kerry's arrival in Riyadh that Washington hoped Saudi Arabia would restore diplomatic ties with Iran after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement of regret this week over the embassy storming. The official said Kerry had emphasized to the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers the importance of reconciliation and that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who visited Riyadh this week, also discussed this with Saudi authorities. However, he said the United States had no plans to engage on the issue of facilitating a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, and that Washington - which has no diplomatic ties with Tehran - was not well placed to do so. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said in several interviews this month that full relations cannot be restored until Iran changes its behavior and acts like a normal state rather than like "a revolution". Asylum seekers in Japan reach record 7,586 in 2015; 27 accepted TOKYO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A record 7,586 people sought asylum in Japan in 2015, a 52 percent increase, while just 27 people applying for asylum were approved, government data showed on Saturday. Those accepted did not necessarily come from those who arrived last year. Some of them may have been waiting for years. Japan prides itself on its homogeneity and runs the tightest refugee recognition system among industrialised economies. It accepted just 11 refugees in 2014, when 5,000 applied. In the same year, EU member countries gave protection status, which includes refugee status and authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons, to about 185,000 asylum seekers. Asylum seekers from Nepal topped the list of those arriving in 2015, with 1,768 people, or 23 percent of the total. Another 969 people came from Indonesia and 926 from Turkey, according to the preliminary data from the Justice Ministry. Of the 27 people approved in 2015, six are from Afghanistan and three from Syria. Asylum applications have risen more than six-fold since 2010, when legal changes gave re-applicants the right to work as their claims were judged. Palestinian girl, 13, shot dead after trying to stab Israeli guard -police By Ali Sawafta RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead on Saturday by an Israeli security guard she tried to stab at a settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli police said. Hours later, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas came out against Palestinian groups he said were encouraging youth to take part in an almost four-month long surge of violence with Israel which has raised concern of wider escalation a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided. The fatal incident on Saturday followed two stabbings this week inside settlements carried out by Palestinian teenagers, according to Israeli authorities. "There are people who want them to go, this is not acceptable. This is a generation we want to build. They send him (youths) there to be wounded or killed," Abbas told reporters in Ramallah. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said initial investigations showed the teenager killed on Saturday "had fought with her family and left her home with a knife and intending to die". Holding a knife, she ran toward the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened fire on her, Samri said. Her father arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and was arrested, she added. Eight seconds of security camera footage aired on Israeli television showed the armed guard running through the settlement gate and a young woman running after him with an object, possibly a knife, in her hand. The family of the teenager, Ruqayya Abu Eid, confirmed her death. Her mother, Reeda Abu Eid, said there had been no trouble before her daughter left the family home, a tent in the Palestinian village Anata. "Her father works in a farm and Ruqayya used to go to him. I didn't see her when she left so I expected she had gone to her father," she said. "Ruqayya is a small girl, how could she stab someone?" Since the start of October, Israeli forces have killed at least 149 Palestinians, 95 of them assailants according to authorities. Most of the others have died in violent protests. Almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and one U.S. citizen. Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers. On Sunday, an Israeli mother of six was stabbed to death at her home in a West Bank settlement and a 15-year-old Palestinian was arrested for the attack. On Monday, Israeli troops shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian who had stabbed and wounded a pregnant Israeli woman in a settlement. The bloodshed has been fuelled by various factors including frustration over the 2014 collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians seek for an independent state. Palestinian leaders have said that with no breakthrough on the horizon, desperate youngsters see no future ahead. Israel says young Palestinians are being incited to violence by their leaders, including Abbas, and Islamist groups. Abbas has come under fierce criticism from rivals, including Islamist Hamas which calls for Israel's destruction, for ongoing security coordination with Israel in cracking down on militant cells. Syrian rebel groups hold Assad, Russia responsible for any failure of talks - statement BEIRUT, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Syrian armed rebel groups said on Saturday they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war, even before negotiations due to start in Geneva next week. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was confident the talks set for Jan. 25 would go ahead next week. But negotiations look increasingly likely to stall with a dispute over the composition of the opposition negotiating team, and opposition demands that Russia halt bombing of civilian areas and the Syrian government lift sieges as goodwill measures before they will come to the table. "We hold the Assad regime and its Russian ally responsible for any failure of the political process due to their continued war crimes," a joint statement from dozens of rebel factions said. It criticised Russian "meddling in the affairs of the opposition delegation", a reference to Moscow demanding that the opposition's negotiating team be expanded to include other figures that could be deemed closer to its own thinking, including the Kurdish PYD party. Russia backs its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad and has bolstered pro-government forces with air strikes against insurgent groups since September. The rebels' statement was signed off by groups including the powerful Jaysh al-Islam, whose politburo member Mohamad Alloush is the chief negotiator on the High Negotiations Committee -- a body drawn up by civilian and armed opposition groups after a meeting in Riyadh last month. U.S. Secretary of State says confident Syria talks can proceed RIYADH, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday he was confident Syria peace talks would proceed, after he held talks with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Saudi Arabia. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going and that the U.N. representative special envoy, Staffan De Mistura, will be convening people in an appropriate manner for the proximity talks that will be the first meeting in Geneva," he told reporters in Riyadh. The Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Jan. 25 in Geneva, but there is uncertainty around the date, partly because of a dispute over who will be part of the opposition delegation. Kerry said major countries would convene after the first round of negotiations. "I won't announce a date, but we all agreed that immediately after completion of the first round of the Syria discussions, the International Syria Support Group will convene, and that will be very shortly, because we want to keep the process moving," he said. Peace efforts face huge underlying challenges, among them disagreements over President Bashar al-Assad's future and worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Tensions between the two regional rivals escalated this month after the Saudi execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric. That triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on the Saudi embassy in Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties. "None of us are under any illusions that obstacles don't still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria," Kerry said. "We know its tough. If it were easy, it would have happened a long time ago." Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country was working with the U.S. to find ways to remove Assad from power. He downplayed any change in U.S.-Iran relations after an agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programmed led them to lift sanctions on Iran. "We work with our American friends on ways to remove Bashar al-Assad from Syria and move the country towards a better future," he said. "I don't see a coming together of the United States and Iran, as some of the pundits have described it. Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism." Kerry said the lifting of sanctions presented an opportunity to work together with Iran to address some of the worries Saudi Arabia and other countries had. "Now we have the ability to begin to work together to address the concerns that Saudi Arabia and other countries have and that we have," he said. Tunisia's democracy will be preserved 'whatever the cost' - PM By Tarek Amara TUNIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Tunisia's prime minister said on Saturday that the country's young democracy would be preserved "whatever the cost" following four days of violent job protests and riots, and that it would take time to respond to young people's economic demands. An interior ministry spokesman said the situation was calm across most of the country, a day after authorities imposed a nationwide nighttime curfew. The demonstrations that began in the impoverished town of Kasserine on Tuesday and spread across the country are the most serious since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia has been held up as a model for democratic progress since the 2011 revolution. But there has been rising discontent over a lack of jobs and high living costs, especially in the country's interior. The country is also facing a threat from Islamist militants, who launched three major attacks last year and have been gaining strength in neighbouring Libya. Prime Minister Habib Essid told a news conference that he understood the demands of young Tunisians, but said people seeking to "destroy the democratic transition" had taken advantage of the protests. "I appeal for calm and for national unity and complete security across the country to preserve our nascent democracy which is the only example of success in the region," he said. "There has been huge political progress but we acknowledge that there are lots of economic difficulties. We will respond to young people's economic demands but we need a bit of time for that." He said Tunisian democracy would not be destroyed, "whatever the cost". The curfew began on Friday, when there was further violence in the capital, Tunis. The interior ministry said almost 70 people had been arrested for damaging property or theft. Protests this week have seen demonstrators storm police stations and local government buildings and clash with riot police. One policeman has been killed and dozens injured. Nearly a quarter of Niger voters barred from February election By Abdoulaye Massalaki NIAMEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Nearly a quarter of Niger's potential voters - 1.5 million people - will be barred from casting ballots in next month's presidential poll, the government said, after politicians failed to agree on a system for registering them. Because the voters lacked documentation to prove their identity, the Independent National Electoral Commission had proposed a system of using witnesses to vouch for them. But politicians failed to approve it at a meeting on Friday. "There was no consensus among the political class and therefore 1.5 million Nigeriens cannot exercise their right to vote on 21 February," Alkassoum Indatou, a spokesman for the presidential majority, said on state TV on Friday night. There was no immediate reaction from electoral officials or from the rights groups who regularly accuse the government of crackdowns on the opposition. The main opposition parties confirmed the impasse, saying some politicians refused to accept the voters because the country's electoral law excludes voting by witness. It was not clear whether the problems would affect some parts of the country or political blocs more than others. Tensions were already running high in Niger, a landlocked, impoverished country on the edge of the Sahara Desert. It has a population of 19 million, of which only 7.5 million are on the electoral register. In the streets of the capital Niamey, would-be voters expressed frustration at the decision. "I'm very unhappy because I wanted to choose my own representatives," said Amadou Garba, a merchant, who lost his documents in a fire. "I want this question re-examined" The opposition accuses incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou of becoming increasingly authoritarian - but the government has underscored the need for order amid security threats, including an alleged attempt to topple Issoufou last month. One of the main opposition candidates, Hama Amadou, is in jail on charges related to a baby-trafficking ring. He denies the charges and says they are politically motivated. Another presidential candidate, Adal Rhoubeid, returned to the capital, Niamey, on Friday night after being questioned over attacks in a hotel and cafe in Burkina Faso last week that killed 30 people, including many foreigners. U.S. says prepared for military solution against Islamic State in Syria By David Dolan and Asli Kandemir ISTANBUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Syria should the Syrian government and rebels fail to reach a political settlement. The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva but were at risk of being delayed partly because of a dispute over who will comprise the opposition delegation. Syrian armed rebel groups said on Saturday they held the Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war, even before negotiations were due to start. "We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared ..., if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation in taking out Daesh," Biden said at a news conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Daesh is the pejorative Arabic acronym for Islamic State insurgents who hold parts of Syria. A U.S. official later clarified that Biden was talking about a military solution to Islamic State, not Syria as a whole. The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations unless Damascus took steps including a halt to Russian air strikes. Biden said he and Davutoglu also discussed how the two NATO allies could further support Sunni Arab rebel forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The United States has sent dozens of special forces soldiers to help rebels fighting Islamic State in Syria although the troops are not intended for front line combat. Along with its allies Washington is also conducting air strikes against Islamic State militants who hold large chunks of Syria and Iraq and support opposition fighters battling the group. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday he was confident Syria peace talks would proceed, after he held talks with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Saudi Arabia. Kerry also met in Riyadh with Riad Hijab, chair of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee and other HNC delegates representing the Syrian opposition. "They discussed the upcoming U.N.-sponsored negotiations regarding a political transition in Syria and all agreed on the urgent need to end the violence afflicting the Syrian people," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said. Kerry also emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum of the International Syria Support Group, a grouping of big world and regional powers backing peace efforts, Kirby said. After his GCC talks, Kerry said all in the meeting had agreed that the Support Group should meet again immediately after completion of the first round of the Syria negotiations. DISAGREEMENT OVER SYRIAN KURDISH GROUP Saleh Muslim, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), the main Kurdish political grouping in Syria, said on Friday the Syria peace talks would fail if Syrian Kurds are not represented. While the United States draws a distinction between PYD, whose fighters it supports, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, Davutoglu reiterated the Turkish position that the PYD's military wing is part of and supported by the PKK. The PYD's military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG) has seized swathes of Syria from Islamic State with the help of U.S.-led strikes and declared it an autonomous administration, to Ankara's chagrin. Davutoglu said on Saturday the YPG had become an increasing threat to Turkey. According to local media, on the way to Turkey from Davos he also told reporters Ankara would strike YPG in northern Syria just like it hits PKK targets in northern Iraq. Ankara has fought a decades-long insurgency against Kurdish PKK separatists which in July reignited into a violent confrontation with Turkish security forces. Biden strongly criticised the PKK which is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. In his speech following talks, Davutoglu also reiterated Turkey's respect for the territorial unity of Iraq, where it deployed troops despite Baghdad's objections. Biden went on to meet with President Tayyip Erdogan, but an expected joint statement was not issued. Presidential sources later said Erdogan re-emphasised that Turkey's operations in Bashiqa, where the troops were stationed, were for training local forces there. He called for serious efforts to clear Iraq of terror - starting with Ramadi and followed by Faluja and Mosul. SLAM OVER FREEDOM OF SPEECH On the first day of his visit, Biden met members of the ruling AK Party, the secularist opposition CHP and the pro-Kurdish HDP largely to discuss the mainly Kurdish southeast. He criticised the Turkish state for intimidating media, curtailing Internet freedom and accusing academics of treason. On Saturday, local media reported that on the flight back from Davos Davutoglu told reporters Biden had not spoken with the right people to get a clear picture of what was going on. Turkey was cited by Washington as an example for the Middle East of a functioning Islamic democracy in the early years of the AK Party, which Erdogan founded. More recently, reforms have faltered and Erdogan has adopted a more authoritarian style of rule. Last week, he denounced as "dark, nefarious and brutal" more than 1,000 signatories of a declaration that criticised Turkish military action in the southeast. Security forces briefly detained 27 academics on accusations of terrorist propaganda, while dozens face investigation by their universities. Pakistan army says deadly university attack controlled from Afghanistan By Mehreen Zahra-Malik ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Jan 23 (Reuters) - The Pakistani army said on Saturday the four gunmen who attacked a university in northwest Pakistan were trained in Afghanistan and the assault was controlled by a Pakistani Taliban militant from a location inside Afghanistan. In a briefing to reporters from the city of Peshawar, military spokesman General Asim Bajwa said the militants who stormed Bacha Khan University in Charsadda on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, received training in Afghanistan and crossed over into Pakistan from the Torkham border between the two countries. Bajwa said the attack was masterminded by Umar Mansoor, a Pakistani Taliban militant based in Afghanistan who is also held responsible for the December 2014 massacre of 134 children in the city of Peshawar - the deadliest militant attack in Pakistan's history. A deputy of Mansoor helped the attackers reach the Torkham border from where they crossed over into Pakistan, the spokesman said. The army's claims once more highlight the need for improved relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan which would prevent militants from carrying out cross-border terrorism which have undermined peace efforts in the region. Pakistani officials say the Pakistan Taliban chief known as Mullah Fazlullah has been orchestrating raids on Pakistan from Afghanistan, where he fled several years ago after a Pakistani army offensive against his stronghold in the Swat Valley. Afghan officials see Pakistan's suggestion that Afghans are supporting cross-border attacks as an attempt to distract attention from what they say is Pakistan's long history of supporting Afghanistan's Taliban movement and other insurgent factions. "The attackers were prepared in Afghanistan," army spokesman Bajwa said. "We have come to the conclusion that terrorism cannot be fought when there are accomplices and facilitators." Providing details of the planning of the attack, the military spokesman said the gunmen used public transportation from the Afghan border to reach Mardan city, about 30 kilometres from Charsadda, where they were received by four Pakistani men, now in army custody. "After entering Mardan, the terrorists were received by Adil and Riaz," Bajwa said, identifying two of the suspected accomplices who he said put up the militants in two houses in Mardan. "Adil is a labourer and just a few days ago he did some masonry work in the university, and made a map of the university which he shared with the militants," said the military spokesman. "Adil is the one who helped the attackers carry out reconnaissance of the area around the university." Another accomplice, identified as Noorullah, bought an auto-rickshaw and transported the attackers from Mardan to the sugarcane fields next to Bacha Khan University, which they crossed through to finally scale the walls of the campus and carry out the assault. On Friday, Umar Mansoor, the mastermind identified by the Pakistan military, released video footage of the fighters he said carried out Wednesday's deadly assault and vowed more attacks on schools and universities in the future. Poles rally against new surveillance law amid "Orbanisation" fears By Wiktor Szary WARSAW, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of Poles marched through Warsaw on Saturday to protests against their new conservative government's plan to increase its surveillance powers, with some saying they feared Poland was following Hungary towards an "illiberal democracy." Since Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party took power in November, its moves to take more control of the judiciary and the media have divided Poland and raised alarm bells in the Europe Union, which has started investigating charges that Warsaw is undermining democratic principles. Waving Polish and European Union flags, the protesters demanded that the Law and Justice party withdraw its planned changes to the surveillance law. "You're supposed to listen, not listen in," read one of the banners. The proposed changes would expand the government's access to digital data and loosen the legal framework of using surveillance in law enforcement. The ruling party, which scored a landmark election victory in October, says it has to swiftly amend the bill in order to implement a constitutional court ruling. "Our privacy, intimacy is under threat, we can be followed, watched over both in our homes, and online," Mateusz Kijowski, one of the organisers, told the protesters, who were peaceful. There were no figures available on the size of the crowd. 'ORBANISATION' Critics say Poland's new government is emulating Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in trying to impose its political agenda by undermining democratic checks and balances and limiting democratic freedoms. Orban has locked horns with Hungary's European partners for years, most recently over his hard line on the refugee crisis, one that PiS' leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has also embraced, at one point warning refugees could bring "parasites" into Europe. Orban has also packed Hungary's constitutional court with candidates backed by his party Fidesz since 2010. Kaczynski's overhaul of Poland's top court provoked mass protests and a strong backlash from the opposition. It also attracted condemnation from the European Union. Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo told EU lawmakers that her government had not breached European or Polish laws with its changes to the constitutional court and by putting public media under its direct control. The probe could eventually lead to the suspension of Poland's voting rights in the 28-nation bloc if the Commission decides that Warsaw has not observed the rule of law. Saturday's demonstration in Warsaw was attended by opposition activists from Hungary, including Balazs Gulyas, who in 2014 organised a large-scale protest against Orban's plans to tax internet traffic, a proposal which was later scrapped. "Jaroslaw Kaczynski wants to follow Viktor Orban," Gulyas said, addressing the protesters in Warsaw in English. Khamenei calls for security cooperation with China, says U.S. not to be trusted DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Saturday for closer economic and security ties with China, saying both countries could be reliable partners, especially in energy. "Iran is the most reliable country in the region for energy since its energy policies will never be affected by foreigners," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Khamenei said the United States was "not honest" in the fight against terrorism in the region, and asked for more cooperation between Iran and China. Turkish soldier killed in operations against PKK DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Jan 23 (Reuters) - A Turkish soldier was killed on Saturday in a clash between the security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the southeastern town of Cizre, the military said. The soldier was severely wounded and died in hospital, it said, adding that seven PKK members had been "neutralised". Ankara has been conducting operations to clear southeastern towns of PKK militants since July, when a two-year ceasefire collapsed. Italians rally for gay civil unions ahead of battle in parliament By Hanna Rantala ROME, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of Italians took to the streets on Saturday in support of gay civil unions as the battle over legal recognition for homosexual couples heats up ahead of a bill to be debated in parliament. "Wake up Italy, it's time to be civilised," was the slogan chosen for rallies in almost 100 towns and cities in the only major country in the West not to give same-sex couples any legal recognition or protection on issues from pensions to parenthood. "In Italy people think that there are those who are allowed to have rights and those who aren't," said Liliana Rizzo, a member of a gay parents' association, at a rally outside the Pantheon in central Rome. "We don't want to take anything away from the traditional families ...but our families also exist, our children exist and our children need to have both of their parents recognised." The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Italy for failing to introduce a law on civil unions, but with the influence of the Catholic Church seen as a strong brake, legislation has been held up by politicians of all stripes. On Thursday the floor of the Senate will begin debate on a bill that would legalise civil partnership for homosexuals as well as unmarried heterosexual couples. Many opponents see the bill as a Trojan horse that would lead to the legalisation of gay marriage. With the country divided on the issue, on Jan. 30 opponents of the bill will gather in Rome for a demonstration dubbed "Family Day" which is expected to draw tens or even hundreds of thousands of people. "Finally there is a cultural debate and the whole country is discussing an issue that was previously taboo," said senator Monica Cirinna, the author of the bill, which has already attracted more than 6,000 proposed amendments. At Saturday's rallies, from Milan in the north to Palermo in the south, supporters of civil unions carried rainbow-coloured flags, balloons and alarm clocks to show it was time for Italy to "wake up" to the need for a law on civil unions. Pope Francis stepped into the debate on Friday, saying "there can be no confusion between the family God wants and any other type of union". Italy's political parties are internally divided over the Cirinna bill, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is allowing members of his Democratic Party (PD) to vote according to their consciences. Few government representatives turned out at Saturday's rallies, but Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina, a PD member who marched in Milan, said he wanted to show his support for "a battle for dignity." "This law on civil unions needs approving now," he said. "We are the only European country not to have one, and there is no more time to be lost." Opponents of the bill are particularly incensed by a clause that would, under very limited circumstances, allow homosexuals to adopt children that their partners had from previous heterosexual unions. Paris, Cologne attacks show why UK needs to leave EU - Farage LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Deadly militant attacks in Paris and a string of New Year's Eve sex assaults in Cologne have increased the need for Britain to leave the European Union, one of the leading 'Out' campaigners said on Saturday, citing the need to control national borders. To loud applause, Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, told a Grassroots Out campaign event that Europe's policy of taking in migrants with few checks had endangered the lives of those living in the 28-member bloc. British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership, with a vote expected to take place later this year and polls showing the outcome is likely to be close. "I'm a great believer of helping those around the world in need but it's time to put the interests of men and women and our communities first and we only do that by taking back control," Farage said. For years the face of Euroscepticism in Britain, Farage failed to win a national parliamentary seat in the 2015 election but is expected to take a leading role in the campaign for a Brexit, or British exit from the EU. On Saturday he noted that two of the men who killed 130 people in Paris in November had posed as migrants to enter the EU. Those men accused of groping and assaulting women on New Year's Eve in Cologne would, he said, have European passports in a few years and be able to enter Britain. Police have blamed the assaults on migrants, mainly from North Africa. "It's now even more serious," he told the audience of 2,000 people at the cross-party event in Kettering, central England. "The best way to insure ourselves against future terrorism is to take back control of our borders. "The European Union has made a massive, massive error with its open door policy to anyone that wants to come. To see what was happening with 1,000 young men in public sexually molesting women in the street was a very great shock." This weeks big release Airlift has Akshay Kumar playing Ranjit Katyal, an influential businessman of Indian origin in Kuwait of the '90s. Katyal, the film shows, was instrumental in the evacuation of over a lakh Indians stranded in Kuwait when Iraq attacked that nation. Katyal is an enigmatic character, not just because of the daredevil operation the film associates him with but also because his very existence is shrouded in mystery. The 1990 evacuation mission involving nearly 500 Air India flights has found its way into Guinness Book of Records, as historys largest civilian evacuation. Officially, the government has never confirmed or denied the existence of anyone fitting Katyals description. Perhaps Katyal was a deep asset for India in Kuwait, in which case his identity is never to be officially acknowledged. Or, going by the fact that Airlift is after all a Bollywood flick, the character is perhaps altogether fictitious merely created to accommodate superstar Akshay within the frame of a real-life thriller incident. Any which way Airlift, despite that question mark, brings to focus an important aspect of modern Indian history. Assuming someone like Katyal, who helped authorities during the operation, did exist, the film accounts a fascinating life. If biopics caught on in Bollywood a while back, Airlift is an unusual idea within that genre. The film tries working in a different space as a biopic than the safer options narrating lives of famous people. From Gandhi and Bose to Bhagat Singh, from Milkha Singh to Mary Kom, and from Dawood Ibrahim to Charles Sobhraj, Bollywood has mostly preferred capturing life stories of people everyone already knew. Normally films such as Manjhi: The Mountain Man and Paan Singh Tomar, which tried highlighting uncommon lives of common people, have been in the minority. Airlift seems like a big-budget boost to the idea. The story of an unknown Indian, who risked his life to help over a lakh Indians flee war-torn Kuwait, deserves to be told as much as any famous freedom fighter or sportstar. If the film shows Bollywood is finally getting serious about highlighting lives less ordinary, coming up later this year are a few other such attempts. Watch out for Neerja. The film stars Sonam Kapoor as the brave flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who was slain trying to save passengers from terrorists on board a Pan Am flight in 1986. Neerja went on to become Indias youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime military award for bravery. It will also be interesting to see how Omung Kumar treats Sarbjit Singhs story. Randeep Hooda plays Singh in Sarbjit, a film that treads controversy domain. It recounts the story of the man who claimed to be a farmer in a border village, whom Pakistan arrested as an Indian spy. Sarbjit finally died in prison, allegedly after a brutal attack by some Pakistani inmates. Vijayawada: The frequent visits of foreigners from Japan, Singapore, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, Hungary, Sri Lanka and various other countries is slowly boosting the citys image. Now the foreigners visits to the city surroundings including Amaravati capital city location are common since the last several months. Their visits will increase following the capital construction, metro rail and airport developments, says Metro Rail MD Ramakrishna Reddy. Vijayawada city is also being renovated with beautification work, roads expansion and greenery. City hotels are also getting good occupancy rate from foreigners visits. According to reports, the foreign delegates visits are now common, especially with officials and industrialists from Singapore, Japan and China teams visiting the city areas. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) also sought the Japan and Singapore experts for implementing better sewage treatment and waste management system in the city. Teams of these countries visited the city and its drainage system as part of study for providing better services. On the other hand, Hungarys experts team is also studying citys water management system. After MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) request, the Hungary team took part in the 24 hours water supply project. Besides, Malaysian governments PEMANDU team visited the city several times and they are making plans for the citys development in all aspects. Already Australian companies are interested in setting up thermal power projects near Machilipatnam. The members of the companies toured various locations in Krishna district several times for selecting a suitable location. A Chinese delegation visited the capital location and expressed interest in taking part in the developments. They are also conducting a study for the bullet train project and took part in meetings with Krishna district collector several times. Two days ago, the Japanese team visited the city and discussed over metro rail project with local officials. Metro Rail Project managing director Ramakrishna Reddy said that several foreign teams will visit the city regularly in future too. He said that the city would get a capital look and feel from the ongoing developments. Hotels and transport agencies would also benefit from it, says political analyst A. Brahmaiah. Australian consul general to South India Sean Kelly addressing the media on Friday at his Chennai office as deputy consul general Jon Bonnar looks on. (Photo: DC) Chennai: The Australian government on Friday made it clear that Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu are no longer welcome in its country as they are not from refugee camps approved by United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). Nearly 1,200 Lankan refugees tried to travel in boats from Indian subcontinent to Australia between the years 2009 and 2013 died before reaching their destination. Sean Kelly, Australian consul-general to South India pointed out that Australia is not in position to take such refugees reaching their country without UNHRC approval. Australia will only resettle those refugees who are registered by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees he said pointing out that his country will continue to remain a refugee friendly state. There is no way that people who attempt to travel to Australia by boat will be allowed to settle in Australia. Anyone who does survive the journey will be intercepted and transferred to regional processing centres in Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, Kelly added. Lankan refugees who reached Australia illegally are now in such camps. He also said that Tamil Nadu government was doing its best to inform Lankan refugees settled in the state that journey by sea to Australia was almost impossible to finish. Reacting to the news of the arrest of six Lankans in Tiruchy on Tuesday by conspiring to sail to New Zealand, the Australian official noted that he does not think that the six were luring people to New Zealand, but to Australia only. Dont fall into the trap of such human traffickers. It is just not possible to travel such a long distance using ordinary boats without food and fuel, he added. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday left for Bahrain to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping amid tensions between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. During her two-day stay in Manama, Swaraj will also hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of a number of Arab League countries, including her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The India-Arab League ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting here in November 2014. A number of issues such as terrorism, regional security and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are expected to be discussed. Swaraj's visit also assumes significance as the world is facing the challenge of terrorism with a spate of attacks like the one at the Pathankot air base earlier this month. Anti-terror cooperation is expected to be a key area of collaboration between India and the Arab League. India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. A memorandum of cooperation between India and the League of Arab States was signed in 2013. In line with the agreement, the first senior officials meeting was held in 2014 while the first ministerial meeting will take place tomorrow. The ministerial meeting will take place in alternate years and will be held alternatively in an Arab League country and India. The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. Davos: US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Friday for a 30-percent increase in humanitarian funding from the United Nations for refugees. Kerry said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the US wanted to "increase by 30 percent the response to UN humanitarian funding appeals". The State Department said that this call would amount to an increase in international humanitarian aid for refugees from $10 billion (9.2 billion euros) in 2015 to $13 billion in 2016. Hungarian holocaust survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, Eva Fahidi, 90, performs on stage at the Vigszinhaz theater in Budapest during the dance rehearsal of her show 'Sea Lavender or The Euphoria of Being'. (Photo: AFP) Budapest, Hungary: "It's never too late," smiles Eva Fahidi, a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who, at the age of 90, is currently starring in a sold-out duet production with a much younger dancer. "First I felt only my limits, what I can't do," the handsome white-haired Fahidi said during a rehearsal in a Budapest studio. "Then slowly, as I learned to warm up, it was wonderful how my old body wanted to do something again," she added, after gracefully completing a stretch on the floor. Her show, called "Sea Lavender or The Euphoria of Being", has played to full houses eight times in Budapest's prestigious Vigszinhaz Theatre since its October launch. It now premieres in Berlin on January 24, three days before a UN-designated Holocaust memorial day marking the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps. The 100-minute long performance, which incorporates both dance and speech, looks at how an elderly woman with a traumatic past and a younger person communicate with each other. Director Reka Szabo said she got the idea for the show last year when she heard Fahidi speak at a presentation of her memoir. "She talks about her life and the Holocaust in a way that makes you feel like she is not a victim but a human being trying to deal with her past, to be able to live a full life," said Szabo who runs the Symptoms dance-theatre company. 'Gesture Of Death' Fahidi was an 18-year-old schoolgirl when she was put on a train and deported from Debrecen in eastern Hungary to Auschwitz one of nearly 440,000 Hungarian Jews sent to death camps between May and July in 1944. Some 49 of her relatives perished in the Holocaust, including her parents and 11-year-old sister. She last saw her mother and younger sibling on a sorting ramp after arriving at Birkenau. Fahidi recalls how one insignificant gesture decided their fate. "A small movement of the finger from (camp doctor) Josef Mengele meant life or death, whether you go right to work or left to the gas chambers. I went right," she said. After the camp's liberation, it took Fahidi nearly six decades before she was ready to open up about her trauma. A 2003 visit to the camp exactly 59 years after her first journey there prompted her to write her memoir. "It dawned on me that this was my vocation, to tell as many people as I could about Auschwitz, it's the least I can do," she said. Her book "The Soul of Things" was published in German in 2004 and later translated by Fahidi into Hungarian. English and Finnish editions are also planned. 'Audience Moved To Tears' These days, dance is Fahidi's chosen tool of expression. "Gestures and movements can be freer than words and say more about a person," she said, in reference to her duet with 36-year-old dancer Emese Cuhorka. Even her own grandchild who had previously balked at reading or hearing about the Holocaust was "amazed" by the show, Fahidi adds. One of the most powerful moments occurs when Cuhorka lifts Fahidi like a baby, according to the show's director. "People often cry when watching that scene, although it has nothing to do directly with the Holocaust," Szabo noted. The show's name, she explains, was inspired by a plant able to grow in poor soil, a symbol of Fahidi's tough life. Last April, Fahidi came once again face to face with her past when she appeared as a plaintiff at the closely covered trial of Oskar Groening, known as the "Bookkeeper of Auschwitz". Groening was sentenced to four years in jail as an accessory to murder in 300,000 cases. The pain does not fade but you learn to live with it, Fahidi says. "Not a day goes past when I don't think of Auschwitz," she observed. "But I discovered that hatred is just a burden. What happened happened, but I am still alive a happy person who enjoys living". In the run-up to the anniversary, the police have intensified a deadly crackdown against opponents of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's repressive regime, activists said. (Photo: AFP) Cairo: Five years after the uprising against Hosni Mubarak erupted, Egypt has returned to iron-fisted rule by a regime that brutally crushes opponents even as it battles a deadly, jihadist-led insurgency. The blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood movement is the only group to have called for protests on Monday the anniversary of the 2011 revolt. In the run-up to the anniversary, the police have intensified a deadly crackdown against opponents of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's repressive regime, activists said. Several youth activists who took part in the 18-day uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year rule have been arrested in nighttime raids. "While the president is talking about backing the youths, all those who participated in the January 25 revolution are facing arrests," said Mostafa Maher, a founder of the April 6 youth movement that spearheaded the anti-Mubarak revolt. Maher says he now avoids staying at his Cairo apartment after police arrested several fellow youth leaders. "Though I'm not wanted, I'm scared that I could be arrested on false charges," said the 28-year-old graphic designer. Decades of police abuse under Mubarak had been a key factor behind the 2011 revolt, and activists say these violations are back in full swing under Sisi. Sisi, who has no political party, won a presidential election in 2014 after crushing all forms of dissent. He has ruled Egypt with an iron fist since July 2013 when, as army chief, he ousted Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist who had succeeded Mubarak but only lasted a year in office. Since then hundreds of Morsi supporters have been killed and thousands imprisoned in a police crackdown, while dozens of secular and leftist activists have also been jailed. 'Rights crisis of huge proportions' Amnesty International said Egypt is now "mired in a human rights crisis of huge proportions" as the "country reverts back to a police state". "Peaceful protesters, politicians and journalists have borne the brunt of a ruthless campaign against legitimate dissent by the government and state security forces," it said. Karim Bitar, analyst at the Paris-based Institute of International and Strategic Relations, said Sisi's regime has crushed the 2011 revolution. "It's now clear that the counter-revolution has triumphed," said Bitar. "The revolution has been confiscated and buried." Worried over the fact that the root causes that ignited the 2011 uprising still exist, the new authorities are going all out to prevent any protests on Monday, analysts say. Millions had protested against Mubarak chanting "bread, freedom and social justice", but five years on none of these demands have been met, they say. Compounding Sisi's problem is an economy that remains sluggish on falling investments and tourist revenues, while a deadly insurgency led by the Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group has only swelled. On Thursday, seven people including five policemen were killed in a bomb blast when police raided an apartment in Cairo. An IS affiliate claimed the blast. "The rivalry with the state has only grown bigger," said Gamal Eid, head of Cairo-based Arabic Network of Human Rights. "The human rights situation is worse than what it was under the Muslim Brotherhood or Mubarak or SCAF," he said, referring to the military junta that ruled Egypt in the aftermath of Mubarak's ouster. In the past few months, police have raided or shut down favourite hangouts of activists such as cafes, cultural centres and a publishing house near Cairo's iconic Tahrir square the epicentre of anti-Mubarak protests. "The regime is trying to besiege everything that is related to the January 25 revolution," said Mohamed Hashem, owner of Merit publishing house that was raided last month. It sells books criticising Sisi as well as Mubarak and Morsi's Brotherhood. "This regime is the enemy of the January 25 revolution," said ex-lawmaker Mustafa al-Naggar. "We have no political space by way of having a party, a syndicate or a civil society." Tired Egyptians back Sisi Sisi himself has warned against demonstrations on Monday, but that hasn't stopped the Brotherhood from calling for protests. An interior ministry official said the latest crackdown was not aimed at "squeezing the youths but avoiding chaos and infiltration of rioters among them". However, many Egyptians tired of years of political unrest and instability support Sisi, saying there are no alternatives and that some level of stability has been achieved by his regime. "Enough about this revolution. It's five years now and it has proved to be useless," said Ahmed Mohamed, an owner of a publishing house. "I incurred terrible losses in the first two years, and I can't bear anymore." The spirit of the 2011 revolution could be rekindled, however, said Bitar. "The authorities have played on the fear of chaos... but this could change, especially on the back of a sluggish economic growth... and the fight against terrorism." Both the Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are accused of atrocities in the civil war that ended in 2009. In image, protests in Chennai seeking justice for war victims. (Photo: AFP) Colombo: The EU has highlighted the need to address human rights issues in Sri Lanka as the two sides discussed the full-implementation of the UNHRC resolution on alleged rights abuses during the final phase of the civil war with Tamil rebels. In a meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the European Union - Sri Lanka Joint Commission here on Thursday, the two sides recognised the full implementation of the UN Human Rights Council resolution of October 2015 as a priority. Senior officials from Sri Lanka and the EU exchanged views on ongoing consultations on the establishment of domestic reconciliation and accountability mechanisms, the ministry of foreign affairs said. Sponsored by the US, the UK and other countries, including Sri Lanka, the resolution calls upon Colombo to establish a credible judicial process, with the participation of Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers and authorised prosecutors and investigators, to go into the alleged rights abuses. Both the Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are accused of atrocities in the civil war that ended in 2009. The 28-member EU also highlighted the importance of addressing human rights issues, including sexual and gender based violence, torture and the protection of persons belonging to minority groups as well as the need to combat corruption. The Joint Commission provides a forum for regular and structured bilateral engagement under the EU-Sri Lanka Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development of 1995. The next Working Group meeting would be held in Brussels within the next one year. An Israeli Holocaust survivor may be the world's oldest man at 112, Guinness World Records said, providing he can find the documents to prove it. His family say Yisrael Kristal was born in Poland on September 15, 1903, three months before the Wright brothers took the first aeroplane flight. He lived in the country until the Nazi occupation during World War II, when he was eventually sent to the Auschwitz death camp. Robert Young, senior consultant for gerontology at Guinness World Records, yesterday confirmed that if proven, he would become the oldest man currently on record. To do so, however, Kristal would have to produce documents from the early years of his life. Currently, the family have said the oldest document they have is from his wedding aged 25. "We have standard rules and it would be unfair on other people if we bent the rules," Young told AFP, while expressing sympathy for Kristal's circumstances. The best hope for finding the missing proof may be in the town of Zarnov where he was born. The family later moved to Lodz, where Kristal worked in his family's confectionary factory. When the Jewish quarter of the city became a ghetto under Nazi occupation, Kristal was eventually sent to the infamous Nazi death camp Auschwitz. His wife died but he survived, weighing just 37 kilos at the end of the war, daughter Shula Kuperstoch said. "But he gained the strength and then eventually travelled to Israel." He moved to the northern Israeli city of Haifa and opened a sweet shop, marrying again. Kristal himself did not give interviews as his health is frail, but Kuperstoch says he is in good spirits. "He is a very positive man, very optimistic and with a good heart," she said. In a 2014 interview with Israeli media, Kristal was once asked what he ate to live so long. "There wasn't always food in the camps. I ate what I was given. I eat to live, and I don't live to eat," he said. He also recalled throwing candy at the Emperor of Austria before World War I. The previous oldest man, Yasutaro Koide of Japan, died on Tuesday at the age of 112. The oldest living woman, at 116 years old, is Susannah Mushatt Jones, who was born on July 6, 1899. The deadline for filling forms for nursery admissions for EWS category has been extended till February 5 by the Delhi government. The development came as a relief for parents and organisations helping the government with the process and had urged the government for the same. The filling of application forms for both Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and general category was to end on Friday. While the deadline is over for the latter, it has been extended for the EWS category by 14 days. There have been requests from a large number of parents that they are still in the process of getting the necessary documents required for the EWS application. Thus, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has decided to extend the deadline. The decision will facilitate thousands of families in enrolling their children to schools of their choice, a statement by the government said. The government had for the first time launched an online centralised system for admissions to EWS category to check malpractices by school management and harassment of parents, but, the process was marred by glitches like software flaws. Also, since the computerised lottery is only for schools recognised under the Delhi School Education Act Rules, 1973 and those under RTE Act continue to follow the offline process, confusion prevailed among parents who thought they have a choice between both. Till date, the government has received nearly 70,000 applications for the 25,000 seats it has. Many NGOs and activists like Sumit Vohra had written to Education Minister Manish Sisodia to extend the deadline to give more time to parents to familiarise themself with the online system. The first list for both the categories will be out on February 15, followed by another on February 29. An autorickshaw driver was arrested by Delhi Police after a Noida-based lifestyle photographer took to Twitter to narrate her ordeal of harassment while travelling alone on Thursday. The top brass of Delhi Police took immediate action after Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi noticed the tweet late on Thursday. A case of stalking was filed with Nangloi police station on Friday. Im still reeling from the speed and efficiency with which this was handled. Within 20 hours of my posting a TWEET. I cant get over it. Just cant. This must become the NORM, the woman tweeted on Friday. She claims the lewd auto driver followed her car for many kilometres before crashing into it in south Delhi. Despite being in a scary and terrifying situation, she somehow managed to take photographs of the auto driver and the vehicles number plate. The woman used her phones selfie mode to take the auto drivers photo while stopped at a traffic signal. The auto driver tried to cover the vehicles number plate when she got down and told him about the photo. She proceeded to shoot with her mobile phone. She got back into the car and started driving. He continued to follow me for some more kilometres even sidling up to my door and leching, the woman wrote. These kinds of harassment where there really isnt any proof of harm are the hardest to complain about. Makes me hate this city, she added. On Thursday, the womans friends suggested to her to file an online complaint, but she was not sure as there was no physical harm. Late on Thursday, the Delhi Police Commissioner noticed the tweet and asked the woman to contact his staff officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar Tyagi. On Friday, the woman was contacted by Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Pushpendra Kumar. She was requested to send a complaint through email. The SHO of Nangloi police station later contacted the woman and told her that an investigating officer will be sent to her house in Noida. Sub-inspector Ajay Kumar of Nangloi police station recorded her statement. The auto driver was identified and nabbed on Friday. A case has been filed over the womans statement with Nangloi police station, said Kumar. The accused has been identified as Sabir, a resident of Nangloi. He faces charges under section 354-D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code. Im in awe of how this turned out. I didnt expect anything at all and the auto driver got picked up by police, the woman tweeted. She will now give her statement before a magistrate at north Delhis Tis Hazari Court. An FIR was filed after Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain received a threat letter at his official residence in central Delhi on Friday, police said. The letter was received at Hussains official residence on Pandit Pant Marg around 11 am. Hussain immediately informed police and handed over the letter to staff from North Avenue police station. The sender of the handwritten Urdu letter with some English words identified himself as someone from militant group Islamic State (IS). While not dismissing the sensitivity of the case, senior police officers said they suspected it to be a prank letter. Addressed to the senior BJP leader, the letter warned that he was on IS radar and that the group was contemplating where and when he should be attacked. However, much of the letters contents consisted of abuses meted out to some senior women leaders of the party. The sender also picked on Baba Ramdev for his alleged inclination to use cow urine in some of his products. A case under Indian Penal Code was subsequently registered with North Avenue police station. The source of the letter is yet to be identified. Hussain told the media that he is not going to be scared of such threats. I have received a threatening letter which had derogatory content against my party and my statements, he added. Hussain had also received a threat call in November 2014 over which a case was registered with Parliament Street police station. The caller had abused Hussain for supporting the central government on television debates. The threat letter came on a day when 14 youths were arrested or detained across the country over suspected links with IS. The raids were carried out simultaneously in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, Delhi Police had also arrested four men in Uttarakhands Haridwar district. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accused the Delhi Police of not doing enough to make the fourth car-free day successful, as police complained about unwarranted interference of AAP volunteers. It is requested that in future whenever any car-free days are organised, volunteers may not be deployed and Traffic Management should be left to Delhi Police, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said in a January 18 letter to the Transport Minister Gopal Rai, who blamed police for traffic snarls during the previous edition of car-free day. Earlier on Friday, Sisodia kicked off a cycle rally along with teachers and students of Delhi University to mark the car-free day, organised on a 6-km stretch between Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station and the Chhatrasal Stadium red light. I am seeing that cars are running on the car-free day stretch, he told a gathering at the event, urging Delhi Police to shoulder its responsibility. We are even ready to give you the credit of odd-even schemes success, he said. Delhi government is at odds with the Delhi Police ever since Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked with ink at a function to celebrate successful implementation of the odd-even rationing of road space. We have an objection if you think you will be satisfied doing this, Sisodia said, slamming police. Car-free day is observed in a part of the city and is supposed to be a voluntary exercise. The next car-free day will be organised in south Delhi, according to Rai. We are happy that police will not allow volunteers to manage traffic. But what will then be the sense of car-free day if cars are allowed on the stretch, the Transport Minister said. The car-free day on Friday got a mixed response from public. A Tilak Nagar resident raised slogans against Kejriwal over allegation of corruption against a local leader. Students and civil defence volunteers turned up at the event with placards. Loudspeakers were installed at various places to guide people. I dont think the car-free day had much impact. Not just me, many of my colleagues came in their cars, a Delhi University teacher said. Two sisters, aged 21 and 12, were found apparently strangled and poisoned to death at their rented accommodation in east Delhis Khichripur under mysterious circumstances on Friday, police said. Poonam and her younger sister Swati were found lying on the floor with froth on their mouths when one of Poonams friends came to their house. She then raised an alarm. Three police teams have been formed to look into the matter. No arrest has been made so far, said police. It was around 10 am that one of Poonams friends who work with her in a beauty parlour came here to call Poonam. However, the front door was found to be locked from outside. When we opened the door, we found both the sisters lying unconscious on the floor and froth coming out from their mouths. I then informed police. The family started living there two months back, said victims landlord. A team of local police then rushed the girls to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where they were declared brought dead. There were strangulation marks on the victims necks and it is also suspected that they were poisoned. However, we are waiting for the post-mortem reports to ascertain the exact time and cause of death. We are investigating the case from all possible angles, said Bhairon Singh Gurjar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East). A crime and forensics team too reached the crime scene to lift the evidence. Poonam was in a relationship with a boy from another community who has been identified as Tahir. It is possible that he eliminated Poonam or her parents could also be behind the murders. We have questioned the girls parents but it is difficult to pinpoint to one person at this point of the investigation, said a police officer. Neighbours had once heard Poonam fighting with a boy in the lane. However, they were not sure what exactly transpired between them. Poonam used to work in a beauty parlour in the neighbourhood while Swati studied in a government school. Their father Ajit Kumar is a security guard while their mother works in a nearby factory. They are survived by three daughters, all of whom are married. The family belongs to Etah in Uttar Pradesh and had been living in Delhi for 20 years. A case has been registered with Kalyanpuri police station against unknown person, and an investigation is underway. Hitting out at the Delhi government, the three mayors met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and told him that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has no legal right to set up a committee to audit municipal corporations accounts. North Delhi Mayor Ravinder Gupta, East Delhi Mayor Harsh Malhotra and South Delhi Mayor Subhash Arya, said that the decision to set up inquiry committee is nothing but a political gimmick. They said that accounts of municipal corporations are already audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Mayor of North Delhi Ravinder Gupta has also written a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to implement the January 7 orders of the court which directed the Delhi government to release the funds due to the civic agencies. It is a contempt of court by the Delhi government and the Chief Minister. The mayor has also sent a detailed demand letter to the CM on the issue. The mayors also informed the Lieutenant Governor about the current financial condition of the corporations which are struggling to pay salaries to their staff, pensions to eneficiaries and carrying on development work. LG urged They urged the LG to persuade the Delhi government to pay funds as per the Third Delhi Finance Commission and implement the recommendations of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission. On Thursday, the Delhi government had set up a committee to inspect and scrutinise the records of the three municipalities and analyse their performance. Report in one week The Aam Aadmi Party government had directed the fact-finding committee to submit its report within a week. Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had informed that the committee would be headed by a Senior Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Divisional Commissioner A Anbarasu and Additional Secretary (Urban), Sandeep Kumar Mishra will be its member. According to the governments order, the committee would inspect whether civic agencies have been performing their obligatory functions as mandated under section 42 of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. On Wednesday, the three mayors and Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhayay had met President Pranab Mukherjee and asked him to direct the city government to release funds to civic agencies. Residents of Giri Nagar in southeast Delhi have been drinking contaminated water since eight to nine months. A road caved in last year during monsoon after which the sewerage system settled inside, parallel to a drinking water pipeline. Residents complain that due to this the sewage is getting mixed with water line and since then, they have been getting contaminated water. K Z Khan, General Secretary, Residents Welfare Association of Balmukund Khand in Giri Nagar, said mostly, water is yellowish in colour and sometimes even black and gives a bad odour. People have been falling sick due to waterborne diseases. We have made several complaints to local MLA Avtar Singh Kalka but every time we got assurances without any solution. We also approached the Delhi Jal Boards chairman Kapil Mishra and other officials, but in vain, he said. Other residents also complained that the DJB has transferred three engineer level officials since then, who were working on its repair. The DJB had installed a generator set to remove the sewage and release it into a different pipeline some time ago. However, residents alleged that it does not work efficiently and sometimes the workers turn it off to save diesel. The Delhi Jal Board had done a tender of Rs 5 lakh to repair it, but after so many months, the cost has escalated at least three to four times and that too on non-repair work, Khan claimed. Many residents also alleged that sewage from the pipes flows into their bathrooms also. Gurdwara Guru Singh Sabha, in the area faces the same problem where the sewage has entered its basement. If no action is taken soon, there is a possibility that the gurdwara can settle, Khan said. He added, the sewerage system in the area is very old, while the population is increasing day by day. Its getting burst as it is not meeting the capacity. When contacted, a DJB official said the situation is being monitored and an action will be taken soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, saying generations of Indians remember him for his bravery and patriotism. "Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations," he tweeted. The Prime Minister chose this day to declassify secret files relating to Netaji with a view of throwing some light on his mysterious disappearance. Modi said, "Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today." The Prime Minister also put out a proclamation issued by Netaji in 1944 asking Indians to fulfil their 'duty' in liberating India. Paying tributes to Netaji, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "I bow to 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. He is one of the greatest heroes of India's freedom struggle." BJP President Amit Shah also remembered Netaji on his anniversary, saying, "My tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who inspired innumerable youth with his bravery, courage and patriotism." The US is not asking countries like India and Vietnam to take sides in the Asia Pacific region, but steps Beijing is taking in the disputed South China Sea are "self-isolating" and driving countries towards America, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said. "I've been to India, Vietnam recently. We want to have good relations with them and we are not asking people to take sides," Carter said in a panel discussion in Davos on World Economic Forum meeting yesterday. "I think their position is basically right, which is we want everybody to keep being able to do what they are doing. We don't want to have to pick sides. America doesn't want to have sides either," said the Defense Secretary. Carter, however, acknowledged that countries in the region are increasingly coming to the US. "We do know that people are coming to us increasingly. Why is that? It is because China is taking some steps that I think are self-isolating, driving people towards a result that none of us wants," he said, in reference to Chinese measures in the South China Sea. "I'm not one of those people who believes conflict between the United States and China is inevitable, it's certainly not desirable, I don't think it's likely," he said. He attributed the rise of China to the peace and stability in the region, which was ensured by the US. "China's rise is, by the way, not the only rise going on in Asia. India is a rising military power. Japan, if you have noticed, is a rising military power, and there are others who are doing things. Vietnam, Philippines, and so forth," Carter said in response to a question. "The US point of view is the same one we've had long- standing, which is we welcome that. We've tried to create an environment there, and we were the pivotal factor in making this so, in which over seven decades essentially everybody could follow their own destiny towards prosperity," he said. And that includes China, he added. "We never tried to obstruct China's economic rise and the lifting of hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. We've welcomed that. Nor any of these other states we talked about," the Defense Secretary said. At the same time, he argued, the US does not want to ruin a good thing, which is a system of peace and stability there. "We are not dividing the region, we don't seek to ask people to take sides," he said. China is not the only one that's making claims that the US does not agree with, and they are not the only ones that are military outposts. "We oppose all of that. And for our part, we have said everybody, not just China but everybody who is doing that should stop and not militarize," he said. The US, he asserted, will keep on doing what it has always done - fly, sail and operate everywhere international law permits in the South China Sea. He said the US is helping other countries that are all coming to US for assistance in maritime security. Chandra Bose also said "We couldn't go through all the files as of now. But as of now, what we could go through, there are only circumstantial evidence of the air-crash but no conclusive evidence of the air crash." "Even in one of the letters that we saw here which was written by Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suresh Bose that there is no conclusive evidence about the air crash, only few circumstantial evidence," he told PTI after the files were declassified. Chandra Bose said "there is a change in the attitude of the government from that of the previous ones. Firstly, the attitude of suppressing the facts about Netaji has been negated. And this is the biggest thing in unraveling the truth about Netaji," Bose said. Netaji's nephew Ardhendu Bose, who was also at the ceremony here, said "the Bose family and the entire country has been waiting for this moment for the last seven decades nearly. We feel that these files would be able to throw some light on it." He also stressed that the files lying in KGB archives in Russia and those with Germany, UK and USA "will bring out more that what lies in those files. As we apprehend that certain files might have been destroyed." Just ahead of the declassification ceremony, an aged family member broke down in the presence of the Prime Minister. An official said the National Archives placed 100 files relating to Bose in public domain "after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization". On the digital copies of these files coming out in public domain meets a "long-standing public demand" which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, the official said. Besides the controversy over whether Subhash Bose died in the 1945 aircrash or not, those who believe he was alive after that have different theories about what happened to the leader after that. While one of them says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for India's independence but was later killed there, the other says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named 'Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad till 1985. Giving details of the persons arrested by it, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said four were from Karnataka. While 33-year-old Syed Mujahid is a resident of Tumkur, Asif Ali alias Arman Saani (21), Suhail Ahmed alias Sohail alias Hafes Saab (23) and Muhammed Abdul Ahad alias Bade Amir alias Sulaiman (46) are from Bengaluru, it said. Others arrested have been identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Aleem (from Lucknow), 33-year-old Mohammed Obedullah Khan alias Obaid alias Talha and 24-year-old Abu Anas, both from Hyderabad, and Mohammad Hussain Khan alias Jamil (36), resident of Mazgaon, Mumbai, the NIA said. "The arrested accused persons will be produced before the respective local courts for obtaining transit remand," it said. While one of them says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for India's independence but was later killed there, the other says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named 'Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad till 1985. In a crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the NIA has arrested 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country.Of the 14 suspects detained yesterday, 13 have been arrested, according to a Home Ministry spokesman.The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities--Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow yesterday with the support of local police forces.Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said that certain incriminating articles, including but not limited to mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places."These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organize training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India," it said.The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organizing themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country.According to sources, the arrested people were part of a group named 'Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind' (Army of Caliph of India), a terror group which has almost similar ideologies that of ISIS.They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received 'instructions' for carrying out 'some sensational' attacks in the country.The group had started receiving money through 'hawala' route and according to Home Ministry spokesman "Sheikh also received funds to the tune of Rs 6 lakh."All the arrested suspects were being brought to the national capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that they were working on evolving a terror outfit with ideologies similar to ISIS. Describing Chinese assertiveness in the region as an opportunity for the US, an expert from an advisory group has said that China's move to build a base in Pakistan would bring India more closer to America. "A more assertive China with expeditionary capability could lead nations in the region to be more receptive to supporting US efforts to shape the security environment, and to US objectives in Asia," said Kristen Gunness, CEO of Vantage Point, a China-focused advocacy group. "This could specifically be an opportunity to sway those nations that are currently leery of fully supporting US efforts, for example, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, should China build a base in Pakistan, for example, potentially fall into this category and could be receptive to increased dialogue with the US," Gunness said in his testimony before US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "An implication for the US military, PLA expeditionary capabilities allow more opportunity for the US and Chinese militaries to cooperate on regional security issues particularly in the maritime domain where our two navies are well positioned to cooperate on issues such as counterpiracy, counterterrorism...," he argued. Said Thomas Bickford, senior research scientist, CAN Corporation, said India is one of the countries in the region which is going to have a lot of concerns with the Chinese assertiveness. "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. "So there's a lot of concerns in India where we would like to respond in a number of ways including more defense spending and possibly seeking the closer relationship with United States in terms of military," Bickford said. "In terms of implications for relations with our allies and partners, well, clearly, we're going to be asked to do a lot more, you can have that expectation, and things that are really important and you need to think about carefully is what is the priority between China greater commitment and losing flexibility because the more clearer and concise our commitments are, the less flexibility future US leaders might have in the crisis," he said. Jeffrey L Fieldler, Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said both the US and Japan would not sit idle if China indulges in something with India. "I'm not so sure that Japan and the United States will sit idle by when the Chinese did something serious with India given its position in the world and the need to go to the south the Indian Ocean," he said. "So, but I don't see any formal alliance arrangement that would just scare everybody. I actually don't think it's possible. So, but short of that, there's a lot of working together that is finally going out and that has never been going on before," Fieldler said. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose died in an air crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a Union Cabinet note 50 years later said amidst the raging controversy over the INA chief's mysterious disappearance. However, a full five days after the air crash, a top official of the British Raj had weighed the pros and cons of "trying" Netaji as a "war criminal" and suggested that the "easiest way" would be to leave him where he was and not seek his release, suggesting that he may be alive then. This emerged from documents that form part of 100 secret files, comprising 16,600 pages which were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netaji's 119th birth anniversary here today. Reacting to the development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that Bose be given the title of "Leader of the Nation", and said the country has the right to know the truth about his mysterious disappearance. "The country has the right to know about the fate of Netaji. 75 years ago, Netaji left the country, but we still don't know the fact about his disappearance. People have the right to know the truth," Banerjee said at a function in Darjeeling. In Delhi, Congress made a strong pitch for declassifying all files related to Bose, but said the way Prime Minister has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions."Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign", party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma said. Among the declassified documents was a Union Cabinet note of February 6, 1995, signed by then Home Secretary K Padmanabaiah, which said, "There seems to be no scope for doubt that he died in the air crash of 18th August 1945 at Taihoku. Government of India has already accepted this position. There is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary." The note further said, "If a few individuals/organisations have a different view, they seem to be more guided by sentimentality rather than by any rational consideration.""The belief of these people that Netaji was alive and out of contact with any individual, but would appear when found necessary, has also lost relevance by now."The cabinet note was prepared for the government to take a stand on bringing the "mortal remains" of Netaji from Japan to India, kept in the Bose Academy in Tokyo. In the documents written five days after the air crash at Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei, Sir R F Mudie, Home Member of the Clement Attlee government's India Office, wrote to Sir Evan Jenkins, Home Secretary and the last Governor of Punjab, weighing pros and cons of how to treat Bose as a "war criminal" and its likely impact in India. "In many ways the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. "This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether," Mudie said in a letter and note dated August 23, 1945. Among the documents released was also a series of letters exchanged between the government and various official agencies, after late MP Samar Guha claimed that Bose had made a speech on Radio Moscow following the signing of the Tashkent Pact between Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President Muhammad Ayub Khan in the presence of Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on January 10, 1966.Guha and several MPs had also raised the matter in Parliament, quoting Indian and Western press reports. These documents have been put up by the National Archives on a separate website for digital display. The Archives also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. The papers declassified today contain 36 files of Prime Minister's office, 18 files of Ministry of Home Affairs and 46 files from Ministry of External Affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. The documents related to the death or disappearance of Netaji, reports of the three Commissions of Inquiry into it, those relating to the Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj, the INA treasure, letters by MPs and family members and papers relating to various court cases, many of them demanding clarity on the freedom fighter's last days. In his letter, Mudie said various options -- ranging from Bose's trial for waging war in India, or in Burma (now Myanmar) or Malaya (Malaysia) or intern him in "some other British possession e.g. Seychelles Islands" were considered. However, he analysed the extreme impact it would have on the Indians in India and abroad and warned of a volatile situation in case of his trial and finally suggested that keeping Bose "out of sight would be to some extent out of mind and agitation for his release might be less". The letter was in response to Jenkins' communication to Mudie, saying His Excellency the King would want him to analyse and advise on how to deal with Bose, the men of the Indian National Army and his civilian supporters across the length and breadth of the country. During his training as a Jesuit priest in the 1960s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio who, decades later, would become Pope Francis spent three years teaching literature and psychology in his native Argentina. He taught the classics, like El Cid, but when his students expressed an interest in authors like Antonio Machado and Fernando de Rojas, he taught them, too, as a way of nurturing a love of literature in his pupils. He also encouraged his students to write, and had his friend Jorge Luis Borges read their stories. This gift for teaching along with his inclusive vision of the world, and his warm, embracing manner have been hallmarks of the popes whirlwind tenure thus far in the Vatican, and they also inform his new book, The Name of God Is Mercy, a series of revealing conversations with Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican reporter and correspondent for La Stampa. The main theme of the book is mercy and Francis reasons for proclaiming a Holy Year of Mercy. As the journalist Paul Vallely noted in a recent biography (Pope Francis: The Struggle for the Soul of Catholicism), the need for forgiveness and for Gods mercy have been his dominant theological refrains, both before and after he became Pope, and Francis speaks about the subject with a depth of emotion that comes from his years ministering to the poor in the slums of Buenos Aires. The centrality of mercy, Francis says, is Jesus most important message. Mercy is essential because all men are sinners, in need of Gods forgiveness and grace, and its especially necessary today, at a time when humanity is wounded, suffering from the many slaveries of the third millennium not just war and poverty and social exclusion, but also fatalism, hardheartedness and self-righteousness. The theme of mercy, it turns out, also provides Francis with a metaphor for articulating his broader aim of shaking up the Roman Catholic Church, which he laid out in detail in a voluminous document called Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) that was issued in November 2013. That document a manifesto, really advocated decentralising power in the church, condemned economic injustice and called for focusing on the needs of the marginalized and disenfranchised. Echoing the beliefs of St Francis, whose name he took, it called for a church devoted to the poor, a church that returned to its roots and the original healing ministry of Jesus. It was critical of self-righteous bureaucrats who would glorify themselves rather than Christ, and deplored those dour judges bent on rooting out every threat and deviation from doctrine. In The Name of God Is Mercy, Francis speaks succinctly and with refreshing forthrightness about these same matters, chastising scholars of the law who live attached to the letter of the law but who neglect love; men who only know how to close doors and draw boundaries. Instead, he urges people to think of the church as a field hospital, where treatment is given above all to those who are most wounded. Often speaking here more as a pastor than as the vicar of Christ, he emphasises moral sincerity over dogma, an understanding of the complexities of the world and individual experience over rigid doctrine. As a scholar and savvy church politician, Francis grounds his arguments in theological precedent, including the words of earlier popes. His views on mercy draw upon or are informed by writings on the subject by Aquinas, Merton and more recent scholars, like Cardinal Walter Kasper. Francis is also skilled at using biblical examples and parables to illustrate his arguments. On some matters, Francis is utterly direct. Of the poor, the homeless and those immigrants who have survived the crossing and who land on our shores, he says, we touch the flesh of Christ in he who is outcast, hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, ill, unemployed, persecuted, in search of refuge. On the controversial topics of homosexuality and divorce, he proposes no doctrinal changes but, as hes done in earlier statements and interviews, urges that the church take a welcoming approach to all embracing understanding, tolerance and compassion. Asked about homosexuality by Tornielli, he repeats his much-quoted remark Who am I to judge, adding that before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and dignity. The pope is most critical of those eager to cast stones. Pride, hypocrisy and the urge to judge others in terms of preconceived notions and ritual purity are the targets of his ire. He has chastised church bureaucrats for their theological narcissism, and he says in this book that we must avoid the attitude of someone who judges and condemns from the lofty heights of his own certainty, looking for the splinter in his brothers eye while remaining unaware of the beam in his own. An avid reader and a fan of Italian neorealist movies, the pope has an easy conversational style that moves effortlessly between folksy sayings and erudite allusions, between common-sense logic and impassioned philosophical insights. The ease with which the pope speaks to the concerns of ordinary people, as well as his humble lifestyle, is rooted in a heartfelt sense of humility. A priest needs to think of his own sins, he says in this book, to listen with tenderness, to pray to the Lord for a heart as merciful as his, and not to cast the first stone because he, too, is a sinner who needs to be forgiven. The Name of God Is Mercy Pope Francis, translated by Oonagh Stransky Random House 2015, pp 256, Rs 1,232 Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan for facilitating the deadly Taliban attack on a prestigious university in the country's northwest that killed 21 people, mostly students, the military announced today. "We have arrested four facilitators who helped the attackers enter Pakistan and took them to Mardan before attack on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda district," Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. On Wednesday, four heavily-armed terrorists attacked the Bacha Khan University named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan via the Torkhum border, Bajwa said. According to Bajwa, the main facilitator -- "terrorist A" -- who received and made arrangements for the attackers at Torkhum border checkpost is still at large. The arrested men helped militants purchase their weapons in the country's tribal belt and relied on women close to the accused to help smuggle guns. "Women wearing traditional veils do not usually undergo a routine body search at the checkpoints," said Bajwa. He said the attack on BKU was planned and controlled from Afghanistan as the phone call of commander Omer Mansoor, who later claimed responsibility, was made from Afghanistan. Mansoor and his deputy Qari Zakir made calls to attackers from Afghanistan and on Wednesday - the day of the attack - around 10 calls were made from Afghanistan, he claimed. He said that Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has exchanged intelligence-based information with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Bajwa said one of the arrested men recently did masonry at BKU and later drafted a map to aid the attackers. On Friday, the Taliban faction behind the massacre posted a video message vowing to target schools throughout Pakistan, calling them "nurseries" for people who challenge Allah's law. The BKU assault came about an year after terrorists attacked an army-run school in Peshawar that killed nearly 150 people, most of them students. The Pakistani military intensified an ongoing offensive, named operation Zarb-e-Azb, against extremists in the tribal areas after the 2014 attack. Bajwa said the operation was progressing successfully. To a question on border management with Afghanistan, Bajwa said the issue is under consideration and a lot of measures have been taken in this direction. Pune-based machine tool builder Electropneumatics and Hydraulics India (EPHL), in partnership with Goa Shipyard (GSL), is all set to deliver a new turnkey project Damage Control Simulator (DCS) worth over Rs 50 crore to the Myanmar Navy, a top company executive said. The Damage Control Simulator (DCS) is a first-of-its-kind facility in India, which we built for the Indian Navy in 1999, in partnership with GSL, at INS Lonavala, EPHL Director (Operations and Marketing), Prashant Gadepalli told Deccan Herald, on the sidelines of the ongoing Imtex 2016. Gadepalli explained that DCS is a replica of a ship, a completely indigenous facility for the Indian Navy to train crew in damage control situations in the event of ship damage or sinking. It simulates the ship motion on waves using hydraulic actuators and motion controls and also real-life scenarios such as flooding in an environment of smoke, and noise. DCS is a three-deck steel structure supported on end bearings on portal frames. At a given time, around 50 cadets can be trained. Our role includes civil works, fabrication, hydraulics and control system design, erection and commissioning at site, Gadepalli added. Gadepalli said that before the DCS was built in 1999, the Indian Navy could only send a select few officers to England for training. Now, it is possible to train each sailor and officer. Not only the Indian Navy, but this facility is used to train Naval officers of friendly countries in South and South East Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand. After undergoing training on our DCS in India, the Myanmar Navy approached GSL to build a similar facility in Yangon. Over a 100 people worked on this project in Myanmar, which is expected to be completed by March, Gadepalli added. In 2010, the company built a simulator in Kochi, and another is in the pipeline at Visakhapatnam, which will be completed in 2018. Electropneumatics has been providing innovative solutions for forming applications since 1972 and has a staff of over 600 employees. The company has pioneered many indigenous innovations like hydroforming, AC servo drives and now Indias first indigenous CNC controls for machining applications. The company has four divisions which includes fluid power (FPD), machine manufacturing (MMD), component manufacturing (CMD) and drives and controls (EPMPC). Electropneumatics makes around 200 machines per year and exports to over 25 countries. The winter edition of the Bangalore Derby turned out to be festival of frenzied crowds from disparate backgrounds, brought together by their passion for the sport. The 15,000-odd crowd were treated to some nail-biting finishes with the highlight being an unlikely win for Angel Dust in the Garuda Bangalore Derby. Betting counters were busy with individuals laying multiple bets but the unpredictable nature of the sport dug holes in the pockets of an unfortunate few. Manjunath G, an auto driver, said, I have been visiting the race course on a regular basis for the last few years as this is a sport that excites me. With betting, its all a game of chance. At the last derby, I made a profit but this time around I have lost close to Rs 1500. While Manjunath did not have a great day, others had their fortunes headed in the right direction. And this was evident by the cheers from the galleries and viewing booths that echoed around the track. Sudarshan Sampath, a business consultant who has witnessed the last three derbys said he had made a tidy profit by playing safe. Betting is always exciting, even more so when you make a profit. I ended the day Rs 3000 in the good. A glimpse of the latest fashion trends was also visible at the course, with fans of all ages turning up in their best attire to grab the eyeballs. The sale of colour-coded dustbins has gone up a month after the High Court of Karnataka mandated that citizens segregate waste in three ways and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) started penalising violators. On December 17, 2015, the court ordered the use of the two bins and one bag system to address Bengalurus garbage problem. Under the system, biodegradable or wet waste must be kept in a green-coloured bin, hazardous waste in a red bin and dry waste in reusable bags. People must not use plastic bags or covers. Following the ruling, the Palike started fining violators. Houses are fined Rs 100 and apartments Rs 500. The fine sometimes goes up to Rs 10,000 depending on the type of violation and the waste generator. The results are beginning to show. Garbage solution providers say they are getting more sales enquiries about colour-coded dustbins. Priyadarshini Raghuram, an active waste management volunteer who runs a firm that manufactures 2bin1bag life kits, has turned busy since the court ruling. The sales enquiries have doubled since then. Sales are growing, too. We deliver 500-700 kits every day. On Monday, we received a call from the Army Welfare Housing Organisation, Kannamangala, for the supply of 750 kits. Along with apartments, individual houses are also making enquiries and placing orders, she said. Results seen According to her, the Palikes drive to fine people for inefficient garbage segregation is showing results. This is particularly true in eastern Bengaluru localities like CV Raman Nagar and Malleshpalya. Shudh Labs, which provides waste management solutions, is receiving 10-12 queries every day, up from three to four earlier. Vinod Kumar, one of the workers there, said the firm supplied colour-coded garbage trolleys to about 3,000 flats in Whitefield last week. It now plans to bring out biodegradable bags for collection of dry waste. Violators being fined Meanwhile, the Palike is pulling up its socks and fining violators in all wards. Palike Special Commissioner for Solid Waste Management (SWM), Subodh Yadav, said that hotels, hospitals and other waste generators were being fined based on the violations. We plan to carry out a large campaign to make people aware about the three-way waste segregation. Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) and non-government organisations have offered to help us in these campaigns, he said. Ricky Kannada (U/A), Director: Rishab Shetty Cast: Rakshit Shetty, Haripriya, Achyut Kumar, Ravi Kale, Shashikala, Veena Sundar Finally here is a film that is off the beaten track and makes one sit and watch. Rishab Shettys Ricky, despite its commercial mould, is a film with a difference. Set against the context of forceful land acquisitions for SEZ projects and Mangalurus mountainous regions as colourful canvas, Ricky is a riveting romance. Slow-paced and understandably so, given director Rishabs larger social intent, Ricky charts the tumultuous love story of Radhakrishna and Radha as subtext, spotlighting on how Naxalism breeds and how State is responsible. With several poetic passages for dialogues to drive home its message of skewed development versus displacement, the film speaks of how people deprived of their green fields, hamlets and livelihood are left with no choice, but head to jungles and take to guns, as Naxals. Radhakrishna aka Ricky and Radhas puppy love blossoms into full-fledged romance. Both get betrothed, but Ricky, being an environment conservationist, heads to Kashmir to track a white leopard. Back home, Radha, losing her parents to States arbitrary acquisition of land for a SEZ project, is drawn to Naxalism. Ricky returns to learn that Radha is now Comrade Seetha and Prithviraj, her master and mentor, and Red Salute (Lal Salaam) her lifes slogan. Does Ricky win back his lost love? Do Seetha and her comrades get convinced by Rickys counsel to shed violence? These are questions Ricky raises in a forceful manner. For once, the heroine takes centre stage with Haripriya doing full justice as demure Radha and fiery Naxal Seetha. Rakshit Shetty as the love-lost beau is adequate. The major irritants are crass comedy of Sadhu Kokila and half a dozen songs which distract one from the otherwise sensible narrative. Go for Ricky. And Lal Salaam to Rishab Shetty. Way to go! Freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose got massive focus on Saturday when the government declassified documents about him on his 120th birth anniversary. However, far from the limelight of political debates on Netajis life, a school in remote Tripura state has been living by his ideals for more than six decades. Students and teachers of the Netaji Subhash Vidya Niketan, a government aided school, have been spreading awareness about the leaders ideal since 1948 by organising an annual rally to spread his ideals among people during his birth anniversaries. On Thursday, Agartala once again saw the annual ritual being played out on the streets as students from the school along with their parents and teachers took out a rally depicting various stages of Netajis life and time. The biggest attraction was a long march by the students dressed as soldiers of Azad Hind Fauj and marching to the tunes of Kadam kadam badhaye ja as thousands lined up to pay tributes to Netaji despite a chilly winter morning. The school was named after Bose by the founding members since they wanted the younger generation to be inspired by his words and works. Tripura Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty pointed out that when Netaji was largely forgotten across the country, this school for six decades has diligently tried to spread Netajis ideal. We are depicting the various culture and religion of India. We want to send the message that inspite of various religion and culture we are all humans. Here every student wants to be a Netaji, said Sreya Sinha, a 9th standard student from the school. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande are expected to announce on Monday a new project for joint development of a satellite to help study climate change and explore ways to manage and mitigate its impact. The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and Centre National d Etudes Spatiales (CNES) may ink a deal for jointly developing the satellite after Modis meeting with Hollande on Monday. There will be a new project of space programme in relation to observation and prevention of climate change, Frances Ambassador to India, Francois Richier, told journalists in New Delhi. He said the French presidents visit would also see several MoUs being inked by higher education institutions of the two countries. Hollande will land in Chandigarh on Sunday to commence his second visit to India. He will meet Modi on Monday and will be the chief guest at the Republic Day ceremony on Tuesday. Richier said that threat posed by climate change would be high on the agenda of the meeting between the prime minister and French president. They are expected to discuss ways to step up bilateral cooperation on joint research and development and technology innovation as well as diffusion of clean energy and efficiency solutions that will help in transitioning towards a climate resilient and low carbon economy. Both Paris and New Delhi are of the view that the Isro-CNES cooperation should focus more on use of space technology to respond to climate change. The CNES is keen to step up its cooperation with Isro as India was one of the first nations to deploy high-quality satellite capabilities in response to the need to manage its water resources and address food security issues posed by the threat of climate change as well as the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, officials said in New Delhi. Two satellites India-France cooperation has already resulted in two satellites, which were jointly developed by Isro and CNES and are now delivering precious operational data for climate study. While Megha-Tropiques, launched in 2011, is helping scientists to map cloud cover in three dimensions, Saral-AltiKa, launched in 2013, measures the surface height of oceans, lakes and rivers with millimetre accuracy, heralding new prospects for management of water resources. On the occasion of Modis visit to Paris in April 2015, Isro and CNES signed an agreement, which proposed cooperation in the areas of satellite remote sensing, satellite communications and satellite meteorology; space sciences and planetary exploration; data collection and location; operations of satellite ground stations and spacecraft mission management; space research and applications. It covered the potential cooperation activities, such as joint earth observation mission, hosted payload opportunities and exploration of Mars. India-France cooperation in space technology started with the setting up of sounding rocket launching facilities at Thumba in early 1960s and progressed through the development of liquid engines in the 1970s. As many as 70 passengers who had booked group tickets to Raipur from here on an Indigo flight (6E-466) were offloaded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad on Friday night on charges of unruly behaviour. The passengers, however, claimed that they were harassed by the flight crew. The airliner, in a statement, said that passengers who were on their way to attend a marriage were offloaded on the grounds of unruly behaviour and an FIR has been lodged with the airport police in this regard. The airline explained that trouble started when the passengers, who were a group, tried to exchange seats in the non-stop flight to Raipur. However, some of the passengers had an altercation with cabin crew as they were trying to move in the aisle blocked by the fliers. Confirming the incident, RGIA authorities said the cabin crew then informed the cockpit who in turn called the ground staff and sought help to manage the agitated fliers as the departure of the flight was already delayed. At this stage, we decided to offload the entire group , they said. The flight which was supposed to depart from Hyderabad by 6:35 pm, got delayed by two hours. Following that, the airline lodged a complaint with the airport police against the passengers. Complaint by airline In its complaint, the airline said that some of the male passengers behaved unruly after the cabin crew urged them to sit and fasten seat belts so that the flight can get ready to take off. They began to brush their luggage against one of the crew members, the complaint says. The ground crew, which arrived to cool the tempers of the passengers, failed to do so following which they were asked to disembark. The airline also said that the offloaded passengers were provided with dinner and were accommodated in another flight that left for Raipur on Saturday. Medical help was also provided to the offloaded passengers, they said. Airport authorities also said that the passengers have agreed to withdraw their complaint against the airliner. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday produced all the six terror suspects detained from Bengaluru, Tumakuru and Mangaluru before the special court for NIA cases. The NIA has taken the custody of all the six accused on transit warrant and will produce them in the jurisdictional court in Delhi on January 27. The NIA on Friday had showed the arrests of only two suspects, engineering dropout Najmul Huda from Mangaluru, software professional Mohammed Afzal from Bengaluru. The arrests of remaining accused were regularised on Saturday. The other accused from the State are software engineer Mohammed Abdul Ahad alias Bade Amir alias Sulaiman (46), a resident of Thanisandra, Suhail Ahmed alias Sohal alias Hafes Saab (23), a resident of Cottonpet, Asif Ali alias Arman Saani (21), a resident of Hosaguddadahalli in JJ Nagar and Syed Mujahid (33), a fruit merchant from Tumakuru. The accused were brought in separate vehicles to the special NIA court. The counsel appearing for the NIA filed an application seeking transit warrant. NIA court judge Muralidhar Pai remanded the accused in NIA police custody in transit warrant for four days. Sources said the NIA team will take the accused to Delhi on Monday. The accused have been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for planning terror acts. The arrests have been shown in the FIR registered by the NIA Delhi in 2015 for radicalisation of Indian youths by IS operatives. According to sources, Mohammed Abdul Ahad was deported to India from Istanbul in Turkey when they were trying to cross over to Syria in February 2015. Abdul Ahad, who has a masters in computer science from Kennedy-Western University in California, was among nine people deported in February 2015. He was under surveillance since then and intelligence agencies found him in contact with former Indian Mujahideen operatives. Among the other accused, Suhail Ahmed alias Hafes Saab is a teacher at a madrasa in JJ Nagar, Hosaguddadahalli, while Asif Ali alias Arman Saani, also a resident of Hosaguddadahalli, is a stone polisher. The other accused Hussain Mujahid is a wholesale fruit merchant in Tumakuru and was picked up from his house in the wee hours of Friday. Sources said that the youths arrested were in touch with a person with an online identity Yusuf, suspected to be Shafi Armar of coastal town Bhatkal. Sources said that Mohammed Abdul Ahad, after his return from Turkey, had been attending cleric Maulana Anzarshah Qasmis preachings. Qasmi was a resident of Iliyasnagar in Bengalurus Banashankari 2nd Stage and was arrested by the Delhi police early this month, in connection with the ongoing probe of the accused involved with the al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS). Cops to quiz them The City police are likely to question the four terror suspects who were picked up from Bengaluru by NIA on Friday. We would like to ascertain some information about the terror module when we question them, said a police officer. At present, NIA is handling the case and is interrogating the suspects. The City police will have to obtain NIAs permission for a separate interrogation, a top police source said. The source said interrogating the arrested persons will help gain information about their networking. We might get some important information. So, we are not ruling out the possibility of approaching the NIA for permission , the source said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday was forced to cut short his interaction with a group of people who had been agitating for a comprehensive solution to Chikkaballapurs water problem. Siddaramaiah, who was in Chikkaballapur for preparing the party for local body elections, was forced to meet members of Shashvata Neeravari Horata Samiti, which is demanding a permanent water supply plan for the district facing severe water shortage. The agitation has entered 125th day in Chadalapura of Chikkaballapur taluk. When the agitators learnt that Siddaramaiah had no plans to visit the protest spot, committee president R Anjaneya Reddy threatened to commit suicide by consuming pesticide. Later, the chief minister visited the spot and assured them that the Yettinahole project would be completed to provide water to the district. Dissatisfied with his statement, the agitators said they want the Paramashivaiah report to be implemented as a solution to the water problem. The Yettinahole project would in no way solve the problem, they argued. Siddaramaiah kept arguing that even if they did not want the project, the government would implement it as a solution to tackle the water crisis in Chikkaballapur, Kolar and Bengaluru rural districts. When the agitators intensified their protests, he left saying even Bengalurus effluents would be treated to fill tanks of the districts. Committee member Mallur Harish said, We do not want the Yettinahole project water or effluent treated water. We want a permanent solution to the problem. The government is only good at making promises. Raitha Sangha president Bhaktarahalli Byre Gowda said, We have been agitating for the last 125 days. Its not just drinking water. We want water for irrigation too. We want a permanent scheme. Anjaneya Reddy said the chief minister was only interested in elections and not solving peoples problems. When the demand is for water, the chief minister is talking about supplying effluent discharge, he pointed out. A fake letter purportedly written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to his British counterpart referring to Subhaschandra Bose as a war criminal has irked the Congress. The prominence the fake letter got on Saturday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi de-classified 100 files on Bose, made the Congress see a criminal conspiracy to deflect the attention from the miserable failure of the Central government on all fronts. The Congress also refused to engage in a debate over Boses death citing his daughter Anitas assertion that the founder of the Indian National Army died in an air crash in Taiwan. We do not want to enter into a debate with any distant relative. We respect what has been said by his (Boses) own daughter, senior Congress spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here. Sharma wanted the Centre to de-classify all files related Bose in one go instead of the staggered approach it has taken. The way the prime minister has carried this out raises doubts about intentions of Modi government, he said slamming attempts by the government to raise a controversy and misguide the people through a mischievous political campaign. The purported letter by Nehru to British Prime Minister Clement Atlee refers to Bose as a war criminal. Sharma said the circulation of the fake letter was done with the intention of showing Nehru in poor light. We will take all measures to not only expose but to ensure that they are punished under the law of the land, the Congress leader said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saw an ulterior motive of the BJP government on declassification of files related to Bose. BJP, which has nothing to do with the struggle for Independence, by declassifying files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is basically making an effort to create conflict between different streams of ideology in the struggle for country's Independence, Kumar told reporters in Patna. The Vidhana Soudha police arrested one person on Saturday on charges of posting content threatening Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his twitter handle. The suspect is Roshan, an employee of Bharat Electronics Limited. Roshan was arrested for threatening the chief minister. The police released him after he obtained bail, DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil told Deccan Herald. Patil refused to divulge the full content of the threat. Roshan had tweeted the threat a week ago. A case was registered after the Vidhana Soudha police were alerted about it. The police took the help of the Cyber Crime police, which led to Roshans arrest. Roshan has been booked under Sections 503 (criminal intimidation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of IPC. The tweet read: Dear LTTE, ISIS, Al Qaeda, KKK or anyone listening. Please do us a favour and assassinate this ******* Roshan had referred to the reported slapping of the City Corporation Commissioner P G Ramesh by the chief minister, during his visit to Ballari. Meanwhile, Amrutesh, an advocate, filed a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha police on Saturday, seeking action against Siddaramaiah for slapping a government officer in full public view. Ramesh is a responsible government officer and the chief minister slapped him in full public view. Hence, action should be taken against him for his act, the complaint said. The police forwarded the complaint to the legal cell for further action. The survival of the JD(S) hinges on the party winning the upcoming ZP/TP polls, said JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday. Addressing leaders during a party meeting, Kumaraswamy said that the JD(S) had suffered many defeats, owing to internal differences and overconfidence. He said that there was a conspiracy to finish off the JD(S), which would become a reality if the leaders did not stop bickering. JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda too struck a defeatist note during the meeting. He rued that the plight of the party was such that there were no candidates to contest the byelections to the three Assembly constituencies - Bidar, Hebbal and Devadurga. Dissident leaders like B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and N Cheluvarayaswamy did not abstain from the meeting. While Gowda warned the leaders of disciplinary action, Kumaraswamy said the electorate would not vote for the JD(S), if the party failed to reach out to them. Forget the difference and work together. I am tired of resolving differences. We can achieve success during the next elections, said Gowda. Kumaraswamy urged leaders not to vie for tickets at the last minute. Gowda announced that the candidate for Devadurga would be Kariamma. She had defected to the JD(S) from the Congress some time back. Kariamma was the Devadurga taluk womens wing president in the Congress. Candidates for the other two seats would be finalised shortly, he added. The party will field candidates chosen by Zameer and Bandeppa Kashempur for Hebbal and Bidar respectively, he added. He said the party had not been approached by the Jaffer Sharief camp. Sharief has said that he will go to New Delhi to convince Congress leaders to give his grandson the ticket. Hence, no decision has been taken on this matter. The Netaji Files released by the government on Saturday revealed that the countrys first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had sought to send financial aid to Subhash Chandra Boses wife Emilie Schenkl in 1952. One of the documents released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that Nehru had sought advice from Ministry of Finance and Ministry of External Affairs on June 12, 1952 how small sums of money could be sent to Schenkl in Vienna. The ministries later suggested that a sum of GBP 100 be sent to Schenkl through private channels, to vice consul of India at Vienna. Nehru agreed and directed that the Vice Consul at Vienna should disburse GBP 100 pounds to the widow in cash or as gifts altogether or in instalments. Another document revealed that the government in 1976 had rejected a proposal from the Embassy of India in Tokyo to bring back the ashes of Netaji kept in the Renkoji Temple in Japan to India. T V Rajeswar, a joint director of the Intelligence Bureau, argued against the proposal, noting that family of Netaji and the Forward Bloc, a political party founded by him, do not recognise the ashes as those of him. He noted that if the ashes were brought back, the government would be accused of foisting a false story upon the people of West Bengal and India, taking advantage of Emergency. The files declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government on Saturday revealed that the UK government had considered listing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a war criminal days after his purported death in an air crash in Taipei, but never actually did so. Though Netaji led Indian National Army to wage a war against British government to end its colonial rule over India, he never figured in the list of war criminals. With reference to the specific question you posed namely whether Subhas Chandra Bose was included by the United Kingdom in its list of war criminals drawn up after the second World War, I have been unable to find any evidence that any such action was taken by the United Kingdom, J J Harding, an official of Army Historical Branch of Ministry of Defence of UK government, on December 7, 1999 conveyed to Pawan Kapoor, who was then a First Secretary in the High Commission of India in London. Hardings letter to Kapoor is among thousands of documents contained in the 100 Netaji-related files released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. But the declassified files also revealed that the British government had considered treating Bose as war-criminal just five days after his purported death in the air-crash in Taipei. Political difficulties In many ways, the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether, Sir RF Mudie, Home Member of the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee governments India Office, wrote in a communique to Sir Evan Jenkins, Home Secretary and the last Governor of Punjab, on August 23, 1945. A constable of the joint team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Telangana Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) was injured when a terror suspect attacked him in Vinayaka Nagar near Electronics City here on Saturday. Police sources said the joint team was tailing the suspect Javed Rafiq (30), who was with his wife, from a distance and on realising that he would be nabbed, he tried to escape. Telangana Police constable Srinivas, who is part of the ATS, tried to stop him, but Rafiq attacked him with a sharp weapon. Rafiq also swallowed a round object in an apparent bid to end his life. Rafiq and the constable were immediately rushed to a local hospital. Rafiqs wife Yasmin was taken aback by the sudden development and the NIA team detained her later. The incident comes a day after the NIA arrested a techie and detained four terror suspects in a pre-dawn swoop for their alleged links with Islamic State terror group. The incident took place at Doddanagamangala and a constable was injured in the attack. The suspect is wanted by the NIA in a particular case. The City police are yet to be informed about the raid by the NIA, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharik told Deccan Herald. However, Megharik said he did not have details of the case in which Rafiq was wanted. Sources said Rafiq is a terror suspect as the NIA will take up only such cases for investigation. As many as six NIA and ATS teams are in the City and more arrests cannot be ruled out, sources added. The attack took place before the couple could enter the house, said DCP (south-east) M B Boralingaiah. Rafiq is from Delhi and moved to Bengaluru three years ago. He married Yasmin six-months ago and the couple were staying in the second floor of a four-storeyed building owned by one Ashraff on 4th main road, Vinayaka Nagar. The City police were not sure whether Yasmin was also involved in terror activities. We have no information and we have not been keeping a tab on her, said a senior police officer. Sources in the City police said the joint team arrived here on Saturday to detain Rafiq. The jurisdictional Parappana Agrahara police have decided to register a case against Ashraff and interrogate him. Tension simmered in the hostels at Ambedkar University here after the varsity officials on Saturday decided to act tough against three dalit students, who had shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters convocation address on Friday. The students were registering their protest against Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula's suicide. According to varsity officials, the administration had decided to put the award of their degree on hold even as the three students - Ram Karan, Amarendra Arya and Surendra Nigam - alleged that the varsity was conspiring to ruin their career. The three, who had cleared the Masters in Law (LLM) examination and were merit students, said on Saturday that they had no regret for what they did and demanded that they be given medals and degrees. Tension simmered in the varsity over what some dalit students alleged discrimination against them by the administration. A few dalit students alleged that the varsity administration threatened to implicate them in false cases if they raised their voice against discrimination. One dalit research scholar alleged that the fellowship money was not paid to her by the varsity. Even on Friday several dalit students from the hostels had come out of their rooms and raised slogans against the prime minister when they came to know that two of their fellow students had been detained by the police for raising slogans during prime minister's convocation address. Following deterioration of their health, the seven students who have been on an indefinite hunger strike in the University of Hyderabad campus, were shifted to a health centre on the campus by the authorities on Saturday. Campus security personnel forcibly admitted all the seven students into the university health centre. They have been on fast unto death demanding the ouster of Vice-Chancellor Prof P Apparao. The action came after the health bulletin released by a team of doctors stated that their health condition has deteriorated. The agitating students also rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modis condolence statement over suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula and vowed to continue their stir, demanding the removal of the V-C and action against Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya. It is highly insulting to have received a condolence statement from the prime minister. He has referred Rohith as Bharat Matas son. We condemn in the strongest possible words the appropriation of Rohiths politics, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social justice, a conglomeration of 14 student organisations, said in a statement here. His (Modis) complicity and inaction on the entire episode that unfolded in the University of Hyderabad clearly reflects his political interests, the JAC said and asked whether the prime minister was ready to sack his ministers for abetting the suicide. Rohith and the other socially boycotted students always stood against the Hindutva and Manuvadi politics which the BJP ministers proudly stand for, it said. It is under the leadership of Modi that the Delhi police brutally lathi-charged the protesting students, male police officers manhandled women students and detained them, the JAC said. It rejected an appeal by Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha, who, on a visit to the city, asked them to call off their agitation and assured them of justice. This came a day after the HRD Ministry announced a judicial commission probe into the circumstances that led to the suicide of Rohith following his suspension. The JAC for Social Justice has trashed the claim of ABVP leader Susheel Kumar that he was beaten by Rohit and fiends. They released the copy of a counter affidavit filed by the Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand to the High Court on October 3, 2015, in which he reported that ABVP leader Susheel Kumars Appendicitis was not due to the result of any assault and it is coincidental that existing ailment was diagnosed and treated. It stated that the allegation of beating up was false and baseless and asked the court to reject the writ petition. The NIA produced four suspected terrorists Nafeez Khan, Obedullah Khan, Shareef Moinuddin and Abu Anas before the Nampally Criminal Court on Saturday. The prosecutors request for transit remand was granted by the court recorded after recording their statements. The court gave the NIA three days transit remand to produce them before a court in Delhi. Four persons were picked up by the NIA from Toli Chowki and Madhapur here on Friday on charge of conspiring to carry out terror attacks in the city. A good amount of chemicals used for making pipe bombs and IS literature and CDs were also confiscated from them. Among those arrested is Abu Anas, a techie working as an Information Security Analyst of TWG International at Abids, living in the posh Ayyappa Society near Hi Tech city in Madhapur. Anas disappeared for a month in December 2015 and returned to work recently. Even his father Amjad a beedi worker who lives in Tonk of Rajasthan told NIA officials over phone that Anas has never revealed his plans to the family. The Editors Guild of India on Saturday strongly condemned the acts of intimidation meted out to Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor of The Wire, by student members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Allahabad University. For a senior journalist to be threatened in such a manner at a leading university is deplorable, the Guild said in a statement here. Public lecture Varadarajan was scheduled to deliver a public lecture at the Allahabad Universitys Senate Hall on January 20 at the invitation of the Students Union president. However, the venue had to be shifted outside the varsity campus after ABVP activists threatened violence. After the lecture, when Varadarajan went to meet the vice chancellor, ABVP activists surrounded the exit, forcing the police to intervene and escort him to safety. It is a brazen attack on freedom of expression, and the Editors Guild of India finds this mob mentality to silence those with divergent views unacceptable, the statement said. Search our site Search for: Instagram Feed Donate Classifieds Facebook Feed by Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon April 28th, 2017: On Tuesday evening the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee took public testimony on HB 115the Education Funding Actand afterward much was made of the fact that a majority of the more than 100 people who called in were in favor of this tax for schools. The testimony went on until after 10:00 p.m., and many people waited hours to put their views on the record. While a marathon run of public testimony might not exactly qualify as a scientific sample of the entire Alaskan electorate, the stats were heartening. But what impressed me even more than the numbers was the tone and considerateness of those Alaskans in support of the bill. Testifiers spoke of their willingness to personally contribute to the most fundamental and important of state servicesthe education of the next generation of Alaskans. I was stirred by their sense of caring and responsibility for the wellbeing of their communities, and I was impressed by their understanding of how that moral and material investment is also essential for ensuring a thriving economic future for Alaska. No one, including me, wants to pay tax on their income, but the majority of Alaskans who testified on Tuesday night had clear beliefs about what kind of Alaska they want for themselves and their children, and they know that with oil revenues a small fraction of what they once were, we will need to take more responsibility to maintain and increase the quality of our lives here. I recently wrote to a thoughtful constituent of mine in McGrath: Our House Majority Coalition is offering a solution to the fiscal dilemma that we think is practical and as evenhanded as possible. As you clearly understand, there is nothing out of the ordinary about our proposals. Our cuts to the Operating Budget were modest compared to recent years because weve reached a point of diminishing returns. If you cut so much that you simply cripple programs and services, then youve removed the value from those dollars you do spend and youve set up government to fail. We believe that what state government currently provides is justifiedlegally and morally, as you say, but also according to what our constituents tell us they think is necessary and worthwhile. All the tools needed to pay for it are at hand, and as I mentioned above, in most parts of the country theyre considered pretty conventional methods. Youre right that there is a wide chasm between our plan and what the Senate is offering. The negotiations that need to happen in the coming weeks will not be easy. Still, I have some hope that reason and practicality will carry some weight. To reason and practicality I would also add caring and responsibility. I was moved by the dedication of those dozens of people who waited hours to put their views on the record Tuesday night. It heightens my pride in the people of Alaska, and its the kind of encouragement we need as the Alaska House Majority Coalition forges ahead in its effort to do what we know to be best for our constituents and our future economic prosperity. Share this: Tweet Email by the ONC Environmental Youth Litter Patrol Participants The following are letters to Promote Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission of Environmental Changes, Traditional and Cultural Lifestyles in The Regional Climate and Environment from Elder interviews by ONC Environmental Youth Litter Patrol Participants: Katya Carl, Madison Alirkar, and Aqualena Carl *** Julia Kanuk by Aqualena Carl What I learned from interviewing Julia Kanuk was to respect everyone even though they didnt respect you and helping other people like families and friends. Julia spoke about times when she was young, that they did outdoor stuff like playing Kick the Can also known as Hide and Seek, hopscotch which people no longer play anymore, and other fun games. In todays date people barely play those types of games with each other. The teenagers stay at home and are on their phones or play Nintendo games all day and barely get any chores done. They dont help people who need help, and over the years people have become stingy about little things that can provide much abundance if those little things could be set aside. Back then in her younger days, she said people helped each other on a lot of things like hunting and fishing. People took care of each other and didnt wait to be told what to do. They worked as a whole community together. Her message to the younger generation is: Dont expect someone else to do what youre supposed to do. Listen to what our elders are talking about. Listen to the elders right away, when they tell you to do this or that. Do not expect to receive money from parents or elders after doing something for them. Treat each other nicely. Respect people even if you know they did something bad in the past. Respect family members and help others who need help. *** What I learned from Julia Kanuk by Katya Carl I learned that the land has changed very much, and the attitudes from the people. Julia said that people back then were nice to everyone but these days they expect money when they do something for others. Treat others how you want to be treated. Julias message to the younger generation is this: Dont expect money from elders, and respect elders ways. We should start teaching the younger generation how to be kind, nice and respectful. To this day people should start being nice to other people instead of just being nice to their ilaqs. We are connected to the land somehow by studying it so you wont get lost. She spoke about the language of the lands and waterways. With water, we have to study the ripples and waves so that while traveling by boat we can be safe. The water speaks to us by the waves, if the waves are pointy with white caps it becomes dangerous to travel and can flip the boat. Then there are waves that roll far apart. Then there are small ripples that tell us that the area is very shallow and not to go that way. We are connected to the land and water like how we are to our language and all we have to do is learn how to listen. *** Julia Kanuks story by Madison Alirkar I am writing about Julia Kanuks story to see what we have lost from generation to generation. What she said in her interview is that the community in her hometown, which is no longer there (found between Kipnuk and Chefornak called Cicing) was very caring and helpful to everyone whether it was family or not. They still helped and cared for them. In todays date people have become or grown selfish, greedy, arrogant, and expect something in return from the people they help. Most want money. And parents dont really teach their children what equipment or tools to use to help around family and or relatives to be exact. Julia also spoke about how everyone back then used to communicate by going to fish camp with different families around Alaska or near areas and they communicated or had someone who was able to run to a different village to tell others a message. I thought that it was very interesting to give a friend or another a message and run back with another message. *** The stories we collected from the elders we interviewed will be shared in links found on our ONCs webpage soon. This year we decided to implement something new with our Youth Litter Patrol in which we connected them with elders. The elders were excitingly happy to meet and sit down with our young workers. We wanted our youth group to learn about stewardship, climate change, implement leadership and to promote acknowledgement of pollution prevention and recycling with the whole community and most importantly with the younger children from Kindergarten to 6th grade (also known as the younger generation). Our youth litter patrol (YLP) have shared stories about the different types of pollution theyve seen while gathering subsistence foods from the lands and waterways and have come to understand that plastics and other items that people toss onto the ground dont belong out there where we gather our berries, our fish, and other subsistence foods. They want people who are living within the Y-K Delta to start taking their trash home; while berry picking please dont leave pop cans or candy wrappers or other plastics/TRASH out on the tundra. Please stop burying trash a couple inches under the tundra because the trash will come back out. When a couple of our youth participants gathered kapukaqs this spring time, they found pop cans and plastics in the ponds. Here we thought those areas were clean because we never heard anyone complain about finding trash while gathering greens from the open resources we harvest from during the spring season. Our YLP have also learned about groundwater contamination caused by fuel spills and how inevitable the cycle of pollution comes back to us all whether it is through the foods we eat or years later finding out about cancer. They have also learned that when we go out hunting or berry picking, we enter into the wildlife home where animals and birds live, and when we go fishing, we know that the waters should be clean and healthy. One thing that the younger children asked for was to get recycling bins stationed all around town for the community to start recycling and to put candy wrappers and other trash in the right designated spots at home or at a nearby trash can. -Mary C. Matthias, Environmental Program Coordinator, Orutsararmiut Native Council Natural Resources Dept. Share this: Tweet Email AHFC funds four projects for safety, health and education professionals. The Village of Tununak is the recipient of a grant that will be used to build a three-bedroom house. Tununak has been recruiting for a Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) for nearly two years without success. The village will receive $381,000 to build a three bedroom home. The Villages approach to the project development combines several funding sources to modernize infrastructure, including water, sewer and roads. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), in partnership with the Rasmuson Foundation, announces $2 million in Teacher Health Professional and Public Safety Officer Housing (THHP) grants to support housing construction in four rural Alaska communities. Access to safe, quality and affordable housing is vital to the well-being of any community, says Bryan Butcher CEO/executive director of AHFC. Along with Rasmuson Foundation contributions, these funds meaningfully impact housing shortages. Projects selected for funding are energy efficient, provide job training and employment to a local labor force, and address a specific goal or need for safe, quality, affordable housing: Other organizations receiving grants are: Hoonah Indian Association will receive $550,000 to support seven units (14 bedrooms), along with office space for rotating behavioral health services. Village of Kasaan will receive $373,000 to replace a damaged trailer with a duplex intended to house teachers and provide low-income housing for a tribal member. Huslia Village Council is receiving its third THHP grant in 12 years, $550,000, to build a duplex for law enforcement and health professionals. The community has experienced a shortage of VPSOs, and a health aide position has been vacant since 2016. THHP funds are competitively awarded and do not fund any project in its entirety. Twelve communities applied for the gap funding this year. Awards for funding are made based on published criteria (ahfc.us). The Alaska legislature authorized spending of AHFCs corporate dividend for this purpose in 2017, along with a match from the Rasmuson Foundation. The THHP program has funded 120 projects since it was launched in 2004. An interactive map and list of prior awards is available at ahfc.us. Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is a public corporation with a long history of providing Alaskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing through home financing programs, energy efficiency and weatherization programs, public housing and more. Since 1986, AHFC has contributed $1.9 billion to the State of Alaskas General Fund. Share this: Tweet Email By Judith Magyar 22 January 2016 (SAP Community Network) Emerging technologies such as 3D printing and genetic engineering offer a lot of promise, but can also be double-edged swords. They can help make our lives easier, safer and healthier, but there is also potential to build weapons or dangerously modify organisms. Developments like these raise questions for visionaries such as Nicholas Davis, Head of Society and Innovation, World Economic Forum. Over the course of three previous industrial revolutions, work changed from manual to mechanical to automated mass production. We are now entering the fourth cycle, the world of cyber systems which is disrupting industry faster than ever before. So it is essential to world peace and prosperity that global leaders address ethical issues surrounding technology, cultivate new norms and values worldwide and provide more opportunities for growth, writes Davis in his thought provoking essay on understanding the fourth industrial revolution. Thats why the brightest minds from government, business and civil society meet annually to tackle big issues together in the collaborative Spirit of Davos. The World Economic Forum has been convening annually in the Swiss city for 45 years. Its mission is to improve the state of the world through public and private cooperation. [] As we change technology, it changes us! Machines and robots are taking over the work of humans so quickly that jobs are becoming obsolete much faster than we can create new ones. Technology is threatening jobs that we previously considered safe, such as taxi drivers and airplane pilots both in danger from self-driving vehicles. Drones are even delivering pizzas! New products and processes will certainly lead to new growth, but change does not happen at the same pace everywhere. Technologically advanced societies will profit more while others will lag behind. Its up to the attendees in Davos to ensure that everyone will have the right education and skills to benefit from these exciting developments. [more] By Eric Roston 22 January 2016 (Bloomberg) As chairman of investments at Guggenheim Partners, Scott Minerd thought he had a realistic view on how big an economic challenge climate change poses. Then, at a Hoover Institution conference almost three years ago, he met former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz. Minerd recalled him saying: Scott, imagine that you woke up tomorrow morning, and the headline on the newspapers was, The World Has Discovered a New Ocean. The opening of the Arctic, Shultz told him, may be one of the most important events since the end of the ice age, some 12,000 years ago. And while Shultzs spokesman couldnt confirm the conversation, theres no doubting the melting of the Arctic ice cap, and the unveiling of resources below, presents mind- boggling opportunities for energy, shipping, fishing, science, and military exploitation. Russia even planted its flag on the sea floor at the North Pole in 2007. Energy and shipping have been first up. Norway made its national fortune drilling in northern waters, and Arctic fossil fuel exploration has become a more prominent part of U.S. energy policy. Melting ice means that in summer months, cargo can travel approximately 5,000 km from Korea to New York, rather than the 12,000 km it takes to pass through the Panama Canal. Warming waters also open up access to commercial fish stocks, making the Arctic a growing source of food. Not long after that Hoover conference, Minerd joined a World Economic Forum advisory council. Its task? Develop guidelines for those nations looking to do business at the top of the world. That framework was released Thursday, in Davos. The history of economic development in regions of the world has really been fraught with a mass of mistakes, said Minerd, who before Guggenheim worked at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. It really seems that someone needed to start developing a minimum standard, as a guide for economic development in the region. The Arctic Investment Protocol, developed by a 22-member WEF global agenda council, puts forward sustainability principles similar to initiatives developed for mature economies in recent years. The focus is long-term: tap the expertise of indigenous communities and treat them as commercial partners, protect ecosystems (even as rising temperatures change them before our eyes), and prevent corruption while encouraging international collaboration. The Arctic nations include Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the U.S., so there is a lot of collaboration to be had. [] Such an effort will require significant scientific observation, especially given how little data there is, and how few have ever lived north of 66 degrees. Jan-Gunnar Withner, director of the Norwegian Polar Institute and a member of the WEF group, said increases in shipping, mining or other natural resource harvesting will be at the mercy of a fast melting ice cap. The retreat of ice sheets has created a shifting seascape of shipping channels. Melting glaciers are spawning more pesky icebergs that can wreak havoc on container ships and drilling platforms. The Arctic is warming faster than any other part of the globe, Winther says: These changes are like nothing we have seen. We dont have anything to compare with in history. [more] Ganesh Venkatraman Completes His Portion In Dhanushs Film With Prabhu Solomon You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. by Kathleen Gilbert BEIJING, September 7, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) Escaped Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is leading international opponents of forced abortion in calling upon the worlds largest company to end compliance with the Chinas one-child policy. Family planning police have targeted employees (569) Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Close Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Church Militant, we need to band together to protect our religious liberties and win the culture war! Ohio statewide, congressional candidates disputed 2020 election U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance is among a slate of Ohio officials who cast doubt on the 2020 election results amid false claims of systemic fraud. Iran and China today signed a joint statement on comprehensive strategic partnership ensuring Chinese support and recognition of the Islamic Republic of Iran in international community. Iran's Hassan Rouhani and China's Xi Jinping signed JSCSP today, at the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Iran along with a delegation of businessmen and statesmen. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the People's Republic of China announced that by achieving a major agreement in all areas of bilateral relations and regional and international issues, they have established ties based on ''Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.'' The ''Joint Statement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Islamic Republic of Iran and People's Republic of China'' includes 20 articles specifying the roadmap of developing and deepening Tehran-Beijing ties in ''Political,'' ''Executive Cooperation,'' ''Human and Cultural,'' ''Judiciary, Security and Defence,'' and ''Regional and International'' domains. The statement was simultaneously published in both countries on Saturday at the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to Tehran. The following is the text of the joint statement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Islamic Republic of Iran and People's Republic of China: Upon the invitation by His Excellency Mr. Hassan Rouhani the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 to 23 January 2016. The two Heads of State deeply exchanged views on cooperation in all fields of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest under an amicable and cordial atmosphere and thus reached extensive agreements. During their over two thousand years old history of bilateral ties, Iran and China have both played important roles in spreading friendly cooperation along the Silk Road as well as in facilitation and expansion of the world trade. During the 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries on 16 August 1971, bilateral ties have witnessed outstanding achievements in various political, economic, cultural and defense areas. Currently the regional and international situation is experiencing deep and complex developments. Under such circumstances, the two sides emphasize the importance of cooperation between the developing countries on international affairs and are committed to joint efforts towards realization of peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large. In view of the actual needs of upgrading the level of bilateral relations under the new conditions, both sides thus agree to establish relations based on ''Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'' under which framework they shall further expand bilateral cooperation in the following domains: A-Political Domain Both sides believe that under the current conditions of deepening multilaterization of the international order and globalization of the economy, the bilateral ties between Iran and China have gained strategic importance and the two sides regard each other as important strategic partners and thus designate the expansion of bilateral relations as a priority of their respective foreign policies. Appropriate and constant expansion of bilateral ties conforms to the common interests of both countries and contributes to safeguarding the regional and global peace, stability and development. In order to strengthen political consultations between senior officials on issues of mutual interest and to enhance mutual strategic trust, both sides reached consensus on establishing a mechanism of annual meetings between their Ministers of Foreign Affairs as well as periodic consultation meetings between their relevant regional Deputy-Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Both sides emphasize the necessity of expanding relations between the central governments, provincial cooperation (local governments) as well as between their political groups and parties in order to exchange experiences and strengthen interactions in all fields. Emphasizing the effective role of the legislating bodies of both countries in the expansion and development of ties, both sides emphasize enhancement of exchanges and cooperation between both countries' legislative bodies and parliaments in various fields and levels and as well as deliberation and consultation at relevant regional and international organizations such as the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and Inter-parliamentary Union. Both sides strongly support each other regarding issues pertaining to their core interests such as independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Iranian side continues its strong commitment to the One-China policy. The Chinese side supports the Iranian side's ''Development Plan'' as well as increasing Iran's role in regional and international affairs. In view of the determination of both sides to expand relations between the two countries and the complementariness of their economic potentials as well as existence of numerous areas of joint cooperation such as energy, infrastructure, industry and technology, both sides agree to put consultations and discussions aimed at concluding a bilateral 25-year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement on their agendas. B- Executive Cooperation Domain The Iranian side welcomes ''the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road'' initiative introduced by China. Relying on their respective strengths and advantages as well as the opportunities provided through the signing of documents such as the ''MOU on Jointly Promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road'' and ''MOU on Reinforcement of Industrial and Mineral Capacities and Investment'', both sides shall expand cooperation and mutual investments in various areas including transportation, railway, ports, energy, industry, commerce and services. In view of their relative economic advantages, both sides shall enhance their bilateral and multilateral cooperation in areas such as fossil fuels as well as new and renewable energies, security of demand and supply as well as transfer and transportation of fossil fuels and the Chinese side shall consider financing and investing in the upstream and downstream projects of the energy industries in Iran and the Iranian side shall provide the necessary facilitations and support in this respect. Both sides express their agreements to enhancing investment and trade exchanges and promote tangible cooperation in the areas of economy, banking, mutual investment, financing, mining, transportation, communications, space, manufacturing industries, developing of ports, upgrading and expansion of railway networks, express railway systems, agriculture, water resources, protection of environment, food security, fighting desertification, water desalination, use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and renewable energies, based on the bilateral ''MOU on Strengthening of Investment Cooperation'' and cooperating in the exchange of know-how and technology as well as in human resource training . The Chinese side appreciates Iran's participation as a ''Founding Member'' of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. Both sides are willing to strengthen their cooperation in the relevant areas and join their efforts towards the progress and prosperity of Asia. C- Human and Cultural Domain In view of their historical commonalities and existence of numerous capacities in human fields, both sides agree with a leading role for their bilateral Joint Cultural Committee and upgrading the level of their cultural cooperation. In this regard, they will encourage their citizens to visit each other's countries and strengthen cooperation in the fields of tourism, health, youth, and sports. They will also enhance their press and public diplomacy exchanges and increase cooperation between their media as well as the mutual visits by their media delegations. Also, through enhancement of dialog and human exchanges and expansion of communications between their Non-Governmental Organizations in various forms, they will pave the way for mutual understanding and friendship between the two Nations. Both sides shall study the possibility of mutually designating cultural years and shall continue their consultations regarding establishing their cultural centers and provision of necessary facilitation in this regard. Also, by enhancing their consular mechanisms and cooperation, both sides emphasize the provision of necessary support and facilitation to each other's citizens in their countries. Both sides shall enhance their cooperation in the fields of academic and higher education, exchange of professors and students, scientific cooperation and transfer of new technologies and execution of joint projects. D- Judiciary, Security and Defense Domain Both sides shall enhance their judicial cooperation in all fields and through exchanging high-ranking delegations and specialized cooperation as well as the Extradition Treaty, and the Agreements on Mutual Judicial Assistance in Criminal Affairs and Mutual Judicial Assistance in Civil and Commercial Affairs they shall strengthen their consultations and cooperation. Both sides recognize terrorism, extremism and separatism as threats against all humanity and the global peace and stability. Emphasizing the necessity for firm and integrated determination of the international community in fighting the three evil forces, they express their readiness to discuss pragmatic cooperation and policies in this regard. They recognize the UN resolution of ''World against Violence and Extremism'' (WAVE) proposed by the Iranian President, H.E. Mr. Hassan Rouhani, as an appropriate framework to attain such goals. Through enhancement of contacts and bilateral cooperation both sides shall reinforce their fight against illegal border-crossing, smuggling and trafficking of goods and illegal drugs and substances and their chemical precursors, cyber-crimes, transnational and organized crimes and while supporting the existing mechanisms, they shall consider establishing new and necessary mechanisms in this regard. They shall also strengthen the cooperation between their law-enforcement institutions in various areas including the training of law-enforcement personnel. Both sides view the enhancement of communications and exchanges between their Armed Forces and Ministries of Defense as contributing to stability and security and shall increase the exchange of delegations, consultations and coordination at various levels and shall upgrade the level of cooperation of the Armed Forces of the two countries through cooperation mechanisms in the fields of human resource training, fighting terrorism and exchange of information, as well as equipment and technology. E- Regional and International Domain Both sides reaffirm their support for the multi-polarization process of the international system and express their readiness to tackle global challenges and create a world filled with peace and stability. The two sides reiterate their commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, especially those pertaining to respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as non-interference in the internal affairs of countries. They oppose all kinds of use of force or threatening with use of force or imposition of unjust sanctions against other countries as well as all forms and manifestations of terrorism and believe that controversial or acute international issues should be resolved through negotiations and political dialog. The Chinese side appreciates Iran's constructive role in fighting terrorism and establishing regional peace and stability. Both sides are of the opinion that peace and stability in this region are in line with the common interests of the International Community and express their readiness to enhance bilateral consultations on major regional issues including the developments in Syria and Yemen crisis as well as the establishment of an area free of weapons of mass destruction and resolution of acute issues through political dialog. They support the will of the countries and peoples of the region seeking political systems and development paths conforming to their national conditions, aiming at realizing their sustainable stability and economic and social development. Both sides support the efforts by the countries of the region as well as the people of Palestine to achieve their rights too. Both sides shall enhance their consultations within the framework of regional and international organizations. China attaches importance to Iran's effective role as the regional power and evaluates positively Iran's role in activities under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and supports Iran's application for full membership of the Organization. Both sides welcome the agreement reached between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the 5+1 countries on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and believe that the agreement contributes toward guaranteeing the peacefulness of Iran's nuclear activities and results in the full realization of Iran's legitimate rights to peaceful use of nuclear energy according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Both sides emphasize that all relevant parties should implement the JCPOA and the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2231 in good faith and in an inclusive and balanced manner and reiterate that they will strive to advance the process of modernization of the Arak heavy-water reactor. French President Francois Hollande is seeking parliament's approval to prolong the state of emergency, declared after the deadly 13 November Paris attacks, by another three months even as Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned that Europe's migration crisis is putting the EU at grave risk. "The French President has announced that, given the terrorist threat, the government would present during a cabinet meeting on February 3 a bill extending the state of emergency for a period of three months," Xinhua cited an Elysee statement as saying on Friday. Prime Minister Manuel Valls, meanwhile told the BBC that Europe could not take all the refugees fleeing what he called terrible wars in Iraq or Syria. "Otherwise," he said, "our societies will be totally destabilised." Europe is now hosting over a million migrants, mostly refugees, arrived last year, many making perilous journeys amidst fears that the migrants may not all be refugees fleeing war torn West Asian countries and could contain elements of the jihadi terror groups. Valls also said that France could extend its current state of emergency for "as long as is necessary" because of the threat from Islamic State (IS) jihadists, whom he called "Daesh". President Hollande declared a state of emergency on 14 November, a day after the Paris attacks, giving police powers to conduct house searches without judicial warrants and arrest suspects. Parliament since approved a proposal to extend the state of emergency to three months, and that term is expected to expire on 26 February. Valls said the state of emergency should be maintained "the time necessary... till we can get rid of Daesh." "We cannot always live all the time in a state of emergency. But, as long as the threat is there, we must use all available means," he said. Europe, he said, needed to take urgent action to control its external borders. "If Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, it's the very idea of Europe that will be questioned." The migration crisis is threatening major shifts in population, Valls said and warned that the concept of Europe itself was now in very grave danger. On German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming message last year to refugees, Valls said she "had courage", but it was clear he believed her message was wrong. "A message that says 'Come, you will be welcome' provokes major shifts" in population, says Valls. India looks to Africa to meet future oil demand The fourth India Africa Hydrocarbons Conference concluded in New Delhi on Friday with a resolve to strengthen the relations between India and Africa in all its dimensions, particularly in the hydrocarbons sector. India, considered as the top driver of energy demand growth in the world in the years to come, has also asked its oil firms to boost ties with resource-rich Africa to lock in supplies to meet future demand. India, the world's third biggest oil importer, has already stepped up oil imports from Africa in 2015 and New Delhi wants to further boost shipments from the region. India imports nearly 16 per cent of its crude oil requirements from Africa now, with the majority coming from Nigeria and Angola. Besides, Indian public and private sector companies have interests in oil and gas fields across Africa, including Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique, Gabon and other countries. Indian Oil Corp, the country's largest refiner, has doubled imports from Nigeria to 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) for 2016-17 while Hindustan Petroleum Corp has sought similar volumes from the African nation. African countries also want Indian investment to boost their oil output and develop infrastructure. The African countries evinced specific interest in using India's expertise and assistance in refining, capacity building and training of their manpower for the petroleum industry. During the bilateral meetings, it was also agreed to provide facilitating framework, wherever required, for public and private sector companies of India and the African countries to undertake oil and gas projects. Minister of state (independent charge) for petroleum and natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, said, during the year, his ministry will be sending composite delegations comprising upstream, downstream and EPC service providers from both public and private sector to countries with assessed potential for future co-operation. Pradhan also said that India recognizes Africa as a valued partner for the comprehensive development of our peoples. He also announced additional 250 fully funded scholarships for African nationals for technical and professional courses in the hydrocarbons sector in Indian institutes. A total of 21 African countries participated in the event, which saw enthusiastic representation at various levels, including ministers of petroleum, petroleum regulators, CEOs of national oil companies and experts in the field of petroleum. Delegations of nine African countries - Mauritius, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia - were headed by the respective ministers. Senior officials led the delegations from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Libya, Cote d'Ivory, Gabon and Sierra Leone. During the third India-Africa Forum Summit in October 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a $10-billion concessional lines of credit to Africa. The two sides had also agreed to work together to identify projects in hydrocarbon sector which can be implemented under the credit facility. The prime minister had also announced 50,000 scholarships for African students in the next 5 years, including 250 scholarships in petroleum sector. India's oil consumption is estimated to rise by 6 million barrels per day (bpd) to about 10 million bpd by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). 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. Modern Filipina, do you have a concept of what it is? To me, a Modern Filipina is not a pushover. She knows her rights and fights for it. She doesnt stay quiet and take BS. She goes for what she wants . She is an achiever. She doesnt step on anyones foot. She is loving, caring and thoughtful but she also knows how to take care of herself. She does not abandon. She inspires. She is an enabler. Yesterday, Creamsilk spearheaded an event to celebrate the #ModernFilipina. The Philippines top magazines gathered in one venue to put a spotlight on the modern FIlipina to enjoy a glamorous, empowering and inspiring acivitity to help kick off each women attendees transformation . Workshops on fashion, beauty, confidence building and hair care are just few of the the things that happened at the event venue. Photo booths were scattered all over the place so everyone can capture their transformations that day. Sara Black was there taking photos and teaching everyone how to look their best in any photo shoot, which is really cool, although I did not get a chance to have a shoot with her as the stub for the number of people she was alloted to shoot are already taken (bummer). To cap it all off, the first ever live cover shoot of the top women magazines Yes! Metro, Cosmopolitan, Preview, Meg and Mega happened with Heart Evangelista, Rachelle Ann Go, Colleen Garcia, Julie Ann San Jose, Nadine Lustre and Yassi Pressman as the Creamsilk Covergirls and yes brand ambassadors of Creamsilk who embodies the essence of a #ModernFilipina . It was hard to take photos of the the live shoot with all the people in the event venue (something any media who went there to cover gets frustrated about) So, I just got backstage pass, to have #selfie with the stars (backstory on how I got there? Ill never tell). But here are the backstage photos, you cannot see anywhere. Ms. Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach was able to make it to the event but her bodyguards from Ms. Universe were really strict and tight so I was not able to take a backstage hanash #selfie with her. This was her first public appearance in the Philippines as Ms. Universe btw. She just got back from the U.S. Pia also went through a lot of transformations to get to where she is that is why she is also a perfect brand ambassador of Creamsilk and the #CreamsilkTransformations campaign. How about you, what is your concept of a Modern Filipina? what do you think of the latest lineup of brand ambassadors of Creamsilk? Were you at the #CreamsilkTransformations event how was your experience? Stay gorgeous everyone! In comments here at Eclectablog and in many other media spaces around the globe, people are clamoring for the resignation of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. For Michigan residents, that call has been ringing in the halls of this great state almost from the moment he was sworn into office for his first term. If we get into the Way Back Machine, we will remember that in his first State of the State address Gov. Snyder announced that, as a result of his research, it was time to get rid of item pricing in retail stores. This, he said, would save consumers money, make life easier, and provide an easier path to making sure you werent being overcharged. But that didnt work out very well did it? Instead, it cost jobs, made catching retailers who were overcharging without getting caught literally impossible, and made life much more confusing for shoppers, to the point that, as consumers, we just gave up and walked away from the quagmire this caused. It should have been a warning that what we were going to be dealing with if Rick Snyder became the governor of Michigan, was to expect the unexpected. And Rick Snyder has NEVER disappointed in that regard! We quickly learned that Rick Snyder would balance the state budget by taxing the retirement pensions of Michigan residents who never saw that coming and that, in some cases, forced good people to leave the state for a better tax situation. When one retires, they have to plan well in advance of that retirement date, naturally. So, when you plan to have a certain amount of money to live on once you retire and the equation changes significantly, it hurts you, your family, and your plans for retirement. Some just tightened the belt a bit more while others left the state. Others got part-time jobs in order to make ends meet. Welcome to Rick Snyders Michigan. I wont get into a drawn out examination of the almost $2 billion tax break for Michigan businesses or the personal property tax break that has cost us all, for now anyway, but let that be part of this conversation. From there we have a whole array of issues to choose from. But I want to focus for just a moment on Right to Work. The now-infamous statement repeated ad nauseum this is not on my agenda became so routine that most people believed it hook, line, and sinker. But, as we know, it WAS on his agenda and he signed it into law in what is proudly the birthplace of organized labor. It iss an insulting, unfair, unjustified law that allows companies and management to legally and willfully cheat workers out of decades of progress, sacrifice, and commitment and has begun what we continue to see as obstruction for workers across the state and sweeping the country. The continuing and embarrassing ill-titled Education Achievement Authority (EAA) is a national disgrace. The EAA is beyond comprehensible and has eroded public education in this state to its lowest marks in decades. The corruption, disgrace, waste of money, lies, untested and inadequate technology, and the culture of mistrust of teachers and the system is unbelievable. It should be not only disbanded, the students that are trapped in the EAA should be compensated in some way for being robbed of a constitutionally-mandated education. If it werent for very good people like Dr. Steve Wellinski at Eastern Michigan University, the over 6,000 people in the Facebook group Save Michigan Public Schools headed by Rochelle Noel, and so many other pro-public education groups, the public education issues that are still being ignored would not be discussed any longer. Thankfully for all of us, those activists are not letting these issues die a slow death. They continue to fight back. From there we can simply look at issues that werent on Gov. Snyders agenda but that he ended up signing into law, willingly and without remorse. Rape insurance. Myriad anti-democratic laws that limit our voting access and rights. Legislation legalizing disgusting amounts of unlimited money to be donated to secret PACs (of which Snyder himself benefits from) without even a trace of where those donations come from and where they are going. The Straits of Mackinaw should be a top-of-mind and top-of-news story as the over 50-year old pipeline carrying crude oil and natural gas has the realistic potential to fail at ANY time. We were told, as recently as this week, that another priority is that this infamous Line #5 be addressed and fixed. Of course it does, and yes, there is yet another commission to deal with this issue. However, the lobbyists who control that issue have more money than you or I so they can continue to fund efforts to stall this for as long as they possibly can. If, God forbid, Line #5 fails, that will be international news of the worst kind and do we really need yet another environmental disaster on our hands? From there we can turn to the ongoing and the unanswered questions about the Courser/Gamrat scandal and the question of what Rick Snyder knew and when he knew it. It matters, of course, but one controversy seems to meld into the next one before we can get answers to the first one. I could go on and on and I am positive that as you are reading this you are saying to yourself, What about issue A or issue B? I get that but there are just too many to list them all. But I think my point is made. As the Flint water crisis unfolds, it has become very clear that Gov. Snyder is way out of his league as it relates to dealing with major issues. His responses are not just inadequate, they are disingenuous and insulting to those who have two brain cells to rub together. Im sure you share my outrage over the lies and prestidigitation presented by the governor and his administration. Its no surprise that those closest to the cover-up, spokespersons for both the governors office and the MDEQ just happened to be married (Sara and Brad Wurful.) Gov. Snyder is now blaming those who cannot defend themselves to justify why little has been done to this point in Flint and he is presenting a version of what happened that anyone with a search engine can easily refute. It is no longer a matter of IF he should resign, but when he will be forced to resign. After all that has transpired the lies, the revised timelines, the lack of action on a critical community health disaster, etc. even Gov. Snyders stoic seriousness now that this has become international news is not enough to save him. Resigning will not correct anything. It will not turn back the hands of time and heal those who are or will become sick. It will not help the children who most certainly will have to deal with the impacts of lead poisoning for their whole lives. It wont help the elderly and other adults who may end up with severe kidney problems. It wont prevent the LONG train of lawsuits that will make many lawyers wealthy and cost us the taxpayer untold billions of dollars. No, resigning will not correct any of that. But, what it will do is finally and completely demonstrate to all of us that you really do take responsibility for what happened and that, by resigning, have allowed someone other than you to do what needs to be done quickly and immediately. Rick, as long as you are there obstructing the truth and playing mind and word games, which you are not any good at anyway, this will not be resolved in an expedient way and you know it. Resign. Not for me or others who just dont like you and what you have done to this state; do it for the people of Flint who deserve more then you can give them. By resigning you will send the message loud and clear that this is your fault and it would be best if someone else were in place to lead this effort to help where help is needed. Youve proven to the people of Michigan that we cant trust your words or your actions. Dont you see that its too late for you to change that now? I do and I know I am not alone. The corporatist network is now circling the wagons around Michigan Governor Rick Snyder over his administrations poisoning of Flints drinking water. This time its none other than the American Legislative Exchange Council. Its not the Snyder administration thats responsible, they say, its the retired city workers and their blood-sucking union pensions that are to blame: Govt failure, brought on by public employee pensions, poisoned Flint water. Stop blaming everyone else https://t.co/rXPEfNgrYc h/t @reason ALEC (@ALEC_states) January 22, 2016 From the ironically-named Reason article linked in their tweet: Lets not forget the reason why local authorities felt the need to find a cheaper water source: Flint is broke and its desperately poor citizens cant afford higher taxes to pay the pensions of city government retirees. As recently as 2011, it would have cost every person in Flint $10,000 each to cover the unfunded legacy costs of the citys public employees. As recently as 2011, it would have cost every person in Flint $10,000 each to cover the unfunded legacy costs of the citys public employees. The #FlintWaterCrisis is not a blueprint for what would happen if libertarians abolished government and let poor people drink poisoned water, as some enemies of free markets are no doubt claiming. Instead, its a great example of government failing to efficiently provide even the most basic of public services due to a characteristically toxic combination of administrative bloat and financial mismanagement. But as long as the media is tossing out blame, perhaps Flints public employeeswho cannibalized a dying citys financesdeserve more than just a drop? See? Rick Snyder is just a victim of the leeches on the jugular vein of society: retired city workers. The fact that his administration has failed the city on nearly every level and at nearly every juncture is, according to these corporate titans and saviors of society, irrelevant. Their article, by the way, is titled The Government Poisoned Flints WaterSo Stop Blaming Everyone Else and has the subtitle A failure of local government, brought on by public employee pensions. Its a catchy title because it says government is responsible, which it is. But the government they are talking about is the one that had no political power at the time the events leading to the poisoning of their drinking water were happening: local Flint officials. I frankly dont think these people believe their own rhetoric. Theyre just paid very well to espouse them. One more thing: Reason magazine is funded largely by the Koch brothers and has connections to ALEC itself. Of course. The big news of the day is the announcement that Rachel Maddow will be broadcasting from a townhall meeting shes holding in Flint next Wednesday evening. Watch the video announcement here: The Rachel Maddow Show heads to Flint! Wednesday 1/27 at 9pm ET! https://t.co/TAhlCLYdjP Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) January 23, 2016 Heres the official announcement: Rachel Maddow will host American Disaster: The Crisis in Flint, An MSNBC Town Hall from Flint, Michigan on Wednesday, January 27, 2015 9 p.m. ET. Maddow and members of the Flint community will examine how this man-made water crisis is now a full blown emergency with potentially devastating health effects for thousands and look ahead to potential solutions. Guests will include Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Lanice Lawson creator of Bottles for Babies, Curt Guyette of ACLU in Michigan, Bryn Mickle and Ron Fonger of The Flint Journal, Nancy Kaffer of The Detroit Free Press and many others. NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk will contribute to the coverage. In other news Flint childrens blood lead levels already were spiking in summer of 2014 Dr. Eden Wells, the chief medical executive at Michigans Department of Health and Human Services revealed yesterday that elevated lead levels in the blood of Flint children began to show up as early as the summer of 2014, a full year earlier than has been thought. However, because there was a dip later in the fall, a seasonal dip that is not unusual, HHS officials wrote it off as nothing out of the ordinary: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services own review last July showed a spike in blood-lead levels in Flint children in the months after the city switched its water supply to Flint River water. But state epidemiologists explained it away, a missed opportunity that could have resulted in an earlier response to the crisis, the agencys chief medical officer said. [] The July data review by the department came amid a growing outcry among Flint residents and local officials about the condition and safety of the citys water. The data showed a spike in the levels of lead in Flint childrens blood in July, August and September 2014 only a few months after the city had switched its water supply from the city of Detroits system to Flint River water. Email exchanges within the department showed efforts to broaden the data review, to see if the conclusions would change. They didnt. Even compared to the previous three years, the portion of first-time EBLL (elevated blood-lead levels) is highest during summer 2014, health department officials stated in a July 28 memo for Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon. But the state data also showed a drop in blood-lead levels in Flint children for October 2014 a typical, seasonal reduction. That led state epidemiologists to decide the summer spike they saw was insignificant. So, they said well just have to keep collecting further data, and taking a look at this, and follow it, Wells said. Legionnaires disease highly likely to be linked to switch to Flint River water Although there is no conclusive proof linking the 2014-2015 outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in Flint to the change to the Flint River as their water source, experts are now saying the connection is highly likely: A national expert in Legionnaires disease who met with health and hospital officials in Michigan blames the spike in cases in Genesee County on Flints water. Janet Stout, associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering with 30 years of experience studying the disease, concluded the problems with Flints water are related to the increase in Legionnaires cases although she cant prove it. It is like an emperors new clothes situation, Stout said. Somebody has to say it. She said its a reasonable conclusion given the link between poor water quality and Legionnaires disease in scientific studies done elsewhere. New data released this week by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Legionnaires outbreaks shows 70% of people who contracted the disease were exposed to Flint water two weeks before their symptoms began. Just looking at the data, it seems pretty clear: At least nine people have died from the outbreak. Heres more from The Rachel Maddow Show last night in this must-see segment where she also details the $80 million being sent to Michigan from the federal government: Now that theyve created an unprecedented public health crisis, state hands power back to city As I have mentioned in the past, now that the situation in Flint has turned into an internationally-reported catastrophe, Gov. Snyder is requesting that the power taken away from city officials through emergency management be returned. Yesterday, that happened: With Flints water crisis dominating national headlines, Gov. Rick Snyders administration moved Friday to restore much of Flint Mayor Karen Weavers management powers. The states Flint receivership transition advisory board granted Weaver the power to hire and fire the city administrator, Flints police and fire chiefs and all other city department directors. The appointment powers had belonged to city administrator Natasha Henderson after former Emergency Manager Jerry Ambrose declared Flints financial emergency over last April, ending a four-year reign of state control of the city. State Treasurer Nick Khouri signed off on the change. Mayor Weaver will now have the authority to appoint the city administrator and all department heads, Gov. Rick Snyder said in a Friday statement. Todays action is the next step in transitioning to full, local control in Flint. Too bad that didnt happen back in 2012 or 2013 when it could have made a difference and maybe saved lives. Undocumented immigrants in Flint hit hard by Flint Water Crisis An estimated 1,000 undocumented immigrants in Flint are being hit particularly hard by the poisoning of their drinking water. Because they are more likely to live in older homes that have old, lead solder-containing water lines, they face an increased chance of being exposed to lead-contaminated water. Also, because they often have limited access to television and the internet and may not speak English well or at all, many are just now learning of the lead issue: Perhaps as many as 1,000 [undocumented immigrants] are not going to water distribution centers, theyre not calling 211 and theyre not getting deliveries. Its because theyre scared. These people are undocumented immigrants living in Flint, mostly on the citys east side. Its hard to imagine, but many of them werent even aware of lead in Flints water until a couple weeks ago. One day I turned on the faucet and the water started coming out yellow, said Lucia. Lucia has been living in Flint for more than a decade. She left Mexico 23 years ago. Were not using the single mothers face or name, because shes undocumented. Im not here legally. And Im always scared that theyll arrest me, and then deport me, she said. In one situation I have learned of, an undocumented mother has an 11-month year old baby with terrible rashes. This family just learned of the lead in the water 2 weeks ago. In other words, that infant has been drinking and bathing in poison its entire life. Some undocumented immigrants are also avoiding water distribution centers because they are afraid of being deported or are, in some cases, forced to show id as shown in this video: Show me your papers to get bottled water. But we didn't need ID to get poisoned. #FlinWaterCrisis A video posted by nayyirah shariff (@vmilitant) on Jan 22, 2016 at 10:36am PST Fortunately, not all distribution centers are requiring identification. If you are an undocumented immigrant in Flint being impacted by the water problems or know of someone who is, please contact American Voice by emailing [email protected]. New DEQ chief questions legality of USEPAs demands of Michigan officials Keith Creagh, the new Director of Michigans Department of Environmental Quality, is questioning the legality of an order from the USEPA that Michigan make some substantial changes in their response to the catastrophe in Flint: The political and regulatory blame game taking place as Flints water and public health crisis unfolds, took another turn Friday with the new head of Michigans Department of Environmental Quality saying the state will comply with a federal order regarding the handling of the emergency, but taking a combative stance in doing so. First, DEQ Director Keith Creagh questioned the Environmental Protection Agencys legal authority to make such demands. Then he disputed EPA Administrator Gina McCarthys contentions in her emergency order sent to the state Thursday that the state has delayed corrective action in Flint, where high lead levels were found in drinking water. [] In Thursdays order, the EPA said despite ongoing efforts in Flint even after the city switched back from Flint River water as its source to Lake Huron in October, there remained underlying problems and fundamental deficiencies in the response by both the state and the city of Flint. It ordered them to inventory all the lead service lines in the city an unknown number and demanded the state create a publicly accessible website to post results of water sampling and reports. Lawyer demanding Snyder correspondence regarding Flint Water Crisis back to 2011 After releasing his 2014 & 2015 emails regarding the Flint water crisis, it has been shown at least twice (HERE and HERE) that Gov. Snyder has not released them all. Now, a Flint attorney who has filed two class action lawsuits related to the Flint situation is demanding that the governor release more documents: A lawyer representing a growing number of Flint residents will serve a comprehensive request for documents to Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday. The Governor says he has immunity from the Freedom of Information Act, but he doesnt have immunity from our lawsuit, said Michael Pitt, who is one of a group of attorneys who filed class action lawsuits this week against the state in Genesee County and the state Court of Claims. Pitt, who commented during a taping of the public television show Off the Record, will be looking for e-mails, text messages and any other electronic communication on the Flint water crisis from Snyder and his administration going back to 2011. The lawsuit in Genesee County asks that Flint stop shutting off water service to customers and charging people for water they cant drink. The Court of Claims lawsuits seeks to hold Snyder and the state financially accountable for damages caused after the city, with the approval of a state appointed emergency manager, switched from the Detroit Water and Sewer System to drawing water from the Flint River. The more corrosive river water was improperly treated and caused lead to leach from pipes into residents and business tap water. Flint Water Advisory Task Force calls for changes in how state is responding to the crisis The Flint Water Advisory Task Force, created by Gov. Snyder to direct the states actions in responding to the human-made public health emergency in Flint, is calling for changes in how water is distributed in the city: Gov. Rick Snyders Flint Water Advisory Task Force says its essential to re-establish a trusted drinking water distribution system in Flint to replace the unsustainable and expensive bottled water and filter distribution program. In a letter to Snyder released Friday, the task force also calls on the state to ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help the state in assessing outbreaks of Legionnaires disease in 2014 and 2015, which may have been linked to the Flint water problem, and which caused nine deaths in Genesee County. Gov. Snyder responds to Flint Water Crisis by hiring a new PR firm One of Gov. Snyders responses to the poisoning of Flints drinking water by his administration is to hire a new out-of-state public relations firm along with former spokesperson of Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr: Gov. Rick Snyder has hired the national public relations firm Mercury LLC, where the spouse of Snyders new chief of staff is a senior vice president, to help with communications during the Flint water crisis. The governor has also hired another communications expert, Bill Nowling, chief of staff Jarrod Agen said late Friday. Agens wife, Bettina Inclan-Agen, is a senior vice president in Mercurys Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., office, according to the firms website. Mercurys website lists no office in Michigan. Agen told the Free Press in a text message that because of the extreme interest from both statewide and national media, the governors office has hired both Mercury and Nowling, a former Snyder campaign spokesman who also worked for former Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr. Black Lives Matter activists make demands in Flint Water Crisis Organizers in the Black Lives Matter movement are calling for specific actions in response the the Flint water crisis: Governor Snyder request Flint is named a federal disaster zone A moratorium on all water shutoffs Removal of all water liens on property taxes Immediate replacement of all water public infrastructure including service lines at no cost to residents and business owners Refund for all water bills since the switch to the Flint water system Creation of a fund to repair all property damage from the toxic water such as appliances, interior plumbing, water heaters, and furnaces The lifting of executive immunity from the Governors office and the immediate release of communications related to the Flint water crisis An independent state and federal investigation into the Flint water crisis Creation of a Flint Citizen Civilian Core to train local workers to repair the infrastructure Creation of a holistic medical care facility in Flint to treat residents that will offer chelation therapy as treatment for lead poisoning Installation of whole home reverse osmosis systems in all homes and business to protect residents and business from all contaminates in water Creation of a medical monitoring fund for treatment of Flint residents Return of Flint to home rule The immediate resignation of Governor Rick Snyder The water crisis in Flint is one of many ways state agencies and elected officials have sanctioned violence against Black people. In solidarity with the people of Flint, Michigan, the Black Lives Matter National Network demands the following: Gov. Snyders appeal to FEMA for disaster declaration falls on deaf ears After requesting an appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Authoritys decision not to call the Flint Water Crisis a disaster as opposed to an emergency which qualifies for only $5 million in federal assistance, he was again rebuffed: Worldwide downloads of Android apps in 2015 were double those for iOS, but revenues from iOS apps were nearly twice those of Android, according to anApp Annie report released this week. First-time device owners in emerging markets drove the huge increase in Android downloads, researchers found. This growth opens up avenues for publishers to create new markets by targeting unmet needs of users in a given region, the report says.Meanwhile, app revenue increased notably year over year as iOS cemented its position as app store revenue king. Biggest Revenue Generator While the growing download disparity doesnt seem to be closing the revenue gap between the two mobile operating systems, it could impact revenues in another area. This massive disparity could mark the beginning of major changes in mobile marketing, including substantial increases of Androids share of mobile ad spend, the report says. During the year, iOS revenue growth was driven by sales in China, the United States and Japan, which contributed to 90 percent of the revenues at Apples App Store, it notes. Of all the app categories, games easily topped the list of revenue generators for both Google and Apple, the report says, producing 90 percent of the app revenue for Google Play and 75 percent of the app revenue for iOS. People are always buying new games, unlike other applications, noted Tom Cummings, director of account management atFiksu. Indies Thriving As a gamer, you might be interested in 20 games a year, he told the E-Commerce Times. Youre not going to be interested in buying 20 notepads a year. The brisk sale of games offers opportunities for developers absent from other app categories, according to the App Annie report. Games continue to drive huge volumes of downloads and store revenue, yet we are seeing new trends emerge as indie developers challenge top publishers, it says. However, games reach the end of their life cycle very fast, making it important for publishers to find success for new games faster than ever, the report notes. You dont see a new Angry Birds popping up everywhere, but you still see indie games popping up and doing well, Fiksus Cummings pointed out. Long-term growth, though, is hard. Reason for Revenue Gap The revenue gap between iOS and Android app sales has existed for some time. iOS users tend to be more affluent and as a result spend more on apps, Ross Rubin, senior director for industry analysis at App Annie, told the E-Commerce Times. In addition, iPhone users are more likely to use apps on their phones than Android users are. Google Play has many more users, but for many of them, those Android phones are used like feature phones, said Jonathan Godfrey, vice president of public affairs forACT | The App Association. Its hard to buy a feature phone these days, so people at the low end of the market are buying smartphones and using them as feature phones, he told the E-Commerce Times. Income Discrepancies Phones priced at $50 are very popular in places like India and China because people dont have a lot of money to spend on them, noted Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst atMoor Insights & Strategy. The less money you have to spend on hardware, the less money you have to spend on software, he told the E-Commerce Times. However, the chasm in app revenue numbers on a per-unit basis might close if comparisons were made between owners of high-end Android phones and iPhones, Moorhead noted. I believe that if you looked at app purchases by premium Android phone users and Apple phone users, the numbers would be similar. TV Opportunities Theres a bright place for apps in the changing TV marketplace, the App Annie report suggests. This long-standing money-making screen holds huge opportunity for app sales and advertising in 2016 and beyond, it says. Its also an opportunity for consumers and developers, App Annies Rubin added. Apple TV and Googles Nexus Player are relatively inexpensive ways to enter Apples and Googles app ecosystems, he said. As those devices proliferate, it opens up new opportunities for developers and a mix of capabilities on TV that we havent really seen before, Rubin continued. The new TV apps also can fill a gap in the gaming market, which has two extremes and no middle, observed ACTs Godfrey. You have this huge market between $10 apps on a mobile phone and $80 console games that TV apps can fill. The U.S. Army may be in the walking phase of its plan to shift major portions of its information technology resources to the cloud, but a recent contracting initiative could move the service up to a jogging pace by the end of the year. The Armys progress in migrating much of its IT capabilities to the cloud was characterized as a crawl during 2015. The services goal was to move to a walk status in fiscal 2016, and then to a run level in 2017 and 2018, according to a 2015 briefing by Col. John Rozsnyai, chief of the enterprise architecture division for theArmy CIO. The service launched the cloud contracting initiative in November when it asked for comments from vendors on a draft request for proposals for the Army Cloud Computing Enterprise Transformation, or ACCENT, program. The Army is assessing industry feedback on the draft. To supplement those comments, the Army issued a specific capability and task questionnaire for potential vendors and set a deadline of Friday for responses. The ACCENT program supports the Armys effort to move certain IT applications, systems and data to the commercial cloud, according to an Army notice last month. The scope of the program includes services and solutions needed to migrate eligible enterprise applications to the cloud. Components will include Information as a Service, Platform as a Service and Software as a Service. Contractor Selection Process A major feature of the procurement effort is the use of what is essentially a blanket purchase agreement process, which the Army is calling a blanket ordering agreement, or BOA. The Army will select a number of vendors to provide a variety of cloud services for what amounts to a standing roster of prequalified businesses. Those vendors will be eligible to compete for specific cloud projects under various task orders. To counter vendor lock-in when certain vendors gain a measure of exclusivity in bidding for contracts the Army will limit the duration of the BOAs to three years. It also will allow additional contractors to be brought on each year. Task orders will use a range of pricing mechanisms, including fixed price, firm-fixed price, cost plus fixed fee, cost-reimbursement and labor-hour contracts. Much of the draft RFP was devoted to ensuring proper IT safeguards, including use of the FedRAMP process as well as the incorporation of Department of Defense cybersecurity requirements. Having all potential vendors meet uniform security standards under BOAs should facilitate the contracting process. The ACCENT program is not new the name was adopted with the issuance of the draft RFP but essentially succeeds the existing Army Cloud Hosting Contract Vehicle. A Must Win for Vendors ACCENT is an effort to establish a multiple-award contract vehicle that will provide the Army with a roster of vendors who can provide a host of cloud and cloud-related services, said Alex Rossino, senior principal analyst atDeltek. My understanding is that ACCENT contract holders will be the primary providers of commercial cloud services to the Army, and I have heard that ACCENT will be the go-to contract vehicle used by the Army Application Migration Business Office for migrating applications to commercial clouds, he told the E-Commerce Times. In this sense, securing a spot on ACCENT is a must-win for vendors hoping to do cloud business with the Army. Award of the contract would definitely be a notable milestone for the Army and probably for the DoD as a whole because it will provide customers with a bevy of cleared vendors to choose from, Rossino said. A final request for proposals most likely would be issued between July and December, he estimated. The documents Ive seen suggest that Army customers will be able to use private, public and community cloud models as part of ACCENT. Also, multiple types of on- and off-premises cloud models will be available. The important thing is that the models comply with the DOD Security Requirements Guide, Rossino noted. The potential value of the multiyear cloud effort has yet to be determined. However, the Armys 2016 budget request for its IT operations, including maintenance and new developments, was $9.1 billion. ACCENT represents a big step forward for the Army. Clearing vendors so that solutions meet DOD security standards has been a big roadblock to DODs use of the cloud so far. Having a vehicle like ACCENT with a stable of cleared vendors should accelerate Armys use of cloud solutions and provide plenty of business opportunity for vendors on the ACCENT vehicle, Rossino said. The Federal Buzz Interior Cloud Set: A project to move theDepartment of the Interiors financial and business management system, or FBMS, to the cloud has been completed, according toUnisys, which managed the program. Interior is the first federal organization to move its SAP financial management application to the cloud, the company said. In cooperation with partnerVirtustream, Unisys provided an IaaS solution, including Virtustreams SAP in the Cloud hosting services. FBMS is an integrated financial and management system, which gives Interior and its component bureaus the ability to plan, budget, allocate, account for, analyze and report on all budgetary, appropriation, expenditure, acquisition, grant and property activities. The system uses SAP and Compusearch core business management and reporting components, and is integrated with supporting payroll, procurement and travel systems. The project does not eliminate SAP, said Greg Gordon, vice president for the Interior Department account at Unisys Federal. Unisys offers a robust IaaS solution on which the SAP-based application operates, he told the E-Commerce Times. This project is right in line with the Obama administrations Cloud First strategy, leveraging the clouds shared infrastructure and economies of scale to more rapidly respond to changing business requirements and to support the departments mission, Casey Coleman, group vice president for civilian agencies at Unisys Federal, told the E-Commerce Times. Moving to the cloud has been a game changer for the Department of the Interior, helping us modernize the way we do business, said Sylvia Burns, CIO at the Interior Department. By moving our financial management system to the cloud, we are able to make our data and applications more accessible, she told the E-Commerce Times. We are pleased to be a leader among federal agencies in embracing the Cloud First strategy at Interior. We are certainly realizing the benefits, Burns said. Cloud Adoption Guide: Concerned about federal cloud adoption, theProfessional Services Council has released a report that outlines best practices for agencies to use when adopting commercial cloud technologies. With the imperatives to replace aging infrastructure, gain access to new applications and improve cybersecurity, now more than ever, federal agencies need to realize the benefits of cloud computing, said PSC executive vice president Dave Wennergren. A PSC survey of federal CIOs in 2015 showed that only 8 percent of federal CIOs felt that they had progressed as far as they wanted to in implementing cloud-based solutions, he said. The report, Best Practices for Federal Agency Adoption of Commercial Cloud Solutions, offers a detailed guide to transitioning to a commercial cloud provider and 14 real-world case studies highlighting successful cloud adoptions. Topics include understanding the value of cloud technology, utilizing a service-centric approach to the cloud, and focusing on appropriate service-level agreements. Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o... Washington, Jan 23 (EFE).- The eastern United States is facing a huge storm that authorities fear will be historic in its intensity, which has killed at least eight people, CNN reported, and will last at least 36 hours. Six states have declared states of emergency and the nation's capital, Washington DC, is on high alert for the storm that is expected to affect a total of 85 million people from Atlanta to New York, and leave between 30 and 71 centimeters of snow with winds of up to 96 mph. Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Tennessee are in a state of emergency and the mayor of the capital, Muriel Bowser, warned that the storm poses "life or death" risks and that authorities regard it as a "national security" concern. The capital is particularly cautious as it is not used to dealing with snow storms and snow accumulation could match or even exceed the record set in January, 1922 when 71 cm was dumped on the city. Less than seven hours after the storm set in, Washington and the surrounding areas of Virginia recorded snow accumulation of 7-15 cm. On Friday night, 100,000 people were without power in North Carolina, and service outages also extended into the neighboring states of South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the company Duke Energy. New York was expected to receive a major front of the storm early today and its mayor, Bill de Blasio, has asked citizens to stay at home all weekend until authorities can clear the snow, which could reach 30 cm deep. In Philadelphia, which canceled all flights to its airport today, the snow could reach 50 cm deep. Throughout the country, 3,289 flights that were to leave yesterday, and 3,456 planned for today have been canceled, according to a count on the FlightAware site. "We are talking about wet and heavy snow and powerful winds that could bring down trees and cause large-scale power outages," said the mayor of Washington at a media conference today. Bowser asked citizens to stock up on everything they need to spend at least 72 hours at home, an advisory that the city has taken seriously, judging by the long lines and empty shelves that have been seen in supermarkets since Thursday. The metro subway system of the capital, which also serves the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia, closed yesterday at 23.00 local time (4.00 GMT Saturday) and will stay closed until at least Monday, something that had not happened since Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, forcing the service to stop for 36 hours. Metro executives took this measure, which has upset many people, as they feared a large-scale power outage caused by high winds could leave passengers trapped in the train tunnels. Buses stopped running at 15.00 local time yesterday (20.00 GMT), when the authorities asked all citizens to stay where they were until the storm ends and streets and highways are passable. The federal government closed its offices at noon yesterday and so did Capitol Hill, seat of Congress, where lawmakers are off work at least until Tuesday. At various companies and organizations in the city, workers were given the option of working from home. From yesterday at noon and over the weekend the main tourist spots of the city, including the National Mall, the memorials and the Zoo, were closed but the organizers of a national anti-abortion march still planned to demonstrate in the afternoon in downtown Washington. The states threatened by the storm have prepared more than 1,997,750 tons of salt to spread on their roads and highways and North Carolina has mobilized 100 National Guard officers. In Nashville, Tennessee, local police reported 12 accidents with injuries after drivers became stuck in the snow, and 200 accidents without injuries. A United Airlines plane skidded on the runway as it landed in Chicago which the airline attributed to bad weather, but no injuries were reported. In the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia, authorities asked truck drivers to stay off the roads. Officials said that the severity of the storm is such that people will be talking about it for generations to come. Re: Has EF been taken over by the SVP/UDC abd supporters/members? Quote: Treverus Over the last two years did a lot of the younger internet user not join and use EF in the same numbers as before - I see a lot of the activities that used to be on EF now on different websites like meetup.com or various facebook groups. I am pretty sure the forum is still used for questions on daily life, but less for all the social discussions or meetings. This leaves us with a relatively small core of long term users, many of which seem to be grumpy old men... which have on here the type of SVP argument you'd find in any village pub at the old regulars' table. And 2...There is a page set up on the FB groups called EF youngsters...For those under 35 because alot feel like it is a bunch of old whiners. Some of you might not be so old even. When I meet alot of people in person they tell me they thought I was in the 55 to 65 age range, a SVP card carrier, and Swiss. None of the above is true. But apparently some of us come off as know it alls and cranky. There is one Zurich group where everyone is young lively, very friendly and all out going. The kind of experience one would look for in a new place and new world. In the last 9 years I am quote certain I have met close to 1000 EF members both thru the forum and by chance. I feel bad to meet a perfectly kind stranger and learn they used EF and they cringe at the mention of it. Then to retrace their user name to find they asked some partially naive question and we're jumped on or insulted. Or called trolls. To find out their threads were genuine. That's my honest answer. Honestly I know 2 answers to this...One alot of normal people are turned off by the English Forum because not only do they find it clique-ish , they feel they have to explain themselves in advance so they won't get jumped on.And 2...There is a page set up on the FB groups called EF youngsters...For those under 35 because alot feel like it is a bunch of old whiners.Some of you might not be so old even. When I meet alot of people in person they tell me they thought I was in the 55 to 65 age range, a SVP card carrier, and Swiss. None of the above is true. But apparently some of us come off as know it alls and cranky.There is one Zurich group where everyone is young lively, very friendly and all out going. The kind of experience one would look for in a new place and new world.In the last 9 years I am quote certain I have met close to 1000 EF members both thru the forum and by chance. I feel bad to meet a perfectly kind stranger and learn they used EF and they cringe at the mention of it. Then to retrace their user name to find they asked some partially naive question and we're jumped on or insulted. Or called trolls. To find out their threads were genuine.That's my honest answer. Fan-favorite hero Deadpool has a very heartwarming Australia Day message that you will love to hear. Maybe Wolverine and the rest of the Australians will also love to hear this. In his special video, Deadpool said that he will fit with Australia's dangerous nature but he added that he can't forgive its citizens because Wolverine is their guy. Even though the famous antihero has gripes with the Australians, he didn't forget to greet them "Happy Australia Day" although he threw another jab after his greeting. We only hope that the antihero will soon forget his gripes with the awesome Australians. Watch Deadpool's special video below. The American Cancer Society recognized Marcia M. Grant, RN, PhD, FAAN, with the 2016 American Cancer Society Trish Greene Quality of Life Award, a prestigious national honor that recognizes an outstanding individual who dedicates a significant portion of their career to research that improves the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. This award honors the life and work of the late Patricia (Trish) Greene, RN, PhD. Dr. Greene served in a variety of roles as both a volunteer and professional staff member throughout her 20 year association with the Society. The Trish Greene Quality of Life Award honors Dr. Greene's memory and recognizes the significant contributions that researchers have made in the journey to achieving excellence in compassionate care for people facing cancer. "The American Cancer Society is pleased to honor Professor Grant for her dedication and outstanding influences in cancer research and providing quality supportive care for patients," said Marion E. Morra, MA, ScD, chair, Trish Greene Quality of Life Award Workgroup, American Cancer Society. "Professor Grant has dedicated her career to serving cancer patients and helping to eliminate suffering." Grant is one of the nation's most respected and influential research nurses. During the past 40 years at the City of Hope Medical Center, she pioneered innovative education and research initiatives providing high-quality supportive care for cancer patients' physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. As professor and director of nursing research and education, Grant is seen as an international influential leader to students and throughout the oncology community. She has devoted her career to research that continually improves the quality of life for cancer patients, and she has been funded by the National Cancer Institute for more than 25 years. She continues to create innovative processes to help empower nurses across the nation to provide quality survivorship care and support for cancer patients and their families. ### About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress; 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We're determined to finish the fight against cancer. We're finding cures as the nation's largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. The term "black holes" was first used in the mid-20th century by theoretical physicist John Wheeler. This term denotes relativistic supermassive objects that are invisible in all electromagnetic waves, but a great number of astrophysical effects confirms their existence. There are two basic types of black holes known to scientists according to observations: supermassive black holes and stellar-mass black holes. It is generally believed that stellar-mass black holes are formed in the end of the evolution of massive stars, when stellar energy sources are exhausted, and the star collapse due to its own gravity. Theoretical calculations impose restrictions on their mass to the extent of 5-50 solar masses. It's less clear how supermassive black holes come to existence. Masses of these black holes sitting in the center of most galaxies range between millions and billions of solar masses. Quasars, the active galactic nuclei, are supermassive black holes observed by astronomers at high redshift. It means that these giants existed in the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Ivan Zolotukhin, who works at the Research Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology (Toulouse), said: "The astronomers look for black holes of intermediate mass, because no black hole that weighs a billion times more than the Sun could have been formed without them in just 700 million years." It is believed that the first generation of stars did not contain metals and, therefore, their masses could have exceeded that of the Sun hundreds of times, and in the end of their evolution, they could become much more massive black holes than those observed today. These black holes merged into formation of thousands of solar masses, and further inclusion of galaxies and the accretion of matter led to the formation of supermassive black holes. Calculation models of hierarchical galaxy buildup have shown that there should have remained a small number of these intermediate mass black holes astronomers are looking for. A small number means about hundred pieces per a galaxy similar to our Milky Way. They should fly somewhere high above the galaxy plain because while merging black holes acquire a huge impulse that sometimes can throw them out of the galaxy. About 10 years ago, the researchers were looking for such kind of holes (thousands of solar masses) among the heavy stellar-mass holes and the light supermassive ones, but nothing lighter than 500 thousand of solar masses has been found. The paper was published in 2009 by astronomers from Toulouse, who in the course of a search for neutron stars in our galaxy accidentally found a bright X-ray source close to the galaxy, located in the distance of 100 Mpc from Earth. Luminosity evaluation showed that the mass of the object is about 10 thousand of solar masses. It is most likely that it shines due to the overflowing of matter into a black hole from a single star. A unique object called HLX-1 (Hyper-Luminous X-ray source 1) is now the only reliable candidate as the intermediate-mass black hole. Many astronomers were sure that this object is unique, and there won't be any similar to this. At the same time they didn't take into consideration that this object was found by chance, and in the catalog of sources covering only 1% of the sky. "I supposed that such objects should appear much more often, and we have proposed a method of large scale search", said Zolotukhin. The idea is to compare the objects from the wide-scale redshift survey of galaxies (SDSS) with the objects from a catalog of X-ray sources. "I suggested looking around galaxies for millions of X-ray objects with luminosity exceeding a certain value," the author explained. Having applied the developed algorithm to both catalogs, the astronomers were able to find 98 objects, among which at least 16 must be associated with their galaxies. "These are the best candidates for intermediate-mass black hole. We have shown for the first time that a new type of hypothetical intermediate mass black holes (with masses from 100 to 100 000 of solar mass) not only exist, but also exist in a population. In other words, these objects are not unique, there are lots of them", clarified the author of the paper published in The Astrophysical Journal: http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/817/2/88. The methods of the Virtual Observatory were applied in the research, and all the conclusions were obtained exclusively with the use of publicly available data and, therefore, can be confirmed from any computer with Internet access. Moreover, the authors used a new site to access the data of the XMM-Newton observatory. "The uniqueness of this web application is that for the first time in international fundamental science such a complicated project is made specifically for scientists by volunteers - highly skilled programmers, who, while working at the best IT-companies in Russia, devoted their free time to this web page. They are Alexey Sergeev, Askar Timirgazin, and Maxim Chernyshov," told Ivan Zolotukhin, "Many of my colleagues and I are still impressed by their work. The astronomers around the world can now enjoy the unique features of the site, and many discoveries can now be done directly online!" According to Zolotukhin, the current publication presents a series of studies based on this website. "It is important that thanks to simple and clear design scientists from other fields can now enjoy specific X-ray data," said the scientist. This study essentially opens up the possibility for the search of intermediate-mass black holes. Since the researchers suggested more than a dozen of such candidates, it is expected that in the years to come they will be reliably confirmed with optical spectroscopic observations. In the near future it is expected to search for them by the six-meter telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia) as well. "If there is at least one confirmation - it will be published in Nature, and astronomers immediately will rush to explore these 98 objects," said the author of the work. The candidates were found only in 2% of the sky, so astronomers hope to launch a Russian-German space telescope "Spektr-RG" in 2017. The researchers hope to discover hundreds of objects like HLX-1 through a deep X-ray view of the sky obtained by the means of this telescope. ### For the first time, researchers have been able to directly estimate the Anglo-Saxon ancestry of the British population from ancient skeletons, showing how Anglo-Saxon immigrants mixed with the native population. Human remains excavated from burial sites near Cambridge provided the material for the first whole-genome sequences of ancient British DNA. Using a new analysis method to compare these ancient genomes with modern-day sequences, researchers have estimated that approximately a third of British ancestors were Anglo-Saxon immigrants. What was the scale of the Anglo-Saxons migrations, how did they mix with the native population and how did they contribute to British ancestry? This has been a long-standing topic of debate amongst historians and archaeologists. Recently excavated skeletons dating to the late Iron Age and from the Anglo-Saxon period gave researchers the opportunity to solve this question with genomics. "By sequencing the DNA from ten skeletons from the late Iron Age and the Anglo-Saxon period, we obtained the first complete ancient genomes from Great Britain," said Dr Stephan Schiffels, first author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridgeshire and the Max Plank Institute in Germany. "Comparing these ancient genomes with sequences of hundreds of modern European genomes, we estimate that 38% of the ancestors of the English were Anglo-Saxons. This is the first direct estimate of the impact of immigration into Britain from the 5th to 7th Centuries AD and the traces left in modern England." Previous DNA studies have relied entirely on modern DNA and suggested anything between 10% and 95% contribution to the population. One such study suggested that Anglo Saxons didn't mix with the native population, staying segregated. However, this newly published study uses ancient genetic information and disproves the earlier idea, showing just how integrated the people of Britain were. The ancient skeletons from Cambridgeshire were carbon dated, proving they were from the late Iron Age (approximately 50BC) and from the Anglo-Saxon era (around 500-700 AD). Complete genome sequences were then obtained for selected DNA samples to determine the genetic make-up of these Iron Age Britons and Anglo-Saxons. "Combining archaeological findings with DNA data gives us much more information about the early Anglo-Saxon lives. Genome sequences from four individuals from a cemetery in Oakington indicated that, genetically, two were migrant Anglo-Saxons, one was a native, and one was a mixture of both. The archaeological evidence shows that these individuals were treated the same way in death, and proves they were all well integrated into the Oakington Anglo-Saxon Community despite their different biological heritage." said Dr Duncan Sayer, archaeologist and author on the paper from University of Central Lancashire. Modern British and continental European genomes from the UK10K project and the 1000 Genomes Project were compared with the genomes from the ancient skeletons. Researchers discovered that the Anglo-Saxon immigrants were genetically very similar to modern Dutch and Danish, and that they contributed 38% of the DNA of modern people from East England, and 30% for modern Welsh and Scottish. The Anglo-Saxons first settled in the South East of England so this pattern is consistent with their migration pattern. The genomes of northern European populations are similar and it is difficult to accurately distinguish between them. To help solve this problem, the study developed a sensitive new method, called rarecoal, which could identify subtle genetic traces in individuals, using rare genetic variants identified in hundreds of present-day people. Earlier methods of mapping ancient DNA looked at common genetic variants from the very distant past, which are present in most people. The new rarecoal method did exactly the opposite, allowing researchers to map more recent events and unravel very closely related populations. "We wanted to determine where ancient DNA samples would fit with respect to a modern population model and to map individuals into that model. This study, using whole-genome sequencing, allowed us to assign DNA ancestry at extremely high resolution and accurately estimate the Anglo-Saxon mixture fraction for each individual," said Richard Durbin, senior author at the Sanger Institute. "More full genome sequences and further improvements in methodology will allow us to resolve migrations in even more detail in the future." ### Notes to Editors: Publication Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon genomes from East England reveal British migration history. Stephan Schiffels et al. (2016) Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomm10326 Participating centres: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Oxford Archaeology East, 15 Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8SQ, UK Oxford Archaeology South, Janus House, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0ES, UK University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Department for Archaeogenetics, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK Selected Websites: Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) A leading ancient DNA research facility at the University of Adelaide specialising in the analysis of evolutionary processes, human evolution, and the impacts of environmental and climate change through time. Hosts the Online Ancient Genome Repository (OAGR) of ancient human genomes and microbiomes. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/acad/ The University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide is one of Australia's leading research-intensive universities and is consistently ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world. Established in 1874, it is Australia's third oldest university with a strong reputation for research and teaching excellence, and producing graduates that make an impact on the world. http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology is one of the largest independent archaeological and heritage practices in Europe, with over 250 specialist staff working out of offices in Oxford, Lancaster and Cambridge. Founded in 1973, we have over 40 years of experience in professional archaeology, and a tradition of quality, innovation and service on projects ranging in scale from domestic extensions to international transport infrastructure. We are also an Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation and, as a registered educational charity, we help people to discover and enjoy their heritage through our publications and outreach. Across the country, we have welcomed many thousands of visitors to our sites on open days, regularly provide presentations and information panels, and volunteers of all ages have participated in our wide variety of excavation and survey projects that span all periods of human history. http://www.oxfordarchaeology.com University of Central Lancashire The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston was founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. Since those early days it has grown into one of the UK's largest universities with a staff and student community approaching 38,000 and an employment-focused course portfolio containing over 350 undergraduate programmes and nearly 250 postgraduate courses. The University has an established research reputation with world-leading or internationally excellent work taking place within the areas of Business, Health, Humanities and Science. https://www.uclan.ac.uk/ The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is one of the world's leading genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower medical science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease. http://www.sanger.ac.uk/ The Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. We support the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. Our breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. We are independent of both political and commercial interests. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/ Shareholders in any financial institution with a large investment bank must have blanched in January when Deutsche Bank issued a profit warning. It wasnt so much the large and hilariously misnamed one-off litigation and restructuring charges in the final quarter of last year that led to Deutsches first full-year loss since 2008 that alarmed shareholders. More worrying were the poor underlying results, including an operating loss for the quarter of 600 million, when the analyst consensus had been for a 900 million profit, making for an 1.5 billion miss. The lead culprit appeared to be far-lower-than-expected revenues in the corporate banking and securities division. Its a painful reminder to investors who have pressed banks to restructure and reduce their investment banking divisions just how hard this is to execute and that while customer revenues can evaporate swiftly, fixed costs are harder to shift, shedding them requires more of those pesky supposedly exceptional costs and that risks take longer to manage down than revenues. The odds on a further dilutive capital raise at Deutsche, something its highly regarded new CEO John Cryan had been trying to avoid, just shortened. Investors in Barclays, which looks set to continue dismantling its investment banking operations outside the UK and the US, especially in Asia as well as in other emerging markets, should brace themselves. Troubling message Investors took rather less notice through results season of the performance of JPMorgans investment bank in the last quarter of 2015 and throughout last year, but in some ways it carries an even more troubling message. It did nothing wrong. The corporate and investment bank division reported net income of $1.7 billion on revenue of $7.1 billion for a return on equity of 10%. What might give investors pause is that return, which does no more than match cost of equity for a large globally significant bank, comes from the outright market leader in a strong year for large parts of the investment banking business. According to Dealogic, M&A revenue reached $23.4 billion in 2015, the second highest level on record and while equity underwriting revenues declined from a strong 2014, earnings from the primary market in investment-grade bonds were a record $10.4 billion in 2015. JPMorgan led the overall investment banking revenue league tables with an 8% market share and close to $6 billion in revenue, being the market share leader in debt capital markets, equity capital markets and syndicated loans, while second only to Goldman Sachs in M&A advisory revenues. Customer revenues from secondary market trading in fixed income and equities held up well, as investors positioned for the shift in Fed rates. Profits were boosted by expense-reduction efforts in the CIB division, where JPMorgan has taken out $1.3 billion of costs since 2014. Default risk was low on the relationship loans JPMorgan holds on balance sheet to support its investment banking clients, given low rates. Market risk was also contained in 2015. If the global market leader cant make more than a 10% return in a year of strong revenues and low credit and market risk costs, what will the rest do if 2016 sees lower client revenue in the funk period that usually follows bear market falls, default rates rise off their lows and market risks require more capital amid heightened volatility? Listeria bacteria are found pretty much everywhere. They turn up in water, soil, and even dust. Most species of listeria are not a problem for people. The type of listeria that poses a grave threat to humans is Listeria monocytogenes. It tends to make its way into our systems when we eat contaminated foods. Listeria monocytogenes can grow at refrigeration temperatures [whereas] most pathogens cannot, says Linda Harris, PhD, a department chair and specialist in food microbiology at the University of California in Davis. While many foods may be contaminated with nonthreatening amounts of Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterias ability to withstand cold conditions can allow small communities to reproduce and form colonies large enough to cause illness or a serious infection, explains Robert Buchanan, PhD, the director of the University of Marylands Center for Food Safety and Security Systems in Baltimore. Estimates vary, but data suggests that tens of thousands or even millions of Listeria monocytogenes organisms usually have to be present to make a person sick. Cooking kills listeria. Cooking kills listeria. Also, when stored at proper temperatures 40 degrees or below listeria bacteria replicate slowly, Dr. Buchanan says. But the longer foods are stored in the refrigerator, the more the bacteria has the chance to grow. Also, when stored at proper temperatures 40 degrees or below listeria bacteria replicate slowly, Dr. Buchanan says. But the longer foods are stored in the refrigerator, the more the bacteria has the chance to grow. The greatest food-based listeria risks are associated with ready-to-eat foods meaning foods that dont require cooking that have been sitting around for a while in a persons home or in some other food-storage environment (like a convenience store cooler). Deli meats, soft cheeses, unpasteurized dairy products, smoked meats, sprouts, and melon have all been the sources of listeria outbreaks, and are all considered high-risk foods. Many foods that are left sitting out for a few hours at room temperatures especially meats, cut fruit, and dairy foods are risky. At room temperature, listeria will double every 20 minutes, Buchanan says. In a refrigerator at 40 degrees, they double about once a day. Taking that into account, its important to eat foods soon after pulling them out of the fridge, and to refrigerate them as soon as possible if youre not going to eat them, he says. Once swallowed, Listeria monocytogenes is able to survive the acidic environment in the stomach and small intestine an environment that kills most other types of harmful bacteria. Listeria also possesses genes that allow it to penetrate the cells of the human GI tract, says Listeria also possesses genes that allow it to penetrate the cells of the human GI tract, says Janet Donaldson, PhD , a professor of microbiology at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. This penetration can lead to listeriosis and the infections life-threatening complications. Learn More About How and Why Listeria Makes You Sick Take action now: Contact United Methodist officials and urge them to overturn their ban on Discovery Institute. We have recently been highlighting the decision by officials at the United Methodist Church (UMC) to deny Discovery Institute an information table at the UMCs upcoming General Conference. Some readers might be wondering why the fuss. If intelligent design is based on science, why should we be concerned about what happens in the United Methodist Church? And why did we want to have an information table at their conference in the first place? Shouldnt intelligent design proponents restrict themselves to making arguments just to scientists? Discovery Institute regularly sponsors information tables at a wide array of venues, ranging from universities to community groups to churches. This is one of many ways we get our message out. Weve never had an information table at a United Methodist event, and since the UMC was meeting in Portland, Oregon, just a few hours away from our offices, we decided we should try. But why sponsor an information table at a church gathering at all? Intelligent design is based squarely on the findings of science. But it also has larger implications for our understanding of life. Orthodox Darwinism claims that complex life is the result of an unguided process, creating the impression that science somehow substantiates atheism or at least agnosticism. By contrast, intelligent design shows that complex life is the product of purposeful design, which seems to make science friendly to theism. We think this harmony between science and faith is something members of the United Methodist Church (and other religious groups) would benefit from knowing about. After all, according to a survey by the Pew Forum, 39 percent of those currently unaffiliated with a religion who grew up as mainline Protestants now believe that [m]odern science proves religion is superstition, and 31 percent identify this belief as an important reason they became unaffiliated. If leaders of mainline churches like the UMC want to minister more effectively to their members, they really do need resources to show how science doesnt conflict with belief in God. Of course, Discovery Institute and its Fellows spend most of their time researching and communicating the growing scientific evidence for intelligent design. Think about books like Darwins Black Box, Privileged Planet, Signature in the Cell, and Darwins Doubt; or videos like Darwins Dilemma, Unlocking the Mystery of Life, Living Waters, and The Information Enigma. But there is nothing wrong with delving into some of the broader implications of the Darwin-versus-design debate, including the relationship between faith and science. Indeed, pro-Darwin groups such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) have sponsored outreach programs to faith communities. Some years back, the NCSE even developed Sunday School curricula on evolution. If its okay for them to address science and faith issues, why not for us? As for why we have turned the spotlight on the United Methodist Church, the explanation is simple: We dont like censorship. Like most independent-minded people, we take exception when those in power try to shut off the discussion before it starts, especially when they are using a double standard to do so. Were not willing to let others silence us without pushing back. What about you? Image credit: 18percentgrey / Dollar Photo Club. A fatal Tuesday in Fayetteville: Two killed in two separate shootings The BFG is set to be one of the biggest movies this summer as Steve Spielberg returns to the director's chair for a brand new adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic. The BFG While there is still quite a while to wait until the film finally hits the big screen, a brand new teaser poster has been unveiled - this is a great piece of artwork. It is not that long since we saw Spielberg in the director's chair for Bridge of Spies but this is his first children's film since The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn back in 2011. The BFG sees Spielberg reunite with writer Melissa Mathison - who penned the screenplay for E.T back in 1982 - as she has adapted Dahl's much-loved book into a script. The movie will also see the director reunite with Bridge of Spies actor mark Rylance, as he is set to take on the title role in the film. Rylance will be joined by Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Olafur Darri Olafsson, and Penelope Wilton. We will also be introduced to the acting talents of Ruby Barnhill, who will take on the role of Sophie. This is the first film role of her acting career. The BFG is the exciting tale of a young London girl and the mysterious Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. It is a movie not to be missed this summer. The BFG is released 22nd July. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar has assured textile industry bosses of looking into their demands and grievances which he described as reasonable. He also said he would also discuss those issues with the commerce and finance ministries.Gangwar's comment came in Coimbatore after he heard the views of major industry associations in the region. He said all their 15 demands are very reasonable and assured them steps would be taken to find a solution. Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar has assured textile industry bosses of looking into their demands and grievances which he described as reasonable. # The associations thanked Gangwar for announcing Amended TUF Scheme with a record Rs 17,822 crore allocation, extending export incentives for textile products under Interest Equalisation Scheme, enhancing duty drawback rates for various textile products and steps to promote coastal movement of cotton from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu in a cost effective manner.They urged the minister to address some more issues to create a level-playing field in globalised environment and enable the industry achieve the target of $300 billion textile business size by 2023 from the current level of $110 billion.The demands include continuation of Optional CENVAT route, fixing lowest slab of GST for textile industry, extending export incentives for cotton yarn export, reduction of excise duty on Man Made Fibres from 12.5 to six per cent and compensate farmers directly whenever the cotton market price rules below MSP.Meanwhile, the Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) in a memorandum to Gangwar listed a few issued it wants resolved under the new textile policy which is on the anvil.Among them is zero per cent excise duty for manmade fibre as is the case with cotton, which TEA said will help increase the usage of manmade fibres and the production of garments. It will also boost the export of manmade fibre garments, as the global market is available for these garments throughout the year.The memorandum also highlighted the hassles with customs that textile units have to face. It pointed out that the duty free entitlement for import of trimmings and embellishments and other goods used by the readymade garment sector for manufacture of garments for export was increased from 3 per cent to 5 per cent in last Union Budget and also fixed import of sample fabric of total length up to 1000 metre without payment of Customs Duty during one financial year.It said that under the Export Performance Certificate Scheme, the garment sector utilized less than Rs.900 crores only against Rs. 5,150 crores for 5 per cent of FOB value of garment exports at Rs.1,03,000 crores in 2014-15. As the duty free import percentage has been increased to 5 per cent from July 10, 2014 onwards, the non utilization value is on higher side and therefore, to utilize the given facility out of 5 per cent, a maximum of 3 per cent of the licence may be allowed for import of fabrics without keeping restriction of 1,000 metre. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), an India based corporate giant dealing in many industries including textiles and apparel, will launch its first apparel and fashion e-commerce site offering products to women in the age group of 18-34 years, according to its FY 15-16 Q3 earnings report Reliance Retail, the retailing arm of RIL, is yet to announce the name of the portal or the date of the launch. The e-commerce site has already been beta launched on an invite-only basis, and its commercial launch is expected in the coming months. The first fashion and apparel portal of RIL will sell 60 per cent of the company's products, and will house the largest collection of private labels for women. RIL will launch its first apparel and fashion e-commerce site offering products to women in the age group of 18-34 years.# The announcement comes in the wake of the launch of e-commerce portal by Aditya Birla Group and an upcoming launch by the Tata Group to make the most of the growing e-commerce industry in the country. (MCJ) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India Ghana Textiles Printing Company (GTP), now officially known as Tex Styles Ghana Ltd, celebrated its 50 years. Marking the occasion, the company hosted a photo exhibition depicting 50 years of the brand history. It was followed by speeches by key dignitaries, fashion show and choir performance, according to Ghanaian media reports. Kofi Boateng, managing director of Tex Styles Ghana thanked all its customers and consumers for making the brand a success. We are tremendously honoured to have reached the half century mark as a company. We look forward to another 50 years of success in bringing quality products designed with creativity and originality while never forgetting to give back to the community that has supported us so loyally, he further added. Boateng praised the government's effort in supporting the textiles industry, remarking that the Wear Made in Ghana (Friday Wear) campaign initiated by Alan Kyeremateng during his tenure as minister for trade and industry was highly beneficial. Ghana Textiles Printing Company (GTP), now officially known as Tex Styles Ghana Ltd, celebrated its 50 years. Marking the occasion, the company hosted# Kweku Ricketts Hagan, the deputy minister of trade and industry, who was special guest of honour at the occasion, congratulated GTP on its golden jubilee achievement as well as its contribution to the national trade, employment, health and social support. He also emphasised on government's commitment to support the textile and garment sector and accelerated the promotion of what he called 'National Everyday Wear'. The former board chairman of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Dr Ishmael Yamson said the government's performance in supporting the local manufacturing industry had not been spectacular. Expressing his gratitude to the investors he thanked them for putting their faith and money on the company when it was not attractive. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, mayor of Tema and Solomon Kotei, ICU General Secretary also addressed the event and applauded GTP for all they have accomplished over the past 50 years. (NA) Fibre2fashion News Desk - India As Indonesia struggles to come out of a stubborn economic slowdown, the country 's textile industry is hoping a free-trade agreement with four non-EU countries will give local garment and footwear manufacturers greater access to the European market.Indonesian Textile Association (API) chairman Ade Sudrajat said that the agreements with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, collectively known as the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), could also provide access to other European countries as well, a leading Indonesian newspaper has reported. As Indonesia struggles to come out of a stubborn economic slowdown, the country's textile industry is hoping a free-trade agreement with four non-EU# While the countries are small in size and population, their per-capita income is relatively high and there's a chance for an agreement between the EFTA and the EU that will ease the flow of our products, he said.According to Ade, Indonesian textile products are currently subject to import tariffs between 11 and 30 per cent in the four countries. Reducing tariffs to zero per cent would make Indonesian goods more competitive.Ade also said that EFTA markets holds great potential for Indonesian textile products because of fashion trends in those countries through the four seasons of the year.Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo) chairman Eddy Widjanarko said while an agreement with the EFTA would definitely help increase shoe exports to the four countries, an exponential increase is unlikely, the newspaper reported.Footwear and apparel are among Indonesia's foremost export goods to the EFTA countries. Indonesian footwear exports to the EFTA countries more than doubled from $46.87 million in 2010 to $93.26 million in 2014, when they accounted for almost 18 per cent of total Indonesian exports to the four countries, according to EFTA data. Woven and knitted apparel contributed a further 20 per cent of Indonesian exports to EFTA countries.While the textile and footwear industry wait for the FTAs, Mahmud Syaltout, an international trade law and policy expert with the University of Indonesia (UI), has argued that the government needed to aim for a wider partnership with the EFTA countries, as trade links were already good.He said the government could lobby for more investment from the four countries, transfer of technology and greater involvement in the global value chain.The Indonesian government would resume trade talks with the EFTA countries this year and seek for lower tariffs on processed agricultural goods as well as bigger investment in various sectors. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India Ahead of the signing of the Trans Pacifci partnership (TPP), Malaysian textile manufacturers are optimistic that the industry can grow by at least 30 per cent once the agreement comes into effect.We are very optimistic, our growth is going to be much more that what is projected by the economists, because we are on the ground, we know. Our capacity utilisation is already very high, so once we build up our capacity, getting orders is not a problem, pricing is not a problem right now, but it will be much better when the TPP is signed, Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA) president Datuk Seri Tan Thian Poh said. Ahead of the signing of the Trans Pacifci partnership (TPP), Malaysian textile manufacturers are optimistic that the industry can grow by at least 30# He said MTMA was involved in the TPP negotiations at various levels, providing industry expectations, reference, technical assistance and support to Malaysia's negotiation team.We expect that TPP will bring a new breath of life to the industry. Based on the cost-benefit analysis carried out by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies and PricewaterhouseCoopers, the textile and apparel industry is expected to be the biggest gainer from the TPP, Tan said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur after a dialogue on potential economic impact of TPP on Malaysia's textile and apparel industry.Tan's comments backed Malaysian Knitting Manufacturers Association (MKMA) president Tang Chong Chin, who said he was confident that the textiles and apparel industry would be able to grow at least 30 per cent immediately upon implementation of the TPP.As a player in the market, with that kind of elimination of duty, given the Yarn Forward Rule (YFR) and Short Supply List (SSL), we are quite positive to achieve this given the sufficient labour force to support our industry, Tang said.Tang also said that once the TPP is implemented, Malaysian export-based manufacturers will see a tariff reduction between 70-90 per cent from the TPP members. The US, which is the largest trading partner of Malaysia, would reduce 73.7 per cent of tariff.Both Tang and Tan called upon the government to provide sufficient labour force for the industry, to increase capacity. The declaration of support by MTMA and MKMA came barely a week before the Parliament expected to vote for the agreement.Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Deputy Secretary-General (Strategy and Monitoring), Datuk J. Jayasiri, said the US procurement sector provided a huge market that was not previously accessible by Malaysia.He said Malaysian textiles and apparel companies could bid to supply uniforms to the army, hospitals and schools.But while the MTMA and MKMA have backed the TPP to the hilt, the Malaysian Small and Medium Enterprises Association had said about 30 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) risk going under once the TPP comes into force in two years as they would have trouble meeting higher labour and environmental standards under the agreement. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India India will be the fastest growing major economy in the world in 2016, according to a United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2016."India's economy, which accounts for over 70 per cent of South Asia's GDP, is projected to grow by 7.3 per cent in 2016 and 7.5 per cent in 2017, slightly up from an estimated 7.2 per cent in 2015," the UN report released in New Delhi said.South Asia is expected to be the world's fastest growing region in 2016 and 2017 despite challenging global conditions, the report said. The UN forecast is identical to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) growth projection for Indian announced earlier this week. "As in other countries of the region, the macroeconomic environment in India has improved, helped by the sharp decline in the prices of oil, metals and food," the UN report said. "Consumer and investor confidence has risen even as India's government faces difficulties in implementing its wide-ranging reform agenda and some economic indicators, such as industrial production, remain volatile," it added. India is an exception in the global scene with improved macro economic foundations and economic reforms," said Nagesh Kumar, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's (ESCAP) south and south-west Asia office in New Delhi. "Spending on infrastructure, health and education is very low compared to other nations such as China in the region. The decline in oil prices of course provides some room to offset the burden of fuel bill," he said. "So this is the time for India to recheck fiscal efforts and raise revenues and do more spending on some of the social sectors," he added. Kumar also said that India must take a relook at its fiscal policy given the limitations of using monetary policy to spur economic growth. This is a good time for the country to increase its spend on the social sector and on employment-creation activities, even if it means 'deviating' from fiscal consolidation goals for, say, a year, he said. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India Dileep and Kunchacko Boban doubtlessly belong most popular actors league of Malayalam cinema. Both of them have managed to create their own fan base, with some exceptional movies. According to the rumour mills, Dileep and Kunchacko Boban have been sharing cold vibes since last few years. The most shocking part is, they are not in talking terms these days. If the reports are to be true, the issues between the actors came out recently, when they chose not to acknowledge each others presence in a recently held event. While Dileep was seen chatting with most of the young actors and clicked pictures with them, Kunchacko Boban opted to spend time with his close buddies. The duo completely avoided each other. During the filming of Spanish Masala, it was reported that both the actors were reluctant to act together. But they decided to compromise only because of Lal Jose, who is a common friend. Reportedly, the issues started from the sets of Dosth, their first movie together. The actors had a major ego clash on the sets and team struggled a lot to complete the filming of the movie. Later, they shared the screen once again in Kalyanaraman. Sources suggest that it is Kunchacko and wife Priya's decision to support Manju Warrier, which widened the distance between the actors. Dileep was always against Manju's decision to make a comeback. But she made a successful comeback and Kunchacko Boban was the first leading actor whom she worked with in her second innings. My Revelations Might Affect Several Lives, Says Dileep Global private equity firm KKR has teamed up with state-owned enterprise China Orient Asset Management to tap into the growing number of distressed real estate opportunities in China. Bankruptcy filings are rising as the worlds second-largest economy slows and Beijing has become more relaxed about allowing companies to fail as it seeks to reform its financial markets. However, investors have struggled to navigate Chinas unpredictable court system, hampered by the lack of transparent resolution processes as bankruptcy law evolves and by interference from local government officials concerned about protecting jobs. Critical to successful investing in distressed companies in China is securing the right position in the companys capital structure. Most foreigners invest via offshore bonds, rendering their rights to onshore collateral tenuous. Onshore lenders are often first in line when dividing up a companys assets after a default. In the case of Kaisa, the Chinese property developer owes around $2.5 billion to offshore creditors out of almost $11 billion worth of debt, and offshore bond holders are struggling to get a settlement. KKR is seeking to invest alongside a local partner that is already plugged into the flow of deals and who knows their way around the legal system. China Orient is one of four licensed wholesalers of non-performing loans in China, known widely as bad banks. The joint venture also includes local investment manager China Orient Summit Capital, which is itself a JV between Orient AM and a group of investment professionals. Rich pickings Chinas real estate market has $3.1 trillion of outstanding debt, making up about 16% of the total lending market in China, mostly in the form of commercial bank loans, trust schemes and wealth management plans, according to the Peoples Bank of China. Amongst the commercial banks in China, PBoC statistics show that total non-performing loans amount to over $180 billion. According to KPMG, the majority of the collateral underpinning these non-performing loans is real estate. Growing understanding The courts do exercise wide discretion in resolving bankruptcies but one distressed debt professional said that over the last couple of years he had witnessed a growing understanding and sophistication among Chinas judges in disputes, especially along the eastern seaboard. He said some discussion among lawyers about setting up specialist bankruptcy courts was particularly encouraging. However, even investing directly onshore with a partner has not always worked out. Oaktree Capital Management said in November that its joint venture with another of Chinas banks, China Cinda Asset Management, had yet to make an investment almost two years after agreeing the partnership and earmarking $1 billion for distressed debt purchases. KKR also said the joint venture partners would be exploring strategic initiatives for broader collaboration. China Orient is preparing to go public by selling a stake to the National Social Security Fund by March. That will pave the way for it to sell a 15% to 20% stake to domestic and foreign investors ahead of an initial public offering by the end of 2017. Oaktree made a pre-IPO investment in China Cinda Asset Management in 2013. VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - The officials of Iran and China have signed 17 documents and Memorandums of Understanding at the presence of President Hassan Rouhani and President Xi Jinping. The MoUs include agreement between Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran and China Nuclear Energy Association for peaceful use of energy. The countries also signed MoUs on investment cooperation, establishment of Silk Road scientific fund, media cooperation, Tehran-Mashhad express railway, and joint cooperation between Qeshm Free Zone of Iran and Pilot Free Zone of China. At the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's trip to Tehran, Iran and China announced that by achieving a major agreement in all areas of bilateral relations and regional and international issues, they have established ties based on comprehensive strategic partnership. President Hassan Rouhani and President Xi Jinping held a press conference on Saturday in which Rouhani said: 'The two countries have discussed the 25-year comprehensive partnership between Tehran and Beijing. During today's discussions which happened in post-JCPOA and post-sanctions era, all bilateral, regional, and international issues were discussed.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Idinvest Partners, a Paris, France-based pan-European private equity firm focused on the middle-market segment, has added Emmanuelle Pierret and Mathias Raynaud as investment directors. Emmanuelle Pierret is joining as Investment Director of the Growth Capital team. Her role will mainly consist of the deployment of the Novi 2 equity compartment taking minority stakes in SMEs and midmarket companies with strong growth potential through investment raging between 3m and 20m. Before joining Idinvest in January 2016, Pierret spent fourteen years with Naxicap Partners. She was involved in more than fifteen private equity transactions, as minority or majority shareholder. In 2015, she was a member of Naxicap Investor Relations team. At Idinvest, Mathias Raynaud sources, analyzes, and structures investments within the Private Debt and Strategy & Solutions departments, with a specific focus on asset-based financings. Before joining the firm in November 2015, he spent 4 years in Qatar within the Capital Markets department of the sovereign wealth fund QIA. Raynaud structured asset-based financings, particularly in real estate, as well as investments and hedging transactions across asset classes (equity, fixed income, FX and rates). Before that, he worked 6 years within the Strategic Equity / Corporate Equity Derivatives team of Natixis as a structurer and 2 years as an analyst at UBS where he began his career. With more than 6 billion under management, Idinvest Partners makes investments in innovative European startups, primary, secondary and mezzanine investments in unlisted European companies, and private equity consulting. Founded under the name AGF Private Equity in 1997, Idinvest Partners was formerly part of Allianz until 2010 when it joined forces with IDI as an independent firm. FinSMEs 23/01/2016 One isn't sure whether Karan Johar was testing the waters by throwing a click-bait line and watching the response. Maybe he is silently compiling the reactions for a sequel My Name Is Khan And I Am Not Intolerant. That would certainly make sense. Or maybe he thought a literary event that stays clear of controversial figures such as Salman Rushdie and focuses on the Dinanath Batras instead was the best forum to drop a few pearls of wisdom to prove his "secular" credentials. One cannot accuse KJo of double standards. He has always raised his voice against the oppressed and those discriminated against by the Kafkaesque Indian system. And he has always stood by his peers. Whether Salman Khan or gun-toting Sanjay Dutt, Johar has always tweeted his support for unfairly targeted and tortured souls. When Dutt was jailed for five years by the Supreme Court in connection with 1993 Mumbai blasts, Johar took to Twitter: I am truly shattered to hear of Sanju's sentence...the nicest guy i have known just doesnt deserve this...my heart goes out to him.... Karan Johar (@karanjohar) March 21, 2013 So it is only natural that Bollywood's star director, in solidarity with his heroes Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, will now take over the mantle of "Preacher of Tolerance" at a time when the Khans seem to be suffering from a disconcerting lack of confidence. One has even done a spectacular somersault and admitted that he was wrong. No doubt browbeaten into falling in line by India's famously intolerant public. Speaking at the Jaipur LitFest on his upcoming biography An Unsuitable Boy, Johar said: "I feel bound on every level, be it what I put out on the celluloid or what I say in print. I feel like there is always some kind of a legal notice awaiting me everywhere I go." Johar said he didn't want to fight the "governance" by speaking out on intolerance. "Look what happened as a result of anyone who said anything on it. I make movies, I'm fighting megalomaniac movie stars every day. Do I need to fight the governance? "We're fighting the censor with every film. You write anything, you can't say anything. How are we democratic then? "Freedom of expression is the biggest joke in the world... Democracy is the second biggest joke I think." If he was talking about the inherent, generic problems in democracy, the perils of unfettered freedom of expression, one cannot disagree with him. In itself and viewed without context, Johar is right. We do have a state that is strong in laws and weak in implementation. The power structure can easily be subverted by the rich and the mighty. The individual an artist, a cartoonist, a filmmaker or an author is forever at a disadvantage vis-a-vis interest groups who exploit the state's weakness by calling for bans whether on beef, books, cartoons or anything that the group finds offensive. Our society is inherently racist, misogynistic and forever on the brink of getting offended. But the problem lies in Johar's airing his views only now and attempting to spin his comments around a mischievous, counterfeit narrative that India has become all these things ever since BJP and Narendra Modi came to power on 16 May, 2014: A narrative that has time-and-again been shown to be devoid of merit, and unsupported by data. It relies on a politically-motivated perception and is a law unto itself, cherry-picking convenient cases to self-justify. Johar is guilty of double deception. For one, he belongs to that privileged class for whom state protection is never too far away. The state and its arm the police will always intervene on his behalf leaving him free to do pretty much anything he wants. By making it personal, KJo is guilty of misappropriating and trivialising a very real problem faced by people denied his privileges. Two, Johar's flippant observations are cynically aimed at feeding the narrative of minority persecution. Like the people of his ilk, he will never highlight instances that do not fit the narrative like Raza Academy's fatwa against Oscar-winning music director AR Rahman for working in film on Prophet Muhammad. The likes of Johar will remain silent on jihadists from Keralas Popular Front of India chopping off the hands of Professor TJ Joseph. Johar will show his solidarity with a Sunjay Dutt, but never for Shirin Dalvi, editor of the Mumbai edition of Urdu daily Avadhnama, who has multiple cases filed against her for reproducing the controversial cover of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo. It is possible that the star director, busy with his daily schedule in a protective, conceited tower of ivory may not even be aware of these cases. That does not mitigate his hypocrisy. The truth is, if anything, the Modi government has been exemplary in its tolerance of dissent. There has been an explosion of free speech in India and the prime minister himself has been called the vilest of terms. He has been called fascist, accused of being complicit in the murder of Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri; he has been called a coward, liar and a psychopath. Each of these have gained wide publicity in the media. The prime minister has done the right thing by ignoring these attacks. So to now claim that there has been a crackdown on freedom of expression under Modi's watch is a spectacular, fantastic lie. Johar, in his too clever by half comments, also tried to portray himself as some sort of a victim in the other minority persecution the one against India's LGBT community. Talking about section 377 of the Indian penal code, which criminalises same sex relationships, Johar said "It's a hurdle we need to combat." "You can change the way the governance works, but how do you change the sensibility of the average man in the house? It doesn't matter what bill you pass and what dharna you do until the DNA or the mental fabric (of society) changes," he said. Short of making Dostana, which lightly touched upon the subject of homosexuality, the director isn't known to have ever lent his voice for the plight of India's sexual minorities. It is a long and arduous battle and things didn't get any better for the community when Congress MP Shashi Tharoors bid to introduce a private members bill to decriminalise gay sex was rejected in Lok Sabha last December. The issue, however, requires a sustained campaign definitely more than a vanilla ice cream comment at a LitFest, and one that is perfectly timed to fuel fan interest in the upcoming biography about Johar's own sexual orientation. The Bollywood director seems confused in his battle to suddenly present himself as the champion of tolerance and a victim of societal persecution against sexual minorities. His comments smack of opportunism and convenience. Whatever Johar's motive though, his facetious attempt at raking up a cliched, pretentious, phony debate has not added anything except turning on the olfactory nerves of India's "secular" parties who scout the nooks and crannies of this vast democracy 24x7, sniffing for a whiff of the right kind of intolerance. And they have wasted no time. Slipping on a pair of haute Karan Johar gloves, they have jumped into the ring and landed a few more punches on their favourite targets the BJP and Narendra Modi. Johar said he always looks to remain in the news. On Friday, he showed just how to do it. Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar-nomination for her performance as Joy Mangano, a divorcee, mother and working woman in the movie Joy, who invents household items that may or may not have any relevance to future generations, is one of those foregone conclusions at the Oscars night which crop up to make the film clips on the monitor look complete. Its a made-for-the-Oscar film. Lawrence is not only given a pivotal, author-backed aspirational role, she is surrounded by a bevy of brilliant actors, each trying to breathe life into characters that come dangerously close to being uni-dimensional. Robert de Niro as Ms Lawrences father (can anyone beat that?) is the lovable cad who abandons his family responsibilities but still continues to be loved by his wifes family. Dont ask me why. Maybe because de Niro plays the kind of good-for-nothing man certain rich women fall for. Or maybe just because he is played by the undoubtable De Niro, the father remains a lovable scumbag. De Niro has an intriguing love life he goes on a blind date with a wealthy socialite, played with resplendent snobbishness by Isabelle Roselleni, who ends up funding his daughters dream project. Rosellini and Jennifer Lawrences face-off at the plots mid point should have made us sit up and wait expectantly for the pay-off in the second-half. Instead the rags-to-riches saga whimpers across its whimsical landscape hoping to capture the characters quirks in some semblance of cosmic order. In vain. Though Joy is not unwatchable, it hardly lives up to its title. Except for Edgar Ramirez who plays Joys ex-husband and eternal best friend, none of the characters seem built out of flesh and blood. Admittedly a lot of the surface sparkle and illusion of power that this film exudes comes from the actor who toils effortlessly to appear convincing in roles that are written in the broad strokes of a television sitcom. Joys mother Terr i(Virginia Madsen) spends all her time and we mean all literally watching daily soaps. She falls in love with a Haitian plumber who comes to fix her leaky plumbing. ogether they cook up exotic dishes and carry it around the house like two monks seeking benediction through food. Author Milan Kundera had described the state that these characters strive to achieve as an unbearable lightness of being. Here in Joy, we see characters achieve that sense of blithe existence where success and failure come with no surprises either way. Like the real-life character that Jennifer Lawrence plays so confidently, Joy in the film invents a miracle mop that initially, no one wants to buy. This is the cue for Bradley Cooper to enter. He plays an on-television sales entrepreneur and is featured in what would loosely be termed a supportive role. What prompted Cooper to take up a role as stilted and artificial as those lines that his sales girls throw at unsuspecting customers? It seems both Bradley Cooper and the formidable Robert de Niro decided to reunite with Jennifer Lawrence for this emptied-out aspirational saga, just for the sake of giving director David ORussell some quality company. Russell was in much more vital form in Silver Linings Playbook, the film that brought together the De Niro-Cooper-Lawrence threesome in a compelling clasp of quirkiness. Swinging pendulum-like between soap opera and satire, Joy is a disappointing follow-up to the directors last film American Rustle, which rustled up a reservoir of echoes from the cultural ethos of the American people. Joy manages just about a bite from the Big Apple and squanders the American Dream in pumped-up pompous self-congratulatory episodes of ponderous wish-fulfilment. More tiring than inspiring. Jaipur: Choosing to play down the intolerance debate in India, actress Kajol on Saturday said there are no such dividing lines in Bollywood. "Our industry will always keep reflecting on what is happening in our society. It will keep on going and everyone is welcome. There are no dividing lines, no caste, no creed and no intolerance in Bollywood," she said on the third day of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival. Filmmaker Karan Johar, a close friend of Kajol, had kicked up a storm with his remarks about freedom of expression being the biggest joke in the country on the inaugural day of the festival. In recent months, actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan too have landed in controversy for speaking up against the "growing intolerance" in the country. Kajol, who has worked with both Shah Rukh and Aamir, refused to react on the backlash faced by the PK star, whose controversial remarks had evoked criticism from many quarters. "These days people seem to have become oversensitive. As public personalties it is our duty to speak well and correctly. I have always said my 'Mann ki baat' and it is no different now," she said. A voracious reader, Kajol, who was at the JLF to launch author Ashwin Sanghi's new book, The Sialkot Saga, said she agreed to marry husband Ajay Devgan because he promised her a library similar to the one in the Hollywood film Beauty and the Beast. "I told my husband that I'll marry you only if you give me the Beauty and the Beast library. That was our love deal," she said at the cover launch of Sanghi's book. The actor is often seen with a book between shots on the sets and she credited her mother, actress Tanuja, for inculcating the habit of reading in her. Tanuja was also in the audience. "I don't remember a time when I didn't see a book around my mother. She had a 400 book library in her room right above her head. Even I have a library in my room, In fact, I have three libraries in my house," Kajol said. Kajol, who was introduced to Sanghi's poetry by her mother, says the author's easy to read style was in fact very difficult to write. "Easy reading is the most difficult kind of writing. I've read a lot if authors who've won awards but are bloody boring and very difficult to get through. I read not to become a smarter person but for the sheer pleasure of reading a book," she said at the Diggi Palace, the venue of the festival, which was packed with fans. The actress also batted for publishers translating more literature in Hindi and other languages. "A lot of books we read should be translated into Hindi and other languages. It's a travesty that there are so many people who cannot read a volume of literature because they don't know English," she said. The Sialkot Saga, Sanghi's latest offering, written with his signature mystery and intrigue, traverses from life post 1947 for two business men and contains mythological references. Sanghi said he wrote his first book, The Rozabal Line under a pseudonym since he was fed up of rejections. "I was a Guinness book record holder of rejections. I had been rejected 47 times. Then I had to self publish. There was a fear in me that I'm a lousy writer. And if they have to throw stones, they do it at Shaun," Sanghi joked. PTI Beijing - Haryana is expecting a spike in foreign investments from China after eight MoUs were signed today with top companies to set up a $10 billion industrial park and smart cities in the state during Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's trip to woo investors here. These MoUs were signed with top Chinese companies like Wanda Group, China Land Development Company Private Limited, and ZTE Corporation. The MoUs were signed during the Investment Roadshow organised here, attended by representatives of more than 100 top notch Chinese companies. Khattar made a strong pitch for Haryana as an ideal investment destination based on its strategic location, excellent infrastructure and supportive administrative system. The chief minister also highlighted the changes introduced by his government through various policy reforms in the governance mechanism through Ease of Doing Business, On Line approval system under single roof and Incentives to the industry. He also invited the attendees to participate in the Haryana Global Investors Summmit schedule for March 7 and 8, in Gurgaon. The chief minister met Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin and a MoU was signed for development of a World Class Comprehensive Industrial Park at Kharkhoda district in Sonipat. Wanda Group will invest a total of $10 billion to develop "Wanda Industrial New City" over an area of approximately 13 square kilometers. The government also signed a MoU with ZTE Corporation for the development of smart cities in Haryana. Another MoU was signed with China Fortune Land Development Company Private Limited (CFLD) for development of large format Industrial Parks in Haryana. CFLD would set up Industrial Park(s) in the state either at Madina in Rohtak district or at Bidhal Lath Gohana in Sonipat district over an area of more than 300 acres. An MoU was also signed with Inspur Group, which plans to invest USD 100 million in IDC, CDN and cable-box manufacture plant. The Chief Minister is leading an official and business delegation to Japan and China to invite foreign direct investment to the state. Khattar has curtailed his visit to China due to the Indo- French business summit on January 24 in Chandigarh, which will be attended by Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande. PTI BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain's George Osborne accused fellow European Union finance ministers of contemplating a deal to tighten bank capital rules that would make him look "like an idiot", in an outburst that marked high tension during day-long talks in Brussels. In remarks at the negotiating table, relayed on television to watching journalists, Osborne, who says he wants much tougher controls to avoid a repeat of the current crisis, fumed that complex regulations being discussed could dent the credibility of Europe and harm London, its top financial market. "I am not prepared to go out there and say something that is going to make me look like an idiot five minutes later," Osborne said, referring to conditions in new rules that could be viewed as loopholes to let some banks in Europe sidestep a 7-percent minimum capital ratio agreed by global regulators. However, five months after Prime Minister David Cameron angered Britain's partners by vetoing an EU fiscal treaty, a visibly agitated Osborne told his peers: "I am not asking for some UK carve out ... I will not be painted as somehow anti-European, demanding something especially for London." Yet Michel Barnier, the EU commissioner in charge of financial regulation, hit back at Osborne, saying he was looking for an effective opt-out with a proposal that would let Britain impose higher capital ratios than elsewhere in Europe on its banks - something France and others fear could disadvantage continental institutions. "London is a very important centre but... there are other centres alongside London which also merit consideration," said Barnier, a former French government minister. Osborne, however, was adamant. "People will listen to what I say ... I represent the largest financial centre in Europe. "You've got to allow me to sit down and go through the issues. You have not done that," he said, adding he had resorted to checking news on his mobile phone as he waited to be involved in discussions that had by that time gone on for 10 hours. He accused other ministers of trying to water down the EU's version of rules laid down by global regulators on the Basel committee which are designed to guard against future financial crises, and said he could not support them. At the heart of the dispute is the freedom states have to enforce stricter capital rules than those agreed for the EU. Britain and Sweden, which have two of the largest banking sectors in Europe relative to their economies, want the freedom to take extra steps to make banks safer. STRUGGLE Ministers face pressure to break this deadlock, which comes as many of Europe's 8,300 banks struggle with billions of euros of unpaid loans ahead of a self-imposed June deadline to finalise new capital rules. London remained reluctant to compromise despite calls from Spain, whose banks have suffered huge losses inflicted by a property crash, that rules were vital. "At this time of financial crisis, we need to clear up all doubts about the quality of European banks," Spain's Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said earlier in the day. "We need to guarantee a level of quality capital that is enough to face future crises." Standard & Poor's cut the credit rating this week of 11 banks in Spain, which has sunk into its second recession in just over two years. Denmark, holder of the bloc's six-month rotating presidency, had redoubled its efforts to find a deal, calling the exceptional meeting on Wednesday, but their efforts crumbled in the face of resistance to their pan-European formula. Their aim is to translate the higher capital standards set by the Basel Committee of regulators into EU law, turning it into reality for banks by the start of next year. The Danes want to achieve a consensus and strike an accord with the European Parliament by the end of June. NEGATIVE MESSAGE? As much as the technicalities of bank balance sheets, the dispute is the result of a struggle for influence and power in a bloc shaken by the worst financial crisis in a generation. Britain has been fighting to maintain its authority over the City of London, Europe's financial capital, as other EU members move to centralise supervision of banking and finance. Europe's capital regime, when decided, will be closely studied in the United States and may influence how policymakers there interpret the Basel standards, while investors are eager to see the EU repair its vulnerable banking sector. "Not having a European banking union ... on common capital requirements ... makes it very difficult for the euro project to work," said Eric Stein, a portfolio manager at Eaton Vance in Boston that invests in European assets. "If nothing happens, it will be a continued area for stress in Europe and send a very negative sign." London and Stockholm argue they need to protect the interests of taxpayers who could be called on to bail banks out if they face collapse. France wants capital standards to be more uniform across the EU and is worried that international banks based in London could cut lending elsewhere in Europe if Britain forces them to raise their capital yet further. Some diplomats suspect the dispute is fuelled by concern that deposits and other business might flow to British banks were they to be better capitalised than French and German rivals and thus safer in the eyes of investors. One compromise discussed by ministers would be to allow a margin of flexibility so countries that want can require their banks to increase their capital buffers up to a certain limit, perhaps as much as 10 or 12 percent of risky assets for up to two years. This compares with Basel's minimum of 7 percent. (Additional reporting by Claire Davenport; Editing by Alastair Macdonald) AMSTERDAM Philips's (PHG.AS) plan to shed its lighting businesses suffered a setback on Friday when a $3.3 billion deal to offload the components division to Asian buyers was blocked by the United States on security grounds. The agreement to sell an 80 percent stake in the Lumileds division based in California ran into opposition from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Philips said in a statement. The breakdown of the deal leaves the Dutch company under pressure as it tries to carry out several strategic operations at once. It has been trying to spin off its lighting and lighting components businesses since 2014 to focus on its core businesses of medical scanners and healthcare technology. "I am very disappointed about this outcome as this was a very good deal for both Lumileds and the GO Scale Capital-led consortium," Philips CEO Frans van Houten said. Philips said it was not permitted to disclose the nature of the concerns raised by the U.S. committee, which vets deals for any national security issues. The frustrated buyer, GO Scale Capital, is made up of GSR Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Asia Pacific Resource Development and Nanchang Industrial Group. The exact reason why the United States has blocked a Dutch company from selling a lighting division to Asian investors on national security grounds is not clear. The involvement of Chinese firms in the consortium - and the fact that LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are semiconductors, an industry the U.S. considers part of its critical infrastructure - may have played a role. ALTERNATIVE DEALS Lumileds makes lighting components used mostly in cars but also LEDs used for backlighting in consumer electronics such as smartphones and televisions. The technology used by Lumileds is considered relatively mature and Philips was surprised by the U.S. committee's initial opposition in October. The final rejection came "despite the extensive efforts of Philips and GO Scale Capital to mitigate" the committee's concerns, Philips said. In a separate statement, GO Scale Capital said it tried "to make the case for the Lumileds transaction under principles of openness and fairness, unfortunately all such efforts fell short of addressing unexplained government concerns." GO Scale Capital chairman Sonny Wu said he was undeterred and would now seek other large LED industry acquisitions to combine with China's manufacturing base. "China will inevitably become the leader of the global LED industry because of its industrial ecosystem and competitive advantages in scale and cost," he said. Philips shares closed 0.1 percent lower at 22.70 euros in Amsterdam. Two CFIUS experts in Washington, hired by companies to shepherd deals through the process, said the deal may have troubled the U.S. government because of the prospect of a Chinese company acquiring advanced technologies to make the LED lights. One pointed to Lumileds expertise with a method for developing semiconductor materials for LED lights called a metal-organic chemical vapour deposition system. "CFIUS has been looking very closely at the semiconductor space," said one expert, who noted that it was fairly unusual for CFIUS to stop a deal. LIGHTING SALE Philips spokesman Steve Klink said the company was reviving talks with alternative buyers for the division, which had sales of $2 billion in 2015. Morningstar analyst Jeffrey Vonk said in a note Philips was likely to have to accept a price closer to 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) for Lumileds, given current market conditions. Philips will press ahead with separate plans to spin off its main lighting division by June. Earlier this month, Reuters reported the company was soliciting bids for the main Philips Lighting business at a price of roughly 5 billion euros. Philips Lighting's carve-out as an independent company within the overall group is due to be completed by Feb. 1, with a decision to be taken shortly afterwards on whether to sell it, or go for a stock market listing. ($1 = 0.9246 euros) (Additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by David Clarke and Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Abhishek Waghmare/Indiaspend.com Yavatmal/Beed/Washim (Maharashtra): Vasudev Lokhande is the beneficiary of an ambitious government programme to permanently transform the lives of farmers devastated by a record-setting drought, but he is unhappy about its benefits. In an agrarian eastern corner of Indias most industrialised state, Lokhandea weathered, unsmiling farmer clad in sandals, crumpled brown pants and a dusty white shirtpointed to little pipe that poked through the stone wall of a well on the edge of his fertile, black-soil farm, five acres of cotton and pigeon pea. The pipe is the outlet for a channel built to funnel rainwater into the well instead of letting it soak into the ground. It is part of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan (Irrigated Farmlands Programme), on which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government has spent, for its first phase, Rs 1,400 crore in 2015 to make Maharashtra dushkal-mukt, or drought-free. For Lokhande, the governments efforts have not worked. With rainfall over the last two years in three of the worst-affected districts that IndiaSpend visited comparable to the lowest in the 20th century, very little water made it to the well. Like many local farmers, he had to spend about Rs 30,000 to install a pipeline and a pump to bring in water from a natural pond half a km away. I could bear the cost of pipeline and motor, said Lokhande. The majority of the farmers in my village cannot. IndiaSpends investigation of the programme reveals that the government is spreading itself thin in its efforts to reach more farmers as the droughts efforts worsen. Lokhandes village, Ghodkhindi, is now one of 34up from five names earlier this yearlisted for the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan in Yavatmal taluka in the cotton-rich eastern district of the same name. When the programme began, the worst-affected villages were selected, an agriculture officer told IndiaSpend on condition of anonymity. Later, we were told to include all the villages that were now receiving drinking water from tankers. While the weekly tanker data of the states water supply department showed no tanker supplying water to Yavatmal taluka in 2015, the District Collectors office reported 10 tankers plying in the summer of 2015, up from 3, 1 and 11 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The original government order mandated at least five villages per taluka, which takes the village count to 1,800. As distress spreads, that number is now up to anywhere between 2,500 and 3,000, according to a government official who requested anonymity. As many as 1,109 farmers in Maharashtras water-stressed Marathwada region of eight districts ended their life in 2015, according to this Indian Express report. Rainfall over the last two years in three of the worst-affected districts that IndiaSpendvisited (in Marathwada and Vidarbha) was comparable to the lowest in the 20th century. Nine of Indias 29 statesUttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengaldeclared a drought in 2015,seeking as much as Rs 20,000 crore in Central aid. The Centre has given Maharashtra the highest agricultural aid: Rs 3049 crore. As many as 302 of the countrys 640 districts are living with drought-like conditions. The successor failureof Maharashtras drought-proofing programme is likely to be closely followed by other states. Rain so inadequate that wells dry up in November The purpose of Jalyukt Shivar is to irrigate the village in times of utmost scarcity. Now, state officials argued, low rainfall has crippled the programme. Maharashtras situationits agricultural output is Indias second largestis universally difficult, with rainfall short by 40% in 2015, the third year of deficit (it was 30% short in 2014, 20% in 2012 and above average in 2013). Maharashtra has Indias greatest stock of water for irrigation: 35% of the countrys large dams and the second-largest amount of annual water resources that can be replenished, after Uttar Pradesh. A closer look at Ghodkhindi, farmer Lokhandes village, reveals why the Jalyukt Shivar struggles. The village has 40 micro-irrigation projects, of which the taluka agriculture department claims to have completed 15. A third of the households (89 of 230) in the village depend on full-time farming, while agricultural labourers comprise 42% (471 of 1,135) of the population, cultivating small tracts of land, according to census data. Experts and farmers told IndiaSpend that Jalyukt Shivar uses a piecemeal approach that does not account for the geological underpinnings of traditional watershed systems. It creates two problems: it spreads itself thin by benefiting only a few farms, and, instead of long-term measure to make an area drought-free, it offers only temporary relief. It doesnt help that the rainfall is now lower than the lowest that anyone remembers. But this is no longer news to swathes of Maharashtra. Many areas now live in drought-like conditions For the last four years, drought-like conditions have prevailed in the central Maharashtra district of Beed in the Marathwada region, once part of the Nizam of Hyderabads arid dominion. This is what 18-year rainfall data revealed: The data from two talukas in VidarbhaYavatmal (district Yavatmal) and Karanja (district Washim)also indicate how rainfall is declining. The scarcity, said experts, is beyond the normal deficiency in the last 20 years. Erratic, unseasonal rainfallunsettling Indias agriculture, economy and politicsare no aberrations,IndiaSpend reported last year. Extreme rainfall events in central India, the core of the monsoon system, are increasing and moderate rainfall is decreasingas a part of complex changes in local and world weatheraccording to a clutch of Indian and global studies. In Maharashtra, successive years of low rainfall have resulted in falling groundwater levels and early drying of natural streams. While the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan struggles to cope with the magnitude of Maharashtras rural water crisis, it has, as we shall explain tomorrow, worked in some casesmainly for farmers with large land holdings. The successes and failures indicate how the programme might need to be reworked. (Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit.) Mawlynnong: In the tiny hamlet of Mawlynnong in India's far north east, plastic is banned and spotless paths are lined with flowers but its reputation as Asia's cleanest village has proved a mixed blessing. Until 2003 no tourists visited the remote community of 500 inhabitants high in the mountains of Meghalaya state, which had no roads and was accessible only by foot. Home to the Khasi tribal people, Mawlynnong is famous for being a rare matrilineal society, where property and wealth are passed on from the mother to her youngest daughter and children take their mother's surname. In recent years the village has become known for another reason its exceptional cleanliness, far removed from the noise and dirt of India's big cities. Bamboo dustbins stand at every corner, volunteers sweep the streets at regular intervals and large signs order visitors to throw away plastic packaging: littering is sternly frowned upon. "We clean every day because our grandparents and our ancestors have taught us how to clean the village and the surrounding area, because it's good for our health," said Baniar Mawroh, a teenager sitting at the entrance of her small but gleaming family home. After the village built its first road 12 years ago, a journalist from Discover India travel magazine wrote a now-infamous article naming it the cleanest village in Asia. The trickle of tourists became a flood, with visitors now reaching 250 a day in high season, swelling the village's population by 50 percent. But the accolades have brought several downsides. "Now there is noise pollution. I've talked to the village council which has written to the government to build a new parking lot further away." said Rishot Khongthohrem, 51, a guesthouse owner. Deepak Laloo, a former official of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum, advised the village in the early stages of its tourism development but fears for the impact of the vistor influx. "There's no more privacy. A woman is washing her clothes, she's being photographed," he said. "That social bond which binds the village together is disintegrating," he said. Cholera outbreak Mawlynnong's concern for hygiene emerged about 130 years ago when an outbreak of cholera struck. With no medical facilities in the village, cleanliness was seen as vital to prevent the spread of disease. "Christian missionaries told our ancestors: you can protect yourself from the plague (cholera) only if you maintain good hygiene, be it at home, with food, on your land, in the village, or for your body," Khongthohrem said. Mawlynnong maintained its fastidious habits and has gone on to other achievements, eradicating open defecation prevalent across much of rural India with toilets for each of its approximately 95 households. The village has even been hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an autumn radio address imploring Indians to erase the poor national image of rubbish-strewn highways and monuments under his Clean India campaign. "I was amazed to know that there is such a village in remote north-east, Meghalaya which is so passionately carrying the mission of cleanliness for years," he said. While the pristine village is proud of its achievements, some believe it must limit visitor numbers to protect the wellbeing of its inhabitants. "They must learn to regulate the number of tourists and to say no at some point," tourism expert Laloo said. AFP New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files related to Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. "Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same," said PM Modi on the Netaji files declassification. "The National Archives of India (NAI) is placing 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji, the Prime Minister will release the digital copies of these files in public domain," an official release said today. The initiative will meet the "long-standing public demand" to access these files as well as facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, it said. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Modi, in his meeting with members of Bose family here on 14 October, last year, had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to Bose and make them accessible to public. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on 4 December, last year. Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI, it added. The government has also approached Japan, the UK, Italy, Russia, the US and Austria as part of efforts to get information relating to disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. "The issue of handing over documents relating to Netaji has been taken up with governments of Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK and the USA," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told Lok Sabha in December last year. Sixty-four files running into nearly 13,000 pages relating to Bose were declassified in September last year by the West Bengal government. The files showed some of his close family members were spied on in independent India but there was no clarity whether he died in an air crash in 1945 as is widely believed. Netaji's family too has approached the governments of Russia, Japan, the US and UK seeking details about his mysterious disappearance. Declassified #NetajiSubhasChandraBose's files at National Archives, Netaji's family members also present. pic.twitter.com/ibwQm5Yy60 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 It is a big day for the entire nation-Chandra Bose,Grand Nephew of #Netaji on files declassification pic.twitter.com/dVylLspmh1 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Netajis memory, his deeds deserve the dignity of closure: Derek O'Brien, TMC on declassification of Netaji files pic.twitter.com/JfmHXruy7C ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Victory for the people who have the right to know about SC Bose, now its transparent India: Chandra Bose pic.twitter.com/DOYMGgPZC5 ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 As an Indian and as a Bengali I feel extremely proud of our PM and Govt-Babul Supriyo,Union Minister on #NetajiFiles pic.twitter.com/ZriDpFTZwV ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Delhi: SC Bose's family at the Parliament for SC Bose's birth anniversary celebrations. pic.twitter.com/qInOmIOSJK ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Delhi: SC Bose's family at the Parliament, meet Venkaiah Naidu. pic.twitter.com/JCcKCnXrZl ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 Family of SC Bose is really happy, they have all come to witness PM declassifying the files: Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/lqLHsfKaPA ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 PTI If you knew that the chakna you enjoy with your evening sip or the papad you roast, or the apparently wholesome dosa or idli dough taken out from shining steel containers for street food may have come from Dharavi, Mumbais huge slum, chances are you would squirm. However, these and other products manufactured there is what enterprise against all odds is all about. It is precisely what Rahul Gandhi, probably in a rare flash of insight or a good briefing he stuck to, referred to when he said in Mumbai the other day that Make in India will not succeed until Make in Dharavi is protected. There is a strong fear even among the Dharavi residents and entrepreneurs that it is actually under threat because of redevelopment, now sought to be sped up. Instead, slum dwellers will be given free housing in poorly-built towering buildings that will replace the shanties. Close by, grand apartments for the well-heeled will come up and this will mess up the lives of Dharavi residents who wanted to redevelop their slum themselves. But politicians' hunger for illicit money and builders greed for land came in the way. What is ultimately built in Dharavi may not be what the locals want. As has often been said, by me and other commentators here and elsewhere, the slum redevelopment plan is designed to meet the requirements of the builders and developers rather than that of slum dwellers who, by law, are entitled to replacement housing. The builders are to subsidise the replacement costs by selling the extra spaces in the open market. Dharavi is not the only large slum in the city or even in the continent. It is often mistakenly referred to as the largest in Asia, though Orangi Town in Northern Karachi, spread over some 40 sq km, is reputedly the largest. Even within Mumbai, other slums have grown and joined together to form settlements larger than Dharavi. Dharavi typifies what Mumbai has amid it but is often sidestepped: it has a lot going against it except for the hardiness and entrepreneurship of its residents. To start with, it was an illegal shantytown, a sprawl that houses a million. Everyone living there is crushed for space. It has an ecosystem of its own in which outsiders would feel distinctly uncomfortable. It is the first place where the concept of rent-a-shanty and two-storied slum dwellings began. Congestion in Dharavi is worse than Mumbais population density. Most of the dwellings are not taller than two stories. It is so large that it had to find something to subsist on since employment within strolling distance a reason why poor form such settlements was not possible. It had, to start with, grown around the nucleus of tannery industry, and as it grew, had to find other ways. It called for enterprise. Within its packed confines, enterprise has bloomed and at one time, the estimate was that its economy was worth US 1.6 bn. It is not who estimated it and related to which year, but Nandan Nilekani mentions the figure in his Imagining India. People made shirts for a Mumbai-based budget brand, as well as recycled plastic from garbage, and as a manager of a bank's Dharavi branch had once cautioned me, the bottled mineral water could well be a knock-off. Dharavi grew into what it is because it was neglected, not nurtured. No law is applied there, and there is only one police station that deals with crime. The government has hardly been present and the only ban followed is the one on tanning. It is a freewheeling economy without any licensing or controls, and anybody with a can-do attitude can thrive. No labour laws, no sanitation laws, no Factories Act apply to Dharavi which has one other thing going for it: location. Close to the Eastern and Western Express Highways, within easy reach of Bandra and Khar stations on the Western line, and Sion and Kurla on the Central Railway, its people can swiftly fan out in any direction. The Asian Age says Dharavi business leaders estimate the size of the business at Rs 2,000 cr per annum, citing no study but quoting a local. It could well be that or even more. There are no accounts of any threat which Gandhi conjured up. If there was a threat, it is from the redevelopment which would rob the entrepreneurs the spaces they use for their businesses. None of them is going to get an equal area in return post-redevelopment. This divestment of spaces and their reallocation in cement concrete towers is going to be a hard blow on enterprise. Ask the potters who would be on the fifth floor of a rehabilitation housing and wonder where to dry them, or locate the kiln. However, Gandhi has to know that the Shiv Sena-BJPs idea of slum rehabilitation in the late 1990s, and later the Congress since 1999 are much the same. Gandhi could have been more elaborate instead of limiting his main point to a slogan-like statement, which actually, funnily, sounds like Narendra Modis on a variety of subjects. Was Gandhi talking about the threat to enterprise from redevelopment? Dharavi's redevelopment has never been opposed by the Congress and there are no indications that his party plans to oppose it in the future either. It is not as if the BJP-led government has now stepped in with a policy and action plan to scupper all enterprise there. If anything, Devendra Fadnavis has only initiated a process to speed up the process of redevelopment with the attendant consequences. Rahul Gandhis protection suggestion thus turns out to be a jumla a clever rhetoric, easily fitting into a slogan. At 84 (almost hell celebrate his birthday on 1 February), Pradipta Sankar Sen is hardly the archetypal superannuated man portrayed by Charles Lamb that school kids were once forced to read. Rather, Pradipta Sen, as he is known, is an exceedingly busy man these days, holding meetings, writing memorandums, getting them signed by luminaries, meeting the press, running from one end of the city to the other in trams (his favourite mode of transport), buses, metros, i.e. public transport, in short a hectic schedule that would put men and women half his age to shame. Sens reason to be so driven may raise a smile in many, maybe even a few eyebrows. After all, he is engaged in what he himself knows is a Canute-like attempt at rolling back the waves of time. Yet, he cannot bring himself to give up without a fight. It would not be a life well spent otherwise. So the brows above his fine aquiline nose are furrowed. Will he able to save his beloved Calcutta Film Society from the marauding market forces and keep it in the room it has been located in for the last 60 years? The room is unprepossessing enough, barely 300 square feet on the second floor of one of those massive mausoleums that once earned Kolkata the epithet of the City of Palaces but is now dilapidated and forlorn, with a dark dingy staircase and a creaky lift that often does not work; the brass plate bearing the name Calcutta Film Society is dull and lacklustre. Yet, this is still hallowed ground for Pradipta Sen. For this is where Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen and many of cinemas greats had once debated and discussed films and filmmaking, argued over good films and bad, whether film was art at all, etc. etc. generating, to put it briefly, a whole new film culture. Pradipta Sen is the working president of the Calcutta Film Society that Ray and three friends had started on 5 October, 1947 when Ray was merely an executive in an ad agency, his filmmaking days still a long way off. It was then the countrys sole film society as the one that had been set up in Bombay (now Mumbai) the year before had already folded, giving Calcutta Film Society the accolade of being the longest running film society in the country today. Initially held in the homes of Ray or Chidananda Dasgupta, another founding member who went on to become a reputed film critic, Calcutta Film Society moved into its current premises in 1956. The film society movement can work in unexpected, uncharted ways. Take the village that practically plays the lead role in Rays path-breaking Pather Panchali. As Ray wrote in My Years with Apu, The village that we selected for the film was recommended to us by one of the founder-members of the Calcutta Film Society, Manoj Mazumdar. It was only four miles from the city which meant we could make daily trips. One afternoon, Manoj took us to the place of a relative of his in the village which was called Boral. Boral was a big village with a school and some of it had acquired the look of a small town and didnt suit our purpose. But then the mango trees, the jungle of bamboos, open fields, ponds with water lilies in them and old thatched mud houses were exactly right for us. We had been looking for a river near the village as in the novel but we decided to drop that. Like all educated Bengalis Manoj Mazumdar had read Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyays Pather Panchali and thanks to his initiation into the mysteries of filmmaking via the film society he was in a position to make a meaningful suggestion. Pradipta Sen had just joined The Statesman newspaper as a junior sub-editor when Pather Panchali released. He remained a journalist all his working life but his passion lay elsewhere. He, and many like him, some in government service, some in private concerns, some in newspapers, some in insurance, whatever, were the foot soldiers of the citys cultural cognoscenti. They avidly watched the most recent releases, more than once if they were good, saw the latest plays, read their Sartre and Camus, their Manik Bandopadhyay and Jibanananda Das, analysed them threadbare over heated debates in coffee houses and tea shops and provided the critical mass necessary for creative talents to thrive and flourish. As Sen points out emphatically, Pather Panchali became a hit, a landmark here in Kolkata, long before it was discovered by the world. It also gave rise to a film fever that soon had the citys intelligentsia in its grip. No surprises, therefore, that it was not long before Sen and his friends turned the corner, literally, from the Central Avenue Coffee House in the heart of the city, a walking distance from most offices and across the road from The Statesman, and climbed up the steps of Bharat Bhavan next door to become full-fledged members of the Calcutta Film Society. Pradipta Sen joined in 1958, becoming joint secretary a year later. He has been an office bearer since. His eyes still light up at the memory of those glory days the many festivals, the scintillating discussions, the start of the Federation of Film Societies at a table in that very room. They made the film society into a living, breathing, pulsating organisation. That was then. Now they are in danger of being evicted from their historic abode as the Life Insurance Corporation, the current owners of the building, have demanded a market rent from them that is way beyond their means. Appeals have been made, a meeting last Monday (18 January) have bought them some time but in his heart of heart Sen knows that the end is nigh. Its not just a matter of money. Infusions of money do take place from time to time. A recent well-wisher helped them refurbish their room with a built-in screen and a new projector, a coat of paint, etc. so that they can hold screenings followed by discussions in their own place rather than pay commercial rates for a hall. Membership, even in the heydays, never ran into thousands so membership fees never amounted to much anyway. No, the real problem is the lack of enthusiasm over the society in the city today. Sen, who needs the help of his grandniece to enter new numbers into his cell phone, is fully aware of Netflix and direct streaming, DVDs and YouTube and the many new-fangled ways that have made watching movies from across the world easy, common place, even mundane. Social media have made face-to-face discussions passe. The much vaunted film culture that the film societies wanted to inculcate is dismissed as intellectual snobbery. Cinema itself has lost its magic. In sum, no one cares for film societies any more. Sen is also the chairman of the Dover Lane Music Conference, the citys leading classical music conference, held in the third week of every January. You get some young people for Dover Lane, he says. They dont stay on for long but at least there is a continuous stream of young people coming in to help. But for the film society, there is little interest. We were the younger generation who took over from Manik-da and Chidu-da and made it into our lifes mission, but there is no one to take over from us. Aparna Sen (who is also the daughter of founder-member Chidananda Dasgupta) and Gautam Ghosh and Srijit Mukherjee and other leading lights of todays filmdom are ready to sign appeals and even make cash donations for the society whenever asked to but they dont really need it in any way. They had in fact rallied round in 2011 to revive the Calcutta Film Society which had been languishing even then but like all such do-gooding efforts, it did not take long to fizzle out. Whether the Life Insurance Corporation cuts them slack vis-a-vis the rent or not, the flame, Sen is sadly aware, cannot be kept burning for long. His biggest regret: what will happen to all those rare, priceless books and magazines that they have collected over the years? By KA Antony The resignation of Excise Minister K Babu in the bar bribery case is a heavy blow to the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala as it has come at a time when the state is gearing up for the Assembly elections to be held in a couple of months. The unexpected turn of events has also cast a shadow on the poll prospects of the Congress and the UDF. This is the second resignation of a Kerala minister; Finance Minister KM Mani had stepped down three months ago in a similar case. What most appears to have shocked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the UDF is that Babu had to step down as minister on the same day Chandy had flagged off the Kochi Metro Rail, one of the major projects which the government wanted to project as a major achievement on the development front. The unexpected turn of events obviously took away the sheen as the prime news of the day suddenly became Babu's resignation following a vigilance court direction to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register an FIR against Babu in the bar bribery case against him. Though Babu has described his resignation as an act of upholding highest democratic values, the dilly dallying on his part in following the steps of his cabinet colleague KM Mani, who became the first casuality of the bar bribery case requires more explanation. Some people even suspect that Babu did not wish to wait any longer as the court had asked the VACB why they did not go into the details of Babu's assets. Even Oommen Chandy, who became gloomy all of a sudden after the court directive was reported to him, will have to do much explaining for protecting Babu all these days. Chandy's silence on the issue on Saturday explains how upset he is now. Mani, who had complained about dual justice in the bar bribery case, might feel some comfort as Babu, whom Chandy had been protecting all these days, had to finally step down. But this solace will be short-lived as he has to fight the coming elections as a coalition partner in the UDF. The UDF woes are not over as the same charges were levelled against state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Now that two ministers have stepped down, the bar owners who were forced to shut down the bars following the new liquor policy of the UDF government may not sit quietly. They are sure to continue the hunt as they have lost a lucrative business. The Opposition Left Democratic Front and the BJP, which are going all out to to become a strong third front with the support of the new party launched by SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan, are also not going to watch silently. oth the LDF and BJP leaders have already demanded the resignation of the Chandy government. However, all is not lost for Chandy and his colleagues as there are cases pending against CPM leaders VS Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan. The VACB is going ahead with an inquiry about the involvement of VS in the appointment of a less qualified person as director of the Forest Research Institute at Peechi. Though the CBI court had earlier discharged Pinarayi in the SNC-Lavalin case, the Kerala High Court last week admitted a petition by the state government to speed up proceedings in a review petition filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal. Congress spokesman MM Hassan and Joseph Vazhakkan have already made it clear that the Congress and the UDF will be cashing in on the cases against VS and Pinarayi while upholding the morality shown by ministers Mani and Babu. Patna: Christmas has come and gone, but Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has only just switched to Santa Claus mode. He is openly showering bounties, taking no notice of the Oppositions clamours and huge financial losses. For some, this may sound strange but after firmly seating himself in the saddle, Nitish has now gone on a spree of returning favours to just about everyone who helped him win the October-November election, that had become a matter of prestige for him given Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally taking charge of the entire poll campaign. The campaign saw Modi address as many as 27 election rallies the maximum by any Indian prime minister in state elections. The message he wants to convey is that he is the man who could be trusted. Well this is a simple trick of the trade give with one hand and take from the other! And, Nitish looks to be doing just that. Favours were handed out quickly to IT expert Prashant Kishore, Lalu Yadav and the women voters. But, why only them? The reason is as follows. Lets begin with Prashant, who has been appointed advisor to Nitish a rank of cabinet minister. The man said to have the Midas touch, had worked hard to draft poll strategies for Nitish during the month-long election campaign, which turned into a straight contest between him and the prime minister. Apart from revealing Modis tricks something with which Prashant was well aware, since he also had designed his poll strategies during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections he also made sure Nitish was focused on positive campaigning only. So while Modi went on hitting Nitish and his alliance partners Lalu and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hard, the Bihar chief minister focused only on telling the masses how he had drafted an ambitious seven-point plan or seven nischaya to bring massive changes in their lives. Free power connections. Toilets and piped water to every household. Roads to every hamlet Employment for every class. These were the promises Nitish made to to villagers, and asked in exchange, for their trust. The end-result showed the people had reposed faith in Nitish. Likewise, Nitish has also tried to reply his debt towards the RJD his alliance partner by withdrawing a criminal case against Lalu and his two children, Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, both ministers in his government. For the past six months or so, the Patna High Court had robbed the Yadav family of sleep by hearing a case related to large-scale vandalism on the streets. The case was registered against them by the state government after they were found to be involved in alleged vandalism during the day-long bandh called by the RJD in July 2015 to press for release of the caste census, but this was slowly proving to be an albatross around their necks. Eventually on Wednesday, the state government filed a petition in the court saying it did not want to pursue the case any longer. Subsequently, the court accepted the governments plea and decided to close the case. The special favour was not without basis. Lalu had promised not to stake claims for the post of chief minister even if the RJD emerged as the single-largest party after the elections and he stood by his words till the end. He did not look at the post even though the RJD won nine seats more than the JD-U (RJD - 80 seats, JD-U - 71). Secondly, Lalu managed to transfer the votes of his partys loyal support groups Muslims and Yadavs (MY) to the JD-U despite the decade-old bitter rivalries between Kurmis and Yadavs. Kurmis are Nitishs fellow castemen. Such a thing had not taken place during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when Yadav failed to transfer his fellow Yadavs votes to Ram Vilas Paswans party despite the fact that RJD-LJP was fighting the elections in alliance. In this case, however, Yadavs wholeheartedly backed Nitish as the grand alliance scripted a magnificent victory over the NDA, virtually reducing the Modi-led BJP to dust. The last name that figures on Nitishs list is 'women'. This group solidly stood by him despite every effort made by the NDA to woo them. Their support for the grand alliance was underlined from the fact that their turnout percentage stood at 60.57 percent which was roughly six percent more than the male voters. But for their support, it would have been just impossible for Nitish to stage a comeback. Apparently, as a reward for their support, Nitish has now been quick to grant 35 percent reservation for women in all state government jobs. This means the number of women in government jobs is set to increase rapidly in the coming days, which will not only boost their confidence but also empower them both socially and economically. In addition to this, Nitish has also announced a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor from the next financial year beginning April this year, apparently ignoring huge financial losses. It is worth mentioning here that the state government had been earning huge revenues by way of the sale of liquor every year. The revenue target for the current financial year is around Rs 4,000 crore. In the last financial year (2014-15), Bihar earned total revenue of Rs 3,220 crore, followed by Rs 3,173 crore in 2013-14; 2,432 crore in 2012-13; 2,045 crore in 2011-12; Rs 1,543 crore in 2010-11, and Rs 1,099 crores in 2009-10 when the Nitish government drafted a new excise policy for Bihar. Now with the government deciding to ban the sale of liquor, the state is set to incur huge financial losses. But for Nitish, this is just a small price to pay for the wholehearted support of women. Gurgaon: Ahead of the one-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande to Gurgaon, the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on Friday asked Haryana police to submit crime status report for Gurgaon, Faridabad and other adjoining districts as part of efforts to ensure proper security arrangements. The two leaders have a programme scheduled on 25 January at National Institute of Solar Energy situated on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway where the foundation stone for the interim secretariat of the international solar alliance will be laid. As France is a friendly nation of the US, CIA is involving itself in the security measures for the Hollande visit. The agency has specifically asked the Gurgaon and Faridabad district administrations to provide action-taken report, especially in the vicinity of the Aravalli mountain range, which is known for illegal mining and other criminal activities. Hawa Singh, ACP (PRO) of Gurgaon police, said that the spy agency has been focusing on Mewat district, where different security agencies have arrested four or five terrorists in the past three years. A suspected Al-Qaeda operative was nabbed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from Mewat district last week. CIA has asked the police in Gurgaon, Faridabad and adjoining districts to submit data on all criminal activities reported in their respective areas. The district administrations of Gurgaon and Faridabad have already imposed Section 144 in a radius of 2 km from the venue with SWAT teams also in place. Section 144 will also be imposed at prominent malls, shopping centres, strategic locations and crowded places between January 24 and 26. PTI WINNIPEG, Manitoba Five people were killed in a school shooting in a remote part of Saskatchewan on Friday and a suspect is in custody, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Two people are in critical condition after the shooting in La Loche, which is about 600 km (375 miles) north of the city of Saskatoon. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," Trudeau said. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. In the country's worst school shooting, 14 college students were killed at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989. Extra doctors and nurses have been sent to treat patients in Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority's 16-bed hospital, said spokesman Dale West. Teddy Clark, chief of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, said that his daughter told him about the shooting, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "I know there are some casualties and there are some people that are in critical condition that are being medivaced to the nearest cities, I would imagine Fort McMurray or Saskatoon." La Loche Grade 10 student Noel Desjarlais told the CBC that he heard multiple shots fired at the school. "I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A cellphone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school through the snow-covered ground and emergency personnel moving in. La Loche Community School is a pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 school, which houses about 900 students in two buildings. There was an emergency at the building that houses grades 7 to 12, the school district's Facebook page said. Both that building and the elementary school were put on lockdown. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, citing an incident where a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." (Additional reporting by Susan Taylor and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday hailed a "new chapter" in relations with China after talks with President Xi Jinping, who is touring the region to boost Beijing's economic influence. The Asian giant and the Middle East's foremost Shiite power aim to build economic ties worth up to $600 billion within the next 10 years, Rouhani announced. The two leaders oversaw the signing of 17 agreements in areas including politics, the economy, security and cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy. "With the Chinese president's visit to Tehran and our agreements, a new chapter has begun in Tehran-Beijing relations," Rouhani said in a televised speech, flanked by Xi. It is the first visit to Iran by a Chinese president in 14 years, according to state news agency IRNA, and comes just days after sanctions against Tehran were lifted under a historic nuclear deal with world powers. "Iran is China's major partner in the Middle East and the two countries have chosen to boost bilateral relations," IRNA quoted Xi as saying. Beijing is Tehran's top customer for oil exports, which in recent years were hit by US and EU sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme. Trade between the two countries was worth $52 billion in 2014. According to Iranian media, more than a third of Iran's foreign trade is carried out with China. Xi, accompanied by three deputy prime ministers and six ministers, also brought with him a large business delegation. He was scheduled to meet later Saturday with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Xi's tour, his first of the Middle East as Chinese president, has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Riyadh and a number of Sunni Arab allies broke diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters angry over the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric ransacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. In Cairo, Xi offered $55 billion in loans and investments to the Middle East, a region where China wants to strengthen its economic presence. AFP New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today left for Bahrain to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping amid tensions between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran. During her two-day stay in Manama, Swaraj will also hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of a number of Arab League countries, including her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The India-Arab League ministerial meeting tomorrow comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials Meeting here in November 2014. A number of issues such as terrorism, regional security and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the execution of a Shia cleric in the Kingdom are expected to be discussed. Swaraj's visit also assumes significance as the world is facing the challenge of terrorism with a spate of attacks like the one at the Pathankot air base earlier this month. Anti-terror cooperation is expected to be a key area of collaboration between India and the Arab League. India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others. India's trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India's oil and gas requirement. A memorandum of cooperation between India and the League of Arab States was signed in 2013. In line with the agreement, the first senior officials meeting was held in 2014 while the first ministerial meeting will take place tomorrow. The ministerial meeting will take place in alternate years and will be held alternatively in an Arab League country and India. The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. PTI 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Qualcomm announced SafeSwitch kill switch solution to address mobile security threat, back in September 2014. Earlier this month at the CES it said that it will be working with OEMs to introduce the feature in devices powered by its flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processors. Now it has detailed how SafeSwitch works and also said that devices powered by Snapdragon 820, 620, 618, 617 and 430 will support this feature. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Ojc_UJFZs SafeSwitch technology, combined with third-party service provider support will let you remotely disable your devices if they are lost or stolen and then re-enable them in the event they are found. This helps to protect sensitive, valuable personal data and to deter device theft in the first place, said Qualcomm. How it works If your device is hacked: Qualcomm SafeSwitch technology is built with a hardware-based mechanism that detects when data or software diverges from its certified state. If this happens, the device locks during power-on and a key is needed to unlock it. If your device is lost or stolen: When a user reports a device is lost or stolen using third-party software and the kill switch software is triggered, SafeSwitch is designed to lock down the device and its hardware. SafeSwitch allows for the disabling of the modem to prevent the device from accepting incoming calls, or placing calls. With SafeSwitch, a device user or network operator can also set a password remotely, erase and recover data, and locate or lock a lost or stolen device. If you want to unlock your device: If your device turns up after being lost or stolen, the secret key originally set up to lock it can remotely unlock the device. While global agriculture is troubled, American farms are in crisis. Low prices and excessive inventory damage farmers everywhere, but in the U.S. a strong dollar has curtailed exports and attracted imports, so inventories have ballooned. Farm income has dropped precipitously, and balance sheets are deteriorating. Naturally, farm suppliers are affected. Equipment makers such as Deere are obvious victims: Such purchases can usually be postponed. Suppliers of consumables are less sensitive to the farming cycle because their products are less discretionary, but times are so tough that farmers are reducing acreage planted, fertilizing, and applying pesticides as much as they can. So producers of consumables aren't escaping, either, as Monsanto (MON) revealed with its Jan. 6 report on fiscal Q1 (ended Nov. 30). Although results exceeded Monsanto's dismal guidance, they were greeted without enthusiasm: The stock dropped 2.1%, while the S&P 500 index was down 1.3%. Monsanto's superior performance ended in February 2015, when the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. released an alarming forecast of U.S. farm income. As it turns out, it was optimistic, but it also wasn't the main reason for Monsanto's subsequent price decline -- note that Deere's equity, which is more vulnerable to agricultural recession, didn't respond similarly. Rather, Monsanto's maladroit pursuit of Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) is to blame. Investors interpreted Monsanto's doggedness as a sign of weakness, an impression only bolstered by its defensive press release announcing its abandonment of the chase: "Monsanto Reaffirms Opportunity in Standalone Growth Plan." This perception was further reinforced by the announcement of the merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont. Monsanto's shares dropped 2.5% on the day that plan was revealed, while the S&P 500 index was down 1.9%. So Monsanto, although still a world leader in seeds and pesticides, finds its strategy being questioned. Coming during an agricultural recession, when no strategy is likely to receive validation, this is even more than usually unwelcome. Renewed flirtation with Syngenta is unlikely to help, unless it finally results in a transaction. And cost-cutting, although welcome, will incur $1.2 billion in up-front charges before making any contribution to earnings -- any benefits are unlikely to be seen until fiscal 2017. The fiscal year to Aug. 31, 2016, is likely to be grim, and despite analysts' expectations, the year to August 2017 may show little more than the fruits of fiscal 2016's restructuring. However, there are aspects of Monsanto's strategy for which the markets don't seem to be giving it much credit. In particular, currency effects have masked its success with a new strain of soybeans designed for Southern Hemisphere markets: These -- Argentina in particular, thanks to the recent change of government -- will be some of the brighter spots in world agriculture over the next few years. Unfortunate currency timing shouldn't be used as a stick with which to beat Monsanto: Waiting until Latin American currencies weren't vulnerable would have meant never launching at all. Apart from the attractions of strengthening its position in important farming regions, the rollout reduces Monsanto's dependence on American agriculture, which is likely to be weak for years to come. Monsanto's product pipeline is also impressive. It's expanding into insecticides and disease control, areas where it previously had little presence, and guaranteeing its dominance over its core corn, soybean, and cotton markets. Expansion into tomatoes is also promising, while cucumbers will probably be a sideline at best. The development of data-intensive "integrated farming" in conjunction with Deere, although it will initially be directed primarily toward U.S. farmers, will, in the long run, be the future of major crop farming. None of these initiatives will pay off immediately. But they and Monsanto's cost reduction efforts will gradually build value. At 14.8 times consensus estimates for the year to Aug. 31, 2017, and a yield of 2.3%, which is remarkable for a company that is, in the long run, a growth stock, patient investors should probably take a look. Freeport McMoRan (FCX -0.46%) is making the news for all the wrong reasons. And while the headlines are less than inspiring, they are actually hiding some good news in a key business. You'll want to keep on eye on Cerro Verde. Oil, yikes! The big headlines at Freeport today all revolve around oil. For good reason, of course, since the company's heavy debt load was basically caused by an ill-timed foray into oil drilling just as the price of that commodity was getting ready to fall precipitously. In fact, at the end of 2015, activist investor Carl Icahn appeared to have orchestrated the ousting of the company's co-founder because of what now looks like a big oil mistake. This, by the way, is a similar game plan to the one Icahn used at Chesapeake Energy. Oil isn't the only place Freeport is hurting; its core copper and gold operations are suffering from low commodity prices, too. But the debt overhang from the oil investment has led to a string of unfortunate, but necessary, moves like deep cuts in spending across the entire company and the elimination of the dividend. So, it's easy to see why investors have punished the shares. Any good news? But all these negatives mask some operational bright spots. For example, all of Freeport's copper mines are cash flow positive as long as copper stays above $2 a pound. Copper is painfully close to that figure right now, but the miner is clearly prepared for the pinch of low commodity prices on the metals side of things. And that's where Cerro Verde comes in. This is Freeport's giant mine in Peru. The company has been working on and off to expand this mine since 2008, after it was added to the fold in the Phelps Dodge acquisition. It's been a long time coming, and the company has spent billions on the project; the Cerro Verde expansion is scheduled to come on line this year. What can Cerro Verde do? The thin that makes this mine speical is simple. Size. Did I mention it's huge? At full capacity, it would account for 3% of the world's current copper supply. Running it at full bore would consume nearly 10% of Peru's electricity. The mine site spans 150,000 acres. No joke -- it's massive. But just being big isn't enough. Cerro Verde is using modern technology to turn scale into cost savings. In fact, the mine can spit out copper at a cost of around $1.50 a pound. That makes it one of Freeport's lowest-cost copper operations. Bruce Clements, the president of the company's mine business, recently told The Wall Street Journal, "You'd have to close a lot of mines before this one gets shut down." In other words, Cerro Verde is going to be an important asset for Freeport for years to come, even in the moribund commodities market we face today. In fact, the biggest benefit might be the ability to shutter higher cost mines and, thus, reduce Freeport's overall costs. To give you an idea of how much flexibility this one project could give Freeport, it expects an incremental increase in production of roughly 150 million pounds a quarter (600 million pounds a year). That's about 15% of the miner's third quarter 2015 production. To be fair, though, Freeport isn't the only miner scaling up its mines. Rio Tinto (RIO -1.77%) and BHP Billiton (BHP -1.46%) have also been increasing the scale of their top mines, reducing costs by integrating such things as self-driving trucks and trains to increase efficiency. Unfortunately, the more big mines there are, the longer commodity prices are likely to feel the sting of oversupply. So, there's a negative to this "big" trend. But that shouldn't diminish the value these mines provide to their owners over the long term. That's why, with so much attention being paid to Freeport's oil business, you'll want to make sure you give the company's world-class copper operations the kudos they deserve, too. And at this point, Cerro Verde is looking like it will quickly become a crown jewel when it ramps up to full steam later this year. Keep an eye on the mine's progress -- it will be important as the company works back from its debt overhang. Arguably one of the toughest challenges we face is ensuring we have enough money to last throughout our lifetime. As Americans, we're almost predisposed to the notion that we're poor savers; and we're also living longer than ever before, meaning there's even more pressure for our nest egg. Ensuring we have the appropriate budget, investment plan, and withdrawal plan in place is critical to hitting our retirement goals. But things don't always work out as planned. Why leaning heavily on Social Security can be worrisome According to a survey completed by AARP in September of pre-retirees ages 45 to 64, roughly half (51%) planned to lean on their Social Security benefits to provide 41% or more of their household income in retirement, including almost a quarter expecting it to comprise 71% or more of their household income. The Social Security Administration advises that your benefits shouldn't total more than 40% of your household income during retirement. The big concern with retirees and pre-retirees relying so heavily on Social Security benefits is that the program is in need of a fix. A demographic shift caused by the retirement of baby boomers, and the aforementioned increase in life expectancy, is expected to drain the Trust's remaining cash reserves by 2034. In short, beneficiaries could be facing a 21% benefits cut in order to sustain the program through 2087. That's not a spot retirees want to find themselves in. But other Social Security pitfalls exist for those who aren't prepared for retirement. Four states that tax Social Security benefits without any exemptions For example, 13 states currently tax Social Security benefits, at least to some extent. There's always the glass half-full approach which shows that three-quarters of all states do not tax your Social Security benefits during retirement. But, if you happen to retire in one of the 13 states that does, and you aren't aware of it ahead of time, it could wind up being a very unpleasant surprise. "What states tax Social Security benefits," you wonder? According to Kiplinger, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia all tax Social Security to some degree. The good news is that nine of these states have made up their own rules and allow retirees an exemption from having their benefits taxed up to a certain amount of income. In Colorado, for instance, up to $20,000 in Social Security and retirement income for those younger than 65 may be exempted, and this level rises up to $24,000 for those ages 65 and up. Missouri has a considerably more relaxed policy that taxes Social Security beneficiaries only if individual adjusted gross incomes exceed $85,000, or $100,000 for married couples. However, four states -- Minnesota, North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia -- offer no exemption to retirees, and thus follow the federal government's tax schedule for Social Security. The IRS taxes 50% of Social Security benefits at the ordinary federal income tax rate for income between $25,000 and $34,000 for individuals and $32,000 to $44,000 for those who file a joint return. For individuals with incomes above $34,000 and joint filers with incomes surpassing $44,000, 85% of Social Security benefits becomes taxable at the ordinary income rate. Retirees in these states who haven't done their homework could wind up forking over much needed cash via taxation during their golden years. One important thing to keep in mind Whether you're already retired, or preparing to head into retirement in the coming years or decades, it's important that you keep one thing in mind. Namely, you should understand that where you retire can make a big difference as to how long your nest egg lasts. Understanding how your retirement income, including pensions and other investments, is taxed should be near the top of your list when it comes to preparing for retirement. Of course, there are a long list of factors you'll likely want to weigh when considering where to retire, and those factors will probably extend beyond just whether or not a state taxes Social Security benefits. For instance, even though West Virginia taxes Social Security benefits at the same rate as the federal government, and without exemption, it does offer income exemptions on the first $8,000 ($16,000 for married couples) withdrawn from IRAs, 401(k)s, and private pensions. It also has a reasonable sales tax and low property taxes, making it a fairly tax-friendly state minus the Social Security benefits tax. Make it a point to be a proactive pre- and post-retiree and don't let these taxes surprise you at the most inopportune of times. Photo: Shutterstock As the President concluded his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the message was clear if unconventional. He set low expectations for success in working with a GOP-led Congress but also issued a call to the American people to take our future into our own hands, calling on us to fulfill our civic duty by voting, engaging in public service, and even protesting. Looking ahead to a year full of peril and opportunity for Black women's health, I can say that Black women are already heeding this call. We must, and will, define for ourselves what liberation looks like and demand accountability from the politicians who stand in our way.For the past forty years, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently supported the constitutional right of women to have abortions. So, as I look ahead to March, when the Court will review the law (HB 2) that has shut down more than half of the clinics in Texas, the image that comes to my mind is one of dominoes standing back to back across a map of the United States. With this new case,, will those dominoes start to fall?According to recent analysis, in the last five years politicians who want abortion to be completely illegal have quietly passed 288 new laws that make it harder and harder for women to access abortion care (57 in 2015 alone). The reach of these laws has expanded across vast regions of the U.S., forcing doctors to lie to women, requiring women to make multiple appointments and delay care, and shutting down clinics. These requirements are neither medically necessary, nor beneficial to womens health.However, the Supreme Court that will be decided this year goes far beyond one states abortion laws. In deciding Whole Womans Health, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to uphold every womans right to end a pregnancy with dignity by deeming unconstitutional not just the Texas law, but similar laws in other states.Politicians and pundits on both sides of the debate have remarked on how much is at stake in this case: in Texas, in abortion case law, for women writ large. But theres been comparatively little in-depth discussion about what this case means for Black women across the country. What it means for our families, our communities, and our futures.Restrictions on abortion should matter to each and every one of us, but the truth is they dont harm us all equally. Even after the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which celebrates its 43rd anniversary on January 22nd, the ability to end a pregnancy has depended largely on what state a woman lives in, how much money she makes, whether she is over 18, how easy or difficult it is for her to find a provider and the additional barriers, cultural and personal, she faces in making and keeping an appointment.For women enrolled in Medicaid, exercising the constitutional right granted in Roe has been difficult for nearly four decades, ever since the Hyde Amendment , denying abortion insurance coverage to low-income women, was first passed. While 15 states now provide coverage for abortion using state funds, low-income women, primarily women of color, immigrant women and young women in the remaining 35 states and Washington, D.C. are left struggling to make ends meet.According to the Guttmacher Institute , in 2000, 13 states were considered hostile to abortion rights. These included the usual suspects: red states like Texas, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Flash forward to 2014, and 27 states were considered hostile to abortion rights, with 18 now considered extremely hostile. No longer are these states scattered throughout the map. Now the hostile territory blankets the South, reaching in an unbroken swath from Virginia to Florida, across to Texas, and everywhere in between.So where does the Supreme Court case figure in? It could play a key role in reducing the hostile territory for Black women seeking abortion. States with laws on the books that might be affected by a decision regarding the ambulatory surgical center (ASC) and admitting privileges requirements challenged in Whole Womans Health v. Cole include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.These twenty states alone are home to 12.5 million Black women--a majority of Black women in the U.S. The Hyde Amendment restrictions already create insurmountable barriers for women struggling to make ends meet. And we know that denying a woman already struggling access to abortion can push her further into poverty.When clinics in these same states are forced to close, Black women, already facing barriers to quality, affordable health care, may be left with nowhere to turn. Others will save and struggle to travel hundreds of miles to a clinic in another state, which could overwhelm the remaining clinics, and make it harder for women living there to get an appointment on time.Of course, this is far from the first time weve faced hostile policies in the places we call home. Many of these same states have a history of denying healthcare, fair employment, educational opportunities, and voting rights to Black women, violations of our civil rights that continue to this day. Living in hostile territory is not new to Black women, but neither is it acceptable.But here is what some of the politicians passing these laws forget: the South may be embattled by anti-choice politicians, but it is also the birthplace of Dorothy Height, Amelia Boynton Robinson, and Daisy Lee Gatson Bates. Those same hostile states are where we are organizing in churches, beauty salons, and around the kitchen table. And those same states are also home to Black women voters, who are prepared to hold politicians accountable. And we overwhelmingly believe that abortion should be covered by health insurance (76 percent) and support the right of women to have access to affordable abortion care in our own communities (71 percent).In a few short months, the Supreme Court will decide whether we regain the progress promised by the sweat and toil of our mothers and grandmothers, or slide back. And a few months after that, voters will have an opportunity to chart the future of our nation. Those who oppose Black reproductive autonomy have set their game pieces across the map. It is my fervent hope and prayer that these dominoes of oppression will begin to topple, helping to make way for a brighter future for Black women and girls, the future weve been fighting for generations, a future long-awaited, and even longer overdue.Walk in My Shoes: A Black Activists Guide to Surviving the Women's Movement The Republican presidential nomination race has settled into two distinct tiers. Four candidates -- Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Ben Carson -- command nearly three-quarters of the partys support. The rest are just trying to break through. Heres how the race stands according to the latest Fox News national poll on the 2016 election: Trump receives 34 percent among Republican primary voters, Cruz gets 20 percent, Rubio 11 percent, and Carson 8 percent. Two weeks ago, it was Trump 35 percent, Cruz 20 percent, Rubio 13 percent, and Carson 10 percent. Trump hit a record-high 39 percent support in December, and Rubio hit his high-water mark of 14 percent in mid-November. Cruzs current 20 percent is his highest, which he hit for the first time earlier this month. Carson hit 23 percent in October when he briefly flirted with Trump for the top spot. Cruz tops the list as the second choice among Trump backers -- and vice versa. The new poll, released Friday, finds that Jeb Bush and John Kasich each receive 4 percent, Chris Christie 3 percent, Mike Huckabee and Rand Paul 2 percent, Carly Fiorina and Jim Gilmore tie at 1 percent support, and Rick Santorum receives less than one percent. One of the most notable things about the race is that none of the lower tier candidates has been able to get any oxygen," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who along with Democratic pollster Chris Anderson conducts the Fox News Poll. "Carson, Rubio, and Cruz managed some separation last summer, but since then the candidates have been mostly smothered by Trump and coverage of Trump. The poll also asks GOP primary voters if there is any candidate they just couldnt support against the Democrat in November. Some 15 percent say they would refuse to vote for Trump and 10 percent feel that way about Bush. Another 8 percent would stay home instead of voting for Christie, and 6 percent say the same about Carson, Cruz, and Paul. Recently Trump began questioning Cruzs eligibility to be president -- because Cruz was born in Canada to an American-citizen mother. The Constitution says only natural-born citizens can serve as the nations chief executive. While the U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on the issue, Republican primary voters have an opinion: 76 percent feel Cruz is eligible to be president of the United States. Fifteen percent feel he isnt. Sixty-one percent of voters overall say Cruz is eligible, while 27 percent disagree. Almost all GOP voters say the citizenship question wont matter to their vote (88 percent). For 10 percent, birther concerns will make them less likely to support Cruz. Betrayal, dissatisfaction and anger are whats mainly driving Republican voters. Fifty-two percent of GOP primary voters feel betrayed by politicians in their party. While thats down from 62 percent in September, its far more than the 37 percent of Democratic primary voters who feel betrayed. A whopping 88 percent of Republican voters describe themselves as dissatisfied with the way the federal government is working. That includes 40 percent who are flat out angry. In the January 14 GOP debate on the Fox Business Network, Trump said, Im very, very angry Im angry because our country is a mess. Angry Republican voters go for Trump over Cruz by a 49-22 percent margin. Among those who are just dissatisfied and not angry, Trump (24 percent) and Cruz (20 percent) are more evenly matched. Nearly three-quarters of voters overall are unhappy with Uncle Sam: 47 percent are dissatisfied with the way the federal government is working and 27 percent say they are angry. GOP primary voters want a candidate who is a strong leader (24 percent) and is willing to tell it like it is (23 percent). Almost as many want someone who has true conservative values (19 percent). Far fewer say having the right experience (8 percent) or winning in November (7 percent) are top of mind for them when picking a candidate. The Fox News poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,009 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from January 18-21, 2016. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all registered voters, and 4.5 points for the Republican primary voter sample (405). Some long time conservative activists have signed a manifesto complaining that Donald Trump is not conservative enough. In fact, there's plenty of conservative red-meat in Trump's platform to warm the heart of any on the right. Trump has put forward the most radical pro-growth and pro-business tax proposal of any candidate, a set of proposals praised by supply side guru and former Reagan economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Trump's dynamic proposal would cut the U.S. corporate tax rate below that of China, end the practice of inversion in which over $2 trillion harbored off-shore by US companies would be brought back to the U.S. to be taxed at a fair rate, Wall Street's hedge fund managers would finally pay their fair share and every American would get a tax cut. Trump is a life-long supporter of the Second Amendment and has a coveted and difficult to get concealed carry permit in New York City. Having known "The Donald" for almost 40 years, I can say that the odds that he is carrying a weapon for his protection -- most of the time when he is in New York -- are overwhelming. Does this sound like a gun grabber to you? Trump has vowed to rebuild our military to be second to none as a deterrent to those who would engage us. This is based on the principle of "Peace through Strength " exposed by Barry Goldwater and practiced by Ronald Reagan. Trump would also end our pinprick military strategy against ISIS and ramp up a full scale effort to destroy the terrorists. Trump once supported abortion on demand. This changed after the birth of his youngest son, Barron. The Trumps came to view every life as precious. Doomed is the movement that doesnt embrace converts. I met Donald Trump 37-years-ago when I was sent to New York to organize the state for Ronald Reagan. Trump and his father, one of the original financiers of Goldwater, were on the Reagan Finance Committee. I recalled this three years ago when I asked Donald to address a South Florida Tea Party Rally, an event which drew a record crowd. Trump has been on the front lines. Many of the co-signers of the National Review manifesto are friends of mine. I recall, however, the dictum of NR founder Bill Buckley who said "I'm for the most conservative candidate who can win." In 2016 that person is Donald J. Trump. Programming Alert: Howard Kurtz interviews Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Sunday on Media Buzz with Howard Kurtz at 11 am and 5 pm ET on Fox News Channel. Donald Trump, who uses the media as his personal megaphone, has spent this campaign savaging the press for treating him unfairly. But the crux of his problem all along has been a precinct of the profession that is usually firmly entrenched in the GOPs corner: the conservative media. And that is why the journalistic coup attempt spearheaded by National Review is so deeply revealing, both of the nature of Trumps candidacy and a cultural divide on the right. Trump is not running as a true-blue conservative. That is why media reports of the liberal positions he took and Democrats he befriended in the 1990s, a recent staple of Ted Cruzs attacks, have failed to dent his armor. He presents an amalgam of positions, from a hard-right stance on illegal immigration to a center-left view on protecting entitlement programs to a liberal appeal to tax hedge-fund guys. Rich Lowry and the editors of National Review are right: The Donald is not their kind of candidate. He has no interest in that. He is selling an image of strength and success, packaged with plenty of bombast, that transcends the usual litmus-test politics. When I interviewed Trump in Las Vegas for Sundays Media Buzz, I asked whether he has, through some kind of weird alchemy, become the establishment candidate, as Cruz says. Trump made no attempt to dispute it, calling the Beltway power brokers great people and citing Bob Doles criticism of the Texas senator. Im a dealmaker, he said proudly. By recruiting 22 writers to attack Trump, by calling him an opportunist and a huckster and a menace to American conservatism, National Review is standing up for what it believes. Trump responded in typical fashion, attacking the messenger as a faltering franchise, as he has done with Politico and other media outlets. National Review is a failing publication that has lost its way, he said, with its influence at an all-time low. Sad! And yes, Trump said the magazines founder, William F. Buckley, would be ashamed, despite the fact that Buckley described him in 2000 as a self-regarding demagogue. No print publication has the influence it once had, and NR has certainly gotten a tsunami of media attention for its assault by recruiting the likes of Bill Kristol, editor of the rival Weekly Standard. But Trump benefits from a newer and brasher wing of the conservative media, the more populist arena of Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Breitbart and others who may be more in touch with the grass roots than editors who live in Manhattan and Georgetown and attend conferences and cruises. National Review provides the intellectual backbone of the conservative movement, but it is also part of a cultural elite that many conservatives believe has let them down. Trump, the street fighter who emerged from a tabloid culture, has no interest, and no particular need, to win over the intellectuals. He is a brawler fighting a populist campaign. They are what George Wallace, in a very different context, once referred to as pointy-heads. For National Review and its brethren, smaller government and a muscular foreign policy are the essence of why they fight the policy wars. These positions are not what motivate Trump, who often notes that he opposed the Iraq war, championed by the neoconservatives. This same dynamic is at the heart of his battles with Fox News, where Trump has been pounded by the likes of George Will, Steve Hayes and Charles Krauthammer, along with Jonah Goldberg and Lowry, both associated with National Review. We saw this same disruption in 2008 when Sarah Palin, who endorsed Trump this week, became the darling of Kristol and other media conservatives. When such commentators as David Frum and Kathleen Parker broke with the orthodoxy and called Palin unqualified to be vice president, they suffered a severe backlash. Perhaps inevitably, things get personal between journalists and commentators who find themselves on opposite sides of the same movement. Some conservatives have made it their business to make excuses for Trump and duly get pats on the head from him. Count us out, National Review writes. It may have been a misstep for the magazine to go beyond using its ideological firepower against Trump and organize what looks like a political campaign to block him from winning the nomination. So far, at least, Trump has overpowered those who make their living with words, defying their predictions that he will inevitably implode. The president of the Birmingham, Ala. NAACP is under fire for allegedly trying to sell endorsements from an influential local PAC, after he told local candidates if they did not buy a table or ad at an event, they would not be considered for an endorsement. Hezekiah Jackson, president of the Birmingham branch of the NAACP, is also a member of a local PAC called Team Seven, and on the committee for an upcoming Feb. 4 banquet. In an email to local candidates, obtained by AL.com, Jackson laid out the prices of each table and advertisement, and how much each candidate would get to speak before the donation: The email read: 1. Deadline to submit payment is Friday, January 23, 2016 to me (Jackson) or Pastor Webb (Ad committee co-chair Gwen Webb). 2. Candidates purchasing an ad ($500) will have two minutes to speak. 3. Candidates purchasing a table ($500) will have two minutes to speak. 4. Candidates purchasing a combo (ad -- $250 and table for eight -- $500 = $750) will have three minutes to speak. However, crucially, Jackson also added: Candidates who do not purchase an ad nor a table WILL NOT be considered for endorsement. John Archibald, who reported the email for AL.com, accused Jackson of engaging in pay to play, calling the move brash and mercenary. Which means you pay to play. And the endorsement you get, the check mark on the ballot and the claim that Team Seven considers you the best darn candidate in your particular race, is worth nothing. But for the money you spent on it, Archibald wrote. Calls to Jacksons office from FoxNews.com were not returned. However, Sandra Little Brown, the groups founder and a Jefferson County commissioner, told FoxNews.com Friday the email was not in compliance with the PACs policies, and the email was swiftly corrected after it was brought to their attention. Team Seven has a policy that we will endorse candidates even if theyre not present or make contributions, Brown told FoxNews.com. We endorsed Barack Obama too but we didnt get any contributions from him. She also said that tickets to the event are free and are frequently given to people in the community. Tickets are free, and we encourage candidates to let us give them to people in the community. Its a free banquet, so people get a chance to have a free meal and listen to all the candidates. We dont sell even one ticket, we just sell tables, she said. Brown confirmed that Jackson is still a member of Team Seven, despite the controversy surrounding the email. Charles Krauthammer told viewers Friday on Special Report with Bret Baier that Donald Trumps presidential candidacy has become normalized among those in the mainstream Republican party. You get one or two [who] start to endorse Trump essentially as a signal that its ok, Krauthammer, a syndicated columnist and Fox News contributor, said. A new Fox News Poll released Friday revealed two tiers on the Republican side of the race for the White House: Donald Trump leads the pack with 34 percent with Ted Cruz behind him at 20 percent, Marco Rubio at 11 percent, and Ben Carson at 8 percent. The second tier consists of the remaining GOP candidates who are at 4 percent or less. However, the poll also asked GOP primary voters whether there is any candidate they couldnt support against the Democratic nominee in November. Trump topped that list as well with 15 percent saying they would refuse to vote for him. The number of people who are against him, Republicans, six, eight months ago was about 60 percent, 59 percent. If youre down to 15 percent theres an acceptance, Krauthammer added. Congress recently restored the Washington tradition of sledding on Capitol Hill, but whether children and others will be permitted to make unfettered runs will likely remain unclear until the snowflakes settle. Congress effectively lifted the ban as part of the $1.1 trillion spending bill passed before the Christmas holiday break, instructing the U.S. Capitol Police in the legislation to forebear enforcement of the decades-old sledding ban. However, the police board indicated Thursday that officers will limit the sledding if the conditions are unsafe for the public and/or the congressional community. The sledding situation led to a showdown last winter when officers reluctantly stopped sledding sessions. Families, with support from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and widespread interest from the media, returned for a sled-in. Nobody was arrested, but officials clearly hoped to avoid another potentially embarrassing situation and hard feelings with the families in the close-knit Capitol Hill community. Capitol Hill is this citys iconic snow sledding hill, and Congress got out of the way, allowing our kids to freely enjoy what promises to be one of the best snowfalls in years, Norton, a Democrat and the District of Columbias non-voting House member, said Thursday. On Saturday, only a handful of sledders, snowboarders and others were hardy enough to slide down the hill amid the blowing snow and sub-freezing temperatures. With big crowds expected when the weather breaks. The ban was ordered to protect the Capitol grounds, including the long, fast run on the House side. The effort to lift the ban was led in part by Norton and the House Appropriations Committee, whose chairman has an office overlooking a prime sledding spot. The committee added the language to the omnibus spending bill that Congress passed last month. Norton on Thursday also lauded the efforts to lift the ban and asked sledders to exercise caution and good judgement. Last year ... D.C. families came together with strong community support," she said. "All families need to worry about now is picking the best time to go sledding. Norton also said she knows her constituents will take the necessary precautions this weekend, considering the possible blizzard-like conditions on Saturday. Essentially everyone in Washington is freaking out about the blizzard. But for several weeks now, many congressional Republicans have privately freaked out about the prospects of Donald Trump or, to a lesser degree, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, emerging as the partys standard-bearer in the presidential sweepstakes. The theory is that both candidates are so polarizing that their electoral prospects will impale Republican candidates down the ballot. Lets start with the House. The GOP currently holds a 246-188 edge over Democrats. The current vacant seat belonged to former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and is expected to stay in Republican hands. So for the sake of argument, lets say its 247-188 in favor of the GOP. Democrats would have to flip a staggering net of 30 seats to reclaim control of the House. Wheel out the schadenfreude. Democrats would be rapturous at the prospects of rank-and-file Republicans having to defund Trump or Cruz -- or run away from them. Democrats could probably put a substantial dent in that 30-seat Republican margin. But thats expected in a presidential election year. Its just a question of how many more seats a Trump or Cruz candidacy could turn to Democratic control. But make no mistake: Knowledgeable sources on both sides of the aisle are clear that it would be almost impossible for Democrats to win back the House this cycle. That net gain of 30 seats is just too high a bar. The map favors Republicans. There arent a lot of swing districts in which Democrats could steal a seat or two. Nothing is ever out of the question. But the likelihood of Democrats nabbing the House majority is low at this writing. The Senate, however, is another story. Republicans already faced an uphill climb to retain their majority this fall. The GOP must defend 24 seats. Only 10 Democratic seats are up this cycle. Plus, its a presidential year. And, many of the Republican seats on the ballot are in purple states or states that President Obama won in 2008 and 2012. For the GOP, Sens. Ron Johnson, Wis., Mark Kirk, Ill., Rob Portman, Ohio, Kelly Ayotte, N.H., Pat Toomey, Pa., and Richard Burr, N.C., are running in competitive states. Democrats would also like to win the seat now held by GOP Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is running for president and not seeking re-election to the Senate. Democrats must also defend the seat of Sen. Michael Bennet, Colo., and the seat of retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada. Colorado and Nevada are potential GOP pickups. Republicans currently hold a 54-46 advantage over the Democrats in the Senate (two independent senators caucus with the Democrats). So a net gain of five seats isnt out of the realm for Democrats. Many political theorists think those seats in swing states could all tilt to the Democratic side if Trump or Cruz is the nominee. This pariah status for Trump and Cruz is rare. On Thursday, a reporter asked Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., whether he preferred Cruz over Trump. Its like being shot or poisoned. It doesnt really matter, replied Graham. Donald Trump is the most-unprepared person Ive ever met to be commander-in-chief. With friends like these. Last week, House and Senate Republicans huddled jointly in Baltimore for their annual issues retreat. Much of the conversation focused on an approach to fighting ISIS, terrorism and polling. Trump and Cruz werent there. But their specter haunted the entire confab. As a result, Republican leaders tried to present a positive image and sidestep internecine battles that loom inside the party. What happens above us on the presidential campaign is out of our control. So you try to control what you can control, said Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune, S.D. When asked about the eventual nominee, Thune left scribes with a less-than-confident answer that spoke deeply to Republican divisions. Hopefully well be able to sync up with their agenda, he said about the nominee. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., sought to deflect inquiries about the GOP chasms and pivoted to fissures among Democrats. I think if you look at the fractures, there are more on the Democratic side, proffered Scalise. Hillary Clinton hasnt been able to close the deal yet. I think you are going to see a very united convention. The most-prominent issue next to Trump and Cruz is the unity of Republicans heading into the convention. Everyone seems to be talking about it -- except for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. The speaker dismissed a reporters inquiry who asked if he thought the GOP would conduct a brokered convention. That's ridiculous, Ryan protested. How do I know? I think that's ridiculous to talk about that. Even though people are talking about it. And to hear Ryan and Scalise chatter, everyone will be in lockstep come convention time. Were going to support whoever our nominee is because thats the Republican primary voters decision, Ryan said. Thats where Democrats think they have Republicans in a fix if the GOP nominates Trump or Cruz. Reid said hed like to see the Senate vote on some of Trumps policies - specifically the plan to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. This is why Republicans fear Trump -- and why Democrats would love to put GOPers on the spot and exploit the schism. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell retorted that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. The Kentucky Republican argued he might concoct votes on the policy positions of Clinton or fellow Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent-Vermont. Adam Jentleson, a top aide to Reid, indicated to Fox that Democrats would accept the deal McConnell proposed in a heartbeat -- votes on Trumps policies in return for votes on Clinton/Sanders policies. In many respects, congressional Republicans are trying to rise above the fray. We need to appear like the sane ones, said one senior House aide. Thats why Ryans pushing a robust policy agenda and vision items this year. Theres a lot of us who believe this is a make or break year. We are going to build an agenda that is agnostic to our nominee, said Texas GOP Rep. Bill Flores, chairman the Republican Study Committee, the largest bloc of conservatives in the House. The agenda is a key piece of infrastructure that any presidential nominee would need, he said. In short, House GOPers are hoping to wag the dog a little. If say Trump is the nominee and he propounds far-flung ideas, perhaps congressional Republicans can temper that red meat with bona fide policies that represent core values of the party. But that doesnt stop everyone from freaking out on Capitol Hill. Maybe Trump and Cruz already wagged the dog. And then those in Congress are the ones who look like theyre out of step with the nominee their party selects. At least one of the emails on Hillary Clinton's private server contained extremely sensitive information identified by an intelligence agency as "HCS-O," which is the code used for reporting on human intelligence sources in ongoing operations, according to two sources not authorized to speak on the record. Both sources are familiar with the intelligence community inspector generals January 14 letter to Congress, advising the Oversight committees that intelligence beyond Top Secret -- known as Special Access Program (SAP) -- was identified in the Clinton emails, as well the supporting documents from the affected agencies that owned the information and have final say on classification. According to a December 2013 policy document released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence: This designation "is used to protect exceptionally fragile and unique IC (intelligence community) clandestine HUMINT operations and methods that are not intended for dissemination outside of the originating agency. It is not publicly known whether the information contained in the Clinton emails also revealed who the human source was, their nationality or affiliation. Dan Maguire, former Special Operations strategic planner for Africom, told Fox News the disclosure of sensitive material impacts national security and exposes U.S. sources. "There are peoples lives at stake. Certainly in an intel SAP, if youre talking about sources and methods, there may be one person in the world that would have access to the type of information contained in that SAP, he said. It is not known what the impact was on the source, nor the findings of a damage assessment by the agency that controlled the source. Separately, Fox News has learned that the so-called "spillage" of classified information is greater than the several dozen emails identified in the January 14 letter to Congress, which also acknowledged for the first time, that the Clinton emails contained intelligence beyond Top Secret, also known as Special Access Programs (SAPs). The source said that the "several dozen" refers to the main or principal email thread identified by reviewers, not the number of times that classified information was forwarded, replied to or copied to people who did not have a need-to-know using unsecured communication channels -- in this case a personal server. More than one Special Access Program was affected. "It's pretty tough to have SAP program material out in the public domain. I mean, it's a huge foul if that occurs, said Maguire, who retired after 46 years of service, and who was involved with Special Access Programs throughout his career. Maguire says a damage assessment to the program is mandatory and immediate. "It's a fairly laborious investigation. Once you know something was out to one person, that person sends it to 15, 15 send it to someone else -- so it's very difficult to ascertain where it all went but that's all part of the damage control aspect to get all the information back in the box." The two declarations provided to the heads of the House and Senate Intelligence committees -- as well as the leadership of Senate Foreign Affairs with oversight for the State Department -- include the emails containing SAP intelligence, as well as supporting documents from the agency affected, showing how they reached the determination it came from one of its sources, and not from publicly available information. When the inspector generals letter was first reported by Fox News, Hillary Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said, This is the same interagency dispute that has been playing out for months, and it does not change the fact that these emails were not classified at the time they were sent or received. A Kansas lawmaker came under fire from female legislators Thursday after he imposed a dress code that prevents women testifying on bills from wearing low-cut necklines and miniskirts. Republican state Sen. Mitch Holmes issued an 11-point code of conduct to guide women on how to dress. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that Holmes rules dont include any restrictions on men because, according to Holmes, men dont need instructions on how to look professional. "Oh, for crying out loud, what century is this?" Sen. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, said Thursday. Holmes, 53, is the chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. He said he wrote the instruction because provocatively dressed women are a distraction. The guidelines don't detail a minimum skirt length or a permissible neckline for blouses. "It's one of those things that's hard to define," Holmes said. "Put it out there and let people know we're really looking for you to be addressing the issue rather than trying to distract or bring eyes to yourself." Holmes did think about adding a provision on how men should dress, but ultimately decided males didnt need any guidance. He expects lobbyists to understand the rules when interacting with his committee, although he acknowledged infrequent visitors to the Statehouse might be unaware. Female senators said no one should impose gender-specific demands on those testifying before committees. "Who's going to define low-cut?" said Sen. Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican. "Does it apply to senators?" Sen. Carolyn McGinn, a Sedgwick Republican, said people who don't have clothes that meet Holmes' standards might be deterred from testifying. "I am more interested in what they have to say about the direction our state should go than what they're wearing that day," McGinn said. State Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, of Wichita, the ranking Democrat on the Senates elections and ethics committee, said people testifying before committees ought to present themselves in a professional way but she was put off by the lack of consistency for men and women. "In my 13 years in the Legislature, that's the first time I've ever read anything like that," Faust-Goudeau said. "I thought it was a little strange." Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, predicted the committee will reconsider the dress code Wednesday at its next meeting. Wagle, who is a member of the committee but wasn't present when the rules were given to members, indicated she isn't inclined to intervene personally. "The legislative process eventually always evolves to a consensus of the majority without leadership having to take action," she told The Associated Press. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, told the Associated Press that the "irony" of the dress code was that it came from a committee that "should be more concerned about violations of campus finance law than what women wear." "Coming from a man, I think it's important that women are supported in the choices that they make for themselves," he said. Kansas lawmakers had a previous controversy in 2014 over interns and how they were dressing. State Rep. Peggy Mast decided that interns during the session had to comply with an expanded dress code, according to the Capital-Journal. Mast sought to have males wear a dress shirt, tie, slacks and suit and their hair neatly styled. Females could wear business attire with a dressy top. Mini-skirt and tight pants along with revealing necklines were prohibited. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from The Topeka Capital-Journal. The State Department is asking a federal court for a one-month extension for the January 29 release of emails from former agency secretary Hillary Clinton, citing in part problems from this weekends snow storm and sparking outrage from Republicans about the delay influencing early voting in the White House race. Its clear that the State Departments delay is all about ensuring any further damaging developments in Hillary Clintons email scandal are revealed only after the votes are counted in the early nominating states, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus after the request Friday. Lawyers for the agency, which Clinton ran from 2011 to 2013, made the request in a federal court in Washington, which in May ordered the emails to be released monthly, in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The Clinton email team must perform its work on site. This storm will disrupt the Clinton email teams current plans to work a significant number of hours throughout the upcoming weekend and could affect the number of documents that can be produced on January 29, 2016, agency lawyers wrote in their request. Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for the 2016 nomination, exclusively used a private email account and a home server during her time at the agency. She said this was a decision made out of convenience and has denied doing anything wrong. An extension, if granted, would push the complete publication of Clinton's emails past several of the earliest primary contests, including the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire. If they come out instead on Feb. 29, it would be a day before the critical Super Tuesday primaries. The American people should be outraged at the Obama administrations gamesmanship to protect someone who recklessly exposed classified information on more than 1,300 occasions, including highly sensitive Top Secret intelligence, Priebus continued. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Friday the agency cannot meet its court-mandated goal of Jan. 29 because about 9,400 of the 55,000 remaining pages "contain a large amount of material that required interagency review." The remaining emails are also the most complex to process," he said. However, the agency will make public as many as possible next week, Toner also said. The Clinton campaign referred questions by Fox News back to the State Department, include a request to respond to the RNC saying the extension request was politically connected to the 2016 voting schedule. Some of the most contentious emails haven't yet been published. They include two that an intelligence community auditor says are "top secret" and others he claims are even more sensitive, containing information from so-called special access programs. Such programs suggest the emails could reveal details about intelligence sources. The State Department says no emails published so far contained material with "top secret" information or any material that was marked classified at the time. The issue has nagged at Clinton's presidential campaign, with the FBI said to be examining in some capacity. Toner said the delay in publication isn't the result of "ongoing discussion about classification" that has been made public recently. He said he couldn't comment further on ongoing litigation. Fox News Ed Henry and The Associated Press contributed to this story. Officials with Chicago Public Schools say they're sending layoff notices to 227 administrative employees and closing up another 180 positions that were already vacant. The nation's third-largest school district said in a news release that notices were being sent Friday, though 57 employees will be able to reapply for 35 positions. The district has been scaling back on administrative positions for months. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said that his goal has been to "protect the classroom" from cuts as the district grapples with a more than $1 billion budget deficit. District CEO Forrest Claypool says the layoffs are painful, but financial problems left the district with little choice. The announcement comes the same week top Illinois Republicans called for a state takeover of the district, a plan Democrats blasted. Errors by three airmen troubleshooting a nuclear missile in its launch silo in 2014 triggered a "mishap" that damaged the missile, prompting the Air Force to strip the airmen of their nuclear certification and quietly launch an accident investigation, officials said Friday. In a statement released to The Associated Press, the Air Force declined to provide key additional details or a copy of the report produced last November by the Accident Investigation Board, saying the information was classified and too sensitive to be made public. Under the Air Force's own regulations, Accident Investigation Board reports are supposed to be made public. The Air Force did release a brief summary to the AP after it repeatedly sought answers for more than a year. The summary said the full report was classified on Nov. 9, 2015, by Gen. Robin Rand, who took over as commander of Air Force Global Strike Command in July 2015. The Air Force said the accident caused no injuries and posed no risk to public safety. It said top Pentagon officials were briefed on the results of the investigation in December, as were members of Congress. The damaged missile was removed from its underground silo, which is designated Juliet-07 and situated among wheat fields and wind turbines about nine miles west of Peetz, Colorado. The silo, one of 10 in a cluster, or flight, that straddles the Colorado-Nebraska border, is controlled by launch officers of the 320th Missile Squadron and administered by the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The accident follows a period of turmoil inside the nuclear missile corps that the AP revealed in a series of articles and amid an emerging national debate about the costs and benefits of investing hundreds of billions of dollars to modernize the entire strategic nuclear force at a time when war craft is changing. The Minuteman 3 is the only land-based intercontinental ballistic missile in the nuclear force. First deployed in 1970, it long ago exceeded its planned service life, and the Air Force is developing plans for a replacement. The Air Force's brief summary of the Juliet-07 mishap said the Minuteman 3 missile "became non-operational" during a diagnostic test on the evening of May 16, 2014. The next morning a "mishap crew" chief, who was not identified, "did not correctly adhere to technical guidance" during troubleshooting efforts, "subsequently damaging the missile." No further details about the damage or errors were revealed. The investigation report summary said the actual cause of the accident, established by "clear and convincing evidence," is classified. It said there were four contributing factors to the accident, of which it identified two. One was the mishap chief's failure to follow technical guidance. The other was that the mishap chief "lacked the necessary proficiency level" to anticipate the consequences of his actions during the troubleshooting. In seeming contradiction of that second point, the Air Force said in its separate statement to the AP that the mishap team chief was properly trained for the task he was performing. It said he and two other airmen on his team were immediately stripped of their certification to work with nuclear weapons. They remained decertified for "over a year," until they were retrained and returned to nuclear duty. Lt. Col. John Sheets, spokesman for Air Force Global Strike Command, said it is possible that some or all of the three could still face disciplinary action. To prevent a recurrence of their mistake and the accident it caused, the Air Force said it has "strengthened" technical guidance, modified training curriculum and shared information about the conditions that led to the mishap with other units that operate Minuteman 3 missiles. Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein was commander of the ICBM force at the time of the incident. The AP requested an interview with him but the Air Force declined to make him available. Weinstein is now the top staff officer on nuclear matters at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon. When the AP inquired about the accident in December 2014, Sheets said no details could be released until after the accident investigation board had completed its work and presented its findings to the commander of Global Strike Command. He assured the AP that the investigation report would be made public, although when the AP filed a request for it in March 2015 under the Freedom of Information Act, the Air Force denied the request, saying the information was "exempt from mandatory disclosure" and would be withheld from release because it consisted of "advice, opinions, evaluations or recommendations." Sheets later said the report was not yet complete but would be made public as required under Air Force regulations. He subsequently amended that, saying senior officials had decided the information was too sensitive to release. The Air Force's own legal office says the purpose of an accident investigation is to provide a publicly releasable report of the facts and the circumstances of the accident. An Air Force order dated April 14, 2015, is explicit about this. "An accident investigation conducts a legal investigation to inquire into all the facts and circumstances surrounding Air Force aerospace and ground accidents to prepare a publicly releasable report" and to obtain evidence for use in litigation and disciplinary action. At times the Air Force has been slow to acknowledge its nuclear missteps. In 2014 then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed worry that personnel failures were squandering public trust in the nuclear force. He ordered an independent review, which was underway at the time of the Juliet-07 accident. The review team was not told of it, however, because "the accident was going through the investigative process" at the time, the Air Force told the AP. The most recent previous Air Force investigation of an accident at an ICBM launch silo was in 2008. That investigation, which was publicly released, found that a fire in a launcher equipment room went undetected for five days. It uncovered the remarkable fact that the Air Force was using duct tape on cables linked to the missile. The fire was caused by a loose electrical connection on a battery charger that was activated when a storm knocked out the main power source. The fire ignited a shotgun storage case, incinerated shotgun shells, ignited and melted duct tape at the opening of the launch tube, charred an umbilical cable in several places, and burned through wires in a pressure monitoring cable. A Good Samaritan was shot and killed in North Carolina when he tried to help a motorist stranded as a massive snowstorm pummeled the East Coast, it was reported Saturday. Marvin Jacob Lees car spun out on an icy, snow-covered road in Bandys around 5:20 p.m. Friday, Catawba County Sheriff Roy Reid told the Charlotte Observer. Reid identified the victim as Jefferson Heavner, 26, of Newton, N.C. Heavner was in a passing truck and stopped when he saw Lee, of Claremont, N.C., needed help. The situation took a dramatic turn when Lee allegedly became belligerent toward Heavner and several neighbors who came out of nearby homes. They thought he was drunk and said, lets just call the law and let them deal with it, Reid said. At that point, Lee allegedly took out a gun and opened fire, the Observer reported. Heavner was felled by a bullet and then shot numerous times as Lee stood over him, Reid told the paper. Lee returned to his car after the shooting and refused to surrender to deputies. They called in a SWAT team with an armored vehicle. They saw he was passed out, Reid told the paper. Reid said the SWAT team yanked Lee out of the car and placed him in custody. He was being held at the Catawba County Jail on a murder charge. California police said Friday they have found at least one human skull and eight containers with potentially more human remains at a Los Angeles-area shop that sells spiritual items. Los Angeles County sheriffs Capt. Steve Katz said deputies responded to the Compton business after a woman complained of animal cruelty. Katz said when investigators arrived to the store, they found the skull inside a pot. He said the coroners office collected the skull and eight other pots that may also contain skulls. Katz said theres no evidence of homicide and that it appears the skulls may have been purchased legally and were being used for a religious ceremony. Katz said it was unclear if animal remains were found at the shop. An official told KTLA earlier Friday that both human and animal remains were found at the scene. The sign outside the store reads "Omi Relekun" and describes itself in Spanish as a spiritual store and school. Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the sheriffs homicide bureau at 323-890-5500. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A juvenile passerby was injured Friday night after officers fired on a man who was walking in and out of traffic on the Las Vegas Strip waving a gun and pointing at people, the Las Vegas Sun reports. Capt, Matt McCarthy tells that Sun that at about 7:30 p.m., officers arrived in front of the Bellagio casino and confronted the man, the Sun reports. McCarthy says the officers approached the suspect, who did not obey their commands. He says the officers then fired on the man, who was not hit. McCarthy says the gunfire grazed two bystanders, one of whom was a juvenile who was taken to a hospital and released in good condition. The suspect, who is known as one who frequently sells goods to tourists, was arrested and taken into custody. A judge concerned about public safety sentenced a 62-year-old North Texas man to life in prison for his 10th drunken driving conviction since the 1980s. Ivy Ray Eberhardt, of Weatherford, Texas, was sentenced Wednesday. Eberhardt would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years. "Part of my job is to protect the citizens of Parker County, and the only way that I can think of to do that from somebody that has 12 DWI arrests and 10 DWI convictions is to put you in a place that you can't drive for as long as I possibly can," Judge Craig Towson told Eberhardt. The case involved an April 2014 driving while intoxicated stop in Parker County in which Eberhardt's blood alcohol level was almost four times the 0.08 legal limit for driving in Texas. While free on bond in that DWI case, Eberhardt cut off an electronic ankle monitor and fled to Colorado, where he was again arrested for drunken driving, prosecutors said. Eberhardt also had drunken driving conviction in Tarrant and Runnels counties in Texas, records show, and he served three prison terms for the convictions. Weatherford is 25 miles west of Fort Worth. A Uruguayan police official says a former Guantanamo detainee resettled in the South American nation has been arrested on a domestic violence complaint. The official says Syrian national Omar Abdelhadi Faraj was detained Friday by police. The person was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Another Uruguayan official charged with overseeing matters involving former Guantanamo detainees resettled in Uruguay said he had learned about the arrest through the media and was trying to contact the man's lawyer. Faraj arrived in Uruguay in December 2014 along with five other former detainees after leaving the prison at the U.S. Naval base at Guantanamo, Cuba. The following June he announced that he would marry a Uruguayan woman who had converted to Islam. The military says Jordanian border guards opened fire on three dozen suspected infiltrators from Syria, killing 12 and wounding several others. The border command has said it frequently intercepts smugglers trying to cross into Jordan. Saturday's shooting was the deadliest such incident in the border area in recent memory. The military's website says border guards confiscated more than 2 million narcotics pills during the incident. It says some of the infiltrators were armed and that several returned to Syria. Much of Jordan's border with Syria runs through remote desert. The military did not say where along the border the shooting took place. The eastern part of the border is the main crossing route for Syrian refugees. Some 17,000 are stranded in the border area, awaiting entry to Jordan. An American university student who was recently detained by North Korea is being held over an undisclosed incident at his hotel before he was scheduled to board a flight to Beijing, a China travel agency said Saturday. North Korea said it had detained Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student, because of a hostile act orchestrated by the U.S. Gareth Johnson, the CEO of Young Pioneer Tours, confirmed to the Associated Press Saturday that Warmbier had been staying at Pyongyangs Yanggako International Hotel and was not with other tourists when the incident happened. The company said in a statement Warmbier was detained at the Pyongyang Airport on Jan. 2, but didnt explain what happened at the hotel. The company said in its statement that an airport official told one of Young Pioneer's guides after Warmbier was detained that he had been taken to a hospital. The guide attempted to go back to see him, but was unable to as airport staff ushered her through immigration, the company said. The company later learned "there had been an incident," according to the statement. Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader at the tour agency, told Reuters that what happened, happened at the hotel and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed. Guttridge insisted Warmbier acted like any other tourists and that none of the guides had any idea what allegedly happened at the hotel. The U.S. and South Korea have been pushing for tough sanctions against the North over its latest nuclear test on Jan. 6. North Korea has detained a few Americans, South Koreans and other foreigners in recent years, accusing them of anti-North activities in what analysts say are attempts to wrest outside concessions. Johnson told Reuters the company was in contact with Warmbiers family, U.S. officials and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea. The State Department said in a statement it was aware of the situation, but didnt release any other details, citing privacy concerns. Warmbier would be the third Westerner known to be held by the secretive Communist state. Last year, South Korean-born Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to life in prison for alleged subversion. Earlier this month, a Korean-American man told CNN that he was being held by North Korea on suspicion of spying. The U.S. State Department said it could not confirm the CNN report. It declined to discuss the issue further. The United States and North Korea are in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Reuters. WILMINGTON, Del. The gang now running DuPont Co., that incubator of 20th-century U.S. industry, is scrapping many of its headquarters institutions, as if they were old Rust Belt factories. Glowing paints and super plastics, miracle fabrics and insulators, electronics and fuel additives and their often toxic by-products are just a few of DuPonts highlights. Its science and engineering created that new-car smell, the snug and cleanable feel of a mass-marketed American home, and the security and menace of a fully equipped American soldier. But the latest round of cost cuts, as CEO Edward Breen prepares to marry DuPont to rival Dow Chemical Co. and break them into three themed successor companies, has meant lights off at offices and labs that made DuPonts mixed products one company. Breen shut what was left of the old corporate marketing and sales group, axed lawyers who pioneered toxic-tort and cyber-espionage defenses, scrapped a massive supply-chain system, and closed such facilities as a new $35 million seed lab near the University of Delaware. What is most symbolic is that at DuPonts 90-year-old Central Research and Development Group, birthplace of nylon, Kevlar, and the moisture barrier Tyvek, and training ground for scientists who went on to win Nobel Prizes, more than half the 270 chemical and materials researchers were laid off earlier this month, employees tell me. (DuPont declined to detail research changes and called employee accounts speculation.) Fewer than 30 percent of the Central Research scientists were reassigned to DuPonts consolidated business units. Fewer than 20 percent of the group will keep their jobs, in a shrunken, renamed Science and Innovation successor unit, say insiders. At the steaming, gated DuPont Experimental Station, departing scientists were told to label their chemicals for disposal. Some of their offices will lie as vacant as the companys ruined gunpowder works across the Brandywine, or some labs at AstraZeneca, up the hill past DuPont Country Club and A.I. du Pont Hospital. The idea is to make DuPonts remaining businesses more self-sufficientand, maybe, easier to sell and spin off. Who to blame? Greed, and short-term profits, Carnegie Mellon chemical engineering professor Ignacio Grossman wrote in a note to Chemical and Engineering News last month, after DuPont told scientists it would consolidate the central research group. It is truly amazing that a corporate raider and financial terrorist like Nelson Peltz from Trian Partners can get away with the damage he has done to DuPont and to the U.S. chemical industry, Grossman told me. In a statement to DuPont shareholders last year, Trian said it supports research and developmentwhen it is well-managed, at projects expected to produce an economic return. But at most of DuPont, Trian added, current R&D spending has not been effective. For practical purposes, DuPont doesnt exist anymore, Abraham Lenoff, chemical engineering professor at the University of Delaware, told me. It takes an enormous effort and a lot of time and a large infrastructure, especially human infrastructure, to create value in a large company like DuPont. The financial community doesnt know how to do that. Hedge-fund managers know how to extract value from a company, and leave an empty shell, so they can build their houses in the Hamptons, he added. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY Craigs Baptist Church, 14123 W. Catharpin Road, hosts an AWANA program for children of all ages each Tuesday, 6:308 p.m. An eight-week Centershot Archery program for ages 6 and older will run Thursdays beginning Feb. 4. 540/854-5284. Wilderness Community Church, 10501 Plank Road, will hold a concert Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. featuring the Avery Road Band. A love offering will be received. 540/972-8808; wildernesschurch.org. STAFFORD COUNTY Berea Baptist Church, 28 Fleet Road, announces the men will have a Prayer Breakfast and Organizational Meeting for establishing a mens ministry Jan. 30, 79 a.m. in the Social Hall. 540/752-4406. KING GEORGE COUNTY Dahlgren United Methodist Church will host a series of monthly cooking/nutrition classes called Eating Smart, Moving More starting Jan. 24, 12:302 p.m. Childcare available for children up to 3 years old. 540/663-2230 or office@dahlgrenumc.org. WESTMORELAND COUNTY Saint Marys Episcopal Church, Colonial Beach, is having a Chili Dinner on Jan. 29, 47:30 p.m. Adults $8, children $5. Mickey, 804/214-9541. ORANGE COUNTY Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, 19103 Brick Church Road, will hold Celebrate Recovery on Thursday evenings. This is a biblically-based Christ-centered recovery program to help participants get free of their hurts, habits and hang ups such as abuse, adult children and family dysfunction, domestic violence, divorce, addictions and more. For information, contact Billy and Francine Isenhour at 540/967-2424 or email billysffs@gmail.com. HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS Information to be included in the weekly notices of area church services must be delivered in writing to The Free LanceStar, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, faxed to 540/373-8455, or emailed to newsroom@freelancestar.com, no later than noon Wednesdays. Please include complete name of church, location, time and date of event, plus name and telephone number of person to contact if more information is needed. Barry and Tara Weaver moved to King George County so they could raise their four children in the country and enjoy the areas peace and quiet. They knew their 10-acre lot with its two-story home and three-car garage were about a mile from the King George Landfill. So, the Weavers thought they might smell the occasional odor but didnt expect an assault on another sense. The Weavers hear a noise they describe as a high-pitched hum or distant droning. Visitors have likened it to a plane that never lands or an air conditioner thats always running. Tara Weaver sees it as the sound of miseryhardly what her family hoped to find at their home in the woods. Instead of enjoying the sounds of nature, we have to listen to what sounds like a generator runningmornings, evenings and weekends, she said. Shes spent nine months logging times and descriptions of the sound and contacting county and business officials to see if the source can be found. Everyone shes spoken with has been receptive to her concerns. They just havent done anything, she said. On Tuesday, she brought her complaint to the King George Board of Supervisors. After a brief discussion, the board asked Sheriff Steve Dempsey to send out his deputiesarmed with decibel readersto industrial plants around the landfill. We are going to try and determine the source, Dempsey said Wednesday. But even if officers find violations of the countys noise ordinance, the company causing the excessive humming isnt legally obligated to make any changes. Any noise generated from industrial activities is exempt under the ordinance, passed in June 2013. Richard Granger, the newly elected Board of Supervisor member whose district includes the landfill, said he hoped the industrial noisemaker would do the right thing. I would hope we could appeal to their sense of decency, he said. We do have an obligation to make sure we provide the best quality of life people can have. SOUNDS LIKE A SPACESHIP The Weavers moved to King George almost a year ago from Woodbridge. She home-schools the children, and the family spends as much time outside as possible. Barry Weaver has been an Air Force pilot for almost 15 years and is assigned to Joint Base Andrews in Prince Georges County, Md. Their relocation made his commute longer, but the Weavers said they thought the move was well worth it, considering how much they love their neighborhood and the proximity to parks, trails and other attractions. Three months after they unpacked, the Weavers started hearing the humming. It woke them in the middle of the night. At times, it was louder than the TV. It didnt go away on the weekends. People who visited from Northern Virginia heard the droning and asked: You drive all this way for this? Barry Weaver said. Linda Round remembers 10 years ago, when her daughter moved to Worman Drive, the same street as the Weavers. Round would go to her house to babysit and hear a sound at 2 in the morning. Id wake up and think there was a truck in the driveway, she said. When Round moved to the same area five years later, she had the contractor build six-inch walls with double insulation in her bedroom. There could be a tornado outside, and she wouldnt know it, she said. But Round certainly hears a humming when shes outside or at her daughters. Its just annoying at times, she said. It almost sounds like a spaceship, like something is hovering over your house. SOUNDS AND SMELLS Other neighbors on the street, which runs up and down hills, say the noise is stronger at higher elevations such as where the Weavers are. Their bedroom is on the western side of the house, and the Weavers say the noise is loudest when the wind blows from the eastthe direction of the industrial plantstoward them. Other neighbors say theyve gotten used to the drone, while still others complain more about smell. Those complaints certainly arent new to the landfill. Denise Bellmer described days when a foul odor from the facility permeates the inside of her house. Even if its abated outside, the smell lingers inside. You walk into the house, and it hits you like a wall, she said. It doesnt matter if its 30 degrees outside, you have to air out your house. Few of them have taken their complaints outside the neighborhood. But the Weavers started emailing officials at the landfill and the Birchwood Power Facility in Mayand havent stopped. They arent sure whats causing the noise. They suspect it comes from the landfill, or a combination of sounds coming from the landfill, Birchwood and the trains that bring coal or loads of trash to either place. COMPANIES RESPOND Birchwood, which converts pulverized coal to electricity to sell, hired a noise consultant to look into the problem, according to emails between the Weavers and Julie Caiafa, Birchwoods business manager. In October, Caiafa said Tara Weaver was hearing the noise even after Birchwood went offline for a weekend. The noise has to be coming from someone other than us, Caiafa wrote. Lisa Kardell, the public affairs director at Waste Management, said her company has triedwithout successto identify the source of the noise. She said Tara Weavers descriptions of it ramping up at times are inconsistent with the gas-to-energy plant the landfill maintains. It takes the methane produced by decomposing trash and converts it to electricity. Our power plant is extremely consistent and does not ramp up at any time due to power consumption, she said. Tom Cue, the former district manager at the landfill, emailed Tara Weaver in July. He said the plants concentrators, which treat leachate, the liquid that seeps from trash, are vibrating and humming more than usual. I have the team checking every joint and gasket to determine what the cause of this additional noise is, he wrote. Cue no longer works at the landfill. His successor, David Howard, said hes been to the Weavers home several times and had heard a slight humming sound. Like Kardell, he said he couldnt identify the source. FIND THE CULPRIT The county gets $5 for each ton of trash dumped at the landfillto the tune of about $6.4 million a year. Howard, who gave a quarterly report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, said the facility was cleaning tanks last week, which might have caused more noise and smells than usual, but things are back to normal. Supervisor Granger said he visited the Weavers Jan. 12, then followed the humming to the gates of the landfill and Birchwood. There was a lot of wind that night, but he said the noise was more audible at the landfill than Birchwood. He asked if the sheriff could assign deputies to determine the source. If he has the resources, said Chairwoman Ruby Brabo, whos also visited the Weavers and emailed with them since May. Supervisor Jim Howard paused for a moment for what seemed like a reality check. Youve got two industrial facilities there, three if you count the tulip factory [Fresh Tulips USA], he said. I mean, you can expect noise. Suppose we find out its the landfill, and its an important function that they do. What are we gonna do? Brabo said she hoped the company would be willing to talk about ways to mitigate the problem. Or, if its someone else we havent thought of, Granger said. Its important to find the culprit. HARRISONBURG If a Massanutten Resort staff member has assisted you recently, you werent dealing with just any employee. You were helped by one of its owners. Great Eastern Resort announced recently that its companiesincluding Wilderness Presidential Resorts in Spotsylvania Countyare under full control of an Employee Stock Ownership Program. In addition to Massanutten and Wilderness, its holdings include Peak Construction Co., headquartered at Massanutten. Steve Krohn, Great Easterns executive vice president and chief operating officer, said its ESOP trust bought the final shares of stock owned by Dice Hammer and the heirs of Jim Lambert late last year. The acquisitions completed a 22-year sale process. Hammer is still the companys president, according to a press release, and he and Jim Lamberts son, Jimmy, remain on Great Easterns board of directors. No significant operational changes are expected because of the completion of the sale. Money for the purchase came from profitability and bank loans, Krohn said. He would not divulge the purchase price. He called the employee acquisition a momentous event for Great Eastern but noted that much more has been accomplished since the ESOP was established in 1993. Not only did we buy the resort from the owners over 20 years, we also grew the resort tenfold, Krohn said. That simultaneous need for funds is exceptional. Retention Aid At least four businesses based in Harrisonburg are ESOPs: Nielsen Builders Inc., Truck & Equipment Corp., Glass & Metals Inc. and ComSonics Inc., one of the nations first ESOPs. Great Eastern is headquartered in Charlottesville and has about 1,900 employees, Krohn said. Most of the companys workforce is in Rockingham County. Massanutten employs 1,500 people alone. Including retirees and former employees, more than 3,000 people participate in the ESOP, he said. Matthias Smith, vice president and general manager of the 6,000-acre Massanutten Resort, said it was a great testament to the owners vision and commitment to their employees to establish the ESOP. The program, Smith explained, is a qualified retirement plan thats based on employee earnings. It costs them nothing. They become vested in the program based on tenure and can cash out at any time. The company views the program as a way to attract and retain employees in the high-turnover hospitality industry, he said. More than 150 people have been with the company 10 years or more, and more than 60 have at least 20 years of experience. Employees benefit from having a strong retirement plan that they can contribute to by doing their jobs well. Smith said it encourages workers to think like an owner and look for ways to save the company money. Our success, he said, is their retirement growth. WASHINGTON One in seven Americans will get at least half a foot of snow outside their homes when this weekends big storm has finished delivering blizzards, gale-force winds, white-out conditions and flooding to much of the eastern U.S. But in the nations capital, the snowstorm promised to leave a much bigger impact. The first flakes of what could become two feet or more of wet, driving snow began falling in Washington just after 1 p.m., sloshing in from the Ohio River Valley looking just like the forecasts promised. Conditions quickly became treacherous as the storm moved northeast. Arkansas and Tennessee got eight inches; Kentucky got more than a foot, and states across the Deep South grappled with icy, snow-covered roads and power outages. At least eight people died in traffic fatalities in the dangerous weather. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser asked residents to hunker down and shelter in place through Sunday. The forecast does not show any evidence of lightening up, she said, stressing the life and death implications. The good news? Meteorologists appear to have gotten this storm right. Their predictions converged, and millions of people got clear warnings, well in advance. Blizzard warnings and watches stretch through New York City into New England, stopping just short of Boston, but the D.C. area should get hit the hardest. This is probably going to be one of the top three snowfalls of all time for Washington, said Daniel Petersen, a forecaster at the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. As food and supplies vanished from store shelves, at least six states and the District of Columbia declared states of emergency. Schools, government offices and transit systems announced early closings. Thousands of flights were canceled, colleges called off games, and bands postponed concerts. As far south as Atlanta, people were urged to go home and stay there to avoid repeating citys icepocalypse, when a fairly light winter storm in 2014 caused commuter chaos for days. All the ingredients have come together for a massive snowfall and gale-force winds, causing white-out conditions and dangerous flooding. The winds initially picked up warm water from the Gulf of Mexico; now the storm is taking much more moisture from the warmer-than-usual Gulf Stream, and swirling slowly over Virginia and Maryland. Snowfall could continue for a day and half, leaving accumulations of two feet or more in the Washington-Baltimore area. Philadelphia could get 12 to 18 inches and New York 8 to 10, though some forecasts suggest more, Peterson said. Put another way: 82 million Americans will get at least an inch of snow, 47 million more than 6 inches, and 22 million Americans more than a foot, Ryan Maue at WeatherBell Analytics said Friday. The storm could easily cause more than $1 billion in damage, weather service director Louis Uccellini said. Fortunately, temperatures will be just above freezing after the storm passes in most places, and theres no second storm lurking behind this one, making for a slow and steady melt and less likelihood of more floods, Peterson said. Travel was already impossible across a wide swath of Kentucky on Friday. Nashville, Tennessee was gridlocked by accidents. Several drivers died on icy roads in North Carolina. In Washington, Baltimore, and Delaware, archdioceses reminded people that dangerous travel conditions are a legitimate excuse to avoid showing up for Sunday Mass. In New Jersey, coastal flooding and the loss of beaches from high surf were major worries. Republican Gov. Chris Christie canceled presidential campaign events in New Hampshire, which should be spared from the storm. Im sorry, NH but I gotta go homewe got snow coming, Christie tweeted. In Washington, the federal government closed its offices at noon Friday, all mass transit was shutting down through Sunday, and many people stayed home. President Barack Obama was hunkering down at the White House, while Republican candidate Carly Fiorina addressed anti-abortion activists at the annual March for Life as the storm closed in. I would come here if it were thunderstorming, said Kristlyn Whitlock, 20, who came from Steubenville, Ohio, wearing four layers of pants and five layers of tops to stay warm. As the snow began falling in Arlington, the lot at a Safeway supermarket looked like the mall at Christmas, with drivers lining up to snag parking spaces. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. A regional director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resigned in connection with the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich., the same day the agencys chief issued an emergency order directing state and city officials to take actions to protect public health. The EPA said in a statement that Susan Hedman, head of the agencys regional office in Chicago whose jurisdiction includes Michigan, was stepping down Feb. 1 so it could focus solely on the restoration of Flints drinking water. High levels of lead have been detected in the impoverished citys water since officials switched from the Detroit municipal system and began drawing from the Flint River as a cost-saving measure in April 2014. Some childrens blood has tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioral problems. While much of the blame has been directed at Gov. Rick Snyder and state officials, particularly the Department of Environmental Quality, some have faulted the EPAs Region 5 office for not acting more forcefully. The emergency order EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy issued Thursday acknowledges the state notified EPA officials in April 2015 that Flint was not treating the river water with additives to prevent corrosion from pipes. It says Hedman and others in the regional EPA office voiced concern to state and city officials over the next few months. But it wasnt until Oct. 16 that EPA established a task force to provide technical helpthe day Flint switched back to the Detroit water system. Mismanagement has plagued the region for far too long and Ms. Hedmans resignation is way overdue, said U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The agency also released a letter from McCarthy to Snyder outlining terms of the order, which says that city and state responses to the water crisis have failed. The EPA is deeply concerned by continuing delays and lack of transparency, the letter said, describing the measures as essential to ensuring the safe operation of Flints drinking water system and the protection of public health. Among them: submitting plans for ensuring that Flints water has adequate treatment, including corrosion controls; making sure city personnel are qualified to operate the water system in a way that meets federal quality standards; and creating a website where citizens can get information. The agency also said it would begin sampling and analyzing lead levels and would make the results public. DECATUR, Ga. A white Atlanta-area police officer who shot a naked, mentally ill black veteran who was unarmed has been indicted on felony murder and other charges. The decision came Thursday after DeKalb County prosecutors presented their case against Officer Robert Olsen, who fatally shot Anthony Hill on March 9 while responding to a call of a naked man behaving erratically outside a suburban Atlanta apartment complex. The family of the 27-year-old Hill says he was a U.S. Air Force veteran who struggled with mental health problems. Tensions between police and minorities have risen across the country in the aftermath of a series of shootings mostly involving white law enforcement officers and unarmed African-American males. However, critics in Hills case, including his family, have focused more on his mental health and whether force should have been used at all because he was unarmed. After announcing the indictment, DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James said prosecutors presented evidence for eight hours, but he declined to give many other details. Olsen was indicted on two counts each of felony murder and violating oath of office and one count each of aggravated assault and making a false statement. The felony murder counts do not indicate malice, but rather that Olsen killed someone during the commission of another felony, in this case aggravated assault or violation of his oath of office, James said. Olsen violated the departments use-of-force policy and lied during the investigation, falsely saying Hill hit him in the chest before the shooting, James said. Online jail records show Olsen was released Friday from the DeKalb County jail on $100,000 bond. Olsens attorney, Don Samuel, said they are disappointed in the grand jurys decision, but he noted the defense was not allowed to present any witnesses, experts or evidence and was not allowed to challenge any of the prosecutions evidence. The prosecutors chose not to present all the witnesses who clearly observed what occurred, including the one witness who told the police that Mr. Hill was attacking and charging at Officer Olsen, Samuel wrote in an email. When this case is presented in a fair manner to a jury in an open courtroom, Officer Olsen will be fully exonerated. Georgia law allows police officers to be present during grand jury proceedings when they are being accused of crimes in the course of their official duties and to make a statement at the end of the proceedings that the prosecution cannot question or challenge. Samuel said Olsen spoke before the grand jury for about 20 minutes. Christopher Chestnut, an attorney for Hills family, said it was a historic day and that he hopes the indictment in this case sets a precedent. A crowd of several dozen outside the courthouse burst into cheers upon hearing the decision and repeatedly chanted, All six counts. Hills mother, Carolyn Giummo said shes grateful the grand jury reached the decision it did. The message is that you have to be accountable for your own actions, Giummo said. Hills family in November filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the DeKalb County Police Department, Olsen, the county and its board of commissioners. Attorneys defending Virginias new congressional districts urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to reject a request by the states eight Republican members of Congress to hold off using the boundary lines until after this years November election. The lawyers for Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the NAACP and defendants in a lawsuit that led to the changes in congressional districts stated in legal briefs filed Thursday that the GOP lawmakers have failed to make a strong case that redrawing the lines was wrong. They also argued that only one legislatorRepublican Rep. Randy Forbes of Chesapeakehas the legal standing to challenge the boundaries because his district changes dramatically. Other Republican legislators either werent significantly affected or arent running this fall, they wrote. Justices are expected to rule on the legislators request soon because of deadlines for candidates to file for elections. The legal issues involve the court-ordered redrawing of districts this year after federal judges twice ruled in a lawsuit that the 2012 redistricting by the General Assembly had unconstitutionally packed too many black voters in the 3rd District, represented by Newport News Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott. The suit argued the action diminished the ability of black voters to elect candidates of their choice in surrounding districts. As a remedy, the judges ordered state officials to adopt a new state map for this years elections that adjusts Scotts district mostly by adding more white voters to his turf and more black voters to the 4th District, represented by Forbes, a Republican. The changes, which shift the cities of Richmond and Petersburg from Scotts district to Forbes, also mean the 4ths population changes from one that favors Republicans to one that favors Democrats. The GOP legislators and two former congressmen had requested the high court block the new boundaries until the justices hear their appeal of the map later this year. The legislators argue that it would be wrong to proceed with the map only to have to restart the election process later this year if the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. They argue the lower court incorrectly put too much weight on race when judging the constitutionality of the 2012 redistricting by state legislators. Lawyers for the NAACP argued that blocking the new map wasnt justified and would cause harm. The damage that would do to the publics confidence in the electoral process would be nearly immeasurable, especially to voters of color in Virginia who know they have been segregated based on the color of their skin, and who know that they have had their political voice diminished by a packing strategy, wrote attorney Anita Earls. Other attorneys defending the boundaries acknowledged that Forbes has legal standing to appeal the map but argue the incumbent hasnt proved he suffers irreparable harm. The GOP legislators fail to cite any cases suggesting that a politician suffers a legally cognizable injury entitling him or her to a stay pending appeal if he or she becomes responsible for representing additional voters of a different political party [or race] than he or she, the attorneys wrote. No incumbent is entitled to remain in an office to which he or she was elected under an invalid election plan. Requiring incumbents to stand for election in racially fair elections can hardly constitute a cognizable injury. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Friday that he shares Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps dislike for the oath the Republican Party of Virginia plans to require voters to take before participating in the GOPs presidential primary. In an interview with conservative talk-radio host John Fredericks, who supports Trump, McAuliffe said politics should be about addition regardless of party. Instinctively, I dont like the idea of loyalty oaths, McAuliffe said. It smacks me the wrong way. I agree with Donald Trump. Trump has blasted the so-called Statement of Affiliation the Republican Party has enacted to ensure that participants in its primary are indeed Republicans. Last month, the State Board of Elections approved the requirement at the request of the Republican State Central Committee. Before casting a vote in the GOP primary, voters must fill out a form that says: My signature below indicates that I am a Republican. Trump has characterized it as an attempt to keep out independents and first-time voters, but party officials have said the statement will ensure the Republican nominee is selected by Republicans. A federal judge and an appeals court have denied an attempt by Trump supporters to block the oath. Virginia, which will hold its primary March 1, does not register voters by party. McAuliffe also said hed sign emergency legislation to block loyalty oaths if the bill makes it to his desk. That outcome is unlikely. The bill was filed by Democratic Sen. J. Chapman Chap Petersen of Fairfax, and would need to pass a legislature controlled by Republicans. A bill with an emergency clause takes effect immediately upon the governors signature, but the legislation requires the support of 80 percent of lawmakers in each chamber. Fredericks also asked McAuliffe, an avid supporter of Democrat Hillary Clinton, if hed consider serving as secretary of commerce in a Trump administration. McAuliffe said he knows Trump very well, adding that the real estate mogul wrote him a big check during one of his gubernatorial campaigns. (In 2009, Trump donated $25,000 each to Republican Bob McDonnells campaign for governor and to McAuliffes unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.) Im always open to doing whatever I can, John, to help this great country, McAuliffe said. But you know what, Im here as governor. I love this job. And Im not leaving early for anything. New Day Consulting Systems Offers Mobile App Development for Small Businesses New Day Consulting Systems (New Day), a company operating from Reston, Virginia, has expanded its services to include mobile application development for small businesses. New Day's mobile app development services compliment its focus on unleashing business growth and innovation. Any business looking to expand its audience and reach younger consumers should investigate mobile app development as part of a strategic mobile marketing plan. -- New Day Consulting Systems (New Day), a company operating from Reston, Virginia, has expanded its services to include mobile application development for small businesses. New Day's mobile app development services compliment its focus on unleashing business growth and innovation. Any business looking to expand its audience and particularly reach younger audiences should investigate mobile app development as part of a strategic mobile marketing plan. More and more consumers are spending the majority of their time on mobile devices. And when consumers are on their mobile devices, they spend the majority of the time on dedicated, branded apps. Mobile apps account for 89% of mobile media time. Because of this incredibly powerful data point, mobile apps are critical to effective marketing practices in the 21st century. A business interested in getting its brand message out must effectively incorporate mobile marketing generally and mobile app development specifically. In response to the amount of time consumers are spending on mobile phones and inside mobile apps, Google has begun a new level of mobile app indexing. Google has offered app indexing for quite some time. However, in November 2015, Google began to index apps that do not have a parallel mobile site. Google is making information in mobile apps available to the masses via general search queries. This is a game changer for mobile app adoption. Based upon this shift, Google anticipates that mobile apps may replace websites for digital information. And if Google is making this shift, so should business owners. According to Kimberly Bonner of New Day, "Mobile apps will soon replace mobile websites as the primary way consumers get information about companies. Apps can do everything that mobile websites can...only better. And 2016 will be a pivotal year in mobile app adoption for all types of companies." In order to effectively reach consumers in the 21st century marketplace, businesses must reach mobile users. New Day has an ideal package for small businesses just beginning the journey in effective mobile marketing. The native apps New Day develops are just right for businesses beginning to reach out to mobile audiences. The mobile apps are affordably priced starting at $2,000. The native mobile app development service is just one part of New Day's ongoing mission to unleash business growth and innovation by being a leader in innovative business practices that rapidly scale businesses. If a small business owner is thinking about developing a mobile marketing strategy, please contact New Day today. For more information about New Day's mobile app development services, call them at 703-925-5901 or e-mail New Day at info@newdayconsultingsystems.com. Individuals can also visit the website: www.newdayconsultingsystems.com Contact Info: Name: Kimberly M Bonner Email: kimberly@newdayconsultingsystems.com Phone: 7039255901 Organization: New Day Consulting Systems, LLC Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/21924 Release ID: 101456 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Delaware Detective Charged with Stealing Opiates Out of Evidence Room ( January 18, 2016 ) Philadelphia, PA -- NBC 10 reports Upper Darby Police Officer of Denver, Brad Ross has been charged with 203 counts of theft, tampering with evidence, and accepting stolen property. Ross orchestrated to steal opiates from the evidence room to sustain his addiction to opiate based pain medications. It is supposed Ross developed his substance use disorder while recovering from a car accident in the year of 2012. In total 3,767 prescription pills were taken from the evidence room, including suboxone strips, and $14,224 in cash. Drug Rehab Philadelphia asserts Ross must undergo treatment to enact ready change, lest he return to his previous behavior. Drug Rehab Philadelphia is a detox and rehabilitation center dedicated to recovering those with substance use disorders. Ross has resigned pending the investigation; he has checked into a rehabilitation program voluntarily. Drug Rehab Philadelphia asserts Ross must continue undergoing treatment while serving punishment determined by the judge presiding. An associate from the drug rehab center comments, "Akin to those arrested for drug related charges, which are nonviolent, treatment for those in Ross' predicament is absolutely necessary. Addiction spurs illicit behavior, as demonstrated in the case of ex-officer Ross. To remedying the underlying causes of his addiction is the only way to stave off future incidences once his sentence is served. Rehabilitation is necessary for each individual detained in both jail and prison to improve the quality of life for inmates and communities as a whole. While we cannot excuse Ross for his actions, they are deeply rooted in a physical and psychological condition." Drug Rehab Philadelphia provides alcohol rehab in Philadelphia, and specializes addiction treatment in Philadelphia. Recovery is centered around cognitive behavioral therapy, uprooting the underlying causes of the physical and psychological disease. The rehabilitation center also provides drug and alcohol inpatient medical detox, and offers smooth transition from each facility- reducing the complications of enrolling in additional facilities. For more information visit http://www.drugrehabphiladelphia.net/ or call 267-351-8139. About Drug Rehab Philadelphia: Drug Rehab Philadelphia offers inpatient medical detox, residential rehabilitation, intensive outpatient rehab and outpatient rehabilitation. The facility accepts most insurance plans. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Obamacare Help Center in Miami Has New Software Guaranteeing 5 Minute Enrollment Find Out How To Sign Up For Obamacare In Miami with Hola Obamacare, A New Obamacare Enrollment Center In Miami With A New Software That Enrolls Customers Quickly. Find an Obamacare Help Center in Broward too. -- Hola Obamacare's Enrollment Centers are enrolling people fast and in big numbers with the new system and software they're using to enroll. Mass amounts of people have piled through the doors of Hola Obamacare's Enrollment centers in South Florida and found themselves getting in and out with their plans for next year in just 5-10 minutes with the ACA enrollment platform. Quick and easy is the way it is done at their Enrollment Centers located throughout Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County Florida. One customer quoting "Way better than last year" when he enrolled at the Mall of the Americas in Miami. At the Mall of The Americas, people enrolling for 2015 coverage waited up to 10 hours to speak with an agent, and some were even unsatisfied with the plans that were offered and left uninsured. At Hola Obamacare, even if there are long lines, the new ACA software will have customers in and out within 5-10 minutes. Hola Obamacare has over a thousand State-Licensed Professional agents spread in 15 different locations within the 3 counties. The Hola Obamacare motto is quality combined with efficiency. All of the agents are Certified by CMS and licensed by the state of Florida. Hello Obamacare Agents are also bilingual. Spanish - speaking customers can visit these locations in comfort , knowing that there are at least 120 bilingual agents who can help them through their enrollment of Obamacare for 2016. Find out how to get the best plans with Hello Obamacare Locations in Florida right here. One thing many people don't know is that there's actually three ways to apply for Obamacare health insurance in the marketplace. There's private exchange, or The Health Insurance Marketplace (the government facilitated websites). Here are a list of pros and cons for both. Here are the positives when it comes to the Private Exchanges such as ezHealthMart's website. First: consumers can buy health insurance from licensed agents, online and in person (there are many times, especially when the consumer is self employed, a legal resident, changing jobs, where they must upload multiple documents which is much better when a consumer may go to an enrollment center such as ezHealthMart's Enrollment Center's Page and have an agent do it for them). The third option is directly from insurance companies (in this case the insurance carrier will only offer their product's which might not be best for the consumer. Second, private enrollment centers are typically staffed with state licensed health insurance agents. There are more options when shopping for plans through a licensed agent. Examples are Major Medical Plans (Under the ACA, consumers who do not qualify for or want a subsidy, but who want to avoid the tax penalty, can buy major medical health plans that meet ACA coverage standards on or off of government-run state exchanges). The off exchange plans may be lower in cost and have a better network.The rest of the info on this matter may be found by clicking here on Obamacare Miami ezHealthMart website for How To Sign Up For Obamacare correctly. 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Top rated lawyers are featured on this website, which provides important information to those charged with drug crimes. The site profiles highly skilled drug attorneys that have experience with the Oklahoma legal system. Free consultations! -- Oklahoma Interstate Drug Lawyer provides free resources and access to top-rated drug crime lawyers for those struggling with drug-related charges January 22, 2016 Oklahoma- Being arrested for drug charges in Oklahoma is overwhelming. Many people have a variety of unanswered questions such as: where to find the best drug lawyer and how to know if the case is being prosecuted fairly. Most people fail to realize that there is a big difference between a lawyer and an attorney. A resource that will point persons charged with drug crimes in the right direction is: Oklahoma Interstate Drug Lawyer. The attorneys presented on www.OklahomaInterstateDrugLawyer.com are top-rated drug crime lawyers, with many years of experience. 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Dennis Saylor dismiss all Zofran lawsuits consolidated in MDL 2657. -- In response to the growing Zofran litigation, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has filed a motion requesting that all federally filed Zofran lawsuits be dismissed. The company has stated that they believe there is enough evidence on public record to show that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wouldn't update Zofran's warning label in the way that plaintiffs are alleging it should have been. It isn't surprising that the company filed this motion. Over the last two years, more than 200 lawsuits have been filed against GSK, each one alleging that Zofran caused a birth defect in an unborn child. Plaintiffs have also alleged that the drug's label should have been updated to include information regarding the risk of possible birth defects. In response to GSK, plaintiffs have filed an answer saying that the motion is "unripe, unprecedented, and violates established federal law." Judge F. Dennis Saylor met with both parties on January 14th, 2016, to review the motion filed by GSK. No announcement has been made regarding his determination at this time. By filing complaints, the plaintiffs are seeking compensation for medical expenses and the pain and suffering experienced by their children. The children noted in the complaints have been diagnosed with a variety of birth defects, including atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, transposition of the greater vessels, cleft lip, cleft palate, clubfoot, and respiratory distress syndrome. Nearly every child has required at least one surgery in order to treat and correct their defect, and the majority of children need ongoing medical care. Their parents have alleged that these birth defects and subsequent surgeries have affected their child's quality of life. In October of 2015, MDL 2657 was formed, which consolidated Zofran lawsuits and moved them to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Both GSK and all plaintiffs were in favor of the consolidation because in the long run it would save all parties involved time and money. Contact Info: Name: Michael Monheit Email: Michael@Monheit.com Phone: 877-620-8411 Organization: ZofranLegal.com Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/22009 Release ID: 101892 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Stringent rules to protect UK exports to China following an anthrax outbreak last autumn have resulted in a two-tier trade in livestock. It follows a case of anthrax which was confirmed following the death of a cow on a farm in the Westbury area of Wiltshire last October. It was the first incident of anthrax in livestock since 2006. See also: Anthrax confirmed on farm in Wiltshire Although an isolated outbreak, the case has had repercussions for other producers who must now declare their livestock are not from the affected area when selling animals. Anthrax is an acute bacterial disease which infects cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, humans and some species of birds. Most forms of the disease are lethal. Following the Wiltshire outbreak, livestock producers must complete a declaration form stating that animals being sold have not come from affected parishes. The anthrax-free declaration is for livestock movements within the UK and is not an export certificate but it aims to support the export of hides and animal skins to China. Cornish farmer Martin Howlett said some producers in south-west England had big issues when it came to filling in the declaration form. NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said the anthrax outbreak had caused great concern among farmers and exporters. Mr Sercombe said he expected the requirement for farmers to fill in declaration forms would remain in place until mid- to late April six months after the last outbreak. It has caused a great deal of hardship for some producers and their stock has been devalued which is incredibly disappointing Charles Sercombe, NFU There is great nervousness in the processing industry and within Defra about the implications for trade in particular with China because they are the ones taking these skins. Officials were keen to stress that absolutely robust processes were in place to ensure that no potentially infected animals went into the skin trade, said Mr Sercombe. It has caused a great deal of hardship for some producers and their stock has been devalued which is incredibly disappointing. But it was important for the UK to abide by the terms of trade agreed with China if that trade was to be protected for the future. 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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 The contracts for firefighters and lifeguards each covers a three-year period and provides annual wage increases. Oregon State University has a launched a humanitarian engineering program that will encourage students to make an impact both locally and globally. The program, which university officials say is rare in U.S. education, will allow students to minor in the field after taking classes that emphasize the importance of socio-cultural, economic, environmental and resource management factors. Work in ethics, social justice and cross-cultural communication are also part of the program. Humanitarian engineering emphasizes science and engineering-based solutions that help to improve the human condition, access to basic human needs, the quality of life or level of community resilience. OSUs program is one of only a few in the nation based in an academic curriculum. As a formalized academic program, humanitarian engineering will contribute to the effort of the OSU College of Engineering to become a recognized model as an inclusive and collaborative community, said mechanical engineering Professor Kendra Sharp. The program is attracting a more diverse group of prospective students than is typically attracted to engineering, including women, said Sharp, who directs the program, and was appointed last year the first Richard and Gretchen Evans Professor in Humanitarian Engineering. The program is possible because of a $1.5 million donation from the Evanses, both OSU graduates, that allowed the university to endow Sharp's professorship. Earlier gifts from the Evanses enabled OSU to begin work on the program two years ago. OSU is also one of just 10 universities nationwide to offer a Peace Corps Masters International program in engineering. The university was the first in Oregon to join this initiative, which allows graduate students in several disciplines to get a masters degree while doing a full 27-month term of service in the Peace Corps. March 12, 1927 Jan. 14, 2016 Theodore Ted Ralph Gregg went peacefully to be with the Lord on Jan. 14, 2016. He was born Theodore Ralph Zatkovitch on March 12, 1927, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father immigrated to the United States from Ruthenia, settling in Pittsburgh, and raised his family with strong values. Ted attended Catholic schools his whole life and served as an altar boy. Joining the Boy Scouts in 1936, he achieved the honor of Eagle Scout in 1943. Ted joined the Army in 1946 and was stationed at Fort Blanding, Florida, and held the rank of 1st sergeant in the 28th Division. Upon discharge, he attended the University of Pittsburgh, studying mechanical engineering. He was a long distance track champion, a member of the Phi Kappa fraternity, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Florence Marie Flossie Rudolph, on a blind date. He graduated from U of P in 1950 and was promptly drafted back into service with the Army due to the Korean conflict. As a master sergeant, he was both an artillery instructor and drill sergeant. It was there he developed his lifelong love of marching music, especially John Phillip Sousa. After completing his second stint in the Army, he married Flossie in Crafton, Pennsylvania, after waiting many years to do so. Within their first year, he took a new job, bought a new car, and a baby was on the way. In 1956, he was promoted to district manager of BIF Industries in Chicago where they bought their first home. It was here, that Ted was advised to change his last name to something more American. He took the first name of his father for his new last name, Gregg. He was later promoted to general sales manager in 1962, and moved the growing family to Rhode Island. In 1967, he took a position in Corvallis as vice president at Neptune Microfloc. His family thrived in the West. One final career change was the formation of EMA Marketing in 1972 where he was self-employed as a manufacturer's representative firm, which successfully operated for 33 years, creating job opportunities in both Corvallis and Philomath. Flossie and Ted moved their home and business to Philomath in 1980, where they started The Village Square on Main Street, which housed EMA, Connies Country Cupboard, Concept Printing, and Flossies Candy Shop. Ted was actively involved in the Philomath community. He volunteered for Philomath 2000, was instrumental in getting the library built and had a mural created on the side of his building depicting the phrase, Philomath, City of Volunteers. Ted loved to cruise. He and Flossie sailed on over 50 of them. They loved to dance the jitterbug and were quite good at it. Fishing was his passion, especially in the Alsea and Siletz rivers. Family was paramount and his grandchildren his delight. Ted and Flo were faithful members of St. Marys Catholic Church. They helped start and build the Vine and Branches Community at 53rd and Nash. One of their joys was gathering with their special group of life-long friends The Ameners. Flossie preceded Ted in death 15 months prior. The Lord saw it fit to call him home on her birthday. We envision them dancing in heaven. He is survived by his sister, Connie Ash; four children, Connie McDonald (Tim), TR (Marcy), Michael (Jeanne) and Amy Bourgeois (Matt); eight beloved grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many other adopted grandkids and great-grandkids. A memorial service honoring Teds life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Corvallis. Please leave your thoughts and memories for the family at www.mchenryfuneralhome.com. This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise. Corvallis Police Department THURSDAY, DEC. 31 ASSAULT: 8:30 p.m., 700 block of Southeast Bridgeway Avenue. Kristina Elaine Hass, 26, of Corvallis was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault, strangulation, third-degree theft, first-degree burglary and other charges related to a New Year's Eve assault report. A woman previously reported that Hass assaulted her inside the woman's home and stole the woman's cellphone during the attack. The woman reportedly had two black eyes from the incident. Benton County Sheriff's Office TUESDAY, JAN. 19 SHOTS FIRED: 1:08 p.m., 7100 block of Northwest Springhill Drive, Albany. Deputies responded to a report of shots fired. A homeowner reported that his friend, Eric Coleman, 53, of Albany was staying at the house with the homeowner's permission and "shot three holes in the wall with a pistol" when the homeowner was gone. Coleman reportedly was hallucinating "and trying to get the imaginary people [to] leave him alone," according to the report. Coleman reportedly had methamphetamine at the home and admitted to using methamphetamine two days before the incident. Coleman was cited with possession of methamphetamine, third-degree mischief and reckless endangering and released. Bonn. Host families are wanted to take in young musicians in March for the German Music Competition. The German Music Competition is looking for host families to take in young musicians ages 19 to 30. The competition runs from March 7 to 19 and host families can offer a room to the musicians for all or only a part of that time. The competitions will take place in the Beethoven Haus, in Augustinum, in the Kreuzkirche, and at Sankt Josef in Beuel. Primer on net neutrality, Free Basics News oi -GizBot Bureau As the debate over Net neutrality and Free Basics intensifies, particularly with the sparring match between the telecom regulator and some stakeholders like Facebook, here's a primer on these issues: Q: What is Net Neutrality? A: The expression "network neutrality" was coined by American academic Tim Wu in his 2003 paper "Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination". It calls for governments, Internet service providers and other stakeholders to treat all data on the Internet equally -- therefore, not charging users, the content providers, platforms, sites, applications or the mode of communicating differentially. SEE ALSO: Honor 5x First Impressions: A Mid-Range Beast Q: What is Free Basics? A: A service from Facebook and a part of its Internet.org platform on digital inclusion, Free Basics is an app that promises to make Internet accessible to more people by providing them a range of some basic services for free such as news, health, travel, jobs, sports, communication and other information. Q: Is Free Basics against concept of Net Neutrality? A: The supporters of net neutrality say that by allowing only certain sites and platforms on the app, and by allowing the services only through some service providers, the concept clearly goes against the spirit of net neutrality of open and free access to the World Wide Web and its attendant offerings. SEE ALSO: ASUS Pegasus 5000 with 5.5-inch 1080p Display and 4850mAh battery announced Q: How does Free Basics work? A: Through this platform, Facebook allows developers to create services (content and applications) that integrate with Free Basics, especially in areas like education, health, economic empowerment, civic participation and critical information. Once downloaded, they can access these services free of charge through the app and through a particular Internet service provider who will partner with Facebook. Q: Why is there a demand to ban Free Basics in India? A: This demand is being being made by several people who claim to be supporters of net neutrality and they say Facebook intends to offer the services only through chosen service providers. This is being seen as discriminatory. The social networking site also has the option to reject the entry of any business participant. This apart, there is a charge that the service is pandering to the interests of telecom service providers by not allowing Internet telephony, or hi-resolution images and videos that can potentially slow down the service. Advertising is another area of debate, as there is no clarity on whether Facebook will introduce it in the future or not. However, Facebook's contention is that it is providing a free service to those who cannot pay for access. It says it does not stop anyone from accessing the Internet through other service providers. SEE ALSO: Coolpad Note 3 Lite First Impressions: A Budget Smartphone That Seems Promising Q: Does concept of Net Neutrality affect bandwidth differential charges? A: Today, one pays the telecom operator or data service providers towards two aspects -- for the speed at which content is downloaded and uploaded, and the amount of information in terms of bits that is accessed. Net neutrality calls for uniformity in such tariff. This may be impossible because service providers have to invest in infrastructure and different bandwidths call for different level of investments. Q: How does Net Neutrality concept work in other countries, especially the US? A: In the US, the regulator, Federal Communications Commission, has issued some rules to Internet service providers, like no blocking of legal sites, no throttling by making some site responses slow, and no paid prioritisation to enable some sites to jump the queue in delivering content. The courts have given limited ruling in favour of the regulator, but debate there still continues. SEE ALSO: Lenovo Vibe K4 Note First Impressions: A budget smartphone with interesting features Q: If Net Neutrality has impact on bandwidth, how will this have impact on services like Netflix? While Netflix is a subscription-based service, what is of concern is the extra money which subscribers have to pay for bandwidth to Internet service providers for accessing it through their networks. Here lies the problem. There have been attempts in the past for zero-rated services, where content from some platforms is not taken into account for computing the tariff. But the question is: Will such a plan not go against net neutrality? Source IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Apple to open Europe's first app coder training centre News oi -GizBot Bureau Apple will open in Naples a centre to teach a "new generation" of computer coders how to develop new software for its app store, the tech giant announced. The app training centre will be the first in Europe, where the European Union's executive predicts a lack of coding skills could lead to a shortage of up to 900,000 ICT professionals by 2020. Italian premier Matteo Renzi welcomed the news, saying it would create jobs for some 600 people in the impoverished southern city. Vincenzo De Luca, the governor of the under-developed Campania region surrounding Naples, also hailed Apple's planned training centre. SEE ALSO: LeEco Le 1s: 5 Best And Worst Features Of The Smartphone "It's a great opportunity for the city, a significant investment in a type of advanced industry that can bring 600 jobs to Naples," De Luca said. "Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we are thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success," Cook said in a statement on Thursday. The Naples centre will "give students practical skills and training on developing iOS apps," the statement said. Apple will work with partners around Italy and expects to expand the programme to other countries around the world, it added. SEE ALSO: Sony Xperia Z6: Specs, Release Date, Concepts And More [Rumor Roundup] Apple said its app store has created more than 1.4 million jobs in Europe. "In Italy, over 75,000 jobs are attributable to the App Store and the developer community is vibrant," it stated. Apple in December agreed to pay Italy 318 million euros in backtaxes for the period 2008-2013. The case was one of several Italy has brought against global technology companies that have headquarters in low-tax nations like Ireland. Italian tax authorities have also examined Facebook's Milan offices and are working with Google to determine what might be due. Source IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Nokia Coming Back With Android Smartphone: Specs, Design, Release Date And Concept [Rumor Roundup] Features oi -VijayKumar The much loved mobile phone brand from the Finnish company is making a comeback. Yes! Nokia is returning in the smartphone race this year. The company might come up with Android-based smartphone to compete the aggressive market. After lots of denial from the side of Finnish company Nokia, the first handset from Nokia dubbed C1 has been spotted on the Internet. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Android Smartphones With OTG Support Under Rs 10,000 The latest render of the device has been leaked on the Chinese social network Weibo, which was leaked back in December with some schematic diagrams as well. Here are the details, read on to know more. This image is thought to depict the first renders of the Nokia Android smartphone in the making. According to the earlier report, the smartphone would run on Android Lollipop. But, the delay in launch expects that the device will come with Android Marshmallow at the launch this year. The rumored smartphone is dubbed as Nokia C1, the first Nokia Android phone that was expected to be announced in the third quarter of 2015, in now delayed for 2016. The leaked image primarily shows the Nokia prototype expectations of fan for how to reintroduce brand to audience. SEE ALSO: Asus Zenfone 3 Listed In GFXBench: Specs, Release Date And Price [Rumor Roundup] Nokia android C1 would run on Android Marshmallow, powered by Intel Atom processor inside. Its proposed to have a 5 inch screen size with 1080 pixel resolution and is expected to be a budget friendly. As per the report, this first Android smartphones manufactured by Nokia will come under the mid-range segment with the specs package containing 2GB RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front-facing camera. Back in 2015, we came across the information that the Nokia C1 might be launched not just one operating system, but the company is making the two variants of the device differentiating on the software side. Below are the concept images, have a look at the gallery below. Image Courtesy Best Mobiles in India RailTel starts free public Wi-Fi service at Mumbai Central News oi -GizBot Bureau RailTel, the telecom arm of the Indian Railways, today launched free public Wi-Fi service at Mumbai Central station in collaboration with Google and plans to roll out this project to 100 stations across the country by this year-end. "Affordable smartphones have made it possible for the common man to experience the power of Internet. With our partnership with Google, we are very confident of rolling out a robust, scalable service at railway stations in the near future," Railtel Chairman and Managing Director R K Bahuguna said in a statement. SEE ALSO: 5 Tech Habits You Should Adopt To Save Money The project was announced last September by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Google headquarters in Mountain View. "We are delighted to launch India's first high speed public Wi-Fi service in partnership with Indian Railways. By end of this year over 10 million people will be able to enjoy this experience at 100 stations spread across the country," Google South East Asia and India VP & Managing Director Rajan Anandan said. Under the project, Google has committed to work with Indian Railways' and RailTel to expand the network quickly to cover 100 of the busiest stations by end of this year and will eventually roll out the service in 400 railway stations across India, the statement said. SEE ALSO: Nokia Coming Back With Android Smartphone: Specs, Design, Release Date And Concept [Rumor Roundup] "This network will extend to cover both long distance train station and the local train station in Mumbai Central. The next four stations we'll bring online will be Allahabad, Patna, Jaipur and Ranchi and others will follow very shortly," Google India Head of Access Project Gulzar Azad said. Source PTI Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Ex-Russian spy dismisses Litvinenko inquiry Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:30AM A former Russian spy has rejected as nonsense a new British inquiry saying he was one of the state-directed murderers of dissident Alexander Litvinenko. Andrei Lugovoi dismissed the findings of the inquiry that said President Vladimir Putin "probably" approved the assassination of Litvinenko in London in 2006. "I've seen the nonsense conclusions of your judge who has clearly gone mad. I saw nothing new there. I am very sorry that 10 years on nothing new has been presented, only invention, supposition, rumors...and the fact that such words as 'possibly' and 'probably' were used in the report, means there is no proof, nothing concrete against us," he told the state-funded BBC. The inquiry said Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably approved" the killing of Litvinenko. He died in 2006 aged 43, three weeks after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium at an upmarket London hotel. The British inquiry said Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, two Russians identified as prime suspects by British police, are likely to have carried out the poisoning on the instructions of the Russian security services. Prime Minister David Cameron called the killing a 'state-sponsored action' but his government did not announce sanctions in response, instead just summoned Moscow's ambassador to London for talks. Russia sharply dismissed the inquiry. 'Maybe this is a joke.., More likely it can be attributed to fine British humor, the fact that an open public inquiry is based on the classified data of special services, unnamed special services,' Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lugovoy Possibly Exposed to Polonium Together With Litvinenko Sputnik News 06:47 22.01.2016 Andrey Lugovoy, accused of being involved in the death of former Russian FSB secret service agent Alexander Litvinenko by a recent UK inquiry, says he could have been exposed to polonium-210 at the same time with his former colleague. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, a UK inquiry into the case of Litvinenko found his former colleagues Dmitry Kovtun and Andrey Lugovoy deliberately poisoned Litvinenko with polonium-210. 'I can suspect that I got it [polonium exposure] together with Litvinenko. But I lived in British hotel, took British flights, met with representatives of the British establishment and only God knows who could have given it [polonium] to me,' Lugovoy said during the 'Evening With Vladimir Solovyov' show on the Rossiya 1 TV channel. Lugovoy recalled that both he and Kovtun had to undergo prolonged treatment in Russia after their return from the United Kingdom. 'In connection to that the General Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal investigation into the attempted murder of two Russian citizens Lugovoy and Kovtun. We underwent medical treatment, we were seriously ill,' Lugovoy explained. The British side refused to accept documents that the Russian Investigative Committee presented in connection with Lugovoy's and Kovtun's condition, according to Lugovoy. Litvinenko moved from Russia to the United Kingdom in 2000. He died in 2006, three weeks after drinking tea with Kovtun and Lugovoy in London. Following his death, the UK authorities claimed that Litvinenko's former colleagues had poisoned him with the radioactive isotope polonium-210. A public inquiry into Litvinenko's death was formally established by the UK government in July 2014. The Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed that the UK inquiry revealed on Thursday was politicized and lacked transparency and had an adverse effect on Moscow-London relations. Lugovoy stated in the past that he had passed a polygraph test conducted by British experts, which proves that he was not guilty of murdering former FSB agent Litvinenko. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Britain Under Pressure to Punish Putin Over Litvinenko Poisoning by Luis Ramirez January 22, 2016 Calls grew Friday for the government of British Prime Minister David Cameron to penalize Russia following the release Thursday of the results of a public inquiry on the 2006 murder of dissident Alexander Litvinenko. The exiled former Russian spy died after meeting two Russian agents at a London hotel and drinking green tea they had laced with radioactive Polonium-210. Britain's inquiry concluded the murder was probably approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cameron, who received the inquiry report earlier in the week, reacted after its release, calling the murder a "state-sponsored action" that was "appalling." The British leader said his government has added further asset freezes against individuals involved and is "toughening" its action against Russia. The British government also said it would summon the Russian ambassador as part of an effort to quell the anger of critics who call the response weak. Stepping lightly with Putin Analysts say Britain's strategic and economic interests will prevent it from doing anything that would further alienate the Putin government. Strategically, Britain needs Russia's cooperation in efforts to end the Syria conflict. "Because of Russia's role as a key backer of [President Bashar al-] Assad, it has lines open to Damascus that the Brits simply cannot match, so that in a way Russia is almost a necessary evil for Britain in dealing with the Syria crisis," said Nicholas Redman, a Russia analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. With British warplanes now carrying out bombing campaigns against militants in Syria at the same time as Russian forces, it is also important for London to keep the lines of communication open with Moscow at a military-to-military level. Calls for punitive action Activists, politicians and members of Litvinenko's family are calling for tougher penalties. Marina Litvinenko, the slain dissident's widow, called on the Cameron government to expel all Russian intelligence operatives from Britain, impose targeted sanctions against individuals involved in the murder, and even put into place a travel ban on Putin. Bill Browder, a London-based financier and human rights activist who has frequently criticized Russia over the Litvinenko affair, called for a stronger response by Britain; but, he says he believes economic and financial interests are in the way, with Russian investors pouring billions into Britain's banking and real estate sectors. "There's a lot of Russian money sloshing around London and I believe that there's a concern among certain members of the government that that money would be less available if Britain took a moral stand on some of these issues," Browder told VOA. Even if the British government did decide to extend sanctions, there would be a few more penalties left to impose on Putin, said Redman. Britain was among those leading efforts to impose sanctions on Russia for its involvement in Ukraine. "A large proportion of the arsenal in terms of sanctions and other measures has already been expended," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MET provides secure comms to warfighter By Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published January 22, 2016 AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFNS) -- The first fully funded Air Force modernization enterprise terminal (MET) outside the U.S. is now operational at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The terminal, which cost $15 million, provides secure communication capabilities including voice, video and data services, linking service members in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with military leaders around the world. The system also features anti-jamming software and uses the most current technology, said Vernon Jones, the 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron plans and programs manager. "It provides tremendous capability and reliability to the warfighter," said Jones, a retired Marine chief warrant officer 2. Jones, who served more than 20 years in the Navy and Marine Corps, said he knows how important it is to communicate quickly and securely. He served in combat on three occasions and said having reliable communication is vital. "In Iraq, we were moving from one base to another near Baghdad," Jones said. "As we were going in, I couldn't get any of my satellites up and locked to get vital information to the logistics people who were coming in after us. Our primary terminal was down and that left about 5,000 Marines without reliable communications." Jones said his Marines lost secure communications capability for two weeks and were forced to send runners in Humvees from point-to-point to deliver secure messages. "Having been shot at, I understand the criticality of having dependable communications," he said, "and that's what this terminal provides. "It ensures the CENTCOM commander has the communication capability to get his guidance to his subordinate commanders to execute the mission," he continued. "It also provides the assurance to the warfighter that when an extraction team or a rescue helicopter is needed, it will be there." The terminal is part of the Defense Department's MET program, said Lt. Col. Carlos Alford, the 379th ECS commander. "The program's goal is to install new terminals around the world to enable U.S. military forces to take advantage of increased data capabilities of its constellation of Ka-band wideband global communication satellites," Alford said. "The MET will simultaneously handle both X and Ka-band signals which use WGCS. "The previous Defense Satellite Communications System could only handle X-band and one WGCS satellite is equal to about 10 DSCS satellites in terms of bandwidth it provides," he added. The MET program will continue expanding by installing more enterprise terminals around the globe, Alford said. In 2018, Al Udeid AB will likely have a second MET set up to further increase CENTCOM's communication capabilities. Work to install the MET began in September 2012. A few years later on Jan. 14, the terminal was certified to operate by the Defense Information Systems Agency. Carlise Krawzyk, a 379th ECS MET program manager, oversaw installation of the terminal and said she was committed to seeing the project completed. "This project has been challenging and I just kept thinking we have to get this done, we are going to support the warfighter," Krawzyk said. Krawzyk coordinated with more than 20 agencies within the DOD and the government of Qatar, overcoming numerous obstacles, including a change in contractors early in the process, she said. "It's very satisfying to see the MET up and running and know that we're able to provide reliable and secure communications across the AOR," Krawzyk said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, January 22, 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 Syria Attack and fighter aircraft conducted two strikes in Syria: -- Near Raqqah, a strike struck an ISIL gas and oil separation plant. -- Near Manbij, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. Strikes in Iraq Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Albu Hayat, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Fallujah, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle and damaged an ISIL-used building. -- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Mosul, six strikes struck an ISIL-used bridge and two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Ramadi, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL vehicle bomb, two ISIL staging areas, three ISIL front end loaders and an ISIL weapons cache and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions. 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, 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 conducting strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Centcom Official Calls Aerial Assault on ISIL the Most Precise in History By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, January 22, 2016 The aerial assault on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is the most precise in history, but there are still some civilian casualties, a U.S. Central Command official said here today. Air Force Col. Pat Ryder told Pentagon reporters that "the preponderance of evidence indicates five separate U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria, between July 4 and July 17, 2015, have likely resulted in the death of two civilians and injuries to an additional four civilians." Since Operation Inherent Resolve began in August 2014, coalition forces have dropped almost 35,000 precision-guided munitions on ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria, Ryder said. "We take great care, from analysis of available intelligence to selection of the appropriate weapon to meet mission requirements to minimize the risk of collateral damage, particularly any potential harm to civilians," he said. In that same period, indications are that the coalition "likely killed" 16 civilians and injured nine, Ryder said. "Since the beginning of the campaign we've received 120 allegations of civilian casualties, 87 of which were deemed not credible," he said. "We currently have 14 allegations which remain open, nine of which are pending credibility assessments and five pending investigation. We have closed 19 allegations." ISIL makes avoiding civilian casualties more difficult by operating in civilian areas and using civilians, essentially, as shields, Ryder noted. Progress on the Ground On the ground, Iraqi forces are making slow, but steady progress along the Anbar corridor out of Ramadi, the colonel said. "There is still some tough fighting happening in the Hit [and] Haditha areas, but we are seeing successful operations by Sunni tribes supported by [Iraqi security forces]," he said. ISIL is trying to break through the combined front, but is not succeeding, Ryder said, noting that Iraqi forces have repelled a dozen attacks. "The coalition continues to support these indigenous forces through our advise and assist efforts as well as our air support," he added. In Ramadi, Iraqi forces continue to clear the city of improvised explosive devices and have extricated thousands of Iraqi citizens from harm's way, Ryder said. This area is important to ISIL, he said. It was an important al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold and a central node of the supply line that runs along the Euphrates River valley between Raqqa, Syria, and Baghdad, he said. Clearing the valley will make it much more difficult for ISIL to infiltrate into Baghdad, the colonel noted. Attacking ISIL's Economy Ryder also briefed on the continuing operation against ISIL's economic infrastructure. Ongoing Tidal Wave 2 airstrikes against the illicit oil infrastructure and its financial hubs have meant the terror group had to halve the pay of its adherents. Thus far, the strikes have hit 34 modular refineries, 138 oil collection points and 399 tanker trucks and millions of dollars in cash, he said. The strikes will erode ISIL's ability to govern and finance itself in the long term, the colonel said. Russian airstrikes continue and still seem to be aimed at supporting the Bashir al Assad regime, Ryder said. "This has been the trend since the beginning of Russia's presence in Syria," he said. "The vast majority of their targets are opposition groups vice ISIL." Russia's involvement only prolongs the suffering of the Syrian people, he said. "It enables groups like ISIL to take advantage and to expand into areas where opposition groups are being impacted," the colonel said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-028-16 January 22, 2016 Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi today on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They discussed recent progress in the counter-ISIL campaign. The secretary reinforced the United States commitment to intensify the fight against ISIL, working closely with the government of Iraq. Secretary Carter congratulated the prime minister on the Iraqi Security Forces' success in Ramadi but acknowledged there is still tough fighting ahead. They discussed the next steps in the campaign including the upcoming meeting of Counter-ISIL coalition defense ministers in Brussels. They emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on ISIL forces on multiple fronts. They also agreed that the training of local police forces will be a critical need as the fight against ISIL advances. This meeting comes one month after Secretary Carter visited Iraq and met with U.S. service members serving in both Erbil and Baghdad. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/644017/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global security challenges on the agenda at Davos NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 22 Jan. 2016 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is addressing global security challenges at the World Economic Forum in Davos. On Friday (22 January 2016), Mr Stoltenberg took part in a plenary session on the global security outlook together with Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The Secretary General stressed the importance of NATO's agility, adaptability and strength at a time when the lines between war and peace are blurred by hybrid warfare, terrorism and cyber attacks. 'When we are strong, we are able to deter and prevent war. We want to be strong not to fight war but to avoid one, to make all understand that any attack on any Ally is doomed to fail," Mr Stoltenberg said. He also highlighted the critical task of helping partners build their defence capacity. "We project stability not always with forces, but with training and helping to defend," he said. Mr Stoltenberg held bilateral talks with some of NATO's key partners. With President Ghani, he discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and NATO's continued commitment to the country through its mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces and institutions. The Secretary General and Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi spoke about NATO's plans to start training Iraqi officers in the near future in order to strengthen their ability to fight ISIL and defend their own country. He also agreed with the Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid on the need to further enhance cooperation and capacity building in the fight against terrorism. In a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Mr Stoltenberg reaffirmed NATO's commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity, and discussed the implementation of the substantial NATO-Georgia package, including the progress made by the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DoD Leaders Learn the Value of SERE Training Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160122-12 Release Date: 1/22/2016 2:18:00 PM By Lt. Mark Hahn, Center for Security Forces Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors at the Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR) Det. North Island hosted more than 60 executive leaders within the Department of Defense, Jan. 13, as part of the DOD's Executive Leadership Development Program. The purpose and intent of the program is to expand the knowledge, skills, and experiences of future leaders within the armed forces by giving each a greater understanding of different components within the DoD. 'I firmly believe we provide the best training in the Navy,' said Cmdr. Bennet Goff, CENSECFOR Det. North Island officer-in-charge. 'It is fantastic to give these leaders a snapshot of how essential Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Escape (SERE) training is to the warfighter.' As participants settled in their seats, a fictional paramilitary group stormed the classroom. The participants were both held hostage and interrogated for the next half an hour. Thereafter the scenario ended with the captors revealing their identity to welcome the group to SERE school. For the remainder of their visit, participants got a glimpse of the uniqueness of SERE training. The topics presented included how to survive in a captivity situation, as well as the origin of SERE school and the psychology of SERE training. 'The training was spectacular, and it really made the online SERE course come to life,' said Vanessa Glascoe, ELDP program manager. The day concluded with retired Marine Col. Clifford Acree serving as guest speaker. Acree shared his personal testimony about his experiences as a prisoner of war in Iraq during the first Gulf War. The mission statement adopted by Det. North Island is to 'Train the Best for the Worst.' The staff of 108 military and civilian personnel provides training to more than 1,300 students annually. CENSECFOR provides specialized training to more than 28,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nationwide curfew announced in Tunisia amid protests Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:14PM Tunisia has imposed a nationwide curfew in response to growing social unrest over unemployment. Tunisia's Interior Ministry said on Friday that the curfew will begin overnight, warning that those who disobey the decision would risk prosecution. The unrest was triggered on January 17, when a young man who had reportedly been sacked from his government job protested by climbing a transmission tower and was electrocuted. Since the beginning of this week, people have held demonstrations against unemployment and poverty across towns in central Tunisia. The hotbed of the protests has been the city of Kasserine, where clashes erupted for the first time between police and protesters earlier in the week. "In light of these attacks against public and private property, and given that the continuation of these acts represents a danger to the security of citizens, it was decided to declare a curfew across Tunisia from 20:00 to 05:00," said the ministry in a statement. The curfew order excluded medical emergencies and those working at night, saying the measure was adopted to restore calm to the areas that have seen acts of violence over the past few days. The situation in Kasserine was clam mid-morning on Friday with protesters gathering in front of the governor's office. Demonstrators say they will continue the protests. "Are we not Tunisians too? It's been four years I've been struggling. We're not asking for much, but we're fighting for our youth. We struggled so much for them," said Leila Omri, the mother of an unemployed graduate in Kesserine. 16 arrested for pillaging Officials said on Friday that 16 people had been arrested following acts of "sacking and pillaging of businesses and banks" on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis. Police and security officers used tear gas to repel protesters in balaclavas and armed with stones and Molotov cocktails. A police station was attacked and stores were looted the previous night in the town of Ettadhamen. "We stand with peaceful protesters, but other acts - violence against public and private property - will be severely punished," Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman Walid Louguini said, adding that those looting the banks and businesses were "criminals trying to take advantage of the situation." Tunisian media said Prime Minister Habib Essid was cutting short a visit to France to deal with the growing protests which could spark a new wave of unrest in the country more than four years after a similar uprising led to the ouster of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military operations claim two lives in southeast Turkey Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:59AM At least two people have been killed during Turkish military operations in the volatile southeastern city of Cizre, which has been under a tight curfew over the past weeks. The fatalities came after the Turkish army tanks pounded urban targets in the heavily-damaged neighborhoods of the mainly-Kurdish city in Sirnak Province close to the Iraqi border. Several others were wounded as a group of civilians tried to recover two bodies from a neighborhood in Cizre. Footage later released by Turkish media showed the group coming under fire while carrying bodies. Meanwhile, at least 33 militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed on Thursday in clashes with the Turkish army in the Kurdish southeast, according to a statement from the Turkish army. The statement also said 29 PKK members were killed in fighting with Turkish soldiers in Sirnak and another four died in the neighboring Diyarbakir Province. According to activists in the region, the death toll is much higher. "The Turkish bombardment has caused mass displacement among civilians, destruction of infrastructures and death of more than 50 civilians in Cizre alone," civil rights activist Ehmed Hokenek told local media. "The Turkish army avoids mentioning the civilian casualties in its brutal campaign against the Kurdish region," he added. Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale campaign against the PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since 1980s. Since mid-December 2015, curfews have been imposed in the towns of Silopi and Cizre in Sirnak Province as part of the army operations against PKK militants, prompting angry reactions from the residents of the Kurdish-majority areas. Authorities, however, say the curfews are aimed at protecting civilians amid near-daily clashes. In a Thursday report, Amnesty International urged Turkey to end the "draconian restrictions" on the movement of people and excessive use of force in the country's Kurdish-populated regions. The report added that Ankara's military operations that are being conducted "under round-the-clock curfews are putting the lives of tens of thousands of people at risk." The operations began in the wake of a July bombing by Daesh in the southern Turkish town of Suruc in which more than 30 people were killed. PKK militants have accused the Turkish government of supporting Daesh and carried out a series of attacks against police and security forces, prompting the government's current operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi jets bomb residential areas in Yemen's Sana'a Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:37AM Saudi warplanes attack the Yemeni capital, targeting residential buildings and areas near the presidential palace, a day after several families were targeted in deadly bombings. On Friday, the Jabal al-Nahdain neighborhood in central Sana'a came under aerial attacks which also targeted areas around the presidential palace in al-Sabeen, Yemeni media reports said. The fresh attacks came as a video emerged of Saudi airstrikes in the Dhahyan district of the northwestern Sa'ada province on Thursday. At least 20 people, including eight children, were killed and some 35 others injured in those bombings which reportedly targeted several families. According to a tweet on the Doctors without Borders (MSF) website, Saudi jets bombed three villages in Sa'ada. The group reported deaths of five people, including an ambulance driver from the MFS hospital. Yemeni sources have said at least 18 medical staffers were killed in those attacks. Separately, an oil facility operated by Yemen's Houthis was hit in a Saudi airstrike in the Red Sea port city of Ras Isa. A news agency run by the Saudi-backed fugitive Yemeni government, www.sabanew.net, put the death toll at 16. Medical sources said at least 30 people were also wounded in the airstrikes. Reuters, quoting an unnamed source, said the bodies had been either burned or mutilated. Meanwhile, several local news outlets said Yemeni forces had killed two Saudi military troops, identified as Khaled al-Oleighi and Abdu Mohammed Dalak, during clashes near the kingdom's border city of Najran on Thursday. Three other Saudi troops were also killed by Yemen's Ansarullah fighters and allied army units near the al-Tawal border crossing, which links Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah to Saudi Arabia's Jizan, the al-Masirah TV said. Qatar's Al Jazeera TV also said three of its journalists had been kidnapped in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz while reporting on the casualties there. The Doha-based channel said the three had been last seen on Monday. Saudi Arabia launched its military campaign in Yemen in late March after former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fled to the kingdom in the face of Houthi advances. More than 8,200 people have been killed and over 16,000 others injured since the attacks began. The war has also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's Navy Chief Affirms Readiness to Defend Islands in S China Sea Sputnik News 19:48 22.01.2016(updated 23:51 22.01.2016) Earlier this month, China conducted several successful test flights at a newly-built airfield in the South China Sea apparently to test whether airport facilities are suitable for civil aviation. According to China's Navy chief the amount of defense facilities on islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands totally depends on the level of threat China faces and China will not seek militarization in the region, Wu Shengli said on Wednesday. Wu Shengli during a teleconference with US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson said that the building of necessary defense facilities on islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands is not militarization. This has been malevolently hyped up by certain countries and media. China's PLA Navy is determined and capable of defending the sovereignty and security of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, Wu added. As was reported earlier, the testing of the newly constructed airfield is nothing more than efforts by the country to better serve the needs of the great many vessels and seafarers using one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The Chinese government stated that the runway would conform to civil aviation standards and other improved facilities intended at facilitating search and rescue, disaster prevention and reduction and navigation safety. During the teleconference, Wu and Richardson discussed the progress in the relationship between the US Navy and PLA noting successful exchanges and visits during 2015. Both of them hope to uphold a bilateral naval relationship in 2016 based on this progress. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungary Intends to Buy Up to 30 Russian Choppers for $490 Mln Sputnik News 17:12 22.01.2016(updated 17:13 22.01.2016) According to Russia's Arms Trade Analysis Centre, Hungary is interested in purchasing 30 Russian helicopters. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Hungary plans to buy about 30 Russian helicopters with the value of the contract expected to reach $490 million, a spokesperson for Russia's Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT) said Friday. 'In February, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they will discuss the delivery of up to 30 Russian helicopters to the Hungarian Air Force,' the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the value of the potential contract has been estimated at 142 billion Hungarian forints (some $490 million). The spokesperson pointed out that in the future the scope of the contract between the two countries could be expanded since Hungary is seeking to replace its fleet of Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters, some of which have been in operation since 1969. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Resurgent' Russia 'Forces' US to Postpone A-10 Retirement Plan Sputnik News 14:41 22.01.2016(updated 14:47 22.01.2016) The spread of the Daesh militant group and the build-up of Russia's influence in the global arena have prompted the US Air Force to revise its plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt air support jet. When the USAF decided to sunset the A-10 the global threat environment looked different, he explained. The retirement plan was introduced in the fiscal year 2015 budget request, worked out before the rise of Daesh. The nature of the budget cycle forces the Air Force to plan its force structure two years ahead of time, he added. Often, the assumptions planned in the budget request change, and the USAF must be agile enough to adjust to new requests. 'What happens is that life gets in the way of the perfect plan,' Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told Defense News. 'So when we made the decision on retiring the A-10, we made those decisions prior to ISIL [Daesh], we were not in Iraq, we were coming out of Afghanistan to a large extent, we didn't have a resurgent Russia.' Delaying the A-10 retirement plan is a key policy shift that the Pentagon will reportedly lay out next month in its fiscal 2017 budget request, according to a press report. Top officials had already said that the Air Force could shelve the A-10 retirement for a few years to meet commander's demand for the close-in attack jet. The Warthog is still believed to be one of the most powerful warplanes in the US Air Force and beloved by troops for its Gatling gun. There is no replacement for the aircraft yet. According to Air Combat Command chief Gen. Herbert 'Hawk' Carlisle, the service needs more close-air support planes to protect troops on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, and for possible missions in Libya and Yemen. The Air Force will face a tough challenge in the coming years to maintain vigilance but at the same time meet budget demands, Goldfein noted. The US will have to invest over $1 billion to keep the aircraft flying until 2028. Earlier, The National Interest reported that Washington could delay the A-10 retirement plan as it poses a threat to national security. The reported decision to postpone the plan comes after years of debate between Congress and Air Force policymakers. Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee and an A-10 advocate, welcomed the reports that Washington will delay the retirement plan. 'With growing global chaos and turmoil on the rise, we simply cannot afford to prematurely retire the best close-air support weapon in our arsenal without fielding a proper replacement,' he said in a statement. The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat two-engine close-air support jet. It was designed for destroying tanks, armored vehicles and various ground targets. The jet entered service with the US Air Force in 1976, and its production was ended in 1984. Armed with a massive 30-mm rotary gun, the Warthog is one of the most effective and powerful attack aircraft in the USAF. The Air Force has long planned the retirement of the A-10, especially in the light of growing expenses for the F-35 program. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Carter Calls for US 'Boots on the Ground' in IS Fight by Carla Babb January 22, 2016 Defense Secretary Ash Carter has called for continued U.S. 'boots on the ground' in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State (IS) group. Speaking in an interview with CNBC television at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Carter said U.S. forces on the ground will 'enable' local forces and remain focused on an advise and assist mission. 'We're looking for opportunities to do more, and there will be boots on the ground. I want to be clear about that,' Carter said. 'But it's a strategic question, whether you are enabling local forces to take and hold, rather than trying to substitute for them.' The secretary will be meeting with several defense ministers in two weeks. He says many countries are not doing enough in the war against IS, saying that they are in the fight 'on paper.' 'The United States does not ask people for favors...,' he said. 'We're looking for other people to play their part.' The United States currently has about 3,550 service members in Iraq, with about 2,750 of those supporting Iraqi security forces as trainers, advisers or support staff, according to Central Command data released to VOA. There are less than 50 U.S. special forces in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At Least 20 Killed in Al-Shabab Attack on Somali Restaurant by VOA News January 22, 2016 Police in Somalia's capital said at least 20 people have been killed by gunmen who stormed into a popular seaside restaurant and took siege of the eatery. The militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack at the Lido Beach View Hotel in Mogadishu. Somali police officer Mohamed Abdirahman said Friday the assault was a 'barbaric and brutal attack against innocent civilians.' The assailants attacked the restaurant Thursday evening, setting off explosions and firing on guests. A top Somali intelligence official told VOA's Somali service that security forces flushed the militants from the building and captured the leader of the gunmen. A journalist inside the restaurant during the siege Thursday told VOA by phone that he and more than 20 other people were trapped. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack through a pro-militant radio station in the capital. A spokesman for the group said, 'We are inside and control the hotel. Our operation was successful.' Mohamud Hared, the owner of the nearby Indian Ocean Restaurant, told VOA's Somali service that he heard gunfire and two separate explosions. "We heard a heavy gunfire and then explosion followed, gunfire ensued again for 15 minutes and then explosions,' Hared said. Abdulkadir Mohamed Somow, who survived the attack, said, 'I was intending to go out, but suddenly we heard a heavy explosion, followed by gunfire. When I look back, I saw a militant fighter shooting indiscriminately at everybody. Then I locked myself inside a room until we were evacuated peacefully by the security forces.' NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swine flu has killed 39 in Russia Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 3:52PM Swine flu has killed nearly 40 people in Russia since last month, with one of the cases reported in the capital, Moscow. According to official data gathered by the AFP, at least 39 people have died of the disease. "Eleven people died from the virus and nearly 50 schools have declared a quarantine," health authorities in the southern region of Volgograd told state news agency RIA Novosti on Friday. Six fatal swine flu-related deaths have also been recorded in the southern region of Rostov and five deaths were reported in Saint Petersburg. These latest cases follow the deaths of four adults and one child from the virus in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan, and the deaths of two infected patients in Yekaterinburg in the Urals and the southern region of Adygea. Swine flu fatalities have also been reported in the Kostroma, Tambov and Kaliningrad regions, among others. Anna Popova, a senior doctor in the country, assured the public that "all necessary measures" were being taken to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in Russia. In neighboring Armenia, 18 people have died of swine flu since the start of 2016, the South Caucasus country's health ministry said this week. In nearby country Georgia, three deadly cases of the virus have been reported. A major outbreak of the H1N1 virus sparked a World Health Organization pandemic alert in June 2009, after the virus emerged from Mexico and the United States. The outbreak killed about 18,500 people in 214 countries. The alert was lifted in August 2010. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Paris state of emergency to remain till Daesh defeat: French PM Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:45AM France says the state of emergency put in place in Paris after last November's deadly terror attacks by Daesh will be extended until the world could totally get rid of the Takfiri terror group. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in an interview with BBC Europe that France would seek to keep the state of emergency in place until the end of what he called the "global war" against Daesh terrorists. "As long as the threat is there, we must use all the means," he said, adding the state of emergency should stay in place "until we can get rid of Daesh." The French premier also called for a "total, global and ruthless" war against Daesh, which has swathes of land under control in Iraq and Syria since June 2014. The state of emergency was imposed after assailants struck at least six different venues in and around Paris on November 13, 2015. The terrorist attacks, claimed by Daesh, left 130 people dead and over 350 others wounded. The exceptional measures adopted under the state of emergency empower the French police to keep people in their homes without trial, searching houses without judicial approval and blocking suspicious websites. The new measures also include a ban on public demonstrations and allow authorities to dissolve groups inciting any acts that seriously affect public order in France. UN rights specialists have called on the French government not to extend the state of emergency beyond February 2016 and instead ensure protection against any abuse of power while combating terror. A number of French nationals are fighting alongside terror groups in Syria. Refugee crisis in Europe Valls warned that the European Union faces a grave danger from the ongoing refugee crisis. He said the EU could not take all refugees fleeing the "terrible wars in Iraq or Syria. otherwise," he added, "our societies will be totally destabilized." Europe has been facing an unprecedented inflow of refugees fleeing wars and violence in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria. According to Valls, Europe needed to take urgent action to control its external borders, emphasizing that "if Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, it's the very idea of Europe that will be questioned." "We cannot say or accept that all refugees ...can be welcomed in Europe, " Valls noted, criticizing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who called for her European partners to take on quotas of refugees. He also said the EU needs to say in the strongest terms "that we will not welcome all the refugees in Europe." Last year, more than one million asylum seekers - the most since World War II - arrived in the European continent after making dangerous journeys by land and sea. Everyday, about 2,000 refugees arrive in the European Union, according to official numbers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swine Flu Causes Deaths In Eastern Ukraine January 22, 2016 An outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus has killed 26 people in the territories currently controlled by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Russian news agencies reported on January 22. The agencies quoted an unidentified representative of the separatists as saying all schools have been closed until January 30 to help curb the number of swine-flu cases. The Ukrainian Health Ministry confirmed on January 19 that H1N1 has killed 51 people across the country. Ukrainian Health Minister Aleksandre Kvitashvili urged people not to panic, saying "We haven't exceeded the epidemic threshold, and every year January is the peak of the flu season." Swine flu outbreak has caused deaths in Russia and other former Soviet republics, officials say. Armenian officials said 18 people had died from swine flu since January 1, where school holidays were prolonged until February 1 and military personnel were ordered not to leave their units due to the outbreak. Health officials in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, said on January 19 that five local residents died of the H1N1 virus, adding that more than 310 individuals had been hospitalized with symptoms of the disease. Swine flu deaths were also reported in Georgia and Kazakhstan. Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and RFE/RL's Armenian and Russian services Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/swine-flu-causes-deaths- in-eastern-ukraine/27505589.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 Xi says China not to seek proxies or fill 'vacuum' in Middle East People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 00:38, January 22, 2016 Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Cairo Thursday that China will neither look for proxies nor try to fill any 'vacuum' in the Middle East. Beijing also has no intention of building any sphere of influence in the region, Xi said in a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. 'Instead of looking for proxies, China promotes peace talks in the Middle East; instead of seeking any sphere of influence, China calls on all nations in the region to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative; and instead of attempting to fill any 'vacuum,' China aspires to build a network of mutually beneficial partnerships,' said the Chinese president. China and Arab nations 'should be builders of peace, promoters of development, boosters of industrialization, supporters of stability and partners of people-to-people exchanges in the Middle East,' Xi said. China's Middle East policy and related measures, Xi said, will only be determined by the rights and wrongs of relevant issues as well as the fundamental interests of the Middle Eastern people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi Jinping's Charm Offensive: China Extends a Helping Hand to the Mideast Sputnik News 13:04 22.01.2016(updated 13:36 22.01.2016) Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran as part of a five-day trip, which has seen Beijing ink billion-dollar deals and boost ties in the Middle East at a time when Washington's presence in the oil-rich region is becoming less pronounced. Xi's tour is largely focused on economic and energy cooperation with the Arab world, the South China Morning Post noted. But 'it is also a mission to forge closer political, diplomatic and military ties with countries and to promote China's image and influence as a global power, resembling what the Middle Kingdom was 2,000 years ago,' the newspaper asserted. Xi's tour first brought him to Saudi Arabia, China's largest oil supplier, earlier this week. The Chinese president and King Salman agreed to foster energy cooperation between the two countries and oversaw the opening of a major Yanbu oil refinery, a joint Saudi Aramco and Sinopec venture. In addition, China announced that it plans to finalize 'a comprehensive free trade agreement' with the Gulf Cooperation Council later this year. The talks on the issue were launched in 2004, but the process was suspended in 2009. Xi later traveled to Egypt. China's state-run news agency Xinhua described the ties between the two countries as a 'comprehensive strategic partnership.' Incidentally, the same formula was applied with regard to China's relations with the oil kingdom and Iran. The two-day visit of the Chinese president to the North African nation produced more than 20 agreements covering civil aviation, electricity, higher education, science, media, banking and trade. The Chinese president also said that Beijing plans to invest as much as $15 billion in Egypt's economy as both countries agreed to promote cooperation under Xi's signature foreign policy initiative, known as the One Belt, One Road. Ahead of his visit to the Islamic Republic, Xi noted that Beijing wants 'to strengthen strategic cooperation with Iran.' He also announced plans to provide humanitarian aid to Syria, Libya, Yemen, Lebanon and Jordan amounting to almost $35 million in 2016. Xi's tour comes a week after Beijing unveiled its first official strategy towards the Middle East. Known as the Arab Policy Paper, the document called for greater political, economic, energy and security cooperation with the region. Relations between China and the Arab world, according to the brief, should be based on the One Belt, One Road development strategy. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US citizen arrested by North Korea, State Dept. confirms Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:15PM The US State Department has confirmed reports that an American citizen has been arrested in North Korea. On Friday, North Korea declared it had arrested an American student from the University of Virginia for 'perpetrating a hostile act' against the government. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency reported that the 21-year-old student, identified as Otto Frederick Warmbier, had traveled to the North as a tourist but 'for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation." He was detained 'while perpetrating a hostile act against the DPRK," the report said. Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Friday, 'The welfare of US citizens is one of the department's highest priorities.' Kirby said in such cases the US works closely with the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang which assists Washington in North Korea. He however refused to release further information, citing 'privacy considerations.' Several Americans have been held in North Korea in recent years. In October last year, North Korea freed a South Korean national with a US green card after holding him for six months. Also in 2014, Pyongyang released three detained Americans. The developments come as tensions are currently running high on the Korean peninsula. The US, and with allies Japan and South Korea have led calls for a tough UN Security Council resolution in the wake of a January 6 nuclear test by North Korea. North Korea accuses the US of plotting with regional allies to topple its government. Pyongyang says it will not relinquish its nuclear deterrence unless the US ends its hostile policy toward it and dissolves the US-led UN command in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea, US, Japan Set Up Data Sharing Channel on N Korea's Missiles Sputnik News 14:43 22.01.2016(updated 14:44 22.01.2016) South Korea plans to set up a new channel for sharing information on North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missiles with the United States and Japan, local media reported Friday, citing a South Korean Defense Ministry source. TOKYO (Sputnik) It is expected that the channel, dubbed Link-16, will be controlled from the US military base in Osan, south of Seoul, according to the Yonhap news agency. 'Despite the U.S.-Japan linkage, information sharing will not take place without the agreement from each side and, even if it takes place, it will be confined to subjects on North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles,' a defense official was quoted as saying by the agency. According to the agency, this year the South Korean Defense Ministry will start a project to launch five spy satellites into orbit by the beginning of the 2020s. It is also planned to create a center of cyberdefense against online attacks from North Korea. South and North Korea are still legally at war, as no peace treaty between them was signed after the Korean War of 1950-1953. Long-standing tensions between the two Koreas flared up 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 the tensions during a series of talks. Relations between the two countries further deteriorated when Pyongyang claimed it had carried out a hydrogen bomb test earlier this month. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S. Korea Leader: Nuclear Talks Should Proceed Without N. Korea by William Gallo January 22, 2016 South Korean President Park Geun-hye said world powers should find a way to restart long-stalled talks on North Korea's nuclear program, even if it means Pyongyang negotiators are not present. 'Although it is not an easy matter, relevant parties should find various and creative approaches, such as trying five-party talks excluding North Korea,' Park said Friday during a meeting with top government officials in Seoul. Park also expressed frustration with the current mechanism of six-party talks, which have had the aim of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear program, but which have not been held in seven years. 'In the past, six-party talks had some usefulness as a framework to resolve North Korean nuclear issues via dialogue,' she said. 'However, the talks have not been held for a while. Even if the talks open up, but don't help denuclearize North Korea, the question of effectiveness will be brought up.' The six-party talks involving North Korea, South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia started in 2003. North Korea walked out of the talks in 2009, frustrated at world powers who had imposed sanctions following Pyongyang's long-range rocket test. Nuclear test Shortly afterwards, the North conducted its second nuclear test. It has since conducted two more nuclear tests, including one earlier this month that prompted fresh concerns about its nuclear advances. North Korea has repeatedly said it is open to restarting the talks, but the U.S. has insisted Pyongyang must first agree to abandon its nuclear program before the talks can proceed. After each nuclear test, Western powers have imposed punishing sanctions on North Korea. China, North Korea's main ally, will play a huge role in determining whether the Security Council can pass a new round of tough sanctions on the North, Park said. 'I expect China to take an effective measure that can make North Korea realize the development of nuclear weapons is futile and that it should join the international community like Iran has,' she said. Reacting to Park's proposal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei called for the resumption of 'six-party talks at an early date' in order to help denuclearize the Korean peninsula as soon as possible. Washington officials yet to comment on the proposal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects OIC statement as 'unacceptable' Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:24PM Iran has dismissed as "unacceptable" the recent statement by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying it runs counter to principles of the UN Charter, the OIC Charter and international law. "The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's success in following up its objectives and priorities depends on solidarity, cooperation and coordination among members and not in their face-off," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Friday. He added that the OIC statement was issued with lack of consensus among the organization's member states. In a statement issued at the end of an OIC emergency meeting in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on Thursday, the organization backed Saudi Arabia in its weeks-long diplomatic spat with Iran, accusing Tehran of supporting terrorism and interfering in other countries' affairs. Saudi Arabia had called for the OIC emergency meeting to discuss the recent diplomatic row with Tehran following the January 2 execution of prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran on January 3 following demonstrations held in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad by angry protesters censuring the Al Saud family for the killing of Sheikh Nimr. Jaberi Ansari said the Jeddah meeting was convened with the aim of supporting Saudi Arabia's state terrorism. He added that the OIC statement overlooked the existing realities pertaining to Iran's swift action against the perpetrators of the incidents and focused on pursuing the "objectives of a specific country." The Iranian spokesperson noted that the OIC has been founded to strengthen cooperation among Muslim countries to contribute to liberation of the occupied Palestinian territories. "Given the continuation of Palestine's occupation, inhuman blockade of the Palestinians and growing threats of Takfiri extremism and terrorism against international peace and security, the hasty and irresponsible measure by the Saudi government to insist on the emergency meeting and issue a statement lacking consensus have intensified divisions among [OIC] members and undermined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation," Jaberi Ansari pointed out. Iran expressed regret that Saudi Arabia overlooked the OIC objectives, principles and priorities as well as rights of the members in the Jeddah statement, he said. He added that Iran emphasizes that such measures are aimed at supporting sectarianism and warmongering policies as well as backing Saudi state terrorism. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with its fundamental policy, expresses its readiness for interaction to settle mutual issues with Saudi Arabia and stresses the importance of Riyadh's return from its wrong policies to the path of moderation, wisdom and dialog along with mutual respect," he said. Jaberi Ansari called on all OIC member states to improve their interaction in dealing with issues of Muslim nations and prepare the ground for the liberation of the occupied Palestine. In an address to the OIC emergency meeting in Jeddah on Thursday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi also criticized the OIC for remaining silent on the main issues facing the Muslim world. "It is regrettable that this organization [OIC] is silent about the major challenges of the Muslim world, particularly [the issue of] Palestine, but hastily reacts to the attack on Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran," the senior Iranian diplomat said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bombings, shooting leave 13 dead, 45 wounded in, around Baghdad Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:8AM Over a dozen people have been killed and more than three dozen others injured when a series of bomb explosions and a shooting incident struck residential neighborhoods in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security and medical officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two people lost their lives and six others sustained injuries on Thursday afternoon when an improvised explosive device went off close to a popular restaurant in the northern al-Shu'ala neighborhood of Baghdad, Arabic-language al-Baghdadia satellite television network reported. Separately, a roadside bomb detonated close to a commercial district in the al-Amin neighborhood of eastern Baghdad, leaving two civilians dead and five others injured. One civilian also lost his life and seven others sustained injuries when an explosion struck near a medical facility in the capital's southern neighborhood of al-Saheroun. Moreover, a bomb attack in the Sha'ab neighborhood of northern Baghdad left one civilian dead and four others injured. Elsewhere in the capital's western neighborhood of al-Eskan, one civilian was killed and six others injured when a bomb blast ripped through a commercial district. Unidentified armed men also sprayed a civilian car with bullets in Sadr City on the outskirts of Baghdad, killing an employee of the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and injuring two others. Earlier on Thursday, a person was killed and five others wounded in a bomb attack in Sabaa al-Bour, located approximately 28 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Additionally, an explosion in Hamamiyat village, located 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Baghdad, left three civilians dead and seven others injured. In Baghdad's southeastern neighborhood of Arab Jabour, a civilian was killed and three others injured when a roadside bomb exploded early on Thursday. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq says a total of 980 Iraqis were killed and 1,244 wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in December last year. According to the UN mission, the number of civilian fatalities stood at 506. Violence also claimed the lives of 474 members of the Iraqi security forces. A great portion of the fatalities was recorded in Baghdad, where 261 civilians were killed. The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by violence ever since Daesh Takfiri militants began their march through the Iraqi territory in June 2014. Army soldiers and Popular Mobilization units are seeking to take back militant-held regions in joint operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No evidence Turkey wants to fight Daesh: Iraqi PM Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:59AM The Iraqi prime minister has cast doubt on Turkey's willingness to combat Daesh terrorists, saying Ankara should focus on fighting the Takfiri group instead of targeting its Kurdish population. Haider al-Abadi said in an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that Turkey viewed the Kurdish population within its border as a greater problem than Daesh. "The Turks are telling us otherwise, (that) they're eager to fight Daesh. But I'm telling them frankly, I'm not seeing evidence of that. I hope to see more evidence of that," Abadi said. The Iraqi premier further urged officials in Ankara to take Daesh threats seriously and "shift their priority from considering the Kurds as their problem" to battling the Takfiri terror group, which has seized swathes of land in Iraq and neighboring Syria since 2014. Abadi also expressed Baghdad's willingness to improve relations with Ankara, but made clear that Turkey's extension of its troop deployment to Iraq was "not helpful at all." "I think Turkey is looking to go back to the Ottoman Empire thing, I don't think there's a place in the region for that," he added. Last month, Turkey deployed some 150 soldiers, equipped with heavy weapons and backed by 20 to 25 tanks, to the outskirts of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's Nineveh province. Ankara claimed that its troops had been deployed in northern Iraq to train Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters against Daesh. Abadi has said Turkish troops deployed to northern Iraq were causing a "lot of tension," adding there was no reason for their deployment deep inside the Iraqi border. Turkish warplanes routinely carry out attacks on what they claim to be Daesh targets in northern Iraq. The raids have repeatedly drawn an angry reaction from Baghdad, which has denounced Ankara for violating the country's sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq's PM Urges Turkey to Remove Troops from Mosul by VOA News January 22, 2016 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appealed to Turkey Friday to pull its troops out of Iraq that it has stationed near the embattled Islamic State stronghold of Mosul. 'We have to have an answer,' the Iraqi leader said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he outlined his views on stabilizing the volatile Middle East. Abadi said Baghdad wants 'very good neighborly relations' with Ankara and wants it to join efforts to fight Islamic State militants, but also wants Turkey's troops out of Iraq. Using another name for Islamic State fighters, Abadi said, 'Daesh is killing our own citizens, occupying our own cities. We have 4 million internal refugees because of that, and Turkey should help us with that. And I appeal to the Turkish government to help us, and withdraw their forces.' Turkey has stationed troops inside Iraq since 2014, but in early December deployed another 100 or more equipped with tanks and artillery for what it said were training exercises. Baghdad protested Turkey's troop movement, calling it a breach of its sovereignty. Abadi said Turkey has yet to explain why it has additional troops inside Iraq. After the Iraqi protest, Turkey ended more deployments. International mission At the time of the Turkish troop movement, Ankara said its fighters were in Iraq as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight Islamic State insurgents. But Baghdad said there was no invitation for the Turkish troops. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met Thursday with Abadi in Davos. The White House said Biden 'encouraged continued dialog between Iraq and Turkey to resolve concerns about Turkish troop deployments in northern Iraq and reiterated U.S. respect for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' Biden is expected to discuss the issue further in Istanbul on Saturday when he meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan to pay 8 bln USD over next 5 years to host U.S. forces People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:20, January 22, 2016 TOKYO, Jan. 22 -- Japanand the United Stateson Friday inked a deal stipulating the budget for hosting U.S. forces here will be maintained by Tokyo. At a signing ceremony held in the capital, the Japanese government retired its stance that its military cooperation with the U.S. remained essential. 'The presence of U.S. forces in Japan is indispensable for the security of Japan and for the peace and security of the region,' Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said. Kishida cited an increasingly severe security situation in the region, in light of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear test earlier this month. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, for her part, said at the ceremony that the U.S.-Japan alliance remained steadfast 'The agreement will ensure that U.S. forces will maintain the highest operational readiness and most comprehensive training in fulfilling our treaty obligations to Japan,' Kennedy said, adding that, 'The U.S. and Japan alliance has never been stronger in all its dimensions.' It was agreed at the end of last year that Japan would continue with its financial commitment to host U.S. forces here at the current annual level of 190 billion yen (1.61 billion U.S. dollars) annually. In the next five years Japan will shoulder a bill estimated to be around 946.5 billion yen (8.02 billion U.S. dollars), higher than the 933.2 billion yen shelled out over the last five years. While Japan had initially pushed to reduce its U.S. base-hosting costs, its ally wanted the budget upped to support its planned security pivot to Asia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Faction Promises More School Attacks in Pakistan by VOA News January 22, 2016 The Taliban faction that has claimed responsibility for the massacre at a Pakistani university that killed 21 people earlier this week says that assault was just the beginning of more attacks to come. In a video message released on social media Friday, Khalifa Umar Mansoor, the leader of the breakaway Taliban group, promised more attacks on schools and universities across the country, like the deadly one Wednesday at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda. Mansoor described Pakistan's educational institutions as 'nurseries' for those who challenge Allah's law. 'Will of God' He said Pakistan's educational institutions provide the future workforce for the military and the government who work against the 'will of God.' The spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Mohammad Khorasani, said earlier this week that his group had nothing to do with the university attack, adding that non-military institutions are not on its list of targets. Army spokesman Asim Bajwa released details of Pakistan's investigation into the attack Thursday. Bajwa said Pakistan's military chief, General Raheel Sharif, telephoned the Afghan leadership and the commander of NATO's Afghan mission and "asked for their cooperation in locating and targeting those responsible for this heinous act and bring them to justice." Pakistan alleges that leaders and commanders of the anti-state Taliban militants have taken refuge on the Afghan side of the border after fleeing army-led counterinsurgency operations. Officials have previously also blamed these fugitives for planning cross-border attacks in Pakistan. Dismisses allegations But Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi on Thursday dismissed allegations that there are terrorist bases in Afghanistan being used against Pakistan. Seddiqi strongly condemned the Bacha Khan University attack and reiterated Kabul's allegations that terrorist sanctuaries are located in Pakistan and are causing instability in the region. Pakistan observed a day of mourning Thursday following the gun and bomb attack on Bacha Khan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to create new military divisions amid NATO drills Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:45AM Russia says it will create four new military divisions this year in an effort to reinforce its military forces amid increased exercises by NATO members states. Russian Ground Forces Commander General Oleg Salyukov said on Friday Moscow plans to form the divisions in the western and central regions of the country in 2016. "Formation of these divisions is a measure to respond to the increase in intensity of exercises among NATO member countries that's been seen recently," said Salyukov. Salyukov also announced that the Russian military will take part in seven international drills this year. He said the military exercises, including a joint Russia-Pakistani drill as well as a Russian-Vietnamese exercise, will be held in "the context of interaction with our foreign partners in 2016." Russia has long considered the expansion of NATO toward its borders a threat. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a defense strategy document that declared NATO a threat to the country's national security. Putin signed the document in response to a rising military presence by NATO countries 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, a former Soviet bloc country, has been invited to join NATO. Relations between Russia and NATO specially 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 having a hand in the Ukrainian crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thousands Rally in Chechnya To Support Kadyrov, Denounce Opposition January 22, 2016 by RFE/RL A massive crowd turned out in Chechnya to voice support for the region's Kremlin-backed leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, and to echo his escalating condemnation of the Russian opposition. The January 22 rally in Grozny, the Chechen capital, followed more than a week of menacing rhetoric unleashed by Kadyrov and his allies against liberal Russian politicians, activists, and journalists. It added to tension between Kadyrov and the targets of his threatening remarks, who have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to rein in the regional leader. Chechnya's Interior Ministry said as many 1 million people took part in the rally, but the crowd did not look that large and Chechnya's entire population is under 1.4 million. Reports earlier in the week said that state-sector workers such as teachers were being compelled by the government to attend. Two people at the rally told Reuters they were forced to turn up. Participants shouted 'God is Great!' in Arabic and declared their loyalty to both Kadyrov and Putin, who made the former separatist rebel the head of the mostly Muslim region in Russia's North Caucasus in 2007. Demonstrators credited Kadyrov with bringing stability to Chechnya after two separatist wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. Kadyrov has ruled with an iron fist and is accused of overseeing widespread human rights abuses and assassinations. Critics say Putin has tolerated or encouraged Kadyrov because he relies on the regional strongman to maintain control of Chechnya. At the rally, praise of Kadyrov was accompanied by the vilification of the same politicians, activists, and journalists branded Western-backed traitors and 'enemies of the people' by the Chechen leader and his lieutenants in recent remarks. Demonstrators denounced prominent Putin foes including anticorruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny, opposition activist Ilya Yashin, and exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whom some participants called a 'faggot.' They held placards with slogans such as 'Yashin get out of Russia' and 'Navalny is a friend to the West and an enemy to Russia.' Ralliers also targeted journalists including Aleksei Veneditkov, the editor in chief of radio station Ekho Moskvy, a frequent platform for opposition views. 'We want to strongly oppose those who throw mud at the country, call for sanctions against Russia, and attempt to escalate tensions,' Husain Soltagereyev, the head of Chechnya's Council of Trade Unions and the event's organizer, told the state-run TASS news agency. Several prominent Kadyrov supporters traveled from Moscow to attend the rally, including State Duma lawmaker Adam Delimkhanov, who is from Chechnya, and nationalist biker Aleksandr Zaldostanov, a staunch Putin supporter who is known as "The Surgeon.' 'A very deep bow to the leader of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov for his honesty and straightforwardness,' Zaldostanov he told the crowd. 'We can only answer the enemies if we stand united, united with the Russian president.' Kadyrov has always been a vocal critic of Putin's opponents. But he stepped up his rhetoric with a January 12 diatribe calling opposition activists "enemies of the people" -- a phrase that evokes the era of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin -- who should be tried for 'sabotage.' In an article in the daily Izvestia on January 19, he called them "jackals" who must be punished to "save Russia" and said they should be sent to psychiatric hospitals. Russian activists and international rights groups such as Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have urged Putin to take action following statements by Kadyrov and his associates, who have also used social media to vilify his detractors. Earlier this week, Delimkhanov posted a video on Instagram showing himself and other men chanting 'Kadyrov is the rock of Russia -- Allahu Akhbar!' on a Moscow bridge close to the one where Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in February 2015. Many of Kadyrov's critics believe he was behind Nemtsov's slaying. Kadyrov denies involvement, and efforts by relatives and associates of Nemtsov to have him questioned have been thwarted. In a letter to Putin posted on the CPJ's website on January 21, the organization warned that 'menacing rhetoric against government critics has often been followed by violence, and has encouraged self-censorship among reporters.' The letter followed a statement by Amnesty a day earlier urging Russian authorities to 'respond to a string of thinly veiled threats against several prominent human rights defenders, media workers, and political activists' by the 'political leadership of Chechnya.' 'Such threats should not be taken lightly,' Amnesty said. The opposition Yabloko party has announced plans to hold a street protest in Moscow on January 26 to demand that Kadyrov be dismissed. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kadyrov-rally-grozny-opposition/27503179.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 US Admiral Claims Russia's Updated Nuclear Deterrence Doctrine 'Disturbing' Sputnik News 21:27 22.01.2016 Russia's most up-to-date military doctrine stipulating the use of nuclear weapons as a deterrent and potential response to an existential threat raises concerns at the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), STRATCOM Commander Admiral Cecil Haney said on Friday. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The 2014 Russian military doctrine accepts the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to an adversary's conventional attack, if it poses an existential threat to Russia. The doctrine has been interpreted by many experts in the West as an 'escalate to de-escalate' policy. In December 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia must strengthen its nuclear forces. Maintaining and modernizing the nuclear forces will be a key priority for the Russian military in 2016, according to the Chair of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov. 'What is disturbing, and I would say destabilizing is the discussion they [Russian leaders] are having over their plan to escalate in order to de-escalate,' Haney said in a speech at the Center for Strategic International Studies. Haney explained the US position that 'any adversary that thinks they can escalate out of a general conflict has to think again.' Such a strategy, he noted, 'will be extremely costly.' Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia to Rearm 5 Air Defense Regiments With S-400 Missile Systems in 2016 Sputnik News 17:28 22.01.2016 Five air defense regiments will be rearmed with advanced S-400 Triumf air defense systems in 2016, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Gen. Valery Gerasimov said Friday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) 'This year, five air defense regiments will be rearmed with S-400 air defense systems,' Gerasimov said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television. S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler) is by far Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system that has a range of 400 kilometers (248 miles) and is capable of tracking and destroying all existing aerial targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Nuclear Forces Receive 10 Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 Strategic Bombers Sputnik News 09:59 22.01.2016(updated 10:34 22.01.2016) The Russian Aerospace Forces received 10 advanced strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 while the Navy got two strategic missile cruisers. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia's nuclear strategic forces have received 10 modernized Tu-160, Tu-95, and Tu-22 strategic bombers, head of the Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov said Friday. "We have received new means of weaponry, new missilesWe have received for the Russian Navy two new strategic missile cruisers, the Alexander Nevsky and the Vladimir Monamakh, and from the industry, we have received for the aviation strategic nuclear forces 10 modernized strategic bombers, the Tu-160, Tu-95, and Tu-22," Gerasimov said. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia must strengthen its nuclear forces. Following the president's statement, Gerasimov said that maintaining the country's nuclear forces would be a key priority for the Russian Armed Forces in 2016. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thousands Rally in Chechnya In Support of Leader by VOA News January 22, 2016 Thousands of people took to the streets of Russia's Chechen capital of Grozny Friday to show their support for the region's pro-Kremlin leader, Ramzan Kadyrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kadyrov has been a strong supporter of Putin. The Chechen leader has said in recent weeks that opposition activists and independent journalists should be sent to top psychiatric hospitals or prosecuted as traitors. The Kremlin has given Kadyrov broad support. Critics say the large turnout in Grozny was boosted by state workers and students who were ordered to attend by state-run institutions. State authorities, however, deny the accusation. Kadyrov who has held the post of president of Russia's Chechen Republic for nine years, rang in the new year by lashing out at Chechen immigrants who took to the streets in Vienna, Austria, on Christmas Eve to protest against his rule. Declaring in a New Year's Eve address that 'it is our custom that a brother answers for a brother,' Kadyrov said he had given the order to find out whether the protesters 'have brothers and fathers, which clan they belong to, where they were born, and who they are.' The Chechen ruler added, every available resource would be used to ensure that the relatives of the protesters 'sort them out.' Kadyrov is known for publicly reprimanding fellow citizens who criticize the status quo in the republic. Last December, Chechen resident Aishat Inaeva complained in an Internet posting that officials were using violence to collect housing and utilities payments. Kadyrov forced her to appear on TV and recant. Human rights organizations say Kadyrov has established a regime of personal power in the republic. The work of human rights activists in Chechnya is extremely complicated. They are threatened with physical violence, threats which are sometimes acted on. In December 2014, the office of the Joint Mobile Group of Russian human rights defenders in the Chechen capital Grozny was destroyed in an arson attack. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian army advancing toward militants' stronghold in Latakia Iran Press TV Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:5PM The Syrian army, backed by Russian airstrikes and military advisors, has managed to gain control of more regions in Latakia, advancing towards a militants' stronghold in the coastal province, a monitoring group says. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday that the Syrian forces are just about five kilometers (three miles) away from the town of Rabia, a major stronghold for foreign-backed Takfiri militants in the north of Latakia. If Syrian forces retake Rabia, they will be able to secure the northern part of Latakia Province, said the Britain-based group's head Rami Abdel Rahman. Abdel Rahman said that senior Russian military officials were directing the battle for Rabia. The monitoring group reported heavy airstrikes and clashes but claimed there were no immediate reports of possible casualties among Takfiri militants. The development comes following the Syrian forces' recapture of the strategic town of Salma in Latakia on January 12. The Syrian forces have been fighting to recapture areas under the control of foreign-backed militant groups, which have been wreaking havoc in the country since 2011. The war in Syria has so far claimed the lives of over 260,000 people and displaced nearly half of the country's population within or beyond its borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Why Turkey Wants to Shut Syrian Kurds Out of Intra-Syrian Peace Talks Sputnik News 21:51 22.01.2016(updated 23:51 22.01.2016) Russia wants to stop the ongoing bloodbath in Syria by bringing together all actors, including Syrian Kurds, in the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Geneva. Turkey, meanwhile, seeks to force the Kurds out of the negotiation process, Zuhat Kobane, the leader of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Sputnik in an exclusive interview. The UN-led talks between Syrian government and opposition representatives are scheduled to take place in the Swiss city of Geneva later this month. 'Turkey wants to prevent our participation in the Geneva talks and it uses the methods of political pressure,' Kobane told Sputnik, adding that Ankara is working to discredit the PYD, portraying it as a terrorist organization. While accusing the PYD of being a terrorist group, Turkey supports a number of terrorist organizations, including Daesh, and it is Turkey's fault that Syria is currently engulfed in chaos. As Kurdish troops continue to push Daesh militants out of key areas in Syria, Turkey became nervous as Ankara began to lose its influence in these regions, Kobane said. 'By cooperating with terrorist organizations, Turkey has turned Syria into ruins, brought chaos into all spheres of life. Without the use of its terrorist accomplices, Turkey won't be able to carry out its plan in Syria [the overthrowing of the Syrian government] and it would collapse like a house of cards,' Kobane told Sputnik. The PYD leader also hailed Russia's position on Syria and its work to bring all sides of the Syrian conflict together. Moscow wants to see the Kurds at the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, because the Russians know that only the participation of all parties, with the exception of terrorist organizations, can bring positive results when it comes to finding a peaceful solution in the war-torn country. 'We want the Syrian crisis to be resolved using peaceful measures and a democratic dialogue Previously, we conducted a series of negotiations with Russia and the United States, as well as with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura regarding the participation of the PYD in the upcoming negotiations,' Kobane said. For the intra-Syrian talks to be constructive, terrorist organizations should not be invited to attend the negotiations. Radical extremist groups, such as Ahrar al-Sham, for example, founded by militants loyal to al-Qaeda, cannot be allowed to participate in the Geneva talks, the PYD leader stressed. At the same time, it's crucial that all Syrian coalition units and the congress of Syrian democratic forces are invited to the talks, because without them it would not be possible to reach a political solution in the country, Kobane said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army Continues Destroying Daesh Positions on Several Fronts Sputnik News 19:11 22.01.2016(updated 21:40 22.01.2016) The Syrian army together with the country's air force destroyed numerous Daesh terrorists' positions, and struck heavy casualties on different militant groups in several provinces in the last 24 hours. Earlier in the day, the Russian General Staff said that the Syrian army has been conducting offensives 'on ten fronts,' while preparing military operations in three more directions. Several militants' positions in Latakia, Aleppo, Dara'a, Damascus, Hama and Homs provinces came under attack. The Syrian army pushed the militant groups back from more territories in Latakia province, taking back another village on the Western side of the seized town of Salma on Thursday. A number of militants were killed or wounded during the government forces' operation. "Similarly in Aleppo, the Syrian army troops continued to strike the militant groups' strongholds in different parts of the Northern Province of Aleppo on Thursday, inflicting heavy damage and casualties on them," FARS News agency reported. Several congregations of al-Nusra-linked terrorist groups were targeted in al-Sheik Lutfi village and al-Rashidin area in the southern outskirts of Aleppo city. According to reports, four vehicles and several retreats of terrorists along with arms and ammunition inside were destroyed. A total of 150 terrorists surrendered themselves to the Syrian army in Damascus province, officials announced on Thursday. The forces continued recapturing the Daesh-controlled areas across the central province of Homs, cutting off terrorists' supply routes. "The Syrian army units and the popular defense groups established control over a number of strategic hills and heights, including Thaniet Rashed, in the Eastern side of Homs province," FARS agency reported a field source as saying on Thursday. On the same day some 42 wanted militants from Damascus and Damascus countryside; Tartous, Quneitra and Dara'a, turned themselves in to the authorities on Thursday. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. reiterates hope for cross-strait relations to remain peaceful ROC Central News Agency 2016/01/22 14:08:35 Washington, Jan. 21 (CNA) U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Thursday in Beijing that Washington has an abiding interest in continued peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. During a trip to China, Blinken met with Zhang Zhijun (), head of the Taiwan Affairs Office under China's State Council, and reiterated 'the United States' abiding interest in continued cross-strait peace and stability,' according to a statement issued by the U.S. Department of State Thursday. Blinken's trip to Beijing followed a visit to Taiwan by Bill Burns, former U.S. deputy secretary of state, on Jan. 17, one day after Taiwan elected its next president and legislature. Burns met with President Ma Ying-jeou (); President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (), chairwoman of the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party; and New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (), who resigned as chairman of the Kuomintang party after he lost in the presidential election. Burns was sent to Taiwan to carry Washington's message of hope for continued peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. While in Beijing, Blinken also met with Chinese officials for the second round of Interim Strategic Security Dialogue. The talks were co-chaired by Blinken and Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, and the topics included issues of mutual interest, such as the response to North Korea's recent nuclear test and maritime issues, said the U.S. State Department. The meeting was also attended by Abraham Denmark, deputy U.S. assistant secretary of defense for East Asia; Rear Adm. Li Ji, deputy chief of China's International Military Cooperation Office; and other senior defense and civilian officials from the two countries, according to the State Department. 'The dialogue is designed to enhance mutual understanding of strategic security issues and reiterate the importance of continued in-depth, sustained, and open communication, to further develop a stable and cooperative strategic security relationship between China and the United States,' it said in the statement. Meanwhile, a state-run television network in China reported Wednesday that a live-fire drill had been conducted recently by the Chinese military off China's southeast coast. In the report, the China Central Television (CCTV) said the 31st Group Army, a military formation of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) based in the southeastern city of Xiamen, had conducted a large-scale live-fire landing drill off Southeast China, but did not say when the drill was staged. In response, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it knew China had held a 'routine military training in winter' but CCTV had used video footage of exercises that were conducted last year to give an 'exaggerated and false' report. Blinken's visit to Beijing was part of an Asian trip Jan. 14-21 that also took him to Japan, Burma and South Korea, the State Department said. (By Rita Cheng and Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Rebukes Turkey Over Free-Speech Crackdown by Dorian Jones January 22, 2016 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden rebuked Turkey on Friday for its crackdown on freedom of expression. Biden told civil society representatives in Istanbul that the Turkish government is not setting the right 'example' with its imprisonment of journalists and investigation of academics who have criticized the government's military campaign against Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeastern sector. In an unusually strong criticism of Washington's NATO ally, Biden said, 'When the media are intimidated or imprisoned for critical reporting, when Internet freedom is curtailed and social media sites like YouTube or Twitter are shut down, and more than 1,000 academics are accused of treason simply by signing a petition, that's not the kind of example that needs to be set.' Before the meeting, Biden told reporters, 'The more Turkey succeeds, the stronger the message sent to the entire Middle East and parts of the world who are only beginning to grapple with the notion of freedom.' He said Washington wants Turkey to set a 'strong example' for the Middle East of what a 'vibrant democracy' means. Biden criticized the November jailing of Cumhuriyet daily editor-in-chief Can Dundar and its Ankara bureau chief, Erdem Gul, on charges of revealing classified information. The U.S. vice president also lamented Turkey's widespread investigation of more than 1,200 academics who signed a petition attacking Turkey's military campaign against Kurdish strongholds in the country. About two dozen academics were detained for questioning. They all were released but remain under investigation. Turkey also has blocked feeds in the country from YouTube, Twitter and other social networks. Biden, on a two-day visit to Istanbul, is set to meet Saturday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Biden has several issues on his agenda for the bilateral talks, including pushing Turkey to do more to prevent jihadist infiltration through its border with Syria. Syrian Kurdish militia The visit comes as Ankara demands Washington rein in recent gains by the Syrian Kurdish militia, the PYG, against Islamic State militants. Turkey accuses the Syrian Kurdish militia of being linked to PKK rebels, which Turkish forces are fighting. On Thursday, the White House said Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum. Washington said Biden urged the Iraqi leader to continue discussions with Turkey over the presence of its troops in northern Iraq. Late last year, Turkey deployed about 150 troops to the Bashiqa area, saying the soldiers would be used to train an Iraqi militia to fight Islamic State militants. Reunification plans Discussions on the reunification of Cyprus will be part of Biden's agenda as well. 'The reunification talks are going very well; the president of the Republic of Cyprus has just announced a deal can be secured in the course of this year, and the Americans are very active behind the scenes in these talks, together with the United Nations,' said political scientist Cengiz Aktar of Istanbul's Suleyman Sah University. Turkey, Greece and Britain are guarantor countries of Cyprus. Ankara has committed itself to ongoing unification efforts, which observers say Biden has been involved in for decades. Cyprus was split into a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north and an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a short-lived coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey does not recognize the south. Dorian Jones contributed to this story from Istanbul, Ken Bredemeier contributed to this story in Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Denies Claims of Plans to Station Permanent Troops in Poland Sputnik News 20:01 22.01.2016(updated 20:02 22.01.2016) Britain has denied claims by Poland's Defense Minister that it would deploy 1,000 troops to the East European country bordering Russia on a permanent basis, in contravention of an agreement made in 2007 not to build up conventional forces in the region, Sputnik News has been told. As part of an ongoing NATO commitment to place troops and resources in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, the UK announced on January 20 that it would 'commit nearly 1,000 personnel to NATO exercises taking place in Poland'. In a statement, it said: 'For Exercise Anakonda, the UK will commit a Battlegroup of around 800 military personnel. For Exercise Swift Response, the UK will commit 150 personnel to elements of a Brigade HQ, Battlegroup HQ and a Company.' Poland's Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz told Radio Maryja on Friday that Poland and Britain had agreed that troops would stay in Poland permanently. It followed a meeting between UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon and Macierewicz in Edinburgh, Scotland. Macierewicz said: 'One of the decisions, which resulted from yesterday's talks [is] a permanent presence of the British forces on Polish territory, that is 1,000 soldiers, who will permanently station on Polish territory from next year. They will switch around, it will be a rotational, but permanent presence of 1,000 soldiers.' London Denies Warsaw Claims However, Sputnik News has confirmed with a source at the British Ministry of Defense that the 'permanent' deployment even on a rotational basis is incorrect. A source said the reports were false and that the UK was merely deploying for the purposes of NATO exercises. Any permanent deployment of forces would be in breach of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, signed in 1990 in Paris after the end of the Cold War signed by the member States of NATO and Russia which provided for the prevention of 'any potentially threatening build-up of conventional forces in agreed regions of Europe, to include Central and Eastern Europe'. Warsaw has been keen on pushing for more NATO forces to be permanently deployed on its ground, but many western NATO members have been wary of breaching the terms of the Paris treaty. Nonetheless, NATO has been in the habit of skirting the margins of the 'permanent' implication of the treaty by staging a long-running and rolling pattern of military exercises in the region. According to the UK Ministry of Defense: 'The frigate HMS Iron Duke will visit Poland as part of NATO's Standing Naval Maritime Group this summer. The helicopter carrier HMS Ocean will also participate in Exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea over the summer and a Royal Navy minehunter is due to visit Poland in the autumn.' It follows last year's NATO deployment of forces for the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) which, in November, trained for the first time in the Baltic States. NATO's website claims: 'The ARRC is one of the nine High Readiness Headquarters which can be quickly dispatched to lead NATO troops on missions within or beyond the territory of NATO member states.' Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Almost 150 Pieces of Military Equipment Disappear From Ukrainian Depots Sputnik News 12:21 22.01.2016(updated 14:23 22.01.2016) The Russian envoy to the OSCE said that over the past month almost 150 pieces of military equipment, missile systems, and other large-caliber artillery have disappeared from Ukraine's depots. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Almost 150 pieces of military equipment and large-caliber artillery have disappeared from Ukraine's ammunition depots over the past month, Russia's envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said. "The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission [in Ukraine] has witnessed that serious preparation by the Ukrainian side were apparent before tensions intensified in Donbass. The Ukrainian Armed Forces held a mass rotation of its units and subunits. Old and worn-out equipment was replaced with new pieces of armament." "Between December 25, 2015, and January 15, 2016, 145 pieces of military equipment, missile systems, and other large-caliber artillery have disappeared from Ukraine's depots," Alexander Lukashevich was quoted as saying in a statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official website. Kiev is unable to hold a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine despite agreements in the Contact Group on reconciliation reached on January 13, Lukashevich added. "Unfortunately, the respected representative from Ukraine, using anti-Russian rhetoric, has only made an attempt at making excuses for the Ukrainian authorities' incapability of fulfilling the Complex of Measures. No one can be tricked by this. It's completely clear that the ball is in Ukraine's court." According to Lukashevich, "Kiev was incapable of fulfilling the orders of a ceasefire regardless of the agreements reached by the Contact Group on January 13." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stratcom Chief Talks Nuclear Deterrence, Modernization By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, January 22, 2016 The global security environment calls for a continued strong nuclear deterrent along with modernization for elements of the nuclear triad and advanced training for U.S. Strategic Command's workforce, the Stratcom commander said here today. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney addressed an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discussing strategic deterrent forces as a foundation for national security. Haney said today's security environment is complex, dynamic and volatile, compounded by asymmetric methods, proliferation of advanced technologies, and provocative and destabilizing behavior by current and potential adversaries. At the same time, he said, while the United States is engaged in a campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and other violent extremists, the behavior on an international stage by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran warrants U.S. attention. Russia's Programs Haney noted Moscow's continued efforts to modernize conventional and strategic military programs, "emphasizing new strategic approaches, declaring and at times demonstrating their ability to escalate and conducting destabilizing actions associated with Syria, Ukraine and Crimea while also violating the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty and other international accords and norms." Russia also is developing counter-space capabilities and conducting malicious activities in cyberspace, the admiral said, noting that Russia claims to be establishing its own cyber command that will conduct offensive cyber activities. Still, Haney said, there is continued progress in the New START treaty, which reduces the number of nuclear weapons and launchers that the United States and Russia deploy. New START Progress "By complying with a series of treaties, the United States has reduced its stockpile by 85 percent relative to its Cold War peak," the admiral said. "Instead of dozens of delivery systems, we're well on our way to only four. We are retaining and modernizing only those systems needed to sustain a stable and effective deterrent capability." Given continued funding and authority, Haney said, "we're on track to achieve New START limits of 1,550 deployed warheads and 700 deployed delivery systems by February 2018." The treaty, he added, engenders stability by maintaining rough equivalency in size, capability and transparency through inspections, and it helps to assure non-nuclear nations that they don't need their own nuclear deterrents. On China, Haney said, "It's not just the build-up of features into larger land masses in the South China Sea, it's also the build up of their overarching military capabilities to support their anti-access, area denial campaign and quest for sovereignty in the East and South China seas." China's Military Investments China continues to make significant military investments in its nuclear and conventional capabilities with a stated goal of defending its sovereignty, he added. For example, China is re-engineering its long-range ballistic missiles to carry multiple nuclear warheads, and it recently conducted a sixth successful test of a hyperglide vehicle. China also is "parading missiles, clearly displaying their modernization and their capability advancements. China's pursuit of conventional global strike capabilities, offensive counter-space technologies and exploitation of computer networks raises questions about China's global aspirations," Haney said. North Korea and Iran North Korea, with claims of miniaturized warheads, recent claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test and developments in road-mobile and submarine-launched ballistic missile technologies, shows disrespect for United Nations Security Council mandates and a lack of regard for regional stability, the admiral said. And with Iran, he added, even with the joint comprehensive plan of action, the United States must remain vigilant of any shift in actions regarding nuclear weapon ambitions, ballistic missile programs and continued involvement in Middle East conflicts. As a functional combatant command, Haney said, Stratcom has transregional responsibility that extends from under the sea all the way up to geosynchronous orbit. Six Priorities Haney listed what he called his six overarching priorities for Strategic Command: -- Deter strategic attack against the United States and provide assurance to allies; -- Provide a safe, secure, effective and ready nuclear deterrent force; -- Deliver comprehensive warfighting solutions; -- Address challenges in space and cyberspace; -- Build, sustain and support partnerships; and -- Anticipate change and confront uncertainty. "Achieving comprehensive deterrence and assurance requires more than just nuclear weapons systems," the admiral said. It rests on a whole-of-government approach, he explained, and includes having a robust intelligence apparatus; space, cyber, conventional and missile defense capabilities; global command, control and communications; and comprehensive plans that link organizations and coherently knit their capabilities. America's Nuclear Deterrent America's nuclear deterrent, Haney added, is a synthesis of dedicated sensors, assured command and control, a triad of delivery systems, nuclear weapons, enabling infrastructure, trained and ready people and treaties and nonproliferation activities. "All remain essential to our national security and continue to provide a stabilizing force in the global geopolitical fabric of the world," he added. Deterrence also requires a comprehensive understanding and perception of the strategic environment from an adversary's point of view, the admiral noted. Haney said the command has made great strides in force improvement, readiness tracking and resource commitments, but most of its delivery systems and the nuclear command, control and communications architecture must be replaced in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe. Strategic Stability "We are fast approaching the point where [failing to modernize these elements] will put at risk our safe, secure and effective and ready nuclear deterrent, potentially jeopardizing strategic stability," he said. The budget has a deterrent value of its own and reflects the nation's commitment to its deterrent strategy, he added. "If we are to meet future challenges, we must have a synchronized campaign of investment supporting the full range of military operations that secure our national security objectives across the globe," Haney said. In the same way that Stratcom sustains and modernizes its platforms and weapons, the admiral said, the command also must sustain and modernize its workforce. Future Force "We must invest in the future of the professionals, both civilian and military, who operate, maintain, secure, engineer and support our nuclear enterprise," he said, adding that Strategic Command is working in this area. "For example, we've established an academic alliance program focused on developing a community of interest of deterrence and assurance in the context of national security," the admiral said. Stratcom is partnered with 20 universities and military higher-education institutes, including Stanford University, Georgetown University, National Defense University and several Nebraska universities, he said. "Tomorrow, we will kick off the third 13-week fellowship program at the University of Nebraska-Omaha aimed specifically at providing professional growth opportunities for my civilian workforce," Haney explained. In March, he added, the same university will host an inaugural deterrence and assurance workshop aimed at bringing those professionals together for discussions. "We must modernize the force, including the people, to ensure this force remains capable of delivering strategic stability and foundational deterrence well into the future, even as we pursue third-offset strategic choices," Haney said. The Defense Department's "Third Offset Strategy" builds on work done in the 1950s and 1970s to ensure the United States and its allies maintain their technological edge over potential adversaries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opposition to US Nuclear Missiles Upgrade 'Harmful' to Deterrence Goals Sputnik News 22:16 22.01.2016 Defense experts who are calling on the United States to abandon its plans to modernize the long-range stand-off (LRSO) nuclear cruise missiles hurt US deterrence aims, US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Commander Cecil Haney stated on Friday. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) In October, former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former State Department nonproliferation specialist Andy Weber called for the United States to cancel plans to develop and field the LRSO, which sought to overwhelm potential adversaries air defenses. 'I do not see the LRSO as destabilizing, quite the contrary That kind of discussion, I think, is more harmful to where we need to remain focused as a country,' Haney said to recent discussions calling for the United States to stop its planned LRSO modernization. Haney argued that the US nuclear deterrent cannot be 'a one trick pony' and depends on the air, land and sea legs of the nuclear triad. 'While we continue to use our B-52 [strategic bomber] platform, and you look at advancement of adversary capability in Anti-Access Area Denial, there is no option here,' Haney said of the LRSO weapons. The fielding of nuclear cruise missiles has regularly been criticized because of the virtual impossibility of discerning between a conventional and nuclear cruise missile. In 1987, the concerns over such miscalculations led, in part, to the US-Russian Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned the development, testing and fielding of ground-launched nuclear cruise missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address After nearly 9 inches of snow fell on Danville, the city appeared to be a ghost town Saturday morning. Shopping center parking lots sat empty. Restaurants were closed. The River District was void of any signs of life for what would normally be a busy day. Most residents appeared to heed the warnings to stay off the streets as city snow plows worked around the clock to clear the main roadways. But eventually cabin fever sat in. As the day went on, Danvillians ventured out from hibernation, especially kids eager at a chance to get in some all-too-seldom sledding action. On Blackwell Drive, kids took advantage of the snow and went sledding. I enjoy sledding, making a snowman [and] a snowball fight, said Lyla Shifflett, 5, who advised if someone couldnt get outside they could do something inside that was creative. Business parking lots were still covered, and with the exception of a few gas stations, businesses were closed. As the day progressed, snow plows worked to clear lots. A few restaurants along Piney Forest like Subway, Hardees and Burger King opened. On Riverside Drive, Sheetz had its parking lot cleared and business was operating like normal. Many braved the cold by bundling up in jackets, scarves, boots and gloves to walk to a nearby store or a gas station. The bread aisle in those stores is almost bare. Customers walked past each other with full shopping carts of bread, eggs, snacks, water and more. Some shoppers made sure to stock up on pet food and cat litter. Pet owners are reminded to not leave their animals outside in the cold. The area remained under a winter storm warning through 6 a.m. Sunday as light snow continued to fall throughout the morning. By Sunday, sunshine should return with highs in the upper 30s, offering a better chance for the snow-bound to dig out from the icy mess left by the two-day storm. Danville received up to 9 inches of snow and sleet in some spots, the city reported, a far cry from some of the earlier predictions of up to 18 inches. Many of the main thoroughfares have been cleared in Danville. At about noon Saturday, city snow plows were moving to the secondary streets that connect the main thoroughfares to the residential streets, said Arnold Hendrix, publication information officer for the city of Danville. Crews were hoping to move to residential streets late Saturday afternoon. There is 7 to 9 inches of snow on these secondary and residential streets, and with the low temperatures last night and today, this snow is packed, Hendrix said. Plowing these streets will be a slow process. In addition, temperatures were expected to fall to 17-18 degrees Saturday night, which will make plowing more difficult. Because of the amount of snow, the packing of the snow and low temperatures, crews will not reach every neighborhood until sometime on Monday, Hendrix said. Hendrix reminded residents to be aware that plows will leave larger than normal snow banks on the edge of the streets and driveways due to the heavy snow that has fallen. Residents and visitors are asked to be patient, Hendrix said. The crews are plowing round the clock and conditions are difficult. Danville police responded to four minor crashes from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. They also were called to 14 traffic hazards and 20 disabled vehicles mostly stalled by high snow banks and drifts. Virginia State Police reported that as of Saturday morning, the Dan River Region has had three traffic crashes and 19 disabled vehicles. Statewide, authorities have responded to 72 traffic crashes and 343 disabled vehicles. High winds posed the biggest problem for Saturday. The weather service warned that blowing and drifting snow would create problems even on roadways already cleared by plow crews. No power outages were reported overnight in Danville. The Virginia Department of Transportation also warned drivers to stay off the roads. The snow and cold temperatures will make driving conditions dangerous and travel is not encouraged, according to a news release. Visibility may also be an issue due to blowing and drifting snow. VANCOUVER, January 22, 2016 - Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or "the Company") (TSX: AMM) (NYSE MKT: AAU) announces that the independent NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Update Technical Report (the "PEA"), for its gold-silver Ixtaca Deposit, Mexico, has been completed and filed on SEDAR. A summary of findings from the PEA were announced in Almaden's press release issued December 9, 2015. The full report, "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Ixtaca Project", prepared by Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS") can be obtained from www.sedar.com. The independent qualified persons responsible for preparing the Ixtaca PEA are Tracey Meintjes, P.Eng. and Jesse Aarsen, P.Eng. of MMTS, Ken Embree, P.Eng. of Knight PiAsold Ltd. ("KP"), Kris Raffle, P.Geo. of APEX Geoscience Ltd., and Gary Giroux, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. of Giroux Consultants Ltd., all of whom act as independent consultants to the Company, are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and have reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. It should be noted that this PEA is preliminary in nature as it includes inferred mineral resources which are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the PEA forecast will be realized or that any of the resources will ever be upgraded to reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Cautionary Note concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources This news release uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and certain estimates are made in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes Canadian standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and mineral resource information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies. This news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" to comply with reporting standards in Canada. We advise United States investors that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in such categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves under SEC definitions. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" cannot form the basis of pre-feasibility or other economic studies. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. About Almaden Almaden Minerals Ltd. is a well financed company which owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico. Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit, which was discovered by Almaden in 2010. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Morgan Poliquin" Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng. President, CEO and Director Almaden Minerals Ltd. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Toronto, Ontario (FSCwire) - Silver Predator Corp. (TSX.V:SPD) (the Company or Silver Predator) announces that Timothy P. Leybold has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of Silver Predator Corp. and each of its subsidiaries, effective immediately. The Company thanks Mr. Leybold for his service to the Company and wishes him success in his future endeavors. Silver Predator is pleased to appoint Weiying (Mary) Zhu as the Companys Chief Financial Officer, effective January 22, 2016. Ms. Zhu is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) with over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance, of which 18 years is in the mining industry. Ms. Zhu presently serves as Corporate Controller of Till Capital Ltd. (Till). Prior to joining Till, she served in various accounting and finance positions at Hecla Mining Company (1996 2015), a U.S. silver producer with operating mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Mexico, and a growing gold producer with an operating mine in Quebec, Canada. Ms. Zhu holds a master degree in accounting and a bachelors degree in International Finance. Silver Predator Corp. Silver Predator owns the Springer Tungsten Mine and Mill Complex where the current Preliminary Economic Assessment states a mineral resource estimate of 355,000 Indicated tons at an average grade of 0.537% containing 190,635 Short Ton Units[STUs] of Tungsten trioxide [WO 3 ] and 1,933,600 Inferred tons at an average grade of 0.493% containing 952,326 STU's of WO 3 with an Internal Rate of Return of 47% after tax and an estimated capital expenditure of $29.8 million dollars (1). The Springer facility was originally constructed and operated by General Electric Corp. in the late 1970s and was operational for a few months in the early 1980s when the project was put on care and maintenance due to low tungsten prices. The mill was modernized by Golden Predator Corp. in 2007-2008. The Company also holds the Taylor silver-gold project in Nevada. The Taylor project hosts a current resource estimate (2), is open to expansion, and is located in a district that has identified the potential for discovery of additional silver and gold deposits. Mr. Michael Maslowski, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and a consultant for the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. For additional information: William M. Sheriff Chairman or Michael Maslowski Chief Executive Officer (208) 635 5415 info@silverpredator.com www@silverpredator.com 1) National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report; Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Springer Tungsten Mine Pershing County, Nevada, by Associated Geosciences Ltd. dated December 31, 2013 (and effective August 20, 2012) filed on SEDAR. The preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized; 2) National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report; NI 43-101 of the Taylor Silver Project, White Pine County, Nevada, USA by Thomas H. Chadwick, Dean D. Turner, and Patrick J. Hollenbeck dated March 18, 2013 filed on SEDAR. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/silverpred01222016.pdfSource: Silver Predator Corp. (TSX Venture:SPD) www.silverpredator.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2016 Filing Services Canada Inc. It's a typical January in West Texas as ranchers make daily supplemental feed rounds and break ice on water troughs for livestock. Otherwise, the winter grazing outlook is mainly good as temperatures begin to warm and wheat pasture continues to develop and improve. "We have tall winter grass, thanks to good moisture received last fall and in early January," said Schleicher County rancher Sarah Lipsett. Schleicher County is on the divide and edge of the Edwards Plateau. It is broken by the Devils, Concho and San Saba tributaries and considered great ranch country. According to the weekly report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, wheat and oats in areas of the Edwards Plateau, Upper Coast and South Texas have been experiencing good progress with 94 percent emerged. Although winter wheat is under great stress throughout the upper Midwest because of below normal weather conditions, the small grain crops overall are progressing well across Texas except the High Plains where wheat is primarily at a dormant stage and in areas of the Blacklands where wheat and oats experienced damage because of wet field conditions. Other crops in the Lone Star State are making slow progress, according to the report. Corn producers in the Blacklands have begun field preparations by applying fertilizer to fields. The vegetable harvest was active in areas of the Lower Valley and onion producers began field preparations in areas of North East Texas. The cotton harvest was at 95 percent complete last Friday, according to the NASS report. On the South Plains, where 40 percent of the nation's cotton is grown within 200 miles of Lubbock, growers are projected to produce approximately 4,000,000 bales of cotton when the final numbers for the 2015 crop is complete. The NASS January estimate is down 30,000 bales from the December report, said Mary Jane Buerkle, with Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers. "Of the 4,000,000 bales of cotton, 640,000 will come from the Northern High Plains which is up 30,000 from December and 3,360,000 from the Southern High Plains, down 60,000," she said. "Yield per acre for the Northern High Plains is 749 pounds, up from 714 in December and 645 for the Southern High Plains, down slightly from 657." Buerkle said harvested acres remain at 410,000 in the NHP and 2,500,000 in the SHP and the abandonment rate still stands at 7.4 percent. Meanwhile, fields across the region are still drying out following the historic blizzard that dumped up to 20 inches of snow on some parts of the PCG service area in late December, she said. "Based on reports from growers and ginners, cotton on the stalk and modules in the field could make up about 350,000 remaining bales," Buerkle said. "Some gins already have completed operations for the year." Statewide, the production number dropped slightly from 5.8 million bales in December to 5,750,000 bales in January. The nationwide estimate for upland cotton dropped slightly to 12.5 million bales, down from an estimated 12.6 million in the December report. Even as the South Plains cotton farmers are coming off a production year that is reported to be the best since 2010, the low demand for cotton is concerning many of them as they face hard decisions for the 2016 crop year. As for the 2016 crop, Reuters and Cotton Grower magazine released results from their respective acreage surveys. The Reuters poll of primarily traders and economists showed that growers in the United States would plant 9.7 million acres this year, up 13 percent from 2015. Their poll also took the Cotton Grower survey number into consideration, which was 9.085 million acres. Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net or 325-949-2291. One of the most iconic movie scenes I can remember is in "Men in Black." Agent Kay, played by Tommy Lee Jones, is trying to recruit Will Smith's character into a secret agency that monitors extraterrestrial life on earth. He says, "Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and 15 minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow." I'm not about to make an argument for aliens, but I would like you to reconsider what you think you know. Are you prepared to consider evidence objectively and make a rational conclusion based on that evidence, even if that evidence contradicts what you thought you knew? Christians are so often accused of refusing to hear evidence. I beg you not to be the same way. It seems everyone knows that geological processes require thousands and millions of years. For instance, the National Park Services' website says the geological features of Grand Canyon National Park date back 1.8 billion years. Geologists estimate the total age of our planet to be about 4.5 billion years, and the age of our universe to be 13.8 billion years. These estimates clearly conflict with the apparent age of the universe and earth as represented in the Bible. In the Bible, the gap between the first ray of light in the cosmos and man's first breath was not billions of years. It wasn't even a single year. It was five days. The generations and externally corroborated events recorded in the Bible strongly suggests that everything we see has only existed for less than 10,000 years. Scientists and mainstream thought rejects this timeline for numerous reasons. One is the assumption that geological processes take too long for our world to be that young. All of the earth's highest, lowest and most spectacular geological features, the reasoning goes, would take millions of years to develop. Common thought points out how the position of the continents themselves are too far away from their apparent original positions on the primordial supercontinent of Pangaea. Glaciers require thousands of years to form and move. Canyons take millions of years to be slowly carved out by a meandering river. The problem is that the evidence simply does not support these assumptions. Consider how the earth can move and change fast. The last hundred years is full of evidence of how quickly the face of the earth can change. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted. In a single cataclysmic event, one half cubic mile of rock and ice just slid down the side of the mountain. Between the first eruption and subsequent smaller eruptions, a 100-foot-deep canyon was formed in a nearby river over the span of two years. Not hundreds. Not thousands. Just two. Similarly, a simple rainstorm in Brazil the night of June 8, 1974, carved a small canyon 16 feet deep, 50 feet wide and 1,600 feet long. That's more than 44,000 cubic feet of earth eroded over a single night. In the 35 years since the original eruption at Mount St. Helens, crater glacier has formed at the same scale as other older glaciers and even moved at an extraordinarily fast speed. Apparently, glaciers really don't take that long to form. The West Coast, along the San Andreas fault line, is littered with fences that have been offset by up to 20 feet in the course of a single earthquake. Their owners are kind enough to leave them as monuments to the earth's ability to move significant distances in short amounts of time. In the last century alone, scientists have observed the formation of 19 entirely new land masses in the middle of the earth's various oceans. Notably, Surtsey off the coast of Iceland rose out of more than 400 feet of water and reached about 1 square mile in area and more than 500 feet above sea level over the course of five years. Apparently, things can move quickly. Imagine what kind of erosion and continental drift could happen if God himself tore the earth open to force every drop of subterranean water to the surface and flooded the entire face of the earth. Imagine how fast the face of the planet could change. Creationist scientists estimate that during the flood that only Noah and his family survived, continental drift measured in feet per day was possible and lasted for at little more than a year. Next, if the face of the planet can change that quickly, imagine how fast your own life can change. I see it all the time in ministry. One minute, life is going well. Then, something happens. There's an accident, or a spouse decides not to keep his promise, or dark secrets come out. The next moment, you're so hopeless you can't even imagine another good day. In the face of change, where will you put your trust? The earth can move quickly enough to make some of the Bible's claims about the age of our planet reliable. When you own life moves and changes quickly, the Bible's claims about God's faithfulness and are for your life can also be proved reliable. Kyle Hooks is the associate pastor at Angelo Bible Church. Contact him at 325-716-4258 or kyle@lookingupfrombelow.com. You can like Looking Up at facebook.com/lookingupfrombelow. Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS James Hamilton, Tanner Hall and Nicholas Tangen attend Bible and Brew. Over three hours, the group discussed mortality, work-life balance, discrimination and more. SHARE By Natalie Daher MINNEAPOLIS If a man was proclaiming religious ideas from a soapbox on Hennepin Avenue, what would you or Jesus do? Perhaps you could try pondering the issue over a brew. A small group imbibed and pontificated on this scenario recently in a northeast Minneapolis living room. Booze, scripture and YouTube helped anoint the latest Bible and Brew hosted by Nicholas and Kristin Tangen, both 30 and members of Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in the Northeast neighborhood. "We really try and look at the intersection of faith and life," Nicholas Tangen said of the group he founded last summer. "I think that fits well with sitting around a table with some beer." The gathering is one of many monthly events across the Twin Cities area combining faith-based activities and alcohol. Some are local, such as Humble Walk Lutheran Church's Beer and Hymns, which is in its fifth year at Shamrocks in St. Paul, Minn. Others are chapters in national series, such as Theology on Tap, hosted by parish cooperatives West Metro Young Adults in Minneapolis and Cathedral Young Adults in St. Paul. Some are aimed at specific audiences, such as a women's Wine and Dessert night at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Others focus on craft beers, including St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, which hosts What Would Jesus Brew? "We're not trying to lure you as a bait and switch into our organization," said the Rev. Jodi Houge of Humble Walk Lutheran Church in St. Paul. "If you show up, you're already in. There's no secret agenda." The groups all uncork ideas in spaces outside God's house, and drinking is neither encouraged nor required. As the number of U.S. Christians wanes, according to studies by Pew Research Center, the groups offer alternative ways to strengthen religious worship, reaching out to people who are looking for something beyond the traditional. "It's much more likely for twenty-somethings to get together at a local pub for food, fellowship and faith, rather than a church basement," said Peter Engelmeyer, 27, of West Metro Young Adults. "It's a lot more of a relaxed atmosphere." The weekly events, held most recently at Champps in Minnetonka, allow Catholics to connect with one another and explore their faith, including a "grill the priest" opportunity, organizers say. "When you're preaching from the pulpit, it's a very one-sided conversation," said the group's adviser, the Rev. Joseph Johnson of Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Louis Park. Instead, "there's a give-and-take in conversation, so that you can hopefully flesh out what questions people have." WIDE-OPEN SPACES A night at the Tangens' roundtable deep-dives into economics, politics and social issues. To prompt the 7:30 p.m. discussion, Nicholas Tangen toggled a PlayStation 2 remote to play a video of a street performer in New York City. In the video, performer Matthew Silver plays John the Baptist. Shirtless and bearded, he bellows at the crowd, "Live in the moment! Don't get old! Don't judge people!" Nicholas then read the gospel (Luke 3:7-18). The group of 10 debated: Does mortality pack the same punch these days as during New Testament times? "There's a sense of non-urgency around death now," Kristin Tangen said about an hour into the group's three-hour chat. That same attitude might apply to being proactive about goals or recognizing the threat of global warming, she said. We all nestle comfortably into modernity's promises, she added. Her husband added, " 'Live today like it's your last' sounds so trite," but does it have credence? He wondered: Should we dismiss such simple adages? "Where does YOLO [you only live once] fit into all of this?" posed Josh Meuwissen, 25, another congregation member. The conversation, complemented by snacks, stewed more questions: What makes a prophet? Suddenly enlivened, Tanner Hall interjected: "People who use strategic communication they make their point in a way that made people want to write it down." Someone felt motivated to transcribe biblical preachings, the group noted, right? "Was John the Baptist this autonomous person who had full agency in making things this way?" Hall wondered. It was almost 9 p.m. by then, and his glass was half-empty. Or maybe half-full. COME ONE, COME ALL The Tangens started hosting Bible and Brew because its ingredients existed: a rich beer culture in northeast Minneapolis and a desire to connect over subjects often left unspoken. They also pointed out that their faith's founder, Martin Luther, was known to dwell in pubs. Bubbly people, the Tangens who are hoping to expand with a pedal pub during the spring direct the conversation into fluid, judgment-free zones. Alyssa Meuwissen, 25, started attending the meetings because she missed the intellectual conversations at her alma mater, the College of St. Benedict. For Adithya Connerton, a first-timer, the gathering was another pillar in her ongoing struggle with Christianity. Connerton, 29, belongs to a Presbyterian church and is married to an atheist, who has taught her kindness and patience, she said. The group discussed misunderstanding parents, work-life balance, questions of systematic discrimination and effects of social media. And they talked about the stranger shouting on Hennepin Avenue. Is this orator a soothsayer? Is he beckoning for attention? Or, perhaps, mentally ill? And would you ignore him or stop and listen to the diatribe, maybe even dropping a coin in his bottom-up hat that was serving as a collection plate? There were no easy answers. "That's the question we should leave with here tonight," Hall suggest- ed. SHARE By Ami Mizell Flint Smiling faces of girls selling Thin Mints, Caramel Delights and other cookie favorites will be seen throughout the Concho Valley for the next month, as Girl Scout cookies go on sale Wednesday. The Girl Scouts of Central Texas Council, of which San Angelo is a part, sold more than two million boxes of cookies last year. Girls individually raised $280,000 in the form of "cookie dough," which they use to buy Girl Scout supplies or pay for camps or other Girl Scout events. Troops keep part of the profit as well. For Tammy Grossheim, whose daughter, Bailee, is selling cookies for the first time this year as a Daisy Girl Scout, selling is about more than raising money. "Girl Scouts is a learning process," Grossheim said, "It's about the journey." Her older daughters, Gina and Stacey, both went through the entire Girl Scout program, and Grossheim, who now handles product sales as San Angelo's El Camino Service Center customer sales rep, said as a mom of three girls, she found many advantages of the cookie sale outside of funds raised. As young girls, they gain confidence from asking for the sale, learn how to count money and the skill of speaking to people politely, Grossheim said. As they get older, the girls have opportunities to practice leadership skills by mentoring younger Girl Scouts to be smart and successful during the cookie sale. Older girls can also get experience in corporate sales, writing formal letters and making presentations to ask companies to purchase cookies. "It's what the girls take away from it," she said. "As a mom, its about what my children learn from selling cookies, not how many they sell." Girl Scout cookie selling is "the No. 1 women's entrepreneurial program in the nation," Grossheim said. "It builds more women CEOs than any other program in the nation." Many high-profile, successful women were Girl Scouts, including Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. According to a Girl Scout alumni website, 64 percent of today's female leaders listed in Who's Who of American Women in the United States were once Girl Scouts. Girl Scout leaders have been preparing and training their girls for several weeks in anticipation of this year's sale. As troops, the girls learn to set goals for the number of boxes sold and the amount of profit they need to make for various activities. "Our troop cookie money goes for lots of things we do in our troop," said Stefanie Dye, leader of Troop 5678, "anywhere from camping, supplies for our meeting and different activities." Dye's troop has Cadettes,Seniors and Ambassador-level Girls, ranging from sixth through 12th grades. The individual age groups within her troop are working on raising enough money to go on big trips over the next several years, to New York, Mall of the Americas and Disney World. The Girl Scout cookie sale this year runs Wednesday through Feb. 25. Cookies cost $3.50 per box; $2.65 from each box directly supports the Girl Scouts of Central Texas council. SHARE By Rashda Khan The city is gearing up for the first phase of a decadelong, $80 million project to improve San Angelo streets. Martin Luther King Drive, from Loop 306 to 29th Street, tops the list. That's because the city received a $1.3 million grant that requires a match of $260,000 and requires the project to break ground no later than August. "We have to use it by this fall or lose it," Shane Kelton, director of city's operations department, said during a recent council update on the grant, which comes from the Federal Highway Administration through the Texas Department of Transportation. MLK has a lot of mixed traffic vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles. It is home to the Daily Bread Soup Lunch Program, the back end of a shopping strip containing Icon Cinemas and two grocery stores, the Stardust Mobile Home Park, the Chicken Farm Art Center, churches and restaurants, and it connects to 29th Street near a Walmart Supercenter. Any given day, residents can see people walking down MLK, a bicyclist or two pedaling and cars packing the parking lot at Franco's during lunch. The MLK project mostly will involve mill and overlay work, with some reconstruction. Kelton explained mill and overlay is used on streets where the base is still good; workers grind off about 2 inches of the road's surface and add a layer of hot asphalt on top. Reconstruction projects are more intensive and costly because they involve redoing the street from subbase to top like brand new. "North of 19th street all the way to 29th will be total reconstruction," he said. In the recent council update, Councilwoman Elizabeth Grindstaff stressed a need to concentrate on more than the roads themselves. "I would really hope y'all are taking a look at sidewalks, because we have people walking all over the community, but without the proper facilities to do so or in wheelchairs," she said. "It's ridiculous that they are out in the street." Kelton, who is also part of the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization's tech advisory committee, said he will try to match street rehabilitation and reconstruction plans with the MPO's pedestrian plan for the city. "If the overall pedestrian plan calls for sidewalks at a specific point, we're actually putting sidewalks into our plan when we do the reconstruction," he said. "Wherever we're doing total reconstruction, we're looking at sidewalks." MLK will have sidewalks all the way from Sixth to 29th Street, and the city plans to put in a pedestrian crossing system at the 19th street traffic light intersection, which will allow people to push a button and change the traffic light. Because of the TxDOT grant, Kelton said, the city also is looking to put in bicycle lanes for citywide connectivity. The next project to be tackled will be Bell Street, but it will be broken into three phases. The first phase will cover Bell Street from Rio Concho Drive (the river) to Harris Avenue, and is estimated to start in October. "We don't want to tear up a mile and half of Bell Street, with all the businesses and such, and then everybody have to fight torn up streets for three years," Kelton said. Besides tackling street surfaces, workers also will update an extensive network of utilities underneath. Council members Rodney Fleming and Charlotte Farmer were concerned that work on Southwest Boulevard from Loop 306 to Rock Brook Drive isn't scheduled until Year 9 of the plan in 2024-25. "It's getting really bad out there. I almost can't see it lasting nine years, and that low water crossing right there does a lot of damage every time we have a big rain," Fleming said."I'm worried about the one block right in front of the McDonald's." Councilman Johnny Silvas, who had originally requested the update, spoke up for East Harris Avenue. "The police department and fire department, they use that street to go up to South Bell," he said. "And that thing's rough." Kelton said the schedule of street priorities is a flexible document that will change as bids come in and other funding sources become available. It also is dependent on availability of contractors, how much utilities work has to be done, how bad the roads get and shifts in traffic patterns. He added that city staff will do what they can through maintenance to help alleviate situations. He said his department will work with engineering firms and the city's public information officer to set up a link on the cosatx.us "so citizens can view timelines for different projects and follow along, see how long the construction will take, costs," Kelton said. "We're going to try and provide as much information as we can." The city adopted a resolution to issue the first $16 million bond to fund the street repairs. Last year, the council had agreed to issue five such bonds over a 10-year period to tackle about 28 street repair projects throughout the city. They anticipate completing all the work in that time. "It seems as though we're finally getting a plan together and doing it the way it should have been done, probably years ago" said Fleming, who is the outgoing councilman for Single Member District 1. "We as a council are committing to try and get this money that Shane needs to get these things done. ... I hope that future councils do not cut this. This is a priority, this should be the No. 1 item for everything in the future." SHARE ACA offers health care options By Ray Vigil The Affordable Care Act provides Americans with better health security by expanding coverage, lowering health care costs, guaranteeing more choice and enhancing the quality of care for all Americans. Everyone is entitled to affordable health care. Under the law, a new "Patient's Bill of Rights" gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health. Some of the benefits of this coverage include: Ending pre-existing condition exclusions for children: Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children younger than 19 due to a pre-existing condition. Keeping young adults covered: If you are younger than 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parents' health plan. Ending arbitrary withdrawals of insurance coverage: Insurers can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake. Guaranteeing your right to appeal: You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment. Open enrollment began in November and ends Jan. 31. Compare health care plans so that you can find the best one for you, and sign up before the enrollment period ends. You can learn more about the insurance marketplace and how to apply for benefits at www.healthcare.gov. If you are 65 or older, you are entitled to Medicare. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, including those who have disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. You can access everything you need for Medicare, including online applications and publications, at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare. Social Security and affordable health care go hand-in-hand. The Affordable Care Act and Medicare help ensure that you and your family are covered. Ray Vigil is the Social Security public affairs specialist in El Paso. A central monument dominates the landscape of the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy where American forces war dead from World War II are buried. SHARE An aerial view of the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville shows the vast scope of U.S. military personnel who lost their lives fighting in the area during World War II. Among them was Vivian Ward. By Fredna DeCarlo Special to the Standard-Times In a time when our world is filled with violence and strife, and when everywhere you look there are stories of terrorism, mass shootings, hunger, homicide and suicide. I thought I would share with you a different kind of story the type of story that reminds you that there is still kindness and goodness in this world. If you look for it, you will see it running through our lives like a golden thread in a embroidery pattern. This story is a tale of two friends utterly different in every aspect of their lives. One is a 76-year-old man born, raised and continuing to live in Texas. The other is a 23-year-old girl who works for an estate agency near Paris. Their lives became entwined by one man who died on French soil during World War II. In 1942, 18-year-old Vivian Ward, recently separated from his wife and 2- year-old son, enlisted in the Army. At that time World War II had been raging for a little over three years. He was first stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana, then transferred to Fort Charles, California, for tech school, becoming a tech 5, which is a heavy equipment operator. After several months, he was stationed at a base in Georgia. In 1944, he traveled to New York to board the Queen Mary, headed to England, and from there he entered France at Omaha Beach in Normandy. Vivian was in the 7th Armored Division Headquarters B. He was loaned out by his division to drive the jeep of a general. That duty led him to the Seine River crossing and into Meiun, a subdivision of Paris. As he drove the general to his destination, they came under cannon fire and were killed on Aug. 21, 1944. He had been in France 11 days. He was buried at the Normandy Memorial in Colleville. His son received his Purple Heart. After Vivian's death, his son, Rodney, was taken by his mother to her sister's home, and he was raised by Freddie and Yvonne Duderstadt in Mountain Home. He loved them as his parents but his entire life in his heart he thought of his father and worried about his grave in France. Rodney is a simple man who lives an honest life. He moved to Menard in 1955. He has a wife of 58 years, Anna Kothmann Duderstadt, and together they have raised three kids of their own and have one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter. He earned his living as a farmer, rancher, auto mechanic, florist, sole proprietor of a children's train, and many other things in between. During all these years he never really talked about it much, but deep inside his heart he always worried about his father's grave in France. At 75, he became ill and ended up on dialysis, changing his inner thoughts from "Maybe still one day before I die I can go to France and care for daddy's grave" to "It is now impossible. I will never be able to." Meanwhile, in France a young girl named Marine Hannon was growing up with an absolute passion for knowledge of World War II. Little did this girl know at the time she lived a mere 10-minute drive from where Vivian was killed in 1944. Her parents had taken her numerous times to visit the American Cemetery in Colleville in Normandy. Then in June 2014 on one of these trips Marine learned of an association called Les Fleurs de la Memoire. The members of this association take care of the graves in the American cemeteries. There is one in Colleville and one in St. James. Marine had studied the paratroopers in great detail and originally asked for a paratrooper's grave. She was told at that time that a lot of people want to take care of the paratroopers' graves, which leaves a lot of the other divisions' graves unclaimed. So she asked for a soldier from the Armored Division, and she was assigned Vivian's grave. Marine searched the 7th Armored Division website and found Vivian's name and picture. Below them was the listing for his son, Rodney Duderstadt. Marine contacted a friend of hers in California and asked how she would go about finding someone in Texas and took her friend's advice she looked up Rodney Duderstadt in the online white pages. To her surprise, she found two results. Excitedly, she wrote to the younger one, my brother Rodney Lanier Duderstadt II, who lives in San Angelo. In this letter, she told him who she was and why she was contacting him, and asked if he was a family member of Vivian Ward. Lanier took the letter to my father in Menard, who immediately contacted Marine in France. The two became fast friends, and with the wonders of Facebook Marine and her family and our family have become a part of one another's daily lives. So this sweet girl in France let her heart lead her and chose to take upon herself the duty to tend to Vivian's grave, and by doing so gently closed the hurt of an open wound in the heart of his son. Rodney now has peace in his heart that his father, a brave U.S. veteran, and his grave will not be forgotten and left unkept in a country across the world. This year in March, Marine and her family will be traveling to Texas so our families can meet in person. We are all looking forward to meeting this sweet, beautiful-hearted girl and her family. So I hope I made you smile a little, and breathe a little deeper knowing that there is still goodness and kindness in this world and this story of an unlikely friendship is an excellent example of that. SHARE According to the Constitution, the legislature is the first and most powerful branch of government. And yet many believe on the left and the right that the institution has atrophied. By all accounts, House Speaker Paul Ryan is eager to change that. He has his work cut out for him. At the Republican congressional retreat in Baltimore last week, I participated in a panel discussion about how to revive Congress' traditional role. It was off the record, but I can certainly repeat a story I told. When my father was in the Army, he was stationed in Japan. His commanding officer, a master at maneuvering the military bureaucracy, gave him one piece of advice. "Goldberg, it's always better to be on the committee that says, 'This must never happen again.'" In other words, it's easier to wag a finger at mistakes than to be accountable for them. Congress has largely become a finger-wagging bystander. It's great at expressing outrage. But when it comes to the messy work of legislating, it's fallen down on the job. This is true even when it writes "landmark" laws. The Affordable Care Act, for example, isn't so much a piece of legislation as a letter of marque for the Health and Human Services secretary to chart whatever course she pleases. The law contains more than 2,500 references to "the Secretary," as Philip Klein reported in 2010 in The American Spectator. In 700 of them, the law says she "shall" do X and in another 200-plus instances it says she "may" do Y. In 139 instances, it simply says the "Secretary determines." This is just one example of how Congress routinely vests legislative power in the executive branch. Other aspects of Congress' authority have been hacked away and sold off in pieces. The Constitution says only Congress can levy taxes. The Founders had this crazy idea called "no taxation without representation." And yet numerous agencies are self-funding, raising money without having to worry about Congress' power of the purse. For example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gets its revenue from a skim of the profits from the Federal Reserve. Not only are such arrangements a hate crime against the Constitution, they also make agencies less accountable to Congress and, by extension, the people. These agencies are, furthermore, often unaccountable to the judicial branch. Bureaucrats have their own administrative courts, which routinely deny traditional due process to plaintiffs. The executive branch was never supposed to be this powerful. Richard Neustadt famously wrote in "Presidential Power" that the presidency is an inherently weak office and therefore the president's chief power is "persuasion." For decades, presidents took Neustadt's argument to heart, using the bully pulpit to rally public opinion to their side. President Obama has certainly tried to do that. But it's turned out that his powers of persuasion have been greatly exaggerated, particularly in this age of polarization. Unable to coax the country in his direction, Obama has relied on his beloved "pen and phone" strategy that is, signing executive orders often to the cheers of congressional Democrats apparently eager to celebrate their institutional gelding. The Hudson Institute's Christopher DeMuth argues that Obama is the first president to recognize that Neustadt is obsolete and so is the notion of a lame duck presidency. Obama can keep making policy right until the day he leaves office. The challenge for Ryan is multifaceted. He wants to restore Congress' primacy, but to do so he must also transform the GOP into what he calls a "proposition party," not an opposition party (which may be difficult if Obama does everything he can to invite opposition from conservatives). Both require time he may not have. Clawing back the legislative function can't be done overnight and requires a cultural transformation of Congress itself. Meanwhile, both parties' front-runners don't seem interested in deferring to Congress. Hillary Clinton has already said that Obama's unilateralism hasn't gone far enough, and vowed to go further. Donald Trump promises to just make stuff happen via his superhuman management skills. We already know liberals will applaud an imperial Democratic president. I can only hope conservatives will stick with Ryan under a Republican one. Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Contact him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com. State 2011-2012 Rate Per 1K 2012-2013 Rate Per 1K 2013-2014 Rate Per 1K 2014-2015 Rate Per 1K 2015-2016 Rate Per 1K Montana 4.3 6.2 5.2 5.5 7.2 West Virginia 1.3 -0.8 -1.7 -2.6 -3.6 Mississippi -1.3 -0.7 -2.1 -3.7 -2.5 Wyoming 10.2 5.2 -3.9 -0.1 -6.5 Alabama 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.4 0.8 Idaho 0.8 3.9 6.5 5.2 11.3 Arkansas 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.2 South Carolina 6.9 7.2 9.4 11.0 10.7 New Mexico -2.2 -4.0 -5.5 -5.2 -3.4 Maine 0.5 0.2 1.8 0.1 3.0 Missouri -0.8 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.4 Wisconsin -0.5 -0.2 -0.2 -1.3 -0.8 Tennessee 5.7 3.4 5.0 4.8 6.0 Kentucky 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.7 Vermont -1.5 0.4 -0.6 -2.0 -3.1 Louisiana 1.4 0.9 0.3 0.1 -1.1 New Hampshire 0.7 -0.3 3.8 0.5 3.3 Indiana -0.5 1.4 0.6 -0.7 -0.2 Ohio -1.8 -0.4 0.1 -1.0 -0.7 Oregon 4.9 3.8 7.7 10.8 14.0 Oklahoma 4.0 5.2 2.9 3.8 0.7 Utah 1.6 3.8 1.6 4.9 8.4 South Dakota 6.7 6.9 2.5 0.8 3.0 Colorado 7.6 8.7 9.3 12.5 11.1 Kansas 0.4 -2.3 -2.5 -2.3 -4.4 Iowa 0.2 2.0 2.0 0.9 0.9 North Carolina 5.6 5.8 5.5 6.4 7.9 North Dakota 18.0 25.2 14.6 15.3 -6.2 Arizona 7.0 5.7 8.3 9.4 11.1 Nebraska 1.6 1.7 1.0 0.8 1.1 Michigan -1.3 -1.0 -0.4 -1.6 -0.5 Georgia 4.2 1.5 4.6 5.8 5.9 Illinois -3.7 -3.3 -5.1 -5.7 -6.5 Minnesota 0.6 1.9 1.3 0.3 2.2 Nevada 7.2 7.1 11.0 12.6 14.4 Delaware 6.2 6.1 6.9 7.1 5.9 Pennsylvania 0.9 -0.1 -0.1 -0.8 -0.9 Alaska 1.6 -1.3 -11.1 -7.3 -3.5 Texas 8.3 7.4 9.5 9.8 7.9 Washington 5.2 5.2 7.2 9.7 12.7 California 2.1 1.8 2.5 1.8 0.9 Virginia 4.9 4.0 1.7 1.4 0.9 Rhode Island -1.2 -1.2 0.9 0.2 0.4 Maryland 3.0 2.5 1.7 0.4 0.0 Connecticut -1.0 -0.7 -2.9 -3.2 -3.6 Hawaii 3.9 4.3 1.6 1.3 -1.8 New Jersey -0.4 -0.3 -0.7 -1.8 -1.9 Florida 10.7 10.3 13.0 16.4 16.0 New York -0.4 -0.3 -2.2 -2.1 -3.7 Massachusetts 4.0 4.8 4.2 2.9 2.2 D.C. 15.9 15.0 7.2 10.7 9.5 State 2010-2011 Net Migration 2011-2012 Net Migration 2012-2013 Net Migration 2013-2014 Net Migration 2014-2015 Net Migration Montana 4,268 6,243 5,328 5,681 7,422 West Virginia 2,423 -1,494 -3,160 -4,878 -6,583 Mississippi -3,809 -2,160 -6,390 -10,959 -7,467 Wyoming 5,835 3,012 -2,257 -59 -3,823 Alabama 5,109 5,798 5,152 1,996 3,874 Idaho 1,293 6,244 10,585 8,596 18,869 Arkansas 2,127 1,541 387 2,506 3,530 South Carolina 32,487 34,167 45,062 53,376 52,844 New Mexico -4,487 -8,358 -11,496 -10,769 -7,111 Maine 719 296 2,410 85 3,954 Missouri -4,828 198 558 -722 2,163 Wisconsin -3,077 -911 -1,060 -7,545 -4,405 Tennessee 36,677 22,233 32,830 31,783 39,959 Kentucky 2,868 3,998 1,540 251 3,305 Vermont -909 241 -402 -1,264 -1,910 Louisiana 6,238 4,062 1,449 422 -5,020 New Hampshire 912 -410 5,007 665 4,362 Indiana -3,099 9,272 4,002 -4,612 -1,083 Ohio -20,472 -5,011 766 -11,799 -7,967 Oregon 19,221 14,790 30,220 43,082 56,972 Oklahoma 15,322 19,976 11,380 14,866 2,894 Utah 4,601 10,952 4,607 14,387 25,412 South Dakota 5,563 5,786 2,085 643 2,573 Colorado 38,930 45,660 49,443 67,627 60,773 Kansas 1,124 -6,716 -7,163 -6,596 -12,744 Iowa 668 6,197 6,170 2,752 2,944 North Carolina 54,468 57,116 54,435 63,825 80,078 North Dakota 12,480 17,950 10,664 11,419 -4,684 Arizona 45,650 37,820 55,328 63,755 76,405 Nebraska 2,996 3,168 1,907 1,470 2,043 Michigan -13,067 -9,437 -3,993 -15,801 -5,328 Georgia 40,950 15,254 46,426 58,625 60,612 Illinois -47,834 -42,196 -66,273 -73,614 -83,210 Minnesota 3,207 10,176 6,989 1,612 11,882 Nevada 19,802 19,562 30,773 36,103 41,967 Delaware 5,685 5,656 6,409 6,647 5,583 Pennsylvania 11,730 -1,347 -1,535 -10,154 -10,887 Alaska 1,174 -974 -8,200 -5,355 -2,557 Texas 214,132 194,268 252,592 266,340 217,542 Washington 35,407 36,165 50,252 68,590 91,981 California 78,532 70,149 97,674 70,495 33,530 Virginia 39,548 32,749 13,788 11,406 7,202 Rhode Island -1,248 -1,294 980 210 419 Maryland 17,329 14,684 9,856 2,566 176 Connecticut -3,715 -2,400 -10,383 -11,500 -12,822 Hawaii 5,442 5,991 2,318 1,837 -2,583 New Jersey -3,140 -2,387 -6,167 -15,736 -16,704 Florida 206,039 201,302 257,486 328,772 325,986 New York -8,477 -5,525 -43,810 -40,962 -72,889 Massachusetts 26,785 32,251 28,522 19,439 15,292 District of Columbia 9,997 9,665 4,710 7,122 6,392 Annual state migration rates show the extent to which residents are moving into a state compared to those moving out.Between July 2015 and July 2016, 31 states and the District of Columbia added population via migration. State migration data shown here reflect Census estimates of both domestic and international migration, which includes immigrants and U.S. citizens relocating from abroad. Estimates do not reflect natural change, or the number of births and deaths.The following table shows each state's migration rate, or the difference of in-migration and outmigration per 1,000 residents:SOURCE: Governing calculations of U.S. Census Bureau data current as of July of each yearThis next table lists annual net migration totals, again reflecting both domestic and international migration:SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau; estimates current as of July of the corresponding years (TNS) -- This week construction begins on a 91-mile fiber optic network that will run from Santa Cruz to Soledad via Moss Landing, Castroville, Chualar and Gonzales.The project, which is expected to take two years to complete, will be built and operated by Sunesys LLC, the same company that connected Santa Cruz to the relatively inexpensive and reliable Internet bandwidth in Silicon Valley, according to consultant Stephen Blum of Tellus Venture Associates While this $13.3 million fiber optic spine between Santa Cruz and broadband-deprived areas of the Salinas Valley is a huge step forward toward bringing the unserved areas of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties into the 21st century, it also highlights how little of the region has access to broadband.A group of local stakeholders led by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and members of the Central Coast Broadband Consortium took advantage of USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Lisa Mensahs first visit to California Thursday by pitching a plan to extend the Sunesys broadband project from Soledad to Greenfield and King City.UC Santa Cruz and Internet provider Cruzio served as anchor tenants for the initial Sunesys project, which connected Santa Cruz to the Silicon Valley. As a result, broadband is pretty good in Santa Cruz, according to Blum, but gets progressively worse the farther south you travel. Soledad to King City and much of North Monterey County is completely unserved, he said.While some cities and government entities have broadband connections, they are not shared with the public.Fiber optic cable runs through much of the Central Coast region, but it doesnt stop. A great freeway exists, but there are no offramps, said Blum.In addition, many of the rural residents of the Salinas Valley face varying rates from their cable provider, Blum said. While customers in more urbanized centers may pay $70 a month for 200 channels of television and 60 gigabytes of Internet, rural customers pay $107 a month for only 37 channels of analog television, he said.Watsonville Mayor Felipe Hernandez pointed out the huge impact broadband would have on Salinas Valley regions agriculture industry, specifically its ever more sophisticated use of technology.Blum also pointed out that many Silicon Valley companies are taking demonstration projects to places such as Austin, Texas instead of the Salinas Valley because of the latters lack of broadband infrastructure.Robert Tse, community planning and development specialist for the USDAs rural development division, suggested the project might piggyback on a new Department of Defense initiative to improve broadband around military bases such as Fort Hunter Liggett in South Monterey County.Joel Staker of the Central Coast Broadband Consortium estimated the project would cost between $20 million and $30 million, half of which the group was hoping the USDA would be capable of funding.After quietly listening throughout the entire discussion, Mensah thanked the stakeholders for their time and commitment. She also said that the USDA no longer had grant money available for such projects, but a long-term loan was not out of the question.I can see that the scale of need and gaps in service are severe in your region, Mensah said. However, I am concerned that if government steps in to accomplish this we would be displacing private industry, which is something we are very careful not to do. Advanced data analytics have created a heightened awareness of how marginal reductions in time or cost, seemingly insignificant at the granular level, can add up to big savings over time. Courier services know this well, and could teach the public sector some lessons on efficient fleet management.A UPS truck driver, for instance, makes about 120 deliveries per shift. On average, the company's fleet of brown trucks makes a total of 16 million deliveries each day, which translates to an imponderable number of possible routes. To meet this challenge, a team of engineers and mathematicians in Operations Research at UPS worked for nearly a decade to build ORION -- the On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation program. ORION is a sophisticated algorithm that ensures that UPS vehicles take the most time- and energy-efficient routes while making multiple deliveries.Jack Levis, the company's senior director of process management, oversees the program. He says that ORION saves each driver between seven and eight miles a day, adding up to an annual reduction of 100 million miles driven and 10 million fewer gallons of fuel used. That accounts for $300 million to $400 million in annual savings, and 100,000 metric tons less of CO2 emitted into the air each year.What makes ORION unique is the way that it squares computational cost-cutting with qualitative measures of success, including route consistency and risk reduction. Truck drivers prefer consistent routes when they set out each day. Customers prefer consistent delivery times. "ORION is successful because we built the algorithms and tools into processes that planners, drivers and customers already use every day," Levis says. "Stability and usability are crucial. We hid the complexity from the user."ORION is revolutionary not only because it makes routes as short as possible but also because a critical element of its logistical engine is human preferences. Government could use a dose of this functionality and customer service attitude in its logistics-heavy public services.Waste management is a prime example. The gas mileage that garbage trucks get is in the single digits, and trash collectors make hundreds of stops each day. New York City, for instance, has more than 2,200 collection trucks and spends $2.3 billion a year collecting trash. The city spends even more to dispose of it: A nationwide network of trains, barges and trucks carries some 6 million tons of the city's garbage over 40 million miles every year. Imagine if this operation were suffused with the algorithmic power that has mapped the movement of the UPS fleet with such tremendous specificity.Many cities already are using data to improve their garbage operations. Boston, Philadelphia and Raleigh, N.C., for instance, have high-efficiency, self-powered bins that compact trash and wirelessly alert the appropriate city agency when they are full. Enevo, a European waste collection startup now expanding into North American cities, is using sensors to measure fill levels and deliver optimized routes to sanitation drivers on a mobile tablet. Brian Pompeo, Enevo's vice president of North American sales, says that the fill data creates a previously unavailable baseline that enables an ongoing evolution of performance improvement in waste management.These are exciting developments, but perhaps these emerging practices will soon be paired with more complex informatics, such as data on how busy a street is at a given time of day, how much a given neighborhood recycles, where the trash goes after it's collected -- the kind of auxiliary data that has helped make ORION so successful.We are beginning to witness an enormous uptake in Internet of Things technology at the municipal level. Environmental and GIS data are helping cities tap into a well of information that can be used to make better decisions and automate more efficient practices. As these improvements grow and scale, government should ensure that these technologies not only cut costs but, more broadly, make progress in improving citizens' quality of life. Preserving North Carolinas precious landmarks and landscapes is one of the most important promises we can keep for our future and the Land and Water Conservation Fund helps us make good on those promises. Each year in North Carolina, this fund helps local communities preserve land for small-scale parks and ballfields, as well as grander plans like the recent addition of 70 acres to the Pilot Mountain site. Unfortunately, this year saw the expiration of this fund, and many in Congress were willing to look the other direction while money drained away thats typically used to make small towns and cities better. But not me. I used every legislative tool available to ensure this well-loved fund continues and Im proud when I see my hard work manifest itself in important plans like the Pilot Mountain enhancement. With Pilot Mountain set to gain 70 acres in 2016, this means that there will be greater access to one of the states most treasured monuments. Many in North Carolina have applauded the new addition and noted that these types of ventures maintain our commitment to conservation. And perhaps most importantly, the conservation fund doesnt take a dime of taxpayer money. LWCF is funded by royalties and is an investment in the future of our nations scenic treasures and does not add to the nations debt. Nationally, this fund has created outdoor recreation opportunities in every state and 98 percent of counties across the country. The fund has protected critical lands in national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and Civil War battlefields, among others. For 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has been a success financially and has given much back to our local communities. In North Carolina, outdoor recreation contributes $7.5 billion to the states economy and supports 95,000 jobs. Lets review a few of the significant gains the LWCF has helped facilitate for conservation in North Carolina. For North Carolina alone, many spectacular sites, like the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway, were completed with LWCF funds. Catawba Falls was acquired in 2010 through the LWCF and has made this popular waterfall open to the public. The 88 acres were purchased from Foothills Conservancy of NC to open up long-sought public trail access to Catawba Falls, which was added to Pisgah National Forest in 1989, also thanks to LWCF. The Nature Conservancy recently transferred 536 acres in parts of Buncombe, Henderson and Rutherford counties to the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, and will add them to Chimney Rock State Park. Ive pledged to continue fighting for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and will fight another round in 2016. I want to make sure that the LWCF can fully realize its promise to conserve parks, open spaces and wildlife habitat for the benefit of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation for future generations. Many entrepreneurs are so focused on finalizing their innovative product or service that they procrastinate on the formalities of forming the requisite new company until later. Unfortunately, waiting until later will dramatically increase the risk of losing ownership of the solution they worked so hard to complete in addition to personal and family assets. Although the specifics vary in all parts of the world, the common parameters I have experienced here in the U.S. for incorporation should provide you at least the key startup entity considerations you need to address in any business environment around the world. Related: Determining the Best Legal Structure for Your Business 1. Isolate your new startup business from your personal accounts. By default, these domains are totally intermingled, which will lead you to manage both poorly. Its very easy and inexpensive to set up online a Limited Liability Company (LLC) for the startup, which will allow you to track business costs, cash and taxes correctly -- no matter what happens. 2. Liability for initial setbacks or lawsuits needs to business versus personal. If there is no legal business entity, early vendor or partner failures will jeopardize existing personal assets and any future personal income streams. The business entity has to be in place before a problem appears and is not recoverable by starting the business later. 3. Focus on structuring the business brings priority to building a plan early. Building a business plan is a discipline every entrepreneur needs to learn early, required or not. Founders generally need more focus on the market sizing, volume projections, cost details and margin expectations to balance the optimism of their passion for the idea. 4. Define a business entity early to manage taxes and intellectual property. An LLC will work just fine for this, but if you know enough to anticipate more than 100 investors or special classes of stock, I recommend incorporating as a Delaware or Nevada C-Corp or S-Corp. Tax status can be assigned separately to match your preferences. Related: The Many Variables to Consider When Choosing In Which State to Incorporate 5. Founders stock may be taxed at time of incorporation. If you wait to incorporate the business until you have a product and customers, which normally has no taxable value until liquidity, it will be taxed at issuance at the current value. This could well mean a large tax bill due from you at the worst possible moment in your business rollout. 6. New intellectual property should always be assigned to a business. Patents issued to you before you incorporate the business will not be considered part of the business valuation by investors. Until you have a business, you shouldnt get a web domain name or social media accounts, since these all should match and are hard to change later. 7. Co-founder and equity negotiations work best if you own all the equity. If several co-founders are involved before any company is set up, all will assume they get an equal share later, no matter how little they contribute. Negotiation and equity ownership needs to happen when they join you, and you need the leverage of being the business owner. 8. You need a business entity to attract any investor or bank support. In my experience, any startup without a formal business entity defined will be viewed as a hobby, and would never interest investors or potential partners. Also, trends change rapidly these days, so you need to be ready move quickly from idea to a business. Overall, the formalities of setting up the right business entity in the right timeframe for your new idea are just as critical to your ultimate success as building the right product. The work for both can be done in parallel, or the business setup work should be done first. Successful startups are all about being able to move to success before the market changes or new competitors appear. For U.S. startups, sole proprietorships and simple partnerships are never recommended. LLCs are the easiest, quickest and least expensive ways to get started. S-Corps (Subchapter S corporations) work best for services solutions, and C-Corps (C-corporation) are the best long-term solutions for product organizations. Upgrading later from one type to the other is not difficult. If you need help, there are many places you can go online, like BizFilings with state-specific information. If information online only confuses you, make an appointment with your local community SCORE free mentoring office, or your nearest Small Business Development Center (SBDC). For more detailed requirements, its always appropriate to hire an attorney to guide you. The opportunities and the joys of creating your own business are great, but there are many risks as well. Dont let your dream be derailed by failing to focus early on the design of the business, as much as you are focusing on the design of your product. Related: Before You Form an S Corp, Consider These Points Related: 8 Reasons to Incorporate Your New Company Early A Benefit Corporation Can Have a Positive Impact on the World -- and Still Make a Profit Make Your Businesses Invulnerable to Corporate Identity Theft Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Matthew Crawford is something of a political junkie. He grew up in Putnam Park in central Greenwich, and started to follow town politics as a young kid, even managing to keep track of local affairs during his undergraduate years at Villanova and through Hofstra Law School. He worked as a volunteer in 2008 for John McCains presidential campaign and in 2013, having returned home to Greenwich, won a seat on the Representative Town Meeting. In 2015, at the age of 27, he was elected to the Republican Town Committee and worked on his first municipal election campaign. I wanted to get involved. I wanted to do what I could to help make this great town become even greater, Crawford said Friday from his office at a local law firm. Crawford stepped up to serve as campaign treasurer for Peter von Braun, a Board of Education incumbent and one of three candidates unanimously endorsed by the RTC for election to that board in November. Responsible for tracking every nickel and dime donated and filing detailed spending reports on tight deadlines, treasurer is the most thankless and time consuming job on any campaign and by all accounts, Crawford did his job very well. His reward? He was thrown off the RTC two weeks ago. Apparently working for an incumbent unanimously endorsed by the RTC violated some code among current GOP leaders, or at least that is what Steve Warzoha, former RTC vice chairman and former campaign manager for First Selectman Peter Tesei, told several members of the RTC. Von Braun had crossed party leaders in 2013 when he endorsed fellow school board member Peter Sherr, who had angered GOP leadership by voting for a Democrat to be school board chairman. However, Sherr had widespread support among rank and file Republicans, and easily gathered more than 1,500 petition signatures to win a spot on the ballot. He then went on to victory in the general election; he garnered the highest vote total of any school board candidate, embarrassing the local GOP establishment. Like its beloved elephant mascot, the GOP leadership never forgets. Though the party endorsed von Braun, much of the leadership worked to deny him victory. And when von Braun lost, all that was left to complete their victory was to punish the people who worked for him. Crawford was an easy target for retribution. Though he said he was not aware of any organized effort to remove him from the RTC, Crawford said that when he saw 35 people at the January 11 caucus, a much larger turnout than usual, I knew someone had organized something. The petty retribution against Crawford is a microcosm of what is wrong with the RTC executive committee. It is obsessed with settling perceived personal affronts to its leadership instead of focusing on such important party issues as developing a strong bench of local candidates and unifying what has become a fractured party. And the GOP need look no further than young Mr. Crawford for an example of the kind of temperament its new leadership needs: I have no hard feelings. I am staying on as an associate (non-voting) member of the RTC. I work long hours at my job and did not have time to run a campaign for re-election. And the guy who took my place is a good guy. A young guy who will bring a breath of fresh air to the party. Im looking forward to continuing to work with the party. Later, via email, Crawford added, I do not have time for political gamesmanship or unnecessary quarrels, especially not within my own party. I feel that aspect of the current state of affairs must be addressed and diminished by future RTC leadership. Fortunately for the local GOP, town party Chairman Jim Campbell said in early January that he would not run again for a seat on the RTC. This was not a chairman stepping aside voluntarily; the reality is he did not have enough support in his new home district, Cos Cob, to win a spot on the RTC. Campbell became chairman in 2010, inheriting a unified and effective local party from then Chairman John Raben. But starting with his first municipal election in 2011, Campbells tenure has been marked by divisive battles at every turn. Now the party is looking for new leadership. Warzoha is said to want the job but lacks any real base of support. Some Republicans are hoping former state legislators Lile Gibbons or Steve Walko will take the job; both were elected to the RTC this month. And Randall Smith, a Riverside Republican who got about 33 percent of the vote when he challenged Campbell two years ago, is also considering a run. While it is true that Republicans continue to dominate local elections, whoever becomes GOP chairman will face a huge task to elevate the party to its former glory. There was a time when Greenwich Republicans were the envy of the state. The local party produced such national Republican stalwarts as US Sen. Prescott Busch, and Lowell Weicker, who served as first selectman, state legislator, U..S Senator and governor of Connecticut. The GOP clambake used to be a must make stop for any GOP presidential hopeful. Now all the national and state Republicans want from Greenwich are campaign funds or candidates with enough money to pay for their own races. Bob Horton can be reached at bobhorton@yahoo.com. What do Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Milton Hershey, Walt Disney, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington all have in common? Heres a clue -- its not that they all immediately achieved high levels of success. They actually all experienced some sort of failure during their careers. Bill Gates first company Traf-O-Data failed. Steve Jobs was booted from Apple. Henry Ford started two automobile companies before the Ford Motor Company. Arianna Huffington was rejected by 36 publishers. Related: 10 People Who Became Wildly Successful After Facing Rejection But, if there was one entrepreneur who was known for the trials and tribulations of Silicon Valley more than most, it would be Vinod Khosla, who failed several times before he founded Sun Microsystems. The thing is, nobody remembers his failures -- because failure doesn't matter if you succeed. And, thats a valuable lesson for entrepreneurs who believe that theyre being held back by the failure of their startup. Its claimed that Vinod Khosla dreamed of owning his own tech company at the age of 16 after hearing about the founding of Intel. After earning a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi, Vinod attempted to start his first company at the age of 20. His soy milk company, which would have provided a source of milk to the people of India who didnt own refrigerators, failed to take off. In an interview with The Economic Times, Vinod recalls: It was a failed venture, because it never got off the ground. I was very interested in soya milk, because I had to go get milk every day in those days, and there was an institute in Nainital that had developed this soya milk technology to make milk from soya beans. I remember vividly approaching people like the small-scale industries corporation in Delhi, and I forget exactly what it was called, and then I remember when I called to see what it would take to get a telephone and it was like seven years wait, the time to get a telephone. And I said I don't have patience, that is like half my life. I decided then that it made sense to go to Silicon Valley and do something there and do a startup there. Before going to Silicon Valley, he received a master's degree in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's of business administration from Stanford University in 1979. While at Stanford, Vinod co-founded a computer-aided design company named Daisy Systems in 1981. Despite being a pioneering company and experiencing significant revenue, profits and even an initial public offering, Daisy eventually filed for bankruptcy. According to one former employee, who joined Daisy in 1988, it was stated that Daisy failed because of some bad financial decisions, a botched merger and acquisition and a new management team that didnt quite understand the company or its market and, most importantly, failing to embrace "Open Systems." According to Vinod: For Daisy Systems days, we built computer-aided design applications, computer-aided engineering applications and computer-aided design. We developed, spent most of our money, and we had raised some venture capital developing the workstation and then a little bit of money developing the applications, and so it occurred to me that other people who wanted to develop applications wanted a platform too. So the idea for Sun came from the idea that companies like Daisy did not have a computing platform, a computer on which they could develop their applications, that they had to do everything, hardware and software. Related: How Quitting Can Get You Exactly What You Want Vinod could tell that Daisy was heading down the wrong path and was frustrated of having to design the computer hardware on which the Daisy software needed to be built. After Daisy, Vinod teamed up with Scott McNealy and started a company called The Data Dump, which Scott described as a huge disaster. In 1982, just three months after receiving funding for Data Dump, Vinod launched Sun Microsystems, and the rest is history. Vinod made his fortune and left the company in 1984 to become a venture capitalist at the firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In 2004, he formed Khosla Ventures to focus on both for-profit and social-impact investments. During his career, Vinod has made his way onto the The Midas List despite his past and current failures. Even though he is best known for funding Sun Microsystems, Vinod has also been a part of some major failures. These epic failures include Asera, Corio, BroadBand Office, Ethnic Grocer, Centrata, 3DO, and Excite@Home, which Wired called the "$7 billion delusion." Perhaps his biggest failure was the Dynabook, which VentureBeat stated was similar to a 1980s version of an iPad with a pen. Despite having prominent investors, a catchy tagline (the pen is the point), and a team that started believing that bullshit, Dynabook failed -- because users wanted mobility. What most of us love about Vinod Khosla is that hes brutally honest about his past failures. He has said, I like to say my willingness to fail is what gives me the ability to succeed. He has said, failure does not matter, it's success that matters. People remember Vinod for Sun and not failed companies like his soy milk idea, Daisy or the Data Dump. If you have the failure of a startup that is holding you back, take these final pieces of advice from a man who has experienced both success and failure and used them an advanced learning tool. 1. Dont be afraid to take risks. "No failure means no risk, which means nothing new. He adds, "If everyone stuck to being well-behaved, there would be no progress." 2. Learn from your mistakes. The key is to make the consequences of each failure small and the learning from each failure large. So as you try startups, be cognizant that what you're trying to do is learn as much as possible for the least amount of money and resources spent. 3. Embrace failure. Don't take failure lightly. Don't be afraid to fail. But that doesn't mean be casual about it. A license to fail isn't a license to not work hard. 4. Start your business for the right reasons. There are a lot of different valid goals. It may be important to not have to answer to somebody else. That's a reasonable goal. Maybe you want to make enough money to not have to balance your checkbook. Maybe you want to work with friends. All those are valid goals to be an entrepreneur. The trouble is when you confuse those goals. 5. Be flexible. The CEOs who make it a long way have a lot of flexibility and surround themselves with really great people. And really diverse people with multiple points of view. A good CEO's job is to build a team and make sure it stays on vision. A good CEO's job involves very little else. 6. Surround yourself with talent. If [entrepreneurs] want to build a kick-ass team, you know they'll start doing some interesting things. A company becomes the people it hires. If you're just using a bunch of consultants to get to a place, you're not going to build that team. Most of all, when you fail, not if you fail, pick yourself up and dive in again with your next great idea. Don't let anything- -- especially a startup fail -- hold you back. Related: Real Leaders Own Their Mistakes Related: Don't Let a Startup Failure Hold You Back How to Use Flow to Make You More Productive Think You Know What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur? Think Again. Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Shelter Our Strays is an all-volunteer, non-profit group, dedicated to supporting Greenwich Animal Control by providing funds to the facility to assist with operations and various programs The members of the Board of Shelter Our Strays would like to express our concern over the use of leghold traps in the State of Connecticut and are asking our state legislators to implement a statewide ban. The use of leghold traps was recently in the news in New Canaan, when a red fox was captured in a trap on a residential property. This is not an isolated incident. Numerous accounts of the inadvertent capture of non-targeted animals are reported every year. This is unacceptable and demonstrates the indiscriminate nature of this device. Any animal or person can end up in a trap, including our beloved family pets and endangered wildlife. Cats and dogs have often been found too late to save their lives, suffering the same horrible deaths as wildlife. Broken bones and teeth and torn flesh are common, as the animal frantically fights to get away, even trying to chew off the affected limb. When to no avail, they are left to starve, freeze to death, or die of their wounds before the trappers find them. You may recall an incident with a coyote in Riverside a few years back, whose picture was on the front page of Greenwich Time, wearing the leghold trap until it had to be shot by animal control. This is the grim reality of leghold traps. While padded traps may not have the steel grip, an animal suffers the same fate, as they are unable to escape. More than 88 countries and many states, including our neighbors, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, have banned leghold traps. In addition, many groups, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the U.S. National Animal Control Association, have declared them inhumane. Yet they continue to be used in this state even though there are available alternatives, such as the live (box) that are just as effective, have a higher targeted rate, and are more humane for the animals and the ecosystem. Leghold traps should be banned for no other reason than they are horrifically cruel and inhumane and no animal should be subjected to suffer such pain and anguish simply because we consider them a nuisance. This is truly unconscionable in a modern, civilized society. To have a trap set in plain view of your house and be subjected to see an animal suffering and even killed should be unacceptable to everyone. The State of Connecticut, which traps more than 6,000 animals a year, should neither be condoning such cruelty nor putting its residents, including our children, and/or our companion animals at such unnecessary risk. We should all be free to enjoy nature and our own backyards without being subjected to the horrors of leghold traps. Finally, the two animal control officers on our Board, Allyson Halm and Suzanne Carlin, each with 20-plus years experience, have seen first-hand the results of the use of leghold traps. As Allyson, current Animal Control Officer in New Canaan put it, Watching an animal struggle in a leghold trap is one of the worst acts of animal cruelty I have encountered in my career in animal welfare. Suzanne, Animal Control Officer at Greenwich Animal Control added, I have never seen any positive uses from these archaic, inhumane devices. I have seen the results of raccoons that have chewed off their limbs and when the traps become unhinged from the ground, the animal dragging the trap, tearing at the skin and bones of their legs, suffering until they die. Shame on us if we allow this barbaric practice to continue. Lets end the suffering and ban the use of leghold traps in our state once and for all. Shelter Our Strays Board of Directors Leora R. Levy Sherry Wernicke Linda Bruno Theresa Rogers Beth Cutler Allyson Halm Suzanne Carlin HTC has announced that it has started rolling out the latest Android security update to unlocked One A9 units in the US. The announcement came in the form of a tweet from the company's US VP of Product Management Mo Versi. HTC One (A9) unlocked owners! The Jan security updates and bug fixes is being updated via OTA this morning! Thanks. Mo Versi (@moversi) January 22, 2016 Aside from the January security fixes, the update also includes some general bug fixes, Versi revealed. If you haven't received the OTA notification yet, you can manually check for the update by heading to your device's settings. For those who aren't already aware, HTC had said last year that the One A9 will receive every Android update within 15 (business) days of the Nexus line having received it. And true to its promise, the Taiwanese company rolled out the November and December updates on time. Source Haiti - Diplomacy : The Core Group deplores the recent acts of electoral violence In a statement, Sandra Honore, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti and other members of the international community in Haiti represented in the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States of America, the European Union and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States), "reiterate their continued support for the conclusion of an inclusive and equitable electoral process while supporting efforts aimed at finding a way forward that ensures the democratic renewal of State institutions. The 'Core Group' continues to extend its full support for efforts to find consensual and constructive solutions to Haiti's ongoing governance challenges, through elections and through dialogue among interested parties. The members of the 'Core Group' deplore the recent acts of electoral violence and calls on the national authorities, political parties, candidates and supporters, and the electorate in general to participate in the electoral process with responsibility and restraint, so that the people of Haiti can express their will in a climate free of intimidation and violence." HL/ HaitiLibre The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is partnering with Integrity Music to release the new compilation album i am n on Feb. 12. The new record features music from All Sons & Daughters, The Brilliance, Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Travis Ryan, New Life Worship, WorshipMob, NCC Worship, Desperation Band, Rend Collective, Israel and New Breed and newly signed Integrity worship leader, Greg Sykes. The 12-track i am n album includes the song, "We Stand As One," performed by Sykes and written especially for the album by him along with Integrity A&R Director Steve Merkel, writer of "Lord Have Mercy," and Dove Award winner Don Poythress, who's also the songwriter behind country hits like Willie Nelson's "You Remain" and Easton Corbin's "A Little More Country Than That." The album brings to our awareness the fact that thousands of Christians have died at the hands of Muslim extremists, and the atrocities committed by terrorists continue to make headlines across the globe. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), a nonprofit that offers practical and spiritual help to persecuted Christians, has launched the "i am n" movement that has already generated over $5 million in aid for Christians who have been displaced by the self-proclaimed Islamic State known as ISIS. The "i am n" movement takes its name from the symbol used by ISIS militants to target believers. It began when ISIS militants moved into northern Iraq and began identifying Christian-owned property by painting the Arabic letter or "n" on homes and churches. This single letter conveyed the accusation that the occupants were "Nazarenes"-followers of Jesus of Nazareth rather than Islam-giving them the ultimatum to convert to Islam and stay in the community, leave, or die. Integrity Music worked with VOM to develop a soundtrack for the movement. Proceeds from the sale of all "i am n" related products will be used by Voice of the Martyrs to support persecuted Iraqi and Syrian Christians, including those fleeing Syria as refugees by providing temporary shelter, medical care, food, clothing, clean drinking water and more. In addition to the music, David C Cook published the book i am n: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists along with a 90-day companion devotional and related curriculum. The i am n book shares the real-life stories of Christians holding onto their faith in the midst of violence, fear and death. Readers will be inpspired, encouraged and challenged by the tremendous faith and courage of their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and motivated, enabled and equipped by the practical insight VOM provides at the conclusion of each story. Additional information on the "i am n" movement and ways that individuals and groups may help is available at https://www.i-am-n.com. Tags : Integrity Music i am n i am n new album Israel Houghton ll Sons & Daughters the brilliance lincoln brewster Paul Baloche travis ryan New Life Worship worshipmob ncc worship desperation band rend collective Israel and New Breed voice of martyrs martyrs muslim extremists By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/01/22 Soo-hyeon (played by Sung Joon) is a psychologist with an appallingly bad attitude. His scientific experiments are highly unethical, and to what end? So he can prove that love isn't real. Enter Hye-rim (played by Han Ye-seul), a fortuneteller who rather transparently uses cold reads to scam anyone who walks into her parlor. Yet Hye-rim is consistently able to make her patrons feel good about themselves- a fact which Soo-hyeon finds offensive, since the whole point of psychology is to make people appreciate their own depressed miserable existence. Advertisement "Madame Antoine" lays out its premise very efficiently. By the end of the episode Soo-hyeon and Hye-rim have been pushed into an antagonistic business relationship. Soo-hyeon is already scheming to try and find some way to use science to destroy Hye-rim's soul, because he's offended by their first confrontation where the obviously untrained Soo-hyeon managed to land some decent psychological punches at his backstory. Sung Joon is such an imminently compelling antagonist I keep having to double-back and remind myself that somehow Soo-hyeon is going to have to become the leading man for a romantic comedy. Goodness knows there are plenty of great background elements to work with. Han Ye-seul demonstrates some surprisingly good spoken French. It's not perfect, but Hye-rim does strike me as the kind of woman who would practice her basic French expressions a lot just for the sake of method acting. And then, of course, there's the obvious irony of how Hye-rim the scam artist is indisputably a better person ethically than Soo-hyeon, the Stanford graduate in good standing. The psychoanalytical aspect to "Madame Antoine" is especially interesting because of this cynical edge. Hongjacga Jin-ah has obviously done lots of research on psychology, yet "Madame Antoine" doesn't throw its weighty sounding academic material around in an effort to sound smart. To the contrary, the way Soo-hyeon always acts like a smug elitist is one of his more irritating qualities. He throws out interesting ideas and then refuses to explain them out of sheer dedication to jerkishness. While there have been a lot of Korean dramas dealing with psychology lately, the opening episode "Madame Antoine" stands out for having an usually well synthesized premise. Soo-hyeon and Hye-rim have wildly different life philosophies with no apparent visible middle ground, and every single possible client represents a potential war between their worldviews. It also helps that the jokes are funny- no easy feat given the script's tendency to deal with weighty matters of life and death. All in all, this is a pretty strong start. Review by William Schwartz "Madame Antoine" is directed by Kim Yoon-cheol, written by Hong Jin-ah and features Han Ye-seul, Sung Joon and Jeong Jinwoon Watch on Viki Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 13:46, 17 OCT 2022 Many have also been disappointed with the painstaking nature of the [asylum] process. There have been a lot of withdrawals between late last autumn and this winter, Juha Simila, a head of section at the asylum unit of Migri, said in a press conference on Friday. Iraqi asylum seekers have continued to withdraw their applications due to the hostile environment and climate in Finland, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) reports. The Finnish Immigration Service also reported that it granted a little over 20,000 residence permits in 2015, with Russians, Chinese and Indian representing the largest nationality groups among the successful applicants. Asylum seekers as a whole were the fourth largest group of successful applicants. The largest nationality groups among successful asylum seekers were Iraqis, with 652, Somalis, with 486, and Afghans, with 121 successful applicants. Finland also welcomed a total of 1,034 quota refugees from Lebanon, Egypt, Malawi, Zambia and Iran in 2015. The applications of 41 per cent, or 1,307, asylum seekers were turned down last year, according to Migri. 41 per cent of the decisions were negative. The number does not include people who withdrew their applications and decisions to leave an application unprocessed, such as decisions [made under the Dublin Regulation], and transfer it out of Finland, Simila told. A total of 7,466 asylum decisions were made in Finland in 2015, including 1,094 decisions to leave an application unprocessed under, for example, the Dublin Regulation. Migri also confirmed that more asylum seekers than ever before, a total of 32,476, entered Finland in 2015. The largest nationality group among the asylum seekers were Iraqis, with 20,485 applicants, followed by Afghans (5,214), Somalis (1,981) and Syrians (877). Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The mountain bikes are intended to make the gardai more visible Gardai have been equipped with 100 new mountain bikes in a bid to increase visibility, particularly in the Dublin region. More than one quarter of these new bikes will be given to garda stations in Dublin, after the plan was approved by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. The purchase brings the number of mountain bikes throughout the country to 564, according to figures obtained by the Herald. Ms Fitzgerald had previously expressed her wish to see the force deploy more gardai on mountain bikes in communities. The Dublin Mid-West TD believes that a greater use of bikes by gardai will help fight crime. Delivery "Subsequently, An Garda Siochana commenced a procurement process in November 2015 which resulted in the delivery of 100 mountain bikes," the minister's spokesman said. Separately, Labour Party backbencher Joe Costello has raised the issue of scrambler bikes in the north inner city. He was referring to an incident on Christmas Eve in which a young man was seriously injured when his scrambler bike crashed into a garda patrol car at the junction of Buckingham Street and Sean McDermott Street. "Year after year on Christmas Eve, we have mayhem in parts of the inner city and beyond as the streets are taken over by scrambler bikes," he said, calling for a plan to deal with the issue. Kenneth O'Brien, who gardai now believe had been laundering cash for a feared gang Photo: Tony Gavin Gardai believe a 33-year-old man, whose dismembered body was found in the Grand Canal, was murdered by a west Dublin crime gang over missing drugs cash. The new twist in the investigation emerged last night after gardai also received information that slain father-of-one Kenneth O'Brien had been laundering cash for the gang and had recently been seen in the area where his body was found. "This investigation is a lot closer to organised crime than gardai realised earlier in the week. The victim was involved in organised crime and was strongly connected to a significant gang," a source told the Herald. "In fact, investigations have established that he had been seen in the Ardclough area of Co Kildare on a number of occasions prior to his disappearance." Significant It is understood that Mr O'Brien had left Ireland for Australia, owing the gang a significant cash sum which he was due to "launder" for them, according to sources. He then returned home during the Christmas period and when he decided to stay in Dublin, the gang planned and carried out his murder, which is believed to have taken place on Friday night of last week. The west Dublin drugs mob that O'Brien is suspected of working for is based in Clondalkin and was previously involved in a bitter murderous feud in that area. Gardai searching for the rest of Mr O'Brien's remains discovered 50,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in a farmyard yesterday, which sources say may be connected to the brutal murder gang. The mutilated remains of the father-of-one were taken from the canal at Ardclough, Co Kildare on Saturday afternoon. While gardai previously said that he was not aware of any death threat, it has emerged that the victim and some of his acquaintances had been receiving threatening texts which may have been linked to his personal life. Gardai have investigated a large amount of "complicated" relationships that he was involved in, but have now concluded that the strongest line in the probe is that he is a gangland murder victim. Yesterday evening, gardai carried out a number of checkpoints in the Ardclough area in a bid to get additional information. Our reporter meets up with a drug dealer - who he met online - on O'Connell Street. No drugs were purchased Photo: Kevin Mc Nulty Our reporter meets up with a drug dealer - who he met online - on O'Connell Street. No drugs were purchased Photo: Kevin Mc Nulty Potentially lethal drugs are easily sourced from dealers online who are selling to users in Dublin city centre under the nose of gardai. A special investigation by the Herald has uncovered how within 24 hours of enquiring through Facebook where to buy drugs, a dealer is hand-delivering them on O'Connell Street. Where once young Irish teens had to have a personal link to a dealer - limiting their access to drugs - they now have access to dozens of potential sources over the internet. Drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and so-called party pills are all openly being marketed on social media. Devastating Security sources have claimed that dealers are increasingly taking advantage of social media and other websites to sell their products and avoid detection by gardai. Gardai believe a batch of potentially lethal ecstasy tablets, called Green Apple and Green Rolex, which caused a series of hospitalisations in 2014 were bought online. After logging on to a Facebook page which discussed drug use in Ireland, the Herald asked a number of users where drugs could be bought in the city centre. One Facebook user pointed out an ad on a popular sales website. The website was openly offering "pollen" for sale. Pollen is one of the strongest and most expensive types of cannabis resin for sale in Dublin. The ad read: "Lovely fresh pollen available city centre 50 a q. 100pc genuine and face to face meet no bulls**t no time wasters please." After a quick exchange of emails, the dealer - who used the name "Colm" - sent his mobile number and offered to meet the next day to sell us an ounce of cannabis (28 grams) for 180. He wrote: "let me know I'm around city centre. Before 2pm and I'll do an oz for 180. "Meet me at the GPO at 2pm." The following day at the meeting point a garda van (above) was parked just meters away in the centre of O'Connell Street. On his mobile phone, the dealer was undeterred and said: "Just walk towards the statute." After meeting, the dealer then pointed towards the road behind the closed Clerys department store, saying: "We can walk down the lane over there." Colm said he had been selling cannabis over Christmas period to make extra cash. "I have it there every second or third week, I get a little bit in. Dodgy "It's in the bag there pal, walk down there. There's 28 (grams) in there." He claimed he was looking to sell off his last ounce. "It's a bit [dodgy] meeting f**kers over the internet. You don't know who's who." The cannabis was never purchased. Cannabis is not the only drug being sold online. Drugs are still being openly sold on another popular website, which also hosts a series of "adult ads". One dealer - who uses the moniker "Charlie Sheen" - emails out a weekly product and price list to his customers. Last month, he wrote: "Added to stock 3mmc and weed cheese strain out of stock mdma, ket, upjohncoming soon flake coke, ket, d10, upjohn90, diclazepam." In one recent post, a dealer was offering to sell prescription drugs straight from the packet. Ray McAdam, a Fine Gael Councillor for north inner city, said that the easy accessibility of drugs would be a huge source of anxiety for parents. "The fact that you can pre-order your drug choice, akin to ordering a takeaway meal, is extremely worrying. That is why I want to see the National Drug Squad tackling the availability of these drugs, and making sure that social media companies are working closely with the gardai to stamp this activity out." Padres stun Phillies as big brother gets best of little brother The San Diego Padres stunned the Philadelphia Phillies in NLCS Game 2, scoring eight unanswered runs in a victory that evened up the playoff series. 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/ The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), acting on a petition demanding ban on vulgar scenes in two new Hindi films, Kya Cool Hain Hum 3 and Mastizaade. Promoted as Indias first porn-com Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 released this Friday, Sunny Leone-starrer Mastizaade is slated for next week. The authorities have been asked to file their replies by January 27. The high court was acting based on a petition filed by NGO, Raksha Jyoti Foundation. Read: Why obscenity sells in India? The petitioner had submitted that the promos of these films were full of double meaning dialogues and vulgarity. It said that the trailers of the films were proving to be an embarrassment for families who wanted to spend quality time by watching television together. The plea also said that such scenes spread through social media without any checks and were having a bad effect on the youth. Read: Sunny Leone proves we should be ashamed of sexism, not sex The petitioner argued that directions were required to be issued to the Union government through ministry of information and broadcasting and the censor board to take necessary steps to stop or ban the release of obscene scenes in both movies. So how does longform journalism lift reportage and take it beyond pedestrian daily news coverage? Thats what was discussed during a session on the form that brought together some of its best practitioners. News pieces have a life of about a day or two. Longform pieces, the best ones, are lasting. They have life that can be years long, says Atul Gawande, practicing surgeon and a staff writer at The New Yorker. Jonathan Shainin, the long reads editor at The Guardian and former senior editor at The Caravan, reminded panelists of the belief that once prevailed about the Internet being a threat to this kind of writing. Readers, however, returned to the form. In fact, people have come to realise that on the internet there is wave of undifferentiated content and these stories, that are unique and powerful, actually cut through that, he said. Read: JLF 2016: How bureaucracy is making Indian doctors leave the system Marie Brenner, American investigative journalist and writer-at-large for Vanity Fair, believes this is a complex moment in longform journalism. Brenners Vanity Fair article, The Man Who Knew Too Much was adapted into the 1999 film The Insider, which was based on the story of tobacco industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand. Media is getting redefined. In longform, you are able to bring emotions or psychology, and what your characters were thinking on critical, dramatic moments of a news event, she says adding that it sometimes take days to penetrate the psychological state of a character; to be able to penetrate their minds in these critical moments. It is not something that can be done effectively in a daily news story. Read: Much is forgotten about Pakistan because of terror: Reema Abbasi Session moderator Shainin alluded to the boom in longform in India and the conversation moved to the economic pressures facing media outlets and journalists who pursue it. Longform requires media outlets to invest both time and money something thats a challenge in the context of Indian journalism today. In such a context, how do writers keep it alive? It stays alive because people realise that there is distinct value to this, Shainin said Reporting the news in a newspaper is not cheap either. My point is, everyone is much more cost conscious these days than they used to be. Veteran literary journalist Alex Shoumatoff revealed just how exciting it was to work at The New Yorker in the 1980s -- that twilight era before the internet changed writers lives forever: There were no assignments. My editor, William Shawn, used to say that we are interested in whatever you are interested in. And I was interested in everything. For more JLF 2016 stories click here. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News / Africa by Staff reporter A group of commercial sex workers from Ngundu Business Centre in Chivi travelled to South Africa for a week on an exchange programme with their counterparts in that country.Batanai HIV and Aids Service Organisation (BHASO) field officer for Chivi District, Kumbirai Mahaso confirmed the trip to Pretoria and said that it was intended to see the sex workers sharing information with their counterparts in South Africa.Mahaso said the sex workers shared information on HIV and Aids, sexual reproductive rights, how they do advocacy platforms and their problems with the law particularly the arrests they face from the Police.The trip was sponsored by SAFAIDS and organised by South Africa's Centre for Positive Care.The workshop was held under the theme; Give me a voice and I will do it myself which meant that educate me on my rights and supply me with the right information and I will stand up for myself.In South Africa, the sex workers went on field visits during the night where they saw sex workers in that country at work. They also managed to come across mobile night clinics where various services including testing for various diseases are done on both the sex workers and their clients.In Zimbabwe night clinics are already operating in Gutu and these are sponsored by Medicines Sans Frontier (MSF).Mahaso said Ngundu was chosen for this exchange programme because it is estimated to have about 114 sex workers who get most of their business from truck drivers who ply the road between South Africa and Zimbabwe.Ngundu also has one of the highest rates of STI in the country. On certain issues Indians are over-sensitive, actor Kajol said on Saturday at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2016. Speaking at a press conference to release best-seller author Ashwin Sanghis latest book The Sialkot Saga, Kajol responded to a question on what she thought about the intolerance debate. There is a certain sensitivity in the country today, she said. Yes, we are over-sensitive but at the same time I think that as public personality, it is credit to our intelligence, we speak well and speak correctly, she added. Kajol responded to questions on intolerance after reporters kept on asking for her comments repeatedly. At first, she evaded the questions saying that in a literary festival the focus should be on books and their authors. The Jaipur Literature Festival 2016 has witnessed a range of comments on intolerance in the country, in the last two days. Film director Karan Johar had said on Thursday that the talk about freedom of expression is the biggest joke I believe in the world, adding that democracy was the second biggest joke. Read: Freedom of expression is the biggest joke in the world: Karan Johar I really wonder how are we really democratic? How is there freedom of expression? As a filmmaker, I feel bound at every level be it what I put out on celluloid or what I say in print, he added. In his conversation with Poonam Saxena who has penned his biography An Unsuitable Boy and author-columnist Shobhaa De, Johar said he felt he was living in a tough country where speaking about ones personal life can land people behind the bars. Kajol (centre) with author Ashwin Sanghi (right) and Sudha Sadhanand during the session The Sialkot Saga at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2016, in Jaipur, on Saturday. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo) Recently Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan found themselves in a controversy for speaking up against the growing intolerance in the country. Johar who has made films on issues such as homosexuality (Dostana) and relationships outside wedlock (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehana), said, I feel like there is always some kind of a legal notice awaiting me everywhere I go. Read: JLF 2016: If I want to eat beef I will, says Barkha Dutt Ive become some kind of an FIR king, Johar said referring to the controversy over the AIB roast, staged in Mumbai in 2015 which involved the western concept of insult comedy. On Friday, senior journalist Barkha Dutt said that murder of Mohammad Ikhlaq and the suicide of a Dalit student in Hyderabad were inflection points in the contemporary history of India. For more JLF 2016 stories click here. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indias implementation of the Forward Policy served as a major provocation to China in September 1962. Indias Fourth Division was stationed near the juncture of the western end of the McMahon Line with the small kingdom of Bhutan. As in many other parts of the border, the exact demarcation of the McMahon Line was unclear here. In principle the border was supposed to run along the ridge line separating the Himalayas from the descent into Assam, but in this area the McMahon Line did not align with the ridgeline, but ran south of it. The Fourth Division was ordered to move forward to the Thag La ridge (also called Thagla) in territory the Chinese regarded as theirs. Brigadier John P Dalvi commanded the Seventh Brigade of the Fourth Division that was instructed to move to the Thag La ridge. He reported to New Delhi that his forces were outnumbered and poorly supplied. While the Chinese soldiers had winter clothing and a supply depot immediately behind their front lines, the Indian troops were dressed in summer uniforms. He urged caution. Instead Nehru and Defense Minister Krishna Menon decided to press the Indian claim and ordered the army high command on September 9, 1962, to carry out Operation Leghorn to take control of Thag La ridge. This order was typical of the approach that the Army HQ was to take throughout the war. It responded dutifully to the political requirements of the government, but disregarded elementary military considerations. A senior Indian general, BM Kaul, was given overall command in NEF. Kaul was a cousin of Nehru and was not highly regarded by his fellow officers, who regarded him as a political appointee without serious military experience. Read: Eat Dust: Mining and Greed in Goa is one courageous book Mao probably finalized the decision to go to war in a meeting in Beijing on October 6 with his senior generals. Mao told them that China had defeated Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists, Imperial Japan, and the United States in Korea. Now Nehru sticks his head out and insists on us fighting him: for us not to fight with him would not be friendly enough. Courtesy demands reciprocity. The Peoples Liberation Army was ordered to impose a fierce and painful blow on India and expel India from the territory China claimed in Kashmir west of the Johnson Line and in NEFA south of the McMahon Line. On October 8 the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Soviet ambassador in Beijing that a massive attack by China was imminent. Because the Soviets were engaged in their own high-stakes gamble in Cuba, Moscow did not discourage the Chinese... JFKs Forgotten Crisis; Tibet, the CIA, and the Sino-Indian War Maos focus was on Nehru, but a defeat of India would also be a setback for two of Maos other enemies: Khrushchev and Kennedy. Humiliating India would demonstrate that Chinas hardline foreign policy and ruthless determination to communize itself on its own without the aid of Soviet advisers was a superior strategy to Khrushchevs more moderate policies. Mao knew that Moscows half-hearted support for his war with India was likely to last only as long as the Cuba crisis, and humiliating India would send a tough message to Moscow. At the same time defeating India would answer the question Kennedy had raised in his 1959 speech in the Senate about which country, democratic India or communist China, was poised to win the race for great power status in Asia. For Mao, the conflict with India provided a surrogate for his rivalry with Moscow and with Washington. Read: I am interested in both the world wars, says author Shrabani Basu On October 10, 1962, the PLA struck first, pushing back Dalvis patrol with superior force. Dalvi later reported that Kaul said, Oh my God, youre right; they (the Chinese) mean business, and he rushed back to New Delhi to report the situation. The very next day Kaul met with Nehru and the senior Indian leadership, proposing that India should seek speedy and copious military assistance from the United States. Kauls proposals included setting up a temporary dictatorship in India, asking South Korea and Taiwan to attack China, and requesting that the United States Launch massive air attacks on China from bases in India. Nehru rejected these hysterical ideas and insisted that Operation Leghorn continue. The next morning Nehru left for a three-day visit to Ceylon. At the airport Nehru told the press, Our instructions are to free our territory, I can not fix a date; that is entirely for the army. Thus Nehru ignored the advice of his generals on the scene and instead listened to the top brass in New Delhi. This was a serious mistake. The Indian and international media interpreted Nehrus remarks at the airport en route to Ceylon as an ultimatum to China. On Saturday morning, the Char Bagh hall was packed with those awaiting French rock-star economist Thomas Piketty, whose work on inequality has taken the world by storm. Piketty soon walked up to the stage accompanied by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, political commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta and British journalist Sebastian Mallaby and released the Hindi edition of his bestselling Capital in the 21st Century. A monumental thesis on inequality that looks at both the historical and economic contexts, one of its central themes is to do with how, in an economy where the rate of return on capital is more the rate of growth, inherited wealth would always grow faster than earned wealth. Excerpts from an interview on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2016. Congratulations on the success of your book. Youve been called a rock-star economist and the Karl Marx of the 21st century. How do you wear these labels? Thank you. The book has sold almost 2.2 million copies, and only one-fourth of that is in the English language. The sale of the copies in Chinese, Japanese and Brazilian, among other languages, forms the remaining three-quarters of total sales. This reflects some sort of democratisation of economic knowledge and Im very happy with that the kind of success. And no, life hasnt changed. I think Im the same teaching, family and children. Read: JLF 2016: If I want to eat beef I will, says Barkha Dutt What are your thoughts on the massive inequalities that haunt Indian society? India has to curb its inequality if it wants to compete with the rich countries of the world and if it wants to become one of the powerful nations. The problem with India is extreme inequality along with its legacy of caste discrimination. Its high time that Indian elites realise that it takes major social and economic reforms to curb inequality. Inequality leads to violence, taking different forms in different countries. When you have extreme inequality, it causes disruptions of peaceful institutions and smooth working of policies. You once said that the Islamic State in West Asia is also a result of gross inequality. In my country or in America, the extreme right-wing blames foreigners and Muslims for many of their problems. Similarly, in the Middle East you have fascist ideologies, which encourage people to blame certain groups for their problems. Like that, in India, blaming people for eating beef and other kind of identity politics grows when you have extreme inequality. Read: Intolerance row: Indians oversensitive on certain issues, says Kajol You have spoken about the lack of data on inequality in India. In India, the lack of transparency affects the study of inequality. For instance, to understand the relationship between caste discrimination and economic inequality, you need to have proper data. There is no transparency on income tax data either. If India wants to reduce inequality, it has to become more transparent. Do you believe capitalism is leading us to a dystopian future? India should use the next 20 or 30 years to increase the state capability to invest in sectors like health and education. Otherwise, there will be tensions; politics of hate and divisions between religious groups will increase and some people will try to prey on these clashes. For more JLF 2016 stories click here. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON All the hot-button topics of the day, including Rohith Vemulas suicide, the ongoing intolerance debate, and India-Pakistan relations against the backdrop of the Pathankot terror attacks, were discussed during a session entitled The Need to Listen: Dialogue versus Rhetoric that was moderated by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Vemulas suicide, which has led to calls for the resignations of Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya for allegedly playing a part in his death, has been cropping up during sessions focused on the current state of the nation. Former BJP spokesperson Pinky Anand insisted that Rohith Vemulas death should not be termed an anti-Dalit exercise. Anand commented that such cases, though unfortunate, should not be classified on a community or religious basis. Dalit writer and activist P Sivakami was quick to react. We are not talking in the air. Classifications exist and we must acknowledge it, she said speaking about her own experience of working in the Tamil Nadu government as an IAS officer. Even there, she said, such categorizations definitely played a role. Read: JLF 2016: If I want to eat beef I will, says Barkha Dutt Sudheendra Kulkarni, who has been a victim of intolerance, suggested that extreme combativeness was an alien trait. If we continue on the path of intolerance and confrontation then India will not be the India that we all know of, said the author and columnist, who had ink thrown in his face by Shiv Sena activists for organising the launch of Pakistans former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuris book. We need to create again the culture of dialogue which was the hallmark of our freedom movement he said. Read: Freedom of expression is the biggest joke in the world: Karan Johar Kulkarni also pitched for an open dialogue between India and Pakistan and stressed the need to resolve the contentious Kashmir issue. Then addressing Tharoor, he added For the Kashmir issue to be resolved, before we have an India-Pakistan dialogue, we need to have a Congress-BJP dialogue. Not one to be outdone, Tharoor announced that the Modi government wasnt a game changing government but a name changing government. For more JLF 2016 stories click here. The Indian Muslim population is somewhat greater than the total population of Germany and France today. That being the case, how can research based on a sample of only a few thousands in the Jamia neighbour hood represent the entire community spread across diverse regions of India? Despite this rather obvious unrepresentative nature of the sample, the book, Beyond Hybridity and Fundamentalism, does shed crucial insights into the Muslim question in general and the Muslim identity debate in particular. At this stage, it is worth recalling one of the earliest researches on the subject by WW Hunter titled, Indian Musalmans (1871), based on fieldwork in the then Bengal. Generalisations arising out of it are widely employed in the writings on Indian Muslims even today. Hunters work was a response to the colonial governments attempt to understand the Muslims rebellious psyche during the post-Mutiny era of British rule. Beyond Hybridity seems to be guided by an intellectual curiousity in the context of the fast-changing Indian political economy in which the market and consumerism have become integral parts. Employing the Jamia neighbourhood as a field, this book seeks to address the changes taking place in the young Muslims shifting social, cultural and ideological life. At the end, it argues the following: first, interactions with modernity by Muslims has created a new hybrid that the author describes as convoluted modernity. Second, it recognises that while Muslim youths are attracted to new forces of modernisation, they are also very resistant to changes imposed by Hindutvavadi. It further notes growing anxiety among the older generations about these changes seen among youths as they find them moving away from the traditional environment and thus from their culture. Read: Rashtrapati Bhavan: Of state guests and other tales from Raisina Hill The book begins with penetrating interrogation of some of the major arguments over identity and culture. According to the author, The focus on how the Muslim youths expectations are being shaped at the intersections of local realities and mythical imaginaries, ideologies, lifestyles, selfhoods presented by global narratives helps demonstrate the Indian Muslim communitys investment in Indias express destiny (as opposed to their presumed disconnect) and these proofs of engagement help in making a more substantive claim for their rights as equal citizens, which the scholarship mapping Muslim disempowerment and impoverishment has been unable to do. One major limitation of scholarly writings on Indian Muslims has been that the issues of north Indian Muslims are invariably presented as their key issues. What is often barely recognised in such claims is that Kerala Muslims are very different from Muslims from Rajasthan or Kashmir or Assam. Lucknow and Hyderabad are important epicentres of Muslim politics or culture, but they are far from representative of pan-Indian Muslim identity. There are issues of politics as well as sub-culture. This research neither overcomes nor explains why a study based on a neighbourhood in north India should automatically address such investigations. Two chapters in this book, however, clearly stand out and are worth reading: the chapter that addresses the issue of identity in the context of MTV and PeaceTV, and the other, on the womens question. The author discusses in details various issues and situations that young people face and also presents a long narrative about the impact of Peace TV and of Dr Zakir Naik, its presenter. Furthermore, she reflects on how Jamia Millia Islamia as an institution plays an important role in shaping the dreams of local people and serves as the main window to modernity. She concludes by saying that Muslim youths address their question of being both Muslim and modern by borrowing forms and practices from consumerist modernity to rewrite their religious identity. Beyond Hybridity and Fundamentalism: Emerging Muslim Identity in a Globalized India The chapter on Muslim women and how they deal with the issues of identities is perhaps the most important part from the point of view of theoretical arguments. In it, she formulates the notion of convoluted identities, which is some kind of a consciousness which while acknowledging modernitys myriad projects, has garnered enough confidence to question the significance and meaning of many of its established forms. That sounds persuasive. What we need to ask, however, are the following questions: how unique is the Muslim women experience in the context of convoluted modernity? What about other women, say tribal or Dalit, or even women of other religious minority groups such as Sikhs. How does the story fare in the comparative scenarios? Conceptually, if there is something called, convoluted modernity, there could also be convoluted traditions. How do all these forms of modernity and traditions interact and shape the discourse of identity in our time? These are important questions for research. The most crucial finding in this research, however, is the claim that Muslim youths want to end their isolation on their own terms. It indicates the arrival of a new Muslim personality that is confident and also seeking to negotiate with challenges posed by modernity. Read: Crossover connections: Shaping Indian and Chinese diasporas Indeed, it is encouraging to learn more and more research is conducted in the Jamia neighbourhood. For instance, there is an another book by Nida Kirmani, Questioning the Muslim Woman: Identity and Insecurity in a Urban Indian Locality (Routledge 2013).However, for wider understanding of the Muslim identity, it is also important to include new neighbourhoods from new regions to make a more convincing case. All in all, scholars would definitely find this research on Indian Muslims, particularly its attempt to grasp the changing notion of identity in the context of transformations unfolding in Indias political economy enormously rewarding. (Shaikh Mujibur Rehman teaches at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. He is the author of Communalism in Postcolonial India: Changing Contours) He began his career in the 90s as an actor, but failed. Then he returned as a director, and could have vanished. But after his debacle of a debut, writer and director Abhishek Kapoor made Rock On!! (2008), a film that not only won several awards including one for best story, but also marked the debut of director Farhan Akhtar as an actor. Kai Po Che (2013), another compelling story, had Sushant Singh Rajput make his debut. And now, Kapoor is ready with Fitoor, based on one of the greatest novels in the world Charles Dickens Great Expectations. We met Kapoor in Delhi for a tete-a-tete over coffee. Excerpts: You were an actor before you became a director. Why did you decide to shift roles? I began acting in the mid 90s which were really dark times for Hindi cinema. There was just mainstream Bollywood and a small segment of arthouse cinema. Of the few movies I did, two or three didnt see the light of day. It was very disheartening. So I quit Bollywood and wrote a story about an underdog sportsman Aryan. I identified with the story. And I felt I should make this film myself, even though I had no formal training in direction. It took me five years to complete the film Aryan, with Sohail Khan in the lead, because I didnt have funds. The promos started in January (2006), but the film finally released in December. I was advised not to release the film. People said, you are already known as a failed actor, now dont be known as a failed director. But I couldnt start with anything new till I completed this project. It was like trying to get pregnant when you already have a baby inside. Eventually, the film was delivered and I wrote Rock On!!, which became a hit and changed my life. How does the film industry treat failure? Bollywood can be very unkind to people who are not successful. Since I was born and brought up in Mumbai (my mother is Jeetendras sister), I always wanted to be an actor. When my career collapsed, I didnt have anywhere else to go. If you are an outsider, you can at least go back home. In the film industry, if you fail, you are made to feel bad about it. You cant escape it; its isolating and discouraging. And it hurt my parents too to see someone young, frustrated and directionless can be disheartening for parents because they dont know how to help their child. But you have to come out of it on your own. Failure makes you a stronger person. Your films Rock On!! and Kai Po Che were on the theme of friendship. Fitoor, your new film, is a romance. As a director, what do you like? Rock On!! and Kai Po Che may have had friendship as their theme, but their characters came from different social strata. Rock On!! had rock music as a background, was more upmarket and aspirational. Kai Po Che was more about the heart of India, with the earthquake and the riots in the background. Its all about love: While Fitoor (below) is more about the repercussions of love, Kai Po Che (above) talked about friendship between three friends. Fitoor is not just a romance. Its about love and about the repercussions of love. Love and heartbreak go hand in hand. Love can uplift you or destroy you. When you fall in love, you let her or him inside your vulnerable space. Once the person comes in, she or he can make you or break you. And that can have repercussions. Heartbreak or bitterness could permeate every cell of your existence, and affect people around you including your children, and also affect how they respond to love in their lives. This idea had been with me since I finished Kai Po Che. Fitoor is based on Charles Dickens Great Expectations. Have you adapted it for the Indian audience? The characters and dynamics are similar, but adapted for an Indian audience. It was written 150 years ago, so weve adapted the book for the present. Also, Ive made changes. For example, I dont clearly understand Miss Havisham. Just to say she was mad because she was jilted at the altar is not enough. You have to understand the nature of her madness what happens to her so weve added value to the story by adding to her part. We are all products of our environment and our upbringing. Estella/Firdaus (Katrina Kaifs character) wasnt born like that. The mothers fears are passed on to the daughter, she is brought up a certain way, but even she doesnt realise why she is like that. She has been programmed to think the world is a very cruel place, so she comes across as heartless. It wont be difficult to understand the story if you havent read the book, because I detached myself from it. Why dont more filmmakers adapt books by Indian writers? You are not looking at adapting writers, but stories. So where they come from is not important. If its relatable to the Indian audience, I will go for it. What made you cast Katrina Kaif with Aditya Roy Kapur? My story is an ensemble, a story of love between three people. But Katrina and Aditya provide the romantic angle. This is the first time Katrina is attempting something not completely mainstream. She is beautiful and a big star. That automatically makes her aspirational, and thats what I needed for the character. So half the battle is won with the casting alone. She works very hard. We spoke a lot, we jammed, did readings. When I first met Aditya, I thought he was a handsome boy. Hes a Bombay boy, so he had to do a workshop to speak at the slower pace of his Kashmiri character. A still from Fitoor. Wasnt Rekha the original choice to play Hazrat Begum, (based on Miss Havisham), the role that eventually went to Tabu? When she came on board, Rekha was ready to do anything. Theoretically, we agreed on everything, but when we started the film, we had some creative differences. So we decided it would be best to work together on some other project. Thankfully, Tabu was available and she came on board in three days. She is an old friend of mine. We discovered so much about this character together. What led to your fallout with Farhan Akhtar over Rock On!! 2? I wrote the earlier drafts of Rock On!! 2 to direct myself. Its my child; it was written in that spirit. The fight was about the credit. Thats why I decided to go to court and get my right. As far as my relationship with Farhan is concerned, we made a very special movie together and that is the core of our relationship. I remember that equation. I dont think relationships should stand only on one leg. Relationships are based on many pillars. Follow @VeenuSingh12 on Twitter From HT Brunch, January 24, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Over the last fortnight, I have been to three restaurants in Delhi. The first was the opening of Zorawar Kalras Farzi Cafe in Connaught Place. The second was lunch at the (also new) Biryani Blues (also in Connaught Place, which is undergoing a renaissance). The third was an old favourite, Royal China in Nehru Place, which is now six years old. All three were excellent. I actually preferred the new Farzi to the Gurgaon original. For one, it looks better. It is a lovely atmospheric room, with nooks and crannies, in an old Connaught Place building. For another, the food is even better. Chef Saurabh has finally come into his own under Zorawars watchful eye and some of the new dishes he has created (including a fabulous pork tikka) will become classics. Biryani Blues. (Photo: Waseem Gashroo) Biryani Blues also started out in Gurgaon as a takeaway operation serving authentic Hyderabadi cuisine, but has now opened its first proper restaurant-seating outlet, with much the same menu. The chicken biryani was outstanding and they have taken the trouble to cook their biryanis the authentic Hyderabadi way, which is to say that they cook raw meat and rice together. North Indian biryanis, on the other hand, tend to be assembled with the rice and meat having been cooked separately. And then, of course, theres Royal China. It is a giant restaurant and when I first went, I looked at the location (it occupies a high floor in an office building), and wondered how they would ever be able to fill it up. But they have. And theyve not compromised on the food either. I had some interesting dishes: a cylinder of minced chicken with an eggplant casing, good char siu pork and excellent duck. Plus, they are one of only three restaurants I know in Delhi (the others are Setz and Yauatcha) that serve cheung fun (a crepe-like dim sum made from rice starch). That all three restaurants were so good was gratifying. But it was while eating at Royal China that I began to think. Does nobody open restaurants any longer? I wondered. Do they just open chains? Think about it. The Connaught Place Farzi Cafe is Zorawars second. There will be three new Farzis this year: in Bombay, Dubai and probably, Bangalore. The following year, there will be even more. Zorawar will also editionalise his Masala Library. He plans to open an elegant fine-dining version on Janpath in Delhi this year. One of a kind or one of many? That Farzi Cafe (above), Royal China and Biryani Blues (top) were so good was gratifying. But I began to think, Does nobody open restaurants any longer? Do they just open chains? (Photo by Saumya Khandelwal/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) Biryani Blues was always intended to be a takeaway chain. The Connaught Place restaurant is the flagship for the brand. But from the time the first outlet opened in Gurgaon, the owners were clear that they would open at least five or six. (And now, they think they will open more). Royal China is a chain with many outlets in London. It has branches around the world (including Dubai, Bombay and Poona) and the Delhi operation, which is owned and run by Ashita Relhan, is a franchise, with the London-based owners of the brand sending chefs, checking out menus and supervising standards. But even within that larger global picture, Ashita is keen to expand within the NCR and open a new Royal China. When did this happen? There was a time when foodies and entrepreneurs dreamt of opening a single restaurant and making it the best in the world. Chefs would long for the day they could open a restaurant that embodied their vision. But now, nobody wants to open a single restaurant. They want to open many restaurants, all with the same name and the same menu. My sense is that all this is a consequence of globalisation, of better communication and, of course, of the rise of the big-money private-equity boys. At one level, there have always been restaurant chains. Everybody in the food business knows the story of how Ray Kroc, who sold milkshake machines, was intrigued to discover that one restaurant was doing so well that it kept ordering more machines. Kroc checked out the restaurant, found it was a hamburger place owned by the McDonald brothers. He bought into the brand, replicated that restaurant all over America and, eventually, all over the world. So the fast-food industry has worked on a formula that involves creating a successful concept, building the brand and then replicating that concept at thousands of restaurants. But fast food is not great food and the basis of the McDonalds/KFC kind of place is that it is idiot-proof. All the ingredients are pre-packaged and the processes are so strong that not only do you not need a chef, even a monkey could cook the food. The next tier of table-service chains (TGIF, Pizza Hut, Chilis) operates on the same basic formula: a chimpanzee can stand in for the chef and nobody would know the difference. But over the years, the idea that all restaurants can be replicated has grown in popularity. At one level, it makes sense. So much effort goes into getting a single restaurant right that it seems a shame to not get two or three restaurants (or even a dozen) out of it. Once the creative work is done and the menu is finalised, it becomes so much easier to replicate an existing success rather than open a new place. There is also the power of branding. To some extent that has always mattered. In the Fifties and the Sixties, middle-class Americans believed that Howard Johnson motels guaranteed a certain level of comfort and hygiene. Today Oyo Rooms has filled that slot in India. So it was with restaurants. Why did our ancestors go to a Kwality? They knew the name and were sure that whether it was Bombay or Ajmer, Kwality would stand for a level of predictable mediocrity. In todays world, branding is everything. Take hotels. In the Seventies, for instance, the great hotels never liked to announce they were part of a chain. In London, Claridges, The Savoy and The Connaught had the same owners. But each sold itself individually. By the Seventies, Hong Kongs Mandarin had already bought into the company that owned Bangkoks The Oriental. But The Oriental resolutely refused to acknowledge that it was part of a chain. So it was with New Yorks Waldorf Astoria, which concealed the fact that it was, effectively, a Hilton hotel. No longer. In todays world, customers are looking for familiarity. They like the fact that such names as Waldorf Astoria, Raffles, St. Regis or Mandarin Oriental no longer refer to the original properties but chains. Each name has now become a brand. We live in a brand-driven society, cling to advertised names, and are less willing to experiment with something that is unfamiliar. Plus, theres the power of communication. People who have never been to Nobu know what the restaurant serves. Hardly anyone in Bombay has been to the Cyber Hub Farzi. But it is one of the most anticipated openings of the year in that city. The great French chefs (Joel Robuchon, Pierre Gagnaire, Alain Ducasse, etc.) were able to turn their names into brands even among people who had never eaten their food. At present, no Indian chef here or abroad (with the possible exception of Gaggan Anand) is well-known enough for people to come to his or her restaurant only because of the power of the brand. But I am willing to bet that within a couple of years that will change too. My name on the doors: Alain Ducasse (above) and Joel Robuchon (below) have turned their names into brands even among people who have never eaten their food. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Zero Point Zero Productions) And finally, theres the money aspect. Private equity is now fascinated by the restaurant business. The money boys will back new ventures with an enthusiasm that was previously absent. But heres the thing: few of these guys will back a single restaurant. To attract funding you have to show them how you will start with four outlets in the first year, expand to 12 in the second and so on. The new rule of thumb is: open one restaurant and nobody in the private equity world will take your call. Say you will open a dozen and the money boys will whoop with joy and chase you around the block. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appetit) (Getty Images for Vegas Uncork'd) The consequence of all this is that the individual restaurant is slowly dying. Everything will become a chain or a mini-chain. The scene will be dominated by people like Riyaz Amlani or my friend, Manu Chandra, who is not only a brilliant chef but has proved to be an astute restaurateur. It is the restaurant companies like Anjan Chatterjees Speciality Restaurants and Lite Bite Foods (run by Amit Burman and Rohit Agarwal) that will call the shots. Is this a good thing? I am neutral on the issue. In my heart, I still like the idea of restaurants that are run by individuals with passion, who come in each morning and look forward to welcoming guests, rather than those run by corporate chains. But that is a romantic idea. And the restaurant business today is about realism not romance! From HT Brunch, January 24, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Kalki Koechlin on the three people from history who shed love to invite for dinner. Plus, things that perk her up when shes blue. Birthday: January 10 Sun sign: Capricorn Place of birth: Kottakuppam, Pondicherry Hometown: Pondicherry School/college: Hebron School, Ooty and Goldsmiths, University of London First break: Ive done some terrible teleshopping advertisements, but Dev D (2009) would be it High point of your life: When I turned 30 two years ago. Lifes been amazing since Low point of your life: When I moved to London for university. I was 18, clueless and felt very lonely Currently I am... Doing the look test for my next film, Death on the Ganj. Its directed by Konkona Sen Sharma and I play a character from the 1970s A favourite boarding school memory. Bingeing on cheese toast, and going trekking to Madumali, on the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. You made your directorial debut on the stage with The Living Room. Biggest takeaway from the experience? Its hard work. You oversee the set design, the actors, the music, and take spontaneous decisions. I have new-found respect for directors now. Directors or playwrights who have influenced you/your work. Woody Allen. I love Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Penelope Cruz in the latter is a dream role. Also, Oscar Wilde. One book that made you see the world differently. JD Salingers Catcher in the Rye. I was in my teens when I read it, so the idea of philosophy who had control of your life, is there a god touched a chord. How was it working with Naseeruddin Shah in Waiting, your upcoming film? While hes super prepared before a take, he also manages to infuse something random. No two takes are similar with him. Looking back on marriage... I think marriage is more of a social conduct. Im not particularly fond of the institutional aspect. With Anurag and I, the emotional pressure is out now, so were great friends. Favourite feminists. Karuna Nandy, Patricia Arquette, late Joan of Arc (French feminist) and Sister Nivedita. Three people from history youd love to invite to dinner. Joan of Arc, Jim Morrison and Albert Einstein, an odd combination but I would love to hear them talk to one another. The weirdest thing a fan has done. One of them sent me some really intense meditation CDs and books on healing the soul. Very spiritual fan, I must say. The most common remark you encountered growing up as a white girl in India. There were too many. Do you like India/spicy food?, Where are you from? America. Because Im white, people would be flirtatious and say Hey cutie/ beauty. If you could time travel, what era/decade would you like to be in? The 20s, because it was that time after WWI when everyone was out on the streets and enjoying themselves. It was a great time for womens liberation, with the flapper girls and Virginia Woolf. Also the 60s, since Im a huge fan of the music... you had Woodstock. What perks you up when youre blue? Sex. If thats not an option, then a bubble bath. I dont have a bath tub at home so thats the first thing I do when at a hotel. The last line of your autobiography would read... I told you I wasnt feeling well. * My favourites Side of the bed: Left Song of the moment: A Sorta Fairytale by Tori Amos Thing to do when no ones watching: Dance to really loud music Best Part about winter: Your hair sits nice Beauty trick: No make-up From HT Brunch, January 24, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anyone else might be exhausted by now, but not Tannishtha Chatterjee. Over the last two years, this darling of the festival circuit, has been working non-stop. Last year she was on screen in Gour Hari Dastaan, Angry Indian Goddesses, and more recently in Chauranga. This year, youll watch her in Parched and Island City. She is working on a Hollywood project with Nicole Kidman called Lion, playing the lead in Lucy Lius directorial debut Meena, and romancing Brett Lee in UnIndian. Perhaps the 35-year-old actress needs to slow down! But no. You can tell that such a thought has not occurred to Chatterjee. She moved to Mumbai from Delhi in 2003 to work in films. Shes living her dreams. So why stop? Destinys child I was very lucky, says Chatterjee. My first film, Swaraj, released the same year I arrived in Mumbai, and went on to win the National Award. Then came Shadows of Time (2005) by Oscar-winning director Florian Gallenberger. And the rest just followed. International projects poured in, starting with the Indo-French production Let the Wind Blow (2004) that won the best film award at the Durban International Film Festival in 2005. After a few years and a best actress award (for Bibar) at the Osian Film Festival in 2006, she did Sarah Gavrons Brick Lane, and the film catapulted her into the mainstream. In 2013, Chatterjee became the only Indian actress to have her films screened at all the three major international film festivals: Monsoon Shootout at Cannes and Siddharth at Venice and Toronto. The acting bug None of this might have happened had Chatterjee not suddenly told her parents that her future lay in drama, not science. Oh, her family had nothing against movies. In fact, Chatterjee grew up watching the Bengali staples, the auteurs and old Hollywood and Polish cinema. I was exposed to great literature and music from early on, but those were all considered hobbies, she says. Science was the profession. Then suddenly I decided to take up acting. Never was Bollywood on the agenda.I was hoping to act in films of the Italian greats and Polish legends like Krzysztof Zanussi and Andrzej Wajda, no less, she laughs. But I have enjoyed even the disillusionment process! In August company So far, the disillusionment hasnt been too intense. Chatterjee has worked with actors like Jude Law and Kiera Knightley (in the 2006 film Anna Karenina), and her frequent collaborators back home include Naseeruddin Shah, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Irrfan. I am blessed when it comes to co-actors. Their tips helped me in the early years of my career, she says. Naseer saab had once told me that when the script is well written, less is more. Dont act. Just do what is written. She followed that advice while playing a mother of a young boy in Chauranga. She is responsible and has her own problems, but she is a rangeen and chatpata character. The script was so comprehensive, all I did was follow it. Portraying life in a metro: Tannishtha Chatterjee plays one of the protagonists in Ruchika Oberois soon-to-be-released directorial debut, Island City. The film won the Fedora prize at the 72nd Venice Film Festival. Though she isnt fond of rehearsals, she does what the project demands. Island City is a film in which I speak just about five or six sentences. It is all very internal. So Ruchika (Oberoi, the director of the film) and I had a long discussion that helped us understand each other and the character better, and then when we shot, it all came very organically. But then there are films that require you to be spontaneous, such as Angry Indian Goddesses. Bollywood calling? Chatterjees roles thus far have steered clear of the Bollywood cliche. Shes been a Bangladeshi immigrant in London in Brick Lane, a prostitute-turned-caregiver in Anna Karenina, a rural widow in Parched, and a high-class call girl in Bibar. So, what keeps her away from mainstream cinema? I have nothing against it. To me Bollywood is a style of filmmaking; it is larger-than-life and a celebration of life. It is just that I always had exciting work and those happened to be non-Bollywood projects. Follow @ananya1281 on Twitter From HT Brunch, January 24, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Oscars are round the corner and there has been much heartburn that no person of colour has been nominated in any category. All I can say is that the selection has been made on grounds of quality and this extreme political correctness is frankly quite silly. But above all, dear reader, be thankful that we get to see quality films, many of them disturbing, thanks to a process which values excellence in cinematography and acting and is not guided by public sentiment. This amorphous public sentiment seems to have an overweening influence on those who man our censor board or rather the Central Board for Film Certification. So much so that information and broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley himself has had to step in to put an end to the arbitrary depredations of its somewhat overenthusiastic head Pahlaj Nihalani. The minister rightly has sought that the censor board be controversy-free it has been anything but that under the redoubtable Mr Nihalani. In this day and age, when films and documentaries are freely available on social media, it seems to me a little archaic that a small huddle of people are screening films and deciding what is fit to watch and for whom. Mr Nihalani is particularly sensitive to a host of issues. In the Bond film Spectre his eagle eye fell on a somewhat lengthy kissing scene which he snipped to an appropriate length in one stroke. He also displayed a propensity to substitute unsuitable words with ones which bear no resemblance to the original word or indeed make any sense at all. One mild cuss word was replaced by cats to the bafflement of viewers. A panel headed by eminent film maker Shyam Benegal has now been constituted to look into the issue of certification, please note, not censorship. Mr Benegal certainly knows his onions as do his colleagues on the panel. All great films have thrived on creative licence. Imagine a film like Pulp Fiction being shorn of its disturbingly violent scenes because it might offend some fainthearted soul. Even the Last Temptation of Christ, against which many of the faithful railed, was screened because it was seen to depict events which had historical authenticity. I can think of so many such movies. When I was a child, I remember making a heartfelt plea to be allowed to see the Exorcist, only to be firmly put down by my mother. The film played for weeks in the local theatre with the appropriate certification, which kept me out. Imagine the dystopian satirical film A Clockwork Orange without its violence or Last Tango in Paris with truncated sex scenes. I am not suggesting that anything goes. But it is not the job of the CBFC to tailor films for suitable viewing, it is to certify the film for universal or adult viewing. I am sure it is well within its rights to make suggestions to film makers if a scene or two are thought to be beyond the bounds of public decency or are propagating negative ideas. But there it should end. In the American system, a film can opt to not be certified at all providing that this is stated clearly. In the UK, certification is done by an autonomous body called the British Board of Film Certification. It is not the job of the censor to ensure public morality or preserve religious sensibility as it is being done here. In a bizarre turn of events, the regional censor board in Karnataka has taken grave objection and refused to certify some films depicting the lives of reformers from an earlier age who actually fought superstition. I find it hilarious that the promotion of rationality in a film should be found more offensive than a political leader with snakes wrapped around his neck or conducting expensive yagnas in a state which is reeling from drought. I have often heard people asking why our films dont fare too well on the international stage. I know that our song and dance formula and family values are tried and tested themes. But, barring a few, our films are not breaking any creative barriers. It took a foreigner to make a film like Slumdog Millionaire on very Indian themes. A foreigner has made the hugely enjoyable Best Exotic Marigold Hotel again in India and on an Indian theme. I will bet you my bottom dollar that if a genuinely creative film were made which has a religious or sexual theme, our censors would get all sniffy about it. What Mr Jaitley has done is to move one step closer to giving young film makers a chance to unleash their creativity without the snipping sound of Mr Nihalanis scissors in the background. To get back to Spectre, it could easily be downloaded and watched in its unedited form. And honestly, I can see that many great film makers may not even want their films to be screened here if silly cuts and needless words are substituted in them. Many of our own film makers have confessed to being baffled by the cuts imposed by the censors. They have said that often these have disrupted the flow of the film and made it jumpy and odd. This is the time to revamp the entire certification process. It should not comprise political appointees who know nothing about films or the process. Facing a rather belligerent television anchor, Mr Nihalani confessed his ignorance about a number of iconic films thrown at him. I would imagine that the first qualification of a certifying authority would be a sound knowledge of the subject. The other day I watched a re-run of the Gladiator, for which Russell Crowe won an Oscar award. The scenes of gladiatorial contests in ancient Rome were gory and stomach-churning, to say the least. But it was a part of the story and could not have been edited out or minimised in any way. Many films, like for example, the Godfather trilogy, have scenes of extreme violence, and yet they make for compelling viewing. The violence seems almost organic in its context. I can only hope that the Benegal-led panel will bring some realism into our certification process, moving it away from censorship. The very word censorship seems antediluvian. If people are denied parts of a film, they will simply see them through other media vehicles. And the so-called custodians of morality and sensibilities are so out of sync with todays India, barring the really loony fringe. Let us not give audiences sanitised films, if they dont like a particular scene they are at liberty not to waste their money watching it, but that choice should belong to them, not the Nihalanis of the world who would like to keep us permanently infantilised. chanakya@hindustantimes.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News / Local by Stephen Jakes Free and Fair Zimbabwe Election online has reported that a Mbare councillor for MDC-T was on Tuesday night hospitalised after suspected Zanu PF supporters attacked him."Mbare councillor, Antony Shingadeya (MDC-T), was on Tuesday night hospitalised after he was assaulted by suspected Zanu PF supporters, who besieged an opposition meeting in the politically-volatile suburb," reported the organisation. "Shingadeya and another opposition supporter, identified as Charles Majiga, were assaulted ahead of a scheduled visit to the suburb by MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai today. Tsvangirai is visiting district party structures in a programme which has so far taken him to Highfield, Glen View and Glen Norah." Are you, like me, fascinated by trivia? Does it grab your attention, warm the cockles of your heart and linger in your memory? Do you find the eccentric, idiosyncratic and, even, the irrelevant more striking than substantive facts that actually matter? If your answer is yes, read on. Ive discovered a delightful book Abode Under the Dome, written by Thomas Mathew, the Additional Secretary to the President, which is a treasure trove of bizarre but beguiling facts. Its an account of the meticulous preparations made for Rashtrapati Bhavans state guests between 1947 and 1967 and its thrilling to find how far our presidents have gone to please them. Consider this in-house memo on the food Chou En-Lai should be served when he first visited in 1954. His Excellency likes all kinds of sea food such as crabs, lobsters, oysters, prawns, sea-slugs, etc. More importantly, it added: The Chinese, as a rule, dont eat mutton ham and pork, when served, should be minced all meats are eaten very tender by the Chinese. And finally: Curd and cheese are not liked. With breakfast a glass of hot milk should invariably be served. However, the special arrangements went considerably further. Chou En-Lai liked working late into the night and so, on his second visit, the Director General of Post and Telegraphs was asked to ensure that the Rashtrapati Bhavan post office remained open from 12 noon to 10 p.m. on December 30, 1956 and from 7.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on January 1, 1957. The first American President to stay was Dwight Eisenhower. In his case, Rashtrapati Bhavan staff were told: The President likes Scotch whisky (Chivas Regal, Dimple Scotch or Black Dog) (he) prefers de-cafanized (sic) coffee (Sanca) and during all meals he prefers to drink special barley water Khalassis should be warned that he should be served with this water even during (the) banquet. Eisenhower and Chou En-Lai barely knew each other but were equally fussy about their food. Of the American it was said: He is fond of steak and indulges in large quantities of fresh fruits (like mangoes) at all times. He prefers fruit to be kept in his room so that he can eat in-between meals. In those days Pakistanis were frequent visitors. Three prime ministers (Liaquat Ali Khan, Mohammad Ali Bogra and Feroz Khan Noon) and one governor general (Ghulam Muhammad) stayed at Rashtrapati Bhavan. On her return, Begum Aliya Mohammad Ali wrote to President Rajendra Prasad: The beautiful sari and scarf will be worn with great pleasure and pride. The exquisitely carved ivory lamps will be treasured as happy mementoes of our visit. The gem is a letter written by Queen Elizabeth to the President from Lahore, days before her arrival in 1961. I see from our programme that on 1st March, the last night of our stay in India, its arranged that we should dine privately in our rooms at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It would give much pleasure to my husband and me if you would join us on this occasion. I have also invited the Prime Minister and Mrs Indira Gandhi. May we hope to have your company? The last sentence is a delight. We no longer express ourselves in this delicate understated way. In 1983, when the Queen was on her penultimate visit, there was no special advisory on her likes or dislikes. However, the book mentions she prefers gins and tonic whilst Prince Philip favours beer. The Duke, however, is not partial to strawberries. On November 27, 1983, the Queen wrote to thank President Zail Singh for his hospitality and signed off: I am, your sincere friend, Elizabeth R. This book explains why Rashtrapati Bhavan has made so many. The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON +(Tweet from PMO India: PM named two Orchid varieties developed in Sikkim Cymbidium sardar & Lycaste deendayal. Sikkim CM named the 3rd one Cymbidium namo.) Politicians heaved a huge sigh of relief when they heard an orchid had been named after the Prime Minister. Ever since I heard the government plans to name airports after cities instead of after political leaders, Ive been worried sick, confessed a veteran. To a sceptics query Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, he said he was certain an orchid not called Namo would not smell as sweet. Why stop at orchids? asked a naming consultant, adding we could start naming all kinds of flowers, fruits, animals after people. A naming scholar said, Did you know theres a cretaceous lizard called Obamadon, a spider called Aptostichus barackobamai and a fish called Teleogramma obamaorum, all named after Obama? Why cant we do the same for our Indian leaders? A killjoy pointed out that in order to name something we needed to discover it first. Why stop at animals and plants? asked a beef-eating naming professional. Naming streets, schools and airports after politicians is old hat. We should start naming foods, cocktails, quarks, comets, stars after them now, he said, adding he was looking forward to naming a dish he had cooked the Devendra Fadnavis beef fry. We must set up a committee to award these names, said a ruling party politician. An opposition MP wanted equal representation in the panel. Otherwise, he alleged, well very probably see a Rahul rodent or a Sonia slug soon. Someone said there was no reason why the names should be of politicians alone. The naming expert warned there was immense scope for crony name-ism, with favourites being rewarded with good things named after them. We could very well see a stout butterfly named after Amit Shah and, on the other hand, a black hole named Nitish, he said. A naming policy expert said names are a valuable national resource and should not be awarded in an ad hoc manner. Just as we have auctions for coal mines or for telecom spectrum, we need to have a transparent auction process for names as well, she ranted. She said we needed an independent Naming Regulator. A businessman asked whether he could bid to name deadly viruses after business rivals. I would also dearly love to see an Adani cockroach, he said wistfully. That was when an economist intervened. Imagine the resources the government could raise by auctioning off names. We could invite foreign investment too. We could have Facebook Frogs, Google Grasshoppers, Twitter Toilets, perhaps an INS Netflix. We could wipe out the entire fiscal deficit. Its a wonderful idea, a free market in names, said a politico, but we must keep some things aside to be named after our great leaders. For example, we must name our nuclear arsenal the Mahatma Gandhi Nuclear Bomb Project. The politicians vowed to set up the naming programme immediately. What should we call it? they asked. Name in India, of course, I said. manas.c@livemint.com Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It was the early 2000s. Indias information technology (IT) industry had touched what can be called its inflexion point the turning point after which it would grow dramatically. It was around then that I had asked the personable CEO of an Indian company that would soon become an iconic symbol of the IT industry what he thought was the single-most important reason for Indias IT boom. Indias IT companies, as we all know, benefited hugely from many things. An especially important one was the timing. The US economy was in recession then and many American companies, especially those in banking and financial services, were under massive pressure to cut their costs and outsource several functions, including their IT needs; and Indian IT companies were an attractive cost-effective option for them. Yet, surprisingly the CEOs reply didnt mention any of that. He said the most important reason for his industrys growth was the fact that the government had left it alone and not tried to meddle in it. I was reminded of that conversation nearly 15 years later last week when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the action plan for Startup India at a well-attended and equally well-hyped event in Delhi. The governments policy for startups no doubt well-intentioned include public funding of venture capital firms; tax incentives; incubation; easier exits and so on. But they come with worrisome things such as more red tape. For instance, in order to qualify for the various government schemes startups will have to meet a 125-word definition, which, among other things, requires certification from an inter-ministerial board. What is more, a corollary to the wordy definition is a wordier explanation of the terms that are used in the definition. To be eligible for the governments schemes meant for startups they would need recommendations, own patents and get other approvals in what appears to mimic a return to bureaucratic procedures that various governments have since 1991 been at pains to dismantle. Read | It is time for India to demystify and define startups More worrisome is the proposal by the government to invest Rs 10,000-crore worth of public money in venture capital funds that are registered with Indias stock market watchdog, SEBI. Venture capital funds operate with risky business models the startups they invest in have high failure rates and it is not uncommon for nine out of 10 of them coming a cropper. Should the government invest public funds, which is just another description of money that is contributed as taxes paid by people like you and me, in such risky ventures? Besides, many of the proactive venture funds that have invested in Indias startups arent even registered with SEBI. Actually, they dont need to. And, the startup culture is doing pretty well even without a helping hand from the government. India is believed to have the highest number of startups (4,200-4,400) in the world after the US and the UK; every day three or four are born; and, in 2015 alone, they received an estimated $5 billion of funding. Read | PM Modis Start-up India a great move, but may need some reality checks Yes, the startup culture has also meant the emergence of an inexplicable herd phenomenon where entrepreneurs clone other entrepreneurs by the dozen (just take a look at how many similar online retail companies there are; or e-grocers; or food delivery companies; or e-taxi services). Rarely are such ventures really innovative. Most of them are set up to chase valuation and then hope to sell out. Thats one reason not the only one for the high failure rate for startups. Its also an issue that the market forces will eventually sort out. But the question is: Should the government get its hands messy by getting into all of this? Maybe not. But there are things the government can get into. Every month a million young Indians join the workforce; but only a tenth of them manage to land jobs. Moreover, half of that million have to eke out a living from over-burdened farms. Instead of funding patented ideas and heavily cloned startups, the government could shift its focus elsewhere such as the social sector. It could encourage startups in high-deficit areas such as rural health and diagnostic services; marketing and e-payment services for farmers; or village transportation. Such ventures can certainly benefit those who need those services but they can also generate jobs for Indias growing numbers of youth. Thats what the government should start up. The author is the editor-in-chief of Hindustan Times, and tweets as @sanjoynarayan Views expressed are personal. Also read | How form triumphs over substance in Modis Start-Up India campaign SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Residents planning an early morning ride in the New Delhi and Central Delhi areas on Saturday may hit the traffic bump. The full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade will be held on Saturday morning with traffic restrictions to be put in place from early morning till late in the afternoon. The parade will start at around 9.50am and make its way from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort, cutting through Vijay Chowk, Rajpath, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Netaji Subhash Marg enroute. Delhi Traffic Police, in an advisory, have said that all roads in and around central Delhi will remain closed for commuters till late in the afternoon. Vijay Chowk will be closed for all traffic from 6.30pm onwards on Friday. Delhi traffic police said that no vehicles would be allowed from Vijay Chowk to India Gate till the dress rehearsal parade is over on Saturday afternoon. The C Hexagon at the India gate will also be closed from 9.15am on Saturday, he advisory said. (Picture courtsey: @DTP Traffic) From 10.00 am on Saturday, traffic will not be allowed in both directions of Tilak Marg. Cross traffic will only be allowed depending on movement of the parade. Road users are requested to plan their journey in advance accordingly and avoid the route of parade, between 9am to 12.30pm, for their own convenience, said Sharad Agarwal, joint commissioner of police (traffic). The traffic police on Friday released a map marking the route of the parade and roads available for general traffic in all leading city newspapers of the city. For those taking Delhi Metro train services, boarding and de-boarding will not be allowed at Central Secretariat, Udhyog Bhavan, Race Course and Patel Chowk. All inter-state buses coming from Dhaula Kuan will also be terminated at Dhaula Kuan. Police have also released a list of the suggested routes to ensure that commuters do not face any hassles during the parade. Every time a car enters the narrow lane number 8 of Rama Vihar in Rohini Sector 39, the locals peep out of their windows. They are all waiting to catch a glimpse of the 26-year-old woman who made national headlines on January 17 by throwing ink at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Her mother, however, sits inside her bedroom, unmindful of the bustle outside. She is angry. I have not yet got a chance to speak to her. I did not even visit her in jail. Once she is back, I will tell her what she has done is utterly foolish, says Laxmi Devi, mother of Bhawna Arora . Her father is unwell and cannot move and speak. Otherwise he would have slapped her. He is very strict, she says. Bhawnas father, a businessman, is suffering from paralysis and is bedridden. Bhawna was released on bail after four days in judicial custody. Laxmi Devi says she is proud that her daughter stood up against corruption but throwing ink at the CM is something she condemned. My daughter is very bold. We made sure she got the best education and values and never discriminated between her and her brother. I am proud she is working to weed out corruption but what is wrong is wrong, she says. Bhawna hadnt returned home till late on Saturday evening. Attempts to speak to her on phone proved futile. However, her mother had made it clear that she did not want her daughter to be associated with politics anymore. She joined this group (Aam Aadmi Sena) against our will... I told her she should concentrate on the business her father has started but she was very excited to join the wing, she says. Laxmi is now bothered about Bhawnas marriage. She wants to work. Pata nai kaunsa krantikari banana hai use... There is a lot I want to clarify with her, she says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hollywood star Tom Cruise has officially been announced to play the main lead Universal Pictures reboot of The Mummy. He is confirmed to star opposite Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service fame. Their roles are still unclear, but the film is rumoured to have a female mummy as a villain and centre on an ex-Navy Seal who stumbles into an old tomb. Read: Kingsman scene-stealer Sofia Boutella to play Tom Cruises Mummy? Alex Kurtzman is set to direct the The Mummy reboot from a screenplay by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus). He is also attached to oversee the creative team creating the new shared Monster franchise. The Mummy is one of the many remakes planned by Universal Pictures as an effort to create an interconnected universe for their classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and vampire hunter Van Helsing. Tom Cruise is still pushing along as an actor star well into his 50s. He is currently filming the sequel to Jack Reacher and prepping the next installment in the Mission Impossible series. He will also appear in Doug Limans drug thriller Mena. The Mummy will be yet another action movie from Hollywoods most bankable moviestars. Watch Tom Cruise film that great aerial action scene from the latest Mission Impossible movie here The movie has also been moved back from the original March 24, 2017 release date to June 9 the same year. Follow @htshowbiz for more Two suspected Islamic State operatives (IS) were arrested in Uttar Pradesh on Friday while security agencies launched an extensive hunt for two more, all of whom are believed to be part of a terror outfit that was planning attacks on Republic Day celebrations and the Ardh Kumbh mela in Haridwar. Security is being tightened across the country, especially in New Delhi, after four suspected militants were arrested in Haridwar by Delhi police earlier this week who revealed the terror plot. The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad nabbed Aleem Ahmad from his house in Lucknow and Rizwan Ahmad from Kushinagar based on information acquired from the arrested four suspects, including Akhlaq ur Rehman who is believed to be the point man. The arrest came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting Lucknow. Additional director general of police for law and order, Daljit Singh Chawdhary said both state and central security agencies were interrogating the duo to ascertain more details about the plot. Information acquired from the first four suspects revealed that eight members of a terrorist outfit had held a secret meeting in Lucknow a few days ago in which they discussed their plans of attack. A source said investigators believe Aleem Ahmad joined the IS through a social networking site some months ago and was receiving directions from Pakistan on the terror plot. Aleem along with seven persons held a meeting at his Lucknow residence a month ago and planned to carry out blasts at Magh Mela, he revealed. Two others who were at the meeting are still at large and are suspected to be in or around Lucknow. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) with the anti-terror police are also the scanning the suspects online activity for a clue, the source added. Security sweeps through the country further led to 14 suspected IS sympathisers being detained on Friday, five of who were arrested when explosive materials were recovered. The NIA conducted the raids as intelligence indicated the suspects were trying to secure arms and ammunition. One Muttabir Mushtaq Sheikh, who is among those arrested and believed to be the leader of the group, allegedly received funds worth Rs 6 lakh, the NIA apparently told the home ministry according to a source. The suspects were reportedly in touch with the Indian Mujahideens Shafi Armar. Three women medicos, students of a private medical college in Villupuram, were found dead in a well on Saturday late evening. The three were students of SVS medical college of naturopathy and yoga sciences. The police have recovered a suicide note in which the students allegedly blamed the college management for their drastic decision. Police have made no arrests yet. The matter is being investigated, police sources said. The incident comes days after a student of Central University of Hyderabad, Rohith Vemula, allegedly committed suicide after he and his four friends were suspended by the authorities from the hostel after a fight with ABVP activists in the campus. The Hyderabad incident has sparked nation-wide outrage with the Opposition targeting Union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya for allegedly pressurising the university authorities to suspend the five students. Various political parties and Muslim organisations have criticised All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal for his call to Muslims in poll-bound Assam to unite against the alleged polarisation of Hindus. Ajmal, who represents Dhubri constituency in Parliament, had allegedly sought the unity of Muslims at a rally in western Assam on Friday. The AIUDF chief is fanning communal passion. He has prepared a blueprint for a Hindu-Muslim riot. This comes in the wake of the Assam Police chiefs disclosure about attempts on social media to motivate Muslims to join the ISIS. The state government should take strong note of Ajmals design and foil it, BJPs Guwahati MP, Bijoya Chakraborty, said on Saturday. She also labelled Ajmal as an agent of Bangladeshi Muslims. The ruling Congress, reportedly weighing a pre-poll alliance with AIUDF, accused Ajmal of planting the seeds of communalism ahead of the assembly polls. He should desist from making such statements and stop using religion as a tool to win elections, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Anjan Dutta said. An umbrella body of seven Muslim organisations representing Assamese Muslims also came down heavily on Ajmal, urging the state government to take stern action against him. We do not subscribe to Ajmals brand of divisive politics. He should know he cant speak for the indigenous Muslims of Assam, Nekibur Zaman, representing the seven organisations, said. An influential Dalit organisation in Uttar Pradesh has offered Prime Minister Narendra Modi conditional support as he wooed the community in the poll-bound state amid a nationwide outrage against the suicide of a research scholar. Two of Modis ministers are in the line of fire over the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad, with the Congress-led opposition targeting the government for its alleged anti-Dalit policies. Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls next year and Modi seemed to have made some headway in stemming the rot. During his visit to the Ambedkar Mahasabha in Lucknow on Friday, Ambedkar Mahasabha leaders like Lalji Prasad Nirmal assured Modi that he could well become Daliton ke Ram (the lord of Dalits) and Dalit Mitra (friend of dalits) if he were to fulfil their demands chiefly reservation in promotion, in the private sector and in judiciary. Modis visit to the Mahasabha office is a much needed shot in the BJPs arm as it is also largely being considered as a part of the BJPs Dalit agenda in Uttar Pradesh, a state where the ruling party made huge gains in during the 2014 Lok Sabha election after winning 71 of the 80 seats. The visit, first by any prime minister to the Mahasabha office, is a master stroke. Closer to the 2017 UP polls you would see more than half of the top BSP?leadership in BJP, Rajya Sabha MP Jugal Kishore who accompanied Modi in Lucknow, told Hindustan Times. Kishore himself switched loyalties from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to the BJP, joining the party on January 15 the birthday of BSP chief Mayawati. As Modi bowed before BR Ambedkars statue and urn at the Mahasabha office, coincidentally located a stones throw away from the state BJP office, saffron strategists mitigating the fallout from the Dalit scholars suicide probably smiled to themselves. Modi is the first prime minister in more than a decade to visit Lucknow, the last being AB Vajpayee in 2003. Modi in fact began laying the groundwork last December at a national conference of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs, when he told Dalits that he understood the discrimination they faced as someone who comes from a backward class himself. He went a step further saying ye aapka sarkaar hai (this is your government) We are working for your empowerment. The BJP is currently eyeing the 23 per cent SC/ST population in the state. It will however face a tough fight from Mayawati, a Dalit woman herself. Despite constructing several memorials in Ambedkars memory, why did Mayawati not bother visiting the Ambedkar Mahasabha office where the urns of Ambedkar are kept, asked Kishore in what appeared to be an attempt by the BJP to appropriate Ambedkars legacy from the BSP. The RSS has already tasked its volunteers to befriend Dalits during Ambedkars 125th birth anniversary year and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, an RSS affiliate, too has a similar agenda going. State party spokesman Chandramohan, an RSS man, admitted that the PMs Mahasabha visit would help send the right signals though he refused to see politics in it even though the party is now busy giving finishing touches to various Dalit outreach programmes. BJP workers are also being asked to visit Dalit homes to publicise various schemes launched by the Modi government. Union home minister Rajnath Singh, a former UP chief minister himself, as well as UP Governor Ram Naik also accompanied the Prime Minister to the Mahasabha office. While the Mahasabha visit had reportedly come about on Naiks suggestion, Singh who is consulting on the UP agenda has been consistent in opposing the BJPs moves in the past to ally with the BSP. Mahasabha leaders indicated that Singh may pay a follow up visit to its office on April 14, Ambedkars birth anniversary. The minister had earlier unveiled a life size statue of Ambedkar inside the Mahasabha premises. Modi was in Lucknow to speak at the convocation ceremony of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University where he finally addressed the Dalit scholars suicide that kicked up a political storm. He however skipped the politics of the issue, and touched an emotional nerve, saying there was nothing more saddening than a mother losing her son. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News / Local by Stephen Jakes Harare City Council has been accused of continuing to carry out houses demolitions without a court order a development which has been described by the residents as violation of their rights to shelter.Harare Residents Trust questions the legality of the demolitions and exposed that all this was being done without a court order authorising the demolitions."Is the Mayor of Harare and his council in support of the illegal housing demolitions taking place across Harare? The City of Harare does not have court orders authorising them to demolish the houses that were allegedly built without following laid down by- laws," said the trust.The trust said housing demolitions by the Government of Zimbabwe through its local agency, the City of Harare are evil and unconstitutional."There is no sane Government anywhere in the world where the Government allows such disregard of human rights. The Zimbabwe Government has lost its status as the guardian of the people's interests. The residents are evidently on their own without protection of the law. The City of Harare does not have a High Court Order authorising them to demolish those houses they are demolishing. Whoever is behind these demolitions does not deserve to serve in the Government of the People," said the trust.The trust issued a statement concerning the demolitions and it reads,THE Harare Residents Trust (HRT) is unhappy with the fire fighting responses by the Harare City Council Urban Planning Department and the law enforcement on illegal land developments. The organisation is alarmed that six suburbs with fully constructed houses are facing demolitions because they used plans not approved by the council to build their houses (Herald, 19 January 2016). These suburbs include Mt Pleasant Heights, an extension of Gletwyn, Pomona, Southern Prospect/ Mainway Subdivision, Belvedere West and South Ashdown Park along Harare Drive. Now the City of Harare is demanding that residents affected have to regularize their plans.The uncertainty among residents on housing delivery has left the HRT wondering what role the officials in municipal housing departments play in the processing of land applications, approval and monitoring of land developments. The HRT has received questions from residents who want to know where the Harare City Council was when all these houses were being built. Residents want to understand why these officials only show up after these illegal developments have taken place only to destroy the houses. It is evident from the above narration that the City Council officials are sleeping on duty as they have allowed illegality to take root in the suburbs.Investigations by the HRT to establish what really transpired have revealed that the City of Harare gave the private developers subdivision permits on condition that they will provide infrastructure like sewerage, water, roads networks, before they are given certificates of compliance. After being given the subdivision certificates, the private developers allegedly delayed putting up the required infrastructure, and instead of following the laid down procedures, they starting selling residential stands to individuals who proceeded to construct their houses, despite the private developers not securing the required documentation to allow people to build houses on the land portions in questions.It has now emerged that one of the private developers has relocated to Kenya, yet has abandoned an infrastructure development project. Residents acknowledge that land was correctly subdivided, connected to the city water, system and in some cases to the sewer system. It is evident that the private developers in these new suburbs, or extensions of existing suburbs, neglected to go through the required processes in terms of municipal by-laws, creating the current legal nightmare for most of the residents.The City of Harare is demanding that residents in the affected suburbs should submit their building plans, accompanied by their site plans for approval, which is essentially regularization of their stay. Those residents whose houses have been completed are expected to pay US$1 500 to the council before their building plans are approved. The City of Harare has proposed that residents should unite and work together in the development of the infrastructure and only after the residents have completed the required infrastructures will the City of Harare give them a certificate of compliance and a clearance certificate which will allow them to have title deeds. Residents must engage a lawyer who represents the whole group, who will work with the Registrar of Deeds.All these issues create more headaches for residents. The issues that must be immediately addressed are on how the council allowed the houses to be built, and not demanding that residents merely pay in order to have their properties regularized. If the City of Harare is keen to fundraise, they have to be open about it and stop pretending that they have departments that have a duty and responsibility to monitor housing developments across Harare suburbs.It can be safely concluded that the City of Harare's officials dealing with the respective private developers are being vindictive following widespread fall-outs over bribe monies, and they are trying to show the private developers that they wield more power over them, and if they refuse their financial demands, they will have to pay the price. It is in this vein that the HRT seeks the Central Government's intervention to correct the obtaining situation in Harare where fundraising activities are being intensified at the expense of following laid down municipal by-laws as provided in the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29.12) and the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29.15) as well as various legal instruments at the disposal of the council. Controversial Uttar Pradesh minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya is in touch with senior BJP leaders to explore possibilities of joining hands with the party ahead of the assembly polls in the state next year, HT has learnt. Sources said the move hinted at Singhs souring relationship with the ruling Samajwadi Party whom he supported in the 2012 election and got rewarded with a ministerial position despite being an independent MLA. He is hurt with the treatment meted out to him by Samajwadi Party and is planning to join hands with the BJP. The two sides have been discussing this for the last a couple of weeks, a source privy to the matter told HT, claiming a formal announcement could be expected soon. Uttar Pradesh goes to assembly poll early next year. The five-term legislator had to resign as minister in March, 2013 for his alleged role in the murder of Muslim DSP in his area. His ministerial position was restored in October that year following a clean chit from agencies investigating the murder. But, Akhilesh clipped his wings in a reshuffle last November, divesting Singh of food and civil supplies department in return of low profile department like stamp and registration, court fee and civil defence. Given the long list of criminal cases he faces, the BJP has its bit of worries about embracing Singh. Lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh would be BJPs poll plank and a section of the party fears that doing business with Raja Bhaiya overtly could be counterproductive. Still, the prospect of netting a prominent Thakur face having considerable following among the community leaders in eastern and parts of central Uttar Pradesh is tempting the BJP to negotiate with him. Singhs political course has a direct bearing on the electoral outcome of about two dozen assembly constituencies in these pockets of the countrys most populous state. As someone who always contested assembly election as an independent candidate, Singhs relationship with the BJP dates back to 1997 when he was inducted as a minister in the BJP government led by Kalyan Singh. He also held ministerial portfolios in subsequent BJP governments under Ram Prakash Gupta and Rajnath Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Mumbai-bound GoAir flight carrying more than 150 people from Bhubaneshwar made an emergency stopover an hour into the journey following an anonymous tip about a bomb on board the flight. However, no suspicious item was found after a security check. An airport manager at the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar received an anonymous call warning of a bomb, forcing flight G8 243 to land in Nagpur. Following standard operating procedure, passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was taken to a remote parking bay for security checks. After clearance, passengers were then boarded again and the flight continued its journey. A GoAir spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying the flight that took off from Bhubaneshwar at 8:20 am, landed at Nagpur at 9:29 am. After deplaning the 150 passengers, checks were conducted by the airport security and there was no bomb found onboard the aircraft. Post clearance from the authorities, the passengers are now being boarded and flight is scheduled to take off at 12 noon to Mumbai. The GoAir officials at Bhubaneshwar immediately informed the local and the police is investigating the matter, a GoAir statement read. The caller reportedly mentioned the flight number and said, Suitcase mein bomb hai. The call was made from a phone number registered in Odisha. Investigators suspect the call was made by a mentally unstable person, believed to be one Sanjeev Mishra. The suspect had allegedly made two hoax calls over the past 18 hours, claiming there was a bomb at Mumbais domestic terminal and another on board a fleet taxi. There is hightened security across the nation ahead of Republic Day celebrations to be attended in Delhi by French President Francois Hollande as chief guest. The National Investigation Agency on Friday arrested or detained over a dozen people, including the self-appointed India head of IS, during raids in Karnataka, UP, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra on Friday. In another development, the anti-terrorist squad of UP Police arrested two suspected IS operatives, one from Lucknow and another from Kushinagar while they were hunting for two others, all of whom are believed to be part of a terror outfit that was planning attacks on Republic Day celebrations and the Ardh Kumbh mela in Haridwar. Agitating students at the Hyderabad central university are selling a dossier of documents relating to the suicide of a Dalit scholar that outraged the nation and caused political friction for the ruling BJP. An information desk set up by a Joint Action Committee of the agitating students said they put together information relating to the suspension of the five research scholars from the University of Hyderabad as well as the suicide letter of Rohith Vemula. The dossier is being sold for Rs 70. The collection of almost 70 documents contains the Facebook comments by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) student leader that triggered the controversy, Union minister Bandar Dattatreyas letter to human resource ministry as well as the ministrys missives to the university, Vemulas SC caste certificate, suicide note, reports from the police, hospital and university regarding the alleged attack on the ABVP leader, suspension orders of the scholars and the court affidavit. Though initially priced at Rs 50, students said they had to up the price due to the cost of photocopying. A notice claimed the documents could be accessed for free online on their Facebook page, Joint Action Committee for Social Justice UoH. However, very few documents were available on Saturday. A judicial inquiry into the circumstances that led to Rohith Vemulas suicide was ordered on Friday as the crisis at University of Hyderabad intensified as protesters rejected the revocation of the four students suspension and refused to end their strike until the vice-chancellor resigned. A fact-finding committee reported a complete systemic failure and blamed the university authorities for handling the issue insensitively that began in August last year when Vemula and other students from the Ambedkar Students Association staged a protest against the hanging of Yakub Memon, the convicted terrorist in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. The judicial probe report would be submitted within three months, the ministry said. Drought-hit Bundelkhand is turning out to be a fertile ground for politicking, as leaders continue to make a beeline to hear tales of human miseries and indulge in accusations and counter accusations over the situation in the region that has remained caught in the quagmire of politics over the years. The situation is such that it is hard to hold back ones tears, BJP legislature party leader Suresh Khanna had said after his visit earlier this week. After Khannas trip, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took out his kisan padyatra on Saturday and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is set to visit the region on January 27. The sordid fact that the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh is blighted with drought and unseasonable rains that have destroyed standing winter crops has made it too hard to resist for leaders looking to gain political mileage from the farmers woes. Bundelkhand has suffered from heavy rains, hailstorm or drought for the past three years. As a result the condition of farmers has gone from bad to worse. But the state government and the Centre (are indulging) in blame game, said Uttar Pradesh Congress committee president Nirmal Khatri, who along with All India Congress Committee general secretary (UP in-charge) was in Mahoba on Friday to oversee arrangements for the kisan padyatra. Despite Rahuls eager attempts to reveal himself as a saviour of farmers with his numerous padyatras across the country, political rivals are not willing to forget how the special package, part of the UPAs drought-mitigation strategy, had fallen flat with no visible impact on the condition of farmers in Bundelkhand. The special package to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees was a baby of the Congress vice-president, and the then planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had even undertaken a visit to Bundelkhand on December 3-4, 2011 at his behest. Nonetheless, addressing villagers during his nearly seven-kilometre-long foot-march on Saturday, Rahul left no stone unturned to attack the Centre for not doing enough for the development of the water-scarce region. During the UPA regime, price of crude petroleum was USD 150 per barrel, whereas now it has fallen to just USD 28. A lot of money saved here can be used for the development of backward regions like Bundelkhand, he said. Taking a swipe at Narendra Modi, he said the Prime Minister of the country should also empathise with farmers and not just industrialists. It may be mentioned here that it was senior Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi who first visited the region and subsequently briefed Rahul on the situation of farmers. Earlier too, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had asked chief secretary Alok Ranjan to visit Bundelkhand to review relief measures after examining reports on deficit rainfall submitted by psephologist and former Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav after the latters samvedna yatra through drought-hit regions. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former prime minister Manmohan Singh approved the shifting of Subhas Chandra Boses purported remains from Tokyos Renkoji Temple to the Indian embassy but the move was shot down after the external affairs ministry pointed out it would be tantamount to acknowledging the ashes were those of Netaji. A secret file from the prime ministers office one of 100 files declassified by the NDA government on Saturday details options considered by the UPA regime regarding the ashes, such as increasing substantially the amount paid for their upkeep or shifting the remains to another Japanese temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the files running into some 16,600 pages during an event at the National Archives. Delivering on his pledge to make public documents on the iconic freedom fighter, Modi clicked a button to activate a website with the files in the presence of members of Boses family. Soon after the event, a political controversy erupted as a fake letter that claimed former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had called Netaji a war criminal did the rounds on social media. The Congress described the letter as mischievous and fake and said the declassification of files was an attempt by Modi to divert peoples attention from the failures of his government. Many of the declassified files relate to the stance adopted by successive governments with regard to the ashes collected from a crematorium in Taiwan where Netajis last rites were performed following his death in a plane crash on August 18, 1945. Read | Subhas Chandra Bose must be given leader of the nation title: Mamata The files also detail the different positions adopted by governments over the years on the issue of Boses death. In November 1977, the Janata Party government, in which BJP leaders AB Vajpayee and LK Advani were ministers, had found it unnecessary to launch any fresh inquiry into Netajis death. A note of the home ministry of the Janata Party government in a separate file stated the cabinet had approved a proposal that no fresh inquiry into the disappearance of Netaji is necessary. The decision to shift the ashes from Renkoji Temple to the Indian mission which had the backing of Manmohan Singh, then national security adviser MK Narayanan and then foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon was made after Boses daughter, Anita Pfaff, wrote to the PM in June 2007 saying she wished to take charge of her fathers remains and take them to India for the appropriate rites. Pfaff also wrote that she wanted to have a DNA test done to convince those who did not believe Bose died following the plane crash and do not accept the ashes as his remains. Pfaff, who planned to immerse a part of the remains in the Ganga, asked if the Indian government would be involved in the return of my fathers remains. Read | Congress vows to expose and punish creators of fake Nehru letter Though the UPA governments immediate reaction was to shift the ashes to the Indian embassy, the foreign ministry and then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee sounded a note of caution. A note signed by Narayanan states that Mukherjee suggested the government maintain the ashes at Renkoji and explore other options, such as increasing substantially the amount paid for their upkeep. Though successive governments were convinced the ashes were of Netaji, the files show they were reluctant to bring them back because of domestic political sensitivities. The file further revealed the external affairs ministry paid Rs 53.66 lakh between 1967 and 2005 to Renkoji Temple for upkeep of the urn with the ashes. During 2002-05, the annual contribution was 1 million yen (equivalent to about Rs 4.3 lakh). These payments were made from the external affairs ministrys Special Diplomatic Expenditure budget. Notes in the file state it was the governments position that the ashes in Renkoji are those of Netaji since it had accepted the findings of the Shahnawaz and Khosla commissions of inquiry, which concluded in 1956 and 1970 respectively that Bose died in the crash. Though the Mukherjee commission of inquiry concluded the ashes were not those of Netaji, this finding was not accepted by the government, the notes pointed out. However, the notes also refer to the political sensitivities linked to the circumstances of the death of Bose. One unsigned note raised questions about the move to shift the ashes to the Indian embassy. Referring to assertions by the Forward Bloc and some relatives of Bose to fight tooth and nail any effort to take over the ashes, the note stated: The question that needs to be asked is what has changed for GoI to consider taking over the ashes and keeping them in the new Chancery? It added: The shifting of the ashes to the Indian Chancery premises will make explicit what has been implicit so far that Government recognises that the ashes are those of Netaji. This may not satisfy the Japanese and will certainly generate controversy in India among the Forward Bloc etc. The notes questioned the plan to store the ashes in Japan without a plan to bring them back to India and interring them in a fitting national memorial and said any change in the status quo should be carefully thought through. In May 10, 2007, joint secretary (East Asia) Vijay Gokhale wrote to the Indian envoy to Japan, HK Singh, to make a plan for keeping the ashes in an appropriate and befitting manner within the premises of the Indian embassy in Tokyo. The priest and Japanese side wanted the ashes to be repatriated back to India. Any action on our part short of that will come as a huge disappointment to the Japanese and become a major controversy, the Indian embassy warned in a secret cable sent as the reply to Gokhales missive. An official statement said the Indian government has written to foreign governments to declassify all files or papers related to Bose, and is committed to pursue this matter. Read | I would like to sleep a while: Netajis last words on Aug 18, 1945 Lieutenant Colonel EK Niranjan, who was killed in a recent terror strike at Punjabs Pathankot airbase, was an old hand in the bomb disposal squad of the National Security Guard (NSG), the countrys elite commando force. He knew the standard operating procedures and followed them meticulously a check for booby traps by rotating a body 360 degrees from a distance using ropes to ensure theres no hand grenade. Hed also gone through the drill to check for trip wires that could detonate an improvised explosive device (IED). Also Read | Pak militants attacked Pathankot airbase, Jaish operative tells HT It was only after the standard checks and a mandatory wait of two to three minutes that Niranjan had approached the bodies of four terrorists killed during an encounter. He was trained to look for live bombs and neutralise them but still paid with his life. Had it not been for the bureaucratic red tape that dogs the procurement of essential equipment for the elite commandos, Niranjan would have had jammers to ensure a remote-controlled IED was not set off. He would also have been wearing an advanced 9B bomb suit that the NSG sought from the home ministry soon after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008. The force is still waiting for these life-protecting suits. The Pathankot attack is a painful reminder of everything that is wrong with Indias anti-terror response despite two detailed security reviews. One was done after the short but sharp war in 1999 over the icy peaks in Kargil where the army woke up only after Pakistani soldiers had entrenched themselves well within Indian territory and the second after multiple attacks in the heart of Mumbai. In the high-voltage game of cat and mouse between terrorists and the security establishment, why does the jehadi usually win? Why does India still have chinks in its armour despite being repeatedly hit? Are we really prepared for another strike which can come in the air or on land sooner rather than later? Pathankot prized open all the warts: the suicide squad crossed the international boundary without being intercepted by the Border Security Force. The attackers then managed to hijack an SPs car and scale the high-security airbase and kill members of the Defence Security Corps despite an alert from the police officer. The 80-hour operation pointed not only to a botch-up by the stakeholders including Punjab Police, the air force, army and NSG but also to critical deficiencies. The men and machines that lie at the heart of the anti-terror mechanism clearly need urgent training and upgrade, as HT found after critically examining three major terror strikes: The hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight IC 814 at the break of this millennium, the 2002 Akshardham temple siege in Gujarat and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Bullets that dont pierce In 2007, seven years after the IC 814 hijack, the NSG conducted tests on a simulator flight at its Manesar headquarters on the outskirts of Delhi. The first test to take out a terror suspect in the cockpit failed. The 7.62mm calibre sniper bullet could only pierce the cockpit glass to be stopped dead due to its thickness. The NSG asked for higher calibre sniper rifles manufactured by US-based Barret. Two years later, eight such guns were bought but the anti-air hijacking unit got only one. The remaining seven were distributed to other units. Aircraft intervention vehicles, which can approach a plane with hydraulic ladders at a high speed, are crucial during a hijack, but the NSG has only one and that too bought on a trial basis. To access the exits of an aircraft, the NSG practices with hydraulic ladders mounted on gypsy platforms. These ladders weigh approximately 1,000 kg each and invariably topple when mounted on gypsy platforms, say insiders. An open platform also leaves the commandos exposed to firing. After the hijacking in 1999 when 155 passengers were released only after Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar and two other militants were set free, the government decided to deploy sky marshals equipped with Glock pistols. But only 15% of flights have these marshals and trials in 2007 showed that the 9mm bullets used in the Glocks could endanger both the plane and passengers. The NSG wanted to place orders for specialised ammunition that suit inside-the-aircraft conditions while airborne. The tendering process for special grade ammunition has, however, still not begun. Doors that wont open The elite commandos of the NSG crucial to the operations in Mumbai and Pathankot can only be as good their tools. So, what slowed down the force at Mumbais iconic Taj hotel during the 26/11 terror strike? HT put this question to NSG officials and they all pointed to the fact that they had to go from room to room with a master key. It became apparent that the force sorely needed hydraulic door busters in its inventory. Under the special powers of the NSGs director general, five units were bought a year later, in 2009, but procurements were stalled because the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and NSG could not reach an agreement on whether the device should have a rotating handle or a pumping lever, sources revealed. During the excruciating 80-hour battle in Mumbai, the NSG moved cautiously, guarding the corner walls. A specialised weapon called corner shot that allows an area to be scanned without exposing a commando would have helped. A 2012 MHA report marked secret agreed that corner shots will negate unnecessary loss of life. Thirteen corner shots were to be bought and distributed to the NSGs regional hubs too, but so far only one has been procured, again under the DGs special powers. Once the corner is turned and the commandos come within close range of terrorists, under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL) act as force multipliers. Inexplicably, launchers have been bought but the elite force is yet to place orders for grenades. The NSG, in an email response, denied shortage of critical equipments, and said they are in adequate numbers and were also used in the recent Pathankot operations. The NSG refused to divulge the exact holding citing operational reasons. However, for instance, the agencys website shows it is still in the process of procuring bomb suits. Lessons not learnt In September 2002, the NSG reached the Akshardham temple attack site in Gujarat at 10pm but had to wait till the next morning to gun down Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists Murtuza Hafiz Yasin and Ashraf Ali Mohammed Farooq after cornering them in the outer section of the complex. The elite force did not have guns equipped with night vision rifle scopes or binoculars. Thirteen years later and this speaks of criminal neglect the NSG had to halt operations in Pathankot for the same reason. NSG officials say apathy towards their needs is evident from the number of letters written in the last two years to expedite sanctions to repair a total containment vessel (TCV) that has not been functional at one of its crucial hubs. A TCV is a vehicle that ensures an IED or bomb is detonated in the safe confines of its walls and prevents any human casualty that can otherwise result from the shrapnel of an IED or bomb. Another reminder of why Niranjan need not have died. Unified command Clear command and control are crucial during an ongoing terror attack and so is early intelligence. In Pathankot, concrete intelligence provided by SP Salwinder Singh was not acted on in quick time and confusion prevailed over how many terrorists had entered the base and also over who was controlling the operation. National security adviser Ajit Doval sent the NSG to Pathankot but on the ground, senior officers of the IAF, army and NSG were initially unclear on who was in charge. This very lack of coordination between agencies was highlighted soon after the 26/11 attack. As a corrective measure, a joint operations centre (JoC) was set up at INS Angre in Mumbai to ensure that all agencies were connected real time to handle a situation. Pathankot, however, showed that despite an attack in Punjabs Gurdaspur district only six months ago, little thought had been put towards plugging the holes. Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists are believed to have crossed the international border through the same sector from where the Gurdaspur attackers had infiltrated into India. This is probably where mock drills at the highest level could come in handy. In 2010, when the MHA put the drill in place, senior officers including secretaries and joint secretaries struggled to find the designated room in Rashtrapati Bhavan where the cabinet secretarys office is located. Simultaneously, a team of Delhi Police commandos was seated inside the vehicle in 75 seconds as per the drill but was unable to move since the driver was having tea. After the Indian Airlines hijacking and the 26/11 attacks, Pathankot is another sad and costly reminder of just how unprepared India is despite terrorism emerging as the number one enemy. Also Read | NIA tracks down IS terror trail ahead of Republic Day Also Read | Delhi on alert after driver of hijacked Pathankot taxi found dead The Narendra Modi government has started countering the radicalisation threat from the Islamic State though the groups links with the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has led to concerns of a possible fallout in the border states of West Bengal and Assam The IS has claimed several terror attacks in Bangladesh and reports have suggested it is working with cadres of the JMB, responsible for the October 2014 blast in Burdwan. JMB cadres have reportedly shown allegiance to the so-called caliphate of IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. There is a heightened alert over JMB after the probe into the Burdwan blast showed its cadres had infiltrated border states. During the investigation, security agencies arrested 18 people from Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand. No less than 10 IS terror strikes have taken place in Bangladesh in the past year, and security agencies are concerned of a possible fallout in Bengal and Assam. Read | Harkat-ul-Mujahideen module busted in J-K, 5 militants arrested Sources, however, said there is no evidence of any logistical or financial support to IS activities in India from Pakistan, which itself is reeling under the groups threat. The IS claimed a recent attack on the Pakistani consulate in the Afghan city of Jalalabad that killed seven. As the government counters the IS threat, evidence has emerged that busted terror modules in India were funded from West Asia via the hawala route. With one more person arrested from Aurangabad in Maharashtra on Saturday night, the total number of people arrested for alleged links to the radical fundamentalist group has risen to 16. Read | Post Pathankot attack, security in Kashmir tightened ahead of Republic Day Top government sources said the Indian chapter of IS was named Jundal Khalifa (Army of the Caliphate) by so-called Amir-e-Hind Mudabbir Sheikh of Mumbra town in Thane district. Sheikh, a trained web designer from Thane Polytechnic, was radicalised over the internet in the past two years and was on the scanner of security agencies. Besides being associated in the past with Wahdat-e-Islam, a splinter group of the SIMI, Sheikh was in touch with Yousuf-al-Hindi, the nom de guerre of ex-Indian Mujahideen terrorist Mohammed Shafi Armar of Bhatkal in Karnataka. Armar and a couple of ex-IM terrorists are now fighting with the IS in Syria and Iraq. Read | NIA arrests 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks It is interesting that when Sheikh was picked up, his father Mushtaq told security agencies to take away his son as he was a jihadist. Similarly, the mother of arrested Khushinagar resident Rizwan was happy that her son was taken into custody for jihadist activity, said a senior counter-terror operative. Though security agencies have had more than 100 IS sympathisers on their scanner since the Ratlam module was busted last May, they were forced to take action against the Haridwar and Sheikh modules after communication intercepts from West Asia indicated an imminent terror threat to the Indian hinterland. Apart from explosives, we have recovered timers, circuit boards and money from the arrested persons, with evidence of modules being funded through hawala route for buying weapons and explosives, said a senior official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday demanded that the Centre should speak to the Russian government to gain access to the files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in its possession. She said the people of the country have a right to know what happened to the leader. Its a matter of great shame that we do not know what happened to him after the controversial air crash of 1945. The Centre is releasing some files today (Saturday), I heard. But the real thing is in the Russian files. We demand the Centre must act on those files, she said while celebrating Netajis 119th birth anniversary in Darjeeling, during her five-day trip to the northern part of West Bengal. Read | PM releases Netaji files; Mamata wants leader of nation title for Bose I dont want to comment on diplomatic relations, but it is the demand of the people that the contents of the Russian files be known. Many researchers have hinted that the answer to the mystery over Netajis disappearance lies in the Russian files, she added. Mamata also demanded that Netaji be given the title of leader of the nation, just as was Gandhiji was honoured with the title of father of the nation. Without taking any names, she said, We all know that Netaji was deprived of due respect by some people. Its time we fulfil our duties in regard to our great leader. The West Bengal chief minister was the first head of a state government in the country to declassify files on Netaji 64 files in all, running into almost 12,800 pages on September 18 last year. On the same day, she mounted pressure on the Modi government for complete disclosure of the files in its possession. Mamata does not believe the explanation that Netaji died in an air crash in Taihoku in August 1945, and has several times in the past expressed her scepticism in this regard. Read | Revealed: Why govt was reluctant to bring back Netajis ashes SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files related to Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary on Saturday. The National Archives of India (NAI) is placing 100 files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji, the Prime Minister will release the digital copies of these files in public domain, an official release from the culture ministry said. Ahead of the event in New Delhi, the Prime Minister remembered Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, saying his bravery and patriotism endears him to Indians across generations. Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations, Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet. Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2016 In another tweet, he shared a picture of proclamation issued by Netaji Bose in 1944. From the pages of history...Proclamation issued by Netaji in 1944. pic.twitter.com/UokXkGw2xM Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2016 Netaji birthplace museum in Cuttack will release a special booklet containing rare photographs and information about Azad Hind Fauj. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Modi, in his meeting with members of Bose family on October 14, last year, had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to Bose and make them accessible to public. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee declassified 64 files on Netaji that were in the custody of the state government on September 18 2015. About 12,800 pages of the 64 files were digitised and kept for the people to read in Kolkata Police Museum in North Kolkata. Two Dalit students who had disrupted Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in Lucknow, on Saturday accused him of discriminating against the community and shedding crocodile tears over the suicide by research scholar Rohith Vemula. Ram Karan Nirmal and Amrendra Kumar Arya of the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in Lucknow had raised slogans against Modi at the universitys convocation function on Friday. Speaking at a felicitation function organised by NGO Rihai Manch for speaking out against the alleged atrocities on Dalits, Nirmal and Arya claimed their protest was not a publicity stunt. Both toppers, they were supposed to receive medals from the Prime Minister during the convocation but were evicted from the venue after their act. Dalits are the most ostracised community in the ongoing saffronisation of the country. It is not only Dalit students, but even teachers who are suffering under this government, said Nirmal. He also raised questions on the PMs statement of being saddened by the death of Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemula, who had committed suicide last week. Why did it take so long for the Prime Minister to comment on such an important issue? said Nirmal. Nirmal also accused the BBAU administration of forcibly evicting him and Arya from the university guest house after the incident. Arya accused the Modi government of promoting saffronisation in college curricula. Rohiths death is a glaring example of discrimination of Dalits on college campuses. We want a high level enquiry in Rohiths case and strict action against the accused, Arya said. News / National by Stephen Jakes Political commentator Josepher Madlanduna has said the problem with Zimbabweans is their continued support for failed leaders."The sickness number one only found in Zimbabwe is that of following and supporting failed leaders.We support these leaders to continue clinging into power," he said. "Grooming dictators ourselves,as power corrupts gradually if change is avoided."He said Zimbabweans loves the failed president,and an ironically well supported opposition,but one that has failed to bring ultimate change."Does our political problems in Zimbabwe really lie on our failed leaders themselves,or on us who continue supporting them through our blind,uneducated and unreasonable support?" he asked.Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe has ruled the country since 1980 to date. In a crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the NIA has arrested 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country. Of the 14 suspects detained on Friday, 13 have been arrested, according to a home ministry spokesman. The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities -- Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow on Friday with the support of local police forces. Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said that certain incriminating articles, including but not limited to mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places. These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organise training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India, it said. The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organising themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country. According to sources, the arrested people were part of a group named Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (Army of Caliph of India), a terror group which has almost similar ideologies that of ISIS. Also Read | India on alert ahead of Republic Day: Are we ready for another strike? They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received instructions for carrying out some sensational attacks in the country. The group had started receiving money through hawala route and according to Home Ministry spokesman Sheikh also received funds to the tune of Rs 6 lakh. All the arrested suspects were being brought to the national capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that they were working on evolving a terror outfit with ideologies similar to ISIS. Also Read | 2 suspected IS operatives arrested in UP, hunt on for others The NSUI, the student wing of the Congress, is in talks with Left, Dalit and other student organisations to launch a sustained and united movement against the BJP and its affiliate ABVP in colleges and universities across the country on the issue of alleged atrocities on Dalits. The move by the Congress to put the National Students Union of India (NSUI)?at the forefront of the agitation, following the suicide of University of Hyderabad student Rohith Vemula, is not only to win back the support of the Dalits, who have moved away from the party over the years, but also the student community which had, to a large extent, deserted it in the wake of the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare in 2011. We are trying to reach out to all like-minded student organisations, including the Left and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to launch a united front against BJP and ABVP in colleges and universities across the country, NSUI chief Roji John said. In the University of Hyderabad, he said 14 groups, including the NSUI, Dalit organisations and Students Federation of India (SFI), have already launched a united front against the ABVP and its parent party BJP. Apart from the Left student organisations such as SFI, AISF and AISA, the NSUI will also get in touch with the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti of the Aam Aadmi Party and Dalit outfits like Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA)?and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan. The BJP is misusing its power to support the hooliganism of ABVP while they attack students from weaker sections. It is the duty of all of us to check and counter it, John said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Days after the FBI report concluded that the death of Sunanda Pushkar was due to poisoning, her widower and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor on Saturday claimed that he has plenty to say on the case but would await the ongoing probe to end. Let me say this for the last time, I will not comment on this matter, as a matter of policy as well as principle, until the police have concluded investigation, Tharoor said on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur. Once the police have done so, come to a conclusion and presented it to a court, I will have plenty to say. But till then it will be wrong to do so and I will not do so, he said. In January last year, the Delhi Police had registered a case of murder in connection with the death of Sunanada Pushkar. An All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) medical board had found poisoning as the reason for her death following which the police had sent her viscera samples to an FBI lab in Washington last year. The AIIMS medical board gave its opinion based on the FBI report that Sunanda died of poisoning. 51-year-old Sunanda Pushkar was found dead at a suite in a five-star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014, a day after her spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar on Twitter over her alleged affair with Tharoor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. The files were declassified and put on digital display at the National Archives of India (NAI) in New Delhi by the prime minister, who pressed a button in the presence of Bose family members and Union ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo. Later, Modi and his ministerial colleagues went around glancing at the declassified files, spending over half an hour at the National Archives. He also spoke to the members of the Bose family. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Later in the day, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that Netaji be given the title of leader of the nation, just as was Gandhiji was honoured with the title of father of the nation. Without taking any names, she said, We all know that Netaji was deprived of due respect by some people. Its time we fulfil our duties in regard to our great leader. In October 2015, the prime minister had met the family members of Netaji and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice MK Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that Bose was alive after that. The controversy had also split members of the Bose family too. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4, 2015. Also Read | My father wouldve been prominent alternative to Nehru: Boses daughter Subsequently, the ministries of home affairs and external affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI, it added. In his reaction to the declassification, Chandra Kumar Bose, spokesperson of the Bose family and grand-nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose who was present at the ceremony, said we welcome this step by Prime Minister wholeheartedly. This is a day of transparency in India. Earlier in day, he told PTI, We feel that certain very important files were destroyed during the Congress regime in order to hide the truth. We have documentary evidence to understand this. So we feel that the Indian government should take steps to ensure the release of files lying in Russia, Germany, UK, USA. Chandra Bose also said We couldnt go through all the files. But as of now, what we could go through, there are only circumstantial evidence of the air crash but no conclusive evidence of the air crash. Even in one of the letters that we saw here which was written by Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suresh Bose that there is no conclusive evidence about the air crash, only few circumstantial evidence, he told PTI after the files were declassified. Also Read | Congress vows to expose and punish creators of fake Nehru letter Chandra Bose said there is a change in the attitude of the government from that of the previous ones. Firstly, the attitude of suppressing the facts about Netaji has been negated. And this is the biggest thing in unraveling the truth about Netaji. Netajis nephew Ardhendu Bose, who was also at the ceremony in New Delhi, said the Bose family and the entire country has been waiting for this moment for the last seven decades nearly. We feel that these files would be able to throw some light on it. File photo of Boses family members carrying a portrait of Netaji . (HT Photo/Mohd Zakir) Also Read | Bose files: Taiwanese official gave evidence on Netajis cremation He also stressed that the files lying in KGB archives in Russia and those with Germany, UK and USA will bring out more that what lies in those files. As we apprehend that certain files might have been destroyed. Just ahead of the declassification ceremony, an aged family member broke down in the presence of the Prime Minister. An official said the National Archives placed 100 files relating to Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. The digital copies of these files coming out in public domain meets a long-standing public demand which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, the official said. Besides the controversy over whether Subhas Bose died in the 1945 aircrash or not, those who believe he was alive after that have different theories about what happened to the leader. While one of the theories says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for Indias independence but was later killed there, another says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradeshs Faizabad till 1985. Watch | PM releases digital copies of files related to Netaji An official said the National Archives placed 100 files relating to Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. The digital copies of these files coming out in public domain meets a long-standing public demand which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, the official said. Besides the controversy over whether Bose died in the 1945 aircrash or not, those who believe he was alive after that have different theories about what happened to the leader after that. While one of them says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for Indias independence but was later killed there, the other says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradeshs Faizabad till 1985. Also Read | Subhas Chandra Bose must be given leader of the nation title: Mamata Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff, who lives in Germany, believes that her father had died in the Taipei plane crash. However, Chandra Bose, who was close to Netajis wife Emilie Schenkl, says in a Facebook post that she never believed in the false theory of the air crash. She was told by a Russian journalist that Netaji was very much alive in the erstwhile Soviet Union after 1945. Emilie Schenkl - till she passed away in March 1996, believed Netaji did not die in any air crash. The nation is eagerly waiting to know the truth. West Bengal government had in September last year released 64 secret Netaji files kept in police and state government lockers. Earlier in the day, a galaxy of leaders paid floral tributes to Netaji at a function to mark his birth anniversary in Parliaments Central Hall. Among those present were the kin of Netaji, besides Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP veteran LK Advani. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also paid homage to Bose and said that the nation can never forget his contribution to the freedom struggle of India. Remembering Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described him a man of extraordinary courage, a patriot and a charismatic leader. Netajis contribution to Indias freedom struggle will continue to inspire us, tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Also Read | Netajis daughter convinced he died in crash, wants DNA test of remains Naidu said today a historic day with PM Modi releasing 100 digital files relating to Netaji Bose. It is a major step towards meeting the long standing demand of Indian people who are anxious to know the unknown aspects of the life of great freedom fighter. Grateful to PM for the initiative of de-classifying Netaji files, he said. Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses family members leave after paying tribute to the great freedom fighter on his 119th birth anniversary at the Parliament house in New Delhi. (PTI) Naidu also met the family members of Netaji in Parliament House and later said he was delighted over interaction with 26 family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose today. Took them around Central Hall after hosting them over breakfast. BJP president Amit Shah tweeted I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a historical and courageous decision to declassify files related to Netaji. A niece of Bose said after the function we are all very excited and are looking forward to it. I do expect that we will get some indications regarding Netaji in these files. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet Homage to Desh Nayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Also Read I would like to sleep a while: Netajis last words on Aug 18, 1945 Taking a swipe at Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Prime Minister of the country should also empathise with farmers and not just with industrialists. The Congress vice-president said this in Mahoba district in drought-hit Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, where had gone on Saturday for a day-long kisan padyatra to speak with affected farmers. Yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional...he paused during his speech (at the BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to say: Modiji, the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220, is provided to you by farmers, he said, referring to Modis condolence speech for Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-kilometre-long foot-march, the Congress leader also sought more funds for the development of the water-scarce region. During the UPA regime, price of crude petroleum was USD 150 per barrel, whereas now it has fallen to just USD 28. A lot of money saved here can be used for the development of backward regions like Bundelkhand, he said. Promising people of Bundelkhand that he would highlight their problems in Parliament, Rahul said he has been speaking on all these issues and voicing farmers concerns during his padyatras in other parts of the country as well. He also took the opportunity to tout UPA programmes, and said if the MNREGS scheme had been implemented, the region would not have faced the issue of mass exodus it is seeing now. With drought-hit Bundelkhand becoming a fertile ground for politicking, leaders have been making a beeline to hear tales of human miseries and indulge in accusations and counter accusations over the situation in the region that has remained caught in the quagmire of politics over the years. Ahead of the Congress leaders visit, BJP legislature party leader Suresh Khanna visited the region and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has planned a visit on January 27. And Rahul faces an uphill task in the region, especially since political rivals say the Bundelkhand package announced during the UPA regime at his behest had failed to make an impact owing to its poor implementation. Nonetheless, the Congress vice-president congratulated his party workers for standing alongside the farmers and labourers and fighting for them. According to MP Congress secretary Nitin Chaturvedi, Rahul has assured party leaders that he would soon tour the Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh as well. Rahul has also urged party workers to send him a report on the state of affairs in the region, he added. (With PTI inputs) Two students, who had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modis address at a convocation function in Lucknow, have said they took the step to ensure that no Dalit student faces the same fate as Hyderabad Universitys scholar Rohith Veluma. Ram Karan and Amrendra Kumar Arya, who were arrested and released later on personal bonds, said on Saturday they had raised their voice to oppose the alleged atrocities on Dalits. We are followers of Baba Saheb and students of Constitution and law... A Dalit student Rohith Vemula committed suicide in Hyderabad... Students should not die in this manner and that is why we raised slogans, Karan said. Arya said, This voice will not die down... We took this step in order to ensure that in the times to come no Dalit student faces what Rohith had to face. The same had happened with Baba Saheb 50 years ago and today it has again happened with Rohith... Be it Allahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University or BBAU, Dalit students are being harassed, he said. The two had shouted slogans during Prime Minister Narendra Modis convocation address at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU)on Friday and urged him to do justice in the case relating to the suicide of Rohith Vemula of the Hyderabad University. Ram Karan alleged that after the incident, the university administration threw him out of the guest house even though he had deposited the rent for two days. Rohith Vemula, a research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on Sunday last. He was among five research scholars who were suspended by the university. The Indian government was reluctant to bring back Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses ashes from a Buddhist temple in Tokyo because it feared a political backlash, says a top secret file from the late 1970s declassified on Saturday. The home ministry document was among the 100 declassified files Prime Minister Narendra Modi released on the 119th birth anniversary of the iconic freedom fighter. The file reveals correspondence between the home ministry, Intelligence Bureau and external affairs ministry on a proposal of the Indian embassy in Tokyo that Boses ashes kept in the custody of the chief priest of the Renkoji Temple be brought back to India. Bureaucrat after bureaucrat makes the same point in the over 200-page file over the years: The government of India was not inclined to favour bringing back the ashes due to possible adverse reactions from members of Netajis family, as well as certain sections of the public, who refused to believe in his death in the plane crash in August, 1945. The point about adverse reactions was made by N N Jha, the then joint secretary in the external affairs ministrys north and east Asia department, in July 1976, when the country was under Emergency. Skip to August 1976, when TV Rajeswar, joint director in the Intelligence Bureau, advised his colleagues that the ashes should not be brought back because they would create complications. Rajeswar noted that Boses family and the Forward Bloc, a political party founded by the freedom fighter, do not recognise the ashes. He warned that if the ashes are brought back, the government would be accused of foisting a false story upon the people of West Bengal and India, taking advantage of Emergency, and this may well figure as an important plant of propaganda if and when the elections are announced. Netaji, one of the leading lights of the freedom struggle, set up the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II to take on the British Indian Army. The bespectacled freedom fighter was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack. A former Congress president and once a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Boses reported death from injuries sustained in a plane crash in Formosa, now Taiwan, in 1945 has been shrouded in mystery. (HT is going through the declassified files. Come back for more.) Also Read | Subhas Chandra Bose must be given leader of the nation title: Mamata Ahead of the one-day visit to Gurgaon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande, the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has asked Haryana police to submit crime status report for Gurgaon, Faridabad and other adjoining districts as part of efforts to ensure proper security arrangements. The two leaders have a programme scheduled on January 25 at National Institute of Solar Energy situated on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway where the foundation stone for the interim secretariat of the international solar alliance will be laid. As France is a friendly nation of the US, CIA is involving itself in the security measures for the Hollande visit. The agency on Friday specifically asked the Gurgaon and Faridabad district administrations to provide action-taken report, especially in the vicinity of the Aravalli mountain range, which is known for illegal mining and other criminal activities. Hawa Singh, ACP (PRO) of Gurgaon police, said that the spy agency has been focusing on Mewat district, where different security agencies have arrested four or five terrorists in the past three years. A suspected al Qaeda operative was nabbed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from Mewat district last week. CIA has asked the police in Gurgaon, Faridabad and adjoining districts to submit data on all criminal activities reported in their respective areas. The district administrations of Gurgaon and Faridabad have already imposed Section 144 in a radius of 2 km from the venue with SWAT teams also in place. Section 144 will also be imposed at prominent malls, shopping centres, strategic locations and crowded places between January 24 and 26. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has alleged that then Eastern Army Command chief General VK Singh, now a Union minister, advised him to buy insurgent groups of the state to bring them back to the mainstream. Singh, who went on to become army chief in 2010 before joining politics after retirement, denied the charge. In an interview to HT on Friday, the chief minister said that Singhs advice was about financial payments to insurgents. What advice is the question...some financial payments. How could I give it? His advice was not to deal firmly (with insurgents). His advice was different, Gogoi said. The CM said he had refused to accept the advice. Wild suggestions but I didnt want it. Frankly, he suggested that they can be bought backNobody can be bought. Whats the use of giving it (money to insurgents)? Now he will denythats why I am not talking about the financial part Asked whether he took it up with the government at the Centre, Gogoi said, Since I refused, why should I take it up? The allegation by Gogoi, a three-time Congress chief minister, comes ahead of assembly polls slated for April-May in the northeastern state. In September 2013, Gogoi had hinted ay advice from Singh who has courted controversy several times in the recent past but refused to reveal what he said would be a big embarrassment for the former army chief. The army is part of the Unified Command which plans and executes counter-insurgency operations in Assam where several outfits are active, including the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independence (Ulfa-I) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland, Sangbijit faction. Rejecting the CMs allegations, VK Singh told HT, I dont know what he is imagining. I may have met him a number of times but I dont recall any such thing. Asked about the Centres ongoing negotiations with the pro-talks Ulfa faction, Gogoi expressed doubt about the governments tactics. Its our effort. Who brought them (Ulfa) to the negotiating table? Not they (NDA government). I brought them (Ulfa) there. Frankly speaking, I have a little doubt about them, their dealing tactics. Today, they havent taken us into full confidence as earlier governments did. Earlier, central government officials discussed with me. Till today, neither the Prime Minister nor the home minister or even a secretary-level official has briefed me, he added. The Assam CM also alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was trying to create communal tension ahead of elections and said its cadre were behind incidents of beef-throwing in different parts of the state. I immediately called the police (after a beef-throwing incident). I told them its the job of the RSS. In spite of their best efforts to create communal tension, they have not been able to create any law and order problems. Sometimes, they use (throw) beef in front of temples then all sorts of propaganda. The governor says India is only for Hindus. What do such statements mean? Asked about the failure to cobble up a Bihar-type grand alliance in Assam, Gogoi said he was for a maha understanding with secular parties. The moment you go for an alliance with anybody, you have to forego certain seats. Its not possible. Our base will be eroded if we dont put up our candidates. We may be a gainer in the short term, but we will be a loser in the long run. Minor adjustments here and there are a different thing. I am not ruling out minor adjustments, Gogoi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Noted writer Nayantara Sahgal, who was one of the first to return awards against rising intolerance in the country, on Saturday said she is waiting for the day when the culture minister drapes naked statues at Khajuraho with a saree. The way things are proceeding now under Hindutva, I am just waiting for the day when the culture minister puts sarees on the naked statues at Khajuraho because they are in a very dramatic sexual postures, Sahgal said at a session of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet (TSKLM). While talking about censorship, the 88-year-old, who has returned her Sahitya Akademi award in protest against rising intolerance, said the space for dissent has vanished and dissenters are now being attacked with sticks, stones, black paint and even murder. Read | Intolerance row: Nayantara Sahgal agrees to accept awards she returned The silence of the government is its answer. Or it is busy defending the Hindutva ideology, she said adding that censorship by mob has taken over. It is the mob which decides what is going to be censored with threats, guns and violence, Sahgal said. On the last Lok Sabha elections, she said the polls were fought on the model of development and not Hindutva. He (Modi) never said we would turn it into a Hindu nation. This is now the governments policy... Those who agree with us have the duty to stand up before we are converted into something which we did not wish to have, the writer said. Sahgal was one of the forefront campaigners against the Sahitya Akademis silence over killings of rationalists like Narendra Dabholkar and MM Kalburgi. On October 7, 2015, a week after a Muslim man in Dadri village near Delhi was lynched for allegedly storing and consuming beef in his home, Sahgal had expressed concerns over dangerous distortion of Hinduism and returned the Akademi award she had received in 1986 for her English novel Rich Like Us. She recently took her award back in view of the contention that there is no provision to return the award. Talking to HT, Sahgal said, The Akademi wrote a letter to me saying it is against their policy to receive returned award and therefore they are sending back the award. I will use the money for a worthwhile cause and welfare schemes. News / National by Stephen Jakes The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has sought to clarify traffic laws in relation to the newly announced offences and spot fines.ZLHR Communications officer Kumbirai Mafunda said his organisation has noted much confusion in the media in recent weeks over the alleged introduction by Parliament of new traffic offences and spot fines."ZLHR would accordingly like to clarify certain issues: -the only new piece of legislation relating to traffic offences that has been introduced since December 2015 is Statutory Instrument 129 of 2015 - the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulations, 2015.," he said. "These Regulations effectively reintroduce the provisions of Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010, which was struck down by the High Court in 2012 on very specific grounds, namely that the Regulations had been enacted by the Ministry' of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development as opposed to the Minister', and purported to introduce the wholesale prohibition of left-hand drive vehicles, in contravention of the Road Traffic Act."Mafunda said the new Regulations do not introduce a new Schedule of Fines, as has been suggested in the media."The Minister of Finance and Economic Development recommended the raising of traffic fines in the 2016 National Budget Statement, but no new Schedule has been gazetted to give effect to the suggested fines. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are accordingly still relying on a Schedule of Deposit Fines, issued in August 2013, and the fines in that Schedule do not exceed $20," he said."Indeed, the ZRP cannot lawfully impose a spot fine above $20 (Level 3) as this is prohibited by Section 356 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Fines higher than level 3 can only be imposed by a magistrate after a court appearance. The maximum punishment that can be imposed by a magistrate for traffic offences under the Regulations is $200 (a Level 5 fine) and a period of imprisonment not exceeding six months, in terms of section 87 of the Regulations."He said furthermore, it must be the initiative of the accused person to pay the fine instead of appearing in court."The police may not insist on the payment of a spot fine where the road user is not in a position to do so immediately or where the offence is being contested. Although the provisions are not new, ZLHR notes with concern that some of the requirements of the 2015 Regulations may be overly cumbersome for motorists, and may be arbitrarily enforced if appropriate discretion is not properly exercised by the authorities. Examples include that every vehicle: must carry warning triangles that are permanently and legibly marked with the name of manufacturer and year of manufacture (warning triangles complying with this requirement are not currently readily available)," he said."Motorists must carry a fire extinguisher of a type and make approved by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe, or any other International Standards Authority, with such approval visibly marked on the fire extinguisher (such fire extinguishers are not currently readily available or affordable), motorcyclists must wear safety helmets which [consist] of a shell made of fibre glass (the safest modern helmets are in fact made of carbon fibre) and trucks carrying large loads shall ensure that loads are covered by a waterproof tarpaulin or similar material at all times (even if the load is safely secured so as not to pose a risk to other motorists and there are no adverse weather conditions)."Mafunda said ZLHR also notes that the somewhat cumbersome provisions relating to the carrying of spare wheels, tools and fire extinguishers, though purportedly introduced to increase traffic safety, allow for exemptions for motor vehicles bearing foreign registration number plates that are in transit or on a temporary entry permit."If the requirements are genuinely for public safety, then it is submitted that they should be applied across the board, to all motorists. In order for the traffic fines to be implemented fairly and in good faith, ZLHR calls on the ZRP, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, and other relevant authorities, to embark on a nationwide awareness campaign regarding the requirements of the 2015 Regulations and other legislation relating to traffic offences, such as the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic (Safety-belt) Regulations, 1987," he said.HE said ZLHR also calls on the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, and other relevant authorities to ensure that all tools, fire extinguishers and equipment that motorists are now required to carry be made readily available and affordable to motorists, to ensure that they are in a position to comply with the law."Most importantly, in imposing traffic fines, ZRP officers must exercise their duties in the interests of public safety and administrative justice, refraining from imposing unlawful spot fines and rejecting all forms of bribery and corruption," he said. Airlift Direction: Raja Krishna Menon Actors: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Kumud Mishra, Prakash Belawadi Rating: 3.5 Two things in Airlift will make your jaw drop. First, the story itself in 1990, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, he made instant refugees of the approximately 1.7 lakh Indians who lived there. Overnight, homes, businesses and properties evaporated and once-wealthy expatriates were left struggling to survive in a war zone. A few good men took the lead, organised the Indian community and engineered an escape to Amman in Jordan, where the Indian government airlifted them in Air India planes. It was the largest civilian evacuation in history. But somehow it got buried and became a footnote instead of a headline. The second surprise is Akshay Kumar. This, I think, is his finest hour. There is little trace of the superstar swagger. Instead we get a man who is broken and vulnerable. Read: Airlift review: Akshay Kumar and his saviour act is a must-watch Watch the trailer here The character of Ranjit Katyal is a composite of two Indian businessmen in Kuwait who turned saviours when the war broke out. Ranjit is a hero who feels fear and desperation. Even in the action scenes, there is zero posturing. Big props to Akshay for putting his heart and might behind such an unconventional project, and to director Raja Krishna Menon for showcasing a story that had been lost on the sidelines.Kumud Mishra does nicely as a bureaucrat who becomes an unlikely hero. So does Prakash Belawadi, who plays a cantankerous, constantly complaining refugee. But Airlift never takes full flight because of the screenplay. In fact, the films title is misleading because the actual airlift operation barely gets any screen time. Raja brings alive the horror of being a refugee but he doesnt manage to create a sense of urgency and suspense. The other discordant note is Nimrat Kaur as Ranjits posh wife. Shes a terrific actor, but I found her a bit jarring. Theres a war going on but her hair and lipstick stay in place! Airlift is tonally inconsistent but the film is fuelled by a palpable sincerity. If nothing else, see it to see what Akshay Kumar can do. After all these years, hes proven himself to be a real khiladi. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after gangster Chotta Shakeels alleged aide Amin Yusuf Shaikh alias Haji Ameen Khan, 46, was released on bail for injuring five people with his speeding Mercedes, the Byculla police are now investigating another case involving him. Khan was earlier booked in an attempt to murder case following a dispute with a neighbour over a parking lot, but he was never arrested, said the police. Read more: Speeding Mercedes runs over 4 in South Mumbai, driver arrested When asked why Khan was not arrested if a case specifically mentioning him was registered, the police claimed there was no direct evidence against him. We accessed the CCTV camera footage, but Khan was not to be seen in it. We questioned him and are probing other angles in the case to ascertain his involvement, said S Jaykumar, deputy commissioner of police, Zone III. The police are also looking into other cases registered against him in the past. Khan was arrested on Friday by Pydhonie police after he lost control of the car at Colombo junction near Crawford Market, hit two other parked cars and injured five people. The injured have been identified as Monira Shaikh, 25; Alisha Shaikh, 40; Ayesha Shaikh, 40; Rashida Shaikh, 25 and Rahul Shaikh, 4. They are natives of Assam and daily wage earners. According to the police, Khan has a case under Arms Act against with Hyderabad police in 2001. Cases were registered against Khan in 1992 and 1993, apart from an attempt to murder case in 2015 in which he was never arrested. Accused sends money to victim Munira Shaikh had fallen asleep on a pavement near Colombo junction just minutes before Amin Shaikh crashed his friends Mercedes into vehicles parked nearby, causing one of the cars to run over her and break her right shoulder. (Pramod Thakur/HT photo) Amin Yusuf Shaikh alias Haji Ameen Khan extended monetary help of Rs2000 to Munira Shaikh, who sustained a fracture in the accident. Munira is still in the hospital and will be discharged on Sunday. We have been promised more help when she is discharged as the doctors have asked us to bring her to the hospital for at least a week, said Ramzan Shaikh, her husband. The Bombay high court has refused to quash an FIR filed against a 27-year-old man for allegedly raping his fiancee under the promise of marriage, ruling that the victims consent or voluntary participation in the act must be proved for settling such cases. A bench of justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai were hearing an application filed by a Pune resident seeking that the FIR filed by his ex-fiancee against him on charges of rape be quashed since she had consented to entering into a physical relationship with him. He argued that though the woman had resisted initially, she agreed to it considering that the couple were formally engaged and were to get married soon. The bench however, dismissed his plea holding that under the amended 2013 rape laws, the court must differentiate between consent in the form of a freely exercised choice and consent in the form of passive submission out of fear or pressure. The bench cited several Supreme Court rulings to hold that in order to constitute the offence of rape under Section 375 of the IPC, sexual intercourse must be against the will and without the consent of the victim. It is now an established principle of law that the clauses against ones will and without ones consent hold different meanings and passive submission under pressure cannot be held as consent, the bench said. According to the FIR, the man and the victim got engaged in September 2014, in the presence of their family members and relatives. In December 2014, the victim had gone to visit him and his mother at their house. He then took her to his room and forced her to have sex without her will and despite resistance after assuring her that they would be getting married soon. However, in January next year, the couple had an altercation over the delay on part of the mans family in fixing up a date for the wedding and eventually, his family called off the wedding. The victim then filed the FIR on charges of rape and cheating. The bench held that while it had been established that the petitioner had sexual intercourse with the victim without her will, it remains to be seen whether this was a case of passive submission under psychological pressure, or whether the victim gave a tacit consent. This question will have to be decided on the analysis of evidence and thus, quashing the FIR in respect of the offence of rape against the petitioner at this stage would amount to denying the victim a chance to prove her allegations, the bench said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai airport received four bomb threats in a 24-hour period from Friday to Saturday. While the first three calls were found to be hoaxes by Sanjeev Mishra, a mentally unstable person, the veracity of the fourth, made at 5.30pm on Saturday by an unknown caller, was yet to be determined at the time of going to press. Officials from the airport police station detained Mishra briefly but let him off after his family produced a medical certificate from a Kolkata hospital declaring him mentally unstable, an official said. Mishras first call, made at 6pm on Friday, warned of a car bomb near domestic terminal 1B. He called the control room again at 3:20am on Saturday, this time warning of a bomb in a fleet taxi parked at the airport. In his third hoax call, Mishra said there was a bomb on a GoAir flight from Bhubaneshwar to Mumbai. He reportedly mentioned the flight number (G8-243) and said, Suitcase mein bomb hai (There is a bomb in a suitcase). The call was made from a number registered in Odisha. The plane, carrying more than 150 people, was forced to make an emergency landing in Nagpur one hour into its journey. Under standard operating procedure, the passengers were offloaded and the aircraft was taken to a remote parking bay for a security check. After no suspicious objects were found on board, passengers boarded the plane again and resumed their journey to Mumbai. Under standard operating procedure, the passengers were offloaded and the aircraft was taken to a remote parking bay for a security check. (File photo) For the GoAir hoax, he (Mishra) called us, Bhubaneshwar airport and Bagdogra airport from the same cell phone number, said a senior official with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who did not wish to be named. A GoAir spokesperson also confirmed the incident, saying the flight, which took off from Bhubaneshwar at 8:20am, was forced to land in Nagpur at 9:29am. After offloading the 150 passengers, checks were conducted by airport security and no bomb was found on board. After clearance from the authorities, the passengers boarded the flight again, and it was scheduled leave for Mumbai at noon, a GoAir statement read. The fourth call, made to the airport control room at 5:30pm on Saturday, was from a cell phone number traced to Uttar Pradesh. The caller was extremely abrupt. He said someone would blow up the city airport by February 2 and hung up, said a CISF official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The arrest of 33-year-old Mudabbir Shaikh from Amrut Nagar in Mumbra, on Thursday, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in coordination with Maharahtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS), has resulted in the central agency probing Indian Mujahideen (IM)s role in recruiting fresh blood into the ranks of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Mohammed Hussein Khan, 36-year-old businessman from Mazgaon, was also arrested for his alleged links to the ISIS. According to sources, he is part of the all-India ISIS module that was busted by the NIA and other anti-terror agencies in the country during nation-wide crackdown on ISIS. Shaikh, believed to be one of the main recruiters, was produced before an NIA court in Mumbai, where the agency sought for a transit remand to produce him before a court in Delhi, and was granted a three-day transit remand. Late on Thursday, an ATS team and NIA officials raided Shaikhs residence at Reshma Cooperative Housing Society in Mumbra, around 35 km away from Mumbai, and arrested him. Shaikhs mobile phone and laptop, which has incriminating documents, have been seized and will be sent for forensic examination, said police sources. Meanwhile, another suspect from Mumbai has been detained and his antecedents are being verified, they added. Shaikh, a graduate and who holds a diploma in computer software, was unemployed and used to spend most of his time at home. He was active on social media through which he got in touch with an ISIS handler, who is believed to have brainwashed him, said police sources. Shaikh came under radar after he allegedly tried to influence other people to join ISIS. We believe he is one of the key recruiters in India, said a police officer, close to the investigation, who did not wish to be named. Investigators believe Shaikh was connected to the four people, including Ayaz Sultan and Mohsin Sayeed, who wanted to join the jihadi group, Islamic State (IS). They are looking for Shafi Armar, a resident of Bhatkal, who was named the amir (chief) of Ansar-ul-Tawhid, the recruiting arm of ISIS. Continuing the nationwide crackdown on alleged members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested two more men claimed to be associated with the terrorist group on Saturday. On Friday night, a team from the Maharashtra ATS and the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested Khalid Ahmed Ali Nawazuddin, alias Rizwan, from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. Another team of ATS officers arrested 26-year-old Imran Moazzam Khan Pathan from Badi Masjid in the Waijapur area of Aurangabad district. Read more: NIA arrests 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks 2 held for alleged links with ISIS; NIA probes IM role Imran is unemployed, while Khalid is believed to have links to four young men from Malwani who were allegedly radicalised by ISIS sympathisers in 2015, according to a police source. The four Ayaz Sultan, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, Wajid Sheikh and Noor Mohammed Sheikh had left their homes in Malwani last year. While Wajid and Noor have since returned, Ayaz is believed to have travelled to Iraq, while Mohsins location is unknown. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) produced another alleged ISIS member, Mazgaon businessman Mohammed Hussain Jamil Khan, before a special NIA holiday court in Mumbai on Saturday, where NIA prosecutor Anand Sukhdev sought transit remand for him. When judge NK More asked Jamil if he had anything to say about his arrest on Friday, he replied, Mujhse galti ho gayi, sir (I made a mistake, sir). The court recorded his statement and gave the NIA three days transit remand to produce him before a court in Patiala. Jamils relatives and well-wishers had gathered at the court on Saturday, where his second wife denied all the allegations against him and said he was innocent. When told that Jamil had admitted guilt in court, she said he had made the statement under pressure. She said the family was shocked to learn about his arrest and were only told about it 12 hours later. We were clueless [about the arrest]. We are sure he is innocent. Why would a man with so many responsibilities get into such activities? He has four daughters, including two of marriageable age, and three families to support, she said. Jamils lawyer Sabnam Shaikh said, He has been falsely implicated in the case. On Friday, Maharashtra ATS and the NIA had also arrested 33-year-old Mudabbir Shaikh from Mumbra, claiming he was one of the key recruiters for ISIS in India. An Abohar court on Saturday remanded Akali sympathiser liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda in five days of police custody regarding a murder at his farmhouse recently. Ferozepur range deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Amar Singh Chahal, who leads the four-member special investigation team, said: After being presented in the court of justice Rahul Kumar at Abohar, Doda was handed over to the CIA (crime investigation agency) at Fazilka for further questioning. After the Punjab and Haryana high court denied him anticipatory bail on Thursday, Doda had surrendered on Friday at the office of Fazilka senior superintendent of police (SSP) Indermohan Bhatti. Dodas anticipatory bail was first rejected by Fazilka additional district and sessions judge Jatinder Walia, following which he had moved the high court. During arguments in the Fazilka court, Dodas counsel had presented photographs and a video placing him in a Delhi hotel on December 11, the day Bhim was murdered at his farmhouse in Abohar. Opposing the anticipatory-bail application, public prosecutor Navdeep Girdhar had argued: The call details of Doda and his nephew, Amit, suggest that prime accused Harry had called up Amit before and after the murder. The records seized from Dodas farmhouse reveal that Bhim was his employee and Harry also worked for the liquor baron. The murder weapons were recovered from another employee of Doda, while several accused among the 26 booked were also found to be his workers. Surinder Tinna, counsel for the victims, said the police had substantial evidence against Doda and needed his custody to ascertain his role in the crime. Moreover, Bhims dying declaration blaming Doda is enough to arrest him, he said. After the arguments, Dodas application was rejected. The Fazilka police have, so far, arrested 23 accused, while three are on the run. A case under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 148 (armed riot) and 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against 17 people, initially. Later, following public outrage, police were forced to add the names of Doda, Amit and seven others to the FIR (first-information report). On December 11, 2015, Bhim and his associate, Gurjant Singh, were attacked with sharp-edged weapons at Dodas farmhouse. Bhim, whose limbs were chopped off, died later at a hospital in Amritsar. Gurjant, whose limbs were also severed, is under treatment. Before surrendering, Doda had talked to the media, claiming innocence. I am ready to undergo the lie-detector and narco-analysis tests to prove that neither I nor my family has anything to do with the murder of Bhim, he had said. Education minister Daljit Singh Cheema visited Pandori Nijra village in Jalandhar district on Saturday and said that to fill vacancy posts of teachers in government schools, the education department is going to recruit 14,000 teachers. Cheema said this while attending a function in the village. He said the state has moved from the 14th to the third position in the field of education since a lot was done for its growth by the state government. Cheema along with chief parliamentary secretary and MLA Adampur Pawan Kumar Tinu also welcomed the former MP of Canada, Naresh Bhardwaj, and praised his efforts for the development of his village. Education minister announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh to Babbar Trust memorial of Pandori Nijra Village. Haryana IPS officer Bharti Arora was among the 100 women achievers, who were felicitated by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Arora, a 1998 batch IPS officer was awarded for her community mobilisation efforts. She introduced several community policing programmes, welfare programmes for jail inmates in Ambala and Bhondsi prisons and campaigns for prevention of sexual abuse of girls at Rewari and Faridabad. She was also credited for community policing the rail warden scheme. As joint commissioner of Gurgaon police, Arora launched a campaign Lets Take About Road Safety for reducing road fatalities and introduced several initiatives like Traffic Tau to spread awareness, Respect the road campaign to stop drunken driving and Raahgiri- car free day. The President also hosted a lunch for the 100 women achievers at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The women achievers were selected by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with Facebook, through a nationwide contest and public nomination. Two days after the official car of inspector general of the Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) Anand Swaroop was stolen from his Noida residence, the Chandigarh police have launched a massive search operation in the city. The Tata Safari SUV, bearing Chandigarh registration number CH 01 GA 2915, with a VIP hooter and beacon, was found missing on Wednesday morning. UT senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, We have flashed the number at all entry and exit points of the city. The cops have been told to keep a check on entry of all Tata Safaris. He added that the number has also been provided to all police control room (PCR) vehicles and vigil has been intensified. Following the incident, a case was registered at Noida. The official car of Swaroop, a 1992 batch UP-cadre IPS officer, was found missing from his house. The police have heightened the search operations, with the recent attack at the Pathankot air base, in which an SPs car was stolen, as a reminder. The SSP said they have also alerted the cops to keep a tab on the white alto, which had gone missing on January 20 from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The number plate of the Alto is HP01D 2440. The white Alto taxi was hired on January 14 by three young men who wanted to visit Pathankot. After that body of driver Vijay Kumar was found on January 20 at Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The Special Protection Group (SPG) and the UT police officials carried out checks across the city a day before the visit of French president Francois Hollande. The members of the French security also arrived in the city. The UT officials will also be assigned different venues. The chief protocol officer of France reached the city, while the chief protocol officer of India will reach on Saturday. More than 4,000 security personnels are deployed in the city. The sources in the administration said minimum traffic restrictions would be imposed and directions have been issued to release the traffic from the spots where the presidents cavalcade would leave. A senior police officer said an alert has been sounded and proper checks are on before the visit of the French president Francois Hollande and prime minister Narendra Modi. Local BJP brass writes to PMO The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders met the UT adviser demanding the inclusion of their names in the industrialists summit scheduled to be held at Hotel Taj, Sector 17. The BJP leaders led by local unit chief Sanjay Tandon raised the issue of inclusion of their names but were told by the adviser that the ministry of external affairs is taking the call. Sanjay Tandon reportedly sent a communique to the prime minister office asking for including his name, senior BJP leaders Satyapal Jain, Harmohan Dhawan and couple of others in the list. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News / National by Stephen Jakes President Robert Mugabe yesterday night arrived from the Far East where he had gone with his family for his annual leave which usual coincide with his health checkup much to the shock and surprise of many who believed that he was dead as the Malawian Prophet had last year prophesied that he will not go beyond 2015.Herald Editor Caesar Zvayi tweeted during the night that the aged president was welcomed by Vice President Mnangagwa on arrival at Harare International Airport last night.Basil Muchuwe responded to the tweet saying, "The return of the dead man... this is what makes zim politics cheap. Wish the old man good healthy please not death."Mugabe has been accused of abandoning the citizens who are wallowing in serious economic problems, poverty and hunger going to enjoy himself with his family in the Far East. The sensational murder case of national shooter and advocate Sukhmanpreet Singh Sippy has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Appearing before a court on Friday, station head officer of the Sector 26 police station Poonam Dilawari, who is also the investigating officer in the case, said the probe had been transferred to the CBI. Sippy was gunned down at a park in Sector 27 on September 20, 2015. The role of a daughter of sitting Punjab and Haryana high court judge is under the scanner in the case. The police, however, did not submit any written document in the court and sought time for the same following which the case was adjourned for February 12. Confirming the development, UT adviser Vijay Dev said the inquiry into the case has been marked to the CBI. Additional district attorney Ashok Rohilla said: The court is yet to receive an official order from the police mentioning the transfer of the case to the CBI. During last hearing in the case on January 8, the daughter of a Punjab and Haryana high court judge and suspect in the case had requested the court to conduct lie-detection and brainmapping tests on the deceaseds mother and brother. Earlier, the police had moved an application on December 14, 2015, in the court seeking permission to conduct lie-detection tests on the suspect. Submitting a reply against the police application on January 8, suspects counsel Matvinder Singh requested that directions be issued for similar tests to be performed on Sippys mother Deepinder Kaur and his brother Jasman Preet Singh to expose bundle of lies weaved by them. Timeline September 20, 2015: Sippy Sidhu shot dead at a park in Sector 27, Chandigarh, on his birthday November 30: Accusing the police of shoddy probe, a candlelight march was held outside the residence of the UT inspector general of police in Sector 5 December 12: Sippys friends and relatives paid floral tributes to him at the Sector 27 park December 14: Chandigarh Police moved an application in a local court and sought permission to conduct brain-mapping and liedetection tests on the daughter of a Punjab and Haryana high court judge, a suspect in the case January 8, 2016: The suspect submitted an application in the court requesting it to conduct the tests on the deceaseds mother and brother Hope floats for victims kin SAS Nagar: The transfer of the case to the CBI has rekindled hopes of the victims family of getting justice. Talking to the media at her residence here on Friday, Sippys mother Deepinder Kaur said: The police failed to act despite having clues. I had told the police that my sons ex-girlfriend, daughter of a high court judge, was involved in the murder. Sippy had told me on September 20, when he was shot dead, that she wanted to meet him. The girl killed my son as we had turned down her marriage proposal. Sippys brother Jasman Preet Singh said: Why the suspects mother, who is a judge in the Punjab and Haryana high court, has not been transferred? Police were on their toes on Saturday after locals spotted two suspicious persons with backpacks in Bhagwan Nagar area near the Dholewal military camp here. Taking no chances, especially in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack, police sounded an alert and launched a massive search operation to locate the suspects. It is believed that a surveillance camera installed in the area has captured the images of the suspects. Police are scanning the footage. After the alert, the army also carried out a search operation inside the military complex. According to sources, the suspects tried to barge into the house of area councillor Arjan Singh Cheema, but when he resisted the suspected fled from the spot. Cheema claimed that on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, two suspects knocked the front door of his house. The suspects had their faces covered with a piece of cloth. When Cheema asked them about their identity, the suspects tried to barge into his house. However, they fled from the spot after the councillor raised alarm. Cheema said he initially thought the suspects were burglars. However, when he saw the footage of the CCTV at his house, he noticed that suspects were carrying backpacks. He immediately informed police. Some local residents also claimed to have spotted two suspects scaling the roofs of the houses in the area. Additional police force was rushed to the area and each and every house of the locality was searched. Deputy commissioner of police Narinder Bhargav monitored the search operation in Bhagwan Nagar area.All entry points to the city have been sealed and vehicles coming in and going out of the city were being thoroughly checked. Police, meanwhile, recovered an abandoned Maruti Esteem Car from Joshi Nagar in Haibowal area. The registration plate was damaged and no ocument was found in the car. The court of judicial magistrate Bikramdeep Singh on Friday summoned Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) leader Sanjay Singh in a defamation case filed by revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia. The next hearing of the case will be held on February 8. Majithia had filed the case on January 12, accusing the AAP leader of defaming him by dragging his name in the drug racket. Majithias counsel Damanbir Singh Sobti said the summons were issued under Sections 500 and 501 of the IPC. A notice was served on Sanjay Singh, incharge of Punjab party affairs, but he didnt reply to the notice, so Majithia filed the defamation suit. Himachal Pradesh police are struggling to locate the missing taxi, whose driver was found murdered in Kangra on January 20. The incident has sparked security concerns as the Himachal-registered taxi was hired by three unidentified men from Pathankot, where an air force base came under terrorists attack early this month. Delhi Police had on Friday issued an alert after the body of the driver, identified as Vijay Kumar, was found at Kalta bridge, around 30 km from Kangra. Police also released photographs of suspects and details of the vehicle through its official Twitter handle saying the Maruti Alto was hired by three men on January 20. There are no fresh clues about the missing vehicle and the three persons who hired the taxi. Investigations are on full swing and teams have been sent to neighbouring states to trace the vehicle, said Kangra superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Dular, whose team visited the spot where the drivers body was found. The case has also put a question mark on the functioning of police as the family members of the driver, who stays in Gaggal, around 10 km from Kangra, had lodged a missing complaint on January 15. Police, however, failed to take any appropriate action. Even after Vijay Kumars body was found on January 20, it took police two days to alert the neighbouring states. The local cops woke up from slumber and started taking the case seriously only after Delhi Police issued an alert. HP Police is yet to get the drivers autopsy report. Director general of police (DGP) Sanjay Kumar, who is camping in Kangra, on Saturday, visited the Punjab-Himachal border areas in the district to reviewed security arrangements. We are fully alert and tight vigil is being kept on the entry points to Himachal, said the DGP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande will jointly inaugurate the interim secretariat of the international solar alliance (ISA) on January 25, 2016. The interim secretariat is to be established on the National Institute of Solar Energ y (NISE) campus, Gurgaon. The Centre will support the alliance for five years by providing land and $30 million for this purpose. A piece of land measuring 5 acre had been offered for this purpose in the National Institute of Solar Energy campus in Gurgaon. Modi and the French President will also lay the foundation stone of the international solar alliance building. An official release on Friday said that Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Union minister of state for power, coal and new and renewable energy Piyush Goyal would also be present on the occasion. The alliance comprising 121 solar-resource-rich countries is working together with the objective of increasing the use of solar energy globally. It was launched jointly by Modi and the French President at Paris, France, on November 30, 2015. The alliance would pave way for solar energy production and storage technologies keeping in mind the specific needs of an individual country. Read: UT authorities impose no restrictions for Hollande, PMs visit They loved him too much for him to die in vain, and he didnt. So when 17-year-old Sahil Kumar was declared brain-dead at a Delhi hospital earlier this month, days after he was admitted following a deadly road accident, his parents knew what they had to do. Sahil now lives in a 38-year-old woman from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and a youth from Delhis Krishna Nagar, who have his kidneys, and also in a 51-year-old from Najafgarh, who got his heart. Sahils liver gave life to another man from Delhi, and his eyes were donated to two patients at AIIMS, New Delhi. It was a major decision taken voluntarily by the family, said Anil Kansal, associate director of neurosurgery at the hospital where Sahil, a resident of Dikadla village of Panipat district, was admitted. He gave a new lease of life to six patients. Kansal says the decision to donate Sahils organs was a tough choice for his parents. Kansal called them torchbearers for the betterment of humanity. There are several taboos associated with organ donations, said Kansal, whose hospital honoured Sahils father, Surinder Singh, at a simple function in Panipat on Friday. The defence counsel for Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh alias Pamma, 42, whose extradition is being sought by India from the Portugal government, is going to cite two major criminal cases against him which have fallen flat in Patiala courts due to lack of evidence. The prime witnesses have also turned hostile in both cases. HT has procured the court judgment in both cases 2009 killing of Patiala resident Rulda Singh, who was head of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, Punjab-based wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the 2010 Patiala bomb blast in which all accused have been acquitted after the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them. In the Rulda Singh case, police had arrested five accused, identified as Jagmohan Singh, 30, alias Rinku, Darshan Singh, 51, Gurjant Singh, 57, Amarjit Singh, 29, and Daljit Singh, 37, under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act and sections 15, 16 and 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act-2004. All accused were, however, acquitted by additional sessions judge Nirbhow Singh Gill on February 27, 2015. Four persons, identified as Jaswinder Singh, 24, Manjinder Singh, 32, Gurjant Singh, 37, and Harminder Singh, 40, were held in connection with the blast near Satya Narain Temple in Patiala. The accused were acquitted of all charges by additional sessions judge Pushvinder Singh on August 11, 2014, for want of evidence. The Patiala police have not moved the higher court against these orders. Patiala senior superintendent of police Gurmeet Singh Chauhan (SSP) said Pammas coconspirator in the Rulda Singh murder case, Jagtar Singh Tara, was successfully extradited from Thailand despite the accused being acquitted. We have watertight evidence to prove that Pamma hatched the plot in the UK along with Tara to kill Rulda Singh and even sent his men from there to kill him. Pamma was also the mastermind of the 2010 blast, the SSP added. The main accused in both cases are still at large and we hope to solve the cases once Pamma is brought here after extradition, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a bid to build up international pressure on India that is seeking fugitive Khalistan terrorist Paramjit Singh Pammas extradition from Portugal, his wife Pinky Marwa, UKs permanent resident, has sent a petition to the European Parliament (EP) seeking his deportation to England. Pinky, in her plea filed on January 22, claimed that Pammas detention has violated European Union (EU)s refugee laws and pressed for his release. She has also approached UN Human Rights Council in Geneva through UK and US-based Sikh bodies, demanding immediate release of Pammas on humanitarian grounds. While UN is not likely to intervene in the matter, Pinkys petition is likely to be heard by EPs petition committee by end of this month or in the beginning of February. Sion Simon, who is a British Labour Party politician and also a member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, too, has submitted a written question to European Parliament (copy with HT) asking its vice president/high representatives to intervene in Pammas return to the UK. Simon has also asked EU to take up the matter with the Indian government. Plea cites TFEU, Dublin Regulations Pamma was detained in Portugal on December 18, 2015, after which Indian authorities and the Punjab government began process to extradite him on grounds that he is wanted in murder and bomb blast cases in Patiala. Pinky has filed petition under article 227 of Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The plea states that the TFEU and Dublin Regulations duly ratified by all EU member countries recognise asylum/refugee status granted by any EU member country to a third country national and extend him the protection from refoulement to the country of persecution. In Pammas case, she mentioned that his asylum/refugee status has been properly granted by an the United Kingdom (EU member) and should be recognised by Portugal. Any request for his extradition to India should be denied as it amounts to re-foulement to a country where he will be persecuted. Portugal as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and member of the EU should not detain and extradite Pamma who has been granted asylum/refugee status by another member state (UK), she further added. She urged the European Parliament to ask the Portugal government to immediately release Pamma, deny the extradition request from India and immediately allow him to return to the UK. The petition for Pamma in European Union has been signed by European and North American Sikh NGOs, including Federation of Sikh Organisations (FSO), Sikh Council and Kesari Lehar from UK, Mar-Movement from Switzerland and North American-based rights group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). India to submit extradition papers in court tomorrow. Patiala range deputy inspector general of police Balkar Singh Sidhu, who is in Portugal along with Mohali superintendent of police Ashish kapoor, will submit Pammas extradition papers on behalf of Indian authorities in a Lisbon court on January 26 (Tuesday). What is EPs function? The European Parliament (EP) is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU). Together with the Council of the European Union (the Council) and the European Commission, it exercises EUs legislative functions. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As many as 11 flights were delayed by three-four hours while two flights were even cancelled due to foggy weather conditions during early morning hours on Saturday. The Indigo flight between Chandigarh and Delhi and the evening GoAir flight between Chandigarh and Mumbai were cancelled. Meanwhile, the morning GoAir Chandigarh-Mumbai flight delayed by around four hours, while the Indigo flight (6E 478) between Chandigarh and Bengaluru was delayed by three hours. The Air India (464) Chandigarh-Delhi flight was delayed by 55 minutes and JetKonnect (3658), Chandigarh-Delhi flight, was delayed by 30 minutes. Meanwhile, other flights between Chandigarh and Srinagar, Chandigarh and Delhi, and Chandigarh and Mumbai were delayed around 40-50 minutes. Officials of the airlines, however, said as of now, there was no updated schedule whether the flights would delayed or cancelled due to the French Presidents visit on January 24. A passenger, Ajay, who had to wait for eight hours at the airport due to the cancellation of the flights, said, Passengers are feeling harassed, the authorities should ideally inform us about the delay and cancellation in advance. Now I will have to go to Delhi first and then take a flight to Mumbai. Meanwhile on Thursday, the Northern Railways Ambala division restored the three trains - Paschim Express, Ambala-Kalka Express and Shane Punjab Express - with effect from January 25; they were earlier cancelled in an anticipation of heavy fog. The trains will be running as per their scheduled time. Arrested on the charges of duping more than 5 crore investors of Rs 45,000 crore, Pearls Group chairman and managing director (CMD) Nirmal Singh Bhangoo and three others were on Saturday sent to 14-day judicial custody by a Delhi court. Chief metropolitan magistrate Sugandha Aggarwal remanded the accused in judicial custody till February 6 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it didnt want their further custodial interrogation. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police also moved court seeking Bhangoos custody in another case and that hearing is now on Monday (January 25). Apart from Pearls Golden Forest (PGF) CMD and former Pearls Australasia chairman Bhangoo, the CBI had arrested Pearls Agrotech Corporation Limited (PACL) MD and promoter-director Sukhdev Singh; executive director (finance) Gurmeet Singh; and PGF/PACL executive director Subrata Bhattacharya on January 8, after two years of Supreme-Court-ordered investigation into the countrys largest-reported Ponzi scheme. During the hearing, Bhangoos counsels Manish Jain and Vijay Aggarwal submitted that since he had a kidney transplant recently, hed require regular medical examination in jail. The court directed the jail authorities to take care of that. The CBI has claimed to have found 1,300 bank accounts of the company, its directors, and associated firms, so far, and looked into those. It has said that Pearls Group lured investors with attractive land deals. Court has frozen the groups assets, mostly fixed deposit receipts to the tune of Rs 280 crore. The group had to deposit additional `108 crore with the Delhi high court. The CBI has said it has managed to seize 20,000 property documents of Rs 5,000 crore purchase value, which going by the current market rate, could be about Rs 1.85 lakh crore. Its first-information report (FIR) suggest that the PACL and the PGF ran illegal investment schemes, besides engaging in fraudulent activities such as forgery. Scams journey 1998: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) first writes to Pearls Agrotech about its schemes but company challenges its jurisdiction 1999: Delhi high court directs CBI to appoint auditors to check if the PACL deals are genuine 2000: Auditors report discrepancies, in November, Delhi high court appoints K Swamidurai to verify genuineness of transactions 2002: SEBI passes order saying PACL schemes fall under CIS (collective investment schemes) 2003: Rajasthan high court holds that PACL schemes are not CIS 2013: Supreme Court sets aside Rajasthan high court order, orders inquiry by SEBI, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) 2014: SEBI asks firm to refund `46,000 core to investors, CBI lodges case 2015: Supreme Court set up committee to liquidate companys assets, cash deposits to refund investors; accused summoned in December Jan 8, 2016: Accused held after two years of CBI probe. News / National by Stephen Jakes The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) in conjunction with Telecel is conducting a training workshop on ICTs and businessat the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel which started on Friday and ends today (Saturday).Over 20 journalists are taking party in the workshop and Zenzele Ndebele who has an expert knowledge in the ICTs and digital softy wares is the trainer.He urged journalists to safeguard their gadgets, mostly mobile phones, indicating that if one get hold of them with evil intentions, he or she may trace their bank or Ecocash accounts and withdrew their money.Speaking at the same workshop, Nonhlanhla Ncube emphasized on the journalists venturing on blogging as a way of expressing them selves in the areas which they want to report on. She said while journalists may have limitations on what information they want published in the newspapers they work for, blog could serve that role of having them writing their stories to the extent they feel they have exhausted the issues.A veteran Photo-journalist Dennis Mudzamiri who spoke of the issues of digital safety said journalists must always secure their photographs and keep their passwords as a secret. He said failure to do so will enable someone to open their machines and either destroy their files or use their machines in a way that will discredit their images. The Panchkula police have brought Mukesh Kumari and her paramour Shekhar from Jind, Haryana, on production remand for allegedly murdering her 12-year-old autistic daughter while living in Panchkula on October 2, 2015. Sources said it was Kumari, who allegedly held the legs of ailing daughter Gulpreet, 12, while Shekhar strangulated her at a house in Sector 26, Panchkula. Since the girl was in poor health, the relatives and Kumaris husband did not doubt her explanation that she succumbed to her illness. After her murder, Kumari and Shekhar also allegedly killed her 10-year-old son, Gurjant, on November 29, 2015, in Jind. The sources said both took the boy on an Activa scooter on pretext of taking him out and Shekhar strangulated him at a secluded place. Kumari was arrested in the first week of December. After she spilled the beans, the police also arrested Shekhar. During the probe, Kumari also confessed of killing Gulpreet. Thereafter, the Panchkula police were informed and a murder case was registered at the Chandimandir police station. As per Kumaris confessional statement, as Gulpreet was autistic, she wanted to get rid of her in order to start a fresh life with Shekhar. Gurjant was also killed for the same reason. The police said Kumaris husband Manoj, a property dealer, used to stay away from the house for days together due to his professional commitments. In the meantime, Kumari fell in love with her husbands relative Shekhar, who used to stay with them at their house in Sector 26, Panchkula. The subsequent physical relationship between them led to the murder conspiracy of the children. After Gulpreets death, Kumari and Manoj shifted to Jind who were then followed by Shekhar. Both Kumari and Shekhar had disposed of Gurjants body in the fields, but this time they told Manoj Gurjant had gone missing. Manoj, who could now sense that something was fishy, later filed a complaint. The Jind police had then carried out a detailed investigation and recovered the body. We are further interrogating the case, and have made certain recoveries. We will produce them before the court on Saturday, said Chandimandir police SHO inspector Baljeet Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With doctors advising Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to recuperate in the hospital and take complete bed rest, Punjab food and civil supplies minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon has been deputed to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is arriving here on Sunday to meet the visiting French President Francois Hollande. Badal, who is suffering from cold-related problems, is undergoing treatment at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) since Friday night. Doctors have advised him to stay in the hospital for the next couple of days. Badal will spend another day at Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU). According to doctors, he is perfectly fine but is being kept under observation. The CM was admitted to the PGI on Friday night after he caught a cold. He was rushed to RICU around 10.25 pm. Dr D Dehra, head of the pulmonary department, said Badal is suffering from only chest congestion and all his other reports were normal. Because of cold conditions, we have advised him to take rest for a day. We will keep him under observation on Sunday as well and then decide when to discharge him. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Chief Ministers Office said, The chief minister has been advised to take bed rest for the next couple of days in view of the chest congestion. He is responding well to the treatment. His engagements for Sunday have been cancelled. Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal visited the PGI around 12.30 pm to meet his father and spent half an hour with him. Later, Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Punjab minister for rural development and panchayats Sikander Singh Maluka and SAD leader Sucha Singh Langah also visited the PGI, but were not allowed to meet Badal. Earlier, Harcharan Bains, adviser on national affairs and media to the chief minister, said Badal fell ill after he spent hours in an open ground at Uraparh village in Nawanshahr, where he held a sangat darshan. Bains said the chief minister was taken to a private hospital in Nawanshahr before being shifted to the PGI. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday released the Sikh Nanakshahi Samat 548 calendar for 2016-17. The calendar was released by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar at his office in Amritsar. He appealed to the Sikh masses to follow the calendar in letter and spirit as it had been released on the directions of the Akal Takht. He added the calendar had been dedicated to the year of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. Makkar also released the jantri for Samat 548. Though Makkar referred to the new calendar as Nanakshahi, but from the dates of important Sikh religious occasions or festivals, it was evident that it was similar to the traditional Bikrami calendar. Tug-of-war over Nanakshahi The SGPC had discarded the original Nanakshahi calendar of 2003 that was prepared by the Canada-based Sikh scholar Pal Singh Purewal in 2007. Thereafter, a fresh version of the Nanakshahi calendar was prepared in which some of the dates of important Sikh religious occasions were fixed in accordance with the traditional Bikrami calendar. However, dates of most other Sikh religious occasions continue to differ with Bikrami calendar dates. The revised calendar, too, was discarded in March last year after some Sikh religious groups led by the Damdami Taksaal approached Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, saying it lacked acceptability among the Sikhs. Their contention was that Sikhs living outside Punjab continued to celebrate or observe important religious occasions in accordance with the dates fixed in the Bikrami calendar. This led to protests from a number of Sikh radical groups. Committee yet to take shape The Akal Takht jathedar then directed the SGPC to form a committee comprising Sikh scholars, religious leaders and other eminent people from the community to prepare a report on the new calendar the Sikhs would follow. While releasing the 2016-17 calendar, Makkar refused to take any questions on the formation of the committee. The Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda on Friday, to develop a world-class comprehensive industrial park at Kharkhoda in Sonepat. The document was signed in the presence of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar by HSIIDC managing director Sudhir Rajpal and president of Wanda group. HT was the first to report in November, 2015, about the inking of the MoU between the two entities. The Wanda group operates more than 100 Wanda Plazas, 68 five-star hotels, over 6,000 cinema screens and 99 department stores in China. Khattar also met the chairman of Wanda group, Wang Jianlin, and discussed the project proposal of the company. An official spokesperson said Wanda Group will invest a total of $10 billion to develop a worldclass comprehensive industrial park known as Wanda Industrial New City. The Wanda Industrial New City, Haryana, Phase I, would be developed over an area of approximately 13 square kilometers. Wanda will be responsible for investing in the projects initial infrastructure. In addition, Wanda will attract other international and Chinese industrial, tourism and residential companies to operate in the development. Meanwhile, eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Haryana government and Chinese investors on Friday, as the state delegation, led by Khattar, proceeds with its Beijing visit. Apart from Wanda, the MoUs were signed with top companies such as China Land Development Company Private Limited, ZTE Corporation, a globally-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with operations in 160 countries. Six MoUs were signed during the investment roadshow organised in Beijing where representatives of more than 100 Chinese companies were present. The tallest and largest Indian national flag was hoisted on Saturday in Ranchi to coincide with the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, overtaking the flag at Faridabad. Using a remote-controlled device, defence minister Manohar Parrikar unfurled the flag that measures 99x66 feet and is pegged atop a flag post 293 feet high in Ranchi. Its a proud moment for the country, Parrikar said, congratulating the state on its achievement. The minister was accompanied by the state chief minister Raghubar Das who said the flag was Ranchis new identity. Read | In pics: Army dogs to march on Republic Day parade after 26 years The flagpost is situated at the Pahari temple, located atop the 250-foot-high Pahadi Hill in the heart of Ranchi. Earlier known as Phansi Tongri, it was where freedom fighters were hung by the British during the independence movement. Locals hoist the national flag here every January 26 and August 15 in tribute to the slain martyrs. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar unfurled the flag in Ranchi. (Parwaz Khan/HT Photo) The project took more than 120 workers and 40 days to put up the flag post, costing an estimated Rs 1.25 crore, of which Rs 44 lakh was spent on the flag alone. The flag can tolerate the wind speed up to 44 metre per second. The highest speed recorded in the last 50 years in Ranchi is way below at 39 metres per second, project in-charge JK Jha said, adding the pole is built of micro alloy steel that allows it to bend up to 10 feet. The pole is also earthquake resistant. More than 10,000 students gathered for the flag hoisting ceremony at Morabadi grounds where 300 school students from Modern Public School at Jhumir Telaiya formed a human national flag. Read | Republic Day parade will be 25 min shorter but will add sparkle SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistan on Saturday pointed fingers at Afghanistan over the assault on Bacha Khan University, saying the attackers came from across the border where they had planned the strike. Chief military spokesperson Lt Gen Asim Bajwa told a news conference that five of the terrorists involved in the attack and their facilitators had been caught and their identities ascertained. These five terrorists have been identified as Riaz, Noorullah, Adil, Zia and Ibrahim, he said. While Omar commanded the militants from Afghanistan during the attack, Adil, who earlier worked as a mason in Bacha Khan University, provided information about the campus to the attackers. The militants entered Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province through the Torkham border crossing and stayed in two houses there, Bajwa said. They were provided with arms and ammunition from Darra Adam Khel area, he added. Phone calls to carry out the attack were made from Afghanistan, he said. Investigations are still underway to confirm the source of financing for the attackers. Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif chaired a meeting in Peshawar to chalk out a strategy after the attack on the varsity in Charsadda that killed 21 people. He is expected to push Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to demand the capture of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah, believed to be in Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries improved over the past month but observers said the attack on the university and the alleged link with Afghan-based terror groups are expected to cast a cloud on ties. He has never owned a tuxedo, hates Wall Street, yells into the microphone and has come so close to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in polls that she is feeling the Bern. Bernie Sanders is a nightmare from 2008 for Clinton, when she, the inevitable Democratic nominee then as now, saw her campaign unravel after an upset defeat in the Iowa primary. She never recovered, and lost the race to a cheeky but charismatic first-time senator. The Iowa primary is just a week from now, and Sanders just overtook her there in polls. To use a Sanders campaign slogan, she can Feel the Bern. At the last Democratic debate, she completely embraced Obama, his every policy and misstep, pivoting from months of trying to distance herself and not seem like running for his third term. Clinton still leads the 74-year-old senator from Vermont, a tiny rural state in Americas northeast, 51.2% to 38% in national average of polls compiled by Real Clear Politics. But he has been creeping up on her steadily, unobtrusively in the beginning but with some fanfare since last August, when he overtook her in New Hampshire, another tiny northeastern state. Here is Sanders describing his rise at the last Democratic debate, in response to a question from moderator Lestor Holt. Well, let me talk about polling, he started, in his typically gruff voice. As Secretary Clinton well knows, when this campaign began she was 50 points ahead of me. We were all of three percentage points. Guess what? In Iowa, New Hampshire, the race is very, very close. Maybe were ahead in New Hampshire. Sanders, who resembles a Nobel winning chemistry professor forcibly extracted from his lab, was low-balling himself and his chances, perhaps on purpose. His lead over Clinton in New Hampshire has held for several weeks, and he is now beating her in Iowa 51% to 43% according to a new poll by CNN/ORC released Thursday. This has been a long journey for Sanders, whose announcement of a White House run last April was reported in a manner that barely concealed writers disbelief. CNN ran a video titled, Who is Bernie Sanders? Words and phrases such as long shot and uphill task were used freely to describe his chances. Sanders, of course, had different plans. People should not underestimate me, he told the AP. Ive run outside of the two-party system, defeating Democrats and Republicans, taking on big-money candidates and, you know, I think the message that has resonated in Vermont is a message that can resonate all over this country. Born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents, Sanders moved to Chicago to finish college, after which he landed in Vermont. He worked as a carpenter and a documentary filmmaker. As a student, he joined Young Peoples Socialist League he continues to describe himself as a Democratic Socialist. He ran unsuccessfully for governor and senator. In 1981, he won his first election, for mayor of Burlington, Vermont most populous city. He lives in Burlington with wife, Jane, and has four children. He won three re-elections, before moving to US House of Representatives. He served 16 years in the House before moving to the upper chamber, the Senate, in 2007, where he is serving his second term after being re-elected in 2012. As member of the House, Sanders fought tirelessly for working families, focusing on the shrinking middle class and growing gap between the rich and everyone else, says his website. He was labelled Amendment King for moving more amendments than any other member. In senate, he headed the veterans affairs committee. Sanders has run an insurgent campaign funded by small donors, which he proudly touts as factor differentiating him from all others, who, according to him, are backed by Wall Street. I think a great appeal of Bernie Sanders and why he is doing so well is because he is seen as just kind of this authentic, cool, down-to-earth guy, said Mindy Finn, a former Republican operative who has worked on three presidential campaigns. Clinton is completely lacking all three. She has seemed to be totally scripted and un-cool, which she has tried to address by appearing on late-night comedy shows among other things. But she has been found most vulnerable on trust issues, buffeted by a string of controversies about donations to the Clinton Foundation and her use of a private email server. Sanderss rise has much to do with Clintons shortcomings. Its his policies as well, but that aspect of his brand is something thats really appealing and I think particularly to kind of younger voters who see politics as a lot of BS, Finn said. And, he doesnt own a tuxedo. Let me go on record, youve got a scoop, you ready for this? Sanders told Time magazine in an interview. I do not own a tuxedo. Never have I worn a tuxedo. How cool is that. As Europe agonises over accepting millions of refugees from Syria and elsewhere, in this little corner of Bavaria, Subhas Chandra Boses daughter is passionately involved in helping resettle and integrate them in the local community. Would Anita Bose Pfaffs iconic father have approved of her work? Reflecting the focus and commitment to a cause that the independence leader was famous for, Pfaff told Hindustan Times: I hope so, but even if he didnt I must say I dont care (laughs), I would have still involved myself in helping the refugees. Pfaff, 73, coordinates the rehabilitation of refugees in Augsburg at various levels, from getting them registered, helping with grocery shopping and housing, and teaching them German with a band of dedicated volunteers. Even though I dont agree with (German chancellor Angela) Merkel on other issues, I am in full support of her position that we should accept refugees. There is a humanitarian side, of course, but also the practical side: There is no other alternative (than to accept them), she said. Germany, which accepted over a million refugees last year, is an aging society with a low birth rate. Her husband, Martin Pfaff, 76, who was a member of the Bundestag or German parliament from the Social Democratic Party, helps her in refugee-related activities. He said she is popular among refugees and their children, and often went out of her way to attend to them. The Pfaffs are economists and held professorial positions in the University of Augsburg. The interesting thing is that it is changing society in several ways, including a push towards a sense of community. We are a small town here, 15,000 inhabitants, (with) about 150 helpers in the refugee work. There is a sense that we are doing something together for our community, she said. Pfaff said rehabilitating and integrating refugees is a challenge and a difficult proposition, also because of the large number of people who are culturally different. I find that all our refugees want to learn German, they want their children to go to school as soon as possible; they are very keen. Not all of them are qualified. We get some carpenters, painters, electricians, car mechanics and so on; they need extra qualifications that are recognised here. So it is a challenge, she said. European countries are well off, she said, but they also have a sizeable population that is poor and without jobs, and feel threatened by the large influx of refugees who will compete for jobs and low price housing. Pfaff said: Lot of money has to go into the refugee work. In Germany you have a history. After the World War II, you had 10 to 12 million people displaced from eastern Europe who were taken in. Unless Europe manages to cope with the refugee question in a positive way, that is integrate as many as possible, it is going to be much more difficult and destructive than if they dont. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News / National by Staff Reporter Visiting Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has held closed door meetings with African Union chair President Robert Mugabe.The two have concurred to use the forthcoming AU summit to lobby other leaders to push for the United Nations Security Council reforms so that Africa can also have a permanent seat.The closed door meetings were also attended by the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.The meetings which took several hours touched on several issues, chief among them the forthcoming AU summit to be held in Addis Ababa.Emerging from the meetings, President Mbasogo challenged the current crop of African leaders to respect and embrace President Mugabe's visionary leadership in the fight for the reform of the UN Security Council so that Africa will have veto powers in the international body.President Mugabe says the debate on the UN Security Council reform is long overdue and it is high time African leaders take advantage of the forthcoming summit to bring finality to the issue of Africa's veto powers in the world body.Mugabe also challenged African journalists to tell the positive African stories instead of promoting western agendas at the expense of the hard-won African independence.The two presidents also discussed socio-economic and political issues prevailing in their respective countries. At least 29 civilians were killed in airstrikes suspected to have been carried by Russian fighter jets on a village in eastern Syria on Saturday, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said seven children and one woman were among the dead in the village of Khasham in Syrias oil-rich Deir Ezzor province. Controlled by the Islamic State, Khasham lies just 20 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital, most of which is now held by IS. The Observatory said the death toll was likely to rise as dozens more people were wounded. The monitor relies on a network of activists on the ground and says it distinguishes between Syrian, Russian and US-led coalition aircraft based on flight patterns, as well as the type of planes and ordnance used. On Friday, air strikes killed at least 44 civilians in Tabiyyah Jazeera, a village adjacent to Khasham. It was unclear if those raids were carried out by Russian or regime warplanes. But the latest strikes come as Syrias government pushes to retake territory captured by IS after a fierce offensive by the jihadist group on January 16. The multi-front assault on Deir Ezzor and subsequent fighting has left nearly 500 people dead, according to the Observatory. While IS holds most of the province, the regime has clung onto parts of the provincial capital, as well as the nearby military airport. The jihadist group has also tightened its siege of the roughly 200,000 people still living inside the city. Russia, a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assads government, began an air campaign in support of Damascus in September. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has taken action against acid attacks against women, an alarming trend that has increased in the country through the past decade. Under a new law enacted this week, using chemicals to deliberately injure someone is now punishable with a minimum of 12 to 30 years, depending on the severity of physical damage, reaching up to 50 years maximum, according to the Associated Press. "We don't want to continue to occupy the dishonorable position of being one of the leading countries in the world in terms of the number of acid attacks," Santos said during the enacting ceremony at the presidential palace in Bogota, reported The City Paper. "We must do everything necessary to protect victims and prevent future cases." More than 900 victims were scarred, mutilated or even killed by acid attacks in Colombia between 2004 and 2014, which is the third highest rate in the world after Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to GlobalPost. The majority of victims have been women in their 20s or 30s. The new law doubles the previous maximum sentencing, which treated acid attacks as personal injuries rather than as crimes of violence and allowed perpetrators to evade due punishment. The law is named after Natalia Ponce de Leon, who became a high profile campaigner for changing the law after suffering severe facial and physical disfigurement by sulphuric acid in March 2014. She was attacked by her neighbor, Jonathan Vega, who retaliated after having his advances rejected, The Latin Correspondent noted. "The new law helps remedy a big legal loophole and will help prevent the absurd attacks that so many of us have suffered," she said at the ceremony. It was the first time that she appeared in public without a mask to protect her damaged facial skin, having undergone more than 20 reconstructive surgeries, according to the Associated Press. The law also establishes clearer procedures for treatment of survivors of acid attacks. Approximately 1,500 acid-throwing attacks are reported internationally each year, and women are the victims in 80 percent of cases, according to the U.K.-based charity organization Acid Survivors Trust International. However, the actual figures are probably higher because many victims are frightened of reporting the attacks. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Four people are dead and two others were injured after a lone gunman opened fire at La Loche Community School in Northern Saskatchewan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday at Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, according to The New York Times. Confirming the incident, Trudeau called the shooting "every parent's worst nightmare," adding that it is "a terrible, tragic day." All that is known about the shooting is that it began a little before 1 p.m. when a gunman began to open fire at the school. La Loche RCMP received an alert about the incident sometime after, prompting them to come to the Dene building and begin searching for the suspect. Police gave out little information as the situation unfolded, only warning nearby residents to stay away from the area. "There is currently an emergency occurring at the Dene Building and we are asking the public to stay away while the matter is resolved by the RCMP," the school said on Facebook, according to CNN. "We will not be allowing anyone in or out until we have a clear idea of what is going on." Police were later able to locate and apprehend the suspect at 1:47 p.m., at which point the weapon was also seized. Other sources indicate that there was a shooting that occurred at a nearby residence, but its unclear what caused it to spill over into the school, The shooting has left locals, who haven't seen a shooting of this kind in their community or anywhere in Canada since 2007, with a profound sense of shock. "Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche," Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said, according to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. "My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community." However, locals say they that believe they will persevere. "The community of La Loche is strong and closely knit. We have faced adversity in the past and we will persevere," parliament member Georgina Jolibois said. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Friday that he will accelerate the extradition of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the U.S., a process initially expected to take at least a year. "The directive that the attorney general's office has been given is to work and speed up this work to make this extradition of this highly dangerous criminal happen as soon as possible," Nieto said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to CNN. The Mexican government had previously refused to extradite Guzman to the U.S. after he was captured in 2014, instead opting to house the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in a high-security prison. However, after he escaped a second time in July, via a mile-long underground tunnel connected to his cell's shower, Mexican officials apparently changed their minds. "It was for us, the government, without a doubt a difficult and tense moment when he [El Chapo] was able to escape from prison. ... But the important thing is that we were able to re-apprehend him. The most wanted criminal in Mexico, one of the most wanted in the world, was re-apprehended thanks to an intelligence effort and consistent work of the public security forces in our country," Nieto said. Guzman, who at one point amassed nearly $4 billion selling drugs, faces an array of drug charges in the U.S. dating back to at least 1995, The New York Times reported. His attorneys are attempting to block the extradition, which could delay the process in a years-long court battle. In the meantime, Mexican officials have taken extreme measures to ensure that Guzman is unable to escape for a third time. He's being held in Mexico's Altiplano maximum-security prison, the same one he previously escaped from, but this time around, officials are moving Guzman into a new cell every few hours. The bars and floors have now been reinforced, a prison guard always watches his door and K-9 dogs taste his food to prevent him from poisoning himself, according to Fox News. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least 20 people, including a pregnant woman and a child, were killed and several others wounded in a terror attack on a popular beachside restaurant in the capital of Somalia. A group of heavily armed gunmen stormed and took over the Beach View hotel and the Lido Seafood restaurant in Mogadishu on Thursday, according to CNN. The militants indiscriminately fired on the diners and detonated two car bombs at the entrance of the restaurant. "They randomly fired at the people sitting near the beach before entering the restaurant,'' an eyewitness told Associated Press. Somali security forces ended the siege after almost eight hours of gunfight with the militants. At least 17 people were injured in the attack. "Luckily I survived but my friends died on the spot. I saw windows being smashed and people began to run here and there. What a world we live in. There is almost no place safe anymore," eyewitness Abdullah Biid told The Christian Broadcast Network. The United Nations condemned the attack, calling it an "outrageous action" aimed to disturb peace and stability in the country. "Such outrageous actions must not undermine efforts to restore peace and stability to Somalia. This latest atrocity by Al-Shabaab is very deliberately intended to intimidate Somali civilians," Secretary General special representative Michael Keating said, according to UN News Center. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The second round of the Haiti's presidential election scheduled for Sunday has been postponed again amid violent protests in the country. Pierre-Louis Opont, chairman of the Electoral Council, said Friday that the vote has been cancelled due to "security concerns," according to BBC News. The second round of the election was first scheduled on Dec. 27. Opposition candidate Jude Celestin, who secured 25.29 percent vote over President Michel Martelly's hand-picked successor Jovenel Moise' 32.76 percent in the first round of vote in Novemeber, vowed to boycott the run-off. "On the 24th, it's 'No'. I won't take part in this farce, it will be a selection not an election because there will only be one candidate," Celestin said in an interview with AFP earlier this week, France24 reported. President Martelly, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, remained defiant. "They want to take power their way, because they can't take it through the ballot," Martelly said Thursday, according to DW. The United Nations reiterated its support for an inclusive and fair electoral process. Sandra Honore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, said that the U.N. and its partners maintained their "full support to the efforts aimed at identifying consensual and constructive solutions to the current challenges of governance of Haiti through elections and dialogue between stakeholders," according to the UN News Center. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least 46 people, including 17 children, have died in the Aegean Sea after two overcrowded boats carrying Europe-bound migrants overturned near the Geek coast Friday. The first boat overturned near the Greek island of Farmakonisi, while the second boat tragedy occurred near Kalolimnos, Greek's Coast Guard said, according to The Chicago Tribune. The Coast Guard added that it had recovered 35 bodies, including 17 women and 11 children, from the shipwreck of the second boat. Eleven bodies, including six children and one woman, were recovered from the site of first boat tragedy near Farmakonisi, Al Jazeera reported. Solin, 3 years old from Kurdistan is among those who lost their life in #Greeceboat drowned into the sea pic.twitter.com/K31BpFNJt3 Sarkawt Shams (@SarkawtShams) January 23, 2016 More than 30,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Greece by sea since the start of 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said earlier this week, according to VOA News. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has already criticized European leadership for its poor handling of the migrant crisis. "I feel shamed as a member of this European leadership, both for the inability of Europe in dealing with this human drama, and for the level of debate at a senior level, where one is passing the buck to the other. These are hypocritical, crocodile tears which are being shed for the dead children on the shores of the Aegean," Tsipras said in his parliamentary speech few months back, as HNGN previously reported. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. in retaliation for what it calls the "widespread harassment" of its diplomats, announced Friday that it had withdrawn the credentials of five of Russia's honorary consuls based in California, Florida, Minnesota, Utah and Puerto Rico, with a sixth one based in Colorado spared from any punishment. "This action is being taken in response to continued Russian interference with our diplomatic and consular operations in Russia, including, but not limited to, widespread harassment of our personnel, as well as the forced closure of the American Center in Moscow," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, according to Reuters. "We are prepared to take further appropriate measures if there are additional efforts to impede our diplomatic and consular activities in Russia," he added. Honorary consuls are generally U.S. citizens or green card holders who are provide consular assistance on behalf of a government in cities that are a long distance from full-time diplomatic missions. The act prompted an angry response from the Russia, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing the U.S. of spreading anti-Russian propaganda and conducting "provocations against employees of Russian diplomatic missions, and not only in the United States," BBC News reported. "We are indignant about Washington's decision to withdraw the accreditation of five out of six honorary consuls of the Russian Federation in the United States," she said. "It is common knowledge that it was the United States that unleashed the sanctions aggression against Russia and is carrying out large-scale Russophobic propaganda all over the world trying to shirk responsibility for supporting the armed coup in Ukraine and the bloody war in [the eastern region of] Donbass," Zakharova added, according to the Tasim News Agency. Ties between Russia and the U.S. have deteriorated in recent years, with the two nations only cooperating on a few issues, such as curbing Iran's nuclear program. Two major issues where the two disagree are the handling of the Syrian conflict, with Russia coming out in favor of Bashar al-Assads regime and the U.S. in favor of rebels trying to overthrow it, as well as the Ukrainian conflict, with the U.S. accusing Moscow of destabilizing the region and imposing a number of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures as a result. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At least six people, including three police officers, are dead and thirteen others are wounded after a bomb exploded near a road leading to the ancient pyramids of Giza, Egypt's Interior Ministry revealed. "Six people have been killed in the blast, including three policemen. The others include a civilian and two unidentified men," a police statement said, according to The Express. Sources indicate that the incident occurred Thursday as police arrived in their vehicles in front of a building where suspected militants were hiding. They discovered the building was booby trapped, and the device exploded while an explosives expert was working to dismantle it. "As the explosive expert was working on one of these explosives to secure the apartment, a booby trap blew up," killing three police officers and a citizen passing by, the ministry explained, according to CNN. Following the incident, the Interior Ministry blamed the explosion on the Muslim Brotherhood militants in an official statement, saying that the bomb had been planted there and exploded when authorities tried to raid the building. However, ISIS claimed responsibility for the event the next day on Twitter. The statement was unable to be independently verified by media, but the design and logo resembled previous IS statements, reported the Associated Press. ISIS also claimed that 10 security officers were killed and 20 other people were wounded in the attack. Attacks against Egyptian police and soldiers have been on the rise ever since the 2013 toppling of President Morsi Mohamed in 2013 following mass protests against his rule. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Glenn Beck officially endorsed Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz Saturday on the campaign trail at Faith Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, referring to the Texas senator as the "next George Washington." Beck, who owns and runs the conservative media outlet "The Blaze," joined Cruz at the event, which was sponsored by a pro-Cruz super PAC, and will appear with the 2016 hopeful at other events in Iowa over the weekend. "We need a new George Washington. Today's Washington will not be found in the garish light of gold but rather in the bold service of a man who stands tirelessly for what he deeply believes. That government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. That is why I'm endorsing Sen. Ted Cruz as the next President of the United States of America," Beck said in a statement, according to Politico. The news comes at the end of a rough week in Iowa for the Cruz campaign, as Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad called for the defeat of Cruz because of his pro-oil industry stance, which was compounded by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's endorsement of Donald Trump. For his part, as rumors began to swirl earlier this week about a Beck endorsement, Trump took to Twitter to call the media personality a "wacko." Wacko @glennbeck is a sad answer to the @SarahPalinUSA endorsement that Cruz so desperately wanted. Glenn is a failing, crying, lost soul! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2016 However, at the time, Glenn Beck was seeking to downplay the anticipation, saying, "I don't endorse," adding, "Never have," CNN reported. Beck's words may have been an attempt to add gravity to an endorsement in the absence of having done so before. On Saturday, Beck attempted to tell voters just ahead of the Iowa caucuses that casting a ballot for Donald Trump would be a big mistake. "If Donald Trump wins, it's going to be a snowball to hell," he said, according to USA Today. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. News / National by Staff Reporter The remaining houses built illegally along Airport Road in Allington and Dansan Estate were brought down this Saturday.Victims have appealed to both the city council and the government to assist by providing alternative accommodation.The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has, however, promised to avail land in Stoneridge and Harare South legislator Shadreck Mashayamombe says over 2 000 families have already been allocated stands.Some of the beneficiaries confirmed receiving stands.Zanu PF Central Committee member Smith Marara says the process is continuing.Harare City Council spokesman Mr Michael Chideme is on record saying the city is moving in to restore sanity in the housing sector which has been rocked by illegal settlements fuelled by land barons and unscrupulous cooperative leaders. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This is a weekend of comings and goings. You should be doing the latter. Here are some fun destinations. Start the countdown Space Center Houston launches its newest attraction: Independence Plaza. The exhibit allows visitors to explore the first shuttle-carrier aircraft, NASA 905, and the shuttle replica Independence. Aboard both craft, visitors will find interactive exhibits and artifacts celebrating the space shuttle program. The grand opening will include appearances by astronauts and feature skydivers, panel discussions and fireworks. When: 8:25 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday Where: 1601 NASA Parkway Tickets: $24.95, $19.95 for ages 4-11; spacecenter.org The Amazing Acro-Cats If you're a cat fancier or just like corny fun, don't miss Samantha Martin and the Amazing Acro-Cats. Martin's clicker-trained cats jump through hoops, ride skateboards, roll barrels, climb ropes and maneuver through obstacle courses. A highlight of this amusing show is a performance by the Rock Cats, which includes Oz on guitar, Dakota on drums, Nue on keyboards and a chicken named Cluck Norris on tambourine. More cowbell, Tuna! When: 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday; 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 4 and 7 p.m. Jan. 30; 1 and 4 p.m. Jan. 31 Where: FrentiCore Theater, 5102 Navigation Tickets: $22-$27; circuscats.com The Ice at Discovery Green There is still plenty of time to take a spin on the largest outdoor ice rink in the South. The rink covers nearly 8,000 square feet and is augmented by a mini rink for tots. When: Daily, through Feb. 7 Where: 1500 McKinney Tickets: $14, includes skate rental; discoverygreen.com, 713-400-7336 Rothko at the MFAH If you haven't seen "Mark Rothko: A Retrospective" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, you need to get in gear. The exhibit - more than 60 paintings that span from some of the artist's earliest works to his last unfinished but vivid canvas - ends Sunday. When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 12:15-7 p.m. Sunday Where: 1001 Bissonnet Tickets: $23; mfah.org Food for thought Max and Munch will be your guides when you visit "To MyPlate and Beyond," an exhibit opening Saturday at the Health Museum. The interactive exhibit teaches the importance of vegetables, how to read food labels and how to eat healthfully when going through the drive-through. When: Daily beginning Saturday, through May 17 Where: 1515 Hermann Tickets: $7; thehealthmuseum.org Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. News / Press Release by Obert Chaurura Gutu The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the fundamental human right of freedom from arbitrary eviction.Section 74 of the Constitution provides that no person may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances.In the past few days, some residents of Harare had their houses demolished by agents acting on the instructions of the Zanu PF government.Several houses that were built along the Airport Road in Harare were demolished.The MDC understands that the people who had built the demolished houses belonged to members of a Zanu PF-controlled housing co-operative society known as Nyakavanhu Housing Co-operative.It is always very painful and distressing to witness the demolition of houses belonging to people who would have worked extremely hard in order to provide shelter for their families.The right to shelter is indeed, a basic and fundamental human right.As a social democratic political party, the MDC will never, ever condone the indiscriminate, illegal and insensitive demolition of any citizen of Zimbabwe's place of residence.As such, we call upon all local authorities in the country to exercise restraint and circumspection when it comes to the decision to demolish houses.More importantly, no house should ever be demolished without strictly taking into consideration the provisions of Section 74 of the Constitution.Because of rampant and unmitigated corruption, many urban centres in Zimbabwe are now facing the scourge of greedy and criminal land barons.Most, if not all, these unscrupulous land barons are senior members of the faction-ridden Zanu PF political party.These greedy land barons have illegally parcelled out municipal and in some cases, even State land, to unsuspecting members of the public.Members of the public are being made to pay huge amounts of money to these greedy and corrupt land barons who would then, illegally parcel out land for housing development.Most local authorities, particularly the Harare City Council and the Bulawayo City Council, have literally lost all control of municipal housing land to these greedy but politically, very powerful Zanu PF land barons.As a law-abiding and peace-loving political party, the MDC also calls upon the country's law enforcement agencies to ruthlessly clamp down on the illegal activities of these Zanu PF land barons.We would also urge all our councillors in the local authorities that we control to ensure that no municipal land is illegally allocated to any land baron or any other individual for that matter.Sanity and order should be allowed to prevail in all our urban centres. We cannot allow and/or tolerate a situation whereby people are illegally allocated residential stands.In some cases, residential stands have been allocated even in open spaces designated for recreational use such as public parks.We have also experienced a situation where residential stands have been illegally allocated in wetlands; thus leading to serious ecological challenges such as the lowering of the water table as well as the depletion and/or extinction of natural plants and animals.As part of the holistic harmonisation of the country's urban housing policy, the Zanu PF government should move very swiftly to enact a new and appropriate Urban Councils Act to overhaul the old Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29 : 15).The Constitution of Zimbabwe was unanimously adopted in May 2013,but almost three years down the line, there are more than four (4)hundred pieces of legislation that are yet to be harmonised with the country's Constitution.We still do not have formally legislated metropolitan councils in Harare and Bulawayo.As a result, these two big cities still have ceremonial mayors whose day to day functions and activities are essentially directed by the central government through the Minister of Local Government.The Zanu PF government must be compelled to respect the provisions of the country's Constitution.The Constitution of Zimbabwe is the supreme law of the land. Section 2 (1) of the Constitution clearly and unambiguously states that the Constitution is the supreme law of Zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.MDC: Equal Opportunities For AllObert Chaurura GutuMDC National Spokesperson As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. A 17-year-old male has been charged in Friday's shooting in La Loche, Sask., RCMP said Saturday. The male, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and one count unauthorized possession of a firearm. Four people were killed in shootings at two locations. Brothers Dayne and Drayden Fontaine, 17 and 14, were killed at a residence on Dene Crescent. Marie Janvier, 21, and Adam Wood, 35, were shot at La Loche Community School, RCMP Supt. Grant St. Germaine said in a press conference Saturday. Advertisement St. Germaine said he also doesn't know if the victims were sought out or targeted at random. RCMP superintendent Grant St. Germaine speaks with media in La Loche, Sask., about the ongoing investigation of a Friday shooting at a school in La Loche. The shooting left four people dead. (CP) A 16-year-old student at the school forwarded to The Canadian Press a screenshot of a chilling exchange that had taken place on social media a short time before the shooting between a young man and his friends. "Just killed 2 ppl,'' wrote the young man. "Bout to shoot ip the school.'' As phone calls started coming in from panicked students and teachers about a shooter on the loose, RCMP sped down the street to the local high school and found its main doors blasted with holes. Advertisement Candles and flowers placed as a memorial lay near the La Loche, Sask., junior and senior high school as police investigate the scene of a daytime shooting at the school on Jan. 23, 2016. (CP) Mounties say one officer quickly spotted a boy with a gun inside and chased him through the building. Within a few minutes, and without a fight, police say he surrendered. But so much damage had already been done. RCMP said that during the eight minutes the teen was in the La Loche Community school on Friday afternoon shortly after 1 p.m., he shot nine people. Two staff members died. Janvier, who was a teacher's aide, died at the scene while Wood, a teacher, died of his wounds shortly after arriving at the La Loche hospital. Advertisement Police tape surrounds a shattered window at the scene of a daytime shooting at the La Loche, Sask., junior and senior high school on Jan. 23, 2016. (CP) Janvier had graduated from the school two years earlier and was hired as a teacher's aide last fall, said friend Ashton Lemaigre. She was kind and patient with children and talked about going to university to become a teacher. Her boyfriend, Deegan Park, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Park said. "I loved her." Wood had also just started work at the school in September as a teacher. "Adam was quite an adventurer, had a passion for life, and would often make you laugh until your stomach hurt," said a statement released by his family in Ontario. Drayden and Dayne Fontaine were found dead in the house. Their mother wrote on Facebook that she was devastated. "My heart shattered into a million pieces," said Alicia Fontaine. "So sad I don't have no more babies." Brittney Lemaigre described her friend Dayne as a funny and caring guy with "a heart of gold." RCMP didn't release details on whether the seven injured were staff or students. They said four were flown to a Saskatoon hospital and the remaining were to be transported out later when snowy weather conditions improved. Students recalled a terrifying scene as they fled for their lives when gunfire first erupted in the school. Some said they ran for the doors when they saw a shotgun, while others hid in gym dressing rooms for hours. Investigators are still gathering evidence from a residence in the 300 block of Dene Crescent and from La Loche Community School. Advertisement "It's a very sad and difficult time and no words will take away the pain and sorrow of what's happened," St. Germaine said. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is seen at a news conference in Regina on Jan. 23, 2016. Wall was commenting on the shooting in La Loche, Sask., on Friday. (CP) Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said every student and teacher should feel safe going to school. He planned to visit the community Sunday to ensure it has enough resources, including counselling. Acting mayor Kevin Janvier said the tragedy has hurt everyone in La Loche. "Hearts have been broken, our faith has been shaken and lost today," he said. "As we move forward together, we will be doing so in an effort to heal as a community." Advertisement With files from Jennifer Graham, The Canadian Press Also on HuffPost The small, northern community of La Loche, Sask., is reeling after a shooting that left four dead and multiple others injured on Friday afternoon. The shooting took place at two locations: La Loche Community School and a home in the 300 block of Dene Crescent. Advertisement Approximately 100 members of the community attended a candlelight vigil on Friday evening to mourn those lost. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare,'' said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking from Davos, Switzerland. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible, tragic day.'' Here's what we know so far about those who lost their lives in the tragic attack: Marie Janvier Marie was a 21-year-old teacher's aide at the school. Kevin Janvier, acting mayor of La Loche, was initially told his daughter was one of the victims, according to The Globe and Mail. But, it was another Kevin Janvier's daughter who had been killed. Advertisement The acting mayor said the mistaken identity "shattered" his heart. Marie's family members say they'll miss her charming personality and her smile. She was a really good storyteller," her cousin Patrick Wagenaar told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, and Sandie Janvier added her cousin was the "sweetest caring person." Ashton Lemaigre, a friend of Marie's, said she loved her new job. He says Janvier was kind and patient with children and talked about getting her teaching degree someday. "The kids loved having her around,'' Lemaigre said. "When we were out and about kids would say 'Hi.' They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody.'' Her boyfriend, Deegan Park, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Park said. "I loved her." Adam Wood Advertisement Wood, 35, had moved to the town in September from Uxbridge, Ont., to teach at the school. His family in Ontario said in a statement that Wood was an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time,'' the statement reads. "He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously.'' "The tragedy at the school in [Saskatchewan] was hard to hear, but it has just been made more difficult to hear knowing a wonderful person I have known since I was young was one of the teachers killed," wrote one of his childhood friends on Facebook. RCMP said he died of his wounds shortly after arriving at the La Loche hospital. Dayne and Drayden Fontaine Don Herman, Dayne and Drayden's uncle, confirmed to CBC News that his two nephews were killed in the shooting. Advertisement "They were quiet kids, loving kids," Herman said, adding that it was hard to talk about. Their mother wrote on Facebook that she was devastated. "My heart shattered into a million pieces," said Alicia Fontaine. "So sad I don't have no more babies." Brittney Lemaigre described her friend Dayne as a funny and caring guy with "a heart of gold." RCMP say a 17-year-old male has been charged with four counts of first degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. Police say the teen can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The investigation is ongoing. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall promised that necessary crisis support and counselling services would be provided to the community of 3,000. With files from The Canadian Press Advertisement Also on HuffPost OTTAWA More than 1,000 New Democrats joined two party conference calls Thursday to vent their frustrations about what went wrong with the NDP's election campaign, a possible indication of what members are likely to say when the party convenes in Edmonton in April for a leadership review. Party president Rebecca Blaikie heard from some New Democrats who are upset with leader Thomas Mulcair and others who support him strongly. She heard members lament how the party appeared ill-prepared for the election campaign, and she heard them chastise the leadership team for its refusal to support a policy that would have taxed the rich. Advertisement "What in the hell happened at the national level that we ran such a bad campaign?" said a man named Cliff, who had worked on defeated Halifax MP Megan Leslie's campaign. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair holds a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa. (Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/CP) As it led in national public opinion polls, the party seemed content to run a "cautious campaign," he said. But "the problem was, when that wasn't working, there wasn't any shift." Justin Trudeau and the Liberals were on TV all the time with "sunny" ads and Mulcair appeared "very dour" and had "absolutely terrible TV ads," Cliff said. Advertisement "Not that I'm suggesting [Mulcair] had to be Trudeau and jolly and happy, but he had other saleable qualities that never got shown in the campaign, and in the end, it came down to tone." Some policy decisions also affected the ability to sell the NDP's message to the grassroots, Cliff said. What about taxing the rich? "Failure to talk about taxing the wealthy, for instance, coming out and saying something over and over again, like, there would never be a deficit, just foolish, foolish things like that. "We need people in the leadership who are not afraid of being New Democrats. To stand up, and get behind the policies that we have always stood for. Too often in the campaign, it looked like we were afraid to do that." A woman named Brenda said she thought the NDP had done an "amazing job" convincing the country that Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper had to go. Advertisement "You basically served up a win for the Liberals," she told Blaikie. Another caller named Maxine thought the party had "lost it" because it underestimated the Liberals. "We allowed them to present non-progressive ideas as if they were the most progressive." "You basically served up a win for the Liberals." It wasn't about the "hijab thing," she added, referring to the niqab issue that plagued the NDP campaign in Quebec, and which Mulcair has since blamed for the party's defeat. "It wasn't simply because other people were racist," she said. It was because the party hadn't seen the issue coming and didn't know how to deal with it. "For the most part, our policies were fine. As much as I'm a lefty, I really do think we have to move towards the centre on some aspects of our program in order to have any hope of forming government, but it does mean that we have to really think about how we articulate that." Blaikie, who mostly listened to callers without intervening, seemed to agree with Maxine and thanked her for her thoughtful comments. Advertisement New Democrats outflanked on the left? David from Frontenac, Ont., said he thought the federal campaign had "missed the boat in a number of ways." "We kind of got ourselves in a hole by saying that we wouldn't go into deficit, and we allowed the Liberals to appear to go to our left," he said. The Liberals "appeared again to outflank" the NDP again when the Grits promised to tax the rich and the NDP refused, he said. "It didn't work out for Tom federally to say: 'Don't worry about us, we're not that dangerous, we are kind of moderate, we are really kind of like the Liberals, but we are going to be more careful and not go into debt.' I don't think that rang true with people. We could have come up with a better platform than that." David suggested the party had failed not only to respond to the increasing Liberal strength, but also to articulate "a big vision" to tie all the planks of its election platform together. "We kind of got ourselves in a hole by saying that we wouldn't go into deficit." Some callers suggested the party could have done a far better job of selling progressive policies, such as national pharmacare and national daycare. Advertisement Others proposed new policies, such as endorsing a dental care program and an infrastructure bank, or just re-focusing on serving the needs of working people and the poor. Still others suggested new strategies, such as releasing a comprehensive platform before an election so members had time to sell it and using the NDP's youth wing more effectively to pepper ridings with signs and literature. NDP President Rebecca Blaikie speaks during the 2012 leadership convention. (Photo: Paul Dwulit/CP) Blaikie told the more than 1,000 callers on the first phone-in that their feedback would be sent to regional party representatives who would compile the information for a mid-March draft report. The final product would be released publicly at the NDP convention a few weeks later. While several themes emerged during the hour-long phone calls, there was also some very vocal support for Mulcair, who will face a leadership review during the Edmonton convention. Advertisement A caller named Michael praised Mulcair for his "moral" leadership and said he sees no need for the party to change its direction or its leader. Another caller identified as Robert thought the NDP's values had been pretty well communicated and wanted to give Mulcair "a big vote of confidence." "The passion in the man and in the way he communicated our values and our platform gave over to a more avuncular maturity." Mulcair's problem was that he appeared to be too tightly managed and should have been unleashed, Robert said. "Somewhere mid-campaign, the passion in the man and in the way he communicated our values and our platform gave over to a more avuncular maturity, so that he was the adult in the room, but it didn't serve him or the rest of the party too well," Robert said. Advertisement "Mr. Trudeau has a passion that allows him to seem more spontaneous and more eccentric than a lot of the other people that surround him, and I think this was the quality that attracted not only young people but a wide range of people." "Within four years, everyone in Canada will see that the Liberals have really not enacted much of what they promised, and what they promised is really what we promised and we were not given a chance to enact it," Robert added. "If we could let Mr. Mulcair really move with it, take it out there and run forward, I think we have a much better chance of forming the government next election." NDP MP: 'Simplistic' to say result just about Mulcair Manitoba NDP MP Niki Ashton told The Huffington Post Canada this week that she had heard "a lot of different things" about people organizing to defeat Mulcair at that meeting. "People will make their choice when the time comes," said Ashton, one of only 28 NDP veterans re-elected to the Commons. "It would be simplistic to say it was about one thing, or one area. Similarly, I think it's simplistic to say that it was about one person." Advertisement The election was obviously disappointing, Ashton said, but she was encouraged by the party's internal review and hopeful it could provide recommendations for the future. Niki Ashton speaks to reporters in Ottawa. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP) Defeated Ontario MP Dan Harris told HuffPost he felt the party and the leader had made several mistakes. In a wide-ranging interview, he lamented the fact that Mulcair had not taken any questions from reporters during his campaign launch and had refused to participate in the consortium debate with the TV broadcasters if Harper wasn't taking part. It prevented a match-up between Mulcair and Trudeau days before voters headed to the polls, Harris noted. "That would have been a debate that would have happened two weeks before the election and would have been Tom, Justin, Elizabeth May and Gilles Duceppe. The focus would have been on Tom, and he would have been the one looking potentially prime ministerial at that point, so I think that was a strategic mistake. But there is blame to be shared." Advertisement The NDP could have done a better job staking out its territory on some issues. "Taxing the rich would be one of them," he said. The NDP should have supported the move to tax the top 1 per cent of income earners, he said, but instead of giving to Canadians making $45,000 to $89,000 a year, as the Liberals proposed, he would have given the breaks to those making less than $50,000. "Those are the people who really need it," Harris said. "That would have been a real good tax cut that would make sense for people." Former NDP MP Dan Harris speaks in the House of Commons. (Photo: The Canadian Press) One of the most embarrassing errors, in Harris' mind, relates to the roll out of the NDP's fiscal costing. Advertisement When the party released its numbers, it had wildly overestimated the price of oil, pegging it at $67 a barrel in 2016 and more than $75 in the following years. "The expected amount that oil was already off by $20 a barrel. That is kind of unforgivable, especially for a party that has a perceived economic credibility issue," Harris said. But instead of correcting its mistake, the party "doubled down on it. "[It] certainly didn't help our case." The NDP also got outpaced "in a big and bad way" on the air war, Harris said. "A lot of my friends who are New Democrats would be coming home after canvassing and throwing on the Jays game [who were in playoffs trying to reach the World Series], and they would see Conservative and Liberal ads wall to wall and nothing from the NDP," said Harris, sounding exasperated. "Those are questions that need to be answered by the leadership team about what happened there." "I'm still making up my mind about whether I think Tom is still the right person to lead us into the next election." - Ex-MP Dan Harris Harris doesn't believe the NDP got outflanked on the left by the Liberals, but he thinks the Grits did a better job of selling their message as a progressive alternative. Advertisement "What was upsetting to me, as someone who was running in the election, was [that] this was [Ontario Premier and Liberal leader] Kathleen Wynne's playbook in 2014. And this is what the entire Ontario caucus was telling the leadership was going to happen in 2015, especially when we saw how closely Justin and Kathleen Wynne were attached at the hip," he said. "That seemed to not penetrate the leadership bubble, and it doesn't look like strategies were adopted to counteract that." The same could be said about the niqab issue in Quebec, Harris added. "The Quebec caucus had been talking about it and trying to get definitive action on the issue to try to put it to bed for a year before the election. Really, since the Values Charter," he said. "Those are two things that, if they had been put to bed before the election, might not have caused us so many problems." 'This is Tom's to lose' Harris told HuffPost he still has "great confidence in Tom" and believes he is a formidable figure inside and outside Parliament, but he is undecided about whether to support Mulcair during the leadership review. "That's the $64,000 question. There is obviously nobody apparent coming forward to replace him, but that is not what leadership reviews are about. "Times change and leaders change," he said. Ultimately, it will be up to the members to decide what to do in April. Advertisement "Mistakes were made, opportunities were missed, maybe some people were there that weren't necessarily the best people. "I'm still making up my mind about whether I think Tom is still the right person to lead us into the next election. "This is Tom's to lose, and how he reacts, and how he goes out and speaks to the members, and how many people he [convinces] that he is the right choice to move us forward will determine whether he wins or not." ALSO ON HUFFPOST: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences reacted to the growing disquiet over diversity at the Oscars on Friday by announcing it will implement sweeping series of substantive changes. Criticism followed an all-white list of nominees for the two main acting categories for the second year running earlier this month. In a statement, President Cheryl Boone said the Academy would commit to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020, as well as placing a 10-year limit on voting for new members, which will be rescinded if the member is no longer active in motion pictures. Advertisement The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up, Isaacs added. These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition. Rampling: Controversy is 'racist to white people' A social media campaign formed publication of the 2016 nominees under the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. In recent days actors Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, and director Spike Lee said they would boycott the ceremony over the controversy. Pinkett Smith posted a Facebook video message on Monday explaining her snub. She said: "Have we now come to a new time and place where we recognise that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledgment or respect of any group; that maybe it's time that we recognise that if we love and respect and acknowledge ourselves in a way that we are asking others to do, that that is the place of true power? I'm simply asking the question." Advertisement However, on Friday Best Actress nominee Charlotte Rampling offered a contrarian view, suggesting the diversity furore is racist to white people. Caine: 'It took me years to get an Oscar, years' Veteran actor Michael Caine also spoke out on Friday, suggesting black actors be patient. Theres loads of black actors," he told BBC's Radio 4. "In the end you cant vote for an actor because hes black. You cant say, Im going to vote for him, hes not very good, but hes black, Ill vote for him. Of course it will come, the 82-year-old added. "It took me years to get an Oscar, years. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday accused Donald Trump of making it more difficult to defeat Islamic State extremists. Speaking to the US website Mic.Com, the Tory Party leader said the billionaire was making the "fundamental mistake" of trying to blame all Muslims for the violent ideology of a minority while praising Islam as a religion of peace. Trump, currently leading national polls to be the Republican Party nominee ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, sparked international censure in December after he demanded all Muslims be barred from entering the US following the Paris massacre. Advertisement The property tycoon also claimed parts of London were "so radicalised" police were "afraid for their own lives." The accusation was quickly denounced by Westminster. Cameron has called Trump's remarks 'divisive, stupid and wrong' This week, members of parliament debated whether the property tycoon should be allowed to enter the UK after more than half a million people signed a petition demanding the Government exclude him over his Islamophobic comments. Last year Cameron denounced Trump's remarks as "divisive, stupid and wrong." Should Trump win the nomination, and then triumph in the general election in November, Camerons remarks could place considerable strain on Anglo-US relations. Advertisement Speaking to the website, the prime minister said Trump is making the "fundamental mistake of trying to blame all of Islam and all Muslims for what is the ideology and the actions of a minority, and I think that's wrong. "In many ways, it actually helps the extremists, because they want to create a clash of civilisations between Islam and Christianity, or Islam and the West, he added. Cameron rejected the clash of civilisations, thesis, arguing that the violence is a symptom of a fight within Islam. The overwhelming majority rightly see Islam as a religion of peace, and want to live in successful multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracies like ours, and make an incredible contribution to our country, as opposed to a small minority that believe this rhetoric of poisonous extremism, and many of this tiny minority then believing in violence, he said. "So, what Donald Trump says is, in my view, not only wrong, but actually it makes the work we need to do to confront and defeat the extremists more difficult." Want to know how primary voting works? Click here for an explainer. News / Regional by Thobekile Zhou Compensation for Gukurahundi victims took centre stage during today's commemorations for the bloody atrocities.Various speakers said the victims with the aid of pressure groups must intensively lobby the Robert Mugabe led Government to compensate the victims.They said the atrocities are a national scare and shame.Bekezela Fuzwayo of Ibhetshu likaZulu said: "It is not our wish to meet in a private place. We tried to seek audience with authorities since 2012 to hold the event in a big venue with no results.""So we might be in a small place but its significant to gather."The event is a remembrance of an estimated 20 000 largely Ndebele speaking people who perished in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s, in what has become known as the Gukurahundi Massacres.The commemorations run under the theme - Gukurahundi massacres: Searching for peace and national healing through compensation.One speaker Dumisani Mpofu said compensation is key."We need it and must take centre stage. Community based compensation is pointless.""We prefer individual ones" he said.He said comprehensive research should be done on how people should be compensated."We should lobby the British government to release key information on what happened. The British played key role in integrating Zapu and Zanla armies.""It will be irresponsible for British regime to conceal such information".Other speakers said the current government will not push for national healing as the leadership was heavily involved. File photo dated 09/04/15 of Chuka Umunna, who said that Labour MPs should put their own principles above party loyalties in the expected Commons vote on extending British airstrikes to Syria. Chris Radburn/PA Wire Labour does not have a "hope in hell" of winning the next general election if it continues to shed ethnic minority votes to the Conservative Party, Chuka Umunna has warned Jeremy Corbyn. In a speech to Unisons 2016 National Black Members Conference today, the former shadow cabinet minister will say Labour is haemorrhaging non-white votes to the Tories at a dramatic rate. Advertisement "In spite of all we have delivered, too often we have given the impression that we take our ethnic minority communities support for granted. We cannot afford to do this," he will say. "According to the House of Commons library, in 253 constituencies in the UK more than 1 in 3 - the ethnic minority population exceeds the majority of the sitting MP. So, whether you can attract ethnic minority support in those seats can be decisive. "Evidence from last years General Election suggests we are shedding votes from different ethnic minority communities to the Tories. And we have not a hope in hell of retaining all our current seats, let alone make any enough gains and winning the next General Election if we continue to lose ethnic minority votes at this rate." Umunna will cite evidence that at the 2015 election aspirational ethnic minority voters in key marginal seats believed a Conservative victory would lead to better economic policy as evidence of the problem for Labour. Advertisement The Streatham MP will use the conference launch an independent inquiry into Labours ethnic minority support which he will run alongside Labour MP and Commons home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz. On Thursday, cabinet minster and David Cameron ally Oliver Letwin said Britain needed more ethnic minority people at the top of government. Letwin admitted progress on getting more ethnic minority cabinet ministers had been "frustratingly slow" and more needed to be done. We need to bring many more people from black and ethnic minorities into Parliament and thats what then makes those people to rise and end up round the cabinet table," he said. Advertisement David Cameron has told the ousted president of the Maldives that Britain will continue pushing for reforms in the tiny Indian Ocean Republic. The prime minister, flanked by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, held talks at Downing Street on Saturday. Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was allegedly deposed at gunpoint and jailed for 13 years under terror laws in his homeland. He has been allowed to travel to Britain for back surgery. His brother is acting as guarantor that the former premier will return to the Maldives within 30 days. Advertisement David Cameron and British lawyer Amal Clooney inside 10 Downing Street in London, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 Speaking in November, Cameron told Commonwealth leaders to be tough in their approach to the Maldives over the actions of the government. Commonwealth Ministers are to visit the islands next month carrying demands to free all remaining political prisoners. The Maldivian government has rejected claims that Nasheed was ousted in a coup, however Downing Street said the PM would continue to highlight concerns about the regime. Advertisement Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed and Clooney leave 10 Downing Street in London on January 23, 2016 "They agreed that, while Mr Nasheed's release was a positive step, more needed to be done and it was important for the Maldivian government to maintain momentum, which was necessary if real change is to be delivered," a spokesman for No.10 said. Jeremy Corbyn has slammed the conditions in a French refugee camp as a disgrace and called for people to reach out to fellow human beings. The Labour leader visited a camp in northern France to see first-hand the squalid conditions refugees and migrants are living in after fleeing war, poverty and persecution. Advertisement Corbyn travelled the to the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk, where more than 2,500 people are sleeping rough in the mud, wet and cold. Jeremy Corbyn visited the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk He was given a tour of the site meeting refugees and aid workers before speaking of the "dreadful situation" faced by people camped in the swamp-like conditions, the Press Association reported. Corbyn said: "What I'm trying to achieve here is to understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe. Advertisement "Ultimately we deal with the situation by dealing with the problem at its source, which are the wars and conflicts. "Also, there are the human needs of people. We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food - in very cold, very wet conditions. "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." He also tweeted that such conditions were "an affront to our common humanity". Plight of refugees in Calais & Dunkirk is an affront to our common humanity which demands action by both France & UK pic.twitter.com/Evm1Aw3ioh Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) January 23, 2016 Advertisement Corbyn said Britain should be part of a pan-European effort to help the people affected by the crisis. And he went on: "Germany has done an enormous amount, other countries have done varying amounts and I think we should be part of bringing European support to people." Corbyn called the conditions a 'disgrace' The numbers of migrants and refugees at Grande-Synthe have steadily risen since last October, from around 800 people sleeping rough there to around 2,500 in recent weeks. Most are Kurds from Iran, Syria and Iraq looking to cross to the UK, including some 250 children, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Advertisement The organisation took action in the face of what it called a failure by the authorities to offer decent living conditions to the masses camped there in ankle-deep mud. The Labour leader leaves a tent at the camp Aid workers said people have been living in ultra-thin tents surrounded by puddles of water and food, which has attracted rats, prompting regular extermination operations. Help and donations, including food, clothing and tents, have come from volunteers who often arrive at weekends from the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. In this Friday, July 31, 2015 photo, a ferry is parked in the port of Calais, France. Calais, with its huge port bringing visitors across the Channel by ferry, its Eurostar train which stops in nearby Frethun and its highways, is a natural hub for travelers, but they are going somewhere else. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) ASSOCIATED PRESS Some 50 migrants stormed a ferry docked in Calais on Saturday, causing French authorities to close the port. The Migrants made their way on to the ship sparking a "security incident." Speaking to Reuters, deputy Calais prefect Denis Gaudin said: "A demonstration in Calais has drawn around 2,000 people and in the end around 200 people entered the port, with approximately 50 of them boarding a ferry, the 'Spirit of Britain', on an external deck." Advertisement #Calais : des refugies ont reussi a penetrer le port. Ils occupent actuellement le navire "Spirit Of Britain" pic.twitter.com/M4g5lVV3m5 Louis Witter (@LouisWitter) January 23, 2016 Gaudin added that some refugees left the ferry voluntarily and police would remove the rest. The Port of Dover released a statement saying Calais was experiencing "migrant activity. "The Port of Calais is currently experiencing migrant activity which has caused disruption to ferry services," the statement read. Therefore services to and from Calais via the Port of Dover are affected, but DFDS Seaways services are still running to Dunkirk as normal." "The Port of Dover remains open for business, but the duration of this disruption to services remains unknown." Port of Calais is still resolving a security incident. As a result our vessels are delayed until such time as given the all clear to load.1/2 P&O Ferries Updates (@POferriesupdate) January 23, 2016 Advertisement Earlier on Saturday, Jeremy Corbyn visited a French refugee camp, bemoaning the conditions as a "disgrace." The Labour leader visited a camp in northern France to see first-hand the squalid conditions refugees and migrants are living in after fleeing war and persecution. Corbyn travelled the to the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk, where more than 2,500 people are sleeping rough in the mud, wet and cold. "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere," he said. "We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." Coinciding with the World Economic Forum in Davos this week Oxfam has issued a report - entitled An Economy for the 1% - outlining how wealth inequality has grown to the stage where 62 of the world's richest people own as much as the poorest half of the world's people combined. To put it in numbers, the richest 62 people on Earth own as much as the poorest 3,600,000,000 people. The wealth of the poorest half- 3.6billion people - has fallen by 41%, or a trillion US dollars, since 2010. At the same time, the wealth of the richest 62 people has increased by more than half a trillion US dollars to $1.76trillion. This inequality is deepening, even over the last 12 months. In 2010, 388 people had the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity. The number has continued to fall each year, and is now 62 in 2015. Advertisement Furthermore, it is not the case that whilst the rich are getting richer, everyone else is also benefitting as supporters of 'trickle down' economics argue. The stark truth is that the total wealth of the poorest half of humanity has fallen by nearly 700billion since 2010, even though the number of people in this group has risen by 400million. And whilst it is often pointed out that global poverty is falling, in many parts of the world poverty is actually on the rise, with the World Bank noting that "China alone [has] accounted for most of the decline in extreme poverty over the past three decades." This is also a problem in terms of economic development internationally. As Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said this week "the poor are hurt twice by rising inequality -- they get a smaller share of the economic pie and because extreme inequality hurts growth, there is less pie to be shared around." Extreme inequality is out of control and something needs to be done. Tackling inequality should be central to our vision for international development. Advertisement In November, the Government published a strategy document setting out a new framework for the aid budget. The document mentions security thirty two times but fails to mention inequality. As Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, I agree with Mark Goldring of Oxfam GB that a crackdown on global tax havens is a necessary step towards ending this rampant global inequality. Indeed, it is also a necessary step towards international development more broadly. Tax havens are enabling both multinational companies and extremely wealthy individuals to hide more and more money offshore. This of course includes British individuals and profits made by companies due to British operations. Three years ago, David Cameron said he would make tax dodgers "wake up and smell the coffee." Yet, in November the Public Accounts Committee of MPs analysed that HMRC had made "little or no progress" on measures to reveal the extent of tax avoidance here in Britain and George Osborne's tax avoidance crackdown missed its target by hundreds of millions according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Oxfam report says that the situation may be even worse than this in terms of the world's poorest countries, estimating that as much as 30% of African financial wealth is held offshore. Advertisement How much extra money could end up helping the world's poorest if there was a real crack down on tax avoidance here and internationally? A Labour Government will genuinely tackle tax avoidance and work for ambitious global agreements on international development that seek to tackle inequality and its drivers. Sifting through a presidential candidate's website is one of the more accessible ways to delve into the minds of those running to be the leader of the United States. But some of their websites don't dive very deep into how they plan to address the current issues facing society. Here, 20-year-old me will dig into how the top ten Republican candidates' websites confront the issues and provide them a letter grade based on their detail and variety. John Kasich Links about issues: 10 Kasich's issues tab begins with "The Kasich Action Plan," which takes you to an option to download a file detailing the Ohio governor's economic plan. It's more detailed than most of the other candidates' economic plans and conveniently stays on your computer in your downloads section, so you don't have to re-access the website to re-read it. Other issues on Kasich's site include education, national security, health care, the second amendment, abortion and welfare. The site successfully persuades readers into believing Kasich can accomplish what's listed on his site by listing his past accomplishments as governor. And while other candidates' sites list more issues than Kasich's few, if any, do a better job of persuading readers into believing he can accomplish what he sets out to as president. Advertisement Grade: B+ Chris Christie Links about issues: 7 Christie's slogan of "Telling It Like It Is" is sort of depressing, and is displayed in the top left corner of his sites homepage. Then his issues tab hits you with what I took as a brag: "Governor Christie Has Brought Unprecedented Conservative Reform To One Of The Bluest States In America." But the first issue shown on the page is one that millennials seem to think is in dire need of addressing -- criminal justice reform. The second issue of social security switches focus to an older generation, and the third, fourth and fifth reunite the audiences by talking about foreign policy, education and the economy. His issues end with immigration and healthcare for veterans. So Christie's site delves into fewer issues than Kasich, but like Kasich's, he uses his past experience and accomplishments as New Jersey governor to convince readers of what he can do as the country's leader. But frankly, his site's persuasion falls short of Kasich's, and his detail does, too. Grade: C+ Jeb Bush Links about issues: 19 Whoa, immediately you see the difference in the variety of issues Bush tries to cater towards compared to Christie and Kasich. Advertisement His first category is titled "Safer," and the first tab underneath it is "Defeating ISIS." The detail under this tab is straightforward and convincing, and is one of the most convincing tabs of all the candidates' tabs addressing the terrorist group. And the rest of the tabs follow suit. Bush has created one of the most practical sites in terms of catering to the widest audiences possible, and includes great depth, as well. It also includes links to personal op-eds, downloadable and external links. It's one of the better websites of the current candidates. Grade: A Donald Trump Links about issues: 5 We've arrived at one of the most polarizing figures in politics today's sites, and it's easy to tell from the start that Trump's site doesn't command the attention the man it advocates for demands. If you've ever watched a GOP debate, or just heard Trump speak at any public or televised event since announcing his candidacy, you know he speaks on his own terms. He says what he wants when he wants to, and his lack of political correctness is a factor that has contributed to his lead in virtually every statewide poll today. His site addresses five issues: U.S.-China trade reform, veterans administration reforms, tax reform, second amendment rights and immigration reform. But admittedly, while some may view his issues focus as self-driven, his plans to address these issues are laid out well, and without filter. With that said, he needs some diversity on his webpage. Or does he? He would probably argue differently, as up to this point, the unconventional strategies he has been using have propelled him to the top--for now. Grade: D Marco Rubio Links to issues: 28, plus sections aimed at different demographics Rubio boasts the broadest array of issues displayed on his webpage: Russia, higher education, debt, taxes, you name it -- the guy didn't forget much. Advertisement And he didn't forget details, either. From economic statistics, proposals and videos under the taxes tab to videos OF HIM talking about how "America's Education System Needs A Disruption," Rubio boasts the best website of all Republican presidential candidates. Plain and simple. His tabs catering to different demographics like farmers, veterans, small business owners and families do a fantastic job of connecting with those audiences. And not only does Rubio's site do a great job of detailing what he wants out of every issue fathomable, it also does the best job of painting Rubio as a human being and nothing more. It's clearly above the others. Grade: A+ Ted Cruz Links to issues: 10 Did anyone else notice Cruz's site is -.org, while the other candidates' sites are -.com sites? Cruz's site is akin to Trump's in that it holds nothing back, but antonymous in that it explores a wider variety of issues, and issues that the average person can more identify with. His site doesn't cower away from his advocacy for diminished big government power and his belief that recent presidential administrations have made Americans less free by allegedly expanding presidential authority beyond what is defined in the Constitution. It offers lots of promises, sure to excite the more optimistic crowd, but little tangible reason for the more pessimistic crowd to believe he can carry those promises out. But as I said about Trump, the strategy seems to be working, as Cruz trails Trump closely in the polls. Maybe websites are obsolete? Maybe I don't know how to grade websites after all. You got this far. Advertisement Grade: C+ Ben Carson Links to issues: 13 Carson's site falls victim to the "I will" monster, too. Lots of promises, with no blueprint on HOW he'll do what he promises. It's probably the least detailed site of all of the Republican candidates. There's just nothing special about it. Grade: C- Mike Huckabee Links to issues: 15 Huckabee's site is even more of an "I will" monster victim than Carson's, and also doesn't provide much of a blueprint to back up the promises. The only reason it gets a higher grade than Carson's is that it includes his record as governor of Arkansas, where there are actually some bright spots. Grade: C+ Rand Paul Links to issues: 18 Paul probably has the most visually appealing website of all of the Republican candidates, which earns him a few bonus points. But most of the content within the tabs is very thin. His tab for taxes includes a comprehensive plan to "blow up the tax code" and restructure the country's tax system, a breath of fresh air from the last few sites listed. But the rest of his site states personal beliefs as the reasons for his policy desires. This just does not work as well as facts or prior accomplishments, the reasons Rubio's, Bush's and Kasich's sites succeed. Grade: B- Carly Fiorina Links to issues: 6 It was easy to foresee Fiorina's immediate focus on the economy on her website, as she shares a business background with Trump, who also allocates a majority of his focus to money. Advertisement She shares a plan to "radically simplify" the country's tax code from the 73,000-page tax code by the IRS to three pages. That's 72,997 less pages. Bold strategy. But past money, the only issues her site displays are abortion, immigration and ISIS. It's not all-encompassing like Rubio's and doesn't offer detail like Bush's. Candidates like Fiorina, Trump and Carson are immediately disadvantaged because they can't play off of their prior political experience to make points. And Trump still leads the polls. Fiorina's site needs to include her stance on more issues, just like Trump's site. So why does it work for him and not her? Who knows? Grade: C- Professor Yunus: We're in a moment of tremendous change - not linear but exponential - and we need to bring our society through a transition process to one of more evenly distributed wealth and power. This is summed up in my three focus areas that are foundational to everything else: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. Within this, I'm drilling down on unemployment and wealth concentration. We all know that the world's wealth is controlled by a handful of people. More worrying is the speed at which wealth is further concentrating. Today we are talking about the one percent. Tomorrow it will be half a percent, then one-tenth, and so on. This is totally disastrous, so we need to work quickly to undo the harmful things that are reflected in our economic framework and move toward a new, more selfless civilization. So I am spending time sharing how to achieve this and what role new frameworks in social business and education can play. Ashoka: How does zero unemployment happen? Professor Yunus: This is built into microcredit and demonstrated by 8.5 million borrowers in Bangladesh and some 140 million globally. Most are women - some are successful entrepreneurs, others are struggling entrepreneurs. Regardless, this is the path they wanted. If an illiterate woman living in a remote village in Bangladesh can turn herself into an entrepreneur, why is a literate person with a university degree sitting around because no one will give him a job? We have equipped him with absolutely the wrong mental lens. That is where we went wrong. Unemployment is an artificial state and it doesn't belong to human beings. We are not born to sit around and watch, doing nothing. Today, our education system produces job seekers ending up with a job application when it should prepare job creators armed with a business plan. This is a very different mindset and it leads to a happier life and more stable economy. Ashoka: Interesting, and an alternative way to look at it... Professor Yunus: I don't say alternative, I say it's the reverse. Everything we have done is the reverse of conventional. They go to the city, we go to the village. They go to men, we go to women. They say people should come to the bank, we say the bank should go to the people. They say you need to be job seekers, we say job creators. They say business is about maximizing profit, we say forget about profit, all we want to do is solve problems. Everything is opposite. In the new civilization, everything has to be done in the reverse way. Ashoka: Let's talk about education. What would a "reverse" school look like? Honestly, how often is it that you get to write such a great headline? In a week that also included a Sarah Palin speech that dominated the news cycle (to say nothing of the late-night comic cycle), writing such snarky headlines is just icing on the cake, really. Good times... yes, good times indeed for Democrats watching the horrorshow that is the Republican presidential nomination process. Where to begin? The big news today from Republicanland was the broadside fired by the National Review towards Donald Trump. A full 22 conservative thinkers (although, with the likes of Glenn Beck and William Kristol in the mix, we do of necessity use that term quite broadly) all weighed in on why Donald Trump is a terrible candidate for Republicans to consider making their presidential nominee, and why Trump is an all-around terrible human being. With a little over a week to go before voting begins in Iowa, the phrase "a day late and a dollar short" immediately springs to mind. The essays were contradictory in their reasons for loathing Trump, and the editor himself was writing supportive words about Trump earlier this year, but never mind. Consistency is the hobgoblin of sane non-conservative pundits, after all. Advertisement But wait! Just as this intraparty candidate assassination was being attempted comes news that the Republican establishment is basically decamping from Jeb! Bush and Marco Rubio's campaigns and moving reluctantly over to Trump. The big money men and party regulars, you see, want someone with the best chance of actually winning, and the only real alternative at this point is a man pretty much everyone in Washington hates with a seething passion: Ted Cruz. Rudy Giuliani helpfully explains: "If it came down to Trump or Cruz, there is no question I'd vote for Trump. As a party, we'd have a better chance of winning with him, and I think a lot of Republicans look at it that way." The big GOP donors have also reportedly been trying to suck up to Trump behind the scenes. It's no wonder they're bailing on Jeb!, when you consider his PAC has such a big bundle of cash left to spend that they are reportedly attacking their cash mountain with flamethrowers -- by spending money to send out (apparently at random) little video players pre-loaded with "The Jeb Story," a 15-minute bio explaining why Jeb is going to be our nation's next president (or something -- we admit that our mini video player has not yet arrived in the mail, so we really can't be sure). One paragraph really leaps out at you, in respect to Jeb! trying to portray himself as the hero of the Common Man: The PAC declined to say on Monday how much money they were spending to buy the video players and mail them, nor exactly how many people would be receiving copies. One person familiar with the group's plans, who asked for anonymity to speak frankly about the strategy, said that buying and preloading the video players is "amazingly cheap" with the cost per player "far less than a good bottle of Scotch." You know, sometimes you don't even need to provide a punchline, because it would truly be superfluous... "far less than a good bottle of Scotch"... yes, this is indeed one of those times. Advertisement Which brings up the other big Republican news of the week. Sarah Palin, who doesn't just utter classic punchlines but has actually become a walkin', talkin' punchline in the flesh, treated us all to a 20-minute ramble through the poppy fields of her mind. Late-night comedians all but sank to their knees in prayerful thanks for Palin's re-entry to the political scene. In fact, so many others have been taking gleeful shots at Palin's speech (you can read the whole thing here, if you really want to) that we're just going to mention it in passing. Palin being Palin, her own family undermined her political return, as back in Alaska her son Track -- at almost the same time Sarah appeared on stage -- reportedly hit his girlfriend in the face and then threatened to commit suicide with one of the numerous firearms lying about the Palin residence (he lives with his mom). Palin responded in true pitbull fashion, and blamed Track's troubles on (you betcha!) President Obama. Her reasoning, as always, was insane. Even though the Palin family is wildly wealthy from successfully grifting the rubes for eight solid years, Track's mental problems must be Obama's fault, for not "supporting the veterans" with post-traumatic stress disorder. So Palin is arguing for more government spending for a family that could easily have paid for mental health treatment on its own, but chose not to. Track's 0.189 blood alcohol level wasn't mentioned by mom, of course. Ah, the Palins! How we've all missed you! We personally have long been predicting a Republican Party major freakout when they all woke up to the fact that Donald Trump has been their party's frontrunner all along. So we have to say that in the past few weeks (since this freakout has begun in earnest), we have been enjoying the fray from the sidelines. We have to confess to feeling almost sorry for Republicans who can still recognize reality when it is repeatedly hitting them in the face, such as Lindsey Graham, who recently summed up his party's chances for victory: The only way we lose this election is to nominate somebody who cannot grow this party's vote among minorities, young women, and the coalitions we need to win. If you nominate Trump and Cruz I think you'd get the same outcome. Whether it's death by being shot or poisoning, does it really matter? I don't think the outcome will be substantially different. Wow -- tell us how you really feel, Lindsey. I mean, is there any hope at all the Republican Party could take a different path this year? So let's just pick somebody out of the phone book if we have to. We can win this election unless we lose it. That's some top-shelf schadenfreude right there, wouldn't you say? Need another taste of the Republican freakout currently underway? How about this, from an anonymous "somebody" contemplating a race between Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton: In a contest against Trump, the [establishment Republican] thinking goes, it might be best for Cruz to win the nomination, only to suffer a lopsided general election defeat, proving once and for all the true limits of his appeal. It is taken for granted that the party under Cruz cannot win. And, in Washington, life will go on. "I'm rooting for Hillary," said one half-joking somebody in the GOP establishment. "She can't win a mandate, so we hold the House and don't get slaughtered in the Senate. We will have a great midterm in 2018 running against her," he said, requesting anonymity for obvious reasons. "We are a great opposition party." The original story was corrected later (you just can't make this stuff up, folks!) by striking out the term "half-joking" and adding at the bottom of the paragraph: "The somebody in question wanted to clarify that he is not at all joking, not even halfway, and is indeed fully rooting for Hillary Clinton." Advertisement With quotes like these from fellow Republicans, Democrats don't even have to lift a finger to showcase the absolute revolt taking place among the Republican Party. For those of you enjoying all of this, here's a fun prediction: Things are going to get even crazier in the next few weeks, as Trump and Cruz obliterate all other GOP candidates in the actual voting. So we've all got that to look forward to. Let's see, what else? Martin Luther King Day was this week, which uncovered a few folks who still haven't quite wrapped their minds around this whole equality thing. First there was the Air Force holding a Martin Luther King Day "Fun Shoot" where you got served lunch -- and also got to shoot off a few rounds, maybe using the flyer handed out as your target? Whoops! Not exactly an appropriate activity for the day honoring a man who was shot down in cold blood. Then there was a children's book that had to get pulled off the shelves because of all the drawings of happy, smiling slaves baking a birthday cake for George Washington. Seriously? What century do these people think we're living in? We thought that sort of thing had gone out of style by now, but we guess we were wrong. And finally (whew!) some news to actually bring a smile to your face. First, for those who are interested in history, the Library of Congress has a collection of historical campaign posters that are worth a look (some are downright beautiful). And an even better item to end on: Congress actually got something positive done! They passed a law which overturned -- just in time for a mondo winter snowstorm in Washington -- the ban on sledding on Capitol Hill. Free the toboggans! Have fun, kids of all ages! Yes, anyone who loves a good time can now quite literally (and legally) slide down a slippery slope, just outside the U.S. Capitol. This week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week goes to Senator Barbara Boxer, who showed why she will be so missed when she retires at the end of the year. Advertisement Boxer helpfully points out, in a Huffington Post blog, the difference between how Democrats see government's responsibility to clean water and the environment differs from Republicans -- who see clean water as one of those pesky "regulations" that are holding the private sector back from glory. The juxtaposition was missed by pretty much the entire media, leaving it to Boxer to shine some light on. From her article: After seeing news reports over the past several weeks concerning the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, I was shocked and dismayed at a meeting yesterday of the Environment and Public Works Committee (E.P.W.) to consider S. 659, the so-called "Bipartisan Sportsmen Act," which included an unrelated amendment that weakens our nation's drinking water protections. We have all seen disturbing reports of children being poisoned by lead in Flint's drinking water supplies. And what message do you think Republicans have taken from these upsetting news stories? At a time when Congress should be doing more to protect the American people from contaminated or polluted water, the Republican majority on the E.P.W. Committee did the exact opposite. They chose to vote for legislation to undermine the federal government's ability to protect drinking water supplies. Specifically, the legislation as approved by the Republican majority takes away the right of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits when pesticides are sprayed over a body of water. The difference in attitude of the two parties is indeed stark on the issue of clean water. But it took Boxer to point it out in all its ugly detail. For showing the deep divide in priorities between Democrats and Republicans in such damning and poignant fashion, Senator Barbara Boxer is our Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week this week. Advertisement [Congratulate Senator Barbara Boxer on her Senate contact page, to let her know you appreciate her efforts.] Hillary Clinton, far more than Bernie Sanders, has a lot of surrogates who can go out and make her case to various audiences. They can benefit her by improving her image, but they can also attack competitors (so that the candidate herself doesn't have to). Our Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week this week is Clinton ally David Brock, for his recent criticisms of Bernie Sanders's new "America" ad. The ad was shot at Bernie rallies for a state that is over 90 percent white. The images used reflected this reality. Brock called the ad "bizarre" and a "significant slight to the Democratic base." He piled on with the supposedly-damning: "From this ad it seems black lives don't matter much to Bernie Sanders." A Sanders spokesman shot back, saying the Clinton campaign should be "ashamed" of its surrogate. "Twenty-five years ago it was Brock -- a mud-slinging, right-wing extremist -- who tried to destroy Anita Hill, a distinguished African-American law professor. He later was forced to apologize for his lies about her. Today, he is lying about Senator Sanders." We couldn't have put it better ourselves. Brock is, easily, our Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week. Advertisement [David Brock is a private citizen, and our policy is never to provide contact information for candidate web pages, so you'll have to search out the Clinton campaign info on your own to express your disappointment, sorry.] Volume 375 (1/22/16) Our third talking point this week is really non-partisan, because any citizen who understands the Bill of Rights should be outraged by it. But, other than that one, the whole rest of this section is nothing short of an anti-Republican snarkfest this week, just because things have heated up so much out on the campaign trail. So sit back, pop some corn, and enjoy watching them all tear each other apart. This is so much fun, it really should be illegal (on humanitarian reasons alone). No, it certainly cannot be that the other side is right.... This first talking point comes from a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. Matt Latimer was even a speechwriter for George W. Bush -- probably one of those who truly believed in the concept of "compassionate conservatism." It's always sad when the notions we subscribe to as teenagers get shattered, isn't it? Latimer begins his opinion piece for the New York Times with: "I became a conservative as a teenager growing up in the city of Flint," complete with a firm belief that conservatives actually did care (all evidence to the contrary) about minorities and the poor. His essay is extraordinary, mostly because he correctly points out that the Flint situation is being almost completely ignored by all Republican presidential candidates. He calls it a chance for conservatives to prove their ideas for urban poverty work -- but he also identifies the fact that nobody is taking this chance. But, in the end, he refuses to see the plain truth in front of his face. Give him a few more years, and some more scales might fall from his eyes, we suppose. In any case, here's just part of his extraordinary op-ed: This is the Republicans' chance to show their worth -- the chance our leaders have said they always wanted. Why haven't they been here over the decades, running serious candidates, supporting federal aid for the city, championing pilot projects that might show what a conservative approach to urban areas might do? Why aren't they in Flint today, shipping in water bottles and holding fund-raisers for kids now condemned to lowered expectations because their brains were poisoned by lead? It cannot be, as the left would tell us, because Flint has a large African-American population. The others are not worthy Nice to know some people in Flint are worthy of Republican attention. "Ted Cruz has, to date, been just about the only Republican to even utter the name 'Flint,' but one really has to wonder at his priorities. The Cruz campaign is helping to send water bottles only to so-called 'crisis pregnancy centers' -- people who browbeat young women into not having an abortion -- but not to anyone else in Flint. The message is clear: if you are a pregnant woman who chooses not to abort an unwanted baby, you are deserving of clean water. If not, well then, you can just drink the toxic waste coming from the tap because you are simply not worthy enough as a human being to drink uncontaminated water. Just goes to show how Republicans would run the whole country, if they could. If you agree with their agenda, you can live. Otherwise, you're on your own." Highway robbery, plain and simple This should transcend party lines, really, because it is so outrageous an abuse of government power. "The Drug Enforcement Agency and the Transportation Security Administration have teamed up to institutionalize what used to be called 'highway robbery.' Think that's too strong a term? I don't. The Justice Department Inspector General just reported that the D.E.A. violated its own policy by recruiting a T.S.A. agent to help it violate the Bill of Rights on an ongoing basis. The scheme was for the T.S.A. agent to search travelers' bags for cash. Then the D.E.A. would swoop in, confiscate the money, and kick back some of the cash to the T.S.A. agent for his or her help. Anyone whose cash was stolen in such a fashion had to file a federal lawsuit to get it back and prove that the money wasn't related to drugs at all. This stands the Fourth and Fifth Amendments on their heads, and is downright un-American. How is shaking down train and airplane passengers for their cash in any way legal under the Bill of Rights? How is this in any way shape or form different than pure highway robbery? Congress needs to pass a law eliminating the concept of 'civil asset forfeiture' for all federal agents, period." Thanks, Dad This one's gotta hurt. Admittedly, his remark wasn't all that bad, but even so.... "I see that Rand Paul's father Ron seems to be considering giving up on his son's chances to become the Republican nominee. Maybe it's because Ron Paul personally knows a thing or two about losing a Republican nomination fight, but this week in an interview he said 'it certainly is realistic' that Donald Trump was going to be the GOP nominee. You can just picture the awkward phone call after that news broke: 'Aw, c'mon, Dad!' 'Sorry, Son, but I gotta call them like I see them.' It's bad enough to have others toss your chances of winning under a bus, but when it comes from dear old Dad, it's really got to hurt." Advertisement Who is worthy and who is not When purity counts, it limits your choices. "The Republican National Committee had already kicked out NBC from its upcoming debate, because the nasty people at CNBC asked mean questions the Republican candidates didn't want to answer, and now comes news that they've also kicked out the National Review from the debate as well, because they had the temerity to criticize Donald Trump. Boy, if they're insisting on such purity in their debate sponsors, pretty soon they'll be down to having all their candidates appear on an otherwise-empty stage, and just debate each other, freestyle. It's going to be seriously amusing when the primaries are done and the 'kid gloves' Republican debates are over, because sooner or later they're going to have to answer some questions from outside the right-wing echo chamber. For now, they're still able to wrap their debates in cotton batting so nobody gets their feelings hurt, but that won't happen in the general election." Might want to rethink that destination, Bill Always fun when people don't check their facts. As Salon amusingly pointed out this week. "Bill O'Reilly has stated that if a Bernie Sanders wins the presidency this November, he's going to move to Ireland rather than pay his taxes to President Sanders. Putting aside the fact that nobody actually pays their taxes to the president himself, I think O'Reilly's in for a shock. Ireland is fairly conservative on some things, like abortion, but it also has higher taxes than America (over fifty percent for the top bracket), extremely strict gun control laws (most police aren't even armed), and -- horror of horrors -- single-payer socialized medicine! So O'Reilly would be escaping from a phantom socialist America for a very real socialist Ireland. Maybe he might want to rethink his post-election travel plans?" Conservatives are revolting And finally, we end exactly where we began. "Boy, it's tough to keep track of the revolts going on in the Republican Party these days. Donald Trump is leading a revolt against the establishment Republicans. The National Review is leading a counterrevolt against Trump. The establishment Republicans are actually waving a big white flag and are now revolting against the National Review and sucking up to Trump. Ted Cruz is leading a revolt against pretty much every other Republican in existence, who are quite willing to badmouth Cruz in return. The party's voters are leading a revolt against the big money donors. Pretty much anywhere you look within the Republican Party, things are downright revolting." Chris Weigant blogs at: Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant Full archives of FTP columns: FridayTalkingPoints.com Hillary Clinton is losing in both Iowa and New Hampshire to her rival Bernie Sanders and after a failed attempt to attack Sanders health care plan, which actually backfired, her campaign is attempting to focus on foreign policy and borrowing from the Republican playbook, again, she is now using ISIS to strike fear into the hearts of American voters. In the video released by her campaign, Clinton's top foreign policy adviser, Jake Sullivan, explains that Clinton disagrees with Sanders when it comes to ISIS and Iran. "I have the greatest respect for Sen. Sanders," Sullivan says. But adds that Sanders' ideas on national security issues "just don't make sense." When it comes to fixing Iran and Saudi Arabia relations and how to fight ISIS troops inside Syria and Iraq, Sullivan says that is clear that Sanders has "not thought it through." Advertisement Clinton made the same exact remarks in an interview Wednesday night on NPR while making sure to say that she believes President Obama has the best plan for dealing with these issues and she would continue with his word, driving the point home, yet again, that her presidency would be a continuation of the Obama administration. The attacks from Clinton are increasing as the polls reflect more and more losses for Clinton around the country after Clinton spent a great deal of time telling people she was not worried about Sanders at all. Her failed health care attacks and inability to match Sanders on economic issues have left her with few options to attack Sanders on. She is doubling down on her commitment to being Obama part 2, and using foreign policy fears to appeal to a vanishing voter base. Here I find myself in an unusual situation -- three shows I'd like to go see, but haven't seen yet. If you're in New York, I'd like you to know they're out there to be seen, so I'm posting slideshows of work from each of them here. In the "what to say" department, I am fortunate in that all three shows are strongly linked to the New York Academy of Art. So there's a ready-made theme. The Academy is an art school which I did not attend, but which I have contemplated at some length, because they keep training artists I like. So I'll share some thoughts about the school here. The Academy seems to produce a fruitful synthesis between emphasis on the classical criteria of skill and vision in the visual arts, and respect for and interaction with the current state of art "discourse," a blanket term for interesting things visual artists are doing and interesting thoughts thinkers on the visual arts are thinking. This synthesis enables their students, on the one hand, to learn to express themselves with the tremendous force of the canonical tools, and on the other hand, to make themselves at home in the world as we find it, and not as we might like it to be. They are cosmopolitan, but not unmoored: they understand themselves to be, as a group, carriers of a tradition, and individually, to be unique contributors to it. How does the school manage this extraordinarily delicate balance? My hypothesis is that it is not one balance, but rather that it shifts all the time. The synthesis would thus represent a series of outcomes of a dynamic tension. I strongly suspect that the tension is embodied in factions among the faculty, between modernists and traditionalists. Whether by administrative wisdom, or sheer good luck, these theoretical factions would have been grappling for decades by now. Neither side has won; the students are exposed to clashing and incompatible doctrines. If this is the case, then their training involves not only the acquisition of skill, and the unearthing of personal vision and cultural perspective, but also the real rudiments of critical thinking - the recognition that two admired teachers may profess mutually exclusive dogmas, and that each dogma, and all dogmas, must therefore be approached from a position of skeptical inquiry, and not blind trust in the charisma of authority. Advertisement This remains an hypothesis. The internal workings of the Academy are opaque to me, and some other mechanism entirely may define its course. But if my hunch is correct, then my fondest wish for this eccentric and dear institution would be that no faction should ever win, that the war of ideas should stretch on into the indistinct future, and that the fertile battlefield should continue to raise generations of artists. -- At New York Academy of Art: "Now and Then: Drawings from the 19th Century to the Present" curated by Peter Drake and Heidi Elbers In which 19th century master drawings from the Dahesh Museum of Art are presented alongside contemporary drawings of similar scope and ambition. until March 6, 111 Franklin Street, New York, NY 10013, daily 2-8 p.m. Talk with Artists and Curators: January 27, 6:30 pm http://nyaa.edu/nyaa/exhibitions/nowandthen.html At Sugarlift: "Ballpoint" curated by Guno Park In which artists coax astonishing range and eloquence from the humble ballpoint pen. until February 8, 200 Morgan Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11237, 9-5 M-F http://www.sugarlift.com/collections/ballpoint Advertisement At The Lodge Gallery: "Between Us" curated by Benjamin Martins and Melanie Vote In which artwork from four generations of New York Academy of Art artists is presented; as in the case of "Now and Then," new work is conceptualized in terms of a timespan beyond the fleeting passions of the moment. until January 24, 131 Chrystie Street, New York, NY 10002, Wed-Fri 2pm-10pm, Sat/Sun 12pm-10pm This show is about to close. However, The Lodge is a dynamic and exciting gallery which nearly always has something worth seeing on the walls - do keep track of their doings and drop by when you get a chance. http://www.thelodgegallery.com/between-us/ New York Academy of Art: Now and Then: Drawings from the 19th Century to the Present See Gallery Sugarlift: Ballpoint See Gallery I know there's pain Why do lock yourself up in these chains? No one can change your life except for you Don't ever let anyone step all over you -Wilson Phillips This is adapted from the book Brand New Man, which is available for presale. http://amzn.com/B01ASVG70C In the two years that I lived my transformation into a Brand New Man, who is 115 pounds lighter, I wrote several articles about the weight loss journey on Huffington Post. One of them, caught the attention of Antonia Namnath, who is the tireless founder and President of the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (WLSFA) http://www.wlsfa.org and invited me to speak at their convention in May, 2016. A huge meeting with Carnie Wilson as a headliner. I've gotten to work with WLSFA board member Laura Van Tuyl and they do a terrific job in operating an all volunteer organization. Advertisement I touch on the concept of fat shaming in Brand New Man, but the WLSFA goes at the topic with full intensity and force. The group has a fascinating video project going on this month with a #taketheoath campaign as WLSFA supporters, famous and not famous, take the oath. The oath says: I choose to fight fat shame and bias with education I choose to treat all people with empathy, compassion and respect I choose to own the number on the scale without shame I challenge three people to take the oath -- I'm doing my oath in print instead of video but print is the way that I roll. Also I am challenging at least three people to share this article. If they don't, I'll start naming names. Here is a terrific one with Carnie Wilson and her daughters. Carnie as her story have had an incalculable impact on the stigma against weight loss surgery. I researched hundreds of books that are listed in the bibliography of Brand New Man and many, including Al Roker's Never Goin' Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle For Good, http://www.amazon.com/Never-Goin-Back-Winning-Weight/dp/0451414942/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 cites cite Carnie and her well publicized surgery, and books, as a motivation for his successful weight loss surgery. Advertisement The trials and tribulations of a famous person allows us to grasp diseases and treatments in a way that would otherwise be ignored. Christopher Reeves did that for people with spinal cord injuries and Carnie Wilson did that for weight loss surgery. If you get a chance to read Carnie's books, such as I'm Still Hungry, http://www.amazon.com/Im-Still-Hungry-Carnie-Wilson/dp/1401902286 you recognize that fat shaming is something she had to endure too. I used to get irritated at how the music videos for her (and for another weight loss surgery patient Anne Wilson of Heart) went to great lengths to minimize their screen time. The fact that Carnie has been so open in her struggle, and that it has been a true, up and down, struggle, inspires people like myself to "hold on" even when we have a bad day. Discriminating against people because of their weight is not limited to famous people in music videos. It's hard on everyday people who have had a lifetime of conditioning to not speak out and endured subtle and not so subtle insults. I've been fortunate. I have had a great career and family life despite spending most of my adulthood in a state of morbid obesity. I may have been the victim of shaming in the my adult lifetime but no one has had the guts to do it to my face. I've also had enough hints of fat shaming to understand it is totally and completely wrong. Just as any kind of discrimination is totally and completely wrong. The people in the following videos show courage. I have yet to meet any of them but feel a connection and kinship as I do to the hundreds of others who have "taken the oath." Advertisement If you want to join us and take the oath yourself, follow this link: http://www.wlsfa.org/blog/2016/01/15/wlsfa-org-taketheoath-challenge-end-fat-shame-now/ I've stood up against fat shaming for a long time. (See The Fat Shaming Scandal http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-mcnay/the-fat-shaming-scandal_b_6654676.html) It's great to see how many allies I have in this battle. Here they are, standing proud and talking loud. Or boldly. Protesters march in Port-au-Prince on January 24, 2016 to demand the resignation of Haitian President, Michel Martelly. Haiti's electoral authority postponed Sunday's planned presidential run-off amid mounting opposition street protests and voting fraud allegations. The second round of presidential elections was scheduled for January 24 between ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise and Jude Celestin but was suspended by CEP. Haiti now awaits a new calendar for the second round of presidential elections and legislatives elections. / AFP / HECTOR RETAMAL (Photo credit should read HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images) It was inevitable, but not necessary, that it would eventually come to this. Haiti's scheduled January 24 Presidential election has been postponed. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) made the announcement on Friday as violence escalated over charges of fraud made by opposition candidate Jude Celestin. Celestin was facing Michel (Sweet Mickey) Martelly's hand picked successor, colorfully and derisively named the "Banana Man," Jovenel Moise. What comes next is anyone's guess, but a provisional government looms on the horizon. It seems all the chickens have come home to roost after U.S. meddling and vote changing in the previous 2010 Presidential election, which installed Martelly under the watchful eyes of then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her "aide-de-camp," Cheryl Mills. The vote fixing and fraud in that fateful Presidential election, held in the death grip of the 2010 earthquake, has been extensively chronicled in many sources. The most gripping and astounding resides in former OAS Ambassador Ricardo Seitenfus' account, which offers first-hand testimony in his book, International Crossroads and Failures in Haiti. Advertisement The Brazilian professor details international collusion in Haiti's 2010 elections and discussions by a "core group," including Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and MINUSTAH chief Edmond Mulet, along with then U.S Ambassador Kenneth Merten, of a coup to force President Rene Preval from office. Ballot box tinkering guaranteed candidate Jude Celestin would not advance to the runoff election. Martelly won the March 2011 runoff with less than 17 percent of eligible voters participating, defeating conservative former first lady Mirlande Manigat. Now, Jude Celestin is once again in the race and has forced the hand of international agents by refusing to participate in what is widely regarded as another fraudulent election process. Two years ago, Celestin's opponent, "Neg Bannann" Moise, dispossessed as many as 800 peasants and destroyed houses and crops in the Trou-du-Nord zone. What remains is a private banana plantation owned by Moise's company, Agritrans. It cannot be stressed enough that Moise is the hand picked candidate of Martelly's "Bald Party." The firm stand of the man who refuses to run, Celestin, has encouraged civil society, including business and church leaders, to conclude a vote postponement is in the best interests of Haiti. The Senate also supported a non-binding motion to postpone. Advertisement In a passionate speech to the nation this week, Celestin said "...whatever the person who will participate in this January 24, is a traitor to the Nation...When I would be President, I would be legally, constitutionally, with the Haitian people, I refuse to participate in this masquerade that has only one goal, swallow snakes to the entire Haitian population (sic), stop taking us for idiots." It ironically fell to Pierre-Louis Opont, the president of Haiti's CEP, to make the cancellation announcement for this election. Opont conveniently waited almost five years to cry foul -- until the release of the Hilary Clinton emails left little doubt that votes were either switched or manipulated to advance Martelly in 2010. Last July Opont accused the OAS, the United States, and specifically Cheryl Mills, the Chief of State for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the fraud. Opont says he gave the official vote count to the group of OAS international observers and the group then gave results different than what were passed to them. In a collusion of history and personality, Celestin's defiance in the face of international pressure to participate in what he considers another rigged election has resulted in this standoff. If the elections do not go forward, a provisional government might be the only option. Advertisement Will the United States and the "core group" try to use MINUSTAH to enforce its agenda? Haiti has a long history of provisional governments gone terribly wrong. A recent problematic example can be viewed as prophecy and a warning about U.S. and other foreign involvement. In 1956 Haiti's President Paul E. Magloire, a veteran of the ruling junta of the Revolution of 1946, disputed the termination date of his stay in office. Riots ensued, martial law followed and resulted in a general shut down of Port-au-Prince. Magloire fled to Jamaica, leaving the army in charge. The following period resulted in three provisional presidents. One resigned and the army deposed the others. Francois (Papa Doc) Duvalier, an administrator of U.S. aid, eventually emerged as the military favorite. Haitians will remember Duvalier's reign and organization of the dreaded Tontons Macoutes; a private force responsible for terrorizing and assassinating alleged foes of the regime. Touton Macoutes translates, roughly, to "bogeymen." The tales of provisional governments are cautionary ones and history's parallels can offer valuable instruction as well. President Michel Martelly is required to leave office on February 7 under the Haiti constitution. The question is will he, or will he flee the country like Magloire and others before him, taking whatever riches he can haul in a suitcase? The Miami Herald reported Opont and the CEP "could not guarantee either the security of poll workers or the country's 5.8 million registered voters in runoffs for six senators, 27 deputies and a President." 8 Haitian national observation organizations out of 10 refuse to observe the elections of this Sunday while Prime Minister Paul Evans maintained that "Electoral observation is a citizen approach, it can not be political." Advertisement I was in Haiti in early December and the pyres of protest were built, but as yet unlit. The leaders of Haiti's 18th century slave rebellion are forever memorialized in stone within walking distance of the streets where protests began to simmer this October. General. Jean-Jacques Dessalines towers over Champ de Mars, where six years ago, thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors huddled in misery. Dessaline's arm is raised in victory as he sits astride his noble Iberian stallion with its flowing long mane and muscles tensed and battle-ready. Henri Christophe and Toussaint Louverture, the latter with his arm resting on a drawn sword, join Dessalines as symbolic survivors of earthquake of 2010 that threatened to catapult the poorest nation in the western hemisphere into inescapable catastrophe. Another stone survivor is nearby. Neg Mawon, often translated in English as the "Unknown Slave," despite the shackles around his ankle, defiantly blows a conch shell, summoning all to battle. Banners spelling out Iowa hang from the ceiling as volunteers work at the Hillary for Iowa Campaign Headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, January 22, 2016, ahead of the Iowa Caucus. / AFP / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) For both Democrats and Republicans, this year's presidential contest is another "Armageddon election," the outcome of which will decide critically important domestic and foreign policy concerns. Despite its significance, we are just days away from the "first in the nation" Iowa caucuses and the direction of this election is still very much "up in the air" and about as confusing as any in recent memory. Iowa, therefore, will be important. On the Republican side, Donald Trump remains atop the field holding a commanding lead. The prospect of a Trump victory is panicking the party's leadership who don't trust his commitment to conservative principles and fear the damage he may do to the party's chances to win the White House and keep control of Congress. Advertisement The establishment's concerns are compounded by two key factors. They must be careful that in attacking Trump they don't alienate his supporters -- since Republicans will need them to win in November. And there is no logical establishment alternative to Trump. The contenders to that throne have all run rather lack-luster campaigns and have drawn considerable blood attacking each other. A recent poll demonstrates the GOP's problem. In that poll, 20 percent of Republican voters said they will not vote for any candidate in November other than Trump, with another 20 percent saying they will not vote for Trump if he is the party's nominee -- a conundrum, indeed. In fact, at this point, Trump's only real competition is coming from another anti-establishment candidate, Ted Cruz. While the GOP leadership fears Trump, they truly dislike Cruz. Iowa is important. If Trump wins Iowa and goes on to win in New Hampshire, he would be positioned to win the Republican nomination. However, if Cruz, a favorite among Evangelical Christians, wins in Iowa, it could knock Trump off his pedestal creating a very different dynamic for the contests in New Hampshire and beyond. The problems of no clear establishment favorite and what to do about Trump's supporters will remain, but it will be a very different election for the GOP. On the Democratic side, the once inevitable Clinton candidacy has shown signs of fading in the face of a surprisingly strong challenge by Bernie Sanders. Sanders' candidacy has been powered by his authenticity and principled progressive politics. Recent polls show Sanders in a virtual tie with Clinton in Iowa and beating her rather decisively in New Hampshire. Advertisement Once again, Iowa is important. If Sanders loses Iowa, his insurgent campaign will no doubt continue, but without the same energy. If, however, Sanders wins both Iowa and New Hampshire, it will change the entire dynamic of this contest energizing his supporters while at the same time exposing Clinton's weaknesses as a candidate. It will not, however, be decisive because the Democratic party establishment has many of the same concerns about Sanders as the GOP has about Trump. Another concern shared by many Democrats is that while they want to keep the White House and win control of the Senate, they fear the polarized partisanship that has long paralyzed Washington politics. With either Sanders or Clinton as the party standard-bearer, they are concerned that we will see only more rancorous rhetoric from the GOP and more paralysis. Should Sanders win both Iowa and New Hampshire, two outcomes are possible. One is that, the Clinton-Sanders contest will get more heated and will continue until one emerges bloodied but victorious at the end of a drawn out fight. Another possibility is that Joe Biden may be pressed to reconsider his decision to enter the race. While Biden has, in fact, missed the filing dates to compete in a number of states, there are enough major states (which account for well over one-quarter of all the party's delegates) in which he could still qualify to appear on the ballot -- states Biden may not win outright, but in which he may win enough delegates to insure a "brokered convention" that will have to vote on the eventual nominee. In such a scenario, the contest would pit Sanders and Clinton against Biden, with Biden rightly claiming to be both the heir of the Obama coalition and legacy, and the one Democrat who can expand that coalition and work to end the partisan divide. With many Democrats nervous about the ability of Sanders and Clinton to change Washington's poisonous atmosphere, Biden could emerge as an interesting choice. While some Democrats might dread a wide-open convention, such a truly democratic exercise might actually create a very positive dynamic that could help energize the party faithful for the November contest. The bottom line is that we are just days away from the Iowa caucuses and only two things are clear: the stakes are high and the shape of this contest is still uncertain. Iowa will be important. Advertisement BIRMINGHAM, AL - JANUARY 18: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at Boutwell Auditorium, January 18, 2016 in Birmingham, Alabama. Sanders spoke to a capacity crowd of around 5,000 supporters. (Photo by Hal Yeager/Getty Images) Paul Krugman has joined the self-appointed political grownups closing ranks around Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders. In a piece titled "How Change Happens," the liberal economist and New York Times columnist insists, "The question Sanders supporters should ask is, When has their theory of change ever worked?" That must be right. It's an excellent, sober, adult question. The answer, of course, depends what you think the Sanders campaign's theory of change is. Krugman argues, "On the left there is always a contingent of idealistic voters eager to believe that a sufficiently high-minded leader can conjure up the better angels of America's nature and persuade the broad public to support a radical overhaul of our institutions." This, he says, was what drove the Obama campaign in 2008. By implication, he seems to mean other quixotic campaigns, such as George McGovern's in 1972, when McGovern lost forty-nine states to Richard Nixon. Advertisement Krugman compares unrealistic, high-minded idealism with "politically pragmatic" governance, like Franklin Roosevelt's during the New Deal. Roosevelt, he reminds us, cut deals with Southern segregationists and introduced programs like Social Security incrementally. Krugman argues that this dirty-hands commitment to halfway measures, not purity, is what it takes to get things done. Versions of this contrast have become a common refrain: Sanders sounds great, but governing, is messy, complicated, grown-up. Krugman's mistake is very basic. He's wrong about the Sanders campaign's theory of change. It isn't that a high-minded leader can draw out our best selves and translate those into more humane and egalitarian lawmaking. It is that a campaign for a more equal and secure economy and a stronger democracy can build power, in networks of activists and alliances across constituencies. The movement that the campaign helps to create can develop and give voice to a program that the same people will keep working for, in and out of election cycles. In other words, this is a campaign about political ideas and programs that happens to have a person named Bernie at its head, not a campaign that mistakes its candidate for a prophet or a wizard (or the second coming of Abraham Lincoln, who gave us the now-cliche phrase about better angels, but had no delusion that words could substitute for power). The campaign whose loyalists made this idealistic mistake was, of course, Obama's 2008 run. The candidate spoke so charismatically, and seemed so much to embody a vision of realigned, common-sense, fresh-feeling progressivism, that some of us did imagine he could recast American political loyalties. Back then, Krugman was accusing Obama's supporters of spewing "bitterness" and "venom" and coming "dangerously close to a cult of personality." Now he's pleased that President Obama, unlike Candidate Obama, has governed rather like a Clinton: pragmatically, with the hand he was dealt. He seems to think that supporting Sanders's "purist" positions means "prefer[ing] happy dreams to hard thinking about means and ends." And so, he wants us to think, if we are going to be political grownups, we had better put away childish things. Like talk of truly universal health care (his only example of Sanders's alleged extremism) or, probably, the term "socialism," whose revival is baffling pundits everywhere. Advertisement Adulthood is charismatic and daunting. It always seems to have the drop on you. But sometimes it just doesn't understand. Yes, F.D.R. governed "pragmatically," in the sense that he counted votes and cut deals. Everyone does this, with the occasional exception of Daenyras, Mother of Dragons. But what made it possible for him to pass sweeping changes in economic regulation and social support, changes so radical that his enemies accused of socialism, of being un-American, of destroying the country and becoming an American Mussolini? The answer is in two parts: ideas and power. His administration stood at the confluence of two great movements. The first was the labor unions, which had been building power, often in bloody and terrible struggles, since the late nineteenth century. The second was made up of the Progressives, generations of reformers who worked in state, cities, and universities -- and occasionally in national government - to achieve economic security and update political democracy in an industrial economy that had transformed the country in the decades after the Civil War. Ideas, programs, and power swirled around Roosevelt, gave his agenda shape, and pressed it forward. These movements were sources of ideas, and also of power. Why did all those enemies and reluctant allies end up meeting Roosevelt halfway? The answer was not not his pragmatic attitude. The reason that even some who hated him had to compromise with Roosevelt or give way was the political force he could marshal. His theory of change was no more about compromise than it was about high-minded words: It was about power. Compromise was a side-effect, a tactic at most. Advertisement But the central place of power does not mean idealism had no place in the New Deal. Roosevelt explained what he was doing, and why, in language that was more Sanders than Clinton, more vision than wonkery. He famously called for a Second Bill of Rights, an economic program of security, good work, and material dignity. Going back to the Founders to ground the welfare state is, let's say, idealistic. And, while F.D.R. was willing to compromise, he was also willing to draw hard lines, calling out "economic royalists" and saying of his enemies, "They are unanimous in their hate for me -- and I welcome their hatred." Wow. You might hear that from Ted Cruz or possibly Donald Trump this year, but not from any of the Democrats. Roosevelt used the highest idealistic language and the toughest words of conflict. They conveyed the vision behind his program and forced other politicians to form battle lines on the landscape he defined. Then, and only then, he compromised, on his terms. The banal response to Krugman would be that most politicians campaign in poetry and govern in prose -- with the exception of some recent Democrats, notably Hillary, who ease his admirably wonkish heart by never leaving prose mode. Don't fear the poetry! one might say: it is not a theory of change, just a normal way of talking in a democracy. But the real answer is deeper. Obama ran in poetry and has governed in prose, in quite a literal sense that one could diagram in the sentences of his speeches and press conferences. But in the stronger, older tradition of campaigns based on ideas and programs rather than personalities, candidates run to build power, and use idealistic language to explain why that power matters. Then, if they get to govern, they use it. That is a theory of change. To answer Krugman's question: yes, it has worked. In fact, it may be the only theory of change that has ever made democracy real. It is politics for adults. As a Kabbalist, specializing in the intricacies of human nature, I know that as the situation in Europe worsens, and it will, the pressure on the Jews will grow. The hatred toward them will soar and they will undoubtedly be persecuted. Now, while they can still leave with their capital, is the right time to move. As refugees, it will be much harder for them to make a fresh start. Just recently, Huffington Post published my post, Jews Have No Future in France. The post sparked a vibrant debate around the question of Jewish continuity in Europe, and specifically in France. In this post I would like to address some of the arguments presented in the comments. Quite a few of the responses related to the idea of leaving France as defeatist. Some suggested that the Jews should fight back with arms; some wrote that they should publicly display Jewish signs, such as the kippa [Jewish skullcap] in defiance of the violence toward them; and others suggested that since Jews have been persecuted wherever they went, there is no point going anywhere because they will only be persecuted in their new countries, so they'd better stay where they are and "ride out the storm." Advertisement Whether leaving Europe is defeatist or not, the truth, as I see it, is that Jews have no future not only in France, but in Europe as a whole. I have no doubt that apart from perhaps a few extreme right activists, Europeans will not be able to do anything against the Islamic overtaking of the continent. The German police officer telling the German woman terrified of being raped by a mob of raucous Muslim immigrants, "I would love to help you, but I can't," embodies the helplessness of Germany in tackling the migrant influx. Their brazen and lawless conduct was met with "overwhelmed police officers, insufficient personnel and weaknesses in equipment," which will only encourage them to take even bolder actions at the first opportunity. What is true for Germany is even truer for France, as evident from the horrific events of November 13, in particular, and all of 2015, in general. Even the well-established British Jewish community is not a haven for Jews in view of the hostile atmosphere in the UK toward Israel and toward Jews. In light of all that, I don't mind being called "defeatist," as long as perhaps some Jews will read and take notice. History Repeats Itself In the 1930s, German Jews did not believe that anything would happen to them. By the time they were ready to leave, no one would have them and the vast majority perished in the Holocaust. This is why I concluded my post about the Jews having no future in France by saying that fortunately now we have a Jewish state. Just as before WWII, Jewish leaders assured their congregations that nothing would happen to them. Today we are hearing voices saying that there is no cause for alarm. They were wrong then, they are wrong now, and we must learn the lesson from the past. I confess that Israel is not the easiest place for new olim [Jewish immigrants to Israel], as I myself experienced in my time, and as Khatun Khanke pointed out in her comment in my previous post. However, here is where we must be. Here we must come together and build a cohesive society that is a role model of unity that the world will want to emulate. Advertisement Understandably, European Jewry might choose the US or Canada as their new home. The language barrier is practically not there, and life there is much more similar to the way Jews live in Europe. However, in the long run, I do not see a bright future for US Jews, as well. Anti-Semitism is rapidly spreading throughout the world, and the US is already plagued with it. It is only a matter of time before it erupts there in full force. At the same time, there is a way to reverse the trend, provided we become proactive. The Jewish people have a task. They must unite and spread the spirit of unity to the rest of the world. They can achieve this unity willingly, through recognition of their vocation, or unwillingly, through the nations' pressure, which will cause us to huddle together, though the latter is not true unity. As global elites gathered in Davos this week, the World Economic Forum released a daunting survey that estimates that 5 million jobs will be lost across the world in coming years to robotic automation. Oxfam also reported this week that 62 ultra-rich individuals held as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion people on the planet -- inequality too vast to last. While globalization and rapid technological advance empower some with unprecedented possibilities, they dispossess others, causing growing gaps in power and wealth that lead in turn to fear, resentment and violence. In this one world a race is on between the two consequences of change. As Jo Confino writes from Davos, "rapid advances in technology are pulling the world in opposite directions." Advertisement The fearful and fearsome reaction against growing inequality, social dislocation and loss of identity in the midst of vast wealth creation, unprecedented mobility and ubiquitous connectivity is a mutiny, really, against globalization. It could spell the demise of the worldwide march in one direction we've seen in recent decades. Indian novelist Rana Dasgupta links economic exclusion to the resurgence of radicalism: "Many people across the world are falling out of our global economic system, which does not need them. The spread of radical ideologies ... is also about this simple fact." Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of the cloud computing company, Salesforce, makes the case for businesses to engage as platforms for positive change. He cites WEF's Klaus Schwab: "Unless public- and private-sector leaders assure citizens that they are executing credible strategies to improve people's' lives, social unrest, mass migration, and violent extremism could intensify, thus creating risks for countries at all stages of development." Artificial intelligence researcher Dileep George embraces the future wholeheartedly: "Technology has the power to transform society. The most significant human innovations have rewritten our capacity to help and heal ... Superintelligent AGI [artificial general intelligence] has the capacity to solve many of the most significant problems facing humanity today, like addressing climate change or curing diseases ... more than any other invention that has come before it, AI has the capacity to help humanity thrive." Futurist Vivek Wadhwa lists the six technologies that will define 2016, including the Internet of Things. Steven Hill takes on the notion of the sharing "Uber economy" as a hope for the future. Instead, he argues, it is a race to the bottom where workers are exploited without benefits or protection while the networking companies profit. Writing from Singapore, Parag Khanna sees some hope in the resilience of the emerging economies in a world of "many wheels, different speeds." "From China to Singapore to Dubai," he argues, "it is clear that upgrading infrastructure and improving capacity -- supply leading demand -- is a crucial strategy in rapidly urbanizing societies. If everyone plays their cards right, we can finally achieve the synchronized global growth hoped for since the financial crisis." Advertisement Jobs, wealth and inequality have become a central issue in American politics as well as in global debate. Former U.S. labor secretary Robert Reich scores his Democratic Party colleagues for "abandoning" the white working class. "Democrats have occupied the White House for 16 of the last 24 years," he writes, "and in that time scored some important victories for working families. ... But they've done nothing to change the vicious cycle of wealth and power that has rigged the economy for the benefit of those at the top." U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a different take, praising President Obama for leading the nation to recovery after the financial crash, creating 14 million jobs and providing "affordable health care within reach for everyone." According to a new survey reported by HuffPost pollster Ariel Edwards-Levy, Republicans and Democrats are so divided it seems they have been living in different countries for the last eight years. The hyper-polarization of Venezuela ought to be a warning to the U.S., says Rafael Osio Cabrices, of letting divisive politics get out of hand. Nicolas Berggruen writes that jobs of the future must be the next president's top priority. To cope with the disruption and inequality created by new technologies, he writes, "the new president will have to consider how a 21st century safety net and trampoline of opportunity meets this challenge." He also argues it would be an "historic blunder" to make China an enemy and end up in a new Cold War with Russia. "The worst geopolitical development would be for the world to break up once again into rigid bloc systems fortified by a new nuclear arms race," he counsels. Yet, as former U.S. defense secretary William J. Perry sees it, that is exactly what is happening. "I believe we are now on the verge of a new nuclear arms race, and we are drifting back to a Cold War mentality ... the risk of nuclear catastrophe today is greater than during the Cold War," he darkly warns. Historian Lawrence Wittner says the U.S. must share the blame for this situation. "A fight now underway over newly-designed U.S. nuclear weapons" he writes, " highlights how far the Obama administration has strayed from its commitment to build a nuclear-free world." The one bright spot on the horizon is the recently concluded deal with Iran to shut down the majority of its nuclear weaponization program in exchange for the removal of sanctions, which were lifted this week by both the U.S. and the United Nations. In an exclusive article, Reza Marashi writes about the release of his friend, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, from an Iranian jail. "This exchange," says Marashi, "is a direct result of the nuclear deal. ... It simply could not have happened without dialogue between the U.S. and Iran." Trita Parsi writes that the challenge now is to ensure that the channels of communication between the U.S. and Iran are not limited to the personal rapport that has developed but will survive into succeeding administrations. Former Iranian National Security Council member Seyed Hossein Mousavian cautions against naive hopes of a general improvement in U.S.-Iran relations. "The wall of mistrust between Washington and Tehran remains thick," he writes. Iranian journalist Negar Mortazavi notes that the lifting of sanctions on Iran has given President Rouhani a big boost to pursue the rest of his reformist agenda. Inside Iran, the views on this advancement are mixed. WorldPost Managing Editor Farah Mohamed follows up with Iranians The WorldPost surveyed in August to see how -- and if -- recent developments have changed their minds now that the deal is a reality. Writing from Jerusalem, historian Stefan Ihrig posits that the renewed violence in the Turkish southeast against the Kurds owes a lot to "an undigested history of violence against all sorts of ethnic and otherwise defined enemies of the Turkish state," including Armenians. It is incumbent upon those historical victims, he writes, not to abandon the Kurds today. Willa Frej reports from Dunkirk on the "horrific squalor" of a refugee camp near the banks of the English Channel. William Lacy Swing of the International Organization for Migration and Demetrios Papademetriou argue that the fears over rising crime and instability that accompany the refugee influx are legitimate and must be overcome sooner rather than later if Europe is going to resolve the present crisis. In an interview from Davos, Fareed Zakaria says, "I worry that the European experiment will not survive if every country privileges national identity over European identity." World Reporter Nick Robins-Early reports on a bold new graphic novel about hope amid ISIS terror in Iraq. World Reporter Charlotte Alfred and World Social Media Editor Rowaida Abdelaziz examine the cruel toll of Yemen's war. Danae Leivada reports on Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' round of meetings in Davos with the likes of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble and IMF chief Christine Largarde in the ongoing effort to restructure Greek debt. In a conversation with Arianna Huffington, Tsipras said: "Everything points to Greece being able to bounce back. As long as the mistakes of the past are not repeated." WorldPost China Correspondent Matt Sheehan reports from Beijing that a new round of sensational televised "confessions" -- made outside of China's own legal processes and often believed to be coerced -- are seen by human rights activists as a way to intimidate those viewed as troublemakers and part of a wide-ranging crackdown on civil society under Chinese President Xi Jinping. In China-Africa relations, Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden look at how the recent violence in the African continent is testing China's own foreign policy. This week's Forgotten Fact also takes us to Africa, to Ethiopia, which is experiencing a brutal crackdown on protests. Dawn Field hails U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's call for a "cancer moonshot" aimed at eliminating "the Emperor of all Maladies" through new innovations in big data and gene editing. Astronomer Seth Shostak muses that the discovery of Planet 9 suggests that if our solar system is like all others, there may also be alternative life forms out there. Our Singularity series this week looks at how emotional intelligence is the key to smarter gadgets. Finally, Fusion reports that the use of coal as a key fuel has stalled due to the slowdown of the Chinese economy, as well as regulatory advances to curb climate change. Advertisement WHO WE ARE EDITORS: Nathan Gardels, Senior Advisor to the Berggruen Institute on Governance and the long-time editor of NPQ and the Global Viewpoint Network of the Los Angeles Times Syndicate/Tribune Media, is the Editor-in-Chief of The WorldPost. Farah Mohamed is the Managing Editor of The WorldPost. Kathleen Miles is the Senior Editor of The WorldPost. Alex Gardels and Peter Mellgard are the Associate Editors of The WorldPost. Katie Nelson is the National Editor at the Huffington Post, overseeing The WorldPost and HuffPost's editorial coverage. Eline Gordts is HuffPost's Senior World Editor. Charlotte Alfred and Nick Robins-Early are World Reporters. Rowaida Abdelaziz is Social Media Editor. CORRESPONDENTS: Sophia Jones in Istanbul; Matt Sheehan in Beijing. EDITORIAL BOARD: Nicolas Berggruen, Nathan Gardels, Arianna Huffington, Eric Schmidt (Google Inc.), Pierre Omidyar (First Look Media) Juan Luis Cebrian (El Pais/PRISA), Walter Isaacson (Aspen Institute/TIME-CNN), John Elkann (Corriere della Sera, La Stampa), Wadah Khanfar (Al Jazeera), Dileep Padgaonkar (Times of India) and Yoichi Funabashi (Asahi Shimbun). VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: Dawn Nakagawa. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Moises Naim (former editor of Foreign Policy), Nayan Chanda (Yale/Global; Far Eastern Economic Review) and Katherine Keating (One-On-One). Sergio Munoz Bata and Parag Khanna are Contributing Editors-At-Large. The Asia Society and its ChinaFile, edited by Orville Schell, is our primary partner on Asia coverage. Eric X. Li and the Chunqiu Institute/Fudan University in Shanghai and Guancha.cn also provide first person voices from China. We also draw on the content of China Digital Times. Seung-yoon Lee is The WorldPost link in South Korea. Jared Cohen of Google Ideas provides regular commentary from young thinkers, leaders and activists around the globe. Bruce Mau provides regular columns from MassiveChangeNetwork.com on the "whole mind" way of thinking. Patrick Soon-Shiong is Contributing Editor for Health and Medicine. ADVISORY COUNCIL: Members of the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council and Council for the Future of Europe serve as the Advisory Council -- as well as regular contributors -- to the site. These include, Jacques Attali, Shaukat Aziz, Gordon Brown, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Luis Cebrian, Jack Dorsey, Mohamed El-Erian, Francis Fukuyama, Felipe Gonzalez, John Gray, Reid Hoffman, Fred Hu, Mo Ibrahim, Alexei Kudrin, Pascal Lamy, Kishore Mahbubani, Alain Minc, Dambisa Moyo, Laura Tyson, Elon Musk, Pierre Omidyar, Raghuram Rajan, Nouriel Roubini, Nicolas Sarkozy, Eric Schmidt, Gerhard Schroeder, Peter Schwartz, Amartya Sen, Jeff Skoll, Michael Spence, Joe Stiglitz, Larry Summers, Wu Jianmin, George Yeo, Fareed Zakaria, Ernesto Zedillo, Ahmed Zewail, and Zheng Bijian. From the Europe group, these include: Marek Belka, Tony Blair, Jacques Delors, Niall Ferguson, Anthony Giddens, Otmar Issing, Mario Monti, Robert Mundell, Peter Sutherland and Guy Verhofstadt. MISSION STATEMENT The WorldPost is a global media bridge that seeks to connect the world and connect the dots. Gathering together top editors and first person contributors from all corners of the planet, we aspire to be the one publication where the whole world meets. Presidential candidates speak often on issues of national security, terrorism and immigration. But there's one subject many of the candidates seem to avoid: women's rights. During the last six Republican primary debates, only six questions have been asked related to women, and only one directly about women's rights, according to transcripts of the debates. Advertisement The questions, of course, are controlled by the moderators, but the questions are about topics at the forefront of campaigns. Which does not include questions about the pay gap, Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and a University of Oklahoma alumus, said. "Unfortunately, pay equity issues don't rise to the forefront of most political campaigns," Bystrom said. "So they're asking about things like the economy, terrorism (and) immigration." These are issues women care about as well, but the issues directly related to women are not the first thing Republicans talk about because these issues don't resonate enough with Republican voters, Bystrom said. "They do care about that, and I care deeply about that, but in a typical election, the issues are much broader... if you look at the big picture, what Americans really care about, are not these issues," Bystrom said. "I wish they cared more." Advertisement Some think that the Republican candidates refraining from talking about women's rights issues might actually be a good thing. "If they're gonna talk about it, they don't usually have a positive view of women's rights or feminism in general so it's usually very negative," said Collin Powell, an interior design and German sophomore and co-president of the Society for the Advancement of Gender Equity at Iowa State. Some Republican presidential candidates do not have the greatest track record with women. Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, is known for making damaging remarks towards women. 26,000 unreported sexual assults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2013 Trump says he loves women, that he has employed several women in his many companies, according to Huffington Post. In the second presidential debate he said he wanted to "take care of women," according to Time's transcript of the debate. Advertisement "To me it's condescending to say 'I love women'," Bystrom said. "I do think he's worked to promote some women in his business enterprises, but I don't think he has as strong of a record as other candidates on the issues." There are a lot of things wrong with Trump's views on women's rights, mostly from a lack of education, said Megan Frisvold, a global resource systems and environmental studies sophomore and co-president of the Society for the Advancement of Gender Equity at Iowa State. "He doesn't really understand women's rights or women's issues, he's just not really educated on it (and) doesn't really seem to give a time of day about it, Frisvold said." Another candidate, Jeb Bush, has fought funding women's health, saying "I'm not sure we need half a billion for women's health issues," according to the New York Times. Bush touts defunding Planned Parenthood when he was governor of Florida, but according to Mic, that decision didn't go so well for Florida women. Advertisement The last question asked at a debate, which related to women was directed toward Ted Cruz. He was asked about the pay gap and what he would do to fix it. Cruz said he would fix the economy, and then went on to talk about what Obama had done for women in his administration and offered no elaboration on how fixing the economy would fix the pay gap, according to Time's transcript of the third debate. "If you don't have a plan to fix it, why even talk about it," Bystrom. Here in lies the problem: the Republican candidates don't have a plan of how to help women's rights issues, so they can't talk about it, Bystrom said. "I think it shows a lack of commitment," Frisvold said. "You wanna take care of women, you want to fix women's rights, but you're not committing any time in your primary speeches." No Republican is committing time, except Carly Fiorina. "I can tell you that it is only possible in this country, that (a) woman can start like I did....and end up in charge of a company and running for president," Fiorina said to the crowd at the 10th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Advertisement Fiorina has spoken at many events about women's rights and women's equality to men under God. There are many things that we can and must do so that all women can truly choose their own paths. #empoweredwomen #ceidinner Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) June 12, 2015 Fiorina believes firmly in women and men being paid the same for the same job. However, she emphasizes that men and women should be paid for doing the same quality of job as well. Lets move to a pay-for-performance meritocracy and make promoting high-achieving men and women a top priority. #empoweredwomen #ceidinner Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) June 12, 2015 She blames the unequal pay in this country on the labor unions and the government, according to her website. Where Fiorina is coming from is different from the normal point of view, Powell said. "For the traditional campus feminist...she's a woman and she's running for president, she's talking about women's rights, but she's not pro Planned Parenthood, she's still kind of against major issues that the traditional feminist left would be for," Frisvold said. Advertisement Fiorina has taken a Republican point of view on issues relating to women and this view is not supportive, Bystrom said "It's definitely a step in the right direction, I'm glad she's running for president, it's good to have a woman in the GOP running for president, because that's a major thing," Frisvold said. "But the way she is approaching it, you're gonna lose some of your key voters." Fiorina believes laws for women's rights create a dependency for women on the federal government. She believes that all issues are women's issues and more laws only restrict women's freedoms. Lastly, we must tackle the webs of dependence that are trapping women today. #empoweredwomen #ceidinner Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) June 12, 2015 "Public opinion surveys show for a long time, that one thing men and women differ on, in a general broad sense, women are more supportive of government support, men are not," Bystrom said. "That is rooted in the fact that women still make less than men even in the same position." Advertisement Women are more likely to believe that the government can be friends and supportive of them in their lives, Bystrom said. "That is one thing men don't agree on," Bystrom said. "So, Fiorina has taken a Republican view of this, but the overall view is that women feel that the government have a role in their lives." Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats in general take a different approach than Republicans. We need a budget that will ensure pay equity for women workers. It is unacceptable that women earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 8, 2015 Sanders and Clinton are both pro-choice, neither think the government should have any control over women's bodies, according to both candidates' websites. Clinton emphasizes that she would never do it, and the government should make abortion rare by promoting adoption. Advertisement They both are passionate about closing the pay gap, and pointedly emphasize women of color who make even less than white women. Women still make less than men, with women of color facing an even bigger gap. This isn't just holding women backit's holding America back. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 15, 2015 They both support government-mandated paid family leave and Sanders cites the embarrassment America faces as being the only major power that doesn't have it, according to Sanders' website. The democrats talk about these issues more, because studies show that their voters actually want to hear it, Bystrom said. "There's actually been research, that shows in the 2012 race, president Obama talked about (these issues) and that actually resonated, according to research, with women voters," Bystrom said. "The Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, tried to characterize women's issues as the economy...that was a good strategy because that was women's top issue, but on the other hand the women that did vote on 'women's issues' were more persuaded by president Obama." Advertisement On the forefront of these issues are millennials, now larger than any other group, but they have a hard time getting respect from the other generations, Frisvold said. "I think just generally on issues, millennials are more educated than Baby Boomers and Gen. X-ers give us credit for," Frisvold said. "We care about what's happening to us as it is, we're having hard times finding jobs, we have way more college debt than anybody in history." "I think on the millennial side, there needs to be a reform in the minds of people towards us." "What if our 2016 election ends up being between a socialist and a borderline fascist -- ideas that died in 1989 and 1945 respectively?," New York Times pundit Tom Friedman asks in his latest column. Friedman apparently doesn't understand that the idea that "died in 1989" was Communism. Senator Bernie Sanders, the "socialist" he's referring to, isn't a Communist. Is it really possible that Friedman doesn't understand the difference between authoritarian Communism and democratic socialism, which is how Sanders refers to himself? Or is he simply using that old tactic called "red-baiting" to try to make Sanders look like an extremist so that Hillary Clinton comes off as a moderate liberal? Advertisement Either way, Friedman should be ashamed of himself. During the Cold War, many Americans confused democratic socialism with communism. In fact, democratic socialists -- like labor leader Walter Reuther and civil rights leader Martin Luther King -- strongly opposed the totalitarian governments of the Soviet Union, China and their satellites. That's because democratic socialism is about democracy -- giving ordinary people a greater voice in both politics and the workplace. Although Sanders says that America needs a "grassroots political revolution," he is actually a reformer, not a revolutionary. He is hardly what Friedman described him as -- "far left." His version of democratic socialism is akin to what most people around the world call "social democracy," which seeks to make capitalism more humane. These are ideas that are widely popular in Canada, Australia, and much of Europe. They are also ideas that, according to public opinion polls, most Americans agree with, if you remove the political labels and simply describe how they actually work for everyday people. In holding these views, Sanders follows in the footsteps of many prominent, influential Americans whose views and activism changed the country for the better. Sanders is part of a proud tradition that includes such important figures as Jane Addams, Eugene Debs, Florence Kelley, Francis Bellamy (the socialist Baptist minister who wrote "The Pledge of Allegiance"), Katherine Lee Bates (the socialist poet who wrote "America the Beautiful), Emma Lazarus (another socialist poet who wrote "Colossus," inscribed on the Statue of Liberty), John Dewey, Upton Sinclair, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Reuther, and King. Many ideas that we take for granted today -- Social Security, the minimum wage, women's suffrage, child labor laws, consumer protection laws, the progressive income tax, workers' right to form unions, public works programs to create jobs for the unemployed, and Medicare -- were first espoused by American socialists. So it should come as no surprise that Sanders says that the U.S. could learn from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway -- countries with greater equality, a higher standard of living for working families, better schools, free universities, less poverty, a cleaner environment, higher voter turnout, stronger unions, universal health insurance, mandated paid family leave and paid vacations, and a much wider safety net. Advertisement Sounds anti-business? Forbes magazine ranked Denmark as the #1 country for business. The United States ranked #18. Perhaps the New York Times should buy Friedman a plane ticket to Copenhagen, Stockholm, or Oslo so he can ask the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians if they think they're living in societies based on an idea that died in 1989. European social democracies put greater emphasis on government enterprise, but even most Americans favor government-run police departments, fire departments, national parks, municipally-owned utilities, local subway systems and public state universities. Socialists and social democrats believe in private enterprise but think it should be subject to rules that guarantee businesses act responsibly. Banks shouldn't engage in reckless predatory lending. Energy corporations shouldn't endanger and planet and public health by emitting too much pollution. Companies should be required to guarantee that consumer products (like cars and toys) are safe and that companies pay decent wages and provide safe workplaces. Sanders' democratic socialism means reducing the political influence of the super rich and big corporations, increasing taxes of the wealthy to help pay for expanded public services like child care, public transit, and higher education, reducing barriers to voting, and strengthening regulations of business to require them to be more socially responsible in terms of their employees, consumers and the environment. That means a higher minimum wage, paid sick days and paid vacations, and safer workplaces. Advertisement These ideas are common sense, not Communist. Most Americans embrace them. For example, 74% of Americans think corporations have too much influence; 73% favor tougher regulation of Wall Street; 60% believe that "our economic system unfairly favors the wealthy;" 85% want an overhaul of our campaign finance system to reduce the influence of money in politics; 58% support breaking up big banks; 79% think the wealthy don't pay their fair share of taxes; 85% favor paid family leave; 80% of Democrats and half the public support single-payer Medicare for all; 75% of Americans (including 53% of Republicans) support an increase in the federal minimum wage to $12.50, while 63% favor a $15 minimum wage; well over 70% support workers' rights to unionize; and 92% want a society with far less income disparity. Few Americans consider themselves socialists, but Sanders' campaign -- and the shifting realities of American society -- have helped take the sting out of the word. Growing concerns about the political influence of the super-rich, the nation's widening economic divide, the predatory practices of Wall Street banks, and stagnating wages have made more and more Americans willing to consider the idea seriously. A Pew survey found that nearly half of young voters under the age of 29, regardless of their political party affiliation, viewed socialism positively. Since Sanders began running for president and openly identified himself as a democratic socialist, the idea has gotten more traction. A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted November, discovered that 56 percent of Democratic primary voters nationally said they felt positive about socialism as a governing philosophy, compared to 29 percent who had a negative view. A new poll found that 43 percent of likely voters in the February 1 Democratic Iowa caucuses would use the word "socialist" to describe themselves. On most matters -- both broad principles and specific policy prescriptions -- Sanders is in sync with the vast majority of Americans. There's a great deal of pent-up demand for a candidate who articulates Americans' frustrations with the status quo. Like Friedman, Sanders is asking the question "what if?" But Sanders' is asking "what if we had a society and a economy that worked for the 99 percent, not the 1 percent? That's an idea that is alive and well in 2016. Advertisement The lifting of international sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran passed as if it were a non-event. The UN Security Council bestowed immediate legitimacy on the move in accordance with the nuclear deal it had stamped with its seal of compliance. Removing the freeze on Iranian assets means Tehran will obtain around $150 billion automatically, and up to $50 billion in promised investments over the next five years. According to experts, this would create growth of up to 5 percent a year, rescuing the Islamic Republic from an economic crisis and enabling it to pursue internal and external projects even amid falling oil prices. Russia's direct military intervention in Syria has relieved Iran's budget, bearing in mind that most of Tehran's spending on regional expansion in recent years came from the Iraqi treasury under former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Now, after international sanctions on Tehran were lifted, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) will be able to resume their regional plans with a comfortable financial margin, and also fight the battle with the moderate camp in Iran with equal comfort. The IRGC is the biggest winner, while the moderate camp led by President Rohani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in partnership with former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani will be comfortable in next month's elections thanks to the detente. The administration of Barack Obama is wagering on Iranian economic prosperity to empower the moderate camp, which rarely defies the mullah-led establishment in Tehran, and has hopes it would slow down Iran's plans for regional dominance led by the IRGC hardliner camp. Advertisement However, these wagers will not materialize, at least not in the near future. Thus, they will not impact Iranian-Russian policy in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad. Nor will they lead to the dismantlement of Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, or the wooing of Sunni support that is crucial for defeating ISIS and similar groups in both countries. Hence, there is a need for thinking practically regarding the impact of lifting the sanctions on regional conflicts and the war against ISIS. If Washington has chosen not to undertake any action that could undermine the new relationship with Tehran, then the price to pay is much higher than it will imagine, and it might realize this only when it is too late. The new page in US-Iranian relations has become a reality that requires constructive scrutiny so that this relationship would be beneficial for both sides and the world. Caving in and complacency would otherwise be an investment in the forces of Sunni and Shiite extremism. Instead, there is now an opportunity for balance in Saudi-Iranian relations and regional balances. Saudi-Iranian relations are not currently in a phase of accord and reconciliation. Rather, escalation reigns supreme in all regional conflicts where both countries are involved. The new common denominator between the two countries is being affected by the drop in oil prices to below $30 per barrel. Some believe Riyadh is against cutting production for reasons of national interests, and that there is no need to cut production to benefit Russia and Iran. Others believe one of the key reasons Riyadh insists on maintaining the same level of production is actually to undermine Iran and Russia economically, to prevent them from having a free hand in Syria. However, oil policies are not just about Saudi-Iranian relations or the new rivalry in the oil world with the shale revolution in the United States. There are other considerations in the market, including the slowdown in China and the spending by oil-producing countries on direct and proxy conflicts. Advertisement Yet some oil experts believe that the collapse in oil prices will push traditional foes to set their differences aside and rescue their economies. These experts say there is no escape from accord because this is what interests require. The margin of accord will not stop at oil prices, but will probably include outstanding political disputes in the region. This logic may not apply to the IRGC in Iran however, because its thinking is constrained by projects for regional dominance and the exportation of the Islamic revolution. The IRGC believes that given that it was able to double down at the time of isolation and sanctions, it could do much more after the sanctions have been lifted and money is flowing again. The IRGC could come down hard on moderate forces that want to focus on economic growth and prosperity rather than military intervention, the creation of militias, and imposing costly dominance. Accordingly, the conflict in Iran between the moderates and the hardliners is not marginal, particularly on the eve of the elections scheduled for February 26. Accordingly, as well, it would be crucial to slow down the unfreezing of Iranian assets and investment projects, given what's at stake. Instead, decision-makers such as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov must take advantage of the Saudi and Iranian need for accord to ease their disputes practically and realistically, to the benefit of both Russia and the US, who are also oil producers. But if the US and Russia have decided low oil prices are in their interest in the coming few years, things would be completely different, and there would be no need for sponsoring Saudi-Iranian accord. In that case, the Middle Eastern oil-producing nations must think about their options, whether in terms of de-escalating proxy conflicts, or in terms of thinking to alternatives to their reliance on oil. Advertisement Some private sector economists and experts in investment and technology have an interesting view: they believe lower oil prices can accelerate necessary reforms that would ensure oil is no longer the only factor in Middle East politics and policies, especially in the Gulf. "While other sectors struggled and countries had to manage political turmoil, lower oil prices and budget deficits, the region's start-up scene was moving in the opposite direction," Fadi Ghandour, co-founder and vice chairman of global logistics and transportation company, Aramex, told KNOWLEDGE@WHARTON magazine issued by Pennsylvania University. "My view of the lower prices of oil means regional GCC economies are taking economic reform more seriously and facing the economic challenges in a sober and realistic manner," he added. Sobriety and realism are essential in assessing the repercussions of the Iranian nuclear deal and the impact of the lifting of sanctions on Iran, internally as well as with respect to the ambitions of regional expansion adopted by the IRGC-led hardliner camp, if not the Iranian government itself under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Limiting oneself to wailing and astonishment, no matter how justified, will be pointless: How Obama marketed his audacious deal with the mullahs in Tehran while Iran pressed ahead with its regional meddling, imposing its view on Iraq and creating militias, inciting in Yemen, and intervening in Syria alongside Bashar al-Assad in his civil war. There is no alternative to adopting realistic strategies either to coexist with the new reality or to upend it but patiently and prudently. Advertisement Relying on a new president to replace Obama as the magic recipe for undoing the problem is delusional and is wishful thinking. True, the Republican candidates are chaptalizing Obama for the nuclear deal as a threat to US interests and national security, as they claim. However, they will not rush to overturn the deal or the new rapprochement with Iran, as it has become a reality. What they could do is pressure Tehran to curb its expansionist policies, but this will not happen at least for a year and things could change completely by then. Therefore, what is needed is not just de-escalation in conflicts like Syria and Yemen, but also de-escalate tensions in the media, politics, and diplomacy between Saudi and Iran. It is unacceptable to burn embassies and it is not acceptable for Iran's foreign minister to use a tone like the one he resorted to in The New York Times, whatever his electrical calculus may be. It is not useful to reveal now Iran's involvement in the Khobar bombing when Saudi Arabia had deliberately covered up Iran's role in the attack that claimed American lives, fearing retribution. It is too late for this. What all parties should focus on is how to stop the war in Syria and Yemen, and stop the descent to chaos in Libya, Iraq, and Lebanon. ISIS is an enemy of Saudi Arabia just as it is an enemy of Iran. Iranian elections may generate a momentum of moderation, but this moderation requires engagement by the Iranian public to turn it into measures, but also a clear position by neighboring Arab countries that they oppose Iranian extremism and meddling in Arab countries, and that what they want is an end to sectarian escalation and economic attrition through warfare or oil prices. Let there be a political discourse that hits a chord with people's consciences and desire for prosperity. The pictures of the men, women, and children of Madaya is a living snapshot of war crimes committed by the countries backing the regime in Damascus, which starves its people as a weapon of war, and this must awaken the consciences of the public opinion in Iran. The Iranian public wans prosperity after living in austerity imposed by sanctions and Iran's expansionist policies from Syria to Yemen and Iraq. Perhaps the cost of proxy wars and the collapse in oil prices will drain the two regional heavyweights, Saudi and Iran, forcing them to pursue balanced and conciliatory relations instead of confrontation. Perhaps this would bring good tidings for the Middle East and its people who aspire to have a normal life, instead of an endless cycle of violence and attrition. Translated by Karim Traboulsi Businessman looking at wind turbines in remote area In November 2015, the Breakthrough Energy Coalition (BEC), a team of private investors, announced a multi-billion dollar fund to "get energy technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace." The scope of the initiative, including the marketplace, is relevant: development and demonstration of new-energy technologies are no guarantee for successful commercial deployment. Three key reasons contribute to the challenge of commercializing new-energy technologies: Time-to-bankability: Finalizing all stages of bankability reviews requires months and years as opposed to weeks and days in other areas of high technology. At-scale data collection, often for more than 12 months, is a key element to achieve product certification and meet requirements of independent engineering reviews. These certifications and reviews are major inputs to achieve bankability, a critical commercialization milestone for most energy technologies. Finalizing all stages of technology, supply chain, performance and reliability reviews can take years. Advertisement Capital intensity: Simulation, testing, and developing at-scale demonstration projects is already capital intensive. But in order to achieve up to 20-year lifetime requirements for large-scale energy technology deployments, many more requirements have to be met. For example, accelerated life-time testing of components and systems are adding to the commercial-development cost. Moreover, capex layout for building tools, fixtures, and product can be substantial. Ecosystem development: Investors and entrepreneurs in energy technology need to develop an ecosystem from day one, consisting of early-adopter customers, partners from the financial industries for financing and from the insurance industries for risk reduction, partners in product development and supply chain, and partners in independent engineering and certification. Building trust over the course of development and demonstration periods is critical to have strong partners at the inflection point of commercialization. Against these challenges, 2015 was a landmark year with five key trends that have the potential to accelerate the commercialization of energy technology for the future: Clean energy overtakes fossil fuels The electricity system has been shifting to clean and this trend is here to stay. According to a 2015 analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the world is now adding more capacity for renewable power each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. The shift occurred in 2013, when the world added 143 gigawatts of renewable-electricity capacity, compared with 141 gigawatts in new plants that burn fossil fuels. Advertisement This trend is even more surprising when considering the 2000 IEA world energy outlook at the beginning of the millennium that forecasted the share of renewables would climb to only 3% by 2020 and from then 2%. The 2015 IEA world energy outlook already revised the share of renewable energy in global power generation to more than 26% by 2020 from 22% in 2013 -- a remarkable shift in a very limited period of time. New sources of capital and financial products Private investors from sovereign-wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, to corporate VCs have increased their engagement in energy technology, providing patient capital to reap the benefits of taking a longer-term view. These new sources of capital are thought to turn the "valley of death" for energy entrepreneurs into a "valley of opportunity," as recently analyzed in a Stanford research paper. Additionally, new government initiatives such as the U.S. Treasury permitting "mission-related" investments incentivize charitable foundations to invest in clean energy technologies. Recent product innovations in the insurance and re-insurance industries also support managing risk in energy-technology ventures more effectively and efficiently. Risk-transfer solutions to the insurance markets improve capital and revenue protection as well as forecasting of cash flows. Examples for energy technology insurance products include technical performance guarantees, warranty insurance or liquidated damage solutions. Alternative risk-transfer structures have become much more common through the rise and experience gained with PV solar and can significantly increase the success of project-finance structures. The rise of distributed generation The U.N. Sustainable Development Goal number 7 has set a universal access target for electricity access. Specifically in developing nations, distributed generation (DG) has increased access to electricity in meaningful ways. The deployment of solar power solutions, often combined with development tools such as microfinance and female entrepreneurship, are being adopted rapidly. But even in 2015, an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide are still without access to electricity. Policy makers and regulators play a very important role to encourage new DG energy technology deployment and to innovate in DG energy. Expectations for this SDG are high, considering the impact decentralization has had on telecoms. In 2002, mobile phones for the first time overtook fixed lines. The phenomenon was as prominent in developing nations as in mature economies. Rapid advancement and cost decline in mobile technologies as well as targeted policy and regulation contributed to its rise and impact on development. For electricity access, the future may be unevenly distributed today. But with DG technologies evolving and smart policy and regulation, the best of the energy paradigm shift from centralization to decentralization is yet to come. Advertisement Commercial and industrial customers take the lead 2015 was a record-breaking year for corporate purchasing of large-scale wind and solar energy. Commercial and industrial customers contracted capacity of ~3GW, far exceeding the 2014 record of 1.2 GW. Google alone has purchased 2 GW of clean energy to date. Driven by ambitious sustainability agendas, Fortune 500 players from technology, retail, and increasingly manufacturing industries are sourcing energy directly from utility scale projects. Sixty percent of Fortune 100 and more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies already have clean energy or climate targets. At the end of 2015, 53 Fortune 500 companies have pledged to go 100% renewable through the RE100 initiative that was launched only in September 2014. In order to also accelerate the development and commercialization of new energy technology, these private companies can play an important role by supporting R&D and pilot projects as part of their sustainability commitments. Government-funded cross-technology development At COP21 in Paris, 20 governments pledged to double their energy R&D in the Mission Innovation initiative. Basic and applied research to support system-level innovation matters in energy technology where new entrants either have to; comply with requirements of existing infrastructure such as grid systems; adapt existing system architecture with the help of other players, e.g., smart grid innovators; or develop a new system as in the case of, for example, microgrids. In either scenario, energy generation, storage, distribution and demand has to be considered holistically across hardware, software and service players. Government funded R&D organizations can play an important role for system-level integration and much more can be done. For example, existing research agendas may merit a fresh look. Noam Chomsky critically questioned MIT's research agenda in May 2015 as still being oriented toward Cold War defense priorities even in our times where a number of different national-security priorities could be considered, including energy security. The observation is supported by a BEC analysis: the ratio of U.S. federal government R&D to total spending in energy is 0.4%. In defense, the ratio is more than 22 times higher. Building on the achievements of 2015, we have the potential of impacting and accelerating the future development of energy. Bringing new energy technologies into the marketplace is challenging. But the five trends described above capture a snapshot of the positive development to shift the mindset in the energy industries from long-cycle, incremental improvements to rapid, breakthrough commercialization. With global multi-stakeholder agreements such as the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the COP21 Paris agreement, public-private cooperation has a reinforced mandate. Now is the time for action. We should seize the moment and momentum. Advertisement Valerie Feldmann is participating in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos. Hindustan Times via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - JANUARY 17: A woman (C) who threw ink on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (Not in Picture) during the thanksgiving event of odd-even scheme at Chhatrasal Stadium on January 17, 2016 in New Delhi, India. The woman identified as Bhavna, claimed to be a member of Aam Aadmi Sena, accused Kejriwal of doing CNG scam. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/Hindiustan Times via Getty Images) NEW DELHI -- A Delhi court yesterday granted bail to a woman, accused of throwing ink at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a rally. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal enlarged 26-year-old Bhawna Arora on bail on furnishing of a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety of like amount. Advertisement "Considering the facts that the applicant has remained in jail since 18 January, it appears to me that no useful purpose shall be served by keeping the applicant behind bars... Considering the totality of circumstances, the applicant is admitted to bail," the judge said. During the arguments on bail, advocate Pradeep Rana, appearing for Arora, said that his client has accepted it was not right to throw ink on the head of state. "We have already got a lesson, more than she deserved in the matter and no purpose would be served by keeping her in jail," Rana said. Advertisement The probe agency, however, opposed the bail plea saying the accused has committed an offence against the head of state and the matter was still under investigation and the conspiracy angle was being probed. It had termed the attack on the Chief Minister as an "attack on the democracy". Arora, who was in judicial custody, had allegedly thrown ink at Kejriwal at a rally on 17 January after the completion of Delhi government's odd-even car rationing experiment. Arora had allegedly thrown ink on Kejriwal when he was addressing the 'thanksgiving' rally at Chhatrasal Stadium, prompting angry reaction from AAP government which termed the incident as a "BJP conspiracy". The woman, who had claimed to be a member of the Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Sena, a splinter group of Delhi's ruling AAP, was later whisked away by police and questioned at the Model Town police station. Arora had claimed she had "proof in the form of a CD" on the CNG scam. A resident of Rama Vihar in outer Delhi's Rohini sub-city, she was booked for alleged offences under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also see on HuffPost: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA via Getty Images Kashmiri demonstrators hold up a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) during a demonstration against Israeli military operations in Gaza, in downtown Srinagar on July 18, 2014. The death toll in Gaza hit 265 as Israel pressed a ground offensive on the 11th day of an assault aimed at stamping out rocket fire, medics said. AFP PHOTO/Tauseef MUSTAFA (Photo credit should read TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images) The National Investigation Agencys crackdown on terror suspects in the run-up to this year's Republic Day has revealed that a faction of the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) is rebranding itself in India as the Islamic State (IS). According to various reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday picked up around 20 IS 'sympathisers' in raids conducted across 12 locations in the country, days ahead of the French president Francois Hollande visit to India for Republic Day. Advertisement NIA sleuths told Economic Times that those arrested were radicalised online by 29-year-old Mohammad Shafi Armar alias Yousuf, a native of Bhatkal, Karnataka. In 2013, Yousuf had allegedly played a major role in recruiting three engineering students, Mohd Mahruf, Mohd Waqar Azhar and Shaquib Ansari from Rajasthan. Yousuf reportedly runs Ansar-ul-Tawhid (AuT) which was formed in 2012 by IM militants who fled from India in 2008. His elder brother Moulana Abdul Khader Sultan was killed last year at the Syria-Turkey border fighting for the IS. Yousuf used a codename Atta Bhatkal. Investigators have identified 18 youths so far who have been recruited by Yousuf using various online platforms. Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, a resident of Mumbra in Kalyan who was described as 'emir' or leader of the group, was among them. Help from CIA With a series of arrests made on Friday, the NIA seems to have been trying hard to avert a major security breach, but the credit for the success of this operation should go to the coordinated efforts of Indian and US intelligence agencies. Advertisement The NIA was able to zero in on terror modules after it received a tip off from the CIA which keeps a close watch on ISIS in West Asia, the Times of India reported, quoting highly placed sources. CIA monitors hundreds of IP addresses of computers and smartphones used by suspected ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq. There were several addresses which ISIS operatives were using to access Facebook, the report said. The agencies were able to intercept calls and Whatsapp and Facebook messages being exchanged by the arrested operatives. The suspects were kept under surveillance and the NIA grew suspicious as they changed their locations, indicating that they maybe conducting some sort of a recce. When other suspected terror modules - which were also under survellience - started acting suspiciously, NIA sleuths swung into action. NIA sped up the process by roping in police and anti-terror squads in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. A control room was set-up in the national capital to coordinate the field officers and policemen who were keeping a close watch on the terror modules. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also see on HuffPost: Twitter/JaipurLitFest If you build it, they will come. Never was a truer word said, as lakhs of people expanded and swelled across the venue. It certainly felt like all of Jaipur (and Delhi, and Bombay) was stuffed into the Diggi Palace. Thankfully, (for those already on the inside), those on the outside stopped issuing new passes after a while, leaving people standing in line for hours. Ironic isn't just an Alanis song On the inside, maybe because the festival has become so large it's diluted, or maybe because everyone's just really nice this year, controversy stayed far, far away. At the festival anyway. In Delhi's TV studios, people angrily debated what exactly Karan Johar meant when he said at his session on Day One: "The talk about freedom of expression is the biggest joke in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke." Advertisement A person asked to speak on TV called one of her friends at the lit fest. What's happening? asked the friend. Haven't you heard? Where have you been? In Jaipur, darling! Johar's BFF actor Kajol who was Day Three's big Bollywood draw dismissed it with a wave of her hand. These days people seem to have become oversensitive. (Meanwhile, the only question my auto rickshaw driver asked me was whether I'd seen Kajol at all, and was disappointed when I said I didn't.) And Barkha Dutt who was in conversation with Shobhaa De (whom Dutt called spunky, maybe a first for De) mentioned she was really disappointed in Shah Rukh Khan for backtracking on his intolerance comment. If I want to eat beef, I will, she said, and I'm sure she will, just not at this lit fest because all the food at the delegates lunch area is vegetarian. Advertisement Karan Singh Magic pulls out a card trick for Magic Circle member @stephenfry at #ZEEJLF. Such a great sport! pic.twitter.com/AsgczZ5Urv ZEE Jaipur Lit Fest (@JaipurLitFest) January 23, 2016 Pour some sugar on me Okay, moving on. I had mentioned how some Penguin authors got verified by Twitter in my piece yesterday. All was revealed at the Penguin Random House party at Rambagh Palace. Apparently Twitter is tying up with publishers to verify accounts and make it generally easier for authors and publishers to use the platform. Little cupcakes with Twitter and Penguin decals were distributed and everyone was informed that the hashtag for the evening was twolittlebirds. (The rest of the canapes definitely outshone the cupcakes thoughmaybe they should have distributed the prawns with a hashtag instead.) .@stephenfry on why he chooses writing over acting or presenting; at the #ZEEJLF Authors' Lounge. pic.twitter.com/ztpxQZtt4a ZEE Jaipur Lit Fest (@JaipurLitFest) January 23, 2016 Public service announcement: Moving through the throngs at the festival today certainly took some experience. Faint heart never won fair lady, or moved towards their destination in this case. Standing back allowed people to file by you, so the only way to do it was to push through, elbows out and put all fine feelings aside. Advertisement Public service announcement two: The between-panels announcer at the Google Mughal tent delivered a short lecture on lit fest etiquette at several times during the day. Don't reserve seats with your bag or jacket was her most frequent plea, but later, after Javed Akhtar's session when fans mobbed him as he left, she said, to the confused crowd who had turned up for Stephen Fry who was on next: This is not done, that was not right. All you want to do was a selfie? For what? To put on your Facebook? Oscar and Stephen I must end on a nice note though. Fry's lecture on Oscar Wilde hit all the right notes from humour, to love, to tragedy. At the end of it, the audience gave him a standing ovation, which he very bashfully thanked everyone for. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also on HuffPost: tonymitra/Flickr This picture shows Mr. Subhash Bose, an unknown name to outsiders, but a mercurial Freedom Fighter and Politician of India of the past, arriving at the 1939 meeting of All india Congress Committee, as its elected President, only to make a tumultuous announcement, that he was quitting the party, and froming his own. This was to protest non-cooperation from Mahatma Gandhi, who wanted to resist Bose's more vigorous and youthful methods of coaxing the British to leave India on the onset of the second world war, as against Gandhi's less vigorous and more gentle approach of passive resistance.I did not take this picture, of course, since I was not to be born for many years into the future. But this picture, and many others like it, belonged to a now departed lady, who was an admirer of Bose, and collected many of his photographs. I came to own this album after the lady passed away.I am putting this up as a result of an exchange with Ragib Hasan of Bangladesh and USA and his work on Bengal in wikipedia, where I found only small and somewhat sketchy pictures of Bose, and in fact most other Indian luminaries of the past.I hope someone will have this picture linked there.ThanksView large NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the digital copies of 100 files related to Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. "The National Archives of India (NAI) is placing 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji, the Prime Minister will release the digital copies of these files in public domain," an official release said yesterday. Advertisement The initiative will meet the "long-standing public demand" to access these files as well as facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, it said. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. Modi, in his meeting with members of Bose family on 14 October, last year, had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to Bose and make them accessible to public. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on 4 December, last year. Advertisement Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI, it added. Contact HuffPost India Also see on HuffPost: New Zealand Team Preview T20 World Cup 2022: 'Nice Guys' New Zealand May Once Again Surprise With Final Finish 'India Doesn't Take a Single Penny From Asian Cricket Council': Former Opener Claims Pakistan Will Definitely Take Part in ODI WC T20 World Cup: No Ashwin, Pant in Harbhajan Singh's India XI For Crucial Pakistan Clash 'Bumrah's Absence is a Big Loss For India But Facing Shami And Bhuvneshwar Will be a Challenge For Pakistan' - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." Imperial Valley News Center President Barack Obama on the 43rd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Washington, DC - President Barack Obama: "Today, we mark the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which affirmed a womans freedom to make her own choices about her body and her health. "The decision supports the broader principle that the government should not intrude on private decisions made between a woman and her doctor. As we commemorate this day, we also redouble our commitment to protecting these constitutional rights, including protecting a womans access to safe, affordable health care and her right to reproductive freedom from efforts to undermine or overturn them. In America, every single one of us deserves the rights, freedoms, and opportunities to fulfill our dreams." Imperial Valley News Center Mexican man sentenced to almost 6 years in federal prison for human smuggling rollover that resulted in 2 deaths Corpus Christi, Texas - An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Tuesday to nearly six years in federal prison following his conviction for transporting illegal aliens that resulted in the death of two vehicle occupants. This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The original charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) Border Patrol (BP). Amurabi Medina-Cruz, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey to 71 months in prison for alien smuggling. Since he is not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison. At the hearing, the court noted the need to impose a sentence that would deter not only the defendant, but others considering engaging in similar conduct, to include evading law enforcement. Medina-Cruz pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 19. On Dec. 3, 2014, BP agents learned of several individuals running from the brush and entering a green Tahoe on U.S. Highway 285. A witness told the agents the Tahoe was headed eastbound on Highway 285 towards Highway 77. A BP unit located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Median-Cruz pulled to the shoulder of the road, as though attempting to stop, but suddenly accelerated northbound onto Highway 77. A second BP unit appeared on the scene. Medina-Cruz noticed it and once again attempted to pull off onto the shoulder of the highway. Due to his excessive speed, the vehicle rolled over several times and ejected several occupants. A total of eight individuals were transported to a nearby hospital for observation and treatment, two of whom later died as a result of their injuries. Medina-Cruz will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Justin Martin, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case; and AUSA Elsa Salinas handled the sentencing. Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching for 92nd Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding those interested in attending this year's Agricultural Outlook Forum, "Transforming Agriculture," that early registration is available through January 29, 2016. The Agricultural Outlook Forum, now in its 92nd year, is the USDA's largest annual meeting, attracting 1,600 attendees. Along with the plenary panel discussion "Providing Leadership for Present and Future Generations in the Transformation of Agriculture," attendees can choose from 30 sessions with more than 80 speakers and a host of agriculture related exhibits. The Forum is a platform facilitating conversation on key issues and topics within the agricultural community, including producers, processors, policy makers, government officials and NGOs, both foreign and domestic. The two-day meeting will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, Feb. 2526, 2016. To view Forum information go to www.usda.gov/oce/forum. To register for the Forum go to USDA 2016 Agricultural Outlook Forum Registration U.S. Chamber Statement Reacting to D.C. Circuit Decision to Fast Track Legal Review of EPA Carbon Regulations for the Electricity Sector Washington, DC - Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chambers Institute for 21st Century Energy, issued the following statement today upon the D.C. Circuit Court decision to expedite legal review of the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) carbon regulations but to deny a stay of the regulations until that legal review is complete: Todays decision to expedite the legal review of the Obama administration's electricity regulations indicates that the court agrees that it is important to review the rules quickly. As the Chamber and its partners have argued all along, the rule is already hurting American businesses. The Court's decision to deny the stay motion is about procedure. We are among the nearly 150 parties that have united to ask the Court to overturn EPAs plan, including a majority of states and broad cross-section of business, consumer, and labor groups. We look forward to presenting our arguments to the Court as part of an expedited review process, and we will continue our efforts to halt the EPAs unprecedented effort to restructure the American economy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, joined by over a dozen business groups, in October 2015 filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to challenge the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) rule regulating greenhouse gas emissions under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Actan unprecedented takeover of the electricity sector. Because the rule is already causing irreparable harm to businesses and communities across the country, the Chamber also asked the D.C. Circuit to stay implementation of the rule until judicial review has been completed. To see the court filings, please click here. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the worlds largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. One Of Interpol's Most Wanted Caught Working At Subway Restaurant Trending News: Interpol Caught A Suspected Murderer Working At Subway Why Is This Important? Because you thought "wanna see my foot-long?" Jared was the most notorious criminal associated with Subway. Long Story Short A man allegedly associated with a murder in Poland was arrested while working in a Subway restaurant in Wiltshire, England. Piotr Kupiec was on Interpol's most wanted list. Long Story It has, to say the least, not been a good few months for sandwich purveyor Subway. In November, former spokesman Jared Fogle was sentenced to 15 years in prison for having, like, all of the kiddie porn. They've now been found harboring another (alleged) criminal in Piotr Kupiec, a man on Interpol's most wanted list in connection with a murder/manslaughter in Poland. The kicker? The Wiltshire, England Subway Kupiec was arrested in is located across the street from the local police station. Details are scarce, but according to Interpol's website, Kupiec was wanted in connection with a crime only described as "INJURY CAUSING DEATH/MANSLAUGHTER/MURDER, ASSAULT/MALTREATMENT, theft." The "theft" part is how you really know he's a bad guy! We can confirm that a staff member at the Devizes Subway franchise in Wiltshire was arrested in relation to a matter not connected with the store. As this is now being investigated by the police, we are unable to comment further," a Subway spokesperson told Independent. Someone should see if he has anything to do with the death of this mouse. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question What is it about Subway that attracts so many deviants? Disrupt Your Feed First a child pornographer and now a potential murderer. Find a rapist and Subway will have the awful-person trifecta! Drop This Fact Subway's "BMT" is named for the "Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit" system, one of the original New York subway lines. NASA Remembers Fallen Heroes, 30th Anniversary of Challenger Accident Hammond, Indiana - NASA will pay will tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA colleagues, during the agency's Day of Remembrance on Thursday, January 28, the 30th anniversary of the Challenger accident. NASA's Day of Remembrance honors members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Deputy Administrator Dava Newman, and other agency senior officials will hold an observance and wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia starting at 9 a.m. EST. Following the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington, various NASA centers will hold remembrance events Thursday for employees and the families of those lost in service to Americas space program. At 10 a.m., NASA Television will provide live coverage of a wreath-laying ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The observance is hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which is a private, not-for-profit organization. It built and maintains the Space Mirror Memorial, which was dedicated in 1991 to honor all astronauts who lost their lives on missions or during training. It has been designated a National Memorial by Congress. NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will observe the day with a candle-lighting ceremony for center employees, as well as a public event at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Marshall's official visitor center, at 10 a.m. CST. NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, will hold an event for employees that includes placing flowers at the Apollo, Challenger and Columbia Trees at the center. In partnership with the Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana, NASAs Glenn Research Center will host former astronaut Greg Harbaugh for the opening of the exhibit Inspiring the Future -- The Legacy of Exploration, at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to Pay $1.6 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims for Federal Grants Washington, DC - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Corporation (Big Brothers) has agreed to pay the United States $1.6 million to resolve allegations of false claims for funds under Department of Justice grants awarded to help children at risk, the Justice Department announced today. Big Brothers is a not-for-profit organization that provides mentoring services to boys and girls throughout the United States. The organization, originally based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is now headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Organizations such as Big Brothers do great work, but in carrying out their mission they also have an obligation to the populations they serve and to the taxpayer to ensure that government grant funds are used responsibly according to the rules, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The settlement announced today exemplifies the Departments commitment to hold those who mishandle such funds accountable. The U.S. Attorneys office is committed to protecting federal grants and ensuring that the funds are appropriately spent, said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Federal grant recipients must administer these grants with transparency and diligence, and the compliance measures implemented pursuant to this settlement agreement will help to achieve those goals. Big Brothers is a national organization that acts through approximately 300 independent affiliate agencies across the United States. Since 2004, Big Brothers has received millions of dollars in grants from the Justice Department to support initiatives on behalf of children at risk. As a condition of those grants, Big Brothers was required to maintain sound accounting and financial management systems in accordance with federal regulations and guidelines designed to ensure that grant funds would be properly accounted for and used only for appropriate purposes. The United States alleges that Big Brothers violated these regulations and guidelines with respect to three grants awarded by the Justice Department from 2009 to 2011, by commingling the grant funds with general operating funds, failing to segregate expenditures to ensure that the funds were used as intended and failing to maintain internal financial controls to safeguard the proper use of those funds. These allegations were the focus of a 2013 audit of the three grants performed by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Since 2013, Big Brothers has replaced its management team and begun implementing policies governing the use of federal grant funds. We appreciate the support of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Civil Division in working with us on these kinds of cases, said Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. The OIGs auditors and investigators will continue to work with each other closely to uncover misuses of grant funds, and with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served. In addition to paying the United States $1.6 million, and as part of the settlement, Big Brothers has agreed to institute a strict compliance program that requires the organization to engage in regular audits, both internally and by independent auditors; establish a compliance team, an employee code of conduct, whistleblower policies and a disciplinary policy for employees who engage in or fail to disclose abuses of federal grant funds; provide regular employee training on these policies; and employ risk assessment tools to detect abuses that might otherwise go undetected. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. 4th United States-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue Singapore - The following is a Joint Statement on the 4th United States-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue, today. Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong and United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel met in Singapore on 22 January 2016 to co-chair the 4th United States-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue. The annual Dialogue serves to strengthen bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries. In the spirit of equal partnership, mutual respect, and desire to promote closer ties, the co-chairs reviewed the ongoing areas of cooperation between the United States and Singapore, and discussed ways to expand bilateral collaboration in new areas. The co-chairs also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern. Both sides affirmed the strong political, economic, and defense ties between Singapore and the United States. They noted that the 2004 U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement laid the groundwork for the robust and mutually-beneficial economic relationship both countries enjoy today. The co-chairs recognized the strategic and economic imperatives for all participating countries to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement expeditiously, which would mark a significant step towards the establishment of an open and transparent multilateral trading system in the Asia-Pacific and the active economic engagement of the United States in the region. The co-chairs welcomed the signing of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in December 2015, an update to the 2005 U.S.-Singapore DCA and part of the bilateral Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) between both sides. The SFA underpins a close defense and security partnership that has contributed to maintaining regional peace and stability. The co-chairs also discussed a range of military and non-military security cooperation, including law enforcement and countering violent extremism. Both sides looked forward to expanding cooperation in cybersecurity through Singapores newly established Cyber Security Agency. The co-chairs welcomed the renewal of the Singapore-U.S. Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) in August 2015, which has trained more than 500 officials from Southeast Asia in diverse areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, cybercrime prevention, public health, trade facilitation, and energy efficient buildings since its establishment in February 2012. The co-chairs were gratified by the expansion of the TCTP into new areas, such as tackling emerging security threats, promoting TPP standards, and sustainable development. The co-chairs exchanged views on regional and global developments as well as regional architecture such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Both sides welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which would present more opportunities for collaboration between the United States and ASEAN countries. The co-chairs discussed possible ways in which these regional institutions could be leveraged to better address common transnational challenges facing the region including transboundary haze pollution, climate change, and violent extremism. The co-chairs also welcomed the upcoming ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Sunnylands, California, in February 2016, which signals the strong commitment of both sides to the new ASEAN-U.S. Strategic Partnership. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regional peace and stability and upholding the freedom of navigation in and overflight over the South China Sea (SCS). They also emphasized the importance for all parties to resolve their claims calmly and peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and to avoid action that would escalate tensions, including the further militarization of outposts in the SCS. They underscored the commitment of ASEAN Member States and China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and urged all parties to work expeditiously towards concluding the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). They also welcomed ASEAN and Chinas recent agreement to pursue an extension of the observation of the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) to all parties naval vessels in the SCS so as to reduce the risk of miscalculations in the SCS. The co-chairs also expressed grave concern over the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)s recent announcement that it had conducted a nuclear test on 6 January 2016. This was a dangerous and provocative act, a clear breach of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and carried serious implications on the peace and stability of the region. Both sides strongly reiterated their call for the DPRK to desist from further such actions and abide by its international obligations and commitments. The co-chairs welcomed the regular high-level exchanges between both countries. Then-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam visited the United States in June 2015, while Secretary of State John Kerry made his first official visit to Singapore in August 2015. Most recently, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Barack Obama held a fruitful meeting on the sidelines of the EAS in Kuala Lumpur in November 2015, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan met Secretary Kerry at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. Both countries looked forward to upcoming visits between both sides in the year ahead, as Singapore and the United States celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Lee will attend the ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Sunnylands in February 2016 as well as the 4th Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. in March 2016. Minister Balakrishnan will also make his introductory visit to the United States this year. Watch: Pilot Ejects Seconds Before Plane Crash, Reddit Users Can't Believe It Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter 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 IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It certainly appeared to be an eye-catching acquisition for such a small US gallery. So when the Georgia Museum of Art announced earlier this month that it had been given a portrait by 17th century Flemish master Sir Anthony Van Dyck, it caused a small stir in the art world. In a press release, the museum in Athens, Georgia boasted that the painting of Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud would become the lynchpin of its collection of European art. The gallery, which was founded in 1948, said it had been gifted the painting by two donors from Atlanta. But no-one was more surprised by the announcement than art enthusiasts familiar with the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, where the painting has been hanging for decades. And it took an eagle-eyed British art historian to point out that the US gallery appeared to have made a not-insignificant mistake. The original Van Dyck was still happily in Cambridge and the version in America was just a copy. Bendor Grosvenor broke the news on his website Arthistorynews.com: Im sorry to rain on the Georgia Museums parade but this picture is not, alas, by Van Dyck. He added: Van Dycks portrait of Laud was much copied, and confusion often arises over the various copies and studio versions that were made. He pointed out that the drape of the archbishops clothes in the Georgia copy is angular and clumsy compared to the original. Van Dyck painted the portrait of Archbishop Laud in 1635 and the sitter donated it to his Oxford College St Johns. It was bequeathed to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in 1937 and is listed as the original in the 2004 Yale catalogue raisonne, the definitive list of Van Dycks work. The painting was so admired in the 17th century that it was the focus of numerous copies, with more than 40 surviving today. When contacted by The Independent yesterday, a spokeswoman for the US gallery insisted they were always aware the portrait was a copy and it was an error in the gallerys marketing the news of its acquisition. The press release has now been changed online. It now reads: This version of the painting is one of several existing copies by the artists studio, after what is believed to be the primary version, at the Fitzwilliam at Cambridge. It still says the painting is by van Dyck and his studio, though Dr Grosvenor has raised doubts over whether the master painter was involved at all and said it could be a straight copy. The version in the Georgia museums collection was recently put up for auction in the US and failed to sell against an estimate of between $100,000 and $150,000. Its description in the catalogue said: We believe that it could only have been produced by a studio member or members working closely with the master artist. Lynn Boland, curator of European art at the Georgia museum, said of the possibility Van Dyck worked on the museums version: We cant be absolutely sure here yet but provenance research suggests it, and the quality of the hands and face further support the attribution. That said, were a university museum with a history of ongoing collection research and welcome input from other scholars. Van Dyck was born in modern day Belgium and was invited to work in the court of King Charles in 1632. Laud was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Charles I two years before he sat for the portrait. Fewer than two months later he was arrested for treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He remained there until he was sentenced to death and beheaded. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter 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 IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ailment: Hurting someone's feelings Cure: The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico Those who wear their hearts on their sleeve will let you know soon enough when you've hurt their feelings. But those who instead withdraw, and lick their wounds in private, may just leave you with a niggling sense that you're no longer as close as you were. Avoid such erosion of friendships and fine-tune your antenna to those you may have inadvertently wounded with Paul Gallico's haunting tale of love and loss on the desolate Essex marshes. Artist Philip Rhayader has made his home in a disused lighthouse because of his love for "wild and hunted things" the gulls, teal, curlews and geese that come down from Iceland each October in great, honking skeins. But also because of how others treat him. Hunchbacked and with a deformed wrist, he knows that people find him grotesque. Rather than be hurt when his warmth is not returned, he opts to live apart. One day Frith, an uneducated village girl, as "eerily beautiful as a marsh faerie", appears at his door with a wounded bird. It's a snow goose from Canada, blown off-course then shot by hunters. He takes it in, and Frith returns the next day to see how it's faring. Over the winter months, they care for the bird together. When the goose flies away the following summer, so does Frith; but each winter both goose and girl return. The years pass, and a deep emotional charge builds between them. But it's only when Rhayader hears of the soldiers marooned on the beaches of Dunkirk and sets sail to join in the rescue that Frith realises how she really feels about him. As a sentimental story of first love, The Snow Goose will break your heart for Frith and Rhayader, and for the snow goose, loyal to the end. But it's Rhayadar's fierce compassion for others undimmed by the cruel treatment he's received that lingers in the mind. Let it trigger a corresponding sensitivity in you. thenovelcure.com 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 }} The amount of energy consumed by the worlds data centres the repositories for billions of gigabytes of information will treble in the next decade, putting an enormous strain on energy supplies and dealing a hefty blow to efforts to contain global warming, experts say. Whether youre liking something on Facebook, streaming the latest Tarantino movie or posting an instagram from the pub, every internet activity involves huge amounts of data that needs to be stored somewhere. And as the internet of everything brings innovations such as driverless cars and high-definition video watches ever closer, the vast network of data centres that have sprung up in the past decade will spread. This wouldnt be a problem if these facilities which range from a small room with a few servers to vast 150,000 square metre farms didnt consume such enormous amounts of energy. Already, data centres have mushroomed from virtually nothing 10 years ago to consuming about 3 per cent of the global electricity supply and accounting for about 2 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. That gives it the same carbon footprint as the airline industry. To put the size of this consumption into even sharper relief the 416.2 terawatt hours of electricity the worlds data centres used last year was significantly higher than the UKs total consumption of about 300 terawatt hours. Massive as data centre energy use may already be, this is nothing to what lies in store, analysts warn. Ian Bitterlin, Britains foremost data centre expert and a visiting professor at the University of Leeds, says the amount of energy used by data centres is doubling every four years despite the innovations in hardware that massively increase their capacity to store data. As a result, analysts forecast that data centres will consume roughly treble the amount of electricity in the next decade. One way to curb their carbon footprint is to increase the amount of renewable energy they use a development that is already under way but has much, much further to go to offset the exponential growth in internet traffic, experts say. Even if the industry were able to shift to 100 per cent renewable electricity, the volume of energy they would need would put intolerable pressure on the worlds power systems. 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 If we carry on going the way we have been it would become unsustainable this level of data centre growth is not sustainable beyond the next 10 to 15 years. The question is, what are we going to do about it? says Professor Bitterlin. He points to a study focused on Japan which suggests that its data centres would consume its entire electricity supply by 2030 if growth continues at todays rate. We need to be more responsible about what we use the internet for Data centres arent the culprits its driven by social media and mobile phones. Its films, pornography, gambling, dating, shopping anything that involves images. Its a great example of the Jevons paradox the easier you make it to consume the product the greater the consumption will be. The facilities of the Google data centre in Taiwan (AFP/Getty) Unless there is some kind of game-changing breakthrough on data storage such as the development of a far-superior alternative to silicon the worlds internet use is eventually going to have to be significantly rationed. Professor Bitterlin added that a form of carbon known as graphene could potentially revolutionise data storage. But even with a revolution in data storage capacity, he believes the only long-term solution to the energy problem will have to involve significant cuts to our internet use at some point in the future. This could be through some kind of tax or charge on data use for example, imposing a fee for uploading photographs on to Facebook or even a straightforward rationing of activity; but he acknowledges that these kind of moves would probably be political suicide. Other measures such as switching from colour to black and white photographs could also go a long way to reducing data consumption. Governments across the world, including the UK, are starting to wake up to the data centre problem at the same time as they encourage the roll-out of data-hungry broadband networks to ever remoter locations. The roll-out is primarily designed to help small businesses, but the bulk of the faster internet access is enjoyed by consumers. And some internet companies such as Facebook, Google and Apple are leading efforts to be more environmentally responsible. The measures being taken include housing data centres in cold climates which dramatically reduces the energy needed to cool the facilities with a ready supply of renewable energy. Sweden fits both bills, which is partly why Facebook has opened a major data centre in the far north of the country, in the mining town of Lulea, 70 miles from the Arctic Circle. The 84-acre site houses tens of thousands of computer servers that still require 500 huge fans to cool them. But at the moment the industrys environmental actions fall far short of what is needed, analysts warn. Its a tremendous challenge, said Greenpeaces senior IT analyst, Gary Cook. If the sector simply grew on its current path without any thought as to where its energy came from, it would become a major contributor to climate change far beyond what it already is. This would make it impossible to make the transition to renewable energy in time to prevent runaway climate change. But the sheer size of the problem also provides an opportunity for the data centre industry to lead a revolution in renewable energy, which will help drive down costs for everyone, Mr Cook said. The sector is critical to the development of renewable energy. Along with electric vehicles, data centres are the big risk area for energy demand, because they are growing so fast whereas energy demand is relatively flat or declining in many areas. This gives them huge leverage to drive energy investment and that could be towards renewables, or it could be towards older coal plants where they have excess capacity. Which way the industry decides to go could have a huge bearing on whether renewable energy receives the huge investment that drives innovation bringing down the cost of green electricity to everybodys benefit. It could also play a large role in determining whether the world can avoid the worst ravages of global warming. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It pays to be ahead of the crowd. When Oakham Ales started brewing with the American hop Citra in 2009, it was virtually unknown in the UK. Within two weeks of the resulting beer appearing, five nearby breweries were on the phone to hop merchants Charles Faram. This potent, tropically-inclined hop is now in huge demand. Everybody wants it, but not everyone can get it. You won't find this trend-setting brewery amid the beards and bobble-hats of Bermondsey and Manchester (or even in the pretty Rutland town of the same name) but on an industrial estate in Peterborough. It's a place that reeks of honest endeavour. The brewing kit has been cobbled together. One of the vessels formerly a milk tank apparently had a small tree growing through it before it was repurposed for brewing. A patched-up spot on the container's side attests to the story's veracity. There'll be some shinier new kit sitting alongside it soon; Oakham is expanding. Brewing capacity is to be doubled and more staff hired. One of the more unremarked consequences of Britain's small-brewery revival is the number of people it employs: 44 now work at Oakham's base in Peterborough. (Puts a new spin on all that Dry January smuggery, doesn't it?) The key to Oakham's success, of course, is the quality of the finished product. They couple New-World hops with a very British approach to brewing. For the most part, theirs is beer that you can drink a fair bit of (the new government drinking guidelines notwithstanding) and still stroll home. Groundbreaking but grounded. Three to try Slurp Oakham JHB (4.2 per cent ABV, 2.81 for 500ml, beerritz.co.uk) Pale, dry and hugely easy to drink: this is the Oakham blueprint Sip Oakham Citra (4.6 per cent, 2.92 for 500ml, beerritz.co.uk) Citra's potent character passion fruit, grapefruit and gooseberry dominates this tipple Share Oakham Green Devil (6 per cent, 3.08 for 500ml, beerritz.co.uk) Also made with Citra hops, this sticky, rich IPA pushes all the right buttons Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Its two years since kid goat was heralded as the meat we would all soon be eating. Chefs and restaurateurs extolled the virtues of its tender, lean cuts. But consumers have yet to take up cooking with goat in large numbers. All of which means that up to 40,000 young male goats are still killed at birth each year and the carcasses thrown away, because they play no part in the booming market for dairy products based on goats milk. Since rearing the animals is costly for farmers, this huge wastage only 1 per cent of billy kids are kept for breeding had seemed unavoidable. But a new push by breeders, campaigners and chefs to raise awareness and supermarkets which could begin to stock the meat, might finally tip the balance. Celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver are pledging their support for a new drive to popularise kid meat. Its delicious, healthy and sustainable, they say. It contains less cholesterol than chicken, more iron than beef and is not forbidden by any of the main religions. Lizzie Dyer, a Cotswolds farmer, takes a personal pride in being involved in the campaign to get us all eating goat. I wanted to farm sustainably and do something new, she says. Having travelled a lot, goat and kid was always something that was interesting to me. Dyer, now 28, was 25 when she started her business, Just Kidding, buying unwanted billy kids from dairy farmers and rearing them to be sold as meat. Kid Tagine on Bulger Wheat (Mike Lusmore) I couldnt believe it when I found out about the sheer wastage that was happening in Britain all these kids just disposed of on our farms, when I knew that some of Londons restaurants are importing their goats from France. Ms Dyer is one of the few farmers who raise her billy kids free range. She currently has around 220 animals on her Cirencester farm, and supplies their meat the kids are slaughtered when they are six months old to a growing list of hotels and restaurants. Food trends in 2016 Show all 11 1 /11 Food trends in 2016 Food trends in 2016 Celeriac root We had a kale obsession in 2015, but 2016s vegetable sine qua non is predicted to be the knobbly celeriac root. Celeriac milk (Tom Hunt at Poco in Bristol serves it with winter mussels and wild water celery), celeriac cooked in Galician beef fat (from Adam Rawson of Pachamama, hot new chef in the capital) and salt-baked celeriac (to be found in Matthew and Iain Penningtons kitchens at The Ethicurean in the West Country) are just a few examples. Getty Images Food trends in 2016 Middle Eastern food The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook (24.95, Phaidon) by grand-dame Salma Hage, author of the bestseller The Lebanese Kitchen (whose halva is pictured here), is out in April Liz & Max Haarala Hamilton Food trends in 2016 Non-alcoholic cocktails Grain Store mixologist Tony Conigliaro has created Roman Redhead, a riot of red grape juice, beetroot, pale ale and verjus, and Rose Iced Tea (black tea, rose petals, anise essence, pictured here) Food trends in 2016 Gin The discerning will be slurping Hepple gin from chef Valentine Warner and cocktail guru Nick Strangeway which is punctuated with bog-myrtle nuances Food trends in 2016 Argyll and Bute Restaurant followers are getting in a froth about Pam Brunton in Scotland, who opened the Inver restaurant in Argyll and Bute to acclaim last year Food trends in 2016 Andy Olivers Som Saa One of the most eagerly awaited restaurants of 2016 will be the permanent incarnation of Andy Olivers remarkable pop-up Som Saa opening very soon in east London. Oliver, who worked at Thai god David Thompsons Nahm in Bangkok, raised a whopping 700,000 through crowdfunding, and is renowned for his piquant Thai flavours and obsessive attention to detail, including in his home ferments and DIY coconut cream Adam Weatherley Food trends in 2016 Venison Another ruminant in vogue is venison, with Sainsburys doubling its line for 2016. It provides a protein-packed punch, with B vitamins and iron, and its low in fat. Its entry into the mainstream is in part thanks to the Scottish restaurant Mac and Wild, just opened in London, whose Celtic head chef Andy Waugh (who also runs the Wild Game Co) has been touting it as street food for years (his venison burger pictured here) Food trends in 2016 Goat From Brett Grahams The Ledbury to Angela Hartnetts kitchens at Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest, Cabrito is the go-to goat supplier among the chef cognoscenti (roasted loin of kid pictured here) but this year, domestic cooks can get in on the action, as Sushila Moles and James Whetlor of Cabrito offer their meat through Ocado Mike Lusmore / mikelusmore.com Food trends in 2016 Coffee Coffee sage George Crawford is launching the much-anticipated Cupsmith with his partner, Emma. Crawford believes that 2016 is the year purist coffee will finally meet the masses; Cupsmiths mission will be to make craft coffee as popular as craft beer on the high street. The company roasts Arabica beans in small batches, improving its quality but sells it online, at cupsmith.com, in an approachable way: expect cheerful packaging and names such as Afternoon Reviver Coffee (designed for drinking with milk no matter how uncouth, most of us want milk) and Glorious Espresso Julia Conway Food trends in 2016 120-day-old steak Hanging meat for extremely long lengths of time has become an art. In Cumbria, Lake Road Kitchens James Cross is plating up 120-day-old steak (pictured here). The beef is from influential ager Dan Austin of Lake District Farmers, who is currently investigating the individual bacterial cultures that go into this maturing process Food trends in 2016 Lotus root Diners can expect root-to-stem dining - cue the full lotus deployed by the Michelin-starred Indian Benares in its kamal kakdi aur paneer korma Getty Images Baby goats are comparatively expensive to keep; the unique powdered milk substitute required to rear them costs about 1 per day, per goat. As a result, kid is most likely to be found as a delicacy in high-end pubs and restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Barrafina and Gymkhana. But that is set to change. The days of kid as a novelty dish are coming to an end, according to James Whetlor, a former chef and the founder of Cabrito, one of the UKs first suppliers to pick up on the opportunity and provide a link between farm and plate. When we started out, it was a huge risk, he says. We had some small farmers who were keen but hesitant to spend money raising the animals. Nobody was selling kid meat on a large scale because there was next to zero demand for it. Recommended Read more How to say the most commonly mispronounced food words Almost four years on, the company is selling between 5,000 and 8,000 kids a year and is working in partnership with the home-delivery company Ocado. The next step for Whetlor is to bring supermarkets on board, something he hopes will soon be a reality the company is currently in negotiations with Waitrose. Lizzie Dyer of Just Kidding (Tom Pilston) Theres a huge increase in interest from people wanting to know where their food has come from, that its ethically and sustainably sourced, he says. The best thing about kid is that its turning what was a waste product into something that is both sustainable and lucrative. Ben Prior is head chef at his family restaurant, Bens Cornish Kitchen, which has just been voted best restaurant in the Trenchermans Awards 2016. He met Ms Dyer on a backpacking trip and helped with the launch of Just Kidding. He is now one of her businesss 26 clients. Whenever I have some [goat] on the menu, well put out a tweet. It always sells out very quickly, and thats how I know its only going to feature more and more in British cuisine. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Revered and maligned in equal measure, haggis has always had a tendency to divide diners. But as people across the world prepare to sit down to steaming dishes of spiced sheep offal in celebration of the birth of Robert Burns tomorrow [MON], the future of Scotlands national dish has never looked brighter. Sales of haggis are booming across the UK, with the dish increasingly appearing on menus in top restaurants and at street food stalls as well as peoples shopping trollies as it gradually sheds its traditionally unpalatable image, according to the nations biggest manufacturer of the dish. James Macsween, the managing director of Macsween of Edinburgh, said his company had seen sales increase by more than 500 per cent since it moved its headquarters to a factory on the outskirts of the Scottish capital 20 years ago. The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Show all 26 1 /26 The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes African: caraway Rex The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes American: apple Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Asian: sesame oil Rex The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Cajun/Creole: okra Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Central/South American: avocado Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Chinese: peanut oil Rex The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Eastern European/Russian: egg noodle Rex The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes English/Scottish: current Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes French: tarragon Craetive Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes German: sauerkraut Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Greek: feta cheese Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Indian: Black mustard seed oil Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Irish: whisky Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Italian: romano cheese Cretive Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Japanese: katsuobushi Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Jewish: apricot Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Middle Eastern: roasted sesame seeds Rex The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Scandinavian: herring Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Southern states: corn grit Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Southwestern: black beans Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Spanish/Portuguese: saffron Getty The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Thai: galangal Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Vietnamese: Thai pepper Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Moroccan: caraway Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Mexican: avocado Creative Commons The ingredients that make national dishes national dishes Mediterranean: feta cheese Creative Commons The haggis manufacturer, a family-run firm founded in 1953 by Mr Macsweens grandfather, has seen sales of its traditional and vegetarian varieties rise from 235 tonnes a year when it arrived at its new base to 1,554 tonnes by the end of 2014. And with the United States poised to lift its 45-year ban on haggis imports, a hungry new market is about to open up. Haggis has grown massively in popularity, Mr Macsween said. Its in more shops and is eaten more often England is our biggest market, with 60 per cent of our orders going south of the border. In the colder months of the year it just flies out of the door. Its great that its enjoying such a resurgence. Mr Macsween and other Scottish haggis manufacturers are already looking at the possibility of ramping up production amid signs that the US will shortly lift its longstanding ban on food products containing sheep lungs, a key ingredient of the dish. New draft rules on imports are set to be published within months. Having travelled to the US last year with a Scottish Government delegation to meet officials from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Mr Macsween said he was very confident that the ban would be lifted by the end of 2017 at the latest. Recommended Read more Scottish butcher claims national dish Haggis was invented by Vikings The prospects of getting haggis into America are the best theyve ever looked, he said. The steer back from the USDA and APHIS was positive that at the very worst, it would be November next year. Wed love to capitalise on that market, itll be huge for us as well see a huge increase in sales. Itll be great for the industry and for Scotland. Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Food Secretary, has said he is hopeful that the rules on imports will be changed by the end of this year, which would unlock a potentially massive opportunity for haggis producers and farmers as around 10 million US citizens claim Scottish heritage. In the meantime, manufacturers are trying to give improve the dishs summer appeal by creating ranges of haggis-enriched beef burgers, sausages and meatballs. Marks & Spencer has also added it to croquettes and pies, while street food outlets in London and Edinburgh serve haggis toasties, burritos and savoury bon-bons. Haggis has a bit of chequered reputation, its a bit like Marmite at times. But one of our jobs is to convert people to the benefits of haggis, and once theyve tried it they rarely say Oh I dont like that, Mr Macsween said. Its like any product that people have misconceptions of not everyone likes the idea of mussels or oysters or scallops, but once youve tried them you see theyre delicious. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter 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 Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Prowler on Brewer Street in Soho is, by its own account, the UKs largest gay lifestyle superstore. Past rails of neon elasticated underwear and shelves bearing pornographic comic books, neat rows of small, colourful bottles stand on top of the sales counter. With names including Buzz, Rush, Deep and Hard On, these are poppers alkyl nitrites in liquid form that cause a head-rush when inhaled and were banned by the Government this week. Recommended Read more Police seize consignment of poppers as MPs approve legal highs ban On Wednesday, the House of Commons voted down an amendment to exclude poppers from the Psychoactive Substances Bill. From 1 April, all poppers will be banned in the UK. The debate was all the more remarkable in that the Tory MP Crispin Blunt outed himself as a user of poppers which are often taken before sex as they act as a muscle relaxant. Weve had a lot of people come in in the last couple of days saying, What am I going to do now? says Stephen Dunne, 43, a sales assistant at Prowler. People rely on them: one man yesterday bought 40 bottles. A recent survey found the use of poppers to be 25 times more common among gay than straight men. Some believe the association of poppers with gay culture is what has now led to the ban. If you trace the bottle of amyl [a type of alkyl nitrite] through late 20th-century history, you trace the legacies of gay culture on popular culture in the 20th century, says Dr Lucy Robinson a history lecturer at Sussex University. We wouldnt have had rave, disco or club culture as we know it today without the gay community. Amyl nitrate, the drugs first incarnation, was synthesised in 1844 by the French chemist Antoine Jerome Balard. It was pioneered as a treatment for angina: inhaling the liquids fumes would cause blood vessels to expand and pain to subside. The street name by which they are now known came from the packaging of this treatment. The liquid came in individual ampoules to be popped. When nitro-glycerine tablets replaced amyl nitrite as the preferred treatment for angina in the early 1960s, demand for the stimulant rapidly declined. But its manufacturers sought an alternative market. Poppers were soon being shipped to Vietnam and given to soldiers as an antidote to gun fumes. Various bans caused chemists to resynthesise chemical variations, such as butyl nitrite. The liquid on offer at Prowler is mainly isopropyl nitrite. I remember when it was amyl nitrite, says Mr Dunne. That was a different story altogether: youd get burns on your nose if you spilt it. Those were serious; these here are far tamer. According to Ian Young, author of The Stonewall Experiment: A gay psychohistory, an unspoken agreement seems to have emerged between manufacturers and regulators that amyl nitrite could be sold as long as it was labelled as a room odoriser and marketed only to the gay community. Adverts promoting poppers as a sex aid began to appear in gay magazines in the US and before long a similar strategy was adopted in the UK. Because poppers were used mainly by the gay community, and were associated with sex, there was speculation in the early days of HIV and Aids that they might be causing the disease. Amyl nitrite peaked in popularity, first as a drug of choice during the 1970s disco era and then in the late-1980s and early-1990s rave scene both of which owed much to the gay community. Poppers, says Dr Robinson, owe their popularity to two important qualities: their association with pleasure and their communal nature. Used in clubs as much as in the bedroom, they have always provided a crossover between what feels good in a club and how great sex can be. Clubs in 1970s New York would reportedly spray amyl nitrite into the air to create collective euphoria. Being cheap and easy to inhale from, the small bottles are often passed among many people either in the club or in the bedroom. Amyl nitrite quickly became a way to break down boundaries those standing in the way of pleasure as well as those between individuals. Back at Prowler, Mr Dunne echoes concerns raised by Mr Blunt that the legislation will push poppers underground, increasing gay mens exposure to drug dealers. Many dealers already sell the stimulant. Others have criticised the legislation for being based on paranoia surrounding sexual practice rather than on firm evidence. There is no indication that poppers are particularly harmful to human health. Drugs are never simply good or bad, says Dr Robinson. They and their policing have always been a lot more to do with the groups that are taking them. 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 }} Q. We bought a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander from a dealer in November of that year. It is under warranty until April 2016. A strange noise developed from the engine, but the dealer told us it would be two weeks before they could look at it. Two days before it was due to go in, my husband received a voicemail message saying: "Other cars have been brought in making a similar- sounding noise. The problem is the tappets; this isn't covered by the warranty, and the cost will be 355." We were surprised the fault had been diagnosed without even looking at the vehicle. When the car did go in, it was found that the drive for the oil pump had a broken tooth. Again we were told that it might not be covered by the warranty and the cost of the repair, if it was not covered, would be 1,644. We were also told the warranty was only valid if we could provide copies of all service invoices. We found those. Then we were told these were not detailed enough and that Mitsubishi required copies of the checklists from the service. We asked for a contact at the company with whom we could discuss this but when I phoned that person, they had no idea what I was talking about. We are still being told more clarification is needed about the warranty. LD, by email A. We did get in contact with the carmaker but this has taken longer to resolve than we would wish. However, Mitsubishi tells us that the repair is now being resolved through the warranty. You tell us that you have been phoned directly by the company, which explained that there had been confusion between itself and the dealer as to which party was handling the matter but that "the repair should now be authorised". You then received an email from a representative of the dealer, who said he was "completing the warranty claim to submit to Mitsubishi today, and if authorised, as we anticipate I will order the components and repair as soon as possible". We are concerned that the word "should" was used in Mitsubishi's phone call, but we do believe the matter has been cleared up. Please contact us again if the dealer attempts to charge you for the repair. Cable for new washing machine came up short Q. I ordered a Zanussi washing machine on the John Lewis website on 4 December. This offered a free delivery, but a delivery date of 22 December. When I attempted to request express delivery, for which I was willing to pay, the site said the option was not available for this order. The machine arrived on 22 December, but we were told the cable was too short to reach the electrical point. The website made no mention of cable length, nor does Zanussi's user manual. The installer asked if we had an extension cable, which we supplied, and he completed the installation. But when we read the user manual, we found that it states, on the first page, that an adaptor is not to be used. We contacted John Lewis, which thought we should contact Zanussi to secure a compatible extension. But we made it clear that this was John Lewis's responsibility. The retailer agreed with this and undertook to contact us within 24 hours to arrange the next step. But despite a number of follow-up calls from us, we have received no response from John Lewis. JC, Ayrshire A. You tell us the matter is now resolved to your full satisfaction. An adjustment has been made to the electrical point at your house to make it compatible with the Zanussi cable. John Lewis has refunded your installation costs of 93. A spokeswoman for the John Lewis Partnership said: "On this occasion it is clear that the installation of [the reader's] Zanussi washing machine didn't meet our usual high standards. When fitting the washing machine, the cable was too short to reach the electrical point and our partner used an extension cable to complete the installation. Once we were alerted to the problem that an extension cable shouldn't be used, we did everything possible to rectify the issue which included covering the electrician's cost to fit a new plug socket. "We have apologised for the inconvenience, and the customer has since been refunded for the delivery charge." I ordered a mobile but the trail went cold Q. I ordered a new Microsoft Lumia 640 mobile phone handset for 79 on 1 January as part of the Vodafone winter sale. A payment was debited against my account the following day. Vodafone failed to provide a tracking number for the order, so I had to email four times to enquire about the status. No reply has been received from Vodafone. Furthermore, I have tried calling the company on four different numbers, but I have been unable to get any joy. This is despite receiving emailed confirmation of the order. CD, Inverness A. A spokeswoman for Vodafone responded: "We're sorry [the reader] didn't get the phone she ordered. We've looked into it and it seems the order was not progressed correctly. We've been in touch with her to explain and we'll send her the phone she wanted plus a 20 top-up by way of apology for our error." 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 }} Before this week, if youd asked me what constituted good design, I would probably have said our Dyson handheld vacuum or the Fiat 500 that I use to nip in and out of town, which is so small I can always find a parking space. What I would not have said would be the ticketing system on trains or paying money into a bank. But, said David Kester, whom I met on Monday, get them right and they certainly constitute smart design. For nine years, Kester ran the Design Council. Hes now working closely with Design Thinkers Academy holding workshops and seminars for designers. Kester is also closely involved with the design brief for the HS2 high-speed rail network. We need to think about design as more than the look, feel and usefulness of a particular product, he said. It was about entire systems, how things work together and fit into the environment. So on HS2, yes the comfort of the seats on the trains is important, but so is the way the new network relates to the rest of the country, whether it links with other forms of transport, if it provides a fast service from A to B. It would be pointless, he said, having a sleek new train line, only to find there were queues at barriers everything had to click. Kester is an evangelist for design being taught on the national curriculum. It is already, but often in a half-hearted manner as a non-core subject, and usually joined with technology to form D&T. Pupils are taught about materials, handling machinery, and encouraged to make something to take home to their parents, and thats about it. What they dont get is the bigger picture. Let Vaizey get down to business Kester is one of those who pushed hard for the creative industries, something at which, despite the inertia in our educational system, we Brits excel. This message was highlighted again on Wednesday at a 10 Downing Street reception hosted by the creative industries minister, Ed Vaizey. That is part of Vaizeys title. Hes also minister for culture, communications and digital industries. Part of our collective old-fashioned approach to these new-fangled activities is surely illustrated by the fact that Vaizey straddles two Whitehall departments. Hes minister of state at Culture, Media and Sport, and at Business, Innovation and Skills. If were serious about trying to beat our international rivals, then I would submit he should be with the latter, and entirely devoted to boosting enterprise and start-ups in creative and digital. From Shakespeare to Bowie Vaizey was giving his backing to Creative Entrepreneurs, a new website and nationwide movement aimed at inspiring the next generation of creatives, to help them set up their own businesses. Its got the support of Anya Hindmarch, the handbag designer, Zaha Hadid, the architect, Jamal Edwards, creator of youth channel SB TV, and Rohan Silva, founder of Second Home and former policy advisor to No 10. We lead the world in creative industries, an umbrella phrase for fashion, advertising, architecture, design, film, TV, publishing, music and art. Together they account for 5 per cent of the UK economy, or almost 80bn annually, and 6 per cent of the job market. The driving force behind Creative Entrepreneurs is ex-Time Warner managing-director, Carolyn Dailey. Said Dailey: We watch the latest Bond film, listen to Ed Sheeran, hope for Downton Abbey-the-movie or buy an Anya Hindmarch bag on Net-a-Porter. Or equally we sit on a London bus brought to life by Thomas Heatherwick or wander past the dizzying array of contemporary architectural icons across London. And we take it all for granted. We dont realise that all of these and more make us a world-beater. From time to time were brought up to speed with a start as to just how good we are. At the Oscars, fashion shows, Brits, Glastonbury, Proms, literary and architectural competitions we realise we can compete, and more. Sadly, too, it takes a death to tell us. David Bowie was not just a rock icon. He had a sharp commercial brain to match one that could and did exploit the zeitgeist. As Dailey said: From Shakespeare to Bowie and beyond, weve been in the business of creative blockbusters for hundreds of years its time to recognise it. Lets finally wake up to our own global powerhouse. The boys club in the Alps I want to start a movement of my own. It will be called NAD & Proud Not At Davos and glad Im not. Everyone I know who goes on the annual junket to the Swiss resort they pronounce it Dav-ose, by the way insists on justifying ad nauseam why it matters so much and how hard they work while theyre there. The FT reported the worlds elite will convene in Davos Really? That would be a worlds elite that coughs up $27,000 for a ticket. Its a worlds elite thats 2,500 strong, according to the publicity; and includes 1,074 chairmen or chief executives, 40 world leaders, 14 Nobel laureates and 4 Grammy winners (Bono, Will.i.am, Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Gabriel). Whats not in the worlds elite, apart from poor people, other chairmen and CEOs, remaining world leaders, Nobel prize holders and Grammy victors (presumably the Oscars dont count), are women. The latter make up around 50 per cent (49.6 per cent to be precise) of the global population, yet in the worlds elite gathered at Davos this week they accounted for just 18 per cent. A relatable arch-villain Its a worlds elite with strange values. Many of them trekked up a mountain to the Schatzalp restaurant to have free tucker, courtesy of Barclays. Then they beetled back down to go to drinks with SkyBridge Capital, the private equity firm. In the Piano Bar, SkyBridge had laid on Oscar-winner (but not a Grammy so he doesnt count for elite membership, seemingly) Kevin Spacey. The actor duly sang In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning, after Frank Sinatra, and reprised his part as Frank Underwood, the plotting arch-villain in House of Cards presumably somebody that some of those present among the worlds elite had no trouble relating to. Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter 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 Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Schools and colleges should take a more balanced warts and all approach to teaching students about the British Empire and colonialism, leading historians have told The Independent. The calls for better education about the brutality of Britains imperial past come amid new research revealing more than four in ten Britons view the British Empire as a good thing and colonialism as something to be proud of. Recommended Read more Brits proud of colonialism need educating about the British Empire Only around one in five Britons take the opposite view, seeing Britains colonial past as something which should be regretted, according to the YouGov poll released this week. There is a clear division between Conservative and Labour voters on the issue, with Labour supporters three times more likely, at 30 per cent, to view the colonial past as something which should be regretted, compared to one in ten Tory supporters. Professor Daniel Branch, head of history, University of Warwick, said: An unwillingness to engage with the warts and all of imperial history makes Britain particularly blind to how governments and the people of other countries view British society. Criticism of Britains imperial past is seeing Oxford University under pressure to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, who described the English as the first race in the world. On 19 January the Oxford Union voted in favour of having the statue removed. Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, commented: It's a matter for Oxford and for the students to have the debate. But better actually to have a debate about what happened in the past and to realise that we have moved on as a country, she said. There is a need for honesty in dealing with Britains past, according to Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham and the former head of Wellington College. History teaching should always be honest or it is merely propaganda by powerful interest groups. The history of the British Empire was not all bad, and not all good. Understanding its subtlety and its importance to British and world history is essential for every single student, he told The Independent. And Ashley Jackson, Professor of Imperial and Military History, King's College London, commented: We do need better education...whats important is that we should understand our past, and that means a warts and all understanding. He added: Understandably a lot of British people would like to think that the imperial past was generally ok, but unfortunately if you look at the record of empire its very difficult to say that overall it was a good thing. The wealth of the British Empire had a lot to do with exploiting people overseas, according to Professor Jackson. The basis of empire is that you rule other people, you deny them independence, you exploit their labour and resources, and a lot of the good things were often incidental and secondary, he said. Dr Andrea Major, associate professor in British colonial history, University of Leeds, is also calling for improved teaching about the British Empire. There is a collective amnesia about the levels of violence, exploitation and racism involved in many aspects of imperialism, not to mention the various atrocities and catastrophes that were perpetrated, caused or exacerbated by British colonial policies and actions, she said. We need better education and more open public debate on all aspects of British colonial history 'warts and all' - not as an exercise in self-flagellation, but as a means of better understanding the world around us and how we are perceived by others, added Dr Major. And Dr Esme Cleall, lecturer in the history of the British Empire, University of Sheffield, said: The violence of the British Empire has long been forgotten. We need to face up to this history and education is crucial if we are to do so. Yet the subject is largely absent from the curriculum, according to Dr Pippa Virdee, senior lecturer in modern South Asian history, De Montfort University. Our knowledge of our own history is very limited geographically, let alone giving us any sense of understanding the atrocities that were committed under the imperial gaze. She added: While people are often happy to remember the glorious past, they are reluctant to face the darker side of empire. But teaching alone will not change attitudes, commented Dr Christopher Prior, lecturer in 20th Century history, University of Southampton: Teachers and lecturers can only do so much, when broader cultural forces focus on a positive, benevolent side to Britains past. He added: In recent years, there's been lots of public commentary about Britains role in ending slavery, but not as much about Britains role in having been involved in the slave trade in the first place! We have to be more honest about our imperial heritage, not merely inside the classroom, but outside of it. Six shameful aspects of Britains past Slavery Britain was a key player in the slave trade, with almost half a million slaves in British colonies by the 1790s. And British ships transported up to three million people into slavery in the Americas between 1562 and 1807. Partition Up to one million people died in sectarian violence after the border between India and Pakistan was created in 1947. The divide - along religious lines - resulted in more than 14 million people being forced to move. Muslims left India for Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs fled their homes in Pakistan to go to India. Torture Thousands of Kenyans were beaten, sexually assaulted or raped by British colonial forces during the Mau Mau Uprising in the 1950s. Between 20,000 and 100,000 Kenyans died during the uprising. And in 2013 the British Government paid around 20 million to settle claims made by more than 5,000 Mau Mau veterans. Famine Up to 29 million died of starvation in India during British rule, while millions of tons of wheat were exported to Britain. In 1943, up to four million Bengalis starved to death after Winston Churchill diverted food to British soldiers and countries such as Greece, despite there being a famine in Bengal at the time. Concentration camps More than 100,000 people were imprisoned in camps during the Boer War in the 19th century. Almost 30,000 Boers died in the overcrowded camps, as well as an unknown number of Africans. Massacre A crowd demonstrating against British rule in Amritsar, India, in April 1919 were fired upon by Gurkha soldiers under the orders of Brigadier Reginald Dyer. Between 379 and 1,000 protesters were killed and another 1,100 injured within 10 minutes. The shooting only stopped when the soldiers ran out of bullets. 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 }} Charlotte Rampling has claimed her controversial comments suggesting the Oscars boycott was racist to whites may have been misinterpreted after a fierce backlash. Rampling, who is nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in 45 Years, suggested black actors may not have deserved to make the shortlist during an interview on Friday. Speaking in fluent French, she told French radio network Europe 1: Why classify people? These days everyone is more or less accepted ... People will always say: Him, hes less handsome; Him, hes too black; He is too white ... someone will always be saying You are too [this or that] ... But do we have to take from this that there should be lots of minorities everywhere? Rampling was responding to a question about whether quotas should be introduced after Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs outlined changes to be made in the future to diversify the Oscars board. Her remarks were widely condemned, with Chelsea Clinton denouncing them as outrageous, ignorant and offensive. #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Show all 19 1 /19 #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Jada Pinkett-Smith Today is Martin Luther Kings birthday, and I cant help but ask the question: Is it time that people of color recognize how much power and influence we have amassed that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere? I ask the question: Have we come to a new time and place where we recognize that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledge, or respect of any group? - Posted on her Facebook page. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Will Smith "The beauty of Hollywood combined with American ideals is the ultimate dream for humanity: the basis of the American concept of anything is possible, with hard work and dedication, no matter your race or religion, creed, none of that matters in America. I think that diversity is the American superpower. That's why we are great. So many different people from so many different places adding their ideas and their inspiration and their influences to this beautiful American gumbo and for me, at its best, Hollywood represents and then creates the imagery for that beauty. But for my part, I think I have to fight for and protect the ideals that make our country and make our Hollywood community great. So when I look at the series of nominations of the Academy, it's not reflecting that beauty." - Quote from ABC News appearance. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Reese Witherspoon "I really appreciated this article in TIME on the lack of racial and gender diversity in this year's Oscar nominations. So disappointed that some of 2015's best films, filmmakers and performances were not recognized... Nothing can diminish the quality of their work, but these filmmakers deserve recognition. As an Academy member, I would love to see a more diverse voting membership." - Posted on her Facebook page. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Spike Lee "This whole Academy thing is a misdirection play. We're chasing a guy down the field, he doesn't even have the ball. The other guy's high-stepping in the end zone. It goes further than the Academy Awards. It has to go back to the gatekeepers. We're not in the room. The executives, when they have these greenlight meetings quarterly, they look at the scripts and see who's in it and decide what we're making and what we're not making." - Quote from ABC appearance. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say George Clooney "If you think back 10 years ago, the Academy was doing a better job. Think about how many more African Americans were nominated. I would also make the argument, I dont think its a problem of who youre picking as much as it is: How many options are available to minorities in film, particularly in quality films? There should be 20 or 30 or 40 films of the quality that people would consider for the Oscars. By the way, were talking about African Americans. For Hispanics, its even worse. We need to get better at this. We used to be better at it." - Interview with Variety. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Snoop Dogg Somebody was actually like am I gonna watch the motherf***ing Oscars. F*** no. What the f*** am I going to watch that bulls*** for? They aint got no n***** nominated. All these great movies and all this great s*** yall keep stealing from us. F*** you! F*** you! - Posted on his Instagram page. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Don Cheadle "Yo, Chris. Come check me out at #TheOscars this year. They got me parking cars on G level." - Posted on his Twitter page, directed at host Chris Rock. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Mark Ruffalo I woke up in the morning thinking, what is the right way to do this? Because if you look at Martin Luther Kings legacy, what he was saying was that the good people who dont act are much worse than the wrongdoers who are purposefully not acting and dont know the right way. - Quote from interview with BBC News. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Lupita Nyong'o "I am disappointed by the lack of inclusion in this year's Academy Awards nominations. It has me thinking about unconscious prejudice and what merits prestige in our culture. The awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today. I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them." - Posted on her Instagram page. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Tyrese Gibson "This is not us saying we're against the Oscars because we're gonna combat racism. We're just saying, 'Yo, this is not cool.' You can't be doing this in 2016 and act as if no one is gonna notice." - Quote from interview with People. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say David Oyelowo The reason why the Oscars are so important is because it is the zenith, it is the epitome, it is the height of celebration of artistic endeavor within the filmmaking community. We grow up aspiring, dreaming, longing to be accepted into that august establishment because it is the height of excellence. I would like to walk away and say it doesnt matter, but it does, because that acknowledgement changes the trajectory of your life, your career, and the culture of the world we live in. This institution doesnt reflect its president and it doesnt reflect this room. I am an Academy member and it doesnt reflect me, and it doesnt reflect this nation." - Speech at gala honoring Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Brie Larson "Thank you @hollywoodreporter for covering this very unique moment in my life! It was wonderful spending time with all of you. Personally, I'm interested in reading their article on #OscarsSoWhite. This is a conversation that deserves attention." - Posted on her Instagram page. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say How many black films are being produced every year? How are they being distributed? The films that are being made, are the big-time producers thinking outside of the box in terms of how to cast the role? Can you cast a black woman in that role? Can you cast a black man in that role? You can change the Academy, but if there are no black films being produced, what is there to vote for? - Quote from interview with Entertainment Weekly. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Charlotte Rampling "It is racist to whites. One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to make the final list. Why classify people? These days everyone is more or less accepted... People will always say: Him, hes less handsome; Him, hes too black; He is too white... someone will always be saying You are too [this or that]... But do we have to take from this that there should be lots of minorities everywhere?" - Quote from interview on Europe 1. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Michael Caine Theres loads of black actors. In the end you can't vote for an actor because he's black. You can't say 'I'm going to vote for him, he's not very good, but he's black, I'll vote for him'. You have to give a good performance and I'm sure people have. I saw Idris Elba (in Beasts Of No Nation).I thought he was wonderful. Be patient. Of course it will come. It took years to get an Oscar, years. - Quote from interview with Radio 4 Today programme. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Steve McQueen "This is exactly like MTV was in the 1980s. Could you imagine now if MTV only showed music videos by a majority of white people, then after 11 oclock it showed a majority of black people? Could you imagine that happening now? Its the same situation happening in the movies. Hopefully, when people look back at this in 20 years, itll be like seeing that David Bowie clip in 1983 [of artist critiquing channel for not featuring black artists]. I dont even want to wait 20 years. Forgive me; Im hoping in 12 months or so we can look back and say this was a watershed moment, and thank God we put that right." Quote from interview with The Guardian. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Julie Delpy "Two years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by the media. It's funny - women can't talk. I sometimes wish I were African American because people don't bash them afterwards. It's the hardest to be a woman. Feminism is something people hate above all. Nothing worse than being a woman in this business. I really believe that." Delpy has since clarified these remarks, saying, "I'm very sorry for how I expressed myself. It was never meant to diminish the injustice done to African American artists or to any other people that struggle for equal opportunities and rights; on the contrary. All I was trying to do is to address the issues of inequality of opportunity in the industry for women as well (as I am a woman)." Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Clint Eastwood "I don't know anything about it. All I know is there's thousands of people in the Academy, and the majority of them haven't won Oscars. A lot of people are crying, I guess." - Quoted by TMZ. Getty #OscarsSoWhite: What Hollywood has to say Ellen Page Its awful, and I think what just happened in regards to the nominations two years in a row is a reflection of the industry itself, and the lack of diversity in all positions. Its so upsetting that were still having this conversation. I dont know what to say other than its so disheartening, and I feel like we all have to be doing what we can to make a change, because were supposed to be telling stories that reflect human experience, and we cant just be showing one group of people." Quote from interview with The Wrap. Getty The 69-year-old attempted to clarify her stance in a statement to CBS News on Saturday. I regret that my comments could have been misinterpreted this week in my interview with Europe 1 Radio. I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration, her statement said. I am very honoured to be included in this year's wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses. Recommended Read more Jada Pinkett Smith asks whether people of colour should boycott Academ Calls for a boycott have been led by the actress Jada Pinkett Smith after it was announced that all 20 nominees were white for the second year in a row. The Magic Mike XXL actress criticised organisers for inviting black and ethnic minority actors to hand out awards and perform at ceremonies while not recognising their achievements. Spike Lees subsequent announcement that he would not be attending was followed by a second video from Pinkett Smith confirming her decision to boycott the awards. Her husband Will Smith will also join her in shunning the ceremony. He told Good Morning America: At this current time, we're uncomfortable to stand there and say this is OK. 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 }} In 2013, Essex University staged the world premiere of a play about Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. The author of O Starry Starry Night is a painter whose works, like his subjects', blaze with radiant colours and mythical creatures. He has written almost 30 dramas, run a theatre company, taught literature in the US for decades. Enough for one overachieving career? No. His 17 volumes of poetry the first, precociously, in 1948 have not only secured for Derek Walcott a permanent berth in the literary canon. They won every accolade, including (in 1992) the Nobel Prize in Literature. Walcott once complained that in the West Indies he loves, celebrates but scourges, an artistic generation "is about five years After that, I think people give up". Over the 68 years since his debut, the endlessly fertile prodigy from Castries, St Lucia has proved himself gloriously wrong. Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures It's not a bad record for a Methodist-raised boy from a tiny Caribbean island, his ancestry mixed, his origins humble. Walcott insists that in St Lucia, he grew up rich: rich in beauty, in wonder, above all in language. Although one poem calls its author "a colonial upstart at the end of an empire,/ a single, homeless, circling satellite", from the beginning his verse sonorous, lush, visionary, magisterial proclaimed a sense both of belonging and entitlement. As he says, "I come from a place that likes grandeur." From early youth he absorbed the classics, made them his own. The abundant islands and their tragic, heroic past lay before him, awaiting his magician's hand. From the tropical lyricism of In a Green Night to the epic sweep of Omeros, he fixed their splendour and sorrow in words that roll and sparkle like his beloved sea. Cherish the glory within and all around you, "Love after love" exhorts: "Feast on your life." Walcott has made a sumptuous banquet of his. 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 Muslim doctor and her sister have been praised for helping convict two pro-Isis hate preachers after challenging them and taking pictures of their propaganda to the police. Sisters Asmaa and Reem Al-Jufaisha, 36 and 24 respectively, confronted the two men after seeing their stall in Oxford Street to rally support for the terrorist group. Despite the men hurling abuse at them and calling them khuffar, a term used by extremists to insult those who aren't Muslim, the women persisted in their confrontation. They took pictures of the stall and the leaflets being handed out, which bore the Isis logo, and brought them to police. Ibrahim Anderson, 38, and Shah Jahan Khan, 62, are now facing prison after being unanimously convicted of inviting support for a banned organisation at the Old Bailey, which they denied. Anderson was also found guilty of possessing information useful for terrorism. Thanks to the images provided by the sisters, police were able to easily identify the ginger-bearded Anderson, and raided his home, where they found instructions on travel to Syria. Prosecutor Mark Seymour told the Old Bailey the stall had been set up outside Topshop on Oxford Street on 9 August 2014. He said when the sisters saw the stall, Asmaa said to the men that Isis were killing innocent people, Christians and Muslims, both Sunni and Shia. Mr Seymour said the ginger man, referring to Anderson, said Shia Muslims were not real Muslims and told the sisters to go die after they said they were Iraqi Shia Muslims. Met Commander Richard Walton praised the Muslim community for fighting terrorism and added police were receiving more similar calls from young people within the community. 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 full extent of Cumbria Polices failure to investigate Poppi Worthingtons death can be revealed following publication of a High Court judges review of the case last week. Mr Justice Peter Jackson concluded on the balance of probabilities the civil standard of proof that the 13-month-old was sexually assaulted by her father, Paul Worthington, at their home in Barrow, Cumbria, shortly before her death in December 2012. Mr Justice Jacksons fact-finding judgement of the case showed that the force did not retrieve what was believed to be the last nappy she wore despite evidence that an officer witnessed Poppis aunt remove it from the floor of the house and place it in the bin outside. It took 14 months for a forensic specialist to report the results of tests carried out on one of five nappies retrieved from the bin. No blood was found in the nappy, which contained significant amounts of DNA from [Poppi] and a male other than the father, but no evidence of the fathers DNA, the judgement said. A Cumbria Police spokesman said: There is reason to doubt this nappy was Poppis. Recommended Read more Court rules Poppi Worthington was sexually assaulted by her father The Independent on Sunday has established that the nappy belonged to one of her brothers, raising yet more questions in a tragedy that has arguably become the most notorious child death case in the UK after a catalogue of blunders from the police, the local council and health professionals. Had a nappy retrieved from the family home been identified as Poppis and sent for testing, it could have provided crucial evidence in securing a conviction. Instead, Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock is calling for a second police inquiry, to salvage some prospect of justice for [Poppis] life. Mr Justice Peter Jackson outlined 12 major failings by police He told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the failures of several agencies in relation to Poppis death were as serious as those that contributed to the deaths of Victoria Climbie and Peter Connelly, also known as Baby P. Following reports of death threats, and the Crown Prosecution Services announcement that it will re-examine its decision not to prosecute Mr Worthington, 48, who was the last person to see Poppi alive and has gone into hiding. He has always denied assaulting his daughter. Dr Alison Armour, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem five days after Poppis death, called the investigating officer, DI Amanda Sadler, twice on 18 and 24 December 2012 and told her she thought Poppis death was not due to natural causes but because of an unlawful act, and that the anal injuries were due to insertion or penetration. DI Sadler and her colleagues, including DCI Mike Forrester, thought Dr Armour had jumped to conclusions. The doctor herself was criticised by Mr Justice Jackson for not filing an interim report in early 2013; her final version was submitted in June that year. Recommended Read more Authority failings may prevent truth coming out over Poppi Worthington Mr Justice Jackson said the extreme delay led to no real investigation into [Poppis] death taking place for nine months. The judge also outlined 12 major failings by police, including failing to take swabs from Mr Worthington until many hours after Poppis death in December 2012, which were not sent for analysis until 2 August 2013. That same month, Mr Worthington and Poppis mother were questioned over their daughters death, but released without charge. In October the following year, local coroner Ian Smith held an inquest and took just seven minutes to declare Poppis death as unexplained. Cumbria police announced in March last year no charges will be brought against anyone in relation to Poppis death. A spokesman told The IoS it would be inappropriate to comment further with the CPS review under way. Paul Worthington at Liverpool Family Court (PA) It also emerged last week that Cumbria police defied recommendations by the Independent Police Complaints Commission to bring gross misconduct charges against several officers. A report into the affair, handed to the force in May last year but not made available to the public, said there should be a full inquiry into DI Sadler, DCI Forrester and other officers. DCI Forrester has been allowed to retire without going before a public hearing, and DI Sadler now faces a lesser charge involving a performance meeting, which can be carried out in secret. She may be dismissed if gross incompetence is proved. The IPCC is reviewing Cumbria Polices investigation. The watchdog said it will consider publishing its report once all relevant proceedings have concluded. David Roberts, the senior coroner for Cumbria, said he would decide next month whether to hold a new inquest. 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 teenager has been shot in both legs in a paramilitary style attack in West Belfast. The 17-year-old victim was shot in the Ardmonagh Parade area of the city. The attack happened at around 19:05 last night. A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told The Independent: Just after 7:05pm, police received a report that a 17 year old male had been shot in both legs in the area. He has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. So called knee capping shootings, whereby a victim is shot through both knee caps, are traditionally associated with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, such as the IRA. A spokesperson for the PSNI described yesterdays attack as a paramilitary style shooting. Anyone with any information relating to the attack is asked to contact detectives at Musgrave Police Station by phoning 101, or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously. 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 }} An Afghan teenager found dead in a shipping container in Staffordshire after trying to flee to Britain has been identified. Khalid Sorki, aged 16 or 17, was found inside a crate of boilers alongside another man last November. Police managed to identify him by comparing DNA from his body to samples taken from his parents after an international search. They revealed yesterday that he came from the war-torn Turkmen Valley area of Afghanistan, which is controlled by the Taliban. The police said arrangements are being made to repatriate his body, with the generous support and funding of the Afghanistan community. The crate had arrived in the UK from northern Italy in early October, as part of a consignment of commercial boilers. The bodies were later uncovered by staff at heating company Ferroli Ltd in Branston, Staffordshire on November 17 due to the smell coming from the crates. Detective Chief Inspector Dave Giles of Staffordshire Police, said: "We extend our condolences to Khalid's family. It is tragic that they lost a young member of their family in such circumstances although we are pleased to have been able to provide them with some answers as to what had happened to him. "Khalid was identified through comparing DNA samples provided by his parents with his DNA profile. "He is believed to be 16 or 17 years old. We will never know his exact age as in Afghanistan dates of birth do not hold the same significance as they do here." He added that progress was being made in the investigation to formally identify the second male found in the crate. 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 }} A school has apologised after telling parents that if their children forgot their lunch money, they would be given bread and butter. Alban Church of England Academy in Bedfordshire wrote to parents earlier this month to warn that pupils would be given the sparse lunch if they and their parents failed to ensure they brought lunch money. The letter stated that despite regular reminders, many children were still failing to bring the 2.10 price of a school meal. It said that the catering company used by the school has a strict policy of not allowing children to owe them the money and that the cost was billed to the school instead. The letter said that this had happened on more than a hundred occasions in the previous month. It said: As a result, and with effect from Monday February 1, this current system will cease. From then, if a pupil comes to school without either a packed lunch or dinner money, the office staff will phone home and ask for packed lunch or the money for a lunch to be dropped into school. If the parent/carer cannot make it into school then the child will be provided with a drink and bread and butter only. Parents were reportedly concerned by the seemingly harsh approach and complained to the school. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Head teacher Sue Lourensz said that the policy has now been changed. She said: Following a number of parental concerns regarding the recent school meals letter, we have decided to re-think our policy and will not be introducing the new system outlined in that letter. I apologise if this has caused any offence, this was not our intention. The letter itself was intended to explain the situation and trial a policy that has been successfully adopted by other schools. With additional reporting by Press Association 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 is behaving in a childish and disgraceful manner by attacking law firms representing victims of alleged abuse and unlawful killing by British soldiers, according to some of Britains most respected lawyers. The criticism of the Prime Minister comes after he said on 22 January: It is clear that there is now an industry trying to profit from spurious claims lodged against our brave servicemen and women who fought in Iraq. Mr Cameron added: This is unacceptable and no way to treat the people who risk their lives to keep our country safe - it has got to end. He has tasked the National Security Council with devising a plan to stamp out this industry including cracking down on 'no win, no fee' schemes, and further restrictions on legal aid with claimants needing to have lived in Britain for a year. And the Prime Minister has pledged to take firm action against any firms found to have abused the system in the past to pursue fabricated claims. But Professor Michael Mansfield QC described the comments as setting a very dangerous precedent and told The Independent: Its for the courts to decide whether theres a spurious claim or not. Mr Camerons remarks are the latest in a series of attacks made by the Government against law firms Leigh Day and Public Interest Lawyers (Pil) in recent weeks. The companies, whose clients include Iraqi victims of alleged abuses, have been dubbed ambulance-chasers by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. More than 1,500 cases of unlawful killing and abuse have been passed to the Iraq Historic Allegations Team established by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the International Criminal Court is conducting a preliminary examination of war crime allegations against British forces in Iraq. Earlier this month Leigh Day was referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, after the MoD complained about the firm, and Pil, to the Solicitors Regulation Authority last year. The allegations, denied by the two companies, include touting for Iraqi clients. The two firms concerned are highly reputable and Im more than dismayed, I think its a disgraceful attack on the integrity of these lawyers doing their job, said Professor Mansfield. And Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholas Mercer, the British Armys top legal adviser in Iraq in 2003, said: The attempts by David Cameron to try and characterize these investigations as being the work of "ambulance chasing lawyers" is both infantile and deliberately misleading. Concerns over the abuse of prisoners by British soldiers in Iraq were raised within the military more than a decade ago, added Lt-Col Mercer, named the 2011/12 Human Rights Lawyer of the Year by Liberty. The suggestion that legal aid might be cut is also very dangerous. The vast majority of claims are for allegations of torture/and or inhuman and degrading treatment and there is a requirement under International Law to provide an effective legal remedy for torture victims, he said. To date, the MoD has paid out 20 million to settle more than 300 claims relating to the conduct of British forces in Iraq. This begs the question as to why the MoD were prepared to pay out millions of pounds for claims it now suggests are spurious? said the former army lawyer. Anyone who has sued the MoD will know that they never pay a penny unless they are forced to do so, he added. Lt-Col Mercer, who left the army in 2011, said: There were plenty of serving officers and others who were concerned about our conduct in Iraq and who still are. It is time this matter was addressed properly rather than this desperate attempt to ridicule the lawyers. He added: The attack on lawyers is deeply regrettable. It appears to be deliberately orchestrated and is completely unacceptable in a democratic society. In a statement on 22 January, a spokesperson for Leigh Day said: We have a system in this country that enables people to obtain justice if they have suffered abuse, damage or loss at the hands of anyone. They added: No-one is above the law, not us, not the British Army and not the Government. We cannot imagine that the Prime Minister is proposing that this should change. And a spokesperson for Pil commented: There is no evidential basis of there being spurious claims and the Prime Ministers comments are wholly unfounded. They added: It seems to us that the British Prime Minister wants to create a scenario where the Armed Forces are above the law. The spokesperson described the political pressures being brought against lawyers as exposing a Government that is willing to undermine the application of the rule of law itself. 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 US government will surrender control of the internets underlying technology this year, for the first time since American academics launched the network 47 years ago. The non-profit body which administrates domain names and internet protocol addresses (IPs) globally is set to become independent from the US Department of Commerce on September 30, after nearly 20 years of fighting for decentralization. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will instead be governed by a multi-stakeholder model, including businesses, individual users and members of foreign governments. The CEO of ICANN, which does not control internet content but is akin to a traffic cop checking that network addresses are securely registered and function properly, has played down the move. "People have aggrandized the role of the US government in what we do, Fadi Chehade told AFP. But the change is actually minimal. It's important symbolically because the US was really a steward for the internet, but for day-to-day accountability, it is minimal." Congress will hear plans in the coming weeks for the transition process, which is expected to take place when ICANN's mandate from the US government expires naturally on 30 September. US politicians and corporations have expressed concerned that their government is giving away the internet, and that rising powers such as China and Russia may hijack control. A takeover of the non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers by the Chinese, the Russians or some combination of governments unfriendly tothe democratic process is a possibility that must be taken seriously, wrote Peter Roff in US News. Mr Chehade denied this is possible, saying "we have a very solid process that ensures this is not a capturable board". He called critics concerns justified and genuine and said being prepared to address them is crucial. But the status quo was no longer sustainable, Mr Chehade told Motherboard. The global nature of the internet made it incredibly hard for ICANN to continue doing its critical role under the control of one party, whoever that party is, whether it is a government or a company, he said. EU internet filters dropped ICANNs decentralization should demonstrate that a bottom-up, multi-stakeholder consensus process can produce outcomes that are good for the internet, vice-president Sally Shipman Wentworth of The Internet Society (IANA), an independent organization involved in the process, told Motherboard. 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 }} A potentially record-setting blizzard has killed at least eight people in the US as it continues to surge across the East Coast, threatening to leave some areas under more than 100cm of snow. More than 85 million people in at least 20 states are in the path of the worsening storm, which is set to supercharge as it travels on towards the Atlantic. The fuse was just lit, said CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers, adding once the storm reaches the Atlantic jet stream, thats when the fire cracker will go off. Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Storm Jonas from space This image taken by NOAA's GOES-East satellite on 22 January and released by NASA shows a winter snowstorm over the east coast of the United States. NOAA GOES Project/NASA via AP Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Washington Monument covered in snow A jogger runs past the Washington Monument as snow falls in Washington DC. The US capital is expected to be one of the worst affected areas during the blizzard conditions. Win McNamee/Getty Images Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Record snowfall disrupts traffic Snow slows down traffic on Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tennessee. At least seven people have been killed in traffic accidents due to the bad weather. Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Washington DC faces worst of the snowfall A member of the US Secret Service stands guard covered in newly fallen snow outside the White House. Win McNamee/Getty Images Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Supermarkets stripped of essentials Supermarket shelves were left bare as millions of Americans hunkered down for a winter storm expected to dump historic amounts of snow in the eastern United States. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures New York braces for blizzards A New York City police officer of the 20th District use snow blowers to clean the pavements at West 81st street on January 23 2016 in New York City. Astrid Riecken/Getty Images Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Snow covers US capital A pedestrian crosses the street in the Chinatown area of Washington DC. Some areas of the Washington district are expected to see more than 100cm of snowfall. Getty Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Snow covers US capital Workers shovel snow on a sidewalk in Washington DC. The storm could potentially be the largest in the capitals history and will probably rank in the top five in terms of snow accumulation. Getty Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Blizzard hits North Carolina NCDOT snow plows clear the roadway along Interstate 85 in Greensborough, North Carolina. More than 130,000 people are without power across the South East, with 125,000 of these in the Carolinas. Lance King/Getty Images Blizzard hits US east coast - in pictures Snow covers the White House US Secret Service Agents stand guard outside the White House during a snowstorm in downtown Washington DC MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio, said the storm could be one of the worst to ever hit the city and is considering a full travel ban. In a press conference, he urged residents not to drive and stay at home. The NYC Mayor's Office tweeted: "This is bad and getting worse rapidly." Six people have been killed in traffic accidents on icy roads in North Carolina, CNN reports. Treacherous driving conditions have also lead to the death of a man in Virginia; another death has been reported in Kentucky, the Richmond Times reports. Aerial view of Storm Jonas Nasa (Nasa) Pedestrians walk on H Street, Washington DC in the snow Getty (Getty) Virginia police say they responded to 989 traffic crashes and 793 disabled vehicles on Friday night, and Washington Mayor, Muriel Bowser, told people to hunker down, shelter in place and stay off the roads, adding the storm has life and death implications. The Washington and Baltimore metro areas were expected to bear the brunt of the so-called Storm Jonas. Two to three feet of snow are likely, accompanied by winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour, before the storm winds down on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Steady snow was falling on southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, early on Saturday and the blizzard conditions are forecast to head north toward New York City later today. The capital has already declared a snow emergency and snowfall rates could potentially reach 25cm every six hours on Saturday, according to Chris Geldart of the District of Columbias emergency management team. The storm could potentially be the largest in the capitals history and will probably rank in the top five in terms of snow accumulation. "We're looking at a significant event," said National Weather Service meteorologist, Frank Pereira. A thick layer of snow has paralysed road, rail and air travel from North Carolina to New York. More than 130,000 people are without power across the South East, with 125,000 of these in the Carolinas, according to Duke Energy. Workers shovels snow on a sidewalk January 22, 2016 in Washington, DC Getty (Getty) A pedestrian crosses the street in the Chinatown area of Washington DC Getty (Getty) Nearly 9,000 flights have been cancelled and a United Airlines plane slipped off the runway at Chicagos O'Hare Airport. The storm developed along the Gulf Coast, dropping snow over Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday. On the East Coast, warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean collided with cold air to form the massive winter system. The storm was forecast to move offshore in southern New England early next week. Philadelphia and New York were expected to get up to 35cm of snow before the storm abates. Low-lying areas of New York and New Jersey might see flooding during high tides on Saturday and Sunday, officials said. Additional reporting by Reuters 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 }} Three cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in the UK in travellers returning from Colombia, Suriname and Guyana, as the epidemic spreads to more than 20 Latin and American countries. The mosquito-borne virus does not spread directly from person to person, Public Health England said in a statement, though "a small number of cases have occurred through sexual transmission or by transmission from mother to foetus via the placenta". Zika does not occur naturally in the UK. The virus, for which there is no known cure, is thought to cause microcephaly in unborn children, a condition which stops babies brains growing and causes abnormally small heads. Since an outbreak of Zika in Brazil in October, a surge in microcephaly in newborns has been reported, with almost 4,000 cases. The epidemic has prompted authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, El Savador and Jamaica to advise women against pregnancy. Colombia's health minister, Alejandro Gaviria, warned "there could be serious consequences" to falling pregnant, and has advised women to postpone doing so for six to eight months. His advice was "a good way to communicate the risk", he told Reuters. Women in El Salvador should wait until 2018 before getting pregnant, the deputy health minister Eduardo Espinoza said, while Jamaica has asked women to avoid pregnancy for 6 to 12 months. Battling the zika virus - in pictures Show all 19 1 /19 Battling the zika virus - in pictures Battling the zika virus - in pictures A worker of the Salvadorean Ministry of Health fumigates a house in Soyapango, 6 kilometers from San Salvador, El Salvador. Salvadorean authorities have began a three days campaign of fumigation to reduce the presence of the mosquito that transmit the Zika virus. EPA/Oscar Rivera Battling the zika virus - in pictures A Health Ministry employee fumigates a home against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Soyapango, six km east of San Salvador. Health authorities have issued a national alert against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, because of the link between the Zika virus and microcephaly and Guillain-BarrE Syndrome in foetuses. AFP PHOTO/Marvin RECINOSMarvin RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures A pediatric infectologist examines a two-months-old baby, who has microcephaly, on 26 January 2016 in Recife, Brazil. Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures A woman walks through the fumes as Health Ministry employee fumigate against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Soyapango. Marvin RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures A health ministry employee sprays to eliminate breeding sites of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which transmits diseases such as the dengue, chicunguna and Zica viruses, in a Tegucigalpa cemetery on January 21, 2016. The medical school at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) recommended that women in the country avoid getting pregnant for the time being due to the presence of the Zika virus. If a pregnant woman is infected by the virus, the baby could be born with microcephaly. AFP PHOTO/Orlando SIERRA Battling the zika virus - in pictures A man walks away from his home with his son as health workers fumigates the Altos del Cerro neighbourhood as part of preventive measures against the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases in Soyapango, El Salvador REUTERS/Jose Cabezas Battling the zika virus - in pictures A three-months-old, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil. Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures A pregnant woman waits to be attended at the Maternal and Children's Hospital in Tegucigalpa. The medical school at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) recommended that women in the country avoid getting pregnant for the time being due to the presence of the Zika virus. If a pregnant woman is infected by the virus, the baby could be born with microcephaly. ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures Army soldiers apply insect repellent as they prepare for a clean up operation against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is a vector for transmitting the Zika virus in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AP Photo/Andre Penner Battling the zika virus - in pictures Workers disinfect the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro to fight the spread of the Zika virus Battling the zika virus - in pictures Dr. Vanessa Van Der Linden, the neuro-pediatrician who first recognized the microcephaly crisis in Brazil, measures the head of a 2-month-old baby with microcephaly in Recife Battling the zika virus - in pictures Mother Mylene Helena Ferreira cares for her son David Henrique Ferreira, 5 months, who has microcephaly, on January 25, 2016 in Recife, Brazil. In the last four months, authorities have recorded close to 4,000 cases in Brazil in which the mosquito-borne Zika virus may have led to microcephaly in infants Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures U.S. women who are pregnant from traveling to many South American countries Battling the zika virus - in pictures In the last four months, authorities have recorded close to 4,000 cases in Brazil in which the mosquito-borne Zika virus may have led to microcephaly in infants. Getty Images Battling the zika virus - in pictures Dr. Vanessa Van Der Linden, the neuro-pediatrician who first recognized the microcephaly crisis in Brazil, examines a two-month-old baby with microcephaly on January 27, 2016 in Recife, Brazil Battling the zika virus - in pictures Washington Post Battling the zika virus - in pictures Battling the zika virus - in pictures Battling the zika virus - in pictures "Until we understand the science better, postponing planned pregnancies is a sensible option", Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Laura Rodrigues told the Independent. "The final choice of course must be the women's. "This is a very new situation - it's only a few months since we discovered the link between Zika and microcephaly - and there are still big gaps in knowledge", she said. But pregnancy is often not a choice for women in the region, according to womens rights campaigners. "It's incredibly naive for a government to ask women to postpone getting pregnant in a context such as Colombia, where more than 50% of pregnancies are unplanned and across the region where sexual violence is prevalent," Women's Link Worldwide member Monica Roa told the BBC. While the link between Zika and microcephaly has not been confirmed, the Zika virus was found in five of the 49 babies who have died of microcephaly in Brazil so far, according to the countrys health ministry. The virus causes only mild flu-like symptoms in adults and typically lasts between four to seven days. With no cure currently available, avoiding bites from the virus host Aedes aegypti mosquito is the only way to prevent infection. Research to develop a vaccine has been announced by the US and Brazilian governments. US authorities have warned pregnant women against travelling to 22 countries where Zika cases have been registered. 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 }} Western tourists are funding abhorrent cruelty" in the dog meat trade that sees family pets stolen, skinned and boiled alive, activists say. The Soi Dog Foundation, which campaigns against the practice in Vietnam, China and South Korea, said what would be a waning tradition is being fuelled by foreign consumers. John Dalley, the charitys co-founder and vice president, told ABC News that the animals are clubbed to death if they are lucky but others are strung up and skinned, burned or boiled alive. The cruelty is abhorrent. There is literally no method to the slaughter, it's almost madness, he said. Yulin's dog meat festival What we are seeing more and more of is tour guides in Vietnam, pushing Western tourists to try dog meat, because it is a cultural thing. Tourists are not realising what the dog has gone through and also the danger they are putting themselves in - the health issues are real. Rabies has been found in dog meat, although it cannot transmit the disease to humans, and it has also been linked to outbreaks of cholera. An estimated five million dogs are eaten in Vietnam every year and 2.5 million in the Korean Peninsula, while activists believe 70 per cent of those are stolen pets. Celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Dame Judi Dench have appeared in a campaign video by the Soi Dog Foundation to raise awareness of the horrific trade. Warning: Some viewers may find scenes in this video distressing I didnt know that these innocent creatures are crammed into cages so brutally that their bones almost break, so tightly that they cant move, Dame Judi said. Theyre trapped like this for the smuggled journey, which can take days. Footage filmed by activists shows dogs being thrown into cages where they are left starving and crying, before being stacked on to lorries for transport. Many are crushed or suffocated on the journey, while others starve or die of thirst. Some abattoirs boil the dogs alive because of the belief that the adrenaline released during pain tenderises the meat. Authorities are cracking down on the trade in dogs for meat and skin in Thailand, which is often linked to organised gangs exporting to Vietnam and China. 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 }} Austria's Foreign Minister has announced any refugee refusing to attend special integration courses or learn German could see their social benefits cut. Sebastian Kurz told an economic forum in Davos, Greece: "Those who are not willing to learn German, who do not want to be part of the labor market, who are not ready to attend an integration course, will face social benefits cuts, it is an absolutely necessary next step. "The migrant inflow should be reduced but those, who do have the right to get asylum, should be integrated into society." Austrian authorities have planned eight hour "value and orientation" training courses which aim to teach refugees Austrian laws and social norms. These courses will be part of a wider integration program and will be held in Arabic, Farsi/Dari and English - reports RT. Mr Kurz's statement was reiterated by Markus Wallner, the head of the Voralberg region in Austria: "There can eventually be no avoidance behavior. Specifically, if someone avoids attending the values training course, [his] social benefits should be reduced." Austria has announced a plan to cap the number of new arrivals in 2016 to 37,500. 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 British woman has allegedly been strangled to death with a phone charger in Spain. Lisa Jane Lyttle has been named in local media reports as the woman found dead at her home in Costa de la Calma, Mallorca. Her husband, Warren Lyttle, 50, has reportedly been arrested for murder. Paramedics rushed to the scene to try and resuscitate Ms Lyttle, 49, who was found in cardiac arrest with bruising on her neck. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "Following the death of a British national in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, we are in contact with the local authorities and are providing support to the family at this difficult time." A man, who is currently being held in custody will appear before magistrates on Sunday or Monday. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil, told The Sun: A British man who is resident in Majorca phoned the emergency services around 3.20am. The victim was strangled with a telephone cord during a row. Her husband is being held at a Civil Guard station and will be handed over to a judge tomorrow (Sunday) or on Monday. 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 }} Todays 43 new deaths by drowning in the Aegean Sea brought Europes migration crisis sharply back into focus just as the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, warned that unless the flow of refugees is better managed, it could cause the break-up of the European Union. How serious is the refugee crisis? More than a million migrants and refugees came to Europe last year, mostly via Turkey. Although winter was expected to slow the pace, 35,000 have arrived in the first three weeks of January, compared with 1,600 for the whole month last year. How has the EU responded? Recommended Read more 45 refugees drown trying to reach Greece in two overloaded boats There have been many initiatives since last spring, and EU leaders have discussed the issue at six separate summits, but most measures have been inadequate or slow, or both. They include relocation and resettlement efforts, a new border control police, and a deal with Turkey to stop refugees heading to Europe. What went wrong with relocation? The plan to relocate 160,000 people more evenly across the EU was immediately controversial, as eastern countries like Hungary pointed out that refugees wanted to go to Berlin, not Budapest. The results are pitiful: only 331 have been relocated since September. The plans to resettle refugees from outside Europe have not been much better: only 779 of the 5,331 due in 2015 had been effectively resettled. How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a bottle of water towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian armoured personnel carriers are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian police spray water cannon on migrants at the "Horgos 2" border crossing into Hungary, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee reacts after Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee gestures as Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a stone towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon and pepper spray to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Migrants shout slogans as they stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen run as they are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees wait at the Horgos 2 border crossing EPA What is being done to police the EUs borders? Last month, EU leaders backed plans for a European Border and Coast Guard, aimed mainly at Greece and Italy, where most refugees have landed. It would ensure asylum-seekers are screened and register before a decision is taken on whether they can stay. It will come too late for most leaders. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: We need to get a grip on this issue in the next six to eight weeks. Can Turkey help? The EU signed a 3bn (2.3bn) deal with Turkey aimed at stemming the flow. Turkey is hosting 2.2 million refugees from Syria, Iraq and other war zones. But EU finance ministers have yet to agree who should pay; EU officials complain Turkey is not playing its part and Ankara says the 3bn isnt enough. Does migration hurt Europe? Economically, it is a boon: an IMF report on Wednesday said EU states that take in the most people will get the biggest windfall worth an extra 1.1 per cent growth in Austria, Germany, and Sweden by 2020. Migrants may also fill the demographic shortfall from Europes shrinking population. The EUs active labour force of 240 million would fall to 207 million by 2050, even if migration runs at the present level. If it halts, the workforce would shrink to 169 million. Why did Germany open and then close its doors? The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, earned world-wide praise for inviting Syrian refugees to come to her country. But a political backlash at home forced her to change tack, closing Germanys borders. The mood has further soured after New Years Eve assaults on women in Cologne, blamed on Muslim migrants. Will the crisis bring Europes borders back? The passport-free Schengen zone across much of the EU is being severely tested. Six countries Austria, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark and non-EU member Norway have reintroduced temporary border checks. The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warns dismantling Schengen would cost 2.3bn a year in lost business. The European Council President Donald Tusk says unless the EU makes progress in the next two months, Schengen could fail. What about Greece, the weak link in the refugee trail? Under EU rules, asylum-seekers must register in the first safe country they reach. But this Dublin regulation put huge administrative burdens on Greece and Italy, and is widely ignored: most refugees arrive on deserted beaches and travel by land to countries like Germany and Sweden. A rule change due in March may replace this with a quota system. Would this mean more migrants come to Britain? Its unlikely to affect the relatively few asylum-seekers who enter the UK, which has no land border with Europe and retains border checks. Britain has an opt-out on asylum policy, so could choose not to apply it. Britains share of asylum claims has fallen to 3.5 per cent last year. But it would mean renegotiating the associated rules under which Britain returns 1,000 migrants a year to the country where they first arrived. Could this all affect Britains renegotiation with the EU? David Cameron aims to cut the number of EU citizens travelling to Britain to work, not asylum-seekers. But the crisis plays into the hands of those seeking the UKs withdrawal. 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 }} Europe's refugee crisis has been debated at Davos World Economic Forum by the great and the good, almost none of whom have experienced being without shelter, safety or food, at the mercy of foreign authorities. But A Day in the Life of a Refugee, a simulated 75-minute workshop run by the non-profit Crossroads Foundation for some of Davos' 2,500 delegates, aimed to re-create some of the struggles and choices [refugees] face to survive . Participants, who included the Turkish Prime Minister's wife and the US Ambassador to Switzerland, had to trade food for valuables, fill out identity papers and endure orders from uniformed soldiers with fake weapons. Dead bodies, gunfire and orders shouted in foreign languages can unsettle participants, and lead to a deeper empathy of the challenges of real refugees, a Crossroads Foundation spokesman told The Local. Participants are finding that the emotional connection with the crisis is far more lasting than data and rhetoric. US Ambassador to Switzerland Susi G Levine called it an intense, powerful way to build empathy. Her workshop group, which included the Turkish prime ministers wife Sare Davutoglu, had to use ID cards, cover our hair (for women), experience abuse, ensure sensory overload, feel humiliated and more, she wrote on Facebook, adding I highly recommend doing it. Some of the people portraying soldiers were former refugees, she said. Crossroads Foundation hopes that the scenario, informed by displaced persons and aid workers, highlighted how the military arrogance, corruption, disempowerment and frustration endured by refugees need solutions from global leaders. "Many participants come out of the simulation crying," Crossroads' senior spokesman David Begbie told Deutsche Welle. "Empathy is the key to a better world," he said, "then action can follow." As the foundation says on its website, you cannot understand a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. More than a million refugees arrived in Europe last year. During the first three weeks of January this year, 35,000 have entered Europe compared to 1,600 during the whole of last January. 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 far-right Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, has called for Islamic male refugees to be locked up in asylum centres, saying women needed to be protected from testosterone bombs waging sexual jihad. Mr Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), made the comments in a party video in the wake of the New Years Eve sexual attacks in Cologne, Germany, in which a number of women were groped and robbed by a large group of men mainly of Arab or North African origin. In the video, Mr Wilders calls for the Netherlands to close its borders to all asylum-seekers from Islamic countries. But as long as this doesn't happen," Mr Wilders says, "as long as our women are in danger from the Islamic testosterone bombs, I propose that we lock the male asylum seekers up in the asylum centres. Reports of a rise in sexual assault incidents across Europe, in major cities from Cologne to Stockholm, have been blamed by a number of politicians and campaign groups on the influx of migrants and refugees to the continent. However, Stefan Lofven, the prime minister of Sweden told CNBC on Wednesday: Sexual harassment is not automatically binding to migration and immigration. We have had sexual harassment in Sweden for many, many years, unfortunately." The Netherlands took in a record number of asylum seekers in 2015, receiving more than 54,000 by the end of November, as Europe faces the worst migrant crisis since World War II. Mr Wilders' anti-Islam, anti-immigration rhetoric has propelled him to the top of the Dutch polls. The country's next parliamentary elections are not due till 2017, however recent polls suggest PVV would win some 36 seats in the 150-seat Lower House if they were held now, according to public broadcaster NOS, AFP reports. The party currently occupies 12 seats in parliament. Mr Wilders is a controversial figure in Dutch politics. He has lived under 24-hour supervision since 2004 due to death threats and in 2011 was acquitted of hate speech, although he is expected to go to trial in March for inciting racial hatred after pledging in a local election to ensure there would be fewer Moroccans in the country. The outspoken politician has previously caused outrage and protests in the Muslim world for a short, online film which showed verses of the Quran next to images of extreme violence and terrorism. Provoking further contention, the PVV handed out fake pepper spray or resistance sprays to women at a rally in the town in Spijkenisse on Saturday following Mr Wilder's video speech, the NL Times reports. 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 }} German authorities have started confiscating jewellery, valuables and cash from refugees entering the country to make them fund their stay. Officials in Bavaria and other southern states seeing high numbers of asylum seekers arriving from Austria are following Denmark and Switzerland to implement the controversial practice. Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, said anything worth more than 750 (570) can legally be seized in his state. Refugees walk to a special train to Duesseldorf at the train station in Passau, Germany, 16 January 2016 (EPA) The practice in Bavaria and the federal rules set out in law correspond in substance with the process in Switzerland, he added. In neighbouring Baden-Wurttemberg, asylum seekers can only keep money and valuables worth 350 (265). The average amount seized so far is in the four figures per person across the southern states, Bild reported. Aydan Ozoguz, the federal government's integration commissioner, told the newspaper that they are implementing federal laws that require asylum seekers to use their own resources. If you apply for asylum here, you must use up your income and wealth before receiving aid, he said, according to a translation by The Local. That includes, for example, family jewellery. Even if some prejudices persist you don't have it any better as an asylum seeker as someone on unemployment benefit. Similar policies have caused controversy elsewhere in Europe but have been received largely without opposition in Germany, where attitudes towards the 1.1 million asylum seekers who arrived last year have shifted in the wake of the Cologne attacks. Growing fury in Germany over New Years Eve assaults on women in Cologne Ulla Jelpke, an MP for the left-wing Die Linke party, criticised it as excessive. Those who apply for asylum are exercising a fundamental right, she told Der Tagesspiegel. That must not be linked to costs, even in cases were applications are rejected. Swiss authorities recorded 112 cases where assets over 1000 francs (690) were confiscated from asylum seekers last year, when around 45,000 refugees arrived in the country. The state secretariat for migration said anyone who leaves voluntarily within seven months of arrival can take their money and belongings back. Denmark finalised legislation to do the same last week, but increased the threshold to 10,000 global (1,015) and exempted sentimental items like wedding rings in the wake of international outrage and internal opposition. Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had said the bill, which also delays family reunifications, would fuel fear and xenophobia. The debate comes as thousands of refugees from the Middle East and Africa continue to arrive on European shores every day. At least 46 people drowned on Friday as two overcrowded smuggling boats drowned on their way to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. These deaths highlight both the heartlessness and the futility of the growing chorus demanding greater restrictions on refugee access to Europe, said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia director. A manageable crisis has become a moral test that Europe is in danger of failing dismally. Additional reporting by AP 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 }} Wir schaffen das! was the collective cry in Germany in the summer as Angela Merkel opened the borders to all Syrian asylum seekers. But over the coming months, we can do this became gradually replaced by doubt, resentment and fear as the government performed U-turn after U-turn on the policies that had distinguished it from the rest of Europe. Here is how Germany turned its back on refugees: Growing fury in Germany over New Years Eve assaults on women in Cologne Putting up border controls There was widespread praise for Angela Merkels opening of the border to all Syrians in August but border controls with Austria were reintroduced in mid-September and the arrival of 1.1 asylum seekers by the end of the year raised concerns about housing and infrastructure. The Chancellor has since pledged to drastically decrease the number of people arriving in the country, which remains the destination for the bulk of migrants still crossing the Aegean to Europe in their thousands every day. Germany has continued its temporary border controls with Austria for several months and the Welt am Sonntag reports today that it is one of a group of nations calling for an extension of the measures in the Schengen area. Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Denmark were also said to be among those planning to raise the proposals at a meeting of EU interior ministers on Monday. If successful, it would allow Germany to prolong its border controls, due to lapse in May, for a further one to one-and-a-half years. It is among six Schengen members to have reinstated temporary border checks in the previously passport-free area. Denmark has taken the decision to tighten its border controls (AFP/Getty Images) Sending refugees back to Austria Police in Austria, which is the last point of transit before Germany, say its neighbour has been turning back hundreds of would-be refugees every day. Many of those rejected at the border have no valid documents or refuse to apply for asylum in Germany, arguing they want to travel further north to countries such as Sweden, police in the province of Upper Austria said. Since the New Year, it's been about 200 a day, and getting higher, a spokesperson said earlier this month. German politicians seem to have decided to act with more firmness. The difficult thing (for us) is to explain if a migrant asks: Why can't I travel further now if my friend could still do it last week? A spokesperson for police in Munich confirmed that Germany has been sending back up to 100 or so migrants a day, depending on individual cases, but did not confirm any recent increase. We apply the valid legal rules. They haven't changed, she said. Any asylum seekers who do not apply in Austria face a fine for illegally crossing the border but can attempt to cross to Germany once again once they have paid the fee. Syrian refugees were still mainly being accepted because of their high chance of being granted asylum in Germany but Afghans, who make up around a fifth of the people reaching Europe to flee war and persecution, Iraqis making up almost a tenth and other nationalities were less likely to be let through. Migrants arrive at a temporary camp after German officials sent them back to Austria in Schaerding Am Inn, Austria, 12 January 2016. (EPA) Seizing cash and valuables from asylum seekers German authorities have started confiscating jewellery, valuables and cash from refugees entering the country to make them fund their stay. Officials in Bavaria and other southern states seeing high numbers of asylum seekers arriving from Austria are following Denmarkand Switzerland to implement the controversial practice. Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, said anything worth more than 750 (570) can legally be seized in his state. The practice in Bavaria and the federal rules set out in law correspond in substance with the process in Switzerland, he added. In neighbouring Baden-Wurttemberg, asylum seekers can only keep money and valuables worth 350 (265). The average amount seized so far is in the four figures per person across the southern states, Bild reported. Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images Rising xenophobia and attacks Refugees arriving in Germany in the summer were met by cheering crowds at railway stations and crowds of volunteers as people gave their time, money and even their homes to the new arrivals. Heart-warming stories of generosity spread around the world as many countries looked to Germany as an example of how Europe should be treating the migration crisis. But six months on, support for the anti-Islam movement Pegida once memorably dubbed as Nazis in pinstripes is growing and the New Years Eve attacks in Cologne have been followed by a wave of vigilante attacks across the country. Public support for the current level of migration in Germany is also falling fast. In November, just over half of respondents in a YouGov survey said they thought the number of asylum seekers in the country was too high, while 42 per cent said they were acceptable and a fifth of respondents said the country could welcome more refugees. Now, almost two thirds of those surveyed say the number of asylum seekers is too high and only 16 per cent were comfortable with the figures. Credit: Statista Tightening asylum laws In response to the mass sexual assaults and robberies in Cologne on New Years Eve, Ms Merkel has proposed new measures to deny the right of asylum for those who have committed crimes or are on probation. Only asylum seekers who have been sentenced to at least three years' imprisonment and will not be at risk in their countries of origin can currently be forcibly deported under German law. But the threshold could now be lowered so theft, robbery and other offences that would fall outside that category become cause for removal. The German cabinet will need to back the plans before a draft law is drawn up. Refugees arrive in Munich (Reuters) but Germany is still one of the most welcoming countries in Europe Despite the dramatic policy changes, Germanys stance is still not as hardened as other European countries. It has welcomed up to 1.1 million refugees and thousands of Germans are still working to welcome them with voluntary language classes, house-sharing and other initiatives. The UK, by contrast, has pledged to take only 20,000 refugees over the next five years, while some European leaders have made statements varying from unwelcoming to hostile. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, is calling for the creation of a fence along the Macedonian and Bulgarian borders with Greece to keep migrants out after claiming that his country was being overrun by Muslim refugees who threatened Europes Christian roots. Ms Merkel said the push by Hungary and other nations to physically prevent refugees entering were not helpful. Volunteers, police, the emergency services and council employees greeted the new arrivals (EPA) Speaking alongside the Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, on Friday, she pledged not only to solve the crisis but to improve conditions in refugee camps and work towards a truce in Syria. Unilateral solutions, each member state for itself, will not help us. Instead we need an overall European approach, she said. I am deeply convinced that the question of illegal immigration can only be solved when we work together toward resolving the cause of the flood. The Chancellor has refused to put a cap on the number of migrants allowed into Germany and is focusing on working with Turkey to help slow the flow of people coming to Europe as domestic pressure continues. Political leaders are remembered not just for their projects, for but the humanitarian stances they take in difficult times, Mr Davutoglu said. The step Mrs Merkel took will go down in history. The people of Syria will never forget this humanitarian stance. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Jeremy Corbyn MP today visited the Calais Jungle and Grande-Synthe (Dunkirk) refugee camps to see the humanitarian crises there first-hand. It was his first official trip abroad as Leader of the Opposition. Mr Corbyn first paid a visit to the Jungle in Calais. He walked around the camp, took selfies with inhabitants and discussed what needed to be done to improve conditions there with camp elders and representatives of the major volunter organisations. He then made the short trip north to the smaller camp at Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, where conditions have been described as "far worse" than in the better-known Jungle. En route, he stopped at Dunkirk War Memorial to bow his head in memory of all those who died in the two World Wars. Both of the committed pacifist's parents served in World War II his mother as an Air Raid Warden and his father in the Home Guard. Speaking at Grande-Synthe, Mr Corbyn said: "What I'm trying to achieve here is to understand the nature of the refugee crisis that's facing the whole of Europe. Ultimately we deal with the situation by dealing with the problem at its source, which are the wars and conflicts." "We have got people here who have been here for months, if not longer than that, with no proper education, no access to doctors, no access to dentists, limited access to food - in very cold, very wet conditions." "These conditions are a disgrace anywhere. We as human beings have to reach out to fellow human beings." Groups of refugees periodically mobbed Mr Corbyn to ask for his assistance: a mother with an emaciated baby thrust the child toward the Labour leader and begged him for help, and the MP also said he would try to help a group of British passport holders trying to secure safe passage for their families. Many of the refugees who approached Mr Corbyn to plead for his intervention were Kurdish. The Labour leader has been a vocal supporter of the Kurdish struggle for rights and self-determination for many years, and has often spoken in condemnation of the Kurdish genocide and in solidarity with Kurds still facing violent oppression in Turkey, Iraq and elsewhere. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Last week, Calais government officials announced that they were going to demolish a third of the long-standing camp. The decision forced refugees and volunteers to move over 500 semi-permanent shelters and nearly 2000 inhabitants in the space of five days. Their stated aim was to clear a "buffer zone" between the camp and the road, but with no official notice given until several days after it was demanded by volunteers, many people on the ground feel that the move was just the beginning of a surreptitious attempt to clear the camp out altogether. At Grande-Synthe, meanwhile, diseases such as scabies are rife, and the local police have often blocked vital supplies from entering the camp. People in both camps are in danger of dying from hypothermia as temperatures plummet below freezing. Many tents at Grande-Synthe have collapsed into the mud, while the sudden, enforced move in the Jungle brought similiar problems in Calais. Volunteers at both camps say they are are still badly in need of donations, materials and volunteers. Mr Corbyn's visit will bring some much-needed publicity to thousands of refugees still living in life-threatening circumstances. 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 }} To Yusuf, a refugee from conflict-stricken Sudan, a job cleaning the toilets and mopping the floors in a Swiss branch of McDonalds seemed like a golden opportunity to enter into the world of paying work in Europe. But after he had been working "non-stop" for 40 days, he still had not been paid. Yusuf reasoned that there wasn't a problem- he'd been told by the cleaning company that he had to work for free to get a residency permit, after which he would be paid like all their other workers. He just had to wait for the cleaning company to organise his work permit. But when he mentioned this arrangement to another resident at his hostel, he realised he'd been tricked into working for free. At first I thought it was normal to work for free in Switzerland to get a residency permit. My friends at the refugee home also did it, Yusuf told the German-language trade union magazine Work. Yusuf is in Switzerland on a provisional F permit, but his employers (a subsidiary of a company called Top Clean Reinigungen GmbH) said that they could help him to obtain a five-year B permit. He says that he worked "non-stop" and "without breaks" for 40 days across 2014-2015. After realising that he'd been tricked, Yusuf reported the case to the Swiss union Unia, which recently brought his plight to public attention. Yusuf demanded 6,868 Swiss Francs (4740) in backpay from the company. Instead, he says his manager offered him a lump sum of just 3000 francs (2070), conditional on Yusuf dropping his complaint with the trade union. The offer was turned down, and McDonalds have since terminated their contract with the cleaning firm. What's more, Unia report that at least another seven refugees were tricked into working for free by the firm, three of whom have since filed wage complaints of their own. Theres no way I am going to fall for this again," Yusuf added. "I only hope I can find a paying job soon. There must still be decent bosses in Switzerland." There is no official minimum wage in Switzerland. In 2015, citizens overwhelmingly rejected a proposition to introduce a mandatory minimum wage of 22 Swiss Francs (15) an hour, which would have been the world's highest. However, collective bargaining agreements which cover the vast majority of workers mean that even unskilled workers can normally expect a guaranteed minimum income of 2,200 Swiss Francs (1500) a month. (Switzerland also has some of the highest costs of living in the world). 'Straight Outta Syria': refugees rappers show importance of education As a rough point of comparison, average income per head in Yusuf's native Sudan is just 670 a month (across the two nations of North and South Sudan). Despite the declaration of independence for South Sudan in 2011, both nations remain rife with violent conflicts and severe humanitarian crises. In 2014, half a million people were displaced from Darfur alone, as both government forces and independent militias committed multiple human rights violations. The incumbent president of North Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. 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 }} More than a million Russians are now HIV-positive, as rates of infection in the country reach an all-time high. Vadim Pokrovsky, the head of the Russian state Aids centre and an outspoken critic of the Kremlin's conservative health policies, told Reuters that at at least 1 million and possibly as many as 1.5 million Russians were now HIV-positive. This means that a little over 1 per cent of Russia's 144,000,000 inhabitants now test positive for the virus, meaning that Russia has more cases of HIV per person than any other European country, save Estonia. By way of contrast, there are only around 100,000 individuals in the UK living with HIV. The epidemic is gathering strength," Mr Pokrovsky added. "Unfortunately, the measures that have been taken have clearly not been enough. There were 90,000 new cases in Russia in 2014, and the Aids centre further estimate that the number of HIV infections will reach 2 million by 2019. Since Russia's first recorded case of HIV in 1987, around 204,000 people have died as a result of the virus. 57 per cent of Russians infected with the virus acquired it through drug use, with around 20 per cent of the country's large number of known drug users testing positive for the disease. Russia has the largest number of intravenous drug users in the world 1.8 million of them, according to a 2012 Lancet study. Only around 30 per cent of Russians diagnosed with HIV currently receive the antriretroviral medication that their bodies need to stop the virus from multiplying. Mr Pokrovsky told Reuters that he needed at least double the $475,000,000 being offered to him by the Kremlin to fight the disease. However, the Russian economy has been deflated by the collapse in oil prices and the imposition of Western sanctions, and there is likely to be even less public health funding available than before. As such, Russia is in imminent danger of moving from a "concentrated epidemic" of HIV, with the virus confined to one subset of the population, into a "generalised epidemic", with the virus proliferating throughout wider society. The Aids expert has criticised the Kremlin's policies as responsible for the HIV/Aids epidemic. Points of concern he has previously highlighted include: the increasing influence of the Orthodox Church, which frowns upon the use of condoms; the criminalisation of the sex trade; a lack of sex education; and a failure to ringfence funds for preventative rather than curative approaches to the disease. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty Other issues faced by those seeking to combat the epidemic include the banning of drug replacement therapy for opiod user and the dearth of needle exchanges. In general, the country's repressive approach towards drug users and homosexuals contributes to a stigmatisation of the disease. For example, Vladimir Putin's banning of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" has had the knock-on effect of making AIDS education literature harder than ever to access. 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 }} Spain appeared to be on course to get a new left-wing government tonight after anti-austerity Podemos announced it was willing to go into coalition with the Socialist party. More than a month of deadlock which looked likely to lead to fresh elections was broken in a dramatic fashion by Pablo Iglesias, the Podemos leader, who told reporters that his party was willing to forge a new leftist pact. His announcement was apparently the first time the Socialists had heard of the proposal. This has caught us off guard, a Socialist party official told El Pais newspaper. It will nonetheless be very tempting for the Socialist leader, Pedro Sanchez, who would become Spains next prime minister. Each main party leader met separately with King Felipe today in an attempt to break the stalemate created by the inconclusive 20 December election. Mr Sanchez, who met the sovereign after the Podemos leader, dodged questions over whether he would accept Mr Iglesiass offer. It is difficult to see an alternative, however, especially as post-election polls suggest a surge in support for Podemos after its strong showing last month, at the expense of the Socialists. The [Socialist party] has always taken the lead in dialogue and we will reach out to left and right to build consensus, Mr Sanchez said. He again ruled out joining a grand coalition led by the governing centre-right PP party. Its leader, the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, has been unable to muster enough support to form a coalition of his own. Any Socialist-Podemos government would also need backing from the small United Left party, and a number of regional parties, to secure a parliamentary majority. First, however, Mr Rajoy may have to suffer the indignity of losing a formal vote on his own investiture in the coming days. As leader of the largest party, convention requires that he make the first attempt to form a government. The Socialists and Podemos finished behind the PP in the election, and their alliance may face accusations that it lacks legitimacy as a government of the losers. I told the king that democracy has its limits and procedures, Mr Sanchez said. It is Rajoys turn. The [Socialists will] vote against his investiture. A left-wing government in Spain, which would be likely to reject many austerity measures imposed by their predecessors at Brussels behest, may be viewed with suspicion by the European Union. Spains economy has grown impressively in recent months, but unemployment remains over 20 per cent. Mr Iglesias has called for an end to severe public spending cuts. We have decided to seize the initiative and take a step forward, he said. Either youre for change, or for stagnation and impasse. 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 13-year-old Palestinian girl who attempted to stab an Israeli security guard has been shot dead in the West Bank. Police claimed the teenager, named as Ruqayya Abu Eid, was intending to die when she travelled to the Anatot settlement near her family home on Saturday morning. Luba Samri, a spokesperson for Israeli police, said she approached a gate leading to the settlement and ran at a security guard with a knife after he stopped her and asked for identification. Initial investigations suggested the teenager had fought with her family and left her home with a knife and intending to die, she added. Ruqayyas father arrived at the scene searching for his daughter to find her dead on the ground. He was arrested and taken for questioning. But the girls mother, Reeda Abu Eid, contradicted the police account. She said there had been no trouble before her daughter left the family home, a tent in the Palestinian village of Anata. Her father works in a farm and Ruqayya used to go to him, she added. I didn't see her when she left so I expected she had gone to her father. Ruqayya is a small girl, how could she stab someone? Israeli settlements have been the target of much of the recent violence in the West Bank (EPA) Photos from the scene appeared to show a knife on the ground near Ruqayyas body, which was covered by a plastic sheet as forensics officers continued their investigations. It was the latest in a series of Palestinian attacks and deaths in a surge of violence that started last October. Since the start of that month, 27 Israelis have died in stabbings, shootings and car rammings, while at least 155 Palestinians have been killed by security forces, including 95 said to be attempting or carrying out attacks. Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers. On Sunday, an Israeli mother of six was stabbed to death at her home in a West Bank settlement and a 15-year-old Palestinian was arrested for the attack. The following day, Israeli troops shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian who had stabbed a pregnant Israeli woman in another settlement. The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child The bloodshed comes amid frustration over the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians seek for an independent state, although Israeli politicians have blamed incitement by Palestinian politicians. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are considered illegal under international law and the United Nations found construction was the root cause of escalating violence in a report last year. A spokesperson for the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices said there was also a perception of a climate of impunity relating to the activities of the settlers. Palestinian labourers have been banned from entering the settlements, where an estimated 11,000 Palestinians work, as road closures, movement restrictions, raids and arrests continue in the ongoing security crackdown. 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 }} The son of a senior Shia cleric executed by Saudi Arabia has challenged David Cameron to speak out about what he called the murder of his father, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and the death sentence that hangs over his cousin, Ali al-Nimr. Sheikh Nimr was beheaded on 2 January along with 46 others. Nearly all were alleged to be members of al-Qaeda. The cleric was one of four Shia men from the countrys restive Eastern Province who were executed for allegedly plotting the overthrow of the government. Ali al-Nimr, a juvenile when he was arrested, and two other young Shia, also juveniles, face being beheaded at any time. Sheikh al-Nimr with his son Mohammed al-Nimr, 29, spoke to The Independent on Sunday from Indianapolis where he moved five years ago to study mechanical engineering at the University of Indiana. The UK, he said has an option either to stay with this regime or go to a better place and condemn these barbaric acts. 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, 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. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty He urged the Prime Minister to intervene with the Saudis to save his cousin. I say to you, Mr Cameron, that if you as a British citizen value freedom and if you value human life, then please imagine Ali as your son and ask yourself what would you do? Fearing for his own safety, Mr Nimr has not returned to Saudi Arabia for nearly two years. His uncle, the sheikhs brother, was detained on the day the death sentence was handed down in 2014 for tweeting about it. Mr Nimr said that the execution of his father and the continuing threat to his cousin have had a devastating impact on the family. Recommended Read more David Cameron accused of silently taking Britain into Saudi Arabia war In 2013, one year into his fathers incarceration, his mother died while receiving treatment at a hospital in New York. It is not easy at all. We are doing our best to save Ali and we live in hope that one day he will be free, he said. Exacerbating their grief is the fact the Nimr al-Nimrs body has not been returned to the family for burial. The Saudi authorities have said that all those executed were buried together in an unknown place according to Muslim practice. There is no doctrine in Islam that would say do not return the body, his son said. We have the right to a proper burial. Mohammed al-Nimr spoke to The Independent on Sunday from Indianapolis The family does not know what was done to his father before he was executed. In the harsh Wahhabist version of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, the condemned can have hands or feet cut off before beheading. The world should know what a brutal and barbaric regime this is. Reaction to Saudi killings He described his father as an advocate of non-violent change. He was a man who would not accept oppression or tolerate any tyrant, but he always spoke about the peaceful way to demand rights. Ali al-Nimr faces being beheaded In a memo released by the Saudi embassy in London shortly after the executions, Nimr al-Nimr was described as having direct involvement in terrorist activities. The memo claimed the cleric was involved in incitement, planning terrorist attacks, arming militants, and was apprehended following a gunfight with security officials. Mohammed al-Nimr rejects all those charges. He says there is not a single piece of evidence to prove the allegations. Bring one proof, one piece of evidence to show that he was armed or that he was violent, just one. They cannot. Sheikh Nimr had been a long-time critic of the ruling House of Saud. He had repeatedly called for elections and an end to discrimination against the Shia. His popularity soared during the Arab Spring, and he condemned the Saudi-led invasion of neighbouring Bahrain that helped crush a largely Shia-led protest calling for democratic reform there. The clerics arrest in 2012 led to massive street protests as thousands came out in the Eastern Province to demand his release. Ignoring the protests, the Saudi Specialised Criminal Court, which was established in 2008 to deal with terror suspects and human rights activists, sentenced him to death in October 2014. Saudi unrest after the arrests (AFP/Getty) It was a decision that Amnesty International described as part of a campaign by the authorities in Saudi Arabia to crush all dissent, including those [activists] defending the rights of the Kingdoms Shia Muslim community. Recommended Read more Fears of further unrest as Saudi prince defends execution of cleric Mohammed al-Nimr says his fathers only crime was to call for freedom and humanity. He told the people that the government wants you to be violent so they can have a legitimate cause to kill you, but the loud roar of words is mightier than the sound of bullets. An only son, he remembers his father as one who took him for morning prayers just before sunrise and how after prayers they would walk through the palm groves in their hometown of Qatif. He would put aside politics and his role as a cleric and we would discuss matters related to me and things I needed advice on. He was a father to me. Mr Nimr is fearful that if he returns to Saudi Arabia he will be arrested, but he is determined to carry on fighting for the sake of his father and to save his cousins life. It is a crime and one day I will prove it in a court of law and before the whole world that whoever was involved will get the justice they deserve for the crimes they have committed. 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 }} David Cameron has held a meeting in Downing Street with the jailed former president of the Maldives and his lawyer, Amal Clooney. Mohamed Nasheed thanked the Prime Minister for his support after he was temporarily released from prison to allow him to travel to London for back surgery. The Maldives government has requested that Mr Nasheed return to the islands within 30 days to continue his 13-year sentence for terror offences, following a trial last year that the UN described as unfair and politically motivated. Mr Nasheeds release last week came as the UK and the United States, as well as the Maldives neighbour Sri Lanka, heaped pressure on the island nation to end a political crisis. The Maldives government had demanded that a member of Mr Nasheeds family remain in the capital Male as a hostage, legally guaranteeing the former presidents return. But after ministers relented when Mr Nasheed refused the terms of his release, the former president now faces questions about whether he really intends to walk back into prison. Mr Nasheed is due to take questions on the issue at a press conference at Mrs Clooneys legal chambers on Monday. His aides have so far declined to comment on his plans. The countrys first democratically elected president is a former political activist who says he sustained his back injuries after being tortured and imprisoned under the regime of former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Mr Nasheed defeated Mr Gayoom in elections in 2008 but resigned in an alleged coup in 2012, before losing disputed elections the following year. The current president Abdulla Yameen is Mr Gayooms half-brother. In opposition, and now in prison, Mr Nasheed has remained an outspoken critic of the government. A Downing Street spokesman said that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives. 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 }} Home schooling my child is not for me. I love spending time with my daughter, but could I provide her with a daily timetable of English, maths and science, interspersed with playing with a group of five and six-year-olds on every school day of the year? No. First, I have to work to earn money. Second and this is just as important the education and friendships she has at school are far superior and socially fulfilling than anything I could give her at home, day in, day out. I want her to attend structured lessons because I believe, for her, it is her best chance of doing well in later life. One estimate puts 50,000 youngsters being educated at home in the UK. Most of these parents have the patience, time and enthusiasm to be home educators, and we should respect that decision. It is their choice if they want to follow the national curriculum. Many home-school parents do so because they believe the school their child would be attending is not suitable or is an unsafe environment bullying is often cited when pupils are removed from classes. The TV presenter Nadia Sawalha revealed last week that she removed her two children from their private school because they were over-worked. Most home-educating parents, like Sawalha, believe that their children will thrive better than if they stayed in class. But what about the ones who dont? What about the minority of families who, through will or inability, are damaging or neglecting their children? The tragic case of Dylan Seabridge, the eight-year-old who died from scurvy and was also being home schooled, underlines how difficult it is to check on children whose parents want them to remain below the radar. Dylan was not seen by anyone from a public authority a GP, teacher or social worker after the age of 13 months, and as a result the author of a report into the case (which has still not been officially published, nearly five years on from his death) said it was impossible to even draw a pen picture of him. This case must not be used as an excuse to have a moral panic about home schooling. Charges of neglect against Dylans parents were dropped, but the draft case review report, leaked to BBC Wales last year, showed that concerns were raised about his home schooling because his mother had mental health issues. Officials visited their home in Pembrokeshire but were unable to see Dylan which should have rung alarm bells. The problem is not home schooling, but inadequate parenting. But there are clearly gaps in the law which allow children like Dylan to become invisible. In England and Wales, any parent can take their child out of school if they write to the headteacher, and while local councils can request informal contact there is no right of the authorities to intervene. There seems to be distrust of authority within the home-education community, with one home-schooling website I looked at advising parents to resist home visits from officials, citing Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which gives a right to a private family life. But this right must not come at the expense of a childs right to an adequate and effective education enshrined in Protocol 1, Article 2 of the same convention and surely the interests of the child must come first? Parents who want the best for their child have nothing to hide. There should be a register for home-schooled children, just as there is at school, and education officials must be able to check, regularly and personally, on the progress of every child not only for signs of neglect, but that they are receiving adequate and effective education. This is not about the nanny state snooping on home educators, but parents duty to honour their childrens rights. Caines Brexit strategy How are the roughly 20 per cent of undecided voters in the European referendum going to make up their minds? It wont just be down to arguments made by politicians, but whether the political class likes it or not celebrities such as Sir Michael Caine, who on Friday said Brexit was scary but he sort of feels certain that Britain should leave the EU because he doesnt like being dictated to by thousands of faceless civil servants. Caine puts his finger on the sort of nagging doubt that many people feel about Brussels. The Remain campaign needs to work on this problem quickly, because the faceless civil servant argument goes right to the heart of complaints about the EU: there are a lot of disillusioned voters in Britain who feel they are losing control over their lives. I want Britain to stay in Europe, but when it comes to the referendum, it will be these instinctive heart-rather-than-head arguments that will decide the outcome. As Caine himself might say, not many people know why Britain should leave the EU, they just feel it. Nuclear secrets The public got a glimpse of the nuclear button actually a red trigger with chipped paint for the first time last week. The man whose job it is to pull the trigger, Lieutenant Commander Woods (his first name is a secret) has spent 16 years training for the moment when he is given orders to fire a nuclear missile, but it still looks as if it was made a bit too easy for his finger to slip. In reality, there is a complex series of steps that must be gone through before the weapon is fired, as Cole Moreton discovers on page 26. As Lt Cdr Woods says, our nuclear submarines have been in operation for 47 years, and that deterrent has been effective. Something that the Labour leadership should remember. Da Pinchi Code unscrambled The mysterious markings outside homes in the Da Pinchi Code, supposedly used by burglars to decide whether anything in the property is worth stealing, are in fact signs painted by utility companies, a police investigation found last week. I knew they looked familiar: after I left university I worked for a short time at Yorkshire Water. My job was to plot water pipes and fittings on a computerised map, based on drawings by engineers. At the time I could have told you a lot about epoxy lining and 3in valves. Twitter: @janemerrick23 Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The picture of Aylan Kurdis lifeless body being removed from a beach in Turkey last September shocked the world. But in the months that followed this tragedy, one might have be forgiven for thinking that the refugee crisis had abated. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. On Friday, at least 43 people, including 17 children, died when their boats got into trouble trying to reach Greece. The UN Refugee Agency reported last week that the number of arrivals on the Greek islands so far this year is 30,000, up from 1,700 in the same period last year. An already desperate humanitarian situation is worsening and the number of people risking their lives to make the journey to safety in Europe is increasing dramatically as the spiral of violence in Syria deepens. Ultimately, only a political settlement to end the Syrian conflict, involving all regional actors and Russia, will end this crisis. While some progress towards a political settlement has been made, its clear there will be no quick fix. Europe is running out of time. Controversially, the EU last year pledged at least 3bn (2.27bn) for Turkey, in return for assurances that they will help to stem the flow of refugees. Angela Merkel continues to pressure the Turkish government to do more, but there is no indication this agreement has yet had any effect. One credible option open to the international community, advocated by Sir Michael Graydon in The Independent on Sunday in November and which in my view should now be considered, would be to establish and enforce humanitarian corridors or safe havens in Syria, to provide areas of sanctuary for Syrians fleeing conflict, so they wouldnt have to make the journey to neighbouring countries or Europe in the first place. But again, this calls for a drawn-out political process. The sad reality is that after months of crisis summits, a solution to the refugee crisis is further away than ever and we are approaching a crunch point. While the EU has laid out a road map for measures that need to be taken collectively at the European level, the political will is lacking. As David Cameron is discovering, delivering change in Europe is hard work. It requires the agreement of 28 prime ministers, each one beholden to national coalitions and/or parties that too often prioritise opinion polls ratings over the collective interest. Last September, EU leaders reluctantly agreed to a relocation scheme, to ensure all countries take their fair share of refugees. The UK opted out entirely. By any standard, this has been a pronounced failure, with only about 331 out of 160,000 refugees successfully relocated. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. Depressingly, EU leaders appear to be competing to make more and more outrageous and discriminatory statements, in what can only be interpreted as an attempt to deter refugees, waved on by Greece, from applying for asylum in their countries. The horrific assaults carried out by criminals in Cologne at New Year have provided fuel for nationalists like Ukip and galvanised their far-right bedfellows across Europe. So long as EU leaders continue to pander to these nationalist parties, instead of confronting them and doing what is right, the hopes of a united European solution become even more remote. Even Angela Merkel, whose open-door policy on refugees won her global acclaim, is now coming under enormous pressure from within her party to change course. The latest polls show support for Merkels party could be collapsing, while theres internal disarray in her party. The Eurosceptic and right-wing AfD party, emboldened by the financial support and political platform provided by membership of Mr Camerons Eurosceptic pan-EU political group, is on the rise. With three significant state elections due in March, including two where her party had hopes of victory, the pressure on Ms Merkel to impose quotas or even close borders to refugees completely, will grow. But the consequences of her doing so are profound. The German Chancellor therefore faces a ghastly dilemma. If she gives in to pressure to close the German border, those current, creaking European systems that we do have (like the Schengen agreement) are likely to fall apart. If she holds her nerve and keeps the German borders open to refugees, she is likely to be destroyed politically. Those EU leaders who have not only refused to accept their fair share of the refugees but have gone out of their way to inflame tensions should hang their heads in shame. If 2015 was an annus horribilis for the continent of Europe, 2016 will be even tougher. The risk of Brexit, Grexit, an expansionist Russia, the threat of further terrorist atrocities, combined with an uncertain economic outlook and an unresolved debt crisis, mean 2016 is a make or break year. There is widely held view that the EU makes progress only at times of crisis. We now face a number of crises that no one EU country can tackle on its own. Yet Europe remains firmly in reverse gear. European leaders can blame no one but themselves for the chaos that will ensue if Germany closes its borders. Genuine asylum seekers, fleeing war and persecution, are the last people who should suffer because of our self-imposed chaos. The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said last week that the EU has six to eight weeks before national borders go up again across Europe. Mr Cameron reportedly wants an early referendum on Britains EU membership in order to prevent images of drowning migrants this summer affecting the outcome of the vote. But isnt that putting the cart before the horse? Time-consuming negotiations with the UK should be postponed and EU leaders should instead be locked in a room until they agree on a comprehensive and collective strategy to tackle this growing refugee crisis before its too late. This is about more than politics. Its about humanity. Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) is leader of the Liberal and Democrats group in the European Parliament and former Prime Minister of Belgium 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 }} Why do we know so little about our next prime minister? This may seem a strange question, given that I am talking about Boris Johnson, the second best-known politician in the country. In a poll three years ago, 91 per cent correctly identified his photo. Only David Cameron, recognised by 94 per cent, was more familiar. We know a lot about him, of course. His hair, his school, his bikes, his whiff-whaff and his private life. But we know little about what he believes and what he would be like as prime minister. In many cases, people insulate themselves from these questions by dismissing the possibility of Bozza4PM as absurd. He is not serious. He is a self-parodying television comedy personality, they say. Well, have I got news for you. Nothing is certain, of course, except George Osbornes taxes, but it is getting harder to see who is going to stop Johnson from becoming prime minister. Let us consider the rules governing Conservative leadership elections. Tory MPs will hold a series of votes to choose two candidates; then party members will make the final choice between the two. Almost the only thing that matters in analysing this election is: who is going to be the second name on that ballot paper? The first name is almost certain to be Osbornes, even though only 62 per cent of the public can name him. One of the respects in which he resembles his Hated Predecessor, Gordon Brown, is in his operation of the machine politics of self-interest. He has an organised following among Tory MPs. Ministerial ranks are populated by creatures grateful for his patronage. Ambitious backbenchers look to him for preferment. As with the transition from Tony Blair to Brown, the moment that Cameron put a time limit on his tenure MPs looked past him to his successor. Brown, the inevitability candidate, secured so many pledges of support from Labour MPs that no one else could secure enough nominations to stand. Osborne is not in such a commanding position, not least because the Tory rules are different. Recent polls of Tory members put Johnson on 24 percent, three per cent behind George Osborne (Getty) When the MPs ballot is held, someone has to come second. I think that will be Johnson. Who else could it be? I no longer think it is likely to be Theresa May. She does not seem to be running a campaign. The Home Secretary is not entertaining MPs or asking them for advice. Could she be the Leave the EU candidate? I dont think so. By the time of the leadership election, the referendum will have been and gone. Only if the country had voted to leave the EU, and May had advocated leaving, would she stand a chance. I think neither is likely. Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, intends to give it a go. She could be the beige candidate, the centrist John Major of the 21st century, although the only interesting thing she has ever said was to repudiate her opposition to gay marriage. In private, Cameron speaks approvingly of her and of Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, as possible successors. I thought this was disloyal to Osborne, until it occurred to me that the Chancellor would rather face one of them than Johnson in the final round. It is quite possible that Osborne wants to promote someone anyone to try to keep Johnson off the ballot paper. Hes unlikely to succeed. When Johnson returned to the Commons in May, he seemed an isolated outsider. Now there is a body of MPs who, from calculation or disappointment with the Cameron-Osborne duopoly, look to him. Three MPs are competing to be his campaign manager for the contest in the parliamentary party. Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Show all 7 1 /7 Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson plays rugby with Japanese elementary school children in Tokyo Getty Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson bumps into a schoolchild during a Street Rugby event at Tokyo Square Gardens building EPA Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson collides with 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a game of Street Rugby with a group of Tokyo children Reuters Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson falls down after colliding with 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a game of Street Rugby with a group of Tokyo children Reuters Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson falls down after colliding with 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a game of Street Rugby with a group of Tokyo children Reuters Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match Boris Johnson takes down boy during rugby match If Johnson makes it on to the ballot paper, he has a good chance against Osborne. During the referendum campaign, I expect he will make much show of reluctantly coming round to supporting the Prime Ministers deal. He will impress the grassroots members with his loyalty, but also with his recent Euroscepticism, while Osborne will be more tightly bound to Camerons reform-and-remain position. We have some clues as to the views of the party members who will make the final decision. There are about 150,000 of them, and there is unlikely to be a Corbyn-style flood of applicants wanting to influence the outcome. Recent polls of Tory members put Osborne a few points ahead. YouGov, in October, had him on 37 per cent to 34 per cent for Johnson. Conservative Home, in November, had them on 23 and 21 per cent. In both cases, May and Javid claimed the support of between 10 and 19 per cent of the selectorate. My guess is, in an Osborne-Johnson run-off, Johnson has the edge in picking up May and Javids supporters. We know what Osborne would be like as prime minister. He runs a lot of government and he has taken Prime Ministers Questions. But Johnson? What does he believe? What kind of prime minister would he be? Enda Kenny has vowed to secure Ireland's economic recovery if Fine Gael is returned for a second term. Addressing his party's Ard Fheis in Dublin, the Taoiseach said the choice for voters in the General Election was "as stark as it is clear". "A clear choice between continuing on the path of stability and recovery; or putting our hard-won progress at risk," he added. "We must keep the recovery going." Mr Kenny, who earlier made clear he would serve a full term if re-elected Taoiseach, said voters did not want to return to dark days of the economic crisis. "I don't need to remind you about the crisis that gripped Ireland in January 2011," he told delegates at the Citywest Hotel. "You lived it - every day." He said the electorate had given the Fine Gael and Labour coalition a mandate in 2011 to haul the country "back from the brink". "Many thought that ending the bailout, rescuing the economy, and saving the country was an impossible task," he said. "But the people and the new government faced up to that crisis." The date for the imminent election has not yet been announced. Mr Kenny acknowledged his government did not get everything right in the last five years or manage to do everything it wanted to. "But working together, government and the people, we have made real progress," he said. "Thanks to your hard word and resilience, we've gone from economic wreckage to economic recovery. "Ireland is now moving in the right direction." He said he knew many people had not yet felt the recovery. "Too many families and older people are still struggling to make ends meet," he said. "Too many families are still missing a son or daughter who has had to leave Ireland to find a job. "That's why the job is not yet complete. "The recovery must be strengthened and secured." He said the Fine Gael plan had three "clear and inter-connected steps". "More and better jobs, making work pay and investing in better public services for our people," he explained. Mr Kenny reiterated his desire to abolish the Universal Social Charge if re-elected. "Over the next five years, the USC will be abolished - with measures to limit the benefits for high earners," he said. "This will cut the maximum tax rate for middle income families to 44%, from the 52% rate introduced by Fianna Fail, giving a working family earning 45,000 euro per year a boost in income of over 1,750 euro per year." He said investment in public service would see an additional 10,000 gardai, teachers, doctors, nurses and other front-line staff by 2021. The Taoiseach stressed his plan would cost money, adding: "And the money will only be there if our economy is strong. "For us the economy can never be the end in itself. "Rather, the economy is where we generate the resources that will make life better for our people. "So I say to you tonight that yes, the recovery and the economy are at the centre of our long-term plan. "But ultimately it is the lives and the well-being of our people that are, and must be, at its heart." He added: "Ireland can't afford to go back, to put its hard-won recovery at risk. "With growing international economic uncertainty, now is not the time to take risks with Ireland's economy." Reflecting on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Mr Kenny said the future of Ireland a century on looked bright. "In this, the centenary of the rising, we can say that of Ireland, our best and brightest days, are still uncounted, still to be unwrapped," he said. "We can say that the dream of our nation's heart has yet to be fulfilled. "And it is you, we, each of us, all of us who will be those necessary dreamers. "I want to thank the people of Ireland for staying the course over the last five years. "Thank you for giving Fine Gael and the Labour Party your trust. "We have worked hard to be worthy of it. "Personally and politically, I have always tried to do my best for you and for Ireland. "I am humbled, touched, and deeply privileged to be your Taoiseach. "In a few weeks, I will ask the people of Ireland for their permission, and their support, to finish the job we have started. To deliver our plan. "To keep the recovery going, in the interests of all our people." Then Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin face the press two weeks before the bank guarantee. Photo: Brian Farrell The final report of the Banking Inquiry will suggest the blanket bank guarantee was not the only option available to the Government as the economy crashed in September 2008. It is understood the report will find major fault with both the Financial Regulator and the Central Bank, saying they had the powers to protect the financial stability of the State but didn't intervene. One of the most contentious issues is likely to be a 'letter of comfort' that was agreed between the Central Bank and Anglo Irish Bank the day before the guarantee was given. Its existence suggests that Anglo Irish Bank would have been in a position to continue operating without the guarantee. Then Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was aware of the letter before the guarantee was agreed. However, there are no minutes of the discussions that led to the guarantee in September 2008 so it is unclear what discussions took place around Anglo Irish Bank on the night. The Irish Independent also understands that the report says the 'soft landing' theory presented to the public by many politicians was never robustly tested or validated. Details of the report began to emerge yesterday but it is not due to be officially released until next Wednesday. TD Joe Higgins, who was a member of the inquiry, last night criticised the leaks saying they "carry the hallmark of some supporters of the report attempting to shape a narrative around the findings they would prefer to have highlighted in advance of the official publication". He has declined to sign the final draft and will instead publish his own analysis and conclusions next week. The final report is believed to say that the six main banks moved very far from prudent lending practices during the boom years. It notes that in some instances they entered joint ventures with developers. In relation to the property sector, the report says proper valuations were not always carried out. The role played by Europe during the economic crash will also take up considerable space in the report. It is understood to state that the European Central Bank (ECB) maintained in November 2010 and March 2011 that burden-sharing would be inappropriate. ECB head Jean-Claude Trichet told Finance Minister Michael Noonan in March 2011 that a "bomb would go off in Dublin" if burden-sharing took place. But had Mr Noonan gone ahead with burden-sharing, the NTMA estimated that 9.1bn could have been saved for the Irish taxpayer. Scathing Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin last night launched a scathing attack on Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, saying he is "the arch revisionist" who abandoned Brian Lenihan as the economic crisis was developing in 2011. The Labour TD claimed Mr Martin thinks the later stages of the last government were "the halcyon days". "He wants to rewrite history, that his government was on top of things," Mr Howlin said at the launch of Kildare South candidate Mark Wall's election campaign. "That he and the late Brian Lenihan worked hand in hand. Hardly. "He ran away in the hour of need and put his own political future before that of the country. He was no ally of Brian Lenihan. He left him in the lurch." He went on to describe Mr Martin as the "Bobby Ewing of Irish politics". "So the people of Ireland need to be wary. "They are being asked to choose between stability and instability. "The kind of instability that has prevented the formation of a government in Spain. "The kind of instability that prevents that Spain tackling an unemployment problem that is crippling that country and the lives of their young people in particular. Instability is the enemy of progress," he said. Mr Howlin concluded: "Fianna Fail offer only a return to the days so bad that Micheal Martin pretends to have forgotten them. "But the Irish people haven't forgotten and they won't let Fianna Fail do so either." Petroceltic's stock shot up from a low of almost 11 pence to just over 24 pence by mid-afternoon Shares in struggling Irish oil and gas explorer Petroceltic virtually doubled in value at one point yesterday after its largest shareholder, Worldview Capital Management, said it is mulling an all-cash offer for the company. Swiss hedge fund Worldview said yesterday that it is in the process of "evaluating and preparing for a possible all cash offer" for the shares in Petroceltic it doesn't already own. Worldview is the largest shareholder in the explorer with a 29.6pc share. Petroceltic's stock soared on the back of the announcement, shooting up from a low of almost 11 pence to just over 24 pence by mid-afternoon on London's junior AIM exchange. Its shares fell back during the day but still closed well up at 17 pence. Worldview cautioned that its evaluation of Petroceltic is "ongoing" and added: "There can be no certainty at this stage that any offer for Petroceltic will ultimately be made, nor as to the terms of any such offer should one be forthcoming." In December the Dublin-based firm announced a strategic review of its operations, effectively putting itself up for sale. It said in a trading update that it had breached agreements relating to its debt pile. The company has debts of $217.8m (200m) and cash balances of $28.1m, although most of this cannot be readily accessed as it is held in local currencies. The company's lenders recently agreed to extend a temporary waiver that allows Petroceltic to continue to breach the terms of its loans. Although it is uncertain how much exactly Worldview may have to pay if it were to make a formal offer, it would likely be a fraction of Petroceltic's value a little over a year ago. Ireland has become the European location of choice for listing debt and funds, says ISE boss Deirdre Somers. Photo: Bloomberg IT has been a banner year for the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE), which gleefully announced this week that it was now the number one exchange in the world for listing bonds and investment funds. The surge in activity at Anglesey Street has been welcomed by the Irish financial industry, given the struggles the market had endured in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 crash. While most people have heard of the stock exchange and companies that are quoted on it, the real business for the ISE comes in the debt and fund listing sector. Essentially, a debt instrument, such as a bond, needs to be listed on a public exchange so that price information and other details can be freely available. Part of that is to allow for transparency and part of it is to make them easier to trade. Some of the top companies use the ISE to list their debt offerings. A quick perusal of the market shows the likes of Citigroup, Fiat, General Motors and Verizon among many other bluechip clients that use the stock exchange. There are numerous companies that are far less recognisable, of course. Among the funds active yesterday were Threadneedle Asset Holdings, a bond called the CSOP FTSE China A50$ and HHT Plc. Not exactly household names. So why do companies use the Dublin market? They could list anywhere in the world but they choose here. The Dublin market has debt instruments from 82 countries - an extraordinarily high number for a country that in truth is something of a financial backwater. Why is it different from elsewhere? For a start, the fact that the ISE is a small exchange works in its favour. As ISE chief executive Deirdre Somers puts it: "Ireland has become the European location of choice for listing debt and funds because we have developed the processes and expertise to meet the requirements of issuers who are seeking to list on an EU market and reach European investors. "The ISE has invested heavily in developing the skills and familiarity with issuers necessary to become the leading exchange for listing debt and funds. "We have earned this reputation over many years by providing issuers with a service that meets their needs for efficiency, price competitiveness and guaranteed turnaround times," Ms Somers adds. In essence, the ISE is a small, nimble market that can turn around requests quickly and get a bond listed in as little as three days. It has a flexibility that few larger exchanges can match. But is there another aspect to Dublin's attractiveness as a centre for listings - perceived light touch regulation? It is almost a decade since 'The New York Times' branded Ireland the 'Wild West of European finance'. Much has changed since, but that reputation has stuck. The Government makes a big deal of the fact that it is a "pro-business environment" in Ireland, but sometimes the perception can be taken a step further to Ireland being seen as some kind of soft touch. It is something Ms Somers flatly rejects however. "The same regulations apply in Ireland as in every other EU country," she points out. "We work closely with the Central Bank, which has responsibility for regulation, to ensure that Ireland remains attractive as a location for listing," she adds. The crash resulted in some of the biggest companies listed on the main securities market either being wiped out, like Anglo Irish Bank or McInerney Group, or seeing their value slashed almost overnight, like the banks. As interest in the Irish market from overseas began to wane, serious questions began to be asked of the ISE's long-term future. Companies such as medical trials business ICON, food giant Greencore, and the conglomerate DCC shifted their listing away from the Irish Stock Exchange in search of more analyst coverage and more investment. By 2012, it seemed odds on that the ISE was heading towards demise. That hasn't happened. Today the debt listings are what pays the ISE bills, accounting for more than 70pc of the exchange's revenue. While the public see the equity market on a day-to-day basis, in most respects the real business is being done on the debt listings in the background. Buoyed by 13 new listings in the last three years, the market has begun growing again. While the companies that have listed have not been as large as the likes of DCC, the volume of listings has proven that the exchange can survive as a standalone entity for some time to come yet. Foreign multinationals could reassess plans to invest in Ireland if the European Commission rules decisively against Apple in its multi-billion tax battle with Brussels, the chief investment officer of Merrion Stockbrokers has warned. David Holohan said that while foreign companies are unlikely to row back on current foreign direct investment (FDI) projects they have planned for Ireland if the Commission makes Apple pay up to $19bn (17.6bn) in back taxes, future plans could be compromised. "Any capital expenditure going forward, if there was a change with regards to the current arrangements, would need to be factored in," said Mr Holohan. "While the investments that are in the country at the moment are likely to remain in place, I think further investments would be put at risk if there was a significant change, because that would change their return calculations in the investment decision." Apple boss Tim Cook has held talks with the head of the EU's Competition Commission, Margrethe Vestager, but neither side has commented as to whether or not those talks might have involved efforts to reach some sort of settlement. The European Commission is probing Apple and other multinationals to determine whether or not they benefited from unfair and impermissible tax arrangements in countries including Ireland. A ruling on Apple is due within weeks. Apple's own investment banker, JP Morgan, has predicted that the technology company could be forced by Brussels to hand over $19bn to Irish authorities in a worst-case scenario. Mr Holohan said that Apple has a net cash pile of over $140bn (129bn), so such a determination against it wouldn't have dire financial consequences for the firm. "One of the attractions of Ireland is its tax regime," he said. "So, if there was a change to that, and one that could be retroactively applied, it would be a question-mark for potential investors to consider." The Government has continually insisted that neither it nor Apple has a case to answer in the European Commission's probe. Taoiseach Enda Kenny reiterated that position this week at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. "As far as Ireland is concerned - and we've been very clear about this - we've dealt with all the issues about reputational damage, about comments that Ireland was some sort of tax haven which was completely without foundation and utterly untrue," he told Bloomberg TV. "From our perspective we're very clear that our Revenue Commissioners have never done specific deals or a favourable deal with any particular company." Europe is also investigating other firms including Amazon and Starbucks in relation to their tax arrangements in other European countries. Tim Cook visited Ireland in November to highlight Apple's commitment to the country. Apple will add 1,000 jobs in Cork when an expansion there is complete, bringing the total to 6,000. The US giant will also build a huge data centre in Athenry, Co Galway. Governor Philip Lane, centre, with Institute of Directors chief executive Maura Quinn and president Des Lamont at the Institutes lunch in Dublin yesterday. Photo: Jason Clarke Governor Philip Lane has promised to publish the minutes of meetings of the Central Bank Commission in what has been described by the regulator as an attempt to enhance transparency. Only the minutes of the meetings involving Governor Lane are being published, and not those involving his predecessor, Patrick Honohan. Data on salary and pay scales at the regulator was published by Dame Street yesterday, showing the average salary in 2015 at just over 60,000. The Central Bank Commission is comprised of Governor Lane; Deputy Governor Cyril Roux; Derek Moran, the Secretary General of the Department of Finance; Professor John FitzGerald; former Bank of Ireland chief executive Michael Soden; former politician and trade union leader Des Geraghty; Dr Alan Ahearne of the National University of Ireland, Galway; Professor Blanaid Clarke; Patricia Byron, Director General of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); and the head of the General Secretariat Division of the Central Bank, Neil Whoriskey. The Commission manages and controls the affairs and activities of the bank and ensures that its financial regulation and central banking functions are co-ordinated and integrated. Governor Lane said information on the supervision of regulated firms and market-sensitive financial operation activities cannot be disclosed. The minutes will be published about six weeks after each meeting, with those from the first meeting chaired by Governor Lane in December due to be released by early next month. "During my tenure as Governor, my aim is to build on the progress that has been achieved in recent years in recasting the Central Bank as an efficient central bank and financial regulator," Governor Lane told the Institute of Directors lunch in Dublin yesterday. "In particular, I am firmly committed to ensuring that the Central Bank fulfils its critical social responsibility towards consumers of financial services and the general public." The Irish Independent made an unsuccessful Freedom of Information request last year for copies of the minutes of meetings held over the period of a year by the Central Bank Commission. In its response, the Central Bank said only one minute fell within the scope of the 2014 FOI Act, and that concerned the deliberations of the Bank in January 2015 regarding the mortgage deposit rules. Access to that document was refused, however, as the Central Bank argued that it related to deliberations by the Commission on the introduction of the rules, and included opinions, advice, recommendations and the results of the consultations considered by the bank. The bank said it wasn't in the public interest to release the record, claiming bodies should be able to settle on policy without disruption; the deliberative process regarding the rules remains ongoing; and that extensive information on the deliberative process had already been published prior to the introduction of the rules. Meanwhile, separate data published by the bank yesterday showed the average salary last year was just over 60,000, with wages ranging from 24,250 for an entry level Bank Officer, to 170,983 for a director. Governor Lane is entitled to a gross salary of 254,048, while Mr Roux earned a gross pay packet of 310,000 in 2014. In his speech Governor Lane said that as the bank's mandate expands, continued growth in staff is expected with an extra 150 people set to be brought in this year. Michael Grehan Expand Close Michael Grehan, managing director, Sherry FitzGerald / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Grehan, managing director, Sherry FitzGerald Yes - 45pc approximately of sales are to cash buyers. Reasons include the restricted market for borrowers together with a high proportion of downsizers and older first time buyer cohort. It should be noted with a country of generally a high level of home ownership, this can produce a significant wealth base on death, where an inheritance very often provides the where with all for a move into the property market. Michael is the managing director of the Sherry FitzGerald estate agency group which has a 66 branch network including franchises, He has more than 26 years experience in the sector. Marian McQuilan Expand Close Marian McQuillan, Ceo of Quillsen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marian McQuillan, Ceo of Quillsen There are still many cash buyers in the market - approx 35pc-40pc. However, over the last two years there has been an increase in the number of mortgage approved buyers. The power of the cash buyer may increase further this year due to the central bank lending restrictions. Marian McQuillan is the CEO of Quillsen, formerly Gunne Estate Agents and was previously a director of Purcell McQuillan Tax Partners. Pat Davitt Expand Close Pat Davitt, CEO of IPAV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pat Davitt, CEO of IPAV Non mortgaged buyers are still accounting for 40-45pc of the market. I see this trend continuing, because there is plenty money in Ireland and good property value still about, particularly outside of Dublin. Pat Davitt is the CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV). Pat has more than 33 years experience in the sector, spending much of it running a family based auctioneering firm in Mullingar. Keith Lowe Expand Close Keith Lowe CEO Douglas Newman Good / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keith Lowe CEO Douglas Newman Good According to DNG Research only 49pc of all transactions in the state where funded by Irish mortgages. This means 51pc were funded by cash or foreign funding sources. It is likely that foreign funding for block and loan book sales accounts for around 10-15pc of all transactions which means that approximately 35pc-40pc of all regular residential sales were funded by cash in 2015 and we anticipate that this level is likely to be 29-34pc in the year ahead. Keith Lowe is CEO of Douglas Newman Good, which has 75 offices throughout the country. He has 32 years experience in the property sector having joined the firm in 1984. Patricia Byron Expand Close Patricia Byron, director general of the SCSI / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Patricia Byron, director general of the SCSI Recent surveys of chartered surveyors carried out by SCSI and Central Bank of Ireland estimate that cash buyers account for approximately 40pc of the market. Cash buyers are looked upon more favourably by vendors as they do not have to apply for finance and are also not restricted to lending rules that affect those buying property using mortgage. Patricia Byron is the director general of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland which has 5,000 members working in the property and construction sector. Marian McQuillan Expand Close Marian McQuillan, Ceo of Quillsen / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marian McQuillan, Ceo of Quillsen In general, we are in favour of Central Bank oversight and regulation of the banks and believe that lending rules are an important and effective tool in keeping control of the market. However, in our opinion the limits as currently set are excessive and are causing unnecessary difficulties for viable purchasers. Particularly the ratio of earnings to loan value at 3.5 times is highly restrictive. Marian McQuillan is the CEO of Quillsen, formerly Gunne Estate Agents and was previously a director of Purcell McQuillan Tax Partners. Darina Collins Expand Close Darina Collins, REA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Darina Collins, REA We are broadly in favour as we do not want to revisit the days of reckless lending. However, falling house prices are not a sign of success or affordability, they are falling in some areas because young people cannot qualify for a mortgage, and second-time buyers cannot afford to move out of houses in the 220,000 band. It is now time to revisit the measures, consider raising exemption limits to the price of an average home, and to immediately allow second-time buyers to borrow 90pc up to 220,000, as it is their inability to move which has led to a lack of supply of affordable and suitable family homes. Darina Collins is a director of and a founding member of the Real Estate Alliance, a partnership of more than 50 auctioneering firms. She is also a partner in REA O'Brien Collins, the Drogheda based general practice firm. Patricia Byron Expand Close Patricia Byron, director general of the SCSI / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Patricia Byron, director general of the SCSI The Central Bank's new lending rules have been highly effective in addressing the issue of personal indebtedness and in dampening property prices, especially in Dublin. Any measure that prevents the property market from overheating is positive. However their sudden introduction did provide something of a shock to the market. We would have preferred if they had been phased in over a period of two years as this would have allowed buyers time to factor the new credit limits into their plans. Patricia Byron is the director general of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland which has 5,000 members working in the property and construction sector. Michael Grehan Expand Close Michael Grehan, managing director, Sherry FitzGerald / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Grehan, managing director, Sherry FitzGerald It is comforting to see that lessons from the past are being learnt in relation to banking regulation and financial stability. Having said that, the measures are too restrictive and have been introduced too early in the recovery cycle. Michael is the managing director of the Sherry FitzGerald estate agency group which has a 66 branch network including franchises, He has more than 26 years experience in the sector. Cavan once again turned in a record price increase of 25pc through the last 12 months, coming on top of a similar 19pc increase in the previous year. The increases have been rooted in the availability of very affordable property amidst tightening supply and the recovery of prices from a very steep collapse. The strongest value surges were to be found in Cootehill, Bailieborough, Virginia and Cavan town, according to local agent, Tony Breathnach of Cavan Real Estate. "We'd have at least a dozen people waiting for properties to come along in these towns. Demand is so high but supply is so low. It will continue to be a problem because, while prices have increased by 25pc, they still haven't reached the cost of production for builders. That will probably take another 18 months," says Breathnach. The new lending restrictions that require a 20pc deposit for homes over 220,000 have had a positive effect on the county. "If someone has 350,000 to spend, they'll have to pay a 70,000 deposit for a modest property in Dublin," Breathnach adds, "but if they come up to Cavan they'll get a very fine house for 200,000 and will only require a 20,000 deposit." Commuting from Dublin is a trend that has re-emerged. This had not been happening for the past decade but Breathnach has noticed that people are once again being priced out of the capital and heading to places like Ballyjamesduff in particular, and Virginia and Bailieborough to a certain degree. Growth has been slower in smaller towns around Cavan but Breathnach says that properties that wouldn't have moved at all in the last seven years are starting to sell, just not at the same pace as the bigger towns. Breathnach believes prices will continue to rise in the coming 12 months because they have to. "They need to reach the price of construction," he says. "A good semi-detached house in Cavan is making 110,000, but to build it would cost in the region of 150,000-plus. We would hope to reach an equilibrium in 2016 and return to development by the start of 2017." A further increase is on the cards for Cavan, according to Breathnach. "I think we'll continue to rise strongly again this year at a rate of 15pc and things will stabilise at that when the builders are able to return." The biggest problem for Cork County East is now lack of supply and the resulting steady rise in prices means there may be some good news on the development front at last. "We haven't seen any building activity which is having a detrimental affect on the market. The sounding from the builders' side is that it's still not quite feasible. It was a very busy year for first-time buyers in the area," says Shane Russell of Michael Russell & Co, whose agency estimates a very strong 10pc increase in prices since this time last year and is forecasting another 8pc rise in 2017. A steady and somewhat lacklustre 2015 ended with a bang in Dublin 9 with a surge of buyer activity towards year's end. According to Vincent Kelly of Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, 17 parties showed up during a hurricane to view one house on the last Saturday before Christmas. "We saw real recovery in the last couple of months of 2015. We had 11 properties on view and good numbers turning up for those. There is a steady demand now for correctly priced property in Dublin 9." Kelly is anticipating a busy start to 2016, as purchasers seek to avail of the banks' quotas of mortgage exceptions. "That quota ran out early in 2015, and I expect the same this year, so buyers who were deferred by the banks at the end of last year will want to get ahead of the posse in 2016. I think that we will see 7.5pc growth in the first quarter, and the return of the traditional spring market. If the banks can release more funds, there is no shortage of demand. Aside from this, I see growth in the year ahead being steady and mature rather than frantic." Prices in Dublin 9 increased across the board last year by a steady 6pc, with Kelly noting that the only property type not in great demand was the three-bed duplex. "The investors are gone en masse," he says, "and the investors were the ones fuelling the interest in those. For a private owner-occupier they are not attractive, because they don't suit families. They are really only suitable for young professional couples." Two- and three-storey properties are "getting very scarce" says Kelly, and there is scant availability of detached houses on their own grounds as Dublin 9 is so densely populated. New launches in the area include Sion Hill Park, where the properties are mainly three- and four-bedroom townhouses. "That is a lovely scheme, and very conveniently located to hospitals and colleges. One of the things that we are noticing is that older people trading down to smaller houses and apartments and specifically wanting to be close to hospitals. There is always demand for family homes close to the third-level colleges, including St Pat's, Marino, Mater Dei and DCU." The most negative note sounded by Kelly is in relation to length of time that it is taking to close transactions. "It used to be an average of three months, and now it's four-and-a-half to five months. The whole process is taking much longer." "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." - George Washington When I was a child, I had a small ceramic plate that would hang on my bedroom door. It had a picture of a dancing clown with balloons in bright reds and blues. "Fiona's Room" was carved out in jet black ink. I found that plate in a box the other day and I counted the number of doors that it had hung on. I stopped counting when I got to 16 because the realisation profoundly upset me. Let me tell you why. In total, I have had 24 different bedrooms. I have had 19 different groups of friends. I have never had a place I have called home, that place that others have, their family home that is always there whenever they need it. I am envious of these people because they have walked through the same front door all their lives. They have had one bedroom that will always be theirs and the little ceramic plate that hung on that bedroom door is probably still there, faded with time and forgotten because it has been there so long. It was fixed to that door once, and it remained there. There are 12 different pieces of Blu Tack on the back of my ceramic plate, from all the times it was carefully taken down by a confused heartbroken little girl and dutifully replaced in a new place, on a new door. My memories are hazy now, so many years later, but I can still see the cardboard boxes that lined the walls and the familiar things in unfamiliar places. Read More I remember the musty basement flats that my mother would bring me to, all her pitiful budget could afford, the ways she would try to make it exciting, like an adventure. In truth, it was exhausting, for us both. In some of these places, I did not hang my little ceramic plate on the door, because I shared the room or the bed with my mother. In these places, I saw the plate as a lie, because I didn't have a room. There were other places, dark, damp places where my mother had neither bedroom nor bed. She slept on a fold-out couch that touched the cold tiles of the floor. She tried to give me the bedroom. I slept in a windowless room that had no light or air. The door was one that had been taken from a horse's stable and wouldn't close properly. Sometimes I could hear my mother crying at night. I know she heard me. What becomes of those who live within the limbo of poverty? Those unlucky people who are left to the mercy of the State, who earn a decent wage to survive, to pay bills and put food on a table but never enough to ensure that one roof will be all you see over your head. If I feel unlucky or hard done by, I think of my mother, a survivor who did all she could to provide for her only child. She was a warrior who stood against 22 landlords and lost every time. A simple notice of termination meant that she was back at square one. How many times can you start all over again without losing all hope? Frightened, worried and alone, she did it all. She was faced with uncertainty and insecurity at every turn because she was dealing with the most ruthless and corrupt professional and legal corporation in this country: the private landlords. She settled for anything she could get, simply because she had to. Because she had no choice. There were no such things as standards or environmental inspection officers. Those were the 80s and 90s and now, at the age of 35, I can see that nothing has changed. My mother is still at the mercy of landlords. She is 65 years old and she will never own her own home. It is 2016 and there are more people sleeping on the streets and facing homelessness than ever before. Landlords can evict tenants at will and these tenants have very little comeback within the careful confines of the law. There are promises of new legislation that will give tenants more rights and landlords less power, and yet these legislations are merely whispers on the wind. It is still the 1600s in Ireland and landlords are still getting the last laugh. I have a degree and an MA, I am well educated despite the unsettled feeling that I struggle to live with every day. I suffer from depression, panic attacks and an overall feeling of sadness. I have never belonged anywhere, and now I don't think I ever will. I will never own a home; I simply do not have the financial capability most lenders require. I can afford to pay a decent rent each month, but am I prepared to pay 1,000 for a place where I can reach the cooker from my bed? I put the little ceramic plate back into the box where I found it. It was an odd moment, filled with grief and an overwhelming loss. But I realised that the little plate was a lie all along - deceiving a small child into the belief of a better future some day. Fiona's Room never really existed at all. Shortage and a fast recovering economy saw Galway City turn in a very strong 10pc increase in its values in the 12 months to date. It is estimated that less than 100 new homes became available through the last year amidst a market still filled with cash buyers looking to spend. With little predicted to change in these circumstances and tempered by increasing flows of credit from the banks, even stronger increases of 12pc are predicted for the coming year. For some property types, the increases were even higher. Colm O'Donnellan of O'Donnellan & Joyce saw a handful of particularly scarce property types move well above the 10pc bar through the year, with bungalows in town adding 15pc as "big demand" from an increased number of buyers met with few enough examples for sale. The bungalow, once the staple of one-off new builds outside the capital, has been fast falling out of favour in recent years for new builds to be replaced by semis and detached two-storeys on the outskirts or by two-storey detached properties. Owners tend to stay put for life and so fewer examples have been coming to market for those who want them. Also making a big jump up in value (but coming from a low price base) were the two-bedroom former Corporation houses - viewed as a less attractive choice in the earlier years of the recovery but now increasingly seen as an affordable option for a young family - these types saw values surge up 15pc from 80,000 this time last year to an average worth of 92,000 at the moment. Despite this being the third successive year of double-digit percentage growth in the Western Capital, family three- and four-beds are still regarded as being reasonably affordable at 220,000-275,000. Unusually for a city, cash buyers are still dominating the market here, accounting for more than half of purchases in the past 12 months. According to O'Donnellan, many of these are rural-based Irish investors looking for properties in the 100,000-150,000 range and so they are directly competing with first-time buyers who are having an increasingly tough time pinning down a home as a result. Rents in the City of the Tribes surged on the back of shortage with 15pc increases being the most average on turnover of a lease or on review. Meantime banks which have been processing stressed and repossessed properties have now moved down from bigger portfolios to concentrate on sorting out the smaller holdings of the crash's stricken "mom and pop" buy-to-let landlords. Stressed sales and crash legacy properties will remain a big aspect of Galway City's market for the coming year. Over the last two years Galway has also been the sales base for the biggest rolling "monster auction" sessions to take place outside the capital. O'Donnellan and Joyce put 280 properties up for sale through the last year at intervals in rapid-fire sessions and with a success rate of more than 85pc. The pool of buyers and those able to raise a mortgage increased significantly as one big employer after another announced plans to take on hundreds of new positions at their Galway city bases - among them IIR 50, Docusign, EssentalSkillz, IDT911 and Supermacs. At the same time returning emigrants laden with cash from sales of properties abroad (notably the UK) or with savings accumulated through the years since the crash spent working in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA; are also now an increasingly common aspect of the Galway City market. Many of these have been jostling with urgency alongside newly confident wealthy local business folk and executives from multinational businesses for high end property - a factor which saw Galway's best detached period homes shoot up above all other types - by 20pc in the last 12 months. It means that traditionally sought-after high brow locations like Taylor's Hill are experiencing stiff competition for good properties at the moment. But period homes in Salthill are seeing the most competition of all at the moment and are therefore the property type O'Donnellan believes will surge most in value this year. Ageing parents will be given financial incentives to vacate their family homes to relieve the housing crisis under proposals being made to the Government by Nama. The 'empty nesters', whose children have grown up and left their homes, are using up valuable housing stock that remains largely unused. Nama has advised the Government to encourage these parents to downsize to smaller homes. However, it comes at a time when the market is moving against anyone looking to trade down. The new Central Bank mortgage deposit rules have pushed up demand for smaller, more affordable homes, while at the same time demand for pricier, larger homes has fallen. It means anyone trading down from a larger home will likely pay over the odds for a smaller home, while getting little extra value out of selling their current home. The move may also push the already surging price of smaller homes even higher if it brings more, cash-rich buyers into the market. And Nama warned the Government of another looming Celtic Tiger-style bubble due to the housing shortage. It said a lack of urgency by the State is stalling the development of much-needed housing units in the capital. The bad bank made a series of drastic proposals aimed at tackling the country's housing crisis, including: reducing the VAT rate paid by builders and developers to stimulate the housing market; appointing a full-time independent advisor to assist the Government with issues surrounding the delivery of housing; implementing measures to provide infrastructure and aid construction. Nama warned that further investment is desperately needed to stimulate growth in the construction sector and argued that an additional 1bn of housing activity would have the potential to create 10,000 jobs for builders and tradespeople. Nama's recommendations are still under consideration by the Cabinet. Sources close to the Cabinet said the idea of moving elderly people and parents to smaller units is a good one, but they are unsure what incentives would be offered and how the scheme would be rolled out. In documents seen by the Irish Independent, Nama said couples should be incentivised to leave the large homes where they raised their children. "Many family homes are occupied by one or two persons, often elderly couples whose families have left," said Nama. "In that context, consideration should be given to the introduction of incentives which would encourage 'downsizing' to smaller houses or apartments in such cases," it added. Nama also criticised the Government's lack of urgency in addressing infrastructural shortcomings saying this is stalling development in Dublin. It also said that a temporary VAT reduction for builders from 13.5pc to 9pc for three years would help to create jobs and increase housing output. "This could provide a significant incentive to developers to proceed with projects sooner rather than later," said Nama. "Analysis of planning applications' data suggests that there is little prospect of a significant increase in supply in the near future. "This suggests that the imbalance between supply and demand will deteriorate further before the market can respond adequately." Tom Parlon, director general of the Construction Industry Federation, welcomed the idea of offering incentives to ageing parents to move: "If people can move from renting to buying, it ensures that rents remain affordable and that people have a choice," he said. A crowd of several thousand assembled outside the GPO on Dublins OConnell Street this afternoon in one of a series of protests held across the country against the imposition of water charges. The rally which was organised by the Right2Water campaign took place as the members of Fine Gael convened at Citywest on the outskirts of Dublin for the partys Ard Fheis. Those assembled outside the GPO heard from a number of speakers including Unite spokesman Brendan Ogle, Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, United Left Alliance TD Joan Collins and Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger. Also addressing the protest was campaigner against homelessness, Fr Peter McVerry. In the course of an impassioned speech, he condemned the Government for having failed to recognise the suffering and the hardship that had been imposed on ordinary people and people and low incomes. While criticising the coalition however Fr McVerry singled out environment minister Alan Kelly for praise in relation to his efforts to address the homelessness crisis. He said: I want to give credit where credit is due. Minister Alan Kelly is the only minister who understands the problem of homelessness and who wants to deal with the problem of homelessness. He would like the rent supplement to be increased as all the [homeless] organisations have been calling for, for two years but the Minister [for social protection] Joan Burton wont agree to that. He wanted rent certainty linked to the consumer price index but the minister for finance [Michael Noonan] wouldnt agree to that. Fr McVerry said the message needed to be relayed to government that homelessness and housing as well as water were election issues. He said people could no longer afford to pay water charges or to even keep a roof over their heads. We have a homeless crisis. We have had a homeless crisis for the past two years. It is now growing into an emergency and there is no recognition in government of any urgency for addressing this problem, he said. The transfer of elderly, frail and unwell woman from a hospital to a nursing home at 4am has been described as bordering on the inhumane". (Stock image) The transfer last week of an "elderly, frail and unwell" woman from a hospital to a nursing home at 4am "in the dead of winter" was "bordering on the inhumane", the President of the High Court has said. Mr Justice Peter Kelly also described as "completely unacceptable" the failure of the hospital's discharge note for the 82-year-old woman, who has Alzheimer's Disease and impaired capacity to swallow, to state how she was to be fed. That failure, which the HSE said was due to an "oversight" for which it apologised, led to her GP, after seeing the woman on January 15, hours after her discharge, being concerned she would starve to death. The judge, on Monday, directed an inquiry into whether the care plan which the hospital had proposed was medically justifiable or if the woman should receive the normal treatment for her condition involving feeding through a tube into her stomach. Due to her various conditions, and concern of risk of aspiration if she received food orally, the woman was on a glucose drip since being admitted to hospital on January 4. After the GP unsuccessfully tried last Monday to contact a hospital doctor to clarify the position on feeding, solicitors for the woman's family correctly brought Monday's court proceedings on her behalf. Later on Monday, the hospital contacted the nursing home to clarify the position on feeding/care plan she was to receive. The judge said he wondered what would have happened had the woman not had a committed family, a committed GP, committed solicitors and, as a ward of court, easy access to the court. He expected the hospital to review its discharge procedures to ensure this situation would never happen again as it was "unacceptable" and could have "fatal consequences". Frail He also questioned the advisability of having a normal transfer from hospital at 4am especially where a patient was "elderly, frail and unwell". While the HSE said the 4am transfer was due to non-availability of ambulances any earlier, that was "an explanation, not an excuse". He accepted it was in the woman's best interests to return to the nursing home but queried if doing so at 4am was in her best interests. However, he was happy the situation was now resolved, a "comfort feeding" plan - involving small amounts of food being given to her orally - was in place since Tuesday and the woman was doing well. Defence Minister Simon Coveney, Brian Hayes, director for elections, Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Senator Eamonn Coghlan at the opening of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin last night. Photo: Arthur Carron A security alert at the venue where Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night opened the Fine Gael Ard Fheis was caused by an empty bullet cartridge. Gardai cleared part of the Citywest complex for a short time yesterday afternoon after the discovery was made behind the stage where Mr Kenny went on to make his opening address to the conference. The bullet parts were removed to Garda headquarters where they will be forensically examined by ballistic experts. A source told the Irish Independent that they believe the cartridge could have been lying in the room for some time and is "unlikely to have had a sinister link" to the Fine Gael gathering. By the time the Taoiseach arrived at the complex, gardai had sweep the building and the event proceeded without delay. In his opening address to Fine Gael delegates, Mr Kenny said everybody "now recognises that a recovery is under way". "Who can forget the depth of the crisis we inherited in 2011. Tens of thousands forced out of the country in search of work, the public finances out of control, the banks on the brink of collapse. The country in a bailout. That's what Fianna Fail left behind when the people voted them out," he said. Mr Kenny described some comments made by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin last weekend as "incredulous". "I heard them shamelessly claiming that what we really inherited from them was a plan. If that wreckage of a plan had been implemented, then the country would never have recovered," he said. On his way into the Ard Fheis, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said Fine Gael and the Labour Party would "make sure the numbers stack up" so the current Coalition would be returned. Speculation Mr Noonan today said his party was not contemplating the prospect of doing business with Fianna Fail. He insisted he was only interested in ensuring the current Coalition was returned - despite Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald refusing to categorically rule out a future Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition during an interview on 'Newstalk Breakfast'. "Our proposition to the people is to re-elect the present government and we are not thinking outside of that space," Mr Noonan said. "We are not into speculation; we are going to make sure during the campaign that the numbers do stack up." Mr Noonan said it was "interesting" to discuss who Fine Gael might form the government with after the General Election but insisted it was an "idle exercise". The minister said the "Fianna Fail option" would not arise because voters would return the current Government. Today delegates will hear from a series of ministers about the platforms they intend to fight the election on. The Irish Independent understands that Health Minister Leo Varadkar will tell supporters there "will always be problems in health". However, he will add: "We should not allow that to blind us to the enormous progress that has been made in healthcare under Fine Gael." Mr Varadkar will say that health "is not a bottomless pit". He will outline some details of what Fine Gael intends to commit to in their manifesto, including free GP care for all children. Mr Varadkar will also promise a new scheme to lower the cost of medicines, a new focus on managing chronic disease in the community rather than in hospital and enhanced home care provision to keep people in their own homes for longer. "I was one day dealing with a case in which a poor woman was in great distress of mind because she had got some washing to do and ha... A Fine Gael General Election candidate has expressed her shock after Dail facilities were used to promote her campaign. Councillor Anne-Marie Dermody denied that she personally used Oireachtas envelopes to send out a letter to party members in the constituency. It is understood that dozens of copies were distributed to members this week in Oireachtas envelopes - which is against the laws laid down by the Ethics Watchdog Sipo. Ms Dermody suggested that members of her campaign team used the envelopes without her knowledge. "I don't have access to those envelopes and that is why I was floored by the call from you," Ms Dermody said. "I'm really disappointed. I don't need this. Clearly I'm upsetting people by my campaign. Maybe some people want to play dirty but that's not my style." Fine Gael members will debate the procedures for selecting election candidates at its Ard Fheis today. The party's National Executive received a number of motions seeking changes to how party headquarters operates. It comes in the wake of the High Court case taken by TD John Perry after he lost out at the Fine Gael selection convention for his Sligo-Leitrim constituency. Mr Perry was added to the ticket last month after heavily criticising the party hierarchy. Another motion asks the Executive Council to consider applying term limits and gender quotas to the election of its members. A Carlow branch has submitted a motion asking for Fine Gael "to invest in automatic number plate recognition and the installation of CCTV, including at motorway junctions, in order to assist An Garda Siochana in the fight against crime across rural Ireland". In health, support is being sought for a motion proposing more physical education be taught in schools. Social Democrats TD Stephen Donnelly has defended the controversial Universal Social Charge (USC), saying it could help fund a new NHS-style health service. The Wicklow TD was speaking yesterday at the Social Democrat's manifesto launch where the party's candidates announced plans to reduce childcare costs, abolish water charges and reduce the cost of living. "We are seeing what's happening in China, in the emerging markets, America and the UK, this is absolutely not the time for Fianna Fail economics," Mr Donnelly said. "We need to use the breathing space we have to invest, to get ready to back society and small businesses and to make sure we don't lose another decade the next time bad news comes Ireland's way. "We would not erode the tax base; we would use that revenue to get us ready for the next macro shock that is coming from China or somewhere else. We would use the money to invest in healthcare, in education and to properly back Irish businesses so that they can succeed just as much as the multinational sector has." Mr Donnelly said that funding for these plans could be provided through maintaining the current tax base and said that abolishing the USC would wipe 4bn to 5bn from the State coffers. This is in contrast to Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour's policies, who all seek to get rid of the tax, which could make agreeing a programme for government difficult for the party. TD Catherine Murphy said the Social Democrats would not be a "mud guard" if they decided to enter into a coalition, and would prioritise a social democratic vision. "It's about the political philosophy and what we can become as a country rather than getting into power," Ms Murphy said. "Our guarantee is that we want a social democratic vision, it would want to change very fundamentally." Ms Murphy said that nothing in the party's manifesto was set in stone. "What we've set out in this is not a shopping list, it's a vision. There's more to be added. "It's not as if you can look at things in isolation. There is a relationship between them," she said. The Kildare North TD said getting half of her party's 14 candidates elected would be a "significant number". FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan has likened Fianna Fail to Comical Ali - Saddam Hussiens propaganda minister who insisted Iraq was winning the war against the US as their army tanks rolled into Baghdad. In a statement ahead of his speech at the Fine Gael ard fheis, Mr Noonan attacked Fianna Fails claim that it was their policies that led to the economic recovery. Fianna Fail claim that they are responsible for the recovery. This claim reminds me of Comical Ali in Bagdad claiming victory while the American tanks rolled in behind him, he said. Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf became a figure of ridicule during the US invasion due to his wild claims during press briefings as Saddam Hussiens army was being defeated. Mr Noonan said the economic recovery is fragile but insisted Fine Gaels long term economic plan will keep the recovery going. The plan has three steps more and better jobs, making work pay and sensible investments in public services, he said. The first step is to create more job opportunities spread across the country. This is why the Fine Gael manifesto will commit to more measures to support business, including sectoral growth strategies, doubling to 31,000 the number of apprenticeships, an additional 42 billion in infrastructural investments and the protection of the 12.5% Corporation Tax, he added. Alan Shatter talks to Clare Connell, with her dog Coco, as he canvasses in south Dublin. Photo: Douglas OConnor Alan Shatter gives a long, dry chuckle when I ask how his relations are with Enda Kenny. "Enda Kenny? Professional," he replies, bursting into merry laughter. The former justice minister has just completed his most difficult canvass to date in this General Election campaign. Within the large sprawling estate of The Gallops in Leopardstown, South County Dublin, Shatter and his team were up against the significant obstacle of the closure of Stepaside garda station - and the recent crime spate. Resident Clare Connell tells him how five family cars have been stolen from the estate within the last six months. Another woman tells him of burglaries, another still speaks of anti-social behaviour at the nearby Luas stop. Shatter is probably his own worst enemy on the doorsteps in these situations because of his dogged honesty; he lacks sweet talk and doesn't pull any punches. He casts doubt on the assertion that reopening Stepaside garda station would have any impact on crime - since burglars have easy and swift access to and from the area via motorway - as is happening in countless other areas nationally. The squad car is the same squad car - it doesn't matter where it returns to at night and having two gardai sitting in Stepaside station would make no difference, he tells them. He reminds the woman who spoke of the Luas stop that people in the areas were "clamouring" for the Luas to be brought to the areas. "Oh, I know," she tells him. He's not getting an easy ride and he ruefully tells us we picked the worst day to come out with him. The previous evening's canvass in Marley Grange had been much more welcoming, he claims. Others, however, appreciate Shatter's slightly abrasive form of honesty. Aidan and Audrey Gordon tackle him extensively on Stepaside, telling him that the estate has its own app to discuss local issues and that "every second day there are house break-ins", which locals are convinced are linked with the closure of the station. But Shatter stubbornly sticks to his guns, contending the closure was for the best. "I think he handled it well," said Aidan afterwards. "At least he was honest." There are other issues - a mother of three bursts into tears on her doorstep when she tells how her family are about to lose the roof over their head because the landlord has to hand the house over to the bank. She can't afford the 1,900 rent being sought for another house in the estate and in any case they don't accept rent allowance. She needs to stay locally because she is helping to care for her father, who is gravely ill. Shatter insists that she get in touch with him as soon as possible so that he can figure out a way to help her. Several householders raise the health crisis and he agrees that the situation is dire. We are seated in his car after the canvass, when a teenage girl in school uniform knocks on the window, mid-interview. "Why did you shut down Stepaside?" she demands in a quavering voice, full of emotion. "It's just that I'm in school and I just want to understand it more." Shatter is startled and starts to tell her how it had been a decision by the Garda Commissioner to get more gardai out from their desks and doing real police work. "No offence, like, but is there anything out of your mouth that isn't bulls**t?" she asks. Recognising that she is on the brink of tears, Shatter gently asks her not to be abusive and explains the situation at length. She leaves, apologising politely for the interruption. The former justice minister is scathing of fellow constituent Shane Ross for "deliberately ratcheting up" the Stepaside row, "who I believe is genuinely misleading people". Shatter voices serious concerns over Independents who, he claims, have a track record of voting with Sinn Fein. "I have a genuine concern that we're at risk of sleep-walking our way into a Sinn Fein government supported by a group of desperate Independents," he says. The South County Dublin constituency is a "dogfight" this time round - down from a five seater to a three and Shatter is by no means complacent that he will make it this time round. He had to give very serious consideration as to whether he would run again - and says that some of his friends and relations think he is "completely insane" to put himself forward. However he has a "streak of idealism" that is "probably bordering on nonsensical at my age", he says. When forced to resign as justice minister on May 7, 2014, after months of controversy over gardai - including unproven allegations that the offices of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) were bugged, it left incomplete the agenda he would like to have seen fulfilled - including victims' rights legislation, the whole issue of surrogacy and a unified system of family courts superior to the current system. He says little of the current GSOC controversy on snooping on journalists' phones, only saying that it was "interesting" how some of those who were critical of comments on the grounds that they "undermined" GSOC have been "swift to attack GSOC". Before we part ways, he confesses that he often wishes that he had gone down a different route and opted for the world of stand-up comedy rather than politics. Some 15 years ago, he penned a book that was "rather funny" and it's been sitting there ever since because he feared that if published, he would not be taken seriously in his career. "Maybe if this doesn't work out," he muses, almost sadly, at the prospect. A wave of cyber attacks has hit Ireland, knocking Government websites offline and disrupting one of the country's biggest phone companies. The attacks, which have yet to be pinned on a culprit, took down the websites of the Department Of Justice, the Courts Service and the Central Statistics Office for several hours yesterday. Attacks also rendered mobile phone operator Meteor's website inaccessible for two hours, a day after parent company Eir's website had been hit. The so-called Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks did not result in any reported theft of data or access to sensitive personal information. However, they have left Government IT chiefs scratching their heads as to who might be responsible. "A number of attacks are targeting Government infrastructure," said a spokesman for the Government's Chief Information Officer yesterday. "These attacks have resulted in periodic disruption that has resulted in a number of Government websites becoming unavailable to the public. "We implemented our contingency plans, which are designed to minimise this disruption," he added. "As with all DDoS attacks, it is not possible to identify the exact source of the attack." The spokesman said that attacks continued throughout yesterday, but he could not say whether they would continue through the weekend. A DDoS attack is where a website is overwhelmed by too many online requests at once. It is typically used by organisations such as Anonymous, the international activist group that targets political, financial and terrorist organisations. DDoS attacks do not themselves result in the theft of data, but can sometimes be used as a smokescreen for other cyber attacks such as hacking. The attacks come days after the website of the National Lottery was brought to its knees with a similar attack and was unavailable for two hours. "Indications are that technical issues were as a result of a DDoS attack affecting our communications networks," said Lotto operator Premier Lotteries Ireland at the time. File photo: 1986 kidnapping victim Jennifer Guinness pictured after sentence was imposed in the kidnap case at the Central Criminal Court on 18/ 11/ 86 Photo: NPA/ Independent collection Jennifer Guinness, victim of a notorious 1986 kidnapping that lasted eight days, passed away peacefully earlier today after a long battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband, merchant banker John Guinness, a member of the Guinness brewing dynasty and chairman of the Guinness Mahon bank, who died two years after the kidnapping in 1988. She died at home surrounded by her family, son Ian and daughters Gillian and Tania and long term partner Alex Booth. She had been sick for a long time. We will remember her as a most loving mother, her son Ian said. Jennifer had been an enthusiastic sailor and member of Howth Yacht Club. It is with great sadness that the Commodore and Officers of Howth Yacht Club have to inform members of the passing of esteemed member Jennifer Guinness, a posting on the club website said. Jennifer made headlines around the world in April 1986 after she was kidnapped by three masked gunmen armed with an Uzi sub-machine gun, who burst into her luxury home in Howth, pistol-whipped her husband and demanded a 2.m ransom from him. She was held for eight days in five various locations and was forced into the boot of a car and a cardboard box during her ordeal. She was also chained to a tree and a bed and at one point, even handcuffed to one of her captors. She was eventually rescued by gardai from a house on Waterloo Road in Ballsbridge following an all-night standoff with the kidnappers. It didnt take long for her kidnappers to be brought to justice. The following June, John The ColonelCunningham was sentenced to 17 years in prison, alongside his brother Mick Cunningham, who got 14 years. The notorious brothers, who had strong links with the gang led by Martin The General Cahill, were behind a string of armed robberies in the 1970s. Mick Cunningham, who was released from prison in 1995, died of a heart attack earlier this month. His brother escaped from the Shelton Abbey Prison in 1995 but he was tracked down to Holland in 2000 where he served four years in prison on drug charges before being extradited to Ireland in 2004 to serve out the rest of his sentence. He was released in 2007 and moved to Spain. After her kidnap ordeal Jennifer said that she never gave in to despair during her eight-day ordeal. "I had no doubt at all, most of the time, that my life was in danger," she said during a news conference, "but I couldn't afford to allow myself to lose hope." Jennifer was 48 when she was abducted April 8, 1986 from her Dublin home. When asked what kept her going during her captivity, Guinness said, "A certain amount of anger, a lot of determination and just a conviction that they weren't going to get to me." Guinness drew laughter from reporters when she said, "I kept saying, 'You've got the wrong branch of the family. John's a banker, but two million is not our style of life.' " Investigating gardai praised her courage. Superintendent Frank Hanlon said she was "a considerable asset toward the ending of this incident through her advice to all parties." An 18-year-old man who had been in a serious condition after taking the drug 'N-bomb' has died. Alex Ryan was one of six partygoers hospitalised after taking the hallucinogenic drug 'N-bomb'. He was being treated at Cork University Hospital this week after he took ill at a house party in Cork city. Today, Fr John Fitzgerald, the Millstreet parish priest, said the community are shocked and saddened by Alexs death. Its very, very sad news. There was a lot of uncertainty in the town last night, people were just waiting to hear, he said. There will be a lot of shock and sadness among his peers. Its such a tragic loss of a precious young life, he said, adding that Alex was a student at Millstreet Community School. Fr Fitzgerald said he intends to make contact with the family and intends to visit them this week to offer them his support. The drug known as 25I-NBOMe is a derivative of the 2C family of illegal substances and is sometimes referred to by its street name 'N-Bomb'. It is a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and mimics the effects of LSD, and methamphetamine. Gardai are to prepare a file for the DPP after arresting a man about the supply of a substance believed to have been consumed by a group of people at the party in Cork. Detectives arrested the 29 year-old-man in the French's Quay area of Cork's southside on Tuesday for questioning about the supply of the drug which was consumed at a house party on Green Street in the city on Monday night. 'N-bomb' is also believed to have resulted in the hospitalisation of six students from a Dublin college in 2014. At the Cork party earlier this week, one student was seen dancing naked on shards of glass unaware of the pain and covered in blood while a young man was collapsed on the ground apparently having a heart attack. Gerard Banks, a passerby, told how he became concerned when he heard shouting. When he went to the front window to investigate, he saw blood on the walls, floor, and curtains, and he asked one of the partygoers to let him inside. Last night was one of the scariest and most surreal nights of my life, he wrote on his Facebook page. I was walking [past] late last night and heard crazy shouting in a house. So me and a friend looked in the window to see is everyone ok. The bedroom was covered in blood, walls, floor, bed and even curtains. We shouted in to see is everyone OK. A man arrived at the window clearly on drugs and in a state of shock. We asked is everyone ok. He replied: yes, everything is fine. So we said there is blood everywhere, someone must be hurt, can we check to make sure no one is hurt? He said yes and opened the door. When we went in it was like a scene from CSI. Blood all over the walls, floors, couches and a man and a woman naked covered in blood shouting and screaming badly hurt and clearly in a state of dementia. The man was smashing the house up, blood was everywhere. The house was destroyed. There was a man on the floor in cardiac arrest with major breathing problems and the man who let us in [was] sitting on the chair in shock. Mr Banks directed paramedics to the scene when they arrived. In shock, me and my friend took control of the room. My friend started helping the man in cardiac arrest on the floor. I had to control the room to let my friend help the man on the floor in safety. It was surreal a naked man and woman dancing naked on the chairs as a man was having cardiac arrest on the floor. I was the man who left the guards and paramedics into the house. It was surreal. Students in Cork are being warned to remain vigilant after six young people were hospitalised after consuming the drug at the party. Whatever drugs those people were on last night was scary, Mr Banks said. They didnt even know they were covered in blood and badly hurt, they didnt even know there was a man dying on the floor. I havent slept a wink all night. Im still in shock to be honest. These people did not seem like bad people just like students out partying which is the most worrying thing about this new drug and its side effects. Its really scary stuff and we need to make everyone aware of its dangers. Everyone in the house was rushed to hospital We were all delighted to see the man in cardiac arrest leave in an ambulance in a stable state. One night of taking this new drug has probably ruined the lives of these people for a long time to come. An undercover investigation has shown how people can easily source drugs online - and buy the illicit substances less than a day later in central Dublin. As part of our investigation series 'At Risk - Teenagers and Drugs', we sought to obtain illegal drugs through social media, and were presented with an opportunity to purchase them on O'Connell Street. Drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and so-called party pills are all openly being marketed to Irish users on social media websites. Security sources have claimed that dealers are increasingly taking advantage of social media and other websites to sell their products and avoid detection by gardai. But despite the warnings issued by gardai and the HSE about buying drugs over the internet, our undercover reporter discovered that the business is still booming online. After logging on to a Facebook page that discussed drug use in Ireland, we asked a number of users where drugs could be bought in the city centre. Read More We received a range of different advice. However, one Facebook user directed us to an advert on a popular website. The website was openly offering "pollen" for sale. Pollen is one of the strongest and most expensive types of cannabis resin available in Dublin. It read: "Lovely fresh pollen available city centre 50 a q. 100% genuine and face to face meet, no bulls**t no timewasters please." After a quick exchange of emails, the dealer - who used the name Colm - sent our reporter his mobile number and offered to meet the next day to sell us an ounce of cannabis (28g) for 180. Despite the fact that it is one of the most heavily policed parts of the city, the dealer arranged to meet us at the GPO on O'Connell Street. After exchanging phone numbers, he asked our reporter if he was an undercover Garda - which he denied. Bizarrely, when we arrived at the meeting point a Garda van was parked just metres away in the centre of O'Connell Street. But when we phoned the dealer, he was undeterred. He said: "Just walk towards the statue." When quizzed if he meant the statue of Labour and 1916 hero Jim Larkin, he replied, "Yeah, with the arms." After meeting and shaking hands in the shadow of the Garda van, Colm asked our reporter: "Where do you want to walk?" He then pointed towards the road behind Clerys department store, saying: "We can walk down the lane over there." As they walked, Colm said he had been selling cannabis to make extra money. After viewing the cannabis, our reporter told the dealer that he was going to get the cash from the bank machine and would meet him outside a coffee shop in a few minutes. We never completed the purchase. Cannabis is not the only drug being sold online to Irish users. One dealer - who uses the moniker Charlie Sheen - emails out a weekly product and price list to his customers. Last month, his product list read: "added to stock 3mmc and weed cheese strain out of stock mdma, ket, upjohn coming soon flake weed cheese strain coke, ket, d10, upjohn90, diclazepam." A recent report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said that online drug dealing - in particular in synthetic ecstasy and cocaine - was the continent's biggest narcotics growth market. In 2013, the EMCDDA identified some 650 websites selling these substances to the European market, which, they believe, "represents a new challenge for law enforcement." Drugs are still being openly sold on another popular website, which also hosts a series of 'adult ads'. In one recent post, a dealer was offering to sell prescription-only drugs straight from the packet. His ad - entitled 'Vals and Zimmos available' - claims he has benzodiazepines for sale. He claims: "They're both sleeping pills but the temazepam '30mg' seems to be stronger, i.e. they'll keep u asleep for a little longer and there's less chance of waking during the nite. "I have the 30mgs here in blister trays as well as Xanax and valium." Our investigation - which is carried in the Irish Independent 'Review' section today - also shows how head shops, which were banned in Ireland in 2010, have now gone online. Designer drugs such as N-bombs are increasingly popular among Irish teenagers, along with cannabis, ketamine, ecstasy and GHB. Gardai also say that they are seriously concerned at a noticeable upsurge over the past year in the demand for ketamine, a tranquilliser that is used in veterinary medicine. Another dangerous drug to appear on the Irish club scene is gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, which is a solvent found in nail-varnish remover and industrial cleaning agents. GHB - which is a diluted form of Rohypnol - comes in liquid form, and users put drops of the solution into their drinks in order to experience an immense psychoactive rush. "We cannot overemphasise the risk of overdose and even death from using this drug, it is potentially lethal," one Garda expert stressed. A campaigner who started a wave of protests over rural crime has quit the group he helped to found in a row over a meeting with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. John Tully (53) helped start the Save Our Community group in his village of Littleton, Co Tipperary, after a crime wave in which almost every local business or farm had been raided by thieves. His move sparked meetings across the country among rural communities fed up with the lack of resources available to tackle criminal gangs. But last night Mr Tully went public to confirm he had left the group after a fall-out over a meeting with Ms Fitzgerald in early December. He claimed he had been due to be part of the delegation meeting the minister but was told on the morning of the meeting that he had been dropped from the team. Read More "I was told that I couldn't raise issues around Garda management and the judiciary but for me they are the very essence of the problems facing rural communities," said Mr Tully, whose shop has twice been raided by thieves. "The problem isn't local gardai; the problem is the resources, their management and what happens when gardai do catch criminals and those criminals walk free from court." Mr Tully said he felt "humiliated" at being left out of the meeting and admitted losing his temper with group chairman Robert O'Shea afterwards. "I said a few things to him that I probably shouldn't have said," Mr Tully. "I was very angry at the time. When I started this thing it was about getting people to listen to us and the Irish Independent and journalist Paul Williams were there to give us a voice. Read More "We had a simple message which was that Garda management is not listening to the ordinary guard on the ground." The businessman said he left the group in December after refusing to apologise to Mr O'Shea. "I was told to say 'sorry' and I was told that I could no longer act as a spokesperson for the group and talk to the media so I walked away, but I will continue to speak out as and when I need to," he said. Mr O'Shea confirmed the founding member of Save Our Community had now left the group. "It was coming for a long time," said the local farmer when asked why Mr Tully had left. "There are 15 members on the committee and we run the body democratically. We decided a month beforehand what was to be discussed (with the minister)." Garda management and the courts were discussed at the meeting and the subjects were raised by the minister. Left: Kenneth O'Brien, and right, Gardai at the scene GardaI believe a 33-year-old man whose dismembered torso was found in the Grand Canal was murdered by a West Dublin crime gang over missing drugs cash. It is understood that father-of-one Kenneth O'Brien may have been involved in laundering money for a criminal gang. Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Gardai carry out roadside checkpoints at Ardclough close to where the torso of Kenneth O'Brien was discovered Gardai carry out roadside checkpoints at Ardclough close to where the torso of Kenneth O'Brien was discovered Gardai carry out roadside checkpoints at Ardclough close to where the torso of Kenneth O'Brien was discovered Gardai carry out roadside checkpoints at Ardclough close to where the torso of Kenneth O'Brien was discovered / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai carry out roadside checkpoints at Ardclough close to where the torso of Kenneth O'Brien was discovered CCTV footage has established that Mr O'Brien had been seen several days beforehand in the area of Ardclough, Co Kildare, where his body was found a week ago. It is understood that Mr O'Brien had left Ireland for Australia owing the gang a significant cash sum that he was due to "launder" for them, according to sources. Read More He then returned home during the Christmas period and when he decided to stay in Dublin, the gang planned and carried out his murder. Expand Close Kenneth OBrien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kenneth OBrien It is now believed Mr O'Brien was killed on Friday night of last week. The gang the victim is suspected of working for is based in Clondalkin in West Dublin and was previously involved in a bitter feud in that locality. Gardai have continued searching the area of Ardclough since last Saturday, when Mr O'Brien's partial remains were discovered in a suitcase in the Grand Canal. Yesterday, gardai also discovered 50,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in a farmyard, which sources say may be connected to the brutal murder gang. No arrests have been made. Read More While gardai previously said that Mr O'Brien was not aware of any death threat against him, it has since emerged that the victim and some of his acquaintances had been receiving threatening texts, which may have been linked to his personal life. The analysis of phone data and emails is now part of the investigation. Gardai have investigated a large amount of "complicated" relationships that Mr O'Brien was involved in, but have now concluded that the strongest line in the probe is that he is a gangland murder victim. Last night, Garda checkpoints were mounted in the vicinity of the Grand Canal at Ardclough. Passing motorists were signalled to stop near the entrance of Ardclough GAA club by gardai with clipboards. Officers asked motorists and passers-by if they had used the route at the same time last week on the day the victim disappeared - and if they had seen anything suspicious in the area. A Garda spokesman said it was planned to mount a number of checkpoints in the area throughout the night in the hope of gaining new information that could further the murder probe. Investigators are trying to establish the exact movements of Mr O'Brien before he met his brutal death. He left his home on Lealand Road in Clondalkin, on the morning of Friday, January 15. Read More His partner had already left for work and was using the family car. Detectives are trying to establish if he was collected by somebody outside his home or was meeting a person elsewhere. He had informed his partner the night before that he was travelling outside Dublin for a job and would be gone for the weekend. Gardai are currently trawling through a huge amount of CCTV footage from the Clondalkin and Ardclough areas in a bid to establish Mr O'Brien's final movements. At present, some several hundred lines of inquiry are being pursued. Officers are also expected to release some details regarding the suitcase in which Mr O'Brien's partial remains were found. Earlier this week, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald described the murder as a shocking and distressing case. Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan offered the sympathies of the force to the O'Brien family. The official put in temporary charge of the Department of Justice has been given a 30,000 pay rise, even though Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has not appointed him to the role on a permanent basis. Noel Waters has been acting secretary general since October 2014, filling in after Brian Purcell stepped aside following a series of controversies. The scandal-hit department has been unable to attract a new lead civil servant despite the hefty pay package of close to 180,000 on offer. According to Mr Waters, he was told he would have a caretaker role for no more than a few weeks. However, six candidates for the job were rejected and Ms Fitzgerald is refusing to say when the role, one of the most important in Ireland's criminal justice system, will be re-advertised. Mr Waters, previously director general of the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), did not apply for the job but indicated he would consider doing so should the position be re-advertised. Despite the supposedly temporary nature of his appointment, officials have now revealed he is being paid a 39,854 allowance. This has bumped up his pay package to 176,350, the second highest level on the secretary general pay scale. It is 30,717 more than his package at the INIS, where he had a basic salary of 136,496 plus an additional allowance of 9,137. Meanwhile, the department has refused to say when it will permanently fill the crucial role. In response to queries, a spokesman said the post will be advertised again "at an appropriate time". He said this would be "when it is considered that any competition would be likely to yield a permanent appointment, taking into account the fact that the previous competition did not". The delay in appointing a permanent secretary general is unprecedented. In the past the department has never been without one for more than a few weeks. THE garda watchdog has defended its decision to snoop on the phone records of journalists. Responding for the first time to the revelations that communications by journalists were being monitored, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) said that members of the public who gave information to help in garda probes did not expect to then see that information emerge in the media. GSOC has been accessing phone records of journalists while investigating alleged leaking of information by gardai. Writing in the Irish Times today, GSOC chair Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and commissioners Carmel Foley and Kieran FitzGerald say that it was legislators who made the decision to make such leaks a serious criminal offence, with a possible jail term of five years. Read More They added that it was legislators who granted GSOC the power to access phone records and internet data when investigating serious offences. The article does not directly mention the case that started this controversy when it emerged GSOC accessed the phone records of two journalists following a complaint by a friend of the late model Katy French about alleged garda leaks. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Enda Kenny rebuked the watchdog, saying there was a difference between this kind of incident and one where national security might arise. Writing in the Irish Times today, the GSOC officers say many of those who gave information to gardai concerning investigations had overcome an understandable reluctance to get involved, and would believe that information was to remain confidential until a possible court case. These people are entitled to believe this information will be treated appropriately and lawfully by gardai, they write. Members of the public do not expect to see personal information, photos or documents appearing in newspapers, broadcasts, the internet or social media. Such publication may affect a persons good name, work, family relationships or cause unnecessary grief to a victim of crime and/or their family. ORGANISERS of national anti-water charge protests today have claimed as many as 100,000 people are expected to attend a series of demonstrations - with the biggest gathering planned for Dublin city centre. At least 30 demonstrations have been organised in towns and cities up and down the country, as part of the sixth day of action by the Right2Water movement. Big protests are expected in Cork city and in Letterkenny in Donegal, and the largest will be in Dublin, where about 20,000 people are predicted to rally at the GPO, according to Brendan Ogle from Right2Water. "We'd be very happy with that. We are looking at 100,000 around the country," he said, "If we get into six figures, it'd be amazing," he added. Meanwhile, Sandra Fay, a candidate for the Anti-Austerity Alliance in Dublin South West, said that a number of local groups had come together to organise a protest at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Citywest at noon to show their opposition to the water charges. "We are calling on people from Tallaght, which has been at the heart of the anti-water charges movement, and the broader area to turn out to send Enda Kenny the message that we won't pay the charge and want it abolished," she said. "The protest has been organised so that people can attend both this protest and the city centre," she said. The major Right2Water city centre demonstration will be taking place at 2pm today. Meanwhile, another national demonstration is planned ahead of the General Election, which could get the largest turnout to date. DOORSTEPS "The one before the election would be the biggest there's ever been," said Mr Ogle. "If politicians are saying they are not hearing the issue on the doorsteps, then I don't know what doorsteps they are on," he said. A series of peaceful protests which were held last year attracted tens of thousands of people, including one last August, which organisers believed attracted more than 80,000 people. A test which tells women if they are unlikely to get pregnant through IVF could spare years of heartache Women could be saved the heartache of years of IVF failures with a test which looks for a genetic signature in the womb A test which tells women if they are unlikely to get pregnant through IVF could spare years of heartache and the expense of costly procedures which will never work. Doctors have been puzzled why some women still fail to conceive even when a healthy embryo is implanted through assisted fertility techniques. But now they have discovered that women who never become pregnant carry a specific genetic fingerprint in the womb which appears to hinder pregnancy. In trials, all women suffering from the problem tested positive for the genetic signature and 81 per cent of those who did not have it were given the all clear after a biopsy of their womb lining. Professor Nick Macklon, medical director of Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, which is based at the citys Princess Anne Hospital, said: Many women undergo a number of IVF cycles without success despite having good quality embryos and, up to now, it has been unclear whether or not the lining of the womb may be the cause of that. We have now shown that an abnormal gene expression in the lining can be identified in many of these women and that a specific gene 'fingerprint', when present, is always associated with failure, which is very significant in aiding our understanding of IVF failure. Prof Macklon said it could also lead to the development of a new test to help patients understand how likely they are to achieve a pregnancy before they embark on the treatment process and to guide others on whether or not they should continue even after a number of unsuccessful cycles. Under NHS guidelines, women should be offered three rounds of IVF, but budget cuts mean around 80 per cent of trusts do not offer the full allocation, meaning many women are forced to go private, which can cost thousands of pounds per cycle and lead to years of heartbreaking attempts which will never be successful. To find out if there were gene changes driving recurrent implantation failure, doctors at University Medical Center Utrecht and Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam took biopsies from 43 women with the condition and compared them with 72 women who had gone on to have babies through IVF. During analysis of the biopsies in Utrecht and Southampton, scientists found an abnormal gene profile in the lining of the womb in 100 per cent of women with recurrent implantation failure that was not present among women who had given birth after IVF treatment. Professor Frank Holstege, head of the genomics laboratory at University Medical Center Utrecht, said: What this tells us is that a large proportion of women who suffer recurrent implantation failure may be infertile due to a problem with the receptivity of their uterus. Their chances of achieving successful pregnancy are likely to be very small and this information gives clinicians much more clarity in counselling patients as to the wisdom of investing further time, effort and money in ongoing treatment. At the same time, those patients who have undergone a number of unsuccessful cycles of IVF but do not have the genetic pattern could be advised to persist as they have a much better chance of achieving a pregnancy. Prof Macklon, a consultant gynaecologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust added: While we believe this finding to be a very significant development in international fertility research, the next stage is to trial it as a clinical test to study its effectiveness on a wider scale. Dr Geoffrey Trew, consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Hammersmith Hospital, London said the test, showed promise. "This could be very useful for a small amount of patients who have repeated implantation failure with good embryos and no other cause identified. It will have to go through more trials to validate it, but the basic science is good - and promising." The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Detectives involved in a long-running investigation into a Crumlin/Drimnagh feud murder have arrested a key suspect in the case. The Dubliner, who is aged in his 30s, is part of the 'Fat' Freddie Thompson mob and was grilled by gardai over a number of days about his suspected role as a "scout" in the shocking murder of Gerard Eglington (27), who was shot dead in Portarlington, Co Laois, in September, 2012. Eglington was killed because he was heavily-involved in Ireland's deadliest drugs feud - the bitter gang war between Thompson's gang and a crew who were allied to jailed gangland killer Brian Rattigan. The suspect had fled to France after the murder and was picked up by gardai on his return. Officers arrested the suspect after fingerprint evidence showed up on a car that was seized after the brutal gangland slaying. The car had been seen staking out the house before the murder happened. "The mob who carried out this murder had used individuals to travel in cars to scout out the area before Eglington was shot dead," a source said last night. "That is what this man is suspected of doing, and while there were a number of arrests in the aftermath of the murder, there is expected to be more in the coming months," the source added. The arrested man, who has previous convictions, was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP. Eglington was at home with his 11-year-old stepdaughter and three-year-old son when the attack occurred at about 8.30am on September 24, 2012, at Kilnacourt Woods, Portarlington. Slashed The slain gangster was previously involved in a savage assault on the brother of exiled gangster 'Fat' Freddie Thompson at the Karma Stone pub in the city centre on March 13, 2011. Richie Thompson's partner Catherine Gray also suffered a broken leg in the attack and was slashed in the face. After the incident, Eglington fled to live in Portarlington, but his gangland enemies caught up with and he was shot dead. Teresa Burke, whose 22-year-old son Kealan died a year after taking the heroin substitute, believes graphic images and a hard hitting video documenting her son's struggle during the final few months of his life will act as a powerful deterrent. Teresa Burke, whose 22-year-old son Kealan died a year after taking the heroin substitute, believes graphic images and a hard hitting video documenting her son's struggle during the final few months of his life will act as a powerful deterrent. The mother of a university student who overdosed on m ethadone has said she hopes her son's death can help save others. Teresa Burke, whose 22-year-old son Kealan died a year after taking the heroin substitute, believes graphic images and a hard hitting video documenting her son's struggle during the final few months of his life will act as a powerful deterrent. She said: "He was doubly incontinent; a quadriplegic; he couldn't swallow; couldn't hear and he couldn't see. We don't think he could feel anything either. "He was in a vegetative state. It was awful." Kealan Burke, a second year computers student at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, started smoking cannabis at the age of 17. Later, he received a police caution after being caught buying ecstacy and, by the age of 21 had become addicted to prescription drugs including diazepam. His last year was spent receiving round the clock care in a nursing home and he died a week after turning 22 in February 2009. Expand Close Teresa Burke, whose 22-year-old son Kealan died a year after taking the heroin substitute, believes graphic images and a hard hitting video documenting her son's struggle during the final few months of his life will act as a powerful deterrent. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Teresa Burke, whose 22-year-old son Kealan died a year after taking the heroin substitute, believes graphic images and a hard hitting video documenting her son's struggle during the final few months of his life will act as a powerful deterrent. His heartbroken mother, Teresa will lay bare the grim reality of drug abuse when she addresses a public meeting of Derry Policing and Community Partnership (PCSP) tomorrow. "I want to show the reality of it," said Mrs Burke. "Drugs might make you feel good for a short time, or even a long time, but they can kill you and leave devastated families behind. "It helps me enormously to know that Kealan's life has been for a reason and that reason is to help someone else. I would like to think that somebody out there will get the message and not take drugs. "We were just an ordinary family. We live in the middle of the country. It is three miles to the nearest shop. Drugs were not part of our being or what we knew at all." Mrs Burke is among a number of bereaved parents from both sides of the Irish border invited to tell their story. Karen Vandersypen, from Letterkenny in Co Donegal, has called for a complete ban on legal highs after her son smoked synthetic cannabis and suffered a massive heart attack last October. She said: "Jimmy's blood pressure went so high, so fast it caused him to have a massive heart attack. His brain was so swollen it crushed his brain stem and that meant he was brain dead. He was on a life support machine and I had to switch it off." Mrs Vandersypen has developed a website and education awareness programme and hopes to take her message to schools next year. She added: "I didn't know what legal highs were and I didn't understand them before Jimmy died. Young people think that because they buy them in a shop they are safe, but they are not. And, two people can take the same thing and have completely different reactions. It just depends on how your body reacts to different chemicals. "I just think if they are going to take this stuff then they need to know the dangers. If young people have the knowledge of what it can do then they can make an informed choice. They really are playing Russian roulette." Earlier this year, Northern Ireland's senior Coroner John Leckey likened a cluster of drug-related deaths to a serial killer being on the loose. So far, 20 people have died after taking stimulants known as 'speckled cherries' or 'speckled crosses'. Health Minister Edwin Poots has also expressed concern about the emergence of lethal legal highs. Brendan Keenan: 'Better laws and foreign money needed to overcome worrying homes shortage' There is a district in Belfast known as the Holy Land. Not because of its religiosity, but because the streets - Jerusalem Street, Damascus Street and so on - are called after places in that region. Once, there were others; Little Crimea, India, and so on. Seemingly, houses were built so quickly for the city's huge expansion in the 19th century that it was too much trouble to think up original names. They eventually gave up altogether, so far as names were concerned. The Shankill area got First Street, Second Street etc, all the way up to Tenth. Premium John Downing Opinion Last time the Tories diced with economic disaster it took them another 18 years to win an election I was listening to the young woman from the Daily Mail trying to recruit a gang of reporters to club together and hire an aeroplane to fly back to Brussels. She got an enthusiastic response from another British colleague who was celebrated for lavishly spending his employers funds. As the General Election looms ever closer, there is no shortage of experts spouting predictions of the make-up of the next Government. Some are so cock sure of themselves as to call exact outcomes in individual constituencies as if it was a matter of a mathematical equation. As a former candidate over four elections, I question the certainties of pollsters, psephologists and pundits, particularly when it comes to the fate of the smaller party in coalitions. For example, opinion polls here consistently show steady support for Fine Gael, while also indicating diminished support for coalition partners the Labour Party. This polarisation of voter support in respect of Government parties is misleading in my view. Because on election day, people are asked to vote for a Government, not a party. The question has changed and so will the answer. Meanwhile, door-to-door canvassers are generally a more reliable source of intelligence about voting preferences. Even then, the picture can be skewed by emotion. On the doorstep, people like to vent. It is a rare opportunity to let fly over some particular grievance. I recall being savaged at doors by angry nurses, who were on strike at the time. On the other hand, most people are courteous and some are genuinely pleased to meet a face more regularly seen on the TV. Indeed, it is scary thing to be knocking on a door as a candidate, not knowing what lies beyond. Someone compared it to jumping into the Forty Foot on a chilly day. Bracing oneself can be the worst part. Once in and warmed up, the exercise is enjoyable and instructive. The Labour Party is widely predicted to lose half its seats; the same doom-laden cloud under which my party lived, the Progressive Democrats (PDs) continuously during participation in Government. I recall after the 1997 election, reduced to four TDs, thinking it was game over for the party. But bizarrely, we made up the numbers to remain in Government with Fianna Fail and some Independents. It wasn't the end of the world. In fact, it was the start of a good Government, despite the loss of colleagues and crushing blow to party morale. At the following election in 2002, we doubled our seats and were back in Government. That time, it was Fine Gael that lost all but two seats in Dublin. Swings and roundabouts. This time round, according to the experts, even Labour Leader Joan Burton cannot rest on her laurels and some Labour ministers could lose out to strong opposition candidates. This must be galling for the Labour Party, which has at times put the public interest ahead of popularity by tackling public service reform and implementing cuts. But the pessimism is overstated, in my view. I recall the PDs' percentage of the vote fluctuating from 10pc to 2pc over ten years of Government. Sometimes support for the party was so low as to be negligible, but we had enough to be 'the meat in the sandwich' and influence policy. While strong in Dublin, Galway and Limerick, we had large parts of the country with no representation and therefore performed poorly in national polls. Ultimately, that "smallness" was to be our undoing. We lacked a critical mass of candidates to be sustainable and to withstand the vagaries of electoral swings. Like the Greens, we were swept away in a tide of support for the big traditional parties. Such extinction is unlikely for Labour. At a time of economic uncertainty and fear, people vote conservatively. In Ireland, that meant the two tribes of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. But with FF in disgrace by 2011, that entire conservative vote went (on loan) to Fine Gael; while those with 'Bertie-style' socialist tendencies shifted to Labour or elsewhere. So what will the people's verdict be on this Coalition? My hunch is that voters will play it safe and plump for the same again. In fact, a Red C poll conducted last week for Labour showed 71pc of undecided voters believe the country "is on the right track", suggesting they will vote for the current Government. The research also showed healthy transfers between the two Government parties. The Coalition is not 'loved' as a Government by any means, having presided over a period of hardship for many people of all incomes and none. And chronic failures are there for all to see, the trolley crisis, homelessness, and abysmal mental health services. But there is clear evidence of economic recovery as thousands of new jobs are announced and employment targets are exceeded. With Fianna Fail still unforgiven and Sinn Fein mistrusted, the current crowd are viewed by most people as the 'best of a bad lot'. That being the case, it's critical for Fine Gael not to drop the ball with a mishap over the next few weeks. The party has been accident-prone in the past and a small mistake can escalate in a few hours to a full-blown crisis. In that context, it is instructive to note a strong performance by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald while under pressure this week on the Garda surveillance issue. Ms Fitzgerald is an experienced and competent minister who manages to come across as reasonable and courageous, whatever the controversy. She makes up her own mind on issues and is not a prisoner of her department. She is pleasantly devoid of the hubris common to justice ministers. Experience of adversity and competence in governing in hard times is a major advantage for this Government seeking re-election. Michael Noonan is seen as a permanent fixture, beyond public criticism like a benign keeper of the coffers, while the younger crop of Fine Gael ministers are solid if not box-office performers. Outside of the Leinster House and media bubble, most citizens have a peripheral interest in politics. Irish voters are well informed but not obsessive. They get on with their lives as best they can, relying on those in power to do their jobs and run the country. These voters may show up as 'undecided' in polls, but they are not apathetic or alienated - far from it. Every five years, they turn up dutifully and deliver a considered verdict about who they want to govern, ignoring the din from loonies and radical socialists. The recent report by the British Polling Council into how pollsters got it so outrageously wrong about the outcome of the British general election was telling. It seems they oversampled 'politically engaged' people, a greater number of whom were left leaning, and neglected the 'indifferent', or those not keen to engage with pollsters, who as it turned out were Conservatives. The pollsters totally overestimated the support for the left. Our own pollsters may be making the same mistake. Premium What will it take to unite Ireland? Opinions are divided There are those for whom Northern Ireland is a geographical fragment of the UK holding true to empire on its western flanks, and those for whom partition is a century-old wrong that must be overturned. Somewhere in the middle are the persuadables people willing to accept either unity or union, so long as the justification is logical. One way or another, the unity conversation is in the air. In recent days it has been claimed that the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday is 'archaic' and 'discriminatory', and causes a loss of income to the pub trade - especially during the year ahead, when the 2016 Rising celebrations will be particularly intense around Easter. In reply to this we should ask why we have the ban on the sale of alcohol on that day in the first instance. Good Friday is one of the most sacred days of the year. It is called 'good' because it is the day on which the Saviour was put to death for us, and opened for us the way to eternal life. The ban is a mark of respect for the Lord and what He did for us, and helps us to make this sacrifice for Him - who sacrificed everything for us. Some will object and say that this day is therefore only for Catholics and other Christians - and only for practicing ones at that. Therefore they claim that the ban discriminates against those of other religions, or none. If that is the case then, in order to be consistent, our society would have to get rid of the public celebration of all Christian feast days which affect the public calendar - Christmas, Easter, Saint Patrick's Day, Saint Valentine's Day, etc - since all of these days were established, and are still celebrated, as religious feast days. They have no significance otherwise, even though they have been commandeered by commercialism to a great extent. Therefore, those opposed to a ban on the sale of alcohol in pubs and shops on Good Friday cannot have it both ways. They cannot object to the ban on alcohol sales on Good Friday adversely affecting their trade, because at different occasions they greatly benefit from other religious feasts in terms of increased business. I would further ask what kind of example are we setting to our young people if we, as a society, cannot do without alcohol on sale for this one day? The problems associated with the abuse of alcohol are there for all to see - especially in terms of the health impact on the individual, the damage to family stability, and public order offences. If Ireland can at least do without the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, we can show our young people that alcohol does not have to be an integral part of our national character and, just as importantly, that we can restrain ourselves for a higher goal, at least to some degree. What an example that would continue to be. Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan Bishop of Waterford & Lismore Waterford Wise words from your elders I had to put pen to paper upon reading an article written by Sinead Moriarty, entitled 'Ask Your Elders, Not the Web'. What good advice was given by the people interviewed, who were all between the ages of 70 and 100 years old. I myself always chose to be happy and always made sure to enjoy the simple things in life. Thanks, Sinead. Nan Ludden Westport, Co.Mayo Surgical precision from Leo Could Leo Varadkar's attempts to fix the health service before going to the country be described as 'elective surgery'? Jonh Williams Clonmel Some roads not 'vehicle worthy' Your recently-published editorial comment 'Disrepair of Roads Could Have Stark Consequences' (Irish Independent, January 21) should get the deadly serious attention that it deserves. Country roads are an absolute disgrace - even worse still since the havoc of the floods. They are the cause of accidents, hazardous to drivers and pedestrians, wreck transport and are a deterrent to new industry coming here. Car and transport-owners are obliged by law to keep their vehicles safe and properly maintained. Likewise it is the responsibility of the Government and Local Councils, obliged to provide the roads, to ensure they are properly serviced. A glaring example of their efforts is the fact that funding levels of 39.5m still remain - similar to that in 2000. It's time tax-paying drivers demanded legally binding standards be put in place for all roads to comply with a 'vehicle worthiness' test every four years - similar to 'road-worthiness' tests for vehicles! James Gleeson Thurles, Co.Tipperary We're not the only ones, Eamon Eamon O Cuiv's belief that, in marking the Easter Rising, Ireland is the only nation that commemorates failure ignores the Anzac legend and the spirit of Dunkirk. Both recognise the solidarity in adversity shown after calamitous defeats, and contribute to the national identity of Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. Dr John Doherty Co Dhun na nGall We need to support Jordan There is no doubt that the migration crisis has put unbearable burdens on European countries, stoking the embers of resentment and animosity towards mostly Muslims refugees. However, the numbers of refugees who entered the whole European continent is equivalent to - if not less than - the numbers who have entered Syria's neighbouring countries, such as Jordan, with one very simple difference. His Majesty King Abdullah II has pledged to keep Jordan's doors open to all refugees fleeing their poverty and war-stricken countries. This occurred despite Jordan's meagre natural resources, and the impacts this huge influx of refugees had on the educational, security, economic, transport and health infrastructures. Jordan remains a bastion of ethnic, cultural and religious tolerance in a turbulent region. The global community must do more to help Jordan in its hour of need - to maintain its status as an oasis of stability in the Middle East and as a credible and reliable ally in the global battle against terrorism. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob London An Tain has a whole host of films, theatre and music lined up for January 2016. Starting off with film club, Slow West is screened on Tuesday 26 at 8.30pm. Young Scottish aristocrat Jay Cavendish travels to Colorado in search of his love. As part of the Brigid of Faughart Festival, Breda Larkin's one-woman comedy, Breda's Way takes place in the studio theatre on Thursday 28 at 8pm. International touring award-nominated Canadian artist Gordie Tentrees comes to the studio theatre on Friday 29 at 8pm. On Saturday 30 at 2pm, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Ruff The Dog perform live in a exciting and fun-filled musical production! On Friday night we headed for the Ballymascanlon Hotel where the Grammar School were hosting their Graduation Ball and the place was packed with party revellers by the time we got there. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with Fergus Smith from Blackrock, Cory Browne from Dromiskin and Matthew Lowdnes from Ardee who were looking extremely well on the night and told me they hadn't bothered with any ladies for their respective arms and were going to have a bit of a boys night out. Beside them I then caught up with Niamh Watters from Meadow View who was with Conor Brady from Monasterboice who assured me it was going to be a fantastic night and no mistake. Also in their company was Liam Cotter from Funshog who was having a laugh with James Wall from Rathkenny, Ronan Macken from Monasterboice, Joe Moran from Slane and Donal Rogers from Dromiskin who were all in party mode and were looking forward to an epic celebration. Liam then headed over to his date for the evening the lovely Orna Owens from Dromiskin who told me they certainly weren't there to make up the numbers. Not too long later I then met up with Megan Maguire from Termonfeckon who told me she was bringing Stephen Reid also from Termonfeckin and they were chatting to Cathy Bell from Kilsaran who was wondering where her date for the night Simon Cox from Sandpit had gotten to, up to get refreshments I would hoped Cathy. Looking extremely sharp in his tuxedo was Padraic McGinn from Whitecross who assured me it was going to be a marvellous night with the rest of the lads. Making my way through the crowds I then got talking to John Burlingham from Mount Avenue who was with Orlaith Mulholland from Kilkerley who told me it was definitely going to be a good night with all their friends. One man who was definitely on his best behaviour on the night was Shane Morgan from Monasterboice who was being brought by the lovely Stephanie McDonnell also from Monasterboice who insisted that it was going to be anything but a quiet Debs. After this I headed over for a word with Andrew Clarke from Monasterboice who was with Beth Sheridan from Termonfeckin who couldn't wait for the festivities to get under way. Not too far away I got a word with Harry Stewart from Ravensdale and Deirdre Young from Dunleer who told me they are both students in the school, so effectively, no one was bringing anyone, but safe to say they were going to have an epic night together. Making my way over to another group I then had the pleasure of talking to Nicholas Vogelbusch from Luxembourg who was with Sarah McAdam from Carlingford, Lisa Arkhngelskaya originally from Moscow but now hanging her hat in Newry who was with James Elbiola from Dublin, Rebecca Whelan from Dublin who was being brought by Sean-Eoin McLoughlin from Drogheda, Lucy McManus from Blackrock who was with Terfil Camarasu from Hungary who were up for making it a real night to remember together. Making my way through the crowds I then caught up with outgoing Principal Dr. Cyril Drury who told me he was looking forward to his last Debs as Principal, he then introduced me to Deputy Principal Jonathan Graham whom, when I asked him was he going to fill Cyril's shoes replied 'well there is going to be plenty of dancing tonight!' I then headed over for a chat with Erin Maguire from Lordship who was bringing Eoghan Blount from Dunboyne who told me they always have a great night when they get out. Not too far away I then got talking to Constanza Hector from Madrid who was with Matthew Murphy from Louth who both assured me it they were out for a mad one! 0Finally, before I departed I managed to get a quick word with Aoife Hughes from Carlingford and Naomi Hands from Greystones who were looking exceptionally well and were awaiting their dates Jack Farrell from Dunleer and Jordan O'Riordan from Greystones who had managed to get themselves lost in the foyer, already lads? Steeped in history and shrouded in mystery, Faughart graveyard is a place where ghosts of Ireland past swirl and gather, perhaps reliving former glories or fighting for a different outcome to the final battle they lost. For more than 1500 years, this strategic site at the mouth of the Gap of the North has been a base for a king, a saint, Protestant and Catholic churches and, in more recent times, a place where people come to find cures, peace, answers, intervention. Faughart hill has been an important part of Irish history for centuries but recent research, done in preparation of the 700th anniversary of the death of Kind Edward the Bruce, who is buried at Faughart, has revealed a startling fact - no-one is sure who actually owns Faughart graveyard. For Louth County Council's Heritage Officer, Brendan McSherry, the mystery around the ownership of the site makes it difficult to make plans for the anniversary in 2018. But he's not going to be deterred from ensuring that something, at least, is done to mark the anniversary and, hopefully at the same time, improve and upgrade the site. Mr McSherry said: 'Faughart is a very significant location, one of the most important heritage sites in Louth. 'The Hill of Faughart is a large drumlin sitting at the southern entrance/exit from the Gap of the North, the main route between East Ulster and the rest of the country. Anyone travelling into or out of here must pass under its shadow. It overlooks the Plain of Muirtheimhne and Dundalk with its important crossings over the Castletown river. Anyone travelling north across the plain can be watched from Faughart. 'So it is a very strategic point, because of its size, shape and location and has been for centuries and maybe even millennia. It is mentioned in An Tain Bo Cuailgne. 'Saint Brigid was reportedly born there and a 'Celtic' monastery was founded there. There appears to be the base of a round tower and fragments of high crosses. Crop marks show that the top of the hill was once surrounded by a large circular enclosure. 'The Anglo-Normans built a motte and bailey castle on top of the hill when they invaded the area towards the end of the 12th century'. But it is Edward Bruce's connection to the site that has piqued Mr McSherry's interest at present and provided the motivation behind his quest to establish the ownership of Faughart hill. He said: 'In the early 14th century Robert Bruce, who was fighting for Scottish independence, sent his brother Edward to open a second front against the English, by attacking the English colony in Ireland. 'It is popularly believed that Edward Bruce was crowned High King of Ireland in Dundalk in May 1316, at Mortemer's Castle, opposite the end of Earl Street. At McCourt's pub - there is a plaque on the wall. 'Following a three year campaign, in which Robert Bruce also participated, Edward Bruce's Scottish and Irish army was defeated at the Battle of Faughart on October 14 1318. 'This war coincided with terrible weather right across Europe, which caused an awful famine, which was exacerbated in Ireland by this war. Edward Bruce is reportedly buried in Faughart graveyard but contemporary reports state that his body was beheaded and quartered. 'A local Norman knight travelled to England, where he presented the head to the English king, for which work he was rewarded with the king's gift of the whole county of Louth!' In an effort to build on the growing interest in battle sites and bolstered by the upsurge in interest about Scottish nationalism and heritage, Mr McSherry started to look about improving the Faughart site ahead of the 2018 anniversary. He soon ran into problems. Until 1869, the Church of Ireland, who was the state church under British rule, controlled Faughart graveyard, along with many other places including 'the green church' and churches at Grange and Ballymascanlon. But the Church of Ireland wanted to divest itself of some of its responsibilities in the 1860s and picked the assets it used and wanted to keep - the churches and hand control of the other sites, including Faughart graveyard, to the Poor Law Union. However, in the case of Faughart, the Catholic Church, who had been getting paid to bury people at Faughart graveyard, raised an outcry at the potential loss of this facility (and revenue stream) and the Union didn't take it over. Mr McSherry said: 'It's not clear what happened then. It looks like things were just left in limbo. In the 1960s, Canon McKeever, a great historian and chronicler in Dundalk, had the car park built at the side of the graveyard'. Of course, the shrine to St Brigid has been maintained and improved over the years by the Catholic Church. But still, the question of who actually owns the graveyard or has responsibility for it remains unanswered. A study commissioned by Louth County Council last year suggested a number of improvements for the Faughart site, including the rebuilding of the old church, the cleaning and tidying of graves and, perhaps most interestingly, the erection of an interpretative feature showing the history of the site. Ideally, the site would be taken over by the OPW and made into a national monument, like King John's Castle in Carlingford, which has benefited greatly from the injection of central government funds over the past two years. If the ownership or responsibility issue is settled, then applications could be made to ensure the graveyard is upgraded ahead of the 2018 anniversary to not only mark that, but to provide a focal point for tourists wishing to access North Louth. Faughart hill is a frontier place that transcends time and is moulded by its geography. It deserves to have the legalities ironed out once and for all so that it becomes, once more, a place fit for a king. British Colonial style in Singapore at Raffle's Temple rooftop in Hoi An resplendent with Dragons Hoi An was formally a trading port, and is now Unesco World Heritage Listed with an interesting mix of Japanese, Chinese and French Colonial Architecture dating from the 15th - 19th Centuries. Mr AV and I had holidayed through Vietnam 11 years ago, and loved it then, so I suppose you could say we'd already done some reconnaissance regarding the logistics of a family holiday and did not feel particularly daunted about taking youngish children there. Personally I feel it is a far safer destination than Bali, which is the default Asian family holiday spot for many Australians. The Japanese Bridge, which dates to 1590 Inside the bridge there are several shrines, this one has a monkey Timber post construction inside the Japanese Bridge The two youngest being cycled in a rickshaw back to the hotel A street full of tailors A shop that sold bamboo bicycles and straw baskets French Colonial style at Hill Station cafe in Hoi An I have always loved Vietnamese food and all bar one meal we had was exceptionally good (that meal was in a tourist trap style place that overlooks the river where they float lit rice paper lanterns down in the evening. The food was ok, but definitely not exceptional. View was good). Vietnamese food relies on fresh, clean tasting ingredients with lots of herbs. Hoi An has a lot of seafood locally caught, and the dressing and sauce flavours are sharp/sweet/clean tasting without so much of the chilli heat other Asian countries, such as the Thai, have. They are also very fond of a baguette, and their pastries are delicious (the French influence). Our favourites were the White Rose dumplings, a specialty of Hoi An (they have shrimp and pork in the centre and are very delicate in flavour and texture), and the Vietnamese Omelette, Banh Xeo, in which you cut the omelette into pieces and wrap in a section of rice paper with fresh herbs and salad leaves before dipping in a sauce served on the side. Delicious and something I'm going to look up to make at home. The small clay Hot Pots of curry are also worth trying, so delicious. some sort of green mango salad and shredded chicken for lunch Brother's Cafe in Hoi An, which is housed in a French Colonial style building tiny tea pot Halong Bay, still from the movie Indochine We've just returned from a family holiday to Vietnam and Singapore, as those of you who follow along on Instagram will be aware. Vietnam seemed like the perfect family holiday destination for us as it's a relatively short 2 hour flight from Singapore, and it would expose our children to a totally different culture to that of home. We also wanted it to be a holiday centring on relaxation - it's been a busy year for all of us. So Hoi An in Vietnam ticked all the boxes. It's located on the coast in the mid part of Vietnam and while it is technically currently Winter there, it enjoys a tropical climate, so it was a mild 25-28C most days. Warm enough to swim, but not so hot that walking around the old town of Hoi An was unpleasant.We stayed in two hotels whilst there - the first, Anantara , is located on the river very close to the old town which made it easy to walk into the centre with the children. It's designed in a French Colonial style, and was a lovely base. The second hotel, Nam Hai , was one of the resorts located a 10-15 minute drive out of town on the beach and comprised the 'relaxation' element of the trip. It's been designed by a French Architect in the style of minimalist, modern Chinese pavilion style, and is very elegant.While all the resorts on the beach offer free shuttle bus services into Hoi An town, we felt that when our children became tired it would be far easier if we could just walk 5 minutes back to the hotel (or rickshaw them there while the rest of us walked), rather than wait for the next shuttle to a resort, hence why we broke the trip into two separate places to stay.You can get direct international flights into Da Nang (the nearest large city approximately 30 minutes drive away from Hoi An), so it made for an easy travel destination all round. The car ride did not seem long to the children as they were completely fascinated watching the traffic and the lack of apparent road rules, the strange things being carried on the back of scooters (animals, stock for shops), and the families of three on one scooter zooming past. While I would have loved to go back to Hanoi and also shown them Hue (the former imperial city), we decided staying put in Hoi An would be the go this time around. It was also easier to navigate due to the lack of traffic - the old town is blocked to scooters and cars, so is perfectly safe for pedestrians.Hoi An is charming - it's famous for its many tailors, although having overindulged in bad tailoring 11 years ago I avoided them like the plague this time (no one with a 12 hour turnaround time is going to do a stellar job in my opinion).They are also well known for their hanging lanterns, made in all different shapes and covered in silk, which are strung up all through the town and lit up at night to give quite a magical effect .Other Vietnamese specialties are well represented in the town shops such as lacquer, objects made of Water Buffalo horn (they shed them naturally and they are then crafted into small bowls, salad servers, necklaces and hair pins), beautifully hand embroidered linens and bags and items made from silk. Sadly there are now a reasonable number of shops selling polyester Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirts and vinyl Louis Vuitton and Mulberry bags - I suppose it is inevitable that when Western tourists arrive in any quantity in Asia these items start to become popular, and from conversations I overheard most visitors left with entire new suitcases full of extra stuff they'd bought.The children found the bartering aspect fascinating (and the performance that goes along with it), and the fresh food market with the stallholders produce set out on the sides of the roads - mounds of fresh coriander, ginger, salad ingredients, dragon fruit, women walking past with the traditional shoulder poles carrying baskets with fresh fish in totally them eye opening. There was a stall that sold live chickens in small bamboo cages (not sure whether to eat or for eggs, but you do see a lot of chickens wandering about roadside just out of town). It was no sanitised Western style market, and nor are the buildings a scrubbed clean Disney- style old town. There is a lot of patina in Hoi An still. It's all surrounded by rice paddies tended by workers wearing traditional conical hats and Water Buffalo and was a good eye opener to our children as to how people in other countries live.One restaurant I'd recommend (and we ate there 11 years ago and enjoyed it then too) is the Brother's Cafe. It's just out of the old town, near the Anantara Hotel on the river. It's got an absolutely charming courtyard to dine in on the river, and at night is lit up with lanterns.All up it was an excellent family holiday - the highlight for me was walking out of the hotel one morning with an enormous bag full of laundry and having the 4 women, who have enterprisingly set up laundry services at the gates, begin fighting for the job. If only that happened at home. Returning home with a suitcase full of clean clothes after a family holiday was a miracle in itself.There was also a lot of design inspiration all around me. While we didn't buy a lot, the beautiful details in the Hotels in both Singapore and Vietnam, the French Colonial and Chinese influences of the old town of Hoi An, their use of colour, traditional screens, pots and mood lighting were all inspirational in themselves. I could really get a sense of where the Australian/ British Interior Designer Anoushka Hemple found inspiration.And as for what my souvenirs of the holiday were (aside from the happy memories and many photos), I purchased a tiny tea pot for one with tiny tea canisters of tea leaves from TWG tea in Singapore. You can buy the tea in David Jones' stores in Australia, but the range in Singapore was far larger, and the teapot was so charming I couldn't resist. The teapot has an insulating sleeve around it and literally brews only a single cup, so is perfect for me.My Hoi An purchase was a set of napkin rings carved from a single shell for each. They're apparently made up in North Vietnam in Halong Bay (If you've ever seen the movie starring Catherine Deneuve, Indochine , then you'll remember the stunning beauty of Halong Bay which was the second star of the movie, and if you haven't watched the movie then seek it out as it is beautiful). Another great movie, shot around Hoi An, isstarring Michael Caine. And with that I think I'm off to do a binge watch of both those movies and relive a fantastic holiday. Hopefully we will return to Vietnam far sooner than in another 11 years. In the past twenty years, dogs have become increasingly recognised as useful companions for humans. The original model - the traditional "Guide Dog for the Blind" - has been supplemented by a wide variety of so-called "assistance dogs". Here in Ireland, the key area of development was started by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2005, when they set up Europe's first Assistance Dogs Programme for families with children with autism. The specially bred and trained dogs make a massive difference to the quality of life of their families. They carry out a multitude of small tasks, but there are two main areas where they excel. First, they act as an anchor if an autistic child bolts in public. Without a dog, there's a continual fear for parents that a child will randomly run off, with no awareness of traffic or other hazards. The child becomes accustomed to being linked to the dog by a harness, and if they ever try to run away, the dog is trained to lie down, without budging. This prevents the child from getting into a dangerous situation. The second major benefit of an Assistance Dog is that they become a long term, steady friend of the child. Dogs are completely non-judgemental, and for a child growing up in a frightening world, a dog provides a wonderful emotional anchor. The Assistance Dog Programme has been so successful that Irish Guide Dogs can no longer keep up with the demand, and sadly, they have had to close their waiting list. They can only train thirty or forty dogs a year, yet if they were suddenly able to produce dogs for every autistic child who needs one, they would need to have five or six hundred dogs ready to go. This massive demand has led to other groups also breeding and training Assistance Dogs: Dogs for the Disabled was founded in 2007, My Canine Companion started in 2011, and Autism Assistance Dogs has also now been established. The four charities have worked together to form a national umbrella group called "Irish Assistance Dogs", which aims to maintain the highest possible standards of breeding and training of Assistance Dogs. The group also works to highlight the need for special recognition for Assistance Dogs under Irish legislation to ensure that the families who have these dogs enjoy proper access rights to social amenities such as cinemas, restaurants, shops and other places. In recent times, some desperate parents of autistic children have paid significant sums of money for dogs from unaffiliated organisations, and some have ended up being bitterly disappointed. If the word gets around that it's best to only work with members of Irish Assistance Dogs, such problems may be prevented in the future. Although Assistance Dogs for children with autism is the biggest sector in Ireland, Dogs for the Disabled are also provided for people with a range of physical disabilities. Examples include people with Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson's Disease, Polio, Spina Bifida, arthritis, spinal injuries and amputees. Dogs are also used to help people who are deaf (they can let their owner know that the phone is ringing, or that there's someone at the door), and there are even medical assistance dogs now, doing tasks like predicting low blood glucose in diabetics or helping people who have epilepsy. There's far more availability of dogs to help people with these problems in other countries such as the UK and USA, and it's an area that's likely to continue to develop here. The range of tasks that dogs can help people accomplish is remarkable. Here are the most common helpful activities: picking up dropped or difficult to reach items, opening doors, helping with the shopping, helping with dressing and removing items of clothing, loading and unloading a washing machine, pressing a pedestrian crossing or lift button, retrieving the telephone, post and medicine and retrieving money from a cash machine. It's important that assistance dogs are allowed to accompany their owners as they go about their daily activities, and most businesses make exceptions for the "no dogs allowed" rule, with signs saying "Guide Dogs Only". A recent issue that has come up is that some people feel that their own pet dogs are such close companions that they ought to be allowed in as well. Such animals are sometimes called "Comfort Animals", and some businesses have started to allow these as well. In particular, airlines in the US have started to let Comfort Animals come aboard, sitting in a seat on the plane, to accompany nervous passengers. There is a basic rule that many different types of animals are acceptable, as long as they are 'trained to behave properly in public settings'. A couple of years ago, one woman in the United States persuaded the airline staff to allow her Labrador-sized Pot Bellied Pig on board, but when the pig started to be "disruptive", she was forced to disembark. And last week, a photo in the papers showed a turkey sitting in an airline seat who apparently was offering emotional support to his companion. Times have certainly moved on a long way from that traditional Guide Dog for the Blind! Anam Cara will be holding their first meeting of 2016 in the coming weeks for bereaved parents living in the border counties. An organisation that supports bereaved parents, north and south of the border, support groups are situated throughout Ireland and provide parents a safe, comfortable environment where they have the opportunity to connect with other bereaved parents. Anam Cara is an inclusive organisation where parents do not identify themselves by their children's age, how they died, or if their death was recent or many years ago. 'What Anam Cara provides is a safe place for bereaved parents to connect with others who understand the intensity of the grief and loss,' said a spokeswoman for the charity Although Anam Cara does not offer counselling, each group has a lending library and information on the other services available to parents and families in the local community. Anam Cara is holding its monthly Parent Evening on Wednesday 27th of January 2016 from 19:30 to 21:00 in the Armagh City Hotel, 2 Friary Road, Armagh, BT60 4FR (weather dependant). Anam Cara Services are available free of charge to all bereaved parents. For further information please see our website at www.anamcara.ie email us at info@anamcara.ie or call 01 4045378. It was a friendship that launched generations of musical magic, says violin teacher Sheila Thompson as she met her mentor last week. Sheila, who went on to teach a host of local music stars including Zoe Conway and sisters Sharon and Patricia Treacey Dunne, paid tribute this week to the woman who helped make it all possible. 'Sister Christine Colbert was my teacher many years ago when I was student at Dun Lughaidh school,' explained Sheila. 'She was an amazing teacher, and taught me so much, pretty much everything I needed to know then about music. She was an inspiration.' As a young student, Sheila discovered the passion for music which would shape her life's work, an interest that she says was nourished and guided by her music teacher, Sr. Christine. 'With her help I realised my love for music, and knew then that I wanted to teach it. It was thanks to her encouragement that I was able to go and teach other budding young musicians.' Among the well known names Sheila has since taught are the talented violinist Eimear Heeney, who is now herself a teacher in music at Waterford IT and Omeath native Audrey Trainor, the classically trained violinist and music lecturer. Sr. Christine has now retired and is living with the Lughaidh order in Monaghan. 'She is in good health and doing very well, and I'm still able to go and visit her which is great,' said Sheila. 2016 will also be nostalgic year for the Lughaidh nun, whose uncle Con Colbert was executed at Kilmainham jail for his part in the Easter Rising. The Limerick native was called 'the gallant Captain Colbert' by Padraig Pearse in recognition of his dedication to the rebellion movement of 1916. He became an important figure in the events of that Easter, and after the 'rising' assumed command of the whole garrison upon their surrender on Sunday, 30 April 1916. He famously moved the piece of white paper that was being pinned to his chest for the firing squad to aim at saying 'would it not be better nearer the heart.' Colbert was executed on May 8th 1916, aged 28. Limerick railway station is named in his honour as Colbert Station. A Dundalk mother of three has just returned from a Croatian refugee camp where she spent the new year working. Bronagh Catibuic arrived back home from Croatia where she spent two weeks volunteering in a refugee camp in the eastern town of Slavonski Brod. 'The camp is a transit centre for people fleeing conflict who are making the arduous trek along the so-called 'Balkan route', explained Bronagh. 'An average of between 2,000 and 4,000 people passed through the camp each day on a journey that can take people weeks and sometimes months.' She told the Argus about of a typical morning at the camp where 'Another train would arrives, with about a thousand people disembarking. Many were families with small children, babies wrapped in blankets, lads with worn backpacks. The elderly and disabled would be helped into wheelchairs, and from the grim carriages they made their way out onto the platform. A shadowy police cordon would guide emerging passengers from the train towards the registration point.' She explained that the camp was floodlit in the darkness, with thick layer of snow covering the ground around the tents and prefabs. 'Often it was snowing for several days, and temperatures drop to minus fifteen degrees. Then, when there's a slight thaw, gravel paths become a mess of mud and slush, and freezing rain starts to fall. Bronagh added that she was particularly struck by the high proportion of children, including very small babies, among the arrivals. Indeed, she met many families with five or more children. There were also many pregnant women - during the course of her work in the camp she actually met three, with some women up to eight months pregnant. 'People tended to travel in extended family groups, elderly and disabled people were pushed in wheelchairs by their relatives.' Despite this the Dundalk woman added that their spirit and dignity, under such adverse conditions, was truly humbling. 'They were willing to undertake this harsh and risky journey into the unknown because their lives in Syria and Afghanistan, most of the refugees I met were from these countries, had become completely impossible.' She describes the moments of shared humanity; 'The excitement of the children about receiving a banana or a snack sends ripples of joy through the crowd, or a mum's delight when a pair of scruffy runners fits her little son. Then we had the charming guy who demanded a 'stylish' jacket, which made everybody laugh. Volunteers from Croatia and across Europe waved goodbye as trains left heading towards Germany or wherever their ultimate destination was, and they waved thank you from the open windows.' Bronagh, who lives just outside Dundalk with her Bosnian husband Mirza and her three daughters, Ayumi (15), Selma (13) and Leyla (8), has a PhD in Applied Linguistics and works as a researcher and lecturer in English language teaching and intercultural education. She met her husband Mirza, who came to Ireland as a medical evacuee from Bosnia, while she was involved with Bosnian refugees in the 1990s. Talks between representatives of the Traveller community and officials at Louth County Council were scheduled to continue today (Tuesday) after an operation to evict a number of families from the Woodland Park site on the Inner Relief Road started on Friday. Solicitor Eleanor Kelly, who is representing the families who lived at the illegal site, said on Monday that a number of her clients had spent the weekend in their cars, following the eviction, carried out by Gardai, scenes from which featured prominently on TV news and in national newspapers on Friday and over the weekend. In addition, families spent the weekend with friends and other family members, while a number were placed in B&B accommodation by the council. Ms Kelly revealed that she paid for a couple with a small child to stay in a bed and breakfast after time ran out on Friday evening. The eviction brought a situation, which started in April last year, to a head. Then, around 20 families had moved onto the site, which was closed by Louth County Council in 2008, with caravans and mobile homes. During a visit to the site in November, the Argus reported that Travellers had hired heavy lifting equipment to move boulders and clear the site. There is no mains electricity at Woodland Park and generators were being used, wired into individual caravans. Following the Carrickmines tragedy, Louth County Council fire officers carried out an inspection at the site and told residents the facility was unsafe. 'Health and safety' were the reasons offered to residents when an eviction notice was issued on Wednesday. One of the women who lived at Woodland Park, Rebecca Quinn, said she and a number of other women had 'tried contacting the council on Wednesday and Thursday, but received no response'. At the site on Friday morning, Ms Quinn told the Argus: 'When they came on Wednesday, they told us we had to leave, but they wouldn't tell us when they would be back. They offered no alternative solution, no further options. 'We have been trying for months to talk to the council, trying to tell them there is more than enough demand for a site like this. We are worried about what will happen to the kids if their parents present as homeless to the council. We are worried about the mobile homes and caravans when they are taken away. We have nowhere else to go'. The council issued a statement at lunchtime on Friday which said the eviction took place 'solely on the basis of health and safety' concerns. Following a meeting later that evening, the council said they would provide Traveller-specific accommodation within three years and would work with them to help secure private rented accommodation but have not offered to fix the site and allow families back. The green light has been given for a multi-million euro rejuvenation of Dundalk town centre, with the news that Louth county council is to receive 2 million towards the project. Last November, a meeting of the municipal district, heard that a 4.75 million scheme had been submitted for an area 'from the market square to the big bridge'. The Clanbrassil Street and St Nicholas Quarter rejuvenation scheme entails the regeneration of the entire of Clanbrassil Street, Church Street, Bridge Street and Linenhall Street, councillors were told at time. Minister for Employment Ged Nash has welcomed the announcement by government. 'Dundalk will share in a 40 million scheme through the European Regional Development Fund to improve the public space at Clanbrassil Street and St Nicholas Quarter. 'This resource, to be matched by funds from Louth county council, will in essence extend the work previously carried out at the square under the previous round of ERDF funding,' the minister added. Louth County councillor Tomas Sharkey has called on health minister Leo Varadkar to use Wednesday's visit to Louth County Hospital 'to learn how and why services need to be restored to that hospital'. Cllr. Sharkey has requested that, as a member of the HSE's Regional Health Forum, he and other local representatives be afforded the opportunity to meet the minister. He said: 'Minister Varadkar is welcome to visit Louth County Hospital. As health minister he should make himself aware first hand of all issues in the hospital service. He will visit a newly opened ward of medical beds. I welcomed the plans for this ward some months ago. 'However, Minister Varadkar needs to educate himself of the fact that Louth County Hospital housed an accident and emergency department, an intensive care unit and acute medical wards less than six years ago. 'He must learn that the crisis in Our Lady of Lourdes is a direct result of the closure of services in Dundalk. 'I want to explain to Minister Varadkar that the small medical ward he will see is no comparison to the 100-plus beds that are no longer there. 'As one of Louth's representatives on the Regional Health Forum, I want to explain that our Minor Injuries Unit can go to a full 24/7 service and also support a Medical Assessment Unit. 'These measures will help us plan the reinstatement of full services in Dundalk and bring an end to the crisis in Our Lady of Lourdes. 'The RCSI Hospital Group has informed me that there is not enough space in he hospital building for me, as a public representative on the HSE Forum to attend the Minister's visit. That is an outrageous cop-out and snub to the public in Louth and especially Dundalk. 'We know that hospital staff are being asked to have their dinner breaks by mid-day to allow for a reception of the Minister in the hospital canteen. I also challenge Minister Varadkar to instruct the RCSI Hospital Group to invite myself and the other Louth representatives on the HSE Regional Health Forum to this event'. There's very little difference between Meath-loving actor Pierce Brosnan and Louth TD Gerry Adams as pictures of the former 007 star emerged last week on the set of his new movie. The Sinn Fein leader told the Argus he knew nothing of the uncanny resemblance until the pictures, taken in London on the set of Brosnan's new movie, The Chinaman, were revealed on social media and he has 'endured a lot of slagging since'. Brosnan plays a physical force republican turned government minister and social media erupted last week after the pictures were released. Mr Adams said: 'I didn't know anything about it until it started coming up on social media. I have to say I didn't know Pierce Brosnan was that good looking! 'It's a bit of craic, a bit of fun that's all and I'm getting a lot of slagging about it'. Even yesterday morning, Mr Adams revealed, the jesting was continuing, with a woman in her eighties making a point of saying it to him in Dundalk. Meanwhile, Mr Adams revealed on Monday that the party's Ard Fheis is to take place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 April, to co-incide with the eve of the exact date of the Easter Rising. The event will take place in Dublin's Convention Centre and Mr Adams said he was 'pleased to be in Dublin city that weekend', having had previous recent ardfheiseanna in regional centres such as Castlebar. He said the party will also be involved in the citizens' event, Reclaim the Spirit which takes place on April 24 as well as Sinn Fein's own event to mark Easter Sunday 1916. The party will hold their Louth campaign launch in the Westcourt Hotel in Drogheda on Monday next. Mary Lou McDonald and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will be in attendance for the event, which will see the campaigns of Mr Adams and Cllr. Imelda Munster who said: 'I welcome as many people as possible to the launch on Monday night to start of this historic campaign to deliver change for the people of this constituency'. A large sword that was found in the back seat of a man's car in Muirhevnamor was used for ceremonial purposes at his father's grave according to its owner, Dundalk District Court was told last week. But Judge Grainne O'Neill convicted Thomas Stokes 2 Road 2, Muirhevnamor of possession of the weapon at Villas 3 on May 5 2015. Garda Gary Harris told the court how he was dealing with another matter in the estate when he saw a Mazda 6, driven by Stokes, drive past. He said he recognised the driver and saw Stokes stop the car at Villas 3, get out and go into a house on the street. Gda. Harris said he became suspicious and went to search the car under Misuse of Drugs legislation. Moments after he started searching the unlocked vehicle, Stokes came out and Gda. Harris told him about the search and why it was taking place. Gda. Harris said there was a 'large Samurai sword' on the back seat, which was shown to the judge in court. Gda. Harris said he asked Stokes who owned it and the defendant replied: 'It's mine'. Stokes was asked why he had it and replied: 'I got it as a present, it's for decoration'. He said he didn't know it was illegal to have it. Stokes was arrested and given station bail. Stokes's barrister said his client was in Villas 3 because he has a child living on the street. He said Stokes's mother, Julia, would give evidence that it was her late husband, Michael's, sword and it was used twice a year by the family at his graveside - once on his anniversary and again on his namesake's feast day. The barrister applied for a direction to have the case struck out on the grounds that there was 'no grounds' for searching the car in the first place. Judge O'Neill said the Garda recognised Stokes and followed him so he had reasonable cause for the search and she refused the application. Stokes told the court he was on his way to pick up his child to bring him to his father's grave when the search took place. He claimed he told Gda. Harris the sword was 'ours', that it belonged to the family and was used for decoration. Mrs Stokes said her husband, who died 12 years ago in Lourdes, had bought the sword in Joneboro' and she had put the sword into her son's car ahead of it being taken to the graveyard. She said she didn't think there was any harm in it as they had been doing similar twice a year for many years. The barrister said the sword was 'solely for recreational, ceremonial purposes' and this was a defence to the charge. But Judge O'Neill said there was no doubt the defendant had possession of the sword on this occasion in his car and he was didn't have it with lawful authority. Stokes has a previous conviction for having drugs for sale or supply. He received a three year sentence that was suspended for three years in January 2014. The case was sent back to the circuit court in Dundalk the following day and there Judge Michael O'Shea listed the re-entered matter for hearing on January 26 when he will decide whether to activate all, part or any of the suspended sentence. An application to Judge O'Neill to destroy the sword was not granted, ahead of the circuit court hearing and/or an appeal of the sword possession conviction. Change ( Peace, Love & Unity ) is in the Air Now ! ... When Olive Murphy was growing up in her native west Cork, she always had a fondness for the sea and nature. Little did she know, when she moved to Mallow four years ago after her marriage to Paul Kiely, that she would finally combine her love of arts and crafts and set up her own business. However, reversing backwards to her days in West Cork, she told The Corkman that her sister Nora had a lighting shop in Skibbereen and as Olive liked to hand-paint lampshades, she duly obliged her sisters request. "I did a few hand-painted lampshades, but really at that time, it was just a hobby for me," said Olive. Now, painted lamp-shades and cushions in a variety of themes are the backbone of her business, Olive Murphy Designs. Olive's background is in print and media coupled with graphic design and textiles in which she worked at for about six years in Cork, London and Australia. However, even as a child she said that she loved arts and crafts and when she was a child was forever making jewellery or painting. When she found herself living in Mallow and without work, she quickly put on her thinking-hat and felt that she was good at and enjoyed painting. The rest as they say, is history. "I get my ideas from nature and in particular from west Cork. I have always loved flowers and the sea and while I did sail in Skull, I was never that good at it," she smiled. The calmness of water as well as the bright colours of nature have always held a place in her heart. She thanked local photographer Sean Jefferies who did the photographs for her website, which is very active with orders. This month, Olive will showcase her work to over 5,000 buyers in what will be her biggest step into the commercial world so far. "The market will react to a product and overall as an artist you need to be brave and have confidence. I can still remember the first time I sold a painted lamp-shade and I think I was in shock that someone wanted to buy my work," she said with a laugh. "But you really have to believe in yourself," she said. This is all part of the network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) which has unveiled 97 different design and craft businesses aimed to impress all the buyers visiting the Enterprise Zone at Showcase in Dublin later this month. Olive sincerely thanked the Leo and for their guidance and expertise. The small craft and design businesses, representing 22 countries around Ireland have all been supported by their LEO, which will make it possible for them to sell to international retail buyers from more than 20 countries such as the USA, France, Japan, China and Italy. While the event is organised by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, it is promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland. There will be a wide range of creative sectors which will be represented within the Enterprise Zone which runs from January 24 and January 27 and which will showcase ceramics, knitwear, jewellery, interiors, skincare and giftware. Joan Kelleher of the LEO said: "Thanks to practical business supports through the LEO in the local authority, our local craft and design business is well placed to secure substantial international orders during the four days of Showcase." She said on a year-round basis, there are a lot of other supports available to the craft and design sector locally, which include financial assistance, microfinance loans, trading online vouchers to training programmes. Anna Duggan, Michaela Sheehan and Rebecca O'Mahony, students at Colaiste Cholim Ballincollig at the CIT Engineer Roadshow in the Nexus Centre, CIT 45 Drive: The weekly 45 Drive was well attended on Sunday night last . The following is a list of the lucky winners:- First Prize went to:- 1 Donie O'Keeffe, Newmarket and Frank O'Brien, Kilbrin.2 Tim Curtin, Freemount and Con O'Neill, Newmarket. 3 Tim Ahern, Freemount and Nora Brosnan. Meelin. The best Ladies team was;- Esther Hayes, and Catherine O'Sullivan, Kilbrin. Gents Prize was won by:-Martin Flynn, Feohanagh and Denis Healy, Lismire. .Mixed Team winners were:-Margaret O Leary, and Jack Murphy, Freemount. The Table Prize was won by:-Tim Burke, Broadford and Daithi Burke, Meelin. .Raffle Prizes were won by:- 1Esther Hayes, Kilbrin. 2 Nora Brosnan, Meelin. 3 PJO'Sullivan, Freemount.4 William Walsh, Glash, Newmarket. 5 Frank O'Brien, Kilbrin. The 45 drive will commence on this Sunday night January 24th. at 8.pm. sharp and will be held downstairs in the new premises-no more climbing the stairs -. See you all on Sunday night and bring a friend. First game at 8pm. sharp AROUND THE FIRESIDE The next programme of Around the Fireside will be broadcast on C103 Local Radio on Monday night next January 25th. at 9.50pm. On Monday night we have Gerard O'Rourke, from Donoughmore, with Billy O'Brien, Timmie Lehane, John Murphy,Margaret Hayes, Eamon Cronin and others. This will be a very entertaining programme. Don't miss it.!!!! FREEMOUNT CHURCH Mass on this Sunday January 24th. at 10.30am. Mass on Monday night January 25th. at 7pm. followed by the usual Holy Hour and Adoration at 7. 30pm. Mass on Tuesday morning at 9.30am. THURSDAY CLUB The next Thursday Club get together will be in Cois Abhann Centre on Thursday January 28th. 2016 As usual everybody welcome. USED POSTAGE STAMPS If you have used stamps you can hand them into The Heritage Centre any morning. COMHALTAS All Music Classes are on Wednesday nights and Friday nights as usual. All instruments. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Freemount Community Development will hold it's AGM on Monday 25th January at 8:30pm, downstairs in the new meeting room at the rear of hall. Several projects have been taken on over the last years to enhance our local facilities e.g. the playground, walkway and some Hall projects etc. We would like to hear people's ideas and suggestions about what they would like to see accomplished in our locality. This meeting will allow everyone to have their say. Anyone who would like to come on board is more than welcome in any capacity. To keep the Hall and the facilities going we need people power and the Hall needs to generate more income. So please attend this important AGM to have your say. Everybody is welcome and light refreshments will be served. OPERATION TRANSFORMATION Ladies AND Gents, Join up for Freemount Operation Transformation. If you are interested in walking, we are meeting every Monday and Wednesday night at 8pm, with registration in the hall from 7.45pm. NOTE for next Monday January 25th, we will start at 7.30pm to accommodate the AGM at 8.30pm. A contribution of 2 per night would be appreciated with all proceeds going towards the annual maintenance of the walkway including the lighting costs. A weigh-in for those interested in losing some weight is optional. Let's help to meet the OT 1,000,000 lbs challenge. All are welcome and bring a friend!! Please pass message on to family/other contacts. 1916 COMMEMORATION Freemount 1916 Commemoration Committee will hold a fundraising Table Quiz in The Haggart Bar on Friday night January 29th. at 9pm. Tables of 4 20. First prize 100. Your support would be much appreciated. Everybody welcome. HISTORY WEBSITE If you would like to keep up with the progress of our History website,please log on to www.freemountvillage.com You might see your own photo. Career guidance There will be a Career guidance session for students and parents with Roisin Kelleher, Careers consultant on Saturday 23 Jan in the James O'Keeffe Institute, Newmarket from 11.00am to 12.30pm. This Career Guidance session will give practical information regarding the procedure involved in course / career planning. Attention will be drawn to the importance of establishing one's interests, aptitudes and work values. Making an application through the Central Applications Office (CAO) for Higher Education Courses will be explained. Information will be given regarding college and course entry requirements together with 2015 points. The procedure involving application for courses, such as QQI programmes (formerly FETAC) will also be attended to. The session should help students/mature students to make more informed and confident decisions regarding choice of course / career. There is no charge for this session. Publication will be available to buy: Courses & Careers Guide Calendar 2016, will be available at a cost of 10.00. FREEMOUNT G.A.A. CLUB AGM: The G,A.A Annual General Meeting will be held on this Friday . Jan.22nd. at 7.30 pm. Please note change of date. LOTTO: There was no winner of last week's Lotto Jackpot. The numbers drawn were:-14-17-22-33 Lucky Dip winners were as follows:-1 Cathal Nagle, Ballinla, Freemount. 2 Sean Fitzpatrick, Kiltane, , Freemount.3 Pat Keane, Snr. , Freemount. 4 Seamus Roche, Tullylease , 5 Mike Murphy, London.. The jackpot this week will be 8,850.Make sure you buy your tickets early and often and you will be in with a chance to make a killing for your after Christmas Shopping!!!!! SCOR SINSEAR: Congratulations and best of luck to the following local Scor participants who qualified for the Co. Final of Scor by winning the Duhallow Final last week-end in Banteer. They were:-Solo Singing- Tracy O Mullane. Music Group- Ella O'Dwyer, Aoife O'Connor, and Michael O'Regan,. Recitation- Aoife O'Connor. Ballad Group- -Ella,John,and Kevin O'Dwyer,Tracy O Mullane and Edel Browne. MACRA Friday night there was a celebration night held in Barry's bar Freemount to mark Thomas Stritch's success at the national final of Impromptu Public Speaking, while on Saturday last our caper cast,crew and supporters headed in mass to Aghada for the National Semi Final of Caper. Freemount put on a fantastic show, however it was not to be their night as they failed to qualify for the National Final. Congratulations to our neighbour Banteer on qualifying for the National Final in Mallow in February Don't forget Awbeg Macra's Stag of Avondhu to be held in the the Crossroads on Saturday night January 23rd at 8.30pm Notes All items for these notes should be with the correspondent each Monday evening before 8pm. E-mail osullivanpj38@gmail.com Geen Party candidates running in constituencies across Cork have set out their priorities as General Election canvassing begins in earnest ahead of the forthcoming general election. Following the party's election launch in Cork last week, the candidates travelled to Dublin where they addressed delegates at the Green Party national convention. Cormac Manning, who is running for a Dail seat in Cork North West, spoke on a number of issues including the effects that climate change and flooding have had on families in Cork and Ireland's response to the Syrian refugee crisis. "On the topic of refugees, we await the imminent arrival of the first Syrians coming to the State under the EU sharing programme. Along with many of us, I look forward to welcoming these new families to Cork North West and showing them a real Cork welcome," said Mr Manning. He recognised there were what he described as "a minority" of people who would urge the powers that be to close our borders to those in need. "That would leave people hapless in their own homes to be bombed by Assad and ISIS and Cameron, Obama and Putin. All I can say is that if you look at the history of this country, "I am very grateful that in our hour of need, as our people died on the streets during the Famine, the authorities in Ellis Island didn't take that same attitude," said Mr Manning. "Yes, sure, while the main perpetrators of the terrorist attacks on Paris last November were Belgian, some may have entered Europe undercover. But we know that they don't represent the vast majority of people who are coming here fleeing hell. The terrorists of Daesh/ISIS represent refugees arriving in Europe about as well as the dissident IRA represent me," he added. Cork North Central candidate Oliver Moran spoke eloquently about the need for political reform, in particular at local government level expressing the party's opposition to the abolition of town council's. "We know that power in a republic is something that is shared - and blossoms because of it. The purpose of the politics that we pursue is to encourage that blossoming. To share power as widely as possible so that people with ideas and drive can rise and offer us their vision for Ireland," said Mr Moran. He added that this was why the Green Party opposed what he described and "the destruction of local government" through the scrapping of town council's and then merging of larger local authorities. "It's why we're fighting it in Cork right now. Unless power is at everyone's doorstep then you can be sure it is in the hands of a few," said Mr Moran. "It's why our councillors are leading the way in calls for greater use of participatory budgeting. And it's why we support citizen initiatives to directly empower people to initiative laws and call referendums - both nationally and locally in their own communities," he said. Other speakers included Cork East candidate Natasha Harty who reiterated the Green's opposition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership (TTIP), which the party has described as "retrograde and misguided". Green Party leader Eamon Ryan was in buoyant form, saying he fully expected them to make a return to Dail Eireann in 2016, winning back the four seats they lost in the 2011 general election. New figures released by the IDA have revealed that more than 7,800 jobs have been created in the Cork region between 2011 and 2015. The figures, which have shown that some 3,419 IDA related jobs were created in Cork alone last year, have been welcomed by Cork South Central Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer who said continued job creation on this scale would "keep the recovery going in Cork." "These are high quality jobs that have a really positive knock on effect in the wider Cork economy. The IDA estimates that for every ten jobs created by foreign direct investment, a further seven are generated in the wider economy," said Deputy Buttimer. He said the outlook was equally positive across the country with every region recording employment growth during 2015 and more than 135,000 jobs created nationally since the launch of the governments much hyped Action Plan for Jobs strategy. "This government has a long term economic plan that will continue helping the create new jobs and to keep the recovery going in Cork and elsewhere, ensuring a better quality of life for all," said Deputy Buttimer. "Job creation is crucial to this plan because having more people in work creates the resources to invest in better services such as childcare, healthcare and the justice system," he added. With an election looming on the horizon, Deputy Buttimer launched a broadside at both of the major opposition parties. "We cannot return to the irresponsible economics of Fianna Fail who wrecked the economy and would destroy the hard won recovery given half the chance. Likewise Sinn Fein's high tax policies would destroy our job creation prospects in no time at all and would drive foreign direct investment out of Ireland," he said. "We must remain focused on the plan to continue creating jobs and keep the recovery going so that the benefits of recovery can reach every home in Cork." Meanwhile, Cork North West Fine Gael TD Aine Collins has welcomed the publication of the 2016 version of the Action Plan For Jobs, which has set a target of creating 50,000 jobs across the country over the coming year. "Don't let the sceptics tell you that this is just a Dublin based recovery, with all of the regions recorded increases in full-time employment in 2015. Following the successful rollout of the Regional Jobs plans, this new 2016 Plan contains further actions to support regional jobs growth supported by 530 million in funding," said Deputy Collins. "Another significant measure in the 2016 Plan will see all government transactions with business available online by 2017, a move which will affect 370 government transactions with 185,000 businesses across the country. As a business person myself I know exactly the kind of efficiencies and savings this will bring," she added. Home is where the broken hearts are. In Lenny Abrahamson's riveting drama, based on the book of the same name by Emma Donoghue, a twenty-something mother and her child are imprisoned in a shed that has been their home since she was abducted at the age of 17. Irish author Donoghue was inspired to pen this harrowing family portrait in response to the Josef Fritzl case. Her skillful screen adaptation loses none of the raw emotional power thanks to two blistering central performances. Brie Larson is sensational as the kidnapped parent, who has sacrificed everything to protect her child from what lies beyond the locked door that opens once a week when their captor delivers limited food and provisions in exchange for sexual favours. She conveys her character's years of suffering in heartrending glances. Equally impressive is seven-year-old Jacob Tremblay as the boy trapped in a living nightmare beyond his comprehension. The emotional depth and maturity of his portrayal is jaw-dropping. There's no hint of stage school artifice or cuteness that might break the grim spell conjured by Abrahamson - it's the best performance by a child actor since Anna Paquin in The Piano. From the moment he was born, Jack (Tremblay) has only known the four walls and skylight of the squalid single room he shares with his Ma (Larson). Every day when he wakes, Jack cheerfully addresses the furniture in his makeshift home. 'Morning lamp, morning rug, morning wardrobe,' he chirps, while his mother prepares a meagre bowl of cereal. The boy is blissfully unaware that Ma was abducted as a teenager by a man called Old Nick (Sean Bridgers), who is holding them hostage. Despite her ordeal, Ma protects Jack from sickening reality as best she can. A television is their only outlet to the outside world that the boy might never see. 'Where do we go when we dream?' asks Jack. 'We're always here," replies Ma. "In Room.' After years of suffering, Ma concocts a daring plan to get Jack away from Old Nick and hopefully into the arms of her parents Robert (William H Macy) and Nancy (Joan Allen). If the escape bid fails, however, the repercussions are unthinkable. Room unfolds largely through the eyes of Jack and by adopting his innocent perspective, director Abrahamson navigates some choppy emotional waters with sensitivity and skill. The on-screen partnership of Larson and Tremblay galvanises every frame, but this is an embarrassment of riches in front of and behind the cameras. Donoghue's script is masterful and the simple, yet evocative, production design induces a sense of choking claustrophobia that has us biting our nails down to the cuticle in the hope that Jack at least might wriggle free of Old Nick's iron grasp. Dr. Bernadette Brereton, Ms. Angela Short and Mr. Gerry Gallagher with Professor Sarah Moore, Chair of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and special guest speaker on the evening, Dr. Maureen Gaffney, Clinical Psychologist and author. Duleek Drama Players calendar of events for 2016 is many and varied and will include their own contribution to Centennial events to complement the usual professional approach to Dramatic achievement. They open in The Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda on 8th to 12th March nightly with a hilarious comedy murder mystery entitled "Murder at Priorswell Manor" by Simon Brett. This is an above average "Whodunnit" cleverly written to keep the audience guessing until the final gales of laughter uncover the villain (whoever she or he is). One of the events to celebrate the grand opening of Duleek Courthouse Heritage centre will be a commemorative presentation written and compiled by Dr. Caroline Gallagher about the main signatories of The Proclamation and the people associated with them. Other activities include workshops and participation in The Drama League of Ireland Summer School held in Limerick University in July. They would invite new members to join Duleek Drama Players and share in any future accolades and productions. To join the group, call Michael Ferguson @ 087-9726214 Newfield man Stephen Kennedy will host the debut of his new play 'Pete Best of the Beatles' at the New Theatre in Temple Bar, Dublin, from February 8th -13th. Pete Best was drummer with The Beatles for two years in the early 1960s. He played hundreds of shows with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison - and then was mysteriously kicked out of the group a few short weeks before they released their debut single ('Love Me Do') and went on to take over the world. 'This is the first stage play ever written about Pete's life and it has taken me over two years to research and write it. The play examines the mystery of Pete's firing from the greatest rock 'n' roll group of all time - and it presents a fascinating insight into the early days of The Beatles and their wild nights in Liverpool and Hamburg. As the logo on the poster says "If you think you know The Beatles - you're wrong!,' Stephen remarks. Yapperhead Theatre Company are putting the play on at the New Theatre, Stephen is directing it and the Dublin actor Padraic McGinley is playing the part of Pete Best. Tickets are 10-15 and can be booked by phoning the New Theatre on 01 6703361 - or going to www.thenewtheatre.com. The play is a follow-up play to 'John Lennon's Last Day' which had sold-out runs in Dublin, Belfast and Berlin - as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 2015, to mark what would have been John Lennon's 75th birthday. I also wrote 'Death and the Beatles Fan' and Lennon v McCartney. The latter play was performed a number of times on the Adelphi's main stage at Liverpool's International Beatleweek and went on to be made into a short film by Eddie Jackson,' Stephen added. He is also Director of the Dublin Beatles Festival. In the past twenty years, dogs have become increasingly recognised as useful companions for humans. The original model - the traditional "Guide Dog for the Blind" - has been supplemented by a wide variety of so-called "assistance dogs". Here in Ireland, the key area of development was started by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2005, when they set up Europe's first Assistance Dogs Programme for families with children with autism. The specially bred and trained dogs make a massive difference to the quality of life of their families. They carry out a multitude of small tasks, but there are two main areas where they excel. First, they act as an anchor if an autistic child bolts in public. Without a dog, there's a continual fear for parents that a child will randomly run off, with no awareness of traffic or other hazards. The child becomes accustomed to being linked to the dog by a harness, and if they ever try to run away, the dog is trained to lie down, without budging. This prevents the child from getting into a dangerous situation. The second major benefit of an Assistance Dog is that they become a long term, steady friend of the child. Dogs are completely non-judgemental, and for a child growing up in a frightening world, a dog provides a wonderful emotional anchor. The Assistance Dog Programme has been so successful that Irish Guide Dogs can no longer keep up with the demand, and sadly, they have had to close their waiting list. They can only train thirty or forty dogs a year, yet if they were suddenly able to produce dogs for every autistic child who needs one, they would need to have five or six hundred dogs ready to go. This massive demand has led to other groups also breeding and training Assistance Dogs: Dogs for the Disabled was founded in 2007, My Canine Companion started in 2011, and Autism Assistance Dogs has also now been established. The four charities have worked together to form a national umbrella group called "Irish Assistance Dogs", which aims to maintain the highest possible standards of breeding and training of Assistance Dogs. The group also works to highlight the need for special recognition for Assistance Dogs under Irish legislation to ensure that the families who have these dogs enjoy proper access rights to social amenities such as cinemas, restaurants, shops and other places. In recent times, some desperate parents of autistic children have paid significant sums of money for dogs from un-affiliated organisations, and some have ended up being bitterly disappointed. If the word gets around that it's best to only work with members of Irish Assistance Dogs, such problems may be prevented in the future. Although Assistance Dogs for children with autism is the biggest sector in Ireland, Dogs for the Disabled are also provided for people with a range of physical disabilities. Examples include people with Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson's Disease, Polio, Spina Bifida, arthritis, spinal injuries and amputees. Dogs are also used to help people who are deaf (they can let their owner know that the phone is ringing, or that there's someone at the door), and there are even medical assistance dogs now, doing tasks like predicting low blood glucose in diabetics or helping people who have epilepsy. There's far more availability of dogs to help people with these problems in other countries such as the UK and USA, and it's an area that's likely to continue to develop here. The range of tasks that dogs can help people accomplish is remarkable. Here are the most common helpful activities: picking up dropped or difficult to reach items, opening doors, helping with the shopping, helping with dressing and removing items of clothing, loading and unloading a washing machine, pressing a pedestrian crossing or lift button, retrieving the telephone, post and medicine and retrieving money from a cash machine. It's important that assistance dogs are allowed to accompany their owners as they go about their daily activities, and most businesses make exceptions for the "no dogs allowed" rule, with signs saying "Guide Dogs Only". A recent issue that has come up is that some people feel that their own pet dogs are such close companions that they ought to be allowed in as well. Such animals are sometimes called "Comfort Animals", and some businesses have started to allow these as well. In particular, airlines in the US have started to let Comfort Animals come aboard, sitting in a seat on the plane, to accompany nervous passengers. There is a basic rule that many different types of animals are acceptable, as long as they are 'trained to behave properly in public settings'. A couple of years ago, one woman in the United States persuaded the airline staff to allow her Labrador-sized Pot Bellied Pig on board, but when the pig started to be "disruptive", she was forced to disembark. And last week, a photo in the papers showed a turkey sitting in an airline seat who apparently was offering emotional support to his companion. Times have certainly moved on a long way from that traditional Guide Dog for the Blind! Dave Turner, Isobel Sanroma and Ann Finnegan launching the appeal at the Support 4 Older People premises at Haymarket The local Chernobyl Children's Charity in association with Drogheda and District Support 4 Older People (DDS4OP) have launched a campaign to collect toiletries for people in Belarus to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Local activist Isobel Sanroma has teamed up with DDS4OP to launch the appeal, which will see toiletries for babies and elderly people sent to Novinki For the babies, the group are asking people to donate nappies, wipes, sudocrem, shampoo and baby wash while for the older people, donations are sought of shampoo, soap, shower gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste. 'There will be a truck leaving from Cork to mark the 30th anniversary of the disaster and we decided to do something and collect some useful items for them to bring over,' explained Isobel. 'The old folks home is on the grounds of where Natasha's house is and Dave Turner and the gang here at DDS4OP were very good in agreeing to help us to collect the stuff. 'It's just because of our longstanding connection with Chernobyl here in Drogheda that we wanted to do something to mark the anniversary.' However, Isobel said clothing was not sought or required. The deadline for collection is February 15th and anyone who would like to make a donation can drop the goods in to the DDS4OP office at the Haymarket. The office is open each day from 9am to 1pm and on Wednesday from 9am to 3pm. 'We've been involved in collecting the Babushka boxes for the past four years so this is really just a continuation of that,' said Dave. Commenting on Natasha's recent visit to Ireland over Christmas for two weeks with her friend Sevtlana, Isobel said the pair enjoyed every minute of their trip. She reminded anyone who still hasn't done so to return their sponsorship card for the St Stephen's Day Swim to her or any other member of the committee. She extended thanks to everyone who helped to make the annual swim such a big success including the RNLI and St John's Ambulance, Eugene Kierans and the underwater diving unit and everyone who helped out in any way. Sgt. Stephen Fletcher and Pte. Keith Curtis of the Irish Defence Forces called to Marymount School last week to present them with a copy of the Proclamation of Independence and an Irish Flag. Principal Maria Torpey and pupils Ella Brady and Eabha Cosgrave are pictured accepting The great great grandaughters of two locals who fought in the 1916 were proud to be presented with the Irish Proclamation and Flag at Marymount school last week. The girls, who are both students in the school, were presented with the two symbols as part of the nationwide Easter Rising Celebrations. Fifth class student Eabha Cosgrove was presented with the Irish Flag in memory of her great great grandfather, Tom Burke. Eabha's sister Isabella is also a student at the school. Tom Burke founded the volunteers in Drogheda in April 1914. When Easter 1916 came around he was due to take part in the raid on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in Ashbourne, County Meath. On Easter Monday he set off from Drogheda to Kilmoon Cross where he was to meet his contact and collect his rifle. However, his contact never arrived and he ended up living rough for our days before walking back to Drogheda where he was arrested. He was subsequently sent to Frongoch internment camp in Wales. In addition, student Ella Brady's great grandfather, James Joseph O'Connor, also played a role in the 1916 Rising. Principal Maria Thorpey told how James joined Fianna Eireann in 1909 and worked as a messenger in Dublin for the Republican movement. She revealed that because he was only 13 at the time of the Rising, his parents hid his shoes to try and keep him safe and stop him from joining the cause. However, this didn't stop him and he subsequently became part o fthe North Dublin Battalion of Na Fianna. Private Keith Curtis and Sergeant Stephen Fletcher from the Irish Defence Forces attended the school last Thursday to present the girls with the flag and the proclamation and to talk to them about what the flag means to Irish history and to explain its significance in the 1916 Rising 100th anniversary celebrations. The ceremony was part of the state's commemorations of the Rising. An unemployed plumber who glassed his ex-wife's new partner in a pub may be ordered to carry out community service work, a court has heard. Derek McCann (51), with an address now at Eastham Park, Bettystown, Co. Meath, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault of Glen Riordan causing him harm at Edenmore House, Coolock on September 10, 2011. The case has only come to court now because there were delays charging McCann after he moved from his former address on Millbrook Road, Coolock to a caravan park in Bettystown. Garda Eoin Cowap told the court that the victim, now aged 35, was in the pub chatting to a friend on the night but wasn't drinking. He later told gardai that out of nowhere McCann came running at him. McCann swung his hand quickly and hit him. Seconds before this McCann had broken a glass at the counter which he used to attack Mr Riordan. The victim fell off his stool. A witness said that McCann also attacked the victim with his fists after the glass fell to the floor and this witness used his body to shield the victim. Mr Riordan received ten stitches to a facial wound and was left with a 2cm long hairline scar. He said the attack caused a strain in his relationship with McCann's ex-wife. He also lost confidence and stayed in the house a lot more after the assault. McCann had drank a lot on the night, Gda Cowap said, he had no memory of the assault. Seoirse O Dunlaing BL, defending, said the victim was substantially younger that his client. He said his client had four children from the marriage. He said McCann had already lost his job as a plumber and was taking medication for stress when the marriage ended in 2008 and his ex-wife began a relationship with Mr Riordan. This hit him hard and a subsequent diagnosis of cancer put him at an "all time low", counsel said. He was now living a lonely existence in a caravan park. A character reference described him as an "honest, trustworthy man". Counsel said his client was offering to sell his car in order to cover the victim's financial loss of 900, which was made up from medical expenses and lost wages. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to next April in order for the Probation Services to assess if McCann is suitable for community service. Pictured at the first year anniversary celebrations of the Fingal Local Enterprise Office at Malahide Castle last year were: Keith Brock (Assistant CEO), Bernard Brogan (Dublin GAA Football team) and Oisin Geoghegan (Head of Local Enterprise Office Fingal) Fingal Local Enterprise Office (Fingal LEO) has issued a new invitation for applications for funding from new and growing small businesses in the county. Since it was established 20 months ago, the Fingal LEO has approved more than 1.1M in funding for 60 businesses, which is expected to result in the creation of well over 250 jobs in the region. Some 75% of the businesses supported were start-ups (i.e. they started up within the previous 18 months), with the remaining 25% being businesses that are already established and seeking to expand. All of the funding is provided to businesses that are creating employment and qualify by demonstrating that they have export potential. Chief Executive at Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, highlighted a key role of the Local Authority in economic development: 'Through the Local Enterprise Office, Fingal County Council is helping to ensure that those running or starting up small businesses are given the support structure that they need to grow and develop. Small business is the life-blood of our local economy. 'I want our entrepreneurs and small business owner/managers to have every opportunity so that they can grow their businesses in an encouraging, rewarding and business-friendly environment.' Announcing the new call for grant applications, Head of Enterprise Oisin Geoghegan, stressed the importance of ensuring that start-ups have an opportunity to access seed capital funding: 'The funding provided by the Local Enterprise Office is helping our local economy in a real and tangible way. We are stimulating job creation by incentivising start-ups and investing in small businesses that have real growth potential.' LEOs are funded by the Department of Jobs and Enterprise through a collaboration between Enterprise Ireland and Local Authorities. The funding provided to LEOs is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The deadline for receipt of applications in the current call is Friday, January 29. Qualifying businesses can apply for up to 80,000 in funding, with the amount being dependent upon the numbers of new jobs being created as well as future job creation potential. 'I would urge anyone setting up a new business to get in touch with the Fingal Local Enterprise Office,' said Oisin Geoghegan, He added: 'We will be able to tell you at a very early stage if your business qualifies for funding, and if it does, we provide every assistance to help you to apply for that funding. But even if we cannot assist your start-up financially, there are a whole range of other practical supports on offer, many of which are completely free of charge. It is well worthwhile to establish what supports are available.' The Fingal LEO says that there will be four calls for applications this year - one in each Quarter. Those interested in applying can find out more at www.localenterprise.ie/fingal. Fingal's programme of events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising was unveiled last week Fingal will mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising with a comprehensive programme of events in the coming months, that will include a wide variety of community groups and organisations across the region. The region's programme of events was officially unveiled last week at County Hall in Swords by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O'Connor. He was joined by Tanaiste, Joan Burton with the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid; Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly; and Minister of State with responsibility for New Communities, Culture and Equality at the Departments of Justice and Equality and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Aodhan O Riordain. Also in attendance were relatives and friends of the men and women in Fingal who played a role in the events of 1916. The Fingal events are the outcome of public consultations with local groups, organisations and individuals, who were invited to participate in the planning and implementation of the local programme. Led by Fingal County Council and under the guidance of the local 1916 co-ordinator Eithne Mallin, the line-up includes events and initiatives ranging across all seven strands of the Ireland 2016 programme. Each of the 31 Local Authority Programmes for Ireland 2016 represents the outcome of many hundreds of hours of reflection, consultation and discussion involving thousands of people all over Ireland. Speaking at the launch, Cllr David O'Connor said: 'In Fingal, our Centenary Programme is aimed at commemorating the key part that men and women from Fingal played in the events of 1916. 'In order to honour the part Fingal played in the 1916 events, and to share this story, Fingal County Council has compiled a broad and varied programme for the Centenary Commemoration. 'I have been delighted to take part in many events across the county already and I am looking forward to the many special events which will take place over the coming months and in particular to our special Commemorative Day here in Swords on Sunday, April 24.' Tanaiste Joan Burton said: 'Men and women from across Fingal played a key part in the Rising. 'The Fingal Brigade of Irish Volunteers were drawn from north county areas including St Margaret's, Swords, Lusk and Skerries and there were many Fingal volunteers attached to other brigades - including from Donabate, and the Dublin 15 areas of Ashtown, Abbottstown, Blanchardstown, Castleknock, Chapelizod, Clonee and Clonsilla. 'The Baldoyle area also had the only Irish Citizen Army unit in north county Dublin. The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is built on seven programme strands, which together reflect the themes of Remembering, Reconciling, Presenting, Imagining and Celebrating as a fitting tribute to honour these great men and women of Fingal. 'I'm particularly delighted to see that, as with the national programme, Fingal's programme will particularly shine a light on the role of women in the Rising, something that was largely forgotten in the 1966 commemorations.' Fingal County Council chief executive, Paul Reid said: 'The men and women from Fingal in 1916, who played a vital role in the Rising were very young, politically active and socially aware, just as Fingal today is diverse, youthful, vibrant, engaged and socially aware. 'The council has tried to capture this youth and vigour in our County's commemorative programme. 'As well as more traditional forms of commemoration and reflection, the council is supporting a range of events specifically for young people, including those from our new communities, based around poetry, theatre, film, proclamation readings in Irish and English, commemorative tree planting ceremonies and historical re-enactments in schools. We are also supporting the network of community centres across the area in marking the Centenary at a local level.'. Hopes of seeing the new service station on the M11 outside Gorey open any time soon remain remote, as the granting of a tender to Topaz to run the facility remains tied up in the courts due to a legal challenge. In the meantime, it is costing Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the former NRA, almost 16,000 per month to keep the empty premises secure and lit. Work on site finished in May last year, and the tender to operate the facility was awarded to Topaz. It was expected the fit out would take around six months to complete, meaning the facility should have been operational by the end of the year. Seven months on, the rest stop remains vacant, and the TII said this week that the cost for providing security to the unopened Gorey service area is 12,394 (incl. VAT) per month. A security guard is on site 24 hours per day, seven days a week. TII is also responsible for electricity supply charges to the amenity building and car-parking areas which averages out at approx 3,400 per month. It emerged last August that the SuperStop 2 consortium involving Applegreen and Tedcastles Oil Products had gone to the Commercial Court to challenge the awarding of the tender to Topaz, and the case remains before the court. In the meantime, the Gorey service station remains in limbo, and even when the legal matters are resolved, it could be another six months before motorists can stop in for a cuppa or a bite to eat. The disputed tender involved the design, build, operation and finance of service stations on the M6 in Athlone and M9 in Kilcullen, and the fit out and operation of the M11 service station at Ballyellen, Gorey. Another bidder, Maxol, has also been joined as a notice party in the case. Back in July 2013, Applegreen issued a statement to the media questioning the need the service station at Ballyellen, when ground had already been broken to begin work on the project. At that stage, it was expected the Gorey station would be open by summer 2014. In the statement in 2013, Applegreen revealed that it had plans to build a private service area further up the M11 at Cullenmore, Co. Wicklow, at Junction 14. It has since opened. In the statement, Applegreen pointed to lower than expected traffic volumes on the Gorey bypass. It also questioned the financial viability of the Gorey project. Applegreen already has service stations in Ferns, Gorey and Arklow, and invested 7 million on its Wicklow service station at Coynes Cross. The Ballyellen service station has had a troubled history. Approval for the project only came about in 2010 following a Bord Pleanala hearing. Local residents had vehemently opposed its construction, mounting a strong campaign against it. It's been a hot topic of conversation ever since the recent RTE documentary but the forward-thinking pupils of Firies NS had already begun investigating the hidden dangers of sugar in our food long before the programme was broadcast. The children of Firies National School attended the RDS in Dublin and were one of 40 primary schools chosen to present their project which was titled: 'Are healthy food and drinks really healthy?' The students chose this project because of the growing obesity levels in children and the detrimental effects sugar can have on the body and last week's documentary 'Sugar Crash' was proof that their subject matter is of national importance. The students looked at food, especially those marketed as healthy food, to see how much added sugar they contained and they were shocked by the findings. People are supposed to limit themselves to six teaspoons of sugar a day (24g). However, a 250ml of smoothie has the same amount of sugar as three and a half sugar donuts - seven teaspoons. They discovered that fizzy drinks and fruit juices have massive amounts of hidden sugar in them too, up to 10 teaspoons in some fizzy drinks. The children designed a survey for their peers and their parents to see if people understood how much sugar they should be limiting themselves to and how much they are actually eating. In their findings they were surprised to discover over 50 per cent surveyed, wrongly assumed that sugar itself contained fat and that 62 per cent of people didn't realise that dried fruit (raisins) contained more sugar than their fresh fruit equivalent (grapes). Raisins have 59 g of sugar per 100g, whereas grapes have 16g of sugar per 100g. The students currently have their findings on display in the school and will disseminate results of their survey to the parents and wider community by inviting them into school for an open day to share their findings, and create awareness of the amount of hidden sugar. 'Raising awareness about the sugar content of so called healthy foods is vital for our children as we are facing an epidemic of obesity," Principal Eileen Brosnan stated. "Working on this project has created a strong awareness among the children in the school to check what they are eating and realise how misleading advertising can be. Class teachers Bernadette O'Leary and Fiona Fitzgerald said the RDS trip was an experience of a lifetime for the pupils who presented their findings to the public. Kerry County Council is write to the health minister Leo Varadkar for the second time to ask him to immediately provide funding for the new life-saving drug Orkambi for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) sufferers in the country. The issue was raised at Monday's monthly meeting off the council by Cllr Norma Foley who said it was 'appalling' that the minister had afraid to respond to a similar letter sent by members following the December meeting of the local authority. She said that drug targets the underlying cause of CF and significantly reduces frequent hospital visits and described as 'absolutely incomprehensible' the fact that the HSE is not prepared to fund this life-altering drug. She said that the drug is a game changer for people with CF and called on her fellow councillors to support her motion and help CF sufferers and their families who ae going through what is a very difficult and traumatic time. Her motion was seconded by Cllr Michael Cahill while Cllr John Brassil tabled a similar motion also calling on the minister to make the necessary funding available. Legal aid has been refused to a Polish man who stole a power drill from a shop in Waterville last week and who admitted, after direct questions from the judge, to having savings of 500 in cash. Rafal Katora, aged 31 of The Square, Tralee, at Cahersiveen District Court on Thursday admitted to taking a power drill from Daly's hardware shop, Murreigh, Waterville on January 9. He was also before the court for failing to turn up in court in Tralee on June 24, 2009, in connection with a matter in 2008. He was arrested in Tralee on Wednesday. Solicitor Padraig O'Connell applied for legal aid for his client stating that he was not in receipt of social welfare and had no assets. However, Judge James O'Connor asked Mr Katora directly if he had savings. Through an interpreter, the accused said he had cash which his friends kept for him. The judge then questioned further and ascertained the amount to be 500. Judge O'Connor said he was refusing the application for free legal aid, saying he would not place "the burden" on the taxpayer given Mr Katora had cash by his own admission. He also ordered Mr Katora to pay 300 out of the 500 in compensation for taking the power drill. Inspector John Brennan said Mr Katara entered the shop, walked around "surveying" before kneeling down in the aisles and putting the drill inside his jacket and walked out. He had no previous convictions. The judge released Katora, who had been brought to court in custody, and remanded him on bail. Mr O'Connell said his client would pay compensation by the next court. Time is of the essence as candidates in both parties scramble in Iowa and New Hampshire for the opportunity to keep their Presidential candidacies alive before those initial contests, while some others will hope that early wins might effectively cement a position as a presumptive nominee. The television ads, both on behalf of the candidates, and SuperPACs are blanketing the airwaves in those states, as campaign rallies, endorsements, and polls take on added significance. In the meantime, a major blizzard is hammering parts of the East Coast this weekend. One result is that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had to leave the campaign trail to head home and assume official responsibilities during a weather emergency. I am sure he will do a fine job with that, as he has in his state before, but somehow I do not envision him telling television cameras this time, that he no longer cares about an upcoming election, like he did in the fall of 2012, in the midst of sucking up to Barack Obama.Jockeying for position is key in these first states, and there is no way I could ever cover every development of the week, so this will be a fairly brief look at the Democrats and Republicans, in Iowa and New Hampshire.On the Democrat side, polls are telling a very different tale in Iowa. One thing they agree on though is that Martin O'Malley is not viable, and whatever level of support he has on Caucus Night, will involve his backers choosing to align with another campaign in a second round of voting under their rules. (It looks like California businessman Rocky De La Fuente has been more successful than O'Malley getting on the ballot in some states.)Some Iowa polls show that Bernie Sanders has now moved ahead of Hillary Clinton, which must be a horrible feeling of deja vu for her, while others show Clinton with an insurmountable lead. My hunch is that the race there is probably close, but Clinton has a slight edge, especially as it relates to those who have previously attended a Democrat caucus.The three Democrat candidates met on a debate last Sunday night in South Carolina, and to whatever limited audience watched, it was clear that Sanders was more aggressive trying to differentiate himself with Clinton. It is not clear that anybody was a clear winner of the debate, but Clinton went extremely out of her way to associate herself with the Obama Administration and legacy, basically offering herself up as a third Obama term. That might be necessary politics in the party, where the incumbent President continues to endear a large amount of loyalty on the left, but it is something that would be problematic in a general election, with a broader base of voters wanting a change in direction.Hillary Clinton remains the overall frontrunner for her party's nomination, but clearly the energy and passion is back on the Sanders side. Most New Hampshire polls show him with a solid lead there, meaning that if he just takes one of the early states, that contest will go on a bit. Liberal interest groups such as Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign have endorsed Clinton, despite the fact that Sanders has a longer record of supporting many of their issues, and that has generated some controversy in the party, as Sanders accuses them as being part of the "establishment" as a way to blunt Clinton.In the meantime, the specter of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's email habits as Secretary of State continues to hang over the race, as headlines and developments seem to look more ominous for her each passing week. However, there is very little reason to believe that Democrats, even the ardent Sanders supporters are caring much about the story at all. Despite that, the conservative leaning Fox News Network continues to cover the story in a way which would lead anyone to believe that an FBI referral for criminal prosecution of Hillary Clinton is increasingly likely and that anybody else without her political stature would certainly be facing charges. To say the least, all of this is the biggest wildcard of the entire campaign. I am not counting on much happening, but chaos will ensue if it does in the near future, and we can throw the names of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren into the political mix.The GOP candidates are a lot more numerous and strategies far more specialized, as pundits speculate that Donald Trump wins in both Iowa and New Hampshire might effectively end the race. For many reasons, I disagree with that.It looks clear though that Trump and Ted Cruz are going to finish first and second in Iowa, barring a major upset. Marco Rubio is the most likely candidate to finish in third place there, but it might not even matter for him, as the establishment candidate lane in New Hampshire primary will be more decisive. To that end, Rubio appears to be cutting back advertising in Iowa as part of a longer-term plan.The polls out of Iowa are tending to show a fairly close race between Trump and Cruz. At one point Cruz looked ahead, but the momentum has seemed to swing back to Trump and conventional wisdom says it has been a fairly bad week for Cruz. Like many things though in politics, that will remain to be seen. Things can sometimes have an opposite effect. One event that received much attention this week was the endorsement of Trump by former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. This was seen as a crushing blow to the Cruz campaign, who would have loved Palin's endorsement, the way she helped the candidate win an upset victory in a Texas Senate primary process.When the Cruz campaign fired a bit at Palin pre-emptively for her Trump endorsement, there was a bit of blowback from Bristol Palin, and lots of fodder for campaign discussion online. Everyone is seeming to play up the "nobody liked Cruz" angle. In the meantime, Palin's speech, with Trump at her side in Iowa was said to be among some of the most cringe worthy political theater in many years. She rambled on at great length and you could sense that Trump even wanted her to shut up fairly quickly after she began speaking. I do not know exactly what is going on with Palin or what has happened to her since her tumultuous 2008 national debut, but I just get the sense that she is not a wel woman and that at some level John McCain should probably feel a lot of regret for what clearly was an impulsive, irresponsible, and potentially dangerous decision as he selected his running-mate several years ago.In another appearance with Trump this week, she commented on the story that just the night before, her 26 year old son Track, who lives with his parents in Alaska, was arrested at the home for domestic violence against his girlfriend and possessing a weapon while intoxicated. Palin seemed to blame it on the PTSD her son might have developed serving in the war. That's a major issue for many people in our society, but she seemed to blame it on the Obama Administration's treatment of veterans. Nobody will ever accuse me of being pro-Obama, but the way Palin goes about saying things and leveling accusations is extremely tactless.Also getting a lot of discussion this past week is the concept that the "establishment "hates Cruz so much, they are willing to settle for Trump and are trying to make peace with that. Bob Dole, the 1996 GOP nominee, whom I hold in very high regard, went out and said as much in an interview, even as he maintains that he still endorses Jeb Bush. He said that Cruz would be cataclysmic for the party and that Trump might at least have the right personality to make deals with Congress should he be President. Add to that, long-time Governor Terry Branstad saying this week that he wants Cruz to be defeated in Iowa over his opposition to ethanol. Considering the polls in Iowa, that could be interpreted as a quasi-endorsement of Trump. Just today, veteran Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, while not making an endorsement spoke at a Trump rally behind the Trump logo.I really wish I knew what to make of all this. On the surface, I can totally understand the "establishment" opposition to Cruz, but I maintain that as a conservative Republican, I would still have to vote for Cruz over Trump, if that was a tragic final choice. To be blunt, Cruz is probably just an asshole, who would fail to get much done as President, but Trump is a sociopath or worse. Apparently today, he said at a rally that he could shoot people on the street in New York City and would not suffer in the polls. Can the Secret Service arrest him for threats? The man is a menace to both conservatism and the country, which is why the National Review came out with a detailed "Against Trump" issue of their legendary conservative (and not historically pro-establishment) publication that of course Trump now attacks.I also have to wonder if there might be some clever reverse psychology at play with all of this on behalf of Dole, Branstad, Grassley, and others, or if I am just overthinking things, and realizing they really just do not like Cruz and want to see his campaign killed off as early as possible. Trump though, rushes to heap praise on anyone who praises him, as with the "establishment" lining up behind Trump, it's a major talking point for Cruz, and one that takes away from Trump's appeal. So, Cruz can just go on now about how the "Washington cartel" has abandoned Bush and then Rubio, and now is throwing in with Trump, and how that means that only Cruz is the true outsider who can allay the anger at Washington and the people in control. Maybe Dole and the others are trying to kill two birds with one stone and hurt both Trump and Cruz. I hope so at least. I am not crazy with anyone speaking positively about Trump or resigning themselves to him. As bad as Cruz might be, at least he's not Trump. Others though, are looking at that just the opposite way.Only after Iowa, will we have a better sense of what might happen in New Hampshire on the GOP side. Granite State voters often seem to go out of their way to counter Iowa and express their independence. Either Trump will be strutting around the state as a conquering hero, or he will look "wounded" after losing to Cruz and perhaps lashing out at those dumb Iowans. Somebody though in New Hampshire will come in second or at worst third in New Hampshire (and it does not seem like Ben Carson is anymore a factor there) and that person will have the chance to carry the mantle against Trump or against Cruz or at least for a while, against both Trump and Cruz.Despite some evidence of having taken some political hits (with much money being spent against him by the Right to Rise SuperPAC which is pro-Jeb Bush), Marco Rubio is still believed to be that most likely candidate. However, a couple of polls out of New Hampshire this week show some major movement towards John Kasich. The Ohio Governor finishing in front of Rubio in New Hampshire would be a major blow to the Florida Senator. Interestingly enough, the conservative Kasich (although running as the most moderate GOP candidate in the field) is competing for many of the same votes in New Hampshire with the socialist Bernie Sanders. People will have a choice to make as to which ballot they want to take and how they best want to represent themselves as "Independents."These recent New Hampshire polls show some stalled momentum for Chris Christie, though it might be early to count him out for that bronze medal or better showing. There are some more discrepancies in the numbers for Jeb Bush in the state though. He remains the candidate that with each passing week I am more convinced is the right person to be President in these times. Some polls show that he is mired in single digits, even in New Hampshire, while others show some modest movement towards him. Out of the three Governors who might possibly finish in front of Rubio in New Hamsphire, Jeb Bush would probably be the most formidable beyond New Hampshire. It would certainly give new credence to the "Comeback Kid" meme as it has been used in New Hampshire before.So, as Bernie and Hillary go after each other increasingly, the GOP jockeying might necessitate more of a scorecard. Bush is going after Trump, trying to get points for that, even as he looks unable to catch him in a large field in the short-term. In the meantime, his SuperPAC is continuing to target Rubio, using some less than honest logic on the issue of immigration reform, while Rubio tries to fight back on several fronts, against Bush and Christie, while also continuing to ignore Trump.Kasich and Christie have begun to snipe at each other and Kasich now looks like he is starting to take some shots at Bush, as they all battle to be the anti-Rubio in New Hampshire and potentially the anti-Cruz/anti-Trump later on . In the meantime, heading into Iowa, the fight between Trump and Cruz will continue to generate the most attention.What analogies can I use? Hitler vs. Stalin? Iran vs. Iraq? Putin vs. ISIS? Somebody is going to have to get the better of somebody though in that contest early on, before both might eventually lose. I suppose if Putin really wants to take out ISIS, that is a good thing. Which one is Putin? To me, I guess it's Cruz. To some others who think like me, it might not be. This is one crazy campaign season. One of the treasures on exhibit at Sligo County Museum depicts the arrest of Countess Markievicz in 1916 and is painted by the Irish artist, Kathleen Fox. This work went 'missing' for some thirty years before being rediscovered. It was in November 1962 that the then County Librarian, Nora Niland and the committee of the Sligo County Museum and Library purchased a large history painting, entitled 'The Arrest' by Kathleen Fox. It is now part of the Niland Collection and is on display in Sligo County Museum. This large oil painting is nearly a metre and a half in height and is just under two metres in length. The canvas was missing for over thirty years before it was discovered, rolled up in an attic in New York, as originally this work was sent there for its safety in 1917. The work was eventually returned to the artist, Kathleen Fox. The painting depicts the surrender and arrest of Countess Constance Markievicz on Easter Week in 1916 to Major Henry de Courcy Wheeler. The surrender of the Countess took place outside the College of Surgeons, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin. She is dressed in the full military uniform of the Irish Citizen Army and is standing beside the commandant of the garrison at St. Stephen's Green, Michael Mallin. Countesss Markievicz was second-in-command of the garrison. A bullet pierced Mallin's hat during the retreat. Sligo-born, William Partridge, was also part of this garrison and was a close friend of Michael Mallin. An account of the surrender was published in the Sinn Fein rebellion handbook, issued in 1917: the College of Surgeons was 'one of the last forts to capitulate. After a week's occupation the surrender took place at two o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday 30 [April]. Major Wheeler, son of the late, Surgeon Wheeler, accompanied by a force of military, attended at the hour, and was received by the rebel leader, the Countess Markievicz. She was still wearing top boots, breeches, service tunic and a hat with feathers.' At the surrender to Major Wheeler, she shook hands with her officers and kissed her Mauser pistol before handing it over to the Major and said 'I am ready'. The scene had an added poignancy as the countess was a first cousin of the Major's wife and Wheeler held onto this gun for the rest of his life; it was donated by his descendants to the National Museum of Ireland in the 1960s. The caretaker's rooms in the College of Surgeon was reserved as a bedroom by the female rebels. It was here that Countess Markievicz slept, and 'she and the others appeared to have a partiality for chocolates and other similar articles, many broken packages of sweetstuffs being left behind.' But more ominously the chemical lecture theatre of the college with its gallery was used as a makeshift morgue, with the benches used as mortuary slabs, as recounted in the account of the surrender from the, Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook. Easter 1916: 'The prisoners taken here, numbered about 110 men and young women' and 'a large number of blood-stained sheets and towels were collected.' The painting shows men with bandaged heads. Paintings and photographs of the 1916 Rising are a rarity, because of the secrecy surrounding the events leading up to the Rising. A thirty-six year old, Kathleen Fox, accidentally witnessed this famous arrest, as she approached the scene, she would have realised that she recognised the woman under arrest. Fox had shortly returned from Paris and London but had attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, and Constance and her Polish husband, Casimir Dunin Markievicz had also attended classes at this school. Kathleen Fox was born in Dublin and studied drawing and painting in the Metropolitan School of Art. She studied under William Orpen and was also his assistant for a time. In 1911, she went to London and Paris to study art. The artist would have sketched the scene on the spot and then would have later transferred the sketches onto the large canvas in her studio. She includes herself in the work, as an onlooker. She is wearing a straw boater and looks directly out at the viewer and in doing so, invites the viewer to be a witness to this event. Soon after the surrender, the horror of the executions of the 1916 leaders unfolded. Kathleen completed the work in secret and dated the painting 1916. Soon after, she sent the canvas to New York, in case the British authorities confiscated the work. Countess Markievicz was sentenced to death for her part in the Rising, but her sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, because of her gender. Michael Mallin was executed in Kilmainham on the 8th May 1916, leaving behind a pregnant wife and four children. He was a silk weaver by trade, a musician, and an active member of the Workingman's Temperance Committee. Three months after her husband's execution, Michael Mallin's wife, Agnes, gave birth to a daughter, and named her Maura Constance. The godparents were Constance Markievicz and William Partridge. William escaped execution but was imprisoned, where he was released soon after for reasons of ill-health and he died in 1917. Countess Markievicz gave a graveside oration and fired the military volley at his graveside at Ballaghadereen, Co.Roscommon. The year after the purchase by Nora Niland of the painting, 'The Arrest,' the artist of this grand-scale and ambitious work, Kathleen Fox died in Dublin at the age of 83. This treasure from 1916 is currently on display in Sligo County Museum. Countess Markievicz was also a practising artist, as was her husband, Casimir Dunin Markievicz. Four of her artworks are part of the Niland Collection in Sligo. One notable work is an untitled watercolour, which she painted during her incarceration in Holloway Jail in 1919, with art supplies smuggled in by her sister, Eva Gore-Booth. This work, a small watercolour in the Celtic Revival style, depicts four figures on horseback from the Fianna - an ancient and noble band of Celtic warrior-poets. In 1909, Constance founded the Red Branch Knights and later that summer, in a meeting between Frank Molony, Helena Molony, Bulmer Hobson and the Countess, herself; they discussed the establishment of the Fianna in Dublin. On 16th August 1909, Bulmer Hobson presided over a meeting in 34 Lower Camden Street, Dublin at which the Irish National Boy Scouts changed their name to Na Fianna Eireann. Na Fianna were inspired by the legendary warriors of the Fianna from Irish mythology, such as Cuchulainn, Ferdia, Fionn mac Cumhaill and Oisin and especially the stories of the many physical and mental tests they had to surpass to gain entry into this select band of warriors. The trainee had to leap over an obstacle as high as his brow, dive under a branch as low as his knee, and pull a thorn from his foot, whilst running without faltering in his speed. and an integral part of their training was to be able to recite and compose poetry. Many of the young boys who joined Na Fianna in 1909 and onwards - would go on to become members of the Irish Volunteers and in turn took part in the military insurrection of Easter 1916. Eva Selina Gore-Booth was born in 1870, two year's after her sister, Constance and this was to be the pattern for the rest of her life, overshadowed by her older sister. Her father, Sir Henry Gore-Booth spent long periods of time away from the family home, on his Arctic expeditions, which could last up to eighteen months at the time. Eva and her siblings seem to have been influenced by their mother, Georgina Mary (nee Hill) from Yorkshire. It was most likely from her, that the family inherited their social conscience. Christopher Hill, a relation of theirs, was one of the founding members of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1920. At the age of nine, a famine occurred in the West of Ireland, brought about by the bad weather of the winter of 1879 and the spring of 1880. Eva was visibly moved by the scenes of destitute and the starving tenants seeking food and aid from her father, who owned the 32,000 acre Lissadell estate in Co. Sligo. Eva was a frequent traveller around the estate and this is reflected in her subsequent poems, as the landscape of Sligo made such a strong visual impact on her poetry. Like, William Butler Yeats, she became immersed in local folklore and legends. Her two sisters, Constance and Mabel went on to attend the Land League meetings, locally and as far away as Boyle, and they caused a stir when they attended a meeting in nearby Drumcliffe. Whilst these were Land League meetings, women's suffrage was another matter that interested the sister, and in an article published in 'Vanity Fair,' London, on the 31st December 1896 - the sisters were described in the following disparaging piece: 'The New Woman is still with us, and shows herself where least expected. In the far-away regions of County Sligo, among the wives and daughters of the farmers and fishermen, the three pretty daughters of Sir Henry Gore-Booth are creating a little excitement (not to say amusement) by their efforts for the emancipation of their sex. Miss Gore-Booth and her sisters, supported by a few devoted yokels, have been holding a series of meetings in connection with the Women's Suffrage (or, shall I say, "The revolt of the Daughters" ?) movement. Their speeches are eloquent, (un-)conventional and (non-) convincing. They are given to striking out a line for themselves in more senses than one; for Miss Gore-Booth has already distinguished herself as a lady-steeplechaser, and public oratory is their newest toy. The sisters make a pretty picture on the platform: but it is not women of their types who need to assert themselves over Man. However, it amuses them - and others; and I doubt if the tyrant has much to fear from their little arrows.' Little did this writer realise that these 'little arrows' were to shake the very foundations on which the British Empire was built. In 1895, 1896 and 1897, respectively, their brother, Josslyn along with Horace Plunkett were instrumental in setting up the three local creameries in Co. Sligo; at Ballintrillick, Drumcliff and at Ballinfull in Maugherow. In 1886, both Eva and Constance were photographed together wearing armbands which read, Drumcliffe Co-operative Creamery. In the same year, due to problems with her lungs, Eva went to recuperate in Italy and this proved to be a fateful journey for her, for it was here, that she met the love of her life, Esther Roper from Manchester. Esther, at this time was also involved with the Suffrage Movement. They both immersed themselves in this cause, along with others, including the Pankhurst sisters. Both Eva and Esther disagreed with any use of violence, unlike, Emmeline Pankhurst and her sisters, as they became infamous for acts of agitation such as the breaking windows in public buildings and chaining themselves to the gates of state buildings. According to Eva, 'pacifism' to them was the way forward for the campaign and was how it should be conducted. In contrast to her older sister, Constance, the Rebel Countess, Eva was a committed pacifist and advocated the tenets of pacifism to the end of her life. By 1900, Eva was appointed secretary of the Women's Trade Unions Council. She was a good public speaker and soon was in demand at public meetings and rallies. Eva and Esther began to organise thousands of women working in the Manchester Mills for the women's right to work. One such famous case, which involved the future Prime Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill, was the controversial issue of the 'Manchester Barmaids.' The barmaids were refused the right to work after 6pm and as a result were unable to feed their families. A by-election was held in in 1908, where Churchill stood for a seat and he supported the notion that women were not entitled to work. Eva worked tirelessly on a campaign against him. She was joined, in what was to become a flamboyant campaign, by her sister, Constance. They followed Churchill through the streets of Manchester, in a carriage drawn by four white horses, with the horses' heads festooned in black feathers. Constance steered the horses through the streets of Manchester following in the wake of Churchill's less exciting entourage. She loved the drama and instantly became a 'cause celebre.' It was reputed at that the time, that a man heckled her from the crowd: 'Can you cook a dinner Madame?' to which she replied, 'Can you handle a four?' referring to her own expert handling of the team of horses. Even though women were yet to receive the right to vote, Churchill was defeated by the other candidate, making it a victory for the women. Constance returned to Dublin and joined Sinn Fein. By 1903, both Esther Roper and Eva Gore-Booth's health had deteriorated and they moved to Hampstead in London. Events were to overtake them, as World War One broke out and Eva campaigned against it. In 1916, the Easter Rising, in which her sister was so heavily militarily involved with, took place in Dublin. Eva came to see Constance in Dublin after she was court-martialled for her part in the Rising, where she was sentenced to death by execution, which was then commuted to life imprisonment because of her gender. Eva went onto support Roger Casement; attending the court every day. It was said, she stared into his eyes daily at the court, to give him support and tried in vain to prevent his execution on the 3rd August, 1916. Her short poem 'Broken Glory' was written in honour of Roger Casement and it also reflected her pacifist reaction to the 1916 Rising. Grief to the noble dead Of one who did not share their strife And mourned that any blood was shed Yet felt the broken glory of their state Their strange heroic questioning of Fate Ribbon with gold the rages of this our life. A few weeks after the execution of James Connolly on the 13th May 1916, Eva was to write a prophetic letter to the Socialist Review newspaper, in which she describes the 'rebellion' as being a blow to all those who hoped for a lessening of the hostilities between England and Ireland. This is an excerpt from the letter: 'But the severity with which the rebellion was crushed was, many of us believe, a far worse blow. England had her opportunity, an opportunity of treating the Irish Rising as De Wet's rising was treated in South Africa [the Boer War]. The rising was crushed, her enemies were at her feet. What a glorious opportunity for killing with clemency the old tradition of hatred and the memory of the atrocities of '98 [1798] that have festered so long in the imaginations of the Irish people. By some malign faith, as ever England showed her hardest side in her dealings with Ireland. Those irresponsible and extraneous shootings and horrors which seem to be inseparable from the advance of a conquering army were not enough. Fourteen deliberate executions of men widely known and admired were carried out under heart-rending circumstances. And thus Ireland's old tradition of defiance and hatred gets a new lease of life.' Eva continued to write poetry for the rest of her life and her poem 'The Little Waves of Breffny' is her best known and loved poem. It is about a memory of Sligo when she was a child: The grand road from the mountain goes shining to the sea And there is traffic on it and many a horse and cart, But the little roads of Cloonagh are dearer far to me And the little roads of Cloonagh go rambling through my heart. A great storm from the ocean goes shouting o'er the hill, And there is glory in it; and terror on the wind: But the haunted air of twilight is very strange and still, And the little winds of twilight are dearer to my mind. The great waves of the Atlantic sweep storming on their way, Shining green and silver with the hidden herring shoal; But the little waves of Breffny have drenched my heart in spray, And the little waves of Breffny go stumbling through my soul. Eva died a year before Constance, in 1926 and the following year, Esther Roper published her poems and plays, with a biographical note. Constance, who loved her sister dearly, did not attend the funeral, as she said, she couldn't face the family.Esther died in 1938 and both Esther and Eva are buried in the same grave in St John's Churchyard, Hampstead, London and their grave is marked with a headstone engraved with a simple Celtic cross. Constance Gore-Booth was born in London in 1868, the eldest child of the Arctic explorer, Sir Henry Gore-Booth and was raised on the family estate of Lissadell in north Sligo. Without doubt,Constance inherited her father's adventurous spirit. She was the eldest of two brothers, Josselyn and Mordaunt, and two sisters, Mabel and Eva. From a young age, she distinguished herself as a fearless horsewoman; her riding crop is on public display in Sligo County Museum. Constance went to study art in London at the Slade Art School in 1893, with Alphonse Legros (a pupil of the French Neoclassical painter, Ingres) and in Paris, she studied at the Academie Julian. It was in Paris, that she met her future husband, the titled and handsome Polish artist, Casimir Dunin-Markievicz. They married in London in 1900. William Butler Yeats first visited Lissadell in 1894 and although WB Yeats later disapproved of her involvement in the 1916 Rising, he wrote the famous poem about the two Gore-Booth sisters, Eva and Constance, which shows the two sisters, in a more innocent times, the poem entitled 'In memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markievicz,' with its now famous refrain: 'The light of evening, Lissadell/ Great windows open to the South/ Two girls in silk kimonos, both / Beautiful, one a gazelle.' In contrast, in 'Easter, 1916' his disappointed tone is evident with her militant revolutionary activism: 'The woman's days were spent/ In ignorant good will/ Her nights in argument/ Until her voice grew shrill./ What voice more sweet than hers/ When young and beautiful/ She rode to harriers?' Constance, although the most celebrated resident of Lissadell was also one of the most notorious within her own class, with her conversion to Catholicism and her entry into the battle arena to fight for the Irish Cause. Artist, debutant, socialist, convert to Catholicism and revolutionary; herself and Eva founded the Sligo Women's Suffrage Society in 1896; she was one of the founders of the Fianna na Eireann; she was active in the Irish Citizen Army and a member of Cumann na mBan. Constance still remains an enigma. How did this pampered eldest daughter of Victorian landed gentry in Ireland become a revolutionary fighter for the Irish cause for freedom from British rule? There is a stark contrast from her earlier days in Lissadell, and as a noted beauty on the British social scene, where she was presented at the court of Queen Victoria in 1887 to the last days of her life, where she died in 1927, after a short illness at the age of 59 in a public ward in Dublin's St. Patrick Dun's hospital - a pauper's death. What led this celebrated Anglo-Irish beauty to transform from debutant to a hero of the Irish Cause, where on her death, eight trailers where needed to carry her floral tributes through the streets of Dublin? Shortly after her marriage to Casimir, the couple settled in Dublin, at Frankfort Avenue in Rathgar, where Casimir settled easily into the bohemian circles of the capital city, with his twin interests in theatre and art. Their neighbours were the artist, George Russell (also known as AE) and Maud Gonne, founder of Inghinidhe na hEireann and muse of the William Butler Yeats. It was during this period that Constance became politicised, through her friendship with AE and Gonne, she moved into the heady revolutionary mix of the Dublin at that time, forging friendships with Bulmer Hobson, Arthur Griffith and the writer, Padraic Colum. These friendships cemented her growing idealism, a far cry for her aristocratic upbringing and within a few years she declared herself a Sinn Feiner. She became more politically radical with her friendships with James Connolly and James Larkin. She was actively involved in providing relief for the disenfranchised workers of the 1913 Lockout, where she set up a soup kitchen in the basement of Liberty Hall and worked tirelessly through the winter months of 1913 and 1914 providing food and shelter for the citizens of tenement Dublin - some of the worst slums in Europe. Although disparaged by some for her background as, 'Lady Bountiful, she in turn endeared herself forever to the people of the teeming inner city of Dublin. Her family would have been appalled by this volte face, although her mother paid her allowance to the end. Her marriage to Casimir faltered before the Rising, (they remained friends to the end as he was by her side when she died) and her only child, Maeve Markievicz was raised by her family in Sligo. Through her marriage to Caismir, she also also inherited a stepson, Stanislaus Markievicz, who she had a close relationship with and was saddened when he returned to Poland. Her relationship with Maeve proved prophetic of the pen picture painted by her first biographer, Sean O'Faolain - where he wrote in 1934, 'a woman of great kindness but no natural affection.' Constance Markievicz was second-in-command to Michael Mallin at Stephen's Green and the College of Surgeons during the Easter 1916 Rising and although condemned to death for her part in the Rising this was commuted to penal servitude due to her gender. Her court-martial recommended mercy 'solely on account of her sex.' She spent time in Aylesbury and Holloway jails in England where she continued to paint, with art supplies smuggled in by her beloved suffragette sister, Eva. Herself, a suffragette and a fervent campaigner for women's rights - Constance was the first woman elected to British Parliament but complying to Sinn Fein's policy, she refused to take her seat in Westminister. She was one of the first members of the new Dail Eireann, where she was appointed Minister for Labour during the turbulent years of 1919 and 1922, and later joined de Valera's Fianna Fail party. Constance was a dangerous mix of idealism, courage and an iron will, and this revolutionary spirit, ignited by the Irish writers, artists, poets and revolutionaries of her time, is made apparent by a speech she made a year before the Rising, to the Women's Franchise League and sums up this rebellious spirit, and in turn was a provocative call for gender equality: 'dress suitably in short skirts and strong boots, leave your jewelsin the bank, and buy a revolver.' Future funding of water infrastructure in Sligo needs to match the scale of the flooding problem here. That's according to Mayor of Sligo Councillor Thomas Healy speaking on his flood risk motion in the council on Monday. He welcomed government funding to deal with the crisis but has said that future funding needs to match the scale of the problem. "In 2014 and 2015, the Office of Public Works commissioned extensive risk assessments and flood management studies throughout the state. "Flood mapping plans produced deemed a number of Sligo locations to be at risk of flooding, these included Sligo town, Rathbraughan, Ballisodare, Collooney, Coolaney, Ballymote, Riverstown and Gurteen," he said. The rivers affecting these towns and villages were identified as the Owenbeg, Owenmore, Unshin and the Garavogue rivers. "At the time I highlighted in the local media areas in Collooney at risk of flooding," said Cllr Healy. "Despite all this advance warning we saw a nursing home and houses flooded in Rathbraughan, impassable roads meaning residents and farmers had to use tractors to access their properties. "Significant parts of rural and urban Sligo were badly effected, luckily we escaped the worst ravages of the floods but ten Sligo families experienced the trauma of being put out of their homes by the floods. "Our hearts have to go out to these families who have suffered a nightmarish experience. I welcome the special relief fund available for electrical and flooring remedial works but the amount of funding does not match the scale of the devastation wrought on these families." "Everyone has commended the huge work performed by the Council outdoor staff, our fire service, the Civil Defence, the Order of Malta and the many residents who have helped out. "However it must be said that the reduction in funding to the Council has meant that much of the maintenance work on roads, bridges, culverts and coastal defence has been curtailed resulting in increased flooding. The raiding of the Local Government fund, including the local property tax, to subvent Irish Water has has contributed to many of our households being deluged with water. "I have a planned inspection of flood sites with the Director of Services when we will meet local residents to highlight their ongoing concerns and the need for flood defence measures. "In tandem with the flood risk assessment and management programme and flood maps the government has all the information it needs to deal proactively and effectively with the risk of future floods," he added. Council officials agreed to liaise with the OPW for funding applications if needed. No businesses have applied for emergency funding along the Garavogue river in the urban Sligo area since the recent storms, according to senior engineer Tom Brennan. The official programme of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising will include a Civic Reception on Easter Sunday where a Sligo Roll of Honour will be read out. The event on March 27th will also see the unveiling of a specially commissioned memorial to the Sligo's participants. Invitations will be issued to all known Sligo families connected to 1916. Also in March there will be the unveiling of information plaques about Sligo's 1916 participants in relevant locations. The current Roll of honour for Sligo includes: Constance Markievicz, Linda Kearns, Martin Savage, William Partridge, Martin Connolly, Alasdair McCabe, Patrick McDermott, Martin Murphy, James Burns and Michael Barrett and ongoing research this year could reveal further connections. In March, there will be a concert by Sligo based composer Michael Rooney of a specially composed piece for the 1916 centenary commemoration subsequent to its performance in Dublin. Also in March, The Friends of Sligo Gaol have organised a day of seminars, entitled 'Sligo Gaol and the Life of Sligo Women in 1916' in the Riverside Hotel and Sligo Field Club will hold a Summer School on the 18th May at Lissadell, on one of the most famous occupants of the Big House, Countess Markievicz. Sligo Feis Ceoil and the Yeats Summer School will incorporate the themes from the commemorations into their programme. In August, as part of Family Heritage Labour Day, there will be a chance to turn back the clock and remember Sligo in 1916, with a large scale Heritage Day. On the anniversary of the Rising, April 25th, the Hawk's Well theatre in conjunction with St. Angela's College, will host a history night called, 'The Way We Were 1916', which explores the Rising in a local context. The full programme and updates is on www.ireland.ie/sligo A leading consultant at Sligo University Hospital says more beds are needed to solve overcrowding there. Dr Fergal Hickey, an emergency medicine consultant, said the hospital requires up to an additional 18 beds in order to operate at a desirable level. Some 14 additional beds were allocated to the hospital last week, and this was welcomed by Dr Hickey, but he says problems still remain. "During the New Year period, over two weeks we had some of the worst overcrowding we have ever seen," Dr Hickey commented. "Things are better this week - we got 14 new beds in the past week - but we are still short some 16-18 beds." Dr Hickey, who is also a spokesperson for the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine, welcomed the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association's decision to defer their planned strike action, which was set to take place in seven Emergency Departments across the country last Thursday. "We know that the strike is the result of intense frustration, but we welcome the fact of progress and hope that the ballot is accepted." While claims have been made of progress recently, Dr Hickey maintains that overcrowding remains a huge problem. "There has been huge denial for over a decade from everyone. "Denial will achieve nothing. There has been a fairly marginal improvement. It's a 12 month a year problem, across the board." Dr Hickey also says that in order for the current overcrowding crisis to be solved, significant investment is required. "There are not enough beds for either emergency or scheduled care. "There is more and more activity going on, because people nowadays are surviving with conditions that they may have died from in the past." "The demand for healthcare goes up as you get older, and everyone appreciates this, but we haven't had any investment." "The Department of Public Expenditure see health as a bottomless pit and they don't want to spend money." Dr Hickey suggests that care be made more readily available in the community, in order to help solve the situation in Emergency Departments nationwide. "We need to help people at home, and deliver help in the community. "This would involve significant investment, but we need to increase the number of people employed across the board, particularly in the community." Dr Hickey also stressed the need for a focus on the issue of overcrowding in the upcoming general election, but says parties are engaging in "auction politics" "The problem is that they [political parties] are trying to introduce tax cuts. "We need investment in lots of things - roads, education and schools - but my worry is that there will be auction politics, and the need for provisional services will not be recognised." Plans are pressing ahead to bring a Boeing 767 from Shannon Airport to Enniscrone to form part of a glamping site. Sligo entrepreneur David McGowan, the man behind the initiative says he hopes to have the plane in Enniscrone in late February or March. Having initially intended on bringing the plane by road, the Easkey native now hopes to bring it by barge along the west coast of Ireland. However, Mr McGowan also stressed that changes to plans are happening daily. "The road is out so we've reverted to the sea, but bringing it through Enniscrone Pier won't work as there are too many wires on Cliff Road." Now, the funeral undertaker hopes to bring the plane by barge to Enniscrone beach at the mouth of the Bellawaddy River, which is in close to its destination. "The beach is the practical way of getting the fuselage to the site, which is just across the road. Engineering is ongoing but the measurements look good." However, travelling by barge brings its own problems. Travelling by hover barge is now out of the question according to Mr McGowan, who says certification for that would take months to complete. Bringing the plane by barge in February or March also presents the problem of sea swells, which will impact on the ability of the barge to sail. "The best time to move it by barge on the Atlantic is July or August due to swell conditions. But barges are more readily available this time of year. "They won't allow you to travel in over a 2.5m of a swell with a barge, so we have four halting sites available on the way up." [from the Shannon Estuary to Enniscrone] Mr McGowan was also keen to stress the huge support he has received to date for his project. "Everyone has been extremely helpful. They all want to see this happen. A man donated a boat, I've never met him before but he said it [glamping site] would be a great place for his boat." Mr McGowan also stated that local and national organisations have been extremely helpful of his endeavours. Bernard Quigley who is on trial at Sligo Circuit Court on charges arising from the alleged theft of an ATM in Tubbercurry An eyewitness to the robbery of an ATM from Tubbercurry two years ago has recalled the terrifying moment he had to reverse his car back along a dark bog road after one of the robbers ran at him aggressively with an implement. Paul Murphy was in bed asleep when he was woken by his mother ringing him in the early hours of January 29th 2014. "She said 'they're knocking the bank'," he told Sligo Circuit Criminal Court. "I knew by her voice that she was in shock. She wasn't able to call the Gardai so I jumped out of bed and dialled 999 at 5.08am. I jumped into my car and drove up towards Teeling Street and stopped at the service station," he told Senior Counsel for the State, Ms Eileen O'Leary. "The van and the trailer were on the other side of the road. It was a white van with a trailer and JCB behind. "I parked parallel to the van, there was a driver in the van who had his face covered," he told the court. "He made a fist sign at me - I didn't really register it as I was in shock." "The JCB was aligning itself up to lift the ATM," he said. Mr Murphy said he couldn't see the person in the digger's face as it was covered up: "He had a mask on or something." The witness then went on to say the bucket of the digger "kinda swung it out at the car." The witness didn't retreat but pulled his car in to the Health Centre to avoid the digger's bucket. The Tubbercurry businessman described how he was dumbfounded to witness the ATM being stolen by a digger. "I was in shock to see what was happening at the time," he told Judge Francis Comerford. 43-year old Bernard Quigley is on trial before a jury of seven men and five women in connection with the incident. He has three addresses at Branchfield, Drumfin, Co Sligo, Teeling Street, Tubbercurry, and Main Street Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, and is pleading not guilty to stealing an ATM containing cash at the Bank of Ireland, Tubbercurry on January 29th, 2014, handling a stolen digger, and causing criminal damage to the Bank of Ireland wall and ATM housing. Mr Murphy told the court: "I parked at the service station to get away, the JCB kept driving forwards, I turned the car around to the other side of the road," he said from the witness box. "I was pressing the horn on the car, I was making as much noise as I could," he said. "The driving was trying to scoop it up with the bucket. He was at it for a few minutes," he said. Mr Murphy rang the Gardai several times during the course of the robbery to let them know what he was seeing. "There was a few more attempts to get the ATM into the back of the trailer. The Gardai were still not there so they took off. The witness described seeing a man get out of the digger and get into the passenger side of the white van beforehand. "They just left the digger there. I just took it upon myself to follow them," said Mr Murphy. He said the robbers took a back road to Circular Road and then took off down Mass Hill Road out of Tubbercurry. "I followed them down that road for a mile, mile and a half. I went down to a landmark known as McDonagh's bridge," he told the court. He said the robbers were driving quite slowly in the van because of the weight of the ATM in the trailer behind. "The van kept 100 yards just ahead but then stopped. One of the occupants ran out of the driver's side and ran towards me with a large instrument. "He was kind of holding it in an aggressive manner. I put the car into reverse at this stage," said Mr Murphy. "He ran for a fair distance and I kept reversing. I had gotten a fright. "I didn't know where my phone was at that stage," he told Ms O'Leary with Ms Dara Foynes BL and State Solicitor Mr Hugh Sheridan. Finally the robber stopped running towards the witness and ran back to the van. Mr Murphy said he rang Gardai at that point who told him to stop following the van for his own safety. Earlier Garda Aisling Sharkey told the court how she had rang Garda Command Control in Dublin looking for air support but "they weren't able to assist" the Sligo Gardai's pursuit of the thieves. Under cross-examination by counsel for the defence, Mr Alan Toal, Mr Murphy said he didn't recall seeing the white van of another witness, Mr Declan Egan: "my eyes were fixated on what was happening." "How do you hold an instrument in an 'aggressive manner'," Mr Toal asked the witness. "It was very dark. It was scary. He hadn't got out of the van and ran towards me to ask me directions," answered Mr Murphy. Another eyewitness, bread delivery man Declan Egan gave evidence of driving through Tubbercurry around 5am when he came upon the white van, trailer and digger. He heard a "loud bang" and realised the digger driver was putting something into the trailer. Mr Egan said the van then took off "at speed" but there was another bang seconds later when the ATM fell off the trailer and landed 5/6 metres in front of him. He said the robbers did a lap of the town and returned to pick up the ATM again. Under cross-examination by Mr Toal, Mr Egan said there was "somebody in the van and somebody in the digger.""What happened after the ATM fell off?" asked Mr Toal. "The van kept going. The driver didn't realise it had fallen off," said the witness. "I stopped in front of the digger and there was nobody in it. That's all I know," said Mr Egan. Bernard Quigley's trial is expected to last around three weeks before a jury of seven men and five women at Sligo courthouse. Outlining the case against him, State prosecutor Ms Eileen O'Leary SC told the jury that in the evening of January 28th 2014 a yellow Komatsu digger was stolen from Chaffpool quarry. "In the early hours of January 29th, this digger was used to dig out the ATM of Bank of Ireland, Tubbercurry," she said. It was stolen, loaded by the digger onto a trailer and driven away by a white van. The vehicles and ATM were later found abandoned on a country road outside a house at Carrowneden, Coolaney. Suspicious items were also found in Cabra Forest 21.5 kms from Tubbercurry. Local man Mr Oliver Ward told the court he was driving on the N17 between 8.30-10pm the night before the robbery when he noticed a yellow digger parked up near Barretts Railway crossing. "I noticed it was unusal - it wasn't there earlier. Around 3 or 4pm there was no sign of it. It was parked 200m down the railway tracks. You could see the grass flattened," he told the court. Clarifying why it was 'unusal' for Mr Toal, defending, Mr Ward said "It was strange in that the location where it was parked - there was no work going on there." Chaffpool quarry owner Mr Cyril O'Reilly Snr said "that digger was there at 4.30pm on January 28th." "I was there about 8.30am the next day and the digger was gone. The gate was off the hinges," he said. His son, Mr Cyril O'Reilly Jnr, was the last person to see the digger in the quarry. He testified that the digger was owned by Road Bridge. "It was about 4.30 when I locked up. I closed the gates and put the chain around them. I returned at 8am the following morning and I went in and saw the Komatsu was not there," said Mr O'Reilly. He told Mr Toal that there was no CCTV footage from the quarry. The trial continues. Tolerating blind obedience in the name of patriotism or religion ultimately takes our lives. - Epilogue At age 38, Terry Tempest Williams declared herself the matriarch of the family, which she described as The Clan of One Breasted Women. Her book Refuge documents the journey which brought her to this conclusion. Throughout the book she has woven several interconnected stories. In one she described the journey of her mother, Diane Tempest, from health to death by cancer, which she had thought she had beaten with a mastectomy several years before. Her illness resurfaced as abdominal cancer, which took her life after surgeries and chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the waters of Great Salt Lake are rising and inundating the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge where her grandmother taught her the art and science of bird watching. The waters threaten not only the birds, but also the airport and other human developments. Government officials, political organizations, and chambers of commerce plan various strategies to ameliorate the damage to their built environment, and perhaps even develop an engineering feat that will save business and investment and also become a tourist attraction in its own right. Along the way, Williams takes the reader along on two archaeological digs, one of which ends in a farcical emergency trip home. She describes artistic instillations in the desert, ancient cultures, her work at the Utah Museum of Natural History her Mormon heritage, and her family. She talked a bit about her dad, her brothers, and her husband Brooke, but the women of her family comprised the focus of her narrative. Within a short time after her mothers death, both of her grandmothers died (both had suffered cancer), and she realized that only two of nine closely related women remained alive. In the book she discussed her realization that she is a down winder, exposed to fallout as a result of nuclear testing in Utah and Nevada. She spoke of the red scare of the 1950s and of how any opposition to the testing made one suspect, possibly believed to be in favor of a communist regime. At one point she said The evidence is buried, dead sheep. Ultimately, the birds returned to Bear River, but Williams realized that her only refuge was within. She stated, perhaps as a result of a dream, that she is one of many women who mourn the deaths and the changes to the desert, and they will no longer be silent. --- Ray has organized events and served as Master of Ceremonies at numerous venues throughout the Chattanooga region. He has appeared as a storyteller and performance poet at The Camp House (Chattanooga), Barking Legs Theatre (Chattanooga), The Southern Festival of Books (Nashville), Solstice Story Telling of the Joseph Campbell Mythological Round Table (Chattanooga), The Chattanooga Nature Center, Audubon Acres (Chattanooga) and the Beatnik Poetry Readings of the Trenton Arts Council (Trenton). A leading anti-water charges campaigner has had his conviction for threatening a pregnant Irish Water worker overturned. Brian O'Boyle (38) from The Laurels, Woodtown Lodge was fined 300 last April at Sligo District Court for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour. The People Before Profit (PBF) campaigner appealed his conviction at Sligo Circuit Court last week, insisting his conversation with Pearl Duffy didn't amount to threatening and abusive behaviour. Ms Duffy, from Charlestown, told Judge Francis Comerford that on June 20, 2014 close to Mr O'Boyle's home the lecturer had become 'erratic and unpredictable'. She said that after she told the campaigner that she was pregnant she expected to calm down. "But he didn't. He was aggressive, telling me 'you f***ing disgust me'." She had been in The Laurels estate to put Irish Water letters through letterboxes. After the confrontation, she left the area and quit her job she said. She admitted under cross-examination from barrister Mr Keith O'Grady that she had often been verbally abused and threatened when doing the job. She was a trained psychiatric nurse and had taken the Irish Water job to make ends meet. "On one occasion a farmer threatened he would take a hay fork to me," said Ms Duffy. "Lots of people shouted at me - but this was the only case where I can honestly say I was petrified." The mother of two, who is pregnant again, broke down crying as she gave her evidence. She claimed the People Before Profit campaigner had shouted at her even after she had told him she was pregnant. However, two neighbours, one in a statement and one in evidence, said they did not hear Mr O'Boyle threaten Ms Duffy. Witness Lucia Conlon said she was in an upstairs room in her home with the window open when she heard a man saying "excuse me you are not welcome here". She said she didn't hear any threats or bad language. Mr O'Boyle told the appeal he had spoken to Ms Duffy and told her she wasn't welcome in the area. He admitted asking Ms Duffy what it was like representing a company which would take money off people who couldn't afford it. He denied swearing at her, insisting: "That's not who I am." State Solicitor Mr Hugh Sheridan told Mr O'Boyle: "She was a soft target, wasn't she?" Pointing to photographs of the street where the incident took place, Mr Sheridan noted that meters had since been fitted on the estate. "Did you oppose the big chunky men who fitted the meters?" he asked. Mr O'Boyle insisted Ms Duffy had walked away, put leaflets through two more doors and came back towards him and a second neighbour and began shouting: "I suppose you are going to shout at me again." Judge Comerford said that, on the whole, he believed Ms Duffy's evidence and was "deeply suspicious" of what Mr O'Boyle had said. However he said: "I do prefer her (Ms Duffy's account) but I need to prefer it beyond all reasonable doubt." He said there were some inconsistencies and granted the appeal in Mr O'Boyle's favour, overturning the conviction. A county-wide protest against Irish Water will take place outside the main offices of Wicklow County Council at Whitegates in Wicklow town, this Saturday, January 23. Right2Water has called for demonstrations to take place around the country on Saturday. Fiona Nichols of County Wicklow Right2Water said: 'The election is looming and water charges are still very much on the agenda. Irish Water haven't gone away and neither have we.' The Right2Water march will meet outside the County Buildings and head off toward Market Square in Wicklow town at 2 p.m. Participants are asked to bring along family members and any flags or banners they might own. Some unwanted Irish Water bills will also be burnt once the demonstration reaches Market Square. The matter of water charges is very much back on the agenda with the General Election looming, while a large number of households who haven't yet paid have received warning letters from Irish Water recently. 'Our campaign is still very much ongoing,' said Fiona. 'People are being sent threatening letters to remind them they haven't paid and these letters seem to be getting more forceful over time. 'Plus a lot of people have also received text messages from Irish Water reminding them they haven't paid their charges. Some of these members of the public never registered with Irish Water so they are confused as to how they managed to get their contact details.' A County Wicklow Right2Water protest held in 2004 attracted a crowd of over 4,000 and similar demonstrations have taken place since then. For help or advice please do not hesitate to contact County Wicklow Right2Water at (085) 2744752 or you can email them at co.wicklowright2water@gmail.com. Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Wicklow on Thursday to host a breakfast briefing for business leaders and owners from across the county. Speaking to a packed room of over 200 people in Druids Glen, Mr Kenny emphasised the key role small and medium size businesses will play in driving future economic growth. A number of local food producers were on hand to display their wares and the Taoiseach pointed to their quality, innovation and enterprise as a great example of this. The Taoiseach said that building a strong economy is the key to providing the resources needed to invest in the services that people depend on. Among those attending were Fine Gael general election candidates Andrew Doyle TD and Avril Cronin. Minister Simon Harris was unable to be there on the day as he was attending the Ecofin meeting of European Finance Ministers in Brussels. The event was also used as an occasion to mark the retirement of George Jones from front-line politics. Tim Wray, Fine Gael Constituency Chairman praised George's 35 years of outstanding public service and said his vision and leadership had left a lasting legacy for future generations in the county. The Taoiseach made the presentation to George and his wife Joan. Deputy Andrew Doyle said: 'The huge attendance here today demonstrates the vibrancy that is returning to the economy nationally and here in Wicklow. It is particularly pleasing to have so many great local businesses with us here displaying all of the creativity and drive we associate with Wicklow Enterprise.' Anne Marie Ryan, Peter Ryan from ISORA, Sadie Phelan President Wicklow Sailing Club, Winkie Nixon Sailing Journalist at the launch of 18th Volvo 2016 Round Ireland Yacht Race which was held in the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Photo Ann Egan A number of prestigious international sailing champions have already announced their intentions to take part in the 18th Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race taking place in June. At Wednesday night's launch at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, race organiser Theo Phelan announced that Michael Boyd, the Commodore of RORC, the governing body of international yacht racing, and current holder of the international Commodore's Cup, will return to compete in the 2016 race, marking the 20th anniversary of his Big Ears win in the 1996 Round Ireland. Many of the same crew from 1996 will be competing again, 20 years later. Phillip Johnston has also confirmed that he will be entering the impressive Open 60 Artemis-Team Endeavour, the current holder of the Round Great Britain and Ireland Race, under skipper Michael Ferguson. The current holder of the Fastnet Roger Justice trophy, Ronan O Siochru, has also stated that he will be back to contest the Volvo Round Ireland race for the fourth time. 'We have further expressions of interest from some really exciting names that we hope to be in a position to announce in the coming weeks,' said Mr Phelan. 'Already the competition is heating up and we expect many previous race entrants to return to contest what is set to be one of the most exciting races ever.' He also acknowledged that it was pleasing to see Volvo Cars Ireland come on board and sponsor the event after four years without sponsorship. 'The new Volvo Cars title sponsorship is a paramount development in the expansion of the race, which allows us to plan ahead for the significant growth of the race in the coming years.' Other competitors will include internationally renowned sailor and US businessman, George David, who at the end of 2015 announced his intention to enter his yacht Rambler 88 into the 2016 race. The canting keel maxi yacht is considered by experts to be a strong contender to break the Volvo Round Ireland Race record of two days 17 hours 48 minutes 47 seconds which is held by Mike Slade in ICAP Leopard 3 achieved in 2008. Meanwhile, following the announcement that 2016 will be the first time that multi-hulls will be invited to compete, Team Concise have already indicated their intention to enter their world-class fleet. Ned Collier Wakefield, team director and skipper for Team Concise, has indicated that they intend entering their three boats into the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland, in the shape of the MOD 70 and their two Class 40 boats. The Race only officially opened for entries on Monday, January 18. However with the quality of entries already at such competitive levels, race organisers expect the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland to be one of the most competitive and exciting races ever. The Round Ireland is expected to include further quality sailors and some of the finest yachts from across the world come race day on June 18. Gemma Collins returned to the house and after talking to Big Brother, decided to remain as a contestant Gemma Collins and Danniella Westbrook left the Celebrity Big Brother house after an explosive row sparked by dirty underwear. The former star of The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) and the ex-EastEnders actress have become increasingly frustrated with Stephanie Davis, best known for her role in Hollyoaks. In tonight's package of highlights from the Channel 5 reality series, viewers will see how the contestants made their temporary escape. Matters came to a head after John Partridge, Darren Day and Christopher Maloney found a pile of unwashed laundry. They discovered what they described as "pigeon s***" in a pair of panties. Westbrook said the knickers probably belonged to Davis. "I don't leave my s*** about," she stated. The panties became the talk of the house and e ventually, Davis confessed. "Can I just say something? Anyone who is asking about the red knickers, yeah they're mine." Westbrook took the opportunity to confront the 22-year-old over negative remarks she apparently made to other housemates. Davis was accused of saying Westbrook's breath smelled due to an abscess. The Liverpudlian denied making the comments. "You're being too paranoid about so many things," she told Westbrook. Video of the Day However, the clash escalated and Davis branded Westbrook "a bully", which infuriated the Londoner. During a conversation in the Diary Room with Big Brother, the Walthamstow-born actress fumed over the turn of events. "I ain't getting into an argument with her because she wants me to argue with her so people forget that she's getting into bed with somebody else every night," Westbrook said. Davis, who has a boyfriend on the outside of the house, has been seen on camera flirting with former Mr Ireland finalist, Jeremy McConnell. Westbrook packed her bags and Collins said: "Dan, let's just get our stuff and go." Former X Factor hopeful Maloney tried to persuade Westbrook to stay, but she would not listen. She told him: "There's one nasty bit of work in this house and it certainly ain't her (Collins) and it ain't me." The two women burst through the fire exit in the garden and into the camera runs. Later, they returned to the house and after talking to Big Brother, decided to remain as contestants. Collins explained why they left. "Things have been said the last couple of days, which you might not be aware of, that are hurtful to her (Westbrook) and hurtful to me. We're not made of steel. We're not made of rock. It's hurtful." Westbrook was not in a conciliatory mood with regard to Davis. "I'd be happy not to breathe the same air as her again in my life," she said. Meanwhile, immunity weekend continues in the Celebrity Big Brother house. The housemates must play for their chance to escape the next public vote on Tuesday. Towie's Collins won immunity during the first challenge which took place in Friday's eviction show. Megan McKenna became the fourth housemate to be evicted on January 22. Steven Moffat is quitting as executive producer of Doctor Who and will be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall Steven Moffat has quit his role as lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who, the BBC has said. He will be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall. A Doctor Who Christmas special will air later this year, while series 10, Moffat's last, is scheduled to be broadcast in 2017, with a new companion on board to replace Jenna Coleman. Chibnall will begin his tenure as executive producer of Doctor Who in 2018. Moffat said: "Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I'm just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out." He added: "While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I'll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the Tardis warm for him. "It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future." Moffat joked: "At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip." Chibnal said: "Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. "So it's a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. Video of the Day "I've loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I'm relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore." The Broadchurch boss also paid tribute to Moffat. "Steven's achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who's creative ambition, while growing its global popularity," he said. "He's been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it's clear he'll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult." Controller of BBC One Charlotte Moore said: "I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who. I've loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. "I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can't wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. "I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series." Moffat took over Doctor Who in 2010 and during his tenure, the show has grown into a global success. He was responsible for introducing the 11th and 12th Doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi, in addition to casting Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond and Coleman as Clara Oswald. Moffat was also at the helm for the 50th Anniversary special in 2013 which saw fans around the globe celebrate the world's longest running sci-fi series with Doctors, Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt fighting the Daleks in a feature length episode. Five people were killed and two critically injured in a school shooting in a remote part of Saskatchewan on Friday and a suspect is in custody, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Trudeau did not give a motivation for the shooting in La Loche, about 600 km (375 miles) north of the city of Saskatoon. But La Loche acting Mayor Kevin Janvier told the Canadian Press the incident may have started at the suspect's home. "I'm not 100 percent sure what's actually happened but it started at home and ended at the school," Janvier said. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. With five dead, La Loche would be the country's worst school shooting since 14 college students were killed at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," said Trudeau, who was in Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum. The shooting occurred in building that houses middle school and high school students, according to the Facebook page of the district, which has about 900 students. Extra doctors and nurses have been sent to treat patients in Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority's 16-bed hospital, said spokesman Dale West. Teddy Clark, chief of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, said that his daughter told him about the shooting, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "We're just trying to pull together here and make sense of all this," Clark told CBC television. "It's not a very pretty scene right now." La Loche student Noel Desjarlais told the CBC that he heard multiple shots fired at the school. "I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A cellphone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school through the snow-covered ground and emergency personnel moving in. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, citing an incident where a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." Kenny Hamblin, left, and Andrew Watts with the Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department shovel snow on the Martin Luther King bridge on First Street and Salem Avenue as snow falls Friday morning (Stephanie Klein-Davis/The Roanoke Times via AP) A woman strolls along Campbell Avenue at First Street with her dog as snow falls Friday morning (Stephanie Klein-Davis/The Roanoke Times via AP) Cars make their way down Electric Road in southwest Roanoke County past Tanglewood Mall on Friday morning (Erica Yoon/The Roanoke Times via AP) Severe winter weather in the US has forced the cancellation of several transatlantic flights between Dublin and the US. Aer Lingus has cancelled two flights later on today in each direction between Dublin and New Yorks JFK Airport. Delta, America and United Airlines have also cancelled flights from Dublin to Philadelphia, New York and Newark. Meanwhile, it has emerged that at least eight people have already died in road accidents blamed on the icy conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the winter storm could rank near the top 10 to ever hit the region, and meteorologist Paul Kocin compared it to "Snowmageddon", the first of two storms that "wiped out" Washington in 2010. Weather service director Louis Uccellini said: "It does have the potential to be an extremely dangerous storm that can affect more than 50 million people." The snowfall, expected to continue from late on Friday into Sunday, could easily cause more than 1 billion US dollars (700 milllion) in damage and paralyse the eastern third of the nation, he added. So far, the snowstorm is looking just like the forecasts promised, and Washington could get one of its top three storms in history, the NWS said. Mr Uccellini said all the elements have come together to create a blizzard with brutally high winds, dangerous inland flooding, white-out conditions and even the possibility of thunder-snow, when lightning strikes through a snowstorm. Snowfall as heavy as 1-3in an hour could continue for 24 hours or more. In addition to Washington, 12-18in of snow is predicted for Philadelphia and 8-12in for New York. A state of emergency has been declared in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and parts of other states. Blizzard warnings or watches are in effect along the storm's path, from Arkansas through Tennessee and Kentucky to the mid-Atlantic states and as far north as New York. As far south as Atlanta, people are urged to go home and stay there. Schools and government offices are closed, thousands of flights have been cancelled and millions of people have been stocking up on supplies. All major airlines have issued waivers for travel over the weekend, allowing passengers to rebook on to earlier or later flights to avoid the storm. Flight tracking service FlightAware said airlines have cancelled more than 2,400 flights on Friday to, from or within the US, and another 2,400 have been cancelled for Saturday. By Sunday afternoon, airlines hope to be back to full schedule. Washington's subway system said it will shut down late on Friday night and remain closed until Sunday. About 1,000 track workers will be deployed to keep New York City's subway system moving and 79 trains will have "scraper shoes" fitted to reduce the icing on the rails. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama will hunker down at the White House. The US Capitol Police said sledging on Capitol Hill, which only recently became legal after an act of Congress, would be welcome for the first time in decades, as long as conditions are safe. A heating and cooling company's truck is seen covered in snow during a blizzard in Arlington, Virginia. Photo: AFP/Getty Images A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the US East Coast to a standstill on Saturday, dumping as much as three feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travellers and shutting down Washington and New York City. After days of weather warnings, most of the 80 million people in the storm's path heeded requests to stay home and off the roads, which were largely deserted. But more was yet to come, with dangerous conditions expected to persist until early Sunday. In addition to snow and treacherous winds, the National Weather Service predicted up to half an inch of ice for the Carolinas and potentially serious coastal flooding for the mid-Atlantic region. ''This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was,'' Ryan Maue, a meteorologist for WeatherBell Analytics, said from Tallahassee, Florida, which also got some flakes. Snow fell from the Gulf Coast to the northeastern New England states. In nearly two dozen places, it passed the 20-inch mark by late morning, according to the weather service. Terra Alta, West Virginia, reported 28 inches. At least 11 deaths were blamed on the weather, most from traffic accidents. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights on Saturday, the bulk of them at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday, according to flight tracking service Flight Aware. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. The long-anticipated storm exceeded expectations, so forecasters increased their snow predictions for New York and points north. The new estimates were for heavy snow all the way up to just south of Boston, forecaster Patrick Burke said from the weather service's Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland. Eighteen to 24 inches were predicted for Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia; and 15 to 20 inches for New York, Burke said. Some areas outside the major cities could get up to 30 inches. ''This is kind of a top 10 snowstorm,'' said weather service winter storm expert Paul Kocin, who co-wrote a two-volume textbook on blizzards. And for New York and Washington this looks like top five, he said. ''It's a big one.'' By midday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced a travel ban in New York City, ordering all non-emergency vehicles off the roads by mid-afternoon. Mayor Bill de Blasio urged Broadway theatres and restaurants to close. The city's commuter rails and above-ground segments of the subway were to shut down too, along with buses. Cab driver Mian Ayyub said he tried to pick up fares Saturday morning but gave up after getting stuck four times in two hours. Police and passers-by helped get him free. ''I've been driving a cab 28 years, but this looks like the worst.'' He parked in the East Village and went home. In Kentucky, where some places got 18 inches on Friday, hundreds of drivers on a long stretch of Interstate 75 south of Lexington were stranded overnight because of a string of crashes and blowing snow. Crews passed out snacks, fuel and water and tried to move cars one by one. Emergency shelters were opened. Motorists also were reported stranded along pockets of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Somerset County. The National Guard was called to help, said Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo. In the Washington metro area, nearly two feet of snow was on the ground by Saturday morning, and monuments that would normally be busy with tourists, were mostly vacant. All mass transit was to be shut down through Sunday. The snow alone would have been enough to bring the East Coast to a halt. But it was whipped into a maelstrom by brutally sharp winds that reached 75mph at Dewey Beach, Delaware, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, the weather service reported. From Virginia to New York, sustained winds topped 30mph and gusted to around 50mph, Mr Burke said. The wind was so strong that scientists reported trouble measuring the snowfall. And if that were not enough, the storm had bursts of thunder and lightning. Forecasters saw lightning out the window of the Weather Prediction Centre, where meteorologists were camped out. Even before the snow began to fall Friday afternoon, states of emergency were declared. Schools, government offices and transit systems closed early from Georgia to New York. The ice and snow made travel treacherous, causing thousands of accidents and cancelling nearly 4,300 flights. Airlines hoped to be back in business by Sunday afternoon. Airlines canceled more than 5,500 flights in the US and beyond this weekend as a blizzard conditions, cold and ice hits much of the US, with East Coast cities feeling the most impact. The bulk of Saturday's 4,298 cancellations are at airports in the New York City and Washington metro areas, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. Another 1,235 flights were cancelled for Sunday. Those cancellations centre on Philadelphia, Washington and New York, with airlines essentially shutting down all flights into those cities. But the snowstorm was greeted happily at Virginia's ski resorts. ''We're thrilled,'' said Hank Thiess, general manager at Wintergreen ski resort in central Virginia, who was expecting 40 inches of dry, powdery snow. ''Going forward, we're set up to have just a terrific second half of the ski season.'' Teacher Marie Janvier, 23, was confirmed as one of the victims. Photo: Facebook THE GUNMAN suspected of killing four people and injuring several others in Canada's worst school violence in a decade first shot his two brothers at home before opening fire at the remote community high school, a family friend and the town's acting mayor said. Police said a suspect was arrested after the shooting in La Loche, Saskatchewan, an impoverished community about 600 km (375 miles) north of the city of Saskatoon. Expand Close The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday Jan. 22, 2016. (Joshua Mercredi/The Canadian Press via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday Jan. 22, 2016. (Joshua Mercredi/The Canadian Press via AP) The town's acting mayor, Kevin Janvier, told the Associated Press that his 23-year-old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot to death. He also said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings at home and then made his way to the school. He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school, said her father Kevin Janvier, adding that Marie was his only child. Im just so sad. Ms Janviers family said they could not believe that Marie had been killed. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about a Saskatchewan school shooting during a news conference in Davos. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich The outside of La Loche Community School is shown on Friday Jan. 22, 2016. (Joshua Mercredi/The Canadian Press via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about a Saskatchewan school shooting during a news conference in Davos. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich Her smile will light up the room on the darkest day, said Sandie Janvier in a Facebook message, calling her the sweetest caring person We lost a loving sister today. Officials have not given a motivation for the shooting or named the suspect or victims. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. In the country's worst school shooting, 14 college students were killed at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989. A shooting in 1992 at Concordia University in Montreal killed four. A family friend said the teenaged suspect shot his two younger brothers before going to the school and shooting a teacher and an assistant. "After he shot his two brothers, he walked back to school and he shot ... a teacher and a girl. They're both dead. Four of them died," said Joe Lemaigre, a family friend who lives on the outskirts of La Loche. "I know the family. Their mother worked in Fort McMurray and his grandfather went to Meadow Lake to do some shopping. That's when he shot them." The shooting occurred in the high school and a second location, Canadian police said, adding they took the suspect into custody outside the school and seized a gun. Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which represents more than 70 of the province's Indian bands, said a few students were in surgery Friday evening in Saskatoon, the province's largest city. "Everyone is still in shock and disbelief," Cameron said. "It's a very, very horribly tragic event." La Loche student Noel Desjarlais told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that he heard multiple shots fired at the school, which has about 900 students. "I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A cellphone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school across the snow-covered ground and emergency personnel moving in. "Obviously this is every parent's worst nightmare," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who initially reported five people were killed. He was in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum. Among Canada's provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported family violence in 2014, double the national rate of 243 incidents per 100,000 people, according to a Statistics Canada report on Thursday. Extra doctors and nurses were sent to treat patients in Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority's 16-bed hospital, said spokesman Dale West. He declined to say how many people had been injured. "It's really sad in La Loche today, very depressing," said Tenisha Lemaigre, who lives in the town of less than 3,000 people and said she knew many students. Unemployment runs above 20 percent in the area but three-quarters of working-age people are classified as retired or not looking for work, according to 2011 government figures. Residents say the real unemployment rate is above 50 percent. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, noting that a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." A 17-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly forced her to kneel down by her headmaster so he could measure her dress. Amanda Durbin, a student at Edmonson County High School in Kentucky, chose to wear a red and black jumper dress, measuring five inches above the knee, with leggings to classes last week, WBKO reports. She was called to the headmasters office after the dress was thought to be too revealing where, Miss Durbin claims, she was told to kneel on the ground so her headmaster could measure how far her dress fell from the floor. The student admitted she was uncomfortable kneeling in front of Principal Tommy Hodges and requested her parents to be present. Ms Durbin said it took her parents two hours to arrive at the school, during which time she was allegedly prohibited from attending lessons. I didnt really appreciate having to get down on my knees, especially while I was in a dress, she told BuzzFeed News. It did make me feel a little embarrassed, a little insecure. Miss Durbins dress was initially measured at five inches within the school code however, when asked to walk across the room with her hands in the air and then be measured again, the dress fell at eight inches, and she was asked to go home. Mr Hodges told WBKO everyone was aware of the schools dress code, and many boys have been cited for ripped jeans. If the gap between the floor and the garment is more than six inches its out of dress code, he told the station, adding that parents agree on and sign off the dress code at the beginning of the school year. Miss Durbin said wearing the dress was a mature protest over what she felt was an unfair dress code at the school. It was kind of a protest, but it was a mature protest, she told Buzzfeed. Miss Durbin said she has received some disapproval from her classmates for speaking out about the incident, but says she is proud of herself for protesting. Im hoping other girls will realise that youre not some object, she said North Korea announced yesterday that it has arrested an American university student for what it called a "hostile act". Pyongyang claimed that the student was working for the American government to undermine the nation. In language that mirrors past North Korean claims of outside conspiracies, media reported that the University of Virginia student entered the country under the guise of a tourist and plotted to destroy North Korean unity with "the tacit connivance of the US government and under its manipulation." The North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a short report that the student, whom it identified as Warmbier Otto Frederick, was "arrested while perpetrating a hostile act," but didn't say when he was detained or explain the nature of the act. North Korea has sometimes listed English-language surnames first, in the Korean style. The University of Virginia's online student directory lists someone named Otto Frederick Warmbier as an undergraduate commerce student. A China-based tour company specialising in travel to North Korea, Young Pioneer Tours, confirmed that one of its customers, identified only as "Otto," had been detained in Pyongyang, the North's capital, but provided no other details. Social media accounts for Warmbier show interests in finance, travel and rap music; he was on the University of Virginia's dean's list and attended high school in Wyoming City, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. Wyoming City Schools spokeswoman Susanna Max said Warmbier was the salutatorian of his 2013 graduating class in the highly rated public high school. She said school officials were in communication with Warmbier's family, which includes two sisters in Wyoming schools. The US State Department said in a statement that it was "aware of media reports that a US citizen was detained in North Korea," but had "no further information to share due to privacy considerations." North Korea's announcement comes amid a diplomatic push by Washington, Seoul and their allies to slap Pyongyang with tough sanctions for its recent nuclear test. In the past, North Korea has occasionally announced the arrests of foreign detainees in times of tension with the outside world in an apparent attempt to wrest concessions or diplomatic manoeuvring room. North Korea also regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending "spies" to overthrow its government to enable the US-backed South Korean government to control the entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt that they later said were coerced. A few thousand Westerners are thought to visit North Korea each year, and Pyongyang is pushing for more tourists as a way to help its dismal economy. Detention The US State Department has warned against travel to North Korea, however, and visitors, especially those from America, who break the country's sometimes murky rules risk detention, arrest and possible jail sentences, although most have eventually been released. Earlier this month, CNN reported that North Korea had detained another US citizen on suspicion of spying. It said a man identified as Kim Dong Chul was being held by the North and said authorities had accused him of spying and stealing state secrets. North Korea has yet to comment on the report. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea. John Degenkolb and Warren Barguil were among six Giant-Alpecin cyclists taken to hospital on Saturday after being hit by a car while training in Spain, the German team said. All the riders are in stable condition after being taken to two local hospitals, Giant-Alpecin said. The other four riders involved in the incident near the Spanish town of Calpe were German Max Walscheid, American Chad Haga, Swede Fredrik Ludvigsson, and Ramon Sinkeldam of the Netherlands. The team said that while training "a car coming the other direction rode into the group of riders head on". Team doctor Anko Boelens told the team website that "everyone is conscious, stable and approachable". The emergency services for the Mediterranean region of Valencia said on a Twitter account that an "English woman driving a car ran over six cyclists" of Giant-Alpecin after allegedly "driving into on-coming traffic". The 27-year-old Degenkolb of Germany has won 10 stages at the Spanish Vuelta, and several one-day races, including the Paris-Roubaix and the Milan-San Remo in 2015. France's Barguil, 24, finished the 2015 Tour de France 14th in the general classification, and was eighth in the 2014 Vuelta. He also won two stage at the 2013 Vuelta. Police investigate a house where two people were killed before a school shooting in Saskatchewan (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Police on Saturday charged a 17-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in an aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. Police said the male suspect cannot be named under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Grant St Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally - a teacher and a teacher's aide. He said seven people wounded in Friday's shooting at the school are in hospital. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. The suspect was arrested at the school on Friday afternoon. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun he used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. "This is a significant event for Canada," Mr St Germaine said. "It's a huge impact on the community of La Loche. It's a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence." Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest mass shooting occurred on December 6 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Mr Park said. "She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. ... She was a fantastic person." "I loved her, I really did," said Mr Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. "I'm just so sad," he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Ms Janvier, said she worked as a teacher's aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. "The kids loved having her around," Mr Lemaigre said. "They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody." A second victim was identified as Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time," his family said. "He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously." Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it "every parent's worst nightmare." An eight year old was among more than 22,000 children held overnight in police cells last year, A man has been arrested in Spain after a British woman died after apparently being strangled with a cable. Emergency services on the Balearic Island of Mallorca were called to attend the woman but were unable to save her life. The resort island's urgent medical care service said it received a call at 3.20am on Saturday from a man who said he had killed his wife in the western town of Costa de la Calma. Local police and ambulance services found a 49-year-old British woman in cardiac arrest with bruising on her neck, but were unable to resuscitate her. The news agency Europa Press said police began an investigation and arrested a man of British nationality. The detainee will be held in custody before appearing in court on Sunday or Monday. It has been a bleak beginning to 2016 for Libya. Almost five years after the uprising that eventually dislodged Muammar Gaddafi was sparked, Isil has made its growing presence felt with an unprecedented wave of attacks this month. In the latest issue of its propaganda magazine 'Dabiq', Isil boasts of a suicide truck bombing it carried out on a police training centre in the western town of Zliten some weeks ago. More than 60 people were killed in what was Libya's single deadliest attack till now, yet the atrocity barely made headlines outside the country. Isil has also sought to assert itself in Libya's oil crescent this month, carrying out a series of raids on oil infrastructure which have left massive tanks blazing in what the country's National Oil Corporation has described as an "environmental catastrophe". The attacks have been launched from Isil's stronghold of Sirte, ironically Gaddafi's hometown and located on the coast just across the Mediterranean from Europe. Isil militants, including a large cohort of foreigners - among them Tunisians, Egyptians and Sudanese - took control of the city last year. Residents have been subjected to multiple horrors, including beheadings, as Isil sought to consolidate itself. Recently, the group posted images online showing the executions of four men shot in a public square in Sirte after they were accused of theft, heresy and belonging to pro-government forces. Given the number of Libyans who joined Isil in Syria and Iraq, it was always a question of not if but when an affiliate would emerge in Libya. A group in the eastern town of Derna declared allegiance to Isil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in late 2014. The group comprised local returnees from Syria as well as foreigners - other Isil branches in Libya have a similar make-up. Members of other militant groups in the country's second city, Benghazi, have defected to join Isil as they become more assertive. The number of Isil fighters in Libya is estimated to be around 3,500. Isil has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks last year, including one on the five-star Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, during which over a dozen people were killed, and several on oil facilities south of Sirte. They also abducted and later beheaded 21 Egyptian Copts near Sirte. During my last visit to Libya in September, Isil carried out a car bombing in central Tripoli and attacked Maitiga, a sprawling compound that houses the capital's only operating airport. Isil's expansion in Libya is causing increasing alarm in Europe. This week, the EU's counterterrorism coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, warned that the group's losses in Syria and Iraq may prompt some of its leaders to relocate to Libya. Already some senior Isil figures have spent time in Libya helping build up the franchise. Libya is now the only country outside Syria and Iraq where the group controls territory, though last year it was routed from the eastern town of Derna and it has yet to manage to seize and hold oil infrastructure despite several raids. "We know that the senior leadership in Syria is really monitoring what is happening in Libya. So if they feel the pressure is too high, there might be a temptation to move to another hotspot," de Kerchove said. "There, for the time being, it's the perfect chaos they like." Libya's chaos is due to a bitter political power struggle which began in 2014 and resulted in the country being divided by rival governments and rival parliaments, all backed by a myriad of armed groups. Isil saw an opportunity in the ensuing vacuum as the squabbling factions were more concerned about prevailing over their opponents than tackling the growing threat posed by the group. For the past year-and-a-half, the UN has been trying to mediate an end to this crippling power struggle that has allowed Isil to thrive. After a UN-brokered deal was signed in December, a national unity government is beginning to take shape but it faces huge challenges, not least the fact that it is opposed by significant players, including powerful militias. Tellingly, the nascent government is based in Tunis for now, because the capital is not considered safe due to armed groups hostile to the UN deal. Western powers hope the fragile unity government will be the first step in unifying Libya's factions to fight Isil together. Some also anticipate the new administration will authorise some form of intervention against the group, though views differ as to what form that may take. US air strikes killed a senior Isil figure in eastern Libya late last year and a more robust aerial campaign may happen in the next months. Western special forces have been on the ground in different parts of the country engaging with local armed groups to assess capabilities for the fight against Isil. But the UN mantra remains the same: only by uniting against Isil can Libyans hope to purge its growing menace. Pope Francis is headed to Colombia next year. The head of the South American country's Catholic Episcopal Conference announced the long-rumoured trip on Saturday following a meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican. The confirmation was posted on the conference's website. President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the announcement in a Twitter post, saying Colombians "will receive him with enthusiasm and in peace". The dates of the trip are not yet set, though Francis has said he plans to visit Brazil for the 300th anniversary of the Virgin of Aparecida there. The first Latin American pope already has trips scheduled this year to Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and his native Argentina. The renovation of an 800-year-old courier station has been finished in north China's Hebei Province, a local official said Friday. Liu Zhimin, an official with the provincial cultural relics department, said repairs to the station's 22 ancient temples, shops and residential homes have been completed recently in the 2022 Winter Olympics co-host city of Zhangjiakou. Jiming dak, over 100 kilometers from Beijing, originally served for letter carriers to change horses and rest when carrying imperial decrees from Beijing's Forbidden City to northwestern regions. It later developed into a town now known as Jimingyi, home to more than 1,000 residents. The repair of the town wall was finished in 2011. Renovation work started in 2009 with an expected cost of 500 million yuan (around 81 million U.S. dollars). Jiming Courier Station was built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and continued to function until 1913, when the then government abandoned all courier stations in favor of modern post offices. "The station represents Zhangjiakou's role as a traffic hub in the past, and the renovation will bring more tourists to the city," said Wu Zhengshan, 70, a local tourist guide. The station was put on the country's national relics protection list in 2001. BMW announces $1.7 billion investment to build all-electric vehicles The $1.7 billion investment includes $700 million to build a high-voltage battery assembly plant with 300 new jobs in Woodruff. Haryana has received investment commitments from eight Chinese companies, with the Dalian Wanda group looking at investing US$10 billion in an industrial park at Kharkhoda in Sonipat, reports a business daily.Promoted by Wang Jianlin, the richest Chinese in 2015, the Dalian Wanda group claims to be the largest real estate developer in China.The Dalian Wanda group will invest US$10 billion to develop a comprehensive industrial park known as "Wanda Industrial New City", according to the business daily.Jianlin met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Friday during the latter's visit to Beijing.A preliminary agreement was signed between the Wanda Group and Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation on Friday.The final agreement will be signed after the terms & conditions are agreed upon by both the sides.Besides Wanda, the Haryana chief minister's delegation signed MoUs with China Fortune Land Development Company (CFLD) and ZTE Corporation among others, reports the daily. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended a function organised by Bharatiya Micro Credit for distribution of e-rickshaws in Lucknow.The Prime Minister interacted with rickshaw-puller families in a chaupal setting. During the interaction, subjects such as saving of a portion of the additional income, and education of children, came up for discussion.Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the whole world has recognised that India is the fastest growing major economy in the world today. He added that this is happening despite the global recession. He said that the primary objectives of his Government are the welfare of the poor, and employment for the youth. The Prime Minister said youth should become job creators instead of job seekers. He added that his Government has taken a series of steps to fulfil these objectives. In this context, he mentioned that 2 crore people had benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, in less than a year of the scheme's launch.The Prime Minister said that for the people who are getting e-rickshaws today, it is not just a simple change from pedal rickshaw to e-rickshaw, but an entire transformative process.The Prime Minister symbolically handed over RuPay cards, and social security schemes to select beneficiaries. The Prime Minister flagged off the rally of 2100 e-rickshaws. We're all used to the idea that Republic Day means a parade on Delhi's Rajpath. But did you know that the Republic Day parade that we all come to take for granted didn't exist in its present form for the first five years of India becoming a republic? You probably didn't. Don't worry, we are happy to help. In 11 pictures, here's how our Republic Day celebration came into being. 1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as the President of India right before the celebrations of the first Republic Day began. Timescontent The swearing in ceremony took place at Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. After which the then Governor-general C Rajagopalachari (centre) declared India as a Republic. 2. 31 men lined up fire in the air - the 31 gun salute. Facebook/Incredible India 3. W hile the President now arrives in a cavalcade of cars, in the olden days a horse drawn carriage was all it took. Facebook.com/Incredible India 4. Hoisting the flag is an age old tradition. Facebook/Incredible India 5. There has always been a chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Indonesian President Sukarno had the honour of being the first ever. Facebook/Incredible India Security wasn't that big an issue for us back then! 6. The first Republic Day parade took place at Irwin Stadium which is now the national stadium. About 15, 000 people witnessed it. Incredible India 7. It was only in 1955 that Rajpath, earlier known as Kingsway, became the permanent venue for the Republic Day Parade. Tumblr That very year, Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad from Pakistan was invited as the chief guest of the ceremony. 8. Our parade always had the tableaux trend, but these jhankis were way more simple back then! photodivision.gov.in 9. Jhankis made there way through the streets of Connaught Place so that the common people could enjoy the sight. Photodivision.gov.in 10. Back in the day, massive crowds were very easy to manage. Photodivision.gov.in 11. But these broken chairs from Republic Day 1955 tell us that a mess always followed. Timescontent Kevin Spacey has been milling around the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos this week, meeting with the top financiers, politicians, and executives. So much so that Page Six, part of The Post Network, has awarded him the title of "King of Davos" in an article that also includes a tale about him climbing on top of a piano at a glitzy bash to pledge his love for the event, before serenading the audience. On Friday, he was interviewed on stage by The Times newspaper editor James Harding, who asked what Spacey's character in House of Cards, Frank Underwood - a conniving politician who cheats and manipulates his way up to the US presidency - would give to the current Republican presidential candidates. Spacey started his response with a Freudian slip, which altered his answer somewhat to instead talk about his view on the 2016 presidential race. "I think Donald Trump - sorry, I mean Frank Underwood - you see, he even stole my time just now without doing anything! I think Frank Underwood would look at this particular year and find it as amusing as I do." Spacey continued, saying that while Americans are probably thinking "wow, there's some crazy s--- going down," the US and that the current discourse will probably "get it right in the end." Referencing Trump, he said people who suggest his campaign tactics are brand new have got it wrong. Attacking the media and groups of people were the exact tactics of George Wallace's 1968 campaign, he explained. According to the latest Bloomberg report, citing court documents, internet big boy Google paid Apple billions of dollars in 2014 to be the default search tool on iPhones. The astronomical number that is generally kept under wraps was provided by an Oracle attorney during a court hearing last week. Google lawyers, in a copy of the motion, argued that Oracle "improperly disclosed highly sensitive, confidential information" of their revenues and profits related to its Android operating software. The Oracle attorney also revealed that Google paid a billion dollars to Apple to secure its position as the default search engine on iPhones in 2014 alone. idownloadblog.com These astounding figures were made public during a long court battle over whether copyright-protected elements of Java code made by Oracle were used in Android without permission or not. According to Bloomberg, an Oracle lawyer said that Google has had a $22 billion profit from Android - a platform they provide to mobile device makers for free. Launched back in 2008, the software now powers over 80 percent of the smartphones used around the globe. Apple has not made any comment in this case. India's home-grown LCA Tejas fighter aircraft has made the country proud by making its first appearance at an international show by debuting at the Bahrain International Airshow. 1. Proud moment speakingtree We're all proud of our own achievements, but what makes our chests swell with pride is when the nation does well on the international platform. And nothing comes close to watching an indigenous fighter jet marking their debut at the International Air Show. 2. What it means speakingtree Putting up a flight display in front of an international audience is no mean feat. It is an opportunity for exploring potential export customers for the 4++ generation fighter. 3. First landing on foreign soil. speakingtree The LSP-4 and LSP-7 have already reached the Airshow. The two aircrafts landed in Bahrains Sakhir Airbase, and since then have been practicing their flying display. This was the first time they ever landed on foreign soil. 4. The manoeuvres speakingtree Flying at an airshow is completely different from actual combat flying. The plane flies in low and does manoeuvres for the crowd on the ground. 5. Unlike any other speakingtree Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the HAL Tejas is a single-jet engine, multi-role light, and single-seat fighter jet. It is unique in its construction with composite materials being used for making a big part of the aircraft. 6. The radiant speakingtree Formerly named as LCA for Light Combat Aircraft, this lightweight fighter was re-named to Tejas signifying Radiance, which was coined by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 7. Force of the future Speakingtree The LCA programme was initiated way back in the 80s to replace the ageing MIG 21 fighters. The Indian Air Force will get nearly 120 fighters to bolster its numbers. 8. The light fighter speakingtree This would be the lightest and smallest till date among its contemporary aircrafts. 9. Even the Navy will fly it. speakingtree Together with other agencies, DRDO is developing four versions: LCAs for the India Air Force, LCA trainer for the IAF, LCA for the Indian Navy (IN) and LCA trainer for the IN. 10. Armed to the teeth speakingtree Integrating technologies like relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire flight control system, multi-mode radar, integrated digital avionics system, composite material structures, and a flat rated engine, makes it the finest combat aircraft. Here are some videos of LCA Tejas making us proud at the Bahrain international air show. Tejas performing for the first time in a foreign land! Great moment to cherish at Bahrain! pic.twitter.com/POw4dL4Q9v Nitin A. Gokhale (@nitingokhale) January 21, 2016 "I really love classical. Playing for children is memorable for me and it's fun," said Elliot Wuu from the Lang Lang International Music Foundation Young Scholar program on Friday. "Part of our mission for the program is to be ambassadors to elementary school children to introduce them to classical music and help them realize it's not boring, it's fun," said 16-year-old Wuu, "so it will be more inviting for the next generation to hear all this music." Wuu, who recently won the First Prize in the 2015 Hilton Head International Piano Competition for Young Artist, on Friday performed three pieces of music at the opening ceremony of the first Piano Lab of "Keys of Inspiration" music class funded by the Foundation at High Tech Elementary Explorer in San Diego, California. The Foundation, founded by Chinese talented pianist Lang Lang in 2008, started the "Keys of Inspiration" music class program three years ago. It is a three-year public school partnership program that has established a replicable pathway into the world of music for children at grades 2 to 5. Currently, the "Keys of Inspiration" was launched in six schools in different cities, including New York City, Boston and San Diego, benefiting 1,223 students. The program plans to expand and serve over 6,200 students in the upcoming few years, according to the Foundation. High Tech Elementary Explorer, an independent public school founded in 2000, is the first that launched the program in California. Selected schools receive a fully equipped piano lab, teaching materials and workbooks, and a full-time piano teacher. Lukas Barwinski, the CEO of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, told Xinhua, "we are taking over the whole cost of all instrument, we are buying also all the education materials, like books and everything, and we are paying the salary to the music teacher for three years. And after three years, the school is taking over the lab and owns all instrument." "In America, a lot of schools they don't have music at all," said Barwinski, "We are going to such schools which are very unprivileged and kids they cannot afford or their parents cannot afford to get private music lessons. So we are going to those schools and we are giving everything for free." "It's not only a program; it's the curriculum in the school curriculum. So the kids are learning music like math or English. The whole second and third grade students at this school will have the lessons twice a week," said Barwinski. "Music makes life better," says Lang Lang, who is on a mission to educate and inspire the next generation of classical music lovers to change their lives, the same way that music has changed his. To date, more than 40 million children have been inspired to play piano because of Lang Lang. India has been put under unprecedented security alert ahead of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. Security agencies have warned of greater terror threat to India this time than in the the past. This is mainly because of the added threat of Islamic State terrorists this time, in place of the threats form Pakistan based terror groups. Here are five reasons you should be concerned 1. Taxi Car From Pathankot Goes Missing Delhi Police on Friday issued an alert after the driver of a taxi hired by three unidentified persons from Pathankot was found dead in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, in the aftermath of the airbase attack. Delhi Police The taxi driver, identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Gaggal village in Kangra district, was found dead on Wednesday at the Kalta bridge in Kangra and his taxi missing, police said. ALERT Pathankot Alto Carjacked... Here are the images of the suspects. #SayNoToTerror #SafeTogether pic.twitter.com/VfBC1b5qDY Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) January 22, 2016 2. ITBP Top Cop's SUV Gone Missing In a similar incident earlier this week, on Tuesday night an SUV belonging to a top ITBP official had gone missing from his residence in Noida. Representative Image Wile no terror link to both the incidents have been established so far terror outfits like ISIS who are notorious for car-bomb attacks in Iraq and Syria could use them as potential weapons to target to carry out blasts in crowded places. 3. Presence Of French President Francois Hollande French President Francois Hollande is the chief guest of the republic day celebrations on on Tuesday. France is engaged in an air-strike against ISIS following the Paris terror attacks AFP 4. Possible Lone-Wolf Attack There were also intelligence warnings of a possible ISIS lone-wolf attack targeting French President Hollande. On Thursday the French consulate in Bengaluru received a letter warning President Hollande against visiting India on Republic Day. Reuters/ Representational Image 5. Nearly 20 ISIS Operatives Arrested From Across India Nearly twenty people with suspected Islamic State links was nabbed from across the country in just a single day on Friday. This was the biggest crackdown on ISIS sympathizers in India. According to reports, the raids were carried out after Indian intelligence agencies received tip-off from the CIA. India Today Six men, including a chemical engineering dropout, detained by the National Investigation Agency in Karnataka is suspected to have links with the Islamic State. The Telangana government has just implemented a weird law for drinking in Hyderabad. A law, if put in practice across the country, would make places like Gurgaon go bonkers. But Hyderabad isn't the only place with weird liquor laws. In fact, there are five others... 1. Hyderabad apnewscorner.com The Telangana government has implemented a ban which prohibits the sale of alcohol within 100 metres of the state, or national highways. That means, no liquor store or pub can be open within a distance of 100 metres. Even three and five-star hotels aren't exempt from this rule. Why would the ban be imposed in the first place? Your guess is as good as mine. While the hotels and clubs seek exemption from this rule, the inconvenience caused to establishments and people is being voiced. Some of the busy roads passing through the heart of the city are also being termed as highways, which isn't boding well with the pubs and hotels being affected. Calling the decision irrational and illogical, they are seeking to revoke the "irrational and illogical" law. 2. Uttar Pradesh + all other states. thynkfeed.com Discrepancies in the minimum drinking age have often been a topic of debate for those not in favour of state governed rules on liquor consumption. And it's a fair point too. Just think about it, while most parts of the country have a minimum drinking age of 21, in places like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Meghalaya it's 25. Not to forget the minimum drinking age in Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry still remains 18. Which means if a 21-year-old individual wants to have a couple of beers, he can't do so in Delhi, but will be more than welcome in Noida. 3. Punjab + Haryana newsmobile.in We are in a dire need of reforms in our laws and this is a prime example of it. Although I've hardly seen it being followed, establishments in Punjab and Haryana, according to the Punjab Excise Act of 1914, are prohibited from hiring "women in any part of such premises in which such liquor or intoxicating drug is consumed by the public". Yes, no woman can be employed anywhere near a place when alcohol is being served. Such amaze. Much weird. 4. Lakshadweep blog.honeymoonpackagestours.com Okay get this, even though the beautiful island of Lakshadweep is populated by not more than 65,000 people, it the only union territory in India where alcohol consumption is prohibited. Since 1995, residents cannot drink anywhere except this little island called Bangaram. If anyone feels like a drink or two, that person would have to make his/her way to Bangaram. How you get home after is your headache of course. But if you're on an island like this, not sure if you'd want to get home anytime soon. 5. Maharashtra latitudenews.com Most are aware of this one. Not only is 25 the legal age of drinking in Maharashtra, but one also needs to have a licence to consume liquor. Possession, consumption, or even transportation of alcohol without a permit/licence can result in a fine of Rs.50,000 and/or 5 years in prison. To make things easier for the consumer, hotels and bars started buying these permits in bulk and giving them away to their guests. However, Wardha, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli are the only three districts of Maharashtra that have completely banned the consumption and sale of alcohol. 6. Andamans naina.co Saved the weirdest one for the last. Get this, between 2008 and 2010, the last day of every month would be a dry day! Although not confirmed by officials, it believed that the law was to prevent people working for a salary from splurging all their money on alcohol. If that's the case, this dry day rule would benefit all of us, wouldn't it? Additionally, for some odd reason, the 7th day of every month still remains a dry day in the state. Cover image by timesofoman. Thrust into an uncomfortable debate about casteism by the alleged suicide of a dalit PhD scholar in Hyderabad, Indians will find themselves further red-faced by the story of an aspiring engineer from IIT-BHU making ends meet as a sweeper. IIT-BHU Mahesh Balmiki, a second-year student of mining, mulled some desperate measures to pay off a Rs 2.7-lakh loan he had taken for his studies. "There was a lot of pressure. Due to my prolonged illness, I had to incur expenses for my treatment and couldn't give back the loan I took for my studies," he told TOI. The Failed Sale Of Kidney Short of options, Mahesh even began a search for a buyer for one of his kidneys. But he later told some friends that in the thriving black market for kidneys, people first asked a donor's caste. Mahesh added, "I visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar. The doctors there informed me that no one would take my kidney as I am a dalit." It proved a dead-end for Mahesh, and the 19-year-old, who some teachers describe as "very bright", had to the leave his studies mid-way and take up a sweeper's job back at his village in Rajasthan's Alwar, for just Rs 4,000 a month. Tired and frustrated, he often spoke with his friends about ending his life. When Help Came Sensing trouble, a few of his friends approached Magsaysay award winning activist Sandeep Pandey, who took to Mahesh's cause immediately and reached out to BHU alumni for funds to pay off his loan. He succeeded, and just a few days ago, paid off Mahesh's loan. But Mahesh, whose father is paralysed and mother earns her living as a domestic help in several houses, still works as a cleaner to survive. The brightest among his parents' three sons, Mahesh scored 85% in Class X. Despite working part-time as a cleaner during his exams and frequent bouts of illnesses, he still managed 70% in Class XII. Better results were in store for the diligent teen who did exceedingly well in the IIT entrance test and got a seat at BHU. But The Worst Isn't Over "I have no option other than to clean and sweep," he said. For him, Pandey, a former contractual teacher at BHU, literally came as a godsend. "Sandeep sir helped me get rid of the loan through funds he collected from former IIT-BHU students. I have paid everything back. I believe there are hundreds like Rohith Vemula (the University of Hyderabad PhD scholar) studying at prestigious institutions in our country. Some are forced to end their lives. A few lucky ones get people like Sandeep sir," he said. In what has turned out to be a major embarrassment, Britain's home office spelt the word 'language' wrong in a press release about new English language tests for migrants. BBC Language was misspelled "langauge" in the original press release by the home office giving details of the new tests and was corrected later on Friday . Many on Twitter felt it was funny... coming over here, speaking our langauge https://t.co/DSImLj3Fz5 Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) January 22, 2016 Mirgrants aren't the olny ones that need a langauge test! https://t.co/XKg7lw6wmw Gerry Howley (@gerryhowley) January 22, 2016 Stratospherically epic fail: UK govt announces "langauge" tests for immigrants. https://t.co/fIuIe77Qli pic.twitter.com/GeSsJmdWgN Patrick Cox (@patricox) January 22, 2016 Home Office staff fail their own langauge test https://t.co/ew1P1ASNYG pic.twitter.com/gCeM43IdTe Steerpike (@MrSteerpike) January 22, 2016 This goof-up could not have come at a worse time. On Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron had said that Muslim Women who cannot speak English could face deportation. AP According to the new announcement, an English test is to be forced on migrants from non-EU countries like India. Those failing to clear the examination will face deportation. The new rules apply to family members of UK nationals who are citizens of countries outside the European Union, including India. Daily Mail/ Representational Image Partners and parents in the UK on a spousal or family visa will now need to pass a speaking and listening test after two-and-a half-years in the UK in order to qualify for further "leave to remain" en route to their "permanent settlement" in the UK after five years. "The new A2 requirement delivers the government's manifesto commitment to ensure that those coming to the UK on a family visa with only basic English will become more fluent over time. It will mean that the person can better engage in everyday conversation and thereby better participate and integrate in everyday life in the community," the home office said. Follow us on battle of the titans ford endeavour takes on toyota fortuner The popularity of SUVs in India is as good as it has ever been in history and if there is any name that commands respect and awe in the segment, then it is the Toyota Fortuner. However, with growing popularity there has been a rise in the competition as well with the arrival of names like Santa Fe, Trailblazer and now the new version of popular American brand Ford Endeavour. However, Toyota Fortuner is still quite a strong name not to ignore, so it will be interesting to see how the SUV will stand up against Ford Endeavour, the another powerful name. Engine Both the SUVs have two engine variants with Fortuner featuring a 2494cc engine and another with a 2982cc displacement. On the other hand, we have Ford Endeavour that comes with a 2198cc and a 3198cc motor. However, in terms of power and torque, Ford Endeavour overtakes Toyota Fotuner in every way. The lighter engine of Ford Endeavour delivers a power of 157.8bhp at 3200rpm as oppose to 142bhp power generated by Toyota Fortuner. In terms of torque too, Ford Endeavour is way ahead producing 385Nm torque at 1600 to 2500rpm as compared to 343Nm torque at 1600 to 2800rpm. For the heavier engines, Ford Endeavor again manages to overhaul Fortuner churning out 197bhp power at 3000rpm and 470Nm torque at 1750 to 2500rpm, compared to 168bhp power and 343Nm torque that the latter generates. Ford Endeavor comes with a 6-speed transmission system as compared to the 5-speed gearbox that Fortuner has to offer. Handling Here too we see Ford come out on top with Endeavor garnering a better suspension system in addition to more controlled brakes, a longer wheelbase and a higher ground clearance. The boot space is larger while the road assist is far more intuitive giving Ford Endeavor a definitive edge over Toyota Fortuner, especially when it comes to off-road adventures. Ford Endeavor further excels when it comes to safety and performance offering ABS, EBD, ESP, Traction Control, Hill launch and new Terrain Management system. Interior Ford Endeavor continues to dominate even on the inside with contemporary features and design with high-class material being used. On the other hand, Toyota Fortuner has often come under scrutiny for the same elements indicating that the popular SUV is in serious need of a makeover. Fortuner has an all black dashboard compared to Ford Endeavor that comes with a 2 tone dashboard. Ford Endeavor offers 10 speakers compared to 6 speakers and also has the noise cancellation feature in addition to its infotainment display. Price This is one section where Toyota Fortuner excels with the 2.5-litre variant being available at Rs. 25.46 lac as oppose to the 2.2-litre version of Ford Endeavor that costs Rs. 24.75 lac. Overall, if we analyze the running cost, Ford Endeavor seems a much more economical option for lower end models whereas Toyota Fortuner is a better option for the bigger engine. In terms of mileage, Toyota Fortuner gives away 13kmpl for both small and big engine, whereas Ford Endeavor delivers 14.12kmpl for the smaller engine and 10.91kmpl for the bigger engine. Toyota Fortuner is a well-established name in India and has won critical acclaim for its performance, but on the other hand, Ford, this time around, has given a brilliant update to the ageing Endeavour. So for now, it's time to watch the two battling out in the premium SUV space and wait for the results. Latest Business News Follow us on did ranbir just host a break up party confirming his split with katrina New Delhi: Ever since the reports of Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's break up have rocked the glam town, this is all everyone is talking about. The rumoured ex-couple Ranbir-Kat had always grabbed attention, be it because of their love affair, their live-in relationship, romantic hangouts and now it is because of their split. While people are quite shocked with their break up, recently there were reports stating that Ranbir and Katrina didn't actually break up; instead they just had an argument. But it seems that the Barfi' actor has finally cleared the air. According to the media reports, Ranbir recently hosted a lavish party at his new house in Wilson apartments. While the actor's all friends were invited to the party and had a gala time there, it was Ranbir's lady love Katrina Kaif who was not invited for the party. Well, this isn't a casual instance for the couple, as ever since the couple started seeing each other, they have been inseparable, be it a casual get-together or any event. But with Katrina not being invited to his party at all, we wonder if Ranbir has actually hinted that he has not just parted ways with Katrina and has actually moved on in his life as well. Ranbir and Katrina will soon be sharing the silver screen in Anurag Kashyap's Jagga Jasoos' which is expected to release in June this year. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on file report against shah rukh and salman khan delhi court to cops New Delhi: Delhi Police was today directed by a court in Delhi to file an action taken report (ATR) on a criminal complaint against actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by entering the sets of a temple wearing shoes while shooting for a reality show. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate VK Gautam asked the Station House Officer of Roop Nagar Police Station to file on February 12, the ATR explaining as to what action it has taken on the complaint filed by advocate Gaurav Gulati. "Fresh complaint received. Counsel for the applicant states that a complaint was also given to SHO of Roop Nagar Police Station. Let an ATR be called from SHO of Roop Nagar Police Station," the court said. During the hearing, counsel for the complainant alleged that the two superstars have acted in a manner which has hurt the religious sentiments. "This is a time when the country is dealing with growing intolerance. Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have been openly sharing their ideas on intolerance and then they did this act of wearing shoes in the temple and showing their backs to the idol of Hindu Goddess 'Kali'. "This could have been done intentionally by them," advocate Vikram Singh Saini, appearing for Gulati, argued. The complaint filed by an advocate sought the court's direction to the police to register an FIR against the two actors, Colors channel and director and producer of reality show Bigg Boss 9 for alleged offences of sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. The advocate also said that the actors are holding a position by which they should act as role models for the coming generations. He also annexed the CD of the programme, in which the actors could be seen wearing shoes on the sets of the temple while shooting for the reality show, with his complaint. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on you are the strongest woman i know salman tells katrina New Delhi: Close on the heels of the break-up between celebrity couple Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, superstar Salman Khan today shared the stage with his ex-girlfriend actress. Katrina's visit on the sets of the reality show came amid immense speculation. Katrina was on Bigg Boss to promote her upcoming movie Fitoor' along with her co-star Aditya Roy Kapur. While it was highly expected that Salman will mention her recent rumoured split with Ranbir Kapoor on the show, he didn't. In fact, a clever Salman Khan came to the rescue of his former lady love when Valentines' Day plans were being discussed. Allow us to end your confusion and tell you what exactly happened. On the show, Salman mentioned that he has no valentine this year; after discussing the release date of Fitoor'. To his statement, Tabu who was standing next to him, said neither does she. The next in line to answer this question was Aditya, who replied that he was not sure about it yet. It was obvious that Katrina would be follow suit and discuss her V-day plans. But, Salman was quick enough to turn the conversation to Fitoor' and quickly wrapped up the conversation by urging fans to watch the movie on Feb 12. In the show, Salman also tried Aditya's romantic lines with Katrina and failed miserably. Impressed by her dance in the hit song Pashmina, he gave her the name Pashmina Katrina Kaif. When Kat entered the house, he also praised her for her talent and said, Katrina, you are one of the strongest woman I know. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on cia leads help india to arrest over 20 isis operatives New Delhi: Acting on tip-offs provided by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) about computers and phones being used by terror group ISIS, the Indian agencies have arrested over a dozen suspected operatives of the militant outfit. According to Times of India, the arrest of almost 20 ISIS operatives in a nationwide crackdown was a result of cooperation between Indian and US intelligence agencies. The report mentioned that CIA was closely monitoring hundreds of IP addresses of computers and smart phones being used by ISIS in Syria and Iraq. There were several addresses which ISIS operatives were using to access Facebook and other social networking platforms. All such IPs and proxy servers were under surveillance and one address was used by Sheikh Shafi Armar, head of newly formed terror outfit 'Ansar ul Tawhid ul Hind (AuT)' -- a subsidiary of Indian Mujahideen and has the imprints of the al-Qaeda and ISIS. According to Ministry of Home Affairs, Armar, who was held in Bengaluru, could be the kingpin in the latest terror plot across the country. It is also believed that Armar was communicating with Akhlaq ur Rehman, an suspected ISIS operative arrested in Haridwar along with three others. The agencies also intercepted calls, WhatsApp and Facebook messages exchanged between the terrorists. A message exchanged between Yousuf and Akhlaq reads, '7 kalash rakh do'. The code was interpreted as a plot to bomb seven places. Armar's name was first appeared during the interrogation of arrested Indian Mujahideen operative Yasin Bhatkal. He had told interrogators that Armar and five others were given terror training recently in the Waziristan region of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Tight security in Haryana for Modi, Hallande visit As France is a friendly nation of the US, the CIA is involving itself in the security measures for the French President Francois Hollande visit to India on Republic Day. The CIA has asked Haryana police to submit crime status report for Gurgaon, Faridabad and other adjoining districts as part of efforts to ensure proper security arrangements ahead of the one-day visit of PM Narendra Modi and Francois Hollande. The two leaders have a programme scheduled on January 25 at National Institute of Solar Energy situated on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway where the foundation stone for the interim secretariat of the international solar alliance will be laid. The CIA has specifically asked the Gurgaon and Faridabad district administrations to provide action-taken report, especially in the vicinity of the Aravalli mountain range, which is known for illegal mining and other criminal activities. Hawa Singh, ACP (PRO) of Gurgaon police, said that the spy agency has been focusing on Mewat district, where different security agencies have arrested four or five terrorists in the past three years. A suspected Al-Qaeda operative was nabbed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from Mewat district last week. CIA has asked the police in Gurgaon, Faridabad and adjoining districts to submit data on all criminal activities reported in their respective areas. The district administrations of Gurgaon and Faridabad have already imposed Section 144 in a radius of 2 km from the venue with SWAT teams also in place. Section 144 will also be imposed at prominent malls, shopping centres, strategic locations and crowded places between January 24 and 26. High alert in Delhi The national capital has been put under a tight security cover to ensure safe Republic Day celebrations. The police will be keeping an eye on crowded places, markets, bus stations, railway stations and other specific locations in the city to avoid any untoward incident. Yesterday, the city police issued an alert after a taxi driver was hijacked by three unidentified people from Pathankot in Punjab and later was found dead in Himachal Pradesh. Security agencies relate the incident similar to the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base attack in which a taxi driver Ikagar Singh was hired and killed by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist hours before their terror strike. The Delhi Police issued the alert days before Francois Hollande is set to arrive in India to attend the Republic Day celebrations. Police check-posts and border posts have been asked to do stringent checking of vehicles entering and moving within the city. Barricades have been set up across the city and traffic police officials have been deployed in adequate strength everywhere. Several mock security drills were conducted at various places in the city in last one week. Latest India News Follow us on first ever india arab league ministerial meeting to be held on sunday New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today left for Bahrain to attend the first ministerial meeting between India and the Arab League on Sunday. This will be the first ever ministerial meeting between India and the League of Arab States Foreign Ministers, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The Arab League comprises 22 countries in West Asia and northern Africa. The Arab countries combined together are India's biggest trading partner with total trade of over $180 billion. The relationship between India and the Arab countries has already been taken to the next level called India-Arab Partnership Conference, four meetings of which have already been held with New Delhi hosting the last one in 2014. The next conference is scheduled to be held in Oman in May this year. Emerging areas of cooperation between India and the Arab countries include agriculture, dry land farming, environment protection, information and communication technology (ICT), automobiles, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), biotechnology and space. Sixty percent of India's oil and gas comes from West Asia which is an important pillar of the country's energy security. The Maghreb region provides phosphates and fertilisers for India's agricultural sector. The seven-million strong Indian diaspora in the Gulf countries is an important source of remittances. The first ministerial meeting in Bahrain on Sunday will provide new opportunities to further strengthen ties between the two sides. India has been consistently deepening its engagement with the Arab world. Our ancient ties have transformed into a modern partnership covering a whole host of areas, spokesman Swarup told IANS. The first ever India-Arab League ministerial meeting will unveil a new blueprint for our partnership with the very important region, he added. India is also concerned over the deepening sectarian divide in the region and the growing footprint of terror groups like the Islamic State. After Saudi Arabia executed a Shia cleric on charges of terrorism earlier this month, its missions in Iran came under attack and subsequently diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran were cut off. It is hoped that Sunday's meeting will also result in greater cooperation in counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the Arab League countries. After reaching Manama on Saturday, Sushma Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with Bahrain. Secretary (East) in the external affairs, Anil Wadhwa, who is already in Bahrain, is also scheduled to attend a meeting of senior officials of India and the Arab League countries on Saturday. Latest India News You are here: Home Chinese bank lending to small businesses rose last year as government policy continued to support them to generate jobs and growth, the central bank said yesterday. Outstanding loans to small businesses in China rose by 13.9 percent annually to 17.39 trillion yuan (US$2.6 trillion), the Peoples Bank of China said. The pace was 2.7 and 5.3 percentage points faster than the growth in loans received last year by large and mid-sized firms, respectively. The loans to small firms took up 31.2 percent of Chinas total loans to enterprises in 2015, up 0.8 percentage points from 2014, the PBOC said. Follow us on remembering netaji subhash chandra bose on his 119th birth anniversary One hundred and nineteen years ago, on January 23, was born one of India's most iconic political figures - Subhas Chandra Bose. Forty four years later, in 1941, he left the country never to return, dying in a controversial aircrash on August 18, 1945. Many enquiries later, and with ample historical evidence available, the controversy refuses to die down. So obssessed have some people, including a few of Netaji's relatives, become with the mystery and INA saga that Netaji's contribution to the Mahatma Gandhi- led freedom struggle has been completely forgotten. This article breifly recaptulates the events from the time Bose came under the spell of the Mahatma as a youth leader of the Indian National Congress(INC) till he fell out with him in his second term as President INC culminating in his 'great escape' ,this month, exactly 75 years ago. By the late 20s Bose, alongwith Jawaharlal Nehru, had become a youth icon. So popular were they that even revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad and Jatin Das were inspired by them. After the death of C.R. Das in 1925, Bose gradually became the most popular leader of Bengal. He represented the rebellious tendency in the state, not just against the British but against the Copngress central leadership as well. He was elected mayor of Calcutta (now Kolkata) defeating J.M. Sen Gupta, the nominee of the Congress high command. While Bose was idelogically opposed to the rightist Vallabhbhai Patel, he was personally and politically close to the latter's elder brother Vithalbhai Patel, a leader of Swaraj party founded by Motitlal Nehru and C.R. Das. Vithalbhai and Bose had met in a sanatorium in Vienna where both were convalescing in 1933. When Gandhiji suspended the civil disobedience movement, they issued a strong-worded joint statement, the Patel-Bose manifesto, calling for a new radical leadership of the independence movement. So fond of Bose had Vithalbhai become that he willed a portion of his fortune to him to be spent for the "political uplift of India and for publicity work on behalf of India's cause in other countries". But the will was challenged by Vithalbhai's sibiling, Vallabhbhai Patel as a consequence of which Bose didn't receive a penny. Meanwhile, relations between Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru were going stronger by the day. While Nehru was in prison in India, Bose travelled from Vienna to Badenweiler to be with Kamala Nehru, who was suffering from TB. He remained there till Nehru arrived after being released from prison. When Kamala Nehru died Bose was there to help Nehru and his daughter Indira (then 19) with the funeral arrangements. When Nehru told Bose that he was intending to set up a foreign affairs department in the Congress the latter was mighty pleased as that was entirely in consonance with his own views. Bose returned to India in May 1936 and was soon arrested. Nehru, who was the Congress president, gave a country wide-call to observe a protest on May 10, 1936 to put pressure on the British authorities to release him. Nehru's second consecutive term was coming to end in 1937 and a suitable successor had to be found. As the masses were solidly behind the Nehru-Bose duo, Gandhiji with his foresight, decided to back the candidature of Bose. Though the rightist lobby led by Sardar Patel opposed him tooth and nail, the Mahatma declared that "there really was no one other than Subhas who deserved to become the 'rashtrapati' (as the INC president was addressed in those days). The first term of Bose was a smooth affair with many activites aimed at setting up goals to see that "everybody - man, woman and child - is better clothed, better educated and has sufficient leisure for recreation and cultural activity". Though Bose reassured Gandhians that he firmly believed in encouraging cottage industries, he felt, like Nehru, the need to embrace the idea of heavy industrialisation. Nehru was away to Europe in 1938 but Bose wanted him back to take over as the chairman of the National Planning Committee he proposed to set up for socio-economic reconstruction of the country when it became free. In envisioning the future of India, both Nehru and Bose placed considerable importance on the position of women and sought to initiate measures by which they could be brought into the mainstream of the development process. One of the most comprehensive reports prepared under the aegis of the National Planning Committee was on women and their future in the planned economy of India. Proceeding along the guidelines suggested in the Fundamental Rights Resolution adopted by the Karachi Congress in 1931, the women's report in the National Planning Committee spelt out in detail the existing social, economic and legal obstacles to the achievement of equal status and opportunity and advocated ameliorative measures, which were surprisingly modern and advanced. While Nehru, as Chairman of the National Planning Committee, was actively involved in its preparation, Bose shared most of its recommendations, without, however, being directly involved because of his preoccupations as Congress president. The need to forge national unity on the basis of the advances made by scientific progress was a constant preoccupation with Bose. With a restless zeal and inspired by the example of Russia, which in a short while had progressed from "being a country of half-starved peasants to well-clothed industrial workers", Bose envisaged an India where industrial progress could improve "the standard of living of the people at large". However, despite the enourmous work he had undertaken in his first term, Bose was opposed for a re-election by the right wing of the Congress comprising Patel, Rajaji, Rajendra Prasad and G.B. Pant. Their choice was Abul Kalam Azad. But the maulana considered discretion the better part of valour and refused to enter the fray. This pitted Patabhi Sitaramayya of Andhra against Bose. In a keenly fought contest, Bose polled 1,580 votes against Sitaramayya's 1,375. The re-election of Bose was a big blow to the right wing of the Congress, which had earlier stated: "Bose's re-election is held to be harmful to country's cause." The Mahatma however, admitted to his defeat but, with his characteristic humility, added: "After all, Subhas babu is not an enemy of his country. He has suffered for it." All this, and more later, would, however, not heal the wounds and prevent Bose from charting an independent course and, ultimately, sacrificing his life to realise his dream of Azad Hind. Latest India News Follow us on r day celebrations 17 states 6 ministries to showcase tableaux on rajpath New Delhi: India will be celebrating its 67th Republic Day this year and the preparations for same are in full swing. While the various regiments of the Indian Army will be seen taking part in the Republic Day celebrations, this year the parade will witness some new add-ons as well. This year Army dogs comprising a bunch of Labradors and German shepherds will be seen marching with their handlers in the parade on majestic Rajpath after 26 years. On the other hand, Indians will also witness a historic moment this Republic Day as French soldiers will also be seen marching. This is for the first time that a foreign army will take part along with Indian troops during the R-Day celebrations. Talking about the Republic Day celebrations, Rajpath will witness a showcase of tableaux from 17 States and 6 Ministries of the Central government. These tableaux will showcase varied themes starting from country's rich cultural heritage and socio-economic development to nation's progress in key areas like IT, Women, Empowerment and Environment Protection. Here's a look at the tableaux along with the significance that will be showcased during the 67th Republic Day celebrations: GOA - Jagor Folk Dance Jagor', the traditional folk dance-drama, is performed by the Hindu Kunbi and Christian Gauda community of Goa, to seek the Devine Grace for protection and prosperity of the crop. Literal meaning of Jagor is jagran or wakeful nights. The strong belief is that the night long performance, awakens the deities once a year and they continue to remain awake throughout the year guarding the village. Perni Jagor is the ancient mask dance drama of Goa, performed by Perni families, using well crafted and painted wooden masks, depicting various animals, birds, super natural power, deities, demons and social characters. Gauda Jagor, is an impression of social life, that displays all the existing moods and modes of human characters. It is predominantly based on three main characters, Gharasher, Nikhandar and Parpati wearing shining dress and headgears. The performance is accompanied by vibrant tunes of Goan folk instruments like Nagara/Dobe, Ghumat, Madale and Kansale. In some places, Jagor performances are held with participation of both Hindus and Christian community, whereby, characters are played by Hindus and musical support is provided by Christian artistes. GUJARAT - Gir Wildlife Sanctuary: Asiatic Lions The tableau depicts some rare and exotic varieties along with Sidi community, settled in the Gir forest, performing their traditional dance number. The only natural abode of Asiatic lions at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is a distinct identity of Gujarat. The relentless efforts of the Government in collaborations with the cattle owners have established a unique ecological balance between the flora and fauna in the sanctuary. This has resulted in a sharp rise in the number of the endangered species to 523! The front portion of the tableau shows the Asiatic lion in its distinguished majestic pose as the King of the Forest. The other portion shows cattle owners living amicably amidst a Pride of Lions drinking water from the poolside. The cohabitation of man and wildlife is an important component of the Lions Conservation Programme. As many as 31 species of mammals are found in the Gir and over 300 species of birds are also found in the Gir forest. SIKKIM - Saga Dawa The tableau depicts celebration of Buddha Jayanti in Sikkim, which is popularly called Saga Dawa. It is an important occasion which marks the Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and attainment of Nirvana or Moksha. The Buddhist communities of Sikkim on this day take a religious procession carrying the chariot of Gautama Buddha and sacred Scriptures on their shoulder and enchant Om Mane Padme Hum. These Holy Scriptures are called Kangyurtengyur. The prayer wheels in front of the trailor are religious symbol for doing prayer. The wheels rotate clockwise and contain rolls of paper having mantras written on them. JAMMU AND KASHMIR - Mera Gaon Mera Jahan The tableau of Jammu and Kashmir, depicts rural development through technology and economic activities, besides making the villages clean and green. Mera Gaon Mera Jahan (my village my world) under Clean and Green Mission 2015-16 is the flagship scheme of the Government of India which aims at reaching ensuring sustainable rural development by making available environment friendly, latest technology. Under the scheme, the Jammu and Kashmir State has adopted three villages i.e. Apple village of Kashmir, Apricot village of Ladakh and Basmati village of Jammu, to highlight different stages of seedlings, plantation, weeding, cleaning packing etc. The scheme also aims at creating awareness among the people about making their villages clean, green, healthy, polythene free, besides conserving natural resources. RAJASTHAN - Hawa Mahal The tableau showcases Hawa Mahal not as a monument, but as a lively Building, which is full of eye-catching activities throughout the day and night. Grandeur of Jaipur and pride of Rajasthan, this huge structure is famous as Palace of Winds in the entire world and is a world heritage site. It was built in 1799 by the King of Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and was designed by the architect Lal Chand Usta. He designed it in the form of the crown of Shri Krishna. Standing 50 feet high, this five storey huge building has 953 small windows known as Jharokhas. It reflects the striking fusion of Rajput and Mughal architecture style. In this tableau, Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh is shown in the front, while the replica of Hawa Mahal is shown in the rear side of the tableau. Some women are shown performing Panihaarin the famous folk dance of Jaipur. Famous craft & arts stops are also showcased on the tableau along with some tourists. CHANDIGARH - Open to give, open to receive The tableau depicts the smart, green and dream city of Chandigarh. Chandigarh, the dream city of India, was planned by the famous French Architect Le Corbusier'. Picturesquely located at the foothills of Shivaliks, the conception of the city has been formulated on the basis of four major functions - Working, Care of the Body, Spirit and Circulation. It is known as one of the best experiments in urban planning and modern architecture. The Capitol Complex, the focal point, both visually and symbolically, is considered to be the most representative of Le-Corbusier's work. The structure of the High Court is based on a simple system of columns, beams and slabs. The Chandigarh Legislative Assembly has 3 elements on the roof: the hyperboloid, the pyramid and the lift-tower. Le-Corbusier was big on symbols and it is said that the roofs sculptural elements are a reflection of the sun and the moon. Corbusier defined the Open Hand as a hand to give and a hand to receive' and projected it as city's official emblem dictating the ideology of the city. TRIPURA - Unakoti Sculptures: A Bewitching Tourists' Attraction The tableau Unakoti, a Shiva pilgrimage site, located about 186 km away from Agartala and dates back to 7th to 9thcenturies AD. The word Unakoti, means one less than a crore. The site consists of several huge vertical rock-cut carvings on a hillside. The site shows strong evidence of Buddhist Art along with Shiva head and imposing Ganesha figures, having a height of 30 feet. The rocky walls also have carved images of Hindu pantheon like, Durga and Vishnu. The Unakoti rock-cut carvings have the distinction of being the largest bas-relief sculpture in India. Unakoti has been included in the tourism map of India as a remarkable tourists' resort. Common pilgrims frequent the place and tourists from far and wide also converge in Unakoti with much enthusiasm. ODISHA - The Glorious Tradition of Boita Bandana The tableau of Odisha presents the maritime activities and glorious tradition of Boita-Bandana festival of ancient Odisha. This more or less concentrates around the Sadhava tradition in Odisha, who were great maritime traders and the tableau depicts their traditions. Life size fiber statues depicting Sadhavas with boxes (Sindhuks) meant for storage of goods and precious materials adorn this portion. The Trolley portion carries the boat house and Sadhavas depicting life activities of trade. Ancient Odisha, popularly known as Kalinga was the epicenter of the inland and foreign trade. The geographical setting of the State had supported the development of seaports like Tamralipti, Chelitalo, Palur, Pithunda along its coastline. The mariners of Kalinga were endowed with sound knowledge of navigation and had commercial, socio-cultural and political relations with South East Asian countries like Srilanka, Java, Sumatra, Bali, Borneo, China, Burma, Cambodia, Champa, Malaya and Thailand. WEST BENGAL - Bauls of Bengal The Bauls, a wandering minstrels community of Bengal, who follow a distinctive spiritual and musical tradition that had its roots in the Bhakti and Sufi movement. The Baul genre, recognised among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity' by UNESCO. The folk singers, coming both from Hindu and Muslim communities, spread the ideals of peace, brotherhood and mystic philosophy through simple words and metaphors. Baul is not a religion, but rather a way of life. Ignoring all kinds of religious social stigma and social barriers, Bauls try to find their or Monner Manush' (the Infinite Self), through music. Ektara, Dotara, Khamak, Nupur, Premjuri, Dubki etc. are commonly used instruments of Baul music. Baul singers travel from one village to another or sometimes stay in akharas' or monasteries. Traditionally, Baul songs talk about the relationship between man and the supreme Being and the ways to attain spiritual liberation. But in recent times, their music also conveys social messages and creates awareness about government schemes in villages of Bengal. They are an integral part of the Lok Prasar Prakalpa scheme of west Bengal, under which financial assistance is being provided to folk artistes. BIHAR - Champaran Satyagrah The tableau of Bihar State presents Champaran Movement of 1917 against the backdrop of the major role played by Mahatma Gandhi. The main portion of the tableau shows Mahatma Gandhi in his youth in the year 1917. The trailer portion depicts the picture of complete atrocity of the Britishers, against poor farmers as shown. Use of violence and force against hapless farmers is shown in the side murals as well as the platform. A depiction of indigo plantation around the main platform aptly sets the pace for the theme. The peasants of Champaran, were forced to grow the Indigo under the teenkathia system. Under which the peasants were forced to plant 3 out of 20 parts of his land with indigo. One local peasant leader, Rajkumar Shukla had invited Mahatma Gandhi to visit Champaran. Gandhiji arrived in Champaran but was ordered by the District Magistrate of Champaran, WB Heycock, to leave the district. Gandhiji refused and persisted and decided to commit Satyagraha. He proceeded towards the Champaran, finally succeeding in the movement and was called Bapu' since then. KARNATAKA - Kodagu: The Coffee Land of Karnataka The tableau depicts the erstwhile princely State of Karnataka, a major coffee producing district, and is the mainstay of India becoming one among the top six coffee producers in the world. Women form the bulk of the labour force of roughly a million, who are directly or indirectly engaged in the industry. Kodagu, the coffee land of Karnataka, set amidst misty hills, sandal-wood forests and vast tracts of coffee and tea plantations, is a picturesque sight to behold, inhabited by Kodava community with distinct culture and traditions. MADHYA PRADESH - White Tiger of Madhya Pradesh The tableau of Madhya Pradesh presents a model of this rare breed of White Tiger in wilderness, along with some tourists enjoying the flora and fauna in the natural habitat of the state. Madhya Pradesh, with the largest forest cover in the country and one of the largest populations of tigers in the country, also has the honour of being the natural habitat of the rarest breed of tigers the White Tiger. The White Tiger was first captured by king Martand Singh in the year 1951 in district of Rewa. All the White Tigers seen in the world are the progeny of that first captured tiger. Now, Government of Madhya Pradesh is setting up the White Tiger Safari at a place called Mukundpur Satna near the city of Rewa, where the people will have the opportunity of watching the White Tigers in their natural surroundings. CHHATTISGARH - Khairagarh Music and Art University The tableau of Chhattisgarh depicts Khairagarh Music and Art University one of the oldest universities in Asia dedicated to various forms of music, dance, fine arts and theatre. Established in 1956, this university has made a strenuous effort to strike a balance between traditional and modern art in this era of globalization. The university is committed to develop music and fine arts as economically relevant career option among the students who come here from across the world. Apart from education, the university provides research facility on wide range of subjects such as classical music, Indian classical musical instruments, folk dance, folk music, traditional sculpture and history of painting. The front portion of the Chhattisgarh tableau presents a sculpture of Murlidhar prepared by students and teachers of the university. It also showcases the artistic building of the university along with various forms of art and music. TAMILNADU - Todas The tableau depicts Toda tribe of Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu identified as one of the six primitive tribal groups of the state. They speak a non-linguistic language and have unique appearance, manners and customs. The Toda village is called a Mund. The huts are small and half barrel-shaped, with a small doorway. The village also has a unique hut, called Tirierl or dairy temple. The sole occupation of Todas is Cattle-herding and dairy-work. The traditional garment of Todas consists of a single piece of cloth with red and black embroidery. Todas are vegetarians. The women makeup their hair with ringlet. The mountain District of the Nilgiris is also home to the flowers called Kurinji which blooms once in 12 years. UTTARAKHAND - Festival of Ramman The Tableau depicts the festival of Ramman based on the story of Ramayana' in Uttarakhand having Narshingh Devta God' at the front of the tableau. The festival has been declared World Heritage in 2009 by UNESCO. Artists play the folk musical instrument of Uttarakhand Bhankor at the middle part of tableau and temple of Bhumyal God and The Himalaya at the back part are presented. Some selected contexts of Ramayan are performed with folk style in Ramman. Dance is performed wearing the mask at Temple complex of Bhumyal God in night. There are masks of various epical, historical and imaginative characters. The masks are of two types. Dhyo Pattar and Khyalari Pattar. Dhyo Pattar mask and character is related to god. Khyalari Pattar are entertaining characters. Ramman is series of various events of worships and rituals. Community Worship, Devyatra, Folk Drama, Dances, Songs, Comedies, Fairs etc are held here. UTTAR PRADESH - Zardozi the Unique Art of Embroidery The tableau depicts Zardozi one of the ancient and lavish embroidery patronized in the past by the Nawabs of the Awadh and other royal people. This distinguished style of traditional Indian embroidery has been practiced and passed on from generations, in various parts of Uttar Pradesh. Zardozi is the main source of income for artisans of Lucknow and other adjoining parts. These products are exported to foreign countries also. Zardozi embroidery is impressively ornamental and involves profound use of crusted gold thread work. Initially, the embroidery was done with pure silver wires and real gold leaves. However, today, craftsmen make use of a combination of copper wire, with a golden or silver polish, and a silk thread. ASSAM -Rangoli Bihu The Assam tableau showcases the local people of Assam engaged in celebration of their important festival in the backdrop of a typical hut in an Assamese village. In the courtyard, young boys and girls of Assam are seen performing traditional Bihu dance and an Assamese couple welcoming friends and relatives to their home for the festivities. Rangoli Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the most important festival of state of Assam. It is celebrated in spring season during the month of April. Rangoli Bihu festival also marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT - Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar The tableau depicts the 125thAnniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, affectionately known as Babasaheb, was a great philosopher, parliamentarian, orator, scholar, jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He played key role in establishing unity, integrity and democratic fabric of our Country. A Renowned Alumnus of Columbia University and London School of Economics, he took-up cudgels against social discrimination. He continues to inspire us in our present day endeavours to secure for the weaker sections their due rights in society. He adopted the concept of equality. He was Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India. As Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, Dr Ambedkar anticipated every conceivable requirement of the new polity. MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY - Mega Watt to Giga Watt Making the Sun Brighter, Even at Night The Tableau showcases our commitment to environment protection by the use of renewable energy. India has announced a very ambitious renewable energy capacity target of 175 GW by 2022. India already has an impressive cumulative existing installed capacity of approximately 38 GW of solar, wind, small hydro and bio-energy. Renewable Energy benefits everyone from the farmer in a remote village to a factory in the heart of the city. Being clean, non-polluting, and renewable, it makes the air cleaner, the earth greener and brings prosperity, health and happiness to all. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is dedicated to developing skilled workers and creating jobs in renewable energy. It has also been spearheading research and technology development in new areas such as ocean, tidal energy, hydrogen, etc, which would also contribute greatly to sustainable and environmental friendly future. MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION - Swachchh Bharat Mission The Government of India launched the Swachchh Bharat Mission' on October 2, 2014 to accelerate efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage, improve cleanliness and eliminate open defecation in India targeted to be achieved by 2ndOctober 2019. The mission is India's greatest initiative since independence for focused action plan to bring about total cleanliness in the country through improved sanitation and by developing hygienic behavior amongst the population. Since the launch of the mission, the sanitation coverage has increased from 39 per cent in 2012-13 to 49 per cent in December 2015. The tableau of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is based on the theme of Swachchh Bharat'. The front part of the tableau displays the logo of Swachchh Bharat Mission' the familiar spectacles of Mahatma Gandhi who first envisioned the dream of a clean India. The rear portion of the tableau shows the citizens of the country basking in the clean, green and hygienic environment achieved in villages, cities, schools, etc. through the concerted campaigns and measures adopted by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachchh Bharat Mission. MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION AND IT - Digital India The tableau of Ministry of Communication and IT showcasing the projected achievements of its ambitious project Digital India aims to transform the country into a Digitally Empowered Society and Knowledge Economy. The focus of Digital India project is to develop, promote and exhibit Indian Talent and leverage Information Technology to bring about a new Indian era in the rapidly evolving international environment. The front portion of the tableau has been designed like a printer to highlight Digital services of India Post. The props accompanying the tableau represent various gadgets like mobile phone, tablet, USB Drive, Chips, etc to enable the citizens of the country to gain access to various services offered under the Digital India program. The base of the tableau has been shaped as the mouse in a computer. The trailer portion depicts the citizen centric services of the program like e-Health, My Gov, Bharat Broadband, e-Education in rural areas. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA - Inclusive and Ethical Electoral Participation The tableau of the Election Commission of India shows the inclusive and ethical participation for a stronger democracy. The people from different regions of the country are around the central figure of Ashoka Stupa, with the national Emblem, representing diversity of Indian population. National portal showing e-enabled facilities are depicted in the tractor portion. The central theme of Election and the process of facilitation of elections in varied terrains are depicted in the side murals as well as on the trailer platforms. Some of them being, Model polling stations, Facilitation processes, ramp for handicapped and special facilities for the elderly, medical facilities, awareness programmes. MINISTRY OF PANCHAYAT RAJ - Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Panchayati Raj evam Samaaj The Tableau of Ministry of Panchayati Raj showcases four such real achievements of elected women representatives, who have taken up important social issues on a war footing and came out with flying colours. The 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution revolutionized the political participation or political empowerment of women at grassroot levels, by bringing reservation for women to the tune of one-third seats in Panchayati Raj institutions. Today, there are about 1.3 million women Elected Representatives in the Panchayats, accounting for over 40 per cent of the total elected Panchayati Raj representatives. These women representatives are actively providing leadership role and actively influencing decision making in many Panchayats to transform better the lives of people, focusing on primary education, rural health, livelihoods etc. One success story is the initiative taken up on the Gaurmati Gram Panchayat, Chattisgarh to fight against alcoholism in the village using the State Government campaign of Bharat Mukti Vahini, which has made the Gram Panchayat alcohol free. Another example is the holistic development of a tribal Gram Panchayat in Nashik District, Maharashtra, named Dari Gram Panchayat, which has become a model Panchayat for health, education, safe drinking water supply and innovative income generation. The Tableau also showcases the campaign for Swachch Bharat Abhiyan and Computer literacy for young girls both initiated under the leadership of women sarpanches. The side panel depicts an improved Anganwadi centre from Dindugal Panchayat, Tamil Nadu. The lower side panels along the trolley portion of the Tableau portray photographs of success stories of award winning panchayats headed by woman sarpanches. Latest India News Follow us on go and beat him up why are you getting after me vk singh on karan johar New Delhi: Union Minister VK Singh on Friday stoked another controversy with his remark on comments made by film producer Karan Johar at the Jaipur Literature Festival. "Go and beat him up, why are you getting after me (Ja ke uski pitayi kar lo yaar, tum mere peechhe kyun padh rahe ho)," he told reporters in Jodhpur. Asking reporters not to bother him with such questions, the Union Minister said, "Why are we discussing Karan Johar, go talk to him. Ask me something important. I am here to meet party workers to encourage them." The former Army chief was asked to react on Karan's remark that 'India is a tough country to express one's views with a legal sword always hanging over the neck'. "What do I say... Revealing in today's time can land you in jail. We are in a tough country to speak about your personal life and I feel really sad about it because being a public figure you are expected to helm a certain movement, talk about freedom of expression, which is the biggest joke in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke I think," the film producer had said. With this remark, Karan joined the bandwagon of celebrities slamming the growing intolerance in the country. Recently Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan found themselves in a controversy for speaking up against the 'growing intolerance' in the country. Earlier in the day, Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too attacked Karan saying, "Those who are raising questions on India's tolerance have no knowledge about the country's culture and traditions. They are illiterate. It is true that issues of intolerance crop up the moment elections are announced." This is not the first time the VK Singh has landed right in the middle of a controversy. Before this he had invited criticism for drawing analogy between killing of Dalit kids in Faridabad and stoning of a dog. Follow us on no mahajot in assam but congress trying for maha understanding among secular parties tarun gogoi New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ruled out any possiblity of Congress party entering into pre-poll alliance with any other political party for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. The three-term Chief Minister, however, said that the party was open to 'grand understanding' with secular parties. Explaining the meaning of 'grand-understanding', Gogoi said that Congress and like-minded secular parties would ask the electorate not to vote for BJP under any circumstance. "No 'mahajot' in Assam, as of now. Congress will go it alone but I am in favour of 'grand understanding' between secular parties. No seat sharing. Maha-understanding means to tell voters that vote for us, don't vote for BJP," he said while admitting that all parties are facing tough challenge in the state. When the 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance), of which the Congress is a part, won the Bihar Assembly polls, several Congress leaders including Gogoi had suggested that 'anti-BJP forces' should form an alliance in Assam and other state assembly elections too. Gogoi's latest statement puts an end to speculation that the Congress, Badruddin Ajmal's AIDUF and the AGP may come together to contest the upcoming Assembly polls. Accusing the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading people, the Chief Minister said, "All sorts of propaganda is going against us and even PM is indulging in the same. PM was also CM of Gujarat, can he say he achieved everything? Why did BJP lose in panchayat elections." "There is no anti-incumbency in Assam. Anti- incumbency arises where no work has been done. I don't rule out a little bit of incumbency because nobody is perfect," he added. Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for criticising his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Gogoi said, "Instead of concentrating on internal affairs, PM is focussing more on external affairs. He prefers to meet NRIs than our own people. When PM Modi came to Assam, he attacked Manmohan Singh. I have never seen an incumbent PM criticising his predecessor. Who gave Assam the IIT? It was Manmohan Singh." "Modi is not behaving as dignified PM. My personal relation with PM Modi is very good. I like his company but I want deliverance for Assam," he further said. When asked about media reports suggesting that Congress may rope in political strategist Prashant Kishor for devising electoral strategy in Assam, he said. "No support has been sought from Prashant Kishor. We will take advice of our local people only," Gogoi said. When asked who will be the face of Congress in the elections, Gogoi said, "Everybody's face will be therein election campaign and I will be the captain ." The Assam Chief Minister also hinted that the upcoming elections will be a direct conterst between him and PM Modi. "Modi is General of BJP and I am General of Congress. So it is a fight between me and him," he added. Gogoi also took potshot at the BJP for lacking a credible face in the state. " The BJP has no credible party face in the state. Even Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam BJP chief, is an import from AGP," Gogoi said. Elections to the 126 member Assam assembly is expected to be held in April-May. Follow us on pm modi condoles mrinalini sarabhai s death New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of noted danseuse Mrinalini Sarabhai and has written a letter to her son Kartikeya Sarabhai, expressing his grief over her demise. Modi wrote a letter to him yesterday, condoling the death of his mother, a BJP leader said. Her son is based in Gujarat. Veteran danseuse and Padma awardee Sarabhai, the exponent of classical dance forms who used her art to highlight the problems faced by modern society, had died in Ahmadabad yesterday due to age-related problems. Sarabhai died at the age of 97. Earlier in the day, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he had not paid tributes to her mother Mrinalini on her death, and said that this showed his "hate" mentality. The classical dancer-turned-activist, who had fought 2009 Lok Sabha elections against veteran BJP leader L K Advani from Gandhinagar constituency as an Independent candidate but lost, vented her ire on Modi as he has so far not condoled the death of her mother, who also hailed from Gujarat. "My dear Prime Minister. You hate my politics and I hate yours. That has nothing to do with what Mrinalini Sarabhai did to promote the culture of this country, to the world over sixty years," Mallika wrote on her Facebook post. "She blazed a trailer for our culture in the world.That her death sees no word from you shows your mentality. How ever much you hate me, as our Prime Minister it behove you to recognise her contribution. You have not. Shame on you,"she said in the post. Follow us on pm modi to host dinner for bjp office bearers New Delhi: A day before Amit Shah is slated to return for a full-term as the BJP president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for party office-bearers on January 23. A BJP functionary said the dinner will coincide with Shah completing the remainder of the term of Rajnath Singh, who demitted the post after joining the union cabinet following the party's triumph in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party had on Wednesday announced the schedule for the election of the party's national president. The party's returning officer Avinash Rai Khanna said the nomination will take place on January 24 and the scrutiny will be done on the same day. If necessary, the election will be held on January 25. Follow us on odd even traffic restrictions possible after march gopal rai New Delhi: The odd-even traffic scheme might be implemented in Delhi after March as the initiative will require preparations, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said here on Saturday. "We might see the implementation of the odd-even scheme in Delhi after March. We have to make some preparations for this," Rai told IANS on the sidelines of a press briefing. The Delhi government had implemented the scheme on a trial basis from January 1-15 where odd-numbered four wheelers were allowed to ply on odd dates and even-numbered vehicles on even dates. The minister also said the Delhi government will add some 3,000 buses by the year end to its fleet. Follow us on rohith s family declines varsity s ex gratia grant slams pm modi irani Hyderabad: Family members of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide in a hostel room on Sunday, today declined the ex-gratia offered to them by the Hyderabad Central University (HCU). Expressing their displeasure towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, the bereaved family has now sought answers from the government asking why it took them five days to revert to them. Vemula's mother Radhika, sister Neelima and brother Raju, who visited the campus, demanded that "those responsible for his death" must be brought to book. The university had announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh to the family yesterday, which the family declined to accept. In reply to the university's offer, Neelima said, "Not Rs 8 lakh. Even if you give us Rs 8 crore, we will not accept it from HCU where he died." Expressing her annoyance over the delay in action on part of the government, she said, "Smriti Irani called up after five days. Why it took five days? You are also a woman, you are also a mother and yet it took five days (to call up the family and condole the death). "I want to know why he died. You killed or he died? Why was he suspended? Those responsible should be arrested and punished. That's the only thing I want," she added. She went ahead to say that his brother's death was not a suicide. We want to know the reasons behind Rohith's death. It's not a suicide. His is not timid. He was prompted to commit suicide. Those responsible for that murder should be given punishment. First is Shusheel Kumar, second is the VC, she said. She also sought to know why the family was not informed of Rohith's suspension. Raju, Rohith's brother agreed with his sister. "The Prime Minister says he (Rohith) was a son of Mother India. I am not big enough to talk about him (PM) but why did he not speak for five days?" Breaking his silence on the matter, PM Modi had yesterday said, "When there is news that a youth of my country, Rohith, was compelled to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through. Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, there will be politics (surrounding it) but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well." Union HRD Minister Irani had yesterday sought to reach out to the family and spoke to Vemula's mother over the telephone. She had assured her that justice would be done on the basis of a judicial inquiry that was set up by the ministry yesterday. Follow us on vajpayee redux modi first pm to visit lucknow in 11 years Lucknow: Narendra Modi will be in Lucknow on Friday, becoming the first prime minister to visit this Uttar Pradesh capital in 11 years and help revive memories of the time when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister. When Modi's special Indian Air Force (IAF) plane lands at the tarmac on the Chaudhary Charan Singh airport at Amausi in the state capital, it would be after 11 long years that a prime minister will set foot on the soil of Lucknow. For a city that was once the parliamentary constituency of then prime minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the four-hour-long trip of Modi has many firsts. This would be for the first time that Modi will be visiting the state capital as prime minister, and it is also for the first time after Vajpayee's famous 2004 drive through Hazratganj for his nomination, that a prime minister's cavalcade would drive through the busy and famous thoroughfare. Old timers are looking forward to Modi's visit and say that it gives a feeling of deja vu. "After the sun set on Vajpayee's political career, Lucknow seemed to have lost its political prominence but today it seems that it will be salvaged some bit," said Sharad Mishra, a resident of Hazratganj. Modi has earlier been to Lucknow on March 2, 2014 for an election rally at the outskirts of the state capital. Manmohan Singh visited the city as prime minister on September 1, 2005 for the inauguration of an insurance scheme. Vajpayee last visited Lucknow on April 27, 2007 when he came to canvas for the party in the state assembly polls. He had then predicted that his age might bar him from any future trips to the city he loved so much. But while every visit of Vajpayee drew smiles on the faces of food lovers, Modi's trip won't be so. For Vajpayee loved his food and special thandai from Raja Thandai outlet would be taken for him in a thermos flask and the chaat - tikki, dahi bhalla - and some of the non-vegetarian fare was picked up for the octagenarian every time he landed in Lucknow, says an old associate. In contrast, for Modi, the food is simple - Gujarati thepla, Khandvi and some south-Indian dishes like Uttapam, Idli and paper dosa, washed down with butter milk, after he attends the convocation of Bhim Rao Ambedkar university. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the country's political and legal affairs departments to deepen ongoing judicial reforms to give a boost to the country's judicial credibility and people's sense of security. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a written instruction on political and legal work. A central conference on political and legal work opened on Friday in Beijing. Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, delivered Xi's instructions to the meeting. In his instruction, Xi, who is on a tour of the Middle East, commended the Party's political and legal work over the past year. He said China's judicial reforms and the establishment of a multi-level social security system were off to a good start in 2015. In the new year of 2016, political and legal affairs departments must further step up efforts to "prevent and contain risks" and work to facilitate China's economic and social development. They shall build up capacities to safeguard national security and social stability so as to augment citizens' sense of security, and shall comprehensively deepen judicial reforms in order to boost people's confidence in the system, he said. Team building must also be strengthened to cultivate a clean judicial environment, the president said. Xi also urged Party committees at all levels to improve leadership in political and legal work, and support judiciary organs in their duties. A statement issued after the political and legal affairs meeting pledged creating a secure and stable social environment, a fair and just judicial environment and a quality and effective service environment for China's social and economic developments during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). Meng Jianzhu urged stepping up early warning and prevention and control of risks and safeguarding political, financial and public security as well as cybersecurity. Judicial reforms, which are now being piloted in 18 provincial level localities in the country, shall be promoted across the country, Meng said. Friday's conference came a little more than a year after the Party promised sweeping judical reforms in the country's legal system, unveiled in a new blueprint on the rule of law adopted at a key CPC meeting in late 2014. Despite continuous efforts in the recent years to boost judicial justice, the judicial system is still dogged by unfair trials and corrupt judges, Xi said at the meeting, denouncing judges and prosecutors who manipulate cases in exchange for money or favors. A decision adopted at the meeting vowed to ensure the independence of courts and prosecutors, while promising the supreme authority of the Constitution. Fourteen months after that meeting, key progress in upholding the rule of law has been made. Government and Party officials were told not to "meddle" in court cases, while circuit courts were set up by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) for major administrative, civil and commercial cases involving different administrative regions, making it easier for local communities to file suits. Meanwhile, the country's Legislative Law was revised last year, delegating legislative power to more lower-level bodies and prohibiting ministries and local governments from arbitrarily issuing rules and policies that undermine citizens' rights or increase their obligations without legal foundation so as to rein in administrative power. In addition, Chinese officials in state organs are now required to pledge allegiance to the Constitution when taking their posts. Pledging allegiance is not just a symbolic move, but a showcase of firm belief towards the rule of law, said Jiang Ming'an, a law professor with the Peking University. Recalling changes that have been made in 2015, Jiang said China is already on the fast track for the rule of law. "By making China's law systems more complete and just, the power of rule of law will without doubt play a major part in safeguarding China's economic, social, cultural and ecological developments during the 13th Five-Year Plan period," he said. U.S. Toops Invade Syria: Take Over Air Base By Andrew Tilghman January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Military Times " - U.S. special operations troops have reportedly taken over an airfield in northeastern Syria, potentially clearing the way to flow more American military support to friendly militias fighting the Islamic State group. A small team of U.S. troops is setting up a base camp at Rmeilan Air Base in the Syrian Kurdish region near Syria's Iraqi and Turkish borders, according to local reports. American helicopters operated at the base over the past couple of weeks as local workers expanded the runway, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The airfield was until recently under control of the Syrian Kurdish forces, known as the YPG, but was turned over to the U.S. to help expand American support for the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is the loose-knit coalition of American-backed militants fighting the Islamic State group. "Under a deal with the YPG, the U.S. was given control of the airport. The purpose of this deal is to back up the SDF, by providing weapons and an air base for U.S. warplanes," an SDF spokesperson, Taj Kordsh, told Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based international news network, in a report published Wednesday. In December, a team of fewer than 50 U.S. special operations troops entered Syria for the first time and made face-to-face contact with the friendly Syrian militants, defense official said. A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department, Army Col. Steve Warren, declined to comment on the reports of Americans using the base. "That operation is ongoing. But because of the special nature of these forces, it's very important that we not discuss specifically where they're located," Warren told reporters Wednesday. Rmeilan is near some of Syria's major oil production facilities. The airfield is in the Hasakah region, where American-backed militias have been mounting offensive operations against Islamic State-held territory northeast of the extremist group's stronghold in Raqqa. It is also near a key supply line connecting Raqqa to the Islamic State group's second major city, Mosul, Iraq. Cutting that supply line is a key piece of the current American strategy for defeating the group. Control of the airfield would help U.S. troops expedite delivery of weapons and ammunition to the region as well as operate more aircraft such as medevac helicopters, armed drones or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. Imagery Supports Claims of U.S. Military Activity in Syria Analysis January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Stratfor " - As Syria's rebel coalition expands its fight against the Islamic State, so too does it appear that the United States is expanding its support of the rebels. Low-resolution satellite imagery taken Dec. 28 shows construction underway to extend the runway at an airfield in Rmeilan, al-Hasaka province, which would prepare the site to accommodate larger aircraft. (Similar images captured over the course of the last few weeks had been obscured by cloud cover, making it difficult to discern more recent ground activity.) Rumors of the U.S. arrival at Rmeilan originally surfaced in early January; the images confirm that at least some of those rumors are true. Before the war, the airfield was an agricultural airstrip used by the Syrian government. As such, its runway was only 2,300 feet (700 meters) long, a length that appears to be doubling. The airfield has since been captured by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which has controlled the airport for more than two years. The new and improved infrastructure could help the Syrian Democratic Forces conduct offensive operations against the Islamic State. The United States has already carried out two weapons airdrops to the rebel Syrian Arab Coalition, a faction of the Syrian Democratic Forces. But additional assistance in the Syrian Democratic Forces' fight against the Islamic State, including efforts to drive the extremist group from its self-declared capital in Raqqa, would require a broader logistical effort than is currently underway. Expanding the Rmeilan runway could expedite this process by allowing U.S. airplanes to land and drop off supplies instead of continuing to rely on airdrops. The U.S. involvement in al-Hasaka province would not be so unusual; the United States nearly always attempts to establish an air bridge to support the semi-permanent positions of the conflicts in which it operates. But it comes at a time when Russia similarly builds up its own military presence there. A Russian detachment composed of logistics personnel and military intelligence officers has reportedly arrived in Qamishli airport, an airfield in al-Hasaka controlled by forces loyal to the Syrian government. While the Russians will likely try to improve the logistical capability of the airfield, they have reportedly already sought to enhance their influence with the various rebel militia groups operating in the province. Copyright 2016. Stratfor | P.O. Box 92529, Austin, Texas 78709-2529, USA Noam Chomsky On The War Against ISIL We speak to the renowned US academic, and look at the state of Egypt five years after the Arab Spring Video January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Al Jazeera " - In this episode of UpFront, Mehdi Hasan speaks to the renowned American academic Noam Chomsky about his public spat with the Turkish president, the war against ISIL. We also look at the ramifications of the Saudi Arabia-Iran feud, and debate the state of Egypt five years after the Arab Spring. Noam Chomsky has been described as "arguably the most important intellectual alive". And as one of the world's most celebrated academics, he has published more than 100 books and is a leading critic on United States foreign policy. In the first of a special two-part interview, Chomsky sits down with Mehdi Hasan to discuss the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, Ukraine and Turkey. Chomsky and other "so-called intellectuals" were recently criticised by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for supporting Kurdish separatists. The author and activist, who has accused the Turkish government of waging a "terrorist war" against the Kurds, tells UpFront that President Erdogan is "undoubtedly carrying out vicious repressive actions attacking the Kurdish population", adding that he would call him a "murderer". Chomsky also talks about imperialism, and comments on the row between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Part two of the interview to be aired Friday, January 29 at 1930 GMT includes who Chomsky would vote for in the US presidential election, why he doesn't support a full boycott of Israel, and the impact of the rise of Islamophobia. Reality Check: Beyond the Saudi Arabia-Iran feud The spat between Saudi Arabia and Iran heated up earlier this month after the execution of Shia religious leader Nimr al-Nimr and the burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Some have called the feud a war within the Muslim world, pointing to what many see as an inevitable clash between the two countries. A look at history however, proves otherwise. In this week's Reality Check, Mehdi Hasan challenges the notion that the current row between Saudi Arabia and Iran stems from a 1,400-year-old theological split and says the feud should not taint relations between Muslims, the majority of whom live outside the Middle East. Arena: Is Egypt better off under Sisi? Monday marks the fifth anniversary of the uprising that ended the 30-year rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In 2013, the country's first ever elected civilian president, Mohamed Morsi, was deposed in a military coup following massive protests against his rule. Since then, there have been large crackdowns on dissidents by the government and, according to Amnesty International, there has been a "dramatic deterioration in human rights". So, is the country better or worse off than it was before the Arab Spring? In this week's Arena, Egyptian-American activist Mohamed Soltan, who was arrested and tortured for two years as a political prisoner in Egypt, debates with Raymond Stock, an expert on the Middle East. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook. See also - US denies taking control of Rmeilan air strip in Syria : CENTCOM says US is not controlling "any airfield in Syria", despite images appearing to show air strip expansion works. They Tell Us Nothing But Lies By Paul Craig Roberts January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - A British governmental inquiry has concluded that Russian President Putin probably approved the killing of Alexander Litvinenko by polonium poisoning. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44002.htm As no evidence is provided for the surmise, we can conclude that this report on an unresolved event that happened a decade ago is part of the lies being used by the West to demonize Putin, just as the lies about MH-17 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Litvinenkos brother and father say that they are sure that the Russian authorities are not involved. Its all a set-up to put pressure on the Russian government. Maksim Litvinenko dismisses the British report as a smear on Putin . And that is what it is. Our government not only lies to us about the economy and the wars, it also lies about literally everything. For example, do you remember the Rwanda genocide? The story we were told is the exact opposite of the truth. Today the perpetrator of the genocide, Paul Kagame, is the President of Rwanda . Western governments and media have covered up his crimes and praise him as a great humanitarian who has healed Rwanda and is totally supported by the people. The truth is that Kagame has proved himself a worse totalitarian that Hitler, Stalin, and Poll Pot combined. He has turned Rwanda into a fear-ridden psychological prison. Anjan Sundaram, a journalist who ran a journalism training school in Rwanda, describes in detail Kagames destruction of all truth and all independent thought in Rwanda. In his just published book by Doubleday, Bad News: Last Journalists In A Dictatorship, Sundaram gives the gruesome details of how Rwandans, with the complicity of the West, have been brought more psychologically under control than Winston Smith in George Orwells 1984. Kagame used murder, fear, and bribes and purges of his own supporters in order to eliminate all expression of independent thought in Rwanda. Indeed, in Rwanda the individual has disappeared. People have been merged into the state. Sundaram reports his conversation with a Rwandan who is being reconstructed along the lines of Winston Smith. This person tells Sundaram: In this kind of country we dont know where the state ends and where we begin. And if I dont know where I begin Im worth nothing. I dont have any rights. We are not individuals, we are agents of the state. None of the totalitarianisms that the West ranted against during the 20th century ever got this far. There was resistance everywhere. Hitlers own top generals plotted against him. In the Soviet Union and Maos China, there were dissidents, including highly placed members of the Communist Party. But in Rwanda even the concept of opposition has been erased. Reading Bad News brings to mind parallels to the US. In Rwanda sentences result not from law but from the word of authority. Simple words had attained such power. This reminds us of simple words from the US president that result in indefinite detention and assassination of US citizens without trials and conviction. The subservience of Western journalism has been obtained by the state similar to the suppression of independent journalism in Rwanda. Bribes are used, both monetary and access. Fear of being fired and rendered unemployable as a journalist is used. Occasionally, perhaps even murder is used as in the unresolved case of the US journalist whose car suddenly accelerated and crashed at high speed. Other American journalists have been threatened with prison sentences. The disturbing fact that the Anglo-Zionist Empire has supported Kagame, a genocidist who has killed more than five times as many people as Idi Amin, is perhps an indication of what the Anglo-Zionist Empire has in mind for the rest of us . Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order . Polands Double Trouble for EU and Russia By Finian Cunningham January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " SCF " - Polands new ultra-nationalist government is sharpening the European Unions internal problems. Just as EU leaders are warning that the bloc is in danger of collapse from internal tensions, the ascendant Eurosceptic Poles are pushing contradictions to the limits. In an attempt to ease the EU strain, the US-led NATO alliance is being called upon to mollify Polands anti-EU government. However, in mitigating the EUs Poland problem, the consequence will mean more NATO aggression towards Russia. When Polands new President Andrzej Duda was received in Brussels this week there was a palpable sense of strained relations with the 28-member EU bloc. The EU announced that it was going ahead with a formal inquiry into fresh laws enacted earlier this month by the ruling Justice and Law (PiS) party. The party came to power in Polish elections last October on a platform of anti-EU rhetoric and socially conservative policies, propelled by Polands largely Catholic electorate. The new Polish laws in question allow Dudas government to sack or appoint senior managers of the countrys publicly owned media networks and also to weaken the constitutional court. The latter is seen as a move towards giving the ruling party more power to enact its brand of conservative policies. The EU formal probe into Polands new laws will determine if they contravene the blocs democratic standards. More Brussels-Warsaw confrontation is on the way. As Deutsche Welle commented: Many EU member states see the changes in Poland as reflecting a return to nationalist, anti-EU sentiment in the blocs new eastern European members. Dudas Justice and Law party is firmly against joining the Euro single currency; and it wants more autonomy for Warsaw to set its own economic policies, such as raising taxes on bank assets. Poland is ditching the pro-EU stance that was the hallmark of previous Warsaw governments ever since the country joined the bloc in 2004. Thats a big concern for Brussels. The new Warsaw administration is also averse to the influx of immigrants from outside Europe. Justice and Law party leader Jarosaw Kaczynski has infuriated liberal sensibilities in Brussels with testy anti-immigrant statements. He has said, according to a Reuters report, that Muslim refugees would not be welcome because they threaten Polands Catholic way of life. Such anti-immigrant views have rankled the German government of Angela Merkel. Berlin was formerly close to Warsaw as an EU partner. But the harder Polish line towards refugee-intake is causing consternation in Berlin, partly because it means Germany being more burdened with its erstwhile open-door policy. Moreover, Polands strident anti-immigrant policy serves to embolden other central and eastern European member states in their reluctance to take in refugees. Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Slovenia are vexed that they are feeling the brunt from the more than one million refugees to have entered the EU this past year alone, largely from the conflict zones of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Representing one of the largest EU countries, Polands Justice and Law government adds more political gravitas to the anti-immigrant ranks. But the EU problems stirred up by Warsaw are bigger than the narrow issue of migration. In challenging Brussels centralized economic policies and laws, in favor of more nationalist-oriented interests, Warsaw is piling on more Eurosceptic pressure to challenge the entire EU project. Eurosceptic parties, both on the political right and left, are soaring across Europe, from Britain to Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden on top of the fractious eastern EU members. Poland and other eastern European countries pose an acute threat to the Brussels establishment and aligned governments in Paris and Berlin. Because these dissident states are more militant in pursuing their national interests and in particular on the issue of non-EU migrants. Both European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk issued dire warnings in the past week that if free movement is undermined by member states closing borders then the whole EU structure is in danger of collapsing. Added to this challenge is that the Polish Justice and Law government is now openly flouting EU central rule of law with its new media and judicial legislation. This bold dissent from Brussels authority by Warsaw will no doubt galvanize other like-minded European parties to follow suit in asserting their national interests against centralized edicts from the European Commission. From Russias point of view, it is arguable that instability, uncertainty and incoherence within the EU might be construed as an advantage for Moscow. For one thing, such instability undermines the EUs blanket adoption of US-led economic sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis. Several EU countries have already expressed disquiet over the sanctions policy on account of the damage to their own economies from the severance of business ties with Russia. The more fractious the bloc becomes over internal matters the less cohesive it is on implementing anti-Russian sanctions. So, on one hand, from a Russian perspective, the rise of Eurosceptic parties is to be welcomed. However, Poland is a case of double trouble. This is because the coming to power of the Justice and Law party will mean a more aggressive NATO policy in Eastern Europe towards Russia. Poland has shown itself to be fervently pro-NATO since the end of the Cold War. And anti-Soviet sentiments are of course a big axe to grind within Poland even before the new ultra-nationalist government. But the Justice and Law party takes NATO cheerleading to new heights, as well as the mantra of alleged Russian aggression to Europe. While President Duda was in Brussels this week it was significant that he also called at the NATO headquarters in the Belgian capital, greeted by the military alliances secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. Duda made an explicit appeal to NATO for more troops, weapons and infrastructure to be permanently based on Polish soil. The Polish president said at a joint press conference: Today, everything points to the need to have substantial presence of both infrastructure and military units on the ground in central European countries, as well as a well worked-out system for these units and defense should there be any act of [Russian] aggression That means increasing presence in central-eastern Europe, both in terms of infrastructure and in terms of troops of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization I would want it to be permanent to the greatest extent possible. Stoltenberg gave a receptive response to what would constitute a serious escalation of NATO firepower pointed at Russia. NATO now has a persistent military presence in the region, of which Poland is part. And I trust that after the Warsaw summit [set to take place in July] we would see more NATO in Poland than ever before, added Stoltenberg. Getting back to Polands internal trouble for the EU, the Financial Times this week reported in brief but significant words: The [new Polish] media and judicial measures have sparked criticism from national leaders in Europe and prompted calls for the Obama administration to intervene. We thus plausibly surmise the following: the EU establishment in Brussels and its main national supporter in Berlin are deeply concerned by Polands anti-European administration and how it is fueling more dissent within the bloc. Warsaw is adding unbearable pressure on an already acutely pressurized EU. But this Warsaw government is also rabidly pro-NATO and anti-Russian. Therein lies a release valve for Brussels. What the Financial Times clip above reveals is that the EU establishment is calling on the Obama administration to mediate with its troublesome surrogate in Warsaw. That inevitably means that President Dudas request will be met by the Americans for more NATO troops, tanks, missiles and warplanes to be permanently stationed in Poland and other pro-NATO states in the Baltic, Romania and Bulgaria. That escalation entails a dramatically greater aggressive posture towards Russia on NATOs eastern flank. In exchange, Brussels seems to be betting on NATO favors taking the anti-EU sting out of Warsaw. In other words, the EUs problem with an uppity Poland is being solved by indulging Warsaw through NATO. But in trying to solve its internal problems, as manifest in Poland, the EU is shifting the trouble on to its external relations with Russia. Strategic Culture Foundation Hillary Clinton Seeks Neocon Shelter Special Report: Stunned by falling poll numbers, Hillary Clinton is hoping that Democrats will rally to her neocon-oriented foreign policy and break with Bernie Sanders as insufficiently devoted to Israel. But will that hawkish strategy work this time, asks Robert Parry. By Robert Parry January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Consortium News " - In seeking to put Sen. Bernie Sanders on the defensive over his foreign policy positions, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is embracing a neoconservative stance on the Middle East and gambling that her more hawkish approach will win over Democratic voters. Losing ground in Iowa and New Hampshire in recent polls, the Clinton campaign has counterattacked against Sanders, targeting his sometimes muddled comments on the Mideast crisis, but Clintons attack line suggests that Sanders isnt adequately committed to the positions of Israels right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his American neocon acolytes. Clintons strategy is to hit Sanders for seeking a gradual normalization of relations with Iran, while Clinton has opted for the neocon position of demonizing Iran and siding with Israel and its quiet alliance with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states that share Israels animosity toward Shiite-ruled Iran. By attaching herself to this neocon approach of hyping every conceivable offense by Iran while largely excusing the human rights crimes of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Sunni-run states, Clinton is betting that most Democratic voters share the neocon-dominated group think of Official Washington: Iran-our-enemy, Israel/Saudi Arabia-our-friends. She made similar calculations when she voted for and supported President George W. Bushs invasion and occupation of Iraq; when she sided with the neocons in pushing President Barack Obama to escalate the war in Afghanistan; and when she instigated regime change in Libya all policies that had dubious and dangerous outcomes. But she seems to still believe that she will benefit politically if she continues siding with the neocons and their liberal interventionist side-kicks. On Thursday, the Clinton campaign put Sanderss suggestion of eventual diplomatic relations with Iran in the context of his lack of ardor toward defending Israel. Normal relations with Iran right now? said Jake Sullivan, the campaigns senior policy adviser. President Obama doesnt support that idea. And its not at all clear why it is that Senator Sanders is suggesting it. Many of you know Iran has pledged the destruction of Israel. Actually, the Clinton campaign is mischaracterizing Sanderss position as expressed in last Sundays debate. Sanders opposed immediate diplomatic relations with Tehran. Understanding that Irans behavior in so many ways is something that we disagree with; their support of terrorism, the anti-American rhetoric that were hearing from their leadership is something that is not acceptable, Sanders said. Can I tell you that we should open an embassy in Tehran tomorrow? No, I dont think we should. Standing with the Establishment But the Clinton campaigns distortions aside, there is the question of whether or not the Democratic base has begun to reject Official Washingtons whatever-Israel-wants orthodoxy. Hillary Clinton seems to be betting that rank-and-file Democrats remain enthralled to Israel and afraid to challenge the powerful neocon propaganda machine that controls the U.S. establishments foreign policy by dominating major op-ed pages, TV political chat shows and leading think tanks. The neocons also maintain close ties to the liberal interventionists who hold down key jobs in the Obama administration. Clintons gamble assumes that progressives and foreign-policy realists have failed to develop their own infrastructure for examining and debunking many of the neocon/liberal-hawk propaganda themes and thus any politician who deviates too far from those group thinks risks getting marginalized. In other words, Clinton is counting on the establishment structure holding through Election 2016 despite the populist anger that is evident from the surge of support for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders on the left and for billionaire nativist Donald Trump on the right. In effect, this election is asking American voters if they want incremental changes to the current system represented by establishment candidates such as Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush or if they want to shake the system up with insurgent candidates like Sanders and Trump. Though most neocons are supporting Republican establishment candidates who have sworn allegiance to the Israeli/neocon cause, the likes of Sen. Marco Rubio, some prominent neocons have made clear that they would be happy with Hillary Clinton as president. For instance, neocon superstar Robert Kagan told The New York Times in 2014 that he hoped that his neocon views which he now prefers to call liberal interventionist would prevail in a possible Hillary Clinton administration. After all, Secretary of State Clinton named Kagan to one of her State Department advisory boards and promoted his wife, neocon Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Victoria Nuland, who oversaw the provocative regime change in Ukraine in 2014. According to the Times article, Clinton remains the vessel into which many interventionists are pouring their hopes. Kagan is quoted as saying: I feel comfortable with her on foreign policy. If she pursues a policy which we think she will pursue its something that might have been called neocon, but clearly her supporters are not going to call it that; they are going to call it something else. Though Clinton recently has sought to portray herself as an Obama loyalist especially in South Carolina where she is counting on strong African-American support she actually has adopted far more hawkish positions than the President, both when she was a senator and as Obamas first secretary of state. Team of Rivals Debacle Arguably, Obamas most fateful decision of his presidency occurred shortly after the 2008 election when he opted for the trendy idea of a team of rivals to run his foreign policy. He left Bush family loyalist Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense, retained a neocon-dominated senior officer corps led by the likes of Gen. David Petraeus, and picked hawkish Sen. Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State. Thus, Obama never took control of his own foreign policy. The troika of Clinton-Gates-Petraeus challenged Obama over his desire to wind down the Afghan War, bureaucratically mouse-trapping him into an ill-advised surge that accomplished little other than getting another 1,750 U.S. soldiers killed along with many more Afghans. Nearly three-quarters of the 2,380 U.S. soldiers who died in Afghanistan were killed on Obamas watch. Ironically, it was Gates who shed the most light on Clintons neocon-oriented positions in his memoir, Duty, written after he left the Pentagon in 2011. While generally flattering Clinton for her like-minded positions, Gates also portrays Clinton as a pedestrian foreign policy thinker who is easily duped and leans toward military solutions. Indeed, for thoughtful and/or progressive Democrats, the prospect of a President Hillary Clinton could represent a step back from some of President Barack Obamas more innovative foreign policy strategies, particularly his readiness to cooperate with the Russians and Iranians to defuse Middle East tensions and his willingness to face down the Israel Lobby when it is pushing for heightened confrontations and war. Based on her public record and Gatess insider account, Clinton could be expected to favor a neoconservative approach to the Mideast, one more in line with the dominant thinking of Official Washington and the belligerent dictates of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Standing with Israeli Bigots As a U.S. senator and as Secretary of State, Clinton rarely challenged the conventional wisdom on the Mideast or resisted the use of military force to solve problems. She famously voted for the Iraq War in 2002 falling for President George W. Bushs bogus WMD case and remained a war supporter until her position became politically untenable during Campaign 2008. Representing New York, Clinton avoided criticizing Israeli actions. In summer 2006, as Israeli warplanes pounded southern Lebanon, killing more than 1,000 Lebanese, Sen. Clinton shared a stage with Israels bigoted Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman who had said, While it may be true and probably is that not all Muslims are terrorists, it also happens to be true that nearly all terrorists are Muslim. At a pro-Israel rally with Clinton in New York on July 17, 2006, Gillerman proudly defended Israels massive violence against targets in Lebanon. Let us finish the job, Gillerman told the crowd. We will excise the cancer in Lebanon and cut off the fingers of Hezbollah. Responding to international concerns that Israel was using disproportionate force in bombing Lebanon and killing hundreds of civilians, Gillerman said, Youre damn right we are. [NYT, July 18, 2006] Sen. Clinton did not protest Gillermans remarks, since doing so would presumably have offended an important pro-Israel constituency, which she has continued to cultivate. In November 2006, when President Bush nominated Gates to be Defense Secretary, Clinton gullibly misread the significance of the move. She interpreted it as a signal that the Iraq War was being wound down when it actually presaged the opposite, that an escalation or surge was coming. From her seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Clinton failed to penetrate the smokescreen around Gatess selection. The reality was that Bush had ousted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in part, because he had sided with Generals John Abizaid and George Casey who favored shrinking the U.S. military footprint in Iraq. Gates was privately onboard for replacing those generals and expanding the U.S. footprint. On with the Surge After getting blindsided by Gates over what became a surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops, Sen. Clinton sided with Democrats who objected to the escalation, but Gates quotes her in his memoir as later telling President Obama that she did so only for political reasons. Gates recalled a meeting on Oct. 26, 2009, to discuss whether to authorize a similar surge in Afghanistan, a position favored by both Defense Secretary Gates and Secretary of State Clinton, who supported an even higher number of troops than Gates did. But the Afghan surge faced skepticism from Vice President Joe Biden and other White House staffers. Gates wrote that he and Clinton were the only outsiders in the session, considerably outnumbered by White House insiders. Obama said at the outset to Hillary and me, Its time to lay our cards on the table, Bob, what do you think? I repeated a number of the main points I had made in my memo to him [urging three brigades]. Hillary agreed with my overall proposal but urged the president to consider approving the fourth brigade combat team if the allies wouldnt come up with the troops. In Duty, Gates cited his collaboration with Clinton as crucial to his success in getting Obama to agree to the Afghan troop escalation and the expanded goal of counterinsurgency. Referring to Clinton, Gates wrote, we would develop a very strong partnership, in part because it turned out we agreed on almost every important issue. The hawkish Gates-Clinton tandem helped counter the more dovish team including Vice President Biden, several members of the National Security Council staff and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, who tried to steer President Obama away from this deeper involvement. Gates wrote, I was confident that Hillary and I would be able to work closely together. Indeed, before too long, commentators were observing that in an administration where all power and decision making were gravitating to the White House, Clinton and I represented the only independent power center, not least because, for very different reasons, we were both seen as un-fireable. Political Expediency Gates also reported on what he regarded as a stunning admission by Clinton, writing: The exchange that followed was remarkable. In strongly supporting the surge in Afghanistan, Hillary told the president that her opposition to the surge in Iraq had been political because she was facing him in the Iowa primary [in 2008]. She went on to say, The Iraq surge worked. The president conceded vaguely that opposition to the Iraq surge had been political. To hear the two of them making these admissions, and in front of me, was as surprising as it was dismaying. (Obamas aides disputed Gatess suggestion that the President indicated that his opposition to the Iraq surge was political, noting that he had always opposed the Iraq War. The Clinton team did not challenge Gatess account.) But the exchange, as recounted by Gates, indicates that Clinton not only let her political needs dictate her position on an important national security issue, but that she accepts as true the superficial conventional wisdom about the successful surge in Iraq. While that is indeed Official Washingtons beloved interpretation in part because influential neocons believe the surge rehabilitated their standing after the WMD fiasco and the disastrous Iraq War the reality is that the Iraq surge never achieved its stated goal of buying time to reconcile the countrys sectarian divides, which remain bloody to this day and helped create the conditions for the emergence of the Islamic State, which began as Al Qaeda in Iraq. The truth that Hillary Clinton apparently doesnt recognize is that the surge was only successful in that it delayed the ultimate American defeat until President Bush and his neocon cohorts had vacated the White House and the blame for the failure could be shifted, at least partly, to President Obama. Other than sparing war president Bush the humiliation of having to admit defeat, the dispatching of 30,000 additional U.S. troops in early 2007 did little more than get nearly 1,000 additional Americans killed almost one-quarter of the wars total U.S. deaths along with what certainly was a much higher number of Iraqis. For example, WikiLeakss Collateral Murder. video depicted one 2007 scene during the surge in which U.S. firepower mowed down a group of Iraqi men, including two Reuters news staffers, walking down a street in Baghdad. The attack helicopters then killed a Good Samaritan, when he stopped his van to take survivors to a hospital, and severely wounded two children in the van. The Unsuccessful Surge A more rigorous analysis of what happened in Iraq in 2007-08 apparently beyond Hillary Clintons abilities or inclination would trace the decline in Iraqi sectarian violence mostly to strategies that predated the surge and were implemented in 2006 by Generals Casey and Abizaid. Among their initiatives, Casey and Abizaid deployed a highly classified operation to eliminate key Al Qaeda leaders, most notably the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June 2006. Casey and Abizaid also exploited growing Sunni animosities toward Al Qaeda extremists by paying off Sunni militants to join the so-called Awakening in Anbar Province. And, as the Sunni-Shiite sectarian killings reached horrendous levels in 2006, the U.S. military assisted in the de facto ethnic cleansing of mixed neighborhoods by helping Sunnis and Shiites move into separate enclaves, thus making the targeting of ethnic enemies more difficult. In other words, the flames of violence were likely to have abated whether Bush ordered the surge or not. Radical Shiite leader Moktada al-Sadr also helped by issuing a unilateral cease-fire, reportedly at the urging of his patrons in Iran who were interested in cooling down regional tensions and speeding up the U.S. withdrawal. By 2008, another factor in the declining violence was the growing awareness among Iraqis that the U.S. militarys occupation indeed was coming to an end. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted on and got a firm timetable for American withdrawal from Bush. Even author Bob Woodward, who had published best-sellers that praised Bushs early war judgments, concluded that the surge was only one factor and possibly not even a major one in the declining violence. In his book, The War Within, Woodward wrote, In Washington, conventional wisdom translated these events into a simple view: The surge had worked. But the full story was more complicated. At least three other factors were as important as, or even more important than, the surge. Woodward, whose book drew heavily from Pentagon insiders, listed the Sunni rejection of Al Qaeda extremists in Anbar province and the surprise decision of al-Sadr to order a cease-fire as two important factors. A third factor, which Woodward argued may have been the most significant, was the use of new highly classified U.S. intelligence tactics that allowed for rapid targeting and killing of insurgent leaders. However, in Washington, where the neocons remained very influential, the myth grew that Bushs surge had brought the violence under control. Gen. Petraeus, who took command of Iraq after Bush yanked Casey and Abizaid, was elevated into hero status as the military genius who achieved victory at last in Iraq (as Newsweek declared). Buying Fallacies Even the inconvenient truths that the United States was unceremoniously ushered out of Iraq in 2011 and that Iraqs Shiite-Sunni divide widened into a chasm that has since spread divisions into Syria and even into Europe did not dent the cherished conventional wisdom about the successful surge. Yet, it is one thing for neocon pundits to promote such fallacies; it is another thing for the alleged Democratic front-runner for President in 2016 to believe this nonsense. And to say that she only opposed the surge out of a political calculation could border on disqualifying. But the pattern fits with Clintons previous decisions. She belatedly broke with the Iraq War during Campaign 2008 only when she realized that her hawkish stance was damaging her political chances against Obama, who had opposed the U.S. invasion in 2003. Yet, as Secretary of State, Clinton sought to purge officials seen as insufficiently hawkish. After Obama hesitantly approved the Afghan surge and reportedly immediately regretted his decision Clinton took aim at Eikenberry, a retired general who had served in Afghanistan before being named ambassador. Pressing for his removal, Hillary had come to the meeting loaded for bear, Gates wrote. She gave a number of specific examples of Eikenberrys insubordination to herself and her deputy. She said, Hes a huge problem. She went after the NSS [national security staff] and the White House staff, expressing anger at their direct dealings with Eikenberry and offering a number of examples of what she termed their arrogance, their efforts to control the civilian side of the war effort, their refusal to accommodate requests for meetings. As she talked, she became more forceful. Ive had it, she said, You want it [control of the civilian side of the war], Ill turn it all over to you and wash my hands of it. Ill not be held accountable for something I cannot manage because of White House and NSS interference. However, when the protests failed to get Eikenberry and General Douglas Lute, a deputy national security adviser, fired, Gates concluded that they had the protection of President Obama and reflected his doubts about the Afghan War policy: It had become clear that Eikenberry and Lute, whatever their shortcomings, were under an umbrella of protection at the White House. With Hillary and me so adamant that the two should leave, that protection could come only from the president. The Libya Fiasco In 2011, Secretary of State Clinton also was a hawk on military intervention in Libya to oust (and ultimately kill) Muammar Gaddafi. However, on Libya, Defense Secretary Gates sided with the doves, feeling that the U.S. military was already overextended in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and another intervention risked further alienating the Muslim world. This time, Gates found himself lined up with Biden urging caution, while Clinton joined with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and NSC aides Ben Rhodes and Samantha Power in urging aggressive U.S. action to prevent an anticipated massacre of the rebels as Qaddafi fought to remain in power, Gates wrote. In the final phase of the internal debate, Hillary threw her considerable clout behind Rice, Rhodes and Power. President Obama again ceded to Clintons advocacy for war and supported a Western bombing campaign that enabled the rebels, including Islamic extremists with ties to Al Qaeda, to seize control of Tripoli and hunt down Gaddafi, who was tortured and executed on Oct. 20, 2011. Clinton expressed, delight when she received the news of Gaddafis murder. We came. We saw. He died, she chortled, paraphrasing Julius Caesars boast after a victory by Imperial Rome. After Clintons victory, Libya became a major source for regional instability, including an assault on the U.S. mission in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. personnel, an incident that Clinton has called the worst moment in her four years as Secretary of State. The Islamic State also gained a foothold inside Libya, chopping off the heads of Coptic Christians. Gates retired from the Pentagon on July 1, 2011; Petraeus resigned as CIA director on Nov. 9, 2012, amid a sex-and-secrets scandal; and Clinton stepped down at the State Department on Feb. 1, 2013, after Obamas reelection. In 2013, with Clinton gone, Obama charted a more innovative foreign policy course, collaborating with Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve diplomatic breakthroughs on Syria and Iran, rather than seeking military solutions. In both cases, Obama had to face down hawkish sentiments in his own administration and in Congress, as well as Israeli and Saudi opposition. But the neocon empire struck back in 2014, with Assistant Secretary Nuland orchestrating a regime change in Ukraine on Russias border and with the neocon-dominated opinion circles of Official Washington placing the blame for the Ukraine crisis on President Putins aggression. Faced with this new group think and still influenced by liberal interventionist advisers such as Susan Rice and Samantha Power Obama joined the chorus of hate-talk against Putin, ratcheting up tensions with Russia and agreeing to escalate covert U.S. support for Syrian rebels seeking the long-held neocon goal of regime change in Syria. However, Obama continued to collaborate behind the scenes with Russia to achieve an agreement to constrain Irans nuclear program to the dismay of the neocons who wanted instead to bomb-bomb-bomb Iran on their way to seeking another regime change. Bashing Iran As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was a hawk on the Iranian nuclear issue. In 2009-2010, when Iran first indicated a willingness to compromise, she led the opposition to any negotiated settlement and pushed for punishing sanctions. To clear the route for sanctions, Clinton helped sink agreements tentatively negotiated with Iran to ship most of its low-enriched uranium out of the country. In 2009, Iran was refining uranium only to the level of about 3-4 percent, as needed for energy production. Its negotiators offered to swap much of that for nuclear isotopes for medical research. But the Obama administration and the West rebuffed the Iranian gesture because it would have left Iran with enough enriched uranium to theoretically refine much higher up to 90 percent for potential use in a single bomb, though Iran insisted it had no such intention and U.S. intelligence agencies agreed. Then, in spring 2010, Iran accepted another version of the uranium swap proposed by the leaders of Brazil and Turkey, with the apparent backing of President Obama. But that arrangement came under fierce attack by Secretary Clinton and was derided by leading U.S. news outlets, including editorial writers at the New York Times who mocked Brazil and Turkey as being played by Tehran. The ridicule of Brazil and Turkey as bumbling understudies on the world stage continued even after Brazil released Obamas private letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva encouraging Brazil and Turkey to work out the deal. Despite the letters release, Obama didnt publicly defend the swap and instead joined in scuttling the deal, another moment when Clinton and administration hardliners got their way. That set the world on the course for tightened economic sanctions on Iran and heightened tensions that brought the region close to another war. As Israel threatened to attack, Iran expanded its nuclear capabilities by increasing enrichment to 20 percent to fill its research needs, moving closer to the level necessary for building a bomb. Clintons Course Ironically, the nuclear deal reached in late 2013 and solidified in 2015 essentially accepts Irans low-enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes, pretty much where matters stood in 2009-2010. But the Israel Lobby quickly set to work, again, trying to torpedo the new Iran agreements by getting Congress to approve new sanctions on Iran. Clinton remained noncommittal for several weeks as momentum for the sanctions bill grew, but she finally declared her support for President Obamas opposition to the new sanctions. In a Jan. 26, 2014 letter to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, she wrote: Now that serious negotiations are finally under way, we should do everything we can to test whether they can advance a permanent solution. As President Obama said, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed, while keeping all options on the table. The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that imposing new unilateral sanctions now would undermine the prospects for a successful comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran. I share that view. One key question for a Clinton presidential candidacy has been whether she would build on the diplomatic foundation that Obama has laid regarding Iran and Russia or dismantle it and return to a neocon foreign policy focused on regime change and catering to the views of Israel and Saudi Arabia. In her campaigns latest comments, Hillary Clinton has made clear that she has little interest in deviating further from the Israeli-neocon prescribed hostility toward Iran by letting her campaign accuse Sanders of softness on Tehran. So, with her once-solid polls numbers softening, she has decided to appeal to hawkish Democrats and the muscular support of the Israel Lobby to help her fend off the Sanders surge. Clinton is rolling the dice in the belief that most Democrats wont think through the fallacious group thinks of Official Washington or will at least be scared and confused enough to steer away from Sanders. That way, Clinton believes she can still win the nomination. Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). Home Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter U.S . Troops Go to Sy-Raq to Reinforce Democracy Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Fort Russ " -The US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter explained the decision to conduct a ground operation as a desire "to accelerate the process of" victory over the "Islamic State". Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama said that the U.S. is not going to get involved in new large-scale war in Syria and Iraq. The coalition will involve ground troops in the fight against the terrorist group "Islamic State" (IS, is prohibited in Russia) in Syria and Iraq, said the U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. As was reported by the Agency Reuters, referring to TV channel CNBC, "Carter said a ground operation will be a part of a strategy to combat ISIS in Iraq and Syria". "We do a lot, because we have to do a lot, because we have to defeat ISIS. I'm sure we'll manage, but I want to speed up this process", said Carter. Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama said that the U.S. is not going to get involved in new large-scale war in Syria and Iraq. Also, during his address to the nation on December 7th, Obama said that it would lead "to the death of thousands of troops and the draining of resources". Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. What's your response? - Scroll down to add / read comments Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust Donate Please read our Comment Policy before posting - It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. You are here: Home People are being advised to burn shorter incense at temples and more holidays are being considered for students on smoggy days as Beijing began its annual "two sessions." Smog continued to be the buzzword at the"two sessions" the Municipal People's Congress, the local legislature, and the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a local political advisory body. I call on our fellow followers to take actions to follow the call of the society, and make concerted efforts to clean our air," said Hu Xuefeng, host of Beijing's renowned Yonghe Lamasery. The lamasery began providing "environmentally friendly incense" free of charge and barred visitors from bringing their own incense in 2013. The free incense is shorter. "Followers and visitors to the lamasery have stopped burning long and strong-smelling incenses. I call on other temples to also participate in the clean-air efforts," said Hu. There have been heated discussions over how to prevent children from the harmful effects of air pollution. Several members of the advisory body proposed that air purifiers should be put in classrooms. Xian Lianping, director of the Beijing Education Commission and a local political adviser, said special research committees have been set up to study the effect of smog on schools. It is making specific plans to install air purifiers at schools and setting standards on future school purifying facilities. Xian said the period for winter and summer holidays would be adjusted to "allow students to attend school on clear days, and stay at home on smoggy days." Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering measures to keep half the city's cars off the roads during the winter heating season, when coal-fired municipal heating tends to cause a lot of smog. The measures would be applied from around mid-November to mid-March, said Li Shixiang, vice mayor of Beijing. Vehicle emissions account for 31 percent of the city's smog sources, according to the capital's environmental protection bureau. Current traffic rules, based on license plate numbers, take about a fifth of vehicles off the roads each weekday. Beijing enforces odd-even plate number restrictions during severe smog and also for major international events. "Beijing wants to improve its smog warning mechanism and refine traffic restriction measures to make them more effective," said a spokesman for the city's transport administration. There are 5.6 million vehicles registered in Beijing. Last month, local traffic authorities revealed that the capital is likely to trial a congestion charge for road users. However, Li said no timetable had been set and promised no "abrupt" implementation of the rule. In a report delivered to the legislature by Mayor Wang Anshun, the city's average density of PM2.5, the tiny particles hazardous to health, fell by 15.8 percent last year compared to 2012. The Secret Behind the Next Global Crash By Pepe Escobar January 22, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - The World Economic Forum in Davos is submerged by a tsunami of denials, and even non-denial denials, stating there wont be a follow-up to the Crash of 2008. Yet there will be. And the stage is already set for it. Selected Persian Gulf traders, and that includes Westerners working in the Gulf confirm that Saudi Arabia is unloading at least $1 trillion in securities and crashing global markets under orders from the Masters of the Universe those above the lame presidency of Barack Obama. Those were the days when the House of Saud would as much as flirt with such an idea to have all their assets frozen. Yet now they are acting under orders. And more is to come; according to crack Persian Gulf traders Saudi Western security investments may amount to as much as $8 trillion, and Abu Dhabis as $4 trillion. In Abu Dhabi everything was broken into compartments, so no one could figure it out, except brokers and traders who would know each supervisor of a compartment of investments. And for the House of Saud, predictably, denial is an iron rule. This massive securities dump has been occasionally corporate media, but the figures are grossly underestimated. The full information simply wont filter because the Masters of the Universe have vetoed it. There has been a huge increase in the Saudi and Abu Dhabi dump since the start of 2016. A Persian Gulf source says the Saudi strategy will demolish the markets. Another referred to a case of maggots eating the carcass in the dark; one just had to look at the rout in Wall Street, across Europe and in Hong Kong and Tokyo on Wednesday. So its already happening. And a crucial subplot may be, in the short to medium term, no less than the collapse of the eurozone. The Crash of 2016? So a case could be made of a panicked House of Saud being instrumentalized to crash a great deal of the global economy. Cui bono? Moscow and Tehran are very much on it. The logic behind crashing markets, creating a recession and a depression from the point of view of the Masters of the Universe above the lame duck President of the United States is to engineer a major slow down, cripple buying patterns, decrease oil and natural gas consumption, and point Russia on a road to ruin. Besides, the ultra low oil price also translates into a sort of ersatz sanction on Iran. Still, Iranian oil about to reach the market will be around an extra 500,000 barrels a day by mid-year, plus a surplus stored in tankers in the Persian Gulf. This oil can and will be absorbed, as demand is rising (in the US, for instance, by 1.9 million barrels a day in 2015) while supply is falling. Surging demand and falling production will reverse the oil crash by July. Moreover, Chinas oil imports recently surged 9.3% at 7.85 million barrels a day, discrediting the hegemonic narrative of a collapse of China's economy or of China being responsible for the current market blues. So, as I outlined here, oil should turn around soon. Goldman Sachs concurs. That gives the Masters of the Universe a short window of opportunity enabling the Saudis to dump massive amounts of securities in the markets. The House of Saud may need the money badly, considering their budget on red alert. But dumping their securities is also clearly self-destructive. They simply cannot sell $8 trillion. The House of Saud is actually destroying the balance of their wealth. As much as Western hagiography tries to paint Riyadh as a responsible player, the fact is scores of Saudi princes are horrified at the destruction of the wealth of the kingdom through this slow motion harakiri. Would there be a Plan B? Yes. Warrior prince Mohammed bin Sultan whos actually running the show in Riyadh should be on the first flight to Moscow to engineer a common strategy. Yet that wont happen. And as far as China Saudi Arabias top oil importer is concerned, Xi Jinping has just been to Riyadh; Aramco and Sinopec signed a strategic partnership; but the strategic partnership that really matters, considering the future of One Belt, One Road, is actually Beijing-Tehran. The massive Saudi dumping of securities ties in with the Saudi oil price war. In the current, extremely volatile situation oil is down, stocks are down and oil stocks are down. Still the House of Saud has not understood that the Masters of the Universe are getting them to destroy themselves many times over, including flooding the oil market with their shut-in capacity. And all that to fatally wound Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia itself. Only a Pawn in Their Game Meanwhile, Riyadh is rife with rumors there will be a coup against King Salman virtually demented and confined to a room in his palace in Riyadh. There are two possible scenarios in play: 1) King Salman, 80, abdicates in favor of his son, notorious arrogant/ignorant troublemaker Warrior Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 30, currently deputy crown prince and defense minister and the second in the line of succession but de facto running the show in Riyadh. This could happen anytime soon. As an extra bonus, current Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, not a royal, would be replaced by Abdulaziz bin Salman, another son of the king. 2) A palace coup. Salman and his troublemaker son are out of the picture, replaced by Ahmed bin Abdulaziz (who was a previous Minister of the Interior), or Prince Mohammed bin Nayef (the current Minister of the Interior and Crown Prince.) Whatever scenario prevails, the British MI6 is intimately aware of the whole pantomime. And the German BND might be. Everyone remembers the BND memo at the end of 2015 that depicted Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a political gambler who is destabilizing the Arab world through proxy wars in Yemen and Syria. Saudi sources for obvious reasons insisting on anonymity stress that as much as 80% of the House of Saud favors a coup. Yet the question is whether a House reshuffle would change their slow motion hara-kiri. The categorical imperative remains; the Masters of the Universe are ready to bring the whole world down in a major recession basically to strangle Russia. The House of Saud is just a pawn in this vicious game. Nigerian universities rank very low in Africa and the world at large. This worries President Muhammadu Buhari. We rank below a thousand, if we do not aspire to be among the world class universities, we cannot boast of robust system capable of making the country among the top economies of the world, Buhari, who was represented by Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, said at the 19th to 22nd convocation ceremony of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. It is worrisome that no Nigerian university is quoted among the top 100 universities in the world. We have abundance of talents who excel elsewhere but appear incapacitated at home. This is unacceptable. Whatever makes our abundant talents fail at home and excel abroad must be identified and neutralised for our benefit and that of our future generation, Buhari said. However, he blamed incessant strikes by teachers as major bottlenecks to progress of the countrys university system. The repercussions of strike usually retard the smooth running of academic activities with heavy negative consequences. The president, therefore, called on the state governments to support and encourage universities situated in their states because they are responsible for harnessing local talents and promotion of local innovations. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday accused Donald Trump of making it more difficult to defeat Islamic State extremists. Speaking to the US website Mic.Com, the Tory Party leader said the billionaire was making the fundamental mistake of trying to blame all Muslims for the violent ideology of a minority while praising Islam as a religion of peace. Trump, currently leading national polls to be the Republican Party nominee ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, sparked international censure in December after he demanded all Muslims be barred from entering the US following the Paris massacre. The property tycoon also claimed parts of London were so radicalised police were afraid for their own lives. The accusation was quickly denounced by Westminster. This week, members of parliament debated whether the property tycoon should be allowed to enter the UK after more than half a million people signed a petition demanding the Government exclude him over his Islamophobic comments. Last year Cameron denounced Trumps remarks as divisive, stupid and wrong. Should Trump win the nomination, and then triumph in the general election in November, Camerons remarks could place considerable strain on Anglo-US relations. Speaking to the website, the prime minister said Trump is making the fundamental mistake of trying to blame all of Islam and all Muslims for what is the ideology and the actions of a minority, and I think thats wrong. The Huffington Post UK Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference. Umeh, who made the call on Saturday in Onitsha, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) contended that implementation of the confab report was the only basis that would guarantee Nigerias unity, as the problems confronting Nigeria would persist if the report was not implemented. We cannot continue to sustain Nigeria on injustice. We want a Nigeria that will be run on equity and fairness, Umeh said. If the president wants a Nigeria where every citizen will have confidence and faith in the country, the conference report should be implemented, he said. He described the confab report as an important national document which must not be wished away. The far-reaching recommendations of the conference and its resolution on issues of true fiscal federalism and political restructuring should not be changed. We approved rotational presidency within the six geo-political zones; this, as well as true fiscal federalism will achieve harmony and confidence on the part of Nigerians, Umeh, who was a delegate to the conference said. Israeli police have evacuated Israeli settlers from buildings they had raided and temporarily took over in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, as fearful residents say they have endured intimidation and attacks. Officers on Friday morning evicted the settlers from two homes of Palestinians in Hebron, a flashpoint city during recent unrest. Writing on Twitter, Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said police removed around 80 people who had entered illegally, adding that there were no injuries and the homes were closed off. When the settlers first occupied the buildings on Thursday, many of them attacked Palestinian residents and their homes, according to local media reports. Reportedly protected by Israeli troops, the settlers broke the doors of several homes and threw rocks at Palestinian residents. Local resident Shada Haddad, 25, said that clashes broke out between Palestinian youth and Israeli troops when the home owners were blocked by the settlers from entering their buildings. The settlers occupied the homes in the Old City, and then the problems broke out between Palestinians and the army, she told Al Jazeera. The army was protecting the settlers like they always do, Haddad added, recalling that soldiers fired tear gas and the crowd of Palestinians who gathered. Aljazeera. Itsekiri socio-cultural group, Movement For the Protection of Iwere Homeland, Development and History (MPIHDH) has condemned attacks on the Akulagba of Warri, Chief Ayirimi Emami by the Iwere Peace Movement (IPM) and Ijaw group, Izon Okosu Otu over Chief Emamis intelligence in helping the military track those behind the bombing of vital crude oil and gas pipelines last week in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. National President of Movement for the Protection of Iwere Homeland, Development and History, James Aderojor Ereku, in a press statement released on Thursday, in Warri, described advertorials credited to IPM and Izon Okosu Otu condemning Chief Emamis noble gesture as a veiled attempt to send a false signal that the Itsekiri nation was against the patriotic actions of Chief Ayirimi Emami. The group sought to know where Izon Okosu Otu and IPM were, when an ex-militant threatened to kill Itsekiri if our land was not named Gbaramatu for his deep-sea port and where they were when the ex-militant and his men held about nine Itsekiri youths and professional media practitioners, who were coming from Ugborodo for a legitimate assignment. No one is bigger than Nigeria, No militant or former militant is bigger than the law and those who feel that giving information to assist government in tracking down criminals is bad are themselves criminals, the group said, adding: Chief has our full support in his intelligence assistance to the military to track the pipeline saboteurs. Punch The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that over $1bn is being spent by Nigerians on medical tourism abroad annually. Vanguard ABUJA The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, yesterday, granted bail to the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, to the tune of N300million with two sureties in like sum. The Sun Senate president, Bukola Saraki has given the assurance that the Senate Chamber is working hard to ensure the passage of 2016 budget by end of February. Daily Times Cross River governor, Professor Ben Ayade says he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who simply has a good working relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari for the good of the people of his state. Guardian GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has promised to immortalise the first Executive Governor of the state, late Prince Abubakar Audu, for his immense contribution to the foundation and subsequent development of the state ahead of his exit from office next weeks Wednesday. Daily Trust Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday it will refund the N35 million cautionary deposit by Bureaux De Change (BDCs) following its suspension of foreign exchange sales to BDCs. The CBN had imposed N35 million cautionary deposit on all BDCs operating in Nigeria. Leadership The Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the Federal Government will not regulate Online Publications in the country, saying the publishers are responsible enough to regulate themselves. The Nation The Presidency yesterday assured the Ijaw that it has nothing against them and therefore has no intention whatsoever harass or persecute them. Tribune The Presbyterian Reverend of Ameke-Abam in Arochukwu, Titus Onwuchekwa who was paraded alongside five suspects for armed robbery at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja has revealed that a car dealer used the stolen car to sow a seed into his life. The other suspects who were paraded alongside Rev Titus included Opeyemi Aregbesola, 28; Bola Salami, 30; Osas Felix Bright, 32; Chibike Umeh, 22; and Ndibe Samuel, 31. While parading the suspects, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Owoseni, said that, During interrogation, the duo confessed to have stolen a series of cars at gunpoint. Their confession led to the arrest of one Osas Felix Bright and Chibuike Umeh at their hideout at Oko Igbede, Alaba International Market. The two suspects also confessed to have received many stolen vehicles from the gang and sold them at give-away prices to their customers at Onitsha, Anambra State and Abia State.It was learnt that upon the arrest of two notorious armed robbery kingpins, Opeyemi Aregbesola and Bola Salami who had been on the wanted list of Special Anti-Robbery Squad for snatching exotic vehicles, the operatives recovered a Toyota Camry 2007 model with registration number MUS782DD. The police recovered six vehicles including one unregistered Toyota 4 Runner jeep, two Toyota Camry cars with registration number AAA391AA, and FKJ441DV, two Lexus jeeps with registration numbers HAL100RF and LSR520DA, a Toyota Highlander with registration number LSR492DX, and a Mitsubishi Pajero jeep with registration number SMK484DS. Crime Guard gathered that Osa Felix Bright and Chibike Umeh specialised in receiving stolen cars from armed robbery gangs, changing the colour and re-registering the cars with forged custom duty documents before selling the vehicles. I never knew the car was stolen According to Rev. Titus Onwuchekwa, I am a clergy man. I bought an SUV from one Felix when he came for a programme in Lagos sometime in November. I actually saw the vehicle at Alaba, where it was advertised for sale. While negotiating with the owner of the vehicle, I told him that I was a man of God and he said that he would use the vehicle to sow a seed into my life. He said because I was a man of God, he would sell the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero jeep to me for N500,000. I paid him N350,000, and I later balanced him N150,000. He said I should pray that God should bless him with more children because he had only had one child since he married. I never knew the car was stolen. I dont know anything about the other Infiniti jeep that he sold. He gave me the car documents which bore his name; he also gave me the custom clearing documents, and they had the same name too. A soldier friend of mine had to help me verify if the car was genuine and he confirmed that it was. I am a man of God and I will never buy a stolen property. I bought mine from my in-law Another suspect Ndibe Samuel, a medicine dealer, told Crime Guardthat he bought one of the stolen cars from his in-law. I bought a Toyota Camry for N700,000 last September, 2015. I was in my shop when he actually called me to come and see him, that he had a message for me. I was arrested by the police on my way to see him. They said the vehicle that I bought was a stolen vehicle. I knew it was a stolen vehicle For Osas Felix, one of the suspect, there was no need to deny: I sell vehicles at Berger Yard. A friend brought the vehicle for to me to help him sell. I have known him for over a year. I knew it was a stolen vehicle. I bought the vehicle for N300,000 from him, registered it with my name and then sold it to the pastor. I steal and sell vehicles Opeyemi Aregbesola also had no need to deny: I usually sell stolen vehicles to Osas Felix. So far I have sold about seven vehicles to him.Crime Guard learned that investigations are still ongoing and efforts are on to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang who specialise in forging documents for the gang. Source:Vanguard You are here: Home Almost 97 million people used a smartphone app to book a taxi last year, according to a report by the government-run China Internet Network Information Center. In the same period, almost 22 million used apps to order a limousine, it said in a report published yesterday. The figures were extrapolated from the findings of a poll of 60,000 people conducted by the center. It did not provide comparative figures. Uber, Didi Kuaidi, Yidao and Shenzhou are among the companies that provide taxi-hailing apps. There were 688 million Internet users in China at the end of last year, or about half the total population. About 90 percent of them access the Internet via mobile devices, the report said. More than 28 percent of China's Internet users live in rural areas, Liu Bing, the center's deputy director, was quoted as saying. About 77 percent of people who access the Internet use social networking platforms, like Weibo, he said. Philanthropys quest to improve K-12 education feels stuck in a rut. Some of the biggest funders on the scene remain devoted to a reform strategy that has so far failed to yield transformative change, while a range of other funder-backed efforts arent yet operating at a scale likely to produce major breakthroughs. Theres no dramatic change, Bill Gates told New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof last year, summing up the results of his own foundation's efforts, which have entailed spending billions of dollars over 15 years. Meanwhile, though, philanthropys muscular efforts to influence K-12 policy have generated a strong backlashhelping fuel a highly polarized education debate, as well as rising public distrust of foundations. It isnt surprising that funders cant claim glowing success after many years of rising giving. Education is a famous graveyard of philanthropists, in part because of the size of this sector. To take one example, New York Citys public school system spends as much money in a month as all the top ed reform funders spend in a year. Nationally, K-12 is a $600 billion enterprise that is highly decentralized. Funders are wielding a peashooter in comparison. That said, ed funders have limited their effectiveness by piling too many chips on select reform strategies and, even more so, by failing to think big enough. Charter schools are a great example. Even if you believe that charters deliver superior results, funders are looking at a long, tough slog to push a reform thats proven difficult to scale, yet is not having the competitive catalytic effect on traditional schools that proponents had hoped. Foundations like Walton and Broad now face decades of trudging to bring more charters to high-poverty urban areas. They certainly have the resources to sustain that march, but youd think theyd also be casting around for some other, more strategic levers to pull that could speed up change and reach more kids. Overall, it's striking what's not on the agenda of education funders these days. For all the talk of systemic reform and disrupting the status quo, most ed funders have been reluctant to look at the bigger societal picture of why so many students struggle. As the scholar Larry Cuban writes in a recent edited book on the new education philanthropy, donor-pushed reforms have concentrated on schools rather than the economic and social structures outside of schools that freeze institutional inequalities into place. Its easy to understand why funders have focused on changing schools, which seems a lot more doable than changing society. But as the limits of that narrow approach have become clearer, and as inequality has drawn new attention, now is a good moment for education funders to think anew about what a broader agenda for systemic change might look like. Here are a few strategies for funders to consider. Reforming How Public Schools Are Funded One of the most familiar and obvious systemic problems in education is how the U.S. funds its schools, with a heavy reliance on local property taxes. Thanks to that set-up, unusual among advanced countries, big resource inequities are baked into the education system. As a report last year by the Education Trust stated: ... funding inequities are devastatingly large. The highest poverty districts in our country receive about $1,200 less per student than the lowest poverty districts. The differences are even larger roughly $2,000 per student between districts serving the most students of color and those serving the fewest These gaps add up. For a middle school with 500 students, for example, a $1,200 funding gap per student means a shortage of $600,000 per year. For a 1,000-student high school, it means $1.2 million in missing resources. Quite apart from these disparities in public dollars, there are big disparities in private funding, too, with affluent school districts pulling in lots of philanthropic support. My sons school district, for example, has a private foundation that raises over $3 million a year, money used to hire scores of extra teaching assistants, among other things. Ed reformers often say that more money is not the key to better schools, and theres some truth to this, given how much is spent per pupil in some truly dismal school districts. Also, we do know that the same poor children can perform much better in some schools than others, even controlling for resources. Still, most parents operate on the assumption that money does matter, angling to live in better funded school districts. Funders should pay more attention to that fact. Theres a long history of efforts to reduce funding disparities in public schools and adopt more centralized, equitable financing mechanisms. Some funders have been involved in this, especially in New York State, where theres been a concerted organizing push for equitable financing. But most funders steer far away from this area. I wont pretend equalizing financing is an easy road. But its a key reform that needs to be achieved in the long term. Among other things, many of the advanced countries the U.S. will be competing with in the decades ahead use smarter ways to finance their schools and, more broadly, develop human capital. Its crazy for Americas schools to rely on a patchwork mix of local and state funding the way we do. With their deep pockets and proven appetite for political combat, todays top ed reformers could make major new headway in this area, which has long frustrated reformers. Or perhaps a new funder could enter this space in a big way. Financing litigation is the most obvious strategy here, but there are others. Challenging School and Residential Segregation Today, U.S. schools are nearly as segregated as when Brown v. Board was decided in 1954, and in some places, more segregated. Spend time in Westchester County, where I grew up, and youll see how this plays out. Most of the black kids in the county go to less well-funded schools with virtually no white kids in places like Mt. Vernon and Yonkers. That same pattern holds in many other places across the nation. Brown v. Board, you'll recall, was partly informed by research that documented the damage inflicted on children of color who attend segregated schools. We now have tons of additional knowledge regarding why segregation is bad, especially when it plays out against a backdrop of school funding disparities. Yet I cant think of a single major foundation that is actively and explicitly attacking the problem of school segregation. You can kind of understand why, given the explosive politics around this issue and past disappointments. Also, tackling school segregation often requires going after the tough underlying problem of residential segregation, which determines where kids live and go to school. As weve reported, exclusionary zoning rules play a central role in keeping poor families out of more affluent suburbs with better public schools. Such zoning blocks the construction of more affordable multi-unit housing that could offer an entry point for lower income renters who want their kids to grow up in better communities. There are a lot of ways for funders to challenge residential segregation, which is supposed to be illegal under the Fair Housing Act. But few funders have been interested in this issue. I get that. Its another tough one for philanthropy to address, for sure. But if funders really want to think bigger about systemic reform, residential segregation patterns cant be ignored. Race has re-entered the national conversation in a big way since Ferguson, and thats a good thing. Now it needs to come back into the education conversation. Offsetting Poverty Effects, I: Stable Housing A key reason that reform funders have focused at the school level is because we know that poor kids perform much better in some schools or with some teachers than they do in other situations. Thus, the logic goes, improving schools alone should be able to deliver transformative results for Americas low-income kids. In fact, though, many experts have long argued that out-of-school factors related to poverty are the biggest reason that low-income students do so poorly. This point will be intuitive to any parent who has ever shopped around for schools. Take my city of Santa Monica, for example, which has a diverse school district, with excellent and well-funded schools that rank among the best in Los Angeles. Still, there are vast disparities in student achievement. The poor kids, mostly Latino, do much worse than the more affluent kids. No matter how good a school is, many poor kids still live with single parents in unstable homes in dangerous neighborhoods, often going without such basics as proper nutrition and eyeglasses. A growing body of research suggest that poverty can produce lasting negative effects on childrens cognitive development. A 2015 report on poor children in New Orleans summed things up this way: Children in poverty are much more likely to experience exposure to violence, chronic neglect, and the accumulated burdens of economic hardship. This kind of chronic stress causes prolonged activation of the stress response system, which in turn can disrupt the development of brain architecture, leading to lifelong difficulties in learning, memory, and self-regulation. While many ed funders are reluctant to tackle poverty writ large, housing is one specific area where they might focus to achieve positive results for children. Research shows that unstable housing situations are a major obstacle to stable schooling for kids. When poor parents constantly lose their leases, kids are jerked around, often changing schools. Living in crowded or difficult circumstances with relatives can also be hugely distracting for kids. A number of foundations have long considered this issue, including the Gates Foundation, as weve reported. Last year, the CEO of the foundation, Susan Desmond-Hellman, wrote on the Impatient Optimists blog that a "stable place to call home" is one of the "few things that every child needs to lead a healthy, productive life." Gates is doing some interesting work at the nexus of housing and education, mainly in the Pacific Northwest, and other efforts are also afoot to break down the silos between these obviously related areas. But housing is not yet on the radar of most top education funders. It should be. Offsetting Poverty Effects, II: Involved Fathers As every parent knows, you need all hands on deck to shepherd kids through school. Whether its helping with homework or reinforcing discipline, or just getting them there and back, schooling a child is a two-parent job. Yet too often, many fathers are absent from the lives of their children and their childrens education. Large-scale and successful efforts to bring fathers back in could yield real dividends for student achievementparticularly as part of a broader strategy of boosting parental engagement in schooling, which research has long shown pays big dividends. In short, this is another specific leverage point for funders to focus on in combating the negative poverty effects on education. We recently reported on the work that a number of funders are doing in this area, with good results. Kellogg is the most notable player, here, but other major foundations have also been involved, like Annie E. Casey and F.M. Kirby. Still, we were struck by the number of funders who arent backing fatherhood work who should be. In particular, such work is a great fit for many of the conservative or centrist funders that now fuel charters and other ed reform efforts, since these funders often believe that more personal responsibility and self-reliance are keys to social progress. Well, heres an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is. Offsetting Poverty Effects, III: Jobs and Income As we report often, quite a few funders are working to increase the supply of good jobs, boost peoples skills, and also raise wages by updating labor regulations. But top education funders should also look at what they might do in this area. While these funders may feel that economic issues are too far afield from their main mandate to boost student achievement, research and common sense suggests the opposite is true: Parents job prospects and earnings crucially affect how well kids do in school. Among other things, parents who boost their earnings can move to more affluent communities with better schools. There may be no better way to promote school choice than to boost parental income and geographic mobility. Theres a lot of possible ways that ed funders could get into work on jobs and incometoo many to discuss here. Rather, the larger point is that these funders need to broaden their thinking about what role they play in helping students advance. *** This is obviously a big topic, and other people will favor a different set of priorities aimed at broadening todays philanthropic quest to boost student achievement. Others, too, might well inject a more pointed analysis of why so many education funders dont look at the broader inequities in our society. Ive skipped such a discussion here, since I and others have written elsewhere about the limitations of philanthropy in tackling inequality. Rich people, unsurprisingly, are not so attuned to challenging an economic status quo in which they have thrived. Still, Im not among those who question the motives of wealthy philanthropists involved in K-12 education. I believe their hearts are in the right place and they do want to make things better for Americas poorest kids. Now, they just need to move outside their comfort zones to think more boldly about how to do that. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Investing in commodity mutual funds is one of the best means of hedging a portfolio that is otherwise dominated by stocks against unexpected financial or political crises or ordinary economic downturns. For example, in the wake of the Great Recession, during the late 2000s into the early 2010s, gold prices advanced from a little over $1,000 an ounce in 2008 to over $2,000 an ounce in 2011. There is a historical tendency for an inverse relationship between stocks and commodities; when the overall stock market is in a bear market, commodities tend to experience a bull market. Mutual funds provide investors with easy exposure to the commodities markets while avoiding the complications and additional risks of directly trading highly leveraged commodity futures. Commodity mutual funds typically invest in both the stocks of companies involved in commodities such as mining companies and in commodities proper. One advantage of this approach to commodity investing is that commodity mutual funds may perform well even when commodity prices overall are not. Mining company stocks may rise even during a period when the spot price of the mined commodity is falling. Other factors in addition to commodity prices that impact the stock prices of companies in commodities-related businesses include the companies' debt and cash flow situations. Key Takeaways Investing in commodity mutual funds is a great way to diversify a portfolio of stocks and bonds. Commodity mutual funds can also act as a hedge against inflation depending on the specific commodity. Mutual funds are a great way to gain exposure to commodities without actually having to purchase a physical commodity or other complicated instruments, such as futures or options. Commodity mutual funds can still perform well even if some of the underlying commodities are not. Three commodity mutual funds for consideration include Gabelli Gold Fund Class A (GLDAX), Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodity Strategy Fund Class A (BRCAX), and BlackRock Commodity Strategies (BICSX). 1. Gabelli Gold Fund Class A (GLDAX) The Gabelli Gold Fund Class A is a good mutual fund for investors specifically seeking exposure to the gold and precious metals markets. Launched by Gabelli Funds in 1994, its primary investment aim is long-term capital growth. Under ordinary circumstances, at least 80% of the fund's assets are invested, along with borrowed capital for investment, in both U.S. domestic stocks and foreign stocks of companies principally engaged in gold-related business operations. The fund manager looks for gold-related stocks that are currently undervalued and that have above-average growth potential. A substantial portion of assets may be dedicated to foreign stocks since many of the major gold-mining companies are headquartered outside the United States. Any dividends or capital gains are distributed annually. As of Dec. 31, 2021, the top holdings are metals and mining companies, such as Newmont Corp. (9.2% of holdings), Franco-Nevada (7.2%), Wheaton Precious Metals (5.7%), and Barrick Gold (5.6%). Investments are concentrated in North America, making up 71.2% of the portfolio. As of March 14, 2022, the fund has assets of $422 million, an expense ratio of 1.48%, a one-year return of 16.69%, a five-year return of 10.13%, and a 10-year return of -0.41%. The fund appeals to those investors seeking long-term goals, like retirement, and if the risk appetite is higher, with the understanding that the payoff is in long-term returns. 2. Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodity Strategy Fund Class A (BRCAX) The Invesco Balanced-Risk Commodity Strategy Fund Class A offers investors a broader basket exposure to the total commodities market. This fund launched in 2010 and has an investment goal of maximum return on investment (ROI). The fund's assets are typically invested in derivatives and other commodity-based investment instruments that are expected to reflect the overall performance of the underlying commodities and that provide exposure to four of the major commodity market segments. Those segments are precious and industrial metals, energy, and agriculture. Such investments commonly include futures and swap agreements. The fund also invests in U.S. Treasury securities and debt securities of other countries. The fund may also make use of investments in commodity-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) or exchange traded notes (ETNs). Capital gains or dividends are distributed annually. Top holdings include gold 2.5x index Citi 01 (7.97% of holdings), soybean futures (7.58%), XB gasoline RBOB future (6.52%), WRI roll yield BARC ER swap (6.05%), and aluminum MACQ Dynamic ER swap (5.30%). As of Feb. 28, 2022, the fund has assets of $1.24 billion. It has an expense ratio of 1.40%, a one-year return of 19.85%, a five-year return of 5.43%, and a 10-year return of -1.71%. 3. BlackRock Commodity Strategies Fund (BICSX) The BlackRock Commodity Strategies Fund, launched by BlackRock in 2011, offers investors exposure to four principal commodity groups: energy, precious metals, industrial metals, and agriculture. The fund's investment aim is long-term capital appreciation. The fund implements two basic strategies to achieve the fund's stated investment goal of capital appreciation. These strategies are (1) commodity-linked derivatives and (2) equity investments in commodity-related companies including mining, energy, and agricultural companies. The fund is invested in U.S. domestic and foreign stocks. BlackRock is the largest asset manager in the world in terms of assets managed. Top holdings include Chevron (2.8% of holdings), Shell (2.27%), Total Energies (1.77%), ConocoPhillips (1.48%), and Exxon (1.35%). As of March 14, 2022, the fund has assets of $2.2 billion, an expense ratio of 0.72%, a one-year return of 26.54%, a five-year return of 8.08%, and a 10-year return of 0.21%. What Are Commodity Mutual Funds? Commodity mutual funds are investment funds that seek exposure to commodities. These funds typically invest in a basket of commodities, with exposure to energy, agriculture, and metals. The investment strategy for each commodity mutual fund differs, with funds seeking to hold the physical commodities, some investing in futures, and others investing in commodity-related companies. Are Commodities High Risk? Investing in commodities is typically higher risk than investing in stocks and bonds. The commodities markets are typically volatile, complex, and require experience in understanding and trading. Much of commodity trading is speculative, therefore best suited for investors with a high risk tolerance. Commodity mutual funds or exchange traded funds can provide investors with exposure to commodities on a lower-risk basis. HDHP Non-HDHP Premium $1,500 $3,000 Deductible $3,000 $1,500 Total cost before coinsurance $4,500 $4,500 HSA eligible Yes No The options above show a situation where it clearly makes sense to choose the HDHP. With either plan, youll end up spending $4,500 of your own money in premiums and deductibles if your medical expenses for the year are at least as much as your deductible. But with the HDHP, youre only guaranteed to spend $1,500 in premiums, unless you know for a fact what your upcoming medical expenses will be. Also, having the HDHP lets you contribute to a health savings account. If youre in the 24% federal tax bracket and you do incur $3,000 in medical expenses, you could use your HSA to pay for them with pre-tax dollars. If you used post-tax dollars, that same $3,000 in medical expenses could cost you $4,000. If you chose the lower deductible plan (the non-HDHP), you could pay for $2,550 of your $3,000 in medical expenses with a flexible spending account (FSA) if your employer offers one. Then youd have similar tax savings with the non-HDHP. Even this simplified example isnt really that simple. Similarly, most real-life situations arent clear cut as to whether you should select a high-deductible or low-deductible plan. Youll need to do the math for your own circumstances, taking into account your likely medical expenses for the year and the premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums for the available plans. High-Deductible Health Plans and Preventive Care If you do choose the high-deductible plan, youll still have 100% coverage for preventive services from in-network providers before you meet your deductible because of the Affordable Care Act requirements. Quite a few services fall into this category, and you arent responsible for any copayment or coinsurance for any of them. Here are a few examples taken from Healthcare.gov: Adults Abdominal aortic aneurysm: one-time screening for men of specified ages who have ever smoked Aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease for adults of certain ages Blood pressure screening Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk Colorectal cancer screening for adults 50 to 75 Depression screening Diabetes (Type 2) screening for overweight obese adults 40 to 70 Certain immunizations for adults, such as the flu shot Women Anemia screening on a routine basis Breastfeeding comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers, and access to breastfeeding supplies, for pregnant and nursing women Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling, as prescribed by a healthcare provider for women with reproductive capacity (not including abortifacient drugs). This does not apply to health plans sponsored by certain exempt religious employers. Breast cancer mammography screenings every one to two years for women over 40 Cervical cancer screening every three years for women 21 to 65 Osteoporosis screening for women over age 60 depending on risk factors Well-woman visits to get recommended services for women under 65 Children Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months Behavioral assessments Blood pressure screening Depression screening for adolescents Developmental screening for children under age 3 Hearing screening for all newborns Vaccines for illnesses such as whooping cough, influenza and chickenpox HSA Eligibility As noted already, the other major advantage of having an HDHP, besides typically lower premiums, is that it allows you to contribute to a health savings account. Because HSA contributions come from pre-tax dollars, you can save a considerable amount on your medical expenses when you pay for them with your HSA. For example, if youre in the 24% federal tax bracket, a $100 medical bill will effectively cost you only $76. You must have an HDHP to be eligible to contribute to an HSA and in order to be eligible to receive any employer contributions to your HSA. In fact, free money in the form of optional employer contributions to your HSA is another potential benefit of having an HDHP and an HSA. In addition, you dont have to keep your HDHP forever to take advantage of an HSA in future years. Contributions carry over from one year to the next, and you can invest your contributions to help them grow, too. In the future, even if you no longer have an HDHP, you can use money previously deposited to your HSA to pay for health expenses. Disadvantages of High-Deductible Health Plans The big drawback to choosing an HDHP is having potentially high out-of-pocket expenses for the year. As of January 1, 2021, the Affordable Care Act rules state that the most any person can pay in out-of-pocket maximums is $8,550 for in-network benefits ($8,700 for 2022). The family maximum is $17,100 ($17,400 for 2022). Previously, insurance plans could require that one person in a family plan meet the family maximum. This new rule limits your risk if you have a family health insurance plan. Once any family member has $8,550 in medical expenses, their costs will be 100% covered for the rest of 2021. Another potential problem with enrolling in an HDHP is that you may find yourself wanting to skip doctor visits because youre not used to having such high out-of-pocket costs. Dont choose an HDHP if it will cause you to fall sick or hinder your recovery because you want to save money in the short term by avoiding doctors, procedures or prescriptions. It will cost you more in the long term, plus youll be physically uncomfortable. High-Deductible Health Plans and You Whether or not it makes sense to have an HDHP depends on your life stage and the associated medical expenses youre likely to incur. In particular you should weigh the benefits of lower monthly premiums against potentially accumulating higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that can add up and overwhelm some consumers. If youre young and healthy and rarely go to the doctor or take prescription medication, youll probably save a lot of money by choosing an HDHP since the premiums are lower. If youre planning to have a baby in the near future, an HDHP might not be a good choice since the costs of hospital childbirth are high and your out-of-pocket expenses could easily hit your high out-of-pocket maximum. It may actually be more cost-effective to instead consider a plan with lower deductibles and lower out-of-pockets, even if the premiums are initially higher. Similarly, a HDHP also might not make sense if you have young children since they tend to visit the doctor frequently, which can quickly accumulate deductibles. When your children are older and if they and you are healthy, an HDHP might make more sense. On the other hand, if anyone covered by your plan has a chronic condition that needs ongoing treatment, you might benefit from a plan with a lower deductible. Finally, if youre older, youre statistically more likely to have higher medical expenses, so you may not want to take a chance on an HDHP. But if youre still in good health and have no reason to anticipate expensive healthcare costs, an HDHP might work for your circumstances despite your age. Whether an HDHP will save you money always depends on the details of the specific plans available to you and your expected medical expenses for the year. An HDHP is not automatically a better or worse deal than an insurance policy with a lower deductible just because your circumstances fall into a certain category. You always have to do the math for your own situation. How Do I Know If I Have a High-Deductible Health Plan? If you have access to a health savings account (HSA), then you have a high-deductible health plan. This type of insurance has a lower premium and a higher deductible than a traditional health plan. Having an HDHP is one of the requirements for a health savings account (HSA). If your current health insurance plan for 2021 has a minimum deductible of $1,400 (or $2,800 for family coverage) with a maximum deductible of $7,000 ($14,00 per family), then it qualifies as an HDHP. What Is the Main Drawback of a High-Deductible Health Plan? You could potentially be on the hook for expensive out-of-pocket medical costs. You'll have to meet the deductible in your plan before the plan starts to kick in for covered costs. The plan will pay for preventive medical care such as routine visits and well-baby check-ups, but an accident or unexpected illness could mean thousands of dollars in payments to medical providers. What Is the Main Benefit of a High-Deductible Health Plan? If you are generally healthy and want to save for future health care expenses, the high-deductible plan gives you access to a triple-tax-advantaged savings vehicle, the health savings account. The HSA can make sense for many people, especially those nearing retirement, because the money can be used for medical care in retirement. The Bottom Line An HDHP can save you money in the form of lower premiums and the tax break you can get on your medical expenses through an HSA. Its important to estimate your health expenses for the upcoming year and see how much youll be responsible for out of pocket with an HDHP before you sign up. In some cases, a plan with a lower deductible will save you money, even though it will usually have higher premiums and wont let you have an HSA. In addition, if your employer offers it, you can use an FSA to get tax savings on your medical expenses with a lower-deductible plan. You are here: Home Seven people stood trial on Thursday in central China's Hunan Province for trafficking endangered birds for meat. According to the People's Court of Yueyanglou District, the gang of 11 suspects illegally poisoned, purchased, transported and sold endangered birds, with their activity conducted in the wetlands of Eastern Dongting Lake Nature Reserve and surrounding regions. Police began to investigate the gang on January 18, when law enforcement officers with the reserve found a boat carrying many dead endangered water birds including cygnets, spot-billed ducks and herons. They found that the gang bought pesticides to poison and kill more than 60 wild water birds under state protection in the reserve, selling them to restaurants in Changde City between November 2014 and January 2015. Two of the suspects surrendered to police, while five others were caught. Another four are still on the run, the court said. The court will give a verdict on another date. Accounting is a broad profession in which an array of personality types and skill sets can achieve success. Accountants are often pigeonholed as introverted number crunchers, but this view is as myopic and inaccurate as claiming all used car salesmen have slicked-back hair and look to fleece their customers. Many people who gravitate to accounting are indeed math whizzes who might never thrive in sales careers, but equally as many are dynamic extroverts who use their accounting degrees as springboards to people-centric careers such as management consulting. Whether you prefer to sit in a cubicle poring over financial statements and imputing complex formulas into spreadsheets, or analyze companies' management practices from the top down and present to the CEO a list of areas where efficiency could be improved, you can find a career path that suits your goals within the field of accounting. Career Path of an Accountant Accounting features three broad career types: public accounting, industry accounting, and government accounting. Within each of these sectors, you can find hundreds of unique positions and career paths. Public accountants work for third-party companies that perform a variety of services for their clients, such as auditing financial statements, preparing taxes, and working with management in a consulting role to improve efficiency and streamline operations. Public companies, meaning those owned by public shareholders and traded on stock exchanges, are required by the government to undergo a third-party audit once per year to verify financial statements accurately reflect the current state of affairs. Accountants who work for public accounting firms conduct these audits. Young employees right out of college most often start working for audit teams; as they gain experience and prove themselves, the natural progression is to become a team leader and then department leader. Auditing is not the only service performed by public accountants. The ones who love numbers often gravitate to the tax side, where they help clients navigate the morass of complex tax laws and, hopefully, minimize tax liability. Highly extroverted public accountants frequently end up in management consulting; these professionals audit clients' business operations but for an entirely different reason than compliance. They are looking for ways to cut costs, increase efficiency, and create channels for new growth. Most public accountants start as members of teams that conduct audits, prepare taxes, or analyze clients' management structure. For the ones who thrive, upward mobility is nearly unlimited as they progress into leadership roles with increasing responsibility. Industry accountants perform auditing and tax preparation services for their employers rather than for outside clients. Most start as entry-level auditors or tax preparers. As they gain experience, they are given more responsibility and are often put in charge of others. Government accountants ensure that businesses and individuals are doing what they are supposed to: paying taxes, making required disclosures, and releasing accurate financial statements. The most common starting place for a government accountant is as an auditor for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Qualifications Educational requirements for accountants depend on the specific nature of the job and the company doing the hiring. Plenty of entry-level staff accountants have only bachelor's degrees, and a few have even less. High-end management consultants tend to have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Accountancy degrees. Almost without exception, public accounting firms want new hires to have passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, or at the very least, be eligible to take it. This requires 150 semester hours of postsecondary education, which is more than a bachelor's degree but can be obtained without completing a master's degree. The majority of new public accountants obtain MBA or MAcc degrees since the difference between stopping at 150 hours and going ahead and finishing the degree is usually minimal. Top News - Investor Idea Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Continues Acquisition Path With Purchase of ELMS Assets Including Factory in Mishawaka, IN., Enabling EV Production for Retail and Commercial Vehicle Lines BREA, Calif. - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces the US Bankruptcy Court approval on Oct. 13th, 2022 of its acquisition of electric vehicle company ELMS's (Electric Last Mile Solutions) assets in an all cash purchase. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Top AI Cybersecurity Stock News - Investor Idea AI Cybersecurity Stock GBT (OTCPK: $GTCH) is Researching the Development of a Machine Learning Driven, RF Cybersecurity System and Protocol San Diego, CA - October 13, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) is researching the development of a machine learning driven radio frequency (RF) cybersecurity system and protocol. Top Health and Wellness Stock News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Amazon ( $AMZN) Expands Endexx (OTCBB: $EDXC) Blesswell Men's Premium Skincare Line Internationally to 13 Countries CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - September 29, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-based, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces the international distribution of its premium men's Blesswell Skincare line through Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN). Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire In a recent interview with Bravo , Kenya Moore talks about this week's episode of. Kenya Moore discusses the argument with Aunt Lori, and why she finally has closure with her mother. Check it out below!Kenya Moore: Moore Manor is moving fast! All my building framing, plumbing and electrical, and HVAC has been completed. Sheetrock is going up now. Every day the house is transforming, and its all very exciting! I am so anxious to move in that I pick up a tool and get to work myself sometimes. Just call me Builder Bobb!KM: I was surprised. But Cynthia reacted in a way Ive always wanted my family to react to a child being abused in front of them. I have always wanted them to get mad, get angry, and intervene. However, the dysfunction just continued, and I have always carried the brunt of the pain on my shoulders.KM: I have always considered my aunt to be the most compassionate member of my mothers family. However, when it comes to my treatment from them, rarely has she or anyone else said or done anything that is sensible, rational, or logical. Its disturbing, because they all seem crazy to me. I never would have dreamed that she would take that stance and place blame on me for knocking on my mothers door. I had every right to knock on her door or even knock it down to get answers.My mothers family constantly attacks me for wanting closure, but they never attacked my mother when she would relentlessly mistreat me in their presence. Often times they have made me feel like they resent the fact that I was even born, treating me as an inconvenience rather than an innocent child. This behavior causes family dysfunction -- not speaking up and sweeping things under the rug, and the outcome is generations of dysfunction.The beautiful thing is that I know I am not alone. I have read so many of your stories and each one breaks my heart over and over. The best thing about being in this fight is that I am not alone. Thank you for your stories, your experiences and your life. Please be encouraged to be strong and continue to be brave. No one gets to tell us when we can move on. No one gets to tell us that we should not want closure. No one gets to dictate how and when we should speak up for ourselves.Thank you for your kindness. God bless all of you who have been abandoned or have ever felt alone. My birthday is this Sunday, and I feel like I have been reborn. I finally feel at peace and am excited. I wish my mother nothing but peace. I hope that whatever demons she has will be expelled and I will continue to pray for her and her family.Im looking forward to my birthday and Im giving everyone 45% off of all #KenyaMooreHairCare in honor of my 45th birthday! Coupon code is HappyBirthday. Go to KenyaMooreHair.com to order now.Also if you missed the first few chapters of my memoir Invisible please click here to read.Happy Born Day to me!What do you think about Kenyas blog?airs Sunday nights at 8/7c only on Bravo. For International TV ListingsSource/Photo Credit: Bravo Cork-based professional archaeologist and photographer Enda OFlaherty has a particular interest in the desolate beauty of abandoned spaces. As an archaeologist his work has taken him across Ireland and the United Kingdom and to projects as far afield as Jamaica, along the way developing a multi-disciplinary approach to landscape studies involving archaeology, physiographical studies, toponymy, and analysis of documentary sources. Recently he has combined his love of photography with his professional discipline, and taken to documenting the architectural features and cultural significance of the many abandoned school houses dotted across the rural Irish landscape. Up until the 1950s small multigrade schools were established throughout Ireland as part of the education infrastructure. But with an improvement in rural transport and the growing availability and popularity of motor cars, the need for small local schools that children could walk to was lessened, and larger schools covering greater catchment areas were favored. During the period from 1966 to 1973 the number of one and two teacher schools was reduced by c. 1,100. For this reason, small one and two-room abandoned school houses are almost ubiquitous across the rural Irish landscape. They are often a mark of rural depopulation where communities dwindled as young people chose to leave the countryside for bigger cities and more prosperous lands. For many who emigrated from Ireland at an early age, their days spent in these rural and isolated school houses often represented the last formal education they received before seeking a brighter future abroad. Although many of these buildings are now physically empty or approaching a point of collapse, the physical structures are cognitive stimuli for those who attended, and hold a wealth of memory and associations that shaped their understanding of the world around them at an early age. From these small rural school houses the children of Ireland took what they had learned and went out to find fortune and to explore the greater world. OFlahertys blog features some wonderful and evocative shots of these buildings, almost capturing a ghost-like presence of those who passed through their doors in the decades gone by. What makes this blog special is that OFlaherty has combined stunning imagery with documentary research, and has found original hand-written scripts from many of these schools dating from the 1930s. In 1937 the Irish Folklore Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers Organisation, initiated a revolutionary scheme in which schoolchildren were encouraged to collect and document folklore and local history from the eldest or most knowledgeable members of their household. Over a period of eighteen months some 100,000 children in 5,000 primary schools in the twenty-six counties of the Irish Free State were encouraged to collect folklore material in their home districts. These first-hand stories, poems, recipes, phrases and local folklores were all written down by the school children who attended these schools in the 1930s, and represent a wealth of local first-hand knowledge that dates as far back as the mid -19th century. Many of the school houses featured in OFlahertys blog have complimentary documents of stories from their locality, which are included in each blog post. OFlaherty is currently combining his research and photography into a new book expected by the end of the year. For more information and to follow OFlahertys work visit his blog, Facebook or Twitter accounts. He invites visitors to share memories, comment and make suggestions of school house to visit. All flights between Ireland and the U.S. East Coast have been canceled this weekend due to the severe winter weather. On Friday, Aer Lingus canceled two flights in each direction between Dublin and New Yorks JFK Airport, while Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines have canceled flights from Dublin to Philadelphia, New York and Newark. According to the flight tracking service FlightAware, about 7,600 flights were canceled on Friday and Saturday, about 15% of the airlines' schedules. Washington and Baltimore expect two feet or more of snow, and a foot or more has been forecast for New York. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the winter storm could rank near the top 10 to ever hit the region, the Irish Independent reports. Weather service director Louis Uccellini said: "It does have the potential to be an extremely dangerous storm that can affect more than 50 million people." A state of emergency has been declared in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and parts of other states. At least seven people have reportedly already died in the massive snow storm. Airlines says they hope to be back to a full schedule by Sunday afternoon. Let me get this straight: Ted Cruz wants to play the victim to Donald Trumps bully? Really? I know Americans have a little trouble with history. They are generally a forward-looking people. So Ill hold off, for a moment, on the birther controversy that swarmed around a president who was accused of being born in Ireland. For now, lets just go back to 2012. Thats when Cruzs father had something interesting to say about President Barack Obama. Go back to Kenya! Cruzs father told a crowd at a Tea Party rally in Texas. Cruz has since tried to laugh this off. He claims that someone in the crowd shouted Go back to Kenya, and that his dad jokingly repeated the phrase. Ha ha ha! But its not so funny when this kind of conspiracy-fueled bigotry is used against you. Now its Ted Cruz -- who has spent his whole life portraying himself as the most loyal and patriotic American of all -- who is being smeared. Even as Cruz himself feels free to smear New York values. Indeed, if Cruz wants to be dismissive about New York as well as his own father dabbling in birther conspiracies, well, of course others are going to use those same tactics against him. In defending himself against Trump, Cruz has noted that a quite a few leading Republicans have immigrant parents. Which is a good point. Which is also why it's so terrible that these Republicans have stood by for so long while others in their own party employed nativist, anti-immigrant rhetoric. Sadly, this is an old and familiar story. There was once a man who wanted to be president but he may have had a dark secret in his closet. Not only was a parent born in a country outside of North America, but the man himself may have been born in Canada. Or Ireland. And political opponents were hounding him about it night and day. I speak, of course, of Chester A. Arthur and Arthur P. Hinman. Back in the 1870s Arthur -- whose father William was born in Antrim, Northern Ireland, before emigrating to Canada, then to Vermont -- was a New York City lawyer whod never held elective office. But at the 1880 Republican convention in Chicago, Arthurs name began to circulate as a possible vice presidential candidate. The presidential candidate was James Garfield, from Ohio, and party bosses believed someone from New York might nicely balance the ticket. Alas, there was the question of Arthurs birth. The Democratic opposition, led by Hinman, began to circulate rumors that Arthur had actually been born in Ireland and did not come to the U.S. until he was a teenager. These rumors were swept aside quickly, though the same could not be said about whispers regarding Arthurs mother and an ill-timed trip to Canada. Arthurs mother was born in the U.S. but may well have met Arthurs Irish-born father during the time he spent in Canada. This, of course, would make Arthur ineligible for the presidency. Well, its a good thing Arthur was only serving as vice president, right? That all changed when Garfield was assassinated in Washington in 1881. Hinman eventually published his findings in a book entitled How a Subject of the British Empire Became President of the United States. Little was done, though, especially when Arthur decided not to run for president in 1884. And so, now, we have the Cruz birther debate. But Cruz and all of his Republican cronies sat back and had little to say as the forces of intolerance -- the 21st century Know Nothings -- grew stronger and stronger in their own party. Well, now, have fun dealing with that. Perhaps all of these people should consider what another Republican, Abe Lincoln, once said. As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy. * Contact sidewalks@tdeignan.blogspot.com. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping's visit to Tehran can be seen as the starting point of a new phase in Sino-Iranian relations. The bilateral relationship is expected to be free from the pressure of the U.S. containment strategy and international sanctions. Thus, common interests and mutual needs could play a key role in the shaping of Sino-Iranian relations. The two countries' needs and interests can be considered in terms of global, regional, and bilateral levels. In the global scene, both Iran and China have constantly opposed any kind of hegemony and have called for a "multipolar" brand of international politics. They have always respected states' sovereignty and have had a rigid reluctance to interfere in other states' internal affairs. On the basis of such views, Tehran and Beijing see the Syrian crisis through the same lenses. Both are great nations that have constantly been moving toward a path of development. As a matter of fact, the two states' drive to attain development goals offers a fertile ground for cooperation, especially in international forums. Regarding the fact that the broad policy approaches of the two countries would perhaps represent a certain amount of continuity, both Iran and China would stress the aforementioned policies in the international arena. In the regional scene, although Iran and China have pursued their own objectives as two independent nations, they have held quite similar stances on regional issues. Leaders in both countries consider the three evil forces of separatism, terrorism, and extremism as the main threats against their national security, and in a broader sphere, the peace and stability of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf can be seen as overlapping areas in the security environment of the two countries. All three regions experience different degrees of threat; understandably, opposing common threats in these regions would constitute the cornerstone of the Sino-Iranian security cooperation in the new era of relations between the two countries. With the above facts in mind, one cannot say that Iran and China's mutual interests are only limited to opposing the threats. Strategic plans that have been presented by President Xi can create new horizons for cooperation between the two countries. Xi's initiatives concerning the creation of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the new Asian Security Structure could enhance Sino-Iranian dialogues toward mutual interests. These initiatives could not only serve as a key strategy for developing intra-regional trade and strengthening regional integration in the security environment. Hence, Iran is one of those countries that have welcomed Xi's initiatives. As one of the founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Iran's economy in the post-sanction era will be thirsty for new investments. Without doubt, the launch of the AIIB would offer new horizons for further cooperation between the two countries in financial-economic fields. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Media reports of an agreed deal on the fate of the storied Central Park horse and carriage industry are premature, an industry spokesperson says, and negotiations are ongoing to secure a minimum amount of job losses and an absolute guarantee on a new stable for the horses in Central Park. We are working towards a deal but we are not there yet. As of now a framework exists, but nothing is close, Stephen Malone, spokesperson for the Horse and Carriage Association and a carriage owner/driver himself, told the Irish Voice. On Sunday, news emerged that a deal was done that would see the number of licensed horses drop from 180 to 110 by the end of this year, with all horses and carriages confined solely to the interior of Central Park as of June 1 except from traveling to and from their current stables on the West Side. The number of licensed horses would drop to only 95 when the proposed stable inside Central Park at the 85th Street Transverse becomes operational by October 1, 2018. The renovation, estimated to cost in the region of $25 million, would be publicly funded. However, the construction of a horse stable for private use inside a public park will certainly invite lawsuits, Malone says, which would make for an uncertain future for the horse and carriage industry. Park advocates have already expressed outrage in several media outlets over the proposal. Were very concerned about the implementation, Malone says. We cant move until theres a stable to go to. The number of job losses due to the reduction in licensed horse numbers is also a cause for huge concern, Malone adds, as is the drop in income thats predicted for those that remain due to increased restrictions. We are still negotiating on that. Theres no definite bill yet so we are looking to keep as many jobs as possible, and to preserve the long-term future of our industry, Malone said. On Monday morning, while media reports proclaiming a done deal continued to persist New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who vowed to eliminate the horse and carriage industry on day one of his mayoralty, said that he was very pleased about the deal the official Famous Horse Drawn Carriages of Central Park Facebook page posted the following: As most of you know by now, there have been multiple media announcements regarding the status of the industry as we struggle on in the crosshairs of this administration's aggressive legislative attack. WE WANT OUR SUPPORTERS TO KNOW THAT THE RANK AND FILE OWNERS AND DRIVERS IN THIS BUSINESS HAVE **NOT** SIGNED ON TO OR APPROVED ANY "DEAL", NO MATTER WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED. Please stay tuned to this page, we are going to need each of you as a rock in the avalanche of pushback when the facts reveal themselves. The Teamsters Local 553 union representing the horse and carriage drivers has been negotiating with City Hall and the City Council, which must vote to approve a final deal. The Teamsters have consistently fought de Blasios long-stated goal to completely ban the horse and carriage industry and replace it with electric vintage cars. The way we see things, Malone said, is that were in a better position than we were in two years ago when the mayor wanted to ban us altogether. De Blasios mayoral campaign in 2013 received significant financial support from the multi-millionaire founders of the animal rights group NYCLASS, which has persisted in demanding a ban from City Hall even though a majority of City Council members would not give support. NYCLASS has yet to publicly comment on the new proposals, and de Blasio conceded on Monday that a total horse ban proved to be impossible given the political realities. Numerous polls have also shown that New Yorkers broadly support the horse and carriage industry, and did not want it eliminated. Conor McHugh, a carriage driver from Co. Leitrim for nearly 30 years and a co-owner/manager of the Clinton Park Stables on West 51st Street, told the Irish Voice on Monday that hes not opposed to a move to Central Park, but Im concerned how this will come to fruition, he said. There are things that still have to be worked out. I dont know that everyone will ever totally agree, but I think the potential for hiccups is there and we have to watch out for that. McHugh feels the industry status quo should be completely maintained until the Central Park stable becomes a reality, this way we know for sure, he said. The horse and carriage industry, heavily Irish in tradition, has been put under severe stress since de Blasios election, McHugh said. He is also one of many who believe that NYCLASS is primarily motivated by a desire to obtain the valuable real estate owned by Clinton Park and the three other stables on the West Side. Its been years of uncertainty for us, McHugh said. Its almost like weve had to put our lives hold while we watch how things play out. Pedicab drivers currently working the Central Park circuit are also angered by the proposed deal which would ban them from operating below 85th Street. Its like orange farmers saying, Were going to ban tangerines now, Gregg Zuman, a founder of the New York City Pedicab Owners Association, told The New York Times. Its unbelievable that you would forcibly eliminate your competition. A City Council hearing on the proposals could take place as early as the end of this week, with a full vote soon to follow. Witches? Or some of Ireland's most powerful and notorious women simply victims of their own success? Were some of Irelands most powerful and notorious women really witches? Or were they victims of their own success, falling foul of the jealous and fearful? Lets take a look at three of the most well-known witches to be put on trial in Ireland. Dame Alice Kyteler In Kilkenny, you will find Kytelers Inn, the home and business of Alice Kyteler. In 1324, Alice became the first person to be accused and charged with witchcraft in Ireland. A moneylender in the town, Alice was married a total of four times, with each husband dying under mysterious circumstances, leaving her more wealthy each time. Kytelers Inn was a meeting place for local businessmen who all vied for the attention of the bewitching Alice, showering her with gifts and money. With her staff of luscious women, the premises were by far the busiest in Kilkenny. As local envy and suspicion reached its peak, the surviving children of Alices four husbands had her charged with using poison and sorcery, favoring her firstborn, denying the faith, blaspheming, and making animal sacrifices to the demons of the underworld. Alice had many connections and managed to avoid arrest for some time. After several twists, including her accuser, the Bishop of Ossory, being jailed himself, Alice was finally imprisoned to await trial. First up for trial was Alices maid, Petronella de Meath, who was tortured and confessed to practicing witchcraft with her mistress. Petronella was found guilty and burned at the stake. Alices first son, William, was also found guilty of, among other things, perjury, extortion, and heresy. However, he received a more lenient sentence he had to attend three masses a day for a year and he had to feed the poor. In 1325 Alice escaped. She was tried in her absence and found guilty of Witchcraft. Alice Kyteler remained at large and was never heard from again. Did she use magic to finally be rid of the threat of execution, or was she simply a smart woman, able to use her skills and charm to be a success and escape the stake? Some believe that her spirit still lingers. In 2009, an astounding coincidence came to light, with Kyteler at the center. Paddy Shaw, an artist living the mid-western US, had learned Kyteler's story and in 2003 was inspired to create a painting imagining what she might have looked like. In 2008, an Irishwoman named Claire Nolan wrote a book about Alice Kyteler, titled The Stone. Nolan knew nothing of Shaw or his painting, and he did not learn about Nolan or her book. In early 2009, he decided it was time to send Alice home, so he decided to donate the painting to the Kyteler Inn in Kilkenny. A few months later, friends brought the painting to the attention of Claires father, Pat. It was the exact image of his daughter. Claire, deeply knowledgeable of Alices story, was shocked. It was like looking in the mirror the eyes, the face, posture, body shape, everything was like me except for the malevolent look on Alices face, she said at the time. Im genuinely puzzled. Its a very strange coincidence that somebody would paint a picture of Alice that looks exactly like me when hes never heard of me. Read more: Spooky Halloween tales Florence Newton, the Witch of Youghal Another sensational witch trial for Ireland was that of Florence Newton in 1661. She was accused of enchanting Mary Langdon, the maid of a prominent figure in the town called John Pyne. Florence had called to the house during the winter of 1660 asking for meat from the masters table. The maid refused and the slighted beggar left muttering curses. When Florence met Mary Langdon on the street, she reportedly grabbed her and gave her a vicious kiss, after which time Mary became violently ill. She suffered seizures and visions and the house of her master became subject to poltergeist activity. When Newton was brought into Marys presence her sickness became worse and it is even said she began vomiting needles and nails. Mary claimed that Florence would appear in visions, sticking pins into her body. Newton was also accused of causing the death of her jailer through sorcery, as his widow accused Florence of kissing her husband on the hand shortly before he dropped dead. So important was the trial of the Witch of Youghal that the Irish Attorney General came to Cork to preside, and it was assumed that Florence was found guilty and hanged. It can only be assumed because, despite well-kept records of the beginning of the trial, the remainder of them vanished completely so we will never know exactly what happened to Florence Newton. Read more: Strange Irish curses to hex your enemy. Biddy Early and the magic blue bottle Biddy Early was born in 1778 in Kilenena, County Clare, and took her mothers maiden name. Ellen Early taught her daughter herbal cures. However, both parents died when Biddy was 16 and she was left in poverty, living in the poorhouse. Marginalized for being aloof, rumor had it that Biddy had been talking to the fairies since she was a child and could control them at will. A good-looking woman, Biddy met the first of her four husbands at the market, a man twice her age. Biddy was already making a name for herself as a healer, and she had also opened a successful shebeen, where the local folk would drink illicit alcohol and play cards. Within five years her husband Pat had died from alcohol consumption and she married her stepson John, who also died from alcohol-related issues. Her third husband died in 1868 when she was 70, and in 1869 she married a man in his thirties in exchange for a cure. Read more: Ancient Irish health tips, homemade remedies, and cures. Biddys healing powers seem to have centered on a mysterious blue bottle that was supposedly brought to her by a dead relative from the fairies. No one was allowed to touch the bottle and only true believers would receive help from Biddy. If she knew you had been to a physician you were thrown out, and priests in disguise would be regularly chased away as they tried to get to the root of her power. Biddy publicly denounced the Catholic Church and was accused and charged with witchcraft in 1865, which was very unusual this late on. Fear took hold of those who had agreed to testify and Biddy was acquitted. On her deathbed, she repented and at her funeral, a gathering of priests asked the community to pray for the soul of Biddy Early. Her cottage stands in ruins and her grave in Feakle is unmarked. However, her blue bottle was not to be seen after she died. Did the fairies reclaim the source of Biddy Earlys power? Skilled, manipulative and powerful all three, but could they really have been witches? That knowledge is lost forever, by way of witchcraft or otherwise. --- * Ann O'Regan is a blogger, writer, and the Irish correspondent for Spooky Isles, a site dedicated to ghost stories and tales of horror from the UK and Ireland. More of her work can be read here. * Originally published in October 2014. Police in Australia's New South Wales are investigating the death of a 25-year-old, from Northern Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is providing consular assistance to the family of an Irishman who has died in Australia. By Juno McEnroe, Political Correspondent Enda Kenny has confirmed that he would remain as Taoiseach for a full term if Fine Gael is returned to government, thereby freezing the leadership hopes of his ministers. Speaking to reporters at his party's ard fheis in Dublin's City West today, Mr Kenny also dismissed suggestions that Fine Gael had held secret talks with Independents about any possible coalition government. He also said that he would not be announcing the long-awaited date for the general election this evening during his speech. Asked by the Irish Examiner whether it was his intention to serve a full term if his party was returned, Mr Kenny said it was. He had previously suggested last year that he may not finish out a second term as Taoiseach, if voters put Fine Gael back in power. But his direct and unambiguous answer that he intends to remain as the head of Fine Gael for at least another five years will dampen the hopes of several senior ministers said to be interested in the leadership. These include Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald as well as Health Minister Leo Varadakar. Mr Kenny also denied reports that Fine Gael has held behind-closed door negotiations with Independent TDs about making up the numbers for a coalition after the election. However, Mr Kenny, when asked, would not rule out any possible negotiations with Tipperary TD Michael Lowry (a former Fine Gael minister), who was previously heavily criticised by the Moriarty inquiry. Mr Kenny also said the date of general election, believed by many to be February 26, was "immaterial" and what mattered was who the electorate decided to vote for. Update at 11.20pm: Justin Trudeau says five people have died. LIVE NOW: Justin Trudeau says 5 dead after Saskatchewan school shooting https://t.co/DCvRwYtwb8 pic.twitter.com/i7h5ZNpjlx CBC News (@CBCNews) January 22, 2016 Update at 10.50pm: It has been confirmed that two people have died. Update at 10.20pm: It is reported that a boy with a gun is in RCMP custody. Re: La Loche shooting - 2 dead: chief; 1 in custody: chief & mayor; boy suspect: fire chief https://t.co/yFSyRmuvqh pic.twitter.com/mUEuome70R TheStarPhoenix.com (@TheStarPhoenix) January 22, 2016 Update at 10.10pm: Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall said the shooting occurred at a grade 7 through 12 school in an aboriginal community in the provice. He said there are victims but did not say how many or release any other details. The school said on its Facebook page that it will remain on lockdown until the Royal Canadian Police resolve the matter. It is asking the public to stay away. La Loche is a remote aboriginal community of about 3,000 people in the central Canadian province of Saskatchewan. RCMP just sending out this release about "serious incident" in La Loche. Active and ongoing incident. @CBCSask pic.twitter.com/h5gkXfI2X7 Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) January 22, 2016 Update at 10pm: Local news are reporting that there are at least two unconfirmed deaths. UPDATE: Reports now indicate there are two dead in a school shooting in Northern Saskatchewan. NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) January 22, 2016 Brad Wall, a local politician has stated on Facebook: "Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community. "Thank you to the RCMP and all the emergency personnel who responded quickly to the shootings. Saskatchewan Education and Social Services will be available to provide all necessary crisis support and counselling services to the school and the community." Previous:It's being reported there's been a shooting at a school in Canada. Police say they're responding to a serious incident in Saskatchewan but haven't confirmed the media reports. Meanwhile the Facebook page of La Loche Community School says it's on "lockdown". More as we get it. Flash Russian airstrikes on Friday targeted rebel-bound weapon shipment entering Syria from Turkey, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported, as the Syrian military was making progress against the militant groups close to the Turkish borders. The Russian warplanes struck convoys crossing from Turkey into Syria and weapon depots near the Bab al-Hawa border-crossing, which is under the rebel control, the TV said. The Russian strikes also targeted a rebel battalion near Bab al-Hawa, killing many militants. It wasn't the first Russian strikes against weapon convoys reaching Syria. In 2015, particularly after the Turkish air force downed a Russian war jet over Syria on Nov.24, Moscow carried out intensive airstrikes against the Turkey-backed rebel positions on the Syrian-Turkish borders. In separate attacks, Russian strikes also targeted the positions of the Islamic State (IS) group in several towns in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, according to the report. Meanwhile, state news agency SANA said the Syrian army continued to make progress in the northern countryside of the northwestern province of Latakia, following the recapture of the town of Salma, one of the major strongholds of the rebels in north of the coastal Latakia, the hometown of President Bashar al-Assad and the heartland of his rule. The next step for the Syrian army is to capture Rabia, the second most important rebel bastion in north of Latakia. On Friday, the military forces wrested back control over the Kaloksi Mountain in northeast Latakia, said SANA, adding that the army units also took full control over seven towns in north of Salma, becoming closer to Rabia, and thus Turkey. Citing a military source, SANA said the new military achievement on Friday came after the Syrian army killed over 150 militants, whose comrades fled toward the Turkish territories. SANA said rebel groups in the northern countryside of Latakia include the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the Ahrar al-Sahel, or Freemen of the Coast, and the rebels Brigade Sultan Abdul-Hamid, who are backed by Turkey. SANA contended that such rebel groups combine several foreign jihadists under the support of Turkey. On the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian ground operation room in Latakia is supervised by Russian officers, who are already using Hmaimim airbase in Latakia as a launching pad for the Russian airstrikes against the ultra-radical rebel positions in Syria. The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian forces are making a progress in the Turkmen Mountain in the northern countryside of Latakia amid heavy airstrikes on that area. The progress in northern Latakia is also including the battles in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and once an economic hub near Turkey. Recently, the IS militants started pulling out of the city of al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province following the progress of the Syrian army in the northern province of Aleppo, according to al-Mayadeen TV. The withdrawn militants were sent to Syria's northern city of al-Raqqa, the so-called de facto capital of the IS group, according to the report. In mid-November, 2013, the IS was in full control of the al-Bab. The recent progress of the Syrian army is seen by observers as a push to consolidate positions on ground ahead of the Jan. 25 peace talks in Geneva between representatives of the Syrian government and opposition parties. Payouts of between 40,000 and 75,000 each were yesterday approved by Mr Justice Kevin Cross for the children, some of whom featured in the footage shown in the RTE Breach of Trust documentary in May 2013. The High Court was also told separate actions by the parents of the children who had sued for nervous shock had been settled on undisclosed terms. A number of the chidrens parents were in court as senior counsel read out the cases and the amounts of the settlement, including details of the alleged mistreatment. The 22 children had sued the Links Creche Southside Ltd, Kinsealy, Dublin, and the Links Creche and Montessorri Ltd with offices in Rathmines, Dublin, along with the creche owners Deirdre and Padraig Kelly of Myra Manor, Kinsealy, Dublin, as a result of alleged mistreatment at the childcare facility Links, Abington, Malahide, which was the subject of a documenrary by the RTE Investigations Unit broadcast in May 2013. The defendants had filed a full defence and denied the incidents recorded in the footage were representative of the level of care throughout the creche. The settlements were made without admission of liability. Senior counsel Sasha Gayer told the court that most of the children were under three years of age, pre verbal, and had attended the wobbler room at the Malahide creche. She said there were three categories of cases. Those children in category one had been assaulted or shouted at aggressively or mistreated in some way. The incidents viewed in the footage came within the legal defInition of assault, counsel said. The six children in this category received 75,000 each. Counsel said in one case a boy who had mobility issues was roughly grabbed and slammed onto a mat when he tried to crawl away during circle time. Another toddler was roughly picked up and dropped down again on a sleeping mat. Those in category two could be seen in the footage witnessing or sitting beside their peers while they were being assaulted or shouted at. A third category included those who were present but not in the footage but claimed they were treated in an erratic and inconsistent environment. Some were shouted at during mealtimes or circle time and one had a hand slapped and was cursed at for handling food. Most children had exhibited high levels of stress around nappy changing time, had disturbed sleep, and one child when he woke up in the morning used to say no creche. Parents had noticed behavioural difficulties in their children which stopped as soon as they were removed from the creche. The court was also told that all of the children had made a good recovery and had not suffered any long-lasting effects. Dublin District Court heard Resen Modeley, 30, told gardai it cost 7,000 for an arranged marriage. He admitted to detectives that he had been involved in 50 of them which would have amounted to 350,000 but had to use most the money to cover significant expenses. The father of six was arrested following an investigation by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Dan and Maureen Arnold were convicted at Fermoy District Court last April of an offence contrary to the 2000 Education and Welfare Act, that they contravened a lawful requirement under a school attendance notice by failing to cause their daughter to attend Colaiste an Chraoibhin in Fermoy. The conviction was imposed on April 10, 2015, by Judge Aeneas McCarthy. The Arnolds, of Regina Pio, Bartlemy, Fermoy, Co Cork, who were also fined, denied the charge. They brought judicial review proceedings against the Child and Family Agency (CFA) seeking to have the conviction, which they claim is unfair and in breach of their constitutional rights as a family, quashed. They also sought an order for damages. Representing the couple, Mr Arnold said the convictions were flawed on several grounds including that the CFA had failed to produce any evidence to support its accusations. The CFA, it was further alleged, had no legal basis for the issuance of a school attendance notice. He also claimed the summons he and his wife received in respect of the charge was null and void. Joe Jeffers, for the CFA, opposed the application and counsel argued there was insufficient evidence to allow the couple proceed with their action. After considering submissions from both sides, Mr Justice Donald Binchy dismissed all grounds of the action. From the evidence before the court, the judge said he was satisfied the couple had not made an arguable case that their application was likely to succeed at a full hearing. Following the ruling, Mr Arnold said he would appeal the decision. Mr Justice Binchy did not impose any restrictions on reporting of the case in the media after being informed by Mr Arnold he and his wife wanted to be named as they had previously been identified in reports concerning their conviction. Dublin City Council claims it is the first local authority in Ireland to produce an invasive alien species action plan. It aims to take on the spread of problematic foreign species such as Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, and American mink. The council yesterday said such alien species have a wide-ranging and destructive impact on the economy, indigenous ecology, and on health. The impacts of invasive alien species in terms of degradation of our environment and damage to economic interests necessitate that we recognise invasive alien species management as a key issue for the sustainable development of Dublin, said assistant chief executive Brendan Kenny. The fact that Dublin Bay recently achieved Unesco biosphere status makes it all the more imperative that invasive alien species are given high priority as they are a real and increasing threat to our city and biodiversity, he said. One example offered of the impact of an invasive alien species is the grey squirrel, which was introduced to Ireland in Longford in 1911, but has now spread and ousted the native red squirrel from the environs of the capital. Dublin City Council Among the main recommendations of the draft plan is the implementation of strict biosecurity codes of practice to limit the introduction and spread of alien species, and the introduction of remediation measures for native biodiversity affected by alien species. The public is also to be warned against releasing unwanted pets, particularly exotic animals, into the wild. The draft Invasive Alien Species Action Plan for Dublin City 2016-2020 is open for submissions from the public. It can be viewed at bit.ly/ InvasiveAlienPlan and at Dublins Civic Offices, Wood Quay, until February 12. Submissions can be made in writing to biodiversity@dublincity.ieor by post to Dublin City Council. The parents and their five girls and three boys fled IS-controlled areas of the war-torn country and landed at Dublin Airport last night, after flying from Athens, Greece. Health support, schooling and linguistic help will all be arranged for the young family, particularly to aid the children who are all aged under 11. These people have fled war and destruction. Having spent two years in refugee camps in Turkey, the family are absolutely exhausted. Theyve displayed huge resilience, said a source familiar with their arrival. The deceased, who was in his 30s, was found on White St off Georges Quay on the southside of the inner city, shortly after 7am. A technical examination of the area was carried out by gardai, and the mans body was brought to Cork University Hospital. Meanwhile, the search for Colin Ronayne, who had been missing since January 1, was called off Friday after emergency services recovered a body from the River Lee. Mallow Search and Rescue, who were part of Friday mornings recovery operation, thanked all involved in the three-week search for the 31-year-old. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of volunteers, gardai, naval service, Coast Guard, Killaloe Coast Guard Unit, Crosshaven Coast Guard, Rescue 117, North Cork Civil defence, Irish Search Dogs, CCMPSAR, and Port Of Cork. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Colins family and friends at this sad time, the post read. Mr Ronayne had been last seen around 6.05am that day near Thomas Davis Bridge, known locally as Wellington Bridge. The results of a postmortem examination will form part of a Garda file to be prepared for the coroners court. Appeals are continuing, meanwhile, for three people missing in Cork. Diarmuid Twomey, 31, was last seen at about 3am on Sunday, December, 20, near Fairhill in Gurranabraher. There has been no trace of him. Nayden Nikoloz Ivanov, 36, was last seen getting off a bus at about 4.45pm on December 17 on Lower Oliver Plunkett St. Gardai are concerned for his welfare and urged anyone with information to contact Anglesea St Garda Station on 021 4522000. Leonard Nika, 15, was last seen at Church St, Kanturk, on Thursday at 8am. Described as 5ft6in, broad build, sallow skin and blue eyes, he had been wearing a grey jumper, black jeans, a silver jacket, and black shoes. Contact Kanturk Garda Station on 029 20680. ONE fateful night back in the 1990s, when Cara Delevingne (inset right) was probably still toddling about in nappies, I sat down and plucked out my beautiful bushy eyebrows. At the gawky age of 13, at the time, my burgeoning makeup bag contained little but a tweezers and lip balm. Today, as I grapple with the lasting effects of my biggest beauty blunder each morning, its bulging with eyebrow pencils, powders, stencils and gels, among a plethora of other products. Needless to say, they never grew back. From Cara to the Duchess of Cambridge, brows have, quite literally, never been bigger. Jetting into Dublin to launch her Billion Dollar Brows range recently, Natalie Plain revealed how she was on a mission to save the world from bad brows. Over the years, lots of women tend to pluck a bit off here and there, she says. Next thing you know, youve got eyebrows you dont even recognise. Your eyebrows frame your face, bring out your eyes and enhance your cheekbones, so its not something you should ignore. In the past, women just worked with whatever hair they had to work with now its more of an art form. Women want to understand how to do their brows rather than just winging it. Owner of Billion Dollar Brows Natalie Plain Just as her cubicle buddy Monica Lewinsky was raising eyebrows at the White House, it was a photo taken with US president Bill Clinton that first made fellow former intern Natalie resolve to sort her own. Two decades on, her line of products, now available from Boots stores, includes a 31 Brow Buddy tool to help achieve the perfect shape brow for your face at home. Basically, I saw a photo of myself and said, OK, I need to get my eyebrows done, recalls the 41-year-old. I wanted to be presented as a professional, career-driven woman, so I went and had my eyebrows shaped professionally. Now what I like to do is just a bold brow and bold lip and very little makeup. Taking too much off in the middle, using the wrong shade of pencil and not blending the product properly are among the most common brow crimes, as women bid to strike a balance between scarce and au naturel, Plain adds: Always, always, always when I put the Brow Buddy on someones eyebrows, one eyebrow is too far out. Theres always a little chunk taken off, and the same for the ends. When you shape your eyebrows, theres a start, arch and end point. If your brows are too far apart, everything is exaggerated your eyes look too far apart and your nose appears larger. Once you do it properly, its like day and night. As brow bars continue to sprout throughout the land, threading, tattooing and even transplants are just some of the techniques now being used by women to achieve #eyebrowsonfleek, as Twitter users of a certain age might put it. At Shavata Brow Studio, in Harvey Nichols in Dundrum, a 20 brow shape and 15 brow tint are the most popular treatments. Dundrum is my biggest studio in Ireland and the UK, founder Shavata Singh, whose celebrity clients include Elle Macpherson and Kelly Brook, tells Feelgood from her London home. We opened in July 2010 and since the very first day we have been really busy. Over-plucking and not quite achieving the right shape are the most common problems we see at our studios, while a brow shape and tint is our most popular treatment. I would encourage all women to go and see a brow professional, even if it is just once in your life, she urges. They will analyse the whole face, your lifestyle and age before creating your best shape. Ideally, you should aim to get your eyebrows professionally shaped every two to three weeks. Brow-ned off with constant trips to the salon, and with little left to shape in the first place, two years ago I finally plucked up the nerve to get my eyebrows tattooed on. Now that theyve faded, Im reconsidering my options, including the latest semi-permanent technique, Embrowdery, which slowly releases pigment into the skin to give the illusion of brows. Since introducing Embrowdery to Ireland three years ago, weve treated more than 3,000 clients, says Elaine McParland of Up To My Eyes, a lash and brow salon based in Greystones, Co Wicklow. We get people with cancer, alopecia and people just not happy with their brows and sick of drawing them on. Almost everyone bursts into tears afterwards because theyre so delighted. Unlike tattooing, eyebrow cloning [such as Embrowdery] doesnt cut the skin, so theres no bleeding or scabbing, she says. And if you dont like something, we can easily change it at the next session. Its not like a HD [high definition] fashion brow its more of a day brow. We use very fine hair strokes so it looks more authentic. Your brow just finishes off your look. It doesnt matter how fabulous your hair and lashes are if your brows arent right. After losing all her hair to cancer last year, Wicklow resident Ruth Farnes said the treatment completed over three sessions at a total cost of 460 didnt just restore her eyebrows, it restored her confidence too. I was diagnosed with breast cancer just over a year ago and had surgery and chemotherapy, says Ruth. Having the chemotherapy, I completely lost everything my hair, my eyebrows, my eyelashes. When you have no hair, you can get a wig to put on your head, but I didnt like the powdered eyebrows that a lot of people are wearing. I wanted to go back to what I looked like before I had chemotherapy, added the 68-year-old. Then I saw a poster for Embrowdery and decided to go for it. It was expensive, but it was worth it to get my eyebrows back. Now my hair is coming back too. Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Aniston and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini are just some of the stars whose barely-there brows have also come back from the brink with careful management. But thick bristles are far more than just a beauty trend. In terms of biology, eyebrows are designed to keep sweat out of the eyes and help express and process emotion. Eyebrows are such powerful message givers, explains Jean Caruthers, a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia. The eyebrows show whether youre female or male, whether youre young of whether youre older, whether youre interested, dissatisfied, angry, curious or incredulous. Eyebrows really are our big sigallers. While the average person has around 250 hairs in each eyebrow, with probably half that number still clinging to my forehead, it makes expressing my disappointment with my own sparse pair ironically difficult until I draw them on. Others are taking more drastic measures to battle the permanently startled look by undergoing an eyebrow transplant, which cost around 4,000 per brow. Its like a mini hair transplant, says Dr Maurice Collins, founder and medical director of Hair Restoration Blackrock. Using the patients own hair, we transplant 250 or 300 hairs one by one, following the angle and direction of the original eyebrow. Even though its technically a very skilful procedure, it doesnt take a feather out of the patient. It takes about three to four hours and is all done under local anaesthetic. We do a lot of repair work on burn victims whove lost their eyebrows. We also treat a lot of women who over-plucked their eyebrows as a teenager and want to boost them. Founder of the Hair Restoration Blackrock Dr Maurice Collins With my bank balance currently looking as threadbare as my eyebrows, for now, my new 24 BDB Brow Pencil will have to suffice. Predicting the rise of brows that are bold but not overdone in 2016, Natalie Plain advises: Brows are always going to evolve from season to season. And I think makeup artists are going to be at the forefront of whats cutting edge. Youre going to see a fresh, new brow for 2016 but anyone that would shave off their brows or go thin again is crazy. GET BEAUTIFUL BROWS First apply a little eye primer to your brows to ensure they remain on fleek all day. Next line the top and bottom of your brows with an eyebrow pencil or powder for a softer finish. Starting at the front and using hair-like strokes, fill in the gappy bits until your brows look even. Finally, take an eyebrow brush known as a spoolie in the trade and brush the product through. For added drama, underline the brow with cream concealer one shade lighter than your foundation. BEST BROW PRODUCTS Calculating precisely the right brow shape for your face, Billion Dollar Brows Brow Buddy, 31, which comes with a white pencil, takes the guesswork out of framing your peepers. Complete with a tiny brush and setting wax, NYX Cosmetics Eyebrow Cake Powder kit, 7.49, is a makeup bag must-have for all over-plucked beauties on the go and on a budget. Mini Slant Tweezer with magnifying 10X Mirror by Tweezerman, 35, the perfect portable duo for sculpting beautiful brows at home or away. Perfect for applying eyeliner as well as grooming your brows, Blank Canvas Cosmetics best-selling Double Ended Brow/Spoolie brush, 7.99, isnt just versatile, its animal-friendly too. Available in five shades ranging from Emphatically Blonde to Bold Brunette, MACs Pro Longer Waterproof Brow Set gel, 17.50, promises brows on fleek in the face of Irish weather. Available nationwide. This year just past saw everything take off for Superfolk, an up-and-coming Irish interior brand that is also garnering an international reputation. For its principals, Gearoid Muldowney and Jo Anne Butler, 2016 is already promising to be equally busy while they work to keep up with demand for their products, and at the same time, await the imminent arrival of their most recent collaborative project their first baby. Based in Co Mayo where they design and make a range that includes tables, stools, prints, tea towels and trivets, this location on the western edge of Ireland is the major player in how the range is imagined and developed. Nature and the environment inform the pieces, says Gearoid, but not in a stylised way. But neither are they rough-hewn to mirror such a rugged landscape rather they are fully an amalgam of material heritage and modern methods where Gearoid and Jo Anne work slowly and deliberately to make beautiful, honest objects that have quality and refinement, yet the durability to withstand the rigours of daily domestic life. Craft by its nature is a slow process, born out of respect for materials and time-honoured skill. Much like its parallel in food, the Slow Food Movement, we are developing a greater understanding of how quality that comes from a slow process is to be valued and appreciated, if not coveted. For Gearoid and Jo Anne it began when they met in design college. Both are graduates of the National College of Art and Design where Jo Anne studied fine art and later architecture at University College Dublin. My background is in metal so really I should be making jewellery, quips Gearoid. Such modesty belies the fact that he holds a degree in craft design from NCAD and from Lahti University of Applied Science in Finland. But it was time spent as a workshop hand for other makers that eventually progressed him towards working with Jo Anne. Their first professional collaboration was in 2008, when invited to design a range of stools and tables for an art exhibition. A year later, an invitation to Greenhouse, Stockholm Furniture Fairs exhibition for emerging designers, gave them international exposure. Since then theyve appeared at some of the leading design shows in the world including the London Design Festival, Maison et Objet in Paris, Tokyos Design Week and Design March in Reykjavik. Meanwhile their contract furniture made its way to Hamburg and London, the latter including chairs for the cafe at Somerset House, home to the prestigious Courtauld Gallery. Now Superfolk sells in places like Berlins Bauhaus Museum, in France and in Japan with an ever-growing reach that requires a considerable amount of travel for Gearoid. In turn, one would think this necessitated being based in a big city near an international airport, but instead he and Jo Anne turned away from urban living, packed up the wagons and headed west, back to Mayo where they both grew up and where Superfolk now designs and makes products for sale here in Ireland and worldwide. With just two of them designing and making in the workshop, with no additional staff and a growing business, how do they keep up? We have some outsourcing, Gearoid explains. Our fabrics for tea towels and prints come ready hemmed, but we do everything else ourselves. To look at the pattern of a wall-hanging is to see edible seaweeds theyve foraged. A trivet made from ash to hold a hot cooking pot echoes the shape of a wild daisy or maybe a sea urchin, depending on where your imagination takes you. A tea towel design on Irish linen is inspired by dry stone walling and even a pastime like fishing informs the work. I fly fish, explains Gearoid. In the trout environment everything is influenced by the Ph balance of the bedrock which affects the fish living there. His comment is a little off-topic but in it is a keen and detailed observation of nature that in turn impacts Superfolks products, singling them out, bridging as they do the gap between old and new the landscape formed over millennia and new designing and making methodologies that ensure they travel well and are easily understood abroad. * Stockists: Ardmore Pottery, The Cliff (Dunmore East), Maven (Belfast), Kaleidoscope (Westport). SUCH is the prime location of Mary and Paddy Milners living room in relation to the Macroom GAA pitch, they could charge for tickets. It could by a Muskerry executive box, of sorts. The poor things, Mary says, gesturing at the green swathe, the entirety of which is within eyeshot of her sitting room. They were playing a match in the rain and wind the other night. We were sitting in here. The couple, who recently moved to Macroom from Blackpool in Cork City, are arguably sitting pretty in more ways than one. They now live in an apartment in the Granary development in the town centre, with security of tenure, rent levels based on income, and with voluntary housing association Cluid Housing as a landlord. The days of waiting on the local authority housing list stressful, Mary says are long gone. As the housing crisis continues to feature in broadcasts and headlines, this is one of the good news stories. The Granary was first in development in 2005, a modern apartment block set in the centre of the town. Then the bust came and as James OHalloran, Cluids new business and development manager says, it sat idle. It was built for a different market, he says. It was unfinished. It was starting to become a target for vandalism. Unlike some other developments, however, it had something going for it, namely its location, meaning it was suitable for residents who might not have a car and who needed to be close to facilities and shops. James OHalloran, Cluids new business and development manager, housing manager John OSullivan, and Frances OBrien, housing officer, at the Granary After initially seeking lease approval, Cluid went on to buy the property once another 500,000 was spent by the developer to finish it. Following the Cluid method of acquisition using private finance via the Housing Financing Agency and backed at the beginning by a small Government loan, the 29-unit property became available for social housing, removing some people off the social housing waiting list. So far, 17 of the units have been filled, from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom affairs across two levels. With their nice fittings and balcony views, its an approximation of the Celtic Tiger development it was initially designed to be, only now, the tenants are those deemed in need of secure housing. One new tenant is Pat [not his real name]. His apartment is beginning to take shape, with a deep new carpet and his sofa set, aided by a grant from Community Welfare. Before he secured his place in Macroom, just before Christmas, he had been on the housing list for 26 years, in private rented accommodation of all shapes and sizes. Some of the places, you wouldnt put a dog into, he says. I wanted to get off the list and get a place. I can call this my home. He also has a medical condition and says the new home has benefited his health and lifestyle, and he is getting to know some of the neighbours. Not long before his move, his rent was increased in his old lodgings by almost 25% in one go. I am completely chilled out since moving here, he says. One of the apartments at the Granary in Macroom, acquired by the Cluid Housing Association using private finance via the Housing Financing Agency and a loan. James OHalloran and Cluid housing officer Frances OBrien agree that without the assistance of Cork County Council, the 29 units in the Granary would not have come to fruition. They are still receiving nominations from the local authority for tenants to fill the remaining 12 units and some of those could well be people more recently affected by the housing crisis and living in emergency accommodation. Frances says: From a lot of perspectives, its a fresh start. The tenants undergo an interview and checks are also made with gardai regarding their suitability. However, while the Granary development was a prime spot for this type of scheme, not every unfinished relic from the boom is as suitable. James says that, at some point, new developments will have to be built, new landbanks sourced and located, new agreements put in place to facilitate the number of people who need a roof over their heads, and some longer-term security amid a rental market that has priced many families out of contention. James says Nama has a huge role to play in all of this, and that the Cluid model could be rolled out successfully in other areas. Cluid Housing is targeting 1,500 units over the next three years, though the county-by-county breakdown depends on what is available and where. What has been delivered already has been a huge success. Cluid also facilitated its 100th mortgage-to-rent just before Christmas, allowing someone in danger of losing their home through repossession to stay on in the property as a tenant. Mary and Paddy moved in on December 21, just in time for Christmas. They had been Cluid clients for a number of years in Blackpool, following years on the housing list, but now its a case of taking in the scenery and setting off on the long walks facilitated by the paths close to the GAA pitch. Mary, who still works in Cork City, speaks fondly of her son, who is living and working in Colorado. On the balcony there is a photo of him on graduation day. She says his departure for the United States helped prompt their move to Macroom, as she was getting lonesome in the city. I would be homeless only for Cluid because I couldnt afford the rent I was paying, she says. But those days are gone. When asked for her favourite aspect of living in her new place, she doesnt hesitate. The view, the view, she says. Where would you buy that view? Christine Lagarde, arguably the most powerful woman in the world, is six months away from the end of her term as managing director of the trillion-dollar International Monetary Fund (IMF), but when she talks about the organisation its clear she considers her work unfinished. What I would like to see going forward in the institution is it being more agile, having the ability to harness development and leverage the knowledge which we have in this organisation which is huge and make it available to members, Lagarde says, during an interview at her office in downtown Washington. She describes her time at the IMF as a roller coaster but adds, I am available [for a second term] if the membership decides so. The membership is the 24 directors who make up the executive board that chooses the IMFs managing director. A lot of powerful people want her to stay. In October, UK finance minister George Osborne tweeted: Delighted to support Lagarde for another term as head of IMF. She is in both the English and French meaning of the word formidable. Delighted to support @Lagarde for another term as head of #IMF. She is - in both the English and French meaning of the word - 'formidable'. George Osborne (@George_Osborne) October 9, 2015 Many think Lagarde has helped keep the world economy on track in a very difficult period and steered the IMF toward a more activist approach to issues like gender equality, public health and the refugee crisis in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. If she wants a second term, they say, the world would be lucky to have her. But two days after her interview, Lagarde received some unwelcome news from Paris, the city in which she was born news that could help bring a swift end to her hopes for a second term, permanently damage her reputation and put her in prison for a year. On December 17, the Court of Justice of the Republic ordered Lagarde to stand trial on a charge of negligence relating to her alleged involvement in a financial scandal that has dogged her since 2011. In September, Frances prosecutor-general, Jean-Claude Marin, recommended that the court drop the charge against Lagarde, but it ruled otherwise. Lagarde responded to requests for comment through a spokesman, saying: I have instructed my lawyers to appeal this decision, which I consider to be totally unfounded. The courts ruling is not the only challenge to Lagarde securing a second-term. Representatives from powerful emerging economies the so-called BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa say it is time one of their own led the fund. (Many developing economies also object to the tradition of an American always leading the World Bank.) Christine Lagarde: Critics portray Lagarde as a cloistered member of the European elite, concerned primarily with preserving the dominant capitalist system and bolstering the rich and powerful. Even in Europe, Lagardes antagonists are growing in number. Greece and its allies have criticised the IMFs handling of that countrys sovereign debt crisis, saying it should not have intervened and its early recommendations were unduly harsh on ordinary Greek citizens. In a study released in 2013, the IMF admitted it had underestimated the effect its recommendations of austerity would have on the Greek economy. The emerging economies and Europes increasingly popular leftists on December 20, the left-wing Podemos party finished third in the Spanish general election and could yet help form a coalition government portray Lagarde as a cloistered member of the European elite, concerned primarily with preserving the dominant capitalist system and bolstering the rich and powerful. Her supporters say this grossly misrepresents a woman who has used much of her time in office to help the dispossessed and disempowered through actions that are not strictly part of the IMFs mandate. It is disingenuous, they say, to argue that the managing director of the IMF should not do all she can to keep the global economy as stable as possible; capitalism is the dominant economic model in the world, her supporters say, and it is her job to make sure it works as well as it can. This argument will continue should Lagarde win a second term. If she doesnt, the fund has indicated it will find a different sort of leader to replace her. David Lipton, the IMFs second-in-command, said last July that once Lagarde steps aside, her successor is likely to be a non-European and that the persons appointment will be strictly merit-based. The charges against Lagarde relate to a financial scandal known in France as LAffaire Tapie. In 1993, French businessman Bernard Tapie sold his majority stake in the sportswear brand Adidas in order to join the cabinet of former socialist president Francois Mitterrand as minister for urban affairs. Bernard Tapie Tapie claimed that the then state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais had mishandled the sale, and he sued them. The legal dispute ran until 2007 when Tapie switched political sides and began backing the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, who beat Segolene Royal in the French presidential election in 2007. In 2007, Lagarde, who served as Sarkozys finance minister, approved the members of an arbitration panel that investigated the dispute between Tapie and the bank. A year later, the three-member panel went on to award Tapie $435m in compensation. Critics accused the Sarkozy government of giving favourable treatment to one of its supporters, and the court of appeal launched an investigation. On December 3, 2015, after years of legal wranglings, the Paris court of appeals ordered Tapie to return the cash, with interest. Lagardes legal woes are not the first for a managing director of the fund. Fellow French national Dominique Strauss-Kahn was forced to resign in 2011 after a hotel maid in New York City alleged that he raped her. (Lawyers settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.) The director before Strauss-Kahn, the Spaniard Rodrigo Rato, was arrested in April 2015, seven years after leaving the fund, on charges of tax evasion and money-laundering with regards to his personal finances. His case is ongoing. The Tapie case has become a convenient tool for critics who say that Lagarde born into a well-to-do family to a mother who taught Latin, Greek and French literature, and a father who was a professor of English literature favours the wealthy and the privileged. Her tenure as finance minister in a politically conservative government is another mark against her for Europes leftists. There is probably no population in Europe less fond of Lagarde than the Greeks. The IMF entered the Greek debt negotiations back in 2010 at the request of the Greek government and quickly became unpopular in the cash-strapped country. The initial bailout the fund suggested, which came with a package of pension cuts, wage freezes and tax increases, resulted in Greece losing a quarter of its aggregate income, said Domenico Lombardi, a former executive board member at the IMF. Lagarde defends the IMFs role in the crisis. For some people to say the IMF should not have been involved, I say lets look at the facts and the numbers and the threats that we had to the financial stability of the global economy at the time, she says. I dont think it would cross anyones mind that in 2010 we should not have supported Greece and we should not have responded to their request to the IMF to have support. At the time, this request was met with horror among opposition politicians, among them the current left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who worried publicly that the IMF would implement harsh cost-cutting measures. Alexis Tsipras When Lagarde took over as managing director, the IMF was already unpopular in Greece. She may not have helped its reputation when, soon after beginning her tenure, she gave an interview during which she said that ordinary Greeks were trying to escape tax all the time. In riposte, many Greeks pointed to her annual tax-free salary of $467,940 and tax-free allowance of $83,760. The remark about tax-dodging, they said, showed that she didnt care about Greeces problems and that she was out of touch with the financial challenges facing its citizens. Lagarde also insisted that Greece needed to make significant reforms to its labour and pension markets to reduce its high levels of debt. Though she has also advocated debt relief for Athens, many Greeks say they no longer trust her to represent their interests. Tsipras said in December that the IMFs position on fiscal and financial issues was unconstructive and that from now on Greeces bailout program should be handled by European countries and organisations only. Tsipras has made it clear that he wants Greece to handle its debt crisis; as the leader of a country thats part of the eurozone Tsipras cannot be rid of the European Commission or European Central Bank, but he can try to push the IMF out of the troika a term for the de facto alliance formed by the three groups in the crisis. A former Greek finance official, who asked to remain anonymous because he says he intends to publish his own account of the financial crisis, has few kind words for Lagarde. Lagarde has two hats one is head of the IMF and one is that of a European politician who has not lost all ambition to return to the political scene in Paris, to run for president. In 2012, Lagarde laughed such suggestions off, saying, Presidential ambition is not an illness you catch in Washington, a nod to Strauss-Kahn, who intended to run for president once he left the IMF. That second hat, the official added, is at odds with her current position and causes her to advocate policies for Greece that favour Europes big political players. Lagardes friendship with the German chancellor Angela Merkel another figure of scorn for many Greeks for her role in the debt crisis further cements the impression among many Greeks that Lagarde is part of a Western European elite. (The pair regularly call and text each other about policy issues. Lagarde says she and Merkel also exchange small gifts from time to time. [Merkel] is a music aficionado, and so am I, she says. Angela Merkel She very often gives me CDs beautiful recordings of music.) Lagardes approach to the Greek crisis provoked some criticism from within the IMF as well. Paulo Nogueira Batista Jnr, a former member of the IMF executive board who left in June 2015 to represent Brazil as vice president of the New Development Bank an organisation that the BRICS nations operate as an alternative to the Western-led IMF and World Bank told Newsweek he felt conditions the IMF imposed on Greece were unduly harsh. In protest, he abstained from two votes on the debt crisis during board meetings and once left his seat empty in frustration at how the fund was managing the crisis with what he felt was little compassion for the indebted nation. But economists like Batista have another criticism of Lagardes directorship and that criticism speaks directly to who she is rather than what she has done. She is the 11th European in a row to run the IMF it is an outdated position to reserve the managing directorship for a European, Batista says. If the IMF wants to be a 21st-century institution, it needs to have a truly merit-based system without this geographical preference. It cannot go on reserving the number one position for a European national. He says that a representative from one of the BRICS countries should lead the fund. Lagardes critics know that theyre probably outgunned. When Newsweek arranged the interview with Lagarde, her office suggested a call with the US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, one of her many powerful supporters. He spoke about her in glowing terms. She can work through night after night and in the morning still approach both issues and people in a way that keeps them engaged and interested, he says. Not only does she have influential supporters in the United States and Europe the worlds two biggest economies, if Europe is taken as a bloc but she has developed good relations with China. In 2011, she made Zhu Min, a former deputy governor of the Peoples Bank of China, a deputy managing director at the IMF. He was the first Chinese person to hold such a senior role. On November 30, the IMF added Chinas yuan to its basket of reserve currencies, joining the US dollar, the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. A mixture of these currencies make up the IMFs loan payments to countries such as Greece. The yuans inclusion indicates the IMF believes Chinas currency to be both strong and stable. Lagarde has also suggested that one day the IMF might relocate from Washington to Beijing. To her critics, these moves are more examples of her comforting the comfortable. But her allies say she uses her power and influence in other ways. Jose Vinals, who serves as Lagardes financial counsellor and director of the monetary and capital markets department at the IMF, says his boss goes out of her way to promote young women and gender equality. He recalled a cocktail party in 2014 in Santiago, Chile, at which a group of 15-to-16-year-old high school girls were helping out. The first thing [Lagarde] does, she goes to the girls, and she spends five minutes speaking to them, Vinals says. And then she says, Come, Im going to introduce you. Lagarde took the girls to meet the assembled dignitaries, telling them that they could talk to Vinals about economics, if they wanted. When she took over the fund, Lagarde gave much more attention to the issue of gender inequality. In October, the IMF released a report titled Catalyst for Change: Empowering Women and Tackling Income Inequality. It found that reducing gender inequality by 0.1% (as measured by the UNs Gender Inequality Index), led to economic growth by almost 1%. The results were not particularly surprising or original but the paper showed the funds commitment to addressing the problem. Lagarde downplays her role in the funds increased efforts in addressing gender inequality. I think I was facilitating a process that was already under way, she says. Our economists are curious by nature, and when they identify a critical issuethey want to understand [it] better. But, she adds, I probably gave the visibility that was needed to encourage some to nose around and to see what else, besides the purely fiscal, could matter. Lagarde has also involved the IMF in humanitarian crises in ways that are new to the institution. When the refugee crisis began, the IMF, which is not mandated to give aid, had to find more creative methods to help out in the crisis. In Jordan, for example, where the IMF already has a financial programme to help and advise the government on economic policy, the fund, Lagarde says, has brought into the programme much more flexibility to take into account the fact that [Jordan is] spending money on refugees, to take into account the fact they have refugee camps and massive infrastructure drains on the economy. The IMF also relaxed Jordans deadlines for its fiscal targets and adjusted other elements of the programme such as financial disbursements. Thanks to my Cameroonian hosts as I depart Africa! pic.twitter.com/MhWFZYOSwW Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) January 9, 2016 The refugee crisis is the second major emergency Lagarde has led the IMF through. When the ebola epidemic began in West Africa in 2014, medical aid agencies began sending staff to the region. Given that the epidemic was primarily a health emergency, the IMF, Lagarde says, had no real cause to get involved. But she decided the fund should intervene. We harnessed the goodwill in this institution, we put our thinking hats on and found all available trust funds that we had that could be re-engineered in order to address that situation, she says. We were the first one to put cash in the banks so that [the governments of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone] could pay doctors, nurses and people in order to address the disease. With the ebola epidemic largely over, Lagarde is hoping the fund will respond to future emergencies in a similar way. But her time for developing the funds involvement in humanitarian missions may be fast running out. Lagarde is attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, a gathering of economists, business leaders and political figures, which finishes today. The goal of the meeting is, in the words of WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab, to improve the state of the world. But as the delegates discussed the threats facing political stability and the global economy in 2016, they also know that one of their most powerful colleagues has a very personal battle ahead of her in the coming months: fighting for her career and her freedom. Five restaurants are being prosecuted while 30 others, ranging from Shanghai dumpling joints to noodle shops in southwestern Chongqing, are under investigation, said the China Food and Drug Administration. Cases of cooks sprinkling ground poppy powder, which contains low amounts of opiates like morphine and codeine, in soup and seafood are not new in China, though it is unclear whether they can effectively hook a customer or deliver a noticeable buzz. The French PM told the BBC: Its Europe that could die, not the Schengen area. If Europe cant protect its own borders, its the very idea of Europe that could be thrown into doubt. It could disappear, of course, the European project, not Europe itself, not our values, but the concept we have of Europe, that the founding fathers had of Europe. Yes, that is in very grave danger. Thats why you need border guards, border controls on the external borders of the European Union, he said. He left little doubt that he believes German chancellor Angela Merkels announcement last year that her country would welcome hundreds of thousands of refugees had encouraged more people to come to Europe. We need to help Germany, said the French PM. But the main message we must send now with the greatest of firmness is to say that we will not take in all the refugees in Europe. A message that says come, you will be welcome provokes major shifts of population. If you say anything in Europe today, a few seconds later it is on the smartphones of people in refugee camps near Libya. Meanwhile, former British prime minister Tony Blair said there was a genuine desire to be generous to refugees, but Europe needed to respond to public concern about security. Theres an issue of numbers. How many people can Europe absorb?But theres also an issue of security. Can we be sure exactly who is coming in? he said. Those two issues combined make it a very, very tough political challenge. Newly updated figures revealed that the number of people who applied for asylum in the EU last year has passed 1.25m. At least 43 people, including 17 children, drowned when their boats capsized off two Greek islands near the Turkish coast yesterday, coastguards said, marking one of the deadliest days for migrants risking the perilous route to Europe from Turkey. According to survivors testimonies, dozens were on board a wooden sailboat which went down off Kalolimnos, a small island in the Aegean Sea close to Turkeys coast, one coastguard official said. Twenty six people were rescued and at least 35 refugees drowned in one of the worst incidents in months, the official said. It was not clear why the vessel capsized, but witnesses said strong winds were blowing at the time. Fishing vessels assisted the search and rescue operation which lasted hours. In the sinking at Farmakonisi, another small island also close to the Turkish coast, six children and two women drowned when their wooden boat crashed on rocks shortly after midnight. The International Organisation for Migration said the deaths of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean already make this the deadliest January on record. According to court documents since removed from the internet from an ongoing lawsuit against Google by software firm Oracle, a deal was allegedly put in place between the two Silicon Valley firms that also saw Google pay Apple a percentage of revenue from traffic made on Apples mobile devices. However Bloomberg, who first reported the story, said the court transcript referencing the deal has since vanished without a trace from electronic court records. Burma The Would-Be Leaders of Burmas New Parliament Though the National League for Democracy is sending mixed signals on its nominating process for the legislatures speakerships, the party spokesman has offered some names. RANGOON The National League for Democracy (NLD) offered a clearer picture of its plans for governance over the 2016-21 period this week, only to muddy the waters once more a day later, with two reports sending mixed signals as the party grapples with coordinating a communications strategy for a press eager for any tidbit on offer. On Wednesday, NLD spokesman Nyan Win told the news wire Agence France-Presse (AFP) that senior party member Win Myint would be tapped to serve as speaker of the Union Parliaments Lower House, while the ethnic Karen MP-elect Mahn Win Khaing Than, also of the NLD, would get the partys backing for the Upper House. One day later, central committee member Win Htein sought to walk back those remarks, however, telling reporters after a parliamentary session in Naypyidaw that the nominee list was not finalized. This, of course, left media in the difficult position of having to weigh the word of an official NLD spokesman against that of a fellow central committee member. Win Htein and Nyan Win could not be reached for comment seeking clarification on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Contacted by The Irrawaddy on Thursday, a senior member of the party did not refute Nyan Wins comments, but declined to discuss the issue. In the end, The Irrawaddy offers a look at the backgrounds of the two would-be speakers, while again noting that that the party has offered conflicting information on whether the two men will indeed be the leaders of the next Parliament. The Union Parliament will convene on Feb. 1 and nominees for the speakerships will be voted on sometime shortly thereafter. Win Myint Win Myint is considered to be something of a right-hand man for NLD chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi. An NLD central committee member, 65-year-old Win Myint was re-elected to Parliament on Nov. 8, winning a Lower House seat in Rangoons Tamwe Township. In an indication of his standing within the party, Suu Kyi brought Win Myint with her when she met with outgoing President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw on Dec. 2, less than a month after the NLDs landslide election victory. Win Myints presence at the high-profile meeting had led to speculation that he might be nominated to serve as president of an NLD-led government, an office Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from holding. He was born in the Irrawaddy Delta and studied geology at Rangoon University before studying law in the 1980s. He was working as a barrister in 1988 when nationwide pro-democracy protests led to the founding of the NLD, which Win Myint subsequently joined. He won a seat in Burmas 1990 election, the results of which were annulled by the military, which went on to imprison him and many other victorious NLD candidates in the years that followed. In Burmas 2012 by-election, he was elected to the Lower Houses Pathein Township seat and was subsequently assigned to the secretary position of the Lower Houses Rule of Law and Tranquility Committee, which is chaired by Suu Kyi. Win Myint is said to have been one of four key party leaders responsible for the selection of NLD candidates ahead of the 2015 campaign, a process marred by controversy. Mahn Win Khaing Than The NLDs purported choice for the Upper House, should it come to pass, would make good on a party pledge to bring a diverse array of ethnic voices to positions of power during its tenure. A Karen Christian, Mahn Win Khaing Than joined the NLD in 2013 and contested for the first time in the 2015 election, winning a seat in the Upper House representing a Myawaddy Township constituency. Born in Irrawaddy Divisions Hinthada Township, Win Khaing Than also graduated from Rangoon University, with a law degree in 1975. He has ties to Suu Kyis father Gen. Aung San, with his grandfather Mahn Ba Khaing having been assassinated alongside Burmas independence hero in 1947. Before 1988, the 63-year-old served as secretary of the Karen Literature and Culture Association and in 1990 joined the Union Karen League (UKL), which contested the election that year. Ethnic Unknowns The NLD has not yet revealed the bicameral legislatures two deputy speakers by name, but AFP on Wednesday quoted Nyan Win as saying they would both be members of ethnic minorities, one drawn from the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the other a Kachin from the incumbent Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Speculation appears to have coalesced around two names: Aye Tha Aung, the ANP patron who was elected last year to an Upper House seat in Arakan State, and sitting ethnic Kachin parliamentarian T Khun Myat of the USDP, who chairs the Lower Houses Bill Committee. T Khun Myat T Khun Myat is said to be a close ally of outgoing Union Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann, who has established a good working relationship with Suu Kyi since she entered Parliament in 2012. Suu Kyi and Shwe Mann have reportedly met often in the post-election period, and T Khun Myat was included in at least one of those meetings, on Nov. 19 in Naypyidaw, less than a week after the NLD secured the parliamentary majority it needed to form the next government. While the dots can be connected, T Khun Myats selection for the deputy speaker post would raise some eyebrows, given that he has faced allegations of involvement in the illicit narcotics trade in a series of investigative reports by the Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N.). T Khun Myat, a 65-year-old ethnic Kachin, graduated with a law degree from Rangoon University and rose through the ranks of the civil service to legal director of the Attorney Generals Office. He retired in 2010 to contest that years general election, in which he won a Lower House seat in Kutkai Township. His ties to the USDP go back to the former military government that preceded it, serving as the secretary of the Kutkai Township Peace and Development Council under the junta. While he was serving as legal director at the Attorney Generals Office from 1990 to 2010, he concurrently served as leader of a local paramilitary force in Kutkai Township under the command of the Burma Armys North East Command. He also took part in the constitutional drafting commission in 2007. He was secretary of the Kutkai Township Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and an executive of the northern Shan State chapter of the USDP that succeeded it. Sai Leik from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) told The Irrawaddy on Friday that T Khun Myat was tasked by Shwe Mann with drafting a policy on federalism, but Sai Leik said he was unaware of what progress had been made on the assignment. There has no reason to object if the NLD nominates him as deputy speaker, but if it happens, he needs to follow the lead of the NLD, and if he can continue and complete that task, thats fine. Aye Tha Aung Aye Tha Aung told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that though there has speculation that he could be nominated as Upper House deputy speaker, he had not yet received any information from the NLD about it. He was born in Myebon Township, Arakan State, and served as a sergeant-major and for a time worked in Ka-Pa-Sa, the heavy (Military) Industry Corporation, but was dismissed and imprisoned due to his underground political activities. He was released in a 1974 amnesty, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). His pro-democracy activities also earned him an arrest in 2000, and he was released in 2002. He was chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), a political party once outlawed by Burmas former military regime that later merged with the3 Rakhine Nationalities Development Party (RNDP) to form the ANP. The ANP won 22 seats in the Union Parliament in Nov. 8 election, clearly establishing it as the countrys strongest ethnic political party. The ANP also won 23 of 47 state parliament seats on Nov. 8, just short of a majority in the Arakan State legislature. Economy The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Jan 23, 2016) CITIC pledges protections for Kyaukphyu; CSOs question pending EU trade deal; Seoul-backed local think tank launched; Central Bank gets new computer system. CITIC Official Pledges Environmental, Social Protections for Kyaukphyu A senior official at the Chinese company leading the consortium that will develop a port and industrial zone in western Burma has promised that the project will create jobs for local people and protect the local environment. The award of the contracts to the state-owned China International Trust and Investment Corporation, or CITIC, has been met with concern from local civil society groups in Kyaukphyu, where the special economic zone will be constructed. In an interview with Chinese state newswire Xinhua in Beijing, however, CITIC Constructions vice chairman, Yuan Shaobin, reportedly made a number of pledges about the project, which he insisted was driven purely by business value. We need to find a way to preserve the environment while fundamentally improving the infrastructure, and share the dividends released by the projects with Myanmar and the local people, Yuan was quoted saying. The social impacts of the development would also be measured, he said, declaring that at least 2,000 jobs for local people would be created, and training opportunities, as well as schools, health clinics and emergency rescue services provided for the area, which is prone to cyclones. Locals may respond that they have heard such promises before. The area is already the terminus of cross-country oil and gas pipelines connecting southwestern Chinas Yunnan province with the Bay of Bengal. Local activists say previous Chinese investments in Kyaukphyu have not involved sufficient local consultation and have not been transparent about what safeguards were in place to protect local communities and the environment. In his interview, CITICs Yuan promised a more orderly, beautiful, convenient and comfortable Kyaukphyu for the locals. Ironically, the developer from one-party state China also had a message of hope for the political future of Burma, which he reportedly described as an untapped virgin land in Asia. I hope the incumbent and incoming Myanmar governments can adhere to the path of democracy, reform and opening-up, and inject more impetus into its economic development, he said, according to Xinhua. Civil Society Groups Question EU Trade Deal A group of 571 Burmese civil society organizations has written to the European Unions commissioner for trade raising questions about the ongoing consultation process for Burmas bilateral trade deal with Europe. Burma and the EU have been negotiating an Investment Protection Agreement since 2014, which will set in place some terms of trade and investment. Controversially, such agreements often remove local governments powers to change investment conditions, giving companies the right to sue the state in offshore tribunals if policy changes impact on investment. Private firm Development Solutions is currently collecting responses to a survey getting the feedback of stakeholders on the deal. The deadline for the questionnaire, which has been extended twice, is Feb. 25. The collection of civil society organizations, some coming from the Myanmar Alliance on Transparency and Accountability and the Lands in Our Hands Network, is unhappy with the way the consultation is being conducted. The groups all signed a joint letter to the EUs trade czar, Cecilia Malmstrom, to raise their concerns directly. The groups say that the questionnaire appears to be aimed at businesses and that the nature of the questions themselves was problematic. How can we answer questions asking for our views on potential impacts of the IPA when we have never read the full text up for the negotiation? the letter dated Jan. 14 reads. If the EU is genuinely interested in our views, we would like to ask you to give us full insights in the text which has been proposed for negotiations and the different positions taken so far by [the European Commissions Directorate General for Trade] and the Myanmar government. The groups also pointed out that that the consultation does not tackle the question of whether an Investment Protection Agreement is needed at all. The groups, the letter says, believe that Myanmar should not sign IPAs at this moment in time with these provisions. Myanmar is still in its very early stages of democratization and peace building. Many laws and policies still need to be revised. An IPA would severely endanger our prospects for democracy and sustainable peace. South Korean-Backed National Think Tank Launched A new Burmese government-linked think tank set up with funding from the South Korean government has been officially opened in Rangoon, state media reports. The Global New Light of Myanmar said the Myanmar Development Institute, or MDI, would get $20 million of funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) over five years. MDI will play a role of national think-tank in Myanmar as it is a decision maker to plan national socioeconomic and country policy after its launching, the newspaper said. The institute will be led by a central committee including representatives of nine Burmese government ministries, it said. The new institute appears to be similar to the Myanmar Development Resource Institute that President Thein Sein founded in 2011 as he initiated a raft of economic reforms shortly after taking over from the previous military government. Presidential economic advisor Zaw Oo, executive director of the Myanmar Development Resource Institutes Center for Economic and Social Development, is chairing the central working committee of the new institute, according to the report. Malaysias Edotco to Invest $200M in Burma After sealing a deal to buy the majority stake in the Myanmar Tower Company last year, Edotco, part of Malaysias Axiata Group, has announced plans to invest a massive $200 million in Burma. According to the website Mobile World Live, Edotcos CEO Suresh Sidhu said in a statement that the company, along with its local partner Yoma Strategic Holdings, will build some 5,000 towers for the countrys growing mobile phone networks. We are dedicated to establishing a high quality telecommunications network in Myanmar, Sidhu was quoted saying. This will be achieved through the introduction of sustainable and value-added services, such as alternative energy solutions, dual-purpose structures and our proprietary echo remote monitoring and management system. New Computer System for Burmas Central Bank The Central Bank has received a new computer system that will modernize the way it settles payments between the countrys banks, according to a statement from Japans aid agency, JICA, which is funding the system. At a cost of almost $44 million in grant funding, JICA said the project had provided new payment infrastructure and prompt offices functions for CBM [Central Bank of Myanmar] to promote payment environment and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) among Central Bank of Myanmar and financial institution. The CBM-NET covers fund settlement, T-bond/ T-bill settlement, collateral management for Kyat liquidity, DVP and Mechanized Clearing House. Myanmar needed to catch up with other ASEAN member states in financial sector development, the statement said. Therefore, ICT system for interbank fund settlement and T-bond/T-bill settlement is one of the top priorities, as this will bring about immediate benefits to the financial institutions. Burma Dateline Irrawaddy: The NLD Understands What Civil Society Is For On this weeks edition of Dateline Irrawaddy, founding Editor Aung Zaw speaks with Kyaw Thu about the role of civil society under the new government. Aung Zaw: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy, this week our guest is Ko Kyaw Thu, who leads a civil society organization (CSO) called Paung Ku. Paung Ku was established in 2007 and has been actively engaged in social works since the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Im Irrawaddy Editor Aung Zaw. Ko Kyaw Thu, welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. Both local and international commentators say that Myanmar is undergoing a big political shift at present and it is very interesting to see the developments. The National League for Democracy (NLD) government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will take power soon. Im interested to learn what changes CSOs will see during this paradigm shift. As far as we understand, CSOs have had greater space in the time of President U Thein Sein. The president has also met CSOs in person. And CSOs have spoken out against land confiscation issues and China-backed projects. The Thein Sein government is no different from the former regime in mounting brutal crackdowns, arresting and repressing student protestors. But we have learned that there has been greater space for CSOs compared to the past. Paung Ku, as a CSO, has also enjoyed greater space. But as far as I understand, CSOs do not enjoy full freedom. We learn that [the government is] keeping a watchful eye and impeding the activities of CSOs. What is the likely scenario for CSOs after the NLD government comes to power? Kyaw Thu: U Thein Seins government came to power under the 2008 Constitution, so their legitimacy is weak. But they are clever. To show that they are making a change, they have made use of CSOs. By granting greater freedom for them, it has tried to convince [the public] that it is making changes. This has however brought a lot of benefits to CSOs. We could operate openly and take up opportunities to operate more. In fact, the government has engaged with CSOs in its interestto make itself appear legitimate. AZ: They have established legitimacy by doing so. KT: Yes, they did. And the number of people who were deceived into believing that they would be able to work together with the government is not small. The government did do some good thingsI mean it has made a good beginningbut, whether its changes are real or not, time tells all. At first, the government gave us freedom, but in the end, farmers, students and activists who have stood up for their rights were imprisoned. If somebody exercises their rights, the government prohibits it. It is fair to say that they are clever. AZ: The government has granted a certain degree of freedom for the media, but at the same time there was also suppression, wasnt there? KT: Yes, it allowed for greater space, both for the media and CSOs in the beginning. But its real face was only revealed later, for example the cases of student activists, and Ko Par Gyi, [a journalist] who was even killed. AZ: Ko Par Gyis case KT: Yes, the death of Ko Par Gyi, and the imprisonment of Daw Naw Ohn Hla. The government has done things that appeared to be good, and we have had to deal with them cautiously. When we engaged with the government, they tried to influence us. If we opposed their ideas, they accused us of being against the reforms. There was a time when even the foreign embassies thought that we were rather aggressive while the government was making the right changes. AZ: Foreign embassies thought that this was a reformist government. KT: Not just reformist, they even thought that they were the champions of reform. They thought it was making real reforms. They thought it was great. AZ: Especially the foreign embassies of western countries, right? KT: Yes. The Chinese Embassy does not seem to have such astuteness, considering the way it dealt with the Myanmar government. The so-called changes of the government brought us an advantage in that we could engage with the newly-formed Parliament. There were good people in the Parliament. There are honest people who understand the need to seek the assistance of CSOs, while some exploited us for their political gain and to establish legitimacy. AZ: Lets discuss the challenges. In the past, the NLD was an opposition group and there was a common ground between NLD and CSOs, regardless of their differences. But now, the NLD has become the government, and it will be on a different side from civil society. CSOs have to continue to handle the issues that concern them. So what will be the challenges? Will the NLD government be turning a blind eye to the issues of land confiscation, political prisoners, civil war, ethnic issues, education, and environmental issues? Will it handle those issues? How much it will push the CSOs? What will be the scenario? KT: The challenges of CSOs will also be challenges for the NLD. The challenges of the NLD will be the challenges of the entire country, as well as the international community, because the international community has actively encouraged the democratic change in Myanmar. Of three elections in 2010, 2012 and 2015, the participation of CSOs was highest in 2015 election. The NLD won an overwhelming majority of votes. The success of the party you voted for is your success. The challenges to the party you voted for are your challenges. Therefore, we, CSOs have studied how we can help the new government in overcoming those challengesland confiscation, ethnic issues, peace, bribery and corruption. We have thoroughly studied the effects of policies and procedures. These will be helpful for the NLD government. We will have a good relationship with the NLD as the party understands the role of CSOs and we have personal ties [with them]. The outgoing government dishonestly used CSOs for their benefit, but the incoming one will use them with good intent, I believe. The new government can use CSOs cleverly and directly. There are roles that can be assigned to civil society. It will be a challenge for the NLD government to try to understand the voices of civil society and to listen to the voices of the people constructively. AZ: You mean the NLD government needs to have courage to listen to the voices and demands of CSOs? KT: You can divide CSOs into two camps. There are CSOs established under the outgoing Thein Sein government and CSOs that support the NLD. AZ: I found that over the past two or three years, until and during the November election, CSOs have either directly or indirectly contributed a great deal to the NLD as the main opposition party. Thats because everybody wants change. How has the NLD recognized those CSOs now? KT: Let me tell what I have seen. There is frequent contact between the NLD and CSOs as they engage in social works. They may be strangers to each other in some areas, but mostly, the NLD understands what civil society is for. Many from CSOs have joined the NLD and become lawmakers. They are not complete strangers to each other. AZ: It is a positive sign, isnt it? KT: Yes, it is a positive sign. But on the other hand, the NLD has its own oppositionthe Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), as well as proxy parties of USDP and their associate CSOs. The NLD needs to view these clearly. AZ: You mean the ruling party USDP will be out of power soon, but it has established its own CSOs? KT: Power and money are related. The USDP is the biggest party, and since its members are the richest people in Myanmar, they still have influence. They still have a lot of influence and can get things done. AZ: So do you think CSOs with strong financial backing will play a greater role after the NLD government comes to power? KT: The NLD should be aware of those groups. They are still abusing social and religious issues. AZ: Are they? KT: Yes. And they also use the Internet in a systematic way. AZ: They create hate speech systematically? KT: I think the NLD will keep a watchful eye on this. AZ: So they are so-called CSOs. KT: Yes, so-called CSOs. The outgoing government has created an environment in which real CSOs and impostors are mixed together. Those impostors have grown up with the freedom granted by the outgoing government. Some do not know they are impostors as they are mixed with other CSOs. But the NLD should be able to see this. Their opposition, the USDP, is a huge force. Though the USDP has fewer seats in the Parliament now, their empiretheir business empireis very big. The USDP has spent substantial sums of money on the election. Their expenses were not audited because they lost. CSOs and regular people bore witness to how much they spent. They wont stop just because they lost. They have deliberately drafted the 2008 Constitution to hold onto their power. Dont underestimate them. It will not stop. AZ: People have referred to NLD as democratic opposition party for more than 20 years. It is a universal truth that it is difficult for democracy to take root without an opposition. If a government can bear the criticism of the opposition, it will be more accountable to the people. Who will be the opposition in Myanmar? Setting aside the USDP, the USDP is demoralized and is trying to recover for the time being. Setting aside so-called CSOs, can independent CSOs and media become a form of opposition which can call the NLD out? KT: Lets not talk about the definition of opposition first. As a government which will establish democracy, the NLD government should heed the monitoring and criticism of the media. And they should value CSOs, which independently speak up and make demands. AZ: Thank you for contribution. Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 (3:06 am) - Score 941 Internet providers from across the United Kingdom have today given a deeply divided reaction to the recent proposals from Ofcom and the Advertising Standards Authority, which among other things could soon force providers to combine the cost of broadband and line rental (phone) into a single price. Its hoped that the new proposals, which surfaced just a couple of days ago (here), could stop the often confusing and misleading culture that some ISPs adopt when advertising their packages. For example, issues such as hidden charges, confusing discounts and only giving prominence to the broadband price, while hiding line rental costs in the small print, are all known issues. The ASA claims to be open minded as to how pricing should be advertised so as not to mislead consumers and a spokesperson informed ISPreview.co.uk that theyre only at the beginning of a process of engagement with the range of stakeholders affected by our announcement. However their plan is still to confirm the final changes in time for them to be enforced by 30th May 2016 and that doesnt leave a lot of time for consultation. The ASAs Suggestions to Broadband ISPs Advertise all-inclusive up-front and monthly costs; no more separating out line rental. Greater prominence for the contract length and any post-discount pricing. Greater prominence for up-front costs. At present the only real contentions aspect in all this is the call for an all-inclusive price that combines broadband and line rental, which has plenty of merit but also overlooks the many broadband providers that do not sell or require customers to take line rental (phone) from the same provider. The new rules also need to be flexible enough to allow interesting, but NOT misleading, promotions and to reflect the differences in how people get their connections (e.g. migrating vs having a new line installed). As ever the devil is in the detail and until we know the final approach then it will be difficult to fully understand the impact. Naturally we wanted to know what a wider cross section of ISPs thought about the changes and unsurprisingly those that stood to benefit, such as Gigaclear, were considerably more welcoming than the ISPs that allow their customers to choose a separate line rental provider. But even some of the big ISPs appear to have their reservations because it might make them look more expensive than ISPs that sell broadband and phone services separately. Simon Davies, Boss of IDNet, said: We support the move to make hidden costs more prominent but the draft proposals are too simplistic for modern market conditions it is essential that consumers have easy access to the costs for unbundled services so they are not hood-winked into taking expensive line rental if they do not wish to. Joe Frost, Gigaclears Marketing Boss, said: Gigaclear welcomes this approach, it is something we have been using since this company started and is needed as there is a lot of confusion on what their monthly charges are as many believe they only pay the advertised price for broadband, not realising that line rental and some call features are additional monthly costs. Our monthly prices are exactly as stated on our price lists on our website, there is no line rental with our service and we do not confuse customers with an introductory price that then changes later. Our order forms state that there is a one off connection/activation cost of 100 (or 50 for a reconnect), and an installation fee should self installation not be the preferred choice. The only area of confusion we run into occasionally is the installation cost as we cant state the exact cost until a survey has been performed. On most properties the cost is predictable, but sometimes the installers will run into a problem with an unforeseen obstacle when installing from our fibre pot just on the property boundary to the customer premises, but these are resolved on an individual basis. The other change that is needed is clarity on those packages that have a usage limit, whilst most publicise the monthly download allowance included, in our experience most customers dont understand the implications of those limits on what it means practically and are then surprised and annoyed when they see a usage charge on their bill. Martin Pitt, Managing Director of Aquiss, said: Our concerns, based on the early draft information we have seen, is this will start to force all providers, via a marketing led approach, to become carbon copies of each other, rather than giving customers choice, who all have different requirements. Whilst we understand the need for clarity for the customer, this has only been brought upon by the big providers themselves, who as a collective, have gone about trying to hide costs in an effort to develop headlines, rather than being upfront about the need for a line rental (in most situations) as a prominent example. I find it a little ironic that TalkTalk now proclaim they support this new approach, when they were part of the trend setters to the current problem that the ASA are trying to stamp out. Whilst we naturally have no issues combining services into all-inclusive solutions, if thats what the market or legislation determines, given that around 60% of customers joining Aquiss decide that they have a good relationship with another company for some of their services or would rather sample a service before committing all their eggs into one basket, is it right that a customer may then face possible hidden costs by having to terminate services elsewhere (established contracts) all because they will be forced to take an all-inclusive solution? We dont want our flexible, often one-to-one, customer focused business model to be devalued. Whilst this might be more pleasing for parts of industry and those governing us, its ultimately in our view going to give less customer choice, be it a consumer or business. We at Aquiss have always tried to be upfront about what a customer is buying into and always sample feedback from new customers for improvements, comments and ideas. Maybe the ASA should consider looking at how smaller providers work and force the larger providers to break services down into separate services? Adrian Kennard, Managing Director of AAISP, said: What makes adverts annoying is that some broadband offers only work when you by the line rental from the same company. So you see the likes of free broadband for 6 months with when you spend zillions a month on line rental with us. OK, to be fair 17 or 18 is pretty typical for the line rental there. You can understand the problem, and I sympathise. I would say that any offer that ***REQUIRES*** line rental should include that in the headline price to be clear. The problem is that a lot of ISPs (hundreds) sell broadband separately or independently to any line rental. Many do not even do phone lines at all, only the broadband side. Such people have no tie in that you have to get their (expensive) line rental as part of the price, and so for them, even attempting to quote an All-inclusive up-front and monthly costs; no more separating out line rental makes no sense. For A&A is it tricky we do offer (but generally do not required) line rental but we dont sell a phone service on it, we sell as a copper pair to support broadband. So we may have to sell our Home::1 package not as 25/month but as 35/month* including line rental of 10/month which may be considerably higher from other providers or something whacky like that!?!? What is needed is simple adverts to be *CLEAR* on what they mean. If they require line rental from same provider, say so and say total. If not, say so. Avoid the stupid small print! A Sky Broadband Spokesperson said: We work hard to ensure customers are fully informed when were marketing Skys products and services and our advertising adheres to all industry guidelines. Ofcoms recent customer service report showed our customer satisfaction levels are the highest in the industry. We will review the new research and work with the ASA to ensure our advertising is in line with any new guidance it introduces. Darren Farnden, Entanets Head of Marketing, added: At Entanet we think it is alarming that this ruling has been issued and is to be applied, at relatively short notice, after a woefully brief study that interviewed a mere 300 individuals across a wide demographic. Once again we also see decisions being made based on the actions and advertising clout of the largest consumer players while completely ignoring the way the broadband provision market works when you include the highly relevant smaller ISPs. The ASA and Ofcom would do well to properly understand the mechanics of the market and not make the assumption that all ISPs sell like the big providers. The ASAs proposals arguably impact smaller ISPs and resellers enormously. We completely agree however that it should be exceptionally easy for consumers to make a decision on which provider to use based on clear up-front cost information. Contract lengths, where they are applied, should be clearly advertised and consumers expectations clearly set on the pricing of their service once any discount periods have expired. Its not entirely possible though for all ISPs to advertise all-inclusive up-front and monthly costs that dont include line rental. Many ISPs outside of the big providers do not require their customers to take the line rental from them. This approach often gives customers greater flexibility in choosing their broadband supplier and is a valuable offering from smaller ISPs and resellers. We do agree however that, where the larger ISPs who make line rental a condition of taking the broadband offer they are making, the line rental element (and any voice pricing on that line) should be front and centre so that consumers are not duped by attractive low-cost broadband deals that are sometimes facilitated by higher line rental costs. The ASA has already made it difficult for smaller ISPs to compete in advertising terms through its poorly thought-out mechanism of only advertising broadband speeds that are achievable by the top 10% of their customers. ISPs with much smaller customer bases than the large providers are disadvantaged by this requirement purely because of the sample size. To see that the ASA is now introducing rules based on a study of just 300 out of the UKs 23.7 million fixed broadband line users (at 2014 according to Ofcoms Communications Data Report Data of August 2015) is amusing even though unfortunately it isnt funny. Tom Mockridge, CEO of Virgin Media, said: The ASA has launched a review of broadband advertising. Its focus is on prices, to help consumers understand the deals on offer. We will work with the regulator to ensure that the right guidelines are in place. However, this is only part of the picture. To properly compare different broadband offers, consumers need to assess the whole deal: price and speed. To enable this, the ASA needs to overhaul the outdated rules on broadband speed advertising. Dating back to 2011, the ASA rules allow companies advertise a headline broadband speed if it is available to only 10% of customers. Of course, there are technical reasons why consumers might occasionally be unable to access the top speed they affect every provider from time to time and we all work hard to fix them quickly. But according to a broadband speeds report from Which? the gap between the speeds delivered by internet providers such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Plusnet versus those delivered by our superior technology is vast. The Which? report found that only 7% of customers using ADSL services could get their advertised maximum speeds, while 98% of Virgin Media customers could receive advertised maximum speeds. In fact, the average maximum speeds delivered on our network were faster than the advertised speeds. If the ASA is serious it should ensure consumers can compare broadband deals on the things that really matter, and this includes speed. A TalkTalk Spokesperson said: TalkTalk absolutely supports the ASAs findings and weve already called on Ofcom to bring in all-in pricing. Its obvious that a single headline price is much clearer and better for customers, and were actually already doing it on a pilot project up in York. But until the whole market moves to single prices, any company that advertises its products like this will struggle to compete with what look like better deals from other providers. We want Ofcom to be bold and tackle this problem in their strategic review and we would absolutely support them in doing so. Nicholas Lansman, Secretary General of ISPA, said: ISPA welcomes the ASA research into how consumers engage with broadband adverts, but believe that more detailed research is needed to corroborate the survey findings. Price is only one factor when a consumer chooses a service and the engagement with an advert is only one part of a purchasing decision we urge the ASA to consider the whole customer experience when consulting on changes to its advertising guidelines. The UK has a highly competitive broadband market and informed and empowered consumers are an important part of this. This is supported by Ofcoms own figures that show the UK benefits from some of the most competitive broadband pricing. Beyond adverts, ISPs provide clear information if consumers engage more closely with them, for example by going to their website, visiting a shop, working with comparison and consumer websites or by calling the providers. This has not been reflected in the survey which is based on a small sample size with some of the reviewed adverts only being shown to 8 participants. We look forward to working together with our members and the ASA on how to empower and inform consumers, and it is worth emphasising that the adverts that were used in the survey fully comply with current guidelines. One clear complaint that we see shining through above is the feeling that smaller providers are being unfairly penalised for the often dubious marketing practices of the big boys and that the approach wont work unless everybody sells services in the same way, which some warn could be counter-productive by removing choice and diversity from the market. On the flip side we also see some good suggestions, with AAISP recommending that promotions like 6 months free should only be allowed when they include all of the package being sold (e.g. applying to both line rental and broadband on bundles). Equally the broadband and line rental price should always be shown, although this could still be done alongside a total monthly cost so as to keep everybody happy. One other issue, which doesnt yet appear to have been touched on by anybody, is with regards to how some of the main ISPs charge customers more if they live in areas where there is less competition (i.e. BTOpenreach is the only primary infrastructure provider); defined by Ofcom as Market A (mostly remote rural areas). The new rules may force ISPs to be clearer about this, as opposed to hiding it in the small print. At the end of the day theres no reason why ISPs cannot promote their pricing in a clearer way, while also being more transparent with what theyre doing / discounting. Its just a case of ensuring that the costs are clearly presented alongside the package and not hidden in small print. Unfortunately we did not receive a comment from BT, although they did redirect us to the ISPAs position (above) as being reflective of their viewpoint. Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 (8:08 am) - Score 4,141 The Government itself might still have big doubts about the merits of splitting BT from control of their national phone and broadband network (Openreach), but a new report backed by 121 cross-party MPs has supported separation to boost performance and competition in the UK telecoms market. According to the Governments Digital Economy Minister, Ed Vaizey, splitting BT from Openreach has lots of potential to backfire and existing regulations have proved very effective (here). However separation is currently being seriously considered as part of Ofcoms major Strategic Review of Digital Communications, which will publish its findings by the end of February 2016. On the flip side BT contends that it has continued to meet Ofcoms existing regulatory targets and that any attempt to split their business might tie the process up in legal battles. Questions also remain over how BTs debt / pension pile might be apportioned in the event of a split, as well as the impact on consumer prices from all of the related changes (better services cost more money) and what kind of market model might be adopted in its place. BT has also warned that their plans to roll-out ultrafast (G.fast) broadband could suffer. Never the less a new Broadbad report from the British Infrastructure Group (BIG), which was setup by Grant Shapps (Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield), has brought together 121 cross-party Members of Parliament in support of calls for BT to lose control of its Openreach division. The study claims to highlight the serious problems that the UK broadband network is facing and argues that the current situation of large inconsistencies in service leading to millions of citizens and businesses experiencing slow or non-existent connections is now untenable. The report contends that our future is being held back by systemic underinvestment stemming from the natural monopoly of BT and Openreach, which is stifling competition, hurting our constituents and in the process limiting Britains business and economic potential. Cross-Party Report Statement We believe that Britain should be leading the world in digital innovation. Yet instead we have a monopoly company clinging to outdated copper technology with no proper long-term plan for the future. We need to start converting to a fully fibre network so we are not left behind the other nations who are rushing to embrace digital advancement. However, we will only achieve this by taking action to open up the sector. Given all the delays and missed deadlines, we believe that only a formal separation of BT from Openreach, combined with fresh competition and a concerted ambition to deliver will now create the broadband service that our constituents and businesses so rightly demand. The report itself does not appear to represent a detailed assessment of the market (only Ofcom can deliver that), but it does look at some of the most common complaints about the industry and then largely appears to accept them at face value, without doing a deeper analysis. Some of the data is also out of date and cannot thus be relied upon. BTs forthcoming 300-500Mbps G.fast technology also gets described as a short term fix, with the report claiming that BT will use it to strain every last bit of profit they can from the outdated and struggling copper network. The assumption is once again that the grass will be greener on the other side and that separation is the best fix, although this has yet to be proven. Key Findings Openreach has so far received 1.7 billion in taxpayer subsidies to connect harder to reach areas of the UK to superfast services, but has repeatedly failed to deliver. Around 5.7 million people in the UK have internet connections that do not reach Ofcoms acceptable minimum speed of 10Mbit/s. 3.5 million of these people live in rural areas. Poor internet connections are costing the UK economy up to 11 billion per year. 42% of SMEs report experiencing problems with their internet connectivity and 29% also report poor service reliability. Following the announcement that BT will be merging with EE it has been calculated that BT will have a 40% share of the retail telecoms market and a 70% share of the wholesale market. The time has come for BT to be forced to sell off Openreach to encourage more competition and a better service for every internet user and for the benefit of the UK economy. In fairness we dont entirely agree with the first point (or some of the others due to shaky data) as, for all its faults in other areas (e.g. BTs dominance of contracts, lack of support for altnets, overbuilding etc.), the Broadband Delivery UK programme has made reasonable progress and is still delivering a significant boost to national superfast broadband connectivity (example). A pure fibre (FTTH/P) network would have taken many years longer to roll-out, required many billions more of investment and would have also struggled to reach rural areas (except via altnets). Sadly the report doesnt set out a detailed plan for what should replace Openreach or indeed explain how the new structure might be able to deliver where BT has allegedly failed, which is again an area that seems to have been left up to Ofcom. Funnily enough one of BTs most outspoken critics, Chi Onwurah MP (Labours Shadow Minister for Culture & the Digital Economy), isnt named on the report, but ISPreview.co.uk did manage to catch up with her for a comment yesterday. Onwurah actually worked with Ofcom as part of their last Strategic Review in 2005 and so has some unique insight. Chi Onwurah MP told ISPreview.co.uk: The structure of BT/Openreach is a complex issue, I worked on it as Head of Telecoms Technology for Ofcom during the Strategic review of Telecoms ten years ago. As we saw with the splitting and then re-integration of the Baby Bells, creating a sustainable separate entity can be difficult. As such it is not a decision best made by politicians but for the competition authority and the sector regulator. I believe Ofcom need the political cover to make the best decision in the interests of consumers and business in the UK, without being intimidated by phalanxes of lawyers. I regret that this Government does not seem to be providing that cover, with Ed Vaizey almost acting as BTs mouthpiece at times. I also believe strongly that competition delivers the best outcome for consumers and businesses and that the market is suffering from a lack of competition in the provision of superfast broadband. On the consumer side BT is often perceived to be the evil empire of UK telecoms, which is the price that most big businesses tend to pay for being so dominant and having such control. But for all their faults they have also done a lot of good service delivery, even though we tend to expect considerably more. However if Ofcom is to replace the incumbent with a new approach then we can only hope they design one that delivers something better and fairer, albeit without dramatic price rises or slowing down the delivery of faster connectivity. Easier said than done; all eyes towards Ofcom. UPDATE 5:24pm BT has issued a statement in response. A BT Spokesperson said: We take any criticism seriously but we think this report and its recommendations are misleading and ill-judged. Independent data from Ofcom, the EU and others repeatedly place the UK number one for broadband and superfast broadband when compared to other large EU countries. 90 percent of UK premises can already access a fibre optic broadband connection. That will soon climb to 95% and above. We understand the impatience for progress to be even faster, but improving broadband is a major engineering project that involves contending with all manner of physical and geographic challenges. The idea that there would be more broadband investment if BTs Openreach infrastructure division became independent is wrong-headed. As a smaller, weaker, standalone company, it would struggle to invest as much as it does currently. UPDATE 27th Jan 2016 Better late than never, heres a Gigaclear quote. * denotes match winner ** denotes starting point of the dual Parentheses indicate Big Ten dual record The Indiana wrestling team edged Michigan State in the final bout of the day for a 20-15 win. Three Hoosiers, andearn bonus point victories to lift the Hoosiers to 6-1 on the season.battled to his first career Big Ten dual win in the match-opening 157 lbs. bout. Danishek held an 8-3 lead in the final seconds of the third period, when Spartan Joe Johnson left the mat for a concussion evaluation. Johnson did not return for the final 35 seconds, giving Danishek the injury default win and an early 6-0 lead for the Hoosiers.Sixth-rankedfollowed with a dominating 16-6 major decision over Shane Shadaia. Jackson opened with a 6-2 lead at the end of the first, then extended his lead to 12-5 two minutes later. A quick escape to start the third, followed by two takedowns from Jackson, put the bout out of reach for Michigan State.Jackson is now 24-2, and remains unbeaten in Big Ten duals. The Hoosier junior has earned bonus point victories in 16 of his 24 wins.is off to the best start of his career against Big Ten competition, and he continued that with a 4-1 decision over Dimitrius Renfroe in the heavyweight bout. The bout was tied at 1-1 with 30 seconds remaining in the third period when Goldman secured the decisive takedown.Goldman is on a three-match winning streak in the Big Ten with an overall record of 13-10.extended Indiana's lead to 16-9 with a tight 4-3 decision over rising Spartan Mitch Rogaliner. Oliver took the lead with 90 seconds remaining in the match, picking up an escape to break the 3-3 tie.The Spartans chipped back into Indiana's lead with decision wins in the 133 lbs. and 141 lbs. bouts, bringing the team score to 16-15. The match headed to the decisive final bout of the day, pitting Indiana'sagainst Michigan State's Kaelan Richards.Blanton started the bout with a takedown, and then gave up an escape for a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. Two more takedowns by Blanton in the second extended his lead to 7-2 with two minutes remaining. Blanton left his foot on the gas and picked up the major decision to secure an Indiana win.Although the Hoosiers and Spartans split the bout card, taking five wins each, the Spartans were unable to pick up any bonus point victories. Valiant performances in defeat by, andprevented major decisions kept the Spartans at bay.With that win, the Hoosiers earn their third Big Ten victory. It's the first time since the 2009-10 season that Indiana had at least three wins in the Big Ten.Ann Arbor, Mich. | Cliff Keen ArenaIndiana will continue their trek through Michigan with a stop in Ann Arbor, where they'll clash with the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines. The Hoosiers face another tough test against Big Ten competition, as nine-of-10 Wolverine starters are nationally ranked.After their dual against Michigan, the Hoosiers return home for a showdown against the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free to the public, and the dual will air live on BTN Plus (subscription required). This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. The following editorial was published in Wednesdays Kansas City Star: To save money, the state of Michigan poisoned the children of Flint. State officials thought so little of the impoverished city and its 100,000 residents, most of them poor and people of color, that they switched the water supply from the pure waters of Lake Huron to the brackish Flint River. Then they broke federal law by neglecting to treat the water with an anti-corrosion agent, which would have cost about $100 a day. The waters heavy iron content ate into the water lines, about half of which are made of lead. The water smelled and tasted foul, but state officials said everything was fine, even though a university research team said the lead content was dangerously high. Finally a pediatrician, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, compared the blood lead levels of toddlers she was seeing with records on hand from previous years. She saw lead levels had doubled or even tripled since the water line switch. Lead poisoning is irreversible. To save a relatively small amount of money, the state may have doomed these children to lower IQ levels, behavioral problems, growth delays, hearing difficulties and a host of other physical and neurological ailments. Theres tons of evidence on what lead does to a child, and it is one of the most damning things that you can do to a population, Hanna-Attisha told CNN. The tainted water supply will cost the state and federal government for years. Flints families will need intensive services like nutritional programs and early childhood education to mitigate the damage. But right now they need clean water. The state spent $10 million to hook the water back to its old source, but the corroded pipes are still leaching lead. The National Guard is going door to door, passing out bottles of water safe to drink. The scandal ought to bring an end to the political career of Michigan GOP Gov. Rick Snyder, who personally reacted far too slowly to the crisis while some of his top officials improperly downplayed the threats as well. And it should act as a cautionary tale to other states that wrongly think its smart policy to starve state budgets to the point where essential services begin to break down. States can act irresponsibly with wasteful spending, yes. But refusal to spend even when the law requires it can cause immeasurable harm. Just ask the people of Flint. Camp Verdes former town clerk is alleging she was forced to resign due to harassment, intimidation and retaliation by top officials of the town Deborah Barber filed a lawsuit Christmas Eve against the Town of Camp Verde, Mayor Charlie German, Town Manager Russ Martin and Marshal Nancy Gardner. Other defendants are Martins wife, Ann Martin, and Camp Verde Marshals Office assistant Darby Martin, who is not related, as well as up to 30 unnamed individuals. Barber, who is former Vice Mayor and current Councilwoman and Jackie Bakers daughter, stepped down early last year after about 15 years in the position. Barber characterized the resignation as an offering of peace in the wake of allegations of conflicts of interest and nepotism. An investigation, however, found no basis for those allegations. - Advertisement - The lawsuit, filed in Yavapai Superior Court, seeks compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, as well as attorneys fees and costs. Russ Martin was on vacation, but nonetheless returned a phone message, saying it was the first hed heard of the lawsuit. He also said he thinks that none of the other defendants have heard of it either, otherwise they would have contacted him about it. He declined to comment until he has a chance to review the lawsuit and consult with the towns attorney. In published reports after Barber announced her resignation, Martin called her a special individual and said she would be missed. In her lawsuit, Barber said the defendants undermined her authority to function as Town Clerk and poisoned her to other employees, creating an atmosphere of extreme hostility and distress intending to force [her] to resign and even offering her a separate job, an agreement they breached. Barber alleged that German libeled her by placing written information in the town records, wrongly accusing her of dispensing classified information, breaking protocol and the law. The lawsuit also claims that some information Barber provided as part of her duties as Town Clerk reflected poorly on Gardner and the town, exposing them to criticism and criminal prosecution for altering officials records and for covering up wrong acts of the Marshals Office. Barber alleges Gardner retaliated by making harmful physical contact with [her]. She also alleges Darby Martin threatened Baker. In regard to Ann Martin, Barber claims she encouraged and facilitated the promiscuous behavior of [Barbers] mentally challenged daughter, culminating in her daughters abandonment of her children which resulted in [Barber] having to initiate guardianship and adoption proceedings for her grandchildren. She said the proceedings cost her more than $15,000 in attorneys fees and legal costs. Barbers attorney, Robert Earle, of Sedona, did not immediately return a message seeking details on his clients allegations. In her otherwise benign response to President Barack Obamas State of the Union address, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley referred to our broken immigration system and mentioned that the U.S. would welcome properly vetted immigrants, regardless of their race or religion. Just like we have done for centuries. Really? I presume Haley was not speaking of the Native Americans, the Indians Christopher Columbus expected to find in the Western Hemisphere long before the British invaded Haleys ancestors in India and established their crown colony. Haley was born in the United States is a native American, properly registered and vetted. She neglected to mention the non-vetted Puritans and Pilgrims who excluded dissenters such as Roger Williams. He emigrated to Rhode Island with his Indian allies and freedom of religion. Catholics were never part of the Protestant ascendency until John F. Kennedy, after vetting by the Southern Baptists, was the first and only Catholic president in more than 200 years. African Americans arrived in chains, slaves not citizens until the end of the war for Southern independence, separate and unequal through several wars despite President Harry Trumans desegregation of the military in 1948. Civil and voter rights bills were passed only 55 years ago, but the Supreme Court struck down the heart of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, freeing nine mostly Southern states to change their election laws without federal approval. Currently, 33 states have voter ID laws, including Wisconsin, where only four cases of fraud were found in 3 million votes during the 2004 election. Inequity and gerrymandering may prevent 21 million votes in the U.S. this year, particularly in certain ethnic and economic enclaves. This year will mark the first presidential election in 50 years without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act intact, and Wisconsin voters will require voter identification. The descendants of the original Indians of America the beautiful were denied voting rights until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, and they were not permitted to practice their faith traditions until 1978. Persisting restrictions were finally lifted in 1994. Coincidentally, the tribes were protesting further invasion of Indian mounds, sacred to their traditions, on the day Haley responded to Obamas address. A year ago at this time, Katie Brenner was wondering if she should take the plunge and enter the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest with her team's idea for a saliva-based fertility test. Just last week, Brenner and her young company bluDiagnostics confirmed it has raised $600,000 in seed financing, an amount that could climb to about $800,000 within a few weeks. Not a bad result for someone who was unsure whether a laboratory innovation could lead to a potentially successful business. "It took a lot of convincing for us to take the risk to enter," said Brenner, who added that reluctance faded as the team realized that engaging in the five-month-long contest was a collaborative and systematic way to "make (bluDiagnostics) really a business and not just an idea." The story of bluDiagnostics is not unique in the 12-year history of the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest, which is steaming toward a Jan. 31 entry deadline at govsbizplancontest.com. Other companies that have reached the final contest rounds over time have raised about $200 million collectively from angel and venture capitalists or from merit-based grants. The success stories include Vector Surgical, RevolutionEHR, Fishidy, Rowheels, MyHealthDirect, MobCraft Beer, TAI Diagnostics and other young companies that may have entered the contest at varying levels of organization or none at all and emerged with a plan that caught the eye of potential partners, customers and investors. "I think the Governor's Business Plan Contest really launched us. The win in that competition was a result of assistance and mentorship from people across Wisconsin ... the accumulation of a lot of help. Since then, we have gotten incredible attention. That win sent us on a course to succeed," Brenner said. The contest will again offer more than $100,000 in cash and service prizes, courtesy of its sponsors, but many past contestants say the real "prize" is the plan-writing process itself. Here are reasons to enter: You can walk before you run. The first-phase entry is about 250 words (or 2,000 characters with spaces) spread among four criteria product or service description; customer definition; market description, size and sales strategy; and competition. There's no need to submit financials right away. The four contest categories are deliberately broad advanced manufacturing, business services, information technology and life sciences. It's rare that an entry cannot find a logical home. Entrepreneurs may enter multiple ideas, so long as each idea is separate and distinct. It is free to enter. All entries are accepted through govsbizplancontest.com. The second and third stages of the contest also take place through that website, culminating in a 15- to 20-page plan. Up to 12 finalists will give live presentations at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Conference, June 7-8. Your chances of winning are a lot better than Powerball. If past contests are any indicator, roughly one in 14 entrants will reach the top 25. Contestants meet some interesting people. The 50 semifinalists are invited to attend a half-day "boot camp" in Waukesha, where they'll meet mentors, potential investors, successful entrepreneurs and others with start-up experience. The judges and mentors offer years of valuable experience. About 90 judges drawn from the finance, sales, marketing, research and technology sectors across Wisconsin will score the entries and provide feedback. About 35 of those judges are investors. The mentoring corps will include members of SCORE and the Center for Technology Commercialization. Your idea will get some valuable exposure. Semifinalists may post their executive summaries on the Wisconsin Angel Network website for secured review by accredited investors. Also, leaders in Wisconsin's business press may see news value in your story. Finally, and most important, many past winners have been successful. About three-quarters of finalists over the history of the contest report they're still in business and attracting investors, partners and customers. Since its inception in 2004, more than 3,100 entries have been received including about 355 from Milwaukee and another 660 from southeast Wisconsin's M-7 region. About $2 million in cash and services (such as legal, accounting, office space and marketing) have been awarded. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is among the major prize sponsors. Brenner and bluDiagnostics shared in prizes, but she says the real value lies in the ability to learn from others while building the plan. "What sets it apart is the mentoring associated with it. ... As you go through the process of applying, the people involved in the competition nurture you along and help you prepare for the next step," Brenner said. "I never felt competitive with other companies in the competition. I felt we were in it together." Wisconsin is often dinged for its lack of business start-ups, and the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest is among resources committed to producing more. Resolve to start your new year by entering. Tom Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. Its Wisconsin Innovation Network meets in Wauwatosa. Contact him at news@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. Kazuyoshi Kaz Hirao, CEO of Cellular Dynamics International Inc. in Madison, is leading the companys efforts on regenerative medicine. Credit: Andy Manis SHARE By of the When Tokyo-based Fujifilm Holdings Corp. set out to become a global leader in the emerging area of regenerative medicine, one of the key places it turned to was Madison. There, at a company started in 2004 by stem cell pioneer James Thomson, Fujifilm found one of the world's most advanced efforts to churn out in vast, predictable quantities powerful cells that might someday be used to cure disease. Fujifilm says the $307 million acquisition of Cellular Dynamics International Inc. it completed in May is key to its ambitious plans in the field of regenerative medicine, which uses cells and other materials to heal damaged tissues and organs. Leading the effort in Madison is Kazuyoshi "Kaz" Hirao, a friendly Tokyo native-turned-Madisonian who enjoys swimming, taking long walks and attending music and theater performances at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison. "The potential is very huge to change the world," said Hirao, chairman and chief executive officer of Cellular Dynamics, or CDI. Already the leader in the manufacture of human cells, CDI is hoping to benefit from Fujifilm's greater resources and global penetration. When Shigetaka Komori, Fujifilm's chairman and chief executive officer, visited in October, he told CDI employees and Gov. Scott Walker that he viewed the Madison company as a key to Fujifilm's future in regenerative medicine. To make its cells known as iPS, or induced pluripotent stem cells CDI starts with a small sample of blood or skin. Its scientists, in essence, rewind the cells to create the equivalent of embryonic stem cells. Then they nudge the cells forward in the developmental process to become any of 12 products, including heart, liver and several types of neural cells. "My expectation is that the iPS cell business will be one of the main pillars for new corporate growth," Komori said. When he won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his work on iPS cells, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka portrayed the cells as a discovery that would have great impact in the future, said Don Gibbons, a spokesman for the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. That future has begun to arrive, Gibbons said. Nearly every major drug company is using iPS cells for drug discovery or to test the toxicity of compounds under development, he said. For example, they might use heart cells or liver cells created in the lab to test whether a compound would be harmful to those organs. Advantages to using the cells include making animal studies less necessary and bringing down the average cost of making drugs, Gibbons said. A clinical trial the first in the world involving iPS cells began in 2014 when Japanese researchers transplanted retinal tissue made using reprogrammed cells into a woman with age-related macular degeneration. The trial was put on hold in July before a second patient could be transplanted because of concerns about mutations in that patient's iPS cells. CDI in 2014 received a $1.2 million contract from the National Eye Institute to engineer cells for the potential treatment of macular degeneration. Researchers at the institute have said they hope to begin a clinical trial in 2017. Over the past decade, as digital film sales dropped, Fujifilm has diversified into a wide range of products, including antiviral drugs,anti-aging skin care products and natural gas purification filters. Now it is eyeing regenerative medicine as an area where it can gain the lead because the field is so new. "The market is early stage, but the potential is very high," Hirao said. Fujifilm plans to marry a homegrown product that acts as a scaffold on which to grow cells with CDI's iPS cells and engineered tissue from Japan Tissue Engineering Co., another recent acquisition. Combining all of these technologies will make valuable products for drug development and perhaps even for therapies down the road, Hirao said. Hirao, who earned his MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, left his wife and high school-aged son in Japan when he took the CDI job. He and Tak Okada, CDI's chief technology officer, have climbed bluffs at Devil's Lake State Park and are planning a trip to South America. Hirao has held management roles in Fujifilm's pharmaceutical and other divisions. But it was when his father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer five years ago that he says he took a personal interest in regenerative medicine. His business philosophy, honed during a difficult semiconductor company integration and while he was secretary-general of the Japan Netherlands Society from 2012 to 2015, relies heavily on interpersonal communication and trust. Hirao uses a "surprising" graphic to illustrate that, said Bruce Novich, president of Fujifilm North America's new business development division. The graphic shows that the combination of the Japanese characters for "people" and "trust" means "money." "This is a guiding principle for his business dealings," Novich said. And it was key to Hirao's ability to meld three regional business teams into a global business at Fujifilm's semiconductor division, he said. When Hirao arrived at CDI in August, he immediately sat down with Emile Nuwaysir and Chris Parker, its remaining top two executives, and told them they would be part of a team management structure. Then he held meetings with small groups of no more than 15 employees. CDI has 160 employees and is planning with an eye on the potential trajectory of the business over the next five years, Parker said. That means the more than 30,000 square feet that it currently occupies in University Research Park is getting tight. "With the hiring we're doing, we're going to need to deploy additional space," Parker said. MillerCoors has purchased a five-year naming rights sponsorship with the Wisconsin Center District that includes increased signage and exclusive advertising rights for malt beverages within the 4,100-seat Milwaukee Theatre. Credit: Michael Sears SHARE By , The Milwaukee Theatre has a new sponsor and potentially a new name. MillerCoors has purchased a five-year naming rights sponsorship with the Wisconsin Center District that includes increased signage and exclusive advertising rights for malt beverages within the 4,100-seat theater. The contract also includes the right to renew for an additional five years. "MillerCoors has been a founding sponsor of the Wisconsin Center District and a part of the Milwaukee fabric for more than 160 years," said Jonathan Stern, a spokesman for Chicago-based Millercoors, which operates a brewery in Milwaukee. "We want to keep downtown vibrant, and we're making a commitment to that promise." MillerCoors previously signed a long-term sponsorship agreement with the Wisconsin Center District in 2004. This deal did not include naming rights, but gave the company increased advertising and signage within the District's properties, which also include the Wisconsin Center and UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Additional details of the terms of the new contract were not immediately available. MillerCoors said further information, including a potential new name for the theatre, will be released later this spring. SHARE By of the A teacher at New Berlin West High School has been placed on unpaid leave while police investigate allegations of possible sexual contact with a student, police said Friday night. The allegations involve a 28-year-old female teacher and a male student who were reported to have engaged in sexual activity off campus, however no charges have been filed, according to a news release from the New Berlin Police Department. In a statement from the New Berlin School District, Superintendent Joe Garza said the district is working with police in the investigation. SHARE By of the Students, alumni and faculty from three campuses met for two hours this week with University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross to discuss what can be done to improve campus climate and support for black students and other underrepresented students. While Cross did not make any public statements after the Thursday meeting, UW System spokesman Alex Hummel said Friday that Cross offered to "craft a statement to acknowledge where we've come up short of past goals when it comes to diversity and inclusivity." The United Council of UW Students released its own statement, saying it would continue to press UW System administrators and regents to meet its list of demands, including mandatory racial awareness training for every member of the UW System from regents to students and increased funding for student organizational needs and mental health services. The students, who are part of a national movement on college campuses, staged a silent protest at the regents' December meeting. They plan to show up again at the regents' Feb. 5 meeting at UW-Madison, according to an announcement on the United Council of UW Students Facebook page. Cross marked the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday with a post on Facebook acknowledging the UW System needs to do a better job of not only increasing the number of students, staff, and faculty of color, but also improving their experiences on campuses. SHARE Hunting age limit works I feel it is my duty to report the following facts, as I am a certified Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education instructor, as well as an NRA member. In my very strong opinion, children should not be allowed to carry a loaded firearm, as many (not all) simply do not concentrate on firearm safety. The four major rules of hunter safety are TAB-K: Treat every firearm as if it were loaded; Always point the muzzle in a safe direction; Be certain of your target and what is beyond; and Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot. The primary rule they break is the last. This rule is so important that any student who breaks this rule during the final exam automatically fails. During the course, in some instances, within seconds of me warning the student that his or her finger is in the trigger guard, the student breaks the rule again. Beyond that, too many young children (not all) simply forget what they have in their hands, and waive the muzzle in the direction of their classmates. Though we train with unloaded firearms, they have recklessly broken two more rules in TAB-K. Manipulating the actions is also a chore for younger students, to the point that it is if they are using chopsticks for the first time. I realize there are those young kids that can be responsible. But loosening the restrictions to allow all children to carry loaded firearms is just not wise. Because the bottom line is this: I have seen firsthand that many of these younger kids are simply too immature mentally, emotionally and often times physically to be responsible with a firearm. And for some children, even though they pass a hunter education course, I fear for those hunting with them, because, I again emphasize, mentally and emotionally they are just not ready. I see no problem taking a child hunting, as it is a fine and rewarding experience. However, what need is there to rush these kids to carrying a loaded firearm? It would be as unwise as allowing these same children a driver's license, as they are mentally, emotionally and often physically not ready to be responsible drivers. The hunting mentorship program Wisconsin has in place works. The 14- and 16-year age restrictions work, as well. This state should continue to take the lead by being a state that demands responsible, and consequently safe hunters in the woods by maintaining the current programs and age restrictions. Dan Nauman Designer-Artisan-Owner Bighorn Forge, Inc. Kewaskum Ariens is being fair As an American-Muslim and the owner of one of the largest independently owned Ariens dealerships in the state of Wisconsin, when I first saw the headline, "New prayer rules at Ariens leave dozens of Muslims unemployed," I was more than upset, and all sorts of thoughts of re-evaluating my business with The Ariens Company came to mind. However, after reading the statement from Dan Ariens, I felt satisfied that the new rules did not unfairly infringe upon a Muslim's tenets of practicing his or her faith. The Ariens Co. has once again demonstrated a high level of fairness that I have become accustomed to seeing. Ariens accommodates its employees more than other employers by providing them a space to offer their prayers during break time. Islam teaches that God does not wish to make religion or worship a burden, there is flexibility in how or when a Muslim prays depending on the circumstances, and the new Ariens Co. policy is compatible with the teachings of Islam. As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the national vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, I try to demonstrate the true values of Islam when others try to tarnish its name, and I feel that the uncompromising spirit of the Ariens Co.'s Muslim employees is wrong. The Qur'an in chapter 4 verse 60 tells the Muslims, "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you." The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association educates its youth to maintain harmony and functionality in its environment so long as there is reasonable access and provision to perform one's religious duties. Rizwan Ahmad Owner Speedway Sales National Vice President Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association New Berlin Laughable arguments on EPA plan The Jan. 10 opinion piece from Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp and Public Service Commission Chair Ellen Nowak defending their active opposition to, rather than implementation of, the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan would be laughable if it didn't reek so clearly of corporate influence. Nowhere in their verbiage do they cite a shred of scientific evidence to support their stonewalling probably because the state fired the DNR's scientists (and educators, foresters and water quality experts) for their inconvenient independence from corporate interests and right-wing Republican ideology. And nowhere in their column do they evaluate their own suggestions for their impact on air and water quality or on climate change. Instead, they rely on a dubious cost-benefit analysis that narrowly and predictably focuses on costs and jobs lost in the short run, while ignoring the cost efficiencies and thousands of jobs that could be gained from new technologies that cut pollution and slow climate change. Ultimately, however, we have to move beyond measuring the impact of climate change and the proposals to combat it in dollars and cents alone. Very simply, if we allow the Earth's temperature to rise beyond a 2-degree Celsius increase (as the science upon which the recent Paris Climate Agreement is based clearly demonstrates), we will face catastrophic consequences that will make such shallow bean counting irrelevant and, again, laughable, if it were not so tragic. Peter Abbott Wauwatosa Great slogan for Milwaukee A friend shared the recent story in the Green Sheet on Jan. 11 regarding "Selling Milwaukee through slogans." We were both members of the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1995. I must admit I was not crazy about "Milwaukee Genuine American." It was built up so we were excited to see the new logo, etc. I was disappointed. It looked like a bottle cap (beer cap). We are more than beer. "A Great Place on a Great Lake" was terrific. Several years ago, I attended a Tom Barrett conference. As mayor of Milwaukee, he invited us to discuss the city's future. He used a term that he will not take credit for, but it would be a great slogan, "Milwaukee, the Fresh Coast." People refer to the East Coast and West Coast, but those of us on the Great Lakes know we are on fresh water, and I thought the idea was perfect. The Calatrava at the Milwaukee Art Museum is our 21st century pride, and perfect for promotion to visitors, but we need local pride as well. We need a Vitamin B12 shot for our city and pride. We tend to be too reserved regarding our city. We have an inferiority complex. The fresh coast idea should be considered. We have lots to brag about regarding our city and our country. Kathy Arciszewski Milwaukee Don't bail out Teamsters Over the last 10 years there have been many sad tales of people in financial difficulty. There are underwater and foreclosed mortgages, students having difficulty paying for the cost of their college education, small businesses going bankrupt, layoffs, pay cuts and short hours. Even our teachers and state employees' benefits were cut in order to avoid a financial catastrophe by the state of Wisconsin and our local municipalities and school districts. All of these circumstances caused financial pain to the unfortunate individuals unwittingly caught during the course of living their lives. Add to that, the Teamsters pension fund is about 50% funded and set to cut pensions of their members. The shortfall was caused by a bad economy and bad planning. I am sympathetic to the plight of the Teamsters as I am to the problems of everyone else who has suffered losses. We all know that the Illinois and New Jersey pensions will at some point need to be curtailed, and I will sympathize with those unfortunate individuals as well. But I find it difficult to understand why taxpayers, including many who do not even have a pension, should bail out the Teamsters or anyone else. Perhaps the Teamsters are their own worst enemy. They have had the economic and political clout to negotiate wages and benefits that eventually drove many of their union companies out of business and no longer able to support their retired employees. In Wisconsin, we avoided the spectacle of a bankrupt pension system through Gov. Scott Walker's Act 10 reforms. Unfortunately, the Teamsters did not have the foresight of Walker and now want government help. If Congress chooses to subsidize Teamster pensions, will we have to bail out Illinois and New Jersey pensions next? Dennis Gasper Plymouth Term limits needed The Journal Sentinel editorial "Bridging cynicism gap in U.S." hit the nail on the head concerning citizens distrust of our government but then veered right off the tracks (Crossroads, Jan. 17). We, and that is not the editorial "we," but the hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding legal citizen "we," don't trust our government because of what the electorate does. Our "conservative" Wisconsin champion, House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), pushed through an omnibus bill that funded sanctuary cities, illegal immigrant tax credits, Planned Parenthood, visas for nearly 300,000 temporary and permanent Muslim migrants over the next 12 months and changed federal law to allow for a massive increase in low-skilled H-2B workers. While an overwhelming majority of "us" oppose these actions, at the recent Republican party retreat, Ryan got a standing ovation. In reality, the Republicans and Democrats are one political party. Changing from the lawless liar presently in the White House to a different person won't make much of a difference with this bunch of big money pawns in office. The political machine, whether Republican or Democrat, is run by puppets of economic elites and organized groups representing business interests. The machine has no interest in rogue candidates that represent "We, the People," only those willing to represent the special interests and toe the party line. There is no simple fix but limiting the term of elected officials would be a good start. Of course, those in power always counter that voters inherently have the power to limit terms simply by voting incumbents out. A classic oxymoron. Breaking the cycle of political cronyism should be priority one for "We the People." So let's start by limiting the terms of local elected officials. Fresh faces representing "us" also will interest voters to again participate in the process. Sounds like a winner all around. Bill Meyers Hubertus Making streets safer Tyrone Dumas was right on point in his Jan. 17 Crossroads article about there being a "bad driving epidemic" in Milwaukee ("End Milwaukee's driving chaos"). The increase in dangerous driving violations last year could not be missed by any regular driver. I witnessed numerous stoplight-running incidents in several areas of Milwaukee myself, and I personally have narrowly missed having my car demolished (and worse) three times in the last few months. Two times, this happened in Bay View and once on the north side. In both Bay View incidents I waited at a red light. When the light changed, I saw that cars on my left already had stopped for their red light. But both times, another driver never slowed down as he swerved to the right around the stopped cars, very narrowly missing me as I proceeded into the intersection with my green light. Dumas' corrective suggestions go well beyond those I would have thought of, but they make sense. A few years ago, I would have been against traffic cameras at intersections. Not any more. Intersection cameras, much like police body cameras, would provide a valuable record of life-taking and near-death accidents. Costs may limit early installations, but the city's most dangerous corners should be equipped first, increasing over time to other corners. Tickets issued to other non-accident red light abusers would be deserved, and would help reduce accidents. The intent of this letter is not personal; I was never hit. I simply add my voice to those seeking safety for all. Richard Prestor Milwaukee Fill oil reserve I think that with the price of oil at a record low, that now would be the time to have the government's national oil reserve filled to the top. This would help out those countries that are our allies and stabilize the stocks of oil companies. This also would be a security measure against a future terrorist attack on some foreign oil fields or other interruptions in oil to the nation. Carlo V. Santarelli Milwaukee Presidents and war This is in response to the letter of Jan. 19 by Jerry Haig of Glendale ("What the GOP has done"). Using the Civil War as an example of the political parties today is foolish, as I believe both parties have since flip-flopped on ideals. Implying that the Democratic president at the time was somehow responsible for the Korean War is outright hilarious. There were several U.S. presidents involved in the Vietnam conflict, although Lyndon Johnson was in office during the military escalation of the war. I'd like to point out a small fact on Haig's suggestion that George W. Bush almost won the war with Iraq until Barack Obama pulled our troops out: Bush had sought out and signed an agreement with the Iraqi government called the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. It included a deadline of Dec. 31, 2011, by which "all the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory." The last U.S. troops left Iraq in accordance with this agreement. Paul W. Russell West Allis SHARE Protect environment On Tuesday, Gov. Scott Walker gave his sixth "state of the state" address to the people of Wisconsin. The governor talked a lot about what his administration wants to get done this year. However, there is one priority he failed to talk about at all. Protecting our natural resources should be a top priority for our governor and Legislature. Instead of addressing what his constituents care about, he's taking a back seat on these important issues. To go even further, the State of Wisconsin has joined in a lawsuit that aims to roll back the common sense and necessary federal Clean Power Plan. From Superior to St. Francis, Wisconsinites were looking forward to hearing about how Walker will handle our polluted drinking water and other threats to our natural resources. The conservation community is once again disappointed with Walker's inaction. Alex Gattone Milwaukee Disappointed by Walker, Barca I am disappointed in both Gov. Scott Walker's "state of the state" address and Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca's response. Neither of them mentioned the divisiveness and rancor between the Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature. Far too often in the last few years, the Republicans seem to think they are the only ones who matter in the Legislature and that the Democrats could not possibly bring anything positive to the table. The Democrats in turn blame the Republicans for excluding them but offer no compromise on legislation, either. Walker could and should have encouraged both parties to work together more often, but maybe he thinks things are fine the way they are. Barca also could and should have mentioned the need to compromise and find common ground on legislation more often. This divisiveness is not helping our state to truly move forward. Marge Krolikowski Milwaukee New nuclear too costly I speak from education, training and experience in the energy industry. I have an MSME from University of Michigan, a BSME from Northwestern University and 25 years in the energy industries, including being a certified energy manager. New nuclear power is prohibitively expensive. Utilities are trying to finish two new reactors at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia. It will be at least $18 billion; yes, $18 billion. Vogtle will double or triple the cost the ratepayers pay, if the plant ever starts up. But since the utilities are already billing the ratepayers during construction, they are on the hook even if it doesn't start up. The Kewaunee nuclear power plant was shut down for "economic reasons." Kewaunee was purchased for $190 million. Yet it wasn't economic to run. The new nuclear at Vogtle is going to cost almost 100 times what Kewaunee cost. How is it possible that Vogtle can be economic to run? That doesn't even pass a straight face test. And contrary to what some are trying to say, there is no "new technology" for dealing with nuclear waste. It will continue to be a problem for generations to come. The $18 billion Vogtle plant could be replaced with solar for the cost of around $4 billion. Why have so many been blinded by science, the lure of the sexy science of nuclear, which was founded on lies out of the gate, and is even more a lie when we see the massive costs necessary to make new nuclear even "pretty safe". Steven Olsen Waipahu, Hawaii The Democrats' angry voice South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's warning to the Republican Party to resist the "siren call of the angriest voices" also applies to the Democratic Party. I admire Bernie Sanders' passion and idealistic vision for America, but his angry demeanor, inflexibility and extreme viewpoints are not what this country needs right now in the Oval Office. Our next president needs to be calm under fire, tough but open to compromise, and pragmatic in his or her decision making. America certainly could use more caring, passionate people like Sanders. We just can't afford to have him running it. Larry Booth Fox Point MADISON As the sun begins to set this weekend in northern Wisconsin, hunters will start to gather at Main Street Eds in the small town of Argonne, coyote carcasses in tow. Some will only have one; others could bring in a half-dozen or more. After a weigh-in at the tavern, hunters will take home prizes for the largest and smallest coyotes, as well as for the most killed. Also-rans will still have a shot at the gun raffle, meat raffle or door prizes. Coyote-hunting contests arent unusual around the country, and in Wisconsin, any season is open and legal season on the animals. Supporters say such hunts help control the coyote population. But theyre facing a growing backlash from conservationists and wildlife lovers, who compare them to cockfighting and dogfighting and are pushing to ban the contests. This is senseless and its bloodlust and its not about conservation, its basically about using living targets, said Melissa Smith, executive director of Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf, which fears protected wolves will be accidentally killed by coyote hunters. Were hunters, we really feel like this gives hunters a bad name that do things ethically. In 2014, California officials banned coyote hunting contests that offer prizes after a push from such conservation groups as Project Coyote and Center of Biological Diversity. In other states, like Idaho and Oregon, lawsuits from conservation groups have stopped or downsized popular hunts. An online petition is circulating to halt todays event in Wisconsin. At least 80 formal coyote hunting contests and tournaments took place in 23 states over the past year, according to the Coyote Contest website, which lists such events. Others are not listed, like the one taking place in Argonne. The hunts can end with upward of 100 coyotes killed. The three-day Coyote Craze Classic in Nebraska last year took in 173 coyotes, according to the event website. Theres so many coyotes, theres so many predators in the woods here that are knocking down our deer, said John Aschenbrenner, a Forest County delegate to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, an elected body that advises the Natural Resources Board and Department of Natural Resources. Hunters typically kill anywhere from one or two coyotes to more than a dozen in these contests. Most states have no bag limit on coyotes. Hunters with the highest kill count, the mangiest kill or the largest or smallest take home cash, belt buckles, hunting gear or other prizes. Some contests ban hunting with dogs; others encourage it. Saturdays contest includes a category for hound hunters and one for hunters who attract coyotes with calls. Argonne Town Board Chairman Don LeMaster and contest organizer Josh Vollmar did not return calls for comment. Its a very disturbing trend, said Center of Biological Diversity conservation advocate Michael Robinson. Its about body counts and it reduces living animals, living beings, it reduces them to a score. Conservationists argue that the killing doesnt effectively manage coyote populations and can even lead to increased reproduction rates. They also are concerned hunters could confuse coyotes with wolves. Robinson said at least 19 endangered wolves have been shot and killed since 2001 by hunters who said they thought they were coyotes. Department of Natural Resources conservation warden supervisor David Walz said they havent seen any more wolves being shot during coyote hunts than any other time hunters are out. Camilla Fox, executive director of Project Coyote, a nonprofit trying to change negative attitudes toward coyotes, thinks such events will ultimately be banned, like cockfighting and dogfighting. But she said it will be a state-by-state fight. The base component here is that killing an animal for a prize or a trophy is ethically indefensible, Fox said, and I think a lot more wildlife agencies understand that and they recognize that this is something they have to address. Theres so many coyotes, theres so many predators in the woods here that are knocking down our deer. John Aschenbrenner, a Forest County delegate to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress This is senseless and its bloodlust and its not about conservation, its basically about using living targets. Were hunters, we really feel like this gives hunters a bad name that do things ethically. Melissa Smith, executive director of Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers the convocation at the Vines Center on the campus of Liberty University on Monday in Lynchburg, Va Credit: Getty Images SHARE By Donald Trump's success this campaign season is generating unease among some GOP officials, and a host of right wing intellectuals on TV, the blogs, print media and radio. They think that Trump, and even more so his supposedly dull-witted supporters, are not conservatives. The self-appointed arbiters of modern conservatism mourn that by supporting Trump instead of some other GOP candidate, American voters are replacing "Edmund Burke...with Trump" in the conservative pantheon. In reality, there are important similarities between Edmund Burke, a member of the British Parliament during the latter half of the 18th century who is generally recognized as the intellectual godfather of Anglo-American conservatism, and Trump. For example, throughout much of his career Edmund Burke's contemporaries dismissed Burke as a wheeler-dealer. Prior to 1776, Burke demonstrated his willingness to deal by attempting to generate a grand political bargain that would have given the American colonists representation in the British Parliament in return for the Americans agreeing to pay taxes levied by the Parliament. The British political establishment, not the American colonists, shot down Burke's balanced proposal and they did so, at least in part, because the establishment politicians of the day viewed Burke's frank discussion of political realities, and his willingness to horse trade, as too vulgar and unseemly for a statesman. Of course, in retrospect Burke looks like a statesman who dealt in realities while "Mad King George" and his coterie of establishment British politicians look like "dopey" morons who ruined the First British Empire and got a bunch of their countrymen (on both sides of the Atlantic) killed. Maybe we need more and not less of Burke's realistic, wheeler-dealer ethos at the current juncture. Trump, not his critics, is in the conservative tradition on this one. Second, throughout his career Burke fought for the "little platoon we belong to in society" not some cosmopolitan abstraction. In fact, Burke thought cosmopolitan visionaries were usually nothing but "sophisters, oeconomists, and calculators" intent upon fleecing the people. Today, Trump's critics sneer that "the Donald" appeals to voters from small towns who are uneducated losers left behind in a globalizing world. Trump's critics constantly peddle policies they say will create some globalized utopia that nobody really wants and that (thank God) never actually arrives. Who cares if Trump denounces such "chirping insects of the hour" as a bunch of "clowns"? Much, if not all, of what is good in America is still generated within America's little neighborhood communities whether they be in rural, suburban or urban areas. It will be that way as long as the Republic endures. Trump, like Burke, appeals to, and promises to protect, the gritty, flawed, but nonetheless precious "little platoons" where national greatness is born and nourished. Finally, at the height of his career, Burke was roundly condemned by his establishment critics for what they viewed as his overly vivid, vulgar and unseemly attacks on the leading figures of the emerging French Revolution, as well as the "radical" steps he proposed to meet the emerging threat. Later, of course, when it turned out that Burke had accurately prophesied the trajectory of the French Revolution, and the British had to spend 25 years fighting first Jacobin terror and later Napoleonic despotism, Burke's countrymen forgot about his intemperate language. Instead they recognized him as the farseeing statesman he was. Maybe after Trump serves a term or two as president and helps America overcome the rising threat of radical Islamic terrorism Americans will do the same thing for Trump. Only a "dummy" reads persons out of the conservative pantheon because they use colorful language. In fact, by deploying colorful language, Trump emulates Burke. In conclusion, Trump might not be a perfect conservative. But who is? He may be conservative enough to seize the nomination and win the presidency. Van Mobley is an associate professor of history at Concordia University Wisconsin and president of the village of Thiensville. His blog, "The Wealth of Nations" can be found at Purple Wisconsin at jsonline.com Stephen Hargarten, a nationally renowned expert on gun violence, will speak as part of UWMs Fireside Forum in February. The lecture series is jointly sponsored with the Journal Sentinel. Credit: Mike De Sisti SHARE By Consider the following proposition: Every human has a basic right to live in safety, enjoying access to health care, education and meaningful work throughout their lives. A fortunate few of the world's population achieve this ideal, while many others do not. This inequality of opportunity drives much of the conflict in communities across the globe, including our own. In global development circles, the discussion is often framed in terms of one nation's indicators relative to another: Statistically, you are 22 times more likely to be murdered in Honduras than in the United States; more Ethiopian doctors practice in the city of Chicago than in the whole of their home country of 80 million people. What is less discussed is how this same inequality plays out within societies. For example, in his "state of the state" address last week, Gov. Scott Walker indicated that Wisconsin's unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since March of 2001. Unfortunately, the "Wisconsin comeback" he described has bypassed many neighborhoods in Milwaukee, where unemployment is conservatively estimated to be five times the state average. Around the world and here at home, sustainable communities are built on equal access to opportunity. The 2016 Fireside Forum lecture series organized by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Institute of World Affairs and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will explore the global and local causes and responses to inequality in four critical areas: Feb. 2: Community violence Here and abroad, the roots of violence reach deep into a society, tapping into complex conditions such as poverty, racism, joblessness and hopelessness. Community violence has identifiable causes and implementable cures. How do we ensure that members of communities everywhere can live their lives without fear? Speaker: Stephen Hargarten, professor and chair of emergency medicine, associate dean for global health, Medical College of Wisconsin; respondent: Pardeep Kaleka, educator and former Milwaukee police officer. Feb. 9: Health At the global, national and local level, unequal distribution of money, power and resources impacts conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. How do we give everyone a chance at being healthy regardless of where they live or how much money they have? Speaker: Susan Kim, O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University; respondent: Geoffrey Swain, medical director and chief medical officer, city of Milwaukee Health Department. Feb. 16: Education Access to inclusive, quality education and vocational training at all levels promotes a brighter individual and collective future. How do we provide better educational opportunities for children in our community and around the world? Speaker: Rebecca Winthrop, director, Center for Universal Education, The Brookings Institution; respondent: Demond Means, commissioner, Opportunity Schools Partnership Program and superintendent, Mequon-Thiensville School District. Feb. 23: Employment The opportunity for people to support themselves and contribute to their community through gainful employment is key to achieving a more equitable and stable society. Around the world, communities facing high unemployment, particularly among their youths, are especially vulnerable to social unrest. How do we make family-supporting jobs available for everyone willing to work? Speaker:Nancy Donaldson, director, International Labor Organization (Washington, D.C.); respondent:Marc Levine, senior fellow and founding director, UWM Center for Economic Development. These challenges are universal. Strategies to address them at both the global and local levels can and should inform one another. Members of our community are encouraged to be part of this conversation. Douglas Savage is assistant director of the Institute of World Affairs at UW-Milwaukee. The Fireside Forum Details: 7 p.m. Tuesdays in February, UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Fireside Lounge. The series is free; sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Institute of World Affairs and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More information:www.iwa.uwm.edu The WE Energies power plant in Oak Creek. Credit: Rick Wood SHARE Brad Schimel By of the Attorney General Brad Schimel on Friday expressed disappointment with a federal appeals court that rejected a plea by Wisconsin and more than two dozen other states that sought to delay enforcement of President Barack Obama's plans to cut greenhouse gases at power plants. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., on Thursday is a setback for states and industries that opposed the nation's landmark climate rules. They sought to temporarily block regulations curbing coal emissions. The law, known as the Clean Power Plan, requires states to develop plans to reduce emissions, using strategies that include energy efficiency, renewable energy or scaling back electric generation from coal plants. In Wisconsin, officials declined to say if they are working on strategies to limit carbon emissions. "We will be discussing this decision internally, with the attorney general's office, and with the PSC before deciding our next steps," said George Althoff, a spokesman for the DNR. At the Public Service Commission, spokeswoman Elise Nelson said the agency is still studying the "massive costs to Wisconsin ratepayers and businesses." In a statement, Schimel said the "clock is ticking" for Wisconsin and other states to formulate plans to meet the federal requirements, noting the first deadline is September for states to develop implementation plans. Many states are working to comply with the rules, according to Matthew Frank, an environmental lawyer and former natural resources secretary under Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. Representatives of the utility sector and conservation groups have expressed worry the state's quest to fight climate regulations will give Wisconsin less flexibility in mapping out a carbon reduction strategy. Dairyland Power Cooperative and Xcel Energy both called for Wisconsin officials to work with the energy sector rather than the alternative having EPA dictate a plan. "There's some lack of clarity about where the Clean Power Plan is going to go. But from our perspective, we assume we're going to participate in the future in a CO2-constrained environment," said Brian Rude, vice president at Dairyland Power Cooperative in La Crosse. In Utah, a coal producing state that also opposes Obamas's plan, officials say they are proceeding with planning, even though they disagree with the requirements, according to The Associated Press. "We're still planning ahead," said Donna Spangler, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. "We're not going to stop and wait to see what happens." Environmental groups such as Clean Wisconsin say Wisconsin should seek input from stakeholder groups to see how energy efficiency and conservation could keep the overall cost of compliance affordable. More than two dozen states, including Minnesota and Illinois, joined environmental groups in supporting the EPA rule in court. The appeals court found no "irreparable harm" to justify a delay. Wisconsin manufacturing groups say they support Schimel's litigation. "We believe that filing any state plan before the legal process ripens would be premature," the groups said. Schimel in a statement said the court's decision did not address the merits of states' claims that the regulations are illegal and said states like Wisconsin "remain confident that we will prevail." Schimel and other states fighting the law said they might ask for an emergency stay from the U.S. Supreme Court to keep the plan from going into effect. But asking the high court to intervene would be a long shot, said Art Harrington, a lawyer with Godfrey & Kahn who has been following the issue. The Supreme Court would have to take a case that hasn't been decided at the lower level, which is unusual, Harrington said. The appeals court agreed to a fast-track timeline to hear arguments on the issue in June, months ahead of schedule. "Given the fast-track timeline, I suspect it's going to be even more difficult to argue that a stay is necessary from the Supreme Court," he said. Brooks says judge can't 'tell him what to do' on Day 13 of Christmas Parade trial Sandhill cranes follow an ultralight plane as they leave the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge as part of Operation Migration on Oct. 3, 2000. Credit: Journal Sentinel files SHARE By of the The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided it will no longer support the use of ultralight aircraft to lead young whooping cranes on their fall migration to Florida. The decision ends the most visible and expensive strategy since 2001 to bring back the endangered birds to the eastern United States. Officials announced late Friday that the ultralight-guided flights to the birds' wintering home on the Gulf Coast of Florida now in their final days for 2015-'16 will be the last. The public-private effort has spent more than $20 million to establish a flock that is distinct from a larger, more robust flock of whooping cranes migrating between the Texas Gulf Coast and northern Canada. The western flock does not require similar intervention. The agency signaled its intent to move away from mechanized migration last year. But it was unclear then whether Operation Migration, the nonprofit group that has led the birds from Wisconsin to Florida for 15 years, would be allowed to have another year or two to teach birds to migrate with ultralights. The Canadian-based group has opposed the end of ultralights and mounted an online petition drive to generate support for its cause. The group says crane survivorship is better with ultralights than another method, where young cranes pick up cues from other adult cranes and follow them south. The final decision took place in Baraboo at a meeting of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, according to Pete Fasbender of the Fish and Wildlife Service, a field office supervisor based in Bloomington, Minn. "The real short answer is that we felt that this was in the best interest of the birds," said Fasbender, who has oversight responsibility for the flock in the eastern U.S. The decision was motivated by the lack of success the birds have seen in producing chicks and raising them in the wild. Since 2001, nearly 250 whooping cranes have been released in Wisconsin. About 93 are currently alive, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. However, only 10 chicks have survived to fledge. Many first-time parents are known to abandon their nests. One reason is due to nettlesome black flies at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. But biologists have determined that other factors are probably also at play. Experts in crane biology and other fields have concluded that the use of aircraft and other human interaction are having a negative effect on the birds. Another worrisome technique is the use of costumed humans who help care for chicks. The practices apparently are not allowing the birds to imprint parenting skills they need to raise their own chicks. Since 2005, the chicks that fledged and were born in the wild came from only five pairs of adults, according to Fish and Wildlife Service. "Why aren't the others getting it?" asked Fasbender. "The common thread is this lack of parenting skills." During meetings last week, there was agreement to end the flights and limit human interaction with chicks, including minimizing interactions with costumed handlers. The partnership includes Operation Migration and staff from the Baraboo-based International Crane Foundation, the largest crane conservation organization in the world. Barry Hartup, director of veterinary service, said the crane foundation agrees with the changes. "We have to find ways to reduce the element of artificiality," Hartup said. The decision is a major setback for Operation Migration, which disagreed with ending the use of ultralights. Staff are currently in northern Florida, just short of the final destination of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The ultralight migration this year has lasted more than 100 days, with the birds flying on days when the weather is good and spending nights in pens. Fasbender and Hartup believe there is a role for Operation Migration, which can use aircraft for field work and continue its efforts in fundraising, outreach and public relations. The group says that it has used more than $10 million in donations for its crane work. Joe Duff, chief executive officer of Operation Migration, posted comments on the decision on the group's website on Saturday. "It is sad to see the end of aircraft led migration," Duff wrote. "There will be many people who will be disappointed, and even a few who will celebrate. But those reactions are all about people and our mantra has always been, it's about the birds." SHARE By of the An 18-year-old Oostburg resident was killed and three others were injured in a rollover accident in the Town of Holland in Sheboygan County early Saturday. The Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department said the accident occurred at Risseeuw and Rauwerdink roads about 2:20 a.m. The preliminary investigation shows one car was involved. The vehicle was westbound on Risseeuw when it overturned into a ditch, ejecting one of the passengers who died. The other three passengers were taken to an area hospital and treated for injuries that were not life threatening. The department said Morgan Marie Knapp was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff's department said that the driver was arrested for violation of absolute sobriety by an operator of a motor vehicle who has not attained the age of 21. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) | Irans president has criticized the mass disqualification of candidates in next months parliamentary elections, suggesting the decision could make the vote pointless. The comments by Hassan Rohani signaled continuing tensions between the president, who has presented himself as a moderate, and powerful hard-liners who control key bodies in the Islamic republic. Rohani made the comments following reports that the powerful Guardians Council had barred about 60 percent of candidates from running in the February 26 vote. Reformers, who were hoping to make a comeback in the upcoming vote, have said that only 1 percent of their hopefuls have been allowed to stand in the vote for the 290-seat Majlis. If only one faction is present in the vote, and the other is not, then why are we holding elections? Rohani was quoted as saying on January 21 in a meeting in Tehran. Another pro-reform politician, Hossein Marashi, said over the weekend that only 30 out of 3,000 reformist candidates have been qualified to run. The Majlis, which is elected every four years, has the power to draft and debate legislation, which must be formally approved by the president before becoming law. In practice, however, unelected bodies like the Guardians Council, which is made up of six clerics and six jurists, hold vast power over what legislation gets passed and gets the final word on who can run in elections. Its been unclear why the council has moved to strike so many candidates from the elections, though in the past it has disqualified pro-reform candidates and those who are not deemed fully loyal to the clerical establishment and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In addition to reformers, some conservatives have been also barred from running, including outspoken lawmaker Ali Motahari, whos been critical of the house arrest of opposition figures. The parliament is the house of the nation, not the house of one faction, Rohani said in a January 21 speech to governors and election officials. Lets allow the house of the nation to truly reflect our nation and belong to all people, he said. Supreme Intervention? Those who have been disqualified can appeal against the decision and, in recent days, Iranian media have published some of the appeal letters by those disqualified. Former Culture Minister and presidential candidate Mostafa Moeen said the decision to bar him went against Irans constitution and national interests. Rohani has reportedly assigned Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri to discuss the disqualifications with the Guardians Council, and Amir Mohebbian, a well-known political analyst aligned with hard-liners, said Rohani could ask Irans supreme leader to intervene. Rohani could use his prestige and, for example, ask the leader to use his status regarding the disqualifications, Mohebbian was quoted as saying by the news site Fararu.com. But whether the demand will be achieved is another issue. Another Tehran-based political analyst, Sadegh Zibakalam, said the disqualifications have been so extensive that even some moderate conservatives are concerned that it would undermine the votes legitimacy. Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Aref, a reformist politician and former presidential candidate, said hes hopeful that some of the banned candidates will be allowed to run. Aref is among the very few reformists whove been reportedly approved by the Guardians Council. So far, weve had good discussions with the Guardians Council and others; Im hopeful in the review of the disqualifications, Aref was quoted as saying. Earlier this month, Khamenei called on all Iranian citizens, even those who dont accept him and the clerical establishment, to vote in the February elections, which will also select members of the Assembly of Experts which is in charge of picking the countrys next supreme leader. Via RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2015. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036. Related video added by Juan Cole: CCTV: Iran Elections: Rouhani calls for free and fair elections Reddit Email 0 Shares Mustafa Habib | (Niqash.org) | An extremist hero with a mortar in his shoulder. A secret plot bringing the Iraqi Kurdish and the Islamic State together. Iraqi social media can prove it all. Or can it? After the recent execution of a leading Shiite Muslim cleric with pro-democracy views, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in Saudi Arabia, there was widespread outrage in Shiite Muslim communities across the Middle East. As the British Guardian newspaper reported, the execution was described as a grave mistake by the Supreme Islamic Shia Council in Lebanon and a flagrant violation of human rights by Yemens Houthi movement. There was a similar reaction in Iraq, with protests organized in Baghdad. And there was an equal amount of outrage if not more being expressed on Iraqi social media. A video was shared that allegedly showed the last seconds of Nimrs life and his execution. Another video was widely shared: It showed Nimrs body being dropped out of a helicopter after the execution. Some Iraqis even said they thought that he hadnt been executed in a humane way at all, he had actually been killed by being thrown out of that helicopter. This kind of news is common on Iraqi social media. And its dangerous because for many Iraqis, social media websites, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to a lesser degree, have become a major source of political and security-related news. They do not trust mainstream media in Iraq, which is mostly considered to be partisan with much of it funded by political parties, religious bodies or other organizations pushing their own agenda. Many Iraqis say their most trusted source is word-of-mouth relatives, friends, neighbours so it makes sense that they would turn to social media, basically an expanded network of the latter, to get information they believe they can trust. Thanks to the current security crisis in the country, started by the extremist group known as the Islamic State in June 2014, the situation on the ground often changes rapidly. The best place to get information on those changes, many Iraqis believe, is via social media. However once again the countrys ingrained social divisions are playing a part on social media sites too. Manipulated videos, Photoshopped pictures and other false news and disturbing rumours are shared continuously by Iraqis craving information and, in some cases, anything that confirms their own bias. And because websites like Facebook and YouTube now play a key part in shaping Iraqi public opinion, these fake stories and visuals can be dangerous and if not physically, dangerous, then certainly divisive in the long run, in an already worryingly and increasingly divided society. Once a certain story gets picked up on Iraqi social media it is often rapidly disseminated further. The story about Sheikh Nimrs execution was a prime example of this. Its hard to know who posted the videos originally but it seems clear that the original user had an agenda. Under the guidance of advisors from open source verification experts at the investigative network, Bellingcat, a team of bloggers from the Iraqi Network for Social Media who are also the founders of a Facebook page called Fake Posts, as well as journalists from NIQASH, took a closer look at some of these falsified reports on social media. Using open source verification techniques like geolocation and reverse image search, the team quickly found that the first video, the one allegedly showing al-Nimrs execution, had nothing to do with the Saudi cleric. The clip, watched by thousands of Iraqis, was actually the video of the execution of an Indonesian maid in Saudi Arabia and it was four years old. The other video that supposedly showed al-Nimrs body being thrown out of a helicopter after his execution was also something else: It was a video showing a member of Saudi police force falling out of a helicopter, most likely to his death, in 2013. The investigators then went on to look at several other popular rumours doing the rounds of Iraqi social media. Another picture that caused a different kind of uproar was that of a bloodied soldier with the remains of a mortar embedded in his arm, alive and sitting on bed. Interestingly enough every single group fighting in Iraq wanted to claim this hero as one of their own. The Iraqi Kurdish military, known as the Peshmerga, said he was one of their men. The Iraqi army claimed him as their soldier and then the Shiite Muslim volunteer militias, who may or may not fight alongside the Iraqi army, said he was one of their brave volunteers. Even the extremist Islamic State, or IS, group got in on the act saying he was actually one of their fighters. People in Iraq want to believe this kind of story and they gave the soldier with the mortar in his arm nicknames like Iron man in honour of his survival. But once again it turned out that nothing about this picture was correct. The man was in fact a soldier in the Colombian army in South America. The picture dated back to 2000 and the man had been injured while the Colombian army was fighting local left wing rebels, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as Farc. Details on the remains of the mortar in the mans arm, words on his badge saying Quimbaya, his military rank and other news reports on the incident quickly made it clear that the soldier had nothing to do with Iraq at all. Another controversy was caused by a picture that seemed to show an officer from the Iraqi Kurdish military consorting with members of the IS group, a force that the Iraqi Kurdish are supposed to be fighting. Back in 2014, when the IS group first took over the northern city of Mosul, there were already rumours that the Iraqi Kurdish were cooperating with the group in order to gain advantage and move toward a long-cherished goal of Kurdish independence. No big surprise then that this picture of supposed enemies together rebirthed those rumours in the echo chamber that is Iraqi social media. Once again though, this was misinformation. The individual that looked like they were a member of the IS group sporting a long beard and a typical long-shirted IS outfit turned out to be a well known Iraqi Kurdish actor. The actor was well known in Iraqi Kurdistan but not by Arab audiences in Iraq. He was in an area west of Mosul working on a film about how the IS group had attacked the Yazidi minority in northern Iraq. And the member of the Iraqi Kurdish military pictured with the actor was a real soldier, a member of the security task force assigned to protect the film crew and actors. It seemed that the picture had been taken as a kind of celebrity souvenir and uploaded in that vein, but had then been taken out of context by those who didnt recognize the Kurdish actor and who had suspicions about the Iraqi Kurdish military. Thanks to advances in digital technology these kinds of rumours are increasingly common in Iraq, says Amir Faysal, a professor in the media studies department of Baghdad University. This allows people to publish whatever they like without checking if its true. There is a strong need to increase Iraqis awareness of this, so that they can tell what is true and what is false these false rumours negatively affect public opinion, he told NIQASH. One of the biggest problems with all of this is that it is not just ordinary Iraqis on social media spreading rumours and gossip. The Iraqi media often also engages in disseminating these kinds of stories part of the drive for them is to increase audience share and get more visitors to their sites. They know these controversial reports will do that. For some of the less scrupulous, more partisan media outlets, the false stories may also support their organisations agenda. Digital content that sets one sect, or ethnic group, against another in Iraq is seen as popular, a bit like the populist muck raking done by tabloids in the West; it often spreads very quickly which makes even more professional news outlets want to re-publish or comment on it. The best way to confront this kind of news is to better train Iraqi journalists, suggests Hashim Hassan al-Tamimi, Dean of the College of Mass Communication at the University of Baghdad. Iraqis urgently want news about security and about politics. The real media should be able to provide them with this information, instead of allowing rumours on social media to incite hatred. This report was prepared by NIQASH in cooperation with Bellingcat, the Media Academy Iraq and Iraqi members of the Fake Posts page. It is the first of an occasional series, that will see NIQASH cooperate with the Fake Posts team. Via Niqash.org - Related video added by Juan Cole: CCTV from 2 weeks ago: Two Sunni Muslim mosques attacked in Iraq Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Russian air strikes in Syria are coming closer and closer to the Turkish border in Latakia in the northwest, and there are rumors that Russia is looking at establishing an airbase at Qamishli in the largely Kurdish northeast of Syria. Turkey risks having Russia as a neighbor all along the Syrian border to Turkeys south, as well as beyond the Black Sea to its north. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference, We have said this from the beginning: we wont tolerate such formations (in northern Syria) along the area stretching from the Iraqi border up to the Mediterranean. . . Over on the Mediterranean side, Russian air strikes have enabled the Syrian Arab Army of the Bashar al-Assad regime to move back into northern Latakia Province, taking a large number of villages in the far northern areas of Turkmen Mountain and Kurd Mountain. The strategic city of Rabia was surrounded on three sides by government troops. Syrian government sources maintained that 150 rebels had been killed in the fighting, including guerrillas of the Nusra Front, while others had fled across the border into Turkey. It was to protect the anti-regime Turkmen fighters of Turkmen mountain that last fall the Turkish air force shot a Russian fighter jet out of the air. The SAA has also retaken Salma in the east of Latakia Province. Salma had been in rebel hands for 3 years and is in higher land and so was a useful way for the rebels to dominate the surrounding area. Russian strategy since last October has been to intervene from the air to give courage to the Syrian troops and allow them to push back the rebels from the key port city of Latakia in the province of the same name. The al-Qaeda-allied Army of Conquest (Jaysh al-Fateh) has the neighboring province of Idlib to the east and has a key position in Jisr al-Shughour, a town in the highlands overlooking Latakia from which an assault could easily be launched. One of the Army of Conquest coalition partners is the Nusra Front or the Support Front, the chief al-Qaeda franchise in Syria, which reports to Ayman al-Zawahiri (one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks on the US). The Nusra Front has been flooding fighters also into northern, mountainous Latakia, where Turkmen villages are split, with about half in the ranks of the anti-regime rebels. Turkmen speak a language close to Turkish and came into the Arab world as nomads from the 8th century forward, originating in Inner Asia. The Syrian Arab Army on Friday made substantial advances in Turkmen Mountain in the far north of Latakia Province near the Turkish border, taking numerous villages and expelling al-Qaeda and allied fighters. This drive to reestablish regime control so close to the Turkish border has alarmed the Turkish government, which had been arming and supporting the rebellious Turkmen. As of Friday, Turkeys proxies seemed to be losing very badly, and it is unclear what options Ankara now has except Erdogans bluster. Related video: Press TV: Syrian troops advancing in Latakia province Celebrate your inner nerd with my new t-shirt design! Available on my Spreadshirt shop in multiple colors and products. It isnt hard to find companies migrating to the cloud. And those migrations are filled with questions, concerns, demands, and the need for expertise. Entire conferences, like the upcoming ITEXPO, devote full panels to the topic. One of the top concerns in any migration is security. Unisys (News - Alert) has emerged with an enterprise security product called Unisys Stealth that utilizes micro-segmentation security on the Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS) cloud and features migration elements. By leveraging a specialized platform, the company will now be providing advanced security for AWS customers and those that wish to come onto the service. Unisys is implementing its technology down to the packet level and this eliminates the need for customers to implement any firewall, application changes, or new hardware in the procurement of the services. This granular segmentation allows for the integration of supply chain partners to finite elements of workloads with the assurance of security overriding all. The development could be significant. Widely accepted industry reports indicate that a majority of large enterprises are either already using the public cloud or a hybrid technology for computing needs. In the past, many IT professionals had regarded public clouds to be insufficient in terms of reliability, security, and safety. Thanks to services such as Unisys, that perception has shifted, especially when it comes to major workloads. One of the most popular workloads in the cloud is big data and in hybrid cloud environments, big data is a natural partner. With the flexible infrastructure and technology of hybrid clouds, big data analysis can be completed on demand and it can immediately allow access to users of information. Additionally, data can also be collected and distributed on a flexible, programmable, and on-demand basis. Security is a critical element to cloud propositions. Transparency is a valued aspect of any public or private cloud, especially when it comes to security and compliance. How a business supports and enables security and compliance standards is critical to the success of a cloud-based workload deployment. By introducing a flexible, powerful, and manageable enterprise security product, Unisys Is working with enterprise to deliver on business and information technology challenges that face the industry today. Edited by Kyle Piscioniere Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo visited European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier this week (19 January) to defend her governments position on controversial laws it recently approved. She is from the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party which won the majority during the elections in October last year. Poland is under increased scrutiny by the European Union since the European Commission commenced dialogue surrounding the fundamental aspects of rule of law a week ago. The new government in Poland, led by Conservative Law and Justice Party passed restrictive laws at the end of 2015 that put Polish social rights in danger. A reform to the Constitutional Court majority raises the bar for court rulings with five of the fifteen judges being replaced, provoking several demonstrations in Warsaw. Another reform is about the media which allows directors of public broadcasters to be chosen by the Ministry of Treasury. Public media are called national media and will be under the supervision of persons appointed by the National Media Council. Several journalists have been recently fired. However, during her speech in Strasbourg, Szydlo called for the support of the European Union. She also asked for Polands sovereignty to remain untouched. She legitimized the reforms of her government insisting that the government respects the rule of law. In the European Parliament, PiS is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR), mainly composed by British Conservatives. According to a recent analysis by the NGO VoteWatch Europe, ECR is likely to back PiS reforms at the European level. Both PiS and British conservative MPs are indeed eurosceptic. Hungarian MEPs who are members of the Fidesz party within the European Peoples Party (EPP) also support PiS. However, Szydlo insisted that Poland will remain faithful to the EU. The fact that Poland is the biggest beneficiary of EU funds may justify her claim. A day before Szydlos speech, Polish president Andrzej Duda (PiS) was in Brussels to visit the European Council president Donald Tusk (from conservative Civic Platform party), who is also a Pole, to try to calm the debate. Tusk said that the dialogue started by the Commission would be an opportunity to lower the tone between EU and Poland and to take time to examine the facts rather than overreacting. Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, raised concerns last week (13 January) and initiated a structured dialogue with Poland under the Rule of Law Framework. Both Szydlo and Duda seem to have important roles in Polish government. They speak at the international level and try to justify the measures in front of EU leaders. Meanwhile, Jaroslaw Kaczynski is the leader of Law and Justice Party. He lost his twin brother, the president of Poland at that time, in a plane accident in 2010. In the government, Kaczynski is simply an MP, but as political leader, he seems to act behind the scenes. Rob Carrigan is a third-generation Colorado Native. His grandfather's homestead was near the Hamilton turnoff between Craig and Meeker. He grew up in Dolores. Carrigan can be reached by emailing robcarrigan1@gmail.com. Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from "Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California" by Frances Dinkelspiel. Lost LA's Nathan Masters recently caught up with Dinkelspiel to discuss her book and the research that made it possible. Click here to read the full interview. The grape vines were scraggly. They pushed their way out of the ground with barely enough enthusiasm to crawl up the metal stakes meant to hold them. Some had a few bright green leaves and twisting tendrils emerging from a winter sleep, but a significant number were gray and barren. As I stood under the warm April sky and looked at the vines, I found it hard to believe that this spot was once home to one of the most admired vineyards in California, lauded for its wine, port and sweet Angelica. Weary travelers on their way to the gold mines had exulted in the liquid made from its grapes, and judges at 19th century state fairs had given the wines top awards. But Rancho Cucamonga, forty miles east of Los Angeles, was now a city of strip malls, chain restaurants, and hotels, indistinguishable from surrounding towns. Three highways cut through the once-verdant area. Lines of houses crawled all the way to the base of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains, which were often obscured by smog wafting east from Los Angeles. I had come to Rancho Cucamonga to see if I could find any reminders of the 1875 wine that had been destroyed in the Wines Central warehouse fire. Ever since I had heard that my cousin, Miranda Heller, had stored our great-great-grandfather's wine in the warehouse and it had boiled in its bottles, I wanted to know more about its creation. I couldn't find any reference to that specific vintage in the forty boxes of my great-great grandfather's papers stored at the California Historical Society. No family letters about the wine remained. The only clue I had to the origin of the wine was the label on one of the green oversized bottles that had not burned up. "Private Stock, Isaias W. Hellman," was printed at the top, under what looked like a cattle brand with the initials "IWH." "Port wine, Cucamonga Vineyard, San Bernardino County, California," was spelled out below in ornate script. "Vintage 1875. Bottled from wood 1921," was under that. So I traveled to where the wine had its beginnings. I knew that Hellman was only one of a long string of stewards of the vineyard that yielded the grapes for his wine. I had traveled four hundred miles from Berkeley to see if I could reconstruct that lineage and chain of ownership, a task that would take months of searching through county deeds, court cases, and history books. Who had planted the grapes? I wondered. Who had made the wine? I eventually would follow the path the wine took from its inception in 1839 to its creation in 1875 to its destruction in 2005. The story was, in many ways, a reflection of the history of wine in California. The bottles were connected to the early days of the wine business in Los Angeles, when it couldn't even be characterized as an industry, to winemakers' attempts to capture the attention of East Coast drinkers, to battles for market domination that raged until Prohibition. That's how I found myself standing near one of the few remaining vineyards - if it could be called that - in the area. It was just a small patch of grapevines in front of an historic home that belonged to one of the early owners of Rancho Cucamonga. Clearly it was not well tended. Before World War II, there had been more than 27,000 acres of grapes1 around Rancho Cucamonga, making western San Bernardino County the largest grape-growing region in America - larger than Napa and Sonoma combined. Urban development wiped that away. Now, there was little to remind me of what the land had been like during that era, let alone in 1839 when the first cultivated grapes went in the ground. 1Thomas Pinney, A History of Wine in America: From Prohibition to the Present, (Berkeley, Los Angeles, London, University of California Press, 2005) 69. Cucamonga winery, 1909 | Courtesy of the Rancho Cucamonga Library. The winery today | Photo courtesy of Frances Dinkelspiel. The Rancho Cucamonga winery | Photo courtesy of the Rancho Cucamonga Library. Jean-Louis Vignes, a French immigrant who settled in Los Angeles in the 1830s, pioneered the production of fine wine in Southern California at his Aliso winery. Drawing by Edward Vischer from 'Vignettes of the Californian Missions,' courtesy of the Honnold Mudd Library Special Collections at the Claremont Colleges. Click here to read an excerpt from author Frances Dinkelspiel's book "Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California," where she reveals surprising connections between L.A. and California's modern wine trade, tracing the industry's fraught history. Long before Napa or Sonoma became household names across the globe, the City of Angels reigned as the viticulture capital of California. In 1850, the angels numbered only 1,610, but the city's 100-or-so vineyards along the rich floodplains of the Los Angeles River produced 57,355 gallons of wine. Four years later, when Los Angeles adopted its first city seal, it placed within its center a cluster of grapes. Soon, all across Southern California, vineyards of Mission grapes -- the same varietal planted by Spanish missionaries -- sprawled under the region's sunny skies. In 1857, German colonists founded a utopian winemaking commune 26 miles southeast of Los Angeles, irrigating their vines with water from the nearby Santa Ana River. They honored the river's contribution in their commune's name: Anaheim. Around the same time, 37 miles east of Los Angeles, the Rancho de Cucamonga emerged as a leading winemaking enterprise. Cucamonga's lucrative vineyards -- and the jealousies, conspiracies, and violence they inspired -- figure prominently in "Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California," a new book by Frances Dinkelspiel that's at once a gripping tale and an impressively researched work of history. Dinkelspiel previously chronicled early Los Angeles in "Towers of Gold," her biography of banker Isaias Hellman. Now, in "Tangled Vines," she reveals surprising connections between frontier Los Angeles and California's modern wine trade, tracing the industry's history to its origins in conquest, colonialism, and exploitation. We recently discussed her book and the research that made it possible. What follows is an edited and condensed transcript of our conversation. Nathan Masters: Your book introduces readers to two starkly different worlds. There's the rough-and-tumble world of L.A. in the mid-19th century, and then there's the more privileged world of Northern California's wine country in the 21st century. Injustice is at the forefront of both, but in the earlier time it takes the form of murder, slavery, and racially motivated violence, while in the more recent world it's an arson fire and the loss of some amazing wine collections. Things seem to have improved, but in what ways are the vines of those two worlds entangled? Frances Dinkelspiel: While things are better now, the history of the wine business in California is in part a story of injustice and exploitation -- one that's not widely recognized or acknowledged by wine makers and trade organizations. First the Indians were exploited to make wine, then Chinese workers were brought in, and the labor force eventually evolved to include mostly Mexican and Central American workers. And their lives are hard. Things may be much better now, but there are still inequalities. NM: Your book brought to life a period of Los Angeles history we don't usually experience through fiction or narrative nonfiction. The research must have been extensive. Which collections did you find most useful? An assessment book preserved at the San Bernardino County Historical Archives. Photo courtesy of Frances Dinkelspiel. FD: I spent a lot of time going through the rich collections at the Huntington Library, where I reviewed the records of court cases from early Los Angeles and read through letters from various people in the book. At the Seaver Center, I looked through pictures of early Los Angeles. When you do historical research, you can spend an entire day in an archive, find one good image, and consider it a good day. I also spent a lot of time in the San Bernardino County Historical Archives. They've done a good job preserving their history. They've got these assessment books -- big leather ledgers -- that tell you how much property or money someone had. And they had a lot of court cases. Finally, there were these scrapbooks from Benjamin Hayes, who served as a judge in Los Angeles just after California became part of the U.S. He came from the east coast, was well-educated, and recognized the historic nature of California's transfer from Mexico to the U.S. So he kept everything and organized them into scrapbooks, which are now at the Bancroft Library in Berkeley. There's a separate scrapbook about the Cucamonga killing, which figures prominently in the book. Reading through the scrapbook, you feel like you're there. It was amazing. Franciscan missionaries introduced viticulture to Southern California in the early years of Spanish colonization. This 1854 survey shows a large vineyard on the mission property. Courtesy of the Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley. German immigrants founded Anaheim in 1857 as a utopian winemaking commune. Vineyards are visible around the town in this 1876 birds-eye view, courtesy of the Anaheim Public Library. A Pasadena vineyard in the 1870s. Courtesy of the Security Pacific National Bank Collection - Los Angeles Public Library. Many California vineyardists once relied on Chinese immigrants for their labor force. Circa 1900 photo courtesy of the USC Libraries - California Historical Society Collection. NM: Broadly speaking, we can characterize regional history in the U.S. by saying that Southern history is about slavery, and Western history is about conquest. But in California -- and especially in the Los Angeles area -- slavery and conquest were intertwined. How does that relationship play out in your book? FD: Well, it's very interesting that the original labor force that planted the grapes and made the wine were Native Americans. They were essentially indentured servants or slaves from the time Franciscan fathers established the first mission. And then later, Americans treated the Indians even worse than the Franciscan fathers. One of the first laws they passed after California became an American state was the Indian Indentured Act [officially, an Act for the Government and Protection of Indians], which allowed any vineyardist to declare an Indian lazy. The sheriff could arrest them, fine them. And then when they couldn't pay the fine, the sheriff would auction the Indian workers off to the highest bidder. One early California writer compared that process to the slave marts of the South. NM: And then there's California's other conquest -- that of the Mexican people by the United States. That conquest is still relevant today, of course, but in 1850s Los Angeles the wounds of the war were especially fresh. Bill Deverell even termed that time period as the "Unending Mexican War." How would you describe the racial climate of the time? FD: It was terrible, with widespread distrust between the native Californians and the white Yankees or Europeans. There were lynchings. There was a lot of unfair frontier justice. It was a violent time. A fantastic representation of that climate took place in 1862, during the Civil War. A man named John Rains, who owned a famous vineyard in Rancho Cucamonga, was murdered when he was traveling between his home and Los Angeles. His body wasn't discovered for 11 days. And during that time people were whispering that it was Californios who killed him. One of the men suspected in the murder was being transported up to San Quentin for a different offense. As the sheriff was loading him onto a boat in San Pedro, a vigilante mob came aboard. They grabbed the man from the sheriff, hung him right there on the boat, filled his pockets with rocks, and threw him overboard. Another California suspected in Rains death was later gunned down, as well. Life was cheap, particularly if you were a Californio, or a Mexican. NM: Viticulture was once a major industry in Southern California. Can you explain why that isn't so today? And how did the north ever overtake the south as the center of winemaking in California? FD: There are a couple different reasons. Probably the most significant is that Southern California isn't really well-suited for winemaking, especially because it's much hotter than in northern California. Early planters used the Mission grape, which was the most commonly planted grape in California until 1890. The Mission grape is a very hardy grape that thrived in the hot sun of Southern California. But the wine made from it wasn't really good. Eventually, more people came to California, including people from France and other countries with strong winemaking traditions. They sought out other grape varietals to experiment with and, while some were planted in Southern California, they didn't do as well as in Northern California, where nights are cool. It's really important to let wine grapes cool off at night. And then there was something called Pierce's disease, which rushed through all the vineyards in Southern California, and killed off them all off in a period of two-to-three years in the late 1880s. At the same time, there was a population and real estate boom. Here all these vines had died, and this sudden influx of people found other things to do with the land. And yet Southern California was the heart of California's industry for a really long time, and from 1860 to about 1890 it was the heart of winemaking in the U.S., as well. There were so many grapevines that Los Angeles was called "The City of Vines." This 1849 map by E.O.C. Ord reveals that an extensive matrix of vineyards, orchards, and other agricultural fields once sprawled across the flood plain of the Los Angeles River. Courtesy of the Map Collection - Los Angeles Public Library. KEARNEY One of Nebraskas newest historical markers takes its readers back 135 years to a time when mills grinding locally-grown wheat into flour were common along rivers that could provide free energy to turn water wheels. The story of Blue Mills is featured on the sign located on the east side of Highway 10 just north of Glenwood Corner. Its a tale that starts when miller Sylvester Bearss came from Canada to settle on a farm north of Kearney. He built a mill on the south side of the Wood River about a quarter-mile to the east of the Nebraska State Historical Society marker. Blue Mills history includes two fires one accidental, one arson and an exploding dam. Its the story of a two-generation family business later operated by Bearss son, Guy, until dust-related health issues required him to sell Blue Mills to local farmer Warren Ewell in 1920. It also is the story of two generations of the Richter family who have preserved the history of the mill and surrounding area. In 1944, Lawrence and Violet Richter purchased 160 acres of land from Guy Bearss. Since then, family members have excavated items from the mill site, researched and recorded its history, and continue to tell stories about Blue Mills, the Glenwood Park Resort that developed around the widened river above the mill and a commercial ice house between the two. Its part of our family history, Jim Richter said about why his family paid most of the $5,100 cost of the sign installed last summer. Other area residents joined together as the Blue Mills Association to provide $1,000. Its a legacy to Dad and Mom, said Jim Richters sister Karen Clark of Kearney. The Richter family still owns a part of the property, although Lawrence sold some housing lots in the 1970s and Gary Meyers now owns the mill site. The six Richter siblings grew up with the mills remains in their backyard. There was nothing, just a concrete foundation, Jim said. He added that his dads interest in Blue Mills history came in part from a childhood memory of riding to the mill in a horse-drawn wagon filled with wheat and going home with bags of flour. Lawrence also appreciated the history of the entire Glenwood area and of mechanical things. Clark said there obviously had been a Native American presence on the Richter property because Lawrence found many arrowheads and other Indian artifacts. Another sibling, Patricia Richter Reinhardt of Centennial, Colo., wrote a Blue Mills history story that was published Nov. 10, 1970, in the Kearney Hub. It says the mills name came from a blue clay outcropping Sylvester Bearss found in the riverbed. There is blue clay there and the Indians used to make their pottery out of it, Jim Richter said. The Richter children grew up working on the familys farm, which included crops, Angus cattle and a grade A dairy with around 20 cows producing milk sold to the Blue Bell Creamery in Kearney. The Blue Mills ruins were a place to play and explore after farm chores were done. We would go down by the pond by the concrete dam where the water went over and there would be turtles, Clark recalled. In the winter, they went ice skating. The original mill constructed in 1881 was a small frame building. The first dams were made of sod and bush, which frequently washed away, and the two millstones, each about 2 feet in diameter, sat in a steel frame. According to Reinhardts story, which included an interview with Guy Bearss son, Chelcy, the original mill burned down on a Sunday morning in 1892 while the family was in church. It was rebuilt as a three-story frame building, as seen in Blue Mills photographs. It had modern milling equipment, a coal-powered steam engine to assist with the water power and a concrete dam. When that dam was destroyed sometime between 1912 and 1914 in what Chelcy Bearss described to Reinhardt as a loud explosion for which the cause never was determined, a second concrete dam was built on top of the first one. Guy Bearss ran the business from 1898-1920, initially with his brother Ernest and then on his own with his wife, Cordelia, starting in 1908. In an interview for Reinhardts 1970 story, Kearney-area resident Mable Deets recalled that Cordelia would bake a batch of bread from each milling to test the quality of the flour. Shortly after Guy Bearss sold the mill to Ewell in 1920 the retail price of flour dropped 50 percent. Eight months later, on Halloween night, Blue Mills burned to the ground. The Kearney Daily Hub reported on Nov. 9, 1920, that Ewell was arrested for arson; he later was tried and found guilty. An important piece of Blue Mills history was dug up, literally, in the mid 1980s by Lawrence Richter and John Lacey, a heavy equipment operator from Shelton. They brought the Blue Mills water wheel to the surface. A Hub story at that time said the men were in the process of building an earthen bridge from the south side of the old Wood River channel on the Richter property to an island owned by Dr. Robert Urban. The water wheel was recovered from the bottom of a concrete shaft in the old, dry river channel. They knew something was down there, because the shaft was sticking out, Jim Richter said. After recovering the water wheel, Lawrence Richter described it as priceless. There might not be another one in the country, he said in the Hub story. Oh, there might be some, but nobody knows where they are buried. The water wheel, which Lawrence believed was made in a foundry back East, sat for many years on his front lawn along the Wood River. He died in May 2010. Now, his priceless artifact is displayed next to the new Blue Mills historical marker. Lawrence also had the steel box dated 1879 that held the millstones. He turned it into a forge. Jim Richter said he now has the box, but removed the legs his dad had attached to it. The new historical marker also acknowledges the Glenwood Park Resort and ice house. Jim Richter and Karen Clark said the Glenwood community also used to have a school and a grain elevator. They hope people will take a minute to follow the short driveway leading from Highway 10 to the front of the Nebraska Historical Marker its plain black side faces Highway 10 to learn a little about local history. Theres history right outside Kearney, Nebraska, Clark said, if you just look for it. email to: Its no surprise. Medicaid expansion is back in the Nebraska Legislature for a fourth try. However, theres a different feeling this year. Theres enthusiasm building in support of the expansion among urban lawmakers. They see job creation by infusing $2.1 billion in federal money into Nebraskas Medicaid program. Gov. Pete Ricketts remains adamantly opposed, and many rural senators are reluctant, but they might come around when they consider the federal money could help grow Nebraskas economy and guard against rural hospital closures. Earlier this week, two Omaha icons, Walter Scott and Michael Yanney, invited 25 other business leaders to a private gathering at the Omaha Country Club to learn more about LB1032. The measure by Omaha Sen. John McCollister would lift 77,000 uninsured Nebraskans out of the health insurance gap. McCollister said the meeting went well for expansion supporters, who pressed their case with Howard Hawks and other corporate heavyweights to help low-earning Nebraskans who, despite Obamacare, cant afford health insurance. The gappers have low-paying jobs. Ironically, some earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, while the rest cant earn enough to buy their own insurance. They need a boost from the health insurance subsidies available to other Nebraskans. For individuals and families in the gap, a prolonged illness or health emergency are certain bankruptcy. Theres a moral imperative to help prevent fellow Nebraskans from losing their homes or farms to crushing medical debt. The pledge of federal assistance makes it a no-brainer. Uncle Sam promises to pay 100 percent of expansion costs the first year, and no less than 90 percent after that a total of $2.1 billion over five years. The deal sounds too sweet to Ricketts and some lawmakers. They believe theres a risk to our states taxpayers if the federal government reneges on its promise and leaves Nebraskans holding the bag. If the risk is so grave, why are urban senators leaning toward expansion? They can see the economic advantages. Thousands of jobs would be created when Uncle Sam pumps $2.1 billion into Nebraska in the first five years of expansion. A 2015 study by UNK professors Allan Jenkins and Ron Konecny concludes that $2.1 billion from Uncle Sam would generate $5 billion in increased economic activity in Nebraska, and also insulate small hospitals against uninsured patients. These are dollars Nebraska taxpayers are currently sending to Washington, D.C., that could be recaptured to contribute to the states economy and a healthier, more productive workforce, the study said. Protecting rural hospitals against losses from uninsured patients, boosting economic activity and creating jobs are logical reasons to expand Medicaid. The issue merits a reasonable debate, and this year, the Nebraska Hospital Association and other stakeholders need to speak up. Cover crops seminar set COLUMBUS -- Producers and others who want to learn more about the use of cover crops and no-till crop production are invited to a cover crops and no-till seminar beginning at 9 a.m. Friday at Ag Park. Gabe Brown of Bismarck, North Dakota, will present information about utilizing cover crops, establishing no-till, and his thoughts on soil health. The day-long event is free, but registration is required by Wednesday by calling the Extension Office at 402-563-4901. Registration and coffee will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the program running from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. More information about Brown is available at http://brownsranch.us/. For other information or to register, contact Allan Vyhnalek, Extension educator, at 402-563-4901 or avyhnalek2@unl.edu. NARFE meeting set Thursday COLUMBUS -- The Platte Valley Chapter of the NARFE will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Columbus Family Resource Center. Social time will be followed by lunch at the center. The speaker will be Ron Moore of Gering, president of Nebraska Federation of NARFE. Installation of officers will be held. All members are encouraged to attend. Those planning to attend are asked to call Bob Voboril at 402-564-3344. Comedy show Jan. 30 at bar COLUMBUS -- Two popular comedians will make a stop in Columbus at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Obornys Husker Bar, sponsored by the Great American Comedy Festival committee in Norfolk. Rob Haze was a finalist in NBCs Stand Up for Diversity in 2012 and was a part of its 2013 college tour, while Mark Pittas career goes back to the San Francisco comedy scene of the 1980s and appearances on The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. Pitta also was the host of Foxs Totally Hidden Video in the early 1990s. For more information or tickets, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com. Tickets are also available at Obornys. Bussey, Nore performance set ALBION -- The Albion Area Arts Council will present a performance by Dawn Bussey and Jill Nore at 3 p.m. Jan. 31 at Zion Lutheran Church, 319 S. 5th St. For more information, call Paul or Lori Hosford at 402-395-2633. 4-H kickoff event Feb. 2 COLUMBUS -- A 4-H kickoff and recruitment event will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Pizza Ranch. Program staff for 4-H will be available to answer questions about the program. The Platte County 4-H will receive 10 percent of the sales and 100 percent of the tips collected. A youth development program for youth ages 9-18, 4-H promotes and teaches life skills to youth through a variety of projects and activities. There is also a Clover Kid program for kids ages 6-8. Blood drive at Schuyler SCHUYLER -- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Feb 2 at the Oak Ballroom. All blood types are needed. Donors are asked to bring a blood donor card or drivers license, or two other forms of identification. Individuals who are 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health are eligible to donate without consent. Drink extra water and eat prior to donating. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Catherine at 402-352-5231. Walk-ins are also welcome. Kin Seekers meeting set COLUMBUS -- The Platte Valley Kin Seekers will meet at 1 p.m. Feb. 2 in the west building of the Platte County Historical Society, 2916 16th St. The program will be "Computers Tricks and Helpful Hints. The public is welcome to attend. LINCOLN Leaders in Nebraskas two largest cities are scrambling to protect local laws aimed at curbing gun violence, while gun-rights advocates in the Legislature press for statewide uniformity on the issue. Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, the head of Omahas police union and four Omaha city councilmen all penned letters to state lawmakers Friday opposing a bill (LB289) that would prevent cities from enacting their own restrictions on gun possession and sales. Supporters of the measure, sponsored by state Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete, said it was designed to avoid making criminals out of well-meaning gun owners from elsewhere in Nebraska who might unknowingly break the law when traveling in the state. Ebke also argued her bill would provide a reasonable protection of Nebraskans Second Amendment rights. However, Beutler noted significant concerns about how the measure could impact police officers ability to battle gun crimes. We respectfully submit that local elected officials, with input from local citizens, are in the best position to analyze whether to legislate in this area, the mayor wrote. Ebkes measure drew little opposition when she introduced it last year, but that changed this week as lawmakers prepared to debate it Friday on the floor of the Legislature. That debate will continue next week. In the meantime, some senators are working frantically to carve out exceptions in the bill, to allow cities to keep ordinances such as Omahas decades-old requirement that handgun owners register their guns with the police department. Lincoln has a similar code that requires reporting sales of firearms other than sporting guns. The four Omaha councilmen called that citys requirement a valuable tool that helps keep the public and police officers safe. John Wells, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, made a similar point in his letter. Ebke signaled willingness to compromise: Were talking about some possibilities, she said. That includes working with Omaha Sen. Heath Mello on a change to accommodate the registries while ensuring protections for people who dont live in the cities and are simply passing through, Ebke said. She also supports an amendment proposed by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford that would allow cities to ban open-carry firearms in public buildings and parks. Ebke said she understands Omaha and Lincoln are a different creature than the rest. Some opponents argued the bill should be sent back to committee for further discussion. The measure sailed through the Judiciary Committee last year after no elected leaders from either of the states two largest cities opposed it at a public hearing. Papillion Mayor David Black and a representative for Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert testified in support of the measure. But Friday, four senators half the Judiciary Committee said they should have voted against the bill being released from committee because it eliminates local control. Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers said his fellow committee members mistakenly voted to advance the bill when he wasnt there to sound the alarm. The damage has been done, but its not the kind of damage that cannot be undone, he said. Chambers accused gun-right advocates of being afraid of their own shadow. This has nothing to do with the Constitution, he said. This has to do with paranoia and the NRA going to have its way everywhere. Opponents said Ebkes bill would invalidate at least 10 Lincoln city gun restrictions. Those ordinances ban firearms concealed or carried openly at city buildings and public parks, in domestic violence shelters and substance abuse treatment centers, on StarTran buses and at the city landfill. Other Lincoln ordinances require gun dealers to secure firearms on shelves, ban a lengthier list of criminals from possessing guns for 10 years than is included in state law, and prohibit people from leaving guns unattended in cars for more than 24 hours. One city code gives the mayor power to limit gun possession or sales in the state of an emergency. Another prohibits carrying an unsecured firearm on a snowmobile. Beutlers letter also questioned the bill on technical grounds, writing that while the measure appears to prevent cities from banning guns in places like courthouses and city parks, it doesnt strip the ability of county governments to restrict guns in similar places. The letter followed conversations with representatives of the Lincoln Police Department and the citys legal department. Constituents in different areas of the state may believe that additional local ordinances are appropriate and necessary to address the issues faced by their community, Beutler wrote. Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion questioned whether other constitutional rights, such as freedom of religion, should be subject to local legislation. Would we tolerate the leftists in the city of Lincoln closing down a church because they didnt like it? Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue said local firearm rules unfairly strip responsible gun owners of their right to bear arms. Garrett, who cosponsored Ebkes bill, has proposed his own legislation to eliminate so-called gun-free zones on college campuses. It takes guts to carry a gun because its an awesome responsibility. None of us who are gun proponents carry that lightly. We know the awesomeness of ... the damage a firearm can do and it rightfully scares us. 270 Shares Share The metallic mix of freshly spilled blood and sterile instruments engulfed his nostrils as he shifted uncomfortably in the cracked, worn, brown leather chair where so many others had sat before him. He tried not to sweat as the faceless, gray clinician coaxed the long needle deeper into his fleshy neck and watched as a rogue drop of crimson escaped and marred the otherwise pristine tile floor beneath him. He could just make out the sound of laughter, muffled by the aging, wooden door that separated him from a somber new beginning. My brother was 29 and a chief engineering officer in the U.S. Navy when he was first diagnosed with cancer. That biopsy marked the beginning of a long battle hes still fighting today. His treatments required several rounds of surgery and radiation, so he retired from active duty and immediately applied for insurance with the VA. Three years, dozens of phone calls and personal office visits later, his status is still listed as pending. During that time, his only options have been to pay for 100 percent of his care out of pocket, purchase independent private insurance or forego much-needed therapy altogether. His experiences made me wonder what was happening to other veterans that didnt have the same financial freedom he did. This past summer, the Huffington Post provided me with the chilling answer when they published the VAs 2015 Analysis of Death Services Report. This leaked document states that, nearly 1/3 of the 847,000 vets with pending applications for VA health care have already died. Let me rephrase that. Approximately 240,000 people who dedicated their lives to defending this country have died waiting for the health insurance they were promised by our government. Last year, several news sources also confirmed that even vets with insurance were waiting up to 20 months to schedule appointments with primary care physicians many of them dying before they could receive treatment. VA Press Secretary Victoria Dillon assured readers that, the agency has made strides on that front, doubling the number of its appointments from 3.5 million to 7 million since last year. Yet during this time, they hired only 1000 new physicians an increase of 4.3 percent for a 100 percent increase in scheduled visits. The VA is the largest government-run health care provider in the U.S., and its not doing a very good job because it fails to address simple arithmetic: increases in patient populations must be met with equivalent increases in qualified staff otherwise, longer wait times, shorter office visits and decreasing quality care are sure to follow. While this may seem like common sense, were headed down the exact same path on a national scale. Americans are getting older and sicker, requiring more complex care. At the same time, the ACA is expanding coverage to millions of previously uninsured citizens. While I fully support health insurance coverage for all Americans, the VA has shown us that simply cramming more patients into an already over-saturated system does little to help. We need to increase the number of practicing clinicians while also learning to use the ones we have more efficiently. The vast majority of physicians went to medical school for one reason: to care for patients. Unfortunately, we spend greater than 30 percent of our time on required tasks that have nothing to do with direct patient care filling out charts, obtaining insurance approvals, faxing paperwork and ordering prescriptions. We are subjected to more and more Medicare regulations while spending inordinate amounts of time printing out handouts that are largely thrown away. None of these tasks have been shown to improve quality. They have, however, significantly altered the practice of medicine as physicians now spend an average of only 8 minutes involved in direct patient care. It is simply not possible to provide adequate care with so little time. Recent research has shown that these unrealistic demands have been tied to higher rates of physician burnout, retirement and suicide. We can begin to address these issues by eliminating extraneous paperwork and hiring medical scribes and technicians to assist with the necessary tasks. Scribes generally have a medical background and are a reliable and cost-effective alternative to nurses and physicians when it comes to paperwork. This strategy has already implemented in busy emergency rooms across the country. Hiring more scribes would create 1000s of jobs a year and cut down on the amount of time clinicians spend staring at a computer, giving them more time to spend with you, their patients. Unless we start to think seriously about the current expectations placed on physicians, were heading for a system that looks painfully similar to the current VA. If thats the case, ask yourself if waiting 20 months to see a doctor for less than 10 minutes is the type of care youd want for your brother, your parents or yourself. Personally, Id prefer to work in a system where 1/3 of patients dont find themselves literally dying for care. Sarah Mongiello Bernstein is a pediatric resident and can be reached on Twitter @sbernsteinmd. Image credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com 505 Shares Share The workplace environment can be full of many obstacles, especially in the medical field. These obstacles range from difficult patients, to navigating insurances, to burnout, and so on. One problem, however, appears to be worsening over time and seems to go without discussion. As life has progressed and I have transitioned from a medical student to attending physician, I have noticed an increase in workplace confrontation between employees. Is this all my personal perception changing as I age? I discussed this with some of my colleagues, and they expressed similar observations. Is confrontation really becoming more common in the workplace? First, we need to look at who is involved. Unfortunately, it appears to be those at every level of practice. I dont know if a day has gone by where I havent observed medical assistants arguing over something trivial, a nurse openly discussing her dislike of the office manager, or physicians readily talking about what they perceive to be incompetence of the other providers in the practice. Sure, some occupations seem to be more commonly involved in confrontation, but all play a part. How about a real-life example: Im currently an employed physician by a large non-profit organization. Its strictly an outpatient position in a rural office with several physicians and physician assistants. Almost everyone enjoys their job and gets along fairly well. However, one physician seems intent on creating office confrontation regularly. In fact, she doesnt appear happy unless shes, involved in the drama. She can frequently be heard saying demeaning things about other physicians and employees, and when shes in the office, the tension is palpable and puts everyone on edge. Its also common for her to talk about patients in derogatory ways during the lunch hour. None of the medical assistants dare say anything in fear of repercussions. The office manager would just like to believe these things arent happening. The other physicians have stated, Shes always been like that, and itll never change. And myself, well Im relatively new to the practice (Ive been there for ten months) and am unsure of how to proceed. Do I keep ignoring it and let everyone be miserable when shes in the office? Savor the days that she is on vacation? I wonder if the changing roles of physicians are a major factor. When private practice was more common, the physician was in charge of many facets of their practice. They would not only see patients, but also manage many other everyday activities in the office. In that same respect, if there was workplace confrontation the physician would be forced to intervene immediately and handle it accordingly. If they didnt, their business (and subsequent compensation) would suffer. Now, however, the physicians role has changed significantly and is more commonly that of an employee. No longer are the everyday activities managed by the physician. Perhaps this blurs the boundaries of who needs to intervene when a confrontation arises. Should it be the office manager? Facility director? Someone else? Are we now lacking a true authority figure in the office if the physician doesnt act the role? Why do these situations seem to be arising more frequently? And how do we go about fixing it? The author is an anonymous physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com SHARE By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON Its predictions are dire, but a report detailing Kitsap County's earthquake hazards shouldn't lead to feelings of "doom and gloom." That was the oft-repeated message from the Federal Emergency Management Administration as it presented its risk report to county and city leaders this week. The report is based on a scenario in which the Seattle Fault, which runs under Puget Sound and across Kitsap, convulses with a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Intense ground shaking is expected in the Bremerton and Port Orchard areas, and earthquake-triggered landslides, fires, flooding and tsunamis will cause havoc across the county. FEMA estimates the quake will kill 155 people and injure 2,300 more, overwhelming hospitals and emergency responders. Low estimates for building damage range around $3.5 billion. "Some have looked at this as doom and gloom, but some have looked at it as a warning," said Brett Holt, a FEMA hazard mitigation planner. "And that's good, because you need buy-in, and that starts with awareness and education." Holt was one of the presenters at a Thursday afternoon meeting in Bremerton for planners, engineers and emergency managers from Kitsap's local government agencies and its three Navy bases. FEMA also offered an online presentation last week and a special meeting for elected officials on Thursday morning. Detailed maps in the report identify hundreds of at-risk buildings and parts of the county that are susceptible to landslides, tidal wave inundation and ground liquefaction a process by which certain soils, usually along shorelines, are transformed into a slurry from intense ground shaking. FEMA hopes the county's leaders use the report to prioritize efforts to minimize damage, prepare emergency responses and potentially steer development away from hazardous areas. The report can be a valuable tool to leverage grants from FEMA and other federal and state agencies, FEMA officials said. For instance, the Bremerton School District might have a good chance of getting FEMA funding to retrofit Bremerton High School by pointing out that FEMA's own report highlights the school as one of Bremerton's most at-risk buildings. "A big part of the work is already done for you by FEMA," said Tim Cook, a state hazard mitigation officer. FEMA officials offered to help local governments develop land use programs that discourage or limit building in hazardous areas. Cities and the county could also offer federally-backed buyouts to encourage residents in danger zones to relocate. Thursday's meeting for government agency staffers drew about 35 people. That's about twice as many people as FEMA has drawn in other Washington counties where they've crafted similar risk reports. The meeting drew large contingents from the city of Bremerton, Kitsap's naval bases and the county's planning and public works departments. Representatives from Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, the Suquamish Tribe and a few public utilities also attended. There were no representatives from Poulsbo or any Kitsap school districts. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent and county commissioners Ed Wolfe and Charlotte Garrido were the only three attendees at FEMA's meeting for elected officials. Lent said she hopes to enlist neighborhood groups to increase the city's self sufficiency in the aftermath of an earthquake, when the county may be cut off from the rest of the region for weeks or months. Her staff highlighted several areas of concern in Bremerton, including the wastewater treatment plant on Highway 3, Casad Dam in the city watershed, two old fire stations, and the Warren Avenue Bridge. "We do worry about an earthquake," said Chal Martin, Bremerton's public works director. "The Warren Avenue Bridge is not in too good of shape and probably needs an expensive retrofit." No additional FEMA meetings are planned in Kitsap, but FEMA officials said they're available for consultations with local governments. SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff PORT ORCHARD A registered sex offender and admitted drug dealer convicted of sexually assaulting a developmentally delayed child he knew was sentenced last week to nearly seven years in prison. Courtney Lavale Baker, 37, had been charged with two counts of first-degree rape of a child for assaults that occurred in 2014. He pleaded guilty in November to two counts of indecent liberties, a lesser crime. The assaults came to the attention of authorities when an adult talked to the child about inappropriate touching. The child later described different assaults to a law enforcement interviewer. The child's caregivers wrote to the court that the child was severely traumatized. "Mr. Baker has stolen a great part of (the youth's) childhood," one family member wrote. Baker denied assaulting the child, but due to his history as a sex offender, pleading guilty was "the best option I had," according to court documents. He had been convicted in 2001 of gross sexual imposition in Ohio, and was living with his mother on Perry Avenue in Bremerton, where he was registered with the Kitsap Sheriff's Office as a sex offender, according to documents. A state Department of Corrections interviewer remarked after talking to Baker, where he denied assaulting the child and said his sole source of income was drug dealing, that the child was particularly vulnerable and recommended that Baker be sentenced at the top of the range, 116 months. "Clearly, we have someone before the court who received a very beneficial plea deal," wrote Timothy Thompson, a community corrections officer. The agreement between Baker's attorney and prosecutors had Baker plead guilty to two counts of indecent liberties and agreed to a sentence at the bottom of the range, 87 months. Superior Court Judge Bill Houser sentenced Baker on Jan. 11. SHARE Piper Lowery By Chris Kornelis PORT ORCHARD Piper Lowery loved to sing. At home, she performed for her ailing grandmother. In the car, she'd sing along to Carrie Underwood's "Church Bells," with her godmother, Deb Workman, who she called "Auntie Deba." After she died on Jan. 16 the first child in Kitsap County to die of influenza-related causes since 2009 her mother, Pegy, found helmet video footage of Piper singing Adele songs while riding her motorbike. Her latest Adele favorite was "Hello," in which the British pop star sings, "I'm sorry, for breaking your heart." But Piper wasn't a heartbreaker. Her family remembers her as a 12 year old with an old soul who "took great comfort in the Lord," according to her mother. A shy girl, she wore a wide smile, and liked to stick close to home, where she looked after her 9-year-old brother, Noah, and made "lunch" a plate of dirt and sticks for her father, Brian, when he worked in the garage. "She really was, for 12 years old, way beyond her years, as far as compassion," says Tina Holmes, a neighbor and family friend. "And she sure loved Jesus with all of her heart. You talk about faith of a child that child sure had it." It was difficult for Pegy and Brian Lowery to conceive. After a decade of trying, and with the help of in vitro fertilization, Piper was born in Silverdale on Sept. 10, 2003. A couple years later, her brother Noah came along unexpectedly. Piper was devoted to him. The kids had separate rooms in their home on a Port Orchard farm, but preferred to sleep together on the couch to stay close to their grandmother, who lived with the family. "She was such a sunshine," says Workman. "When she walked through the door, it was like magic." Theressa Prather, principal at Manchester Elementary, where Piper was in sixth grade, said classmates had recently honored Piper at an assembly, recognizing her as the school's "Kiwanis 'Terrific Kid'" for the fall semester. "Piper was a sweet, hardworking student," Prather said in an email. "Although new to our school, she had made friendships and was well liked. Having her gone is such a loss to our school and community." A memorial service is planned for noon Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Port Orchard. Stuff reports: The deputy chief censor wants the Government to put more options on the table for regulating online pornography. In an article for the censors website, deputy chief censor Jarred Mullen detailed the harm that increasingly extreme pornography that can cause, and outlined some possible steps towards regulating it. These steps could include an ISP level ban, where pornography viewers have to opt in to viewing pornographic content, similar to that of the United Kingdoms. Internet users can choose for themselves what they wish to see, and what ISP they use. Some ISPs offer a filtering service. The law does not ban pornography. It bans objectionable material which is child abuse images, plus stuff involving rape etc. The deputy chief censor is calling for a massive expansion of powers so they can block stuff which they think is too hardcore. I hope the Government has more sense. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Amy McRary/News Sentinel staff This big-eared, hooked-nose creature is part of a ceramic censer bowl found in modern day Gutemala. Its part of the exhibit Maya Lords of Time at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. SHARE This replica shows what's called the Margarita Panel, which is part of a Maya tomb in the ancient city of Copan. It's part of the new exhibit "Maya: Lords of Time" at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. Photo courtesy of Copan Acropolis Project, Penn Museum This jaguar shaman figure is part of a new exhibit about the Maya culture's use of calendars and time at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. Photo special to the News Sentinel This heavily decorated clay object from modern day Guatemala was made some 1,400 to 1,200 years ago. It likely covered a Maya incense burner called a censer. Censers were used by the Maya to create a smoke pleasing to their gods. This cover is made to look like a face. Photo by Amy McRary/News Sentinel staff This replica of a stela, or stone column, marks the life of the 13th king of the Maya city of Copan. It stands just outside the exhibit Maya: Lords of Time at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. Photo by Amy McRary/News Sentinel staff By Amy McRary of the Knoxville News Sentinel The first things you notice about the 800-year-old ceramic gnome-like creature are its huge pottery ears and hooked nose. Created around 1200 AD in what's now Guatemala, the figure cradles a large pottery bowl that once burned incense in Maya ceremonies. About 18 inches tall, the creature-censer bowl is among about two dozen artifacts and objects in a new exhibit at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. "Maya: Lords of Time," is open now at the University of Tennessee museum through May 22. The exhibit also incorporates replicas of Maya monuments as well as touch-screens where visitors can create their names in Maya hieroglyphics and their birth dates in the symbols. The exhibit focuses on time both as counted in the Maya complex calendar systems and in the ways powerful kings used the system to assert their power. "Maya: Lords of Time" focuses on the time period between 300 and 900 AD when Maya kings in places like today's Honduras and Guatemala ruled with great control. "People are always fascinated by the Maya calendar because it is probably the most complicated prehistoric calendar that existed," said Debbie Woodiel, McClung Museum educator and assistant director. The Maya people marked time not by one calendar but with three interlocking systems. A "sacred round" that included 260 days was combined with a 365-day year. Another system, termed the "long count," recorded much longer spans of time from a starting time trillions of years in the past. Most of the exhibit's artifacts are 1,100 to 1,700 years old and were discovered in a series of excavations in Guatemala and Honduras by University of Pennsylvania archeologists. The university's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology organized the exhibit in a partnership with the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History. Objects the Maya people once used in everyday and ceremonial life are part of "Maya: Lords of Time." Blades made from obsidian, a glass-like material made of cooled molten lava, appear delicately fragile. These deadly sharp blades were used for weapons and in ceremonies. Jade necklaces and ear ornaments carved with stone tools were worn not only as jewelry but as status symbols. One ancient ceramic figurine from Guatemala shows a woman with a cooking and storage pot. Another depicts a blade-wielding Mayan warrior about to kill a captive. A 1,200-year-old limestone carving shows a Mayan god with the eyes of a jaguar and fins of a fish. Maya kings were the exhibit's "lords of time." Rulers often checked the calendars to look for lucky days to launch a battle, erect a monument or host a ceremony. "The kings used the calendar to their own ends," Woodiel said. Those detailed systems meant the ancient Maya were exact timekeepers, Woodiel said. Complex hieroglyphics they carved in stone often mark not only the years but exact dates of events. A replica of a stone column called a stela sits outside the exhibit; it illustrates events in the life of the 13th king of the ancient city of Copan. One event the column doesn't include the king's execution at the hands of a competing ruler. The museum plans a series of free programs around "Maya: Lords of Time." A Family Fun Day focusing on the exhibit will be 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30. Stroller tours for babies, toddlers and their parents or caregivers at 10 a.m. on Mondays, March 7 and April 18, will center on the Mayan calendar and folk tales. A 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 9, Maya Festival will feature local craftspeople and musicians. 'Maya: Lords of Time' What: Exhibit about Maya calendar and culture Where: McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Drive, University of Tennessee When: Through May 22. Museum open 9 a.m.-p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday Admission: Free Events: Family Fun Day 1-4 p.m. Jan. 30; Stroller Tours 10 a.m. March 7 & April 18; Maya Festival 1-4 p.m. April 9 SHARE "Open Letter: On Blasphemy, Islamophobia, and the True Enemies of Free Expression" by Charb; Little, Brown and Company (82 pages, $16) (Photo courtesy Amazon) By Daniel Akst Freedom of expression is under fire. College students, swollen with umbrage, agitate on campus to stifle dissent. Near-record numbers of journalists are imprisoned around the world. Tyrants, drug lords and religious fanatics abroad react to "objectionable" speech by murdering the offending speaker. Such was the fate of Stephane Charbonnier, editor-in-chief of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, who was slain with 11 others by Islamic terrorists on Jan. 7, 2015, at the publication's offices in Paris. Charb, as the editor was known in print, now speaks to us from beyond the grave with a brief and impassioned manifesto on behalf of his blasphemous worldview and the freedom of expression that seems so widely imperiled. Charb's essay, a scant 80 pages preceded by Adam Gopnik's poignant foreword, is on the surface a defense of the Charlie Hebdo worldview, with its powerful anticlerical bent, intolerance of cant and willingness to take on the most sacred possible cows in the most provocative possible way. Yet the pamphlet's message will reverberate far beyond France, because the enemies of free speech have been busy here and elsewhere exploiting their supposed piety (on the right) and oppression (on the left) to silence critics and insulate themselves from troublesome facts and ideas. And Charb's message is anything but parochial. Central to his argument is his insistence that we distinguish between criticizing or mocking a religion, which he sees as just another "ism" open to any sort of abuse, and the kind of racism that condemns individuals on the basis of religion. "Sticking a clown nose on Marx," Charb insists, "is no more offensive or scandalous than popping the same schnoz on Muhammad." Many will beg to differ, of course, but that gives them no right to start shooting. One big problem, in Charb's view, is the term "Islamophobia," which he calls a misnomer for the racism against Muslims (if racism can be used to describe prejudice on the basis of religion or ethnic origin) that he condemns as the province of "morons." On the other hand Charb and his colleagues seem to be phobic about religions of all kinds. And he was certainly right to fear Islamic extremism, which ultimately took his life. What the author wants passionately is for the rest of us to recognize the slippery slope that critics of Charlie Hebdo and its ilk have put us on. He says that if Buddhist terrorists start taking lives, we'll next have to be careful never to portray them, and if vegetarians then follow suit, "we will be required to respect the carrot just as we are required to respect the brotherhood of prophets of the three monotheistic religions." In keeping with the distinction between "isms" and people, Charb assails politicians and other "pathetic demagogues" who want "Muslims to be seen exclusively as Muslims" rather than individuals. He accuses some French Muslim leaders of this sin, condemning their opportunism and hypocrisy, but reserves special vitriol for the fellow travelers who eagerly betray liberal principles. "It's time," he writes with characteristic ferocity, "to put an end to the revolting paternalism of the white, middle-class, 'leftist' intellectual," who regards French Muslims as "poor, subliterate wretches" in need of sanctimonious ministrations from a self-righteous elite. Sadly, free speech has always been under fire; even in America The unending nature of the struggle for this most fundamental of rights makes the death of Charb likely to be of enduring importance. . When the late Rev. Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1979, one of his main goals was to oppose President Jimmy Carter, the Southern Baptist who forced American politicos to learn the term "born again." Months later, Ronald Reagan coyly told a flock of evangelicals: "I know you can't endorse me. But I want you to know that I endorse you." People may have forgotten how odd that marriage was back then, recalled the Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr., as he introduced Donald Trump at Liberty University. "My father was criticized in the early 1980s for supporting Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter for president, because Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor who had been divorced and remarried, and Jimmy Carter was a Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher," said Falwell, Liberty's president, at a campus Martin Luther King Day convocation. "My father proudly replied that Jesus pointed out we are all sinners. ... Dad explained that when he walked in the voting booth, he was not electing a Sunday school teacher or a pastor or even a president who shared his theological beliefs. He was electing the president of the United States, and the talents, abilities and experience required to lead a nation might not line up with those needed to run a church." The GOP front-runner's campaign-trail pilgrimage to Liberty was a two-act drama: Falwell's sermon-length introduction, then Trump's stump speech, with a few extra shots of faith. Falwell stopped short of endorsing Trump, but the New York billionaire and reality-television icon did everything he could to endorse Liberty. Above all, argued Falwell, religious believers must judge Trump by his skills and deeds, not his past. In words that drew fire on social media, he called Trump a "servant" leader who "lives a life of loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the Great Commandment." One of the most quoted reactions came from the Rev. Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Washington, D.C., office. During the event, he tweeted: "Trading in the gospel of Jesus Christ for political power is not liberty but slavery." Writing in The New York Times, Moore argued that embracing Trump would force religious conservatives to "repudiate everything they believe." After all, the real-estate magnate has built his career on "gambling, a moral vice and an economic swindle that oppresses the poorest and most desperate." In a life packed with boasts about having it all, he added, Trump once proclaimed in writing that he "gets to sleep with some of the 'top women in the world.'" That was then. On this occasion, Trump opened by boasting about his poll numbers, then rushed to assure his listeners that he was on their side. "We're going to protect Christianity, and I can say that. I don't have to be politically correct. We're going to protect it. ... . Two Corinthians, right? Two Corinthians 3:17, that's the whole ballgame. Where the spirit of the Lord right? Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty,'" he said, referring to a Bible passage displayed prominently on campus. "We are going to protect Christianity. If you look at what's going on throughout the world, you look at Syria, where there, if you are a Christian, they're chopping off heads. You look at different places and Christianity, it's under siege." Trump stressed how "very, very proud" he is to be a Protestant "Presbyterian, to be exact" and said the 70 to 75 percent of Americans who claim to be Christians must band together to push for change since "very bad things are happening." He promised to "knock the hell out of ISIS" and that, "If I'm president, you're gonna see 'Merry Christmas' in department stores. Believe me." Trump used blunt words crafted for populists angry about losing and tired of watching politicians break their promises. Claiming outsider status, Trump endorsed their anger. Yes, Trump is not a Sunday school candidate, admitted Falwell. Then again, he said, "for decades, conservatives and evangelicals have chosen the political candidates who have told us what we wanted to hear on social, religious and political issues only to be betrayed by those same candidates after they were elected." SHARE By Lesli Bales-Sherrod of the Knoxville News Sentinel People, We Created You from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another. In God's eyes, the most honored of you are the most mindful of Him. Sura Al-Hujarat (49:13) A Presbyterian church in Oak Ridge is helping educate its congregation and the community through a series of free classes on Islam. "A Mercy for All People: An Intro to Islam" by Dr. Phillip Michael Sherman of Maryville College is held at 1 p.m. for the next three Sundays in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian, Oak Ridge, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The first two sessions, held Jan. 10 and 17, were well attended, with 138 attending last Sunday's session titled, "The Qur'an and Its Place in Muslim Life." "This is a congregation that very much likes to be connected to what's going on in the world," said the Rev. Sharon K. Youngs, the church's pastor. "They were concerned about the hateful rhetoric, the way Muslims are being demonized just for being Muslim, and especially the violence. "Oak Ridge is a very learned and curious community, so we thought this would be of interest to the larger community as well," she added. Youngs, a graduate of Maryville College, reached out to Sherman in early fall, extending an invitation to lead a series of classes on world religions. Sherman, a religious studies professor at the college, said he suggested a more intentional focus on Islam as he got closer to finalizing an outline for the classes, and the pastor and congregation agreed that would be beneficial "for many reasons." "The rhetoric about Islam so far outstrips the knowledge of it," said Sherman, who holds a Ph.D. in religion and is a member of Church Street United Methodist in Knoxville. "People want to ask questions that they've had." Hanan Ayesh, a Muslim member of Knoxville's Women's Peace Initiative, agreed. "The attendance shows that Americans are thirsty for knowledge about Islam," she said after attending the first two classes. "It is a wonderful thing for the church to start, and we really appreciate the professor, who is really doing a wonderful job." A closer look at the Qur'an Sherman frames the classes as "both a lecture and a discussion" and points out he is using an English interpretation of the Qur'an, as opposed to a translation, because some believe the scripture ceases to be scripture when taken out of the Arabic language. Although Sherman reads passages of the Qur'an in English, he also plays an Arabic recitation for the audience after discussing the importance of the aesthetic. "Hearing the Qur'an in Arabic is not just something that Muslims might like to do; it is part of experiencing the Divine Word," Sherman said. "While I could describe to you a Picasso, it is not the same as seeing it yourself." Last Sunday's session, which focused specifically on the Qur'an, delved into the structure, division and genres of the sacred text. The Qur'an is divided into 114 Suras, primarily arranged from longest to shortest, and Suras divided into aya (verses/signs). Because the Qur'an is not arranged in chronological or thematic order, it can be "very counterintuitive" for readers who are used to narrative stories, Sherman said. "Chronology is largely irrelevant to what they're trying to accomplish," he noted. "You can open up the book to any page, read 50 verses, and you'll land on probably five or six of the major themes of the Qur'an." The repetition throughout the Qur'an, Sherman added, is purposeful because the rhetoric "wishes you to understand -- to persuade hearers of a few very basic truths about God, human ingratitude and the coming divine judgment." Sherman added the vast majority of material is not legal material. The Qur'an contains some 6,200 verses, and out of these, only 100 deal with ritual practices, 70 discuss personal laws, 70 discuss civil laws, 30 discuss penal laws and 20 deal with judiciary matters and testimony. Trying to solve a problem The Qur'an also is the first self-conscious scripture, Sherman said. Whereas the writers of the Hebrew Bible did not realize they were writing the Bible, the Qur'an notes in Sura Al-Isla (17:105-106), "We have sent it down little by little." "The point here is that the voice of the Qur'an recognizes itself as scripture," Sherman explained. The levels of revelation in the Qur'an, which Muslims believe existed with God prior to humanity and then was revealed in pieces, are from God to Preserved Tablet to the Heavens to the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. The material was originally memorized by companions of the prophet, who died in 632 CE, Sherman explained. After a battle in 633 caused the death of many who had memorized the Qur'an, there was a movement to record the Qur'an in an authorized text, which was accomplished in 645. "Every religion is trying to solve a problem," he noted. "The problem in Christianity is sin and our inability to rectify it. The problem in Islam is forgetfulness of the nature of God." Islam contends that of course humans are going to sin, Sherman explained. The problem, therefore, is that humans "make up all sorts of stories" to justify those sins or claim that intermediaries are necessary to intervene with God on the behalf of humans. Associating anything with God is, for Islam, a primary sin known as shirk. "Islam is about remembering the primary truth of God's unity (tawhid) and submitting oneself to the will of God," he explained. "It is about remembering and practicing. You will do wrong. Of course, you will do wrong. But the Qur'an repeatedly assures its listeners that God is the most merciful and the most compassionate." Future topics planned Sherman will continue discussing the Qur'an this Sunday, including how it is used, then will explain the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The fourth class, on Jan. 31, will look at the five pillars of Islam, and the final installment, on Feb. 7, will be devoted to the topics Sherman said are "anxiety producing" right now, including the role of women in Islam and violence. Although Sherman takes questions from the audience each week, he said that, by the final class, those who have attended each week likely will feel more comfortable engaging with and asking each other questions. In the end, the professor said he hopes the class will give people personal experiences with Islam that will provide a context beyond what they hear, read or see through the media. "I hope that they get some vocabulary and language so that they can be in dialogue with actual Muslims, who can clarify things for them when they have questions," Sherman said. "I would like for us to get together and talk to one another -- to get to know one another -- with the understanding that our shared values and beliefs put us in a better place than we have been." Pastor Youngs agreed. "We think our faith compels us to be connected to other faiths," she said. "The class offers an excellent opportunity to separate fact from fiction when it comes to what our Muslim sisters and brothers believe." The class, which is free, still is open for those who want to attend any of the final installments. For more information, contact First Presbyterian, Oak Ridge, at 865-483-1318. Golden Keys Club COLUMBUS -- Members of the Golden Keys Club met at noon Jan. 14 for dinner at Prairie Village Retirement Home. Following the meal, the business meeting was held, conducted by President Evelyn Wilke. The meeting opened with all singing America followed by the group reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Seven members answered roll call by telling of a remembrance of a smorgasbord that the club had years ago. Secretary Millie Wennekamp read the minutes of the November and December meetings, and they were approved as read. Marcella Schmid gave the treasurers report and said she sent the clubs donation to the Orphan Grain Train. The meeting was adjourned. In February, the club will meet at Prairie Village Retirement Home. Others present were Shirley Gersib, Florence Stevenson, Elaine Wolta and Gladys Luckey. Later, the group went to the afternoon program in the activity room and was entertained by a drummer and three button accordion players known as the Stimulus Czechs. SHARE BUILD WITH LEGOS Adults and teenagers age 14 and up are invited to help build Barnes and Noble's new LEGO Skyline in-store display between 2-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Then stay and enjoy a LEGO Architecture build with Architecture Studio bricks afterward. Info: 865-670-0773, https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/events?keyword=LEGO+Skyline&storeFilter=nearme&view=events2&src=banner SNOWDOWN FEST The Smoky Mountain Snowdown Festival will be held Friday, Jan. 29-Sunday, Jan. 31, at various locations in the Townsend area, including Little Rivers Outfitters, Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont, Dancing Bear Lodge, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center and more. Activities including wine and cheese tastings, apple cider demonstrations, musical performances and more. For a complete list of times and activities visit www.snowdownfest.com. JAZZ LUNCH The next concert in the Jazz Lunch series will begin at noon Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Square Room. Admission to the concert is $15 and includes a lunch buffet served by Cafe 4. Tickets are available online at www.knoxjazz.org or by visiting Cafe 4 in person prior to the show. The Jazz Lunch performance will feature "Kelle Jolly sings the music of Harold Arlen." She will perform tunes like "Stormy Weather", "That Old Black Magic", and "If I only Had a Brain" joined by Will Boyd (woodwinds), Will Doran (piano), Clint Mullican (bass), and Nolan Nevels (drums). For more info visit www.knoxjazz.org/ GIRLS' NIGHT OUT The Lindsay Young Downtown YMCA in Knoxville is hosting a girls night out that's free, fun and could save your life from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. Here for Her Heart is open to all area women. Free child watch and refreshments will be provided and the first 100 women in the door get complimentary swag bags. The evening of pampering, health screenings and health-related information will include keynote speaker Dr. Christen Fleming of UT Medical Center with tips on women's health and heart disease at 6 p.m., and Knox County health professionals Amy Rowling, Kerri Thompson and Khrysta Baig will address violence prevention, tobacco prevention and nutrition. Pampering includes free manicures and bang cuts from Paul Mitchell School, 10-minute chair massages by Sandra Corbitt and others for $5 and Nail Art by Andrea for $5. Health screening services are planned for bone density and blood pressure. Y class demonstrations will include MOSSA Fight and yoga. Park across the street at the Locust Street Garage. In case of inclement weather, the backup date is Feb. 25. Info: Sara Prinzi at sprinzi@ymcaknoxville.org or 865-522-9622. SHARE Sandra Kincaid Randy Kincaid By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel Federal prosecutors are pushing to prove a group of Maryville medical providers weren't just everyday drug dealers but dispensers of death. In what would be the first criminal trial in East Tennessee of medical providers on drug conspiracy charges, assistant U.S. attorneys Frank Dale and Jennifer Kolman are seeking to show jurors at least one patient died as a direct result of the prescribing habits of health professionals employed at a Maryville pain clinic. The pair in 2014 unveiled an indictment against nine medical providers two doctors, two physician assistants and five nurse practitioners who prosecutors say doled out thousands of prescriptions for painkillers and sedatives to patients at the now-defunct Breakthrough Pain Therapy Center on East Broadway in Maryville. The case marks the first time federal authorities in Knoxville have charged health care professionals employed at pain clinics as drug dealers based solely on their prescribing habits. Doctors Deborah Gayle Thomas and James Brian Joyner were supposed to be supervising the prescribing habits and examinations of the seven physician assistants and nurse practitioners who in turn wrote prescriptions for patients at Breakthrough. The clinic was owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Randy and Sandra Kincaid. Neither were licensed medical professionals, a loophole in state law that has since been closed in the fight against pill mills. Pain clinics now must be owned and operated by doctors. Testimony in a federal trial of the Kincaids showed the clinic pulled in roughly $2.5 million in 17 months from July 2009 to December 2010, when authorities raided Breakthrough. Both are now serving decades behind bars. Of the nine medical providers indicted after the Kincaids were tried and convicted, six have struck plea deals, each admitting they earned anywhere from $700 to $1,000 a day to dole out prescriptions without even cursory examinations of patients or medical equipment with which to provide patient care. Thomas, Joyner and physician assistant David Eric Brickhouse maintain they are innocent. Their attorneys Cullen Wojcik, John Eldridge and Keith Stewart, respectively are trying to block federal prosecutors from presenting any proof, including testimony from Knox County's chief medical examiner, of patient overdose deaths. Of particular concern to the attorneys is the case of patient Chad Rex, the only overdose death prosecutors Dale and Kolman allege they can directly link to prescriptions doled out at Breakthrough. Court records allege Rex had already been kicked out as a patient at another pain clinic for refusing to submit to testing to ensure he took appropriate doses of the opiates prescribed him when he walked into Breakthrough in July 2009 without any referral or proof of chronic pain. Brickhouse, the prosecutors allege, wrote Rex prescriptions for a slew of opiates anyway, as did his co-workers in later visits. In November 2010, Rex died of an overdose, although details such as where and under what circumstances are not contained in court documents. The defense attorneys argue jurors will be unfairly prejudiced by talk of overdose deaths and, in particular, details of Rex's demise. Kolman counters Rex's treatment and death are proof positive the medical professionals employed at Breakthrough were merely drug dealers cloaked in lab coats. "The reason the defendants want to exclude evidence of deaths resulting from Breakthrough is obvious: The combination of lax prescribing practices, the utter lack of supervision, the absence of protocols, the ignoring of obvious indicators of pill abuse and the abject failure to adhere to any standard of legitimate medical practice amounted to a perfect storm, the proximate and foreseeable result of which was the death of a customer," Kolman wrote. "The actions of the defendants in 'treating' Rex were characteristic for how they dealt with all the other customers. Indeed, the defendants are fortunate in that the government cannot presently attribute other deaths to them, as it is difficult to track these types of deaths." U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley has set an April 21 hearing on the defense motion to bar the overdose death testimony. SHARE By Lydia X. McCoy of the Knoxville News Sentinel A federal judge has denied a request by Knox County Schools to dismiss a lawsuit filed by three families who allege students with disabilities in the school system have been placed in more segregated settings than necessary. In September, the three families of students who attend Rocky Hill, Ball Camp and Brickey-McCloud elementary schools filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Nashville alleging "long failures by (Knox County Schools) to adhere to principles of 'least restrictive environment' for children with pervasive disabilities like developmental delay, autism, intellectual disability, other health impairment or multiple disabilities," according to the lawsuit. The families of the students, who were identified in the lawsuit by their initials, have also named the Tennessee Department of Education in the lawsuit. In an opinion filed this week, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ruled because the families are challenging systemic practices it would be pointless for the district and state to try to have the case dismissed through state administrative procedures. "First, the state is a defendant in this action and has an interest in upholding, rather than changing, its current practices. Moreover, the express purpose behind the administrative exhaustion requirement the ability to review educational placements at the local level does not apply to the issues in this action," she wrote. "The plaintiffs are not asking the court to conduct a thorough review of all aspects of the plaintiffs' educational needs. Rather, they are raising the very pointed question of whether in meeting those needs particular systemic practices caused the plaintiffs to be placed in more restrictive environments than necessary, contrary to federally mandated requirements." Trauger also denied a request by the school system for a change of venue in the case. "(Knox County Schools') strongest argument in favor of transfer to the Eastern District (based in Knoxville) involves the convenience of ... witnesses located in Knox County and the ability of the court to reach these witnesses by subpoena," she wrote. "However, (Knox County Schools) has not offered any evidence, aside from the distance between Knox County and Nashville, to show that this inconvenience would be so substantial or significant as to tip the scales in favor of relocating the locus of this lawsuit. Knox County is only a three-hour drive from Nashville and is within the state." Melissa Tindell, the school system's spokeswoman, said Friday that "everyone in the Knox County Schools takes their responsibility to provide an excellent education for every student very seriously, but as a matter of practice, we do not comment about matters in litigation." SHARE I was one of the volunteers who trekked over to Nashville on the opening day of the legislative session to send a clear and unambiguous message: Approve Insure Tennessee now. Enough is enough. Lawmakers can help nearly 300,000 Tennesseans receive health insurance they now lack without costing the taxpayers one dime. They can create jobs and economic growth. They can keep rural hospitals from closing. Lives and well-being are at stake for thousands. There were about 500 of us from all parts of Tennessee. We gathered in the plaza, we lined the tunnel as the legislators filed by, we filled the rotunda and we sang, cheered, shouted and implored. And we were told repeatedly that our efforts were all in vain. Insure Tennessee is dead as a doornail, we were assured. We're not even going to vote on it. Why don't all of you just pack up and go home? You're just wasting your time. On the bus ride back to Knoxville, my thoughts wandered to a book I read several years ago: "David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants" by Malcolm Gladwell. "David and Goliath" is about what happens when ordinary people confront powerful opponents of all kinds from armies and mighty warriors to super PACs funded by super-rich donors like the Koch brothers. Gladwell says that giants are not what we think they are; the same qualities that appear to give them strength are often sources of great weakness. And being an underdog can change people in ways that we often fail to appreciate. It can open doors and create opportunities and educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable. So maybe it's time for the forces behind Insure Tennessee to get smart just like David did in his battle against Goliath. We need to redefine what the Insure Tennessee battle is all about: First, we need to demand that lawmakers explain why they are giving more than $1 billion of Tennessee tax money to other states. What sort of stupidity is required to deny to your neighbors the benefits they've already paid for and instead make these benefits available to citizens of other states who didn't pay for them? Show me a legislator with guts enough to defend that sort of behavior. Second, we need to demand that legislators from rural areas explain what they are doing to prevent the closing of hospitals in their towns because Insure Tennessee is dead. Five rural hospitals have already suffered that fate. More are expected. Third, we must demand that legislators explain how hundreds of hospital workers who are laid off when a hospital closes can find similar jobs in their rural communities. The hard truth is that few such jobs exist. Finally, we need to demand that legislators explain how these small towns can survive economically without a functioning hospital. What company is going to set up shop or stay in a town seriously lacking in medical services? And I haven't even touched on the enormous good that will be within reach of nearly 300,000 Tennesseans when Insure Tennessee is approved. It's time to get real about this battle. It's time David picked up a few smooth stones, unlimbered his sling and let fly. Do this, and we'll discover one more giant ready to fall. SHARE Many Tennesseans rightly blame Washington, D.C., for rising costs and fewer choices in health care. But outdated state laws and regulations also contribute to this troubling trend, including Tennessee's decades-old certificate of need laws. These certificates slow progress in local physicians' offices and reduce the quality of patients' care. Repealing this unnecessary law should be the Legislature's top priority. Although 14 states have repealed their own versions of these laws, Tennesseans continue to deal with this red tape. Adopted in 1973, the certificate of need law requires Tennessee health care providers to obtain permission from the Department of Health before adding new medical equipment, opening a new facility, expanding a current practice or even relocating. In practice, these laws drive up costs and deprive people of more health care choices. They require reams of paperwork, forcing health care providers to satisfy bureaucrats over their patients. Just applying for a certificate often costs physicians thousands of dollars and many hours of time that should be reserved for their patients. Approval is hardly guaranteed, and years-long appeals are not uncommon. For example, a Virginia physician spent five years and $175,000 just trying to get permission to add one MRI machine. This bureaucracy ultimately limits the health care options available in Tennessee. Research from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University found that CON laws resulted in 8,500 fewer hospital beds across the state, for example. Many other kinds of medical technology are also less available for the people who need them. The results of this are harmful on every level. Ambulatory surgical centers, for example, provide specialized care often at significantly lower prices than traditional hospitals yet are frequently denied CON approval. For communities with limited medical facilities, state bureaucrats' denial of a certificate could easily mean locals have to travel far out of their way for more expensive treatment. Not surprisingly, the bureaucratic CON process drives up the cost of health care. A study by the Mackinac Policy Institute found per-capita health care spending was 9 percent higher in states requiring certificates of need. Even the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission publicly oppose certificate requirements. In a 2014 report, they urged states to reconsider these laws, noting certificates "can actually lead to increased prices." The agencies also warned that these certificates could prevent higher quality and more innovative medical services from making it to the market. Although these laws are obstacles to physicians seeking to help more patients, large hospitals and other established health care companies frequently support this bureaucratic nightmare. They see certificates as legalized protection against competition. As the Justice Department and FTC note, these laws allow some to exploit the process "to forestall the entry of competitors in their markets." When health care providers submit their applications for a certificate, competitors are often invited to weigh in, and frequently succeed in blocking the certificate from being granted. In fact, practicing physicians and hospital representatives even sit on many state CON boards, regulating the very industry in which they work. With lives at stake every day, there's no industry where quality and competition are more important than health care. The certificate of need puts both in bureaucrats' hands. For the sake of Tennesseans, state legislators in Nashville should start 2016 by cutting the red tape blocking the door to the doctor's office. SHARE During this legislative session, a bill sponsored by state Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, and state Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, would allow the Division of Elections to implement online voter registration in Tennessee. I am supporting this legislation because I believe this makes government work better for our customer, the taxpayer. Implementing an online voter registration system would streamline the process of registering voters and improve accuracy and efficiency. This type of system would allow anyone with a Tennessee driver's license to register to vote online, where their information would be checked against the Department of Safety's database, and at the same time securely obtaining an electronic signature already on file with the state. An online system would help ensure forms are filled out correctly and completely before being submitted to the county level. In addition, voter information would get to the local county offices more quickly. In our current system, applications have to be filled out, printed and re-entered into a computer. That seems like the definition of a government bureaucracy that merely shuffles paperwork around. With an online system, we can eliminate the unnecessary repetition and reduce the risk of error. It would also allow election officials to spend their precious time on other election needs. Online voter registration is an opportunity for us to meet customers, the taxpayers, where they are and provide them yet another way they can register to vote. People will have the ability to register from the comfort of their homes and even in the palms of their hands on mobile devices. This proposal is about making government work better for its constituents. This online system will also allow us to better reach the men and women serving overseas in the military, making it easier for those citizens abroad to register to vote while keeping information secure. Because I take election integrity very seriously, one of the biggest concerns I had when first considering this technology was security and the potential for voter fraud. However, because of the partnership with the Department of Safety and additional security measures, we can ensure there are fewer errors and a more accurate record of voter rolls, reducing the risk of fraud. To this date, there have been no known reports of fraud or security breaches via online systems in other states. Republicans and Democrats have been able to agree on this solution for better government. All across the political spectrum, online voter registration has been supported by groups such as the Republican National Lawyers Association, the Council of State Governments, Pew Charitable Trusts, Bipartisan Policy Center and many more. The National Conference of State Legislatures has also touted how this initiative has received bipartisan support. Secretaries of state of all different political stripes have embraced this technology, and Tennessee should join them. Currently, 29 states, plus the District of Columbia, have online voter registration. It is now Tennessee's time to demonstrate that our government can work better for the customer and bring voter registration into the 21st century. I invite you to join me in supporting online voter registration so we can make government more efficient and responsive to the needs of citizens. SHARE The writer of the letter "Support for Sanders disappointing" states that Marxism and socialism are failing the world over. I don't think she knows much about Bernie Sanders. Does she think that Sanders could have been elected to the U.S. Senate by the people of Vermont if he were a Marxist? Thirty years ago, Sanders was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont, a small city in economic crisis. He won by 10 votes. He cooperated with the Republican members of the city council and convinced them to initiate policies that made the city grow and prosper. He was re-elected three more times by ever-growing majorities. U.S. News and World Report named him one of the 20 best mayors in the United States. He was later elected a U.S. senator. Sanders says that Democratic socialism was reflected in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's priorities, including Social Security. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called for socialism and economic justice. Sanders quotes King as having said that this country has socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for the poor. He has ruled out government-owned industries while our two senators and all East Tennessee representatives ruled out selling the Tennessee Valley Authority. Sanders says he wants an America where people can work 40 hours a week and not have to live in poverty. He advocates free public colleges and Medicare-for-all health insurance, a $15 minimum wage and $1 trillion in public works projects to provide jobs and stimulate the economy. He probably won't win the Democratic nomination, but many of his ideas are in practice in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Canada and other affluent nations, so why not in the richest nation in the world? Irving Leeds, Knoxville Snow blankets Cove Lake State Park Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Caryville. The second round of winter storms is expected to bring 3-5 inches of snow to the area overnight. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE A salt truck works on Highway 63 Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, near the Interstate 75 Huntsville/Oneida exit. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) By News Sentinel Staff East Tennessee braced for another round of winter weather Friday, closing businesses early, canceling events and placing road crews on standby as the region waited for afternoon rain to shift to snow. Officials in Middle Tennessee called the storm among the worst in more than a decade there, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, in anticipation of further ice and snow, declared a state of emergency Thursday. But the blizzard-like conditions that crippled Nashville earlier in the day and dumped more than a foot of snow in some parts of Kentucky were not expected to hit the Knoxville area with the same severity. The National Weather Service forecast 2-4 inches to fall in the Knoxville area overnight, with more snow flurries possible this morning. Residents in neighboring counties could see more snow outside their doors today, said meteorologist Lyle Wilson. "It depends on where you go," Wilson said. "Some areas already got a lot of snow, and in the immediately surrounding area, the farther north you go toward Morristown and up north that direction it could be a little bit more." The snow will likely stick around Saturday, when skies are expected to be cloudy and the high temperature to hover around freezing. Most of the thaw will occur Sunday, when the sun returns and temperatures rise into the 40s, Wilson said. Rain started in Knoxville on Friday morning and continued throughout the day, turning to a wintry mixture as the sun set. By 7:30 p.m., city and county road crews were still on standby. Crews couldn't treat streets ahead of the storm because of the steady rain, which washed salt and brine off the streets. Knoxville's Public Service Department had 23 trucks, more than 50 workers and 1,900 tons of salt ready to go, said director Chad Weth. Knox County had 20 trucks equipped with plows, 14 of which could spread salt, waiting for snow to accumulate. "We just have staff and equipment staged at various parts of the county, hanging out under overpasses and things like that," said county spokesman Michael Grider. "As soon as we have something to plow, we'll plow it." Anticipating worsening road conditions, the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff's Office moved to severe weather plans by Friday night, doubling up officers and announcing officers would respond only to emergency situations. Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, meanwhile, were on the state highways and interstates for most of the day and would remain on their routes through the evening as long as the winter weather continued, said TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi. "There was only so much they could do when it was raining because it would just wash off the roads, but now that it's moving more into snow, especially in Campbell County and (Interstate) 75 and Anderson County, they're able to plow off the roadway," Nagi said. I-75 between the Rarity Mountain exit and the Kentucky state line turned white with snow with icy patches, and the corridor received snowfall off and on throughout the day, Nagi said. The American Red Cross in the afternoon opened a shelter at Caryville Elementary School and Jellico High School. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm advisory beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, leading local government offices to close early and Knox County to cancel school for the third day in a row. The weather has caused a rush on stores for salt, snow shovels and those old familiar staples of bread and milk. "We got 19 boxes of snow shovels (Wednesday), and sold them all that day," said Lowe's Hardware employee Gary Kitts. "Last night we got six or seven more boxes of shovels in, sold them all in less than an hour and a half." Extended forecast: Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy with highs in the lower 30s. New snow accumulation of one inch possible. Saturday night: Cloudy with lows around 18 degrees. Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 41. Sunday night: Mostly clear, lows in the mid-20s. Monday: Mostly sunny, highs in the mid to upper 40s. Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid-30s. Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain and snow showers. Lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Wednesday: Slight chance of snow showers before noon, then slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy with a 10 percent chance of snow showers. Lows in the mid-20s. Ice accumulates on Sevier Ave. following overnight snowfall in Knoxville on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (ADAM LAU/NEWS SENTINEL) By News Sentinel Staff KNOXVILLE Police downgraded their severe weather plan to its lowest level Saturday afternoon as forecasted snow failed to materialize, but officials said officers still would respond only to crashes with injuries. The Knoxville Police Department advised drivers to instead exchange information and notify insurance companies. State authorities, meanwhile, continue to maintain a Level III state of emergency first imposed Thursday because of continued snowfall and temperatures expected to dip into the teens Saturday night. Dean Flener, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said conditions will continue to be dangerous in East Tennessee. "The winter storm is still impacting East Tennessee and will for the remainder of Saturday, as snowfall has ceased in our western and middle regions," Flener said. "Very cold, below freezing temperatures will persist in Tennessee (on) Saturday and Sunday, so there will not be any melting. This means travel and road conditions will remain very hazardous, especially as temperatures fall further and roads re-freeze in the overnight hours." Although the National Weather Service forecasts snow ending by 7 p.m. Saturday, temperatures that topped out at 29 degrees during the day were expected to dip to 18 degrees overnight. Campbell County saw seven inches of snow by 8:30 a.m., according to the weather service, and at least another inch fell after that measurement. The piling snow presented challenges to the Tennessee Department of Transportation crews trying to keep state roads open. Mark Nagi, TDOT regional spokesman, said TDOT used a floating crew of six trucks plowing Interstate 75, a grader on state Highway 25W between LaFollette and Jellico, and another grader on State Route 116 running between Rocky Top to Caryville. Nagi said that operation cleared both roads by noon. Knoxville residents didn't see the 3-5 inches forecast when the storm system chugged across the state, but the freezing temperatures assured every flake counted and made roads treacherous. In the Knoxville area, interstate routes were fairly clear Saturday, but officials warned against getting too relaxed behind the wheel amid patches of ice and snow on overpasses. According to the weather service, about half an inch of snow fell in the Knoxville area through Friday night. Another half-inch fell before noon Saturday. Emergency workers decided about midnight to shut down the Emergency Operations Center in the Knox County E-911 Center because the storm slipped around the city. While the Tennessee Valley mostly escaped heavy snowfall, the higher regions got smacked. Morristown reported 3 inches of snow. Maryville got 2 inches. In upper East Tennessee, snowfalls were significantly higher, with 4.5 inches reported in the Bristol area. Norris in Anderson County recorded 0.6 inches of snow, while Oak Ridge showed 0.2 inches of snow, according to the weather service. Heavy snow was reported in Sevier County about 10 a.m. Roads that had been relatively clear were quickly covered by flakes encouraged by sub-freezing temperatures. Despite the deepening snow, there have been no major traffic incidents, according to the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. TDOT crews had previously closed Interstate 81 to one lane in the early morning, but all lanes reopened by noon. Check for snow updates on knoxnews.com and our mobile app. 9:59 a.m.January 23, 2016 Ten US Navy Sailors detained by Iran return to the United States SAN DIEGO (NNS) The 10 U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 who were briefly detained by Iran Jan 12-13, returned to their homeport in San Diego last night. All of the Sailors are in good health and each will complete the final phase of reintegration. During this phase, which can last several days, Sailors reunite with their families, continue debriefings, and receive any ongoing medical care and support as necessary. "Our Sailors are being reintegrated with dignity and professionalism," said Rear Adm. Frank Morneau, Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. "My top priority is the health, welfare and well-being of our Shipmates as they return to duty." The three-phased reintegration process began immediately following their release on Jan. 13. The focus of Phase I of the reintegration process was to ensure the immediate health and safety of the Sailors. During the second phase of the reintegration process, individuals completed a medical exam and critical decompression, which included mental and physical coping strategies that will enable them to return to duty. The final and third phase commenced when the Sailors reunited with families, while ongoing medical evaluations and various levels of support are provided. A Navy command investigation is ongoing. Published January 23, 2016 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Small American flags have been placed in the trees in front of the Warmbier family home, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Wyoming, Ohio. North Korea on Friday announced the arrest of Otto Warmbier, a university student from Ohio, for what it called a "hostile act" orchestrated by the American government to undermine the authoritarian nation. / AP-Yonhap North Korea said Friday that it has arrested a college student from the United States for allegedly conducting hostile acts against the regime. Warmbier Otto Frederick, a student at the University of Virginia, is being questioned by North Korean officials after being caught taking part in anti-North Korea activities, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch. The state news agency claimed that the student entered North Korea nominally for tourism, though his real intention was to undermine North Korea's unity under the U.S. government's acquiescence and control. The one-sentence dispatch did not provide details on how and when the student was arrested. In Washington, the State Department spokesman said it is aware of the reports. "We are aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea," spokesman Mark Toner said by email, Yonhap reported. "The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the Department's highest priorities. In cases where U.S. citizens are reported detained in North Korea, we work closely with the Swedish Embassy, which serves as the United States' Protecting Power in North Korea." Toner said he has no further information to share due to privacy considerations. The North's move came as the U.N. Security Council is working on a fresh resolution for tougher sanctions against North Korea following Pyongyang's nuclear test earlier this month. Experts said that the North has used detained Americans as leverage to force the U.S. to open bilateral talks between the two nations. In 2014, Pyongyang released three detained Americans _ Kenneth Bae, Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Fowle. Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by the North on charges of espionage, after being arrested last October, according to a report by CNN earlier this month. The U.S. has declined to confirm Kim's detention. Lim Hyeon-soo, a Korean-Canadian pastor, has also been held in captivity in the North since he entered the country via China on a humanitarian mission in January 2015. In December, the North's highest court sentenced Lim to life in prison, citing his "subversive plots" against the North's regime. By Choi Sung-jin North Korea's official media showed its displeasure with China again Friday, saying, "We are okay with or without external assistance." In an article headlined "Dignity and revival lie in self-reliance," the Rodong Sinmun, mouthpiece of the Workers' Party, said, "Our very own things are best, and our strenuous endeavor is foremost." "For a nation and people who have set about to build a strong, wealthy and independent country, nothing is more harmful and dangerous than the fantasy about and reliance on foreign forces," the paper said. Although it stopped short of specifying foreign forces, it was presumed to be indirectly referring to China. On its Dec. 29 issue in the wake of the aborted performance by the state-run girls' band in Beijing, the paper also made an indirect expression of dissatisfaction with China. While recalling the crisis in August that brought the two Koreas close to a military conflict, it said, "Some related countries maintained a neutral stance, calling for coolness and self-restraint on both us and our enemies," Meanwhile, North Korea has continued to send its workers to China while the international community is discussing additional sanctions on the isolationist state in the aftermath of its fourth nuclear test, Radio Free Asia reported Friday. "These North Korean workers do not have working visas but enter China with public service passports," it said. "They stay within factory dorms and cannot go out of these boundaries." North Korean officials and Chinese businesspeople are colluding to continue this apparently illegal operation, the radio said, based on its Chinese sources. "North Korea has run out of other export sources and can't help but resort to the wage income of these illegal workers," a source in Shenyang, China, was quoted as saying. "To squeeze North Korea's funding route, the Chinese authorities need to block this dispatch of illegal workers," the source said. "If only Beijing would bother to supervise unlawful employment, it will deal a great blow to Pyongyang." Ambassador Thomas Shannon, a senior U.S. diplomat and counselor of the State Department, will visit South Korea next week for talks on the response to North Korea's nuclear test, the alliance between the two countries and global issues of concern, the State Department said Friday. Ambassador Shannon will be in Seoul this coming Wednesday and Thursday, and his visit will include a trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in addition to the bilateral meetings he will have with Korean officials on the "U.S.-Korea Alliance, our shared global priorities, and our response to recent North Korean provocations," the department said. Before coming to South Korea, Shannon plans to visit Tokyo today through Wednesday for meetings with the political directors of the Group of Seven industrialized countries to discuss various topics as they prepare for the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting hosted by Japan later in the year, the U.S. State Department reported. While in Tokyo, Shannon will meet with Japanese leaders to discuss regional security, the U.S.-Japan Alliance, a common approach to global challenges, and other issues. On the way back to Washington, he will stop at Hawaii and consult with leaders of the U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu, the department said. The Seoul city government has rejected Hotel Shilla's plan to build a traditional accommodation in central Seoul for the third time, officials said Thursday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government decided Wednesday to put on hold the plan to erect a hotel built in the style of a traditional Korean house within the compound of the luxury accommodation affiliate of South Korea's biggest conglomerate, Samsung Group. There has long been controversy over the destruction of the natural scenery versus the vitalization of the country's tourism industry. Hotel Shilla submitted a modified construction plan reducing the structure from four stories above ground and below to three each, and cutting the number of rooms from 207 to 91. The distance from the fortress wall of Hanyang, the old name of Seoul, also increased from 20.5 meters to 29.9 meters. Despite the fact that the company accepted 90 percent of the city government's demands to improve the plan, experts say the upcoming April general elections may have deterred municipal authorities from making a favorable decision, as it could cause unnecessary controversy over possible privileges given to the family-run conglomerate. The Seoul Metropolitan Government rejected Hotel Shilla's previous plans in 2012 and 2013. (Yonhap) The South Korean forces dispatched to the United Arab Emirates have conducted around 30 combined exercises with the local troops since the unit was first stationed in the Arab country five years ago as part of bilateral military exchanges, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday. South Korea sent the 150-strong "Ahk" unit to the UAE in January 2011 to train special forces and conduct joint military drills there. The 10th rotating troops are currently in service in the UAE. Since the deployment, the South Korean unit has conducted a total of 30 joint exercises with UAE troops across the Arab country, including the latest one which took place on Jan. 3 and lasted for 12 days, according to the JCS. Special operations, anti-terrorism missions and cultural exchanges were part of the beginning-of-the-year joint drill, the JCS said. On the UAE's part, the country is "actively" providing airplane, ship and automobile assets to support joint operations designed to improve both of the militaries' combat capabilities, the military noted. "Unlike peacekeeping operations or other forces dispatched for multinational troops, the Ahk Unit is mainly aimed at military cooperation in non-conflict areas," the JCS said in a press release. "This kind of military collaboration helps further cement comprehensive and strategic partnership between South Korea and the UAE." Travel down the highways and bye-ways of Commonwealth stamp collecting for news and views about Commonwealth stamps. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Media mogul Sumner Redstone must undergo an hour-long medical examination by a psychiatrist to generate evidence in an ongoing legal dispute. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan ruled on Friday that a doctor hired by Redstones former companion Manuela Herzer will be allowed to examine the ailing 92-year-old executive chairman of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp. The doctors examination could support Herzers contention that Redstone is no longer mentally competent. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Herzer, 51, managed Redstones household affairs and his day-to-day care until mid-October, when she was booted from Redstones mansion in Beverly Park. She also was removed from her prominent position as the agent in charge of Redstones advance healthcare directive should the mogul become incapacitated. Cowan, in a tentative ruling on Friday, wrote it was only fair that doctors on both sides of the legal dispute be allowed to examine Redstone. Two doctors who treat Redstone have already testified. The judge said an examination by a third doctor, Dr. Stephen Read, who was selected by Herzer and her attorneys, could not be videotaped. Redstones speech pathologist and his nurse can be present during the exam. We are gratified that Judge Cowan struck an equitable balance that assures our client has a fair opportunity to prove that her beloved Sumner was not competent when the attorneys had him remove her as his health caregiver, Herzers attorney, Pierce ODonnell, said in a statement. The judge once again denied a request from Herzer and her lawyers that Redstone provide sworn testimony in a deposition. We are gratified that the court continues to reject Ms. Herzers increasingly desperate and disingenuous attempts to depose Mr. Redstone, Redstones attorney, Gabrielle Vidal, said in a statement after a court hearing. In Cowans tentative ruling, provided to The Times, the judge wrote: The court grants Herzer the opportunity for Dr. Read to go to Redstones home, or for Redstone to go to Dr. Reads office if Redstone prefers, for a one hour interview by Dr. Read alone, without Herzer or any of her attorneys or others on her behalf present. When Redstone replaced Herzer as his healthcare proxy in mid-October, the billionaire also allegedly revoked part of his estate plan whereby he had previously left a very significant sum of money to Herzer, the court ruling said. Herzer has testified that she is concerned about Redstones health and his medical care. Sumner asked Manuela, and she promised, to care for and protect him for the rest of his life, ODonnell said. Todays victory is a major milestone in honoring her commitment. meg.james@latimes.com Twitter: @MegJamesLAT MORE: Film academy makes dramatic rule changes to address diversity A Catherine Opie moment in Los Angeles at MOCA and the Hammer Sundance: Unlike the Oscars, the film fest offers a bevy of movies with black protagonists How much money did Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman make last year? Well, it depends on where you look. Earlier this week, Viacom issued a statement saying Dauman received total compensation in fiscal 2015 valued at about $37 million. However, when Viacom released its proxy on Friday, a closer inspection of the numbers showed Daumans compensation package actually added up to $54.2 million. Advertisement See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> The reason for the discrepancy: a $17-million signing bonus that Dauman was awarded in late 2014. Viacom, in its proxy, listed two separate totals for Daumans compensation. In a column marked total compensation, the $54.2-million figure was provided. But the final column of the table, which appeared under the heading excluding contract renewal stock awards, carried the $37.2-million amount. News organizations jumped on the difference. The issue was noteworthy because Viacoms market value plummeted 45% last year -- at a time when Daumans compensation went up more than 20%. A Viacom spokesman said late Friday the companys earlier statement about Daumans compensation was indeed accurate because Dauman did not receive any payouts from the bonus in 2015. 1 / 39 Zac Barnett of American Authors is seen on set for a video shoot on Oct. 26, 2014, in Dickson, Tenn. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) 2 / 39 Extras acting in the HBO series Game of Thrones leave the bullring on Oct. 22, 2014, as film crews began shooting part of the fifth season in the southern Spanish city of Osuna. (CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP/Getty Images) 3 / 39 Indira Varma is on the set of Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19, 2014, in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 4 / 39 Actors film Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19, 2014, in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 5 / 39 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is on the set of Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19 in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 6 / 39 Sylvester Stallone poses with his puppet as he takes part in the TV show Le Grand Journal at the Cannes Film Festival. (LOIC VENANCE / AFP/Getty Images) 7 / 39 Jamie Foxx filming The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on April 21, 2013, in New York City. (Aby Baker/Getty Images) 8 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, center left, is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City with his stunt double William Spencer, right, and a second stunt double. (Raymond Hall/ WireImage/Getty Images) 9 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, rehearses a scene with his stunt double William Spencer on the The Amazing Spiderman 2" movie set in Madison Square Park in New York. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 10 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, his stunt double William Spencer, center, and a second stunt double are seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/ WireImage/Getty Images) 11 / 39 Jamie Foxx filming on location for The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on April 21, 2013, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 12 / 39 Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone filming The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on location in New York City. (Aby Baker/Getty Images) 13 / 39 Jamie Foxx as Electro/Max Dillon in The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on location in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 14 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, his stunt double William Spencer, center, and a second stunt double are seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 15 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti films a scene at the The Amazing Spiderman 2" movie set in Madison Square Park on June 22, 2013, in New York City. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 16 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 17 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 18 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti on the set of The Amazing Spiderman 2" in New York Citys Madison Square Park. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 19 / 39 Jamie Foxx on location for The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Bobby Bank/ WireImage/Getty Images) 20 / 39 Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart play mother and daughter filming on location for Still Alice on March 21, 2014, at Lido Beach, N.Y. (Steve Sands/Getty Images) 21 / 39 Richard Gere on the set of Time Out Of Mind on March 26, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImages/Getty Images) 22 / 39 Jeremy Renner films an action scene in Aoasta, Italy, for Avengers: Age of Ultron.. (Photopix/Getty Images) 23 / 39 Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson film on location in Pont-Saint-Martin in Aosta, Italy, for Avengers: Age of Ultron. (Photopix/Getty Images) 24 / 39 Actors are suited up for special effects on the set of Avengers: Age of Ultron in Aosta, Italy. (Photopix/Getty Images) 25 / 39 Richard Gere and Ben Vereen on the set of Time Out Of Mind on March 26, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 26 / 39 Arnold Schwarzenegger performs on the set of Despierta America with Joe Manganiello at Univision Headquarters in Miami. (Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) 27 / 39 Donal Logue, left, and Ben McKenzie on the set of Gotham on March 20, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 28 / 39 Kevin McHale, left, Chord Overstreet, Chris Colfer and Darren Chris on the set of Glee at Washington Square Park on March 14, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 29 / 39 Lea Michele and Michael Lerner on the set of Glee on March 16, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 30 / 39 Louie CK on the set of Louie on Jan. 31, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 31 / 39 Wil Estes and Vanessa Ray on the set of Blue Bloods on Jan. 31, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 32 / 39 Skyler Gisondo and Ben Stiller on the set of Night at the Museum 3" on Feb. 6, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 33 / 39 George Clooney, second from left, filming Tomorrowland at Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias on Jan. 21, 2014, in Valencia, Spain. (Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images) 34 / 39 Kevin Bacon and Sprague Grayden on the set of The Following on Dec. 10, 2013, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 35 / 39 Mark Wahlberg is seen on set filming the movie Transfomers 4: Age of Extinction on Sunday October 27,2013 in Hong Kong,China. (TPG/Getty Images) 36 / 39 Mark Wahlberg performs on the set of Transformers: Age of Extinction in Hong Kong on Oct. 26, 2013. (Aaron Tam/ AFP/Getty Images) 37 / 39 Scarlett Johansson filming a scene for her new movie, Lucy on Oct. 21, 2013, in Taipei, China. (TPG/Getty Images) 38 / 39 Director Clint Eastwood, right, and actor John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli on the set of Jersey Boys in Kearny, N.J. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 39 / 39 Edie Falco, left, and Julie White on the set of Nurse Jackie in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) Instead, installments will be paid over three years, beginning in 2017. The previously-disclosed discrete equity award associated with the extension of his employment agreement is presented as a lump sum in our proxy, but will not vest to Mr. Dauman until 2017, 2018 and 2019 and the ultimate value of the award will depend on the stock price at vesting, Viacom said in a statement. One can assume that next year Viacom wont pre-release compensation figures. meg.james@latimes.com Twitter: @MegJamesLAT The Eagle Huntress, a documentary thats as unlikely as it is enchanting, has landed in Sundance, and falling under its sway is inevitable. The story introduces Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl from Mongolia who bucked 2,000 years of tradition to become the first female to hunt with formidable golden eagles in a locale director Otto Bell describes as the most remote part of the least-populated country in the world. Its not the end of the world, but you can see it from there. A demure, shy girl with bright eyes and a shining smile, Aisholpan and her parents made the trip to Park City to promote the film and to appear in a media event with eagles provided by the Comanche nation. Her own eagle, Akkatnat or White Wings, is back home in Mongolia, where the rest of her nomadic family is, and when asked whether she missed the enormous beast, Aisholpans face lit up like a star. Advertisement The Eagle Huntress Aisholpan holding Nuepi, the Golden Eagle, in the L.A. Times photo studio at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Sundance Film Festival 2016: Full coverage | Photos of the scene Some scholars believe that the whole idea of hunting with birds like eagles may have originated in Mongolia. The great conqueror Genghis Khan was said to have kept a thousand eagles, and to have so admired the mettle of eagle hunters that he used them as personal bodyguards. Nomadic herders like Aisholpans father, Nurgaiv, himself the seventh generation of male-only hunters, use the birds to go after foxes and other small animals, both for food and for fur to keep warm in the savage winters. Despite scoffing from traditionalists, when Aisholpan expressed an interest in becoming a hunter, her father readily agreed. Shes been transfixed by eagles since she was a kid, Bell said. Its masterful to see how she works with them. Before he became involved with Aisholpan and her quest, the energetic 34-year-old Bell had worked for nearly 10 years as a director of shorter, branded content pieces for major corporate clients. Id worked all over Uganda, Egypt, Japan, Vietnam. I was used to foreign languages, to working with a translator, so when this opportunity came up, I didnt hesitate, the British director says, adding with a laugh, perhaps I should have. The story of how The Eagle Huntress came to be made is a tale so filled with obstacles, derring-do and coincidence, it almost feels like this film was simply fated to be made. It all began with a photo essay on eagle hunters by still photographer Asher Svidensky that appeared on the BBCs website and included shots of Aisholpan working with her fathers eagle. I saw it the day it came out, and I jumped on it, said Bell, which was a good thing because the photos soon became an Internet sensation. I contacted the photographer and was quickly on a plane to Mongolia. Bell met and had tea with Aisholpan, her father, Nurgaiv, and her mother, Alma, on July 4, 2014, a date he remembers because of what happened next. We were talking about the possibility of making a film, and Nurgaiv said, Today, were going to steal an eagle chick for Aisholpan to train. Is this the kind of thing youd be interested in filming? I said, God, yes. It turns out, you have only a two- or three-day window when the eagle chick can live outside the nest but hasnt flown away. Its very rare to be able to come in at the beginning of a story, but that is what we did. Bells small crew, led by veteran cinematographer Simon Niblett and ranging from two to five people, spent three months in Mongolia off and on and brought in more than 1,500 pounds of gear, including an S1000 drone and a 30-foot crane that packs into a case suitable for a snowboard. Though we didnt know it as we were shooting it, the film fell into a sequence of events, the director said. Every time we went back, Aisholpan was facing a fresh obstacle. First came the snatching of the eaglet, then an annual eagle hunters tournament in the town of Ulgii that drew some 70 veteran hunters to compete. Then came the ultimate challenge, actual hunting in Mongolias devastating winter. It was minus-50 degrees, brutally cold conditions. All our batteries died; hands would freeze to the tripod. What was supposed to take five days, took to the end of the month, Bell recalled with a shudder. And then there was the little matter of his arm. I had broken my arm slipping on ice in New York, and the doctor absolutely forbid me to travel. I said I was going, so they wrapped it in a cast so large I couldnt close my jacket, even though it was bloody freezing. And there were no roads, so there was jarring all the time we traveled. It was hellish. Also problematic was actually getting the film paid for and finished. I dragged the film on myself for as long as I could, using credit cards and my paltry savings. I called in favors from all those years of shooting branded content, but it was not enough, he said. So Bell sent a 10-minute trailer to documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who said hed never seen anything like it and came on as executive producer. Now finished and showing at Sundance, The Eagle Huntress is in the hunt for a distributor. Like Aisholpans eagle, its hard to imagine it going home empty-handed. Teenage Jesus and the Jerks: Live 1977-1979" contains 29 songs recorded in the mid-'70s. The music sounds like next week. (Baby Doll could easily be on the new Savages album, Adore Life, give or take a few choices.) These recordings were not available until now. Ork Records: New York, New York is a two-CD set of 49 songs recorded in the mid-'70s. With a few exceptions, the music sounds like mid-'70s. These recordings were available for a moment, but for many of us they might not as well have been. All of this music was mythic and real. Once a dumb New York City kid, I can now watch much smarter kids all over the world discover this music. Several wheels of history rotate over one another at the same time. We hear now how these artists heard themselves and think about how artists were, technically, able to record their own work. Advertisement See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> This newly available live documentation of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks a band that was mostly a platform for the singing and guitar playing of Lydia Lunch, as much solvent as signal is better than any studio recordings we have of the band. Those exist and are worth it if you want to hear the words more clearly, but the magic of this band is in the hair, the spit, the transient noises and everything else a 70s engineer was trained to eliminate. And did. Just kids in NYC When I was a teenager in New York, talk of punks majesty was almost as reverential as the discussion of the 60s. Local press like New York Rocker or, more essentially, the Village Voice, discussed the Clash and Marx in the same paragraph like it was all one big political art project. Except, hang on, youd read a piece the same day and saw that Mark P of the British fanzine Sniffin Glue had already said, Punk died the day the Clash signed with CBS. Wait: Lets check our copy of Sandinista! Yep, CBS. This wasnt much like political correctness this was political fact-checking combined with the jolt of noise (they all loved that) and the confused adolescent energy that favors utopian tendencies and split-second cohort switching. When we were back in the earlier 70s hearing people bang on about Beatles records, hell, your parents probably had them. (Mine did, and they didnt even like popular music.) But reading about the conjuring power of Television (punk? Wait rock?) or Lydia Lunch (No Wave?) or Patti Smith (was she a poet?) didnt make it easier to find their records. Disco had a better PR campaign and a lower barrier to entry. (Note to utopians.) Before we were old enough to get into clubs, all we had were records and radio. By the time we were old enough to get into clubs, almost three waves of bands had come and gone. We heard about punk coming to town as early as 1975. In 1980, just as I was hitting my teens, we had No Wave tearing all of that down. Um, OK. And had any of this stuff gotten onto the radio? When we did find an album, it rarely lined up with the profile bundled into the hype. I got lucky with the Ramones debut, which I found when I was only 12. The store on Fulton Street that sold it is long gone, and I had no idea why they stocked one copy of it, but thank God that they did. It probably sounded muted, to a real punk fan, but it was plenty threatening and weird to a pre-teen who didnt even know why youd sniff glue unless you were building a model of an aircraft carrier. Other albums, though, did not sound like the coming of a new era. Patti Smith albums sounded more or less like other 70s rock, and she was working with Bruce Springsteen, who was rock, right? Damn, he was on the radio. Revolutions sometimes happen so quickly that those on the outside cant tell the defenders from the attackers. The Sex Pistols definitely had an embarrassing name, but except for the acidic warbling, the music sounded a lot like the rock n roll we knew, beefed up. Lydia Lunch, one of the people at the center of No Wave, the blowback to the CBGB scene, described punk as Chuck Berry on speed. Teenage Jesus and the Jerks was playing Maxs Kansas City as early as 1977 and sounding nothing like the music echoing between New York and London. Their music was brief and discordant and barely related to any known tuning system. After 90 seconds, youre just repeating yourself, Lunch said over the phone from New York. (She lives most of the time now in Barcelona, Spain.) These recordings are higher fidelity than you expect and as cracked as the new world was going to be. Everything wed read about this mighty negation, this rejection of standard rock, is there in these songs. Only four songs break the two-minute mark. Its the shot heard around the block, rebroadcast 30 years later. Lunch on the phone is not much different than Teenage Jesus, except more polite, funnier. But just as pithy: Its always been me and a megaphone on stage. Ive always been here. And I have a lot of work left to do. Ork Records The Ork Records box set revives music made slightly before Teenage Jesus; some of it is contemporaneous. Started by a New York scenester from California named Terry Ork (not legally) and a music fan named Charles Ball, Ork put out only 13 records. This was, true to Orks nature, not the fulfillment of a manifesto but simply the documenting of a scene he loved being a part of. Singles by the Revelons and Marbles were limp versions of 60s pop rock, a strategy Blondie made much more from. But the first Ork single included here is the most famous one and easily the most important: Televisions Little Johnny Jewel. Here is historys unreliable coil at work. In 1975, nothing sounded like Little Johnny Jewel. Recorded in the practice space Television shared with Patti Smiths band, it is a low-fidelity document of a band building a song around mud-simple, three-note bass figures that any amateur could learn. But over seven minutes, everything collapses and is rebuilt, as if a jazz band kicked out of the conservatory has kidnapped the evenings rock band and let a poet talk over all of it. Who made a song so long it had to be split over two sides of a 45? Who lets the entire band solo, more or less, for the whole song? But by the time Television had made its full-length debut for Elektra in 1977, the luminous Marquee Moon, the tone had shifted. The band was good enough to look good on the corner and in the banquet hall, but us dumb kids didnt really believe in the street version. Did anybody meet these guys? I knew the elegant band. I had only heard about Little Johnny Jewel. Then, in 1992, someone on St. Marks Place generously parted with their copy for a cool $100. Worth it. The band broke up in 1978 and all we had were two gorgeous but not particularly messy LPs, which had been recorded with all the techniques of classic 60s rock. Why were we supposed to believe that people seeing Television ended up seeing God? Unless you scored one of the copies of the Ork single, it sounded like another war story, that wild and mercury version of the band. But no now you can relive the chaos and confirm the truth. The Teenage Jesus recordings are remarkable. Sold. The Ork set has about 20 songs you never need to hear twice but is worth it. The generous book included is a great insight into downtown New York in the 70s, with anecdotes about who did what for, and to, whom complete with photos. Along with the jewel of the crown, there are eight exuberant songs by Alex Chilton, the Memphis pop Jesus who wandered through New York for a moment before returning home. The Feelies, one of the finest bands of the time, made a rough first single for Ork, which they would best with their debut album on Stiff. (It is perhaps the most compressed and uptight rock album of the time, and that is only praise.) And that first bassist in Television, Richard Hell? He wasnt so bad on his own. In any other context, "(I Belong To the) Blank Generation would be the gem, the closest a New Yorker ever came to Jean-Paul Belmondo in Breathless: All that effort to pretend nothing mattered. Flicks cigarette. Gunshot. Scene. Twitter: @sfj ------------ Ork Records: New York, New York Various artists Numero Group Live 1977-1979' Teenage Jesus and the Jerks Other People Chelsea Handler, formerly host of the E! talk show Chelsea Lately and author of books including My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands and Are You There, Vodka? Its Me, Chelsea stops on the way to her upcoming Netflix-based talk show as the host and partial subject of a documentary series, Chelsea Does. Its four parts, which are titled Marriage, Race, Silicon Valley and Drugs, are available, also from Netflix, beginning Saturday. See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> Advertisement What makes Chandler appealing, even admirable, to some is exactly what makes her difficult, even deplorable, to others a forthrightness that can seem offensive, a trust in her own goodness and talent that can read like egotism. It is also possible to waffle between those positions, to the extent you find this joke funny or flat, or that position harmonious or out of joint with your own. But her brassiness does make her interesting, and makes her a good interviewer. Shes willing to let other people talk, to amaze or entertain her, in part because thats where the comedy lies, and shes willing to listen, because shes smart and (willingness to rankle notwithstanding) polite. Its a requirement of her job to take in the world to find it interesting or ridiculous in order to send it back into the world as humor. Produced by Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) and directed throughout by Eddie Schmidt with an expensive-looking creaminess, each episode spends upward of an hour going back and forth through the subject, in different ways: conversational (Handler hanging out with friends, some of them also famous, some of them also comedians, to discuss the matter at hand, or talking to experts in the relevant field); confessional (one on one with a clinical psychologist); and experiential, as she puts herself into different environments, or experiments on herself, to learn something new. In the episodes on Marriage, Race and Silicon Valley, the governing idea is for her to engage with things she imperfectly understands, or has a difficult relationship with. Drugs in which she smokes pot with Willie Nelson in his tour bus (Do you get stoned before you go onstage? she asks him; Probably, he replies, after a moment of confusion) and travels to Peru to experience Ayahuasca is a subject she feels pretty good about, schooled in a first-hand, if not a scientific way. She sits down with people who cant handle them, without ever feeling its about her. I like being bad, its fun, she says. I glorify the lifestyle that I lead; I definitely glorify it; I think its glorifiable. There are many people in my life who think that I have a problem, but the only opinion Im concerned about is my own. Similarly, in the episode that deals with race in which Handler explores neighborhoods of Los Angeles she never knew existed, she engages with black victims of police violence, and travels to the Deep South to interview people creepily inured to their own racism she remains protective of her own right to make jokes about anyone and everything. I think its important to think about things you havent experienced and havent affected you directly, she says, because in some way they have. But her last pitch is for everyone not to take themselves so seriously. -------------------- Chelsea Does Where: Netflix When: Any time, starting Saturday Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17) When you put the band back together, there are always risks. The weight of history gives you momentum, but it can also crush you. The audience wants the reunion and fears it; your fans will judge you harshly even as they cut you slack. They will attack your new stuff for sounding too much like the old hits, or not enough like them. Sunday brings the return to television, after nearly 14 years and two theatrical features, of The X-Files, Chris Carters groundbreaking paranormal procedural, with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson back in their roles as FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Duchovny and Anderson have not been out of the public eye. He spent many seasons starring in Californication, and Aquarius, in which he plays a 1960 L.A. police detective, has been renewed; she is currently appearing in the A&E/History/Lifetime miniseries War and Peace, was recently a regular on Hannibal and has led two seasons of the fine British procedural The Fall. And yet it is odd, at first, to see them back in their old clothes, which like everyones old clothes, fit a little differently now. Advertisement The new, six-episode season on Fox Season 10, if were counting is being accounted a miniseries. And though it does promise some long-arc business (the first and last episodes are titled My Struggle, Parts 1 and 2), two of the three episodes offered for review are self-contained monster-of-the-week stories, always the series strongest suit. It isnt surprising that much of the business of the new episodes addresses the passage of time. There are references to Google, Uber, Edward Snowden and the NSA to make it clear that were not in the 90s anymore. Mulder has been questioning whether hes wasted his life chasing chimera: Im a middle-aged man, Scully. Im thinking maybe its time to put away childish things, the sasquatches and moth men and jackalopes. The revival is steeped in a kind of historical consciousness of the show itself, to the point that Mulders ring tone is Mark Snows X-Files theme. Having been out of each others orbit, as they were absent from ours, the characters, too, seem at times to regard each as characters. Yeah, this is how I like my Mulder, Scully says at one point, having listened to his pitch that what seems to be a monster really is a monster. The first episode, written and directed by Carter, is a Big Conspiracy story, with guest Joel McHale as a kind of super-successful, Internet-famous, right-wing turn on the Lone Gunmen. It starts well enough, with effects-filled flashbacks to Roswell 1947 and a call from Assistant Director Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) that brings the old team back together Scully in her scrubs helping put ears on earless children, and Mulder an Internet-perusing recluse who dresses himself from the Travis Bickle Catalog for Men. But it collapses into poorly motivated, out-of-nowhere speechifying, accompanied by stock footage of old puzzling phenomena. Fortunately the other two episodes push the right buttons; the second, though it continues some of the themes of the first that old alien DNA, stolen children is a typical science-gone-too-far episode, with a classic X-Files type at its center: the character supernaturally, or science-fictionally blessed and cursed. As in the great horror films of old, the antagonists are also protagonists; Mulder and Scully are, in the best way, witnesses. Written and directed by Darin Morgan, who wrote the old series highly regarded Jose Chungs From Outer Space and Clyde Bruckmans Final Repose, the third episode, Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster its title an echo of the old Abbott and Costello monster comedies is the best of the new lot so far, and one Id rank high in the series as a whole. With comedians Rhys Darby and Kumail Nanjiani in the main guest roles, its both delightful and disturbing, if it is not always quite sensible. (Im just looking for some kind of internal logic, Mulder asks at one point, only to be told, Why? There isnt any external logic to any of it.) But its plot twists and ideas about animal and human consciousness and self-consciousness are surprising and satisfying. Perhaps most important, its full of jokes that work. If this is the sort of gift horse you cant help looking in the mouth, the point of that old saw is, after all: Dont. Reunion albums are rarely among a bands best work, but they can have their moments. There is a deep pleasure just in hearing Anderson say a line like, Mulder, what are you talking about? and to see them yoked together again, trading lines with that special kind of shared sleepiness that can make anywhere seem a boudoir. And to some not inconsiderable degree, its not about us, anyway, but them the writers and the actors, doing it for themselves. Theres money to be had, sure, but sometimes there is just a story to continue or conclude, a desire to get back to where you once belonged, to put on the suits, pick up the flashlights and follow the monster, wherever that leads. robert.lloyd@latimes.com ------------ The X-Files Where: Fox When: 7 p.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Monday Rating: TV-14-DLSV (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14, with advisories for suggestive dialogue, coarse language, sex and violence) MORE ON TELEVISION Show runner Steven Moffat is leaving Doctor Who Trust Chelsea Handler to do what she does best in Netflixs Chelsea Does Julianna Margulies on the future of The Good Wife: Im unemployed come April I have spent the last few days basking in the return of Sarah Palin to the national political stage, courtesy of her Donald Trump endorsement in Iowa on Tuesday. And so, I would wager, has she. Shes gotten everything shes come to expect from the national media: scorn, ridicule and hostility. I have watched Stephen Colbert mock her disjointed syntax. (Wanted to like it; didnt think it was that funny.) I scrolled through countless Facebook posts on Wednesday featuring images of the New York Daily News front page Im with Stupid. (Puerile.) Advertisement I have read essays declaring that Palins speech represents the horrifying vanguard of a new way of right-wing speechifying. (It most certainly does not.) SIGN UP for the free Essential Politics newsletter >> Or by contrast, that it was reminiscent of the famous 2004 Dean Scream. (Hardly.) I have watched and read as commentators, pundits and political reporters have scratched their heads and tried to explain exactly where Palins endorsement of Trump puts her on the conservative spectrum. They wonder about whether she sincerely embraces the unnerving brand of authoritarian populism espoused by Donald Trump. Or whether she has abandoned Tea Party principles by turning her back on Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, an unyielding ideologue who has always credited her for getting him elected in the first place. Its likely none of those things. I think she misses the spotlight and, quite simply, identifies more with Trump than any of his rivals. Would she have gotten this much national attention had she endorsed Ted Cruz? Of course not. And she surely knows that Cruz would never insult her for endorsing a rival. But would Trump have held his temper had she endorsed one of his? Doubtful, as hes tried to eviscerate anyone who gets in his way. Craig Robinson, founder of a widely read website, The Iowa Republican, said he doesnt think the Palin endorsement helps Trump as much as it wounds Cruz, who has been surging in Iowa polls as the first vote looms. Her endorsement hurts Cruz because hes trying to push the narrative that Donald Trump is the New York values guy, and if she is anything, it is not New York values, said Robinson. She changed the subject on him. Not much about Palin surprises me, but I confess I am puzzled that so many people seem surprised by her free-association speaking style and her tendency to mangle language and create the memorable neologism. (As in: Right-winging, bitter-clinging, proud clingers of our guns, our God, and our religion, and our Constitution. Or her description of internecine Middle Eastern conflicts as squirmishes. This is the woman, after all, who gave us the word refudiate.) She has developed a speaking style that I find very difficult to listen to, hard to comprehend, almost not even entertaining. Craig Robinson, founder of The Iowa Republican, on Sarah Palin As far as I know and I have been covering her on and off since 2008, including a memorable wild goose chase up the Eastern Seaboard one far ago Memorial Day (memmm-ries!) the only time Palin gave speeches that were traditional in any sense of the word was when she was McCains running mate and his advisors had her on a short, but fraying leash. Well, there was one other time: In Iowa in September 2011, when she still appeared to be flirting with the idea of a presidential run. Buoyed by her Tea Party popularity, she offered a blistering, influential take on the permanent political class and its devotion to crony capitalism. Since then, its been one goofy CPAC speech, reality show and Fox News riff after another. And then, in what was perhaps a rhetorical nadir, even for Palin, she delivered a speech in Des Moines in January 2015 at Rep. Steve Kings Freedom Summit that was panned even by Republicans as incoherent. It was widely circulated online because people thought she sounded drunk. That speech offended me, Robinson said. She has developed a speaking style that I find very difficult to listen to, hard to comprehend, almost not even entertaining. Personally, I didnt think she sounded drunk. I thought she sounded exactly like her real, true self: an appealing narcissist. And she sounded like herself, again on Tuesday, when she endorsed Donald Trump in a funny/angry/nutty speech that could give a grammarian a heart attack. When it comes right down to it, she and Trump are a pretty good match. He gives her national attention; she gives him a bit of credibility with Iowa evangelicals who were starting to flock to Cruz. She is drawn to outsiders (or rogues, or mavericks pick your noun). Trump is all that. Like Trump, she is an opportunist. She likes winners. As does Trump, who famously insulted her 2008 running mate John McCain for having been taken prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese. The fact that Palin overlooks such an egregious insult, while blaming President Obama for her own troubled sons PTSD, says a lot about her opportunistic impulses. I know Trump has mused about putting Palin in his Cabinet if he were ever to become president. My dream is a Trump/Palin ticket. Oh, what a squirmish that would be. Twitter: @AbcarianLAT robin.abcarian@latimes.com MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE From ideology to pragmatism: The political twists of Jerry Brown Lawmakers want to put Gov. Jerry Browns delta tunnels plan before voters Retiring California lawmakers talk about whats left to do and whats next A La Canada Flintridge man is suspected of attacking his wife and killing two of his nephews in their Arcadia home, a Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department investigator said. The mother of the two boys, 15 and 16, discovered one of them in the living room of the familys townhouse at 12:30 p.m. Friday. She called Arcadia police, who found her second son in his third-floor bedroom. Both teenagers had suffered blunt-force trauma to their upper torsos and were pronounced dead at the scene. The weapon has not been found. Sheriffs Homicide Bureau Lt. Eddie Hernandez said the suspect, Deyun Shi, 44, boarded a plane for Beijing and was expected to land at 11 p.m. Pacific time. He is wanted on suspicion of the murder of his two nephews and the attempted murder of his wife, Hernandez said, adding that his department is working with federal authorities on the case. Advertisement Authorities say the motive stems from Shis anger at learning that his wife wanted a divorce. His wife, the sister of the dead boys father, had requested a restraining order against Shi and he learned of her divorce plans during a Thursday court hearing in Pasadena. Shi, who had moved out of his familys home in the 5200 block of Vista Miguel Drive, broke into the residence Thursday night and attacked his wife with a wood-cutting tool, Hernandez said. Their 15-year-old son intervened and Shi left. Investigators believe Shi later drove to the three-story townhouse in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue where the boys lived with their parents. Were not sure when he got to the Arcadia home, Hernandez said. Early Friday, the boys parents left home to go to the hospital to visit the fathers sister, leaving the boys asleep. When they returned at 5 a.m., they noticed nothing unusual and went to bed. The father left a few hours later and the mother discovered one of her sons, unresponsive and bleeding profusely. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The sheriffs department is not releasing any of the victims names. Hernandez said the dead boys were born in this country and their parents are Chinese nationals. He said that apprehending the suspect will be a long process because the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with China. bettina.boxall@latimes.com ALSO Academy president says Oscar changes are the right thing to do A man-made disaster unfolded in Flint, within plain sight of water regulators Carson mayor upset by how Chargers and Raiders treated the city I fell in love before I was out of grade school. Every summer, we loaded up the family sedan and my dad drove us from the East Bay town of Pittsburg to Santa Cruz for vacation. The moment we began descending the mountain through the redwoods, Id crane for the first glimpse of open sea. Then wed be under the cliffs and on the beach, skin blue from the chill of the water, gulls arcing through salt air and waves thundering. I didnt come from money, but the beach was ours, and for a week we were rich. I dont know where the last half-century disappeared to, but Im still in love. So pardon me if I take personally the political drama unfolding at the California Coastal Commission, where dark forces may be chipping away at a 40-year tradition of protecting the coast from overdevelopment. Advertisement News broke last week that some commissioners are angling to oust Executive Director Charles Lester. No one there is offering an explanation, but rather than quietly take a cleaver in the back, Lester on the job since 2011 opted to have a public hearing on his future next month. So what gives? Lesters defenders say hes a tough and fair defender of Californias coast, even if he doesnt have the political skills of his predecessor. That was legendary coastal protector Peter Douglas who, by the way, was savvy enough to survive a 1996 ouster bid over his opposition to a 900-unit development on environmentally sensitive land in Bolsa Chica, in northern Orange County. One commissioner, who agreed to speak to me without attribution, insisted the issue is Lesters job performance and nothing else. He was a great No. 2, said the commissioner. He just wasnt the person for this job. Im not sure why it took five years to reach that conclusion, but this commissioner cited a lack of vision, an inability to get the most out of staff and a disappointing lack of diversity in recent hires. Thats one version of what got Lester into this pickle. Its not the only one. Or even the prevalent one. Yet another commissioner defended Lesters work and said he is being targeted because some commissioners want to run the show and Lester is no pushover. Environmentalists, meanwhile, are jumping out of their flip-flops, screaming that Lester has been targeted because he wont roll over for commissioners inclined to do the bidding of energy and development lobbyists. And some of those critics say the posse is headed by commissioners appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed the Coastal Act into law 40 years ago. We know theyve been pushing in that direction for a while, and thats what this is all about: taking over control of the commission and undermining its independence, and eventually turning the coast over to the development and energy industries, said Sara Wan, a former coastal commissioner and unapologetic enviro. Steve Blank, another former coastal commissioner, said the stars have aligned in a way that some of the states most powerful lobbyists see an opportunity to muscle a majority of commissioners. He said that toward the end of his term two years ago, commissioners lobbied one another and staff members with talking points handed to them by the hired guns representing developers. Those who think the commission is becoming more inclined to represent developers point to several examples. Last March, coastal commission staff recommended against a residential development on oceanfront property in Seal Beach, citing the ways in which it violated the Coastal Act, but commissioners gave their approval. In October, staff recommended that public access be guaranteed if a Malibu beach replenishment project failed and wiped out an access point. The commissioners rejected that requirement. Also in October, staff recommended against allowing a proposed Newport Beach subdivision that would have more than 1,000 units, arguing that the project would harm an environmentally sensitive habitat. Among the commissioners who challenged the staff and the science were Brown appointees Wendy Mitchell, Effie Turnbull-Sanders and Martha McClure, who called the site a 400-acre mess. A decision on that project is pending. And then theres guitarist and keyboardist David Howell Evans massive five-structure rock n roll compound with swimming pools on a virtually untouched Malibu hilltop. When I first visited the property, it wasnt Evans a.k.a. the Edge from the band U2 who met me, but a team of representatives including one of the most politically connected lobbying firms in California. Last December the commission approved a scaled-back version of the project, and a smiling commissioner Mitchell posed for a picture with the rock star and his wife. Mitchell, a consultant whose clients include PG&E and whose business before the commission she recuses herself from posted the photo on her Facebook page and apologized for how long it took the Edges project to be approved. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Yeah, poor little rock star. It took a while because the project was an obscenity, so much so that then-director Douglas called the original Edge proposal one of the three worst projects that Ive seen in terms of environmental devastation. On Thursday, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court asking that the commission be made to set aside its approval. I know who Im rooting for. Youd think, given the allegation that Browns appointees are leading a coup that favors developers, that the governor might have something to say. But he doesnt, apparently. This is a matter the coastal commission initiated without any involvement from our office, said Brown spokesman Evan Westrup. OK, but were talking about one of the most important jobs in the state, at one of the most powerful regulatory agencies in the entire country. Does Brown have an opinion about whether Lester should stay or go? Nope, said Westrup. Come on. We know hes aloof, and answers to his own drummer and all that. But as I said, I fell in love decades ago, and Im still very protective of Californias greatest natural asset, and very particular about preserving access to it. Rock stars are welcome to share the Pacific, but from the redwoods to the Tijuana Sloughs, the coast is for all of us, even people from Pittsburg. steve.lopez@latimes.com @LATstevelopez MORE FROM STEVE LOPEZ: Finally, a smart approach to helping L.A.'s homeless For a mans makeshift home, destruction swiftly follows El Ninos arrival At Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home, an unlikely love story blooms Good morning. It is Saturday, Jan. 23. Heres what you dont want to miss this weekend: TOP STORIES Calls for diversity: Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Thursday to double the number of women and minorities on their board by 2020. The vote came in the wake of #OscarsSoWhite, a social media campaign to bring attention to the lack of diversity among nominees for this years Academy Awards. The academy also changed the requirements needed to be a lifetime voting member. Los Angeles Times Dangerous conditions: The California Department of Transportation will have to pay $12 million to five construction workers who were exposed to dangerous fungus at a work site in 2008. A jury found the state agency knew the risks associated with the Kern County project. They warned their own people about the risk. It would be so easy to warn the plaintiffs about this, said attorney Peter Alfert. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Skirting the rules: The Normandie Casino in Gardena will plead guilty to shielding high rollers from federal reporting requirements and failing to maintain an anti-money laundering program. The company will forfeit $1.3 million in earnings as a result. Los Angeles Times Utility oversight: An L.A. city councilman wants a ballot measure to restructure the governance of the Department of Water and Power. Councilman Felipe Fuentes wants to replace the volunteer commission that oversees the utility with a board of full-time, paid professionals. We cede a lot of control from City Hall, which might not make folks in the building all that happy. But what you get in return is a focused, professional management system in place, he said. Los Angeles Times Jail time: A former Santa Ana city councilman was sentenced to a year in jail for attempted sexual battery and grand theft. Carlos Bustamante was accused of assaulting seven female employees between 2003 and 2011. In addition to his time behind bars, Bustamante will have to register as a sex offender. Los Angeles Times Job creation: The average annual unemployment rate in Fresno County dipped below 10% for the first time since 2007. The final three months of the year (2015) saw significant employment year-over-year surges in several industries, particularly private-sector education/health services and leisure/hospitality. Fresno Bee Art work: Harry Chandler, a member of one of L.A.s most famous families, has devoted his life to art. Well never catch up to the great old museums of the world, the Louvre, the Met you cant rebuild collections like that but in terms of artistic energy, its really wonderful here, Chandler says of Los Angeles. KCET THIS WEEKS MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA 1. One ranking has Pasadena as the snobbiest city in America. The list was based on median home prices, the percentage of the population with a college degree and country clubs per capita. Travelers Today 2. Whats a bobcat doing in a nice San Jose home? ABC 7 3. People love to hate on California. Why? Is it our healthy lifestyles? Sunny weather? SFGate 4. Joseph Trotter was a fixture outside the Public Defenders Office in Little Tokyo. Attorneys were attracted to his personality and his dog, a dachshund mix named Cookie. Now, theyre mourning his loss, writes Steve Lopez. Los Angeles Times 5. There are at least nine traits shared by Los Angeles and New York. LA Weekly ICYMI, HERE IS THIS WEEKS GREAT READ On our own: California has no use for the rest of America, according to one candidate running for state Assembly. Louis J. Marinelli talked to columnist Robin Abcarian about his campaign for the Golden State to secede from the United States. There are two kinds of people in California. People who identify themselves as Californians and Americans who are occupying California, he said. Los Angeles Times LOOKING AHEAD Monday: Former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will bring the Clinton Health Matters Initiatives fifth annual Activation Summit to a close in Indian Wells. Tuesday: The California State University Board of Trustees will meet in Long Beach to discuss the governors proposed budget. Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Alice Walton or Shelby Grad. Maria Aguilar approached Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson to complain about what her children see as they walk to school in South Los Angeles. Mucho prostitucion, she said in Spanish. A neighbor stepped in to translate her concern into English, but the councilman understood what she meant. Harris-Dawson is an African American community activist who represents the 8th Council District, spanning from Baldwin Hills, with one of the highest concentration of black wealth in the United States, to the edge of Watts. The district is considered the heart of L.A.'s black community. Advertisement Blacks still account for two-thirds of registered voters in the 8th District, making it the only council district where African Americans hold a majority. But more than half of residents trace their roots to Mexico and Central America. And like the rest of the city, the districts Latino population is growing as the black population declines. Harris-Dawson confronts a challenge: Win the support of the fast-growing Latino community or risk becoming possibly the districts last black politician. If the Latinos ever wake up and say, we want a Latino, said political consultant and attorney Dermot Givens, then they can take it. Harris-Dawson hired a team of aides and advisors that reflects the diversity of the district, provided translators at events and threw a district block party to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, the Mexican holiday. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> But his biggest challenge might be serving two groups that are sometimes on opposite sides of issues. Theres a somewhat unanimous belief in community safety, education and cleanliness, said Bernard C. Parks, the former LAPD chief who served for a dozen years as the areas councilman. The friction starts when you get into the details of how people live and what they are doing. Many of the older African Americans, who anchor the neighborhoods in this district, are resistant to the change they see: immigrant vendors hawking food on the sidewalk, colorful murals plastered on homes and vegetables growing in parkways. For many Latinos close to their immigrant roots, this is a way of life. Harris-Dawson aims for a middle ground. He supports street vending as a means of making a living but with limitations that would restrict their location and calls for food inspections. Parks ran into a cultural roadblock last year after he proposed rebranding the neighborhoods south of the 10 Freeway as SOLA an abbreviation for South L.A. The name change won support from the three Latino staffers who made up Parks legislative team. But the suggestion offended some politically keyed-in Latinos, who said the decision showed that the larger community was left out of the process, pointing out that in Spanish, the word translates to lonely or a woman looking for love. Harris-Dawson holds monthly community meetings like the one Aguilar attended to gauge the temperature of the community, workshop ideas and lay out his plan for revitalizing this district. In these talks, he has chosen to focus on the universal problems that plague Latino and black residents. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> Im not sure how unique the struggles are, especially when it pertains to the issues that the city deals with, he said. Basic infrastructure, quality-of-life issues affect everybody pretty equally. Harris-Dawson believes the fact that he does not speak Spanish is not an obstacle, but he often partners with Community Coalition, the South L.A. nonprofit organization he headed before being elected to the council. The group provides translation devices that allow member Irlanda Gonzalez to convert the English dialogue to Spanish. At a meeting last summer, coalition President Alberto Retana introduced Harris-Dawson in Spanish, stressing the importance of blacks and Latinos working together to improve the district. Hes of a younger generation that gets the mixture that he inherited. He understands the dynamics of the Latino majority and works that dynamic. Jaime Regalado, a emeritus professor of political science at Cal State Los Angeles Hes of a younger generation that gets the mixture that he inherited, said Jaime Regalado, emeritus professor of political science at Cal State Los Angeles. He understands the dynamics of the Latino majority and works that dynamic. Harris-Dawson replaced Parks after he termed out following 12 years on the dais. The men have different demeanors and styles of governing. Over the years, the two mens relationship became strained. They last spoke in 2009, when Harris-Dawson, then the head of Community Coalition, tried to shut down a liquor store in the 8th District that he said was a nuisance. Parks accused Harris-Dawson of grandstanding by creating solutions for nonexistent problems. The divide widened, Harris-Dawson said, when Parks said the 8th District had turned into a poverty pit after his colleagues redrew his district to cut out three major assets: USC, the Coliseum and Leimert Park, the African American cultural hub. I was really insulted by the statement because I live here, Harris-Dawson said. Politically hes often aligned with the other two South L.A. councilmen, Herb Wesson and Curren Price. Marqueece is doing all the right things to bring everybody to the table, Givens, the political consultant, said. Hes talking to folks and inviting people and getting peoples opinion and calling people. He has done a lot of outreach. Thats not Bernard Parks whatsoever. Parks said Harris-Dawson is too similar to Wesson and Price. To me, you didnt get elected to get along, he said. You got elected to represent the community.... This collegial, I dont know what that means. Does it mean when you have a differing of opinions you shrink and say nothing? Waves of Mexican and Central American immigrants have transformed the historically black neighborhood so that it is now majority Latino. Still, it remains a black political powerhouse. Many black politicians districts supervisorial, Congress, Assembly and state Senate seats overlap the 8th District. It is also one of the poorest council districts with some of the highest crime rates. Last summer, at least 43 homicides occurred in the 8th District, the highest in L.A. Decades ago, during a far more violent time in the citys history, drive-by shootings and gang sweeps forced Harris-Dawsons family to move to the other side of L.A. County to the foothill communities of Altadena and Arcadia. There, Harris-Dawson attended San Gabriel Valley schools, which saw an influx of immigrants from China, Taiwan and Mexico and a shrinking white population. On weekends, he visited his grandfather in Baldwin Hills. He studied political science and mathematics at Morehouse College, an all-male historically black institution in Atlanta. From his college dorm 3,000 miles away, Harris-Dawson watched on TV as neighborhoods in L.A. burned during the 1992 riots. He vowed to return to his city. During freshman orientation, the dean told the group of young men, dressed in button-down shirts and ties, to look around them. You will never as long as you live in the United States be in a room with this many black men unless you go to prison, Harris-Dawson recalled. He did, in 1995, when he attended the Million Man March in Washington. After college he settled back in South L.A. as many black families began to move out, including to cities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. He may turn out to be the 8th Districts last black councilman. But he said hes determined to help the neighborhoods he has been sworn to represent, regardless of how they look and what language they speak. If we improve the quality of life, it helps everybody, he said. angel.jennings@latimes.com Twitter: @AngelJennings ALSO How dark forces are chipping away at our beloved California coast Californias falling gas tax revenue leads to massive cut in transit project funding To celebrate an irreplaceable music teacher, grieving students hold a playground party A valuable perk handed to Southern California from the bullet train project a 2012 decision to build the first operating segment from Burbank north into the Central Valley is being reconsidered by state officials. The state rail authority is studying an alternative to build the first segment in the Bay Area, running trains from San Jose to Bakersfield. If the plan does change, it would be a significant reversal that carries big financial, technical and political impacts, especially in Southern California. Advertisement You cant ignore Southern California or Los Angeles or Orange County and say we are going to go north, period, said Richard Katz, a longtime Southern California transportation official and former Assembly majority leader. It made sense to start in the south, given the population and the serious transportation problems here. The original decision to start the initial segment in Burbank was considered a major economic benefit to the region, providing commuters with 15-minute rides to Palmdale, a connection to a future Las Vegas bullet train and an early link to the growing Central Valley. But the state is facing major difficulties with the south-first plan. By building in the north initially, the state would delay the most difficult and expensive segment of the entire $68-billion project: traversing the geologically complex Tehachapi and San Gabriel mountains with a large system of tunnels and aerial structures. With the project already behind schedule and facing estimates of higher costs, the Bay Area option could offer a faster, less risky and cheaper option. Getting even a portion of the project built early would help its political survival. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The outcome of the new evaluation will be known in the coming weeks, when the state unveils its 2016 Business Plan. The document will be the most comprehensive update for the $68-billion program in four years. A decision to drop its plan to start the system in Southern California will not be popular among area civic leaders. I understand they have a difficult political situation, but they really need to come to Los Angeles, said Art Leahy, chief executive of the Metrolink commuter rail system in Southern California. The southern route has a lot more ridership, Leahy said. The north is very important and I love the Bay Area, but the economic center of the state is in Southern California. We have long warned that the authority is not being honest with the public about the true costs of constructing high speed rail in California. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) The rail authority has been hinting at a potential change for months, starting last summer when it asked potential private investors to describe how they would help build an initial operating system from either the south or the north. And in December, rail authority Chief Executive Jeff Morales said in a Sacramento television news interview that the agency was reconsidering its south-first strategy. Rail authority spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley said the plan to build an initial operating segment in the south was never final. The option to do an initial operating segment north has always been there, she said. Gov. Jerry Brown did not leave room for that possibility in 2013. In his State of the State address that year, he said the first phase of the future bullet train would start in the Central Valley and connect to Union Station in Los Angeles. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The first phase will get us from Madera to Bakersfield, Brown said. Then we will take it through the Tehachapi Mountains to Palmdale, constructing 30 miles of tunnels and bridges. The first rail line through those mountains was built in 1874, and its top speed over the crest is still 24 miles an hour, Brown said. Then we will build another 33 miles of tunnels and bridges before we get the train to its destination at Union Station in the heart of Los Angeles. The governors latest State of the State speech, delivered Thursday, did not mention the bullet train. It had been included in each of his annual speeches since 2012. The project has fallen two years behind schedule and faced a wide range of legal, political and technical challenges. A poll last week by Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution found that 53% of voters wanted the change to reallocate funding from the bullet train project to water projects. Among supporters, the bullet train is considered an important part of the states future transportation system. The existing Amtrak service from Los Angeles to the Bay Area requires travelers to board buses at Union Station for a trip over the 5 Freeway Grapevine to Bakersfield, where they transfer to trains that use the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight tracks. A bullet train would fill that gap and could connect Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes. If the state does switch gears, it would come after a significant amount of work to accelerate the project in Southern California. Only last week, the rail authority signed an agreement with Burbank to provide $800,000 to explore a site for a future station. Last year, rail authority officials had encouraged Burbank not to sell an airport parcel that might be used for the system. The rail authority in September said it was in discussion with a Chinese-based company to link its bullet trains to new high-speed trains to Las Vegas. Delaying the southern section will not make the full project any cheaper, with the difficult crossing of the mountains north of Los Angeles becoming more expensive as that segment is delayed. The earlier you do it, the less the costs will grow, said Mark Watts, interim director of Transportation California in Sacramento. A 2013 cost estimate by the states leading management contractor, Parsons Brinckerhoff, projected that the initial operating segment from Merced to the San Fernando Valley would cost a staggering $40 billion, about $9 billion more than had been estimated. The higher projected cost left the state with an even bigger shortfall in funding to build an initial segment. The state will have no more than roughly $15 billion in hand by 2022, when train service is supposed to start. The initial operating segment is the cornerstone of the entire plan, allowing an early segment to attract private investors who would help finance the complete system. You have a much better chance of getting the north end built, said Paul Dyson, president of the Passenger Rail Assn. of California. I am from Southern California, but if its a difference between seeing a project get built or seeing it die, it would be better to start from the north. If you try to build it from the south, it could delay it by a couple of decades, Dyson said. State rail officials have said the entire system will be completed by 2028. Dyson said the state was way too ambitious in attempting to build a unified statewide system in a single program. We bit off more than we could chew, he said. ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com Twitter: @rvartabedian MORE ON CALIFORNIAS BULLET TRAIN Costs rise for moving utility lines in construction of bullet train Bids for bullet train construction show apparent winner for next phase Whats behind a bid to shift dollars from the bullet train to water projects A La Canada Flintridge man suspected of attacking his wife and killing two of his nephews in their Arcadia home was taken into custody Saturday by authorities in Hong Kong, officials said. Deyun Shi, 44, fled Los Angeles on Friday on a flight to Hong Kong. Local officials met him in Hong Kong when his flight landed, around 5:25 p.m. Saturday local time, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. Shi was apparently attempting to reach mainland China, which does not have an extradition agreement with the United States. Hong Kong, formerly a British colony and now a semiautonomous Chinese territory, has had an extradition treaty with the United States since 1996. Advertisement Hong Kong police declined to comment on the case Saturday night. The State Departments 24-hour press duty officer did not return requests for comment. Authorities took Shi into custody after he arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight, according to the sheriffs department. Hong Kong station TVB said Shi was taken to the Tung Chung police station after a checkup at a local hospital. The sheriffs department said it would work with the Los Angeles County district attorneys office and federal authorities to have Shi extradited. The mother of the two slain boys, 15 and 16, discovered one of them in the living room of the familys townhouse at 12:30 p.m. Friday. She called Arcadia police, who found her second son in his third-floor bedroom. Both teenagers had suffered blunt-force trauma to their upper torsos and were pronounced dead at the scene. No weapon has been found. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> L.A. County Sheriffs homicide Lt. Eddie Hernandez said his department was working with federal authorities on the case. Authorities said Shi was angry after learning that his wife wanted a divorce. His wife, the sister of the dead boys father, had requested a restraining order against Shi, and he learned of her divorce plans during a Thursday court hearing in Pasadena, authorities said. Shis wife, Lin Yujing, filed for a temporary restraining order against Shi on New Years Eve, according to L.A. County records. Shi, who had moved out of his familys home in the 5200 block of Vista Miguel Drive, broke into the La Canada Flintridge residence Thursday night and attacked his wife with a wood-cutting tool, Hernandez said. Their 15-year-old son intervened, and Shi left. Investigators believe Shi later drove to the three-story townhouse in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue in Arcadia, where the boys lived with their parents. Were not sure when he got to the house, Hernandez said. Early Friday, the boys parents left home to go to the hospital to visit Shis wife, leaving the teenagers asleep. When they returned at 5 a.m., they noticed nothing unusual and went to bed. The father left a few hours later, and the mother discovered one of her sons unresponsive and bleeding profusely. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The sheriffs department is not releasing the boys names. Hernandez said they were born in this country and their parents are Chinese nationals. Although law enforcement officials have not identified the boys, a representative for the Arcadia Unified School District said they were Anthony Lin, 15, and William Lin, 16. Both boys attended Arcadia High School, a few blocks from their home. The loss of William and Anthony will be felt by the thousands of students, staff, friends and family that loved and knew them well in our tight-knit community, district spokesman Ryan Foran said in a prepared statement. Classmates and friends gathered at the Fairview Avenue home Saturday with flowers and packages. Justin Tsou, 18, covered his face and sobbed as he placed dozen white roses on the steps of the townhome. Tsou had been friends with William, the older brother, since middle school, and the boys volunteered together at Methodist Hospital, where they checked in visitors, discharged patients and delivered flowers. William, a junior, had hoped to study biology or chemistry in college, and competed on Arcadias Science Olympiad and Science Bowl teams. Both groups had hoped that William could be a captain when he was a senior, Tsou said. Eden Hardy, a 16-year-old junior at Arcadia, lived in the same condo complex as the Lins, but rarely saw the brothers outside school, she said. In her Spanish class, William acted kind of shy, she said, but you could tell he had a sense of humor. Anthony, a freshman, was always laughing, cracking jokes and greeting people in the hallways of the high school, friends said. During summer prep classes for the PSAT exam last year, Daniel Oh, 13, often joked around with him, playing pranks on other students between lessons. We made each other laugh, Oh said. Hed tell a joke, Id tell a joke and wed just laugh and laugh. When Oh asked about his family, Anthony usually changed the subject, he said. Makinen reported from Beijing, Boxall and Nelson from Los Angeles. ALSO Academy president says Oscar changes are the right thing to do A man-made disaster unfolded in Flint, within plain sight of water regulators Carson mayor upset by how Chargers and Raiders treated the city Dozens of Ted Cruz supporters gathered in a stairwell of a drab dormitory on a recent subfreezing morning, ready for their marching orders. What is our purpose today? bellowed Cruz campaign staffer Ken Brolin, 64. Find undecided voters! the volunteers replied in unison, before bundling up in scarves, snow boots and mittens, and marching out into the early morning light, ready to knock on hundreds of Iowans doors. Advertisement Welcome to Camp Cruz, the temporary home for an army of volunteers from around the country who have traveled to this snowbound state at their own expense. Their mission: to do all they can to push the first-term Republican senator over the finish line when Iowa holds the first presidential nominating contest in the nation on Feb. 1. NEWSLETTER: Get the best from our political teams delivered daily Iowa is close to a must-win for the Texas senator in his battle with businessman-turned-reality-television-star Donald Trump. Cruzs campaign believes that this passionate horde of followers who have uprooted their lives to stump for him could produce the margin of victory in a tight race. We just felt really compelled to come up here and work for Sen. Cruz because we believe our countrys in really bad trouble, said Lisa Barry, 53. Were working till we drop. Barry and her husband hired an aide to care for their disabled daughter for a week so they could drive 11 hours from their Port Neches, Texas, home, and campaign for Cruz. It is hard to put into words the dedication and the passion these volunteers have, and I think it is hard to quantify how big an impact they will have on this race, said Bryan English, Cruzs Iowa director. A schedule is posted on a doorway at Camp Cruz in Des Moines, where volunteers from around the country are living at an old college dormitory. (Seema Mehta / Los Angeles Times) The Barrys, like all the volunteers, paid for their travel to Iowa, their meals and other expenses. They work 12 hours per day, every day. Volunteers typically approach 100 to 200 homes daily when walking precincts, and reach several hundred households when theyre pulling a phone bank shift. Some decided that wasnt enough, and started rising early to wave Cruz for president placards during the early-morning rush hour before their morning prayers. The living quarters in the three-story brick building that houses the volunteers are spartan there are 48 twin beds and a handful of air mattresses. Volunteers have tried to spruce up their surroundings by tacking red, white and blue crepe paper to the hallway ceilings, pictures of Cruz and his family to their doors, and American flags and balloons throughout. The campaign plans to open a second dorm in Iowa this week, and then additional facilities in the next two voting states, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Many volunteers are from Texas and unfamiliar with Iowas winter climes. Obviously the snow and the cold is a whole lot different than what were used to. We knocked on doors on Monday, and when we started, it was 2 degrees, so my eyelashes actually froze, Lisa Barry said. She said Iowans have been welcoming and several invited her inside their homes to warm up. I think our dedication and our zeal has meant a lot to the people in Iowa, she said. Signs on a doorway at Camp Cruz, a former college dorm in Des Moines that is housing volunteers from around the country. (Seema Mehta / Los Angeles Times) The Barrys didnt even put up a lawn sign during the last presidential election, but thought they had to go all out for Cruz. He reminds them of Ronald Reagan. He ticks all the boxes. Hes a Godly man. Hes a true-blue conservative. And then to see him standing in the Senate and fighting for our conservative values, its just been inspiring, Lisa Barry said. The Cruz crew quickly formed a community. On Christmas, the volunteers shared a holiday meal, and on New Years Eve they went bowling. Every Sunday, they go to church together before heading to campaign headquarters in Urbandale. Volunteers with cars shuttle those without transportation to the grocery store and the pharmacy. After a long day of making phone calls or walking precincts, most volunteers head immediately to bed after they return to the dorm. Those who stay awake past 9 p.m. play dominoes or watch movies on computers. Were just like one family, said Coleman Griffin, 19, of Tifton, Ga. Its amazing to me how much everybody all different walks of life, all different parts of the country, all different age groups can come together and accomplish such amazing things working together. Eager supporters can form the backbone of a campaign. President Obama relied upon out-of-state volunteers in his surprise victory in the 2008 Iowa caucuses. But out-of-state volunteers can be problematic because of their lack of familiarity with Iowas culture Democrat Howard Deans orange-hatted volunteers in 2004 didnt fit in and came across as overly aggressive. I say this as a Californian whos only lived here 16 years it took me five years to figure out the Iowa political culture, said Jamie Johnson, a veteran Iowa GOP strategist who is not aligned with any presidential candidate this year. I believe that the campaign that uses Iowans to communicate with other Iowans is two to three times more successful than the one thats sending them in from out of state. But several of Cruzs volunteers had mastered the issues most important to Iowans, notably Maggie Wright, 70, from Burleson, Texas. As she phoned voters from the campaign headquarters in Urbandale, she was frequently questioned about Cruzs stance on ethanol, which is made out of corn produced by Iowa farmers. Cruzs opposition to an ethanol subsidy drew the ire of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. Wright explained that Cruz was not anti-ethanol, but opposed all subsidies. She said Cruz believed removing government from the marketplace could allow Iowa corn farmers to prosper because of market demands. Thats what Ted is for, for the businesses, and not for the government to pick winners and losers, said Wright, wearing a red Cruz T-shirt, three Cruz buttons and a pendant in the shape of Texas decorated with red, white and blue rhinestones. Wright and her husband, a retired railroad switchman named Carroll, came to Iowa on Dec. 10 to volunteer for Cruzs presidential bid, and they plan to stay through the caucuses. Their car is painted with images of Cruz and his family and the slogan Cruz 2016. They first volunteered for Cruz during his 2012 Senate bid. I was invited to his swearing-in. I got to go in the [Senate] gallery, and the tears are coming down and I didnt have a Kleenex or purse or anything, she said. Before she resumed making calls, Wright said she told Cruz before he won his Senate race that she hoped she lived long enough to see him elected president. He said, Lets cross one bridge at a time. For the latest on the 2016 race, follow @LATSeema. MORE Trump and Cruz try to debunk each others outsider image Essential Politics: How to make sense of those conflicting Iowa polls Democrats rank better schools as top priority in new poll; GOP says fighting terrorism is Job No. 1 Potential Bloomberg candidacy drops new wild card into already wild race (Edward Reed / Associated Press) The prospect of billionaire Michael Bloomberg launching an independent presidential bid dropped new uncertainty into an already highly unusual 2016 primary season. The former New York City mayor has fostered presidential aspirations before. But the 73-year-old appears, like many Americans watching the raucous nominating contests, to be seeking a dose of stability in the current race. His advisers and associates said he was galled by Donald J. Trumps dominance of the Republican field, and troubled by Hillary Clintons stumbles and the rise of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the Democratic side, according to the New York Times, which first reported the development. He would be willing to spend $1 billion from his own pocket, the story said. Coming a week before the Iowa caucuses kick off the nominating process, Bloombergs intentions throw new political calculations into an already topsy-turvy race. A Bloomberg candidacy could cut several ways in a three-person race as an independent challenging the two parties nominees. Bloombergs campaigns against sugar-laden soda drinks and his efforts to stem gun violence would likely attract voters who hew toward Democrats, potentially stripping votes from that partys eventual nominee. His ties to Wall Street, however, could sour some seeking more populist leadership. At the same time, Bloomberg could also have sway with more moderate-minded Republicans who would be uncomfortable if Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas emerges as the partys nominee. Bloomberg appears to be weighing these and other factors, according to the report, and has set a deadline for reaching a decision of early March. He is said to be most interested in making a bid if Democrats nominate Sanders and Republicans nominate Trump or Cruz. In such a case, Bloomberg apparently believes he would draw support from moderates in both parties. Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler welcomed a possible Bloomberg bid, saying the former mayors controversial positions would be easy to run against. I dont want to get my hopes up that the 2016 campaign could be about gun control, cap-and-trade and Big Gulps, he said. Please, please run! While the Southern California Gas Co. continues its work on a relief well that will, hopefully, stop the three-month-long gas leak near Porter Ranch, lawmakers are beginning on the next essential step: developing regulations to reduce the risk of another massive leak from an underground natural gas storage facility that will once again sicken people and wreak havoc on the environment. The human and financial impact from the current leak has been tremendous. Some 2,600 families have temporarily fled their homes because of the sickening smell of the gas, and 2,700 more families have applied for relocation. Two schools have shifted to new campuses farther from the leak, causing turmoil for students and teachers. Some small businesses are struggling to stay open as customers relocate. The utility said in December that it had spent $50 million trying to fix the leak at its Aliso Canyon storage field and to move residents. The final price tag, including penalties, claims and litigation expenses, could easily exceed a billion dollars which, Gov. Jerry Brown has said, should come from the utilitys profits, not ratepayers. Elected officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, have compared Porter Ranch to a crime scene, but state officials have said it doesnt appear that the utility violated any regulations. (There is still an ongoing investigation.) Gas company officials have said they followed state law governing underground storage wells, and even went beyond the requirements. Thats the problem. State regulations have been grossly inadequate to protect the public and the environment. Federal authorities have been hands-off as well. Thats left companies to decide how much they will or wont invest in keeping their gas fields safe and modern. Advertisement Californias Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, which regulates the drilling and operation of oil and gas wells, has relied on outdated safety standards, infrequent inspections and minimal oversight. The agency required companies to administer pressure tests once a year, but those tests only identify wells that are already leaking, not wells that are at risk of leaking. Experts say the state should have required more regular testing with modern technology, such as ultrasound, that could indicate well weaknesses. Likewise, the leaking well at Aliso Canyon didnt have a working shut-off valve, which could have stopped the flow of gas. But such a valve wasnt required by law. FULL COVERAGE: Porter Ranch gas leak>> The gas company knew its aging storage equipment was failing at an increasing rate and posed a safety and environmental hazard. In 2014, the company sought permission from the state to raise rates to fund a proactive inspection and maintenance program. (That request is still pending.) The cost of the program would have been $30 million a year for six years a bargain compared with the cost of the leak. Brown issued an emergency order this month mandating that Californias gas storage facilities do many of the things the utility had proposed to do, including daily inspections and ongoing verification that wells are in good condition. The Porter Ranch fiasco should ... prompt stronger regulations for the 400 underground gas storage fields across the country. Browns order was a start, but lawmakers led by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) have proposed stringent new safety regulations for all 14 underground natural gas storage facilities in the state. Senate Bill 887 would phase out antiquated wells (the leaking one is more than 60 years old); require shut-off valves in all gas storage wells; ban new or existing wells within a certain distance of homes or schools, and require continuous air monitoring for methane leaks. Gas company leaders say theyve spoken with Pavley and they support smart, forward-looking regulations, though they havent yet taken a stand on the bill. In the past, oil and gas interests have sometimes lobbied against proposals for greater transparency and oversight of their industry. Hopefully the Porter Ranch crisis will give lawmakers the backbone and sense of urgency to vote yes. The Porter Ranch fiasco should also prompt stronger regulations for the 400 underground gas storage fields across the country, not only because of the safety hazards involved but also because methane is a potent heat-trapping gas that has a huge impact on climate change. While the Aliso Canyon leak is believed to be the most catastrophic release in state history its now the single largest source of methane emissions in California the cumulative impact of smaller, recurring leaks at facilities around the country pose a serious threat to the nations efforts to curtail global warming. The federal government has traditionally allowed state agencies to handle storage regulation, and the result has been spotty oversight. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is now looking at proposing the nations first minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants oil and gas companies to monitor and prevent methane leaks at new facilities; environmental groups want the agency to regulate existing facilities, like the Aliso Canyon field, as well. Lawmakers and regulators would be making a grave mistake potentially even a deadly one, given the possibility of explosions posed by malfunctioning natural gas storage facilities if they dont learn from the Porter Ranch gas leak. The state and federal government need to impose strict testing, monitoring and safety measures on underground gas storage facilities. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: It is refreshing to read a column on gun control by a moderate on the issue. I dont agree that often with George Skelton, but he is on point in calling for sanity on gun legislation. (Why Hillary Clinton and L.A. County supervisors are wrong on gun control, Jan. 21) His discussion hints at a bigger issue: Politicians have seized upon the mantra of any gun control legislation publicity is good publicity, regardless of the efficacy or rationality of the legislation. Extremist positions breed extremist reactions. Every time some outrageous gun-control proposal is floated in the media, extremist gun rights supporters send another check to the National Rifle Assn. and run out and buy another firearm. The place for this to stop is in the middle, with common sense and moderation. We can all live free and safely without the extremists on either side running our lives. Sadly, moderates of any kind are in short supply these days. Advertisement Mike Post, Winnetka .. To the editor: Skelton argues against removing the gun industrys limited immunity from lawsuits, stating, There shouldnt be a suit just because the gun works as designed and kills. At the same time, are we to conclude that a gun and its bullets are only innocent bystanders that just happened to be in the neighborhood and witnessed a shooting crime? Aside from allowing victims of shootings and their families legal recourse to pursue the gun manufacturers, such lawsuits will, in a very public manner, reveal the criminals weapons and manufacturers of choice. That unwelcome criminal badge of honor adorned to specific gun nameplates alone may cause the gun industry finally to take seriously its role in gun violence. Besides, what gun manufacturer wants its products to be known as Americas favorite gun for killing Americans? Donald Bentley, La Puente Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook With less than a year until their replacements are sworn in, California Sen. Barbara Boxer and Reps. Sam Farr and Lois Capps are checking off their to-do lists, trying to wrap up decades of work in Washington. Boxer, 75, announced a year ago that she wouldnt seek a fifth term in the Senate. In the video announcement, she said her decision was not prompted by her age or by partisan bickering in the nations Capitol, where Republicans now control both houses. Boxer, a Democrat who joined the Senate during the so-called year of the woman in 1992, is known as an advocate for the environment, organized labor and womens rights. Leaving the Senate wont change that, she said. Advertisement As long as Im vertical, Im going to be working on these issues, Boxer said. Saying it was time to go home to Santa Barbara, Capps, 78, (D-Santa Barbara) said in April that she wouldnt pursue an 11th term. Capps was elected to Congress in a 1998 special election to replace her husband, Walter, after his death. We asked everybody to run after he died in office. Nobody would do it; it was a tough race. People came to me, or bugged me, or harassed me, to say You have to do this, she said. It was an unexpected piece [of] my life when it started, but it turns out to be so meaningful to me, makes me a huge believer in democracy. In November, Farr, 74, a Carmel Democrat, announced he wouldnt seek a 13th term. He said he wanted to focus on being a full-time grandpa. Farr was first elected to Congress in 1993 in a special election to succeed Leon Panetta. Previously, Farr served 12 years in the Assembly and six years as a Monterey County supervisor after getting his start in public service in the Peace Corps. Farr said he likes to think hell leave things in Monterey County better than when he started. Ive just fixed a lot of things in that district, he said. Boxer, Farr and Capps arent the only members of Californias delegation leaving their positions this year. Rather than seek a fourth term, Rep. Janice Hahn is running for Los Angeles County supervisor, saying she can be more effective in local government. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) is pursuing the Senate seat held by Boxer. Boxer said shes been meeting with her California and national staffs to determine priorities for the year. She listed more than two dozen. They include raising the minimum wage, keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and people with mental health problems, supporting research on cancer and Alzheimers disease, and limiting e-cigarette advertising aimed at children. She also wants to push for student loan refinancing, create a dedicated fund for bridge infrastructure and require local election officials to reduce the length of time people have to wait in line to vote. She also talked about creating a plan to ease the effects of Californias drought; aiding the restoration of the Los Angeles River; protecting military whistle blowers; and blocking Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act or cut off money to clinics that provide abortions. Boxer said she isnt willing to narrow the list. Youve got to do a lot of them. You cant just have one or two on your list, she said. You just have to do everything. Capps to-do list includes making the Piedras Blancas Light Station near San Simeon and its 141-year-old lighthouse a national monument. The lighthouse is still there and it still remains lit, she said. She also wants to work on pipeline safety, an issue shes focused on since the 1969 blowout of Union Oils Platform A in the Dos Cuadras Offshore Oil Field. We dont have enough inspections, not regularly, she said. Capps, a former nurse, also wants Congress to approve her bill to reauthorize federal funding for nursing programs, and make advanced education grants available to more nurses. That is on my bucket list to do before I leave, Capps said. You need to remind leadership that, Dont forget, this needs to be done too. Farr said hes always remembered the advice photographer Ansel Adams gave him during Farrs first campaign. He said Adams told him: Creating a national park is forever. Nothing else you do in Congress really is. Farr was behind the creation of Pinnacles National Park and the preservation of Big Sur as national wilderness. He has also worked to preserve California Missions. Before he leaves office next January, Farr wants to pass the Clear Creek National Recreation Act, a bill he has proposed before without success. This year, hes working with Reps. David Valadao (R-Hanford) and Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) on the legislation, which directs the Bureau of Land Management to open the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties to recreational use, including off-road vehicles, hikers and hunters. The Environmental Protection Agency closed the area because of high levels of naturally occurring asbestos. The bill also designates 21,000 acres of sandstone outcroppings in Fresno County as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness. Farr said hed also like to see changes to routes designed by a state-of-the-art air traffic control system that is being introduced nationwide by the Federal Aviation Administration. Since the Next Generation Air Transportation System was implemented complaints about noise from residents living below the flight paths have increased dramatically. Its just created a havoc in Santa Cruz because of the incredible noise, and it is just awful, Farr said. Farr, who served in the Peace Corps in Colombia in the 1960s, said that before he leaves office, he wants to put the program on a path to have 10,000 volunteers by 2020. It now has about 7,000 volunteers. Its not that anybody opposes it. It just costs money, Farr said. With the mess the world is in, the best we could do is increase the Peace Corp. So, whats next? Capps and Boxer both said they dont like the word retirement. Boxer plans to continue operating her political action committee, PAC for a Change, saying there is a need for a progressive alternative to prominent conservative donors such casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Charles and David Koch, who own one of the largest corporations in the country, Koch Industries. I just dont see anybody out there on my side. I dont see any other women, she said. Its critical that we have more women involved. Boxer said she expects to make speeches based on her forthcoming book, The Art of Tough, and to continue to advocate on issues she cares about, such as environmental protection and womens health. I am far from slowing down. In some ways, Im speeding up, Boxer said. Capps said shes put off thinking too much about what shell do after Congress, but she wont call it retirement. I say Im not running for reelection. Retiring means youre going to, I dont know, go somewhere and pull the covers up over your head -- or at least thats the image I think of, and Im kind of resistant to that, she said. Farr said that after 42 years in public service, hes looking forward to being a full time babysitter for my grandchildren. Beyond that, he said, well see what else happens, but I have no plans. I think it will be really hard not to be an activist. Ive been an activist all my life. sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation at latimes.com/politics MORE: Democrats likely to keep two of Californias three congressional races without incumbents Sen. Barbara Boxer, liberal lion from California, to retire after 2016 The patient was dead, but the cause remained a mystery. And if theres anything doctors hate more than their inability to forestall death, its their inability to explain it. And so, 357 years after Oliver Cromwell died at age 58, several dozen physicians convened here under the austere arches of Westminster Church this fall to ponder the patients medical history, assess his symptoms in his final days, and settle upon a cause of the English statesmans death. There would be no physical examination of the man who, in the 17th century, dethroned an English king, brutally suppressed Catholic uprisings in Ireland and united an empire riven by dissension. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> A diagnosis would have to proceed without the niceties of modern medicine as well: no blood tests, no X-rays or CT scans, not even a proper autopsy (though Cromwells embalmer observed that his brains blood vessels seemed to be overcharged and that his spleen, though sound to the Eye, had a buildup of oily sludge that doctors today associate with sepsis). Most of the time, the unfortunates discussed in such clinicopathological conferences died just weeks or months earlier. A staple of medical education, these exercises help doctors and medical students hone their skills and learn from what went wrong (or right) in a patients care. But for a growing subculture of physicians across the country, piecing together a historical figures cause of death is a puzzle that combines their diagnostic skill and medical intuition with biographical research, archival excavation, epidemiological sleuthing and a dash of guesswork. It is the ultimate whodunit, said Dr. Sanjay Saint, who, after weeks of research and deliberation, concluded that Cromwell had died of malaria which was endemic to the British Isles at the time combined with a salmonella infection that gave him typhoid fever. The reason we go into medicine is to help patients, said Saint, the associate chief of medicine at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, Mich. But thats not all. Theres also that part of playing detective, of being curious about a mystery and wanting to figure it out. :: Dr. Jan Hirschmann, a staff physician at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, caught the medical detective bug nearly 20 years ago, and has been at it off and on ever since. On a lark in the late 1990s, a musician and medical colleague of Hirschmanns invited him to lecture on the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1791, just shy of his 36th birthday. Hirschmann, an infectious disease expert and insatiable reader with a penchant for problem-solving, knew next to nothing about Mozarts life or the circumstances of his demise. But the challenge sounded like fun, and he soon dived into every biography he could find. Mozart had suffered from a fever with joint pain as a child, which some doctors have interpreted as acute rheumatic fever. Because this can lead to chronic heart complications, many assumed the Austrian composer died of heart failure. One music historian suggested Mozart had been poisoned by his archrival, Italian composer Antonio Salieri. Other candidates for cause of death included kidney failure and infective endocarditis. None of those diagnoses added up, Hirschmann thought. Mozarts family letters said he was in perfect health before he was suddenly overtaken by fever and a skin rash. These symptoms along with physicians notes and diary entries from the time pointed to some sort of outbreak. The only one that matched Mozarts symptoms was trichinosis, a parasitic disease caused by eating undercooked meat, usually pork. But Hirschmann had one big problem: He didnt know what Mozart ate. As he sat in the hospital library waiting to give his lecture, Hirschmann leafed through a book one last time. Thats when he came across a letter that stopped him cold. Mozart was writing to his wife, Constanze, when he was interrupted by a servant bringing dinner. He wrote: And what do I smell? ... Pork cutlets! Che gusto. I eat to your health. The letter was dated Oct. 7, 1791. Mozart fell sick 44 days later about the time it typically takes for trichinosis symptoms to appear after infection. Triumphant, Hirschmann presented his findings to a fascinated audience. He published them in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2001. I call it the smoking or not-so-smoking pork chop, he said. The diagnosis produced what Hirschmann laughingly calls the two acmes of his career: a spot in the grocery store tabloid the Star and a mention in Jay Lenos Tonight Show monologue. That got me my 15 minutes of fame, he said. :: It also got him noticed by Dr. Philip A. Mackowiak, the University of Maryland physician and epidemiologist who launched the medical schools annual Historical Clinicopathological Conference in 1995. Mackowiak asked Hirschmann to investigate the death of Herod the Great in 4 B.C., when the Judean ruler was 69. (Hirschmanns diagnosis: kidney disease, complicated by Fourniers gangrene.) Over the last 20 years, Mackowiaks medical sleuthing has reached as far back in history as ancient Greece (the statesman Pericles probably succumbed to typhus fever in what was called the plague of Athens) and as close to home as Baltimore (the writer Edgar Allan Poe most likely died of rabies). Physicians are hungry for liberal arts outlets, said Mackowiak, who has published two books on historical medical mysteries. At the same time, students of the liberal arts crave a way into an arcane field like medicine. Conducting postmortems on historical figures seemed like the perfect opportunity to enrich the lives of both communities, he said. In 2007, for instance, physicians, historians and mystery enthusiasts considered how Abraham Lincolns gunshot wound to the head might have been treated in a modern neurosurgical unit, and whether he would have lived. Their conclusion: Though Lincoln certainly would have been disabled, survival would be a very reasonable expectation. Conference attendees have also learned that after death, the blood vessels in Vladimir Lenins brain were so calcified they sounded like stone when tapped with tweezers, that the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten probably inherited a hormone disorder that made him look like a woman, and that Beethovens deafness was probably a consequence of syphilis passed down from his father. To solve the riddle of Cromwells death, Mackowiak this year invited a new kind of sleuth to weigh in. While Saint hit his books, computer specialists from the U.S. Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee fed details of Cromwells medical history into a network of supercomputers. A software program designed by Oak Ridge engineers churned through 27 million medical articles and texts, analyzing 70 million data associations relevant to Cromwells case. In 4.5 seconds, ORIGAMI short for Oak Ridge Graph Analytics for Medical Innovation converged on virtually the same conclusion drawn after weeks of research and deliberation by Saint: Cromwell was done in by malaria. For Saint, the unexpected competition was a humbling reminder of his limitations. But for Dr. Eliot Siegel, a University of Maryland radiologist and nuclear medicine specialist who worked on the ORIGAMI project, the exercise underscored the astonishingly efficient brainpower physicians bring to the task of diagnosis. Years of education and practice have endowed physicians such as Saint with a trove of medical data and an arsenal of cognitive shortcuts. Who would I rather have making a diagnosis? It would be hands-down Dr. Saint, Siegel said. On the other hand, if you told me there was a mystery disease and no one had any ideas about it and we needed some new insight ... I like the computer. Oak Ridge engineers are preparing to reopen several of the cases pondered by Mackowiak and his colleagues through the years. The results may upend some of the conclusions so painstakingly drawn and deepen the medical mysteries thought to be solved. melissa.healy@latimes.com Twitter: @LATMelissaHealy Maria L. La Ganga, a former Times staff writer in Seattle, and special correspondent Melissa Pandika in Los Angeles contributed to this report. ALSO Wave of violence shakes Boyle Heights church community Carson Mayor Albert Robles upset by how Chargers and Raiders treated the city Man is suspected of attacking his wife and killing 2 of his nephews in Arcadia 2-D, 3-D or even 4-D? IMAX or 70 millimeter? Regular seat or a plush, motorized recliner? Movie theaters these days offer more choices than ever, and now cinemas in China are upselling customers in the smog-choked country with yet another option: clean air. South Korean cinema chain CGV has opened a 20-seat clean-air theater called the Sweetbox -- at its multiplex at Beijings Indigo mall. CGV says its the first such theater in the Chinese capital equipped with air purification technology. Last month the chain opened another clean-air theater in Tianjin, a city of more than 14 million about 90 miles southeast of Beijing. CGV has about 50 cinemas in China. A Kung Fu Panda 3" display outside the Sweetbox low-pollution theater at a CGV cinema in Beijing. (Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Tickets for the Sweetbox run about $20 each about four times the average ticket price in China and are sold in pairs because seating is on 10 love seats arranged stadium-style. Tickets are available one day in advance. CGV promises that inside the Sweetbox, the level of fine particulate matter called PM 2.5 -- super-small particles 1/30th the width of a human hair that can lodge deeply in the lungs and seriously affect health -- will be maintained below 20 micrograms per cubic meter. That would fall in the moderate range based on U.S. EPA standards but would be considered excellent under the Chinese governments less-stringent scale. Outdoor concentrations of PM 2.5 in Beijing are frequently over 100, sometimes soaring to over 500 or beyond index. Outside the Sweetbox is a digital display showing the level of PM 2.5 inside; on a recent day when the theater was apparently not in use, the readout showed a level of 41 which under American standards would be considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Indoor air quality has become a mounting concern in Beijing and other major Chinese cities. Many expats and wealthier Chinese have in recent years purchased air purifiers for home use, and some government offices and private companies have also bought clean-air technology. But few schools, restaurants and other public facilities have purifiers. On intense pollution days, an ominous haze is clearly visible in airports, subways and train stations. In December, the Chinese arm of real-estate firm JLL and environmental consultancy Pure Living released a report on Beijing commercial space that found that air in 90% of the citys offices is just as bad as the outdoors, based on tests of 160 buildings. About one-quarter of all buildings surveyed showed worse air quality in indoor working areas than outdoors, the study added. Stephen Shih of the consultancy Bain & Co. said that office and property developers are increasingly interested in clean-air technology and are touting their indoor air quality to prospective tenants and customers. We are seeing more interest and action in terms of creating clean-air environments in office spaces, whether thats property developers that are making that a feature of office space or employers that are selling a low PM 2.5 environment as a way to attract talent, or increases in purchase of air purifiers, Shih said. Its really taken off in the last few years. Its been explosive growth. Liam Bates, whose Beijing-based start-up Origins Technology makes a popular indoor air quality monitor called the Laser Egg, says businesses are actively looking for ways to clean their air and use that as a way to attract customers. When the pollution rises, everyone stays at home, and its really depressing, and shop owners say they have no customers. We thought it would be really cool if we could help businesses clean the air and then display it, he said. But thats easier said than done. What weve realized is, its very hard to make public spaces have clean air, said Bates. If you have a coffee shop and its on the street, the doors are opening and closing. You bump into your friend as youre coming in and hes going out, you stand there chatting for two minutes. All of the clean air you had is now gone and its exactly the same as outside. In a big space, it takes a while to get your air very clean. Movie theaters may be better situated to try to control air quality because they are often located deep inside malls and shopping centers, not close to outside exit doors. And once the projection starts, theres little opening and closing of doors. CGV is not the only cinema chain seeing business opportunity in clean-air theaters. Under an initiative called Bringing the Finnish Air to Wanda, Wanda Cinemas in December announced a cooperation agreement with a technology company in Finland, AAVI, to install air purification systems in some of its theaters. The company has bought 49 sets of equipment from AAVI and has started equipping its theater in Beijings central business district with the technology. After that, it will retrofit its theater in the eastern suburb of Tongzhou and consider expanding it to other branches. Zeng Maojun, chief executive of Wanda Cinema Line, said Wanda has invested substantially in hardware for its theaters and wants its air to be of an equal standard. In recent years, the air quality in Beijing is getting worse, especially this year. There have been several [very] smoggy days, he told state-run CCTV news. Audiences are paying attention to the air quality. So we started to think: How can we can create an environment so that the audience can enjoy air that is as good as Europe while watching a film? Nicole Liu in The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. Follow @JulieMakLAT for news from China A gunman opened fire at a high school and a home Friday in an aboriginal community in western Canada, leaving four dead, including a teacher, and wounding at least two people, officials and family members said. The grade 7-to-12 La Loche Community School is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Maureen Levy said the gunman was arrested outside the school but declined to release details about him. She said there were two crime scenes, one at a home and the other at the school. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Kevin Janvier told the Associated Press that his 23-year-old daughter, Marie, a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. He said police told him the gunmen first shot two of his siblings before killing Janviers daughter. He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school, he said. Im just so sad. A government official, however, said the gunman shot two boys who are related but not his brothers. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the details. Marie was Janviers only child. He said he didnt know whether the shooter knew his daughter. Janvier and Deegan Park, Marie Janviers boyfriend, told the AP they were eager for police to release her body. I still havent seen her body, and its breaking my heart knowing that shes gonna spend the night on the hard floor, Park said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said from Davos, Switzerland, that a suspect was in custody and described the two injured as critical. This is every parents worst nightmare, he said. The community is reeling. A student who was just returning from lunch when the shots were fired Friday said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. Run, bro, run! Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loches junior and senior high school. "' Theres a shotgun! Theres a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots too, so of course I started running. The schools Facebook page said it would remain on lockdown until the Royal Canadian Police resolve the matter. It asked the public to stay away. Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said. Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the countrys bloodiest shooting occurred Dec. 6, 1989, at Montreals Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting Friday was the worst tragedy to hit the community. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. Its not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected, and we will all go into mourning, said Cameron, who attended graduations at the school for the past few years. Right now, were just in a state of shock and disbelief. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman offered his condolences and noted the problem of school shootings in America. We have experienced similar tragedies far too often in the United States and understand all too well the heartache and sadness that result, Heyman said. ALSO Dozens drown as two migrant smuggling boats sink near Greek islands A California Dreamer goes home to Mexico, but home proves elusive North Korea says it is holding U.S. university student for hostile act Doctor Lauds Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook Founder Was RIGHT to Vaccinate His Daughter - Scientists Share Immunization Myths media@latinoshealth.com By Czarmecin Jan 22, 2016 04:35 AM EST Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg had her baby immunized and sparked a gamut of pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine debate. Zuckerberg posted a photo of him and his 2-month-old baby on his social media account. He captioned it with, "Doctor's visit -- time for vaccines!" The Washington Post reported that nearly 70,000 commented on Zuckerberg's post with their different inputs about vaccine. "Thanks for protecting your child, and other children who can't be vaccinated, and for supporting science!" Allison Hagood commented. "Adorable baby." Another user, Elsa Sakz, did not find the post inspiring at all, "Vaccine is poison for human kind. It kills more people than it helps. I wish people don't take it as an example here." The people are divided with the pros and cons of vaccines. In a separate report from The Washington Post, the Republican frontrunner for presidency, Donald Trump, linked vaccination to autism. In a speech, he shared a story about an adorable 2-year-old baby who had a vaccine and got a tremendous fever a week after. According to him, the baby got sick and is now autistic. However, health officials do not agree with the different illnesses link to vaccination. Dr. Anita Milicic, an immunologist from the University of Oxford, told Daily Mail Online that there is no evidence that vaccines cause autism or other diseases. She stressed that failing to be immunized subject the baby to the risk of meningitis, polio, measles, tetanus and other potentially life-threatening illnesses. Many remain skeptical about the benefits of immunization and vaccines. To help the people understand this matter more, here is a short list of the popular immunization myths. MMR Vaccine Causes Autism In 1998, a study linked MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine to autism. The study resulted in a decline in the MMR vaccine uptake and paved way to the return of measles resulting to hospitalization and deaths in the U.K. and U.S. After more studies, they found that the first research was fraudulent and ethical. The paper was retracted but the damage was already done. Vaccines Contain Toxic Chemicals The concern about toxicity associated to vaccines has not been scientifically proven. All those talks remain theories. Vaccine Can Cause The Disease They're Supposed To Be Preventing In rare cases, vaccine containing a live weakened virus can cause a mild form of the disease they are supposed to be preventing. For instance, a live polio vaccine caused polio in a handful of cases. The MMR vaccine occasionally causes a mild form of measles or mumps that last for a day or two. However, these risks only apply to children with weak immune systems such as those with cancer. What is your stand about vaccine and immunization? Share your thoughts below. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Zika Virus Isn't the Only One to Fear, 'Gastroschisis' Birth Defect on the Rise - What You Need to Know media@latinoshealth.com By Julio Cachila Jan 23, 2016 06:51 AM EST The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report saying that a serious birth condition known as gastroschisis is on the rise among babies born to black women in the U.S. Gastroschisis, a bizarre birth defect characterized by having organs such as intestines hanging out of a baby's body at birth, has doubled its prevalence in the U.S. over the course of 18 years, reports U.S. News. Health officials, however, do not have an explanation as to the alarming scenario. It concerns us that we dont know why more babies are being born with this serious birth defect, Coleen Boyle, director of the CDCs National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, said in a statement. Public health research is urgently needed to figure out the cause and why certain women are at higher risk of having a baby born with gastroschisis," Boyle added. The birth defect occurs while the baby is developing inside the mother's womb, where the abdomen develops incorrectly, leaving a hole for the organs to pass through. Doctors can determine if the baby has the condition through regular ultrasounds when pregnant women reach their second trimester. This birth defect can be remedied by means of surgery a few weeks after the child is born. Although the organs can be placed back inside the body and the abdominal wall is closed, patients can still suffer from eating and digesting problems, which can lead to acid reflux, malnutrition, stunted growth, or at times life-threatening situations. The CDC analyzed data from 14 states across the U.S., comparing the prevalence rates of gastroschisis among babies born to moms of different ages in the years 1995-2005 and babies born in 2006-2012. They found that the birth defect was most prevalent among mothers younger than 20. A 263 percent increase in its prevalence occurred in the time period from 1995 to 2012 was also among babies born to non-Hispanic black mothers aged 20 or younger. They said that overall, about 2,000 U.S. babies are born with the serious birth defect. While gastroschisis has become more common among non-Hispanic white and Hispanic mothers, this study shows the greatest increases were among younger, non-Hispanic black mothers, Peggy Honein, Ph.D., M.P.H., chief, Birth Defects Branch, CDC National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, said in the press release. We must continue to monitor changes in this birth defect to identify risk factors contributing to these increases and hopefully start to reverse the trend, Honein added. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Tired of your job? You might want to consider applying as a data scientist. Glassdoor just released its 2016 list of Best Jobs in America Tuesday night. Turns out, working as a data scientist, which pays a median base salary of $116,840, is the best job in the US. According to Glassdoor, their list combines salary, level of demand for skills and growth opportunities in the field. "This [data scientist] is a job title that's so hot," stated Glassdoor's career and trend analyst Scott Dobroski. "It's a job title where demand outpaces supply. There's a ton of upward mobility right now," he added. High on the list are jobs along the fields of technology. Some health care jobs also made the list, as well as finance-related jobs. What other jobs made the cut? Below is a list of the top 25 jobs in America today, their median base salaries and the number of their job openings (if ever you're considering a change of career). 1. Data Scientist Job Score: 4.7 Median Base Salary: $116,840 Job Openings: 1,736 2. Tax Manager Job Score: 4.7 Median Base Salary: $108,000 Job Openings: 1,574 3. Solutions Architect Job Score: 4.6 Median Base Salary: $119,500 Job Openings: 2,906 4. Engagement Manager Job Score: 4.6 Median Base Salary: $125,000 Job Openings: 1,356 5. Mobile Developer Job Score: 4.6 Median Base Salary: $90,000 Job Openings: 2,251 6. HR Manager Job Score: 4.6 Median Base Salary: $85,000 Job Openings: 3,468 7. Physician Assistant Job Score: 4.6 Median Base Salary: $97,000 Job Openings: 3,364 8. Product Manager Job Score: 4.5 Median Base Salary: 106,680 Job Openings: 6,607 9. Software Engineer Job Score: 4.5 Median Base Salary: $95,000 Job Openings: 49,270 10. Audit Manager Job Score: 4.5 Median Base Salary: $95,000 Job Openings: 1,001 11. Analytics Manager Job Score: 4.5 Median Base Salary: $105,000 Job Openings: 982 12. Software Development Manager Job Score: 4.4 Median Base Salary: $135,000 Job Openings: 1,199 13. Product Marketing Manager Job Score: 4.4 Median Base Salary: $115,000 Job Openings: 1,111 14. Marketing Manager Job Score: 4.4 Median Base Salary: $90,000 Job Openings: 2,560 15. QA Manager Job Score: 4.4 Median Base Salary: $85,000 Job Openings: 3,749 16. Finance Manager Job Score: 4.3 Median Base Salary: $115,000 Job Openings: 1,632 17. Business Development Manager Job Score: 4.3 Median Base Salary: $80,000 Job Openings: 2,906 18. UX Designer Job Score: 4.3 Median Base Salary: $91,800 Job Openings: 863 19. Strategy Manager Job Score: 4.3 Median Base Salary: $130,000 Job Openings: 631 20. Technical Account Manager Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $69,548 Job Openings: 1,160 21. Consultant Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $84,000 Job Openings: 1,071 22. Construction Superintendent Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $78,000 Job Openings: 1,054 23. Nurse Practitioner Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $99,500 Job Openings: 5,624 24. Electrical Engineer Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $76,900 Job Openings: 2,516 25. Software Architect Job Score: 4.2 Median Base Salary: $130,000 Job Openings: 653 Data scientists may have made it to the top spot, but the position is not the one on the list that has the most earnings. That honor goes to software development managers, who get $135,000 base salary. According to TIME, companies are now shifting towards employees with more experience, as evidenced in Glassdoor list's "managerial" titles. Last year, the best job in America went to physician's assistant. The title went down to the No. 7 spot as its median base salary does not reach six figures. Data scientist also made it to last year's Top 25 Best Jobs in America. It came in at No. 9. According to Dobroski, the job made a huge jump from No. 9 to No. 1 since companies are now looking for people who can transform data into profitable ideas or insights. According to the Washington Post, when Glassdoor's 2016 list of Best Jobs in the U.S. is cross-referenced with their Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance this year, jobs that made both lists include data scientists (top spot on both lists), quality assurance managers, software developers and user experience designers. Meanwhile, four jobs that you should reconsider before applying for are accounts payable specialists, insurance agents, guest service managers and reporters. These jobs are the four worst jobs in America, according to Bloomberg. In the end though, none of these lists matter as long as you have a job and you're happy with it. When it comes to helping you feel confident, Afterglow's Natalie Aguilar may just be the person for the job. The Latina, who owns and runs the Beverly Hills spa, is using her business to help people understand that beauty is about more than just hair and makeup. Raised in Los Angeles, Aguilar is the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants. After becoming a nurse and studying under Japanese beauty guru Shu-Uemura, she set out to make her dreams a reality. Aguilar decided to open Afterglow Beverly Hills after stints working for some of the biggest names in fashion and prepping models for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and "America's Next Top Model." The young Latina took her growing resume and her own experience treating herself with natural oils to fight psoriasis, and began a practice. At Afterglow, she is assisted by her sister and fellow nurse, Nadia Aguilar, and together they provide clients with options that are laser-free and all natural. Skincare, unlike makeup and hair, is a micro health topic that doesn't get enough attention but Aguilar believes should be considered a precedent to the other two. "Skincare started the day we were born...that should have been something we never let go of," Aguilar told Latin Post. "I have friends who have face cream that expired but have tons of new makeup. They are struggling to take care of their blemishes but don't realize that makeup gives them more." Like Aguilar, who is no ordinary skincare specialist, Afterglow is not just like every other skincare boutique. Afterglow aims to provide harmless alternatives that focus on giving the skin a natural glow though hydration and vitamins. This is administered through IV drips, cleansing and exfoliating with the Gem Peel, or tightening with the Venus Legacy. Clients at the skincare boutique include women and men, at an almost equal ratio, who come from all over the United States and abroad for one of Aguilar's unique and natural treatments. Some of film and television's most popular Latinas -- Ana de la Reguera, Eiza Gonzalez, and others -- all look to Afterglow to keep their skin healthy. However, everyone will have a different experience with their treatments no matter how similar because they are customized to cater to each individual client. "Everyone's skin is different," she said. "There isn't one product out there that will work on everyone." For example, when discussing the skin issues common among Latinos, Aguilar explained that Latinos are generally stuck in the middle color-wise and are prone to issues like scarring and melasma, (particularly during pregnancy). She also insisted that laser treatment should be avoided because it can create burns. Instead, she recommended Afterglow's popular treatment of mandelic acid, which comes from almonds and helps darker skin tones. Aguilar also suggested simple things like sleeping with a humidifier to avoid dryness in the winter or the addition of grape seed oil to a moisturizer, not to be confused with cream or lotion, to help with acne and fight aging. A look at the spa's social media accounts will reveal how stars like Gonzalez, who recently showed off her flawless skin for her new Vanity Fair photoshoot, take advantage of Aguilar's services. A photo posted by Afterglow Beverly Hills (@afterglowbeverlyhills) on Jan 8, 2016 at 1:36pm PST Working with such high-profile clients has gotten Aguilar exclusive television spots on Univision, Extra and various magazines, making her one of the most talked-about Latinas taking on skincare. But despite all the attention, Aguilar continues to focus on helping people feel confident and look their best. She isn't out to grow an empire. "I hope to be exclusive only...I don't want to be these trendy spas that are all over the world and forget their motto," she said. "I am hands-on and want to continue to be hands on. I never want to sell myself out." Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., is receiving criticism for blocking the confirmation process of a Latino judicial nominee. Sudden Support Withdrawal On Jan. 21, Perdue said his support for Dax Eric Lopez to serve on the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is "unattainable" due to feeling "uncomfortable" with the Republican Latino's affiliation with a "controversial organization." The organization is reportedly the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO). As Latin Post reported, President Barack Obama nominated Lopez on July 30, 2015, to serve on the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lopez would become the first Latino to serve as a lifetime-appointed federal judge in Georgia. Before a full Senate vote, Lopez would have to be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Perdue also serves. Perdue and fellow Republican Georgia Sen. John Isakson would require submitting a "blue slip," which would indicate approval of a judicial nominee to the Judiciary Committee. But Perdue has remained committed to not continue with Lopez's confirmation process. "After a thorough review of the professional and judicial record of DeKalb County Judge Dax Lopez, I have become uncomfortable with his longstanding participation in a controversial organization including his service on its board of directors," Perdue said in a statement. "I am particularly concerned with his continued participation with this organization and his public comments after he became a state judge. Unfortunately, our personal meeting, while cordial and informative, did not fully alleviate my concerns. Furthermore, I believe similar concerns would be raised by many of my colleagues, making Judge Lopez's final confirmation unattainable." Blocked Due to Being Latino? Following Perdue's decision to withdraw support for Lopez, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) President Robert Maldonado expressed deep concerns with setback. "It is hard to fathom that we are in an era of such animosity that a judicial nominee's participation in a trade association of bipartisan Latino elected officials is problematic to a U.S. Senator", said Maldonado. "Judge Lopez is qualified, experienced and well supported by a broad range of professionals for this judgeship. No one seems to be questioning his bona fides." "We find it difficult to see how his association with GALEO can be somehow disqualifying," added Maldonado. "Our only inference is that he's unacceptable to Senator Perdue because he is a Latino who believes in Latino participatory democracy. The HNBA will meet with Senator Perdue to get clarification on his withdrawal of support." Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said Lopez's work with GALEO should not have disqualified the judge, noting the organization in question is bipartisan and Lopez is a conservative. Zirkin added that Lopez should at least receive a fair hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee where he can answer any questions in regards to his views. "Instead, Senator Perdue made the unilateral decision to block Lopez's nomination outright, against the wishes of Georgia's other Republican U.S. Senator, Johnny Isakson, and many conservative supporters who backed Lopez as a fair-minded and well-qualified choice for the bench," said Zirkin. "Senator Perdue can hide behind immigration politics all he wants. But the reality is that no Latino has ever been confirmed to the federal bench from Georgia despite the state's growing Latino population." "And as long as men like Senator Purdue are the gatekeepers, it's unlikely that one ever will," added Zirkin. __ For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz took a sharp stab at GOP front-runner Donald Trump this week, accusing him of supporting "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants. During a recent interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, Cruz stated that Trump's position on illegal immigration would ultimately amount to amnesty. "Donald Trump's position is once you deport them, it's what's called touchback. A lot of establishment Republicans had touchback," said the Texas senator. "Basically you make them fly back to their country for a minute, touch the ground, and then they come back with amnesty as citizens. Now, Donald is entitled to do that. He can advance that position, but he doesn't get to pretend that it's not amnesty if he's legalizing 12 million people [who are] here illegally." Cruz also accused Trump of publicly supporting amnesty in a tweet he sent back in 2013. Around that time, Congress was engaged in a heated showdown over immigration. As a solution, a bipartisan group of senators that included 2016 hopeful Marco Rubio presented the "Gang of Eight" immigration bill that included a pathway of citizenship for undocumented residents. According to Cruz, Trump also supported giving unauthorized immigrants citizenship and Rubio's Dream Act. "I would note at that time, right in the middle of the fight, Donald Trump was publicly supporting amnesty. He was supporting Marco Rubio's Dream Act," Cruz said. "He was criticizing Mitt Romney for being too tough on immigration. That's where Donald Trump was in 2013. Now, when he launched his campaign for president, suddenly he discovered illegal immigration was a problem." Cruz also shared a tweet that Trump sent out in August 2013 to prove that his 2016 rival supports "amnesty." Congress must protect our borders first. Amnesty should be done only if the border is secure and illegal immigration has stopped. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2013 Cruz then touted the tweet during a Boston Herald Radio interview on Thursday. "Now in 2013, I was leading the fight against Marco Rubio's 'Gang of Eight' amnesty plan," Cruz said. "In the middle of that fight, Donald Trump sent out a tweet supporting amnesty, saying we should adopt amnesty. Now, that's a sharp difference," he added. One of Libya's influential lawmaker, Abu Bakr, stated that the Libyan House of Representatives will not give in to the pressure by other countries to endorsed U.N. The plan of the international organization is to create unity in the Libyan government and decrease the country's political drift. According to reports from Yahoo News, since 2014, there had been two rival government and parliaments in Libya. These groups operate from the capital Tripoli and from the Far East which are supported by armed rebels that fought for Gaddafi before. Tripoli is under the control of a group called Libya Dawn; they said that during the preparations, the presidential council violated military laws. While the eastern side is led by Gen Khalifa Haftar, one of the most disruptive in Libya's rival group. During the council, last Monday, ABC reported that one of the members, Ali Faraj a-Qatrani, did not sign the document that stated a new government. He stipulated that eastern Libya was under represented, and there was no sufficient support from the armed forces to the eastern government. He even added that the Presidential council lack seriousness and clarity in dealing with their basic needs. For the west, a hope of a new government will provide stability to Libya. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been deeply broken with increasing Islamic State militants threats that adds up to the problem says The Herald Courier. Federica Mogherini, EUs foreign policy chief said that the Tunis-based council is a critical step to unite the government, end political divisions, defeat terrorism and address some security issue. The said council will also help in humanitarian and aid challenges in economy that country currently faces. Until now, there has been no announcements on how and when the new government will be formed. Fayez Seraj, an eastern parliament lawmaker and head of the Presidential council has still to establish himself as the new leader in Libya. A Kent State professor is under FBI surveillance for allegedly siding with ISIS. Julio Pino is currently being investigated and was asked about his connection with the Islamic group. He denied all allegations and said he does not support violence or any other terrorist acts. FBI is investigating his past actions and Facebook posts as he is famous for his anti Israel speech. Fox News reported that an account named Julio Cesar Pino posted things about the Islamic State saying Sheik Osama is great and was praising them. He also said "the organization he left behind is not the same AQ he founded. The brave warriors of AQAP and the Nusraf Jabbat should join #IslamicState." CS Monitor noted that the History professor denied all accusations and said he has nothing to do with ISIS. According to him, he has never once broken the law and will never intend to because he denounces violence. Things people say can be interpreted in many ways and people who don't want to understand will never do, he added. He further stated that the truth will come out as it always does. Pino is still teaching classes at the University. Time said that the University is doing everything to help FBI get the information it wants. Some students were interview by FBI agents and one of them was Emily Mills, the editor of student newspaper The Kent Stater. She said that the professor is very vocal and opinionated; he says everything as he likes to but she has no idea about the issue. FBI assured the school's president that there is nothing to worry about and the situation is under control. Pino is Cuban and a converted Muslim. He said he can't believe that the FBI is going after him. He had a few issues before but that does not indicate a huge investigation like this, he added. He knows that the FBI only wants security to be fine and understand that. He also thought that there may be people who thinks of same thing. The U.S. District Judge expressed skepticism in hearing over a U.S. citizen's claim to immunity in a United Nations bribery scandal on Thursday. The judge seemed unimpressed because the U.S. citizen was working as a diplomat for a foreign government. After hearing arguments by lawyers, the U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick did not immediately rule on the fate of Francis Lorenzo, a U.S. citizen who was charged with being part of conspiracy included the bribery of a former president of the U.N. The Judge doubted that Lorenzo could be protected from prosecution of any crime because he was a deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic, ABC News reported. Francis Lorenzo, a now-suspended deputy U.N. ambassador, has been charged as a middleman in the U.N. bribery case. In October 2015, the federal prosecutors in Manhattan accused a former president of the U.N., John Ashe, of engaging a broad corruption scheme with a billionaire from the China. The bribery case involved more than $1 million in payments from sources in China for assistance in real estate deals and other business interests. Beginning in 2012, Sheri Yan, who was a CEO of Global Sustainibility Foundation, was seeking to invest in Antiguan government officials or special favors that promoted their ventures in that country, CNN reported. Ashe was serving as Antigua and Barbuda's permanent representative at the U.N. He also served as the U.N. General Assembly's President from September 2013 to September 2014. On Wednesday, the Chinese billionaire Sheri Yan, was ruled guilty in court of Manhattan with the bribery charges. Yan admitted that she agreed to pay money to Ashe to influence officials and the U.N. to support business interests, Reuters reported. Earlier this week, a former finance director at the foundation, Heidi Hong Piao, was also pleaded guilty with the bribery charges and agreed to cooperate with authorities in their continuing investigation. During the investigation, the prosecutors charged a billionaire real estate developerNg Lap Seng from Chinese territory of Macau for allegedly paying $500,000 in bribes to Ashe through intermediaries. Francis Lorenzo was one of the intermediaries. Lorenzo has not pleaded guilty as prosecutors have said diplomatic immunity may preclude any bribery charges. But the prosecutors were examining the issue and likely would bring further charges. In Thursday hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Mukhi said if Lorenzo's argument was supported by the law, then he could commit any crime and escape prosecution without facing the prospect of deportation since he is a U.S. citizen. Mukhi said that no nation would agree with the diplomatic immunity scenario to escape prosecution. The Obama administration imposed changes to the visa-waiver program that would make it more difficult for Europeans with dual citizenship from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria to enter the United States. The new rule that will take place immediately also makes it hard for people who have been to those countries in the past five years. According to the New York Times, the changes announced by the Department of Homeland Security will have dual citizenship from the countries mentioned above undergo a more rigorous process to apply for their visa to enter the US. There are some 38 countries; most of them are European, which is part of the visa-waiver program. This allows them to easily enter the US without visa for a maximum of 90 days. There are about 20 million tourists who avail this visa-waiver program annually. The Boston Globe reported that tightening the visa-waiver program was decided after the terror-attacks in Paris last November that claimed the lives of 130 people and injured 369 others. Lawmakers and counter-terrorism authorities feared that the terrorist, who were European citizens, would take advantage of the visa-waiver program and go the US to commit the same acts of terror. There are also members of the congress who are concerned about how travelers might overstay their 90-day visit, just like the hijackers during the September 11 terror attacks on the Twin Towers. The Guardian wrote that Irananian Americans protested against the new rule, which was passed December under the anti-terrorism law. It will be harder for them because Iran's rules on citizenship and reciprocity provisions make it difficult to get visas. One of the most controversial victims of this revised visa-waiver program is the BBC British-Iranian journalist who was barred from boarding the plane to the US. The DHS require travelers to obtain new visa after they get interviewed at a US embassy. The new rule will also have limited exemptions for people who have to travel to the four countries mentioned for military service or diplomatic reasons. There could also be additional exemptions for individuals travelling to those areas for journalistic and humanitarian purposes. Another milestone from Colombia's government and its country's largest rebel group, left-wing Revolutionary Armed Army of Colombia (FARC), have been marked. Both parties have agreed to the rapid advancing of peace talks, with a joint request that UN mission implement and strengthen the international observer assignment to oversee disarmament process that could sooner end Latin America's longest-running guerilla conflict of all time. According to The Guardian, negotiators from each sides have declared that the said 12-month peace talk mission happening in Havana would be consisting unarmed lookouts and observers from Latin American and Caribbean nations respectively. The said assignment is to monitor the bilateral ceasefire as well as the resolving of disputes and various issues that have originally emerged from the expected demobilization of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia's 7,000 fighters. Any ceasefire is set to be monitored in the declared 12-month mission. BBC shared that whatever progress towards the said mission will guarantee that the ceasefire and disbarment would be absolute and permanent. Humberto de la Calle, Columbia's government lead negotiator showcased the big step as 'transcendental' moment for both parties. Thus, it is not only the commencement of an international process but, of course, an unequivocal demonstration to finally end the confrontation between parties involved. In addition, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia negotiator Ivan Marquez also expressed his thoughts over the mission announcement. According to him, the new agreement has a strong signal to go over and eventually peace in Columbia is very much possible, Headlines and Global News cited. Over 220,000 people were noted to have been killed while millions have been displaced through the tremendous violent conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia and the Colombian Military that roots way back in 1964. It is known to be the longest-running armed misunderstanding and warfare in the side of the Western Hemisphere. Pennsylvania federal judge Arthur J. Schwab sided with Bill Cosby and dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by one of the women who accused the disgraced comedian of sexual assault. The lawsuit filed by 48-year-old Renita Hill in October was thrown out with prejudice, which means she can't amend or re-file the case. According to TMZ, this is another victory for Cosby. Hill claimed that the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her as a teenager in the 80s while they were working together in the "Picture Pages" kids show. She filed the defamation case against Cosby in Pennsylvania for grounds that she was made to look like a liar after the comedian denied her accusations. The Pennsylvania judge ruled that the statements made by Cosby and his lawyers were generalizations and were not defamatory. Two other criminal cases filed against him in LA were also rejected by the DA. Renita Hill is just one of the 50 women who accused Cosby of assault. CNN wrote that Judge Schwab dismissed the three defamation claims saying that their statements "do not support a claim for defamation as defined by Pennsylvania law." There were three instances in the defamation case in which Cosby and his lawyers said requires fact-checking. They said that the women's accusations against Cosby are "unsubstantiated, fantastical stories." In a report by the Daily Mail UK, Shwab stated his opinion saying, "Even considering these three statements together as a combined, single statement, this newly 'conjoined' statements does not lead to an inference that plaintiff is a 'liar and an extortionist.'" Meanwhile, George Kontos, Hill's attorney, promised to appeal the ruling. Kontos said, "The basis of his opinion is these are constitutionally protected, 'pure' opinions." He added, "But, looked at as a whole, they contain all sorts of innuendo and undisclosed facts." Cosby is recently facing a series of lawsuits from defamation to sexual assaults, coming from various women. He was charged of "aggravated indecent assault" in Pennsylvania in December for the alleged sexual assault on Andrea Constand in 2004. However, Cosby's lawyers say these claims were "unjustified." Via Thomson Reuters: Advice to delay pregnancy due to Zika virus is naive, activists say. Excerpt: Women in El Salvador and Colombia are being cautioned to avoid pregnancy due to the potentially dangerous Zika virus, but little access to contraception or abortion and pregnancies from rape leave many women unable to heed that advice, campaigners say. The recommendations by health ministers in the two Latin American nations come after a surge in cases of babies born with severe brain defects in Brazil, which experts believe are linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus spreading through the region. Alejandro Gaviria, Colombia's health minister, called on women to delay pregnancies six to eight months. "We are doing this because I believe it's a good way to communicate the risk, to tell people that there could be serious consequences," he said. In Colombia, which has the second-highest Zika infection rate after Brazil, there are 560 known cases of pregnant women infected with the virus. Jamaica, which has not reported any confirmed cases of Zika, also has recommended women delay becoming pregnant. Leading women's rights campaigners criticized the recommendations, saying women in the region often have little choice about becoming pregnant. "It's incredibly naive for a government to ask women to postpone getting pregnant in a context such as Colombia where more than 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned and across the region where sexual violence is prevalent," said Monica Roa, vice president of strategy for Women's Link Worldwide, a global women's rights group. Contraception in Colombia is provided free but women, particularly in impoverished rural areas, have little access, the Colombian activist told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Many women also do not know they can get an abortion in Colombia under certain circumstances, she said. "In a crisis like the Zika outbreak, the lack of sexual education is exposed," Roa said. "Health ministries should inform rather than recommend." In El Salvador, where the health ministry is advising women to postpone pregnancy until 2018, official figures show 96 pregnant women are suspected of having contracted the Zika virus. As in Colombia, little or no sex education in schools in El Salvador means girls lack information they need to avoid unwanted pregnancies, activists say. El Salvador has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Latin America, with girls aged 10 to 19 accounting for about a third of all pregnancies. Rape at the hands of stepfathers, relatives and gang members is a key reason, rights groups say. El Salvador also has a total ban on abortion, which is a crime under all circumstances including rape or a severely deformed fetus or when a woman's life is in danger. "In El Salvador, the recommendation to postpone pregnancy is offensive to women and even more ridiculous in the context of strict abortion laws and high levels of sexual violence against girls and women," Roa said. Via NewsGhana.com.gh, a Xinhua report: 15 quarantined in NE Nigeria over outbreak of bird flu. "Bird flu" in this case must mean H5N1, which has broken out in other parts of the country. Adamawa borders on Cameroon and has a big problem with Boko Haram. An outbreak of human H5N1 cases would be a bad development. At least 15 people have been quarantined in Nigeria's northeast state of Adamawa following the outbreak of avian influenza in Toungo area of the state, a witness has told Xinhua. The affected persons are staff of Adda-Rogo poultry farms where the outbreak was reported, the witness, who is one of the affected persons, said Friday. The 62-year-old, who also doubles as the farm Manager, Muhammed Hassan, said they have been evacuating dead birds without protective gowns, not until veterinary officials who visited warned them of the dangers. I am experiencing difficulties with my respiratory system; I am feeling weak and I have headache, Hassan told Xinhua before he was taken to hospital. The state government had confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Toungo where over 43,000 chickens were culled. Meanwhile, a medical team from World Health Organization has arrived in Toungo to help tackle the outbreak. Nissan Kicks being "seriously considered" for US market Jan 23, 2016, 2:01pm ET The compact crossover would slot beneath the Juke, but could replace it altogether. Nissan may introduce yet another crossover into America's hottest segment. Reportedly, the Brazil-market Kicks is under serious consideration for US sales by Nissan North America's top brass. If it arrives, it is predicted to slot in under the funky Juke, with a slightly less powerful engine than its 188-horse direct-injection 1.6. Its starting price would be lower than the Juke's $20,250 as well. It may even replace the Juke. Speaking with Wards Auto, Nissan North America's vice-president of product planning Michael Bunce said, "We see the opportunity for more mainstream [small] crossovers that are less niche, and we see Honda and others in that space and are taking it very seriously. Bunce also said that Nissan is studying whether the Juke "remains in the [U.S.] market or not. With the Kicks, which was approved for production in Brazil last month, Nissan would go head to head against compact crossovers like the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Chevrolet Trax and Subaru XV Crosstrek. Nissan has already filed a trademark application for the name Kicks with the US Patent and Trademark Office last October, though sometimes these filings are simply to reserve a name. The Kicks will soon begin rolling off the assembly lines at Nissan's Rio de Janeiro plant alongside the March (Micra in some markets) and Versa currently being produced there. Two women have been found guilty of keeping a brothel in Sallins at Naas District Court earlier this evening, Thursday, December 6. Two women have been found guilty of keeping a brothel in Sallins at Naas District Court earlier this evening, Thursday, December 6. The pair, 28-year-old Romeyka De Sa Oliviera and 57-year-old Katia Camango Silva, whose addresses are listed as 4 OCallaghan Court, Upper Erne Street, Dublin were arrested on Wednesday, October 17, following Garda survellance which saw six men entering 19 Millbank Square, Sallins over the course of 24 hours. Each of the men appeared to be directed to the apartment by phone and each stayed for approximately 40 minutes. Sgt. Jim Kelly and Detectives Martin Long and Grainne Phelan gave evidence in the trial of the two women that when they entered the apartment just before 2pm that day, they discovered the two women, numerous lit scented candles, dozens of unused condoms in every bedroom, a sex toy and various intimate lubricants. They also found 14 clear plastic bags in the bin, containing used condoms and tissues as well as a considerable amount of cash, some of it hidden, and some not. There was a man in one of the bedrooms, fully clothed. Although he was not called upon to give evidence on the day, in his statement which was read out in court, he claimed that his back was at him and that he had made contact with them after he found a number for a massage on www.escorts.ie One of the women initially claimed that they offered massage, but when the used condoms were pointed out to her she admitted it was massage with happy ending. The two women confirmed to Gardai that they were offering sexual services. Legal representatives for the two women argued in court that while all the evidence pointed clearly to the two women being prostitutes, the prosecution had failed to prove that they were keeping a brothel, which is what they were charged with. Tony Hanahoe argued that the law prohibiting keeping a brothel was aimed at the large brothels in Dublin which were controlled by pimps. It was not he argued, aimed at the lady on the street. It was also pointed out that prostitution is not illegal (soliciting is) and that there is no definition, in legislation, for a brothel. In the end Judge Desmond Zaidan went with Inspector Jim Doyles argument that the women could fulfill both roles, as prostitute and brothel keeper. He argued that a brothel is a building where more than one woman uses for the purpose of fornication. The women were both sentenced to four months imprisonment and fined 1,000. They were also both given leave to appeal. - More on this case in next Tuesdays Leinster Leader. Via The Globe and Mail: One in 10 Canadian vets of Afghan war diagnosed with PTSD. Excerpt: Nearly one in 10 of the Canadian military personnel who took part in the mission in Afghanistan are now collecting disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder and experts say the prevalence of the disease is likely much higher among Canadas combat troops. In briefing notes prepared last fall for Kent Hehr as he took over as Minister of Veterans Affairs, bureaucrats explained that 14,372 clients of the department were receiving disability benefits for PTSD, a mental disorder triggered by a terrifying event or series of events. Of the 14,372, they wrote, there are 3,578 related to service in Afghanistan. The Department of National Defence says more than 39,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served in Afghanistan or in support of the mission. That means at least 9 per cent of Canadas Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD. But the 39,000 figure includes support personnel who never set foot in the war zone, and people who were deployed but were not among those fighting on the front lines the troops most likely to have been exposed to the types of danger and traumatic events that can trigger PTSD. So the fact that nearly a tenth of all the Canadian soldiers, sailors and air personnel who participated in the Afghanistan mission have now been diagnosed with PTSD and are collecting benefits from Veterans Affairs suggests the disease is much more widespread among those who directly confronted the Taliban. My inclination is that that number is pretty light, says Mike Blois, the former president of the Afghanistan Veterans Association of Canada, who was diagnosed with PTSD and a brain injury after his deployment to Kandahar. When you break it down with what job people did, and the higher levels of occurrence of PTSD in people who are out at the forefront of the combat operations, then it will be a lot higher. In addition, Mr. Bois said, there are unquestionably many PTSD victims still actively serving in the military who have not reached out for benefits, and others who have never been diagnosed. Anthony Feinstein, a psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said the rates of psychological distress in returning veterans from Afghanistan has been high. The generally accepted prevalence of PTSD in the general population runs anywhere from 2 to 5 per cent, depending on what study you read, Dr. Feinstein said. So the numbers are certainly a lot higher than that. And that really is not surprising. The exposure to danger in Afghanistan has been so great that you would expect some psychiatric casualties. THE Kildare Coroner is to ask the local authority to check the capping stones on walls at Sarto Park in Naas. THE Kildare Coroner is to ask the local authority to check the capping stones on walls at Sarto Park in Naas. The Coroner, Dr. Denis Cusack, said he would do so after hearing evidence in an inquest into the death of 37 year old Thomas Connors, 120 Sarto Park, on 2 June 2011. In a non jury hearing at Naas on 14 May, Dr. Cussack concluded that Mr. Connors had died from an accident and misadventure. His death came about either as a fall from a 7ft 9 inch high wall at the back of his house or being struck by stone cap from the wall which Garda weighed at 33.88kg or a combination of both. Garda Supt. Pat Mangan described this stone as of significant weight. The inquest heard that Gardai had carried out intensive investigation after Mr. Connors was found by a neighbour on the ground in the afternoon of 2 June. He head injuries and a broken leg. Gardai and ambulance services were called just before 5 pm on the day. While his wife, Bridget Connors, said he had been depressed and described in detail how she tried to stop him drinking too much alcohol, Dr. Cusack, there was no suggestion from the evidence that he had tried to take his own life. He had been drinking that day and his blood alcohol level was 280mg. There were also prescribed medicines in his system but these were within the presribed limits. Poignantly, a next door neighbour of Mr. Connors , Margaret Porter, told how she met him earlier in the afternoon and he told her that she was the best neighbour he ever had and shook her hand. Dr. Cusack said he had taken into account all the statements made by neigbours, friends and family Bridget Connors said she had been married to Tom, originally from Limerick, for eighteen years and they had three children. She told how she had tried to stop him drinking and get him into reading classes, how she had tried to get him to talk more about what was on his mind and how he had told her, at one point, that he was fed up. She also said that Tom felt that the house had a curse on it and they had got it blessed. She said that around 4.30 pm that day, she got a bad feeling, following the events earlier in the day when he had been drinking. Dr. Cusack and Supt. Mangan extended their sympathy to Tom Connors family. Brian McMahon, solicitor, representing Bridget Connors, thanked the Coroner on their behalf for the way the investigation was carried out. CHARGES against a 21 year involved in a Naas stabbing incident could be upgraded. CHARGES against a 21 year involved in a Naas stabbing incident could be upgraded. At Kilcock District Court on Tuesday, 15 April, Aaron Byrne (21), with an address given as 31 Kilclare Crescent in Tallaght, was charged with a serious Section 3 assault. It is being alleged that on Saturday, 12 April last, at Monread Heights, Naas, another individual was stabbed by Mr. Byrne, causing serious injuries. Judge Desmond Zaidan was told by Gardai that the injured party has serious injuries to the chest resulting in surgery and lacerations to the lung. Garda Inspector Paul Dolan said there could be an upgrade of the charges. Mr. Byrne, who has been remanded on bail on strict conditions, replied, when charges were put to him by Gardai. Its not me. Gardai sought a curfew be kept by the defendant. While Mr. Byrne said he would staying at the above Tallaght address, where his mother lives, Gardai said he had not lived there and they had issues over his address while on bail. He said that he was staying there. Judge Zaidan set down conditions. One is that Mr. Byrne not have any contact with the injured party, his friends or any other witnesses. He must also sign on twice weekly, on Tuesday and Thursday, at Tallaght Garda Station. He was also ordered to hand over his passport, which, his solicitor said, had expired. Mr. Byrne is also required by the bail condition to remain indoors at the Tallaght address from 9pm to 7pm, except when he has to leave for and return from his workplace in a warehouse, where he can be required to work at night. Judge Zaidan agreed to release him on his own bond of 500 cash but did not require an independent surety. Gardai also asked for a mobile phone contact. Mr. Byrne said he had a mobile phone at home but did he did not know the number. He was asked to give that to the Gardai. Mr. Byrne was granted free legal aid. The case was adjourned to todays (16 April) sitting of Naas District Court. Sinn Fein is launching Councillor Martin Kennys campaign to win a Dail seat in the next election on Friday, 22 January at 7pm in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell. The main speaker at the event will be Martin McGuinness MLA, who will be joined by Caoimhghin O Caolain TD along with Senator Kathryn Reilly and a host of other elected representatives. Sinn Fein is running two candidates in the constituency, with Chris MacManus based in Sligo and Martin Kenny based in Leitrim and of course the new constituency of Sligo-Leitrim includes part of South Donegal and a large area of West Cavan with over 10,000 voters. The party has grown steadily in recent years across this region and Sinn Fein has councillors in all local areas and all indications are that this growth will continue. Cllr Kenny has been a candidate in previous general elections in Roscommon-South Leitrim and received a very large vote in the By-Election in 2014. Cllr Kenny said, I am delighted that Martin McGuinness is performing the launch of my election campaign, he is an iconic figure who has achieved so much success building political strength for Sinn Fein and advancing the process toward peace and Irish Unity. The fact we are having a general election on this historic year is an opportunity for Ireland to move beyond the obstacles of past failures and once again put the vision of the 1916 leaders into the centre of Government. A Sinn Fein led progressive Government would build a fair recovery, would invest in public services and would progress the cause of Irish Unity. Fine Gael and Labour talk of stability and chaos. The truth is they have delivered chaos in hospitals, chaos in housing and chaos in communities over the past 5 years. They are fooling no one with their new found concern for healthcare, for housing, for the low paid. They are not promising stability; they are promising more of the same. I want to represent the people of this constituency, the majority of whom have not experienced any real recovery. I want to be a TD to progress Sinn Feins policy to invest in health and in housing and in broadband and in real employment opportunities for the people of this constituency. The elite and the well-connected are the only ones benefiting from this Government and it is past time to end the party for the boys at the top and ensure that people who work hard every day and still struggle to survive are properly represented. On Friday, 22 January we will launch the campaign in the Slieve Russell and all across Leitrim and West Cavan we will commence the work of convincing the electorate to trust us with their votes. It will be a huge task, but I am determined to meet and canvas as many people as possible in every parish and town in the constituency. If successful within a few weeks I will be in the Dail standing up for the rights of the ordinary people and demanding fair play, Cllr Kenny concluded. It seems that every day theres a new reason to admire Canadian Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Guardian has a report of a panel session in Davos where he said that everyone should embrace feminism. He said that a more diverse team makes better decisions in both politics and business. I particularly liked the clip in the video in which he said that his wife had reminded him that he not only had to encourage his daughter into taking leadership roles, but also to talk to his sons about treating women properly. He also said that he thinks there will be as big changes in attitudes to equality in the next 20 years as there has been in the last 40. While changing mindsets can take a long time, Trudeau predicted that the citizens of 2036 will look back disapprovingly at the world today. Even within our own society, if you look back 50 years or if you leaf through a magazine from the 70s, you see horrific sexism that is overt in a way that would be unacceptable today. Even today, hopefully 20 years from now, people will look at what we think is acceptable today and find it horrifically off-base. He also spoke about the way that he encouraged members of his gender balanced team to join him: I personally convinced a number of extraordinary women to step forward, as well as a number of extraordinary men, at a time when politics can be very very divisive. Study after study have shown that if you ask a man if he wants to run for office his first question is likely to be: Do I have to wear a tie every day? And if you ask a woman if she wants to run for office, her first question is usually, Really, why me? Lets start rewarding politicians and companies who arent driven by a macho approach, Trudeau said. This party has much to do to sort out its own attitude towards diversity and particularly in terms of gender equality. With big decisions on diversity to be made this Spring at our conferences in Edinburgh and York, we could do with taking a leaf out of Trudeaus book. Its a significant test of whether we are actually willing to take the evidence-based action necessary to ensure that we represent the communities we wish to serve. If we are not, then that is bound to have a detrimental effect on our electability and the prospects for the #libdemfightback. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings Tim Farron has called on the Government to stop taking money from states with poor human rights records to train their military officers at the elite Sandhurst training college. He said to the Guardian: These Sandhurst sheikhs are sitting in our military academies, learning from our best and then taking these things back to regimes that repress their population and trample all over human rights. People will look at this and think why are we selling weapons to Saudi, training Bahrainis and then sitting there while they oppress their population. Shared military training with our allies is a fantastic resource, but it is time to stand up for the values we talk about so much democracy and human rights. British forces provide some of the best military training in the world, but the privilege to train with our top class troops should be reserved to those foreign armed forces who share our values and our strict adherence to humanitarian law in combat. I believe we need to end to the training of overseas royals from regimes with terrible human rights records at Sandhurst. The Minister seemed to miss the point in his reply, saying that it was good that overseas officers had British standards of training. But arent we then tarnished if those officers are part of a repressive regime? The article gives an idea of where the officer cadets come from. For example, Saudi Arabia, one of the most repressive regimes in the world, is paying us 54000 to train a small number of officers. There are also 14 cadets from Bahrain, which saw a particularly draconian approach to the Arab Spring and they continue to use excessive force and torture to quell dissent. For months now, there have been repeated calls for the UK to take 3000 unaccompanied child refugees who have fled the Syrian conflict. Tim Farron has been pressing the Government to do so, going as far as tabling a Bill in Parliament. Most of the opposition parties in Parliament and its International Development Committee are in favour. Tomorrows Observer suggests that action may soon be forthcoming: Amid growing expectation that an announcement is imminent, Downing Street said ministers were looking seriously at calls from charities, led by Save the Children, for the UK to admit at least 3,000 unaccompanied young people who have arrived in Europe from countries including Syria and Afghanistan, and who are judged to be at serious risk of falling prey to people traffickers. Government sources said such a humanitarian gesture would be in addition to the 20,000 refugees the UK has already agreed to accept, mainly from camps on the borders of Syria, by 2020. Tim Farron isnt counting any chickens until the announcement is made, saying tonight that he wants to see firm action: I have repeatedly called for the UK to take in 3,000 unaccompanied refugee orphans and the government must now move from looking at the issue to actually rolling out a plan to offer these youngsters a home. Those who have made it to European shores now face cold winters, harsh conditions and are vulnerable to traffickers and those who want to exploit them. Every moment longer the Prime Minister takes to decide leaves a child alone, without protection and without a future. We must open our hearts to those in need and I will keep pressing at this for as long as it takes. We can and must help. It would certainly be very wrong of Downing Street to be briefing so positively if it were not on the brink of taking action. Lets hope that they just get on with it soon. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings The agenda for the Scottish Liberal Democrat Spring Conference to be held on Edinburgh on 26 and 27 February has been published and can be found online here. Traditionally, pre-election conferences are full of non-controversial items aimed at setting out the partys stall to the public. This agenda, by and large, follows that pattern with debates on opportunities for young people, public services, a plan to decentralise power, particularly to Scotlands island communities, better and fairer delivery of essential services like electricity and broadband in the Highlands. All of these are pretty much bread and butter issues for the party. The main moment of controversy, however, will come in a closed session when party members will debate a radical and wide-ranging motion on improving the partys diversity. Yes, it includes all-women shortlists for the five most winnable seats in 2020, the first two places on the 2019 Euro list going to a woman and a man respectively and decisions to be taken at a later date for the Scottish Parliament elections. Thats not the whole story, though. Theres a minimum of 10,000 a year in ring-fenced funding to support candidates from under-represented groups with personal or campaign expenses, a duty on the leader and every member of the Executive to make the party more diverse and a duty on local parties to report, as they do for PPERA, on diversity every year. Whats interesting is that Jo Swinson, who was famously against all-women shortlists, is summating for this motion. The motion itself is very long, over 1200 words and 120 lines. Ive reproduced the first two sections setting out the problem and a broad set of principles for action at the bottom of this article. This motion, like many others on the agenda, is open for amendment until 24 February. It is significantly more radical than that which has been submitted by the Federal Executive for Spring Conference. We will find out later this weekend if it has been selected for debate. The early bird discount rate for Scottish conference is in place until 31st January and you can find out details of how to register here. Conference notes: The track record of Scottish Liberal Democrats for electing women and people from diverse backgrounds does not reflect the partys values of equality and opportunity. There has only ever been one woman MP at any one time. There have only ever been two women MSPs at any one time. There has never been a parliamentarian from an ethnic minority. In the last 20 years, of 36 new Liberal Democrat parliamentarians in Scotland only 5 have been women. In the last 10 years, of 9 new Liberal Democrat parliamentarians in Scotland only 1 has been a woman. Only 36% of Scottish Liberal Democrat councillors are women. Only 30% of Scottish Liberal Democrat council group leaders are women. Whilst 42% of members attending the Scottish Spring Conference in 2015 were women only 32% of speakers at that conference were women. Whilst 46% of local party secretaries are women, only 21% of Conveners are women. The party has deployed a variety of mechanisms and efforts to improve diversity including Diversity Champions, diversity training, candidate initiatives, mentoring, Leadership Programme and engaging with underrepresented groups. Conference believes: The partys parliamentary representatives should properly reflect the country we seek to represent, legislate for and govern. The imbalance in our representation at all levels damages our electoral prospects. We are losing out on some great talent that exists in our party and the broader liberal movement. Despite the deployment of a variety of techniques and efforts, bolder action is now required. New measures should be deployed to bring about greater diversity of elected parliamentarians and councillors and participation in the partys activities. The party should send a powerful signal to women and people from underrepresented groups that their participation is actively encouraged. The automatic assumption that a candidate must be able to commit all evenings and weekends to campaigning even if they have caring responsibilities should change. An environment and culture should be created in the party that gives women and people from diverse backgrounds opportunity to succeed in the party and to access elected office at all levels. Half of the partys parliamentary representatives should be women. Our partys parliamentary representatives should broadly reflect society in terms of ethnic background, LGBT+, disability and other characteristics. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings Willie Rennie has written a scathing attack on the Scottish Conservatives for the Scotsman newspaper. He accused Ruth Davidsons party of being nothing but a referendum themed tribute act. In contrast, he set out a strong statement of the values the Liberal Democrats stood for: I want liberal-minded Yes voters to know they can vote for the Liberal Democrats because Scotland needs strong liberal voices in parliament to stand up for investment in opportunity through education and good health, to guarantee our civil liberties and to protect our environment. We need a strong outward-looking, internationalist, altruistic, tolerant, reformist, pro civil liberties, pro-Europe, pro-environment, pro-business party in Scotland. You dont get that with anyone else and Yes voters as well as No voters should back us if they want that platform. The Tories are trying to portray themselves as the true guardians of the union, trying to characterise Labour and Liberal Democrats as flimsy at best because we wont chuck independence supporters out of our parties. Willie says that the Tories and the SNP are feeding off each other and trying to continue the independence debate when Scotlands focus needs to be on its own public services: If the dividing line in Scottish politics continues to be independence then we are playing into the hands of those who want to continue the independence debate. That is why the SNP are now talking up the chances of the Conservatives. The First Minister did it in parliament and her former advisers are doing it in the press. They want the Tories to talk about independence so that they can talk about independence too. They are feeding off each other. What Willie doesnt say is that and is worth pointing out is that both the SNP and the Tories are exceptionally well funded which gives them a considerable advantage in spreading their own messages. Those of us who dont have that advantage are going to have to work very hard to be heard. Willie also highlighted the things that the Tories had done to damage the union, starting with Camerons disgraceful speech on the steps of No 10 the day after the referendum: At one of the most significant constitutional moments since the formation of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister put his party before his country. The Prime Minister put his party before his country right up through the general election too. He sought to scare middle England with the prospect of the rise of the Scots. The publication of a poster of a Scotsman, on this occasion Alex Salmond, pick-pocketing an English taxpayer was a reckless act that promoted an inaccurate characteristic of Scots. How on earth does that help keep the country together? The Conservatives were only interested in election victory, and never mind the damage done to the relationship between Scotland and England. These were not the actions of a party that was putting the long-term stability of the United Kingdom first. You can read his whole article here. * Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online. Via The Los Angeles Times: Jury awards $12 million in valley fever suit against Caltrans. Excerpt: A Northern California jury awarded five construction company workers nearly $12 million in damages in a lawsuit alleging the California Department of Transportation did not warn them about the risks of being exposed to a dangerous fungus at a work site. The Solano County jury on Thursday found that Caltrans knew the risks of the fungus and concealed its presence. The crew was excavating and expanding a culvert in Kern County in 2008, according to the complaint. During the trial, jurors learned Caltrans employees not only knew the Kern County project was in a high-risk area, but had a map from the county health department showing places where the fungus previously had been in the soil. The fungus causes a potentially deadly respiratory disease commonly known as valley fever. Peter Alfert, lead attorney on the case, said Caltrans warned all of its employees in Kern County by email about the risk of the fungus and told them how to prevent exposure. That warning, however, was not given to independent contractors and their employees, he said. "They weren't advising people of the risk that they would get an incurable disease," he told The Times. "On a real, common-sense level, the case came down to the fact that it was clear that Caltrans knew about the risk. They warned their own people about the risk. It would be so easy to warn the plaintiffs about this." Stacy London Talks Midlife Hair Care and Menopause The star of What Not to Wear wants women to be their best selves, no matter how old they are. A new state-of-the-art school on Roxboro Road in Limerick was officially launched this week by Minister for Education Jan OSullivan and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, four months after hundreds of pupils settled into the new facility. The Le Cheile National School is an amalgamation of Galvone National School and Southill Junior School next to the old Glavone National School building, where Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy now resides. Before Minister OSullivan arrived on the grounds of the new school, the excited pupils lined up in the corridor to greet their guest before she entered the hallway for the big reception. Marking the new beginning for the southside school, the Labour TD said that she was personally delighted to be launching the school. I was really pleased to have been able to support efforts to develop this school and this really is a fantastic day for the young pupils, for the teaching staff and, indeed, the wider community. Education is the foundation stone for young people to build solid futures around but it is incumbent on all of us to invest in that and today is a wonderful example of how this happens and what it can do, she said. She added that she was delighted to have been able to play a role in the development of the school. Thanks to this school there will be greater opportunity than ever before laid out in front of these children. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan was also present to celebrate the monumental day. Addressing the pupils, parents, staff and guests, he said that it is a really significant day for everyone involved in the development of the project. It is also another really positive moment for the Limerick Regeneration programme. This school will also be a lasting legacy of that programme and will go on to make a huge contribution to life here on the south-side of the city. It will be a school that many, many people will go on to great things from and will, ultimately look back in great fondness at their time here. Bishop Brendan Leahy said that there has been wonderful support from various stakeholders throughout the projects development, including the Department of Education, Limerick City and County Council, Tusla, parents, teachers and the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. The name is no chance; this school is all about working together and by working together you can really build a future. Thats been the essence of this project from the very off. We have achieved this through a multi-agency approach that we have been delighted to lead. However, it really has been about the sum of all parts and we really have created something special, he said at the official launch. When the school opened its doors for the first time in September, principal Mary Blennerhassett said that it was an historic day for Limerick education. She said that the schools model is based on a three faceted approach to provide quality education, to support the child before, during and after school, and the third facet is to support parents to get the best outcome for the new pupils. She said at the launch that all pupils and staff have blended in well into the new school. YOU HEAR a lot about Travellers, says Bridgie OReilly, but you don't hear good things, not at all. Day to day, everyone is struggling - for somewhere to bring up your children, being a mother, and a parent, and living in the conditions we live in. In a new, thought-provoking and now award-nominated exhibition in the Hunt Museum, Bridgie was one of 13 Traveller women, aged from their early 20s to 60s and based in halting sites across the city, who took part in the museums outreach programme. Their medium was glass, and they learned to work with it over eight weeks, under the esteemed artist Roisin de Buitlear. Her own interest in religious iconography proved fitting with the group, with many citing religion as an important part of their home life. Their mission was to explain to the wider community and the public at large what home means to them and the challenges they face. For many it was a chance to show their worth, but also to show how both Travellers and settled people have much in common in their modern lives. Bridgie is a 43 year-old mother of four who has lived in Ballysimon for the past 30 years, alongside eight other families in one halting site. This was a first for us as a group of Traveller women, she told the Limerick Leader of the workshop. We had never done anything like it before and were all a bit apprehensive. Roisin gained our interest and respect from the word go. It was a very positive project to work on, a very honest project, and a chance to show others the positive side of our community. People dont think were all alike, but we are all alike. We all have financial problems and accommodation problems. When you grow up with discrimination its hard; youre made to feel different. Its very hard to find work, especially when youre a Traveller, almost impossible, said Bridgie, who has now found part-time work. Outsiders Look In is the telling title of the glass pieces made by Kathleen and Julie Faulkner. We made this piece so outsiders can see what we're living in, our conditions, and how small the trailer is. You can have a home out of anything. It doesn't have to be a house. Our home is in a caravan. The bigger picture is that we want our home to be in a house. Home is somewhere to live. It's family. The windows, fogged up with condensation, have now been flung open. We are standing inside the space of a typical caravan, within the confines the museum. The exhibition space has been recreated in a similar sized space to demonstrate to the public the cramped confines that Travellers live in. Some of those present have families as big as six and are on the housings waiting list. As temperatures turn to freezing this week, some people are feeling the cold more than others. Every morning in freezing temperatures, I have to leave the window open to get rid of the condensation that forms inside, wrote Ann ONeill in a piece to accompany her creation, entitled Wet Windows. These are summer caravans, not made for winter. My son has trouble with his chest. I live on a council halting site in Limerick city. I live in a caravan with my grown up sons. We also have a laundry room which one of my sons uses as his bedroom. Denise Donovan, in The Voice Box, said her piece is about living in a square. Everyone gets their own square plot on a halting site, your own bay which is surrounded by walls. The mouth [etched on glass] represents Traveller needs, and that no one listens to their voice. Everyone should have freedom of speech. No one listens when we need help. One of the best things about living in a caravan is hearing the rain on the roof in the mornings. You can hear the rain and the wind and it's lovely when you're inside and it's warm. However, sometimes the chalets can be very cold, and they can lift and shake in high winds. The title of a glass piece created by Joanne Faulkner, Margaret Faulker and Olive Faulkner is again revealing Were all the One. "This piece explains that some people live in houses, some people live in caravans. But we're all the one people, and we have the one religion. We live the one way, we do the one thing, with family around us. It shows the culture of Travellers and how they're all interlinked. That we're all the same," they explain. Hannie OReilly recreated a church through glass with her daughter Margaret. The Church is a big part of our lives. We go to Mass every Sunday, because it is our religion, and religion is very important to our family. Our home is a big mobile home caravan. It is a place of love, peace and where we are full of happiness, explained Margaret. Teresa O'Donoghue who created a Sacred Heart picture through glass again wanted to focus on the importance of religion to Travellers. They pray in good and bad times, you have to have faith, she said. Ann ODriscoll focused on rosary beads for her piece. She says they give her peace of mind. The rosary beads are about trying to keep our religion in the family and in the home. If there are problems in the family I spend a lot of time saying the Rosary. I get great consolation from my prayers and my Rosary beads. Artist Roisin de Buitlear, who worked with these women, described them as extraordinary and said it was one of the most beautiful projects she has ever worked on. She said the lives of Traveller women are as complicated and busy as anyone elses lives, but they also have a different set of ethics. She praised the women she worked with as being incredibly open, honest and generous. I have huge admiration for how you live your lives and your sense of home, she said to the women. The outreach programme began shortly after the Carrickmines disaster in Dublin, which left 10 people dead after a fire engulfed a caravan site, and saw another 15 left homeless as they attempted to be accepted in other communities. Dr Hugh Maguire, the director of the museum, emphasised that the museum is for everyone and that all people in the community should take ownership of it. He described the exhibition, both in terms of its contents and its use of physical space, as very evocative. It was supported by the Limerick city Traveller Health Advocacy Programme and funded by Limerick City and County Council. The exhibition, entitled Home, runs daily until Thursday, January 28. Among their upcoming exhibitions include a photographic exhibition by Eamonn Farrell, focusing on Charlie Haughey and Desmond OMalley. History will also be a major focus, first taking in an exhibition of historic posters around WWI from the Ulster Museum, running from February, followed by an exhibition on the Ned Daly papers, from March. Local News, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: January 23 2016 Earlier today, Rafael Astacio, a former detective with the New York City Police Department, was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco, to be followed by three years ... DA Rice joined by investigation partners in 2014 to announce state charges from a grand jury indictment against five members of the burglary crew, including Rafael Astacio. Copiague, NY - January 21, 2016 - Earlier today, Rafael Astacio, a former detective with the New York City Police Department, was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco, to be followed by three years of supervised release. As part of the sentence, the court entered a $200,000 forfeiture money judgment and restitution in the amount of $1.8 million. Previously, Astacio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and filing a fraudulent tax return. The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. According to court filings and statements at todays court proceeding, between 2010 and 2012, Astacio was a member of a burglary crew that committed approximately three dozen commercial burglaries and ten residential burglaries in the Eastern District of New York stealing approximately $8,000,000 in cash and property. Astacio personally participated in six of the commercial burglaries and five residential burglaries stealing more than $5.3 million in cash and property. The crew used traditional burglary tools, such as blow torches, crowbars, wire cutters, and sledge hammers, as well as cell phone jammers, police scanners, and an automobile tracking device to commit these crimes. Astacio also used his position with the NYPD to locate potential burglary targets home addresses. For years, Astacio and his crew invaded Long Island homes and businesses and stole money and property. By victimizing the very same people he took an oath to serve and protect, the defendant compounded his criminal acts, stated United States Attorney Capers. Mr. Capers extended his grateful appreciation to the Nassau County District Attorneys Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; the Nassau County Police Department; the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York; and New York City Police Department for their assistance in this case. The governments case is being prosecuted by the Offices Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Caffarone and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Whelan are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : RAFAEL ASTACIO Age: 43 Copiague, New York 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 Antar al Kindi claims to have left the Islamic States ranks in Yemen and joined al Qaeda. A jihadist propaganda outfit named Al Hidayah Media Production released a video on Jan. 15 featuring a man who has purportedly defected from the Islamic States ranks in Yemen. The defector is identified as Antar al Kindi and he ends his testimony with an apology to Ayman al Zawahiri, as well as other al Qaeda leaders. The video is part an ongoing propaganda battle between al Qaeda and the Islamic State, which are competing to lead jihadists around the globe. A caption shown on screen describes al Kindi as the former leader of one of Abu Bakr al Baghdadis groups in the Yemen branch. He says he joined the Islamic State after the so-called caliphate was declared in June 2014. At the time, Baghdadis followers made him perform a prayer, known as the Mubahalah, which curses anyone who is lying. The prayer was intended to serve as a counterintelligence measure, al Kindi explains, as the Islamic State is worried about spies in its ranks. Baghdadis men also believe the Mubahalah exposes jihadists who intend to defect to al Qaeda. In an introductory sharia (Islamic law) course, new recruits are taught the doctrine of takfir. According to Al Kindi, this means they are instructed to believe that Muslims who do not join the Islamic State are infidels. Al Kindi says the Islamic States members are acting like Kharijites, a term drawn from Islamic history that is generally used in the current context to describe extremist Muslims. Any jihadist who recants his bayah (oath of allegiance) to Baghdadi is considered an infidel. Any time a member attempts to revoke his allegiance the matter is referred up the chain of command and the caliph (Baghdadi) determines his punishment, which could be a death sentence. This is how the Islamic State has no respect for Muslim blood, Al Kindi says in the video, according to a translation obtained by The Long War Journal. An Islamic State sharia official even branded an Al Nusrah Front member as an apostate, according to Al Kindi. (This is not surprising as Al Nusrah, al Qaedas official branch in Syria, has openly rivaled the Islamic State since 2013.) Al Kindi claims he realized just how extreme the Islamic States methodology really is when his family attempted to stop him from waging jihad. One of al Kindis comrades said he should use his weapon to kill his family, so they wouldnt be able to obstruct his jihadist path. The Islamic State defector claims to expose some of the groups lies. For instance, the Islamic States Wilayat Shabwah (or province in Shabwah, Yemen) released a video in May 2015 praising the caliphates gains in Anbar and Ramadi, both of which are in Iraq. Although the video was advertised as being shot in Shabwah, al Kindi says, it was actually filmed in Hadramawt, another Yemeni province. Al Kindi explains that the Islamic State didnt want to provoke Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which controls much of Hadramawt, so the caliphates men simply claimed the video was shot elsewhere. Al Kindi ends his testimony by addressing the leaders of jihad and its honest clerics. He apologizes to his beloved Emir and Sheikh, Ayman al Zawahiri, asking the al Qaeda leader to forgive him and others who have left the Islamic State for al Qaedas ranks. He also apologizes to two leading pro-al Qaeda clerics, Abu Qatada al Filistini and Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi (both of whom are prominent critics of the Islamic State), as well as Abu Muhammad al Julani, who leads Al Nusrah Front. The Islamic States arm in Yemen has suffered from a leadership split in recent weeks. In December, more than one dozen senior leaders, along with scores of fighters, openly rebelled against the groups governor (wali) for what they claimed were serious violations of sharia. [See LWJ report, Divisions emerge within the Islamic States Yemen province.] Weeks later, another group of fighters rebelled. In all, more than 100 Islamic State officials and fighters have rejected the governors legitimacy. [See LWJ report, More Islamic State members reject governor of Yemen Province.] Al Kindis video may be part of an effort to capitalize on this dissent. It is not clear how many of the disaffected Islamic State members have joined AQAP. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for 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. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. "The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING." Oswaldo Jose Paya Sardinas (2002) Also on the blog this week: Guest post: Innovation and the case for confidence 40 precedential TTAB opinions in 2015 The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board issued 40 precedential opinions in 2015, according to The TTABlogs count. This is down slightly in recent years, with the previous three years having numbers of 45, 44 and 44. While trademark developments in the courts may have overshadowed the TTAB's efforts this past year, there were still plenty of decisions worth noting, noted the blogs John Welch. The blog post listed all the precedential opinions, which included cases involving PRINCESS KATE, PORNO JESUS and THE HOUSE THAT JUICE BUILT. All my ex-cases are in Texas? The Federal Circuit has agreed to hear a case that challenges the dominance of the Eastern District of Texas in patent cases, reports Corporate Counsel. Forty-four percent of the patent cases filed in US district courts last year were filed in the district. Oral arguments in In Re: TC Heartland will be heard on March 11. The case seeks to scrap the rule established in the 1990 Federal Circuit case VE Holding, which expanded the places patent owners could sue for infringement. Dennis Crouch on the Patently-O blog commented: If the petitioner here wins, we could see a dramatic shift in the geographic distribution of patent cases. In other words, it would become much more difficult to bring an infringement action in the ongoing hot-spot of the Eastern District of Texas. Apple granted useless injunction Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California has granted an injunction banning Samsung from selling certain smartphones on the US, reports Ars Technica. However, the injunction order applies to models that are so old as to barely have an effect on the smartphone market. The news is the latest development in the long-running patent lawsuits involving Apple and Samsung. Several phones were found to infringe the so-called quick links patent, which expires on February 1. Three phones were found to have infringed the slide to unlock patent. According to Ars Technica, Samsung will likely try to design around Apples autocorrect patent. Ars Technicas Joe Mullin wrote: Mainly, the injunction at this point just provides bragging rights for Apple. The case proves that one can use patents to force a competitor to remove features. Meanwhile, the FOSS Patents blog reports that there is broad-based support for Samsungs Supreme Courts petition in Apples design patents case. Dark Knight rises to the Supreme Court A man who made Batmobiles has filed a writ of certiorari asking the Supreme Court to consider whether Batmans car can be considered a character covered by copyright, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Ninth Circuit of Appeals last September held that Mark Towle was infringing copyright by making replicas of the Batmobile. Towle is asking the Supreme Court to consider three questions: - Whether a court may judicially create a subject of copyright that was specifically and expressly excluded by Congress as such when Congress enacted The Copyright Act, thus circumventing the clear mandate of Congress and the US Copyright Office; - Whether an automobile that does not display any personality traits or any consistent and widely-identifiable physical attributes can be separately protected by copyright as a character; and - Whether a determination of substantial similarity of protected expression must be made in a copyright case, independent of proof of copying. A fight over Marilyn Monroes image Foley Hoags Trademark & Copyright Law Blog this week analysed a case pending in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York that will explore the boundaries between Marilyn Monroes trade mark rights and her right of publicity. The Ninth Circuit of Appeals in 2012 held that Monroes right of publicity the right of a person to control the commercial use of their image, name, likeness, or other defining aspect of their persona died when she did. Monroe was domiciled in New York when she passed away in 1962. The false endorsement issue is central to AVELA v The Estate of Marilyn Monroe. Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act entitles celebrities to sue for trademark infringement when others use their persona to suggest a false endorsement or affiliation with goods or services. Monroes estate had sent AVELA cease-and-desist letters for selling goods bearing Monroes likeness. As the estates purported publicity rights had been nullified, AVELA sought a declaratory judgment of non-infringement, to which the estate filed various counterclaims in response. AVELA sought to dismiss the counterclaims, arguing they were simply an attempt to resuscitate Monroes right of publicity. The court recently rejected this argument, holding that the causes of action were different because the trade mark claim required proof of likelihood of confusion. So the case continues, at least for now, said Foley Hoag. It will be interesting to see whether Monroes estate can prove that the public is likely to believe that a woman dead for more than half a century is currently endorsing products. For the record, AVELA raised this issue in its motion to dismiss, but the court was not persuaded, leaving the issue of the viability of Monroes post-mortem endorsement claims for a later stage in the litigation. In our news and analysis: Report reveals top reasons for resolution of PTAB proceedings INTA elects JTIs Ronald van Tuijl as 2016 president The issues to watch in Cuozzo at the US Supreme Court Nestle loses fight over acquired distinctiveness of Kit Kat bar EPO staff demonstrate in Munich Start-ups in India to get special IP treatment How to prove it to the PTAB The sky was too overcast for spy planes and satellites to get an accurate read on the damage. Headquarters was buzzing with secret squirrel activity as planning continued for the ground offensive of Operation Desert Storm. I have been read into whats going on, but I can honestly say I do not understand all of it, Army 2nd Lt. Ted Little wrote in his journal on Jan. 22, 1991. I will say that our job lies ahead, and it will not be an easy one. Casualties are inevitable. As for me, I am kind of down as the reality of a long drawn-out war hits me. This thing will not be over soon. A chemical warfare officer with the 197th Infantry Brigade, Little had been in Saudi Arabia about 144 days up to that point. Less than a week prior, the defensive posture of Desert Shield had turned into a shooting war when U.S. and Allied aircraft launched attacks against the Iraqi military in Kuwait. The long wait in the harsh desert had drained a lot from Little who wrote of his frustrations. I am tired, filthy, lonely and ready to go home. We have given so much of ourselves already. Now, we must reach down deep and find some more to give. Years later, Little donated a photocopy of his war journal to the Cumberland County Historical Society. By then, he was a major in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Local reaction Thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf, The Sentinel newspaper in Carlisle ran daily wire stories chronicling the progress of Desert Storm. Here and there the coverage was intermixed with local stories and editorials. Twenty-five years ago today, the front page reported that area enlistment efforts remained strong even though local recruiters made it clear joining up did not immediately mean a deployment to the war zone. The war generated fear on the home front of a possible chemical attack by Saddam Hussein. The sale of gas masks skyrocketed among Army-Navy stores in the Harrisburg area, causing price hikes and temporary shortages. Meals-Ready-to-Eat and water purification tablets were also popular items along with American flags, patches and pins to display patriotism. Some even bought desert camouflage fatigues to show their support of the troops overseas. On January 24, 1991, The Sentinel reported that yellow ribbons were in short supply in the area as people flocked to local florists and craft stores looking for material to fashion the emblem symbolizing hope for a safe return home. Everywhere local residents were tying yellow ribbons on trees, doors, railings, lamp posts, cars and trucks as a statement of solidarity during the first major war since Vietnam. Demand was so great that Ned Deissler of Deisslers Flowers and Greenery in Camp Hill improvised by tinting white ribbon with yellow paint as he waited for another shipment of product to arrive. Support Anxiety over the war increased the demand for services at the Stevens Community Mental Health Center. Call volume to case management went up as people expressed concerns about Desert Storm and the strain it was placing on families. Allison United Methodist Church in Carlisle stepped up to the challenge and formed a support group for local residents who had relatives serving in the Gulf. In cooperation with the United Methodists Bishops of Pennsylvania, the church placed candles in the windows of all its Mooreland Avenue buildings representing the 10 members of the congregation deployed overseas. Carlisle Barracks offered a support group for children ages 3-8 that used a book called My Parents in Saudi Arabia to answer questions about the war. Another group on post encouraged volunteerism as a way to distract the mind and engage people to contribute to the war effort. The Sentinel reported how a group of waitresses from the officers club got together to organize a support rally for the troops as a response to earlier anti-war demonstrations on the Square in Carlisle. Bill Hoffman of Carlisle wrote a letter to the editor urging local residents to support the troops. Having been in the military during the Vietnam conflict and feeling the loss of public support at that time, I certainly sympathize with the present day feelings of our servicemen, Hoffman wrote. He asked readers to visualize the demoralizing effect that anti-war rallies may have on military personnel stationed 6,000 miles away from family and friends. Whether or not your belief falls with the government, you should at least not make life tougher for our sons, daughters and other loved ones stationed in the (Middle East). U.S. Marines and sailors with the Combined Arms Company concluded the initial iteration of the units three planned rotations at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 22, 2016. The mechanized unit, supplemental to the Black Sea Rotational Force, arrived in Eastern Europe in August 2015 to provide reassurance to partner-nations by demonstrating the value of the U.S. commitment to security in the region. Accompanied by roughly 160 U.S. Marines, the CAC is composed of M1A1 Abrams Tanks, M777 Howitzer artillery cannons, and light-armored vehicles. There is no other unit in the Marines Corps like the Combined Arms Company, said Lt. Col. Kemper Jones, commanding officer of BSRF. The unit was conceived in North Carolina, the equipment was brought overseas to Germany and transported Bulgaria, ready to meet strategic objectives and support partner-nations, Jones said. The heavy equipment, not only a token of commitment, builds upon collective capabilities and enhances major exercises. The most recent exercise in which the CAC participated was Platinum Lion 16-2, which concluded Jan. 15, 2016. During Platinum Lion, we really hit the mark on what the CAC is out here to do, which is to show our NATO Allies the capabilities we can bring to the table with armor and artillery, said Capt. Dan Whitt, commander of Combined Arms Company. We proved that we can fight effectively side-by-side with integrated combined arms. The CAC incorporated its assets into three multinational live-fire exercises during the six-month deployment and engaged with more than five different nations. These exercises are a unique opportunity to exchange tank employment techniques, mechanized infantry tactics, and indirect fire procedures, according to Whitt. The development and employment of the CAC proves the Marine Corps can build composite units quickly and effectively to meet the demand signal," said Jones. The oncoming Combined Arms Company, commanded by Capt. Kirk Steinhorst, is sourced from1st Battalion, 10th Marines; 2nd Tank Battalion; and other augments from II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The unit is scheduled to participate in cold weather training with partners in Latvia during the months of February and March. Last one in is a rotten egg. Literally. A recent post on Facebook that shows eggs at the grocery store has gone viral. The problem? The eggs were more than 30 days old. A few weeks ago I mentioned how the average grocery store egg might be 45 days old (or more) by the time you buy it. A... Posted by Fresh Eggs Daily on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all egg products are labeled with the following: product name, manufacturer's name, official identification, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval number, ingredients statement, net weight statement, and nutrition information. What about a rule regarding expiration dates? There is another label that includes a number (1 through 365), marking which day of the year the eggs were placed in their carton. Except, this label is voluntary. Even thought the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) clarifies that "you can still store fresh shell eggs in their cartons in the refrigerator for four to five weeks beyond this date," how do you know your eggs are still fresh? Here's how to accurately read all the codes on your carton of eggs to understand when they were packaged, how long they'll last, and what "Grade A" actually means: WESTPORT,CT A Fall River man died Friday when his tractor trailer rig crashed into a bridge support on I-95 in Westport. The Connecticut State Police told the Hartford Courant that 43-year-old Isaac Toure was driving northbound on the interstate highway at about 11:40 a.m. when his truck veered off the right side of the roadway went through a guardrail and slammed into a bridge support for the Sasco Creek Road overpass in Westport. Toure was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation. APTOPIX Canada-School Shooting Candles and flowers placed as a memorial lay near the La Loche, Saskatchewan, junior and senior high school as police investigate the scene of a daytime shooting at the school on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) TORONTO -- A 17-year-old boy was charged Saturday with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in a remote aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. The male suspect can't be named under Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Grant St. Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally -- a teacher and a teacher's aide. He said seven people wounded in Friday's shooting at the school are hospitalized. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. Police responded to a call of shots fired at the school shortly after the lunch hour. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commanding Officer Brenda Butterworth-Carr said when officers arrived at the school they saw the front door had been shot open. They entered the school, spotted the suspect and gave chase before apprehending himl. He is due in court next week. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun was used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. "This is a significant event for Canada," St. Germaine said. "It's a huge impact on the community of La Loche. It's a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence." Residents lit candles and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the school. The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. "I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right," Park told The Associated Press. "She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. ... She was a fantastic person." "I loved her, I really did," said Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. "I'm just so sad," he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Marie Janvier, said she worked as a teacher's aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. "The kids loved having her around," Lemaigre said. "They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody." A second victim was identified as 35-year-old Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. "Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time," his family said. "He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it "every parent's worst nightmare." A student who was just returning from lunch when the shots were fired Friday said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. "'Run, bro, run!" Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loche's junior and senior high school. "There's a shotgun! There's a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots too, so of course I started running." The RCMP said the first reports of shots being fired at the school came in around 1 p.m. Friday, and parents and residents were warned to stay away. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown as a precaution. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he is in a state of disbelief. He planned to visit La Loche on Sunday and promised to provide crisis support and counseling services. He added that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman had offered the counsel of U.S. communities which have experienced school shootings. "He noted that quite tragically the United States has more experience with the likes of what we saw in La Loche," Wall said. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting Friday was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community of 3,000. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. "It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning," said Cameron, who attended the La Loche school's graduation ceremony for the past few years. "Right now we're just in a state of shock and disbelief." Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest mass shooting occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. AGAWAM - The 26th Annual Chefs for Jimmy 'Fire & Ice' fundraiser was staged at Chez Josef in Agawam Friday evening to benefit the Jimmy Fund and the Boston Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Chefs from 30 local restaurants presented their specialties as an estimated 1,200 visitors passed through the doors during the three-hour event. The gala featured a silent auction, and an opportunity drawing which included a grand prize, "Chefs in a Basket," with an assortment of year-round restaurant gift cards. The 2016 event was presented by the Winer Levsky Group of UBS Financial Services, Inc., and will help support adult, and pediatric cancer care and research at the Boston Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Since 1990, the Chefs for Jimmy events have raised more than $1.4 million for care and research at Dana-Farber. The event is hosted in honor of Neal Webber, a longtime supporter of the Jimmy Fund. Anyone wishing to make a financial gift in support of prostate cancer research in memory of Webber can contact the Jimmy Fund at 800-52 JIMMY or www.JimmyFund.org for more information. EASTHAMPTON -- Sportsmen's clubs proliferated across America in the mid-20th century, providing a gathering place for those who love hunting, fishing and the out-of-doors. While some, such as the Pacific Rod & Gun Club in California, grew in the 1930s around the sport of American skeet shooting, others such as the Everglades City Rod & Gun Club in Florida were established by wealthy businessmen in the 1920s and offered a posh setting for rural pursuits. The Easthampton Rod & Gun Club at the end of River Street, formed in 1947, is neither famous nor posh, but its clubhouse on the Oxbow of the Connecticut River provides a rustic haven for over 200 men and women who enjoy the art of fresh-water fishing. "We catch pike, pickerell, bass, catfish, walleye and all kinds of pan fish in the Oxbow," said club vice president Michael Carenzo. "We have rowboats and canoes here when the weather is good. Plus we have a boat ramp. It's a nice place; it gives us a place to hang out." Carenzo said members are expected to do volunteer work - to rack up "points" - in order to remain in good standing. Points are earned by participating in river and pond cleanup efforts, helping out at fishing derbies and volunteering in other ways. Those with 15 or more points are invited to a day-long "worker's party" at the club's pavilion with a large feast, horseshoes and beverages. The club does not hold a regular liquor license but sometimes applies for one-day permits from the city to hold events. The club is perhaps best known for its various fishing derbies, which are held year-round. Ice fishing derbies draw the hale and hearty, while derbies in the fall and spring require fewer layers to participate. Sizable fish are pulled from the Oxbow; at the most recent spring derby, Drew Malo caught a 17-pound catfish, and in 2014 Nina Patnode landed a nearly 18-pound carp. During the annual Junior Trout Derby at Nashawannuck Pond, kids ages 5 to 14 compete for the biggest fish. The club has the pond stocked at its own expense for the derby, generally held around Father's Day. In the days before the event, members pitch in and pull litter from the iconic downtown water body. "The business community and people in Easthampton have always been incredibly generous," said Carenzo. "We've been able to award great prizes, such as bicycles. The derby teaches kids how to fish and gets them outdoors." The club, with its vinyl-clad wood-frame house, pavilion and nearly 10 acres, holds an annual event where it invites veterans from the VA hospital in Leeds to come spend the day. Despite the club's name, no firearms are discharged on the property. "There's no way that we could do that here," said Carenzo. "We're too close to the river." The club does, however, host a deer checking station where a wildlife biologist is on hand to tag the deer and gather data relevant to the year's herd. Carenzo said he and others worked to install bluebird houses and duck boxes on the property, and that some members enjoy playing cards. In a related pursuit, the club raises ring-necked pheasants, thanks to chicks provided by the state and a program launched in the 1980s by an Easthampton World War II veteran. James Zedonis, 94, said when he retired from his job at Hamilton Standard, he decided to join the club. The birds are raised at a location separate from the club, and when they are grown they are released on conservation land in Southampton for the benefit of hunters. Zedonis said that in the past, pheasants were raised by inmates at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction, but that that's no longer the case. Details of the club's early history are not clear, because many records were destroyed in a 1981 flood, said Bill Barcomb, a longtime member who is now in his 70s. "The whole club was underwater," he said. Barcomb said he understood that the club got its start in the 1940s with a group meeting "in the cellar of a hardware store on Maine Ave." Eventually, the group split, with some forming the Easthampton Fish & Game Association in Southampton, and others gravitating toward the clubhouse on the Oxbow. The Southampton group is oriented toward firearms, while the Easthampton club is centered on fishing. Barcomb, a former Southampton fire chief, said club members and their significant others showed up at his house and cut and stacked a season's worth of firewood after he broke his wrist two years ago. "And then this fall, I lost my wife of 57 years," he said. "I was devastated. And these people, they showed up again; men and women with chain saws and log splitters. It warmed -- the cockles of my heart. What kind of people do that these days? It made me happier than hell." A news clipping and photo from 1967 shows former club officers Raymond Thibodeau, John Doyle, Eward Tanski, Frank Korona, and Victor Yarra seated at a table with Joseph Ramsay, chair of the fish committee. Among those standing are former selectmen James F. Ramsey and Robert H. Partridge. Others are Emile Legere, Raymond Gosselin, Stanley Popielarczyk, William Martin, Fred Thibault, Joseph Arruda, and Joseph Acus. The club garnered many Facebook "likes" and "shares" in January when three of its men pulled a refrigerator from the Manhan River near the Fort Hill Road bridge, and the photos were posted to Patrick Brough's 01027 The Good News Page. Members Drew Malo, John Martelli and Dan LaTour used a small boat, an all-terrain vehicle and a truck to remove the dead appliance, which had been illegally dumped around a quarter mile upstream from the club. "People like to fish off that bridge," said club member Gary Jones. "Nobody wants to look at a refrigerator. We do a lot to keep the river clean." Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com SPRINGFIELD - The self-described adopted son of Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen has been placed on home detention after admitting that his arrest for impersonating a Connecticut police officer last month violated his probation in a 2014 case in Massachusetts. Antonio Stephens, 21, admitted to two probation violations during a preliminary hearing last month in Springfield District Court before Judge William O'Grady. The judge scheduled a full violation hearing for March 2 and placed Stephens on home confinement, with GPS monitoring and permission to leave only for work, medical and legal appointments. The order came five months after Stephens was sentenced to five years of probation for sending sexually-suggestive drawings to a 10-year-old Longmeadow girl who followed him on Snapchat. On Dec. 3, Stephens was charged with reckless driving and impersonating a police officer following a high-speed chase with a Connecticut state police detective on Interstate 91. The pursuit began after Stephens, traveling at more than 100 mph and flashing red and blue emergency lights, passed the trooper in the left breakdown lane, according to the arrest report. When the trooper stopped him, Stephens identified himself as a sheriff's deputy and sped off, according to the arrest report. Stephens eventually pulled off the highway onto a two-lane road, passing a school bus that had stopped to let off children and swerving into oncoming traffic "causing several vehicles to veer off the highway to avoid head-on collisions," the report said. Later that night, Stephens arrived at a Connecticut state police barracks with former Agawam High School guidance counselor Alan Cohen, who identified himself as Stephens' father. Cohen, the mayor's brother, said he owned the vehicle, a late model Lexus, driven by Stephens. Stephens was arrested and released on $1,000 cash bail; two weeks later, an Enfield Superior Court judge ruled that police had probable cause to charge Stephens with reckless driving and impersonating a police officer. Stephens, who has denied the charges, is due back in Enfield Superior Court in March. In Massachusetts, meanwhile, Stephens faces the possibility of having his 60-month probation term revoked, leading to a possible jail sentence. As conditions of his probation, Stephens was not allowed to pick up new criminal charges or leave the state without permission of his probation officer. During last month's preliminary hearing, Stephens admitted to violating both of those conditions. During the full hearing, lawyers for Stephens and the state probation office will present their cases to O'Grady, who will decided what punishment, if any, Stephens will receive. The case dates back to Dec., 2014, when Stephens was charged with three counts of sending obscene matter to a minor after a Longmeadow mother complained that her daughter had received sexually-explicit images via Snapchat from Stephens. The images included photographs of clothed men, later identified as Agawam Department of Public Works employees, with hand-drawn genitalia added to depict the men performing oral sex on other men. In August, Stephens pleaded guilty in to one count of threatening to commit a crime; in exchange, prosecutors dropped three counts of sending obscene matter to a minor. Under a plea agreement, Stephens was ordered to serve five years of probation; complete sex offender treatment; undergo a mental health evaluation and avoid contact with the victim, her family and Longmeadow public schools. When the obscenity charges against Stephens were filed, the mayor characterized the incident as a lapse in social media judgment. In court documents, Stephens has identified himself as the mayor's adopted son, although Cohen said the adoption was never formalized. Stephens was homeless and 18 when he moved in with the mayor and his brother, who was working as a guidance counselor at Agawam High School. - : , ; In response to a recent regulatory decision on solar net metering, three California investor-owned utilities have proposed an alternative to how distributed solar users are compensated for sending excess energy to the grid. By Krysti Shallenberger Full Story: http://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-utilities-propose-alternative-to-regulators-net-metering-policy/412516/ Preparing students for industrial careers has been a priority for state officials for several years as industry leaders warn of a growing skills gap, where there arent enough people in the workforce with skills for industrial careers like welding or product processing. "These students will come out with a two-year degree making $60,000 a year," said Gov. Steve Bullock, who toured City College http://citycollege.msubillings.edu/ with other state leaders Thursday morning. "We have an opportunity to bring education and the private sector together." By MATT HOFFMAN [email protected] Full Story: http://m.billingsgazette.com/news/local/education/city-college-programs-address-workforce-needs-give-students-chance-to/article_2e8d3828-03ff-5935-b262-bafd7a03feb2.html Imagine being held in a Texas jail for six days after returning from vacation in Cancun all because you shared the same name with someone who may have passed some bad checks. Thats what Cynthia Cindy Bayless Cheesbrough says happened to her. Earlier this year the 52-year-old woman, who lives in Joplin and has no criminal history, was returning to the United States after a trip to Cancun, Mexico with her fiance. When she arrived at Houston International Airport for a change-over flight, she was taken into custody based upon a warrant that was issued for her arrest out of St. Francois County. It made no sense to her. Shed never heard of St. Francois County or Farmington and she certainly knew nothing about a $1,150 bad check she supposedly wrote. Since they werent married, her fiance couldnt be told anything about her case and they wouldnt let her talk to him. He was told that he should go ahead and take the flight they were waiting on so he did. I was subjected to frisking by a female guard ... it was totally embarrassing and humiliating, Bayless Cheesbrough said, adding she was then handcuffed to a metal bench until airport police escorted her through the airport in handcuffs. Im 52 and have osteoarthritis. Im not going to run. I had back surgery a year ago and I still have some issues from that. She spent 25 hours in Houston City Jail before spending another five days in the county jail. She said it is beyond belief what goes on behind bars. She had to undergo strip searches in front of a room full of women. The first time, she admits, she was hysterical and crying. She says she has dealt with anxiety and panic attacks. She was supposed to be taking Zoloft for anxiety and back pain meds for her osteoarthritis but she went without those medications for a week. After being released from jail she spent another day or two in Houston before having to take a bus to Missouri. Her fiance had her money with him and she only had a drivers license and a passport. When she got back to Missouri, she researched Case.net to see what the problem was. She called the courthouse and asked about the charges only to find out someone with her maiden name who lives in St. Francois County was actually supposed to be the defendant in the bad check case. However, for a reason not clearly known, Cheesbroughs date of birth and Social Security number was associated with the case. She called the bank who told her that her Social Security number is not even close to the other womans identification. Cheesbrough and her daughter headed to Farmington not knowing that courthouse officials immediately amended the charges after her phone call. She then got a copy of the paperwork and emailed it to Houston. It was all a matter of one number, Cheesbrough suspects. Her year of birth was 72 and mine is 62. Its frustrating one number can totally screw you up. She said it still bothers her. She has nightmares. She gets upset when she sees a police officer behind her. She doesnt even want to travel anymore. She feels she should be compensated for several thousands of dollars in expenses (travel, bail bond, and hotel stay). She also feels she should be compensated for the embarrassment caused by the mistake. Her attorney, Joshua K. Roberts of Springfield, said they are currently in negotiations with the insurer for the county. He said this incident violated her Fourth Amendment rights against searches and seizures. It also violated her civil rights. Roberts said in September of 2014 an assistant prosecuting attorney filed the felony complaint for Cynthia Bayless but used Cheesbroughs Social Security number and date of birth. The complaint was witnessed by a circuit court clerk and signed by a judge. It is not clear whether the information regarding the identity of the defendant came from the police department, prosecuting attorneys office or circuit clerks office, but the erroneous warrant was clearly issued by a county office, he said. The date of birth and Social Security number were amended on the charges on May 5, 2015. It troubles Roberts that St. Francois County doesnt have a double-check system. He said there needs to be a way for a prosecutor or circuit clerks office to double check a persons identifying factors for accuracy. There needs to be some kind of system, he said. I dont think St. Francois County is alone Roberts said she wants her story told in hopes that this wont happen to anyone else. County officials didn't have a comment. The issue is being handled by the county's insurance company. A vehicle being sought for suspicion of burglary led to a traffic stop and ended with marijuana being found. Jarrod Behr, 18, of Cadet, was arrested and formally charged with a class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, a class C felony of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent to use. The Washington County Sheriffs Department was dispatched on Jan. 6 to assist the De Soto Police Department with a vehicle wanted for suspicion of burglary in De Soto. The vehicle was described as a blue Dodge Stratus occupied by two males and two females. According to a probable cause statement, a Washington County deputy located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the area of Northwood Drive off of Highway 21. The report states that when a second deputy arrived he observed the driver, later identified as Behr, holding a wooden pipe and the deputy on scene informed the second deputy that he detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The man admitted to him that he and three other passengers had just smoked marijuana prior to being stopped. The deputy reported that the Behr handed over a small wooden pipe and stated that it was the device used to smoke the marijuana. At that time, the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana and he asked Behr to step out of the vehicle so he could search it. According to the statement, there were two females and one other male in the vehicle. The deputy knew one female, Sheila Graves, who was arrested for outstanding warrants in Washington County. The report said that while in custody she asked for coat which was in the truck of the car. The arresting deputy reported that he retrieved her coat from the trunk and in the process could smell an even stronger odor of marijuana coming from the trunk. The deputy stated in the report that he conducted a search of the trunk and found four plastic bags of marijuana. The statement indicates that at that point the deputies arrested Behr and read him his rights. The report said that Behr stated he did not wish to speak with the deputies about the marijuana. Deputies then detained the other male passenger and read him his rights as well. The other man said it belonged to Behr. The deputy reported that he believed such a large quantity was not for personal use, but for sale. The male stated that Behr does sell marijuana and that he had nothing to with selling marijuana. Behr was held on a $33,000 bond in the Washington County Sheriffs Department and has since bonded out. by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, January 22, 2016 Cloud computing supports search, data and digital advertising in general. You buy a Microsoft Surface Book and a bundled package of options and it comes with storage in the cloud. Microsoft pledges a commitment to putting cloud computing in the hands of the public, so earlier this week the company committed to donating $1 billion to public cloud computing resources during the next three years. The funds will go to support 70,000 non-profits and non-governmental organizations worldwide. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella describes the public cloud in a post as a privacy-protected data and storage service that renders on a massive network for public use. "Cloud computing makes it possible to reason over quantities of data to produce specific insights and intelligence," Nadella wrote. "It converts guesswork and speculation into predictive and analytical power." advertisement advertisement The rationale for Microsoft's announcement comes from the thinking that cloud services can make data available to many more who need the insight, but the down side also points to making the data available to many more who want the insight -- not just for the good of science and technology, and positive economic and social changes for the betterment of human services, but the more negative side of social destruction. How do we protect that data -- personal and private -- to use for the good of humanity? Risks are inherent in the cloud, as shown with the recent history of government and healthcare site data breaches. Nadella refers to cloud computing as a tool to eliminate hunger, poverty, poor health and a lack of education. He highlights the importance of cloud computing in playing a role through data. This week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Nadella joined other leaders to focus on the fourth industrial revolution, the blurring boundary between humans and machines. The leaders will discuss ways to make the benefits of cloud computing universally accessible, and how to provide less wealthy societies access to the data, intelligence, analytics and insights that come from the power of mobile and cloud computing, which presents a double-edged sword. by Kaila Colbin , Featured Contributor, January 22, 2016 An informed citizenry, said Thomas Jefferson in 1816, is at the heart of a dynamic democracy. (Or something to that effect; other versions include, An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic.) Americas third president was aware that representative politics call for more than just representation -- after all, without understanding what is going on, how can we know how we want to be represented? Information being a prerequisite for effective participation in a democracy, without freedom of speech and freedom of the press our democracy fails to function. We need access to facts and opinions that are unbiased, unafraid, and without obligation to anyone other than the public good. Without these, our perspectives, our commentary, and our votes are given blindly, the outcomes decided more by who has the money to control access to the medium and who has the greater skill in the manipulation of public opinion. advertisement advertisement Sadly and scarily, our channels of communication are under threat on multiple fronts, starting with the fact that the companies that provide us with information have no economic incentive to, you know, inform us. There is no good business model to do so, any more than there is for policing or firefighting. When privatized, these functions cease to prioritize the public good they were designed for, and instead become warped to the demands of the market. A for-profit prison benefits from an incarcerated population, with society the loser in the equation. Likewise, a media industry driven by pageviews and quarterly earnings benefits when we become shocked, outraged, and titillated, with our education, our compassion, and our attention to nuance ending up as -- forgive me -- huge losers. But its not just that clickbait and newsertainment drive us ever further towards the lowest common denominator, sacrificing veracity for volume. Its also the self-reinforcing algorithms of Facebook, Twitter and others, what MoveOn founder Eli Pariser described as filter bubbles. It is the fact that as we click on links that align with our ideology, we are shown more links that align with our ideology, until eventually we live under the false belief that only links conforming to our ideology exist -- and that, therefore, the whole world must feel as we do, with only stupid, malevolent or insane people failing to toe the party line. And as a nail in the coffin, this: last week, after the New Hampshire Union Leader called Trumps campaign an insult to the intelligence of voters, the candidate demanded that they be kicked out of the upcoming New Hampshire debate. ABC News, who is hosting the debate, complied. They complied. Incredibly, unbelievably, flabbergastingly, ABC complied. An independent, established newspaper, the largest and only statewide newspaper in the small but politically pivotal Granite State, was banned from covering a political event because it disagrees with one of the candidates. How can the press possibly be free if dissent is grounds for dismissal? I dont believe politicians are bad people, generally speaking. But a corrupt system corrupts those within it, and if the public has no access to full and free information, there is nothing to restrain the systems demise. As Jefferson (who apparently knew a thing or two about the human condition) also said, If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, January 22, 2016 Six Republican senators are pushing back against Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposed finding that broadband still isn't being deployed in a "reasonable and timely fashion." The lawmakers say Wheeler's conclusion hinges on the FCC's decision last year to redefine broadband as speeds of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Ten percent of the overall U.S. population lacks access to connections at those speeds, as does 39% of the rural population. The senators argue in a Jan. 21 letter to Wheeler that there is no reason why people need 25 Mbps connections. "We are concerned that this arbitrary 25/3 Mbps benchmark fails to accurately capture what most Americans consider broadband," Sens. Steve Daines (Montana), Roger Wicker (Mississippi), Roy Blunt (Missouri), Deb Fischer (Nebraska), Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) and Cory Gardner (Colorado) write. advertisement advertisement "Looking at the market for broadband applications, we are aware of few applications that require speeds of 25 Mbps," they add. "Netflix, for example, recommends a download speed of 5 Mbps to receive high-definition streaming video, and Amazon recommends a speed of 3.5 Mbps." The Hill first reported on the senators' letter. The lawmakers fail to mention that Netflix was one of the biggest proponents of the new standard. CEO Reed Hastings reportedly said during an earnings call last year that people will need fast speeds for ultra high-definition video and video-conferencing. "Once you got an Ultra HD video stream that's 15 megs just a single stream and you're going to want video conferencing, you're going to want online learning, you're going to want all kinds of different applications monitoring of your home, these kinds of things on video," Hastings said, according to FierceTelecom. "So 25 megs is kind of baseline for the next five years as opposed to the past five years." Advocacy group Public Knowledge, which also urged the FCC to define broadband as speeds of at least 25 Mbps, made similar points last year. That organization argued that 25 Mbps is necessary to guarantee that "average households have adequate capacity for online video and other applications. The FCC is expected to vote next week on Wheeler's proposed report on broadband deployment. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, January 22, 2016 The United Service Organizations (USO) has selected J. Walter Thompson Atlanta to lead creative strategy and execution of its national brand advertising campaign. The assignment, effective immediately, also includes support in launching new brand positioning in conjunction with the USOs 75th anniversary. Campaign elements to carry the new brand story will include TV, radio, digital, social, OOH and direct response. The agency said that its experience with military-affiliated clients, including a 67-year partnership with the United States Marine Corps; Hire Heroes USA; the Travis Manion Foundation; and the Bob Woodruff Foundation and proven track record with PSA conception and production helped earn the assignment. We studied our 75-year history and rediscovered what really lies at the heart of everything we do: We keep service members connected to the people, places and things theyre fighting for, said Paul G. Allvin, USO senior vice president, brand advancement. J. Walter Thompsons creative concepts and strategic approach were spot on, deeply moving and worthy of the iconic, American brand they will now represent. advertisement advertisement We are proud to be supporting an iconic, American institution in the USO one that has been there for our service members and their families through some of the most challenging times in our history, said Marshall Lauck, Chief Operating Officer, J. Walter Thompson Atlanta. Understanding why and how we age has been one of the most fundamental questions hunting scientists for decades. Now, for the first time, in a study published in the open access journal PLoS Genetics, Miguel Godinho Ferreira, group leader at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC, Portugal), and his research team found that certain organs, such as the gut, start to age before other tissues because its cells have a "timekeeper" with a faster pace. Scientists found that monitoring the pace of these timekeepers can be a good indicator for the aging of the whole organism since the appearance of local age-related lesions anticipates the onset of age-associated diseases, such as cancer. Telomeres, the molecular timekeepers of our cells, are protective structures located at the ends of chromosomes that ensure that there is no loss of genetic material at the chromosome tips during division. To keep a normal size, telomeres need to be elongated by the enzyme telomerase. However, most cells in our body turn off this enzyme from the time we are born and consequently telomeres shorten in response to the continuous cell divisions. Because the telomere protective function fades away as we grow older, the balance between the rate of proliferation of a tissue and the availability of telomerase is expected to dictate the pace at which telomeres shorten. "We used the zebrafish, an organism with human-like telomeres, to test whether more proliferative organs decline faster than less proliferative organs during the natural aging and lifetime of an individual", explains Miguel Godinho Ferreira. Through a series of meticulous histopathology analysis, cell biology and biochemical experiments, researchers measured the length of telomeres in different tissues such as the gut, testis, blood, muscle and kidney at different time points, from the larval stage to adulthood and very old age. "Our results showed that, in normal aging, only specific tissues have telomeres that shorten to critical lengths. Surprisingly, though, this was not entirely dependent on the tissue proliferation rate. The gut, for example, which is a highly proliferative tissue, does accumulate shorter telomeres. However, the same does not happen to the blood, also a highly proliferative tissue that maintains some telomerase activity. Also, the muscle, a low proliferative tissue has telomeres with the same size as the gut, likely due to exposure to intrinsic DNA damaging agents", explains Madalena Carneiro, first author of the study. "It is the net pace of the tissue timekeeper that is faster in the gut. This means that the telomeres shorten faster in the gut and, as consequently, it ages before other organs. And this does not rely merely on the proliferative rate of the organ", adds Miguel Godinho Ferreira. The researchers also showed that short telomeres accumulate DNA damage and block cell proliferation to some extent, demonstrating that tissues with shorter telomeres anticipate the cellular markers of aging. "These results are very similar to the ones obtained in zebrafish that lack the enzyme telomerase and therefore start to have these features earlier in life, further indicating that the pace of telomere shortening is a good indicator for local and, possibly, systemic aging", explains Madalena Carneiro. Miguel Godinho Ferreira reinforces the importance of this work: "We believe this constitutes a breakthrough in our understanding of how short telomeres impact aging. We have now identified key tissues where telomere shortening becomes truly limiting for organ function in old age. Our next experiments will clarify if, by timely expressing telomerase in these specific organs, we may avert tissue dysfunction and revert the incidence of old age diseases, namely cancer". This study was carried out at the IGC and was funded by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Portugal) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA). DES MOINES -- It's pretty clear things have changed in the Democratic presidential race when Hillary Clinton does a sky-is-falling routine for donors. "There are not one, but two new public polls out this week that have us down in Iowa," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook wrote in an email to small contributors Thursday. "Now, you should always take public polling with a grain of salt. But if you thought this race wasn't going to be close, well, it is. This isn't me claiming the sky is falling -- these are just the facts." Of the six polls taken most recently here in Iowa, Sanders leads in the two Mook mentioned -- by Quinnipiac and ARG -- while Clinton has progressively smaller leads in the others. Back in December, Clinton's margins over challenger Bernie Sanders in the polls were 18 points, or 14 points, or 22 points. Today, they're two or three points. The bottom line is that in Iowa, Clinton's lead over Sanders is within the margin of error, and in New Hampshire, she trails Sanders by several points. Which leads to a question: Could Clinton's entire theory of the race be wrong? The theory is this: Of course Clinton wants to win Iowa and New Hampshire, but if she doesn't, she will still win the nomination because the race will move on to South Carolina and other states with a significant black population. African-Americans are a critical part of the Democratic coalition, and Clinton is undeniably strong with them. So in the long run, she will win. It's a persuasive theory; Sanders has tried and failed to make any real inroads into Clinton's black support. But now there's the question: If Sanders were to vanquish Clinton in the first two contests of the campaign, would that change the dynamics of the race? "It does change the dynamics of the race," Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told me by phone from a campaign event at Dartmouth College. "If you do well in Iowa and notch a victory in New Hampshire, you're going to see more and more people take Bernie's campaign seriously, and that will change the dynamics." But how specifically? The theory -- the hope -- is that the work Sanders has done trying to connect with black Democrats will start to pay off if Sanders comes out of the early states a winner. (Notice Briggs said "do well" in Iowa, not "win.") Sanders has always conceded that as a senator from a nearly all-white state, he doesn't have deep roots in African-American politics. But he's tried hard to reach out, stressing not just his record but civil rights work that goes back to student days. I suggested to Briggs that all that reaching out hasn't paid off, since black Democrats still seem strongly behind Clinton. "It's not that it hasn't worked," Briggs answered. "People didn't know about it." If Sanders wins early contests, the theory goes, later-state Democratic voters, black and white, will take a look at him. And that's where, again theoretically, the dynamic changes. Truth be told, that still seems unlikely to happen. But it seems less unlikely than it did a few weeks ago, which explains Clinton's increasing attacks on Sanders. It also explains the emergence of Chelsea Clinton, who is pretty much universally admired by Democrats, as one of the attackers. Chelsea's hit on Sanders' health proposal -- that it would somehow enable Republicans' efforts to repeal Obamacare -- struck a lot of Democrats as not just out of character, but flat wrong, as well. Still, as a sign of Clinton anxiety, it was pretty accurate. "I think they're panicking," Briggs said of the Clinton campaign. Things are moving fast; Iowa Democrats are choosing quickly. In The Des Moines Register poll, 70 percent of Hillary supporters, and 69 percent of Sanders supporters, say they've made up their minds. Just a month ago, those numbers were quite a bit smaller. More minds will be made up each day. "Voters will caucus in Iowa in 18 days, and the Sanders campaign is outspending us on TV," Mook wrote in that alarmed email to small donors. "Hillary's been fighting for families for decades -- if you're with her, this is the time to show it." Mook then asked the recipient to "Chip in $1 now." It's not surprising to see a campaign send out a poor-little-old-me appeal, asking for donations to fight a big, bad opponent. But for Hillary Clinton, the unstoppable, inevitable, Democratic nominee-in-waiting, to say that about Bernie Sanders? Now, that's a change. WASHINGTON -- China produces an astonishing number of astonishing numbers, including this: In the 20th century, America made automobiles mass-consumption items, requiring prodigious road building. China, however, poured more concrete for roads and other construction between 2011 and 2013 than America did in the 20th century. This fact is emblematic of China's remarkable success. And is related to its current difficulties, including its 2015 growth rate (6.9 percent), its slowest in 25 years. The regime's contract with its 1.4 billion subjects is that it will deliver prosperity and they will be obedient. Now the bill is coming due for the measures taken to produce prosperity. In 1978, when Deng Xiaoping began the regime's attempt to leaven Leninism with market reforms, half of the Chinese lived on less than $1 a day. In just six years, collective agriculture almost disappeared and grain production increased 34 percent, freeing people to move from the countryside to more productive urban employment. No Westerner knows more about China's regime and political economy than Henry Paulson who, as CEO of Goldman Sachs, then U.S. treasury secretary and subsequently, has made more than 100 trips to China. In his book "Dealing With China," he writes: China consumes almost half the world's cement, coal, iron ore and steel, and 40 percent of the aluminum and copper. Beijing has six ring roads and the seventh, under construction, will be almost 600 miles long, encompassing an area as large as Indiana. (Washington, D.C.'s beltway is 64 miles long.) Demand for roads so exceeds supply that a 2010 traffic jam extended 62 miles and lasted 12 days. China has six of the world's 15 tallest buildings (America has three) and eight of the 10 tallest under construction. In four years, beginning in 2011, the government built enough housing to shelter the population of the 12th most populous nation, the Philippines. Two months after the September 2014 $25 billion IPO for the Chinese internet company Alibaba, the world's biggest IPO, the company had a $280 billion market capitalization, bigger than Amazon and eBay combined. China's prosperity has been fueled by the traditional modernization trek of people from the countryside to cities -- 300 million so far, with another 300 million by 2030. But China has also relied perilously on exports and excessive, grossly inefficient infrastructure spending to employ the former peasants and make burgeoning metropolises habitable. Just between 2010 and June 2013, local government debt alone surged 70 percent to $2.9 trillion. What the regime calls "socialism with Chinese characteristics" is, like sauerkraut ice cream, a combination of incompatible ingredients. A senior Chinese reformer propounded the "birdcage" theory of the "socialist market economy": The market sector should be as free to fly as a bird in a cage -- the cage of a state-commanded economy. Private enterprise, however, creates 90 percent of new jobs. By itself, the private sector, which accounts for perhaps 60 percent of China's $10 trillion GDP, would be the world's second biggest economy, trailing only America's. Although state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are often corrupt and always inefficient, the regime resists privatizing SOEs, which would mean worker layoffs of up to 80 percent. More than 100,000 local SOEs have been closed but, Paulson says, "perhaps another 100,000 or more remain." The fact that Paulson says "no one seems to know the exact number" speaks volumes about the disorderly nature of things bubbling beneath China's still-nasty authoritarianism. China's 87 million party members, Paulson says, "work first and foremost for the party," which remains "the alpha and omega of political, economic and social life." But as Paulson says, "corruption breeds where power meets opportunity." Because opportunity festers everywhere that the party continues to insinuate itself, inefficient allocation of resources will depress growth. The regime is wagering that it can achieve its second-highest goal, prosperity and the geopolitical weight that can come with it, while preserving its highest priority -- a Leninist one-party state acting as the vanguard of an accepting population. But China's per capita GDP, one-eighth that of the United States, ranks 80th in the world, barely ahead of war-ravaged Iraq's. After the U.S. opening to China, Daniel Patrick Moynihan acerbically said that many travelers to China returned more impressed by the absence of flies than by the absence of freedom. The continuing absence of the latter, illustrated by the apparent kidnapping of five Hong Kong booksellers, is not noticed by foreigners mesmerized by bullet trains. The next stage of China's ascent will test the continuing compatibility of Leninism and dynamism. Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Editor's note: This feature is part of a special section in Saturday's paper that highlights new businesses, products and other advancements made here in the Thumb. PORT HOPE Ann (Annie) Goetze may not have been born in Huron County, but she has lived here for three-quarters of her life. Originally from Oxford, she moved to Harbor Beach with her family in 1977 while she was in the eighth grade. She graduated from Harbor Beach High School in 1982. Her parents, step-dad Harvey Nielson and mom, Joyce, are now deceased. Goetze was unsure what she wanted to do with her life after high school. I went into the Army for four years then came back, she said. Little did she know her military training would help her later in life. I was a health inspector for dining facilities, officer clubs, and swimming pools, she said. I wasnt a cook in the Army. Id just go around and tell all the cooks what they were doing wrong. Her first inclination was to buy a home in Harbor Beach. After looking at many houses, she decided to buy in the small town of Port Hope. She worked at the Hercules Plant (later to become Sensient Flavors) in Harbor Beach. The six-mile drive to and from Port Hope was no big deal. After 27 years at the plant, she figured it was time to leave. Factory work was becoming too demanding on her body, and she knew it was time to move on. Plus, she really, really wanted to do something else. Meanwhile, Bobs Beverages in Port Hope was for sale. Ive been thinking about buying the building for five years, she said. Ive been really planning it for the last two. It was no snap decision. She knew her town needed a store. Once we lost North Shore Market, people realized how much (a store) was needed, she said. Goetze wanted her son, Matthew Simmons, to join her. It wasnt hard to talk him into her dream. I was working with Simmons Gunsmith and it wasnt full time, Simmons said. She asked me to help. I thought it was a good idea. They realized they had to be very careful in the type of store they opened. North Shore Market was a large store, and yet they couldnt make it in this small town. Matthew and I wanted more of a community type store, not just a party store, she said. They looked at the older population of Port Hope. The mom-and-son team wanted to offer cooked food which older residents would appreciate, yet not have to cook themselves. Goetze understood it is difficult for seniors, often single seniors, to cook a small, tasty dish and keep it nutritious. Yet, they had no thoughts of opening a restaurant. The pair began work on the facility. We signed for the store on June 1st, and we opened Sept. 1st, 2015, Goetze said. All the contractors, all the guys working for us, were great. The name of their business was simple: The Store. So is the concept to running it. The business sells beer, wine and liquor. It has grocery, produce and deli items. We carry Walnut Creek Brands, Goetze said. The company offers many items which are quite comparable to brand name food items. They make chips, snacks, canned goods, condiments, deli items and more. It seems to be something people like, she said. The Store has one other drawing card. In fact, it may be their biggest ace in the hole. It has an in-store bakery. Admittedly, the bakery section is small, but Goetze knows exactly what the locals like. She makes cannoli and baklava. She also bakes eight different types of cookies and offers them on a rotating basis. Her prep area is small, but she figured a way to maximize space. The cookbooks were always in my way, Goetze said. I just decided to write the recipes on the wall. As one might expect, that area of the kitchen is called the Recipe Wall. The Store offers a number of deli items. They usually make Italian subs and a different soup every weekday. Plus, they offer a number of salads. The macaroni is real popular, she said. They also make homemade pizza on Friday nights and Saturdays, and it can be ordered and picked up at a designated time. The owners say the pizza idea has caught on big time. We did 17 pizzas on Saturday in three hours, Goetze said. I think thats really good. The mom-and-son pair split a number of duties. Matthew ... does the front end. He handles the financial end of The Store, Goetze said. He does the scheduled equipment maintenance, but doesnt do repairs. Goetze said its nice that she doesnt have to worry about all that. I just do the baking. Its a great job, she said. I make cookies all day. How can that be a bad thing? Everything The Store makes is made from scratch, Goetze said. In reality, Goetze does more than just baking. She opens the building and begins baking in the early morning. All the while, she handles the deli and the cash register. She makes fresh coffee and serves it along with fresh baked cookies and cinnamon rolls to hungry customers. The facility has two or three tables and chairs which are open to the public to meet, greet, and have tasty treats. The bakery will also do specialty orders when requested. In the past, they have made birthday cakes, cheesecake and tarts. If you can think it, mom can make it if you give her enough time, Simmons said. Store hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. To order pizza or make other inquiries, call 989-428-4869. Although in its infancy, The Store is drawing customers from Port Hope and Harbor Beach. The owners think campers will find it a favorite place while staying at one of the local parks. The town is definitely supporting us, Goetze said. BAD AXE Downtown Bad Axe is getting a little artsy. A business has opened that is different, yet fits in with some of the other stores in the area. Called the Lofty Roots Gallery, located at 163 E. Huron Ave., the store features the work of five artists. The brainchild of Dana Justin, 22, a Bad Axe native, the gallery opened on Jan. 1 with a special showing for friends and family. The gallery is open six days a week now, and its planning a grand opening event for 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 30. The event will feature music and refreshments, and provide visitors with the opportunity to choose from up to 120 pieces of art created by the artists involved in the gallery. In upcoming months, Lofty Roots Gallery will have special showings, featuring something different each time. For February, were going to do a Michigan show, Justin said. All our art is going to be inspired by Michigan. Each month, were going to do a different theme for that show. Well have general things throughout the month, but for the show, well have a theme. The artists involved in the Lofty Roots Gallery are Huron County residents. All five split time running the gallery. Justin is the owner, but the artists each work shifts to keep it open. Artists involved are Aliyah Kaczor, a 17-year-old Bad Axe Public School student, who is an intern at the gallery. Kaczor works with acrylics. Joining her is another Bad Axe resident, 23-year-old Hilary Edwards. Hilary does acrylic painting, Justin said. She can do watercolors, and does sketches. She went to art school, so she has a broader background. Justins next door neighbor, Michael Parks, 22, is another artist involved in the project. He does sketches and a lot of spray paint art, Justin said. David Thacker, 33, of Port Austin, is also involved in the gallery. Justin ran into him while he was selling his work at the Port Austin Farmers Market. She was intrigued, and approached him about being part of her endeavor. He does acrylics and painting, Justin said. He also does some cool things, like melting crayons on things. The idea for Lofty Roots Gallery stemmed from the fact that Justin didnt know what she wanted to do with her life. Recently returned from an internship at Vessels of Honor Bible College, in Mount Pleasant, Justin considered her future. Not wanting to spend her life in a job she didnt care for, Justin fell back on her love of art. It was always in the back of my mind, she said. I thought maybe a team of artists could work together and fill a gallery. We could take turns running the gallery, and make a profit from our art. It all goes back to not knowing what she wanted to do with her life. I know people who have worked their entire lives, and then regretted working at jobs they didnt like, Justin said. As a young person, I dont want to do that. I wanted to find something that I enjoy, and learn how to make money at it. Thats where her love of art came in. I started by painting a few pieces on my moms back porch, Justin said. I posted them on Facebook, and people started wanting things. I realized I could make a living off this. I thought other people could, as well ... if there was someplace here in Bad Axe. It was an idea that emerged from her imagination. I started creating something I wanted to be part of, instead of trying to find something, Justin said. You can make money in this. I think its one of the biggest misunderstandings when it comes to artists ... people say you cant make money in that field. Well, I believe you can. You just have to do it right. All the details seemed to fall in place. She found a storefront open in downtown Bad Axe and approached some artistic friends with the idea of opening the gallery. They loved the concept, and Lofty Roots Gallery was born. It just worked out, Justin said. The building has a lot of space, and there is a basement where Justin plans to conduct art classes for children and adults. Thats a little way down the road, Justin said. She also has plans to have her team of artists become involved in community service. I want to do projects, even if its just painting a building for someone, Justin said. I hope to be able to have the artists have a career where they dont have to work other jobs, because all of them do. Part of her long-range goal is to open an online store, where the gallerys artists would be able to sell their work anywhere that has Internet access. The website is in its initial stages right now. Justin hopes to have it up and running by the time of the Lofty Roots Gallery Grand Opening at the end of January. Maybe, in the future, well even be able to open another gallery somewhere, she said. In all reality, Im leaving it open. Well just see where it goes. Im just trying to make it as successful as I can. Im sure our long-range goals will change as we go. The name itself is interesting, and an indication of Justins approach to opening her gallery. I made up the name, and thought about what it could mean, she said. I wanted it to stick out, so people would ask, What is that? Lofty is something thats elevated, and roots are something thats low. I like the fact that its sort of an oxymoron. Personally, it struck sort of a ring with me. Prices in the gallery begin at $15. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Justin is convinced it will be successful. Im really excited, she said. Everyones had such a positive reaction. Im just waiting to see where it goes. SAGINAW The morning talk show Johnny Burke and Blondie on 96.1FM WHNN is no more, but the popular hosts have still found a way to entertain their audience. In the midst of being walked out the door following what would be their final show just a week ago, the duo have received a surge of support from their listeners. That support has helped lead to the decision to start a Johnny and Blondie Morning Show on Periscope, a live video streaming app. By 6:30 a.m. Monday, they were back at broadcasting to their ever-increasing Periscope followers. Burke on his own Monday, and Blondie whose real name is Bonnie Belger-Holzhei every day since. Its been extremely surreal and humbling, Belger-Holzhei said. The outpouring of love that weve been shown from the community Im gobsmacked. Belger-Holzhei, who grew up in Deckerville, has been driving from her home in Munger to Burkes home in Frankenmuth to stream their new show from the comfort of Burkes living room couch. At first it was done as a way to reach out to their audience. We werent even allowed a chance to say goodbye to our listeners, Belger-Holzhei said. However, once the two got rolling, it was quickly decided that they would continue airing on Periscope. They intend to air the new program at least every weekday morning at 6:30 a.m. Were going to do this every day until we get a job, Belger-Holzhei said. Were just having a blast. It just feels really natural. Things werent so upbeat last Friday morning. Belger-Holzhei said after they finished their show, they were promptly fired, with the station indicating they were looking to go in a different direction, including more music and a younger demographic. During their Periscope show on Wednesday, listener comments scrolled on the screen, with plenty showing their support. At one point in the broadcast, one listener asked exactly why the two were let go by the radio station. I think they did this just because they want to get rid of old people, Burke said. Burke is 61 years old, while Belger-Holzhei is 52. Belger-Holzhei confirmed the two have secured a lawyer that specializes in age discrimination cases and he has told them they have an extremely good case. The weird thing about it is, they thought we couldnt relate to a younger audience and yet we had tons and tons of younger followers when we were on the radio, Belger-Holzhei said. Its just bizarre to me. Despite the initial disappointment, Belger-Holzhei said the change from a corporate to independent radio show has been a welcome one. She said several advertisers have already contacted them to place ads on their new show, and they also have a sit down scheduled with another local radio station interested in their services. Ever since Tuesday, weve been doing the show and having a blast, Belger-Holzhei said. I said to him (Johnny) yesterday I think getting fired might have been the best thing that ever happened to us. The pressure is gone and we just feel really lighthearted. The outpouring of love and support is just overwhelming. To tune into the new Johnny and Blondie Morning Show, search @WHNNJohnny on Periscope. They can also be reached on Facebook on their Johnny and Blondie Fan Page or at johnnyandblondie@gmail.com. Related: Mid Michigan, Thumb lose oldies station, Johnny Burke and Blondie: http://bit.ly/1PJZkW5. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman dismissed the jury hearing the case in which Robert Scheuer, an Oklahoma man, claimed a faulty ignition switch prevented his air bags from inflating when his car crashed in 2014. Furman said in court Thursday that a document supporting Scheuer's claims appeared to have been doctored and evidence indicated he was more physically functional after his accident than he claimed. By the next morning, General Motors Co. and Scheuer's lawyers said they wanted to call the trial off. "We said all along that each case would be decided on its own merits, and we had already started to show by strong, clear and convincing evidence to the jury that the ignition switch didn't have anything to do with Mr. Scheuer's accident or injuries," General Motors said in a statement. "The apparent lies the plaintiff and his wife told the jury ended the trial early, and we are pleased that the case is over without any payment whatsoever to Mr. Scheuer." Scheuer's lawyer, Robert C. Hilliard, said it was disappointing that the trial was ending, "especially one such as this where the concerns regarding the underlying safety of certain GM's vehicles are legitimate and real." Hilliard said the overall litigation involving other plaintiffs would continue. On Thursday, Furman had said that Scheuer's case against Detroit-based GM was "almost worthless as a settlement tool." He urged both sides to consider whether it was sensible to begin focusing on five other bellwether trials scheduled for later this year. Scheuer, of Tulsa, had said he suffered injuries when his air bags failed to deploy after another car ran his 2003 Saturn Ion off a rural road on May 28, 2014. Since early 2014, GM has issued recalls affecting more than 30 million vehicles. The recalls came long after GM learned of the ignition switch defect in Chevy Cobalts and other small cars. The switches can slip out of the on position, causing the cars to stall, knocking out power steering and turning off air bags. GM says it has fixed the problem. At the trial's start, GM attorney Mike Brock said GM's probe of the accident revealed that Scheuer was not honest about his claims. The lawyer noted that Scheuer, a mail man, had a two-decade history of surgeries and pain medication prescriptions for spinal issues. He also said two calls to Scheuer's cellphone messaging system from his phone contradict his claims he was unconscious for three hours after the accident. Scheuer's lawyer didn't dispute GM's claims directly but argued they were being made too late. BAD AXE They asked for a veto but didnt get it. Government and school officials and other organizations lined up in December urging Gov. Rick Snyder to veto a bill they say would impose a gag order due to a section prohibiting a public body from airing details of ballot questions to voters on radio, TV, phone or mail two months before a vote. Huron County commissioners were part of the crowd, having sent a resolution to request the governors veto. Come January, the governor signed SB 571, introduced by Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall, R-White Lake. Snyder said he would work with the Legislature to clarify the section that irked many critics. A week later, Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, introduced a bill that would axe the entire section. Huron commissioners have drafted a resolution to support Zorns approach and on Tuesday plan to send it to Rep. Ed Canfield, Sen. Phil Pavlov, Snyder, all counties and the Michigan Association of Counties. At the onset, Kowalls bill dealt mostly with changes to campaign finance laws. But it was the amendments legislators attached to the bill that caught the eyes and ire of critics one being Commissioner David Peruski, who said the section drawing criticism was buried in the last page of the bill. I really couldnt believe that they did that, Peruski told the Tribune in December (http://bit.ly/23jKJe2), adding that to him, the inserted section read that public agencies could basically not say or do anything to inform voters within 60 days of an election. Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair, voted in favor of SB 571. I wouldnt categorize it as a gag order, Pavlov previously said. Its not designed to stop information from flowing to voters. We want informed voters. He said past abuses around the state allowed taxpayer money to fund advocacy efforts for local millages. Its not a widespread issue, but enough to blur the lines between advocating a Yes vote and objectively informing, according to Pavlov. Its going to clarify that taxpayer money cannot be used to advocate or make an appeal for higher taxes. We want to make sure the person is not pressed politically to raise taxes, he said. Realizing Hurons opposition may not hold much weight, Commissioner Clark Elftman in December said the boards request for a veto would at least let (Gov. Snyder) know we think hes doing something stupid. Its not the only stupid thing they think Snyder and other lawmakers are doing. On Tuesday, commissioners also plan to urge state lawmakers and officials to stop exempting themselves from the laws they enact. An agenda item refers to a Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity study, which gave Michigan an F grade in 2015 and ranked the state last in the country for governmental transparency and accountability. Commissioners say weak public records laws and absence of laws requiring personal financial disclosures by lawmakers and top state officials contribute to the states poor ranking. Another glaring issue cited was the exemption of the governor and the Legislature from state open records laws, the resolution states. Commissioners say the state has required transparency locally, yet the state has chosen to not take the opportunity to lead by example. This board feels it is time that state lawmakers and top officials stop exempting themselves from the laws that they expect others to follow, the resolution urging lawmakers to stop the hypocrisy states. WASHINGTON (AP) Hillary Clinton has questioned Bernie Sanders' electability. She's criticized his plans for health care, foreign policy and Wall Street. And she's tagged him with flip-flopping on gun control. None of it appears to be sticking, say some Democrats who have raised concerns that a months-long primary campaign could create lasting damage for their party. While most believe Clinton will still capture the nomination, some say she is failing to respond effectively to Sanders, fueling both his primary rise and strengthening the Republican argument against her. Others say she got too late a start going after Sanders and is still not hitting him enough eroding her lead in states that should be safe. "They didn't take him seriously enough because they thought they had a gadfly," said John Morgan, a Florida attorney and Clinton donor. "The gadfly wasn't a gadfly he was a lightning bug. And people have been following that lightning bug all over America." Though Sanders has dismissed questions about Clinton's use of a private email account and server as secretary of state and how she responded to the deadly 2012 Benghazi attacks, some Democrats say she needs a better response to his critique of her ties to Wall Street, which they argue reinforces months of Republican attacks on her character. "The better she does, the more those stories seem to recede in the minds of voters," said Boston-based Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. "Now, Benghazi seems to be back. Email seems to be back. A number of other things seem to be back." Though the tightening nature of the race, particularly in Iowa, hasn't sparked widespread panic among her supporters quite yet, it's worrying some donors, as well as Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, who shared her concerns at a meeting with supporters in New York this week, according to people close to the campaign, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations. Democratic donors, strategists and pollsters, including some aligned with Clinton, expressed their concerns in nearly two dozen interviews with The Associated Press. Clinton has long struggled to connect with liberal activists, who have gained influence as the party has shifted left during President Barack Obama's two terms in office. "Clinton's message has always been more effective for a general election audience than the primary activist base," said strategist Ben LaBolt, a former Obama campaign aide. A focus group conducted by an unaffiliated Democratic strategist during the last debate found Clinton's message fell flat. Her attacks, according to a memo describing the event, backfired when Sanders reinforced his message in his responses. "It is not about Senator Sanders. It is about his message," said Chris Kofinis, who conducted the group. "When you attack him, you're not actually addressing the problem." Sanders released a gauzy, uplifting ad Thursday with images of his overflowing rallies over a soundtrack of Simon and Garfunkel's "America." The wordless spot contrasts with a recent Clinton ad in New Hampshire about her experience and plans. In recent days, Sanders has intensified his critique of Clinton with rhetoric that's edged toward breaking one of his core campaign pledges no attacks. "Without naming any names, Goldman Sachs also provides very, very generous speaking fees to some unnamed candidates," he said this week in Iowa, meaning her. Republicans have tried to bolster Sanders, who they see as the more beatable general election opponent. The Republican National Committee jumped to the self-identified democratic socialist candidate's defense during the last debate and American Crossroads, a super PAC founded by Karl Rove, has an ad in Iowa highlighting Clinton's ties to Wall Street. "Does Iowa really want Wall Street in the White House?" the narrator asks. During Sanders' rise in the summer, Clinton's campaign largely avoided criticizing Sanders out of fear that would alienate his liberal supporters who will be important to the Democratic nominee this fall. That hesitancy has changed in recent weeks. "No one has laid a glove on Bernie," said Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, a Clinton supporter who has warned about Sanders' electability. "We like Bernie and he's having a conversation we think is important so it's not an easy thing to do." Recent preference polls suggest her lead in Iowa has evaporated and in New Hampshire, Sanders has opened up a significant edge. Clinton and her team believe they can still win the Feb. 1 caucuses in Iowa, arguing that her broader support will help her pick up more delegates, due to the proportional nature of their allocation in the state. They've long seen New Hampshire as a tougher race, given Sanders' decades of representing a neighboring state, but expect Clinton to be strong in South Carolina, Nevada and the Southern states that vote on March 1. The larger numbers of minority voters in the later contests benefit Clinton, who's consistently polled better among those groups. Clinton also has an overwhelming advantage among the so-called "superdelegates" of party leaders and elected officials. But even in Southern states, Democrats increasingly see a path for Sanders to cobble together a coalition of liberal whites, independents and younger black supporters who might minimize Clinton's advantage and allow him to pick up delegates. "Sanders organizers seem to be making some headway," said Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, who says he's likely to endorse Clinton. "What I'm hearing more and more is that (black voters) are now open to hearing Bernie." And caucuses scheduled in March and April in states like Maine, Colorado and Wyoming could favor Sanders. "Nobody ever stops running for president, they just run out of money," said former Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Clinton fundraiser. "Bernie has enough money for a long time." Capt. Brian "Kenny" Kennedy was a CH-46 pilot by training who had won over fellow CH-53E crew members at Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, despite the intense rivalry between the two aircraft platforms. Sgt. Dillon "D-Dog" Semolina was a determined Marine who spent a deployment to Australia sneaking out of the barracks at night to meet a girl he would later marry. Maj. Shawn Campbell was a family man whose call sign, NAFTA, stood for "Not Another F***ing Texas Aggie." A Friday memorial service for 12 Marines killed when their CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopters collided during a night flight over the Hawaiian coast was largely spent in reminiscences and fond memories about each of the fallen Marines. Held at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Marines from HMH-463 paid tribute to their brothers against a backdrop of 12 battlefield crosses with portraits of the men, along with their dog tags, vests, flight helmets and boots. The impact the tragedy had on the Marine Corps community and the nation was underscored Friday afternoon when President Barack Obama released a statement conveying his sympathies to family of the fallen. "As we mourn this loss, we are reminded of the sacrifice men and women of our Armed Forces make each day for the freedom and security of their fellow Americans," Obama said. "The willingness of our troops to complete dangerous training to prepare for any mission our nation asks of them will not be forgotten." The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, also honored the men in a statement. "We all know that what we do as Marines is dangerous. The men and women in our ranks today, much like the generations of Marines before, are absolutely committed to each other, to our Corps, our country, and our mission," he said. "They are courageous, determined, and focused on success. These twelve Marines embodied those same qualities and traits. We will miss them, but we will never forget them." The helo crash was followed by five days of intensive search-and-rescue efforts in a debris field off Oahu's North Shore. With no survivors found, the Coast Guard and Marine Corps finally called off the search Jan. 19 and changed the status of the Marines to "deceased" a day later. In his tribute to the men at the memorial, HMH-463 Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Eric Purcell thanked the military and civilian responders who had searched for the men and grieved for his Marines "in the prime of their life and full of joy and hope, only to be taken from us in an instant." He encouraged the assembled family members and Marines to speak often about their fallen brothers. "The more of we speak of their deeds, their actions and their sacrifices, the more we can be sure that the memory of those sacrifices will live on," he said. Though the Marines had not died in combat, he said, they had perished faithfully executing training to strengthen the nation's defenses. "There's a Latin quote ... 'if you seek peace, train for war,'" Purcell said. In the Marine Corps tradition, the ceremony ended with a roll call of the fallen. The names -- each called thrice -- echoed in the silence. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Air Force Gets Its Own Combat Dive Badge After Using the Navy's for Years Air Force officials said there is a notable distinction between Navy divers and their divers, which was a key reason for... Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 1.19.53 PM.PNG Wolverine World Wide Inc. has named Pat O'Malley as president of the Saucony brand. (Courtesy photo) ROCKFORD, MI - Wolverine World Wide Inc. has named Pat O'Malley as president of the Saucony brand. The industry veteran succeeds Richie Woodworth, who was recently promoted to president of the company's Lifestyle Group. In his new role, O'Malley will report directly to Jim Gabel, president of Wolverine Worldwide's Performance Group. O'Malley has more than 25 years of experience in the footwear industry, most recently serving as Saucony's senior vice president for global product. During his 12 years with Saucony, O'Malley developed game-changing products that have driven Saucony to become one of the top brands in the industry. He led the launches of the innovative Isofit and Everun collections. "A veteran of the industry and of our Saucony brand, Pat O'Malley has continuously proven his ability to build innovative and industry-leading teams," said CEO Blake Krueger in statement announcing the promotion. "We are excited Pat will be bringing his skills as a strategic partner and determined leader to the leadership role for the Saucony brand." RELATED: Wolverine World Wide Inc. promotes Saucony president to division head Shandra Martinez covers business for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her or follow her on Twitter @shandramartinez. ADA TOWNSHIP, MI - Nineteen years ago, the Grand Rapids Symphony staged a fundraiser in which local designers were urged to show off the latest trends in each of the rooms of a five bedroom home being built on the outskirts of Ada. Those trendy designs for the "Symphony House" included a black-painted foyer, a red living room and a bright yellow kitchen. Walls and ceilings were sponged, ragged, and painted to resemble leather. One room's walls were upholstered to mute piano practices. The discordant themes and traditional floor plan of the Georgian style house were all a bit much for Daniel and Rebecca Wansten when they bought the home at 1221 Old Hill Dr. SE in 2008. They toned down the colors on most of the walls and opened up the living room and breakfast nook into the kitchen. Cherry floors were installed in five rooms to tie the main floor together. "It was all cut up," said Rebecca Wansten. "People would ask us, which way was the front door?" Now that they are empty nesters, the Wanstens listed their home for $679,500 with Realtor Ingrid Anastasiu of Keller Williams Grand Rapids East. Despite the cringe-worthy decor and layout they found upon moving in, Daniel Wansten said they found a house with good bones and solid millwork thanks to several builders who contributed their best craftsmen to the project. The property, on a 1.2-acre lot across Grand River Drive SE from Ada Township Park, also is an ideal setting for active families, the Wanstens said. Today, the two-story foyer retains its original Italian marble flooring and cyrstal chandelier. But the walls are painted a neutral celery and a rough-hewn column has been replaced with a formal white column that complements the cherry-trimmed open staircase. The living room retains the cherry mantel over the marble fireplace and craftsman-style doors that lead to a sun room overlooking the backyard and neighboring horse farm. Though the sun room retains its Tuscan tiled floor, a mural and stucco walls were replaced. Thanks to a wall that was removed, the living room flows into the gourmet kitchen, which was updated to include wine center, wet bar and a small breakfast bar. Next to the kitchen, the formal dining room was stripped of its pink-striped wallpaper while they ekpt the original brass chandelier and the "rose copper" painted ceiling. Behind the kitchen, there's a great room with a cathedral ceiling and a large fieldstone gas fireplace, one of four in the house. The master suite includes an updated ensuite bathroom with a deep Jacuzzi whirlpool tub and walk-in shower. The Wanstens lightened up the dark green wall coverings while retaining the bathroom's original charcoal-colored tile. The main level also includes a home office or den with wainscoting and built-in cabinets that overlooks the back yard. Upstairs, new carpeting was added to the four bedrooms and a large family room that served as a hangout for the Wanstens' daughters and their friends. On the lower level, there's a home theater with the original 19-year-old projection TV and surround-sound system. There's also a workout room and a large family room with a fireplace. At one end of the lower level, there's a "cigar room" with a fireplace that could become a "man cave" with the addition of a billiards table and big screen television. During their years in the house, Daniel Wansten said he smoked a grand total of one cigar in the room, which features independent ventilation. Daniel Wansten said the lower level also could be converted into a nanny apartment or offices for a home-based business. This is one in a series of articles we have published about High-End Homes in West Michigan. Here are similar articles we have published recently: This $3M luxury home has bedroom-bathroom suite for pampered dog Twin tunnels lead up to $1.2M Stone Hills estate overlooking the city Panoramic views from 27th floor of this $1.2M River House condo This $2.3M log cabin on exclusive Northport Point includes its own ballroom $1.4M riverside home enjoys 270-feet of frontage, multiple water vistas $1.3M equestrian estate pampers owners and their horses For $8.1M, Northern Michigan hunting preserve offers luxury cabins, on-site deer processing World's largest log cabin, national historic landmark listed for $40M For $1.95M, downtown condo includes big rooftop deck 92-year-old mansion retains splendor after it was moved Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+. UPDATE: The Lincoln High School marching band and choir arrived at Walt Disney World just after 2 a.m. Jan. 24. About 200 Lincoln High School students spent Friday night on a Kentucky interstate as Winter Storm Jonas pounded the East Coast. Stopped at a Cracker Barrel and a few other restaurants closer to the Kentucky-Tennessee border on Saturday morning, Lincoln High School Choral Director Toni Micik said the students were in good spirits. "Kids are singing and entertaining guests at the Waffle House," Micik said in a text message update at 11:40 a.m. Saturday morning. "Had the cook dancing." With more than 20 chaperones, the Lincoln High School marching band and choir left their Augusta Township campus about 11 a.m. Jan. 22 for Orlando, Fla., for workshops and performances at Walt Disney World. The group planned to be in Florida by Saturday morning, but has been delayed by shutdowns on Interstate 75. Some cars were stopped along the hilly 35-mile stretch of the road for 19 hours overnight, according to a report by CNN. Some stranded motorists were stranded without enough fuel or food, but authorities reported on Twitter that they opened nearby shelters and were delivering the essentials to motorists in need. "We had plenty of food, water and restrooms on the buses," Micik said, noting they had packed extra essentials. "The kids -- we keep encouraging them to laugh about it and have fun." Micik said the group already stopped to get dinner and had passed Lexington, Ky., when, at about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 22, they hit the back-up. The conditions weren't too bad by Michigan standards, they just weren't moving, Micik said. "It looks like we're up north in Michigan," she said. They were at a total standstill, but the students already planned to sleep on the bus that night, Micik said. At 5:30 a.m. Jan. 23, the buses were able to move again. However, that wasn't the end of their troubles. At about 11 a.m., with more than 10 more hours to go from the area of London, Ky., Micik said they had learned the interstate headed into Tennessee had closed again. Micik said the group has been in constant contact with Bob Rogers Travel and is working to find new solutions to their travel troubles. They have not canceled their Sunday workshops and are updating parents through a text message system and the marching band and choir Facebook pages. In short, Lincoln High School Marching Band Director Leslie Schwegler said things were "slow but good." "Yeah, it's still snowing but we've been in great hands," she said. Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran. Monique Dillard-Bothuell mugshot DETROIT, MI -- It's strange. The court records connected to her child abuse case are gone. You can type in any variation of Monique Dillard-Bothuell's name. Try it online from home, or even from one of the Wayne County courthouse computers; the results are still nil. Despite having been at the center of a nationally reported criminal case involving the alleged torture and abuse of her stepson, to the court system -- at least the portion accessible to the public -- it never happened. Dillard-Bothuell and her husband, Charlie Bothuell IV, were accused of abusing their son, forcing him to conduct rigorous workouts and confining him to the basement for a period of 11 days in June 2014 while they told law enforcement he was missing. Police searched their Detroit condominium multiple times, eventually finding the boy hiding in the basement. The couple was charged with muiltiple felonies, including torture and second-degree child abuse. The torture charges were dismissed for lack of evidence by the District Court, but the Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office pressed forward with the remaining charges. Defendants who are found not guilty or whose cases are dismissed for lack of evidence still appear in court records; Dillard-Bothuell does not. There are past press releases issued by Worthy's office naming Dillard-Bothuell, even prepared quotes from the prosecutor herself. "We are thankful that the victim was found alive," Worthy said in a press release announcing criminal charges against Dillard-Bothuell on Feb. 20, 2015. "This is the first time that the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has charged torture for a living child. "Based upon the allegations, if any case warrants child torture charges, this one certainly does." A press release from the Prosecutor's Office last week announced the conclusion of the case against Charlie Bothuell; it was silent on his wife. "No comment," was Worthy spokeswoman Maria Miller's response when asked about Dillard-Bothuell. Another attorney involved in the case, who asked not to be named, said it's illegal for him to discuss. Worthy's office, based on Detroit police investigations and interviews with the boy, determined he was "systematically physically abused" and "intentionally deprived" of food, but ultimately it doesn't appear the Prosecutor's Office was eager to go to trial. Charile Bothuell was offered a plea deal with a probation sentence -- even though he maintained his innocence in statements to the Detroit News and said he wanted to take the case to trial on principle -- and the Dillard-Bothuell's criminal court wranglings vanished altogether. Randall S. Levine, a 35-year defense attorney and co-founder of Levine & Levine Law in Kalamazoo, is one of several legal experts MLive spoke to about the scenario. Levine said, though unusual, such a deal is not unheard of. "You would have to tender the plea in public" though, he said, adding the parties potentially had a non-publicized public hearing to reveal the deal. Holly Fournier of the Detroit News covered a pretrial hearing Jan. 5 during which a lengthy private meeting was held between the Bothuells, their attorneys, Wayne County assistant prosecutors and Wayne County Circuit Judge Margaret Van Houten. Full Detroit News story It appears the deal was done behind closed doors and never discussed in the public courtroom where reporters waited. Fournier wrote: Bothuell IV after the hearing told gathered media that the judge requested silence from all parties in the case following the in-chambers meeting ... Stepmother Monique Dillard-Bothuell accepted a misdemeanor plea deal involving no jail time, Bothuell IV confirmed in court Tuesday. The deal includes wiping her record after six months if she stays out of trouble, he said. The six-month time frame provided by Charlie Bothuell appears to have shrunk by about five months and two weeks. Levine says he doesn't know enough about the case to speculate on the motive for such a secretive deal. "It's a mystery," he said. With no public records and a criminally enforceable gag order, it's likely to remain that way. Anheuser-Busch water donation.jpg Anheuser-Busch is delivering 2,156 cases of drinking water -- or 51,744 cans -- to people affected by Flint's water crisis. (Courtesy Photo) FLINT, MI -- Anheuser-Busch is delivering cans of water to help residents affected by Flint's water crisis. The beer company's Cartersville, Georgia brewery is sending a truck loaded with cans of water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Anheuser-Busch is delivering 2,156 cases of drinking water -- or 51,744 cans, according to a news release from Anheuser-Busch. "Anheuser-Busch is committed to supporting local communities," said Vice President of Community Affairs, Anheuser-Busch Bill Bradley in a statement. "This is one wat we can help our friends and neighbors in a time of need." Since 1988 the brewer has donated more than 74 million cans of emergency drinking water following natural and other disasters, according to the release. Earlier this month, the company donated 188,000 cans of water to people in Missouri and Oklahoma affected by flooding and winter storms. The water will arrive in Flint the first week of February at the Food Bank's request, according to the release. Amanda Emery is a police reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact her at aemery@mlive.com or 810-285-0792. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. FLINT, MI -- Flint police are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital early Friday morning. Police were called to an area hospital on Friday, Jan. 22 around 7 a.m. after a man arrived with a gunshot wound, said Flint Police Capt. Leigh Golden. The victim was listed in good condition. Golden said the victim was uncooperative with police. She said information regarding the incident and the location where the shooting happened are unknown at this time. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Flint police at 810-237-6800, or to submit an anonymous tip call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or text CSM and your tip to CRIMES (274637) or online at www.1800speakup.org. Amanda Emery is a police reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact her at aemery@mlive.com or 810-285-0792. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. FLINT, MI -- A Flint family is coming up on a heartbreaking anniversary and are still no closer to answers in the killing of their loved one. James Scott Davis, 45, was found shot to death on Jan. 24, 2015 inside his home in the 2700 block of Stevenson after Flint police were called to the residence for a shooting. Investigators believe robbery to be the motive in Davis' death. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,500 cash for information leading to an arrest in the shooting death of Davis. Davis and his fiance Stephanie Woolard loved to travel and just three years ago took a trip to Greece -- her dream vacation. Before Davis' death the couple were planning to go to Italy, and they were planning an African safari after that. No arrests have been made in Davis' killing and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information in the shooting death of James Scott Davis is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, or text CSM and your tip to CRIMES (274637) or online at www.1800speakup.org. Amanda Emery is a police reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact her at aemery@mlive.com or 810-285-0792. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. GRAND BLANC TWP., MI -- This will be the first time in more than three decades David Stamm is without a badge. Stamm, who served as Grand Blanc Township police chief for the last 16 years, is retiring after a decades-long career in law enforcement. His last official day as chief comes Sunday, Jan. 24, and with no immediate commitments, Stamm says he's ready to ease into retirement. "It's been 33 years," he said. "I'm just going to take it slow." Stamm was a 1978 Powers Catholic High School graduate that went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Flint. After that, and one of his brightest accomplishments, Stamm headed to the FBI national academy. He began working as a patrol officer in Davison Township in 1980, then served as a part-time officer in Genesee Township. In 1982, he landed a full-time gig in Grand Blanc Township and worked his way up the ranks to become chief in November 1999. Over the decades, Stamm earned several awards and, looking back, he's had a number of proud moments both as a patrol officer and in his administrative roles. One of those moments includes apprehending an armed robbery suspect who shot a Flint police officer while on third shift at Genesee Township. He said he is continually proud of the relationship his officers maintain with their community, and how he and his management staff have managed to keep up with the growing needs of residents by securing funds throughout the years for increased staffing and a state-of-the-art facility that he says will "serve us well into the future." "The support we have received from the community has been just absolutely phenomenal," he said. "The community treated our department exceptionally well." Stamm said he hopes future generations of police officers continue to build upon the reputation his team has worked hard to create. "It's always been the golden rule, to treat people the way you want to be treated, and you have to remember that you're here to serve public. Whether it's a traditional or non-traditional call, people are calling us because they need our help. And if it's a traditional police, call its simple. If it's a non-traditional, then we should problem solve...I think we have an obligation to do that," Stamm said. Stamm says he'll keep plenty busy for now just catching up on work around his Atlas Township home and preparing for his oldest daughter's (he has three, ages 23, 25 and 27) wedding scheduled this summer. Stamm said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Alice, and his daugthers during his retirement. It'll be an adjustment, and Stamm knows he'll miss aspects of work life. "Maybe one day I might come back in some capacity, but we'll see," he said. FLINT, MI - McLaren Regional Medical Center officials have confirmed that Legionella bacteria was found in the hospital's water supply at their Flint location after the city switched from Detroit to the Flint River as their water source in 2014. "After the City of Flint switched to the Flint River as its water source in April of 2014, we noticed an increase in the number of Legionella cases that were coming to McLaren for treatment, as well as those being reported across the county and at other hospitals," McLaren spokeswoman, Laurie Prochazka said. "Because of that concern, and concern over the quality of water that we were receiving from the city, we began aggressively testing our water supply. An early test result indicated the presence of a low level Legionella." The statement did not say exactly when the hospital had their water tested but did say they took various measures to control the issue including installing a secondary water disinfectant system, lead filters on ice machines and monitoring their water system more "aggressively." "All Legionella and lead testing continues to show that the McLaren Flint water supply is well within safety and quality standards," said Prochazka. "It is important to note that no test have ever determined that McLaren is the source of exposure for any patients testing positive for the Legionella antigen, and that there is no definitive data to support that McLaren Flint is the source of exposure for any patient testing positive for the Legionella antigen." Gov. Rick Snyder and state Health and Human Services Department officials , that the Flint area experienced a spike in Legionnaires' beginning in summer 2014 that left 10 dead and 77 others sick in 18 months. The outbreak began shortly after Flint stopped using treated water from Detroit and began using the Flint River as the source of its drinking water, a change made by a Snyder-appointed emergency manager. State health officials investigated a possible link between the city's water supply and the outbreak, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a report Jan. 21 saying the state investigators were unable to "determine a conclusive environmental source" of a Legionnaires Disease outbreak in the Flint area. The report reviewed 42 Legionnaires' cases reported in the Flint area between May and Oct. 2015. Four deaths associated with the disease were included in the study. This is the second report the agency has released on the outbreak. The first report was compiled in June 2015 but not released to the public until Jan. 13. It showed 45 Legionnaire's cases were reported in the Flint area between June 2014 and March 2015. Initially, state officials reported that 10 people had died from the outbreak, but that number was changed to nine in the newest study. Even though things are inconclusive Terri Nelson of Flushing said various findings are helping her family find closure after her husband Dwayne Nelson died in 2015. Nelson said she is sure her husband, Dwayne Nelson, came in contact with Flint water at McLaren and that is how he may have contracted Legionnaires' disease -- a condition that can infect the lungs and cause pneumonia. Nelson's husband, Dwayne Nelson, went to the hospital on July 25, 2015 for complications with a stent that was used to administer his chemo and radiation treatments. He was diagnosed with lung cancer that May. Nelson said her husband became very ill and had to be taken to the hospital again on Aug. 1 by ambulance. He died Aug. 7 a day after doctors told Nelson that Dwayne had Legionnaires' disease. Nelson said her husband was exposed to Flint water at McLaren during his initial July 25 visit. "This is just so much," Nelson said after learning that McLaren officials confirmed Legionella was found in the hospital's water tests. "We have been wondering for a long time how he got it. It's time for all the answers to come out." MLive staff writer Gary Ridley contributed to this report. Registrierung Sie haben noch kein Benutzerkonto auf unserer Seite? Registrieren Sie sich kostenlos und nehmen Sie an unserer Community teil! [January 22, 2016] Technavio Announces Top Five Vendors in the Semiconductor Capital Spending Market in the US From 2015 to 2019 Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent semiconductor capital spending market in the US report. This research report also lists seven other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. Competitive vendor landscape Technavio estimates the semiconductor capital spending market in the US to surpass USD 31 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of close to 9% during the forecast period. The market is dominated by major companies such as Intel (News - Alert), Global Foundries, and Samsung. Even Micron has a significant presence in the market. The competition in the US semiconductor industry is stiff. Evolution of technology is one of the key reasons for such intense competition. With the rapid pace of technological advancements in the US market, vendors are engaged in large capital spending. Therefore, the market is characterized by the presence of players with strong technological expertise. Technavio's lead semiconductor equipment industry analyst Asif Gani says, "Vendors in the US semiconductor market compete based on price, innovation, quality and performance, and support services. Since the US market is technologically mature, consumers have a high priority towards utility of the end consumer products. Also, to ensure consumer satisfaction and guarantee that they always get high utility from the product purchased, electronic device manufacturers need to focus on continuous innovation." The top five vendors operating in the US semiconductor market Global Foundries Global Foundries was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in California, US. The company provides semiconductor-manufacturing services to high tech customers throughout the world. In June 2014, together with Scaleo, a fabless semiconductor company in automotive electronics for powertrain, body control and driver-information, announced the launch of a 55nm automotive-specific semiconductor platform. The new semiconductor platform uses GLOBALFOUNDRIES 55nm eFlash NVM Platform, to develop a new range of microcontrollers embedding unique technologies. Intel Intel was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in California, US. The company designs and manufactures advanced integrated digital technology platforms Intel caters its semiconductors for many industrial applications. The company provides its platforms to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original design manufacturers, and industrial and communications equipment manufacturers in the communications and computing industries. Through the Internet of Things segment, the company provides platforms for its customers to design products for the industrial, transportation, retail, and buildings and home market segments. Micron Micron Technology (News - Alert) was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Idaho, US. It manufactures and markets NAND Flash, DRAM, and NOR Flash memory. It also offers semiconductor systems, advanced memory technologies, and packaging solutions. To strengthen its position in the semiconductor sector, the company is acquiring competitor companies. In 2013, the company acquired Rexchip Electronics, a Taiwan-based company that manufactures and distributes random access memory products. It also acquired Elpida Memory; Virtensys; Numonyx from Intel, STMicroelectronics, N.V., and Francisco Partners; Lexar Media; Dominion Semiconductor; KMT Semiconductor; and Texas Instruments (News - Alert). Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics, along with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and sells consumer electronics, mobile communications, information technology, and device solutions worldwide. The company was incorporated in 1969 and is headquartered in Suwon, South Korea. The company's device solutions segment engages in semiconductor and display businesses globally. It provides semiconductor products such as memory and system LSI and display products, including LCD and OLED panels. For the FY2014, the device solution segment reported a revenue of USD 62.18 billion that accounted for about 29% of the company's net revenue. SK Hynix SK Hynix was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The company along, with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets semiconductor products globally. As of December 2014, the company had around 28,000 employees globally. The company reported net revenue of USD 12.95 billion and USD 16.27 billion, respectively. In February 5, 2015, SK Hynix signed an agreement with Toshiba (News - Alert), a Japanese multinational conglomerate, for the joint development on of a process technology, Nanoimprint lithography. Apart from the top five vendors described above, the seven other prominent vendors listed in this report include AMD, Analog Devices, Broadcom, Freescale (News - Alert) Semiconductor, Marvell Technologies, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments. Browse Related Reports: Semiconductor Foundry Service Market in Taiwan 2015-2019 Global Semiconductor Equipment Dielectric Etching Market 2016-2020 Semiconductor Market in Japan 2015-2019 Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact [email protected] with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 23.01.2016 LISTEN Musician Wiyaala deserves to be a major international star, says Jon Benjamin, the British High Commissioner to Ghana. Benjamin told hosts of Live Breakfast Club on Live FM, Jay Foley and Jeremie, he believes that Wiyaala is an asset to the Ghana music industry and should be celebrated. Here in Ghana, we've particularly been promoting Noella Wiyaala. We really hope that she is going to make a big breakthrough this year. I really think she will be a major international star for Ghana. I hope so, she deserves to be, Jon Benjamin added. Wiyaala launched her self-titled album at an impressive event at the Alliance Francaise in 2014, and won The Most Promising Artiste and The Revelation of the African Continent at the All Africa Music Awards weeks after the launch. For the first time in about five years, she dethroned Efya as the winner of the Best Female Vocalist at the Ghana Music Awards 2015. On her recent visit to the UK, Wiyaala, aka the Lioness of Africa, used the opportunity to shoot a stunning video for her song 'Leno', which is set to drop on February 1. 'Leno' which means 'This Place', is inspired by the spirit of love and tells the story of a young man going about his business, when he hears an enchanting female voice coming from the forest. Bewitched by the song, he enters the forest in search of its source and comes face to face with a mysterious beautiful African woman with whom he falls in love at first sight. She leads him to 'This Place' (Leno) and he experiences the overwhelming power of love. On that screen kiss, Wiyaala refuses to be drawn, saying only, if the story requires me to kiss on screen, then I'll do it as a professional. The music video is a Djimba World Production, directed by Charlotte Appleton, shot entirely on location in East Yorkshire and in the historic city of York in the UK. 23.01.2016 LISTEN A delegation from the Agogo Presbyterian Church has paid a visit to Amakye Dede who was involved in a motor accident at Bonsu Junction in the Eastern Region, which claimed the life of his manager, Isaac Yeboah, on January 1. The delegation was led by the head pastor of the church, Pastor Kwadwo Nkansah, who prayed for the speedy recovery of the musician and the departed soul involved in the crash. Amakye Dede, who was very excited to see the delegation, briefed them about the accident, thanking the members of the delegation for taking time off their busy schedule to pay him a visit him at his residence. He told the delegation that he saw death with his eyes, but God who cares about his children saved his life. The highlife legend stressed that the accident has brought him closer to God, adding, Let's put God first in everything we do because He is the giver of life. I believe He saved my life for a reason and I will worship him forever. Some stakeholders were quite sure that any Ministerial Reshuffle by the government would certainly affect the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, but the President swerved them with the list of the changes. But wait! Theres another list coming and surely, the President cannot miss the opportunity to effect changes some industry folks have suggested. The seeming rift between the Minister, Elizabeth Agyare Ofosu and her deputy, Ablah Dzifa Gomashie has become deep-seated; the President has little choice than to make alterations if he wants the best for that Sector. Rumours of the two not seeing eye-to-eye made rounds somewhere last year, but they denied any such scuffle whenever they had the chance to speak to the issue, but recent incidents recorded at the Ministry and other related events have become apparent that the two are operating in their own respective spaces. Word has it that, the President, who is on some Economic Conference in Switzerland, will present the official second list of the Ministerial reshuffle when he returns. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid held an emergency cabinet meeting Saturday, after authorities declared a nighttime curfew nationwide following the worst outbreak of social unrest since the 2011 revolution. Five years after the ouster of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, street demonstrations against unemployment and poverty have again shaken the North African nation. Anger erupted over the death on January 16 of Ridha Yahyaoui, a 28-year-old unemployed man who was electrocuted when he climbed a power pole while protesting in the central town of Kasserine. The unrest spread around the country, including to Tunis where shops were burnt and looted in one suburb, prompting the interior ministry on Friday to impose a 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew. Essid met his defence and interior ministers before the cabinet session, as AFP journalists reported relative calm in towns rocked by clashes between protesters and police in recent days. "Security-wise, it has started to stabilise," interior ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told AFP, echoing Essid's comments on Friday that the situation had been brought "under control". In a televised address to the nation on Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed understanding for the frustrations vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. But he warned against "ill-intentioned hands" exploiting the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. Calm returned to Kasserine on Saturday morning, an AFP journalist said, after a day of clashes. In the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid -- the cradle of the 2011 uprising -- teenagers set fire to tyres but the situation was relatively calm, an AFP journalist said. - More than 300 arrests - Authorities arrested 261 people over the unrest and 84 for violating the curfew on Friday, the interior ministry said. Saturday's cabinet session comes after Essid earlier this month replaced his foreign and interior ministers in the first cabinet reshuffle since Essebsi took office in late 2014. Independent analyst Selim Kharrat has called the past week's protests and clashes "the most serious social crisis since 2011". The unrest has echoes of the public anger after the death of a young fruit seller who set himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid in December 2010 in protest at unemployment and police harassment. Mohammed Bouazizi's desperate act sparked the uprising that toppled Ben Ali and inspired similar revolts across Arab countries. On Friday morning, a man tried to set himself alight but was prevented by bystanders, as hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the governor's office, an AFP correspondent said. France on Friday pledged one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in development aid to Tunisia over the next five years, after Essid held talks with French President Francois Hollande. Yahyaoui's father, Othman Yahyaoui, on Friday said his son was "a victim of corruption, marginalisation and unkept promises". Mehrez, a brother, said impoverished youths were being driven towards "drug trafficking and terrorism", in reference to the thousands of young Tunisians who have signed up with jihadist organisations such as the Islamic State (IS) group. While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring uprisings, the authorities have failed to resolve the problems of social exclusion and regional inequalities. Groups including the Tunisian League for Human Rights and Oxfam on Friday urged the government "to adopt an economic model aimed at reducing regional disparities and social injustices". Tunisia also faces jihadist violence that has devastated its vital tourism industry. Attacks claimed by IS last year at the national museum and a beach resort killed a total of 60 people, all but one of them foreign tourists. An IS suicide bombing also killed 12 presidential guards in the capital in November. Nairobi (AFP) - Warring rivals in South Sudan missed a key deadline Saturday to forge a unity government, with rebels rejecting President Salva Kiir's creation of new regional states as fighting continues. The rivals were supposed to form a government by January 22, but rebels say Kiir's nearly tripling of the number of regional states in December undermines a fundamental pillar of an August power-sharing deal to end two years of civil war. Rebel spokesman Mabior Garang criticised "anti-peace hardliners within the government" and said they would base negotiations on the old system of 10 states and not the current 28. Garang however said rebels are "fully committed to peace and shall not entertain a return to war." Key international backers -- the so-called Troika, made up of key donors Britain, Norway and United States, as well as the European Union -- this week said the talks were "deadlocked". Amid mounting frustration, they cut payment of hotel bills for rebel delegates in Juba. Civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken country along ethnic lines. Despite the August agreement fighting continues, with the conflict now involving multiple militia forces who pay little heed to paper peace deals and are driven by local agendas or revenge attacks. Heavy fighting was reported this week in the southwestern Western Equatoria region, including street battles in the state capital of Yambio on Thursday, close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers said. The clashes were between soldiers and a local militia known as the Arrow Boys, reportedly aligned with Machar's rebels. United Nations rights monitors this week added more details to a long list of horrific abuses in the more than two-year war. The report detailed "gross violations" of human rights including "gang-rape, sexual slavery and forced abortion", in a joint report by the UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 22.01.2016 LISTEN The Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akomea, has expressed shock over the continuous claim by the government and its assigns that Nana Akufo-Addo was consulted six months before the Guantanamo detainees were flown into the country. According to him, though he had already debunked that claim, people were mischievously lending credence to it. Speaking to The Chronicle in Accra yesterday, Nana Akomea said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had never consulted or spoken to Nana Addo on this matter, contrary to the falsehood being peddled on the airwaves, and that it was rather the US Embassy in Accra that hinted Nana Addo, a day to the arrival of the detainees. It is the Second in Command at the American Embassy in Accra who met with Nana Addo two weeks ago, on the 5th of January 2016, a day before the detainees arrived in Ghana, and informed him about the agreement between the Americans and President Mahama to settle the detainees in Ghana, and wanted the support of the NPP. Nana was surprised it was rather the American gov't, and not the Ghanaian government, that will approach him. He, nevertheless, brought the issue to the Steering Committee meeting on Monday January 11th, 2016. The meeting decided not to support the settlement of the detainees in Ghana. A party statement to that effect was agreed to and duly authorised. Nana Addo duly conveyed this decision to the American officials on the 13th of January. The NDCs contention that Nana Addo was part of the decision is, therefore, a pathetic spin which will achieve nothing. How information on a national issue, not from the NDC government but from American officials, can be equated to consultation and agreement shows the huge desperation the NDC finds itself in. Even senior cabinet ministers (Foreign Affairs and Interior) who are also members of the National Security Council, have confessed they were not fully briefed on the matter, ditto the Attorney General. It must be stressed that the decision by President Mahama to accept the detainees is hugely unpopular. It has been described as lacking commonsense by the Catholic bishops in Ghana. It also contravenes the law in Ghana, particularly, the Anti-Terrorism Act, section 15. It is a unilateral act by President Mahama, as neither Parliament, the Cabinet nor the National Security Council were briefed (the ministers for foreign affairs and interior are members of the National Security Council, Nana Akomea noted. President Mahama, he continued, also told the nation that he had consulted widely before deciding to accept the Guantanamo detainees. But his own senior ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior have said even they were not fully briefed on the matter. Now these ministers are not only senior CABINET ministers, but are also MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL (Article 83 clause 1 of the national constitution). It is clear that neither Cabinet nor the National Security Council was fully briefed on this matter. Neither was Parliament. So who did President Mahama do these wide consultations with, Nana Akufo-Addo? This non-consultation with Ghanaians is in line with President Mahama s assertion that he will take criticism and be accountable to only from ex-Presidents Rawlings and Kufuor. The Director of Communication pleaded with Ghanaians to accept that Nana Addo's position the detainees issue had nothing to do with religion, and that it is not a Christians versus Moslems issue. It is a matter of the President breaking the law, not consulting enough, and not acting in the best interest of the country, and causing financial loss, since the tax payers money would be used to cater for the detainees, as announced on the recent TV interview with the US Consular Officer. 23.01.2016 LISTEN A total of 42 migrants are reported to have drowned overnight in two separate shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea. One boat went down off the coast of the small Greek islet of Kalolimnos, killing 34 people, including 11 children. Another eight people died after a boat sank off the island of Farmakonisi. Over a million migrants arrived in Europe illegally last year. More than 700 died in the Aegean crossing from Turkey to Greece. At least another 100 have died in the Aegean this year. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on Friday meeting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Berlin to discuss the crisis. Cabinet ministers from both countries will be in attendance. On Thursday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that Europes migration crisis was putting the European Union at grave risk. Mr Valls told the BBC that Europe could not take all the refugees fleeing wars in Iraq or Syria. If it did, he said, it could destabilise our societies. Population shifts The Greek coastguard said it had rescued 26 people from the sinking of the wooden sailboat off Kalolimnos, but that it had recovered 34 bodies 16 women, 11 children and seven men. It was not known how many people were on the boat, but some estimates said up to 100, and a search is continuing for more survivors. The boat off Farmakonisi was carrying 48 people. Forty made it to shore and one girl was rescued, but the bodies of six children and one woman were found. . BBC Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas says the cold and the dangers do not appear to be deterring refugees from trying to reach Europe more than 30,000 have made such crossings to Greece already this year. Turkey is home to nearly three million refugees, most of them from Syria. Many of them pay smugglers thousands of dollars to make the crossing to Greece. They then head north, trying to reach Germany and Scandinavia. Mrs Merkel is meeting Mr Davutoglu amid mounting pressure to rethink Germanys open-door policy and impose caps on its refugee intake. Mr Valls appeared to suggest her current message was wrong in his interview with Lyse Doucet, the BBCs chief international correspondent. Although he said Mrs Merkel had courage, he added: A message that says Come, you will be welcome provokes major shifts in population. He added: We know clearly that after the Cologne incidents that with the continuous flow, not only to Germany but the countries of Northern Europe, Austria, the Balkans are confronted with this influx, thats why we need to find practical solutions for our borders. Mr Valls was referring to attacks in the German city on New Years Eve largely attributed to foreigners that have sparked 800 complaints, 520 of them relating to sexual crimes. EU countries hope Turkey will help to control the flow of migrants. Mrs Merkel has urged the EU to honour its pledge of 3bn euros ($3.3bn) to improve conditions for refugees living there. -bbc 23.01.2016 LISTEN THE CHAIRMAN of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Kwesi Gyan-Apenteng has warned: Any Journalist who becomes a spokesperson for a candidate or for any political party during election, ceases to be a journalist. He emphasized that If a journalist who has the privilege of being called a journalist is abusing it by becoming actively involved as a frontline communicator for any political party or candidate, that person is clearly violating the ethical basis of the profession and must be sanctioned. Mr. Gyan-Apenteng gave the warning in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Tamale during the official inauguration of a seven Member Northern Region Media Advisory Committee (RAMC) recently. According to him, journalists were supposed to be resolute, neutral, fair and balanced in their line of duty and also serve as the conduit for peace, unity and fairness but not to succumb to any influence either political or monetary. Mr. Gyan-Apenteng noted that the media must strictly adhere to the guidelines and principles of election reporting and not only be part of the fairness agenda, but to ensure that the election was peaceful and that the outcome truly reflected the will of the people. What this means is that we [journalists] must give fair access to all issues and to all candidates. And even more importantly, we must become alert to efforts or strategies some people might use to probably abuse and misuse the media by forcing their weights through to get certain false allegations and some unfair comments published or aired. The NMC Chairman, therefore, encouraged the media to understand the issues as they were framed to avoid any possible abuses by politicians and their candidates in their desperations to win power. Mr. Gyan-Apenteng also encouraged the journalists not to attach personal emotions, desires and partisan views in their reportage, especially in the 2016 election, which promises to be crucial, but should rather place high premium on the checking and cross-checking of facts in every information they come across. Meanwhile, the NRMAC is chaired by Mr. George K. Debrie, a Deputy Registrar, Council Secretariat at University For Development Studies (UDS) and is to strengthen the Commission's ability to monitor and engage with media houses in the region to live up to standard. Establishment of the Regional Media Advisory Committee, supported by the European Union, is also to assist the NMC deal with matters relating to media and peace-building; and also help settle complaints by or against the media in the region, in accordance with article 167 (b) of the 1992 Constitution. The others included Mr. Umar Muktar, Deputy Registrar Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS)-Coordinator; Mr. Caesar Abagali, Regional Manager GNA and Regional Chairman Ghana Journalist Association (GJA)-member; Mr. Alhassan Musah, Lecturer UDS-member. The rest are Hajia Hajara Telly, National President Federation of Muslim Women-member; Mariama Kate Suleman NCCE District Director, member and Adam Eliasu, a renowned media practitioner development consultant and academic member. Mr. George K. Debrie expressed gratitude to the authorities for the power invested in them and promised to team up with others to ensure the committee achieves the purpose for the establishment. From Edmond Gyebi, Tamale The Members of the Troika (United States, United Kingdom, and Norway) express their deep concern at delays in forming the Transitional Government of National Unity, which was due to be completed today. Advancing implementation of the peace agreement, reviving the economy, and implementing critical reforms depend on the formation of the transitional government. The Presidential Decree establishing 28 states has created an obstacle to consensus. We urge all parties to make immediate efforts to resolve this impasse and to form the transitional government as soon as possible. It is time for leaders on all sides to put aside partisan bickering and prioritize the interests of the South Sudanese people. From William Nlanjerbor JALULAH, Gbane A driller with Shanxi Mining Company at Gbane in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region was killed on Monday, while working in a pit. The accident occurred at about 4:30pm. Mr. Samuel Bang was trapped in what the company described as vertical shaft whilst working. Mr. Maxwell Eioma, Public Relations Officer of the company, who confirmed this in an interview with The Chronicle explained that management suspected at the time of the accident, an unknown cavity beneath where the deceased was standing to drill caved in, forcing water and vibration to loosen the stock pile. He fell into the cavity, while the other hang ups continuously fell on him till he was eventually trapped. Mr. Eliona further explained that the sinking method of drilling that was been used by the deceased was what the company had used since its inception in the area and so it came to them as a surprise that the accident occurred. That notwithstanding, he said the company would investigate the accident and make public the actual cause of the accident. Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, the rescue team was yet to bring out the body from the pit. From William Nlanjerbor JALULAH, Gbane 23.01.2016 LISTEN A TARKWA-Prestea based galamsey operator has dragged Golden Star Wassa Limited (GSWL), a mining conglomerate to court, for allegedly refusing to pay an amount of US$1.6 million, being the cost of gold tailings supplied to it (GSWL). Paul Willisey Company Limited, is praying the Court to recover the US$1.6 million and interest on the money from November 20, 2015 to date, and any other cost the Court deems payable. The mining giant, on July 1, 2014, entered into a business agreement with Paul Willisey Company Limited to supply it with 626 trucks of gold tailings estimated at a cost of US$1.6 million for its operations. Gold tailing, per mining terms, is the sand that had already been processed by illegal miners or galamsey operators to extract the precious mineral. Investigation conducted by The Chronicle indicates that the Paul Willisey Company Limited was to supply the mining giant gold tailings by truck with a minimum cut-off grade of 4.00g/t at its operational site. According to the agreement, a copy of which is in the possession of The Chronicle, the Mine Geology and Mettallurgy team of GSWL shall conduct a comprehensive deep auger drilling and regolith mapping on the gold tailings to establish the true source and average grade before it is accepted. The mining giant shall not accept any tailing that does not meet the minimum cut-off grade of 4.00g/t, the paper gathered. Also, the mine Geology team of Golden Star shall also confirm or deny any tailing brought to its operational site if the actual grade has been diluted. Furthermore, the mining giant reserved the right to refuse to accept any such tailing which it may view as being detrimental to the treatment process and or which is deemed in the company's sole discretion as being environmentally unacceptable. This initial acceptance shall occur before the material is off-loaded from the contractor's transport, the agreement spelt out. The galamsey operator was to deliver a total of approximately 1500 to 3000 tons of the tailings per day throughout the duration of the agreement. However, after successfully completing the supply of the tailings, Golden Star is dragging its feet in honoring its part of the agreement, which is the payment, claiming that the 626 trucks of tailings the galamsey operator supplied to it did not conform to the minimum grade of 4.0g/t. But, counsel for the galamsey operator believes that Golden Star's refusal to pay his client under the pretext that the product did not conform to the minimum grade was not based on any independent scientific testing. In a letter addressed to Golden Star, Counsel for Paul Willisey stated; we are informed by our clients that they duly supplied 626 trips of the products, according to the terms of the MOU. We are further informed by our clients that GSWL blatantly refused to pay for the products under the guise of nonconformity to the minimum grades stipulated in the MOU, but continue to retain possession of the rejected products. He reminded the mining giant that the sale of Goods Act requires in section 52 that where the buyer rejects the goods and wrongfully refuses or neglect to place the goods at the disposal of the seller after notifying the seller that he rejects the goods, then the buyer is deemed to have accepted the goods. You are hereby notified that by failing to return the products to our clients after intimating that the products failed to conform to the required specification or by failing to place the products at our clients disposal after your rejection, GSWL is deemed to have accepted the product and is under an obligation to pay for them according to the pricing mechanism set out in the MOU. GSW cannot be seen to probate and reprobate; that is, keep the goods and allege that the goods do not conform to the required standards. We are instructed by our clients to demand GH2,275,970.70 being the balance of the products supplied to you over the period. Fresh information gathered by The Chronicle from reliable sources shows that for now, the Court action has been put on hold after Counsel for the galamsey operator wrote to the company to enter into fresh negotiation for the payment of the money. But, it appears the mining giant has refused to heed the call for fresh negotiation, indication of the fact that the galamsey operator may file fresh suit against the Golden Star. Golden Star has denied portions of the galamsey operator's statement and stated in its statement of defense that available records produced by its certified weighing bridge showed that except for four day daily tonnage deliveries, the tailings fell below1000 tons and that the quality of the material had geologically been examined, which according to the company, did not meet the mutually agreed minimum cut-off grade. This legal tussle between the mining giant and the galamsey operator has confirmed a statement by Okogyeman Kwaku Gyamprah III- Omanhene of Chirano in the Western region, who accused multi-national mining companies operating in Ghana of promoting pollution of water bodies and degradation of forest lands through illegal mining operations. According to the Chief, though these mining giants were not directly involved in the illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, they benefit from it through the buying of gold tailings from the galamsey operators. It is believed that because the galamsey operators are not using sophisticated machines, they are unable to extract all the gold from the sand. The mining giants, therefore, go in to buy the left overs and reprocess them to extract more gold. But when The Chronicle published the Omanhene's accusation, the Chamber of Mines through its Public Relations Department came out strongly to deny that mining companies were buying gold tailings. The Chief executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Sulemanu Koney himself denied in a question posed to him by this reporter that mining giants do engage in buying of tailings. He told this reporter that no registered member of the Chamber would buy tailings from galamsey operators. From Alfred Adams, Takoradi 23.01.2016 LISTEN The people of Chamba have cemented their relationship with the Nanumbas by taking part for the first time in this years celebration of the Damba festival. The ceremony, which took place in Bimbilla was initiated by the Chamba Naa, Alhaj Wumpe, under the authority of the regent of Bimbilla, Yakubu Andani. The ceremony also saw the enskinnment of the Chamba Community Chief, Chief Zakaria Tahiru Kuta III by the Chamba Naa, Alhaj Wumpe at the Chamba palace. In his acceptance speech, Chief Kuta noted that the participation of the people of Chamba in the Damba celebration was to cement the integration between them and the Nanumba traditions. The chief, who also goes by the name Zorsimdi Naa thanked the entire community for the privileges and opportunities that they would derive from the integration by the respective traditions and promised not to let them down. He also promised to use his new position to work for the unity of Chamba communities and also support the development of the area. Naa Kuta paid glowing tribute to the memories of the late Chamba chief, Naa Alhaj Salifu Alhassan and the late Chamba chief of Accra, Chief Issahaku Kuta II and described them as visionary leaders who started the integration process. The Chamba delegation to the Damba festival, who also witnessed the enskinnment of the community chief included women groups, Imams of the Chamba community and youth groups. In a related development, chief Kuta III also donated some items to Jilo, a Muslim community in Bimbilla. Some of the items including carpets, prayer mats and the like, were donated to the mosque and were received by the Imam of the mosque. The conferment of the title Zorsimdi Naa on Chief Kuta III means he has been entrusted with chieftaincy powers to lead the entire Chamba community. By Richard Kofi Attenkah Accra-Tema Motorway 23.01.2016 LISTEN The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) is liaising with a number of institutions based in Tema to find a temporary solution to the biting traffic situation at the Tema Motorway Roundabout. This, according to the National Coordinator of NADMO, Brigadier-General Francis Vib-Sanziri, will enable motorists plying the route to heave a sigh of relief, whiles awaiting the huge interchange which is still on the drawing board. Brigadier-General Francis Vib-Sanziri, who was addressing a forum organized by Exercise Rescue Mission, an NGO based in Tema, said it is true that government had plans to construct an overpass at the Tema Motorway Roundabout, but commended and supported the idea mooted by the NGO to bring together stakeholders to plan to decongest the roundabout of the stressful traffic. Brig-Gen Vib-Sanziri emphasized the need for Ghanaians to rekindle the spirit of voluntarism that engulfed the nation some years back, during the construction of the Dawhenya Irrigation Canal and other national projects. According to him, government alone cannot shoulder the cost of some of these emergency situations and, therefore, appealed for technical and financial support from corporate bodies in Tema and other public-spirited individuals for the project to ease traffic at the Tema Motorway Roundabout. The harsh traffic, which has persisted for over ten years now, is not only a nuisance on the country's portion of the transcontinental highway, which starts from Dakar in West Africa to Nairobi in East Africa, but is also taking a toll on productivity, health service delivery, security and personal life development. It is not a fluke that road users get locked up in the heavy traffic for hours; while ambulances, fire tenders and police/military operational vehicles on emergency calls are seen competing for space to access the half a century old Accra-Tema Motorway, hitherto, the best express way in West Africa. The move for this self-help project is the initiative of Exercise Rescue Mission, an organization which specializes in civil/security cooperation to bring relief to disaster stricken areas. Works to be done are the opening of a slipway on the Motorway from Accra, at Community 12, in front of Tanink Ltd so that vehicles entering the port city could branch off the express road without necessarily using the roundabout. Another lane would be added to the existing one from Accra, 500 meters before the roundabout and it will pass in front of Southern Fried Chicken to avoid the circular way. The area in the roundabout, where traffic from Aflao, Tema-Akosombo meet will be widened to accommodate two extra lanes to the Oando filling station, while an additional slipway from Aflao to Ashaiman/Michel Camp/Akosombo will emerge before the circle, through the existing lorry station. Present at the maiden forum, which was held on the 12th of January, 2016, at T-Havana Parks, Tema, to roll out the action plan, were Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), which was led by its Chief Executive, Ibrahim Baidoo, Kpone Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), with its Director of Port, Tema, Jacob Adorkor leading his team. Others were Members of Parliament (MPs), Alfred Kwame Agbesi (Ashaiman), Kofi Brako (Tema Central), Daniel Titus-Glover (Tema East), whiles Irene Torshie Addo (Tema West) and Nii Laryea Affotey Agbo (Kpone Katamanso), who is also the Greater Accra Regional Minister sent representatives, and so was the Tema Mantse, who was represented. The rest are Steel Manufacturers Association of Ghana (SMAG), Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of TUC, Diamond Cement, Global Cargo & Commodities, Jonmoore International and Emmanuel Abodakpi, Executive Director of the venue, T-Havana Parks. The ASHMA boss, Ibrahim Baidoo, suggested the reopening of a route, which existed before the axle-load weighing bridge from Ashaiman to connect the Motorway, which is another solution to decongesting the roundabout. He pledged the assembly's support for the novelty and appealed to road users to cooperate when the project takes off, possibly in February, 2016. The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alfred Kwame Agbesi said that the stakeholders gathered are the people's representatives and, therefore, whatever was decided at the meeting to deliver positive results, should be implemented by the assemblies and engineers concerned. The Parliamentary leader further appealed to companies in the heavy industrial and Free Zone enclaves to support the initiative. Kofi Brako, who is a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Highways on his part also lauded the initiative and gave the welcoming news that the creation of the slipway on the Motorway through Community 12 had already been approved. He, therefore, entreated stakeholders to join hands to translate the dream into reality. Titus-Glover did not only praise Exercise Rescue Mission for assembling the stakeholders but also further suggested a solution to the nagging problem. He asked government to extend a helping hand to such selfless bodies. Solidarity messages were also received from representative of MPs Nii Laryea and Naa Torshie Addo. Meanwhile, a technical committee put up to provide estimates for the project had visited the grounds and is expected to submit its report by Friday 22nd, January 2016 for action to begin. BY JOHN BEDIAKO The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has expressed great concern over the rate at which drug trafficking is soaring in countries in Sub-Sahara Africa in recent times. WACSI has, therefore, called on the West Africa people to fight against the menace, as trans-shipment of narcotics from Latin America through the region to Europe and North America has made the region the hub of the global drug trade. The Institute also indicated that organized crime syndicates are operating and local consumption has increased substantially, not to talk about the production of synthetic drugs such as Amphetamines. Nana Asantewa Afadinu, Executive Director of WACSI, addressing participants at the regional consultation on drug policy reform in West Africa in Accra on Tuesday, said drug trafficking is a serious threat to peace and security in the region. She said: these developments pose serious threats to good governance, peace and stability, economic growth and public health in a region that has only recently emerged from decades of violent conflict. It estimated that an amount of US$1.25 billion significantly more than annual national budgets of several countries in the region of cocaine is transited through the region yearly. It is important to recognize that West Africa citizens, especially the youth and children, have the right be safe from the scourge of drug trafficking and the political, economic and social devastation it leaves in its wakes, including consumption of illegal drugs and its consequences, she indicated. Nana Asantewa Afadinu stressed that the consultation was imperative to the upcoming global, United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) scheduled for April, 2016, since it serves as an opportunity for governments and Civil Society groups from the region to contribute their quota. It has become imperative for West Africa governments and civil society to engage in strategic and productive consultations on drug policy reform. These should allow us to agree to common position with specific and feasible recommendations that call for rights and public health oriented policies. We need to revisit our current positions and take measures that will allow us to effectively address, rather than exacerbate the already overwhelming problem, she urged. WACSI has partnered Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) to coordinate initiatives to strengthen the engagement between civil society and government on drug policy reform, human rights and good governance in the region. She said the partnership has led to the creation of the West Africa Drug Policy Network, which advocates for evidence-based drug policy reform that seeks to reduce harm, protect public health and protect human rights, and also educates the public on the impact of drug trafficking and drug abuse in Sub-Sahara Africa. By Bernice Bessey Last Wednesday, workers across the country, otherwise known as organized labour, embarked on a nationwide demonstration to drum home their dissatisfaction over the Energy Sector Levies Act 2015, as well as hikes in electricity and water tariffs. Across the country, from Tamale, Wa, Kumasi, Takoradi, Ho, Sunyani, Aflao, Cape Coast to Accra and Tema, Ghanaian workers, clad in red T-shirts and red bands poured onto the streets to demonstrate. The demonstration, according to Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) was to impress upon the government to come out with practical solution to the problems the two parties (government and organized labour) had tabled for discussion. Mr. Asamoah noted that, so far; nothing concrete in relation to what the government could accommodate in relation to the reduction in the taxes and levies that was placed on the table for discussion, has been arrived at. According to The Chronicle correspondent in Wa, George Kofi Mude-Upper West Regional Secretary of the TUC called on the government to slash the increment in utility tariffs by 50 percent for both electricity and water. He also advised the government to withdraw the Energy Sector Levies Act (Act 899, 2015), which implementation occasioned the steep increases in petroleum prices at the time crude oil prices were tumbling on the international market and exchange rate of the Ghana Cedi appears stable. In Accra, Francis Barkwa-immediate past Chairman of the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG) bemoaned government's dereliction of the plight of the Ghanaian worker and warned that: if the President fails to listen, he does so at his own peril. He emphasized; The government is there for us. You brought the increment and we say we cannot pay; as a listening government, you must do something about it. Even oil prices have gone down, but he's gone ahead to increase the prices of fuel. All we are saying is that we cannot pay. Kofi Asamoah, addressing the workers, said even though they are aware that it is the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is coercing government to increase the utility tariffs, the President must take into consideration the implications of his actions. We would like to draw your attention to the social and political implications of such actions that are completely divorced from the realities facing most Ghanaians, Mr. Asamoah pointed out. The TUC Secretary General called for the complete withdrawal of the Energy Sector Levies Act (Act 899, 2015), adding that he blamed the Act on the steep increases in petroleum prices at a time crude oil prices are tumbling on the international market, and exchange rate of the Ghana Cedi is relatively stable. From the above narrations, it is very clear that Ghanaian workers are very much aggrieved as a result of the current economic situation and, therefore, the earlier something was done about it, the better. The Chronicle is, therefore, adding its voice to the call by organized labour on government to heed their appeal and do something about the plight of the suffering masses in the country. For all intent and purposes, The Chronicle, is of the belief that one does not need a Prophet to tell him that the economic situation in the country is in a very bad shape and that, the reduction in the utility tariffs will go a long way to cushion the people. Mr. President, please be a listening government and heed to the call of the suffering masses, especially given the fact that despite all these increases, salary levels remain unchanged, an issue Ghanaians find difficult to fathom. Speaking after the attack James Duddridge, Minister for Africa, said: I condemn this barbaric and indiscriminate attack on Somalis who were simply meeting with family and friends on Lido Beach. Our thoughts are with the people of Somalia, its government and the families of those injured and killed. Attacks such as this are attempts to reverse the progress made by Somalia on its path toward peace and stability. The gains made so far in returning security to large parts of the country and in developing federal institutions within a federal state show how far Somalia has come. These are the foundation stones of a future Somalia that will provide the peace and prosperity that its people deserve. Elections in 2016 will further reinforce this progress. The UK stands alongside Somalia as it confronts those who seek to destroy what has been achieved. Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Thousands of Nigerian refugees, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon in 2014 to escape Boko Harm militants, have returned to the liberated northeastern town of Gamboru only to find their homes and their livelihoods destroyed, residents and officials told AFP Friday. Over the past three days more than 15,000 Nigerians have crossed the 300-metre (yard) river bridge that forms the border with Cameroon, following calls by military and local leaders for residents to return, an official in Gamboru said. "More are coming in everyday," he added. Boko Haram fighters seized Gamboru in violence-wracked Borno state in August 2014, forcing thousands to flee across the border to the town of Fotokol on the other bank of the river in northern Cameroon. Chadian forces reclaimed Gamboru in February last year, after intense fighting that left hundreds of insurgents dead, as part of a regional military coalition put together to crush the Islamist group which has become a threat to regional security. "We found a looted and burnt out town which is a shadow of its former self," said Abacha Mari, one of those who returned to Gamboru on Wednesday. "More than nine-tenths of the buildings in the town have been damaged by fire while the rest have been washed away by the rains," he added. "Everything was looted and the streets are barely recognisable." - 'Nobody found anything ' - Gamboru has been repeatedly targeted in the Boko Haram insurrection which has cost the lives of 17,000 people in Nigeria and made over 2.5 million homeless since 2009. Although Boko Haram were forced out of Gamboru 11 months ago, the refugees say they are only now beginning to feel confident enough to return because the Nigerian army has sent a large contingent to the town. The return of the refugees is being coordinated by Cameroonian soldiers and local officials in Gamboru, the returning residents said. The Nigerian refugees and their belongings were screened at the Cameroonian side of the bridge by soldiers using sniffer dogs to detect explosives before they were allowed cross back into Nigeria, where officials were ready to welcome them and provided them with the necessary papers for their return. Returning residents scoured their empty homes in the vain hope of finding any personal effects neglected by Boko Haram. "Nobody found anything in their homes which have been looted and burnt," said returnee Ibrahim Wanzan. The destruction that they found came as no surprise. Some of the refugees had already visited Gamboru under the protection of Chadian soldiers in February 2015 and described it then as a"ghost town". A key source of the locals' livelihood, the market, has also been destroyed. It formerly attracted traders from neighbouring Chad and Cameroon. "Our main problem is food and how to rebuild our homes," Wanzan said. The returned residents have been living on the food they brought from Fotokol and desperately hope to receive aid from the Nigerian government before supplies run out, Mari said. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) plans to send aid to Gamboru in coming days. "We are aware of the return of thousands of Gamboru residents from Cameroon and we are working to send relief items to them in the next few days," a NEMA official told AFP. President Muhammadu Buhari's agreement with the United Arab Emirates to help recover stolen money may have yielded quick results as the UAE government has released names of Nigerian politicians who have properties in the oil rich country. According to Sahara Reporters, some notable Nigerians who served under Goodluck Jonathan had several businesses and properties linked to them in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. See the list below Governor Ayodele Fayose owns a house in Dubai Senate Minority Leader and former Akwa-Ibom governor has a plush home in Dubai linked to him Former First Lady, Patience Jonathan has three properties in Dubai as well as several businesses Former Bauchi governor, Isa Yuguda has a property in Abu Dhabi where he is currently hiding. Former 'Chief Servant' of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu has a property linked to him in Dubai. Former Aviation minster, Femi Fani-Kayode has a property linked to him in Dubai. Former Minister of Transport Idris Umar also owns a property in Dubai where he is currently hiding in Dubai. Former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe also owns a property in Dubai. Former Attorney General and minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke owns a house in Abu Dhabi. Former minister of state for finance, Bashir Yuguda who is currently on trial has two houses linked to him in Abu Dhabi. Former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke has several businesses linked to her in the UAE. Many Nigerians on social media are happy that the anti-corruption war of this administration is yielding results but many are also of the opinion that the war is one-sided and only focusing on the political opponents of the President and his allies. Cairo (AFP) - Key developments in Egypt since the January 2011 uprising that toppled the 30-year rule of president Hosni Mubarak: - The revolution - On January 25, 2011, massive anti-Mubarak protests erupt after a revolt topples Tunisia's ruler in what becomes known as the Arab Spring. On February 1, more than a million demonstrators take to the streets in the country, with a great flood of people congregating in Cairo's Tahrir Square. On February 11, Mubarak resigns and hands power to the army, which suspends the constitution and dissolves parliament. About 850 people die during 18 days of revolt. - Islamist victory - From November 2011 to January 2012, Egypt holds post-revolt parliamentary elections. Islamists win about two-thirds of the seats, half of which go to the Muslim Brotherhood. In June, the parliament is dissolved when a court rules it is illegal. On June 30, 2012, Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi becomes president after winning the election with 51.7 percent of the vote. He becomes Egypt's first freely elected civilian and Islamist leader. In August, Morsi replaces Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi with military intelligence chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. - Morsi ousted, Sisi in power - On July 3, 2013, Sisi ousts Morsi after massive protests against his one-year rule, and freezes the Islamist-drafted constitution. Morsi denounces a "coup" as authorities launch a crackdown against his supporters. On August 14, security forces move against two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo, killing at least 700 people. Since Morsi's removal, at least 1,400 people have been killed in a police crackdown on protests, mostly Islamists. Tens of thousands of Morsi's supporters have been arrested and hundreds, including Morsi himself, have been sentenced to death. In December, the government declares the Brotherhood a "terrorist" organisation. In January 2014, voters overwhelmingly approve a new constitution that strengthens the role of the army. On June 8, Sisi is sworn in as president having won 96.9 percent of a vote boycotted by the Brotherhood and secular dissidents. In late 2015, a new parliament dominated by supporters of Sisi is elected. - Jihadist unrest, economic accords - On February 10, 2015, during a visit to Cairo by President Vladimir Putin, Egypt and Russia agree to jointly build Egypt's first nuclear power plant. On February 16, Cairo carries out air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in neighbouring Libya after a graphic video is released showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians there. On October 10, Egypt signs a deal with France to buy two Mistral warships. On October 31, a Russian passenger plane blows up in the Sinai, killing all 224 people on board. IS says it smuggled a bomb on board, while Moscow says an investigation has found that the plane was brought down by a bomb. The jihadist group's Egyptian affiliate, which is particularly active in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers. On December 16, Saudi Arabia pledges a total of $8 billion in investment and aid to Egypt, along with petrol supplies, over the next five years. On January 21, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping signs economic deals worth $15 billion (13.8 billion euros) with Egypt. 23.01.2016 LISTEN The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), an agency of the Ministry of Health, (MoH), the statutory regulator for Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practices in the country has asked Ghanaians to reconcile and make peace with one another so as to make the nation a one big happy family devoid of acrimony and rancor. In a message issued to the press in Accra and signed by Torgbuiga Yaka IV, the Registrar of (TMPC), who is also a Traditional Ruler, TMPC urged all Ghanaians to renew their vow to uphold the unity of the country in this electioneering year. The message also dispelled the wrongly held notion that, both the traditional medicine practice and the practitioners are demonic, superstitious, charlatans and fraudsters therefore should be treated with contempt and disrespect. The Registrar urged the public to deal with practitioners who are licensed and certified by the Council. He also counseled the members to display their certificates and licenses at their places in conformity with Act575, 2000, sections 9 and 17. The statement additionally reminded the public to be wary of unapproved/illegal premises, products, services and practitioners at all times, as some persons out of greed and criminal intents, would flood the markets with counterfeit and uncertified products and services. The Registrar appealed to the public not to hesitate to report any practitioner who engages in illegal services and displays unethical conduct to the Council for sanctioning. The statement emphasized that traditional medicare did not include or involve powers aimed at money doubling or making people very rich overnight. That practice, the statement added, could be described as criminal. . TMPC's overriding mission was aimed at safeguarding public safety and security at all times. TMPC has also intensified its regular monitoring and inspection programmes, for Premises, Products and Practitioners, to get rid of counterfeit and illegal practitioners and to instill sanity and discipline into the traditional medicine practice. The message also reminded all practitioners to renew their licenses in compliance with Act 575, to facilitate unhindered and smooth practices and operations. It also assured the public that the Council would soon publish the list of all accredited and certified practitioners and their premises. Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 575, 2000, as the statutory institution, empowered to regulate, control and promote Traditional Medicine and Alternative Practice in the country. Act 575, also empowered TMPC, to ensure that quality Traditional Medicines and Practices are integrated into the National Healthcare Delivery System. The TMPC National Secretariat at the Ministry of Health (MOH) commenced its full regulatory operations in September, 2007 and has since not relented in instilling discipline and sanity into traditional medicine practice in the country. 23.01.2016 LISTEN Charity Owusu Baluo in 2002 was told she was HIV positive when a test conducted on her revealed she had the HIV virus in her blood. It was after the death of my late husband that I found out my status, she said. Charity, after days of doubt, finally started treating her HIV condition with herbs till she was told about antiretroviral drugs and she started taking them. Charity was also introduced to an HIV support group in 2005. This helped me to overcome my fear and doubt about the sickness because they showed me love and helped me to cope with my condition, she stated. Charity had the opportunity to remarry after some years and so disclosed her HIV status to her husband-to-be. When I told him I was HIV positive even before getting married, he did not believe me so we went to the hospital and the test was done on both of us. He was negative and I was still positive, she added. The nurse counselled us about how to live together with the sickness and having a family, she said. Charity became pregnant after five years of marriage and was put on the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme. In my case, I never doubted what the nurses told me. I overcame the doubt and fear so I was ready for a child with the help of the support group; and now I have two childrena boy and a girl, she revealed with a sense of satisfaction. Charity's story is one of the successes of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission programme in Ghana. The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), for the past thirteen years, has been implementing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through early detection at the antenatal care stage and initiating HIV prevention treatment. The PMTCT Programme Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) occurs during pregnancy, at the time of labour and delivery, or after birth while breastfeeding the infant. In the absence of any interventions for prevention, the HIV transmission rate from infected mothers to their babies is estimated to range between 15 and 30%, but could be as high as 45% depending on the duration of breastfeeding. Nevertheless, this mode of transmission is currently responsible for virtually all new infections among children, thus significantly contributing towards infant morbidity and mortality. This makes the comprehensive Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) a key issue in eliminating HIV in Ghana and the world. The focus of Ghana's PMTCT programme is for pregnant women not to contract HIV in the first place. But if they do, then the programme ensures that they do not pass the infection on to their unborn babies. Dr Nii Akwei Addo, former Programme Manager, National AIDS Control Programme, disclosed that the PMTCT programme started in 2003 with HIV positive women in labour receiving one tablet and then an HIV positive baby receiving one month of antiretroviral medication. In 2007 the programme received a boost when a better option of combining two tablets for an HIV positive pregnant woman of 28 weeks of pregnancy and then one week medication for the baby was introduced. Then in 2010, the World Health Organisation (WHO) changed the arrangement to enable every HIV positive pregnant woman receive prophylaxis to prevent transmission from mother to child. So the woman takes this because of her child not herself. She starts at about 14 weeks and takes it throughout pregnancy, delivery and continues for one year minimum after delivery. The aim is to substantially reduce transmission to the child and if you take this medication as advised, then the probability of you passing on the virus to your child is drastically reduced, he added. Dr Mrs Emilia Taye, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said there are strategies used by health officials to reduce or even prevent unborn children from contracting the sickness from their mothers, thanks to the new WHO standard. According to her, pregnant women who visit health facilities are counselled on the sickness and tested. When she is found to have HIV she is offered antiretrovirals as treatment, depending on her eligibility for treatment, or prophylaxis to reduce the viral load so she does not transmit the sickness to the unborn child, she added. . Dr Taye indicated that during delivery, interventions are put in place so that the baby does not come into contact with the mother's infected fluids. The mothers are then counselled on breastfeeding their babies due to their health condition. Dr Taye said breastfeeding is a challenge to most HIV positive mothers because of the fear that they might transfer their sickness to their children. HIV & Infant Feeding Policy The Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health and the Ghana AIDS Commission have however established a policy to address this issue based on findings that the amount of HIV virus is drastically reduced when the mother is put on antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. The policy requires that HIV mothers who have been put on the drugs should, after delivery, exclusively breastfeed their babies until they are six months old and then they can add complementary foods till they are one year old. Mrs Veronica Gomez, Breastfeeding Programme Manager, Ghana Health Service (GHS), stated that the policy also takes into consideration mothers who do not want to breastfeed at all because of their health condition. These mothers, she added, go through counselling on the options they will have to use to feed their babies including affordability of the breast milk substitute, hygienic and safe preparation of the formula and its acceptability to the whole family. National Response Progress Dr Angela El-Adas, Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, also noted that the reduction in new infections among children is among the most remarkable successes in the country's HIV/ AIDS response. The number of client counselling and testing as part of ANC services increased from 257,466 in 2008 to 381,874 in 2009 and from 520,900 in 2010 to 627,180 in 2011, according to the Country Response Progress Report for 2013. The number of positive PMTCT clients receiving ART was 4,991 in 2008 but decreased to 3,643 in 2009 and rose again from 57 to 5,845 in 2010 and to 8,057 in 2011. There was however a fall to 7,781 in 2012. The percentage of HIV infected pregnant women who received antiretroviral drugs to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission increased from 38.1% in 2008 to 70% in 2012. Dr El-Adas said the gains made so far do not only have to be sustained but doubled. She added that although stakeholders of the national response may hold divergent views on a couple of issues, but all agree that no child in Ghana today should be born HIV positive. Way Forward Dr El-Adas said last year marked a milestone in the national HIV response as the country came close to implementing the five-year comprehensive strategic plan for HIV/ AIDS. She said the work has been evaluated and findings form part of the evidence that is helping the country develop a new national strategic plan for the next five years. We will not stop in our quest for the highest quality of services in order to avert new infections both among children and adults, she added. She however agreed that stakeholders have not done so well in assuring every infected child of effective comprehensive treatment as a UNICEF report indicates that only one out of five children with HIV has access to treatment. Therefore we shall extend our efforts and facilities to achieve our goal in the next five years, she pledged, adding, We will focus our efforts and resources in serving our children and ensuring that they enjoy the same if not better services from other populations to secure the future of Ghana. Side Barr >>>>>>> In the past decade, Ghana's efforts at managing and containing the epidemic have yielded positive results and have been recognised worldwide. Ghana is among eight African countries in the 2014 UNAIDS Gap Report to have new infections among children decline by more than 50 percent. HIV prevalence among adults has declined consistently from 3.6% in 2003 to 1.3% in 2013. Treatment coverage for persons living with HIV also increased from 30.5% in 2009 to 63% in 2013. However, new infections among young people have increased, with the prevalence rising from 1.3% in 2013 to 1.8% in 2014. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 23.01.2016 LISTEN There are certain cliches that never seem to lose their evocative power, no matter how often they are pressed into service. One that is that nations have no permanent friends or allies, only permanent interests. Actually, what the originator of the quotation, the former British Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, said in a speech in the House of Commons in 1848 was that: is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow Ghanas foreign policy since its independence in 1957 has more or less followed this line. Within one year of our independence, we acquired a friend and ally, in the shape of Guinea and its leader, Ahmed Sekou Toure. Ghana formed an association with Guinea, known as Ghana-Guinea-Union whose provisions were published on 1 May, 1959, after providing Guinea with a loan worth 10 million pounds sterling (now valued at about 210 million pounds). Mali joined this Union on 1 July 1961 and also got a loan of 5 million pounds from Ghana. But within two years, the Union was all but dead! President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was so disenchanted with President Sekou Toure of Guinea that Flagstaff House (Nkrumahs office) instructed the Ghana Broadcasting System to refrain from broadcasting news about Sekou Toure and Guinea. Friendship with Mali staggered on for a bit, but also eventually faltered. The Union fail? It failed because the real interests of the three countries did not coincide adequately to keep the Union alive. Guinea and Mali both had immediate, French-speaking neighbours whose attitude towards them needed to be friendly, for internal political reasons. Moreover, their long institutional association with Metropolitan France could not be easily jettisoned. Indeed, France was able to persuade them through a clever disinformation campaign mounted by President Charles de Gaulles cloak-and-dagger man in Africa, Jacques Foccart, that Dr Kwame Nkrumah was an ambitious man who was subverting the independence of Guinea and Mali to satisfy his egotistical desire to become the Emperor of Africa! This was why, by the time of Addis Ababa Conference of May 1963, many of the leaders who gathered in the Ethiopian capital to discuss what became known as the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) did not favour President Nkrumahs proposal for the formation of an organic continental government which had proper teeth, in the form of an African continental army. During the Cold War, the United States too pursued a policy of not getting beholden to permanent friends (as against permanent interests.) If we examine US relations with South Vietnam, for instance, we find in Wikipedia that: QUOTE: The arrest and assassination of Ngo inh Diem, the president of South Vietnam, marked the culmination of a successful CIA-backed coup detat, led by General Duong Van Minh in November 1963. UNQUOTE Yet this Ngo Dinh Diem was what has been described as an American-supported, anti-communist Catholic ruler! Other US friends who eventually became dispensable are General Musharraf (Pakistan) General Noriega (Panama) and General Mobutu Seseseko (Zaire). In a host of other cases, the United States has waged war on the side of allies whom it has had to abandon, because the decision to wage the war had been found later to be not in Americas interest. Iraq, which America invaded in 2003, is a particularly good example. After getting rid of Saddam Hussein, the US was unable to install a government in Baghdad that could prevent the traditional religious divisions within the country from erupting into a never-ending sectarian war that produces bomb explosions and other murderous attacks on a day-to-day basis. Yemen has been parcelled off by the Americans to a coalition of countries armed by the US and led by the Saudi Arabians. There is no end to the unrest there. Similarly, Libya has been in a near-permanent ferment ever since Col. Muammar Gaddhafi was overthrown, with the help of America and its allies. The US has so little control there that its ambassador to Libya was murdered like the envoy of some insignificant nation. And we havent even got to Pakistan and Afghanistan! These two countries are under constant attack by the very Taliban armies that the Americans sent thousands of troops to go and dislodge from power in Afghanistan. . In Africa, Kenya is still under vicious attack by Al Shabbab, with a recent attack on an army barracks so devastating that the Kenya government has not dared to tell the populace how many soldiers were killed in the attack. This is in spite of the fact that both the US and the UK have programmes meant to beef up Kenyas armed forces to contain Al Shabbab. Somalia too has not yet been pacified as far as Al Shabbab attacks are concerned. And, of course, in West Africa, despite intensified co-operation between American forces (through AFRICOM) and the armed forces of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has become a phantom of fear, whose attacks can occur at any time without meeting effective resistance, as was seen in Ouagadougou on 16th January, 2016. Boko Haram too is still is alive and kicking in Nigeria and Cameroon, despite US promises of technical assistance meant to provide intelligence to the Nigerian and Cameroon governments. If the geopolitical situation sketched above had been properly studied by the Ghana government, it would not have inserted itself into the group of countries who style themselves formally as the friends or partners of the USA in its self-styled war on terror. By doing that, Ghana has tacitly defined itself as the enemy of terrorist organisations like AQIM. Yet, it is evident that despite satellites, drones and other high-tech instruments of surveillance, the US cannot prevent AQIM from attacking and of the friends of the US. Indeed, it is a cruel joke for the US to delude weak African governments like that of Ghana into believing that because the US can provide them with military hardware and personnel training, they can build up an adequate defence against jihadists like AQIM. The only prudent thing for countries like Ghana to do is to observe a radio silence, as far as jihadists are concerned. It must be pointed out that the US has determined strategically perhaps in order to fulfil a plan drawn up by the pernicious Project for A New American Century to broaden the front of the jihadist campaign in West Africa. Perhaps Ghana has been defined as a good candidate to be enrolled into the campaign. No Ghanaian government should accede to this. US interests do not have to coincide with those of Ghana. What ARE Ghanas interests? They are to stay off the radar screen of AQIM and all other terrorist organisation; and to continue to live in peace with all our neighbours, our government must thus guard against arm-twisting by a Great Power like the USA. Perhaps our government should hold a secret seminar at which Ghanas ex-ambassadors who are still alive could debrief the government about their experiences of arm-twisting and how they resisted it if they did. I am sure Mr Kofi Annan would, if politely asked, agree to chair such a seminar! I hope this advice will be heeded, for right now, our government is flapping about like a schoolboy who goes to write an important examination without having done his homework. By Cameron Duodu www.cameronduodu.com 23.01.2016 LISTEN Sergeant Jacob Adoye, the police officer with the Charlie SWAT Unit of the Accra Regional Police Command who allegedly shot two persons including a suspected murderer on Thursday, has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigations. ASP Effia Tengey, the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), said the move will help unravel circumstances surrounding the shooting of the two persons by the police officer. Since the Accra Regional Police Command is directly involved in the case, there is the need for headquarters to take over to ensure transparency in the investigations. She made this known when the Regional Command under COP Dr George Akuffu Dampare visited the family house of the two deceased persons to commiserate with them. The victims, Adesha Bagagyi, 40 years and Joseph Adjei, 24, died early Thursday at the Police Hospital while receiving treatment after they were shot by the police officer. A warrant of arrest, according to reports, was issued by the court for the immediate arrest of five persons, including Adesha Bagagyi, one of the deceased persons, for taking part in the murder of one Sulley Musa at Teshie last year. It was during his arrest that the police officer opened fire that led to his death. ASP Tengey stated that the Inspector General of Police ordered the takeover of the case by the CID. In addition, the police have also asked that an independent pathology conduct an autopsy on the bodies of the deceased persons. Madam Ayele, mother of Joseph Adjei, told the regional commander and his entourage that his son was not a thief as reported by a section of the media. She said her son was with her in the room when the police came to drag and beat him on the floor. She said, My son is not a thief. He helps my nephew in his work. Meanwhile, a family friend, who also spoke to the media, said the police came to apologise for putting wrong information in the media. We are not happy and today the police came in to clarify issues today that they were sorry for putting wrong information on air, he said. . Killing The Accra Regional Police Command on Thursday detained Sergeant Adoye for allegedly killing the two persons. Sergeant Adoye, according to reports, opened fire on the two persons after they allegedly resisted arrest and attacked him with an axe and a machete when he attempted to apprehend them. But the family refuted the report by the police which led the team to visit the family yesterday. ASP Tengey said that on August 25, 2015, during the celebration of Homowo Festival at Teshie, a rival faction attacked the chief of the area, who was then sprinkling Kpokpoi to the area. The police intervened and brought the situation under control. Later, the two factions were invited and advised to celebrate the festival and sprinkle Kpokpoi in their respective homes until the chieftaincy dispute was fully resolved. However, on August 26, 2015, while celebrations were ongoing at the chief's palace, the same faction who had engaged the chief the previous day, launched an attack again with machetes, knives and missiles and killed one Sulley Musa at the chief's palace. On January 20, 2016, police had information that Adesha Bagagyi was being harboured by one Joseph Adjei at NmaiDzorn, near Adenta. A team of police personnel led by the investigator in charge of the case was deployed to arrest him. Around 1:30am Thursday morning, the team proceeded to the said location and in the process of effecting his arrest of the suspect, the two attacked the police officer with a machete and an axe. The police officer, whose life was in danger, opened fire injuring them in the process. The two men were subsequently rushed to the police hospital for treatment. By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey ( [email protected] ) 23.01.2016 LISTEN The Ashanti Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) seems to have incurred the displeasure of traders of the Kumasi Central Market. The angry traders, who are mostly women, surprisingly rejected items that the NDC presented to them to lessen their burden. The affected traders suffered huge losses when fire gutted about 400 stores in the Kumasi Central Market some few days ago. Foodstuffs and other valuable items that the traders kept in the stores were gutted by the ferocious fire. Ashanti Regional NDC Women's Organizer, Hajiya Sadique reportedly made the presentation on behalf of her party at the market. She presented 60 bags of rice, bags of maize, mosquito nets, gallons of cooking oil and second-hand clothing to the fire victims. But the traders virtually rejected the ruling political party's offer, insisting that they don't need such items. According to the traders, the maize presented by the NDC were infested with worms, adding that the rice was substandard. The traders noted that they needed roofing sheets and wood to reconstruct their stores and not the worm infested maize presented by the NDC. Hajiya Sadique, who spoke to Don Dada of Otec FM, expressed shock about the attitude of the women. She said the traders welcomed her with open arms at the market and thanked her for the kind gesture by the NDC after the presentation. Hajiya Sadique disclosed that the traders had politicized the issue, noting that the NDC did nothing wrong by supporting them. The Ashanti Regional NDC Women's Organizer said she did not discriminate in the distribution of the items, noting that the items were meant to help Ghanaians, who had been affected by the fire outbreak. Meanwhile, Alhaji Sanni, a top NDC member in the region, has asked the traders to give the items to NDC members in the market if they don't want them. From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia's Prime Minister Habib Essid held an emergency cabinet meeting Saturday, after authorities declared a nighttime curfew nationwide following the worst outbreak of social unrest since the 2011 revolution. Essid met his defence and interior ministers before the cabinet session, as AFP journalists reported relative calm in towns rocked by clashes between protesters and police in recent days. "Security-wise, it has started to stabilise," interior ministry spokesman Walid Louguini told AFP, echoing Essid's comments on Friday that the situation had been brought "under control". Five years after the overthrow of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, street demonstrations against unemployment and poverty have again shaken the North African nation. In a televised address to the nation on Friday, President Beji Caid Essebsi expressed understanding for the frustrations vented in impoverished regions of central Tunisia. But he warned against "ill-intentioned hands" exploiting the legitimate grievances of demonstrators. Anger erupted over the death on January 16 of Ridha Yahyaoui, a 28-year-old unemployed man who was electrocuted when he climbed a power pole while protesting in the central town of Kasserine. The unrest spread around the country, including to Tunis where shops were burnt and looted in one suburb, prompting the interior ministry on Friday to impose a 8:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew. Calm returned to Kasserine on Saturday morning, an AFP journalist said, after a day of clashes. In the nearby town of Sidi Bouzid -- the cradle of the 2011 uprising -- teenagers set fire to tyres but the situation was relatively calm, an AFP journalist said. Authorities arrested 261 people over the unrest and 84 for violating the curfew on Friday, the interior ministry said. France on Friday pledged one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in development aid to Tunisia over the next five years, after Essid held talks with French President Francois Hollande. While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring uprisings, the authorities have failed to resolve the problems of social exclusion and regional inequalities. Tunisia also faces jihadist violence that has devastated its vital tourism industry. The population of Bunkpurugu/Yunyo district, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, is 122,591representing 4.9 percent of the Northern regions total population of 2,479,461. Males constitute 49.1 percent and females represent 50.9 percent. The District has a youthful population with about 47 percent of the population below 15 years. The population pyramid for the district is broad base and tapers off with a small number (7.1) of elderly persons (persons aged 60 years and older). The district has a sex ratio of 96.6 with more than three quarters (85.9%) of the population living in rural areas. The total age dependency ratio (population less than 15 years and above 64 years over the working age population, i.e. 15-64 years) for the district is 111. The District has two constituencies, Bunkpurugu constituency and Yunyoo Constituency, The Yunyoo Constituency is represented in Parliament by Hon Joseph B. Naabu, NDC MP, and whiles the Bunkpurugu Constituency is represented by Hon Solomon N. Boar, NPP MP. The District consist of three major ethnic groups, namely Bimobas, Konkombas and Mamprusi, Bimobas are the largest in popolation, followed by Konkombas and Mamprusis respectively. There is high communal spirit among the people especially the small communities. The factors that account for this are the size of the communities, high functional literacy and education by Community- Based Organizations and local Non- Governmental Organizations. The District has 54,975 and above voting population, and Bimobas has a voting capacity of 40,000. The Bimobas, after hearing the announcement of the President reshuffle, has begun throwing questions and seeking immediate answers from office of the President. They want to know if Bimobas are under curse of any appointment in government. The call now is not about being an NDC loyalist, but a call for Bimoba representation in government. We have waited patiently since independence, never wanted to pour out on the streets as many ethnic groups have done to register their displeasure or get the attention of government, but it seems that non-democratic way of protesting is what is visional in the society than the passionate appeals we have made severally for our inclusion in governance. So which is best way complain now, is it the noise way or the silent way, someone should help us, because we are law abided citizens we dont want to go like others. NDC party loyalist and non party resident across the Bunkpurugu constituency numbering over 200 today moved to the NDC Constituency chairmans house protesting strongly on the failure of the NDC administration to consider any Bimoba man or woman for any position. The group which named itself concern citizens of the Bimoba land wants to know from the Chairman, what he and the DCE are doing regarding the appointment ongoing and the construction of the Binde-Bunkpurugu road. The group reveled that, a petition is on the type line to be sent to the office of the president notifying him of their concerns. One of them whom I managed to get his attention declined his identity but said, There are a number of issues that are of concern, but the most prioritized we need immediate answers include the road from Binde Bunkpurugu, and the Appointment of Bimobas in governance. It was captured in plain language of the President speech during his 2012 campaign that, the road will not be in same condition before the next election , we have also noticed with keen crosschecking that, Bimobas , since independence have never been put into any Ministerial appointment of any government , what exactly is the test, such that, Bimobas cannot pass it. We remain committed to the President vision on changing lives and transforming Ghana and wish to assure him of our support to complete his eight (8) years in office. He added. We regret to remind our father that, at Nakpanduri Chief Palace, Bimbagu Chief Palace, Binde Chief Palace, Bunkpurugu Chief Palace, and Bunkpurugu lorry park where the biggest rally was held, he promised that, he would ensure the road from Binde-Bunkpurugu is tarred before the next election. This is an election year, therefore we appeal as a matter of urgency that, work on the Binde Bunkpurugu road should witness a start. We dont want to ask for so many things at the same time, but sincerely the road and the appointment of a Bimoba Man or Woman in your administration is now. We are grateful for the construction of the Community SHS in Namong, the Bunkpurugu Town Water System, the infrastructure projects at both Bunkpurugu and Nakpanduri SHS, the Eastern corridor and the yet to begin Water system in Binde and etc in the District. He pointed out. Mr. Robert Nunifant , NDC Chairman of kpemali branch a community close to Nakpanduri said , the Neglect of Bimobas in Political appointments by governments since Ghanas independence /PNDC, is a legitimate cry? , Bimobas as history indicates are amongst the ethnic group in the Northern region who have highly learned intellectuals. 60-80% of its entire population has school going education. Bimobas undoubtedly are amongst the fifth largest tribe one can think of in the region, to that extent, I see the call for Bimobas inclusion in government as legitimate and reasonable. The fourth republic has seen the sons and daughters of fellow northern brothers and sisters of the other major tribes like Dagombas, Gonjas, Konkombas and Mamprusis serving in various positions since independence to date with the exception of Bimobas. Of course, the constitution of Ghana mandates every President to consider both regional and ethnic balance in his/her appointments of Ministers of State etc. With this mandate, what then has prevented past and present government to bring on board Bimobas in appointment of any kind? We are really under any curse of appointment as many want me to believe, the answer cannot be yes. Robert. I have followed with keen interest, the lamentation of fellow Bimobas on social media. These lamentations followed the announcement of Ministerial reshuffle by the President with Bimobas conspicuously missing in the list, what could be the reason , as many Sons and Daughters of this land thought that , the current administration will bring Bimobas on board based on the massive votes the ruling government benefited In the 2012 general elections. Mr. Robert noted Whom we should blame, Mr. Robert Nunifant asked?. According to him; neither governments nor other tribes should be blamed for it. I am forced to describe our situation as painfully incurable self infestation of polymorphic virus. We as Bimobas must have ourselves blamed for our predicaments. I will give you just one or two examples, what support did we give or do to the following people when they were appointed, Hon Hajia Maliga Bawah as DCE, Hon Philip N Laari as DCE, Hon Abulai Duut as PWD Secretary, and finally in less than a year ago Hon Timothy S. Laari current DCE, all this personalities faced a lot of reporting and letter writing against their appointments. We are same people who staged protestations against these individuals, the likes of Hon Nurokina Ceasar when he was going to be appointed DCE, the likes of Hon Fuzzy Kombat ,when he was recommended for Deputy Regional Minister Northern Region , the Likes of Hon. J.Y Labik when as was tipped for RM Northern region , the likes of Hon Anthony Gingong when his name came up for DRM Northern Region , the likes of Mr. Yandam Gbia-Laar when he was tipped for Ambassador , the likes of Dr Bension Konlan when his name popped up for Deputy Minister for Health , the likes of Dr Campion Benson when his name was rumored for Ambassadorial post etc. All of these names are just a few of the many potential people from the Bimoba land who can perform same duties as others do in the various Ministries and governments offices. The regrettable thing is that, should any of these individuals be named for any post, we will rise with letters and all forms of protest against them. We have people who feel if it is not them, then it mustnt be anyone else. This is self centeredness, sightless and greed. Take it or not ,should the President appoint one of our own today as Minister , we will be the first to start writing petitions as to why the appointment should be over turned. Robert revealed. Unfortunately for us, the stakeholders of the Bimoba land who could have helped matters go well are regrettably the champions of divisiveness. Can we have our entire chiefs sit one table to dine? Do they have a common voice? What has become of BIYA and BISU? Everything about Bimobas that seek to put us together is destroyed largely due to cyanic discrimination. He added. The Likes of DAYA, GOYA, KOYA, MAYA, have been rewarded today because they are united and have a strong voice, vengeance, show of intellectualism. The NDC branch chairman Hon Robert Nunifant, expressed that, divisiveness, petitions and unanimous letter writing must cease with immediate effect, else we can only hope to be called proud sons and daughters of Bimobas. Peace and Unity must prevail henceforth if we really want to catch the eye of any government. 23.01.2016 LISTEN There was an old song by Kenny Tone basically singing that it is the people that are bad not the world they live in. Anyone that claims they are confounded by the lack of development in Africa must be fooling himself if he cannot point to man-made disasters by Africans. Crimes by people, who called themselves Africans against Africa, can never be tolerated in any continent. In this day and age, they will either be shot by firing squads or be banished into dungeon forever. We know the punishment for anyone that throws monkey wrench into the smooth running of a machine, company or economy. Every industrial revolution that has taken place in this world, has been fueled by oil. Those that have oil, some oil or none; paid the price at considerable cost to get oil. They went to war to secure oil, sacrificed lives for oil and were also willing to sing and dance, despite their might, with worlds incompatible dictators as long as oil flowed to them. God in his mercy saw this and decided it is time for Africa to rise. He created abundant oil in a few countries and bless them with human resources to manage it. God actually appointed and looked to Nigeria as a place worthy of delivering Africa. Even the world saw Nigeria as the next regional power judging by the caliber of its leaders: gifted young and driven for progress. However, Nigerians turned chicanery, crimes against itself and high treason by court orders to due process, democracy and worst of all: fake oil scarcity into subsidy for the poor. They know Nigerians want some advantages for the oil produced in their backyard. So developed a racket that deluded the people by paying one another what they defined as oil subsidies. Intentionally sabotage production and when caught red-handed on video taking kickbacks, never prosecuted. Who could ever predict that great leaders would produce vagabonds willing to thrown Molotov cocktails persistently into a major producer of tin (aluminum), columbite (iron) and coal? They would rather let everything burn as long as they sell our future for a mess of potage only to be wasted in foreign lands as Africa burns. They think God provided oil as manna from heaven so they can scrabble for their national cake and vamoose with their families far away from home. While oil became the black gold, Nigeria replaced Saudi Arabia and other countries as USA main supplier of oil during the Embargo of the seventies. Though Nigeria cant account for its oil, we must give credit to some that built refineries across strategic locations in the Country to save, conserve foreign reserve and planned local consumption for industrial take off. As Nigeria was accruing foreign income from crude, the stage was set for more cash from refined oil products. True, along the way, we lost big on porous Ajaokuta Steel Industry that almost became obsolete before it saw deficit production. A blue print by brilliant scholars for local production of auto industry never went beyond prototype: discouraged by imports. Fortunately food production was so good at a point, Nigeria was exporting food to West Africa. Getting drunk on oil, led to most of our troubles. We even gambled on war before oil became our main foreign income. Nevertheless, crude oil was flowing and refineries were built. There are very few countries that have oil flowing and refineries working that have not made economic progress: except Nigeria. We had forgone our booming agricultural sector, coal in the East, cocoa in the West, groundnut in the North. Ajaokuta Steel became economic drain while we got addicted to foreign products. Any foreign good became our obsession that exploded into bloated market stifling our progress. We used to blame others and cry over the injustice done to Africa. But we were not prepared for greater evils within us. We got hooked on tailored preferences of new or used foreign goods. Draining our foreign reserves. Foreign tastes created a market that Nigerians in particular and Africans in general have yet to recover from. It is no more the injustice of colonialists; it is our unsustainable demands for theirs that undermined and drove down our currencies and markets. In spite of these, we could have prevailed but for those willing to burn not only Nigeria but also denied Africa of potential leadership role. We had oil at the right time with the highest price ever and we also had refineries that could satisfy, not only local production but also enough for export to other countries. In order to realize this blessing, we were required to be judicious and prudent in connecting the dots to get rolling in accomplishing the land of milk and honey. However, vagabonds of Africa did everything unimaginable: threw monkey wrench into these refineries to sabotaged oil production. Since oil started flowing in Nigeria, we do not know how much, we neither move towards full production nor have refineries been able to work close to full capacity. Instead of looking at oil producing villages as modern cities in Africa, they became swamp of environmental disaster. Instead of jobs, we saw idleness in the land of the blessed. Saboteurs make sure refineries never work so imported generators could flourish. We exported crude oil needed for our refineries. We imported only half of it back refined, at gold price. Oh, other half is bought in different transactions at diamond price as lubricants, residuals, heavy oil, tar and coke. They buy raw from us, we buy refined oil from them in international markets. We turned against one another, not those that fail to produce our food, neglect our coalmine, that also sabotage the only product that every country sought for industrialization. They started producing and encouraging what no country would tolerate as saboteurs, religious fanatics and terrorists in the name of due process, democracy and dictatorship. Every country that has been visited by these leeches has always found ways to deal and help them get to the door of hell. If they want to see Allah, Jesus or Jehovah, every country has always found ways to speedily grant them their wishes. And the poor? Too busy arguing on non-existing diversionary subsidies. 23.01.2016 LISTEN STUNNAD has lay the bare facts about the blatant lies by the NDC government about the on-going Rural Electrification Projects to the good people of Ghana and set the records straight that the said rural electrification contract and the loan facility for the project was concluded and signed by the then NPP government. Quoting from the Performance Audit Report on the Extension of Electricity to 1200 Communities in Ghana by the Auditor-General dated 21 August 2014 as his source, the national president of STUNNAD, Chris Arthur stated that the NDC government cannot and should not take any credit for supplying electricity for rural the communities. In paragraph 47 of the Auditor-General report, it is clearly stated that the agreement for the turnkey rural electrification project was initially signed on 26 April 2006. We found that it was not until 16 September 2008 that the Credit Agreement was signed paving the way for the commencement of the construction works in August 2010. In paragraph 30 of the same Auditor-Generals report it is stated .Additionally, section 3 of the Loans Act 1970, Act 335, requires Cabinet to approve the raising of an external loan, From our review of the procurement documents, we found that Cabinet gave its approval for the loan agreement on 17 July 2008 and subsequently it was laid before Parliament and a resolution passed on 12 August 2008 to approve the loan. Contract and Projected number of beneficiary communities Region Initial No of communities Approved No of communities Brong Ahafo 72 559 Central 138 451 Western 865 1879 Total 1075 2888 It is important to note that the project was to be executed over a 5-year period but the NDC government deliberately caused it to be delayed and it is in its 8th year at the end of 2015. This rural electrification project has been captured in the NDC propagandist green book as one of their achievement to score political gains. In fact, the auditors indicated in their report that NDC government upon assuming office used huge sums of the contract loan to purchased expensive luxurious vehicles including Lexus LX 570 and Chrysler 300 models which Dr. Oteng Agyei took to himself two of the vehicles. We are challenging the NDC government and its communicators to put a defense to this fact else they should stop their indiscreet lies and propagandas. As a matter of fact, the only electrification project initiated by this NDC government, was a yet to be commenced Credit Facility Agreement between Ghana and Industrial Commercial Bank of China for 556 communities in the Eastern, Volta and Northern Regions. This loan agreement was presented to Parliament by the Finance Committee on just last year Tuesday 22nd December 2015. If President Mahama and his NDC government cannot account for the copious and unbridled borrowings and taxes that has increase Ghanas debt from Ghc 9.5billion to Ghc 99.9 billion, then they should get ready for Nsawam Prisons. 23.01.2016 LISTEN We have been monitoring series of comments and press releases ongoing in this country which we see them as unnecessary and threat to the peace and stability to this country. The most unfortunate one of it all is the recent attacks on the Okyehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori by the NDC government. The okyehene we believed has worked with different government , he always criticize any government that performs poor and also appraise governments when they performs better to the development of our dear nation. Quiet recently, the Entire NDC led by President John Mahama has decided not to show a bit of respect to the Okyehene, Akyems , people living in Akyem and Ghanaians. This is because the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party ( NPP) is from Akyem, the NDC has made up their minds to always attack them to create tribal confusion which has been at rest for over decades . Krobo Organized Youth should spare us with their noise making and point to Ghanaians just one developmental project they as a youth have been able to achieve for their community. Why point your fingers on the Innocent gentleman Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo when he has nothing to do with the pending issue? Didn't you read the press statement from the Okyeman Youth Association signed by Nana Yaw Osene-Akwah with much reasonable points without attacking any tribe ? We are all Ghanaians and lets not stand to embrace divisiveness as youth of this country, we shouldn't allow corrupt government to incite us against any tribe in Ghana. Generally, we know the government of Ghana knows how prudent it would be to have consulted the President of Eastern Regional House of chiefs, for a collective discussion on the appropriate location of this shadow Eastern University which the president cited at a location of his own political benefits than that of Ghanaians. We want to tell these perceived Krobo Organized Youth to keep mute and pray for live manifestation of the invisible Eastern University to be visible. Our advise to the youth from various Ethnic groups is to abstain from disrespectful attitude against our chiefs and leaders . Long Live Ghana! Shani Bawumia -(Leader) 0242041706 Simon Soayam 0207854685 Hon Salifu Saeed 0204515510 23.01.2016 LISTEN The third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) held in October 2015 in New Delhi, India captured attention briefly as it was the largest Indo-African Summit to date. The Summit Framework soon released after its conclusion aimed to achieve development partnership through cooperation in various sectors such as economies, trade & industry, agriculture, renewable energy, blue/ocean economies, infrastructure, education and skills development, health, peace and security. The Summit concluded with the parties agreeing to formulate a detailed Plan of Action (POA) and the modalities of monitoring mechanisms within three months of its culmination. As the first month of 2016 comes to an end, it marks this three-month deadline set during the IAFS Summit. The POA holds significance as it outlines the procedure to achieve the goals set out by the parties in the Summit Framework[1]. It therefore becomes essential to prepare a prudent and feasible POA to ensure successful execution of the Summit Framework. This article examines the various parameters that ought to be considered in the POA 2015 and foresees some of the difficulties that could arise while implementing the Summit Framework. POA to be aligned with African Countries Development Plans The goals set in the Summit Framework are aligned with the African Unions Agenda 2063 (a 50 year plan) and with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. This is to ensure consistency and feasibility in executing goals, taking into consideration the interest of all 54 African nations. However, a potential challenge has been overlooked here. Each African country has its own independent development plan, and most African countries are also aligned to at least one of the eight African Union-recognized Regional Economic Community (REC), who may also have their own development plan. To give a glimpse of varied development plans in different African nations, four sampled countries have been considered based on their location Ghana (a West African country), Burundi (an East African country), Morocco (a North African country) and South Africa. The chart below depicts different national development plans in each of these countries. Taking Ghanas development plans into consideration, it can be noted that although they possess similar goals, such as to improve the agricultural sector, achieve gender parity and to develop and improve technology and ICT, all have different timelines, which could lead to confusion of the actual timelines for implementation. Whereas, in the case of Burundi, which has only recently recovered from a long civil war, it was the third poorest country in the world in 2014 and only documented their first national action plan in 2005. It would be rather ambitious for Burundi to merge all the aims of the RECs as well as develop a strategy for Indian partnership and would require careful planning of its limited resources. Being part of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) and not part of the African Union, Moroccos national objectives arent necessarily aligned with Agenda 2063, which goes against the fundamental idea of aligning the Summit Framework goals with Agenda 2063. Further, Morocco, as part of the AMU has tensions with another member country, Algeria, over the West Sahara region, so much so that a summit between the five member countries has not been possible since 1994. The historic rivalry between nations could be something that India has to be sensitive to when investing in these countries[2]. South Africa, a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has to manage its National Development Plan (NDP) from 2013-2030. The SADC has a Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), which will be implemented from 2005-2020, aimed at increasing integration between its member states. South Africa, and other countries, may be focused on intra-continental relations in the coming years, leaving over relations, such as India, feeling boxed out. These are just instances of four countries. Juggling all the various needs of 54 African nations, who have different income levels, are in different regions, have different resources, conflicts within and among themselves, and all follow at least two development plans will be tricky for India, especially since all the development plans have different timelines and slightly different, specific, regional needs. There are also other Regional Economic Communities, not recognized by the AU, which may also have their own development plans that need to be taken into consideration. This difficulty could be compounded further by changes to the political atmosphere of each country, as each incoming or incumbent political party may want to develop their own policies and disregard previous policies, even if they are beneficial. It is yet to be seen how effectively the POA addresses these concerns and captures the peculiar interest of African countries. To Avoid Repetition of Loopholes from Previous POA Prior to IAFS 2015, two Summits have been held: first IAFS was held in New Delhi in 2008 and second IAFS was held in Addis Ababa in 2011. However, only the copy of POA for 2011 Summit is available on the official website[3]. Review of the past POA aided in scrutinizing the strategies adopted to execute earlier IAFS Framework and to look out for any loopholes contained in it. POA 2011 was flawed. It was merely a broad guideline document which lacked any effective actions such as strategies to execute the goals or timelines to achieve the goals or specific roles and responsibilities of parties or allocation of budget for each goal or a method to monitor the progress of POA execution. In short, POA 2011 was an ambiguous layout with no clear vision. For instance, one of the goals under Economic Co-operation stated that India will develop ten vocational training centres in Africa. Here, the usage of Africa is elusive, as Africa comprises of 54 countries. Which 10 out of the 54 countries are being referred here? Further, what are the criteria to select 10 countries out of the 54? Can more than one training centres be located in one country? All these questions remained unanswered. The reference of the party as Africa is followed throughout the POA 2011 without any further details as to which specific countries are being referred. In another instance regarding the financial commitment, it is stated in the POA that India announced a separate provision of 500 Million USD to develop capacities in Africa. Again, there are no details as to what capacities are being referred or which African countries would get a share of the 500 Million USD or what share of the budget is allocated for each of those African countries. During the 2015 Summit, India pitched for nearly 9 Billion USD in Lines of Credit to African countries over a period of 5 years. It is expected that POA 2015 would not be as disappointing as its predecessor with regards to details and layouts. Inclusion of Robust Monitoring Mechanism POA 2011 was prepared for a period of 4 years with a promise of constant review, adaptation and enhancement during and after that period. However, no review document is available on the official IAFS website tracking the progress of the execution of IAFS 2011 Summit Framework. This has made it unclear as to whether any review meetings were held in the past or which goals have been achieved or which goals have faced hindrance in execution. In turn, this prevents one from formulating the exact outcomes of IAFS 2011. Perhaps, the unsuccessful review attempts in the past led to the reconsideration of including a robust monitoring mechanism in POA 2015 and it is a welcome move. The Summit Framework 2015 specifically assures to set up a formal monitoring mechanism to review the implementation of the Framework goals by a competent body. A constant and efficient feedback system is essential for ensuring successful implementation of the Summit Framework. The working structure to be developed to form the monitoring panel should be closely observed. How are African nations going to be represented? Should this be based on a project-by-project basis or based on geographic location? The frequency of the panel meetings and the method adopted to monitor the actions of 54 nations of Africa and India is something to wait and watch. In conclusion, for an effective POA to be produced from this Summit, both India and all the African countries have to be cautiously conscientious of the all the details of the deal and attempt not to neglect any country or issue, as this could lead to a downfall in the future success of this partnership. IMANIs Roshni Rajiv & Keshia Osei-kufuor compiled this report. [1] http://www.iafs.in/documents-detail.php?archive_id=323 , http://www.iafs.in/documents-detail.php?archive_id=322 [2] http://eng.majalla.com/2013/06/article55242108 [3] http://www.iafs.in/documents.php 23.01.2016 LISTEN The New York Times launched a sneak attack on conservatives last October. A prominently featured piece proclaimed Just 158 families have provided nearly half of the early money for efforts to capture the White House. It commences: They are overwhelmingly white, rich, older and male, in a nation that is being remade by the young, by women, and by black and brown voters. Across a sprawling country, they reside in an archipelago of wealth, exclusive neighborhoods dotting a handful of cities and towns. And in an economy that has minted billionaires in a dizzying array of industries, most made their fortunes in just two: finance and energy. This attack predictably is being picked up and amplified by the Left, which has its own generous benefactors, by painting the benefactors of the right as oligarchs. Whats really going on? Progressives have an utterly brilliant gift for what they call winning the Framing War . By Framing War they mean that she who frames the terms of the debate wins the debate, and, with patience, the attendant policy victory. The Times goes on to say: But regardless of industry, the families investing the most in presidential politics overwhelmingly lean right, contributing tens of millions of dollars to support Republican candidates who have pledged to pare regulations; cut taxes on income, capital gains and inheritances; and shrink entitlement programs. Crying oligarchy is a fiendishly clever rhetorical device. Dont fall for it. Its a naked power grab by the Left. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines an oligarchy as a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution. Oligarch implies someone of great wealth with disproportionate political influence. Oligarch carries a connotation of opposition to republican principles and carries an innuendo of illegitimacy. The Progressives goal is to overturn Citizens United to enhance their own political power and disadvantage the right. Nothing more. Nothing less. Sinister former secretary of labor Robert Reich, writes in Alternet America is Now a Full-Scale Oligarchy: We must get big money out of politics . In the New York Review of Books Paul Krugman reviews Reichs latest book in a column entitled Challenging the Oligarchy . The socialist Peoples World writes Republican victory in 2016 would strengthen new patrimonial oligarchy . Washington Post bigfoot Dana Milbank writes Because there are fewer liberal billionaires (and those who are politically active, such as George Soros and Tom Steyer, tend to shun super PACs in favor of their own projects) the only real counterweight to Republican super PACs in this new era is union money. The only question is how big a loss Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association will be for the unions. Its virtually certain to be another step toward American oligarchy. In crying Oligarchy! the Left simply is trying to seize power for itself. Its nonsense. And pernicious nonsense. The left, in George Soros, Tim Gill, and Tom Steyer, for starters, plus Big Labor, has more than the equivalent throw weight of the Koch brothers. Unlike the left, with its campaign of vilification of the Kochs and others , I never have impugned the lefts benefactors. In fact Ive written quite sympathetically of the much-misunderstood Soros, a protege of the great Karl Popper. The Left is after only one thing: power. Their instrument is the federal government, over which they have disproportionate influence and over which they seek hegemonic control, and, through that, hegemonic control over us. The wealthy on the Right are an obstacle to the hegemonic ambitions of the Left. Its a power struggle and the Left, while sanctimonious, are no angels. Im no shill for oligarchy. That said, in a struggle between the wealthy and absolutist government the wealthy are the lesser evil. Consider, for example, the Magna Carta. It is one of the iconic documents of human rights and classical liberalism. As described by the British Library , Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law. uried within them were a number of fundamental values that both challenged the autocracy of the king and proved highly adaptable in future centuries. Most famously, the 39th clause gave all free men the right to justice and a fair trial. Magna Carta stated that no taxes could be demanded without the general consent of the realm, meaning the leading barons and churchmen. It re-established privileges which had been lost, and it linked fines to the severity of the offence so as not to threaten an individuals livelihood. The Great Charter of the Liberties, whatever its limitations and defects, was negotiated by the Barons the British oligarchs of the day to reduce the absolute power of the King. While the Barons were looking out only for their own interests they set a powerful precedent. Liberties expanded, over time, to the rest of us. Progressives are the modern day equivalent of royalists, aligning themselves with the central power. They use all means at their disposal (as King John would turn to Pope Innocent III to annul the Magna Carta) to tip the balance of power toward absolutism. Most Progressives, despite their pretensions, are no friends of liberty. Or, for that matter, friends of justice for all. Its a simple naked power grab. If they wish to frame conservatives as oligarchs then let conservatives frame the Left for totalitarianism. Theyve earned it. Moreover, the Left is just wrong. The 158 families influence by virtue of their donations is a monster under the bed, an imaginary hobgoblin concocted by totalitarian-leaning Progressives to scare the populace into lending support. The great H.L. Mencken, the Sage of Baltimore, called out this technique In Defense of Women (1918): the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary. The power of the donors is greatly over-rated. Just ask Jeb Bush. And according to a recent article in Politico : Charles Koch is disappointed with the line-up of Republican candidates in the 2016 cycle, and is surprised by the lack of influence he and his brother have wielded so far. In an interview with the Financial Times, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist, said hell eventually support a candidate who he agrees with on some things with, but that its hard to get excited. He said a list presented to all the candidates about the Kochs political arms priorities doesnt seem to faze them much. Youd think we could have more influence. The Hill now writes, Upset Republican Donors: Have We Wasted Our Money? People are upset about the Citizens United decision; people are upset about all this money flowing into politics, but at the end of the day it has no impact, said New York financier Anthony Scaramucci, who was a national finance co-chair for Scott Walkers presidential campaign before moving to raise funds for Bush when Walker quit the race. ... John Jordan, a California winery owner who is running a super-PAC to support Marco Rubios bid, agrees. Despite all the talk about money in politics, we are entering an era where big money is less and less important, said Jordan, who nonetheless spends millions on politics, largely through his own super-PACs. The cautionary tale cited by nearly every donor or fundraiser interviewed on or off the record has been Bush. He has fallen in polls despite the more than $50 million already spent on his behalf by the group Right to Rise, which far outraised every other super-PAC with its mid-year haul of $103 million. I think the whole idea of super-PACs has been overrated, said Fred Malek, finance chairman of the Republican Governors Association. As Jonah Goldberg writes in National Review : And yet, to listen to countless pundits and politicians, we live in an oligarchy now. Clinton, who benefits from no less than five super PACs, thinks the Citizens United case, which made super PACs possible, is such a threat to democracy that the First Amendment should be rewritten to get rid of them. Democrats don't like Citizens United because they think it might blunt their advantages. According to OpenSecrets.org, of the top five organizations -- i.e., unions and corporate PACs -- that give to federal candidates, all (mostly public unions) give 97 percent to 100 percent of their donations to liberals and Democrats. Of the top 10, eight give almost exclusively to the left. Of the top 25, 18 donate disproportionately to the left. By the way, Koch Industries is No. 49 on the list, and the National Rifle Association is No. 74. In addition to the sinister totalitarian cast of those attempting to smear conservative benefactors as oligarchs there is an additional, rich, irony. The reformers are very much the source of the corruption of government that they protest. Jonathan Rauch (a good friend) last year published a compelling monograph for The Brookings Institution, Political Realism: how hacks, machines, big money, and back-room deals can strengthen American democracy . It persuaded me that the very campaign finance reforms that have become a Progressive shibboleth are at the very core of the breakdown of our governance. Rauch: The realist mission is in the contest between professionalism and amateurism, to move law, rules, and public opinion closer to neutrality, thereby giving the professionals more space to do what they need to do. A logical place to begin is by reducing the artificial fundraising advantages that current law gives to political amateurs and outsiders. Todays tight restrictions on donations to candidates and parties have not reduced the amount of money in politics, nor have they demonstrably reduced corruption, improved policy outcomes, facilitated governance, or pleased the public. Because many or most donors would give directly to parties and candidates rather than shadow machines if they could, a logical remedy is to raise dramatically the contribution limits to candidates and parties, bringing more money back inside the system. Beware these self-styled reformers. As former Federal Reserve Governor Henry Wallich once said, Experience is the name we give to our past mistakes, reform that which we give to future ones. Smearing conservative benefactors as oligarchs is part of a naked power grab by the Left. Dont fall for it. Plus, the evidence is compelling that Progressive efforts to regulate political speech is a major contributor to the very corruption the Left indicts. The rich by far are the lesser evil than the Progressive Utopian Dream of Even Bigger Government. When high-sounding campaign finance reforms are proposed see them for what they are, a pure power grab. Repeal, rather than double down on, campaign finance law restrictions. Government, for all of us, is much more likely to get much better. Read Rauch . Ghanaians Abroad against Corruption is appealing to President John Mahama and his government to review economic decisions and policies that are creating extreme hardship and desperate poverty. There is more work to do as workers and families struggle with their finances, struggle to get loans from banks and also not being able to save any money from their wages. We believe that the hardship being faced by most Ghanaians currently is forcing individuals to live beyond their means and causing the kind of corruption going on at our market places, offices, ports, schools and in government departments. We believe it is time the President and Ministers work to Address serious gas and electricity shortages plaguing the capital, Accra and several towns in the outlying areas. Reduce high taxes and tariffs which are weakening small businesses. Stop the excessive harassment of our traders and market women by our metropolitan council authorities and exempt them from paying the basic rate of tax to boost business. The price of food is also rising steadily on essential commodities such as rice, sugar, flour, yams, meat and fish. The President must reduce tariffs on inputs to make it easy for importers to support farmers and traders in these commodities. 850 billon Ghana cedis has been lost through our main ports Tema and Takoradi last year, and our inland ports through the collusion of some government ministers ,some officials at the office of the presidency and some corrupt customs officers. These corrupt acts are destabilising to the nations security and prosperity and heads must roll for this poor state of affairs. We also call on the President to support the work of The Commission of Human rights and Administrative Justice to pursue corrupt public officials and address wrongdoing in our society to promote accountability. The recent Auditors Generals report, excerpts of which were read on Adom FM, a station in Ghana, is a betrayal and a disgrace to the country. There is simply no excuse for this wanton misuse and stealing of public funds! President Mahama must be careful in underestimating the intelligence of the Ghanaian people in not confronting these challenges and dealing with them. Ghanaians Abroad against Corruption believe he has yet to show any willingness to condemn or crack down on financial indiscipline within his government, He must stamp his authority and get them to refocus on rebuilding trust with the public and delivering good policy programmes for the people Mr President please get your act together. Dennis Doe- Vormavor Chairman Ghanaians Abroad Against Corruption. Dr Edward Nii Boye Ashong Deputy Chairman 23.01.2016 LISTEN John Wood and Nike Akerele De Souza were both born in the mid 1960s,both are fellows of the Aspen Institute, both attended graduate business school in the United States. John Wood was senior marketing Executive of Microsoft,top five global information Technology company and Nike Akerele De souza was senior manager at Arthur Andersen now KPMG Professional services .A Top five Global Consulting Firm. John Wood has as his Spiritual hero Andrew Carnegie,Steel Magnate, Billionaire and Library building Philanthropist whereas Nike Akerele Proclaimed her campaign Teachers 4change under the banner of Istandforeducation .,org in the Nigerian Guardian Newspaper on November 24 2014 the eve of 178 th anniversary of the birth of Andrew Carnegie. Interestingly, Akerle De souzas maternal grandfather was a partner in the Law firm of Obafemi Awolowo ,exponent of free Education including free Textbooks.His Wife, Hanah Awolowo was born on the 80thanniversary of the Birth of AnDrew Carnegie on November 25 1915. John Wood wrote the Book Leaving Microsoft to change the world.He left not only Microsoft. He left his girl friend to change the world. Starting from scratch in 2010 he has built 1,850 schools, 16,800 libraries , distributed 14 million books, published over 1,000 local language books for chidren and over 28,00 girls have benefited from a long term girls education programme. Room to Read which John Wood Founded to do the acts has 12.000 volunteers in 57 cities Nike Akerele De souza, on her own approach, is out to mobilise one million people for education.John wood has so far raisd 250 million Dollars for Room to Read. Room to Read is Present in 10 countries including three in Africa, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia About Nine million Children in 18,000 communities have benefited. I wish Nike Akerele Desouza her own 250 million dollars within the next ten years. By Augustine Togonu- Bickersteth, London, England 23.01.2016 LISTEN Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah (Deputy Ambassador China ) writes My attention have been drawn to a statement signed by Mr. Kwabena Adom, a teacher in Guangzhou and one Nana Antwi, a student in Qing-Dao China, regarding the acceptance of the Ghanaian cedi by a restaurant in Guangzhou, China. It is unfortunate that my excitement to see a restaurant in Guangzhou, China accepting the cedi be misconstrued as propaganda. I would like to humbly state that my statement categorically referred to a restaurant in Guangzhou, supported with a picture depicting management's notice of the acceptance of the Ghanaian cedi. I am certain that it was a moment that would have made any Ghanaian official proud. My comment never made reference to the country China as a whole accepting the cedi nor made reference to government of Ghana or Embassy negotiations that should attract any Chinese government interrogation or investigation. Futhermore, it is my believe that the level of excitement, in Ghana, has come from the fact that the cedi is being accepted elsewhere for the first time. In addition, May I take this opportunity to assure any group of Ghanaians in China and especially Mr. Adom and Mr. Antwi that no official from the Embassy spend their time attending parties and none has attended or planning to attend an Aponkye Party. The mention of such party, the advert which has been circulating, is not a function that any official of the Embassy have been officially invited to although we at the Embassy have also noticed and questioned the authenticity of the advertisement that has the picture of the Deputy Ambassador as attending. Mr. Adom and Mr. Antwi are aware that it is pure propaganda by the organisers that the Deputy Ambassador is attending. However, I do not believe it will be outside the mandate of any official from the Embassy to honour an invitation by a Ghanaian group in China to be with them in their moment of happiness or sorrow. Officials from the Embassy use their time profitably. My visit to Guangzhou, where I was able to get a company agree to investing 50M USD into establishing a tile factory in Ghana, is a clear indication of how we use our time profitably. Such investment is the first of its kind from the city and I would have been happier if the two gentlemen had taken notice of that aspect of my working visit to Guangzhou. I would also like to place on record that no Ghanaian in China with any form of difficulty, known to the Embassy, is ignored. My working visit to Guangzhou also offered me the opportunity to address the plight of a Ghanaian trader currently in some difficulties in Guangzhou as known by the authorities. May I take this opportunity to assure Ghanaians in China that the doors of the Mission is open to all and nothing should make them shy away from engaging officials. Futhermore, the student leadership, here in China, can inform any doubters the interest that the Embassy has shown in addressing their plights. The Deputy Ambassador has been speaking to both the student leadership and officials of Scholarship Secretariat back in Ghana in the search for answers for the delay of the payment of allowances. Finally, I would like by this statement, encourage all Ghanaians in China to endeavour to register with the Embassy to help both sides. Thank you Signed Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah 23.01.2016 LISTEN Indigenous textile operators are howling that Chinese operators have taken over the Nigerias textile industry. From East to West, North to South there is ranting. The local operators weep stalks to the fact that China, which was formerly an import dependent country, had 16 textile factories in China devoted to tossing out textiles with a Made in Nigeria badge sewn in them around 1997, with Nigerias textile industry vibrantly operating over 300 vivacious factories. The vibrancy of the industry in Nigeria earned her the status of the second largest in Africa, battling with South Africa, after Egypts, then. A Nigerian Journalist, Ugboja Felix Ojonugwa said in a civic appearance on May 20 2015, Within a few decades, China has lifted some 300 million of its people from abject poverty, a feat without any precedence in the annals of economic development. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, with vast reserves of oil and gas, is yet gasping for the breath and is the toast of many global economic powers. China took over the importation and distribution of textiles in Nigeria. Nigeria becomes prospectively, the chief marketplace for Chinas industrial products in Africa, today. Ogonugwa added, Nigerias imports from China account for over a third of its total trade with West Africa. President Jonathans visit to China in 2014 is significant as it underlines Nigerias growing economic relations with China. From the Nigerian perspective, closer economic ties with China have become imperative. The Chinese loan of $1.5billion brings to a total of nearly $15 billion Chinas investments and loans to Nigeria in recent years, including the $2.5billion investment in the newly refurbished Lagos-Kano rail line. The irony is that in the 90s, Chinese factories were copying West African designs and as well opening their own distribution chains in the territory. As at 2012, Chinese investors whose textiles were once regarded to be of low worth, have had over 200 corporations at Kantin Kwari Market in Kano State, sending local investors who had controlled the market from beginning, packing. A source that would not want the name in print said, For a time the Chinese material was of a much lower quality than Nigerian originals, but that gap narrowed as Chinese standards rose. The Chinese began to take control of the market, with the unsuspecting Nigerian vendors as a willing tool. Some of the local traders become errand boys otherwise called middlemen to Chinese traders and are settled to the tone of N1, 000 to N500 depending on the business outcome with the prospective buyer they brought to any Chinese traders. The distressing side is that China provides low interest loans for infrastructure in Nigeria and other African countries, whereas she is a leading player in global trade and Africas largest trading partner, making $198.5 billion in China-Africa trade as at 2012, compared with $99.8 billion for USAfrica trade. According to another Nigerian business journalist, Yemi Olakitan, In 1995, World Trade Organisation (WTO) adopted certain agreements on Textiles and Clothing, chief of them was that all allocations on textile and clothing will be removed among WTO member countries. The main beneficiary of the policy was China. The global textile market is said to worth more than $400bn at present. According to China Customs, the export value of Chinas textile and garment alone amounted to $206.5bn. The Nigerian textile industry was one of those that suffered, because of the cheap exports from China. Nigeria used to be the major supplier of (Ankara) good quality wax-resist textile. However, in the early 2000s, cheap imitations of these products were produced and exported from China to West Africa. Some would be slammed with Made-in-Nigeria labels and then sold in Nigeria. The Chinese rose by attacking at the heart of the industry: the wax-print and African-print segment. Although, condemned at the time by some business moguls as 100% illicit, the locals were accounted to be doing the smuggling, experts at Business Journal, have said. Nevertheless, not up to 10 percent of the indigenous factories are functional in the recent times. Many have closed shop and sidetracked to other perceived lucrative businesses. For example, the International Textile Industry (ITI) with factories in Isolo and Ikorodu, both in Lagos, has closed shop. And over 1500 persons under its employ lost their jobs. The same fate befell the First Spinner Limited, Ikorodu, Lagos. Over 800 persons lost their jobs in this factory, too. Others that enjoyed the boom in the Nigerias textile industry but today have closed shop were the Textile Ltd (KTL), Arewa Textiles Plc, United Nigerian Textile Plc, Supertex, Nortex Nigerian Ltd and Finetex Nigerian Ltd. Others were Gaskiya Textiles Mill, Kano Textile Ltd, Aba Textiles, Zamfara Textiles Ltd, Asaba Textiles Ltd, African Textile Mill Plc, Tofa Textiles. The story of textile factories that have closed shop is numerous. In all of this an estimated 250, 000 persons have lost their jobs, out of about 350,000 that were occupying the industry. In 2014, many of the former workers of the closed textile industries in Kaduna were suffering. It is applicable till date. They have resorted to riding Okada and engaged in menial jobs, since many of them have minimal academic qualifications to look for a white collar job elsewhere. The chairman of the Coalition of Closed Unpaid Textile Workers in Kaduna, Wardem Simdik told newsmen that this is the ugly fate that has befallen most of them and they have been protesting that the companies they once worked for should pay them their severance benefits. Intervention Despite the intervention by the successive governments in Nigeria to consolidate the countrys textile industry, the henchman of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Mr. Ladele Hunsu had his fears that the industry is yet to be viable no matter the money that successive governments have been pumping into the industry to revitalise it. Hunsu lamented that there are many textiles coming into the country unchecked, adding that corruption, mismanagement, lack of constant electricity, lack of modern equipments and cost of production have endangered the countrys textile industry, hence giving room for China to steal show by shipping materials that are confirmed substandard into the country. To redeem the textile industry, the Federal Government had to place a ban on importation of textiles into Nigeria. But this idea did not go down well in some quarters. Many persons in the industry felt shortchanged. They argued that the revenue from imported textiles that was supposed to come to the country was being reaped by neigbouring countries and smugglers, hence the call for lifting of the ban. There was the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan Must Hear This summit that took place in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, where the convener of the forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Dojo, said in bawling tone that the ban appeared to have ethnic colouration targeting the South-East and South-South. It was believed that about 50 million Nigerians were rendered jobless as a result of the ban. The forum frowned that in the 70s and 80s the industry was generating about 25 per cent of the manufacturing GDP and contributing 20 percent of mutual taxation revenue in Nigeria. Today, there is an estimated $2.2bn textiles smuggled into Nigeria through Benin, per annum, making Nigerias production go down drastically. Irked by Chinas approach While having business operation in Nigeria, China prefers to manufacture finished product in her country and ship to Nigeria, knowing that Nigerians prefer foreign goods to their locally made ones. In the light of this, experts are of the opinion that it will be difficult for Nigeria to survive. Against this influence, many calls were made to China to build textile industries in Nigeria; not even the ban of 2002 by the ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo could deter China. The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was among the many Nigerians that have called on China to build industries in Nigeria. Our over-reliance on foreign products is hurting our economy and the only way to stop this trend is to tackle the problems in the manufacturing sector, said the Emir, when he met with Chinas Ambassador to Nigeria at his Palace recently. Before leaving office in 2007, Obasanjo launched a N70bn Textile Development Fund. Ex-President YarAdua increased the fund by an extra N30bn to N100bn. In 2005, a special inter-ministerial committee headed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai destroyed by burning, smuggled textile materials worth over N4 billion. By 2010, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan lifted the ban. Sanusi who was a former central bank governor, is believed in Nigeria to have known how the trade and economy of the world run. But swiftly, Saidu Adhama, a former textile factory owner, recapped his fears that since the government in Nigeria hardly give loans to local investors, it would be very hard for Nigerian traders to contend with their Chinese counterparts, whose country is always at their disposal by giving them loans at single digit rates over a longer term. Imitations It was acknowledged that imitations of made-in-Nigerian goods are coming in shiploads of containers from China. They are branded with the Nigerian local brand name. While the truly made-in-Nigeria is selling for N570, the China imitations sell for N350. So people prefer to buy the one from China, said Debo Oladimeji, a journalist with The Guardian. In 2015, Nafiu Badaru, a junior civil servant in Kano (place regarded as a centre of weaving and textile manufacturing dating back centuries), told AFP that he could not afford to buy a piece of high-quality brocade (cloth), which costs around 10,000 naira ($50, 47 Euros), but with 1,500 Naira (less than $6), he could buy six pieces of cheap Chinese brocade (cloth) and keep a lot of balance and at the same time look good. Taking open door policy for granted Over a decade ago, China started taking advantage of the liberal policy of the Nigerian government to foreign trade, to undermine the country with her textiles. Instead of abiding by the law that prohibits foreign traders from retailing, some Chinese circumvented the law in May 2012, by retailing in the streets. The authorities in the country apprehended them and deported 45 of them. This is excluding 4 of them that were earlier in that month arrested for smuggling mass produced fabrics, which were contained in 26 warehouses that were sealed by the authorities, which import duties were not paid. Stakeholders assemble As at 2014, the USA was playing the second fiddle in 142years following China in term of economy rating by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Chinese economy was worth $17.61 trillion compared with $17.4 trillion for the USA. The IMF estimated that the economy of China will be worth just under $26.98 trillion in 2019. That would be 20 per cent bigger than the U.S. economy, which is forecast to be worth $22.3 trillion by then, the source said. China achieved this economic feat through industrialisation. Worried by the collapse of the Nigerias textile industry, stakeholders assembled at the 6th Advisory Board Meeting of Fashion Textile Stakeholders Forum in Lagos in 2013. Mr. Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, the Director General/Chief Executive of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), argued: People only copy successful products. There is a challenge. Technology also changes our consumption habits. How can we ensure that our products are competitive? There is a clamour that the industry wants government protection, not only through monetary donation, but also by making strong the currency in the face of rising Chinese competition. In a different presentation, Ojonugwa said, Nigeria needs Chinas financial and technical assistance in the development of its decaying infrastructure. An ex-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, once said, The time is now, to look inward to patronize Nigerian made fabrics and other local raw materials. We must realize the damage we pose on our economy, on our cultural heritage, and our national pride when we shun local brands in preference for products from other economies. We must recognize our power as designers to dictate the taste (or better still, trend) of a population. Odimegwu Onwumere is a Poet/Writer; he writes from Rivers State. ([email protected]). Tel: +2348057778358. 23.01.2016 LISTEN In the wake of debates of Ghana has lost due to mining activities despite the potentials to transform the fortunes of the country, experts are calling for regulation reforms. The African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), an energy policy think tank, is calling for mining investment law to ensure that the countrys mineral revenue is collected, disbursed and spent in a transparent manner. The Centre suggested that the country needs to introduce a law on resource rent tax in the mining sector to capture a share of excessive profits while introducing other exempted taxes without negatively affecting long term mining investment. "Government must develop a public investment management plan and judiciously apply mineral revenues to the realisation of governments investment objectives." Recently, residents of some mine-take communities within the Ahafo project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, have criticized the legislature for not engaging them in the amendment of certain provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act. According to them, they are mostly affected and suffered the devastating consequences of commercial mining, noting that Parliament had failed them for not collecting their views. The residents told Journalists at separate meetings at the Ola Resettlement Site Phase One and Ola Resettlement Site Phase Two near Kenyasi number two that the operations of the mining company had worsened their livelihoods. Although, amendment in certain provisions in the Minerals and Mining Act has criminalized activities of small scale miners, operating in the country without permit. According to new provision in the Act, perpetrators are liable to a summary conviction of a fine of not more than 17,000 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not more than 10 years or both. The residents, however, said such amendments in the Act were a surprised to them as they were not engage in any discourse. An illegal miner, Michael Donkor, noted that the only option left for many of the people who were affected by the mine was to undertake illegal mining activities to sustain their livelihood. According to him, the crop and land compensation paid to most of them by the mining company was not enough to establish any business. Ama Savado, a -70-year-old woman at Ola Resettlement Site Phase One, observed that management of the Ahafo mine failed to fulfill a promise made to the communities that it would engage majority of the affected people to work at the mine. She explained that farming remained the source of livelihood of the people and since the company took over all their farmlands, life at the new site had been unbearable for most of the families. Mr Tweneboa Kodua, the Assemblyman for Dormaa Electoral Area, affirmed that residents at the three resettlement sites had been sidelined from the poverty intervention measures put in place by the mining company. He said the Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NaDEF), a fund set-aside by the mine to carry out development projects and livelihood enhancement programmes are only concentrating on the 10 main Ahafo-mine take towns. Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of the GLOMEF advised the residents to be patience and ensure that they channel their grievances through laid down procedures for redress. He asked them to always ensure that they resort to dialogue and avoid unnecessary confrontations in finding lasting solutions to their problems. Mr Ahenu said under the six year project being funded by the Global GreenGrant Fund at the cost of 8,000 dollars, the voices of the mining communities would be empowered and amplified. However, Mr Ismael Ackah, Head of Policy Unit, ACEP, has explained the reason for the call saying that, according to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Newmont has been enjoying Golden Days because the country had failed to capture adequate and fair share of the mineral value over the years. This he said was critical because government had lost an estimated 90 million dollars in 2011/2012 as a result of mining stability agreements and 387 to 1168 million dollars from non- optimisation of royalty receipt from 1990 to 2007. Mr Ackah said from 2010 to 2013, the countrys average share of the total value for gold production was seven per cent, while government received 1.7 billion dollars in taxes, the total value of gold production in 2014 was exceeding 23 billion dollars. He said the report revealed that from 2003 to 2012, Newmont paid less than 500 million dollars tax to government despite reporting annual revenues of 931 million dollars in 2012. Mr Ackah said the countrys domestic revenue is expected to be 8.1 per cent lower than the 2014 budget estimates, explaining that the situation is likely to persist with decreasing oil revenues which could lead to cut in social services such as education and health. The Centre commended government for re-negotiating the Newmont contract, while urging the Executive government to introduce a law on resource rent tax to capture a share of excessive profits. ACEP called for effective transparency and accountability to track share of royalties that goes to traditional authorities as well as effective tax administration to detect and publish transfer pricing and other illegal corporate practices. 23.01.2016 LISTEN Renowned Non-Governmental Organisations in the country have raised concerns about the US$ 7 billion Eni/Sankofa gas deal signed between ENI, VITOL and GNPC. According to the Africa Center for Energy Policy analysis of the deal, the fiscal benefits of the entire project based on the working interests of the parties give ENI Ghana and Vitol Ghana (Contractors) 56% of total cash flows and profits of US$7billion, equivalent to the cost of the project. It explained that, based on after tax working interest, the contractor group will be entitled to US$14.3 billion (56%) of total cash flow over the project life whilst the state is entitled to US$11.1 billion (44%). This reveals that, the countrys take is lower than what pertains in previous contracts. Given that the project is a US$7 billion project, the contractors will be making profit of US$7billion. This makes the project a profitable one at an oil price of US$90 per barrel and gas price of US$9.8 per mmBtu, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adams, Executive Director of African Center for Energy Policy had revealed. However, another local policy think tank, Imani Ghana has demanded that, the Government of Ghana must make full disclosure on the US$7 billion gas deal. The Founding President Franklin Cudjoe had said, the Government must learn from the current suspicion-riddled power purchase deal with AMERI Energy and try to avoid a similar fate with the ENI/Sankofa gas project. Speaking at the 5th IMANI Inspirational Public Sector Leadership Awards last week, Mr Cudjoe stated that, it will be in the interest of the government and Ghana to consider critical commentary that have been made on energy projects such as AMERI power and ensure that the biggest one to come, the US$7bn Eni project, is equally devoid of suspicion. Most importantly, government should publish all these contracts so we can all make positive contributions and remove the elements of surprise. It makes no good reading suspicions in the international media about your countrys energy deals when we can avoid them altogether by first accounting to us locally. Government should make us prouder defending them internationally by giving us the tools of non-negotiable transparency, Mr Cudjoe said. ENI recently gave the government of Ghana the assurance of its commitment to the development of the West African oil producers oil and gas industry despite the continuously falling price of crude oil on the world market. ENIs Executive Vice-President for the oil firms sub-Sahara African Regional Branch, Mr. Umberto Carrara, gave the assurance to the Government of Ghana when he paid a courtesy call on Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah earlier this month. He said despite the fact that the oil price fall has forced many Exploration and Production (E&P) companies to cut tens of billions of dollars in capital spending, ENI will remain committed to its operations on the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) Sankofa Gas Project. This assurance statement has raised follow-up questions as to why the keen interest of Eni Ghana to still remain committed to the development and production of the gas field, despite the unattractive pricing of the commodity on the market which is likely to affect the profit margins of the company. Further analysis of the terms and conditions of the Agreements and Term Sheets by Economy Times showed that, the deal is fraught with badly negotiated terms, and at most is serving the interest of the Contractors rather than Ghanas. The findings from the analyses show that the government offered over-generous terms to the Contractors just to satisfy Ghanas thirst for gas supplies. In trying to satisfy the countrys demand for gas, the incentives provided to the Contractors exceeded what pertains in international transactions of similar nature. It could be recalled that, President John Dramani Mahama recently witnessed the signing of Agreements between GNPC and the Offshore Cape Three Point (OCTP) Partners; ENI Ghana and Vitol Ghana over a US$7 billion integrated oil and gas development in the Sankofa-Gye-Nyame Fields. The Agreement covers terms and conditions for the financing of the project by the Contractors and for the sale of the Contractors share of gas produced to GNPC. Again, the analysis of the deal revealed that, the Governments fiscal support package, which included an exempt debt-to-equity ratio of 2:1 at 7% interest on the commercial loans of the Contractors, would lead to significant revenue losses to the state over the project life of 20 years, since interest expenses are tax deductible. According to the agreement, the state must guarantee that at any time, the free fiscal support to the Contractors remain US$125 million to make the initial gas price of $9.8 per mmBtu. This could run into several millions of dollars when gas prices fall. In the event that the contractors source the loans from their affiliates, the gains to the Contractors could increase at Ghanas expense. The dangerous part of the term and condition of the contract is that, the Government is required under the Security Package and Fiscal Support Agreement to issue five (5) different Sovereign Guarantees estimated at about US$1.5 billion in addition to World Bank and IDA guarantees. This situation over-exposes the state to too many risks and demonstrates the lack of investor confidence in the Ghanaian Government. Dr. Amin Adams in the past challenged that, GNPC is required to make an upfront payment in cash to the Contractors or allow the Contractors to over-lift GNPCs share of oil at the beginning of production of oil, for the purpose of making Gas price of US$9.8 per mmBtu viable. However, although the amount is expected to be recovered at the end of production, the recovery amount does not attract interest charges. This is not consistent with sound financial management, he noted. The Government is required to allocate the maximum 55% Net Carried and Participating Interest to GNPC beyond the 15 year period for the capitalization of GNPC as provided in the Petroleum Revenue Management Act 2011 (Act 815) or PRMA. This violates Section 7.3 of the PRMA and will therefore amount to an illegality. According to the details contained in the Ghana gas masterplan, gas from the fields will be processed in the FPSO and transported via a pipeline to onshore gas-receiving facilities located near the village of Sanzule in the Western Region of Ghana. The gas will further be compressed and injected into the Western Corridor Gas Pipeline and supplied to domestic industrial customers. Crude oil will be stored in the FPSO and will be supplied to international markets by means of tankers. Ghana's Ministry of Energy has further agreed to enhance the gas transmission system with compression stations and connections to industrial users, to complement the OCTP project. The Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) Integrated Oil and Gas Project includes the combined development of the Sankofa Main, Sankofa East, Gye Nyame, Sankofa East Cenomanian and Sankofa East Campanian fields. The former three are non-associated gas fields while the latter two are oil fields. The development of the fields started in January 2015. The fields are located within the OCTP block in the Tano Basin, at water depths ranging from 600m to 1,000m and are approximately 60km off the coast of Ghana. The area covered by the fields is approximately 694km. Eni's subsidiary, Eni Ghana Exploration and Production, is the operator of the block and holds a majority stake of 47.22% in the same. Vitol Upstream Ghana holds a 37.78% interest in the block and state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation holds a 15% interest, with an option to further increase its share by an additional 5%. The overall investment on the project is estimated to reach US$7bn. The World Bank is providing a partial risk guarantee for the project. The offshore fields are estimated to hold approximately 1.5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas and approximately 500 million barrels of oil. The reserves are expected to continuously feed Ghana's thermal power plants for more than 20 years. Oil production from the project is expected to start in 2017 and peak at 80,000 barrels of oil a day in 2019, whereas gas production is expected to start in 2018, with a daily production capacity of 170 million cubic feet. This would be enough to generate an additional 1,100MW of power for Ghana. The development plan calls for the installation of subsea production systems, in addition to flowlines and risers connected to a leased floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. 23.01.2016 LISTEN Critically reviewing the contract reveals that, sharing of petroleum in monetary terms based on the fiscal regime in the OCTP Petroleum Agreement. The fiscal terms include royalty of 7.5% for oil since the water depth is in excess of 400 mters; gas royalty of 5%, corporate tax of 35%. GNPC has a carried interest of 15%; and additional paid interest of 5%. The working interest of the partners therefore amount to ENI Ghana (44%), Vitol Ghana (35%) and GNPC (20%). In spite of these gains the company is likely to make from the deal, the Government has further over-exposed the country to too many risks due the decision to buy all the gas produced by the contractor. The exposure takes the form of guarantees and security to keep gas price at US$9.8 per mmBtu and to support the Gas Sales Agreement. This is where the real challenge is. The over-generous concessions the Government and GNPC are providing to the Contractors are examined here. The Government and GNPC have offered through the Supplementary Agreement to make the initial gas price of US$9.8/mmBtu viable by providing a fiscal package to the tune of US$250 million. A total of US$125 million will be provided by GNPC upfront, whilst the remaining fiscal concessions amounting to another US$125 million to be provided by Government will ran over the project life. As per the Supplementary Agreement, for the contractors to execute the second phase project (Gas), GNPC is required to make upfront payments of US$125 million to ensure that the contractor makes an NPV of US$125 million based on the initial oil price of US$90 per bbl and gas price of US$9.8 per mmBtu. The contractors must make an NPV of US$125m at all times. Therefore, if the initial price changes such that the contractors will not make an NPV of US$125 million at any point in time, GNPC is required within 3 months of any shortfall occurring, to implement alternative mechanism to eliminate the shortfall; or pay cash to the contractors if the mechanisms have not been implemented. Per the deal, GNPC has two options for executing its upfront payments to the Contractors: Cash contribution of the total amount of $125 million, or the Contractor over-lift of oil due GNPC to the tune of $105 million plus GNPC cash purchase of remaining oil barrels in stock to the tune of $20 million at the beginning of production. The implication of this is that, there is no room for the contractors to make a loss at any time or for their profit levels to decrease; and the state is obliged to assume the full risk of a loss occurring to the contractors through GNPC paying cash to offset any decrease in the contractors profitability. In addition, the Government must issue a Sovereign Guarantee of $125 million to pay for the shortfall in case GNPC defaults. The assumption of these risks by the state alone is too high in an industry that is very volatile. Since, the Contractors already make substantial profits from the oil project, the risk of a loss to the contractors must be shared with the state rather than the state entirely assuming the risks. Although, the guarantees in the deal are required to make a Gas Sales Agreement effective; whilst guarantees are normal with international transactions such as this, some of the guarantees provided in the term sheet for the security package are disturbing. At most, they undermine Ghanas sovereignty by tying down the hand of the Minister of Finance, GNPC and violating sections of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act 2011 (Act 815). Further, GNPC shall not sell gas in any currency apart from US Dollars conflicting with the domestic currency regulations. These disturbing guarantees are examined: The Escrow Disbursement Account; Escrow Reserve Holding Account; and Payment of GNPCs Net Carried and Participating Interest into the main Escrow Disbursement Account. According to the term sheet, GNPC is required to open a US Dollar main Escrow Disbursement Account, which shall receive revenues from the following sources: Domestic gas sales revenue including GNPCs net carried and participating interest from Sankofa-Gye Nyame, Jubilee and TEN gas revenues. In addition, all funds representing GNPCs share from the Petroleum Holding Fund (excluding GNPCs cash calls and financing costs associated with petroleum agreements which are included in equity financing costs under section 7.2a of PRMA) and all revenues arising under gas sales agreements including on-sale gas by GNPC from existing and new developments from or across OCTP, Jubilee and TEN. At this juncture, it is not clear why gas sales revenues from Jubilee and TEN projects must be transferred to the Escrow Account provided for in the Security Term Sheet for the OCTP Block; and managed by GNPC and the OCTP partners. That is, the OCTP Contractors are invariably dictating the conditions under which Jubilee and TEN gas purchases will be paid for by GNPC. In the event that the Jubilee and TEN operators have different terms covering payment for their gas sales, the OCTP Gas Sales Agreement will be adversely affected. This also means that the Security package must not exclude Jubilee and TEN partners from the negotiations. Also, the payment for gas sales from the Escrow Disbursement Account will be further backstopped by a World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee equivalent to $600 million and GNPC?s risk of default payment cover of $150 million by the International Development Authority (IDA). Notwithstanding these guarantees, the Government must issue a Sovereign Guarantee to cover any payment shortfalls after the Partial Risk Guarantee provided by the World Bank is exhausted. Apart from the guarantees provided by the World Bank and IDA; and the Sovereign Guarantees provided by the Government for any shortfalls in payment for gas by GNPC, the corporation is further required to open a US Dollar Escrow Reserve Holding Account for the exclusive benefit of ENI Ghana and Vitol Ghana. The Reserve Account shall be funded by GNPC before first gas with an amount equivalent to 4.5 months of the Contractors share of Annual Contract quantity. This requirement is more stringent given that Jubilee and TEN Gas sales payments Escrows require an amount equivalent to 3 months of annual contract quantity. Lawyer for National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, has declared a suit challenging her eligibility to contest in the election, dead on arrival. He was reacting a joint suit filed by the incumbent MP for the constituency Nii Armah Ashittey and one Nii John Coleman against Dr. Zanetor and the Electoral Commission at the High Court. Dr Zanetor defeated Mr Ashietey in the November 2015 primaries but there have been claims that she is not a registered voter which is a requirement for one to be elected as a parliamentary candidate, according to the governing NDC's rules. Mr Asittey and Nii John Coleman are asking the Court to restrain Dr Rawlings from holding herself out as Parliamentary candidate for the NDC in the constituency. But Lawyer for Dr Rawlings, Godwin Tamakloe told Joy news his client was qualified to contest the elections. She has more than a legitimate right to contest the election on the ticket of the NDC. As we speak, she is the parliamentary candidate-elect for the Korle Klottey constituency, he stated. He added that they are preparing to meet in court despite his stong belief that the case is dead on arrival. A similar case filed by some four Executives of the party against Dr Zanetor was dismissed by an Accra High Court last week because they failed to exhaust internal mechansms available to them before going to court and also because they didn't demonstrate sufficient interest in the matter. Suspicions by the US that Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby were terrorists have proven to be unreasonable, the Deputy Interior Minister has said. Mr. James Agalga says the fact America held the two for 14 years and didnt charge with any crime is evidence there was no reasonable basis to suspect them of being terrorists. In the same vein, he argues, the Director of Immigration could not have possibly stopped the entry of the two into Ghana since there was no reasonable grounds to suspect of terrorism. Speaking on Joy FM and MultiTVs news analysis programme Newsfile, the deputy Minister said, accusations that Section 35(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 was breached by government for allowing the two former Guantanamo Bay detainees into Ghana are unfounded. Opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo last week accused the president of acting lawlessly by breaching provisions of the law which prohibited the coming into Ghana of the two. The relevant provision states, The Director of Immigration or an officer authorised by the Director shall not grant an endorsement or authority to permit a person to enter this country if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is, will, or has been involved in the commission of a terrorist act. But Mr. Agalga insisted that the Director, Immigration did all the assessment, did all the evaluation and on reasonable grounds, did not suspect that the two have committed, will commit, or can commit acts of terrorism in this country. Listen to audio below It was pointed out to him by host of Newsfile, Samson Lardy Anyenini, that a 2007 Department of Defence document from the US had at least declared Bin Atef to be of high risk. He parried the point by stating that that report had been repudiated by a later document. Im saying that all the suspicions of the United States that Bin Atef and Al-Dhuby may have committed acts of terrorism were unreasonable and that is why for 14 good years of their detention, they couldnt even press a single charge against them. Therein lies the unreasonableness of their detention, he stressed. The Builsa North Member of Parliament said President John Dramani Mahama exercised executive authority by accepting to host Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby He insisted the president acted within the law. Watch video below Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, remains focused on her campaign and is not the least perturbed by the increase in court suits challenging her eligibility as the Parliamentary candidate for the Klottey Korle constituency, her lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe has said. According to him, Dr Zaneto is very confident of scaling over all legal impediments that will be put in her way by her detractors. Incumbent Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle Nii Armah Ashittey and one Nii John Coleman are the latest to file a joint suit at an Accra High Court against Zanetor and the Electoral Commission challenging the latters legitimacy to contest for a parliamentary seat under the 1992 constitution. The two who contested the NDCs constituency Parliamentary election and lost to Dr Zanetor on November 21, 2015, are of view that her election was unlawful as she is not a registered voter in the National Voters register. The case is expected to be heard on Friday January 29. Meanwhile, an Accra High Court on Friday January 15 dismissed a similar suit filed against Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings by some aggrieved party members. The presiding Judge Patience Mills Tetteh, ruling on the matter dismissed the application on the grounds that the petitioners action amounted to an afterthought, as they should have raised their objection against the candidate after she filed and was running her campaign. She was of the view that disqualifying Dr Zanetor will be a waste of her (Zanetor)s money as she spent a lot of resources leading to her emerging the winner in the partys primary. But speaking to Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Si Me So on Kasapa FM, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe who is also the NDC Greater Accra deputy regional organizer stated that the latest suit is an exercise in futility it is bound to fail. We are confident that this case any form that it takes, it will be dead on arrival. This issue that bothers on her eligibilityas Im speaking to you, both petitioners have not petitioned the national nor regional office of the party over the matter. They are going to court to say the NDC constitution was not respected, but they themselves have not respected the same constitution He added that Dr Zanetor is focused on running a clean and issue based campaign that will see her emerging victorious in the November Parliamentary election. 23.01.2016 LISTEN United Kingdom (UK) based Psychiatrist, Dr Julius Awakame, has been sacked after he advised a patient to get help from TB Joshua's 24-hour church TV channel, Emmanuel TV because she might be possessed by demonic 'forces'. According to UK Daily Mail, Dr Julius recorded medical notes diagnosing the woman as having a history of 'satanic ritual abuse' and said her issues could not be addressed by regular treatment. So the doctor told her to watch Emmanuel TV, adding: 'neither psychiatry not psychology would be able to help because there are special forces at play.' The woman known as Patient A claimed Dr. Awakame also told her to get 'holy water' before 'switching off' during the consultation at a health centre in Harwich, Essex. When community psychiatric nurse Martin Rowe later quizzed Awkame whether she she was possessed, the medic replied: 'She may well be' and claimed she had been thrown out of her local church due to her condition. His employment with the North Essex Partnership Foundation Trust was terminated the following month. . Today Dr. Awkame who has since returned to his native Ghana faced being struck off after he was found guilty in his absence at a medical tribunal of a number of misconduct charges. The consultation took place on January 23 2014 when Awakame was treating the vulnerable woman as an outpatient. The hearing, in Manchester, was told he was made aware she had a 'Dissociative Identity' a personality disorder and a 'history of previous satanic ritual abuse' before making a record of it in his notes. But Awakame, formerly of Ipswich, then told Patient A she had been 'initiated through satanic ritual' and wrote down a website address for her to access. He told her the TV station was 'specifically targeted for people who experienced similar situations.' And he said her problems 'could only be addressed by the church' before he wrote down the name and suggested she write a book about her experiences. He also told Patient A he had watched the TV station and said there were 'many people who had similar problems' to her. The patient further claimed Awakame told her to ask the church to send her some 'nice holy water' to help with her problems. She later spoke to Mr Rowe about the encounter and the nurse quizzed Awakame. When the nurse told Awakame that Patient A thought she might be 'possessed' he replied: 'She may well be.'The doctor also said he 'studied' the TV station 'for hours' and said the woman's church had recognised she was possessed and had thrown her out. Speaking of her emotional state following the meeting, Patient A said: 'I had pretty much switched off after hearing Dr Awakame tell me that no psychiatrist or psychologist could help me as throughout my childhood my parents had told me that no one would believe me and no one would help me'.Awakame was reported to a consultant psychiatrist at the Trust by Mr Rowe the day after the consultation.Following an investigation he was subsequently sacked and referred to the General Medical Council. Awakame, who worked in various hospitals in the NHS from 1997 to 2014, will be disciplined next month by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. He is currently working as a lecturer in 'health informatics' in his home country where he graduated in medicine in 1993. Credit:Nigeria Camera business Short SBI, ICICI Bank at 3-4% higher level: Anu Jain Anu Jain, Director-Equities at IIFL Private Wealth Management is of the view that one may short State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank at 3-4 percent higher level. business Tata Motors may slip to Rs 280-290: Anu Jain Anu Jain, Director-Equities at IIFL Private Wealth Management is of the view that Tata Motors may slip to Rs 280-290. Moorpark College eyes constructing 4,000-seat amphitheater A 4,000-seat amphitheater at Moorpark College could be Southern California's newest entertainment spotbut such a development would be a long way off. The school is taking the first steps toward... CSUCI professors working on ion project Cal State Channel Islands faculty members Scott Feister, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science, and Alona Kryshchenko, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics, recently received $112,480 from the National Science Foundation... Keynote speaker to discuss undocumented college students Award-winning author Javier Zamora will discuss his new memoir, Solito, from noon to 1 p.m. Wed., Oct. 19 on Zoom. The talk is free to students and the community. The... Cal Lutheran awards scholarships for low- and middle-income students Cal Lutheran University recently received $2.5 million to provide scholarships to accomplished students from low- and middle-income families. The donation from the Camarillo-based TOLD Foundation is the largest that CLU... As the rock music world mourns the passing of Lemmy Kilmister, a new documentary on his life and the band he founded, Motorhead, is set to air on BBC iPlayer. The documentary will largely center around the life and times of Kilmister and is entitled Lemmy: In His Own Words. Mainly composed of archived footage of Kilmister interviews and on stage performances, the documentary will be released on iPlayer as of 9pm today. Some of the archived footage was pulled from BBC series on the band that were previously aired, including Im In A Rock N Roll Band and Heavy Metal Britannia. It also has taken footage from live TV performances on Later With Jools Holland, The Young Ones and Top of the Pops. BBC Music editor James Stirling said to NME, Lemmy was a colossal figure in British music and he had a unique approach to both his songs and the industry he found himself in. There was a smart sense of humor at the heart of everything, something clearly demonstrated through his interviews and performances weve uncovered from the BBC Music archive. Kilmister died in 2015 at the age of 70 to a particularly aggressive form of prostrate cancer, and a funeral service was held for him on Jan. 9 with big names Dave Grohl and Slash in attendance. One notable name who did not attend was Phil Campbell, who had served as the guitarist for Motorhead since 1984. Campbell reached out on social media to explain the reasons behind his absence, and was apparently instructed by his doctor not to fly. He did, however, watch the online stream of the video. ...unfortunately I was advised on doctors orders not to fly on such a long haul flight due to my recent hospitalisation... Phil Campbell (@MotorheadPhil) January 11, 2016 ...I'm doing well though and I managed to watch the whole service via the online stream so thanks to the Motorhead team for organising that Phil Campbell (@MotorheadPhil) January 11, 2016 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Alternative rock veterans Weezer recently announced that they will be hitting the road this summer with Panic! At The Disco. The tour will be in support of Weezer's 10th studio album, which is set to drop April 1, and Panic! will be supporting its newest release, Death of a Bachelor, which debuted on January 15. Other support for the tour includes Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) for the North American leg of the tour. The tour will launch on June 10 in Houston and extend until August 6 where it will wrap up in Irvine, California, and ticket prices to see Weezer are already rising on the secondary market. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) As it stands, tickets to see Weezer and Panic! at The Disco are averaging $180 across all of their scheduled summer dates. The tour is scheduled to make it's most expensive stop on July 20 at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO, where resale tickets are averaging $279, with a get-in price of $134. Conversely, the cheapest performance is on track to be the July 28 stop at Deer Lake Park in British, Columbia Canada, where tickets are averaging $85, with a get-in ticket price of $46, according to data provided by TiqIQ. The cheapest performance in the states is scheduled to be the band's June 25 stop at the Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua, NY, where tickets are averaging $97, with a get-in of $40. Fans traveling to upstate New York can find cheap Rochester hotels from Hipmunk.com, where lodging in the nearest city of Rochester starts for as low as $36/night. Weezer's forthcoming disc is their follow-up to Everything Will Be Alright In The End, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in October 2014. The band's self-titled is being referred to as "The White Album," and includes singles "Do You Wanna Get High?" and "Thank God for Girls." Panic! At The Disco got their start in 2004 as a pop-rock group that gradually developed into a solo project for the remaining member and frontman, Brendon Urie. The newest incarnation hasn't slowed down Urie in the slightest, as Death of a Bachelor is set to be the band's first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Friday (Jan. 22), Macklemore had a good portion of the Internet in an uproar following the release of his new song White Privilege II. On the track, the Seattle rapper, who has been accused of being a culture vulture himself, called out Miley Cyrus, Elvis Presley and Iggy Azalea for appropriating black culture. Azalea presumably saw the namedrop as a diss and jumped on social media to give her opinion on the track. Rapper/activist Talib Kweli got wind of it and proceeded to blast the Aussie rhymer for her response. "You're Miley, you're Elvis, you're Iggy Azalea / Fake and so plastic, you've heisted the magic," Macklemore rapped while referring to himself in the second person. Following the songs release, fans and curious listeners tweeted their thoughts and even asked Azalea if shed heard the song, to which she replied, He shouldnt have spent the last 3 yrs having friendly convos and taking pictures together at events etc if those were his feelings. Shortly thereafter, another fan told Azalea "she shouldn't give a f*ck" about the song. She replied, writing, Trust me, I don't. lol." @lggysBae he shouldnt have spent the last 3 yrs having friendly convos and taking pictures together at events etc if those were his feelings IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 22, 2016 Apparently, her rebuttal rubbed Talib Kweli the wrong way and he promptly called her out on Twitter. The Brooklyn rapper was notably offended that Azalea took Macklemores lyric as a diss instead of considering its context. He capped off his first tweet with "f*ck Iggy Azalea." The fact @iggyazalea thinks Macklemore song was a diss to her, instead of actually listening, is proof of her privilege. Fuck Iggy Azalea. Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) January 22, 2016 True story. I actually rooted for Iggy when she first came out. But she's disrespected hip hop culture one too many times. Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) January 22, 2016 (Stole from Kendrick, tweets "nigga" dissed qtip, dismisses privilege) RT @ChellaChicago: what did she do to disrespect the culture ? Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) January 22, 2016 Later in the day, Azalea took it upon herself to respond to Kweli and the two exchanged a slew tweets varying from topics including the Flint water crisis, Azaleas love of hip-hop and her prior spat with Q-Tip. @workdeluxe @talibKweli ive never tweeted "ni**a" didnt "diss" qtip, just think he didnt understand the back story behind me and banks IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 22, 2016 @TalibKweli you saw a "screen shot" and stan twitter makes tons of them, they arent real. ive never said that. am i perfect, no. IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) January 22, 2016 @IGGYAZALEA if you can't see you taking offense to Macklemore song is an exhibit of your privilege u only here for yourself, not the culture Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) January 22, 2016 Miley Cyrus, who has been inactive on Twitter since Christmas Eve, has not chimed in. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It's been 35 years since Bruce Springsteen (aka "The Boss") released one of his best-selling albums, The River, and to commemorate the event, Springsteen is re-releasing the album and embarking on The River Tour 2016. The Morrison Hotel Gallery is also honoring Springsteen's album with their The River Collection time capsule exhibit and sale. The River Collection itself features all handpicked images from Springsteen's camp and will also be included in the booklet that is being released with The River box set. This collection gives you more than just a look at Springsteen the musician, but also everything that is behind this album and his career transformation. Music Times was able to get a sneak peek at the exhibit and it's safe to say that there is no age limit on a Springsteen fan as a wide range of fans showed up to enjoy it. The photographer who shot the famous The River cover, Frank Stefanko, recalled the time he spent working with Springsteen, which according to NY1, took two weeks. Another point came in the night where Stefanko was joined by fellow photographers Patrick Harbron and Jim Marchese, who took the cameras from the reporters and started taking their photographs. It just goes to show you, you can't take the photographers away from what they truly love to do, even when it's their night to shine. The River Collection exhibit includes the talents of some of the finest photographers -- not only do you get to see the work of Stefanko, Harbron and Marchese -- other featured artists include David Gahr, Neal Preston, Lynn Goldsmith and Joel Bernstein. They all got to work with Springsteen and shed light on him as he released his life changing album. The River is certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA in the U.S. which makes it one of his bestselling albums and one of his highest certified studio releases. The album includes "Hungry Heart" which is his first single to crack on the U.S. pop singles, reaching no. 5. The box set that Springsteen released contains 52 tracks which sprawls over 4 CDs and over 10 records; 4 hours of never before seen videos and a 148-page coffee book which feature 200 rare or previously unseen photographs and memorabilia which includes an essay by Mikal Gilmore. Beginning in January, Springsteen is embarking on a 9-week tour and will performing The River album in its entirety. The River Collection exhibit runs from January 22 - February 9 and The Morrison Gallery Hotel in Soho, New York. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It is wicked to place political ... The recently concluded informal myMotherLode.com poll asked, Of The Top Two, Who Should Win The Republican Presidential Nomination? The choices were Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, but unlike the recent Democrat poll, an option of neither was also allowed due to the number of republican candidates. Trump led the informal results of over 900 votes with 40 percent to Cruzs 19 percent with 33 percent voting for neither. Back in June, when Trump announced his run, our informal poll asked our visitors if they supported him as a candidate for president. The results of the two day poll with over 650 votes were; 41 percent in support, 40 percent dont support and 19 percent dont care. The results of the recent informal myMotherLode poll about the democratic presidential nomination had Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton 35 percent to 14 percent. Notably 51 percent voted they did not care who wins the Democratic Presidential Nomination and only 8 percent voted they didnt care about the republican nomination. Also, in contrast to our poll, a Jan. 6, 2016 Field Poll of likely voters in Californias Democratic Primary found 46% in support of Hillary, while 35% support Sanders. I voted sticker View Photos Sonora, CA VoteCal, the new state voter registration database, began operating this week in Tuolumne County. State officials tout it will be a crucial component for future elections and will improve service to voters, as they will be able to check their voter status and ballot, while allowing for Election Day voter registration. Tuolumne County Clerk and Auditor-Controller Debbie Bautista shares that VoteCal will have more accurate voter records and all information is transferred if a registration change is made. Bautista adds, For us, I think it will give us a better representation of the voter turnout we have because we will really be looking at true voters in the county. It wont take as long as it used to in regards to finding out if a voter has left the county or registered in another county. The system is now operating in 46 of Californias 58 counties, reaching 80% of its goal for replacing all the existing databases in the state. Bautista notes that any concerns of people voting in several countieswill essentially be moot, explaining, That will be very difficult because they [election officials] would match both voters up. VoteCal would have documented the voters name, last four digits of their social security number, date of birth and drivers license. Those all would match up, which is a pretty high match thats the same person. In that instance, Bautista says the person would only be able to vote in the most recent county they registered in the state. The last 12 counties will deploy the system by March 14. State officials report that after testing to make sure VoteCal is working properly, the system will officially become Californias official voter registration database in June. Almost 10 years after she went missing, one Orlando womans parents are making a renewed call for leads. "We will never give up our search to find Jennifer [Kesse], said Orlando Police Chief John Mina. At a news conference at Orlando Police Headquarters Friday, Jennifer Kesses parents wiped away tears. "We need to have the public understand that Jennifer, after 10 years began Drew Kesse. is still missing, her mother, Joyce, finished. Were still waiting for that one person to come through with that one bit of information to bring Jennifer home, the father said. Kesse was last seen at her condo, Mosaic, by Mall at Millenia on January 24, 2006. She was 24 years old. After her disappearance, police released grainy surveillance video of her car being parked by another person at a complex one mile away. That person was never identified, and over the years, thousands of tips, including one last month that brought investigators to Biscayne Bay, have not panned out. But, detectives have not given up. "We are hoping that new testing methods and technology will result in new leads, said Detective Teresa Sprague with the Orlando Police Department. Sprague said as DNA testing continues to evolve, they can re-test old evidence. Theyre currently focusing on the items within the missing womans car, holding the belief that the answer to her abduction is tied to the vehicle. After Kesse disappeared from the Conroy Road condo complex 10 years ago, her case drew national attention. Yet here in Central Florida, Kesses case is only one of several involving women who vanished without a trace. The Kesse case is one of three high profile disappearances in Central Florida in the last 10 years. Tracy Ocasio (center) disappeared in 2009. Michelle Parks (right) disappeared in 2011. In 2009, Tracy Ocasio was 27 years old when surveillance video caught her and James Hataway leaving a bar in Metrowest at 1:30 a.m. Her car was found abandoned the next day, but Ocasio never turned up. Two years later, another woman, Michelle Parker, went missing. Parker had appeared with her ex-fiance Dale Smith on an episode of The People's Court. Since her disappearance, Parker's family has been fighting to see the Orlando woman's children, even filing the first grandparents' rights petition in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court this past November. As for Kesse's family, the quest for answers continues -- and the call for justice remains unanswered. "Jennifer needs you, and Jennifer needs the public more than any time before, Drew Kesse said, Because we know more than one person knows what happened to Jennifer more than 10 years ago." Detectives in the Kesse case say they still get tips at least once a week and they do investigate them. They hope that Fridays refresher will jog someone's memory and lead to a credible tip into the woman's abduction. If you know anything about the whereabouts of Jennifer Kesse, Tracy Ocasio or Michelle Parker, you can call Crimeline anonymously. Call 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). Save trees. Save time. Save money. Thats the pitch from Orlando city planning leaders who want to make it easier to submit development plans for review. They held a community demonstration at Orlando City Hall Friday afternoon to explain how the new program will benefit the public. Customers say sometimes turning in architectural drawings can be tedious. You spend a lot of time waiting in the queue, said Orlando architect Eric Morgan. But to alleviate that, the citys planning department is going green. On Monday, the department will begin accepting plans digitally. I think it means that were coming into the 21st century, Morgan said. However, only time will tell if the new optional program will speed up the building process in Orlando. Developers say thats a complex topic, involving more variables than just the design and city review phase but also construction issues like rain days and severe weather. It has the potential to shorten the time that the city takes to review a project but the city actually does a pretty good job about that time now anyway, Morgan said. City leaders are touting efficiency, cost savings and sustainability as some of the benefits of going digital. Morgan believes digital submission and digital archives are the way of the future. The biggest benefit may be to the future taxpayer, who will no longer have to rent that warehouse space in 100 years, Morgan said. Members of Soroptimist International of Plainview and their guests met Thursday at West Texas Woodfire Grill to honor one young woman that has served her community through volunteer efforts and four young women that have overcome hardship and adversity with courage and determination to turn their lives around. Honored were Emily White, student at Plainview High School; Virginia Espinoza, Wayland Baptist University student; Darlene Vidal, WBU student; Leticia Rodriguez, University of Phoenix-online student; and Barbara Garcia, WBU student. Emily, a nine-year member of the Plainview 4-H Club and sophomore at PHS, received the Violet Richardson Award, presented by Brenda Rowan. This award honors a woman between the ages of 14 and 17 that makes the community and the world a better place through volunteer work. White volunteers by delivering Meals on Wheels during the holidays, spring break and summer. White states, I find delivering meals to the elderly and disabled puts a smile on their faces and warms my heart to know I am helping them receive a healthy meal. Emily has helped stock shelves at Faith in Sharing House. She has helped with community service projects around Plainview. At Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center, she assists in folding clothes and cleans around the center. White has worked with Hunger Plus, which provides food, clothing and other items to people in need around the world. She was chairperson of the drive that collected and donated boxed drinks for children in Cuidad Acuna, Mexico. She also assisted at the Crisis Center of the Plains, which provides shelter and counseling for women and children in domestic violence and/or sexual assault situations. She was chairperson for their used cellphone drive; used coat drive; and Christmas Store. She has assisted at Broadway Treasures, which benefits the Crisis Center. Emily has boxed books to donate to Better World Books to be sent to Third World countries or to be recycled. She has also worked with Covenant Health Plainview by providing coloring books for children who are patients. Emilys favorite volunteer activity is collecting Pop Tarts for Snack Pak for Kids. White has helped to serve meals to veterans on Veterans Day; assisted Retired Senior Volunteers with cleaning the Hike and Bike Trail; passed out trees at Gebos on Arbor Day and done radio announcements for America Recycles Day. She enjoys volunteering because she feels her life has changed by helping to make a difference in peoples lives. Helen Hogge, longtime Soroptimist member and co-chair of the Happy Feet program for 21 years with the late Peggy Wall, presented a special one-time award from Plainview Soroptimist in Walls memory to a woman pursuing education as a way to improve her life. Recipient was Virginia Espinosa, WBU student. Virginia is not new to the Soroptimist Awards program. She received the 2015 Craig-Mitchell Award in honor of Billie Craig and Marge Mitchell who were charter member of Plainview Soroptimist. Viriginia continues to pursue her education and is scheduled to receive a Bachelors in Mass Communications in May 2017. Espinosa is the primary head of household, a full-time mom, a student, Dollar Tree employee, a sister and a daughter. She states, None of these roles is easy - the mom part is a blessing in disguise. The student part is a learning experience that no one can take away. The employee part is giving me job experience. The sister part is a challenge because I am taking care of my sisters children. The daughter part - well, I wish that I could be a better daughter by taking away the pain and sadness my mother experiences. According to Associate Professor of Communication Studies Yahui Zhang, Virginia Is diligent, talented and driven. She truly has a servant heart. 2016 Craig-Mitchell Award recipient is Darlene Vidal, WBU student and single mom. Darlenes goal is to provide for her children so they will feel no different than a child with a father that is a member of the home. She believes her education will give her children a head start in life because, All things are possible to those that believe in Christ. Darlene has always had a dream and believes that living that dream will enable her to be a success in life. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Intermediate Studies with plans to graduate in 2018. Darlene states, I plan to be a teacher that can make a difference in the lives of not only my children and my family, but for women that are just like me. The Live Your Dream Award is presented to women to enable them to leave behind lives filled with poverty, domestic violence and often substance abuse. This award assists women that provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them resources to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. These are women who have had the courage and determination to turn around their lives. Soroptimist International of Plainview gives two Live Your Dream Awards. The first of the two awards was presented to Leticia Rodriguez by Janice Posey. Posey noted that Leticia chose to pursue a Bachelor of Human Service Management degree from Ashford University online so that she could help people. Since Leticia began pursuing that degree, she has gained experience with Texas Health and Services by working with the elderly and people with disabilities. She has also gained experience by working with Lubbock County Adult Probation Department. These positions allowed her to learn the different aspects of community services and assistance available for people of every socioeconomic status. In September 2010, Leticia was three classes away from obtaining her degree. She began having debilitating headaches and attributed these headaches to work-related stress and financial issues. After several months of medical testing, Leticia was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM), which is an abnormal collection of veins and tissues on the right side of the brain. She began experiencing seizures and her medical team decided to reduce the size of the AVM. Radiation treatment was recommended. The treatment began in spring 2011. During this time, Leticia went through a marital separation and found herself a single mom with medical and financial issues. She was also told radiation treatment might cause swelling around the AVM, and seizures might return. They did. She was also told the radiation treatments would not show results for one to two years. Leticia took a medical leave and continued working with her doctors. In January 2014, her neurologist ordered an angiogram and MRI to check progress on the radiation treatment. The AVM was obliterated and only minimal scar tissue now remains. This doctor was able to find the right balance of medication to reduce the seizures. In summer 2014, Leticia and her daughter moved to Lubbock so the daughter could start college. Leticia feels the biggest accomplishment in her personal life is raising a responsible, intelligent, loving daughter that is fulfilling her life goals of receiving her undergraduate education at Texas Tech. Leticia has regained her health and will be the first in her family to obtain a college degree. Presently, Leticia is working for Lubbock County Probation Office and is facilitating a class for offenders that helps them learn new methods of thinking. She is facilitates a budget class that helps offenders manage the income they have and make better decisions to finances. Travis County Court at Law Judge Eric M. Shepperd explains, Leticia has managed to stay positive while battling and overcoming a debilitating illness. She stays focused and keeps pressing forward regardless of the challenges life has presented her. In presenting the second Live Your Dream Award to Barbara Garcia, Alice Miller said Barbara wants to be an educator so that she can make a difference. Since the birth of her last child, Barbara wants to show her children a life different than the one she has lived. My mom did everything she could to keep me on the right path, but as a teenager I thought I knew it all so I quit school when I was 15. My whole world revolved around partying and being with my friends. Barbara was sent to an alternative school and received her high school diploma. After graduation, Barbara worked - school was not something she pursued. From age 14 to 23, Barbara said times were very hard for her. During this time she met the father of her children. She and her husband fought all of the time and became involved in drug and alcohol abuse. In 2010, her children were removed by Child Protective Services. I was devastated and prayed to the Lord to give me a second chance, said Barbara. He did. CPS has helped me to work on myself so that I can be a better person and most importantly, be a better mother. This month, I am celebrating six years of sobriety. I now have my children and I want to give them the life they deserve. I also play the father-figure for them because their dad has not been in their life. Despite all my tribulations, I will fight to the end to reach the goals I have set for me and my children, stated Barbara. Barbara works, attends school, is a full-time parent to three daughters, and preparing to become an elementary teacher. Barbara states, I want to teach because I love kids. I want to be able to help them learn and to encourage them to always strive for the best. Each award recipient received a financial stipend from Soroptimist International of Plainview. White, who is required to donate half of her award to an organization where she volunteers, chose to give the money to Plainview 4-H. City of Plainview District 6 representative Lionel Garcia has announced his candidacy for the mayoral seat against incumbent Wendell Dunlap. "I am pleased and honored to announce my candidacy for mayor of the City of Plainview," said Garcia, who has served the last four years on the Plainview City Council. Garcia has been a resident of Plainview for 56 years, and says he has been fortunate to have experienced the transformation of our city in the last 50 years. "Our recent tough economic times created a sense of panic and urgency within our community," Garcia said. "This economic setback allowed us to see how a coordinated approach of different public entities was important for the revitalization of this community. It is apparent that proactive leadership and community involvement will be necessary as we build upon our recent accomplishments." Garcia said through his experience and extensive training, he is aware of the working dynamics of the departments within the City and its 200 employees. "I pledge to continue to work closely with our city manager and the city staff as we continue our journey toward a brighter future. In 2014 we adopted the Comprehensive Plan for Plainview. We must continue to use it as a guide as we look toward the future of our city. If elected as your mayor, I will also concentrate on the following; economic development, neighborhood equity and our budget process. More importantly, as the mayor of Plainview I will continuously be an advocate for the people of our community. I understand that there will be many issues that will come before our City Council in the upcoming years and I am prepared to effectively lead this city as your mayor." After graduating from Plainview High School, Garcia earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science from South Plains College and later a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Wayland Baptist University. "I feel that my academic foundation has intensified my internal understanding of public service. I was able to obtain my degrees as a tenured employee of the United States Postal Service," Garcia said. "In my 34 years of service to the USPS I served as Superintendent of Postal Operations in Plainview and served as Postmaster in Muleshoe and Olton. I served in several USPS Detail positions throughout Texas, including serving in New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina." Garica retired from the Postal Service in 2011. In addition, Garcia was elected to three terms to the board of trustees of Plainview ISD, having served in the capacity of member and vice president. During his tenure as a school trustee, Garcia was appointed to regional, state and national boards, including the NSBA Federal Relations Network in Washington, D.C. He also served on the NALEO Leadership Initiative Institute on the No Child Left Behind Act. Garcia is completing his first four-year term on the Plainview City Council. As the representative of District 6, Garcia says he gained an understanding of the complexities of city government including its requirements and limitations. "In order to gain knowledge of the duties of a city councilperson, I embraced the many opportunities of training available to us and focus on fiscal management," Garcia said. "In 2014, I completed the "Texas Municipal League Leadership Academy" and received the 2014 Leadership Fellow Award. As a result, I earned the title of Certified Municipal Official which indicates the highest level of training for a City Councilperson. In preparation for the 2015 session of the Texas Legislature, I served on the 2014 TML Legislative Committee on Regulations of Development. This committee, comprised of city officials from across the state, was tasked with reviewing decisions affecting Texas cities made by the Texas Legislature." Garcia and his wife Angie will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in July. They have a daughter Teresa and granddaughters Amberly and Ambriette. They are members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Plainview. Jan. 24, 1946: Dr. Gerald W. Wagner has opened an office at 313-315 Skaggs Building where he will limit his practice to diseases of infants and children. He was discharged a month ago after more than four years of service in Army medical units. He is the husband of the former Rogene Shepard of Plainview. --W.W. Smith Jr., ex-serviceman, has opened a potato chip factory in a building in the rear of his home, 1207 Lexington, and has begun putting this new Plainview product on sale in local stores. Smith served 18 months in the infantry, but did not see overseas service. --Four Plainview servicemen were discharged recently from the Army at the Fort Bliss separation center. They are T/5 Cecil F. Craig, T/4 Orville H. Bickley, T/3 Roy A. Roberts and Pfc. L.D. Green. Jan. 24, 1956: Kirleen Jaggers graduated from Plainview High School at midterm. On Friday, she left by airplane en route to Indonesia where she will make her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zack Jaggers. They have been in Djakarta since August where her father is an agricultural adviser for the U.S. government. --Edgar Webb, son of Dr. and Mrs. Joe Webb of Plainview, graduates from North Texas State this month and will soon enter the American Theatre Wing in New York. He is a PHS graduate. --Jess West of Plainview has been elected vice president of Epsilon Gamma chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Texas Tech. A junior, he is majoring in animal husbandry. Jan. 24, 1966: Representatives of Plainviews two funeral homes, Blake Wood of Wood-Dunning Funeral Home and Mike Lemons of Lemons Funeral Home, have been added to the board of directors of the Plainview Cemetery Association. Re-elected directors were S.E. Curry, president; H.M. Lafont, W.J.B. Gouldy, John Stoneham, Bill Hollars, Mrs. A.G. Hinn and Mrs. F.E. Blasingame. --Among homecoming queen candidates at South Plains College in Levelland is Lucy Ford of Plainview. A sophomore, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Ford. --Bob Edwards has been re-elected president of the Plainview Amateur Radio Club. Other officers are Bob Farmer, treasurer; Charlotte Thurman, secretary-reporter; and Buddy Thurman, coffee chairman. Jan. 24, 1976: Jerry Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerald R. Martin, received his BA degree from Texas Tech in December. He has accepted a position with Lubbock Savings and Loan. --The Plainview YMCA Karate Club under the leadership of Rudy Gutierrez will present a free demonstration of karate Friday night at the YMCA, Southeast Fourth and Beech. --Dr. T. Coe Branch has been elected to the board of First National Bank in Plainview, according to H.M. LaFont, board chairman. Branch has been a part of the Medical Center Group since 1962, with the exception of a two-year leave of absence to serve as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy in Corpus Christi during the Vietnam War. Compiled by Doug McDonough We liked this week The Lincoln Middle School cafeteria in Meriden was packed with people celebrating the 31st Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Owens scholarship breakfast Monday. In Wallingford, residents gathered at Town Hall Monday to reflect on the life of King, but they were also urged by town and school officials to continue the civil rights leaders work by ending racism and striving for economic justice. Last week, Southington resident the Rev. Ralph Lord Roy shared his memories of the civil rights leader at the First Baptist Churchs 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Meriden received $100,000 under a new state brownfields revitalization program this week, money that a local official says should help the city plan for new retailers in downtown. The city was one of six municipalities to receive part of the roughly $1 million available from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Runners of all shapes, sizes, speeds and ages converged on Hubbard Park Sunday morning to face an uphill challenge. Over 400 walkers and joggers participated in the 47th annual Tradition Run, a 3.1-mile climb to Castle Craig sponsored by the Meriden Parks and Recreation Department and the Record-Journal. This is record-breaking, said Jo-Ann Amantea, a parks department employee in charge of registration. We have never had this many people. There will be some shifting of existing stores and at least two new tenants are coming to Westfield Meriden mall, according to building permit applications approved or in the works. Windsor Fashion, Hallmark and Pietros Tuxedo Specialists will relocate in the mall, which has also requested permits for newcomers Kitchen Art and Visionworks, according to Building Inspector David Zwick. The Dry Dock, a community center in Wallingford for those recovering from addiction, has added a cafe at its Quinnipiac Street location and started a transitional facility in Durham. Figs Cafe opened last year next door to the Dry Docks main meeting room, which is used by local recovery groups. The Dry Dock was founded by Rich Figlewski. His sons Ray and Juan Figlewski run the cafe. Artist Rashmi Talpade and 20 residents met Sunday afternoon at the public library to begin work on the Wallingford Townscape Community Art Project. Talpade received a Regional Initiative Grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Office of the Arts for the project. The 11th annual Southington YMCA Polar Plunge drew a large crowd of the curious last Saturday, those watching and cheering while about 180 people jumped into the icy cold waters of Slopers Pond to take an icy plunge to raise money to fund summer camperships for families that might not otherwise be able to afford to send their children to camp. We didnt like this week Meriden experienced a spike in motor vehicle accidents last year, with 211 more crashes than in 2014. Distracted driving, aggressive habits and increased traffic caused by lower gasoline prices may be to blame, according to Meriden police, who responded to 1,930 motor vehicle accidents in 2015; 1,719 in 2014; 1,545 in 2013; and 1,381 in 2012. Concerns over the high cost of storing video data from police body cameras have prompted some departments around the state, including the Berlin police, to stop using the technology. In response, state lawmakers already expect to revisit a law that went into effect Jan. 1, setting standards for the use and storage of body camera video. WEATHERFORD, Texas (AP) A judge concerned about public safety sentenced a 62-year-old North Texas man to life in prison for his 10th drunken driving conviction since the 1980s. Ivy Ray Eberhardt, of Weatherford, Texas, was sentenced Wednesday. Eberhardt would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years. On Friday afternoon Harris County Constable Mark Hermans office released details of an undercover prostitution sting carried out in tandem with the Harris County Constables Office Precinct 1 earlier this week in north Harris. A total of 19 people were arrested, including an HPD officer. The operation was conducted to crack down on supposed prostitution and the johns feeding the industry near a local school and day care centers. SAN ANTONIO A driver plowed through a yard and into a home on the West Side on Saturday morning and is now facing a DWI charge, according to San Antonio Police. Emergency personnel responded at about 3:15 a.m. Saturday in the 7600 block of Westrock. Gov. Greg Abbotts call for a constitutional convention has come under some scrutiny. This is as it should be, because it is an idea that puts a bulls-eye on the Bill of Rights. The nation has had only one constitutional convention in its history in 1787. There are good reasons why there has been only one. The Constitutions Article V allows for a convention, but the process is arduous. Two-thirds of state legislatures have to call for one to amend the U.S. Constitution. And to become law, three-quarters of the states would have to ratify anything flowing out of such a gathering. Abbott wants a convention to trim the powers of the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal government. Got problems with high court rulings in recent years on gay marriage and health care? Those wishing for a convention should think about all those rulings they favored. Would they have been allowed to happen under the governors proposed amendments? Texas has long challenged federal actions on a variety of issues, including the environment. Leading the charge for many years was then-Attorney General Abbott. Such limitations are on a whole lot of conservative wish lists. Upset with the balance of powers, they would simply reorder the checks to upset the balance in such a fashion to favor their views. And enthusiasm for such a reordering wanes as soon as their person makes it to the White House and the Supreme Court is stacked further in their favor much akin to how some politicians like the idea of a line-item veto for the president until someone from the other party wins the opportunity to use that Camp David vacation home for a while. Simply, be careful what you wish for. There is also a long liberal wish list, and it is not at all certain that Congress can limit the scope of such a convention. An amendment making abortion an unfettered right without state restriction would be as possible as one to outlaw it. Gun rights? Folks upset about the rash of mass shootings might mess with the Second Amendment in a way not at all to your liking. Privacy, national security and its ability to minimize other rights, search and seizure protections, birthright citizenship? Constitutional problems are, in a very real sense, problems in the eyes of beholders to others, not so much. Everything could be fair game thats why this is a perilous path the governor proposes. Among those on the presidential campaign making similar calls though not always for the same reasons have been U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Abbott wants the Constitution to require a Supreme Court supermajority of seven justices to override any democratically enacted law. Two-thirds of states would be able to override a ruling not to their liking. So what rights many now take for granted because of narrow Supreme Court rulings would not have come to pass if this had been true through the years? And what inequities would have been preserved if enough states with inequitable laws formed to protect them? Abbott, a former Texas Supreme Court justice, wants the Constitution to allow two-thirds of states to override a federal law or regulation, and he wants to prevent federal pre-emption of state laws. Congress would not be allowed to regulate activity that occurs in just one state. The nations favored route to amend the constitution has been Congress, by two-thirds votes in each house, proposing an amendment and three-quarters of states ratifying it. This is also an arduous process, but one that has added to our Bill of Rights the last time in 1992 involving the ability of Congress to raise its pay. A constitutional convention is a bad idea that deserves to be ignored. Our fear is that in these intemperate times, this wont necessarily follow that path. Too many of our leaders of every stripe pander for self-preservation, and others fail to see the danger of letting ideologies trump sensible constitutional provisions. And the danger here is also of creating amendments that serve purely expedient political desires. Texas has flirted with the idea of joining other states in a call for a constitutional convention. A bill passed in the state House last year, but it died in a Senate committee. The Legislature should devote its time to more pressing matters and beware of opening this Pandoras box. The Constitution should be tinkered with sparingly in any case, but with a constitutional convention not at all. Its unlikely that anyone would be surprised to learn that Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) is a member of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada (MHSC). This society is made up of six provincially based Mennonite historical societies, Mennonite denominational conferences and their archives, Mennonite Central Committee, and several other Mennonite institutions such as MHV. MHSC members meet together only once a year for a series of committee meetings, a board meeting and the Annual General Meeting. This years meetings were held last weekend in Abbotsford, BC. One of the key elements of these meetings is to share information about projects and activities of the various member agencies and institutions. The sharing of ideas, methods and projects is both interesting and inspiring. One of the highlights this year was touring the new premises of the Mennonite Historical Society of BC, where we learned about the way they function and the initiatives they are busy with. Other member organizations shared updates as well. The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO) is a website operated by the Faith and Life Commission of the Mennonite World Conference, with MHSC being one of the representatives on their Management Board. This online resource of Mennonite information, begun in 1996, now has some 16,000 articles. The Archive Committee has been very busy during the last few years developing an online photo database. This tool is the Mennonite Archival Image Database (MAID) and is designed to store archival photos, also making them available in digital form for use in historical research projects. In just a few years, approximately 12,000 images have been entered into the database. It can be found at archives.mhsc.ca. In years past, the MHSC has commissioned the writing of three books in a series called Mennonites in Canada. The first two, covering the period from 1786 to 1940, are both written by the late Frank H. Epp. The third volume brings the story up to 1970 and is written by Ted Regehr. MHSC will now begin to explore the possibility of a fourth Mennonites in Canada volume to cover more recent history. The MHSC board made a decision to distribute remaining copies of the current books free of charge through the provincial societies. This will be a great opportunity for the public to acquire copies of some very thorough and interesting Canadian Mennonite history books. Our meetings were held in the new Mennonite Heritage Museum in the heart of Abbotsford. This museum seeks to tell the Mennonite story going back to the 16th century, as our own museum does, but with a specific focus on the contribution of Mennonites in British Columbia. This fine facility also houses the Mennonite Historical Society of BC Archives and is sure to be a popular destination for locals as well as visitors to that city. We welcome their partnership with us in preserving and telling these stories. This years meeting also included a change in leadership personnel. Lucille Mar from Quebec stepped down as President of MHSC after four years in that role, and Richard Thiessen from BC was elected to replace her. Next years meetings will be held in Winnipeg. Posted on 01/23/2016, 9:05 am, by mySteinbach The department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection advises that a 45-year-old man has been convicted of committing an unfair business act against a Manitoba consumer following an investigation by the Manitoba Consumer Protection Office. In April 2010, Garvin De La Mothe and his company, Canadian Custom Cabinets, entered into a contract with a consumer to supply and install custom kitchen cabinets at the consumers home. The consumer paid a deposit of $15,000 to have the cabinetry manufactured and installed. After several delays, De La Mothe supplied what the consumer felt were incomplete and sub-standard cabinets. De La Mothe would not address the consumers concerns regarding the poor workmanship and his failure to meet his contractual obligations. He also refused to refund any of the deposit paid by the consumer. The Consumer Protection Office investigated, and on Nov. 26, 2015, De La Mothe was found guilty of one count of breaching of the Business Practices Act and one count of failing to attend court. De La Mothe was fined a total of $5,100 and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the victim of the unfair business practice. For information on administrative penalties and penalties issued, visit www.manitoba.ca/cca/cpo. Manitobans are encouraged to learn more about consumer protection issues and their rights under the law. For more information, contact the Consumer Protection Office at 204-945-3800, 1-800-782-0067 (toll-free in Manitoba) or via email at consumers@gov.mb.ca. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent (4) Left: Circle C Farm owner Nicole Kozak holds a broiler chicken on the Felda farm. Poultry, eggs and other free-range meat is sold at the Circle C Farm Store in Bonita Springs. Below: A plump broiler chicken roosts at the coop on Circle C Farm, where thousands of birds and other livestock roam free range. SHARE These piglets are among the newest arrivals at Circle C Farm in Felda. Owners Manny and Nicole Kozak plan to add large, black heritage breed pigs to their smaller farm in Bonita Springs. About 9,000 broiler chickens and other livestock roam free on the 130-acre Circle C Farm in Felda. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent A plump broiler chicken roosts at the coop on Circle C Farm, where thousands of birds and other livestock roam free range. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent About 9,000 broiler chickens and other livestock roam free on the 130-acre Circle C Farm in Felda. Meat and eggs are sold at the Circle C Farm Store in Bonita Springs. Laura Gates/Banner Correspondent By Laura J. Gates Chef David Lani and proprietor Colin Estrem, the creative culinary minds behind 7th Avenue Social in Naples, took a field trip earlier this week to Circle C Farm in Felda. As they toured the expansive, 130-acre farm, they stopped to hold fluffy chicks in their hands and pet a cow in the pasture. These animals soon may be on their patrons' plates. "We try to be a local, sustainable company," said Lani, who also sources from Fort Myers fishermen and gets microgreens from Colusa Farms in Naples. "Bringing the freshest products to the people is definitely what we're about." It's hard to get much fresher than the meat and eggs from Circle C Farm. Co-owner Nicole Kozak markets to chefs by hand-delivering a vacuum-sealed, whole broiler chicken which was processed at the farm the same day. "They get really excited; they turn into little boys," said Kozak of the chefs' giddiness. "It's like they get to open a Christmas present and play with something new." Chef John O'Leary of the Naples Yacht Club was an early advocate of Circle C Farm. He started with organic eggs and has since added other Circle C products to his culinary creations, which include rotisserie, mojo-marinated chicken and braised lamb shanks. "The meat and the flavor is just very clean and rich," he said. Local chefs aren't the only ones who can enjoy Circle C's farm fresh offerings. Anyone may purchase organic eggs and local honey from the Bonita Springs farm store on Strike Lane, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Special orders of grass-fed meat products may be made online or called in, for pickup at the Bonita store, as well. Laying hens on the five-acre property in Bonita soon will have some company: Heritage breed, large black hogs three sows and a boar that will forage the wetlands along with the poultry. "The meat on those is just really phenomenal," Kozak said. Back in Felda, sheep and cows graze the same pastures, which are also shared by a few horses and donkeys. Since sheep and cattle prefer different types of grasses, together they clear an area nicely, said Kozak's husband and Circle C Owner Manny Cruz. He was raised on a farm in the Dominican Republic and now manages his own flocks and herds. His parents operate the Bonita farm and store, while Cruz runs the daily farm operations in Felda. "This has always been my dream, to do this on my own property," he said. Circle C began its operations in 2012 with cattle and sheep, adding laying hens soon after and, more recently, broiler chickens and pigs. Cruz and Kozak are constantly researching new breeds to bring to the farm. They currently raise commercial Black Angus, registered Brahman and Brangus cattle and Katahdin and Native Florida Cracker sheep. Turkeys were brought in for Thanksgiving, and there are 100 beehives to produce wildflower honey. Three maremma sheepdogs roam the property and guard the livestock at night. On Christmas Day, the Circle C family welcomed two newborn calves. "We have babies on this property all the time," Kozak said. Pastures are rotated frequently to provide the best nutrition, and natural grasses are supplemented with spent organic wheat grains leftover from the brewing process at Fort Myers Brewery. Animals are never given soy or corn, and the farm is chemical free. "We're all about sustainable agriculture," Kozak said. "There are a lot of people out there eating who want a quality meat." About 9,000 broiler chickens roam free on the Felda farm. Like the other livestock, their habitats are rotated frequently. Mobile coops on wheels allow them to be moved a few feet every two days, to keep grasses fertilized and nutritious. The chickens also receive supplements of natural essential oils (including lemon grass, oregano and kelp) to strengthen their immune system, Kozak noted. "We take exceptional care of those animals," she said. "We don't use antibiotics, and we don't use any hormones, so what you see is a happy, healthy bird." Circle C welcomes 2,000 one-day-old chicks every two week from a hatchery in Georgia. They spend their entire lives on the Felda farm, with a USDA-inspected processing facility on site. Other Circle C meat products are processed at Three Suns Ranch in Punta Gorda. The like-minded ranch offers 100-percent grass-fed beef, bison and wild hog and is among a handful of ranches nationwide which raise, harvest, cut and wrap their animals from their own USDA approved facilities. The way Circle C and Three Suns raise their animals is rare in the state of Florida, confirm the local chefs. "It's really something special they're doing out there," O'Leary said of Circle C Farm. Although their products are a bit more expensive than conventionally raised livestock, the quality is worth it, he added. Circle C whole broiler chickens sell for $6 per pound. Many different cuts are packaged and priced individually, as well. Rack of lamb is $14.65/pound, pork chops are $9.50/pound, and a half-a-cow is $10/pound. A full flat of eggs (30) sells for $12.50, and a half-flat for $6.25. A complete list of products and pricing may be found online at circlecfarmfl.com. IF YOU GO Circle C Farm Store 9294 Strike Lane, Bonita Springs 239-776-9054 Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. circlecfarmfl.com Paul Nicodemi and Mar Masterman perform during a rehearsal of "Other Desert Cities" at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples on Monday, January 12, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) SHARE Jessica Walck and Michael Hennessey perform during a rehearsal of "Other Desert Cities" at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples on Monday, January 12, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) Jessica Walck and Michael Hennessey perform during a rehearsal of "Other Desert Cities" at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples on Monday, January 12, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) Mary Masterman, from left, Michael Hennessey, and Jessica Walck perform during a rehearsal of "Other Desert Cities" at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples on Monday, January 12, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) "Other Desert Cities" director Chris Goutman watches rehearsal at Sugden Community Theatre in Naples on Monday, January 12, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) By Chris Silk of the Naples Daily News The Naples Players head into 2016 by showcasing one of the hottest plays of the past few years. "Other Desert Cities," by Jon Robin Baitz, examines an explosive family drama caused by lies, secrets and deception. The play follows the Wyeth family. Parents Lyman and Polly are old-school conservative Republicans (we'd call them Establishment these days) who have retired to Palm Springs. Children Brooke, an author, and Trip, a television producer visit for Christmas. Polly's sister Silda, an alcoholic (and general troublemaker) is also in the house. Director Christopher Goutman, a New Yorker who regularly comes to direct shows for the Naples Players, described the Wyeths as "a very particular family." "Brooke is seeking redemption," Goutman said in an interview before the play's opening. "Her parents sort of made a deal with the devil." As audiences find out, there was once a third Wyeth sibling, Henry, who was tangentially involved in the radical politics of the 1970s and ultimately rejected his parents. Brooke, played by longtime Naples Players favorite Jessica Walck, continues to blame her parents for Henry's actions and absence. "These folks have come to Palm Springs to hide," Goutman says. "They've built walls." Over the course of two-plus hours, audiences learn about families, honor, loyalty and the thankless joys of parenting. "It's psychologically dense," Goutman said. Walck is joined onstage by veterans Michael Hennessey as Lyman and Diane Davis as Silda. Mary Masterman plays Polly and Paul Nicodemi plays Trip Wyeth. Goutman praised Walck's performance, noting that it was "Brooke's play" and calling her "a terrific actress." "She's on a journey," Goutman said. "And she brings a bomb." The bomb comes in the form of a tell-all book, lionizing Henry and completely rejecting the old-line conservative politics of her parents. A battle rages on Christmas Eve after Brooke presents her work for approval. The play is ultimately about honor and family intrigue, although Goutman resists efforts to set the action in a political context; some interpretations of the play see Polly and Lyman as stand-ins for Ronald and Nancy Reagan, with Silda as a Betty Ford figure. "My only mission is to serve the play," Goutman said. "And then to serve theater. The audience will decide how we relate to these characters." Goutman said his only goal is "authentic performances." "Every scene has wonderful dialogue and moments," Goutman said. Secrets are at the heart of "Other Desert Cities." Every character has secrets and the audience sees that explosive process play out over the course of two acts. "Secrets are damaging and can cripple you," Goutman said. "You have to pay a price." The play takes its name from a freeway sign that pops up as you approach Palm Springs. Giant white letters offer a path to either "other desert cities," or slipping into the hideaway of Palm Springs, a place Polly and Lyman have come to hide. "It's a bunker that protects them," Goutman said, "but also a prison. In this time and place truth will out." The play's denouement occurs late on Dec. 24 as all the Wyeths gather for an unhappy celebration. Brooke learns what really happened to Henry while at the same time her parents learn the true depth of her devotion to her brother and the deep, deep depths of her crippling depression. Goutman believes he's captured both the inflexibility of the proud parents as well as juggling the chemistry between the various family members. He wants audiences to see "a really good production and be entertained." "Every human person has these failings," Goutman said. "We're asking the audience to examine 'what is the truth?'" "Other Desert Cities" runs through Feb. 7. For tickets ($35), naplesplayers.org or 239-263-7990. IF YOU GO "Other Desert Cities" What: Conservative Republican parents with a dark secret celebrate Christmas in Palm Springs with their kids When: Through Feb. 7 Where: 7105 Fifth Ave. S., Naples Cost: $35 Information: naplesplayers.org or 239-263-7990 SHARE Naples Cat Alliance Snickers, a 4-year old Siamese mix, is laid-back, quiet and loving. Meet her at our adoption center at 7785 Davis Blvd., Suite 104, East Naples, or PetSmart at Coconut Point mall, Estero. Information: naplescatalliance.org or 239-370-8727 Humane Society Naples Ashley is a gorgeous, 1-year-old, Australian Cattle Dog mix that loves to run and play. She is friendly and would do well in a semiactive home. Adoption fee: $75. Shya is a playful, bulldog/terrier mix that gets along well with other dogs, enjoys being silly and would do anything for a treat. Her adoption fee: $75. Tracy is a beautiful, 7-month-old, short hair mix that is affectionate and gets along well with other cats. She would definitely love a home with a buddy to play with. Her adoption fee: $55. Adopt them at Humane Society Naples, 370 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Information: 239-643-1555 or HSNaples.org Volunteer Services For Animals Hemingway, a handsome tabby boy, is a polydactyl because he has extra toes. This six-toed cat with a famous author's name is looking for a forever family. Adopt him 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at PetSmart, 2255 Pine Ridge Road, North Naples. View adoptable pets daily at PetSmart. Information: 239-290-6274 Brooke's Legacy Very Merry Vincent is a 5-year-old neutered male Shih Tzu mix. He is seeking a calm, quiet forever home. Adorable Wilma is a 9-month old spayed female tuxedo. She is just as her name says adorable! Information: brookeslegacyanimalrescue.org Lee County Animal Services Charlie, a 9-month-old pit bull terrier/Labrador mix, is as cute as a bug and smart as a whip. A happy-go-lucky pup who always has a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. Theo, a 2-year-old tabby short hair, is a very quiet but quite lovable lap cat. She will make someone or some family a very nice companion and is no trouble, just lots of love. Adoption fees: $30 during Yappy New Year promo. Lee County Animal Services, open 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers. Information: 239-533-7387 or LeeLostPets.com Collier County Domestic Animal Services Sprinkles, a 1-year-old black short hair, is handsome and his eyes reflect the love he is filled with. He is well behaved, sweet, and affectionate. Sprinkles would make a great family pet. Piggy, an 8-year-old gray and white Lhasa apso mix, is friendly, smart, and listens. She is sweet, knows the basics, is good on her leash and weighs about 14 pounds. Piggy is happy, fun, and would be a great family dog. Adoption fees for cats are $10 (January) and dogs are $85 at Collier County Domestic Animal Services, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 7610 Davis Blvd., East Naples. Information: 239-252-7387 or colliergov.net/pets All manner of merchandise and memorabilia from attractions are stacked and for sale at Theme Park Connection, a business on Premier Row in south Orlando, Fla. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) SHARE By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel (TNS) Brian Ramsey is general manager of Theme Park Connection, a 16,500-square-foot business stocked with all manner of attractions merchandise, souvenirs and memorabilia for sale and resale. The company gets items from estates, studios, worldwide online auctions and from the parks themselves, Ramsey said. He talked with Orlando Sentinel theme parks reporter Dewayne Bevil. CFB: How was business through the holidays? The week before Christmas was a little slower than what we thought, but after Christmas and through New Year's, we were really, really busy. CFB: Is that a busier time for buyers or sellers? Buyers is higher. Usually around the first of the month is when we get the most of our sellers. CFB: What always goes fast from the warehouse? The most popular item that comes in is anything with Figment, which we just got a huge estate of (dragon character) Figment collectibles in. Haunted Mansion items and mostly the newest movies that are out like "Jurassic World," or any of the ones that are really popular hit movies, will be the stuff that comes in and out the fastest. Or any attraction that's shutting down or there's something major happening that we get items from, those will be the fastest ones out the door. We've been doing a lot of stuff with the Disney movie props and have done very well with them. And we've also found that there's a huge market for the movie collectibles and the movie props. Last year, we did the "Hunger Games" auction where we auctioned off all the "Hunger Games" wardrobe. We still do a lot of the Disney movies. It fits really well with what we already do. CFB: Have online and eBay elements changed since you opened? The eBay line has dropped dramatically. We do have our own online store now with a couple of thousand items on there, which we've gone for more. We have started putting stuff on Amazon, which seems to be growing because people want that quicker shipping and they don't want to wait seven days for the auction. CFB: How do you set prices? We try to stay well below what the market or what items are going for online. We try to make a certain percentage over what we pay for it so we can clear our bills and keep going. CFB: What's the most unusual item you have now? We've got the back of the Black Pearl the top part of the ship that came from the ("Pirates of the Caribbean") movie production. We've got all sorts of character items and figurines in the store right now. We've got a lot of rare art work and concept art that's on display. We had a bunch of "Star Wars" figures the Han Solo stuff and the stormtroopers stuff but those sold with a week of the movie coming out. CFB: Do you have park merchandise in your home? Personally, in my own house, I have a lot of stuff from the "Cars" movie and the Cars Land (at Disney California Adventure). CFB: What would be your dream item to have in stock? Our dream item is really to find what people are looking for and get it for them. In our way, that's kind of like our dream thing, to be able to find those rare items or even the simplest item like a certain pin or a certain park brochure and be able to meet what they want for their collection. Mugshots of Gregory Hines and Keith Lewis seen during a press conference in Naples on Monday, January 11, 2016. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) By Jessica Lipscomb of the Naples Daily News Ask them why they are in jail and the two men recently accused of running a human trafficking operation out of an East Naples hotel will say they don't have the slightest idea. In interviews from jail this week, Keith "Big Mike" Lewis, 58, and Gregory "Bow Legzz" Hines, 34, said the narratives in arrest reports that they plied at least four women with drugs and coerced them into prostitution just aren't true. "I didn't do nothing wrong to be put in this situation at all," Lewis said. "I'm not no drug dealer, nothing like that. Not no pimp, just a simple, average guy." That's in stark contrast with what Collier County Sheriff's Office investigators say they uncovered in a six-month investigation. Lewis and Hines were arrested Jan. 8 after Collier County Sheriff's Office detectives said a woman was found fading in and out of consciousness in one of their hotel rooms at the Days Inn on Tollgate Boulevard. Multiple cellphones, computers, glass pipes and a paper plate topped with a white powder were found inside the room. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said the two men preyed on at least four vulnerable, drug-addicted women, supplying them with heroin and cocaine in exchange for performing sex acts for customers, who were solicited via escort ads on Backpage.com, an Internet classifieds site. Lewis and Hines kept the money from the sex acts and used violence and withheld drugs at certain times to keep the women compliant, according to detectives. Originally from Miami, Hines is described in prior arrests as a career criminal and habitual felony offender. Tattooed on his neck is the phrase "Death Before Dishonor." The human trafficking investigation began in July when deputies received a tip that he was involved in a commercial sex operation. At the time, Hines was finishing a yearlong sentence in county jail on a grand theft auto charge. Deputies made contact with Hines at least four times since he was released from jail July 10. On Aug. 19, deputies said they found him sharing a hotel room with Brandon Guidry, a Louisiana man who was wanted for murder there. Two days later, Hines was taken into custody under the Marchman Act, which allows people to be involuntarily committed if they appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cannot care for themselves. Four days after that, on Aug. 25, Hines was arrested at a La Quinta after witnesses said he punched a woman who came to collect money from him, then destroyed her phone and took her car keys. Finally, on Dec. 14, Hines was a passenger in a car pulled over in a traffic stop and arrested after deputies found a needle and a baggie with heroin residue inside. Hines points to this history as an indication that he's not guilty of the trafficking offenses. "They've been investigating me for six months I ain't even been out of jail for six months. Neither has (Lewis)," Hines said. "These last six months, I've been in jail more than I've been out." Lewis, a Chicago native, is described in arrest reports as a career offender with "violent tendencies to law enforcement." He was arrested twice last year. During a traffic stop on April 7 last year, deputies reported finding hydromorphone pills, marijuana and suboxone inside a bag he was carrying. The bag also contained a woman's wallet, with her ID card, Social Security card and a hypodermic needle, according to an arrest report. Lewis told deputies he knew the woman and was holding the wallet from her. Later that month, after receiving information that Lewis was dealing crack, deputies observed Lewis making a parking violation. At the traffic stop April 21, deputies said they discovered marijuana in his backpack and, later, marijuana and a bottle with crack cocaine hidden in his crotch area. Lewis was jailed until Nov. 10 after the charges in both cases were dropped. In a separate jail interview, Lewis said he met Hines in jail in 2014. The two men are being kept in separate cell blocks and say they have not communicated since their arrests. Lewis called himself an addict but denied selling anyone drugs. He described one of the victims as his girlfriend and said he didn't know another one of the women who is listed as a victim in his arrest report. "I don't do females like that because I know my mama is a female," Lewis said. Lewis denied that the hotel room rented in his name was used for commercial sex and said it wouldn't have been possible for him to have posted the escort ads on Backpage because of problems with his vision. (In jail, Lewis wore a thick pair of glasses.) "I can't even see to put no one on Backpage," he said. In an arrest report, detectives list a phone number and email that had been previously linked to Hines as proof that he was the one posting ads on Backpage, but Hines now denies that the number and email address belong to him. One of Hines' ex-girlfriends, Brittany Maynor, told the Daily News the phone belongs to her and said the women named as victims, most of whom she knows, were responsible for posting their own ads to Backpage. "They were doing that before they even got with (Hines and Lewis)," Maynor said. "Those girls aren't victims. They were all there because they wanted to be. He was never taking their money or anything." Hines said he considers some of the women listed as his victims as his friends and said he didn't do anything to exploit them. "They say they rescued people that is a bunch of lies," he said. "Ain't nobody force nobody to do nothing. They don't do nothing they don't wanna do." Those who investigate human trafficking crimes say it's a misconception that all human trafficking involves force or violence. "While a trafficker may recruit victims through the use of violence, it is much more common that the trafficker will utilize other forms of coercion," Detective Andy Henchesmoore wrote in an application for a search warrant in the case. "It may appear on the surface that the victims are participating out of their own free will and in the absence of coercion." In many cases, experts say traffickers take advantage of vulnerable victims who are addicted to drugs, have histories of sexual abuse and don't come from stable family backgrounds. "Some of them don't have any family, so this is their little family that they become accustomed to," said Marisol Schloendorn, a human trafficking investigator with the Collier County Sheriff's Office. Both Lewis and Hines are next due in court Feb. 1 for an arraignment. Rambosk said investigators believe there are more victims and are trying to make contact with them. Those who paid for sex with the women aren't yet in the clear, either. "We will not leave them without trying to identify and pursue criminal charges against them," the sheriff said. A resident rests in her wheelchair at Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) SHARE Unit Aide Sharon Thomas greets a resident while holding her hand at Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) A resident sits in his wheelchair in his room at Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) A resident rests her head in her hand at Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) Two people share lunch together in the dining hall at Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) By Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News TALLAHASSEE Florida's nursing homes want higher payments from Medicaid, a request for more state money that comes as lawmakers consider big tax cuts for business, a bigger economic development fund and other state expenses. The nursing homes argue lawmakers should restore the automatic annual 1 percent increase in Medicaid payments they received until the Legislature stopped the increase in 2011. The increase would give the nursing homes about $12.8 million in state money that could be used to pull down another $20.2 million in federal money, according to data provided by the Florida Health Care Association. When the automatic 1 percent increase stopped, the state's 683 nursing homes at the time were largely unaffected. But now nursing home operators want lawmakers to restore the annual increase. Staff from Palm Healthcare Management, which owns 15 nursing homes across Southwest Florida, Orlando and the Treasure Coast, visited the state Capitol earlier this week to promote the idea. "Essentially, it's making up for what we deal with every day when we buy groceries," said Luke Neumann, Palm Healthcare Management senior director of service and relationship development. Lawmakers in charge of funding Medicaid, which already consumes nearly a third of the state's budget, say there are other budget issues to consider. The Legislature may need to apply more money toward the Low Income Pool, another Medicaid program that provides hospitals with money for treating the poor. This year's proposed budget, which lawmakers will begin to create next week, includes $400 million toward that pool of money. These and other budget issues leave little room for an increase in spending for nursing homes, lawmakers said. "There are really too many things in play to determine if it's possible, but if we can we will consider it," said Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah. "If we have to add more money to LIP, it's going to change everything." In addition, the Legislature learned this week the state will receive $395 million less than what was anticipated for next year's state budget. House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Matt Hudson, R-Naples, said a 1 percent nursing home increase may not be possible. "Whether or not we can do that is up in the air," Hudson said. "When you sit down and start talking about rate increases, you have to prioritize what's going to be the most bang for your buck." The head of a watchdog group for the state's nursing home industry urged legislators to tie any extra cash they give nursing homes to improved quality of patient care. Brian Lee, of the Tallahassee-based group Families for Better Care, said the state's nursing homes make much more money than they advertise. The median annual cost for a nursing home bed in Florida in 2015 was $87,600, which is roughly $7,300 more than the national average, according to a survey conducted by the Genworth Financial insurance company. Nursing homes also have become more valuable. Over the past 10 years, the average price a property investor pays to buy a nursing home skyrocketed from $20,000 per bed in 2004 to $78,000 in 2014, Lee said. "If the Legislature wants to lift this freeze (on annual increase), it has to be with strings-attached money," said Lee, who served as the state's long-term care ombudsman until he was ousted by Gov. Rick Scott when he took office in 2011. "I'm not sure about some of the smaller ones, but its those larger companies that are more likely to cut staff and services just to make a buck." Despite strong revenue reports, locally owned nonprofit nursing homes say profit margins are tight. The Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a 180-bed facility in Fort Myers, operates with a 2.3 percent profit, and the organization recently paid $108,000 for a new air chilling system and another $154,000 toward an update fire sprinkler system, said Wes Edwards, the chief executive officer for the facility. "We really need that money to comply with regulations and provide the best patient care possible," Edwards said. "It's hard to do all of these capital improvements when you're underfunded by the state of Florida." Edwards said the extra cash would provide some cushion for any more unexpected building costs. "If I could get more money, it sure would help," Edwards said, adding he hoped another strong outlook for next year's state budget could mean the 1 percent freeze could go. "We think that Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have been good to us, but with things looking better, we hope they can help." Last year, 50,630 nursing home beds went to Medicaid enrollees, or about 70 percent of the state's 72,210 patients in nursing homes. The remaining 30 percent of the nursing home population are private-pay patients. Medicare also pays for nursing home patients, but for shorter stays. Contact Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620 In this photo taken on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, Hiba Tinawi, from Syria, holds her 6-month-old daughter Judy during an event to welcome Syrian refugee families who have recently resettled in the city of Clarkston, Ga. A Syrian refugee family of six arrived in the Atlanta area last week, shortly after Gov. Nathan Deal backed off efforts to block people from their war-torn nation from resettling in Georgia. That brings the total to 75 for the number of Syrian refugees who have come to Georgia since 2011, when fighting broke out in their country, U.S. State Department figures show. World Relief is now helping the newest arrivals resettle in the Atlanta region. (Branden Camp /Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) SHARE By Jeff Schweers TALLAHASSEE Frustrated with how the federal government screens refugees, and fueled by a fearful constituency, state lawmakers want to give the governor and attorney general sweeping powers to keep out anyone they deem a risk. Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Rep. Lake Ray, R-Jacksonville, are sponsoring measures that would prohibit agencies receiving tax dollars from helping resettle refugees from countries known to harbor groups that want to commit violence against the United States. "The federal government does a poor job of that, so it is imperative that the state of Florida set up a viable solution," Simpson said. "I don't have confidence the federal government is always screening all the folks through the refugee process appropriately. We want to know who is here, where they are and what screening they have." The legislation would require agencies that help resettle refugees to provide names of the refugees to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for potential further background investigation and could withhold funds from agencies that don't cooperate. The measures also would grant the governor his own police, emergency and military powers to use whatever means necessary to keep any person he has reasonable cause to believe could commit an act of violence out of Florida. "This bill makes it crystal clear that the governor and the attorney general can gather and collect information on unknown refugees being brought here," Simpson said. "Agencies failing to participate in this effort to protect our citizens are subject to suspension in contracts they may have with the state." But advocates for immigrants and refugees said the bill feeds into xenophobia flamed by rhetoric from GOP presidential candidates, including Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and would discriminate against people fleeing for their lives from war-torn countries. Advocates also said it could have a chilling effect on agencies trying to help with housing, food, clothing, medical care and jobs. "This bill, which says if you don't comply we will take your funding away, makes the situation worse," said Magda Saleh, president of Radiant Hands, a nonprofit social services agency in Tampa that has been helping refugees for the past four months. Her organization was approached by the refugee services liaison with the state's Department of Children and Families after other agencies already working to place refugees were overwhelmed by a recent influx. "These people have been through so much," Saleh said. "I don't see where they are going to be a problem." The measure might not pass muster as a state undertaking, said Mark Schlakman, senior program director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University. "It is highly suspect on constitutional grounds," Schlakman said. "It potentially violates the separation of powers and the basic tenets of federalism." It also introduces an element of coercion, where any organizations that receive state funding would be subject to sanctions, he said. Simpson said the legislation is not an attempt to discriminate against Muslims or people from Middle Eastern countries, and he will work with his colleagues to adjust the bill's language so it protects Floridians without sacrificing humanitarian aid. "I don't believe the current wording is exactly the way it's going to be when we are finished," Simpson said. "We will get this right and we will listen to anyone who has an opinion, obviously. We will listen to our attorneys to make sure that it is constitutional and that the state is in a posture to enforce this bill." Refugees qualify for every benefit a U.S. citizen qualifies for, including food stamps, Medicaid, job training and other social services. By far, the largest group of refugees is Cubans, who made up about 90 percent of the nearly 170,000 refugees who have come to Florida since 2010, according to data tracked by the Department of Children and Families. Nearly 50,000 refugees were relocated to Florida in the last fiscal year. Haitians are the second-largest group, at around 3.5 percent, and Iraqis are third at about 1 percent. "I am not sure if this legislation is targeting all of them or just the people from the Middle East," said Saleh, whose group is helping people primarily from Arabic-speaking and Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East. She said she's concerned the bill would encourage people who might continue recent attacks on local mosques and social workers who help refugees. "These so-called terrorists are not coming in as refugees," she said. "Refugees cannot get on a plane from wherever they are until they've been screened." Middle Eastern refugees undergo more layers of scrutiny than from any other region, said Laila Abdelaziz, government affairs director for the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Tampa. The process can take 18 to 24 months, twice as long as for people from other parts of the world, Abdelaziz said. But some do slip through the cracks. Two Iraqi refugees arrested last week face trials for comments they made that prosecutors say showed support for the Islamic State or terrorism. In November, 14 people were killed and 22 were injured in what authorities said was a planned terror attack by a married couple in San Bernardino, California. They were killed in a gunbattle and investigators have not linked them to a terrorist organization yet. Acknowledging that the state had no authority to prevent the relocation of refugees by the federal government, Gov. Rick Scott said he would ask Congress to act "aggressively" to prevent President Barack Obama from using federal tax money to place up to 425 Syrians in Florida. Contact Tribune reporter jschweers@tampatrib.com and (850) 765-0807 Travellers are seen at the private entrance Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 at the Naples Municipal Airport in Naples, Fla. Elite Airlines is waiting on the TSA to start commercial flights out of Naples. (Corey Perrine/Staff) SHARE Naples Mayor John Sorey addresses the crowd gathered at Naples City Hall during his announcement that he will be running for re-election for mayor on Thursday, November 12, 2015. (Scott McIntyre/Staff) Bill Barnett cracks a smile as he chats with people during an event where he annouced he will run for Mayor of Naples again on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Cambier Park in Naples, Fla. The move stands to create a political shift from Mayor Sorey, who colleagues describe as a goal-minded executive, to Barnett, who has a record of being an uncontroversial consensus builder. It also sets up the city's first competitive mayor's race in more than a decade. (Logan Newell/Special to the Daily News) Teresa Heitmann. By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News Since the October announcement that the Naples Municipal Airport signed a deal to service commercial flights for the first time in eight years, the flights have proved to be a contentious issue. Airport critics pounced on the contract with Maine-based Elite Airways, which plans round-trip service twice a week to Newark, N.J. The critics questioned the demand for the flights and complained about increases in flight noise. The Naples Airport Authority and the City Council publicly scolded Ted Soliday, the airport's executive director, for not properly clueing them in on the deal before it was signed. City Councilman Sam Saad called for the firing of Soliday, who has led the airport for more than 20 years. More striking was the comment from John Pearsall, president of Elite, who said he had received death threats from residents who oppose the deal. Among the Naples mayoral candidates and six other candidates running for three open council seats in the March election, airport issues have been just as divisive, if not as dramatic. Mayoral candidates Bill Barnett and John Sorey support the flights. The two longtime Naples residents remember when the airport often hosted large commercial jets, so they describe any increases in flight noise as a minor issue. "Quite candidly, with the planes being a lot quieter today I don't see a major impact," Barnett said recently during a mayoral forum at the Bayfront complex of residences and retail. "I don't think you're going to have two and three and four and five commercial airlines in Naples." Sorey said he favors commercialization because of its positive economic impact and what he describes as a marked level of support from the community. He pointed to an airport survey made public last May that showed nearly 80 percent of respondents said they wanted commercial flights. "I think our citizens clearly have indicated that's something they'd like to have and I don't think it will greatly impact traffic at the airport," Sorey said. Naples Airport Watch, the local watchdog group, has criticized the airport's survey, arguing it polled county residents and asked leading questions. City Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann, who also is running for mayor, isn't convinced of the accuracy of the survey. She said she would support commercial flights if city residents clearly signaled support. She doesn't think that has happened. "I have been watching the NAA meetings and it hasn't shown that the community has backed this up," Heitmann said. Heitmann's greater issue with the Elite deal for commercial flights was its lack of transparency. During a presentation on commercial service at a city council meeting last November, Heitmann grilled Soliday and NAA Chairman Jim Rideoutte for a half-hour. Heitmann called Soliday's handling of the issue a "disservice to the community," and said it appeared to her that Soliday and former Airport Attorney Joe McMackin "are going to run the airport the way that you want." Heitmann also said the airport should have waited for the results of a focus group the NAA commissioned last year to study commercialization's local business impact. After the Elite deal was signed, the NAA voted to suspend the study. "Why rush it?" Heitmann said in November. "Why rush it now and not wait for the focus groups and council and the community to weigh in?" James Moon, an attorney on the city's code enforcement board, is one of two candidates for the city council who has come out against the commercial flights. Moon said the deal with Elite was signed prematurely, and there isn't enough information about its economic impact. "To me, that is one of the critical points. Why increase plane traffic and noise if there is no substantial, financial benefit to the community as a whole that could offset any negatives that would be realized," said Moon, who has lived in the subdivision behind Naples High School for 14 years. Wynn Phillips, a council candidate who served on the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, is opposed to commercialization due to a concern that the flights will increase traffic during tourist season. "If you say, this is going to help make our city more congested, I say I can't even get out of Ninth Street South it's so darn congested," said Phillips, who has lived in Old Naples for more than 10 years. Reg Buxton and Ellen Seigel, council candidates who serve on the Planning Advisory Board, both spoke favorably about commercial service. Buxton described the airport's local economic impact as "huge," and Seigel said there is an "overriding sentiment" that residents want the flights. Michelle McLeod, chair of the Community Services Advisory Board, has said she is concerned about flight noise and that the airport might have to do another study on its impact. She didn't return messages Friday. Terry Hutchison moved in 2014 to Lake Park, one of the neighborhoods said to be most affected by flight noise. But as a council candidate, Hutchison said he can support commercial flights because he doesn't think the city should encroach too far into the airport's governance. "If we expect the Airport Authority to successfully run the enterprise, then we should allow them to do so as long as it is within the terms of our lease agreement," Hutchison said. Related stories: Commercial flights from Naples airport awaiting approval, but delay could mean not available for season Naples waiting for word from TSA on when to launch commercial flights Commercial airline deal approval at Naples Airport raises ire of council members Despite few victories, Naples airport critics continue to speak out SHARE Ashley Porraro receives pasta fagioli soup from DeRomos Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Cambier Park in Naples, Fla. Thousands came out to support the 10th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. For a suggested $15 donation, guests pick out a handmade pottery bowl to serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. Attendees sampled nearly 50 area chefs and restaurants. More than 2,000 bowls, were created throughout the year by local artists, educators, students and volunteers. (Corey Perrine/Staff) Elizabeth Martin, 16, of Naples High School, laughs about the amount of paint spilled while creating literal street art Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, on Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Fla. Thousands came out to support the 10th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. For a suggested $15 donation, guests pick out a handmade pottery bowl to serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. Attendees sampled nearly 50 area chefs and restaurants. More than 2,000 bowls, were created throughout the year by local artists, educators, students and volunteers. (Corey Perrine/Staff) Patrons enjoy hot soup Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Cambier Park in Naples, Fla. Thousands came out to support the 10th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. For a suggested $15 donation, guests pick out a handmade pottery bowl to serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. Attendees sampled nearly 50 area chefs and restaurants. More than 2,000 bowls, were created throughout the year by local artists, educators, students and volunteers. (Corey Perrine/Staff) Patrons line the sidewalk from Gulfshore Playhouse all the way to central Cambier Park Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at in Naples, Fla. Thousands came out to support the 10th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. For a suggested $15 donation, guests pick out a handmade pottery bowl to serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. Attendees sampled nearly 50 area chefs and restaurants. More than 2,000 bowls, were created throughout the year by local artists, educators, students and volunteers. (Corey Perrine/Staff) Related Photos 2016 Empty Bowls By Liz Freeman of the Naples Daily News Lisa Miller had the distinct honor to be first in line Saturday at Cambier Park in Naples for the Empty Bowls fundraiser and wore a T-shirt from event sponsors bearing No. 1. She has been attending the annual event, a key fundraiser for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, for the past eight or nine years. "I've been No. 1 for the last three years," Miller said, proudly showing off the sky-blue T-shirt under her jacket shortly before the event's 11 a.m. start. Miller and a half-dozen friends bring coffee and lawn chairs early, about 7 a.m. They watch volunteers and restaurants set up for the fundraiser, where 1,300 people were anticipated this year. Lots of soup varieties Attendance was expected to be high for the 10th anniversary of Empty Bowls, because of its growing popularity and chilly, windy weather that canceled beach days and other outdoor activities. Restaurants were dishing out 46 varieties of soup in plastic cups loaded potato, split pea, chicken tortilla, clam chowder, to name a few. Panera Bread donated sliced French baguettes. 2,500 handmade bowls Attendees each pay a $15 donation and get to choose a handmade pottery bowl with one-of-a-kind paint and glaze artwork to take home. The 2,500 bowls are made by local students and other Empty Bowl supporters throughout the year. "We come every year. We love it," Veronica Lucier, said, with her husband, Barry, next to her. "It is such a great event, the money they pull in for the food bank. Thank God the community comes together for this." Five-year-old Annabelle Stamper wasn't certain why so many people were eating soup in the park. "It's because it's cold outside," she said, sitting with her mother, Melissa Stamper. "I love that so many support Harry Chapin," her mother said. "We always get very cool bowls, and it's just a great day to be outside." Erika Hinson, a longtime Naples resident, has been a supporter of Harry Chapin and the Empty Bowls event since its first year and never misses it. "I like the sense of community; it is giving back to the community," Hinson said. "I like the fact that everybody comes out. Plus, I like soup." Many of the more popular soups were gone by noon or soon afterward. Latecomers had to get what they could, although several said they came for the cause first, the soup was secondary. Adding to a collection of Empty Bowls pieces is the draw for many. Kelly Goggin sat near the bandshell at a table slightly protected from the wind and enjoyed a cup of lobster bisque. She picked out a pale blue and white bowl to take home. "I just picked one that matches my house," she said. "It's good to see the turnout. It's a lot of fun." Stephen Popper, executive director of Meals of Hope, another local charity that provides dehydrated packaged meals for the needy, said he was glad for the cooler weather that likely spurred more people to come for soup. Meals of Hope provides building space to Harry Chapin volunteers and Empty Bowls supporters to paint the bowls and organize for Saturday's silent auction, which featured 138 porcelain works and other items. He said the preparation for Empty Bowls each year is huge. "They spend hours and hours (getting ready)," Popper said. At the Panera Bread booth, which has supported the event for many years, restaurant workers doled out sliced French baguettes by the bagful. They were gone in no time. At least 2,000 slices of bread were on hand to go with the soup, said John Shomshak, general manager of Panera Bread on Naples Boulevard in North Naples. "I think it's awesome," he said of the crowd. SHARE Polaroid. Blockbuster. America Online. They're notable as once-thriving businesses whose niche passed. Stay stagnant, resist change and lack vision for the future, and failure lurks. For a business district, the same holds true. The old downtown business model is destined to fail against the trend of walkable communities, where there's a healthy blend of residential and commercial properties. You don't have to stray far from Fifth Avenue South in Naples to find developments succeeding with a mixture of restaurants and retail; they draw throngs by car and neighbors can get there on foot or by bicycle because they live nearby. So we commend developer Phil McCabe and the Naples City Council for overcoming resistance to change and working toward a vision of what an expanded downtown can create for the future. Historically speaking A generation or so ago, downtown Naples was mom-and-pops, a supermarket and retailers selling hardware, fishing equipment and books. In the early 1990s, 40 percent of storefronts on Fifth Avenue South were vacant with plywood over the windows. In 1993, city leaders and Fifth Avenue property owners hired Andres Duany, a town planner, to help transform a dying downtown Naples. Duany's vision focused on a Fifth Avenue South with retail on the first floor, offices on the second and residential on the third, with more parking garages. Retail has remained, restaurants have opened and sidewalk dining became an attraction. Through the years, buzzwords to remake downtown changed: Streetscape. Heart of Naples. Mixed use. Community Redevelopment. Business Improvement District. Walkability. In the decades since Duany made recommendations to revitalize the business core, many folks have come and gone from Naples. McCabe, however, is one of a very few who not only has been here for the entire ride, he's put millions at risk investing to achieve a vision for downtown, one that he sees must continually evolve. Indeed, downtown's future isn't just Fifth Avenue South. It's beyond, with restaurants, retail, performing arts, hotel rooms, condos, public amenities and more. It spreads across many city blocks from the traditional downtown to the Gordon River, with public amenities from Cambier Park to Baker Park to the Greenway. Opposition McCabe's newest project a three-story building with retail, underground parking and condos in the 400 block of Fifth Avenue South has drawn opposition. Fortunately, a majority of council members share McCabe's vision of a walkable destination much beyond Fifth Avenue South. That includes more condos, town homes and another hotel, all of which McCabe envisions between Third and Fourth avenues near Seventh and Eighth streets. McCabe's Fifth Avenue project will push out some notable businesses. Yet popular establishments have come and gone, including the Irish pub McCabe still envisions bringing back nearby. Critics fear an elite district, catering to the rich and affordable to few. But in the bigger picture McCabe attorney John Passidomo paints, there's a place for all, including parks and public spaces. That's in keeping with the original design of founders who platted Naples so public beach access sits at the end of every avenue, no matter how upscale the neighboring homes might become. Up and down The vision for the future goes in many directions, including up and down. McCabe has added amenities atop his buildings. Yet he also envisions what can be done underground with a parking level for dozens of vehicles in a parking-challenged district. That leaves room for more green area above ground. Underground parking even where a high water table exists has been a trouble-free answer so far in other coastal areas where land availability was low, property values were high and parking was in short supply. That sounds like downtown Naples. Different? Yes. But by its nature, a vision for the future is different, not stagnant. McCabe and the City Council are to be commended for having this vision. SHARE Norman Carter, Naples Churchill moment The citizenship status of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at birth is being debated as part of the 2016 presidential election. There may be a precedent for this debate. In December 1941, Winston Churchill, prime minister of Great Britain, was invited to address a joint session of Congress. Churchill was the son of a British man and an American woman and was born in England. He was therefore British by both by place of birth and by the citizenship of his father, regardless of the place of birth. The latter patrilineal concept is shared by U.S. citizenship law for children born outside the U.S. where one parent is American and the other foreign. In his introductory remarks, Churchill said: "I cannot help reflecting that if my father had been American and my mother British instead of the other way around, I might have got here on my own." The implication is that he would be considered an American citizen with unencumbered rights to enter the U.S. SHARE Keith Flaugh, Marco Island Cleanup bills Letter-writer Eric Otto is trying to sell a distorted view of the facts. Instructional materials Senate Bill 1018/House Bill 899 are companion "glitch" or cleanup bills. In 2014, the Legislature and governor signed a law restoring local curriculum control to school boards, parents and communities in all counties. Its intent was brilliant and based on the premise that Tallahassee shouldn't and couldn't effectively manage the instructional materials used to teach our children using your tax dollars. At the time, most school board associations requested this responsibility. The Legislature and governor supported this premise and passed this law. However, many Florida school districts have chosen to ignore this law, known as Florida Statute 1006.283, and associated laws. These include laws defining what founding principles and values must be taught (FS1003.42.2) and defining obscene material (FS847.011). Sen. Alan Hays was the champion of this original bill and is champion of his cleanup bill along with Rep. Ray Pilon from Sarasota. This cleanup bill puts local parents, teachers and taxpayers in charge of what materials are used in public schools. Do you have a problem with SB1018/HB899 requiring student materials: "a. Be of high quality, research-based, and proven to be effective in supporting student learning; "b. Provide a noninflammatory, objective and balanced viewpoint on issues; "c. Be appropriate to the students' ages and varying levels of learning; "d. Be accurate and factual; and "e. Be of acceptable technical quality." Today, materials are laced with revisionist history, religious and political indoctrination, pornography and even math methodologies that boggle common sense. Parents and grandparents from 11 counties recently went to Tallahassee to urge support for these cleanup bills. We found overwhelming support for "local curriculum control" and repulsion to the age-inappropriate, factually distorted materials being subjected upon our children. SHARE Jim Adduci, Naples and Boston Let's be honest Regarding President Obama and gun control: "If it saves just one person" I'm tired of hearing that cliche. If that's the case, then why not shut down sanctuary cities? Why not defund Planned Parenthood? Gee, you could save millions of lives there. What about shutting down the border? Do you think everyone coming across has good intentions? And even if they do, if they can't find work (or don't like the pay), they will turn to crime and join a gang. Last, but not least, Chicago. Obama could put pressure on his friend, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, to do something about all the killings there. After all, it is his hometown; he should want to do something because "black lives matter." The gun control issue is exactly that, for the government to control the citizenry. SHARE Bill Linehan, Naples Trump backers Donald Trump has received several important endorsements that have been blacked out by right-wing media as well as mainstream media. Thanks to his blitzkrieg of verbal assaults on minorities, the right-wing Daily Stormer website endorsed Trump. Rachel Pendergraft, national membership coordinator for the Knights Party, affiliated with the KKK, said the organization is using Trump in its recruitment effort. Trump has influenced a wide range of extremists. Somalia's Islamist militant group al Shabaab has released a recruitment film featuring Trump calling for a ban on all Muslims from entering the U.S. William Celli was recently arrested in California and accused of planning a terror attack against Muslims with explosives. Celli, a devoted Trump supporter, is quoted as saying he would "follow the man to the end of the earth." I wonder if Trump promised Celli 72 virgins. Trump, with deferments decorating his chest from the Vietnam era, bloviated that he would kill the families of ISIS. Terrorism is defined as the deliberate killing of civilians in the name of war. Trump and ISIS agree. So let's review the brilliant resume of this tendentious, tufted trumpeter. He is the darling of right-wing hate groups, advocates terrorism, has been used as a recruiting tool by foreign terrorists and has incited domestic terrorism. Trump is the perfect candidate to represent "American values," "moral values" and "Christian values" of the fever swamp called the Republican base. FHP SHARE The Florida Highway Patrol will conduct a DUI Wolfpack Detail from 10 p.m. today to 6 a.m. Sunday in Collier to proactively remove impaired drivers from the roadways. Troopers conducting the detail will be mobile while monitoring traffic in an effort to maximize their visibility and effectiveness in removing impaired drivers from the roadways, according to an FHP news release. Florida law considers a driver with .08 or higher blood alcohol content to be impaired. Drivers under the age of 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are also in violation of Florida law. To report an aggressive driver or the need for roadside assistance, contact FHP from cell phones at *FHP (*347). American International Group Inc., the insurer being pressured by activist investor Carl Icahn to shrink the company, plans to pursue a partial spinoff of its mortgage guaranty unit, according to a person familiar with the matter. AIG intends to maintain a significant stake in the business, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing a plan that hasn't been publicly announced. A partial spinoff could allow AIG to maintain some of the tax assets associated with the United Guaranty business, the person said. The insurer has scheduled a presentation for Tuesday to discuss Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock's vision for boosting returns and narrowing the company's focus. Icahn has demanded a drastic reshaping of the insurer, whose biggest units offer property-casualty coverage and life policies. Jennifer Hendricks Sullivan, a spokeswoman for New York-based AIG, declined to comment on the plan, which was reported earlier Friday by Reuters. Mortgage insurers cover losses for lenders when homeowners default and foreclosure fails to recoup costs. Publicly traded mortgage guarantors MGIC Investment Corp. and Radian Group Inc. have seen their stock prices plunge this year, which could reduce the amount that AIG would be able to get through a sale, John Nadel, an analyst with Piper Jaffray Cos., said Friday in a note to clients. The unit is worth $3 billion to $3.5 billion, he said, lowering the range from his previous estimate of $3.5 billion to $4.8 billion. 'Chains hard to break' 'Workin' For Ebola' (NaturalNews) The deadly outbreak of Ebola in Africa has officially been declared over in most of the countries where it was ravaging the population. One of those was Sierra Leone.In fact, that designation came just a few days ago. And within a day of the government making the announcement,As reported by the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) and the BBC, officials confirmed the death just hours after the West Africa outbreak was declared over."Today, WHO declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia and says all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa," the UN said in a Jan. 14 press release. "But the Organization says the job is not over, more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come."Liberia was first declared free of Ebola transmission in May 2015, but the virus was re-introduced twice since then, with the latest flare-up in November," the press release continued. "Today's announcement comes 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed patient in Liberia tested negative for the disease 2 times."Sierra Leone was declared virus-free Nov. 7. The region as a whole was cleared after Liberia made its recent announcement, the BBC noted. Tests on someone who died in the northern part of the country came back positive, a spokesman for an Ebola test center told the British news agency. The spokesman, Sidi Yahya Tunis, said the patient died in the Tonkolili district, where he had traveled from Kambia, close to the Guinea border.More flare-ups are expected, officials noted.The UN press release further noted:"WHO cautions that the 3 countries remain at high risk of additional small outbreaks of Ebola, like the most recent one in Liberia. To date, 10 such flare-ups have been identified that were not part of the original outbreak , and are likely the result of the virus persisting in survivors even after recovery. Evidence shows that the virus disappears relatively quickly from survivors, but can remain in the semen of a small number of male survivors for as long as 1 year, and in rare instances, be transmitted to intimate partners.""We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections," said Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO's Special Representative for the Ebola Response. "The risk of re-introduction of infection is diminishing as the virus gradually clears from the survivor population, but we still anticipate more flare-ups and must be prepared for them. A massive effort is underway to ensure robust prevention, surveillance and response capacity across all three countries by the end of March.""Detecting and breaking every chain of transmission has been a monumental achievement," added Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and international organizations and generous partners. But our work is not done and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks."According to figures from WHO, the latest Ebola outbreak by far the worst in the history of the disease has killed at least 11,315 people: 4,809 in Liberia, 3,955 in Sierra Leone , 2,536 in Guinea, and 8 in Nigeria. One person also died in the U.S., and six in Mali.That's the number of known or suspected Ebola deaths.While Liberia was the last country to be officially cleared, it had been cleared twice before.During the recent outbreak,dedicated no small amount of coverage to it, noting that the virus made it to the United States despite assurances by our government that it would never come to our shores, and that it could be spread via aerosol , as editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, reported Also, check out Mike's video, "Workin' For Ebola," here (NaturalNews) India is working to transform itself into a regional and global power, but at times its progress is victimized by its history and culture. Women, for example, are not always well respected or treated in the world's largest democracy, ashas been documenting recently with stories of forced sterilizations that are often performed with shoddy medical equipment. Such procedures have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Indian women.Harsh treatment of women is reportedly occurring in the country's mental institutions as well -- and not all women who are committed to such institutions should even be there in the first place.As reported by, one woman, referred to as Deepali, was sent to a mental health facility after her husband was hospitalized with dengue fever and she was left to care for their four children -- all under 10 years old -- while dealing with an anxiety disorder made worse by a troubled marriage.Instead of getting some help, "the British-educated Delhiite with a Masters in business administration was committed to a private mental institution in the Indian capital by her husband and her parents, isolated, sedated and kept there for 46 days until her family consented to her release," the paper reported in its online edition.Deepali says her experience was like that of playing a role in a horror movie."I saw people in shackles. I had no idea where I was because no one visited me," Deepali told the newspaper. "I didn't know who had put me away, and if I protested or demanded to call my family they would drag me like a sack of potatoes to my bed and sedate me."That experience took place in 2007, the year that India -- a nation of 1.3 billion -- ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. But not much has actually changed since then,reported.In recent days, Human Rights Watch, which is based in New York City, sought an immediate review of India's outmoded mental health system after the group released a report which revealed scores of cases of women being forcibly committed to mental health institutions. Once there, the HRW report said, many suffered serious abuses such as physical and sexual assault, forced electroshock therapy and conditions which were highly unsanitary.The paper further reported:"Women and girls with disabilities are dumped in institutions by their family members or police in part because the government is failing to provide appropriate support and services," Human Rights Watch researcher Kriti Sharma said. "Once they're locked up, their lives are often rife with isolation, fear, and abuse, with no hope of escape."According to German news site Deutsche Welle, the HRW report's title summed up what was taking place with women in many of the institutions examined: "Treated Worse than Animals: Abuses against Women and Girls with Psychosocial or Intellectual Disabilities in Institutions in India."Sharma further stated that many of the women interviewed came from poor families whose relatives had simply dropped them off in the institutions, then gave officials phony addresses and phone numbers so they could not be contacted further. Other women were victims of husbands who merely wanted a quick end to their marriages.Under current Indian law, mental health patients can be incarcerated for as long as 90 days without a judicial review; however, as Sharma told, even if some women can manage to access legal assistance, their testimony is most always discredited."What struck me most, visiting institution after institution, was how many women came up to me and said 'get me out of here.' We would walk down the corridors and hear that over and over," said Sharma.In a separate report on the same issue,reported that the institutionalized women, especially if they were disabled, suffered overcrowding, a lack of hygiene, forced treatments and a general lack of proper medical care. The immigration officials and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority, a supreme healthcare authority in Denmark, are expected to review screening policy, according to Health Minister Sophie Lunde. In recent months, Denmark has begun to tighten the screws in an effort to curb the refugee influx. [The] Danish Parliament [voted recently] on a bill proposing to strip refugees of valuables, including cash and jewelry, to cover the costs the country bears in connection with their stay. It would allow authorities to claim individual items valued at more than 10,000 kroner (US$1,450). Diseased migrants already in the U.S. The federal government's policies of allowing the mass migration of infectious disease-carrying people into the United States while transporting them to America's largest cities is a "perfect blueprint" for seeding a deadly pandemic. Right now, we are witnessing the engineering of a public health and humanitarian disaster optimized for rapid disease transmission that puts all Americans at risk. (NaturalNews) As part of the Global North, Europeans have been living in first-world comfort since the continent was rebuilt from the ashes following the end of World War II. But a massive new influx of migrants and refugees from third-world countries in the war-torn Middle East and North Africa are reigniting outbreaks of contagious diseases that had been long eradicated from the continent.As reported by RT.com, unvaccinated migrants have brought diphtheria to Denmark, stunning health officials and leaving the government scrambling to contain the outbreak."The infection can be very dangerous if one isn't vaccinated against it. The dangerous type is very rare and we last saw it in Denmark in 1998," Kurt Fuursted, spokesperson for the Danish State Serum Institute (SSI) toldin reference to the likely return of the disease, which was last seen in the country 20 years ago."There is no doubt that infectious diseases are coming in with the refugees that we aren't used to. There have been discussions on whether all refugees who come to Denmark should be screened," Fuursted added."Refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants should be vaccinated without unnecessary delay according to the immunization schedule of the country in which they intend to stay for more than a week," says a joint WHO-UNHCR-UNICEF guidance on general principles regarding vaccination of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in Europe, RT.com noted. Despite this recommendation, and the fact that the German government pushes vaccines for the children of its native citizens, refugees are being allowed into the country without receiving any vaccinations.Published on Nov. 23, the guidance further urges nations to provide refugees and migrants with access to a "full vaccination schedule."RT.com noted further:In Danish communities of Thisted, Sonderborg and Haderslev, local nightclub owners have begun to introduce "language controls" that is, they are turning away anyone who does not speak Danish, German or English.According to Denmark's immigration agency, about 18,000 refugees and migrants were looking for asylum last year far from the 163,000 seeking asylum in neighboring Sweden.Some see similar problems coming to the U.S. under the Obama White House's generous refugee resettlement and immigration programs.As Natural News editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger At the time, Adams noted that about 30,000 illegal aliens were flooding into Texas alone on any given day, most from Central and South America, as well as Mexico."Virtually none of these immigrants are being properly screened for infectious disease, nor vaccinated. (Not that I'm saying vaccines are the cure, but this is what the government claims all Americans should be doing to their own children, you see. The hypocrisy is obscene...)," he wrote.Again, at the time, some migrants and immigrants had already been found to have carried in infectious diseases some of them incurable, Adams noted, including "swine flu, AIDS, influenza, scabies, lice and other diseases that are made worse by the highly unsanitary conditions in which these immigrants are living during their travels."Obama's generous (and, according to federal courts unconstitutional) immigration policies mean even more disease-carrying immigrants will be heading into the country in the months ahead. Police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place inside the lobby of a four-star hotel near McCormick Place on Chicago's Near South Side. The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, located at 2233 S. King Dr. Several men were involved in a "disturbance" in the lobby of the hotel, according to authorities. One man pulled out a handgun and opened fire. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead upon arrival. The victim was identified at 25-year-old Courtney Taylor, according to the Cook County Medical examiners office. Taylor was at an event at the hotel and was trying to deescalate the fight when he was shot and killed, the family told Andrew Holmes with Crisis Intervention. It's very tough on the mother and the mother of his child to have talked to him yesterday and all of a sudden they have to come here to identify him, said Holmes while at the medical examiners office with Taylors family. Police have not made any arrests as of Saturday afternoon. However, Holmes expressed confidence that surveillance cameras in the hotels lobby captured Taylors killer. I'm 100 percent for sure with the technology they have in that area that this individual did cross a number of video surveillance, said Holmes. An anonymous person is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, according to Holmes. Anyone who might have information is urged to call (800) 88-5587 Hotel managers released a statement after the fatal shooting, writing "At Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, the safety and security of guests and associates is a top priority. This appears to be an isolated incident, however the hotel is taking all appropriate precautions in an effort to ensure that guests and hotel associates remain in a safe environment. We also want to extend our sympathies to the family of the deceased. The hotel is cooperating with the authorities on their investigation, and inquiries should be directed to the Chicago Police Department." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia for talks with Gulf Arab officials on their deteriorating relations with Iran and on the Syria peace process. Kerry arrived in Riyadh early Saturday from Switzerland, where he said he was going to meet with wary U.S. partners in the Gulf to discuss the way forward with Iran now that the landmark nuclear deal has been implemented. He said he would also continue pressing for consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at the United Nations-led negotiations, due to start Monday in Geneva. Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states support opposite sides in the Syria conflict and disagree on which Syrian groups should be eligible for the talks. Animosity over Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad has broadened in recent weeks after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric, prompting an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Saudi Arabia and some other Arab states then severed diplomatic relations with Iran and have launched campaigns accusing it of being behind numerous terrorist attacks around the world. The spat had led to fears that the Syrian political transition could be jeopardized, but each country has pledged that its rancor will not affect the negotiations. A senior State Department official said the U.S. backs its longtime partner Saudi Arabia in the feud but would like to see both Iran and Saudi Arabia put this episode behind them. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly to the delicate diplomacy, said there had been no signs yet that Saudi-Iran hostility was compromising the Syria peace effort. However, there are still serious disagreements over who can represent the opposition at the talks, which diplomats say are likely to be delayed for several days. Before leaving Switzerland, Kerry said the rivalry remained a concern. He added that despite the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. remained deeply troubled about destabilizing Iranian actions in the region. He said he would renew America's commitment to the security of its Arab friends in the Middle East while he was in Riyadh. "There is no sudden transformation in these other concerns," he said of Iran. "They exist and we will continue to be vigilant and engaged about them. And that is part of what I'm going to Saudi Arabia about: to make sure our friends see clearly how we will go forward on, together, to address those kinds of concerns." Kerry said he hoped Syria could become a focal point for improving relations, as all counties have an interest in defeating the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates like the al-Nusra Front. "There is something that does bring them closer in terms of Syria, and that is called Daesh," he said, using the Islamic State's Arabic acronym. "Both want to kill Daesh. They both want Daesh and Nusra terminated as threats." Kerry is in Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his latest round-the-world diplomatic mission, which will also take him to Laos, Cambodia and China. Servicemen draped flight gear on 12 white crosses Friday to commemorate the Marines who died when two helicopters crashed off the coast of Hawaii during a nighttime training mission. Military members and families gathered for a memorial service at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe after the status of the dozen missing Marines changed to deceased following five days of searching. Enlarged pictures of the men and the crosses were lined up on a tarmac where a helicopter was parked. Servicemen placed flight vests, rifles, flight helmets, combat boots and leis on each of the crosses. Families approached the displays to pay their respects. The commanding officer of the squadron, Lt. Col. Eric D. Purcell, thanked the Coast Guard for their efforts and said that some of the rescuers were at the service. "The sadness that this loss brings to their families and to this squadron is immeasurable," Purcell said. "They were in the prime of their life, full of joy and hope only to be taken from us in an instant." At the service, a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" and a Marine band played taps, while fellow Marines shared vignettes about the fallen service members. Capt. Brian Kennedy would make helicopter noises over the chopper radio, and Sgt. Dillon Semolina deployed to Australia and returned with an Australian wife. President Barack Obama said in a statement Friday that the country is grateful for the service and sacrifice of the 12 Marines. "The willingness of our troops to complete dangerous training to prepare for any mission our nation asks of them will not be forgotten," his statement said. The crews belonged to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The search for them began Jan. 14 when a witness on a beach reported seeing the helicopters flying and then a fireball. The Marines were alerted when the CH-53E helicopters each carrying six crew members failed to return to their base. Hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane spotted debris 2 1/2 miles off of Oahu. The search ended Tuesday after the around-the-clock, multiagency effort failed to locate any sign of the service members. The Marines were: Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas. Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia. Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis. Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama. Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24, Chaska, Minnesota. Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania. Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina. Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama. Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas. Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida. Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts. Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon. A gunman opened fire at a high school and a second location in an aboriginal community in northern Saskatchewan on Friday, leaving four dead and at least two injured, officials said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said from Davos, Switzerland that a suspect was in custody. Trudeau initially said five died, but police later corrected that to four. "This is every parent's worst nightmare," he said. "The community is reeling." "Our country's heart is breaking. We grieve with - and stand with - the people of La Loche today," he tweeted. Our country's heart is breaking. We grieve with - and stand with - the people of La Loche today. Full statement: https://t.co/tWQAaewlX1 Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 23, 2016 Kevin Janvier told The Associated Press that his 23-year old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. He said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings before killing his daughter. "He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school," he said. "I'm just so sad." Marie was Janvier's only child. He said he didn't know if the shooter knew his daughter. Trudeau said the shootings occurred at a high school and another location but did not release any information on the second location. School shootings are rare in Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Maureen Levy said the gunman was arrested outside the school but declined to release details about him. Levy said she wasn't sure how many suffered injuries. The prime minister earlier described two injuries as critical. "At the present time there are four individuals deceased," Levy said. Levy declined to release more details, saying the investigation is in its early stages. She declined to give the sex or ages of the deceased. A student who was just returning from lunch when shots were fired said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. "'Run, bro, run!" Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loche's junior and senior high school. "There's a shotgun! There's a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots, too, so of course I started running." The grade 7 through 12 La Loche Community School is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan. The school's Facebook page said it would remain on lockdown until the Royal Canadian Police resolve the matter. It asked the public to stay away. It was unclear how many died at the school. Police have yet to announce any details. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall earlier confirmed the shooting. "Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community," he said in a statement. Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all... Posted by Brad Wall on Friday, January 22, 2016 (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')); The area's representative in parliament, who attended the same school, was setting up a constituency office in the community when the shooting occurred. "We're fairly shaken up. It's a sad day," said Georgina Jolibois, who was mayor of La Loche until she was elected to parliament last fall. "My own nieces and nephews were inside the school." Jolibois said she went to the school and spoke with some of her family members, who were unharmed. She wouldn't reveal details of the shooting, saying she preferred that police release the information. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said it was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. "It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning," said Cameron, who attended graduations at the school for the past few years. "Right now we're just in a state of shock and disbelief." This weekend the forecast is for Netflix and chill. Literally. A serious blast of winter is here, ensuring many Americans will be staying in to avoid the cold. On the plus side, there's finally time to watch all those shows everyone has been chatting about online and at work. After this weekend spoiler alerts may be a thing of the past when it comes to addictive series such as "Making a Murder" or "Jessica Jones." It's also an opportunity to take in two of the contenders for the best picture Academy Award at this year's Oscars now "The Martian" and "Mad Max: Fury Road" are available to stream. So forget about the snow outside and get ready to binge. DOCUMENTARIES "Making a Murderer" Let's face it, if you have made it three weeks into 2016 without having discussed this Netflix docu-series, it's almost mandatory you avoid the inclement weather by watching it this weekend. After spending 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Steven Avery filed suit against Manitowoc County, Wis., and individuals involved with his arrest. Two years later Avery is back behind bars accused of the murder of Teresa Halbech, who was last seen on his property. Over 10 episodes directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos follow the case and keep you hooked through the verdict and beyond. [[366212371,C]] "Noma: My Perfect Storm" Available on Amazon Prime, this documentary movie looks into the world of genius chef Rene Redzepi, whose restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark has been named best in the world four times. Awaiting news of whether they have reclaimed the title once again, the camera explores the kitchen and meets the staff as they create extraordinary tastes and dishes. NOTE: Ensure fridge is well stocked ahead of snowstorm if you plan on viewing! [[366211931,C]] "Bolshoi Babylon" HBO takes you behind-the-scenes at Moscow's acclaimed Bolshoi Ballet as it's rocked by scandal when acid is thrown in the face of artistic director Sergei Filinby an unknown assailant. Highlighting the off-stage drama, the guilty party lurks within company ranks. [[366212231,C]] BEST PICTURE OSCAR CONTENDERS "The Martian" From legendary director Ridley Scott ("Alien," "Thelma and Louise," "Gladiator") comes a tale of human endurance and ingenuity when astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is stranded alone on the planet Mars when his crew leave without him in order to escape a severe storm. With no communication to Earth and little in the way of supplies, Watney must find ways to stay alive in the hope a rescue mission is on its way. Available at Amazon. [[306530121,C]] "Mad Max: Fury Road" Director George Miller returns to the post-apocalyptic world he created over 30 years ago, only this time Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy and Nicholas Hoult are along for the death-defying rides. A true blockbuster, this rousing action flick is B-movie perfection thanks to sumptuous production details and eyebrow-raising car stunts. [[285536891,C]] SERIES "Jessica Jones" Krysten Ritter ("The Blacklist") and David Tennant ("Doctor Who") star in this 13-episode Netflix series about a former super hero who becomes a private investigator, using her powers to track down her tormentor. From the Marvel canon, "Jones" explores the darker side of being a superhero in the modern world. [[366215811,C]] "Mozart in the Jungle" Fresh off a win for Gael Garcia Bernal at this year's Golden Globe Awards, this comedy from Amazon follows maestro Rodrigo (Bernal) as he navigates life at his new job at the New York Symphony, where oboist Hailey (Lola Kirke) is working hard to make it to the top. [[366223671,C]] "The X-Files" With FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Andersen) returning in a new 6-episode series next week on Fox, draw the curtains on the snow outside and settle in for some creepy and thought-provoking fun from one of the longest running sci-fi series in network television history. Granted, nobody wants the bad weather to keep you inside long enough to devour the 202 episodes of the original series (1993-2002) available on Hulu, but if you stick to the early seasons you can't go wrong with almost any adventure into the unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. [[366222551,C]] "Narcos" Netflix takes on Columbia's Medellin drug cartel over 10 episodes. Told from the points of view of Escobar (Wagner Moura) and a U.S. DEA Agent (Boyd Holbrook), this action-drama follows the drug battle from early days through to the global war on drugs. [[366217171,C]] "The UCB Show" Amy Poehler co-hosts this new sketch show on Seeso, NBCUniversal's new comedy subscription platform. Along with Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Matt Besser, Poehler introduces the best character work and stand-up from the Upright Citizen Brigade's shows in Los Angeles. Five episodes so far. [[366218841,C]] "House of Cards" If the wackiness of the current race for the White House has you hooked and you aren't familiar with the Machiavellian machinations of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his equally power-hungry wife Claire (Robin Wright) yet, grab a ballot and be prepared to vote for one of Netflix's most-acclaimed dramas. And with season four arriving on March 4, you've got plenty of time to get through all 36 episodes. [[366222371,C]] It's been more than two years since "X-Files" stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny materialized at New York Comic Con and ignited an eruption of cheers that still echo, at least in memory. The decibel level only grew when Duchovny declared that he and Anderson would "love to" return their roles as FBI paranormal investigators Mulder and Scully. Sure, he could have been pandering to the audience, packed largely with fans too young to remember the debut of "The X-Files" two decades earlier. But he proved as serious as an appearance by the Cigarette Smoking Man: The show returns for a six-episode run beginning Sunday. Like the truth, "The X-Files" is still out there, even if the real world has become a scarier place than even show creator Chris Carter could have imagined in 1993. It's up to Mulder and Scully, 14 years after the final TV installment and eight years after the last movie, to make us believers again. The show's debut all those years ago didn't immediately spark the roar of the crowd. But "The X-Files" soon gained a following, similar to that of its early 1990s predecessor "Twin Peaks" another spooky mystery show that briefly made weird cool on network TV. "The X-Files" emerged as far more durable, thanks largely to the interplay between believer Mulder and skeptic Scully, with Monsters of the Week, dark humor and sexual tension helping keep things fresh for much of the nine-season run. Still, no one can say Fox yanked the show before its time, as was the case with "Star Trek," the first in a line of canceled programs to transcend cult status and slowly earn an elevated spot in the popular culture, buoyed by diehards and fresh generations of fans. The screams of young wannabe Mulders and Scullys at that 2013 Comic Con spoke to the power of streaming, which helped gain "The X-Files"as well as "Arrested Development" and "Twin Peaks"new acolytes and new life. As evidenced by the recent triumphant return of "Star Wars," following three disappointing prequels, striking a winning balance between the old and new amid expectations that grow with time is no easy task. It's a particularly tough challenge for a show like "The X-Files," whose comfort zone rests in making the audience uncomfortable. Anderson and Duchovny felt the brunt of fan disillusionment in the 2008 movie, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." But TV is their home. The six new episodes promise a storyline, along with some new monsters and a flying saucer crash straight out of Roswell. Perhaps we'll learn a few thingslike more about that semi-secret son of Mulder and Scully's, and how the Cigarette Smoking Man escaped apparent deathas the duo try to save the world from forces, seen and otherwise. "X," of course, stands for the unknown - the biggest of which is whether Duchovny and Anderson can live up to the rock star reception that greeted the first hint of their latest return. Check out a preview (above) as Mulder and Scully head back out there in search of renewed success as much as the truth. Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter. For the passengers on a cruise ship heading back to snowy Baltimore from the Bahamas, one more day at sea doesn't sound like such a bad idea. The Maryland Department of Transportation said Friday that a blizzard means the port won't be ready for the Royal Caribbean International's Grandeur of the Seas until Monday. The ship was to return Sunday from an eight-day trip to the Bahamas, said Cynthia Martinez, a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman. But plans changed after forecasters said the storm could dump more than 2 feet of snow. Meg Ryan of Hamilton, New Jersey, one of the cruise ship's passengers, said she learned about 1 p.m. Friday of the postponement from the cruise line's website. "I was not totally surprised and, frankly, happy to be delayed," Ryan wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "First, it is an extra day of vacation, but more importantly, safety comes first and travel Sunday would be difficult, if not impossible." Ryan, 51, is an assistant manager of a luggage store in New Jersey. She is also a Master Cruise Counsellor, a certification from the trade organization Cruise Lines International Association. She works with a company called eCruisenet, which provides consulting services to passengers planning trips. Ryan said she was traveling with a group of eCruisenet clients. Ryan said she expected the cruise line will have activities to entertain passengers, and the shops and casino will be open, "ready to separate guests from their money." On the downside, Ryan said passengers were trying to rebook transportation from Baltimore to their homes. Also, the Grandeur of the Seas was to begin another cruise Sunday to the western Caribbean, so a fresh set of passengers will grapple with a delay. Ryan said the cruise line was helping passengers returning to Baltimore with free calls and Internet access; she took a photo of a line of people waiting to make calls. Still, an on-board indoor solarium and pool presented an idyllic contrast to what awaited Ryan at home. "I will return to Hamilton (near Trenton), N.J., to 2 feet of snow, and probably an irate cat, who I am sure will not be happy that I am delayed," she wrote. A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the East Coast to a standstill Saturday, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and shutting down the nation's capital and its largest city. After days of weather warnings, most of the 80 million people in the storm's path heeded requests to stay home and off the roads, which were largely deserted. Yet at least 18 deaths were blamed on the weather, resulting from car crashes, shoveling snow and hypothermia. And more snow was to come, with dangerous conditions expected to persist until early Sunday, forecasters warned. "This is going to be one of those generational events, where your parents talk about how bad it was," Ryan Maue, a meteorologist for WeatherBell Analytics, said from Tallahassee, Florida, which also saw some flakes. The system was mammoth, dropping snow from the Gulf Coast to New England. By afternoon, areas near Washington had topped 30 inches. The heaviest unofficial report was in a rural area of West Virginia, not far from Harpers Ferry, with 40 inches. As the storm picked up, forecasters increased their snow predictions for New York and points north and warned areas nearly as far north as Boston to expect heavy snow. "This is kind of a Top 10 snowstorm," said weather service winter storm expert Paul Kocin, who co-wrote a two-volume textbook on blizzards. It was Top 2 in New York, with 26.8 inches of snow falling in Central Park by midnight, narrowly missing the record-setting 26.9 inches set in February 2006. Three people died while shoveling snow in Queens and Staten Island. The normally bustling streets around Rockefeller Center, Penn Station and other landmarks were mostly empty. Those who did venture out walked down the middle of snow-covered streets to avoid even deeper drifts on the sidewalks. With Broadway shows dark, thin crowds shuffled through a different kind of Great White Way in Times Square. Officials imposed a travel ban in the city, ordering all nonemergency vehicles off the roads. Commuter rails and above-ground segments of the nation's biggest subway system shut down, too, along with buses. Without a bus, home health aide Elijah Scarboro couldn't get to his next client, an 89-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease. "I wish I could get there, but I can't," Scarboro said, hoping the man would be safe at home with his wife. As recently as Friday night, New York officials had expected the storm to top out at 18 inches. But that prediction jumped to 28 inches by Saturday evening. The scenario was much the opposite of what unfolded a year ago, when a storm carrying predictions for 18 to 24 inches of snow prompted officials to shut down the subway system completely, but far less than a foot ultimately fell. In Washington, monuments that would typically be busy with tourists stood vacant. All mass transit in the capital was to be shut down through Sunday. Throughout the region, drivers skidded off snowy, icy roads in accidents that killed several people as the storm raged Friday and Saturday. Those killed included a 4-year-old boy in North Carolina; a Kentucky transportation worker who was plowing highways; and a woman whose car plunged down a 300-foot embankment in Tennessee. An Ohio teenager sledding behind an all-terrain vehicle was hit by a truck and killed, and two people died of hypothermia in southwest Virginia. In North Carolina, a man whose car had veered off an icy-covered road was arrested on charges of killing a motorist who stopped to help. In Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, drivers were marooned for hours in snow-choked highways. The Temple University women's gymnastics team, the Duquesne University's men's basketball team and a church group from Indiana were among travelers who got stuck when the Pennsylvania Turnpike turned into a snowy parking lot. Father Shaun Whittington said he and his nearly 100 parishioners, mostly teenagers, got stranded on their way home Friday evening from the March for Life in Washington. They had enough gas to keep the buses running and enough DVDs to keep the kids entertained until nearly noon Saturday, when plows finally arrived, Whittington said. "We're on a pilgrimage," he said. "There's going to be suffering with that." Roofs collapsed on a historic theater in Virginia and a horse barn in Maryland, while seaside towns in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland grappled with flooding. The snow was whipped into a maelstrom by winds that reached 75 mph at Dewey Beach, Delaware, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, the weather service said. From Virginia to New York, sustained winds topped 30 mph and gusted to around 50 mph. And if that weren't enough, the storm also had bursts of thunder and lightning. Airlines canceled nearly 7,000 weekend flights and started to cut Monday service. Stranded travelers included Defense Secretary Ash Carter, whose high-tech aircraft, the Doomsday Plane, couldn't land at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland after returning from Europe. Carter was rerouted to Tampa, Florida. The storm also knocked out electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. Parents in the Lewisville Independent School District have been notified of a serious health concern Friday evening. In a letter sent to Hebron High School and Hebron 9th Grade Campus parents, the schools' principals said a student has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The message goes on to say the district is responding under the guidance of the Denton County Health Department. Health officials say there is only a slight chance of the student being contagious. The district says it takes the health of its students seriously, and school nurses will be watching for any signs or symptoms. See the message below, in its entirety: "Dear Hebron High School and Hebron 9th Grade Campus Parents, We want to inform you that one of our students has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) and HHS, HHS9 and Lewisville ISD (LISD) are responding under the guidance of the Denton County Health Department. It is important to note, medical officials have informed us there is a very low probability of this student being contagious. No other students or staff members have tested positive or have been diagnosed with active TB, but we wanted you to be aware of the situation. As with any health issue, our school nurses are aware of the symptoms and protocols related to TB. If you have any questions or concerns about TB, information can be found at the following websites: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/TB Denton County Health Department at www.dentoncounty.com/health/tb The safety and health of our students and staff remains our top priority. LISD will continue to partner with public health experts to monitor this situation, and will provide additional communication if indicated. Thank you for your continued support of our campuses and of LISD. Sincerely, Scot Finch and Amanda Werneke Principals, Hebron High School and Hebron 9th Grade Campus" At Dunn Elementary School in Arlington, there's no question who the top dogs are. "I mean, we have them in the yearbook," said Sarah Butts, a special education teacher at Dunn Elementary. "It's amazing." "Norah has a Facebook page," said Laura Gober, who also teaches special education at Dunn Elementary. "Denver doesn't have one yet." Norah is a Labrador-mix and Denver is a Golden Retriever who come to the school everyday, eager to learn and help two of their classmates. "She's just added such a layer of security for us, just knowing that she's keeping an eye on him," said Jill Sapp, whose son Andrew goes to Dunn Elementary. Sapp and her family got Norah almost two years ago, specifically to help with her son. Andrew has a form of autism that makes him prone to running away and Norah is specially trained to track him. "I actually had to do a live track with Norah at school last year," said Gober. "So I truly understand the relief." Andrew's teachers and classmates instantly fell in love with Norah when she started coming to school last year -- especially Nate, who is also a child with autism. "He really interacted well [with Norah]," said Nate's mother Carey Montgomery. "He was calm. So when I saw that, I said how do we do that? How do we get a dog?" After talking with Sapp, she found a local organization called "Made in Texas", which trains and matches service dogs to people with various conditions. One of their sponsors, Purebred Breeders, had just donated Denver to their cause -- and they thought he and the Montgomerys would be a perfect match. "The dog has to do things that their person can't do themselves," said Hailey Mauldin, who trained Denver. "When Nate gets overstimulated or worked up, he might hit himself in the head or do things that he can't stop himself from doing. So Denver is trained to come and nudge him and that helps Nate snap out of it." Denver became a part of the Montgomery family last fall. "I emailed the school and said 'how would you feel about having a second dog?,''" said Montgomery. "I think all that went through our minds was if it's in the best interest of the kid, bring it on," said Butts. Denver has only been attending school with Nate for two weeks. But already, his family and teachers see a big change. "It's already reduced his anxiety," said Butts. "He smiles. He's very assertive with the dog. And he speaks out clearly, which he didn't do before." Both Sapp and Montgomery say they're grateful that the school has been on board with them throughout this entire process. "There was never an issue at all," said Sapp. "They welcomed Norah and Denver with open arms. We're just really grateful because what they're looking out for is what's best for our children." And at this point, the school admits it wouldn't know how to get along without their most "paw-pular" students. "It's amazing," said Gober. "And it's overwhelming at times, emotionally, when you see how far Andrew has come and knowing what lies ahead for Nate." A 62-year-old Weatherford, Texas man was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to his 10th driving while intoxicated offense. District Judge Craig Towson told Ivy Ray Eberhardt he was "a second away from hurting someone really badly" as he announced the sentence, according to a news release issued by Parker County district attorneys. "Part of my job is to protect the citizens of Parker County," Towson told Eberhardt. "The only way that I can think of to do that from somebody that has 12 DWI arrests and 10 DWI convictions is to put you in a place that you cant drive for as long as I possibly can." On April 13, 2014, Weatherford police said they responded a call about a reckless driver on U.S. 180 and saw Eberhardt swerving and driving in the wrong lane. When police pulled Eberhardt over, they said he told the officer he had consumed most of a 750-ml bottle of whiskey that was found in his vehicle. Assistant District Attorney Jeff Swain said Eberhardt's case is only now concluded because they had to wait for him to finish his sentence for a similar case in Colorado. "Eberhardt cut off his electronic monitor, skipped bond and fled to Colorado where he was arrested for yet another DWI offense," Swain said. Court records indicated that Eberhardt was convicted of four DWI offenses in Travis and Tarrant counties in the 1980s and 1990s. He also spent time in prison for DWI offenses in Parker, Tarrant and Runnels counties. He was also convicted of DWI offenses in Colorado in 2010 and 2015. Swain said Eberhardt will be eligible for parole after 15 years of his sentence, but he can receive good conduct credit toward reaching that number. In a statement released Thursday, Jason Derscheid, North Texas executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said: "In 2014, more than 1,400 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in the state of Texas. It only takes drinking and driving one time to kill yourself, or kill someone else. Convicted drunk driving offenders must be held accountable after the first offense. One DUI conviction is absolutely unacceptable, ten convicted DUIs is egregious." A cold snap is apparently giving humans an early edge in a state-sanctioned public hunt for elusive Burmese pythons in Florida's Everglades. A tally posted Friday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows 39 of the snakes have been caught in the first week of this year's "Python Challenge.'' The first monthlong python hunt on state lands in 2013 netted just 68 of the snakes. The beginning of this year's hunt coincided with a dip in temperatures. Chilly weather can drive the tan, splotchy snakes from the wetlands where they're extremely hard to spot into the open as they seek warmth. Commission spokeswoman Carli Segelson says cool, sunny weather is good for hunting pythons because they're more likely to be found sunning themselves on levies or roads. A fearsome blizzard that dumped more than 26 inches of snow on Central Park and much of the tri-state region Saturday brought trains, planes and automobiles to a standstill and threatened to become a record-breaking winter storm. Approximately 26.8 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park by 12:15 a.m. Sunday the second largest snowfall since records were kept in 1869. The amount is .1 inches away from breaking the all-time record of 26.9 inches set in Feb. 2006. The unrelenting snowfall claimed the lives of five men, who died from the exertion of shoveling snow, according to police. All streets in New York City and Long Island were closed to traffic from 2:30 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday under an order issued by Gov. Cuomo. Rail lines were also affected. Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road came to a halt just after 4 p.m., and New Jersey Transit was closed. Above-ground subway lines in New York City also stopped running at 4 p.m. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey closed the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. The bridges and tunnels will reopen at 7 a.m. Sunday. City buses are expected to be back on the streets when the traffic ban is lifted, officials said. To enforce the traffic ban, the NYPD set up checkpoints at various locations in the city. "If you are on the road and you don't need to be there, you are subject to arrest," said NYPD Chief of Department James P. O'Neill. "It's not what we want to do, but if we have to do it, we will." Prior to the ban, city police responded to 312 accidents, O'Neill said. Officers assisted 343 motorists, he said. The NYPD also warned pedestrians to walk on sidewalks, not in the streets, despite the traffic ban. Two men, ages 78 and 80, in Queens and a 67-year-old man on Staten Island died while shoveling snow, police said. Two died on Long Island: a 61-year-old West Hempstead man and a 94-year-old Smithtown man. Mayor de Blasio appealed to residents to remain in their homes, if possible, and noted that the storm would likely rank among the top five snowfalls in city history. "This is a storm that's packing a lot of punch," he said during a late afternoon news conference. YOUR #NBC4NY PHOTOS: Snowstorm Hits Tri-State LaGuardia Airport had more than 24.5 inches by Saturday night. and Newark airport had more than 21 inches. The storm had dumped 27.7 inches of snow on JFK International Airport by Saturday night. The area's three major airports canceled 2,021 flights, according to Flight Aware. Gov. Cuomo had declared a state of emergency. About 600 members of the National Guard were on standby. All Broadway shows, both matinees and evening performances, were canceled Saturday, The Broadway League announced. The New York Islanders postponed its game at Barclays Center and Bruce Springsteen postponed a performance scheduled for Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Areas in Westchester and northern New Jersey were pounded with 15 to 22 inches of snow, Storm Team 4 said. Elizabeth, New Jersey, had nearly 28 inches by Saturday night. Heavy snow caused the roof of a Trader Joe's grocery store in Westfield, New Jersey, to collapse. No injuries were reported. The storm had covered Westfield with 22 inches by Saturday night. By Saturday night, parts of Long Island were buried in snow. Hicksville had 27 inches of snow, Commack had 26.6 inches and Islip had more than 23 inches. Roads were treacherous as damaging winds combined with heavy snowfall to create limited visibility in New Jersey. Hoboken and Newark declared a state of emergency and banned driving except for public safety and essential services. New Jersey State Police had responded to 222 traffic accidents as of 1 p.m., the agency said. Troopers also had aided 868 motorists. Residents of the Jersey Shore and parts of Long Island worried that a dangerous cocktail of snow, astronomical high tides and a wind-swept storm surge could cause significant coastal flooding and beach erosion. Utility workers restored power to more than 22,000 customers whose service was knocked out by the snowstorm in New York City and Long Island. Nearly 870 customers on Long Island were still reporting outages Saturday evening, a PSEG official said. Download the NBC 4 app to track the storm and get weather alerts Here's a breakdown of current conditions: MASS TRANSIT Upload your storm photos on our NBC 4 app or at this link for a chance to be featured on air SCHOOLS Check all school closings and delays here. All New York City public school events are canceled Saturday and Sunday. Other after-school and weekend programs at districts around the region have been canceled. Check with your district for the latest announcements. SATs have been postponed at some test centers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. AIR TRAVEL All flights have been canceled or suspended at Newark-Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport. Several airlines have waived flight change fees . United, Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue and others allowed passengers to switch their flight for free ahead of the storm. . United, Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue and others allowed passengers to switch their flight for free ahead of the storm. Hundreds of cancellations and delays have racked up at the region's three airports. ROADS Roads are treacherous. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tells NBC 4 New York that it's imperative that people stay off the roads. "If you go out in your car today chances are you're going to get into trouble," he said. On the FDR drive, drivers experienced visibility so low that they couldn't see the East River. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tells NBC 4 New York that it's imperative that people stay off the roads. "If you go out in your car today chances are you're going to get into trouble," he said. On the FDR drive, drivers experienced visibility so low that they couldn't see the East River. Vehicular travel was banned as of 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New York City, on Long Island and at crossings including the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. as of 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New York City, on Long Island and at crossings including the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. Plows are out. Kathryn Garcia, New York City's sanitation commissioner, tells NBC 4 New York that plows have been out since 5 a.m. Saturday, and there were 15,000 tons of salt on hand, but with up to 3 inches of snow falling per hour it will be difficult to clear streets. Check here to see when a location was plowed. Kathryn Garcia, New York City's sanitation commissioner, tells NBC 4 New York that plows have been out since 5 a.m. Saturday, and there were 15,000 tons of salt on hand, but with up to 3 inches of snow falling per hour it will be difficult to clear streets. In New York City , alternate side parking is suspended Saturday, Jan. 23. Mayor de Blasio said he expects additional suspensions early next week as well. , alternate side parking is Mayor de Blasio said he expects additional suspensions early next week as well. In Hoboken, a travel ban is in effect. A list of emergency snow routes is available at hobokennj.org/snow. The city is providing reduced rates at municipal garages for residents. a travel ban is in effect. A list of emergency snow routes is available at hobokennj.org/snow. The city is providing reduced rates at municipal garages for residents. In Newark , all cars are required to stay off city streets until 6 a.m. Sunday. , all cars are required to stay off city streets until 6 a.m. Sunday. Barnegat, New Jersey, has issued mandatory evacuations for homes near Bayshore Drive. Voluntary evacuations have been suggested elsewhere as well. Voluntary evacuations have been suggested elsewhere as well. Brick, Manasquan, Toms River, Union Beach and Tuckerton Beach, New Jersey, have issued voluntary evacuations. New Jersey, have issued voluntary evacuations. The NYPD reported 300 vehicles towed and 200 accidents as of 2:30 p.m. reported 300 vehicles towed and 200 accidents as of 2:30 p.m. New Jersey State Police reported 222 crashes and 868 vehicles requiring assistance as of 1 p.m. OTHER CHANGES Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reportedly told advisers to work on plans for a potential independent campaign for president in this year's race, sources confirmed to NBC News. The New York Times first reported the news Saturday, citing unnamed sources briefed on his deliberations, that the 73-year-old media mogul has indicated to friends and allies that he would be willing to spend $1 billion of his vast fortune on a White House bid. According to the source, Bloomberg has set a March deadline the latest point at which he could qualify as an independent candidate on the ballot in all 50 states and his decision will likely be contingent on the results of early primaries. Sources close to Bloomberg tell NBC News that the former mayor is more likely to run if the nominees were Donald Trump or Ted Cruz on the Republican ticket and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. Rumors of Bloomberg's presidential aspirations have been swirling since 2007 when the then-NYC mayor left the Republican party and registering as an Independent. The billionaire and former CEO of his financial services company was a life-long Democrat before switching to the GOP for his first mayoral run. Bloomberg flirting with a presidential run in the past as a third-party candidate. Several doctors have contacted the Los Angeles County Public Health Department asking for blood tests for patients exhibiting symptoms of the Zika virus, the department said Friday. A pregnant woman was among those patients. The testing will be performed by the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, which so far has confirmed 12 cases nationwide. California at this point is not among the handful of states that have the materials to perform the test to identify the virus, which was unseen in the United States until recently. Outbreaks of the mosquito-borned virus have been reported in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and Central and South America. Health officials are investigating a link between infections and subsequent birth defects, and the CDC Friday added more nations and territories to its warning for travel that already includes much of the Caribbean and Latin America, including Mexico. The warning applies to two U.S. territories, Puerto Rico and Samoa. The travel warning also extends to Brazil, which will host the Olympic Games this summer in Rio de Janeiro. The CDC advises those who must travel to the locations to cover exposed skin with long sleeves and pants, and to use mosquito repellant. The warning is intended especially for expectant mothers, as there are indictions the virus can pass throught the placenta to infect the fetus. Evidence indicates a link to microcephaly, a condition in which the brain and skull do not develop to full size. A baby born in Hawaii with microcephaly tested positive for Zika. The CDC is recommending consideration of ultrasound examination of pregnant women who suspect they may have been exposed to the virus. Symptoms in adults are described as cold or flu-like and are usually mild. Four of out of five adults who become infected with Zika do not develop noticeable symptoms. None of the possible southern California cases has been confirmed. Some five thousand physicians in Los Angeles case have already been contacted by Public Health as part of ithe Zika surveillance program being established, said Ben Schwartz, MD, deputy director for the acute communicable diseases control program. Zika is now considered "officially reportable as an unusual disease," Dr. Schwartz stated. Originally a strictly tropical disease, Zika is carried by mosquitos only of the genus Aedes. There is a known Aedes population in Los Angeles County, but no evidence any have been infected with Zika, Dr. Schwartz said. Returning travelers suspected of being infected with Zika are asked to stay indoors to reduce risk of being bitten by a mosquito, which could in turn be infected and become a carrier. With just months until the state's assisted suicide law goes into effect, the California Medical Association has issued guidelines to doctors on writing prescriptions of lethal doses of medication for terminally ill patients. The 15-page guide released Tuesday outlines the complicated legal and medical steps that physicians must take before they can authorize drugs to hasten a patient's death, the Los Angeles Times reported. It also helps physicians understand their legal rights to participate or not participate based on their own moral or religious values. "We are starting to get a lot of questions both from our members, the individual physicians, but also the public," said Francisco Silva, general counsel of the medical association. "They are trying to understand how the act is going to work." Citing the law, the medical association says patients who are at least 18 years old with the capacity to make medical decisions may request an aid-in-dying drug as long as their attending physician and a consulting physician have diagnosed a terminal disease that is expected to result in death within six months. The patient is required to make two verbal requests at least 15 days apart and one written request that is signed, dated and witnessed by two adults, as well as provide proof of California residency. The state request form is titled "Request for an Aid-in-Dying Drug to End My Life in a Humane and Dignified Manner." Physicians must inform the patient that he or she may rescind the request for an aid-in-dying drug at any time and in any manner. The guide says doctors can list the cause of death "that they feel is the most accurate" including the underlying terminal illness, or just write "pursuant to the End of Life Options Act." The law was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in October, but it does not take effect until 90 days after the end of a special legislative session on health care. That date has not yet been set, but the session must adjourn before November. A Carlsbad mother sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for killing her husband has been ordered to pay restitution to cover her husbands burial and counseling for the couples three children. Last week, Julie Harper, 42, learned her fate for the murder of her husband, Jason Harper, at her lengthy sentencing hearing where she tearfully addressed the court for nearly 40 minutes. On Friday, Superior Court of San Diego County Judge Blaine Bowman held a restitution hearing for Julie in which he ordered her to pay $10,000 in restitution to the State Victims of Crime Government Claims Board. Tanya Sierra, a public affair officer for the San Diego County District Attorneys Office, told NBC 7 that restitution money will cover funeral and burial expenses for Jason, as well as counseling for the couples three children, 12-year-old Jake, 10-year-old Jackie and five-year-old Josh. The children were in the familys North County home watching cartoons in another room on Aug. 7, 2012, when Julie shot and killed Jason inside the couples bedroom. At the time of their fathers murder, the kids were ages eight, six and one. At her sentencing last week, Julie spoke about her kids, sometimes sobbing before the court and Judge Bowman. My children, my darling Jack, Jaqueline and Josh, Mommy wants to apologize to you for everything youve been through. I was trying to spare you suffering from the beginning, Julie said. Jasons mother, Lina Harper, also addressed the court at Julies sentencing. Despite Julies emotional statements, Lina said the Harper children want nothing to do with Julie and just want to forget about her and the heartache shes caused their family. They dont want anything that reminds them of her, said Lina, who has custody of the children along with her husband, Homer Harper. The grandmother talked about how the children fear Julie and how they sometimes wake from nightmares that include Julie abducting them. She said the kids are sometimes on edge, alarmed by strange noises. Lina said Jason deeply loved his children. They also adored him, Lina said, and the kids miss their father every day. Julie Harper is a selfish, arrogant and vile person. She threw away her children and made them orphans when she murdered their dad. She ended the life of a very good man, said Lina, asking Judge Bowman to impose the maximum sentence for Julie. More than three years after Jasons slaying, Lina said the Harper children are resilient, happy kids, who are doing well in school, sports and other activities. Gut-wrenching impact statements were also read by the prosecutor, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Ken Watanabe, at Julies Jan. 15 sentencing, including statements from the couples two eldest children, Jake and Jackie. The statements from both children expressed anger towards Julie and extreme grief over the killing of their father. Julie Harper has caused much pain and misery to all the members of the Harper family. She murdered with no sense of consequence, leaving me and my siblings parentless, Jakes statement said, in part. The suffering and pain we have endured, that she caused, should be answered with justice. The letter from Jackie talked about how the young girl refuses to refer to Julie as her mother. I no longer have a mother because she was so selfish and self-centered. Because you killed our dad, you are no longer Mom. You are Julie. I will never call you Mom again for what you did, Jackies statement read. We will never feel the same, or be the same, because you killed our father. You made my brothers and me orphans, the girls statement continued. My brothers and I loved our dad so much, and you stole that from us. We were never able to say goodbye to him. You made sure of that. As Watanabe read the children's statements, Julie stared blankly. At one point, a tear ran down her face as she struggled to remain composed. Julie admitted to fatally shooting Jason in their North County home, but claims she did it in self-defense, alleging she feared Jason would kill or rape her. Julie's first trial was in the fall of 2014, and at that trial, she was acquitted on first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors sought to retry her on second-degree murder charges, and her retrial began Sept. 14, 2015. Following the retrial, a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder on Oct. 8, 2015. Julie's retrial last year included dramatic, emotional testimony from Jason's family members and the couple's children. Julie also took the stand for three days, recounting graphic details of her relationship with Jason and the chilling moment she pulled the trigger and killed him. Despite her claim that she killed Jason in self-defense, Judge Bowman said Julies story lacked credibility and called her statements on the stand untrustworthy, particularly how she claimed she buried the murder weapon to preserve evidence for trial. And, while Harper asked Judge Bowman to not give her a death in prison sentence, the judge told Julie any sentence she received would be better than her husband's fate. You have to understand that your husband got a death sentence. Your husband is never coming back. Jason cant be brought back, Judge Bowman said. Tragically, your selfish actions have left your children without a mother, without a father. Several horses were trapped after a barn in Montgomery County, Maryland, partially collapsed Saturday afternoon. Pete Piringer, a spokesman with the Montgomery County Fire and RescueService, said the steel and aluminum structure pinned three horses under debris. The barn is located in the 15000 block of Sugarland Road, in Poolesville, Maryland. Snow drifts and weather conditions hampered rescue efforts and the removal of the animals. A tractor and a plow were needed to create a path to the partially collapsed structure. Piringer did not release any information about the condition of the animals. He said no people were injured. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is no longer being updated. Please go here for the latest updates. Intense snow and wind is expected to continue through Saturday evening as the storm brings more moisture to the area. As a result, runways at D.C.'s Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport are expected to remain closed through Sunday. Areas to the north and west of Washington could see an additional seven to 10 inches, while the D.C. metro area may get another four to six inches. All this is on top of what has already fallen since Friday afternoon. Seven locations near Washington have unofficially passed the 30 inches of snow mark, as of 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service's running totals. And 36 places recorded at least two feet of snow. A trained weather spotter reported 33 inches in Berkeley County, West Virginia. A National Weather Service employee in Frederick, Maryland, and trained spotters in Loudoun County, Virginia, and Jefferson County, West Virginia, all recorded 31 inches of snow. Stay with Storm Team4 throughout the day on our News4 app or the weather section of nbcwashington.com to stay informed about the dangerous conditions for people in the area. One person has already died, and his death is being attributed to the weather. A Fort Washington resident died Saturday while shoveling snow, Prince George's County fire department spokesman Mark Brady said. Brady said the death happened moments after the department published a warning about the dangers of shoveling snow on Twitter. No other storm-related deaths have been reported in the region at this time. Residents are still encouraged to stay off the streets as the second half of the storm moves through the area. Up to 16 inches of snow have fallen in Washington already, and another 10 inches are possible. Storm Team4 say the heavy snow will continue to fall through 9 p.m. Saturday. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said during a press briefing Saturday morning that people should not be driving or walking in the streets, adding, "Please stay home.'' Bowser said the visibility is poor and people walking in the streets are not easily seen. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says even people with four-wheel drive vehicles are getting stuck. The heavy snow and strong winds are also affecting travel at area airports. Over 200 flights departing from Baltimore Washington International Airport have been canceled, according to flightaware.com. Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport are reporting 194 and 188 canceled flights, respectively. In total, airlines have now cancelled 8,323 flights for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, according to FlightAware.com. Nearly 1,600 people in Montgomery County, Maryland, are without power, according to Pepco. No other major power outages have been reported in the the D.C. area as of noon Saturday. But with wind gusts of over 40 mph possible, that could change. The storm began quietly, with the first flakes arriving around noon in Manassas and Gainesville, Virginia. By 7 p.m., some areas had already gotten upwards of 5 inches, and it's only going to pick up from there. A blizzard warning for the D.C. area is in effect. Anne Arundel, Calvert and St. Mary's counties, where a high wind warning is in effect, could be slammed by gusts of 65 mph. Storm Team4 said projected snowfall totals could make this the highest snowfall in D.C. history. Some parts of D.C., Maryland and Virginia could even get as much as 3 feet of snow, which would exceed the deadly 1922 Knickerbocker blizzard, during which 28 inches fell and the weight of the snow collapsed an Adams Morgan movie theater, killing 98 people inside. As the storm approached, officials strongly cautioned residents to be home by 3 p.m. and prepared with 72 hours of supplies -- and to stay indoors and off the roads. The heavy snow and winds may tear down power lines, force road closures and topple trees. Officials warned D.C. residents who use Pepco that they could face outages that last for days. Residents around the region shared images of bare grocery store shelves and gas stations that have run out of fuel during a mad dash to prepare before the storm. The National Guard deployed 100 personnel in 30 Humvees to transport essential employees throughout the city. D.C.'s emergency command center went live at 6 am. Friday and will stay live through the aftermath of the storm, likely early next week. The blizzard warning won't expire for our area until Sunday at 6 a.m. However, even after the snow stops falling, it will likely take awhile for the region to dig out. Public Transportation Shut Down Metro announced that its entire system will close for the weekend, with Metrorail service ending at 11 p.m. Friday. Metrobus service shut down at 5 p.m. Friday, and MetroAccess service ended at 6 p.m. One woman scrambled to beat the end of Metrobus service, afraid she wouldn't make it from Rockville to Wheaton. "I'm just hoping and praying I can make it," she said before ultimately catching the last Metrobus to Silver Spring. But another rider, Ben, wasn't so lucky. He works as a care provider at a Rockville nursing home. His shift will end after Metrorail ends at 11 p.m., which means he may have to spend the night at work -- and maybe more than one night. "Yeah, I'm prepared," he said. County bus services are also closed. Arlington County's ART bus ended service at 1:30 p.m. Friday and will stay closed through the weekend. In Prince George's County, TheBus service has been suspended. Montgomery County's Ride On bus service ended at 7 p.m. Friday and will stay closed through the weekend. States of Emergency Declared D.C., Maryland and Virginia leaders have all declared states of emergency, and a snow emergency is also in effect in the District. A snow emergency allows transportation workers to clear snow emergency routes curb to curb. Violators face a $250 ticket, a $100 tow and a $25-per-day fee until they pick up their vehicles. By Friday afternoon, the District had already issued more than 2,700 tickets and towed 187 vehicles. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth Thursday morning. The declaration authorizes state agencies to assist local governments in response to the storm. McAuliffe said residents should be prepared for travel disruptions and possible power outages. "All Virginians should take the threat of this storm seriously and take necessary precautions now," McAuliffe said Thursday. Maryland's state of emergency began at 7 a.m. Friday. The Maryland National Guard will be on standby, Gov. Larry Hogan said. A snow emergency for the entire state began at noon Friday. A "general emergency" has been declared for Montgomery County, where county facilities will be closed until midnight Sunday. Arlington County facilities also closed at noon and will remain closed Saturday. To help firefighters, you should clear snow about 3 feet around your nearest fire hydrant. Historic Amounts of Snowfall Possible Storm Team4 is expecting 20 to 30 inches of snow during this storm -- and that range would put this storm firmly in the top five biggest snowfalls of all time for the region, possibly making it all the way to first place. Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said he's confident in the 20- to 30-inch forecast, but said he wouldn't be surprised if some spots got a whopping 3 feet. For reference, the December 2009 and February 2010 snowstorms, popularly called "Snowpocalypse" and "Snowmageddon," clocked in at 16.4 inches and 17.8 inches, respectively. If we get 24 inches of snow, this storm would be the second-biggest snowstorm of all time, coming in only after 1922's devastating Knickerbocker Blizzard. If we get "just" 18 inches of snow, this storm would unseat the infamous February 2010 snowstorm from its 4th-place spot. In other words, it's highly likely that this snowstorm will be one we'll be talking about for a long time. Help for Those Needing Shelter Be on the lookout for homeless people, who could get hypothermia during this cold spell. If you see someone in the D.C. area who needs shelter or warmer clothing, call the following numbers: The District: 202-399-7093 or 311 if calling within the city Arlington County: 703-228-1010 (24 hours) Fairfax County: 703-691-2131 (police non-emergency line) Montgomery County: 311 if calling within the county Prince George's County: 888-731-0999 [[366200041, C]] Officials in North Korea and the U.S. released little information Friday about a university student from Ohio who was detained for what the authoritarian nation called a "hostile act." Otto Warmbier is the second person from southwest Ohio to be detained in North Korea in less than two years. A Dayton-area man, Jeffrey Fowle, was held for nearly six months in 2014. North Korea's state media said the University of Virginia student entered the country under the guise of a tourist and plotted against North Korean unity with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation." The date of his arrest was unclear, as were any details of what he did. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, campaigning in New Hampshire as a Republican presidential candidate, called the arrest "inexcusable." His Columbus office released a letter he sent to President Barack Obama, urging his Democratic administration to "make every effort to secure Mr. Warmbier's immediate release and keep (his) family constantly apprised." Kasich said North Korea should either provide evidence of the alleged anti-state activities or release Warmbier. North Koreas arrest of an Ohio college student is inexcusable & he should be released & returned immediately. https://t.co/nfvkCwT4iB John Kasich (@JohnKasich) January 22, 2016 The U.S. Department of State said it was "aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea." A China-based tour company specializing in travel to North Korea, Young Pioneer Tours, confirmed that one of its customers, identified only as Otto, had been detained in Pyongyang, the North's capital, but provided no other details. Social media accounts for Warmbier show interests in finance, travel and rap music. Warmbier is majoring in economics with a minor in global sustainability and was on the dean's list. A professor at the university's school of commerce, Jeremy Marcel, called Warmbier "a very intelligent, wonderful young man." A Theta Chi fraternity brother, Miles Kirwin, added, "He's an incredible guy." An attorney who represented Fowle in 2014 advised caution for those involved with the student. Attorney Timothy Tepe, of Lebanon, said North Korean authorities monitor reports and comments about detainees. Fowle said on Friday he was "surprised and disheartened" to learn of Warmbier's detainment. He said he was considering reaching out to Warmbier's relatives. He said he'd want them to know he was treated "reasonably well" while detained, was kept in decent quarters and had three meals a day. "So physically, it should be all right," Fowle said. "It's just emotional and mental stress that everybody's going through is the big thing to worry about." Fowle, of Miamisburg, said in 2014 he had left a Bible in a North Korean nightclub in hopes it would reach underground Christians. Back home, the married father of three said he's doing well now. North Korea's announcement Friday comes amid a diplomatic push by Washington, Seoul and their allies to slap Pyongyang with tough sanctions for a recent nuclear test. North Korea has occasionally announced the arrests of foreign detainees in times of tension with the outside world in an apparent attempt to wrest concessions or diplomatic maneuvering room. North Korea also regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to control the Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. A few thousand Westerners visit North Korea each year, and Pyongyang is pushing for more tourists as a way to help its dismal economy. The U.S. Department of State has warned against travel to the North, however, and visitors, especially those from America, who break the country's sometimes murky rules risk detention, arrest and possible jail sentences. North Korea has previously released or deported U.S. detainees after high-profile Americans visited the country. Critics say such trips have provided diplomatic credibility to the North. The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is reportedly weighing an independent bid for the White House. The New York Times reports the Massachusetts native is considering a run for president. New Hampshire Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Horn said Saturday at a GOP Town Hall meeting that Bloomberg would likely be attractive to Democratic voters. "His stands on the issues - where he is on individual liberties and the rights of Americans, whether it's gun control or big taxation - I think he's very much in line with the Democratic party," she said. Saying Hillary Clinton is tested, tough and doesn't need on-the-job training, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen summed up one of the key, final arguments for Hillary Clinton as the campaign heads into the final week before the primary contest begin. Clinton asked the crowd gathered at Rochester's historic Opera House if they wanted to build on the successes of the Obama administration or rip it all up and start over again. While her main opponent, Bernie Sanders, seeks to separate himself from the Obama administration and all things establishment, Clinton is embracing Obama. Some argue she has no choice, while also showing she can go head-to-head with Sanders on new, progressive ideas. Clinton said, "I have proposed a 'fair share surcharge,' a 4 percent surcharge on people making $5 million or more." Her diehard supporters are feeling confident, but inside the campaign there is concern as much that she could lose to Sanders in Iowa and/or New Hampshire as what a long protracted, costly battle with Sanders could mean throughout the spring. Campaign manager John Podesta traveled with Bill Clinton in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Senior advisor, Huma Abedin was at Clinton's side Friday even as someone there who the chief strategist is and whether that person is making the best decisions. Clinton is campaigning in Iowa on Saturday. She will be back in New Hampshire next week. Google paid Apple $1 billion in 2014 for the right to be the default search provider on iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, according to a report by Bloomberg Thursday. "Is that a steal? Absolutely," said Will Stofega, an analyst with IDC, in an interview today. "Given as much as Apple has captured the high end of smartphones, [iOS users] are the people with more money." And so they're of great interest to any search provider whose revenue depends on ads, like Google. The news service quoted a transcript of a Jan. 14 hearing in a four-year-old lawsuit in which Oracle accused Google of copyright infringement when it allegedly used Java to build Android. During the hearing last week, an Oracle attorney spilled the beans about Google's payment to Apple. Although the transcript was available until mid-afternoon Thursday, Bloomberg said, it has since been scrubbed from the federal court system's document database. The $1 billion was payment for using Google's search engine as the default in iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, the Oracle attorney claimed. She also told the court that "at one point in time the revenue share was 34%." It wasn't clear, Bloomberg noted, whether that share was the amount retained by Google or paid to Apple. Both Google and Apple filed motions Wednesday asking the court to reconsider an earlier decision to not seal the transcript. "This information is considered confidential and commercially sensitive," wrote Leslie Fithian, the senior director of the software products legal team, in Apple's Jan. 20 declaration of support for Google's motion to seal. "Apple does not disclose this information to the public. Moreover, Apple restricts knowledge of this information to only a subset of Apple employees on a need-to-know basis. "If this information is disclosed ... third parties seeking to negotiate terms of a business relationship with Apple might leverage this information against Apple, thereby forcing Apple into an uneven bargaining position in future negotiations," Fithian added. Apparently, the Google and Apple briefs were convincing, at least in the short term. Computerworld confirmed that the Jan. 14 hearing transcript has been removed from the court case's document list. The billion dollars was likely only a portion of what Google paid Apple two years ago, said Jan Dawson, principal analyst at Jackdaw Research. "What exactly does that [$1 billion] represent? Is that an incentive fee or also the payment for additional royalties?" asked Dawson in an interview. For Dawson, the $1 billion was the entry fee, but royalties paid to Apple on Google's search revenue -- perhaps the 34% mentioned by the Oracle lawyer last week -- added significant amounts to the total annual outlay. "I think [the $1 billion] is not the only cost, but just the cost of getting into the door on iOS," Dawson continued. "It's likely the total was quite a bit more than that." Google reports its audience acquisition costs, but does not break those down by vendor. The bulk of acquisition costs, Dawson said, were to browser makers -- to Mozilla, for example, until late 2014 -- and to Apple. A billion dollars or more annually may be real money to people playing Powerball, but to Apple, it's just a small fraction of its money-making efforts, Dawson said. Even if it gets half a billion quarterly from Google, that's a pittance compared to Apple's total income. In the last four quarters, for example, Apple's revenue averaged $58.4 billion in each. Half a billion would represent less than 1% of each quarter's take. "In the grand scheme of Apple's revenue, half a billion each quarter is not exactly moving the needle," said Dawson. "But Apple would like to keep it. It's not nothing." Apple includes payments like Google's in its "Services" reporting line, which for the September 2015 quarter reported $5.1 billion in revenue. "Apple's never given any kind of indication what proportion of [Services] revenue the Google payments may represent," Dawson added. As Apple's Fithian noted in her filing with the federal court, the Cupertino, Calif. company would very much like to keep it that way. Other search providers, notably Microsoft (with Bing) and Yahoo, were probably pleased at the disclosure: It gave them an idea of how much it would cost, at a minimum, to convince Apple to replace Google on iOS with their search engines. Neither Stofega or Dawson thought it likely that Apple would, assuming contracts allow, drop Google as iOS's default search for Yahoo or Microsoft. "At the end of the day, Apple does want to do right by its users," said Stofega. "Therein lies the rub." His point: Google was both the popular and technological leader in search, and Apple would be unlikely to foreswear its engine for another -- risking user dissatisfaction -- simply because a Google competitor threw more dollars at Cook and company. "Apple could switch, but at the end of the day Google has proven itself to be the leader in search," Stofega concluded. Dawson, who two years ago discounted speculation that Apple might switch the default search engine in iOS's Safari browser, agreed. "Apple's not purely coin-operated on this," Dawson said. "It's not who is the highest bidder. Apple's not going to let some unknown search engine come in here. They want to make sure that it's a good deal for [iOS] users." A federal court hearing on revisiting the transcript sealing is slated for Feb. 25, when lawyers for Oracle, Google and perhaps even Apple will make oral arguments. This story, "Google's $1B to Apple for iOS search rights was a steal" was originally published by Computerworld . The SD legislature is in session again. Out of Pierre comes a blizzard of sense and nonsense...unfortunately more of the latter. Taxes bring out all the social tribal thinking and both right and left political correctness. Most likely what I write below will be studiously ignored in the spirit of intentional ignorance that is part of social tribalism, but anyway. First, too many years ago, I worked with SD:ASAP which was the highway alcohol safety project. At that time I used data from an insurance database if my memory is correct on the social costs of alcohol-related highway crash fatalities, injuries, etc. Then I dug out all tax revenues that I could determine were collected by state and local governments. Those revenues did not even cover one-third of the social costs. I doubt the ratio is even that good now even if alcohol-related highway crash fatalities have been reduced. Now, SD counties are finally figuring out that in addition to the social costs, there are court, prosecution, treatment, etc. etc. that cost counties $millions. So, counties want a share of the existing alcohol taxes. A better option is to double the taxes on alcohol and put THAT extra revenue into the counties and city governments that bear the primary and completely unnecessary costs due to alcohol sales and consumption. Next, let us look at roads and bridges and the idea of wheel taxes, special taxes on electric cars, increased license and registration fees for cars and pickups, etc. These taxes are plenty high already for light weight vehicles. Where the taxes are woefully too low in that on heavy vehicles on the highways. Highway engineers and others have told me that a loaded semi-tractor and trailer do about 15,000 times as much highway damage per mile of travel as do light cars and trucks. People who apparently are not aware of this think that nothing could be fairer than wheel taxes and license fees on cars. This is logical and tax nonsense. We don't need heavier, better bridges because 2000 to 4000 pound vehicles cross them, we need them because of the trucks and buses moving many tons of load in addition to their own weight which greatly exceeds that of cars. Before another nickel should be mulcted out of the owners of small vehicles, the revenues from heavy trucks should be greatly increased. And now to education and funding... The so-called Governor's Blue Ribbon commission on education missed several very salient facts and data bits or grossly underplayed them in their desire to get taxes increased for education. First of these facts are the huge unnecessary fund reserves most schools have languishing in bank accounts instead of paying teachers or otherwise improving actual education A recent Bob Mercer article about Gov. Daugaard's concerns noted that there was something in the area of $425 million in general funds and asset funds sitting as reserves in school accounts. . That is just in two of the school accounts South Dakota schools also have $144 million sitting in federal impact funds. The feds have dumped $155 million into SD schools in the last three years. Only about $13 million of that has done anything for South Dakota K-12 education. There are other funds, but I don't now have all that data, but have been told that the total is actually over $600 million. In short, we do not need a new tax for schools. What do we need to improve K-12 education? Get school boards and administrators off their monument building project hobby horses and use the money to actually educate students. There is enough money sitting in South Dakota banks holding school funds to increase teacher pay for a few years. And, if controls are not put on property tax collections, those reserve funds will continue to increase. In the way of controls that do nothing is one mentioned in Bob Mercer's article as being presented by Gov. Daugaard. That is limiting capital asset funds to $2850 per student. There are nearly 130,000 K-12 students in South Dakota. Multiply those two numbers and we get something like $370 Million. That amount is more than is now held in those overloaded accounts. This "limitation" is political theater or smoke and mirrors. The Bob Mercer article also implicitly indicated that all the tinkering with school accounts and previous "caps" is part of past and current mess with school funding and accounts. The accounting system and structure needs to be changed before any more increases, decreases, or whatever. The accounts need to consider cash balances month by month in a more business-like manner. The Capital Assets account should become a Capital Maintenance account to show fuel, power, maintence, care costs. A separate Capital Acquisition account should be the only account that can hold or disburse funds for building or acquiring new assets. Tax revenue can only be collected and assigned to this account if district voters have voted prior approval for a new project of a specific estimated cost and need. I am sure accountants can come up with much better ideas for adding teeth and transparency to education taxation and funding than I can. Legislators need to take note of failures of the current system and decide to clean up that mess before they dump a single dime more into K-12 education. In any case, the grotesquely large reserves mean that NO SALES TAX INCREASE is necessary no matter how Gov. Daugaard spins the issue or the Blue Ribbon commission story. Even if there would be no increase, there is so much slop in education that multiple approaches other than a tax increase should come first. And, while discussing the unnecessary sales tax increase, let us note a bit of deception that has been used every time there has been a push for a sales tax increase or broadening. The argument intentionally mixes the tax rate with the tax increase. The rate increase may be "only 1/2 percent", but the actual tax increase is 12.5% . The Democrats are pushing for even more. A so-called "1% increase" is the rate increase. The actual tax increase would be 25%. You can dig up the information in state data, but do not be deceived, either of these is an unneeded tax increase and selling it as a one or two percent increase is just plan deceptive. Either of these poorly thought-out increases is completely unnecessary until school reserve funds are first used and in the meantime, real caps or limits on property tax increases are put into place. And to add a little more something else to this, Mexico has found that higher taxes on soda pop reduces obesity and diabetes. If any other tax should be increased, it is that tax on soft drinks. Soft sweet drinks, whether sweetened artificially or "naturally" are all actually hard on your health and add a truckload of unnecessary social and medical costs as a consequence. If any sales tax should be increased, it should be the sales tax on soft drinks. Other ideas for increasing it are specious. ***Stay tuned and ignore the social tribal political correctness nonsense--- Doug Wiken Wasing Estates 'parrot' tops the scales THIS whopping West Berkshire fish has set a new British record. The mirror carp, dubbed the parrot because of its distinctive beak-shaped mouth, topped the scales at 68lb 1oz when it was caught at the Wasing Estate last Tuesday. Dean Fletcher caught the colossal carp after just one hour at the lake. Fisheries manager at the Wasing Estate, Mark Hibbs, said that Mr Fletcher called him at 4am to report the catch. He only ever calls me when he gets a decent fish, said Mr Hibbs, who rushed down to the lake to confirm the parrots weight. Hes caught 86 of the fish in the lake and hes just been waiting for the parrot. It couldnt have happened to a nicer chap. Mr Fletchers catch has since been ratified as the new British carp record. The parrot topped 64lb in March 2014 and Mr Hibbs said that it would keep on growing and easily top 70lb. The estate is also home to other specimen carp topping 40lb. Mr Hibbs said that the record catch had pushed the estate to the top of the pile for carp fishing. Carp fishing is huge the waiting list has shot up to about 10 years, he said. But if you want to try and catch the parrot you have to be a member of another fishing syndicate at Wasing Estate. Mr Hibbs said: Its a once-in-a-lifetime fish. We need to make sure members are capable of fishing for it before we let them on the water. Its boosted our profile. It comes out a couple of times a year, but we never know when or who is going to catch it. Its a special fish. The previous British freshwater fish record was held by a mirror carp named Two Tone, who weighed in at 67lb 14oz. He died at the age of 45 in 2010 at Conningbrook Lake in Kent. 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. Terror Groups Eyeing Israel's Destruction from inside NGOs Two stalwarts go sleuthing: "The research suggests that antisemitism is the fuel that primes the PSC engine" 'For as long as these antisemites wrap themselves up in the Palestinian flag, too many people are willing to turn a blind eye. Only against Jews is this type of racism openly tolerated. It is flourishing in schools, colleges, universities, unions and in city councils. In fact, so rampant is the disease now, in some settings you can be ostracised if you do not partake in the frenzy yourself. Bashing Jews has becomes a trendy position for the ignorant social justice warrior. "Palestinianism" is a viral "ponzi scheme" and as it spreads, it carries antisemitism in the undergrowth.' David Collier (2017) 'This new rise in antisemitism, which I had thought long dead, was not shaven-headed white imbeciles from the far right. It was Muslims, a large chunk of it.... Suddenly I grasped that the British far left didnt want people to know about antisemitism because it pointed the finger at people they really, really liked. From that moment on, it all fell into place.... Time and again the same tropes emerged, the same sort of stuff that Streicher and Goebbels would have commended and uttered.... And from that a whole bunch of other stuff emerged: the old blood libel business (a favourite of the repulsive Jenny Tonge).... Nice, avuncular, Jeremy Corbyn, with his peace badges, happily laying a wreath at the graveside of Palestinian terrorists who murdered innocent Jewish athletes, oh, and much much more.... It is the same antisemitism, exactly the same: the obsession with Israel to the exclusion of everything else, the conspiracy theory paranoias, the derangement.... Heres the test if you cannot see the flagrant racism in the BDS movement, and if you are obsessed with the perfidy of the Middle Easts only democracy to the exclusion of all else, you are an antisemite. That means a good proportion of the Labour Party, including the leader, and almost all of Momentum: no brown shirts, no marching bands, but the same old filth, dressed in the clothes of a polytechnic geography lecturer.' Rod Liddle (2018) Pro-Israel Down Under Shalom and Welcome to my blog! I'm the little Aussie blogger who took the screenshot and broke the story of Stephen Sizer's notorious 9/11 post, and I've since broken two other stories that subsequently went viral, one Australia-wide and one, thanks to the sterling work of two other bloggers, worldwide. I remain very surprised and very honoured to have been co-winner, Best Pro-Israel Blog, Hasby Awards, 2013 Please "Like" me on Facebook; my Facebook page is here 'In a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel ... is different.... Of the 300 million Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa, only Israel's Arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights.... Israel is not what is wrong about the Middle East. Israel is what is right about the Middle East.' Bibi Netanyahu (20 Iyar 5771; 24 May 2011) Scroll to end for more quotations Tired of anti-Balfour agitprop? Balfour and Beyond Try this for Sizer 'Before the June 1967 Six Day War, there were no such things as "settlements". Palestinians were trying to destroy and displace Israel anyhow. The core problem is not, and never was, "settlements," but the right of Israel (or any non-Muslim nation) to exist inside any borders in that part of the world. If you take a stand that is based on a lie, then that stand cannot succeed. If you try to oppose antisemitism but pretend it is the same thing as "Islamophobia," then the structure on which you have made your stand will totter and all your aspirations will fail. If you try to make a stand based on the idea that settlement construction rather than the intransigence of the Palestinians to the existence of a Jewish state is what is holding up a peace deal, then facts will keep on intruding.' Douglas Murray (31 December 2016) https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9685/britain-little-lies BDS is Antisemitic The Bigotry & Immorality of BDS 'Islamophobia does NOT come from the same wellspring of hatred as antisemitism. Antisemitism is a true prejudice because the hatred and demonisation it promotes derive entirely from lies and a repudiation of rationality itself. Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world. [L]ethally compromised even-handedness is to misunderstand, and thus minimise, antisemitic attitudes and behaviour while shutting down legitimate and necessary discussion of the threat from the Islamic world even to demonise as Islamophobic anyone who draws attention to the extent and consequences of Muslim antisemitism.' Melanie Phillips (14 December 2016) "Selling a house to a Jew is a betrayal of Allah" Maps of Mendacity & Mischief These misleading maps were deliberately prepared to date from 1946 intentionally papering over the momentous events that had occurred between 1917 and 1945. Attempts to unravel binding precepts of international law established between 1917 and 1945 and failing to insist on their being upheld and enforced has a lot to do with the sorry situation the world finds itself in today. David Singer (2016) How They Twist the Truth! Jews have re-assumed the role of the canary in the mine and are the first to be targeted, but the world would face the same threat if Jews did not exist. Israel has been at the front lines confronting Islamic extremism but has received scant support... For Jews, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. The virulence of the antisemitic hatred closing in on Jews in Europe (and elsewhere) is horrifying... Europe is today facing a crisis as serious as the confrontation with Nazism. If Western leaders continue behaving like Chamberlain and fail to stand up to this global threat, it could usher in a new Dark Age in which the Judeo-Christian culture is subsumed by primitive barbarism. The writing is on the wall Isi Leibler (12 January 2015) Expose The Lies! There is a war of lies and deceit on the internet generating unbelievable hate by denigrating and delegitimising the legal rights conferred on the Jewish people by the League of Nations in 1922 and the United Nations in 1945. The idea that there are two narratives on the Arab-Jewish conflict is rubbish. There is only one the factual truth that details the return of the Jewish people to reconstitute the Jewish National Home in its ancient biblical, ancestral and historic homeland after 3500 years of dispersion with the unanimous endorsement of the nation states then comprising the League of Nations.... Generals cant fight a war without soldiers. Jews around the world need to join the fight or vacate the internet to the Jew-haters and their lies that repeated often enough eventually become accepted as truth. David Singer (2016) Exposing Lies The "Apartheid" Slur The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas A, B and C was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords. 95% of the West Bank Arabs live in Areas A and B and their daily lives are under the total administration and control of the PLO since the Palestinian Authority was disbanded by Abbas in January 2013. The PLO has total security control in A and shares security control in B with Israel. Israel has total administrative and security control in C. Israel is entitled to and will continue to take responsibility for the security of Jews living in the West Bank. Jews were given the legal right to settle in the West Bank under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter. They did so for decades until they were driven out in 1947 and not able to return there until 1967. There are Arab roads only in the West Bank that Jews are not allowed to use. Jews are also forbidden from entering Area A. Selling land to Jews is forbidden by the PLO under pain of death. The PLO runs the daily lives of 95% of the West Bank Arabs and Hamas runs the daily lives of 100% of the Gazan Arabs. They have been under occupation and subjugation by these two evil groups for the last ten years and given no say in their future or any opportunity to elect others to lead them following the disastrous political decisions of their leaders over the past ten years. Hamas and the PLO do not accept the continued existence of a Jewish State and call for its disappearance. The narratives did not begin in 1948 they began in about 1917. How do you make peace with an enemy that has been obsessed with not recognising any Jewish national rights in former Palestine for the last 100 years? David Singer (2016) Telling the Truth The Jews of the Holy Land ... are surrounded by hostile states 650 times their territory and sixty times their population. Yet their last, best hope of ending two millennia of international persecution - the State of Israel - has somehow survived. When, during the Second World War, the island of Malta came through three terrible years of bombardment and destruction, it was rightly awarded the George Cross for bravery. Today, Israel should be awarded a similar decoration for defending democracy, tolerance and Western values against a murderous onslaught that has lasted twenty times as long. Andrew Roberts (historian) A voice of courage & reason He knows, y'know An Aussie demo against BDS On the left, black people are usually allowed to define whats racism; women can define sexism; Muslims are trusted to define Islamophobia. But when Jews call out something as antisemitic, leftist non-Jews feel curiously entitled to tell Jews theyre wrong, that they are exaggerating or lying or using it as a decoy tactic and to then treat them to a long lecture on what anti-Jewish racism really is. Jonathan Freedland (The Guardian, 29 April 2016) An awkward fact for some! Socialist thought was tainted from its very origins with the heavy baggage of anti-Jewish stereotypes. Robert Wistrich, From Ambivalence to Betrayal:The Left, the Jews, and Israel (2012) BDS hypocrisy! Want more? Israel is understandably obsessed with security, but its greatest security lies ultimately not in the Israeli Defence Forces, but in political warfare.... Most of the world is not deeply interested in what happens in Israel, and probably does not want to be deluged with legalistic defences of particular actions. What it wants is a clear, calm, repeated case. It is a case aimed more at public opinion than at foreign ministries about freedom, democracy, a Western way of life and the need for the whole of the free world to fight terrorism. Sometimes you hear Israelis say: It doesnt matter what we say. The whole world is against us. You can see why they say it, for they are indeed unfairly treated. But when they say it, they are uttering a self-fulfilling prophecy. If they wont say what needs saying, no one else will say it for them. Charles Moore (2010) #Je suis ISRAEL Aujourdhui, lantisemitisme est masque par lantisionisme. Il faut dire les choses comme elles sont! ["Today, antisemitism wears the mask of anti-Zionism. We must tell things as they are!"] Nicolas Sarkozy (27 May 2015) Once again the armies of the Arab nations are coordinating their military efforts to destroy Israel - whatever they say about wishing merely to regain the lost territories.... [I]f the present Arab offensive had been launched at the pre-1967 frontiers, then the Israelis would indeed have been fighting to avoid annihilation. It seems now that the Israelis were right to maintain the ceasefire lines gained in 1967, and that to do so is the only guarantee of their continued safety. Alan Sillitoe (The Times, 11 October 1973) A nuclear Iran threatens our existence Iran and ISIS are competing for the crown of militant Islam... In this deadly game of thrones, theres no place for America or for Israel, no place for Christians, Jews or Muslims who dont share the Islamist medieval creed, no rights for women, no freedom for anyone... [T]he greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle, but lose the war. We cant let that happen...[T]he days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies, those days are over. We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home. And the soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves....Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand. But ... I know that America stands with Israel... You stand with Israel, because you know that the story of Israel is not only the story of the Jewish people but of the human spirit that refuses again and again to succumb to historys horrors. Bibi Netanyahu (12 Adar 5775; 3 March 2015) The Jews are a peculiar people: things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews. Other nations drive out thousands, even millions, of people, and there is no refugee problem.... [N]o one says a word about refugees. But in the case of Israel displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees.... Other nations - when they are defeated - survive and recover, but should Israel be defeated it would be destroyed.... [A]s it goes with Israel, so it will go with all of us. Should Israel perish the holocaust will be upon us. Eric Hoffer (1968) My archived Tuesday blogs at Elder of Ziyon , Most of the present Arab countries were given their freedom after the 1914-18 War, or after the 1939-45 War.... Yet to listen to Arab spokesmen one might think that they had been cheated ... because they have not also got Israel. Israel is only .2 per cent of the land where Arab States have been established. Surely no fair-minded man can begrudge the Jews their own promised land when it is remembered that for every 2 acres that went to make up Israel, 1,000 acres became Arab.... Why is there an Arab refugee problem? The oil-rich countries have the money. There is no shortage of land, and the Israelis have the technical knowledge to show how it could be developed and made fertile. Bring those things together and the problem could be solved. 3rd Earl of Balfour (1968) Blog Archive January 7, 2015 has already its place in the history of infamy, but also will be the date when the defenders of freedom and democracy will rise and pay tribute to those who died for their freedom and ours. Therefore, we must not forget on which side we are and who are our allies in the defense of the West and its values. Whether we admit it or not, the West is at war with an enemy who will not stop to destroy us... The State of Israel boasts a commandment that, in one of the darkest hours in the fight for liberty Winston Churchill taught: "Never give up". Israel has proven to be a key ally in the fight against Islamism and also an example of how a liberal democracy can resist the jihadist stake and thrive as a Western nation ... Not only France but also all the West should look to Israel to defeat Islamism... friendsofisraelinitiative.org [I]ts impossible to believe that an active antisemite wouldnt if only opportunistically seek out somewhere to nestle in the manifold pleats of Israel-bashing, whether in generally diffuse anti-Zionism, or in more specific Boycott and Divestment Campaigns, Israeli Apartheid Weeks, End the Occupation movements and the like....[T]ell me that not a single Jew-hater finds the activity congenial, that criticising Israel can never be an expression of Jew-hating, not even when it takes the form of accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting organs... Howard Jacobson (The Independent, 27 May 2013) What has happened to the 800,000 Jews who lived for over 2000 years in the Arab lands ...? Where are they in Arab society today? You dare talk of racism when I can point with pride ... to the fact that it is as natural for an Arab to serve in public office in Israel as it is incongruous to think of a Jew serving in any public office in an Arab country, indeed being admitted to many of them. Chaim Herzog (6 Kislev 5736; 10 November 1975) I stand with Israel, I stand with the Jews.... I defend their right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time. And, disgusted by the antisemitism of many Europeans ... I am shamed by this shame that dishonours my country and Europe. Oriana Fallaci For Western countries to side with those who question Israel's legitimacy, for them to play games in international bodies with Israel's vital security issues, for them to appease those who oppose Western values, rather than robustly to stand up in defence of those values, is not only a grave moral mistake, but a strategic error of the first magnitude. Israel is a fundamental part of the West. The West is what it is thanks to its Judeo-Christian roots. If the Jewish element of those roots is lost and Israel is lost, then we are lost too. Jose Maria Aznar Israel is, for us, a normal and a special country. A normal country, because it is just like any other democracy. A special country, because the Jewish culture, which eventually became the Judeo-Christian culture of the dignity of man, is the conceptual foundation of liberalism and democracy. This is why attacking Israel is tantamount to attacking Europe and the West. This is also why disputing Israel's legitimacy and its right to existence means questioning democracy. And this is why we are Friends of Israel. By defending Israel, we are defending ourselves. Marcello Pera Israel ... is beset today by a unique combination of threats. It must defend its people from attack while defending its very right to exist. No other nation in the world faces this dual challenge. To deny Israel's right to confront some of the world's most vicious terrorist groups in order to ensure the safety of its citizens is to corrode international norms from within ... The assault on Israel is one part of a more general assault on the West, on democracy, and on the moral and cultural heritage that grew from the fruitful interaction of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome ... Should these efforts succeed, similar efforts will certainly be turned against other western democracies. George Weigel Apart from America itself, Israel still stands as the world's brightest model of national self-liberation based on ideals of individual responsibility and human freedom. Israel's ability to withstand Arab attempts to destroy it in one of the longest and most lop-sided wars ever fought serves as an indelible testimony to the strength of democratic culture.... We know from the past that the West paid dearly for ignoring Hitler's war against the Jews. One can only hope it will not pay as dearly for having ignored or underestimated for so long the Arab war against Israel and the Jews. Ruth Wisse The choice before us is not between victory and defeat, but between victory and annihilation. We therefore have not the slightest intention of allowing the re-creation of the conditions of vulnerability in which we found ourselves, abandoned and alone, in the summer of 1967. Diplomat Michael Comay (1970) I am duty-bound to defend freedom, culture, peaceful coexistence, the civic education of children, and all the principles that the Tablets of the Law have rendered universal. Principles which Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. This means that, since I am a Gentile, a journalist and a leftist, I have a triple moral commitment to Israel. Because, if Israel were to be vanquished, modernity, culture and freedom would also be crushed. Even though the world has failed to wake up to this fact, Israel's struggle is the world's struggle. Pilar Rahola About Me Daphne Anson I'm a writer/researcher, with many academic books and articles under my own name. Daphne Anson is my blogging alias. Combining the names of two ships, it's a moniker of special significance to me - I'm a naval history buff. I use an alias owing to a perceived need to keep my blogging and professional identities separate. An Aussie, I've long been interested in politics and foreign affairs, having studied International Relations in the USA and Britain for my first degree, and I also hold a doctorate. I began blogging in response to the exponential rise in antisemitism and hostility to Israel in the wake of the Mavi Marmara affair. Another reason I use an alias: http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2015/08/alias-two-ships-daphne-anson.html View my complete profile Followers Contrary to fathers' rights propaganda, father perpetrators (along with stepdads and caretaker boyfrends) dominate the most vicious crimes against children: sexual assault, abusive head trauma, murder-suicides, crimes involving gun violence, and other similar forms of physically violent/fatal child abuse. And as more dads are providing child care (either because mom is working and can't find other care, or because dads are increasingly getting unsupervised visitation/custody through the family courts), more dads are are being found guilty of basic child abuse and neglect as well. 10/25/15 -Because of severe time constraints, we are no longer able to do regular updates at Dastardly Dads. We will occasionally post articles on general studies on child abuse/domestic violence, news pieces involving abusive fathers in custody/visitation situations. We wil also be updating the Killer Dads and Custody lists, while looking for a better, more accessible platform for the data. 7/11/16 - We started this blog on June 24, 2009--just over seven years. And like all good things, it's time to bring this project to a close. It has served its purpose. We have close to 10,500 postings regarding fathers and child abuse, with hundred of those cases being enabled by the family courts, social services, and others in authority. The documentation is clear. It is now time to stop documenting and put that energy into changing the situation that puts thousands of mothers and children at risk every day. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Generally fair. Low near 40F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. By Lynda Williams, Senior medwireNews Reporter A review of BCRABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) highlights the need to consider cardiovascular adverse event (CV AE) risk profiles when prescribing for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Authors Javid Moslehi (Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) and Michael Deininger (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA) emphasise that the CV AEs are critical factors in decision-making as CML patients may have an excellent prognosis but their median age of over 60 years at diagnosis indicates that CV disease is common. Long-term follow-up of patients given the first-generation TKI imatinib indicates the drug is associated with a low incidence of cardiomyopathy and may even have a protective effect against metabolic and cardiovascular events, they report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The researchers note that the experience with imatinib has enlightened clinicians on the importance of differentiating between drug-dependent and drug-independent CV events in CML patients, and determining individual patients baseline and short-term CV risk profiles. [S]ystematic prospective assessment of cardiovascular risk factors is needed as newer TKIs are compared with imatinib as the benchmark for efficacy and cardiovascular risk, they write, adding that oncology trials may offer a platform to determine potential metabolic and CV benefits associated with TKI therapy. Indeed, inadequate consideration of these issues has hampered assessment of CV issues during second- and third-generation TKI development, the researchers believe. They note that it is unclear whether the second-generation agent dasatinib is associated with an increased risk of CV events, although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that patients should be examined for cardiopulmonary disease before and during treatment. Although the FDA did not specify modes of screening, we believe that an echocardiogram with Doppler flow studies would provide adequate noninvasive assessment for high-risk patients before starting dasatinib and for patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms on treatment, say Moslehi and Deininger. The second-generation TKI nilotinib has been linked to hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and elevated body mass index, as well as an unsubstantiated risk of ventricular arrhythmia caused by QT prolongation. In addition, there is suggestion of an increased rate of CV and peripheral ischaemic events, with 6-year follow-up of nilotinib-treated patients showing a CV event rate of 10.015.9% depending on dose, compared with 2.5% in imatinib-treated counterparts. The European Medicines Agency therefore recommends close CV monitoring during nilotinib treatment including blood lipid and glucose measurements and referral of high-risk patients to a cardiologist where deemed necessary. The finding that cardiovascular risk factors were common in patients with vascular AEs, combined with the elevations in glucose and cholesterol, suggested that nilotinib may aggravate a pre-existing arteriosclerotic condition, the authors write, noting that the toxicity appears to affect all arterial beds. After a median of 28 months, a study of the third-generation TKI ponatinib gave a cumulative rate of CV events of 10%, with a 7% rate of cerebrovascular and peripheral events each, 14% arterial events and 3% serious venous AEs. In particular, the presence of two or more traditional atherosclerosis risk factors predisposed patients to serious vascular AEs. Despite ponatinibs dose-dependent CV toxicity profile, a subset of patients will undoubtedly benefit from the drug, particularly those with [the] BCRABL1 T315I mutation, the reviewers acknowledge, although they admit modifying risk factors is warranted and dose reduction seems good practice. By contrast, the third-generation TKI bosutinib, approved as salvage CML treatment, has a reassuring CV safety profile so far, the reviewers write, with 2-year results showing a comparable risk to imatinib. Moslehi and Deininger explain that there is limited understanding of vascular AEs associated with TKIs, especially nilotinib and ponatinib, and further knowledge is required to allow screening and other strategies to prevent or treat side effects. While statins and aspirin could be considered a low-risk intervention for patients at high risk of CV disease, the authors do not recommend prophylactic anticoagulant treatment in this population or the blanket use of antiplatelet agents in patients with a low risk of CV events. Instead, they recommend the application of a simple algorithm currently used for prevention of CV disease in the general public and breast cancer survivors to CML patients beginning TKI therapy, considering factors such as CV disease awareness, blood pressure control, tobacco use, and cholesterol and diabetes monitoring. The reviewers conclude: These patient populations will require careful monitoring for late AEs over time spans that exceed the planned duration of most current clinical trials. A much deeper understanding of the causes of adverse effects will be needed to inform inhibitor design in a rational way, so that long-term toxicity can be minimized, while on-target activity is maintained or even improved. Licensed from medwireNews with permission from Springer Healthcare Ltd. Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. Neither of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services, or equipment. What is Sanjeeda Sheikh wearing? The otherwise stylish actress seemed to have decided to dress down for the event. Seen here with her husband, actor Aamir Ali. Poorna Jagannathan, who was last seen in 'Delhi Belly, was also present at the event. Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. sang the praises of visiting GOP presidential primary candidate Donald Trump at Libertys convocation Monday. Now Trump is broadcasting that praise in a new radio campaign advertisement. Falwell was quick to point out Friday he has not endorsed Trump. Trump debuted the ad Friday, the most recent to begin airing in Iowa and South Carolina, according to Trumps campaign. The minute-long ad posted to the candidates website consists almost entirely of excerpts from Falwells introduction of Trump before he spoke to Liberty Universitys undergraduate student body and other guests Monday in the universitys Vines Center. ... I see a lot of parallels between my father and Donald Trump, Falwell said in convocation, as quoted in the radio spot. Like Mr. Trump, dad would speak his mind. He would make statements that were politically incorrect. The spot also uses several other parts of the introduction, including Falwell referencing Matthew 7:16, By their fruits ye shall know them. Donald Trumps life has borne fruit, fruit that has provided multitudes of jobs to multitudes of people... Falwell said at convocation as excerpted in the campaign ad. The Iowa caucus is Feb. 1 and the South Carolina Republican primary is Feb. 20. Falwell said the university gave general permission for the campaign to use Falwells remarks from Monday however the campaign wanted, but he didnt know of the advertisement until Friday morning. I was very, very careful to make it clear that I was not endorsing him and that Liberty is not endorsing him, Falwell said of his remarks on Monday. He said he has often praised political speakers at Liberty. During his remarks at convocation, Falwell also praised Trumps friendship and generosity. He said after Trumps visit to Liberty University in 2012, he called Trump to seek help funding the project of a friend who leads a well-known Christian ministry in another state. Trump donated $100,000, Falwell said he learned later. Falwell declined to identify the friend on Friday, because he said he didnt know whether the person was comfortable with him sharing the information. Falwell said Trump has not contributed to Liberty University. Falwell and his family held his sons wedding at Trumps Charlottesville vineyard this fall, but Falwell said the family paid fair market value for the wedding expenses, including use of the venue. He has never given us any gifts, not one penny, he said. Trump shared a statement about Falwell in the news release announcing the new ad. It was a great honor to be introduced by the legendary Jerry Falwell Jr., he said. He has built a tremendous institution and is a really terrific person with a beautiful family. We have always had a wonderful relationship and I am proud to share his kind words with the people of Iowa and South Carolina. The one good thing about Ohio Gov. John Kasichs campaign for the presidency is that he provides many opportunities to point out to the rest of the country what we here in Ohio have known for too many years. The man is no moderate. One of the ways he proves this, over and over again, is by how he talks about women. I may enjoy a little too much sharing the moment in 2012 when Kasich took the stage and offered this description of politicians wives: You know, Jane Portman, Karen Kasich and Janna Ryan, they operate an awful lot of the time in the shadows. Its not easy to be a spouse of an elected official. You know, theyre at home, doing the laundry and doing so many things, while were up here on the stage getting a little bit of applause, right? As a full-time columnist married to a U.S. senator, I found this description of my life utterly fascinating. I do laundry, all right, but to tell the world Im never applauded for the effort crosses a line, big-time. If youre one of those old-fashioned reasonable Republicans tempted to argue that Kasich is certainly more moderate than some of his fellow presidential candidates, please stop right there and think about what youre about to say. If it takes Donald Round up the Muslims! Trump and Ted Science? We dont need no stinkin science! Cruz to make John Kasich look reasonable, we might as well move this shindig of a primary to a moisture farm on the three-moon planet of Tatooine. Last week, Kasich was speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire, when a man in the crowd asked where the candidate stands on paid maternity leave. Keep in mind that we are the only industrialized country without paid maternity leave. Say that out loud, and then remind yourself its 2016. Kasich is just fine with that. His response, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch: The one thing we need to do for working women is to give them the flexibility to be able to work at home online. The reason why thats important is, when women take maternity leave or time to be with the children, then what happens is they fall behind on the experience level, which means that the pay becomes a differential. And we need to accommodate women who want to be at home, having a healthy baby and in fact being involved, however many years they want to take care of the family. I ... he ... but ... Sorry, so sorry, about that moment of rambling. Mine, I mean. I should have stopped banging my head against my late fathers 12-pound wrench propped up on my desk before I started typing again. Kasichs telecommuting suggestion would work so well for nurses, teachers, police officers, factory workers, doctors, waitresses, cashiers, baristas you know, any woman in a job that involves something other than tapping the keys on a laptop. Did he even hear himself? I wonder that. A lot. About those mothers who, in Kasichs mind, could work from home: What fun for bone-tired mothers caring for newborns whose idea of sleep is a brief flutter of eyelids between feedings. Has this man never spent a day with a newborn? As for the majority of you mothers who dont work in jobs that allow you to telecommute: Poof. Youre invisible in Kasich Land. Problem solved. I admit to feeling more than a little intemperate about all this because, in the past three years, our family has grown by four grandchildren. Two of them were born in the past three months. My husband and I rushed in to help, because we could, which makes us luckier than most grandparents our age. Every time were with our daughters, who are fortunate enough to have jobs that let them spend the first few weeks with their babies, we leave wondering how all those mothers without their advantages manage to do it all. We know the answer. We all do. Except John Kasich, maybe. The heartbreaking truth is that mothers without paid maternity leave try, try, try too often without help and without hope, too. They are never able to get ahead, and their children start out behind. This, from the country that President Barack Obama declared during Tuesdays State of the Union address to be the most powerful nation on earth, period. Tell that to the mothers. Better yet, prove it. Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist. Email her at con.schultz@yahoo.com. City's growing; are we prepared? Its time to get back to basics with the Lynchburg Planning Commission. The role of this group of citizen planners who, until recent years have served as a firewall between the wants of local developers and the needs of our transportation system around the city, seems to have all but ceased to exist. Maybe its too late to fix Wards Road traffic, but a whole generation of our future economic development is just now exploding into the North 501 Expressway District. Whats the plan? DICK SCHOEW Lynchburg Editors note: Schoew, a local developer, is owner of Hopkins Brothers Legacy Planning & Development. Lessons from years past In the year 1953, I was stationed at the naval air station in Atlantic City, N.J. Hitchiking in uniform to go home for the weekend was always easy. I was outside the base thumbing once when a state trooper pulled over and gave me a ride north to the New Jersey Turnpike. En route, I noticed when there were oncoming cars coming in the opposite direction, the trooper came to the right of our lane. As opposite cars went by, the space between us was wide. The officer told me that it was taught to him as a way to avoid accidents with opposite-coming vehicles. He said drivers could be reading something, maybe arguing with or talking to passengers or thinking away from driving. When I became older and owned a car, I began to do steering as the trooper did. In my 54 years of driving, there was one incident I still remember. Going down a two-lane road, with a 55 mph speed limit, a car coming toward me began to cross over the line into my lane about 15 inches or so. There was no collision, but a car behind me was hit. To this day, I continue to thank that New Jersey state trooper. WALTER F. HEYDT Amherst First look - JMS returns to Thor as the Thunder God prepares to battle Thanos in Death Notes special Thor visits Thanos' past and future with a host of all-star creators Powder to the people! Behind this are two very ambitious sisters and past students of St Francois Girls College, Belmont. Liseli Fitzpatrick, who is currently a PhD student and lecturer at The Ohio State University (OSU ) in the field of African-American and African Studies (AAAS ); holds a BA Major in Psychology, AAAS , and Design, and a MA in AAAS , has a wealth of experience in the arts, drama, and design. Her sister Terneille Samuel Herbert, who holds an LLB degree and recently got called to the bar, is a trained monologist and certainly no stranger to the stage in the world of the arts and culture. She was first runner up and the Peoples Choice at the 2014 Miss City of Port-of- Spain pageant; and in 2010, first runner up in the Miss La Reine Riv?, Prime Ministers Best Village competition. However, inspired by the social and political movements of the 60s and 70s, namely, the Civil Rights Movements, Black Power Movement and the hippie era, they came about with Powder to the People Peace, Love and Powder, a play on the cultural expression and political slogan, Power to the People! The theme is a call to reclaim our beloved twin-island, Republic Trinidad and Tobago, which was dubbed The Rainbow Country by the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu upon his first visit to the country, and it is intended to bring every creed and race together in love, peace and unity, as reflective in the kaleidoscopic spectrum of colourful powder and indicative of our cosmopolitan nation, say Fitzpatrick and Herbert. Herbert told Newsday: We will be using different colours of powder, orange, green, yellow, red, blue, pink purple aquamaine, navy blue, white. We just want to explode like a kaleidoscope of colours on JOuvert morning. She also promised a diverse selection of music, spanning local genres and eras, as the band also aims to draw the generations breath of youthful energy. Fitzpatrick and Herbert, two aspiring and progressive young women, who, as cultural enthusiasts and budding professionals want to make a meaningful intervention into the Carnival. Their underpinning philosophy for the band lies in its sustainability by not only providing a unique experience for the masqueraders, but through bridging the generations, while keeping the tradition of JOuvert alive locally and abroad. For the foreigners who ask why powder? The sisters say, in Trinidad and Tobago, there is the common saying, Yuh kyah play mas and fraid powder! meaning, dont get involved, if you dont want to pay the price or suffer the consequences of your actions. In local parlance, doh get in ting yuh kyah handle. But, the actual motivation for producing such a band occurred after surveying the lay of the land, where it was found that no powder- themed JOuvert bands existed, notwithstanding the colloquial phrase, which links mas to powder; there was primarily the usual and customary in the box oil, paint, mud, and cocoa. In fact, only the sailor bands really used copious amounts of powder in their revelry. Moreover, in the planning process it was further realised that many masqueraders, who enjoyed their JOuvert also played pretty mas, mere hours later on that same Monday, in the two-day, Trinidad- styled Carnival. Therefore, there could be an added advantage with using powder that would come off, more readily, without having to exert any extra time and effort to remove. Masqueraders in the band can look forward to a package comprising a specially designed T-shirt, branding paraphernalia, cup, head band, sunglasses to protect the eyes, a surprise item and tight security. The band of an intended 300-strong, leaves from Jerningham Avenue outside the Trinidad Theatre Workshop in Belmont and goes through the streets uptown, however, three individuals associated with the band will take part in the downtown ole mas competition. For more info: 464- 7954; 779-6517 or email: powderaders@ gmail.com; Facebook: Powderaders: The JOuvert Experience Stag endorses KI Management of parent company, Carib Brewery Ltd (CBL) and other members of the CBL family were on hand to celebrate the beginning of the relationship between Stag... A Mans Beer and KI Persad. When asked what the partnership means to him and his plans for the future, KI said: Im happy. Its a feeling of ultimate happiness, knowing that the brand has grown so well and positively. We look forward to growing more and exporting the brand as well and it really feels good to be back with the company again. KI, who had a previous contract with CBL a few years aback, acknowledged that there are going to be challenges to remain consistent. He said: Of course that is natural we work hard all year round but I believe everything is going to work out for Carnival this year and the new music to come. With Stag also affiliated with KI the Band as well, KI said: This Carnival is really going to be good. Carla Fulonge- Walker, marketing director, CBL, welcomed KI to the Stag family that already boasts famed Bunji Garlin and Jaiga TC. She said: We at Team Stag have long recognised in KI Persad the qualities of the quintessential Stag man. His dapper dress sense, intelligence, drive for success, creativity and of course popularity with the ladies, all combine to make him the perfect addition to our growing family of endorsees. She also spoke of the Stag Riddim 3, currently riding the airwaves stating that it is another milestone achieved in CBLs aim to bring the very best to their customers and perhaps with KI on board now, the public can expect the Stag Chutney Riddim some day soon. The contract signed on Wednesday will be for the next couple of years. Towards the end of the event, CBLs Colin Murray, Shehann Caruth and Fulonge- Walker, all lined up with KI to do the KI Dance. It left guests chuckling. Triple execution in Kuwait on April 1, 2013 Kuwait has been urged to drop plans to execute 2 men convicted of spying for Iran and Hezbollah , with an international rights group claiming their trial was "flawed". Kuwait's first instance criminal court sentenced Hassan Hajiya, a Kuwaiti national, and Abdulreda Dhaqany, an Iranian national, to death on January 12. In both cases, Human Rights Watch said they were convicted "without adequate legal representation". "Issuing a death penalty sentence, especially after flawed proceedings, is a terrible way for the Kuwaiti authorities to begin 2016," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director. "The authorities should commute the executions immediately and reinstate the moratorium that had been in place from 2007 to 2013." Hajiya's lawyer, Khaled al-Shatti, said that his client was held and interrogated on an almost daily basis from August 13 to September 1, 2015, by Homeland Security without any access to legal representation, the rights group said in a statement. It added that his lawyer sought access to the interrogations but the attorney general denied him and all of the other lawyers of the 24 other defendants who faced similar charges access to their clients. Al-Shatti hopes to appeal Hajiya's death sentence within the next 3 weeks. Human Rights Watch also said Dhaqany was not arrested, nor was he represented by a lawyer before 3 judges in Kuwait's first instance criminal court sentenced him to death in absentia. He is currently outside the country. State prosecutors brought charges of espionage and possession of arms without a licence against 26 people in all. Judges found 24 people guilty of possessing arms without a licence and 18 among them for spying. After a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 2007, Kuwaiti authorities executed 5 people in 2013. In September 2015, a court sentenced seven people to death in relation to the Shia Imam Sadiq Mosque bombing in June. On December 13, the appeals court upheld the death penalty for one of them and commuted the other sentences. Source: arabianbusiness.com, January 23, 2016 US Military Really Didn't Want You to Know What's in New Washington Post Investigation (Newser) How much should you get paid for handling the estate of a dead billionaire? Apparently $100 millionor more than $6,400 per hourIf that estate belongs to Leona Helmsley, the Wall Street Journal reports. By any definition, this hourly rate is exorbitant, unreasonable, and improper, states a filing from the New York Attorney General's Office. The executors of Helmsley's willtwo grandchildren, a lawyer, and a business advisordefended their request for the "astronomical" fee stating they "faced enormous risks" while increasing the estate's value. Helmsleya famous New York City property owner who KCCI points out was known as the "Queen of Mean"was worth $4.78 billion when she died in 2007, the Journal reports. Helmsley left most of her wealth to charity, the Journal reports. And the Attorney General's Office has the power to make sure charities aren't getting fleeced by "excessive and unreasonable expenses," such as the fees being demanded by her estate's executors. The state is hoping to cut the requested fee by up to 90%. This isn't the first controversy surrounding Helmsley's estate. Her will left $12 million to her dogmore than two of her grandchildren got. And two other grandchildren who were left out of her will entirely are challenging it. While Helmsley's executors fight for $100 million, Iowa announced this week that $6.3 million from her estate will be going to pay for automated chest compression systems to give cardiac arrest victims around the state a better shot at survival, according to KCCI. (Read more New York stories.) (Newser) A judge concerned about public safety sentenced a 62-year-old North Texas man to life in prison for his 10th drunken driving conviction since the 1980s. Ivy Ray Eberhardt of Weatherford, Texas, was sentenced Wednesday. Eberhardt would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years. "Part of my job is to protect the citizens of Parker County, and the only way that I can think of to do that from somebody that has 12 DWI arrests and 10 DWI convictions is to put you in a place that you can't drive for as long as I possibly can," Judge Craig Towson told Eberhardt. The case involved an April 2014 driving while intoxicated stop in Parker County in which Eberhardt's blood alcohol level was almost four times the 0.08 legal limit for driving in Texas. While free on bond in that DWI case, Eberhardt cut off an electronic ankle monitor and fled to Colorado, where he was again arrested for drunken driving, prosecutors said. Eberhardt also had drunken driving convictions in Tarrant and Runnels counties in Texas, records show, and he served three prison terms for the convictions. (Read more life sentence stories.) (Newser) Errors by three airmen troubleshooting a nuclear missile in its launch silo in 2014 triggered a "mishap" that damaged the missile, prompting the Air Force to strip the airmen of their nuclear certification and quietly launch an accident investigation, officials revealed Friday. In a statement released to the AP, the Air Force declined to provide key additional details or a copy of the report produced last November by the Accident Investigation Board, saying the information was classified and too sensitive to be made public. Under the Air Force's own regulations, Accident Investigation Board reports are supposed to be made public. The Air Force did release a brief summary to the AP after it repeatedly sought answers for more than a year. The Air Force said the accident caused no injuries and posed no risk to public safety. It said top Pentagon officials were briefed on the results of the investigation in December, as were members of Congress. The damaged missile was removed from its underground silo, which is situated among wheat fields and wind turbines near Peetz, Colorado. The silo is one of 10 in a cluster that straddles the Colorado-Nebraska border. The Air Force's brief summary of the mishap said the Minuteman 3 missile "became non-operational" during a diagnostic test on the evening of May 16, 2014. The next morning a "mishap crew" chief "did not correctly adhere to technical guidance" during troubleshooting efforts, "subsequently damaging the missile." No further details about the damage or errors were revealed. (Read more Colorado stories.) (Newser) The gunman who opened fire at a high school in La Loche, Saskatchewan yesterday killed his two brothers first, according to the remote town's acting mayor, who lost his own daughter in the shooting. "He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school," Kevin Janvier tells the AP. "I'm just so sad." He says 23-old teacher Marie Janvier, who was shot dead at La Loche Community School, was his only child. At a Friday night press conference, a police spokeswoman confirmed that the death toll is four and a male suspect is in custody, though she didn't confirm the number of wounded or the identities of the victims, the CBC reports. Janvier tells CTV that the alleged shooter, who was arrested outside the school 45 minutes after police were called at around 1pm Friday, is under 21. The Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that according to a student, the suspect made a chilling post on social media before the shooting. "Just killed 2 ppl," he wrote. "Bout to shoot ip the school." A crisis team of tribal elders and professionals is on its way to the aboriginal community, reports the StarPhoenix, which notes that La Loche and the surrounding area has the highest suicide rate in the province, with 43.4 suicide deaths per 100,000, more than triple the Saskatchewan average. According to the National Post, Friday's incident is believed to be the worst-ever shooting at a high school in Canada. (Read more Canada stories.) "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. (Photo: AP) Washington: Describing Chinese assertiveness in the region as an opportunity for the US, an expert from an advisory group has said that China's move to build a base in Pakistan would bring India more closer to America. "A more assertive China with expeditionary capability could lead nations in the region to be more receptive to supporting US efforts to shape the security Vantage Point, a China-focused advocacy group. "This could specifically be an opportunity to sway those nations that are currently leery of fully supporting US efforts, for example, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, should China build a base in Pakistan, for example, potentially fall into this category and could be receptive to increased dialogue with the US," Gunness said in his testimony before US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "An implication for the US military, PLA expeditionary capabilities allow more opportunity for the US and Chinese militaries to cooperate on regional security issues particularly in the maritime domain where our two navies are well positioned to cooperate on issues such as counterpiracy, counterterrorism," he argued. Said Thomas Bickford, senior research scientist, CAN Corporation, said India is one of the countries in the region which is going to have a lot of concerns with the Chinese assertiveness. "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. "So there's a lot of concerns in India where we would like to respond in a number of ways including more defence spending and possibly seeking the closer relationship with United States in terms of military," Bickford said. "In terms of implications for relations with our allies and partners, well, clearly, we're going to be asked to do a lot more, you can have that expectation, and things that are really important and you need to think about carefully is what is the priority between China greater commitment and losing flexibility because the more clearer and concise our commitments are, the less flexibility future US leaders might have in the crisis," he said. Jeffrey L Fieldler, Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said both the US and Japan would not sit idle if China indulges in something with India. "I'm not so sure that Japan and the United States will sit idle by when the Chinese did something serious with India given its position in the world and the need to go to the south the Indian Ocean," he said. "So, but I don't see any formal alliance arrangement that would just scare everybody. I actually don't think it's possible. So, but short of that, there's a lot of working together that is finally going out and that has never been going on before," Fieldler said. (Newser) A CIA consultant who disappeared in Iran in 2007 wasn't part of this month's prisoner exchangeand according to newly disclosed documents seen by the New York Times, the best chance of getting Robert Levinson home may have been in 2011. A memo sent to the FBI on Oct. 31, 2011 states that Irans ambassador to France had told representatives of the Fellowship Foundation groupwhich had secured a previous prisoner releasethat Levinson would be released if an International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran was delayed, the Times reports, citing a forthcoming book about the search for Levinson. Iran has long claimed to know nothing about the disappearance of Levinson, who was on a "rogue mission" for CIA operators when he vanished. The IAEA report ended up being released early, and it's not clear what actions US officials took after that, the Times reports. The White House has said that it believes Levinson, 58 when he disappeared, may now be outside Iran, if he is still alive. Levinson's wife, Christine, tells the Times that she wasn't told about the Paris meeting. "If this happened in 2011, then why isn't Bob home by now?" she asks. Last week, she said she wished she had been told in advance that her husband wouldn't be part of the exchange. "We had to learn it from the TV ourselves, and that's very disappointing and heartbreaking," she told the AP. Dan, one of his seven children, says he believes Levinson is still alive, though the last evidence of that was chilling photos the family received in early 2011. (Read more Robert Levinson stories.) (Newser) People are calling for the expulsion of six Arizona high-school students after a photo of them wearing shirts spelling out a racial slur went viral Friday, the Arizona Republic reports. The photo shows the girlsall whiteposing with their arms around each other while wearing T-shirts with the letters and symbols N, I, *, *, E, and R on them. According to KXNV, the students were part of a larger group that spelled out "BEST*YOU'VE*EVER*SEEN*CLASS*OF*2016" for senior picture day at Phoenix's Desert Vista High School. The photo quickly spread on social media, leading parents and others to complain to the school and media, the Republic reports. A Change.org petition calling for the expulsion of the students and firing of their principal quickly gained more than 11,000 signatures. "They do not represent DV or the community as a whole," district spokesperson Jill Hanks tells the Republic. "These are six students who made a really bad decision." Hanks says the students will be disciplined, though she won't say what their punishment will entail. "It is unacceptable for any racial slur to be used regardless of intent," KXNV quotes a statement from the district's superintendent. "We need to understand that words matter." Ironically, Desert Vista has an unrelated "sensitivity workshop" scheduled for Monday. It apparently comes a day too late. (Read more Arizona stories.) (Newser) There are still few details about the "hotel incident" that led to the detention of a 21-year-old American college student earlier this month while visiting North Korea, Reuters reports. Otto Warmbier was preparing to leave the country Jan. 2 when he was detained at Pyongyang Airport, according to the AP. That's when the leaders of his group from Young Pioneer Tours learned "there had been an incident" at Yanggakdo International Hotel, where Warmbier had been staying earlier in the trip. "What happened, happened at the hotel, and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed," tour leader Charlotte Guttridge tells Reuters. She says Warmbier wasn't with other tourists during the "hotel incident." Young Pioneer Tours isn't giving any more details, stating it's concerned about Warmbier's safety. When the tour groupwhich contained 10 other US citizensarrived at the airport, Warmbier was taken to another room by officials, Reuters reports. "He was not dragged away, and he wasn't yelled at," Guttridge says. The tour group ended up leaving Warmbier behind, but not before being informed he had been "taken to hospital." Tourists have been detained in the past for handing out religious materials, but Young Pioneer Tours doesn't believe Warmbier had any religious or political materials on him. The Chinese companywhich promises "budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from"states Warmbier was acting normal during the five-day tour. According to the AP, Warmbier has been accused of a "hostile act" by the North Korean government. He's an Ohio native currently attending the University of Virginia. (Read more North Korea stories.) (Newser) Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped an Orange County jail. The inmates were last seen at 5am Friday at the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana. They could have escaped any time between then and late Friday night, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Jeff Hallock said. He said investigators believe they know how the three men escaped the 900-inmate jail, but for now, he wouldn't release those details. He said it's the first escape from the facility in at least the past 20 years and could be the first-ever breakout from the jail. Hallock said the sheriff's department is doing everything it can to find the men. The escapees include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who had been held on a $1 million bond since October 2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been held without bond since September 2014 on charges of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem, and burglary for allegedly cutting a marijuana dispensary owner's penis off. The third escaped inmate, 43-year-old Bac Duong, was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and other charges. "We're exhausting all investigative resources and measures to bring these three inmates back into custody," Hallock said. (Read more California stories.) The North Korean state news media said on Friday that the country has detained an American student for an alleged 'hostile act' against the DPRK, which stands for the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea. The University of Virginia student from Cincinnati, Ohio, Otto Frederick Warmbier, 21, was arrested on Jan. 2 in Pyongyang, the Young Pioneer Tours, which organized the trip Warmbier was on, revealed. The Chinese based travel company advertises "budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from," according to its website. Young Pioneer Tours released this statement: "We can confirm that the reports that one of our clients is being detained in Pyongyang are true. Their family have been informed and we are in contact with the Swedish Embassy, (who act as the protecting interest for U.S citizens), who are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the case. We are also assisting the U.S Department of State closely with regards to the situation. In the meantime we would appreciate Otto's and his family's privacy being respected and we hope his release can be secured as soon as possible." The official Korean Central News Agency for the DPRK is accusing Warmbierof visiting North Korea "for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity at the tacit connivance of the U.S. government." He entered the country via a tourist visa. "We are aware of media reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea," deputy spokesman at the State Department, Mark Toner, said Friday reported by the New York Times. "The welfare of U.S. citizens is one of the Department's highest priorities." The governor of Ohio, John Kasich, has asked for the release of Warmbier. He tweeted, "North Korea's arrest of an Ohio college student is inexcusable & he should be released & returned immediately." The state department does not advise tourists to travel to North Korea and had released an advisory in November "to reiterate and highlight the risk of arrest and long-term detention due to the DPRK's inconsistent application of its criminal laws." Washington: Amidst deepening political crisis in Nepal, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked Nepalese Prime Minister K P Oli to take concrete steps to resolve the political impasse. Blinken yesterday spoke to Prime Minister Oli over phone and discussed the political crisis in Nepal. The Deputy Secretary urged Prime Minister Oli to represent the interests of all Nepalis and take concrete steps to resolve the political impasse, emphasizing the importance of all sides working toward a compromise and not taking unilateral steps, the State Department said in a statement. During the phone call, Blinken asked Nepali authorities to exercise restraint in responding to protests. He told Oli that the US stands ready to further partner with Nepal to ensure earthquake reconstruction efforts are efficient, transparent and inclusive, the State Department said. Nepal is facing acute shortage of cooking gas, petroleum products, medicines and other essentials due to blockade imposed on the southern border of the country as a result of the protests by Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin. Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians, demand demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. So far, more than 50 people have died in the agitation. The talks between the protesting Madhesi groups and the government have not yielded any results. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : He may be used to making hour long speeches, rigorous debates and political discussions but when it comes to his family he is the most emotional father ever. President of the most powerful nation in the world Barack Obama, a doting father has once again proved that he is a family man. As his eldest daughter, 17-year-old Malia Obama is in her final year of high school at the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington and will be graduating this year. When Obama was offered the chance to make a speech at her graduation, but he declined. Why? Because he will be in tears. Malias school asked if I wanted to speak at commencement and I said no, the president said. Im going to be wearing dark glasses and Im going to cry. As a doting father President Obama gave a useful piece of advice to his daughter, not to stress too much about having to get into one particular college. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh, who was being investigated by the NIA in connection with the Pathankot terror attack, got a clean chit by the agency on Friday. Nothing adverse was found against the SP-rank officer after he went through several rounds of questioning and scientific tests including lie-detector test, official sources said. Searches were also conducted at his residence and office but nothing incriminating was found against him, official sources said. Singh and his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and cook Madan Gopal were kidnapped by Pakistani terrorists on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. The terrorists later attacked the Pathankot Air Force base. The terrorists released Singh and the cook, but killed Verma. 7 security personnel were killed in the 80-hour long terror strike, while four terrorists were gunned down. Though Salwinder has been given a clean chit, many questions remain unanswered. Why questions were raised on Salwinder, who himself was a victim? Why he came under suspicion? On the other hand, suspicion still continues as the question still remains unanswered as to how he went scot-free after being kidnapped by terrorists? Is it possible that terrorists could leave their victims alive and unharmed? Is it a big cover-up? Well, here are some questions the NIA possibly asked Singh: Why did the SP go to the shrine that night especially since he wasnt a frequent visitor? Why was he in his official car? How did the militants not fathom that he was a cop after seeing the beacon on his car? Why were he and his cook spared? Why was there such a time gap between his release and informing the police control room about the terrorists? Why did his seniors not trust him when he raised the alarm about the militants? For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Shahid will be seen playing an army officer in the film that hits theatres on September 30. Mumbai: A day after director-producer Sajid Nadiadwala announced the release date of his upcoming film 'Rangoon', a poster featuring Shahid Kapoor has been doing the rounds online. The poster, features a reflection of a ripped Shahid staring down at a silvery object. Although the poster comes with all the credits and production house logos, it just happens to be a fan-made poster. A photo posted by @bollywood_fundas on Jan 22, 2016 at 4:55am PST A recent selfie of the actor shows him sporting a completely different hairdo and a much thicker moustache with a short stubble. In the film, Shahid will be seen playing the role of an army officer. Shahid Kapoor on the sets of 'Rangoon'. Not much is known about 'Rangoon' other than that it is set during the World War II. The film will also star Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan. The three will also be seen caught in a love-triangle of sorts. Kangana had called this film a passionate love story. "It is a film which is set in the 1940s during the World War II. It is about three characters and one of them is a superstar and her mentor, who she is romantically involved with. Another one is a soldier. It is about INA, independence and so many other things. It is a very passionate love story," Kangana had said during an interview. The film, which is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj will release on September 30. New Delhi: Jawahar Lal Nehru referred to Subhash Chandra Bose as a war criminal in of the files, sources who have knowledge of the Netaji files that are being declassified have said. Out of the 100 files one sparked controversy over a purported letter by Jawaharlal Nehru allegedly calling Bose a war criminal,with the Congress alleging that a forged document labelling Bose as a war criminal was being used to target first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for electoral gains, a charge that the BJP denies. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also angrily called the letter "fake and mischievous" and aimed at maligning the party. A letter was written to the Prime Minister of England Clement Attlee on Dec 27, 1945. "Dear Mr Attlee, I understand from reliable sources that Suhas Chandra Bose, your war criminal, has been allowed to enter Russian territory by Stalin. This is a clear treachery and betrayal of faith by the Russians as Russia has been an ally of the British-Americans, which she should not have done. Please take note of it and do what you consider proper and fit," Pandit Nehru wrote in his letter. The letter is signed, "Yours Sincerely, Jawaharlal Nehru,". This letter is likely to spark political storm in the country as it has been allegedly said that Nehru was unfair to the legacy of Netaji. This letter was written four months after Netaji Boses supposed death in plane crash in Taipie on August 18, 1945.The letter also reveals that Nehru did not believed that Netaji lost his life in the plane crash. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will declassify 100 Netaji files on Saturday. Out of 100 files, 33 are from the PMO and others from the MEA and MHA. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid rich tributes to late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on his 90th birth anniversary. Balasaheb Thackeray...my mind is filled with many memories. Tributes to the widely admired and respected personality on his birth anniversary, he tweeted. BJP President Amit Shah also remembered the late Shiv Sena leader on his birth anniversary. My tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray a true nationalist & a respected mass leader on his birth anniversary, he tweeted. Thackeray was born on January 23, 1926 in Pune and later founded the right-wing party Shiv Sena in 1966. He died on November 17, 2012. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Agra: Amid controversy over the alleged suicide of a Dalit PhD scholar of Hyderabad Central University comes a story that will leave Indians red-faced. An aspiring engineer from IIT-BHU, who makes a living by working as a sweeper, is trying to sell his kidney to pay off a Rs 2.7-lakh education loan, a leading English daily reported. "There was a lot of pressure. Due to my prolonged illness, I had to incur expenses for my treatment and couldn't give back the loan I took for my studies," Mahesh Balmiki, who is a student of mining, was quoted as saying. Mahesh didnt have any option, so he started to search for a buyer for one of his kidneys. He later told his friends that people ask a donors caste while buying kidneys from the thriving black market for kidneys. He visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar, but found no takers for his kidney. "I visited around five hospitals in Varanasi and Alwar. The doctors there informed me that no one would take my kidney as I am a dalit," Mahesh added. Left with no option, the 19-year-old very bright student has now left his studies and has taken up a sweepers job back at his village in Alwar, Rajasthan. He earns only Rs 4,000 per month. "I have no option other than to clean and sweep," he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: Plaintiffs attorneys in the first General Motors trial over an ignition-switch defect abruptly withdrew the case, handing a victory to the US automaker. Plaintiff hereby voluntarily dismisses all claims against GM, attorney Robert Hilliard said in a filing to a US federal court in New York. Hilliards client, Robert Scheuer, blamed the ignition-switch defect for injuries suffered in a May 2014 crash when the airbag on his 2003 Saturn Ion failed to deploy. GM has admitted the link between the faulty ignition and airbag non-deployment, but had maintained there was no evidence Scheuers injuries arose from the ignition-switch defect. The Scheuer lawsuit had been seen as a bellwether case because of its similarity to other cases involving car owners who say they were injured due to the defect. But Scheuers case came under fire when GM asserted that he and his wife had lied on the witness stand about their reasons for being evicted from their home. GM said it had evidence Scheuer had doctored a check on the down payment for the home, raising doubts about his overall credibility. US District Court Judge Jesse Furman said in court that GMs evidence would probably be devastating for the Scheuer case and that the case was almost worthless as a bellwether lawsuit, Bloomberg News reported. Furmans court is scheduled to hear five additional bellwether cases. GM applauded the outcome. We said all along that each case would be decided on its own merits, and we had already started to show by strong, clear and convincing evidence to the jury that the ignition switch didnt have anything to do with Mr Scheuers accident or injuries, the automaker said in an emailed statement. The apparent lies the plaintiff and his wife told the jury ended the trial early, and we are pleased that the case is over without any payment whatsoever to the Mr Scheuer. Hilliard said he was looking forward to the next case in the litigation. To have any trial end in such an unexpected and unforeseen way is disappointing. Especially one such as this where the concerns regarding the underlying safety of certain GM vehicles are legitimate and real, Hilliard said. A jurys decision regarding the existence of a defect will have to wait until the next trial. Thousands of people have claimed damages linked to the ignition defects, which GM admitted it hid for more than a decade before it began recalling 2.6 million cars worldwide in February 2014. GM established a compensation program for injured car-owners that found 399 claimants meriting payments totaling USD 594.5 million, according to a December report by the program. Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha today appealed to the agitating students of Hyderabad Central University to withdraw their protest following the alleged suicide of a Dalit research scholar and assured them that they will get justice. From our ministry judicial commission has been set up. We want to tell all students...keep faith...you will get justice. Now there is no need for continuing the agitation, he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. He said that based on the report of the judicial commission set up to look into the matter, the HRD ministry will take necessary steps. From the ministry, a two-member fact-finding committee looked into the matter and gave its report. There were some shortcomings/loopholes as per the report. Based on the report, a judicial commission was set up for further inquiry. The commission will do its work and give report in three months. Based on it, the ministry will take necessary steps, he said. Asked about the demands of the agitating students for removal of the universitys Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of case against them (four students), Kushwaha said, University will look into that. There is no role of the ministry. Kushwaha was here to attend the inaugural ceremony of Navodaya National Integration Meet. The ministry yesterday decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the matter. When contacted for their response to the government deciding to appoint a judicial commission and the university announcing compensation, Vemulas brother Raju said they will discuss the matter with the agitating students. Rohiths mother would come to the university today and talk to the agitating students, he said. Meanwhile, the indefinite fast launched by seven students of the university entered the fourth day today. G Prabhakar, one of the fasting students, said they would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. We want to continue (fast). Our demands not yet fulfilled. They say (Prime Minister) Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death, he said. (Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao, primary accused, dismiss from VC post. (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to university, arrest them. Without arresting, these (judicial commission, etc) dont give us confidence, Prabhakar said. Expressing concern over the health of the fasting students, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor of a team which examined them, said, They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. What we had seen on the very first day and what we see today, it is a rapid deterioration of the medical status. We find their blood pressures are highly fluctuating and their sugar levels unstable. We feel that we need to intervene and medically give some support. We have to discuss with the boys and we will see the next course of action, he told reporters. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hanoi: A sacred giant turtle venerated as a symbol of Vietnams independence struggle has died, state media said, prompting an outpouring of grief and fears the death bodes ill for an upcoming communist leadership handover. The reptile, a critically endangered swinhoe softshell turtle, occupies a key mythological role in Vietnamin the past the turtle generally surfaced only rarely, with its sightings deemed auspicious. Some scientists believe it was one of only four turtles better known as Yangtze giant softshellsin existence. Two are in China and the other lives in a different lake in Hanoi. It was found dead in Hoan Kiem lake in central Hanoi late yesterday, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The turtle, which weighed about 200 kilogrammes (440 pounds), was said to be between 80 and 100 years old. Its demise was widely mourned on Vietnamese-language blogs and social media, with many warning it was a bad omen for upcoming changes in the ruling Communist Party, which begins its five-yearly congress on Thursday. This is bad news for many people in Hanoi, said the Thanh Nien newspaper. Vietnams authoritarian rulers will choose a new party leader, president and prime minister at the party congress. In a story taught to all Vietnamese school children, the sacred turtle of Hoan Kiem is the custodian of the magic sword of Le Loi, a 15th century rebel leader who vanquished Chinese invaders. Although officially an atheist country, many Vietnamese are deeply superstitious. I feel empty. My children, grandchildren will only know the turtle from legend, online commentator Duong Nguyen wrote on the popular VNExpress site. Reports about the turtles death first appeared in state media late yesterday, but some were taken down apparently under pressure from communist authorities. The turtles body is being kept at a temple on a small island in the lake pending an official decision on how to proceed, state media said, adding that embalming was being considered. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Congress today pitched for declassifying all files related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, but said the way Prime Minister Naredra Modi has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign, Partys senior spokesman Anand Sharma claimed. Sharmas remarks came on a day when the Prime Minister made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Netaji on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. The way the Prime Minister has carried this out raises doubts about intentions of Modi government, the nation needs to understand this, Sharma told reporters here dismissing suggestions by some of Netajis relatives that Congress had always tried to suppress truth about Bose. He said the Congress does not want to enter into any debate with any distant relative of Bose. We respect what has been said by his own daughter. Netaji had only one daughter and what she has said is in public domain and the country must respect her sentiments because she has been anguished by this deliberately created mischief and controversy, he claimed. Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff has in the past said that she believed her father died in the air crash in Taihoku airport in Taiwan in August, 1945 until proved otherwise. Sharma lamented that the Prime Minister in order to deflect the attention from the miserable failure of his government on all fronts is coming up with such ploys. At the same time, the party cautioned the media against using an allegedly fabricated and forged document that has surreptitiously been circulating on the internet, seeking to defame Jawaharlal Nehru on the Netaji issue. He noted that Nehru had defended Major General Shahnawaz Khan, Col Sehgal and Col Dhillon in the INA case in 1945-46. Warning that publication of such a forged document shall not be taken quietly, he said, If these people have the courage, they should own up the document but we will identify. Once we have identified, we will take all measures that are required to not only expose but to ensure that they are punished under the law of the land. Netaji was a great national leader. He was the President also of the Congress. He participated in Indias freedom struggle and we remember his contribution with much respect. We do not wish to enter into any discussion or debate but we must also respect the sentiments of Netajis daughter. That is what we feel, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Purab Kohli, who gained mainstream attention with the cult movie Rock On, eight years ago, has played a prominent role in the just-released-Akshay Kumar-starrer Airlift. The film is based on a real-life incident which happened in the 90s when 17,000 people where stranded in Kuwait. The film revolves around one businessman, Ranjit Katyal, played by Akshay Kumar, who takes charge and helps evacuate the entire population, he says. Purab who plays Ibrahim Durani, an employee at a supermarket happens to meet Ranjit. When Ranjit is out on a quest to arrange food for the stranded, he meets me and I end up becoming a co-member in this rescue mission. Apart from that, Ibrahim is also on the search for his wife who goes missing after the war breaks out. Its one of my most interesting roles, till date, he says. And the experience of working with Akshay Kumar was just amazing. Purab says, He is a very modest person. And he is always making an effort to give his best performance. Now, with Airlift having released and being declared a hit, Purab has shifted focus to his next movie, Rock On 2 (sequel to Rock On), where he acts with Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal. And he has already shot for the first schedule. The camaraderie between the lead characters was much appreciated in Rock On, but Purab feels the bonding was a lot better between them this time. During this shoot we were put up in the same place and so we got to spend more time with each other. We would go camping together, go to the gym, and on off days go site seeing together as well, he says. But thats not it all, Purab has quite a busy year lined up and he will also be seen in Netflixs series Sense8, which marks its second season this year and is created by the makers of the Matrix series, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. I was part of nine episodes in the first season and with Netflix coming to India, Im hoping people will start viewing the second season. I will be shooting for it this year, Purab says. Rishi, who has been advised to take rest, expressed his eagerness to catch a screening of Airlift. Bollywood star Rishi Kapoor was admitted to hospital recently for a minor procedure. The actor, who celebrated his 36th wedding anniversary with wife Neetu Singh, came back home in time for the celebrations on Friday evening. The actor, who will be seen in the Karan Johar directed family drama Kapoor and Sons, took to his Twitter handle to thank his fans for pouring in good wishes. He also gave them an update about his health with a tweet that read: Well, thank you all for your wishes. Just that was in the hospital for a minor procedure. Back home now tired, drained out, weary to party. Rishi was last seen making a public appearance with his son Ranbir Kapoor at the Umang Police show. The actor, who has been advised to take some rest, expressed his eagerness to catch a screening of Akshay Kumars film Airlift. He even went on to show his support to the actor with a tweet that read: Hearing and reading greatest things about you!Was so overwhelming to read Aaravs reaction to Tina. God Bless! Proud! The actor was referring to a tweet by Twinkle Khanna, where she put out her sons reaction after watching the film on Thursday. USA continues to plummet in freedom rankings as government refuses to follow rule of law and denies rights to citizens A new report on the freedom of countries around the world ranks the United States 20th, putting countries like Chile and the United Kingdom ahead of the U.S. In their periodic ranking of economic freedom, a trio of libertarian thinktanks the Cato Institute, the Fraser Institute and the Swiss Liberales Institut have dropped the U.S. from 17th to 20th over the past eight years, putting the USA behind countries like Chile and the U.K.[1] The decline was blamed on familiar pet peeves of libertarianism: big government and increased regulations on business. But they also penalized the U.S. based on rule of law considerations; primarily, the increased invasions of privacy through the War on Drugs and War on Terror have contributed to the decline in freedom. (They did not include the growing inequality gap, as measured by the largest financial institutions and their slew of indexes tied to the spending of the rich or what The Wall Street Journal collectively calls The Hedonism Index.)[2] The increased use of eminent domain was also a big factor. As defined by Merriam-Webster.com, eminent domain refers to a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction. It has been a staple of Western law for hundreds of years, and of the United States since its origin. However, it has always been a contentious issue (especially when the law is used to justify what is essentially theft by private entities), and in California it is currently the subject of much debate. That states governor, Jerry Brown, is backing a proposed eminent domain law that would include the forced purchase of hundreds of private farms for the purpose of building two underground tunnels to pipe water from the northern part of the state to the southern part, in an effort to use taxpayer dollars to support growing desert cities amid the states drought. Although supported by water exporters and the California Chamber of Commerce, it has been met with stiff opposition from environmental groups and farmers in the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta, whose farmland would be bypassed by the tunnels. Internal documents reveal that the state would make a single offer for the land, which the farmers would have 30 days to accept or reject. But even if they reject it, they could still be forced to sell under eminent domain law.[3] Sources: [1] DailyCaller.com [2] WSJ.com [3] Breitbart.com Submit a correction >> This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The first major winter storm to hit Connecticut this year blanketed portions of the state with more than a foot of snow, but residents in greater Danbury were mostly spared from the brunt of the noreaster. Winter Storm Jonas, which pummeled towns and cities farther south on the eastern seaboard, hit Connecticut hardest along the southwestern coast. But while Greenwich and Stamford faced blizzard-like conditions, Danbury had just four to five inches on the ground as late as 5 p.m., Mayor Mark Boughton said. The snow is still coming down and theres a lot of wind blowing it around, Boughton said. Conditions have deteriorated over the last hour, but were working hard. Bill Jacquemin, the chief meteorologist at the Connecticut Weather Center, said earlier Saturday that the storm was expected to taper off in the evening and end around midnight. Snow accumulations were higher closer to the coast, including in Ridgefield, where First Selectman Rudy Marconi reported about 10 inches at his home. Marconi reported no major accidents or emergencies in town and said the storm was similar to many the region has experienced over the last several years. Our weather patterns have changed over the last 10-15 years, Marconi said. When we get rain, it pours. When we get snow, we get a lot of it. Its not just a couple inches here or there, every other day. Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said the snow was tapering off Saturday evening, when he measured about four inches on the ground. While wind gusts had the potential to reach 35 miles per hour, the region was mostly unscathed from widespread power outages that some feared the storm would cause. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, Eversource reported just two outages in Danbury and 21 more in Washington. Elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut, however, and in neighboring parts of the New York metro area, the snowfall was deeper and the storms effects more dramatic. Cities and towns shut down services where they could and admonished residents to stay indoors, out of the gale-force winds and driving snow. Connecticut State Police spokeswoman Trooper First Class Kelly Grant reported that in a 12-hour period, troopers responded to 119 traffic accidents throughout the state. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority canceled all Metro-North train service after 4 p.m. As of Saturday evening, the MTA had not predicted when service would resume. While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio invoked a travel ban, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had not issued any travel restrictions as of Saturday night. The state Department of Transportation dispatched 543 plow trucks statewide, focusing especially on Fairfield County and shoreline areas. With disparities in the weather and different areas seeing different conditions, I am encouraging everyone to stay safe and use their judgment, Malloy announced around 3 p.m. There are no requests for state assistance at this time, but our agencies stand ready to help when and where needed. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim declared a snow emergency at 10 a.m. Saturday, banning on-street parking on snow emergency routes and alternate-side parking in effect on all other streets, continuing through Sunday and until further notice. Dick Aarons, the deputy emergency manager in Ridgefield, said the relatively light weight of the snow helped keep some tree branches from falling onto power lines. For us, we get in trouble with soggy wet snow that adds a lot of weight to the trees, Aarons said. Jacquemin said even with Jonas movement, the Danbury area was only scratched by the storm that wreaked havoc elsewhere. Its a very powerful storm, were just on the northern fringe of it, Jacquemin said. Its nothing like what the Mid-Atlantic is going to have and places farther to the south. Towns north of Danbury reported fairly minimal snowfall. In Brookfield, First Selectman Steve Dunn said Saturday afternoon that there was just one inch on the ground and that there were no reported accidents or emergencies. Its very calm, Dunn said. Its gotten a little windier, but its not snowing hard enough to make it look a blizzard. It may be a nonevent for us up here. awolff@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333; @awolffster This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BETHEL During a court hearing last week for a former Bethel teacher who sexually abused three children, the victims families told a judge that Brian Stroh seemed to them like a devoted friend. He would take the boys to restaurants, concerts, sporting events, amusement parks and sometimes to his own house to play video games, according to court testimony. It all seemed so wonderful at the time, one mother said. Stroh was everyones favorite teacher, the womans husband wrote in a letter she read in court. What those families didnt realize was that the teacher was violating district and state policy even before the sexual assault took place. Schoolteachers are prohibited from spending time with students outside a school setting even just to give them a lift without another adult present, said Christine Carver, superintendent of schools in Bethel. The district also urges teachers who might run into students outside of school to keep their interactions in a public setting. Teachers are role models and need to maintain a professional relationship with students and parents, Carver said. Stroh also failed to follow the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility for Teachers and the guidelines recommended by the Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) Program, both of which include admonitions to maintain appropriate boundaries. Although all teachers want to maintain positive rapport with students, teachers are not friends; they are professionals and should maintain professional interactions, a TEAM training module says. Carver said that the district had no knowledge that Stroh had befriended some of his students and their families. But while teachers are forbidden to have such contacts outside school, the parents involved in Strohs case are not the only ones unaware of such rules. Dennis OBrien, who has three kids in the Bethel school system, said he was not familiar with the policy. Although he doesnt blame the district for what happened, he wishes there was better communication about teacher ethics. Even Strohs attorney, Norman Pattis, said the case should be a wake-up call to every parent. This case sends a message to the community, Pattis told the court on Thursday. People need to be more suspicious and ask more questions. Stroh, 31, of New Fairfield, was a first-grade teacher at Berry Elementary School when State Police learned that he sexually assaulted three boys ages 6, 9, and 11 during a sleepover in his house. He pleaded no contest to risk of injury to a minor and promoting a minor in an obscene performance, and was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison and 25 years of probation. During the sentencing proceedings, Stroh told the court there were years of nothing but positive interactions between him and the victims families. He said he sometimes volunteered to watch one of the boys when the childs mother was at work. I think thats crazy, OBrien said. Its mixing business with pleasure... I would not let my kids teachers hang out with my children. Bethel was one of at least three Fairfield County towns where a teacher was accused of sexual assault last year. Former Wilton public schools teacher and Sacred Heart University instructor Timothy Leonard was charged last February with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in a movie theater parking lot. In March, a first-year science teacher at Danbury High School was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a 17-year-old male student. Police said Kayla Mooney, 24, of Danbury, had sex with the youth twice. Mooney had a typical teacher-student relationship with the boy until he invited her to a concert on Halloween night at a downtown club, according to court records. After that, police said, they began trading emails on their school-issued accounts and then switched to cell phone messages. Since Strohs behavior came to light, Carver said, the district has reinforced its ethical rules. But she urged parents to be fully aware of who their children are with. As a parent, I think that you always need to be cautious and vigilant about who youre allowing your children to spend time with, especially when theyre unsupervised, she said. That should be a top priority. Another Bethel parent, Amy Gusitsch, agreed that parents should monitor their childrens interaction with teachers as closely as possible. As a parent, I would just recommend to be as involved in as many ways as you can with your children and with the schools, she said. I know its hard for parents who work, but be in communications and try to know whats going on. noliveira@newstimes.com, 203-731-3411, @olivnelson Yangon: Myanmar's emergence from decades of cloistered junta rule has seen a cascade of foreign products flood the country in recent years. But it has also allowed for the revival of ancient fashions, like tattoos. With the country's borders opened up and web censorship laws dismantled, young people in Myanmar are being exposed to foreign trends on a wide scale, and a host of new counter-cultures are emerging. A man at the Myanmar Traditional Ink Workshop in Yangon on January 23, 2016. (Photo: AFP) Yet a buzzing workshop on traditional tattooing in Yangon Saturday suggests that when it comes to body art, it's the local designs that are back in vogue. "Our traditional style of tattooing has disappeared so we are bringing back the Myanmar style," said Tut P, 37, a professional tattoo artist from Mandalay who helped organise the Myanmar Traditional Ink Workshop. There's a long history of inking up in Myanmar, where the country's myriad ethnic minority groups donned tattoos as spiritual protection, signs of social status and antidotes to ward off disease. But the traditional practice was suppressed under British colonial rule and became taboo under the oppressive military junta that followed for nearly five decades. Now tattoo artists are reviving historic images and patterns using modern tattoo guns, which are considered safer than traditional tools. A man with a tattoo on his neck in Yangon on January 23, 2016. (Photo: AFP) "Another difference today is that young people are choosing their own designs," said Maung Thi, 25, a tattoo artist who joined the trade six years ago. "Youths nowadays are choosing meaningful tattoos," he told AFP. "Their ideas are much better, I would say." Yadanar Thun Phyo, 20, for instance, drew her own version of a mystical Myanmar bird, which she had inked on her leg at the workshop. Though tattoos are still far more popular among men than women, she suggested that too may be changing. "Many people think that having a tattoo makes you more beautiful," she said. In his book Working a Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience, the late American scholar Granville Austin describes the key and symbolic moment on January 26, 1950, when the old order passed and the new took charge, and when began the great enterprise of nationhood. Ceremonies commenced with Federal Court Chief Justice Harilal Kania administering the oath of office to Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. The President then swore in Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister under the Constitution, and the members of his Cabinet. Finally, President Rajendra Prasad administered the oath of office to Harilal Kania, as Chief Justice of the new Supreme Court. This was the magic moment. The countrys new government, as Austin writes, was in place. The same jurist who headed the Federal Court would now head the Supreme Court. His legal acumen, his sense of jurisprudence, his commitment to justice and fair play nothing had changed. So what was the difference about? It lay simply in the source of Chief Justice Kanias authority. This no longer derived from a colonial government or a dominion of the British Empire; it no more treated all residents of India, prince and pauper, British officer and Indian civilian, as segmented classes. His authority was now derived from the People of India and every citizen would thereafter be equal and non-segregated. As one of historys photo-ops or iconic memories, the delicate interplay between Harilal Kania and Rajendra Prasad stands little chance when compared with the midnight of August 15, 1947 and with Nehrus majestic oratory: Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny This ends up telling on how the average Indian tends to treat January 26. For the vast majority, Republic Day, like Independence Day, is simply a welcome holiday. Indeed, it is often a genuine day off, as opposed to, say, a religious festival that may still require household chores and customary duties. Yet, even within the framework of Indias two most important secular festivals, there is a clear hierarchy. In public perception, January 26 is the poor cousin of August 15. Part of the reason lies in what the individual dates commemorate. Independence Day is easy enough to understand: it is the day foreign rule ended and India became free. Freedom is defined here in a strictly political sense, as a transfer of power from a British head of government to an Indian one. Republic Day represents a layered and complex phenomenon. You can explain freedom in the popular idiom, but how can you translate constitutionalism and the republican ethic? The day we became free is a simple phrase; the day we became a Republic and inaugurated our Constitution is simply not so. Politicians and political thinkers alike have long pondered this. Making constitutional questions and debates intelligible to a mass audience is always going to prove a challenge. Take an example. The battle for freedom can be represented in Hindi cinema in the form of a fearless revolutionary who goes down battling the British Raj in, for example, 1942. This battle also has a happy end date: 1947. In contrast, the battle to uphold the Constitution is abstract as well as ongoing and eternal. January 26, 1950, was only a milestone, though admittedly a very important one. No Hindi film is likely to be made on the struggle in the Supreme Court to insulate the basic structure of the Constitution from legislative amendment. Outside the editorial pages of newspapers, Keshavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973) can never invoke the drama and passion of Chandrashekhar Azads heroic last stand. Several attempts have been made to relate the Constitution to the people. Some have been clumsy, others nuanced, but all of them have fallen short. Some years ago, the Gujarat government marked the 60th anniversary of the Constitution by placing a replica of Indias Big Fat Book on an elephant and taking it on a yatra around the state, making it a subject of veneration as would be the case with a religious text. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, many politicians have spoken of the Constitution as Indias holy book. While well meant, even such an approach can have its shortcomings. A yatra or an elevation to scriptural status can convey the message that the Constitution is the defining text of the moral, enlightened and egalitarian idea that is India. It cannot, however, entirely convey what the text stands for. This remains an obligation for our collective, civic consciousness. After all, January 26, 1950, is in a sense much more momentous than August 15, 1947. Independence Day celebrates one aspect of freedom the political. Republic Day pays tribute to a much wider expression of freedom the freedom from hierarchy; actually multiple hierarchies. It was the day the princely kingdoms ceased to exist as even a notion. It was the day India gave itself a President and a set of public servants who would not be defined by inheritance, family or traditional sources of power. To that extent, it inaugurated the quest for a meritocratic society. The 66 years since then have been a process of expansion of that quest. Gradually, little by little, they have cut down so many of our old hierarchies princely privileges, caste-based suzerainty, unequal access to law and justice. No doubt, the process is imperfect and incomplete. Royal families have been replaced by political dynasties; the law is the same for every one of us billion Indians but the legal system is slow moving and expensive; caste differentiation, as even the past weeks tragedies tell us, has not been entirely effaced. Yet, who would argue that Indian society is not freer and less hierarchical today than it was on January 25, 1950? That is the true import of the republican revolution. It can never cease; it can only gain momentum, relentlessly till the finality of time. Elders in Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress have advised that a repented Niger Delta militant, Mr. Government Ekpem... Elders in Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress have advised that a repented Niger Delta militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), should surrender himself for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over N13bn fraud.They also demanded an apology from the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank, over his comments against the party leadership in the State in his own interest.It can be recalled that Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted an order compelling him to answer an amended 40 counts of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering levelled against him and a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi.But shortly after the court order, militants attacked oil installations, fuelling speculations that his boys were responsible.However, Tompolo in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accused the candidate of the APC in the Bayelsa State governorship election, Timipre Sylva, of trying to link him to the renewed vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, saying he (Sylva) was the one responsible.But a member of the Bayelsa APC Elders, Chief Arerebo Bodi, at a reception organised in his honour on Saturday in Abuja, said it was important for Tompolo to honour the request of the EFCC, rather than blame Sylva and other APC leaders in the State. President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over low ranking of the countrys universities. The president expressed the concern on ... President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over low ranking of the countrys universities. The president expressed the concern on Saturday in Bauchi at the 19th to 22nd convocation ceremony of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.Represented by Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, he said that it is worrisome that no Nigerian university is quoted among the top 100 universities in the world.We rank below a thousand, if we do not aspire to be among the world class universities, we cannot boast of robust system capable of making the country among the top economies of the world.We have abundance of talents who excel elsewhere but appear incapacitated at home. This is unacceptable. Whatever makes our abundant talents fail at home and excel abroad must be identified and neutralised for our benefit and that of our future generation, Buhari said.He blamed incessant strikes by teachers as major bottlenecks to progress of the countrys university system.The repercussions of strike usually retard the smooth running of academic activities with heavy negative consequences.The president called on the state governments to support and encourage universities situated in their states because they were responsible for harnessing local talents and promotion of local innovations. He observed that the Treasury Single Account policy was meant to enhance accountability, transparency and revenue.The seemingly challenges especially in tertiary institutions should be seen as a teething problem that will gradually vanish as the policy takes roots. MDAs should, therefore, exhibit patience and understanding, bearing in mind that Nigerians shall surely reap from the fruits of the policy, he said.Oba Rufus Aladesanmi, Chancellor of the institution, urged the graduating students to explore ways of self employment.Aladesanmi further urged them to contribute to the technological and economic development of the country. He observed that in spite of large number of students that applies for admission, few were being admitted due to few facilities.The chancellor called on stakeholders to urgently find both short and long term solutions to the problem. Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said that the institution was graduating 8,127 students for its 19th and 22nd convocation.He explained that the figure included 845 diplomas, 5,577 first degrees, 1,620 post-graduate diplomas and Masters and 85 students as Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D). Ibrahim further explained that out of the 5,577 first degree graduates, 32 obtained First Class, 1,203 Second Class (Upper Division) 2,702 Second Class (Lower Division), 1,481 Third Class and 136 Pass.On achievements made by the institution, Ibrahim said that 40 academic staff members had obtained PhD. degrees worldwide while many others were pursuing their Masters degrees. He said that the institution was constructing six news hostels and renovating the existing ones as parts of students welfare package. A former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako, has scored President Muhammadu Buharis proposed 2016 budget high, saying it is the bes... A former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako, has scored President Muhammadu Buharis proposed 2016 budget high, saying it is the best ever in the history of Nigeria.Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, Mr. Wammako said the proposed 2016 budget was the first in the history of civil rule in the country to give 30 percent allocation to capital projects.No civilian administration came nearer to 30 percent allocation to capital projects. This is really commendable.Past administrations mainly allocated everything to the recurrent vote. We must commend President Buhari for this populist-orientated budget, which will address infrastructure deficit in the country, he said.Mr. Wammako, who is currently a senator, noted that the thematic area of the budget is the issue of diversifying the economy, against the previous mono-economy budgeting.He argued that Nigerias first generation universities and other institutions in the country were not built with oil money, saying the country had been yearning for a leader who would take away his focus from oil revenues to diversify the economy.We are happy that we have a president who courageously seeks to address the issue of economic diversification.Remember, our old universities such as Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were not built with oil money. So it is obvious Nigeria can survive without oil revenues.The three major areas I highlighted agriculture, solid minerals and tourism will take Nigeria out of its problems when harnessed. We will forget about oil completely.The budget also gives a major check to address the educational challenges in Nigeria, including teacher quality, school enrolment and retention, training and retraining, among other issues.It will surely restore the glory of public schools and address literacy issues in this country. It may not be easy, but with good planning, these targets can be attained.In the over N6 trillion budget, only less than N1 trillion that is expected to come from oil sector. This means that we are looking inward, including sourcing for loan, which is part of governance.No government can survive without loan. America is the biggest debtor in whole world, just as it is the biggest economy in the whole world.Previously Nigeria took loan and misused it. But this time it is going to be used for the betterment of the people.Last year, $1 billion loan was collected, but what happened? The loan itself and our existing money, totalling $2.1 billion, were all stolen.If this money was invested in our economy, the story would have been different. The economy would have been more productive and buoyant.By and large, the budget addressed all the major challenges affecting Nigeria. I appeal to Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation to support this budget as it gives hope to Nigerians. Instead of calling it a budget of change, I will prefer to call it a budget of hope, the former governor added. The Federal Government has launched a special military operation code-named operation AWATSU against pipeline vandals in the country. ... The operatives of the special task force have also arrested 25 members of the gang of vandals operating at the Arepo in Ogun State and parts of Lagos State.The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said that the operatives also seized 50 vehicles belonging to the vandals in the ongoing operation in Lagos.He said that the military was taking proactive steps to curtail the activities of the vandals in the Lagos axis.Last year, the military took a decision after a meeting between the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to maintain a presence at the Arepo area following the killing of four policemen and 11 officials of the Department of State Services by suspected vandals.Abubakar said that the arrests and the seizures made by the military were responsible for the recent call by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, for the establishment of special courts to try vandals in the country.He also stressed that the military had done adequate deployment to ensure the protection of the nations pipelines in the country.He said, You see, we are taking proactive measures. As I speak to you, there is an operation called Operation AWATSU. We are doing enough in that place, if you follow what has been happening, there has been serious arrests and seizures.Just of recent, about 25 persons were arrested with 50 vehicles in Lagos. This operation is ongoing until we sanitise the whole general area and I believe we will do that because this is a very important axis that cannot be neglected, and whoever is doing this kind of thing is not a true Nigerian.And some of them were arrested and we will continue to do that. That is why the chief of Naval Staff canvassed for a special court to try such persons, so as to serve as a deterrent to others and that is the position of the Armed Forces.The Defence spokesperson urged the people of the host communities to the pipelines to cooperate with security operatives in protecting them. The resident Country Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI), Mr. Sentell Barnes, has noted that the opposition, People... The resident Country Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI), Mr. Sentell Barnes, has noted that the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a battered image before the public and need to re-strategize in order to gain the trust of Nigerians.This was revealed, Thursday, at a PDP Social Media communication Interactive Forum organized by members of PDP Social Media Directorate in Abuja.In his keynote address entitled: The Role of Communication in Party and Development, Mr. Barnes, stated that the 2015 general election was fought and won on the social media.He said that the then ruling party (PDP) lost the election because of its inability to recognize the power of social media and its failure to harmonize its communication channels and charged them to re-strategize if they must bounce back in future elections.Barnes said no party building task is more important than the development of a successful communications programme because it affects everything a party does.No matter what a political party does, if it does not have effective communication, it cant achieve much. PDP needs more strategic engagement to lose and unbundle any negative impression already created by the opposition. . What PDP should emphasize is to de-emphasize confrontational statements with the ruling party in order to change the narrative.Candidates should come down to the level of the electorates and have handshake with them, he added.The convener of the workshop, Mr. Deji Adeyanju told vanguard that the essence of the workshop was to gather party members to discuss how they can communicate better via social media platform, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).Also he stated that the meeting was to deliberate on issues that concern the party and the challenges in the face of what he called the deliberate plan by the ruling party to crush the main opposition party, (PDP).He alleged that the present administration had a grand plan to silence every dissenting voice in the country and called on the Civil Society Organizations not to be intimidated but join hands with the PDP to offer an effective opposition to the ruling party before it derails into anarchy.We have found out that there is a deliberate plan to crush the party by the presidency. The Presidency has virtually silenced every dissenting voice in the country, but has not been able to silence the social media.Our plan is also to make better use of social media. We have received threats because of our open criticism of government. We intend to find ways that this become basic of our future actions. It will help the party in the use of social media, shaping all our platforms, forums, and to ensure that things are done in a more professional manner. This is why we are calling on the CSOs not to grow cold but stand up and refused to be intimidated.Adeyanju, who declared the partys support for the war against corruption cautioned that for the fight to be credible and sustained, it has to be fought without flagrant disregard to the rule of law.I want to promise Nigerians to expect effective opposition to the ruling party from now henceforth. Our message to the ruling party is that they should no longer heap blames on us instead they should start building infrastructure and fulfilling all their promises. Nigerians dont want change of promise, he added.A member of the PDP Social Media Directorate, Churchhill Umorien, told vanguard that the workshop was designed to empower their members to be able to engage the ruling party in a more professional manner on issues of national interest without necessarily dwelling on sentiment.We dont have to criticize the government out of sentiment but with facts. We are going to rebrand the party, create a new narrative for the party. As much as we support the ant-corruption war, it has to go in tandem with rule of law.We are proud of our party for its achievements in creating the middle class in the last six years, growing the economy and infrastructure rejuvenation. I am aware that the government would have done better should we had won the 2015 general election unlike the present administration which is now killing jobs and increasing poverty because they do not have plans for the country.Meanwhile as part of its re-branding strategy to bounce back to power in 2019, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded plans to adopt direct primary election in all its future elections across the country.According to the party, the amendment was part of resolutions reached at its just concluded constitution amendment exercise in Abuja on WednesdayIt added that the idea was to evolve an all inclusive method of choosing party representatives in every general elections as a clear reflection of its slogan of transferring power to the people.One of the partys constitution amendment committee members, who disclosed this said the constitution drafting committee felt that the new method of primary election if adopted by the party would eliminate all external influence from godfathers, who usually choose unpopular candidates among the people. Toshiba to sell part of it's chip oerations to recover from a $1.3 accounting scandal. Tokyo: Japan's Toshiba plans to sell part of its chip business as it aims to recover from a $1.3 billion accounting scandal, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. The electronics conglomerate has started accepting bids, with early interest shown by the Development Bank of Japan, said the sources, who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to talk to the media. The state-owned bank has already invested in Seiko Holdings Corp's semiconductor operations. The sale would exclude Toshiba's mainstay NAND flash memory operations, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter and one person familiar with the discussions. On the block are businesses that handle system LSI and discrete chips, which are widely used in cars, home appliances and industrial machinery. The loss-making operations posted sales of 330 billion yen ($2.78 billion) in the year ended March 2015. A Toshiba spokesman told Reuters the company hasn't made a decision yet on the sale of its chip operations, while a spokeswoman at the Development Bank of Japan declined to comment. Following the accounting scandal, Toshiba has been focusing on nuclear and other energy operations, as well as its storage business, which centers on NAND flash memory chips used in smart phones. The Tokyo-based company, which is selling off non-core chip operations, plans to invest heavily in its flash memory production capacity in Japan to better compete with South Korea's Samsung Electronics. A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday granted bail to the National Publicity Secretary of the Peop... A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday granted bail to the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, in the sum of N300m with two sureties in like sum.The total bail sum is N600m.Metuh is already on remand in Kuje Prison by an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja with respect to charges of money laundering involving N400m, part of money meant for procurement of arms, which he collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.Justice Ishaq Bello, before whom Metuh was on Thursday arraigned on two counts of destruction of evidence while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation into the money laundering case, granted fresh bail to the PDP spokesperson on Friday.The judge ordered that the residences of the two sureties to be presented by the accused should be verified by filing of documents in that respect before the court.The application for bail was not opposed by EFCCs prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir.While arguing the bail application orally on Friday, Metuhs lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), anchored the application on provisions of sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 as well as sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.The judge in his ruling agreed with the defence that the offences the accused was charged with were bailable and he was presumed innocent until proved guilty.Metuh who was produced in court by prison officials on Friday is still in the process of fulfilling the N400m bail granted him by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. Thousands of Nigerian refugees, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon in 2014 to escape Boko Harm militants, have returned to the liberated n... Thousands of Nigerian refugees, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon in 2014 to escape Boko Harm militants, have returned to the liberated northeastern town of Gamboru only to find their homes and their livelihoods destroyed, residents and officials told AFP Friday.Over the past three days more than 15,000 Nigerians have crossed the 300-metre (yard) river bridge that forms the border with Cameroon, following calls by military and local leaders for residents to return, an official in Gamboru said.More are coming in everyday, he added.Boko Haram fighters seized Gamboru in violence-wracked Borno state in August 2014, forcing thousands to flee across the border to the town of Fotokol on the other bank of the river in northern Cameroon.Chadian forces reclaimed Gamboru in February last year, after intense fighting that left hundreds of insurgents dead, as part of a regional military coalition put together to crush the Islamist group which has become a threat to regional security.We found a looted and burnt out town which is shadow of its former self, said Abacha Mari, one of those who returned to Gamboru on Wednesday.More than nine-tenths of the buildings in the town have been damaged by fire while the rest have been washed away by the rains, he added.Everything was looted and the streets are barely recognisable. Nobody found anything Gamboru has been repeatedly targeted in the Boko Haram insurrection which has cost the lives of 17,000 people in Nigeria and made over 2.5 million homeless since 2009.Although Boko Haram were forced out of Gamboru 11 months ago, the refugees say there are only now beginning to feel confident enough to return because the Nigerian army has sent a large contingent to the town.The return of the refugees is being coordinated by Cameroonian soldiers and local officials in Gamboru, the returning residents said.The Nigerian refugees and their belongings were screened at the Cameroonian side of the bridge by soldiers using sniffer dogs to detect explosives before they were allowed cross back into Nigeria where officials were ready to welcome them and provided them with the necessary papers for their return.Returning residents scoured their empty homes in the vain hope of finding any personal effects neglected by Boko Haram.Nobody found anything in their homes which have been looted and burnt, said returnee Ibrahim Wanzan.The destruction that they found came as no surprise. Some of the refugees had already visited Gamboru under the protection of Chadian soldiers in February 2015 and described it then as aghost town.A key source of the locals livelihood, the market, has also been destroyed. It formerly attracted traders from neighbouring Chad and Cameroon.Our main problem is food and how to rebuild our homes, Wanzan said.The returned residents have been living on the food they brought from Fotokol and desperately hope to receive aid from the Nigerian government before supplies run out, Mari said.The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) plans to send aid to Gamboru in coming days.We are aware of the return of thousands of Gamboru residents from Cameroon and we are working to send relief items to them in the next few days, a NEMA official told AFP. With Jose Mourinho gone and Chelsea languishing, Premier League leaders Arsenal have an opportunity to assert their supremacy over their... With Jose Mourinho gone and Chelsea languishing, Premier League leaders Arsenal have an opportunity to assert their supremacy over their London rivals in Sundays encounter at the Emirates Stadium.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger managed just one win against his former Chelsea counterpart Mourinho in 15 attempts, and that came in this seasons Community Shield.Mourinho took special delight in goading Wenger, who he famously labelled a specialist in failure, but the Portuguese is now out of the picture following his December sacking and with Chelsea 19 points off the pace in 14th place, Arsenal have a chance to hammer home their advantage.Even if Chelsea are not in the best position, look at their squad, said Wenger, whose side lead Leicester City on goal difference.Its a big game because of the quality of the players on the pitch. It has a big importance to us as well. We play at the Emirates and we know how important it will be to win this game.Arsenal have already beaten Manchester City, Manchester United and surprise contenders Leicester this season and victory over Chelsea would further enhance their title credentials.It would also bring a satisfying conclusion to a run of matches against teams who have tended to give Arsenal problems during the Wenger era.At Anfield, the scene of a season-defining 5-1 drubbing in February 2014, they secured a 3-3 draw that would have been a 3-2 victory had Joe Allen not equalised for Liverpool in the final minute.Last time out at Stoke City, a sensitive Arsenal destination ever since the gruesome broken leg sustained by Aaron Ramsey there in 2010, Wengers men recorded a 0-0 draw that kept them top of the standings.Arsenal have not been able to put distance between themselves and the chasing pack, but with Liverpool having gone 2-0 up against them and with United, City and Chelsea having all lost at Stoke since early November, they were not results to be sniffed at. We cant be patient Chelsea continue to occupy a special place in Arsenals nightmares and won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the teams last meeting in September despite picking up just 11 points from their first 12 games.The last encounter at the Emirates, meanwhile, saw Mourinhos side ignore the home fans chants of Boring, boring Chelsea! to grind out a 0-0 win that kept them on course for last seasons title.Nine months on, it is Arsenal who are in pole position in the title race and they have been emboldened by the news that key attacking players Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez could both return from injury.Ozil is expected to start after sitting out the trip to Stoke with a minor foot problem, while Wenger is hopeful that Sanchez will play some part after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury.Chelseas interim manager Guus Hiddink also had positive news on the injury front, revealing on Friday that Eden Hazard could feature after missing three games due to a groin problem.Diego Costa is fit, too, despite bruising his shin in the 3-3 draw with Everton and can expect a choice reception after goading Gabriel into kicking him in Septembers fixture, which saw the Brazilian sent off.Last weekends madcap draw with Everton, in which John Terry equalised from an offside position eight minutes into added time, extended Chelseas unbeaten run under Hiddink to six matches.But with Chelsea having drawn four of their five league games under the Dutchman, he is eager for them to start putting victories on the board.We want full results, Hiddink said. We cant be patient, saying well get better in four weeks. No. We have to perform now.Wed like a result at the Emirates. Everyone in this club has to be realistic about where we are in points, compared to the relegation zone and Europe. We are not panicking, though, and looking too far forward. SEA ISLE CITY -- Already inundated with flooding issues, a fire broke out Saturday afternoon near Avalon Coffee Co., according to reports. The severity of the fire at the business along Landis Avenue near 42nd Street was not immediately clear, but Mayor Len Desiderio told CBS3 that no injuries had been reported. The business also neighbors Jamaican Me Crazy department store and apartment buildings are located directly above. A photo posted online by the Sea Isle Chamber of Commerce showed thick gray clouds rising from a soggy scene. From Wildwood to Cape May, coastal flooding was a major concern as the Jan. 23 blizzard affected much of the East Coast. One Cape May business owner said the flooding was worse than what Hurricane Sandy brought to shore. "No one is safe from the flooding," Sea Isle City's mayor said Saturday afternoon. According to NBC10, the tide was receding when the blaze broke out. Video from the scene showed firefighters spraying water through a 2nd-floor window while water flowed along the nearby streets. Firefighters are currently fighting a structure fire at Avalon Coffee. Stay safe everyone #seaisle #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/Fg65yuIS21 Sea Isle Chamber (@SeaIsleChamber) January 23, 2016 Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. recess.jpg Gov. Chris Christie pocket vetoed a bill that would have required a daily 20-minute recess in New Jersey elementary schools. (Photos by Jerry McCrea and Jae C. Hong) -- Gov. may have in New Jersey elementary schools, but the playground battle isn't over yet. Responding to Christie's comments that the recess bill was "stupid," the sponsor of the legislation said Friday that the governor was "way off mark." "A bill that promotes better learning, improved behavior, and good health by providing 20 minutes of daily recess to students is smart policy," said state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), who plans to reintroduce the bill. Christie pocket vetoed the bipartisan bill on Tuesday and called it "government run amok" on Wednesday. "Part of my job as governor is to veto the stupid bills," Christie said in Fox News appearance. "That was a stupid bill, and I vetoed it." Christie -- a Republican presidential candidate -- said the bill (S1594) would have required children play outdoors even on cold days or during inclement weather. But Turner said that's not true. The bill's exact language says "the recess period shall be held outdoors, if feasible." Christie's office provided suggested language changes that Turner included in the final version of the bill, she said, and she's quite certain he understands the bill doesn't require children to play outside in bad weather. "However, Gov. Christie has a habit of not only being misleading, but also bombastic, so it is no surprise that he would try to pull the wool over the public's eyes," Turner said. Turner went on to criticize Christie for his dismissal of Michelle Obama's healthy school lunch program. Christie previously said he supported Obama's goal, and Turner accused him of flip-flopping and pandering to the Republican base as he runs for president. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Screen Shot 2016-01-22 at 7.40.24 PM.png Members of the newly formed "Newark Unity" slate, who are seeking seats on the NEwark School Advisory Board in an April election. From left: Leah Owens, Octavio "Tave" Padilla and Kim Gaddy. (Courtesy of Newark Unity) NEWARK -- With school board elections just three months away, a number of seasoned rivals in the city's highly charged education debate have decided to lay down their arms. A surprising partnership between Mayor Ras Baraka, charter school advocates and other local political heavyweights has produced the "Newark Unity" slate -- a rainbow coalition aimed at diffusing the hostile rhetoric that often arrives part and parcel with campaigns for city office. "Political bickering amongst adults doesn't serve children well. When adults bicker politically, children are caught in the crossfire," said Muhammad Akil, Executive Director of the Parent Coalition for Excellent Education (PC2E), which helped coordinate the ticket. "At the end of the day, all the camps wanted to do what was right." The slate represents interests from across Newark's political landscape, including an increasingly mobilized bloc of charter school supporters represented by Kim Gaddy - an environmental justice organizer and former who has served on the school board and as chief of staff to Council President Mildred Crump. Leah Owens, a former Central High School teacher and an organizer with New Jersey Communites United - an organization that has been among the most vocal critics of state-backed school reform efforts - will run on behalf of Baraka's "Children First" team. Octavio "Tave" Padilla will represent For Our Kids, backed by Councilman Anibal Ramos and other North Ward officials. Padilla works in the recreation department at the city's North Ward Center and served as chief of staff to former Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. In past elections, both Children First and For Our Kids have fielded three-person tickets to engage in often-heated battles between the city's rival political camps. "Over the years it's just been this clash that has taken the focus off of quality education," said Anthony Salters, a local political operative who helped coordinate Newark Unity. "That's one thing that all three of these leaders have agreed on, that the focus needs to be on quality schools and quality education for all Newark students." The cooperation comes as an added surprise given the recent public clashes between Baraka and education reform group over his request to halt the expansion of local charter schools until the state agrees to fully fund their public counterparts. In a statement, the mayor acknowledged that he still shares "fundamental disagreements" with other backers of the slate, but said the dire state of school finances in Newark required that they be put aside. "At this time we need to overcome our differences, to work together, to unite to ensure that all of our children get the very best education," he said. "We must move beyond the fighting, ideological wars and turmoil." MORE: N.J. Education News Lavar Young, Newark City Director for the Black Alliance for Education Options, said he hoped the move might help boost efforts to eliminate glaring disparities in resources between public and charter schools. "The only way we are going to eliminate these disparities is by working together," he said. The trio of Newark Unity candidates will compete for seats currently held by board members Ariagna Perello, Khalil Rashidi and Rashon Hasan -- all of whom ran on the Children First slate in 2013. Various other hopefuls on all sides of the public-charter debate had already begun fundraising and laying groundwork for campaigns of their own, though it remains to be seen whether the new slate might affect those plans. Owens, Gaddy and Padilla all claim experience in both education and politics -- backgrounds that are likely to be come in handy as the city moves closer to regaining local control over its schools after more than 20 years of state oversight. The winners of the April 19 election will win terms though 2019, by which time the board is likely to shed its current advisory status and assume true governing power over the district. "We want candidates who have the capability to manage a nearly billion dollar budget," said Akil, who promised that P2CE, which bills itself as an advocacy organization, would play no direct role in the campaign. "We think that this slate is the first step." Salters said the candidates on the unity ticket would not be pressured to mold their views on the future of Newark's school system into a cohesive platform. Instead, they had agreed only to run a campaign that values respect over rancor. "These three organizations are coming together to change the conversation," he said. "We think it's a tremendous step in the right direction." Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Octavio Padilla's workplace. Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find DISCLAIMER: concerning the following links ... I do not espouse to all of the beliefs expressed in the following links; I do however, agree on their views against: the literal pre-existence of the Messiah, the diverse trinity doctrines, the deity of Jesus Christ, & the diverse oneness doctrines. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 'His eyes were open and he was laying there motionless' 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. 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. The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is asking state regulators to dramatically reduce NIPSCO's request for an electric rate increase expected to raise a typical customer's bill by 11.5 percent. Overall, the Consumer Counselor is asking that NIPSCO's request for new annual operating revenues of $126.6 million be slashed to nearly one-tenth of that amount. Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor David Stippler said the facts show the utility is essentially financially healthy due to a rate hike approved in 2011 and its multiple bill surcharges. The modest rate increase which we recommend today will help ensure that the utility has the revenue necessary to provide safe, reliable electric service throughout northern Indiana," Stippler said. NIPSCO has said it needs the rate increase to pay for upgrades installed since its last rate hike, including $95 million in distribution upgrades and a $90 million meter replacement program. "Improving service for customers is our primary focus, and we want to work toward determining rates that are fair to customers and the company," NIPSCO spokesman Nick Meyer said. "Customers should and do have a voice in the review process, which is reflected in the OUCC's filing." The Consumer Counselor noted Friday that it had forwarded 170 comments from the public to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The Consumer Counselor is asking the commission to deny entirely NIPSCO's request to hike the fixed customer charge on monthly residential bills to $20 from its current $11. Separate from NIPSCO's request for a rate hike, it also has asked the commission for permission to undertake $1.3 billion in electric system upgrades. That action could potentially raise customer bills by an additional 7 percent by 2022. The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is the state agency responsible for representing consumers in all cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Thrissur: Kerala Excise Minister K Babu resigned on Saturday hours after a Thrissur court ordered the Vigilance department to register an FIR against him in the bar bribery scam. He is the second minister to quit the Congress-led Ommen Chandy government after then Finance Minister KM Mani of Kerala Congress (M) resigned in November last over the multi-crore scandal, giving jitters to the UDF Government in Kerala ahead of the coming assembly elections. The allegation against former Finance Minister KM Mani was that he received a bribe of Rs 1crore from Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association (KBHA) for allowing renewal of bar licences between March 20, 2014 and April 3, 2014 while Babu was accused of receiving Rs 10 crore from KBHA for not raising the annual fees of bar licensees. Addressing a press conference here, Babu said he had handed over his resignation to Chief Minister Chandy and was quitting on moral grounds even though no FIR had been registered against him as of now. Earlier in the day, the Vigilance Court in Thrissur directed the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case against Babu over corruption charges against him in the scam. Terming the Vigilance court verdict as "unnatural", Babu said he would go ahead with legal proceedings to prove his innocence. In an apparent reference to the liquor policy of the UDF government to close down more than 700 bar hotels as part of its prohibition plan, he described himself as a 'martyr' for implementing a government scheme for the welfare of the society. He also claimed he was a 'victim' of conspiracy by bar owners who had incurred heavy loss and "who also got support of CPI(M)." Babu alleged that some bar owners had met at the residence of a CPI(M) MLA's house on the evening of December 15 in the "presence of CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan". "A conspiracy was hatched against me after over 730 bars were closed," he said adding he had been an MLA for 25 years and had come from a humble background. "I had always maintained that I will not stick on to power on technical grounds," he said. Working President of Kerala Bar Owners Association Biju Ramesh had alleged that Rs 10 crore was given to Babu for renewal of licences of liquor bars. It was on his allegations that the Vigilance had filed a case against Mani. GARY Leaders at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy have decided to appeal the school's non-renewal of its charter. The charter school, which was first chartered in 2003, was issued a statement Jan. 15 from its authorizer, the Office of Charter Schools at Ball State, that it was not in compliance with the one-year renewal letter it received last year. The letter said the school's charter would not be renewed when the charter expires June 30. The school has the ability to appeal the decision or search for another authorizer. Bowman leaders said the school serves approximately 1,300 students in grades kindergarten through 12 on two campuses in Gary. The academy is managed by The Leona Group. Bowman board President Keisha White said the request for reconsideration by the university is founded on the genuine belief that the best interests of students and the community at large are enhanced by the continued operation of the school. "We look forward to working with the university, its Office of Charter Schools and its Charter Schools Hearing Panel, and the appointed Hearing Officer regarding the matters related to the reconsideration proceeding," White said. "Should the appeal be denied, the academy plans to begin its search for another authorizer. Closing the school that is home to so many in the community is not an option to the board and school leaders." The school will host a Town Hall meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at the junior-senior high school. VALPARAISO Locks and bars didn't stop East Chicago Councilman Robert Battle's inauguration. The newly sworn-in Battle can retain his public title and annual salary of $42,356 a year despite being held in Porter County Jail on federal drug and homicide charges. Michelle Fajman, Lake County elections director, said Friday she received a document stating Battle has been sworn into office for his new term as representative as East Chicago's 3rd District. She said she didn't know the circumstances around Battle's oath of office, but it was conducted by a notary public, who was identified by the Porter County clerk's office as someone who was in the Porter County Jail. Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, who couldn't be reached Friday for comment, said earlier Battle is in custody, and he would take no action to prevent the ceremony since he had no authority to do so. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service, which has custody over Battle, said earlier there are no rules restricting Battle's swearing-in. Battle ran unopposed in the November election, receiving 308 votes. State law requires elected officials to take the oath of office no later than 30 days after the beginning of their new term, which began Jan. 1 for Battle, or vacate the office. He has been in federal detention since his arrest Nov. 17. He is pleading not guilty to a five-count indictment alleging he possessed cocaine and marijuana and killed a street gang member as part of a drug-dealing conspiracy. Battle has said through his attorney that he shot Reimundo Camarillo Jr., 31, on Oct. 12 in self-defense. Authorities have said East Chicago's ShotSpotter technology recorded "methodical three shots" that Battle fired. Battle is scheduled to stand trial the week of Aug. 8, 2016. SPRINGFIELD In his first State of the State address last year, newly elected Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner told a joint session of the Democratic-controlled General Assembly that voters dont want partisan bickering, political infighting or personal conflict to get in the way of serving the needs of the families of Illinois. As Rauner prepares to deliver his second address Wednesday, the state is about to enter its eighth month without a budget, most of his ambitious pro-business, union-weakening turnaround agenda remains unachieved, and he has moved to have an impasse declared in contract negotiations with the largest state employee union. After a year characterized by the bickering and conflict Rauner said he wanted to avoid (particularly between the governor and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago), area lawmakers from both parties say they hope the governors speech focuses on resolving the budget standoff. Im hopeful that the governor will address a concrete fiscal path for the state, Rep. Adam Brown, R-Champaign said, adding that residents and businesses are looking for a light at the end of tunnel. However, Brown said he believes Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, are the real roadblocks to a budget deal, and he doesnt see a problem with Rauner focusing on other issues as long as they dont cost the state more money. His House colleague Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, sees things differently. Put everything aside, and lets talk about a budget so we wont hurt anybody else, Phelps said, noting that former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar has urged Rauner to do the same. The governor needs to quit playing politics, Phelps said. He noted that at news conference Thursday in Chicago, Rauner, who has nearly $20 million in his campaign fund, spoke of lawmakers needing to be called out and responded, You watch, when asked how that would happen. Right now, he is just governing by fear, Phelps said. Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said that a year ago, he was optimistic about the start of Rauners term. The tone was positive, Manar said. I think there was a general sense in the Legislature, based on personal meetings with the governor, personal conversations, that there was an opportunity to really begin to solve problems that had been facing the state for quite some time. Instead, he said, Rauner has focused on issues, such as curtailing collective bargaining rights, on which there is unlikely to be much common ground, making agreements more difficult to reach. It could change in an instant if the governor walked into the House chamber (and) struck a different tone that would send a clear message that hes here to compromise with Democrats, Manar said. But Kim Clarke Maisch, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said Rauner already has indicated a willingness to support a tax increase if Democrats back some of his agenda items. Those items include making workers compensation laws more favorable to employers, a key issue for members of Maischs organization. She said if the governor signs off on raising taxes without securing pieces of his agenda, he may not get another shot at enacting changes that would help businesses and the Illinois economy. I would anticipate the governor will double down on his agenda items, Maisch said. I think the governor has been very clear that he ... came to Springfield for a reason, and the biggest reason being we want to turn the state around from an economic standpoint. And I dont anticipate him backing down from that. The governors office didnt respond to a request for comment on his plans for the speech. Chris Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, said Rauner has amped up his rhetoric since the start of the year. In the past week, Rauner and Republican legislative leaders proposed a state takeover of the financially ailing Chicago Public Schools, and he used a news conference intended to announce an agreement with Cullerton on pension reform to call for removing salary increases from collective bargaining for state workers, though his staff later said he misspoke. And earlier this month, Rauner hinted at a plan to get out of court orders and consent decrees that are driving much of the states spending during the budget impasse. Its more rather than less of things that feed into the current stalemate, Mooney said. INDIANAPOLIS Barely 1 in 5 Indiana voters living in a municipality with a contested election last year bothered to cast a ballot, according to the secretary of state. State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron, believes that low voter turnout is due in part to Hoosiers not knowing it was an election year because only local offices were up for grabs. But, Aylesworth reasons, if municipal elections took place in even-numbered years at the same time as higher profile contests for U.S. president, U.S. senator or Indiana governor turnout would be much higher, and localities could save money by not having to pay their share of staffing and administrative costs for an off-year election. "Low voter turnout in small towns is not getting better, it's getting worse," Aylesworth said. "We need to have a larger turnout." To that end, Aylesworth is hoping state lawmakers will approve his House Bill 1061, which encourages municipalities to move to even-year elections by requiring them pay the full cost of an off-year election instead of sharing it with their county. His proposal was debated Wednesday by the House Elections Committee. Lawmakers seemed intrigued by the idea, but did not consider action on it to be particularly urgent since the soonest it could be implemented is 2019. Under the plan, municipalities would elect officeholders to either a one- or three-year term in 2019, and then would hold future elections in even-numbered years. State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, was among the committee members not entirely on board with Aylesworth's plan, suggesting it doesn't really give municipalities a choice since they'd be socked with the full costs of an election if they maintain odd-year voting. Moseley also said local races could get lost on an even-year ballot loaded with numerous other contests. Or, voters might leave without finishing their ballot if there are too many races, especially if Indiana gets rid of straight-ticket voting which automatically selects all the nominees of a political party. Aylesworth's proposal must win committee approval by Thursday to advance to the full House for a vote to send it to the Senate. LANSING The Lansing Elementary District 158 School Board is continuing a discussion it began last month regarding PARCC test results for the 2014-2015 school year. The PARCC assessment replaced the Illinois State Achievement Test. PARCC stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. Individual student results are to be sent home this month along with report cards. Superintendent Cecilia Heiberger addressed a letter to parents last month that indicated while the state percentage of students who met or exceeded expectations on the PARCC and DLM Alternative Assessments was 32.9 percent, only 16.7 percent of students in D.158 met or exceeded expectations. But she cautioned putting too much weight on those figures in part because it was the first time the PARCC test was given and also because D.158 students took the assessment via computers and technical glitches caused many to have to restart their work after being kicked out of sessions. Heiberger said more than half of students in the state who took the PARCC test used pen and paper, which did not allow for equal conditions across the board. Board member Philip Schumaker said a student who is not adept at using a mouse or familiar with drop-down menus would move at a slower pace through the assessment. D.158 principals on Wednesday presented to the board ways the district plans to work to increase future PARCC test scores. Strategies will include increased integration of PARCC-based technology skillls, more grade-level articulation among schools across the district, the addition of higher-level thinking and increased rigor in the curriculum, encouragement of participation in staff professional development opportunities and parental involvement. Board member Jeff Kiester resents that so many valuable education hours need to be used on preparing students for the PARCC assessment. "We're talking about spending more time to teach the children how to take the test so we can raise our test score," Kiester said. He said district teachers are doing a good job and learning is taking place. "It's the testing process that's bad and we're trying to adapt our teaching to a bad process," Kiester said. Those who want to learn more about district test scores can do so at upcoming events. "Each school will be hosting a Data Night where we will discuss our STAR and our PARCC scores," Memorial Junior High School Principal Keli Ross said. "And this will be a great opportunity for parents to get a little bit more information about their students and what their scores and their achievement means to them." Memorial Junior High School will hosts its Data Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Each of the district's elementary schools (Coolidge, Oak Glen and Reavis) will host theirs at 6 p.m. Wednesday. A chartered bus full of students and adults from St. Mary Catholic School in Griffith is heading home after being stranded westbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike more than 21 hours. The 28 eighth-graders and dozen adults were on their way back from March for Life in Washington, D.C., when their bus got caught in the middle of Winter Storm Jonas, which buried the East Coast in snow. "We are finally rolling," Barney Begeske said via cellphone about 6 p.m. Saturday. "Now, it's home sweet home." Begeske is one of the parents chaperoning the trip. Initially, they anticipated the bus would start moving again Sunday morning. Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa, a St. Mary's parishioner, texted David Kane, Indiana's Homeland Security Director, about the situation. The agency reached out to emergency officials in Pennsylvania to notify them. Emergency management officials in Pennsylvania placed a priority service request on the situation. Within an hour, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence called Ryfa and Begeske to let them know the state was doing what it could to help. "It's nice to see government work for a change," Ryfa said. "I'd like to thank Gov. Pence and the members of his staff and the state agencies that contacted Pennsylvania. We hope and pray for a safe trip the rest of the way home." The bus is expected to arrive back in the Region about 3 or 4 a.m. Sunday. "Father (Theodore) Mens is going to have Mass on the bus while we're traveling," Begeske said. Passengers were able to exit the bus and walk to a nearby service stop to use the restroom. A local fire department brought food and water to the bus Saturday afternoon. The bus had heat, and passengers were able to keep their phones charged. The most difficult part was not being able to get information from emergency officials, Begeske said. "We couldn't get an answer from any governing body," he said. When Indiana's homeland security intervened, "then things started happening for us," he said. "Governor Pence was gracious enough to give us a call. He caught wind of our situation and he wanted to make sure everything was fine." Begeske is proud of how the students and chaperons handled the situation. "It's been a little stressful," he said. Another group from Illiana Christian High School is still en route home after its own treacherous trip through Pennsylvania, with 48 students expected to arrive home late Saturday. Illiana Christian's two buses hit gridlock as well on Friday in Pennsylvania. Unlike St. Mary, however, they were able to get out of the state and were a few hours from home in Ohio as of Saturday afternoon, senior Amanda Van Kalker, 18, said. "No cars could get through," Van Kalker said. "We would wait two hours and move a couple inches, wait another hour and move a couple of inches." Both schools made the trip to take part in Friday's March for Life in Washington. The Illiana Christian contingent left the capital at 3 p.m. and were only three hours into their drive when they couldn't go farther. The St. Mary group also left early after Friday's event to try and get ahead of the weather, Begeske said. But by Friday night, the turnpike had turned into a snowy parking lot, as the blizzard dumped snow in several states. They could not get past New Buena Vista. "There was a traffic incident on the turnpike and that shut everything down," Begeske said. Illiana Christian history teacher Jeff White said the bus with 48 students and two adults got stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for about five hours while a second bus with 20 adults was stuck for nine hours. "We thought we had the storm behind us and then there was an accident on the turnpike and the storm caught up to us," White said. When that bus finally got out, it went to a rest stop and waited four hours for the second bus to arrive. Van Kalker said while the bus kept them warm, they did get hungry. "At first everyone was down about it, but you learn to make the best of it and just enjoy your time with each other," Van Kalker said. Besides the march, students from both parties visited some sites in Washington, D.C. "We kind of all learned from this experience you can't control the circumstances but the Lord has a plan and he will see you through," said Van Kalker, of Dyer. The Associated Press contributed to this report. GARY A 22-year-old man is accused of shooting another man six times earlier this month, police said. Dion Clayton, of Gary, was charged Friday with attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury to an endangered adult and battery committed with a deadly weapon. He was not in police custody as of Friday morning. The man was with two other people at 9 p.m. Jan. 15 outside of a home in the 1400 block of East 51st Avenue when someone began shooting at them from a black Chevrolet Impala, according to court records. One of the men who was with the shooting victim fired back at the Impala as it drove away. The man was shot six times in his legs and lower body. He was taken to an area hospital, and he is expected to recover from his injuries, Gary police said. A witness identified Clayton as the person who was seen inside of the Impala shooting at the men, according to the affidavit. Clayton was apparently angry, because one of the men is friends with a licensed gun dealer who refused to modify for Clayton a couple of handguns to make them fully automatic, according to court records. Anyone with information about Clayton's whereabouts is asked to call Gary Police Department Detective Sgt. William Fazekas at (219) 881-1210. Residents can also call the department's tip line at (866) CRIME-GP. VALPARAISO A special prosecutor has opted against pursuing a criminal case against state Rep. Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron, on allegations he was illegally inside a polling place for several hours on Election Day in November 2014. Senior Prosecutor David Thomas said even if it is true that a candidate cannot be in a polling area with credentials, "it is doubtful the alleged violation is 'reckless' as specifically required for the offense." Aylesworth, who was in session with the Indiana General Assembly last week, declined comment. Thomas said his decision is based on several factors, including that at least one polling place judge was aware of Aylesworth's presence and did not immediately challenge him. Aylesworth had credentials with him to be at the Boone Township polling place and immediately left when challenged by a deputy sheriff, Thomas said. There also were no allegations that Aylesworth disrupted the election process. "In combination, these factors make a successful prosecution doubtful, at best," Thomas wrote. J.J. Stankiewicz, the lone Democrat on the three-member Porter County Election Board, said the board lost control of the case when it turned it over to the prosecutor. Thus the case is over as a result of the prosecutor's decision, he said. Aylesworth, a former Porter County commissioner, former member of the County Council and former county GOP chair, is accused of using GOP-issued credentials to serve as a poll book holder within the Hebron Community Center where all five Boone Township precincts vote, Sundae Schoon, the Republican director at the county voter registration office said at the time. Poll book holders are appointed by party chiefs to observe who is casting ballots and then report back so others in the party can work to get more of their supporters to the polls, she said. Aylesworth was working at the site where he votes. The concern in this case is that Aylesworth was a candidate during that November 2014 election. Trent Deckard, Democrat co-director at the election division of the Indiana secretary of state's office, said at the time that candidates are not allowed to be inside a polling place on Election Day other than to cast their own ballots. The complaint was filed by Boone Township voter Mike Wheeler, who said he found Aylesworth inside the polling place at 1 p.m. and was told by the poll workers he had been there since 8 a.m. County police were sent to the site and asked Aylesworth to leave. The credentials Aylesworth used to access the polling place were signed by Porter County Republican Chairman Michael Simpson, who said at the time he was as surprised as anyone by news that one of his candidates was working inside a polling place. Simpson said he did not give Aylesworth the credentials and did not know how they ended up in his hands. The credentials were distributed by campaign workers in an approach that Simpson planned to abolish. He said he planned to hand them out himself to avoid further problems. "I just thought all my candidates knew the rules," he had said. Hyderabad: Agitating students of Hyderabad Central University today termed as "insulting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks over suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula even as the student's distraught family rejected the Rs 8 lakh ex-gratia relief offered by the institution. The students vowed to step up their stir and said the PM's "inaction" reflected his "political interests". The students also rejected an appeal by Minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha, who urged them to withdraw their agitation and assured them justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the sequence of events leading to suicide of Rohith. Giving a push to the agitation, Rohith's family rejected the ex-gratia amount and also criticised the NDA government for "delay" in its response in condoling his death. Rohit's mother Radhika, sister Neelima and brother Raju, who visited the restive campus, demanded that "those responsible for his death" be brought to book. "Not Rs eight lakh, we don't want even if you give Rs eight crore from HCU, where he died," Neelima said. Radhika said, "I want to know why he died. Those responsible should be punished...why he was suspended." "Smriti Irani (Union HRD Minister)...she called up after five days. Why it took five days. You are also a woman...you are also a mother...it took five days (to call up the family and condole the death)," Neelima added. Rohith's body was found hanging in a hostel room on HCU campus on January 17. All the seven students, including a girl, who have been on a hunger strike on the issue, were today shifted from the hunger strike camp to the HCU's health centre after their health condition deteriorated, even as the agitating students tried to prevent the officials from taking them away. Voicing "dissatisfaction" over Modi's remarks at a university in Lucknow on Friday, the JAC asked if the Prime Minister would now take action against his ministers. The Prime Minister had said, "When there is news that a youth of my country, Rohith, was compelled to commit suicide, what his family must have gone through. Mother India has lost a son. There will be reasons, there will be politics (surrounding it) but the fact remains that a mother has lost her son. I feel the pain very well," Modi had said. Responding to Modi's speech, JAC said, "It is highly insulting to have received a condolence statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has referred to Rohith Vemula as Bharat Mata's son. Joint Action Committee for Social Justice condemns in the strongest possible words, the appropriation of Rohith's politics." "Rohith Vemula and the other socially boycotted stood always against the Hindutva and Manuvadi politics which the BJP ministers proudly stand for," it said. Kushwaha, while addressing an event here, said the whole country was saddened by Rohith's death even as he appealed to the students to withdraw their agitation. Based on the report of the judicial commission, the HRD ministry would take necessary steps. "From the ministry, a two-member fact-finding committee looked into the matter and gave its report. There were some shortcomings as per the report. Based on the report, a judicial commission was set up for further inquiry. The commission will do its work and give report in three months. Based on it, the ministry will take necessary steps," he said. On the demands of the students for removal of the Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of cases against four of their colleagues, Kushwaha said, "University will look into that. There is no role of the ministry." Irani had on Friday sought to reach out to the family by speaking to Rohith's mother over phone and assured her that justice would be done on the basis of a judicial inquiry. WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military says American airstrikes likely killed two civilians near the Islamic State group's defacto capital of Raqqa, Syria, last July. That's on top of eight other civilian deaths the military acknowledged last week. U.S. Central Command said Friday that four other civilians were injured in three other July airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. It expressed regret for all the casualties. In last week's report, Central Command said eight were killed and three injured in a total of five airstrikes in Iraq and Syria between April 12 and July 4. Friday's statement said one additional civilian was killed in a July 4 airstrike against bridges near Raqqa, and one was killed in a July 11 airstrike near Raqqa that caused a secondary explosion from a vehicle crossing a bridge. INDIANAPOLIS It's disheartening that when solutions are available to combat Indianas methamphetamine crisis, as have been amply demonstrated in Oregon and Mississippi, Indiana lawmakers and the governor look the other way. A U.S. map published by the Drug Enforcement Administration titled 2014 Meth Clandestine Laboratory Incidents tells a stunning and revealing story. Oregon went to a prescription rescheduling of pseudoephedrine in 2006, and meth lab busts plummeted from 192 in 2005 to seven in 2014. There was a similar 83 percent drop off in Mississippi, which the DEA shows reported two incidents in 2014. And Indiana? A disgusting 1,471 out of the 9,338 clandestine meth labs reported for the entire United States. Law enforcement officials in Indiana will tell you only a fraction of the actual meth labs are discovered, shut down and prosecuted. What made the impact in Oregon and Mississippi? The rescheduling of pseudoephedrine. This made an announcement last week by Indiana House Public Health Committee Chairwoman Cindy Kirchhofer one of neglectful proportions. Kirchhofer said she would not hear HB1390 by State Rep. Ben Smaltz. Indiana leads the nation in domestic methamphetamine production for the past three years. And at what cost? According to the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana has dismantled 4,477 meth labs since 2013 and rescued 1,104 children living in meth lab environments. In the first nine months of 2015, there were 1,302 meth lab incidents involving 278 children. Worth repeating is something that Kendallville Police Chief Rob Wiley explained last November: While 362 children were removed from meth manufacturing homes in 2014, There are about 10 times that many, meaning that another 3,600 kids or so are living in dangerous and lethal conditions that authorities havent reached. So how are Gov. Mike Pence and the Indiana General Assembly responding? When I asked Gov. Pence about rescheduling PSE in December, he acknowledged that Meth is part of the equation but added, Frankly, heroin is the scourge that is tearing at the fabric of communities and families across the state. He has taken no position on PSE rescheduling, but said, I think in this session what youre going to see is our administration supporting efforts to make sure that we are incredibly tough on drug dealers. Pence wouldnt address the rescheduling solution, and neither would his Democratic opponent, John Gregg, though he told me that the current system is not working. The logic here is stunning: Lets not restrict the flow of meth ingredients, but, instead, lets throw the book at the drug dealers once theyre done making the product. Speaker Brian Bosma told me the same thing in November. I am a fan of putting it on a prescription. I know that its controversial with many folks, but I would be more than pleased to have pseudoephedrine as a prescription drug because even with our sophisticated tracking system in place, they (meth cooks) are getting multiple purchasers to travel from spot to spot, Bosma said. Its not working. Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove, told the Associated Press last week that there wasnt enough support in her committee to advance the legislation. But that changed earlier this week as Smaltz told me that HB1390 will now get a hearing, though a vote is not yet promised, at 9 a.m. Monday. The Auburn Republican has made changes, one of which would allow a patient of record to purchase PSE from a pharmacist. A person not a patient of record would only be allowed to buy a small portion of tamper-resistant PSE via a prescription. Asked what changed, Smaltz cited Speaker Bosma, saying, I am confident the speaker supports fighting meth labs. He wants all of the bills heard. He wants a solution, everything out of the box. I feel great support. I am certain my bill is alive because of his leadership. Without a solution like HB1390, everything else is a half measure. Tiny steps rule because retail councils and consumer health product lobbyists fear a crimp in sales. It is profits before public safety. Those fighting the rescheduling say that 90 percent of the meth in Indiana comes from Mexico, something Rep. Smaltz vehemently disagrees with. I have read Department of Justice reports going back to 2005, and nothing backs that up, Smaltz said. Smaltz points to an interactive state meth map (http://www.in.gov/meth/2371.htm) which actually geographically reveals meth lab addresses in Indiana. Check out the meth labs and toxic homes in your neighborhood. What Hoosiers need is leadership to build consensus. There are proven solutions that have worked elsewhere. Political courage is required. A Times article recently covered Indiana Sen. Brent Steele's proposed bill to severely limit the use of cash bail bonds for those arrested of a crime. The current Indiana bail system has worked for hundreds of years, and the changes proposed are dangerous and not well examined. I hope legislators from Northwest Indiana will resist attempts at change. A cash bond guarantees appearance at future court hearings more than any other type of bail bond and certainly more than outright release. A cash bond is a financial investment in future appearance. Because a majority of arrested defendants are ultimately guilty and liable for court costs and the multitude of other fees assessed by the very legislator seeking to abolish cash bonds, the bonds help a defendant comply with the mandatory obligation of paying court assessments. If the downstate legislative author would like to abolish court costs, probation user fees, alcohol and drug mandatory countermeasure fees, community service fees, public defender reimbursement fees, court interpreter reimbursement fees, alcohol and drug counseling fees, jail inmate fees, GPS monitoring fees, domestic violence fees, anger management programming fees and the other nine or 10 fees, mandated costs and assessments to be paid as a result of a conviction, as a judge I would be more than happy to support the legislation and release all defendants from jail on their "promise to appear." The Legislature has made judges bill collectors, much to our dismay. It is especially crucial to collect costs and fees when agencies and their employees are dependent upon judges to maintain high collection levels for their very existence. Despite the affront to constitutional notions, in reality a cash bond simply helps me as "collector-in-charge" do my judicial job and maintain those criminal justice agencies dependent upon user-based funding, considering the state fails to give us much economic support. It may come as a surprise to the senator that many of those arrested are not trustworthy to appear in court in the future, much as we would like to believe. And to the dismay of your constitutional notions, many are arrested multiple times while charges are pending. Should we release them on a "promise to appear?" If those released without posting financial security later plead guilty and do not pay the multitude of costs imposed by the Legislature, their probation is revoked. Then they can be jailed, if shown they have the ability to pay and failed. Would the senator like their jails to be overcrowded with probation violators for non payment of costs? Does the senator believe Chicago, Ohio or Indianapolis defendants crossing through Porter County and arrested for a crime, then released on a "promise to appear," will make the tedious trip to Valparaiso or Portage courts to attend to their legal matter? Who extradite them if they fail to appear? The court's failure-to-appear statistics will be off the chart if cash bonds are legislatively outlawed. The courts currently enjoy an amazingly good appearance rate with our current system of cash bonds. In Porter County, each court reviews a list of those arrested weekly to determine who has not bonded and why. We assess each arrested person for possible release with conditions. Public defenders are immediately appointed to make appropriate arguments for release or to lower an existing bond or release time-served. The Porter County jail population during the Christmas holiday was a mere 375. Before initiating our program, it had been as high as more than 550. If the senator wants to help the courts do our job better and smarter, he can seek funding for better pretrial community correction programs, which have been shown to work. But without cash bonds, even these programs will fail for lack of funding because ultimately nothing exists for free. There may be some offenses such as minor drinking, driving suspended or simple possession that call for release pending trial without bond. But picking and choosing certain crimes to bond or release is a slippery slope of prioritizing one crime over another. Every year, judges in Indiana have come to look with fearful dread at the myriad bills proposed in the Legislature that make our jobs tougher. It appears 2016 will be no different. This bill to abolish cash bail bonds seems to be the 2016 version of the annual legislative mistake. GARY A woman shot to death earlier this month in front of her home had only been divorced for months when she met Kevin Riley on a dating website, a relative said. April Bailey's cousin, Demeatris Terry, said he seemed like a quiet person who mostly stayed in Bailey's bedroom while everyone else socialized. They knew him as "K.G.," not Kevin Riley. She said Bailey, 39, knew Riley had spent time in jail, but she thought it was for drug charges. Riley, 37, of Gary, had in fact spent about half of his life in prison. According to court records, he admitted molesting a 10-month-old toddler Aug. 24, 1995 in an East Chicago home, then stomping on and -- ultimately killing -- the child trying to quiet him down. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal deviate conduct. He was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. This week, Riley was charged with murdering Bailey. She was shot in the face Jan. 13 outside of her home in the 4700 block of Delaware Street in Gary. Terry said Bailey's teenage son held his mother in his arms after the shooting. She died at the scene. Less than a month before the homicide, the Lake County probation department withdrew a petition to revoke Riley's probation. He allegedly failed to register as a sex offender and had not paid $350 in probation costs. Terry said the family is still reeling from the homicide. Early Friday, the home Bailey had lived in with her children caught on fire, leaving family members wondering if the fire was meant to intimidate witnesses in the case. Gary Fire Department Chief of Operations Mark Jones said firefighters were called at 2:30 a.m. Friday to the home where Bailey lived. He said the home was badly damaged by the fire. The building at the time was vacant, and there were no reported injuries. Jones said the fire appears to be suspicious, but it's still under investigation. Bailey's daughter, Shamanda Moncrief, said she is working to raise enough money to bury her mother. A wake had been scheduled for Sunday at the House of Robinson Funeral Home in Gary, but she was skeptical if it would happen. Moncrief, 23, said the family was short about $1,800 to pay for the funeral expenses. Terry said the family did receive some financial support from a state agency to help pay for funeral expenses, but they were still in need of money. The family has created an online fundraising page, www.gofundme.com/npkh5hmc, hoping to get enough money for the funeral. Bailey had eight children, five of them were raised by her family in Mississippi. She had three children under the age of 18 who were living with her in Gary when she was killed. Moncrief said she moved to the area when she was 16, because she wanted to get to know her mother despite negative comments people had made about her. "She was a helpful person," she said. "She always smiled and she loved everybody. She helped people the best way she could." Terry echoed Moncrief's comment, describing Bailey as more of a sister than a cousin. "April was the type of person, if you need her, she got you," Terry said. "She's not one of those fake people that talks behind your back. A lot of people took advantage of her." Terry, who lives in Milwaukee, said she spoke to Bailey multiple times a day. On the day she was killed, Terry said Bailey had gone to the store to buy groceries and was excited about cooking a meal for her children. According to court records, a tan vehicle with dark-tinted windows arrived outside of Bailey's home after she returned from the store. Bailey was seen speaking to a woman when Riley got out of the car and shot Bailey, according to court records. Terry said Bailey had stopped dating Riley who had moved on and was dating other women. Terry suspects the woman Riley was with that day thought Bailey was still dating Riley. "She is resting now," Terry said. "No one can harm her anymore. I don't understand why she left me, why she's gone. I miss her." CROWN POINT Porter County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Thode has been appointed to preside over the pending criminal case of Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington. According to court records filed this week, Thode was appointed as a special judge to preside over the case. The appointment was made after Lake County Superior Judge Julie Cantrell recused herself from the case, citing the power Washington holds over her court budget. Special Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Levco was also previously appointed to prosecute the case. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter also recused his office, citing the same reasons as Cantrell. Washington was charged last month with two counts of strangulation, Level 6 felonies, and domestic battery, a Level 6 battery. He was later additionally charged with invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly texted his wife and tried to see one of his children days after a protective order was issued. The original charges stem from Dec. 3 when he allegedly hit his wife and his then co-worker who was living with the couple at their Merrillville home. He allegedly hit the woman who works with him with a piece of wood trim, and he then attempted to strangle her, according to court records. He then knocked his wife down, hit her, bit her and tried to strangle her during an altercation at their home, according to court records. Washington, D-Merrillville, has maintained he is innocent of all pending charges. He remains a member of the Lake County council. Information about Washington's next court hearing was not immediately available. Guntur: Minister for medical and health K. Srinivas is the first minister to undergo treatment in a government hospital in the residuary AP state. The doctors successfully performed total knee surgery to Mr Srinivas at GGH in Guntur on Friday morning. The total knee replacement surgery to the minister was started at 8 am and completed at 9.40 am by a team of specialist doctors. Dr. M. Prashant head of orthopedic, GGH with famous orthopedic surgeon of CARE Hospital, Dr. B.V. Prasad and famous joint replacement surgeon of Sai Bhaskar, Multispecialty Hospital, Guntur, Dr. Busireddy Narendar Reddy performed the surgery to minister. Briefing media after the surgery, GGH superintendent Dr. D.S. Raju Naidu and Dr Prashant said that the surgery was grand success which boosted the morale of hospital doctors and also increase confidence among common people about getting good treatment in government hospitals. They added that the health of the minister is stable and he spoke with the doctors after the surgery. They added that the minister will be discharged from GGH after three days. BJP MP Gokaraju Gangaraju visited GGH and inquired about the health of minister. He welcomed the decision of Mr Srinivas of undergoing treatment in GGH and announced that he also will take treatment in the government hospitals in the future. Agriculture minister P. Pulla Rao and Guntur collector Kantilal Dande visited GGH and talked with the minister through video facility and wished him of speedy recovery. PARIS It was both a new beginning and a return to the past for the designer Jason Basmajian, who presented his first collection for Cerruti 1881 on a dark, rainy Friday afternoon in a showroom off the Place Vendome. At least its not snowing, said one of the attendees as he shook the rain from his expensive-looking blazer, a reference to the snowstorm working its way up the East Coast that many of the Americans here for mens fashion week seem to be obsessing over. Mr. Basmajian, appointed to the creative directors post in October after three years at the venerable British house Gieves & Hawkes, said that with his initial collection he wanted to stay faithful to the vision of the companys founder, Nino Cerruti. Yet many cited the larger concerns that remained over Chinas slowing economy and whether its government will manage its transition from an economy focused on industry and exports to one that derives most of its growth from consumption. And many worried that an unintended consequence of President Xi Jinpings anticorruption campaign would be continued disruption of the financial markets. Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, touched on these points during a debate at the start of the conference. Chinas biggest problem today was how its government communicated with the rest of the world, Ms. Lagarde said. I would say also that given those massive transitions that are undertaken pretty much at the same time and accepted as such, there is a communication issue, Ms. Lagarde said, adding, Its something that markets do not like. Last summer, unexpected actions by the Chinese government started a global sell-off in the markets. Some of those measures nearly brought the market to a standstill. At one point in July, a third of the stock market was frozen. Investors with big stakes in stocks were prohibited from selling those stakes. Hedge funds were raided and short-sellers investigated for what the government called malicious activity, according to state media reports. The government even organized large-scale purchases of stocks by government-linked brokerages and investment funds to prop up the plunging market. Many of these interventionist actions in the market were the exact replicas that many other countries, including the United States, have done in certain parts of their modern history, Gary D. Cohn, president of Goldman Sachs, said. The communication is really whats important here; communicating what the Chinese market is going to be and sticking with that theory no matter how painful it is in the transition, Mr. Cohn added. A creepy doll and a creepy house are the main ingredients of The Boy, a small-cast horror movie that spends a lot of time building itself into a psychological thriller, only to veer in a more literal direction at the end. It still has enough scary moments to satisfy horror fans, but youre left wondering whether it might have been more disturbing had it stayed on its original path. Lauren Cohan, of The Walking Dead, plays Greta, a young American woman who escapes a bad relationship by traveling to England for a job as a nanny to the son of an older couple (Jim Norton and Diana Hardcastle). Only when she arrives at their creaky, sprawling mansion does she learn that the lad, Brahms, is actually a porcelain doll, a surrogate for their son, who is said to have died years earlier in a fire. Whatever it might look like on the outside, the father tells her, our son is here. He is very much with us. The parents quickly bolt they desperately need a vacation, they tell Greta leaving her with Brahms and a detailed list of how to care for him. Alone in the giant house, except for an occasional visit from Malcolm (Rupert Evans), who delivers groceries, Greta undergoes a transition from thinking that the couple are bonkers to suspecting that the doll is indeed somehow alive. A woman who had traveled to New York with her daughter was shot and her daughter injured after they were robbed outside a hotel near Kennedy International Airport, the authorities said on Friday. The two women, whose names were not released, had come from Baltimore, and the daughter was preparing to leave for a trip abroad. They arrived just after 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Hampton Inn at 144-10 135th Avenue, near the Belt Parkway, in South Ozone Park, Queens, the police said. The mother, 53, went inside the hotel, and the daughter, 20, got into the drivers seat of their vehicle, when a man came up and demanded money from the daughter, the police said. She said she did not have any, and the man hit her on the head with his gun and stole four rings from her. The man then confronted the mother as she left the hotel, and he fired his gun once, hitting her in the torso, the police said. He ran off with her handbag and got into a white Volkswagen Jetta that sped away, driven by another man. Eva S. Moskowitz defended her Success Academy charter schools on Friday, two days after a group of parents filed a federal complaint accusing the network of discriminating against students with disabilities. The complaint, which was filed on Wednesday with the Office of Civil Rights at the federal Education Department, claimed that Success Academy repeatedly suspended and, in some cases, pushed out students with disabilities from its schools. It asserted that Success had repeatedly violated the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act by not offering alternative instruction to students with disabilities who were suspended, and by not holding hearings to determine whether the students behavior stemmed from their disabilities, and whether the schools needed to provide them with additional services. On Friday, speaking at a public policy breakfast at New York Law School, Ms. Moskowitz, the networks founder, offered a vigorous defense of her schools. She said that while Success had room to improve how it served students with disabilities, she had a fundamental disagreement with her critics about student discipline. Safety is the No. 1 reason parents want out of the district schools, she said. She said the networks discipline policies, including suspension for violent behavior, were necessary to ensure a safe and orderly environment in which children could learn. On Wednesday, the New Orleans police arrested Deonca Kennedy after her 3-year-old grandson was killed by a bullet fired from a gun under her pillow as the two slept. Ms. Kennedy, who was charged with negligent homicide and is indigent, qualified to have a public defender represent her. But the Orleans Public Defenders Office turned her down because, as it had announced on Jan. 11, it could no longer afford to take on serious new felony cases, including some involving murder, rape and armed robbery. Currently, the offices lawyers handle an average of 350 felony cases each year, more than twice the American Bar Associations guideline of 150. It is impossible for them to provide an ethical or constitutionally adequate defense for their existing clients under these conditions, let alone to take on even more. The situation is only getting worse, and the office imposed a hiring freeze because of a $1 million budget shortfall. Since the office represents about 85 percent of criminal defendants in New Orleans and nearly all defendants who are found to be indigent, the impact of the decision to decline new cases has been immediate. Already 15 defendants facing violent felony charges have been turned down. Until the state or the city comes up with money to pay for lawyers whom the Constitution requires the government to provide, these people, including Ms. Kennedy, are locked up in jail without lawyers to challenge their arrests, request reduced bail or file motions to preserve evidence. To the Editor: Re Some Inconvenient Gun Facts for Liberals (column, Jan. 17): Nicholas Kristof may be just a bit naive when he argues that our failure to address gun violence is partly because liberals antagonize gun owners and empower the National Rifle Association. I have been a student of and an advocate for the sensible regulation of firearms since 1968, when I served as assistant to the chairman of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, the commission conducted a landmark study of gun ownership and gun violence. I learned, as has everyone who has seriously worked to solve the gun problem, that the National Rifle Associations strategy has always been and always will be give em an inch and theyll take a mile. The N.R.A. has consistently reacted with full force to even the most modest proposals, claiming that any regulation will result in the confiscation of all firearms. The N.R.A. doesnt have to convince gun owners that its policies and actions are right; it just has to keep writing checks to members of Congress. I cant offer any grandiose pronouncements on the topic, and Im not an expert on the levels of domestic violence among veterans. But I can describe my own experience as someone with post-traumatic stress disorder. Before my deployment to Afghanistan in early 2009, I was stationed in Alaska. My fondest memories of that state involve volunteering at a bicycle co-op the summer before heading overseas. When my tour ended, it took about 10 days to get back to Alaska from Afghanistan. During the long periods of waiting, I daydreamed about what Id do upon arriving home. The co-op was high on my list. Within a week of my return in March 2010, I visited the co-op at its new, unfamiliar building. I found myself in a hot, loud and crowded room full of aloof young strangers. In that moment, I felt a sudden burst of panic, something completely unexpected. I felt as if I was going to die. I had to leave the room, to return to the safety of my truck parked outside in the snow. Something was very wrong; something about me was clearly defective. This was the first indication that life after combat wouldnt be the idyll I had envisioned during my 13 months overseas. And there would be plenty more: When I was confronted with a crisis, it began to feel as if someone had placed a magnifying glass over my normal emotional responses. At times Id be hyper-alert, at others so brain-fogged that no amount of stimulants could enliven me, and no amount of alcohol could relax me. However, for three years I refused to seek help. I did not want it to affect my military career. What those three years of denial entailed are scenes that I would much rather forget. Later, I realized that many of my friends had experienced similar moments: extreme reactions to emotional stimuli, hours of fear, weeks of hyper-vigilance. The common thread was not a tendency toward violence but rather toward self-hate. There were no flashbacks of combat. There was instead a sinking feeling that Id always be a downer, always on guard, never able to relax. It was the fear of being permanently broken. Given the brittle relations between the Obama administration and Israel, even truth-telling can ignite a firestorm. That happened this week when Daniel Shapiro, Washingtons ambassador in Tel Aviv, delivered a speech that drew unfair rebukes from Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his right-wing government. Speaking at a security conference, Mr. Shapiro said, correctly, that Israels quick-moving expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands raises honest questions about Israels long-term intentions and commitment to a two-state solution. What really enraged his critics was an observation that during a time of increased violence in Israel and the West Bank, Too many attacks on Palestinians lack a vigorous investigation or response by Israeli authorities, too much vigilantism goes unchecked, and at times there seem to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law: one for Israelis and another for Palestinians. A statement from Mr. Netanyahus office denounced the second comment as unacceptable and incorrect. Considering the relentless violence and attacks on Israels very existence, Israelis are understandably on high alert to defend themselves. On the day Mr. Shapiro spoke, an Israeli mother of six, who was killed by a Palestinian terrorist, was buried, and a pregnant woman was injured in a separate attack. But Palestinians have been victims of assaults and acts of vandalism by Jewish extremists, including an arson attack in July that killed a toddler and his parents in the West Bank village of Duma. None of this is acceptable. The criticism of Mr. Shapiro, a vigorous advocate for Israel, was unusually personal and unfair. He correctly identified a serious problem. Since 1967, there has been a dual legal system in the West Bank in which Palestinians are subject to military courts, where, experts say, they are almost always convicted. Israeli settlers fall under the Israeli civilian judicial system, with its greater rights and protections. The disparity is likely to become more acute if Israelis abandon the two-state solution in favor of a single state, as some in Mr. Netanyahus cabinet desire. To watch The X-Files in 2016 is a strange thing. The original television show was so much a child of the peaceful 90s that its easy to forget it actually limped along until 2002. Its best seasons aired after the Gulf War and before 9/11, and took place in a version of the United States where the government apparently had so few terrestrial problems to deal with that its highest priority was keeping its citizens in the dark about aliens. That America was never real, of course, but it feels especially far-off now. The post-X-Files era has brought with it not just the invasion of Iraq and the war on terror, but the rise of truthers and the politically inflected paranoia they spread. Conspiracy theorists now traffic in the idea that 9/11 was an inside job and that gun massacres like Sandy Hook are false flags cooked up so the government can confiscate guns. The rebooted X-Files, which premieres on Sunday, probably couldnt have ignored this development, and so spoiler alert it opts to embrace it, throwing the protagonists, Mulder and Scully, together with a conservative 9/11 truther named Tad OMalley, whos investigating a plot so vast that it includes nuclear bombs, alien-human hybridization and a takeover of the entire world using weather manipulation, junk food, the Patriot Act, military and police actions and, somewhat oddly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Early reviews have not been especially kind to the reboots first episode, and its perhaps best viewed less as a new entry into the X-Files canon than as a reminder of what was great about the original. Chennai: Recording the apology tendered by famous lyricist Vairamuthu, the Madras high court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by film financier S. Mukanchand Bothra, which requested the court to take action on its own motion against Vairamuthu for his alleged remarks against judges. We find that the speech is a general statement made by Vairamuthu and by no means could it be termed that the same was intended to malign a particular individual or institution, viz., the judges or the judiciary, but only an expression of the view that society is watching the judiciary, the watch-dog of the democratic system, with great respect and reverence and that it will hold the scales of justice aloft, said a Division Bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and P. N. Prakash. The bench said further Vairamuthu has clearly stated that he has absolute respect for the judiciary and an apology has also been tendered by him for the unintended hurt that his words may have caused, which shows that he has no disrespect for the institution as such and he holds the institution in high respect. A reading of the orders dated October 13 and 28, 2015, passed by this court makes it clear that the court was not exercising suo motu powers to entertain the petition. The Bench said, Since the court has not taken suo motu proceedings and in the absence of consent of the Advocate General, which is a condition precedent for entertaining such a petition, as has been held by the Supreme Court in a catena of decisions, we have no hesitation in holding that the contempt petition is not maintainable. Following a speech by Vairamuthu during a book release function on September 12, 2015, in honour of former judge P. S. Kailasam, Bothra filed the present petition. Moscow A BRITISH inquiry announced this week that Alexander V. Litvinenko, a Russian security officer turned defector who died in a London hospital of polonium poisoning in 2006, was probably murdered on the instructions of President Vladimir V. Putin. Thats little surprise. For more than eight years the world has suspected that the Kremlin was behind the assassination. (Just as surely, Mr. Putin has denied his responsibility. His spokesman Dmitri Peskov denounced the inquiry as a quasi investigation and an expression of the elegant British sense of humor.) In the years since Mr. Litvinenkos dramatic death by radioactive poison, Russias government has engaged in an array of brazen acts: cyberattacks on Estonia in 2007, the invasion of Georgia in 2008 and covert operations to annex Crimea and destabilize Ukraine in 2014. So was Mr. Litvinenkos assassination the start of a new era of dirty tricks? It may have seemed like a good idea at the time and probably in the immediate aftermath; the Russian government viewed it as a success that deterred others in the rich Russian emigre community of Londongrad from opposition activities. But the political price Moscow paid was considerable; it solidified the image of Mr. Putins Russia as a rogue state. Mr. Putin might like to act as if Russia is a world unto itself. Its not. Modern Russia is thoroughly integrated into global markets and institutions. It seeks foreign investors and partners abroad. Moscows elites vacation in Italy, bank in London and send their children to American universities. They cant afford the repercussions of transnational assassination plots. Huh? Such is, on occasion, my unhappy reaction upon leaving a show. But in the case of A Ride on the Irish Cream, it expressed my befuddlement going in. On the website of the Abrons Arts Center, where this new music-theater piece by Erin Markey is being performed, the precis of the plot describes it as a romance between a vainglorious self-made girl and her familys pontoon boat/horse. Whats with that slash? Surely, you can be either a pontoon boat although Ive never seen an actor portray one onstage, until now or you can be a horse. (Thats comparatively old hat.) How on earth can you be both simultaneously? Apparently, in the whimsical imagination of Ms. Markey, who wrote, created and stars in the show as that vainglorious girl, Reagan, all things are possible. Few, unfortunately, are comprehensible in this peculiar hybrid of rock concert, performance-art piece and quasi-musical. (Theres a small chorus line, and a smidgen of acrobatics and choreography.) Ms. Markey, sporting luscious Breck-girl locks cascading from a cute topknot, often addresses us directly, telling the story of Reagans upbringing by a river in Michigan. Hence the pontoon boat, which her parents acquire one day. The transgender actor Becca Blackwell also Ms. Markeys partner in life plays the pontoon boat, christened Irish Cream. In Reagans fantasy life, I guess, she fancies that the boat is also a horse, and falls in girlish love with it. Tell me what race dominates in those communities that get emergency managers? said Hubert Yopp, the mayor of Highland Park, Mich., which is 93 percent black and in past years has had an emergency manager. People have a very real reason to question what thats about. It would be one thing if the emergency managers worked with the local governments to make things better. But its about having dictator power in the city. The locals have no say. Some form of state-over-locality oversight exists in about 20 states, with laws allowing for an appointed manager or board to advise distressed cities and school districts, said Eric Scorsone, the director of the Center for Local Government Finance and Policy at Michigan State University. Central Falls, R.I., went into receivership for a year before it declared bankruptcy in 2011. New York City was steered away from fiscal collapse in the 1970s with the help of a financial control board. In New Jersey, Camden was under state supervision for seven years until 2010, while the Newark Public Schools are still under state control two decades later. Philadelphias public schools were taken over by the governor in 2001. This week, Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois, a Republican, said that he favored state oversight of the Chicago Public Schools, a measure that stands little chance of passing in a legislature controlled by Democrats. But Michigans law is among the nations most far-reaching, said Mr. Scorsone, a critic. When you have one voice, you essentially dont have checks and balances in a democracy, Mr. Scorsone said. The outcome in Flint has revealed some significant flaws in the process. Shes the type of person who seems to know everybody, Mr. Gladwell wrote. But beyond that, he added, she seems to know people from very different walks of life and has the personality to put the right combinations of them together. Her connections included Tony Bennett and Allen Ginsberg, Arthur C. Clarke and Dizzy Gillespie, the longtime congressman Sidney Yates and Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. The list also included doctors, lawyers, environmentalists, real estate moguls, politicians, activists and street peddlers. Mustering a potpourri of scientific research, Mr. Gladwell suggested that people like Ms. Weisberg who may know a lot of people, though not necessarily well, and who have a seemingly intuitive gift for finding links among them can be as influential in a society as a mayor or a president or a king. The teaser to his New Yorker article introduced Ms. Weisberg thus: Shes a grandmother, she lives in a big house in Chicago, and youve never heard of her. Does she run the world? Lois Helen Porges was born on the West Side of Chicago on May 6, 1925, the daughter of Mortimer Porges, a lawyer for the State of Illinois, and the former Jesse Berger. She went to public high school, started college at the University of Illinois and graduated from Northwestern, where she studied theater directing. Afterward, she started her own drama troupe, and in 1956, discovering that there was no celebration planned for the 100th birthday of George Bernard Shaw (he had died in 1950), she staged a Shaw festival and started a newspaper devoted to all matters Shavian. It was the beginning of her cultural connecting. The newspaper evolved into an alternative weekly called The Paper, and its editorial meetings at her home turned into a regular salon where artsy Chicagoans and visiting writers and musicians knew to show up. At the time, she lived with her first husband, Leonard Solomon a drugstore owner whose brother-in-law was Irv Kupcinet, a Chicago Sun-Times columnist who specialized in celebrity comings and goings and their two daughters. Fighting neck-and-neck in the Iowa polls with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Donald J. Trump has gone negative, with a 60-second advertisement assailing Mr. Cruz over a hot-button issue with conservatives in Iowa: immigration. On Screen A thumbs-up from Mr. Trump, then right to the attack: Trump vs Cruz on Immigration, a full-screen headline promises. A faux television shows Mr. Cruz, in a clip from December, struggling as he tries to parry questions from Bret Baier of Fox News, about an amendment Mr. Cruz offered to legislation that would have overhauled the nations immigration laws and created a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally. Sounded like you wanted the bill to pass, Mr. Baier says. As Mr. Cruz first stammers his way to a yes, then corrects himself to say he only wanted his amendment to pass, the ad delivers a harsh verdict, branding him Pro Immigration. As Mr. Cruz confusingly tries to dig himself out of a hole with Mr. Baier, another big headline sums up what viewers might be thinking: What is He Talking About? It then musters its evidence: video footage of Mr. Cruz addressing the Senate Judiciary Committee in May 2013. I want immigration reform to pass, he declares adding, after a jump cut, that allows those who are here illegally to come out of the shadows. Another verdict by headline: Pro Amnesty. Attacked first in a Donald J. Trump ad, Senator Ted Cruz swiftly responded on Friday with a commercial assailing Mr. Trump over his real estate background. On Screen Eminent domain, a womans voice declares sneeringly, then defines the process as a fancy term for politicians seizing private property to enrich the fat cats who bankroll them. Like Trump. In the background, a bulldozer seems to carve through a row of old apartment houses, while wads of cash pile up suggestively. A photo of Mr. Trump leaning toward a camera and smiling slyly introduces a clip of Mr. Trump professing, I think eminent domain is wonderful. It made him rich, the narrator says, as magazine covers proclaim Mr. Trump King of New York and show him wearing garish gold rings and chains. Decades-old photos provide the backdrop including one of Mr. Trump leading around a group of men in suits, some of whose faces are redacted as the voice-over says he colluded with Atlantic City insiders to bulldoze the home of an elderly widow for a limousine parking lot at his casino. The widow herself is shown saying, He doesnt have no heart, that man. The ad wraps up with a picture of Mr. Trump, waving from his limousines window: He wont change the system, the narrator says. Hes whats wrong with it. There are Clinton people in the White House who clearly would like to see Hillary Clinton nominated, Mr. Sanders said. I understand that, and I simply hope that they will be as fair-minded as they can be, he said, adding, I take President Obama and Vice President Biden at their word, theyre not going to be tipping the scales here. The relationship between Mrs. Clinton and the White House is not without its own baggage. Her about-face on the trade deal angered Mr. Obamas aides, especially given her previous vocal support for it. Some still recall the bitterness of her campaign against Mr. Obama in 2008. The president himself reacted to the trade deal shift with resignation rather than anger, aides said, viewing it as an understandable, if opportunistic, move. The Clinton campaign is trying to smooth out future bumps by maintaining contacts at multiple levels, including high-level calls on policy between the campaign chairman, John Podesta, and the White House chief of staff, Denis R. McDonough, and routine check-in calls about public statements between the campaigns communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, and her White House counterparts, Ms. Psaki and Mr. Earnest. If were going to do something we think we need to give them a heads-up on, Jennifer or I will call our former colleagues and let them know, said Mr. Podesta, who was a senior Obama adviser before joining the Clinton campaign. If were out on the campaign trail and rolling out a new policy, building on something hes done or taking a position different than his, well let him know were going to do it. Mrs. Clinton meets periodically with Mr. Obama, most recently last month when he invited her to the White House for a private 90-minute lunch the day after they each delivered speeches about how to confront the terrorist threat from the Islamic State. In her remarks, Mrs. Clinton portrayed the threat posed by the militant group in darker terms than the president and reiterated her proposal to enforce a no-fly zone over northern Syria to protect civilians, a step Mr. Obama has so far resisted. Most countries use the Qwerty keyboard layout, named for the first six letters of the keyboards upper row. Depending on what operating system you are using and on the manufacturer of the keyboard, some keys are not available in the same place, or are not available at all, the report said, using the at sign, or @, and the euro currency sign, or , as examples. It is often impossible or very difficult to type certain characters that are very common in the French language with our French keyboards. The Azerty keyboard does have dedicated keys for commonly used accented letters like e or e. But typing other characters like the cedilla (c), or ligatures (like in cur, French for heart, or Ltitia, the name) can require complex keyboard shortcuts that are hard to master. Accenting capital letters (Etat) can be so complicated that some have even been led to believe incorrectly that it is not necessary, the report lamented. The ministry has asked Frances national standardization body, known as Afnor, to come up with a norm for French keyboards. The norm would not be mandatory, but would give manufacturers, software developers and others a common reference point, and could be used as a condition in government procurement. Philippe Magnabosco, who heads the keyboard project at Afnor, said that French spelling and grammar were not too complicated for computer keyboards, and there was no reason France could not do better than some of its European neighbors or French-speaking partners, like Canada or Belgium, which have developed keyboard norms that are better suited to typing in French. When the United States and Iran swapped prisoners last week, nothing was said to resolve the mystery about another captive: Robert A. Levinson, a Central Intelligence Agency consultant who disappeared in Iran in 2007. Iranian leaders have long said that they knew nothing about the missing American, and United States officials have said that he may no longer be in Iran or even still alive. Aside from a hostage video and photographs of him in an orange jumpsuit five years ago, there had been no public clues about his fate. But newly disclosed documents suggest that Iranian officials knew far more about Mr. Levinson. In late 2011, a top Iranian diplomat acknowledged that his country was holding the American and would release him if the United States helped delay an assessment criticizing Irans nuclear activities, the documents say. Irans ambassador to France at the time, Seyed Mehdi Miraboutalebi, made the statement during a private gathering at his Paris residence with two men working with an American religious organization, according to a report about the session. The meeting resulted from a letter sent to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, by a leader of the religious group, the Fellowship Foundation, which had previously helped win the release of an Iranian-American imprisoned in Tehran. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Negotiations to restructure roughly $9 billion of the debt of Puerto Ricos power company collapsed late Friday, according to a statement from a group of creditors involved in the talks. The creditors blamed the utility, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or Prepa, for the collapse of the talks, saying its officials had decided to let an expiration date pass without taking action. Prepa is one of the largest single issuers of Puerto Ricos $72 billion debt, most of it in the form of municipal bonds. The creditors statement was released at midnight, when the expiration date had passed. The statement did not say whether the creditors would now declare Prepa in default. If they did so it would be by far the largest and most momentous default in Puerto Ricos growing debt crisis. Prepa has a debt payment of about $400 million due to bondholders on July 1. It also owes about $700 million to two financial institutions that finance the shipments of fuel that it burns to produce energy. The utility does not currently have the resources to make those payments. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made public, digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death. Chandra Kumar Bose, spokesperson of the Bose family and grand-nephew of Subhash Chandra Bose who was present at the ceremony, said, "We couldn't go through all the files. But as of now, what we could go through, there are only circumstantial evidence of the air crash but no conclusive evidence of the air crash." "Even in one of the letters that we saw here which was written by Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suresh Bose that there is no conclusive evidence about the air crash, only few circumstantial evidence," he said after the files were declassified. Chandra Bose said, "We welcome this step by Prime Minister wholeheartedly. This is a day of transparency in India." Read: Nitish Kumar sees ulterior motive behind declassifying Netaji files The files were declassified and put on digital display at the National Archives of India (NAI) here by the Prime Minister, who pressed a button in the presence of Bose family members and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo. Later, Modi and his ministerial colleagues went around glancing at the declassified files, spending over half an hour at the National Archives. He also spoke to the members of the Bose family. Twelve members of the Bose family attended the event at the National Archives of India (NAI) in Delhi. Just ahead of the declassification ceremony, an aged family member broke down in the presence of the Prime Minister. Netaji's family members get emotional after seeing declassified #NetajiSubhasChandraBose files at National Archives. pic.twitter.com/I6KqO96AgL ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 The Prime Minister chose this day to declassify secret files relating to Netaji with a view of throwing some light on his mysterious disappearance. There is no clarity whether Bose died in an air crash in 1945 as is widely believed. Bose's mysterious disappearance also led to speculations that he may have perished in a plane crash in Taihoku, Taiwan. The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. In October last year, the Prime Minister had met the family members of Netaji and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice M K Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that Bose was alive after that. The controversy had also split members of the Bose family too. Read: Netaji files should have been declassified earlier, says kin The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and handed over to the NAI on December 4, last year. Subsequently, the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI, it added. Earlier in day, he said, "We feel that certain very important files were destroyed during the Congress regime in order to hide the truth. We have documentary evidence to understand this. So we feel that the Indian government should take steps to ensure the release of files lying in Russia, Germany, UK, USA." Netaji's daughter Anita Bose Pfaff, who lives in Germany, believes that her father had died in the Taipei plane crash. Read: Netaji kin suggests setting up of a panel for studying declassified files However, Chandra Bose, who was close to Netaji's wife Emilie Schenkl, says in a Facebook post that she "never believed in the false theory of the air crash. She was told by a Russian journalist that Netaji was very much alive in the erstwhile Soviet Union after 1945. Emilie Schenkl - till she passed away in March 1996, believed Netaji did not die in any air crash. The nation is eagerly waiting to know the truth." West Bengal government had in September last year released 64 secret Netaji files kept in police and state government lockers. Earlier in the day, a galaxy of leaders paid floral tributes to Netaji at a function to mark his birth anniversary in Parliament's Central Hall. Among those present were the kin of Netaji, besides Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP veteran L K Advani. Naidu said "today a historic day with PM Modi releasing 100 digital files relating to Netaji Bose". "It is a major step towards meeting the long standing demand of Indian people who are anxious to know the unknown aspects of the life of great freedom fighter. Grateful to PM for the initiative of de-classifying Netaji files," he said. Naidu also met the family members of Netaji in Parliament House and later said he was "delighted over interaction with 26 family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose today. Took them around Central Hall after hosting them over breakfast." BJP President Amit Shah tweeted "I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a historical and courageous decision to declassify files related to Netaji." A niece of Bose said after the function "we are all very excited and are looking forward to it. I do expect that we will get some indications" regarding Netaji in these files. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet "Homage to Desh Nayak Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary." #NetajiSubhasChandraBose must be given the title 'Leader of the Nation'. He deserves that honour Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 23, 2016 Chandra Bose said "there is a change in the attitude of the government from that of the previous ones. Firstly, the attitude of suppressing the facts about Netaji has been negated. And this is the biggest thing in unravelling the truth about Netaji." Netaji's nephew Ardhendu Bose, who was also at the ceremony here, said "the Bose family and the entire country has been waiting for this moment for the last seven decades nearly. We feel that these files would be able to throw some light on it." He also stressed that the files lying in KGB archives in Russia and those with Germany, UK and USA "will bring out more that what lies in those files. As we apprehend that certain files might have been destroyed." An official said the National Archives placed 100 files relating to Bose in public domain "after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization". The digital copies of these files coming out in public domain meets a "long-standing public demand" which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, the official said. Besides the controversy over whether Subhash Bose died in the 1945 aircrash or not, those who believe he was alive after that have different theories about what happened to the leader. While one of the theories says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for India's independence but was later killed there, another says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named 'Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad till 1985. They did back it up in the first few years, said Jim Coburn, senior manager of investor programs at Ceres, a nonprofit organization that advocates sustainability in business and that has lobbied the S.E.C. on the disclosure. But the current chair hasnt shown much interest in this issue. The decline of the stock and bond markets this year has been painful, and it remains difficult to predict what is in store for the future. A Bad Year for Bonds : This has been the most devastating time for bonds since at least 1926 and maybe in centuries. This has been the most devastating time for bonds since at least 1926 and maybe in centuries. But much of the damage is already behind us Discordant Views: Some investors just dont see how the Federal Reserve can lower inflation without risking high unemployment. Some investors just dont see how the Federal Reserve can lower inflation without risking high unemployment. The Fed appears more optimistic Weathering the Storm: The rout in the stock and bond markets has been especially rough on people paying for college, retirement or a new home. The rout in the stock and bond markets has been especially rough on people paying for college, retirement or a new home. Here is some advice College Savings: As the stock and bond markets wobble, 529 plans are taking a tumble. Whats a family to do? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but As the stock and bond markets wobble, 529 plans are taking a tumble. Whats a family to do? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but you have options Some shareholders and lawmakers are trying to change that. Last April, an alliance of 62 institutional investors wrote a letter to the S.E.C. calling for greater scrutiny of climate-related disclosures from energy companies in particular. We are concerned that oil and gas companies are not disclosing sufficient information about several converging factors that, together, will profoundly affect the economics of the industry, wrote the investors, which included Calpers, the California Public Employees Retirement System; the Connecticut state investment fund; and Calvert Investments. In a coordinated letter sent to the S.E.C. on the same day, the New York City and New York State comptrollers called for similar accountability. Then in October, a group of Democratic lawmakers added their voices to the debate. In a letter to the current S.E.C. chairwoman, Mary Jo White, 35 members of Congress asked for an update on the interpretive guidance issued in 2010, using the occasion to suggest that the S.E.C. had been asleep at the wheel. The S.E.C. has been underreacting in the extreme, Senator Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii and one of the lead authors of the letter, said in an interview. At the same time, officials in New York and California are investigating whether Exxon understood the risks posed by climate change decades ago, but withheld that information from investors. Exxon denies the allegations. On Wednesday evening, the tidy and the would-be tidy sat very still on the fourth floor of the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Union Square in Manhattan, craning to hear the soft voice of Marie Kondo, the Japanese author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, as she demonstrated her folding technique on ever more complex garments. She was balletic and masterly. When done, Ms. Kondo received a standing ovation. Look at her, shes adorable, said Rita Wade, 51, a director of student affairs at a language center who said that she was in attendance because she was fascinated by Ms. Kondos global reach. The elfin Ms. Kondo, perhaps the worlds only decluttering celebrity, was promoting her new book, Spark Joy, a more prescriptive manual (it comes with illustrations) than her last, which is a publishing juggernaut. (Both titles are at the top of the New York Times best-seller list.) Kindly and self-mocking, Ms. Kondo was already a tidy freak, as she said (assisted by an interpreter), by age 5, irritating her family by throwing away their belongings and mystifying her teachers when she skipped recess to organize her classrooms bookshelves. Making up for a remarkably mild winter, the first major snowstorm of the season charged up the East Coast on Saturday, a blizzard propelled by tropical-storm-force winds that brought much of the Northeast to a standstill and left more than two feet of snow in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio called it very likely one of the worst snowstorms in our history. A travel ban, imposed Saturday afternoon in and around the city to keep drivers off streets, was lifted at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Four Hudson River crossings the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels and the George Washington and Tappan Zee Bridges that were shut down in conjunction with the ban re-opened at 7 a.m. as well. The citys public bus service also began operating again with limited service. But suburban commuter railroads in New York, as its elevated subway lines, remained closed, following the lead of mass transit systems in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. If you live on the east side of the Tappan Zee Bridge and head west to Nyack which draws diners with its lively restaurant row youre in for a show: The construction of the new bridge, alongside the existing span, features one of the worlds largest floating cranes, lit up like a Zipper ride on a midway. Called the Left Coast Lifter, the crane can hoist the equivalent of 12 Statues of Liberty. If you wind up at Communal Kitchen, which set up shop last spring, you may be in for another thrill or two, but on a more modest scale. The owner and chef, Jed Gidaly, does the heavy lifting here: He mans the phone, trolls farmers markets, executes his farm-to-fork menu, engages guests and even crumbs tables. With a background in hotel and country-club dining (he was the executive chef at both the Loews Regency Hotel in Manhattan and the Alpine Country Club in New Jersey), Mr. Gidaly has left 30 years of food-and-beverage operations behind and opened a little locavore place that he can call his own. Several dishes on the winter menu take advantage of things that many of us were once made to eat under duress: carrots, cauliflower, brussels sprouts. But the pretty rainbow carrots, with tops and tips intact, are firm and tasty, served over whipped feta and finished with local honey and pistachios. Cauliflower is fried and paired with yogurt tahini and pomegranate molasses, and brussels sprouts are coated with chile-caramel sauce like something youd eat for kicks at a carnival. There were the workers who boarded a Manhattan-bound subway train before sunrise in boots and denim shirts, looking for a place to sit between the men sprawled out and sleeping on the benches who had no other place to spend the night. There was the bartender waiting and waiting at a bus stop in Queens who was considering giving up and calling his boss to say he could not come in. And there was the superintendent of an apartment building who is usually off on Saturdays but was outside the building, the wind hitting his face, as he tried and failed to make a dent with his shovel in the accumulating snow. The snow took my day off, said Krzysztof Prostko, 58, who had been working at the building on the Upper West Side since 7 a.m. For many, the storm could not be more perfectly timed. The snow started falling in force early Saturday, making for a weekend of bundling up at home and catching up on novels neglected on the bedside table or working through a backlog of films on Netflix. School was not a concern, and for many 9-to-5 professionals, neither was work. Some might say that the very act of opening a pizzeria in New Haven the pizza capital (to locals, at least) of New England takes serious audacia. This is, after all, the same town where hallowed institutions like Sallys Apizza, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Modern Apizza have for decades vied for the most critical raves and fervently devoted fans. Others, however, might say that all you really need to break into New Havens pizza scene is skill. And the ability to offer something a little different from the competition. Such is the strategy of Da Legna, a relative newcomer that opened on State Street in the East Rock neighborhood (just a block from Modern Apizza) in late 2012, and that is already stacking up quite well against New Havens most vaunted pizzerias. The restaurant was opened by the chef and owner Dan Parillo who spent 15 years as proprietor of Portofino Pizzeria in Madison and his partner, Derek Bacon. Mr. Parillo and his team are more than covered on the pizza-expertise front. His artisanal, Neapolitan-style pizzas, baked in a brick wood-fired oven to a smoky char, all employ a secret weapon: a sourdough starter mother that Mr. Parillo has been nursing for the past 20 years. Its what gives his pizza crusts their distinctive bite and chewy density. (I could just dip these crusts in olive oil all night and be happy, a friend dining with me on my first visit declared.) The current Hartford Stage production depicts two men one of them representing the playwright talking mostly by email, with some bare-bones dramatization of a few of their stories. If you think that sounds dry, think again. Please. The show, Dan OBriens emotionally gripping, psychologically astute The Body of an American, is an electric immersion in the nature of isolation and connection that, under Jo Bonneys fast-paced direction, flouts stage tradition with intelligence and challenging intricacy. Funny in spots, Brechtian in style, honestly searching in purpose, this is a bracing and absorbing piece of theater. First, some context: The body of the title is that of Staff Sgt. William David Cleveland Jr., whose corpse was dragged by a mob through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993. The journalist Paul Watson was there and took photographs of the event, one of which won the Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography. Mr. Watson was interviewed by NPR about that experience, describing himself as haunted by words he believed he heard from Sergeant Cleveland as he shot the picture: If you do this, I will own you forever. Mr. OBrien heard that interview and was intrigued. As he has himself say in the play, I felt like I knew you. Or I was you in some alternate reality. Talk about tough acts to follow: Laurel & Sage opened last March at the address of the widely lauded restaurant CulinAriane, which closed in 2014 when its owners decamped to Verona. Set off from the heart of Montclairs restaurant district on a tranquil residential block, CulinAriane was a beacon for serious upscale dining. Expectations were high. But Shawn Paul Dalziel and Jennifer Sransky, the husband-and-wife team behind Laurel & Sage and who live a few blocks away, took the plunge. Mr. Dalziel, 45, who runs the kitchen, is a native of Malibu, Calif. He brought along his own roster of ambitious dishes and inventive techniques, having worked for nearly two decades in restaurants in San Francisco, New York City and more recently, Montclair, at Bistro 18 and 12 West (which has since closed). He described his mission as globally inspired, locally sourced cuisine. Judging from a phone conversation I had with him after a couple of recent visits, hes a passionate guy about pretty much everything his kitchen team, surprising customers with unfamiliar ingredients, his local produce supplier, the chickens he imports from Canada, his family (the restaurant is named for their two daughters). Police officials on Saturday announced the arrest of a man wanted for the stabbing death of a teenager in Brooklyn last week that investigators now believe was the culmination of a quarrel over an exchange of text messages. The suspect, Dante Malay, 19, turned himself in on Friday afternoon to officers of the 90th Precinct in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, accompanied by his mother and stepfather, a police spokesman said. He was charged with manslaughter, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Witnesses were able to identify Mr. Malay in a lineup as the man who stabbed Jovani Cubias, 17, several times in the chest on Wednesday during an altercation that investigators say started as a fight between two young women thought to be romantically involved with the two men. Though the details were still murky, the police spokesman, who requested anonymity to speak openly about a continuing investigation, said the trouble began when the girlfriend of one of the young men began sending text messages to the other. FOR most of her career, Hillary Clinton suffered for being a feminist. Retaining her last name helped cost her husband the governorship of Arkansas in 1980 (after that, she became a Clinton). She was mocked in 1992 for saying she wouldnt be some little woman standing by my man, and for asserting, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession. (Outrage at her bitchiness a standard put-down of a strong woman was such that Clinton tried to mollify critics by participating in a bake-off sponsored by Family Circle magazine. That must have stung. But hold on: Clintons recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies then triumphed over Barbara Bushs cookie recipe, upholding the honor of career moms everywhere.) Even when Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2008, there were put-downs, like the two men from a radio show heckling her, Iron my shirt! So its a measure of how much the country has changed that these days Clinton is running as a feminist, after decades of skirting the issue. In 2008 she barely mentioned her gender; now its a refrain. This really comes down to whether I can encourage and mobilize women to vote for the first woman president, Time quoted her as saying. She even said shed be open to choosing a woman as her running mate (go, Amy Klobuchar!). Out of the 100 Netaji files released today, 33 were from the Prime Minister's Office. (Photo: National Archives of India) There was detailed correspondence between Indian government agencies on bringing back Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses 'ashes' to India in 1976, the 100 secret files that were declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reveal. The Cabinet then refused to believe that the ashes were of Netaji. The Japanese Foreign Office had asked the Indian Embassy to take Netaji's ashes to India. (Photo: National Archives of India) However, documents released revealed the Indian Embassy in Tokyo proposed then that the ashes of Bose, kept in the custody of the chief priest of the Renkoji Temple, Tokyo be brought back to India. But the Intelligence Bureau pointed out this would be difficult as Netajis family did not believe in his death in Taiwan. The ashes of Netaji were stored in the Renkoji Temple in Tokyo and the government was 'not in favour' of bringing back the ashes 'due to possible adverse reactions from the members of Netaji's family. (Photo: National Archives of India) A Cabinet note of 1995, however, says there was no doubt about the plane crash. Read: Netaji died in 1945 aircrash, establishes 1995 Union Cabinet note The files also reveal that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ensured that money was sent to Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses widow Emilie Schenkl in Vienna. On June 12, 1952, Nehru sought advice from his government on whether small sums of money can be sent in this way? The sums are likely to be small and there should be no difficulty in External Affairs in dealing with this matter The government then decided to send hundred pounds to Frau Schenkl through private channels, to our visa consul at Vienna The External Affairs Ministry offered to send money to Netaji's widow in Vienna. (Photo: National Archives of India) The Government of India sent Netaji's daughter Rs 6000 annually until she was married in 1965. (Photo: National Archives of India) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released 100 files on Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses 119th birth anniversary. The files 33 from the Prime Ministers Office are now on the website of the National Archives of India. Many see a political overtone to the timing of this release West Bengal goes to polls in a few months. The files also reveal how Netajis belongings after the air crash, purportedly on the outskirts of Taipei in 1945, were brought back to India. It was discussed in the Lok Sabha on November 22, 1978 how a treasure box belonging to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was brought to India some years ago and under what circumstances, its custody since then and whether the box was recently opened and details thereof. On the PMO's order the sealed diplomatic bag was opened on October 9, 1978. (Photo: National Archives of India) The question states that in 1951, the Head of the Indian Liaison Mission in Tokyo was contacted by some Indians who were associated with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. They informed him that they were in possession of some gold and jewellery which, they stated, had been collected from the plane that crashed with Netaji. The bag had a steel suitcase which contained 17 packages in total. (Photo: National Archives of India) After the signing of the peace treaty with Japan, these articles were sent to Delhi in November, 1952 On December 30, 1953, the gold and jewellery were handed over to the National Museum for safe custody. The meeting made me proud of his accomplishments, but sad that I had not been more confident in him. He still had several years left on his sentence, but it was clear that he had served enough time. After I returned to my office, I contacted the prosecutor and his lawyer and encouraged them to find a way to get him released early. But they told me there was no straightforward way to shorten a federal inmates sentence, even if prison officials acknowledge that more jail time is a waste of time and money. So he had to stay in prison, at an annual cost of $30,000 to taxpayers. The tragedy of mass incarceration has recently focused much attention on the need to reform three-strikes laws, mandatory minimums and the federal-sentencing guidelines, which often direct judges to impose excessive sentences. We also need a mechanism for judges to re-evaluate the sentences theyve imposed. Its true that federal prisoners can earn up to 15 percent off the length of their sentences if they stay out of trouble. But this doesnt incentivize prisoners to take advantage of work or study opportunities. Instead, Congress should enact legislation that would allow every sentenced defendant one opportunity to petition his sentencing court for a reduction based on extraordinarily good conduct and rehabilitation in prison. This second-look review should be available only to prisoners who are supported by their wardens. To minimize the increased workload on busy federal judges, each prisoner should be allowed only a single opportunity to seek early release and do so only after serving at least half of the sentence imposed (or two-thirds of a mandatory minimum sentence). Factors in support of an early release should include more than just clean disciplinary records in prison. Job readiness, success with drug treatment, completion of vocational and educational training and extraordinary family or health circumstances should count as well. The conditions on the ground in Flint still do not seem to have sunk in at the Michigan statehouse. Thousands of residents are still relying on trucked-in water, as if they were in a war-zone refugee camp, while worrying that their children may suffer developmental and other health problems from a water system poisoned by lead. Gov. Rick Snyder has been busy apologizing, but the tiny steps he is taking to repair the damage shrink beside the urgency of the problem. The challenge now is to replace the corroded pipes or perhaps the whole water system in this city of nearly 100,000 as quickly as it can be done. The cost may reach $1 billion or more, but that cannot stand in the way of moving forward to make the city fit for habitation. No Americans should have to live with poisoned water that is a direct result of the governments decisions and neglect. Mr. Snyder and officials who work for him first wasted time trying to shift blame for the catastrophe to the city at least until an independent task force and internal emails released last week showed that the state was responsible. Now he is wasting more time by maneuvering to get out of paying the bill for the huge repairs project. The states claims of limited resources to start replacement or repairs of the water system do not even hold up. Michigan has a budget surplus of $575 million this year that could surely be applied to this crisis of its own making, and if thats not enough, the governor could always raise taxes in a special levy. The state also has about $600 million in a rainy day fund, at least some of which could presumably be used. YOUNG I am convinced that if we dont get this racism issue right in the church, I dont think theres any way we can do it in the culture. The church has a checkered past, even now, with racism, no question. And thats not just white racism. Its racism period. Q. Are you saying the black church also has a problem with racism? YOUNG Sure, we all have a problem with racism, in a different way of course. There are some African-Americans who have had some real serious problems with the white church, with the Southern Baptist church for instance. Even in my own denomination, there are people right now who cant overcome the history. And for them, the history has become a serious stumbling block. In fact Ive never said this to Dr. Floyd, but Ive had fellows in my own denomination who called me and said: What are you doing? I mean, are you not aware of the history? And I say, obviously Im aware. They bring up the issue about slavery and that becomes a reason, they say, that we ought not to be involved with the Southern Baptists. Where from my vantage point, thats reverse racism. I do understand the history, and I understand the pain of the past. But what Im also quite clear about is, if the Gospel does anything at all, the Gospel demands that we not only preach but practice reconciliation. Q. The Southern Baptist Convention does have quite a history of racism. FLOYD Yes, and Im deeply regretful for that. The Southern Baptist Convention was formed in 1845. I cant do anything about what happened in 1845, but I can do a lot about where we are today in 2015. My church has a lot of people that are not white. We live in the homeland of Walmart, J. B. Hunt, Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas. And with the growth of those companies, our whole region has changed. And in order for us to reach our region, we have to be able to reach all people. YOUNG Ive had this question asked of me about the motive. And my answer has been, one, I actually do believe in Dr. Floyd. I think hes honest, a fine Christian gentleman. But if the motive is not pure, I tell people all the time, if in the end, good comes out of it, the community is blessed, the church, the culture, America is made better, even if people have impure motives. Because I do believe it is so critical. America in my opinion is a powder keg. This racial thing is some awesome stuff. Q. The presidential campaign has gotten very nasty, with racial overtones. Some of the candidates Gov. Mike Huckabee, Senator Ted Cruz who have spoken most harshly about President Obama are Southern Baptists. YOUNG I think the tone of the public rhetoric incites racism. I think it gives persons who want to be racist a sense that its O.K. to do this. It empowers them and theyre emboldened by it. FLOYD Im a Baptist pastor, Im not in politics. But I would say that Governor Huckabee and Senator Cruz have got to answer for themselves. I told my people numerous times, dont call the president by his last name alone. Regardless if you believe in his politics or you dont, he is President Obama. I talked to them about the importance of preserving the office. When youre Donald Trump, bashing The New York Times must always seem like a good idea. So it was no surprise to hear one particular sound bite during this months Republican presidential candidates debate. Asked about his proposal, made during a recent meeting with the Times editorial board, for a 45 percent tax on Chinese goods brought into the United States, he said: Thats wrong. They were wrong. Its The New York Times. They are always wrong. Apparently not; in this case, a recording of the meeting posted by the paper supports its account of what the candidate said. As the most bizarre presidential campaign in memory gets real with next months Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary its more important than ever for The Times not only to keep checking the accuracy of the candidates but also to be painstakingly accurate and fair itself. So, lets take a look. Hows it going so far, and what are readers saying about campaign coverage? 1. Checking facts. Examining the truth or lack thereof of political statements, is the greatest reader service that we do, Carolyn Ryan, senior editor for politics, told me recently when I wrote about The Timess new effort to embed fact check features within political coverage. So we are trying to be relentless and aggressive about it. The new presentation and emphasis make a strong addition to The Timess political coverage, and its going well, particularly during and after each of the debates. The Times also needs to correct its own errors quickly, which it usually does. However, in one recent situation, it took too long to do so, waiting a month to set straight an error in a front-page story that gave Marco Rubio credit for undermining Obamacare by slipping in a provision to an omnibus spending bill. By the time it was corrected, a version of it had become part of Mr. Rubios narrative and advertising. Farhad: I was always skeptical of WhatsApps subscription model. It offered little upside $1 a year for a billion users is a good income for you and me, but pocket change for Silicon Valley giants with a huge potential downside. Sure, WhatsApp is growing fast now, but the messaging market is chaotic, and theres always a new app vying for kids attention. WhatsApps $1 fee, although tiny, could have given users a reason to try some other thing. The new plan seems much smarter, and its riding the crest of a larger trend: People love messaging so much that they may be willing to do a whole bunch of things from inside their messaging apps buy stuff, book stuff, talk to customer service people and just generally engage in that great American pastime we call commercial activity. The benefit to WhatsApp (and Facebooks other messaging app, Messenger) is obvious; the company takes a cut of transactions and potentially makes billions. Its also good for developers. App stores are overstuffed, and getting people to download your app and use it requires a lot of marketing dollars and some luck. So if you want people to use your shopping or delivery or ride service, make it compatible with messaging theres less competition there, and it doesnt require that users download new apps. Do you agree? Are chat-based services the next big thing? Mike: O.K., this is weird. I agree with you for the second time in a month. I should probably see a doctor. Heres the thing: The lowest common denominator across the world, as far as communication goes, is messaging apps. They offer low-cost data transmission. They require only basic writing, which nearly everyone does daily. Texting, particularly among millennials, is more popular than talking on the phone. I know I often would rather text someone than take a call. Sabrina Swidergal was among hundreds of Catholic high school and college students returning from an anti-abortion rally in Washington who started their weekend stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Hundreds of miles away in Kentucky, Jeff Greenberg and two others in an all-wheel-drive Acura found themselves in a similar circumstance, stuck overnight in a snowstorm with a 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola as their sole source of sustenance. Elsewhere in Kentucky, April Montesinos and her family saw their food supplies dwindle while their car sat in the exact same spot for more than 18 hours. The travelers were among the thousands trapped on roadways by the weekend snowstorm that stretched across much of the eastern United States. We ran out of food and water, said Ms. Montesinos, 33, who was trying to return to Ohio from a funeral when she and family members got stuck on Interstate 75. We had been calling the Kentucky state patrol, and they were we telling us, We are going to get you guys out of there very quick. And hours and hours and hours went by, and nothing. UNTAVI, Bolivia Overturned fishing skiffs lie abandoned on the shores of what was Bolivias second-largest lake. Beetles dine on bird carcasses and gulls fight for scraps under a glaring sun in what marshes remain. Lake Poopo (pronounced po-oh-PO) was officially declared evaporated last month. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people have lost their livelihoods and have left the area. High on Bolivias semiarid Andean plains at more than 12,000 feet and subject to climatic whims, the shallow saline lake has dried up before only to rebound to a size twice the area of Los Angeles. But recovery may no longer be possible, scientists say. This is a picture of the future of climate change, said Dirk Hoffman, a German glaciologist who studies how rising temperatures from the burning of fossil fuels has accelerated glacial melting in Bolivia. OTTAWA Sudden deaths in La Loche, Saskatchewan, where shootings at two locations left four people dead and seven wounded on Friday, are an all too familiar event. But before Friday, suicide was the main cause of such deaths. The police on Saturday offered few additional details about the shootings. The 17-year-old suspect, whose motive has not been revealed, remains in the custody of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who said they had also seized a weapon. The police said the suspect, whose identity cannot be disclosed because of his age, faced four charges of first-degree murder, seven charges of attempted murder and a weapons charge. The police identified the victims as Marie Janvier, 21, an educational assistant at the school, Adam Wood, 35, a teacher who moved to La Loche from Ontario in September, and two brothers, Dayne Fontaine, 17, and Drayden Fontaine, 13, who were killed at a home about half a mile from the school. La Loche is more than seven hours northwest of the nearest major city, Saskatoon. It is a community with high levels of unemployment and addiction to drugs and alcohol and a reputation as a tough town. In 2011, two Mounties were forced to barricade themselves into the local health clinic when a mob attacked them after incorrectly assuming that the officers had beaten a man who had been injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident. A police truck was also burned, and an ambulance badly damaged. When La Loche appears in the provincial news media, it is usually in connection with violence or drug arrests. But looming over the town, whose residents are predominately Dene Indians, are sporadic waves of suicides, including one last year. Eighteen people, most of them young, killed themselves from August 2005 to January 2010 in La Loche, which has a population of about 2,600. KABUL, Afghanistan As the fate of Helmand Province hung in the balance last month during a withering Taliban offensive, the provinces deputy governor, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, found his urgent pleas for help from the central government going unheeded. So he did what millions of other people do every day: He ranted on Facebook. Mr. Rasoolyar posted an open letter to President Ashraf Ghanis government on the social media site, in which he deplored the precarious state of the military and police forces in Sangin District, who were short of food and ammunition and encircled by Taliban fighters. Without immediate aid, he said, Sangin, as well as the provincial capital and perhaps the entire province, would probably fall. In one sense, Mr. Rasoolyars plea worked: His Facebook post drew wide attention from the news media, adding pressure on the government to speed up reinforcements to Helmand. The Taliban offensive has been slowed by the Afghan security forces with help from American Special Operations forces and airstrikes. In another sense, successful social media activism can look a lot like insubordination: The government fired Mr. Rasoolyar for his trouble. DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladeshi authorities have filed terrorism charges against 14 Bangladeshi construction workers deported from Singapore on suspicion of involvement with Islamic militant networks. The authorities in Dhaka, Bangladeshs capital, however, also dismissed some elements of the Singaporean warning, saying there was no evidence that the workers had links to Al Qaeda or the Islamic State group or that they were planning an attack in Bangladesh. Of the 27 workers deported by Singapore in December, 13 have been released and allowed to return to their families, because, though they subscribe to radical views, they had not violated any law, said Monirul Islam, the joint commissioner of the detective branch of the Dhaka metropolitan police. We will keep our watch on them, he said. They will be under our surveillance. Mr. Islam said that the 14 men who had been charged were mentally ready to get involved with terror activities at any time, but that the police had not found any specific plan of carrying out an attack on any particular target. Rahul Gandhi in Bundelkhand asks PM Modi to pay heed to the deplorable condition of the farmers. (Photo: PTI) Mahoba (UP): Holding a 'padyatra' in drought-hit Bundelkhand, Rahul Gandhi today took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he should think about farmers and labourers too and not just industrialists and give more funds for the backward region. The Congress Vice President referred to Modi becoming "emotional" yesterday while expressing grief over the suicide by a dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad University and said the PM should also show empathy for the farmers who are providing "the food you eat". Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-kilometre-long foot-march, he demanded that some of the money saved by the government due to decline in crude oil prices be diverted to the region. "Yesterday, we saw Modiji becoming emotional...he paused during his speech (at BBAU convocation) and had tears in his eyes...I want to say Modiji the food you eat, the pulse which is today selling at Rs 220 is provided to you by farmers," he said. "I would ask Modiji to think a little for the farmers, labourers and the poor because they too run the country and it is not only industrialists who do so. So, think about them as well," Rahul said. The Congress leader sought more funds for the development of the water-scarce region. "During the UPA regime, price of crude petroleum was USD 150 per barrel, whereas now it has fallen to just USD 28. A lot of money saved here can be used for development of such backward regions like Bundelkhand," he said. Rahul, at the same time, said the entire money saved need not be pumped into the region, but at least a portion of it can be utilised. Promising people of Bundelkhand that he would highlight their problems in Parliament, Rahul said he has been speaking on all these issues and voicing concern over farmers' plight during his padyatra in other parts of the country as well. Touching on the major issue of migration from this region, Rahul said had the BJP government at the Centre and SP government in Uttar Pradesh earnestly implemented UPA government's MNREGS programme, the exodus could have been checked. Rahul also congratulated partymen "for standing alongside the farmers and labourers and fighting for them". Meanwhile, Rahul, on his arrival at the Khajuraho airport from Delhi en route to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, assured party leaders that he will soon tour the Bundelkhand region lying in Madhya Pradesh, according to MP Congress Secretary Nitin Chaturvedi. The party vice president tried to understand the situation prevailing in the region, he said. Party workers briefed Rahul on condition of dalits and tribals in Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur and Damoh districts. Chaturvedi also said that Rahul has asked them to send a report on the state of affairs in the region to him. An open letter from the ministry to the Egyptian people posted on Facebook noted the 64th anniversary of Police Day and made no mention of the Jan. 25 uprising. We will always be the police of the people, it said. The interior minister did offer a gesture to at least one group for Jan. 25 announcing special family visits for prisoners, in honor of both the uprising and Police Day, according to Al-Ahram, the flagship state newspaper. Even before the latest police raids, government efforts were well underway to repossess the downtown streets where the 2011 protests grew. Among the most significant was the alteration of Tahrir Square, the focal point of the demonstrations. In the center of Tahrir, officials tried to erect a monument to commemorate the martyrs of Jan. 25 and June 30, the date of mass demonstrations against Mr. Morsis rule, but protesters tore it down. The government settled for a large flag post instead. The authorities also placed a large metal gate at one entrance to the square that they could shut against an advancing crowd. The streets beyond the square are also being transformed by a private initiative to beautify the grand neoclassical buildings downtown. Ms. Ibiary, of Studio Emad Eddin, said it was possible that the visit from Interior Ministry officials was related to a broader gentrification campaign, which has included the dispersal of vendors in the area. But it seemed to be a warning from the police, she said a message to cultural organizations like hers, where 75 percent of the users of the space are young people. They are saying, we exist, so beware, she said. The downtown security sweeps included visits to hundreds of apartments and cafes and were the most visible manifestation of the governments alarm. But across Egypt, dozens and perhaps hundreds of antigovernment activists were also rounded up, including Islamist administrators of Facebook pages, Mr. Abdul Rahman said. I was one of the lucky ones who was blown up into the air, and I fell into the sea, Mr. Stoliar said. When I came to the surface, there was nothing except a tremendous amount of debris and many, many people swimming in the water. It was very, very cold, and we had a hard time moving our feet and our hands. Mr. Frantz and Catherine Collins later recounted the sinking in a 2003 book, Death on the Black Sea. Mr. Stoliar told them he saw people screaming and thrashing in waves strewn with kindling. Many were clinging to a partly submerged section of the wooden deck, with cables and twisted metal from the ships railing attached to it. He swam to the group, still clad in his heavy leather jacket, grabbed the railing and looked about at the terrified faces, shivering and sobbing in the cold. There was nothing to do but hang on. Hours passed and the cries gradually faded as people succumbed to hypothermia and exhaustion. Some floated off, others slipped into the deep. One man lost his grip, grabbed Mr. Stoliar by the collar and dragged him under. But Mr. Stoliar broke free and regained his hold as the man sank out of sight. Soon birds appeared, flying over the corpses. As the dead drifted away, the decking grew lighter and rose in the water. Mr. Stoliar, a strong youth, dragged himself on top. In the afternoon, the Strumas first mate, Lazar Ivanof Dikof, floated by on a door. Mr. Stoliar pulled him onto his raft of wreckage. He told Mr. Stoliar of seeing the torpedos approach. In the numbing cold, they were surrounded by floating bodies. No one else appeared to be alive as night fell, and in the morning Mr. Dikof, too, was dead. Alone now, Mr. Stoliar thought of giving up. He took out a jackknife to slit his wrists, but his fingers were too numb to open the blade. A short while later, about 24 hours after the Struma had sunk, a large ship appeared in the distance. He waved frantically, and saw figures on deck waving back. JERUSALEM A 13-year-old Palestinian girl was fatally shot by an Israeli security guard at the entrance to a West Bank settlement on Saturday after she ran at him with a knife, according to the Israeli police. The girl was identified by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa as Ruqayya Eid Abu Eid, a resident of the Palestinian village of Anata. The village is about a mile from the settlement of Anatot, where the episode occurred. According to the Israeli police, Ms. Abu Eid quarreled with her family on Saturday morning and then left her home with a knife intending to die. She arrived at the settlement about 8 a.m., the police said in a statement, and ran toward the civilian guard at the entrance, who opened fire. Grainy security camera footage from the scene appeared to show a girl with a knife in her hand chasing a guard. The girls father, who was looking for her, arrived at the settlement soon after she had been shot. The police detained him for questioning. If confirmed, the Iranwire report would fill in some gaps in what is known about the prisoner release, in which five people, including four Iranian-American dual citizens, were released by Iran, and seven people, including six Iranian-American dual citizens, were released by the United States. Iranwire was created by Iranian journalists living outside the country, which exerts strict controls on the domestic news media. The founders include Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian who was himself a prisoner in Iran. It has maintained numerous contacts inside Iran. Mr. Bahari said in a Twitter post that Iranwire had waited to report on Mr. Khosravis background until it knew he was safely out of Iran. It described Mr. Khosravi as a former soldier in his 50s who was deployed in northeast Iran after the countrys revolution in 1979, and who like many others left Iran in the 1980s for the United States. It said he moved to California, home to a large Iranian expatriate community, became known as Fred Khosravi, and worked in the carpet business as a designer and seller in California and Florida. The account quoted his Tehran cellmate as saying Mr. Khosravi had told him that he later went to work as a freelance consultant to the F.B.I., returned to Iran in late 2013 to visit his aged mother in Tonekabon, a city near the Caspian Sea, and decided to stay there and teach English. When Mr. Khosravi saw a BBC report about Mr. Levinson, a former C.I.A. and F.B.I. operative who has been missing in Iran since March 2007, the account said, he got in touch with an old F.B.I. contact to say he knew Mr. Levinsons whereabouts. When interrogated by Iranian officials about this later, the account said, he claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol and had lied to impress his F.B.I. contact. A 6,000-year-old tomb in Northern Spain provides valuable information about an ancient Neolithic community, according to a new study in the journal PLOS One. The tomb holds the remains of 47 individuals, laid to rest in several layers. Individuals in the bottom tomb were closely related, and family members were buried side-by-side, DNA analysis suggests. In layers above, however, the bodies appear to be missing skeletal parts, including skulls. The bones were manipulated, possibly for ritualistic purposes. . The analysis also showed that the community relied on cereals and other plant-based food for sustenance. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and the City of Opelika released a statement Friday detailing events related to the officer-involved shooting death of Bennie Lee Tignor on Oct. 31, 2015. A Lee County grand jury cleared three-year OPD Officer Jared Greer last week, and District Attorney Robbie Treese released dash-cam footage of the incident on Wednesday. The statement, which is available in its entirety here, describes the incident in which Greer shot and killed Tignor, after Tignor failed to comply with an attempted traffic stop, resisted arrest and brandished a firearm. It states that Greer, in fear for his life, fired nine shots at Tignor, seven of which entered Tignors body. An autopsy was performed on Tignors body on Nov. 2 by Dr. Stephen Boudreau, senior medical examiner with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Boudreau concluded that Tignor died from multiple gunshot wounds. Toxicology reports found ethanol present in his blood, chest, urine and vitreous humor. Tignors blood alcohol content was 0.193 g/100 mL, approximately 2.5 times the legal limit. The release also identified for the first time Tignors weapon, which was reported as a Raven Arms .25-caliber handgun. In a Nov. 1 SBI-taped interview of Greer, Greer said Tignor dropped the firearm on the ground in front of his vehicle during a brief altercation between the two. SBI records of Greers interview indicate that Tignor bent down to retrieve the gun as Greer directed him to step away from it. The subject failed to follow his directives, at which time Officer Greer advised that he backed away and retrieved his service weapon (Sig Sauer .40 caliber semi-automatic). Officer Greer instructed the subject to drop the weapon. Officer Greer stated that the subject moved toward his direction with the firearm in both hands. Officer Greer stated that he told the subject several times to drop the weapon, but the subject would not relinquish possession of the handgun, at which time Officer Greer stated he discharged his service weapon four times. Tignor was a convicted felon with multiple prior arrests; his possession of a firearm constituted a felony offense. There is no justification to attack a police officer who is performing his lawful duty. Officers have the right to defend themselves from a perceived imminent attack. Armed assailants should expect to be shot if they draw a handgun on an armed police officer under the circumstances of this case. Had Mr. Tignor simply complied with Officer Greers lawful commands, the confrontation would have ended peacefully at that time. Based on Tignors aggressive actions and his brandishing of the handgun, it was entirely reasonable for Officer Greer to fear that Tignor was about to fire at him. It was reasonable for Officer Greer to fear that he was about to be shot by Tignor. The facts in this case support the conclusion that there is only one person responsible for the death of Bennie Lee Tignor Bennie Lee Tignor, the statement reads. The city also issued a response to those with lingering questions regarding the incident. Perhaps some in the community may question why Officer Greer did not attempt to shoot the gun out of Tignors hand or shoot Tignor in the legs, arms or hand. Officers are trained, as they should be, to shoot for the center body mass to neutralize the threat. The objective is to remove the threat. The most effective way to do that is to shoot at a persons torso because it is the largest part of the body and where a shot is most likely to incapacitate someone who poses a potential threat. Some in the community may question why Officer Greer fired so many shots at Tignor. The evidence is that Officer Greer fired nine shots in rapid succession from a relatively close range. Seven of the shots struck Tignor. Officers are taught to shoot at the suspect until the threat is eliminated. Officer Greer continued to shoot at Tignor until he was incapacitated. After Tignor fell to the ground, Greer ceased firing. Finally, some in the community may question why several shots struck Tignor in the back. It appears from the dash-cam video that the first shots struck Tignor in the area of his right arm. Tignors body was twisting and turning at the time of the shooting. As his body turned, Tignor was shot several times in the back. Greer was placed on paid administrative leave following the shooting. As no evidence of wrongdoing was uncovered by the grand jury, Greer will return to work on Feb. 3. A large number of Rajasthanis living in Chennai stage a protest in front of the collectors office on Friday. (Photo: DC) Chennai: Over 400 Rajasthani settlers in the city raised their voice to introduce a daily train and extend two more trains to cities in Rajasthan from Chennai a 14-year-old demand the community has been addressing with the Southern Railway. The Chennai-Jodhpur Express that started 15 years ago as a weekly train is the only train that connects Chennai to Rajasthan directly, while Bengaluru that has the same number of Rajasthani population has seven trains daily. Until 2005, we at least had two trains every week during the winter season. Later that was cancelled, Tiger Ashok Rajpurohit, president, TNRPES (Tamil Nadu Rajasthani Pravasi Ekta Sangh) told DC. Members of this organisation will be meeting the railway minister to raise the issue. General manager of Southern Railway was very positive on its demands and has agreed to take necessary steps on this matter, he added. The demonstration was staged in front of the collectorate on Friday with members of TN RPES raising slogans demanding that the weekly ChennaiJodhpur train be converted to daily train. They also sought the extension of daily Ahmedabad train up to Barmer or Jodhpur via Bhildi, Jalore and the induction of a new train from Chennai to Ajmer via Ahmedabad. The weekly Jodhpur bound trains have been running full for the past two months, IRCTC officials said. A Newport Beach man accused of piloting an Alaska Airlines flight in 2014 while under the influence of alcohol refused to cooperate with an internal investigation involving his employment, the airline said Friday. David Hans Arntson, 60, now a retired Alaska Airlines captain, was arrested Wednesday on a federal charge of operating a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Arntson was the pilot of two Alaska Airlines flights on June 20, 2014. The first flight was from San Diego International Airport to Portland, Ore. He then flew a plane from Portland to John Wayne Airport. Alaska Airlines officials said in a statement Friday that Arntson, who had an unblemished 31-year career with the company, quit his job before he could be fired for failing a random alcohol test. We have a zero-tolerance policy for employees, including pilots, who fail alcohol and drug tests, the statement says. Mr. Arntson was immediately removed from duty. He refused to submit to an investigatory interview. Mr. Arntson left the company before we were able to complete an investigation that would have led to his termination. Arntson could not be reached for comment Friday. A phone number listed for him was disconnected. Erin R. Darling, a federal public defender assigned to represent Arntson, also could not be reached for comment. The Federal Aviation Administration website shows that Arntson has current certifications as a commercial airline pilot, flight instructor and flight engineer. The criminal complaint spells out the allegations against Arntson. Upon landing Flight 580 at John Wayne, Arntson was met by an Alaska Airlines technician who told him he had been selected for random drug and alcohol testing. The test showed Arnstons blood alcohol concentration levels for two tests taken 15 minutes apart were 0.134 and 0.142 percent. Federal law specifies a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for the operator of a common carrier, like an airline pilot, convicted of operating a vehicle or plane with a blood-alcohol content of .10 percent or greater. Arntson told him he did not know why he tested positive and that he recently got out of the hospital and was taking antibiotics. After being informed of the test results on Arntson on June 20, Alaska Airlines removed him from safety-sensitive duties that day. Arntson later told investigators that he got his blood tested at 6:30 a.m. the next morning at an emergency room, where the result indicated no alcohol in his system. He was hired as a pilot by Alaska Airlines in 1982 and promoted to captain in 1987. He retired soon after the incident for medical reasons, court records show. Arntson was released from custody on $25,000 bond and faces up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. He is expected to appear in court Feb. 10. Contact the writer: Staff Writer Louis Casiano contributed to this report UPDATE: The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of three accused felons who escaped from the Orange County jail, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced at a news conference Sunday morning. That is in addition to the up to $20,000 being offered by the FBI. Weve gotten a number of what I would call very good tips, Hutchens said. Some of the tips have led investigators to focus on other counties, but, Hutchens said, Theres no indication that anyone has left the country. More to come. *** SANTA ANA A manhunt is underway after three inmates, including one accused of murder, carried out a brazen jailbreak, cutting and climbing their way out of Orange County jail. Hossein Nayeri, 37, Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Bac Duong, 43, were still at large Saturday night after their Friday breakout. This was clearly a well-thought out and planned escape, Orange County Sheriffs spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock said. All three are believed to be violent and dangerous. Authorities advise anyone who spots one of them to call 911. The men were living in a housing tank within the Central Jail Complex known as Mod F, which they shared with 65 other inmates. Sometime between Fridays 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. head counts, the men cut through half-inch steel bars, forced their way into a plumbing tunnel and made their way to an unsecured part of the jailhouse roof, Hallock said. Using an improvised rope perhaps bedsheets or jail clothes the men got around the barbed wire and rappelled four stories to the ground, he said. The men then ran off, authorities believe. It wasnt until around the 9 p.m. count that jail staff realized the men were unaccounted for, Hallock said. By midnight, officials confirmed that the inmates were gone. We have several counts throughout the 24-hour period. We have two, what we call, physical body counts where they physically count the bodies and match them to our record cards, Hallock said. There are several unanswered questions. Sheriffs officials would not say what type of tools were used for cutting, or where they might have come from. Investigators are still looking into whether the men had help from the outside, or a getaway driver. It isnt clear if the men ran away from the facility in their jailhouse orange jumpsuits, or if they managed to quickly change. And it isnt known if they cut through the steel bars and tunnel walls in one sitting, or if they carried the work out in increments. But officials say its clear that the escape likely took weeks, or even months, to plan. Authorities also believe a disturbance at the jail just prior to the scheduled nightly check may have been staged to aid the escape. Hallock declined to say whether the disturbance was a fight, or provide other details. It appears, based on that disturbance and the timing of things, that that may have been part of the planning process, but again were still very early in the investigation, the lieutenant said. (Click to enlarge) Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said her department, along with other local law enforcement agencies, are working around the clock to nab the fugitives. We are utilizing every resource available to ensure these inmates are brought back into custody as quickly as possible, Hutchens said in a statement released Saturday night. I take this situation very seriously and the men and women of the Orange County Sheriffs Department will not rest until all three men are captured. Besides sharing housing arrangements at the jail, there is no obvious link among the men, one of whom has spent less than a month in custody. The most high-profile is Nayeri, who is one of four people accused of kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner. Authorities suspect they falsely believed the owner had buried money in a desert. Prosecutors say that while driving to the desert, Nayeri and two other men burned the dispensary owner with a blowtorch and cut off his penis. Authorities also believe that they attempted to destroy DNA evidence by pouring bleach on the man before dumping him and his girlfriend on the side of the road. They took the dispensary owners penis with them so that it could never be re-attached, prosecutors said. The girlfriend, still bound, was able to run a mile to a main road to flag down police. Nayeri fled to Iran before Newport Beach authorities could take him into custody, but was later arrested by the FBI in Prague while trying to catch a flight to Spain to visit family. He was held in the jail without bail since September 2014. Tieu, in custody since October 2013, was charged with murder, which authorities say involved a gang-related incident. He was in jail in lieu of $1 million bail. Duong is facing an attempted murder charge and was ineligible for bail because he was on an immigration hold. Along with contacting the agencies that investigated the men and the deputy DAs who are prosecuting them, Hallock said investigators are reaching out to any family or acquaintances of the fugitives. Jail investigators are also going over surveillance footage, but acknowledge that some of the rarely-used portions of the jail the men used to escape may not have cameras within then. Aiding with the search are federal marshals and the FBI, Hallock said. Officials did not specify which cities in particular they are focusing on. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to the mens arrest. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the fugitives to contact the Orange County Sheriffs Department at 714-628-7085 or to submit anonymous tips to CrimeStoppers at 855-847-6227. Chennai: Manithaneya Makkal Katchi MLA M.H. Jawahirullah has urged the Government to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and 50 Muslims incarcerated in the State. Speaking in the Assembly on Friday, Jawahirullah said as per the recent Supreme Court verdict, the State has unfettered right to release the convicts under Art. 161 of the Constitution. Hence, using the power, the State government should make necessary efforts to release the seven. He recalled that the Government had also passed a resolution in the matter. He also requested the government to release nearly 50 Muslims detained in prison for several years. Minister for municipal administration, rural development, law, courts and prisons, S.P. Velumani, said a court case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy regarding the release of prisoners was pending. The government would act after the verdict. Jawahirullah urged the government to remove encroachments on water bodies. A large number of educational institutions and IT parks had encroached water bodies. Pointing out that the CM J. Jayalalithaa was instrumental in banning lottery and gutka in the state, he said she should also implement prohibition in the state. SANTA ANA A panel of Fourth District Court of Appeal justices on Friday upheld the conviction of a 31-year-old man involved in the killings of the father and sister of a friends ex-girlfriend in Anaheim Hills. The justices upheld the conviction of Charles Anthony Murphy Jr., who was sentenced Jan. 17, 2014, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Murphy was convicted of the May 21, 2007, murders of Jayprakash Dhanak and his 20-year-old daughter, Karishma Dhanak, and the attempted murder of Leela Dhanak, Jayprakash Dhanaks wife. Iftekhar Murtaza was sentenced to death in March 2015 for his part in masterminding the murders. Co-defendant Vitaliy Krasnoperovs convictions were reversed on appeal in January 2015. He is awaiting a third trial as his first trial ended with a hung jury in May 2011. Murphys appellate attorneys argued that there was not enough evidence to convict him, but the justices said the cellphone records showing his proximity to the crime scenes, his lies to investigators and a damning text message exchange with Murtaza were enough to prove his involvement. The murder plot came about after Murtazas girlfriend of two years, Shayona Dhanak, broke up with him, prosecutor Howard Gundy said. Gundy argued that Murtaza wanted to create a crisis for his ex-girlfriend so she would run back into his arms. Shayona Dhanak wanted to break up with her jealous boyfriend but didnt know how to do it so her mother suggested she blame the split on religious differences, Gundy said. The Dhanaks were devout Hindus, and Murtaza at the time was a non-practicing Muslim. When Krasnoperov dropped out of the picture due to an injury suffered in a motorcycle accident, Murtaza turned to another friend, Murphy. Firefighters found the bodies of Jayprakash and Karishma Dhanak about 4:15 a.m. May 22, 2007, near a bike trail at Mason Regional Park in Irvine. Karishma Dhanak appeared to have been burned alive and her throat was slashed. KASSERINE, Tunisia Unemployed young people from the Tunisian city that touched off nationwide protests say the government is failing them and protested anew Saturday in a precarious calm enforced by a nationwide curfew. Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring protest movement, is the only democracy to rise from those turbulent demonstrations five years ago, touched off by the suicide of a young man who despaired of making a living. The country has a 15 percent unemployment rate but among young people one in three is jobless. The government imposed a nationwide curfew on Friday night and has not said when it will be lifted. The nationwide protests this week were triggered by the death of a young man in Kasserine who was electrocuted when he climbed a transmission tower to protest losing out on a government job. The protests then spread to cities throughout the country, including scattered demonstrations in the capital Tunis, where a bank and some stores were looted. On Saturday, a small crowd at a government building in Kasserine reasserted their demands for jobs, while in Tunis the prime minister said the situation was under control. We want to send a message to the president in my name and the name of everyone: We are demanding work. Were not destroying. Were not burning. Were not causing chaos but just demanding jobs, said Maher Nasri, an unemployed graduate. Tunisian leaders say they understand the protesters frustration but blamed criminals for the violence. The Interior Ministry said 261 people had been arrested, with a total of 423 since the unrest began. Emerging from an emergency government meeting to address the unrest, Prime Minister Habib Essid said the security situation was under control and he emphasized his optimism for the countrys future. The government, he pledged, would be firm faced with the difficulties and multiple challenges of security, economy and society it confronts. The democratic process in Tunisia is an irreversible choice, despite the attempts of some to put in in doubt, he said. A coalition of Tunisian human rights activists, lawyers, labor leaders and employers won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for their successful efforts to prevent Tunisia from descending into chaos and authoritarianism. But multiple terror attacks in 2015, claimed by the Islamic State group, have caused incalculable damage to a North African economy heavily dependent upon tourism. And in Kasserine, protesters said the government needed to do far more to win their trust. We want solutions that can be implemented, said Ahlam Gharsalli. We need urgent solutions because were fed up with waiting. The market for health insurance is highly concentrated. The nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation reports that in 31 states a single medical insurance company controls 50 percent or more of the entire market. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission calculate measures of whether an industry is concentrated minimally, moderately or highly applying that calculation, 41 states have medical insurance industries that are highly concentrated. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office is required to report on the competitive conditions in health insurance markets. Its report just over a year ago documented the highly concentrated status of this market. And the Library of Congress research arm has compiled numerous studies showing that in more highly concentrated markets, insurance premiums are higher. There are two pending mergers that would bring the top five national medical insurance companies down to only three: Anthems proposal to acquire Cigna, and Aetnas proposal to acquire Humana. In California, concentration would be further increased by Centenes attempt to acquire Health Net. It is natural to look at this concentration from the point of view of the patient. That, however, is only one-half of the economic relationship of importance in health insurance. The insurance company stands between the physician and the patient. It is just as unhealthy for a physician to face fewer insurers as it is for a patient (or a patients employer) to face fewer insurers. In the latter case, we worry about higher premiums. In the former case, it is the terms set by insurers on physicians that should receive equal attention. Indeed, the concentration of insurers is often even higher when measured on the side of doctors looking for patients because most doctors are specialists. Individual specialists in individual geographic markets are often faced with no choice at all. In many parts of the country, orthopedists, neurosurgeons and obstetricians can find no more than a single insurer willing to recommend patients to them. The result, predictably, is a one-sided contract, where the insurer sets terms that effectively govern how a doctor goes about their profession. Insurance companies prefer doctors to take large volumes of patients, to spend little time on each patient, to prescribe tests infrequently if they might cost money and to insist upon paraprofessional services to be fully exhausted before a specialist is even permitted to see a patient. The insurance companys economic incentive is to spend as little as possible on medical care. And if there is no competing insurance company to whom the physician can turn for an alternative offer, the doctor has no choice but to submit to offering the quality of care ordered by the insurance company. This concern might be offset if the insurance companies passed the savings along in lower premiums. That, however, has not been the case. Rather, an insurance company in a position to be a monopoly supplier to a patient and a monopoly purchaser of service from a doctor has the opportunity to exploit both. The patient actually loses out both ways, since the rules imposed on doctors result in lower-quality care, at least as measured by what the doctors would like to provide, if they didnt have a minimum number of patients per hour, or other offensive conditions, effectively imposed upon them. Both federal and state regulatory agencies are reviewing the Anthem-Cigna and Aetna-Humana mergers. The Department of Justice and the California Departments of Insurance and Managed Health Care will each have to grant their approval for the mergers, though Aetna and Anthem could fight any refusal through the courts. The agencies should be highly skeptical of these mergers. The argument in favor of each merger is that larger companies can pool a larger set of claims data, but that efficiency can be achieved by sharing information through the Department of Insurance in each state. Free-market advocates normally hesitate to second-guess market decisions, but not where a player in the market already shows monopoly power, or where a group of players agrees to offer identical terms and prices. Breaking up the Standard Oil Trust a century ago did not constrain competition but restored it. In the case of medical insurance, disallowing increased market power is especially important for one additional reason: Its against the law for two doctors to agree to present a united front to the insurance companies, but, under an exemption obtained from Congress 60 years ago, big insurance companies can, with a states permission, collude to tell doctors to take it or leave it. Tom Campbell is dean of the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University. He is a former director of the Bureau of Competition, the antitrust arm of the Federal Trade Commission. His bill to give doctors the ability to bargain collectively with insurance companies passed the House in 2000, when he was a member of Congress. These views are his own. Are you feeling the Bern for single-payer health insurance? Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, unveiled his health insurance reform plan just before last Sundays Democratic debate. Bernies plan would create a federally administered single-payer health care program, explains his official proposal. As a patient, all you need to do is go to the doctor and show your insurance card. Bernies plan means no more copays, no more deductibles and no more fighting with insurance companies when they fail to pay for charges. Its called Medicare for all. Sanders claims, The typical-middle class family would save over $5,000 under this plan. Which sounds a lot like President Obamas 2008 campaign promise that Obamacare would save Americans $2,500 a year. In reality, premium costs have soared while coverage has dropped. Californians long have seen similar state-level plans to Bernies and have rejected them. In 1994, voters faced Proposition 186. In the official state ballot pamphlet, proponents promised to prescribe the health insurance you need and deserve. It attacked the insurance companies for wasting billions on paperwork, advertising, profits, big buildings and big salaries. It insisted, in all capitals, 186 GUARANTEES YOUR CHOICE OF DOCTORS. Opponents charged Prop. 186 would not guarantee your choice of doctors and another capital letters alert BILLIONS WILL BE SPENT EACH YEAR FOR STATE AND REGIONAL BUREAUCRACIES. Voters rejected Prop. 186 by a huge margin, 73 percent to 27 percent. The vote came shortly after even a Democratic Congress pulled the plug on Hillarycare, First Lady Hillary Clintons 1993 attempt to establish national coverage. Since them, of course, Obamacare was passed in 2010 when Democrats briefly controlled both the House and a filibuster-proof 60-vote supermajority in the Senate. Obamacare was based on Romneycare in Massachusetts, and basically mandated that everybody must have health insurance. In the current election, a more cautious Hillary explained, I want us to defend and build on the Affordable Care Act and improve it. Back to California, current Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl introduced a single-payer bill when she was in the California Legislature from 1994 to 2008. It passed in 2006 and 2008, but was vetoed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Socialized medicine is not the solution to our states health care problems, Arnold explained in his 2006 veto message. This bill would require an extraordinary redirection of public and private funding by creating a vast new bureaucracy to take over health insurance and medical care for Californians a serious and expensive mistake. Such a program would cost the state billions and lead to significant new taxes on individuals and businesses, without solving the critical issue of affordability. Critics also said Kuehls plan eventually would lead to Canada-style total government control of the medical system to contain costs, a criticism also made of Bernies plan. Strangely, just the next January, Schwarzenegger himself proposed a Romneycare/Obamacare-type medical insurance reform that was rejected by the Democratic Legislature as being too expensive. Since Kuehl left the Legislature, a similar single-payer proposal was advanced by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-Sacramento. His Senate Bill 810 passed the state Senate in 2012, then died. Since then, reported the Los Angeles Review of Books, he informed supporters of his intention not to refile. I think similar bills have not advanced because of the large state budget deficits following the Great Recession, the implementation of Obamacare and the likelihood Gov. Jerry Brown would oppose any expensive new program. As Californias experience shows, even a liberal Democratic state isnt eager to inject itself with a single-payer system. Dr. Bernie will not be consulted. ANAHEIM Construction could begin by the end of the year on a $364 million, mixed-use complex with 1,079 apartment units, 9,800 square feet of commercial space and a 1.1-acre park across the street from Angel Stadium. If approved later this year by Anaheims Planning Commission, the project known as Jefferson Stadium Park would span 17.6 acres on the southwest corner of State College Boulevard and Gene Autry Way. The complexs first of three phases would open in 2018. JPI made a commitment to invest in the community several years ago, said Heidi Mather, a vice-president for developer JPI. The Jefferson Stadium Park development only strengthens our commitment to become a partner in the revitalization of this core area of Anaheim. JPI declined to say how much it spent to purchase the property from San Francisco-based Prologis. But public records show that JPI paid $42.25 million for the vacant property. Prologis won approval in 2007 to build 1,208 apartments, 100,000 square feet of office space, 50,000 square feet of retail and a 1.7-acre park within a complex that was going to be called The Experience at Gene Autry Way, according to city records. This marks the second time that JPI swept up a chunk of property from a developer wanting to sell their piece of the Platinum Triangle, 820 acres that is expected to take the population from zero not too many years ago to eventually 28,000 and add shops, offices and restaurants. In December 2014, JPI paid $24 million to BEX Portfolio for 7.6 acres near Katella Avenue and State College. A month later, JPI started construction on Jefferson Platinum Triangle, a $119 million complex with 400 apartments scheduled to open next year. Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or amarroquin@ocregister.com Mondelez International, formerly known as Kraft Foods, has settled a state investigation into claims the food industry giant sold ginger snap cookies in California that contained excess lead without a warning. The levels of lead found in Nabiscos Ginger Snap cookies posed a serious public health threat, potentially impacting the brain development of our children, said California Attorney General Kamala Harris in a statement. Parents need accurate information to make educated food choices for their children. A consent judgment was filed Thursday in Orange County Superior Court and is awaiting approval by a judge. Mondelez has agreed to strict product sourcing and testing to limit lead levels in its cookies as part of the settlement. The company also agreed to pay $750,000 in civil penalties, costs and attorneys fees. The attorney general and district attorneys investigation began in 2013. Testing revealed lead levels up to nine times that which requires a warning under Proposition 65. The cookies recipe has since changed. Proposition 65, The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, requires business to provide warnings of carcinogens or reproductive toxins. The Deerfield, Ill.-based Mondelez was closed Friday when calls for comment were made. Company brands include Oreo, Trident and Nabisco products. Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans At 5:45 Saturday evening, a full moon will rise over the Saddleback Mountains and shine down upon Orange County. As it does, will the moonbeams bring mayhem and madness with them? Maybe. But rest assured, the countys law enforcement officers will be more than ready to keep the peace. There has always been a perception among cops, firefighters and emergency room personnel that theres more (and often stranger) crime on the night of a full moon. When something crazy or weird happens, I look up at the sky to see if the moon is full, says Newport Beach police Officer Bill Hume. The full moon seems to bring out the nightcrawlers people who come out at weird hours and lurk around aimlessly. You know theyre up to no good. This belief is so strong that the International Association of Chiefs of Police spent the money to commission a study in the late 1970s to find out if there is any scientific evidence to support this belief. They found nothing definitive. And if you look through the Department of Justices reference service, youll find a half-dozen or so more studies that also point to no precise scientific explanation. So if you want to determine the relationship between the full moon and crime, youll just have to rely on the anecdotal evidence of policemen around the world. One of those cops is David Hunter, 69, who spent 32 years as a deputy in Knox County, Tenn. His book, The Moon Is Always Full, published in 1989, is a collection of police officers full moon stories. I suspect the phenomenon is a self-fulfilling prophecy, Hunter said. Most cops are adrenaline junkies. If nothing happens on their graveyard shift, they get disappointed. So the full moon gives the cop a reason to investigate things he might usually ignore. UC Irvine criminology Professor Charis Kubrin agrees. She uses the term confirmatory bias to explain the phenomenon. The officers are looking for evidence that confirms their belief, she said. What kinds of things are said to happen during the full moon? Hunter has a favorite full-moon story. Id been on the job for only two months, Hunter said, and we responded to a call of a 69-year-old grandma who was brandishing a shotgun under the light of a full moon. It took four of Kentuckys finest to subdue granny. She was definitely psychotic, he said. Some cops point to the lunar effect to explain the moonlight madness. Theres a speculation that the moons gravitational influence can bring about changes in people who have mental imbalances. Brian Downs, an 11-year veteran of the Anaheim Police Department, says hes observed the effect himself. On nights of a full moon, he said. We usually get call after call after call involving people with mental issues. We turned to the scientific community to weigh in on the tie between the full moon and strange criminal behavior. Professor Elizabeth Loftus teaches cognitive science at UCI. She speculates that this lunar effect may just be folklore. Being a scientist, she wouldnt say outright that there was a correlation between the moon and craziness, but conceded that maybe mentally ill people get weirded out by the full moon and behave in strange ways. In 19th century England, lawyers would use the defense of not guilty by reason of the full moon to make claim that their lunatic client was not accountable for his actions. Which brings us to the story of Anaheim police Officer James Brown and the Wolverine. Six years ago on the night of a full moon I responded to the report of a fight at a hotel in the South district, Brown said. The dispatcher described one of the men as looking like the comic book character Wolverine. Sure enough, Brown saw a shirtless man who could have been the superheros doppelganger. I ordered the man to lay down on the pavement but he refused. Wolverine bows to no one! he said. Brown called upon his knowledge of comic book heroes and told the man, The Wolverine is dealing with Captain America now. Brown was eventually forced to use his Taser to subdue the man: Pain is my power, Wolverine said during the struggle. When the man was eventually taken into custody, he sighed, Wolverine loses to Captain America this time. To this day, some of Browns fellow officers still refer to him as Captain America. So fear not, citizens. Any time the full moon brings trouble to your city, Brown quipped. Just call for Captain America! During a tour in Iraq, U.S. Army officer Ryan Kranc was traveling on a convoy with his commander when they drove over a roadside bomb. His commander died, and Kranc survived. That was 2003. For many years after, Kranc bore the guilt of the incident until 2009, when he was deployed in Saudi Arabia and decided to get help. I came to the realization that I could no longer mask this, Kranc said in a phone interview early Friday with The Post. I would pour my heart and soul into my professional life, but I would be a zombie at home. Kranc was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or what he prefers to simply call post-traumatic stress and started seeing a doctor, traveled through Germany, witnessed a leg of the Tour de France. It was a personal retreat, Kranc said. It took me a long time to realize that I wasnt responsible. Now, the officer, who is currently still serving, shares his story with others in the hopes of destigmatizing PTSD and challenging the idea that war leaves psychological wounds from which it is impossible to recover. Though the process has been far from perfect, Kranc said, he continues to lead a productive life, and is frustrated by the common perception that veterans cant move forward from their psychological traumas. This was the message Kranc was trying to get across on Twitter earlier this week, when he responded to Nate Bethea, another veteran, with a string of tweets about how he was affected by PTSD. Unknowingly, he was joining a discussion within the online American veteran community that has been sparked by comments from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The one-time Republican vice presidential candidate bolted back into the spotlight with her endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday, but a side story that didnt go unnoticed was her sons arrest at her home the day before she threw her support behind the billionaire real estate developer. According to a police affidavit, Palins 26-year-old son and Iraq combat war veteran Track Palin was arrested on domestic violence charges after his girlfriend, Jordan Loewe, called 911 saying that he was armed and had punched her in the face. Palin approached Loewe and struck her on the left side of her head near her eye with a closed fist, the affidavit says. Loewe got on the ground in a fetal position because she didnt know what else he would do. Palin then kicked Loewe on the right knee. Sarah Palin addressed the incident while stumping for Trump in Tulsa on Tuesday. When my own son is going through what he goes through coming back, I can certainly relate to the families who. . . feel these ramifications of PTSD, she said before an 8,000-strong crowd, The Washington Posts Jose DelReal reported. I guess its kind of the elephant in the room, because my own family going through what were going through today with my son, a combat vet. . .like so many others, they come back a bit different, they come back hardened. In the same speech, Palin accused President Barack Obama of neglecting veterans, adding, it is now or never for the sake of Americas finest that we have a commander-in-chief who will respect them. The statements angered many veterans, who took to social media to condemn Palin for simplifying their experiences and perpetuating the stereotype of the destructive veteran. Others criticized Palin for placing the blame on Obama. Its not President Obamas fault that Sarah Palins son has PTSD, Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), told NBC. PTSD is a very serious problem, a complicated mental health injury and I would be extremely reluctant to blame any one person in particular. He added: I hope this doesnt become a political chew toy in a political campaign. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, between 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD in a given year. Most of the people that I know who I have served with have gone through this, Kranc said. Like Kranc, Bethea shared the personal story of how he got better. Hearing about Track Palins issues makes me think he needs serious counseling. But, that need doesnt forgive his act of domestic violence, Bethea tweeted. Underneath 1 / 8Palins 3 / 8 nonsense lies a very dangerous allegation that all veterans are ticking time bombs, ready to brandish weapons. In contrast, Bethea said, his PTSD manifested in sleeping problems and introversion. He didnt want to leave his apartment, and when he was outdoors, he felt like he was sweating. Even so, he said, At no point did I lash out at anyone, because that would have made me feel worse. It would have confirmed my suspicions of being defective. Former president Bill Clinton is set to address participants Saturday at the 2016 World Patient Safety, Science & Tecnology Summit in Dana Point. Clinton will deliver the keynote address at the sold-out, two-day event for the fourth consecutive year. The summit, which began Friday, is being held at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Hotel and Spa. Last year, Clinton commended the Irvine-based Patient Safety Movement for its significant role in reducing patient deaths that are attributable to infections, medication errors, misdiagnoses and other preventable mistakes. The groups goal is to reduce preventable medical errors to zero by the year 2020. The Patient Safety Movement has the support of more than 500 hospitals, 50-plus technology companies and 100 patient advocates. Other speakers at this years event include Bob Casey, senior senator from Pennsylvania; Dr. Patrick Conway, acting deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and Joe Kiani, founder of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. The focus of this years summit is two new patient safety issues obstetric care and intubation procedures. For more information on the program, visit patientsafetymovement.org. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com BURNS, Ore. About 40 people gathered Saturday near a national wildlife refuge in Oregon to protest against a group occupying the land. The counter-protest began at about 1 p.m. at an overlook about five miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The crowd chanted, Go home, Bundys, naming the leaders of the occupation. The group has occupied the national wildlife refuge since Jan. 2 to oppose federal land use policies. Katie Fite from Boise, Idaho, called the occupiers bullies and said their action could give rise to other hate-filled efforts to take over public lands. Kieran Seckling with the Center for Biological Diversity said the Bundys want to stage other occupancies like the one in Oregon, but he says theres no town in the West that wants to be the next Burns, Oregon. The counter-protest was punctuated by bitter wind and sleet. Students and non-teaching staff of AU as also SFI and Left party activists raise slogans during a rally in protest against the government and demanding justice to the HCU student Rohith Vemula outside the collectorate in Vizag on Friday. Visakhapatnam: The Andhra University faced a complete shutdown and wore a deserted look here on Friday in view of the bandh called by the students protesting the suicide of the University of Hyderabad research scholar Rohith Vemulu. The protesters did not allow the classroom and academic block to function through out the day. Before taking out a rally from the university to district collectorate, the students conducted a condolence meeting paying tribute to Rohith. AU professor Sharan Raju also joined the rally extending solidarity with the demand of the students. Condemning the caste-based politics, some members of CPI and YSRCP SC cell also participated in the march and demanded justice to the Dalit scholar. The protesters submitted a memorandum to district collector N. Yuvraj seeking suspension of V-C of UoH and resignation of Union minister Smriti Irani from the ministerial post. They further demanded formation of a parliamentary committee for an impartial probe into the incidents that led to Rohiths death. Many visitors and students who had come from other districts for official works, suffered as the administrative block did not function through out the day. I came to withdraw my PG certificates from Srikakulam, but the work was completely paralysed. Even in bandh called by students earlier, the administration used to function, but this time, it is complete shutdown, said an ex-student of the varsity who came from Srikakulam. When asked about the Rohiths death, ABVP members who are celebrating the golden jubilee of their Students Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL) programme on the university campus refused to give any comment on this incident. BEIRUT At least 47 civilians were killed Saturday in airstrikes targeting areas under the control of Islamic State in eastern Syria, a monitoring group said. Jets, believed to be Russian, struck the area of Khsham on the eastern outskirts of the province of Deir al-Zour, said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel- Rahman. Those deaths bring to at least 91 the number of civilians killed since Friday in airstrikes in the province, according to the Britain-based observatory. There was comment from the government in Damascus. Islamic State controls most of Deir al-Zour and has besieging regime-held areas in the province for more than a year. Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, launched an air campaign in Syria in September, saying its targets were Islamic State and other extremist groups operating there. Separately, the United States has been leading an air campaign in the war-torn country since September 2014. At least 4,272 people, including 315 civilians, have since been killed in airstrikes in Syria, the observatory reported on Saturday. More than 250,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Syrias conflict since it started with peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011. SAN FRANCISCO A pregnant Berkeley woman is reportedly being tested for Zika, the mosquito-borne viral infection sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean linked to serious brain defects in infants. Other Bay Area women have also been tested for the Zika virus, and probably more will be tested as the overseas outbreak continues, according to at least one Bay Area infectious disease specialist. Testing began on the Berkeley woman after she experienced symptoms a rash and achy joints associated with the virus after a trip to Bora Bora and Easter Island before Christmas, according to Scientific American magazine. The virus, transmitted by infected mosquitoes, has been linked in the past year in Brazil with more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly, a serious and often fatal condition in which babies are born with unusually small heads. Concern over the spread of the virus prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a travel alert last week urging pregnant women to avoid 14 destinations, including Puerto Rico, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. On Friday, the CDC expanded its alert to eight additional countries: Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa. The U.S. Virgin Islands reported its first case of Zika virus Friday. In the U.S., residents of Florida, Illinois, Texas and Hawaii have tested positive for the virus, and a baby in Hawaii was born with microcephaly. All had traveled to countries where the Zika virus is present. Officials from the state Department of Public Health said no Californians have tested positive for the Zika virus this year, although the state has had five confirmed cases since 2013. Certainly in the next few months, well start to see more (Bay Area) people being tested, said Dr. Jeffrey Silvers, who is in charge of quality, pharmacy/therapeutic and infection prevention for all of Sutter Healths 26 hospitals and more than 300 clinics. If you find a pregnant woman who has traveled to any of these areas throughout her pregnancy she needs to be followed and tested. Testing, he said, is done at the CDCs Atlanta headquarters and can take a couple weeks to complete. Silvers said it is important to note that the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person, with the exception of mother to infant. From 2007 to 2014, 14 U.S. residents tested positive for the Zika virus after traveling abroad, CDC officials said last week. From the beginning of 2015 through Jan. 15, 12 U.S. residents had contracted the virus. No one has been been infected with the virus within the U.S. The Scientific American story identified the woman as Brook Meakins and reported she sought treatment from a physician in Berkeley. Meakins said in an e-mail Friday she didnt feel it would be appropriate to discuss her situation before she received her test results. If we do get a positive diagnosis, I will do whatever I can to help others, she said. Its a very serious issue to me, and I feel so badly for the families that received confirmation of the virus. Berkeley public health officials said there have been no confirmed Zika virus cases in the city, nor have they received any reports of suspected Zika virus. CDC officials also said Friday they were working with authorities in Brazil to investigate a potential link between the Zika virus and some cases of an autoimmune disorder known as Guillain-Barre, which can lead to paralysis. As an actress, Rachel Buffett starred in local theater productions. More recently, she has worked as a damsel at Medieval Times. But in Orange County Superior Court, shes landed an unwanted role: criminal defendant. On Friday, Buffett made her first court appearance since a jury recommended a death sentence for her ex-fiance, Daniel Wozniak, convicted last month in a double murder. Buffett was charged as an accessory to the crimes after Wozniak killed two acquaintances, beheading one of them, to steal money and bankroll the couples wedding. Prosecutors allege the 28-year-old actress lied to police in an attempt to protect Wozniak. If convicted, she would face up to three years in prison. RELATED: The Registers Inside the Snitch Tank site Surrounded by family members, Buffett appeared briefly Friday at a pretrial hearing. The hearing was postponed until March 25 after her new attorney, David Medina, requested time to get up to speed on the case, which has attracted national attention from Dateline NBC, 48 Hours and 20/20. Buffett declined to comment after the hearing. But in a Dateline interview that aired Jan. 15, she denied any role in the murders or the aftermath. Im innocent, and thats what hurts me most in this whole situation is theyre trying to say Im something Im not, Buffett said. A former Disneyland princess who grew up in Seal Beach in a religious family, Buffett planned to marry Wozniak in Huntington Beach in May 2010. Detectives arrested Wozniak two days before the ceremony. In December, more than five years after Wozniaks arrest, a Superior Court jury convicted him of killing Samuel Herr, 26, and Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23. On Jan. 11, jurors deliberated for only an hour before recommending the death penalty for the 31-year-old community theater actor. Prosecutors said Wozniak killed Herr, an Army veteran, to steal his $62,000 savings so that he could pay for the couples wedding. On May 21, 2010, Wozniak lured Herr to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, then shot and killed him. The actor returned the next day, cut off Herrs head, hand and forearm, and tossed the body parts in Long Beachs El Dorado Park. In an attempt to throw police off his trail, Wozniak used Herrs cellphone to lure Kibuishi to Herrs apartment. Prosecutors said Wozniak then shot her and tried to make it look as if Herr had killed Kibuishi and sexually assaulted her. Wozniak confessed to Costa Mesa Police detectives during videotaped interviews later played at his trial. Detectives have long maintained that Buffett played a role in the killings. In my opinion, she should be sitting next to Mr. Wozniak right now, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ed Everett testified during Wozniaks trial. After a two-year investigation, authorities charged Buffett in 2012 with three felony counts of being an accessory after the fact, alleging she lied to police on multiple occasions. In one instance, prosecutors say, she repeated a story that Wozniak had told police about a mystery man being with Herr on the day he was killed. Prosecutors say Wozniak later told police that was a lie. The couple was in debt and facing eviction from their small Costa Mesa apartment before the killings, prosecutors say. Herr was their upstairs neighbor. Buffett was friends with Kibuishi, who lived in Irvine but visited Herr regularly. At the time of the killings, Wozniak and Buffett were cast members in the musical Nine at the Hunger Artists Theatre Company in Fullerton. On the day Kibuishi was killed, Buffett appeared emotional before she was set to go on stage, prosecutors say. In the dressing room, she told another cast member, My friend is missing. I think shes missing. I think shes dead. I think my friend did it. Prosecutors say Buffett made the statement about five hours before Kibuishis body was found. In Wozniaks trial, his defense attorneys focused heavily on Buffett, arguing that she manipulated her fiance and played a role in the killings. But Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy noted that Buffett provided police with key information when she told them that Wozniaks brother, Tim Wozniak, had a backpack with evidence. In recorded conversation from a jailhouse phone, Wozniak pleaded with Buffett not to tell police about the evidence. No, babe, Im gonna do it, she replied. Murphy noted that Wozniak has never implicated his ex-fiancee in the crimes. Buffett said in the Dateline episode that she had nothing to do with the killings. She said she learned about the killings when Wozniak told her over the phone from his jail cell and was speechless when his elaborate scheme was revealed. Buffett said she didnt remember telling police that she specifically saw a mystery person and was under the impression that there was a third person involved. If police or prosecutors tell us: That was all a setup between the two (Wozniak and Buffett) of them. They were a couple of actors and they were reading lines thats what? Thats bull? asked Dateline correspondent Josh Mankiewicz. Thats bull, yeah, Buffett replied. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has brought in crisis PR support as his administration tackles fallout from a contaminated water crisis in Flint, Mich., drawing national interest. Mercury, the well-connected public affairs firm, and Finn Partners Detroit exec Bill Nowling are advising the governor's office amid the crisis. Snyder's administration is facing national scrutiny as it faces accusations of mishandling drinking water contamination in Flint after the city changed water sources to save money amid a financial crunch. Nowling guided PR for Detroit's emergency manager during that city's 2014 bankruptcy and later joined Finn Partners as that firm staffed up in the Motor City. The Flint crisis also saw the resignation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator responsible for the area that includes Flint. Luckknow: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said science and technology if not rightly used, can become a danger to society. "World over there is a concern for cyber crime. The importance of technology has increased so much for good governance and development," he said. To buttress his point, Singh drew a contrast between the youths working in IT giant Infosys and terror outfit al-Qaeda, saying while one was working in the interest of society, the other was for its destruction. "I read a write-up in The Guardian newspaper published from London which was on Infosys versus al-Qaeda," he said at a convocation function of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University here. "... while one can be termed as a creative talent for the human society, the other belonging to al-Qaeda is destructive talent...one is beneficial for society while the other is destructive," he said. The Union Minister said "it will have to be seen as to how the difference in thinking has emerged...talent cannot be used in a proper manner for the betterment of society unless thinking is right and there is commitment for human values." He said while at one time big companies were only confined to countries like America, "today we are proud that we are not behind anyone. This is not all, even the heads of Google and Microsoft are of Indian origin." "We do not want to create terror in the hearts of people by becoming the 'super power' but want to become 'global guru' ...we do not want to dominate... India was global guru and would become one soon again," he added. A proposal introduced in the Nebraska Legislature this week would cap the effective annual percentage rate charged on payday loans at 36 percent down from the current 460 percent. Legislative Bill 1036, introduced by State Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln, also would require payday lenders to pay more to establish new locations. Campbell said the bill follows up on the work of the Intergenerational Poverty Task Force, which was created by the Legislature last year. The group heard concerns about how payday lending practices contribute to the money struggles of low-income Nebraskans. The current regulatory structure allows lenders to charge $15 for every $100 borrowed, and because the loans are typically held only for two-week periods, the effective annual percentage rate totals about 460 percent. Those calculations dont count the added interest and fees if a person rolls over a loan instead of paying it by the time it comes due. That means the current $75 fee a lender collects on a $500 loan would fall to about $10 under the new proposal. The bill also caps other fees and charges relative to a certain percentage of a loans principal, for example. Campbell said the bill is similar to Colorado law and would regulate the industry, but not outlaw it. You dont want to get rid of the companies that provide this service because it needs to be there, she said. She said she has not talked with industry members. Other changes proposed in the reform bill include: >> Requiring lenders to provide more detailed information to the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance every year that includes metrics like the number of borrowers, the number of loans and the average loan size. The Banking Department said it didnt have a comment on the proposal. >> Changes in collection practices that require written notice of collection attempts and a cap on the number of failed collection attempts. Brad Hill, area manager of Bellevue-based EZ Money Check Cashings nine metro-area locations, said the proposal would be disastrous to business. I wouldnt say we were blindsided (by the introduction of LB 1036), but we were surprised that it came up, Hill said, especially because the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is poised to propose its own set of rules at the federal level. The federal agency in November gave notice that it was developing a proposal that would address concerns that payday lenders dont adequately assess borrowers ability to repay and, therefore, leave borrowers in a trap of cyclical debt. Hill, who also is president of the industrys statewide lobbying group, the Nebraska Financial Services Association, counters that borrowers cant get a loan without having both a checking account and a recent pay stub, so borrowers ability to repay already is a key consideration. Apart from that, operators argue there is virtually no alternative to the short-term, unsecured credit they offer customers. Its hard to see it any other way than that theyre trying to put us out of business, he said of the proposal. World-Herald staff writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 402-444-1534, cole.epley@owh.com MULLEN, Neb. The question asked was Why serve Nebraska students beef from California when Nebraska leads several categories of beef production in the country? The Nebraska Cattlemen have an answer to that. Brenda Masek, Region 2 vice chairwoman of the Nebraska Cattlemen organization, was in Mullen this week to kick off the groups Beef in the Schools program. Were getting local beef into the school systems, which is the main push here, Masek said. Right now the majority of the commodity beef in the school lunch program comes out of California, the dairy butcher cows in California. We here in Nebraska, the No. 1 cattle-feeding state and No. 2 calf-producing state, dont feel thats the way it should be. We think kids in Nebraska schools should be eating Nebraska beef, so were getting locally raised beef onto the lunch plates of Nebraska kids. The program works with local producers, who donate beef to the program. The beef is processed at a small Nebraska plant and then shipped to participating schools. Other participants include schools in Thayer County and Bridgeport. In Mullen, Martin and Bree DeNaeyer, area beef producers, heard about the program at a Nebraska Cattlemen meeting and were eager to get on board. Martin graduated from Mullen Public Schools, and his wife substitute-teaches there. She contacted Mullen Superintendent Mark Sievering and Barb McIntosh, the schools co-director of food services. U.S. Department of Agriculture approval was required to meet school lunch requirements. On Wednesday, the school board, reporters and students enjoyed the first of many meals that will feature locally produced Nebraska beef. Mullen Public Schools have about 160 students in kindergarten through 12th grade and will need eight or nine cattle to supply the lunch program for an entire year. This year a hog was also donated, and as long as the preparation meets USDA requirements, pork will also be on the menu for students. Sievering said he thought five or six meals would contain beef. McIntosh put together a list that far surpassed Sieverings number. Three families, including the DeNaeyers, have contributed meat, and all have students at the school. We hope to contribute one beef per year to the program for many years to come, Martin DeNaeyer said. FREMONT, Neb. (AP) Midland University students have staged a protest as part of class on life in the 1960s. Thirty-nine students took to the streets Thursday afternoon to protest high college tuition as part of the American Culture in the 1960s course, the Fremont Tribune reported. Students brainstormed ideas about what they wanted to protest and unanimously chose tuition rates as their cause. Student Mariana Ramirez said, College is getting more and more expensive, and everybody is having to go into extreme debt to attend college. They protested injustices in the 1960s, so we are out here doing the same thing. Class instructor Janet Lack said the protest provided students with the opportunity to see what others did to peacefully bring about change during the 1960s. We werent marching in Selma, we didnt have dogs snarling at us, and we werent being sprayed at by fire hoses, Lack said. You cant recreate the things that Dr. King and others went through, but it gave the students a little taste of how much sacrifice, effort and work it takes to make change happen. Lack said she contacted university officials and the Fremont Police Department to let them know the student protest would take place for safety reasons. Blood drive: Mercy High Schools National Honor Society and Holy Cross Catholic Parish are holding their annual winter blood drive from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 in the Holy Cross School cafeteria. To register, go to redcrossblood.org and type in the sponsor code: 009685. Virginia Frank Writing Contest: Friends of Omaha Public Library invite middle school students to enter the annual Virginia Frank Writing Contest. Entrants should create original fiction featuring a character from a book they have enjoyed. Prizes will be awarded to the top three writers from each grade, fifth through eighth. The school libraries of the winners will get matching cash prizes of $100, $50 or $25. The rules: Stories must be typed and no longer than 750 words; identify the book and author from which the character originated in the title or subtitle of the story; include a cover page with the writers name, address, phone number, grade and name of school. Only one entry per contestant will be accepted. All students from public, private and home schools in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Dodge and Saunders Counties are eligible. Mail entries to Polly Goecke, FOPL Virginia Frank Writing Contest, P.O. Box 6032, Omaha, NE 68106. Entries must be received by March 4. Find more details at omahalibrary.org/got-talent/. Musical education: This semester, the Omaha Public Schools music department, in collaboration with Omaha Performing Arts, will pilot Carnegie Halls Musical Explorers My City, My Music program for students in kindergarten through second grade at Gilder, Harrison and Walnut Hill Elementary Schools. In preparation, teachers will attend a professional development workshop at the Holland Center from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, under the direction of a Carnegie Hall teaching artist. During the workshop, teachers will receive lesson plans, music recordings and other resources to help implement Musical Explorers curriculum in their classrooms. A workshop was also held for teachers at the Holland Center on Friday. Musical Explorers is designed to build basic music skills in the classroom as students learn songs from different cultures, reflect on their communities and develop listening and singing skills. The curriculum will explore Jewish folk music with Cantor Wendy Shermet, Mexican music with Marcos Mora and African music with Charles Ahovissi and African Culture Connection. The program culminates with an interactive concert from 1 to 2 p.m. May 3 at the Holland Center. Pre-K offering: St. Pius X/St. Leo School will offer a full-day pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds in the fall. The program offers a three-day and a five-day choice for parents. Students will have the option of an academic program (half day) only or the academic program with extension time (full day). The academic program will focus on social and emotional skills, large and small motor skills, and language and literacy skills; number and mathematical concepts; science; and creative arts. The extension time will include practicing social skills, reinforcing academic skills, story time, play time and rest time. For more information, go to spsl.net or call 402-551-6667 to set up a tour. The school will continue to offer a two-day, pre-kindergarten program for 3-year-olds. Junior High Night basketball: Junior high students are invited to Omaha Roncalli High School for Junior High Night as the Crimson Pride basketball team takes on Omaha Gross High School on Friday, Jan. 29. The varsity girls play at 5:45 p.m. and the varsity boys at 7 p.m. Admission is free if attendees wear a shirt or sweatshirt representing their school. For more information, contact T.J. Orr, director of admissions and recruitment, at 402-571-7670, ext. 103; or torr@roncallicatholic.org. Grant to Masters Elementary: The Cornhusker Motor Club Foundation presented a $1,500 grant to Masters Elementary School on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The money will be used to buy reading and math games to support grade-level standards for students in grades three through five. The foundation offers grants to assist Nebraska K-12 educators, including traditional grants in amounts up to $2,000 and specialty grants up to $500. This year, the foundation will award $60,000 to Nebraska schools. The traditional grants are designed to fund innovative programs, school events, community volunteerism efforts and projects that enhance students classroom experience. Specialty grants may be used for new classroom reading materials that will challenge and excite students. College and Career Fair: Benson High Schools Business & Entrepreneurship Academy hosted a College and Career Fair on Wednesday and Thursday in the commons area. More than 200 academy students had an opportunity to gain insight on topics that included financial literacy, financial aid for college, students perspective of college, business career advice, career search tips, resume development, career development, job skills and budget tools, and speak with a Gallup recruiter. Community partners included the Federal Reserve Bank, the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration, Center for Economic Education, Centris Federal Credit Union, Creighton University, Metro Community College and Gallup. Family Arts Night: Field Club Elementary School hosted a Family Arts Night throughout the school Thursday. Families dined together, sang along with karaoke, created a mural, learned new dance moves, had their faces painted, bought books and listened to a storyteller in the library. Womens meeting: Church Women United will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Kountze Lutheran Church, 26th and Farnam Streets. The program title is Leadership Day and includes installation of officers for the coming year and the presentation of annual contributions to Youth Emergency Services and the Omaha Street School. English classes: English classes will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church at 7301 N. 28th Ave. beginning Feb. 1. Classes are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Register from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at the church. A book fee will be charged. For more information, call Marsha at 402-250-1269 or email english.omaha@gmail.com. Youth group fundraiser: The youth of Saint Michael Lutheran Church, 13232 Blondo St., will hold a dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 to raise funds for the high school youth going to Skyranch Camp in Fort Collins, Colorado, this summer. The fellowship hall will be turned into an Italian restaurant, and the menu will include homemade lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs, lettuce salad, garlic bread, coffee, iced tea or lemonade, spumoni and Italian cookies. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 12. Its free for children younger than 5. Contact Hannah deFreese at 402-493-2871 for more information or tickets. Why death on the campus portends bad times for BJP Feature oi-IANS By Ians English A murder and a suicide have queered the pitch for the BJP's relations with two major communities - the Muslims and Dalits. If Mohammed Akhlaq's lynching in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh last September further alienated the Muslims who were never very close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) anyway, Rohith Vemula's suicide in Hyderabad has dealt a crippling blow to the party's recent attempts to woo the Dalits. From this standpoint, the BJP will be greatly worried about the possible electoral impact of the young scholar's fateful decision to take his own life. Apparently unused to dealing with the aftermath of a protester killing himself, the BJP has made the situation worse for itself by taking a legalistic view of the tragedy by referring to Rohith's last letter in which he absolved everyone of any responsibility for his death. "I am the only one responsible for this", he wrote. "Do not trouble my friends and enemies on this after I am gone." What the BJP failed to understand was the young man's highly-sensitive mind, which blamed his own fate of being born as a Dalit for his plight. "My birth is my fatal accident. Never was a man treated as a glorious thing made up of stardust," he wrote with a knowledge of science that is beyond the capability of the average politician. How touchy he was can also be seen from the sarcastic letter he wrote to the vice chancellor last month, asking him to provide all Dalit students with 10 mg of a poison pill and "a nice rope" with "directions to use when they feel like reading Ambedkar". This ironic letter has been seized upon by a BJP minister, Thawar Chand Gehlot, to give a legal twist to the case by suggesting that Rohith was suicidal. It is understandable that a party as crassly combative as the BJP, one of whose ministers called its opponents "haramzadon" or illegitimate offspring, and another asked beef-eaters to go to Pakistan, will not have a clue about such sensitiveness. There is little doubt that the crudity of the ministers was behind the tragedy. It followed union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya's description of the Hyderabad university campus as a den of anti-nationals following a clash between a group of Dalit and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) students, in which Rohith was involved. Dattatreya apparently just could not accept the fact that his party's student wing can be targeted by the alleged anti-nationals when the BJP is in power at the centre. Hence his missive to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani for intervening. A senior colleague's anger and her own sympathies for the ABVP evidently made Irani badger the university authorities with as many as five letters for "action". Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile - (Irani's poodle?) - had no option, therefore, but to stop Rohith's monthly stipend and suspend him and four other students. Dalit scholar death: Student leaders trash Smriti Irani's statement What is noteworthy about the entire episode is that it has all the hallmarks of the BJP's belligerent style of functioning against all those it regards as its adversaries. One is to dub them anti-national and/or anti-Hindu, and the other is to ride roughshod over institutional autonomy. And a third is to describe all protests as "manufactured", a phrase which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley used at the time when writers and artistes were returning their awards, and is being used again - along with the term, photo-ops - as opposition politicians pour into Hyderabad. While these charges and counter-charges may be typical of political skirmishes, what will cause the BJP sleepless nights is the likelihood of the Dalits deserting the party in droves in the Hindi heartland and elsewhere. As it is, the BJP's hold on the Dalits has tended to fluctuate. In the 1990s, only one out of 10 Dalits voted for it. In 2014, however, one out of every four Dalits voted for the BJP largely because of Narendra Modi's promise of development. But the anger and distress felt by the community over the untimely death of a bright scholar cannot but have an adverse effect on the party in next year's Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, which will be the first real test for it in a state with a large Dalit population. The test will be crucial because, as the Bihar outcome has shown, the BJP's influence on the backward castes and Dalits is much less now than at the time of the last general election since Modi's appeal has begun to fade away. There is little doubt, therefore, that the Hyderabad tragedy will seriously hamper its outreach to the Dalits. For Modi, the suicide of a promising student is another headache at a time when nothing seems to be going right for him. While the economy is refusing to cross the seven percent mark, the saffron militants have begun to make life difficult for him after a relatively quiet period by calling for building the Ram temple and training children as young as eight years old in the use of firearms to fight the "enemy". These antics might have been described as irrelevant sideshows but for the death on the campus which can be ascribed to the BJP's intolerance of dissent which was noted earlier by sections of the intelligentsia. IANS Bengaluru: Railway official who hid her coronavirus positive son in guest house suspended 100 railway stations to have Google Wi-Fi in one year India oi-IANS By Ians English Panaji, Jan 23: At least 100 railway stations will have Google-sponsored Wi-Fi connectivity in one year, Union minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu said here on Saturday. "In one year we will start offering Google Wi-Fi connectivity at nearly 100 major railway stations to the people," Prabhu said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the All India Saraswat Sammellan. Google's CEO Sunder Pichai had announced his company's decision to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity at 400 Indian railway stations during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Google headquarters at Mountain View in California. As part of the project 100 railway Stations will have Wi-Fi connectivity by the end of 2016. "Along with Google Wi-Fi connectivity, we are trying to ensure a better customer experience for all our travellers who use the Indian Railways at other stations too," Prabhu, who was the chief Aguest at the event, said. IANS 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers arrested India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 23: In a crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the NIA has arrested 13 suspected ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country. Of the 14 suspects detained yesterday, 13 have been arrested, according to a Home Ministry spokesman. The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities--Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow yesterday with the support of local police forces. Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said that certain incriminating articles, including but not limited to mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places. "These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organize training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India," it said. The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organizing themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country. According to sources, the arrested people were part of a group named 'Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind' (Army of Caliph of India), a terror group which has almost similar ideologies that of ISIS. 2 suspected ISIS sympathisers arrested in Karnataka They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received 'instructions' for carrying out 'some sensational' attacks in the country. The group had started receiving money through 'hawala' route and according to Home Ministry spokesman "Sheikh also received funds to the tune of Rs 6 lakh." All the arrested suspects were being brought to the national capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that they were working on evolving a terror outfit with ideologies similar to ISIS. PTI Deported from Turkey, he attempted setting up ISIS module in Karnataka India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 23: In a nation wide crack down the NIA arrested and detained 14 persons from various parts of the country. There were six from Karnataka of which two have been formally arrested under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. While the NIA is probing the case to find out the exact game plan of these persons, there is another aspect that may require some serious thought. One of the members who was picked up by the NIA in Karnataka had been deported from Turkey in January 2015. Abdul Ahad who was one of the persons picked up in Karnataka had been deported from Turkey for allegedly trying to join the ISIS last January. He was always under the lens: The Indian government has taken a relatively different approach in the past while dealing with the ISIS. Agencies attempt to counsel youth who try to join the ISIS in an attempt to bring them to the mainstream. The case was very similar where Ahad was concerned. However Intelligence Bureau officials say that in the case of such persons they do not take them off the radar. In the case of Ahad it was found that he was constantly in touch one Abu Zarar a Hyderabad based man who is under the scanner for his alleged links with the ISIS. Pathankot: Punjab SP Salwinder Singh will be made witness by NIA The NIA is probing to find out the exact modus operandi of these persons. It appears prima facie that they were attempting to set up a module for the ISIS and actively recruit youth through the internet. The NIA says that the probe is at a preliminary stage. We are looking for digital evidence and as of now it appears that these persons were in touch with the other operatives who were picked up from Karnataka. The angle relating to Zarar is also being investigated, NIA officials point out. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 23, 2016, 9:19 [IST] Union Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha asked the protesting students at Hyderabad University to stop agitation as a judicial committee has been set up to probe the suicide case of Rohith Vemula. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha today appealed to the agitating students of Hyderabad Central University to withdraw their protest following the alleged suicide of a Dalit research scholar and assured them that they will get justice. Read: Hyderabad scholar death: HRD ministry orders judicial probe "From our ministry judicial commission has been set up. We want to tell all students...keep faith...you will get justice. Now there is no need for continuing the agitation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. He said that based on the report of the judicial commission set up to look into the matter, the HRD ministry will take necessary steps. "From the ministry, a two-member fact-finding committee looked into the matter and gave its report. There were some shortcomings/loopholes as per the report. Based on the report, a judicial commission was set up for further inquiry. The commission will do its work and give report in three months. Based on it, the ministry will take necessary steps," he said. Asked about the demands of the agitating students for removal of the university's Vice Chancellor and withdrawal of case against them (four students), Kushwaha said, "University will look into that. There is no role of the ministry." Kushwaha was here to attend the inaugural ceremony of Navodaya National Integration Meet. The ministry yesterday decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the matter. When contacted for their response to the government deciding to appoint a judicial commission and the university announcing compensation, Vemula's brother Raju said they will discuss the matter with the agitating students. Rohith's mother would come to the university today and talk to the agitating students, he said. Meanwhile, the indefinite fast launched by seven students of the university entered the fourth day today. G Prabhakar, one of the fasting students, said they would like to continue with the fast even as doctors expressed concern over their health. "We want to continue (fast). Our demands not yet fulfilled. They say (Prime Minister) Modi talked in Lucknow yesterday and a judicial committee is appointed and all. You appoint a judicial commission, no problem, but take action against people who actually caused this death," he said. "(Vice Chancellor) Appa Rao, primary accused, dismiss from VC post. (Union Ministers) Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who wrote letters to university, arrest them. Without arresting, these (judicial commission, etc) don't give us confidence," Prabhakar said. Expressing concern over the health of the fasting students, Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor of a team which examined them, said, "They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. What we had seen on the very first day and what we see today, it is a rapid deterioration of the medical status. We find their blood pressures are highly fluctuating and their sugar levels unstable." "We feel that we need to intervene and medically give some support. We have to discuss with the boys and we will see the next course of action," he told reporters. Drought is worst in 100 years, Maharashtra water plan struggles India oi-IANS By Ians English Mumbai, Jan 23: Vasudev Lokhande is the beneficiary of an ambitious Maharashtra government programme to permanently transform the lives of farmers devastated by a record-setting drought, but he is unhappy about its benefits. In an agrarian eastern corner of India's most industrialised state, Lokhande a weathered, unsmiling farmer clad in sandals, crumpled brown pants and a dusty white shirt pointed to little pipe that poked through the stone wall of a well on the edge of his fertile, black-soil farm, five acres of cotton and pigeon pea. The pipe is the outlet for a channel built to funnel rainwater into the well instead of letting it soak into the ground. It is part of the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan (Irrigated Farmlands Programme), on which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government has spent, for its first phase, Rs.1,400 crore in 2015 to make Maharashtra dushkal-mukt, or drought-free. For Lokhande, the government's efforts have not worked. With rainfall over the last two years in three of the worst-affected districts that IndiaSpend visited comparable to the lowest in the 20th century, very little water made it to the well. Like many local farmers, he had to spend about Rs.30,000 to install a pipeline and a pump to bring in water from a natural pond half a km away. "I could bear the cost of pipeline and motor," said Lokhande. "The majority of the farmers in my village cannot." IndiaSpend's investigation of the programme reveals that the government is spreading itself thin in its efforts to reach more farmers as the drought's efforts worsen. Lokhande's village, Ghodkhindi, is now one of 34 up from five earlier this year listed for the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan in Yavatmal taluka in the cotton-rich eastern district of the same name. "When the programme began, the worst-affected villages were selected," an agriculture officer told IndiaSpend on condition of anonymity. "Later, we were told to include all the villages that were now receiving drinking water from tankers." While the weekly tanker data of the state's water supply department showed no tanker supplying water to Yavatmal taluka in 2015, the district collector's office reported 10 tankers plying in the summer of 2015, up from 3, 1 and 11 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. The original government order mandated at least five villages per taluka, which takes the village count to 1,800. As distress spreads, that number is now up to anywhere between 2,500 and 3,000, according to a government official who requested anonymity. As many as 1,109 farmers in Maharashtra's water-stressed Marathwada region of eight districts ended their life in 2015, according to an Indian Express report. Rainfall over the last two years in three of the worst-affected districts that IndiaSpend visited (in Marathwada and Vidarbha) was comparable to the lowest in the 20th century. Nine of India's 29 states Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal declared a drought in 2015, seeking as much as Rs.20,000 crore in Central aid. The centre has given Maharashtra the highest agricultural aid: Rs.3,049 crore. A staggering 302 of the country's 640 districts are living with drought-like conditions. The success or failure of Maharashtra's drought-proofing programme is likely to be closely followed by other states. Rain so inadequate that wells dry up in November The purpose of Jalyukt Shivar is to irrigate the village in times of utmost scarcity. Now, state officials argued, low rainfall has crippled the programme. Maharashtra's situation its agricultural output is India's second largest is universally difficult, with rainfall short by 40 percent in 2015, the third year of deficit (it was 30 percent short in 2014, 20 percent in 2012 and above average in 2013). Maharashtra has India's greatest stock of water for irrigation: 35 percent of the country's large dams and the second-largest amount of annual water resources that can be replenished, after Uttar Pradesh. A closer look at Ghodkhindi, farmer Lokhande's village, reveals why the Jalyukt Shivar struggles. The village has 40 micro-irrigation projects, of which the taluka agriculture department claims to have completed 15. A third of the households (89 of 230) in the village depend on full-time farming, while agricultural labourers comprise 42 percent (471 of 1,135) of the population, cultivating small tracts of land, according to census data. Experts and farmers told IndiaSpend that Jalyukt Shivar uses a piecemeal approach that does not account for the geological underpinnings of traditional watershed systems. It creates two problems: it spreads itself thin by benefiting only a few farms, and, instead of a long-term measure to make an area drought-free, it offers only temporary relief. It doesn't help that the rainfall is now lower than the lowest that anyone remembers. But this is no longer news to swathes of Maharashtra. Many areas now live in drought-like conditions For the last four years, drought-like conditions have prevailed in the central Maharashtra district of Beed in the Marathwada region, once part of the Nizam of Hyderabad's arid dominion. The scarcity, said experts, is beyond the normal deficiency in the last 20 years. Erratic, unseasonal rainfall unsettling India's agriculture, economy and politics are no aberrations, IndiaSpend reported last year. Extreme rainfall events in central India, the core of the monsoon system, are increasing and moderate rainfall is decreasing as a part of complex changes in local and world weather according to a clutch of Indian and global studies. In Maharashtra, successive years of low rainfall have resulted in falling groundwater levels and early drying of natural streams. While the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan struggles to cope with the magnitude of Maharashtra's rural water crisis, it has, as we shall explain subsequently, worked in some cases mainly for farmers with large land holdings. The successes and failures indicate how the programme might need to be reworked. IANS PM Modi to visit Haryana and Punjab on August 24 PM Modi to interact with participants of Smart India Hackathon finale on August 25: MoE PM's Economic Advisory Council to release roadmap for India@100 IT industry veteran appeals to PM for a 'corruption-free' Karnataka Thailand: PM Prayuth can stay in office, court says News Flash: JD(U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam suspended from party for 'misbehaving' with woman India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, Jan 23: Get national, international news updates of Saturday, January 23 here 11.12 pm: EAM Sushma Swaraj and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa sign MoU on transfer of sentenced persons. 10.45 pm: 3 students of Svs Med College of Yogaand Naturopathy & Research allegedly committed suicide by jumping inside a well in Viluppuram district. 8.42 pm: EAM Sushma Swaraj watch the Sarang helicopter team of the Indian Air Force in action with King of Bahrain. 7.55 pm: Rohith Vemula Suicide case- Various orgs carry out candle light march in Delhi, CPI leader D Raja seen at the march Rohith Vemula Suicide case- Various orgs carry out candle light march in Delhi, CPI leader D Raja seen at the march. pic.twitter.com/GWaIcjmWOs ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 7.22 pm: Police conduct search operation after few suspects were seen near Army Cantonment area in Dholewal (Ludhiana). 6.22 pm: No evidence found against Punjab SP Salwinder Singh in lie detector test: NIA. 5: 45 pm: CBI files reply in document seizure case, says "AAP giving political colour to investigation of corruption against public officials" 5: 32 pm: PM Modi appointed the most 'underqualified' HRD minister ever: Congress 5: 21 pm: Patna: Sarfaraz Alam evades media's questions after being suspended from JDU. 4: 40 pm: JD(U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam suspended from party. He has been charged with molesting a woman on Rajdhani Express 4: 13 pm: Kerala Excise Minister K Babu resigns after a court orders Vigilance to book him over bar bribery charges 3: 51 pm: I would urge the PM to visit Bundelkhand and see the plight of farmers here- Rahul Gandhi in Mahoba (UP) 3: 40 pm: ISIS suspect Md. Shareef Moinuddin Khan at Nampally Court-Hyderabad, given 3 days transit remand. 3: 33 pm: Kerala excise Minister K. Babu to resign over Bar bribery case: Sources 2: 50 pm: They searched our house and they found nothing, my husband is a very decent man: Wife of ISIS suspect Moinuddin Khan 2:15 pm: The way PM has carried this out raises doubts about the intentions of the GoI, nation needs to understand this: Anand Sharma on S C Bose files. 2:00 pm: Every month we will issue 25 files in similar fashion: Mahesh Sharma #NetajiSubhasChandraBose's files. 1:50 pm: Lot of important docs & letters. I am sure a lot will come to light: #Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's family member. 1:40 pm: Bengaluru: ISIS suspects produced in city civil court. 1:30 pm: No question of Congress's embarrassment,we support declassification of Netaji Files -Shakeel Ahmed,Congress. 1:20 pm: Maharashtra ATS arrests person from Aurangabad has been handed over to NIA, identified as Imram Moazzam Khan Pathan. 1: 13 pm: Srinagar: 5 militants arrested in Sopore just ahead of Republic Day 1: 10 pm: I will speak in Parliament on how this Govt is treating the farmers of the country: Rahul Gandhi 1: 04 pm: Netaji was a true leader of the nation; A true leader does not need to reiterate that he is a leader: Mamata Banerjee 12: 51 pm: PM Modi releases digital version of declassified Netaji files 12: 35 pm: PM Narendra Modi to declassify Netaji's files, arrives at National Archives 12: 26 pm: Rahul Gandhi reaches UP's Mahoba district, will hold padyatra today 12: 10 pm: Former Kerala Assembly Speaker AC Jose passes away 11: 51am: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's family members reach National Archives where PM Modi is due to reveal Netaji files Delhi: SC Bose's family at the Parliament, meet Venkaiah Naidu. pic.twitter.com/JCcKCnXrZl ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 11:08 am: The probe is still on: NIA Sources on media reports of a clean chit to Punjab Police Officer Salwinder Singh. 11:00 am: Emergency landing of Bhubaneswar-Mumbai GoAir flight in Nagpur after bomb scare,passengers deplaned. No suspicious object found. 10:55 am: The NIA has formally arrested 9 more persons who were detained yesterday for their alleged links with the ISIS. Yesterday the NIA had formally arrested 5 while taking 9 in for questioning. 10:50 am: People who had no role in freedom struggle just want declassification of Netaji files to create conflict among freedom heroes-CM Nitish Kumar. 10:45 am: Such conduct can not be tolerated: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on molestation case against JDU MLA Sarfaraz Alam. 10:40 am: A terror suspect who was being jointly questioned by NIA & ATS, arrested last night in Tulsiwadi, Mazgaon (Mumbai). 10:30 am: French Contingent at the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath. WATCH: Declassified #NetajiSubhasChandraBose's files at National Archives, PM Modi to release files shortly.https://t.co/gBb0ksOIdP ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2016 10:20 am: The first person to declassify any file was Mamata Banerjee's West Bengal Government: Derek O'Brien, TMC on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files. 10:10 am: Parties saying AMU&Jamia should be minority institutions are infact acting against minorities. AMU is a Central university and funded by Central Govt, its not a minority institution, Opposition playing politics: Zafar Islam,BJP. 10.05 am: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to flag off test run of Kochi metro rail today. 9.55 am: Parties saying AMU and Jamia should be minority institutions are infact acting against minorities, says BJP leader Zafar Islam. 9.45 am: Netaji SubhasChandra Bose files to be released at 12:30 pm. 9.30 am: Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was admitted to the PGIMER hospital late on Friday night with minor infection. 9.05 am: Family of Netaji SubhasChandra Bose leaves for Parliament as PM Modi is set to declassify secret files today. 8.45 am: US envoy says little achieved in UN meeting with Burundi president. 8.10 am: Former Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur, Salwinder Singh will be made a witness in the Pathankot attack case by the NIA. 8.03 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi all set to declassify secret files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Saturday. Haryana govt gives Rs 20L to Pathankot martyr's family India oi-PTI Ambala, Jan 22: Haryana government on Friday extended Rs 20 lakh to the family of Gursewak Singh, the Commando who was martyred in the Pathankot terror attack. State Health Minister Anil Vij handed over a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to Jaspreet Kaur, the widow of Singh, and cheques for Rs 5 lakh each to the father and mother of the slain soldier at his native village of Garnala here on behalf of Haryana government. Security beefed up over Pathankot taxi driver found dead The minister also said that the process for offering a government job to a member of the martyred soldier's family has already begun. Vij said he will soon meet the Defence Minister in Delhi so that benefits that are given to martyrs by the Union government could also be extended to Singh's family. The parents and wife of Singh and another Garud Commando, Shailabh Gaur, a resident of Ambala cantonment who was injured in the Pathankot terror attack, would be honoured at a district-level function on Republic Day at Ambala, he added. PTI Morarji had assured Japanese general of taking care of Netaji's ashes India oi-IANS By Ians English Kolkata, Jan 23: General Iwaichi Fujiwara, a Japanese military intelligence officer who had close ties with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army, had urged the Indian government in 1979 to take care of the disposition of Bose's ashes lying in a temple in Tokyo. He was assured by then Indian prime minister Morarji Desai that he would take care of the issue in "one or two years", reveals the files declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian revolutionary leader's 119th birth anniversary. Netaji bose files: No closure as yet but process has commenced says researcher In a correspondence dated March 9, 1979, from Tokyo, Genera Fujiwara (retired from the Japan Self Defense Forces) expressed gratitude to the prime minister for listening to his plea about the "disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo". The letter -- in file no.2/64/79-PM of the declassified files -- addressed to the Indian prime minister, came a month after Fujiwara and his delegation's visit to New Delhi. "Allow me to offer my gratitude for your understanding and sympathy with which you listened to my plea about the disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo. "Your assurance to take care of the matter in one or two years was most gratifying to me as I have dedicated most of my life to the cause of Netaji Bose and the Indian National Army during war years, contributing in a small measure to the independence of India." Addressed in a Fuijiwara Asia Research Institute letterhead (Fujiwara organised the institute in the 1970s), the correspondence shows the general's dedication to furthering friendly India-Japan ties. "I shall never forget for the rest of my life the deep-felt emotion when you gave me the assurance. "I shall dedicate myself, for the rest of life, to friendly India-Japan relations in return for your sympathy and understanding with which you accorded my wishes." IANS Netaji bose files: No closure as yet but process has commenced, says researcher India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 23: Whether the de-classification of the files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will bring about a closure to the mystery surrounding his death is yet to be seen. While members of the Bose family and researchers have welcomed the move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they also state that the process has just begun. Netaji Bose mystery: Why the ashes were never brought back to India? A clear picture relating to the death of Netaji Bose lies in the files of the KGB in Russia says Anuj Dhar, a leading researcher on Bose and also the author of the book, "India's biggest cover up." Dhar who was at the National Archives where 100 files were de-classified tells OneIndia that for us to expect the KGB files relating to Netaji Bose to be made public, we need to first de-classify the files of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing. Still a long way to go On the files that have been de-classified today, Dhar says that it may not bring out a clear picture on the mystery surrounding his death. However this is just the start and there are many more files which will be de-classified. He also said that the PM has assured to release 25 files every month. There are 15,000 pages in the files that have been de-classified today and I am yet to go through them in detail. I have seen many of these files with the commission of inquiry that was set up to probe the mystery surrounding the death of Netaji. Dhar however adds that there are clear indications that Netaji had not died in a plane crash, but had gone to Russia. Dhar says that for us to know the truth behind the Russia episode the KGB files have to be de-classified. However we cannot expect Russia to de-classify those files unless those with our IB and R&AW are made public first. There will be a lot more details in the IB and R&AW files and we are hoping that the same will be made public in due course of time, Dhar also adds. However, what is also important here is that we have managed to bring about a change. Full marks to the PM for de-classifying the files. India is not known to have a de-classification policy. This is a step towards transparency and that is what we will take from it for now. As I pointed out the process has commenced and there is still some time to go before the mystery behind the death of Netaji is solved, Dhar also adds. OneIndia News IAS officer interaction with school girls leave Nitish embarrassed; action against her likely Nitish Kumar has been affected by his age: Prashant Kishor Could not care less: Nitish on Amit Shahs jibe Prashant Kishor claims Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP says don't be surprised if he joins hands with it again Nitish Kumar hints action against JD(U) legislator for 'misbehaving' with woman India oi-IANS By Ians English Patna, Jan 23: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted of action against a legislator belonging to state's ruling JD-U for allegedly misbehaving with a couple on a running train. "Nobody is above the law," Nitish Kumar told the media when asked about likely action against legislator Sarfaraj Alam who is facing charges of misbehaving with woman and her husband aboard Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express. Nitish said party will decide about action against the legislator, including Bima Bharti who had allegedly helped her gangster husband Awadsh Mandal to escape from police lock up. We have rules in the party to take action in such cases. JD-U President Sharad Yadav will arrive here on Saturday to discuss about possible action, Nitish said. Nitish Kumar has reacted for the first time to this issue a day after state JD-U president Vashisht Narain Singh said such behaviour, if true, cannot be tolerated at any cost. He could face action from the party. Even RJD chief Lalu Prasad had favoured action for misconduct with a woman. Additional Director General (police headquarters) Sunil Kumar said legislator Alam may be penalised by the railways for travelling without an authorised ticket and action would be taken against the train superintendent for allotting him a berth and creating the circumstances for him to travel unauthorisedly. He said the railway police have adequate evidence against Alam that he travelled in the Rajdhani express. The legislator has denied the charges and said he was not aboard the train. Inderpal Singh Bedi and his wife in an FIR registered at Patna railway station complained that JDU legislator Sarfaraj Alam, his bodyguard and another aide misbehaved with them aboard the Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express, the official said. Alam and his two men allegedly passed vulgar comments about Bedi and his wife who boarded the train from Delhi, he said. Patna rail superintendent of police P. N. Mishra said a four member team sent from Patna to register a formal complaint returned from Delhi after recording the statement of the victim and other witnesses. Team members also collected documentary evidence. Mishra said a summon was issued to Alam to appear before the investigation official and present his stand on Saturday following the police team have found complainant correct prima facie. "The investigation is on into the case and the police would take action against the legislator if the charges were found to be true," Mishra said. Alam, son of former union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin, is JDU legislator from Jokihat assembly constituency in Araria district of Bihar. IANS Pathankot: Punjab SP Salwinder Singh will be made witness by NIA India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 23: The former Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur, Salwinder Singh will be made a witness in the Pathankot attack case by the National Investigating Agency (NIA). Singh was abducted by the terrorists who carried out the Pathankot attack faced a lie detector test by the NIA after the agency had found his answers to be contradictory in nature. Singh who started the lie detector or polygraph test by saying, " ask me all you want, I have only the same thing to say," has been given a clean chit by the NIA. The NIA will now make him a witness in the case. During the test, he said that he had not erred and added that it was he who immediately alerted the Punjab police about a possible strike by terrorists at Pathankot. No discrepancy: Singh was asked the same questions during the polygraph test. He stuck to what he had been saying when he was questioned repeatedly in the past two weeks. He made it clear that he had visited the shrine along the Indo-Pak border as it was New Year's Eve and he did that every year. Nothing more to say, Punjab SP tells NIA during Pathankot probe He was clear in his answers when he said that he was the one who intimated the Punjab police about what the terrorists had been planning. On being asked why the terrorists had spared him, Singh said that they were not aware that he was a police officer. Forensic evidence: In another development, the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory will share with the Border Security Force a report on the foot prints of the terrorists. The made in Pakistan EPCOT shoes worn by the terrorists was sent to the laboratory for examination. The foot marks which were examined will be shared with the BSF. The BSF would use this information to identify the exact entry point of the terrorists. This would help the BSF identify the entry point. The BSF had said that there was nothing to show how the terrorists had infiltrated. The thermal imaging had not picked up anything and hence it was difficult to identify the infiltration point. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 23, 2016, 8:25 [IST] 'Plenty' to say on Sunanda but only after probe ends: Shashi Tharoor India oi-PTI Jaipur, Jan 23: Days after the FBI report concluded that the death of Sunanda Pushkar was due to poisoning, her widower and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Saturday claimed that he has "plenty" to say on the case but would await the ongoing probe to end. "Let me say this for the last time, I will not comment on this matter, as a matter of policy as well as principle, until the police have concluded investigation," Tharoor said on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here. New twist in Sunanda Pushkar death mystery "Once the police have done so, come to a conclusion and presented it to a court, I will have plenty to say. But till then it will be wrong to do so and I will not do so," he said. In January last year, the Delhi Police had registered a case of murder in connection with the death of Sunanada. An All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) medical board had found poisoning as the reason for her death following which the police had sent her viscera samples to an FBI lab in Washington last year. The AIIMS medical board gave its opinion based on the FBI report that Sunanda died of "poisoning". 51-year-old Sunanda was found dead at a suite in a five-star hotel in south Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014, a day after her spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar on Twitter over her alleged affair with Tharoor. PTI Ready to take back Sahitya Akademi award: Writer Nand India oi-PTI Jaipur, Jan 22: Noted writer Nand Bharadwaj, who had returned his Sahitya Akademi award last year in protest against alleged intolerance in the country, has decided to take back the award. Rajasthani and Hindi writer Bharadwaj said he agreed to take back the award as he is now convinced by the Akademi, which held an executive meeting to condemn the killing of rationalists. "It was a different situation in the country when the authors returned the award. "Some time back, the Akademi held a meeting and took a positive decision following which I have decided to take back the award," he told reporters at the Jaipur Literature Festival here. Bharadwaj said he wrote two days back to the Akademi declaring his decision. The writer had in October last year returned the award, which he had received in 2004, to protest against alleged intolerance and killing of rationalists. He, however, said that he "would continue to oppose the issue of intolerance whenever required and at every level". "Intolerance issue has not subsided," he said. Earlier today, Sahitya Akademi said that some of the writers, including Nayantara Sahgal, have agreed to take back the awards they had returned citing 'growing intolerance' in the country. PTI Swamy recalls chat with US envoy that got India USD 2-bn loan India oi-PTI Kochi, Jan 22: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today recalled his encounter with the then US Ambassador to get India USD 2 billion loan from International Monetary Fund (IMF) to save the country from a "grave economic crisis" in 1991. Swamy, who was Law and Justice Minister in Chandra Sekhar government in 1991, said a decision to allow American war planes to refuel at Indian airports during the first Iraq war was taken after the US agreed to arrange USD 2 billion IMF loan for India. Speaking on 'responsible capitalism' at the annual conference of Kerala Management Association here, Swamy said India faced severe financial crisis in 1991 due to some steps taken by the previous government regarding providing bank loans to industries. Swamy, who commended Rajiv Gandhi for liberalising India's economy, however, said Gandhi, during his 1984-89 tenure did not prescribe that industrialists must only get long term loans. "So, they (industrialists) got short-term loans", but in the process, in five years, the payments became due and there was a financial crisis, he said. "The Prime Minister (Chandra Sekhar) asked me what we can do? Fortunately the American Ambassador came to see me for a political matter. "He wanted to know whether we would help Americans in their war against Iraq. "At that time, Iraq had conquered Kuwait. I asked what kind of help you want. He said he wants that their (war) planes from the Philippines be allowed to land in India, refuel in India and they are ready to pay three times more (than the landing rate for refuelling a commercial airline). "I told him that we don't want to change our landing policy for peanuts," Swamy said without naming the US ambassador. "He asked... what do you want? I said we want USD 2 billion because we are on the verge of becoming bankrupt. He asked 'you want it from the United States?' I said no... from the IMF and without conditions. "He said 'how can I get you money from IMF'. I said, you have 87 per cent voting right in IMF. So, if you want landing rights, then on Monday I want USD 2 billion," Swamy revealed. "He (the ambassador) said today is already Friday... I said in Washington it is still Thursday night. "So, they gave us USD 2 billion... and they were given landing rights... we changed our landing policy," Swamy said. PTI BENGALURU: Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, reportedly told city ministers on Saturday that they would have to work as a team to ensure the victory of his multi-millionaire friend, Byrathi Suresh, in next months by-poll to Hebbal Assembly constituency. Mr Siddaramaiah, who invited these ministers for breakfast, hinted that Mr Suresh would quit as member of the upper House as soon as he receives the B form from central leaders of the party in New Delhi on Monday or Tuesday. Speaking to DC, a senior leader from the CMs camp said, With all three names been finalised during a meeting with AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, on Friday morning for three Assembly seats, it is a mere formality that Mr Suresh gets the B form in Delhi, adding that Mr Singh's office would probably handle correspondence with all these candidates, and summon them to Delhi to pick up these forms. Meanwhile during his meeting with cabinet colleagues this morning, Mr Siddaramaiah reportedly formed teams consisting of four ministers each for Hebbal, Devadurga and Bidar constituencies. Transport minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, Bengaluru district incharge minister K.J. George, energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar and information minister R. Roshan Baig have been roped in to form their own teams to ensure the victory of Mr Suresh from Hebbal, he added. Before setting the tone for the meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah reportedly cited several instances of how anti-BJP votes had been mobilised to ensure victory and how similar methods could be adopted in Bengaluru too to woo voters. He was 0focusing more on BJP's defeat in Gujarat and Varanasi, which he wants to replicate it in Karnataka too. He gave several other instances of how BJP's shallow ideology has failed to attract voters soon after Lok Sabha elections in 2014. We need to whip-up such sentiments to ensure the party victory in forthcoming by-elections as well as in ZP and TP polls, he said quoting Mr Siddaramaiah. Why the probe into the Ahmedabad serial blasts was one of the most challenging Terrorist groups: Different names, same ideology India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Jan 23: The SIMI became Indian Mujahideen, the Indian Mujahideen became the Deccan Mujahideen. In such a scenario it comes as no surprise if the ISIS or Ansar-ul-Tawhid becomes Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind. This was the name under which some of the persons detained by the NIA yesterday were operating. Terrorist groups changing names is nothing new. One must recollect that after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) had sent out a communication in the name of the Deccan Mujahideen claiming responsibility for the strike. Different names similar ideology: Be it any terror group there is just one ideology and that is to cause destruction in the name of religion. However the other reason why terrorist group take different names is to avoid the surveillance. Intelligence Bureau officials tend to keep their eyes and ears open to familiar groups and in such a scenario, terrorist groups feel that they can dodge being watched by changing names. Deported from Turkey, he attempted setting up ISIS module in Karnataka While the changing of names does not yield any long term result for the group, it does however manage to avoid the heat for sometime. Intelligence Bureau officials say that groups such as the ISIS or al-Qaeda operate under at least a 1,000 different names. However it is not very difficult to track them. The chatter, the modus operandi are all too similar in nature and sooner or later their bluff is caught. The other reason terrorist groups operate under different names is because it makes money transactions also easy. If an ISIS operative has to receive money, he will seek it in the name of a different name. For instance the NIA is probing to find out how the Mumbai based man Mushtaq arrested yesterday had sourced Rs 20 lakh despite being out of job for the past 2 and half years. He was clearly operating under the name of the Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind with an intention of avoiding being tracked. He was successful in dodging the agencies for sometime and in the meantime could have effected the money transfer into his account, sources in the NIA point out. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 23, 2016, 9:34 [IST] On camera: Varanasi folks in panic as 'ghost in white' goes for a walk on rooftops Viklang versus Divyang: Modiji, stop invoking divinity, address plight of persons with disabilities India oi-Oneindia By Maitreyee Boruah Bengaluru, Jan 23: We all know how much Prime Minister Narendra Modi loves to coin new catchphrases and terminologies to push forward his various schemes. Be it Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India, Make in India or Start-up India, Stand-up India initiatives, various catchy slogans were invented in recent times by advertising agencies to popularise government schemes. One of Modi government's latest pet projects is the disability sector. However, it seems, the BJP-led NDA government committed a major faux pas in its very initial stages of working for the upliftment of persons with disabilities. Disabled rights activists have taken offence to the use of the term of divyang' (divine body) instead of the commonly used word viklang' (persons with disabilities) by Modi. The disabled rights activists under the umbrella of National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) and its various affiliates on January 22 (Friday) wrote a strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister opposing the use of the term divyang'. Divyang versus Viklang The letter began by saying, "On December 27, 2015 during the course of your Mann Ki Baat' you had referred to persons with disabilities thus: "Those in whom Paramatma has created a deficiency in the body, those for whom some part of the body does not work properly, we call them viklang'...............Why don't we, in our country, replace the word viklang' with the word divyang'?' These are those people who possess divinity - divyata - in one or more parts of their body; whose bodies are possessed by divine power (divya shakti)....." "We presumed it to be a one-off remark, emerging from some stray thoughts. But in the subsequent days we were bombarded with the use of the term divyang', not by you alone but various others in the government, who have taken the cue," the letter added. Modi wants to change mindset The activists wrote the letter after Modi stressed on the term divyang' at a public meeting hosted for persons with disabilities in Varanasi on January 22. The event saw Modi distributing wheelchairs, electronic- hearing aids and skill certificates to the differently abled people. "What I want to do is change the mindset about differently abled people. When I say let's use the word 'divyang', it is about that change," Modi said In his December 27 'Mann ki Baat', PM Modi had based his concept of 'divyang' on the premise that the people with physical disabilities tend to develop special faculties that even the fully 'able' lack. "We see a person's disability with our eyes. But our interaction tells us the person has an extra power. Then I thought, in our country, instead of using the word 'viklang,' we should use the term 'divyang'," PM Modi had said in his radio address of last month. Viklaang' to 'Divyaang': PM Modi's Mahatma Gandhi moment in Varanasi The Department of Disability Affairs has since given a serious thought to changing the official terminology. Stop patronising, Mr PM The letter clearly stated that a new terminology is not going to change the reality. The activists want the Prime Minister to address the issue of discrimination and stigma faced by the differently abled people. "Today, at the mega event for distribution of aids and appliances at Varanasi the term was used repeatedly and lapped up by a section of the media also. Even while not questioning the motive behind the coining of this expression, it is needless to say that mere change of terminology is not going to bring about any change in the manner in which people with disabilities are treated. Invoking divinity will in no way lessen the stigma and discrimination that persons with disabilities have been historically subjected to and continue to encounter in their daily lives. Exclusion and marginalisation cannot be addressed by using patronising terms like divyang'. On the contrary, they will only invoke sympathy and underline that charity is what counts," the letter said. PM Modi to visit Varanasi, Lucknow on Jan 22 It's hard work, not divinity The activists said persons with disabilities have achieved success in their lives because of their hard work. "The persons with disabilities, overcoming various odds and multiple hurdles have proven their mettle. It would be fallacious however to conclude that this is due to any divine attribute. Such invocations would only tend to create myths, even while squarely failing to address the issues that the disabled face," stated the letter. We want dignity The letter demanded that persons with disabilities should be treated with dignity. "Dignity, accommodation and recognition of their rights as equal and productive citizens are what persons with disabilities long for and not any change in nomenclature," it said. End stigma and discrimination Since ages, differently abled people have faced stigma and discrimination. "We would like to reiterate that disability is not a divine gift. And the use of phrase like divyang' in no way ensures de-stigmatisation or an end to discrimination on grounds of disability. What needs to be addressed are stigma, discrimination and marginalisation that persons with disabilities are subjected to on account of the cultural, social, physical and attitudinal barriers that hinder their effective participation in the country's economic, social and political life," the letter said. Voice against divyang grows The activists want the government not to use the term divyang' while addressing persons with disabilities. "The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) and its affiliates are not the only ones who are voicing their opposition to the use of this term. Various other organisations have openly come out against this and several write-ups have also appeared in various prominent dailies. We would therefore request you to refrain from using the term divyang' and also shelve any plan that the government may be making to officially use this term," the letter ended. The intention of Modi government is good, but definitely misplaced. Maybe, it is like the same way the Dalits detest the term Harijan coined by Mahatma Gandhi. It further marginalised them. Here the idea should be integration, not building exclusive clubs, creating further division of society. OneIndia News IRCTC's affordable Dubai tour package: All you need to know Wi-Fi service launched at Mumbai Central Station India oi-Jagriti Mumbai, Jan 23: A free high-speed public Wi-Fi service has been launched at Mumbai Central, the first station in the country to get such facility. The service was launched by the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday. Terming the facility as "world class", Prabhu said around 100 busiest stations across the country will be brought under the free public Wi-Fi service by this year-end, making it the world's largest such project. "When I proposed the full-fledged (Railway) budget last year, I had vowed to improve ailing condition of Indian Railway, and launching free Wi-Fi at Mumbai Central Station is one giant step towards improving the Railway," Prabhu said while addressing the gathering comprising senior railway officers, Google executives and passengers at the suburban railway station. Terming it as a "historic day", the minister said that his government was trying hard to develop sustainable infrastructure and to improve safety and security of the passengers and bring financial stability to the entity. The project of providing free Wi-Fi connectivity at 400 railway stations across the country was announced last September during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Google headquarters in the US. Indian Railway partners with Google for Wi-Fi at 400 stations The telecom wing of the Indian Railway, RailTel, signed an agreement with the subsidiary of Google India to provide Wi-Fi facilities at 400 stations across the country in December 2015. In first phase, as many as 100 stations out of the total A1 and A categories would be covered with the offering, while the facility would be extended to 300 stations in the second phase. OneIndia News (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 23, 2016, 11:05 [IST] Five dead, two injured in Canada school shooting International oi-PTI Ottawa, Jan 23: Shots rang out at a high school in Canada's western plains province of Saskatchewan, leaving five people dead and two others critically injured, the prime minister has said. The school in La Loche was on lockdown for most of the afternoon, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police urged parents to stay away while they responded to the yesterday's "ongoing serious incident." A nearby elementary school was also shuttered "as a precaution," a federal police spokeswoman told AFP. The school shooting is the deadliest in 26 years in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, said: "There was a shooting in the community, five people were killed (and) two others are in critical condition." The suspected shooter has been taken into custody and police have the situation under control, he said. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau added. Earlier, students told public broadcaster CBC they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (local time). Man arrested after alleged disturbance on Air Canada plane Several patients were being treated for gunshot wounds in the remote northern town's hospital, the broadcaster added. Several witnesses reported seeing a "boy," who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told CBC. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." "Many people are in shock, that's something you usually see on television," local aboriginal chief Teddy Clark told the local Star Phoenix newspaper. La Loche is a community of 2,500 about 600 kilometers (375 miles) north of Saskatoon. Residents are mostly aboriginal. Lawmaker Georgina Joliebois, who was also once the mayor of La Loche, said she was "shocked and saddened by the shooting." "The shooting hits close to home for me as my family members attend the school," Joliebois said. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall also expressed "shock and sorrow at the horrific events," adding that the province was preparing to send up "crisis support" to the community. AFP France to try 7 jihadists including Paris bomber's brother International oi-PTI Paris, Jan 23: Seven young men from eastern France, including the brother of one of the jihadists behind the deadly Paris attacks, will face trial for going to Syria to fight in 2013, a judicial source has told. The seven from Strasbourg began returning to France from February 2014 onwards and were arrested in May. Two other men who went to fight in Syria's civil war died there. A 10th man named Foued Mohamed-Aggad remained there until his return to take part in the November 13 rampage at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. A total of 130 people died in the string of attacks that struck Paris in November and sent shockwaves across the world. The attacker's brother Karim is among the seven who will face trial over ties to criminals linked to a terrorist group, the judicial source told AFP yesterday. All the suspects claimed during the investigation that they had gone to Syria for humanitarian reasons and that they returned because they could not condone the abuses of the Islamic State group -- which was then known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). A new energy in France-India relationship They were convinced to travel to Syria by Mourad Fares, a 31-year-old Frenchman considered a key online recruiter for IS who was arrested in August 2014 in Turkey and handed over to French authorities. Ten young men left France for Syria in December 2013, travelling in smaller groups on planes through Germany and Turkey to avoid attracting attention, a probe showed. They men admit they trained in IS' ranks. The prosecution had earlier called for the men to be tried after they had been found to have sworn allegiance to IS. On the men's computers and phones, photographs were found showing them posing with their guns, as well as text messages threatening France with violence. Some 1,800 French citizens have been linked to jihadist networks, including more than 600 who are currently in Syria and Iraq and 144 who had died in fighting there. AFP 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Hyderabad: Seventy persons of a marriage party were offloaded from an IndiGo flight at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Friday night. The flight, 6E-466, was scheduled to leave at 10 pm for Raipur but left in the early hours on Saturday with 127 other passengers. All the 70 passengers who were deplaned were provided food and sent on subsequent flights. To queries by this correspondent, IndiGo media wing sent its reply by e-mail confirming that 70 passengers had been offloaded because of unruly behaviour. Speaking for the airline, Ms Sakshi Batra said it was a group booking by 70 passengers on a single PNR number and some of them started making threatening remarks to the cabin crew. Efforts to pacify them failed. Finally, the captain in consultation with airline security ground staff and cabin crew took a decision to offload them as other passengers were being put to inconvenience. A statement from the airline said some male passengers from the group were standing in the aisle towards the rear of the aircraft, making it difficult for other passengers and crew members to walk past. The flight captain takes a decision to offload the passengers if he thinks they would create confusion in the air or sees a potential threat, said Ms Batra. It all started when some members of the 70-strong group boarded late and started shouting at the cabin crew when they found their seats occupied. Shamshabad police said the group was returning to Raipur after a marriage on the city outskirts. Shamshabad circle inspector T. Sudhakar told this correspondent that both the airline and offloaded passengers lodged complaints against each other. No case has been booked as they reached a compromise after the airline arranged food and seats on other flights for them to fly back to Raipur. The group complained that the aircraft took off with their baggage. No one has got in touch with us so far, Mr Sudhakar said. Mr Ashish Jain, one of the offloaded passengers alleged that the airline cabin crew and the captain had behaved very rudely. They threw down half of the baggage after offloading us and the flight took off with the remaining half of our baggage. Our mood after the three-day marriage celebration was ruined by the experience, Mr Jain said. He said the group had only asked the crew to allot them their seats. He said fortunately the bride, P. Anisha, and her husband, G. Arihant of Coimbatore, were not part of the group. Genesis 46:1-47:31 ~ Matthew 15:1-28 ~ Psalm 19:1-14 ~ Proverbs 4:14-19 ~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link ~ Listen to today's Scripture on One Year Bible Online Audio, ESVBible.org: OT, NT, Psalms, Proverbs or DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) ~ Old Testament - Today in Genesis Chapter 46 we read about Jacob and his family's journey to Egypt! I really like that God speaks to Jacob in a vision at Beersheba - the same place where both Abraham and Isaac had worshiped God earlier in Genesis. As Jacob was about to leave Canaan, God reaffirms his covenant promises. Very reassuring for Jacob I am sure! I wonder - sometimes in our lives - as we are about to embark on something big: Maybe a new ministry. Maybe a mission trip. Maybe a new job. Maybe a new marriage. Maybe a new child. Does God speak to us? Does God reaffirm his love to us? Does God tell us that he will be with us on this new thing - as he did to Jacob in this chapter? I can't say that I've verbally heard God speak to me during times of big change in my life. But, I have most definitely sensed amazing peace many times during big changes in my life. I do try to pray more than ever during times of change. I try to stay as absolutely close to God as I possibly can. Maybe I'm kind of like a scared child trying to huddle up to my heavenly Father during times of change. Which I am okay with. :) And - it seems almost without fail, God does "speak" to me with a peace that surpasses all understanding. If the peace is not there... then I do begin to worry if what I am doing is really God's will for my life. If the peace is there - I know without a shadow of a doubt that what I am embarking upon is God's will for my life. I will say this - that even if I cannot discern or sense the peace during a time of change, I still do not doubt that God will be with me. That he will not leave me. That he will be there. Do you believe that God is with you always? That he will go with you wherever you go? Below is a wonderful engraving by Gustave Dore of Jacob traveling to Egypt: Verses 33 & 34 stood out to me in today's readings, as Joseph gives his brothers this instruction: "So when Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, tell him, `We have been livestock breeders from our youth, as our ancestors have been for many generations.' When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the land of Goshen, for shepherds are despised in the land of Egypt."" I like Joseph's wisdom here. I guess you could look at this as Joseph being manipulative of Pharaoh. But I don't really see this. I see that Joseph is telling his brothers what to say - which is true - and that this will allow the nation of Israel to begin to grow and flourish in the land of Goshen, removed from the cities of Egypt. It seems like Joseph is definitely catering to Pharaoh's generosity - "let your family come to Egypt!" - and Pharaoh / Egyptians prejudices - "shepherds are despised in the land of Egypt." For a win / win. It's a Stephen Covey win / win business principle here! :) Below is a map showing Jacob's family's journey from Canaan to Goshen: In Genesis chapter 47 I find it very interesting that Jacob blesses Pharaoh twice. I haven't studied why this happens. My thought is that Jacob is indeed very appreciative of this current Pharaoh - for literally saving the Israelites by allowing God to move mightily through Joseph. We will see soon that there are future Pharaoh's who are not so kind to the Israelites... So, perhaps Jacob realized that this Pharaoh was deserving of two blessings. Let me know your thoughts on these blessings in the Comments below? Below is an image of Jacob blessing Pharaoh: We then read about Joseph's leadership and business skills during the famine - as things get really bad with the famine and people are on the brink of starving. Overall, I initially thought that Joseph was making wise decisions that ultimately ended up saving lives - and in verse 25 the people said the same thing. However, I have one good friend who was in a Bible study with me who felt that Joseph was being way too harsh. I can see both sides... :) Did Joseph have other options / ways to do this? We actually got into quite a heated discussion on this point in our Bible study on this topic a couple of years ago. What do you think? During this time of extreme famine, was Joseph being too harsh or being wise and even being compassionate? Below is a Victorian era painting from 1874 by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema titled "Joseph, Overseer of the Pharaoh's Granaries": Okay, I have to say that I absolutely love Bob Deffinbaugh's humor over at bible.org! Check out his commentary on Genesis chapter 46, with the awesome title of "Life Begins at 130" at this link. I love it! Bible.org's commentary on Genesis chapter 47 titled "A Proper Perspective of Poverty and Prosperity" is at this link. New Testament - In Matthew chapter 15 today we read about Jesus confronting the Pharisees on their "age-old traditions." I read in Zondervan's & Tyndale's commentaries that after the Babylonian exile (we'll read about the exile late this year in the One Year Bible), Jewish rabbis began to make meticulous rules and regulations governing the daily life of people. And that these rules were added to God's law and were essentially elevated to the same sacred status by the Pharisees. In 200 A.D. these traditions of the elders were put into writing in the Mishnah. I think what Jesus gets at here in this chapter is that the Pharisees were allowing the "rules & regulations" to overshadow the spirit of God's law. They were not honoring their parents because of the practice of Corban - giving $ to the temple. Which, giving $ to the temple is a good thing... but at the expense of the great thing of caring for your parents? I know we all could probably go round and round on what is the greatest good - how should we spend our time and our money and our lives. I like that Jesus basically takes it to the heart. What is the heart of the matter? No matter what the matter is - taking care of your parents, giving to your church, obediently following God's will, receiving God's grace - what is the heart of the matter? One thing that I have been so blessed to learn over the past few years is that the condition of our hearts matters. Immensely. The motives of why we do something - anything - matters. Immensely. We are called in Proverbs to "guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life." If we do not care for the state of our hearts, we can become very regimented or insensitive in our thinking and doing. We might even get to the point in verse 8 of this chapter where Jesus quotes from Isaiah: "`These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away." How is the state of your heart today? Is it close to God? Does your heart yearn for Jesus? Jesus continues to speak about the importance of what is in our hearts in verses 18-20 today: "But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you." I think this takes us back again to the Sermon on the Mount - where Jesus teaches us in one example that yes, it is wrong to commit adultery. But, if you commit adultery in your heart, it is just as wrong. Because if you commit adultery in the heart, you have defiled your own heart. And from the heart could come the actual act of committing adultery - which would then shatter several lives. But it all starts in the heart.... So - the good news? Jesus can heal our hearts! Jesus is in the business of heart-healing! Maybe in your life, you might need to refocus from some external actions and start focusing on the state of your heart? Maybe by focusing on what's going on inside your heart, the external actions will ultimately change? Maybe allow Jesus to heal your heart - and then your external life will be healed as well? I'm not sure you can go about this the other way - trying to work from the outside back in... I think you need to start on the inside first and work your way out. But don't do this alone - let Jesus walk this healing path with you. Let Jesus tattoo your heart with his healing love! (very interesting name of the theater in the image below, based on our Genesis readings today... :) Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 15 titled "Jesus and the Traditions of the Elders" is at this link and "The Faith of a Canaanite Woman" is at this link. Psalms - Today we read Psalm 19, which is one of my favorite Psalms! In large part this Psalm is one of my favorites because one of my former pastors taught from this Psalm 3 a few years ago in such a powerful way. Have you had this type of experience? Where you hear a sermon on a chapter of the Bible and then that chapter becomes one of your favorites? I do hope that this One Year Bible experience will allow you to tune-in a little bit more whenever you hear your pastors or ministers or priests teaching you from the Bible in church. I know this is the case with me. Thanks to reading the Bible each day, I now have better context of what is being taught from the pulpit and it makes going to church a richer experience overall. I also now often catch some Bible verses in the worship songs or hymns we sing as well. And this adds a lot to my worship of God now through music. This year, as you go through the One Year Bible and as you go to church, will you tune-in to the sermons and the songs in church more than ever and look for and appreciate how they tie in to the Bible? Back to Psalm 19 I do encourage everyone to really read through and meditate on every verse in this Psalm of David and how this Psalm might be speaking to you this week. Please do take a few minutes to go through the Psalm twice if possible and really reflect upon it. You may even want to journal to God some thoughts or ideas or prayers that come to you through reading this Psalm. I find verse 14 in this Psalm to be so powerful again in large part because one of my former pastors often sang a worship song that simply repeats this verse over and over again and what a beautiful prayer it is for each of us to repeat over and over again as well: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Are the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing in Gods sight? Is God your Rock? Is God your Redeemer? Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 19 is at this link. Proverbs - Proverbs 4 verse 18 reminds me of Psalm 19! "The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." See the parallel? Is your life shining ever brighter as you go forward in life? Are you shining ever brighter for those around you? Are you loving and blessing those around you more and more each day? Are you moving forward toward the full light of day? Worship God: Today's readings in Psalm 19 and Proverbs 4:18 reminds me of the fantastic Matthew West song "More!" Do you know our God of More? Click here for More! Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NIV Prayer Point: Pray that the words of your mouth today would be pleasing in God's sight. Pray that the very meditations of your heart today would be pleasing in His sight. Pray that you would know and experience Jesus as your Rock and your Redeemer this very day. Comments from You and Questions of the Day: In Matthew 15 verses 10 & 11 today we read: "Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. Listen, he said, and try to understand. Its not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth."" Do you agree with these words of Jesus'? Are you cognizant of the words that come out of your mouth on a moment by moment basis? Have you ever had to conscientiously change the words that come out of your mouth because they were not blessing others? Do you use profanity? (or am I being a Pharisee by even asking this question... :) I think it's a fair question - does profanity come out of your mouth? Do you think this is pleasing in God's sight? (Psalm 19:14) Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below! God bless, Mike p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link. p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link. p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks! Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's book, Bottom-Up, offers a compelling vision of a way of being in the world, bringing insights from different cultures and fields together while offering concrete steps to make the vision a reality. This is one of the rare books that, once you read it, will change the way you see the world and your relationships." Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Ancient Futures, Producer and co-director of the film The Economics of Happiness, Founder of Local Futures and cofounder of the International Forum on Globalization Originally published by American Herald Tribune Major corporate media outlets in the United States are reporting on a new viability for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, based on his rise in the polls nationally and in Iowa and New Hampshire -- and possibly, though this goes largely unmentioned, based on his big new advertising purchases from major corporate media outlets. In independent progressive media as well, there's a small flood of maybe-he-can-really-win articles. Whether this goes any further or not, something remarkable has happened. The Donald Trump campaign (in many ways outlandish and uniquely dangerous) more or less fits the usual mold in terms of media success; the data are very clear that the media gave Trump vastly disproportionate media coverage, following which he rose in the polls -- the same polls later used anachronistically to justify the coverage. This was the story of how the media created Howard Dean's success before tearing him down in 2004, and it has been the story of most candidates, successful and otherwise: the polling closely follows the coverage, not the other way around. Bernie is something new. The major media has given him ridiculously little coverage, and belittled him in most of that coverage. Yet he has surged in the polls, in volunteers, in small-donor fundraising, and in real world events. While television news has shunted aside actual events, crises, social movements, the state of the natural environment, any number of wars, countless injustices, and most legislative activities in order to focus more than ever on the next election, and has done so ever since it was nearly two years away, the media has also given wildly disparate attention to certain candidates, in a way that bears no correlation to polling or internet searching or donors or any such factor. As of last fall, Bernie Sanders had received a total of 8 minutes of coverage from broadcast evening news, less than Mitt Romney or Joe Biden got for deciding not to enter the race. And yet, Bernie polls better against Donald Trump (now that a pollster finally asked that question and released the results) than does Hillary Clinton. And Bernie is gradually catching up to Clinton in polls of Democrats. If he wins New Hampshire (very likely) and Iowa (pretty likely), all sorts of bandwagon jumpers could switch their support to him, and uninspired voters become inspired to vote in the next several primary states, snowballing the magical force of "momentum" into an upset victory with great media ratings, even if horrifying political implications from the point of view of major media outlets' corporate owners. According to Ted Rall, we are seeing the failure of propaganda: "Everyone in a position to block Sanders' campaign did everything they could to sabotage him. ... Marginalization always used to work. Remember John Edwards? His 2008 primary campaign was doomed because TV networks refused to cover him. But the media's cold shoulder isn't hurting Bernie." As Glenn Greenwald sees it, Sanders is riding the same wave of backlash against the establishment that Jeremy Corbyn has surfed in Britain. Part of that tidal wave may also motivate Trump supporters who, in some cases, admit that they don't like his views but simply love that he says whatever he feels like saying. Sharp policical observer Sam Husseini pointed out to me that the more the media demanded Bill Clinton's impeachment, the more the public opposed it. Sometimes what the media wants backfires. As the media shifts from ignoring Sanders to attacking him, that could benefit him, or it could hurt him. As Dave Lindorff and others have pointed out, "socialist" is actually a popular word now. Pundits in whose world "socialist" is equated with traitor, could actually hurt the cause of derailing the Bern inferno if they keep labeling him a socialist. Some observers are far less sanguine about the defeat of propaganda. "If Bernie wins the nomination," media critic Jeff Cohen told me, "I suspect we'll see a barrage of mainstream news media bias and smear and distortion against Bernie and his platform on healthcare and Wall Street and taxes and government-funded jobs that will be at a level rarely witnessed in history. Not to mention a new level of attack ads bought by dozens of GOP and corporate SuperPACs. And all this will have impact, partly mitigated thanks to social media and indy media." Cohen draws on history, which he clearly believes has not ended: "The anti-Bernie barrage will be reminiscent of 1934 when former Socialist Party leader Upton Sinclair left that party and stunned the nation by winning the Dem nomination for governor of California on a totally progressive platform; Sinclair was defeated in the general election by new innovations in smear politics from business interests, especially the Hollywood studios. If Bernie somehow gains the nomination, we'll see whether, aided by new media, the public is any smarter 80 years later in seeing through and fighting back against the distortions." For the better part of a year I have shared Cohen's expectations for what the media might try to do to Sanders in early 2016. I assumed it would wait this long because a contest makes for better ratings than a coronation. But I did not predict this level of success for Sanders. I think we will see media support for all kinds of lies coming from the Clinton campaign, like those issued recently around healthcare. We'll see smears about sexism, and all variety of molehills turned into mountains. We'll also see Sanders denounced as a cowardly pacifist endangering us all by refusing to bomb enough people. The tragic and ironic flaw in Sanders' strategy may be this. He'll take criticism as a socialist because he is one. And he'll take criticism as a pacifist although he's become a dedicated militarist at heart, intent on continuing drone kills and "destroying" ISIS, and unwilling to say he'll cut military spending. Not only is cutting military spending incredibly popular, not only would proposing to cut it lead to people like me knocking on doors for Bernie, but if Bernie were willing to cut a small fraction of the military that he routinely says is loaded with fraud and waste, he wouldn't have to fund healthcare or college or anything else with any sort of tax increases. The U.S. government does not need more money in order to provide world-class social services. It needs to tax multi-billionaires in order to reign in their power. But it can fund our wildest dream by shifting money out of the military. And Bernie knows this. Yet he has opened himself up wide to what will likely be the most common criticism: "He wants to raise taxes!" He can explain that you'll save more by ending private health insurance than you'll pay in higher taxes, but how will he fit that in 4 seconds? How will he repeat it as often as the accusation? How can we be sure people are both mad at the establishment and intelligent enough to see through its deceptions? Incidentally, peace groups have tried everything short of interrupting a Sanders event on the Black Lives Matter model. The Black Lives Matter activists who did that may have looked ill-informed, but they improved Bernie's campaign and benefited his campaign and thereby the country. Peace activists should consider that. Most media deceptions are somewhat subtle. Look at this Time magazine video and text. The video at the top of the page is remarkably fair. The text below it, including an error-plagued transcript apparently produced by a robot, is less fair. Time says of Bernie: "[H]e's so far been unable to convince most Democrats he'd make a better candidate against a Republican than Clinton." By no stretch of the English language is the 48% or 52% backing Clinton in polls "most Democrats." The polling story should be that Sanders has climbed from 3% to 37% or 41% without any help. Here's Time's summary of Sanders' platform: "He talked taxes (he'd raise them), turning points (he thinks he's at one) and tuxedos (he's never owned one)." Notice that two of the three items are sheer fluff and the only serious one is that he'll raise your taxes. Time follows that by linking to an article making the case that Sanders cannot win. Time of course has no "balancing" argument that he can win. Reprinted from Sputnik Yet there will be. And the stage is already set for it. Selected Persian Gulf traders, and that includes Westerners working in the Gulf confirm that Saudi Arabia is unloading at least $1 trillion in securities and crashing global markets under orders from the Masters of the Universe -- those above the lame presidency of Barack Obama. The World Economic Forum in Davos is submerged by a tsunami of denials, and even non-denial denials, stating there won't be a follow-up to the Crash of 2008.Those were the days when the House of Saud would as much as flirt with such an idea to have all their assets frozen. Yet now they are acting under orders. And more is to come; according to crack Persian Gulf traders Saudi Western security investments may amount to as much as $8 trillion, and Abu Dhabi's as $4 trillion. In Abu Dhabi everything was broken into compartments, so no one could figure it out, except brokers and traders who would know each supervisor of a compartment of investments. And for the House of Saud, predictably, denial is an iron rule. This massive securities dump has been occasionally corporate media, but the figures are grossly underestimated. The full information simply won't filter because the Masters of the Universe have vetoed it. There has been a huge increase in the Saudi and Abu Dhabi dump since the start of 2016. A Persian Gulf source says the Saudi strategy "will demolish the markets." Another referred to a case of "maggots eating the carcass in the dark"; one just had to look at the rout in Wall Street, across Europe and in Hong Kong and Tokyo on Wednesday. So it's already happening. And a crucial subplot may be, in the short to medium term, no less than the collapse of the eurozone. The Crash of 2016? So a case could be made of a panicked House of Saud being instrumentalized to crash a great deal of the global economy. Cui bono? Still, Iranian oil about to reach the market will be around an extra 500,000 barrels a day by mid-year, plus a surplus stored in tankers in the Persian Gulf. This oil can and will be absorbed, as demand is rising (in the US, for instance, by 1.9 million barrels a day in 2015) while supply is falling. Surging demand and falling production will reverse the oil crash by July. Moreover, China's oil imports recently surged 9.3% at 7.85 million barrels a day, discrediting the hegemonic narrative of a collapse of China's economy -- or of China being responsible for the current market blues. So, as I outlined here, oil should turn around soon. Goldman Sachs concurs. That gives the Masters of the Universe a short window of opportunity enabling the Saudis to dump massive amounts of securities in the markets. The House of Saud may need the money badly, considering their budget on red alert. But dumping their securities is also clearly self-destructive. They simply cannot sell $8 trillion. The House of Saud is actually destroying the balance of their wealth. As much as Western hagiography tries to paint Riyadh as a responsible player, the fact is scores of Saudi princes are horrified at the destruction of the wealth of the kingdom through this slow motion harakiri. Would there be a Plan B? Yes. Warrior prince Mohammed bin Sultan -- who's actually running the show in Riyadh -- should be on the first flight to Moscow to engineer a common strategy. Yet that won't happen. And as far as China -- Saudi Arabia's top oil importer -- is concerned, Xi Jinping has just been to Riyadh; Aramco and Sinopec signed a strategic partnership; but the strategic partnership that really matters, considering the future of One Belt, One Road, is actually Beijing-Tehran. The massive Saudi dumping of securities ties in with the Saudi oil price war. In the current, extremely volatile situation oil is down, stocks are down and oil stocks are down. Still the House of Saud has not understood that the Masters of the Universe are getting them to destroy themselves many times over, including flooding the oil market with their shut-in capacity. And all that to fatally wound Russia, Iran and... Saudi Arabia itself. By Linn Washington, Jr. 'Bad Trump' drawing by Amelia (5) and Makayla (8) (Image by ThisCantBeHappening!) Details DMCA London -- In a rational world where the rules of arithmetic apply it just doesn't add up to declare that 40,000 is mathematically more significant than 500,000. But in the fact-free world of Donald Trump 40,000 counts more than 500,000"at least that is Republican Trump's new math as it applies to people in the United Kingdom. Over 500,000 Brits have signed a petition to ban Trump from entering the U.K. because of his hateful declarations, particularly his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. That ban-Trump petition had 577,023 signatures as of Jan. 20 --- a figure that keeps increasing. Yet, typical of Trump, he saw more significance in the 40,000-plus British signatures on a petition opposing any blocking of his entry. Trump insisted he has "many more fans than naysayers" across the U.K. when he responded to a British reporter at a campaign stop in Iowa hours after the U.K.'s Parliament concluded it's Monday January 18th debate on those ban/no-ban petitions. And in The Donald's fact-free world it never computed in his mind that the Parliamentary debate began with an announcement that 30,000 of the 42,898 signatures on the don't-ban-Trump petition had been removed because there was serious suspicion that those 30,000 signatures were not valid. That announcement in Parliament about removal of the questioned signatures stated those deleted signatures appeared to have originated from a single source. Of course The Donald probably sees the ban-him petition as being trumped by British poll results stating 24 percent of Brits support his ban Muslim entry idea. Trump saw big pluses in the Parliament debate about him despite the unflattering descriptions of him which were a core feature of that debate. These included members of parliament calling Trump as a buffoon, corrosive, an idiot, poisonous and a xenophobe, all appellations that flowed from both supporters and opponents of the ban petition. Trump told the British reporter in Iowa that he saw it as a "great honor" to have ben the focus of a Parliament debate. Trump told that reporter that he was "very happy" with what happened in Parliament -- presumably what didn't happen: significant support for the ban. Parliament took no official action on the ban or not-ban petitions because the authority in the U.K. to ban entry rests not with Parliament but with the the U.K. Home Secretary -- the equivalent of the US Secretary of the Interior. The "ban Trump" petition has garnered more signatures than any public petition sent to Parliament, it was announced during the debate. Even the U.K's ruling conservative government voiced opposition to Trump's ban-Muslims posture. The U.K. government's official statement, read into the record during that Parliament debate, stated in part: "The Prime Minister has made clear that he completely disagrees with Donald Trump's remarks. The Home Secretary has said that Donald Trump's remarks in relation to Muslims are divisive, unhelpful and wrong." While U.K Prime Minister David Cameron proclaimed opposition to Trump's remarks he quickly displayed a Trump-like penchant for sticking his foot deeply into his mouths. Cameron drew quick criticism for his announcement that migrant spouses of Muslim men must pass English language proficiency tests or face deportation. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "We're at a paradigm-shift moment in history, where we will look back at it and realize that a particular model of how we govern our affairs together became outdated. Kall's book Bottom-Up offers great alternatives and solutions that are not found in conventional governing models." Carne Ross , is a former British diplomat, a strategy coordinator for the UN, and author of the book, The Leaderless Revolution. Madaya, which has been a mainstream media focus, is a Sunni Muslim town. The Syrian 'rebels' (terrorists) are exclusively Sunni, as is the Syrian Opposition (Syrian National Coalition), which Washington recognizes as the legitimate government of Syria. In fact, the SNC are a Muslim Brotherhood group. Aid delivery expected to Syria's Madaya Food and medicine has been loaded up in Damascus ready to be delivered on Monday to tens of thousands of people who are starving to death in three Syrian ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: AlJazeeraEnglish) Details DMCA By focusing on Madaya, the media portrays the Syrian government as anti-Sunni, fueling sectarian hatred, which further fuels the civil war. The goal of Saudi Arabia and the US is to divide the Sunni and Shia and have the Christians leave the Middle East for good. The MSM does not report on Alawite towns and villages which are also under siege, suffering the same as Madaya. Why is the media coverage so unbalanced? Because it is counter-productive for them to inform the world that the Syrian rebels, the US supported terrorists, starve and torture minorities all across Syria. They don't want you to see that. They want to focus your attention on places where they can demonize the Syrian government. Here are the facts: Madaya has been under siege by the Syrian government because the terrorists have entrenched themselves in residential neighborhoods. They picked a Sunni town hoping to get support among the people. But the people hate them because they stole everything that wan't nailed down. The terrorists took all the money, gold and food from the residents. Every time food was delivered to the area, the terrorists took all of it, and the residents starve. It works to the terrorists' benefit to show starving residents. They can blame it all on the government. Aid and food and medicines have been delivered in the past many times, but everything was confiscated by the terrorists. The same thing happened in the Old City of Homs. In the North there are several Alawite villages, and even some Shite villages, which were occupied by terrorists, who refused any aid or food going to the people, saying it was in retaliation for Madaya. But the MSM will not tell you about that. The bottom line is that every government must fight terrorists who are harming civilians. And when they do so, inevitably there is collateral damage among innocent civilians. This is what happened in Madaya. Meanwhile, here on the coast we continue to enjoy safety, calm, and a near normal life. When you watch TV, it looks like Syria is a real mess. However, you can drive to Damascus and go shopping, stay in Hotels, go to the University, go to nightclubs and parties. The same is true in Homs and Latakia. There are areas in Aleppo which are under government control and are operating normally, but they have almost no electricity. Watch for the next Geneva peace meeting soon. Something may happen which could benefit Syria. BENGALURU: With the flow of investments from Japanese companies increasing two-fold during the last four years, the state government is looking forward to more a lot more Yen from its reliable partner at Invest Karnataka 2016. After New Delhi, Bengaluru has become the second preferred destination for Japanese firms and its representatives. More than 1000 Japanese reside in Bengaluru and there 314 Japanese companies located in Karnataka, according to Mrs Ratna Prabha, principal secretary, department of industries and commerce. Japanese companies have invested in automobile, health and hospitality sectors in the state in recent years. Besides, Japanese firms have acquired many companies in Karnataka. During last three years, Japan has acquired 14 companies in Karnataka. Recently, Meiji Seika Pharma acquired Bangalore based Medriech pharma with the investment of about Rs 2,000 crore. Bengaluru is also home to eight Japanese restaurants, and around 15 restaurants in various locations serve Japanese cuisine. She said the Japanese government is partnering with the state government in development of a world class Japanese industrial zone. After a detailed feasibility study on World Class Industrial Park conducted by the Ministry of Economy & Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) and Karnataka together and a pilot project creating a Model Industrial Park is being set up at Vasantha Narasapura. All necessary support has been extended by the state government for the industrial park, she added. Japanese companies have lot of experience to operate world class industrial park, which helps Japanese SMEs to decide their investment in Asian nations. There are few such industrial parks operated by private companies. Setting up of the industrial park between two regions was to mitigate the risk of land acquisition. While the state government would have a role in obtaining land for the industrial park, Japanese developers would take care of the project and ensure sufficient and sustainable power and water supply to its occupants, and develop roads inside the industrial park as well as the access road to trunk road. Sarah Palin (Image by edalisse) Details DMCA By Walter Brasch She's back and tightly holding Donald Trump's coattails. That's right, Sarah Palin, having again found the media spotlight, is casting her shadow across the more thoughtful conservatives. This past week she declared her undying love and support of Trump's attempt to seize the presidency from the more experienced and knowledgeable candidates in the Democratic, Republican, and Green parties, and is blathering her way throughout Iowa, New Hampshire, and several early primary states to stir up Trump's far-right base. At a media circus press conference this past week in Ames, Iowa, Palin gave the far-right wing goose bumps of excitement with her opening declaration, "Looking around at all of you, you hard working Iowa families, you farm families and teachers and teamsters and cops and cooks, you rock and rollers and holy rollers!" And then she asked the crowd, "Are you ready for the leader to make America great again?" Her question echoed that of Trump, and brought a flushed frenzy to the target audience. The question also had undertones of stating that the United States was not great, was not the world leader in numerous areas and, to the far-right's belief, not a world leader in waging war, something the Republicans have become adept at and known for. Palin's 20-minute endorsement, filled with a "you betcha" here and a "Hallelujah!" there, rambled on, attacking President Obama, who isn't running, while avoiding anything about those who are climbing in the polls and about to catch the man who, until he declared his candidacy for president, liked being known as The Donald. Palin's endorsement may have been because she was looking to cement an irrational possibility to be a part of a Trump administration. Several months earlier, she had declared, to the amusement of anyone who ever studied science and energy, "I think a lot about the Department of Energy, because energy is my baby, oil and gas and minerals, those things that God has dumped on this part of the earth for mankind's use, instead of relying on unfriendly foreign nations for us to import their resource." Why she wanted to run the Department of Energy was clear--she wanted to be the one to ride it into extinction. But the Tea Party darling may have endorsed Trump not because of any ideological similarities, as both proclaimed, but because she needs media exposure. Sen. John McCain and some delusional advisors had plucked Palin out of Alaskan obscurity to be the Republicans' vice-presidential candidate in 2008. On a full-time campaign, she had become a part-time governor. After the McCain-Palin combination failed to land many blows on the Obama-Biden ticket, and was soundly defeated, Palin decided that Alaska wasn't big enough for her. She resigned the governorship half-way through her first term, wrote a best-selling book that only the extreme right-wing thought was well-written, began commanding $100,000 for speaking fees, and was courted by, and signed by, Fox News as a commentator. However, even Fox News, which has corralled most of the conservative loons to be commentators, tired of having to deal with Palin's errors, outrageous observations, and falling ratings. Palin's and Fox's PR machines claimed the divorce was amicable. With her popularity fading, her speaking engagements slowing down, and media coverage of her family's problems rising, Palin needed a platform to restore her reality show road show. That media glow lays in the endorsement of the narcissistic and bombastic billionaire front runner whose three marriages and four bankruptcies haven't reduced his appeal to the Republicans' family values base. It's important that Palin get off the stage so that the conservatives who actually know what they're talking about can command some of the media attention that has been focused upon Trumpian rhetoric and not substance. [Dr. Brasch is a professor emeritus of journalism and mass communications from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, a former newspaper and magazine reporter and editor, and author of 20 books. His latest book is Fracking America: Sacrificing Health and the Environment for Short-Term Economic Benefit. The book is available at amazon.com) The trials and tribulations of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, billed by Time magazine as the most important person of 2015, have made me despair over the rapidity with which my beloved old continent is falling apart. France: Calais 'Jungle' camp clean-up continues as refugees prepare to relocate Refugees and migrants packed up their belongings at the refugee camp in Calais on Friday as French authorities prepared to relocate them to new containers ... (Image by Ruptly TV, Channel: RuptlyTV) Details DMCA Rather than constantly repeating that "Germany is strong, and we can do this" (i.e., take in more refugees), Merkel needs to announce an entirely new European policy: "We will cut ties with the American administration intent on raping the third world, and invest the money in helping those countries get on their feet." This is easier said than done, but the results of inaction are too dreadful to contemplate: instead of affording its people continuing well-being, the European Union will disintegrate into warring nation-states once again, this tie with a crucial new element: a growing minority of Muslims in what was once the bastion of Christianity. The Union was founded as a reaction to repeated intra-European strife - mainly between France and Germany. But today France, Germany and the other 26 countries of the EU appear helpless in the face of thousands of non white, non-Christian, foreigners, although these amount to only 1-2% of its population. In politics, dithering can be fatal, one of the reasons why naive voters are drawn to politicians who present themselves as 'strong men', who will inevitably take advantage of the dithering of democrats (see Hitler and the Weimar Republic). Europe is all the more dramatically caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place that the decisive action required to save itself is all but unthinkable: pruning ties with the United States, its savior in two world wars and its tutor for seventy. Brussels is accused by many Europeans of being dictatorial, however it has not given itself the tools to conduct a foreign policy independent of Washington, which in an interdependent world world crucially impacts the domestic arena. US tutoring is threatening Europe's survival. The current generation of leaders has imbibed American leadership with its mothers' milk, taught in school that the Yankees liberated them from German occupation, and finally, after an initial period of resentment, utterly seduced by America's version of modernization. Not to mention how much easier it is to follow than to take initiatives. America's successive rescues probably convinced Europe's leaders, from Adenauer and Schumann on, that the fractious peninsula needs a strong, benevolent tutor to keep the peace. It did not occur to them that Europe would eventually pay the price for America's determination to rule the world. The presence of a seemingly formidable neighbor - the USSR- on its borders, combined with Soviet hegemony over the Eastern half of Europe, sufficed to keep Christian-Democratic/Democratic -Socialist elites alternately in power, guided by American pro-consuls toward the fruits of progress. But insidiously, this was accompanied by the atrophy of European geo-political thought. (Suffice it to remember the widespread European opposition to America's war in Vietnam, compare to its attitude toward the bombing of Yugoslavia or the invasion of Iraq") On a continent of historically rambunctious rulers, only the Communists could be counted upon to warn of paths best not taken - in vain. Anti-communism will someday be recognized as one of the main factors having contributed to a widening North-South divide, preventing an ever more comfortable Europe from realizing that it could not remain forever aloof from the travails of the South. Remnants of -colonialism - even if in the form of paternalism - led it to participate in adventures in adjacent areas such as the Middle East and Africa led by an America protected by two oceans from blowback. Instead of seeing the European Union - the second largest economy in the world - as an equal weight to an oil-rich but backward Middle East, and the three giants Russia, China, and India, with which it shares the Eurasian continent, for the first time in its history, Europe took on the role of junior partner with severely limited voting rights. The failure of Europe's leaders to assert their authority over foreign affairs, building a better partnership with Arabs and Africans than the disastrous one gifted them by Washington, is fast resulting in reverse colonization In Part I, Erdogan's mounting dilemmas--ISIS terrorism, Kurdish resistance, Assad's Syria alive and well--showed how his bid for regional hegemony has gone awry. His pact with the ISIS devil, as long as they target Kurds, just made things worse. Davutoglu's dream of a "common history and a common future" for the Middle Israeli dream Middle East (Image by Ralph Peters) Details DMCA Israeli rationale Israel has been noncommittal about Syria since the uprising in 2011, not joining the western chorus for Assad's head. Israeli indifference to the outcome can be explained easily enough. First, Israeli public support for anyone would be a kiss of death for the beloved. On the other hand, the Assads have been the biggest thorn in Israel's side since 1971 when Hafiz Assad consolidated power, and Israel would be delighted to see the last of Bashar. But Israel was worried about what might emerge from a post-Assad Islamic state. With Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's bold call for an independent Kurdish state, a radical new claim for regional hegemony is unfolding, not by a neo-Ottoman Turkey, but by the Jewish state. "We must openly call for the establishment of a Kurdish state that separates Iran from Turkey, one which will be friendly towards Israel," Shaked told the Institute for National Security Studies conference in Tel Aviv. This sounds novel, but it really only reflects age-old plans for a Jewish state to control the Middle East which have been on the drawing board since Lord Shaftesbury first made it a British imperial objective in 1839. 1948 got the project off to a savage start, 1967 added the entire Holy Land to the map, and let the illegal West Bank settler-state move into high gear. The Yinon Doctrine of 1980 set out how to consolidate Israel's theft, by playing various ethnic and religious forces among its Arab neighbors against each other--Maronite and Orthodox Christian, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Druze, etc--in order to undermine Arab nationalism, and keep the Middle East weak and unstable. In Syria, that even meant quietly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood during its ill-fated uprising in 1981, not because Israel wanted an Islamist Syria, but to keep the Syrian government off-balance. Syria and Egypt fought a war with Israel in 1967. These secular nationalist governments were the big threat, and it was only natural to try and cripple them, even if that meant working with Islamists. After Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978, Israel had only Iraq, Syria and Iran as its main enemies--the Arab nationalism of the first two and the Persian nationalism in Iran had proved immune to Israeli intrigues. Israeli 'friendship' with the Kurds is merely the ethnic variable in the Yinon formula. There have always been contacts with Iraqi Kurds, which went into high gear in 1991 when northern Iraq was made a 'no-fly' zone, allowing Israeli agents relative freedom. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 fit the bill, though bungled by the dismantling of the Iraqi army, creating a bit too much Yinon for comfort. US-Israeli Plan B When Israeli fears about what a post-Assad Syria might look like were proven justified, it was ready with plan B: a new, improved Yinon Doctrine, featuring the creation of a pro-Israeli Kurdish state, keeping Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and--what the hell--Iran off-balance? This has been plan B for US-Israel since at least 2006, when a plan for restructuring the Middle East published in the Armed Forces Journal in 2006 stated, "Iraq should have been divided into three smaller states immediately" creating a "Free Kurdistan" carved out of Turkey, Iran and Iraq, which "would be the most pro-western state between Bulgaria and Japan." The Saban Center for Middle East Policy issued a similar policy recommendation in 2007, and in 2008, Joseph Biden, Obama's future vice president, also called for the partition of Iraq into three autonomous regions. Israel gets it right (for the wrong reasons) ISIS and Turkey came to the rescue with their own wild schemes, leaving the Kurds as "the only ones fighting ISIS as their highest priority," as Yadlin told the Israeli security conference. "We Kurds and Jews have a long history. The 20 million Kurds who didn't get a state [at the Treaty of Versailles], and nobody takes care about them. They are the only ones fighting ISIS as their highest priority." Every one of Erdogan's moves has backfired. He flip-flopped on Libya and Syria. He turned a blind eye on ISIS. He stubbornly continues a policy of oppression against the Kurds. He abruptly broke relations with Israel in 2011 over Israel's killing of nine Turkish peace activists. But it's better to at least speak with your enemy. Israel wouldn't have been quite so bold about advocating a Kurdish state if it realized that it would forfeit a working relationship with Turkey. But there is nothing to lose now. Like Turkey these days, Israel is also running out of friends, and this call for an independent Kurdistan is really a rather far-fetched plan to establish at least one Muslim ally for the Jews. The travail of Turkish Kurds (20 million, 20% of the population) is well known. They are not allowed to speak Kurdish or have Kurdish names, let alone Kurdish language education. In comparison, Iraqi Kurds (7 million, 20%) live a privileged life, with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the autonomous government tilting towards Saudi Arabia, and its key rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), supporting the Iranian-led camp. Kurds are culturally and linguistically so closely related to the Iranians, they are sometimes classified as an Iranian people. Of the more than 6 million Iranian Kurds (9% of the population), a significant portion are Shia. There are tensions in Iran, as the majority of Kurds are Sunni, but the strong Iranian roots of Kurds culturally and linguistically, and the lack of the suppression of their culture, language and political rights, mean there is no strong movement for independence. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Copyrighted Image? DMCA 21st January 2016 Happy New Year! No, I'm not talking about 2016, I'm talking about Year 5. Fukushima, Year 5. It's almost 5 years since the initial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor, and although the disaster continues today it is not being treated by authorities with the kind of decisive urgency such an ecology-threatening situation demands. It's time for a change of course... There are some events in history that change the timeline forever, marking the rest of the story for thousands of years. These events supersede all others before, and after, for some time. The Fukushima Daiichi experiment is spewing radioactive waste with a million-year ecological effect into the Pacific Ocean, nuclear disaster fractures the present and causes dire effects for the future -- as far as humanity is concerned, forever. Fukushima is ground zero and time zero. What we know about that day is horrific enough. What we know about the toxic materials leaking every day into the Pacific is enough to demand worldwide action. Every day, more information is revealed about what happened and continues to happen, with the atmospheric and water-borne release of plutonium fuel in reactors and spent-fuel pools. Despite a media and political blackout on the topic, we are learning how much worse the situation is becoming. And yet, our political leaders have made no genuine progress in containing the disaster and have no intention of changing course. We have to stop nuclear experimentation or it will stop us. The genetic damage caused by exposure to radioactive particulate is irreversible, and the nuclear industry has proven itself unable to contain the uncontainable fire of nuclear experimentation. Because of the threat posed to world peace, our biological stability and the very ecosystem of Earth, it is of paramount importance we to come together for a global protest against nuclear experimentation. If nuclear energy has taught us one thing, it is that a single spark can start a fire that has generational effects. It's time we light a new fire, and create the kind of future we'd be proud for our grandchildren to inherit. So let's gather in numbers and show them we're serious. Protests are done to inform people and instigate change, and must have a clear, single issue of importance. Hence, "We demand that nuclear government and corporations of the world take legitimate and urgent action to end the ongoing disaster at Fukushima." Arguably the Fukushima event is the biggest environmental disaster (and subsequent cover-up) in human history, by nuclear institutions with a record of lies and official cover-ups unlike any other. Little genuine effort has been made to contain the disaster, radiation-monitoring mechanisms were disabled by authorities following the initial meltdown, laws were implemented to quell reporting of the disaster, and government-prescribed "safe" radiation limits were lifted, apparently to accommodate the new "normal" radiation levels. Meanwhile, oceanic and atmospheric radiation-pollution levels are still rising -- with untold environmental effects -- and are currently expected to continue increasing at least until 2018. So, wherever you are, wherever you may be, let's all come together to protest and raise awareness of Fukushima, and the environmental and political damage this failed nuclear experiment (and the nuclear complex at large) has caused. Let's come together and pause in peaceful protest, with a clear statement and a clear intent: to start a dynamic shift that empowers the people to take control of this mismanaged catastrophe. Since the Fukushima disaster began, I've learned that people typically want to do something positive and put an end to nuclear experimentation -- once they truly understand it. So information is key. Regardless of what nuclear advocates may say, there are many undeniable facts of nuclear radiation: Nuclear experimentation is biologically incompatible with life on Earth, starting uncontainable fires that burn for a million years. The nuclear industry has no viable means of managing its waste, other than to bury it underground in facilities predicted to hold radioactive waste material for around 10,000 years, handing this million-year problem on to future generations to deal with. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Campaign For America's Future Panic now grips the Clinton campaign. Polls show Bernie Sanders surging to a dramatic lead in New Hampshire and closing in Iowa. The Washington Post reports that Hillary's national numbers are dropping faster now than they did in 2008. The Clinton campaign has started throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Sanders, with the gutter award captured, thus far, by Senator Claire McCaskill who smeared him with the "hammer and sickle," transparently attributing the red-baiting to future Republican attacks of her own imagination. But the question isn't what's wrong with Bernie -- he's soaring beyond all expectations. The question is what's wrong with Hillary? She has universal name recognition, unparalleled experience, the support of the big money and the political gatekeepers, the Hollywood glitz, the best political operatives, the pollsters, the ad makers, the establishment policy mavens, and political press coverage. Having learned from 2008, she's got the best ground operation in the history of Iowa caucuses that still may rescue her there. But she's sinking rapidly against a 73-year-old political maverick who is still just introducing himself to the American people. Already the inevitable Clinton circular firing squad has begun firing its salvos: We should have gone negative on Bernie earlier. We should have used Bill more" or less. We shouldn't have bet the house on the first four primaries. Woulda, shoulda, coulda. Inevitably, any Clinton campaign carries a lot of baggage that simply has to be overcome. The assaults on her won't really be unleashed until the general election (although Donald Trump and Republican legislators have already started). What is plaguing the Clinton campaign are less the sins of the past than the strategic choices of the present -- particularly her decision to be the candidate of big money. Hillary's Unilateral Disarmament From its start, the Clinton campaign has boasted about its unparalleled fundraising capacity. HRC geared up a bevy of SuperPacs and C4s to take big donations and dark money. She launched a relentless operation to get wealthy donors to max out both for the primary and the general. Her ability to raise money helped scare away other potential contenders. Her continued commitment to this path is symbolized by the $33,400 a plate dinner Warren Buffet is hosting for her in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the Iowa caucuses. People who can afford $33,400 for one seat at the table aren't exactly the working people Hillary claims to champion. Sanders, of course, made a different decision. He has condemned Super PACs, big money and secret contributions. He has funded his campaign with record numbers of small donations raised largely over the social media. He doesn't have anything like a traditional campaign fundraising operation. That independence gives both force and integrity to his core message that it is time to take back our democracy from the "billionaire class," the entrenched interests, and the Wall Street banksters. Clinton argues that she favors fundamental campaign finance reform, but she can't "unilaterally disarm." Deep pocket Republicans are amassing huge war chests to assault her. She has to be armed with big money to defend herself. But in doing so, Clinton "unilaterally disarmed" her own credibility. The Clinton family foundation and the family fortune have been built with large contributions and lavish "speaking fees," significantly from the biggest financial interests in the country. Wall Street made Hillary herself a millionaire, as she pocketed over $3 million in speaking fees from Wall Street finance houses in 2013. She made nearly as much ($2.8 million) speaking to health care industry interests. And now her campaign is raising big bucks from the same folks. The result is corrosive. When Clinton insists that her Wall Street reforms are far tougher than those of Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, it rings false. She attacks Sanders for supporting Medicare for All which naturally is the bete noire of the private health insurance and drug companies. When Sanders invoked the $600,000 Clinton received from Goldman Sachs alone in speaking fees (a bank that just agreed to pay $5 billion essentially for mortgage fraud) in the last debate, her only defense was to suggest that a similar criticism would apply to Barack Obama who also raised money from Wall Street. Democrats like President Obama, but the defense is pretty lame given that fact that he will leave office with the big banks bigger and more concentrated than they were when their excesses blew up the economy, and with no major banker going to jail for what the FBI describes as an "epidemic of fraud." Moreover, Sanders has demonstrated that it is possible to generate enough true popular excitement to raise enough money from small donations to be financially competitive at a presidential level. He didn't "unilaterally disarm;" he armed himself in a manner consistent with his program. And every attack by the Clinton camp only rouses his committed and growing army of small donors to ante up again. In the general election, this might not matter as much. Every Republican -- except Donald Trump, the self-funding billionaire -- is enmeshed in the same pursuit of big money. But in the primary, as Clinton protests angrily that she is a true progressive reformer, her words lack conviction not because of Sanders' mild criticisms but because she has unilaterally disarmed her own credibility. Credibility and Electability Reprinted from Consortium News In seeking to put Sen. Bernie Sanders on the defensive over his foreign policy positions, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is embracing a neoconservative stance on the Middle East and gambling that her more hawkish approach will win over Democratic voters. Losing ground in Iowa and New Hampshire in recent polls, the Clinton campaign has counterattacked against Sanders, targeting his sometimes muddled comments on the Mideast crisis, but Clinton's attack line suggests that Sanders isn't adequately committed to the positions of Israel's right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his American neocon acolytes. Clinton's strategy is to hit Sanders for seeking a gradual normalization of relations with Iran, while Clinton has opted for the neocon position of demonizing Iran and siding with Israel and its quiet alliance with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states that share Israel's animosity toward Shiite-ruled Iran. By attaching herself to this neocon approach of hyping every conceivable offense by Iran while largely excusing the human rights crimes of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Sunni-run states, Clinton is betting that most Democratic voters share the neocon-dominated "group think" of Official Washington: "Iran-our-enemy, Israel/Saudi Arabia-our-friends." She made similar calculations when she voted for and supported President George W. Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq; when she sided with the neocons in pushing President Barack Obama to escalate the war in Afghanistan; and when she instigated "regime change" in Libya -- all policies that had dubious and dangerous outcomes. But she seems to still believe that she will benefit politically if she continues siding with the neocons and their "liberal interventionist" side-kicks. On Thursday, the Clinton campaign put Sanders's suggestion of eventual diplomatic relations with Iran in the context of his lack of ardor toward defending Israel. "Normal relations with Iran right now?" said Jake Sullivan, the campaign's senior policy adviser. "President Obama doesn't support that idea. And it's not at all clear why it is that Senator Sanders is suggesting it. " Many of you know Iran has pledged the destruction of Israel." Actually, the Clinton campaign is mischaracterizing Sanders's position as expressed in last Sunday's debate. Sanders opposed immediate diplomatic relations with Tehran. "Understanding that Iran's behavior in so many ways is something that we disagree with; their support of terrorism, the anti-American rhetoric that we're hearing from their leadership is something that is not acceptable," Sanders said. "Can I tell you that we should open an embassy in Tehran tomorrow? No, I don't think we should." Standing with the Establishment But the Clinton campaign's distortions aside, there is the question of whether or not the Democratic base has begun to reject Official Washington's whatever-Israel-wants orthodoxy. Hillary Clinton seems to be betting that rank-and-file Democrats remain enthralled to Israel and afraid to challenge the powerful neocon propaganda machine that controls the U.S. establishment's foreign policy by dominating major op-ed pages, TV political chat shows and leading think tanks. The neocons also maintain close ties to the "liberal interventionists" who hold down key jobs in the Obama administration. Clinton's gamble assumes that progressives and foreign-policy "realists" have failed to develop their own infrastructure for examining and debunking many of the neocon/liberal-hawk propaganda themes and thus any politician who deviates too far from those "group thinks" risks getting marginalized. In other words, Clinton is counting on the establishment structure holding through Election 2016 despite the populist anger that is evident from the surge of support for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders on the left and for billionaire nativist Donald Trump on the right. Hyderabad: The operations of the ISIS terrorists, who were arrested on Friday, were directed by the chief of Warriors of the Caliph in India Shafi Armar alias Yousuf, who is waging a war for the terror group in Syria. Yousuf passed on instructions to the three terror commanders including Mohammed Nafees Khan of Tolichowki, arrested in Hyderabad, and elsewhere in the country. Yousuf is among the top three leaders of Janood ul Khalifa e Hind (Army of the Caliph of India), the Indian arm of the ISIS. Read: Arrested suspects taken to Delhi, money baffles cops Top sources in the police said that Nafees Khan had left his job recently to become a full-time chief of the terror group in Hyderabad and took the alias of Abu Zarrar. Nafees had prepared the suspects to take part in a training camp in a forest in Karnataka. Apart from carrying out terror attacks, their aim was to secure the release of Indian Mujahideen former operative Yasin Bhatkal by carrying out a jail attack. Read: ISIS wanted to free Bhatkal Suspect stabbed TS policeman A constable of the Telangana counter-intelligence was stabbed while overpowering terror suspect Asghar of the erstwhile Indian Mujahideen in Bengaluru on Saturday. He was the prime suspect in the 2008 Ahmedabad blast that resulted in the death of 56 people. He was also linked to the Surat blasts and conspiracies in Chennai and other places. We found a rifle and a map of the Republic Day celebrations in the city, while searching his house. Though this is not connected with the NIA crackdown on ISIS terrorists, it is learnt that Asghar was also in touch with Yousuf alias Shafi Armar, the ISIS head of India in Syria. Ashgar was assigned missions in south India, the officer said. A top official of the Bengaluru police said, Asghar was living with his wife in Parappana Agrahara. The couple resisted arrest. The constable who was injured is out of danger and is in hospital. Bengaluru police commissioner Megharikh said A cop from Telangana was attacked in Parappana Agrahara. But We have not received any complaint so far. PM Modi reading the digital copy of one of the declassified files related to Netaji Bose. New Delhi: Full five days after Subhas Chandra Bose was reported killed in a 1945 air crash, a top official of the British Raj had weighed the pros and cons of trying Netaji as a war criminal and suggested that the easiest way would be to leave him where he was and not seek his release. In many ways the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether. Read: PM releases secret files of Netaji, kin calls it 'day of transparency in India' This was one of conclusions arrived at by Sir R. F. Mudie, Home Member, of the Clement Attlee governments India Office, which he sent to Sir Evan Jenkins, Home Secretary and the last Governor of Punjab, five days after Bose was reported to have been killed in the aircrash near the Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei on August 18, 1945. Mr Mudies letter and a note, dated August 23, 1945, dealt with Boses influence over almost 30,000 Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) and said it affects all races, castes and communities almost equally strongly. They regard him with deep admiration, respect and confidence as a sincere patriot, as an able leader without peer, as the organiser of Indias first National Army, the note said about the most difficult questions which would confront the British Home Department. Mr Mudie said various options ranging from Boses trial for waging war in India, or in Burma or Malaya or intern him in some other British possession e.g. Seychelles Islands were considered. Read: Netaji files: Why his ashes couldnt be brought to India? However, he analysed the extreme impact it would have on the Indians in India and abroad and warned of a volatile situation in case of his trial and finally suggested that keeping Bose out of sight would be to some extent out of mind and agitation for his release might be less. Mudies letter and the note are among the 17,000 pages of secret documents in 100 files relating to Bose declassified and made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The letter was in response to Jenkins communication to Mudie. Papers fabricated, says Congress New Delhi: Congress on Saturday pitched for declassifying all files related to Netaji Subhash Chan-dra Bose, but said the way Prime Minister Naredra Modi has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign, Partys senior spokesman Anand Sharma claimed. At the same time, the party cautioned the media against using an allegedly fabricated and forged document that has surreptitiously been circulating on the internet, seeking to defame Jawaharlal Nehru on the Netaji issue. Warning that publication of such a forged document shall not be taken quietly, he said, If these people have the courage, they should own up the document but we will identify". "Once we have identified, we will take all measures that are required to not only expose but to ensure that they are punished under the law of the land". Hyderabad: The controversy over caste of research scholar Rohith Vemula took another twist on Saturday with a fresh document showing his mother Radh-ika Vemula as belonging to the Vaddera community, which is listed as a backward class. The document is claimed to be from the Jalagam Rama Rao Municipal High School, Guntur, where she studied from Class VI to X. Also, a video surfaced in Guntur showing Rohiths father Mani Kumar in an inebriated state saying he belonged to the Vaddera community, but his wife and children belong to the Mala community, listed as a SC community. Radhika told the media on Saturday that she was born into the Mala community, but her parents had left her in the care of a Vaddera family at the age of five. She was married to Mani Kumar, from the Vaddera community in 1985. She said that she had separated from her husband after the birth of their third child in 1990, after which she lived in a Mala locality and followed traditions and customs of her community in bringing up her children. She said: In the Delhi rape case, no one asked the girls caste . Why am I being asked to testify my caste for asking for justice for my son's death? She said the family still had Rohiths ashes, and the final rites would not be held until justice is done. Raja Vemula, the scholars brother, said the caste issue was being raised even though Rohith had got the sixth rank in the MSc entrance and was admitted in the general quota. He also secured CSIR fellowship twice. My father spoke to a news channel but we did not stay with him. We have lived like the Mala people, my brother fought for the Malas and also died for them, he said. Rohiths sister Neelima told the media: I want the people responsible to come to the university and tell me why my brother died and why he was suspended. She said the family does not want the Rs 8 lakh compensation offered by the university. Rohith was not a person who would cower and commit suicide. He was forced into circumstances in which he was forced to commit suicide, she said. She alleged that ABVP activist N. Susheel Kumar took the support of a central minister and ensured that Rohith was forced into such circumstances. Raja Vemula also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement on Rohith. After he was asked about Rohiths death at a university in Lucknow on Friday Mr Modi gave a statement saying that Bharat mata bidda (Indias son) has died. Did it occur to him that a countrys son has died five days after his death, he asked. He also asked how the university administration revoked the suspension of four scholars before the two member MHRD committee submitted their report. A UoH student who fell sick during her protest, being taken away to a health care centre in the university on Saturday . (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, University of Hyderabad has planned a huge rally Chalo HCU Justice for Rohith Vemula, comprising students from Central Universities across the country on Jan. 25. The rally is part of JACs decision to intensify students agitation to pile pressure on the Centre to accept their five-point charter of demands, mainly removal of Prof Appa Rao from UoH vice-chancellors post and punish culprits booked under SC/ST Atrocities Act including Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya. The JAC leaders said students from all Central Universities and several state universities have extended their support to Chalo HCU and promised to take part in large numbers demanding justice for Rohith Vemula. They said students from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana and a few other states expressed their rage and solidarity to the students movement for social justice. Read: Rohith's mom left in care of Vadderas when she was 5 We condemn the arrest of protesting students in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, at Prime Minister Modis meeting on January 22. Students across the country rose in protest over UoH Dalit scholars suicide and burnt effigies of UMHRD, BJP and RSS and resolved to fight unitedly against communalisation of academic institutions, the JAC leaders said. Read: Narendra Modis statement condemned JAC leaders said the rally was planned to impress upon the Centre their demands namely, punish Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, vice-chancellor Appa Rao, chief proctor Alok Pandey, ABVP student leader Susheel Kumar and BJP MLA N. Ramachandra Rao, removal of Appa Rao from vice-chancellors post, employment to a family member of Rohit and compensation of Rs 50 lakh to his family, dropping of false police cases against five Dalit scholars and revocation of the suspension of Dalit scholars. Students dehydrated: University of Hyderabad security officials shifted the seven students on hunger strike to a hospital, their condition worsened on Saturday. They had gone on a fast on January 20 after the suicide of Rohith Vemula. Dr Kiran Verma, emergency consultant at Continental Hospital said, The students were severely dehydrated and had to be stabilised. Their blood samples were collected and accordingly treatment will be initiated. The five other students were G. Prabhakar, Uma Maheshwar, K.P. Manojan, Vaikhari Aryat and K. Krishnayya were taken to the university health centre. Dr Ravindra Kumar, a senior doctor who resigned as chief medical officer of the university, said, They have been on hunger strike for the last four days. There was a rapid deterioration in their medical status. We found that their blood pressure levels were fluctuating and sugar levels were unstable. Protests at the university reached a tipping point when security officials reached the tent where seven students were on fast. The students protested vehemently at being taken away to hospital and demanded that vice-chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile resign first. Before being forcibly taken to the health care centre, Prabhakar said, We want to continue our fast and do not care for our health. Our demands are not yet fulfilled. People who caused Rohith Vemulas death should be punished immediately, he said. Telangana government finally moves on suicide: The Telangana government which had remained silent on Rohith Vemulas suicide finally responded on Saturday. It asked the Ranga Reddy district administration to conduct an independent inquiry and submit a report to government. The district administration directed Serilingampally tehsildar (MRO), under whose jurisdiction the UoH in Gachibowli falls, to inquire into the incident. Serilingampally MRO Srinivas Reddy said he would soon begin the inquiry by visiting the university and submit the report in two to three days. The inquiry is to ascertain the facts and reasons that led to the suicide of Ph.D scholar Rohith Vemula on the campus. We will meet students, faculty members, non-teaching staff and all others concerned and inquire into the incident. The allegations of discrimination against Dalit students on the campus would also be inquired into, Mr Reddy said. The TS government came under fire from UoH Students JAC, Dalit organisations and Opposition parties for being silent on Rohiths suicide for the past one week. There has been no official response from the government side. The decision to conduct an independent inquiry by the state government was taken following a suggestion by the law department, which anticipated legal problems in future for the Telangana government, if anyone approaches courts over the students suicide issue. The law department was of the opinion that since UoH is located in Hyderabad, the TS government would also be made party to cases on UoH and it would be better if the government conducts its own inquiry and keeps ready a report on this issue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The voices of more than 150 people rose in prayer at the Creative 360 during a Thursday event meant to educate residents on the differences and similarities to be found in various religions. Titled Conversations with Muslims, the event featured numerous speakers and a question-and-answer session that stretched beyond the two-hour time frame, with a larger crowd than expected. Kathy McCreedy spoke about her experiences growing up in a Catholic family and recently taking a class to learn more about Islam. It was then she realized that Christians and Muslims are more alike than different, in the way the followers of each religion lead their lives. Each of us, at one point, takes that leap of faith, McCreedy said. Learning more about Islam has since helped her cope with the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and with the resulting hateful and horrific things said about Muslims, she said. The controversy surrounding cover-ups of sexual abuse by priests of the Catholic church also showed McCreedy that the actions of some should not equal a judgment of all who follow a religion. We have to stop judging people, for the people who have distorted a faith and look to the people who are living a faith. It is a blessing we are here tonight, so many people of faiths. Rumi Shahzad, co-founder of New Hope Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care, shared his experiences as a Muslim and encouraged those in attendance to ask questions without fear of being offensive. Im not claiming to be an expert. I plan on sharing my experiences with you, Shahzad said. My goal in this discussion is to learn from the panelists and learn from you and share my understanding of my faith. No matter the type, religion is an important force that binds the billions of people, said Norbert Bufka, a lifelong Catholic who has written numerous books about Pope Francis. We cant really be interconnected if we dont get to know each other, Bufka said. We Christians get to know more about Muslims and hopefully they learn a little bit about us. Ray Lacina, a professor at Delta, referenced the Five Pillars of Islam and how the religion uses familiar stories from the Bible such as that of Noah as a teaching tool, to impart a message to the next generation. He also touched on the flood of false statistics and misconceptions about Islam. The misinformations worse now than it used to be, and its wider-spread than it used to be, Lacina said. After the panel introductions, Shona Siddiqui and Marge Darger each read a prayer aloud as the audience followed along. One woman asked what Muslims pray for, and if they ask for forgiveness at a certain time during those prayers. While prayers have changed over time, Shahzad said he prays for certain people and there are similar themes to what Christians pray for. Siddiqui responded to a question about what Muslim women pray for, and when. The thing is, Muslim men and women are very equal before god, in terms of submission, prayer, in any kind of the five pillars they are pretty equal, Siddiqui said. There is no difference in terms of your obedience to god, in the terms of that sense. That prompted another question of why Muslim men and women do not pray together, and why some do not pray as husband and wife. It is easier for her to concentrate on prayer services at the mosque when men and women are divided into separate parts of the room, Siddiqui replied. Shahzad spoke up and said he prays at home, side by side with his wife and daughters. One man asked what news sources the panel would recommend for those looking to counter the predominately-negative coverage of Muslims in the United States. Some of the answers included the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Democracy Now!, while Shahzad advised not watching just one channel. A little bit less of Fox would be a good thing, Shahzad said, drawing a laugh from the audience. The panel confirmed there are different denominations of Islam, and various differences in practicing the religion, and spoke about the lack of coverage and information from Muslim news sources. When asked about the experience of being a Muslim and an American citizen, Lacina talked about how the Quran specifies obeying the law of the land when living in a location with a minor portion of the population practices Islam. Siddiqui thanked those in attendance for wanting to learn more about Islam, and invited the audience to learn more through the Five Pillars of Islam class offered at the Creative 360. The first session is Feb. 1, and more information can be found at http://www.becreative360.org/. Its turned out wonderfully, Siddiqui said about the Conversations with Muslims event. These events that get us together, its really about peace-building. NEW YORK (AP) A trial that was supposed to help settle hundreds of lawsuits stemming from General Motors' faulty ignition switches abruptly ended Friday, a day after the judge raised questions about the plaintiff's truthfulness. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman called ending the trial the "right and sensible thing" as he dismissed the jury hearing the case in which Robert Scheuer, an Oklahoma man, claimed a faulty ignition switch prevented his air bags from inflating when his car crashed in 2014. On Thursday, Furman agreed that a check stub Scheuer sent to a real estate agent in 2014 appeared "quite clearly" to have been doctored and that new evidence could show he was more physically functional after his accident than he claimed. By the next morning, General Motors Co. and Scheuer's lawyers said they wanted to call the trial off. "We said all along that each case would be decided on its own merits, and we had already started to show by strong, clear and convincing evidence to the jury that the ignition switch didn't have anything to do with Mr. Scheuer's accident or injuries," General Motors said in a statement. "The apparent lies the plaintiff and his wife told the jury ended the trial early, and we are pleased that the case is over without any payment whatsoever to Mr. Scheuer." Scheuer's lawyer, Robert C. Hilliard, said it was disappointing the trial was ending, "especially one such as this where the concerns regarding the underlying safety of certain GM's vehicles are legitimate and real." Hilliard said the overall litigation involving other plaintiffs would continue. By trial's end, criminal defense lawyers had been assigned to Scheuer and his wife, Lisa, both of whom had testified. Attorney Charles Clayman told Furman that Lisa Scheuer did not lie. A message left Friday on Robert Scheuer's cellphone was not returned. On Thursday, Furman had urged lawyers for Scheuer and Detroit-based GM to consider moving on to five other bellwether trials scheduled for later this year. Scheuer, of Tulsa, had said he suffered injuries when his air bags failed to deploy after another car ran his 2003 Saturn Ion off a rural road on May 28, 2014. On the trial's first day, an Oklahoma real estate agent who had accused Scheuer of fraud in a police complaint heard a radio report about the trial and reached out to GM, the automaker said in court papers. GM said the Realtor could testify that $441,000 was added to what was originally a $430 check to convince him there were sufficient funds for a $275,000 home. The company said he could also testify that Scheuer was not confined to a bed or chair after the accident but in fact made trips to the home and even took a vacation. Since early 2014, GM has issued recalls affecting more than 30 million vehicles. The recalls came long after GM learned of the ignition switch defect in Chevy Cobalts and other small cars. The switches can slip out of the on position, causing the cars to stall, knocking out power steering and turning off air bags. GM says it has fixed the problem. At the trial's start, GM attorney Mike Brock said the automaker's probe of the accident revealed that Scheuer was not honest about his claims. The lawyer noted that Scheuer, a postal worker, had a two-decade history of surgeries and pain medication prescriptions for spinal issues. He also said information from Scheuer's cellphone contradict his claims he was unconscious for three hours after the accident. Scheuer's lawyer didn't dispute GM's claims directly but argued they were being made too late. In September, GM announced it had reached a deal to settle 1,385 death and injury cases for $275 million and a class-action shareholders' lawsuit for $300 million. The company paid nearly $600 million to settle 399 claims made to a fund it established. Those claims covered 124 deaths and 275 injuries, though GM's fund rejected more than 90 percent of the 4,343 claims it received, according to figures the company released in December. REMUS The Michigan State Police Mount Pleasant Post is investigating a suspicious death in Wheatland Township, Mecosta County, near 9 Mile Road and 50th Avenue. The investigation began after a subject was observed lying in a ditch near the location. Law enforcement and EMS responded and discovered the man was deceased. The MSP Crime Lab from Grand Rapids responded to the scene along with detectives from the Mount Pleasant Post and aviation personnel from Lansing. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Mecosta County deputies and posse members as well as personnel from Wheatland Township Fire Department. The subject was a white male, 30 years old, from the Remus area. Until next of kin notifications are made no additional victim information will be released. The cause of death is unknown at this time, and no other information is being released. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday evening. Anyone with information regarding this suspicious situation is being asked to call the Mount Pleasant Post at (989) 773-5951. The graduates of 2021 will hear advice on everything from succeeding in business to the value of stopping to smell the roses. In that spirit, here are real life tips that may not be mentioned at the commencement exercise. Russian ground forces will hold seven international drills in 2016, including the first ever military exercises with Pakistan. (Photo: AFP) Moscow: In a sign of improving ties between the two erstwhile adversaries, Russia's military has said it will hold its first ever defence exercises with Pakistan later this year. Russian ground forces will hold seven international drills in 2016, including the first ever military exercises with Pakistan, Army Commander-in-Chief Oleg Salyukov said. "As part of interaction with our foreign colleagues in 2016, we have scheduled seven joint exercises with the involvement of the relevant units of foreign states. The Army will hold the Russian-Vietnamese exercise and the first ever Russian-Pakistani special drills in mountainous terrain," Salyukov said, TASS news agency reported today. Also, joint anti-terror command and staff exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held, he said. "Peace Mission - 2016, the joint drills of peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization codenamed Indestructible Brotherhood, the Frontier-2016 joint command and staff drills, the Indra-2016 Russian-Indian exercises and the Selenga-2016 Russian-Mongolian drills will be held," the commander said. Russia had lifted its embargo on arms exports to Pakistan in 2014 and also signed a bilateral defence agreement to strengthen military-to-military relations between the two Cold War-era foes. In 2015, the two countries signed a landmark deal for the sale of four Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan. NORMAL While praising Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday, Angela Davis stressed that his mission remains unfinished. "(Before his death), Dr. King had increasingly emphasized the importance of understanding what he called the triple evils of racism, materialism and militarism," she said. "The power structure of today is unrelenting in defending not only its social system but the evil it contains." Davis, an activist and author, challenged her audience to continue Dr. King's work against entrenched injustice during her keynote speech at Illinois State University's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dinner at Bone Student Center in Normal. She repeated familiar themes from her scholarly work Davis is distinguished professor emeritus at the University of California-Santa Cruz, where she taught for 15 years including the need to end the "prison-industrial complex," which she said furthers racial and economic inequality. Davis spent 18 months in jail in the early 1970s before being acquitted of charges that she aided in a prisoner escape attempt. While evading arrest in that incident, she was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. "We need new forms of justice justice that is not retributive; justice that does not reproduce harm and violence, but justice that helps us build a more compassionate, less violent society," Davis said. "I would like to see an end to prison as we know it." True justice, she said, is found in social change including better jobs, affordable housing and free education and health care. She also stressed embracing the challenge of helping the incarcerated rather than ignoring their problems. Before the address, Davis posed for photos with students and other attendees of the dinner. More than 800 attended, including a packed Brown Ballroom and Old Main Room, where the speech was shown simultaneously on a screen. ISU's Office of the President and the ISU student chapter of the NAACP sponsored the event. Davis began her speech by praising Black Lives Matter and similar protest movements, which show young people "have not given up, and they encourage us to push on" toward equality. "Dr. Martin Luther King is the only individual in the history of this country who was not a president whose birthday has been declared a national holiday... but this is a day not simply for the individual Dr. King. Rather, (it's) a day to pay tribute to the ... long black freedom movement," she said. "(Protesters) have made it absolutely clear that the black freedom struggle continues." BLOOMINGTON Winter Storm Jonas didn't drop a single snowflake in the Twin Cities on Friday, but both mayors were affected nonetheless. Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner and Normal Mayor Chris Koos both were in Washington, D.C., for the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors. Koos decided to wait out the storm. Renner decided to outrun it. Theres no one on the streets and so far the snow isnt too bad, by Bloomington-Normal standards, Koos said late Friday afternoon from his hotel. I have another conference on Saturday and I plan to be home by Monday. I'll probably catch up on some reading. Renner rented a car Friday morning and headed home, avoiding the worst of the storm. "I lived in D.C. years ago; I know how they freak out when it comes to snow," he said. "This is definitely a once-in-a-generation storm." Some local travelers will be affected by the blizzard, said Tim Davis, president of Suzi Davis Travel of Bloomington. Some will make it back Friday, some will have to wait it out, said Davis. "Everyone will get home. Its easy to get upset by travel delays, but at the end of the day safety is the No. 1 thing." The storm was expected to drop up to 2 feet of snow in and around Washington, D.C., Friday night. The storm also affected a group of 47 Central Catholic High School students and four chaperones, who traveled to Washington for the March for Life rally. The group left (Washington) at 11:30 a.m. Friday and within an hour they were out of D.C., said Scott Vogel, director of advancement at CCHS. "Theyll be home by 1 a.m. Saturday. Things are going well. Because the storm was anticipated, airlines allowed travelers headed to affected cities to change or cancel reservations, said spokeswoman Fran Strebing of Central Illinois Regional Airport, Bloomington. The best way to check flight status, Strebing said, is to stay in touch with airlines through their websites. Travelers also can sign up for text alerts and updates sent directly to their phones. Amtrak service also was affected, including some trains headed toward and leaving from Chicago. Passengers were asked to check Amtrak.com or Amtrak's mobile apps for train status. On Monday, a cry of a newborn child brought great joy to a couple in Georgia who have mourned 13 months ago over the death of their conjoined twins. An adorable little boy by the name of Seth Michael Humby's was born in the family In December 2014, news trended on Facebook about the birth of conjoined twins. The twin was born with dicephalic parapagus, a condition wherein parts of the bodies of twins are joined together. In the case of Asa and Eli Humby, they had their torso, arms and legs joined together, according to the Statesman. Being warned by the doctors that their children had very little chance of survival, Michael and Robin Humby did not give up on their two little boys. Believing that the cries coming from the twins were signs that they will make it, the couple did not lose hope. However, a few hours after their birth, the twins' health grew worse since sharing the same heart was not enough for them to survive. After being removed from ventilators the two boys died, less than two days after their birth. In spite of the mourning brought about by the death of their boys, the couple continued to pray and had faith that their daughter Selah will have a brother or a sister to grow up with. And on January 18, she welcomed a six pounds, six ounces and 19.5 inches long baby brother. "The Lord blessed us with Asa and Eli last year, and we miss them dearly. God is good and he decided to bless us again with Seth", Michael Humby. God has given the family a very special gift, to bring great joy big enough to heal the wounds that the past had given them. "I love the Lord even more than ever. I'm not mad at Him. I'm not hurt or anything of that nature when it comes to my boys because I know they are in Heaven and they are waiting on me", the father concluded, according to Parenting. Washington D.C.: So, what makes mean college kids so mean? According to a new study, it may be their controlling parents. College students whose parents lay on the guilt or try to manipulate them may translate feelings of stress into similar mean behavior with their own friends, the study by a University of Vermont psychologist has found. Those students' physical response to stress influences the way they will carry out that hostility - either immediately and impulsively or in a cold, calculated way, concluded Jamie Abaied. Her study involved 180 mostly female college students and was a collaboration with Abaied's graduate research assistant, Caitlin Wagner, the lead author on the paper. Even after they leave home as legal adults, college students often still depend on parents for financial, as well as emotional, support. Some parents will nit-pick and find fault or threaten to withdraw affection (or money) as punishment or to force a desired outcome. With today's technology, parents can exercise that control wherever their kids go - with texts, email and social media keeping them in constant contact. "You can do that from far away," Abaied says. "You don't have to be in person to manipulate your kids' thoughts and emotions." The result can stunt their budding independence, Abaied concluded. "We need to be really mindful of how influential the parents are." To determine the level of parental control, the students completed a questionnaire. Higher control correlated with higher aggression. Less-controlling parents created less aggression, Abaied says. The study is published by the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Kids will do anything to get out of school for the day, as a local television station found out recently. Tennessee's WTVC News Channel 9 has been subject to students' prank, who have taken upon themselves to declare that classes have been cancelled. There is no better feelng in the world than staying in bed, keeping warm and toasty under a pile of sheets, and sipping a cup of hot chocolate while snow steadily envelops the world. Unfortunately, for the kids of Chatanooga, Tennessee who just want to stay in bed for the day, the announcement that school is closed due to the upcoming snowstorm did not come soon enough. "This is [name redacted] with the Hamilton County Department of Education, please inform students of no school tomorrow," a student sent WTVC News Channel 9 on a Private Message on Facebook (via Buzzfeed). "ha ha - nice try. you obviously don't know the password," the social media person for the TV station replied. The news program revealed that students expecting to stay in during the snowstorm (as they should) have tirelessly asked whether their school has cancelled classes yet. However, a handful of students thought they could give everybody the good news by posing as school and Department of Education officials. .@joshacagan we're still waiting for 3 kids in a trenchcoat claiming to be the superintendent to show up. WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) January 20, 2016 Apparently, everyone just assumed that, because the good news comes from the news channel, they must have the power to declare that school is closed for the day. Fortunately, WTVC News Channel has taken in things in stride and just shamed the students on its official Twitter page. The outlet was also barraged with too many questions from students on whether their school has cancelled the classes yet. When a kid asks "do we have school tomorrow" like they think we already know what school they go to https://t.co/TYcmL8PYt9 WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) January 20, 2016 In the end, the students got what they wanted. A few hours after, WTVC News Channel 9 declared that all Hamilton County Schools are closed on Thursday. It must have taken an awful lot of will-power and wishful thinking. A woman was arrested after the chase with the policeman at 710 Freeway due to a pending animal abuse case. On the other hand, after the chase, her dog hopped out of her car and ran all over the California freeways. According to Los Angeles Times, a prosecutor informed that Tiffini Tobe, a 47-year-old woman, parked her Mercedes-Benz on the shoulder of the 91 Freeway, a little bit near Buena Park. She fell asleep and the California Highway Patrol officers noticed her car, then they tried to wake her up about 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan.18. When the CHP officers ordered her to get out of the car, instead of abiding with the CHP's command, she refused and drove off the freeway, leading the authorities to chase her car that reached the speed of up to 90 mph. According to ABC News, the quest ended when a CHP vehicle cornered her Mercedes sideways on Interstate 710 in Long Beach. Upon opening the door of her car, Tobe's pit bulls hopped out and ran all over the freeway lanes. The dogs were brought to Long Beach Animal Care Services and luckily, all six pit bulls appeared to be in good condition. Tobe appeared in court on Wednesday, Jan. 20, in relation with the chase and pleaded not guilty to several charges such as driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, a misdemeanor count was charged against her in line with keeping an animal without giving proper care after one of her pit bulls was seen with an injury in June 2015. It was found out that the dog chewed off its own leg as posted on a news report from the Herald Courier. Thus, she failed to show up at a hearing in line with the case in July. She was later arrested by the La Habra Police Department. After arranging the bail, the judge ordered to ban her from taking care of animals while she is out of the police custody. A 28-year-old mom from New Brunswick insisted that doctors should allow her to donate her kidney to her 18-month- old son. She said she is more prepared to face any future complications the transplant may lead rather than seeing her boy suffering. Ashley Barnaby said her son, Zaccari Buell, has been suffering from stage-four renal failure. Hence, he's been going through 12 hours of dialysis daily. However, she said she wants to give his child a normal life even if it means she needs to handle complications in the future. With the hope to save the boy's life, Barnaby had herself tested three months ago as the mom wants to donate one of her kidneys to her own son. However, Queen Elizabeth II hospital rejected her application after they found out that during her pregnancy period, she developed gestational diabetes and she has a history of high blood pressure. Nevertheless, the desperate mother argued and told the doctors that she believe she could avoid any future health problems related to the transplant if she would just monitor her own health. She also insisted that she should have a "voice" about her own health and what she can do for her son. "I would rather take my chance and do what I can personally to prevent that from happening and be able to see my son healthy and striving," Barnaby added to National Post. Dr. Christine Dipchand, medical director of the living kidney donation program explained that they are following national and international guidelines in deciding on whether the candidate is healthy to undergo the transplant process. She also said that she fully understand Barnaby's frustration, "In these cases, we know that it can be extremely difficult and frustrating for the patient, and as health-care providers we share in that disappointment," she said. The board is still reviewing the decision. But Barnaby said she's not that optimistic the doctors will grant her request. A recent study which was published this week in the Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, suggested that water births are safe for both women and their babies. However, researchers discovered an 11 percent increase in perineal tearing or vaginal tearing among mothers. Researchers from the Oregon State University looked at the record of 6,500 women who delivered their babies through water birth. The data was compared to the non- water birth method. At the end of it, they found out that both of the babies and parents who went through the process were safe. They also discovered babies born in the water were no more likely require an admission to hospital. "The findings suggest that water birth is a reasonably safe, low-intervention option for women who face a low risk of complications during the birthing process, " Dr. Marit Bovbjerg said. "These are decisions that should be made in concert with a medical professional." However, despite its positive findings, researchers found out that there was an 11 percent increase in perineal tearing among the mothers who delivered via birth water. But Dr. Bovbjerg said that the method is "worth taking" for those women who are at risk of tearing as giving birth through water can improve pain management. According to the report of Morley Observer and Adviser, almost 100,000 pregnant women give birth in tubs or pools in the UK yearly. Those women who went through the process said water helped them relax during labor. While others believe that this birth method can reduce labor pain, others think that the procedure can lead to a low Apgar score, an assessment for new born babies to measure their health and physical condition, as per Medical Daily. Although experts confirmed that delivering via water is a safe alternative for women who are at low-risk of complications, researchers are still reminding pregnant women that water birth should be done under the help of medical professionals. Health officials are now getting concern as "serious birth defect" that leaves a newborn's intestines protruded outside the body is increasingly becoming common. However, even though they encountered such condition for the past years, experts admitted that they are still not sure of its primary cause. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the U.S., nearly 2000 babies were born with the condition called gastroschisis, in which the infants are born with their intestines or other visceral organs like stomach and liver extruding on the belly button. And the condition is most common among those babies born by teenage black mothers. Coleen Boyle, the director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, said that over the past 18 years, babies who were born with the condition have doubled. But although they are familiar with the condition, Boyle admitted that they are still trying to figure out what really cause it and why particular women are at risk of having babies with the particular condition. CDC epidemiologist Suzanne Gilboa said that there are many federally funded studies that are currently tracking pregnant women, aiming to find some answers about the serious birth defect. So far, they just have a few clues which they can use as a guide to better understand gastroschisis. They said some of the contributing factors are: pregnant women smoke tobacco; women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy; women who are underweight before pregnancy, and women who had sexually transmitted disease during the pregnancy period. An infant born with gastroschisis requires medical surgery to return its abdominal organs to its proper places. But if a number of organs need to be repaired, a surgical procedure sometimes done in stages. "But doctors can spot the condition before birth and help parents prepare for it in advance if pregnant women practice good prenatal care," Dr. James Greenberg, co-director of the Perinatal Institute and director of Neonatology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said to CBS News. Some burglars steal Goya paintings or precious De Beers jewelry, but this young thief is different as he had his eyes set on stealing birds. Richard Macaulley Smith, an offender since the age of 15, has recently been sentenced to two years detention for stealing two parrots. The 20-year old Smith and an accomplice broke into the house of Joanna Mason in order to steal her two African grey parrots. He was able to sold one for 300, while the other parrot was found on the street and was returned to the owner by an unnamed guy. The two parrots were prized possessions of Mason, whom she named Snoop Dog and Missy. The burglary was not a spur of the moment thing, but one which has been carefully planned by Smith, according to a report by Mirror. Mason said that Smith came to know of her through family association. He was then able to find out about the actual value of the two birds, which were at 800 to 1,000. The burglary took place at the time Mason was away, and she was aghast to find out that her pets were gone upon returning home. The police were able to trace the burglary to Smith through DNA sampling as the latter left some blood on the smashed window. The Northern Echo recounted that Smith's lawyer, Andrew Turton, tried to mitigate the sentence by using the defense that Smith was not thinking straight at the time of the commission of the crime due to drugs. He also added that Smith was already feeling remorse and regret over the incident. On one hand, Sarah Masters, lawyer for the prosecution, established the criminal intent of Smith when he utilized an accomplice for the crime. Another glaring sign of malicious intent was the breaking of the window of Mason's home at the time she was away. Judge Simon Phillips sentenced Smith to 29 months' detention. He was also given credit for pleading guilty to the crime charged. "Killer robots" are fully autonomous weapons that are among the topics discussed this year at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Due to the general increase in interest in the field of artificial intelligence, it is the first time when the subject is mentioned at the annual meeting. In the past, there where a focus more on the advantages generated by the advances in the field of robotics, as reported by the website Phys.org. However, the Thursday's session of the international forum studied the darker side, concerned on the hypothesis that autonomous intelligent robots might go to war. The science-fiction literature and Hollywood movies presented for decades such apocalyptic scenarios. However, various organizations, experts and scientists started to take this threat seriously only in recent years. The panel in Davos included BAE Systems chair Sir Roger Carr and former UN disarmament chief Angela Kane, as well as a robot ethics expert and an artificial intelligence expert. The chair of BAE Systems declared that the autonomous weapons industry involves already 40 countries and a market of $40 billion. Campaign to Stop Killer Robots coordinator Mary Wareham, cited by The Christian Science Monitor, there is an increased concern to stop this dangerous technology. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots was created in 2013 as a coalition of non-governmental organizations with the aim to ban preemptively artificial intelligence (AI) weapon systems and fully autonomous weapons. Among the business leaders, experts and researchers who signed an open letter against the proliferation of these artificial intelligence weapons in July 2015 was also the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. The letter concludes that the offensive autonomous weapons should be prevented by a ban on their development and proliferation in order to prevent starting of a military AI arms race. The panel in Davos concluded that the artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has reached today a point where the stakes are high because the deployment of such systems is highly feasible. After gunpowder and nuclear weapons, AI autonomous weapons could be described as the third warfare revolution. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions A Yemeni girl holds a banner in front of the UN building in Sanaa, Yemen, during a protest against the Saudi-led coalition. (Photo: AP) Beirut: An airstrike in eastern Syria on Friday killed at least 30 civilians, including 13 children, a monitoring group said. It was unclear if the raids in Deir Ezzor province, mostly controlled by the Islamic State group, were carried out by Russian or regime warplanes, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said eight women were among those killed in the strikes on Tabiyyah Jazeera, around 20 km East of Deir Ezzor city, the provincial capital. It added that dozens of people were wounded and the toll was expected to rise. The monitor relies on a network of activists on the ground and distinguishes between Syrian, Russian and US-led coalition aircraft based on flight patterns, as well as the type of planes and ordnance used. The strikes come as the regime battles IS jihadists who launched a major assault on Deir Ezzor city over the weekend. The fighting there has killed at least 439 people since Saturday, according to the Observatory, including combatants who died in strikes or clashes, and civilians executed by IS. While IS holds most of Deir Ezzor province, the regime has clung onto parts of the provincial capital, as well as the nearby military airport. But with its multi-front assault, IS now controls 60 percent of the city, and has tightened a siege of the roughly 200,000 people still inside it. Russia, a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assads government, began an air campaign in support of Damascus last September. One of the nicest out-of-the-blue surprises of the 2014 edition SXSW was Fort Tilden, starring a pair of up-and-coming actors, Clare McNulty and Bridey Elliott. At this years Sundance, Elliott returns to the festival circuit with a funny, unsettling short film she wrote, directed and starred in, Affections. Elliott and her producer, Sarah Winshall, joined us recently to discuss the making of the film. Paste: Why dont we start out with how the two of you met? Bridey Elliott: We met at Kims Video in New York. We both worked there about two years ago. We were both clerks at the video store together. Paste: Thats fantastic. Elliott: Yeah, we really liked each other, but we never really hung out besides work. And then when I moved out to L.A., Sarah had moved out like a year before. So we got together, and we actually hung out, which is what you do in L.A. Sarah Winshall: Then Bridey had this short that she wanted to make, and I was leaving my day job for a distribution company to focus more on producing. It sort of was perfect timing. Paste: Fantastic. I hope with all the women reboots, you know, Ghostbusters and all that, I hope yall can write the all-female version of Clerks. Elliott: Oh yeah, we could do that! Totally. We have lots of stories, and there were only like three girls at the video store so itd be pretty funny. Paste: Tell me about the development of the script and the idea, like how did that germinate? And how did you decide to make that into a short rather than making a feature? Elliott: Well Ive only made comedy videos that I put up on the internet right away. And when I moved out here, there was sort of a stretch of time where there was nothing really happening and sort of, you know like L.A. is, sort of empty and stressful. So I think I was just trying to get myself out of the slump by thinking, I really want to do something that Ive never done before and I want to take more seriously. So I think I sort of just wrote it and then I saw that it was a short. I didnt decide to make a short film. It was just, I wrote a script that was 17 pages long, and it was self-contained, and then I thought, This could be shot. And Sarah had just talked with me about producing more and had just left her day job, so the time between the development process and shooting was really, really fast. Winshall: I think there was one revision we had, like one round of revisions we did. But the script was pretty solid from the moment I got it, and then we were shooting two weeks later. Paste: Wow. Thats very inspiring for all those aspiring filmmakers out there. If youve got a really good piece of writing then you can get it ramped up really quickly. Winshall: Well thats something Ill say about Bridey, once youre ready to do something, shell just do it. And I would say, Shouldnt we wait like another month so we can figure it out? and she was like, Theres nothing to figure out, we have the script, its easy. Its not like we have any crazy special effects, like we just need to go, we just need to do it. And we did, and I think that really served us. Paste: Its a very sort of Joe Swanberg, Duplass Brothers approach, at least in the psychology of it. Take what youve got available to you and take your piece of great writing and go shoot the damn thing and move onto the next one, right? Elliott: Right, theres no need to do all that. Paste: I wanted to ask in the writing process about what its like delving into a character thats so unusualthat has such a very different take on life, I guess, and is a little bit inscrutable as well. And then as a different but related question, what was it like in the acting part of it, playing that role? And were there differences in how you saw the character? Elliott: I think for me writing it, it really springs from this kind of natural place of my state of anxiety that Im kind of always living in. So in the process of writing it, I think I sort of talked about a lot of things in spurts. I think this character kind of overshares and I naturally do that to make myself more comfortable with someone, you know? I dont know, I bring up a really dark story or something, and I think this character is that person. But I think shes comfortable being that way all the time, or at least thats how she functions. So really its just me, myself, and this kind of fragmented version of myself. You know, where Im being led by this constant search to not be anxious. And in terms of acting that part, again it really is how I act, so it wasnt a big, weird, How do I get into this characters head? It was my own head, its a part of my head, just a part of my forehead. [laughs] So yeah, I think the hardest part for me directing it and acting it was just not being sort of so emotional, not having my emotions really cloud my head when it came to logistical questions, like whats the next shot, you know, or what are we doing? There are particular moments in a movie where you do feel things in the whole movie, and that was something I really enjoyed from the process, where I thought that was a good sign. Like Im feeling things and the other actors who are my friends are feeling things. That was just a good sign that we were all kind of living it. And it was rushed, it was all rushed. The shoot was 48 hours and so the anxiety of it was there. Paste: Having written and directed and acted and produced before, you know, everybody talks about how do you direct and act at the same time? To me, whats way harder than producing or doing any of those other things at the same time. I vowed never to do that again; Ill do any of the other combinations, or I will produce, but I will never do both. So Sarah, tell me how you saw your roleyou know, sort of safeguarding Bridey to stay in an emotionally creative place as an actor and director and not having to worry about the rest. Winshall: Right. The word you said was safeguarding, and I think that is a big part of how I thought. Something that happened early on was we made it so fast. I read the script and I was like, Yes, it sticks to me and its something we should make, and it was important to me. I could see Brideys vision really clearly, so the whole process was just making sure of everything, because Bridey couldnt always be seeing what we were filming because shes in almost every scene. So it was like making sure what I was looking at represented what she wanted it to. And I did a lot of AD-ing, basically, which was a great experience because I hadnt done anything like that. Before Id always been more of a logistical producer, I guess. So in this case, my creative discernment and the ability to really feel like Bridey and I were on the same page about what kind of movie we wanted to make really served us. Especially at times where, I dont know, when were shooting the Bud Cort scene and getting to direct Bud Cort in my backyard, which was unbelievable. That scene is such a weird scene and getting it right is hard. And we wanted to make sure he was comfortable and professional and wasnt put out by being in it, because it was such a nice thing that he wanted to do the film in the first place. So having to lead the crew and directing him and Bridey and making sure that we were keeping true to Brideys vision and, you know, making sure we werent losing our light and all of that was probably one of the harder days, half days we had. But I think because we had such a good team, and in the moment where I was getting discouraged there were other people that were able to step up and make it happen, it worked out pretty well. Paste: For aspiring filmmakers who are thinking about going out and shooting their own short, whats either the one thing you would do differently next time or the one thing youre so glad you did this time? Elliott: Im really glad that I used all my friends as the cast. I know a lot of actors peripherally too, and there was some spot in my mind that thought, oh maybe this person or this person, but using, like, my boyfriend as my boyfriend. Everything to me that added to everything, like my relationship with all my friends, really informed the characters even though they werent playing themselves. It was just super trusting. Everyone trusted and was trusting of everyone else, so that was everything. There was no pressure because they were just happy to be there. Paste: And thats not always the case on a film set. Winshall: On a different note, Ive produced a couple of other tiny movies in the past with mixed results. When I started this one I made sure that, one of the first things I said to Bridey when we started, was, What do you want to do with this? Besides just making the movie, whats the point of this? I would say to other filmmakers, yeah, making the movie is the most important thing, but before you start, something that will determine so many little choices you have to make would be knowing where you want to go. Ive produced films in the past without asking that question and when the shoots over its like, Well, what now? And then you can lose momentum really quickly and you have all this footage or you have this cut and you have no sort of clear idea or, like, a team thats assembled with the same goals getting it to where you want it to be. So that was a big thing that I think I learned coming up from producing other friends work and not asking that question, and Im glad. I think that made a difference for us on this shoot. Michael Dunaway is the producer and director of 21 Years: Richard Linklater, a New York Times Critics Pick starring Matthew McConaughey and Ethan Hawke; Creative Producer for the Sarasota Film Festival; Movies Editor of Paste; host of the podcast The Work; and one hell of a karaoke performer. You can follow him on Twitter. It was reported late yesterday that Google, parent Alphabet Inc., has agreed to pay 130 million pounds (US$185 million) in a tax settlement with U.K. authorities. Google has avoided billions of dollars of income taxes around the world using a pair of shelter strategies known to lawyers as the "Double Irish" and "Dutch Sandwich." According to Wikipedia, the double Irish tax structure was pioneered by Apple and other companies in the late 1980s. BloombergBusiness noted in their report that Meg Hillier, the Labour Party lawmaker who leads the committee, said in an e-mailed statement that "We were shocked to learn of workarounds of the tax system that were considered normal behavior by big corporations but which appalled the individual taxpayer." The Wall Street Journal provided one example of a workaround by Google: "The Company doesn't generate much corporate profit in Ireland because that unit pays hefty royalty fees that end up in a unit based in Bermuda, where there are no corporate income taxes. In 2013, Google used the structure to send 9.84 billion (US$10.62 billion) in royalties to a Bermuda-based company registered in Ireland." Google will now adopt a new approach for U.K. taxes and the settlement covers taxes going back to 2005, the company said in an e-mailed statement Friday. Alphabet has faced sharp rebukes from critics and regulators in Europe for using innovative tools to keep its tax rates lower in some regions. Separately, Apple Inc. is facing a European tax investigation that could force the iPhone maker to pay more than $8 billion in back taxes. European officials have accused the company of using subsidiaries in Ireland to avoid paying taxes on revenue generated abroad. The Wall Street Journal added that the deal with the U.K. is likely only the beginning of settling taxes in Europe. "Google is, for instance, in discussions with other European countries to settle tax disputes, a French government minister said Friday. A Google spokesman said the Mountain View, Calif., company remains in conversations in France and elsewhere. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development last fall issued a series of recommendations aimed at stopping large companies in many industries from using complex but legal structures to avoid paying hundreds of billions of dollars in corporate income taxes every year. On Thursday Apple's CEO met with the EU's antitrust chief over the looming tax judgement that dues this spring. Considering that Apple was noted as being one of the companies who devised the "Double Irish" tax structure, a structure that got Google and other U.S Companies into trouble, perhaps the EU will try to make an example of Apple. While it's highly unlikely that Apple will end up paying the full $8 Billion in back taxes as most have surmised, they're still likely to face a very harsh penalty. I'm sure that Tim Cook's recent bombastic in-your-face view that the political witch hunts led by the U.S. Congress and EU Commission are pure "political crap," won't be taken kindly by those in authority. Will that come back to bite Apple's CEO? Only time will tell. 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. Patna: Fed up with the domestic discord in his family, a man poisoned three of his daughters before consuming poison himself resulting to the death of one of his daughters in Patna on Friday. Pappu Kumar, a resident of BM Das Road near Govind Mitra in Patna, on late Thursday night, mixed rate poison in 'Maaza' drinks and gave his three daughters to drink it before taking some poison himself. {gallery}newsimages2016/jan/012216{/gallery}Around 1:30 am, one of the girls, Nishu, started to feel acute pain in her stomach. When her screams did not wake up anyone in the house, she came out and started to bang the door of one of the neighbors and told them that her father had poisoned all of them. Hearing the noise, other people in the area entered Pappu's house and found all of them unconscious though still alive. They were rushed to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where the middle girl Lily died shortly. The condition of the other two daughters and Pappu remain serious. As reported, Pappu's wife had left him a few weeks ago accusing him of having an affair though some close relatives said the opposite was true and the woman had relationship with some other man for whom she left her husband and three daughters. The couple has a son as well who was with the mother when the incident happened. Frustrated with the situation at home, Pappu decided to end the lives of everyone to relieve them from this misery. Authorities are investigating the case. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. China, Iran Expand Ties During Xi Visit 01/23/16 By Nike Ching, William Gallo, VOA (photos by Islamic Republic News Agency) THE STATE DEPARTMENT-Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for a new chapter in China-Iran relations, as the Chinese leader continued an official state visit to Tehran. Meeting at the presidents residence in Tehran Saturday, the two leaders oversaw the signing of 17 agreements aimed at expanding diplomatic and economic cooperation. The two countries also agreed to boost mutual trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as they pose for a photograph in an official ceremony, at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23, 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as they pose for a photograph in an official ceremony, at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23, 2016. "Today, we discussed strategic relations between the two countries, regulating and signing a comprehensive 25-year document and also upgrading bilateral ties in the coming 10 years. We decided to increase mutual trade up to $600 billion, Rouhani said. Strategic partnership Xi, who is making the first trip to Iran by a Chinese president in 14 years, said the two sides agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership. "We decided to turn mutual relations into relations that would turn into strategic relations, and also issues that joined us. A statement on both sides should also take this opportunity in order to further upgrade mutual exchanges at different levels and further boost the political trust between the two countries, Xi said. Later Saturday, Xi will meet with Irans top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. China was a top consumer of Iranian oil even during the three years of international sanctions that targeted Irans nuclear program. Now that the sanctions are lifted and Iran is ramping up oil production, that relationship could grow further. China played a key role in international efforts to roll back sanctions against Iran in exchange for Tehran scaling back its nuclear program. Ahead of the visit, the U.S. said it hopes Beijing continues to work with Washington to ensure Iran does not reconstitute its nuclear capabilities. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23, 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23, 2016. Nuclear issue "Were certainly not trying to stop [Chinas] economic or diplomatic engagement with Iran. We would just hope that, just as China has played a very constructive role throughout this process, that China will continue to play that role in all of its engagement with the Iranian Government, says U.S. Ambassador Stephan Mull, Lead Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation at the State Department. The U.S. and China are co-chairing a working group to oversee the new design of Irans heavy-water reactor at Arak so that it will not produce weapons-grade plutonium. We expect strong cooperation to continue as we all work together to ensure Irans continued compliance with the [nuclear agreement], said Anna Richey-Allen, a spokesperson from State Departments East Asia and Pacific Bureau, on Friday. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action China is among the world powers that reached the agreement, the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran last July. In that nuclear pact, Tehran pledged to scale back its uranium-enriching activities and submit to inspection, in exchange for lifting sanctions. In an op-ed article appearing in an Iranian newspaper and quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi said: China appreciates Iran's assurance of not intending to develop nuclear weapons, supports Iran in upholding its legitimate rights and interests, and fully recognizes Iran's contribution to the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. China has been Irans biggest trading partner in the past six years, according to Xi. Bilateral trade in 2014 was around $52 billion, but dropped off last year because of falling oil prices, according to Iranian officials. Chinese President and delegation meeting with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran, January 23, 2016 Seeking a new international order But a key analyst says ties between the two counties go beyond economic benefits. Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said both countries share the same goal of reshaping the international order in a way that excludes us more. Singh, who served as the National Security Council for Middle Eastern affairs from 2005 to 2008, testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. He said that China, really sees Iran as its main strategic partner by virtue of its geographic location, by virtue of the fact that it's really the only major power in the region which isn't allied with the United States. Chinese President Xis visit to Iran came after a stop in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week during that country's heightened tensions with Iran. A State Department official told VOA the U.S. anticipates that China will join us and others in encouraging all parties to avoid actions that escalate sectarian tensions in the region. Iranian activist remains jailed with no court date in sight 01/23/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh Iranian activist Shokoufeh Azar Masouleh remains in jail without being charged and cannot put up bail due to a lack of financial means. In a letter from jail, Azar Masouleh writes that the court has not agreed to reduce the bail and release her until the time of her trial. Shokoufeh Azar Masouleh The Justice For Iran website published the letter on Thursday January 21 and reports that the Azar Masouleh has not been given a court date after seven months in jail. Azar Masouleh was among the women demonstrating in front of Parliament two years ago to protest the repeated acid-throwing attacks on women on the streets of Isfahan. She also participated in the protests by human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in front of Iran's Bar Association in support of Sotoudeh's demand to reinstate her right to practice law. She was arrested last June without a warrant at her home. She reports that she has not been formally charged or been given the right to counsel. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that Azar Masouleh is accused of "propaganda against the regime, collusion and establishing conflicting groups against the regime", according to an informed source. Nursing rep reveals challenging statistics for profession in Iran 01/23/16 Source: Radio Zamaneh Ebrahim Mohammadi, the head of International Relations for Iran's Council of Nursing, reports that 7,000 nurses in the country are unemployed. Mohammadi told ISNA that currently 200,000 nurses are employed across the country and there is a need for another 130,000 nurses to be hired. A group of Iranian nurses in a file photo by Islamic Republic News Agency Mohammadi stressed that the country is not facing a shortage of nurses, and the problem lies in absorbing the existing workforce, adding that even among the members of the Council of Nursing, 7,000 nurses are unemployed. He added that severe work conditions dissuade graduates from entering the profession, and although retirement is set at 20 years of service, it is hardly ever honoured. Mohammadi listed "the late payment of wages and benefits, lack of sleep, stress and exposure to pathogens" as some of the severe conditions faced by nurses, adding that on average across the country, nurses are owed back pay for anywhere between six to nine months. Reports indicate 1,000 nurses leave the country annually due to bad work conditions in Iran. Civil vs. Military in Post-Deal Iran 01/23/16 By Sajjad Safaei (source: LobeLog) IRGC General Qassem Soleimani Im not a colonel, Im a lawyer! Irans current President Hassan Rouhani uttered when his commitment to civil liberties came under fire during the 2013 presidential debate. In an attempt to accentuate the contrast between himself and his rivals-some of whom came from a military background-Rouhani emphatically distanced himself from those whose mindset, as he put it, had been shaped by the logic of the garrison. At the heart of the struggle for reform in Iran lies a deep conundrum: the role of the armed forces in society, chief among them the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The organization has been steadily transforming itself into a business conglomerate, while blatantly intervening in all spheres of the countrys political, social, and economic life. The story of war and its warriors tends to adhere to a familiar chronology: where euphoria ceases, cynicism kicks in. When Irans bloody eight-year war with Iraq drew to a close, the Guards refused to return to their barracks. Instead, the organization embarked on an aggressive expansion, extending its reach to nearly every facet of life. The Rise of Soleimani By June 2009, the Guards had become virtually unrecognizable. The godly brotherhood once held in high esteem for its sacrifices in defending the nation against Saddams invading forces was now involved in cracking down hard on protesters disputing the results of Irans presidential elections. The Guards who prided themselves on their devotion to higher ideals were now preoccupied with protecting their economic and political assets. But then came the Syrian civil war and with it the birth of a monstrosity called the Islamic State (ISIS or IS), which was inching towards Irans borders. The Revolutionary Guards were now protecting Iran, if not civilization itself. A happy twist of fate provided the Guards with a long-awaited facelift, and a shadowy general by the name of Qassem Soleimani would emerge as the face of the IRGCs military operations against IS. Heroic videos and pictures featuring Soleimani permeated the Internet, often with blood-curdling messages for IS and its supporters. No matter your political stripe, to sing the praises of General Soleimani was synonymous with being Iranian. Overnight, the Guards seemed to have regained, at least to some extent, the standing they enjoyed throughout the 1980s. Except this time around, Iran was not alone. Soleimani was winning when America was losing. Even Newsweek could not resist Soleimanis newfound celebrity status: First he fought America. Now hes crushing ISIS. A man in military uniform had become a symbol of Iranian prowess. The Guards seemed destined for greater things. The Power of Diplomacy On January 16, 2016, Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced that Iran had significantly scaled back its nuclear program, thus fulfilling its end of the bargain in its negotiations with the great powers in the P5+1. The announcement marked a milestone. In terms of foreign policy, Irans relations with the United States and the world had entered a new phase. After years of painstaking negotiations, the sanctions that had devastated the economy-and the lives of so many ordinary Iranians-were lifted. Tens of billions of dollars of Iranian assets would soon be released. Many of the restrictions imposed on Irans trade with world were removed. In the early hours of the lifting of sanctions alone, Iran agreed to buy 114 passenger planes to rehabilitate its aging fleet. Hassan Rouhani could now declare that he had fulfilled one of his most important election promises. Although the potential economic benefits of this diplomatic achievement cannot be understated, the symbolic nature of this victory for the Rouhani government is no less significant. As the sanctions, which had caused mass suffering for ordinary Iranians, were lifted, Rouhani said that as of today, it has become clear that our country possesses a great power by the name of diplomacy. Today, the face of that power is unmistakably a Twitter-savvy diplomat by the name of Javad Zarif, and not generals in military uniforms. Ordinary Iranians flicking through the front pages of newspapers a day after the lifting of sanctions were swamped not by reports of military victories in Iraq and Syria under General Soleimani. Instead, the image of Javad Zarif and the president was splashed across the front pages of newspapers across the country. The press has been awash with comparisons between Zarif and national symbols from different epochs of Iranian history: from Arash the Archer, the legendary figure whose arrow supposedly delineated Irans ancient borders, to Amirkabir, a 19th-century prime minister who became a national hero for his role in reforming the country and limiting foreign intervention. At this particular juncture in the trajectory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, victory has been declared not to the sounds of guns and tanks, but to the computer keyboard of a tweeting diplomat who has become an important face of the Rouhani government. Just a day before the lifting of sanctions marked a diplomatic victory for Rouhani, it was reported that the Guardian Council, the hardline 12-member body charged with overseeing elections, disqualified a large number of candidates from the upcoming parliamentary elections in late February. Most of these candidates are from the pro-reform camp. Rouhani might be euphoric from the victory on the diplomatic front but he is under no illusions. When asked about the disqualifications, he vowed to use all the powers of his office to challenge the Councils decision and to use the nuclear negotiations with world powers as a model for pursuing its domestic policy goals. The long and arduous road to reform might yet get bumpier before it smooths out. The implementation of the nuclear deal on January 16, and with it the catapulting of a civilian onto the center stage of power, might have provided Rouhani with an opportune moment for consolidating civilian rule over the business and political ambitions of general Soleimanis friends in the Revolutionary Guards. Nevertheless, whether the Iranian president and his pro-reform supporters can capitalize on the recent diplomatic victory and turn it into serious momentum towards reform remains to be seen. In the coming weeks and months, the governments diplomatic might is sure to be put to a serious test. About the author: Sajjad Safaei is a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute of Social Anthropology in Germany. He can be reached by email here. Every town has gone a little Hollywood this month. Cinemas are packed with theatergoers wanting to see esteemed Oscar nominees, while filmmakers are descending on Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, with next year's hopefuls in tow. Whether it's a recent fancy or a long-time fantasy of yours to make a movie, now's the time. Most filmmaking tools are low-cost (or even free) and easy to use. Here's what you'll need to create everything from the opening scene to the end credits. The Play's the Thing: Writing the Screenplay Without a screenplay, there's no film, so getting in front of a keyboard comes before getting behind a camera. The blockbuster of screenwriting software is Final Draft(Opens in a new window). Users can create index cards, keep track of notes, organize their scenes, output their efforts in the industry-standard format, create a production schedule, and for a few dollars extra tweak their work on iOS devices(Opens in a new window). The horrifying finale is that Final Draft will set you back $249, which can be a bit much for a struggling screenwriter. (Though there's a discount if you're a student or educator.) Never fear; there are indie-appropriate alternatives. WriterDuet(Opens in a new window) does much the sameand is iOS-compatiblefor either $7.99 a month or a one-time price of $119 (half that for students). All those features, plus storyboarding, which is key for directors and cinematographers, are available for free with Celtx(Opens in a new window). To make it mobile there's the Celtx Script app(Opens in a new window), which is free. The rhythm and structure of movie writing is a difficult genre to master but reading movie scripts is one of the best ways to pick up the skill. The Internet Movie Script Database(Opens in a new window) and Drew's Script-O-Rama(Opens in a new window) have thousands of scripts to read through, though keep in mind that some are drafts at different stages so they differ from the final film. Every Picture Tells a Story: Storyboarding Once a screenplay comes together, it has to be broken down into its visual elements. That's when filmmakers turn to storyboards to work out each step of a scene, including location, lighting, actors, and types of shots needed. Directors can draw out a storyboard by hand(Opens in a new window), create one on a computer using a storyboard program (Atomic Learning offers StoryBoard Pro for free(Opens in a new window)), or on a tablet or phone(Opens in a new window). Money, Money, Money: Getting Financing Film backers have played their share of bad guys on and off screen. Money doesn't have to ruin artistic vision, though. Filmmakers can use crowdsourcing to get financing with a minimum of pressure. Download Crowdfunding for Filmmakers(Opens in a new window), a helpful guide by John Trigonis, film strategist at Indiegogo. Pitching the public on a film is one of the few requirements of using a crowdfunding platform like Indiegogo(Opens in a new window). The site even lets filmmakers who fall short of their funding goals keep the money they've raised, unlike Kickstarter which lets only those who reach their financial goals reap the reward. Indiegogo savvily targets potential backers with categories (animation, documentary, narrative film, short film, and webseries) and has been used by many already established in the film world. The Broken Lizard comedy troupe, for example, used it to raise $4.6 million to bring Super Troopers 2(Opens in a new window) to screens. Paper Trail: Getting Organized Even digital filmmaking requires paperwork. There are call sheets, release forms, logs to ensure continuity, production reports, and more. Dependent Films puts them all in one place(Opens in a new window) for free downloading. Scout's Honor: Finding a Location Finding places to film is the job of a location scout, but on a budget, it's one of the many jobs that an independent filmmaker will likely take on themselves. For inspiration, there's Scouting New York(Opens in a new window), the blog of Nick Carr, a New York location scout and aspiring filmmaker. For view instead of viewpoint while scouting, filmmakers may want to compose shots to get ideas for when they film. There's no need to use a traditional director's viewfinder, which generally runs about $200, when a phone armed with an app like Artemis Director's Viewfinder (available in the App Store(Opens in a new window) and Android Digital Market(Opens in a new window) for just $29.99) will do. Casting the Net: Hiring Actors To cast characters outside of friend and family circles, go Back Stage(Opens in a new window). Filmmakers can search a database of talent or post a notice for actors. Back Stage has been in business for over 50 years and is owned by the same company as The Hollywood Reporter and Call Sheet. Ready for Your Closeup: Filming Digital camcorders dismantled the industry structure, giving virtually everyone the equipment to be a filmmaker. Today, there are more digital camcorder options than ever but even those seem as passe as Mumblecore, with phones taking up the flag of the digital revolution. Tangerine, made on the small iPhone 5s(Opens in a new window), was a huge hit at Sundance and the Tribeca Film Festival. The Cannes-decorated South Korean director Park Chan-Wook shot the 30-minute film Night Fishing(Opens in a new window) in 10 days using only footage he and his crew recorded with iPhone 4s (outfitted with the Owle Bubo). The feature-length film Olive(Opens in a new window), starring Gena Rowlands, was shot entirely on a Nokia N8 rigged with a 35mm lens adapter. Using a Steadicam Smoothee(Opens in a new window) saves filmmakers from the telltale shakes of a handheld camera phone. If the camera's steady but your nerves are not because you're a first-time director, Atomic Learning has a guide on shooting techniques(Opens in a new window) that covers composing and filming shots, complete with video examples. Actors forgetting their lines might also make you shaky, but the PromptSmart Pro iOS app(Opens in a new window), which follows speaking pace, and Teleprompter Pro for Android(Opens in a new window) ensure smooth line readings. Those hallmark clapperboards can be pricey and, frankly, a little too analog. The DSLR Slate app(Opens in a new window) for iOS and SL DigiSlate(Opens in a new window) for Android serve the same purpose and hold more info. That's a Wrap: Post-Production The credits haven't rolled on filmmaking until post-production has happened. For that, filmmakers will need editing software. CyberLink PowerDirector and Adobe Premiere Elements each come in under $100 and are for PCs (Premiere Elements also works on Mac OS X 10.9 and above). Mac users will already have Apple's iMovie installed. With all of them, filmmakers can create effects and transitions, swap out backgrounds with green screen, add a soundtrack, and more. For action movies that need big-budget effects but are shot on the small screen of an iPhone, J.J. Abrams's company Bad Robot developed Action Movie FX(Opens in a new window), which delivers airstrikes, missile attacks, tornadoes, downed choppers, and car crashes. Screen Time: Showing the Film Filmmakers with a completed movie on their hands are often eager to get it in front of an audience as soon as possible. To show a film at a home, outdoor space, community center, or anywhere outside of a traditional movie theater, there are a range of quality projectors. Pico projectors are especially portable and when combined with equally portable speakers, make for an outdoor film festival anywhere. A striking movie poster is generally the result of a graphic designer's hard work, but by uploading an image and filling out a few fields on BigHugeLabs.com(Opens in a new window), amateur filmmakers can recreate a polished appearance. Getting the Message Out: Distribution Distributing a film is notoriously difficultand expensive. Olive's directors unsuccessfully tried to show the movie on 2,000 screens nationally without the backing of a major studio through a Kickstarter project with a $300,000 goal(Opens in a new window). But to get on millions of screens for little cost, there's Distrify(Opens in a new window). It's what filmmaker Gary Hustwit uses so that fans can stream Urbanized(Opens in a new window). Viewers pay $5.99 to watch the film and any blogs or other sites that embed the movie earn a commission every time someone views it on their site, providing incentive for them to grow the filmmaker's audience. For platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and major cable providers, filmmakers don't have to negotiate separate deals. Distribber(Opens in a new window) handles the hard work after a filmmaker uploads his or her film and pays the fees associated with the distribution channels of choice. Eyes on the Prize: Film Contests Entering a film into festivals and other competitions can yield valuable feedback, mentoring, andpossiblynotoriety for a filmmaker. Finding one of the thousands of contests out there often involves paging through magazines and scrolling through search results. Withoutabox(Opens in a new window) keeps its database up to date, sends emails to filmmakers, and gives them access to message boards so the community can share information. Once it's been sent to a festival through the site, filmmakers can also list their movie on IMDb, a division of Withoutabox. For a chance to be admitted to one of the splashiest fests around, you can submit a 15-minute film entry to the Cannes Film Festival(Opens in a new window). Just make sure your 15 minutes of film are a little more interesting than some of Andy Warhol's(Opens in a new window). Egypt's president warns against probable uprsising on the eve of 2011 uprising anniversary. (Photo: AP) Cairo: Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, speaking ahead of next week's anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled long time ruler Hosni Mubarak, has vowed a firm response to any unrest. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi spoke at a ceremony Saturday marking Police Day, which falls on Jan. 25, the day the uprising began five years ago. He awarded medals to the families of nearly 40 policemen killed in militant attacks, including eight generals. He said the "security and stability of nations are not to be toyed with," adding: "We will not allow the blood of martyrs to go in vain." El-Sissi, who as military chief overthrew an elected Islamist president in 2013, has presided over a sweeping crackdown on dissent. Egypt is also battling an Islamic insurgency based in the Sinai Peninsula. A 23-year-old Ontario man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the 2013 beating death of his girlfriends toddler, whom he baby-sat while the mother worked. San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Gregory S. Tavill sentenced Michael Jared Lucero on Thursday in Rancho Cucamonga. Deputy District Attorney Karen Schmauss said the sentence was for Luceros conviction on a charge of assault on a child causing death. He also was convicted of second-degree murder in the April 2013 death. Despite his conviction, he has never acknowledged any wrongdoing or expressed any remorse. Instead, he has made efforts to have the victims mother state that she caused the injuries during normal discipline, according to a probation report prepared for the sentencing. Xzavier Taccati, who was almost 3, was hospitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he died following emergency surgery. Lucero told hospital personnel the bruises were from a fall the previous week at day care. The cause of death was listed as blunt force head injury, with a contributing cause of blunt force from a blow to the abdomen. The toddler was either hit with a heavy object or his head was slammed against something, according to trial testimony. Xzaviers godmother, who baby-sat him, and his grandmother, who helped raise him, read victim impact statements at the sentencing. Grandmother Cynthia Taccati called Lucero an evil force and said her grandson fell victim to evils, anger and jealousy. Calculating the 1,022 days since the childs death, she wrote: Murder happens on the news, it happens to other people. We are now those other people. We couldnt imagine never seeing Xzaviers beautiful smile and bigger than life personality. Contact the writer: 951-368-9075 or gwesson@pressenterprise.com Urban food halls like L.A.s Grand Central Market or the newer Anaheim Packing House have been a draw for diners who like a variety of food choices clustered in one place. Riverside is poised to jump on the trend when it opens Mess Hall on Market, a downtown restaurant space down the block from the Fox theater that will house up to 15 vendors such as creative chefs, coffee and dessert stalls and a wine bar. Its still just a concept, but developer Jerry Tessier, who is negotiating with the city to build the project, has a clear idea of how he wants it to take shape. Were not looking for corporate chains, said Tessier, of Pomona-based Arteco Partners. You really need to create fresh and new items for people to experience. City officials and others say a big selling point of the food hall will be its proximity to the Fox Performing Arts Center. The space, in the building next door that includes a parking garage, black box theater and museum exhibit space, has been empty since the building was finished in 2013. City Councilman Mike Gardner, who represents downtown, said officials talked with several big-name, chain restaurants but werent able to snag the kind they wanted. Early feedback from people who go to concerts and events at the Fox and black box theater called the Box is that they like the idea of grabbing a bite or a drink before or after a show from a place thats less formal than a sit-down meal, Gardner said. The focus will be on dining, but the vendor mix could include produce, a cheese shop or a butcher, Tessier said. Hes interested in partnering with Riverside City Colleges culinary school and offering pop-up stalls that let entrepreneurs try a food concept with less risk and at a lower cost than a brick-and-mortar restaurant. At 12,000 square feet, the Mess Hall would be significantly smaller than other food halls in Southern California. Tessier, who developed the Pomona Fox theater and the Claremont Packing House in Claremont, has done this sort of thing before. The Claremont development is a restored citrus packing house that features a comedy club, community art studio, knitting store, coffee and ice cream shop and restaurants serving crepes, pizza and Mediterranean food. Sal Medinas Packing House Wines was one of the first businesses in the Claremont building when it opened in 2007. He said he likes how its evolved into a building that you can lose yourself (in) for a day with eating and browsing the stores. Packing house visitor Caitlin Ocegueda, who was there chatting with friends over coffee recently, agreed. I come here all the time, said Ocegueda, a recent Cal Poly Pomona graduate. She takes a yoga class there in the mornings and planned to have dinner at one of the restaurants that evening. Shelby Willard, a journalism student at Cal Poly Pomona, called the building unique. I like the setup of it, she said. Both women said theyd check out a Riverside food hall if they were in the area. Medina said he may want to be a tenant in the Riverside project, which Tessier said will have vendor stalls grouped around open space with tables. Thats what people today are looking for is that communal dining space, Medina said. Homegrown entrepreneurs are interested, too. Ronaldo Fierro, who runs the Salted Pig restaurant and W. Wolfskill cocktail bar in downtown Riverside, said he has talked with Tessier about a space in the Mess Hall. Fierros not worried that the new venture would take business from his establishments. Were really excited that its happening, he said. Downtown can handle three to four times as many restaurants with the population down here. Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pressenterprise.com Damian Meins was my dad, my best friend and my travel buddy who loved unconditionally and found a million small ways to show it. He was a perfect father to my sister, Tawnya, and me and an exceptional husband of 36 years to my mother, Trenna. He was the smartest, funniest, kindest, most tolerant and compassionate man I knew. On Dec. 2, my dad was killed while at work in San Bernardino in a terrorist mass shooting. I do not wish my familys heartbreak on anyone. I know that there is nothing that can be said or done to bring my father back. However, perhaps we can make changes so that no other family need suffer this sorrow in the future. This is the mindset we had when my mom, sister and I arrived in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 10. We went because my mother, very generously, had been invited to President Obamas State of the Union address as a guest of our congressman, Mark Takano. We spent the week talking with various people in Congress, as well as some advocacy groups, on the issue of gun violence prevention. RELATED: All the latest developments related to the San Bernardino shooting We know this is a contentious, multi-faceted issue that can be looked at through many different lenses. However, I believe there is room for compromise. Allow me to explicitly state that we are proud Americans who believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights it affords all citizens, including but not limited to the Second Amendment. That being said, we believe there is room to improve our gun violence prevention record, and our goal is to work hard to ensure that changes are made that help make America safer. Surely, when over 30,000 people a year die because of gun violence, we can agree that there is a problem. Based on our own experience and our own research, we believe the following items need to be addressed: Background checks must be consistent and comprehensive across the United States. California has some of the strictest gun laws on the books, but theyre of little use if someone can go to a gun show or go online and buy guns or gun parts to assemble, or drive mere hours across the border to a state with more lax gun regulations, all in order to circumvent background inspections. If everyone can agree that guns should only be in the possession of law-abiding citizens, why would we not support laws that do their best to ensure thats the case? Criminal offenses involving guns must be prosecuted. We cannot afford to be lenient when it comes to this. Reinstate an assault weapon ban. It was in place previously, and several bills have come up that again place a ban on assault weapons, albeit with one-feature tests, instead of two-feature tests. Assault weapons are not necessary for protection or hunting, and the rapid-fire capability of such weapons allows for little to no recourse for those targeted by them. Ammunition should be tracked. I must present my ID every time I purchase Mucinex (or any product with pseudoephedrine), because of concerns that I may be making methamphetamine. Why shouldnt there be the same level of concern for individuals stockpiling large quantities of ammunition? Syed Rizwan Farook had 4,000 rounds in his possession. Im not suggesting that people should be prohibited from purchasing ammunition, but in the interest of personal and national security, shouldnt law enforcement be aware when individuals begin to rapidly accumulate thousands of rounds? Funds should be dedicated toward studying gun violence prevention. If nothing else, we should have accurate statistics about incidents: We should be able to understand where and why most incidents are occurring, what the underlying causes are and what can possibly be done to prevent future incidents. We should be able to glean and apply best practices across the country. We implore Congress to work together on this. We know that many Americans share our desire to have commonsense reform. We know that many ordinary citizens share our dream of having a safer country, where people do not feel compelled to arm themselves daily for protection. There is room in this national debate for reason, for compromise and for compassion. Let us not accuse one another of naivety or a lack of patriotism. Let us find common ground. Lets not be paralyzed because proposed solutions will not be perfect. If one person can be saved, isnt it worth the effort to fix this? Lets work together, please, for the good of everyone. Tina Meins is daughter of Damian Meins, who was killed by terrorist gun violence Dec. 2, 2015. Local high school teachers honored with Crystal Apple Award LAKE ELSINORE The Lake Elsinore Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented the Crystal Apple Award to three teachers Daniel Templeton of Elsinore High School, Christopher Fossmo of Lakeside High School and Kevin Quint of Temescal Canyon High School on Sunday. Nine teachers were nominated for the award. The other nominees were Ryan Klopp and Joshua Mason of Elsinore High School, Dinah Greene and Michael Tillery of Lakeside High School, and Thomas Collins and Tamara Cullen of Temescal Canyon High School. A news release said that before the winners were announced, all nine teachers were recognized individually by at least one student. The Crystal Apple Award honors teachers from local high schools. Recipients are nominated by youth in the stake. St. Mary Church to be consecrated MURRIETA The consecration of St. Mary Orthodox Church will be celebrated Feb. 7. The church is at 26871 Hobie Circle. A social hour and luncheon will be held after the divine liturgy at 10:30 a.m. Information: The Rev. Ibrahim Chahoud at 949-315-6125. Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com TORONTO (AP) Police on Saturday charged a 17-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder in a mass shooting at a school and home in an aboriginal community in western Canada, officials said. Police Saturday the male suspect cant be named under Canadas Youth Criminal Justice Act. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Grant St. Germaine said nine people were shot in the school, two fatally a teacher and a teachers aide. He said seven people wounded in Fridays shooting at the school are hospitalized. Police said two brothers, 17-year-old Dayne Fountaine and 13-year-old Drayden, were shot dead in a home before the gunman headed to the grade 7-12 La Loche Community School. The suspect was arrested at the school on Friday afternoon. Police said they were not aware of a motive and declined to say what type of gun he used. The school is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche in Saskatchewan Province. La Loche is a community of less than 3,000 where just about everybody knows everybody else. This is a significant event for Canada, St. Germaine said. Its a huge impact on the community of La Loche. Its a part of changing times. We are seeing more violence. Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the countrys bloodiest mass shooting occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, at Montreals Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. The educational assistant killed at the Saskatchewan school was identified as 21-year-old Marie Janvier. Deegan Park, her boyfriend of three years, said he would have given up the rest of his life just to spend another year with her. I grew up not a good guy, but she turned me right, Park told The Associated Press. She was that much of a great person to turn me right from all the wrongdoings I used to do. She was a fantastic person. I loved her, I really did, said Park, who remembered her smile and how she would blush when she was happy. Kevin Janvier said his daughter was an only child. Im just so sad, he said. Ashton Lemaigre, a teacher at the school and friend of Marie Janvier, said she worked as a teachers aide in his classroom. He said she was kind and patient with children and planned to get her teaching degree someday. The kids loved having her around, Lemaigre said. They would just come running to her. And she was just a friend to everybody. A second victim was identified as Adam Wood, a new teacher at the school. His family in Ontario issued a statement describing him as an adventurer with a passion for life who made people laugh until their stomachs hurt. Adam had just begun his teaching career in La Loche last September and was enjoying his time, his family said. He was always up for a good challenge and lived each day joyously. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, called it every parents worst nightmare. A student who was just returning from lunch when the shots were fired Friday said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. Run, bro, run! Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loches junior and senior high school. Theres a shotgun! Theres a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots too, so of course I started running. The RCMP said the first reports of shots being fired at the school came in around 1 p.m. Friday, and parents and residents were warned to stay away. A nearby elementary school was also placed on lockdown as a precaution. Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community, said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. Wall planned to visit the community on Sunday and promised to provide crisis support and counseling services. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting Friday was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community of 3,000. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. Its not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning, said Cameron, who attended the La Loche schools graduation ceremony for the past few years. Right now were just in a state of shock and disbelief. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman offered his condolences and noted the problem of school shootings in America. We have experienced similar tragedies far too often in the United States and understand all too well the heartache and sadness that result, Heyman said. Associated Press writer Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report. PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) The Pakistani army arrested five suspects on charges of facilitating a deadly militant attack on a university that killed 21, mostly students, in the countrys northwest, an official said Saturday. Islamic militants stormed Bacha Khan University in Charsadda on Jan. 20, killing students and teachers, and triggering a gunbattle that lasted for hours. The five suspects allegedly provided the attackers with shelter, transport and weapons, said military spokesman Lt. Gen Asim Salim Bajwa. Bajwa said another three suspects are still at large a man and his wife and niece. The women are accused by buying weapons for the attackers from a weapons market in the tribal region of Dara Adam Khel, he said. The two women took advantage of the culture and used their veils to bring out the purchased weapons from the tribal region, said Bajwa. He said the four attackers, all killed in clashes with security forces in the university, crossed through the Torkham border point from Afghanistan and that the attack appeared to be coordinated from inside Afghanistan. Once inside Pakistan, the attackers received 10 phone calls from individuals in Afghanistan. Bajwa also clarified that his government was not blaming the Afghan government. A splinter faction of the Taliban, led by a man calling himself Khalifa Umar Mansoor, has claimed responsibility and has threatened similar attacks. However the main Taliban organization denied any involvement. Maggots. Thats what came to mind when we learned that a former employee of Riversides Parkview Community Community Medical Center recently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the nonprofit, safety-net facility. So what connection is there between fly larvae and wrongful termination litigation? Why its the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, which aims to unionize roughly 500 of Parkviews more than 1,300 employees. Since 2014, SEIU has been at loggerheads with Parkview over the outcome of an election in which the union maintains that a majority of affected workers voted to unionize, while hospital management insists that the election was invalid. The nasty dispute is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In the meantime, SEIU continues to wage a Contract Campaign against Parkview. Among other tactics, the union encourages its apparatchiks to bring Legal/Regulatory Pressure against recalcitrant employers like Parkview. SEIU also advises that (u)se of the media can put pressure on the employer. So it was this past June that Parkview employees, aligned with SEIU, submitted complaints to the California Department of Health claiming, among other allegations, that more than 50 maggots were found in a patients mouth and nose. That damning claim generated numerous clickbait headlines. Well, the state health department investigated the SEIU claim and confirmed that maggots were indeed found on a patient. But there was no evidence that exposure to insects occurred at the facility, a health department spokesman said. Indeed, Parkview CEO Steve Popkin told us the patient in question cited was homeless and had already been exposed to maggots before arriving in the hospitals emergency department. We were played by SEIU. We unwittingly published an op-ed on our opinion page that repeated the scurrilous maggot claim, furthering the unions contract campaign against Parkview. Thats why it is difficult for us to be anything other than skeptical about the claims made in the recently filed SEIU-sponsored wrongful termination suit by a worker discharged from Parkviews radiology center. She alleges that she was fired after she filed a complaint this past October with the state department of health concerning certain unsafe practices at the hospital. But in a letter to the former Parkview worker, the hospitals vice president of human resources explained that she was terminated for refusing to perform a procedure on patients in defiance of her supervisors directive. Your refusal to perform your job duties resulted in a delay of cardiac nuclear stress testing and caused a potential patient safety issue, the VP of HR concluded, after a review of the incident. It remains for a court to decide whether the SEIU front woman was rightfully or wrongfully terminated by Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center. But given the active role she has played in the unions contract campaign against her former employer, it is hard to give her the benefit of the doubt. Matt Kraemer has a unique duty for a principal when winter storms sweep across Southern California. Rather than hunker down in his warm office, the principal of Idyllwild School in the San Jacinto Mountains ventures into blizzards to pick up students unable to make it to class. Kraemer doesnt mind retrieving students stuck at home because of slippery roads or driveways blocked by snow berms left by plows. He drives them home, too. He is not bothered at all by the extra work. Are you kidding me? he said. A chance to go four-wheeling? Kraemer wants students to be in class learning. Average daily attendance determines the amount of money schools receive from the state. There is an added reason to open Idyllwild School, which serves 343 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, on stormy days. The state has a requirement for instructional minutes during the school year. Skipping days can lead to holding class on makeup dates during holiday breaks. Giving up spring, summer or weekend days off never is popular with students, parents or teachers. He does what he can to keep school in session, including picking up kids, unless roads are unsafe for travel. Some students walk from snowed-in cabins to meet him at the nearest accessible road. Skilled drivers and school buses with snow chains are a big help. If the timing of the arrival of storms warrants, Kraemer will delay the start of school for an hour to give plows more time to clear roads. So far, heavy snowfall from the 2015-16 El Nino-influenced winter shut down Idyllwild School for only one day, Jan. 7. He hopes to obtain an exemption from the state so the missed day does not have to be made up. He said it was the first time the school was closed by snow in five years. On other snowy days when class was in session, Kraemer picked up kids who ride to campus in his Toyota Tundra four-wheel-drive pickup. A massive fallen boulder that shut down the 243 in the Pine Cove area for three days did not prevent teachers or students from attending school. Kraemer drove two teachers and two students around the boulder on a back rode familiar to locals. Other students endured a two-hour circuitous bus detour all the way down to Banning and back up from Hemet to get to school. Picking up students is a practice Kraemer began when he transferred in 2007 from Little Lake School in the balmy flatlands of east Hemet. When snow fell, he would drive his trusty Jeep Wrangler from his home in San Jacinto to the mountain campus. Kraemer now lives in the Idyllwild area with his wife, Debbi. Dealing with storms was more complex when he commuted. When storms approached, he accepted offers from innkeepers to stay in a room. At 4:30 a.m., he would evaluate conditions and then confer with Hemet school district officials by phone. They decided whether the roads were safe for bus travel and whether Idyllwild School would be open that day. There have been the occasional obstacles. Early one snowy morning, when staying at the Silver Pines Lodge, he stepped outside into the storm while wearing pajamas and boots. The door locked behind him. The room key was inside. He was stuck outdoors. Rather than awakening innkeeper Chris Singer so early, he sat in his Jeep and waited until 5 a.m. to get back in. That sort of dedication is not limited to kids at his school. Older students are bused off the hill to Hemet High. On one of this years snow days, he saw a Hemet High student who had been dropped off at Idyllwild School and didnt have a ride home. Kraemer got his Tundra rolling and took the student. It was a nice, Idyllwild-style gesture. It also was another excuse to go four-wheeling. Contact the writer: 951-368-9078 or bpratte@pressenterprise.com An energy firm that constructed a solar farm in west Hemet has been given until June to complete the project or it will become more costly. SunEdison constructed a 20-megawatt photovoltaic solar power generation facility on a 134-acre site on the southwest corner of Sanderson and Acacia avenues. But while the solar farm inside the tall, tan fences is complete and has been producing power since July the promised road and landscaping improvements are not done. Under the agreement, Acacia Avenue is to be widened, with curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, fencing and streetlights added. Sanderson is to get new landscaping and a 12-foot sidewalk and trail. The Hemet City Council recently modified its agreement with SunEdison, giving the company until June 1 to complete the improvements. If the project remains unfinished, the company will pay $10,000 per month until its done. While the facility, which sits on a former stock farm, is not generating power for Hemet the electricity produced is being sold to Riverside Public Utilities it will produce revenue in the form of fees, which Hemet will start collecting this month under the amended agreement. The original deal called for the company to pay an annual solar fee to the city starting at $700 per acre and escalating 1.5 percent per acre every year each December as part of its 25-year lease. Since the project was not completed last year, the payment due date was changed to January. The city expects to receive $66,500 by the end of the month, said Deanna Elliano, Hemets community development director, said. By the end of the deal, that will be about $2 million in solar fees, Elliano said. The money will go into the citys general fund, which is used for salaries and other day-to-day expenses. The fee is being paid to offset sales tax dollars that could have been raised if the property was developed commercially. SunEdison, which manufactures solar technology and operates solar power systems at more than 1,000 sites around the world, also will pay into a fund to cover the cost of landscape and lighting maintenance, Elliano said. The landscaping delays are being partly blamed on the fact that Southern California Edison, no relation to Sun Edison, needs to move some power poles on the property. That work is scheduled for February, Elliano said. SunEdison did not respond to messages seeking comment on the delays. The 95-acre field will be comprised of rows of solar panels up to 10 feet in height. The panels are being installed on south-facing trackers, maximizing the collection of solar energy by tracking the sun throughout the day. Although the project is close to Hemet-Ryan Airport, the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission approved it. The developer is required to provide a clear area immediately to the east of the runway. We worked closely with city planning officials and the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission to address any concerns associated with potential glare from the solar panels and adjusted our site layout to ensure that the project would be compatible with the airports use, SunEdison spokesman John Lamontagne said in May. Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@pressenterprise.com In his State of the State address Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown was surprisingly cautionary, defying predictions that he would tout such expansionary projects as high-speed rail and the twin water tunnels under the Sacramento Delta. The most-telling moment came after he celebrated, to applause from the gathered lawmakers in the state Capitol, putting the budget in surplus and paying down the $26 billion debt left him in 2011 by the exiting Arnold Schwarzenegger administration. You should applaud, Gov. Brown said, departing from his prepared text. Because there might not be much coming after this, meaning new surpluses. That was an obvious reference to the sharp declines in stock markets so far this year. Yet there was much he celebrated. He touted raising the states mimimum wage to $10 this year from $8 when he took office. That jump also has encouraged Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities to raise their minimum wages yet higher, to $15 over the next few years. Actually, a higher minimum wage, especially in low-wage areas such as the Inland Empire, mainly will kill entry-level jobs even as another recession may loom. Most importantly and this is truly monumental we have wholeheartedly embraced the Affordable Care Act, he said. As a result, we are now enrolling 13.5 million Californians in Medi-Cal and another 1.5 million in Covered California. We would contend that it should not be a matter of pride that one-third of Californians are getting medical welfare. He called for fixing the states crumbling roads, but insisted that [d]oing so without an expanded and permanent revenue source is impossible. Actually, the state just needs to spend highway taxes and fees on repairs instead of siphoning off the money to the General Fund. In sum, the speech made it clear that the one legacy Gov. Brown values above all others is that he did not bust the budget. Lebanese students carry portraits of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent opposition Saudi Shiite cleric who was executed by Saudi Arabia eleven days ago. (Photo: AP) Jeddah: The world's largest Muslim body has backed Saudi Arabia in its weeks-long diplomatic spat with Iran, accusing Tehran of backing terrorism and meddling in other countries' affairs. Tehran rejected the statement by The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as "unacceptable" on Friday, and in turn accused it of supporting "Saudi state terrorism". The OIC, based in the Saudi city of Jeddah, gathered for an exceptional meeting called by Riyadh over the storming of its embassy and consulate by Iranian protesters on January 2. The crisis erupted when Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia executed Shi'ite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr earlier that day, triggering outrage among Shi'ites across the region and deepening the political and sectarian rift between the kingdom and the Islamic republic. In its final statement on Thursday evening, the OIC condemned the attacks on Saudi missions and criticised "inflammatory Iranian statements on the implementation of court rulings against a number of perpetrators of terrorist crimes in Saudi Arabia". "(The OIC) condemns Iran's interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region and other countries, including members (Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and Somalia) and the continuation of its support for terrorism," the body added. Riyadh cut its diplomatic ties with Tehran in response. Other Gulf countries took varying measures to downgrade ties with Iran. Iran is a member of the OIC and its Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attended the meeting. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed the OIC statement, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported on Friday. "The statement has turned a blind eye to the realities of Saudi embassy event and Iranian government's speedy measures in providing security restoring calm and detaining those responsible for the event," said Hossein Jaberi Ansari. "The goal of such meetings is an attempt to provide coverage to the policies of discord, war-mongering and support for state terrorism of Saudi Arabia." Analysts say the dispute may dampen chances for peace talks to end wars in Yemen and Syria, where the two regional archrivals back opposing sides. During the recent economic downturn, it wasnt uncommon for employees to be hit with a reduction in pay, either through cutbacks in work hours, forced furloughs or outright salary cuts. Faced with such circumstances, a lot of those workers found ways to supplement their incomes in order to meet their living expenses. Who could blame them? Some institutions took similar measures, including Californias public colleges and universities. One popular way for these schools to recoup some of the revenue lost when the state cut their funding was to enroll more out-of-state and international students. Thats because these students pay up to three times more in tuition to attend California colleges and universities. In the ensuing years and in the past year in particular those same schools have been taking heat for not enrolling higher numbers of in-state students and for recruiting and admitting too many outsiders. Its kind of like the worker who took on a second job during the recession being accused of not applying himself enough at his primary job. Even the state has been critical. Last year, the state Legislature approved what amounts to a $25 million bonus if the UC system admitted an additional 5,000 freshmen from California in fall 2016. Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside, who chairs the Assemblys Higher Education Committee, said its time for the UC to focus more on the homefront. Its becoming more and more difficult for students to access higher education in a timely manner, Medina said. Yesterday I was at a meeting of the Wood Streets association and the question was, Do we have space in California universities? Medina said he doesnt think its disingenuous for the Legislature to demand more access for California students after cutting billions of dollars in funding during the recession. I know at the time, when the state Legislature was funding the UC less, there was a reliance on (out-of-state) students to make up the gap, he said. I think we are doing better, so the time has come to curtail that so that we have room for the California students. Many college administrators argue that admitting students from outside California actually benefits the system. Not only do such students add to the diversity of campuses, they say, but the additional funding actually helps sustain and even broaden a schools offerings. Medina said he hasnt seen evidence to convince him of that. James Grant, spokesman for UC Riverside, said there is a direct benefit from the higher tuition non-resident students pay. One third of that tuition is turned into financial aid for other in-state students, Grant said. While non-resident students make up about 20 percent of UC enrollment systemwide, UC Riversides numbers are much lower. In fall 2015, the school reported 8.6 percent of its students came from out-of-state or from other countries. Among undergraduates, the demographic makes up 2.3 percent of the current student population. Grant said UCR actually hopes to increase that percentage. The schools enrollment has steadily increased and was at 21,539 last fall. Its master plan calls for increasing that enrollment to 25,000 by 2020. Grant said, the eventual goal is to have 8 percent to 10 percent of undergraduate students coming from outside California. The university expects to take on 750 additional resident Californians this coming fall, as part of the 5,000 total to be added to the UC system. Grant said because of the plan to grow the campus, things are in place to accommodate the increase. Medina said he is not fully confident the UC will reach the target number. But he hopes it will. I know how important funding is to the University of California, he said. I want them to get the $25 million. Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@pressenterprise.com A shooting in Lake Elsinore that took the life of a 15-year-old Temecula boy was a drug-fueled mistake, a witness testified Friday, Jan. 22. Isaiah Thomas, 16, a friend of both the victim and the suspect who witnessed the shooting, gave his account during a preliminary hearing at the Southwest Justice Center near Murrieta. Gage Seal was killed May 31, 2015, in the Travel Inn motel, 31610 Auto Center Dr. in Lake Elsinore, and 16-year-old Ryan Jordan Jawad, also of Temecula, was arrested on suspicion of Seals murder. Thomas was one of several teens who was in the room when Seal was killed, he said during the hearing. Jawad, who had been smoking wax, a marijuana derivative, was playing with a handgun in the hotel room, pointing it around and pulling the trigger, Thomas said. He was messing with it, clicking it, he said. Thomas asked Jawad to stop playing with the gun and then looked down at his cell phone. Seconds later, he heard a gunshot. Ryan (Jawad) was crying, Oh my God, I shot Gage!' Thomas said. Gage just looked up at him and fell over. Jawad tried to stop the blood flow with a blanket, but apparently decided nothing could be done and draped the blanket over him, Thomas recalled. The shooting was an accident and Jawad and Seal were good friends, Thomas said. They loved each other. They always used to play around, he said. The three boys along with several other friends were in the motel room waiting for one of their friends stepfathers to arrive with strippers, Thomas said. The stepfather, Julio Ramirez, 33, was arrested shortly after the shooting. Cynthia Alvarez, an employee of the motel who was working the reception desk at the time of the shooting, also testified Friday. She said the boys came to the office in a panic and asked her to call the police because their friend shot himself. The purpose of the hearing was for a judge to decide whether enough evidence was available to go to trial with the case, but not all the testimony was heard. Another hearing was set for Jan. 29. Heres how area senators voted on major issues in the week ending Jan. 22. The House was in recess. SENATE SCREENING IRAQI, SYRIAN REFUGEES: Voting 55 for and 43 against, the Senate on Jan. 20 failed to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill (HR 4038) to impose additional security screening on refugee applicants from Iraq and Syria. The bill requires the secretary of Homeland Security, FBI director and director of national intelligence to clear each applicant from the two countries before they can enter the U.S. This would add layers to an existing two-year-long process that requires clearances by seven departments and agencies. The administration plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in coming months in addition to the nearly 2,000 admitted over the past four years on humanitarian grounds. Applicants are first screened by a United Nations agency and then drawn from refugee camps in the Middle East. A yes vote was to advance the bill to full debate. Voting no: Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. CLEAN WATER ACT, PRESIDENTIAL VETO: Voting 52 for and 40 against, the Senate on Jan. 21 failed to advance to a direct vote on President Obamas veto of bill concerning the 1972 Clean Water Act. Supporters needed 60 votes to start debate on their bid to override the veto. This ended long-running GOP-led opposition (SJ Res 22) to a new Environmental Protection Agency rule designed to protect the quality of headwaters, wetlands and other waters upstream of navigable waters. Critics called the EPA rule a federal power grab, while backers said it would protect waters used for drinking, recreation and other purposes. A yes vote was in opposition to the EPAs new headwaters rule. Voting no: Feinstein Not voting: Boxer FEDERAL JUDGE WILHELMINA WRIGHT: By a vote of 58 for and 36 against, the Senate on Jan. 19 confirmed Wilhelmina Marie Wright as a federal judge for the District of Minnesota. The vote occurred nine months after her nomination by President Obama. Wright, 52, had been a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court since 2012, the first African-American woman to serve on that court. She previously served on lower courts in Minnesota and as a federal prosecutor there. No senator spoke against Wright during brief floor debate. A yes vote was to confirm Judge Wright. Voting yes: Feinstein, Boxer Copyright 2016, Thomas Voting Reports, Inc. French Toast French toast is a popular breakfast to prepare during a winter storm. (Sue Gleiter, PennLive.com) This is a "French Toast" storm. It's the latest lingo used to indicate the severity of a snowstorm as people run out to buy bread, milk and eggs. Or, otherwise, the three key ingredients used to make French toast. Most of us piled into the supermarkets ahead of the storm to stock up on groceries. We're republishing this French toast recipe that calls for the option of triple sec and orange zest. So as you wait to head out with the shovels or fire up the snow blower, this recipe will help you use up those supplies of bread, milk and eggs. French Toast Ingredients: 8 eggs 2/3 cup milk 2 teaspoons cinnamon 8 slices of bread butter Extras: 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest 1/4 cup triple sec Directions: Beat eggs, milk, and cinnamon together. If using, add orange zest and/or Triple Sec. Whisk until well blended. Pour into a shallow bowl. Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, allowing bread to soak up some of the mixture. Melt some butter over a large skillet on medium high heat. Add as many slices of bread onto the skillet as will fit at a time. Fry until brown on both sides, flipping the bread when necessary. At least 12 people have been killed as a snowstorm pounds the eastern part of the U.S. Some details of the deaths: MARYLAND A 60-year-old man died shoveling snow after an apparent heart attack in the Fort Washington area, authorities said. Medics were called but couldn't revive him, Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady said. KENTUCKY A man died in southeastern Kentucky when his car collided with a salt truck Thursday, state police said. Billy R. Stevens, 59, of Williamsburg was pronounced dead at the scene on state Route 92 in Whitley County. Two passengers were being treated at a hospital. A Kentucky transportation worker died Saturday while plowing snow-covered highways, officials said. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet identified him in a statement as Christopher Adams. The statement says Adams called a supervisor about 5:50 a.m., saying his plow slid into a ditch. When the supervisor arrived, Adams was slumped over, unresponsive in his seat. A cause of death has not been released. NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Pat McCrory said one person injured in an accident in Wilkes County on Wednesday evening has died, and another motorist was killed Friday in a crash on Interstate 95 in Johnston County. A 60-year-old woman driving her car in Stokes County near her home about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday hit an "extremely icy" patch, went down an embankment and turned over in a creek, the state Highway Patrol said. Mary Williams was killed in the accident. In neighboring Forsyth County, 55-year-old Rosa McCollough-Leake was killed when she slid on an icy roadway, crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a pickup truck head-on. Three people had minor injuries. A 4-year-old boy died Friday afternoon after the pickup truck carrying his family on Interstate 77 near Troutman spun out of control and crashed, said State Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael Baker. The Ford pickup carrying two adults and their three children all under 8 years old slammed into a tow truck working to haul out a vehicle that had run off the highway earlier, Baker said. Troopers say the boy was restrained in a child seat and died as a result of the impact. A motorist died Friday morning after losing control of her car and hitting a tree in Hickory. Troopers identified her as 19-year-old Madeline Paige Scalf of High Point. TENNESSEE A car slid off the roadway due to speed and slick conditions, killing the driver and injuring a passenger, the Knox County sheriff's department said. A couple was in a vehicle that slid off an icy road and plummeted down a 300-foot embankment Wednesday night, killing the woman who was driving, said Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford. Stacy Sherrill's husband, a passenger in the car, survived the crash. It took him several hours to climb the embankment and report the accident. VIRGINIA A man was killed in the City of Chesapeake, Va., on Friday after his car went off the snowy George Washington highway and hit a tree, said Officer Leo Kosinski. WASHINGTON (AP) -- The latest on the blizzard slamming the eastern part of the United States (all times local): 10:45 p.m.: For the passengers on a cruise ship heading back to snowy Baltimore from the Bahamas, one more day at sea doesn't sound like such a bad idea. The Maryland Department of Transportation said Friday that the blizzard slamming the Eastern U.S. means the port won't be ready for the Royal Caribbean International's Grandeur of the Seas until Monday. Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez says the ship was to return Sunday from an eight-day trip to the Bahamas. The plans changed after forecasts of more than 2 feet of snow for the Baltimore area. 9:30 p.m.: Gov. Chris Christie has declared a state of emergency in New Jersey as a major storm threatens to dump up to 2 feet of snow on parts of the state and cause flooding at the coast. Christie held a briefing with his Cabinet on Friday night and then a news conference, in which he told people to be smart and stay off roadways on Saturday. Most of the state is facing a blizzard warning from Friday evening until Sunday that calls for up to 24 inches of snow, with the deepest accumulations in the central part of the state. New Jersey state climatologist David Robinson says back bay flooding and beach erosion at the shore could range from moderate to major, but he doesn't expect storm surge levels in the northern part of the state to be as bad as they were during Superstorm Sandy. 8:30 p.m.: Even the start of the snowstorm couldn't keep some tourists from visiting the White House. On Friday afternoon, several groups and couples were walking in the park in front of the mansion, and the fountain in the home's yard was still spraying water. Newlyweds Stefan Tomic and Cherokee Tomic, both 22, were visiting from New York and had just arrived in the city Friday by bus. They said they didn't want to change their plans because of the weather and that their first stop was the White House. "We're just going to have fun," Cherokee Tomic said. 5:40 p.m.: A shivering homeless man in Kentucky has found some warmth in the kindness of strangers. Shawn Harmon was standing in the snow at an intersection in Louisville with his dog when a teenage girl hopped out of a car at a red light and handed him a red wool blanket. Harmon said "God bless you." Harmon and his dog Tucker, a bluenose pitbull, had been standing at this intersection for hours, despite the snow and freezing temperatures that kept most in Louisville hunkered in their houses. Harmon said he couldn't go to a shelter because they won't take dogs and he won't leave Tucker. He needed $20 more for a $75 motel room. 4:10 p.m.: The storm system ravaging the East Coast brought tornadoes and snow to Mississippi. The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed at least two tornadoes tore through Lamar and Simpson counties on Thursday. No injuries were reported. By Friday, parts of northern Mississippi had received up to 2 inches of snow. Meteorologist Brad Bryant says it's rare for a system to bring tornadoes and snow to the state. Both tornadoes damaged homes in the area, uprooted trees and downed power lines. The snow caused accidents on roadways and shuttered schools and businesses. Inmates Escape Orange County sheriff's deputies and a search dog investigate early Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2016, after three jail inmates charged with violent crimes escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevin Warn) LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped an Orange County jail. The inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. Friday at the Orange County Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They could have escaped anytime between then and late Friday night, Lt. Jeff Hallock, a spokesman with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said Saturday. Hallock said investigators believe they know how the three men escaped the 900-inmate jail, but for now, he wouldn't release those details. He said it's the first escape from the facility in at least the past 20 years and could be the first-ever breakout from the jail. The inmates include 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who had been held on a $1 million bond since October 2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. His case is believed to be gang-related. This image provided by the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, shows three jail inmates charged with violent crimes who escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif. The men from left are, 37-year-old Hossein Nayeri, charged with kidnapping and torture; 20-year-old Jonathan Tieu, who is charged with murder, and 43-year-old Bac Duong, charged with attempted murder. (Orange County Sheriff's Department via AP) Hossein Nayeri, 37, had been held without bond since September 2014 on charges of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary. Nayeri and three other men are accused of kidnapping a California marijuana dispensary owner in 2012. They drove the dispensary owner to a desert spot where they believed he had hidden money and then cut off his penis, authorities said. After the crime, Nayeri fled the U.S. to his native Iran, where he remained for several months. He was arrested in Prague in November 2014 while changing flights from Iran to Spain to visit family. The third escaped inmate, 43-year-old Bac Duong, was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and other charges. Hallock said the sheriff's department is doing everything it can to find the men. "Obviously the safety of the community is No. 1," Hallock said at a news conference. "We're exhausting all investigative resources and measures to bring these three inmates back into custody." According to a Counter-Terrorism Department spokesman, a team of police personnel last night raided a house in Azam Chowk in Layyah district, some 350-km from Lahore. (Photo: AP) Lahore: Police killed three al-Qaeda terrorists in a shootout in Pakistan's Punjab province, thwarting a major terror attack, an official said on Saturday. According to a Counter-Terrorism Department spokesman, a team of police personnel last night raided a house in Azam Chowk in Layyah district, some 350-km from Lahore. The terrorists present in the house opened fire. The police returned the fire killing three terrorists, he said. "Three of their accomplices, however, managed to escape," he said, adding that huge quantity of explosives was recovered from the house. "The slain terrorists belonged to Al-Qaeda. The law enforcement agencies have thwarted a major terrorist attack in the province," he said. Meanwhile, the Punjab police launched a search operation in different districts of the province including Lahore and arrested more than 200 suspects. "Police in a search operation in different districts of Punjab have detained more than 200 suspects mostly Afghans. The police are interrogating them," a police spokesperson said. The mayor of Lebanon issued a declaration of disaster emergency, which took effect at 1 p.m., and has imposed a ban on non-emergency travel in the city until further notice. The travel ban declared by Mayor Sherry Capello prohibits non-essential vehicles from traveling on city streets. Only emergency services vehicles, fire and police, public works and public utility vehicles, bona fide snow removal contracts and health care workers are exempt from the ban. Vehicles abandoned on city streets will be towed at the owner's expense.In addition, Capello noted that a snow emergency remains in effect, and parking is prohibited on snow emergency routes until further notice. Lebanon joins Lancaster and York cities, which also imposed bans on travel Saturday. A vigil planned for Sunday to honor a central Pennsylvania Marine who died when two helicopters crashed during a training exercise in Hawaii last week has been postponed. The Boiling Springs VFW Post 8851 had planned to hold the vigil in honor of Sgt. Adam Schoeller of Gardners, who was aboard one of the helicopters that crash. "We must postpone Sunday's vigil," says a statement on the group's Facebook page. "Winter Storm Jonas has dealt us double, possibly triple the snow that was predicted. Thank you to all those who have already volunteered to help, and have the Schoeller family in your thoughts." The Pennsylvania National Guard has been called out to help stranded motorists along the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bedford and Somerset counties, officials said. The problem started shortly after midnight Saturday, when several tractor-trailers had trouble traveling up a hill at mile marker 123, near the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel in Somerset County, according to Carl DeFebo, a spokesman for the turnpike. The problems were made worse when other vehicles began stacking up behind the disabled tractor-trailers, DeFebo said. "There are several pockets of disabled vehicles in the area," DeFebo said. "Unfortunately, people have been stuck out there for several hours." DeFebo said the snow is falling faster than turnpike crews can keep up with it. At 5 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service in State College said the snow was falling at a rate of two inches an hour at the Harrisburg International Airport. At 7 a.m. Saturday, more than 17 inches had reportedly fallen in Bedford and Somerset countries, according to the NWS. As of 8 a.m., DeFebo said he didn't know when the national guard troops would arrive at the scene, only that they were "en route." redblueamerica By Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk The only thing predictable about the 2016 presidential campaign so far has been its unpredictability. A year ago, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb Bush were their respective parties' front-runners and presumed nominees. Now, Donald Trump continues to hold a commanding lead in national polls for the GOP nomination, and Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who is a self-proclaimed socialist, is poised to beat Clinton in the upcoming Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Could Trump and Sanders face off in the general election? What would it mean for the Democratic and Republican parties? What would it mean for the country? Ben Boychuk and Joel Mathis, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, think the unthinkable. JOEL MATHIS The fact that we're even contemplating a Sanders-versus-Trump election proves one thing: The electorate has started to reach its polarized limits. Decades ago, both parties spanned fairly broad sections of the ideological spectrum. It's how Democrats could be the party of Southern segregationists and the authors of the Voting Rights Act; it's how Republicans could keep middle-of-the-road Dwight Eisenhower in office for eight years and nominate conservative firebrand Barry Goldwater to the presidency just a few years after that. That meant overlap: The most conservative Democrat in Congress back in those days was often somewhere to the right of the most liberal Republican. The last few decades have dispensed with that order. Study after study shows that the electorate has sorted itself into increasingly homogeneous parties: If you're liberal, you're a Democrat. If you're conservative, you're Republican. The overlap is gone. The result? You're getting to see the parties in their essences. You get to see the fruition of ideas and their logical consequences. For Republicans, it means that decades spent whipping up right-leaning voters into an angry hysteria - thanks to talk radio, Fox News and online outlets like Breitbart - has paid off with widespread support for a candidate whose appeal boils down to snarling, offense-giving tribalism, the pinnacle of a career spent diminishing the fortune he inherited. For Democrats, you're seeing a desire to help the poor and middle class live financially sustainable lives. But Sanders' heart may be bigger than his wallet: Vox's Ezra Klein says Sanders' proposed health care plan would require raising $1 trillion a year in taxes. Paul Krugman, no conservative, says it would probably require higher middle class taxes than Sanders is willing to admit. It's hard to believe the American electorate has much stomach for that. It's easy, and wrong, to make a fetish of centrism and compromise. In our politics, the best ideas tend to flow to the middle, not from it. But the system gets bogged down without some moderate good sense in the mix. A Trump-versus-Sanders race suggests we're dire need of more good sense. BEN BOYCHUK Readers of a certain age and disposition will remember a Marvel Comics series from the late 1970s and early '80s called "What If ... ?" The gimmick was to take a story from the main continuity of Marvel's comic book universe and put a different spin on it. "What If Spiderman Joined the Fantastic Four?" "What If The Avengers Had Fought Evil During the 1950s?" "What If Captain America Had Been Elected President?" The 2016 presidential election feels like a "What If ... ?" story. What if the Republican Party base revolted? What if the presumed nominee of the Democratic Party collapsed under the weight of her scandalous past and present? Sanders' persistence as a candidate and credible challenger to Clinton is as remarkable as Trump's persistently high poll numbers. The socialist from Vermont has raised more than $76 million for his campaign, mostly from small donors. She's raised more money, but he's drawing support from a broader base. You think the conservatives are angry and divided? The fact that Sanders is within striking distance of Clinton in Iowa and looks to be crushing her in New Hampshire speaks to how cranky and dissatisfied the Democrats' more left-wing base has become. And with word this week that the State Department inspector general found highly sensitive classified information among Clinton's personal emails, her troubles can no longer be brushed off by the campaign as right-wing paranoia (which was always a fib). What's interesting about the prospect of a Trump-Sanders election, though, is the reality of the choice American voters would be asked to make. Trump is no conservative. He's barely a Republican. He's a nationalist first and foremost. So is Sanders. A Trump-Sanders matchup would make for a wild "What If ... ?" tale. What if Americans have to choose between two candidates who dislike free trade, love higher tariffs on foreign goods, and want to restrict legal and illegal immigration? What if the choice is between a candidate who would cut taxes and add trillions to the deficit and a candidate who would raise taxes and add trillions to the deficit? Mister, we could use a man like Captain America again. 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 Journalist Patricia Brooks Arenburg holds a sign on the picket line outside of the Halifax Chronicle Herald offices on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. Newsroom employees at Canada's largest independent daily newspaper walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after talks broke down earlier this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aly Thomson FILE - In this June 9, 2015 file photo, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert departs the federal courthouse in Chicago. Lawyers for Hastert have asked a federal judge to delay sentencing in his hush-money case because of his recent hospitalization for a stroke and other health problems. A Friday Jan. 22, 2016, court filing said the Illinois Republican has been unable to prepare for his Feb. 29 sentencing because of his health problems. (AP Photo/Christian K. Lee, File) FILE - In this July 8, 2015, file photo, United Airlines planes are parked at their gates as another plane, top, taxis past them at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, in Houston. United Airlines pilots are ratifying a contract extension that includes pay raises and gives the company more certainty about labor costs, the Air Line Pilots Association reported, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Pakistan military arrests five militants in connection with the draconian attack on Bacha Khan University. (Photo: AP) Peshwar (Pakistan): Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan for facilitating the deadly Taliban attack on a prestigious university in the country's northwest that killed 21 people, mostly students, the military announced today. "We have arrested four facilitators who helped the attackers enter Pakistan and took them to Mardan before attack on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda district," Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. On Wednesday, four heavily-armed terrorists attacked the Bacha Khan University named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan via the Torkhum border, Bajwa said. According to Bajwa, the main facilitator -- "terrorist A" -- who received and made arrangements for the attackers at Torkhum border checkpost is still at large. The arrested men helped militants purchase their weapons in the country's tribal belt and relied on women close to the accused to help smuggle guns. "Women wearing traditional veils do not usually undergo a routine body search at the checkpoints," said Bajwa. He said the attack on BKU was planned and controlled from Afghanistan as the phone call of commander Omer Mansoor, who later claimed responsibility, was made from Afghanistan. Mansoor and his deputy Qari Zakir made calls to attackers from Afghanistan and on Wednesday - the day of the attack - around 10 calls were made from Afghanistan, he claimed. He said that Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has exchanged intelligence-based information with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Bajwa said one of the arrested men recently did masonry at BKU and later drafted a map to aid the attackers. On Friday, the Taliban faction behind the massacre posted a video message vowing to target schools throughout Pakistan, calling them "nurseries" for people who challenge Allah's law. The BKU assault came about an year after terrorists attacked an army-run school in Peshawar that killed nearly 150 people, most of them students. The Pakistani military intensified an ongoing offensive, named operation Zarb-e-Azb, against extremists in the tribal areas after the 2014 attack. Bajwa said the operation was progressing successfully. To a question on border management with Afghanistan, Bajwa said the issue is under consideration and a lot of measures have been taken in this direction. With over 1.6 million TikTok followers, Catieosaurus has proven herself as one of the leading voices in living with ADHD as an adult. Justin Perlman finds out more about neurodivergence and how it relates to sex, relationships, and queer identities. Babus are, by training, cautious and circumspect, conditioned not to tread on toes, especially of their political masters. But there are always exceptions who believe in expressing their opinions freely even if it does land them in hot water. A senior Indian Administrative Service officer in Kerala, B. Ashok, has incurred the wrath of the Congress-led United Democratic Front government for penning an article back in 2013 in support of then Gujarat chief minister and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kerala government held an inquiry and concluded that Mr Ashok, then vice-chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, had violated service rules by writing an article in a local daily. It started disciplinary proceedings against the 1998-batch babu, with the state high court upholding its stance. But Mr Ashok challenged the proceedings by petitioning the Supreme Court, which has provided relief by putting on hold the action initiated by the Kerala government. The state government has now been directed to respond to Mr Ashoks petition and the battle will probably continue. Watch this space for updates. In the line of fire The seeming reluctance of the Centre to respond to the terror attack in Pathankot has placed home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in the firing line of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, headed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP P. Bhattacharya. While the panel members expected Mr Mehrishi to discuss the terror attack, he requested more time to present his report. He then presented his report on the Chennai floods following which he reportedly walked out midway through the deliberations. Apparently, the ire of the members was further fuelled by the fact that Mr Mehrishi had not attended two previous meetings of the committee nor submitted action taken reports for discussion. The standing committees, many headed by non-Bharatiya Janata Party politicians, are an opportunity for the Opposition to pressure the government to explain its actions. So any sign of non-cooperation does not go down well. Mr Mehrishi, however, is not entirely off the hook. Hes been advised not to absent himself in future discussions of the committee. Serious lapse The Central Information Commission (CIC) has come down heavily on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for serious procedural lapses in the appointment of officers. According to sources, information commissioner Yashovardhan Azad has pointed out that an instance, following an RTI query, in which the vigilance clearance for V.K. Sharma, a 1994-batch Indian Forest Service (IoFS) officer for induction in NHAI was apparently taken telephonically from the concerned ministry! The commission has now directed that a copy of its order be sent to secretary, ministry of road transport and to the chairman of NHAI to express concern over the state of affairs. According to Mr Azad, the CICs inquiry revealed irregularities in appointments and that there was a marked reluctance on the part of NHAI to part with information. Clearly, not something that the Modi government with its emphasis on transparency and forthrightness can be proud of. Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president Bhupesh Baghel sees the alleged fixing of the Antagarh byelection as a pilot project conceived by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to influence the outcome of state Assembly election in future. In an interview with Rabindra Nath Choudhury, Mr Baghel says that the sensational expose portends a danger to our democracy. You have launched a fight-to-the-finish war against senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi in the wake of the audio tape expose, suggesting the roles of Mr Jogi and his MLA son Amit in fixing the Antagarh byelections to benefit the ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh. The audio tape issue has been wrongly projected as a battle between me and Ajit Jogi. I have nothing against any individual nor am I settling political scores with any leader within my party or the BJP. Rather, I am worried about the dangerous design behind the fixing of the Antagarh byelection. Winning or losing one seat makes no difference to the Congress or to the BJP. The fixing of the byelection was a pilot project conceived by the BJP in connivance with a powerful section of the Congress to influence the outcome of Assembly elections in future. In states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry where legislature strength is below 100 peoples mandate can be manipulated by a political party by fixing polls in five to eight seats. This portends danger to democracy in India. Fixing of Antagarh byelection should be seen in this context by the country; it is in the interest of democracy. Those behind the poll-fixing should be brought to book to ensure democracy is not jeopardised. The audio tape has telephonic conversations of purportedly six people, including Mr Ajit Jogi and his son Amit and chief minister Raman Singhs son-in-law, Puneet Gupta, allegedly striking a deal to remove Congress candidate Manturam Pawar from the fray in Antagarh to ensure victory of the BJP nominee. The manner in which the independent candidates were coerced to withdraw their nomination after Mr Pawar withdrew his candidature at the last minute, shows that the BJP had a hand in fixing the Antagarh byelection. Why has the BJPs central leadership not taken any action against Mr Singh and Mr Gupta? This gives an impression that the BJP national leadership consented to it. Since the role of chief minister is under scrutiny, I am opposed to a probe by chief secretary of the Chhattisgarh government as ordered by the Election Commission. Only a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) under supervision of the Supreme Court will unearth the truth. But Mr Ajit Jogi has dismissed the audio tapes as fake. He claimed that all the six people purportedly recorded on the tapes have denied that the voices are theirs. On January 22, we staged a state-wide protest against this, where people across Chhattisgarh were given an opportunity to hear the audio tapes. They recognised the voices. The conspirators have have been thoroughly exposed in public. What will be the fate of the Jogis in view of the audio tapes leak? Mr Amit Jogi has already been expelled by the party. The Chhattisgarh PCC has recommended expulsion of Mr Ajit Jogi, a Central Working Committee member, to the AICC leadership. What impact will Mr Ajit Jogis expulsion have on the Congress in Chhattisgarh? Will it split? It wont make any difference to the party if one leader exits or is removed. For the record, I want to say that the Congress performed well in the recent elections to urban and rural local bodies while Mr Jogi decided to stay away from electioneering. There are rumours that if expelled, Mr Ajit Jogi may float his own political party. Will it affect the Congress prospects in the 2018 Assembly elections? It is a hypothetical question. No regional party in Chhattisgarh has ever succeeded. There is absolutely no space for a regional party in Chhattisgarh as the two national parties the Congress and the BJP are firmly entrenched across electorate bases in the state. You see a political conspiracy in the Jiram Ghati Naxal attack of 2013 in which 27 Congressmen were massacred. Can you elaborate the basis of your apprehension? First of all, security was not given to the Congress Parivartan Yatra, a pre-Assembly election campaign, despite the fact that it took place in what was considered a Naxal stronghold, whereas foolproof security measures were undertaken during chief minister Raman Singhs Vikas Yatra in the nearby area. Secondly, it was not a usual Naxal attack where the ultras ambush and then open indiscriminate fire on their targets. In case of Jiram Ghati, the Naxals inquired about Congress leaders and targeted each of them individually. Why were certain leaders let off? Why Dinesh Patel, son of then PCC president Nand Kumar Patel, was killed although he had nothing to do with politics? Was he eliminated because someone considered him as his competitor? But the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which probed the incident, found no evidence to establish a political conspiracy in it. The NIA has never probed the conspiracy angle. We (Congress) are currently probing this incident to establish that there was a conspiracy. How do you rate Mr Singhs performance in his third term as chief minister? His third term is marked by chaos which indicates his losing control over officialdom, mega corruptions such as rice and mining scams, nepotism and gross financial mismanagement. But Mr Singh often asserts that the Congress charges against his government have never been proven in a court of law. Many mega scams are now pending trial in the Chhattisgarh high court and the Supreme Court. I have filed many PILs in this regard. How do you fancy your partys chances in the 2018 Assembly elections? The polls are three years away. However, even now we are confident of returning to power in the state. REXIS was originally scheduled for installation in September 2015. However, after careful consideration, the project decided that we could not approve moving forward with an ATLO Integration Readiness Review (AIRR) for the REXIS instrument at that time. We came to this conclusion based upon the number of items that remained open on the instrument. REXIS has always been primarily viewed as an educational opportunity to train the next generation of scientists and engineers in the development of spaceflight hardwareso, science return from the instrument is a second priority to ensuring that REXIS does not damage the spacecraft or other science instruments. To this end, the project focused on the do-no-harm verification items that needed to be successfully closed before we could be assured that the REXIS instrument was safe to integrate to the spacecraft. In addition, there was an unexplained shift in a primary vibration mode that was revealed during instrument-level vibration testing. That unexplained shift had our mechanical engineers concerned about the safety of the instrument. PMKs chief ministerial candidate Dr Anbumani Ramadoss interacts with the public after launching Chennai we want campaign at Choolaimedu on Friday . (Photo: DC) Chennai: PMKs chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday said his party does not need any allies for the ensuing state Assembly election as it enjoys the support of youngsters and women. The peoples mindset has changed after 50 years of Dravidian party rule. Post floods, there is an entire change in the political scenario, he said after launching The Chennai We Want campaign covering the Assembly constituencies in the city on Friday. Pointing out the advantage of launching the campaign for the Assembly election a year in advance, Anbumani said, Of all the parties, we have the best chief ministerial candidate. I dont want to boost myself. He added that his biggest supporters are youngsters and women. He said women feel the PMK was the only party which would implement prohibition. He said his party has also got good reception everywhere across the state. Anbumani, who interacted with the public as part of the campaign in various parts of the city, including Choolaimedu, Tana Street and Mint, said there is anger against the ruling AIADMK government in the post flood scenario. Whatever she (Jayalalithaa) announces and whatever she does, people are not going to buy, he said, adding that DMK has lost the confidence of the people and its decline is visible in the last three election results. The flood has affected 80 Assembly constituencies in five districts, he said. The PMK leader sought a judicial enquiry into the devastating Chennai floods to fix responsibility for mismanagement and provide adequate compensation to the flood-affected people. The campaign is aimed at creating a new policy framework for developing sustainable city with inputs from the public, he said adding that this was not aimed at elections. This campaign will go on for six months, even after the elections, he said, urging the people to send in their inputs online to thechennaiwewant@gmail.com. A man who tried to commit suicide by hanging himself from a telephone pole was rescued by two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Station, authorities said today, reports Hollywood Patch. Officers spotted the man about 5:30 p.m. Sunday near the top of a telephone pole on the corner of La Brea and Delongpre avenues. He had tied a torn shirt around his neck and was threatening to hang himself, according to the LAPD. Officers positioned themselves to take lifesaving action while Los Angeles Fire Department personnel extended a ladder to the man and positioned an air bag beneath him, police said. "When the man let go of his grip on the pole, he hung himself by the neck with his feet dangling in the air," according to an LAPD statement. "Officers Joseph Marx and Chris Ignacio took direct action and ... saved the man's life."' "I could not be prouder of the supervisors and officers who brought this incident to a successful and safe conclusion," Hollywood Station watch commander Lt. Scott Murray said. Oregon's governor said she's frustrated with the way federal authorities are handling an armed group's continued occupation of a national wildlife refuge and it's time to end it, reports the Bulletin. Exasperated by a tense situation that has caused fear among some southeastern Oregon residents since it began Jan. 2, Gov. Kate Brown said at a news conference Wednesday that federal officials "must move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable." "The residents of Harney County have been overlooked and underserved by federal officials' response thus far. I have conveyed these very grave concerns directly to our leaders at the highest levels of our government: the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House," Brown said. The Democratic governor said the occupation has cost Oregon taxpayers nearly half a million dollars. "We'll be asking federal officials to reimburse the state for these costs," Brown said. Brown spokeswoman Melissa Navas said in an email that number is coming from labor costs for an additional law enforcement presence in the area, including overtime, travel reimbursement, lodging and meals for officers. Brown had scheduled the news conference to discuss her agenda for the upcoming legislative session, but she made it a point to deliver strong words about the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by Ammon Bundy and his armed group. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers have been sent to the remote area but so far have avoided doing anything that might provoke a confrontation. One occupier was arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle after driving a vehicle owned by the refuge into the town of Burns, and a Montana man who was stopped by Oregon State Police last week for a lighting violation was arrested on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. While many people in the region sympathize with Bundys complaints about federal management of public lands, they have expressed fear as the occupation continues, and theres been a growing call for the occupiers to go home. During SHOT Show 2016, the Safariland Group SAVES Club honored two American police officers who were saved in the line of fire by armor from The Safariland Group family of brands. Both officers shared their stories and their gratitude for the armor that saved their lives. They were also invited to choose new body armor from Safariland being showcased at the company's booth. Dep. Dustin Alexander survived a pointblank round to his chest because he was wearing his Safariland vest. SAVE #1890 Deputy Dustin Alexander, Douglas County (MN) Sheriff's Office Deputy Dustin Alexander of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. After locating the vehicle in a rural area and approaching its occupants, the driver shot Deputy Alexander in the chest with a 9mm handgun from less than three feet away. He returned fire and the suspects fled on foot after their vehicle became stuck in the snow. A search was conducted and both suspects were located, deceased, in what was ruled a murder-suicide. At the hospital, Deputy Alexander was released that same evening as the shot fired at his chest was stopped by his Protech Tactical IMPAC HT plate and Second Chance Summit SM01.1 Level II armor. Officer Kevin Parker Jr. (right) was saved by a Safariland vest that his father (left) had fitted him for a few months earlier. (Photo: Melanie Basich) SAVE #1928 Officer Kevin Parker Jr., Corinth (MS) Police Department Officer Kevin Parker Jr. had only been with the Corinth (MS) Police Department for eight months. He was on patrol investigating a prowler call when he observed a suspicious individual. The suspect ran in front of his patrol car and, when Officer Parker ordered the suspect to stop, the suspect charged him. The suspect was able to shoot Officer Parker twice; once in the shoulder and once in the chest. Though shot twice, the officer regained full control of his service weapon and the suspect fled the scene. Officer Parker was rushed to the emergency room where he was treated for the gunshot wound to his shoulder. It was discovered that the 9mm shot to his chest had been stopped by his ABA XT02 Level IIIA armor. Parker still has a scar from the major impact of the round, but he was back on duty two months later. His father, a veteran law enforcement officer, works at a local distributor and had fitted him for the vest he wore that day. About the Safariland Saves Club The 1,932 members of the SAVES Club are officers who experienced a life-threating event in which their armor or gear from The Safariland Group contributed to saving their lives. These heroes go on to become advocates within the law enforcement and military community, including the importance of body armor and safety lessons derived from personal experience. Ultimately, the SAVES Club strives to personify The Safariland Group mission that "Together, We Save Lives." BENGALURU: Alleging a sinister design to finish off JD(S) in Karnataka, president of the state unit of the party, H D Kumaraswamy, said such efforts proved unsuccessful in the past as the party had a strong support base in rural areas. Addressing a meeting of office-bearers, legislators and other leaders ahead of forthcoming zilla and taluk panchayat polls here on Saturday, he said the party has still deep roots in rural areas, and this factor must be leveraged during elections to these local bodies. Recent defeats in elections were a temporary setback, and the party would bounce back in forthcoming polls. Mr Kumaraswamy said overconfidence cost the party a lot in previous elections. Local leaders had the capacity to wrest power in at least 10-12 zilla panchayats if they worked as a united team. On their part, legislators should strive to open accounts in districts where the party was not strong. Those who strive hard to ensure victory of party candidates would be considered during selection of candidates for polls to the Legislative Assembly in 2018.Assembly polls. In his address, party president H D Deve Gowda said his sole wish before his death was to install a JD (S) government in the state. He had been suffering all these years with the sole intention of having his own party ruling the state. Our aim should be to win maximum number of zilla panchayats in order to teach a lesson to Congress and BJP, he added. Almost all MLAs and MLC, including disgruntled leaders like Cheluvarayaswamy, Zameer Ahmed Khan, and Balakrishna participated in the meeting. The funeral service for Scott B. Holubar, 56, of Stewartville, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, with the Rev. Kim Cassidy officiating. Mr. Holubar died suddenly at his home on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, from complications following an illness with cancer. Scott Brian Holubar was born Aug. 5, 1959, in Winona, to John and Patricia (Wuest) Holubar. He grew up in Winona, attended school there, and graduated from Winona High School in 1977. He attended West Iowa Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earning an associate's degree in criminal justice. Scott was married on Sept. 6, 1980, in La Crosse, Wis., to Jean Werner. The couple lived in Iowa for a few years before returning to Minnesota. Scott was a longtime employee of Reinforced Thermoplastics (RTP) Company in Winona as a safety and OSHA compliance technician. The Holubar family moved to Lewiston in 1986, where they lived and raised their kids before moving to Winona in 2000. They moved to Stewartville in 2005, where they have continued to make their home. Jean is a longtime employee at Mayo Clinic as an RN and is currently nurse supervisor on Gonda 9. Scott was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville. Scott was diagnosed in November 2005 with Stage 4 cancer of the throat. His prognosis was for just a short amount of time left to live, but following his treatment at Mayo Clinic, he confounded all odds and became a 10-year cancer survivor. His medical team at Mayo often pointed to his story and amazing resilience while treating cancer patients. Scott began giving back by actively mentoring fellow cancer patients at Mayo Clinic and presenting to groups of Mayo doctors on what it felt to have and survive his illness. He commuted to Winona to work at RTP until this year, retiring due to his health. Scott was a competitive swimmer in high school and continued to enjoy the sport as a Minnesota State High School League referee for swimming, and for softball. He was a model car enthusiast, building many through the years; enjoyed reading; following the Green Bay Packers; boating on the Mississippi; and was a trivia master. He loved time spent with his family, especially his grandson, Jayden. Scott is survived by his wife, Jean; his son, Nathan (Nichole); and grandson, Jayden of Holmen, Wis., and his daughter, Allison (Justin) Gaustad of Byron; two sisters, Amy Holubar of Wisconsin, and Sidni Holubar-Krampitz of Owatonna; and one brother, Brian Holubar of Winona. He was preceded in death by his parents. A time of visitation will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Scott's family requests memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, www.griffin-gray.com. Katherine Herridge and Pamela Browne of Fox News are reporting that at least one of the emails on Hillary Clintons private server contained extremely sensitive information identified by an intelligence agency as HCS-O. This code is used for reporting on human intelligence sources in ongoing operations, according two of the Fox reporters sources. Here is what a December 2013 policy document released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence says about HSC-0: The HSC-0 compartment (Operations) is used to protect exceptionally fragile and unique IC (intelligence community) clandestine HUMINT [human intelligence] operations and methods that are not intended for dissemination outside of the originating agency. (Emphasis added) Herridge and Browne say they dont know whether the information contained in the Clinton emails revealed who the human intelligence source was, or his/her nationality or affiliation. Nor is it clear what the impact, if any, was on the source. Regardless, the fact that at least one email on Clintons server was HCS-O will likely take this story to a new level. Those in the FBI and our intelligence services who are demanding that Clinton be prosecuted now have new, strong evidence to support their demand. Those who may be resisting a prosecution are in a weaker position (and some may no longer be inclined to resist). And the public has more reason to be outraged if Clinton skates. Meanwhile, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey argues in the Wall Street Journal that a criminal charge of one sort or another against Clinton is justified. And Mukasey goes one significant step further: he predicts that the Justice Department will bring a criminal charge against the Democratic frontrunner: [Whether a charge is brought] depends in part on the recommendation of FBI Director James Comey, a man described by President Obama, at the time the president appointed him, as fiercely independent. If no recommendation to charge is forthcoming, or if such a recommendation is made but not followed by the attorney general, what happens then? Would the public stand for it? My guess is not. However, my guess is also that we wont be put to that test because our public officials will do their duty. Im less confident than Mukasey about the Justice Departments willingness to do its duty in this context. But the former Attorney Generals guess is not easily discounted. The saga of Barack Obamas Internal Revenue Service is almost unbelievable. After joking years ago that he would audit his enemies, it turned out that Obamas minions were in fact delaying or blocking routine applications for 501(c) status by conservative organizations, in order to help the Democratic Party. When Congress tried to investigate, the Obama administration stonewalled at every turn. Evidence mysteriously disappeared and the key player in the scheme, Lois Lerner, pled the Fifth rather than answer Congresss questions. Obamas stonewall strategy has generally worked well. Scandals fade from the front pages when there are no new developments, and if information finally emerges, Democratic Party reporters treat it as old news. So the IRS scandal has pretty much disappeared from public awareness. Nevertheless, via InstaPundit, we learn that yet another IRS computer hard drive has been destroyed. How many is that now? Ive lost track. IRS officials are being lambasted today for erasing yet another computer hard-drive, this time one that a federal judge had previously ordered to be preserved. House Oversight and Government Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and Subcommittee Chairman Jim Jordan told IRS Commissioner John Koskinen erasing hard-drives has been a continuing problem. It is stunning to see that the IRS does not take reasonable care to preserve documents that it is legally required to protect, said Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, and Jordan, an Ohio Republican, in a letter to Koskinen made public late Thursday. The hard-drive is involved in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Microsoft. A federal judge hearing the FOIA lawsuit told IRS to preserve the hard-drive. Then it was erased. Most people probably dont realize how astonishing this is. I practiced law for 41 years before retiring at the end of last year, all of it doing litigation. Preserving evidence is a routine obligation in lawsuits; it doesnt depend on a court order. But if a federal judge has ordered a party to preserve a hard drive, as happened here, you can be assured that the hard drive will be protected like the crown jewels. Every company in America understands this: if a court has ordered you to preserve evidence, you guard it with your lawyers lives. And yet, time after time, the IRS has either inadvertently or intentionally destroyed hard drives that courts have ordered them to preserve. In the private sector, this is unthinkable. Private companies obey court orders. They know that if they dont, millions of dollars in sanctions are likely to result, and executives will lose their jobs. Only in government agencies do we see this kind of irresponsible scofflaw behavior. This is because most bureaucrats have a deep loyalty to the left-wing cause, and there is no accountability. Many similar instances could be cited, but for now, lets just remember the Colorado river that the Environmental Protection Agency turned orange with toxic chemicals. This kind of thing happens a lot with federal agencies. Is this because federal agencies are corrupt, or because they are unusually inept? The familiar adage is that one should never presume malice when incompetence is a sufficient explanation. But here, I think we are going beyond ineptitude. Are federal agencies the only employers who cant hire people who know how to follow court orders? No. Incompetence may play a part, but it is hard to avoid the conclusion that federal agencies led by left-wing bureaucrats, including but not limited to the IRS, view themselves as above the law and protected by the scofflaw Obama administration, and therefore entitled to thumb their noses at the federal courts. This is a new development in our democracy. Until now, we have never experienced an extra-legal administration like that of Barack Obama. Will the rule of law survive the 2016 presidential election? I dont know. That wheel is still spinning. Hewitt asked Gates, [A]re you surprised by the news that continues to come out about the former Secretary of States server and the fact that the intelligence communitys inspector general has said there was a lot of very highly classified information on her server? Yeah, thats a concern for me, Gates said. I never used email when I was head of CIA or head of the Department of Defense. As I used to joke, I didnt want to have some chief of station overseas email me and say he was going to do something if I didnt get back to him in three hours, and I would get back from a five hour hearing to discover I was two hours too late. I preferred dealing with people face to face and putting a signature on a piece of paper on matters of real national security and importance. Hewitt followed up, One of your colleagues, Mike Morell [Former Deputy Director of the CIA], said on this program, or actually agreed with my assertion that almost certainly, Russians, Chinese and Iranians had compromised the home brew server of the former Secretary of State. He agreed with that. Do you agree with his assessment of my assessment? Well, given the fact that the Pentagon acknowledges that they get attacked about 100,000 times a day, I think the odds are pretty high, Gates insisted. A few hours to the expiration of President Goodluck Jonathans tenure, papers for a huge rice import quota worth billions of Naira were rushed in for the presidents accent, ostensibly as parting gifts to cronies and businessmen close to the power corridor. A state House memo dated May 27, 2015 and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES conveyed the Presidents approval of another memo forwarded to him only a day earlier by his Vice President, Namadi Sambo. In the earlier memo dated May 26, 2016, the then Vice President had sought a subsidy approval for select rice importers to bring in a total of 782,000 metric tonnes under what was termed 2015 Rice Quota Allocations. The then President signed the largesse deal on his last day in Aso Rock. But the allocation was rejected, and cancelled by the succeeding Muhammadu Buhari administration. PREMIUM TIMES had on December 21, 2015, published an investigation detailing the corruption that plagued the 2014 Rice Quota Allocations and how some of the privileged beneficiaries of the rice subsidy colluded with smugglers to subvert the national rice development policy. The report exposed the ingenious ways employed by the beneficiaries to sell their quotas to pure businessmen, helping them to dodge the payment of 40 percent tariff to government. The same ingenuity was deployed to divert cargoes originally meant for Cotonou, a notorious seaport that thrives on welcoming any vessel carrying items on Nigerias import prohibition list. The May 27, 2015 quota was not the first to be released for the year 2015. A botched attempt was earlier made on April 13, 2015 when a list of 22 beneficiary companies was released by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture after what was supposed to have been a laborious due process. However the joy of the new beneficiaries were short-lived when nine days later, on April 22, the same Agric Ministry reversed itself and cancelled and withdrew all allocations. Before the then Agriculture Minister, Akinwunmi Adesina, departed for the African Development Bank as its president, he had in a memo titled Approved List of Companies Allocated Rice Import Quota for April 2015 March 2016 Period and sent to his Finance Ministry counterpart, mentioned that his ministry had identified a domestic rice supply gap of 1.3 million metric tonnes for the year 2015. He said he had, therefore, issued import quota allocations to 22 approved companies to import 961,000 metric tonnes of rice at 10 percent duty and 20 percent levy. However, in announcing the cancellation of Mr. Adewunmis quota list, Permanent Secretary Of the ministry, S. T Echono, talked about a new information reaching the ministry to the effect that some Nigerian rice farmers were unable to sell their paddy to local rice millers due to a flooding of the market with imported rice. Industry watchers blamed the flooding on influx of smuggled rice from Cotonou and Niger Republic. To keen observers, the discordant tunes coming from the same Ministry belied high-powered politics in the scramble for a chunk of a new national cake. The second quota announced by Mr. Adewunmi had new beneficiaries such as Arewa Livestock Farms, African Farms, Olea Nigeria Ltd, Dependable Foods & Confectionary, Blue Line Investments Nigeria Ltd, Quarra Rice, Hammond Wright Nigeria Ltd and Blaine & Wilkes Nigeria Ltd. All of them were however thrown out of the list of the third quota beneficiaries supervised by Vice President Sambo. The Sambo committee reviewed downward the national supply gap from 1.3 million MT to 782,000 MT just as it pruned beneficiaries from 22 to 20. But even the third quota allocation is not recognised by the Customs service, and is treated as though it never happened. The gulf in the two figures bandied as national supply gap is seen by concerned stakeholders as indicator of how sentiment and cronyism are robbing government of much-needed revenue in the face of dwindling oil fortunes. A policy analyst, Evelyn Beredugoh, blamed the discrepancy on phantom local capacities as claimed by many of the local rice investors. She said, For you to qualify for import quota you must have a rice farm or rice mill the size of which determines the size of your allocations. Some people call themselves investors even when they have no verifiable business down the rice value chain. Some of the investors quote local capacities that are only a figment of their imagination. Because there is no serious verification exercise, these phantom figures are added up as national rice production capacity. The higher the local capacity, the lower the national supply gap. In the end, you find that the actual supply gap might be higher than the 1.5 million metric tonnes quoted in 2014. The real beneficiaries remain the smugglers while the real investors face hard times in boosting local production which is the only objective of the rice policy. In this first part of a no-holds-barred interview with PREMIUM TIMES Josiah Oluwole in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, speaks about his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari, and other matters. PT: You have been in office for over one year now? How has it been? What difference have you made in the lives of Ekiti people? Fayose: You will recall that I am a second term governor and I must have come with some level of experience otherwise we will be in a very serious and a very terrible situation as a government. This is beside the fact that the economy of the state under the last administration was not impressive. The handling of the economy and other things that happened created a lot of challenges for this administration. I employed a strategy to be transparent and took time to engage the people. When you engage the people in the running of your government, it would leave no room for stories and fifth columnists. You will have the people defend you in the event of any misinformation. The other issue that we cannot ignore is the financial inabilities facing my government as a result of the borrowings of the last administration. One, Ekiti earns about the least in Nigeria. Again, Ekiti has low level internally-generated revenue. When you put all this together, it is not an easy run for the government. The last administration took two sets of loans the loan from commercial bank and the bond. The bond was for N25billion and the commercial loan was for N31billion, aside from unpaid salaries. These, put together, have handicapped the government from functioning. But it is not enough to tell stories because we told the Ekiti people that we have answers to these problems, so we have to face it. After explaining the cause of the situation to the people, we still have to find solution to the problems. We reduced the size of government. We had about 34 permanent secretaries heading MDAs. We had to cut it down to 25. Of the 25, we have statutory boards like the Teaching Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, the Civil Service Commission, etc. They are boards you cannot run like the regular ministries. Cutting the size of government and being realistic is important. Before you do that, you have to be an example. You have to run government like your personal business in terms of the fact you have to feel the pains as an individual in order to win the trust of the people. We ensured the blockage of all wastages. Even at that, the nose-diving of the allocation that comes to the state is another challenge. Between January to October 2014 when (former governor) Fayemi was here and January to October 2015, we had a shortfall of about N11billion of what accrued to the state within the space of 10 months. That made it uneasy for us to run the government. Within the ambit of this, we need to maintain the payment of salaries. One of the things that can cause the downfall of any government is when you cannot pay the wages of your workers or issues that tend to mortgage the future of workers. PT: Are the Ekiti people following you in the austere measures you are introducing at the moment? Fayose: The working class is the pulse of the people because the political class is seen as political heads. When you pay salaries it goes down to the commoners. The man that get his wages will have to get his food in the market, he will have to buy pepper, he will buy fuel and all that and in turn the economy expands and the people are reached. One of my strategies is to bring the workers together and declare the earnings of government every month. There is a document from Abuja that says this is your earnings. I give it to them. The state wage bill is supposed to be N2.6 billion but what we got was N1.375 billion. That is about half. They know that this government is transparent. I make public announcement. I declare the assets of government. The standing committee of the labour, the NUJ, and all that, come together and I ask them to look into the balance and see how we can pay wages. Actually, if they see that what you earn is not up to what you will pay, they know that it is not the fault of the governor. But what we try to do is to ensure that whatever comes is used judiciously for the benefit of everybody. So communication is important. Many people do not know the purpose of the austere measures. They dont know the price of oil. They only know the status of their stomachs and so you have to educate them. My style is a government that is in tune with everybody. I am a governor that goes to everywhere and every home. I call the different segments of the society and intimate them. They are happy and they know I am giving my best. PT: What differences can you spot between your first tenure in office and now? Fayose: Let me tell you this that it is on record that I took over government in 2003 when the economy was at its lowest ebb. Workers were owed salaries. I recall that I paid all the salaries. At my departure I left over N10billion in the coffers of government. We spent N1.14billion as part of contribution for the recapitalization of Wema Bank, among the states of Oodua. And in the entire tenure, I did not borrow a dime to run the state. Far reaching projects that touched the lives of the Ekiti people were carried out under my government. Forget about politics of blackmail and all the noise. There was no road in Ekiti that was dualised before my coming in 2003. I had to summon courage to demolish houses and pay compensation. I did Ikere to Ado-Ekiti, from Ado-Ekiti up till the state hospital. I did Irona, that is, Mathew Street junction up to Ilawe. I was the one that did Adebowo to the police headquarters. I built the Governors Office, the fire station. I built the popular Ayo Fayose Market. Even if you dont like my face, you have to call that market. I built the road from Ikere to Igbara-Odo, from Igbara-Odo to Ikogosi, from Ikogosi to Aramoko, from Aramoko to Efun-Alaye, and from Ado to Afao. I recall that I built the road from Afao to Ire, and so on. I did a lot you cannot forget so soon. PT: Why are you not able to do the same now? Fayose: We are doing our best within available resources. We just dualised Awodele and we are doing many more. But it is more challenging now because of the debt profile of our state. We are going to continue to service it until the year 2036. It is more challenging. They have committed the state so badly. If I come here and tell you that it is not challenging I will be deceiving you. The difference is that we are carrying the people along so they can understand where we have found ourselves. Up till the time the bailout (funds) provided the leeway, it was not easy at all. PT: Your brand of politics is that of controversy. You cut an impression of a very controversial personality. You raised a lot of controversies in your first tenure leading to your impeachment and now it is almost the same, why is it so? Fayose: I am like that. Everybody is peculiar. You become an issue when you are not a conformist. I am a very clear person. The style in Nigeria and the world over is to lie. It is to do a make- belief. It is to deceive the people. It is to promise change, when you know it is only a one chance promise. I am not a man like that. I am not a perfect man, but the path of a righteous man is always a challenge. They know that l represent light. Let me explain to you have you ever seen in Nigeria where any man will leave office in those challenging situations and will come back again, eight years exactly. I was forced out of government at gunpoint under the Obasanjo administration on the 16th of October 2006. I came back on the 16th of October 2014, exactly eight years. Analysts told me that I took oath of office at exactly the same minute. Let me tell you the truth. There is a way truth catches up with people and there is a way posterity judges you right. Posterity is judging me right because I have dominated the politics of Ekiti State in the last 15 years. Nobody can controvert that. The denominator in politics is the people, not propaganda. If the people can say this man come back in a falling stateI am the issue in Ekiti politics and by extension Nigerian politics. I am the longest serving Nigerian governor. I served in the Obasanjo administration. I was in the same tenure with (Bola) Tinubu, with (Adamu) Muazu and others. I was in the same administration with former President Goodluck Jonathan and am now in Buhari administration. I am a major force, I am a factor; you cannot ignore me. If you ignore me, it is at your own peril. PT: You just mentioned that you were forced out of office under the Obasanjo administration.. Fayose: (Cuts in) I dont want you to ask that question yet. I just want to round this one off. I want you to take note. I am the first Nigerian governor to defeat two incumbent governors at two different attempts, landslide. I did not only defeat them, I defeated them in their homes, in their wives bedrooms, in their sitting room, everywhere. They were badly defeated. They have all the forces, they have all the money, and they have the contacts. It shows with all the noise, all the controversies, I am the issue there. I served in the south west 12 years ago, and with all due respect to all my former colleagues, I am still a factor and a force they cannot forget in Nigerian history. All politics are local. Without this fact that I am strong at home, nobody will remember me today. I defeated Adeniyi Adebayo; I defeated Kayode Fayemi and they all came together to face me and by the grace of God, I defeated them. That shows you that this man has a backing beyond normal. Let me tell you it is not easy. They cannot come out to say why is my wife beating me all the time? They can only come out to cover their tracks. They are not on ground here. In Nigerian politics I only say the truth. They took me to EFCC for eight years. I was detained in Ikoyi prison for 45 days. My wife was detained for 33 days and I won all litigations against them. They went to harass my wife at home and I got judgment against them for N10 million. They went to the Court of Appeal, I defeated them. They went to Supreme Court, I defeated them. I am waiting to collect my money from them now. You see you cannot get it more right than I am getting it. Whether you like me or you dont like me, it is either you like or you hate. I too I dont like you if you dont like me. I am not sorry for you. I told Nigerians that they should not vote for Buhari and that Buhari will not do well. My name is Ayo Fayose. He will not do well. The attitude of a man can only be corrected when you are still young. The older you get. PT: Your Excellency let me guide you. Fayose: (Cuts in again) Dont guide methe older you get, you will continue to exhibit your traits. That is why I told you Buhari is a dictator; he can never lead a people or a government without being dictatorial. Ask another question. PT: Why have you been frontal in your attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government? Fayose: You see, the power of Buhari is not more than to kill somebody. He can send soldiers to you to come and kill you but people will know that the killing is not normal. It must be a high-wired killing. I am not afraid of him. The power of Buhari is not more than you go and lock somebody up. I am not afraid of him. I am not in the calibre of politicians who are saying, ah dont let me die o! Dont let my mother die o,! You dont take the inheritance of your father if you are not sure you are ready to take it. I am not in that category. Most noble men today have gone underground for fear of the unknown. And in times like this, when you train a lion, when you keep a lion in your family house, those of you promoting that lion will end up in his stomach one day. The same thing we were telling Obasanjo that time. We said Obasanjo was a dictator. Obasanjo consumed most of them who were promoting him that time. I have never minced words, before the campaignI am not a sycophant to say that it was after Buhari became president that I started praising or talking against him.. I started from day one. I was 24 years old when Buhari was head of state of Nigeria. We were daily being beaten in Ibadan when we queued up for essential commodities. I remembered how he stopped import duties and did a lot of things damaging to the economy, the same way he is still doing it today. God raised Joseph at a given time. God raised Moses to warn Pharaoh of the consequences of his leadership, until he perished. I have said it clearly that any attempt to confront me and attack my government will bring Buharis government down. My name is Ayo Fayose, I mean every word I am saying. As powerful as God has made the snail, he warned the snail to beware of salt. God gave the snail a protected shield behind him and told him to crawl all over the world, but warned him to be mindful of salt. I am salt. He should be mindful of me. It doesnt matter his might, we have seen presidents before. We were here when Obasanjo was here. We were here when other presidents came and we will still be here when he will leave. I am not a coward. Call me controversial if you like. Men that will make history will be very controversial. Courageous people will be controversial. The bible makes it very clear that the righteous will be as bold as a lion. PT: You talked very courageously and when men do that they always have some backbone or alternative power support, what is yours? Fayose: Let me tell you the truth, the bible says before we were born, we were known by God even in the womb of our mother. Today this is the way God has made me. Anybody can trace my background, my father and the kind of family I come from. I have Gods backing, and above all, I have a wonderful wife, a woman of God. Aside that those who put their faith in the Lord, they can never be denied. We cannot all be in the same party. We cannot all be afraid. There must be one or two of us who will be very conscious in very bad weather. So I dont have alternative medicine. I only have God. PT: So having said much about the Buharis person, what is your assessment of the administration in the last seven months? Fayose: I am not impressed. I am not impressed. Buhari administration has shown the hallmark of a very vindictive leader. Let us reflect carefully on Jonathan. A leader needs all the peace to run a country. Part of the hallmark of a good leader is to be able to rally everybody in times like this. Look back. Jonathan was magnanimous. He could have said I am a sitting president and cause the country headache, but he did not do that. He willingly relinquished power because of the overall interest of the country. Instead of Buhari coming.you begin to vilify everybody. You begin to do factional pursuance of the fight against corruption. It doesnt work like that. Go and look at Buharis antecedent. I stand to be corrected. It doesnt matter how many people are feeding under him now, I can always tell you that those who are rearing this lion will end up in his stomach. There is nothing new in governance. We were young here before. We were kids, we became boys, we became men and we became average aged men now. We know that the rate at which Buhari is going, he is going to destroy this country. There is no hiding place for dictators. The only thing binding us together in this country is the constitution. How can the president begin to incarcerate and take away peoples rights because you are president today? Its not right. That era is gone. I was listening to the president on the television. He said somebody stole and some people are somewhere suffering. Is the president now a law unto himself? Is he a judge in his own matter? For every matter you in the executive find wrong, you present it to the judiciary? Why would you judge them on the television? Thats not right. Let me give you an instance, this young man in South Africa that was said to have killed his girlfriend. He was granted bail. He killed. Everything the law says you are entitled to bail. If you say no, you are a dictator. Imagine somebody that you locked up, gave several charges, the court gave conditions for bail, he met the conditions, he came out, and you rearrested him. Those who are promoting this lion will end up in his stomach. PT: You have recalled your forceful removal from office through the use of federal might. You have also described Buhari as a vindictive person. Dont you envisage a repeat of the 2006 experience where the president organized your removal if you continue your attacks? Fayose: If nobody had done anything against me at that time, maybe I would not be as visible as I am now. Everything works together for good. You may have power, you may use power, but there is a certain beginning for a man and there is a certain end. Again as I told you, the worst of situation is death, I am not afraid of that. The more you pursue me, the more you will run into trouble. Dont forget that after nine years my removal was upturned by the tongue-lashing of the justices of the Supreme Court against my adversaries. It doesnt matter what you suffer today because you are saying the truth. Those who stood by the truth in the bible excelled in the long run. The story of Joseph is fresh in our memories. The story of Daniel is fresh in our memories. Nothing lasts forever, I am not afraid of Buhari. PT: You have consistently criticized Buhari for his lopsided fight against corruption. Does the recent arrest of his associate, Jafaru Isa by the EFCC not change your opinion on his anti-corruption fight? Fayose: That is cosmetic. They should tell us the account where he paid that money. I read in papers today that they will not release Olisa Metuh until he pays. So if the man says I have a right to be heard in court to defend myself, you will force me to go and pay. It was in the days of Obasanjo that you believe you can incarcerate people for as long as you want because you want them to even lie against themselves. That Jafaru or Kafaru or whatever you call his nameyou cant cover your tracks. The fact that he returned N100million does that mean he cannot be charged to court. Everybody is still in the face of the law, innocent. You know, they will be searching for my name now to find out whether Fayoses name is in that scandal. I am here, I cant go anywhere. This country is our home, our fathers land. God has produced me at this time for his purpose and I am telling them to do whatever they like but I am going higher. This is not my stopping point. No matter the persecution, I will remain resolute. You fight corruption within the ambits of the law. You dont take away human rights. Taking away human rights and trampling on the constitution and the rights of people is worse than corruption. If you look very closely at what the law says. The law says it is better for nine bad people to be set free than for one innocent person to suffer. People should be given the benefit of the doubt. When you were reading my story in the papers those days with headlines like Ayo Fayose stole N1.3billion Ayo Fayose carted away poultry project money I am the one still sitting down here as governor of Ekiti State without apologies to them. Im still alive when the Supreme Court gave this judgment. It is fair to give people fair hearing. Most of the people that fought against me that time are now my friends. They have seen the light. They have realized that what they did to me was most unnecessary. God fights the battle of the man that believes in the truth. A former Minister of Transport in the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, Idris Umar, has denied media reports suggesting that he has properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr. Umar also denied stories that he had relocated to the gulf nation and was taking refuge there. President Muhammdu Buhari had during his recent to the UAE, signed a number of bilateral agreements with the government of the UAE, one of which will see Nigerians who looted the nations resources losing them to the federal government. Dubai is a choice location for Nigerian officials who stash away public funds there, investing in top-of-the-range properties. One of the agreements signed between Nigeria and the UAE will facilitate the deportation of people suspected of stealing from the nations treasury and also the repatriation of ill-gotten wealth. Following the agreements, which, analysts say, have caused panic among the Nigerian elite, Mr. Umar was named in media reports among those likely to be affected. The former Minister, however, said in a release issued issued by his media aide, Innocent Ebirim, that the former Senator does not own any property in Dubai and he is in Abuja at his usual place of abode and has no reason whatsoever to hide in faraway Dubai. A former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wammako, has scored President Muhammadu Buharis proposed 2016 budget high, saying it is the best in the recent history of Nigeria. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES in Abuja on Friday, Mr. Wammako said the proposed 2016 budget was the first in the history of civil rule in the country to give 30 percent allocation to capital projects. No civilian administration came nearer to 30 percent allocation to capital projects. This is really commendable. Past administrations mainly allocated everything to the recurrent vote. We must commend President Buhari for this populist-orientated budget, which will address infrastructure deficit in the country, he said. Mr. Wammako, who is currently a senator, noted that the thematic area of the budget is the issue of diversifying the economy, against the previous mono-economy budgeting. He argued that Nigerias first generation universities and other institutions in the country were not built with oil money, saying the country had been yearning for a leader who would take away his focus from oil revenues to diversify the economy. We are happy that we have a president who courageously seeks to address the issue of economic diversification. Remember, our old universities such as Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were not built with oil money. So it is obvious Nigeria can survive without oil revenues. The three major areas I highlighted agriculture, solid minerals and tourism will take Nigeria out of its problems when harnessed. We will forget about oil completely. The budget also gives a major check to address the educational challenges in Nigeria, including teacher quality, school enrolment and retention, training and retraining, among other issues. It will surely restore the glory of public schools and address literacy issues in this country. It may not be easy, but with good planning, these targets can be attained. In the over N6 trillion budget, only less than N1 trillion that is expected to come from oil sector. This means that we are looking inward, including sourcing for loan, which is part of governance. No government can survive without loan. America is the biggest debtor in whole world, just as it is the biggest economy in the whole world. Previously Nigeria took loan and misused it. But this time it is going to be used for the betterment of the people. Last year, $1 billion loan was collected, but what happened? The loan itself and our existing money, totalling $2.1 billion, were all stolen. If this money was invested in our economy, the story would have been different. The economy would have been more productive and buoyant. By and large, the budget addressed all the major challenges affecting Nigeria. I appeal to Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation to support this budget as it gives hope to Nigerians. Instead of calling it a budget of change, I will prefer to call it a budget of hope, the former governor added. The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said the war against corruption should not be regarded as a project initiated by the current administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. Onaiyekan stated this on Saturday, during the priestly ordination of nine priests in the diocese, which took place at the Catholic Pro-cathedral, Abuja. Mr. Onaiyekan said additional effort in the fight against corruption is a necessary step, and that such effort could only be accomplished with the support of religious institutions. It is not Buhari who is telling us to fight corruption. We have been doing it in many ways. I think we could do more in the fight against corruption if there is more synergy between government institutions and religious institutions. I am not talking only of the church, he stated. Mr. Onaiyekan further said the current administration has done very little to ensure the active participation of religious leaders in the war against corruption. He added that the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APCs administration can only become a success if the government provides a forum for the active collaboration of religious organisations in the ongoing war against corruption. There should be such arrangement whereby government officials and religious people can sit down and see how we can all contribute to the fight against corruption, he said. For the moment I dont think we have gotten the forum for that kind of cooperation. If we you want peoples heart to change you have to reach out to us, we are the experts in that, the Cardinal said. Mr. Onaiyekan however noted that religious leaders have a moral obligation to help in the fight against corruption. Although we dont have to wait for them to tell us, but my own believe is that if there is a concious effort to work together, the impact will be more serious, he noted. Mr. Oniyekan said the occasion signifies the occurrence of great things in the country. Nine ordinations in one cathedral at once is a big news, even in the big churches of the world. We are among the front liners in the league of nations of the world, in terms of faith, Mr. Oniayekan stated. The Bishop urged the newly ordained priests to stand out, in a world slowly drifting towards materialism. Even if the world is standing for materialism, the priest must stand out, so that other people can see them and emulate, and so that homily can preach louder, he said. Two of the newly ordained priests, Reverend Fathers Vincent Iletogbe and Cephas Magaji said the occasion should be treasured. Others ordained are Charles Eketelu, Kingsley Fedinand, Emanuel Odiong, Joseph Tyopenda, John Uche, Naset Nwodo and James George. Dare to be Audacious ( Read 4206 Times) 23 Jan 16 Share | Print This Page The annual cultural fest of IIM Udaipur is back with a bang Audacity, sponsored by Bank of Baroda will be hosted at the MLSU campus on the 30th and 31st of January, 2016. The event is a microcosm of fun and frolic, with 60 action packed events spread over one weekend. This years theme Lets Retro,is a tribute to the styles and fashions of the yesteryears. In the previous edition of the event, Olympian Vijender Singh kicked off MTV roadies from the campus and the Indian rock band Parikrama blazed the stage with their performance. This year too we have performances by the band Euphoria, led by Dr. Palash Sen, an array of amazing group and solo dances, and a musical battle in the War of Bands among other things. Another highlight of the event is a beauty pageant show Campus Princess which will be judged by Koyal Rana, winner of the 2014 edition of Femina Miss India, in association with the Miss India organization. The event is the west-zone auditions for the Femina Miss India 2016. The purpose of the event is to promote a culture where varied art forms are encouraged. It aims to bring people together to demonstrate and celebrate this culture. In accordance with this objective, the event will be hosting a night of classical Indian tunes which would be played by SPIC MACAY artists Pt. Shubhendra Rao and Saskia Rao de Haas on the 30th of January. The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur aims to make a meaningful difference in whatever activities it does. A strong sense of social responsibility is imbibed in all of IIM Udaipur's activities. The institute is committed to giving back to society, playing a role in local development and being in the vanguard of applying principles of ecological sustainability. Events like Street Play would be hosted to develop awareness regarding socially important topics. The institute has planned a tree plantation drive to flag off the eventthis year. Prayatna the social responsibility club in association with Silvertongues the public speaking club of IIMU have organized a debate competition for students of schools in Udaipur city on burning issues facing the city and the country. Staying true to its roots in spreading fun and frolic, Audacity has some unique competitions like Anjaana-Anjaani a blind dating competition, Insomnia night an all night long video-gaming competition, Masquerade ball, a life-sized Angry Birds, human foosball and The Yellow Chilli Udaipur presents Chef-e-Udaipur a Masterchef-styled cooking event. The stage is set for a fantastic weekend with support fromMiraj as the gift partner and Bisleri as the beverage partner This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Udaipur News , English News Your Comments ! Share Your Openion January 21, 2016, 09:00 am The smoking gun? By Anthony DeChristopher 9.5K 2034 Get Flash Player Special Access Programs (SAP) is a game changer. It is now undeniably clear that the results of the FBI investigation will be the end of one of two things: Hillarys bid for the White House or the legitimacy of the FBIat least when it comes to prosecuting cases on the mishandling of classified material. In 2006, a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) from my company was deployed to Afghanistan. Theirs was a particular mission that differed from the combat missions the typical ODAs were conducting at that time. Everyone on that team maintained a Top Secret Sensitive and Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance and was read-on to their special program. A few months into their deployment, their Intelligence Sergeant lost a thumb-drive that possessed classified information. A week later the thumb drive was found for sale at a local bazaar. ADVERTISEMENT In response to the events, Col. Ken Allard (ret.) stated, You've got a situation in which the U.S. is going to be forced to change an awful lot of its operational techniques." Beyond the compromise of classified information, a lot did change. New protocols for the handling of classified material were established, and the transportation of classified material on thumb drives was strictly forbidden. The knee jerk reaction even went as far as to disable USB ports on our work computersin case we forgot. Since then Ive deployed to several locations where, at times, we operated in small teams with only non-secure cellphones with which to communicate. We often found ourselves with a lot of information that needed to be sent up in reports, but due to the nature of our mission we were forced to sit on it for a few days until we were able to type it up and send it through a secure medium. Id be lying if I said we didnt concoct elaborate plans with foolproof ways to communicate the information over non-secure channels, but in the end, no one was willing to take the risk of our fail-safes failing. As more information from Hillary Clintons server has been made available, it is clear that the contents of the server contained Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT). Understanding that much of the information has been retroactively classified, there are a few facts that are tough to graspat least from the perspective of an intelligence practitioner. First, when imagery that is classified SECRET//NOFORN (no foreign national) is viewed, regardless of the absence of classification markings, it is distinctly evident. Second, any documents that contain or reference HUMINT is always classified SECRET, and if specific names of sources or handlers are mentioned, they are at a minimum SECRET//NOFORN. Third, SIGINT is always classified at the TS level. Its not uncommon for some SI to be downgraded and shared over SECRET mediums, however, it is highly unlikely that a Secretary of State would receive downgraded intelligence. Finally, SAP intelligence has been discovered on Clintons private server, and many are now calling this the smoking gun. SAP is a specialized management system of additional security controls designed to protect SAR or Special Access Required. SAR has to do with extremely perishable operational methods and capabilities, and only selected individuals who are read on or indoctrinated are permitted access to these programs. The mishandling of SAP can cause catastrophic damage to current collection methods, techniques and personnel. In other words, if you have worked with classified material for more than a day, it seems highly implausible that someone could receive any of the aforementioned over an un-secure medium without alarm bells sounding. However, reading about a Special Access Program on an unclassified device would make anyone even remotely familiar with intelligence mess their pantsuit. With more damming information being released almost weekly now, its interesting that during last Sundays Democratic debate, Clinton resoundingly stated: No one is too big for jail. Although the context was referencing bank CEOs and Hedge fund managers, the obvious correlation left many scratching their heads and wonderingdid Hillary Clinton just say, I dare you to the FBI? DeChristopher is a 9-year veteran of the United States Army Special Forces. He holds an M.A. in Strategic Security Studies from National Defense Universitys College of International Security Affairs with a concentration in Irregular Warfare. He currently works as an Independent Intelligence Consultant and blogs at exceptionism.com. Follow @excep Because the resident lefties are ignoring this major development like the purple plague, I just thought I would toss it out there.......Will Hilly be indicted for gross negligence and when?? Two of the main roads heading into Atlantic City are closed as of 8 a.m. this morning. Route 30 (the White Horse Pike) and Route 322 (the Black Horse Pike) are closed heading into the city. Several other roads in Atlantic County have been closed due to flooding, including: Ventnor Ventnor Avenue, Cambridge Avenue, Monmouth Avenue, Dorset Avenue Margate Amherst Avenue, Ventnor Avenue Brigantine Brigantine Boulevard, Bayshore Avenue Longport Atlantic Avenue, Winchester Avenue Somers Point - Ocean City Rt. 52 Causeway Pleasantville Black Horse Pike Egg Harbor Township Black Horse Pike, Somers Point-Mays Landing Road in Scullville, Ocean Heights Avenue at Blackman Road, Longport Boulevard Absecon Absecon police say Route 9 between Ohio and California avenues, and Shore Road between the White Horse Pike and Illinois Avenue are closed due to flooding. Mill Road has reopened, police say. Residents are reminded not to attempt to drive through flood waters. Here is the statement from the county: At this time, a travel ban is not in effect, however, travel on roadways is not recommended. Many roads remain snow covered and blowing snow is resulting in poor visibility in some areas. County crews have been out treating and plowing roadways since yesterday and will continue to do so throughout the day. Emergency management officials strongly advise residents to stay home and off the roads as reports of downed trees and power outages continue to increase with daylight. Residents in need of non-life threatening emergency assistance should contact their local office of emergency management. Contact numbers are available at www.ReadyAtlantic.org and in the Verizon phone book. There are no evacuation plans at this time. Residents should continue to monitor weather forecasts, media outlets and county web sites for updates. County Public Information Officer Linda Gilmore also said that the following county warming centers are open: Atlantic City warming stations are open 7 AM 5 PM today and tomorrow. 1. All Wars Memorial Building 1510 Adriatic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 2. Atlantic City PAL Building 250 N. New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 3. Pennsylvania Avenue School 201 N Pennsylvania Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Ventnor has also announced the opening of City Hall as a warming station at 6201 Atlantic Avenue. Officials say 14 people have shown up at the Atlantic City warming centers and three at Ventnor's. Some other things affected due to the storm: A free rabies vaccination clinic scheduled for Sunday at the Atlantic County Animal Shelter has been canceled. The next clinic will be held in February. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority said due to a loss of power at its solid waste facilities, collections for today have been canceled. The ACUA has also suspended all solid waste operations. A state policy to promote use of body cameras by police may be deterring some South Jersey departments from using the technology. Some police agencies said they are passing on body cameras, and the funding to help purchase them, because the state Attorney Generals Office policy released last year is too vague. There are too many questions on where and when the cameras may be used, privacy concerns of third parties captured on video and how that footage will be treated under public-records guidelines, some said. Who really wants to be the test case with this? asked Barnegat Township police Lt. Keith Germain, whose department is not using the cameras. The questions on the relatively new technology come as more departments in New Jersey and the U.S. consider rolling out body cameras in an effort to provide an independent point of view to police encounters. Stafford Township police Capt. Thomas Dellane said when the policy was unveiled in July, the department immediately had concerns. The 24-page policy includes 12 scenarios in which a body camera must be activated by officers. They include assisting a motorist or making a property check, interviewing a witness during the investigation of a criminal offense, making an arrest and during a search consensual or otherwise. But Dellane said the camera activation instructions are too all-encompassing, and privacy questions havent been addressed in connection to where and when the cameras are to be turned on. So when an officer responds to a call for service and activates the body camera, the officer could be recording people who have nothing to do with the call for service. This brings up privacy issues, he said. Just 50 of the 500 police agencies across the state have deployed body cameras since $2.5 million in funding was awarded and a state policy was enacted last year. The total number of departments that have or are getting cameras after receiving grant funding is 208. In 2012, the Cape May County Sheriffs Office was the first agency in South Jersey to use body cameras in their jails. Peter Aseltine, spokesman for the state Attorney Generals Office, said he is unaware of particular concerns raised by law-enforcement agencies regarding the current policy. The state policy was developed in about six months, and the state sought and received extensive input from stakeholders, including law-enforcement leaders, civil rights organizations and community advocates, Aseltine said. The policy is subject to revision, he said. Germain said body-camera technology provides an opportunity for transparency and a glimpse into the everyday interactions between police and the public. These cameras have the ability to protect police officers and also the public through video recordings, he said. Cape May County Undersheriff Robert Nolan said the Sheriffs Office received a complaint from an individual alleging a window was left open at a home after officers arrived to serve a warrant and the residents were not there. When officers arrived at the home, they turned on their body cameras, Nolan said. We were able to see as the officers are walking up the walkway to the house, we could see the curtain blowing out of the open window. We learned the window was already open when they arrived, he said. When the policy was created, the state analyzed policies used by towns in New Jersey and other states and studied materials from the Police Executive Research Forum. Aseltine said the states directive calls for the formation of a Body Worn Camera Advisory Group to continue to meet with community members and law-enforcement representatives to evaluate the policy and assess the need for revisions. In December, acting Attorney General John Hoffman said New Jersey is leading the nation in efforts to deploy body cameras to promote transparency and mutual accountability of police and civilians. The cameras can be worn on an officers chest, hat or shoulder, and are always recording video in a loop. That video is recorded over until the officer pushes a button on the device that starts the recording and saving of audio and video footage. Police said the average loop time for body camera footage is between 30 and 90 minutes during an officers shift, Dellane said. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities supports the use of police cameras but has concerns about the states policy, said Edward Purcell, an attorney for the league. Purcell said the most common issues that arise are in relation to the Open Public Records Act and the privacy of the recordings. There is tension in the policy, since OPRA requires access to government records, but some of the police-camera recordings can be sensitive, Purcell said. Any of these concerns is not a way to take a dig at body cameras. They are legitimate concerns. We are watching the policys implementation to see how its working and to see what happens, Purcell said. Purcell said the state attorney generals directive was an attempt to provide order and structure in dealing with the video recordings. He said the cataloging of the video data is the most expensive part of the process. This directive is the first step on how using this technology will operate, and I dont think its going to be the last step, he said. Right now, its a period of wait-and-see as some departments deploy the technology on the street, Purcell said. Contact: 609-513-6686 Twitter @ACPressWeaver Half of UK landlords are not prepared for the Right to Rent legislation set to come into force on 01 February with some thinking they had another two years to wait. Indeed some 20% believed that they had until April 2017 to prepare for the changes, while 3% believed they had until 2018 to get ready, the research from online estate agent Urban shows. The new legislation, already implemented in the West Midlands, will soon require all landlords and agents in England to check a tenants immigration status or right to rent in the UK. A failure to prepare could leave landlords at serious financial risk, with potential fines of 3,000 if they do not comply. The survey report also found that only 10% of landlords provide the correct information to tenants at the start of a lease and 90% were unable to identify the characteristics of a House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO). Some 16% were putting themselves at serious financial risk by failing to provide a valid contact address on tenancy agreements; an action which could see contracts being deemed as null and void. One reason to explain the lack of industry knowledge could be due to the rise in accidental landlords who rent property due to circumstance beyond their control such as having inherited property, according to the firm. There has been an influx of new legislation relating to the rental market made in recent years and we know that UK landlords are struggling to keep on top of these changes. Despite knowing many of the basics, many find it difficult to navigate the minefield of changing renting rights and wrongs and this is particularly so for accidental landlords, said Adam Male, Urban cofounder. However, despite a lack of understanding in some areas, reassuringly, the majority of landlords were abreast of most other rental fundamentals. For instance, 77% were aware of the need for an up to date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and 95% of landlords correctly identified their gas safety responsibilities, 76% also knew the need for a smoke alarm on every floor and 7% even put one in every room. The Landlord Knowledge League Table, a map which ranks the most knowledgeable regions in the UK according to the survey results, found that the most knowledgeable landlords let property in Southampton, while those in Newcastle-under-Lyme were unaware of many key landlord responsibilities. It is great to hear that knowledge about things such as gas safety is a widely understood and implemented landlord legislation, however, there is still a long way to go in educating landlords about the varying aspects of renting, said Male. New regulations such as the Right to Rent have the potential to stop back door lettings and create a better environment for all, however, this will only happen if the scheme is communicated to landlords properly. We as an organisation want to do our bit to clean up the industry and help landlords protect themselves from significant financial risk, he added. Veteran's Riverside county, CA new home. The down payment required with a traditional loan would have been $30,000, and we could not have been able to afford that. said Sand. The VA loan made owning our house a reality, and restored pride in our family. Overview Guaranteed Rate explains intricacies of military housing benefits. Media opportunity to interview an impacted veteran in California and VA loan specialist. Guaranteed Rate produced $356 million in VA loans in 2015; makes VA loans a 2016 priority. Guaranteed Rate, the eighth largest retail mortgage lender in the nation and an industry technology leader, raises awareness about the U.S. Governments VA loans. These home loans may provide the military community and their families the opportunity to become homeowners for $0 down or obtain a home loan up to $1 million dollars. Guaranteed Rate originated $356 million in VA Loans in 2015, helping military families across the country move into their dream homes. This year, we are renewing our efforts to help even more military families take advantage of this life-changing benefit, said Victor Ciardelli, president and CEO of Guaranteed Rate. VA loans can eliminate daunting down payments and make million-dollar homes affordable. Benefits of VA Loans No down payment for conforming home loans (generally loans below $417,000) Reduced down payment costs for jumbo loans (generally loans above $417,000) Interest rates are typically lower than traditional loans Requires no mortgage insurance Eligibility In general, to be eligible you must have a credit score of at least 620 and fulfil at least one of the following requirements*: Served 90 total days during wartime Served 181 continuous days during peacetime Served more than six years in the National Guard or Reserves Are the spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty or due to a service-related disability *Additional restrictions may apply. Sand H. of Riverside County, CA, a father of three, served in the artillery division of the Marine Corps. After losing his house during the recession, he worked hard to improve his credit score. Guaranteed Rate recently helped him obtain a VA loan and move into a house for the holidays. The down payment required with a traditional loan would have been $30,000, and we could not have been able to afford that. said Sand. The VA loan made owning our house a reality, and restored pride in our family. To learn more about VA Loans visit https://www.guaranteedrate.com/resources/you-and-your-va-mortgage-loan. To arrange a media interview with a veteran helped by Guaranteed Rate or a VA loan specialist, contact Elizabeth Fay, director of public relations at Guaranteed Rate, at (773) 290-0059 or press(at)guaranteedrate(dot)com. About Guaranteed Rate Guaranteed Rate is the eighth largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. The company has become The Home Purchase Experts by introducing the worlds first Digital Mortgage and offering low rate, low fee mortgages through an easy-to-understand process and unparalleled customer service. Headquartered in Chicago with approximately 175 offices across the U.S. and licensed in all 50 states, Guaranteed Rate has helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners with approximately $80 billion in home purchase loans and refinances since 2000 and $18 billion in 2015 alone. Guaranteed Rate was ranked No. 1 in Scotsman Guides Top Mortgage Lenders 2014 honors and was named one of Chicagos Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune in four of the past five years. In 2015, was recognized as one of Inc. 5000s Fastest Growing Companies in America. Visit guaranteedrate.com for more information. Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is a private corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the US Department of Agriculture or any other government agency. Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality. This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape. All the posts here were published in the electronic media main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts. Bestseller Stat Shot Our review of The Revenant was the most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week, and also for all of 2015. The review started picking up steam in July and chugged along steadily until December, when its views shot up 600% over Novembers levels. Surely it was a coincidence that the Oscar-tipped, Leonardo DiCaprioled film adaptation of the book landed in theaters at the same time. Sales of the print bookboth the trade paper edition and the movie tie-inhave enjoyed a similar trajectory. From the Newsletters Tip Sheet Elizabeth McKenzie, author of The Portable Veblen (Penguin Press), talks with her editor, Ed Park, about the editing process behind the novel. Childrens Bookshelf The story on All American Boys (S&S/Atheneum/Dhouly), winner of the inaugural Walter Award presented by We Need Diverse Books. PW Daily Get every days publishing news delivered to your inbox, for free. Among this weeks highlights: rising print book sales in Canada, the latest filings in Apples price-fixing case, and more. Sign up today for PW Daily. Religion BookLine A rundown of six big religion book-to-film adaptations headed to theaters in 2016. BookLife Report Jane Friedmans five marketing models for self-publishing success. Librarians! Get a sneak peek at each weeks starred reviews with PW Preview for Librarians. Sign up for free today and have highlights of each issues stars emailed to you Friday afternoon. The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was, once again, The Revenant by Michael Punke (Carroll & Graf). Blogs Need a break? Head on over to PWs Tumblr for quick, fun dispatches from the bookish Internet. ShelfTalker What Scholastics recall of A Birthday Cake for George Washington means for booksellers, publishers, and the reading public. Podcasts Week Ahead PW senior writer Andrew Albanese reports on what could be in the cards for Authors Uniteds upcoming seminar on Amazons business practices, set for January 27 in Washington, D.C. More to Come Checking out the Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem, a preview of next weeks Angouleme Festival in France, and a look at the top 10 graphic novels coming up this spring. FaithCast Buddhist monk and Kindfulness (Wisdom) author Ajahn Brahm discusses why the heart must join the mind to create a kindful consciousness. PW Radio Tim Dorsey discusses Coconut Cowboy (Morrow), his Florida crime caper. PW editorial director Jim Milliot previews the ABA Winter Institute. Publicists, did you know you can track the status of galleys youve submitted for review consideration? Its free and easy. Sign up for GalleyTracker today. Soldier Turned Paralympian Lands at Da Capo Brad Snyder sold world rights to a memoir called Fire in My Eyes to Robert Pigeon at Da Capo. Snyder, who is writing the book with Tom Sileo, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and then worked in Navy Special Operations in Afghanistan. Blinded during a mission, Snyder went on to compete for the U.S. in the 2012 Summer Paralymics in London, winning a gold medal in mens swimming. Snyders literary agent, E.J. McCarthy (who has an eponymous shingle), said the story is one of perseverance through darkness, and a testament to the strength of Americas veterans. The book is set for an August 9 release, to coincide with next summers Paralympic Games, in Rio, which Snyder will be competing in. Lipsyte Follows Silverberg To S&S In his first acquisition as a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, former agent Ira Silverberg took North American rights, in a two-book deal, to Sam Lipsytes new novel, Hark. Silverberg, who used to represent Lipsyte, brokered the agreement with Eric Simonoff at William Morris Endeavor. With the deal, Lipsyte is moving from Farrar, Straus and Giroux, which published his last book, the 2012 short story collection The Fun Parts. Describing Hark, S&S called it a comic novel about a disparate band of modern pilgrims... who gather to find meaning under the tutelage of a mysterious young man whose simple programMental Archerypromises to deliver them from the murk and confusion of their world. Hark is set for fall 2017. Flatiron Preempts YA Debut Amy Einhorn, for Flatirons new YA list, preempted world English rights to Bonnie Pipkins YA debut, Aftercare Instructions. Emily Van Beek at Folio Literary Management represented Pipkin in the deal. The novel, which Sarah Dotts Barley and Caroline Bleeke will edit, follows a 17-year-old girl who is left at Planned Parenthood by her boyfriend after they agree to abort her unwanted pregnancy. Van Beek said the book is a format-crushing story that shifts between a traditional narrative and a play, as the heroine discovers who she is when she steps away from [her boyfriend] and into herself. Pipkin has an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Webb Double Deals with Harlequin Bestselling author Debra Webb has inked two separate six-figure deals at Harlequin, both for world rights. The first deal, with Mira Books, is for four books and one e-book prequel, all in a new thriller series called Shades of Death. This series follows the son of a serial killer, who hunts down other serial killers; the first two books, No Darker Place and The White Room, are set for spring 2017. Harlequin senior editor Denise Zaza bought Shades of Death from Stephanie Kip Rostan at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary. The second deal, with Harlequin Intrigue, is for 12 books. Through it Webb will write six new titles in her bestselling self-published series, Faces of Evil, along with six other books. Webb struck this deal directly with Zaza. Webb has written more than 100 novels, and according to Harlequin, there are more than four million copies of her books in print worldwide. Name Check Debuting at #1 in Hardcover Fiction, and #10 overall, My Name Is Lucy Barton is the new novel by Elizabeth Strout, Pulitzer Prizewinner for Olive Kitteridge. That 2008 book, though it had a modest start in hardcover, went on to sell more than a million units in trade paper and spawned a 2014 HBO miniseries starring Frances McDormand. Heres a look at Strouts first-week print unit sales for books published before and after key milestones. (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Hogans Financial Hero With 69K print units sold, Retire Inspired by Chris Hogan is the #1 book in the country this week. If this authors name is unfamiliar, despite his strong debut, you may recognize his publisher: Ramsey Press, as in the financial writer and broadcaster Dave Ramsey, whose The Total Money Makeover (Thomas Nelson) continues to sell a few thousand print units a week, over a decade after its publication. Hogans book sold strongest in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn., which accounted for about 13% of sales. The next-biggest market was Phoenix, Ariz., which, according to a 2014 analysis of census data by personal finance information service NerdWallet, is the fastest-growing retirement area in the United States. Finding an Audience After the January 11 announcement that illustrator Sophie Blackall had won the Caldecott Medal for Finding Winnie, written by Lindsay Mattick, the book had its best sales week to date. Finding Winnie, which tells the story of how Matticks great-grandfather rescued the orphaned bear cub that later inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, debuts on our Childrens Picture Book list at #15. It sold 4,898 print units this week, a 699% increase over the previous week, representing over a third of print units sold since the books October 2015 publication. Although they didnt make our lists, the Newbery and Printz Medalists also had their best weeks yet. Print unit sales of Matt de la Penas Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson, are up 677% over last week, and Bone Gap by Laura Ruby enjoyed a 264% bump. New & Notable The Name of God Is Mercy #3 Hardcover Nonfiction; #7 overall Pope Francis 17K print units The first book written by Pope Francis during his papacy is a conversation with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli, in which the pontiff affirms his vision for the Catholic church. When Breath Becomes Air Paul Kalanithi #4 Hardcover Nonfiction 13.9K print units In May 2013, Kalanithi, then a 36-year-old neurosurgical resident, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. In this posthumously published memoir (he died in 2015), he writes of life post-diagnosiscontinuing his training, becoming a parent, and confronting his mortality. The Only Pirate at the Party Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey #23 Hardcover Nonfiction 4,243 print units Stirlings YouTube videos of her choreographed electric violin performances have racked up 7.6 million subscribers. Her memoir delves into everything from her path to musical success to her battles with anorexia and depression. For a closer look at the social media starturnedauthor phenomenon, and a sneak peek at forthcoming titles, look for our feature in the February 8 issue. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Retire Inspired Chris Hogan Ramsey 68,950 2 The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Marie Kondo Ten Speed 32,735 3 Harry Potter Coloring Book Scholastic 31,073 4 Spark Joy Marie Kondo Ten Speed 23,361 5 Old School (Wimpy Kid #10) Jeff Kinney Abrams/Amulet 19,806 6 Lost Ocean Johanna Basford Penguin 17,971 7 The Name of God Is Mercy Pope Francis Random 16,981 8 The Choice (movie tie-in) Nicholas Sparks Grand Central 16,207 9 Last One Home Debbie Macomber Ballantine 15,768 10 My Name Is Lucy Barton Elizabeth Strout Random 15,192 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. At the recently concluded 43rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair, held from January 9 to 17, the big names in the publishing world were hard to miss: Cambridge University Press, HarperCollins, Random House, Sage, Scholastic, and Taylor & Francis, for instance, had prominent booths. The companies were attracted by the size of the Indian book market, which is estimated to be the sixth largest in the world (valued at $3.9 billion, according to Nielsen), and the second largest in terms of English-language publishing (after the U.S.). The major force leading the Indian market is educational publishing, driven by the third-largest higher-education system in the world. Indias higher education institutions receive substantial government funding, which is now focused on acquiring electronic resources. Unfortunately, the lack of information on the timing of disbursement, application, and allocation of the funding often creates confusion. However, players in the academic books and journals segment seem to be able to navigate the chaos. Sales for our print and electronic titles are growing simultaneously, and our approach is to get the relevant content to users based on their needs, irrespective of the format, said Nitasha Devasar, managing director of Taylor & Francis India. Traditional marketing strategies no longer work in this market. Nowadays, we work on customized catalogues and marketing campaigns that are institution specific and data driven. While this takes more effort, it makes the title selection process focused and hence faster. Big data and analytics therefore play a major role in understanding consumer needs. Content marketing is the need of the hour. It is about helping end users make informed choices and meeting those needs, added Devasar, who is also the general secretary of the Association of Publishers in India. The Indian market is Taylor & Franciss third-largest for print books, and we continue to invest in our resources here. As for challenges, open access is a big issue. One particular regulation is being considered that would make research freely available with much shorter embargo periods than in the western world; its aimed at government-funded institutions and therefore affects 95% of Indian institutions. This could impact research and authorship from India, said Devasar, who is looking to increase the visibility of Indian authors and content abroad. Another yet-to-be-enacted regulation requires publishers to sell journals at lower prices to all government-funded institutions. But an even greater concern to overseas publishers working in India is the state of piracy (which is rampant) and copyright awareness (little to middling). This is where our road shows, with librarians and publishers getting together to work on topics such as digital trends and copyright, come into play. The Indian marketplace, as you can see, is challenging but this makes it even more excitingand gratifyingto rise up to those challenges, Devasar observed. Trade publishing, which accounts for only 30% of the Indian book market, has its own challenges (and opportunities). Piracy is common, and often, bestselling trade paperbacks have their sales cut in half by pirated editions. E-books have yet to find a strong foothold; this was made loud and clear when Flipkart, Indias answer to Amazon, decided to stop selling e-books last month. In India, where cultural, historical, and geographical diversity offers an abundance of new content, shifts in its arts and illustrated book segment have taken place over the past four years. Bipin Shah, owner of art and illustrated book publisher Mapin, said, The number of art and illustrated books have declined even as more new titles are entering the market, especially now that many art galleries, photographers, and institutions are becoming publishers. Sales volume, and therefore the print runs, has gone down, he said. The new average run is about 1,500 copies, down from a high of 3,000 in previous years. But unique titles straddling several categories often have higher print runs. Our latest, Maharanis: Women of Royal India, for instance, is a first of its kind: a 19th-century photography title, a historical title, and a special volume on the royal family. We also have a traveling exhibition in association with Tasveer Gallery on the exquisite photographs to further promote the title, Shah said. Events and social media are fast becoming crucial marketing tools for generating buzz and sales. According to Shah, reviews in traditional media tend not to reach consumers for illustrated books, who are between 25 and 35 years old, and who are digitally savvy. Shah also expects the number of bookstores that specialize on illustrated titles to decline. To offset those trends, Mapin supplies its catalogue to around 45 online bookstores and works with bricks-and-mortar distributors such as Variety, UBS, and Atlantic, some of whom also have their own portals. We are now digitizing our entire list to ensure that none of our unique titles are ever out of print, and to prepare the groundwork for print-on-demand, Shah explained. Co-edition publishing is becoming increasingly important for Shah and for our overseas counterparts, as they also face the same challenges that we have. New Mapin titles such as Directing Art, Maharanis, and Water Treasures of the Himalayas are being prepared for co-editions. About half of our revenues come through publishing projects with companies such as Reliance, Air India, and Coca-Cola, and with those that have amassed unique or important art collections, Shah said. We have also entered the educational market with design and architecture books. We are uncovering new waysoffering packaging services to local regional language publishers, for instanceto publish and generate sales, and we look at market challenges as opportunities to break new grounds and test unique strategies. Click here for more of PWs coverage on the publishing market in India. COPLEY, Ohio -- She's been the subject of stories by media outlets around the world. She is under contract to write two books. She is 15. The Copley wunderkind is the creator of The Last Message Received, a heart-rending blog on the social media site Tumblr that compiles the final communications contributors received before deaths, breakups and other events that ended important relationships. Through text-message exchanges, voice mail recordings and other means, Emily's contributors tell concise stories of loss and the emotions surrounding it. Many share an aching sorrow in the brief explanations they submit along with the final messages. Some express anger, some regret. Some recall their last communications with a chilling lack of overt emotion. "He just started a new job and we were broke so he said he'd make us Sloppy Joes to celebrate," one contributor wrote. "He never came home. He left with a book bag, a toothbrush and three months of rent money. I was evicted the following week. We had dated for two years." Despite the moving subject matter of The Last Message Received, its origins were more intellectual than emotional. "I've always been interested in people's lives and their stories," said Emily, a sophomore who studies from home with the online public charter school Ohio Virtual Academy. Although she said she has experienced little significant loss in her own life, she realized people have rarely talked about the ends of their relationships. She thought that would be an interesting topic to explore. She started The Last Message Received in November, piggybacking on her success with another Tumblr she'd started earlier in 2015. That earlier Tumblr, Dear My Blank, is a collection of letters people have written without intending to send them. Emily said it was inspired by her own unsent letters to crushes, teachers and others, enough to fill a notebook and a Google Drive folder. When she started Dear My Blank in late March, its following grew quickly, thanks in part to Emily's moxie in asking popular Tumblr bloggers to spread the word about it. Media outlets, including Buzzfeed and Cosmopolitan, caught wind of her site and published stories. It now has about 30,000 followers. So when she started The Last Message Received in November, she was able to build on an already significant following. Just one month after its launch, The Last Message Received ranked eighth among the most viral Tumblrs of 2015. This time, the media reaction was staggering. The New York Times did a story. So did Buzzfeed, Huffington Post and the Guardian in the United Kingdom. Stories appeared as far away as India and Australia. Actor and social media celebrity George Takei did a Facebook post. Somewhere amid all this excitement, someone sent Emily a tweet asking whether her subject matter had been turned into a book yet. It made her realize her Tumblrs contained the fodder that might allow her to reach her longtime goal of becoming an author. So she did a Google search for literary agents and sent off some emails. One hour and 19 minutes later, she had an offer from an agent to represent her. That agent, Heather Flaherty, of the Bent Agency, shopped Emily's proposal for a book based on Dear My Blank to some major publishing houses. More than one was interested, so the publication rights were auctioned, and Random House won. Three days after she signed that deal, Random House asked her to write a book based on The Last Message Received, as well. Both books are expected to be published later this year by the publisher's Crown Books for Young Readers division, and German versions are also in the works. All this for someone who is not yet eligible for a driver's license. Yet for all her poise and powerful intellect, she still has the refreshing guilelessness of a teenager. Her easy smile reveals braces. Her conversation is punctuated with laughter. When she got a new fish last week, she sent a picture of it to her agent. She typically works on her laptop, often while sprawled on the couch with Sherlock, one of the family's two cats. Emily said she chose that platform for her projects because Tumblr allows for interaction among its users, and she wanted her blogs to foster a sense of community. She is buoyed by the way her readers support one another and by the way The Last Message Received helps promote emotional healing among some of its contributors -- particularly those whose last words to a loved one were angry or unkind. She is also heartened by the messages followers send her. Most gratifying, she said, are the ones from people who say they had entertained thoughts of suicide but reconsidered after reading the wrenching posts of those who lost loved ones that way. "They saw how much the person was missed," she said. "... Those have stood out in my mind a lot." For one who deals regularly with such weighty subjects, Emily exudes a youthful cheeriness. She reads voraciously, she loves Skyping with friends, and she's close with her cousins and her five siblings -- especially her younger brother Ethan, who has autism. "She's like a mother to him," said Michael Trunko, who is divorced from Emily's mother, Aimee. And she loves having fun. When her father asked Emily how she wanted to celebrate her upcoming 16th birthday, he imagined she'd want some elaborate celebration. "I asked if we could have it at Chuck E. Cheese's," she said with a laugh. She is, after all, 15. MOLINE -- Intouch Adult Day Services, a program of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is scheduled to close the doors on on its Moline center Feb. 26. Statewide, the Des Plaines-based LSSI is ending 30 programs and eliminating more than 750 positions, or 43 percent of LSSI's total employees. "As a result of these closures, approximately 4,700 people will no longer be receiving services from LSSI," said LSSI spokeswoman Barb Hailey in a news release, Friday. Locally, the closure means 70 jobs will be lost and more than 250 clients of Adult Day and home care will no longer be served, according to program director Sharon Patten. Intouch Adult Day Services is located at 4011 Avenue of the Cities. Ms. Patten said Intouch Adult Day has served the Quad-Cities since 1980. "We're very sad," Ms. Patten said. "The decision was based on the budget impasse in Springfield." LSSI is the largest statewide provider of social services. Mark A. Stutrud, LSSI president and CEO, said in a statement, "Over the past months, LSSI has relied on a bank line of credit and available resources from our foundation to compensate for the state's inability to pay its bills. "Currently, we are owed more than $6 million by the state for services delivered. After seven months, we can no longer provide services for which we aren't being paid." Ms. Patten said without state Medicaid reimbursements, the programs can't continue. Intouch Adult Day Services - Moline, is one of the largest adult day facilities in Illinois, providing personalized attention and stimulating activities in a comfortable, monitored environment to active seniors, socially isolated adults, and medically and psychologically challenged adults. The services also offer caregivers respite from their daily responsibilities. Melissa Uzzell, an elder law attorney out of Rock Island who refers clients to Intouch, said it will be a big loss to the area. "I don't think a lot of people out there realize what services they provide," said Ms. Uzzell, who volunteers time with veterans groups that meet at the center. "It's the only facility of its type on the Illinois side. It's going to leave a huge hole, a huge gap for us. "A lot of veterans use it. We have a pretty good group, sometimes 15 to 20 guys meet there on Wednesday mornings. That's a reason a lot of those guys come to Intouch. "It's a horrible loss for us (Quad-Cities)." Jerry Schroeder, senior program specialist with the local Alzheimer's Association in Davenport said it was a shock when heard the news. "I've known they (Intouch) have had financial challenges for years," he said. "I can tell you, it's an inestimable loss to the community. "From the quality of care, the atmosphere they create, the goodness they provide - there are going to be a lot of people displaced. This is nothing different than a family being broken up. "As it is, there are not enough adult day centers. I'm heartbroken." Ted Pappas Jr., president and CEO of Friendship Manor, 1209 21st Ave., Rock Island, said his first reaction to the closing was, "Wow!" Mr. Pappas said Lutheran Social Services of Illinois has been impacted by the lack of Medicaid reimbursement. "I think it's a real loss for the community," Mr. Pappas said. "Some of these families work, take care of a family member, a spouse, a parent, and Intouch provides a real means for folks that enables them to continue their work. "Intouch works with some of our neediest citizens that otherwise, could be out on the streets." A man was wounded early Saturday in a shooting in Davenport. Officers were called around 3:11 a.m. for reports of a shooting in the area of Locust and Washington streets, according to a news release from the Davenport Police Department. Once there, they found a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. They also found a damaged vehicle. The victim, whom police did not identify, was sent to Genesis Medical Center's eastern campus for treatment. No one else was reported injured during the shooting. The vehicle, which had been reported stolen, was heading north on Washington Street when the shooting occurred. It crashed in the northwest corner of the intersection and the people inside ran away. An hour after the shooting at Locust and Washington, officers were called to a report of shots fired in the area of 1400 Marquette Street, the release states. At that scene, investigators found evidence that could be related to the earlier shooting. People who may know anything about the shooting are asked to contact the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125. They can also send information anonymously through the department's mobile app entitled CityConnect Davenport, IA. They can also contact the Quad-Cities chapter of Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500 . ROCK ISLAND -- The Anglican Church in North America -- formed in 2009 after an Episcopal Church schism -- received the full support of the worldwide Anglican Communion in a London meeting last week. Anglican church primates also allowed North American Anglican Archbishop Foley Beach to become a seated member with a full voice and vote in decisions, according to reports. The Episcopal Church of America, on the other hand, officially was suspended from the Anglican Communion, reports said. Quad-Cities Anglican congregations include Trinity Parish in Rock Island, Christ Church in Moline, St. Mark's in Silvis, St. Paul's in Geneseo, St. John's in Preemption and St. Nicholas House Church in Davenport, according to the Rev. Thomas Janikowski, Quincy Diocesan public relations director and Trinity church, Rock Island Dean and Iowa Deanery. The Quincy Diocese is among the founders of the North American Anglican group which has grown to 29 dioceses and more than 115,000 members, Rev. Janikowski said. For details about the decisions, visit dioceseofquincy.org, or call Rev. Janikowski at 563-505-1016. The court battles between the Anglican Communion and American Episcopal Church over assets and property continue, but have been delayed," Rev. Janikowski said. "It's been so sad," he said. The split was caused by differing marital doctrines. All of us acknowledge that these developments have caused further deep pain throughout our Communion, read the Anglican communique. The traditional doctrine of the church, "in view of the teaching of Scripture," upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union," the document read. In 2015, the Episcopal Church made formal, a canonical provision for same-sex marriages within their rites after nearly a decade-long struggle within the denomination, it read. Canterbury Archbishop Justin Welby called the Anglican Communion meeting to address the situation. "As much as we have been saddened by the actions of the Episcopal Church in recent years," said Quincy Bishop J. Alberto Morales, "we are pleased that the primates have acted in unison to issue a Godly judgment. Nonetheless, I continue to charge my diocese not to look at and be preoccupied with others, but to focus on Jesus Christ and our work for the extension of His Kingdom." The decision means Episcopalian priests may no longer represent or take part in Anglican Communion decisions, Rev. Janikowski said. They have three years to repent and seek re-admittance, something Rev. Janikowski said he doubts will happen. He noted, however, that Anglican archbishops "have taken notice of how we have tried to remain faithful to our beliefs. "That's what it's all been about -- staying faithful to Scripture," he said. Don't let Noah's Ark just sail by ROCK ISLAND -- The Church of Peace, 1114 12th St., Rock Island, will host a Noah's Ark cantata by Jos Wuytack at its 10:30 a.m. service Sunday, Jan. 24. The cantata and current worship series takes its inspiration from the 50th anniversary of the local Flood of 1965. Mr. Wuytack's performance will tell the story of Noah and the Ark with a children's choir, soloist, flutist and a 20-piece percussion choir. The related worship series, titled "Waters of Chaos and Creation," will continue through Feb. 7, and will focus on Biblical stories about water. Church rolls out annual Snow Ball MOLINE -- The 14th Annual Believers Together Snow Ball Dance, titled "Island Dreams," will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Christ the King Church, in the Believers Together Community Center, 3209 60th St. The elegant dinner-dance fundraiser will help maintain the Believers Center. which houses the Teens Encounter Christ, Cursillo and Special People Encounter Christ programs. Dinner will be catered by At Your Service Catering. Dance music will be provided by Soul Storm. Dancing will start at 7:30 p.m. and go until 11 p.m. A cash bar, a 50/50 windfall raffle with tickets costing $25 each, a silent auction and other large item raffle prizes for $10 per ticket also will offered. Dinner and dance reservations will cost $50 per person. Dinner reservations will be due by Monday, Jan. 25. Dance-only tickets will cost $25 per person. Dance-only reservations will be due by Friday, Jan. 29. Get reservations or buy 50/50 windfall raffle tickets, visit christhekingmoline.org, or call the parish office at 309-762 4634. Find free Saturday meals at church ROCK ISLAND Two Rivers United Methodist Church, 1820 5th Ave., will provide a free meal at noon every Saturday. Free movie shown at Faith MILAN -- Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, 660 10th Ave. W., will share a free 5 p.m. showing of the the movie "War Room" on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Showtime will be 5 p.m. GENESEO -- St. Malachy's Catholic Church, at 595 E. Ogden Ave., will kick off its 150th anniversary with its 21st annual Winterfest Jan. 30-31. According to coordinators Dave and A.J. Wolak, Winterfest involves more than 100 volunteers, including nearly all of the church's parishioners and the students at St. Malachys School. We are beginning our churchs 150th anniversary celebration with the Winterfest, said A.J. Wolak. It is a weekend of great fellowship, food, crafts, raffle prizes and more. Open to the public, Winterfest features a craft show, raffle drawings, a cafe, a lunch and a bake shoppe Jan. 30, as well as a spaghetti supper with raffle drawings on Jan. 31. Silent-auction items will be displayed 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 30. And direct-sales vendors will in the church lobby 4-8 p.m. Jan. 31. Raffle items include an American Girl Doll, a handmade quilt, a John Deere 16-inch bicycle, an Apple iPad mini2, a $100 gift card for Heaven Sent and cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200. The Jan. 30 activities are planned 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors and crafters will set up in the parish school, offering items such as lathe-turned wood pieces, handmade greeting cards, American Girl and Barbie fashions and accessories, embroidery pieces, sweatshirts, paintings, copper tooling and handbags. Coffee and cinnamon rolls will be offered 9-10:30 a.m. Lunch is planned 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with sandwiches, homemade soups and pies. Jams, jellies, candies and other baked goods will be sold throughout the day in the Bake Shoppe, and door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. The Jan. 31 spaghetti dinner will be served 4-7 p.m., with raffle drawings at 6 p.m. Tickets for the spaghetti supper -- $7 for adults and $4 for children -- are available at the church office or at the door; carryouts will be available. Since it began 21 years ago, Winterfest has grown from a tiny church bake sale to a two-day community event that raises money for year-round programs at the church and school. Church members begin preparing for the event in the fall. The Rev. Michael Pakula, pastor at St. Malachys, said the event would not be as successful without all of the support by people in Geneseo and surrounding communities. This event is a great experience for people to work together, to build community and support in the parish," he said. For more details, visit saintmalachy.org and select Parish Life, then Winterfest. COLONA -- The Rev. Peter Zorjan said he knew he wanted to be a priest when he was 10 years old. I first felt called to be a priest when I was 10 years old, said the priest of St. Patrick's Church in Colona and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Silvis. "I use to tell my parents and friends that I was going to be a priest one day because the priest brings us Jesus, in the Eucharist, and it was cool to be a priest. Rev. Zorjan said he is the first person in his family born in the U.S. His father was from Yugoslavia and his mother was from Argentina; they met and got married in Chicago. "Both were faithful Catholics, so I was blessed to grow up in a strong Catholic family," Rev. Zorjan said. He credited his grandmother, the late Antonia Markosek, for inspiring him. "She was one of the holiest people I have ever met," he said. "She used to pray three rosaries a day, attend Mass on a daily basis until her health prevented her from doing so, and she would light between 10-12 devotional candles a week for her intentions and family members in need of prayer. "She had a humble, gentle spirit similar to that of Mother of Teresa." Officiating at her funeral in 2010, he said, was one of the most difficult ones he's ever done. "I think I cried at least three times during the homily when I tried to preach," he said. Rev. Zorjan said he put his priesthood plans on a back burner for a while during his high school years. In his first two years of of college, he said, he again felt the calling to the priesthood. "This time stronger than ever," he said. "I went into St. Johns Catholic Chapel at the University of Illinois and had a profound prayer experience that forever changed my life and helped me to let go of my fears and doubts." Since Mother's Day 2012, Rev. Zorjan has recorded his weekly homily and posted it online. As of earlier this month, I have had more than 15,000 plays and listeners from 66 countries around the world, he said. He has Mass and hears confessions at both St. Patricks and Our Lady of Guadalupe: -- Saturdays, Our Lady of Guadalupe, confessions 4:45-5:15 p.m.; Mass at 5:30 p.m. -- Sundays, Our Lady of Guadalupe, confessions 7:30-7:50 a.m.; Mass at 8 a.m. -- Sundays, St. Patricks, confessions 10-10:20 a.m.; Mass at 10:30 a.m.; confessions 7-7:20 p.m.; Mass at 7:30 p.m. -- Mondays and Thursdays, St. Patricks, confessions 7-7:30 a.m.; Mass at 7:45 a.m. -- Wednesdays and Fridays, Our Lady of Guadalupe, confessions 7-7:20 a.m.; Mass at 7:30 a.m. He also leads Mass at Our Lady of Grace Academy at St. Annes Church, East Moline, at least once per month, and serves the Catholic on Call Help for Genesis-Illini Hospital in Silvis. I enjoy bringing souls closer to God, getting to know Gods wonderful people here in Silvis and Colona and just being there for others, he said. My goal is to let everyone know they are loved by God always, no matter what, and that even if we have fallen away, God will take us back -- because He has never stopped loving us, even though we may have stopped loving Him as we should. The Rev. Peter Zorjan Birth date: Aug. 4, 1980. Family: Parents, Karl and Maria Zorjan, Berwyn; brother, Andy Zorjan, Berwyn. Hometown: Berwyn. Education: Graduated from Morton West High School in Berwyn (1998); bachelors degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois (2002); graduated from Mount St. Marys Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., with an associates degree in philosophy, Master of Divinity Degree in Theology and a Master of Arts Degree in Theology (2007); ordained a deacon in 2006 and a priest in 2007. He is ordained into the priesthood for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Experience: St. Pius, Rock Island, 2007-2011; St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center at Illinois State University and St. Patrick Parish, Bloomington-Normal, 2011-2013; St. Mary Parish, Pontiac, St. Joseph Parish, Flanagan and St. Paul Parish, Odell, and St. John Parish, Cullom -- all from 2013-2015; St. Patricks, Colona, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Silvis, 2015. Favorite Scripture: Psalm 46:10. Biblical character Id like to meet: Other than Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Paul. Hobbies and activities: Traveling internationally, walking, reading, movies and going to Christian concerts, where I have met many Christian bands. One thing I feel strongly about: I am a firm believer in education; the more we know the more we grow, especially when it comes to faith. I think it is so important that we understand our faith better because that makes us more confident to share our faith with others and it helps to confirm what we profess to believe Over the years, in my own homilies, I try to answer the 'why question: why do we believe this, and how is it part of our faith? I wish I knew how to: Sing better. President Obama has just, with his pen, issued a new gun control executive order. His justification is, I intend ... to ... stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans. It is hard to quibble with the proposition that guns should be kept out of the hands of those suffering from any abnormal condition of the mind involving a loss of contact with reality. And it is hard to quibble with the notion that we should keep guns and other dangerous weapons out of the hands of radical Muslims, such as the two who recently murdered 14 Americans at a San Bernardino Christmas party in the name of Allah. But if we should keep assault rifles out of the hands of the mentally ill, and out of the hands of radical Muslim religious fanatics, what about keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un and Irans supreme religious leader, the Grand Ayatollah, Ali Khamenei? On Sept. 15, 2015, according to Reuters, North Korea issued a statement saying that North Korea has been working studiously to improve the quality and quantity of its nuclear weapons, and wouldnt hesitate to launch them against the United States any time. Can you recall North Korea promising Presidents Clinton and Bush that they would not build nuclear weapons? On Jan. 5, Gen. Mohammad Naghdi, the commander of Irans Basij force, told the Fars (Iranian) News Agency, Our ideal is not centrifuges, but the destruction of the White House and the annihilation of Zionism [Israel]. Then Irans Ali Khamenei added, This battle will only end when the society can get rid of the oppressors front with America at the head of it, which has expanded its claws on human mind, body and thought. ... This requires a difficult and lengthy struggle and a need for great strides. Most of the Western world sees our President as the second-coming of Neville Chamberlain; the Grand Ayatollah sees Mr. Obama as an oppressor with claws! Is Ali Khamenei in contact with reality? So why worry about assault rifles, when foreign dictators are threatening the U.S. with nuclear weapons? How about a little gun control for North Koreans and Iranians threatening to nuke the American people? President Obama is fond of telling the American people that ISIS is not an existential threat to the American people. Are two Muslim fanatics with assault rifles? But what about the little megalomaniac hunkered in Pyongyang building and testing intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs which he proclaims are to be used to attack the U.S? What about an apocalyptic Muslim zealot secretly building nuclear bombs and test-firing ballistic missiles in Tehran? Is it an existential threat if Iran merely nukes the White House? If North Korea nukes just Honolulu? Or do we have to wait until Iran and North Korea have enough nuclear weapons to destroy all our major cities? At what point do these little totalitarians become existential threats? And while Iranian threats fly, is it wise for President Obama to release $150 billion in frozen assets? Even Secretary John Kerry concedes, I think that some of it will end up in the hands of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps or other entities, some of which are ... terrorists. Indeed, even if this $150 billion is scrupulously used for domestic purposes, doesnt the release allow the Iranians to reallocate $150 billion previously allocated for domestic purposes for weapons development?) When since the fall of the shah (1979), have we ever been able to deal with or trust Iran? When since the Korean War began (June 25, 1950), have we ever been able to deal with or trust North Korea? Do we have to await a nuclear attack? Or can we act in self-defense to preempt any clear and present danger? Under Art. 51 of the U.N. Charter, doesnt our country have the inherent right of self-defense? The time has come for Mr. Obama to get out his pen and write one more executive order -- an order closely resembling an ultimatum: If this country perceives that North Korea or Iran is on the verge of becoming an existential threat to the U.S. people, the U.S will do what must be done to instantly eliminate the nuclear threat against the American people. That would include an attack against any part of our homeland. Or does it make sense to wait until the North Koreans have nuked San Francisco, or have the means at hand to do so? Its time for a little international gun control to protect innocent Americans. The alternative may be a nuclear World War III. And by the way ... do you see anyone threatening to nuke Vladimir Putins Russia? It is nice that in his latest opinion article Scott Reeder references the word "baloney." It is nice to see, because it is obvious that he has been eating filet mignon for quite some time while he has traded his journalistic ethics for a spot on the Illinois Policy Institute's payroll. The reason that there is no contract agreement between Governor "Ruiner" and AFSCME is due to the fact that the governor has never seriously bargained with the negotiating team from the start. The instance that the Koch Brothers' favorite "journalist" refers to is a very small part of the proposals offered by the governor. I have been at the negotiating table from day one of these negotiations and for the past three negotiations. Scott Reeder simply does not know what he is talking about and is completely wrong about "surgeries, major illnesses and caring for family members" not counting towards the seven days off in order to be one of the elite to receive a merit raise. Why is it that defenders of the governor never seem to look further into the story of these negotiations? Other unions have settled with the governor, because they are for the most part self insured, and with health-care discussions off of the table, makes it much easier to come to agreement. The health-care plan that the governor is offering would put state employees in Illinois in the unenviable position of having the worst health care plan in the nation, by miles. State workers in Illinois have the poorest staff to citizen ratio of any state in the union due to attrition and have worked much harder than they ever could have imagined, yet they continue to provide top notch services to the citizens in Illinois. These employees could take a page from the Bruce Rauner handbook and show up to work and do absolutely nothing. Since this governor's inauguration he has done nothing but trot out a failed agenda, propose a budget further out of line than the one that he was presented with, and endanger the most vulnerable citizens in the state. Some work ethic, at least Scott Reeder takes the time to do his job: You know, misinform the public and trade your journalistic credibility for David and Charles Koch. If the deal that the state Board of Education struck this week to allow 14 Oregon schools with Native American mascots to keep those mascots sounds familiar, theres a reason for that: As far as we can tell, the deal is just about exactly what Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, has been pushing for all along in her long battle over the mascot issue. As you will recall, the board previously had ruled that public schools with Native American mascots had to stop using those names by 2017 or possibly risk their state funding. On Thursday, however, in an unexpected bit of business, the board amended its previous ruling, declaring that schools that get permission from one of Oregons nine tribes can continue to use their mascots. (The ruling could affect mid-valley schools in Lebanon and Philomath, both of which use Warriors as their mascot.) This may not be the final word: Activist Sam Sachs of Portland, a longtime foe of using the mascots, said Native American students plan to file a suit against the state and the Board of Education later this spring. In the meantime, though, if Sprenger feels even a little bit vindicated by the turn of events this week, shes earned it. This issue has been percolating in state government and school districts for years, and reached a boiling point with the boards initial 2012 ruling to ban the Native American-inspired mascots. In 2013, Sprenger and other Republican legislators pushed hard for a bill that would clear a path for school districts to work with tribes to keep using the mascots if certain conditions had been met. That bill passed the Legislature, but was vetoed by Gov. John Kitzhaber the only bill from that entire session Kitzhaber vetoed. Undeterred, legislators returned with a proposal in 2014 allowing school boards and tribes to work together to keep the mascots. The bill also ordered the Board of Education to create the rules that would govern those agreements. At the time, Sprenger worried that the board didnt seem inclined to work on those rules, and her fears were well-founded: Last May, the board voted against an amendment that would have allowed schools to gain permission from tribes. So this weeks board action came as a surprise. What prompted the change of heart? A story in The Oregonian quoted a spokeswoman from the Department of Education as saying that state officials have been talking with the states tribes. And, the official said, some tribes and school districts have worked together to create plans in which students learn more about tribal history and culture. Which is exactly what Sprenger hoped would happen in the first place. She has said that her original goal in launching this battle was to foster wide-ranging and honest discussions between tribes and school districts the kind of freewheeling give and take that can allow students some real-world insights. She even promised to visit every affected school district to walk officials through what they needed to do to keep their mascots. In the wake of her effort, it would appear that at least some of those discussions took place. With any luck, more of them might be in the works. (mm) 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 While practicing medicine in Nigeria, I regularly observed the immense impact of social determinants like poverty on health outcomes. Patients were often unable to afford care, which usually led to incomplete case management, the use of poorer alternatives of care and, ultimately, dismal health outcomes. One case that stands out in my memory: A baby boy who was admitted for severe malaria complicated with anemia. Overnight, the child's condition gradually worsened and he needed an urgent blood transfusion that his mother could not afford. Although there were several doctors present in the children's emergency ward of this major teaching hospital, the baby did not receive any further medical care. He eventually died. Situations like this are not uncommon in Nigeria and many other developing countries. According to recent estimates, less than 20 percent of Nigerians have some form of health insurance. As a result, a significant proportion of the country's population of over 180 million is exposed to increased risk of catastrophic health spending, and dismal health outcomes. This is especially true of people in the informal sector, the non-government or non-salaried workers. In the long run, the absence of insurance contributes to poor national health outcomes and the perpetuation of a vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty. So it is not so surprising that Nigeria has the 14th highest (PDF) maternal mortality rate in the world and also accounts (PDF) for 14 percent of global maternal deaths. It ranks 10th in infant mortality and life expectancy is about 53 years. There is a growing consensus that countries around the globe need to move toward universal health coverage, which would protect people from the financial risks associated with catastrophic care. According to the World Health Organization, the goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people are able to use the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. Achieving this will require innovative thinking to develop approaches that would take into consideration specific country characteristics and nuances. A remarkable response to this important challenge has emerged in the central Nigerian state of Kwara. In 2007, the state government inaugurated a community-based health insurance program in conjunction with PharmAccess Foundation, an international non-governmental organization; the Health Insurance Fund of the Netherland Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Hygeia, a leading health maintenance organization that serves as the local implementing organization. This public-private-NGO partnership is a fine illustration of how the broad reach of the government can be synergized with the efficiency of the private sector and the mission-mindedness of nonprofits. The program launched in the rural farming communities of two local governments in Kwara state. Over the past seven years, health insurance coverage has broadened to cover over 135,000 individuals from 10 of the 16 local governments in the state. The partner organizations have set a goal of having a minimum of 600,000 people covered by 2018. In addition to expanding access, the program has also instituted a supply-side intervention focused on increasing the quality of healthcare being provided as well as improving the capacity of participating health facilities. Providers are enrolled in SafeCare, a quality improvement program (PDF) that attempts to enhance such elements as health care management and leadership; human resource management; and patients' rights and access to care. The program also helps providers to implement treatment guidelines, upgrade laboratory equipment, improve medical recordkeeping, and develop infection control protocols. From the outset, the program has included plans for data collection and impact evaluationan important and commendable feature. In the last few years, researchers at the University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development and Amsterdam Institute for International Development) together with researchers at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State have published high-quality evaluation research on the program. Their findings (PDF) indicate that the program has increased health care utilization and reduced out-of-pocket payments for healthcare expenses. It also has improved health outcomes as measured by both self-reported health and the incidence of such chronic diseases as hypertension, according to the researchers. The program's long-term sustainability is a concern, considering the significant subsidy provided by the government and external partners. The annual cost of the premium for each enrollee is the equivalent of 4,500 Nigerian naira (currently about $22). Of this, the Kwara state government pays 60 percent, the Dutch Health Insurance Fund pays 28 percent, and each enrollee pays 12 percent. Dr. Ayodeji Ajiboye, director of PharmAccess Nigeria, argues that subsidization is essential to ensure the participation of the rural poor, the program's target population that lives under less than $1 a day. Despite harsh economic conditions and reduced state allocation from the federal government due to falling oil prices, Ajiboye said he believes it is possible to find innovative ways to mobilize extra funds as long as the government is committed to the program. One of the program's achievements has been its ability to increasingly shift financial responsibility from the Health Insurance Fund to the state government and the beneficiaries. Over the life of the program, the fund's share of contributions has decreased from 74 percent to 28 percent, while the state government's has increased from 18 percent to 60 percent. In addition, enrollees' share of the cost has risen slightly, from 8 percent to 12 percent. In late 2012, Kwara state passed a bill to ensure the program continues. It has spanned two political administrations, a commendable achievement in a political system where policies and programs often do not outlive the founding administration. While long-term impact and sustainability remains to be seen, the Kwara Community Health Insurance program provides a remarkable proof-of-concept and template for addressing the challenge of providing risk protection for the poor in the developing world. According to Dr. Peju Adenusi, executive director of Hygeia Community Health Care, The Kwara program has been able to demonstrate that insurance for the poor can work in Nigeria. With the focus of the program on rural areas and the informal sector, it is helping to bridge the rural-urban divide when it comes to health care inequities that have been observed in many countries in the developing world. Adeyemi Okunogbe is an assistant policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and a Ph.D. candidate at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. This blog post was written for the Pardee Initiative for Global Human Progress. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. I'm on a journey with a set destination. Heaven! I want to journey well and bless those traveling alongside me. I don't want to sit - I want to make progress - everyday. But I know, I must feel the brush of His Robes, or I'll never make the climb. This blog will chronicle my journey, but more importantly, it will share my moments of reaching for the Robes of Christ. 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 , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Vicki Gunvalson says she isn't giving former boyfriend Brooks Ayers' tell-all book much thought. ADVERTISEMENT "The Real Housewives of Orange County" star revealed in a statement through her rep that she is legally protected after Ayers announced Tuesday he intends to publish a memoir. "Vicki is not at all concerned about her former boyfriend writing a book," Gunvalson's rep said. "He can write whatever he wants except he cannot write about Vicki, her career, family or anything else concerning her." "Vicki long ago had the boyfriend sign a fiercely written and executed confidentiality agreement," the rep explained. "He cannot write about her at all. That was signed in the very beginning [of their relationship]." Ayers told Page Six he hopes the memoir will clear his name following speculation he is faking cancer. Ayers blames "The Real Housewives" producers and Gunvalson's daughter Brianna Culberson for the rumors and wants "to expose" their role in the drama. "They basically pitched me as this poor guy from Mississippi preying on a vulnerable, successful, self-made woman," he said. "I'm not bound contractually by anything to not share the intel about what transpires behind production." "I'm not doing this because [Vicki] did it to me, but she's a grown woman and she's making business decisions to continue earning money," he added. "I'm a grown man and I want to do what I can to rehab my reputation ... and you can't do it on reality TV." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Gunvalson and Ayers dated four years before breaking up in August. The 53-year-old was initially positive about her ex-boyfriend despite the split, but vowed to never speak to him again after Ayers admitted to faking medical documents in November. The new governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Philip Lane, bids to show more transparency in the organization first by publishing the pay scale and human resource policies. As part of its effort to boost public confidence in the organization, the Central Bank on Friday published the data on its salary structure as well as HR policies for the first time, The Irish Times reported. Speaking at the Institute of Directors' Spring lunch, Lane said, "By providing greater details on our human resources policies, we aim to enhance understanding about the Central Bank as a public organisation and prospective employer." Minutes of the meetings will also be released to the public six weeks after each meeting. The December meeting minutes, with Lane as the new governor, will be made available next month. "The publication of these minutes should contribute to greater understanding of our corporate governance, the internal debates we have and the initiatives that we're planning," explained Lane who took over the position in November. Meanwhile, the Central Bank has been in the spotlight following its introduction of new mortgage lending rules last year which have greatly impacted first-time homebuyers. The bank has been called on to review and made adjustments to the rules. Lane earlier this month told The Irish Times that the mortgage rules will be reviewed beginning this summer. As an update, the governor said during his first speaking engagement in Dublin that the review will be published in November. "The rules-based framework is intended to promote the resilience of both banks and households and, as such, should be viewed as a permanent feature of the system," he said. "The Central Bank is open to tightening or loosening the calibration of these rules in response to the evidence; still, the value of stability in a rules-based framework means that the evidence threshold to justify adjustments to these rules is significant," he added. Rarely does a brand-new artist get nods from the likes of Adele, Taylor Swift, and Sam Smith, but Troye Sivan epitomizes what it means to be a rarity. Due to the evolving theological direction of the Presbyterian Church(USA), the majority of the congregation at the Central Presbyterian Church on Alps Road in Athens feels it is time to disaffiliate from PC(USA). It cannot secede, however, without permission from the denomination. SHARE Chris Carpenter Carpenters' son dies of cancer 3 years after Heather's murder By Ryan Sabalow There's an emptiness in Ed Carpenter's voice that is palpable, even over the phone. An all-encompassing grief wraps around each word like a blanket as the 63-year-old Paradise man describes losing his oldest son to cancer just months after a jury convicted a Keswick man in the 2003 murder of his daughter. "Sometimes I question God, or if there even is one," Carpenter said. On Dec. 1, a form of rapidly spreading leukemia killed Ed Carpenter's 38-year-old son, Chris Carpenter. His unexpected death came just as the family was putting a three-year-old murder behind them -- an ordeal that first left the family hopeful that their strikingly pretty, blond daughter, Heather Carpenter, would be found alive. After her body was found in a shallow grave, that hope dissolved and the family's focus turned to getting justice. Eventually, that need was satisfied. In March, a Shasta County jury found Patrick Larmour guilty of first-degree murder. In April, Larmour was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The sentence is being appealed. The 20-year-old had been accused of choking Heather, 22, to death after he met her at a Redding party. He had buried her body four miles from his parents' home. For about four months, Larmour kept his crime a secret. It was only after he confessed the killing to a friend that police were able to find the girl's remains and make an arrest. As all of this was going on, Chris Carpenter moved from the Roseville area to near Boise, Idaho, to start a new life and try to distance himself from his grief. But that didn't stop him from coming back and watching the trial. At one point, he wrote an angry letter to Larmour as the murder suspect sat in jail. A judge would later meet with Chris Carpenter over the heated letter to see if he would act out on his anger during the trial. "It was something we all were thinking," Chris Carpenter's 36-year-old sister, Heidi Carpenter, said Tuesday. "He just wrote it down." The outburst was rare for the quiet, usually introverted man, his father said. When he did express himself, he would do so through music. While living in Roseville, he was the frontman of "Myme," a band its MySpace tribute page describes as a mix of "Electro/Experimental/Gothic" rock. Giving to the family Friends of Heather and Chris Carpenter's family have started a fund to help them as they deal with their grief. Donations to the Carpenter Family Fund can be made at any north state Bank of America. Ed Carpenter said his son often wrote music that touched on the loss of his birth mother, Joan, who died of cancer when he was 3 1/2. He also would write songs about his sister, Ed Carpenter said. Some of those songs will be played at Chris Carpenter's memorial service, scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 30 at the Twin View Church of the Assemblies of God, 621 Twin View Blvd. in Redding. Although Heather was very much a part of Chris' memories and life, Heidi Carpenter said, her brother had been trying to move on. Chris Carpenter had been working for a school district in Boise as an information technology specialist. And he had been dabbling in real estate. She said he bought his own home and had recently purchased a second rental. Chris Carpenter also tried to get his sister and even his parents, Ed and Cydney Carpenter, to move closer to him, she said. In September, Heidi Carpenter moved to Idaho and bought a home just a couple blocks away from her brother. At the end of October, Chris Carpenter complained of being weak and not feeling well. He went to a doctor for tests. Just days later, the doctors called with the news: leukemia. The cancer tore through him. Chemotherapy couldn't slow the disease. He was dead within weeks. Ed Carpenter blames the cancer on the grief and guilt Chris felt over his half-sister's murder. The murder, Ed Carpenter believes, mutated his son's DNA. His sister says it's possible. "He's never gotten over it. None of us have," Heidi Carpenter said. "He was heartbroken. He wanted to protect her, to be her big brother." Ray Foust is an assistant senior chaplain at the Redding Police Department and consoled Chris Carpenter and his family during the ordeal. He agreed when Patrick Larmour murdered Heather, he also crippled the family. The stress, rage and sadness could have helped kill her older brother, too. "It's like dropping a rock in a still pond," Foust said. "The ripple effect is just amazing." Ed Carpenter knows this. He feels that crippling ripple every day. "This has been the most horrible ..." he pauses, his voice quavering. "I go around with my hands up in the air, wondering, What did I do wrong?'" Reporter Ryan Sabalow can be reached at 225-8344 or at rsabalow@redding.com. SHARE Deputies seek four who left crash scene Shasta County sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement officers searched Friday afternoon near Happy Valley Road and Shawn Drive for four people who left after a vehicle wreck, according to dispatchers. Shawn Drive is off Happy Valley Road about 2 miles south of the intersection with Canyon Road, where deputies combed the area. Dispatchers said deputies were looking for two men and two women. A vehicle was seen being towed from the area as authorities continue their search. Exonerated man to share story The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union on Saturday will host a former North State inmate recently released from prison with help from the Innocence Project. Larry Pohlschneider, a Tehama County resident who served 15 years until his alleged victims recanted, will discuss his story at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2850 Foothill Blvd., in Redding. Pohlschneider was released in October, exonerated and is now eligible for $750,000 in compensation. Maitreya Badami, of the Northern California Innocence Project, will also talk about her group's involvement in getting Pohlschneider released. The event is free. Time running short for theme contest The Asphalt Cowboys are reminding the public they will accept Redding Rodeo theme contest entries through Jan. 31. The theme must be short and something all parade entrants can decorate around. You can submit more than one idea. The winner will be a special guest of the Asphalt Cowboys in the May parade and receive a $100 cash award. To submit entries, mail them to Asphalt Cowboys, P.O. Box 992211, Redding, CA 96099-2211. No entries will be accepted after Jan. 31. Motorists to face Highway 299 delays Motorists can expect delays of between 15 to 25 minutes next week at the Buckhorn Grade area of Highway 299 west of Redding. The California Department of Transportation has approved a request by the contractor working on highway improvements to close one lane, resulting in one-way traffic controls. The lane closure will be in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Caltrans says. Staff reports SHARE By Teresa Wiltz, Stateline.org WASHINGTON Carmen was sleeping when they came for her and her two children. It was early Saturday morning, Jan. 2, and about a dozen federal immigration officials banged on her parents door in Atlanta. The 27-year-old single mother from El Salvador said she had just enough time to throw on some clothes over her pajamas. Carmen, who illegally crossed the Mexico-Texas border with her children in June 2014, was shocked when the officials said they were deporting her right away. She was in the midst of an appeals process and even had a court appointment for that Monday in a bid to stay. I asked them, Why are you sending me back to my country where its so dangerous? I could be killed, she said from a detention center in Dilley, Texas, where she is being held with her children, ages 6 and 8. (She asked that her real name not be used for fear of compromising her case.) The mother and her two children are among 121 people mostly women and children from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico who were rounded up early this month, in raids primarily in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas amid growing fears that the U.S. faces a surge of illegal unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Central America comparable to 2014. So far 77 have been deported. The deportation raids have sparked fear in U.S. immigrant communities and highlight the wide confusion and political division among federal, state and local authorities on how the nation should deal with as many as 11 million undocumented immigrants, most of whom entered the country illegally across the southern border. The Democratic mayors of Philadelphia and New Haven, Conn., last week said they would not cooperate with the deportation efforts. The Democratic New York City Council announced that city agencies would not report undocumented people to federal authorities. In Maryland, the Democratic executive in Montgomery County said local police wouldnt cooperate in any raids. And Prince Georges County urged federal officials not to round up children in schools or people in stores, social service agencies or county buildings. Meanwhile, in Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott last month extended the 18-month mission of National Guard troops along the border in response to a rise in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the Rio Bravo. And the U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday it will hear a case involving President Barack Obamas 2014 order that would have provided protection to as many as 4.9 million undocumented immigrants an order that has been stayed while a lawsuit works its way through the courts. Texas and 25 other mostly Republican states filed the suit against the order, while dozens of mostly Democratic cities, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have backed the order in court briefs. At the same time U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are carrying out the raids, the Obama administration is building temporary shelters to house unaccompanied immigrant children in Colorado, Florida and New Mexico. The shelters will house up to 2,200 children for on average 32 days each and will provide schooling for them until they are placed with sponsor families. Under federal law, unaccompanied children must be transferred out of detention centers within 72 hours. The federal government doesnt want to get caught the way they did in 2014, said Marc Rosenblum, who is leaving his position at the Migration Policy Institute to become deputy assistant secretary of Homeland Security and director of the Office of Immigration Statistics. They want to give relief to people who have valid claims while enforcing their borders. Either way, he said, its a dilemma with no easy solutions. Its a tough policy problem. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the raids begun last month are intended as deterrence, by discouraging people from attempting the dangerous journey from Central America to the southwest border. They have targeted families who had illegally crossed the border after May 1, 2014, and who had exhausted their legal options for staying, ICE said. The families will be held in detention centers for processing and then flown back to their home countries. But some defiant local officials say the raids have created a public safety crisis. Parents, they say, are keeping their children home from school and skipping doctors appointments. Whole families, they say, are hiding out in their homes, too frightened to go to the grocery store or to talk to the police. This is having a severe impact on the immigrant community itself, said Maryland state Del. Ana Sol-Gutierrez, a Democrat. They are very much afraid of what ICE raids can do to their families. The community is panicked. In announcing local police wouldnt cooperate in the deportation effort, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett said, We want all of our community members to know that they are free to go about their daily life, to go to schools and work, social service agencies, hospitals and medical clinics. If you have reason to need help from our police, do not be afraid to call on them. The raids come amid a rise in illegal crossings at the border, where last fall thousands of families and unaccompanied children fleeing gang violence, drought and poverty in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, slipped under the fence. The rise more than 17,000 between October and December, compared with nearly 8,000 during the same period the previous year has stoked fears that the nation will experience a surge like the one it witnessed in 2014, when roughly 69,000 children swarmed the border, creating a crisis in U.S. detention facilities and overwhelming states and municipalities. Right now, were on pace to have more families and unaccompanied minors arrive in fiscal year 2016 than in 2014, Rosenblum said. Once they cross, they end up in every state. How they are treated can depend on which one they go to. California, Florida, New York, Texas and the Washington, D.C., region that includes Maryland and Virginia have the largest numbers of unaccompanied children. California threw open its doors. In 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, signed into law a bill allocating $3 million in legal aid for Central American children. That same year, then-Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, a Democrat, sought to house the children in foster homes rather than in group shelters and pushed to have them treated as refugees. But other states made it clear the children were not welcome. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, said in 2014 he did not want the children sent to his state because it would encourage others to cross the border illegally. Meanwhile, then-Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, protested that the federal government had sent 200 children to his state without consulting him. Today, the raids are happening in cities and states that have some of the toughest immigration courts, said Amy Fischer, policy director for RAICES, a Texas-based organization that is providing pro bono legal aid to immigrants in the deportation centers. For example, she said, very, very few people get granted asylum in Atlanta. Other regions, such as the Washington, D.C., area, have courts that tend to be more immigrant-friendly, Fischer said. Its also easier for immigrants there to find a lawyer, she said. U.S. Justice Department statistics back that up. In Atlanta, only 1 percent of asylum requests were granted in 2014, compared with 71 percent in Arlington, Virginia, and 84 percent in New York City. As Carmen found out, Atlanta wasnt the best place to arrive undocumented, after fleeing her home and job as a cosmetologist in El Salvador in the face of gang violence in the summer of 2014. She was apprehended at the Texas border, where she applied for asylum and was ordered to wear an ankle bracelet to track her whereabouts. From there, she went to Atlanta, to be with her parents and brothers and sisters. She said she never missed a court appearance. But in October, a judge ordered her deported. Carmen was awaiting a decision on her appeal when ICE knocked on her door and hauled her off. Now, she said, she is working with her pro bono lawyers and praying for good news. I hope God lets me stay, she said. President Barack Obama walks along the colonnade of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, to the residence from the Oval Office hours before giving his State Of The Union address. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) SHARE WASHINGTON President Barack Obama will ask Congress for $95 million in his fiscal 2017 budget to harden defenses against computer hacks like last years theft of government personnel records for about 20 million people, officials said on Friday. The Obama administration also announced it would create a new agency to oversee security clearances for government workers and contractors. Last years hack included information used for background investigations. You can never reach 100 percent, but we will be striving to reduce the risk to as low a level as we can, Michael Daniel, the National Security Councils cybersecurity coordinator, told reporters on a conference call. The Defense Department will oversee security for the new clearance system, which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management. OPM is hiring 400 new investigators to reduce a backlog in security clearance applications, the agencys acting director, Beth Cobert, said on the call. Cobert replaced Katherine Archuleta, who resigned as OPM chief last July after the hacking, first discovered in April, was disclosed. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, whose House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a series of hearings on the breach and who led calls for Archuletas resignation, said in a statement that the administrations action must do more to protect sensitive personal information in government databases. Simply creating a new government entity doesnt solve the problem, the Utah Republican said. Todays announcement seems aimed only at solving a perception problem rather than tackling the reforms needed to fix a broken security clearance process. Tony Scott, U.S. chief information officer, said on the conference call the work on the information systems will begin using money already in OPMs budget. He declined to give details on the additional money in the budget request for fiscal year 2017 that Obama plans to send Congress on Feb. 9. U.S. officials have linked the OPM breach to hackers linked to the Chinese government. China has repeatedly denied the government had any role. While the Obama administration hasnt publicly blamed China, the president has pressed Chinese leaders to crack down on cybercrime. U.S. and Chinese officials held two days of talks last month on hacking, and Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an agreement in September that their governments would refrain from economic espionage by hacking private computer networks. Chinas state-run news agency Xinhua said in December that an investigation determined that the hacking of the OPM was a criminal case as opposed to a government-sponsored attack and that several people had been arrested. SHARE No government prosecutes every single person who breaks the law. Limited resources make that impossible. District attorneys do not routinely take people to court for possessing small amounts of marijuana; police departments do not generally ticket drivers who speed 1 mph above the limit. Is immigration enforcement any different? Does the federal government have to crack down on violations uniformly, without exception? That, essentially, is the question before the Supreme Court, which agreed Tuesday to review the legality of President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. Unless the court discovers some as-yet-unknown constitutional principle establishing that immigration law is unlike all other laws, this should be an easy one. About 11 million people live in the United States illegally. Each year, the federal government deports about 400,000 such individuals. In 2014, Obama sought to focus the government's deportation efforts on those who may actually pose a threat to society. He issued an executive order stating that the government would not target individuals whose children are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, who have been in the United States at least since January 2010, and who do not have criminal records. The point was to avoid breaking up families and allow about 4 million people to live without fear of sudden expulsion. Immigration authorities, Obama said at the time, will go after "felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mom who's working hard to provide for her kids." As Obama's legal advisors know well, the president cannot bestow citizenship without statutory authority. What a president certainly can do, as Obama said, is "prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day." As recently as 2012, the Supreme Court reaffirmed this principle. In United States v. Arizona, the court declared unconstitutional provisions of Arizona's controversial immigration law SB 1070, which allowed the state to detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. The court stressed that only the executive branch of the federal government may decide whether to detain or deport someone who is not lawfully present in the United States. On numerous other occasions, the Supreme Court and lower federal courts have recognized broad prosecutorial discretion to decide when to bring immigration enforcement actions. Nor has any administration, Republican or Democrat, sought to deport every person who is illegally in the United States. For humanitarian reasons or because of foreign policy considerations or for lack of resources, the government often chooses to not deport undocumented immigrants. Obama's action is based on exactly such concerns. It is simply impossible to kick out 11 million people, and it is not desirable to separate parents from their citizen children. Children without parents are much more likely to end up in foster care or on the streets or worse. In 1986, President Reagan and Congress gave legal status to roughly 3 million undocumented immigrants. A year later, Reagan announced that minor children of parents granted amnesty were not subject to deportation. He did this without authorization from Congress. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush promoted a "family fairness" policy that allowed an additional 1.5 million people, roughly 40 percent of those in the country illegally, to stay. Again, he did this without authorization from Congress. (Today, 40 percent of the undocumented population amounts to 4 million people, or the number Obama protected from deportation.) The easiest option for the Supreme Court is to rule in favor of the Obama administration by dismissing the case on jurisdictional grounds. A party can sue in federal court only if it demonstrates that it has been injured. But Texas and the 25 other states that brought the lawsuit have a very flimsy argument there _ the administrative costs associated with issuing driver's licenses to newly eligible immigrants. That's just silly; the states could choose not to issue driver's licenses _ that's not an explicit requirement _ or they could choose to charge fees to defray the expense. Everything about immigration policy is deeply divisive, even _ apparently _ the choice to let parents remain with their children. The issue before the Supreme Court, however, is not whether Obama's actions are wise or beneficial, but whether they are legal. And the answer to that is clear and long settled. Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. Downtown parking rates going up? An update on vacation rental rules Public Works Director Chuck Aukland said the new rates should go into effect by the first of the year. Describing Chinese assertiveness in the region as an opportunity for the United States, an expert from an advisory group has said that China's move to build a base in Pakistan would bring India more closer to America. "A more assertive China with expeditionary capability could lead nations in the region to be more receptive to supporting US efforts to shape the security environment, and to US objectives in Asia," said Kristen Gunness, CEO of Vantage Point, a China-focused advocacy group. "This could specifically be an opportunity to sway those nations that are currently leery of fully supporting US efforts, for example, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, should China build a base in Pakistan, for example, potentially fall into this category and could be receptive to increased dialogue with the US," Gunness said in his testimony before US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "An implication for the US military, PLA expeditionary capabilities allow more opportunity for the US and Chinese militaries to cooperate on regional security issues particularly in the maritime domain where our two navies are well positioned to cooperate on issues such as counter-piracy, counterterrorism...," he argued. Said Thomas Bickford, senior research scientist, CAN Corporation, said India is one of the countries in the region which is going to have a lot of concerns with the Chinese assertiveness. "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. "So there's a lot of concerns in India where we would like to respond in a number of ways, including more defence spending and possibly seeking the closer relationship with United States in terms of military," Bickford said. "In terms of implications for relations with our allies and partners, well, clearly, we're going to be asked to do a lot more, you can have that expectation, and things that are really important and you need to think about carefully is what is the priority between China greater commitment and losing flexibility because the more clearer and concise our commitments are, the less flexibility future US leaders might have in the crisis," he said. Jeffrey L Fieldler, Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said both the US and Japan would not sit idle if China indulges in something with India. "I'm not so sure that Japan and the United States will sit idle by when the Chinese did something serious with India given its position in the world and the need to go to the south the Indian Ocean," he said. "So, but I don't see any formal alliance arrangement that would just scare everybody. I actually don't think it's possible. So, but short of that, there's a lot of working together that is finally going out and that has never been going on before," Fieldler said. As promised last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released 100 files about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the his birth anniversary. The documents have been released in a digital form and can be accessed at netajipapers.gov.in. Here are five things we learnt from the trove of data released on Saturday: 1. Letter by B R Tamta, IAS (Retd) dated May 23, 2000 to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, confirming Netajis death. The letter says that the British were always wary of Netaji and that rumours of him being alive greatly disturbed them. 2. Note dated March 14, 1954 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordering the setting up of a trust fund of Rs 2 lakh for Netajis wife Frau Schenkl and daughter in Vienna. The note says that the money for the trust would come from non-official sources and was being handled by the All India Congress Committee office. 3. Noted prepared by the external affairs ministry's East Asia division dated December 1978, which reveals that the government had been sending Rs 20,000 to the Renkoji Temple authorities in Tokyo, Japan to enable them to continue looking after Netaji's ashes. It also says that the temple authorities had been urging the government of India to have the ashes brought back to India. 4. A note from the Prime Minister's Secretariat dated January 9, 1953 on the Indian National Army 'treasures'. The note quotes then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who saw the 'treasure', as saying that articles included some gold pieces, charred remains of some 'rather cheap jewellery' -- all of which were broken. Nehru underlined that 'apart from everything else, it is some evidence of the aircraft accident and the subsequent fire.' 5. Letter dated February 21, 1992 by Netaji's daughter Professor Anita B Pfaff to Indian envoy in Germany, Kamal N Bakshi where she questions the government of India's delay in conferring the Bharat Ratna to her father. "Thinking of Netaji in this context so late prompts me, however, to ask whether his achievements were so minor that he had to stand in line for so long..." she wrote. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose died in an air crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a Union Cabinet note 50 years later said amidst the raging controversy over the Indian National Army chiefs mysterious disappearance. However, a full five days after the air crash, a top official of the British Raj had weighed the pros and cons of trying Netaji as a war criminal and suggested that the easiest way would be to leave him where he was and not seek his release, suggesting that he may be alive then. This emerged from documents that form part of 100 secret files, comprising 16,600 pages which were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netajis 119th birth anniversary on Saturday. Reacting to the development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that Bose be given the title of Leader of the Nation, and said the country has the right to know the truth about his mysterious disappearance. The country has the right to know about the fate of Netaji. Seventy-five years ago, Netaji left the country, but we still dont know the fact about his disappearance. People have the right to know the truth, Banerjee said at a function in Darjeeling. In Delhi, Congress made a strong pitch for declassifying all files related to Bose, but said the way prime minister has set about the task, raises doubts about his intentions. Congress has already said that it would like to see all files to be declassified because attempts are being made to raise a controversy and misguide people of the country through a mischievous political campaign, partys senior spokesman Anand Sharma said. Among the declassified documents was a Union Cabinet note of February 6, 1995, signed by then Home Secretary K Padmanabaiah, which said, There seems to be no scope for doubt that he died in the air crash of 18th August 1945 at Taihoku. Government of India has already accepted this position. There is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary. The note further said, If a few individuals/organisations have a different view, they seem to be more guided by sentimentality rather than by any rational consideration. The belief of these people that Netaji was alive and out of contact with any individual, but would appear when found necessary, has also lost relevance by now. The cabinet note was prepared for the government to take a stand on bringing the mortal remains of Netaji from Japan to India, kept in the BoseAcademy in Tokyo. In the documents written five days after the air crash at Taihoku aerodrome in Taipei, Sir R F Mudie, Home Member of the Clement Attlee governments India Office, wrote to Sir Evan Jenkins, Home Secretary and the last Governor of Punjab, weighing pros and cons of how to treat Bose as a war criminal and its likely impact in India. In many ways the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether, Mudie said in a letter and note dated August 23, 1945. Among the documents released was also a series of letters exchanged between the government and various official agencies, after late MP Samar Guha claimed that Bose had made a speech on Radio Moscow following the signing of the Tashkent Pact between Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan President Muhammad Ayub Khan in the presence of Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on January 10, 1966. Guha and several MPs had also raised the matter in Parliament, quoting Indian and Western press reports. These documents have been put up by the National Archives on a separate website for digital display. The archives also plan to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. The papers declassified today contain 36 files of Prime Ministers office, 18 files of ministry of home affairs and 46 files from ministry of external affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. The documents related to the death or disappearance of Netaji, reports of the three Commissions of Inquiry into it, those relating to the Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj, the INA treasure, letters by MPs and family members and papers relating to various court cases, many of them demanding clarity on the freedom fighters last days. In his letter, Mudie said various options -- ranging from Boses trial for waging war in India, or in Burma (now Myanmar) or Malaya (Malaysia) or intern him in some other British possession e.g. SeychellesIslands were considered. However, he analysed the extreme impact it would have on the Indians in India and abroad and warned of a volatile situation in case of his trial and finally suggested that keeping Bose out of sight would be to some extent out of mind and agitation for his release might be less. The letter was in response to Jenkins communication to Mudie, saying His Excellency the King would want him to analyse and advise on how to deal with Bose, the men of the Indian National Army and his civilian supporters across the length and breadth of the country. Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi garlands the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose before the release of digital copies of 100 declassified files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the National Archives of India. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI This blog has evolved into a combination of my political opinions, short stories I've written, and observations about life in my backyard and beyond. Read on if you care to . . . Copyright 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by D.W.Jefferson. No text or images from this blog may be copied without permission. Please link to the blog or individual posts instead! National Investigation Agency and central security agencies have arrested 14 people who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks ahead of Republic Day, as the crackdown continued for the second day on Saturday on a suspected terror group owing allegiance to banned Islamic State. All the 14 were being produced in local courts in their respective states for a transit remand to the national capital where they would be questioned extensively by a team of NIA and central security agencies, home ministry spokesman said. Those arrested on Saturday included Rizwan Ali, self-styled Naib-Ameer (deputy chief) of Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (Army of Caliph in India), a terror group created with ideologies similar to that of IS. The multi-city raids, which took place in six states, continued till the wee hours when Imran Mozzam Khan Pathan of Aurangabad in Maharashtra was arrested. Rizwan, who is a resident of Khushi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, was picked up from Hyderabad and brought to Mumbai enroute to Delhi for interrogation. The NIA had registered a case in 2015 on the directions of the Centre after credible information was received that the Islamic State or Dawlah-al Islamiyah fil-Iraq wa-sh Sham, an international terrorist organisation, has been engaged in radicalisation of Indian youths and motivating them to join the terrorist organisation. Due to this, some Indian nationals have already joined it or are in the process of joining it for committing terrorist acts in the conflict zone of Iraq, Syria and Libya. The IS is also contemplating to expand its activities to other parts of the world including India, the NIA FIR said. The arrests were made in connection with the ongoing investigation in this case following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities --Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow on Friday with the support of local police forces. Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said several mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places. These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organise training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India, it said. The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organising themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country. They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received instructions for carrying out some sensational attacks in the country. Giving details of the persons arrested by it, the NIA said four were from Karnataka. Syed Mujahid is a resident of Tumkur, Asif Ali alias Arman Saani, 21, Suhail Ahmed alias Sohail alias Hafes Saab, 23, and Muhammed Abdul Ahad alias Bade Amir alias Sulaiman, 46, are from Bengaluru. Others arrested have been identified as 20-year-old Mohammad Aleem (from Lucknow), 33-year-old Mohammed Obedullah Khan alias Obaid alias Talha and 24-year-old Abu Anas, both from Hyderabad, and Mohammad Hussain Khan alias Jamil, resident of Mazgaon, Mumbai, the NIA said. Hundred secret files, which could throw some light on the controversy over the disappearance or death Subhas Chandra Bose, were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netajis 119th birth anniversary on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassifying the digitised version of files pertaining to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Photograph: PIB/Twitter The 100 files comprise over 16,600 pages of historic documents, ranging from those of the British Raj to as late as 2007, an official said, after the ceremony at the National Archives of India in which the prime minister declassified the secret papers. Also present at the ceremony were members of the Bose family and Union Ministers Mahesh Sharma and Babul Supriyo when the files were thrown open for public view. In addition to the 100 files, the NAI plans to release digital copies of a set of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month. NAI also opened a dedicated website to store all the declassified files related to Bose. Modi and his ministerial colleagues went around glancing at the declassified files, spending over half an hour at the National Archives. He also spoke to the members of the Bose family. The move came after Modi met the family members of Netaji in October last year and announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice M K Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that Bose was alive after that. The controversy has also split members of the Bose family. The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the Prime Ministers Office and handed over to the NAI on December 4 last year. Subsequently, the ministries of home affairs and external affairs too initiated the process of declassification of files relating to Bose in their respective collection which were then transferred over to the NAI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a tour of the National Archives. Photograph: PIB/Twitter Chandra Kumar Bose, spokesperson of the Bose family and grand-nephew of Subhas Chandra Bose who was present at the ceremony, said we welcome this step by the prime minister wholeheartedly. This is a day of transparency in India. However, he also said, We feel that certain very important files were destroyed during the Congress regime in order to hide the truth. We have documentary evidence to understand this. So we feel that the Indian government should take steps to ensure the release of files lying in Russia, Germany, UK, USA. He said from whatever documents we could go through, there are only circumstantial evidence of the air crash but no conclusive evidence of the air crash. Even in one of the letters that we saw here which was written by Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suresh Bose that there is no conclusive evidence about the air crash, only few circumstantial evidence, Chandra Bose said. Netajis nephew Ardhendu Bose, who also attended the ceremony, said, The Bose family and the entire country has been waiting for this moment for the last seven decades. We feel these files would be able to throw some light on it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects a file on Netaji. Photograph: PIB/Twitter Declassification of the 100 files by the central government came four months after West Bengal government had released 64 secret Netaji files kept in its police and state government lockers. Besides the controversy over whether Subhash Bose died in the 1945 air crash at Taihoku in Taipei or not, those who believe he was alive after that have different theories about what happened to the leader thereafter. While one of the theories says Bose fled to the former Soviet Union to continue to fight for Indias independence but was later killed there, another says that Netaji returned to India as an ascetic, named Gumnami Baba, and continued to live in Uttar Pradeshs Faizabad till 1985. Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff, who lives in Germany, believes that her father had died in the Taipei plane crash. However, Chandra Bose, who was close to Netajis wife Emilie Schenkl, says in a Facebook post that she, Never believed in the false theory of the air crash. She was told by a Russian journalist that Netaji was very much alive in the erstwhile Soviet Union after 1945. Emilie Schenkl -- till she passed away in March 1996, believed Netaji did not die in any air crash. The nation is eagerly waiting to know the truth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo with the kin of Netaji. Photograph: PIB/Twitter The papers declassified onSaturday contain 36 files of Prime Ministers office, 18 files of ministry of home affairs and 46 files from ministry of external affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. An official said the National Archives placed 100 files relating to Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitisation. These files, papers are also available in the e-kiosks, flipbook and tablets for the public to go through till February 15 at the National Archives, he said. The secret files being made public meets a long-standing public demand which would facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Bose, the official said. In 1997, the National Archives had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from the ministry of defence. In 2012, 1,030 files and items pertaining to the Khosla Commission and Justice Mukherjee Commission were received from the ministry of home affairs. All these files and items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules, 1997, the official added. In a crackdown ahead of Republic Day, the National Investigation Agency has arrested 13 suspected Islamic State sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country. Of the 14 suspects detained on Friday, 13 have been arrested, according to a Home Ministry spokesman. The arrests were made following simultaneous searches and raids conducted at 12 locations in six cities -- Bengaluru, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow on Friday with the support of local police forces. Circuits for detonating explosives were recovered during the searches. The NIA said that certain incriminating articles, including but not limited to mobile phones, laptops, unaccounted cash, jihadi literature and videos and certain material for preparation of bombs were recovered from these places. "These individuals were planning and making efforts to establish a channel of procurement of explosives/weapons, identify locations to organize training camps including training of firearms, motivate new recruits to target police officers, foreigners in India and to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of India," it said. The NIA said it received information that certain individuals from different cities in the country were in the process of organizing themselves to commit terrorist acts in different parts of the country. According to sources, the arrested people were part of a group named 'Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind' (Army of Caliph of India), a terror group which has almost similar ideologies that of ISIS. They said the suspects had been under surveillance for quite sometime and the decision to arrest them was taken as the group received 'instructions' for carrying out 'some sensational' attacks in the country. The group had started receiving money through 'hawala' route and according to Home Ministry spokesman "Sheikh also received funds to the tune of Rs 6 lakh." All the arrested suspects were being brought to the national capital for detailed interrogation as preliminary enquiry indicated that they were working on evolving a terror outfit with ideologies similar to ISIS. France and India can draw lessons from each other as both countries have been victims of terror, said a senior French Army officer, who is leading his countrys marching contingent at the Republic Day parade. The two countries have unfortunately experienced terrorism in different ways, and hence there are different experience, different answers to the terrorism matters, Lt Col P Bury, Commanding Officer of the 35th Infantry Regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade, said on Saturday in response to a query. Terrorism is expected to be one of the key areas of focus during the visit of French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism matters are very important. Different countries can share some experience and one can draw lessons from another country because what happens somewhere can happen somewhere else also, he said. Talking about the Republic Day, Bury, who has twice served in Afghanistan, said it was a matter of pride and honour for his men to march down the Rajpath in such an important parade. While 136 French soldiers are in the city for the parade, 123 of them will form the marching contingent. Fifty-six French soldiers have already been in the country to take part in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise Shakti 2016. The rest flew down especially for the parade. Maj Gen Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff Delhi Area, said the parade was evolving, and added that foreign contingent should be a regular affair. The 35th Infantry Regiment traces its origin back to 1604 when it was raised in Lorraine in France. The regiment has as many as 12 battle honours to its credit. The battalion has varied combat experiences, having served in Algeria, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan, among other places. Image: French soldiers practise at Rajpath before the main event on Republic Day. Photograph: PTI The mayor of Brownwood issued a news release Friday afternoon to address rumors regarding Lake Brownwood water sales. According to the release, Mayor Stephen Haynes said he had received numerous messages from citizens upset about a Jan. 20 story aired on an Abilene television station and published on its social media sites that the city was hoping to sell more water from the lake. 'I do not blame them,' Haynes said. 'If I thought someone was going to sell water from Lake Brownwood outside of our community, I would be outraged, too.' Haynes said he believed it was important to address the rumors, stating, 'People need to know that we are not selling water from Lake Brownwood to anyone other than our residents.' Lake Brownwood is the sole water source for all of Brown County. It is owned and operated by the Brown County Water Improvement District, which supplies water to the city of Brownwood, the city of Early, Brookesmith Special Utility District, Zephyr Water Supply lake residents and agricultural users. 'Any decision regarding whether to sell water belongs exclusively to the Brown County Water Improvement District,' Haynes said. Haynes said during a State of the City speech he said the city expects water sales to increase due to the lifting of drought restrictions. 'Somehow, this has been misinterpreted,' according to his statement. 'We simply expect water sales will return to normal pre-drought levels. There is nothing more to this issue.' A 18-year-old man was arrested Friday in Brownwood and charged with capital murder in connection with the death of his infant daughter. Jekaris Lee Bryant was indicted by a Brown County grand jury on Thursday and arrested on Friday, according to a news release by Brownwood Police Department Assistant Police Chief James Fuller. Bryant is being held at the Brown County Jail on a $500,000 bond. On Dec. 13, police were called to the Brownwood Regional Medical Center regarding a report of a female infant not breathing. The infant had been driven to the emergency room by family members who reported that they discovered her not breathing while at home, Fuller said. Attempts to revive the infant were unsuccessful and she was pronounced deceased at shortly after 4 p.m. The body was transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office in Fort Worth for an autopsy. Circumstances surrounding the death were investigated by the Brownwood Police Department, Texas Rangers, and Texas Child Protective Services, and the findings were reported to the grand jury. "This is a tragic event which has heavily impacted the family, investigators and medical personnel," Fuller said. "Our prayers and thoughts are extended to everyone involved." Fighting flu starts with a shot, and it's time for Texans to get one During a stop Friday at Frontier Texas, Jodey Arrington discussed why voters should pick him from among the crowded field of Republican candidates in the race for the 19th Congressional District seat being vacated by Randy Neugebauer. "I'm running because our country's in trouble," Arrington said. "We're way off track. And I think the window's closing to get our country back (to the) core, foundational, constitutional principles ... of limited government, state rights, rule of law, and many other principles that make this country strong." Others seeking the Republican nomination in the March 1 primary are Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson; Lubbock banker Greg Garrett; retired Lubbock eye doctor Donald May; retired Air Force Col. Michael Bob Starr, former commander of Dyess Air Force Base; DeRenda Warren, a director of nursing from Smyer; Don Parrish, a Yoakum County farmer and rancher; Jason Corley, also a farmer; and John Key, a Lubbock veterinarian. District 19 totals 29 counties, 12 of which are in the Big Country, including Taylor County. Arrington, who was raised in Plainview, said he hopes to bring to the forefront issues that are important to the district, which he said is known for high-level education systems, cotton production and conservative Texas values. "This is the people's house and it only works when you represent the people whom you're serving," he said. Arrington, a former vice chancellor at Texas Tech University, described himself as someone who understands needs and challenges of the community with the experience to solve problems. Touting his almost decade-long experience as an aide to President George W. Bush, Arrington said he knows how to get the job done in Washington. "During my time as a senior adviser in the White House, chief of staff at the (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), I helped reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses," he said. Arrington said one of the most important things he learned from his time with Bush was courage. "You have to be able to do the right thing, regardless of whether it's popular and that's what he was able to do," he said. "Whether it's national debt or national security, we have to somebody who has the courage and the conviction to make these decisions or we're going to lose this country or hand it to the next generation in a real mess," Arrington said. Arrington, a husband and father of three, said his goals include putting "put West Texas in a position to be successful," by advancing policies that strengthen higher education and health care, as well as defend and protect Dyess. Arrington also discussed what he described as the nation's turn toward socialism. "In my opinion, we're either going to be a nation that looks similar to the newest member of the European Union or we're going to be the great United States of America," he said. "European-style socialist country; that is the governance mentality for this administration. Debt and tax rates are closely becoming like the Europeans. In fact, our corporate income tax is higher than those of European nations," he said. "I'm talking about big government and (a) welfare state mentality and an entitlement culture. That's not what America has been. And that's not what made America great." Asked about working across the aisle to get change enacted, Arrington said, "I have the record of being in a leadership position in Washington; here in the region. You can't make places better without working together with people. You can't get everything you want all the time, so we've got to have real leadership." Twitter: ARN_Titus Today in history: On Jan. 23, 1968, the Navy intelligence vessel USS Pueblo was intercepted by North Korean patrol boats. The U.S. claimed the Pueblo was in international waters, about 16 miles off North Korea. The Koreans trained guns on the vessel and demanded its surrender. When the crew tried to escape, the Koreans opened fire and wounded three. Classified material was destroyed but more crew were wounded. The boat and 83-member crew were taken; 11 months later, 82 were released. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... by Bill White In modern military occupations by major powers, the occupying power has often adopted a firebase strategy, in which the occupying power establishes bases throughout a nation and deploys from them response forces designed to supplement the law enforcement operations of a puppet civil authority. The key to this strategy is mobility, the ability to enter hostile territory quickly, conduct an arrest or assassination, and then withdraw to the bases safely, often before enemy forces can respond. No real attempt is made to win the loyalty of the hostile occupied population, and the enemy usually alternates civil governments claiming legitimate governance of the occupied territory. This strategy and these occupiers have never been successful. However, the lack of success has not deterred the strategys deployment. Historical Perspective The firebase strategy was first deployed during the American effort in Vietnam. It was used during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, during the American operation in Mogadishu, and during the American occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. What enabled this strategy was the development of helicopters, which allow small special forces units to deploy repidly and withdraw into and from hostile territory. The necessity of securing the territory itself no longer exists. Operations can be conducted anywhere helicopters can fly. Air superiority is an obvious prerequisite for these operations, and in each case this tactic has been deployed against insurgent forces with no appreciable air power. In post-SovietAfghanistan and Mogadishu, the development of effective air defenses in the form of Stinger missiles or modified RPGs led to the failure of the strategy. Today in Syria the so-called moderate rebels, before the destruction by of their side by ISIS, demanded MANPAD missiles for the same reason. Without some way to counter occupation helicopters, insurgent forces are generally helpless against this strategy. While the occupier may not be able to soothe the seething population, when their intelligence networks operate properly they are able to degrade the insurgent forces almost indefinitely through pinpoint strikes. Generally targeting insurgent command and control, top leadership and the bench are degraded until the insurgents cannot function. Similarly, without unlimited helicopter support occupational operations are doomed to failure. Rapid reactions by convoy are some totally ineffective in urban areas, where antitank weapons and IEDs can be deployed at close range and where urban geography constrains the movement of larger vehicles. And in open areas, further from bases, ground troops cannot reach targets with the same stealth and speed. Helicopters are also expensive, and the loss of such vehicles greatly increases the cost of occupation, accelerating bankruptcy of the occupying power and eventual insurgent victory. The Typical Operation Helicopters launched from fire bases intend to either capture or kill targets. Both types of operations were seen in Somalia. In a typical kill operation American helicopters attacked a meeting of the Somali National Alliance to avenge SNA attacks on the oddly-named peace keepers. Approximately 100 senior persons had gathered in a mansion to discuss a cease-fire proposal, which the Americans then treacherously targeted in an attempt to murder them all. American helicopters simply peppered the meeting with TOW missiles. There were no American casualties. Today, this kind of mission has been largely turned over to drones. Helicopters are still needed for the insertion and extraction of ground troops. The Black Hawk Down incident on October 3, 1991 is a model of this type of operation. Here, the United States intended to and in fact did capture to senior SNA leaders meeting in the building in downtown Mogadishu. Three types of helicopters were deployed. Observation helicopters entered the area first and coordinated reconnaissance; they continued this function throughout the mission. Two attack helicopters were deployed to provide fire support, and six armed transport helicopters were used to deploy troops. The mission had certain peculiarities. It involves both Ranger and Delta forces who maintained separate command elements. But typically, the overall command element remains airborne and in radio contact with the ground commanders. In this attack, the Delta force assaulted the building used for the meeting in the manner of a police SWAT team first. Moments after, Rangers were deployed at the four main intersections at the corner of the block the building was on to establish the perimeter. The convoy under a separate ground commander and comprised of mixed Delta, Ranger and Seal forces, was deployed to extract the assault element and the prisoners. A reserve force remained in the air to rescue any downed helicopters. In the case of a Novorossiyastyle uprising, such assaults would be deployed to recover captured government buildings and other strong points. Moving quickly enough, such response would stop an uprising in its tracks. The only reason Kiev did not respond this way is because it lacks helicopters and a professional military. In an uprising, say, within the territorial bounds of the United States, both military and many law enforcement agencies have the capacity to mount this kind of response; witness the police helicopter response to the 1981 MOVE uprising in Philadelphia. The key to this kind of operation is speed. The attack is designed to be over before a defense can be launched. Shock and awe overwhelms the strongest point defenders before they realize that defense is needed; the forces are withdrawn before enemy can mount a counter-attack. Part of this is coordination. In Mogadishu, helicopters were flown constantly over the city so they were no longer a novelty and the presence of helicopters was not considered a prelude to attack. The assault element dropped within the strong points perimeter. The total air time from the firebase was three minutes; no alarm was raised, and the SNA neither posted sentries outside the meeting place nor possessed sophisticated communication. Radio signals city wide were jammed. Despite all this the operation, originally composed of 160 men give or take, suffered 18 dead and 72 wounded, a 56% casualty rate. 500 Somalis were killed and thousands injured but, most were non-combatants. Further, most combatants were independent actors all male, children or home owners who picked up guns to defend their neighborhood, not part of the larger force. The SNAs losses probably did not amount to 100 dead or 200 wounded, about a 3 to 1 casualty rate, nearly what is expected for an assault on a fortified position. (American body armor tends to reduce the ratio of killed to wounded, as do their superior medical facilities.) The question here is what did the Somalis do right? Neutralizing The Firebase There are several strategies one can use against the firebase strategy of occupation, but, none is as effective as denying the occupying force their air superiority. Since the 1980s, Islamic fighters from Afghanistan to Somalia to Syria have developed experience in improvised air defenses, and they have successfully used this information repeatedly to defeat superpower militaries. Without the ability to deploy rapid response teams by helicopter, occupiers are forced to resort to infantry tactics, often in urban environments, where they take casualties typical of such operations. These losses and their expense devastate and demoralize the occupiers. In Afghanistan, prior to the U.S. decision to supply Stinger missiles, the mujahedin primarily used modified RPGs against Soviet helicopters. The rocket propelled grenade is an explosive rocket with the triggering detonator in the nose cone, primarily designed to explode upon impact. Because it is very difficult to hit a moving helicopter, the mujahedin rewired the triggering device to operate on a timer [whether the timer had to be set manually or could be armed by the launch is not clear to me; I dont know if the RPG has the latter capability B.W.] This way, the RPG would explode whether it struck the helicopter or not. The mujahedin would then aim at the helicopters tail. At ranges of up to 1000 feet, this could take a helicopter down. However its virtually impossible to hit a moving helicopter with an RPG. Helicopters fly by too fast and too high. Thus, the moment to strike a helicopter is when it is hovering and disgorging troops. To do this, a defensive posture was necessary. Initially the mujahedin deployed their improvised air defenses on rooftops. This was ineffective. Occupation helicopters would murder the men from literally a mile away. Instead, the insurgents learned to conceal AA men in an urban environment under camouflage. They allowed a helicopter to fly overhead, and then fired at the helicopter from behind from between its 5 oclock and 7 oclock position. This was often effective. The tail was exposed, and the helicopter was least able to respond and kill the shooters. This tactic downed two of the three helicopters lost by the Americans in Mogadishu. Obviously more sophisticated missile systems are more effective. In Afghanistan, wire-guided missiles were originally given to insurgents. What was found was that a helicopter could usually kill the men guiding the missile before the missile could strike. But Stingers or modern MANPADS effectively grounded the Soviet helicopter fleet. In Ukraine, the deployment of Russian SAMs essentially denies the Kiev regime the skies. Stingers are effective up to 13,000 feet, while modern SAMS can shoot down planes at 35,000 feet or more. Drones have also been suggested as an anti-aircraft device system. Essentially, drones armed with IEDs can be piloted up to helicopters and detonated remotely. The issue again is one of speed helicopters typically move much faster than civilian drones, thus they would have to be targeted while hovering, and thus particularly vulnerable. It should also be noted that combat helicopters are made to withstand substantial damage. Light arms are unlikely to bring a helicopter down. They can disable a helicopter so that after landing it cannot return to flight. One American helicopter was lost this way in Mogadishu. But light arms are most effective against a helicopters crew. The issue, again, is one of leading a moving target and given the massive disproportion of power, a helicopter can easily murder someone shooting at it with a rifle. Thus the best strategy for defense against firebase occupation is development of anti-helicopter tactics. Men who engage in such tactics should be expect high casualties. However once effectively countered, the firebase strategy falls apart. Other effective counters to the firebase strategy involve denial of intelligence to the occupiers. To launch rapid assaults, the occupiers need good and current information. In Somalia, before Black Hawk Down, the Americans repeatedly embarrassed themselves by acting on bad intelligence. In one raid, for instance, they arrested nearly two dozen UN peacekeepers after mistaking them for Somali warlords. In another, they arrested a friendly general after being told that he was an SNA general. Thus denial of targeting information hampers firebase occupation. Lastly, one can attack and overrun the firebases themselves. However, once an insurgent force has the power to destroy occupation strong points, it is often no longer the insurgency but the dominant force. Firebase occupation as a strategy presumes a great disproportion of relative strength between occupier and occupied. Conclusions One would be hard pressed to name a conflict in which the firebasebased occupation strategy succeeded. This approach is resource intensive and cannot be maintained indefinitely. Yet it remains the approach of choice for superpowers attempting to dominate a hostile population. To defeat this strategy, insurgents must increase its cost. In every case where an insurgency has matured to the point where it has developed an effective anti-helicopter tactics, the firebase strategy has quickly come apart. Relying on speed air superiority, and, intelligence, wine deprived of these advantages occupying superior powers have always cut their losses and run. http://www.northwestfront.org Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced martial law in four of Ukraine's regions, parts of which are under the control of Russian troops, as Ukrainian forces continue liberating occupied territories in the country's east despite another barrage of air attacks across the country. Putin said at an online session of the Security Council on October 19 that he signed a decree declaring martial law in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya -- all of which Russia illegally annexed last month. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. He didnt immediately describe the steps that would be taken under martial law but said his order was effective starting at midnight on October 20. His decree gives law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals. The package of moves, which come nearly eight months into the war launched by the Kremlin in late February, marked the latest escalation by Putin to counter a series of defeats to Ukrainian forces since the start of September. By extending the decree to regions beyond Ukraine, the move ensures that more Russians, already angered by a military mobilization announced last month, will more deeply feel the consequences of the war in their own lives. Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office's head, called Putin's move "a pseudo-legalization of looting of Ukrainians' property." "This does not change anything for Ukraine: We continue the liberation and deoccupation of our territories," Podolyak tweeted shortly after Putin announced martial law in the four Ukrainian regions. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking at the White House, said Putin is trying to get Ukraine to give up. "I think that Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredible difficult position and what it reflects to me is it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize the individual citizens in Ukraineto try to intimidate them into capitulating. They are not going to do that," Biden said. U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said earlier the declaration of martial law was a desperate tactic and any claim by Russia over the regions was "illegitimate." Putin's move came as the Russia-installed leader of Ukraine's southern Kherson region said the evacuation has started of tens of thousands of civilians and Moscow-appointed officials in the face of a Ukrainian military advance. Vladimir Saldo said 50,000-60,000 civilians would leave four towns on the west bank of the Dnieper River in an "organized, gradual displacement" over the next five or six days. All of the Moscow-installed administration in the city of Kherson would evacuate, too, Saldo said. Russian television showed footage of a number of people queuing for boats on the Dnieper River bank although it was not immediately clear how many were leaving. The forced transfer or deportation of the civilian population by an occupying power from the territory under its control is considered a war crime. Saldo's statements came after General Sergei Surovikin, the new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, said the situation in the southern city of Kherson is "difficult" and residents facing Ukrainian bombardment are to be evacuated. WATCH: Ukrainian forces first got their hands on FH70 155-millimeter howitzers courtesy of Italy in May and received training in Estonia. RFE/RL journalists met with a frontline FH70 crew and watched them in action against Russian forces. "The Russian Army will above all ensure the safe evacuation of the population" of Kherson, Surovikin said. But Kyiv on October 19 accused Russia of staging a propaganda show in an attempt to "scare" the Kherson residents. "Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake messages about the shelling of the city by our army and are also staging a propaganda show with evacuation," the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram. Kherson was the first big city to fall to the Russian forces in February after the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion, but Ukrainian forces have been steadily retaking nearby territory in recent weeks. They have pushed as far as 30 kilometers south along the Dnieper River, threatening to trap Russian troops. Meanwhile, fresh explosions were heard in Kyiv and other areas on October 19, with a missile strike hitting a major thermal power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine. The coal-fired Burshtyn plant in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, which supplies electricity to three western regions and to five million consumers, was hit and on fire, according to Svytlana Onysshchuk, the regional governor. There were no casualties in the strike at the plant, which was hit by four missiles nine days earlier as well. Serhiy Borzov, governor of the Vinnytsya region in western Ukraine, said Russia had also carried out attacks on energy facilities in his region. Russian bombardment also cut power and water in some parts of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhya region on October 19, said Dmytro Orlov, the mayor of the southern city located near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant that's been a flashpoint of the nearly eight-month conflict. A power plant in Kryviy Rih, a city in south-central Ukraine, was also seriously damaged by Russian shelling, leaving villages, towns, and a city district without electricity, the regional governor reported. Russian forces also targeted Ukraine's southern Mykolayiv region again with kamikaze drones early on October 19. The Ukrainian military's southern command said in a statement on October 19 that its forces shot down 12 drones overnight. More than a week of air attacks has destroyed almost one-third of Ukraine's power stations and cut electricity in more than 1,000 settlements. With Ukraine gaining momentum in the war that is now nearly eight months old, European lawmakers on October 19 recognized the country's "brave" citizens by awarding them the 2022 Sakharov Prize. "This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we," European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in the statement. The annual prize is named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov and was established in 1988 by the European parliament to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Iranian President Hassan Rohani says Iran and China have agreed to expand bilateral relations and boost trade to $600 billion over the next 10 years. Rohani made the announcement following January 23 talks in Tehran with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first major world leader to visit the Islamic republic since the easing of international sanctions on January 16 under a deal between Tehran and global powers aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Xi met later with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was quoted as saying that "Tehran seeks cooperation with more independent countries" because "Iranians never trusted the West." At a news conference with Xi broadcast live on state television, Rohani said that "Iran and China have agreed to increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years." He added that the two countries "have agreed on forming strategic relations [as] reflected in a 25-year comprehensive document." Khamenei praised the agreements and lambasted the United States in comments on Twitter. "Agreement on '25-year strategic ties' between #Iran and #China is correct and wise, must become effective with follow-up of both sides," one tweet said. "Among western countries, U.S. policies toward Iran are worse & more hostile; it makes Iran pursue development of ties with independent states," said another. Iran and China signed 17 accords on January 23, including on nuclear cooperation and reviving the ancient Silk Road trade route, known in China as One Belt, One Road. China is the top buyer of Iranian oil. Trade between the countries was valued at $52 billion in 2014, but fell slightly last year due to declining global energy prices. Xi is the second major world leader to visit Iran since Tehran signed the nuclear deal with world powers in July. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Islamic republic in November. Xi also became the first Chinese leader to visit Iran in 14 years. He visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt prior to arriving in Tehran. Following his meeting with Rohani, Xi met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state TV quoted Xi as saying: "In cooperation with the Iranian side and by benefiting from the current favorable conditions, China is ready to upgrade the level of bilateral relations and cooperation so that a new chapter will start in bilateral relations." In comments posted on his official website, Rohani said that China "has always stood by the side of the Iranian nation during hard days." China is among the world powers -- along with the U.S., Germany, France, Britain, and Russia -- that signed a landmark deal with Iran in July in Vienna to lift international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program. The deal was implemented last week after the UN's nuclear watchdog confirmed that Tehran had fulfilled its commitments under the agreement. U.S. and other sanctions that were not imposed due to Iran's nuclear actvities remain in place, and Khamenei has stressed that the deal does not mean ties with the United States will improve. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP The Power Vertical is a blog written especially for Russia wonks and obsessive Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It offers Brian's personal take on emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today. Check out The Power Vertical Facebook page or Follow @PowerVertical U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia in a bid to reduce tensions between that country and Middle East rival Iran. Kerry is expected to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. He will also hold talks with representatives of the Syrian opposition ahead of UN-sponsored talks with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Kerry stressed the "United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries." Jubeir said, "I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief." Sunni Saudi Arabia cut ties with predominantly Shi'ite Iran earlier this month after demonstrators attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad. Those actions were prompted by Riyadh's execution on January 2 of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, one of 47 people executed after being convicted of terrorism. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in Turkey, where he will also discuss the crisis in Syria. Based on reporting by dpa, AFP, and AP The Russian Army plans to hold what its commander called its first ever "mountain drills" with Pakistan's military this year. The "special exercises in mountainous territory" are one of seven international exercises Russian ground forces plan to conduct in 2016, General Oleg Salyukov said. He did not give details or say when the exercises will take place. Russia has closer ties with Pakistan's traditional foe India, which has been a major buyer of weapons from Moscow since the Soviet era. But Russia has sought to improve relations with Pakistan in recent years. Salyukov said Russia would also hold joint exercises in 2016 with India, Mongolia, and Vietnam, as well as with partners in two regional security groupings, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Based on reporting by TASS, RIA, and Interfax Ukraine's finance minister says there is still a chance to avoid a court battle with Russia over $3 billion of debt that Kyiv defaulted on in December. U.S.-born Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko spoke to Bloomberg News on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Jaresko said Ukrainian and Russian Finance Ministry officials may meet "in the near future" to discuss the issue, Bloomberg reported on January 23. She said she thinks "its still very possible to reach a consensual agreement out of court with Russia." Russia bought a $3 billion Ukrainian bond late in 2013 as part of an aid package widely seen as a reward for then-President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to scrap plans for a landmark deal with the European Union and tighten ties with Russia instead. But Yanukovych was pushed from power in February 2014 by huge protests over that decision. The debt became a bone of contention after Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russias Finance Ministry said on January 1 that it had taken measures to start legal proceedings over the debt. Based on reporting by Bloomberg and Interfax Interpol says it has removed the names of several suspects from the time that former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was in power from its public wanted list in response to a legal complaint Yanukovych has filed. Vasyl Nevolya, head of Ukraine's Interpol bureau, issued a statement on January 22 saying that information about the Yanukovych-era suspects remains available in Interpol's restricted-access databases. He said Yanukovych's lawyers had filed a complaint in a French court and with Interpol's control commission asking for the investigation against the suspects to be dropped, leading Interpol to restrict access until the complaint is resolved. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian anticorruption activists noted that Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Mikolay Azarov, former Finance Minister Yuriy Kolobov, and others seemed to have been removed from Interpol's wanted list. Most are wanted on a variety of corruption and abuse-of-office charges. Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anticorruption Action Center, wrote on Facebook: "Now these monsters can easily enjoy life, for example, on the Cote d'Azur in France." Interpol placed 12 Yanukovych-era figures on its wanted list in January 2015, most of them with a "red notice," indicating an extradition request. The listing came almost one year after the suspects fled Ukraine under pressure from the Euromaidan mass protests. In July 2015, Yanukovych himself was removed from the wanted list after he argued before Interpol that the case against him was politically motivated. Yanukovych and most of the other suspects are currently believed to be in Russia. With reporting by The Kyiv Post and the International Business Times Municipal authorities in Moscow have rejected an application by the liberal Yabloko party to hold a public demonstration to call for the removal of Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov. The party made the announcement on its website on January 22, saying that instead it will hold rotating one-person pickets outside the Russian presidential administration building beginning at noon on January 26. "Our picket will demand from Kadyrov an apology and from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, Kadyrov's dismissal," Yabloko leader Sergei Mitrokhin was quoted as saying. Public demonstrations of more than one person in Russia must be approved in advance by the authorities. The controversial Chechen leader, who has been widely accused of massive human rights abuses and corruption, made headlines earlier this month when he called all those who oppose Putin "traitors" and "enemies of the people." Those comments provoked calls for Kadyrov's resignation. In response, authorities in Chechnya on January 22 held a massive rally during which hundreds of thousands of people expressed support for Kadyrov and underscored his attacks on Russian liberals and anti-Putin activists. Attorney General Mark R. Herring is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to deny a Republican request for a stay to block implementation of Virginias new congressional map. Herrings office, defending the State Board of Elections, says that the harm to Virginians of restoring the old 3rd District, which a three-judge panel has found unconstitutional, and ordering November elections in Virginias old districts outweighs any harm the new map poses to Republicans in Virginias congressional delegation. Even if Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, or another Republican in Virginias congressional delegation could show irreparable injury as a result of the new congressional boundaries, any such injury would be outweighed by the public interest and the injury to the plaintiffs and other Virginia voters, lawyers for the Attorney Generals Office write in response to the GOP motion. A three-judge panel on Jan. 7 imposed a new Virginia congressional map that could give blacks a chance to elect candidates of their choice in two districts, not just one. The reconfiguration alters the 3rd District, represented by Democrat Robert C. Bobby Scott, by centering it in Hampton Roads. It adds Richmond and Petersburg to Forbes 4th District, a transformation that would give Democrats a better chance to pick up the seat in November. The map makes lesser changes to the 1st, 2nd and 7th districts, represented by Republicans Robert J. Wittman, Scott Rigell and Dave Brat, respectively. On Jan. 13 lawyers for Republicans in Virginias congressional delegation urged the Supreme Court to block implementation of Virginias new congressional map and order the Nov. 8 elections to proceed in the former districts. The GOP lawyers argue that imposing a new map now risks electoral chaos in the five districts with new boundaries if the Supreme Court later rules that Virginia should revert to its previous congressional map. A preliminary question for the Supreme Court is whether Republicans in Virginias congressional delegation who live outside the 3rd District have legal standing in the case. Herring, a Democrat, argues that Wittman and Rigell do not have legal standing in the case because the new map would improve their electoral prospects. Herring argues that Brat lacks standing because the new 7th District remains solidly Republican under the remedial plan. The Attorney Generals Office argues that only Forbes whose district is overhauled has the standing to appeal the case, but he has failed to show that he likely will lose reelection if the Supreme Court does not block the new map. Herrings office also notes in the filing that Rigell who is not seeking re-election in the 2nd District says he would endorse and support Forbes if he decides to run in the 2nd District rather than the reconfigured 4th. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search Poems -- & musings on the Albany (NY) poetry scene. "It's not the Truth, but it's pretty darn close." A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The trial for the father of 5-year-old Noah Thomas has been rescheduled for March 9, further delaying a closely watched case that has been stirring ever since the Dublin boy was found dead in a septic tank last spring. Paul Thomas was initially scheduled to go on trial in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Monday, but Commonwealths Attorney Mike Fleenor said the trial was continued for a variety of reasons. He didnt discuss specifics, but Fleenor said it did not have anything to do with the potentially historic winter storm expected to move through the region this weekend. Paul Thomas has been charged with two Class 6 felonies of abuse and neglect relating to Noah and the care of his infant sister. His attorney has agreed to a bench trial, meaning a judge will hear the case and no jury will be involved. Meanwhile, Noahs mother, Ashley White, faces two Class 6 felony charges of abuse and neglect. Class 6 felonies are punishable by a maximum of five years on each charge. A grand jury also indicted her on a Class 4 felony charge of abuse and neglect relating to the care of Noah. A Class 4 felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. White was previously charged with felony homicide, but a judge determined there was not enough evidence to present that charge to a grand jury. Her jury trial is set to begin on Feb. 8, but Fleenor said it could also be delayed for several months if lawyers are unable to seat a jury in that case. Whites attorney, Kelsey Bulger, asked a judge in December to change the venue of the trial, arguing that all the media attention Noahs death has received will make it impossible to find unbiased jurors in Pulaski County. Circuit Court Judge Bradley Finch tabled the discussion until after lawyers have made an attempt to seat a jury, saying he would take the motion under advisement as potential jurors are questioned early next month. It turns out the same kind of snow thats making it hard to build a snowman today may also be the reason your power is still on. Appalachian Power isnt reporting any major outages across Southwest Virginia, even as snow piled up above the one-foot mark on Saturday morning. Appalachian Power spokeswoman Teresa Hall said the temperatures here were so low that the snow on the ground is dry, light, fluffy and doesnt stick well to things like power lines or tree limbs. That might make it more difficult to pull together a perfect snowball, but its exactly what utility companies like to see. Were in good shape, Hall said. The very cold temperatures worked in our favor. Sometimes thats hard to imagine. The type of snow made all the difference for us. Appalachian did briefly report more than 1,000 Smyth County customers without power earlier this morning, but the companys website now shows no major outages in Virginia. The utility company does have 1,409 customers without power in West Virginia. Hall said theres a chance there could be issues ahead if more snow falls and winds pickup, so Appalachian is keeping its team of responders on hand and ready to go. But the 800 outside workers the company brought in to help with more severe outages were all sent home on Saturday morning. Other parts of the commonwealth didnt get so lucky, as Dominion Virginia Power is reporting more than 2,000 customers without power in the more eastern parts of Virginia it serves. Southeast Virginia has been the hardest hit, where Dominion is reporting 1,365 outages, including 735 in Hampton County alone. The company is reporting 358 outages in the middle peninsula region, 261 around Richmond, 95 in the Shenandoah Valley and 41 in Northern Virginia. Noi Thai Cuisine hosted a grand opening Celebration last night, with festivities continuing through Jan. 30 to benefit Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.It was a fun evening if you consider there was plenty of food and drink to go around in the beautiful space, Thai music and dance, and interactive puppetry, even if one puppet got a little out of hand in feeling up the guests. Naughty!Ten percent of all proceeds from meals through Jan. 29 will be donated to Kapiolani. Then from 5 to 9 p.m. Jan. 30, local celebs will be the servers, with all gratuities turned over to Kapiolani.The restaurant is the first upscale establishment from the Bai Tong family of six restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. The original Bai Tong in Seattle was a favorite stop for Thai Airways crews at Sea-Tac airport.During a trip to Hawaii, co-owner Chadillada Noi Lapangkura fell in love with the islands and longed to bring her familys Thai dishes here, envisioning a royal experience. The restaurant is build with the idea of the Thai palace in mind. The space is divided into outer, central and inner palace spaces, including a protected War Room, which serves as a private dining/meeting room, as well as a Pavilion Room festooned with golden bo leaves symbolic of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha found enlightenment.Minimums apply for meals in two private rooms, the Golden Pavilion and the War Room, accommodating eight to 10 people, with advance reservationsAmong Thai specialties offered during the grand opening were egg yolk sweets tong yod (golden drops) and foy tong (golden threads). Their golden color symbolizes wealth, fame and fortune. Those flowers are carved from vegetables, by the way. And the sweets look a lot like those I saw when I was in Bangkok.There is also a chefs table that offers an up-close view of the kitchen, where co-owner/executive chef Settapong Pag Nilket, head chef Jutamas Kanjanamai and sous chef Jamrus Singduang aim to present cuisine worthy of Thailands royal family, for whom they have cooked. Those who request this glass-enclosed private room will enjoy a special off-the-menu meal prepared for up to six guests.Since testing the Noi Thai concept in Hawaii beginning with its soft opening in October, the family is proceeding to open next month in Downtown Seattle, near Pike Place Market, and a third is planned for San Francisco later this year. Packaged salads produced at Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio have been identified as the source of the recent multistate outbreak of listeriosis, which resulted in 1 death and 12 hospitalizations across 6 states, according to an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Meanwhile, Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. today announced that it is temporarily suspending operations at its Springfield, Ohio production facility, and is voluntarily withdrawing its packaged salads that were produced at that facility from 23 states and three Canadian provinces. The packaged salads produced at the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio, were sold under various brand names, including Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar and President's Choice. The recalled packaged salads can be identified by the letter "A" at the beginning of the manufacturing code found on the package. Alabama; Connecticut; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Massachusetts; Maryland; Minnesota; Missouri; Mississippi; North Carolina; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia and Wisconsin are the states included in the voluntary withdrawal. The Canadian provinces included in the voluntary withdrawal include Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that packaged salads produced at other Dole processing facilities in the United States are linked to illness, the CDC said. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Eugene. K 23 2016, 01:49 . . : 13- 30 . . () . . ... . : 30 . . , . , ... , . : . . , . . . , . By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - Otto Warmbier, the American university student being held by North Korea, was detained before boarding his flight to China over an unspecified incident that had taken place earlier in the trip at his hotel, his travel company told Reuters on Saturday. North Korea's official KCNA news agency said on Friday that Warmbier "was caught committing a hostile act against the state", which it said was "tolerated and manipulated by the U.S. government". Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader at Young Pioneer Tours and the only outside witness to Warmbier's detention, said the 21-year-old University of Virginia student was not with other tourists when the events that appear to have prompted his arrest occurred. "What happened, happened at the hotel and my belief is that Otto kept it to himself out of hope it might go unnoticed," Guttridge told Reuters. Guttridge and colleagues at Young Pioneer Tours declined to share further details of exactly what had taken place, citing the safety of their client. Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel when the incident that led to his arrest occurred. The Yanggakdo is a towering structure on an island in the middle of the Taedong river, which cuts through central Pyongyang. China-based Young Pioneer Tours is a North Korea travel specialist that describes itself on its website as "an adventure tour operator that provides 'budget tours to destinations your mother would rather you stayed away from'". During his five-day New Year's tour of North Korea, staff at Young Pioneer Tours said Warmbier had acted normally, and was keen to see daily life in one of the world's most isolated countries, which is visited by around 6,000 Western tourists a year. Ten other U.S. citizens were on the tour. "Throughout the trip, Otto behaved as a typical tourist - taking pictures, enjoying himself. We had no indication that anything untoward had happened until the airport," Guttridge said. DELAYED AT IMMIGRATION When Warmbier's group reached the airport, he appeared to have been purposefully delayed at immigration, Troy Collings, director of Young Pioneer Tours, told Reuters. As the tourists checked-in at the gleaming, recently-renovated terminal, Warmbier was taken aside by two airport officials and escorted into a small immigration room behind a wooden door to one side of the check-in area. "He was not dragged away and he wasn't yelled at," Guttridge said. As Guttridge waited for Warmbier to come out of the room, she instructed the rest of her tour group to board the North Korean Air Koryo flight bound for Beijing. "When it became clear that he wasn't coming, I had to board the flight before it departed," said Guttridge, who still had colleagues in Pyongyang with another group of tourists. "I was the last to board the flight." As the Russian-made Tupolev airliner prepared to leave the terminal, an airport official boarded the plane and told Guttridge that Warmbier had been "taken to hospital". Soon after, a North Korean contact passed on a message concerning Warmbier's detention to Young Pioneer Tours founder Gareth Johnson, who was in Pyongyang with a separate group due to catch a train to the Chinese border. "I stayed back when I heard Otto had been detained," Johnson told Reuters. "It was an automatic response. I wanted to try and work out what the situation was and it was my hope that I would at least be able to speak with him." Johnson said his company was in contact with Warmbier's family, U.S. officials and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea. Staff at the tour operator said as far as they knew Warmbier had not been in possession of any religious or political literature. Foreign visitors have been detained in the past for attempting to distribute religious literature in the country. The U.S. and Canadian governments advise against travel there. The U.S. State Department, in a statement, said it was aware of reports that a U.S. citizen had been detained in North Korea but gave no further details, citing privacy concerns. Calls to the Warmbier family home in Cincinnati, Ohio, were not immediately answered on Friday and nobody answered when a Reuters reporter knocked on the door of the house. (Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Alex Richardson) .. 893 893 . . RI supervisor: 20 trucks aid arrive in Taiz TAIZ, Jan. 22 (Saba) Around 20 trucks loaded with relief aid have entered Taiz city, Relief International (RI) supervisor in Taiz said on Thursday. The aid were provided by the World Food Program (WFP) in conjunction with a field visit of the UN delegation to the city, Abdulrahim al-Futaih added. Abdulrahim al-Futaih said the aid shipment contains 3,000 wheat bags, sugar, legumes and oil dedicated to residents of al-Qahirah district in the city and for those who did not receive their aid before due to security events. He pointed out that the distribution of these quantities was carried out in the presence of representatives of the UN delegation and officials of the School Feeding Unit at the Ministry of Education. The RI supervisor affirmed that the distribution to the beneficiaries will continue through the distribution center in al-Hawban which at the School Book Management headquarters. The distribution process included Sala, al-Mudhafr and al-Qahirah districts, adding that a work is still underway to complete the rest of the areas, he added. Al- Futaih confirmed that an extra shipment of 2,000 wheat bags will arrive soon in al-Mudhafr district and it will be distributed to those who were unable to get a relief assistance during the last period. HA/BA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [22/January/2016] Aggression launches raids on eight provinces in 24 hours SANA'A , Jan. 23 (Saba) The Saudi-led coalition war jets waged several raids on eight provinces during the last 24 hours, targeting populated areas and public and private facilities. The aggression targeted al-Nahdain area in Al-Sabeen district in the capital Sana'a, using high-explosive bombs, a security official said Saturday. He pointed out that a child, named Mohamed Abdo Murshid, was killed in an airstrike targeted his father's house near the 50th Street in the capital and a number of his family members were wounded. The aggression intensified its raids on Sa'ada province and waged seven raids on Dhahian area, which led to the destruction of a house and damage to the nearby houses, as well as three raids on al-Dhomid area in Sahar district. The hostile warplanes targeted Al-Shuhada'a Cemetery in al-Ja'amala area and bombed the public street in Nashor area in al-Safra'a district , which led to causalities among the passerby. The death toll of the aggression raids on Dhahian area rose to 26 martyrs, mostly medics including a cameraman of Al-Maseerah Channel, the official said. Moreover, the Saudi aggression waged four raids on scattered areas of Serwah district in Mareb province and several raids on al-Mashja'a area north-east of Serwah and others on Jawf junction. The Saudi aggression launched also a raid on Mokha area and two others on the old port in Taiz, four raids on Hiran district's souk in Hajjah province, several raids on al-Amshia area in Sufian district in Amran province and two raids on Baidha city. BA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [23/January/2016] 11 people injured in Saudi raids on Sa'ada SA'ADA, Jan. 23 (Saba) At least 11 people were injured in Saudi raids on the main road in Nushor area in al-Safra'a district of Sa'ada province, a security official said on Saturday. The Saudi aggression launched four air raids on Dahian area, which led to the destruction of a house and damage in neighboring houses, the official added. He pointed out that the hostile warplanes waged five raids on Sa'ada city, causing large damage to homes and citizens' shops. HA/BA Saba Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Telegram Email Email Print Print [23/January/2016] NIAMEY (Reuters) - Nearly a quarter of voters in Niger - 1.5 million people - will be barred from casting their ballots in next month's presidential poll, the government said, after politicians failed to agree on a system to register them. Tensions were already running high in the unstable West African state which is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants across the Sahel region. There was no immediate reaction from rights groups who regularly accuse the government of crackdowns on the opposition, or from electoral officials. Around 1.5 million of Niger's registered voters lack the documentation required to prove their identity, and the Independent National Electoral Commission had proposed a system whereby witnesses could vouch for them. But politicians failed to approve it at a meeting on Friday. "There was no consensus among the political class and therefore 1.5 million Nigeriens cannot exercise their right to vote on 21 February," Alkassoum Indatou, spokesman for the presidential majority, said on state TV on Friday night. The main opposition parties issued a statement confirming the impasse, without going into further details. It was not immediately clear whether the registration problems would affect some parts of the country or political blocs more than others. The opposition in the uranium producer accuse incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou of being increasingly authoritarian - but the government has underscored the need for order amid security threats, including an alleged attempt to topple Issoufou last month. One of the main opposition candidates Hama Amadou is in jail on charges of being linked to a baby-trafficking ring. He denies the charges and says they are politically motivated. Another presidential candidate, Adal Rhoubeid, arrived back in the capital Niamey on Friday night after being detained for questioning in relation to attacks in a hotel and cafe in Burkina Faso's capital last week that killed 30 people, including many foreigners. "Tragic events (in Ouagadougou) confirm something that is becoming more and more clear: terrorism is a cancer across the Sahel and Sahara," he said in front of a large crowd of supporters at the airport, adding that his MDR party supported compulsory military service. (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki and Souleymane Ag Anara; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Andrew Heavens) 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 With the recent natural gas leak in California there have been a lot of questions regarding the effects of natural gas on the environment. The natural gas leak took place in Porter Ranch, California. According to multiple media reports, the first reported leak took place on October 23, 2015 at Aliso Canyon storage well. However it wasnt until the second major leak on December 4, 2015 that the public was notified of the leak. Some are even calling it the worst environmental disaster in California history. With thousands of people reporting sick from the leak, some are questioning as to why the first leak wasnt taken more seriously. While the SoCalGas Company and the Department of Energy have told residents that the gas leak has no impending harm to public health, people are reporting dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and vomiting. The methane itself is not toxic to humans on a bodily level, however when methane mixes with mercaptan (making methanethiol), people can develop short-term medical issues like the ones noted above. The mercaptan is what gives natural gas its distinction foul smell. Over the past few months, the counter-ISIL coalition and forces fighting on the ground in Syria and Iraq have dealt ISIL a series of defeats. We are taking ground back from the enemy and gaining openings, said U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in mid-January. We are denying ISIL the ability to move fighters and materiel by cutting off key transit routes to, and between, Raqqa and Mosul. We are dismantling ISILs war-sustaining finances, targeting its oil production and its industrial base, and were using some new methods to hit ISIL in its wallet. Still, more needs to be done. ISIL has two centers Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq - which act as ISILs military, political, economic, and ideological centers. It is absolutely necessary to defeat ISIL in its parent tumor in Syria and Iraq, and also to take necessary action wherever else in the world this evil organization metastasizes, said Secretary of Defense Carter. So, the counter-ISIL coalition is intensifying its campaign to collapse ISIL in Raqqa and in Mosul, and to sever the militants control of the surrounding areas. But this effort cannot be shouldered just by the core members of the Global Coalition to counter-ISIL . The lasting defeat of ISIL must be a global undertaking, because its a global threat. And any nation that cares about the safety of its people or the future of its civilization must know this America will continue to lead the fight, but there can be no free riders, said Defense Secretary Carter. That means that as we invest in the acceleration of the campaign, so must every one of our coalition partners and every nation in a position to help. That means greater military contributions, but it also means greater diplomatic, political, and economic engagement. It means development and reconstruction. It means actions at home and abroad to disrupt, dismantle and degrade ISILs capabilities. It means stepping up, he said. ISIL must and will be dealt a lasting defeat, a lasting defeat in Syria and Iraq. The defeat must be lasting, so that similar extremism does not recur and emerge from the same places after the campaign. The Marinwood CSD did not want to share it with the public. As a continuing public service, we will post videos of our local CSD meetings... We work in the hardest-to-reach places, where its toughest to be a child. When you give to Save the Children, 85% of every dollar goes straight to our mission to provide lifesaving relief to children. $50 can provide enough food to keep 3 children from going hungry for a month can provide enough food to keep 3 children from going hungry for a month $150 can wrap 30 warm, cozy blankets around children affected by conflict can wrap 30 warm, cozy blankets around children affected by conflict $300 can provide 150 face masks to refugee health workers on the front lines With your support, we can continue our work to keep children in the U.S. and around the world healthy, educated and safe. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/22/2016 -- The Lunar New Year, which falls on 8th February in 2016, is a time in which there are a lot of tourists that visit Vietnam. For all those who wish to be a part of the festivities, they can opt for http://www.visa-vietnam.org/ for their Visa requirements. It is an entity that has helped people from many European, Asian and American citizens in the same. The services are believed to be reliable and competitively priced. Visa on arrival is a service that is predominant in several countries and one such place is Vietnam. This has made it easier for travelers to take a trip without the lengthy process of applying for a Visa in the relevant Embassy. The fact that the aforementioned website offers online approval letters is yet another attractive feature. The spokesperson of the entity has assured that the details of their customers are not shared with anyone and sensitive information is removed from their database at regular intervals. Apart from the privacy, they are believed to have a secure payment gateway that can be used by any travelers. The website says, "There are many people who wish to be a part of the cultural fiesta that happens on every Lunar New Year. With this year's special day around the corner, we have ensured that travelers do not face any issues visiting Vietnam. Our services allow you to get an approval letter with 3 working days and you can plan your itinerary accordingly. You can get away with chasing the Embassy for your visa and enjoy a stress-free vacation." To obtain more information about the services, visit http://www.visa-vietnam.org/. About visa-vietnam.org The website claims that they offer a 100% money back guarantee for all those customers who are dissatisfied with their services. Their visa application process is believed to be easy and their corporate and frequent traveler discounts have also been mentioned in many reviews. They are certified travel agents who deal with rush visa requests as well. It is an apt platform to know about Vietnam visas in detail. Media Contact Nam Thang Travel Co., Ltd Address: Room A2, 64 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street Dakao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Contact Number: (00) (+84) 8 5404 3118 Email: info@visa-vietnam.org URL: http://www.visa-vietnam.org/ The consolidation of the ancient supercontinent Pangea 300 million years ago played a key role in the formation of the coal that powered the Industrial Revolution and that is still burned for energy in many parts of the world today, Stanford scientists say. The findings, published in this week's issue of the journal for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contradicts a popular hypothesis, first formally proposed in the 1990s, that attributes the formation of Carboniferous coal to a 60-million-year gap between the appearance of the first forests and the wood-eating microbes and bacteria that could break them down. "Much of the scientific community was really enamored with this simple, straightforward explanation," said Kevin Boyce, a geobiologist at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences. "So, it has not only refused to die, it has become a conventional wisdom." In the new study, Boyce and his colleagues took a closer look at this "evolutionary lag" hypothesis, examining the idea from various biochemical and geological perspectives. "Our analysis demonstrates that an evolutionary lag explanation for the creation of ancient coal is inconsistent with geochemistry, sedimentology, paleontology, and biology," said Matthew Nelsen, a postdoctoral researcher in Boyce's lab and first author on the new paper. The scientists examined ancient, organic-rich sediments from North America and showed that not all of the plants that existed during the Carboniferous period, which began about 360 million years ago, possessed high concentrations of lignin, a cell wall polymer that helps give plant tissues their rigidity. Lignin is the biochemical component that, according to the evolutionary lag hypothesis, ancient bacteria and fungi were unable to break down. The researchers also showed that shifts in lignin abundance in ancient plant fossils had no obvious impact on coal formation. In fact, many Carboniferous coal layers were dominated by the remains of lycopsids, an ancient group of largely unlignified plants. "Central to the evolutionary lag model is the assumption that lignin is the dominant biochemical constituent of coal," Nelsen said. "However, much of the plant matter that went into forming these coals contained low amounts of lignin." The scientists instead argue that the waxing and waning of coal deposits during the Carboniferous period was closely tied to a unique combination of tectonics and climate conditions that existed during the assembly of Pangea. advertisement Synthesizing findings from across various scientific fields, the scientists argue that during the Carboniferous, massive amounts of organic debris accumulated in warm, humid equatorial wetlands. "If you want to generate coal, you need a productive environment where you're making lots of plant matter and you also need some way to prevent that plant matter from decaying. Where that happens is in wet environments," Boyce said. The other key element that is required to form large coal deposits is an "accommodation space"-essentially a large hole-where organic matter can accumulate over long periods without being eroded away. "So you need both a wet tropics and a hole to fill. We have an ever-wet tropics now, but we don't have a hole to fill," Boyce said. "There's only a narrow band in time in Earth's history where you had both a wet tropics and widespread holes to fill in the tropics, and that's the Carboniferous." During the Carboniferous, amphibian-like creatures were still getting used to life on land, and hawk-sized insects flitted through forests very different from what exists today. "In the modern world, all trees are seed plants more or less. Back then, the trees resembled giant versions of ferns and other groups of plants that are now only small herbs. Conifers were just beginning to appear," Boyce said. The Carboniferous was also a time when geologic forces were herding several large land masses together into what would eventually become the massive supercontinent Pangea. Along geologic fault lines where tectonic plates ground against one another, mountain ranges developed, and deep basins formed alongside the new peaks. The ponderous pace at which the basins were created meant there was plenty of time for organic matter to accumulate, and as the mountains rose, the basins deepened, and even more plant material could pile up. "With enough time," Boyce said, "that plant matter was eventually transformed into the coal that powered the Industrial Revolution and helped usher in the modern age. Coal, as dead plant matter, is obviously based in short-term biological processes. And yet, as an important part of the long-term carbon cycle, coal accumulation is largely dictated by geological processes that operate on timescales of many millions of years that are entirely independent of the biology." Over the past several days, the decision to follow the course of patient, tough diplomacy with Iran bore fruit. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the Iranian government had fulfilled its key commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to curtail its nuclear program. That verification brought about Implementation Day, in which nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran are lifted, and Iran gains access to its own money which had been frozen. President Barack Obama hailed these developments, saying that now Iran will not be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and that [t]he region, the United States, and the world will be more secure: Perhaps most important of all, weve achieved this historic progress through diplomacy, without resorting to another war in the Middle East. President Obama noted that the precedent and practice of engagement with Iran made possible other positive developments, among them the recent, rapid release from detention of American sailors who had accidentally strayed into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf; and the welcome and long-awaited release of several Americans unjustly held in Iran-some of whom, like Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini and Jason Rezaian, faced years of continuing imprisonment. President Obama observed that the United States remains concerned over Irans destructive behavior in the region, including its threats against Israel and the Gulf countries; its support of violent proxies in Syria and Yemen; as well as its human rights violations and development of ballistic missiles: We are going to remain vigilant about it. Were not going to waver in the defense of our security or that of our allies and partners. But President Obama took the opportunity again to speak directly to the Iranian people: "Your is a great civilization, with a vibrant culture that has so much to contribute to the world in commerce, and in science and the artsNow our governments are talking with one another. Following the nuclear deal, you especially young Iranians have the opportunity to begin building new ties with the world. We have a rare chance, to pursue a new path, said President Obama a different, better future that delivers progress for both our peoples and the wider world. Thats the opportunity before the Iranian people. We need to take advantage of that. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The epic storm expected to dump as much as 3 feet of snow on the East Coast this weekend, crippling airports and public transit from North Carolina to New York, extended its icy touch across the United States on Friday, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of Bay Area flights as people scrambled to change or toss out their plans. As the powerful weather system forecast to reach blizzard strength bore down on the South before an anticipated march northward, more than 50 million people faced winter storm warnings, and more were dealing with the fallout from an approaching giant likened to 2010s Snowmageddon. Its been really stressful, said Amber Estep, 23, who had just arrived Friday at San Francisco International Airport from Japan with her husband, Ken, and was told they wouldnt be able to fly home to North Carolina until Tuesday. We dont really have a plan yet. Complicating matters for the couple were their two dogs, a Labrador retriever and a mutt confined to pet carriers in the corner of the United Airlines terminal. We need to find a rental car and a hotel that will accept animals for four days, Estep said. El Ninos impact Mass inconvenience wasnt the only thing shared by the East and West coasts. Climate experts said the potential blizzard was at least partially charged by the same El Nino thats driving much of the wet weather in California recently. This year, El Nino is having a really big influence in a lot of places, said Daniel Swain, a climate researcher at Stanford University. While the warm Pacific Ocean waters characteristic of El Nino dont necessarily create a storm like the one heading up the East Coast, they establish conditions that nurture such an event, Swain and others said. The jet stream, which helps guide weather from the Pacific across North America, is in a more southerly position because of El Nino, meaning the Southwest and Southeast both become targets for westerly storms. Its also got a lot more energy than normal due to El Nino. The result is enhanced atmospheric moisture coming to bear at select spots, in this case the Mid-Atlantic. The tropical moisture, combined with a bout of cool air from the north, is helping give rise to this weekends snowy monster. In another winter, we might have had a snowstorm right now, but it may have not been as strong and it may not have taken this track, said David Robinson of Rutgers University, the state climatologist for New Jersey, where as much as 2 feet of snow is in the forecast. Yes, El Nino does play a role. As in California, parts of the East Coast saw impressive amounts of precipitation during the last two big El Ninos. States rainstorms to linger The near-record rain that fell during the strong 1997-98 event, particularly in the Southeast, was another upshot of El Nino, according to Robinson. However, warmth is not constant, and when temperatures dip toward freezing in an El Nino year, snowfall can be even more robust. During the big El Nino of 1982-83, the East Coast saw one of its strongest blizzards in history. The February storm dropped as much as 38 inches of snow in the Mid-Atlantic. Snowmageddon in February 2010, the areas most recent major snowfall event, delivered 30 inches to some spots. In California, the recent parade of rainstorms continued Friday and was expected to linger through Saturday before clearing for at least a few days. The wet weather has pushed much of the state to above-average rainfall for the season, a welcome milestone after four years of drought. As of early Friday, San Francisco had tallied 12.92 inches of rain since July 1 about 106 percent of normal for this point in the season. The critical Eight Station Index in the northern Sierra, where Californias biggest reservoirs sit, measured at 113 percent of average to date. Slowing at SFO The showers contributed to the hang-ups for Bay Area travelers Friday. While Mineta San Jose International Airport and Oakland International Airport reported only minor problems, 130 flights at SFO had been canceled by mid-afternoon due to the combination of local weather and issues in the East. Paul Levit, 53, who had flown in from London, was phoning his girlfriend in Humboldt County to tell her he wouldnt be at the curb of the Eureka airport until after midnight. Its really screwed me up, he said after finding out his flight was delayed at least six hours. This is just making my long journey even longer. Kale Williams and Kurtis Alexander are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com, kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale, @kurtisalexander From her office in an old leather factory South of Market, Jennifer Pahlka is working to change the way government uses technology, one city at a time. Pahlka is founder and executive director of the nonprofit Code for America, which brings in mid-career tech workers willing to work for a year in cities looking for outside help. The help comes at a price, but its not money. Instead, the cities have to open themselves to new ways of operating. They have to be willing to replace the ever-so-detailed rules and requirements of traditional government with the agility, innovation and feedback of the tech world. We want to help government work better for and by the American people, she said. For some cities, a year spent working with the Code for America team has transformed the way they operate. In Oakland, for example, the three-person team Pahlka sent in 2013 did plenty of work designed to better connect city government to the people it served. For example, it helped create an application to make it easier for city workers to deal with a growing flood of public records requests, but also posted the results of those searches online for everyone to see. I tell people that the app was the least important thing the Code for America team did, said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Their presence and involvement ignited an interest in innovation in city government thats only growing. Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle Innovative thinker Pahlka is an incredibly innovative thinker, Schaaf said. She cares deeply that America falls back in love with democracy. Its not just looking at ways that technology ... can make cities run better. Pahlka is a finalist for The Chronicles 2016 Visionary of the Year award. Evan Marwell, last years award winner and a member of this years nominating committee, cited her works success in getting young people engaged in technology. Marwells nonprofit group, Education SuperHighway, is focused on narrowing the digital divide by helping schools across the nation get wired for high-speed Internet. Pahlka, 46, grew up in Austin, Texas, and New York City before graduating from Yale in 1991 with a degree in American studies. She then moved to California and now lives in Oakland with her husband and daughter. Governing efficiently Like many others, Palhka moved into the tech world and spent years arranging and organizing conferences, first for game developers and later for events pushing the growing idea of Web 2.0, which argued that the regular back-and-forth interaction and content sharing between users and their customers (think YouTube, Twitter, Google and many others) was the digital future. When the idea of Gov 2.0, which sought to apply those same principles to distinctly non-user-friendly government services, starting gaining traction, Pahlka looked to get involved. If people are going to give money for government programs to help people, they should want programs that really help those people, as well as respect them and use the money efficiently, she said. When a friend talked about his experience with Teach for America, which asks young college grads to spend two years teaching in urban or rural schools, Pahlka had her inspiration. Instead of getting people to do this for money, we could make it a service year, she said. Tech workers looking for a change and willing to be paid a stipend would spend a year working on problems in a specific city. In late 2009, she told her family that she was quitting her job to start Code for America. She spent 2010 putting the plan together and arranging funding, then brought in her first fellowship class in 2011. After a month of training, they were sent out in teams of three to Seattle, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C., all cities that had requested help from the startup. Pahlkas vision calls not only for dealing with specific projects, but also for making dramatic changes in the way government does business. Cities and states have to be convinced that waiting to make something the absolute best doesnt always make sense in the fast-moving world of technology, Pahlka said. Wed rather have something imperfect we can learn from, she said. I dont believe we can get to perfect without response from the users. In 2013, Pahlka spent a year as deputy chief technology officer in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, advocating for more customer-focused, agile technology that would respond faster to user complaints and concerns. Peter DaSilva/Special to The Chronicle Extending reach A growing numbers of cities across the county are asking for the groups help. The nonprofits budget, which was about $30,000 for its first six months, has grown to about $11 million a year, thanks to support from individuals, foundations and companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Google and others from the tech sector. The group also has about 44,000 volunteers nationwide who give a few hours a week to work on civic-hacking solutions to government problems, with the idea, as a banner in the Code for America headquarters puts it, that 21st Century Government Matters. The government is one group that doesnt get to choose its customers, Pahlka said. We want to make it work for everyone. How much do tech millennials actually make? John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Visionary of the Year award This is one of eight profiles of nominees for The Chronicles second annual Visionary of the Year award, which is presented in collaboration with St. Marys Colleges School of Economics and Business Administration. The honor salutes leaders who strive to make the world a better place and drive social and economic change by employing new, innovative business models and practices. The eight finalists were nominated by a distinguished committee that included Evan Marwell, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit group Education SuperHighway; Pam Baer, founder and CEO of For Goodness Sake, a nonprofit foundation that created an e-commerce site to connect consumers with curated brands and nonprofits; Ron Conway, an angel investor and philanthropist; Ben Fong-Torres, a noted rock journalist, author and broadcaster; Pamela Joyner, founder of the strategic marketing consulting company Avid Partners LLC; Zhan Li, dean of St. Mary's School of Economics and Business Administration; and John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor. Chronicle Publisher Jeff Johnson, Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper and Diaz will select the winner, who will be announced during a March 29 ceremony. To read more, go to www.sfgate.com/visionsf. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The final chapter of Mario Woods life began when he slashed a stranger for no apparent reason and ended with him staring at the barrel of a San Francisco police officers gun and saying, You better squeeze that ... and kill me. Thats the account provided by officers who were on the scene of an incident that has caused an uproar in the city and shaken both the Police Department and Mayor Ed Lees administration. Within minutes of when he first defied police efforts to arrest him, Woods, 26, lay dead on a Bayview district sidewalk, shot by as many as 15 rounds fired by five officers. The incident was witnessed by middle school children passing on a Muni bus including two youngsters who filmed the shooting on their cell phones. Police, the district attorney and Office of Citizen Complaints are investigating the shooting, with an eye toward whether the officers broke the law or department rules. Investigators are relying only in part on the viral video that bystanders filmed. Police documents obtained by The Chronicle including statements by some of the officers who were there provide fresh insights into the events leading up to a shooting that has put Police Chief Greg Suhrs job on the line, and reopened debates over the departments use of force and its treatment of the African American community. Man reports slashing The incident began at about 4 p.m. on Dec. 2, when officers were dispatched to San Francisco General Hospital to take a report from a 26-year-old Bayview man who had been slashed in the upper arm, according to police documents. The man, whose name police have withheld for his protection, told officers that he and a female friend had been eating in a car parked in front of an apartment building at 6670 Third St. when they saw a man walking back and forth on the sidewalk talking, according to investigators who interviewed the victim. The suspect was not making sense and appeared to be under the influence of something, according to the police report on the interview. The assailant then reached into the passengers side of the car with a knife, prompting the man seated there to open the door to push the suspect away, the police report says. When the man got out of the car, the assailant slashed him across the left shoulder. Bleeding heavily, the victim fled and showed up a short time later at San Francisco General. Two officers responding to the crime scene aided by a neighbor who saw the attack briefly spotted the suspect but lost track of him. The police radioed in a description, and more officers were called in to search. Within minutes, two officers spotted Woods, who matched the suspects description, waiting to board a Muni bus at Third Street and Fitzgerald Avenue. When the officers got out of their car, the man began to backpedal, according to the statement provided by the partner of Officer Charles August, who would soon become a central figure in the shooting. Woods then grabbed a knife out of his jeans pocket and said something to the effect of, Youre not taking me today, wrote the partner, whose named was redacted from the documents provided to us. The partner reported that he and August then drew their guns and told Woods to drop the knife. Thats when Augusts partner says he heard Woods say, You better squeeze that mother and kill me. Then Woods turned south on Third, and the officers radioed for backup while repeatedly ordering him to drop the knife, police documents say. More officers arrived, some of them armed with weapons that fire nonlethal beanbags filled with lead shot. The first beanbag round, shot from a 12-gauge weapon, had no effect, Augusts partner wrote. Police then hit Woods with two more rounds, including one that struck his leg, causing the limp that Woods displayed in the videos of the police confrontation. Still, Woods wouldnt drop the knife. When a fourth beanbag was fired using a more powerful 40mm gun, the officer said, The subject appeared to be stunned and crouched to one knee but still refused to drop his knife. ... (He) quickly regained his balance and stood back up. At that point, another officer tried to subdue Woods using pepper spray. He didnt appear to react, the police accounts say. I then noticed a large crowd of people behind me, said Augusts partner. I walked toward the crowd to advise them to back up when I saw the subject with the knife still in hand begin to walk toward the crowd. As Woods headed toward the bystanders, August tried to cut him off, police accounts say. In the videos of the shooting, he can be seen stepping into Woods path. I yelled, Back up! as loud as I could at the crowd when I heard multiple gunshots, Augusts partner said. It was the sound of August and four other officers Winson Seto, Antonio Santos, Nicholas Cuevas and Scott Phillips firing their weapons. Did police overreact? Was the crowd at risk? Would Woods still be alive if police had Tasers or were trained to use less force when confronted with weapons? Those are questions being looked at by investigators and the broader forums of City Hall and public opinion. Some of the racial element in the case has been defused by the fact that August and his partner are African American, as Woods was. As for why Woods didnt simply drop the knife? There is no shortage of theories. He had an extensive criminal record, including a prison stint for armed robbery that ended in 2014. Since hed gotten out, hed earned his high school GED and landed a job at a delivery company, which could well have been jeopardized if he were hit with a new criminal charge. Pepper spray, beanbags Investigators are also awaiting the results of toxicology results that could shed light on how Woods was able to walk away from a dose of pepper spray and four beanbag blasts. Even if those findings cast Woods in a poor light, that wont justify the police shooting, said John Burris, the attorney representing his family. Failure to cooperate is not a basis to use deadly force, Burris said. There are lots of way to subdue a person with an edged weapon without creating a confrontation. Whats more, Burris said, for all Woods alleged noncooperation with police, the evidence from the video suggests he did not in any way lunge at the officer. As Burris tells it, Woods was looking to the future and trying to get his life together. He was not looking to be self-destructive, the attorney said, or suicidal. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or e-mail matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross A private San Francisco bus company enmeshed in a labor dispute will be sitting on the sidelines for Super Bowl 50 after threats of picketing by the Teamsters union and pressure from City Hall. Bauers Intelligent Transportation, which operates corporate shuttles and other bus and limo services, had bid on a contract to haul workers and fans during the events leading up to the Super Bowl. But the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee dropped consideration of the company in the interest of labor peace, notifying the Teamsters Thursday. They said that they wanted the fans to have a good experience at the Super Bowl, that a lot of people are coming to San Francisco, and that San Francisco values labor harmony and wants labor harmony around the Super Bowl, said Doug Bloch, political director with Teamsters Joint Council 7, which represents Teamsters locals in the Bay Area. Representatives for Bauers did not return a call Friday seeking comment. The Teamsters and Bauers are in a battle over whether the companys corporate-shuttle drivers should join the union, a step taken by several other firms that operate the buses for tech companies. A company union When the Teamsters began trying to organize drivers, Bauers hastily created a company union without proper input from employees and agreed to a contract, according to a complaint issued by the National Labor Relations Board. Then, Bauers disbanded the in-house union and agreed to hold an election to determine whether the drivers wanted to join the Teamsters. The Teamsters lost, but the labor board believes Bauers may have illegally influenced the vote. A hearing is scheduled in February. Hoping to gain leverage, the Teamsters lobbied elected officials and the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, which has worked with organized labor while planning events to exclude Bauers. They also sent letters to Recology, the citys garbage collector, and several union hotels, informing them of the dispute with Bauers and threatening picket lines. Since trash collectors, hotel workers and other union members would be loath to cross picket lines, demonstrations could wreak havoc on Super Bowl events, or at least inconvenience visitors. Elected officials, including Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Scott Wiener, who authored a policy requiring labor harmony for bus companies participating in the citys corporate-shuttle program, urged the committee to reject Bauers. Wiener raised the issue at a Board of Supervisors hearing on Super Bowl events. The whole point of the labor harmony resolution was to make sure we didnt have labor disruptions that would undermine traffic flow, he said Friday, and to make sure drivers were paid reasonable wages and benefits. In the end, We decided not to use Bauers, said P.J. Johnston, host committee spokesman. He said the decision came with the support of the mayors office and in the spirit of maintaining a good relationship with organized labor. S.F. a labor town The host committee is a local committee with a local governing board, and we know San Francisco is a labor town, Johnston said. Weve had a great relationship with labor from the outset, and the mayors office was pretty clear that it was important to maintain that relationship. The fight wont end with the Super Bowl. Unless Bauers and the Teamsters settle the labor dispute before the new corporate-shuttle program starts in February, the bus company could be prevented from using Muni bus stops. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan WASHINGTON Chris Lehane, Airbnbs head of global policy, appeared last week before hundreds of U.S. mayors with an enticing pitch: Team up with us to collect millions of dollars in taxes for you. The day before, the head of the hotel industrys lobbying group spoke to the same audience with a very different message: Airbnb isnt a good partner; it is breaking your city laws. The heated battle between Airbnb, the popular room-sharing app, and the hotel industry is playing out in city halls across the country, including in New York and Los Angeles, which either passed or are considering restrictions on the service. Airbnb has fought back with a political ground campaign led by former White House advisers like Lehane, deploying them to small towns and organizing the companys dedicated hosts and guests to protest restrictions. This week, those difference are being aired at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, an event attended by local politicians with heavy influence over the future of the fast-changing lodging industry. The appeals are taking many forms. Airbnb and the American Hotel & Lodging Association are both leading sponsors of the winter meeting, for example. But perhaps the sharpest debate is over numbers and facts. In the speech Thursday, Lehane asked mayors to team up with the company. In turn, Airbnb would begin to collect taxes. It now collects hotel, tourist and occupancy taxes in 16 cities and jurisdictions, including San Francisco. And, according to a study commissioned by the company that Lehane presented, if the 50 biggest U.S. cities teamed up with Airbnb, the company would generate $200 million a year in taxes. We want to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose to city leaders, Lehane said in an interview. Im not aware of any company standing up at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and saying, Please tax us. Katherine Lugar, president of the hotel association, on Wednesday presented a study her own group had commissioned. It said that an estimated $500 million in revenue was collected by Airbnb hosts, whom the hotel group described as essentially professional landlords renting out rooms full time, a violation of many local laws. Our data is showing a tremendous growth of commercial operators who are exploiting sites like Airbnb to avoid paying taxes, following zoning rules and following basic laws for health and safety, Lugar said in an interview. The dueling data points are not particularly new for these two sides. (Each says the others numbers have problems, too.) The data show, though, how intense and local the debates about Airbnb have become. An increasing number of cities are proposing bans or heavier rules on short-term vacation rentals, efforts that have been encouraged by the hotel industry and affordable housing advocates. In response, Airbnb has beefed up its lobbying and policy staff, just this week hiring four more members for its policy team, including Sarah Bianchi, President Obamas former deputy assistant for economic policy. Lehane, who joined in August, was a former aide in the Clinton administration and met Bianchi while the two worked on Al Gores presidential bid. Whats different about Airbnb and other sharing-economy firms is that the wall between market strategy and non-market strategy like politics is completely broken down, said Edward Walker, an associate professor of sociology at UCLA and author of Grassroots for Hire, a book about industry campaigns to mobilize the public for political advocacy. A lot of the action is on the local level where you need a municipal strategy in place which requires a huge amount of specific local knowledge. In its San Francisco headquarters, the policy office is referred to by some as the Obama White House West, because of the large number of former administration officials who have joined the company. The companys greatest strength, though, has been its 70 million combined hosts and guests, some of whom have become vocal advocates, as was demonstrated in a prominent victory in San Francisco in November. Lehane is trying to replicate some of that success, organizing 100 clubs around the world to act as resources for Airbnb supporters who are protesting restrictions. The fact that Airbnb is creating what is a grassroots army to fight this out in local city councils and local legislative districts, Walker said, tells you a lot about how much they know they need to win in all of those localities, each with its own politics and history and incumbent actors. The companys most recent tactic has been to try to work with cities to collect lodging taxes. But some municipalities are turning down the offer, saying the downsides of letting residents rent out rooms on Airbnb isnt worth the trade-offs. Last month, despite Airbnbs hiring of local lobbyists and organizers, the Santa Barbara City Council voted for a ban on short-term rentals, saying guests using the service have become a nuisance and are squeezing residents out of the housing market. Within an hours drive from there, the city of Oxnard and Ventura County are proposing similar regulations. This week, the tiny wine town of Ojai unanimously approved rules that prevent short-term rentals on sites like Airbnb. We could probably collect somewhere in the range of $6 million a year of taxes from website companies, but in the end we felt that in order to limit growth and preserve the local quality of life, we would have to make difficult choices, Gregg Hart, a Santa Barbara City Council member, said of the recent vote. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Theres a demon present in a historic building South of Market. Don the Demon, that is. The mascot for cloud server security company CloudPassage is everywhere at 180 Townsend St. Its a play on words from a technical perspective, explains Chief Marketing Officer Mitch Bishop. The word daemon is a common programming term to describe a small program that is always running in the background. Pictures of the little red cartoon demon named after Don Baccus, who wrote the original code for the daemon employed by the companys platform hang on the walls of this historically lucky three-story warehouse. Originally the home of the California Wine Association, it was built between 1903 and 1905. The building survived the 1906 earthquake and fire that devastated San Francisco. The flames fortuitously stopped at Brannan Street. The third story was added in 1921, and the building was restored in 1999. Fast-forward to today, and its the place where CloudPassage has settled to raise its growing family, a word Bishop uses to describe the culture of the 110-employee company. To that end, the space has a certain warmth that Bishop says makes it feel less office-like and more homey. The 10,000-square-foot third floor is where members of the CloudPassage sales, marketing, human resources and customer success teams work. The lobby is all exposed brick walls and huge wood-sash windows. A living wall soaks up the natural light pouring in. The central atrium has a skylight and an industrial staircase that leads down to the second floor. CloudPassage sublets that floor to another company, but it plans to shift employees there this spring. Frosted glass surrounds the main conference room, named Kings Landing (a Game of Thrones reference), which separates the atrium from the rest of the space and keeps the office from being too open. After all, it is a security company. Along the walls are offices for higher-ups and six private meeting rooms, also with Game of Thrones themes. Two small rooms are designated for phone calls. Theres a bike closet with lockers, and what they call the therapy room, which is cozy enough for a nap. Or you could plop down on an oversize bean bag. During our visit, about 15 new sales team members were participating in a training boot camp. Employees would ring an old ships bell, hanging from an exposed wood beam outside the room, when they landed a new customer. The basement is nicknamed Flea Bottom. This is where members of the engineering, operations and quality assurance teams work at least until March when theyll move to the second floor. Its the same 10,000 square feet as the third floor, but lacks the privacy of upstairs, save for two padded phone booths and a conference room called the interrogation room. On our visit, a couple of team members bounced around the pingpong table in back, and there was a Foosball table, too. Theres enough space in the Flea Bottom to fit the whole company for a Thanksgiving potluck, which they did. When employees arent taking advantage of one of two snack-filled kitchens in the building, they can sit down to a catered lunch in the basement every Monday. CloudPassage inherited two wall murals and a stage and screen from Say Media, the previous tenant, which has consolidated its offices in the buildings ground level. The only relic from the buildings first life as a hub for wine merchants is a freight elevator in back. Its now used to haul in the weekly Costco delivery of all-important snacks. Jillian Sullivan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jsullivan@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jillivnlinn CloudPassage Location: 180 Townsend St., San Francisco Size: 20,000 square feet Employees: 110 Move-in date: March 2015 Number of wine bars or wine merchants within 7,500 feet of CloudPassage: 11 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Colonie Commutair will create up to 100 new jobs at its Albany maintenance base as it adds a fleet of 40 Embraer regional jets to its turboprop aircraft, significantly increasing the size of the airline. Commutair has been recruiting mechanics, pilots and flight attendants to maintain and operate the additional aircraft. Commutair expects the jets to begin service in April, an airline official said at a press event Friday at the airport. The jets are being acquired from ExpressJet, also a United Express regional carrier. Experienced aircraft mechanics in the Capital Region can expect to earn more than $65,000 a year, according to data from the state Department of Labor. Commutair operates United Express flights out of United's hubs at Newark and Washington Dulles. As part of the move, Commutair and United have also created what they call a Career Path Program that will enable Commutair pilots to transition to United aircraft. "We are excited to have been given the opportunity to fly jets on behalf of United Express," said Joel T. Raymond, chief operating officer. "Aircraft growth and the CPP mean great promotion and career opportunities for crew and staff. We could not be happier," he added. Commutair took delivery of its first Embraer jet in Albany at the end of November. "The ability to have the airplane in Albany for a couple of months will allow us to complete aircraft familiarization training and methodically establish procedures and plans for the technical management of the aircraft type at our Albany base," James W. Page, vice president, maintenance, said at the time. The ERJ-145 aircraft typically carry 50 passengers with a 2-1 configuration. Other United Express carriers at Albany already operate the aircraft. It's not clear if the additional aircraft will result in any new routes from Albany. Andy Price, Commutair's president, said United sets routes and schedules and he expected that those routes would be limited to flights to hub cities. State funds last year allowed Commutair to expand its maintenance hangars at Albany. The airline, operated by Champlain Enterprises, has a long history at Albany. For many years, it had its hub operations here, flying a fleet of 19-seat planes throughout the Northeast as a Continental Connection carrier. At one point, it operated more than 50 daily flights from Albany. Continental has since merged with United Airlines. eanderson@timesunion.com 518-454-5323 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Google is paying Apple a hefty fee to keep its search bar on the iPhone. Apple received $1 billion from its rival in 2014, according to a transcript of court proceedings from Oracles copyright lawsuit against Google. The search giants agreement gives the iPhone maker a percentage of the revenue Google generates through the Apple device, an attorney for Oracle said at a hearing this month in federal court. Rumors about how much Google pays Apple to be on the iPhone have circulated for years, but the companies have never publicly disclosed it. Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple, and Google spokesman Aaron Stein both declined to comment on the information disclosed in court. The revenue-sharing agreement reveals the lengths Google must go to keep people using its search tool on mobile devices. It also shows how Apple benefits financially from Googles advertising-based business model that CEO Tim Cook has criticized as an intrusion of privacy. Oracle has been fighting Google since 2010 over claims that the search company used its Java software without paying for it to develop Android. The showdown has returned to U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco after a pit stop at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Google lost a bid to derail the case. The damages Oracle now seeks may exceed $1 billion since it expanded its claims to cover newer Android versions. Annette Hurst, the Oracle attorney who disclosed details of the Google-Apple agreement at last weeks court hearing, said a Google witness questioned during pretrial information said that at one point in time the revenue share was 34 percent. It wasnt clear from the transcript whether that percentage is the amount of revenue kept by Google or paid to Apple. An attorney for Google objected to the information being disclosed and attempted to have the judge strike the mention of 34 percent from the record. That percentage just stated, that should be sealed, lawyer Robert Van Nest said, according to the transcript. We are talking hypotheticals here. Thats not a publicly known number. The magistrate judge presiding over the hearing later refused Googles request to block the sensitive information in the transcript from public review. Google then asked Alsup to seal and redact the transcript, saying the disclosure could severely affect its ability to negotiate similar agreements with other companies. Apple joined Googles request in a separate filing. The specific financial terms of Googles agreement with Apple are highly sensitive to both Google and Apple, Google said in a Jan. 20 filing. Both Apple and Google have always treated this information as extremely confidential. The transcript vanished without a trace from electronic court records at about 3 p.m. with no indication that the court ruled on Googles request to seal it. The case is Oracle America Inc. v. Google Inc., 10- cv-03561, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). Joel Rosenblatt and Adam Satariano are Bloomberg writers. E-mail: jrosenblatt@bloomberg.net, asatariano1@bloomberg.net San Antonios Lara Vineyard is fermenting more than just grape juice. The upstart vintner has incurred the wrath of Los Angeles San Antonio Winery, which has filed a trademark-infringement lawsuit over the Alamo City vineyard using San Antonio in the name of some of its wines. Ive lost a lot of sleep over this, conceded Lara Vineyard owner Michael Lara. In July, the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the labels for Lara Vineyards Blanco Dulce de San Antonio and Blanco de San Antonio, the fanciful names for two of the vineyards white table wines. Two weeks after the approvals, San Antonio Winerys lawyer sent a letter to Lara Vineyard directing it to modify those labels to exclude San Antonio from the wine names as part of a trademark dispute. It is to neither partys benefit to have confusion in the marketplace, San Antonio Winery lawyer Jeffrey Sheldon warned. Just as you would protect Lara as a trademark, San Antonio Winery must protect its San Antonio mark. Lara said he responded by saying, Ill go ahead and change anywhere it says San Antonio. Ill make sure its San Antonio, comma, Texas. All of my labels will read that. Lara said he altered the vineyards home page on the Internet to drop San Antonio from one reference and to add Texas in another. He also modified the labels to try to avoid any confusion with the California winery. They now read: Blanco Dulce de San Antonio, Texas and Blanco de San Antonio, Texas. The changes Lara made didnt resolve the issue for San Antonio Winery, which filed its federal lawsuit on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in San Antonio. San Antonio Winery has no objection to Lara Vineyard using the term San Antonio solely as a geographic indicator for the source of the wine, Sheldon said, reading directly from the lawsuit. But San Antonio Winery objects to the mention of San Antonio in the official name on the label. Its a trademark use we object to it, said Sheldon. Ted Lee, who represents Lara Vineyard, said he is preparing a motion to have the lawsuit tossed. If (a product) indicates geographic origin, then its proper and fair use, Lee said. It is not infringing anybody, whether or not they have a trademark. He added, If youre from San Antonio, do you think youre entitled to tell people youre from San Antonio? Just like the city, San Antonio Winery takes its name from St. Anthony of Padua, a popular saint of the Catholic Church. San Antonio Winery founders, who launched the business in 1917, were very religious, Sheldon said. Their main product in that time was sacramental wine, and so they named the winery San Antonio, he said. It has used the trademark San Antonio since 1933. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio Express-News writer. E-mail: pdanner@express-news.net Twitter: @AlamoPD DENVER States that have legalized pot are taking a fresh look at making it easier for out-of-state investors to get in the weed business, saying the industrys difficulty in banking means they need new options to finance expansion. The four states that allow recreational pot sales Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington have another big reason to take a new look at pot investment. Thats California, the nations most populous state and largest marijuana producer, though it allows the drug only for people with certain medical ailments. California voters could approve recreational pot this fall, giving the nascent pot industries in the other states reason to want to attract investment now, before a giant enters the picture. California has no ban on out-of-state owners, pressuring other pot states to loosen the rules before California opens for business. Theres only so many people willing to invest in this risky and new industry, so allowing people from out of state to become investors in this business ... seems like a good idea, said Republican Colorado state Sen. Chris Holbert, sponsor of a bill to allow out-of-state ownership of marijuana businesses. The head of the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce was more blunt. We cant go get a loan from the bank to grow our business to help us accelerate, Tyler Henson said. We are susceptible to falling behind other states. But the prospect of big out-of-state money flowing into legal pot states still gives regulators pause. Pot-business residency ownership requirements generally date to the early days of regulated pot as a safeguard against investment by foreign drug cartels. Those fears have largely dissipated, but public officials have hung onto the residency requirements because they believe it keeps the industry small and easier to manage. Pot regulators also cite the U.S. Department of Justice, which has repeatedly warned pot states they must keep drug money out of interstate commerce or face a crackdown. The regulators will say, Do we have money flying cross-country to be deposited in the pot industry? Lets just keep it local, said Chris Lindsey, legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, which oversees legalization campaigns in many states. Alaskas pot regulators voted last year to ease residency requirements for pot industry investment, then backtracked in December. The regulators ended up using the more stringent standards needed to qualify to receive a yearly check from Alaskas oil wealth fund. Residency requirements range from six months in Washington to two years in the other states. In Washington and Colorado, those requirements apply to business applicants and investors. In Oregon, majority ownership must rest with Oregon residents. Outside investment is allowed there, but nonresident owners cant be directly involved in a business operation or management. A bill currently pending in the Oregon Legislature would change that. Marijuana businesses and activists believe that marijuana residency requirements are an endangered breed, though. Linsley argued that state marijuana protections will one day be as illegal as any other kind of business protectionism. And residency requirement can simply invite shadowy financing schemes, said another sponsor of Colorados residency bill. In Colorado, for example, some investors pour money into ancillary pot businesses, such as warehouses or lighting companies, then exact heavy kickbacks from the in-state pot growers. I want to make sure that we have background checks on those investors, Pabon said. To me, this is a transparency measure to allow what is already happening in Colorado but to do it above-board. A Santa Rosa garage burst into flames Friday morning at the site of a suspected marijuana processing spot, although authorities said the real source of the explosion was likely removed before personnel arrived. Firefighters responded to a home at 4012 Shadowhill Drive around 7:25 a.m., where they found the front wall of the garage pulled from the foundation, the windows shattered and glass in the neighbors fence, said Sgt. Rich Celli, a police spokesman. Two people inside, Michael Weckerle, 51, and Rochelle Wattz, 45, tried to fight the fire themselves and were taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. A young girl was also there at the time of the fire but she was unhurt, Celli said. Santa Rosa Police called in their Narcotics Unit after traces of marijuana were found in the garage. After serving a search warrant, detectives found evidence suggesting the plant was being processed, packaged and sold. Investigators seized about 19 pounds of partially processed marijuana inside, Celli said. Detectives and fire officials have ruled out a natural gas line as the source of the fire, and could find no heat source as a potential culprit. That led investigators to believe evidence of the fire source had been removed from the scene. Weckerle and Wattz would not speak to detectives about how the fire started or the alleged marijuana distribution, Celli said. The Sonoma County District Attorneys Office will review the case for potential prosecution. Anyone with information on the incident can call the police department at (707) 543-3600 or Santa Rosa Fire Inspector Paul Lowenthal at (707) 543-3542. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno Twenty-year-old San Francisco brewery ThirstyBear isn't just known for the fact that it makes beer; it's also known for how it uses its beer. SFGATE visited the brewery at its SoMa headquarters and restaurant to get an inside peek at how they create their sorbet, ahead of this year's Beer Week festivities. Currently Reading Wildest photos from 2016 epiphany celebrations around the world The On-Demand industry is exploding: one can hail a citizen driver almost instantly, outsource any number of jobs and tasks online, get almost anything delivered anywhere in minutes, rent out other peoples homes for sleep or work, you name it, all with the tap of a smartphone. With this ever-expanding shift towards instant gratification, countless companies -- not just the Ubers, the Amazons or the Airbnbs of the world -- must evolve their infrastructure to accommodate this growing trend or risk being left behind. But how? It is ultimately a combination of strong technology and human touch that enabled this consumer revolution and will ensure better service for the customer. There are a plethora of technologies that make it easier than ever for companies to help consumers get whatever it is they want, right here, right now. But with such a diverse selection of technologies available, it is hard to know which SaaS and API solutions are right. A good company can make use of these technologies to create a balance of sub-systems working together to fulfill the companys needs. Here are four key tips that helped us to sustainably scale-up an on-demand smartphone repair service now available in 17 major U.S. cities: 1. Create a user interface focused on service. With everything available all the time, service is key to success. On-demand services need to be easy and enjoyable. User Interface (UI) is crucial to creating a successful on-demand business. A companys app or website is the customers first glimpse into the service they will receive It should be thought of as a storefront -- neat and clean, with clear signage to aisles of interest. It should be easy for the customer to see when the service provider will be arriving at their location, as well as the price that they will be paying, with no surprises. The same level of attention should be given to the back end of the app, streamlining the interaction for your employees to make things like customer location and job specs crystal clear while simplifying communication between both ends. Service providers should have to spend minimum time searching for consumer details and job requirements, and maximum time servicing the customers needs. Ultimately, ease of use will attract more customers and more high-quality service providers, which is a critical to any companys growth. Related: Bringing an On-Demand Mentality to Employee Development 2. Be quick, reliable and accurate. It is important for your on-demand service to be quick and reliable. The less time that passes between an order and its fulfillment, the happier the customer will be, the more jobs you will be able to process and the more revenue you will generate. As such, your entire system should be built for speed. But speed isnt everything. Much of getting an on-demand service right is about making sure service providers have the necessary skill sets and the right equipment. Think about ordering a ride from Uber for five people and having a four-seater appear, or ordering a repair for an iPhone 6 and having a technician with iPhone 5 parts show up. It is also absolutely critical for the service to be straightforward and transparent. A confusing or misleading service will turn off customers, and even just one bad experience can spread quickly. Speed is critical, however, when it comes to payment. Missed or delayed payments to service providers will discourage them from engaging with your company as well. Related: What the HomeJoy Failure Tells Us About the Future of the On-Demand Economy 3. Trend analysis. Your business has an enormous amount of untapped statistical data which it can utilize to identify areas of opportunity in the on-demand economy. There are two main sources of data to consider Macro and Micro. Microdata can be used to increase effectiveness of individual job request fulfillment. This includes information such as the location of customers, current stock and location of service providers. Data from live traffic updates has also become widely available with enormous benefits. Macrodata includes things such as surge times as well as trends regarding user location or demand for different types of services. Macrodata will aid with supply and demand prediction and thus in forward planning. These two streams of data feed one another to highlight areas of growth potential, better supply chain management and trends that can lead to a better understanding of your operations. Making the right calculation in real-time based on such data is key to increasing margins, reducing travel time and making the supply and demand chain much more agile. Also, by utilizing big data, the system itself can learn and improve for the future. Of course, with all of this in mind, your company must put a premium on securing and respecting your customers information and privacy. 4. Stay modular to take advantage of scale. If youre taking your first steps in the on-demand world, you probably arent interested in overhauling your entire information system just yet. Thats fine. Keep in mind that with information technology advancing at exponential rates, youre going to have to update your system on a regular basis anyway, so better off making it modular and flexible to begin with. Smart, sustainable and scalable growth is paramount as the logistics required for a large company dealing with tens of thousands of customers daily are very different than those of a small one dealing with just hundreds -- from the size of the support team to the complexity of real-time decision-making. With this in mind, make sure that your companys back end is layered, making it simple to update and easy to see how information from one section affects and is affected by the layer above and below it. The bottom line: as the demand in our on-demand economy for instant gratification grows, if you learn to accommodate, the long-term gratification of your company will grow as well. Related: What Workers Need in the On-Demand Economy Related: Ideas Are Crap Without Execution and Follow-Through What Makes a Successful Entrepreneur? Perseverance. Don't Overlook the Boring Details That Torpedo Flashy Startups Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Nextdoor, the popular neighborhood social networking site that people use to share neighborly news too often reflects the racial biases and prejudices of its users, says a watchdog group that wants the racial profiling on the site to end. The group, Neighbors for Racial Justice, prompted an Oakland City Council committee to meet with Nextdoor representatives and the company will present changes on Tuesday that it plans to make to help eliminate the problem. For six months, Erin Gifford, a marketing director based in Washington, has traveled for business at least once a month, mostly to Boston. But she has yet to see a single reward from a hotel chain. Im not big into loyalty programs, said Gifford, who works at Cove.is, a workspace provider. Instead, she books hotels on Priceline about two weeks ahead. She typically picks an area that is a 15-minute walk from her meetings and pays around $100 a night with taxes. She has never stayed at the same hotel twice. She created this approach when new colleagues traveled to Washington for training. They lodged at the Dupont Circle Hotel one week, then moved on to the Hotel Palomar for another week before spending several weeks at an Airbnb property. In the end, she said, her hodgepodge approach, made possible by online booking, offered greater flexibility and savings than loyalty to a single chain. As hotel groups consolidate, occupancy rates remain high and technology becomes more sophisticated, online bookings are changing while hotel chains compete to retain a customers loyalty. Its a tricky transitional period, said Christopher Anderson, a faculty member at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. The industry, he said, is adopting new technology but the hotels are competitive in vying for customers. Its not always easy to persuade them. In a closely watched decision, the Justice Department declined to challenge Expedias acquisition of Orbitz in September, saying that it was not likely to substantially lessen competition or harm U.S. consumers. The Expedia umbrella already included the booking sites Hotels.com, Hotwire, Trivago and Travelocity. Customers who use them typically do not accrue loyalty points, and the sites charge hotels commissions for any bookings. The world of digital selling is more complex for hoteliers, Anderson said, adding that companies like TripAdvisor with its instant booking service and Google are moving to models that resemble online travel agencies. Direct booking The growing use of third-party sites has proved hard for hotel chains to ignore. In June, TripAdvisor announced an agreement with Marriott that allows travelers shopping for hotel rooms on its site to book directly at any of Marriotts 4,200 properties worldwide without leaving the website. TripAdvisor said more recently that it had added partnerships with the Priceline Group to include its Booking.com brand, with 840,000 properties worldwide. The site has also signed other hotel partners, including Wyndham Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, all of which do not offer reward points through TripAdvisor. Google started a program last fall called Google Hotel Ads, which allows travelers to book on a personal computer, tablet or smartphone. Google sees a lot of money being made down the booking funnel, said Douglas Quinby, vice president for research at Phocuswright, a travel industry research firm. Priceline and Expedia advertise through the Google service. Hotel chains have their own booking site called Room Key, which has 73,000 properties globally across 100 brands. It was started in 2012 by six hotel companies: Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotel Group and Wyndham. Unlike the heavily advertised booking sites, Room Key has a relatively low profile. We dont spend a lot of media money, said Steven Sickel, interim CEO of Room Key. A guest who shops on one of the founding companies websites, but chooses not to book on that site, will be directed to Room Key and will still receive the lowest price, Sickel said. Still, some believe booking directly with a hotel is a prudent strategy. Marc Hoffman, chief operating officer of Sunstone Hotel Investors, is one. You get much more positive service by booking direct, he said, including loyalty points, room types and views. Scott Shugrue subscribes to that, but only to a point. He is a product manager for Liquid, a direct marketing company and subsidiary of Publishers Clearing House. He estimates that he travels for business 30 percent of the time. Not automatic He said he belongs to Hiltons and Marriotts loyalty programs, and has enjoyed room upgrades and additional benefits, but choosing one of their hotels is not an automatic decision. What it comes down to is the price, where the meetings are, what Im doing the next day, he said. For all the possibilities online booking offers, sometimes having hotel loyalty status is a necessity. A. Blayne Candy, co-founder of Showcall, an events production company in Washington, had a last-minute business trip to San Francisco in early January and availability was coming up nil, he said. Through the Starwood loyalty program, he was able to secure a room. The hotels want to own you as a customer, said Steven Carvell, associate dean for academic affairs at the Cornell hotel administration school. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD - Bridgeport has several shiny new school buildings, courtesy of state funding, and some nationally recognized teachers, Fran Rabinowitz, the districts interim superintendent, acknowledge on the stand Friday. Bridgeport public schools have won grants that put iPads into the hands of as many as 2,000 students and brought celebrity artists into five schools as mentors. Bridgeport won first, second and third place in the urban challenge phase of the state science fair, Associate Attorney General Joseph Rubin said, in an attempt to chip away at the notion that the states most underperforming school district got that way because of inadequate funding. True, Rabinowitz said, but she added that several of the winners were out-of-district students who attend Bridgeports Regional Aquaculture School for part of their school day. It was late into her second day of testifying in a trial that could determine whether Connecticut is adequately funding public education that the state finally got its turn to question Rabinowitz. The trial, Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell, has been a decade in the making and pits a coalition of local school and municipal officials, teachers, parents and association against a state that maintains it already spends a lot toward education, and that what it spends is adequate. The suit focuses on six districts, including Bridgeport and Danbury, but also will include testimony from Stamford and other school districts over the next five months. Rubin asked Rabinowitz if she hoped the lawsuit would result in more district funding. She said yes. He asked about Bridgeports school board dysfunction and what role that might play a role in the districts troubles. There was so much fighting among the board members and between members and the public, it was very difficult to get work done, is that right? Rubin asked. Rabinowitz said she got her work done during the day, regardless of what happened at meetings. Earlier, Rabinowitz talked about how the lack of funding in her district of over 21,000 students prevents her from rewriting curriculum to meet new state standards and from offering extra learning time through after-school or summer programs. It is definitely about having the funding to provide it, Rabinowitz said. She said the district gets a $14 million state alliance grant from the state a dedicated funding stream to improve student achievement. Much of that money, she said, goes to keep programs and staff in place that otherwise would be cut without the grant. Because the positions in question are mostly reading and math teachers, the state allows it, Rabinowitz said. Even so, the superintendent agreed that the districts average test scores are abysmal. On a new state test linked to the Common Core, 49 percent of Bridgeport students scored in the lowest level of performance in reading, compared to 22 percent statewide. In math, 67.4 percent of students scored in the lowest level, compared to 32 percent statewide. Rabinowitz called it an equity issue. She also told Rubin that quality leaders matter, but it also takes money to attract and keep them. At one point, Judge Thomas Moukawsher started asking Rabinowitz about things that work in the district, like a handful of magnet schools. If I could, I would put magnets everywhere, Rabinowitz said. Interdistrict magnet schools, where some students come from other towns, require state funding, and there is a current moratorium on them. In terms of what works in your school system, what would be desirable? Moukawsher asked class sizes of 18 or classes of 26 in a diverse magnet school. Rabinowitz said what shed want more than either would be , were more teachers to intervene with students having difficulty. Yes I want them to have diversity, she said. But I have to say I want the kids in Bridgeport to be successful, no matter what. They cant be successful if they cant read. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Though the snowfall began relatively light Saturday, prognostications from the National Weather Service became increasingly worse over the course of the morning and afternoon. By sundown, a freezing fog had enveloped the area and experts were predicting snowfall of up to 2 inches per hour. Saturdays blizzard struck much harder to the south, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in places and completely paralyzing New York City. Roads remained open in Connecticut, though traffic moved along Interstate 95 at 30 to 40 mph despite the highway being mostly deserted. National Weather Service predictions showed most of southwestern Connecticut looking at 4 to 8 inches of snow as of Friday night. But a day later, updated projections forecast as much as 15 inches of snow in Bridgeport by the time the storm left the area. Cities and towns shut down services where they could, and admonished residents to stay indoors, out of the gale-force winds and driving snow. More for you Metro-North shut down for snowstorm State Police spokeswoman Trooper First Class Kelly Grant reported that in a 12-hour period, troopers responded to 119 traffic accidents throughout the state. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority canceled all Metro-North train service after 4 p.m. As of Saturday evening, the MTA had not predicted when service would resume. While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio invoked a travel ban, snowfall in Connecticut was comparatively light. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had not issued any travel restrictions as of Saturday night. The state Department of Transportation dispatched 543 plow trucks statewide, focusing especially on Fairfield County and shoreline areas. With disparities in the weather and different areas seeing different conditions, I am encouraging everyone to stay safe and use their judgment, Malloy said around 3 p.m. on Saturday. There are no requests for state assistance at this time, but our agencies stand ready to help when and where needed. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim declared a snow emergency at 10 a.m. Saturday, banning on-street parking on snow emergency routes and declaring alternate-side parking rules in effect on all other streets, continuing through Sunday and until further notice. This is our first significant snowstorm of the current winter season, and we want to make sure everyone is safe and warm, Ganim said in a prepared statement, asking residents to limit travel wherever possible and to keep their eyes peeled for errant drivers. On Saturday, city officials announced a change to the alternate-side parking rules, asking residents to keep parked cars on the odd side of streets, as on Saturday, until further notice. The measure is necessary to enable city plow operators to clear the streets. The ban on parking on snow emergency streets remains in effect, and a list of the snow emergency streets is available at http://bit.ly/1Sc1vqf Bridgeport resident with snow emergencies can call the Emergency Operations Center at 203-579-3829. In Fairfield, the town shut down all nonessential services, including libraries, weekend school activities and the waste and recycling center. The town issued a code red alert for the beach area, advising residents in flood-prone areas to move their cars to higher ground. The Fairfield Senior Center, meanwhile, organized a shoveling for seniors program, dispatching younger people to shovel snow for those who could not. To reach that program residents can call 203-256-3166. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst asked residents to stay off town roads and pledged that plow crews would keep working through the evening. A parking ban in Trumbull will continue through Sunday evening. I am asking all Trumbullites to be patient and safe over the course of the next 24 hours, Herbst said. I will be in touch tomorrow to provide you with additional updates. In Shelton, Mayor Mark Laurettis office banned on-street parking where the parking interferes with snow removal. In Ansonia, public works officials asked residents to move basketball hoops off streets so as not to interfere with snowplows, offering that workers would move hoops if they had to. In Milford, all city buildings shut down for the day Saturday. As with Fairfield, officials advised residents near the shore to move vehicles to high ground. Alternate-side parking in Milford began at 6 a.m. Saturday and will continue until 5 p.m. Sunday. Monroe officials warned residents that back roads may be unusable and that strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs. The Norwalk Transit District suspended bus service beginning at noon on Saturday. Operators predicted that, if the weather allowed, service would resume Sunday. Minor flooding was reported on several streets abutting Norwalk Numerous accidents reported across the state. For the latest travel incidents across Connecticut, click HERE. Hearst Connecticut Media Reporters Alex Wolff and Paul Schott contributed to this story . This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 18 years and 38,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Does the states largest city, which already has over three dozen liquor stores, need another? A local lawyer and his client hope to shake and stir the citys booze rules to make it happen. Attorney Charles Willinger wants to allow package stores to open 750 feet from schools, commercial day care facilities, houses of worship and hospitals, halving Bridgeports existing rule, which bars liquor stores within 1,500 feet of those facilities. But the 1,500 feet rule would remain in place for separating liquor stores, Willinger said. Willinger called the 1,500 foot limitation, which will be discussed Monday at a public hearing before the Zoning Commission, archaic. And were bringing evidence to show other comparable cities in the state of Connecticut have long discarded any kind of regulation or (have) very small footage regulations, Willinger said. But some prominent public officials want to keep the existing restrictions in place. Theres enough liquor stores in Bridgeport, said Councilwoman Rev. Mary McBride-Lee. It (the rule) protects kids going to school and people going into churches. And David Kooris, Bridgeports head of economic development, said in his experience certain neighborhoods like Stratford Avenue in the East End have had problems involving package store and want fewer of them. Theyre trying to shut these down, Kooris said. I would be very surprised if theres not significant neighborhood opposition to loosening these restrictions. Political cocktail Willingers proposal is the latest development in an effort by client Michael DeFilippo, a well-liked and politically-connected city native, to open a new liquor store in the North End. Last year DeFilippo successfully convinced the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant him a variance for a package store off of Brooklawn Avenue, despite its being within 1,500 feet of some churches and a daycare. The seemingly mundane application raised eyebrows when it drew support from movers-and-shakers in Democratic politics, including an ex-mayor, a City Council president, city council members and, most notably, Mario Testa. Testa is the influential head of Bridgeports Democratic Town Committee who most recently helped orchestrate ex-Mayor Joseph Ganims defeat of incumbent Democrat Bill Finch. DeFilippo bartends at Testas restaurants; Testa owns a pizza place across from DeFilippos property, as well as a catering facility on Madison Avenue. Willinger and DeFilippo had also presented the ZBA letters of support from the affected churches and daycare, plus a petition with 186 signatures. A judge recently threw out the variance and questioned the role politics played in the ZBAs decision. The parade of preening politicians endorsing this application may have the unintended consequences of convincing the already cynical that the fix was in, even if the record does not conclusively establish that finding, concluded state Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe. Radcliffe said that, in backing DeFilippo, the ZBA fueled the perception, too common in municipal government, that political machinations and the politics of personality, are sufficient to trump the rule of law. And Bridgeport, with its reputation for rough politics and corruption, is certainly a cynical place. In this case that has lead to speculation that Testa is in some way behind DeFilippos business venture. Its false, Testa said. He said he supported DeFilippos application because the young man is an employee and because he would be putting good use to an empty storefront. Listen, any time my name is mentioned, its got always a twist to it, Testa joked. Testa said he was not aware of the related proposal to change the zoning rules for liquor stores. Quality of life Willinger also insisted Testa was not a silent partner of DeFilippos. Willinger said he could try to appeal Radcliffes decision, but decided instead to tackle the zoning. Rich Augustynowicz, who owns Bev Max on Wood Avenue, is a vocal opponent of the changes sought by DeFilippo and Willinger. He said the effort is an underhanded way around Radcliffes ruling. And its a quality of life issue, Augustynowicz said, adding: I dont think theres a great need for more liquor stores anywhere in the city. Willinger said, These other liquor stores really are opposing this for one reason and one reason only competition. In fact competition, as we know, helps the consumer. It is also true that the state imposes a limit on liquor licenses issued in each municipality, based on census data. Bridgeport currently has 41 active permits out of the highest maximum of 57. Carroll Hughes is a lobbyist for the Connecticut Package Stores Association and a veteran of battles to expand and curtail sales. There are many of these rules all over the state 1,000 feet, 1,200 feet, 1,500 feet, Hughes said. And most were enacted back in the 1940s or 1950s, from what I gather. They made judgments then what they wanted a city to look like. Hughes would not weigh in on the Bridgeport controversy. But, he said, such zoning changes must be approached carefully when they impact an entire city. Its something you just cant repeal without knowing what youre doing and the impact it has, Hughes said. It means different things, to different people, in different locations. City Councilwoman Michelle Lyons of the North End supported DeFilippo when he sought his variance last year. But Lyons, known in her community for opposing controversial zoning applications, including for a medical marijuana distributor and hookah lounge, wants the 1,500 foot restriction on the books. Its nothing against (DeFilippo). Hes worked hard, Lyons said. But I feel I would not be able to support the 750 feet. Liquor stores are all over. RENO Nevada State Banks annual Small Business Survey reveals a continued confidence in an improving Nevada economy, but a less rosy view of the national economy, with more than half of all Nevadans surveyed saying that the U.S. economy is headed in the wrong direction. The banks recent survey of more than 400 small business owners , operators and managers throughout the state found that roughly six in 10 respondents believe Nevadas economy is headed in the right direction, relatively unchanged from last year. Perceptions about the national economy worsened slightly, with 53 percent stating the economy is headed in the wrong direction , up from 48 percent a year ago. Similar to the previous survey, about four in 10 respondents feel the business environment in the Silver State has improved over the past year, but those who feel it has worsened increased from 13.7 percent one year ago to 19.3 percent in this years survey. Another 51.8 percent of Nevadans who were surveyed say they still have not fully recovered from the Great Recession. Small businesses account for more than half our private sector job growth and are extremely important to the success of our bank, said Dallas Haun, chairman and of Nevada State Bank. If our business leaders and government officials understand their concerns, maybe we can help address them and move forward to a more positive future. March 1, 1937-January 18, 2016 Louise was born on March 1, 1937 to Maury and Rosa McKown in Lewiston, Idaho. Louise moved a great deal throughout her life, but always called Lewiston home. Louise attended Kinman Business College in Spokane, Washington. In the early 60s, she moved to Elko, Nevada and worked for Nevada Bank and Commerce, Carlin Gold, Southern Pacific Railroad and the telephone company. After many years in Elko, Louise moved to Kalispell, Montana and worked for the telephone company until her retirement when she returned to Elko for several years. In 2002, she moved back to Lewiston and lived there until her passing. One of her greatest loves were her cats and any stray cats that may show up for a meal. Louise is predeceased by her parents and an infant granddaughter and is survived by her daughter Athena Allen (Steve) of Centerville, Utah, her son Mark Hunt (Carol) of Elko, Nevada, her sisters Madeline McComas (Glen) of Potlatch, Idaho and Madge Del Sarto of Elko, Nevada. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two nieces and three nephews, as well as several cousins, including DeAnn Scrabeck and Ken Jacks who lived close by and were able to help her tremendously in her last years. Louises request was to be cremated and will be laid to rest this spring at Freeze Cemetery in Latah County, Idaho. We will have a memorial service at that time. The family would like to thank all who helped her in her last days. ELKO A little less than a month away from the Nevada Democratic Partys caucus, Hillary Clintons Elko campaign office is holding a caucus training session today at 1 p.m. Caucus trainings are a critical part of the Hillary for Nevada campaign, said Tim Hogan, Nevada communications director for Hillary for America. Our trainings focus on developing our volunteers into leaders in their respective precincts. Were investing in them and ensuring they know the process inside and out so everyone can make their voice heard come caucus day, he said. The policies the campaign would like to educate Elkoans on span from affordable education to health care. Hogan said, Hillary Clinton has rolled out the most comprehensive set of policy proposals of any candidate running for president. From making college more affordable to lowering health care costs and investing in rural America, she has a plan to fight for our families and communities. On some of these issues, like preventing substance abuse and campus sexual assault, she is talking about topics that may not be in the headlines but definitely keep families up at night, he said. In July, according to Free Press files, the Clinton campaign staff made it clear to the local community they were in the state to listen to the needs of the citizens. The visit was the beginning of voter outreach in Nevada, with the campaign stopping in Ely, Elko and Winnemucca. Additionally, the Hillary for Nevada campaign recognized mental health in an October event at the Elko County Library. To increase the campaigns efforts in Elko, it announced assigning Evan Welty to serve as the teams staffer in December. Our campaign has been on the ground working hard in Nevada for more than nine months. These caucus conventions are successful because weve had the opportunity to cultivate support across the Silver State, including in Elko, over that time. Ultimately, our biggest strength is the groundswell of support we see in communities across Nevada as the result of our organization being here, reaching out, and listening for so long, concluded Hogan. Clintons Elko office is located at 423 Fifth St. It is the campaigns seventh organizing office in Nevada and opened Jan. 7. The Democratic Partys caucus will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 20. Nevada is the third state in the U.S. where the parties help choose which presidential delegates win his or her partys nomination. The Republic Partys caucus will start at 5 p.m. on Feb. 23. ELKO The Elko County Republican Party will host its annual Lincoln Day Dinner Feb. 5. The keynote speaker this year is Rep. Joe Heck, who will be running for U.S. Senate a seat held by Harry Reid. The VIP reception will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Northeastern Nevada Museum. Tickets cost $25. The no-host cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elko, 782 Country Club Drive. The dinner will be catered by The Merrie Chef. It will include prime rib, chicken marsala, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables, rolls and chocolate decadence. Tickets cost $65 per person or $500 for a table for eight for the dinner. Having the VIP reception at one location and the dinner at another is a great way to show off facilities in Elko, said Elko County Republican Party Chairman Lee Hoffman. Attendees should RSVP by Feb. 2. Call Lynne Hoffman at 738-3920 or email llblhoff@frontiernet.net. Visa and Mastercard are accepted and attendees can pay online at elkonvgop.org. Oct. 20 Jay Barajas, 25, of Baker, Oregon, was sentenced by Acting Elko Justice of the Peace Brian Boatman to pay $415, to be transferred from the defendants cash bail; after pleading guilty to no passing zones, amended from improper overtaking of a vehicle on the left. Oct. 27 Jade Anthony Harris, 25, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was sentenced by Acting Elko Justice of the Peace Patricia Calton to pay $195; after pleading guilty to an open container with an alcoholic beverage within the passenger area of the vehicle. Aaron Shawn Polo, 44, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was sentenced by Acting Elko Justice of the Peace Patricia Calton to complete 36 AA meetings, to serve four days in court for contempt of court, with credit for four days served, and the court extended the suspended sentence six days remain suspended until Dec. 20, 2016; on charges of driving on the right side of the road required, driving in the center lane, DUI with a concentration of alcohol of .08 or more, attempted obstruction of a public officer and an open container of alcohol in vehicle. Nov. 3 Matthew Wayne Gordon, 35, of Mina was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to serve a total of 16 days and nine hours; after previously pleaded to three counts of violation of a domestic protective order and trespassing after notice or warning. Nov. 6 Jason Kyle Olszynski, 31, of Elko was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to pay $355 and serve five days in jail, with credit for five days served; after pleading guilty to possession or use of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 10 Kerry Joe Benham, 54, of Elko was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to pay $710 and serve five days in jail, suspended on the following conditions: maintain good conduct and no alcohol or drugs clauses; and serve five days in jail, on count two consecutive to count one, suspended on the same conditions; after pleading guilty to trespassing and assault. John Enoch Hughes, 24, of Layton, Utah, was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to pay $710; serve 10 days in jail, for count three, suspended on the following conditions: maintain good conduct and no alcohol or drugs clauses; and serve 10 days in jail, on count 4 consecutive to count three, suspended on the same conditions; after pleading guilty to obstructing a public officer and possession or use of drug paraphernalia. Nov. 12 Elizabeth Basso, 60, of Elko was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to pay $355, given credit for time served for all fees and fines; after pleading guilty to DUI care or failure to decrease speed (driving without due care), amended from reckless driving willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property. Elizabeth Basso, 60, of Elko was sentenced by Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons to pay $640 and serve 10 days in jail, with credit for 10 days served; after pleading guilty to false reporting of a crime. ELKO While Nevada will be the third state to share its presidential nominee recommendations this year, many Elko residents say theyd prefer the presidential primary system to the closed caucus. Most of my constituents and especially this cycle where there are so many candidates are very disappointed that we arent going to have a primary, said Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka. Goicoechea believes the caucus system disenfranchises voters. Last year, a bill to return to the presidential primary failed in the state assembly, he said. Elko County Republican Party Chairman Lee Hoffman explained that Nevada hasnt had a presidential primary in years, but the 2008 election drew more attention because the Silver State had an early caucus becoming the first in the West to have a major election event. As part of its Winning the West campaign, the Democratic National Committee moved the partys presidential caucus in Nevada to Jan. 19, according to Free Press files. Democratic organizers, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, hoped to make the Silver State a greater force in national presidential elections. It got a lot more attention and people got more participative, Hoffman said. Hoffman, like many Nevadans, hadnt attended a caucus meeting prior to 2008. He believed past caucuses had not been well-publicized until that time. Nevadas presidential primary When Nevada became a state in 1864, presidential electors were chosen through a direct vote of the people, according to the Legislative Counsel Bureaus Legal Division. With the exception of the Democratic Party in 1912, the practice continued until 1948. In 1949, the Legislature set forth a procedure for selecting electors at each political partys state convention. Then, in 1973, it created a closed presidential primary election whereby only registered Democrats could vote for Democratic candidates, and only registered Republicans for Republican candidates. In their book Nevada Politics & Government: Conservatism in an Open Society, Don W. Driggs and Leonard E. Goodall said the first Nevada presidential primary in 1976 attracted most of the major candidates of both parties. But by 1980, the primary was held late in May, and nominations of President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan had already been decided by earlier state primaries. Neither frontrunner showed up in Nevada. Therefore, the 1981 legislature buried the presidential primary with little fanfare, the authors wrote. Nevada has used a closed caucus system since that time. However, in 1995, a special legislative session created a presidential preference primary election, to be conducted by mail. The Republican Party chose to participate in March 1996 the total cost of the election to the State was $555,483. The legislation expired in 1997. Switching to a caucus The 1981 Legislature cited reasons for the change to a caucus system as the associated cost and a lack of interest by the public. A presidential primary is run by the state, while a caucus is organized by the political party, Hoffman said. Nevada has been considered a bellwether state in past presidential elections. Dr. Eric Ostermeier with Smart Politics said that between 1912 and 2008, Nevada had voted for the winning presidential candidate 96 percent of the time. Only once in 100 years had the state not voted for the winner in the presidential election the exception being 1976 when Jimmy Carter lost the Silver State by 4.4 points, Ostermeier wrote. The early caucus in 2008 had benefits for Nevada and the Democratic Party. For Democrats, there were three compelling reasons, the Ventura County Star reported. They wanted a state that would symbolize the growing importance of the West in the partys Electoral College equation. They wanted a state that would bring Latino voters into play, in deference to a large and growing portion of the partys political base. And they wanted a state in which organized labor had a strong presence. Nevadas early placement in the timeline assures that the state has a major voice in choosing candidates, stated a 2007 editorial in the Elko Daily Free Press. As the only Western state holding an early caucus, our selections will be even more important. In the 2008 Elko County GOP caucus, about 800 people showed up, representing 14 of the countys 41 precincts, according to Free Press files. Statewide, a record 116,000 Democrats and 44,000 Republicans attended more than 10 times what Nevada had in 2004, according to the Associated Press. But many people complained about long lines, cramped conditions, loud noise and disorganization. How a caucus works Most states hold primaries, where residents simply cast their ballots. In caucuses, voters openly debate which candidate to support. Nevada caucuses determine delegates that will be sent to the county, state, and national levels. The precinct will convene and select its number of qualified delegates to go to the county convention, said longtime resident Bill Nisbet. Sometimes were scrambling to get a complete list of (delegates). The Nevada GOP caucus website states that anyone registered as a Republican by Feb. 13, and who will be 18 years old by Nov. 8, is invited to participate in the precinct caucus. For the Democratic caucus, participants may register as a Democrat the day-of. At each, a caucus chair and secretary is elected, as well as delegates and alternates. The number of delegates varies on the precinct. Delegates at the county conventions elect delegates to the state conventions, and the state conventions elect those to the national conventions. Since delegates generally vote for other delegates who support the same candidate as they do, its advantageous for a candidate to elect as many people as possible as delegates at the precinct caucuses, the Nevada GOP caucus website states. Attendees are also given a chance to voice their concerns about party platform issues. This is really about grassroots politics, Hoffman said. At the GOP precinct caucus, attendees will cast their votes in a presidential preference poll. Hoffman said the percentage of the vote a candidate gets in these polls will later be reflected in the number of delegates that will be bound to vote for that candidate. Current candidates are Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum and Donald Trump. At the Democratic caucus, a threshold is set for a candidate to be viable, based on the number of people in the precinct. Eligible attendees have the opportunity to join another preference group or acquire people into their group to become viable. Delegates are awarded to the preference groups based on their size, according to the Nevada Democratic Party website. Democrats will vote between candidates Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Martin OMalley. The benefit of a caucus, Hoffman said, is you get more people involved in discussing the party platform and candidates. However, a primary election is often preferred because its easier for people to cast their votes throughout the day, instead of a specified time period. Furthermore, caucuses do not permit absentee voting. Goicoechea believes that because only a few delegates for the entire state go to the National Convention, the typical voter has less say than in a presidential primary. My people want to be able to vote and be a part of the process on whos going to the general election, he said. I just dont feel comfortable with the small number of people that selected a candidate. Some voters feel overwhelmed with the sheer number of candidates in the Republican race. Im still lost in the cloud with a number of candidates that I would certainly support, Nisbet said. Theyre still all in the corral, as far as Im concerned. Iowas caucus kicks off the presidential primary election on Feb. 1, followed by New Hampshires primary on Feb. 9. The Nevada Democratic caucus takes place Feb. 20, and its GOP caucus takes place Feb. 23. Nevada has 43 Democratic delegates and 30 Republican delegates that go to the national conventions. Coming up More on the Elko County Democratic and Republican caucus plans. In corporate and political America, women just cant win. If youre tough and take charge, youre pushy, bossy and maybe even a bitch. If you stand aside and let others give direction, youre meek, weak and probably not leadership material. Sometimes youre accused of being all these at once. In a new survey of women in technology, 84 percent of respondents said theyve gotten feedback that they were too aggressive. Yet 53 percent also said theyve been told they were too quiet. A full 44 percent said theyve heard both that they were too aggressive and too quiet. This is hardly the only double bind that women face in the workplace. If youre a woman and you show emotion, youre fragile, dramatic and crazy. But if youre emotionally restrained, youre cold, heartless and maybe even stupid. If you take generous maternity leave and carve out time for family responsibilities, youre insufficiently serious about your career. If, post-baby, youre back at the office too soon, youre a poor role model for colleagues yearning for a healthy work-life balance. If you dont ask for a raise for fear of being disliked, your priorities are misplaced. If you promote yourself and demand that your work be recognized, youre punished for being unlikable and denied opportunities to advance. If youre not sufficiently well-dressed, youre frumpy. But if youre too dolled up, youre vain and superficial. Witness one infamous tweet-shaming incident, in which a tech chief executive posted a snapshot of a conference attendees stilettos alongside the hashtag #brainsnotrequired. If youre unattractive or overweight, youll be ignored. But if youre babealicious, youre suspected of getting by on your looks. At a professional event a few years ago, a male journalist Id just met told me I was lucky to be pretty, but not too beautiful. This meant Id go far, he explained, but only because, you know, the rest of the journalism industry is so sexist. Its not hard to find anecdotes of similarly unattainable standards imposed on American women (and that men, more often than not, are exempted from; can you imagine 84 percent of men in any industry being told they were too aggressive?). Ask your female colleagues if you dont believe me. Or look to the past few election cycles. Few women find themselves more tormented by impossible, Goldilocks-like expectations than female politicians, given their very public roles and the huge numbers of people judging them against wildly different benchmarks. Research has shown that the public expects politicians and other leaders to be tough and strong, while women are generally associated with traits such as compassion and warmth, notes Kelly Dittmar, a political scientist at Rutgers University and a scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics. These conflicting stereotypes mean that virtually any female politician, exhibiting virtually any behavior, may be seen as either not woman enough or not politician enough. Or both. Some manage this delicate balance better than others. Sarah Palin, Dittmar observed, effectively portrayed herself as a pit bull (in) lipstick. Just feminine enough, just macho enough. Others, notably the always-too-cold-yet-also-somehow-too-emotional Hillary Clinton, have struggled. In a rare moment, Clinton even acknowledged this during, of all things, a recent interview on Lifetime, the ultimate forum for showcasing ones softer side. Here is my dilemma, Clinton said. Its really important not to wall yourself off from how you are actually feeling about what people say or how they treat you or how they treat somebody else that offends you or upsets you. But youre also as a woman in a high public position or seeking the presidency, as I am, you have to be aware of how people will judge you for being, quote, emotional. And so its a really delicate balancing act. She noted that other female politicians also fret over how to thread the needle: We all talk about the same challenges, which is how you navigate what is still a relatively narrow path, to be yourself, to express yourself, to let your feelings show, but not in a way that triggers all of the negative stereotypes. Its easy to tell Clinton to stop trying to calibrate her image so carefully. And its easy to tell professional women to stop obsessing over how theyre being judged; to cease whining and worrying; to stop expending so much energy fine-tuning every outfit or meeting comment; to stop getting distracted by things that dont matter and just deliver the goods. Then we look around or watch cable news or hear what a boss or a colleague or a random stranger at a professional event tells us and we learn something entirely different. 2016 Washington Post Writers Group E-mail: crampell@washpost.com Twitter: @crampell Furor over the Dec. 2 shooting of 26-year-old Mario Woods by San Francisco police officers is not going away. Its not just being stirred by protesters who cite a bystanders video as damning evidence against the officers use of lethal force. In this case, the police union is helping keep the issue in the forefront with its aggressive counterattack against politicians and others who have expressed anything but understanding about a scene that shocks the conscience. The upshot of the police unions argument: Dont believe your lying eyes. Its more than a little curious that the union has accompanied its caution against a rush to judgment of guilt with an equally emphatic conclusion that the shooting was justified. Dozens of officers showed up at a Police Commission meeting to defend their five brethren at the urging of San Francisco Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran. They were shouted down by protesters, and left within an hour, with only three getting a chance to speak. The SFPOA also has been running radio spots with Halloran complaining that the effort to recruit a diverse force is being undermined by those who vilify police officers and mischaracterize every police shooting as being racially motivated. Woods was African American. The ad went on to note that almost all of the officers involved in the incident were minorities. I agree with the POA that the absurdity of San Franciscos sometimes Pollyanna politics prevented those officers from having Tasers as a nonlethal option against a recalcitrant suspect. And I respect the overwhelming majority of officers who perform their jobs with professionalism. I dont think the POA does them any favors with its us-against-them response to video evidence that would lead many of us who are generally inclined to give officers the benefit of the doubt into the category of them. I participated in a Jan. 7 panel at the University of San Francisco on relations among police, minority communities and the media. The audience was composed mostly of law enforcement officials. Naturally, the Woods shooting was Topic A. Fellow panelist Gary Delagnes, retired SFPOA president, proffered a forceful defense of the officers. He suggested the Woods shooting, among others that have gained notoriety after the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., involved much more complicated, convoluted conversations than youre going to get in an eight-second video. He asked, rhetorically but disingenously, how the news coverage could dismiss that Woods was a convicted felon who was just released from prison for armed robbery, that he had just stabbed a black man, that he was so under the influence that bean bags couldnt take him down, Mace couldnt take him down ... or that challenged a black officer to take me out because Im not going back. In fact, I noted, each of those elements had been reported in the media. None would justify the taking of the life of a suspect who was surrounded by armed officers and, in the seconds shown before the first shot was fired, did not seem to pose an imminent threat to them. Also, even if one grants his premise that the officer who fired the first shot perceived a serious threat, rightly or wrongly: Can the second, third, fourth and fifth officers who opened fire on Woods legitimately claim that additional shots were necessary? If I know someone stabbed somebody three times ... and Ive spent five minutes trying to talk to a drug-crazed guy to put his knife down, and he doesnt put his knife down ... and we bean-bag him and we Mace him and he walks toward me with a knife ... Im going to shoot him, Delagnes said. Im not going to wait for that guy to get to my throat with that knife. The highly debatable variable in that description is the notion that Woods was walking toward the officer with a knife. The trouble with the protests from Delagnes, Halloran and other officers defending the shooters is they seem so reflexive, so lacking in introspection, so at odds with the available video evidence and so reminiscent of the accounts we have all heard a thousand times when no video was available. Its hard to escape the conclusion that, without changes in training or culture, this could happen again. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. E-mail: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Indefensible acts ... with fatal consequences ... caught on video These shootings of African American men are among the incidents that have stoked outrage and calls for reform: San Francisco, Dec. 2, 2015 Shot to death: Mario Woods, 26 The situation: Police cornered Woods on Keith Street in the Bayview d istrict soon after reports of a stabbing. Officers on the scene argued that he was wielding a knife in a threatening manner. What the videos (from bystanders) show: A volley of gunshots. No evidence of Woods lunging at officers or lifting a weapon, as had been alleged. Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the neighborhood, said it looked like an ethnically diverse firing squad. Aftermath: Police Chief Greg Suhr defended the officers, suggesting they acted in self-defense. Critics have called for his resignation. The five officers involved in the shooting, initially put on paid leave, returned to the force on desk duty pending the investigation. Chicago, Oct. 20, 2014 Shot to death: Laquan McDonald, 17 The situation: Officers responded to a report that a suspect brandishing a knife had been breaking into vehicles. McDonald allegedly slashed a patrol cars tire, scraped its windshield and refused orders to put down the weapon. What the video (from police dash cam) showed: McDonald was walking away from officers when the first shot was fired, and went down immediately. One officer fired 16 shots; none of the other eight officers on the scene fired their weapons. Aftermath: Police supervisors initially ruled it a justifiable use of force within department guidelines; the video was suppressed for more than a year. The officer accused of firing the shots, Jason Van Dyke, has been charged with first-degree murder. Demands for accountability reach all the way to City Hall, with continuing calls for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign. North Charleston, S.C., April 4, 2015 Shot to death: Walter Scott, 50 The situation: Scott was pulled over for driving with a broken tail light. Scott ran from the officer, according to his family, out of concern he might be arrested for outstanding child-support obligations. What the video (from bystander) showed: Scott was shot multiple times as he was running away from a police officer. He is seen being handcuffed after being mortally wounded. It also shows the officer dropping an item by Scotts body, which some have suspected is a Taser. Aftermath: The officer, Michael Slager, was fired and charged with murder. His trial is scheduled to begin in October. After sitting through Gov. Jerry Browns masterfully short (20-minute) State of the State address Thursday, I stumbled upon a standard-issue photograph of Brown in the California State Library building . It drew my attention because it was so plain a black frame, a photograph and the name Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. typed on a white piece of paper taped onto the photo. Dao Gov has an infamous stingy streak, and it trickles down into the state government culture. You are not going to hear me talk today about new programs, Brown proclaimed in his 14th State of the State address. Rather, I am going to focus on how we pay for the commitments we have already made. Brown spoke with the confidence of a captain who has weathered economic and political storms that buffeted his predecessors Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, and Gray Davis, a Democrat. Neither Davis nor Schwarzenegger was able to withstand the Democratic-controlled Legislatures demands to spend every dime of new revenue. Brown, however, looks ahead. He warned the Legislature of a profoundly uncertain world and Sacramentos history of accelerating spending right into the last two recessions. Peeling off GOP votes In fact, Brown has robbed Republican legislators of an opportunity to display their usual umbrage at state spending run amok. Republicans may believe that its wrong that Brown wants to raise taxes to fund transportation maintenance when the state has collected $7 billion in unexpected revenue. Also, the plunging stock market in the new year suggests tax increases could serve as a kick in the gut to already stressed taxpayers. Still, GOP lawmakers know how much worse it could be. Compared with Schwarzenegger, Brown is better than a Republican lawmaker. On the Assembly floor after the address, I asked state Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar (Los Angeles County) to rank Brown on a scale of 1 to 10. Huff gave him an eight. Brown is trying to be a fiscal conservative, said Huff, and is at least fiscally restrained. Democrats are confident they can peel off the necessary Republican votes to approve a $1.3 billion tax on health maintenance organizations and other managed health care providers, because the new tax will replace an old tax. And, without the new tax, California stands to lose $1.1 billion in federal matching funds. But higher taxes and fees to fund road repairs are a hard sell. It is worth noting that Brown failed to mention his pet project: high-speed rail. Why should taxpayers have to pay more to maintain roads when the governor is pushing for a $68 billion rail line to nowhere? And when your last big transportation project the $6.4 billion Bay Bridge needed a retrofit before it was completed? In his first stint as governor, Brown earned the nickname Gov. Moonbeam a moniker befitting your stereotypical flaky liberal. Observers arent snickering anymore. This Jerry Brown is very much respected. Agree with him or disagree, you cannot watch Brown without seeing that the former Jesuit seminarian is thinking about how hell sink the eight ball before he takes his first shot. Mystery binder I now laugh when I think about Browns 2010 editorial board meeting with The Chronicle. Courting the papers endorsement, Brown brought a thick three-ring binder that he said included his many ideas to bring state spending back into the black. Whats in the book? I asked. Brown answered, Well, Im certainly not going to tell you now. It would be wrong to reveal his strategy. And: The next governor has to be an honest broker, somebody that people feel is being straight and is talking to them in a real way. I think I can do that. I dont know what was in the binder. I do know that at the time Brown coyly would not say if he would raise taxes, but he did say he would only raise taxes with voters approval. Californians elected Brown. He quickly called for a ballot measure to raise taxes. Voters approved that measure, too. Mission accomplished no thanks to being straight and talking to voters in a real way. Even still, that hokey three-ring binder served its purpose. Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DebraJSaunders How cheap is the governor? In his first tenure as governor the terms beginning in 1975 and 1979 Jerry Brown was famous for not living in the governors mansion. Instead, he lived in a small rented apartment and slept on a mattress on the floor. He eschewed chauffeured limousines in favor of a used Plymouth. Browns former chief of staff later governor Gray Davis once told the story about a carpet in Browns office so threadbare that it had a hole in it. Aides kept trying to get it fixed. Brown resisted, telling them, People cant come in here and rail against me for not funding something, when theres a hole in the governors rug. When he ran for governor in 2010, Browns campaign was a mom-and-pop operation run out of a warehouse in Oaklands Jack London Square. On the campaign trail, Brown often spoke perched on a coffee table partly because it was cheaper than renting a riser. Republican businesswoman Meg Whitman spent $177 million on the race and lost. Brown spent $37 million and won. At Thursdays State of the State, Brown joked that he only had three more years to go. That is, unless I take my surplus campaign funds and put a ballot initiative on the November ballot to allow four-term governors to seek a final, fifth term. How many candidates can you think of who ran for statewide office and had leftover cash $19.7 million in 2014 when the votes were counted? At age 77, Brown is not as frugal as he once was. Brown and his wife, Anne Gust Brown, now are living in the newly renovated governors mansion. Remko De Waal/AFP / Getty Images SPIJKENISSE, Netherlands The Dutch debate on refugees and asylum seekers has come to this: Firebrand lawmaker Geert Wilders handing out self-defense sprays to women fearful of what he describes as Islamic testosterone bombs in the wake of the New Years Eve sexual assaults in Cologne. Wilders, surrounded by bodyguards and police, visited a market in the largely blue-collar town of Spijkenisse on Saturday to hand out the sprays, which contained red paint. Amid stalls selling vegetables, fish, flowers and bicycle parts, Wilders got an enthusiastic welcome from dozens of supporters, while a small group of protesters waved placards including one that read, Refugees are welcome, racism is not. CAIRO Egypts president, speaking ahead of this weeks anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, pledged Saturday to unleash a firm response to any unrest and to press ahead with the fight against Islamic militants. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi spoke at a ceremony marking Police Day, which falls on Jan. 25, the day the uprising began five years ago. He posthumously decorated nearly 40 policemen killed in militant attacks, including eight generals and three colonels. Most of the widows who received the medals were accompanied by their children, including infants. El-Sissi, who as military chief overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013, has presided over a sweeping crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands of Islamists and scores of secular, pro-democracy activists who fueled the 2011 uprising. He was elected to office in 2014 with a landslide. El-Sissi made no mention of the January 2011 uprising in his comments. He has in the past paid tribute to the uprising, just as he has done to the June 30 revolution, the day in 2013 when millions of Egyptians demonstrated on the streets against the rule of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood. However, some of el-Sissis supporters in the media and in politics have taken to publicly vilifying the 2011 uprising as an attempt by foreign powers to weaken Egypt through local saboteurs. The nearly two-hour ceremony, with its many emotional moments and high praise for police, confirmed the presidents panache for populism, but also appeared to send several messages. Foremost is that el-Sissi has endorsed the nations highly militarized police force, paying no heed to growing complaints by rights activists that it has gone back to Mubarak-era practices like torture, random arrests and the use of excessive force. Egypt has been battling Islamic militants in Sinai for years, but attacks against security forces have significantly increased in frequency after Morsis ouster and later spread to the mainland, with assassinations and bombings. The latest of these came Thursday when a bomb killed six people, including three policemen, in Cairos twin city of Giza. The Egyptian affiliate of the extremist Islamic Group claimed responsibility. The president spoke a day after the army said it would beef up security measures to safeguard vital installations and confront any attempt to violate the law, impact the nations security and stability. The announcement came amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent ahead of Mondays anniversary. Authorities have visited and searched as many as 5,000 apartments in the past 10 days, primarily in central Cairo, seeking to prevent protests. Hussain Ali/Associated Press PESHAWAR, Pakistan The Pakistani army arrested five suspects on charges of facilitating a deadly militant attack on a university that killed 21, mostly students, in the countrys northwest, an official said Saturday. Islamic militants stormed Bacha Khan University in Charsadda on Wednesday, killing students and teachers and initiating a gunbattle that lasted for hours. Sprawled between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian hosts the National Folklife Festival each year. Its really something to see with all the care and detail one expects of a Smithsonian exhibit. In the July swelter, hundreds of thousands attend to study and learn about unique cultures from around the country and across the globe. From June 29-July 4 and July 7-10, this years festival will showcase the Basque. When I learned this news last year, I felt a bit of pride; well, not a bit, a lot. I thought about dads journey from Spain to America, and the journey of so many Basque like him during the 1940s. I marveled at how far the Basque had come as a people. Their story is courageous, maybe heroic. In Spain after World War II, a boy or girl born with nothing grew up with nothing and died with nothing. That was the way of most things. It was a cold life, as it still is in much of the world. You got nuthin, dad said in broken English. Tired, desperate, and poor, the Basque came to America to start anew. Most arrived with five dollars in the pocket, and others arrived with even less. They did not speak the language. They had little education. They boasted no special contacts or prominent pedigrees. Their titles were sheepherder, laborer, waitress, maid, cook, or seamstress. With strong backs and a thirst to do better, they worked until sweat dripped and muscles ached. For dad, as for most Basque, what had been nuthin grew more optimistic. You got nuthin, you make sumthin, he said. The Basque worked harder still, learned English, and gained citizenship. They raised families and pressed education for their kids. Those children soon graduated from the finest colleges in the land, and then branched far and wide into business, politics, medicine, law, and science. The parents nourished the oak, the children enjoyed the shade. The news about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival did indeed swell me with pride, but it was not for me. It was pride for dad and mom, and for all Basque who had crossed an ocean and then a continent to settle in the American West. These were men and women with courage and unbridled determination. They herded the sheep and farmed the fields, waited the tables and tended the bars, made the beds and mopped the floors, kept the language and honored the traditions. The pride was for Ana Marie Arbillagas dancing lessons, for Bernardo Yancis accordion playing, for Gene Irribarnes brilliance on the clarinet, for Chapo Lenizs steak and beans, for Juan Juaristis sheepherding, for Nick Fagoagas castanet playing, for Pete Ormazas craftsmanship, for Jess Lopateguis mastership of ceremony, for Felicia Basanezs famous flan, and for so many others. Some are no longer here, only in spirit, but the pride is for them too. This story is not a new story in Americas legacy as a beacon for the downtrodden and oppressed. But it is an important story. Dads optimistic words You got nuthin, you make sumthin epitomize the spirit of his generation, and in a real sense, describe our countrys unique role in the world better than any statement Ive heard. Few groups have lived the story as well as the Basque. Few have worked so hard and achieved so much in so short a time. Fewer still have balanced a unique culture and language with the duties and obligations of being fully American. Now even the Smithsonian recognizes the achievement. When the folklife festival kicks off this summer, I hope the Basque attend in great numbers. I hope the mothers and fathers come, and the children too. I hope they remember their personal journeys and share their stories. I hope they see where theyre at, amid the stone architecture, pomp, and democratic cradle of a great nation, and feel themselves an important part of history. When Gernikako-Arbola, the Basque tree of freedom, is planted on the national mall, or a band of sheep grazes near the White House, I want the Basque to know that their story is a good story, and the work of a generation has been worth it. Out of nothing, the Basque have made something. Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press ALEXANDROUPOLIS, Greece A day after 46 migrants drowned in a choppy Aegean Sea, protesters demonstrated Saturday at a Greek border town to demand that Greece ease transit restrictions at its heavily militarized border with Turkey. Most of the 124-mile land border between Greece and Turkey is separated by the Evros River known as the Meric River in Turkey. But a nearly 8-mile stretch of land separating the two countries was previously lined with minefields and is now separated by a fence. Vladimir Isachenkov/Associated Press BEIRUT Syrian opposition groups said Saturday it is impossible to begin a negotiating process with the government without the implementation of U.N. resolutions pertaining to humanitarian issues, and denounced what they said are Russian dictates to the opposition negotiating team. A joint statement signed by 45 opposition and rebel groups said that while they support a political process, they hold the Syrian government and its Russian backers responsible for any failure in peace talks because of their ongoing crimes. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with gulf Arab officials on Saturday to ease their concerns about warming U.S.-Iranian ties and seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks. Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front when they spoke at a news conference after a meeting of foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The gulf states have sided with the kingdom in its spat with Iran and backed the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of the Islamic Republic. Kerry and al-Jubeir said the U.S. and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified understanding that will allow the U.N.-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned. Let me assure everybody that the relationship between the United States and the GCC nations is one that is built on mutual interest, on mutual defense and I think there is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the countries that make up the GCC that the United States will stand with them against any external threat, Kerry said. Al-Jubeir denounced Iran for its hostile and aggressive stance against Arab nations. But he said he did not believe that Washington would act rashly in dealing with Tehran because of the nuclear deal just put in place. It has given Tehran access to billions in formerly frozen assets. Kerry stressed that the U.S. shares concerns about Irans behavior and will act against it when necessary, including imposing new sanctions as it did last week in response to Iranian ballistic missile tests. Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia are longtime regional rivals who support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Relations plunged to a new low when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite opposition cleric earlier this month, drawing outrage from Shiites across the region and igniting mob attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. Jan. 21 Nathan P. Ferguson, 26, of Bakersfield, California, was arrested at 1225 Wendover Blvd. in West Wendover for kidnapping. Bail: $25,000 Jerremy J. Gamble, 34, of Spring Creek was arrested at the Elko County Jail for speeding, failure to drive on the right half of the road, failure to obey a stop sign at a controlled intersection, headlamps not illuminated when required, DUI, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, giving false statement to or obstructing a public official, failure to give appropriate signal when required, and a non-resident driving when privileges are suspended, revoked or canceled. Bail: $4,010 Stephen A. Himmelman, 56, of Lake Tahoe, California, was arrested at the Lander County Jail on two counts of failure to appear after bail for a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $1,286 Brandi L. Mangum, 38, of Elko was arrested at 1740 Mountain City Highway for petit larceny. Bail: $1,137 Rafael A. Ortega-Ramirez, 31, of Elko was arrested at 66 Garcia Lane for failure to appear on a traffic citation. Bail: $500 Brandon Reynolds, 28, of Elko was arrested at 1660 Mountain City Highway for disturbing the peace. Bail: $352 Andrew C. Ussery, 29, of Bakersfield, California, was arrested at 1225 Wendover Blvd. in West Wendover for kidnapping. Bail: $25,000 Shannon M. Wood, 39, of Elko was arrested at 1740 Mountain City Highway for petit larceny. Bail: $1,137 Russia won be able to fulfill its obligations (video) Russia faces difficult social-economic situation. In 2015 foreign investments in the country have decreased by 92 %. Russian ruble is falling day after day; 1 dollar already equals to 83 rubles. If we take into account that Iran isnt under sanctions anymore and can sell oil freely hereafter, it is predictable, that fall in oil price will accelerate. It will be an additional blow to Russia, as the economy of that country is wholly based on oil, and the reduction in oil incomes will result in larger economic fall. The official reactions of Russia to this issue are different. Several days ago Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced if fall in oil prices continues, they must get ready for the worst scenario of economy. Yet yesterday Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of Vladimir Putin assured that the change in the current exchange rate cannot be observed as collapse. International analysts are more pessimistic; according to their assessment, if Russias economy continues falling in 2016 as in 2015, it will be the beginning of continuous fall and not another crisis. The prediction of the International Monetary Fund is also pessimistic, according to which in 2016 the fall in Russian economy will reach 1% from 0.6 %. According to calculations of the IMF, in 2017 the gross output of Russia will reduce by 1%. Against the background of all this Russia even doesnt rule out the possibility of sequester, possibility of reduction in budget expenditure. Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov informed that the Ministries had been instructed to introduce offers for reducing expenditure by 10%. Though Armenia doesnt suffer direct losses due to fall in oil prices, whats more, expects reduction in prices of energy carriers imported from Russia, but the negative impact of Russian economy on our country is evident. Mainly it is expressed in the reduction of transfers, which results in the reduction in turnover volumes. According to the assessment of World Bank specialists, each 1 % fall in Russias economy reduces the economic growth rate of Armenia by 0.6 %. And Armenia is already concerned about the fulfillment of obligations of Russia undertaken by loan agreements. Many people are sure that Russia wont be able to fulfill the obligations as a result of the economic situation in Russia. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- At a press conference on Saturday, the city said it would try to keep the Staten Island Ferry running through Winter Storm Jonas. "We're going to check the latest ridership numbers," Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. "As of this morning we still had a good number of people riding. "I think we'll try to keep running today as we can," she continued, "but people will know if you don't have a bus connection you're going to have to make a decision about whether you want to get on the ferry." A DOT spokeswoman confirmed that the agency did not expect the storm to impact the ferry schedule and said crews would ensure terminals are clear of snow for riders. She did, however, add that riders should be prepared for possible weather-related interruptions. With snow falling in some areas of the city at a rate of 3 inches per hour, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Jonas is shaping up to be one of New York City's worst storms in terms of accumulation. The ferry has been servicing commuters on a usual 30-minute schedule through low visibility and, in the morning, harsh waters during high tide. Current National Weather Service forecasts predict anywhere from 24 to 30 inches on Staten Island by the time the storm winds down early Sunday morning. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued a travel ban in the city that will go into effect at 2:30 p.m. He had already suspended MTA bus service at noon. All above ground trains will end service at 4 p.m. De Blasio said the city would try to keep underground trains running for as long as possible, but strongly urged all city residents to remain indoors. "This is a very big deal," de Blasio said at a press briefing. "This is a fast-moving, intensifying storm. It is one of the worst snowstorms in New York City history. If you have taken your car out, turn around and go home right now." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- MaryLou Shanahan, the former chairwoman of the borough Conservative Party, allegedly evicted her Muslim tenant because of her religion and seized her possessions worth over $425,000, according to allegations in a new lawsuit. Hasna Jalal, 33, who is from Morocco and has a green card, says Shanahan took her personal property after locking her out of her Eltingville apartment, says the suit field in Brooklyn Federal Court. Shanahan supposedly took a $35,000 Hermes bag, a $35,000 Rolex watch, a $15,000 24 karat gold necklace, $6,000 worth of flat screen televisions, and an $8,000 Louis Vuitton luggage set, the suit claims. In October, neighbors, court paper say, allegedly saw Shanahan and her landscaping employees move the items from Jalal's third-floor apartment. Shanahan was then arrested for removing her tenant's entire property, including TVs, furniture, sofas, a bed, kitchen appliances and other personal items and changing the apartment's locks, according to a criminal complaint. She was charged with felony counts of grand larceny and stolen-property possession. She's also accused of misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and stolen-property possession. She is due back in court Tuesday. The civil suit claims Shanahan started harassing Jalal after she moved into the nearly -$1,500 a month apartment on Pompey Avenue in September 2015. On Sept. 6, the ex-party chairwoman heard Jalal speaking in her native tongue with Moroccan relatives, and allegedly shouted, "I don't need anybody speaking Arabic in my house! The neighbors will think you're from Al Qaeda," the suit alleges. Shanahan also allegedly called Jalal, an accountant, offensive names, like "nasty Arab" and "slut," and left handwritten notes on her door that said, "Get the (expletive) out of my house. You're a (expletive) nasty Arabic pig," court papers say. The suit claims the landlord told Jalal she couldn't have friends over and interfered with the plaintiff's child custody battle with her ex-husband. Shanahan allegedly threatened her tenant repeatedly and told her, "You better leave because you do not know who you are dealing with," referring to her political connections. Jalal, the suit says, paid a $1,500 security deposit in cash and gave Shanahan a check for $3,000 to cover the first two months rent. Shanahan's attorney could not be immediately reached. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression 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 The proposal would require computer technicians to report child pornography to law enforcement or a federal cyber tip line if they encounter the material, but they would not be required to go searching for it. If they find it and don't report it, they could be given up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. 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. 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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 What must Armenia do in order not to allow adoption of anti-Armenian resolutions? On January 26 two anti-Armenian resolutions will be discussed at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. How must a four-member delegation work at the PACE in order not to allow the adoption of the resolutions? Political analyst Stepan Grigoryan thinks that we shouldnt pin hopes only on the results of the voting, but before that day we should try to work in several directions. Members of Armenias delegation must remind the PACE delegates of the statement by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, by which they noted that the Minsk Group remains the only accepted format for negotiations. According to Stepan Grigoryan, we must also follow whether the delegates, who make speeches against Armenia, present the viewpoint of their faction at the PACE or express their personal viewpoint. He thinks that it is important to bring those delegates, who have pro-Armenian stance at the PACE, to the hall during the voting, Very often they are engaged in their work and miss such important votes. Armenia can also make such a suggestion- to offer Azerbaijanis to carry out joint activities for reconstruction and exploitation of Sarsang reservoir. According to Mr. Grigoryan, it will be acceptable also for Europeans. 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(0x5612f0254b38)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f066d8a8)', '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(0x5612f0254b38)') 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(0x5612f066d8a8)') 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(0x5612f0671d70)') 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(0x5612f066d8a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f066d8a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee0d81a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f037fb48)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f037fb48)') 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(0x5612f07f0220)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f078e028)', '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(0x5612f07f0220)') 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(0x5612f078e028)') 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(0x5612f07d0870)') 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(0x5612f078e028)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f078e028)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ee5142c8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0201d28)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0201d28)') 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(0x5612f0999670)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0ac3fd0)', '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(0x5612f0999670)') 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(0x5612f0ac3fd0)') 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(0x5612f09f30f0)') 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(0x5612f0ac3fd0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0ac3fd0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efc3bde0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0abce20)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0abce20)') 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(0x5612f057ff30)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f057c4c8)', '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(0x5612f057ff30)') 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(0x5612f057c4c8)') 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(0x5612f058f060)') 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(0x5612f057c4c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f057c4c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612efcb9300)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f053ed28)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f053ed28)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 "After he shot his two brothers, he walked back to school and he shot ... a teacher and a girl. They're both dead. Four of them died," said Joe Lemaigre, a family friend who lives on the outskirts of La Loche. "I know the family. Their mother worked in Fort McMurray and his grandfather went to Meadow Lake to do some shopping. That's when he shot them." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the school shooting as "every parent's worst nightmare". Credit:Michel Euler The shooting occurred in a high school building, and another location in Saskatchewan, Canadian police said. Police took the suspect into custody outside the school and seized a gun. Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which represents more than 70 of the province's Indian bands, said a few students were in surgery on Friday evening in Saskatoon. "Everyone is still in shock and disbelief," Chief Cameron said. "It's a very, very horribly tragic event." La Loche student Noel Desjarlais told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that he heard multiple shots fired at the school, which has about 900 students. "I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A mobile phone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school across the snow-covered ground and emergency personnel moving in. Among Canada's provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported family violence in 2014, double the national rate of 243 incidents per 100,000 people, according to a Statistics Canada report on Thursday. Extra doctors and nurses were sent to treat patients in Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority's 16-bed hospital, said spokesman Dale West. He declined to say how many people had been injured. "It's really sad in La Loche today, very depressing," said Tenisha Lemaigre, who lives in the town of less than 3,000 people and said she knew many students. Unemployment runs above 20 percent in the area but three-quarters of working-age people are classified as retired or not looking for work, according to 2011 government figures. Residents say the real unemployment rate is above 50 percent. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, noting that a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." Initial reports said five people were killed, but that was revised down to four. Teddy Clark, chief of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, said that his daughter told him about the shooting, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. "I know there are some casualties and there are some people that are in critical condition that are being medivaced to the nearest cities, I would imagine Fort McMurray or Saskatoon." La Loche Grade 10 student Noel Desjarlais told the CBC that he heard multiple shots fired at the school. "I ran outside the school," Desjarlais said. "There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." A mobile phone video taken by one resident and broadcast by the CBC showed students walking away from the school through the snow-covered ground and emergency personnel moving in. La Loche Community School is a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school, which houses about 900 students in two buildings. There was an emergency at the building that houses grades 7 to 12, the school district's Facebook page said. Both that building and the elementary school were put on lockdown. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, citing an incident where a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the CBC of the student who tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." Washington: Driven by its visceral loathing for its two leading presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the Republican Party's establishment has fractured into civil war less than a fortnight before the Iowa caucuses mark the start of the presidential primaries. The National Review, once a bible of the American conservative movement, on Thursday night published an entire issue dedicated to assaulting Trump, the clear national front runner for the Republican nomination. It gathered scathing opinion pieces from conservative commentators from around the United States and introduced them in an editorial that declared: "Donald Trump is a menace to American conservatism who would take the work of generations and trample it underfoot on behalf of a populism as heedless and crude as the Donald himself." Canberrans have enjoyed one of their best years for competitive petrol prices, with the arrival of Costco and comparison tool Fuel Watch credited with slashing the cost divide with Sydney. Motorist advocates have predicted the sustained competition created by last year's shake up will continue, even though this week's sub-$1 per litre prices at three outlets may not. Cars line up for cheap fuel at Costco at Majura Park on Friday. Credit:Rohan Thomson NRMA ACT and NSW South Coast board member Kate Lundy said the introduction of the Costco fuel station, which opened in December 2014, and ACT Fuel Watch online a month later led to ongoing savings. "Before Costco's opening, ACT motorists were paying on average 9.5 cents more per litre of petrol than in Sydney, but now they're paying about 3.4 cents more [2015 daily average], which means prices are heading in a positive direction," she said The year 2013 was the 100th anniversary of the competition that gave Canberra its clothes. When comparing the current state of play with the boldness of those that gave birth to the idea of our capital, one is inclined to weep. The time is right for some, as yet unidentified champion to step forward to tilt at windmills. Unfortunately, this role appears as a poisoned chalice from which decision makers rarely drink. It is possible that innovations such as driverless cars will render light rail an anachronism of the 20th century. Credit:Fairfax The National Capital has the opportunity to recalibrate its big picture and avoid being a Liquorice Allsorts of competing imperatives. Splendid though it is, it still needs to be braided together on the thread of a truly liveable city. We need to maintain the energy that will make Civic an appropriate hub of our nation not just a large country town. Imagining new futures could provide a bold blueprint for a city for coming generations. Although Bill Clinton failed miserably with the Middle East peace plan, I loved his concept of a 'roadmap for change'. So let's have a real and active one of those. In the Canberra Times in August 2013 David Ellery used the pejorative term, Canberra's 'rolled gold road network'. Largely because the city was founded after the invention of the motor car, it has a road network second to none. The city's amazing roads put every other Australian capital to shame. Our so-called peak hours are really just peak minutes. A quick look at the statistics indicates that we have 2869km of sealed roads to service a population of nearly 400,000. This bitumen glut translates to over 7000 m of black top for each and every one of us. For those of us who suffer from number numbness that translates into an area of seven large residential blocks or enough space to park 189 Priuses each. Adding up the cost of the new Majura and Gungahlin Parkways, the proposed Capital Metro, it comes to a capital investment proposition of over $1 billion. The prime notion of this is getting people from A to B a few minutes quicker. For some this might be akin to living in a government flat and buying a Ferrari. It has been suggested that some of this transport money might be better concentrated on cardiac surgery to revive the faint heartbeat of our city centre. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Google Ad Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression 'Paving the way for new treatments' A spokeswoman from the Sydney Local Health District responsible for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, which oversees the baboon colony and also conducts experiments, said: "The colony has helped medical researchers conduct important research which has contributed significantly to paving the way for new treatments of disorders such as pre-eclampsia, complicated diabetes, kidney disorders and vascular diseases." The security gate at the National Health and Medical Research Council facility in Wallacia in Sydney's west. Credit:Dallas Kilponen A spokeswoman for the University of Sydney said it had an ongoing program and a number of initiatives to reduce, refine and replace the use of all animals, including primates, in research. She said there was one approved protocol in the field of biomedical research at the university involving research on a small number of primates. She said the university used approximately eight marmosets a year and "all procedures were performed on fully anaesthetised animals that were then euthanased - the animals were never aware of these procedures and did not feel any pain". "All researchers would prefer not to use animals in their research. However, in their quest to cure blindness, diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and many other illnesses, animal research is currently the best hope for finding a cure," she said. Conan underwent a whole organ (kidney) transplant known as xenotransplantation from a genetically modified pig at Westmead Hospital in early 2014. Fairfax Media has seen information that confirmed Conan was "humanely" killed on March 20, 2014, after suffering "disseminated intravascular coagulation" - the widespread formation of blood clots, which can cut off blood flow and damage organs. But NSW Health responded to a freedom of information request just months later contradicting that and denying in writing that research for diabetes had progressed to whole organ transplants. Yet the NHMRC has acknowledged in writing that it has funded research for "whole organ animal to animal xenotransplantation". Cover-up seen in contradictory statements The revelations about the experiments comes as a Senate inquiry gets under way into the import of primates into Australia for medical research. The committee will report in the first week of March before a private member's bill banning the practice of importing primates is put before the Parliament by Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon. Senator Rhiannon told Fairfax Media she believed the public would be "deeply shocked" to know what has been going on behind closed doors. She said contradictory statements between state and federal departments were starting to look like a cover-up and the secrecy with which the experiments were carried out shows that agencies know it would be unacceptable to the public. Helen Marston, the chief executive officer of Humane Research Australia, said "the industry is shrouded in secrecy despite the fact that it is funded with our tax dollars and few Australians are even aware that primates are used in research here". Ms Marston said that, unless there is greater transparency, it will not be possible to have an open and honest debate. "Aside from the ethical dilemma of using animals with such highly cognitive abilities and well-developed social structures as mere tools for research, the use of primates is poorly predictive of human outcomes," Ms Marston said. "The procedures these animals have been subjected to are gruesome and could even be compared with Frankenstein-like experiments, and much of it is undertaken using taxpayer funds," she said. Testing 'cannot be justified' A new research paper from Cruelty Free International researchers, Predicting Human Drug Toxicity and Safety via Animal Tests, found that "in combination with an unprecedented level of public concern over the use of animals in science and the high ethical costs of doing so, we conclude that the preclinical testing of pharmaceuticals in animals cannot currently be justified, ethically or scientifically". A recent publication Animal Law in Australasia, containing research from Australian academics including associated professor Celeste Black from Sydney University, has said that many Australians "still assume that current animal welfare laws provide animals with sufficient protection from human mistreatment, that cruelty is the exception and that, when exposed, perpetrators are prosecuted. They are wrong on all counts." Fairfax Media has seen information showing that Conan was being held in the "Vivarium" at Westmead Hospital with three other baboons named Scar, Belvedere and Frazer. Scar had been subjected to the transgenic (genetically modified) pig islet transplants and was on large doses of immunosuppressant drugs. It is understood that Scar was to be returned temporarily to the baboon colony in Wallacia. Belvedere and Frazer, Fairfax Media has been told, were "rendered diabetic" and were waiting for transplant of islet cells from piglets that were due to be born in June 2014. The fate of Scar, Belvedere and Frazer is not known. A research paper cited by Humane Research Australia said baboons used for islet transplants were later anaesthetised, had their livers removed and were killed. Piglets bred and used for the islets were also killed. Attempts by Fairfax Media to gain information including photos, video, and details of the lifespans of Conan, Scar and Belvedere using freedom of information were blocked by NSW Health, which said "there was an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information". It said the information requested could "reasonably be expected to inform the public about research being performed". It also said that revealing the information could "prejudice the conduct, effectiveness or integrity of any research by revealing its purpose, conduct or results (whether or not commenced and whether or not completed)". The spokeswoman for Prince Alfred Hospital said the use of the animals from the baboon colony complied with all relevant legislation. She said the colony was regularly inspected by the Sydney Local Health District's Animal Ethics Committee. Colony can house up to 165 A spokesman for the Department of Primary Industries said "the baboon facility at Wallacia was last inspected in July 2012 as part of the routine schedule of inspections and will be visited again in 2016". He said the DPI could confirm that the care and management of baboons at Wallacia was satisfactory. He said the information on the number of animals held at a facility at any one time was not held by the DPI but the colony was allowed to house up to 165 baboons. The federal government's Department of Health website acknowledges that the "use of non-human primates for scientific purposes raises special ethical and welfare issues". It says that "the National Health and Medical Research Council recognises that there are differing views in the community about the use of non-human primates for scientific purposes. The NHMRC seeks to ensure that any non-human primates used in government-funded research are used ethically and treated humanely and only used when there is no valid alternative." "A ban on the use of non-human primates would need to be given effect through state and territory legislation. The success of such a ban would be reliant on the implementation and enforcement effort of state and territory legislation." A baboon named Scar Scar was the largest of the baboons being held at the Vivarium at Westmead Hospital when he had a transplant of neonatal islet cells from piglets. The baboon had survived for six weeks and, if he continued, he would be "the first baboon in the world to have survived a sustained xenotransplant", according to information given to Fairfax Media. There was concern that the researchers conducting the experiments on him didn't want the baboon to be returned to the Wallacia baboon colony because of hygiene concerns even though he had been held inside for nearly three months and it is an accreditation requirement that animals get daytime access to an outside enclosure after three months of being housed indoors. It is understood that those overseeing his care were told that "the conditions were far from ideal for a very immune compromised animal (with virtually no T cells) to be housed in. Even though it was considered a good environment, [it] could not be considered a clean environment. Vermin and birds have access to the area and the risk of infection to the baboon is highly likely". Dodgy Australian flags hanging from the ceiling of a Brisbane Coles store to celebrate Australia Day were bought from another retailer, the supermarket giant says. In a statement issued on Monday, Coles said the banners, which included a reversed Southern Cross and an upside down Union Jack, were removed from the Toowong store as soon as the error was pointed out. A Coles spokesman said all of the company's Australia Day merchandise on sale in stores, including flags, was correctly designed. ZoomerMedia Limited Announces Results for the Three Months Ended November 30, 2015 TORONTO, ONTARIO (Marketwired) 01/22/16 ZoomerMedia Limited (TSX VENTURE: ZUM) (the Company), the leader in serving the interests of the 45+ Zoomer market in Canada, today announced its financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2015. Results for the Three Months Ended November 30, 2015 For the three months ended November 30, 2015 the Company had revenues of $15.3 million, operating expenses of $12.0 million and EBITDA of $3.3 million. Net income for the three months ended November 30, 2015 was $1.7 million. For the three months ended November 30, 2014 the Company had revenues of $15.3 million, operating expenses of $12.7 million and EBITDA of $2.6 million. Net income for the three months ended November 30, 2014 was $1.1 million. EBITDA is a non-IFRS earnings measure which does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to EBITDA presented by other companies. EBITDA represents earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. This measure is important to management since it is used by potential investors to evaluate the Companys operating performance and ability to incur and service debt, and as a valuation metric. Investors are cautioned that this non-IFRS financial measure should not be construed as an alternative to other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Additional Information Detailed financial information and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended November 30, 2015 can be found on SEDARs website at . The financial information included in this release is qualified in its entirety and should be read together with the interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2015, including the notes thereto. About ZoomerMedia Limited ZoomerMedia is a multimedia company that serves the 45plus Zoomer demographic through television, radio, magazine, internet and trade shows. ZoomerMedias television properties include; Vision TV, Canadas only multi-faith specialty television service; ONE: Body Mind Spirit Love Channel, offering programs on exercise, meditation, yoga, natural health and living a planet-friendly lifestyle; JoyTV in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey and the Frasier Valley, and the newly rebranded HOPETV (formerly JoyTV11), a lifestyle television service out of Winnipeg devoted to broadcasting Christian programming and is available in approximately 6 million Canadian homes. ZoomerMedias radio properties include CFMZ-FM Toronto The New Classical 96.3FM, CFMX-FM Cobourg The New Classical 103.1FM, CFMO-FM Collingwood The New Classical 102.9FM, Canadas only commercial classical music radio stations serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), eastern Ontario and Collingwood, CFZM-AM 740 Toronto and CFZM-FM 96.7FM Toronto Zoomer Radio, Torontos Timeless Hits Station. ZoomerMedia also publishes Zoomer Magazine, the largest paid circulation magazine in Canada for the mature market. ZoomerMedia is Canadas leading provider of online content targeting the 45plus age group through many properties, the key one being . ZoomerMedia also has trade show and conference divisions that produce the ZoomerShows, annual consumer shows directed to the Zoomer demographic and ideaCity, an annual Canadian conference also known as Canadas Premiere Meeting of the Minds. Cautionary note on forward-looking statements The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Certain statements made in this report are forward-looking statements which may include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words believe, anticipate, expect, estimate, project, will be, will continue, will likely result or similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in filings by ZoomerMedia Limited with provincial securities commissions. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: Given these risks, and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. ZoomerMedia Limited does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contacts: George Kempff Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ZoomerMedia Limited (416) 607-7735 Leanne Wright Vice President Communications ZoomerMedia Limited (416) 886-6873 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' won't be on TV this year: How to see it 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. 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 Pictures are still filtering back from NASAs New Horizons close-up of Pluto last year and one of the biggest surprises so far comes from the region informally known as Sputnik Planum. Theres a lack of craters on its surface, making it a unique area on Pluto and a rare spot in the solar system it turns out it could be very young terrain indeed. ANALYSIS: New Horizons Gets USPS Stamp of Pluto Approval What I did was take the pictures that we have seen the amazing pictures! and calculate, based on Plutos orbital environment, what the impact rate and therefore the surface age of Sputnik Planum must be, wrote planetary scientist David Trilling in an email to Discovery News. There have been lots of press releases describing various aspects of Sputnik Planum, but, as far as I know, this is the first time that the age estimate of 10 million years or younger appears in the peer-reviewed literature, added Trilling, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Northern Arizona University. PHOTOS: New Pluto Pics Show Beautiful, Complex World This is believed to be a patchwork of ices on Sputnik Planum. (Image credit: NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI) ANALYSIS: X Marks the Convective Spot on Lava Lamp Pluto Trillings study, which is in press at PLOS One, mentions three ways the resurfacing could take place: Nitrogen ice on the surface could be relaxing if it is viscous, getting rid of any craters created by meteroids. Ice on the bottom could be rising up and replacing ice at the top, somewhat like how a lava lamp works. The ice could be partially melted at its bottom and from time to time, erupt on to the surface as cryo-lava. As for where the meteorites are coming from, Trilling points out that Pluto is in a zone filled with smaller Kuiper Belt objects. From time to time, these small bodies crash into Pluto. Trillings math shows that this happens roughly every 10 million years, which would explain why Sputnik Planum appears so young. PHOTOS: Dive Onto Plutos High-Resolution Landscape Trillings research is mostly focused on near-Earth asteroids, but Pluto caught his attention not only because of the astounding images, but also the lack of craters. Hes also hopeful that New Horizons will be funded to look at another Kuiper Belt object up close in 2018. If that happens, Trilling will be on the lookout for more crater-free patches to nail down more information about the solar systems evolution. Originally published on Discovery News. HOUSTON Under a banner proclaiming "Mission Accomplished," Space Center Houston officials celebrated on Saturday (Jan. 23) the opening of Independence Plaza, a new $12 million exhibit featuring NASA's historic space shuttle-carrying jumbo jet topped by a full-size mockup of the iconic winged orbiters. With astronauts in attendance and flag-carrying skydivers having just landed nearby, the officials counted down to a spectacular daytime fireworks display to launch the eight-story-tall exhibit and welcome the public to begin boarding both vehicles. "With the ability to walk through both [vehicles], you will experience a behind-the-scenes look at life in the shuttle era," said Richard Allen, the president and CEO of Space Center Houston. "It is a visitor experience that can't be found anywhere else in the world. [Photo Gallery: First Look at Houston's New 747-Shuttle Exhibit] The centerpiece of Space Center Houston's Independence Plaza is NASA's original Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Known by its tail number, NASA 905, the modified Boeing 747 jetliner was first used during tests in the late 1970s to prove that the orbiters could land safely back on Earth. It then ferried the shuttles piggyback across the United States, returning them to Florida from their landing sites and delivering them for servicing between missions. Mounted atop NASA 905 is "Independence," a high fidelity, full-size shuttle mockup outfitted with a detailed interior of the cockpit, crew cabin and payload bay. A Re/Max skydiver, trailing an American flag, soars over the space shuttle Independence at Space Center Houston on Jan. 23, 2016. (Image credit: collectSPACE.com) "Space Center Houston has transformed the space shuttle exhibit. It is fully interactive, hands-on and is real," stated Fred Griffin, chairman of the board of the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the space center. "Other cities may show a space shuttle, but in Houston we can experience it and walk in it, and we can touch it." "When people go to New York City, they see the Statue of Liberty, in Paris, the Eiffel Tower and in Sydney, the Opera House. In Houston, it will be Independence Plaza," Griffin continued. "The image of Independence Plaza is destined to become iconic." On Saturday, guests with timed tickets waited to enter the mock shuttle's flight- and mid-decks, as even more queued to board elevators and ascend the access tower to board the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the first time. Once a mostly-empty shell, with the exception of added beams needed to support the weight of the orbiter, the fuselage of NASA 905 now houses a museum of hands-on exhibits. "This magnificent, interactive display the largest single artifact of the 30-year shuttle program will continue to inspire future generations, and indeed many who visit this exhibit will become tomorrow's flight controllers, engineers, astronauts and scientists leading us into deep space," said Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), who presented Space Center Houston with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in honor of Independence Plaza. "I would like to congratulate you at Space Center Houston and the entire team who envisioned this display and made it happen," Babin said. The plaza's leading sponsor is the Boeing Company, which originally built the jumbo jet and the space shuttle on which the replica Independence is based. In addition to financial support, Boeing provided its Aircraft on Ground engineers to disassemble and reassemble the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft as was needed to transport the giant airplane from the nearby Ellington Airport to the space center. "It was no small feat," said John Elbon, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Space Exploration division. "In fact, it was the first time in the history of the Aircraft on Ground team that they removed the wings of a 747 [in the field]. Special tooling and procedures were created just for that project." NASA's retired space shuttle orbiters are on display at the Smithsonian and at museums in California, New York and Florida, states that all made contributions to the program. But it was in Houston where it all began and was based. "Houston is the home of our country's human spaceflight program, and so I am so excited that today we are opening Independence Plaza," Ellen Ochoa, the director of NASA's Johnson Space Center and a space shuttle astronaut who flew four missions, said. "Johnson Space Center designed and developed the space shuttle including the concept of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and we are the center that trained for and carried out all 135 shuttle missions." "Together, this aircraft and shuttle orbiter make an iconic display that Houston can proudly showcase to the world," Ochoa said. "A display I believe is destined to become the number one Texas attraction." See full coverage of Space Center Houston's Independence Plaza at collectSPACE.com. Follow collectSPACE.comon Facebookand on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. A former Brunswick School teacher, now in jail, has been linked to an unfolding scandal involving sexual abuse at a Rhode Island prep school. A Boston lawyer who has been representing former students at St. Georges School in Middletown, R.I., named Timothy Tefft as one of the previously unidentified alleged perpetrators of abuse at the school. Tefft is serving five years in federal prison after his guilty plea in 2014 to a child pornography charge. The former teacher and newspaper editor was at the center of abuse allegations at Brunswick School. Tefft, who taught there in the 1970s and 1980s, was accused in 2013 by three former students of molesting them in the 1980s. The abuse allegedly occurred in New York state. No criminal charges or lawsuits were ever brought. Brunswick School officials had no comment on Tefft this week. Tefft, who was 65 at the time of his arrest in 2013, acknowledged possessing dozens of files of child pornography. Attorney Eric MacLeish, who is working with some St. Georges alumni to uncover and remedy the damage inflicted on dozens of students at the Newport-area school, named Tefft as Employee Perpetrator #5, as he was described in a report commissioned by administrators at the school. According to an account in the Boston Globe, citing the school report, Tefft was hired in 1971 and terminated a few months later after providing alcohol to students. The school report said he reportedly sexually touched and attempted to perform oral sex on a student. MacLeish, who attended St. Georges and did legal work on behalf of victims of the Catholic priest abuse scandal, criticized the school for not reporting Teffts behavior to authorities, according to the Globe. Tefft later worked at other schools before coming to Brunswick as an English teacher. Tefft is incarcerated at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution in New Jersey and is eligible for release in January 2018. Staff Writer Paul Schott contributed to this report. Robert.Marchant@scni.com Connecticuts political and educational leaders have sold us a bill of goods with the new SAT. Last spring the legislature and the State Board of Education hastily decided to replace the 11th-grade SBAC with the newly designed SAT. The move was in response to outcry about the invalidity of the SBAC and about the addition of another standardized test for juniors. As I wrote previously (http://bit.ly/1Kv8TXk), our leaders did not wait for the SAT to be validated, nor did they validate any accommodations that English Language Learners (ELL) or students with disabilities would need. Instead, they misrepresented the facts to parents and students. In December, the State Department of Education (SDE) sent districts a sample letter intended for parents. In it, SDE claimed that (b)y adopting the SAT, we are eliminating duplicate testing. That assertion is false for many Connecticut students and SDE knew that when it wrote this letter. In a separate document sent at the same time but addressed to district leaders, not parents, SDE acknowledged that the vast majority of ELL students taking the SAT with accommodations will be unable to report their scores to colleges, because the College Board does not accept ELL accommodations. Similarly, many students with disabilities using accommodations will not be able to report scores either, as the College Board has more stringent criteria for disability accommodations. For those students, the SAT will only count for state accountability purposes. In other words, for thousands of students, the state-mandated SAT will not count for college applications and they will have to take another test either the SAT or ACT without accommodations. Our state leaders also misled us by claiming that the new SAT is appropriate as an accountability exam aligned with Connecticut graduation requirements. Connecticut law requires that, for the current graduating class until the class of 2020, students must complete three credits of mathematics. Algebra II is not required nor is trigonometry or precalculus. Beginning with the class of 2021, the law specifies that students must take Algebra I and geometry, and either Algebra II or probability and statistics. Algebra II is not a requirement and trigonometry and precalculus are not even mentioned. Yet the new SAT has a significant amount of Algebra II, and has trigonometry and precalculus. Almost half the math SAT is composed of advanced math and additional topics both of which have these advanced subjects. By contrast, there is very little geometry. The new SAT is not aligned with Connecticut graduation requirements. Moreover, choosing this test sets students who have not taken Algebra II before 11th grade up for failure, along with their districts. The SAT is designed to be a test with winners and losers. It is a comparative, scaled test. As one top SAT tutor recently wrote to the Business Insider, (i)f everyone got a 1,600, there would be no point to this test at all. This test is designed to show colleges who is better and who is worse not who is good. A test with this goal should not be used as an accountability test, which is supposed to confirm who has met state academic goals for high school i.e. who is good. The final lie our state leaders are selling is that the new SAT will tell us who is ready for college success. As I have written before, the evidence something our leaders rarely examine shows that the best predictor of college cumulative GPA and graduation, i.e. college success, is the high school GPA. This is true over time, across the entire nation, in all types of colleges and universities. By contrast neither the SAT nor the ACT is a good predictor of college success. The same top SAT tutor notes that the College Boards claim that the new SAT will accurately reflect the demands of the American high school curriculum has a major flaw, namely this is exactly what they said about the last version that they launched the one the College Board has now abandoned. He declared that anyone who takes the new SAT is merely a guinea pig for the College Boards marketing machine. He recommends that none of his students take the new SAT until other guinea pigs prove its validity. Those other guinea pigs? Connecticuts students, thanks to our political leaders, who served them up merely to satisfy College Boards data needs. It is time that parents demand that leaders make education policy that is in the best interests of students, not testing companies. Wendy Lecker is a columnist for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and is senior attorney at the Education Law Center. A London woman has been killed in Spain after allegedly being strangled with a phone charger. According to local media, the 49-year-old's husband was arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident, which happened in Mallorca in the early hours of Saturday. Emergency services were called to the scene in Costa de la Calma, allegedly by a man who said he had killed his wife. Local police and paramedics arrived to find a woman in cardiac arrest with bruising on her neck, but were unable to resuscitate her. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "Following the death of a British national in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, we are in contact with the local authorities and are providing support to the family at this difficult time." The man who was arrested at scene is due to appear in court on either Sunday or Monday. F our people have been killed and a further two are injured following a shooting at a school in Canada. Terrified schoolchildren ran for their lives as a gunman opened fire in the aboriginal community of La Loche in northern Saskatchewan. La Loche Community School was targeted first, before the shooter moved on to another location. He is now in custody, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. "This is every parent's worst nightmare. The community is reeling, he added. A student who was just returning from lunch when shots were fired said his friends yelled at him to run as they fled past him. Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled one shouting there's a shotgun! before adding: They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots, too, so of course I started running." Kevin Janvier said his 23-year old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. 'Reeling': Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about the shooting during a news conference / Reuters He said police told him the gunman first shot two of his own siblings, before killing the teacher. "He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school," Mr Janvier said. "I'm just so sad." Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. The country's bloodiest shooting happened in December 1989 at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a classroom, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. Additional reporting by the Associated Press A man is in a serious condition in hospital after being found in a pool of his own blood on a south London street. Police said officers were called at about 6.30am on Saturday to Chadwick Road, Peckham, where the man was discovered nursing a head injury. A Scotland Yard spokesman said detectives were investigating an assault and a man has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police were called at around 6.30am on Saturday, 23 January, to a report of blood found in the street in the Chadwick Road area of Peckham, he said. Officers attended and began an investigation to identify any injured party. A short time later, they found a man in the street suffering a head injury. The man was taken to hospital where his condition is serious but stable. Gosh what's happening in #Bellenden road?? jessica evershed (@jessevershed) January 23, 2016 Bellenden Road has been shut in both directions at the junction with Chadwick Road, and the P13 bus route has been diverted. C elebrities, politicians and members of the military have celebrated Britain's Armed Forces at The Sun Military Awards. London Mayor Boris Johnson, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon were among those who walked down the red carpet to attend the awards, known as The Millies, at London's Guildhall. Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson said: "It is a great day, it is an opportunity for ordinary people like me to say thank you to extraordinary people who do remarkable things all around the world all of the time." Falklands veteran Simon Weston said: "This is about recognising people who are here, unlike Remembrance Sunday when we remember people who are never going to come back. "This is about recognising what people have done and do do. It's a wonderful way to recognise people who fly under the radar." Members of the Armed Forces at the Sun Military Awards / London Live Also among those attending was Senior Aircraftman Shane Mitchley who told of the moment he plucked a drowning woman from the River Thames after he noticed her in trouble during an educational trip to London. We threw a life ring in and unfortunately missed her and she went under. It was getting worse she was deteriorating. In that split second I made the decision that I was going to jump in and fortunately rescue her and pull myself out as well." The awards, which are now in their eighth year, see members of Britain's military personnel honoured for the work they do keeping the country safe, at home and abroad. T he Victorian Society has joined the fight against the controversial Paddington Tower. The Society is strongly objecting to plans to demolish the former Royal Mail sorting office to build the 72-storey structure, which the society has dubbed the "Paddington Pole." It is claiming the tower, also known as the "Skinny Shard", would cause "substantial harm" to the setting of nearby listed buildings and to the local conservation area, and is urging people to object to the proposals before the end of January. The building sits alongside Grade I-listed Paddington station, and is inside the Bayswater Conservation Area, which was extended in 2010 to include the former Royal Mail building and other surrounding buildings. The baroque-style former Royal Mail sorting and delivery office was built in 1892 by Sir Henry Tanner, and extended in 1907 by Jasper Wager. Historic England has also previously voiced objections to the plans. Senior Victorian Society Conservation Adviser, James Hughes, said: "We strongly object to these proposals. Demolishing this high quality building would harm the setting of the Grade I listed Paddington Station, other listed buildings and the Bayswater Conservation Area itself. "Although unlisted, this building is important in understanding Paddington Stations relationship with the city. Any development of the site should focus on the later buildings of no architectural value. "The Paddington Poles 72 storeys would affect views across west London and pave the way for similar towers in the future. Westminster Council must reject this application and instead explore other options to achieve the same benefits for passengers." The developers, Sellar Property Group, say the 1billion project will improve the area by revamping the station, and replacing derelict buildings with a new piazza. Westminster Council is currently consulting on the project and will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission in March. A council spokesperson said: "The developers of 31 London Street have formally submitted a planning application for the site to the Council. "As with any other proposal presented to us, the planning application will be considered on its merits and while these deliberations are taking place the Council will not be able to comment publicly. "A date of March 8 has been set so that our Planning Committee can review the application." A mal Clooney has taken her fight for freedom for political prisoners in the Maldives to Downing Street. The human rights lawyer who is married to Hollywood film star George Clooney, and the country's outsted president Mohamed Nasheed, joined the Prime Minister for talks in No 10 as they called for continued pressure against the regime. The country's first democratically-elected leader, who claimed he was deposed at gunpoint and was later jailed for 13 years under anti-terror laws, has been allowed to travel to Britain for surgery on his spinal cord. Mr Nasheed's brother is acting as guarantor on an undertaking that the former premier will return to the Maldives within 30 days. Talks: David Cameron has said he will continue to put pressure on the regime / REUTERS/Andy Rain/Pool At a meeting of 53 Commonwealth countries in November, Mr Cameron urged leaders to toughen up their approach to the Maldives over the "unacceptable" actions of its government. Ministers from the group will visit the Maldives next month and are expected to send a "strong message" on the need to free all remaining political prisoners. The Maldivian government has always denied that Mr Nasheed was ousted in a military coup. Following the visit, Downing Street said Mr Cameron will continue to highlight concerns about the regime's actions. A spokesman said: "They agreed that, while Mr Nasheed's release was a positive step, more needed to be done and it was important for the Maldivian government to maintain momentum, which was necessary if real change is to be delivered. "The Prime Minister told Mr Nasheed that the UK would continue to raise concerns about the erosion of democracy and wider situation in the Maldives and it would also continue to discuss the situation with international partners, including how best the international community can make its concerns clear to the Maldivian government." G oogle has struck a 130 million deal with the taxman to pay money it has owed for the past 10 years. The internet giant said it had reached an agreement with HM Revenue and Customs covering taxes since 2005. It means Google will start to pay tax "based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business", the firm added. The move comes after years of criticism of Google and other multinational firms over their tax arrangement in the UK and across Europe. Meg Hillier, the chairwoman of the Common's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will call Google and HMRC figures before MPs to explain the deal, which she said showed HMRC "admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of 10 years". A Google spokeswoman said: "We have agreed with HMRC a new approach for our UK taxes and will pay 130 million, covering taxes since 2005. She added: "The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift and is in line with recent OECD guidance." The issue of how much UK tax multinational firms like Google, Amazon and Facebook pay in the UK has hit the headlines in recent years, with HMRC indicating back in October 2013 that it was looking into Google's accounts. In March's Budget Chancellor George Osborne announced the introduction in April of a so-called "Google tax" targeting firms that move their profits overseas. The "diverted profits tax" is designed to discourage large companies from taking earnings out of the UK to avoid tax. An HMRC spokesman said: "The successful conclusion of HMRC inquiries has secured a substantial result, which means that Google will pay the full tax due in law on profits that belong in the UK. Multinational companies must pay the tax that is due and we do not accept less." Additional reporting by PA T he Port of Calais has been closed after migrants stormed a P&O ferry. Services to Dover have been delayed by several hours after around 50 migrants reportedly made their way onto the boat, sparking a "security incident". It is thought the migrants boarded the ferry, nameded Spirit of Britain, as it was unloading in the port. The incident followed a demonstration in the port in support of migrants. Thousands of refugees are currently living in makeshift camps known as "the Jungle", on the edge of Calais. Around 2,000 people had joined the protest, with several bearing banners reading: "Refugees welcome here." French officials said a group of about 500 people forced their way through police lines and made for the port, with around 150 breaking through to the fenced-off area. The Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart anounced that the port had been closed due to the incident. Police at the scene reportedly used water canons in an attempt to disperse the group, some of whom were said to be blocking the gangway, preventing police from getting onboard the boat. Ferry company DFDS Seaways posted on Twitter that the port had been closed due to a "migrant invasion". The Port of Calais has been temporarily closed due to a migrant invasion, as soon as they are cleared the Port will re-open DFDS Seaways Updates (@DFDSUKUpdates) January 23, 2016 A statement from the Port of Dover said the French port was experiencing "migrant activity" which had caused disruption to services. It read: "The Port of Calais is currently experiencing migrant activity which has caused disruption to ferry services. Therefore services to and from Calais via the Port of Dover are affected, but DFDS Seaways services are still running to Dunkirk as normal. "The Port of Dover remains open for business, but the duration of this disruption to services remains unknown." P&O Ferries Updates tweeted: "The Port of Calais is resolving a security incident. As a result our vessels are subject to delay of between 90 and 120 minutes." The incident came just hours after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visited "the Jungle", and the Grande-Synthe Camp, near Dunkirk, in his first official trip as Leader of the Opposition. More than 77,000 Nebraskans are falling into a gap created by a state-federal disagreement over Medicaid reimbursement. However, a group of senators has introduced a bill that may create a private marketplace solution, outreach coordinators for the Nebraska Appleseed Project told a small audience Thursday in Alliance. Senator John McCollister is the sponsor of the Transitional Health Insurance Program Act, LB 1032, introduced Tuesday. It will be heard first by the Health and Human Services committee, of which Alliances Senator Al Davis is a member, Tori Ostenso, an Appleseed fellow, said. Ostenso and Kait Madsen, community organizer with Appleseed, said Nebraska will bring in $2 billion for Medicaid during five years, but those funds will all go to other states, because Nebraska is one of 19 states that is not a part of the Affordable Care Acts Medicaid expanded coverage gap. State officials have declined to become involved in ACA because they believe the federal government may not be able to meet its Medicaid obligations. Another argument against participating in the Medicaid gap coverage is the claim the federal health care coverage plan encourages laziness among users. In fact, Madsen said, most of the gap users are the working poor earning enough money so that they dont qualify for Medicaid, but not enough money to receive a subsidy in the ACA marketplace. The vast majority are working in low-paying jobs like sales, food service, home health care and construction, she added. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $24,250, but to qualify for a subsidy, taxpayers must earn 138 percent of poverty or $33,465 for a family of four. The new bill includes a different approach that will meet the federal requirement to expand Medicaid by offering a private health insurance market for most enrollees, employee-sponsored coverage for some and an Innovation Health Insurance Program, for those who cannot be enrolled under traditional Medicaid, including medically frail enrollees. The bill ensures personal responsibility, Madsen said, by requiring monthly contributions of 2 percent of the household income. It also encourages access by requiring enrollees to have a primary care provider. Lastly, the THIP act encourages employment and education/skills training by providing skills training targeted at specific state workforce needs. Host Edison Red Nest, of Native Futures in Alliance, said he is working with native people to enroll in the tribes and get off of Medicaid altogether. He said with a $10,000 minimum income (earned and unearned income), Native Americans who are tribal members can qualify for free insurance as part of the treaties signed by the United States in past centuries. More Native people are moving in to Nebraska, Red Nest said. While Nebraska population increased only 1.8 percent between the 2000 and 2010 census, the population of Native Americans increased 38 percent in Nebraska, many from bordering states like Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. The pair from Nebraska Appleseed encouraged those with questions about ACA and affordable care to contact a trained health care assistant at 1-800-318-2596. Osenso also discussed reform on payday loans in Nebraska. Pending legislation will lower the rate on interest (which can be as high as 600 percent) for such loans and grant users more time to pay the loans, paying incrementally instead of with a lump sum due on pay day. The legislation is designed to protect the consumer by making the terms more clear and not allowing a customer to have more than two loans at one time. A third topic garnering attention by some in the small crowd was pending legislation allowing a community to offer free and reduced lunches to all students, if 40 percent or more of the students qualify. This decreases the paperwork involved in managing the lunch program, as well as the stigma sometimes attached to asking for assistance. One Alliance student an audience member knew was turned away in the lunch line because he didnt have the necessary paperwork. The student was given a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the days meal, the man said. Nebraska Appleseed is a nonprofit organization fighting for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. They offer legal information, advice and referrals in the areas of economic justice, health care, child welfare and immigrants and communities. To find solutions to problems on these important issues, call Nebraska Appleseed at 402-438-8853 or access them online at http://neappleseed.org/gethelp. Western Nebraska Community College is hosting an open house for prospective high school juniors and seniors Monday, Jan. 25 beginning at 9 a.m. at the John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center. Students and their families are given the opportunity to tour the Scottsbluff Campus and meet with current WNCC students, faculty, and staff. Attendees will learn more about the various programs of study WNCC has to offer, CollegeNOW!/Early College opportunities, student life, financial aid/scholarships, and more. Lunch is provided, at no cost to the participant. We welcome students as well as their families to join us to learn where to get started with all the details of college life at WNCC, said Gretchen Foster, Admissions Director. Those interested in attending this open house must register online by Friday, Jan. 22 at wncc.edu/admissions/visit-campus. For more information or questions, email admissions@wncc.edu or call 308-635-6010. 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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. Google Inc. is paying Apple Inc. a hefty fee to keep its search bar on the iPhone. Apple received $1 billion from its rival in 2014, according to a transcript of court proceedings from Oracle Corp.'s copyright lawsuit against Google. The search engine giant has an agreement with Apple that gives the iPhone maker a percentage of the revenue Google generates through the Apple device, an attorney for Oracle said at a Jan. 14 hearing in federal court. Rumors about how much Google pays Apple to be on the iPhone have circulated for years, but the companies have never publicly disclosed it. Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple, and Google spokesman Aaron Stein both declined to comment on the information disclosed in court. The revenue-sharing agreement reveals the lengths Google must go to keep people using its search tool on mobile devices. It also shows how Apple benefits financially from Google's advertising-based business model that Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has criticized as an intrusion of privacy. Oracle has been fighting Google since 2010 over claims that the search engine company used its Java software without paying for it to develop Android. The showdown has returned to U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco after a pit stop at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Google lost a bid to derail the case. The damages Oracle now seeks may exceed $1 billion since it expanded its claims to cover newer Android versions. Annette Hurst, the Oracle attorney who disclosed details of the Google-Apple agreement at last week's court hearing, said a Google witness questioned during pretrial information said that "at one point in time the revenue share was 34 percent." It wasn't clear from the transcript whether that percentage is the amount of revenue kept by Google or paid to Apple. An attorney for Google objected to the information being disclosed and attempted to have the judge strike the mention of 34 percent from the record. "That percentage just stated, that should be sealed," lawyer Robert Van Nest said, according to the transcript. "We are talking hypotheticals here. That's not a publicly known number." The magistrate judge presiding over the hearing later refused Google's request to block the sensitive information in the transcript from public review. Google then asked Alsup to seal and redact the transcript, saying the disclosure could severely affect its ability to negotiate similar agreements with other companies. Apple joined Google's request in a separate filing. "The specific financial terms of Google's agreement with Apple are highly sensitive to both Google and Apple," Google said in its Jan. 20 filing. "Both Apple and Google have always treated this information as extremely confidential." The transcript vanished without a trace from electronic court records at about 3 p.m. Pacific standard time with no indication that the court ruled on Google's request to seal it. The case is Oracle America Inc. v. Google Inc., 10- cv-03561, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). It looked as if St. Louis rapper Chingy offered up his support to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Friday, while just as quickly backing away from it. Chingys initial Tweet read: Politics vs society. People should innerstand that politics is a business jus like the job you work at. I vote for @realDonaldTrump "YEP" 3 The rush to criticize the Right Thurr rapper was brisk, leading to this: Everything I wrote has been taken completely out of context...but I'm trending though. lmao #LiveofACeleb #TwitterIsTheDevil #NoEndorsement He also posted an "always look before you leap" Tweet. In the end, what Chingy is saying is that while he agrees with a couple things Trump has said including keeping terrorism out of the United States, "I didn't know about some of the negative things I he had to say about some of the races out here and about the hip-hop community. I didn't know a lot of the negative things, I was kind of commenting off reading that article and reading some of the good things that he said, so that's kind of where my comments came from." Heres the thing. Chingy can endorse whichever candidate he wants. Thats his business and his right, and he has to live with his choice. But how was he unaware of the things that Trump has said? Chingy and fellow St. Louis rapper M.C, by the way, have a new single and video out called YOU from their upcoming album The Purge. Mark Fairchild was no Donald Trump. But Fairchild did to Illinois Democrats what Trumps enduring popularity now threatens to do to the nations Republicans. It is a memory worth revisiting. If Trump gets nominated for the presidency, there is a chance that some people of, uh, more traditional GOP views would be inclined to put up a third-party candidate as the de facto real Republican. It would be like nothing the country has seen in modern times. But Illinois has. I was a reporter with a front-row seat. The election year 1986 started with a presumption of a rematch between James Thompson and Adlai Stevenson III for governor. Thompson, a Republican, had won an unprecedented third term in 1982 by a margin so thin it would be two months before vote counters were certain that Democratic challenger Stevenson had lost. Might 86 be Stevensons year? While Thompson had the power of incumbency, Stevenson brought back a close call from before and a hallowed name. The son and namesake of a governor and two-time presidential nominee, he also had strong credentials of his own: He had been state treasurer and U.S. senator before sacrificing the seat in his first quest to be governor. So far so good. But that years March 18 primary election featured the political equivalent of a roadside bomb. In those days, parties nominated candidates for Illinois governor and lieutenant governor in separate primary votes, but the two had to run as a team in the general election. Stevenson was nominated, as expected, but his anticipated running mate, George Sangmeister, was not. The voters instead chose the obscure Mr. Fairchild, presumably without realizing that he was part of the bizarre political apparatus of Lyndon LaRouche, a perennial presidential candidate and extremist of quite peculiar views. Another LaRouche acolyte, Janice Hart, also got nominated, for secretary of state, in a separate party disaster. But that was nothing compared to the Stevenson mess. It meant that a vote for him in November also would be a vote for Fairchild, and by association, LaRouche. That political bomb, hidden along the campaign trail, had exploded. When the smoke cleared, Stevenson whose very name spoke Democratic politics in Illinois fled the ticket to become standard bearer of a made-up new party: Solidarity. In the elections for governor and secretary of state, it became the real Democratic Party. (A new party was the only recourse, by the way, since the deadline to file as independents had passed.) The reason for Solidarity takes a little explaining. It was the name of the closely watched labor movement in Poland battling Communist repression at the time. And Chicago, the storehouse of Illinois Democrats votes, is heavily Polish. (Thats why Illinois is the only state to celebrate a Casimir Pulaski holiday, in honor of the Polish military officer who helped America win the Revolutionary War.) There was at least one goofy twist to forming a new party. To qualify, Solidarity was required to put up a candidate for each state office, even though its purpose was to elect only the displaced Democrats running for governor and secretary of state. I devoted a whole story to the strange duty of Einar Dyhrkopp, a Democratic Party stalwart from Shawneetown, Ill., who was enlisted by Solidarity to run against his good friend, Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon. As the non-candidate candidate, Dyhrkopp actively campaigned against himself, reminding people to vote for Dixon. From the voters perspective, confusion reigned, all the way to the voting booths and how to mark the ballots. It was hard to know how much of the races outcome was shaped by that confusion and how much by the contestants personalities. Thompson projected out-sized personal magnetism, while Stevenson came across like some policy wonk working in the campaigns back room. So Thompson, who had defeated Stevenson by barely more than one-tenth of one percentage point in 1982, won by a landslide 13 points in 1986. For the record, Frank Broven, who ended up running with Fairchild under the Democratic Party label, received not quite 7 percent of the vote. Before the election that ended his elective career, Stevenson told one crowd of supporters, You have been through the political ordeal of the century. He meant the 20th century of course. The political ordeal of the 21st may be lurking later this year. Chris Correa, the former St. Louis Cardinals scouting director who hacked the Houston Astros, used consumer software and a password based on the name of a scrawny player to achieve the hack, according to a court transcript released Saturday. The transcript also explains how prosecutors and Correas attorney arrived at the $1.7 million loss to the Astros that will earn Correa extra time in prison. Most of the details of Correas Jan. 8 guilty plea to five counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer emerged in statements by prosecutors and team and MLB officials after the hearing. In court, he admitted accessing accounts of three Astros employees and viewing emails and volumes of information about aspiring major leaguers. But because he waived indictment and pleaded guilty, the hearing was not listed on public schedules and few media were present to report the details. In court, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes questioned Correa closely about the details of the plea, and whether he knew the ramifications of admitting to the crimes. Near the beginning of the hearing, Hughes asks Correa to explain about the Astros proprietary database of draft information dubbed Ground Control. Correa does. Hughes then asks, And do I correctly understand that you, while working for the Cardinals, went to the Astros cloud and got their data so you could see what they were interested in and what they were planning to do with players and draft picks current or past or whatever? Correa admits that he trespassed repeatedly, but then says that it wasnt his original intention. He said he originally trespassed ... based on suspicions that they had misappropriated proprietary work from myself and my colleagues. So you broke in their house to find out if they were stealing your stuff? Hughes asked. Stupid, I know, Correa responded. Correa also referenced unspecified colleagues later, when he said he told them about finding information he claimed belonged to the Cardinals. His attorney, David Adler, then pointed out, He did not go to the FBI, which is obviously what he should have done. Nor did he write a memo, he told Hughes. Houston and its general manager, Jeff Luhnow, formerly of the Cardinals, have repeatedly denied any suggestion that the Astros were in possession of proprietary Cardinals information. After Correas plea, Astros lawyer Giles Kibbe told reporters that the Cardinals had never raised any concerns about what Correa claimed to have seen in the Astros database. Cardinals officials have denied Correas claims. And Matthew Schelp, an attorney for four Cardinals employees who worked with Correa, said that he was not aware of any such information being shared with ... the Cardinals employees I represent. During the discussion of the loss amount, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Chu, who handled the hearing, listed the formula used to arrive at $1.7 million. But since much of the data that we looked at focused on the 2013 draft, what we did was we took the number of players that he looked at by 200 and we divided that by the number of players that were eligible to be drafted that year, and we multiplied that times the scouting budget of the Astros that year. That comes to $1.7 million, he said. Hughes then asked a series of questions, culminating with his question about whether $1.7 million represented how much they spent working up their own profiles of these players and their abilities and cost and that sort of thing? Chu agreed. In federal court, where Correa will be sentenced April 11, financial loss is one of the factors driving the recommended prison time an expected three to four years. In Correas case, the size of the loss made years of prison time much more likely. Correa was able to hack the database because an Astros employee used a password there that was similar to what hed used when he worked for the Cardinals. Correa gained access to that employees laptop when he turned it in, court documents show. It was based on the name of a player who was scrawny and who would not have been thought to succeed in the major leagues, but through effort and determination he succeeded anyway, Chu said. The Astros employee just liked that name, so he just kept on using that name over the years. Correa has been released on $20,000 bail. COLLINSVILLE Survey any school administrator and theyll tell you that teachers miss school for all sorts of reasons. Professional development days and flu season are the big ones. And administrators can only guess why absences spike on Fridays. But whatever the reason, when a teacher is out, school districts have to scramble to find substitutes. And while the pool of available substitutes is never big enough, theres a fear the numbers could dwindle even further starting in 2018 when substitute teachers throughout Illinois will have to pass an additional proficiency test before they can teach in a classroom. We have a tough enough time finding substitutes now. This is only going to make it tougher, and it will likely drive up costs, said Robert Green, superintendent of Collinsville School District. The sentiment is much the same in Alton, where administrators say its not uncommon to have 75 teachers out on a single day because of staff training and illness. And just as in Collinsville, Alton district officials say they are not against higher academic standards. District spokeswoman Kristie Baumgartner said Alton was already different than others in that it required higher standards for their substitute teachers. In most of Illinois, a substitute is required only to have a bachelors degree and then pass a basic skills test within five years. (The new standard will require an additional exam.) In Alton, a substitute needs those same requirements plus a teacher certificate, except in unusual situations. So, Baumgartner explains, the new proficiency test probably wont affect the quality of substitute teaching in Alton schools, it will just make the pool smaller. We are optimistically concerned, she said. Were always in favor of higher levels of accountability. We want to put the best professionals in front our students, but by increasing the required components, it only decreases the potential pool. A variety of factors contributes to the shortage of substitutes in Illinois and in the St. Louis area. Low pay and an improving economy are the explanations most often cited. The call for more accountability mirrors whats been going on nationally in the past decade as higher education standards have come under fire. The premise is that K-12 schools struggle because of poorly trained teachers. From there, policymakers point fingers at the colleges that train teachers and pass laws that require a greater volume of tests prospective teachers have to take while in college and after they graduate. Many of the people who train teachers caution that in the rush to fix underperforming K-12 schools, data are often misinterpreted and teachers and teacher-education programs become scapegoats. Robert Daiber, the regional superintendent of schools for Madison County, said he, other superintendents and the Illinois State Board of Education were working with the Legislature to relax some of the requirements that lead to substitute teacher shortages. Daiber said there were enough problems already finding qualified substitutes willing to teach for about $90 a day, particularly in areas such as the Metro East. Being a substitute is not consistent work, he said. And with the perception of low pay, theres not a lot of carrots out there to attract young people to the profession. If you make it too difficult, people are going to choose to do other things with their bachelors degrees. For decades, children who have fared the worst academically in St. Louis have been those in its neighborhood schools. They tend to come from unstable housing situations, from the deepest poverty. Most dont qualify for higher performing choice or magnet schools, or they have parents who didnt try to enroll them. They end up in classrooms with high concentrations of children with skills below grade level, who bounce from school to school, with the smallest chance of graduating. Some of this appears to be changing. Last year, gains made in the citys neighborhood schools were so significant that St. Louis Public Schools experienced its best performance in more than a decade, as measured by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Those gains were primarily in academics and attendance. And they occurred at schools that have long been considered some of the districts most troubled ones, such as Oak Hill Elementary in the Bevo Mill neighborhood, at Yeatman-Liddell Middle School in Penrose, and at Roosevelt High School in Tower Grove East. At some schools, progress can be fragile made one year and lost the next. But at Mann Elementary in Tower Grove South, improvements that took root under a new principal in 2010 continue to carry the school forward. Its about investing in people, said Nicole Conaway, the principal. Its not about a program or anything like that. If I wouldnt put my child in a classroom, then I shouldnt put anyones child in that classroom. Historically, St. Louis has performed poorly as an entire district even as it has had some of the best schools in the state such as the celebrated Metro Academic and Classical High School, a selective magnet school near St. Louis University. Some critics say the success of magnet schools has come at the expense of neighborhood schools, leaving them with less talented students and fewer resources. But for three years, St. Louis Public Schools has sent extra help to its most troubled buildings. The lowest-performing schools most often neighborhood schools have received additional nurses, counselors, social workers, reading and math specialists. Thousands of students in these buildings are getting high dosage tutoring in reading and math. Principals have received leadership training. Some have received hundreds of thousands of additional dollars in federal School Improvement Grants, allowing them to stock reading resource rooms, upgrade technology and hire additional staff. In all, 46 of the districts 71 schools showed gains last year over 2013-14. And of those that showed growth, more than half had also improved the previous year. Now, fully half of St. Louis schools are doing well enough to be considered accredited if the state were to accredit individual buildings. But the approach has not been a universal success. Half of schools are still below the states standard, which is why Superintendent Kelvin Adams didnt hold any rallies last fall when the district posted its best performance scores in more than a decade. Instead, he served a cake one afternoon to his administrative team. We just took a deep breath, Adams said. Everybodys still working hard. Everybodys still believing we have to get to the next step. This is just one indicator. constant monitoring At Oak Hill Elementary, the improvement is taking place amid a backdrop of profound changes in its working-class neighborhood. The two-story red brick school enrolls a large Bosnian and Hispanic population in the heart of the Bevo Mill neighborhood. But about half of students are from immigrant families of other nationalities, whose parents speak Albanian, Pashtu, Russian and Vietnamese. Most of the 320 children come from low-income households. And yet the school is succeeding with what might best be described as a mathematical approach one that has school leaders zeroing in on students who in the past may have fallen through the cracks. It requires a constant monitoring of their academic progress through regular testing and weekly meetings among teachers who use data to adjust their instruction. A colorful mural in the first floor hallway shows where students fall in reading proficiency. One afternoon in October, Ricardo Wilkes, a fifth-grader, left the computer lab after completing the monthly reading assessment. He just learned his name would move to a different category on the mural. Ricardo had advanced more than one year in a matter of months. I was so happy, for real, I couldnt even talk, Ricardo said. My score went up. It went up like it had never before! For the better part of a decade, Oak Hill was one of the poorest performing elementary schools in the St. Louis school system. But last year, a focus on attendance and English began to pay off. Teachers were more strategic in how they worked with English language learners. Reading scores shot up. Parents are increasingly at the school. Every morning, about 20 moms and dads stand against the wall in the gym, watching the principal lead the daily rally to boost excitement about the school day. Kelly Morris drops off her son after working the night shift at Walmart. Shakita Hayes lingers for a few minutes before leaving for work at a nearby day care. On Monday nights, immigrant parents come to the school to learn English. Once a month, the school holds parent outreach meetings for those interested in how to make healthier meals, help their children with math or motivating their child to read more. Oak Hill earned 77 percent of points available on Missouris school report card last year, up from 41 percent in 2013-14. But that doesnt mean most Oak Hill students are passing state exams. In fact, one out of three were reading at grade level last year, based on results from the Missouri Assessment Program. And less than one in five were proficient in math. Oak Hill earned its score under a state system that rewards students for the fact that theyre improving, even if they have yet to show they can pass standardized tests. It could be years before most reach proficiency. On the Friday after winter break began, Principal Karessa Morrow met with teachers about the recent round of assessments internal tests that provide continuous monitoring of where students are and how they might do on the MAP. Right now we are at a good place, Morrow said. In every room 50 percent or more of the kids are at grade level. Weve been in school 82 days already. Weve got to figure out how to get at least 80 percent of kids on mastery. Knowing their stories The work in St. Louis Public Schools is happening at every level, with various degrees of success. The district has tried a number of initiatives in the past eight years: Pilot schools. Gender-based classrooms. A selective-admission medical high school. Saturday school for students in the lowest-performing buildings. Additional help has come in the form of federally funded School Improvement Grants, which last three years and require intense accountability. Oak Hill is in its third year of receiving this grant, and the money is about to run out. Morrow has chosen to use some of the money on a social worker Duane Gill who spends about a third of his time working to improve attendance. Gill knows back stories of nearly every child in the school the circumstances with their parents and their siblings, the medical issues, the housing situations. Once a week, he joins Morrow and other staff in the school library to go over the list of those who have missed more than 10 percent of school this year. On a Monday in December, there were 52 of them. A child caught in a custody battle. A boy with a medical condition. Homeless children with unreliable transportation. A girl who leaves an hour early every day because of her fathers work schedule. Children whose parents need an interpreter to communicate with school staff. The low-attendance group represented just 15 percent of the student body. But they could make or break the schools success this year, since a portion of a schools performance rating is based on attendance. That week, Gill would visit the homes of several children on the list. Occasionally, he reports parents to the state Department of Family Services for educational neglect. Trying to get these parents to understand that the value of education is important, he said. Embracing data Inside a conference room near the superintendents office, a wall with data illustrates performance at every school trends that are at times promising and at times troublesome. The numbers change weekly depending on attendance, benchmark exams, suspensions and teacher absenteeism. The districts network of superintendents meet once a month to analyze this data. It leads to other meetings with staff at those schools. The data-driven approach is one that has taken time for some principals and staff at schools to embrace. At Mann Elementary, Conaway arrived as principal in 2010 to find a staff that was uncertain about how to use the data it was gleaning from tests, discipline incidents and attendance records. It was something on the wall and not something they knew what to do with, she said. After replacing about half the teachers, Conaway began working with staff on how to use data to inform their teaching. They matched students with scientifically proven interventions. And almost immediately, students were learning faster than they had been. Even then, the payoff in terms of state exams wasnt immediate. It was very discouraging those first three years, Conaway said. We had kids wed moved them two grade levels in one year, but our MAP scores werent showing that. But parents in the neighborhood were taking notice of the changes. Maryanne Dersch stopped by for a visit in 2013. Her two youngest children had been at magnet schools and private schools, and neither were working for them. At Mann, Dersch found a principal and teachers who were excited to teach her children. She left the visit moved to tears, she said, and immediately enrolled her kids. This is their third year at the school. The last place I looked was our neighborhood school, Dersch said. Automatically, parents in the city say you cant choose your neighborhood school, when theyve never set foot in those schools to see. Whats best The most sought-after schools in St. Louis are its magnet and choice schools schools that admit children based on academic and behavior criteria, and have an area of focus, such as international studies or the arts. Neighborhood schools will accept any child within their attendance boundaries. By the time children reach third grade, neighborhood schools have become a default for children who are multiple grade levels behind. They feed into the three comprehensive high schools, Roosevelt, Vashon and Sumner, which rank among the least successful high schools in the state. When children come to Roosevelt in the ninth grade, they come four to five years below grade level in mathematics and reading, Principal Crystal Gale said during a recent panel discussion. We dont blame them for their circumstances. Theyve been passed through a system that has allowed them to fail because of lack of resources, and possibly a lack of people who care. Roosevelt experienced double-digit gains last year. Vashon and Sumner also made gains. Gale said community support was critical to its improvement. Volunteers from St. Louis University and Washington University help prepare students for the ACT. A partnership with Mercy Hospital allows for a health clinic, with also provides teachers to understand trauma and how it impacts behavior. As St. Louis Public Schools works to improve, it must overcome challenges most suburban districts dont have. Twenty percent of its 24,000 students are classified as homeless, meaning they have no permanent address. The number of children who transfer in and out of some schools during one year exceeds the number of students enrolled, creating classrooms that are in constant upheaval. At Yeatman-Liddell Middle School, peak enrollment was 390 children last year. But more than 700 attended the school at some point between August and May. You cant use We have a transient population as a reason for not being excellent, said T-Herbert Jeffrey, assistant principal. He greeted a mother and her son who sat waiting to meet with school administrators about enrolling. Afterward, Jeffrey said he was trying to assure the mother that her son would get a good education at Yeatman. Every parent who comes through the door theres one common denominator, he said. They want whats best for their kid. Last year, the school had funding to have two assistant principals. Together, they made hundreds of phone calls to parents and got behavior under control, giving the principal more time to focus on academics. The schools performance jumped more than 50 percentage points. This year, the number of assistant principals is back down to one. Tiffany Anderson, the superintendent who led the dramatic turnaround in Jennings schools, will be leaving this summer to lead the Topeka School District in Kansas. She accepted the job on Thursday after wrestling over whether leaving Jennings was the right move. She will be the first African-American woman to lead Topeka schools. The Topeka School Board voted on Friday to accept her contract. I dont want this to be any kind of unintended message that things dont last when they are going well, Anderson said. I want my transition to be a message that each individual makes a tremendous difference and together we can move mountains. Anderson, 43, arrived in Jennings in 2012 when the district was suffering financially and academically with a $2 million deficit and some of the states lowest test scores. Nearly all of its 2,600 students are black and come from poverty. Four years later, the district has a balanced budget and full accreditation. The graduation rate at Jennings High School has risen to 93 percent three points above the state rate. Jennings has become a model for whats possible in a district that once cut bus service to save money. From the beginning, Anderson said she was determined to remove the obstacles that so often keep poor children from learning. And her approach has resulted in a school district food pantry, washers and dryers at elementary schools and a home for homeless students. At the same time, Anderson increased the academic intensity. A college prep program gives middle schoolers an honors track starting in sixth grade. Teachers at the high school received the credentials so their students can receive college credit in high school. Music, dance and drama programs were restored. When I came to Jennings I saw so much possibility, she said. I didnt see the challenges. Anderson never relocated to the St. Louis area. She and her husband live in suburban Kansas City. They have two children in college. Anderson commuted between Jennings and Overland Park, Kan., as both children completed high school. On July 1, Anderson will take charge of a school district about 90 minutes from her home, and more than four times the size of Jennings. Topeka schools face similar financial and academic challenges as Jennings in 2012. Schools there are predominantly low-income with Hispanics and African-Americans making up the majority population. The graduation rate is less than 80 percent. Andersons experience is what the Topeka board was looking for, said Patrick Woods, chairman of the School Board. Her time successfully leading districts with diverse populations and improving test scores in her district is something that resonated with our board. Anderson said she was drawn to Topeka schools because of their continued segregation 62 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. You have some significant challenges of poverty and equity, Anderson said. Andersons departure was met with disappointment by members of the Jennings School Board, who expressed gratitude for the work shes done. I hate the idea she is leaving, said Rose Mary Johnson, whos served 22 years on the Jennings School Board. But I understand there are so many districts that are like Jennings, maybe worse off, that need a touch. Dr. Anderson has not only touched our district, but other superintendents in how they do things. Anderson will continue leading Jennings schools until June 30. The School Board will name an interim superintendent to run the district through the 2016-17 school year as it searches for her replacement. Shes leaving the district in good condition, said Harold Austin, president of the Jennings School Board. Its up to the board to keep the momentum going. I dont think they have a clone for Dr. Anderson. But were going to try find the closest one we can. How St. Louis-area members of Congress voted in the week of Jan. 18-22. The House of Representatives was not in session for votes during the week. Senate Iraqi, Syrian Refugee Screening The Senate on Jan. 20 failed, 55-43, to reach 60 votes for advancing a bill (HR 4038) that would require the heads of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation and intelligence agencies to clear all refugee applicants from Iraq and Syria. This would add layers to the existing two-year-long clearance process. A yes vote was to start debate on the bill. Yes Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Mark Kirk, R-Ill. No Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Clean Water Act, Presidential Veto Voting 52-40, the Senate on Jan. 21 failed to advance to a direct vote on President Barack Obamas veto of a bill related to the 1972 Clean Water Act. This ended a Republican bid (SJ Res 22) to kill an Environmental Protection Agency rule protecting waters upstream of navigable waters under the act. A yes vote was in opposition to the new EPA rule. Yes Kirk, Blunt No McCaskill, Durbin Federal Judge Wilhelmina Wright By a vote of 58-36, the Senate on Jan. 19 confirmed Wilhelmina Marie Wright as a federal judge for the District of Minnesota. The vote occurred nine months after her nomination by Obama. Wright, 52, had been a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court since 2012, the first African-American woman to serve on that court. A yes vote was to confirm Judge Wright. Yes McCaskill, Kirk, Durbin No Blunt Key Votes Ahead The week of Jan. 25, the House will debate a bill on sanctioning Iran, while the Senate will take up energy legislation. The votes and descriptions are compiled by Voterama in Congress, a legislative tracking organization. The Drury hotel chain wants to build a seven-story, 180-room facility along Interstate 70 just west of the Blanchette Bridge near the Missouri River. If approved soon by city officials, construction on the Drury Inn and Suites would begin in April south of the I-70 interchange at Fifth Street in St. Charles in the development known as Streets of St. Charles. Plans call for the hotel to open around the fall of next year, according to a report submitted recently to the City Council by the Streets project developer, Cullinan Properties of Peoria, Ill. A rendering of the hotel shows it on the north end of the 27-acre Cullinan site, just east of a recently opened Pieology pizza restaurant. A two-level parking garage would be built nearby. The report says the hotels design would be comparable to that of the Drury Inn and Suites in Brentwood, which opened in 2014 at Highway 40 (Interstate 64) and Brentwood Boulevard. The document doesnt include the cost of construction. Drury officials could not be reached for comment Friday. The hotel plan is scheduled to be outlined to the city Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night. The city also must sign off on a reconfiguration of overall Streets of St. Charles plans. Thats in a proposed ordinance pending before the council. The first phase of Streets of St. Charles opened in 2012. The project, on the site of the old Noahs Ark restaurant and motel, so far includes various businesses, eateries, offices and an apartment complex. The new Drury hotel would be near two other large high-rise hotels that opened in the last decade or so. One is part of the sprawling Ameristar Casino development just north of I-70. The other, an Embassy Suites, is adjacent to the St. Charles Convention Center one highway exit to the west at Fairgrounds Road. Some smaller hotels also are nearby. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen is recommending that trustees freeze tuition for a second straight year for instate freshmen. Killeen said in a statement Wednesday that the university needs to ensure students from Illinois can still afford to go to school at one of its three campuses. Killeen had said earlier that he would like to avoid raising tuition but was not sure that was possible given that the state's budget stalemate. Trustees are scheduled to vote on tuition and housing rates for next school year at their meeting Thursday in Chicago. Tuition for instate students would remain at $12,036 a year at the Urbana-Champaign campus, $10,584 in Chicago and $9,405 in Springfield. Under Illinois law, freshman starting at state schools pay the same tuition for four years. ST. LOUIS Along most of the low country swamped by recent record flooding, good news arrived in a presidential declaration that opens up grants and low-interest loans to victims of high water. This means a lot to the people, said Arnold police Detective Omar Ruiz, who has coordinated that citys efforts. Its another way to continue their recovery. Ruiz said about 40 households in Arnold still hadnt returned home. Nine dwellings were destroyed in the Meramec River flood that crested Dec. 31. There was major damage to 146 more, and 53 were listed with minor damage, he said. They are among roughly 1,750 dwellings throughout the metro area affected by flooding, mostly along the Meramec. About 1,300 of them have at least minor damage, and the American Red Cross estimates that 270 of them may need to be demolished. Nearly 1,000 households have sought assistance from the Multi-Agency Resource Centers, a consortium of local charities and government agencies, said Red Cross spokeswoman Peggy Barnhart. The declaration Thursday by President Barack Obama covers 33 of the 41 Missouri counties for which Gov. Jay Nixon sought federal aid. Included are Franklin, Jefferson, St. Louis and St. Charles counties in the metro area, and neighboring counties of Lincoln, Crawford, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield has assembled information and is calculating whether the state can apply for a federal declaration, a spokeswoman said Friday. The agency hopes to make a decision by the end of next week. In St. Clair and Madison counties, most damage was along the Kaskaskia River and in low places on the American Bottom. Herb Simmons, the St. Clair County emergency services director, reported 162 affected dwellings, including 47 with structural damage, and three damaged businesses. Simmons said he didnt know whether any will have to be demolished. He also reported $2.1 million in damage to roads, bridges and other public structures. Madison County reported $9 million in damage, mostly to public works. Deputy emergency director Mary Brown said none of the mobile homes surrounded by rising water was destroyed. John Mills, an area spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urged flood victims to call 800-621-3362, or go to www.disasterassistance.gov to schedule inspections of damage. Mills said the agency does not yet have an office location established. He said people could seek grants to help pay for uninsured damage to the structure and contents of primary dwellings, relocation costs, temporary housing and other flood-related expenses. Mills said there were no income requirements for FEMA grants, but the maximum is $33,000, and few households obtain that much. People eligible by income also can seek low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration to repair uninsured property losses, including dwellings, vehicles and personal property. Cleanup and debris removal continues. AmeriCorps, which is coordinating volunteers, said people willing to help Saturday can assemble at Eureka United Methodist Church, 215 North Central Avenue in Eureka, and the firehouse in West Alton. Shifts are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Flood victims who need volunteers to help clean properties can call 211, the general metro help line. OMAHA, Neb. Rival factions yelling at one another amid angry pushing. Tirades about condoms and claims of misinformation. A parent declaring that children are being force-fed course material straight from the pits of hell. Such has been the tenor of recent school board meetings in Omaha as board members contemplated the first update in three decades of the school districts sex education curriculum. A public meeting in October ended in chaos after shouting and shoving broke out between supporters and opponents of the update who had packed by the hundreds into an auditorium. This month, as board members sat in stoic silence, activists from both sides vented their feelings during three hours of public comment reflecting divisions that have bedeviled school boards nationwide, as well as state legislatures and even Congress. Kathryn Russell, a grandmother who formerly worked for the Omaha school district, said the proposed curriculum rapes children of their innocence. Another critic, Jesse Martinez, used the pits of hell reference, calling elements of the course material garbage. Supporters of the update ranging from the president of the city council to students who spoke exhorted the school board to equip students with reliable information that would help the Omaha region lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases that are above the national average. I have a right to this information, said Ryleigh Welsh, a sophomore at Omahas Central High School. Sexual health is more than just sex. Its about understanding and taking care of your body and being prepared for a healthy future. In Omaha, as in many U.S. communities, some parents and conservative activists insist that any school-based sex education emphasize sexual abstinence as the wisest course. Yet as more young people turn to social media and online resources including pornography for sex-related information, theres pressure on schools from other quarters to offer accurate, candid information that can compete with and correct whats available beyond the classroom. The notion that sex education is limited to what happens in school is an antiquated one, said Bill Albert, chief program officer of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. It is one of several organizations thats developing online sex education to supplement school-based programs. In Omaha, school board president Lou Ann Goding said one of the motivations for updating the sex-ed curriculum is to counter misinformation that students encounter outside of school. Theres so much social media and other sources that they can go to that are not always reliable, Goding said. Sex education in America has a long and checkered history, winning the backing of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1940, gaining traction in the 1980s during the early years of the AIDS epidemic but generating steady opposition from social conservatives. Omaha Public Schools, which serves about 52,000 students, has taught sex education since 1986 as part of a course called Human Growth and Development. Abstinence is encouraged in the curriculum, which also covers such topics as reproductive anatomy, pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted diseases. The updates would add discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in seventh and eighth grades, and discussion of abortion and emergency contraception in 10th-grade lessons on birth control. The school district conducted a telephone survey of about 1,500 parents last year, and reported that a sizable majority supported adding those topics to the curriculum. But the margins of support for the abortion and emergency contraception components were smaller than for other topics, and school officials now plan to omit them. Over the course of 2015, some churches and other groups began to circulate criticisms of the districts plans. Spearheading the opposition is a conservative Christian group, Nebraskans for Founders Values, which held briefings at local churches and encouraged skeptical citizens to attend school board meetings. Many of the opponents allegations have been denied by the school district, including claims that the new curriculum was designed by Planned Parenthood, would authorize school staff to take students to get abortions, and would provide them with birth control. Board members stress that none of the sex-ed courses will be mandatory parents must opt their children into the classes offered in fourth, fifth and sixth grade, and can keep them out of the classes in middle school and high school. Topics for fourth graders include puberty and how to stay safe from sexual abuse; by middle school students are learning about methods of contraception. The board approved the new standards for the sex-ed program on Wednesday. The changes are expected to be implemented in the fall. Sex education is taught in varied forms and under different rules across the 50 states. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 22 states require public schools to teach sex education. In other states, including Nebraska, its generally up to individual school districts to decide what form of sex education, if any, is offered. In 35 states, parents are allowed to keep their children out of sex-ed classes. Theres no detailed nationwide breakdown of how Americas 13,500 school districts handle sex education, although the Centers for Disease Control compiles partial data. Its latest report, with 2014 data, suggests that programs in most school districts stress the benefits of sexual abstinence, while a smaller portion offer instruction in high school about usage of specific contraceptive methods. In most of the U.S., fewer than half of high schools and only a fifth of middle schools teach all 16 topics recommended by the CDC as essential components of sex education. While the federal government has no direct role in dictating sex-education curriculum, it has influence in the form of federal funding for various programs. From 1981, the start of Ronald Reagans administration, through 2009, such funds went predominantly to abstinence-only programs; since 2010, under President Barack Obama, abstinence funding has been reduced and larger sums appropriated for comprehensive sex-ed programs. Rival advocacy groups lobbied hard in Congress last year to get a favorable outcome for their approach. The end result maintained annual spending at about $100 million for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which incorporates comprehensive sex education, and doubled spending from $5 million to $10 million to abstinence-oriented programs. According to the CDCs latest figures, from 2013, 44 percent of female teens and 47 percent of male teens between 15 and 19 have had sexual intercourse. GAZIANTEP, Turkey Mohammed Saad, a Syrian activist, was imprisoned by the Islamic State group, hung by his arms and beaten regularly. Then one day, his jailers quickly pulled him and other prisoners down and hid them in a bathroom. The reason? A senior Muslim cleric was visiting to inspect the facility. The cleric had told the fighters running the prison that they shouldnt torture prisoners and that anyone held without charge must be released within 30 days, Saad told the Associated Press. Once the coast was clear, the prisoners were returned to their torment. Its a criminal gang pretending to be a state, Saad said, speaking in Turkey, where he fled in October. All this talk about applying Shariah and Islamic values is just propaganda, Daesh is about torture and killing, he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Erratic justice Syrians who have recently escaped the Islamic State groups rule say public disillusionment is growing as Islamic State has failed to live up to its promises to install a utopian Islamic rule of justice, equality and good governance. Instead, the group has come to resemble the dictatorial rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad that many Syrians had sought to shed, with a reliance on informers who have silenced a fearful populace. Rather than equality, society has seen the rise of a new elite class the jihadi fighters who enjoy special perks and favor in the courts, looking down on the commoners and even ignoring the rulings of their own clerics. Despite the atrocities that made it notorious, the Islamic State group had raised hopes among some fellow Sunnis when it overran their territories across parts of Syria and Iraq and declared a caliphate in the summer of 2014. It presented itself as a contrast to Assads rule, bringing justice through its extreme interpretation of Shariah and providing services to residents, including loans to farmers, water and electricity, and alms to the poor. Its propaganda machine promoting the dream of an Islamic caliphate helped attract jihadis from around the world. In Istanbul and several Turkish cities near the Syrian border, the AP spoke to more than a dozen Syrians who fled Islamic State-controlled territory in recent months. Most spoke on condition they be identified only by their first names or by the nicknames they use in their political activism for fear of Islamic State reprisals against themselves or their families. Daesh justice has been erratic, said Nayef, who hails from the Islamic State-held eastern Syrian town of al-Shadadi and escaped to Turkey in November with his family, largely because of Russian airstrikes. They started off good and then, gradually, things got worse. The group has recruited informers in the towns and cities it controls to watch out for any sign of opposition. Like under the (Assad) regime, we were also afraid to talk against Daesh to anyone we dont fully trust, said Fatimah, 33, whose hometown of Palmyra was taken over by Islamic State early last year. She fled to Turkey in November with her husband and five children to escape Russian and Syrian airstrikes. Making enemies Islamic State has also become less able to provide public services, in large part because military reversals appear to have put strains on its finances. U.S. and Russian airstrikes have heavily hit its oil infrastructure a major source of funds. Over the past year, the group has lost 30 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq and Syria, according to the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition. Many of those interviewed by the AP said there are lengthier cutoffs of water and electricity in their towns and cities and prices for oil and gas have risen. Abu Salem, an activist from the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, said public acceptance of Islamic State rule is eroding. It has made an enemy of almost everyone, he told the AP in the Turkish city of Reyhanli on the Syrian border. One sign of the distance between the claims and realities is a 12-page manifesto by Islamic State detailing its judicial system. The document, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, heavily emphasizes justice and tolerance. For example, it sets out the duties of the Hisba, the religious police who ensure people adhere to the groups dress codes, strict separation of genders and other rules. A Hisba member must be gentle and pleasant toward those he orders or reprimands, it says. He must be flexible and good mannered so that his influence is greater and the response (he gets) is stronger. Yet, the escaped Syrians all complained of the brutal extremes that Hisba members resort to. One woman who lived in Raqqa said that if a woman is considered to have violated the dress codes, the militants flog her husband, since he is seen as responsible for her. When her neighbor put out the garbage without being properly covered, she said, the womans husband was whipped. Abu Manaf, 44, of Deir el-Zour, said some clerics challenged the groups enforcers over their wanton use of strict Shariah punishments such as beheadings, stoning to death, flogging and cutting off limbs. More moderate clerics in Islamic State argued that such punishments can only be implemented under specific conditions. They also complained about the jihadis custom of displaying bodies of the beheaded in public as an example to others, violating Islamic tenets requiring the swift burial of the dead. Many of those moderate clerics disappear, are killed or jailed for crimes they did not commit, said Abu Manaf, who left Deir el-Zour in November, then stayed in the Islamic State groups de facto capital, Raqqa, for three weeks before he reached Turkey. Hossam, who owned a womens clothes shop in Raqqa, said Islamic State members receive perks that sharply set them apart from everyone else. In many cases, young men join the group to escape poverty or protect themselves from Islamic State excesses, he and others said. Those who join Daesh receive a step up in the social ladder, he told the AP in Istanbul. Daesh men drive luxury cars and eat at the best restaurants and whoever has a friend or a relative with Daesh has a better life. DENVER Suspicion over federal plans to restore endangered Mexican gray wolves in the Southwest has spread to Colorado and Utah, where ranchers and officials are fiercely resisting any attempt to import the predators. About 110 Mexican gray wolves a smaller subspecies of the gray wolf now roam a portion of Arizona and New Mexico, nearly two decades after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 11 wolves there to restart a population that had nearly vanished. The agency hopes to complete a comprehensive recovery plan for the Mexican wolf in 2017, and officials say theyve made no decision about releasing them in Colorado or Utah. But neither state is waiting. Their governors joined Arizona and New Mexicos executives in November to accuse the Fish and Wildlife Service of using flawed science and biased experts. They demanded that no Mexican wolves be released outside the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. Wildlife commissioners in Utah and Colorado also spoke out against releasing Mexican wolves in their states the Utah Wildlife Board in December and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission last Wednesday. The Fish and Wildlife Service defended the experts and the process. Mexican wolves have been contentious in Arizona and New Mexico for years. New Mexico officials are resisting proposals to release more wolves. Arizona state lawmakers tried but failed to allow ranchers to kill federally protected wolves in self-defense. Environmental groups, meanwhile, are pushing for the release of more captive-bred wolves to bolster the population in those states. In Colorado and Utah, opponents argue that wolves would inflict costly and cruel losses on cattle and sheep and decimate big game herds that support the lucrative hunting industry. They also say Mexican wolves arent native to their states, and bringing them in could taint the gene pool if they bred with gray wolves roaming down from the northern Rockies. We dont need to introduce another large predatory carnivore to the state, Colorado Wool Growers Association director Bonnie Brown told the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission this month. Mountain lions are already killing pets in urban areas bordering open country. Wolf advocates say the fears are overblown, and that Mexican wolves need more ranges to avoid extinction. Parts of Colorado and Utah would be ideal for wolves, said Jonathan Proctor of Defenders of Wildlife, and he argued that both states are within the wolves historical range. The West needs wolves to help restore balance to the environment, he said. Its we humans who have eradicated all the wolves from the West, Proctor said. Its our responsibility to bring this animal back. Wolves have long been deeply divisive subject in the region. They were hunted, trapped or driven out of many areas by the end of the last century and were regarded as a menace to largely defenseless sheep and cattle. But they also became a symbol for the environmental movement, a noble if fearsome avatar of the wild. To support their arguments, both sides point to the northern Rockies, where the Fish and Wildlife Service estimates about 1,800 gray wolves live in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Wolves began killing hundreds of sheep and cattle after their release in the northern Rockies about 20 years ago, and big game populations fell drastically in some areas, officials said. But they say cattle deaths are declining and game herds are rebounding since wolves were removed from Endangered Species Act protection in Idaho and Montana in 2011. The Fish and Wildlife Service then turned over wolf management to the states, which allow some hunting and sometimes remove or kill problem wolves. We know the wolf population is doing fine and continues to expand, said Mike Jimenez, northern Rockies wolf coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service. We use lethal control on wolves that are causing big problems. Overall agricultural losses are low, but to an individual rancher, they can be devastating, he said. Wolves were briefly removed from federal protection in Wyoming, but safeguards were restored after environmental groups filed lawsuits challenging state management plans. The state is appealing the decision. Legal wrangling is part of what makes wolves so aggravating, said Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. We have learned to live with them, he said of the estimated 330 wolves in Wyoming. We have not learned to live with the never-ending process. Its always fun when some bright-eyed young reformer comes barging into St. Louis City Hall. Its like Welcome to Mordor, Frodo. Last week it was Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway, who came to town to announce that her auditing team had found that Sharon Quigley Carpenter, the citys recorder of deeds, had been doing a poor job of keeping track of the offices money. Throughout this report, the auditor said, you will find examples of a lack of transparency, accountability and responsiveness that citizens expect from their elected leaders. No, we dont expect that. We, the voters of the city of St. Louis, dont care. Carpenter got 61 percent of the vote the last time she ran for office, in November 2014. She usually gets way more than that, but this was against two opponents, one of whom was the incumbent, owing to the fact that Sharon had been forced to resign a few months earlier. We the voters of St. Louis dont care that you, Nicole Galloway, think shes doing a poor job. We just know that shes been recorder of deeds since 1980, two years before you, Nicole Galloway, were born. We know she was elected 23rd Ward Democratic committeewoman when LBJ was president and has been showing up on city ballots since Reagans first term. We see the name Carpenter, we say, yeah, good name. Jesus was a carpenter. The Cardinals have a guy named Matt Carpenter. Maybe shes his mom. Some of us might confuse Sharon Carpenter with Karen Carpenter, whos dead, but we vote for her anyway. Sharon Quigley Carpenter knows city politics backward and forward. She knows there are two ways to get a lifetime gig in government: One is to be appointed a federal judge, the other is to get elected to one of the citys county offices. These are the obscure (except for circuit attorney) offices made possible by the citys dual status as a city and a county. Theyre not what they used to be when there were lots more patronage jobs to pass out, but once youre in, it usually takes a federal indictment to get you out. Sharon Carpenter is so smart she made a scandal work for her. When Mayor Francis G. Slay (for whom Sharon Carpenter had once baby-sat and with whose father, Francis R. Slay, she ran the 23rd Ward) urged her toward the exits in the summer of 2014, Sharon had to resign. There was a teensy little nepotism scandal; shed hired a great-nephew to do some summer work and tapped an office account (none dare call it a slush fund) to pay him. Her deputy had directed some office renovation work to a relative. There was the matter of a city car that Sharons husband had banged up. Those voters old enough to remember real city scandals ghost employees, would-be cable-TV frachisees renting citizens, and aldermen accused of smuggling car-bombing suspects out of hotels in laundry carts we just shook our heads. But not Sharon. She made it work. She resigned her office in July 2014, a few weeks before the August primary election. Mayor Slay appointed Alderman Jennifer Florida to replace her, but the familiar name Sharon Carpenter remained on the Democratic primary ballot. She got 63 percent of the vote. But since she was retired, she could start collecting her pension. Having been a city employee for 34 years, it had maxed out at $4,200 a month. After voters returned her to office in November (hey, she was the Democrat), her $97,000 salary resumed and the $50,400-a-year pension continued. She also put in for a $700-a-month car allowance, to which she was entitled. But she soon dropped that request. She suggested the city buy a new police car instead. Brilliant. So now comes Nicole Galloway, thinking she can take down a giant like this. Other state auditors have tried, and so have auditors from the city comptrollers office. Sharon is like an old Western gunfighter, planting young whippersnappers at Boot Hill. She keeps on recording those deeds, comfortably ensconced in a nicely decorated office with $2,378 worth of new rugs for which she has receipts. All public funds are accounted for, she said. No funds found missing. Mis-spent, maybe. Mis-allocated, perhaps. But not mis-sing. Shes from the South Side; she keeps receipts. She doesnt care what you think about what she spent it on. Bring in your young hipster voters yearning for public office. Bring in your reformers and bean-counters, Democrat and Republican alike. Thanks to voter apathy and ignorance, shes totally bulletproof. The legendary Larry The Czar Williams is gone from the treasurers office. Jim Murphy is thinking of hanging em up at the sheriffs office. Sharon Carpenter will be left as the dean of city officeholders, even though its a county office. City Hall is a very strange place, and Sharon Carpenter is its queen. Even if the United States bases forces in the Philippines that will not mean the U.S. will go to war over continued Chinese control of Filipino offshore waters. Despite a mutual defense agreement the U.S. did not consider the Chinese seizure of Mischief Reef in 1995 and Scarborough Shoal in 2012 an attack on the Philippines that American forces had to resist. More recently the United States refused to answer Filipino queries about whether the U.S. would intervene if China used violence to enforce its offshore claims by only attacking Filipino forces offshore. Filipinos can count and they know that the expansion of Chinese air and naval power since the 1980s makes any planned increase in Filipino military power useless. The Chinese are too numerous and too strong and if they become too aggressive the Philippines will not be able to resist with current and planned forces. That might changes if the Philippines bought affordable weapons that would damage Chinese forces. One way to do this is by using land based anti-ship missiles with enough range and heft to hit Chinese ships. One of the best candidates is from India, which manufactures and offers for export the PJ-10 BrahMos. This three ton missile is 9.4 meter (29 foot) long and 670mm in diameter. It is based on a Russian the Yakhont. Lacking the cash to finish development and begin production of the Yakhont the Russian manufacturer eventually made a deal with India to get it done. India put up most of the $240 million needed to finally complete two decades of development, an effort which produced the long delayed Yakhont and the more capable BrahMos. The PJ-10 entered service in 2006 and is being built in Russia and India, with the Russians assisting India in setting up manufacturing facilities for cruise missile components. India hopes to export up to 2,000, but no one has placed an order yet. Russia and India are encouraged enough to invest in BrahMos 2, which will use a scramjet, instead of a ramjet, in the second stage. This would double the speed and make the missile much more difficult to defend against. The 3.2 ton BrahMos has a range of up to 300 kilometers and a 300 kg (660 pound) warhead. Perhaps the most striking characteristic is its high speed, literally faster (at up to a kilometer per second) than a rifle bullet. The maximum speed of 3,000 kilometers an hour makes it harder to intercept and means it takes five minutes or less to reach its target. The BrahMos is designed to go after high value targets that require great accuracy and a large conventional warhead. The BrahMos can take out land bases or ships. The high price of each missile, about $2.3 million, restricts the number of countries that can afford it. If China lost some warships to a Filipino BrahMos and sought to stop such attacks with air strikes on the Philippines that would trigger the mutual defense treaty with the United States. China has other ways to retaliate, especially economic. China might pressure Russia to prevent India from selling the Brahmos to the Philippines. But at the moment the Philippines doesnt have too many workable defenses against the Chinese takeover of Filipino offshore waters, reefs and small islands, which makes new ideas, like land based anti-ship missiles a possibilty. Meanwhile China continues to insist that it owns the South China Sea despite what anyone else in the neighborhood believes or international treaties say. The neighbors (especially Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines) continue to protest and build up their much smaller air and naval forces. Many Filipinos doubt that the United States would stand fast if China pushed hard. There are no signs that China is going to back down when it comes to its many territorial claims on neighbors. The peace deal with MILF is still stalled in congress. This treaty creates Bangsamoro which is an autonomous Moslem area in the south. The legislature must approve the new law and that, as expected has proved difficult. MILF also has to get the approval of most Moslems in the south, which should be a lot easier, even if all of them dont get all they wanted. The government wants to get the Bangsamoro laws approved before the 2016 presidential elections. The military reported that estimated NPA strength was down about 12 percent from the 4,400 armed personnel it had at the end of 2014. A major reason for the decline more people providing tips (made easier with the growing use of cell phones). This gives the security forces a better idea about where the leftist rebels are and what they are up to. The reduced NPA strength meant that, for the first time, a year went by without any major NPA military operations. NPA no longer has much popular support and increasingly relies on terror to generate fear. Communism has also lost a lot of popular appeal, which can be seen by the sharp decrease in the number of people who will turn out to openly support communist causes (like NPA). These communist rebels are now unwelcome and under constant attack in areas they have operated in for decades. This has encouraged many NPA members to back peace negotiations, something leftist rebels have been doing with increasing frequency since so many communist dictatorships collapsed between 1989 and 1991. Efforts to get peace talks going are stalled by hard core NPA factions that demand considerable government concessions (like the release of 30 jailed NPA leaders) before talks even begin. The government will talk, but not make concessions first. The military reported that in 2015 at least 133 members of Islamic terrorist group Abu Sayyaf were killed by the security forces. Another 13 Abu Sayyaf men were arrested and apparently over 150 Abu Sayyaf were badly wounded by the military. These actions cost the security forces 18 dead and 80 wounded. Despite that Abu Sayyaf still attracts recruits and several hundred are still active in the Moslem south. Earlier in the month a video appeared on the Internet in which Abu Sayyaf officially pledged its loyalty to ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and revealed new, more aggressive, leaders. In late 2015 ISIL announced that it was planning on moving into the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. At the moment Abu Sayyaf Abu Sayyaf survives mainly via kidnapping for ransom, extortion and other common crimes. January 21, 2016: China has, as expected, denounced the Filipino announcement of a new air traffic control facility on Pagasa Island in the South China Sea. The million dollar space satellite based system would cover a hole in the Filipino air traffic control network and handle the 200 or more flights a day that normally pass through. Pagasa is the second-largest (37.2 hectares/93 acres) of the Spratly Islands and is inhabited by 200 Filipinos civilians and a few military personnel. China has been increasingly belligerent in its claims to Pagasa and threatens to take it back by force. China reacted to the flight control facility by issuing an official protest and repeating its threats. Chinese military and civilian ships are showing up near Pagasa with increasing frequency and sometimes the Chinese vessels try (by getting in the way) to prevent non-Chinese vessels from getting too close to the island. The Philippines often has a coast guard patrol boat off the island (which is 480 kilometers from the nearest Filipino territory China does not claim) and that provides the possibility of a violent military encounter. January 19, 2016: In the south (Agusan del Sur) troops found and attacked an NPA camp, killing five leftist rebels. The camp was built to accommodate 70 people and the NPA was not expecting the attack because the camp was full of weapons, ammo, explosives and personal equipment. January 18, 2016: In the south (Basilan) several Abu Sayyaf members surrendered and over the next two days seven Abu Sayyaf men turned themselves in along with four assault rifles, a grenade launcher and a pistol. In the north (Camarines Sur province) two NPA rebels were killed and another captured after a brief clash with troops. January 15, 2016: In the south (Lanao del Sur province) two men claiming to be ISIL members killed two civilians and were in turn killed by local civilians. Police suspect the two dead Islamic terrorists are actually local gangsters trying to use the fearsome reputation of ISIL to make it easier to commit crimes. January 8, 2016: The government formerly protested recent Chinese tests on the new airstrip built on an artificial island atop Fiery Cross Reef. This reef is within Filipino territory but China disputes that and is using force and things like artificial islands to back up its claims. The tests on the airstrip involved three large aircraft landing and taking off. China ignored the Filipino protest, just as it does Filipino claims. January 3, 2016: In the south (Basilan) soldiers rescued 26 passengers on a bus that had been seized by Abu Sayyaf. When the soldiers caught up with the bus the Abu Sayyaf men fled into the forest. 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 China Invades Ukraine by James Dunnigan January 22, 2016 A Chinese firm is negotiating a deal to manufacture their JL-15 jet trainer/light attack aircraft in Ukraine. This makes sense as Ukraine has several underused Cold War era aircraft manufacturing facilities and currently supplies the engines for the JL-15. These jet trainers are designed for ground attack and reconnaissance as well as for training pilots. The two-seat 9.5 ton, twin engine JL-15 can achieve supersonic speeds and has the kind of high-tech cockpit found in modern fighters. The JL-15 was designed to be produced in several versions, all of them two seat aircraft. The different versions are modified slightly to equip the aircraft for various types of pilot training (advanced trainer or initial fighter trainer) as well as combat tasks. The main use of the JL-15 is preparing new pilots for high end aircraft like the MiG-29s, F-16s or Su-30s. Most JL-15s are equipped with AI-222 jet engines made by the Ukrainian firm Motor Sich. This company also supplies AI-25 engines for the older 4.3 ton JL-8 trainer. China has not bought many JL-15s itself, having decided to stay with the cheaper JL-9. This aircraft is less expensive in part because it is based on the MiG-21 fighter design or, rather, the Chinese clone the J-7. Because of all the Cold War era arms factories Ukraine inherited in 1991 when the Soviet Union, not to mention huge stockpiles of Soviet weapons, ammo and equipment, Ukraine became one of the biggest exporters of military gear on the planet in the 1990s. China has been a regular customer and is familiar with what the Ukrainians can do. Because China is one of the few major allies Russia has, Russia in unlikely to pressure China to back away from deals with Ukraine. China and Ukraine have been doing business since the 1990s and China sees more opportunity there, despite the threat of Russian invasion (which would probably avoid damaging Chinese properties). An increasingly common problem for commercial and military aircraft is bird strikes. This is especially true of Africa where there are larger populations of birds and small land animals. Military air bases, which tend to be in remote areas, are even more exposed to the possibility of bird strikes or animals unexpectedly moving onto air strips. There have been some clever solutions to this problem. The South African Air Force has developed a unique and effective cure for this hazard; cheetahs. These small (28-65 kg/62-143 pounds for adult males) animals normally avoid humans and prefer smaller game. Actually, cheetahs are the most easily domesticated (for hunting or pets) of the big cats and that has been done for thousands of years, especially in Africa (ancient Egypt left lots of records on this). Since the 1990s the South African Air Force has been using cheetahs to keep birds and small animals away from military air fields. South Africa has a large wild population of cheetahs as well as a domestic breeding program to keep the wild population viable. The widespread introduction of firearms in rural South Africa in the 20th century meant a lot more big cats, including cheetahs, were killed by expanding human populations. But the cheetahs raised in the breeding programs are comfortable enough around humans to be released onto military air bases so they can hunt (and chase away) large concentrations of birds or small animals who are, if left alone, are a major threat to aircraft landing or taking off. Young male cheetahs are used, because in the wild they will hunt together while the females are generally solitary. Air fields get a new pair of young males evert two years. Equipped with GPS locator collars (in case they are injured or, rarely, run off) these cats serve for two years before being returned to the breeding program and eventually the wild. Very rarely one of these cheetahs will injure a human, usually because they feel threatened. On military bases all personnel are instructed on how important it is to leave the big cats alone if they wander (usually out of curiosity) into work or housing areas. The cheetahs also chase some of the birds away from airfields as wild cheetahs find birds tasty, if difficult to catch prey. Aircraft bird strikes are a widespread, if little publicized, problem for all airports. There are about 5,000 incidents a year. These often just mean replacing windows or canopies, or wherever the bird hit. Most of the incidents involve near misses or collisions on non-critical portions of the aircraft. But in about one percent of the incidents the damage is severe and some aircraft are lost. On average, 40-50 people a year die because of aircraft bird strikes. Nearly all the fatal bird strikes are to aircraft with gas turbine engines (which birds fly into). This often wrecks, or severely damages, the engine when the high speed fan is damaged. Multiple engine aircraft usually can survive this if they still have one or more working engines. But sometimes single or two engine aircraft lose all engine power and go down with heavy loss. One exception was the "Miracle On The Hudson" in January 2009, when Airbus 320 over New York City lost both engines to bird strikes. Exceptional work by the crew managed to bring the aircraft down, intact, on the Hudson River. Hail caused a similar (although not as life-threatening) incident in 2006, where a B-727 jet was climbing after takeoff from Calgary (in central Canada) when it ran into a massive hail storm that did extensive (but not disabling) damage to the aircraft exterior. With most of the lights out and the cockpit windows obscured by cracks caused by numerous fast moving hail stones, the aircraft turned around and landed safely. In rare cases these can even bring down a helicopter. For example, in 2011 a U.S. Marine Corps collided with a red-tailed hawk, weighing about 1.4 kg (3 pounds). The bird hit the top of the main rotor mast on a marine AH-1W helicopter gunship. The hawk impact damaged the pitch change link, which caused vibrations that quickly led to the transmission and rotor blades breaking away from the helicopter. The chopper then fell to earth, killing the two man crew. The AH-1 has since been modified to better protect the pitch change link, one of several highly vulnerable (to damage) components on a helicopter. Normally, the pitch change link would not be hit by ground fire. No one thought the risk of a bird strike up there was worth doing anything about. Interviews with refugees from the fighting in Iraq and Syria as well as people still in those countries shows that over 80 percent believe the Islamic terrorists in general and ISIL and al Qaeda in particular are creations of the West (particularly the United States) and Israel as a means to destroy their countries and Islam. This is nothing new and while all this is unbelievable to most Westerners and largely ignored by Western media and politicians it is very real and has been for a long time. Media in these countries is full of even more fanciful (to Westerners) inventions. This has caused problems for Western troops operating in those countries, although some have figured out how to take advantage of it. All cultures have a certain belief in magic and what Westerners call conspiracy theories to explain otherwise unexplainable events. In the Islamic world, there is a lot of attention paid to sorcery and magic, and people accused of practicing such things are regularly attacked and sometimes executed because sorcery is a capital crime under Islamic law. Conspiracy theories are also a popular way to explain away inconvenient facts and this is often found useful in countries that are hostile to other forms of sorcery. For example back in 2008 many Pakistanis believed that the then recent Islamic terrorist attack in Mumbai, India was actually the work of the Israeli Mossad or the American CIA and not the Pakistani terrorists who were killed or captured and identified. Such fantasies are a common explanation, in Moslem nations, for Islamic terrorist atrocities. Especially when Moslems, particularly women and children are among the victims. In response many Moslems tend to accept fantastic explanations shifting the blame to infidels (non-Moslems). After the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, many Moslems again blamed Israel for staging those attacks. A favorite variation of this is that, before the attacks on the World Trade Center, a secret message went out to all Jews in the area to stay away. Another variation has it that the 19 attackers (all of them Arab, 15 from Saudi Arabia) were really not Arabs but falsely identified as part of the Israeli deception. In the United States some Americans insist that the attack was the work of the U.S. government, complete with the World Trade Center towers being brought down by prepositioned explosive charges. While few Americans accept this, the CIA and Mossad fantasies are widely accepted in the Moslem world. Even Western educated Arabs, speaking good English, will casually express, and accept, these tales of the Israeli Mossad staging the attacks, in an effort to trick the U.S. into attacking Afghanistan and Iraq. Americans are shocked at this, but the Moslems expressing these beliefs just shrug when confronted with contradictory evidence. American troops arriving in Iraq after 2003 went through a real culture shock as they encountered these cultural differences. They also discovered that one reason for this, and many other Arab problems, is the concept of "inshallah" ("If God wills it"). This is a basic tenet of Islam, although some scholars believe the attitude was a cultural trait that preceded Islam. In any event, "inshallah" is deadly when combined with modern technology. For this reason, Arab countries either have poorly maintained infrastructure and equipment (including military stuff) or import a lot of foreigners, possessing the right attitudes, to maintain everything. That minority of Arabs who do have a realistic attitude towards maintenance and personal responsibility are considered odd but useful. The "inshallah" thing is made worse by a stronger belief in the supernatural and magic in general. This often extends to technology. Thus, many Iraqis believed that American troops wore sunglasses that enabled them to see through clothing, and had armor vests that were actually air conditioned. When they first encountered these beliefs, U.S. troops thought the Arabs were putting them on. Then it sank in that Arabs really believe this stuff. It was a scary, or amusing, moment for many Western troops. However, many troops learned to live with and even exploit these odd beliefs. When troops at one base discovered that they weren't being attacked much because many of the locals believed that the base was surrounded by a force field the troops would casually make reference to their force field. They would do this inside the base if any Iraqis were nearby and especially when they were outside the wire and among the locals. This reinforced the force field myth and made the base safer. Other troops would invent new fantasies, like pretending that a handheld bit of military electronics was actually a mind reading device. That often made interrogations go much quicker. Not all Arabs believe in this stuff, and those that didn't and worked for the Americans, often as an interpreter, could only shrug their shoulders when asked about it. This easy acceptance of fantasies is exploited by leaders throughout the Middle East and the Moslem world in general. Leaders who know better build on these fantasies as a way to maintain their control over the population. The problem is a dirty little secret in the Moslem world, that leaders and academics don't even like to discuss it openly, much less with infidels. But it is real and you can read all about it in the local media, or overhear it in the coffee shops. Subject: India Has A Solution To The Chinese Threat SYSOP So far 2016 has been free of Islamic terrorist violence. There are still several hundred armed Islamic terrorists active and the continuing army patrols are finding and destroying more Islamic terrorist supplied, weapons and hiding places. Few Islamic terrorists are encountered and most of those that are found fight to the death. Troops prefer to take them alive because interrogation often yields valuable information on other Islamic terrorists and makes it easier to find them. But most of the Islamic terrorists still active are hard core, know the risks of being taken alive and usually prefer to die fighting. As Algeria has been fighting Islamic terrorists since the 1990s the intelligence services are among the best in the world when it comes to keeping up with local Islamic terrorist activity. Thus it is known that most Algerian Islamic terrorists have been killed, captured or left the country. Those that head for Europe tend to retire from the terrorist life. But those that go to places like Mali, Egypt and Syria are still active and some of those eventually try and return to Algeria to fight again. That has been happening less likely but may change. Islamic terrorists who face too much pressure in one place tend to move somewhere more hospitable. Algeria has found the best way to keep Islamic terrorists out (or at least quiet) is to create a hostile atmosphere for them. So the frequent and aggressive army and police patrols continue, as does general public support for this effort. Meanwhile the intel community has kept quiet about what they know of how rampant corruption and government mismanagement continues to generate new Islamic terrorist recruits. Intel officials who mention that problem too often or publicly tend to be fired or retired, no matter how senior they are. Germany is pressuring Algeria (and other North African countries) to take back their citizens who entered Germany illegally. Germany and Algeria have a repatriation agreement but many illegal migrants purposely enter Germany without any identity documents, which makes it easier for them to make up any story that works to get them officially accepted for asylum as victims or persecution or whatever. Algeria often uses this lack of documents as a reason not to take back illegal migrants. This is common with Moslem countries, who are glad to be rid of anyone who does not want to stay in their homeland. This is often justified as a security measure so that an Islamic terrorist or criminal does not return. Germany has accepted this excuse in the past but German voters are now very angry at the increasing bad behavior of Moslem illegals and the government is under increasing pressure to send as many back as possible. The vast majority of these illegals are young men and many of them often turn to crime, and occasionally Islamic terrorism. Germany identified 847 Algerian illegals arriving in June 2015 but because of news that Germany was letting just about anyone in that number increased to 2,296 in December. Meanwhile Algeria identified 16,792 illegal African migrants entering Algeria from the south. Using repatriation agreements 43 percent of them were sent home. Despite the problem with repatriation Algeria has been increasingly cooperative and helpful to European police and intelligence organizations, especially when it comes to Islamic terrorism. Unofficially, Algerian officials admit that are not too concerned about most of the refugees and will report any of their known or suspected Islamic terrorists who are believed to have headed north. The Algerians also help identify Algerian illegals who get arrested in Europe and are suspected of being involved with Islamic terrorism. If Algeria cannot identify a suspect right away they will start an investigation in Algeria. There is some self-interest involved here because it sometimes happen that an Algerian illegal migrant will get radicalized in Europe and either return to Algeria or support others who wish to do so in order to commit terrorist acts in Algeria. This cooperation has been going on the longest with France, which was one of the first European countries to attract Algerian terrorists. Thats because France occupied Algeria as a colony for over a century before leaving (involuntarily) in the early 1960s. Many Algerians had already migrated legally to France by then and many Algerians still learn French in school or from parents. So France has long been a favorite destination of legal and illegal Algerian migrants. A major reason for migrating is the lack of jobs, and much else, in Algeria. In addition to the persistent corruption Algeria has an even more serious economic problem with a growing shortage of money. The main cause of this is the continued low oil price. This means Algeria is getting less than half the income from oil sales in 2015 compared to the same period in 2012, before the price of oil began to tumble. In 2015 the price of oil fell another 34 percent. The impact of this can be seen in the decline in foreign exchange holdings, which declined 16 percent (to $151 billion) in 2015. This does a lot of damage to the economy but the government says it has a plan to cope and that seems to be working because GDP continues to grow (at about three percent a year) but at a lower rate than in the past. Algerians in general are coping. For example imports of luxury and non-essentials are down over 35 percent in 2015. This includes automobiles. The decline in oil income is likely to get worse in 2016. In late 2014 Algeria prepared its budget for 2015 based on oil selling for an average of $37 a barrel (a price that was reached at the end of 2015). That follows price of oil falling 50 percent since 2013 (from $120 to $40 a barrel) in early 2015. In early 2016 the price went below $30 a barrel. The government only expects to receive $25 billion from oil and natural gas in 2016 and cash reserves will shrink another 20 percent (to $121 billion) by the end of that year. January 22, 2016: In the southeast, in Guezzam on the Niger border, an army patrol arrested smugglers and seized two vehicles, three assault rifles and 142 rounds of ammo. The weapons were apparently meant to be sold in Algeria. January 20, 2016: A Chinese firm signed a contract to build a new port facility 60 kilometers west of the capital. This will cost $3.3 billion, with China paying for it and Chinese builders handling the construction on an effort which will take about seven years. The 23 docks in the new port will be able to handle 26 million tons of cargo a year, most of it in containers. China and the Algerian government will operate the port, which will be one of the largest in North Africa. China is becoming a major presence in Algeria. By 2013 Chinese firms had invested $1.5 billion in Algeria and there were some 30,000 Chinese working in Algeria for fifty Chinese companies. Since 2013 Chinese investment has grown enormously and by the end of the decade will amount to more than $1o billion in just twenty years. Most of the Chinese are working on transportation (roads, ports and railroad) projects. Although Algeria has lots of unemployment, there are few people with the necessary skills for many of these projects, so China brings in skilled workers from China. Some of those Chinese will settle down in Algeria, but not as many as in non-Arab Africa. The Arabs are not as accepting of foreigners as many other cultures are. While many oil-rich Arab states import foreigners for most of the civilian jobs, these workers are not encouraged to stay and there are strict laws governing the presence of the foreign workers. Algeria sees the Chinese investments, especially in infrastructure, as a way to get the local economy growing and thus provide jobs for the many young Algerians who are increasingly angry about being unemployed. The Chinese workers are very efficient and tend to get their projects done on time and on budget. This makes the Chinese popular with the government which, mainly because of corruption, is notoriously inefficient, especially when it comes to building things for the public. January 19, 2016: In the east (Boumerdes province) troops found and destroyed four bunkers built by Islamic terrorists as hideouts. January 17, 2016: In the southeast near (Amenas near the Libyan border) found a hidden assault rifle and 129 rounds of ammo. It was unclear if the weapon belonged to smugglers, local criminals or Islamic terrorists. January 15, 2016: In Batna (500 kilometers east of the capital) troops encountered an armed Islamic terrorist who refused to surrender and was shot dead. Troops seized an assault rifle, ammo, binoculars and five cell phones. January 14, 2016: In the northeast, just across the Tunisia border in Tabarka police arrested a known Algerian Islamic terrorist who was trying to sneak into Algeria. January 12, 2016: In the southeast near the Amenas gas plant, the scene of a major Islamic terrorist attack in 2013, troops ambushed and arrested seven Islamic terrorists and seized three vehicles. Interrogators are still trying to find out what the men were doing in such an isolated area near the border. January 8, 2016: In Batna (500 kilometers east of the capital) troops found and destroyed nine sites where Islamic terrorists had stashed supplies. Most of it consisted of food and clothing but there was also five bombs, bomb components and rifle ammunition. January 5, 2016: Troops searching Bouira province (120 kilometers southeast of the capital) a weapons caches containing 15 kg (33 pounds) of explosives, two RPG launchers and two bombs. Wellesbourne Airfield I had no idea Id won an award and intended to spend time with my family that night but was urged to go along and was voted New Business of the Year for Chipping Campden and surrounding area by the Campden Business Forum after nomination. "Chipping Campden has been very good to me, not only as a location on the High Street, but in terms of local support from the people, its a great place to be, Louise said. Her creativity, skill and profession which dates back hundreds of years came about shortly after the birth of her child eight years ago. I didnt know where to start but knew I wanted to do something for myself while also being a mother so I studied hard and got my City and Guilds Level 2 in Millinery and was a tutor for a while before I launched Louise Millinery last February, said Louise. Now, as well as making hats, she also holds workshops. She offers both the City and Guilds level 2 and level 3 qualifications and as there is no level 1, people can just jump straight to level 2 even if they have limited skills and knowledge in millinery. I have a wonderful collection of old and new blocks which you can choose from. There is an interesting range of shapes including the 1920s cloches, trilbys, fedoras, bowlers, top hats, berets the list goes on, said Louise. Legg Mason, Inc. (NYSE: LM) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to combine Permal, Legg Mason's existing hedge fund platform, with EnTrust Capital. EnTrust is a leading independent hedge fund investor and alternative asset manager headquartered in New York with approximately $12 billion in total assets and complementary investment strategies, investor base and business mix to Permal. The business combination will create a new global alternatives firm with over $26 billion in pro-forma AUM1 and total assets of $29 billion2. The firm will have a diverse offering of proprietary investment products with a significant number of institutional and high net worth investors. As a result of the combination, Legg Mason will own 65% of the new entity, branded EnTrustPermal, with 35% being owned by Gregg S. Hymowitz, EnTrust's Co-founder and Managing Partner. EnTrustPermal will be led by Mr. Hymowitz, who will become the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EnTrustPermal. Key investment and business professionals from both firms will continue to serve the investors of the new organization. EnTrustPermal will have the global infrastructure, resources, investment professionals and underlying investment managers to source, research and structure investment opportunities worldwide on behalf of its international client base. The combination creates a platform with the necessary scale and leadership team to significantly expand and evolve its multi-alternative capabilities and offerings. The expanded investment capabilities include: A combined team of over 55 investment professionals, with key leaders from both firms signing contracts Over 150 unique investment offerings across 18 different investment-strategies A materially larger investment platform, ranging from opportunistic co-investments with longer duration locked-up capital, tail-risk hedging strategies and bespoked customized investment solutions A more rapid evolution of innovative, alternative products and lines of business, including direct hedge funds and private debt offerings Increased sources of proprietary investment opportunities Ability to broaden the organization's innovative existing Managed Account Platform Joseph A. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of Legg Mason, said, "The combined EnTrustPermal brings together two leading names in the alternative space, creating a significant potential growth engine for Legg Mason. The team at EnTrust has a proven track record for driving significant organic growth through product innovation, with over 20% growth annually since the financial crisis. We see meaningful opportunities to combine this innovation with Permal's blue chip client base, product offering and global footprint." Gregg S. Hymowitz, Managing Partner of EnTrust, said, "The combination of EnTrust and Permal creates a powerful organization in the hedge fund universe. EnTrustPermal's scale, resources and global investment talent will be able to deliver market differentiated proprietary investments to our over 700 combined institutional accounts and significant number of high-net worth investors. The complementary nature of our investment strategies, geographies and global investor/partner base dramatically springboards us over our competition. The EnTrust and Permal teams are eager to start delivering for our loyal investor base." Omar Kodmani, Permal Group Chief Executive Officer, said, "The future of our industry is about offering alternative investment solutions on multiple fronts. To achieve this, you need scale and talent and EnTrustPermal combines both. We currently have one of the best resourced investment teams in the industry and which, when paired with EnTrust offers more to our clients and strengthens our business." The combination is expected to close in mid-2016. The transaction is expected to be modestly accretive to Legg Mason's earnings in the first year, after giving effect to estimated cost savings achieved that year and excluding restructuring and transition charges. Legg Mason expects EnTrustPermal to achieve cost savings of approximately $35-$40 million per year. In connection with the combination of the businesses, Legg Mason expects to incur restructuring and transition costs of approximately $100 million, beginning in the Company's 4th Fiscal Quarter of 2016 and continuing throughout Fiscal Year 2017. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC has acted as financial advisor to Legg Mason in connection with this transaction. Goldman Sachs acted as the financial advisor to EnTrust with respect to the transaction. By Michael Flaherty and Mike Stone (Reuters) - American International Group Inc (NYSE: AIG) has decided to pursue a spin-off of its mortgage insurance business, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that would come as the U.S. insurer fends off activist investor Carl Icahn. The spin-off of that business however, which accounted for 7.4 percent of AIG's pre-tax operating income in the first nine months of 2015, is unlikely on its own to appease Icahn, who is calling for AIG to break up into three separate businesses. The mortgage insurance business had revenue of $791 million in the first nine months of 2015. AIG is expected to discuss the future of the mortgage insurance business on Tuesday, when it releases its strategic plan, and the sources said this week the company will pursue a partial spin-off of the asset. This would mean that AIG shareholders would only receive some of the shares of the spun-out company, with the remainder kept by AIG itself. The company is also expected to update investors on the sale of its Advisor Group division on Tuesday, as well as other initiatives aimed at winning shareholder support, the sources said. The sources cautioned that details were still being finalized and asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. "AIG continues to take steps to narrow its focus, improve its financial performance, and return capital to shareholders. AIG maintains an active dialogue with shareholders, including Carl Icahn," the company said in an emailed statement. Icahn wants AIG to become a smaller, simpler company and to shed its label as a non-bank Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) - a tag that comes with enhanced regulation from the U.S. Federal Reserve. However, AIG and its CEO Peter Hancock have resisted Icahn's call to split the insurer into three separate divisions. Icahn disclosed in November that he owned a 3.4 percent stake in AIG, making him the insurer's fifth-largest shareholder, according to Thomson Reuters data. Other businesses that AIG may consider shedding include its Valic arm, which manages retirement money for teachers, and its life and annuity unit Sun America. AIG's near collapse in 2008 and U.S. government bailout was the driving force behind the inclusion of certain non-banks as SIFIs. Pressure across the insurance industry to slim down was highlighted earlier this month when MetLife Inc (NYSE: MET), the largest U.S. life insurer, said it would split a substantial portion of its U.S. retail business from the core company due to the "regulatory environment". AIG's cost structure has remained a cause of concern for investors, and its underwriting operations have suffered from falling rates for commercial property and casualty insurance. (This version of the story corrects paragraph 10 to show that Icahn has disclosed a 3.4 percent stake in AIG, not that he has not disclosed the size of the stake) (Reporting by Michael Flaherty and Mike Stone in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr) Hundreds of Class Action Lawsuits Now Consolidated in Federal Court SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A San Francisco federal judge has appointed leading San Diego plaintiffs attorney David S. Casey, Jr. to the national VW Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Plaintiffs Steering Committee overseeing litigation targeting Volkswagen over its diesel emissions scandal. The managing partner of San Diegos oldest plaintiffs firm CaseyGerry, Casey Jr. is the only San Diego attorney selected to serve on the committee, one of the largest in class action history. Following a rigorous vetting process, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who is presiding over the VW MDL (No. 2672, In Re: Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation) pending in federal court in San Francisco, appointed the 22-member nationwide steering committee to oversee hundreds of class action lawsuits filed on behalf of car owners, dealers, lessees and others. "I am honored by this appointment and to be working on this very important matter before Judge Breyer, David Casey, Jr. said. I look forward to working under the direction of lead counsel Elizabeth Cabraser and with this committee of very talented attorneys to quickly bring these claims to a fair resolution for the consumers and businesses nationwide that were adversely impacted by the VW emissions scandal." Volkswagen first came under fire last September when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused the carmaker of utilizing software designed to dupe federal emission regulators into believing certain cars met Clean Air Act Standards. According to reports, once the cars were out of the lab, emissions control software was deactivated the vehicles then actually emitted harmful pollutants at rates of up to 40 times of acceptable standards. Following the scandal, CaseyGerry filed a class action on behalf of several consumers seeking compensation for them and those similarly affected by Volkswagens fraud and violation of state regulations. The MDL was formed with a goal of avoiding duplicative discovery, conserving resources and expediting resolution. Under leadership of chair Elizabeth Cabraser of Leiff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, the MDL steering committee was appointed by Judge Breyer to conduct the pretrial stage of all cases consolidated in the United States District Court, Northern District of California in San Francisco. Casey Jr. is part of a nationwide steering committee of 21 additional attorneys, which includes such noted litigators as David Boies of Boies, Schiller & Flexner and Frank Mario Pitre of Cotchett, Pitre and McCarthy LLP. Casey Jr. has spent more than 35 years practicing law. He is past president of the American Association of Trial Lawyers (now known as the American Association for Justice) and has been lauded with more than 60 professional awards throughout his career including a perpetual award in his honor, the "David S. Casey, Jr. Consumer Advocate Award" from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. About CaseyGerry CaseyGerry was established in 1947, and is the oldest plaintiffs' law firm in San Diego. The firm's 15 attorneys practice in numerous areas, including serious personal injury, product liability, pharmaceutical, mass tort, aviation and class action litigation. Headquartered at 110 Laurel St. in the Banker's Hill neighborhood of San Diego, the firm also has an office in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif. For more information, visit www.caseygerry.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122006002/en/ for CaseyGerry Sydnie Moore, 619-823-8448 [email protected] Source: CaseyGerry NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Bondholder Group today issued the following update on its Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) with PREPA, which under the previous terms of the agreement was conditioned to expire on January 22nd if the PREPA Revitalization Act was not passed by the Puerto Rican legislature: Today the PREPA Bondholder Group put forward an offer to extend the RSA until February 12th in order to give the Puerto Rican legislature more time to pass the PREPA Revitalization Act. Based on our direct and positive conversations with Puerto Rican lawmakers, we are optimistic that the bill will be passed and it was our desire to be as supportive of the legislative process as possible. In addition, we also offered to extend our Bond Purchase Agreement (BPA) with PREPA, under which RSA creditors would provide $115 million in additional financing once the energy commission approves the securitization charge, with a deadline of May 23rd. This amendment to the BPA reflects a milestone that was previously agreed upon, and was included in order to help ensure the deal would get done as the energy commission approval is a vital element of the agreement. "Unfortunately, PREPA is choosing not to extend the RSA. Over the approximately 18 months that we have been negotiating this plan it has consistently been our desire to reach a fair, collaborative agreement that would benefit all stakeholders, including the people of Puerto Rico. The plan has been described as fair to all parties and beneficial to Puerto Rico not only by key legislative leaders but by other decision-makers in the Commonwealth. This is why we were willing to offer these further concessions, recognizing the complexities of the legislative process. While it is extremely disappointing and perplexing that PREPA has chosen to take this stance, we continue to remain open to reaching a deal with PREPA and it is our sincere hope that they reconsider their position and assume postures beneficial to the people of Puerto Rico. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122006030/en/ Media: Sloane & Company Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani 212-486-9500 [email protected] / [email protected] Source: The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Bondholder Group By Steve Barnes LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - A firefighter in Arkansas responding to a medical emergency was fatally shot on Friday by the person he had intended to assist, authorities said. East Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Ronald Adams, 29, had responded to a report that a man had suffered a seizure and collapsed in suburban Little Rock, police said. "We're still interviewing witnesses, trying to put together what happened," said Captain Carl Minden of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department. Adams lived a short distance from the man he was trying to help, Minden said. The name of the shooter was not disclosed. An ambulance driving through a winter storm took Adams to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Adams worked for the Sherwood, Arkansas, fire department and was a volunteer firefighter in a nearby unincorporated area where the shooting occurred (Reporting by Steve Barnes; Writing by Jon Herskovitz) The Avon Products headquarters is seen in midtown Manhattan area of New York, June 21, 2013. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid By Yashaswini Swamynathan (Reuters) - A rally in struggling cosmetics maker Avon Products Inc's (NYSE: AVP) shares fizzled on Friday after analysts questioned the companys ability to carry out its turnaround plan and sought more details. Avon outlined plans to spruce up its flagging business at an investor meeting on Thursday, that included cutting $350 million in costs in the next three years, reinvesting in technological capabilities and making better use of social media. Shares jumped 15 percent on Thursday after Cerberus Capital, who became Avon's top investor in December by taking a 17 percent stake, said at the meeting that Avon was "significantly undervalued" and that it had "zero concerns about liquidity". Analysts, however, called Avon's plans "age-old", "familiar" and lacking constructive detail. "We came away from Avon's analyst meeting without gaining confidence in a successful turnaround," B.Riley analyst Linda Bolton Weiser said in a note. Avons plans also include seeking alternatives for its China business, which contributes only 1 percent to sales. "These opportunities are not new, and Avon offered little detail to instill confidence that things will be different this time," Wells Fargo Securities analyst Chris Ferrera wrote. Shares of the company fell as much as 5 percent on Friday, but were still trading above the life-low of $2.22 it touched on Wednesday. Avon, known for its Avon-ladies, mostly reaffirmed its 2015 forecast, but Chief Financial Officer James Scully disappointed analysts by giving minimal guidance on 2016 and shying away from revealing the company's cash flow. Eight of the 13 brokerages covering Avon recommend holding the stock, while one has a sell rating. They have a median price target of $5, according to Thomson Reuters data. Avon trades at 10.04 times forward earnings, compared with a sector median of 20.34, according to Thomson Reuters data. ADULT SUPERVISION Cerberus Capital said it intends to work with Avon "hand in glove" to cut costs, improve its brand positioning and contemporize the business. "We got the sense...that if people don't deliver, Cerberus will not be shy in replacing them at all levels," Alliance Bernstein analyst Ali Dibadj said, terming Cerberus' involvement as "adult supervision". Avon has seen sales decline due to a lack of innovation and an inability to stand up to bigger rivals like Estee Lauder Cos Inc (NYSE: EL) and L'Oreal SA . Concerns have also been raised that the company's direct-selling model is ineffective in the age of social media. Cerberus, however, said it was confident that the direct-selling business model was not dying. (Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Don Sebastian) People watch as the tall ship, The Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a training ship for the Royal Spanish Navy, passes the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, while arriving for the 25th annual Fleet Week celebration in New York, in this May 23, 2012 file phot By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two Colombians ran a major heroin and cocaine smuggling operation to New York aboard the Royal Spanish Navys official training ship, paying thousands of dollars in bribes to midshipmen on the vessel, prosecutors said on Friday. The two men were arrested late on Thursday in Colombia, said the office of New Yorks special narcotics prosecutor, Bridget Brennan. They were charged with drug trafficking out of Cartagena in Colombia to supply New York City-based dealers. In 2014, the two men paid $32,000 in bribes to Spanish midshipmen serving on the ship Juan Sebastian Elcano, authorities said. The four-masted vessel is the third largest tall ship in the world at 113 metres (371 feet). The sailors picked up drugs in Cartagena during a six-month international voyage and delivered them to New York traffickers in April 2014, when the Juan Sebastian de Elcano was docked on Manhattans West Side, near the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier and museum. The Juan Sebastian de Elcano frequently travels around the world. Authorities in Spain recovered nearly 280 pounds (127 kg) of cocaine from the ship after it returned from its trip to New York. "A tourist attraction wherever it anchors, the ship served as the perfect cover for traffickers as it hopscotched across the Atlantic Ocean and back carrying its illicit cargo," Brennan said in a statement. The charges against the two men center on a single shipment of approximately 17 pounds (8 kg) of heroin and cocaine. Authorities in New York expect the men, identified as Jorge Luis Hoayeck and Jorge Alberto Siado-Alvarez, to be extradited to the United States. In 2014, seven other people were charged in the same smuggling ring, prosecutors said. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; editing by Grant McCool) By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Fires at oil storage tanks in the major Libyan terminal of Ras Lanuf were still raging on Friday more than 24 hours after an attack by Islamic State militants, a firefighting official said. Mustafa Moussi said fires were burning at five of the terminal's 13 storage tanks, one of which was close to collapse. "Even with the best efforts of the firefighters we are expecting the worst in the coming hours," he told Reuters. "The scale of the disaster will increase further." Libya remains plagued by violence and political turmoil almost five years after the uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi. Rival governments backed by armed factions in Tripoli and the east have battled for power and a share of the country's oil wealth. Islamic State militants have taken advantage of a security vacuum to establish themselves in the city of Sirte, about 200 km (125 miles) along the coast to the west of Ras Lanuf and the nearby terminal of Es Sider. This month they have staged several attacks against the ports, which have a combined export capacity of 600,000 barrels per day. They were processing about half of that before both were closed amid fighting in December 2014. At least seven storage tanks had already been damaged by fires earlier this month. After Thursday's attack, a spokesman for the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said up to 3 million barrels of oil could now be lost. Libya's oil production has dropped to under 400,000 barrels per day, less than a quarter of a 2011 high of 1.6 million bpd, though some oil fields and terminals have been relatively sheltered from the chaos. A spokesman at the Brega terminal, about 120 km (75 miles) east from Ras Lanuf, said the port was working normally and the Greek tanker Nissos Paros had docked there on Friday to pick up 600,000 barrels of oil. Separately, a resident and a security source said three Libyan guards working for a Turkish company building a road near the town of Madanah, about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of Ras Lanuf, had been killed by suspected Islamic State militants who kidnapped them last week. A fourth guard had been released, they said. (Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Katharine Houreld) Morgan Stanley Chairman and Chief Executive James Gorman speaks during the Institute of International Finance Annual Meeting in Washington October 10, 2014. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts By Olivia Oran NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street's two marquee investment banks each slightly cut their chief executives' pay after a year that saw profitability fall and shares drop amid a turbulent backdrop. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and his Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) counterpart James Gorman saw their overall compensation fall in 2015. Blankfein's overall pay declined 4 percent from the year prior to $23 million, while Gorman's slid 7 percent to $21 million, the banks disclosed on Friday. Both banks have struggled with tumultuous markets that hurt bond trading and underwriting, concerns about oil prices and sluggish growth in China. The pay declines come in contrast to a 35 percent raise for JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon. Dimon's compensation surged to $27 million, although the cash portion was cut and three quarters of the total was tied to performance-based stock awards. Return on equity, a key measure of profitability, has been under pressure at both Goldman and Morgan. Goldman's return on equity in particular slumped to 7.4 percent in 2015, after a $5 billion settlement fourth-quarter hit related to its dealings with mortgage backed securities during the financial crisis. Goldman typically leads peers with a return on equity of around 11 percent. Rival Morgan Stanley, in contrast, generated a return on equity of 8.5 percent in 2015, below Gorman's target of 10 percent. Morgan Stanley has tried to improve profitability in its fixed income division which has dragged down the firm's overall returns and said it would cut 25 percent of its headcount in the unit. It also announced a $1 billion cost cutting initiative to rely more on outsourcing and technology. Shares of Goldman declined 8 percent in 2015, making it the second worst performer of all the big U.S. banks after Morgan Stanley, which fell 18 percent. (Reporting By Olivia Oran in New York; Editing by Christian Plumb, Diane Craft) 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 A woman looks a Volkswagen car during a presentation at the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Aly Song BEIJING (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG's China chief said on Saturday he's optimistic in the company's outlook for this year, saying "volume isn't everything" in the competition with General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) to lead the world's largest car market. The company must also look out for profitability and "residual value", Jochem Heizmann, head of Volkswagen Group in China, told Reuters on the sidelines of an auto industry conference in Beijing. GM surpassed VW for passenger vehicle sales in China in 2015, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers data. Volkswagen's global business has come under increased scrutiny since it admitted in September to misleading U.S. regulators about emissions with the help of on-board engine control software. (Reporting By Jake Spring; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) A policeman stands guard on the debris at the site of a Saudi-led air strike on the police headquarters in Yemen's capital Sanaa, January 18, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah By Sebastien Malo NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An ambulance driver working with Doctors Without Borders has been killed in an air strike in Yemen, the medical charity said on Friday, the latest attack on the group's workers and facilities. The ambulance was hit by an air strike on Thursday in Dhayan, in Saada province in north Yemen, the group said. The driver was described as a Yemeni Ministry of Health employee, it said. The attack was the fourth to hit the group's medical operations in the war-torn Arabian Peninsula country, a spokesman told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "This latest loss of a colleague is devastating, and it demonstrates the ruthlessness with which healthcare is coming under attack in Yemen," Teresa Sancristoval, emergency coordinator, said in a statement. Earlier this month, a blast at a clinic near the city of Saada killed six people, the group said. Other attacks occurred in October and December, when air strikes damaged medical facilities near Taiz city and in Saada province's Haydan district, it said. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Iran-allied Houthi group in Yemen, and nearly 6,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March. (Reporting by Sebastien Malo, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter hopes New Zealand wineries can get a special exemption to sell lower alcohol wine in the EU after the geographical indication bill is passed in Parliament. A shipment of New Zealand wine has been rejected by one of the country's largest export markets. About 1000 bottles of Bannockburn Riesling, produced by Central Otago winery Felton Road, failed to even make it to European shores after it was discovered the alcohol content was too low. The winery's 2015 Riesling had an alcohol level of 8.44 per cent, which fell below the 8.5 per cent threshold set by the European Union. Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter said he was disappointed but he was unaware of the limit. READ MORE: * United States takes over as leading wine market * 'Great future' in low-alcohol wines * Wine 'state of origin' bill introduced into Parliament "We had the wine destined for export markets - it was already ordered and we had the wine sitting on the wharf in Auckland awaiting for the export certificate. "Then we got a call saying 'we've got a problem with that wine.'" Felton Road had been exporting Riesling to the UK since they first starting making it 20 years ago, Walter said. "This is the first time that on of our wines has been blocked. "I was completely unaware it was not considered 'normal' wine if it was below 8.5." He suspected the rules were put in place to prevent poor quality wines making it to the market, however, times had changed, he said. German wines were commonly made below the 8.5 per cent limit and were still considered high quality wines, Walter said. "We've discovered in New Zealand, particularly in the South Island, we can make a very similar style riesling with the alcohol level down below 8.5 per cent." The cases had to be shipped back to Central Otago where the wine would awaiting distribution to another market, he said. Walter hoped New Zealand Winegrowers would apply for a special exemption to allow the sale of lower alcohol wines once the government passed the geographical indication bill, he said. A geographical indication - similar to trademark registration - indicates that a wine or spirit comes from a specific region. This means producers will no longer be allowed to put a region on the wine label if the fruit used to make the wine is not from that region. "I think we have to...the rules were made years ago to protect the consumer to ensure they were getting good quality wines, but nowadays it's almost becoming a trade barrier." The EU should be encouraging lower alcohol wines, not banning them, Walter said. He believed they were not the only winery to hit the hurdle. New Zealand Winegrowers legal advocacy manager Jeffrey Clarke admitted it was a problem. "I don't think a large amount of our export sales into that category, but I think it's happened before." "New Zealand is working hard to produce naturally lower alcohol wines so it will become an increasing problem," he said. "We will be raising that with the EU during the pre-trade negotiations. It's very important for us to deal with that." The teenage boy disappeared from sight after he was swept off the rocks A teenage boy is missing after being swept off the rocks in Tauranga on Saturday night. The boy, who was sitting on rocks with friends, was washed into the sea by a large wave about 7pm and hasn't been seen. Police, coastguard and surf lifesavers were searching for him in the area around Moturiki Island at Mount Maunganui. Police said the sea was "choppy". The boy's family and friends were being assisted by victim support volunteers during the search. Local boy swept out to sea - Sunlive - The Bay's News First A holidaymaker who was near the scene said her son was going to walk up to the blowhole near Moturiki Island but it was blocked off by police. "It's been about an hour, and there's fishing boat and about five rescue boats," she said. "My son told me somebody drowned. There are heaps of people on the beach." Local boy swept out to sea - Sunlive - The Bay's News First Another woman said a helicopter had been circling the isand, and police were down near the rock face. "There are police and rescue workers down the face of the rock, it's just an assumption that someone may have fallen off the edge there," she said. One of Hamish Rieger's last acts as a lifeguard was to treat a young child who'd been stung by a bluebottle. Tending to that 5-year-old would be the last time the Mt Maunganui student, 17, would be able to help those in need. At 7pm on Saturday, after a full day's patrolling at Mt Maunganui Beach, he was with some friends on rocks on Moturiki Island when a large wave swept him out to sea. SUPPLIED Hamish Rieger was a 'talented' lifeguard. Police, coastguard and surf lifesavers began a search immediately, but had to call off the search when they lost light. READ MORE: * Teen missing after being swept to sea * Man drowns in Bay of Islands They began again at first light on Sunday. A member of the public spotted his body about 11am in a pool of water near what is known as North Rock. Surf lifesavers and Coastguard helped retrieve him. KELLY HODEL/FAIRFAX NZ A flag flies at half mast at the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service where Hamish Rieger, 17, was a member. Horrible situation He is understood to be a grandchild of Horizons Regional councillor and former Palmerston North mayor Paul Rieger. At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, family spokesperson Jamie Troughton said Hamish, a member of the Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service, spent his last day "looking after everyone else". LIBBY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ Lifeguards were out in force on Sunday morning in the search for one of their own members swept out to sea on Saturday. Hamish had been "quite an integral part of the club", Troughton said. "Just a kid that no-one had a bad word to say about." The Rieger family was grateful to have Hamish back, and thanked the lifeguards and the community. KELLY HODEL/FAIRFAX NZ Searchers worked in what they described as "very challenging" conditions in the search for Hamish. "In a horrible, horrible situation, that was probably the best case result," Troughton said. One advantage of the Riegers' involvement in lifesaving was they understood the search processes. "We could talk fairly honestly and constructively about what was happening." KELLY HODEL/FAIRFAX NZ A path on Moturiki Island that was cordoned off is now open. In 2015, Hamish had been on a Spirit of Adventure trip and came back buzzing. He would have been in year 13 in 2016 at Mt Maunganui College, where he was involved in water polo. Generosity from the community had also helped the club in the difficult time. "I was just talking to the head lifeguard today and he was overwhelmed as well. A lady just cold-called him and said , I want to do something, I want to bake some food or do something for you," Troughton said. "The club kitchen's overwhelmed. It's chokka. It's a measure of the community we live in... In our tough times they've come through for us as well." Family thank searchers Hamish's parents Greg and Donna Rieger have thanked police and searchers. "We really appreciate the efforts of our surf lifesaving friends, the police and everyone involved for bringing our son back to us," they said. "Getting him back means a huge amount to us; now we'd respectfully request space so we can concentrate on supporting each other through this time." The Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service had its flag flying at halfmast on Sunday afternoon. Hamish was an experienced event guard at regional and national surf sports events. He's also helped in the search for Jack Dixon, 5, who was snatched from the seashore by a wave on the eastern side of Mt Maunganui during a family day out at Shelley Beach. His body was never found. Support for club members MMLS president Brent Warner said the club has pulled together and younger club members were being supported. "The Rieger family are part of us. They are very longstanding members of this organisation and all their children have grown up here," he said. "Hamish had been in the club since he was five, so a period approaching 12 years." He was one of four siblings involved in the club, and who grew up around it, and was a senior member of the Surf Lifesaving NZ's Elite Event Squad. Almost every club member - and some from sister clubs - had been helping with the search, Warner said. "To be fair, today's a bit of a blur. I would take a guess at around 120 to 150 people today [Sunday], all experts in their fields." However they made sure enough people were available to be on patrol as usual on Sunday. Hamish had grown up with a group of 30 to 40 young lifeguards of a similar age, who would have been involved in the search, Warner said. "This is a big shock for everyone, let alone his peers and friends." Increasing surf was forecast to continue over the next few days and Warner was concerned about that. "At this stage we wouldn't be encouraging any members of the public who aren't absolutely proficient to be out in the water," he said. "These conditions are dangerous, they're difficult and they're treacherous." The club had already attended to incidents such as surfers with dislocated shoulders and coast rescue during the high swells. The club couldn't comment on what had happened leading up to Hamish being swept off the rocks as that would be subject to a coronial inquest. The Rieger family was working through organising a service for Hamish and the club also hoped to mark his passing, although had not yet had a chance to consider how. Messages of support In a Facebook post the club said their "beautiful ocean can be a cruel mistress but at least she gave Hamish back to us today". "To the Rieger clan, who have contributed so much to our club and our movement over the years, we offer our total, unconditional love and support," the post went on. "To our members, those lifeguards from our fantastic neighbouring clubs and clubbies from further afield, you have made us all proud once more with your professionalism and dedication." New Zealand country music star Jamie McDell also offered her condolences to the Rieger's on her Facebook page. "An incredibly tragic loss, one of the Surf Life Saving family and by the sounds an absolute legend. Lots of love and support, anything else I can do or help with don't hesitate to ask," she wrote. Friend Jonah Dobson said he couldn't believe what had happened. In a heartfelt post on Facebook he said Hamish was one of his best friends and he didn't know what to do now he was gone. "You were a credit to everyone you met Ham," he wrote. "The guy you could trust to make you laugh in the worst of situations, the guy you could talk about anything to and the guy who was always up for the challenge." Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair, acting Area Commander for Western Bay police, said the Rieger family had contributed a great deal to the community through their service to Surf Lifesaving and his thoughts were with them. Tracks on Mauao (Mt Maunganui) have now reopened. Drowning toll Rieger's death brings the total deaths by drowning this year to 11. In the first 24 days of 2015 19 people had drowned. But while the 2016 drowning toll was so far lower than in 2015, Water Safety NZ chief executive Matt Claridge said that was still not good enough. The current rate meant fewer than one death every two days, whereas it can sometimes reach one person a day in the height of summer, he said. Claridge said it was not clear why fewer people had drowned in 2016 - in general, some people stayed safe because they were doing the right things, others were saved through luck. He advised those near the water to keep children at arm's reach and to stay off wet rocks. "That's a sure sign that the waves have reached them and crashed across them," he said. Choppy sea Police worked with Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Coastguard and LandSAR to cover the search area in what they described as "very challenging" conditions. On Sunday morning there was a cordon up across the path onto the island and uniformed lifeguards could be seen stationed at points around the island. The sea remained choppy and surfers were making the most of conditions. Two IRBs (inflatable rescue boats) could be seen out on the side of Moturiki Island furthest away from Mauao. Local man Stan Lilley said he was doing what he could to help. Lilley did a stint on the beach with his binoculars on Sunday morning. "I heard about it and thought I would come down and hopefully help," he said. "I thought, you never know. Every set of eyes helps." The surf had been very high the last three or four days, he said, and he could hear it from his home near Bayfair Shopping Centre. Moturiki Island was "not a good place to be when there's high surf", he said. He planned to come back later in the day for another period of watching. The boy's family and friends were being assisted by victim support volunteers during the search. Police are asking anyone in the area either, on land or at sea, to be vigilant and report any possible sighting on the young man. He was wearing a pair of dark blue shorts at the time he went missing. It's not the first time a boy has been swept out to sea in the area. In October 2014 Jack Dixon, 5, was snatched from the seashore by a wave on the eastern side of Mt Maunganui during a family day out at Shelley Beach. He had been with his two cousins, taking one last photo before leaving, when a rogue wave generated by a king tide knocked them into the water. The two girls managed to clamber back on to the rocks but Jack was never seen again. Extensive searches of the surrounding area over many weeks failed to find any sign of him. A bull was put down at the Richmond Rodeo on Saturday after breaking its leg in the rodeo ring. The bull's rider also broke his leg and was taken to Nelson Hospital. The death of a bull at the Richmond Rodeo has added fuel to a petition to ban rodeo in New Zealand, SAFE head of campaigns Mandy Carter said. A rider was taken to hospital and a bull put down at the Richmond Rodeo on Saturday after they both broke a leg in the ring. A horse had to be put down in the North Island before the New Year after being injured in a rodeo ring. MARION VAN DIJK/Stuff.co.nz Family day out at Richmond Rodeo. "The deaths are not necessarily that frequent but when they do it really does reinforce to people that we're hurting animals and sometimes causing their deaths just for the sake of entertainment," Carter said. "It causes an enormous amount of distress and fear for the animals, when someone is leaping on their back and calf roping the baby calfs. They have no way of knowing it's just for fun, and they are genuinely going to be terrified. This is just so some guys can dress up as cowboys and go and have a bit of fun for the day and show off to people." Carter said it was a minority of people who supported the rodeo and most Kiwis were sick of it. MARION VAN DIJK/FAIRFAX NZ Liam Hofsteede of Ashburton competes in the 2nd division Bull Ride at the Richmond Rodeo held at the A and P Showgrounds on Saturday. Later in the day a bull had to be put down after breaking its leg in the ring. "Kiwis love animals, when they stop and think about what are they doing to that bull or what are they doing to that calf or horse, they come to realise it's disgusting and question why we're doing that." She said a petition to ban rodeo in the country had gathered 42,000 signatures and would be handed to the government in mid-March. She said she strongly believed rodeo would be banned, it was just a matter of time. It was the first time a bull had to be put down at the Richmond Rodeo, which was held at Richmond A and P Showgrounds, Richmond Rodeo Club president Ian Parkes said. "It doesn't feel good, no-one wants it. I'm a farmer and an animal lover," he said. The second division bull was one of Parkes' own and it was its first time showing in a rodeo. READ MORE: * Rodeo organisers say a ban on the sport is 'PC gone mad' * Petition 'unlikely' to affect Richmond Rodeo Parkes said although it didn't feel good it was something that rarely happened in the sport. He said animal welfare was taken very seriously with vets on-site and the animals being checked before and after showing. He said it was the same as how people, animals and vehicles got injured and damaged in other sports, and said the bulls "break legs at home". Richmond Rodeo Club secretary Tina Angus previously said that although people were entitled to their views, she did not think the anti-rodeo petition would deter spectators and it was just the latest trend with animal rights activists. Parkes said aside from the unfortunate event the day had been good and the showgrounds and weather offered the perfect conditions for the annual rodeo. "We've got a reasonable number of cowboys from throughout New Zealand," he said. Australian Rodeo Queen Latoya Wards came to Richmond for the event and signed autographs and handed out sashes to upcoming cowboy kings and queens in the Miss Cowgirl and Mr Cowboy contest. Criteria for the children's section included denims, boots, hats, a rancher smile and dungarees. Kelly Reedy, who had rodeo in the blood, had brought her family up from Westport for the event, something she did every year. Her dad Mike Reedy was a former rodeo champion, a current breeder and was acting as the Richmond Rodeo's rough stock chute boss over the weekend, she said. "We come up to support what dad is into, and it's great family day out for the kids." Her 8-year-old son Billy was about to do his first calf ride and daughter Killarnee, 10, had done her first barrel race earlier in the day. Youngest daughter Jessie, 2, took out the Miss Cowgirl preschool section in her pink cowgirl boots, and her brother Sam, 5, won Mr Cowboy primary school. Angus said she was "really, really rapt" with the number of local competitors compared to last year, and said there were a number of people who took part in show jumping and other riding as a "bucket list thing". The riders, she said, had come from across the country for the annual rodeo, and a number of the bulls and horses had travelled to Richmond from around the South Island as well. Harvards Ricardo Hausmann has no fresh message for crisis-ridden SL economy Sri Lanka Economic Forum View(s): View(s): The Sri Lanka Economic Forum held recently was aimed at setting the stage for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the need to develop government policy along the identified areas of importance, according to the media release issued by the organisers. In my opinion, however, it is doubtful whether the Economic Forum served its purpose considering the lack of innovative policy focus in the discussions, as I pointed out in the last Sundays column. In this article, I intend to examine Prof. Ricardo Hausmanns presentation, which is available at the official website (http://srilankaeconomicforum.org/) The Economic Forum is reported to have dealt with the findings of a preliminary study on Sri Lanka carried out by the Harvard Universitys Centre for International Development headed by Hausmann. In his presentation titled Constraints to Sustained and Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka: An Initial Diagnosis and Key Topics for Discussion, Hausmann merely repeats the age-old textbook stuff relating to export-constrained economic growth, low government revenue, structural transformation, urbanisation and economic growth. In this regard, I am compelled to disagree with Mr. W.A. Wijewardena, my former colleague in the Central Bank, who dedicated his column in the Daily FT of 11 January 2016 to exaggerate the so-called message of Ricardo Hausmann. BOP-constrained growth is not an original finding of Harvard At the outset, Hausmann poses the question, Is growth constrained by exports and the balance of payments? Using a simple line chart depicting the balance of payments (BOP) deficits and GDP growth in Sri Lanka for the last two and a half decades, he argues that the growth is constrained by BOP. The BOP-constrained economic growth is a well-tested hypothesis in the economic literature articulated by Prof. A.P. Thirlwall of Kent University in his seminal paper published in 1979. Moreover, the benefits of export promotion vis-a-vis import substitution have been well documented in the two separate synthesis volumes authored by Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati and Prof. Anne Krueger in 1978 under a special conference series themed Foreign Trade Regimes and Economic Development of the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research. Many more research publications and policy studies on the subject have appeared since then. In an econometric study conducted by Dr. Lloyd Fernando and myself in 2002 through the Marga Institute for a regional study of the South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes (synthesis report available at http://saneinetwork.net/Files/02_05.pdf), it was proved beyond doubt that there is strong short and long-term bi-directional causality between exports and GDP growth in Sri Lanka. Fiscal-monetary policymakers are well aware of imbalanced-budget consequences On the question of weak public finances, Hausmann depicts few charts on the low level of government revenue in relation to GDP, negative public savings and the excess of fiscal deficits over public investment in Sri Lanka without making an in-depth analysis or suggesting alternative policy options. Again, these are well known facts. The escalation of fiscal imbalances to todays high magnitudes is not due to the ignorance of the policymakers at the official level in the Treasury or in the Central Bank, to be fair by them. Unquestionably, these officials are quite familiar with the fiscal constraints pointed out by Hausmann. Challenges for optimal monetary-fiscal policy mix have been highlighted in almost all annual reports of the Central Bank for decades. But rectification of such imbalances has become impossible at the implementation stage owing to political economy factors. Various forms of populist handouts, subsidies and tax concessions along with a huge public sector workforce created by the successive governments for short-sighted political gains exert enormous fiscal strains thus, overriding the dire need to reduce the budget deficit. I do not think that Hausmann offers any policy alternatives to address these political economy complications. Economic transformation too discussed here frequently As regards economic transformation, Hausmann points out that, countries, as they grow, need to diversify and evolve their comparative advantage into new areas. This process is not merely shifting from agriculture to manufacture, but also to services such as ICT, BPO, KPO, bunkering and tourism. Hausmann stops there without presenting any policy directions. Economic transformation and export diversification are subjects that have been discussed extensively in Sri Lanka as well as in other developing countries over the last so many decades, and there are numerous empirical studies on the subject. The points raised by Hausmann on issues relating to urbanisation and regional disparities look rather vague. It is not clear how those fragmented ideas could be integrated into an overall policy analysis, which was claimed to be the main objective of the Economic Forum. Domino effects of ill-advised policies are disastrous Regrettably, Hausmanns address at the Economic Forum appears more like a defensive power-point presentation of a postgraduate student, rather than a vigorous initiative to spearhead policy reforms for the ailing Sri Lankan economy, which is supposed to be the very purpose of inviting these foreign experts to the island at this juncture. The views expressed by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz at the Forum are no better, as I already pointed out in the previous column of this series. Instead of suggesting robust policy alternatives geared to growth acceleration, Stiglitz has presented some scattered ideas on the role of the government in steering the economy and lessening income inequality through taxation. It is not clear how such ideologies, which have no place for the inevitable economic reforms, could be fitted into a market-led growth framework for Sri Lanka. These kinds of economic forums are a common event in many parts of the world nowadays. While such forums are expected to facilitate economic advancement in the host countries, they provide enormous fortunes to the so-called foreign experts at the expense of poor countries like ours without contributing much either to upgrade the knowledgebase or to make innovative policy changes. The ill-advised policies based on such deliberations will have disastrous domino effects in the future for which no one would be held accountable, and the ordinary citizens will have to pay the price. This is the tragedy of the voiceless common people. (The writer, an economist, academic and former central banker, can be reached at sscolom@gmail.com) Limitations in Prof. Hausmanns policy recommendations By Prema-chandra Athukorala, Professor of Economics, Arndt Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australia National University, Australian The policy recommendations made by Professor Ricardo Hausmann in his presentation at the recent Colombo Economic Summit are based on the product space analysis developed and popularised by him and his co-researchers at the Centre for International Development at Harvard University. This approach has a fundamental limitation as policy guidance in this era of economic globalisation, even though their pictures (product space diagrams) look very impressive and have a great appeal to policy makers who take them at face value. Product space analysis is based on the conventional approach to analysing trade patterns, which treats international trade as an exchange of goods produced entirely from beginning to end within national boundaries. This approach is based on the assumption that factors of production are locked in within national boundaries (that is, it assumes away foreign direct investment, and cross border movement of labour and all inputs used in manufacturing). It completely overlooks the ongoing process of global production sharing (GPS), the breakup of the production processes into separate stages, with each country specialising in a particular stage of the production sequence, which opens up opportunities for countries to specialise in different tasks within vertically integrated global industries. Parts and components, and final assembly traded within global production networks (network trade) have been growing at a much faster rate compared to trade in goods wholly produced within countries (horizontal trade, the focus of product space analysis). Global production has been the prime driver of export-oriented growth East Asian countries. According to my calculation network trade accounts for over 60 per cent of total manufacturing exports from China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. A number of countries in the region (Vietnam and Cambodia are the latest example) have successfully moved from primary product specialisation to exporting manufactured goods (parts and components and final assembly) by joining production networks. This certainly is not Monkeys jumping from low trees to taller trees as depicted in product space diagrams. Policy inferences based on the product space analysis is not consistent with the objective of reaping gains from joining global production networks. As Professor Gerald Helleiner has aptly stated in a best-known article, The introduction of the possibility of component manufacture and middle-stage processing within international industries knocks the bottom out of any stage theory of the development through industrialisation and trade which focuses upon final products (Helleiner, Gerald K. (1973), Manufactured Exports from Less-Developed Countries and Multinational Firms, Economic Journal, 83 (329), p 43) It seems that Prof. Hausmanns policy advocacy of export promotion has basically been shaped by the Latin American experience. Latin American countries lack-luster record of manufacturing export expansion can be explained to a greater extent by these countries failure to reap gains from the ongoing process of global production sharing. I was surprised to note that in the website posting on the Sri Lankan visit, Prof. Hausmann has used Venezuela as a comparator for justifying his policy advocacy for Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka needs to learn lessons from its own past and from the successful countries in our Asian neighbourhood, not from a failed state in Latin America. In the aftermaths of the 1977 liberalisation reforms, a number of electronics multinationals came to Sri Lanka to set up assembly plants. We sadly missed the opportunity to become an export hub based on global production sharing because these MNCs soon left the country in the early 1980s as political instability set in. Among these lost investment projects was a large assembly plant (with a planned employment of 3000 workers), which made headlines in a Harvard Business Review article. Chet Singh, the founding chairman of the Penang Development Corporation, recently told me that Motorolas decision to come to Sri Lanka was a big concern to him and the Penang state government at the time because Sri Lanka was a much better location for electronics assembly compared to Penang. Luckily for him (and for Penang) Motorola eventually gave up the Sri Lanka option and set up a plant in Penang. The Motorola plant in Penang currently employ 8500 workers and also acts as the regional R&D centre of that giant multinational enterprise. We need to strive to regain such lost opportunities. Korea Eximbank opens a representative office in Colombo View(s): The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank ), an official export credit agency of the Republic of Korea, opened their representative office in Colombo at a ceremony held at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. This new presence comes in response to increased bilateral ties between the governments of Korea and Sri Lanka, in trade, foreign direct investment, development assistance, cultural affairs, and personnel exchanges. The opening of the representative office also coincides with the Banks 40th anniversary, the bank said in a media release. Through the opening of its representative office in Colombo, the Korea Eximbank reaffirms its commitment to continuously reflect and support the evolving development demands of Sri Lanka, as a trusted partner. Its office is located at Korea ODA Center, 9/2, Dudley Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8. Officiating the opening ceremony, the State Minister paid a tribute to the Korea Eximbank for its unbridled support to enhancing key economic infrastructure needs of Sri Lanka, specifically in the sectors of transport, water supply and, vocational education and training. mbassador Chang praised Sri Lankas economic progress over the past few years and recollected the many things the two countries share in common, such as the rich cultural heritage and history and a commitment towards inclusive growth. Dr. Lee, Chairman of Korea Eximbank confirmed that the Bank will continue to closely cooperate with Sri Lanka and will increase its financial support to the country in the coming years. The State Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs, Niroshan Perera, the ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka, Won-sam Chang, and the Chairman of Korea Eximbank, Dr. Duk-Hoon Lee graced this opening ceremony along with many representatives from the government, United Nations, international development organizations and, the Korean and Sri Lankan business community. Lifting Iranian sanctions brews well for Ceylon Tea By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): The US ending economic sanctions on Iran is eyed with optimism by the Sri Lankan tea industry which noted that this could boost prices in future and create avenues to directly deal with banks between the two countries. The Sri Lankan tea industry had been awaiting this move by the US for a long time that could allow the two countries to carry out banking directly between them and reduce the delays in transferring payments for tea exports, Tea Exporters Association (TEA) Chairman Rohan Fernando said in an interview with the Business Times on Monday. He noted that in the wake of these developments the TEA Secretariat would be writing to the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) to call for a meeting of the state banks, the Treasury and the Central Bank to see how they could move forward with the sanctions lifted so that the banking system will get the directives of lifting of the sanctions. Mr. Fernando explained that if handled properly the demand at the auctions should improve the prices should increase because the exporters should have more money to buy more stocks. At present exporting tea to Iran is being carried out but dealing with their banks is an offence as a result of which the traders are obtaining money from banks in Dubai and other places through financial institutions outside the trading country, Mr. Fernando explained. He added that this involves delays and various other issues connected to transfers since banks refuse to accept any form of documents between Sri Lanka and the Iranian banking system. Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayaka told the Business Times that with the sanctions on Iran lifted, Sri Lanka could now trade directly and the payment problem could be sorted out. It will also give (us) an edge in the market and gain about 4-5 per cent more (in the market), he said. Sri Lanka is said to have obtained 44 per cent of the Iranian market for tea. This year Sri Lanka is looking at achieving an export target of at least 350 million kg, the minister said. New legislation, regulation for tourism View(s): The government is gearing up to introduce new legislation and regulation to ensure the industry operates in line with todays traveller requirements.Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Director General Malraj Kiriella said at the Sunday Times Business Club meeting held at The Kingsbury on Tuesday that they would be strengthening legislation and regulations in relation to providing new guielines to prevent any negative impacts on the tourism industry. In addition, the industry would strongly adhere to classification, licensing and impartial ratings, he pointed out. Another area to be looked at would be the introduction of strict zones, and the development of mega tourism zones. Moreover, harassment of tourists by touts and other vendors in addition to any other issues would be addressed strictly through the Sri Lanka Tourist Police that would be made increasingly active, Mr. Kiriella said. In addition he pointed out that there would be strong regulation on the enforcement of the maximum height of a hotel along the coast at 16 metres alongside the maximum room capacity that could be covered by any single hotel especially in the resorts.Spas and health tourism at present an unregulated sector of the industry would have new legislation and regulations enforced, Mr. Kiriella explained. John Keells Hotels Brands Vice President Dileep Mudadeniya highlighted the need to create an experience for todays traveler adding that in this context the brick and mortar does not necessarily command the premium. He pointed out that the industry, particularly the private sector, needs to be more creative to attract the right visitors to the country. Serendib Hotels Director Murtaza Jafferjee pointed out that regulating the informal sector could only help that much since competition happens on different platforms. The competition has become acute since most travelers book and check online before travelling to a destination and in this respect the small shops too can compete today by advertising on the Internet, he explained.Mr. Jafferjee highlighted that Those in the formal sector should not be the ones setting the rules for the informal sector. Dispelling gathering storm clouds over Sri Lanka View(s): As former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emerged smiling into television cameras this week following summons issued by Sri Lankas Presidential Commission on Serious Fraud et al (PRECIFAC), his jibes were clear. So there were rogues in our time he said, there were rogues in the past as well and rogues also, in the present. Disinclination to change the impunity culture The storm clouds that are gathering amidst rumors of a new Rajapaksa political grouping may not be directly over us as yet. Yet their appearance on the horizon is quite discernible as ultra-nationalism raises its monstrous head again as typified by slogans of Sinha-le (blood of the lion) defacing vehicles and walls of houses in Colombo. In the North, nationalist sentiment is also on the rise as buttressed by the castigation of the Government in appearing to renege on its promises to secure justice for war time abuses. Central to nationwide dissatisfaction is the retreat from the high moral ground on which the Sirisena Presidency had defeated the Rajapaksa juggernaut. This retreat was entirely predictable as seasoned observers were quick to note early on. The catapulting of compromised flag bearers of the old regime into the fledging interim administration early last year created considerable disquiet. These were good warning signals. Blurring of lines between the old and the new One year into the Presidency and a General Election later, the disquiet has worsened. The lines between the old and the new have become even more blurred, along with a still unresolved Central Bank financial scandal. Flamboyant assurances of Western financiers (some with less than comforting reputations) sit uneasily with the woes of ordinary Sri Lankans as the price of the humble packet of rice increases along with the cost of daily essentials. But this does not seem to worry President Maithripala Sirisena overmuch even as he expounds on delirious female fans throwing underwear at music concerts and expansively promises a wholesale ban on cattle slaughter. Meanwhile the legal process in regard to corruption is obfuscated and obstructed at every turn while the country is treated to unpleasant media spectacles. Is this due to sheer ineptness or is there a more sinister agenda at play? Indeed, there is growing public disbelief regarding the very veracity of allegations against gross corruptors of the previous regime. This in turn has led to widespread cynicism despite nonsensical publicity stunts indulged in by the Bribery and Corruption Commission. This Government has to bear the responsibility for the change in the public mood. Police brutality repeating familiar patterns The other fault lines are no less worrying. Witness testimony this week implicated a senior police officer as pushing a homeowner in Embilipitiya to death even as he shouted at the police not to behave like animals. His widow reported that her husband had been kicked in the head even after he had fallen to the ground. Protesting area residents who had refused to accede to demands by police officers to give free liquor in the middle of a house party were reportedly mercilessly beaten, (see EconomyNext, January 20th 2016). These are familiar patterns of police brutality that have not ceased under this Government, including the assault on accountancy students in Colombo. Internal police inquiries into these incidents yield little. Rather, there must be an independent investigation conducted under the auspices of the National Police Commission (NPC). Stern action must be taken thereafter against erring police officers. Instead, we see farcical responses. This includes a particularly ridiculous claim made by an enthusiastic Deputy Minister, himself a lawyer, who called for a special body to monitor the police in apparent blissful ignorance of the constitutional mandate of the NPC. On its own part, the NPC cannot act like a postbox, merely passing complaints of abuse to the Department of the Police. Much more is expected of that constitutional commission. Its performance has, somewhat unfortunately, been lackadaisical so far. Positive changes to the law These are realities that contradict positive legal changes which remain confined to theory. On Saturday, it was reported that Sri Lankas Cabinet of Ministers had approved amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act (CCP Act) bringing in the right of legal counsel for suspects. The proposed amendment reportedly provides for the right of every suspect to consult an attorney at law following the recording of the first statement by the police. It secures, if needed, the right to legal aid. This had been a long standing demand by rights activists given that the worst torture is customarily perpetrated during the initial detention in police custody as studies have shown. This change to the criminal procedure law becomes even more important given that Article 13(3) of the Constitution affirms that any person charged with an offence shall be entitled to be heard, in person or by an attorney-at-law, at a fair trial by a competent court. This secures the right to legal assistance for an accused but does not extend it to a suspect in police custody. Further amendments must be brought to the CCP Act to ensure the suspects right to inform family members regarding the arrest, specify the interrogation conditions and allow the suspect to ask for medical assistance by a doctor of his or her choice. Significant course correction needed But even so, theoretical legal change cannot suffice to distinguish this regime from the old without concrete political will to actually implement that change. It is also no answer to say that we no longer have to cope with a Medamulana monarchical mindset in treating this country as if it was its personal fiefdom. Or maintain that the judiciary and the media are freed from the overbearing shackles imposed on them by politicians gone mad. It was not for the elimination of these outrageously particular Rajapaksa-excesses that the people voted for change. Neither are we reassured by the assumption of official roles by Presidents Sirisenas son and daughter in state and military functions during recent months. In the final analysis, international plaudits, however effusive, will not suffice by themselves to avert threatening storm clouds over Sri Lanka. Lessons learnt during 2002-2003 must surely teach us this at least. There must be significant domestic course correction on the part of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition. We have yet to see this manifested. Lankas role in solving Maldivian crisis View(s): Nasheed was in Colombo hotel from Sunday to Thursday meeting with top Western envoys, but picture of Sirisena meeting a fake Sirisena holds secret talks with Namal amid speculation of a deal to drop investigations in return for party control Constitution-making runs into stumbling block; debate on PMs resolution put off; Rajapaksa and others may propose amendments It was well choreographed, but the play did not keep to the script last Saturday. US Secretary of State John Kerry was trying to reach out to Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on the telephone from Austria. It was to praise him for releasing his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed to go for medical treatment in Britain. Nasheed had been banished to an island jail to serve a 13-year sentence, after a trial which Kerry said in Colombo last year was not fair. Kerry had flown into Vienna from Washington DC for consultation with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zaraf and European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini on the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear programme. President Yameen was otherwise frenziedly busy at his office overlooking the crispy blue ocean in Male. Hugo Swire, Britains Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, arrived in the Maldivian capital on Saturday. Contrary to what he was made to believe whilst in Colombo, former President Nasheed, he found to his dismay, had not been released. Concerned by the developments, he kept ringing Sri Lanka Government leaders to ascertain what had gone wrong. That took time. The link man minister Karunanayake, a close friend of Yameen, was on a flight returning to Colombo after taking part in an event in Beijing. Before Swires departure, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had briefed him on the mediatory efforts he conducted together with colleague Karunanayake in Male. Samaraweera met President Yameen and pleaded for the release of Nasheed on medical grounds during a two-day visit that began on January 13. Then, his mission was kept a secret though later the Male Foreign Office was to claim it was on an invitation to the two from their Foreign Minister. By the time the ministerial duo returned to Colombo, President Yameens decision to release Nasheed at 12 noon last Saturday (January 16) had reached them. An over-enthusiastic Swire, who was privy to this, had then tweeted thanking the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister for ensuring stability in the region. The tweet was to cause concerns at the highest levels of the Maldivian Government. It was cutting across what they were to announce via twitter on Saturday evening. A Male Foreign Ministry tweet said the Government had granted permission to Nasheed to travel to UK to undergo surgery at his request. As a Male Foreign Ministry source, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, confessed, What has stability in the region got to do with Nasheed undergoing surgery? A face saving device for Yameen, though his predecessors claim of a back ailment was correct, had misfired. The concerns exacerbated after the Sunday Times revealed exclusively in the front page lead story that ministers Samaraweera and Karunanayake were mediating for Nasheeds release. The report noted that President Yameen would make a decision. Within hours of the news reaching Male, supporters of Nasheeds Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were to charge that the Male Government was buckling down to international pressure to release Nasheed. They claimed that medical reasons were being touted as a pretext. That was loss of face for the Maldivian leader who had come under severe international criticism for cracking down on his opponents. At one point, even Sri Lanka joined this chorus. In a counter move, pro-Yameen groups said Nasheed should not be released from prison. One of his ministers claimed that Nasheed had spat at the face of a jail guard. Home Minister Mohamed Naseer was to publicly remark that the surgery could be carried out by a hospital in the Maldives and there was no requirement to allow him to travel abroad. The Medical Board of their Department of Corrections had not approved a request for treatment overseas, it was pointed out. However, Attorney General Mohamed Anil had recommended treatment abroad on the basis that he was a former President. At least for Saturday, the release was called off causing uncertainty all round. Word went around that Nasheed would continue to remain in the Maafushi island jail, a half an hours motor launch ride from Male. These developments were to infuriate President Yameen. In terms of a previously arranged plan, the Sunday Times learnt that the release was to be dubbed formally as being necessitated by medical reasons a means by which his bete noire was to be removed from the political scene in Male, at least temporarily. That was face saving enough and would have helped his people and the world believe the actions were a humanitarian gesture. Of course, Nasheed did have an ailment in the back though its gravity or the need for surgery is yet to be medically established. He had weeks earlier made a verbal request to travel abroad for treatment. Some Yameen supporters even believed Nasheed may not return though a pledge of sorts had been made where he had (through his brother) agreed to serve the remaining part of his sentence when he is well and returns. This is through a signed guarantee. However, the question whether he would, remains a crucial issue. Some of his supporters argue he would be better positioned to do more for MDP from London than from an island jail. They liken the situation to Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who directed a revolution in Iran whilst being domiciled in Paris. There was a hive of activity both in Colombo and in Male last Sunday. In Colombo, Ministers Samaraweera and Karunanayake, who returned early that morning, were in touch with US Ambassador Atul Keshap and Swire who was at the Jen Hotel in Male. Karunanayake was also speaking to President Yameen and Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon and giving updates to US Ambassador Keshap and British State Minister Swire. By then, the Maldivian Government had veered towards accepting reality notwithstanding the accusations of the MDP that the exercise was pre-planned. Foreign Minister Maumoon was busy with officials formulating Nasheeds travel documents and flight details. Extra care was being taken to ascertain whether there was a connecting flight within a short time after Nasheed arrived in Colombo. This was to deny him time to come to the City and make a media event of his travails. They soon realised that there was no such flights on Sunday and there was an urgency to release him that day itself. Hence, with the concurrence of the Government in Colombo, Nasheed was told that no media events should be held in Colombo. It was explained that it was the wish of the Government of Sri Lanka. There was still another issue to be resolved. Who would sign as guarantor that after undergoing treatment, Nasheed would return to the Maldives and serve the remaining sentence? At first, the name of his father was suggested. He was however found to be feeble. In terms of Maldivian practice, a guarantor who testifies on behalf of a convicted person cannot leave the country. In such an event, he or she is required, to transfer such a guarantee to a person acceptable to the authorities. In view of the prevailing urgency, the requirements were relaxed. Signing on behalf of the former President was his brother Ibrahim Nasheed. He accompanied the former President on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 104 from Male to Colombo. They checked into suites at the Colombo Hilton. The first callers separately on Nasheed were US Ambassador Keshap and British High Commissioner James Dauris, envoys of the two countries that were at the forefront of efforts to seek his release. Colombo-based diplomats from the European Union followed. Several requests from the media for interviews were politely turned down. They were told that they did not wish to embarrass the host country, Sri Lanka. Earlier, after US and Britain sought the help of Sri Lanka, Samaraweera and Karunanayake had obtained approval from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to be the mediators. It came after the Premier had obtained approval in turn from President Maithripala Sirisena. It was later on Sunday, that Secretary Kerry had telephoned President Yameen to thank him. He also spoke briefly to the former President on the telephone. Nasheed and his brother boarded an Emirates flight (EK 349) at 2.55 a.m. on Thursday from Colombo to Dubai and took connecting flight EK 0029 to London. At the Heathrow Airport he and his brother were received by Nasheeds British-based human rights lawyer Amal Clooney at Terminal 3. It was just the week before that Clooney was in Washington D.C. lobbying politicians there. Among those whom she met were Senator John McCain, Patrick Leahy and Republican presidential aspirant Mark Rubio. Also present at the airport was her co-counsel Jared Genser, a veteran human rights attorney and founder of Freedom Now. During his brief stay in Colombo, supporters of Nasheed had tweeted a photograph of the former Maldivian President purportedly calling on President Sirisena. An old picture has been used for this act of mischief and drew a denial from Foreign Ministry officials in Colombo. In a cruel twist to the Nasheed episode which highlights the political culture of the Maldives, Mohamed Ashmalee, State Minister for Finance and Treasury of the Maldivian Government, said in his facebook account; Please go back. Land in the middle of the Ocean. Ashmalee is also Chairman of Dhiragu, the state owned mobile phone operator in the Maldives. In a surprise move, the company dissociated itself from the remarks. That was how Sri Lanka played peacemaker for Britain and the United States in the Maldives. It will soon be the turn of those two countries, among others, to step up efforts for peacemaking in Sri Lanka, a journey that portends to be much longer than a mere hour long flight to Male. Constitution-making on hold The developments in the Maldives came as the National Governments moves to fast track the process for a new Constitution for Sri Lanka has been placed on temporary hold. A debate on the resolution for this purpose, moved by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, due in Parliament on Tuesday, January 26 has been cancelled. A new date is yet to be fixed and House Leader Lakshman Kiriella did not propose one when Speaker Karu Jayasuriya chaired a meeting of party leaders last Tuesday. As revealed last week, the delay is because Premier Wickremesinghe wants to discuss amendments moved by different political parties to his resolution. One such amendment by the Mahinda Rajapaksa-backed joint opposition has sought to include provisions that the entire House sit as a committee. In the original resolution reference is made only to the establishment of a Constitutional Assembly. Another is the exclusion of the word new from the original resolution. Talks are to begin after Wickremesinghe returns from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland today. Rajapaksa said last week that the Opposition had suggested that the process of constitutional change should be within the provisions of the present Constitution and the Standing Orders of parliament. Though he is in favour of his supporters taking part in the constitution-making process, Rajapaksa has made clear his position on a number of key elements. During a speech at the Abhayaramaya Temple in Colombo, as a news release claimed, Rajapaksa declared, It is only through a referendum that certain entrenched provisions of the Constitution can be changed and if a whole new constitution is presented to the people at a referendum, many of the entrenched provisions can be changed in one fell swoop. People have suspicions that provisions inimical to the unitary character of the Sri Lankan state may find their way into the new constitution if it is passed as a single document. We must ensure that the whole constitution-making process is not hampered due to these misgivings. With reference to the 13th Amendment, he noted that the Indian constitutional system should first be examined before any change is made. This is because devolution of power was through the Provincial Councils. Despite Rajapaksas statement, President Maithripala Sirisena has named former Presidents loyalists in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) too to a Committee on constitutional matters. The committee comprises Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, John Seneviratne, and Rajapaksa loyalists Pavithra Wanniaratchci, Bandula Gunawardena and Keheliya Rambukwella. Namal-Sirisena talks Bringing in Rajapaksa loyalists into the committee is part of ongoing stepped-up efforts by Sirisena to consolidate his leadership in the SLFP, a task in which he has failed so far. Weeks earlier, he had an informal meeting with Hambantota District lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa after an intermediary arranged it. Sirisena invited him to work together. Namal was to point out that every member of his family faced five to six investigations from state agencies. A source familiar with the dialogue said Namal lamented that his father cannot move that freely due to security threats and had to maintain his dignity amidst different forms of humiliation. Sirisena was to make it clear that his conversation was with Namal and did not involve his father who had served his terms. This unpublicised dialogue appears to have had its sequel in a different way. Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a district-by-district tour as a prelude to the formation of a new political party and an alliance with others thereafter was posed the question by key supporters would he retire from politics if all investigations against him and members of his family were withdrawn? The same question was posed to Basil Rajapaksa who was together with brother Mahinda in Kalutara on Friday. Both insisted there was no truth in such claims and declared that they would not sacrifice politics and be silenced by the offer to halt investigations. Namal himself told friends that he never gave that impression during the meeting with President Sirisena but only defended the familys position and the unfair treatment they were receiving. Even before the constitution-making process has begun, political parties are making their positions known. Rajapaksa stated his views in the news release issued last week. TNA wants federal system Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, the Tamil media reported, told a meeting in Kilinochchi that they were for a federal system. However, he told the Sunday Times, I said maximum devolution is not possible within the framework of a unitary state. It has legal and constitutional connotations. He added that we have made our position quite clear in our 2015 manifesto. With reference to Tamil people and the present constitutional amendments, the TNA manifesto says: We, the Tamil People of Sri Lanka are a distinct People in terms of relevant International Conventions and Covenants. We as a People want to continue to live in our country in peaceful co-existence with others, with dignity and self-respect, with freedom and liberty and without fear, as equal citizens free from majoritarian hegemony. We as a People are thus concerned about our historical habitats, our Collective Rights that accrue to us as a People and as a Nation and our entitlement to exercise our right to determine our destiny to ensure self-government in the Tamil Speaking North-East of the country within a united and undivided Sri Lanka. The present constitutional arrangements in this regard have proved to be inadequate and unsatisfactory. They favour the majority and impose majoritarian hegemony on the Tamil People. Democracy in a plural society cannot function effectively without a constitutional framework that provides for equity, equality, justice, peace and security. It is in this context that we face the forthcoming Parliamentary Election. The TNA firmly believes that sovereignty lies with the People and not with the State. It is not the government in Colombo that holds the right to govern the Tamil People, but the People themselves. In this regard the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is flawed in that power is concentrated at the Centre and its Agent, the Governor. Our political philosophy is rooted in a fundamental democratic challenge to the authoritarian state. We made a significant contribution towards the achievement of these objectives on the 8th of January 2015 in the whole country. Our political programme is therefore rooted in the needs and aspirations of all people including the Tamil Speaking Peoples for justice and equality. The TNA has handed in amendments to the UNF Governments resolution and a delegation will meet Premier Wickremesinghe upon his return to discuss issues. New dates for a debate in Parliament are to be determined by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya after the Premiers dialogue is complete. Embilipitiya episode: Revelations At last Tuesdays meeting with party leaders or representatives, Speaker Jayasuriya heeded a request by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) for a two-day debate on the incidents involving the Police in Embilipitiya. It will begin on February 28. The interim report of a senior Police official overlooking the division, now before Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon tells the story of what happened in Embilipitiya. For reasons of clarity, some parts have been edited. The senior officer notes, .it seems there has been a common idea in concealing or distorting the facts by the mobile patrol team According to this report, on January 4, a mobile patrol led by a Sergeant, with two constables and a driver had arrested Vidanagamage Sampath Perera at 10 p.m. in connection with a case of alleged sexual assault. Over an hour later Abeywardena Sunil alias Ruwan had been taken into custody for alleged indecent behaviour under the influence of liquor. As the two suspects were being taken to the Embilipitiya Police Station, the telephone operator there had radioed the mobile patrol. He had conveyed a message from the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of the area that there was a loud noise from the High Court area where loudspeakers were being used. The mobile was directed to check it out. The mobile patrol first went to the Police Station, handed in the suspects and left around midnight to check on the ASPs message. They found there were no loudspeakers in the area. They learnt that there was a party underway at the Mendis Building some distance away at New Town Road, Pallegama. Four police officers who got off the vehicle were confronted on the steps of the Mendis building. According to the mobile patrol officers there was a dispute after they were told to control the sound while the persons in the Mendis building say that it was a dispute after the police officers demanded liquor. However, the exact reason for the assault on the police officers has not been disclosed. During the confrontation on the stair case and the landing of the stair case someone had grabbed the T56 weapon of a police officer and later his colleague had spoken to someone known to him there and got back the weapon. Thereafter, the Sergeant had fired two shots into the air. The crowd had moved away. The Sergeant had used his mobile telephone (number given) and called the operator at the Embilipitiya Police Station (number given) and informed that officers of the mobile patrol have been assaulted. Since there was a delay in (additional strength of) Police officers reaching the place the Sergeant had called the operator again using his mobile phone. A Police team led by an Inspector left the Embilipitiya Police Station and reached the location where the Police Sergeant was present. This was after off duty police officers were woken up from their barracks and were asked to join the team in civvies. The Sergeant had told the Inspector about the incident. The statement by the Sergeant does not say that he was being assaulted when the Inspector arrived. His statement only says that due to an assault, he suffered from a head pain and shock. According to the statement of Sittachcharige Achintha Madushantha, a member of the Delight musical group who provided music at the Mendis building party, a police jeep had arrived between just past midnight and about three to four minutes later the two parties were seen clashing. Policemen were present. Two gun shots were heard. The fighting spread into the building. Since there was a possibility of the musical instruments being damaged the equipment was packed and taken down the staircase and placed in the lorry parked on a by lane. Thereafter there was silence. He says the police came up and he heard the sound of glass breaking and something falling. At this point Madushantha had been close to the lorry. About ten minutes later- i.e. around 12.50 am he had come closer to the location where the police were present. Later he came to know that it was Sumith Prasanna Jayawardena who had died. Note: A witness whose statement was recorded on Friday alleged that Jayawardena had been pushed from the upper floor by a Police official whom he identified. Police said they were investigating the claim. Analsying the above facts it is clear that the mobile patrol had arrived there only once. The police officers in their statements have said that the mobile patrol arrived on two occasions, but in the investigations it was revealed that the mobile patrol had arrived near the Mendis building only once. There is no indication that the Police Sergeant has been assaulted. Accordingly, the statements that the Police Sergeant and a constable were assaulted inside the Mendis building seems to be false..The death of Sumith Prasanna Jayawardena who was present at the party was caused by the action of the Police support team who entered the building. Since investigations are pending no conclusion can be drawn regarding the cause of the death and further investigations are necessary. Yesterday Police Chief Illangakoon directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take over the investigations. A team led by ASP Shani Abeysekera has undertaken the task. It may be recalled that The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka protested strongly against the Police seizing the notebooks of provincial reporters covering the magisterial inquiry into the death of Jayawardena. The notebooks were returned, with some with pages removed. The Police Commission is now probing this episode and the entire incident. There were high pressure moves afoot by sections in the police and politicians who are interested in playing down the Embilipitiya incident. Such a move would only go as a counter to the pledge by the ruling parties during elections to ensure transparency and restore law and order. These pledges appear to have become downgraded as priorities since bigger issues, particularly in the economic sphere, looms large. Reforms fundamental for accelerating higher education View(s): Higher education has an important role in Sri Lankas economic and social development. The development of quality university and tertiary education that is at the pinnacle of the education pyramid is vital for the country to leap forward into a developed nation. The importance of education in the development process is widely recognized. It is impossible to conceive of a country attaining a high level of development without the support of a good educational system at the primary, secondary, tertiary and technical levels. University and higher education is particularly significant for economic development. The development of university education is especially significant for Sri Lankas economic development at the present stage of development. Economists recognise The role of learning and education has been well recognised by economists. In the 1960s Dennison pointed out that education explained the differences between economic investments and growth in the US. Joseph Schumpeter stressed the significance of entrepreneurship that is indirectly linked to education. Gary Becker and others stressed the importance of human capital of which education was an important component. In Beckers classic study of the consequences of investing in a persons knowledge and skills, investment in education and training is similar to business investments in equipment. Gamani Corea Memorial Lecture The second Gamani Corea Memorial lecture by Dr. Harsha Aturupane, Lead Education Specialist of The World Bank titled Enriching and Accelerating Higher Education Development in Sri Lanka was of special significance in this connection. Dr. Aturupanes comprehensive and wide ranging lecture was indeed a blue print for university and higher education in Sri Lanka. His lecture encompassed the landscape of university education; the relationship between higher education and economic development; access to higher education; the need for expansion and diversification of higher education; innovative teaching-learning in higher education; information communication technology; research, innovation and development; private higher education quality assurance and accreditation; the social benefits of higher education; the internationalization of higher education and Sri Lanka as a higher education hub for international students. The focus here is on three aspects of his exposition: the relationship of higher education and economic development; access to higher education and the need for expansion and diversification of higher education and the need for innovative teaching-learning in higher education. Importance Dr. Aturupane pointed out that higher education is important for development in the knowledge-intensive global economy of modern times, while at the same time higher education enables individuals to enhance human capital and increase life-cycle earnings and generates inter-generational economic benefits as increased education achievement in one generation results in better education and economic outcomes in the next. Higher education also facilitates social mobility by enabling individuals from disadvantaged households to improve their economic and social status over time. Highly educated women have greater ability to control their fertility and family health, resulting in lower child and infant mortality, reduced morbidity and disease burden, and longer life expectancy. Furthermore, a sound higher education system can contribute to social cohesion by presenting cultural, ethnic, religious and gender diversity in a favourable light in society and in creating enlightened citizens needed for a vibrant, modern liberal democracy. The quality of governance is better in countries with more educated representatives in the executive, legislature and judiciary. Expansion and diversification There is a need for increased participation in higher education. Since there is considerable pent-up demand for higher education, increasing the supply of higher education spaces in existing public sector institutions, or setting up new institutions, can increase participation. Since the scope for such expansion, is limited for a resource-constrained government, an important option is to create a favourable climate for private sector investment in higher education. This requires a suitable regulatory framework for the registration, quality assurance and accreditation of private higher education institutions. Enhanced enrolment in higher education should be strategically oriented towards economic and human development and economic relevance. Relevance Aturupane pointed out a variety of initiatives to increase the relevance of higher education that included enrolment increases prioritized for directly labour-market relevant degree programs mainly in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. In-take capacity in existing degree programs in these areas can be expanded. In addition, new industry relevant degree programs can be introduced and curriculum reforms undertaken to increase economic relevance by introducing new skills and new technology into degree programs. Alternative higher education or short-cycle vocational higher education can be expanded by institutions meant to be labour-market oriented. Graduates from these could be employed in industries and high-end service organizations. Private higher education On the promotion of private higher education institutions Aturupane said these should be relevant for the economy. Private higher education institutions, which are mainly for-profit entities, need their graduates to be employable if they are to thrive and prosper. In consequence, the study programs offered by such institutions are usually directly job-oriented. Innovative teaching-learning Dr. Aturupane said that the main mandate of teaching universities and higher education institutions that was for the production of high quality graduates for the economic and social needs of a country is of vital importance for Sri Lanka. This is especially necessary in the context of the world-wide massification of higher education and the increasingly sophisticated demands of the global knowledge economy. Quality The quality of graduates is multi-dimensional and includes knowledge of their subjects; the skills and capabilities required for the labour market; and the values and behaviour needed to be a good citizen in society. The output of high quality graduates from universities depends on a variety of factors, including the socio-emotional skills and knowledge of the entering students; the quality of curricula, teaching and assessment in higher education institutions; teaching-learning resources such as ICT centres, science and engineering laboratories, libraries and reading material; and the physical facilities of the university. Implications What Dr. Aturupane presented was a wide ranging menu for educational reform. The implications of his exposition are that considerable investments are required in higher education that must be coupled with substantive reforms in curriculum and teaching methods and there is a need to expand educational facilities in fields that are significant for economic development. Even to accomplish a fraction of this programme there is a need for significant financial resources, technical inputs and a strong political resolve as reforms attract severe protests and opposition. Notwithstanding this, there is no doubt that the country cannot become a developed nation without fundamental reforms in higher education. Bhikku Vinaya a la Sri Lanka, under threat from new Code-of-Conduct Bill: PHU By Chandani Kirinde View(s): View(s): A proposed law which makes it a punishable offence for members of the Buddhist clergy to act in breach of their code of conduct, has run into trouble, even though the Ministry of Buddha Sasana insists the law was drafted with the blessings of the chief prelates of the countrys three main Theravada Chapters (Nikayas). Since the Theravadi Bhikku Kathikawath (Registration) Bill was presented to Parliament earlier this month, its Constitutionality is being challenged in the Supreme Court, while concerns have been raised from various quarters about the proposed legislation. Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Shasanika Secretary, Biyagama Suseela Thera who has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutionality of the Bill, told the Sunday Times that, this is an attempt to restrict members of the Buddhist clergy and the temples, and stifle their freedom to be involved in issues of national interest, as well engage in activities that Buddhist monks have been traditionally engaged in for centuries. There is a clause pertaining to a Bhikku engaging in or carrying out occult practices or similar activities, then, even a Bodhi Pooja can be interpreted as an occult practice. Similarly, monks have been traditionally casting horoscopes for centuries, while such laws will restrict such activities too, he said. Suseela Thera also said the clause that stops monks from engaging in activities unsuitable for a Bhikku, in a manner contrary to Bhikku Vinaya in public places, could be used to prevent members of the Buddhist clergy from coming forward and speaking out when national interests are at stake. Parliamentarians are not suitable in any manner to make laws that dictate Bhikku Vinaya. At present, there are rules within the Nikayas on how to punish those who breach the code of conduct for monks, and these are adequate, he said. The proposed Bill provides for the formulation and registration of Kathikawath in relation to Nikaya or Chapters of Theravadi Bhikkus in Sri Lanka, and provides for every Bhikku to act in compliance with the provisions of the Registered Kathikawath of the respective Chapter, and to impose punishment including fines and prison terms on Bhikkus who act in violation of the provisions of any Registered Kathikawath. The code of conduct and discipline is expected to contain provisions pertaining to a Bhikku engaging in or carrying out occult practices or similar activities and giving publicity to such activities; involving in trade or business activities; obtaining driving licences and driving vehicles; engaging in any employment in the public or private sector other than in the fields of education, social services or religious affairs; and engaging in activities unsuitable for a Bhikku in a manner contrary to Bhikku Vinaya in public places. Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana Wasantha Ekanayaka said, even though the Bill was presented to the House recently, the need to register the Kathikawath in relation to the Nikayas or Chapters of the Theravdi Bhikkus in Sri Lanka has been under discussion for several decades. The Chief Prelates of the different Nikayas were consulted regarding the Bill and they approved of it. It is a self-governing system which each Nikaya will implement according to their codes of conduct, he said. Meanwhile, adding to the debate regarding the proposed legislation, there was a directive by President Maithriapala Sirisena this week, to refer the Bill to the Maha Nayake Theras to get their feedback, before any steps are taken to pass it in Parliament. The President said the Government will not undertake any task opposed by the Maha Sanga. The Government is always ready to listen, not only to the ideas about the Bill on Bhikku Discourse, which is being debated now, but also to any contrary ideas of the Maha Sanga regarding other activities of the Government, he said on Thursday at a religious ceremony held to unveil the pinnacle of the newly built Dagoba of Sri Premarathne Buddhist Centre in Thilaka Udagama in Baddegama. The Supreme Court will take up for hearing on Tuesday the petition that has been filed challenging the Bill. UNHRC chief, Indian FM coming View(s): Two high profile visitors United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid al-Hussein and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on February 5. It will be Prince Zeids first visit to the country since he assumed office as the UN Human Rights Commissioner. During his stay in Sri Lanka, he is expected to visit the North and meet people affected by the war. Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj will be in Colombo on a two-day visit to attend the Sri Lanka-India Joint Commission meeting. She is expected to hold talks with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during her stay. (CK) National Trust lecture: Saving Sri Lankas blue whales View(s): Sri Lankan blue whales are a unique, non-migrating, endangered subspecies. They breed six months out of phase with other pygmy blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere, display different behaviours, are half a metre shorter and have a unique vocal call. Most unusually, this population does not migrate to Polar Regions, but remains in warm tropical waters year-round. Their confinement within the Northern Indian Ocean makes this population increasingly vulnerable to human activities mainly in near shore areas. In particular, their high use areas overlap with one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, and whale deaths due to ship-strikes are well-documented and likely to increase. As such, ship-strike is considered the most important threat to this population. Other stressors such as entanglement and by catch are also important as they can result in death. Saving the blue whales of Sri Lanka to save our oceans, a talk by Dr. Asha de Vos on Thursday, January 28 at 6.30 p.m. at the HNB auditorium, will highlight her efforts to pioneer research on the blue whales in the Northern Indian Ocean, establish the first ever long-term research project on the species, and conduct groundbreaking research in an effort to inform conservation and drive policy change. The core of her research over the last few years has focused on resolving the problem of ship-strike through a collaboration she created with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US. During this talk Asha will also highlight the other threats that the population of blue whales face in Sri Lankan waters and explain why their continued existence is intrinsically linked with our own. Handle mega city projects with care By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): UN human development expert urges caution on urbanisation Says Lanka is a developed nation in human development category A senior economist this week urged caution when building megacities saying it causes concentration of services and economic activity in the city to the disadvantage of rural communities. From a number of mega cities that I have seen around the world, I want to highlight a few issues, said Selim Jahan, Director of the UNDPs Human Development Report Office in New York. When you have a mega city, in many cases it has been found that most services and economic activities are concentrated there. As a result, decentralised services or decentralised activities that should be the case in the country are not there. If services and economic activities are centralised, everybody will have to come to the cities to access them, he said, in an interview with the Sunday Times. At the same time, it may so happen that you are depriving the economic potential of places outside of these mega cities. That is unbalanced development. Dr. Jahan also said there was a tendency for large slums or shanty towns to develop in mega cities. I have seen it in other cities, he remarked. These are issues Sri Lankans will have to discuss, he said. I can just bring what I have seen in other places, he continued. Some of my colleagues and I always have a discussion. They say that urbanisation is absolutely necessary for economic development. I simply differ. Urbanisation is not absolutely necessary. Even in Sri Lanka, if you look at contribution of agriculture to Gross Domestic Product, that has gone down quite rapidly. But if you look at where people are mostly employed, that is still in agriculture. Thirty per cent of your labour force is in agriculture. Urbanisation is not the solution for improving the lives of those people, he held. The answer was to create dynamism in the rural economy. Dr Jahan was in Sri Lanka for the local launch of the 2015 Human Development Report. Sri Lankas Human Development Index (HDI) value for 2014 is 0.757. This puts the country in the high human development category, positioning it at 73 out of 188 countries and territories. Between 1980 and 2014, Sri Lankas HDI value rose from 0.571 to 0.757, an increase of 32.5 percent or an average annual increase of about 0.83 percent. Sri Lanka is the only country in South Asia in the high human development category, Dr Jahan said: As South Asians we can be proud of Sri Lanka. No other country from this particular sub region is in that category. India and Bangladesh are in the medium human development category and the rest of the South Asian countries, like Nepal, are in the low human development category. Over time, both the value and rank of Sri Lanka have improved. Life expectancy here is around 75 years whereas life expectancy in India and Pakistan is only 66. In Bangladesh, its 71. The infant mortality rate in Sri Lanka is less than 10 per 1000 live births but in India its still 52 per 1000 live births. In Pakistan, its 85. Taken together the numbers, the position, the ranking, and the category to which the country belongs Sri Lanka is not only doing well but is very much en route to becoming, one day, a very high human development country. There are well known historical reasons for this. In the 60s and 70s Sri Lanka reached a literacy rate comparable with those in the developed world. It was a role model. The health facilities provided to Sri Lankan citizens over the years have been great. I do not mean only the facilities which are city centric but also at the village level, in the rural economy, Dr Jahan said. I think basic human resource development has really made a difference. Sri Lanka is actually leveraging on some of those historical things. In recent times, I know that the country is also trying its best to increase its expenditure on health and education. So I would attribute Sri Lankas success to investing in people quite heavily over the years, having a very good health and education system, he said. I also think that the creativity, as well as innovation, of the Sri Lankan people to do things has contributed. But there were areas to improve, particularly in the sphere of education. One of the issues that Ive been told by many experts in this country is that, in the education system, primary and secondary level you are doing very well but the tertiary is something you have to explore further, Dr Jahan mused. Thats not limited to Sri Lanka alone but to other countries also. It was important to remember that, in coming days, countries will have to compete in a globalised world. People actually have to compete with people from other countries, he explained. So the nature and quality of tertiary education have to be very conducive to what is demanded. At this point in time, in many countries there is a kind of mismatch. The graduates being produced in many developing countries are not the kind of graduates that are needed by either global businesses or by expanding domestic businesses. There must be more graduates from science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Dr Jahan said. Tertiary education must be made more relevant to make people competitive in the rest of the world. Sri Lanka is known for womens empowerment. But still we have constrains because, like many other developing countries, the old age population in Sri Lanka is going up because people are living longer, Dr Jahan remarked. I think at this moment, around 40 percent of the Sri Lankan population is above 65 years of age. In coming days, with better healthcare and nutrition, longevity will go up. This means there will be a care gap or increasing demand for care for these people. Traditionally, in every society, care responsibilities fall on women. That would mean that, in many cases, even if women choose to come out of the home and be involved in the outside work, they will be constrained by social norms, by the demand within families, to undertake the carer role which is traditionally assigned to them. I think there have to be debates and dialogue on how it can be overcome, Dr Jahan said. Do we have enough childcare provisioning in the public sector? Or do we have enough old care provisioning in the public sector? Are we investing enough there? Sri Lanka is also a country wherefrom a large number of women go overseas as domestic workers. They provide care to families, to children, to older people from other countries. But in the process, and thats true of Sri Lanka, thats true of my own country Bangladesh, they are also leaving their own children and their old parents. So the question is who is taking care of them? It is creating a kind of a dilemma and I think there needs to be a discussion, a kind of a policy, on this as to how we can really care for the families of those workers who are earning a lot of foreign exchange for the country. Plus, theres the popular wood chopping demonstrations, the Bay of Plenty Strongest Man contest, Medieval Faire, dog jumping contest, miniature ponies, and more. Therell be pony rides, a Clydesdale wagon, petting zoo, fairground, water slides, face painting, climbing wall, bungee run, karate, games and a chance to pat the alpacas and have a go at hand-milking a cow for the children. People can also browse through the range of trade sites and stalls including vintage tractor display, cars, tractors, outdoor furniture, artists, craft and clothing stalls, information sites and an entire section devoted to lifestyle block owners. If the taste buds are tingling, theres a variety of food stalls providing refreshments and everything from candy floss to gourmet. Event-goers can also go in the draw to win $1000, along with many more prizes up for grabs. The A&P Show at Tauranga racecourse begins 10am-4pm. Tickets cost $10 for adults and free for children aged 12 and under. Door sales only. Mason Burgess, 3, having an en-cow-nter with the farm animals. Reg Davis, 74, from Rotorua competing in underhand. Afaese Paea from Otara competing in the Farmers Walk carrying 200kg. Andrew Wain from Tauranga competing in the Farmers Walk carrying 200kg. Jett Hannah, 11, and Aliana Wills, 10, making jewellery at the Medieval Faire. Five-year-olds Lucy and Tara McBride playing tug-o-war. Queen gives support to campaign. :: A. J. G Queen Letizia offered full royal backing to Antequeras campaign to get the dolmens listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2016. The Queen made a special point of expressing her support to Manuel Baron, mayor of Antequera during the first day of Fitur. Baron was particularly pleased as the Queen pointed out that its in Spains interest that the dolmens receive the recognition since theyre the only Spanish candidates. He said she also understood the importance of the listing for the entire Malaga province. ICON_Indictments (Thinkstock ) SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- An Ontario County man convicted of transporting child pornography was sentenced to prison today for lying to federal authorities to get a free court-appointed lawyer. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford sentenced Joseph Jenkins, 46, of Geneva, to 18 months in prison on a perjury conviction, and fined him $5,000. A jury convicted Jenkins in April of lying in October 2011 when he appeared in court on the child porn charges. He filled out a financial affidavit seeking a court-appointed lawyer, but failed to disclose that he had investments and bank accounts worth more than $200,000 and owned boats and recreational vehicles. He claimed he earned only $25,000 a year. The court, without that financial information, appointed Jenkins a lawyer for free in 2011. Jenkins had the free lawyer for a year before federal prosecutors learned he'd lied about his assets in the financial affidavit. He was then found to be ineligible for an assigned lawyer and was ordered to reimburse U.S. District Court $8,049. On the child porn conviction, Jenkins was sentenced last year to nearly 19 years in prison. He was convicted of transporting and possessing 3,800 photos and 100 videos of child pornography over the Internet. Twila Paris, an award-winning Christian contemporary and gospel music artist, is set to perform at the Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast. (FILE PHOTO) SHARE By Janet Begley This story has been updated from the original. John Bona is the founder of the prayer breakfast. VERO BEACH It's been 12 years since the first Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast took place under a tent in Riverside Park and attendance at the breakfast seems to get bigger each year, organizers said. This year's event, on March 3, moves back to the Indian River Fairgrounds, according to founder John Bona. The gates open at 7 a.m. with ample parking available. A full breakfast catered by TooJay's will take place at the outside pavilion at the fairgrounds that will be draped to give the appearance of a giant tent, Bona said. Inspirational music always has played a big part in the prayer breakfast and Twila Paris, an award-winning Christian contemporary and gospel music artist, is set to perform this year. Since 1980, Paris has released 24 albums and had 33 No. 1 hits. She has been named the Gospel Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year three times, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007. This year's keynote speaker will be Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a conservative policy and lobbying organization based in Washington, D.C. The first Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast was organized in 2005, drawing 1,200 people looking for spiritual comfort after the devastating hurricanes of 2004. It moved to the fairgrounds in 2008 and back to Riverside in 2011. It originally was known as the "Mayor's Prayer Breakfast" because it was hosted by then Vero Beach Mayor Tom White. Last year, more than 2,000 attended the breakfast. Over the past decade, the Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast has attracted speakers of national prominence, including Rev. Jerry Falwell, Ravi Zacharia, Pat Boone and Kirk Cameron. The event draws a large, cross-section from Vero Beach and the surrounding area. VERO BEACH PRAYER BREAKFAST What: 12th annual Vero Beach Prayer Breakfast When: 7:30 a.m. March 3. Gates open at 7 a.m. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Where: Indian River Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach Tickets: A number of $30 tickets are still available at the website. Information: www.verobeachprayerbreakfast.com or 772-492-1041 Authorities are looking for a man who fled the Florida Highway Patrol on foot after a traffic stop on southbound Interstate 95 near County Road 512. Fellsmere Police provided the dashboard camera photo taken from a FHP cruiser. SHARE By Staff Report INDIAN RIVER COUNTY A motorist who fled on foot from a Florida Highway Patrol trooper after a traffic stop was apprehended after three agencies searched for him for more than an hour. Richard Daniel Falcon, 32, of West Palm Beach was charged with unlawful speed, battery on a law enforcement officer, hit and run, and drug charges, according to a news release. The traffic stop happened shortly before 3 p.m. on southbound Interstate 95, near mile marker 153. Sergeant Mike Lanam stopped a 2016 Jeep Cherokee for speeding. During the traffic stop narcotics were found in the vehicle. The driver resisted arrest, ran to his vehicle and began driving north on I-95, exiting at County Road 512. Sergeant Lanam pursued the vehicle until it crashed into some trees. Falcon then fled on foot, prompting an hourlong manhunt. Falcon tossed a pack of drugs into a wooded area, said Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Eric Flowers said. Fellsmere police joined the Sheriff's Office and FHP in the search, which involved the Sheriff's helicopter and a K-9 unit. Fellsmere Police announced about 4:25 p.m. that the suspect had been taken into custody. By Arek Sarkissian TALLAHASSEE Florida's nursing homes want higher payments from Medicaid, a request for more state money that comes as lawmakers consider big tax cuts for business, a bigger economic development fund and other state expenses. The nursing homes argue lawmakers should restore the automatic annual 1 percent increase in Medicaid payments they received until the Legislature stopped the increase in 2011. The increase would give the nursing homes about $12.8 million in state money that could be used to pull down another $20.2 million in federal money, according to data provided by the Florida Health Care Association. When the automatic 1 percent increase stopped, the state's 683 nursing homes at the time were largely unaffected. But now nursing home operators want lawmakers to restore the annual increase. Staff from Palm Healthcare Management, which owns 15 nursing homes across Southwest Florida, Orlando and the Treasure Coast, visited the state Capitol earlier this week to promote the idea. "Essentially, it's making up for what we deal with every day when we buy groceries," said Luke Neumann, Palm Healthcare Management senior director of service and relationship development. Lawmakers in charge of funding Medicaid, which already consumes nearly a third of the state's budget, say there are other budget issues to consider. The Legislature may need to apply more money toward the Low Income Pool, another Medicaid program that provides hospitals with money for treating the poor. This year's proposed budget, which lawmakers will begin to create next week, includes $400 million toward that pool of money. These and other budget issues leave little room for an increase in spending for nursing homes, lawmakers said. "There are really too many things in play to determine if it's possible, but if we can we will consider it," said Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Chairman Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah. "If we have to add more money to LIP, it's going to change everything." In addition, the Legislature learned this week the state will receive $395 million less than what was anticipated for next year's state budget. House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Matt Hudson, R-Naples, said a 1 percent nursing home increase may not be possible. "Whether or not we can do that is up in the air," Hudson said. "When you sit down and start talking about rate increases, you have to prioritize what's going to be the most bang for your buck." The head of a watchdog group for the state's nursing home industry urged legislators to tie any extra cash they give nursing homes to improved quality of patient care. Brian Lee, of the Tallahassee-based group Families for Better Care, said the state's nursing homes make much more money than they advertise. The median annual cost for a nursing home bed in Florida in 2015 was $87,600, which is roughly $7,300 more than the national average, according to a survey conducted by the Genworth Financial insurance company. Nursing homes also have become more valuable. Over the past 10 years, the average price a property investor pays to buy a nursing home skyrocketed from $20,000 per bed in 2004 to $78,000 in 2014, Lee said. "If the Legislature wants to lift this freeze (on annual increase), it has to be with strings-attached money," said Lee, who served as the state's long-term care ombudsman until he was ousted by Gov. Rick Scott when he took office in 2011. "I'm not sure about some of the smaller ones, but its those larger companies that are more likely to cut staff and services just to make a buck." Despite strong revenue reports, locally owned nonprofit nursing homes say profit margins are tight. The Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a 180-bed facility in Fort Myers, operates with a 2.3 percent profit, and the organization recently paid $108,000 for a new air chilling system and another $154,000 toward an update fire sprinkler system, said Wes Edwards, the chief executive officer for the facility. "We really need that money to comply with regulations and provide the best patient care possible," Edwards said. "It's hard to do all of these capital improvements when you're underfunded by the state of Florida." Edwards said the extra cash would provide some cushion for any more unexpected building costs. "If I could get more money, it sure would help," Edwards said, adding he hoped another strong outlook for next year's state budget could mean the 1 percent freeze could go. "We think that Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have been good to us, but with things looking better, we hope they can help." Last year, 50,630 nursing home beds went to Medicaid enrollees, or about 70 percent of the state's 72,210 patients in nursing homes. The remaining 30 percent of the nursing home population are private-pay patients. Medicare also pays for nursing home patients, but for shorter stays. Treasure Coast Newspapers, Naples Daily News and Tampa Tribune journalists are in Tallahassee reporting throughout the legislative session in a collaborative capital bureau. Flowers bloom near the Florida Capitol buildings. (AP FILE PHOTO) SHARE By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm TALLAHASSEE The second week of the legislative session was marked by a discussion on gun bills, with legislation to allow guns on college campuses likely dead and another contentious bill to allow open carry still alive. Gov. Rick Scott signed water policy legislation that environmentalists tried to block as well as two bills to expand a scholarship program and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. A Scott-appointed commission released its findings that Florida's health care industry lacks transparency and has too much government involvement. In the weeks ahead, lawmakers will begin unveiling their proposal for different areas of the budget, including how the state will spend money available from Amendment 1, approved by voters in 2014 to conserve land and water. These Treasure Coast lawmakers' bills have progressed: Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart (parts of Martin, St. Lucie, northern Palm Beach and Indian River counties) Bill to prohibit state from contracting with companies that boycott Israel: Cleared the Senate. Bill to authorize a first responder who's 65 or older and disabled as a result of an injury sustained in the line of duty to receive a tax discount on homestead property: Cleared a committee. Sen. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge (parts of Brevard, and Indian River counties) Bill to allow counties to levy a sales tax to pay for muck removal of waterways such as the Indian River Lagoon: Committee hearing scheduled for Monday. Bill to exempt voter registration information, such as an address, from public record requirements: Committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Sen. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring (Okeechobee, and parts of Highlands, Martin, Osceola, Polk, and St. Lucie counties) Bill to authorize a physical therapist to implement a plan of treatment provided for a patient by a physician licensed in other states: Ready for a vote. Bill to change requirements for medical assistant certification: Ready for a vote. Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart (parts of Martin and St. Lucie counties) Bill to expand the services of a program that provides personal care attendants to people with disabilities to include assistance with securing and maintaining employment: Cleared a committee. Bill to extend court jurisdiction from age 18 to 22 for young adults with disabilities in foster care: Cleared a committee. Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta (parts of northern Palm Beach and Martin counties) Bill to enhance licensing requirements for fumigators and allow the state to adopt safety procedures for clearance of homes for re-occupation after fumigation: Cleared a committee. Bill to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study to determine need for additional veterans' nursing home and the most appropriate county for its location: Cleared a committee. Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park (Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee and part of St. Lucie counties) Bill to set up regulatory framework and take away local governments' ability to regulate or ban fracking, a method to release oil and natural gas from the ground: Ready to be heard on the floor. Bill to allow physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances, which can cause addiction: Ready to be heard on the floor. Bill to make Florida part of an interstate nursing compact that allows nurses registered in other states to see patients here: Cleared a committee. SHARE In November, a federal judge rejected a lawsuit brought by the Conservation Alliance and the Indian Riverkeeper organization to block construction of the Crosstown Parkway Bridge because of its adverse effects on wetlands in the area. (FILE PHOTO) By Nicole Rodriguez of TCPalm PORT ST. LUCIE A roadblock put up by environmentalists could delay or halt construction of the Crosstown Parkway Bridge. A representative for the Lakela's Mint Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and local chapter of the Audubon Society filed a petition Monday challenging the issuance of two project permits by the South Florida Water Management District, casting uncertainty on the future of the project. In the petition, Diane Goldberg of Port St. Lucie requests an administrative judge deny the permits, which she says will allow for the destruction of state preserve land on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. "This area helps to keep our waters clean and is important for ecotourism," the petition states. "This would also set a precedent that puts all state parks in jeopardy." The district's clerk's office has 15 days to review the petition and determine if it's legally sufficient to go before an administrative judge. A hearing is usually set within 70 days if a petition qualifies for an administrative hearing, district spokesman Randy Smith said Wednesday. Should a judge reject the issuance of the permits, the city can't move forward with construction of the bridge. The two permits are needed to build over the St. Lucie River and if denied, could delay the project, Assistant City Attorney Azlina Goldstein Siegel said in an email Friday. "A legal and timely challenge to the city's permit may likely impact the city's construction timeline," she said. "At this early stage, it is impossible to predict the extent of the impact of a legal challenge and what implications, if any, such a challenge will have on the construction timeline for the overall project." To get the project done, the city will "modify its permit application to ensure that any deficiencies are fully addressed," should an administrative judge side with environmentalists, Goldstein Siegel added. The district's Environmental Resource Permit is for the construction and operation of a stormwater management system serving 91.53 acres of roadway development for the project. The water management district also was prepared to issue a 2.134-acre Sovereignty Submerged Lands public easement permit. That permit allows for construction of piling structures that will provide the support for the bridge over the North Fork of the St. Lucie River over 1.44 acres of protected aquatic preserve land, Goldstein Siegel said. Construction is set to begin this summer and conclude in 2018. Once completed, the route will carry motorists from Manth Lane on Southeast West Virginia Drive, over the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, to Village Green Drive at U.S. 1. Environmentalists have objected to the route, claiming it's the most environmentally harmful of the six routes considered. It would cut through about 15 acres of park and conservation land and damage about 11 acres of wetlands and about 4 acres of upland forest habitat. Any challenge to the project is cause for concern, Mayor Greg Oravec said Friday. "Every challenge is a source of risk that something could happen, so yes, it is a concern. You'd rather have no challenge," Oravec said. The permit challenge comes three days after the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County appealed a federal judge's November ruling that the Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation carefully considered the environment when choosing a route for the bridge. The alliance and the Indian Riverkeeper sued the federal agencies, alleging they hastily chose the route. The alliance also is considering challenging the permits, its president, Shari Anker said Wednesday. "We have regulatory agencies that are to abide by the law and protect our park lands, but the way the politics are now, nothing is sacred," Anker said. "Everything is up for grabs." Fort Pierce City Hall The pace of change at City Hall in Fort Pierce always has been slow; finding a new city attorney has been positively glacial. City commissioners spent almost an hour Tuesday evening discussing the details of the separation process from former City Attorney Robert Schwerer. The long-winded discussion was like having a root canal. In October, irritated by Schwerer's sometimes highhanded management style, Commissioner Rufus Alexander led the vote to fire the city attorney. We learned Tuesday it could take another five months or more to replace the man who's handled the city's legal affairs for 34 years. One big reason for the holdup is that Schwerer holds most of the cards. For decades, the city has contracted with his private law firm to provide legal advice and representation. The problem is, when Schwerer leaves, he takes with him the entire legal staff five attorneys and clerical support staff. If Fort Pierce had an in-house staff attorney as other St. Lucie County local governments do an assistant might have taken over until a new boss arrived. Much of the commission's slow, deliberate and infuriating discussion was because, without Schwerer, they could be left up a tree with no legal help whatsoever. The board agreed that next time they will hire a staff attorney to give them more control. Late last year, commissioners agreed to a 90-day contract extension with Schwerer to cover the transition period before a new city attorney is hired. That temporary extension runs out on oh gosh Jan. 31. Commissioners learned Tuesday that whittling down the field of applicants to the final round won't happen until March. Even if a new attorney is selected then, the commission won't be able to ratify the decision until its April 4 meeting, at the earliest. But wait, there's more. Schwerer argued that once a new city attorney is in place, his firm will require another 60-day period for a smooth transition. And that might have to be extended if the new hire has relocation or family issues, Schwerer pointed out helpfully. In other words, we could be looking at almost a full year until a new city attorney is allowed to take the training wheels off. Taxpayers will be forking out for two city attorneys for some of that time. Which seems awfully slow (and expensive) going, doesn't it? The process of hiring a search firm, then actually vetting applicants, is not a speedy one. Yet perhaps Schwerer himself also is in no great hurry to leave his comfortable City Hall empire. Mayor Hudson politely alluded to that. "(Initially) I was concerned we did not have a date certain," she said. "That could keep this going and going. We need to wean ourselves off the current legal team." Hudson said she'd feel better with a shorter period of holding the new guy's hand. "I want the new city attorney to have as much leeway as possible," Hudson said and then added pointedly, "without the 'help' of the incumbent." There are more than 60 lawsuits outstanding against the city and at least some of those are related to Schwerer refusing to settle cases out of court. Two sexual harassment cases filed by female police officers come to mind. Hudson wants a full report on the status of each suit, which is a very good idea. I hope that process will be as transparent as possible. City residents deserve to know more about what's going on inside City Hall; they deserve swifter and more accountable decision-making than in the past. Within the past year, the city has appointed a new police chief, a new head of the utilities authority, a new finance director and a new city manager. It's a new day in Fort Pierce. Let's hope that translates to things happening faster at City Hall. Indian River County School District's administrative building, the J.A. Thompson Administrative Center. (FILE PHOTO) The news release from the Indian River County School District sounded impressive. Indian River was one of only three Florida districts and 425 nationwide on the College Board's sixth annual Advanced Placement exam honor roll. But what exactly did that mean? Sadly, I've developed a "cry wolf" attitude to positive news releases short on facts. Hospitals, schools, governments and companies often tout awards that mean little. Likewise, I've been skeptical of educators' claims about Advanced Placement classes and tests. The College Board, the same organization that offers the SAT, offers college-level tests for high school students in almost 40 subjects, from chemistry and computer science to studio art (drawing) and psychology. This allows high schools to enhance their course offerings while preparing students for the tests. If students pass AP exams scoring 3 or more on a scale of 1-5 many universities will give them course credit. Some independent organizations rate high schools higher if many students take these classes. It's good lots of students take AP classes. Something's amiss, however, when dramatic numbers of students fail the AP test. Things are really amiss when they fail the AP test yet get A's and B's on their school report cards. AP tests are not graded until after the Florida school year. But something about Indian River County's honor sounded different. The honor was based on several factors related to increasing tests given and minority achievement. So I arranged to get statistics the district initially wanted to charge me to provide. Much of it was impressive. Indian River County had 988 students take AP tests in 2015, 19 percent more than in 2013. The percentage of students passing at least one exam increased from 54 percent to 57 percent. Two percent more minority students passed at least one exam and the number of minority and low-income students taking the test remained stable. "This is a significant achievement for our school community," Superintendent Mark Rendell said. "It reflects the focus of high academic standards and the commitment to increase access to challenging course work for all students." But there's more work to do. Public school passing rates remain dismally low. In Indian River County, students passed only 49.1 percent of AP tests taken in 2014, the most recent data on the Florida Department of Education website. Indian River Charter High School led the way with a 68.4 percent passing rate. Statewide 47.2 percent of tests were passed. More insulting is Florida allows public schools to pay the College Board almost $100 per test to administer; Indian River County spent $136,406 last year. The state and I like this idea separately rewards teachers and schools financially for passed tests. More perspective: Unlike Indian River, two local private high schools proudly released AP data. In 2015, John Carroll said 57 percent of students passed tests. About 93 percent of St. Edward's students passed. At private schools, parents, not the public, pay for the test. And that makes sense. After all, why should Florida taxpayers pay for students who can afford to pay for the test, who pass and get a free college class? Why should taxpayers be on the hook for students who fail tests? Statewide, there have been dramatic increases in students taking AP classes. That's good. Rigorous education that prepares students for college is essential for the long-term health of Florida and its young men and women. Passage rates have improved consistently over the past 10 years in local public and private schools. The likely reason: Teachers and students are better prepared. And it's exciting that at least for this year Indian River County was honored nationally for including more minorities and lower-income students in AP classes while ensuring all groups of students taking the test fared better. That's the way things should be. Continuing such a trend, and proudly promoting this data annually, would be really impressive. DALE NESEMAN/SPECIAL TO THE COURIER NEWSWEEKLY SHARE EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a Guest Editorial written by a resident of the Jupiter area community. "If you build it, they will come," paraphrases a line from the movie "Field of Dreams." That's certainly true of the Community Cancer Council, a coalition of diverse groups that deals with cancer and meets regularly for networking and education. These gatherings began as a project of the north county-based Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope and were the idea of Charlie Fischer, a Tequesta resident who co-founded the Alliance. Since 2006, I have chaired the Council. The CCC is based on a simple premise: that the numerous cancer-related groups and institutions in our region furnish an array of benefits, but their sheer number presents a profound challenge. The benefits, of course, are all the varied services offered by these providers some having a broad range, others aimed narrowly at a particular need or type of cancer. The challenge is knowing who all these providers are a challenge faced not only by the public but by the providers themselves. THE REMEDY One might suppose that most cancer professionals in this region probably know each other or at least about each other, to some extent. But they don't. And that's what the CCC tries to remedy. The Council does this primarily through its meetings, usually every other month. Most meetings have been at the American Cancer Society building in West Palm Beach, but we've also met at hospitals (including Jupiter Medical Center), the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter and hospices sometimes followed by a tour. In the last 10 years, there have been 52 meetings, attended by a total of 394 people representing 145 groups mainly from Palm Beach County but ranging south to Miami-Dade County and north to St. Lucie County. About 20 people attend each meeting. Anyone who is involved in any way in the fight against cancer is welcome. There is no charge. presentation and networking Every meeting features an educational presentation and networking. Presentations by experts, often from our members, have been given on medical, legal, financial, political, patient service and psychological aspects of cancer. Topics have included insurance, research, treatment technologies, the Affordable Care Act, social services, nutrition, prevention and legislation. Networking is a key activity formal contacts made during our meetings, when people update us on their work or seek help from other groups, and informal contacts before and after meetings, when many useful exchanges occur. This networking has led to, among other things, assistance with a breast cancer needs assessment study by Susan G. Komen South Florida and support for state legislation that broadened insurance coverage to include oral chemotherapy. In such cases, we have profited from the certainty that while each organization has its own strengths, the CCC can help combine them and thereby increase their impact. Also, outside of meetings, groups send e-mails requesting help for patients, on matters such as financial aid, housing, counseling, transportation and support services. Often, by forwarding these requests to our CCC list of some 300 people, solutions can be found within hours or even minutes. More than a hundred such inquiries have been processed. matching with those in need Clearly, resources for patients exist. We just have to match them with those in need. In addition to its regular meetings, every spring the CCC meets jointly with a similar coalition, the Southeast Florida Cancer Control Collaborative. The Collaborative, which covers an area from the Keys to Indian River County, is one of six state-organized alliances throughout Florida. Cooperative projects of the Council and Collaborative include a speakers list on the SFCCC's website. Using this list, organizations can find speakers on a variety of cancer subjects to come to their meetings which further expands our educational efforts. When the Community Cancer Council was first proposed, some people said that so many different groups would never come together. Obviously they were wrong. There are indeed a multitude of cancer-related groups, each with its individual focus and needs. But fortunately, they recognize that at the most basic level, they do not compete, they complement. With so much in society that divides us, cancer is a unifier. For no matter our race, religion, politics, income or sexual orientation, cancer can touch us all. Thus, we all have a compelling interest in working together against it. That is the spirit of the Community Cancer Council. And moved by that spirit, people and groups from throughout our region have forged new links to pursue a common purpose. We built it and they came. Roger Buckwalter Tequesta Buckwalter is a retired editorial page editor of The Jupiter Courier Arts and humanitites students often fear that a jobless existence awaits them post-graduation. However, this was not the case for Mark Thompson, who graduated from Corpus Christi in 1981. For Mark, life after Cambridge has been vibrant and various: author of an award-winning book on the Italian experience of the First World War, The White War; biographer of Serbian novelist Danilo Kis; and worker for the UN in Croatia in the 1990s. You studied English at Cambridge, but I know journalism was very important during your time as a part of the experience that you could really enjoy. How did writing with peers, or for peers, change how you felt about your degree, or your essays? For several terms I co-edited a magazine called Black & White. It was started by an elegant chap at Trinity Hall, whose parents were tax refugees on the Isle of Man. Wealth was his destiny; it sat on the shoulders of his tailored camel-hair coat. He actually sold the magazine to a printer in Mill Road! We had no idea about design or layout, but we published a few good pieces. There was no contact of any kind between this journalism and my degree. They occupied separate compartments. I was at Corpus (1978-81), the only college without an English don. The director of studies wore leather trousers and lashings of Aramis. I was a diehard Leavisite, terribly earnest. I was supervised by Q.D. Leavis herself presumably her last student, for she died in 1981. It took years to recover from Leavis; the acrid influence soaked in very deep. By no means all negative, looking back, but paralysing at the time. Escape was essential, and arduous. My contemporaries were thrilling to Barthes and structuralism, remember. Weve talked before about the usefulness of biography in literary criticism I find it illuminating and that it can be a more personal response as opposed to some of the more canonical critics we have to grapple with in Tripos. What was it like for you writing a biography, did you feel that you were rebelling against any sort of Cambridge training, did it open up a different way of writing about literature for you? I dont remember biographies being recommended, but I might have ignored any pointers. The tradition of close reading was the part of Cambridge English that meant most to me. Empsons pre-war books were the glory, they still are, but close reading was the best of Leavis too. 'What we have to look for are the signs of something grasped and held, something presented in an ordering of words, not merely thought of or gestured towards.' Thats Leavis. When I came across it recently, I stopped breathing for a moment. You have multiple interests literature, history, languages, translation did you feel that they could be catered for here within your degree, or did you feel constricted? I feel this is especially relevant now when the English Tripos no longer carries the foreign literature paper which can open up how we read in English. With hindsight, a degree in comparative literature might have been a better fit. But it wasnt available (I think), and I wouldnt have gone for it anyway. Im sorry the foreign literature paper is lost; it wasnt taken seriously in my time, but I liked it. Flaubert, Trois contes: inching through them with a graduate student in a long woollen skirt and a bobble hat. One day I told her she was exasperated by something that it was fine, not to worry, I didnt expect to understand Flaubert until I was forty. A pretty accurate forecast. Ive always been slow. These wide-ranging interests have led to a varied and exciting career, down many different paths, you worked for the UN in Croatia for example, worlds away from the Cambridge experience. Was there anything in your time at Cambridge that encouraged you to think about diplomacy? Nothing, unless it was a drawn-out reaction against my time in Cambridge. Literature, my girlfriend, journalism, films, several friends: that was Cambridge. And the leather-clad don. And someone close who killed himself in 1980. Public affairs meant very little. In 1981, the Solidarity movement was challenging Communist power in Poland. When I asked what the red and white Solidarnosc lapel badge meant, I barely understood the reply. Hopeless! Politics came with Thatcher and the anti-nuclear campaigns of the mid 1980s. I joined the UN in 1994 because I was in Croatia as a freelance journalist, my wife (Croatian, a doctor) was on a wartime salary, we had a baby and wanted a proper income. It was a privilege, very fascinating and educational, and well paid. I dont think I could have written about the First World War if I hadnt worked with soldiers. But thank you for the kind word career. You supervise Oxford PhDs now whats it like being on the other side of the supervision in a different faculty from where you started? I dont see an essential difference between teaching history and teaching English, not that Ive done much of either. For me, though, literature matters most in alien contexts; where it is also most vulnerable and absurd, to be sure. Likewise the study of literature; doesnt its chief value of its training lie in transferability? Analysing propaganda in a war zone, I drew on Cambridge close-reading skills. Because they were all I had, perhaps; but I didnt need more; they worked very well, in the democratic spirit of Empson and I.A. Richards. The teacherundergraduate relationship has changed so much, broadly for the better, though a risk of spoonfeeding may exist. We thought we should be more grown-up than we were; now we keep the therapists busy. The students I know are courageous in other ways. Economic pressure is sharper, and the prestige of the humanities has been battered (partly self-harm, but thats another story). Id like to help students to feel inspired by the splendour of the humanities. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Privacy advocates from around the globe have taken heart from reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook pushed hard against the Obama administrations efforts to reach a compromise on encryption during a recent meeting with several leading technology companies. Cook earlier this month joined a delegation of social media and technology leaders in a meeting with top national security, law enforcement and White House insiders to discuss ways to work together to prevent terrorist organizations like ISIS from using social media to recruit and spread propaganda. Counter ISIS The meeting was part of the Obama administrations wider effort to counterbalance ISIS social media strategy to inspire lone wolf attacks like the recent mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, and to thwart its use of social media to spread its terrorist ideology and in some cases, communicate with field operators. Investigators have been exploring the role such communications might have played in last falls horrific attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people and injured more than 380. Cook reportedly took advantage of the meeting to lash out at administration officials who were calling for a way to grant law enforcement officials limited, backdoor access to computer systems, demanding that the White House come out in favor of unbreakable encryption instead. Apple and Cook have been very strong on this issue, said Andrew Crocker, staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. I think its heartfelt on Cooks part he says he believes privacy is a human right, and Apple has introduced a number of features that support privacy and security, he told the E-Commerce Times. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey, and John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security were in attendance at the meeting. Other attendees reportedly included Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and NSA Director Michael Rogers, as well as James Clapper, director of national intelligence, and Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff. In addition to Cook, there were executives representing a large number of technology companies, including Facebook, Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Twitter and Cloudfare. Just before the meeting, the Obama administration announced plans for task force that would coordinate the federal response to ISIS propaganda, which has been blamed for triggering lone wolf attacks in the U.S. and Australia. A Philadelphia police officer last week was gunned down in an attack that authorities have linked to ISIS inspiration. Privacy, Security Backlash Despite those concerns, any compromise to commercial encryption systems is untenable to staunch privacy and security advocates. It would endanger the rights of anyone using those systems and the very security of those systems, they argue, because sophisticated cyberthieves and others could exploit the backdoors left open for law enforcement. When it comes to encryption, there simply is not a balance between privacy and national security, said Andrea Castillo, program manager for the Technology Policy Program at George Mason Universitys Mercatus Center. Weak encryption means weak national security, since antagonistic groups can exploit vulnerabilities and do harm to the U.S. The challenge for law enforcement officials is to do better with the considerable information and processes already at their disposal, she told the E-Commerce Times. There is no possibility of a controlled government backdoor, as the biggest issue is who gets to decide which government gets the access, noted Ian Trump, security lead at Logic Now. The focus on granting some kind of open door to government misses the point, he told the E-Commerce Times, because terrorists use other tools such as vehicles, IT devices and weapons to carry out their acts. The government may want to consider taking the vendors to court in an effort to hold them liable for allowing their devices to fall into the hands of terrorists, Trump said. If governments insisted on corporations doing a better job of vetting their customers, he suggested, then the issue of needing backdoors into encryption becomes mute. The DoJ declined to comment, and Apple did not respond to our request to comment for this story. CVS Pharmacy, LLC agreed to pay a Consumer Protection Settlement worth $450,000 over expired products. The settlement comes after repeated cases in which health investigators found expired products such as drugs, baby formula and dairy items. CVS will also give customers $3.50 credit coupons if they find expired products in its stores. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane stated that the agreement has been reached to address customer complaints about expired products. In 2010, CVS signed an agreement about selling expired medicines, infant milk formula and dairy items. The company agreed to implement a system to make sure its chains will not sell expired products. After investigation of the attorney general's officers, they still found products exceeding their shelf lives being sold to customers in five of six stores. The officers reported that in two cases they investigated, employees even bypassed and altered a register prompt that was installed to prevent the selling of expired products. In 2013, CVS faced a similar case in Maryland. The company paid $250,000 penalty as part of a settlement with Maryland over selling expired products and improperly disposing patient information. Just as the present case, they gave customers discount coupons lest they find expired products in the pharmacy's chains. CVS issued a statement stating they agreed to the penalty but denied involvement in any wrongdoing. The company stays firm in its effort to guarantee that expired products are barred from being sold to customers. "Our agreement with the State of Pennsylvania resolves allegations that a limited number of our stores were found to be non-compliant with the previous agreement between CVS and Pennsylvania," the company said. The company added that they are committed to continue existing policies to remove existing products, monitor practices, to train employees and to offer enhanced discount coupons to customers. The Attorney General's Office recommends that the company should have an effective policy on expired product procedures to ensure that no other cases will be reported in the future. The office urged CVS to conduct annual trainings for employees responsible for stocking and conducting inventories of all dairy products, over-the-counter medicines and infant formulas. Photo: Elvert Barnes | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Android device owners on Verizon received promising news from the carrier, as it is about to roll out Android 6.0 Marshmallow. This applies especially to LG G3 owners, who already say they received the official Marshmallow upgrade. It should be noted that Verizon Wireless has yet to officially confirm the update, as the information comes strictly from the carrier's customers. Mobile technology enthusiasts are aware that some Android devices involve a long wait when it comes to OS updates. Considering how long Verizon usually takes to deliver updates, it is almost unbelievable that the company started upgrading its LG G3 to Marshmallow. US carriers are among the most vulnerable to delayed over-the-air (OTA) updates when compared with mobile operators from the rest of the world. It has become a habit for LG to test upcoming OS updates in European countries, such as Poland. Due to this policy, Polish LG G3 users already received the Marshmallow treat as early as December last year. As shocking as it might sound, user Jrdnram_98 posted on Reddit that he started receiving the OTA update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow on his Verizon LG G3. Jrdnram_98 even posted a screenshot to prove it. A number of hours after his news hit Reddit, other LG G3 owners confirmed the update. Verizon is (in)famous for taking a long time to deliver the latest OS to its Android handset clients. To get a better idea, let us take a short trip down memory lane. Last year, while Google was delivering Android 6.0 Marshmallow to Nexus owners, Verizon made sure that its LG G3 clients remained faithful to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. Hard pressed to catch up with other Android devices, Verizon finally released Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to LG G3 phones back in October 2015. Verizon may be getting better at this game, if the new Marshmallow release is any indication. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The X-Files is finally making its anticipated return on prime time TV for a six-part miniseries that debuts on Sunday, Jan. 24, on Fox, making it the first time FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) have teamed up since the original series ended back in 2002. As one of the longest-running science fiction series, The X-Files was instantly a hit, and still remains one of the best series of the '90s. The show featured one of TV's most famous dynamic duos, Mulder (a believer) and Scully (a realist) as they investigated unexplained cases involving paranormal activity for the government. While The X-Files will forever be a staple for any sci-fi loving fan, the '90s featured many other dramas for this genre that captivated audiences. So in celebration for Fox's latest reboot, it's time to take a stroll down memory lane and rewatch or discover some of the best series that feature aliens, alternate realities and space adventures of that decade. Here is the list of classic sci-fi series from the '90s that are available to stream on Netflix. Creator: Jason Katmis Stars: Shiri Appleby, Jason Behr, Katherine Heigl Science fiction fans are probably familiar with this late '90s TV series that aired on The CW when it was still The WB network. Even though this series debuted in 1999 and ran for three season into the '00s, how can we not include Roswell on this list? Based on the young adult book series Roswell High by Melinda Metz, the show features the story of a bunch of high school students in Roswell, N.M. (yes, that Roswell), including Liz Parker (Shiri Appleby) who is fatally shot and comes back to life under suspicious circumstances. Creators: Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor Stars: Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson Star Trek: Voyager is a classic for fans of the franchise. It's the fifth installment in Star Trek series and ran for seven seasons. The series takes place in the 2730s on the far side of the Milky Way, following the story of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, including characters like Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) that gets stranded and must work with Maquis rebels to make a 75-year journey home. Creator: Rocken S. O'Bannon Stars: Jonathan Brandis, Don Franklin, Red Raimi Star Trek: Voyager took sci-fans into space, and SeaQuest DSV (renamed to SeaQuest 2032 in its last season) took fans underwater, where mankind colonized the oceans in 2018 after depleting all of Earth's natural resources. The series features the tough Captain Nathan Bridger of the submarine seaQuest DSV who must keep peace, and there is even a dolphin character. Creator: Joss Whedon Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan Way before True Blood took a bite out of HBO fans, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was everyone's favorite vampire series. It features Sarah Michelle Gellar as the lead character, a strong and sexy high school student who fought evil forces like blood suckers and demons with a little help from her friends. Creators: Tracy Torme, Robert K. Weiss Stars: Jerry O'Connell, Sabrina Lloyd, John Rhys-Davies In all its '90s glory, Sliders was a series about a physics graduate student who creates a wormhole device that allows him and his friends to slide through and enter a parallel universe with the hopes they will return safely back home. However, the vortex they slide through can only open at random, so they learn about the many differences in the alternate Earth and try to set things right. Creators: Rockne S. O'Bannon Stars: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe While this is another series that aired right before the end of the '90s, its a sci-fi fan must-see. Get ready for cheesy alien creatures that only the '90s could pull off in Farscape. The series follows an astronaut who is a stranger in the cosmos, and finds safety abroad a vessel that is home to fugitive aliens. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Verizon boasts that it will be the first mobile data network in the United States to offer 5G technology in a test run this year, and it aims to fulfill the promise by 2020. As LTE cellular technology is already prevalent, the American carrier sees 5G as the next generation logical step to the interconnected tomorrow. Big names in the tech industry expect to see this technology become an official standard in 2020, so the race is on for mobile operators to have everything needed in place by that time. For example, NTT DoCoMo wants to provide 5G for its customers before the Summer Olympics in Tokyo makes its debut in 2020, while SK Telecom is more ambitious. The wireless telecom operator says that its 5G network will be operational before the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Verizon recently revealed its fourth-quarter financial results, and investors should be satisfied with the evolution. The consolidated revenue of the company for 2015 clocked in at $131.6 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent when compared to 2014. The breakdown results also show 449,000 postpaid phones and 960,000 tablets during Q4 2015. At the public results call, the company's Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo reassured its clients of the carrier's dedication to bringing the 5G into their lives as soon as possible. Although he was discreet about the details of the new technology, he did mention that tests will take place in two Verizon facilities located in San Francisco and Waltham, Massachusetts. He also pointed out that the uses and scope of 5G technology goes way beyond the mobile industry as we know it today. One direction that the new network promises to take is the Internet of Things, a field that Verizon dabbles in. As LTE focused mainly on fast connection speeds for mobile devices, 5G has the potential to connect smart home devices that communicate with each other through data packets. Verizon already tapped into the IoT market and it fares better each quarter. "New revenue streams from IoT are growing, with revenues of approximately $200 million in fourth-quarter 2015 and about $690 million for the full year. This is a year-over-year increase of 18 percent," the carrier's results show. Preliminary testing shows that 5G connections can work 40 times as fast as today's 4G LTE networks. Tasks such as downloading a BluRay disc will take seconds. In comparison, an optical fiber link such as the one offered by Google Fiber downloads the file within minutes. Reports indicate that Verizon's 5G future network should match Google Fiber's 1Gbps internet service. Verizon appealed to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (USFCC) to create the legal infrastructure for the upcoming groundbreaking speeds. Last year, the regulator looked into offering higher frequencies for 5G networks in an effort to help carriers offer better broadband coverage to densely populated areas. For the 5G technology to work as promised, Verizon and its competitors needs the support of the federal regulator. "For technical trials themselves, we have what we need," Roger Gurnani, chief information and technology architect for Verizon, pointed out. In order to move beyond the testing phase, Gurnani believes that the 5G needs a "big band of spectrum." One tricky thing about deploying 5G technology at an accelerated pace is the lack of a universal agreement on what exactly 5G is. In principle, it uses extremely high frequencies for sending data bursts over short distances, but this could mean a huge effort for carriers. They would have to pepper urban areas with thousands of relays in order to give clients a decent, homogenous network. This is one of the reasons why some see 5G as a complement, rather than a successor to 4G. Normally, network technology needs a couple of years from the testing lab to the consumer service. Verizon started to test 4G connections in 2008, but the network opened for regular customers as late as 2010. To bolster its chances to deliver the promised 5G network until 2020, Verizon teamed up with important OEMs such as Cisco, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia, as well as mobile technology giants Samsung and Qualcomm. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The debate over encryption backdoors on mobile devices divides the scene in two: politicians who want it on one side and tech companies that refuse it on the other. AT&T, however, is one name from the tech pack that stands out, as the telecom corporation firmly sides with the establishment on this issue. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson notes that in his opinion, none of the tech companies should decide over the problem that might hinder the security of all citizens. "I don't think it is Silicon Valley's decision to make about whether encryption is the right thing to do," says Stephenson in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The comments are related to Apple's firm stance against encryption, with the company's CEO, Tim Cook, fervently opposing backdoors. Stephenson adds that although he understands Tim Cook's decision, he believes that it should not be Apple's call whether or not their devices get a backdoor or not. AT&T faced great criticism in the past for its enthusiastic cooperation with the National Security Agency (NSA), a governmental organism that became famous for illegally spying on American citizens. One of the NSA's largest spying programs, codenamed Fairview, was strongly backed by AT&T. In 2011, NSA had a budget of $188.9 million for the Fairview program. In comparison, the Stormbrew program which involved Verizon only received half of that sum. Stephenson explains that the allegations are unfounded. "It is silliness to say there's some kind of conspiracy between the U.S. government and AT&T," he affirms. What is more, AT&T only discloses information when it is legally obliged to do so by a court order or a warrant. On the other side of the argument, Apple notes that once an encryption backdoor exists, there is no way to keep malevolent people from abusing it. Security vulnerabilities in mobile devices would benefit terrorists just as much as police officers. "You can't have a backdoor that's only for the good guys," says Cook. Hillary Clinton, who makes decisive steps towards the White House, calls for a massive "Manhattan-like project." In the politician's view, law officers should have quick access to the mobile devices of suspects. According to insiders, the Obama administration will refrain from asking the Congress to legislate on the mandatory installment of backdoors for mobile gadgets. However, the administration will keep talking with private firms about the ups and downs of backdoor encryption. In July 2015, a 31-page technical paper authored by 15 of the world's best encryption experts came out. The general consensus was that allowing backdoor encryption is similar to everyone leaving their keys to their homes under the doormat: sooner or later, villains will take advantage of the good purpose behind the action. At the beginning of 2015, President Obama received [pdf] a letter signed by major names from the industry, security experts and civil rights organizations. All of those who signed the letter urged the President to keep away from deliberately weakening the security of consumer devices, as it could mean increasing fragility for the national security, as a whole. Adobe, Apple, Cisco, CloudFlare, Dropbox, Evernote, Facebook, Google, Level 3, Microsoft, Mozilla, Rackspace, Symantec, Tumblr, Twitter, and others put their signature on the letter. Meanwhile, AT&T was one of the notable absences from the list. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Berkeley is first again. Berkeley, Calif., has a proud history of being the first to do lots of things: implement police radios, ban Styrofoam, give health benefits to domestic partners, voluntarily integrate public schools, and put cops on bikes. Now it is leading the way in a new era of technology: weaving fabric out of nanomaterials. Weaving is a pretty old hobby; it's been around for at least 10,000 years, and is one of the most reliable ways of making textiles. But even in the race to make the best nanomaterial, no one has quite been able to implement this tried-and-true method on the world's strongest and smallest materials, until now. Scientists led by the Berkeley Lab and the University of California Berkeley have woven together the first 3D COF made of synthetic materials. COFs, or covalent organic frameworks, are often used to store things like hydrogen and methane. The creators say these COFs are superior to their competitors in that they are more flexible and resilient, and presumably harder to break down. "The threads have many degrees of freedom to move away from and back to [the places where they overlap] without collapsing the overall structure," explains Omar Yaghi, a chemist who worked on the project, in a press release. He calls it "a boon to making materials with exceptional mechanical properties and dynamics." The unique properties of the material also allow it to easily sequester carbon, an important element of many plans for curbing climate change. It would also enable chemists to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, which is a critical part of creating fuels, plastics and pharmaceuticals. Carbon monoxide has also been studied as a potential element of treatment for cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders and to aid organ transplantation. The creators of the new nanomaterial have published a paper Jan. 22 in the journal Science. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Conceiving a child is extremely elusive for some. Hence, advanced technologies like IVF treatment comes as a wonderful gift to them. However, not all women are able to successfully get pregnant despite such assisted reproductive techniques. Doctors have been baffled as to why some women still fail to conceive even if a healthy embryo is present. Now, researchers from the University of Southampton, University Medical Center Utrecht and University of Amsterdam discovered that women who have never become pregnant carry a genetic fingerprint in the womb, which seems to prevent successful pregnancy. Study co-leader Nick Macklon says their research could pave the way for the development of a new test that can predict if a woman will get pregnant through IVF treatment. Among all of the study subjects with repetitive implantation failures, 80 percent were found to have an abnormal gene profile. Interestingly, the said gene was not detected in women who were able to successfully conceive and give birth via IVF treatment. "The gene signature will be of value in counselling and guiding further treatment of women who fail to conceive upon IVF and suggests new avenues for developing intervention," the authors wrote. To come up with their findings, the researchers performed biopsy tests on womb lining specimens of 43 women with recurrent failed implantation. Recurrent implantation failure is defined as having failed pregnancy despite at least three healthy embryo transfers or at least 10 embryo transfers. The researchers also tested samples from women who were able to successfully give birth via IVF. Macklon says their study could serve as a guide for women before they decide to undergo or continue IVF treatments. Patients who have had unsuccessful IVF treatments but do not carry the genetic fingerprint may be encouraged to continue as they have better chances of success. The paper could also help doctors provide clearer information as they counsel their patients about the time, effort and funds entailed in ongoing therapy. Macklon says that while he and his colleagues believe their work is a great step toward fertility research, they still need to study the effectiveness of the discovery in a larger scale study. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on Friday, Jan. 22. Photo: Esparta Palma | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A study found that water births don't post harm to newborn babies. Water birth is a method wherein babies are intentionally born in a pool or bathtub. Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) analyzed the data of over 6,500 water births attended by midwives in the United States. They found that babies born using the water birth method don't have increased chances of experiencing low Apgar scores compared to newborns born in a different way. Apgar scores refer to the newborn's measures of physical condition, which includes respiratory effort, heart rate, muscle tone, skin coloration, and stimuli response. It is done by adding certain points (0, 1 or 2) to each category. A sum of 10 points represents the best possible condition for the newborn. The team also found that babies born in water don't have increased chances of being transferred to hospitals post-birth or being hospitalized during their first six weeks of life compared to babies born the traditional way. The study was published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. "The findings suggest that water birth is a reasonably safe, low-intervention option for women who face a low risk of complications during the birthing process," said lead author and epidemiology instructor Marit Bovbjerg from OSU's College of Public Health and Human Sciences. Bovbjerg stressed that these choices should be made in collaboration with a medical expert. The data used in the study were taken from 2004 to 2009 by the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project or MANA Stats. Almost 17,000 women participated and majority of them were aided by Certified Professional Midwives. The midwives also provided case reports. Over 6,500 women in the study gave birth using the water birth method either in a birthing center or in the comforts of their own homes. While the team found no increased risks of harm for both newborns and their mothers, findings showed an 11 percent increase of perineal tearing in women who had the water births. A perineal tear is an unintended tearing of skin and soft tissue structures that separate vagina and anus in women. This often occurs post-vaginal childbirth. Bovbjerg said that for some, the potential increased risk of perineal tearing could be compensated by the other benefits of water birth, including enhanced pain management. There is no single correct choice in choosing birthing methods. The pros and cons of each method should be analyzed thoroughly by the soon-to-be mother. Photo: Chris Macks | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb has received a nod from United Kingdoms health cost regulators for the use of its drug Opdivo (nivolumab) in skin cancer cases. The company previously failed to obtain the same recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for Opdivo as lung tumor treatment. Following the approval, the National Health Service is now expected to make the drug accessible within three months. Opdivo is an immune-based treatment that promises to boost ones capacity to fight cancer cells. According to research, patients survive much longer on the drug than those provided conventional chemotherapy. Those on nivolumab which targets and blocks PD-1 protein on T-cells and activates them to hunt down cancer cell had a 73 percent one-year survival rate compared with 42 percent for those on chemotherapy. Institute of Cancer Research Chief Executive Paul Workman considered it a potential key tool in therapies against melanoma, which accounts for more deaths than all other skin cancers combined. Theres still huge unmet need in melanoma, because drug resistance is a problem in this disease, said Workman. According to NICE, Opdivo is available at around 5,265 (about $7,500) every month, with no discount offered by Bristol-Myers to win the offices backing in the case of advanced melanoma. Only last month, NICE rejected Opdivo as for treating lung cancer due to cost-efficiency issues, although the decision is not yet final. NICE, in its final guidance released the same day, gave Roches breast cancer drug Kadcyla the thumbs down, also due to cost concerns. The final draft guidance on Opdivo can be reviewed and appealed by doctors and patient groups. Bristol-Myers UK and Ireland General Manager Johanna Mercier said they welcome NICEs decision and deem it good news for melanoma patients in the country. However, we are mindful that lung cancer patients continue to await a final decision on this medicine, she added. In the United Kingdom alone, around 37 people were diagnosed with skin cancer every day in 2012. Around six per day die from the illness. One in 54 individuals will be diagnosed with malignant skin cancer in their lifetime, with early signs, including a spot or sore that doesnt heal, itches or hurts, as well as areas on the skin that have broken down, turned ulcerous, and dont heal. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The First Order's Starkiller Base has piqued the interest of many "Star Wars" fans since it was shown in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" but, as of Jan. 20, the Starkiller Base is no longer just a location in the "Star Wars" universe but an actual structure in Abu Dhabi. There's no need to worry, though, because Abu Dhabi is not hosting Stromtroopers or Kylo Ren maybe. Two companies that were devoted to the science-fiction franchise only wanted to pay homage and this is how they chose to do it. Why In Abu Dhabi? Abu Dhabi is literally Planet Jakku since the outskirts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital served as the shooting location for the Jakku scenes in May 2014 for Director J.J. Abrams "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Of course, Abu Dhabi seems to be honored about becoming a part of the epic franchise, so in a galactic nod to fans worldwide and as tribute to the successful film, the company Aldar Properties PJSC partnered with twofour54 to turn its headquarters into a 328-feet tall Starkiller base. How Was It Done? Aldar Properties and twofour54 did not really build the Starkiller base from scratch. What really happened was that they did some epic sticker printing for nine days to turn the iconic coin-shaped building into their very own Starkiller base. Then workers manually installed the printed stickers on the more than 182,986-square-feet surface area of the building, which took over 420 combined hours to install. The Force is strong in Abu Dhabi and its companies to pull off such a massive project. "Twofour54 is immensely proud of its role in contributing to the success of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens...' We appreciate the support of Aldar Properties in partnering with us and providing the iconic HQ building as the perfect platform to celebrate Abu Dhabi's association with the film," twofour54 Chief Executive Officer Noura Al Kaabi said. "As a company that is proud to be playing a major role in shaping the urban landscape of Abu Dhabi, we are delighted to have been able to support twofour54 on such an initiative," Mohammad Al Mubarak, Aldar Properties PJSC CEO commented. Take a look at the feature below and be awed at the outcome of their efforts. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. People go to the hospital to have infections and diseases treated. In a Massachusetts hospital, however, nearly 300 patients who underwent colonoscopies were possibly exposed to HIV and hepatitis. Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield announced on Friday that due to a lapse in disinfection protocols, 293 patients may have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens. The affected patients are those who underwent colonoscopies from June 11, 2012 to April 17, 2013. Hospital officials explained that Noble Hospital started utilizing new equipment for the procedure during the said start period. The new devices required different strategies for cleaning, but because of lack of training, inadequate disinfection practices were performed. More specifically, disinfection between procedures did not sufficiently expose the single water irrigation port to a high-level of disinfection come the last part of the cleaning. To address the issue, Baystate Noble Hospital intricately compiled all patients affected. The hospital sent out notification letters by mail starting Jan. 20. The letter contains instructions and details of recommended precautionary screening. The patients will not be responsible for any medical expenses that the procedures will incur. In the news release of the hospital, it states that the lapse occurred only at a certain part of the colonoscopy device and for this, the risk low. However, it is not zero so the hospital is taking the necessary steps to address the issue. The hospital also explained why it only released the news now. The reason is because the hospital was not aware of the potential risk until after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health raised the issue following a site visit. "As soon as we became aware of the issue, we took steps to respond to the situation and notify those affected," the news release writes. Cleaning endoscopes is critically important as not doing so may put patients at risk of serious infections. In November 2015, the U.S. FDA recalled endoscope washers of Custom Ultrasonics. The device called Automated Endoscope Reprocessors (AERs) needs to be manually cleaned after which, it must be washed and disinfected for about half an hour. Photo: Ano Lobb | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Acer is apparently working on a new Liquid Jade Primo version, this time running Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the software side. The Windows 10 Liquid Jade Primo made quite some waves, rocking neat specifications to make the most of Microsoft's latest mobile OS. It's also like a breath of fresh air to see a new Windows smartphone that's not from Microsoft. Acer officially announced the rollout of its Liquid Jade Primo Windows 10 smartphone at CES 2016 earlier this month, but it now seems that a new variant is in the works. The existing Liquid Jade Primo comes with model number S58, but a different version with model number Acer S58A surfaced on Geekbench. The benchmark listing details some specifications and performance, and reveals that this version runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The extra "A" in the model number could well stand for "Android," as the rest of the specifications seem unchanged. As a reminder, the Acer Liquid Jade Primo features a 5.5-inch display with a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and 3 GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly. In terms of storage capacity, the smartphone packs 32 GB of internal locker space. German site DrWindows.de speculates that this Android version could be Acer's backup plan for the smartphone. The OEM initially hoped to launch its Liquid Jade Primo back in November 2015, but eventually delayed the release until this year. That delay could be tied to the late release of Windows 10 Mobile. Either way, it's worth pointing out that the Acer Liquid Jade Primo doesn't have any Windows 10 logos or branding. This means that if Acer decides to release an Android version as well, it wouldn't have to make any manufacturing changes. With no official word from ASUS regarding an Android-powered Liquid Jade Primo, however, it's best to just wait and see what happens. Benchmark tests don't necessarily mean an imminent release for the device in question. For now, the Windows 10-powered Acer Liquid Jade Primo is still fresh and on the rise, showing great promise. Our Liquid Jade Primo vs. Microsoft Lumia 950 specs comparison shows a tough battle and things seem to be looking up. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Europes first dedicated hotel for gamers opens in Amsterdam There are several reasons why tourists would want to visit Amsterdam. Apart from its breathtaking scenic beauty to several tourist locations, the region now has a fully equipped hotel that will be catering to the requirements of gamers all across the globe, so if you have the money saved and if you do consider yourself as a hardcore gamer, then you should definitely be taking a trip to Amsterdam. On the official website page, it is stated that you will be able to enjoy the many perks of being a console, or regular gamer. Called The Arcade Hotel, the architecture holds consoles in every guest room, not to mention handhelds in the lobby bar and a comic book library, something that will definitely be telling your inner nerd soul to visit here for your next vacations. It is built on an established family-run hotel business, and owner Daniel Salmanovich states says he is remodelling this hotel into a special place for people who love the joys of gaming. He states the following, suggesting that he wants visitors to feel more than just comfortable. I wanted to create a place where travelers and gamers feel like they are staying at a friends home. Additionally, there are also a slew of tournaments taking place, which will definitely take competitive gaming to its peak. The hotels owner is not going to stop here because he also has plans to build a special gaming room in the structure within the next couple of years and extend the number of rooms from 36 to 45. If you ever wanted to get to know pricing details and other information, you can visit the official website of The Arcade Hotel. Anonymous hackers unmask bully caught battering young teen over $50 debt in shocking footage The online hacktivist group, Anonymous has been known to go out of the way to help netizens who are in trouble. Anonymous recently unmasked one such bully who was beating a teenager for unpaid debt of $50. Anonymous took notice of the incident when the video of the teen bully battering the teen who had not paid back the debt of $50 (25) to the bully. The Anonymous hackers served justice under ?#?OnePunchCanKill? by reportedly leaked the personal details of an alleged teenage bully. The hacking group published a video on Facebook of the attack along with the alleged assailants home address, phone number, social media accounts and his parents and grandparents details. The hackers said in a message: If you dont want your personal details all over the internet, stop bashing people. Coming back to the bully battering the teen, the video, filmed in Victoria, Australia, shows a teenager in black t-shirt approach a boy in bright green and punch him several times in the face and ribs. The cowering victim falls to the ground as the bully continues to punch and kick him and tells him he wants his $50 (25). The beating was severe that the beaten boy required hospital treatment according to a report on 7News. Based on the video, the Anonymous members identified the boy and published his details with a statement. The Anonymous wrote: It has come to our attention that a video showing a guy hitting another guy who clearly shows fear gets hit numerous times, kicked and punched and has his ribbs [sic] broken all over $50 that the victim says he was going to pay the next day. The video is quite unpleasant and you can hear his ribs break as he screams. So who is this tough guy? Not only Anonymous, several Internet users took offence to the way the bully was beating up the boy. After the video surfaced, the 15-year-old attackers Facebook page has been inundated with abuse and threats of violence, 7 News reported. Another person reportedly even threatened to firebomb the familys home. In response to Anonymous leak, the bully himself posted a response on Facebook, claiming the boy he beat up had stolen from him and his friends, branding him a compulsive liar. The bullys mother told 7 News that her son had learned his lesson the hard way and had already been arrested and charged over the attack. He is due in childrens court at a later date. Apple generated more revenue from iPhone in a single quarter than Googles Android made in its entire lifetime The ongoing lawsuit between Oracle and Google over the use of Java in Android is accidentally disclosing some confidential information about both the companies. Oracle is suing Google for using its Java software in the development of Android, which launched in 2008, without paying for it. It has already been revealed that Google paid a hefty Apple $1 billion in 2014 to retain its position as the default search bar provider on iOS Safari, as well as a revenue-sharing agreement between the two companies in which Apple will get a percentage of the revenue that Google generates through Apple devices. An Oracle lawyer said in federal court amidst an ongoing suit between the two tech giants that Google has reportedly brought in $31 billion in revenue after it acquired the mobile operating system, Android. Annette Hurst, an Oracle lawyer on January 14 said that Alphabet, Googles parent company, has creating $22 billion in profits largely from mobile advertising, according to reports by Bloomberg. Its unclear what period that profit is through. Look at the extraordinary magnitude of commerciality here, she was quoted as saying, according to Bloomberg. These figures seem to derive mostly from Oracles own maths of Googles Android business rather than an exact figure from Google itself. Google has not confirmed the accuracy of the figures and was not immediately available for comment. Android is the worlds most commonly used mobile operating system, but its open source and phone makers use it for free. Google makes most of its Android-based revenue from mobile ads, or from a cut of app sales on Google Play. The company does sell branded phones and tablets, but these are developed in cooperation with third-party hardware makers and are often deliberately sold at a lower profit margin as showcase devices. Most Android hardware revenue is generated outside of Google. The revelation is a rare glimpse into Androids financials, which Google has long kept secret along with the details of other divisions, such as YouTube. Considering that the figures are accurate, it would mean Android has generated less revenue over its lifetime than the iPhone did in the quarter ended September 30, the most recently reported quarter. Then, Apple said the iPhone generated $32.2 billion in sales, which is expected as it makes most of the money from the sale of its hardware. However, the inconsistency does focus on the fundamental differences between Google and Apples business models. According to Gartner, Android owned 84.7% of the mobile operating system market share in the third quarter of 2015 as opposed to 13.1% of Apples iOS. Google pleaded the judge to redact and seal part of the cases public transcript, noting the information was extremely sensitive and that public disclosure could have significant negative effects on Googles business. Apple too petitioned to have the transcript completely sealed. The court transcripts based on which the figures were revealed is now reportedly no longer available online. Thirteen-Year-Old Wins Space Agency Competition By Creating A Model Satellite That Will Produce Oxygen On Mars The recently concluded Satellite is Born competition held by the Israel Space Agency saw 13-year-old, Roni Oron, from Ramat Hasharon, Israel emerge as the winner. All those young children who are aged between 12-15 and have a desire for designing model satellites that can impact science and humanity in a positive way can take part in the competition. According to the Isreali youth magazine Maariv LNoar, Orons winning idea is called Bio Sat which through the use of photosynthesis aims to solve a problem for astronauts trying to prove that life on Mars is possible. Oron explained that the Bio Sat is built like a large bubble on one side of which there is a mirror and the other is transparent, enabling the penetration of sunlight. In the middle there is a capsule, which will be made of a membrane through which air can pass but water cannot. Inside of it there will be water and algae, and outside there will be carbon dioxide. Through a process of photosynthesis, the satellite will produce oxygen. There will be additional mirrors inside the satellite that will enable sunlight to reach the capsule, but not by direct radiation, which would harm the algae. Oron credited her parents who supported her passion for science: My father, an orthopedist, was very happy when I began my research. From my mother I learned the wisdom of looking at life creatively. Later this year, Oron will attend the NASA summer camp in Florida as the winner of the competition. She explained: This will be sort of a beginning for the development of this idea, a kind of camp in which you meet with many astronauts and [other] teens. We will arrive there as guests of honor, stay there until very late hours to develop the satellite, and then well see where it goes. A swinging leather chair disguised as a killer whale, giant psychedelic beaded toadstools and flamboyant saddle-stitched leather furniture inspired by Brazilian outlaws all of these were unleashed during Design Miami in December, the most colourful of the international design fairs. Location has a lot to do with it. The annual event, which takes place in Miamis South Beach, is infused with an exuberant Latin American spirit, and many gallerists show expressive large-scale pieces reflecting the citys abundance of space and light. Among the Instagrammable scene-stealers this year, though, there was a more understated aesthetic at play albeit one that also featured monumental proportions. This came courtesy of the Italian luxury brand Fendi, showing at Design Miami for the sixth year running. Its capsule range of generously scaled furniture was presented under the title Laltra meta del sogno (The other half of the dream), a moniker alluding to the projects symbiotic relationship with Fendis historic new HQ. Last October the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana a striking six-storey travertine-marble cube punctuated by 216 arches; a beacon of Mussolini-commissioned rationalist architecture became the brands Roman home. "We went out to have a look to see what was going on. We saw at least four individual whales which we believed to be sperm whales swimming around in the shallow water. "They seemed to be moving slowly. I think at that point, they were finding themselves partially-beached. The tide was still on its way in at that point." Peter Naylor, 29, from Old Hunstanton, said: "When I got down there, there was one which had made its way out into The Wash and there were two very much stuck. "The tide was coming in and one of them managed to get away. One of them was really stuck and it was still there when I left. "It was a huge whale - about as big as a bus - and it looked like it had cut itself up quite badly." A sperm whale last washed up at nearby Old Hunstanton on Christmas Eve in 2011. Miss Emmerson added: "It is fairly uncommon for this to happen, but it is not unheard of due to the shallow waters here. "It may have been ill or injured to have come so close to the shore or its sonar may have been affected by military navigation systems or vibrations from wind farms. The zoologists are coming the area to investigate." The free trade agreement signed between China and New Zealand in 2008 has greatly boosted the bilateral ties, according to John McKinnon, former New Zealand Ambassador to China. "Ten years ago, I didn't expect the progress to be so great and made so fast," said McKinnon, who was New Zealand Ambassador to China from 2001 to 2004. The Sino-New Zealand FTA is the first FTA the Chinese government signed with a developed country. Since signing the FTA, New Zealand's exports to China surged from $2 billion NZ to $8.36 billion NZ in the year ending September, 2015, according to the New Zealand Consulate-General in Chengdu. China is now the second largest export destination to New Zealand, only 0.76 percent (NZ$64.26 million) behind New Zealand's exports to Australia. An increasing number of Chinese companies are investing in New Zealand, including China's dairy giants Mengniu Dairy Group Co, Yili Industrial Group Co, Bright Dairy & Food Co, and infrastructure company Beijing Capital Group. McKinnon said more New Zealand companies are investing in China. "It is widely believed among New Zealand companies and organizations that if they want to explore the overseas market, they have to take China into first consideration," McKinnon said. The number of Chinese tourists in New Zealand has seen rapid rise in recent years. China is the second largest source of New Zealand's overseas tourists following Australia. A total of 345,000 Chinese visited New Zealand from Dec 2014 to Nov 2015, 75 percent of which are tourists, according to New Zealand Consulate-General in Chengdu. Considering the increasing, McKinnon expects the number of Chinese tourists to catch up with those of Australia within five years. I once met an Italian who didnt drink coffee. He made light of the fact, but you could see that he was tired of having to explain his disability every time some new acquaintance uttered the standard Italian greeting: Prendiamo un caffe? (Fancy a coffee?). His breezy but faintly passive-aggressive manner concealed, I suspect, deep pools of self-doubt and underground lakes of wounded masculine pride. Vegetarians develop the same nonchalant yet haunted look when travelling in places like Mongolia, where meat comes with a side-dish of meat. But this Italian guy wasnt a visitor, he was local. He was the Mongolian vegetarian. Coffee is so much a part of Italian culture that the idea of not drinking it is as foreign as the idea of having to explain its rituals. These rituals are set in stone and not always easy for outsiders to understand. In fact, as in any self-respecting cult, they are made deliberately hard to comprehend, so that the initiated can recognise each other over the bar counter without the need for a curious handshake (which would only lead to stubborn cappuccino stains). Some might object that the Italian coffee cult is now a worldwide church with branches in London, Dubai and Bora Bora. But although the Arabica coffee blend is often perfect, the cups just the right size and shape, the machines as Made in Italy as they come, Italian coffee bars outside Italy almost always adapt to the host culture just like the vast majority of Chinese restaurants outside China. If you take your cue from your local high street espresso purveyor, you risk straying from the True Path on arrival in Italy. Here, then, for those who fancy going native in true Lorenzo of Arabica style, are the Ten Commandments of Il Culto del Caffe. The correct way to drink your coffee, according to the Italians 1. Milk in the morning Thou shalt only drink cappuccino, caffe latte, latte macchiato or any milky form of coffee in the morning, and never after a meal. Italians cringe at the thought of all that hot milk hitting a full stomach. An American friend of mine who has lived in Rome for many years continues, knowingly, to break this rule. But she has learnt, at least, to apologise to the barman. 2. Keep in simple Thou shalt not muck around with coffee. Requesting a mint frappuccino in Italy is like asking for a single malt whisky and lemonade with a swizzle stick in a Glasgow pub. There are but one or two regional exceptions to this rule that have met with the blessing of the general coffee synod. In Naples, thou mayst order un caffe alla nocciola a frothy espresso with hazelnut cream. In Milan thou can impress the locals by asking for un marocchino, a sort of upside-down cappuccino, served in a small glass which is first sprinkled with cocoa powder, then hit with a blob of frothed milk, then spiked with a shot of espresso. 3. Never say espresso Which reminds me, thou shalt not use the word espresso. This a technical term in Italian, not an everyday one. As espresso is the default setting and single the default dose, a single espresso is simply known as un caffe. And for pitys sake, dont say expresso either. 4. Double trouble Thou can order un caffe doppio (a double espresso) if thou likest, but be aware that this is not an Italian habit. Italians do drink a lot of coffee, but they do so in small, steady doses. 5. Say it loud Thou shalt head confidently for the bar, call out thine order even if the barista has his back to you, and pay afterwards at the till. 6. Just the ticket If its an airport or station bar or a tourist place where the barista screams ticket at thee, thou shalt, if thou can bear the ignominy, pay before thou consumest. 7. Standing room only Thou shalt not sit down unless thou hast a very good reason. Coffee is a pleasurable drug, but a drug nevertheless, and should be downed in one, standing. Would thou sit down at a pavement table to take thy daily Viagra? 8. Some like it hot Thou shouldst expect thy coffee to arrive at a temperature at which it can be downed immediately as per the previous commandment. If thou preferest burning thy lips and tongue or blowing the froth off thy cappuccino in a vain attempt to cool it down thou shouldst ask for un caffe bollente. 9. The permitted drinks Thou shall be allowed the following variations, and these only, from the Holy Trinity of caffe, cappuccino and caffe latte: caffe macchiato or latte macchiato an espresso with a dash of milk or a hot milk with a dash of coffee (remember, mornings only); caffe corretto: the Italian builders early morning pick-me-up, an espresso corrected with a slug of brandy or grappa; and caffe freddo or cappuccino freddo (iced espresso or cappuccino) but beware, this usually comes pre-sugared. Thou mayst also ask for un caffe lungo or un caffe ristretto if thou desirest more or less water in thine espresso. 10. That is all Anything else you may have heard is heresy. On Wednesday, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) raised Venezuela's growth projection to 12 percent by 2022 and 5 percent next year. | Read More Vietnam is considering a lottery project proposed by Malaysiaaaas Berjaya Corp., according to Ngo Van Tuan, director general of the Ministry of Financeaaas department for banking and financial institutions. aaABerjaya submitted a lottery project proposal last year and the prime minister has asked the ministries of finance, planning and investment, public securities, justice, and tourism to study it and report to him before the end of the second quarter,aa Tuan said in an interview today in Hanoi. Under current regulation, the government only permits state-owned companies to take on lottery business, according to Decree No. 30/2007/ND-CP. Malaysiaaaas the Edge weekly newspaper reported on Feb. 7 that Berjaya was close to receiving a lottery license in Vietnam, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation. "They don't want the confrontation, they're tired of people questioning their choices, and they don't want to justify their decision, so they just don't tell people," researcher Bronwyn Harman said, noting it was a very polarising and emotive issue. All the parents said they hadn't told their extended family and friends that their children weren't vaccinated. Edith Cowan University researchers interviewed a group of parents from an anti-vaccination cluster area about their reasons for not immunising their children. Parents who choose not to immunise their kids are keeping it a secret from family and friends, rather than have to justify their controversial decision. The film Vaxxed will no longer screen at the Castlemaine film festival. Credit:Thinkstock "This is a huge problem if Australia-wide we've got a group of people choosing not to vaccinate their children and they're not telling people. We need to stop vilifying these people so they are able to identify themselves so we don't put people who do choose to vaccinate at risk." The anti-vaccination parents were very mistrustful of the government and doctors, suspecting that they were in the pocket of the pharmaceutical companies. "They [question] if they can believe everything they're being told," Dr Harman said. "They think the government in particular, and doctors, are trying to scare people into vaccinating their kids." These parents consider the new "no jab, no pay" policy which will see taxpayer benefits withdrawn from families whose children aren't up to date with their immunisations, as another example of this manipulation. They felt the media presented only one side of the issue, and anti-vaxxers were bullied on social media for being "bad parents". They said it was their right as parents to decide whether or not to vaccinate their child. "They felt personal responsibility to their own child, that they need to make the decision for their own child, they couldn't rely blindly on what the experts say," Dr Harman said. The Weston Creek Community Council is disappointed by the approval of a 21-dwelling medium density development planned for Featherston Ridge in Weston. The $7.7 million Bellette Street project is proposed for a block within the Defence Housing Australia estate sold to private developers in mid-2015. Defence Housing Australia' manages a property portfolio worth more than $10 billion. Credit:Jamila Toderas Public submissions on the plans took issue with the 7.6 metre building height and the loss of privacy with unit balconies overlooking homes on the opposite side of Heyson Street. The council has questioned the ACT Planning and Land Authority about the decision. It may be a poor excuse for missing homework, but if that elusive sock or jocks can't be found your pet's stomach may be the hiding spot. A leading pet insurer has revealed underwear most commonly G-strings were the objects most frequently ingested by dogs and cats last year. Roxy the cavoodle, whose habit of eating her family's underwear led to trouble last year, with Rachel Aitchison and her children, Ellen 14, and Isaac 4. Credit:Jamila Toderas Socks, string and dental floss, decorative stones and butter the latter posing a pancreatitis risk rounded out Pet Insurance Australia's top five unplanned pet swallowings. Nadia Crighton, spokeswoman for the family-owned private business, said the risk to the pet and cost of treatment could be great. One case involved a dog swallowing a sewing needle, causing medical expenses totalling $5000, which insurance covered. When the Victorian Parliament starts its 2016 sittings, one of the first pieces of legislation to be considered will be the bill to amend the IBAC Act. It is intended to provide Victorians with a stronger system of government integrity and accountability - to enable IBAC to discover, expose and root out corruption, and deter it, more effectively. The bill, when enacted, will broaden the definition of "corrupt conduct" by the inclusion of "misconduct in public office", as an essential step forward, although the definition of "corrupt conduct" will still be too narrow. It will reduce the threshold at which IBAC is able to conduct a full investigation. It will no longer be limited to investigating "serious" corrupt conduct and it will also be authorised while making preliminary inquiries to require the principal officer of a public body to provide any relevant information to IBAC and to require any person to produce documents or other things to IBAC. IBAC will be given power to delegate certain functions, and there are other useful provisions in the amending legislation. Once the bill is enacted, the Andrews Government will have met the letter of its pre-election commitments, and the bill will be a good start in providing Victoria with a more effective IBAC. There is ample evidence of the presence of corruption in Victoria and Australia. Illustration: Rocco Fazzari But it is only a good start. By contrast, NSW's ICAC has powers of investigation which are almost unlimited, and it is entitled to investigate virtually any allegationupon suspicion of corruption, using its full powers. This makes it very difficult for any investigated party to obstruct or delay an investigation by launching proceedings for a court injunction. There is now abundant evidence of the presence of corruption in Victoria and Australia. The recent investigation of the Transport Department by IBAC showed that large contracts had been, and were being, improperly awarded by departmental officers to companies they had set up. In the IBAC's investigation of the Education Department, it was discovered that millions of dollars from the State school system's budget were being siphoned off to "banker schools", and then used as a "slush fund". But there would have been nothing obviously wrong or suspicious in the awarding of transport contracts to companies, or in transferring large amounts of money to individual schools. In either case, unlike ICAC's investigations in relation to the awarding of mining contracts in the Bylong Valley in NSW, it is a reasonable inference that IBAC was alerted at the outset by a well-informed tip-off from some disaffected person, without which no investigation could or would have occurred. If you'd told me when I was a child that I would live most of my adult life in Melbourne I would have been devastated. Back then, Melbourne was the place we Sydneysiders mocked. Any classmate who was dragged there on holiday was considered unlucky, while those heading north to the exotic wonderland of Queensland were envied. The consensus was that Melbourne was daggy, a city where it rained a lot, cut through by a filthy river, utterly inferior to the magnificent harbour that our Sydney boasted. Yet, as I moved into the final years of high school, I began questioning a great many things I'd previously assumed. Perhaps sunny beaches and a stunning harbour were not, after all, for me. Indeed, it suddenly seemed that a fashionably gloomy, industrial landscape might better suit a Monica who was trying hard to imagine herself all subversive and counter culture. So, when most of my contemporaries headed off to schoolies week on the Gold Coast, I booked a week in Melbourne with my best mate and my brother. Melbourne's cafe scene was one attraction to new arrival Monica Dux. Credit:Rodger Cummins We stayed in a caravan park in Coburg, and saw Phantom of the Opera at the Princess Theatre. After the show we embraced adult sophistication by buying a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream, and drinking it in our caravan. We caught a tram to St Kilda and rode the roller-coaster at Luna Park. We shopped at the Chapel Street Bazaar in Prahran and visited cafes in Fitzroy and Greville Street, which in no way resembled the mugachino purveying establishments that I knew from my local shopping mall. That week, Melbourne became magnificent in my eyes; a city where I'd successfully played at being a grown-up. So, a few years later, when I finished university and decided it was time I stopped pretending and actually grew up, I bought a train ticket and headed back, this time to stay. I didn't have much money, but a friend of a friend was away on holidays, so I took over her room in Carlton until I found a place of my own. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organisers of the Oscar awards, pledged on Friday to double its membership of women and minorities by 2020 through an ambitious affirmative action plan that includes stripping some older members of voting privileges. The announcement came after a backlash over the absence of actors or filmmakers of colour in this year's Oscars nominations, prompting actor Will Smith, director Spike Lee and a handful of others to say they plan to shun the Oscars ceremony on February 28. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs (right) announces the Oscar nominees with actor John Krasinski. Credit:Getty Images The membership rule changes, among the most sweeping in the academy's 88-year-old history, were unanimously adopted by the organisation's Board of Governors on Thursday night, the group said in a statement. But the reforms will not affect voting for this year's Academy Awards. The Turnbull government will consider backing Kevin Rudd to become the next United Nations boss if he officially puts his hand up for the role. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the former prime minister is yet to apply to become UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's replacement. Kevin Rudd and Julie Bishop in 2011. Ms Bishop says the government will consider supporting Mr Rudd's bid to become UN Secretary-General if he nominates. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Should Kevin Rudd nominate then of course the Australian government would consider what sort of support he would require," she said in New York. While the role is expected to go to an Eastern European candidate when Mr Ban leaves office at the end of the year, Mr Rudd is an outside chance and is understood to have been lobbying hard for the role, despite his public denials. Home swimming pools may have to be inspected every four years under new proposals in a report to combat the high level of non-compliance for backyard pool barriers which has just been submitted to the government. The report could supercede legislation due to come into effect from April 29, that says pool owners need to have a current swimming pool compliance certificate to sell or lease their property. Non-compliance could result in a penalty up to $5500. Safety first: tme to check your pool fence. Credit:Samantha Robin / Fairfax Media The report also says that any pool drowning should be followed up by a council inspection of the pool as happens in Queensland. Its author, former Secretary of NSW Treasury Michael Lambert said that the new proposal would emulate the system operating in Western Australia since 1992 where councils must inspect backyard pools every four years. It's thanks to that popularity that Prafulla Parida will be one of 3387 people from 108 countries obtaining Australian citizenship at 98 ceremonies on Australia Day in NSW on Tuesday. Bollywood is big in Australia. But then it's big everywhere. It is classified as the largest movie industry for number of people employed and number of films produced. He is a respected Bollywood performer, choreographer and teacher and has performed in Bollywood hit movies including Three (Love, Lies & Betrayal), Wanted and Luck by Chance as well as performing with some of the big Bollywood names including Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif and Shahrukh Khan. Prafulla Parida, Bollywood actor and dancer, who receives his citizenship on Australia Day. Credit:pmb photo group Born and raised in India, he came to Australia in 2008 and toured with the show The Merchants of Bollywood, which had a successful run at the State Theatre in Sydney and interstate. The musical was described as an Indian version of the Billy Elliot story. He said he was the first person in his family to move outside his village. He describes it as an "incredible journey". He met his future wife, Tanya Provis from Newtown, during that tour. They fell in love (sounds like a Bollywood happy ending) and married in India in 2010, then returned to Australia where they run a successful dance studio and business, Natraj Dance Studio, in Newtown. He said he had worked in many countries but liked Australia the most. Eleven major companies have now agreed to phase out microbeads from face scrub cosmetic products since Fairfax Media first reported on the campaign by environmental activist Jon Dee more than a year ago. Mr Dee said that two more major companies, Johnson & Johnson and Metcash, owners of IGA supermarkets, had this week agreed to support the scheme. Vivian Sim, a PhD candidate at the University of NSW, studies microbeads found in Sydney Harbour. Credit:Janie Barrett In November 2014, Fairfax Media reported how the tiny plastic beads used in scrubs and exfoliants were accumulating in fish in Sydney Harbour. At Middle Harbour, scientists found 60-100 particles of plastic micro debris in 100 millilitres of sediment among the highest levels in the world. Australian model Miranda Kerr, whose company makes skincare products without plastic microbeads, spoke out in support of the campaign the following month. A Brisbane doctor has called for transgender prisoners to be able to start gender reassignment treatment while incarcerated. LGBTI community advocate Wendell Rosevear said the failure to provide transgender prisoners with access to therapy could cause significant harm both to the transgender prisoners and those around them. Transgender prisoners in Queensland are unable to start gender reassignment therapy behind bars. Credit:Andrew Meares Dr Rosevear said such treatment could serve as a vital part of their rehabilitation. "Internalised gender dysphoria and internalised homophobia mean that people don't accept themselves and they divert into drugs and alcohol, they divert into denial and they divert into overcompensation, like trying to be an hyper-masculine male," he said. So at 2016's federal election, if 14 votes go elsewhere, so will Mr Palmer. What our voters' poll found Fairfax Media drove through Mr Palmer's electorate on Thursday and planned to ask 100 voters if they were "more likely" or "less likely" to vote for Mr Palmer in 2016, than they were in 2013. The result of our poll of 105 voters is not scientific, it's not demographically adjusted and the maths from the scratchings in a notebook and a recorder would earn a B-minus in any maths exam. But clearly people have changed their mind about voting for Clive. It shows of the 105 voters, 87 are "less likely" to vote for Mr Palmer, 12 are "more likely" to vote for him, while six are undecided with an election not even announced. At the very least, it shows which way the river current is going, which way Mr Palmer's canoe is pointing, and whether or not Mr Palmer has a paddle. Are the voters happy with Mr Palmer? Some Fairfax voters will openly tell you they made a mistake in 2013. Many have friends who have lost jobs linked to the scaling-back of the Palmer-owned Hyatt resort at Coolum. Michael from Bli Bli. Credit:Tony Moore Michael, a tradesman from Bli Bli, was stopped at Yandina trying to get his waste carrier to shift. Michael voted for Clive in 2013. Michael won't vote for Clive in 2016. "Not a hope," he said. "I voted for him last time because he is a successful businessman and he needed to be given a go in case he could have done something good. "And he has wasted everybody's time." Rodney, from Nambour Credit:Tony Moore Rodney from Nambour said he also voted for Clive Palmer in 2013. "I think he got in on a protest vote and he hasn't done anything for us," he said. "But I won't be voting for him again. "I am very much less likely to vote for him again." At Eumundi, Robert Towse said Clive Palmer's larger-than-life personality grabbed his attention. "I did vote for him in 2013, because of his antics," Mr Towse said. "He really grabbed my attention and I thought he would be good for the Coast," he said. "But he is a complete bloody farce." "So now I am not going to vote for him." Are Queensland Nickel's fortunes playing on Fairfax voters' minds? Mr Palmer's problems with his Queensland Nickel refinery in Townsville forced the redundancy of 237 workers this week. Mr Palmer insists the full story has not yet been told, telling reporters Queensland Nickel provided "large amounts of money that sustain north Queensland". "Since 2009, we have provided over $4.5 billion of investment in North Queensland," he told the ABC. "In turnover alone, there is something like 2,500 jobs depending upon Queensland Nickel's activities. "I won't be making any further comments on Queensland Nickel, until after the Townsville administrators meeting," he tweeted on Friday. That meeting is January 29. But it is weighing heavily on Fairfax voter's minds. Three people Fairfax Media interviewed in Nambour had family members directly involved. Marilyn from Maroochydore said her family had a friend who had been stood down at Queensland Nickel. "He's got three children in Townsville, so he has got to look for a new job." "I just don't see if that's the way he's (Mr Palmer) run his business, what he's been doing in politics." "But I did not vote for him anyway." Debbie Martin, from Flaxton. Defended his businesses, but is less likely to vote for Mr Palmer. Credit:Tony Moore In the small hinterland town of Flaxton, Townsville-born restaurant-owner Debbie Martin told how she had previously worked for two decades in helping business insolvency. The Flaxton Barn is a restaurant, gift shop and coffee shop on Montville Mapleton Road. It's right on the southern tip of the Fairfax electorate. Ms Martin was in Townsville last week and said Townsville was already in the doldrums because of mining sector lay-offs. "So I don't think it was unexpected. But it doesn't matter when it happens it would always have an impact," she said. Ms Martin said while the "buck stops with Clive", he has managers for his businesses. "Clive Palmer is a businessman with multiple businesses," she said. "And he employs experienced managers to manage his businesses. So while the buck stops with him, the manager of the plant should be standing beside him," she said. "And I guess he can't help what the nickel prices are at the time." Ms Martin said it was likely Townsville's Queensland Nickel plant would be sold on. "It's been there a long time and I think it will continue," she said. However Debbie said she was less likely to vote for Mr Palmer now than she was in 2013. His supporters Clive still has supporters. First-time voter Melissa, from Wombye, and hairdresser Katy from Nambour, both like Mr Palmer, saying they "felt sorry" for his business fortunes. She says Mr Palmer has been good to his staff, but questions the money he has donated to his own political party. Mick in Eumundi says Clive tells it straight. "He's a straight shooter mate," he said. "He tells it as it is." First time voter Melissa from Woombye Credit:Tony Moore Clive has plenty of detractors: Shopping centre car parks full of them, it seemed on Thursday. Phil from Coolum said he would "never vote for Mr Palmer in a million years." Sue from Coolum agreed. "At Coolum, a lot of people did vote for him, but they now know they really shouldn't have," she said. "That's the words I get. I think they feel very sorry that they did now." Many, many say he has simply forgotten about his Sunshine Coast electorate of Fairfax. Businessman Steve H, from Mapleton, said he was very disappointed: "Objectively speaking, he's looking out for his business interests," Steve said. "And that's where his eyes seem to be. Not with serving the people he was elected to serve." Janet from the Mapleton Bakery and Patisserie is also disappointed. 'You always see him in the news before and now it is going negative for him. "He just hasn't delivered anything for the area. Not that I'm aware of." Janet from Mapleton Bakery Credit:Tony Moore Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast and southern Brisbane have led the charge in improving youth unemployment rates in Queensland, new data has revealed. But the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, analysed by Queensland Treasury, also showed the situation in outback Queensland was dire and getting worse. Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale says the rest of the country could do worse than following his city's lead. Credit:Harrison Saragossi Youth unemployment dropped 0.9 percentage points from December 2014 to December 2015, from 14.1 to 13.2 per cent. But in Ipswich, the improvement was more substantial, with a drop of five percentage points, from 18.8 to 13.8 per cent over the period. Bill does not forward chain emails. He does not take duck-faced selfies or click into schemes from Nigerian princes. He certainly doesn't play Candy Crush, Instagram his lattes or post vague, passive-aggressive Facebook statuses. What Bill does do is instruct an audience of millions on some of the blunt details of social media etiquette: how to "share" and "connect" without alienating half your friends. Since January 7, his stick-figured visage has attracted an audience of more than 1 million on an English-language Facebook fanpage, as well as fellow audiences in Spanish, Italian, Malaysian and Arabic. Whatever the language, the message is the same: "This is Bill. Bill does (blank). Be like him." Be Like Bill. "It's hard to put a finger on what exactly makes a good meme," said Debabrata Nath, one of two men behind Bill's most popular English-language Facebook page. "(But) we feel it has to be something that doesn't take itself too seriously, is simple to understand and at the same time can make people relate." A fire that damaged a popular ice cream shop in Brunswick East in the early hours of Saturday morning has been deemed suspicious. A Metropolitan Fire Brigade statement said crews were called to Gelobar on Lygon Street at 2.42am. Police forensic photographer at Gelobar in Brunswick East. Credit:James Boddington "Witnesses spotted smoke coming from the roof of the two-storey building and called triple-zero," it stated. "On arrival, firefighters found the blaze had taken hold on the second storey and worked to contained it to the western side of the property." Scores of graduate teachers fear they will be unqualified to teach when school returns in the coming week, due to delays with their registration. Frustrated teachers have accused the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) of taking longer than usual to process applications, which has thrown the start of their careers into chaos. Many teaching graduates are facing a rocky start to their careers. Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said this had not been an issue in previous years, and there had been no increase in new graduates. "People are worried. They have jobs lined up but they can't start until they are registered," she said. London: Old foes Britain and Argentina said on Thursday there was an opportunity to open a new chapter in diplomatic relations after a meeting between British Prime Minister David Cameron and newly elected Argentine President Mauricio Macri. Relations between Britain and Argentina have been fraught since a brief war in 1982 which was triggered by a sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic known as the Malvinas in Argentina. British Prime Minister David Cameron at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Credit:Bloomberg That tension had been fanned in recent years by former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner, who repeatedly criticised Britain's refusal to discuss the sovereignty of the archipelago. Mr Cameron met Mr Macri, who was sworn in as president last month, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos and afterwards signalled a possible thawing of relations. "They were terribly homesick here and dreamed of one day going back east," said Tong Hao, 56, a descendant of the settlers, from the Xibe branch of the Manchus, who arrived here emaciated and exhausted. "But sadly, it was not to be." It was an arduous, 18-month journey, but there was one consolation: after completing their mission of pacifying the western frontier, the troops would be allowed to take their families home. Qapqal, Xibe: Loyal to the core and prized for their horsemanship, several thousand Manchu soldiers heeded the emperor's call. In 1764, with families and livestock in tow, they embarked on a trek from northeastern China to the most distant fringes of the Qing dynasty empire, the Central Asian lands now known as Xinjiang. Xibe farmworkers in a cotton field near Qapqal County, China in October. Credit:NYT But 2 centuries later, the roughly 30,000 people in this rural county who consider themselves Xibe have proved to be an ethnographic curiosity and a linguistic bonanza. As the last handful of Manchu speakers in northeast China have died, the Xibe have become the sole inheritors of what was once the official tongue of one of the world's most powerful empires, a domain that stretched from India to Russia and formed the geographic foundation for modern China. In the decades after the revolution in 1911 that drove the Qing from power after nearly 300 years, Mandarin Chinese vanquished the Manchu language, even in its former stronghold in the forested northeast. But the isolation of the Xibe in this parched, far-flung region near the Kazakh border helped keep the language alive, even if its existence was largely forgotten until the 1940s. For scholars of Manchu, especially those eager to translate the mounds of Qing dynasty documents that fill archives across China, the discovery of so many living Manchu speakers has been a godsend. "Imagine if you studied the classics and went to Rome, spoke Latin and found that people there understood you," said Mark Elliott, a Manchu expert at Harvard University. He remembered his first encounter, in 2009, with an older Xibe man on the streets of Qapqal county, an autonomous region in China. "I asked the guy in Manchu where the old city wall was, and he didn't blink. It was a wonderful encounter, one that I'll never forget." Prague: Europe could suspend passport-free travel for two years under emergency measures as leaders warn the migrant crisis could destroy the European Union. As they prepare for a summit to discuss a crisis plan in Amsterdam on Monday, EU leaders have warned there is now just six to eight weeks to save the Schengen zone from a chaotic collapse as hundreds of thousands of migrants in Turkey prepare for crossings in the northern hemisphere spring. About 2.6 million more people are forecast to arrive in the next two years. Six countries Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, France, Denmark and Norway have already introduced border checks under emergency six-month powers that will expire in May in an attempt to halt the flow of migrants. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that the "very idea of Europe" was in "grave danger" unless the human tide is repelled. Fort Lauderdale: A man who admitted he trafficked knock-off cigarettes with a retail value of about $US5.5 million ($7.8 million) to the US via India and Dubai says he did it out of love for his father. The case involved more than 51,500 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes which prosecutors say often contain dangerous levels of arsenic and other noxious substances seized from a shipping container in 2014. An Indian man has been jailed in the US for importing more than $7 million in fake cigarettes. Credit:Getty Images Gaurav Joseph Jayaseelan, 26, a citizen of India, told the judge he knew what he did was wrong. He said he had been unduly influenced by his love for and subservience to his father, who sent him to the US to unwittingly meet undercover investigators from the US Food and Drug Administration. Jayaseelan, his father, Joseph Rayappan Jayaseelan, and another man, Pedro Ivan Flores, were indicted in September 2014. He was sentenced on Friday to 16 months in a US federal prison. Washington: The US Air Force has said maintenance errors by three airmen damaged a nuclear-armed missile in its silo in 2014, triggering an accident investigation, the Associated Press reported. The accident occurred on May 17, 2014, but the Air Force only explained the consequences on Friday after questions by the Associated Press, the news agency reported. The Air Force released a statement and brief summary of the investigation results, and said the accident had not put public safety at risk, according to the Associated Press. It reported that the Air Force refused to provide details of the accident, saying they were classified. The launch site is operated by the 320th Missile Squadron of the 90th Missile Wing in a remote area of north-eastern Colorado, the news agency reported. How driverless cars will change the way the British moan about traffic New technology will bring brand new British Problems to our roads As the first driverless self-guiding cars get set to arrive on British roads, driving into the future is going to bring a whole new set of problems for road users in the UK. That's the opinion of a national car leasing company that says that while some of the bugbears that British drivers hate will disappear, whole new problems will emerge that will leave helpless passengers seething in their automated vehicles. While future-gazing is a difficult skill, the clues are already there to see how a driverless future will pan out, the Yorkshire-based Flexed.co.uk company says. "Driverless cars are built on logic and the passionless scanning of the road ahead by a computer," says Flexed.co.uk 's Mark Hall, "It's going to be all function and no discretion, with no nipping out of road junctions before that chap towing a caravan doing 25 mph. "Speaking as a British driver, can you imagine the boredom?" Flexed.co.uk confidently predicts that the following will happen as soon as driverless cars become commonplace on British roads. Some will be uniquely British, while others could happen worldwide: Sitting and watching other drivers watching films, playing video games or having fun, when you've forgotten to bring something interesting to pass the time. Mini roundabouts. We all know what happens when three cars get to a mini roundabout all wanting to turn right a British politeness sets in and you could be there until tea-time waiting for someone to go first. Robot cars just won't be able to make that decision, it'll be chaos, and Isaac Asimov will be turning in his grave.A Car crime. Who wants to steal a car if it drives you straight to the police station? Better still, it could driver criminals to the local water treatment works and slowly fill the car up with sewage until the criminals apologise. The art of hitch-hiking is likely to die out, unless robots take up hitch-hiking. Cars occasionally turning up at destinations with heart-attack victims inside, which won't be a pleasant experience for anybody Road rage perpetrated on your own car because it slavishly follows its programming and refuses to overtake the car in front that's tootling along at 2mph below the speed limit. Banging your head on the dashboard in frustration as your car reacts too slowly to get the last space in a car park Not a problem: Other drivers won't be able to nip up the 'wrong lane' in a traffic jam, and jump into a gap near the front of the queue. What is a problem: Neither will you. Higher insurance rates for your make of robot car, because its driving logic is worse than a more expensive model Pranksters placing cardboard cut-outs of people on crossings. People 'hacking' their cars to let it break the law. The first conviction for a couple having sex in a driverless car. Flexed.co.uk 's Mark Hall says there will naturally be a great deal of apprehension among British road users about self-guided cars. "The fact that you will be putting your life in the hands of a computer instead of a human is a hard concept for people to grasp," he says. "And there is plenty of science fiction out there where machines have turned on their fleshy masters to fuel that worry." Flexed.co.uk thinks that as the number of autonomous vehicles on our roads increases, Britons will slowly work out how to deal with them, and we will soon consider them an everyday experience. "Until then, those scientists had better get cracking on the mini-roundabout problem. Our roads could grind to a halt if they don't." Flexed.co.uk is a leading UK-based car leasing company that finds motoring deals from one month to one year. A new breed of car leasing company, Flexed offers short-term deals on top-spec cars that allow companies to do business the way they want to at a price that's right. Premiering his second film at the Sundance Film Festival after 2013s Kill Your Darlings, Daniel Radcliffe credited his late Harry Potter co-star Alan Rickman for empowering him as a young actor carrying one of the biggest franchises of all time on his shoulders. A lot of the older actors on those films had known me since I was very young, and so had Alan, Radcliffe told The Daily Beast before the world premiere of Swiss Army Man as fans, critics, buyers, and even Lena Dunham lined up for one of the festivals buzziest films. On the third film we had a lot of stuff to do together, continued Radcliffe, who was 11 years old when he won the part of J.K. Rowlings iconic boy wizard. And he just treated me like an actor. And the feeling of getting that respect from somebody whos that much older and better than you really empowers you. Radcliffe, now 26, plays the most unusual role of his career to date in Swiss Army Man, the feature debut of the shorts and music video directing duo known as Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert). Paul Dano stars as Kent, a castaway whos given up all hope of making it off his deserted island when he discovers the washed up body of a man, played by Radcliffe, who happens to be dead and possesses special powers. Naturally, the pair embark on a magical adventure to unite Hank with the woman of his dreams (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Did I mention Swiss Army Man is also a musical? Before the festival Netflix made pricey SVOD deals for two star-driven indies: the Paul Rudd picture The Fundamentals of Caring and Tallulah, starring Ellen Page. On Friday afternoon, Sundances Eccles Theater was packed for the first look at what some expect will be, thanks to its DanRad power and offbeat streak, another of this years hottest sales. Outside the ticketless hordes hunted desperately for scalpers, hyped on the quirky plot and star power alone. Inside the Eccles, Radcliffe gave props to his directors, comparing Swiss Army Mans zany plot to the hit music video for DJ Snake and Lil Jons Turn Down For What that scored the Daniels over 369 million views on YouTube and counting. Theyre the kind of directors that, if you just talk about their ideas, if you say In the Turn Down For What video, everyones going to hump stuff and then theyll go through the floor, youd be like, that sounds weird! he marveled. But its similar to this storyyou think that sounds odd, but it really works in ways that it shouldnt. The elevator pitch is more or less Cast Away meets Weekend at Bernies, but Radcliffe and Dano claim theyve never seen the 1989 beach comedy classicand never will. Ive never seen Weekend at Bernies! I believe that neither of our directors has either, said Radcliffe. Everyone started making that joke, so we said, Lets not watch it, just in case were actually making Weekend at Bernies again. According to him Swiss Army Man is about joythats the feeling that you get out of it. Its about someone who is very alone, who finds connection, Dano offered. And overcoming shame, Radcliffe added. You just have to see it. Its profoundly profound and profoundly stupid at the same time, in a great way. Hidden in the smog-ridden north of Mexico City, inside the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defenseor Mexican army HQsits one of the most fascinating museums on the planet. The army humbly calls it the Museo de Enervantes, which can be roughly translated as the Museum of Stupefacients. But this boring technical title underplays the incredible collection of artifacts on display, the highlights of what Mexican soldiers have nabbed from drug traffickers. Some seized narcotics themselves are in the cabinets, but these are the least interesting items. A lot of people already know what marijuana, crystal meth, and heroin look like (although the black cocaine on show is a novelty). The drug lab machinery is more enthralling, including sprawling shiny contraptions to cook meth on an industrial scale. Pieces from trap cars, the vehicles used to smuggle drugs over the border in gas tanks, tires, and false seats, also illustrate the ingenuity of narco engineers. More frightening is the heavy-weapons room of captured cartel firepower; you see that narco thugs dont only use belt-driven machine guns and grenades, they even possess shoulder-held rocket launchers, such as the RPG-29, or Vampire, which can take out tanks. But the museums main attraction is undoubtedly a room under the title narco cultura. The narco culture cabinets display the ostentatious bling that drug lords buy with their billions of bloodstained bucks. Some pieces are worth high five digits in the stones and metal alone. Guns are bathed in gold and decorated with gems in the shapes of words and pictures. Some stones form the names of their capo owners, such as a pistol with an engraving of ACFAmado Carrillo Fuentes, the Lord of the Skies. Others have images of Mexican revolutionaries who the gangsters hail as heroes, including Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa. Others still have names of fashion designers such as the Italian tailor Versace. I find it bemusing that drug lords can praise both revolutionaries and entrepreneurs; they are rebel capitalists. The narco memorabilia extends to awards that cartel armies give their warriors for bravery. A medallion from the Zetas has a letter Z on one side and picture of gangster soldiers in heroic battle poses on the other. It is the narco equivalent of the Victoria Crossor Tiffany Cross. Walking on through the hall, you see a cowboy waistcoat, which is really a bullet-proof vest; a cell-phone bathed in gold; and a carved wooden chair in the form of the grim reaper. It gets weirder and weirder. Dominating the end of the narco culture hall is the weirdest item of all: a 4-foot-high statuette of a saintly warrior clad in medieval armor. Its an impressive piece of art. Its core is a plaster figurine, which is worked over with gold and gems for the coat of mail and fine paint for the skin and goatee beard. The crusader vaunts red Templar crosses on his chest and sleeves and clasps a broadsword. He has that despondent expression of a holy man, wise but sad, as seen on images of Jesus and his saints. He also resembles one of Mexicos most brutal gangster warlords. Soldiers seized the statuette from cartel thugs who baptized themselves as the Knights Templar, after the order of warrior monks who fought for Christendom between 1119 and 1312. The narco Templars made dozens of similar statuettes and put them in shrines to kneel and pray before. They call them Santos Nazarios. It is the image of their leader, Nazario Moreno, known as El Chayo, or El Mas Locothe Maddest One. Troops have also found prayers to Saint Nazario, printed in booklets in the style of regular Catholic prayer books that vendors sell at the stoplights in Mexican cities. As one says: Give me holy protection,Through Saint Nazario,Protector of the poorest,Knights of the people,Saint Nazario,Give us life. Anthropologists can have a field day dissecting this narco holy image. Saint Nazario mixes Latin Americas popular Catholicism with the bling of the drug trade and the rock-star status of crime lords. Personally, when I first see a narcotics trafficker looking like Jesus, it seems hilarious; then I think about it for 30 seconds and realize its terrifying. Adding to Nazarios cult status, he wrote his own holy book. Journalists often refer to it as his bible. But Mis Pensamientos (My Thoughts) doesnt have complete religious stories and parables like the Christian Bible. Instead, it is a collection of musings, similar in structure to Mao Tse-tungs little red book. As Nazario authored his religious rant, named his cartel after crusading monks, and was venerated like a saint, this dominates coverage about him. In journalese shorthand he is the head of the bizarrely named Knights Templar who wrote his own bible even as he trafficked tons of crystal meth to the United States. But these entertaining details overshadow other features of Nazarios empire that are important to understanding what Mexican organized crime has become. Nazario moved from drug trafficking to a portfolio of crimes that made him a major player in the local economya gangster capitalist. The Knights Templar took over iron mines, ignoring environmental regulations so they could sell record quantities of metal to hungry Chinese factories. They took extortion to new extremes, making cents of every dollar that moved, even from big business, and attacking those who didnt pay (they burned 30 trucks of a local unit of PepsiCo). And they waded into the avocado, lime, and cattle industries. For Americans, your guacamole on game day, the metal in your kids remote-controlled car, and the beef in your burger may have passed through the Knights Templars handsalongside the meth smoked by your local fiend. In his home state of Michoacan, the Maddest One got his tentacles into the entire political and judicial apparatus. With mayors, police commanders, and politicians on his payroll, the state apparatus rotted to the coremaking it later implode like a putrid tree trunk. Nazarios rule was so insidious and brutal it ultimately unleashed Mexicos largest vigilante movement to take him down. The so-called autodefensasor self-defense squadsbecame a significant third force in the Mexican drug war, fighting alongside the government security forces and cartel death squads. The militias unleashed a bloody but bewildering battle. They built a network of barricades that weaved through the state; they took back towns that the government supposedly controlled already; sometimes they fought alongside the Mexican army, sometimes against them. The conflict embarrassed President Pena Nieto and led his government to make a dangerous alliance with the vigilantes. Migrants in the United States were also key in toppling Nazario. Michoacan emigres from California to Oregon were so distraught by the terror in their homeland they helped finance the vigilante movement. Some returned home and took up Kalashnikovs. I found immigrants on the frontline who went within weeks from washing dishes in Los Angeles to fighting gun battles against cartel hit men. And if that isnt enough color for Nazarios crazy tale, the narco saint also died twice. A drug lord of the Maddest Ones status has multiple lives. *** Nazario first died in December 2010. Mexican federal police claimed they killed him during one of the most ferocious battles of the Mexican drug war: a fight involving two thousand federal officers and about five hundred criminal gunmen. Amid the melee, the officers said they shot Nazario but his gangster henchmen carried his corpse away. His death was confirmed when a grave appeared with his name on it. (Apparently, police didnt want to dig it up and check.) The president at the time, Felipe Calderon, trumpeted Nazarios demise as a grand victory in his war on cartels. It was especially sweet as Michoacan is Calderons home state and the place where the president had launched his campaign against organized crime. After his supposed death, Nazarios followers began venerating him like a saint and statuettes and shrines appeared. Even more bizarrely, people reported seeing his ghost wandering around Michoacan dressed all in white. Under the leadership of this phantom saint, the Knights Templar became more powerful than ever. By 2014, the sightings of ghost Nazario had become absurdly common; on a single day, I spoke to three people who claimed they had seen him. But I still wasnt sure. I discussed the testimonies with a fellow journalist. Were these sources really seeing him, we asked. Or was this a figment of their collective imagination? The former turned out to be true. In March 2014, Mexican marines announced that Nazario was still alive. But they also said that they now had killed him. Really. This bizarre situation reminds me of a quote attributed to Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali. The master supposedly said: I wont return to Mexico because it is a country that is more surreal than my paintings. To prove that Nazario was truly in heaven (or hell), the marines released a video of his body. It certainly looks like him. However, while the marines say they killed the Maddest One with two bullets in the chest, this film shows a face that has blatantly been beaten, the eyelids black and nose purple. In the murky world of the Mexican drug war, there is always a second story, and I hear a credible account that explains this bruising. According to this alternative version of events, Nazario wasnt really killed by marines, but he was battered to death by his own bodyguards working with vigilantes. It is of course illegal for vigilantes to murder people (in theory). So the vigilantes handed in the corpse and it was convenient for everyone to say the marines did it. The bodyguards had gotten so fed up of Nazarios megalomania they turned on him. His final legacy was not of his troops venerating him, but of them hating him. *** Nazarios messianic complex illuminates a memoir he wrote. While most drug lords erase details of their lives, Nazario actually self-published this autobiography and distributed it to his followers. It was never on sale, but thousands of copies flowed around Michoacan towns and villages. It was a hot book. If soldiers found people with them, they would often arrest them for being Templar afliates. The 101 pages are fittingly titled They Call Me The Maddest One. The book has a front cover with a silhouette of Nazarios face over a deep red background. It is reminiscent of a silhouette image of Che Guevara printed on T-shirts throughout Latin America. As well as styling himself as a messiah, Nazario fancied himself a guerrilla hero. Maddest One is written in decent grammar, maybe with the help of a writer with a gun to his head (Nazario says he didnt do a day in school). Splattering its pages are amusing sayings such as, Every nation has the government it deserves and every government has the criminals it deserves. It also provides unusual insight into the life and deranged mind of this gangster warlord. The memoir needs to be carefully scrutinized, but agents tracking him confirm many of the facts. A Mexican investigator who worked for the federal intelligence service and then a special unit fighting the Knights Templar gave me many rich details on the mob and shared his wealth of files. DEA agents also handed me information on the Maddest One. Among the American agents who tracked Nazarios mob was Mike Vigil, who spent 13 years working in Mexico, more than any other DEA agent. He often went undercover posing as a drug trafficker to get into their crazed world. During Vigils time, a trafficker shot at him from three feet (the bullets missed). Vigil also had the pleasure of turning down the offer of a $3 million bribe from Honduran kingpin Juan Matta Ballesteroswho was later convicted of the kidnapping of DEA agent Enrique Kike Camarena. However, while the agents confirm many names and dates in Nazarios account, they clash with his vision. Nazario portrays himself as a social bandit, subtitling his memoir Diary of an Idealist. Agents say he was one of the most dangerous serial murderers on the planet with few real ideals at all. I think he is a psychopath that wants to romanticize his criminal activities by writing these manifestos, Vigil says. The fact of the matter is that he is a drug trafficker, he is a killer, and he represents the worst of Mexican society but has these delusional romantic ideas. I have lived in Mexico since 2000, so my work on it goes deeper than the other countries covered in this book. I also had great help from Michoacan journalists, including Francisco Castellanos, Leo Gonzalez, Dalia Martinez, Daniel Fernandez, and Jesus Lemus. Lemus may be the reporter who knows most about drug cartels in the world thanks to a quirk of fate; he was jailed for three years alongside top capos. It is a painful story. He had written an expose of a corrupt politician and in revenge prosecutors filed trumped-up charges against him, accusing him of working for Nazario. Lemus thankfully resisted days of torture and refused to sign a confession and the charges were thrown out after three excruciating years. My reconstruction of Nazarios life is also helped by many people from his homeland who knew him. The vigilante uprising to topple the Maddest One created a euphoric atmosphere and people were unusually open in revealing details of the crime world. Among those I talked to who knew Nazario were several of his gunmen who later became vigilantes, Apatzingan businessmen Cristobal Alvarez, a woman married to Nazarios cousin, and a lime farmer who Templars tortured while Nazario was present. The valley he hails from is a tight-knit community with broad inter-linking families. It is a land blighted by poverty, criminality, and beliefs in the supernatural. These features all helped mold the narco saint and his legend from when he was a small child. This article is excerpted from Ioan Grillos Gangster Warlords and is reprinted with the permission of the publisher, Bloomsbury Press. There had been subdued chatter about it for years, furtiveness and innuendo, the periodic teasing of desires by those in charge, and some desperate speculation by fans, legions of sci-fi aficionados, the X-Philes for whom the The X-Files remains the paragon of television. This Sunday evening, one of the most culturally important and rabidly popular shows in historyit spawned two feature-length films and a melange of comic books and video games, nabbed 16 Emmys and 5 Golden Globes, and had potent influence on shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lostwill be resurrected for a 6-episode appeasement of millions of appetites. Created by Chris Carter and inspired primarily by The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales from the Darkside, and Twin Peaks, The X-Files aired from 1993 to 2002. It boasted a whopping 202 installments split between self-contained Monster of the Week episodes and those that followed the shows increasingly convoluted mythology (an abuse of the term), about a nefarious government coven in cahoots with extraterrestrial imperialiststhose little green men you hear so much about, although theyre actually alabaster, sometimes silverwho planned to dragoon our planet. The only two souls who stood between us and our vassalage to sinister ETs were FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), who believed hed witnessed the UFO abduction of his sister when he was a teen and whose lifework was to chase down all species of the paranormal in a maniacal quest for the truth, and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), scientist, medical doctor, career skeptic, and heroine of redheads everywhere. Scully was misnamed after Frank Scully, a pop author who wrote, if thats the word, a preposterous book called Behind the Flying Saucers, published in 1950. The book was responsible for inaugurating the tropes held dear by conspiracy theorists and abduction nuts everywhere, the very tropes that led to The X-Files: alien ships crashed in desert climes, tiny ET corpses, government cover-ups by shady agents. Put another way: Scully was no Scully. It didnt seem to occur to Frank Scully and his unemployable ilk that if ETs were bright enough to navigate through the innumerable dangers of the cosmos they werent dumb enough to crash in the arid nothingness of New Mexico. The X-Files was, like most sci-fi and horror fare, patently ridiculous: any one of the events in any one of the episodes was enough to leave a person permanently stupefied, and yet Mulder and Scully traipsed from one adventure to another with an ever renewable aplomb. But to those of us with a hankering for mystery and conspiracy, with an itch for the unknown, for expert storytelling and production, it was also patently irresistible. When the series ended in 2002 after nine seasons, it was the longest aired sci-fi series in U.S. television history (although for many of us, The X-Files ended when Duchovny fled the series after season 7; it was like listening to Queen without Freddie Mercury: you recognized the sound but the spirit was all wrong). The shows outrageous success both confirmed our unkillable need of the supernatural and spread on a mass scale new editions of very old myths. The motifs were the same but the faces had changed as civilization advanced: not angels but aliens, not radiance from heaven but radiation from flying saucers. When the old gods stop working we craft new ones. By one avenue or another, we will indulge the occult. An intimation of the sublime is precisely what The X-Files tapped into. Mytho-religious in its very DNA, its narrative fabric, and also in its quasi-heroic quest for transcendence or deliverance, the decades-old UFO craze is not only for the crazy. Thats what Mulder and Scully became to millions: heroes hunting the truth glimpsed in the extraordinary. Easy to deride for their naive sincerity, the Fox Mulders of the world are performers of our collective id: the paranormal throbs within the ancient structures of our psyche. We downright demand that aliens and monsters give sound and scent and shape to our inky inwardness, which is what Jung meant by suggesting that the archetypes of the human unconscious will, one way or another, find manifestation. Our creature myths and alien yearnings are the astonishing stories we tell ourselves in order to stave off the crush of the quotidian, in order to seek the holy. Jung called the UFO phenomenon another instance of our desire for salvation from above. True-believer Fox Mulder manages to be so alluring despite being so convinced by every brand of hocus-pocus because in The X-Files, the hocus-pocus is real. Vanity Fair critic James Wolcott, writing in 1994, the year after the show premiered, believed that like The Twilight Zone, The X-Files expresses a national unease; it also, he wrote, reflects the end of the millennium, the flip side of the New Age, and there he was summoning Jung, who surmised that UFO hysteria, like all religious hysteria, happens near the close of an epoch. Whats more, said Wolcott, nothing is put to rest on The X-Files. The open-endedness indicates not only the untrappable nature of these forces but the shows refusal to pronounce final judgment. Except that the show does pronounce final judgment, and thats what career rationalist Richard Dawkins, grumpily missing the point, once objected to in The X-Files: the judgment is always on the side of the otherworldly and paranormal. The hunting of monsters, Im sad to say, is a mostly male pursuit, as old as the Paleolithic, and so the obsessive quester must be Mulder and not Scully. The testosteroned thrill and peril of stalking beasts remains encoded in male memory. Some of us have found that, contrary to stereotype, women are much more sensible than menthroughout the 1950s, all of the originators of the UFO contactee bunk were menand so Chris Carter made Scully the embodiment of sober female reason, the rationalist charged with trying to mitigate the recklessly boyish passions of Fox Mulder. Her character has been credited with prompting women to enter the sciences, and no further evidence is needed for how fiction can tweak civilization for the better. Carter once quipped that The X-Files succeeds because Mulder loves Scully and Scully loves Mulder, and thats no feat of simplification. All the world loves a lover, said Emerson, but part of the allure of The X-Files was exactly because, for the majority of the series, Mulder and Scully were not lovers, not erotically entwined. Their love for one another was ironclad but uncontaminated by the hormonal havoc, the emotional jolt and mess of sex. Romantic suckers, we watched each week for seven years wanting, hoping to see them hug or touch, titillated, emboldened when they did, rooting for a romance to rescue them from monster-hunting hazards, from their respective obsessions. We wanted normality and calm for them, as we do for anyone we care about, but of course normality and calm meant an end to their jaunts, and thus an end to the show, to their very existence: our hope was self-mutilating. When Mulder pressed a tender kiss into Scullys lips one New Years Eve, in the episode Millennium from season 7, some of us wept with giddy relief. Duchovny and Anderson are unobtrusively beautiful, and this is paramount to our abiding affection for their characters. (Its well-nigh impossible to watch, say, Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman and not be diverted, unconvinced by their aggressive beauty: they both look CGI-ed into immaculate existence.) Mulder and Scully dont remind us of our neighbors, no, and they are similar to no one weve ever met beforeno Everyman and Everywomanbut they are exceedingly likable, charismatic, and, somehow, despite their eccentricities, exceedingly normal: in their sensibilities, in their reverence for the truth. (The opening sequence, with its iconic echoing whistle, concluded with the mantra The Truth is Out There.) Although Duchovny is a poor on-screen crier, he has impeccable comedic timing: the most charming episodes of The X-Files are the silly, ludic ones, those in which Duchovny and Anderson dont balk at mocking their characters, their absurdist enterprise, the often unmanageable tangle of their plotlines. Before moving to Los Angeles in season 6, the series filmed in Vancouver wooded, rheumy Vancouver, such gray days, the nights an extended sentence you must serveand the crew, seeking the shows original mood, returned to Vancouver to film the 6-episode reboot. Why the deathless appeal of this show and its characters? The series played upon our common dread of the unknown and the frustratingly unknowable, but it also played upon our troublous knack for embracing conspiracy, our suspicion of corporations and government, our spiritual thirst for the extraordinary. Thats part of why the show remains in demand today, because the quest of Mulder and Scully is a proxy for our own impotent spiritual longing, because their dramatic travails and tender commitment to one another are exactly whats missing from our own dull lives. In the late 90s, the show asserted our myriad anxieties at the end of the millennium (remember, if you will, the nonsense of Y2K). Now the world looks rather different from how it did when the show concluded sloppily in 2002, not long after the incineration of World Trade. The atrocities on 9/11 frightened us into relaxing our distrust of government; we looked pantingly to our elected leaders for reassurance, for bodyguarding against a real-world enemy who had drawn a bulls-eye on open society. But, true to form, were once again abuzz with distrust. The paranoia at work within The X-Files has become more pointed, more pressing: Edward Snowdens revelations of the NSAs surveillance state, Julian Assanges international disruptions via Wikileaks, drones like vultures overhead, the technological leaps taking place in every nook of our culture, the near-constant threat of terroristic mayhem, both in our streets and online. In other words: its the ideal time for the resurrection of The X-Filesno other show was as smart or stylish at expressing our most irksome insecurities and our ceaseless ambitions for truth. GLENN HEIGHTS, Texas (AP) J.J. Selvig found life after the military as a part of Team Rubicon. Sarah McCord found her purpose. Selvig, a 30-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Fort Worth, did two tours of duty in Iraq and came home suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He signed on with Team Rubicon, a nonprofit formed by veterans and first responders to assist in disaster relief domestically and around the world. "Until I deployed to help with Hurricane Sandy, I had basically spent about a yearlong bender in a bar," Selvig said. "Something I found during Sandy was, with each way I could help, I was able to piece myself back together." Selvig and about 40 others are part of Team Rubicon's tornado relief effort in Glenn Heights. City leaders say they have been instrumental. They form at 7 a.m. each day at Home Depot in Lancaster before fanning out to clean up and repair damaged neighborhoods. Members from all over the country will be in town over the next several weeks cleaning up hard-hit spots. McCord, a civilian from Camden, Arkansas, with no military experience, joined the team in summer 2012 after two friends brothers Jeremy and Ben Wise were killed about two years apart in Afghanistan. "I was just looking for something to keep their memories alive," said McCord, who is stationed at Glenn Heights City Hall to help organize volunteers. "So I just started Googling, and Team Rubicon came up." The tornado that struck Dec. 26 touched down in the southern part of Glenn Heights, destroying several homes and leaving others heavily damaged. It moved north, sparing some neighborhoods and devastating others before it vanished after just crossing over into DeSoto. On Trishia Lane near the border with DeSoto, eight homes were destroyed, including Mohammad Masri's. Team Rubicon members demolished the remains of his home and saved some valuables, Masri said. "They are not just people," Masri said. "They are angels." Masri and his wife were in Houston on a fishing trip the weekend the tornado struck. As they drove back toward Glenn Heights, they listened to updates on the radio. They got to Ovilla around 10:30 p.m. and saw that power lines were down. Police had blocked traffic from moving any farther, so the Masris spent the night at their daughter's home in Red Oak. They didn't see their home until early the next morning. "I was shocked," he said. "It was just gone." Selvig and several Team Rubicon volunteers recently worked in one of the city's northern neighborhoods on a brisk morning, cleaning up homes on Tejas Drive. Of four homes that sit along a cul-de-sac, two have been labeled destroyed. A third has been declared to have major damage according to a color-coded map put together by the Texas A&M University Forest Service. The fourth only lost a few shingles. "That's the nature of the tornado," said Joe "Pops" Foley, a Team Rubicon volunteer from Galveston County who served in Japan as a member of the Air Force during the Vietnam era. Team Rubicon formed in 2010 when three Marine veterans wanted to aid in disaster relief after an earthquake devastated Haiti. They based themselves in the Dominican Republic, and when they crossed into Haiti, they likened it to their own personal Rubicon the river Julius Caesar and his army crossed into Italy, when civil war became inevitable. The point of no return. "That original three ended up being seven or eight total. They kept meeting people in airports along the way. 'Are you going to Haiti?' 'Yes!'" McCord said. The organization has since grown to some 32,000 members. Many have military connections, but anyone can join. According to its records, Team Rubicon assisted in 38 operations in the U.S. and three internationally in 2015, working a total of 75,000 hours in the field. It added 7,678 new members last year. "We come from every walk of life, every religious belief, every non-religious belief," McCord said. "At the end of the day, we're family." Millicent Williams, the city's Community Engagement specialist, said Team Rubicon has made a monumental task seem manageable. "They have been a tremendous resource to the city, and recovery would not be possible without them," she said. The nonprofit coordinates all volunteer efforts, Williams said. "We have had people come in from all walks of life to help, and if everyone acted on their own it would be chaotic. There's still plenty of work to do, but they have effectively processed 1,500 volunteers. I don't think we would be halfway where we are without them." As soon as Glenn Heights officials gave their OK, Team Rubicon volunteers were there, including 10-year Glenn Heights police Officer Lucas Benson, who was off duty at the time but arrived within 10 minutes. "As unfortunate as it was, we were lucky that it happened the day after Christmas when a lot of people were still gone," said Benson, who also serves as the city's liaison to Team Rubicon. Tejas Drive is bisected by Glenn Lane. One side of the street appears normal, with vehicles parked in driveways and homes showing little, if any, damage from the storm. There are no signs of residents on the other side, which is quiet except for the sounds of hammering and tractors hauling off bricks and other debris. At one home, a sign advertising the Drop-Inn Motel covers the length of its destroyed roof. Team Rubicon has to have permission from homeowners before it can help clean up, said Benson, an Army veteran who did three combat tours in Iraq. "We don't know where a lot of residents are, or we don't have good contact information, so we can't do anything," he said. Team Rubicon's day begins with a flag-raising ceremony in the morning and concludes with a flag-lowering ceremony in the evening. Volunteers sleep wherever they can. Some spend the night in abandoned warehouses on cots donated by the Red Cross. Others are staying at the Mt. Lebanon Retreat and Conference Center in Cedar Hill. Others, like Benson, sleep in their homes. "As bad as it is, it's nice to be able to give homeowners a fresh start on rebuilding," he said. The team has its share of retired members, but many still work full-time jobs. "A lot of us have jobs and are here on their vacations," said Foley, 68, who sells medical equipment and says he has no plans to retire. "They'll bag me up when I'm done," he said. McCord said Team Rubicon's mission includes emotional relief as well as repair. "These people's worlds have been turned upside down," she said. "Even if it's just for five minutes, it helps to take a little bit of the chaos away." The editorial staff reserves the right to edit and/or delete posts in accordance with the above guidelines. FEATURES * The Puzzle Corner (games) and The Week in Review (news highlights) every Saturday. *The Sunday Funnies (comedy) each Sunday. *Other features/articles appear as applicable and time permits. Our IN OTHER NEWS feature normally at the bottom of your screen was suspended when Blogger updated their gadgets, but you can find a new TRANSLATE feature above. NOTES Any (news) links just lead to the original source material. Those websites own and are responsible for their individual content. Every copyright law is respected and honored as much as humanly possible. All links were active at the time of posting. (above last updated July 24, 2022) was first founded in college on December 13th, 2003 as SHARE By Ronnie Ellis Mike Pape, a former aide to retiring Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield, has officially filed to run for Whitfield's seat. Pape, 48, of Hopkinsville, served as Whitfield's field director for 21 years and Whitfield has endorsed Pape and signed his candidacy papers. Pape becomes the fourth Republican and fifth candidate to file. Former Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer of Tompkinsville; Hickman County Attorney Jason Batts; and Miles Caughey Jr. of Herndon have also filed for the Republican primary. Samuel L. Gaskins, a medically retired military officer from Hopkinsville, is the only Democrat who has filed thus far. The deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 26. Most expect the real battle to be between Pape and Comer. Pape hails from the western part of the district while Comer is from Monroe County on the far eastern edge of the 35-county district which stretches from Paducah along the Tennessee border to Clinton County in the east and turns northward as far as Marion and Casey counties. Comer lost the 2015 Republican primary for governor by 83 votes after a woman he dated in college alleged he abused her and paid for an abortion. Comer vigorously denies her allegations. But Comer's strongest area of support in that statewide election was in the second and first congressional districts. Pape was asked if he thought allegations about Comer's past might arise in their campaign. "There'll be a lot of issues in this race, but the issues I'm really focusing on are the issues that matter to the people of this district," Pape said. "Do they have a job; are they able to take care of their families?" But he said he couldn't prevent others such as outside groups or the media from asking about Comer's background. Pape he doesn't view the race as an east-west battle because he's visited all the counties for years as Whitfield's aide when the Congressman traveled in the district. He said he'll be able to raise sufficient money to "get our message out." He said his years on Whitfield's staff prepare him for the rigors of a congressional campaign. Comer is a farmer and businessman who served in the state legislature before running for Agriculture Commissioner in 2007. His farm connections probably help him in western Kentucky, an agricultural district and his campaign manager is attorney Caroline Cash from Fancy Farm in Graves County. David Drennan is a real clown. He's also a teacher, a volunteer in church mission work and a member of Water's Edge Church in downtown Henderson. All of his 'hats' converge in a project coming up on Jan. 30. He's organizing a 'teacher-themed' garage sale that will support a summer camp for youth on a Navajo reservation in Northeast Arizona. 'The Navajo reservation is one of the most economically and educationally challenged areas in the country,' said Drennan, a classroom instructor in Union County Schools. He said out of 100 high school graduates on the reservation, 50 graduate at grade level, and of those 50, only 12 are male. He said the summer camp that his organization (Alpha Ministries) supports is sponsored by a church in Arizona and reaches out to native families with faith-based support. This year's camp will be the sixth annual. Last year, about 50 campers from the reservation attended. Drennan got involved with the summer camp because of his hobby of dressing up like a clown and performing for children at church, at school and at community events. The Crittenden County native became aware of the mission opportunity and was encouraged by organizers to bring his clown attire and head to the reservation with them. After that, he was hooked on it. 'This will be my fourth summer going,' Drennan. Last year's trip was especially stressful because the man who originally recruited him, Stan Bramblett, of Princeton, Kentucky, died of a sudden heart attack while they were on the reservation. 'He wouldn't have wanted to go any other way,' Drennan said. 'He wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. That was where he loved to be.' Drennan said he wants to go back to help preserve Bramblett and his wife Trudy's vision for the ministry and out of respect for their continued involvement. He said volunteers at the overnight camp lead activities, cook for the group, teach vacation Bible school and do whatever construction and maintenance they can accomplish while they're there. 'We just help out wherever we're needed,' he added, noting that they take all of their supplies with them because even the nearest Walmart is 1 hours away in the next state. There's a nightly service during the weeklong mission. Drennan said they'll talk with anyone of any age who needs a mentor. 'A lot of people who serve on the reservation don't have a chance to network with other people who have had training and haven't been in a position to talk with others, ask questions and bounce ideas around,' he said. That's where the teacher in him can be helpful. He chose the teacher-themed garage sale because he wants to build awareness about the educational distress present on the reservation. 'I want to draw attention to that,' Drennan said. 'While we are helping local educators with discounted supplies we are also helping bring support to a culture that very much needs our support.' The garage sale will run from 8 a.m. to noon at Water's Edge Church, in the 100 block of First Street across from the Henderson Post Office. The event will include books, classroom decorations, games, printables and other resources generally geared toward elementary school students. Discounted school supplies also will be available. Shoppers are likely to find crayons, notebook paper, scissors, bulletin board supplies, stuffed animals and lot of other things that can be used in the classroom. 'It will be like Christmas for a teacher,' he said. SHARE Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence Webster County Judge-executive Jim Townsend By Keith Lawrence Webster County Judge-Executive Jim Townsend has filed for the 12th District seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives. The 69-year-old Democrat said he was considering challenging long-time Rep. Jim Gooch for the seat in the May primary. But when Gooch, who has held the seat since 1995, switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican last month, Townsend said he made up his mind to run. A lot of voters aren't happy when politicians switch parties, Townsend said. The district includes McLean and Webster counties, part of Hopkins County and 15 precincts of Daviess County. Townsend has served on Webster Fiscal Court for 34 years. He was elected as a magistrate in 1982 and was appointed judge-executive by Gov. Brereton Jones in 1992. In 1994, he was elected to the post, which he has held for 24 years. Townsend was named Kentucky's Outstanding Judge-Executive in 2001. "I've been here a long time," Townsend said. "People have been good to me." He received his bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1969 and returned home to teach science and math at Webster County High School. In 1972, Townsend left teaching to work for the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation until 1977, when he went to work in the private sector. He's also a retired farmer. Townsend is married to Carolyn Parker Townsend, the mayor of Dixon. They have two children and five grandchildren. "With the current fiscal situation facing Frankfort, we need leaders who understand and who have dealt with making tough, sound budget decisions," Townsend said. In 2009, he was awarded the Wendell H. Ford Legislative Leadership Award by Green River Area Development District. Townsend is a past chairman of the Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association, a past President of the Kentucky Association of Counties and is a current KACO board member. He is former chairman of both GRADD and the Kentucky Coal County Coalition. Photos by MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER Using his truck, Eddie Pogue helps fellow motorist Andrew Woodard pull his car out of the ditch on U.S. 60-West in Henderson County after Woodard lost control on the icy road during Fridays winter storm. SHARE Helping out his neighbors, Fate Rucker uses a snowblower to clear the sidewalk along South Adams Street in Henderson Friday as a massive winter storm moved through the area. MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER Cade Russell clears accumulating snow off his dad's truck on Elk Street in Henderson Friday as a massive winter storm moves through the area, January 22, 2016. MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER Battling a blizzard, Ronnie Brooks tries to keep pace with Friday's winter storm as he shovels out his driveway along U.S. 60 West in Corydon, Ky., January 22, 2016. MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER Blizzard whiteout conditions on Airline Road in Henderson County early Friday morning, January 22, 2016 By Erin Schmitt of The Gleaner Fresh snow slowed Henderson to a crawl Friday as road crews and citizens dug their way out from Winter Storm Jonas. Based on a Thursday conference call with the National Weather Service in Paducah, emergency officials were told that the Henderson area would receive freezing rain in the early morning Friday that would result in the accumulation of about a quarter inch of ice. That didn't happen. However, the prediction that more snow would be coming early morning through afternoon was accurate with several inches of the white stuff blanketing Henderson by midafternoon. Officer Jennifer Richmond with Henderson Police Department reported that an additional five inches had fallen before noon in the Cairo area on top of what hadn't melted from the previous winter storm. She advised people take a moment to check on neighbors, family and friends to make sure all is well. Between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., Henderson Police Department worked five noninjury accidents and had 11 motorist assists. There were no accidents with injuries, said Richmond. "We encourage all people to stay off the roads as much as they can," said Henderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Koerber, adding that unless it's an emergency appointment. "The milk, bread and cigarette run is probably not considered an important appointment." Troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 16 at Henderson responded to a few slide-offs, but no serious wrecks as of midafternoon Friday, said Trooper Corey King. He anticipated working more slide-offs Friday evening as 30-mile wind gusts were expected to make visibility low. State police had all four-wheel drive and some of its Humvees patrolling the main corridors such as I-69 and the Audubon and Pennyrile parkways. King said he expected state police to continue to do so as long as the roads remained treacherous to look for stranded motorists. Although he advised people should stay off the roads and let the crews do their work, if motorists have to venture out, they should dress warmly, have plenty of gas in the tank and pack a snack and water in case they get stranded. People should also stick to the main roads, as these will be the most clear. King also recommended that people leaving work call their loved ones and advise them of when they were leaving and what route they planned to take in case they slid off the road. This helps emergency officials know where to look. There were no reports of power outages from Kenergy, Kentucky Utilities or Henderson Municipal Power and Light were reported, said Koerber. There were also no reports of injuries, evacuations or damage from the storm. The American Red Cross has identified possible shelter locations across the state. More than 30 Red Cross trailers, loaded with supplies to assist up to 100 people in a shelter are positioned across Kentucky and ready to mobilize in impacted areas, said Evelyn Miller, the executive director of the Western Kentucky Chapter. No shelters have been opened in Henderson County as of Friday, Koerber said. There were many closings due to inclement weather. Henderson County Schools were closed again Friday the fifth time so far this school year. Union County Schools and Webster County Schools were also closed, though the latter had its Link2Learn day five that allows students to complete their lessons online from home. No classes were held at Henderson Community College Friday either. The Old National Bank branches located on Second Street and U.S. 60 closed at 11 a.m. Friday. Deaconess Clinic Henderson locations at Elm Street and Starlite were also closed. The Green River Area Development District office in Owensboro closed Friday. GRADD plans to reopen at 8 a.m. Monday. There were no "Meals on Wheels" deliveries to GRADD clients in Henderson, Union, Webster, Daviess, Hancock, McLean or Ohio counties. Congregate meals were also not served at the agency's 23 senior centers. The main center in each county is able to deal with emergencies, said Woody Maglinger, GRADD communications director. Henderson residents can call 270-827-2948; Union residents can call 270-389-9979; Webster residents can call 270-639-5394. All GRADD clients also received an allocation of shelf-stable meals in advance of this week's winter storms. While t he National Weather Service was predicting accumulations of up to 10 inches in the area, temperatures are expected rise into the 30s Saturday and Sunday. It's supposed to be mostly sunny both days, which should help melt the snow. SHARE Members of the Kentucky General Assembly do not have to disclose details of their legislative pensions, but a bill that passed unanimously in a Senate committee last week would change that. Under the Kentucky Open Records Act, Senate Bill 45 would reveal the benefits paid to current and former lawmakers who are enrolled in the legislative pension system and other state retirement plans. Knowledge is power, and we can't help but be suspicious of the motives of any state lawmaker who wants to shield his or her public benefits from public disclosure. One of those who opposes this bill is Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville. He chairs the House State Government Committee and has in the past blocked bills dealing with pension transparency. "My basic philosophy is, if you're in public office or if you're a public employee, then what you're currently earning as salary should be public information, and it is," Yonts said Wednesday, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. "Once you've retired, though, what you draw from retirement benefits is nobody else's business." We disagree. Lawmakers have the ability to craft laws that benefit them long after they've left the General Assembly, and the public has every right to know the practical details of those benefits. It is simply wrong to prevent the public from knowing how a lawmaker benefits financially from their service in the General Assembly. Yonts ought to reconsider his position. Calls from his constituents might make that happen. Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, who sponsors SB 45, said, "I think we'll learn that the vast majority of people who retire don't draw the kind of pensions that people think they do. But there are some select circumstances where people have done things the public would find egregious in terms of spiking benefits." In light of massive shortfalls in the pension system for state government employees and teachers, it is a huge disappointment to see some state lawmakers aren't willing to be fully transparent about their own pension benefits. The Herald-Leader reported that the legislative retirement plan has 71 percent of the money needed to cover benefits, but the Kentucky Employees Retirement System has less than 18 percent. Some of Kentucky's legislators have also worked in state government, and they've been able to use those jobs to significantly increase their retirement pay. Often we look to the lessons of James Madison for guidance on open government. The fourth U.S. president said, "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." Anyone who signs up for public service ought to respect the public's right to know how they benefit financially from their powerful positions. Yonts ought to advance transparency in the pensions lawmakers receive, and the General Assembly should pass this bill. This editorial was written by the Kentucky New Era. SHARE David Hayden, Evansville Having read Joel Mathis' and Ben Boychuyk's views concerning "Is violence the true face of Islam?", I'll have to say that Boychuyk makes the most sense. Mathis may have some Muslim friends, and some 100 Philadelphia Muslims may have marched in support of the Philadelphia police, but he misses the point about Islam and violence. Political Islam is the problem with Islam. Political Islam began when Muhammad led his few followers to Medina in 622 A.D. As the religious, political, and military leader of his companions, Muhammad used violent tactics to make his religious and political ideas supreme in Medina by 628 A.D. By 630 A.D. Muhammad had control of Mecca and almost all of Arabia. By his death in 632 A.D., he had gained this control through violence, and yes, he reportedly received well over 100 revelations from his god, Allah, urging Muhammad and his Muslim companions to use violence to spread the faith. After Muhammad's death, the Muslims continued to use violence to spread their influence over Palestine, Syria, present day Iraq, Persia (Iran), Afghanistan, parts of India, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Spain. All of this took place using violent jihad within a span of 100 years. To deny this history of jihad is to deny the face of militant Islam. But militant, violent Islam is just one face of Islam, the other face is the one Joel Mathis talks about. A face of Muslims who want to live their lives and faith in peace and abhor the violence perpetrated by Islamic violent jihad. I am all for Muslims who seriously and openly denounce violent jihad. The problem is that political Islam controls the narrative. Muslim reformers like M. Zudhi Jasser, Raheel Raza and many others are marginalized by political Islamists (The Muslim Brotherhood. the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), other front organizations of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Imams who preach hatred and jihad to bring shari'a law to infidel nations. We must understand this about Islam: The jihadists take their religion very seriously. They believe they are following the dictates of their Allah. The history of Islam is full of violent jihad to make the world safe for the spread of Islam. To repeat what has been repeated ad nauseam by those who believe that political Islam is the major threat facing the world today: not all Muslims agree with Islamic jihad, but those Muslims who do are in control of the narrative. We must understand the jihadist mentality, but not live in fear of it. Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Minister Aivaras Abromavicius and Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko have discussed with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in Davos the settlement of trade dispute with Russia in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is reported on the website of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine on Friday. "An important topic of our conversation was the support of Ukrainian position in the settlement of the WTO trade disputes with Russia at the political and expert level," the Economy Ministry quoted Abromavicius as saying. The economy minister said that the meeting also addressed the removal of anti-dumping sanctions on a number of Ukrainian products, in particular, chemical and steel industries, and the continuation of technical assistance to Ukraine. In order to speed up the reform of state enterprises, the U.S. offered the assistance in finding professional managers, including for the key state-owned companies. The sides also discussed the visit of a large delegation of American businessmen to Ukraine. Abromavicius recalled that the United States continues to provide preferences for duty-free export of a number of Ukrainian commodities due to the renewal of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences. According to the minister, it is necessary to extend the Generalized System of Preferences for Ukrainian products to get access to the U.S. market, and to liberalize the existing anti-dumping measures on imports from Ukraine to the United States. How to nominate for the Register's 2023 Iowa People to Watch Bridgeport and the new administration of Mayor Joe Ganim appear to be the biggest beneficiaries of $54.2 million in federal funds awarded Thursday to Connecticut to help Fairfield and New Haven counties better prepare for coastal flooding and climate change. Ganim, who was at the White House in connection with a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was pulled aside and told the city was receiving about $38 million for flood control in the city's south end, said his spokesman, Av Harris. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Rockefeller Foundation as part of the $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition for states and communities affected by major disasters between 2011 and 2013. Ganim's predecessor, Bill Finch, was a strong backer of the application. Climate change is real and we must think more seriously about how to plan for it, said Julian Castro, the HUD secretary who recently visited Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. Connecticut's entry on behalf of the state was put together by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, a joint center run by UConn and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Policy and Management and other departments. It had asked for nearly $115 million for resiliency work in Bridgeport and New Haven and for resiliency planning in the Connecticut coastal counties most damaged by Storm Sandy. HUD only mentioned Bridgeport in its announcement, but the state also is receiving planning funds for floodplain design guidelines and further work on the "Connecticut Connections Coastal Resilience Plan" in Fairfield and New Haven counties. The HUD announcement upstaged plans for a press conference Friday at noon by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and the U.S. representative whose districts include Bridgeport and New Haven, Jim Himes of the 4th District and Rosa L. DeLauro of the 3rd District. A number of Bridgeports coastal neighborhoods have suffered repeated flooding, most notably during Sandy and the earlier Tropical Storm Irene. Finch, who lost a Democratic primary last summer, had been active in looking for means to remediate flooded areas, which included moving some housing projects. The new Barnum train station was partly designed to provide a transportation hub for those residents that might be moved to other areas of the city. But it will be the new Ganim administration that will have to work with the institute and the Malloy administration on formal plans in keeping with the parameters of the application. These initiatives transcend administrations, April Capone, who is handling the application process as part of her intergovernmental affairs duties at the Office of Policy and Management, said in November. Yes, we did have a mayor who was very progressive. This does not hinge on one elected official. The new mayor was excited to receive the grant, Harris said. HUD said the state's coastal resilience plan is focused on "reconnecting and protecting economically-isolated coastal neighborhoods through investments in mixed green and gray infrastructure that protect against flooding while strengthening their connectivity to existing transportation nodes." Connecticut was among 40 finalist states, cities and counties applying for the funding. Thirteen received awards. New York and New Jersey were already promised at least $181 million. In the end, New York state ($176 million) and New York City ($38.5 million) got $214 million; New Jersey got only $15 million; and Louisiana and New Orleans got the most, nearly $234 million. Springfield, Mass., received $17 million. Washington correspondent Ana Radelat contributed to this story. This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization covering government, politics and public policy in the state. NORWALK Mayor Harry W. Rilling plans to begin next week the discussion on filling the position of director of planning and zoning. Rilling said Michael B. Greene, who has held the position since 1994, informed him that he will be retiring March 4 after 37 years working for the city. Probably sometime next week Id like to have our initial discussion, Rilling said Friday. The charter controls the selection of that person. Ill be looking to meet with (Zoning Commission Chairman) Adam Blank and (Planning Commission Chairman) Torgny Astrom and (Director of Personnel) Emmet Hibson and develop an approach on how were going to be looking for Mikes replacement. Greene was out of the office this week and could not be reached for comment. Under Norwalks charter, the director of planning and zoning shall be appointed by the Planning and Zoning Commissions based on the recommendation of a search committee. The search committee shall consist of an administration committee of each commission as well as the citys Personnel Director or designee. Rilling said he will be requesting guidance from the citys law department on the process. Because of the wording of the charter, Rilling said, I think it needs to be reviewed by Corporation Counsel. Rilling said the search committee will explore whether theres any interest in transforming the position to that of city planner a position deemed necessary by neighborhood organizations because of development trends in Norwalk. Such a move would require a change in the job description, Rilling said. Even if we dont change the job description, if theres a strong feeling we should have someone with a city planner certification, thats something we can still do, Rilling said. Greene was hired by the city in November 1978 as a planning engineer. After serving as the assistant director of planning and zoning, he was appointed acting executive director of planning and zoning in August 1994. He became director of planning and zoning in October of that year. His current salary is $154,076, according to the city. He indicated it was a pleasure working for me and the city, Rilling said. I told him that I appreciate his years of service and honestly believe that he worked very hard to help Norwalk and I thought Norwalk was certainly better off because of his efforts. The position of director of planning and zoning is a union position, belonging to the Norwalk Supervisors and Assistants Association (NASA). Under the current job description, the director of planning and zoning plans, organizes and directs the development of comprehensive planning in the functional areas of land use, economic growth and related municipal planning areas; and serves as principal technician and advisor to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The skills and knowledge required would generally acquired with a Masters degree in city, urban or regional planning or a closely related field and six years experience as an urban or regional planner with two years of supervisory experience, according to the job description. Rilling indicated hes in no hurry to fill the post. I think we need to take our time and probably look at making (Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning) Mike Wrinn the acting (director) until we decide how to proceed, Rilling said. I dont think theres any need to rush in into a decision. NEW DELHI (TIP): Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra are all set to replace Aamir Khan as the new ambassadors of the Incredible India campaign. The selection of the two actors follows the Centres [] AMES, IOWA (TIP): Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump received a key endorsement Tuesday, January 19, from Tea Party darling and conservative heavy weight Sarah Palin, potentially giving the billionaire business-man a boost with some voters [] WASHINGTON (TIP): The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 19, agreed to review a challenge to President Obamas plan to shield more than 4 million illegal immigrants from deportation, a unilateral executive action he took in [] Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev have discussed the situation with the Russian embargo on Ukrainian products, as well as coordinated their action to establish a transit route across the Caspian Sea to China and Iran. "The presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan have discussed the situation in connection with the Russian embargo on Ukrainian products and a ban on transit shipments. In this regard, the heads of state welcomed the successful sending of first flight container train Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-China from Illichivsk. Petro Poroshenko and Ilham Aliyev have coordinated actions required for the development of a transit route across the Caspian Sea to China and Iran," the press service of the Ukrainian president reported after their meeting in Davos. In addition, the parties discussed the possibilities of the further development of bilateral trade and economic relations, including in the oil and gas and energy industries, as well as in the fields of construction, transport and communications. "Azerbaijan confirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the statement reads. For three decades, Progressive Recovery, Inc. in Dupo has been designing and manufacturing equipment to help customers recycle and/or process hazardous waste. In support of its global expansion strategy, the firm chose to pursue ISO certification - a seal of approval that signifies a firms commitment to quality and continuous improvement. PRI Director of Engineering Tim Giddens said the company turned to the International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for assistance. PRI is the North American leader in solvent recovery equipment and cleaning chemistries for the printing industry, Giddens said. In order to expand our ability to serve international printing clients, we knew that ISO certification would be extremely helpful. Upon contacting the ITC for assistance, Director Silvia Torres Bowman introduced PRI to the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion program. The ISTEP program provides small and medium-sized businesses in Illinois with financial and technical assistance to increase their exports. ISTEP includes four options for Illinois companies to grow their export sales: group trade missions, individual foreign market sales missions, assistance to achieve product compliance certifications and international marketing support. To supplement our internal efforts, the ITC provided the technical and financial support necessary to achieve ISO certification, said Giddens. The ITC was also extremely valuable in helping our sales team plug into trade missions and international trade shows. Participation in these events helped us gain exposure to new clients and potential business partners. PRI also benefited from the ITCs expertise in finding new agents in difficult-to-reach markets. South Korea is the most recent market example of this, Giddens said. When we needed a new agent in this region, staff from the Illinois Office in Hong Kong, partners of the ITC, helped identify and pre-screen potential candidates. Finally, the ITC connected our finance people with several classes to help ensure that we were up to date on the laws associated with financing international jobs. SIUE ITC Director Silvia Torres Bowman said PRI is an ideal client. The mission of the ITC Network is to help and support the Illinois business community to prosper in markets around the world, Torres Bowman said. Its been my privilege to work with Tim and the PRI team in support of their exporting endeavors. I have been constantly impressed by their thorough preparation and ability to develop and implement effective strategies for international expansion. Success in global markets requires commitment, careful planning and much patience. PRI is certainly meeting all three of these requirements, and the ITC will always be ready to support them as they continue moving forward with their exporting goals. Regionally, Giddens is a member of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois. Within this organization, he serves as vice-chairman of its manufacturing subcommittee and is a staunch advocate of strengthening Illinois manufacturing sector. The International Trade Center at SIUE serves entrepreneurs and small businesses in southern Illinois by providing individualized export consultation, identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads, international market analysis and more. The ITC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to the regions entrepreneurial and business community. As a key member of the Illinois SBDC Network, the International Trade Center delivers these important services to its clients while supporting the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large. For more information on conducting business globally - and how to get started exporting - contact the ITC at International-Trade-Center@siue.edu or (618) 650-3851. For complete details regarding the ISTEP program, visit siue.edu/business/itc. On Friday, Jan. 29, the Saint Louis Science Center unveiled Above and Beyond, a new interactive exhibition exploring the wonder and science of flight and the transformative innovations that shape advances in aerospace. The exhibition is presented by Boeing [NYSE: BA] in celebration of the companys 100th anniversary in 2016. St. Louis will be the second U.S. stop on the five-year tour that will also include several international destinations. Innovations in aerospace have improved the way of life for people around the world, and we are excited that this exhibition helps visitors engage with the innovation, design and science that drive the remarkable achievements, while also having fun, said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of the Saint Louis Science Center. We are excited to host Above and Beyond, which will educate visitors, while providing an entertaining experience. Our mission is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning, and we believe that offering exciting and engaging exhibits like this helps spark that interest and inspire a new generation of innovators. The 5,000-square-foot Above and Beyond exhibition offers unprecedented interactive experiences to inspire curiosity in, and exploration of, advances in aerospace, from the first powered flights to the newest innovations in aircraft and spaceflight. After entering an immersive wraparound theater, visitors venture into five galleries comprising dozens of interactive displays. Exhibit-goers can ride to the edge of space in a simulated space elevator or test their own supersonic fighter-jet design in a virtual high-speed flying competition. A group flying experience with motion-sensing image capture helps visitors learn what its like to fly like a bird in a flock, while exploring the forces of flight. Hands-on interactive, touch-table displays and augmented reality are examples of exhibit technology offering an experiential understanding of the scientific concepts behind flight and space travel. The impressive technology, design and spirit of this Above and Beyond exhibit bring to life the amazing contributions that companies like Boeing have made to the aerospace industry in the past, and provide a glimpse into the possibilities of the future, said Jim ONeill, senior St. Louis site executive, Boeing Defense Space & Security. We hope the experiences children have in this exhibit will inspire curiosity and lead them to become future innovators, engineers or business leaders. Above and Beyond will tour three venues a year, stopping at each venue for approximately three months. The U.S. exhibition tour is projected to draw 4.5 million to 5.5 million visitors. Tour stops will include St. Louis, Charleston, S.C., Seattle, Chicago and Houston, among other cities. The tour in 2016 coincides with Boeings centennial celebration, during which the Saint Louis Science Center will host the exhibition from January to May. Above and Beyond will also launch around the world in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Above and Beyond is produced by Evergreen Exhibitions in association with Boeing, in collaboration with NASA and the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum, and in educational collaboration with The Museum of Flight in Seattle. For more information on the Above and Beyond exhibition at the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org. About the Saint Louis Science Center The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. It is one of the top 15 science centers worldwide and was named one of the Top 10 Science Centers for Families by Parents magazine. The Saint Louis Science Center complex includes a five-story OMNIMAX Theater, Boeing Hall and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org. About Boeing Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, supporting airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. More than 160,000 employees at Boeing design, develop and build the worlds leading commercial and military aerospace products, including the 787 Dreamliner, the V-22 Osprey, F/A-18 Super Hornet and the CST-100 Commercial Space Transportation System. In 2014 Boeing was ranked #1 Innovator in Aerospace for the eighth consecutive year by the Patent Board and holds more than 14,000 active patents globally. About Evergreen Exhibitions Evergreen Exhibitions (formerly Clear Channel Exhibitions) is one of the world's premier providers of traveling museum exhibits. Evergreen Exhibitions conceptualizes, designs, produces, markets and tours its traveling museum exhibits, primarily in science, art, natural history and children's museums. The exhibits use educational concepts to create high-quality, immersing, multi-sensory, entertaining and educational experiences for family audiences. Nearly 100 million people worldwide have enjoyed an Evergreen Exhibitions experience. For the Intelligencer This January's Student of the Month was awarded to Mara Swapp, an Edwardsville High School student. Mara was nominated by business/applied technology teacher, John Davin. Swapp hopes to attend University of Illinois or Illinois State University in the fall and would like to major in Crop Sciences. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Police have so far detained 18 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities following last week's fatal attack at the Cakrawala building on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti told reporters on Friday that six of the men arrested in the past week were directly involved in purchasing weapons used in the attack, which was allegedly orchestrated by the Islamic State (IS) movement in Syria through Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian believed to be currently residing in Syria. 'Six of the 18 people were directly involved in the bombings that occurred at the Starbucks cafe on Jl. MH Thamrin and the nearby traffic police post,' he said at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta. The six men were arrested in Tegal, Central Java, and Indramayu and Cirebon in West Java. Badrodin explained that two of the six suspects had knowledge of bomb assembly, while one of them had bought a gas container. Another was responsible for buying firearms. 'The evidence that we obtained includes two guns, several projectiles and bombs that had yet to be detonated and also several flakes from a bomb's gas container,' he said. The National Police's counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, continued its operation after arresting the six individuals suspected of direct links to the attack and nabbed six other men in Bekasi, West Java, and Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, for illegal firearms possession. '[They were arrested] in relation to illegal possession of firearms and because they were planning to commit [more terrorist action]. They are also supporters of the East Indonesia Mujahiddin [MIT],' Badrodin said, referring to a militant group led by the notorious Santoso and based in Poso, Central Sulawesi. Badrodin said one of the six, identified only as HF, had received Rp 1 billion (US$72,332) from Bahrumsyah in Syria. Bahrumsyah is thought to be one of the three leading Indonesian figures in IS alongside Bahrun and Salim Mubarok Attamimi, known also as Abu Jandal Al Yemeni Al Indonesi. The group of six were allegedly working to get bullets for the nine firearms they had earlier acquired for their plan. Badrodin said Densus 88 was still hunting down a number of men believed to be connected to the six detainees. Another man, identified as EF, was arrested with the six but was eventually released as there was not enough evidence to charge him. He said the last batch of six detainees suspected of links to the attack were currently imprisoned. 'We have also named six people from the Nusakambangan prison [in Cilacap, Central Java] and Tangerang prison [in Banten] for supporting the second group by providing them with the firearms,' he said, adding that they had been returned to their respective prisons to continue their sentences. Although the police believed the firearm possession was connected to terrorist activities, the 12 individuals not directly connected to last week's attacks could not be charged with Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism eradication, as they had not yet carried out any activities. Instead, they would be charged with Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on illegal firearm possession. The head of the center for national security studies at the Bhayangkara University in Jakarta, Hermawan Sulistyo, said there was a possibility that the firearms used in last week's attack were procured from the Philippines through Mindanao, the second largest and southernmost major island of the country. 'The old route used to go through Mindanao and then through Miangas [North Sulawesi]. There are a lot of small islands there, and all you need to do is cross over there,' he 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 Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Police have arrested 18 terror suspects, six of them were accused of being involved in the Jan. 14 Jakarta attack, killing eight people ' four victims and four attackers --, said National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti on Friday. Police classified the 18 suspects, who were being interrogated by the police officers, into three groups, said Badrodin. The first group are six people, who were arrested for their direct involvement Jakarta attack case. A suspect identified as BS aka YY aka BD from Cirebon, West Java had a role of buying gas tube used as a casings of bombs exploded on Jl. M. H. Thamrim, in Central Jakarta said Badrodin at the press conference. Another suspect, AH aka A aka Al aka AM aka AIS, had a role to buy firearms, said Haiti, adding that the other suspects, who are linked to the Jakarta attack, were C aka D aka AS, J aka JJ, AM aka LL aka AL, F aka AZ aka AB. The second group are six people, who were arrested for having illegal firearms and the plan to carry out terror attack and who supported East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) led by Santoso. This group also received fund from Bahrumsyah, Indonesian extremist lived in Syria now. The third group were six people, who were borrowed from the Nusakambangan prison island in Central Java and a prison in Tangerang, who were accused of assisting the second group to own firearms. "We are still hunting for some people so we can arrest all people involved in terror acts in Thamrin," Badrodin said. The police started intensifying their manhunt operations against the terrorist suspects, following the attack ' explosions and gunfire ' occurred within the first ring of national security and represented a fatal blow to the security of the capital or just nearly 2.5 kilometer away from the State Palace. During the press conference, the police chief also revealed three Indonesian nationals, who have prominent positions in the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Syria. They are Bahrumsyah, who sent money to finance the Jakarta attack, Bahrun Naim, an expert of propaganda and Abu Jandal, who has high position in IS group. 'Bahrun know well about IT. He frequently active communicates with those in Indonesia,' he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono and Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap/Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The National Police have said that terror convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir could be questioned regarding his possible link to the recent terror attack in Jakarta. The National Police deputy chief, Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, said that Ba'asyir could be questioned soon. 'It is possible to question him, but we're focusing on the six suspects first. Besides, he [Ba'asyir] is working on his case review, ' Budi said at the police headquarters on Friday. Ba'asyir is currently seeking an early release, filing his case at the South Jakarta District Court earlier this month. Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of Islamic organization Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT), was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2011 for funding a military training camp in Aceh for a terrorist group. Currently, Ba'asyir is imprisoned at the Nusakambangan high security prison off the coast of Cilacap, Central Java. Meanwhile, officials have rebuffed speculation that Islamic State (IS) followers incarcerated in the Nusakambangan prison might have influenced drug lord Freddy Budiman to join their radical movement during his time at the Batu cell block. Although Batu warden Marasidin Siregar confirmed that he was aware of the speculation, he added that he saw no indication that Freddy had joined a radical movement during his time in Nusakambangan. Freddy served some of his prison time at Batu, Nusakambangan, which also houses Ba'asyir and dozens of other terrorist convicts. 'However, he has not been incarcerated at Nusakambangan since April 2015, so we don't know what may have happened next. He has been transferred to Gunung Sindur prison,' Marasidin said on Thursday, referring to a prison facility in Bogor, West Java. In July 2013, the death-row convict was transferred from Cipinang Prison, in East Jakarta, to maximum security in Nusakambangan following a finding that he had been granted an illegal conjugal visit. Marasidin said that he was convinced that Freddy was not influenced by the IS ideology given his background in the drug trafficking business. 'Therefore, I don't think he has joined IS. However, I don't know for sure who his friends are,' he added. The government recently considered a plan to establish a special solitary confinement prison in order to prevent other prisoners from joining extremist movements after the National Police found indications of a connection between the recent Sarinah terror attacks and a terrorist group led by Bahrun Naim, who is believed to be a follower of Nusakambangan prisoner Aman Abdurrahman. Terrorist convicts incarcerated on Nusakambangan, such as Ba'asyir and Aman, are reported to have regularly received visitors. Both Ba'asyir and Aman are believed to have pledged support for the IS movement while in their cells. Aman is currently incarcerated at Kembang Kuning on Nusakambangan with several other terrorist convicts. In total, around 50 convicted terrorists are serving sentences at Nusakambangan. In Jakarta, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly denied such speculation, saying that Freddy had left Nusakambangan a while ago. 'No, [nothing of the sort has happened], he is [imprisoned at] Gunung Sindur,' Yasonna said. Yasonna also revealed a plan to restrict visits for terror prisoners in a move to prevent terror attacks. In late 2014, the police discovered activities leading them to suspect that IS teachings were being spread from inside Nusakambangan. Several people were found to have carried IS flags and related items during visits to the penitentiary. National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Police Comr. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said on Thursday that his office would improve deradicalization measures in prisons while the government was still drafting an amendment for the existing antiterrorism law. -------------------- 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 Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Sat, January 23, 2016 The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has revealed a plan to turn the notorious Kampung Kubur neighborhood in Medan, North Sumatra, into a drug-free area and a model for Indonesia. Speaking during a recent visit to the neighborhood, BNN chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said Kampung Kubur was once a haven for drug traffickers, but intensive raids by local police and the military in recent months had gradually cleaned up the area. 'Drugs and gambling must not exist in Kampung Kubur any longer. We will turn the neighborhood into a drug-free area and a pilot project. The area will become a symbol of successful drug eradication efforts in Indonesia,' Budi said in a dialogue with local residents. The project, Budi said, would include multiple parties, including community figures and religious leaders. Budi argued that the role of local community members was crucial as they would be able to prevent drugs from entering the village. Located in Medan's downtown Petisah district, the Kampung Kubur neighborhood has long been a hot spot for narcotics and drug dealing activities in Medan, the country's third-largest city with a population of more than 2 million. The area is inhabited by around 200 families, some of them from the Tamil Indian community. The area got its name from the presence of a kuburan (cemetery) there. Although law enforcement officers arrested hundreds of alleged drug dealers and confiscated evidence, including crystal methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and gambling equipment, in countless raids over the past several years, the drug trade was never entirely wiped out in the area. During a raid held earlier this month, the police arrested a young man for possessing 100 grams of marijuana and allegedly running a drug dealing operation. The police also confiscated 23 slot machines during the operation. Budi said such intensive operations had significantly limited the space of movement available to drug traffickers. Finding themselves cornered, he added, drug traffickers would be forced to brawl openly with law enforcement. 'Recently, two Medan Police personnel were shot by drug traffickers. Why did they put up a fight? Because they are cornered with the intensive raids by police and military personnel,' he said. On Jan. 18, Second Insp. Abdul Tanjung and Brig. Said were attacked and shot during a drug raid in Pematang Johar village in neighboring Deli Serdang regency. Following the incident, hundreds of Medan Police personnel raided three locations in Pematang Johar to pursue the attackers and drug dealers. The police detained two drug suspects and 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a knife and two motorcycles. Separately, Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Mardiaz Kusin Dwihananto said that after the raids in Kampung Kubur, a number of drug dealers had shifted their operations to other locations and had spread the malicious rumor that officers often received bribes from drug dealers. 'This is propaganda from the drug traffickers. The rumors are false,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The Jakarta administration made a controversial decision as a follow up to reports that some civil servants were leaving work early in order to quickly catch the bus. Earlier on Friday, the administration decided that it would cease the operation of buses that pick up and drop off civil servants starting next Monday. However, later in the evening, another decision was issued that the buses would continue operating but the operational hours would be extended to accommodate civil servants. 'There are some points [in the previous circular] that need to be changed. So the buses will continue to operate for civil servants, but their operational hours will be extended to between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.,' city secretary Saefullah said late on Friday. Therefore, he issued another circular that revoked the previous one. Earlier, a circular letter issued by the secretary stated that the civil servant buses would cease to operate starting Jan. 25 and that civil servants were expected to arrive at their offices on time nonetheless. Each morning, such buses are dispatched to various areas across the city to pick up civil servants. There are 18 buses transporting civil servants to and from City Hall, while each municipal office also dispatches two to three buses each day. Such buses also travel to Jakarta from various areas in satellite cities such as Depok, Bogor and Bekasi in West Java, as well as Tangerang. Jakarta civil servant working hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Therefore, civil servants are picked up at around 5 a.m. and buses standby at 4 p.m. to drop them home. Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama had earlier said that the decision to discontinue the buses was made after reports were submitted to the Jakarta Employment Agency (BKD). 'We received reports that civil servants start to prepare to leave the office at 3 p.m. so they can board the bus at 4 p.m. sharp. As a result, they don't get their job done. This is not right. Jakarta civil servants are given such a high salary and yet they still have this sort of mentality,' Ahok told reporters at City Hall on Friday. Ahok said that 'younger, diligent civil servants', who did not leave the office until they finished their work, complained as they felt disadvantaged. Moreover, he said, it has come to light that each bus had a coordinator ' also a civil servant ' who would collect money from passengers each month, amounts of at least Rp 75,000 (US$5) to Rp 100,000, to give to the driver as a 'token of appreciation'. Each bus can carry up to 60 passengers. 'Drivers are already given a salary by the city administration. Civil servants do not need to pool money to give to the driver. There must be some sort of 'game' going on,' he said. The decision got a strong reaction from the civil servants. A 38-year-old staff member at the General Affairs Bureau, who requested anonymity, said that she was disappointed by Ahok's decision to change the system. The staff member boards the bus from Kampung Rambutan in East Jakarta to her office at City Hall. The staffer denied that civil servants left at 4 p.m. sharp. 'We hope Pak Ahok will reconsider this decision,' she said. Another civil servant, 55-year-old Nur Hasanah, who refused to specify her working unit, voiced the same concerns and asked that Ahok reconsider his decision. Nur, who lives in Cijantung in East Jakarta, said that she would take public minivans and buses starting Monday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, January 23, 2016 Jan. 16, p5 An Indonesian Army officer was handed over to the Air Force's military police on Thursday for examination after jokingly saying that he was carrying a bomb when he was about to depart for Jakarta from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi. Lt. Col. Rudy Setiawan made the joke when he was passing through the airport's X-ray detector. Hary Budi Waluyo, a spokesperson for airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I, said that when the airport's officers frisked Rudy and asked him what he was carrying inside his jacket, Rudy said it was a bomb. 'He even said it twice,' Harry said. Your comments: And in further news, authorities have issued a statement advising against greeting anyone at an airport with the words 'Hi Jack!', even if their name is Jack. Randomthought Third or fourth military bomb joke in a few weeks. How utterly bizarre. Islamisfunky Are these military officers really so stupid? No wonder this country's police and military are such a joke! If this is the 'military' leadership of the country, I'd hate to see how the rest of the douchebags in uniform act. Isn't there a single police officer or soldier who is a role model to make the country proud, other than the two who terrorized Singapore a long time ago? With this show of ignorance, it's no wonder Santoso hasn't been captured in the last two years. I suppose the military and police sit around campfires singing patriotic songs. The few soldiers and police who died were probably friendly fire deaths. Willo1246 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The government is setting up a program aimed at 'deradicalizing' members of the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) in order to reintegrate them back into their respective communities across the country. The Coordinating Human Development and Culture Ministry's acting secretary-general, Agus Sartono, said that the government would instruct respective local authorities to provide shelter for former members of Gafatar before progressing with the counselling program. 'The Home Ministry, together with the police, will urge regional governments to accept [returning Gafatar members]. The Culture and Education Ministry will make sure they have access to education, while the Religious Affairs Ministry will issue a letter to regional religious affairs agencies to make sure they have access to madrasa,' Agus said in a press briefing following a closed-door meeting between the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and government agencies on Friday. Agus said that the government would also take efforts to ensure that former Gafatar members were accepted back into their communities in spite of perceptions that the organization is heretical. 'We will also wait for a fatwa from the Indonesian Ulema Council [MUI] because this organization has been spreading deviant teachings and must be put back on the straight and narrow,' he said. The MUI is currently looking into Gafatar-related evidence, including by holding discussions with religious leaders in areas including Yogyakarta, Palembang in South Sumatra and Aceh. The MUI's fatwa division is expected to make a formal announcement in February as to whether Gafatar is a heretical movement. The government will also take measures to protect followers of Gafatar. Next week, the Indonesian Navy will dispatch three warships to transport Gafatar members back to their hometowns in Central Java after they were violently forced out of their homes by a mob in Mempawah regency, West Kalimantan, amid media controversy surrounding the group. 'They have to return to their respective hometowns. We will convince them that they can lead normal lives. Of course this won't be easy because they already have misguided thinking and principles. But we have to fix this. We don't want them to stay there [in West Kalimantan], where they will continue to draw the ire of the local populace,' Agus said. Gafatar spokesperson Wisnu Windani meanwhile said there was nothing wrong with the organization. According to Wisnu, members of the organization, which was banned by the Home Ministry in 2012, subsequently moved to West Kalimantan to engage in farming. 'We don't bother anyone, let alone engage in terrorism. What have we done wrong?' demanded Wisnu. The Social Affairs Ministry's director general for social protection and security, Andi ZA Dulung, said there was reason to believe that Gafatar had big plans for the future. 'They moved [to West Kalimantan] not to engage in farming, but to create a new community. They're not poor people,' he said on Friday. Andi said the government would also comb through the data of Gafatar members to see if there was any leaders of the group among the evictees. 'We will separate between leaders and victims. The victims will be returned [to their homes] and there will go through the deradicalization program. Meanwhile, the leaders will be subjected to a legal process,' he said. 'If an organization has been banned but continues to operate, its leaders must accept that they will be punished. Clearly someone has been the brains behind the operations.' Members of Gafatar, some of whom hail from cities in Java and Sulawesi, are being sheltered in military barracks in Kubu Raya regency, West Kalimantan, after being forced out of neighboring Mempawah. According to data from the Home Ministry, there are at least 1,611 Gafatar members in the barracks, with 712 of them native to East Java, 276 to Yogyakarta, 247 to West Java, 145 to Central Java, 90 to Jakarta and four to Banten. Others hail from areas outside Java, including 99 from Riau, 13 from Medan, eight from Riau Islands, four from West Sumatra, Lampung and West Kalimantan, three from Central Kalimantan and two from South Sulawesi and Aceh. Data from the government also shows that there are at least 622 children and 20 pregnant women among those staying in the temporary shelters. 'We will give them money as soon as they disembark from the ships. We are planning to give them around Rp 300,000 [per household],' Andi 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 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev during the meeting in Davos on Friday discussed a preparation for the meeting of the Council of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine in Baku in 2016. "Petro Poroshenko and Ilham Aliyev discussed preparation for the meeting of the Council of Presidents of two states in Baku in 2016," a president's press service reported. Moreover, they agreed to hold soon the eleventh meeting of the Ukraine-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation. "The interlocutors also agreed to step up cooperation as a part of the GUAM [Organization for Democracy and Economic Cooperation. In this view, the head of the Ukrainian state congratulated a representative of Azerbaijan, who was elected for the post of GUAM Secretary General," reads the report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim and Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta/Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Former president Bacharudin Jusuf Habibie claimed on Friday that an agreement would soon be reached between the Golkar Party's two rival factions, which have been at loggerheads for over a year. Habibie, who was recently appointed as the guarantor of Golkar's leadership transition team, said he had recently been shown a commitment letter undersigned by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, as well as Agung Laksono and Aburizal Bakrie ' the two rivals vying for control of one of the country's most persisting political entities. 'I was shown a letter with the signatures; in the letter, they agreed to host a national leadership meeting to discuss matters pertaining to the upcoming congress,' Habibie told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Yogyakarta. Habibie, a party elder statesman, said that the leadership meeting might be hosted as early as Saturday. The transition team met at his Jakarta residence late on Friday. Habibie said that the old guard of the party, including Agung and Aburizal, should 'be ready to accept' whatever it took to ensure the party survived. 'We will wait to see what arises from the next congress,' he said. The transition team was formed following a Golkar internal tribunal ruling last week that sought a permanent solution to the party's protracted infighting. The team comprises Kalla as chairman, Agung, Aburizal and a number of Golkar veterans and luminaries including Emil Salim, Akbar Tandjung and Ginandjar Kartasasmita. According to Habibie, the committee in charge of the congress preparations will comprise the party's management based on the 2009 Riau national congress, in which both Aburizal and Agung play leadership roles. It is expected that the transition team will guide the committee toward a reconciliation congress slated for March. 'Let's stop all the nonsense; let's settle this once and for all,' he said. Habibie and Emil have indicated the team will seek a chairman who, while having proven leadership skills, is between 40 and 60 years old; this will afford younger figures like Ade Komaruddin, Bambang Soesatyo, Setya Novanto and Nurdin Halid the chance to lead the party. Aburizal's camp, which claimed the leadership at a national congress in Bali in December 2014, had initially rejected the idea of a transition team, and pressed forward with holding a national meeting in Jakarta. The incumbent Golkar chairman said, however, that he would no longer resist if the leadership meeting concluded with a two-thirds consensus agreeing on reconciliation. 'The party chairman can do nothing if, in accordance with party statutes and bylaws, two-thirds of the provincial branch leaders demand a [new] congress,' said Bambang Soesatyo, Golkar deputy treasurer and Aburizal partisan, at the House of Representatives on Thursday. Aburizal's leadership meeting is to conclude on Tuesday. Agung, meanwhile, insisted that the ongoing leadership meeting in Jakarta was neither orchestrated nor supported by the recently formed transition team. 'I need to clarify that the Jan. 23-26 national meeting is hosted by the Bali congress camp and has nothing to do with the plans of the transition team; it is solely at their own discretion,' he said on Friday. The transition team had yet to convene, let alone decide on hosting a leadership meeting, he stressed. Agung, who became chairman during a national congress in Jakarta a few days after the Bali meeting, said that his camp fully respected the decision of Golkar's internal tribunal to appoint 11 senior party members to the transition team. Political analyst Gun Gun Heryanto said that submitting to the objections of the transition team was the only viable option for true reconciliation within Golkar. 'Golkar's internal conflict will never be resolved through legal means. This has been proven time and time again with endless legal processes,' he said. 'That means only a political process can unite the two sides. Now the question is what kind of political process [is suitable].' Gun Gun explained that the party's very existence was on the line, the internal conflict already having severely affected its performance in last year's regional elections. 'Those results must prompt the Golkar Party to commit to an exit strategy from this never-ending internal conflict,' he said. Most, Gun Gun said, saw a national congress as the solution to the conflict, but he added that he was unsure Aburizal would be cooperative. 'If he continues to be stubborn, then he is being selfish; if that's the case, he may continue to attempt to prioritize the interests of his group, and it may prove difficult to reach a solution together,' he said. 'However, if he continues to be sure of his support then it would make much more sense to sit together and reach a definitive solution.' ------------------ 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 23, 2016 JAKARTA: Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama said that he was ready to testify in a hearing session for the graft case surrounding the procurement of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) units for city schools. He said that the prosecutor of the case had recently asked him to appear at the hearing to provide incriminating testimony against the suspects, but emphasized that he had yet to receive any official summons from the court. 'The prosecutor wants me to be an incriminating witness because I was the one who revealed that there was an unlawful act committed [in the UPS procurement],' he said as quoted by beritajakarta.com. Ahok also said that he was certain that there would be more people listed as suspects in the case after the prosecutor developed the case further. In November, the National Police named Fahmi Zulfikar, a Hanura Party councillor and member of the council's Commission E overseeing people's welfare, as well as M. Firmansyah, a councilor during the 2009 to 2014 period, from the Democratic Party, as suspects in the UPS graft case. The two suspects allegedly committed the graft by helping to pass UPS procurement in the 2014 revised city budget at a price of Rp 6 billion (US$433,839) per unit for each school in exchange for a 7 percent fee from the total budget allocation of Rp 300 billion for the project. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 JAKARTA: As many as 67 bus operators have abandoned the Pulo Gebang Terminal in East Jakarta due to a lack of activity at the terminal that has resulted in a low number of passengers. Despite its complete, spacious and clean facilities, the Pulo Gebang Terminal has been deserted by passengers, buses and minivans. Pulo Gebang Terminal head Nurhayati Sinaga said that, initially, there had been 67 bus operators traveling to and from the terminal. However, over recent months, operators had started to abandon the terminal due to the lack of passengers. 'Currently, only three operators continue to travel here, that's a total of 15 buses,' Nurhayati said on Friday as quoted by beritajakarta.com. The Jakarta administration began the construction of the Pulo Gebang Terminal in 2010. The four-story terminal was built on a 9.5 hectare site, complete with a 1.8 hectare two-story parking space, that can accommodate more than 500 private cars and motorcycles. Opened for business in 2012, the Rp 448 billion (US$32.3 million) terminal was designed as a modern integrated bus terminal, replacing the crowded and chaotic Pulo Gadung Terminal, also in East Jakarta, to serve both inner city and intercity transportation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 JAKARTA: Kelapa Gading police arrested two alleged pickpockets, a 51-year-old mother and her 21-year-old daughter, who were operating in the Kelapa Gading shopping Mall in North Jakarta. Kelapa Gading chief Comr. Ari Yahya said the two were caught in action during an exhibition at the mall. They pretended to purchase clothes as they preyed on their unsuspecting target, a customer identified as D. The older woman distracted D's attention, conversing with her while selecting clothes. 'The daughter then took the victim's wallet from her bag,' Ari said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co. The suspects did not realize that their actions had been caught on CCTV camera and observed by mall security officers. The security officers stopped the pair as they were about to leave the mall. 'They were escorted to the security post and searched,' Ari said. The security officers found the victim's wallet and recovered Rp 2 million (US$144) in cash. The two suspects will be charged with article 363 of the Criminal Code on theft that carries a maximum seven-year sentence. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rita Padawangi (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Sat, January 23, 2016 Many are familiar with Singapore's history of resettling its kampung residents to high-rise public housing in the 1970s and 1980s. The development process of the city-state is often referenced by various official statements and presentations on Jakarta's plans. A presentation by the Jakarta Housing Agency in a November 2014 symposium featured futuristic images that highly resembled Singapore's Housing and Development Board apartment buildings, with a remark that they were comparable to Singapore's. Recently, Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama casually referred to Singapore concerning traffic management and street racing. I wonder, though, whether the Jakarta administration and population realize that Singapore is longing for the 'kampung spirit'. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day speech in 2012 saw the loss of the spirit as 'troubling signs'. 'Unconsciously, less interaction results in less consideration, maybe in more self-centered behavior, and maybe that explains why there is a rising trend of not-so-good behavior. We should do our best to be big-hearted to our neighbors, to our fellow citizens and, in fact, to our fellow human beings.' Last October, Singaporean Transportation Minister Khaw Boon Wan called for a 'kampung spirit' in each train station to help in emergency situations such as technical breakdowns or terrorist sabotage, 'much like close neighbors who will not hesitate to chip in and help when help is needed.' A public discussion 'Finding Singapore' in July 2015 pointed out to the loss of the 'kampung spirit' in the society's transition from kampung to high-rise apartments. Jakarta today is very different from Singapore in the 1970s. Jakarta's current population is bigger and denser. The economy is more complex with a mix of global influences and establishments, national and local economic forces. Jakarta also needs to safeguard the kampung spirit of its kampung, because dismantling them would significantly affect urban resilience. A kampung is typically constituted of houses that are built by its residents and of communal activities and interactions that rely on familiarity with its members. Johan Silas, a professor at the November 10 Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya, attributed the character of the city to its kampung. A kampung is a settlement form that predates the colonial town. Kampung, however, are often discriminated against in development. Jakarta has continually bulldozed kampung or let them fall victim to gentrification. Last year was one of the most intense periods of forced eviction, with 30 neighborhoods demolished, 3,433 households and 433 businesses displaced in the first eight months. One could argue that they were slums instead of kampung, but the term kampung is often used interchangeably with slums, taking away the emphasis from landscape sociability and replacing it with lack of infrastructure and land tenure. Infrastructure and land tenure deficiency are often blamed on residents as the culprits who make the city disorderly while making money out of disorder. Obtaining land tenure does not secure a kampung, because gentrification is still lurking. For example, the Pekojan area in West Jakarta had an important role in the spread of Islam in Jakarta by Muslim traders from India, Gujarat, Persia and Arabia, but local cultural practices evaporated in urban development along with market-driven changes. Designating old mosques as heritage buildings is good, but insufficient to preserve cultural practices as part of Jakarta's urban history. Kampung Luar Batang in North Jakarta is another example where market-driven pressure takes place. Portions of the kampung have been bought by developers. The kampung is the oldest one in Jakarta, with its history dating back to the year 1630. My observation in Jakarta leads to three points of concern. First, the rise of evictions in 2015 and the governor's promise to evict more (settlements) until 2017 (kompas.com, Jan. 8) are worrying for making evictions something normal and as a necessary evil to make Jakarta better. Forced eviction is condemned by local organizations and the international community. The UN Habitat Report on Forced Evictions in 2014 stated, 'Forced evictions commonly result in severe trauma and set back even further the lives of those that are often already marginalized or vulnerable in society.' Second, and more pragmatically, Jakarta needs its kampung. The report by the UN Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing in 2013 noted that 60 percent of Jakartan residents live in kampung. Kampung absorb the population when the city's affordable housing program is insufficient or nonexistent. Housing in Jakarta gets increasingly unaffordable, even for recent university graduates with their entry-level salaries. Third, kampung are more than their physical forms. Kampung are lives and livelihoods through a sharing of spaces, everyday encounters and mixed uses of homes as work spaces and spaces for social interactions. The spirit of social encounters is based on informality of relations and spaces that are constructed in the process. Sure, kampung may not be ideal neighborhoods. Conflicts may occur among neighbors and social inequalities can take place. However, bulldozing them and gentrifying them are making the city more unequal and problematic. It is ironic that most forced evictions in 2015 were for concrete embankments of waterways for flood alleviation, while floods in Jakarta are partly attributed to too much concrete. A Tempo report on Feb. 18, 2007, after Jakarta's massive flood, as well as a string of scholarly publications, have pointed to the conversion of green spaces to become shopping malls, apartments and other big developments as a significant factor that exacerbated Jakarta's floods. The immediate social media stardom of street vendors for their resilience during the Jl. MH Thamrin attack on Jan. 14 should be a reminder that Jakarta needs to reduce inequalities and to pay attention to the welfare of marginalized groups. Many of these vendors are residents of Jakarta's kampung and are contributing to the urban character and economy. To sum up, Jakarta needs its kampung, evictions are not normal and the city needs to address gentrification. Pushing kampung away by bulldozers and gentrifications are violations to the character of the city, are denials of urban history and are manifestations of social segregation and marginalization. A resilient urban community keeps its 'kampung spirit' alive. This requires recognition of kampung and their dwellers as inseparable parts of the city. It is the responsibility of the policymakers and lawmakers to construct policies and laws to make the good city a reality. It is not about the glamorous developments and big infrastructure; it is about making a city by and for its people. ___________________ The writer is a senior research fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Kurniawan Ulung (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Papuan director Irham Acho Bahtiar has made films with Papuan people to show that they also have what it takes to work in the industry. Many filmmakers have visited Papua and screened their films but what distinguishes Irham is that he empowers and trains Papuans on filmmaking as well as making them cast and crew members in his films, instead of merely exposing the province's beauty. 'I want to accommodate talented Papuans who have [film industry] potential. I don't want them to be underestimated. I want to raise up the name of Papua,' said Irham, who has made six films about Papua since 2009. Hailing from Merauke, Irham previously worked in Jakarta and has directed documentaries, video clips, public service ads and children's television series since 1994. In 2000, he returned to Merauke to fulfill a promise to establish and develop local cinema in Papua after finishing his study at the Jakarta Arts Institute's (IKJ) film and television school, a school he had dreamt about ever since he was a senior high school student. 'I studied at IKJ because I wanted to be a director. But, before I went to Jakarta, I promised my friends that I would return and implement my knowledge in Papua; that I would make something for Papua,' said the father of two, who was born 38 years ago in Merauke, the southeastern tip of Papua, bordering Papua New Guinea. His first film about Papua, Melody Kota Rusa (The Melody of Deer City), tells the story of a band who hunts deer and crocodiles at night to make a living in Merauke, dubbed the City of Deer in the 1990s because it had a lot of deer back then. The band, Irham said, actually exists in real life. In the 1980s, he often saw the band perform in his village. Its members went to the jungle at night to hunt to save money to record an album. Today, the band members still hold on to their dream, which has yet to be realized. 'All the cast and crew in this film [Melody Kota Rusa] were blind when it comes to film making. They had no knowledge about it at all. I was the only one who understood it and I shared my knowledge with them,' he said. Irham understood that people in Merauke had really missed local films ever since the last movie theater had closed in 1995 and been converted into a badminton court. He, however, never thought that his film would become a hit. Thousands of people watched it when the Merauke regency administration screened it at the Hasanab Sai field. Now, Merauke still does not have a movie theater. In Merauke, 1,000 original DVDs of Melody Kota Rusa were sold out in just two weeks, but the sales of its pirated copies was even faster, helping the film rise to fame quickly, even outside Papua. Irham said that people in Papua loved Melody Kota Rusa because it contained local anecdotes and slang that they were familiar with. One popular slang term is epen?, the abbreviation of, Emang penting kah? (Is that important?), and its response, cupen, short for Cukup penting toh? (Fairly important, yeah?). The success then motivated Irham to make comedy sketches titled Epen Cupen with the aim of displaying Papua's social life using its popular anecdotes and slang. Since 2010, he has produced more than 300 sketches and has uploaded some many of them to Youtube. Merauke TV also airs them to entertain viewers. Irham was surprised after his low-budget comedy sketches, shot with a camera he uses for wedding videos, grabbed the attention of many, with responses generally in praise of his work, though not always. He said that he did not feel offended when some viewers claimed his sketches were not funny but racist. 'Honestly, most Papuan anecdotes contain pornography and material related to SARA [ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup relations]. From 100 [anecdotes], we can use only 20 or 30. We have been very careful in selecting them,' Irham said. In 2011, Irham planned to bring the comedy sketches to the silver screen, proposing Epen Cupen The Movie, and, in 2015, he succeeded. He said that convincing production houses was a hard nut to crack, and they rejected it many times. 'The producers said Papuans did not have the capacity and that commercially, they would not sell,' he said. Irham was over the moon after learning that Epen Cupen The Movie grabbed more than 130,000 viewers in theaters in May. The achievement returned confidence to his Papuan team who had previously been considered incapable. Now, Irham still teaches and trains local people interested in film-making through the South Papua Film Community, founded in 2012. He also teamed up with Jakarta-based producer to make Noble Hearts: Mentari di Ufuk Timur (Noble Hearts: Sun on the Eastern Horizon) staring actor Mathias Muchus, actress Nadine Chandrawinata and more than 50 Papuans. 'I see a lot of talent in Papua. Currently, [in film industry] Papuans emerge and then disappear. I want them to have a continuous presence,' he said. 'The Papuans are also only positioned as minor parts. I want them to be the main characters. I want them to be like Will Smith or Denzel Washington.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Medan Sat, January 23, 2016 MEDAN: A group of Indonesian Navy personnel raided a ship that was allegedly smuggling used clothes in waters off Bagan Asahan in North Sumatra on Friday morning. During the raid, the personnel fired gunshots that killed a person and injured two other people who were allegedly hired to protect the shipment. Belawan Naval Base commander First Adm. Yudo Margono said the incident occurred at 5:30 a.m. local time as four Navy patrol personnel stopped an incoming ship from Malaysia carrying secondhand clothes, considered to be an illegal import product in Indonesia. The Navy patrol ship was later attacked with Molotov cocktails, thrown by dozens of people from four different ships. 'Our officers fired a warning shot but the people continued to attack. That's when they decided to open fire, for protection,' Yudo said. The incident, according to Yudo, had resulted in the death of one attacker, identified as 39-year old Aidil Eka Syahputra and injured two others. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Medan Sat, January 23, 2016 MEDAN: The board of trustees at the University of North Sumatra (USU) have appointed Runtung Sitepu as university rector for the 2016-2021 leadership term. Runtung, a professor and former dean of USU's School of Law, received the highest number of votes during the final ballot attended by members of the board and Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir on Thursday. 'Prof. Runtung received 62.38 percent of vote during the ballot, higher than the other two candidates, Prof. Zulkarnain with 27.36 percent of vote and Prof. Subhilhar with 18.26 percent,' Panusunan Pasaribu, head of the rector selection committee, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday evening. Established in 1952, USU is one of the country's oldest universities and with a total of 33,000 students attending the university, it is also one of the country's largest. According to its website, the university currently offers 135 education programs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, January 23, 2016 Jan. 21, 2016 Indonesia's attorney general has insisted that the death penalty must be maintained in the country's judicial system as a deterrent against serious crime. 'I'm confident that the death penalty is a kind of therapy. It is an unpleasant action, but we must do it,' said Attorney General M. Prasetyo in a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights, on Wednesday evening. The statement came in response to a question raised by a Commission III member from the Democratic Party, Ruhut Sitompul, who asked about the spirit behind the death penalty in Indonesia. Your comments: Oh sure, it is still needed. But somehow it isn't used on people who really deserve the bullets. Alex Gardner2 Add terrorists and corruptors to the convicts facing execution as the highest punishment! Deddy K. Add terrorists and corruptors as the highest priority to be executed and not drug mules! Why? A drug mule is just trying to sell a commodity, in this case unfortunately drugs, but, if you do not want to buy it, the drug mules do nothing to you. The choice is 99.99 percent yours to decide, to buy or not to buy. While with terrorists, you are an innocent soft target; they will kill you for being a kafir (infidel). And corruptors blatantly steal the people's money. AnimisticGod Isn't therapy meant to be a form of cure? No wonder the rest of the world scoffs at Indonesia's government. GilaGila The most serious crime in our country is corruption (which affects millions of lives) and I have not heard of anybody being executed yet. Devineasia Persons devoid of conscience should not be in positions of authority. Look what the Nazis did! Bohongbohong There is no place for the economy in discussions on the death penalty. Do you want people to think that you kill for profit? When taking people's lives, the discussion should be 'is it right' or 'is it wrong'. Either way it should be done regardless of if it is profitable or for a loss. Korstleting Indonesia would be better off if Prasetyo got his own 'therapy'! Sadly, there are many who think the same way he does. AG It is all just a deflection of their own (serious) crimes, namely widespread corruption. DA I am beginning to see that all this smoke and mirrors is to cover up and to deflect the public's attention. Krst Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The Jakarta Post's editor-in-chief Meidyatama Suryodiningrat was sworn in as the new president director of national news agency Antara on Friday, replacing Saiful Hadi, who had occupied the position since 2012. In his speech, Meidyatama said that despite two decades of journalistic experience under his belt, he still had much to learn in his new position at the 78-year-old news agency. He said he would not make drastic changes to Antara, arguing that the news agency had already matured. 'I'm not here to wreak havoc at Antara. The company is older than this Republic,' he said. Meidyatama said that he had been directly appointed to lead Antara by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. 'When I met with him [Jokowi] last December, he told me that he didn't ask for anything. He didn't ask to be supported or to be written about [only] in a positive way,' he said. However, Meidyatama acknowledged that he would not have the same freedom to criticize the government as he had enjoyed while leading the Post. Besides Meidyatama, Aat Surya Safaat was also sworn in as a director at the news agency. Fajar Harry Sampurno, the state-owned enterprises minister's assistant for mining, strategic industry and media, said that the reshuffle was part of the government's strategy to establish a National Publishing and News Corporation, which would involve four state-owned enterprises, including Antara. A ministerial decree terminated the employment of three of five directors at the news agency, namely Saiful, technology and human resources director Naufal Mahfudz and finance director Endah Sri Wahyuni. 'Antara will only have three directors, comprising the president director and two directors,' the company's secretary, Iswahyuni said. Commercial director Hempi N. Prajudi will retain his post as a director. Iswahyuni said that the company's monitoring board would determine the new job description of the two directors. 'There will be an internal hand-over ceremony at Antara on Monday, followed by a coordinating meeting with the board of directors and the supervisory board. After that, we will know the new position of Pak Aat Surya Safaat and Pak Hempi Prajudi,' she said. Born in Jakarta on Dec. 12, 1967, Meidyatama started his career as a journalist at the Post in 1993. He has covered local and international subjects and continues to focus on issues related to sociopolitical affairs and foreign policy. Meidyatama also worked for two years as a political analyst for a strategic consulting firm that engaged in government and community relations before returning to the Post in 2004. In 2008, Meidyatama completed his research fellowship at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He previously graduated with a bachelor's degree (majoring in Political Science and 19th Century Western Diplomatic History) from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and also attended graduate school studying International Development Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. Meanwhile, Aat started his career as a journalist with Antara in 1988. His last position was as the director of PT ANPA International. During the ceremony, Saiful expressed his gratitude toward the ministry for helping the news agency develop from a government institution into its current legal entity as a company. ------------------ 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 Almost 3,000 Ukrainians held in the self-proclaimed republics in the eastern part of Ukraine have now been released, Yuriy Tandyt, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Security Service, said. "A total of 2,998 people have now been released," Tandyt said on Ukraine's Channel 5 on Friday. Tandyt said the president of Ukraine "will raise the question of hostage release at the highest level." "Virtually all leaders of states, not just us, are talking about Nadia Savchenko. She is on our list, we are ready for any configurations of release. We are interested in taking everyone who stays there, and we will do it," he said, adding that Ukraine "will do everything" to release Savchenko. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Residents of Kampung Pulo are preparing to appeal against the Jakarta State Administrative Court's (PTUN) verdict rejecting a request to revoke a third eviction warrant issued by the East Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP). Vera Soemarwi, a lawyer representing the residents, said on Friday that the legal team was still collecting residents' signatures and would file an appeal to the Jakarta High Court as soon as possible. She emphasized that the PTUN had failed to deliver a fair verdict. 'We only have 14 days to file an appeal, so we want to submit it as soon as possible,' Vera told The Jakarta Post. On Thursday a panel of judges chaired by Ujang Abdullah rejected a petition filed by 104 residents of Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta, saying that since the plaintiffs' houses had been demolished, the petition to revoke the eviction warrant was no longer relevant. 'The main purpose of filing a petition to the PTUN is for the outcome to benefit local people, as well as protecting them from any policy wrongly issued by the authorities,' Ujang said during Thursday's hearing. 'In this case, the residents will not benefit even if we revoke the warrant, so the judges decide to reject the petition.' Some among the 104 plaintiffs, he added, had voluntarily moved to the Jatinegara rusunawa (low-cost apartment complex) in East Jakarta prepared by the city administration to house evictees. In July the residents filed a petition at the PTUN to challenge the third eviction notice issued by the Satpol PP. However, on Aug. 20, while the court was still examining the petition, a joint team consisting of hundreds of Satpol PP officers, policemen and military personnel forcefully evicted Kampung Pulo residents to make way for the city's project to rehabilitate the Ciliwung River. The eviction of 1,040 households comprising around 3,400 people led to a clash between the officers and hundreds of angry locals. The administration eventually relocated about half of the evicted families to Jatinegara, while the remaining half were left to survive on their own, renting houses nearby using their own funds, with no compensation provided by the administration. After Thursday's hearing, another lawyer for Kampung Pulo residents, Waskito Adiribowo, said the main goal of the petition was not the annulment of the third eviction notice, but to obtain a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs that could be used to negotiate compensation from the city. 'If the judge granted our petition, August's eviction would be declared unlawful and the residents would have the right to demand compensation or have their torn-down houses rebuilt. The judges failed to see the bigger picture here,' he said. Waskito added that those who had moved to the Jatinegara apartments had done so out of necessity, with no other shelter available. 'The judges were therefore wrong to say the residents had moved voluntarily; in reality, it was a last resort,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The Culture and Education Ministry has prohibited the distribution and publishing of school text books that contain themes of religious violence and religious and racial discrimination. The ministry's director general of early childhood education, Harris Iskandar, said that the ban was issued based on Ministerial Decree No. 82/2015 on the eradication of violence in the school environment. 'Early childhood is the right time to form character and values and because of this, any information given to them ' whether written, visual or oral ' must be free from any themes of violence, hate, pornography and racial and religious discrimination,' he said. The ministerial order had been sent to education agencies nationwide following reports of complaints about a textbook entitled Anak Islam Suka Membaca (Muslim Children Like Reading) that purportedly carried themes deemed unsuitable for children. The Culture and Education Ministry said that the book, which was written by Nurani Musta'in and first published in Surakarta, Central Java, in 1999, encouraged children to be curious about acts of violence. 'In volume three, page 19, the book contains the sentence: 'willing to die for religion'. On page 27, there is the sentence: 'we won't stand for it if our religion is insulted, men will defend our religion and women will defend our religion, we are all willing to defend our religion for God',' a report from the ministry said. Several volumes of the book also carry references to heavy weaponry such as bullets, bombs and bazookas. 'With such references, these books are not suitable for young children and should not be used at any early childhood institution,' Harris said. Separately, Nurani and her husband, Ayip Syarifuddin, have denied that they inserted radical ideas in the book. 'There was never any intention from us to deliver radical teachings,' Ayip said as quoted by kompas.com. Ayip said that they had long employed the words used within the book but only realized now the sensitive nature of the words. Calls for stricter regulations on media consumed by children have risen recently, especially with the recent increase in child bullying cases. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has called for stricter regulations on television programs so that children will not be exposed to on-screen violence. According to the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), there were 970 cases of bullying reported in 2014, a tremendous leap from the 632 cases recorded in the previous year. Earlier this week, Benny Ramdhani, deputy head of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor), Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing, exposed the books' radical themes and claimed that the group had uncovered 'efforts to use schools to plant seeds of radicalism in our community'. Separately, KPAI deputy chairman Susanto applauded the Culture and Education Ministry's move to ban the books. 'The teacher's perspective, the materials taught and even the method is very influential [to children]. So, if the materials carry radical themes, then it could definitely influence the way children think,' he told the Post. He said that though the ministry's order was commendable and necessary, he hoped that teachers, principals and officials from education agencies nationwide would properly implement the ban to make sure that Anak Islam Suka Membaca and similar radical material would not be further distributed and taught in schools. -------------------- 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 23, 2016 The police have not named any suspect in the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee at a cafA in Jakarta on Jan. 6, but they say the dossier is almost complete and will be handed over to the prosecutors' office on Tuesday. 'I have communicated with the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office's general crime division. [The handover of the dossier] will take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m.,' head of Jakarta Police's general crime division Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti said on Saturday. The handover of the case will be implemented after the Jakarta Police receive the results of forensic tests conducted by the National Police's forensics laboratory. 'The laboratory said the results would be handed over on Monday. We will analyze the results and carry out a case expose,' Krishna said as reported by tribunnews.com. Krishna said that the police had not named any suspect, although police investigators have questioned a number of witnesses, including Jessica Kumala Wongso and Hani, two friends of Mirna, who were at the Olivier CafA, Grand Indonesia when the incident occurred. The police have also summoned relatives of Mirna and sought help from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to collect more details on the private life of Mirna when she lived in that country. Based on the crime scene investigation, Mirna, Hani and Jessica were at the cafA. Jessica came first and ordered a cocktail and an iced coffee. Sometime later, Mirna and Hani came to the cafA and Mirna drank the coffee. Mirna then suffered convulsions and died on her way to hospital. Jessica, who has been the center of the police investigation, has denied any involvement in the death of her friend, saying that she is ready to help the police find the killer. Meanwhile, Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist at the University of Indonesia said that the police actually already had a suspect in the case, but they delayed announcing it to the public to make sure that all supporting evidence had already been collected. Adrianus stressed that the police did not need a confession to name a suspect as long as they had valid evidence. 'If there is no confession, the police can find other ways to name a suspect,' he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 JAKARTA: Anti-tobacco activists teaming up with the Coalition against the Falsehood of the Cigarette Industry are calling on Industry Minister Saleh Husin to withdraw a tobacco production road map, saying that it had the potential to increase smoking in Indonesia. The coalition says the road map benefits cigarette companies and at the same time leaves Indonesians at greater risk of tobacco-related disease. Hery Chariansyah, the director of the anti-tobacco group Raya Indonesia, said the coalition had conveyed its appeal to Saleh in a second letter this week after the minister failed to respond to its first letter. 'He has not responded to our [first] letter. This shows that he doesn't have the goodwill to protect our people from the dangers of cigarettes,' he said at a discussion in Jakarta on Thursday. In its first letter dated Jan. 4, the coalition proposed a meeting with Saleh and requested the minister cancel the tobacco road map. The coalition also asked the minister to respond to the letter no later than 14 days after receiving it. Hery said that as Indonesia was not a capitalist country, the government should strive to increase the welfare of everyone, not just that of tobacco companies. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 JAKARTA: PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua has been a major contributor to improving the local economy in the province as well as the national economy, US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake has said. 'I have been away from Jakarta for a week and did not receive the latest information on Freeport, but I can say that the company has made a major contribution to Indonesia by employing 30,000 people and by paying a significant amount in taxes to the country,' Blake said as quoted by Antara. Blake made the statement in response to a question on reports that PT Freeport Indonesia's president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin's had resigned from his post. The ambassador declined to comment further on the issue. 'Things related to Maroef's resignation and Freeport are the internal matters of the company, so I have no authority to comment on it,' Blake affirmed. Maroef was appointed directly by the former chairman of the board of Freeport McMoran, James Robert Moffett, on Jan. 7, 2015, replacing Rozik B. Soetjipto. Before serving as the Freeport Indonesia boss, Maroef was National Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy head from 2011 to 2014. Maroef resigned following the brouhaha involving former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto, who was alleged to have sought favors from Freeport Indonesia in return for an extension on its contract of work. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has slapped a travel on Golkar Party lawmaker Budi Supriyanto, who has been implicated in a bribery case. 'The travel ban on him applies for 20 days,' KPK spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati said on Friday. Yuyuk said investigators handling the case were concerned that Budi would flee abroad or conceal crucial evidence in the graft case, which also involved the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Damayanti Wisnu Putranti and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Yudi Widiana. The two lawmakers have been accused of playing a role in the bribery. Damayanti was alleged to have accepted a bribe from PT Windhu Tunggal Utama (WTU) CEO Abdul Khoir after promising to facilitate a project in Maluku. After arresting Damayanti, KPK investigators searched her office, as well as that of Budi and Yudi, all of whom are members of House Commission V overseeing infrastructure. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Erika Anindita Dewi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The leadership dispute within the Golkar Party is unlikely to end anytime soon as the rival camps within the party still insist on their respective agendas. The camp of Aburizal Bakrie, resulting from the Bali national congress kicks off its national leadership meeting (Rapimnas) on Saturday, while Agung Laksono's camp, resulting from the Ancol national congress, which is supported by senior Golkar politicians, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla and former president B.J. Habibie insist on preparing the national congress to elect a new party leader. Aburizal, who is included in a transition team to prepare the national congress, has rejected this plan. Instead, he is seeking support from regional party leaders ' provinces, regencies and cities -- in a three-day meeting in Jakarta. "Before the[Saturday] meeting, Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie had carried out a political safari, meeting with B.J. Habibie, Jusuf Kalla, Akbar Tanjung and Muladi,' Aburizal's camp secretary general Idrus Marham told the press briefing on Friday evening. Akbar is former Golkar chairman, while Muladi is chairman of Golkar's internal dispute-resolution committee. Idrus said that Aburizal had told the senior party members that the national leadership meeting was aimed at ending the party's internal conflict. The split in the party started when the party's national congress in Bali in November, 2014, which elected Aburizal, was not recognized by rival politicians led by Agung Laksono. Instead, the rival camp organized their own national congress in Jakarta in December, 2014 which elected Agung as the party chairman. Initially, the government accepted Agung as official chairman of the party, but later revoked its approval of the Agung leadership after the Supreme Court made a decision in favor of Aburizal's camp, which had filed a lawsuit against the government's approval. The dispute within the party continues because the government also does not accept Aburizal leadership. Many politicians within the party, particularly Agung's camp believe that Golkar is in a leadership vacuum and a national congress is needed. Meanwhile, Aburizal'a camp insists that the three-day national leadership meeting will legitimatize Aburizal's chairmanship. Meanwhile, Agung's camp have questioned the legality of the regional leaders invited to the national leadership meeting. "We will not come to the meeting," Ace Hasan Syadzily, a member of Agung's executive board, told thejakartapost.com on Saturday. He urged Aburizal's camp to respect the decision of Golkar's internal dispute-resolution committee, which had formed a transition team, chaired by Jusuf Kalla. "They don't need to hold a national leaders' meeting because the result is predictable: to support the government," Ace said on Friday, adding that such support should be decided in the Golkar National Congress, just like when Golkar joined the White and Red Coalition (KMP) in the Bali congress. But, the Aburizal camp has ignored such a call, saying that more than 2,000 representatives of regional chapters ' provinces, regencies and city ' would come to the national leadership meeting in Jakarta. The organizers also claimed that representatives of Golkar's wing organizations would also attend the meeting. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu Sat, January 23, 2016 The police have claimed that Operation Tinombala in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, has recently uncovered evidence suggesting a flow of funds from the Islamic State (IS) movement to the Poso-based terrorist group the Eastern Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT), presently operating under the leadership of Santoso, alias Abu Wardah. Operation Tinombala 2016 territorial head Sr. Comr. Leo Bonar Lubis said the evidence, in the form of fund transfer documents, was found at the scene of a shootout involving security personnel and members of the MIT in the Tineba mountain region around Taunca village, South Poso Pesisir district, on Jan. 15. 'The funds were transferred in stages to bank accounts belonging to MIT supporters or MIT-affiliated foundations, around Rp 2 million [US$144] per transaction,' Lubis said on Friday, Lubis, who also serves as Central Sulawesi Police deputy chief, refused to give details on the origin of the funds or the total sum of money that had been transferred to Santoso's group, saying that police were still working to follow up on the findings. Apart from the money transfer records, Lubis said the police had also found other important documents, including documents detailing MIT's planned activities and the groups' new leadership structure following the death of Daeng Koro, one of the group's leading figures. Daeng Koro, alias Sabar Subagio, was killed in a shoot-out with members of the counterterrorism unit Densus 88, Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Parigi Moutong Regency Police on April 3, 2015, in the Pangi mountain region around Sakina Jaya village, North Parigi district, Parigi Moutong. Upon learning of the discovery of the documents, Lubis said his side believed that Santoso and his group were still hiding deep in the Poso woods. 'They have not left the Poso forests,' he said, adding that the documents also revealed that Santoso's group currently had 45 members, including two women and two Chinese Uighurs. Poso, located some 200 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Palu, used to be a popular resort city known for its natural beauty. Between 1998 and 2001, however, the region was rocked by a series of sectarian conflicts involving Muslims and Christians, leaving some 2,000 people dead or missing. In 2001, the government sponsored a peace pact and was able to bring the two sides together to sign a peace agreement called the Malino Declaration. Operation Tinombala, launched earlier this month, involves 2,000 police and military personnel tasked with hunting down Santoso, who is believed to be the leader of the IS movement's branch in Indonesia. The new operation continues on from the Camar Maleo I to IV operations, held throughout last year, all of which failed to tear down the MIT, which has become the most feared group in the region after orchestrating the murder of a number of local residents. Separately, Lukman S. Thahir, a researcher in terrorism from the Palu State Islamic Science Institute (IAIN), said the involvement of a number of people in acts of terror in Poso was driven more by motives of revenge rather than religious motives. 'They are victims of the communal conflict in Poso. Their motive is revenge, especially after seeing their relatives killed during the strife in 2000,' said Lukman. Palu-based conflict resolution expert Tahmidy Lasahido, however, countered such a view. The involvement of foreign nationals in MIT's operations, he said, proved that the group had been established primarily to create terror in Poso. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The Jakarta Police have shot dead two men suspected of having attacked officers on Monday in Berlan, East Jakarta, and are currently hunting dozens more, according to a senior police officer. Late on Thursday, a man identified as Ade Friyoza Wijaya, alias Ade Badak, 38, whom the police said was the main orchestrator behind Monday's attack on police officers and informants, was shot dead on Jl. Kolonel Sutomo in Cawang, East Jakarta, after resisting arrest, according to East Jakarta Police crime unit chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Nasriadi. 'The suspect tried to attack officers with a machete as they moved to arrest him,' Nasriadi said on Friday, adding that officers had shot Ade three times in the chest after he ignored warning shots, killing him instantly. On Friday afternoon, officers from the Central Jakarta Police shot dead another alleged attacker, also a suspected drug dealer, identified as Riko, 36, after officers previously exchanged gunfire with him when they raided his house in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta. '[Riko] is one of the perpetrators of the Berlan attack,' said Central Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Suyatno. East Jakarta Police spokeswoman Comr. Husaimah said on Friday that the force, which is handling the case, had been particularly looking for Ade, who was suspected of being the de facto leader of the attack that killed officer Chief. Brig. Taufik Hidayat and an informant identified as Jepri. Two other policemen, First Insp. Hariadi Prabowo and Brig. Pratrik, as well as another informant, were injured in the attack. The incident began when the three officers and two informants raided a Berlan house owned by a woman identified as Mama Yola, and which was reportedly used for drug deals. The Jakarta Police said that officers Patrik and Taufik and the two informants had entered the house to arrest the targeted suspects while officer Hariadi was on guard outside. Seeing the armed officers enter the house, one of the suspects, along with Yola and her daughter, began to shout, triggering a group of people, led by Ade, to rush into the house and attack the two officers and the informants with machetes, forcing the four to escape by jumping into a river behind the house. Officer Hariadi was also attacked and forced to flee. Patrik, Hariadi and informant Rudi were found alive, while officer Taufik and informant Jepri died; their bodies were found floating in the river on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Following Monday's attack, hundreds of joint personnel from the military, the police and the military police command were deployed to Berlan on Thursday to search for the alleged attackers and to clean the area from drug-related activities. Police raids continued on Friday. Husaimah said that as of Friday, 13 narcotics users, proven as such by their urine test results, had been arrested and taken to the East Jakarta Police headquarters for further investigation. 'We also arrested a suspected attacker identified as AM,' she told The Jakarta Post, adding that the police were currently hunting 14 other suspected attackers. Jakarta Police narcotics unit chief Sr. Comr. Eko Daniyanto said on Thursday that the police would continue to raid Berlan, which, he said, had long been notorious as one of Jakarta's most drug-plagued areas, adding that, if necessary, they would ask for backup from the military in their attempt to clean the area of drug-related crime. ------------------ 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 Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The term "deradicalization" has been frequently heard since the Bali bombing in 2002, when authorities started working with indoctrinated members of militant groups who were in jail in the hope they would turn away from their radical thinking. It was a method of combating terrorism without using brute force. Following the Jan. 14 terrorist attacks in Jakarta, in which one of the dead terrorists has been identified as Afif, aka Sunakim, a former terrorist convict, many have questioned the effectiveness of deradicalization. Director of Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) Sydney Jones said the programs conducted by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) had not been successful in countering radicalism. The BNPT's deradicalization initiatives lacked a focus in deradicalizing ex-militants, since the spread of radicalism in prisons still posed a huge problem for the authorities, Jones said. "Many of BNPT's programs have been expensive but without impact because they have not been sufficiently targeted," Jones told thejakartapost.com recently. Radical teachings reportedly continue to spread even within the cells of maximum security prisons in Nusakambangan Island, Central Java, through routine communications between terrorist convicts and their visitors in scheduled visits. Among those incarcerated radicals who receive regular visits are Jamaah Islamiyah's spiritual leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir and Aman Abdurrahman, the latter is suspected of having a connection with the recent terrorist attack in Jakarta. An IPAC report on violent extremism said deradicalization initiatives run by both the police and the BNPT in prisons were not always well-coordinated with prison reform programs for better management of high-risk inmates and better prison security. What was in fact needed was improved supervision of inmates such as by controlling mobile phone communications, forbidding outside funds from reaching prisoners, employing more and better-trained guards, as well as working more with prisoners' families, Jones said. "It means the prison will have to provide better services itself," Jones said. BNPT's deradicalization director Irfan Idris said both the agency and the Law and Human Rights Ministry had noticed radical teachings continued to spread in prisons. The BNPT and police only had limited human resources that were knowledgeable on extraordinary crimes and besides, Indonesia's penitentiaries that held terrorist convicts were mostly overcapacity, he said. "Now if we detain the terrorist convicts in one special prison, they will reunite, but if they are separated, they will disseminate radical teachings [to other prisoners]," Irfan said. According to the IPAC report, one of the reasons why BNPT's deradicalization programs to date were ineffectual was a lack of interest from other agencies and ministries in intensely coordinating counter-extremism efforts. Irfan confirmed that coordination at the government level was still a problematic issue and that ideally all ministries should synergize and make contributions to deradicalization efforts according to their roles. For example, the Religious Affairs Ministry could help track the teachings in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), the Culture and Education Ministry could prevent the terrorist convicts' children being further radicalized, and the Communications and Information Ministry could monitor and close down websites that spread radical narratives. "This is where all ministries should play their roles to lead the coordination of the national deradicalization program," Irfan said. The BNPT is now in the process of fully operating its deradicalization center in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, an ongoing project that will emphasize counseling for ex-militants to ensure they will not return to radicalism. Separately, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) spokesperson Cholil Nafis said that as deradicalization aimed to steer people away from radical thinking, the approach should also involve education in moderate Islamic values taught by Muslim preachers. Cholil emphasized the importance of two-way dialogue, since Muslim preachers could not educate the terrorist convicts to provide balanced information on the true nature of Islam by only forcing them to listen to preaching. The MUI made classifications to choose the type of preaching and Muslim preachers that were well-suited to different religious backgrounds in each region of Indonesia, in order to deliver more effective sermons to the targeted audiences, Cholil said. "We always socialize the balance between religious substance and religious dogma, both in terms of deradicalization and the teaching of moderate Islam in general," Cholil said. Citizens and community groups should also take part in deradicalization efforts by actively monitoring and reporting any radical activity in their area, in order to prevent the threat from escalating, Irfan said. Meanwhile, Jones said the government should encourage students in computer technology departments in universities to hold contests to find creative ideas for crowd-sourced responses to extremism. (bbn) Ukraine's representative in the trilateral contact group for the settlement of the situation in Donbas, Ukraine's second president Leonid Kuchma has said that he would gladly hand over his position in the contact group to Ukraine's first president Leonid Kravchuk. "I have several times offered our president [Petro Poroshenko] to replace me with Leonid Kravchuk," Kuchma told journalists in Kyiv on Friday. To which Kravchuk responded: "No, I'm not going there. There is no one I can talk to there. "Kuchma, for his part, reiterated: "And I have not been asked. They will sign a decree that that will be it." "Negotiations need to be conducted. Do you think I am glad to go there [to Minsk]? My [blood] pressure is different when I return [to Kyiv]," Kuchma said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The government is responsible for the eviction of over 500 former Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) members from their homes and agricultural areas in West Kalimantan by locals because the government has failed to act as a mediator, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has said. Komnas HAM commissioner Nur Kholis particularly blamed the Religious Affairs Ministry because, according to him, it had failed to prevent the burning of ex-Gafatar member's homes in West Kalimantan, forcing them to flee their properties. 'The Religious Affairs Ministry should have acted as a mediator so as to gain the trust of citizens,' said Nur in Jakarta on Saturday as reported by tribunnews.com. Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin has said Gafatar is an illegal organization that must not be followed by community members. Its spiritual leader, Ahmad Musadeq, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2008 for religious defamation after he declared himself prophet. The organization has also been has been linked to the disappearance of at least a dozen people. Police and military personnel relocated hundreds of former members of Gafatar to Pontianak, West Kalimantan, following the burning of their homes in Mempawah regency earlier this week. The former Gafatar members were placed in temporary military shelters. Some of the evicted people, however, have returned to their hometowns in East and Central Java. Meanwhile, deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Puri Kenjana Putri questioned the eviction of former Gafatar members, saying that the group of people had contributed to society. 'They have tried to encourage each other to develop agriculture in an effort to have food security,' said Puri, referring to the former Gafatar members, who preferred living in remote areas of Kalimantan to develop agricultural businesses. House of Representatives Commission III overseeing security affairs member Tengku Taufiqulhadi said that the government should have monitored the activities of Ahmad if the government considered his organization illegal. 'If the government knew what it was doing then such evictions would not have happened,' Taufiqulhadi said. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Nusa Dua, Bali Sat, January 23, 2016 The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is set to finalize a rule that will allow small-scale enterprises to source funding from the capital market in a bid to boost economic activity. OJK chairman Muliaman D. Hadad said the financial regulator and the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) were currently preparing the policy, which would allow small and medium enterprises (SME) to conduct initial public offerings (IPO) and have their shares traded on the local stock exchange. Muliaman said the OJK had previously expected to announce the new rule in the first quarter but decided to delay the issuance due to some changes in regulations. 'Based on our discussions with Pak Tito [IDX president director Tito Sulistio], we need more time to prepare. However, our commitment has not changed, and we hope that the rule could be issued perhaps in June,' he said on the sidelines of an international conference in Bali on Friday. Muliaman said efforts to empower SMEs by giving them better access to funding, in the case of Indonesia, was one of the keys to minimizing economic volatility and restoring public confidence amid a global slowdown. According to OJK data, SMEs in Indonesia, including start-up businesses, contribute approximately 60 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and represent 97 percent of the nation's total workforce. 'Startups in Indonesia, in particular, have started to become quite widespread, operating in such diverse fields as transportation, tourism and online trading. Moreover, they have now become a major employer in their own right,' Muliaman said. Tito said the upcoming regulation was expected to provide a comprehensive structure, in which the OJK would ensure liquidity, as doubts would remain among investors about investing in SME stocks once they were traded in a regular market, given the companies' small scale. 'We want to ensure there is an incentive for investors and prospective listed SMEs, in order to avoid high costs and increase liquidity [of the SME stocks],' he said. Previously, OJK commissioner for the stock market Nurhaida said the OJK acknowledged the doubts among investors and was mulling a new board for SMEs to allow their shares to be traded outside the regular market. The new board, called a 'secondary board', would be separate from the main market. Nurhaida said it was important for shares of small companies to be traded on their own board, as their stocks were feared to be illiquid if they had to compete with bigger firms on the main board. According to Muliaman, the OJK will seek input from the IDX regarding the best scheme to ensure liquidity of SME stocks, saying that 'there are some versions in various countries, where they either form a special bourse for SMEs or manage one stock market with a number of boards'. As an effort to promote SME access to the capital market, Muliaman said the OJK was also providing input to the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to create regulations where stock exchanges, especially in emerging markets, become more 'SME-friendly'. The IOSCO, consisting 170 members of governmental bodies, self-regulatory organizations (SROs) and other institutions, is recognized as the global standard-setter for the securities sector. --------------------- 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 Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Sat, January 23, 2016 Local authorities in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have reported that a young male dugong rescued from a beach on Kanawa island, West Manggarai regency, earlier this month, has shown signs of recovery after receiving intensive treatment. Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Friday, NTT Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) technical division head Maman Surahman said the protected animal, which was found with several wounds on its body, was now able to swim and regularly consume seagrass and goat milk. A team of veterinarians and officers from several institutions, including the BKSDA, NTT's Komodo National Park and the Bali Safari Marine and Safari Park, were assigned to jointly take care of the dugong. 'Looking at its physical improvement, the dugong will need another four or five months to fully recover and safely return to the sea,' Maman said, adding that the team had also provided the animal with infant formula as food supplement to speed up its recovery. The 120-centimeter-long animal, weighing around 30 kilograms, first appeared in the shallows near Kanawa island on Jan. 3. Nine days later, the same animal was found stranded at a rocky beach in the western part of the island by three foreign tourists, including Jeff Foster, an American marine biologist. While waiting for support from local authorities, the tourists volunteered to take care of the dugong, which was too weak to move at that time. Apart from protecting the dugong from sunlight, they also fed the animal with goat milk bought from local residents once every two hours. 'The dugong suffered several wounds on its back and stomach. Deeper wounds were also found on its right cheek and back,' Maman said, adding that such wounds had probably been caused by a fishing net. For both safety and security reasons, Maman said the rescue team had decided to let the dugong stay in the waters off Kanawa island while putting it under intensive surveillance to monitor its movements and recovery. A local resort complex has also agreed to provide the team members with a base camp to carry out their duties. The dugong, one of the rarest mammals in Indonesia, can be found from Madagascar and East Africa to India and Australia. With a natural lifespan of over 70 years and slow rate of reproduction, the dugong is vulnerable to extinction even without the interference of human beings. An estimated 1,000 to 10,000 dugongs survive in Indonesian waters. However, that number is believed to have decreased significantly over the past few years. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, meanwhile, has listed the animal a vulnerable species. Nyoman Suartawan, a supervisor from the Bali Marine and Safari Park, said the Gianyar-based park had previously deployed four officers to assist the NTT BKSDA provide intensive treatment to the stranded dugong. As of Friday, he added, the park had left one officer in Kanawa to help local authorities take care of the dugong and educate local fishermen on how to give emergency treatment to a stranded or wounded dugong. Suartawan also confirmed that the recently rescued dugong was in much better shape than it had been last week. 'Many wounds on the dugong's body have already started to heal,' he 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 Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), the benchmark of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), rallied on Friday along with indices around the world following the surge in crude oil prices. The JCI climbed about 0.8 percent to 4,451 at the opening of Friday trading from its previous close of 4,414, according to IDX data. The index touched a low of 4,421 in the afternoon, before rebounding and closing the day at 4,456, up 0.97 percent from Thursday. Basic industry, mining and infrastructure, utilities and transportation booked the highest jumps as they moved up by 2.84 percent, 2.52 percent and 2.03 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, shares of lender Bank BRI, telecommunication company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia and gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, all state-owned companies, led in terms of trading volume. Earlier, KDB Daewoo Indonesia Securities analyst Dang Maulida wrote in a research note that the firm expected the JCI to trade higher on Friday following the sharp hike in the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude price and a statement by European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi that it would be necessary to review the bank's monetary policy stance in March amid a deteriorating economic outlook and turmoil in global markets. 'This statement fuelled hopes for more quantitative easing, which eventually triggered a rally in world oil prices,' she wrote. Brent crude rose 6.3 percent to US$31.10 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange, before trading at $30.83. Prices headed for an 11 percent two-day advance, the biggest since the end of August. In New York, WTI crude climbed 4.6 percent to $30.89, Bloomberg reported. Global bourses were rallying on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 5.88 percent, followed by Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's KOSPI, which close up by 2.9 percent and 2.11 percent, respectively, data from the IDX showed. Separately, LBP Enterprise's Lucky Bayu Purnomo voiced a similar view. 'The surging oil price caused the JCI rally,' he said over the phone on Friday. However, he pointed out that local and global markets remained in an abnormal situation. 'Oil offers quite a good opportunity, as its price is low, while at the same time the Chinese economy is slowing down,' he said, adding that such conditions put investors in doubt as to whether the strengthening oil price trend would last. Lucky projected that the JCI would move in a narrow corridor between 4,450 and 4,500 next week, saying the country's strong fundamentals would help weather negative sentiment in global markets. Heldy Arifien, an analyst with KDB Daewoo Securities Indonesia, predicted the index would breach the 4,450 support level and continue its move to 4,520 next week. 'Some stocks like CPIN [Charoen Pokphand Indonesia], JPFA [Japfa Comfeed Indonesia], INDF [Indofood Sukses Makmur] and PGAS [Perusahaan Gas Negara] are expected to influence the Indonesian benchmark index on Monday's trading session,' he wrote. --------------------- 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 Sat, January 23, 2016 Your comments on security authorities who have blamed the recent Jakarta bomb and gun attack on the Islamic State (IS) movement: In 1954, Israeli agents working in Egypt planted bombs in several buildings, including a US diplomatic facility, and left evidence behind implicating Egyptian Muslims as the culprits. The ruse would have worked, had not one of the bombs detonated prematurely, allowing the Egyptians to capture and identify one of the bombers, which in turn led to the round-up of an Israeli spy ring. Some of the spies were from Israel, while others were recruited from the local Jewish population. Israel responded to the scandal with claims in the media that there was no spy ring, that it was all a hoax perpetrated by 'anti-Semites'. Modern extremist Islam is a product of Western interference in the Middle East. This is a direct result of two things: Zionism and oil. Creating internal conflict is a deliberate policy of the Jews through a proxy, the US. Kriss X Of course the world will lambast this action and show its wrath at all of this. Just put IS in the ground, please. Bsbsuprayogi Like al-Qaeda in the past, the media and governments are going to use the most tenuous links to proclaim attacks to be the work of these groups. What this really was, it seems, was a gang of incompetent keystone terrorists trying to impress their mates back in the caliphate. Nobody would really believe IS itself planned this humiliating debacle. DGN A big thank you to the police and military on the ground, and the security staff at Sarinah department store whose speed and professionalism helped avert a much more serious situation. Sincere sympathies to the victims and their families. Multiple attackers, firearms, grenades, suicide bomb loonies ... and eight fatalities, five of whom were the attackers themselves. That says it all. Thank you to our heroes in uniform. Whatever your agenda is, IS, you will fail. DS Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, January 23, 2016 Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) unveiled the second generation of its Fortuner special utility vehicle (SUV) on Friday. This new Fortuner will compete with rival producers who have also upgraded their models. US manufacturer Ford already marketed the New Everest in the second week of January despite not formally launching it yet. Another Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi also plans to launch its Pajero Sport in January 2016. But Toyota is confident that the Fortuner will lead the market. Because of the high local content and the variations in price. Toyota models usually receive a good response from the market. "This car has 75 percent local content so it has good resistance to the fluctuations in foreign currencies. Another fact that we found with its sibling Kijang Innova, is that in less than two month after launch orders already reached 15,000 units, we hope for the same thing with the Fortuner," TAM president director Hiroyuki Fukui said during the launch on Jan. 22. The Fortuner uses the platform called the International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV), which is shared with the Kijang Innova launched in December 2015 as well as the Toyota Hilux pickup. The IMVs are exported to other regions such as the Middle East, Australia and South Africa. Of the IMV models, the Kijang Innova and Fortuner are produced in Indonesia. "Fortuner production rate is 6,000 units per month. They are mostly for export, while the export/local sales level for the Kijang Innova is 50:50 but the Fortuner export share is bigger. Both are produced in Karawang plant 1 with a plant capacity of 130,000 per year. By doing shifts and intensification it is possible to adjust for more than that if market demand increases," Warih Andang Tjahjono, vice president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia said. The price is also a factor, Toyota offers prices ranging from Rp 440 million (US$31,716) to Rp 550 million. The Fortuner has six variants in its lineup with variations in diesel and gasoline engines, transmission in manual and automatic transmission, and 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. "The price increase from the previous model is Rp 17 to 28 million, but it is in line with the improvements," TAM Vice President Henry Tanoto Said. The Ford Everest has prices starting from Rp 562 million but it has no manual transmission and is still 4x2. The price is close to the 4x4 diesel Fortuner with automatic transmission. In the media test drive, Fortuner was able to climb and descend a 47-degree gradient. Although the diesel engine is just 2.4 liters -Toyota also has a 2.8 liter engine but not in the Indonesian market-, it is still powerful. "The power is good, when you are climbing a gradient like this 47 degrees just press the accelerator a bit and it will climb easily," The professional driver said during the media event at Senayan City Mall in South Jakarta. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Karanganyar, central java Sat, January 23, 2016 Though just a graduate of elementary school, Muhammad Kusrin, 41, has recently gained success running a workshop assembling televisions in his home village in Karanganyar regency, Central Java. After years of hard work and perseverance, Kusrin finally saw his small company, UD Haris Elektronika, secure an Indonesian National Standard (SNI) certificate from the Industry Ministry earlier this week. Kusrin said before achieving success, he was once betrayed by a colleague that caused him to suffer a Rp 300 million (US$21,600) financial loss. A robbery at his place of business also forced him to start all over from scratch. In March 2015, the police even raided his production site over the suspicion that he had violated laws on SNI certificates. After an exhausting trial, Kusrin was finally sentenced to a year of probation and a fine of Rp 2.5 million or an additional two months in prison. The Karanganyar Prosecutor's Office also destroyed 118 television sets that his workshop had assembled. 'What I had been developing for four years vanished. Everything was destroyed. It was not just about the money spent for the work, but I was sick seeing how the results of my work had been destroyed that way,' Kusrin said on Friday at his workshop in Wonosari subdistrict. At the workshop, Kusrin employs 32 workers who can jointly produce up to 150 television sets per day. Kusrin said he worked as a manual laborer on a construction site in Jakarta in 2007. Unintentionally, he bought a broken radio set at the Jatinegara market for Rp 80,000. After fixing it, he then sold it for Rp 200,000. He later quit his job and switched to working as a service man fixing broken radio and television sets together with a friend. He returned to Karanganyar a year later and started his owned business in electronic goods services. Four years later he expanded the business and started assembling television sets. He said he used the money he earned from his four-year business in electronic goods services to build up capital in the television assembly business. 'I did not have the guts to ask for a bank loan, fearing that I would not be able to pay it back,' Kusrin said. Kusrin said that at the time he did not know that his business was violating the law. He was not familiar with SNI regulations, and he had never received any supervision or guidance from the local administration. 'It was only after I was raided that I knew that an SNI certificate was needed to run such an electronics business,' said Kusrin, adding that in between the trials he went to as far as Surabaya in East Java and Bandung in West Java to apply for an SNI certificate. He later tried to start his business once more while applying for the certificate. He initially recruited three of his neighbors as employees and soon saw his business expand. Today, a cathode ray tube (CRT) television made by his workshop is sold for between Rp 300,000 and Rp 400,000 per set. Kusrin said he paid his employees according to the Karanganyar minimum wage, set at Rp 1.3 million per month. Like large electronic manufacturers, Kusrin also gives consumers after-sale guarantees of up to one year for his products. He also labels his products, admitting to his customers that his television sets are assembled using a used tube from a computer screen. 'A trader has to be honest. I don't want my customers to feel cheated. I have to tell them that the television sets mainly use secondhand components,' he said. Rudy Ariyanto, 20, one of Kusrin's employees, said the business had helped local residents to make ends meet and to learn useful skills for the future. 'Many villagers, including myself, could not complete high school education due to poverty. Pak Kusrin helps us by providing training before recruiting some of us to work with him,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, January 23, 2016 The government is partly to blame for the rise of young terrorists in Indonesia. Annually thousands of youngsters graduate from high schools and universities with no future prospects. The government is lax and fails to create jobs or provide employment. When I travel around the countryside, everywhere there are groups of young people just sitting, dreaming, probably discussing and plotting against the authorities for having failed them, while smoking numerous cigarettes. Many turn to crime to make a living and the rest join the Islamic State (IS) movement, or any other radical organization. The internet is being used by terrorist organizations around the world to recruit young people with promises that suicide bombers immediately go to heaven and will be rewarded by the Almighty. Erroneous teachings always find a willing ear. The Dutch proverb says: Ledigheid is des duivel's oorkussen (Idleness is the devil's workshop). While the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) already warned the authorities in November of upcoming attacks, the police only provided security during Christmas and New Year's Eve and then the terrorists struck ' catching the authorities unaware. The police struck back and it is a blessing that the death toll remains under 10 pax. Thumbs up for the brave police! Lynna van der Zee-Oehmke Bogor It's a story as old as the hills, that people get entranced by an idea, the belief that noble sacrifice (or twisted, depraved behavior depending on your point of view) will ultimately net you or your fellows or your family something better in the next go. It's a pie in the sky scenario. To die for a cause is a powerful motivator. People will excuse it for reasons like 'defending our way of life' or 'upholding our values'. Ultimately, the source is almost always advancing the aims of a select few at the expense of human fodder. Critical thinking, reason and self-examination all dispel these problems regardless of childhood indoctrination. Indoctrination is simply growing up and being a human; no matter what values you instill in your kids you're indoctrinating them. That's not necessarily bad, it's the production of adults without a sense of critical thinking that leads to automatons willing to die for a cause. Daniaceh Jakarta (front page) Oregon ranchers demand Free the Hammonds, debate occupation Ive been here 70 years and Dwight and Steven Hammond are the nicest people that ever walked a foot of this earth, rancher Merlin Rupp said to cheers and applause at a Jan. 6 community meeting in Burns, Oregon. They got the rottenest deal there ever was. Dwight Hammond, 73, and his son Steven, fellow cattle ranchers, returned to federal prison in California Jan. 4 to serve additional time on frame-up charges of maliciously damaging U.S. property by fire, which the government prosecuted under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. They had set two backfires on their ranch, one to protect against an approaching wildfire and the other to destroy invasive juniper growth. They burned a total of 140 acres of federal land. The fires took place in 2001 and 2006, but federal officials didnt file charges until June 2010. In previous decades, the government had bought up land around the Hammonds to expand the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, but the Hammonds refused to sell their ranch. Their case gained national attention after a small group of armed protesters led by Ammon Bundy occupied buildings at the nearby wildlife refuge following a peaceful demonstration of 300 Jan. 2. Bundy, the owner of a truck maintenance business in Arizona who has been involved in other land fights with the federal government, calls his group Citizens for Constitutional Freedom. He says the occupation supports the Hammonds and opposes federal control of land. Forcing the Hammonds to prison a second time for the same charges is seen as grossly unfair by ranchers and workers in the area, increasing anger over the conduct of federal government agencies that control more than half the land in Oregon and 75 percent in Harney County. Grazing cattle and getting water on federal land is critical for area ranchers, large and small, but they face bureaucratic rules and fees every step of the way, including pressure to give up their land. Government officials have tried to whip up sentiment against the occupation. At the Jan. 6 meeting, Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward asked for a straw poll on who wants to work this out peacefully and would like these folks to go home. Most at the meeting raised their hands, according to the Burns Times-Herald. At the same time, many said they were sympathetic to the occupiers demands. Whether you agree or disagree with Bundys movement, he has given Harney County our biggest and best platform to get our message out, rancher Mitch Siegner told the meeting. Trial judge Michael Hogan sentenced Steven Hammond to two concurrent one-year sentences and his father to three months of imprisonment. The judge rejected imposing the five-year minimum sentence set in the terrorism statute, saying it would be grossly disproportionate to the severity of charges and would shock the conscience. The Hammonds reached a verbal agreement with prosecutors not to appeal the case, and also agreed to pay fines for the fires and to give the federal government first opportunity to buy their ranch if they put it up for sale. But prosecutors appealed anyway and the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in their favor. The Hammonds were ordered back to prison to complete the five-year sentence minus time served. As the occupation continues, tensions and disputes have escalated. Some rightist armed patriot groups who offered to help were turned away by Bundy, but remain in the area. After LaVoy Finicum, a spokesperson for the occupiers, addressed a Jan. 16 press conference at the wildlife refuge, Kieran Suckling grabbed the microphone to demand they leave public land. Suckling is the executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, based in Tucson, Arizona, which focuses on preserving endangered species. Various groups who said they spoke for animals, birds and the environment held protests against the occupation Jan. 19 in Seattle and Spokane, Washington; Boise, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; and other Northwest cities. Signs at the rallies included Bird Lives Matter and Arrest the Occupiers, but not a word about the problems facing ranchers, working farmers and workers in eastern Oregon. Residents who support the Hammonds or express sympathy with the demands of the occupation report they have been followed by police or FBI agents, who have set up a command post in town. Bundy had said he would hold a community meeting Jan. 15 and announce his exit plans, but local officials denied him use of the county fairgrounds or other public buildings in Burns. Vanessa Leathers-King, a hairstylist who is active in efforts to defend the Hammonds, organized a protest of more than a dozen people in Burns Jan. 18, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to protest denial of the right of local residents to hold meetings in public buildings. Signs quoted King, including Our lives begin to end the day we become silent. The protest would have been bigger, she said in a video posted on the web, but A lot of people here are afraid to stand up and put their names in. Theyre worried about job loss. She added that some local businesses told workers not to say anything about the dispute. On Jan. 19 local officials organized another community meeting. Bundy and others involved in the occupation attended but did not speak. County Judge Steve Grasty looked at Bundy and said, It is time for you to go home. Some in the gymnasium chanted, Go, go, go. Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) Trump, Sanders support shows working-class discontent The protracted erosion of jobs, wages and conditions of life for the working class across the United States is fueling discontent and anger on a level not seen since the 1930s. Working people, in city and countryside, are looking for answers to why this is happening, and what can be done about it. And theyre increasingly fed up with establishment ruling-class politicians Democrat and Republican alike who they see as part of the crisis being visited on them. This is why the most demagogic outsider candidates with a populist message Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump are attracting workers attention and interest. Practically every week media pundits have said these candidates are on the verge of fading away, yet their poll numbers are rising as the first primaries near. And its why there is more openness and interest among workers to considering a revolutionary working-class program and course. The grinding depression conditions that the working class and the rural poor continue to face underlie the unprecedented shake-up in the Democratic and Republican Parties. Now there is growing alarm among Republican politicians that conservative establishment candidates cant win support among workers, and that Trump might actually win the nomination. Presenting the Republican response to President Barack Obamas State of the Union speech Jan. 12 that condemned Trump, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Republicans need to resist that temptation of following the siren call of the angriest voices, joining in taking aim against the real estate mogul. I will gladly accept the mantle of anger, said Trump in the Republican candidates debate two days later. Im very angry because our country is being run horribly. Exchanges like this just strengthen Trumps image as a nonpolitician whos not afraid to say what he thinks and doesnt worry about whats politically correct. Contrary to widespread claims in the main liberal media, Trumps appeal and the source of his demagogy about stopping immigration is not racism. His supporters are people, not caricatures, Kaddie Abdul, a Muslim woman who attended a Trump rally in Nevada wearing her hijab, wrote in the Guardian newspaper Jan. 13. She was not harassed and said the people she spoke to feel marginalized economically, politically and socially; they see a world different from the one they think should exist. His appeal is to bring America back to greatness, for a classless we to take control, for which he will be the voice. His rallies draw tens of thousands of workers, including some Blacks and Latinos. Trump, like Sanders, appeals to workers opposition to Washington getting embroiled in new foreign wars. For this reason, they are the favored candidates of Patrick Buchanan, who said, For anti-interventionists, Trump vs. Sanders is the ideal race. Democrats, Republicans fracturing The crisis in the Democratic Party and Sanders rise in the polls also reflect the growing anger in the working class. Although the Vermont senator calls himself a democratic socialist, his campaign has nothing to do with socialism. More than anything else, he runs as the voice of the Occupy Wall Street protests of 2011-12. His demagogy about massive income and wealth inequality and the greed of Wall Street focuses on calls to break up the big banks, raise taxes on the rich and other reforms aimed at shoring up capitalist rule and protecting it from working-class revolt. In the latest polls Hillary Clinton, who as little as a month ago appeared a sure bet for the Democratic nomination, is running behind Sanders in New Hampshire and in a statistical tie in Iowa. Clintons campaigning has often looked tired and lackluster. At a Jan. 17 Democratic candidates debate in South Carolina, Clinton identified her campaign with the record of Barack Obama. President Obama has led our country out of the Great Recession, she said, but Senator Sanders called him weak, disappointing. Bernie mopped the floor with Hillary, opined John Podhoretz in the New York Post the next day. Clintons goal was to make the point shes the serious and sober candidate and Bernie Sanders is a pie-in-the-sky fantasist, he wrote. But the country is in a rage, Democrats as well as Republicans, at the brokenness of our politics and the stagnation of the middle class. Hillary cannot find a way to tap into that and tapping into that is all Sanders does. In the last quarter of 2015 Sanders raised $37 million more than Clinton and from more individual people than any other candidate in U.S. history. Democratic Party leaders are starting to panic. If Clintons campaign continues to falter, suggested MSNBC-TV host Joe Scarborough, other party stalwarts might jump into the primary race. Those close to [Secretary of State] John Kerry and [Vice President] Joe Biden have said specifically that, if she loses Iowa and New Hampshire, they are going to have to take a much closer look, Scarborough said Jan. 11. Leading figures in both parties increasingly complain that the twin capitalist political vehicles are coming apart at the seams, often blaming working-class, less educated men, especially those who are Caucasian. Particularly blue-collar men have had a lot of trouble in this new economy, where they are no longer getting the same bargain they got when they were going to a factory and able to support their families on a single paycheck, Obama told National Public Radio in December. There is going to be potential anger, frustration, fear some of it justified, but just misdirected, he said, which Trump is exploiting. Far from turning further and further to the right, Caucasian workers unprecedented discontent, like that of the working class as a whole, is aimed at finding a way to fight the grinding depression conditions they face. And under the nations first Black president, the only progress for workers who are African-American has come by taking to the streets against the powers that be in popular protests that have forced the rulers to take steps to rein in their cops. The New York Times ran an article titled, For Republicans, Mounting Fears of Lasting Split Jan. 10. If an establishment candidate wins the nomination, it said, about two-thirds of Trump supporters would vote for him as a third-party candidate. Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home U.S. Department of State, USAID envoys to travel to Ukraine in later Jan to decide on further aid U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Thomas O. Melia will travel to Ukraine January 25-29, 2016. He will be joined by Department of State Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia Alina L. Romanowski, reads a press release from the USAID posted on its website. Their trip will include meetings with Ukrainian officials, civil society leaders, and the private sector to discuss how U.S. assistance is responding to Ukraine's development, economic, and humanitarian challenges and will assess further assistance needs going forward. This will be Assistant Administrator Melia's first visit to Ukraine in his new capacity. During the trip, he and Coordinator Romanowski will visit the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Slovyansk, and Kramatorsk to meet with local leaders and discuss current U.S. programs in the region. In Kyiv, they will hold meetings with public officials to identify how to help Ukraine continue to strengthen its democracy and combat corruption, improve governance, develop civil society, bolster the economy and energy security, and provide humanitarian support to those affected by the conflict in the eastern regions. Besides, Romanowski will also visit Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant to check the course of the works for making the facility ecologically safe. (front page) Protest hits restrictions on abortion rights, cuts to Planned Parenthood Militant/Laura Anderson As part of continuing attacks on womens rights, a new law took effect in North Carolina Jan. 1 imposing a three-day waiting period before a woman can get an abortion and requiring doctors to submit ultrasound and other documentation to state officials for any abortion after the 16th week of pregnancy. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback announced Jan. 12 that all state Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri would be cut off. This affects access to contraception, cancer screenings and other medical services for some 400,000 people. These are among the latest moves in the chipping away at access to abortion that began almost immediately after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling decriminalized the procedure in 1973. The avalanche of state restrictions in recent years highlights problems for defenders of womens rights that have been embedded in that decision from the beginning. Womens rights is the issue, thats why I came, Kelly Peck, a 24-year-old food store worker, told the Militant at a rally defending abortion rights and protesting the North Carolina law in downtown Chicago Jan. 17. Women have the right to decide and should be able to control their own bodies. Like many other young women at the rally of about 100, it was Pecks first political action. Feminist Uprising to Resist Inequality and Exploitation called the spirited protest to counter an annual March for Life anti-abortion rally of several hundred. We need to be in the streets more, Lauren Bianchi of FURIE told participants. Everyone here should get involved. We need to have access to health care facilities without fearing for our lives. In November an opponent of abortion rights killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. North Carolina is the third state to enact the new ultrasound requirement. The true intent of the law is clear to shame women and intimidate the doctors [who] care for them, said Melissa Reed, vice president of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. Its medically unnecessary and purely politically driven. Supporters of the law say it will help enforce North Carolinas ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in a medical emergency. Only one other state, Mississippi, bans abortion as early as 20 weeks. Roe not based on womens equality Limits on access to abortion, such as those in North Carolina, build on the trimester system codified in Roe v. Wade. In striking down a Texas abortion ban, the Supreme Court ruled that for the first three months the decision to terminate a pregnancy must be left to the medical judgment of pregnant womans attending physician. After that time, state governments may regulate the abortion procedure in ways that are reasonably related to maternal health. And subsequent to viability, the states have an interest in the potentiality of human life and may prohibit abortion, except for the preservation of the life or health of the mother. Roe v. Wade described viability as the point at which a fetus is potentially able to live outside the mothers womb, albeit with artificial aid a definition that shifts with medical advances. Basing a womans right to abortion on medical judgments, rather than womens fundamental right to make decisions about their bodies and lives is being used by opponents of womens rights to justify increasingly onerous restrictions. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a longtime proponent of womens rights who has served on the Supreme Court since 1993, has raised important criticisms of Roe v. Wade. The decision was not rooted in the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law, Ginsburg said in a 1985 article in the North Carolina Law Review. The equal protection guarantee, a conquest of the revolutionary struggle that ended slavery in the 1860s, was the basis of numerous Supreme Court rulings registering gains in the growing fight for Black rights in the 1950s and 60s, she noted. But for decades, until 1971, the court rejected any attempt to apply the 14th Amendment protections to women. And none of the courts decisions related to reproductive rights were decided on that basis. Roe v. Wade, she argued, is weakened by its concentration on a medically approved autonomy idea, to the exclusion of a constitutionally based sex-equality perspective. The case would be stronger had the Court placed the woman alone, rather than the woman tied to her physician, at the center of its attention. In the 1985 article and elsewhere, Ginsburg has stated her view that the ruling was premature, cutting short the ability of the growing movement for womens right to choose abortion to win broader support on the basis of womens equality, an issue that was being fought out state by state. Ginsburg also gets at the class questions posed in the fight to defend abortion rights. Asked in a 2014 interview with the New Republic what would happen if Roe v. Wade were overturned, she said, It would be bad for non-affluent women. If the ruling were overturned there would remain many states that would not go back to the way it once was. What that means is any woman who has the wherewithal to travel will never have a problem. Women who cant pay are the only women who would be affected. That, of course, has been the class impact of every inroad against the right to choose, beginning with the 1976 Hyde Amendment, which barred Medicaid coverage of abortion for poor women. Four decades later, some 90 percent of U.S. counties lack abortion providers. In the five years since 2011 states have adopted 288 restrictions, roughly as many as in the 15 years before. A majority of states have waiting periods. States in the Midwest and the South account for most of the restrictions. Later this year the Supreme Court will rule on a challenge to a Texas law requiring abortion providers to meet surgical center standards and have admitting privileges at a local hospital. If the law is upheld, all but 10 abortion clinics in the state would be forced to close. Laura Anderson in Chicago contributed to this article. Related articles: Defend womens right to choose! Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (feature article) The whole system pressures you to plead guilty Cuban 5: US justice system railroads millions into prison We won respect by going to trial MARY-ALICE WATERS: December 17, 2014, marked a hard-won victory for the Cuban people and supporters of the Cuban Revolution all over the world. That was the day that three of you Gerardo, Ramon, and Antonio were welcomed home by millions of Cubans who poured into the streets to celebrate. And the day Cuban president Raul Castro and US president Barack Obama simultaneously announced that diplomatic relations between the two countries, severed by Washington in January 1961, would be restored. In the months since then, all five of you have been traveling throughout the island thanking the Cuban people for their solidarity and their years of defiant resistance, without which your freedom could not have been won. Youve also been drawing on your own experiences in the United States to explain what the word capitalism means in human terms. Each of you worked and lived for a good part of your adult life in the United States. Before you were framed up and imprisoned, like many other immigrant workers you had jobs in construction, as janitors, as deliverymen, in restaurants and hotels, or doing whatever work you could find off the books. Later, during your long years in prison, you were part of that very large section of the US working class that is either currently behind bars or has served time at some point in their lives. Today thats over six million people 5 percent of adult males, and nearly 17 percent of adult men who are African American. Around the world, many people have seen photos of the degrading, inhuman treatment meted out to inmates at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and the US prison camp at Guantanamo. What they often dont understand is that these institutions of imperialist brutality mirror prisons inside the US whose names are infamous among US working people places like Attica, Clinton, Beaumont, Florence, Angola, and Pelican Bay. US foreign policy begins at home. When you speak about life in the US, you speak with authority, and not only here in Cuba. Your words ring true to millions of US families as well. Theyve lived similar experiences. In one of Renes first interviews when he was able to return home to Cuba in 2013, he explained that in the United States just going to trial, rather than agreeing under pressure to plead guilty to some charge negotiated by the prosecutor and your attorney, earns you a lot of respect in prison. Was that the same experience all of you had? FERNANDO GONZALEZ: When someone is arrested in the US, a high percentage are overcharged. Theyre accused of many more things than they might have done. Its a tool consciously used by prosecutors. People find themselves in a situation where some charges for crimes they probably never committed will be dropped if they plead guilty to other charges, which they also may never have committed. Prosecutors pile up charges against you. The law not only allows that; its how the entire system is organized. Its a tool to force you to plea bargain. Most of those arrested in the US end up with court-appointed lawyers, since they cant afford an attorney. The lawyer usually advises you to plead guilty, even if it might be better for you to go to trial. Why? Well, one reason is that if you plead guilty, then all the court-appointed attorney has to do to get paid is to go to court three or four times, at most. He has to be there at the indictment, the plea agreement, and the sentencing. But if you go to trial, the lawyer will probably end up spending at least three weeks in court. The whole system even the lawyer whos supposed to be looking after your interests pressures you to plead guilty. Theres another side to this. Lets say youre already in the federal court system, as we were. Youre there in court, and they bring in a witness. He says he has spent fifteen years in the Drug Enforcement Agency or the FBI or whatever. He comes in wearing a suit and tie, not a hair out of place, and sits there with an air of nice guy. He swears hell tell the truth and then tells one lie after another. Who is the jury going to believe? Theyll believe the cop, of course, not the defendant. In many cases the defendant has already been the victim of a barrage of unfavorable news coverage. Anxieties about crime here, there, and everywhere are bolstered by the press. GERARDO HERNANDEZ: We saw many cases like that. We met many people who said, Look, I was no angel. I was doing this and this. But I never did that or that, much less the murder Im serving life for. But when I told that to the attorney appointed by the judge, the person would continue, the lawyer said: No jury is going to believe you. Take the offer theyre making and do the time. Thats the best you can do. If you dont, theyll slap you with the maximum sentence. They say that straight up. My last cellmate was a guy from Mexico. From the beginning the court-appointed lawyer told him to plead guilty to murder no less. He asked, How can I plead guilty to kidnapping and murder if I didnt do it? Hes now serving two life sentences for something he didnt do. He showed me his court papers. There was a letter from the mother of the man who was killed. She asked the prosecutors not to try those people, because she knew they werent the ones who killed her son. But the defense lawyer never presented the letter to the court. Most lawyers stick with a program that says, Dont go to court because youll lose. If the client is courageous enough to say, No, Im innocent. Im going to trial, theyll try to convince him its suicidal. ANTONIO GUERRERO: Many of the prisoners are Latinos and dont know English; others are basically illiterate. That cranks up the pressure to cop a plea, since you cant read the documents in any language. There are prisons in every country. But the reason there are so many prisoners in the United States is not the amount of crime. It all begins with the arrest, indictment, and plea bargain. Thats where people begin to be chewed up. Theres no solution within the US justice system, no reform that will change it. Its not a system that metes out justice to those whove committed a crime. Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home Fight grows in Canada to stop refugees deportation MONTREAL Because Mohamed has exhausted all legal procedures, the campaign launched by the Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee is the last means we have to prevent his deportation, Sophie Lamarche Harkat, his wife and a leader of the committee, told a Jan. 8 Militant Labor Forum here, speaking via Skype from Ottawa. In December the committee announced a campaign to get 1,000 letters demanding that newly elected Liberal Party Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stop the deportation procedures against Harkat. The Algerian refugee, who has lived in Canada for 20 years, was targeted for deportation by the outgoing Conservative Party government of Stephen Harper last August. Amnesty International Canada says Harkat faces possible torture and death if sent back to Algeria. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in May 2014 that the federal government can use secret evidence never tested in court to deport permanent residents and other noncitizens declared a threat to national security or suspected of criminal activity. Harkat came to Canada in 1995 and lives in Ottawa. He was granted refugee status in 1997 and worked as a pizza delivery driver and gas station attendant. Under the countrys security certificate laws, he was arrested in 2002 and spent four years in jail after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service accused him of being an al-Qaeda sleeper agent. Harkat, who denies the charges, has been living under various forms of house arrest since 2006. Over the years Harkats case has become a cause celebre. His fight has gone twice to the Supreme Court of Canada, forcing the federal government to make minor adjustments in 2008 to the security certificate laws. More than 6,000 people and organizations have signed a statement against the governments use of these certificates, including the Canadian Labor Congress and dozens of major unions. Sophie Harkat described how people would stop her husband in the street to wish him good luck, not knowing that his probation conditions prohibit him from addressing a person not previously approved by the Canadian Border Service Agency, which monitors his probation. Mohamed is now a prominent figure, he has respected all his probation conditions over the years and even the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says he is less a threat than they thought initially, she said. Security certificates issued against people who were not threats and never engaged in or supported violence have been dropped in the past, Barbara Jackman, Harkats lead counsel, wrote to the meeting. This effort is in the front line in Canada of protests against attacks on Muslims and mosques, John Steele told the forum on behalf of the Communist League. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's main intelligence department has reported that near the village of Bulavynske and Donetsk city enemy disposes weaponry, which is banned by the Minsk Agreements. "Representatives of the OSCE SMM have been informed that Minsk-banned arms tanks, self-propelled guns and 122mm Grad multiple rocket launchers are deployed near the village of Bulavynske and Donetsk city," the department reported on its website on Saturday. The Ukrainian intelligence has also said that the situation in the anti-terrorist operation area remains complicated and reminded that for past 24 hours the enemy committed 37 attacks on the anti-terrorist operation forces. 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"As President and Commander-in-chief I will fight for every piece of the Ukrainian land and do everything to return the territorial integrity, sovereignty of Ukraine, first Donbas, then Crimea. And I will not allow this conflict to be frozen. Because there have been no successful examples of countries reclaiming their frozen territories," he said at a general meeting of the Association of Ukrainian Cities in Kyiv on Saturday. AirAsia launches Phuket-Wuhan flights PHUKET: AirAsia has kicked off the year with a new route, with direct daily flights between Phuket-Wuhan, just in time for Chinese travellers to visit during the upcoming Chinese New Year Festival. tourismtransportChinese By Press Release Saturday 23 January 2016, 01:02PM AirAsia has launched direct daily flights between Phuket and the Chinese province of Wuhan. The route also allows Phuket residents to travel to Wuhan, the land of three kingdoms and home of the Tiger Spirit Shrine. Mr Santisuk Klongchaiya, Director of Commercial for Thai AirAsia, explained that Phuket is one of the leading destinations for Chinese travelers to Thailand due to its charms. Phuket holds many beliefs and traditions from China and the province shares much of its history with the nation. Moreover, Phuket is a destination with natural attractions, lifestyle activities and unique nightlife, which makes it a popular choice, he added. For residents of Phuket, the new route is a great travel option as the city of Wuhan in central China is home to many tourist sites that should be familiar to Thai people such as the Yellow Crane Tower, Butung Mountain, Tiger Spirit Shrine, the Red Cliff and the Shrine of Kuan Yu. Another Chinese activist vanishes in Thailand BANGKOK: A human rights activist and former columnist who fled China and leaked confidential documents detailing Communist party propaganda efforts has vanished in Thailand. politicsChinese By Bangkok Post Saturday 23 January 2016, 10:55AM Li Xin has been missing for 10 days after leaving Thailand for Laos with the hope of returning to Thailand to apply for political asylum, said his wife, Shi Sanmei. Li, a former writer for the Southern Metropolis Daily, a semi-independent newspaper, arrived in Thailand from India on January 1 and boarded a train to the northeastern border town of Nong Khai where he tried to enter Laos, said Shi. When I heard he had gone missing, I was very shocked, Lis friend, Liu Xuehong, a Thailand-based activist, told Reuters. I think hes in danger now and has probably been arrested. Shi said Thai police refused to accept her report of her husbands disappearance, asking her to contact the Chinese embassy. Pol Gen Dechnarong Sutticharnbancha, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said he had no knowledge of Lis case. Lis disappearance follows other cases in which critics of Beijing have gone missing or been deported by Thailands junta, which has formed stronger ties with Beijing at a time when the Western world continues to condemn the lack of movement to restore democracy. Li had been trying unsuccessfully for months to claim political asylum in a western country, his wife told the UK-based newspaper The Guardian. She said Li had fled to New Delhi last October after Chinese state security tried to blackmail him into spying on other activists, threatening him with spying charges if he did not comply. He was recruited to be a source before. But he left to seek political asylum, Shi told The Guardian by phone from China. I think he was brought back by the Communist party. Once in India, Li leaked documents from his work at the newspaper, including a government-written list of topics that were off-limits to journalists. India would not accept his application and he was also rejected by the US embassy after applying for a tourist visa, Radio Free Asia reported. Li travelled this year to Thailand, a long-time hub for Chinese fugitives trying to make it to the west, where he boarded a train to the northeastern border to enter Laos. His wife has since been unable to reach him. He got on a train from Bangkok to Nong Khai at 8:36pm on Jan 10. We had been in touch those days. The next day, around 7:40am, we lost contact, Shi said. The [Chinese] authorities said they can arrest him at any time and charge him for endangering state security and for being a spy. He is scared. He couldnt stay in China any more. He has been trying to get out from China. In October, a Hong Kong publisher, Gui Minhai, who wrote gossipy books on Chinas rulers went missing in Thailand and reappeared last week tearfully confessing on Chinese state television to a hit-and-run crime. Several officials from Thailands Office of the Prime Minister have recently visited the Pattaya apartment owned by Gui to gather information on the days before he vanished, a source with knowledge of the visit told The Guardian on condition of anonymity. While it was not clear what the officials did exactly, the move marks the first visit to the apartment from police or authorities despite requests from Sweden, where he holds citizenship. Friends and family of Gui believe Chinese security agents abducted him and accuse Thai authorities of complicity or at least overlooking his alleged kidnapping. A spokesman for the Thai government did not immediately comment on the disappearance of Li or the alleged visit by officials to Guis apartment. He said he would look into the matter and reply later. In November, two Chinese men who were officially registered as refugees with the United Nations were arrested and repatriated by Thai authorities just days before they were supposed to be resettled in Canada, infuriating the UN refugee agency. Thailand also forcefully deported 109 ethnic Uighur Muslims back to China in July. The UNHCR said at the time that the expulsion was a flagrant violation of international law. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of the Turkic-speaking minority have fled unrest and persecution in Chinas western Xinjiang region, where hundreds of people have been killed. Many have travelled through Southeast Asia. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukrainian sovereignty in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be restored as early as this year. "At my press conference on January 14 I clearly proclaimed: my objective and I firmly believe in this is to restore Ukrainian sovereignty in Donbas already in 2016. And yesterday speakers in Davos also reaffirmed this position: in 2016 Russia must implement all points of the Minsk agreements," he said at a general meeting of the Association of Ukrainian Cities in Kyiv on Saturday. Pierre, Tea Area lives up to hype and more from HS football week nine President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that the Constitutional amendments on decentralization have a direct relation to the Minsk peace plan. "It occurred that Constitutional amendments over decentralization are one of the key elements of the peace plan of Ukraine Minsk Agreements. Each of 13 items of the Minsk Agreements is on how to bring peace to Ukraine," he said delivering a speech during the meeting of the Association of Ukrainian Cities in Kyiv on Saturday. "I won't let anybody to destabilize situation: to return Ukraine into the open armed confrontation with offensives, to provide escalation of the conflict and to give a cause to blame Ukraine of all this," the head of state stressed. DAVOS, SWITZERLANDThe World Economic Forum has identified the blockchain as one of the core technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (this years theme of the Davos summit). The topic has come up a lot this week and there is plenty of enthusiasm, hand-wringing, fear and our-right denial. Understandably so. The digital revolution is bringing a new and radically different platform for business and other institutions that can take us through the next quarter century of human progress. At the core is the biggest innovation in computer science in a generation. It is the technology underlying the digital currency Bitcointhe blockchain. This technology platform is open and programmable. My view is that as such it holds the potential for unleashing countless new applications and as yet unrealized capabilities that have the potential to transform everything in the next 25 years. Blockchain technology is complex but the idea is simple. The next generation of the Internet enabled not just the communication of information but the direct communication of value and money. What if we could build businesses, do transactions do transactions directly, peer-to-peer without powerful intermediaries? At its most basic, the blockchain is a global databasean incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value and importance to humankind: birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, deeds and titles of ownership, educational degrees, financial accounts, medical procedures, insurance claims, votes, transactions between smart objects, and anything else that can be expressed in code. This ledger represents the truth because mass collaboration constantly reconciles it. We will not need to trust each other in the traditional sense, because the new platform ensures integrity. Think trust achieved through clever code and mass collaboration. Now I confess to bias about the potential of this technology, as my upcoming book, co-authored with my son Alex is called Blockchain Revolution. Nevertheless, its clear that lots of other people here are trying to figure this out. The week began for me on Monday in Munich where I gave a speech to the big DLD conference on the topic. The room was jammed and a couple of hundred people lined up outside unable to get in. Then in Davos I joined people like Kevin Spacey, and Jimmy Wales (the founder of Wikipedia) on a panel talking about cyber-security. The general sense in the room is that a distributed, encrypted database like the blockchain could be key to creating a more secure computing environment and a more secure world. Today I participated in a private session organized by MIT and the Boston consulting Group to talk about the blockchain and once it was standing room only. There were several simultaneous group discussions that all had mind-boggling implications. One group talked about how this technology could disrupt the banks on the one hand and also be used by the banks to reinvent themselves on the other. One CEO of an insurance company complained that his industry is traditionally a laggard when it comes to innovative technology. Im guessing our industry will be brutally disrupted he said. Another group talked about blockchain and society and concluded that there was an opportunity to create a fairer and more transparent world where the truth could be evidenced. A third group looked at blockchain and identity, discussing the idea of each of us having our own identity on the blockchain that was private and controlled by us, rather than by big social media companies, banks or governments. A fourth group, chaired by MITs Brian Forde of the MIT Media Lab looked at opportunities to use this technology to bring several billion poor people into the global economy. These people may have a smartphone and an Internet connection but no bank will give them an account because they have no real assets. Using blockchain technology they can buy and sell things online, save money, get loans, more easily build a small business and even make tiny investments in companies. The enthusiasm was in stark contrast to my next meeting meetingwith 60 CEOs of big banks banks. I was leading a discussion on technology disrupters in banking and while there was big interest in understanding blockchain technologies most were not convinced that there was either a big danger or big opportunity. It kind of reminded me of 1994 when I advocated for something called the World Wide Web and many peoples reaction was meh. Don Tapscott a best-selling author most recently The Digital Economy, Adjunct Professor at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and the chancellor of Trent University. Hes reporting on Davos for The Toronto Star. @dtapscott Read more about: SHARE: DAVOS, SWITZERLANDAs the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum enters its final quarter, there continues to be a lot of buzz about Canada in General and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in particular. Trudeau had a hectic day Friday that included meetings with international leaders and a session in the grand Congress Hall on gender equality that included Sheryl Sandberg from Facebook and Melinda Gates from the Gates Foundation. The annual Canadian cocktail party was jammed and the crowd was nothing less than ebullient. My wife, Ana Lopes, and I must have heard people say half a dozen times something to the effect of you must be so proud of your prime minister. Heady times for sure. No doubt the PMO is enjoying it but also fully aware of the concept of a honeymoon. Trudeau also attended a lunch with about 60 people, including many Canadian leaders of business, government and civil society, that turned into a very spirited discussion about Canadas future. The lunch was held under strict Chatham House Rules so I cant identify the 20 or so people who spoke. But I am permitted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to share the gist of the conversation. Notwithstanding the troubles in the Canadian economy, the tone, interestingly, was one of enthusiasm about the future. One international delegate congratulated the four Canadian ministers present for the aggressive intervention in Davos saying that The Canadian brand is back on the international stage. RELATED:Trudeau pushes Canadian Opportunity at Davos World Economic Forum The blockchain: big opportunity or big danger? Virtually every comment made could be described as addressing the challenge of creating a digital innovation economy. Its understood that the current economic slump is linked to Canadas reliance on resources industries and that our falling petrodollar only underlines the urgency of shifting to a new kind of the economy for the 21st century. Let me editorialize on the discussion. My opinion is that if we view the task ahead through the innovation economy lens, we can do some great things. For example, the bold efforts of Canada to move toward carbon neutrality came up several times. To me these are part of building this new economy. Fighting climate change is not a cost its an investment in new technologies, behaviours and in creating 21st century, green, high-tech jobs, Consider the governments plans of investing in infrastructure. They make a lot of sense. But we cant just create more of the old infrastructure, we need to embrace the new for example developing a national strategy for intelligent, autonomous vehicles. There was discussion about reinventing the public service for the digital age, which was music to my ears. Several leaders addressed the challenges of talent, changing education and retooling the workforce, not just for todays skills, but for tomorrows. One big theme was how government procurement could stimulate entrepreneurship and competitiveness of Canadian companies to get momentum and grow. Another theme raised was the need to re-engage Canadian expatriates as a powerful resource in helping Canada expand and be more effective around the world. One person said that Hong Kong is the fourth largest Canadian city if you count the number of Canadians living there. Silicon valley is also deeply populated with Canadians and if Canada develops a vibrant innovation economy, it will be able to get some of them back. But even if they stay there, they can be effective ambassadors and contributors to Canada. For starters, one civil society leader said, we should reinstate the right of Canadians abroad to vote. Several people talked about how Canadian firms are not investing in R&D the way they should be, an obvious roadblock on the way to a new economy. The consensus was that a emaciated dollar is helping us in these challenges, and it was said that the strong dollar cost Canada 7,000 companies by weakening exports. But he also cited a danger of a weak currency that early stage companies were cheap to acquire by foreign firms. Thinking about job creation in communities? One minister advised Canada build clusters of excellence around topics like big data, the internet of things and other disciplines of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (the theme of Davos this year). To me, nearly every challenge facing the government can be addressed by shifting from a mainly resource to an innovation new economy. Our diversity will help and needs to be reinforced as we reach out better to women and immigrants in order to integrate them into the 21st century talent pool. We need more girls and young women in the computer science field and we need to fix the male-coding culture in our universities and workplaces if we are to attract and keep women. Canada has the luxury of being selective and is able to get the cream of the crop. According to a recent study by the Education Policy Research Initiative, children of first-generation immigrants from the region that includes Syria have a university graduation rate above 90 per cent. And guess what fields they tend to choose? STEM science, technology, engineering and math all critical to the digital age. I got the sense that most in the room were thinking that maybe Canadas superpositive leader is right and its time to get this new party started! Don Tapscott a bestselling author most recently The Digital Economy, Adjunct Professor at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and the chancellor of Trent University. Hes reporting on Davos for the Toronto Star. @dtapscott SHARE: Re: Liberals electoral reform plan is legally futile, Opinion Jan. 18 Liberals electoral reform plan is legally futile, Opinion Jan. 18 I wish to correct the numerous errors and false analogies presented by Yaakov and Jonathan Roth concerning electoral reform. First, they are entirely incorrect in their assertion that electoral reform requires constitutional amendment. Indeed, they present absolutely no evidence for this claim, instead resorting to a series of specious analogies concerning the Senate. Second, they are mistaken in thinking that anything in the Constitution Act of 1867 requires that electoral districts return one member to the House. The historical riding of Halifax, for example, returned two members for 100 years after Confederation. This was eventually abolished as, of course, Parliament may provide for the periodic redistribution of electoral districts. Third, the constitutional representation formula (Section 51) determines the allocation of seats to the provinces. Electoral reform need not affect this allocation. None of this should imply that broad consultation (even a referendum) isnt necessary for electoral reform. Legally, however, it requires a simple Act of Parliament. I would suggest that the authors familiarize themselves with Canadian constitutional law, something neither was evidently exposed to during their legal training. Joshua Gould, St Johns, NL Two law clerks tell us that former Prime Minister Stephen Harper learned Parliament ignores the courts prerogatives at its peril. Actually the bulwark of a legal system does not always protect a democratic society from bad things or beneficial things happening. I would like to question the U.S. law clerk about how undemocratic SuperPACs favouring the wealthy came into existence in the United States. Basically if you get elected with a gerrymandered district or there is lobbied money to spread around and you stack a Supreme Court with justices sympathetic to a cause, it becomes very difficult to reverse unprincipled decisions. Citizens have to remain vigilant to protect democracy. Even with all the protections outlined for the Canadian political system, vote splitting allowed a government elected with a minority of the electorate to bundle omnibus bills together that allowed important decisions to be buried and made without debate. I would hope Canadians were scared enough by the last eight years to have the will to support a fair electoral reform plan legally futile or not. Russell Pangborn, Keswick Messrs. Roth, one of whom writes from a distinctly American experience and perspective, invoke Canadas constitutional architecture in arguing against the constitutionality of electoral reform as proposed by the current government. However, that architecture, developed in Britain and faithfully copied in Canada, has not posed obstacles to significant changes in the electoral systems of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These now elect their parliaments by forms of proportional representation, as does the Westminster Parliament for British representatives in the European Parliament. It would appear that our constitutional architecture is a lot more flexible than these authors are prepared to consider. Not coincidentally, this was also the conclusion of the Law Commission of Canada following extensive consultation with constitutional experts. The recommendations in its 2004 report were based on a constitutional analysis that ensures [they] are viable within the countrys existing constitutional framework. Ute Thomas, Ottawa Please stop publishing articles that only discourage eectoral rform in the minds of voters. First describe and promote the goals and benefits of PR so that citizens know what they are considering. Then agonize over how to approach the population. If there is a referendum, why would anybody even want to vote on election reform without understanding what they are voting for? The main objective of PR is to give each party the same percentage of seats as its corresponding popular vote percentage in the national election. Some countries using PR include Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. PR corrects many of the drawbacks of our system of FPTP voting: *Every vote counts. No matter for which Party citizens cast their vote, it counts toward the number of seats the Party receives in Ottawa. *Citizens can vote for the Party platform they support instead of having to vote strategically to avoid a dreaded outcome. *Parties can present their true ideals in their election platforms instead of distorting and bending their platforms to get elected. PR tends to: *prevent large false (# of seats greatly exceed popular vote percentage) majorities *result in coalition rather than majority governments *make more stable governments which are able to do long term planning without always crafting legislation to get reelected *promote more citizen participation in elections *reduce the rich-poor gap *give all parties, including the NDP and especially the Greens, the same ability to turn votes into seats Donald A. Fraser, Waterloo Apparently our recent federal election was illegal at least according to two former law clerks named Roth. After all, Elections Canada unilaterally adjusted the number of ridings in each province, fundamentally altering the relationships between provinces. To make matters worse, only the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are entitled to send any representatives to Ottawa as they are the only provinces listed in our Constitution. In fact elections in Canada are now handled by the Canada Elections Act and related federal legislation. Arguing against their legality voids all recent elections. So long as Ottawa doesnt change the formula for representation for each province, the provinces have no direct interest in how the elections are held. One can even argue that the provinces have an interest in ensuring that their residents are represented fairly, something our current electoral system fails to do. The 2003 Liberal governments study by the Law Commission on Electoral Reform entitled Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada, which included input from constitutional experts, must surely carry more weight than the opinion of two lawyers, one of whom doesnt even practice in Canada. Their recommendations in chapter 4 are prefaced The Law Commissions work in this and subsequent chapters is based on a constitutional analysis that ensures the recommendations are viable within the countrys existing constitutional framework. I understand the desire by private media like the Star to want to continue to wield excessive influence in our elections. However this desire is at odds with the basic premise of representative democracy that every voter deserves fair and equal representation. Gary Dale, West Hill The argument that Canadas voting system cannot be altered by Parliament is based on a false premise. In fact, the Constitution does not specify how each district is to elect its member. It does say that each province is to be divided into electoral districts, with the number to be allotted in proportion to the population of the province, and that each of these districts is to elect one member to sit in the Commons. It is, however, silent on how that member is elected. Our FPTP system is a convention, not a constitutionally enshrined stipulation. In its 2004 report, Voting Counts, the Law Commission of Canada confirmed that there is no fundamental constitutional impediment to changing the electoral system unless a proposed new system would allow a province to receive enough extra seats to make its share of the seats in the House of Commons no longer proportional to its population. Therefore, neither provincial approval nor a referendum is required for electoral reform, as long as provincial proportionality is maintained. In fact, the report provided several good arguments against a referendum: First, and primarily, other reforms have been made without the benefit of a referendum, for example the reform of financing political parties. Why should one reform be subject to referendum approval and not others? The Conservatives so-called Fair Elections Act made significant changes to our electoral system without regard for input from citizens, other political parties, or even experts on the electoral process. Secondly, referendums can oversell a reform, that is, the referendum process tends to present the proposed reform as the best and the only approach. On the other hand, an organization with deep pockets could sway referendum voters to a negative outcome through an expensive ad campaign, and the report warns against such third-party spending. Third, referendums can be divisive. For relatively technical issues such as electoral system reform, it might be a better idea to put electoral reform at the centre of electoral debates for a specific election, thereby creating opportunities for citizen dialogue and participation. And that is indeed what happened in the recent election. Given that about 70 per cent of voters cast ballots for parties that promised electoral reform of some kind, the argument that the current government has no mandate to proceed is clearly groundless. Patricia Wilmot, Toronto The right way to do reform, Editorial Jan. 9 In the 1979 federal election, Joe Clarks PC party got 4.1 million votes, while Pierre Trudeaus Liberal party got 4.6 million votes, yet the PCs won the election. In the 1987 New Brunswick election, the Liberals won 60 per cent of the popular vote, yet won every seat in the legislature. The other 40 per cent of the electorate were simply unrepresented. In the 1993 federal election, the Bloc got 1.8 million votes and won 54 seats while the PCs got 2.2 million votes and only won 2 seats. In the 1996 B.C. election, the Liberal party won 42 per cent of the popular vote and the NDP 39.5 per cent, yet the NDP formed the government. That the Stars editorial board considers this just a flaw is contemptuous of democracy. The editorial indicates that PR referendums in three provinces failed. However, in B.C.s 2005 referendum, almost 58 per cent of voters province wide voted for PR and it was supported by more than 50 per cent of voters in 77 of B.C.s 79 electoral districts. The system was not adopted as the ruling Liberals had mandated that it needed a supermajority of at least 60 per cent of the popular vote to pass (an undemocratic requirement). That the board didnt consider that you needed to know this is contemptuous of the truth. The editorial indicates that, in the last federal election, Canadians got what they clearly wanted. However, over 600,000 voters cast ballots for the Green party. As the party only won 1 seat, clearly these voters did not get what they clearly wanted. The boards glib view of this is contemptuous of voters. It is clear from this editorial that the board considers the NDP and Greens ideologically driven parties, making the board contemptuous of political debate. That the board is contemptuous of all these things is only shocking until we remember that replacing FPTP with PR benefits voters (usually at the expense of corporations) because FPTP is not democratic and PR is. Last time I checked, Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., Star Media Group and Torstar were all corporations, not voters. Michael Blythe, Scotland ON I was deeply disappointed reading your editorial about Canadas election system and Liberal partys plans to reform it. First you suggest Liberals are better to put aside the plan quietly as it was never on their election platform. This is exactly what is wrong with politics these days and what makes people especially the youth apathetic about political process. If you encourage politicians to break their campaign promises, then whats the point of running two or three months of campaigning and spending over $300 million of taxpayers money for it? Second, unlike what you suggest, Canadian political system and a lot of others that are using FPTP system is indeed in crisis and needs immediate attention. Majority governments with less than 40 per cent of popular vote is no where close to be called a democratically elected government. Kudos to Justin Trudeau and his minister, Maryam Monsef, for following through their promise. Saeed Vahid, Richmond Hill The Star is fully aware that joining the call for a referendum, which a majority of Canadian dailies have done, is a call for the status quo. The Liberals made a clear election promise back in July, 2015: We will make every vote count. We are committed to ensuring that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system. We will convene an all-party Parliamentary committee to review a wide variety of reforms, such as ranked ballots, proportional representation, mandatory voting, and online voting. This committee will deliver its recommendations to Parliament. Within 18 months of forming government, we will introduce legislation to enact electoral reform. Clearly hoping that a referendum will fail to bring change, the supporters seem happy with the continuation of a 149-year-old system whereby a party gets some 40 per cent of the votes, earns 100 per cent of the power, while the opposition can rant, rave, oppose but has no power. None of the top-rated democracies use this system. Disappointingly, it is hard to find any newspaper support for an ambitious, clearly stated promise, which is surely within the mandate of a majority government. MPs are elected to make such decisions, referendums are not the way. Richard Ring, Grimsby While voters are confused about how the different electoral systems work, they have made it abundantly clear they want all parties fairly represented in our Parliaments. Proportional Representation (PR) is the only electoral system that addresses this issue, and that is why it is used in virtually all democratic societies in the so-called free world. Another very important reason to use a PR system is that it encourages the development of more parties, opening the doors for more people to get involved with the political process. To make sure the majority of the MPs are elected in the geographic regions where they live, larger electoral districts will be created to include several federal ridings. The process of nominating Candidates does not change, but there are many ways of ranking the candidates on the so-called Party List, the list of candidates representing the different parties in an election. Using a PR ballot, voters mark the ballot to indicate the party of choice to establish how many seats it will get in the Legislature, while on the same ballot they vote for and rank the candidates. That makes it about as simple, honest, and fair as it can possibly get. It is in a way a win-win ballot, because you can vote for your favourite party and candidate without penalty. It is also the only balloting system where every single vote is used to elect a candidate. The big bonus is that this system of balloting consistently produces governments that are politically stable, efficient and productive. Mixed Member Proportional (MMP), and Trudeaus preferential, instant run-off models are both monumental disasters. A preferential ballot will undermine the party structure, because millions of the voters will be obliged to choose between party - or candidate. It will also produce results that are similar to using our current electoral system: minority governments that miraculously get most of the seats. STV for BC was a preferential ballot, not a PR ballot. That is why the referendum failed twice. The people wanted PR. Andy Thomsen, Peachland, B.C. I wonder if opponents of PR have a comprehensive understanding of it or if they merely fear the prospect that electoral change will give a public voice to causes they despise? Might it not be preferable to debate the issues rather than seek to exclude opponents from the political arena? On the other hand, such political censorship is very convenient. Canadas current parliamentary system is based largely on fantasies of trust and accountability to the public interest. Perhaps PR opponents like the idea of being ruled by the backdoor corporate masters of either one of our two dominant parties. The current system encourages them to ignore the concerns of a huge percentage of Canadians who either dont vote or whose votes are rendered useless under the first past the post system system. . If eligible Canadian voters should have a final say on changes to the electoral system, why not a direct role in every major decision, including major military actions? Such public participation would undoubtedly disturb those who feel nothing but contempt for the average person. Unfortunately, direct democracy requires a larger commitment of time and energy than most people seem willing to offer. They seem to prefer the current system that pretends to represent their interests. Easily-obtainable evidence indicates that, while government is aware of public wishes; it consistently chooses a different agenda. Beyond that, who is actually qualified to decide which issues are best left to secretive, in camera cabinet meetings and the influence of powerful lobbyists? Morgan Duchesney, Ottawa There has been a lot of talk about electoral reform with many possibilities mentioned from ranked ballots, approval voting, PR, mixed mode, etc. Or we could stay with the existing FPTP system, which is considered by most experts to be far less fair that any other of the suggested alternative systems. One question that comes up is whether this should be decided by parliament or through a referendum. In Canada we have a representative democracy where we elect people to represent us and make decisions for us. These people have the time, money and resources to make informed decisions (although sadly some choose not to do so). The alternative is direct democracy where everybody votes on a specific issue through a referendum. However how many voters have the time, inclination, or resources to do a detailed and in depth investigation into any issue? During the last Quebec referendum there was a poll that showed almost 40 per cent of Quebecers thought that they would still use Canadian passports after independence, clearly incorrect. During the Ontario referendum on electoral reform I was hard pressed to find anyone who actually knew what Mixed-mode Proportional representation was, but that didnt stop many from being passionately opposed to it because it they believed it to mean the end of democracy. The problem is that in the absence of knowledge people are very vulnerable to misinformation, propaganda, and fear mongering. If you think you know enough to vote, ask yourself how many of the voting methods I mentioned above do you fully understand and for which you can list all the pros and cons. If we have a referendum on the issue, regardless of which way it goes, the one thing we can be certain of is that the people who make the decision will be uninformed. A referendum on electoral reform is neither necessary nor desirable. Lawrence Goerzen, Kitchener Your editorial falsely asserts, First-past-the-post generally produces stable majorities and allows voters to throw the bums out when they get tired of them. No, FPTP does not generally produce stable majorities. In fact, it quite often produces unstable minority governments, and several times it has created farcical situations where the separatist Bloc Quebecois has ended up as Her Majestys Loyal Opposition. Secondly, FPTP can easily be gamed by an unscrupulous leader like Stephen Harper, who could, in the last election, have been re-elected to another five years of disastrous misrule, simply if the FPTP-engineered vote-splitting between the Liberals and NDP had been slightly different. We simply got lucky, this time (does the Star think that another five years of Harper, earned by him getting 33 per cent of the national popular vote, would have been a good thing, or would have reflected the wishes of Canadian voters?). Next time it might be different. All of the above are obvious reasons why FPTP has seen its day come and go. Canada needs a new, fairer electoral system, appropriate to the equal representation principles of Canadian society in the 21st century. Along with the 67 per cent plus of Canadian voters who supported parties in favour of electoral reform in the last federal election, I call upon Mr. Trudeau to honour his election promises and enact electoral reform with a simple vote of Parliament (as was the case with FPTP itself), at the earliest possible opportunity. Marcus Shields, Brampton SHARE: Ontario stands at the top of the class for its strong Canadian history curriculum in the latest ratings by this countrys history education watchdog and we trounced Alberta, whose fuzzy timelines and lack of compulsory high school history credit landed it dead last. Ontarios rich Grade 10 history credit course so jam-packed the report suggests it be spread over two years plus its mandatory half-course in citizenship helped earn it a mark of 82 per cent on the Canadian History Report Card, to be released Monday by Historica Canada, a group that promotes awareness of Canadian history. Also strong were British Columbia (81 per cent), Quebec (80) and Manitoba (80). However Alberta scored just 62 per cent, and Saskatchewan 69 per cent, in a report that calls for schools to work harder to help students understand their country. We tend to be lacking at either the front end recent history or the back end before 1867, but were getting better, which is important because understanding history helps you understand why we are the way we are, said Historica president Anthony Wilson-Smith. If anything, Ontarios Grade 10 history course tries to cover too much, he said; from the early 1900s to now both world wars, the great influenza epidemic, the injustices done to immigrants like the Chinese who didnt get the vote till 1947 lets think of that scope! It would be better spread over two years. Canadian schools have pulled up their educational socks since 2009, when Historicas last report card handed out failing grades to five provinces and territories, with two more squeaking by with only 50s. This report card looked at history curriculum from Grades 4 to 12 to see how well it balances the teaching of timelines with deeper themes like diversity, gender, aboriginal peoples and national identity and from a range of perspectives, from global to local, social to national. It also measures how well each province teaches students to think about history using the six historical thinking concepts that have to do with historical significance, considering evidence, examining continuity and change, cause and consequence, looking at broader historical perspectives and the ethical dimension. Wilson-Smith said Canadian schools are moving beyond the perspective of European settlers to include First Nations, women and non-European immigrants perspectives, and consider more than just military and economic milestones by discussing ethics and social responsibility. Historica also consulted classroom teachers, and some in Ontario expressed their frustration at having little time for a deep look at events such as the FLQ crisis, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Indian Act, residential schools, the Montreal Massacre, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, OPEC crisis, the Oka crisis and the Meech Lake Accord, said Historicas program manager, Bronwyn Graves. History teacher James Stewart of Bishop Strachan School, a consultant on the report card project, said, Students love history when it is taught well. I find students are continually fascinated by the history of the First and Second World Wars, particularly the former. They are completely unaware of the contribution made by Canada and are startled by the horror of the slaughter. Its a huge awakening for them. Stewart also tries to make history relevant. He had his students send tweets two years ago to the new U.S. ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, about what he should know about the countries joint history. Heyman responded, which Stewart said gave students a thrill. How the provinces scored: Ontario A- (82 per cent): Hailed for covering Canadian history in a way that uses respected new historical thinking concepts that, more than just memorizing timelines, get students thinking about context. The program covers from the period from New France to the end of the First World War in elementary school, and most of the 20th century in the mandatory high school course. But Ontario could add more lessons about its own regional history, suggests the report. British Columbia: A- (81 per cent): Gets props for highlighting the views of women and indigenous communities in Social Studies courses from Grades 7 to 9.The mandatory Grade 10 Social Studies curriculum gets students thinking about Canadian identity, culture, government, economics, technology and the environment. The report says a Grade 11 Social Studies course is so strong on Canadian history from the First World War to the present, it also be mandatory. Quebec A- (80 per cent): Is praised for history and citizenship education in elementary school covering a huge range of history from ancient civilizations to the Christianization of the West, the American revolution, imperialism and civil rights. Quebec does a good job of balancing global, national and provincial views, the report says, but focuses so much on Quebec history in high school that students learn less about the other parts of the country. It could include more about aboriginal history. Still, it provides lots of context and prods students to think deeply. Manitoba A- (80 per cent): Although its elementary courses are light on Canadian content, they get kudos for including the perspectives of women and various cultural groups. A mandatory Grade 11 History of Canada course explores history from European contact to the present, in a way that gets students thinking about the events in a broader context. Newfoundland and Labrador B (75 per cent): This is the only province that offers a course specifically on its own history. Grade 8 students learn about the economic, political and social factors that shaped its development through the 19th and 20th centuries. It also requires students to conduct a major research project over the second half of the year. However, it lost marks for having no mandatory Canadian history course in high school, even though students must take two courses in Canadian studies, such as law, economics or geography. Nova Scotia B- (73 per cent): Elementary history courses carry a strong regional, Atlantic focus, but could benefit from more focus on the perspectives of aboriginal peoples, women and francophones. Students must take at least one Canadian history credit in Grade 11, from Gaelic Studies to Mikmaq studies, but the one broad Canadian studies course which the report believes should be mandatory needs to be rejigged to give students more time to learn the material. New Brunswick B- (71 per cent): Loses marks for not having a mandatory Canadian history course, but is praised for a curriculum that builds research skills, teaches students to use primary sources and encourages creative thinking and communication. The curriculum itself lacks enough content on aboriginal history. An optional Grade 12 course called Canadian History should be mandatory. Prince Edward Island B- (71 per cent): The province offers strong Canadian history courses in high school including one specifically about the island but neither is compulsory. Students must take two social studies credits, but they need not be history. Still, the report compliments PEI for doing a good job working Canadian history into the elementary social studies courses. Saskatchewan C+ (69 per cent): While Saskatchewans optional Grade 12 history course covers Canadian history from European contact to the 1990s, it is outdated and should be updated and made compulsory. This would allow students to learn about Canadas history before and after Confederation. Alberta C- (62 per cent): With no mandatory Canadian history course, students miss out on learning about national and historical issues in enough detail and instead get narrow tastes of more specific themes. The report suggests Alberta update an optional course called Canadian History 20, which explores Canadian history from European contact to the present, and make it compulsory. SHARE: A rural migrant worker receives his wages with the help of local government authorities in Huaibei, Anhui province, on Friday. WAN SHANCHAO/CHINA DAILY A total of 4,815 complaints regarding the wages of migrant workers were referred to public security organs for further investigation in 2015, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Most concerned the nonpayment of wages and enforced pay cuts. However, the problem of wage defaults "has been contained" since refusing to pay employees was made a crime under a 2011 amendment to the Criminal Law, ministry spokesman Li Zhong said during a news conference on Friday. According to the latest figures, there are more than 274 million migrant workers in China and many have fallen victim to wage defaults due to the nature of their work. Zhou Litai, a lawyer specializing in the protection of migrant workers' rights, said that because many work in construction they are only paid upon completion of a project. Reported cases of salary cuts and wage defaults involving migrant workers increased by 34 percent in the first three quarters of 2015 when compared to the same period the year previously, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. The ongoing economic downturn has also meant that such cases have spread from the construction industry, where they are traditionally most prevalent, to the manufacturing sector, it said. Li of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said local governments have been instructed to conduct a probe into migrant workers' wages, to ensure that they are all paid before returning to their hometowns for the Spring Festival early next month. The General Office of the State Council said in a notice circulated on Tuesday that a guarantee system was to be introduced to prevent future problems concerning migrant workers' wages. It said that by 2020 a well-managed operation must be in force, including requirements for closer supervision and harsher punishments, to put an end to the payment default issue. This notice will serve as a crucial guideline when forming a long-term mechanism to tackle the problem, Li said. "In the past it was difficult to verify who was ultimately responsible for payment in many cases because construction projects are often contracted out several times before work starts," he said. "But according to the notice, those doing the contracting out must enhance their supervision of outsourced work and should be responsible for all payments. All migrant workers also have to sign contracts using their real names before work starts." Any company that fails to pay wages in future will be put on a blacklist, to be published at regular intervals, Li added. Arrears will also be closely investigated and contingency plans improved, especially where a large number of workers are involved. "There should be some capital available for cases that cannot be solved in a short time. A joint conference system should also be established with ministries cooperating to deal with the problem," he said. President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "advance industrialization in the Middle East", a statement backed up with pledges of billions of dollars in loans and investments to help make that happen, in a speech to the Arab League at its headquarters in Cairo on Thursday afternoon. "China's competitive production capacity and the human resources in the Middle East, when combined, will deliver more and better job opportunities for the region," said Xi, who is on a three-nation trip to the Middle East. Xi left Egypt on Friday for Iran, the third and last stop on his visit. Xi announced that China will set up a $15 billion special loan for industrialization in the region to be used on production capacity cooperation and infrastructure projects. China also will launch a $20 billion joint investment fund with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to primarily invest in traditional energy, infrastructure development and high-end manufacturing industries in the region, Xi said. The president said China and the Middle East "need to make good use of the coming five years", a crucial period to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, China's plan to link Asia, Africa and Europe via trade and infrastructure investment. Observers called the concrete measures proposed in the president's latest Middle East policy speech pragmatic and effective in addressing the region's thirst for stability and economic reinvigoration. Li Guofu, a researcher in Middle East studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Xi had set the target of realizing the measures proposed in the upcoming five years "in order to make sure benefits are delivered faster to the people of both China and the Middle East". Xi's speech displayed China's latest philosophy in how to help address regional hot spot issues, and has reaffirmed China's commitment to not interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, Li said. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said, "China's successful experience in the process of modernizing itself has greatly inspired and encouraged the Arab countries to explore their own developing pathways that adapt to their respective national conditions." In regard to promoting stability in the region, Xi said China will "set up a China-Arab research center on reform and development". To boost structural adjustments, Xi said China may sign more currency swap and mutual investment agreements, expand renminbi settlement services and accelerate investment facilitation. Both China and the Middle East will steer the investment funds and private capital of the two parties toward major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. Li Shaoxian, a senior expert in Middle East studies at Ningxia University in Yinchuan, in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, said, "Political stability and economic reinvigoration the two key elements for ensuring regional stability are inseparable from each other". In the case of Egypt, Li said huge endeavors have been made to get its domestic stability back on track, "but problems may return if its economy does not recover quickly". He Wenping, a senior expert in Middle East studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, observed that the Middle East standing at the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa enjoys a profoundly strategic location, and "it is undergoing a critical phase as it rolls out political restructuring and social transformation". "China has not been absent from Middle East affairs. It has been increasingly proactive when conducting peaceful diplomacy with the region in recent years and co-building the Belt and Road Initiative may be a part of the peaceful diplomacy," He said. In Iran, Xi will meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani, as well as holding talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The newspaper Iran published a signed article by Xi on Thursday. >>>Related: Xi arrives in Iran for state visit Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Friday night for a state visit to Iran aimed at further boosting the traditional friendship and economic engagement between the two countries. Hours after Zee Group suffered losses to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore in market capitalisation after the shares of its entertainment arm massively tanked on Friday, Subhash Chandra, Chairman, ZEE & Essel Group, tendered an apology to bankers, NBFCs and mutual funds. In an open letter , Chandra said sorry to the creditors for not having lived up to their expectations, and blamed the financial mess on aggressive bets on Essel Infra, and also the acquisition of Videocons D2H business. Shares of ZEE group companies plummeted up to 33 per cent, and suffered a combined loss of Rs 13,352 crore in market valuation. Dish TV shares tanked 32.74 per cent closing at Rs 22.60 on BSE. Shares of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd plunged 26.43 per cent to Rs 319.35, Zee Learn Ltd tumbled 18.49 per cent to Rs 27.55 and Zee Media Corporation Ltd slumped 9.05 per cent to end at Rs 22.10. The Zee shares tanked after a media report said its promoter company Essel Group was allegedly involved in money laundering post demonetisation. Apologising to the creditors, Chandra also alleged that some negative forces were out to sabotage his efforts to raise money through a strategic sale in the Zee Entertainment Enterprises. In the open letter, Chandra said rolling over debt had been difficult since the IL&FS crisis and the group had been able to honour its loan commitments till December. I am compelled to apologise to our bankers, NBFCs and mutual funds, since I believe that I have not lived up to your expectations, despite the best of my intentions, Chandra said. He did not say if the group had defaulted on any debt servicing commitment, but urged lenders not to react in an anarchical manner and maintain patience till the process of ZEE Entertainments stake sale was completed. Post-sale process, we will be positively able to repay the entire dues, but if the lenders react in panic, it will only hurt them and us, he warned. Mentioning negative force, Chandra said the troubles started in June 2018 and was followed up by anonymous letters to bankers, non-bank lenders, mutual funds, and shareholders. He claimed that none of the operating firms of the group was facing trouble and it was only the promoters who were facing problems due to different business calls. Admitting to some of his mistakes, he said wrong bets had caused losses to the tune of Rs 4,000-5,000 crore on Essel Infra alone. Chandra said the decision to acquire Videocons D2H business in November 2016 (completed in March 2018) also cost him and brother Jawahar Goel a fortune. Another mistake, he said, was the decision to take on the debt of all group companies during the division of the family business, adding most of the new business calls had not worked, causing debt to mount. Chandra said he has written a number of complaints to the police, Maharashtra home minister and Sebi since November 2018, but none yielded any result. Full text of Subhash Chandras open letter to creditors Dear Friends, At a very early stage of my life, I have learnt the most important lesson from my grandfather, Shri Jagannath Goenka, which taught me that a direct dialogue with the creditors should be maintained, should you find it difficult to repay any sort of loans, and this message is my earnest effort in doing so. First and foremost, vide this message I would like to express my deepest apologies to our esteemed financial supporters. I have always been the first to accept my faults and we have been consistently accountable for the decisions taken, and I will maintain the same today as well. For the first time in my career of 52 years, I am compelled to apologize to our bankers, NBFCs & Mutual Funds, since I believe that I have not lived up to their expectations, despite the best of my intentions. I am extremely certain that there is no promoter in India Inc., who has dared to sell the jewel of his crown, to pay off the liabilities. While the process is still ongoing, there are some forces which are not willing to see us succeed. That said, I am not indicating that there are no mistakes done from my end, and as always, I am willing to face the consequences of the same. I assure you, that I am not running away from the core issue and will do my best to repay each and every person. The best time for the same, however, is difficult to be mentioned at this stage. I would also like to state through this message, the key points which have gone wrong: Essel Infra: As most of the infra companies, even we have made some incorrect bids. In usual cases, Infra Companies have raised their hands and have left their lenders with non-performing assets, but in our case, My Obsession of not walking away from the situation has made me to bleed Rs 4000 crore to Rs 5000 crore. Despite the loss-making projects, we continued to pay the interest and the principle, by borrowing funds against our shareholdings in Listed Companies. Acquisition of D2H: My recommendation made to my brother Jawahar Goel to buy D2H from Videocon was one more key error, which costed me and Jawahar both, a fortune. When our family business separation was implemented, as the eldest member of the family, I had taken the entire burden of the debts. I believe, it was my mistake to have told myself that Subhash you can earn and repay the creditors. Post which, most of my bets on the new businesses have not worked, which led to the increased debt, due to the added interest levels. The situation at hand, became further unmanageable after the IL&FS issue, came to public light. Till then, we were managing our borrowings efficiently. The IL&FS meltdown stopped the roll overs, diminishing our ability to service our borrowings. From May / June 2018 onwards a negative force which was acting against our grip as promoters became strongly active. This was followed by some anonymous letters being sent to all Bankers, NBFCs, Mutual Funds, Shareholders, etc. Whenever we have reported some really good results from the operating Companies, the share prices were intentionally hammered by these negative forces, driving away the investors. While the above, are the reasons of the current situation, I must also mention what steps were taken from our end: We wrote a number of complaints to the Department of Police, Home Minister of Maharashtra, SEBI and other concerned authorities, right since November 2018, but all the efforts did not result in any action. Till December, we continued to pay the due interest and principle, to all lenders. I have also given my best to expedite the stake sale of ZEE Entertainment. Infact, I have just returned back from London, last night itself, after a series of positive meetings with potential suitors. The mentioned negative forces, possibly after getting a hint of these positive meetings, have attacked the share price today, with a clear intention of sabotaging ZEE Entertainments strategic sale process. I must also mention that there is no systematic protection against the insidious attack on us by the mentioned negative forces, but we will continue to seek the support of the system in order to thoroughly investigate the matter. About the Operating Companies: All Operating Companies, especially our most precious one which is ZEE Entertainment, are performing exceptionally well and are under NO stress whatsoever. The debt burden is purely at the promoter level, which is reflecting negatively on the Companies. I would like to reiterate that ALL the Companies are performing exceptionally well and there is no problem whatsoever. Having said the above, I still believe, strongly feel and would like to urge the lenders, not to react in an anarchical manner and to maintain patience, till the process of ZEE Entertainments stake sale is completed. Post the sale process, we will be positively able to repay the entire dues, but if the lenders react in a panic situation, it will only hurt them and us. I would again like to reiterate that I have no intention whatsoever, to keep a single rupee, till all the dues to the lenders are paid. Yours truly, Subhash Chandra (With agency inputs) Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has said that he doesn't want to politicize the judicial branch. But now, the court is getting ready to deliver a huge ruling on the hottest issue in the 2016 election, and the ruling, whatever is decided, is likely to determine the tenor of debate until election day. How's that for not getting political? Sometime before November, probably in June, the Supreme Court will rule on whether President Obama had the right to issue an executive order to allow about five million out of an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants who are the parents of citizens or permanent residents to avoid deportation and be given a temporary work permit. Obama has defended the November 2014 order as essential instructions to government agencies on how to deal with millions of undocumented immigrants given that the Department of Homeland Security says it only has funds to deport about 400,000 people a year. Congress, the president has said, could stop the program by passing legislation, but has chosen not to. Yet even as the court's decision will narrowly focus on the parameters of presidential powers, Democrats and Republicans are certain to use the ruling to raise the ire or enthusiasm of supporters on a most contentious issue. "If the president wins the ruling, activists will see this as a down payment on a legalization program that's part of immigration reform passed through Congress," Daniel Costa, director of Immigration Law and Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, said in a phone interview from Washington. "As for Republicans, it's doubtful they could be more against it than they already are." Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has made border enforcement and deportation a cornerstone of his campaign. The New York real estate developer catapulted to the top of the Republican race with comments about Mexicans that sparked accusations of racism. Trump was further bolstered in December when he called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S. along with building a wall across the 1,989 mile long U.S.-Mexico border. Conversely, immigration reform has dogged the campaign of Florida Senator Marco Rubio for having co-sponsored the comprehensive 2013 Immigration Modernization Act. That legislation passed the Senate but failed in the House of Representatives amid opposition to citizenship provisions for some unauthorized immigrants. The leading Republican candidates -- Trump, Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz -- argue that Obama's order was an illegal use of presidential power. Weeks after it was issued, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined with 25 other states to sue the federal government, charging Obama with taking a backdoor route to ensure amnesty for millions of undocumented immigrants. "That rule of law theme has played and will certainly play a large part on the Republican side, and be part of the continuing campaign against President Obama," Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute, said in an interview from Washington. Ultimately, the court will rule on whether Homeland Security followed proper administrative channels in instituting its policy, and whether the president violated his constitutional duty by seeking to enforce current laws. But whatever it decides, the court's ruling will set the tone of the debate over immigration for the remainder of the campaign. "The Tea party and the Conservative movement has been talking about Obama acting like an imperial president for quite a while, so they'd probably be very upset if this conservative Supreme Court rules in favor of the president," Costa said. "But even this order only covers some immigrants, and everyone will know it could be repealed by the next president." The ruling may also provoke accusations that the court is playing politics. "Roberts wants to keep the court away from the election debate," Cato's Shapiro said. "But it's inevitable that the Supreme Court will become even more of an issue than it otherwise would be." Whichever way the Supreme Court rules, it will likely also be used by candidates on both sides as a reminder that the next president could have the opportunity to appoint as many as four justices. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer will all be over 80 by the time the next presidential term ends on Jan. 20, 2021. TEHRAN, Jan. 22-- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Friday night for a state visit to Iran aimed at further boosting the traditional friendship and economic engagement between the two countries. Xi's visit comes days after West-led sanctions on Iran were lifted following an announcement by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirming that Tehran had scaled back its nuclear program. China played a constructive role in prior negotiations. It is the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese head of state to Iran, and also Xi's first trip to the ancient country, whose friendship with China dates back to 2,000 years ago thanks to the Silk Road. Both as ancient civilizations, China and Iran boast long history and splendid culture and have made important contribution to human progress, Xi said in written remarks upon arrival. "Currently, China and Iran are faced with new development opportunities in their relations," Xi said. "China stands ready to work with Iran to seize the momentum and further elevate our relationship and practical cooperation, so as to usher in a new chapter for our ties featuring comprehensive, long-term and stable development." Xi added that he looks forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with Iranian leaders on bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of mutual concern, and working with them to formulate an ambitious blueprint for China-Iran cooperation and further deepen the friendship between the two nations. The Chinese president will meet his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, on Saturday for discussions on aligning their national development strategies and boosting cooperation on both political and economic fronts. During Xi's visit, the two countries are expected to lift their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi and Rouhani have met each other on multiple occasions over recent years. Rouhani paid a state visit to China in May 2014. Xi is also scheduled to meet Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his stay in Tehran. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1971, and their relationship has since enjoyed sound and steady development. Two-way trade jumped from tens of millions of U.S. dollars in 1970s to 51.8 billion dollars in 2014, and China has been Iran's biggest trading partner for six consecutive years. Xi's visit, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming told reporters earlier this week, "will be a milestone that will usher in a new era of bilateral ties featuring comprehensive, long-term and stable development." In an interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's visit, Pang Sen, China's ambassador to Iran, pointed out that China and Iran, sharing a traditional friendship, neither have any problems left over from history nor have conflicts of interests in present days. "To develop our friendly cooperative relationship is not only in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, but also conducive to the regional peace, stability and prosperity," he added. Xi will conclude on Saturday night his five-day, three-nation tour of the Middle East, which has already taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It is Xi's first overseas visit this year and also his first trip to the region since he became Chinese president in 2013. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 47F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 40F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Greek Coast guard officers stand outside their vessel at the port of Kalymnos island on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. A wooden sailboat carrying an undetermined number of people sank off the islet of Kalolimnos near the Greek southeastern island of Kalymnos. A number of people died in two separate incidents of boats smuggling migrants or refugees sinking off two Greek islands overnight into Friday. Dozens survived, and a search and rescue operation was underway for more potential survivors. (Dimitris Drosos/Kalymnos-News.gr via AP) This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding of technology, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. Global stock exchanges plunged into bear market territory last week as fears grew over the health of the world economy. The UK, French and Japanese markets all fell to levels 20 per cent below their 2015 highs the common definition of a bear market. More volatility is forecast as growth in China, the worlds economic engine, stumbles and commodity prices keep sliding. Disciplined: Bosses Dominic Neary (left) and James Dow (right) Some equity analysts, such as the much respected Andrew Roberts at Royal Bank of Scotland, have already warned that 2016 will be a cataclysmic year and that equities have become very dangerous. Roberts advice is sell mostly everything. For those with money tied up in investment funds held inside an Isa or a self-invested personal pension these are worrying times. James Dow, who with Dominic Neary and Toby Ross at Edinburgh-based Baillie Gifford runs investment trust Scottish American, fully understands these concerns. But he implores investors to think long-term and, if possible, to avoid the white noise. Its a discipline that underpins the running of Scottish American, a global fund with 80 per cent equity exposure. The rest of the portfolio is in fixed-interest stocks and direct property holdings. The 70-odd stocks in the equity part of the trust have been bought on the basis that they will deliver long-term dividend growth. The trusts prime focus is on generating a growing income a goal it has achieved for the past 35 years. At a glance: Scottish American Investment Company Dow says: We are trying to invest in companies across the globe that are growth businesses and have a commitment to paying attractive dividends. They are companies that will perform well through thick and thin because of the resilience of their dividend. The approach means the managers avoid many traditional dividend-friendly firms those in the utility and telecoms sectors, for example on the grounds that they are not long-term growth businesses. It also involves them casting their net far and wide. Research in the past few days by equity analysts at investment bank Stifel identified Scottish American as one of 21 investment trusts that have yields of more than six per cent We wont invest in a company until we are convinced about the dependency of their dividend stream, says Dow. That means crawling over balance sheets and reviewing the boards attitude towards dividends. It makes for a portfolio much differentiated from rival equity income trusts. Among its top ten holdings is Kimberly-Clark De Mexico, which makes household and personal hygiene products, such as nappies. Its not a capital intensive firm, says Dow, which means its happy to pay out most of its earnings in dividends. It fits our bill nicely. The trust, often referred to as Saints, is meticulously managed. No stock is allowed to provide more than five per cent of the trusts income, so limiting the effect of a holding unexpectedly cutting its dividend. Also, no firm can account for more than six per cent of the trusts assets. The biggest holding now is British advertising giant WPP, which stands at 2.3 per cent. Trust dividends are paid quarterly. Research in the past few days by equity analysts at investment bank Stifel identified Scottish American as one of 21 investment trusts that have yields of more than six per cent. Of these, six, including Scottish American, have provided more than 20 years of consecutive annual dividend rises. It is crunch time for investors in BG Group. Last April, it unveiled a recommended 47billion takeover by Royal Dutch Shell. This week, more than nine months later, both firms are asking shareholders to approve the deal. It has been an eventful gestation period. The oil price has virtually halved and Shell shares have moved in tandem, sliding from 2208p to 1388p. The slump is important because the Shell offer is a mix of cash and stock 383p in cash and 0.4454 Shell B shares for every BG share. Crunch time: Last April, BG unveiled a recommended 47billion takeover by Royal Dutch Shell In April, this was worth 1350p. Today, the offer is worth 1001p. Normally, the price of a company about to be taken over would be almost exactly in line with the offer price. On Friday the gap began to narrow and BG closed 2 per cent below the current value of the offer at 980p. The lower the Shell share price, the more expensive this transaction is on a pro-rata basis and some investors believe the Anglo-Dutch company should walk away. However, most large shareholders own both Shell and BG stock and are likely to support the deal. For BGs shareholders, hundreds of thousands of whom have held the stock since British Gas was privatised 30 years ago, there are now six possible courses of action. They can reject the offer; accept it as is; ask entirely for cash; ask entirely for shares; ask for Shell A shares rather than Shell B shares; or opt out of the Shell nominee service. Look ahead: Opting entirely for new Shell shares would indicate serious optimism about oil markets, while the cash and stock combination seems an effective compromise It is hardly surprising that many investors find this plethora of choices confusing. First, they should accept the offer. If the transaction falls through, BG shares will tumble and, though the company is perfectly able to carry on alone, it will certainly benefit from joining forces with Shell. Shareholders should also accept the cash and B shares mix. Shell shares have been hit hard, so investors opting for cash would be selling out at or near the bottom rarely the best time to exit. Opting entirely for new Shell shares would indicate serious optimism about oil markets, while the cash and stock combination seems an effective compromise. The B shares are also the most tax efficient for UK shareholders and the nominee service is the simplest option for all investors with access to the internet. Midas verdict: Midas recommended BG shares in October 2006, when the price was 665p. Investors have gained more than 60 per cent since then, including dividend payments, although the stock has waxed and waned in the intervening years, in line with the oil price. Should I stop saving while the market is volatile? The FTSE 100 fell into bear market territory this week, meaning it was down more than 20 per cent from the heady highs of 7,123, which it reached last April. Although it has climbed back a bit since then, savers are panicking because billions of pounds in pensions and Isas is held in the stock market. But while what happens in the short term on the stock market is important, savers need to think longer term. The best savings habit is to do it regularly, drip-feeding in a small amount every month. This helps you ride out the ups and downs. Downturn: Savers are panicking because billions of pounds in pensions and Isas is held in the stock market which has fallen into bear market territory It means sometimes you will be buying shares when their price has fallen, and other times when they have risen, and over time this means you buy at a fair, average price. A favourite saying among experts is: it is time in the market not timing the market. That means saving regularly and investing for the long term, not trying to predict when the stock market is at its lowest point before a turnaround and then piling your money in, or estimating when the market has peaked and taking profits. Even professional investors dont attempt that because it is so easy to get wrong. And if you put all of your cash in today and then the market falls further tomorrow, you have immediately made a loss. Figures from Fidelity show that if you invested 1,000 in the FTSE All Share 30 years ago and left it there, you would have got a return of 9.4 per cent a year and your money would be worth 14,733. But if you had tried to time the market and ended up missing just ten of the best trading days, you would have just 7,811. If you have only just started saving, you are going to be investing for a long time and your money will have plenty of time to recover from these short-term knocks. I buy various shares. Should I sell them all? When the stock market falls and you see the value of your investments go down it is certainly very unsettling. But the key thing to remember is that until you sell your shares, the losses are only on paper. It is only a real loss from your pocket once you have sold the shares, because then you have no chance of recouping the money when the market turns. Bear in mind also that if the stock market is reaching the bottom of its fall, then this is precisely the wrong moment to sell because it is when share values are at their lowest. It might be difficult and seem counterintuitive, but if the value of your stocks has fallen significantly then it is probably worth holding on until they start to bounce back. The only time to sell an investment is when the fundamental reasons for choosing it in the first place have changed for example, if the company has had a major change of strategy or if it has sold the part of its business you liked best. In fact a dip in the market is usually a good time to top up your holdings a bit. Have I lost everything that was in my pension? If you are invested in a pension fund then you are unlikely to be exposed to all of the current market turmoil. Most pension funds invest using a strategy called lifestyling. This means they change the types of asset you are invested in depending on how close you are to retiring. If you are in your 20s, for example, the majority of your money will be invested in company shares to give your cash the best chance of growing. As you get older more of your money will be moved into safer assets such as corporate bonds and government bonds, which tend to be less volatile. If you are very near to retirement it is likely that your money is sitting in government bonds and cash. According to data website Trustnet, the average UK Gilt fund is actually up 1.5 per cent over the past month, while those invested in the money market are flat. Don't panic: A bear market is when the market falls 20 per cent below its peak. But while what happens in the short term on the stock market is important, savers need to think longer term I need access to my cash now. What do I do? The first thing to say is that if you know that you are going to need your money imminently, then you should not have it in the stock market. However, it is easy to be wise after the event. If you desperately need your money for whatever reason then unfortunately you will have to crystallise your losses to get it. But if you can hold off for a few months then it is probably worth staying invested. Tom Stevenson, investment director at Fidelity, points out that often the best days in the market follow hot on the heels of the worst. He says: To me, the market does feel quite oversold at the moment and selling at this point is probably a bad idea. Often when there has been a sharp fall there is a bounce back. We saw that last year after a fall in the summer the stock market recovered in the months to December before it fell again. In normal circumstances, if you are looking to sell your holdings you should drip-feed your money out of the market, just as you drip-fed it in in regular chunks. Threat: Tata Steel set March 31 as the final date to decide the future of its Scunthorpe facility The investment firm seeking to save 4,000 jobs at a Scunthorpe steel plant has held crunch talks with Government advisers to secure a raft of support measures. Greybull Capital met with officials to request a series of financial concessions, which sources say are key to it agreeing a successful rescue deal with Tata Steel. The Indian-owned steel manufacturer privately set March 31 as the final date to decide the future of its unprofitable Scunthorpe facility, which could see it either closed or sold. But last month Greybull stepped in with a plan to buy the business. The talks are said to be progressing well and in recent weeks the investment firm had what was described as positive engagement with the Government. It is seeking support in terms of the amount of green levies it has to pay, research and development tax credits, and business rates. The EU recently gave Britain the green lights to offer relief on some taxes intensive energy users pay. While Government support is key, the success of the deal hangs on an agreement being hatched between Tata Steel and unions. This includes closing the existing final salary pension plan, a remnant from the firms heritage as British Steel. Workers will switch to a less generous defined contribution scheme. On Thursday, Greybull met local MPs and the leader of North Lincolnshire Council as part of a charm offensive. Britains steel industry has been devastated by cheap imported steel, mainly from China. Lower growth there has left it with excess steel and it has been exporting this to Europe. The problem has been compounded by UK firms paying some of the highest energy costs and green taxes in the world. Metro Bank, the first of Britains challenger banks, will this week defy stock market turmoil and launch a 2billion flotation. The float comes just over five years after Metro became the first new bank to launch in Britain for more than 100 years. In five years it has attracted customer deposits worth almost 2.9billion. City banks advising Metro are thought to be aiming to sell a 300 million slice of the business and a formal intention-to-float document is expected within days. Flotation: Metro Bank, the first of Britains challenger banks, will this week defy stock market turmoil and launch a 2billion listing Current shareholders have already said they want to take 500 million worth of shares so the existing demand would allow Metros advisers to squeeze up the price of the stock. Metros American chairman and founder Vernon Hill is said to be eager to show he can match or better his achievements at Commerce Bank, which grew at a breakneck pace after he launched it in the US. By the time Hill sold Commerce Bank it was worth $8.5 billion (6 billion at todays exchange rate). The most recent figures show Metro made a loss of 38.9million in 2014, slightly lower than the previous year. It has 40 branches and plans to extend that to 200 by 2020. Metro set out to disrupt traditional UK retail banking, preferring to call its premises stores rather than branches and trumpeting its dog-friendly policy. American investors who have backed Hill in the UK are looking for growth rather than immediate profits and are expected to end up taking up much of the flotation allocation. Some big potential UK investors are sceptical about the hefty price tag for Metro. The 2billion listing would value the bank at three times its book value a calculation of the banks net assets that is commonly used to gauge value. At current prices Virgin Money is valued at its book value. Challenger: The float comes just over five years after Metro became the first new bank to launch in Britain for more than 100 years. In five years it has attracted customer deposits worth almost 2.9 billion Trevor Green, director and head of UK institutional funds at Aviva Investors, which controls 260 billion in assets, said investors would calculate what they were prepared to pay by comparing with other challenger banks. The question will be is Metro really that different from the other challengers, he added. Another investor said: Two to three times book value is an extraordinary number. Ian Gordon, a banking analyst at broker Investec, said Metro was similar to other challenger banks in most respects, but it had a safe deposit business unlike its rivals. The stock market volatility of recent weeks has failed to dent enthusiasm for a string of planned company listings. National Australia Banks sale of a 25 per cent stake in Clydesdale is to go ahead in the next ten days with a valuation of at least 1.6 billion. Sources say there is already enough demand to guarantee a successful sale. Fears are growing that if the European Union grants China prized market economy status then cheap Chinese imports of everything from cement to roof tiles will devastate Britains homegrown industries as they have with steel. The European Commission is on the brink of accepting that Beijing no longer supports its industry. This would effectively rule out tariffs on Chinese goods. A decision could come as soon as next month. Cheap Chinese imports have already been blamed as a key reason behind the job losses that have devastated the steel industry with Tata Steel announcing last week that 1,000 jobs would go, mainly at its Port Talbot plant in Wales. Last year SSI UK closed its giant plant at Redcar, in Teesside. Decision pending: Fears are growing that if the European Union grants China prized market economy status then cheap Chinese imports of everything from cement to roof tiles will devastate Britains homegrown industries as they have with steel Now British manufacturers fear that the slowdown in growth of the Chinese economy will hit a range of heavy industries, as China uses less of its own products and seeks markets for them overseas instead. A spokesman for the Energy Intensive Users Group, which represents the UKs heavy industries, said: Our concern is that the damage done to the steel industry by imports will spread to other energy intensive industries. Some 18 per cent of the cement used in this country is imported and that figure is rising. Its the same with heavy clay products such as roof tiles where 25 per cent of the market is now imports. The UK is now the worlds largest importer of paper, after four big British paper mills closed last year. The British Government supports Chinas attempt to gain market economy status from the EU, though some countries, such as Italy, oppose it. Dumping of products such as steel involves offering the commodity at a level that is far below market prices. Gareth Stace, director of the trade body Steel UK, said: We need the Government to take the lead in making the EU speed up investigations into steel dumping from nine months to six months and in modernising the tariff system. Stock exchanges reeling from a collapse in emerging market growth will face renewed pressure this week as figures show Britains own economic recovery has slowed. Fears of a downturn have swept markets worldwide since the start of the year, wiping hundreds of billions of pounds off the value of shares. But the panic has yet to dent economists optimism about British and developed market growth meaning signs of a slowdown here could ring new alarm bells. Unsteady: Stock exchanges reeling from a collapse in emerging market growth will face renewed pressure this week as figures show Britains own economic recovery has slowed Official figures will show that economic growth in the UK was just 0.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, say forecasters from IHS Global Insight. That would put year-on-year growth at 1.8 per cent, still decent, but the lowest figure since Britains recovery took off in 2013. Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS, also said the consultancy had trimmed its forecast for this year to 2.1 per cent, just below the Treasurys 2.2 per cent forecast. This week will also see growth figures from the US. The worlds biggest economy is likely to say that growth stood at an annual rate of 1 per cent in the final quarter of 2015. Investors are nursing big losses this weekend with the Footsie in bear market territory having fallen more than 20 per cent from its 7,104 peak in April last year. While it recovered slightly on Thursday and Friday, the question buzzing around the City is whether the chaos in financial markets is just panic among traders and investors, or whether it heralds a real economic slowdown or even recession. Analysts at Coutts, the Queens bank, argued that economic fundamentals were strong, making recent market falls a buying opportunity for investors. Gloomy: Investors are nursing big losses this weekend with the Footsie in bear market territory having fallen more than 20 per cent from its 7,104 closing peak in April last year It said in a note to clients: Global markets are reacting to fears of a sharp economic slowdown, but without any solid evidence that such a slowdown is actually happening or is imminent. We have carefully reviewed all of our underlying assumptions and carried out a thorough search for any fundamental factor we may have overlooked. Our conclusion remains that growth looks fine and fears of a slowdown are exaggerated. Others are slightly less optimistic. Alan Hudson, head of restructuring at EY, the accountancy firm previously called Ernst & Young, said the markets turbulence could itself overwhelm economic confidence. Most businesses are standing up to the test, but the New Year brought new twists on familiar challenges. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Chinas economic path has clouded further, with uncertainty feeding into global markets. Low oil prices should be more of a blessing than a curse, but rising market tension threatens to swamp the benefits, he said. He added that a failure in confidence is still a serious risk. CBI president Paul Drechsler told The Mail on Sunday that he believed the slump in markets was an overreaction, saying: We may be overreacting and maybe should calm down a bit, not panic. In the context of the longer term we have had a bit of volatility. But its not dramatic. US performance: This week will also see key data from the US, with the worlds biggest economy is likely to say that growth stood at an annual rate of 1 per cent in the final quarter of 2015 However, others point to fundamental signs of real global economic slowdown. Figures from the Netherlands Bureau for Policy Analysis on Friday showed world trade shrank by 0.1 per cent in November. Another key measure is the Baltic Dry index. Little known outside the City, the index measures the cost of shipping dry commodities such as coal and steel. It fell to an all-time low last week, suggesting a drop off in trade of such commodities. Those fears are being fuelled by China, where economic growth, though strong by Western standards, is at a 25-year low of 6.9 per cent. Chinas appetite for raw materials to fuel its growth has been a vital force globally in recent years. But some experts believe the 6.9 per cent figure is due to the optimism of Chinese state statisticians. Slowing growth: Chinas appetite for raw materials to fuel its growth has been a vital force globally in recent years, but it is feared demand is drying up Others take the view that the economy is nevertheless shrugging off the risk of a hard landing. Julian Evans-Pritchard, a China economist at consultancy Capital Economics, said he believed Beijings actions to boost its economy are already bearing fruit. He said: There are signs that policy support is now helping the economy to turn a corner. He said Chinas GDP figures show a pick-up in construction growth and a stabilisation of the industrial sector, adding: This is likely to reflect stronger government spending on infrastructure projects. The consultancys own measure of Chinese growth suggests a similar pick-up. The key now is whether international trade starts to decline significantly or whether it can stabilise or even get back to recovery. Raoul Leering, at ING Bank, said: The recovery in trade at the start of the summer in 2015 has become stuck. But even if trade hardly grows, as long as it will not shrink as it did in the first five months of 2015, then growth figures will be better this year than in 2015. After a raft of tax and regulation changes affecting the rental sector, you might be forgiven for thinking buy-to-let is now too tricky to contemplate. This year the Chancellor has restricted mortgage-interest tax relief for landlords and made it harder to offset wear-and-tear repairs against tax. In the spring, a 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge will be slapped on buy-to-let purchases and before that, landlords will be expected to conduct Right To Rent immigration checks on new tenants. That's the bad news. Rental rewards: First-time investors must plan scrupulously, so we've drawn up seven golden rules to make sure you get the best from buy-to-let. The good news is that, despite these changes, rewards for landlords can still be high. The HomeLet rental index shows average rents across most of the UK are 743 a month, rising to 1,544 in Greater London. And demand has never been greater, thanks to people living longer and inward migration. 'The UK population is rising faster than in any other EU country. The one million home shortfall is likely to result in higher rents. This will provide opportunities for landlords,' says London estate agent Jeremy Leaf. But, given the new regulations, first-time investors must plan scrupulously. We've drawn up seven golden rules to make sure you get the best from buy-to-let. 1 Target Your Tenants Decide whether students, young professionals or families with children are your preferred tenants. This will help you choose where and what to buy. Ask letting agents for advice, scour local websites for news on companies moving in or expand-ing, and walk the streets to see whether there is already a high supply of properties. If you choose, say, to buy and let a terrace house to students, a new purpose-built block near the university would make it harder to find tenants. GWYNEDD: Auction properties are often cheaper - such as this one-bedroom cottage in Maentwrog. To be auctioned on February 4 by Auction House, auctionhouse. uk.net, 01248 711991. From 45,000. 2 Buy the Right Size Property The vast majority of tenants want one or two bedrooms only. Big houses turned into bedsits known as houses in multiple occupation look good on paper but are subject to many health and safety rules which can reduce your returns and make management of the property a full-time job. 'HMOs are only for landlords with experience,' says Lee Layton, of Carter Jonas letting agency. Graham Davidson, of buy-to-let specialists Sequre Property Investment, urges amateur landlords to shun old wrecks needing refurbishment. 'Unless you have the time and expertise to manage it yourself, your profits will be squeezed,' he warns. 3 Location, Location, Location A survey of 5,000 tenants by agency, Knight Frank, revealed that 52per cent of renters chose their property because it was near where they worked meaning that landlords should buy close to employment centres. 'The ideal area is within walking distance of major employers such as a hospital, university or big private companies, near a public transport hub, and close enough to shops, but not near nightclubs,' says Marc von Grundherr, of Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings. WEST SUSSEX: This two-bedroom cottage in Byworth has been let for several years and attracts about 900 a month in rent. Savills Smiths Gore, savillssmithsgore.co.uk, 01798 343111. 375,000 4 Make Sure Your Figures Stack Up It still makes sense to get a mortgage even if you can afford to buy outright, as you receive at least some tax relief. Lenders want evidence that rental income will be 125 to 135 per cent of the mortgage repayments, to ensure they will get paid even if there is a void period between tenants. 'If you have a lot of equity in your main home, you may wish to release some of it through remortgaging to boost a buy-to-let deposit. 'Speak to an independent mortgage broker who will tell you which deals you can access,' says Mark Harris, of SPF Private Clients. 5 Don't Make A Hasty Decision If you complete a buy-to-let purchase after April 1, it will incur an extra 3 per cent stamp duty. But many experts say high demand over the winter means prices will become artificially high. 'Waiting will pay dividends. The market is likely to decline when the new rules come in with prices falling more than 3per cent,' says Gideon Sumption, of Stacks Property Search. 6 Equip Your Rental Property Rental properties can be furnished or unfurnished, but ask letting agents for advice on what works in your area. Knight Frank's survey of tenants shows 57 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds want a partly or fully-furnished house or flat. But if you're letting a house to families, they may have their own furniture. 7 Use A Letting Agent It's tempting to do it yourself, but private lettings are complicated with new housing laws and major health and safety regulation changes every year including checks on tenants' migrant status from February. Letting agents charge between 8 to 15 per cent of the rental income, depending on whether you want complete services from finding and vetting tenants to managing the property and collecting rent. These fees are tax deductible. Cuts:Job losses at UK firms have racked up this week Ten thousand jobs are under threat at British-based firms this week. Asda is culling 200 jobs in Leeds and Leicestershire and is consulting with 5,000 shop workers which could lead to further job cuts across its stores. Footwear retailer Brantano which employs 2,000 staff across 140 stores and 60 concessions was placed into administration earlier this week. Publisher Pearson is to reduce its worldwide workforce by 4,000 around 10 per cent of its staff with 500 UK jobs under threat. Around 1,100 jobs are going at Tata Steel including 750 at Port Talbot. Legal & General will close its offices in Surrey by 2018, with 1,550 losing their jobs. Virgin Media will axe 900 by 2017, although it will hire 1,000 apprentices over the next two years. Barclays plans to close its cash equities business and reduce the number of investment bankers worldwide by 1,000 with the cutbacks largely in Asia. iDodge: Apple boss Tim Cook is in talks with the EU about Irish back taxes Apple boss Tim Cook held private talks with European Union bosses just weeks before a decision over whether it needs to pay billions in Irish back taxes. It emerged that Cook visited Brussels this week to meet with European commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the EU competition chief. The meeting comes ahead of the outcome of the EUs probe into Apples Irish tax arrangements which could see it asked to pay billions in underpaid taxes. Apple did not comment on the meeting but claims to be one of the largest taxpayers in the world, paying more than 9billion last year, and that it follows all relevant laws and pays all the taxes necessary wherever it operates. It has operated in Ireland since October 1980, when it opened its base in Cork. Since taking over as Europes top competition enforcer in 2014, Vestager has stepped up Europes investigations into US web giants such as Google and Amazon amid claims regulation should be tighter. Grocery delivery firm Ocado has been besieged in the past week by hedge funds placing huge bets on a share price fall at the online company. The rush to short-sell Ocado shares follows an unexpected spike in their price after rumours emerged that the company would soon receive a takeover bid from online giant Amazon. But the number of short-selling positions in the stock has increased dramatically in the past month and shot up again last week. Rumours: Grocery delivery firm Ocado has been besieged in the past week by hedge funds placing huge bets on a share price fall at the online company About 275 million is now being staked on a share price fall, which may happen if a bid does not materialise soon. To short a company, investors borrow shares in it from another investor and sell them. If the shares fall in price, they can buy them back at a lower price at a later date to make a profit. The amount of shares on loan, which is recorded by City watchdogs, is a clear indicator of how many investors are shorting a company. The swoop at Ocado takes the total stock on loan to 17 per cent and makes the firm the fourth most shorted stock in the FTSE 350 index. The figure is up from 15 per cent at the start of last week and just 12 per cent a month ago. Shares in Ocado have risen 14 per cent since Tuesday following rumours that the company may be the subject of a bid from Amazon. Clive Black, an analyst at stockbroker Shore Capital, said it would be quite staggering if the Takeover Panel had not approached both firms. He said he concluded that the lack of any statement meant there must have been no contact between the two company boards. Construction firm Carillion is the most shorted stock in the FTSE 350, with a quarter of its shares on loan. That is followed by supermarket group Morrisons at 20 per cent and rival Sainsburys, the most shorted FTSE 100 stock, at 17.7 per cent. Short positions in Tesco are at an all-time high at 6.2 per cent, according to financial data firm Markit, which provided the figures. Sainsburys is expected to make a bid for Argos owner Home Retail Group over the next week as a February 2 deadline imposed by the Takeover Panel looms. The company wants an opportunity to discuss the financial rationale for a takeover with its major shareholders and sources said this would not be possible until an official bid is tabled. Swooping? Shares in Ocado have risen 14 per cent since Tuesday following rumours that the company may be the subject of a bid from Amazon Last week Home Retail agreed a deal to sell its Homebase business to Australian retail group Wesfarmers, clearing a path for a Sainsburys bid. But Home Retail boss John Walden has insisted Argos can survive and prosper without a sale to the supermarket giant. Sainsburys has been canvassing shareholders but wants an opportunity to hold more meaningful talks. There are lots of advantages to being a small business. You can produce a product you feel strongly about, get to know your customers well and run the business in the way you wish. Unfortunately, one time it would be easier to have the clout of a big corporation is when it comes to chasing late payments. The average late payment burden shouldered by smaller companies now stands at more than 30,000, according to a study by BACs last year, a cumulative total of 32.4billion. Piling up: SMEs spend around 677 per month chasing late payments, while many have even gone bust The research also indicated that six in 10 companies have been negatively affected by late payments, at a cost of 677 a month on average. This problem is one Chris Hawthorn, founder of the PACT scheme, is all too familiar with after late payments had a crippling effect on his property marketing company. He says: 'I was forced to invest personal savings into the business, which damaged relationships with my own suppliers by paying them late. Not having the necessary finances in place also resulted in lost productivity through time spent chasing unpaid invoices. Ultimately, this resulted in the business failing. 'Unsurprisingly, this experience means I am very passionate about the burden late payment puts on small businesses. It's unforgivable that British businesses on average are owed 31,901. This could stop entrepreneurs being able to add an additional employee to the company, pay their overheads or make payments on existing loans. 'This is why I've decided to start the PACT Scheme to support SMEs in the fight against unpaid invoices.' PACT stands for 'please abide contract terms' and will provide a way for small businesses to band together against debtors through reminders, mediation and the public identification of those who rack up debts. Strength in numbers: The PACT scheme will help SMEs band together to name and shame late payers Joining the scheme, which has launched this week, costs businesses 10 per month, or 89 for 12 months. In return, it will arm them with tools such as a list of terms to send out to customers, a PACT logo to put on invoices and a set of pre-agreed procedures if a payment fails to materialise. These include automated emails sent out to the debtor, informing credit agencies of the payment default, and also being named and shamed at defaulter.com, an online register set up by PACT. It allows users to enter a debtor's company name to find out if it has a history of late payment. PACT members will also have access to debtor information and details of each case via a dashboard on the PACT website [which is?]. Chris, who is based in Reading, has been drumming up support with local businesses, and says the vast majority have been fully behind the scheme due to their own experiences of late payments. The PACT scheme's target for the end of 2016 is to hit 50,000 members, so that it can start making a genuine dent in the multi-billion debt owed to SMEs. Chris Hawthorn: 'It won't be long before late payment becomes a thing of the past' Chris believes these steps will increase the chance of businesses recovering debts while at the same time maintaining relationships with customers. He stresses that mediation is the first port of call but that there will be 'genuine repercussions' for late payers. He says: 'Partnerships are also in place with leading credit reference agencies to ensure late payers feel the repercussions directly through a drop in their credit score. I believe with these consequences in place, it won't be long before late payment becomes a thing of the past.' 'Small businesses need support to eradicate the pain of late payment' Goodall: 'Time is money for a small business owner' Nick Goodall is the owner of Detail my Car, a Berkshire-based vehicle appearance specialist. He says: 'As the owner of a small business, the age-old mantra that time is money rings true. Therefore, time spent chasing unpaid invoices or trawling through emails is time that could be spent adding value to the business. 'Recently, an urgent job came in which I was more than happy to carry out but the 150 fee we requested was never paid. Of course, it isn't the largest amount of money at face value, but if you let one unpaid invoice go, before you know it the debt can increase rapidly. 'I've actually taken a business to the small claims court previously for failing to pay, but of course the time spent and financial cost almost makes it a worthless exercise. Undoubtedly, there needs to be more support for small businesses to help eradicate the pain of late payment.' Funds: Swiss entrepreneurs on a mission to revive a 19th Century watch brand have turned to UK crowdfunding platform Crowd for Angels Swiss entrepreneurs on a mission to revive a 19th Century watch brand whose timepieces were worn by Emperor Napoleon III of France have turned to UK crowdfunding platform Crowd for Angels to raise 759,000. The brand ended with the death of the founder, Francois Czapek, a Czech-born Polish watchmaker, but was re-established in 2013 by entrepreneurs Harry Guhl and Xavier de Roquemaurel. The company, Czapek & Cie, raised SF500,000 (344,000) last year to fund the first of its new watches, based on an 1850 design. Only 250 will be made with prices ranging from 9,500 (7,170) to 26,300 (19,925) for one in rose gold with fleur de lys hands. About 500,000 of the target has been raised so far from 14 investors. The minimum investment is 33 and there is a week left to subscribe. Chief executive de Roquemaurel said: Czapek deserves to be revived. 'He was one of the greatest watchmakers of the 19th Century, who brilliantly combined precision mechanics with refined aesthetics. Internet giant Google has been attacked by Labour MPs over its 'derisory' 130million deal with the government The U.S. online search firm, which has faced severe criticism of its UK financial arrangements, said the payment will cover back taxes from 2005 to 2015. It also agreed to make changes so that future payments to HM Revenue and Customs will 'reflect the size and scope of our UK business'. Payback: Internet giant Google has agreed to pay back taxes of 130million to the government, following a years-long probe into its international financial arrangements (file image) 'We have agreed with HMRC a new approach for our UK taxes and will pay 130million, covering taxes since 2005,' said a spokeswoman for Google. 'We will now pay tax based on revenue from UK-based advertisers, which reflects the size and scope of our UK business. 'The way multinational companies are taxed has been debated for many years and the international tax system is changing as a result. This settlement reflects that shift and is in line with recent OECD guidance.' But shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the public would be 'sceptical' about the settlement and called for the public spending watchdog - the National Audit Office - to investigate the deal. He also criticised the HMRC for agreeing to strike a deal on a 'relatively small amount'. 'It looks to me from all the independent analysis that this is relatively trivial in comparison with what should have been paid,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. McDonnell added that he would be demanding details of the deal from Chancellor George Osborne in parliament on Monday. The change and payment follows an 'open audit' of Google's accounts by the HMRC, after it was accused of 'not paying its fair share' of tax. The probe was investigating whether Google sidestepped tax for over a decade by allocating profits to Ireland, where its European operations are based. The firm came under fire after it paid just 20.4million in taxes in 2013, following a year of sales in Britain which was valued at 3.8billion. Although its complex international tax structures have been criticised, Google says it has always abided by international tax rules. But critics said the company which has yearly UK revenues of almost 4billion would be laughing all the way to the bank. Last night, Richard Murphy, an economist and director of Tax Research UK, blasted the deal, saying it was a 'tiny amount of money'. 'Google must be laughing all the way to their bank in Bermuda with this one to be totally honest,' he told BBC Newsnight. 'This is a settlement that seems minuscule in proportion to the amount of tax that they have saved and if future tax is paid by them in proportion to this, then they are getting a settlement that is extraordinarily small.' However, HMRC claimed that the deal was a 'substantial result'. A spokesman said: 'Multinational companies must pay the tax that is due and we do not accept less.' Moving forward: It also agreed to make changes so that future payments to HM Revenue and Customs will 'reflect the size and scope of our UK business', after coming under fire for paying just 20.4million in taxes in 2013, following a year of sales in Britain which was valued at 3.8billion (file image of Google HQ) Senior figures from Google and HMRC will be called before the Common's Public Accounts Committee, its chairman Meg Hillier said last night. The Labour MP said: 'The news that Google is paying ten years' back tax vindicates the Public Accounts Committee's vigorous pursuit of international companies that were running rings around tax officials. 'We were shocked to learn of work-arounds of the tax system that were considered normal behaviour by big corporations but which appalled the individual taxpayer. 'HMRC now needs to assure taxpayers it will keep up the pressure to tackle whatever the next emerging issue is in real time, rather than years later. Google must be laughing all the way to their bank in Bermuda with this one to be totally honest. Richard Murphy, an economist and director of Tax Research UK 'It is effectively admitting it pulled in too little tax from Google for nine out of ten years. This is not a great success rate and the Public Accounts Committee will be calling in HMRC and Google to explain.' The firm has its European base in Ireland, which has a lower corporation tax rate that the UK. It also pays the majority of its taxes in the U.S. The California-based firm employs 2,400 staff in the UK its biggest overseas operation. The Head of Google Europe, Matt Brittin, told the BBC that from today, Google will be paying more tax in the UK. 'We want to ensure that we pay the right amount of tax,' he added. An HMRC spokesman said: 'The successful conclusion of HMRC enquiries has secured a substantial result, which means that Google will pay the full tax due in law on profits that belong in the UK. 'Multinational companies must pay the tax that is due and we do not accept less.' Other companies, including Facebook, Amazon and Starbucks, have come under fire for allegedly avoiding paying tax. The 69-year old warrior; Mbutfouyandzindza Shongwe pictured at his homestead. NORTHERN HHOHHO - A 69-year warrior from the Inyatsi regiment, has been stopped from being actively involved in any assignments related to the regiments, in particular, anything in relation to His Majesty King Mswati III. The decision to suspend Mbutfouyandzidza Shongwe comes after he sang a controversial song, which touched on the royal family. This was during Incwala, a few weeks back. The lyrics of the said song are known to this publication but have been deliberately withheld due to their sensitive nature. Shongwe, according to traditional authorities from up north, has a good singing voice and always leads the songs and is often close to His Majesty. It is his good voice that is sad to have landed him in trouble as he was tasked by other warriors to start the song in question and he is paying the price for having started it, according to insiders. He wasnt the only singing but all wariors who were present, said the insider. From what I have been informed, the song isnt new as it was being fine-tuned for about three years now. Umgubho is composed from normal conversation as we are talking right now. It could happen that one person then makes the conversation into a song and that is how it starts. But in this case, it would be best that you talk to him because he knows best what exactly happened and what the song was all about, said Mashobeni North Umphakatsi Indvuna, Jamludi Velebantfu Matsaba. Indvuna Matsaba explained that he wasnt present when the song was sung and got to know about what had happened after being informed by Shongwe himself. Shongwe, according to Matsaba, came to inform him that he had been stopped from active participation in any royal assignments until further notice. He directed further questions to Shongwe, who he said would be in a better position to explain whether the suspension was permanent or not. According to other warriors who were present on the day the song was sung, His Majesty was not present. They said they were relaxing after the days activities and were enjoying traditional brew when warriors requested Shongwe to start the song. It was not like he was teaching them or anything. The only thing is that he is good when it comes to umgubho as he is always tasked with starting the songs. We do not know how their majesties were informed of the song, they said. Others said some senior princes were present and there was no way that Shongwe could have objected to their request. Ntfonjeni Chief Prince Ma- gudvulela confirmed knowledge of the matter involving a warrior who found himself under fire after singing a certain song during the national event. Yes, I am aware of the matter you are asking about but I am not the right person to talk about it. Please direct your questions to the Mashobeni Chiefdom, where the warrior comes from, as they the rightful authority to respond to all your questions, said the prince. Shongwe, who is under Chief Matsafeni Shongwe, was reluctant to discuss what transpired while with Hhohho libutfo at Ludzidzini that resulted is his suspension. He did, however, share that this was indzaba yemakhosi. He said if there was anything he had to answer in relationship to his case, he would gladly be willing do so before their majesties. As things stand, there really is nothing much I can assist you with. I am also waiting to hear if I am called or kuva kusti luswati lutsini mangebe lukhona. Solo ngigadzile nje (what the sanction is, if one will be imposed), he said while vehemently refusing to even share what the lyrics were and what they meant. Pressed further and asked who had composed the song, Shongwe said it was composed by a Ntfonjeni warrior for the Hhohho Regiment. There was no specific person who composed it. It was by a warrior from Ntfonjeni, for the Hhohho regiment. When asked why he started the song, Shongwe said it was one instruction from Libutfo lakaHhohho (Hhohho regiment). I wasnt alone when I sang the song, it was the regiment. He vehemently refused to explain what the lyrics meant or to least share them. I will only sing the song if I am instructed by their majesties and that is if I am called to explain what happened or my actions. As I have already explained, this is a matter for their majesties and as such, I am not in a position to assist you with anything else. What I can say is that yes, I did sing the song but I cannot sing it to anyone else, said Shongwe, with respect. He could not be drawn to even comment if the lyrics that had been shared with this publication formed part of the song. I do not know, he said laughing before asking where the lyrics were sourced from because he was confident that this reporter was not part of emajaha emalawini (regiments). The soft-spoken Shongwe further explained that his family or umphakatsi had not been to their majesties to offer an apology as per Swazi culture. Responding to that question, he said: At this point, I do not know what will happen. It is better to first wait for labadzala and see if they summon me, then we can take it from there. After whatever decision is made, we can then go and thank their majesties for their wise counsel as per Swazi custom. He further explained that they were summoned by authorities at Ludzidzini and that is how he was informed of his suspension. I am at home as you can see. There is no way I can do anything after such a decision has been taken, he said. Shongwe joined the regiment before he reached the age of 30. He shared that singing traditional songs was his passion. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Courtesy of Queens DA On the same day Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced his office had created an Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit, a Jackson Heights man was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly killing his girlfriends 3-year-old Chihuahua. A Queens resident is accused of pulling his girlfriends small dog out of her hands during a verbal argument and killing the helpless animal by violently throwing the dog to the floor, Brown said. Such acts of aggression toward animals cannotand will notbe tolerated. The mandate of the Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit the first of its kind in a district attorneys office in New York City will be to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty crimes and to educate the public about how to prevent and detect abuse of animals. In creating the unit, Brown also announced he has appointed veteran Queens prosecutor Nicoletta Caferri as its first chief. Caferri has been with the Queens DAs office since 1992. Brown said the Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit will work closely with the Police Departments newly formed Animal Cruelty Investigations Squad, which assumed the ASPCAs law enforcement function in July 2014). The DA identified the defendant in the Chihuahua case as Carlos Hernandez, 32, of 73rd Street in Jackson Heights. Hernandez is presently awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated cruelty to animals, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child,Brown said. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison. Brown said Hernandez was inside his girlfriends Forest Hills residence around 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 10, and engaged in a verbal dispute with her. It is alleged that Hernandez grabbed the Chihuahua out of her hands and slammed the dog against the floor, causing the dog to bleed from its ears and collapse on the floor where it died minutes later. An 11-year-old girl, who was the Chihuahuas caregiver, was allegedly present in the room and witnessed the incident, Brown said. By Elizabeth Traubman, BA, MSW and Lionel Traubman, DDS, MSD As loving parents who raised two children during the era of the Vietnam War, we were inspired by the work of child psychologist Haim Ginott who observed: Misbehavior and punishment are not opposites that cancel each other. On the contrary, they breed and reinforce each other. We asked ourselves: Is it possible that spanking smacking, some say has a ripple effect into our community and inter-nationally? And so we challenged two rarely questioned, often-implemented axioms of our times: Violence is a good way to get what you want. You can end violence with violence. Surprisingly, both behaviors remain popular in our culture. A recent ABC News poll suggests that half of American parents still spank their children. Political policy makers are leading the charge, despite a growing mountain of proof that these ideas are obsolete still used, but replaced by better ways. We were so impressed by Haim Ginotts work and a growing body of supporting research that in disciplining our daughter and son we challenged ourselves to rule out spanking. Pre-deciding no to physical punishment threw us into sometimes feverish searching for alternatives to improve behavior and keep our daughter and son safe. Doubtful at first, we kept discovering creative, nonviolent alternatives that worked and kept us and our kids together and (mostly) behaving our best. We soon realized that rejecting violence was possible, do-able in real life, and desirable. Pre-deciding about violence, beginning at home and then rippling out globally, is the most urgent need of our time. It is our best hope in this era of widespread atomic, biological, and chemical weapons when even a few people can do a lot of harm. Whether with physical punishment or all-out war, the stunning paradox of our time is that rejecting violence and dignifying our adversary not humiliating, harming, or excluding is the response that gets the best results. What does smacking your child have in common with the fast-spreading violence we read about in headlines from every continent like terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Jerusalem, and drone strikes that kill innocent women and children? They all are part of the cycle of cruelty. Yet as today\s headlines clarify for us, violence primarily fuels more flames of hostility. Take the case of the war on terrorism. One pilot who directed drone strike assassinations of terrorist leaders which often kill innocent woman and children admitted: We kill four and create 10 [new terrorists]. Whose idea was it that the best way to fight terrorism is to create more terrorists? And how have they been so successful at selling this idea? The mathematics of violence is simple: The cycle grows exponentially, like pouring gasoline on a fire. The more violence you dish out, the more you get back. If this is true on the battlefield, how true is it in neighborhoods and homes? Interestingly, Mahatma Gandhi said that subtle forms of violence are actually the most dangerous, because they are unquestioned by society, everywhere on Earth, and never ending. Research clarifies that parental use of physical punishment is often copied from the authorities who raised us. By imitation, we learn violence from childhood. Today child, spouse, neighbor, and "other" abuse sometimes justified as retaliation or self-defense dominates the evening news. Smacking-to-teach may be justified, yet few parents deny having hit harder than intended out of rage or fear. More abusive treatment easily follows. Now realizing this at-home cause-and-effect makes seemingly small family choices about punishment matter a lot more for humankind\s future together. In todays violent world, we parents matter more than ever. Dr. Ginott reminds us that it is neither passivity nor punishment, but mutual empathy that is the foundation of effective parenting and family health. Pre-deciding to master listening and become an artisan of communication best helps parents relate to their children in an understanding way that improves behavior and dignifies everyone without diminishing parental authority. Thats why it is always the right time to reject corporal punishment. Discipline without hitting is easier for both parent and child, especially if hitting was never used earlier or at all. This practice makes better communicators of the whole family, and parents become better teachers for their children by responding creatively and nonviolently to their own anger and fear. What is true on the micro-level of the family unit is equally as true on the macro-level of international relations. To prevent war, one must pre-decide. In the midst of the blazing fire, it is too late to get the oily rags out of the garage. Amid chaos and anxiety about real or imagined threats, it is too late to decide against the primitive, violent act of war. In fear, our brains do not even work correctly, save to rationalize old thinking and cruel acts that destroy life and relationships. The creative possibility is not available eclipsed by our visceral, reptilian reactions. Consultant Lisa McLeod notes that we often agonize over non-critical, material decisions that affect our lives very little: hair styles, paint colors, car purchases, eyeglass frames. Yet when it comes to behavioral decisions and responses to more critical events including life-and-death crises, people often just react. Gergana Sabeva Yordanovas extraordinary doctoral research, Effects of the Pre-Decision Stage of Decision Making on the Self-Regulation of Behavior, affirms the importance of pre-decision in our lives. Without it, a lack of self-regulation gives way to virtually every problem of our society emotions and impulses that lead to money mismanagement, compulsive eating, greed, alcohol and drug addiction, abusive behavior, and ceaseless violence. Our thirty-five years of facilitating serious adversaries internationally in a healing and peacebuilding process continues to strongly validate how a new path toward reconciliation works with very diverse people who pre-choose to decline aggression in favor of sitting down face-to-face. The new experience of listening-to-learn and being heard we call it Authentic Dialogue allows antagonists around the world to experience this dependable and transformative truth: An enemy is one whose story we have not heard. As with our children and Dr. Ginotts prescription of empathic communication, the pre-intention to engage in Authentic Dialogue enables so-called enemies to feel less isolated, hopeless, or desperate. Rather than being swept downstream in a flood of violence and bloodshed, they discover that they have more eloquent options. This is the face-to-face entry point to life beyond war. Weve experienced it facilitating and mentoring citizen-driven engagement for Soviets and Americans, Palestinians and Israelis, Armenians and Azerbaijanis, and most recently Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, adversaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and once-warring tribes in Cote dIvoire. Authentic Dialogue the technique of listening-to-learn and being heard time and again delivers seemingly miraculous results. The daily brutality in the news headlines is proof: We are pushing the violence button too quickly and too often. The evidence favors that we choose "communicating with" not "battling against." Pre-choosing Authentic Dialogue has served our parenting and enabled many sworn adversaries we\ve watched create their new life together beyond war. McLeods prescription may be the urgently needed preventive and cure, not only at home but among nations: The pre-decision gives you a tool for making decisions as your best self, so when the worst day happens youve already decided how you want to react. Being ones best self at home and also among nations often works a small miracle. And sometimes a great one. Elizabeth Libby Traubman is a retired clinical social worker and co-founder of the 23-year-old Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue. The views expressed in this article are the author\s own and do not necessarily reflect The Times Of Earth\s editorial policy. October Fun Calendar: Plenty to do this month in Beaver County Zundy Junior High SHARE By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News Details were scant Friday in an incident which led to a Zundy teacher being placed on administrative leave. A Wichita Falls Independent School District spokeswoman said Friday afternoon that administrators had received information on Thursday about the incident, but could offer the Times Record News no further details. The teacher, who was not named, was placed on administrative leave Friday morning "pending a full investigation," the spokeswoman said. Zundy Elementary School, 1706 Polk St., had 689 enrolled students, according to its 2014-15 Texas Education Agency "report card." The report shows that the school met standards and scored above target numbers.

WFISD Education Center

SHARE By Lana Sweeten-Shults of the Times Record News The move by the Wichita Falls ISD to go to a middle-school system may mean a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for one elementary school. Sheppard Elementary School risks losing a significant portion of a half million-dollar grant if sixth grade is phased from the facility. The plan is for elementary campuses to no longer house sixth-graders, and the district is in the midst of $25 million in junior high renovations and additions at McNiel and Barwise to accommodate the influx of sixth-graders. WFISD board members discussed the issue but took no official action at a board retreat Friday. "We have a problem with sixth grade not remaining at the campus and (how that would affect) the grant status," Superintendent Mike Kuhrt said. In August 2015 the school was notified it would receive a $500,000 Department of Defense Education Activity Grant one designed specifically for military family-serving schools to enhance technology and math instruction. The school will be awarded $100,000 each year over five years. The grant specifies it's for schools with a sixth-grade configuration with at least 250 students. About 290 students attend Sheppard Elementary. The grant level for schools with a student population of less than 250 is significantly less. "That would be difficult (to maintain 290 students without sixth grade)," Principal Cindy Waddell said. Kuhrt added, "Our issue is, if we cancel sixth grade, we're going to lose at least half of the $500,000 grant." The grant was a financial windfall for the school, which was an "improvement required" campus in 2013-14 and just moved up in Texas Education Agency standards to "met standard" in 2014-15. Waddell said, "We're not a Title I school, so grants are limited." Title I schools are those with large concentrations of low-income students that receive supplemental funding. Waddell said that if sixth grade is eliminated, not all of those students going into sixth grade will continue their schooling in the district. "She (grant coordinator Lauryn Taylor) asked fifth-graders, 'Where are you going to go to school? ... Eleven of them are choosing Wichita Falls schools." However, others say they will go to Burkburnett, while others will go to private schools or will be home-schooled. And Waddell related that some NATO families at Sheppard Air Force Base prefer to keep their children on base; they worry about the safety of their children elsewhere. One of the goals, she added, is to grow the school, with talk of adding seventh grade. Waddell said the school has the opportunity in the future to apply for another Department of Defense Education Activity Grant. The board talked about how keeping sixth grade there might relate to the rest of the district. Board members wanted to know if Sheppard would be receptive to allowing students who don't have base privileges attend school there. Board President Trey Sralla said during a previous visit some years ago, "they wanted people who already had base privileges They don't want the school to become the base privilege." "I'd like to ask them again," board member Kevin Goldstein said. Kuhrt added, "What I'm hearing is we're going to plan on sixth grade being there." The board covered several other topics Wednesday, though no action was taken, including: n Suggestions for a name for the district's career and technical education center that will be used during planning purposes. The WFISD Career Education Center was one suggestion. n A review of the after-school enrichment programs at elementary schools and information about elementary-level University Interscholastic League events. n The community relations office's goals, including more consistency with branding, particularly establishing district-approved logos for all the campuses and coming up with a new district logo. Also, Communications Officer Ashley Thomas spoke about marketing the district more, as outlying schools are competing for students. n Improving the district's bilingual program, since there are concerns about student scores. Bilingual and English As A Second Language Coordinator Greta Benavides wants to group bilingual students at four campuses. Currently students are spread out over 20 campuses. SHARE The only thing predictable about the 2016 presidential campaign so far has been its unpredictability. A year ago, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb Bush were their respective parties' front-runners and presumed nominees. Now, Donald Trump continues to hold a commanding lead in national polls for the GOP nomination, and Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont who is a self-proclaimed socialist, is poised to beat Clinton in the upcoming Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Could Trump and Sanders face off in the general election? What would it mean for the Democratic and Republican parties? What would it mean for the country? JOEL MATHIS The fact that we're even contemplating a Sanders-versus-Trump election proves one thing: The electorate has started to reach its polarized limits. Decades ago, both parties spanned fairly broad sections of the ideological spectrum. It's how Democrats could be the party of Southern segregationists and the authors of the Voting Rights Act; it's how Republicans could keep middle-of-the-road Dwight Eisenhower in office for eight years and nominate conservative firebrand Barry Goldwater to the presidency just a few years after that. That meant overlap: The most conservative Democrat in Congress back in those days was often somewhere to the right of the most liberal Republican. The last few decades have dispensed with that order. For Republicans, it means that decades spent whipping up right-leaning voters into an angry hysteria has paid off with widespread support for a candidate whose appeal boils down to snarling, offense-giving tribalism, the pinnacle of a career spent diminishing the fortune he inherited. For Democrats, you're seeing a desire to help the poor and middle class live financially sustainable lives. But Sanders' heart may be bigger than his wallet: Vox's Ezra Klein says Sanders' proposed health care plan would require raising $1 trillion a year in taxes. BEN BOYCHUK Readers of a certain age and disposition will remember a Marvel Comics series from the late 1970s and early '80s called "What If ?" The gimmick was to take a story from the main continuity of Marvel's comic book universe and put a different spin on it. "What If Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four?" "What If The Avengers Had Fought Evil During the 1950s?" "What If Captain America Had Been Elected President?" The 2016 presidential election feels like a "What If ?" story. What if the Republican Party base revolted? What if the presumed nominee of the Democratic Party collapsed under the weight of her scandalous past and present? Sanders' persistence as a candidate and credible challenger to Clinton is as remarkable as Trump's persistently high poll numbers. The socialist from Vermont has raised more than $76 million for his campaign, mostly from small donors. She's raised more money, but he's drawing support from a broader base. You think the conservatives are angry and divided? The fact that Sanders is within striking distance of Clinton in Iowa and looks to be crushing her in New Hampshire speaks to how cranky and dissatisfied the Democrats' more left-wing base has become. And with word that the State Department inspector general found highly sensitive classified information among Clinton's personal emails, her troubles can no longer be brushed off by the campaign as right-wing paranoia (which was always a fib). A Trump-Sanders matchup would make for a wild "What If ?" tale. What if Americans have to choose between two candidates who dislike free trade, love higher tariffs on foreign goods, and want to restrict legal and illegal immigration? What if the choice is between a candidate who would cut taxes and add trillions to the deficit and a candidate who would raise taxes and add trillions to the deficit? Mister, we could use a man like Captain America again. Ben Boychuk (bboychuk@city-journal.org) is associate editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. Joel Mathis (joelmmathis@gmail.com) is associate editor for Philadelphia Magazine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy Workers completed patching the ruptured 110-year-old water main in Lansingburgh, then reinforced it with iron rebar and encased it in concrete, Mayor Patrick Madden announced Friday. The concrete will cure overnight until the Department of Public Utilities crews return Saturday morning to determine when the water can be turned on again in the main at 125th Street and Fifth Avenue. The concrete and rebar are designed to reinforce the sleeve-like patch that now envelopes the weakened main. On Thursday, a secondary leak developed as workers patched the pipe, which forced them to extend the patch to encompass more of the pipe. Refilling the 33-inch water main will take 48 hours, Madden said Friday. The steel-riveted main burst Sunday morning, setting off a crisis that flooded city streets and dried out the pipes carrying water to the Saratoga County towns of Halfmoon and Waterford. These two communities that rely on water bought from Troy have suffered the most since the main ruptured. This 33-inch main and a 30-inch main are the primary transmission lines for the city's water supply and play a major role in getting water to the nine communities that buy city water. The flow of water to the two towns has diminished and residents of the towns have curbed use. These communities buy about 3.2 million gallons per day from Troy. While water service is slowly restored, Halfmoon and Waterford will switch to depleted reserves for a few hours, Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen said. Troy will cut off the backup line passing over the Hudson River at the 126th Street Bridge in order to resume sending water to the two towns, Tollisen said. A limited boil-water order will be issued to residences and businesses in Troy, said John Salka, a spokesman for Madden. Tollisen said Halfmoon would issue a boil-water advisory once the water service is restored. Waterford has been on a boil-water advisory this week. The City Council voted 9-0 Thursday night to approve the environmental review of a $2.7 million project to replace 3,700 feet of the cracked riveted steel main with a 36-inch cast iron main. State Sen. Kathleen Marchione, R-Halfmoon, told the council members that the governor's office and the state Environmental Facilities Corp. will expedite the city's application. Councilman Mark McGrath expressed his frustration that the city had not moved faster on this project after receiving an engineering report noting the potential problems with the water main. When the main failed Sunday, Waterford and Halfmoon were the only communities to come to the point of losing all their water. That was due to a lack of pressure for the primary connection across the Hudson River from Troy to Waterford and then the failure of an adequate flow through the secondary line. For the past week, the two towns turned to creative means to get water in their systems. In Halfmoon, Stewart's supply tanker trucks have hauled water from the Troy water plant to dump in its wells to maintain pressure. Waterford signed an emergency purchase agreement with Cohoes and pumped the water through a 1,400-foot-long firehose connection across the Cohoes-Waterford Bridge over the Mohawk River. Waterford Supervisor John Lawler said his town expects to spend up to $50,000 on purchasing bottled water for residents. Halfmoon and Waterford are exploring whether they can buy water from the Saratoga County Water Authority in the future. The towns' leaders are concerned that there could be a major failure of Troy's water system, which dates back to the late 19th century in some places. The Troy City Council authorized Madden to sign a new 20-year water supply contract with Halfmoon Thursday night. Tollisen said the contract has to be tweaked so the town can turn to other water suppliers if there is a failure on Troy's part. Halfmoon has not yet approved the contract. Waterford's contract is coming up for renewal. Troy's contract to sell water includes several conditions that would appear to protect the city if it fails to supply water. "The City may not be compelled to furnish water to the buyer continuously in the case of accident, or in the event that the water mains or their appurtenance or the source upon which this supply is dependent are impaired," the contract states. An accident, according to the contract, includes "any act of God as hereinafter defined, act of public enemy, wars, blockades, riots, natural disasters, civil disturbances, labor strikes, power failures, explosions, or any cause which is not within the control of the city, or which the city is unable to overcome by the exercise of due diligence. The city shall be the sole judge in all these matters, and its decisions shall be final and binding upon the buyer." However, the contract may give a purchaser some room to collect damages if it can prove negligence. Eric Anderson contributed. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe As Christians and other religious minorities flee extremism across the Middle East, Muslim scholars will meet in Morocco to reassert the rights of non-Muslims living among them. In these times, Muslims must affirm their tradition's true teachings on tolerance, said Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, Calif., the first Muslim liberal arts college in the United States. The summit in Marrakesh will hark back to the Charter of Medina, in which the Prophet Muhammad enumerated the rights of non-Muslims 1,400 years ago. ALBANY A Latham man pleaded guilty to preparing 16 false tax returns, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Gnoan Pierre Kablan, 52, admitted Friday that he prepared the returns, from tax years 2008 to 2011, containing false information to lower his clients' tax payments. They contained false deductions for charitable gifts, false deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, and false solar property and energy efficiency credits, authorities said. The deductions and credits gave his clients refunds they weren't entitled to. Kablan faces up to three years in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000 and a maximum term of supervised release of one year when he is sentenced May 23. Kablan may also be ordered to pay restitution to the government. This case was investigated by the IRS' field office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Shantelle P. Kitchen, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service's New York field office for criminal investigations. Albany Three people have tested positive for Zika virus in New York, prompting the state Health Department to recommend caution when traveling, especially for pregnant women. The illness does not pose a risk for those spending the winter in New York, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said. The infected individuals in Queens, Nassau and Orange counties recently traveled to areas outside the United States where Zika virus is spreading. One has fully recovered, two are recovering without complications. People contract Zika virus within a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The illness cannot be spread by person-to-person contact. "There is virtually no risk of acquiring Zika virus in New York state at this time as the virus cannot be spread by casual contact with an infected person and mosquitoes are not active in cold winter months," said state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker. Only one in five people infected with Zika virus will get sick, with the most common symptoms being fever, rash, joint pain or pinkeye. The risks may be more serious for pregnant women, however. There have been reports of infected women giving birth to babies with microcephaly, who may have abnormally small heads or incomplete brain development. Zucker advised New Yorkers to check advisories and take preventive measures when traveling to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel alert for Americans visiting Puerto Rico and 13 countries. Read it at http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0315-zika-virus-travel.html. chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Athens, Greece The death toll in Europe's migration crisis rose Friday when two overcrowded smuggling boats foundered off Greece and at least 46 people drowned more than a third of them children as European officials remained deeply divided on how to handle the influx. More than 70 people survived, and a large air and sea search-and-rescue effort was underway off the eastern islet of Kalolimnos, the site of the worst accident. It was unclear how many people were aboard the wooden sailboat that sank there in deep water, leaving at least 35 dead. Coast guard divers were due to descend to the sunken wreck early Saturday, amid fears that more people had been trapped below deck. At least 800 people have died or vanished in the Aegean Sea since the start of 2015, as a record of more than 1 million refugees and economic migrants entered Europe. About 85 percent of them crossed to the Greek islands from nearby Turkey, paying large sums to smuggling gangs for berths in unseaworthy boats. Rights groups said the deaths highlight the need for Europe to provide those desperate to reach the prosperous continent's shores with a better alternative to smuggling boats. European policy toward its worst immigration crisis since World War II has diverged wildly so far. Germany where most are heading has welcomed those it considers refugees. Other countries, led by Hungary, have blocked or restricted them from entering and resisted plans to share the burden of refugees. "These deaths highlight both the heartlessness and the futility of the growing chorus demanding greater restrictions on refugee access to Europe," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia program director. "A manageable crisis has become a moral test that Europe is in danger of failing dismally," he said. The U.N. refugee agency said daily arrivals on the Greek islands have surged to more than 3,000 in the past two days, and it cited refugee testimony that smugglers have recently halved their rates amid deteriorating weather conditions. "It is tragic that refugees, including families with young children, feel compelled to entrust their lives to unscrupulous smugglers in view of lack of safe and legal ways for refugees to find protection," said Philippe Leclerc of UNHCR Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Berlin and pledged to continue to work intensively together not only to stem the flow of people but to improve conditions in camps in Turkey and to try to bring about a peace deal in Syria. "The refugee crisis is not Germany's crisis, it is not Europe's crisis, it is not Turkey's crisis," Davutoglu said in a news conference with Merkel. "It is a crisis that was born out of the crisis in Syria. If we cooperate, we can bring this crisis under control. If we throw the issue at each other, solving this issue will become more difficult." Germany saw an unprecedented 1.1 million asylum-seekers arrive last year, many of them fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkey hosts more than 2.2 million Syrian refugees from a nearly five-year civil war that has killed 250,000 people and displaced half the country. Peace talks are scheduled to begin Sunday in Geneva, although officials say they might be delayed by a few days. Davutoglu praised Merkel for her open-door stance, saying the steps she took "will go down in history. The people of Syria will never forget this humanitarian stance." European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned that the 28-nation bloc faces big economic risks if its members start putting up walls that restrict borderless travel. "We are doing studies of that, and it is impressive," she said, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When actress Yvonne Perry began preparing for her role as the manager of a strip club in Capital Rep's world premiere production of "Naked Influence," which opens Tuesday, she knew just where to go for some real-life research DiCarlo's, the gentleman's club on Central Avenue in Albany. "My dad and Sal DiCarlo were childhood friends," says Perry, referring to the late club owner, whose 2012 obituary in the Times Union portrayed him as a beloved gentleman. DiCarlo's is now "one of less then 10 exotic clubs in the United States that is female-owned and -operated," according to its website (http://www.dicarlosalbany.com). That and Perry's family connection to its long-time proprietor still didn't make it any easier for the actress to venture inside. "It was really hard for me to open the door," she says. More Information If you go "Naked Influence" When: Opens 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 and continues for 23 more performances through Feb. 14. Where: Capital Repertory Theatre, 111 N. Pearl St., Albany Tickets: $16-$50. Call 445-7469. Or visit: http://www.capitalrep.org. See More Collapse But once over the threshold, Perry befriended the manager and for two hours peppered her with questions about the operation, the clientele and especially the women who perform there. In "Naked Influence," a young exotic dancer named Lucy, played by Amanda Sykes, gets into a complicated relationship with a congressman. Perry's character, Angie, is Lucy's boss, ally and confidant. "Theatergoers will find her lifestyle easy to stereotype," says Perry. "But we get to know Lucy and her journey of discovering her own power and what she could do in her life." After interviewing the manager of DiCarlo's, Perry concluded that the play's depiction of the relationship between Lucy and Angie rings true. "The dancers have stage names, so when Lucy's at the bar, she's Red," explains Perry. "But there's a moment in the play when I call her by her real name. At DiCarlo's, I asked has that ever happened? The manager said, 'Sure, I do their payroll.' " "When I got home," recalls Perry, "I wrote to the playwright that the more I talked with (the manager at DiCarlo's), the more I appreciate the research you put into this play." "Naked Influence" is the latest from Suzanne Bradbeer, who also wrote "The God Game," an intense exploration of politics and religion. That work premiered at Capital Rep two years ago in a co-production with Gulfshore Playhouse of Florida and has started to have a healthy life on the regional theater circuit. "Naked Influence" got its start two years ago at Cap Rep's Next Act! new play summit. A regular at Cap Rep, Perry was also in the cast of "The God Game," playing the wife of a conservative senator. She recalls the material as "three people arguing Aaron Sorkin-like in a room." "This is more episodically written and with different locations," continues Perry. "What's the same is Suzanne's wonderful ear for social commentary." Robert Newman plays Dennis, the hard-edged congressman who falls for Lucy. "So much of relationships between men and women have to do with power, and men who try to exert power in a corporate way," says Newman. "This story could be told in an office or in the world of politics. But I think it's interesting that Suzanne is telling it through the eyes of a person who works in the subculture of a strip club." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Speaking of distinct professional subcultures, Newman is best known for his 28-year run as Joshua Lewis on "The Guiding Light," the longest running program in broadcast history. "There may be a marginal view for soap actors, but I always felt respected for what I did," explains Newman. "A soap opera is incredibly difficult work, shooting 250 scripts a years, sometimes 40 pages of dialogue memorized in a day." Also a soap opera veteran, Perry had a run of several years in "As The World Turns." She, too, remembers the stress, but seems to have forgotten every one of her scenes. "We had anti-Alzheimer's, with amazing short term memory for all that dialogue," she says. "It was in my head and then gone forever. I'll watch scenes on YouTube that I can't remember." But she's not forgotten her character. "I was a goody-two-shoes, who ran away and fell in love with the bad boys," says Perry. She's delighting in the contrast between that and playing a retired exotic dancer who serves drinks and manages the club. "I like it when things are scary and new for me." Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy and a frequent contributor to the Times Union. Governor Hutchinson Proclaims January 24-30 "School Choice Week" Joining Leaders Nationwide in Celebrating Opportunity in Education Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has officially proclaimed January 24-30, 2016 as "School Choice Week" in Arkansas. Governor Hutchinson joins thirty other governors and 230 mayors and county leaders nationwide in issuing proclamations. With more than 100 events being held to celebrate the Week in Arkansas alone - and with more than 16,000 independently organized events across all 50 states - National School Choice Week will be America's largest-ever celebration of opportunity in education. Events will include rallies, round-table discussions, coffeehouse meet-ups, festivals, school fairs, and more. As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week seeks to raise public awareness about school choice to start tens of thousands of individual conversations across our country about the need for, and benefits of, educational opportunity. "We are grateful for Governor Hutchinson's consistent support fr School Choice Week in Arkansas," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "Millions of people across the country, regardless of which type of schooling they choose, are united in their view that greater choice means greater opportunities for our children to thrive." Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through thousands of independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com, or visit www.facebook.com/schoolchoiceweek. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160123005029/en/ Governor McCrory Proclaims January 24-30 "School Choice Week" Joining Leaders Nationwide in Celebrating Opportunity in Education North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has officially proclaimed January 24-30, 2016 as "School Choice Week" in North Carolina. Governor McCrory joins thirty other governors and 230 mayors and county leaders nationwide in issuing proclamations. With more than 400 events being held to celebrate the Week in North Carolina alone - and with more than 16,000 independently organized events across all 50 states - National School Choice Week will be America's largest-ever celebration of opportunity in education. Events will include rallies, round-table discussions, coffeehouse meet-ups, festivals, school fairs, and more. As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week seeks to raise public awareness about school choice to start tens of thousands of individual conversations across our country about the need for, and benefits of, educational opportunity. "We are grateful for Governor McCrory's support for chool Choice Week in North Carolina," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "Millions of people across the country, regardless of which type of schooling they choose, are united in their view that greater choice means greater opportunities for our children to thrive." Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through thousands of independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com, or visit www.facebook.com/schoolchoiceweek. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160123005037/en/ [January 22, 2016] Technavio Announces Top Five Vendors in the Global Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Drugs Market from 2016 to 2020 Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent global gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) drugs market report. This research report also lists 12 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. According to Technavio's report, gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the ring of muscle between the stomach and esophagus. It occurs when acidic stomach juices, or food and fluids flow back up into the food pipe (esophagus), affecting all ages, from infants to older adults. The primary symptoms of GERD include difficulty while swallowing (dysphagia), heartburn sensation, regurgitation or acid reflux, dry cough, sore throat, and chest pain. Vendor competitive landscape Technavio's analysis has identified AstraZeneca, Eisai, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, and Takeda as the leading vendors of the global GERD drugs market. Together, these companies account for the majority of the market. Based on drug class, the majority of the market share is held by proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), although they are reported to have severe adverse effects. Technavio concludes that a company that manufactures and markets a drug that can treat GERD significantly and also exhibit a high safety and efficacy profile is expected to gain a competitive advantage over other companies. About the top five global GERD drugs vendors AstraZeneca AstraZeneca was formed in 1999 through the merger of Astra and Zeneca Group and is headquartered in London, UK. It is a global biopharmaceutical company, engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and distribution of medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; oncology diseases; respiratory diseases, inflammation, and autoimmunity disorders and infections; neurological diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. The company's principal products are Crestor, Seloken/Toprol-XL, Iressa, Faslodex, and Zoladex. It markets these products to primary care and specialist doctors. Imran Mushtaq, Technavio's lead research analyst says, "AstraZeneca's continuous investment in R&D is the primar reason for its promising and innovative product pipeline. Its product pipeline includes 99 projects, of which 85 are in the clinical phase of development, including Zinforo, Caprelsa, and Epanova." Eisai Eisai was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company manufactures and distributes prescription medicines and OTC products worldwide. As of March 2015, the company had 10,183 employees and generated a revenue of USD 4.99 billion. GSK GSK was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in England, UK. It is known for manufacturing and marketing pharmaceutical products that include OTC products, vaccines, and health-related consumer products across the world. "The company has a global reach in over 150 markets with a network of 84 manufacturing sites across 36 countries and R&D centers in the US, the UK, China, and Belgium," says Imran Mushtaq, Technavio's lead research analyst. It has approximately 97,921 employees in all its offices across the globe. It had generated a revenue of USD 37.9 billion and recorded R&D expenses at USD 5.68 billion for FY2014. Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New Jersey, US. It researches, develops, and sells products across various therapy areas including infectious diseases, immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. It also develops and sells medical devices and consumer care products. The company has around 126,500 employees. It recorded a revenue of USD 74.33 billion for FY2014. Johnson & Johnson operates through 265 companies in 60 countries worldwide. It has a total of 134 manufacturing facilities globally, with 42 manufacturing facilities in the US, 41 in Europe, 15 in Western Hemisphere, and 36 in Africa and APAC. Takeda Takeda was founded in 1781 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The company primarily undertakes the R&D, manufacture, sales, and import or export of pharmaceutical drugs. The 12 other prominent vendors listed in Technavio's report include Ahn-Gook Pharmaceutical, Cancer Advances, CJ Cheil Jedang, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, RaQualia Pharma, SFJ Pharmaceuticals Group, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Vecta Pharmaceuticals, Wockhardt, Yuhan, and Zeria Pharmaceutical. Browse Related Reports: Global Gastrointestinal OTC Drugs Market 2015-2019 Global Irritable Bowel Syndrome Market 2015-2019 Global Respiratory Drugs Market 2016-2020 Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact [email protected] with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005478/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 22, 2016] The Phoenix Companies, Inc. Announces CFO Transition Upon Completion of Merger with Nassau The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PNX) ("Phoenix" or the "company') today announced Bonnie J. Malley, chief financial officer, intends to leave the company upon completion of the previously announced merger with Nassau Reinsurance Group Holdings, L.P. ("Nassau") to take a position with the City of Hartford, subject to approval by the City Council. Upon completion of the merger, which is expected in early 2016, the company intends to appoint Ernest McNeill Jr., currently senior vice president and chief accounting officer at Phoenix, as chief financial officer. Mr. McNeill joined Phoenix in August, 2014 and currently oversees numerous corporate finance functions including SEC (News - Alert) Reporting, Statutory, GAAP and Investment Accounting, Accounting Operations, Corporate Tax and Expense Management. Mr. McNeill is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst and previously held senior accounting and finance positions at Fidelity Investments and the Hartford Financial Services Group. Phoenix and Nassau are actively working towards closing, and the transaction remains on track to close in early 2016. On December 17, 2015, stockholders of the Phoenix Companies, Inc. approved the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 28, 2015 among Phoenix, Davero Merger Sub Corp. and Nassau. In addition to Phoenix stockholder approval, the completion of the merger is subject to regulaory approvals and other closing conditions. About Phoenix The Phoenix Companies, Inc. (NYSE:PNX) helps financial professionals provide solutions, including income strategies and insurance protection, to families and individuals planning for or living in retirement. Founded as a life insurance company in 1851, Phoenix offers products and services designed to meet financial needs in the middle income and mass affluent markets. Its distribution subsidiary, Saybrus Partners, Inc., offers solutions-based sales support to financial professionals and represents Phoenix's products among key distributors, including independent marketing organizations and brokerage general agencies. Phoenix is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, and has two insurance company operating subsidiaries: Phoenix Life Insurance Company, which has its statutory home office in East Greenbush, New York, and PHL Variable Insurance Company, which has its statutory home office in Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.phoenixwm.com and www.saybruspartners.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of Phoenix concerning the proposed transaction involving Phoenix and Nassau and other future events and their potential effects on Phoenix. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Phoenix's management, are not guarantees of future results and are subject to a significant number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and risk relating to the transaction, many of which are beyond Phoenix's control. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160122005846/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] City Council discuss owner occupied home rehabilitation program The $250,000 grant would be would be split between 15-20 city homeowners, who would be afforded up to $15,000 each for repairs to their homes. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: The first test container train, moving along the Trans-Caspian international transport route from Ukraine to China departed from Baku International Sea Trade Port to Kazakh Aktau Port, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company CJSC told Trend Jan. 23. "The test train consisting of 10 cars and 20 40-foot containers, departed from the Port of Baku's Ferry Terminal in Alyat on the "Azerbaijan" ferry yesterday at 23:00 (UTC/GMT+4 hours). Approximately at 23:00 today it [test train] will arrive in Aktau," said the message. The container train was launched from Illichivsk, Ukraine on Jan. 15 for a test journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to China, across the Caspian and Black seas, and arrived at Georgian port of Poti Jan. 20. The test train was launched after Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine signed a protocol on Jan. 14 on setting competitive preferential tariffs for cargo traffic via the Trans-Caspian international transport route. The Trans-Caspian international transport route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, and then to Europe. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23. By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: Hungary is really counting on Azerbaijani gas supplies within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor project, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to Azerbaijan Imre Laslotsky told Trend. "The energy cooperation is one of the most important directions for the countries' bilateral relations," he said. "Azerbaijan is a strategic partner on the gas supply issue not only for Hungary, but also for the whole Europe," Laslotsky said. "The country has both its own potential and the possibility of gas transit from neighboring countries, so bypassing Azerbaijan on these issues is extremely difficult," he added. Hungary expects for the start of gas supply for via the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe, he noted. "We hope that there are additional volumes of gas for Hungary. I can see that despite the drop in oil prices, these projects are being implemented. It calms us, investors and our partners in Europe," the ambassador noted. Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU, which envisages for the gas transportation from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to European countries. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 Trend: Information about Azerbaijani diplomat's suicide in Turkey is not true, spokesperson of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend Jan. 23. Turkish media previously spread information that Fakhraddin Aliyev, a diplomat who worked at the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, killed himself. Such a person does not work in the system of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Hajiyev said. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani embassy in Turkey told Trend that such an employee does not work at the embassy. However, in view of the fact that the victim is Azerbaijani, the embassy is clarifying the incident's details and is working jointly with law enforcement agencies, said the embassy's message. "Nick Haines, Mary Sanchez, Steve Kraske, Scott Parks and Steve Vockrodt discuss the new KCI renovation proposal from Councilwoman Teresa Loar, the future of Missouri's death penalty, Gov. Jay Nixon's final State of the State address, school consolidation in Kansas, sales tax on food in Kansas, the new KCMO School Superintendent Mark Bedell, MLK Day and the picks for Greatest Kansas Citian." Here's a look at Kansas City according to local newsies this week . . . Interesting stuff that doesn't really match the tone of the local conversation but still manages to shed light on a few topics according to the people paid by advertisers and non-profit foundations tothey know better than everybody else.Description . . .Take a look:More in a bit . . . CELEBRATE LOCAL WINTER WARRIORS AND THE KANSAS CITY POWER RANKINGS TONIGHT!!! Kansas City Petitioners Have The Power Sherwood Smith Leads Jackson County Democratic Committee Voters Jeff Roe Takes The National Scene By Storm Congressman Kevin Yoder Is The King Of Johnson County Mayor Sly Steps Up His P.R. Game inspires tonight's look at the strongest in Kansas City this week.To wit . . .Checkit:Big court wins this week demonstrate that the Kansas City electorate still has power when they chose to go out, get involved and vote.The. Nobody has worked harder to over the past few years to make it to the Legislature, Sherwood Smith is just a few votes away from winning his 1st public office after a career of public service.He's. Jeff Roe is now a national political player, based in Houston but with a team in an office overlooking Kansas City.More than a million bucks in the bank for his. There simply is no contender who comes close to this golden ghetto politico.Heand even though Kansas City is plagued by murder, poor services and blight . . . Mayor Sly James maintains his "frosty" composure through it all.Accordingly . . .As always, this list has been compiled according toand it's a weekly comprehensive guide to local powerful people. TKC Reader Talks Cowtown Tax Fighting Thisof our blog community is far to kind to include us in this cadre of tax fighter good company but we appreciate the mention and more info on the real struggle in KC that's aboutand not culture war distractions.Checkit:The front page story that reads. It talks about how other public entities, like the Kansas City Public Schools, are only now realizing thatmoney (read: our tax dollars) was given away to a developer for the Corrigan Building in the Crossroads. These political subdivisions in Kansas City are, apparently, upset because someone else is wasting OUR dollars.The unwritten story demonstrates that the protesters of City Hall's numerous give-away of taxpayer dollars, like Citizens for Responsible Government (lead by Dan Coffey and John Murphy) and news outlets courageous enough to point out the abuse of us taxpayers, like Tony's Kansas City, and the Show-Me Institute,What took place is that Kansas City's practice of never ending corporate welfare handouts had to go underground. Instead of facing another grassroots fight from the taxpayers, they hid this newest handout of roughly $2.25 million and did an end run around the normal method used by City Hall. The developers used the KC Port, (formerly the Port Authority of Kansas City), which is an entity managed by the state and doesn't need to seek City permission or face any city scrutiny (until now) or citizen blowback.Perhaps a silver lining is that by reducing funds going to tax-supported projects like KCPS, we may be able kill the beast that has harmed the future of so many young scholars by pretending to educate them.Please keep up the good work TKC, Show Me, and Citizens.############### Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's signalled on Friday that oil-exporting countries face fresh downgrades as crude prices fall further and that it could repeat last year's move when it made a big group of cuts all at once. The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has brought a blizzard of downgrades, including for Russia and Brazil, which have been stripped of investment grade, number one producer Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, where the oil rout has raised fears of a sovereign default. But a further 20 percent slump since the start of the year which few had foreseen could mean another batch of cuts is imminent, S&P's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) head of sovereign ratings Moritz Kraemer, told Reuters. "This is not the run-of-the-mill commodities swing, this is something different altogether," Kraemer said. "We had an important number of downgrades last year in Africa, the Middle East and the CIS, and if our outlooks continue to perform as an indicator of where the ratings may next go, more might be coming up this year." S&P currently has Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Oman, Russia, and Saudi Arabia on negative outlook in its Europe, Middle East and Africa region, as well as Brazil and Venezuela in Latin America. Nigeria, another oil-dependent emerging market giant, has a stable outlook, but pressure is mounting almost everywhere as governments see their revenues bleed away. "There is a big overhang of negative outlooks and a rapidly growing negative overhang," Kraemer said. "A large number of them are commodity exporters, specifically oil exporters, so that tells you pretty strongly that the balance is tilting to downgrades." Azerbaijan, one of the few big oil countries to escape a rating downgrade last year - although its outlook was cut - could potentially be the first to fall when its bottom-of-investment-grade BBB- rating is reviewed on January 29. Under European Union rules introduced after the global financial crisis, S&P publishes its rating reviews according to a schedule although it can make ad hoc changes in special circumstances. It did so last February, when it cut ratings for oil-exporting Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Oman, Venezuela and Congo all at once and changed outlooks on Saudi Arabia and Nigeria to negative before downgrading them later in the year. Kraemer said the latest dive in oil prices might mean that kind of mass downgrade is seen again. "The last leg down (in oil) has been pretty significant," he said. "So what we have to do is, if you remember last year we brought some reviews forward, quite a number actually, we have to decide whether we do that again. We come to that decision by looking at the new reality."-Reuters Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan 23 Trend: The Lifelong Mission documentary filmed by the Baku Media Center with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's support, has been presented at Nizami Cinema Center, along with the Last Refuge in A Foreign Land photo-book. Head of project and chief producer of documentary, Arzu Aliyeva, has attended the ceremony. The President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva was thanked for her support for the project at the event. Lifelong Mission reveals tumultuous story of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919 led by Alimardan Topchubashov, the then Speaker of Parliament of the first Republic of Azerbaijan (1918-1920). It took the creative team a good year and a half of substantial archive research in Baku, Tbilisi, Moscow, St.Petersburg and Paris followed by photo and video shooting and interviews with the experts on the Azerbaijani emigration to France. A far Last Refuge in A Foreign Land edition is concerned, it is the first book dedicated to the lives of the members of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, as well as a number of our fellow countrymen fleeing to France to escape persecution by the Bolshevik (Communist) regime. Lifelong Mission shot by the Baku Media Center is the second documentary produced by Arzu Aliyeva. Her first work, "Objective Baku. Hitler's War on Oil" was aired in Azerbaijan in May 2015 and broadcast by the National Geographic in 26 countries. The Farouk Almoayyed Center for Enterprise Development (FACED) has announced plans to launch its clinics and medical services centre in Bahrain during the first quarter. The centre, which is located at Salmaniya Area, aims to provide specialised clinics equipped with the latest medical equipments and serves more than 54 doctors. This unique initiative not only provides support for young doctors, but also offers benefits to Bahrainis and citizens. It will coordinate with the doctors at the center to offer their services at affordable prices, considering that clinics rental prices are hugely discounted. Commenting on the launch, Farouk Almoayyed, a leading businessman and the chairman of the centre, said: "This centre completes our previous initiative which is aimed at supporting SMEs and troubled businesses by providing them with logistical support as well as counseling." "We are very proud to continue supporting SMEs through entering a new sector. The medical sector is very important part of our economy and we are happy to continue supporting it by creating opportunities for a large number of doctors and consultants who work in the public sector to start their own private businesses," he stated. "The center will act as an incubator for their businesses for a period that lasts up to a maximum period of two years. Doctors will benefit from low cost and fully equipped clinics that can help them to start up their own clinics or hospitals in the future," stated Almoayyed. "We are very keen to support the health sector as well as the citizens by creating professional health care services at reduced prices," he noted. Bahrain SMEs Development Society headed by Ahmed Subah AlSaloom AlSaloom said the center provides 27 fully equipped clinics and can serve up to 54 doctors. Also there is a plan to open the center as 24 hour clinic in the future, he stated. "Following their success in managing Faced, we are very happy to hand over the management of the centre to Bahrain SMEs Development Society headed by AlSaloom, while the medical supervision will be entrusted to Dr Fadheela Mohammed Haider, head of clinics and medical centers development committee at the society. AlSaloom said: "We will do our best to operate the center successfully and serve young doctors. One of the main challenges that faces new clinic centres is the availability of car parks, and this center offer sufficient park spaces according to the requirements of Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning."-TradeArabia News Service Ducab, a leading manufacturer of quality cables and wires solutions in the GCC, will be showcasing its leading brand of cabling systems at the upcoming Gulf Industry Fair 2016. The leading business-to-business industrial show in the Northern Gulf will be held from February 9 to 11 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, said the event organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE). Ducab will be featuring products designed for the oil, gas and petrochemical sector such as PetroBICC, lines with flexible rubber cables RuBICC and their famous certified cable range designed to service Nuclear Power plants, NuBICC, said a top official. Our aim at Gulf Industry Fair 2016 is to demonstrate the capabilities of our products as well as spearheading current and future projects for innovating the cables sector, stated Ulhas Menon, the sales manager of Ducabs branch in Bahrain. Ducab is a joint venture company owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai and the Senaat of Abu Dhabi operating five manufacturing facilities, which includes Ducab Jebel Ali, Copper Rod Factory and Ducab High Voltage (HV) Cable Systems Factory. Ducab and Senaat have set-up the Ducab Aluminium Company, a 50,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) aluminium rod mill which will be completed by the end of next year. The Dubai firm's Bahrain branch - BICC MET - and warehouse, which is located in Ras Zuwayed industrial area, supplies to a wide variety of clients including Diyar Al Muharraq, Bahrain International Airport and the Bahrain Affordable Housing Public Private Partnership. Welcoming the UAE group's participation, Jubran Abdulrahman, the managing director of Bahrain-based HCE, said: "Ducab has a well-deserved reputation for being the Middle Easts No.1 producer and supplier of cable solutions." "Their presence provides visitors the dedicated industrial showcase of world class products made in the GCC," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Iranian counterpart on Saturday in Tehran, where they will discuss how to improve economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Xi was welcomed by President Hassan Rouhani at Sa'dabad palace in northern Tehran. The Chinese president will meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. "China is seeking to improve bilateral ties with Iran to start a new season of comprehensive, long-term and sustainable relations with the Islamic Republic," President Xi was quoted as saying by Iran's state news agency, IRNA, on his arrival in Tehran on Friday night. "Some 16 accords, including a strategic cooperation agreement, will be signed during the Chinese President's Iran visit," Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour said, according to state television. Trade between Iran and China stood at around $52 billion in 2014, Rahimpour said, but falling oil prices caused it to drop last year. The Chinese president is the first leader to visit Iran since international sanctions were lifted on January 16, after Iran reached an agreement with six major powers to limit its nuclear programme. China was one of the six. Xi is also the first Chinese president to visit Iran in 14 years, according to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA. He has visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well during his Middle East tour, which started on Jan. 19. Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, Xi's first stop, has been at odds with Shi'ite Iran since Saudi authorities executed a Shi'ite cleric, Nimr Al Nimr, on January 2. Riyadh severed ties with Tehran after Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad. China has called on both countries to exercise calm and restraint.-Reuters US Secretary of State John Kerry met leaders of Gulf Arab countries in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks aimed at pushing the Syrian peace process forward and calming their concern about the international agreement over Iran's nuclear program. Kerry began a stop in Riyadh by meeting with representatives of the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE. He is also due to have talks with Riad Hijab, chair of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee, which was formed in Saudi Arabia last month, amid uncertainty about whether Syrian peace talks slated to start next week in Geneva will take place. The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before preconditions are met, including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting Kerry's hopes for talks to start next week. The peace efforts are complicated by the worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back different sides in the Syrian conflict, and concern the Arab states have about how Tehran will benefit from implementation of a nuclear deal agreed with Western powers last year. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran worsened this month after Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric triggered an attack by Iranian protesters on its Tehran embassy, leading the kingdom to cut diplomatic ties. A senior State Department official said before Kerry's arrival in Riyadh that Washington hoped Saudi Arabia would restore diplomatic ties with Iran after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement of regret this week over the embassy storming. The official said Kerry had emphasized to the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers the importance of reconciliation and that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who visited Riyadh this week, also discussed this with Saudi authorities. However, he said the United States had no plans to engage on the issue of facilitating a Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, and that Washington - which has no diplomatic ties with Tehran - was not well placed to do so. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said in several interviews this month that full relations cannot be restored until Iran changes its behavior and acts like a normal state rather than like "a revolution". Saudi Arabia and Iran each accuse the other of fomenting instability across the Middle East, and Riyadh regards Iran's backing for Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as a threat to its own security.-Reuters The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before steps including a halt to Russian air strikes, contradicting US Secretary of State John Kerry's insistence that talks will begin next week. With the five-year-old Syrian war showing no signs of ending, it looks increasingly uncertain that peace talks will begin as planned on January 25 in Geneva, partly because of a dispute over the composition of the opposition delegation. Peace efforts face huge underlying challenges, among them disagreements over President Bashar al-Assad's future and tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia on Friday denied a report that President Vladimir Putin had asked Assad to step down last year. The Syrian government has said it is ready to take part in the Geneva talks on time. The office of UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he was still aiming "at rolling out the talks" on January 25, and would be "assessing progress over the weekend". Russia said the talks could be delayed until January 27 or 28 because of the disagreement over who would represent the opposition. George Sabra, a senior opposition official, said the obstacles to the talks were still there, reiterating demands for the lifting of blockades on populated areas and the release of detainees, measures set out in a December 18 Security Council resolution that endorsed the peace process. "There must be a halt to the bombardment of civilians by Russian planes, and sieges of blockaded areas must be lifted," said Sabra, who was this week named as a senior member of the opposition delegation to any talks. "The form of the talks does not concern us, but the conditions must be appropriate for the negotiations," he told Reuters. Sabra's opposition council, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), was formed in Saudi Arabia last month. It groups Assad's political and armed opponents, including rebel factions fighting Damascus in western Syria. The west is the main theatre of the war between rebels and Damascus, whose military position has been bolstered since September by Russian warplanes and Iranian ground forces. Russian warplanes continued to bomb many parts of western and northern Syria on Friday, particularly Latakia province, where the government is pressing an offensive against rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Pro-government forces captured a dam 10 km from the town of Salma, seized last week in one of the most significant gains since Russia intervened. "They've tightened their stranglehold on (rebel) fighters in the Latakia countryside," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. Later in the day they recaptured another five villages, all in hills overlooking insurgent positions, he said, describing it as a "strategic advance" towards the Turkish border. Air strikes also hit areas in the east near where government forces have been fighting against Islamic State, which controls most of the province. Raids believed to be either Russian or Syrian killed 30 civilians near Deir al-Zor city, the Observatory said. While rebels have received military support from Assad's foreign enemies, states including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar and the United States, their calls for more effective weapons including anti-aircraft missiles have gone unanswered. One of the biggest rebel factions in the HNC, Jaysh al-Islam, said the opposition was facing "many pressures" to make concessions but credited Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for helping it to "overcome these pressures". The lead negotiator picked by the HNC for the hoped-for negotiations is a Jaysh al-Islam member, another potential complication facing the talks because Russia says it is a terrorist group. HNC chair Riad Hijab is due to meet Kerry on Saturday and "all the matters will be tabled clearly", Sabra said. A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed Kerry was likely to meet Hijab to "check the tyres on the way forward (on talks)... that will hopefully kick off next week." Russia views the HNC as a Saudi attempt to dictate who represents the opposition. The HNC has said it will not join any negotiations if a third party attends, rejecting Russia's bid to expand the opposition delegation to include the Kurdish PYD and others. The Kurds control vast areas of northern and northeastern Syria where they have set up an autonomous administration which they say should be a model for settling the Syrian conflict. The opposition accuses the Kurds of co-operating with Damascus, a charge they deny. One opposition official said on Thursday the Kurds should attend on the government side. Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim told Reuters that the Syrian Kurds must be represented at peace talks or they will fail. He also accused Jaysh al-Islam of fostering the "same mentality" as al Qaeda and Islamic State. "If there are some parties that are effective in this Syria issue who are not at the table, it will be the same as what happened in Geneva 2," Muslim, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) told Reuters, referring to failed negotiations in 2014. Jaysh al-Islam last year backed away from hardline Islamist rhetoric heard from it earlier in the conflict, saying Syrians should be free to pick their form of government and Alawites were part of the Syrian nation. The Kremlin on Friday rejected a report that an envoy for Putin asked Assad to step down last year, TASS news agency reported. The Financial Times had earlier reported that the head of Russian military intelligence agency travelled to Damascus at the end of last year to ask Assad to step down only to be angrily rebuffed.-Reuters Senior Saudi and Iranian figures clashed behind closed doors at a private meeting convened by the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to try to promote peace in Syria, participants said. The barbed exchange between Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at an invitation-only meeting on Wednesday underlined the hostility between the two Gulf rivals, who are waging proxy wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. Riyadh broke off diplomatic relations and cut off trade and transport ties with Tehran two weeks ago after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Iran. The protests erupted following the Saudi execution of a leading Shi'ite cleric that outraged predominantly Shi'ite Iranians. The standoff highlights some of the reasons US-Russian-backed peace talks on Syria may not open as planned in Geneva next week. There is no agreement on who should represent opponents of the Syrian government, and Riyadh-backed rebels are demanding that Russia first stop air strikes in Syria. An official photographer snapped Faisal and Zarif shaking hands outside the room. The picture was not distributed and any warmth evaporated when they sat around the table with UN and other senior officials. "It was a dialogue of the deaf," said one participant, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality of the session. Zarif denied any secret meeting with Prince Turki, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ambassador to the US. Asked at a news conference the same day whether he would meet any Saudi officials in Davos, he said: "There won't be any secret meeting." Prince Turki confirmed to Reuters that he had attended the session with Zarif and others but declined comment on what was said, citing the off-the-record ground rules of the meeting. UN special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa of Egypt, the foreign ministers of Italy and Austria and officials from Turkey and several other Western nations were also around the table. De Mistura opened the meeting by saying the time was ripe for the Geneva peace talks because outside powers all wanted a political solution to the five-year-old civil war in Syria, the participants said. However, several speakers questioned Russia's motives for intervening in the conflict since September with air strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad. They cast doubt on whether Moscow and Tehran wanted any deal that would involve Assad's eventual departure. Zarif said Iran supported a political solution and had set out a four-point peace plan when it was finally invited to join international diplomacy on Syria last year. It had been excluded for years at US and Saudi insistence. Without naming any country, he took a veiled swipe at Riyadh by condemning those, he said, who fanned and exploited sectarian differences between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims across the region. At his news conference, Zarif accused Saudi Arabia of having spent millions of dollars to lobby the US Congress against an international deal on Iran's nuclear program. An agreement with Iran led to the lifting of UN sanctions on the country this week. Prince Turki hit back in the closed session, blasting Iran's role in the Syria conflict, the participants said. Quoting an Arabic saying, he told Zarif: "I really like what you say but when I look at what you do, I wonder." Prince Turki, the 70-year-old youngest son of the late King Faisal, accused Iran of having 10,000 fighters on the ground in Syria supporting Assad, participants said. He described the Syrian leader as a "terrorist killing his own people" who was directly kept in power by Tehran, the participants said. One participant said the prince's remarks were sharper than expected and shocked some of those attending the meeting. While declining to comment on the exchange, Prince Turki told Reuters the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had boasted publicly that Iran had 120,000 fighters in Arab countries. Iran has acknowledged that officers of its Revolutionary Guards have been killed in Syria, but it denies having a large military presence in the country or participating directly in combat operations. Officials close to Damascus and familiar with military developments have said that hundreds of Iranian fighters have joined the ground war in Syria since Russia began its air strikes last September, many of them deployed near Aleppo. A Middle East diplomat said the Iranian presence was closer to 2,000 Revolutionary Guards, but they were augmented by several thousand Shi'ite volunteers from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq who had received military training in Iran. Zarif did not respond to Prince Turki's attack in the meeting and the rest of the session was inconclusive. UN envoy de Mistura lamented that "this is the third year we are talking about Syria and not getting anywhere", one participant said. He said the Europeans at the table only talked about the humanitarian situation and the refugee crisis and how to stop refugees reaching Europe.-Reuters Greece's biggest oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum agreed on Friday to buy crude oil from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the first European refiner to restart trade relations with Iran after the lifting of international sanctions. Hellenic Petroleum was a major buyer of Iranian crude, which accounted for about 20 per cent of the southeast European country's annual crude oil imports before sanctions were imposed on Tehran in 2011. The agreement came after Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia and his Greek counterpart Panos Skourletis met in Athens on Friday. The two ministers also attended talks between executives from Hellenic Petroleum and NIOC, a meeting reported by Reuters on Jan. 18. Under the deal, the refiner will start buying oil from Iran immediately and will settle its multi-million euro outstanding debt to NIOC, Hellenic Petroleum said in a bourse filing. Hellenic Petroleum is estimated to owe Iran around $550-600 million for oil it bought before the sanctions but was unable to pay when the international embargo was imposed. "The deal was achieved after consecutive meetings in Athens and Tehran," Hellenic Petroleum said. "The deal is beneficial for both sides." After meeting Zamininia, Skourletis told Reuters Iran believed Greece could be a conduit for re-entering Europe's oil market. "They (Iran) are positively disposed towards Greece and think that Greece can be the European conduit for them to re-enter the market," he said, adding that the two countries had traditionally enjoyed close relations. "They (Iran) said that the debt (settlement) can open the way so that our cooperation is boosted," Skourletis said, adding that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was due to visit Iran early next month. Iran used to sell as much as 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) to European refiners in Italy, Spain and Greece before the sanctions over its nuclear programme were imposed. Tehran ordered a 500,000-bpd increase in its oil output, of which 200,000 bpd will go to Europe, after the sanctions were lifted on Saturday. But European companies and trading houses are not rushing to buy the oil because of legal uncertainties over the lifting of sanctions that are likely to take weeks to clarify. Reuters Oman expects speedier completion of a planned pipeline to import natural gas from Iran now that international sanctions against Tehran have been lifted, the energy minister of the sultanate said. Iran sits on one of the world's largest gas reserves, which Oman has been eyeing as it hopes to feed energy-intensive industries and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants. Price disagreements, Western sanctions that have stunted Iranian energy projects and US pressure on Oman to find other suppliers have prevented real progress on the pipeline project. In 2013, the two countries signed an agreement on gas supplies to Oman in a deal valued at $60 billion over 25 years. Since then, however, the project - which includes building a subsea pipeline - has stalled. "I am very optimistic that now the sanctions have been lifted, the gas pipeline project will move in a faster track than before," Oman Energy Minister Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy told Reuters by telephone. "We were facing lots of difficulties. Now we can order compressors, we can order pipes, seek consultancy help, we can talk to banks about financing. Things have changed." Rumhy was speaking during a visit by Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh to Muscat. "We think we can finish the FEED (front-end engineering design) in five months' time," Rumhy said. "So we are giving ourselves by the end of Q2 to finish the FEED and hopefully by the end of the year or Q1 next (year) to start the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) work, which will take us two years, (to) 2017-2018," he said, adding that Oman hopes to start receiving Iranian gas by 2019. The plan is to use Iranian gas for domestic needs as well as exporting it to global markets after having it liquefied in Oman, Rumhy said. The pipeline will have the capacity to carry 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day (bcfd) but that might be raised to 1.5-2 bcfd because of high demand in the region, he said. "I think this will help us to make Muscat a gas hub for Gulf countries. We can export and import gas and supply it to whoever wants to buy across the region. We would like to start thinking along those lines," he said. "With the gas pipeline from Iran ... this will be a major milestone towards our goal of making Oman a center for gas trading in the region," he said.-Reuters Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their aviation links on the sidelines of Bahrain International Air Show. The agreement updates the two countries operational framework to run an average of 107 flights per week between international airports, said Sulaiman Al Hamdan, the president of Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) after signing the deal with Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications on the sidelines of 2016 Bahrain International Airshow. The signing comes as part of the two countries efforts to enhance air traffic to meet the growing demand for flights between them, and strengthen economic exchange. The pact calls for removal of all restrictions on aircraft models and their seating capacity and also derestricts air freight services. The agreement paves way for usage of all modes of transportation, including the sharing of call signs and the participation of third parties, additional and non-chartered flights, as well as the right to charter aircraft and interconnect some carriers domestically in accordance with the laws and regulations of each party. The memorandum also included an agreement to upgrade the existing mutual air services agreement.-TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on ground handling services with German company AeroGround Flughafen Munchen GmbH. The accord signed on the sidelines of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS2016) covers providing services and consultancy on training Bahraini BAS staff, according to Bahrain News Agency (BNA) . BAS was founded in 1977 to provide fully integrated airport services at Bahrain International Airport. AeroGround Flughafen Munchen GmbH, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Flughafen Munchen GmbH, is the leading provider of ground handling services at Munich Airport. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 23 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: Turkmenistan conducts fruitful negotiations with parties interested in the implementation of projects for the supply of Turkmen natural gas to Europe, Turkmen government said. In May 2015, a quadrilateral meeting was held in Ashgabat, which was attended by heads of energy ministries of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and representatives of the European Commission. The meeting was dedicated to the discussion of the priorities on diversification of routes for energy resources' output to the global market, including those in the European direction that provides for the joint creation of multiple pipeline infrastructures. The sides discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation in the energy sector during the meeting, including the implementation of joint projects for laying of transnational transit pipelines, in particular on natural gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Europe. As a result of the meeting a declaration was initialed, which reflects discussed issues and confirms the desire of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the EU to continue active cooperation within international organizations on the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure energy security. Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon resources could be transported to Europe via the Caspian Sea by laying a pipeline at the bottom of the sea to the Azerbaijani coast. Then the fuel can be directed to Turkey, which has common borders with the European countries. Trans-Caspian gas pipeline could become a part of Southern Gas Corridor's large-scale projects. Ashgabat believes that for laying the pipe at the bottom of the Caspian Sea (legal status of which is not defined yet) consent of the parties (Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan), the territory of which the project will cover is sufficient. Type to search or hit ESC to close Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend: Iran plans to launch 16 oil refining projects, worth 33 billion euros, eyeing to surpass Saudi Arabia as the biggest oil refiner in the Middle East, according to an Iranian news agency report. For the time being, Iran's oil refining capacity is 1.85 million barrels per day (mbpd). The country plans to build 12 medium and large crude oil and gas condensate refining units, implement fuel oil output reduction projects at Bandar Abbas and Abadan refineries, revamp Isfahan and Abadan refineries, and boost crude oil and oil products transfer capacity, said the Mehr news agency Jan. 22. Once the projects come on stream, Iran's oil refining capacity will increase by 1.29 mbpd and reach 3.1 mbpd. Saudi Arabia's oil refining capacity has been declining over the past five years from 2.8 mbpd in 2010 to around 2.1 mbpd in 2015. Iranian laws stipulate that private sector and foreign investors should account for 80 percent of those putting funds into the oil refining projects in the country. Below is the list of major investment opportunities in Iran's oil refining sector. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 23 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: Turkmenistan, being a consistent supporter of peace, harmony and stability in the Caspian basin, supports the continuation of a constructive dialogue with the coastal neighboring countries on the basis of national interests, as well as augmentation of the overall effort in the implementation of promising joint projects to protect and preserve the Caspian Sea's ecosystem, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov said, Turkmen government released a statement Jan. 23. With the purpose of the region's sustainable development as a whole, Turkmenistan previously made a number of relevant initiatives voiced from the United Nations' rostrum, including the area of transit transport cooperation, said the statement. A meeting of the interdepartmental Commission on the Caspian Sea will be held in the near future in Ashgabat, according to the statement. It is planned to discuss the results of the work that was done in 2015 at the next meeting, as well as define the objectives and priorities of the Commission's activity in the near future. Proposals put forward by the Turkmen side to preserve, enhance and achieve the sustainable use of biological resources of this unique natural basin, ensuring its environmental safety and the development of mutually beneficial regional cooperation also will be taken into account. Turkmen Parliament approved the draft decision on ratification of the Protocol for the Conservation of Biological Diversity to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in May, 2015. This document was signed in 2014 at one of the forums in Ashgabat. It is expected that the implementation of the protocol will contribute to the development of protected areas and the protection of rare species of biodiversity at the national and regional levels. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jan. 21 By Demir Azizov - Trend: Uzbekistan Railways JSC will complete the construction of railway sidings to Kandym gas processing plant (GPP) - the main facility of the Kandym project, implemented as part of a production sharing agreement (PSA) with Russia's Lukoil. The length of the sidings will be 48.7 kilometers, while the cost of construction will stand at $50 million, the Uzbekistan Railways JSC told Trend. The railway sidings' construction is financed with help of the company's own funds. In addition, Uzbekenergo JSC will complete the construction of the Kandym GPP's $58.8 million worth external power supply until the end of 2017. It is also planned to construct a 220 kilovolt high-voltage line, with a length of 90 kilometers. Construction of power facilities is being realized through Uzbekenergo's own funds. Uzbekistan Railways and Uzbekenergo will also direct $108.8 million to the construction of Kandym GPP's external infrastructure facilities. Construction of the Kandym gas processing plant is being carried out as part of the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady PSA, signed in June 2004, with a validity of 35 years. The agreement partners are the Lukoil, with a share of 90 percent, and Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company, with a share of 10 percent. Trade Promotion Organization of Iran banned Iranian merchants from re-exporting Turkish products to Russia from Iran, IRNA reported. TPOI Deputy Director Mohammad Reza Movadvadi said on Saturday that according to a decree issued by the Iranian Trade Minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, re-export of Turkish products to Russia from Iran's soil is forbidden. Re-export of Turkish goods to Russia by Iranian merchants is against Iran's general export policies, he added. Referring to the political tensions between Turkey and Russia, Movadvadi noted that such measures can have a very negative impact on Tehran-Moscow ties. Russians may adopt difficult rules for export of Iranian products to Russia, if Iranian merchants continue to re-export Turkish goods to Russia from Iran's soil, the official added. He noted that Iranian merchants should use the opportunity of good political ties between Tehran and Moscow for export of Iranian goods, there. Russia imposed import sanctions on Turkey and canceled major investment projects as the spat between the two countries over the downed Su-24 fighter jet continues. The Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said punitive steps could include halting joint economic projects, restricting financial and trade transactions and changing customs duties. Already, the Russia's tourist board has suspended all tours to Turkey, a move that it estimated would cost the Turkish economy $10b (6.6b) reports the Guardian. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 21 By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend: The US state department's Persian spokesman, Alan Eyre, has denied that tightening the rules for visa-free travel to the United States would prevent foreign traders from business with Iran. "The latest amendments to the US Visa Waiver Program (bill HR158) were aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and I do not think the issue will concern the foreigners regarding business in Iran," Eyre told Trend Jan. 21. "If foreigners have visited Iran over the past five years, they simply need to apply for an entry visa to the US which is not a difficult task," the spokesman said. The official further pledged that the US will make efforts to remove the ambiguities over the changes to the visa program. In the wake of created ambiguities over the bill and in a very recent development, Rana Rahimpour, a well-known BBC Persian presenter and journalist, with dual British-Iranian nationality was banned from flying to the US under the visa waiver scheme. "My fully #British daughter can't attend her #American cousin's bday cos her mum was born in #Iran," she tweeted Jan. 19. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of about 38 countries, mostly European, to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or while in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. However, the recent amendment to the program imposes restrictions on foreigners who intend to visit the US. The legislation restricts many foreign nationals and those with dual nationality who have visited Iran, Syria, Iraq and Sudan over the past five years, from entering the US without a visa. Aimed at preventing possible terrorist threats, the US officials passed the legislation intended to limit certain travel privileges in the aftermath of attacks in Paris and California. However Iranians have been campaigning online to stop the legislation. "HR158", a Facebook page created to oppose the bill has over 100k members. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Khalid Kazimov - Trend: There are still important differences between Iran and the USA, however Tehran and Washington make efforts to deal with them using diplomacy and interaction, US State Department official Alan Eyre told Trend. Eyre, the US State Department's Persian Language spokesperson said Washington and its allies will take measures to prevent Iran from destabilizing the region. However now with involving Iran in Syrian peace talks there will be more interaction rather than confrontation, and now there is a chance to reach a peaceful solution to end Syrian crisis, Eyre said. For the first time in Mid-November 2015, Tehran, the main regional ally of President Bashar al-Assad, attended an international summit in Vienna discussing solutions to put an end to the five-year long crisis in Syria. At least two summits have been hold since then and another one is expected to take place in late January. Speaking about some Arab states' concern over unblocking of Iran's frozen assets in international banks, following the removal of international sanctions on the country, Alan Eyre said that the reality should be accepted - that there is a possibility that Iran may use part of unblocked assets to destabilize the region. However, if we had not solved the nuclear issue, Iran could have been armed with a nuclear weapon which could worsen the situation in the region, he added. In a joint statement on Jan. 16, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the implementation of Iran's nuclear deal with the P5+1, and the removal of economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The statement said the EU confirms that the legal framework, providing for lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions, is effective. Following the removal of sanctions Iran's frozen assets in international banks have been released. There were speculations that the value of the country's assets frozen in overseas banks amount to above $100 billion, meanwhile Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected these huge figures. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iranian and Chinese officials signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran Jan. 23, Iran's state IRINN TV reported. The two sides signed documents for cooperation in various sectors including nuclear, transportation, ICT, culture, science and education as well as economic, industrial and judicial field, investment promotion and environment protection in Tehran's Saadabad Palace. Heading a high-ranking delegation, Chinese President arrived at Tehran yesterday night at the invitation of President Rouhani. Jinping's trip to Tehran is the last leg of his three-nation tour which has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The visit is the first by a Chinese president to Iran in 14 years. The Chinese leader met with Rouhani, to discuss boosting economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Jinping will also meet Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. China is the Islamic Republic's main trade partner. The value of trade exchanges between Tehran and Beijing stood at some $52 billion in 2014. However, the figure dropped in 2015 due to decreasing oil prices. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran and China discussed boosting their bilateral trade to $600 billion within a ten-year period, the Islamic Republic's president Hassan Rouhani said. He made the remarks during a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting with his visiting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Tehran Jan. 23, the State IRINN TV reported. Rouhani said that the parties discussed mutual strategic ties in the meeting. "This trip comes in a great moment of history as the international sanctions against Iran are removed," Rouhani said, adding the parties can achieve a final agreement for cooperation in fields of mutual interests. The Iranian president further said that Iran and China had decided to prepare a comprehensive 25-year cooperation document. Finance, banking and investment issues as well as long-term agreements on energy and investment in the mining, industry and energy sectors were discussed in the meeting as well, Rouhani added. In addition to economic issues the two parties also negotiated cooperation in various fields such as security and defense as well as culture, tourism, technology and science, the Iranian president underlined. International and regional issues also discussed in the meeting, Rouhani said, adding fighting with terrorism, extremism and violence as well as conflicts that have plagued the region were on the agenda of the mutual talks. He also said Iran and China have agreed on more cooperation to "combat regional terrorism." Rouhani noted that the two sides discussed cooperation for "creating stability and security in the Middle East and helping countries plagued by terrorism, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and providing intellectual and intelligence assistance in the fight on terrorism." Chinese president for his part said he has traveled to Iran to prepare the ground for a new prospect in relations between the two countries. Jinping added that strong cooperation between Tehran and Beijing will not only benefit the two parties, but also would serve regional and global peace. The Chinese president said that he seeks strategic ties with Iran, in particular in the nergy market. Iranian and Chinese officials signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the meeting between Jinping and Rouhani in Tehran Jan. 23. The two sides signed documents for cooperation in various sectors including nuclear, transportation, ICT, culture, science and education as well as economic, industrial and judicial field, investment promotion and environment protection. Heading a high-ranking delegation, Chinese President arrived at Tehran yesterday night at the invitation of President Rouhani. Jinping's trip to Tehran is the last leg of his three-nation tour which has also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The visit is the first by a Chinese president to Iran in 14 years. China is the Islamic Republic's main trade partner. The value of trade exchanges between Tehran and Beijing stood at some $52 billion in 2014. However, the figure dropped in 2015 due to decreasing oil prices. Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 23 By Fatih Karimov- Trend: Two Iranian policemen were killed during an armed incident in Iranshahr city, located in the country's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province. An armed shootout with drug smugglers took place on one of the streets of Iranshahr, resulting in death of two police officers, Fars news agency reported Jan. 23. Reportedly, two more police officers got injured, while two drug smugglers were killed in the standoff. Two more smugglers got apprehended by the police. Iran is situated on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Gulf States. The Islamic Republic shares about 900 kilometers of common border with Afghanistan, over which 74 percent of opium is smuggled. It was reported that some 490 tons of drugs were seized in the country during the last fiscal year (ended on March 20, 2015). The fight against drugs annually costs Iran about $1 billion, according to the official estimates. The statistics also say there are about two million drug users in Iran. Tehran, Iran, January 23 By Mehdi Sepahvand -- Trend: The US has returned over 3,000 paleontological pieces that belong to Iran, an official at Iran's Center for International Legal Affairs said. The official, whose name is not given, stated the fossils had been discovered in the Iranian city of Maragheh and around Lake Urmia in the 1970s by California University Professor Bernard Campbell, the presidential website reported January 23. The official further said the collection includes 802 valuable vertebrate fossils and a full skull of a certain mammal. The fossils had been taken to the US by Campbell at that time for study, but the US had refused to return them to their legal owner, Iran, thus far. Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 22 In spite of the intense cold wave in the region, various farmer and labour organisations initiated their three-day protest outside the Deputy Commissioners office here today. On the occasion, speakers accused the Centre and state governments of being pro-traders and against the interests of farmers. Leaders of various organizations said by taking no step to help farmers get adequate and just prices for basmati crop, the government had helped traders make money. Speaking on the occasion, Satnam Singh Ajnala said even sugar mill owners had not released pending dues of farmers. Datar Singh of Kirti Kisan Union said the step to withdraw subsidies given to agrarian sector would be a death blow to farmers already reeling under financial crisis. He said farmers were being supplied poor quality insecticides, which resulted in crop failure. The government must give a compensation of Rs40,000 per acre to farmers, who have lost their crops, he added. The protesters also demanded Rs20,000 compensation for labour families as due to the crisis in the agriculture sector they too were facing it difficult to manage their expenses. Farmer leaders said the protest would continue till January 24. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 22 Following intelligence inputs regarding the suspected terror attacks in Punjab on Republic Day, the Punjab police have been on a high alert. The police are on their toes as the state-level function of Republic Day celebrations is being held in the holy city. A company of the Border Security Force (BSF) has already been provided to the city police while more companies of paramilitary forces are expected to arrive in the next couple of days. The police from other districts have been summoned to the city for security reasons. The security has been tightened after a taxi which was hired by three suspects in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh went missing while the body of the driver was found from Kalta Bridge in Kangra. Three unidentified persons had hired the taxi from Pathankot. The Delhi police have issued an alert and posted the pictures of the three suspects on its social networking sites to find clues. According to the intelligence inputs, the Pakistan-based terrorists could strike at vital installations including railway stations and military installations on Republic Day. Following intelligence inputs, top-most cops have held a meeting with the Army authorities and officers of the IAF of the local air force Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh confirmed the intelligence inputs regarding the terror threats which are doing the rounds. He said tight security had been maintained by the city police by holding regular nakas, carrying out checking drives and patrolling in and around the city. He said police officials of the neighbouring districts were also in close contact with the city police and all information pertaining to the security measures and alleged threats was being shared. He also confirmed the meeting with Army and Air Force officials, but did not divulge the details due to security concerns. It is learnt that security around the Army cantonments and the Air Force station and other vital institutions has been beefed up. The district administration and police officials today visited Guru Nanak Stadium where the state-level function would be held to overview the security arrangements. Besides Aulakh, among those visited the stadium included Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat, ADC TPS Sandhu and ADCP Dhruman Nimbale. Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 23 The Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), a French government entity, has agreed to develop City Beautiful as a smart city and completed formalities to sign memorandums of understanding (MoU) with the Administration for extending cooperation and expertise in the field of water supply, sanitation, transport, waste management and smart city project today. Formal documents will be exchanged and signed before French President Francois Holland and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Hotel Taj on Sunday. The other cities with whom the MoUs will be signed are Pudducherry and Nagpur. The agreement was reached in the presence of representatives of the AFD who arrived in Chandigarh. The decision to sign the agreement was taken during Modis visit to France last year. France had shown interest to develop cities with French connection first. Pondicherry was a French colony and Chandigarhs architecture was developed by French architects. Sources said the help from France would come even if the cities fail to find place in the official list of the smart cities. Advisor Vijay Kumar Dev elated over the development said that the areas of support will include energy efficiency, solar energy, heritage preservation, communication and technology and education. Sources said under the agreement, pool of the experts will share knowledge, technical knowhow and other capacity building programme These experts will be from France municipalities, police companies and agencies of urban planning and other departments. Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 23 Activists of various farmer organizations are sitting outside the Deputy Commissioners office here braving the chill for the second consecutive day today. Away from their homes, farmers have been forced to spend nights in a makeshift tent set up by them. Many of them have brought blankets and quilts to keep themselves warm during the three-day protest against the government. Leaders of farmers organizations said, While the people are sitting comfortably in their homes, farmers are forced to spend sleepless nights on roads because they are left with no other option. The activists said the government was trying to evict land being tilled by farmers for the past many decades. They demanded that instead the tillers should be given ownership rights. The protesters demanded that the government should ensure supply of essential goods at depots under the public distribution system so that the poor people do not have to buy essential commodities at high prices from the market. They also demanded that the government should fix minimum support price (MSP) of all crops sown in the state. They complained that they had run into losses as basmati was purchased at much less price by private traders as the government had not announced its MSP. Leaders of the protesters said the move to cut subsidies for the agriculture sector under the guidelines of World Trade Organisation would only deepen the crises as farmers were already reeling under huge debt. BKU leader Lakhwinder Singh and Kuldeep Singh, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha president Satnam Singh Ajnala, Kirti Kisan Union leader Datar Singh, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha leader Amrik Singh Daud and Kisan Sangarsh Committee leader Jagjit Singh Varpal were among those who addressed the protesters here today. Moscow imposed a ban on Russian flights to and from Egypt a week after a Russia-operated Airbus A321 crashed on October 31 after a bomb exploded while the place was en route from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All 224 people on board died in what became the largest civil aviation disaster in Russian history, Sputnik reported. "We are not discussing it now.... There has been no obvious change so far," Golodets told reporters when asked about the possible resumption of tourist traffic to Egypt. Late in 2015, Russian experts traveled to Egypt to work on strengthening airport security, which is conditional to Moscow removing its flights ban. On Wednesday, a source in the Egyptian Aviation Ministry told RIA Novosti that Russian air security experts had completed their inspections at Cairo International Airport. Local media reported that the experts expressed no concern over the airport's security regime. Moscow has repeatedly underscored that its ban on Russia-Egypt flights was not a political move, but was purely related to the necessity to ensure Russians' safety. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 23 To remove the scarcity of teachers in government schools, 14,000 teachers will be recruited in government schools. This was stated by Education Minster Dr Daljit Singh Cheema while addressing a gathering at Pandori Nijjaran School here today. He said the state government had also started meritorious schools for intelligent students of the state and students getting over 80 per cent marks in the 10th standard were now getting quality education in these schools. While the education department is currently facing a severe crunch of teachers, with the controversy regarding teachers transfers having intensified the crisis in rural areas, many schools in the state needed immediate recruitment of teachers to address the problem. The problem of bad results shall also be substantially addressed by the new recruitment. Speaking on the occasion, he further added that with the meritorious scheme, the gap between urban and rural school education shall be bridged and the rural students would also be eligible for competitive exams. On the occasion, Dr Cheema felicitated former Canadian MP Naresh Bhardwaj and lauded him for his in the uplift of his village Pandori Nijjaran. CPS Pawan Kumar Tinu was also present on the occasion. Welcoming Bhardwaj, he lauded the contribution of NRIs in the development of the village. He said a grant of Rs 10 lakh would be released for the village development. MLA Pargat Singh, Paramjit Singh Raipur, among others, were also present there. Notably, areas like Shahkot, Nakodar, Mehtour etc face a severe shortage of teachers, with many schools making do with half the staff. The situation has been worsened, with teachers choosing to stay in urban areas and staying away from rural areas where many of the schools suffer due to staff shortage. Praveen Davar SUBHAS Chandra Bose came under the spell of the Mahatma as a youth leader of the Indian National Congress( (INC), till he fell out with him in his second term as President INC, culminating in his great escape, this month, exactly 75 years ago. After resigning from the ICS in 1921, Bose sought an interview with Mahatma Gandhi who was in the process of launching the Non-Cooperation Movement. Advised by the Mahatma, the young Subhas adopted Chittaranjan Das, the then tallest leader of Bengal, as his mentor and simultaneously also came under the spell of Motilal Nehru, a close comrade of his mentor. Both Motilal Nehru and CR Das were the two most prominent lawyers of the country. They had sacrificed their respective hefty law practice and huge estates for the cause of the freedom struggle. By the late 1020s, Bose, alongwith Jawaharlal Nehru, had become a youth icon. So popular were these two young Turks amongst the youth that even revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad and Jatin Das were inspired by them. That Bose was not only politically and personally close to Jawaharlal Nehru, but also had great reverence for Motilal Nehru can be gauged from a letter he wrote to the elder Nehru. He was trying to convince Motilal Nehru to accept the presidentship of the INC (Kolkata session, 1928) : The situation in the country today is such that we can think of nobody else who can rise to the occasion I am not exaggerating matters when I say that if for any reason you decline the presidentship the effect would be so disastrous in this province that it will seriously affect the success of the Congress session. After the death of CR Das in 1925, Bose gradually became the most popular leader of Bengal. He represented the rebellious tendency in Bengal, not just against the British but against the central leadership of the Congress as well. He was elected the Mayor of Calcutta (now Kolkata), defeating JM Sengupta, who was the nominee of the Congress high command. While Bose was idelogically opposed to the rightist Vallabhbhai Patel, he was personally and politically close to the latter's elder brother Vithalbhai Patel, a leader of the Swaraj party founded by Motitlal Nehru and CR Das. Vithalbhai and Bose had met in a sanatorium in Vienna where both were convalescing in 1933. When Gandhiji suspended the civil disobedience movement, they issued a strong worded joint statement, the Patel-Bose manifesto, calling for a new radical leadership of the Independence movement. (Vienna, May 1933): The time has therefore come for a radical reorganisation of the Congress on a new principle and new method noncooperation will have to be changed into a more militant one. So fond of Bose had Vithalbhai become that he willed a portion of his fortune to him to be spent for the political uplift of India and for publicity work on behalf of India's cause in other countries. But the will was challenged by Vithalbhai's sibiling, Vallabhbhai Patel as a consequence of which Bose didn't receive a penny. Meanwhile, relations between Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru were becoming stronger by the day. While Jawaharlal was in prison in India, Subhas travelled from Vienna to Badenweiler to be with Kamala Nehru, who was suffering from TB. He remained there till Jawaharlal arrived, after being released from prison. When Kamala Nehru died, Subhas was there to help Jawaharlal and his daughter Indira (then 19) with the funeral arrangements. When Jawaharlal told Subhas that he was intending to set up a foreign affairs department in the Congress, the latter was pleased since it was entirely in consonance with his views. Subhas returned to India in May 1936 and was soon arrested. Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the Congress President, gave a country-wide call to observe May 10, 1936 to put pressure on the British authorities to release him. Jawaharlal's second consecutive term was coming to end in 1937 and a suitable successor had to be found. As the masses were solidly behind the Nehru-Bose duo, Gandhiji with his foresight, decided to back the candidature of Bose. Though the rightist lobby led by Sardar Patel opposed him tooth and nail, the Mahatma declared that there really was no one other than Subhas who deserved to become the Rashtrapati (as president of the INC was addressed those days). The first term of Bose was a smooth affair, with many activites aimed at setting up goals to see that everybody man, woman and child is better clothed, better educated and has sufficient leisure for recreation and cultural activity. Though Bose reassured Gandhians that he firmly believed in encouraging cottage industries, he was inclined, like Nehru, to embrace the idea of heavy industrialisation. Jawaharlal was away to Europe in 1938 but Bose wanted him back to take over as the Chairman of the National Planning Committee he proposed to set up for socio-economic reconstruction of the country when it became free. He wrote to Nehru: You cannot imagine how I missed you all these months. Several problems will await solution till you are back. I hope you will accept the Chairmanship of the Planning Committee. In envisioning the future of India, both Nehru and Bose placed considerable importance on the position of women and sought to initiate measures by which they could be brought into the mainstream of the development process. One of the most comprehensive reports prepared under the aegis of the National Planning Committee was on women and their future in the planned economy of India. Proceeding along the guidelines suggested in the Fundamental Rights Resolution adopted by the Karachi Congress in 1931, the women's report in the National Planning Committee spelt out in detail the existing social, economic and legal obstacles to the achievement of equal status and opportunity and advocated ameliorative measures, which were surprisingly modern and advanced. While Nehru, as Chairman of the National Planning Committee, was actively involved in its preparation, Subhas shared most of its recommendations, without, however, being directly involved because of his preoccupations as Congress President. The need to forge national unity on the basis of the advances made by scientific progress was a constant preoccupation with Subhas. With a restless zeal and inspired by the example of Russia, which in a short while had progressed from being a country of half-starved peasants to well-clothed industrial workers, Subhas envisaged an India where industrial progress could improve the standard of living of the people at large. However, despite the enourmous work Bose had undertaken in his first term, his re-election was opposed by the right wing of the Congress comprising Patel, Rajaji, Rajendra Prasad and Pandit Pant. Their choice was Abul Kalam Azad. But the Maulana considered discretion as better part of valour and refused to enter the fray against Bose. This pitted Patabhi Sitaramayya of Andhra against Bose. In a keenly fought contest, Bose polled 1,580 votes against 1,375 of Sitaramayya. The re-election of Bose was a big blow to the right-wing of the Congress led by Sardar Patel who had earlier stated that Subhas's re-election is held to be harmful to country's cause. The Mahatma however, admitted to his defeat but, with his characteristic humility, added: After all, Subhas babu is not an enemy of his country. He has suffered for it. All this, and more later, would, however, not heal the wounds and prevent Bose from charting an independent course and, ultimately, sacrificing his life to realise his dream of Azad Hind. The writer, an ex-Army officer, is Member, National Commission for Minorities. The views expressed are personal. Nagpur, January 23 A Bhubaneswar-Mumbai GoAir flight was diverted to Nagpur following a phone call warning of a bomb on board, said the airline in a statement. The flight G8-243 with 150 passengers aboard had taken off from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 8.20 a.m. and after getting the bomb threat was diverted to Nagpur in Maharashtra, where it landed at 9.29 a.m. The GoAir Bhubaneswar office informed the police. All passengers were deplaned and a thorough security check was carried out, but no bomb was found inside the aircraft, said the statement from GoAir. After the relevant security clearances, the aircraft was permitted to depart in noon for the onward flight of the private carrier to Mumbai. A Delhi-bound Indigo flight was also checked, which was about to take off from Bhubaneswar airport, following repeated phone calls from an unidentified person in the morning. Bhubaneswar airport director Sarad Kumar said: The person made three phone calls to the airport manager stating that bombs have been planted in GoAir and Indigo flights. He also used slang words to the manager. Then we immediately landed the Mumbai-bound flight in Nagpur and did a security check. He said the Delhi-bound Indigo flight was also thoroughly checked here, but nothing was found. Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrat Bhoi said the police are trying to trace the person who had made the hoax calls to the airport authorities. IANS Kolkata, January 23 The Kolkata Police and Bengal Police on Saturday raided several places in Barasat in search of four persons allegedly belonging to a Bangladesh-based terror group and are tipped to carry out a suicide bomb attacks between January 23-26, police officials said here. Acting on an Intelligence Bureau input, sleuths of the Kolkata Police and Bengal Police have initiated a search for four persons allegedly belonging to a Bangladesh-based terror group and trying to carry out a suicide bomb attacks between January 23-26, they said. According to a top officer in the Kolkata Police Intelligence section, raids were conducted at places in Barasat in the North-24 Parganas, where they were reportedly hiding for the last several days. While two of them Anisur Rehman and Mohammed Ansari were reportedly hiding in Barasat the other two, details of whom were yet to be ascertained, were hiding somewhere in Malda district, the IPS officer said. We have conducted raids at places in Barasat today in search of Ansari and Anisur but could not spot them there. We have initiated searches in other parts of the state also, another officer at the Barrackpore Commissionerate said. It was learnt that the Centre had alerted West Bengal and all other states on January 18 about a possible terror strike by Bangladesh-based Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) at 23 different locations across India. The group is planning bomb and suicide attacks sometime this weekend till January 26, an officer of the Bengal Police said, quoting the alert. In view of the input, security has been stepped up at various places of public attraction in the state such as Kalighat temple, Victoria Memorial, all railway stations including Howrah and Sealdah, Howrah Bridge, Jubilee Bridge, Metro Railway stations and Dakshineswar temple. Investigations revealed that Rehman and Ansari sneaked into the India from Bangladesh last week taking the Ghojadanga border route. Incidentally, the warning coincided with the arrest of nine foreigners from a rented house in Kankinara of North 24-Parganas districts last week (January 15). Sources in the Bengal Police said they had a tip-off about around 15 unknown persons staying at a rented house in Kankinara. After a brief scan of their behaviour, which appeared quite suspicious, the sleuths first detained all of them and after interrogation, arrested nine for not having valid documents to stay here. PTI Tribune News Service New Delhi/Bengaluru, January 23 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today formally arrested rest of the nine of the 14 alleged terrorists who it had picked up yesterday from different parts of the country. The agency officials said the accused were planning to establish a channel for the procurement of explosives and weapons, identify locations to organise terror-training camps. On their target were police officers, foreigners and vital locations across the country, they said. The accused, most of them on radar for the past six months, were Islamic State (IS) sympathisers and were planning to carry out strikes, said the NIA. They would be brought to Delhi for interrogation. The agency had yesterday simultaneously raided 12 locations in six cities Bengaluru, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow with the support of the local police. The action followed inputs that the accused were allegedly organising themselves to form a terror outfit, Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind. The group had even started receiving money through 'hawala' route. Sources said one of the accused, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh of Mumbra (near Thane in Mumbai), had received Rs 6 lakh from abroad. Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 23 The Army and police conducted searches at Bhagwan Nagar in the city ahead of Republic Day celebrations after local residents reported two suspects near an Army camp in Dholewal and raised alarm on Saturday. The police later said they appeared to be 'thieves', although the searches continued. Some residents spotted two people in Army uniforms roaming on the Achaar wali Gali in Bhagwan Nagar. Owner of a house on the street also reported that the two men had tried to break into his house through a grill. The police also took recordings of a CCTV camera nearby, but some officials said later they were unable to have a look at the suspects because the picture was unclear. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Paramraj Singh Umranagal said: On preliminary investigation, we found that it was an attempt of theft. But as the street is near to the Army camp, we have initiated a massive search on precautionary ground. Umranangal also said that CCTVs caught the very same people wearing blue jackets and roaming the street the previous night at 10 pm. The Army has also begun to conduct searches in the camp nearby. PTI Tribune News Service Jalandhar, January 23 The Kapurthala police have arrested another Delhi-based agent in the Panama boat tragedy case. Ravi, a resident of Delhi, was nabbed last night and remanded to police custody here today after being presented in court. While almost a week has passed since the tragedy was first highlighted on January 17, the police claimed there was still no information from any of the arrested agents on the identities and nationalities of the other youths who drowned in the accident. SSP Kapurthala Rajinder Singh said, The previously nabbed agent Samuel Bunty had handed over the youths to Ravi. But so far, there is no further information on where the youths were taken and by which route. We are investigating the case and further revelations from Ravi on the other agents involved are expected. So far, a total of four agents have been arrested. While sub-agents Harbhajan Singh Succha from Bhatnura Lubhana village and Kulwinder Singh Multani from Bhogpur were arrested on January 17 and 18, Samuel alias Bunty was arrested on January 20. While the cases against the agents were primarily lodged under Sections 420/406 of the IPC and 24 of the Immigration Act, the police have now added Sections of the Human Smuggling Act 2013 to the FIR. Praful Chander Nagpal Our Correspondent Fazilka, January 22 After his anticipatory bail was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday, Shiv Lal Doda, Akali leader who is prime accused in the murder of a Dalit youth, surrendered before the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Fazilka, this afternoon. Accompanied by a group of supporters, including SAD Abohar circle president Ashok Ahuja, he entered the office of SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti and surrendered at 3 pm. Doda looked tense as he came out of the SSPs room and proceeded towards the office of the SP (D). His supporters were asked to leave the SSP's office. The SSP said that Doda had been arrested after the surrender and sent to the CIA staff in Fazilka for interrogation in the Bhim Sen Tank murder case. He will be produced before the Judicial Magistrate, Abohar, tomorrow, he said. Doda is booked as conspirator in the brutal murder of the Abohar youth at his (Dodas) farmhouse in Ramsara village in Abohar on December 11 last year. The Abohar police had initially booked 10 persons under Section 302 but later added 16 names, including that of Doda and his nephew Amit Doda. The Fazilka court had rejected Doda's anticipatory bail application on January 4. Thereafter, the Akali leader approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court which dismissed his bail plea yesterday. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 23 The Army and the police began a search operation in Dholewal today after residents of Bhagwan Nagar reported the movement of unidentified persons near the Army camp. Sources said a resident of Achaar Wali Gali in Bhagwan Nagar complained of his window grill having been dismantled. He told the police that those who broke the grill were in Army uniform. As the street is near the Army camp, the police and the Army swung into action. The police also procured the CCTV footage from various places in the area. The police said since the footage was not clear, they couldnt identify the culprits. Paramraj Umranagal, Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, said, On a preliminary investigation, it seems to be a theft bid. But as the street is near the Army camp, we do not want to take any chances and thus, we started a search operation. Umranangal said two persons in blue jackets were first seen moving in the area around 10 pm and then around 1.30 am. Tribune News Service Haridwar, January 22 A Delhi Police team today brought two of the four terror suspects arrested three days ago to Roorkee in Haridwar district, as part of investigations. Mohammed Azeemussan and Mehraaz were taken to their village houses. The police reportedly recovered a small quantity of explosive material kept on the ceiling of a village well, near a forest area. They also recovered cash, mobile phone bills and other sensitive documents. The police seized about 250 gram of explosive sticks. Family members of Mehraaz raised slogans against the police alleging that he was being framed in a false case under a conspiracy. Sarfaraz, elder brother of Mehraaz, alleged that the police team took away Rs 41,000 from him and tried to pressure him to sign some documents and blank papers. A state police officer said the recovery of explosive material indicated that the accused were trying to make a bomb. Haridwar SSP D Senthil Abudai Krishan Prakash Raj S said the Delhi Police team took the two arrested youths to various spots at Mangalore and Roorkee. He added the state police provided Provincial Armed Constabulary and their personnel for the search operation. Meanwhile, the police today arrested Nafis, alias Bhura, a resident of Tanda Bhaneda, with a sharp knife from Mangalore during routine checking on the Deoband road. Nafis has been booked under the Arms Act. He confessed to the interrogators that he was carrying the knife with the intention of committing a theft. However, the police made it clear that Nafiss arrest had no terror links. With Republic Day nearing, the SSP gave stern directives to all station house officers and Circle Officers to ensure elaborate security arrangements in their areas. They were also directed to ensure deployment of an adequate number of security personnel at the venues of the Republic Day functions in their areas. The organisers of private Republic Day functions had also been told to provide information about venues, guest lists and an approximate number of people likely to attend the functions so that the police could make proper arrangements for security, traffic and parking. Five suspects have been arrested following an attack on a university in Pakistan that left 21 people dead, The Guardian reported. A Pakistani army spokesman said the military had made the arrests on charges of facilitating the assault on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda on Wednesday. Students and teachers died in the attack, which triggered a gunbattle that lasted for about six hours. Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa said those arrested had provided the attackers with shelter, transport and weapons. Another three suspects, including two women, were still at large, he said. A Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility and has threatened similar attacks. The main Taliban organisation denied any involvement. The assault came 14 months after gunmen affiliated with the Pakistani militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban attacked an army school in Peshawar, killing 132 children. Since then, Pakistan has killed and arrested hundreds of suspected militants under a counter-terrorism plan enacted in the wake of the massacre. Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, said after the attack: "We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland." Sandeep Rawat Tribune News Service Haridwar, January 23 The arrest of four suspected terrorists from Roorkee and four incidents of bomb scare in Haridwar have affected the inflow of pilgrims and tourists during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh. The terror threat has affected the pilgrim footfall during Ardh Kumbh that commenced on January 14 while one of the 10 pious festive baths has already passed. The rush as expected during Ardh Kumbh is not visible with Ganga ghats having fewer pilgrims. Evens the number of pilgrims visiting Brahma Kund, Har-ki-Pauri, has fallen drastically. A visit to the railway station and the six Ardh Kumbh temporary bus stations also indicate the impact of the terror threat. Long queues were witnessed at booking counters just a week ago. But since January 19 when the news about the arrest of four suspected terrorists from Roorkee and their plan to bomb Har-ki-Pauri and other important public places broke, the arrival of pilgrims and tourists had fallen drastically. Meanwhile, Ardh Kumbh IGP Ganesh Singh Martolia has urged people not to be fearful of terror attack, as elaborate security arrangements have been made for Ardh Kumbh in Haridwar. Vyapar Mandal district president Suresh Gulati said they had been eagerly awaiting Ardh Kumbh for the past six years since Kumbh in 2010. However, the terror threat had severely affected their trade, as pilgrims and tourists were avoiding coming to Haridwar these days. Traders representative Tej Prakash Sahu claimed that following the arrest of four suspected terrorists three days ago traders had suffered loss of business to the tune of about Rs 2 crore. Usually at least 2 lakh people arrive in Haridwar every day but the number has fallen to about 50,000. Neeraj Kumar, owner of Hotel Ganges Riviera, said there had been a sharp decline in hotel room bookings in the past three days. The Ardh Kumbh mela force is manning the entire zone, Har-ki-Pauri, adjacent Ganga ghats, railway and bus stations and important shrines. It comprises paramilitary forces such as the ITBP, SSB, CISF, RAF and the PAC. Bomb disposal squads are working round the clock and drones are being used for surveillance while more than 100 CCTV cameras have been installed across the city. I request pilgrims and tourists to come to Haridwar for Ardh Kumbh and a dip in the Ganga without fear, said Martolia. Purushottam Sharma, OSD to Chief Minister Harish Rawat, said in the coming days, a media campaign would be launched to give a message to the whole world that Haridwar is safe, Ardh Kumbh is safe. Washington, January 23 Describing Chinese assertiveness in the region as an opportunity for the US, an expert from an advisory group has said that China's move to build a base in Pakistan would bring India more closer to America. "A more assertive China with expeditionary capability could lead nations in the region to be more receptive to supporting US efforts to shape the security environment, and to US objectives in Asia," said Kristen Gunness, CEO of Vantage Point, a China-focused advocacy group. "This could specifically be an opportunity to sway those nations that are currently leery of fully supporting US efforts, for example, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and India, should China build a base in Pakistan, for example, potentially fall into this category and could be receptive to increased dialogue with the US," Gunness said in his testimony before US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. "An implication for the US military, PLA expeditionary capabilities allow more opportunity for the US and Chinese militaries to cooperate on regional security issues particularly in the maritime domain where our two navies are well positioned to cooperate on issues such as counter piracy, counterterrorism...," he argued. Thomas Bickford, senior research scientist, CAN Corporation, said India is one of the countries in the region which is going to have a lot of concerns with the Chinese assertiveness. "(India is) Very concerned about Chinese submarine operations in Indian Ocean, any connection between Chinese navy activities in Pakistan and in general, anything that might happen maybe maritime element which is to what was normally just a border issue on the land," he said. "So there's a lot of concerns in India where we would like to respond in a number of ways, including more defense spending and possibly seeking the closer relationship with United States in terms of military," Bickford said. "In terms of implications for relations with our allies and partners, well, clearly, we're going to be asked to do a lot more, you can have that expectation, and things that are really important and you need to think about carefully is what is the priority between China greater commitment and losing flexibility because the more clearer and concise our commitments are, the less flexibility future US leaders might have in the crisis," he said. Jeffrey L Fieldler, Commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said both the US and Japan would not sit idle if China indulges in something with India. "I'm not so sure that Japan and the United States will sit idle by when the Chinese did something serious with India given its position in the world and the need to go to the south the Indian Ocean," he said. "So, but I don't see any formal alliance arrangement that would just scare everybody. I actually don't think it's possible. So, but short of that, there's a lot of working together that is finally going out and that has never been going on before," Fieldler said. PTI Ottawa, January 23 Shots rang out at a school in western Canada today, leaving four people dead and several others critically injured in the nation's worst such shooting in a quarter of a century. "Obviously, this is every parent's worst nightmare," said Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Trudeau held a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, to announce the death toll in the remote northern aboriginal community of La Loche in the province of Saskatchewan. Trudeau said five people had been killed and two others were in critical condition but a Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman later revised the death toll down to four. The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about "a person discharging a weapon in the community," RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy told reporters. She said police were also investigating a second location in a nearby residential neighborhood, but provided no further details. Authorities did not disclose the age and identify of the shooter and victims. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau said. La Loche students said they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm local time (1900 GMT). Several witnesses reported seeing a "boy," who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told public broadcaster CBC. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." The town's hospital told AFP they were treating the victims for gunshot wounds. The high school and a nearby elementary school were locked down as police responded. "It's just tragic and everybody's running around," said Kevin Janvier, acting mayor, adding that to his understanding the shooting took place when an individual walked in and "opened fire in the building." Located deep in Canada's northern boreal forest, 600 kilometers north of Saskatoon, this town of about 3,000 is particularly isolated and authorities had to send in police reinforcements and dispatch a medical helicopter to airlift some victims to a hospital. The school shooting is Canada's deadliest in 26 years. On December 6, 1989, a 25-year-old man opened fire at the Polytechnic School in Montreal, killing 14 people, including 10 female students. Unlike in the US, shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more regulated than south of the border. AFP Ottawa, January 23 Shots rang out at a school in western Canada today, leaving four people dead and several others critically injured in the nation's worst such shooting in a quarter of a century. Prime Minster Justin Trudeau held a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, to announce the death toll in the remote northern aboriginal community of La Loche in the province of Saskatchewan. The suspected shooter was taken into custody after police received an emergency call about "a person discharging a weapon in the community," RCMP superintendent Maureen Levy said. She said police were also investigating a second location in a nearby residential neighbourhood, but provided no further details. Authorities did not disclose the age and identify of the shooter and victims. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau said. Located deep in Canada's northern boreal forest, 600 km north of Saskatoon, this town of about 3,000 is particularly isolated and authorities had to send in police reinforcements and dispatch a medical helicopter to airlift some victims to a hospital. AFP Kathmandu, January 23 Nepals Parliament on Saturday voted to amend the countrys Constitution with a two-thirds majority four months after its promulgation, in a bid to resolve the political crisis involving the minority Madhesi community. The amendment aims at resolving the ongoing agitation by the Madhesi parties. The lawmakers of the agitating parties, however, boycotted the voting saying the purported amendment was incomplete and would not address their demands. I announce that the Nepal Constitution first amendment Bill has been passed with a two-thirds majority in favour, said Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar as lawmakers thumped their desks in agreement. The amendment addresses two key demands of the Madhesis proportionate representation and seat allocation in Parliament on the basis of population. When put to vote, the Bill garnered 461 votes in its favour, while seven lawmakers voted against it. Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur K.C. was among the seven lawmakers who opposed the move. The amendment includes provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities, including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in Parliament on the basis of population. For this, three articles Article 42, Article 84 and Article 286 were amended. With this, the number of Parliament seats in the 20 districts in the southern plains has been significantly raised. Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, are opposed to the new Constitution that divides the country into six federal provinces, claiming the federal structure incorporated in the new charter does not satisfy their demands. Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with India, are demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. Fifty-five persons have been killed in violent protests by the Madhesis since last year. PTI Kathmandu, January 23 Nepals parliament today voted to amend the countrys Constitution with a two-thirds majority four months after its promulgation, in a bid to resolve the political crisis involving the minority Madhesi community. The amendment aims at resolving the ongoing agitation by the Madhesi parties. The lawmakers of the agitating parties, however, boycotted the voting saying the purported amendment was incomplete and would not address their demands. I announce that the Nepal Constitution First Amendment Bill has been passed with a two-thirds majority in favour, said Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar. The amendment addresses two key demands of the Madhesis proportionate representation and seat allocation in parliament on the basis of population. When put to vote, the Bill garnered 461 votes in its favour, while seven lawmakers voted against it. Deputy PM Chitra Bahadur KC was among the seven lawmakers who opposed the move. The amendment includes provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in House on the basis of population. PTI Manama (Bahrain), January 23 India and Bahrain on Saturday signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Bahraini counterpart and discussed an entire gamut of bilateral ties. Swaraj, who is here for a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to be held tomorrow, held a wide-ranging discussions with Bahrains Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. In a special gesture, Khalid received Swaraj at Bahrain International Airport upon her arrival here. During her meeting with Khalid, Swaraj also recalled her call on with Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who also in a rare gesture received her at an international air show here as both of them watched Indias indigenously developed Druv helicopters and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft perform aerobatics in the skies. Swaraj and Khalid met for about 25 minutes after which the two leaders signed the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons. According to the pact, once an expatriate has been sentenced in the other country, the sentence can be served in the country of origin. Later on Swaraj accompanied by Khalid visited the Little India area. A massive crowed gathered at the Little India. Swaraj in a procession walked towards the Shrinath Temple along with Khalid amid loud cheers and Punjabi drum beats. Both Swaraj and Khalid spent a few minutes at the temple along with the entire Indian delegation. PTI Beijing, January 23 China's worst cold front in decades today swept the country with snow falling in some parts for the first time in years, forcing authorities to issue an orange alert, the second most severe cold weather warning. Beijing braces for a 30-year low of minus 16 degrees Celsius from today through tomorrow, the Beijing meteorological station said as temperatures dropped to under minus 10 degrees Celsius yesterday, state-run Xinhua news agency said. Temperatures dropped 6 to 10 degrees Celsius this morning in parts of northwest China, north China and in the eastern Guangdong Province's Huanghuai area, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC). The national observatory raised the weather warning level from yellow to orange. China has a four-tier warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Today, all regions north of the Yangtze River, except eastern Sichuan Province and Chongqing, saw temperatures drop to below zero degrees Celsius, according to the NMC. The country is gearing up to cope with the winter's coldest weekend as the worst cold front in decades sweeps across the country, the news agency said. The maximum load of Beijing's power grid system reached about 16.96 million kilowatts at 5:54 PM local time yesterday, setting a record for the capital's winter power supply in recent years. A total of 465 emergency repair vehicles and 15 emergency generator wagons allocated by Beijing Electric Power Corporation have been ready to help with any power supply problems. The heating supply departments from the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin and neighboring Hebei Province asked the heating supply units or companies in the region to raise heating temperatures to cope with the freezing weather. Sanitation workers in Xingtai City of Hebei received cotton clothes, hats and gloves from the city's environmental sanitation department. Traffic police from Baoding City, Hebei Province have also been equipped with warm clothing while their shifts have been shortened. The cold air moving south also brought low temperatures and rare snowfall to regions along the Yangtze River today. The downtown of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality braced for its first snow since 1996 from last night to this morning. Shanghai Municipality also saw snow early today while the temperature dropped to under minus two degrees Celsius. Before the cold spell arrived, the agriculture department of Shanghai stored enough vegetables to deal with demand during the weekend cold snap. PTI Mattel Toys designer for the Barbie Collection Carlyle Nuera holds the new Claudette Gordon Barbie doll from the Harlem Theatre Series. (Photo : Getty Images) The managing director of Asia-Pacific at Mattel Inc., Peter Broegger, expressed his confidence in the fast growth of the Chinese market, particularly after the government allowed couples to have a second child. In an interview with the Global Times, Broegger said: "The Chinese toy market continues to develop at a very healthy pace that is significantly ahead of most global markets, and that comes despite some turbulence and uncertainty in the market. I am very pleased about where the Chinese toy market is heading." Advertisement The interview came just three days after Mattel Children's Foundation signed a three-year agreement to cooperate with Beijing Children's Hospital Group. The company, which is renowned for toy brands like Hot Wheels, Barbie and Thomas & Friends, operates six stores with more than 30 original equipment manufacturers locally. The plants account for 60 percent of Mattel's total production universally. China has become a key priority from not only growth but also market perspective. Broegger said without providing specific figures, "For Mattel specifically, we had our best year ever in China in 2015 . . . and growth reached a high double-digit level." According to him, 2015 was the first year that the company locally designed and developed products. As a result, the products are manufactured by Chinese for Chinese, adding, "This is an initiative we started more than two years ago, and 2015 was the first year when we really saw it in the marketplace." The same publication revealed that for many years the company has established a strong distribution network in China and across the region. The network covers more than 70 cities, from first to third-tier besides working with offline and online distributors to help expand its operations across the country. Five years ago, online sales in China contributed about 2 percent of the total, but currently the figure is approximately a third. Broegger added that e-commerce is the most crucial channel to clients. "I think one of our priorities is to make sure that we cooperate with all retail channels to the best of our ability," he said, adding, "One way we do that is to partner with some really outstanding companies like Taobao, amazon.com and JD.com." Meanwhile, Mattel continues to increase the number of brands each year, with Octonauts launched in 2015 and new brands coming this year. The Prairie Nerds. A group of individuals in the Tulsa World newsroom brought together for a singular purpose: To bring the citizens of Oklahoma all the news about video games, movies, sci-fi, technology and whatever random thing we feel like rambling on for a few minutes. We are back for 2016. And we have some important things to catch up on. It has been a month since Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrived and broke all kinds of records, but now that the dust has settled and the hype has died down, Jason, James, Anna, Jimmie and Chris share their opinions on it. Most enjoyed it, but will Old Man Chris finally get with the times? DC recently premiered it new spin-off show DC's Legends of Tomorrow and the Nerds, but how does it stack up to The CW's other superhero shows? Can it last? And DC appears to be rebooting their comic book universe again. Listen as James' enthusiasm for comic books slowly drains from him. Also discussed: The Suicide Squad trailer is very colorful Vaps contain Terrigen Mist It's 2016 and according to Rip Hunter, this year doesn't really matter, so enjoy. A man accused of stealing a travel trailer early Saturday from a north Tulsa neighborhood was arrested later that morning while hauling the trailer behind a pickup also reported to be stolen. Police responded to the area of 55 N. Madison Ave., where the caller told police someone had just stolen a gray and tan travel trailer. The witness said the thief was possibly pulling the trailer behind a white Ford pickup, police said. About 10 minutes after the call came in, an officer saw a white pickup pulling a travel trailer exiting on eastbound Interstate 244 to Oklahoma 11, police said. Multiple units responded to the area to attempt to stop the pickup, which eventually stopped near the 6800 block of East King Street, police said. The vehicles driver, Mark Alan Burleson, was arrested at the scene, police said. After the arrest, officers discovered the pickup had been reported stolen, police said. Burleson, 35, was booked into the Tulsa Jail at 8:40 a.m. on complaints of second-degree burglary after a felony conviction, larceny from a person after a felony conviction, possession of a stolen vehicle after a felony conviction and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony after a felony conviction, jail records indicate. His prior felony convictions include possession of a stolen vehicle, knowingly concealing stolen property, escape and false impersonation, according to Department of Corrections records. Burleson is being held in lieu of $160,000 bond, according to jail records. About a year after paying $10,000 in 2008 and undergoing what she believed to be a life-saving treatment for her breast cancer, the tumor broke through Cynthia Babeckas skin. Bob Babecka, her husband, recalled Friday the conversation he had with Antonella Carpenter when they contacted her about the new development in Cynthias health. Carpenter, who has no formal medical training, had treated Cynthias cancerous tumor with a homemade laser at her office in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Carpenter assured the Babeckas that the tumors movement was what she expected. Carpenter told them his wifes body was pushing the now-dead tumor out, Bob Babecka recalled while testifying before a jury in Tulsa federal court. Carpenters explanation contrasted with that of an oncologist, who had told Cynthia earlier that the tumor, despite the laser treatment, was not dead, Bob Babecka testified. The testimony from Babecka and others has come in the criminal fraud trial of Carpenter, who previously ran a business called Lase Med Inc. in North Little Rock before moving it to Broken Arrow and then to Owasso. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration raided the Lase Med office in Owasso during the summer of 2012. Carpenter closed the business after the subsequent FDA seizure of two laser devices, patient files, financial records and $7,800 in cash. A Tulsa federal grand jury indicted Carpenter in 2014 on 41 counts of fraud that focus on a period from November 2006 to December 2012 when Carpenter, now 71, is alleged to have obtained money from patients by means of false and fraudulent representations. Prosecutors allege Carpenters cancer-killing regimen consisted of injecting patients tumors with a solution consisting of half saline solution and half green food coloring or walnut hull extract. Carpenter would then heat the injected area with her laser, which would, according to Carpenter, kill the malignant cells. Dr. Christine Murphy, an Atlanta radiologist, testified earlier this week that she examined Cynthia after she had been treated by Carpenter. Murphy said she told the Babeckas that the tumors were not dead as Cynthia believed. It had worsened, recalled Murphy, who wanted to perform a biopsy. But Murphy said Cynthia indicated that she didnt want her to conduct any further evaluation unless Carpenter agreed. Murphy said she never heard back from the patient. While Cynthia did eventually seek traditional cancer therapy, including chemotherapy treatment, she died May 11, 2010. The Babeckas story was among those of seven families who prosecutors claim Carpenter duped into believing that her laser therapy, which she called Light Induced Enhanced Selective Hyperthermia, or LIESH, could kill cancerous tumors. The trial is expected to continue at least through next week. Meanwhile, Carpenters defense attorneys say they plan to call about a dozen witnesses who will testify regarding how the laser treatment helped them. Others testifying for the prosecution in the trial, which entered its ninth day Friday, included Darcy Behrens, who described her husbands treatment by Carpenter for a cancerous growth that was on one of his ears. Before seeing Carpenter, Raymond Behrens had seen a traditional doctor in Denver regarding the growth. The doctor, Dr. Gregory Hogle, testified that he met Raymond Behrens in April 2009 to examine his right earlobe. Hogle said lab tests indicated Behrens had an aggressive form of skin cancer and recommended surgery and then radiation treatment. But Hogle said Behrens didnt want to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, and indicated he didnt have health insurance and therefore couldnt afford to pay for a computerized tomography scan he had recommended. Prosecutors say Behrens paid Lase Med $14,400 in 2009 for the laser treatment. In January 2010, Hogle said, Behrens returned for an office visit in Colorado, telling him that he had been approved for state aid, but in the interim had sought treatment for the cancer from Lase Med. He believed the tumor was killed by the laser there, Hogle recalled. However, he said his examination of Behrens revealed that the cancer on his ear had not been cured. My clear impression at the time was the tumor had advanced, Hogle said. Hogle said he told Behrens three times that he believed he should see a cancer surgeon to examine the tumor. He refused to proceed in that direction and indicated that he wanted to take some time to think over his options, Hogle said. Behrens died March 3, 2011, according to his wife. On Thursday, a Massachusetts man testified about how he came to seek treatment by Carpenters Lase Med business after he was diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor in his jaw. Cart Trant told the jury that he first was diagnosed with ameloblastoma in 2002 after a loose tooth led to the discovery of a cyst along his jawbone. He had the cyst removed, but six years later the growth returned, and he was told he would need part of his jawbone cut out to remove the aggressive tumor. Trant said he began seeking alternatives to surgery, a search that led him to an Internet site advertising Lase Med and Carpenters laser procedure. Trant said he talked to Carpenter about the tumor. She said that she could kill the tumor, Trant testified. She guaranteed it. Trant said that in February 2009 he drove 1,501 miles to Carpenters office in Broken Arrow with the $12,000 she had requested for the eight treatments that would be required to kill the tumor. Trant said after the eight treatments, the growth appeared to get bigger and bigger as time went by. Trant said he continued to communicate with Carpenter. In November 2010, he said, Carpenter told him to stop taking Serrapeptase and begin using a product called Dr. Wongs Essentials. But by October 2011, the tumor had continued to grow, he said. Trant said he returned to Lase Med in July 2012. When he arrived, he was told the FDA had raided the building and taken away its two laser machines. Trant later sought out a surgeon in Boston, who removed the non-cancerous tumor and a portion of his jaw. He said the surgeon reconstructed his jawbone by replacing the missing portion with bone taken from his leg. NOWATA A suspended Owasso police officer accused of striking a motorist with a shotgun entered a not guilty plea Friday in Nowata County District Court, a prosecutor said. Lt. Michael Dwain Denton, 50, is charged with a felony count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon in connection with the June 14 arrest of Cody Mathews, a Glenpool man who was apprehended just south of Nowata following a multicounty high-speed pursuit. At Dentons court arraignment Friday, District Judge Curtis DeLapp said he would rule March 11 on a defense motion to quash, according to an email from Kevin Buchanan, district attorney of Nowata and Washington counties. In December, Associate District Judge Carl Gibson ordered Denton to stand trial on the felony count. He is accused of using the butt of a 12-gauge shotgun to strike Mathews in the head during his arrest. Denton also faces a misdemeanor count of reckless conduct with a firearm. TORONTO A gunman opened fire at a high school and a second location in an aboriginal community in northern Saskatchewan on Friday, leaving four dead and at least two injured, officials said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said from Davos, Switzerland, that a suspect was in custody. Trudeau initially said five died, but police later corrected that to four. "This is every parent's worst nightmare," he said. "The community is reeling." Kevin Janvier told The Associated Press that his 23-year old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. He said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings before killing his daughter. "He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school," he said. "I'm just so sad." Marie was Janvier's only child. He said he didn't know if the shooter knew his daughter. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Maureen Levy said the gunman was arrested outside the school but declined to release details about him. Levy said she wasn't sure how many suffered injuries. The prime minister earlier described two injuries as critical. "At the present time there are four individuals deceased," Levy said. Levy declined to release more details, saying the investigation is in its early stages. She declined to give the sex or ages of the deceased. A student who was just returning from lunch when shots were fired said his friends ran past him urging him to get out. "'Run, bro, run!" Noel Desjarlais-Thomas, 16, recalled his friends saying to him as they fled La Loche's junior and senior high school. "There's a shotgun! There's a shotgun! They were just yelling to me. And then I was hearing those shots, too, so of course I started running." Shootings at schools or on university campuses are rare in Canada. However, the country's bloodiest shooting occurred Dec. 6, 1989 at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique, when Marc Lepine entered a college classroom at the engineering school, separated the men from the women, told the men to leave and opened fire, killing 14 women before killing himself. The grade 7 through 12 La Loche Community School is in the remote Dene aboriginal community of La Loche, Saskatchewan. The school's Facebook page said it would remain on lockdown until the Royal Canadian Police resolve the matter. It asked the public to stay away. It was unclear how many died at the school. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall earlier confirmed the shooting. "Words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today in La Loche. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and friends and all the people of the community," he said in a statement. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman offered his condolences in a statement and noted the problem of school shootings in America. "We have experienced similar tragedies far too often in the United States and understand all too well the heartache and sadness that result from such a horrific event," Heyman said. The area's representative in parliament, who attended the same school, was setting up a constituency office in the community when the shooting occurred. "We're fairly shaken up. It's a sad day," said Georgina Jolibois, who was mayor of La Loche until she was elected to Parliament last fall. "My own nieces and nephews were inside the school." Jolibois said she went to the school and spoke with some of her family members, who were unharmed. Bobby Cameron, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said it was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community. The Dene are an aboriginal group who inhabit the northern parts of Canada. "It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected and we will all go into mourning," said Cameron, who attended graduations at the school for the past few years. "Right now we're just in a state of shock and disbelief." Liu Qibao attending a provincial leaders meeting in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Dec. 1, 2007. (Photo : Reuters) The largest city in northern Israel, Haifa is urging residents to tour Chengdu so that they have a better understanding of their sister city in Chinas Sichuan Province, according to a statement by officials in a Chinese delegation meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. According to China Daily, the officials told a government delegation from Chengdu that the Israeli people would be impressed, the best-known destination for its pandas and ancient history. Advertisement The two cities have held frequent official exchanges since the establishment of the sister city ties in 2013. Haifa, a home for approximately 271,000 people, is the smallest city in the world with three Nobel Prize laureates. On the other hand, Chengdu is a top tourist attraction and center of science and technology in southwest China with a population of 14 million people. The same publication revealed that the deputy secretary-general of Haifa Municipality, Aviva Shpigelshtein, has visited Chengdu two times since the tie between the two cities was established. Aviva said, "I have seen pandas twice and have been impressed with the Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and the Jinsha Site Museum." The Du Fu Thatched Cottage honors Chinese poet Du Fu (A.D. 712-770), while the museum houses relics unearthed from an archaeological site that dates back 3,000 years ago. The deputy mayor of Haifa Municipality, Hedva Almog, endorsed Aviva's view, saying that people from her city would love Chengdu since Jewish people value the conservation of ancient culture. Almog extended an invitation for Chengdu business people to invest in research and development at the Haifa Life Science Park, which is the first dedicated business park in Israel. Almog said, "It would be a win-win solution thanks to the wisdom of the Jewish and Chinese people." Former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, who launched the ImpactTulsa initiative, is stepping down as the organizations CEO. Taylor made the announcement Friday in a post on ImpactTulsas website. As 2016 unfolds, I will be taking on a new role with ImpactTulsa Chair of the Leadership Council succeeding Stacy Schusterman who has served with distinction since the organizations inception, Taylor wrote. ImpactTulsa, which launched in 2014, is a collaborative partnership between several entities seeking to ensure a high-quality education for all Tulsa-area students. The organizations areas of focus are kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, eighth-grade math proficiency, high school completion college- and career-ready, post-secondary enrollment and post-secondary completion. Cathy Burden, former Union Public Schools superintendent, will lead the organization on an interim basis until a search for Taylors successor is complete. Monroe Nichols, ImpactTulsa chief operating officer, said Taylor made the decision to transition out of the day-to-day duties so she could step into more of a leadership role. Kathy really wanted to turn her attention to the governance of the organization, Nichols said. In her post, Taylor wrote: One of the great joys of my career has been to help improve education including serving as CEO of ImpactTulsa. Since our launch, we have built an unprecedented partnership that has directly touched the lives of thousands of children across our community. Nichols said no timetable has been set regarding naming a new CEO. Were going to continue our operations the way we always have, he said. Burdens leadership during the transition will help with the groups current goals, Nichols said. Were at a point now where we need more vertical integration with school districts, he said. Nichols said Burden has been involved with ImpactTulsa since its launch, leading the charge of working with school superintendents. She has been serving as the organizations education adviser and will keep the title as she leads the team during the transition. Burden lives in Austin, Texas, Nichols said, but spends a portion of her time in the Tulsa area. Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump embraced the anger his critics say is the foundation for his popularity during his appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Mabee Center. "People are sick and tired, and yes, we're angry," Trump said after greeting a near-capacity crowd of about 9,000, some of whom waited five hours or more to see him. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin sounded a similar tone in her warm-up remarks. "People say this base of support is angry," she said. "Darn right we're angry." Mostly, they were angry about President Barack Obama, whom Palin called "our weak-kneed capitulator-in-chief" and seemed to blame for her son's recent domestic violence arrest. Trump called Obama and just about everyone else in Washington, D.C., "stupid" and said he is smarter than the other Republican candidates. He especially singled out Jeb Bush, who Trump said "is probably an honest guy but a stiff." Check back with tulsaworld.com for additional details on Trump's appearance in Tulsa on Wednesday. In October, a Kentucky judge dismissed criminal charges against a man who had shot down a drone flying over his property. Now the drones owner has brought a federal civil suit against the shooter, William Merideth, arguing that the Federal Aviation Administration is in charge of all airspace and that it allows drones to fly over private property. All this amounts to a legal mess. The law, both state and federal, is still unclear about where you can fly a drone, and what you as a citizen may do if a drone probably with a camera on board is hovering above your home. Whats needed is a comprehensive legal regime that integrates state and federal jurisdictions. I want to propose the outlines of such a legal model, distinguishing what should belong to the feds and what should be within the realm of the states. The drone owner in Kentucky, David Boggs, is to some degree right the air should belong to the federal government. Air travel is at bottom an interstate interest, like river travel in the 18th century, railroads in the 19th or highways in the 20th. State borders are arbitrary with respect to the air. Whats more, the economy is enhanced by interstate travel and by unmanned interstate shipping, presaged by drone flights. Federal control should therefore extend wherever an aircraft flies. But the FAA would be crazy to allow drones to fly low over peoples houses. When it comes to ordinary airplanes, low flight is dangerous. When it comes to drones, the problem is that low flight patterns interfere with ordinary life. Its not just sound pollution. Its the sense that someone is watching. To be fair, that sense is hard to pin down. Sophisticated imaging techniques mean that satellites can read the newspaper Im perusing on the park bench. But mostly I know that no one who can afford a satellite cares what Im reading Im just not that important. Drones are different. Theyre relatively cheap and my neighbors may want to know about my life even if multinational corporations and states couldnt care less. Thats why states should step in now to protect privacy. Most have Peeping Tom laws already. Those should be extended to include a ban on viewing private life and private spaces from drones. The regulation of privacy from flying vehicles will inevitably be tricky. Satellites already can see whatever youre doing outside your house. And it isnt just military-grade surveillance you have to worry about. Commercial satellite services have the capacity to take pictures of your house, and of you, as they pass by. If you doubt it, just type your address into Google Earth. But lets be frank: No one is going to bother to deploy a geosynchronous-orbit satellite just to observe you, unless youre Osama bin Laden or maybe a Kardashian. That means the threat to privacy from satellite observation is pretty minimal. In contrast, drones are cheap and they can hover. They pose a far greater threat to privacy than other forms of observation. If you move, they move. They can find an open shade or curtain, and they can maneuver to a new angle for a better view. Eventually, they may have X-ray vision or infrared capacity. These features give reason for states to outlaw the use of drones to observe and record people on private property without their consent. Federal control over airways shouldnt be interpreted to displace state law regulating drones. The federal interest is in flying from place to place, not hovering to get a better view. Protecting privacy at the state level will allow drones to fly freely without sacrificing the individuals legitimate interest in being left alone. Over time, drones may come to play useful roles in traffic control, public safety and even package delivery. Other applications will surely emerge as well. We dont want state bans on drone flight to block these technologies from developing. If drones have to fly over roads alone, much of their efficiency could be lost. It can be valuable for something to be able to travel as the crow flies. Our real worry about drones isnt congestion or noise. Its the potential loss of privacy. State regulation can help solve this problem. The slogan for drone regulation should be: Feds to let them fly, states to protect what they see. The balance should let us a benefit from a new technology without sacrificing ourselves to it. Bloomberg View columnist Noah Feldman is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard University. Popular factual series The Embassy returns to Nine early next month with more behind-the-scenes access as Australian diplomats come to the aid of Aussies in crisis. This season the series expands to encompass Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Over a million Australians travel overseas every year. The Embassy takes us to the frontline as our diplomats serve to keep us safe and out of trouble in stunning holiday locations across Asia. In these new episodes, we join our diplomats in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos as they respond to major catastrophes, hilarious escapades, devastating accidents, love gone wrong and everything in between. Episode One takes us to Phuket where body-builder Nathan is on the holiday of a lifetime until he gets knocked off his Harley and it all goes seriously pear-shaped. The Thai police want to know whos responsible for the accident, so why is he lying to police? Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, 19-year-old student Paris is on her first-ever overseas trip. Its the gap year adventure she always dreamed off but its all about to come crashing down. It is the family reunion like no other: the story of Australias amazing twiblings: Born of two different surrogates in two different countries and only a month apart. Now baby Avas been diagnosed with holes in her heart. Will a family thats been 10 years and many tears in the making, ever be united? And, what happens when a man and his dog go on a Thai holiday? They left Australia together, but will they both make it back home? 8:30pm Wednesday, February 3 on Nine. China and several Gulf countries have agreed to continue free trade talks. (Photo : Twitter) In an effort to promote closer ties, China and several nations in the Middle East announced that they are speeding up free trade agreement talks between the two regions. The development was announced through a statement released during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. According to the statement, both China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have decided to resume stalled negotiations and are committed to coming up with a conclusive deal within the year, Mail Online reported. Advertisement China began initial free trade talks with the six-country organization, comprised of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in 2004. According to Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Huncheng, the two sides have already come into an agreement in 2009, allowing both markets access to almost 97 percent of goods under the agreement. However, the GCC eventually suspended the talks that year, along with FTA negotiations with 16 other countries. Nevertheless, trade between China and the Gulf countries have reportedly grown significantly in the last few years. Trade between the country and Saudi Arabia alone hit $64.1 billion in 2014. With the resumption of talks, Gao said that the two parties intend to meet each other halfway and come to an agreement by the end of the year. Experts have said that the deal will likely be beneficial to both sides, Sputnik News reported. According to London School of Economics and Political Science Kuwait Programmer researcher Courtney Freer, the deal will give China access to inexpensive fuel. It would also open the doors for Chinese goods to flow into the Gulf region. On the other hand, Freer said that the FTA would open a new channel for the Gulf's oil and gas exports. She noted that China has become an important market for Gulf oil ever since the United States started tapping into its own shale oil deposits. China is projected to consume as much as 18 million barrels of oil per day by 2035. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a meeting with President of Switzerland Johann Schneider-Ammann during the World Economic Forum in Davos. The parties agreed on the provision of USD 200 million in the form of additional assistance for the replenishment of foreign reserves. This is reported on the website of the President. "The President thanked the Swiss Government and people for the humanitarian and financial assistance in the amount of USD 350 million approximately. The parties agreed on the provision of USD 200 million in the form of additional assistance for the replenishment of foreign reserves. The President of Switzerland expressed admiration for the way Ukraine fights for its independence. The interlocutors discussed the course of reforms in Ukraine as well, the statement reads. The parties also negotiated ways to intensify Ukrainian-Swiss trade, economic and investment cooperation. With this in view, they agreed to hold the meeting of the Ukrainian-Swiss joint committee on trade-economic cooperation, preparation to the signature of respective bilateral documents and presentation of potential investment projects. ol President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko raises the issue of release of the hostages, particularly of Nadiya Savchenko, at the highest levels. Advisor to the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Yuri Tandyt said this on the air of Channel 5. According to him, Ukraine "will make every effort" to release Savchenko, who is now being held illegally in Russia. "Not just we but almost all the heads of state speak about Nadiya Savchenko. She is on our list, we are ready for any release options. We are interested in releasing everyone who stays there and we will do it," Tandyt said. According to him, 2,998 people have been already released from DPR/LPR captivity. ol Spanish court refused to extradite former Finance Minister Yuri Kolobov to Ukraine due to lack of evidence of his guilt. This is reported by DW. "The National Court of Justice of Spain decided not to extradite Yuri Kolobov, the Finance Minister in the government of Mykola Azarov, to Ukraine. Having examined the case of Kolobov, the judges decided that there were no grounds for extradition. However, they said that reconsideration of extradition is possible," reads the article. Kolobov has been living in Spain since 2014. In March 2015, he was arrested at the request of the Ukrainian prosecutors office. ol Shipping container cranes line the Pireaus cargo port in Pireaus, Greece, on Feb. 11, 2015. (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese shipping firm Cosco is set to consolidate its hold over the key Greek port of Piraeus Wednesday after agreeing to pay 368.5 million euros in exchange for a 67-percent stake in the countrys biggest harbor. Cosco will pay 22 euros per share for the stake in Piraeus, according to a China Daily report citing the Athens-based Republic Asset Development Fund. Advertisement The company was previously asked to submit a better offer last week after it emerged as the sole bidder for the stake, an outcome that Greek officials called "disappointing," the report said. The offer accepted is a 70-percent premium to the closing share price of Piraeus harbor of 12.95 euros Wednesday and a valuation of the entire business at 550 million euros. According to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), the entire value of the Cosco agreement would amount to approximately 1.5 billion euros, inclusive of the purchase price, investments, dividends and income from the concession agreement. The result provides much-needed breathing space for Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who is currently battling domestic opposition to state asset sales and for pushing for pension reform. In the past week, government officials vowed to do their utmost to ensure Greece will get the best possible price for a majority stake in Piraeus, a port key to China's plans for a modern commercial empire supplying goods across Europe. The Hong Kong-listed Cosco was the sole confirmed bidder for the 67-percent stake in Piraeus, where the company already runs container operations at two piers. Its short-listed competitors, Danish-owned APM Terminals and Philippine-based operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., failed to put in a binding bid and dropped out at the last minute in the long-delayed sale. Cosco's investment in Piraeus is seen by analysts as a key part of China's One Belt, One Road policy, which envisions a modern land and maritime equivalent of the Silk Road. Since the Chinese shipping firm started container operations in 2009, traffic has increased at the harbor, making Piraeus one of the fastest growing ports in the world. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also described Piraeus as China's gateway to Europe during his official state visit to Greece last year. HRADF said Cosco agreed to mandatory investments of 350 million euros over the next decade and the income accruing to the Greek state from the concession agreement of approximately 410 million euros. The amount includes the expected revenue from dividends and additional investments up until the concession agreement ends in 2052. Of the mandatory investments, 300 million euros will be spent in the first five years, most of which will go to ship repairing operations. Officials expect Cosco to spend another 270 million euros in investments up to 2052, from the original bid of 17.5 euros a share for the stake. The transaction will be in two stages: Cosco will acquire a 51-percent stake in Piraeus for 280.5 million euros and will acquire the additional stake in the next five years for 88 million euros on completion of the terms in the shareholder agreement, including investments. Greece will initially keep a 23-percent stake in the company, with that dropping to 7 percent on conclusion of the two-step process. Cosco's victory at Piraeus is seen as a start of further Chinese investment in Greece, where unemployment is at an all-time high and foreign investment has dried up amid six years of political unrest and fears of a financial collapse. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Li called Tsipras to "underline China's keen interest in bolstering ties with Greece," according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency. Greek officials expect Chinese investment in projects such as a major freight and logistics center on the outskirts of Athens and a new airport on the island of Crete. The Piraeus sale will be the first state asset sale the leftist Tsipras government can claim after being voted into power a year ago, with promises to halt privatizations and nullify the two bailout agreements that led to higher taxes and cuts in pensions and wages among Greeks. The president has since tempered his tone since being forced in July to accept a new 86 billion euro bailout to retain Greece within the eurozone. In December, the government wound up previously agreed deals to privatize 14 regional airports and the sale of a seaside resort in the Greek capital, but these deals have been shelved after Tsipras came to power in 2015. Cosco has seen five separate Greek premiers, not including caretakers, after it gained the license to operate Pier II in 2008 for 30 years at the cost of 490 million euros. The deal has since become a major campaign issue as Greek politicians curry votes from union workers, such as those in the Piraeus piers, who are unhappy with the austerity measures. Other universities, including Cairo University, also opened their own respective Chinese departments. Opened in 2004, Cairo Universitys Chinese department now has 60 students in each study year. (Photo : REUTERS) Growing trade between China and Egypt has brought about a number of effects, including a rising interest among Egyptians when it comes to the Chinese language, according to China Daily. Advertisement Omayma Ghanem, a Chinese language professor at Ain Shams University, recounted the state of Chinese language in Egypt back in 1983, when there were only 11 Chinese majors in her class. The situation is quite different today as there are over 2,000 students majoring in Chinese language in Egypt. Other universities, including Cairo University, also opened their own respective Chinese departments. Opened in 2004, Cairo University's Chinese department now has 60 students in each study year. Cairo University also launched a Confucius Institute in 2007, with student numbers rising from 30 to 1,200, according to Rehab Mahmoud, dean of the Confucius Institute and director of Cairo University's Department of Chinese Language and Literature. Universities that have also opened Chinese departments include Al-Azhar University, Pharos University, Misr University for Science and Technology, Fayoum University and Suez Canal University. Schools in Egypt, however, can't keep up with the demand as the country is experiencing a shortage of Chinese language teachers. "There are far from enough Chinese teachers," said Ghanem in an interview with China Daily. "Though the Chinese government has sent some Chinese volunteers to assist in teaching, many more are needed. Many of the Egyptian Chinese teachers are very recent graduates and lack experience." Due to the shortage, professors like Ghanem have also taken up posts in other universities. She is also a director of two Chinese departments in Fayoum University. "China is an increasingly common topic in Egyptian and other Middle Eastern countries' media as trade between China and Egypt continues to increase," shared Liu Xing, a Chinese professor at North China Institute of Science and Technology. "This has strongly aroused Egyptians' interest in and desire to learn Chinese." Liu also works at Cairo University's Chinese department. Ever since China and Egypt increased trade relations in 2014, China has become Egypt's biggest trade partner. The rescued infants were mostly in stable condition, but some have pneumonia, colds and cough. (Photo : Reuters) Sichuan Province police have busted a major crime ring involved in the trafficking of infants, arresting 78 suspected traffickers, according to authorities on Tuesday, as reported by China Daily. Police also rescued 15 infants aged a few days to 1 year old that were trafficked by the crime ring, according to Liangshan Prefecture Public Security Department in Sichuan. Advertisement The infants that were rescued were temporarily placed at the Liangshan Prefecture Welfare Institute, where most of them are in stable condition, despite a few having pneumonia, colds and cough. "We have taken the infants' blood samples and are preparing to match them with the blood DNA kept in a national database to help them to be reunited with their biological parents," said an anonymous police officer from the department. In June, police reported that a 78-member gang, headed by a Tibetan villager in Liangshan, kidnapped the infants and brought them to Shandong Province for trafficking. According to police, the gang included the Tibetan villager's family members, friends and other fellow villagers. Under the gang, the members were managed strictly and delegated different tasks, including trafficking infants, accommodation arrangements, transportation and seeking buyers, according to police. The provincial police reported the disappearance of the infants to the Ministry of Public Security. The ministry then took over supervision of the case and told the Sichuan and Shangdong police to set up a special investigation team. The team carried out a joint operation on Jan. 15 after a two-month-long investigation, where they arrested the members and effectively destroyed the trafficking ring. Sixty-six of the suspects were arrested by police in Shandong, while another 12 were arrested in Liangshan. Four officers brought 36 of the 66 suspects from Liangshan back to the prefecture from Shandong by train on Monday. The same train returned 15 abducted infants to Liangshan. According to Chen Shiqu, director of the Anti-Human-Trafficking Department of the ministry's Criminal Investigation Department, "poverty is often the motive behind selling children in China's remote and rural areas, including Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces." "Children are not commodities, and trafficking them is illegal," said Chen. "We will adopt zero tolerance toward such anti-social activity." Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia as part of his Middle East tour. (Photo : Getty Images) Together with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to the iconic Murabba Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday and had a taste of the traditional Arab culture while dining with local residents, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement Xi did not only enjoy watching the performance of folk dances in the morning, he later joined the revelry along with the Salman. After tasting Arab cuisine, the two leaders headed to the exhibition hall featuring the life and works of King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The historic palace was built by Abdul and was named after its square form of 400 by 400 meters. The construction of the landmark took nine years and was fully completed in 1945. During his visit, Xi lauded the Saudi government's efforts to preserve the kingdom's time-honored and rich cultural heritage. He additionally cited that diligence of the Saudi people to work hand in hand with the authorities to preserve their tradition while developing the kingdom's modern facilities. On the same occasion, Xi looked back on his state visit to the country, expressing his satisfaction with the fruitful partnerships he forged with the Arab leader. These include the "upgrading [of their] bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership and [the establishment of] a high-level steering committee for coordinating bilateral cooperation," the report noted. Xi and Salman also attended a ceremony at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in the afternoon. They led the inauguration of the operation of Yasref oil refinery, which is a joint project of China's Sinopec and Saudi Aramco. The venture serves as the country's biggest investment endeavor in Saudi Arabia. It is also the first refinery built by Sinopec overseas. Yarsef is a 5.2-million-square-meter full-conversion refinery in the industrial city of Yanbu. It plays a vital role in the development of the city, the firm said. The two companies signed the partnership earlier in 2012, with a total investment worth around $10 billion. After the ceremony, Xi ended his two-day Arab state visit. He then headed to Egypt as part of his three-country Middle East tour. Chinese scientists believe that gray wolves are the common ancestors of more than 400 dog breeds in the world today. (Photo : REUTERS) A recently published article by Chinese scientists revealed that dogs were tamed and domesticated in southern East Asia 33,000 years ago, and 15,000 years later migrated to the rest of the world, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement "Using whole genome sequences from a total of 58 canids (12 gray wolves, 27 primitive dogs from Asia and Africa, and a collection of 19 diverse breeds across the world), we find that dogs from southern East Asia have significantly higher genetic diversity compared to other populations," Wang Guodong, the first author of the research, said. Wang and the research team from Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Yunnan Province, in Southwest China, have spent two years collecting and comparing the genome samples, and for the first time, they were able to map how domestic dogs spread across the earth. "Around 15,000 years ago, a subset of ancestral dogs started migrating to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, arriving in Europe about 10,000 years ago," Wang said. "One of the non-Asian lineages migrated back to the east, creating a series of mixed populations with the endemic Asian lineages in northern China before following humans to the Americas." According to the Chinese researchers, more than 400 dog breeds may have descended from gray wolves, which are their common ancestors. They, however, cannot say where and how gray wolves became domesticated and the question remains a controversy in the scientific community. Wang said that a comprehensive investigation by the research team has identified southern Chinese indigenous dogs as the earliest population compared to wolves, from which all other dog populations are derived. "Considering the extremely close relationship between dogs and humans, the study on dogs can hopefully shed some light upon social activities and migration history of humans," Wang said. The Chinese researchers' study, "Out of southern East Asia: the natural history of domestic dogs across the world," was published in international life science journal Cell Research. Bronze drum making technique is one of the cultural traditions handed down by ancient generation to the present members of the Zhuang Ethnic Group in Guangxi Province. (Photo : YouTube) The Guinness Book of Records has certified the recently completed Hechi bronze drum as the world's largest at the Theatrical Stage Square in Yangshuo County, Guilin, Guangxi, on Jan. 16, China Daily reported. Advertisement The report said that the drum measures 4.2 meters in diameter, 2.6 meters in height and weighs about 7 tons. It took at least 20 workers in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, Hechi, more than six months to complete the drum, the report added. Wei Qichu and Wei Qican, two "representative inheritors" of Guangxi's intangible cultural heritage, "Zhuang ethnic group bronze drum casting technique," designed the drum. The report said that the Wei brothers, who are blacksmiths, started research and testing for the project in the 1990s, before they finally created the casting process for producing gigantic bronze drums and built them based on the traditional manufacturing technique. The drum, customized by the Guilin Renhe Investment Company, will be displayed permanently at the highest point of the Yangshuo Theatrical Stage. Tan Mian, chairman of Huanjiang County political consultative conference, said that the best place to show the bronze drum culture is in Yangshuo, since it is a popular tourism county that attracts thousands of tourists every year. Wei Qichu and Wei Qican, a bit disappointed that the drum could not be displayed in Hechi, said that they would like to create an even bigger bronze drum in the future, to be placed in Hechi. The brothers said that since Hechi is the hometown of the bronze drum, it is only fitting to have it displayed there. The two also said that they needed more time to further develop their bronze casting skills. According to the report, the bronze drum is a valuable cultural heritage of ethnic minority groups in Southwest China and the south of the Five Ridges in ancient times. It has been in existence more than 2,000 years. At present, there are a total about 2,400 existing bronze drums handed down from ancient times, with more than 1,400 in Hechi alone. Over the years, the Wei brothers have produced more than 100,000 bronze drums, which have been sold around the world including France and Southeast Asia. China's central bank, The People's Bank of China, announced on Wednesday that China will move forward to create its own digital currency. The central bank also held a conference on digital currency in Beijing where the government, along with the central bank and other top banks and institution discuss the framework of the possible new currency system. In fact, a special team in the central bank is already assigned the task to examine domestic and global understanding and experience with the digital currency. According to CNN, the China's central bank stated that it has been studying about digital currencies since 2014. The bank also reviewed the proper implementation they would possibly apply to the country, as well as the technology and relevant legal issues. However, the bank has not specifically stated the timeframe of this plan yet, also how the system would work in relation to its existing paper currency. The digital currency could benefit the financial system in China for various reasons. For one thing, digital currency costs less to make and distribute compared to paper currency. The use of digital currency could also boost transparency and cuts money laundering and tax evasion, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Digital currency could also support China to digitally record and track its massive capital outflows. Previously, the existence of digital currencies has been brought to light with the rising popularity of Bitcoin in recent years. As a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has implemented anonymity whereas users don't have to reveal their identity in transactions. Due to some security risks and other factors, many countries have banned the use of Bitcoin under their financial regulation. China responded to the controversy with a prohibition for its financial firms including banks to use bitcoins in transactions. However, private parties are allowed to hold and trade bitcoins. According to The Diplomat, Bitcoin gained more popularity in China in 2013 after Baidu, China's main search engine provider, agreed to accept Bitcoin as a payment method for services. Recently, Bitcoin has been facing some problems. Its stock shares dropped after one of its developers declared publicly that Bitcoin is a failure and the problems it is facing can't be solved in the foreseeable future. China's authorities, especially the central bank, is developing a system that will tackle the potential risks of having digital currencies, including security risks. They are also counting on the digital currencies for the benefits, such as digital track-recording, transparency, and reduction of transaction costs. The process, which has already begun in 2014, is still going on, although the timeframe remains unknown. The world's biggest search engine, Google, has reportedly made a $1 billion payment for Apple to keep its search bar on iOS devices. The transaction, which is believed to be done in 2014 came out in an unexpected way in court proceedings from Oracle's lawsuit against Google. The Oracle vs Google lawsuit began in 2010 when Oracle claimed that the search engine provider used 37 of its Java APIs to develop Android without paying. Google argued it was free to use them because the Java programming language is free to use, but Oracle responded that Google knowingly used the APIs without a license from Oracle's Sun Microsystems. Eventually, Google lost a bid to derail the case at the U.S Supreme Court. But even now, Oracle is still seeking damages from Google as the computer technology corporation expanded its claims over newer Android versions. Bloomberg revealed that the agreement entails that Google would give Apple a percentage of the revenue Google generates through Apple devices. The reported $1 billion payment was believed to be part of the revenue-sharing agreement. The statement originated from an attorney for Oracle at a hearing in federal court. This is not the first time people heard about Google having to pay Apple to retain its search bar on iOS devices. Rumors have been evolving around that speculation, but both Google and Apple never really confirmed nor denied them. However, after the hearing for the Oracle lawsuit that revealed this information, an unnamed Google witness said that "at one point in time the revenue shares was 34 percent." But Google's attorney immediately objected to the reference. Lawyer Robert Van Nest said, "That percentage just stated, that should be sealed. We are talking hypotheticals here. That's not a publicly known number." According to CNET, Google, who owns Android, makes up 82.8 percent of the smartphone market compared to Apple's 13.9 percent. Together, the two operating systems made up nearly 96 percent of the global market. But it's also worth noted that iOS gained more than 2 percent from the previous quarter while on the other hand Google has lost 2 percent. Gizmodo also reported that in the same court case Oracle claimed that Google has made $22 billion in profit from Android operating system, solely from ads and apps. But it's apparently only equal to about half a year of selling iPhones. Representatives for both Apple and Google have not responded to requests for comment, but this news has created a lot of buzz among tech-enthusiasts. It's considered as an important news that the web giant could be paying its biggest rival to use its service via revenue-sharing. Two of Fiat 500L used by Pope Francis during his historic visit to U.S. in September will be auctioned in Philadelphia next week. One of the cars will be displayed in the Philadelphia Auto Show. During his visit in U.S. September last year, Pope Francis used six cars, three usual Popemobile and three Fiat 500L. Each car is prepared in three cities where the Pontiff visited in his 5-day trip: Washington DC, New York and Philadelphia. Normally, the Pope always use the usual white jeep with open side, called Popemobile. The Popemobile is a formal name for the specially designed automobiles used by the Pope during outdoor public appearances. The Popemobile was designed to allow people see the pope when he greets the crowd. Diverge from the tradition, Pope Francis used a small Italian-made sportscar, Fiat 500L during his U.S. visit last year accompanying the official Popemobile. Well-known for his modest and simplicity, Pope Francis selection of an ordinary car in his trip is his bold statement to show his modesty. During he visit, the Secret Service's giant Chevrolet Suburban cars surrounded a petite compact-sport car made a whimsical view. NBC News reported, amid heavy security and typically surrounded by the large, armored black limousines and SUVs preferred by traveling American politicians, the Fiat was very visible for its small size and ever-open rear window from which the Pope waved to crowds. Two of Fiat 500L the Holy Father used will be auctioned after the carmaker, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles donated the cars. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the automaker selected to manufacture both cars used by Pope in his U.S. visit: Jeep Wranglers that were modified with a glass roof and open sides as Popemobile, and Fiat 500L. In final day of his U.S. trip, Pope Francis celebrated the closing mass for the World Meeting of Families 2015 conference in Philadelphia on Sunday September 27. The organizer of the conference will also be responsible for auction of Fiat 500L, the "Popemobile-sports." Regarding the auction, Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families told Philly, "We can think of no better way to officially close the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia than to have his papal Fiat drive off into the sunset while benefiting so many people in need.It's exactly what Pope Francis would have wanted us to do." USA Today reported that no estimates of how much it is expected to fetch, although off-site bidding will be allowed. Proceeds from the auction will benefit and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The auction of two Fiat 500L used by the Pontiff will be held at the Philadelphia Auto Show on Friday, January 29. Following the auction, the second car will be kept on display until the end of auto show on February 7. Microsoft and its partner Dropbox, both have announced on Thursday introducing a universal Windows 10 compatible app. They have also pledged for unveiling a mobile version soon. The greatest feature offered is to allow customers to log into a Dropbox account using 'Windows Hello'. 'Windows Hello' appears mainly as a mean for biometric authentication. The concept has been applied in the facial recognition used by the Surface Pro 4and Surface Book. The new Dropbox app corresponds to an API that allows applications on Windows to tap into the same biometric infrastructure. Dropbox app allows to use face or finger replacing a four digit PIN to unlock files, according to a report published in the Ars Technica. This year's winter in Northern India has been particularly cold. Winter arrived a little late this time with temperature recorded at 14.4 Celsius on Wednesday - lowest for the season. The people most affected apart from office goers and students were the homeless living on pavements under the open sky. According to NDTV winter having arrived late is expected to stay longer. The MET department has predicted that the weather conditions would make life difficult for those who live out in the open. The Centre for Holistic Development, an NGO, has recovered five bodies of homeless people on 19 Jan from these areas: Connaught Place, CR Park, Civil Lines, Kashmiri Gate and Chandni Chowk. The next day two more bodies were found at Yamuna Bazaar and Yamuna Pashta neighborhood. In this unforgiving conditions one company Micro Home Solutions (MHS) has offered respite in the heart of Central Delhi by providing affordable semi-permanent structure to the homeless living on pavements and under flyovers with the help of crowd-funding. Swati Jann a senior designer had this to say, " These structures are easy to erect and we also train the homeless to dismantle and reassemble them as they often have to move from one place to the other." MHS has distributed tents to 125 families each of which can accommodate at least four persons. The tent is made of bamboo, welded reinforcing-bars and a thick canvas including a net to keep away disease borne mosquitoes. One of the homeless residents remarked that living in the temporary shelter is easy because she can take it down during the day and put it back up after sunsets. Another resident indicated that having the shelter made her feel at peace to know that her things would be there in the shelter when she returned. On the other side of the coin, many do not want to go to these shelters citing overcrowding, theft and violence. Times of India has reported that there are at least 246 night-shelters with space for over 18,000. The daily occupancy is yet to exceed this capacity. Although shelters are needed in zones like Yamuna Pushta-Kashmiri Gate area, what is required urgently is an aggressive rescue mechanism to move the homeless to shelters even when they refuse. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board received 366 complaints on its mobile app for homeless in distress. Of these, 254 were rescued and 43 not found. Another 95 refused to shift. This is the issue that the government needs to address. To date rescue teams have shifted 5,785 homeless to shelters since January 1. The New York Times has reported about other aspects of the homeless in Delhi during winter when quilts and blankets become a commodity and the quality of sleep a homeless labourer gets depends on what he can purchase from the quilt wallah. Filmmaker Shaunak Sen has been researching for the last two years on sleep vendors for a documentary called, "Cities of Sleep". India's NGOs and its society have played their part in meeting part of the needs of Delhi's homeless in coping with the harsh realities of winter. As to what was discovered by India's filmmaker Sen, we just have to wait for the release of the documentary. SHARE Macias Oxnard New resource development chief The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme has hired Erin Pierik as resource development director. Pierik has experience in fundraising, community outreach and engagement to her new position. Pierik previously worked as the executive director for the Ventura County Sheriff's Foundation, where she implemented policies and procedures to streamline membership, fundraising and accounting practices. She held various director positions in the 16 years she was with the Southeast Ventura County YMCA Association. Pierik has a bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development from CSU Northridge and master's degree in public administration with a specialization in leadership from National University. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, visit http://www.positiveplace4kids.org. New marketing team announced The Collection at RiverPark recently announced Stefanie Muegel as the center's marketing manager, and Jill Almonia as the marketing and business development coordinator. At The Collection, a CenterCal Properties LLC shopping center, Muegel is responsible for creating and implementing marketing plans in accordance with the property's positioning and sales growth, developing and managing strategic partnerships for income-generating platforms, as well as carrying out and evaluating signature events and marketing programs. Muegel previously worked at The Collection's sister property, Blackhawk Plaza, in Northern California. Before working with CenterCal Properties, Muegel worked as a marketing coordinator at Madison Marquette's Bayfair Center. Almonia's responsibilities as marketing and business development coordinator at The Collection include generating income for the property through events and advertising opportunities. Her experience in property management spans 10 years specializing in residential communities including in Oxnard. Thousand Oaks Marketing agency hires copywriter Mustang Marketing, a full-service, marketing agency in Thousand Oaks, continues to expand its creative team with the addition of a new copywriter, Megan Macias. In December, Mustang announced a restructuring of its management team with the internal promotion of four employees, creating opportunities for new hires and growth within the agency. Macias' role at Mustang includes drafting copy for advertisements, brochures, websites and beyond, as well as developing social media content, editing and proofreading, and assisting with crafting pitches and news releases for media outreach. Before joining Mustang, Macias held positions with The San Diego Union-Tribune, C California Style magazine, The Santa Barbara Independent and Nordstromrack.com |HauteLook. She earned her undergraduate degree in global and international studies at UC Santa Barbara. In joining Mustang, Macias has returned to her hometown of Thousand Oaks. To learn more about Mustang, visit http://mustangmktg.com. Ventura Holiday party turns into benefit for kids Seaside Emergency Associates, a provider of emergency room services for Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital, turned their holiday party into a benefit for Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties, Toys for Tots and the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula. Dr. Scott Speier, Dr. Richard Rutherford, Dr. Stephen Roslansky, Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, Dr. Theodore Mandryk, Dr. Martin Ehrlich and Dr. David Chase invited party guests to make a donation of cash or toys and also hosted a silent auction. The total of $5,345 was raised for Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties and three boxes of toys were collected for Toys for Tots. In addition, Seaside purchased several dozen board games for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula. Ventura County Company launches seventh publication N2 Publishing, the nation's 17th fastest-growing media company according to Inc. Magazine, recently launched its seventh Ventura County neighborhood publication. Rancho Santa Rosa joins the Oxnard neighborhoods of River Ridge and Mandalay Bay/Channel Islands, Spanish Hills in Camarillo, North Ranch in Westlake Village, Sherwood Lakes in Thousand Oaks and Brockport in Valencia. According to Robin Westmiller, Oxnard area director and publisher of the Oxnard River Ridge communities' River Ridge Living, Inside North Ranch was the first publication that went to print in Westlake Village in April of 2014. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, N2 Publishing Inc. partners with affluent neighborhoods to produce private, monthly publications filled with resident-contributed content. Every N2 issue is personal, relevant and unique to the community it serves. For more information contact Westmiller at 248-2552 or email robin.westmiller@n2pub.com or go to http://www.n2pub.com. 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. Hatamiya SHARE JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Leonor Pamatz (center) along with Yolanda Gomez (left) and Arcadia Alatorre (right) process kale at San Miguel Produce in Oxnard. A study says expanded food processing should be considered in Ventura County. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Carmen Alfaro (center) others package baby Shanghai bok choy at San Miguel Produce in Oxnard. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Ricardo Cardona and others box produce at San Miguel Produce in Oxnard. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Employees at San Miguel Produce process kale. By Mike Harris of the Ventura County Star Food-processing production and employment in Ventura County could potentially double or triple and provide a local economic boon, according to a study unveiled this week at the annual meeting of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County. "I believe food processing is an opportunity for Ventura County produce to be marketed to nearly 30 million people within probably a 100- to 150-mile radius," said economic consultant Lon Hatamiya, the meeting's keynote speaker and co-author of the study, "Food Processing in Ventura County." "So there's a huge demand, and value-added processing can really benefit from that consumer market," he said Friday, the day after his keynote address to a few hundred people, including many local elected officials, at the Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. "We're projecting probably a two- or threefold increase." EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit group that serves as a government liaison to assist businesses in the county. The agricultural industry generates an estimated $3.5 billion economic output in Ventura County, with processing accounting for only $814 million of that, according to the study. "The statewide average for food-processing economic output is probably three times higher," said Hatamiya, president and CEO of The Hatamiya Group, a Davis-based economic consultant and former secretary of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency. Food processing in the county is estimated to support about 1,480 jobs, not counting related wholesale and transportation activities, the study found. Expanded food processing could add 2,680 to 5,450 jobs, according to the study. New job opportunities would particularly benefit the county's 26,000 farmworkers, whose field jobs are increasingly at risk from automation, the study states. Expanded food processing also would have other benefits for the county, Hatamiya said. "It will secure long-term competitiveness for local growers, improve food security for the region and preserve the quality of life by supporting agriculture across this county," he said. Hatamiya co-authored the study with another economic consultant, Doug Svensson, of Walnut Creek-based Applied Development Economics. In interviews with local farmers and others in the agricultural sector, a number of specific processing opportunities were identified, the study states. They include cut fruit, vegetables, sandwiches and wraps; berry and fruit preserves; avocado/citrus packing; salsa/guacamole; and fruit pastries. Facilities for those types of processing operations would range from 6,000 to 24,000 square feet, according to the study. They would be smaller than existing food-processing operations such as Smuckers in Oxnard and Limoneria in Santa Paula, but close in size to San Miguel Produce in Oxnard, Hatamiya said. "San Miguel is a little larger, but I think it's probably more in line with what we have in mind," he said. Expanded food processing of the type of operation the study envisions would have minimal disruption to local agricultural production, he said. "It plays well with environmental protections that Ventura County prides itself on," he said. To enable more food-processing operations, the study recommends the county, as part of its overall farmland land-use policy, expand the list of allowable uses to include cooking processes, restrict processing facilities to lower-value farmland and require on-site wastewater treatment and water supply. "There is substantial market potential to expand food processing in Ventura County," the study concludes. That would be "critical in developing a regional food systems strategy that benefits all stakeholders growers, workers, supply chain businesses and consumers and contributes to economic opportunity, social equity and environmental balance." Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his optimism on Sino-Indonesian ties. (Photo : REUTERS) Serving as a major achievement in railway cooperation between Indonesia and China, the first high-speed railway project was unveiled on Thursday in Walini, West Java Province, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement At the ceremony, Chinese state councilor Wang Yong read a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed to Indonesian leader Joko Widodo. In his message, Xi said that the successful launch of the venture did only set a new record in the Sino-Indonesian ties, it was also regarded as a new paradigm for the two nation's bilateral cooperation in fields such as production capacity and infrastructure. The Chinese president also expressed optimism that both countries will further foster their collaboration to ensure the project's smooth construction and due completion. The first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, the venture is expected to greatly leave an impact to local economic development. Meanwhile, Wang remarked that China "hopes to take the project as an opportunity to actively participate in the development of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway economic belt, and enhance the bilateral cooperation in various areas including investment, production capacity, electricity, finance, in an effort to promote common development and prosperity of the two countries." For Widodo's part, he said that the endeavor is "a great project jointly pushed by Indonesian and Chinese governments," hoping that the two parties will further intensify their partnerships. "I hope this project could bring benefit to local people both in the short and long term," he added. He also noted that the project is part of his government's strategy to pursue competitiveness. The railway will link Indonesian capital Jakarta and the city of Bandung, which has an approximate distance of 150 kilometers. It will trim the travel time between the two cities from three hours to only less than 40 minutes. China Railway Co. Ltd. and Indonesian state-owned firms signed a deal earlier in Oct. 2015 to form a joint venture, the PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, for the said project. After the ceremony, Widodo, Wang and West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan inspected the readiness of the needed equipment to carry out the construction. Hanggoro, the joint firm's president, said that the project would "use local components up to 63 percent, employ 39,000 workers during the construction period with employment priority on domestic workers." SHARE CAMARILLO Social Security for women on agenda Judith Gerhart will present a seminar on Social Security planning for women. "Savvy Social Security Planning for Women" will be offered from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hampton Inn, 50 W. Daily Drive. Gerhart will talk about what women may need to know about retirement income and Social Security. She will focus on how to determine when to initiate Social Security and identify special options that people are eligible for. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 388-4776 or email jg@judithgerhart.com. OXNARD Free tax help will be offered at library To help make filing taxes a little more tolerable, the California Society of Enrolled Agents has organized a volunteer event Feb. 6 where enrolled agent tax professionals will meet with the public and answer their tax questions for free. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A St. Volunteers can answer questions about the tax implications of the Affordable Care Act, going to college, buying a house, getting married, retirement planning, business deductions, rental property deductions and more. Enrolled agents will not charge for answering questions on this day and will not prepare any returns, nor will they provide any written advice or bill anyone. Enrolled Agents are tax professionals licensed by the federal government to represent taxpayers and assist them with tax planning and the preparation of tax returns. The Channel Islands Chapter of Enrolled Agents is a professional organization of income tax preparers affiliated with the California Society of Enrolled Agents (CSEA) and the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). For more information, visit http://www.cicsea.org. PRSA meeting set for Wednesday When confronted with bad news or a crisis, a well-managed response is a public relations specialty. Crisis communications expert Martin Cooper will share his insight, strategies and stories gained from his 30-plus years of being in the trenches of the Academy Awards, Disney and Playboy Enterprises, among others, at the Wednesday meeting of the Public Relations Society of America Gold Coast Chapter. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. with networking, followed by the program presentation from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The event will take place at California Lutheran University's Oxnard Campus at The Palms, 2201 Outlet Center Drive, Suite 600. The author of "Coping with Crisis in a Complex World" an internationally recognized book that is used as a textbook by colleges and universities, Cooper founded Cooper Communications Inc. in 1982 and has represented a broad range of corporate, governmental, special events and nonprofit clients. A frequent speaker, he also teaches at UCLA Extension. Advance reservations are required. Admission is $25 for PRSA members, $30 for nonmembers and $25 for students. Cooper will offer signed copies of his book. To register, visit http://www.prsagoldcoast.org. For more information, contact Nancy Gill at nancy.gill@csuci.edu or 437-8456. 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. STAR FILE PHOTO A groundwater pump at a farm near Saticoy. SHARE By Gretchen Wenner of the Ventura County Star Growers in the west county didn't meet a drought-driven goal of reducing groundwater pumping by 20 percent last year. But that doesn't matter to the local agency that regulates groundwater supplies. That's because farmers have been working for months on a new approach that, those involved say, could put a halt to decades of overpumping. "This is a sea change in the way the GMA is approaching problem-solving," said Jeff Pratt, executive officer of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, often called the GMA. Pratt is also Ventura County's public works director. It's new for stakeholders, rather than agency staff, to devise plans for doling out supplies, determining safe pumping levels and establishing water markets, Pratt said. On Wednesday, Fox Canyon's five-member board will hear a report on whether pumping cutback goals were met. The reductions were mandated as part of Emergency Ordinance E adopted in April 2014. The agency oversees groundwater basins beneath the Oxnard Plain and areas inland, and its 183-square-mile territory encompasses the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and parts of Ventura, Camarillo and Moorpark. What the board will hear is that cities and industrial users known as "M&I," for municipal and industrial met the 20 percent reduction target overall. For agricultural users, overall pumping exceeded the target by 20 percent. In the Pleasant Valley groundwater basin beneath the eastern Oxnard Plain, one of seven basins in the tally, pumping was 60 percent over the target, the report shows. In terms of volume, cities and industrial users pulled up 34,425 acre-feet during a 12-month period that started in July 2014. An acre-foot is equal to about 326,000 gallons. Growers pumped 100,409 acre-feet during a 12-month crop year that started in August 2014. The agency says about 100,000 acre-feet can be safely pumped on an ongoing basis without damaging basins from seawater intrusion and other problems. Of that, agricultural pumping should generally be limited to 60,000 to 70,000 acre-feet a year, the report says. Actual pumping fluctuates depending on the rainy season. Though growers didn't meet the reduction goal, most did irrigate crops efficiently, according to updated rules imposed by Emergency Ordinance E. With irrigation efficiency failing to translate to less pumping, the growers group is proposing a new approach that would include water markets. That also requires something currently lacking: accurate pumping data. If the growers' proposal is approved, all groundwater pumps in the agency's boundaries must have meters that can be automatically read by August. Pratt said existing data on pumping is questionable, and evidence suggests there are users who are underreporting. "We need better data," he said. "That's it in a nutshell." John Krist, chief executive officer of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, said the plan for managing the basins will rely on accurate extraction data. "The self-reporting done in the past won't be sufficient to do that," Krist said. To implement a water market that will help growers comply with new state laws governing groundwater sustainability, "you need to have perfectly accurate information about what everybody's using," he said. "That's difficult to achieve with the current system in place." The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency meets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in board chambers at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura. ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR Brendan Sullivan, of San Francisco, and Sammie Destura, of Los Angeles, watch as high surf batters the shoreline at Venturas South Beach on Friday. The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for Ventura County until 9 a.m. Sunday. The surf will be 6 to 10 feet and as high as 12 feet around the Ventura Harbor, with west-facing beaches seeing the highest sets, forecasters said. SHARE ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR Waves as high as 13 feet crash along Venturas South Beach near the mouth of the Ventura Harbor on Friday. ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR A Ventura Harbor Patrol team works to secure a buoy knocked loose near the harbors mouth on Friday. By Wendy Leung of the Ventura County Star Ventura Harbor closed its entrances to boaters Friday due to high surf, according to the Coast Guard. Officials said wave heights topping at 9 feet have made conditions too dangerous for incoming and outgoing traffic. Boaters are urged to use Channel Islands and Santa Barbara harbors. The increasing surf has continued to create problems for boats coming in, Ventura Harbormaster John Higgins said. Its a hazard to all boaters. The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for the Ventura County Coast until 9 a.m. Sunday. The surf will be 6 to 10 feet and as high as 12 feet around Ventura Harbor, with west-facing beaches seeing the highest sets, forecasters said. ____________________ The increasing surf has continued to create problems for boats coming in, said Ventura Harbormaster John Higgins. Its a hazard to all boaters. ____________________ There has been high surf all week at Ventura Harbor, and authorities have been escorting boaters in and out of the area due to a sand-clogged entrance. Strong currents have caused the accumulation of sand, creating hazardous conditions that authorities havent seen in the past three decades. Shallow water, strong currents, high surf and a channel thats changing by the minute each one of those things on their own is a concern for a boater, Higgins said. Together, they create a very unsafe situation. Those factors came to a head Friday night when waves grew more powerful, prompting authorities to close the harbor shortly before 7 p.m. The conditions are unsafe for the boaters and challenging for the rescuers, Higgins said. The closure is a measure to protect them. Higgins said the closure will be in effect through the weekend because high surf is expected to continue. He said authorities will re-evaluate the situation Monday. For boaters out at sea, the closure is communicated through the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard acts as a dispatcher, communicating messages to boating traffic through a marine radio. Messages about the closure, or the creation of a safety zone, as it is called, were relayed to the boaters informing them to use neighboring harbors. The Coast Guard also has translators to communicate to the Vietnamese fishing fleet. On land, authorities have placed illuminated street signs announcing the closure. The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services has also placed reverse 911 calls informing the public. We have more than doubled our staffing in the daytime, addressing the boaters needs and making sure theyre not going into trouble, Higgins said. Before the closure, officials were escorting boaters, many of whom were unaware of the unusual accumulation of sand. Higgins said one of the problems with escorting boat traffic is that it creates the impression that the conditions are safe. We dont want people to get a false sense of security, he said. SHARE Imagine a governor of a large state deciding to cut costs and appointing a staff of bureaucrats who change the water supply for 100,000 people to save money but don't bother to have it treated properly for contaminants. For more than a year the people drink dangerous water without knowing it. When doctors start seeing signs of lead poisoning, which causes behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children and kidney disease in adults problems that can last for generations, questions begin to be asked. At first, the state officials ignore the results and deny there's a problem. Local churches and charities trying to supply bottled water to terrified parents who can't afford to buy it run out. People who can afford to buy bottled water can't find it. For a while the governor hopes it will just all go away. But then the national media swoops in and finds chaos. Finally, the National Guard begins distributing free water and filters. And finally, the governor takes his head out of the sand, requests aid from the federal government he despises and admits the state, which caused the problem, can't fix it. And even then, people are having a hard time finding and getting the water, filters and lead test kits they need. Michigan. Flint. Gov. Rick Snyder. Ongoing crisis. The cows were acting crazy, losing hair, showing grotesque malformations and dying, and nobody could figure out why. And then people began putting two and two together and realized a huge chemical company had bought land nearby for a landfill for its factory. The company and government studies said the farmers didn't know how to take care of cows. Only after a courageous lawyer pursued the case did he learn that a little-known and dangerous chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid, often called C8, had been dumped in the landfill and was being improperly dumped into local water tables providing drinking water for 70,000 people. For 40 years secret research had shown damage to and cancer in animals and that high levels of C8 infected local factory workers. Parkersburg, W.Va. DuPont. Lawyer Rob Bilott. The Environmental Protection Agency charged DuPont with concealing knowledge of C8's toxicity and presence in the environment. DuPont was fined $16.5 million but did not admit liability. Eventually, the EPA learned that C8 was showing up in the general public through Teflon-coated pans and in the air and water. C8 is now found all over the world, and 60,000 similar chemicals remain unregulated. In Porter Ranch, Calif., residents fear a gas leak from a Southern California Gas Co. well is making them sick. Movie-famous activist Erin Brockovich insists that after being in a home in the area for 10 minutes, she got a case of some kind of chemically induced bronchitis. Lawsuits are pending. House values are said to be plummeting. At this point there are only questions, no answers. Every state and nearly every community confronts controversies over environmental protection and jobs and dangers to health and habitat. Sometimes the hysteria is unfounded. But environmental activists are no longer widely ridiculed as "tree-huggers" and "bunny counters." Nonetheless, Republican presidential candidates are on a different page. Donald Trump wants to cut the EPA. "What they do is a disgrace." He says climate change is a hoax. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wants to repeal EPA's strictures on clean air and clean power. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz voted against protecting ocean, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems. He said climate change is a pseudoscientific theory. Carly Fiorina wants to weaken the EPA. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee thinks climate change is unproven. Ohio Gov. John Kasich says environmental policy making should be left to the states and local communities. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio wants to leave environmental protection up to businesses, not the government. Votes have consequences. Ann McFeatters is a veteran Washington journalist. Email her at amcfeatters@nationalpress.com. SHARE I love poetic justice. This wild and wacky Republican presidential campaign deserved Sarah Palin, and now it's got her. Palin's endorsement of front-runner Donald Trump at an Iowa rally last week was a master class in surrealist poetry. Geniuses of the Dada movement would have been humbled by her deconstruction of the language and her obliteration of the bourgeois concept we call logic. The GOP candidates have been competing to see who can spew the most nonsense, but they'll never top Palin. Not when she offers gems such as this: "Believe me on this. And the proof of this? Look what's happening today. Our own GOP machine, the establishment, they who would assemble the political landscape, they're attacking their own front-runner. ... They are so busted, the way that this thing works." Or this further excoriation of the party leadership: "And now, some of them even whispering, they're ready to throw in for Hillary (Clinton) over Trump because they can't afford to see the status quo go. Otherwise, they won't be able to be slurping off the gravy train that's been feeding them all these years." Actually, I think the wailing from Republican grandees is more of a wordless primal scream. Palin claimed that "media heads are spinning" at her decision to campaign for Trump, but it would be more accurate to say that "media feet are dancing" at having such a rich source of new material. I could quote Palin all day, but there are two substantive points about her dazzling intervention that I feel duty-bound to make. The first is political: Someday we might look back and say she was the one who pushed Trump over the top to win the nomination. That's not a promise, just a possibility. But Trump's campaign draws strength from its own momentum. If he can somehow manage to sweep the early primary states, "outsider" support may coalesce behind him and the establishment candidates may be too shellshocked to effectively respond. Given his overall strength, Trump could finish second in the Iowa caucuses and still capture the nomination. A win there, however, could boost his support in the subsequent contests and make it much harder for anyone to stop him. Enter Palin. Republicans whom she appalls or embarrasses are not likely to vote for Trump anyway. But some tea party supporters who are leaning toward Sen. Ted Cruz might be swayed by a clarion call from their movement's Evita. All Trump needs to do is shave a few points off Cruz's vote to win a narrow victory, which could be enough to propel the populist billionaire to triumph in New Hampshire and beyond. Here I must insert my standard disclaimer: Do not take as gospel anyone's predictions this year, including mine. The other substantive point I have to make about Palin has to do with a campaign speech she gave in Oklahoma for Trump the day after her endorsement. She was talking about the arrest of her son, Track, on domestic abuse charges after he allegedly fought with his girlfriend and threatened suicide by holding an assault rifle to his head. "My son, a combat veteran ... was fighting for you all, America, in the war zone," Palin said. "My son, like so many others, came back a bit different, they come back hardened." Palin said not enough was done to treat the "woundedness" of returning veterans and charged that this failing "comes from our own President (Obama)." Never mind that Track Palin served in Iraq and came home while George W. Bush was president. His mother was speaking for the large segment of the GOP base that brays against high taxes and big government, yet demands more services and opposes cuts in entitlements which doesn't add up. I've said it before: With years of foolish rhetoric, the Republican establishment got itself into this mess. There may be no way out. Email Eugene Robinson at eugenerobinson@washpost.com. SHARE Anyone who was surprised by Gov. Jerry Brown's State of the State address this week simply has not been paying attention. The governor sounded like a broken record as he told the Legislature that this year he hoped they would simply make sure they pay for what they already have and sock more money away for the future. Gov. Brown simplified his message by making no new policy proposals in his speech. There was nothing to distract legislators from what he wants them to do this year. He is worried about the global economy, calling it "profoundly uncertain," and the impact on California, which relies so heavily on income taxes for its revenue. "If we are to minimize the zigzag of spend, cut, spend that this tax system inevitably produces," he said, "we must build a very large reserve." He returned to his theme from 2015 of wanting the Legislature to fund infrastructure repair in California, but again said it has to come from new sources of money, basically a new tax. But once again Republicans quickly said no to new taxes, and they are needed to get that legislation approved in 2016. But the GOP remains in the minority, so the voices that count the most when it comes to reaction to the governor are members of his own party. With a growing state bank account, the liberal leaders are making more and more noise about spending money on social programs that have suffered cuts since the Great Recession drove California revenues into the tank. Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins of San Diego summarized the conflict when she said that while the governor "emphasizes austerity" the Assembly Democrats want to "consider posterity too." There was muted opposition from the Democrats last year to the governor's plan, but don't be surprised if it breaks into a greater rebellion this year. With a greater financial cushion, and facing voters in November, many will be anxious to show they are willing to have the state reach down and help those who need help the most. As always, the proof is in the execution so we'll need to see what the legislative Democrats rally behind, and what it will cost. But we're glad the governor drew a firm line in the sand and issued his warning to legislators that he didn't want them playing on his beach unless they were ready to save money. Chef Daniel Bouluds db Brasserie has quickly grown to be one of the most notable restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip and the team is eager to support the Las Vegas community by proudly participating in Fall Restaurant Week benefitting Three Square Food Bank (Pictured: Chef Daniel Boulud of db Brasserie). From August 22-28, diners can help those in need while dining out, taking advantage of specialty menus where a portion of proceeds are donated to Three Square Food Bank. Menus will run during lunch and dinner service: LUNCH 11:30 a.m. 3 p.m. $20.14; does not include tax or gratuity Appetizers (choice of): Trio of Fennel Fennel royal with salmon, fennel arancini with basil aioli, fennel and navel orange salad; Arugula Salad Figs, almonds, pecorino romana, fig vincotto; or Soup du jour Seasonal soup. Entrees (choice of): Short Rib Tagliatelle Summer vegetables, basil, parmesan, beef red wine jus; Rainbow Trout Grenobloise Cauliflower, raisins, lemon, caper brown butter; or Chicken Paillard Roasted carrots, spatzl, hazelnuts, arugula, sauce diable. Dessert (optional course, choice of): White Framboise White chocolate chiffon, raspberry mousse, white chocolate crunch; or Trio of Sorbets Seasonal sorbets, shortbread cookie. DINNER 5 p.m. 11 p.m. $40.14; does not include tax or gratuity Appetizers (choice of): Trio of Fennel Fennel royal with salmon, fennel arancini with basil aioli, fennel and navel orange salad; Arugula Salad Figs, almonds, pecorino romana, fig vincotto; or Soup du jour Seasonal soup. Entrees (choice of): Grilled Flat Iron Steak Stewed peppers, leek soubise, potato dauphine, bordelaise sauce; Dover Sole Grenobloise Cauliflower, raisins, caper brown butter; or Chicken Paillard Roasted carrots, spatzl, hazelnuts, arugula, sauce diable. Dessert (optional course, choice of): White Framboise White chocolate chiffon, raspberry mousse, white chocolate crunch; Trio of Sorbets Seasonal sorbets, shortbread cookie ; or Assiette de Fromages Cheese plate with quince preserves, nuts, cranberry bread. Since 2007, more than 2.5 million meals have been provided for those in need through funding obtained during Restaurant Week. Today, Three Square feeds nearly 100,000 men, women, children and seniors each month. With the communitys support during restaurant week, Three Square gets closer to its goal of feeding the 360,000 people in need in Southern Nevada. All proceeds from Restaurant Week remain in Las Vegas and help Three Square in its fight to end hunger in Southern Nevada. Jeff Brinkman brings his melodic and soulful style to the Silverton Casino Lodge on Friday, November 26, 2010, at 8 p.m. Brinkmans inspiration for music came from listening to his father play guitar as he fell asleep at a very young age. By the time he was 14, he was beginning to write his own songs and create his own inspiring style. Over the years his talent developed into a melodic blend of soul that captured audiences attention with a calming yet touching ease. His lyrics cut to the core of the listeners inner thoughts and inspire them to relate the music to their own lives. After leaving is hometown in Iowa, Brinkman landed in Colorado where his music career took off. His debut album To the Bones was released earlier this year and quickly landed him a spot on the Colorado Top 40 charts released by the Rocky Mountain Music Network. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 plus additional service fees and can be purchased by calling 702-263-7777 or visiting www.silvertoncasino.com. Upcoming Concerts at Silverton Casino Lodge: Dec. 3 Laura Bell Bundy; $20* Dec. 8 Austin Law; $TBD* Dec. 10 Half Pint Brawlers; $20 & $35* Jan. 14 & 15 Keith Sweat; $TBD* *All prices are exclusive of additional service fees. This Labor Day Weekend, Pleasure Pool at Planet Hollywood is hosting its Bikini Contest Finale with special celebrity judges and a grand prize of $5,000. All of this summers Bikini Contest winners are invited back to compete. A preliminary round is also open to new contestants looking for their chance at the large prize purse. The winner of the preliminary round moves on to the finals to compete with the best of the best. During the finals, one winner is chosen from each of the five competing heats with a showdown between the last five standing. The contest is judged by three special guest judges including The Gazillionaire and Penny Pibbets from Absinthe at Caesars Palace. The third judge is one of televisions hottest celebrity sweethearts, to be unveiled on Saturday. These judges are awarding prizes to the top three finishers, with first place taking home $5,000 cash. Second and third place will receive $2,500 and $1,000 cash, respectively. All guests and Bikini Contest participants must be 21 years or older. Entry in the contest is free. The Pleasure Pool is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cover charge may apply. WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 3 2:30 p.m. Contest registration 3 p.m. Bikini Contest begins WHERE: Pleasure Pool Planet Hollywood Las Vegas 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 French police near the Rue de la Goutte d'Or in the north of Paris on January 7, 2016, after police shot a man dead as he was trying to enter a police station AFP/Lionel Bonaventure BERLIN: A man who tried to attack a police station in Paris this month had no links to Islamist networks, German authorities said Friday (Jan 22) after carrying out new raids in a refugee shelter where he lived. Investigations "over the past two weeks have brought no indications of any Islamist network" connected to the man, said Uwe Jacob, police chief of North Rhine-Westphalia state. The attacker, identified as Tarek Belgacem by Tunisian authorities, was shot dead by French police as he attempted his assault on January 7 - the one-year anniversary of the jihadist attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Three days after the botched attack, German police raided an apartment at a shelter for asylum seekers in Recklinghausen, in the west of the country, where the man lived. Officers found an imitation handgun that can fire flares and tear gas, called "gas pistols" in Germany, and a mobile phone containing pictures "typical of the Islamic State organisation" as well as photos of Osama bin Laden. But the images appeared to have been downloaded from the Internet. The man had used at least 20 identities and given different countries as his nationality in his dealings with European authorities, Jacob said. He was registered as a Georgian in Sweden, and as an Iraqi in France. However, using fingerprinting, German investigators have finally managed to pull together details about the man under one identity. "We know therefore that he is a known offender who had flouted laws on weapons ownership, drugs, as well as for inflicting bodily harm and sexual offences," said Jacob. Police gunned down Belgacem as he tried to attack the police station in northern Paris armed with a meat cleaver and wearing a fake suicide vest, shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), according to Paris prosecutors. Police said they found a handwritten note on his body in which he pledged allegiance to the militant Islamic State group. His father, Taoufik Belgacem, on Wednesday filed a complaint alleging his son was murdered by police. He denied that Tarek was a militant, describing him as "normal, like all young people, a good person." Weather forecasters predict that the next few days will be the coldest winter in 35 years, with the temperature in Shanghai set to go as low as minus 7 degrees Celsius in urban areas. (Photo : Reuters) A wet cold chill hit Shanghai on Thursday cancelling dozens of long-distance buses and bursting two water pipes, as reported by Shanghai Daily. Rain and sleet greeted locals in some parts of the city as they woke up. However, the city's temperatures ranging from 1 to 2 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning were not low enough for the ice to hold on the ground. Advertisement According to weather reports by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, the cold wave brought rains in the downtown portion of the city, as well as short-lived snowfalls in the west and northern portions on Thursday. The districts of Qingpu, Songjiang, Jiading, Baoshan and Jinshan, as well as Chongming County, all recorded sleets on Thursday. Weather forecasters predict that the next few days will be the coldest winter in 35 years, with the temperature in Shanghai set to go as low as minus 7 degrees Celsius in urban areas and as low as minus 10 in the suburban areas on Sunday. The bureau predicted that the temperature will mostly go down due to stronger winds bringing a wind chill. It claims the weather will warm up a little on Tuesday, with temperatures going as low as minus 4 degrees Celsius and as high as 4 degrees Celsius. The Shanghai Long-Distance Bus Terminal canceled a total of 45 buses to southern Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces, as well as to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Provinces. These places experienced heavy snowfall on Thursday. The cancelation of buses affected a significant number of people with crowds already trying to leave for the Spring Festival holiday. "I have no choice but to go back to school and wait," said a student whose bus was canceled. "I'll come back tomorrow to check again." Icy roads caused the highways to close, preventing bus travels. Shanghai South Long-Distance Bus Station was also forced to suspend 25 buses. In Chongming County, the cold weather caused the main water pipe to burst at around five in the morning. This affected around 6,000 families. The county government arranged for vehicles to deliver water to around 6,000 households in Chengqiao Town. Water supplies have since resumed with the repair of the pipes. Scene of the accident that kills at least three workers and bury four others when a stone mine collapsed this morning in Dong Son Hamlet, Yen Lam Commune, Yen Dinh District. - Photovnexpress.net Witnesses heard a huge explosion. The falling rocks trapped all the workers inside the mine, which is managed by the Tuan Hung Company. "Three workers died at the scene, while many others are still buried under the pile of rocks," Nguyen Minh Thanh, a witness, told a reporter of phapluatplus.vn. District and provincial police authorities dispatched injured workers to the hospital and initiated a rescue operation for those trapped in the collapsed mine. Deputy Chairman of Yen Lam Commune Nguyen Quang Phi said the rescue team faced many difficulties in digging up the large pile of fallen rocks in the rain. The local authorities are inspecting the cause of the deaths of the three workers. This is the third serious accident to occur at a workplace in Thanh Hoa Province, with a total of 15 fatalities since the beginning of this year. Previously, a scaffold collapse killed four people at the construction site of a bridge project in Ta Pan Village, Trung Son Commune, on January 9. Eight residents also died due to carbon monoxide poisoning inside a lime kiln in Hoang Giang Commune, Nong Cong District, on January 1. The "Campaign to Stop Killer Robots" was launched in London in 2013. (Photo: AFP/Carl Court) DAVOS, Switzerland: The world must act quickly to avert a future in which autonomous robots with artificial intelligence roam the battlefields killing humans, scientists and arms experts warned at an elite gathering in the Swiss Alps. Rules must be agreed to prevent the development of such weapons, they said at a January 19-23 meeting of billionaires, scientists and political leaders in the snow-covered ski resort of Davos. Angela Kane, the German UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs from 2012-2015, said the world had been slow to take pre-emptive measures to protect humanity from the lethal technology. "It may be too late," she told a debate in Davos. "There are many countries and many representatives in the international community that really do not understand what is involved. This development is something that is limited to a certain number of advanced countries," Kane said. The deployment of autonomous weapons would represent a dangerous new era in warfare, scientists said. "We are not talking about drones, where a human pilot is controlling the drone," said Stuart Russell, professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley. "We are talking about autonomous weapons, which means that there is no one behind it. AI: artificial intelligence weapons," he told a forum in Davos. "Very precisely, weapons that can locate and attack targets without human intervention." ROBOT CHAOS ON THE BATTLEFIELD Russell said he did not foresee a day in which robots fight the wars for humans and at the end of the day one side says: "OK you won, so you can have all our women." But some 1,000 science and technology chiefs including British physicist Stephen Hawking, said in an open letter last July that the development of weapons with a degree of autonomous decision-making capacity could be feasible within years, not decades. A sentry robot freezes a hypothetical intruder by pointing its machine gun during a 2006 test in Cheonan, South Korea. (Photo: AFP/Kim Dong-joo) They called for a ban on offensive autonomous weapons that are beyond meaningful human control, warning that the world risked sliding into an artificial intelligence arms race and raising alarm over the risks of such weapons falling into the hands of violent extremists. "The question is can these machines follow the rules of war?" Russell said. 'BEYOND COMPREHENSION' How, for an example, could an autonomous weapon differentiate between civilians, soldiers, resistance fighters and rebels? How could it know that it should not kill a pilot who has ejected from a plane and is parachuting to the ground? "I am against robots for ethical reasons but I do not believe ethical arguments will win the day. I believe strategic arguments will win the day," Russell said. The United States had renounced biological weapons because of the risk that one day they could deployed by "almost anybody", he said. "I hope this will happen with robots." Alan Winfield, professor of electronic engineering at the University of the West of England, warned that removing humans from battlefield decision-making would have grave consequences. "It means that humans are deprived from moral responsibility," Winfield said. Moreover, the reaction of the robots may be hard to predict, he said: "When you put a robot in a chaotic environment, it behaves chaotically." Roger Carr, chairman of the British aerospace and defence group BAE, agreed. "If you remove ethics and judgement and morality from human endeavour whether it is in peace or war, you will take humanity to another level which is beyond our comprehension," Carr warned. "You equally cannot put something into the field that, if it malfunctions, can be very destructive with no control mechanism from a human. That is why the umbilical link, man to machine, is not only to decide when to deploy the weapon but it is also the ability to stop the process. Both are equally important." On December 31, Tran Van Hung, of the north-central province of Nghe An, bought a Number 1 bottle from a local store and discovered a strange object inside when he was about to open it. The object looked like a fly, with such body parts as the head, wings and legs, as observed by a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent, who brought the story to the media on Thursday. The energy drink was manufactured on October 9, 2015 and has one-year expiry. Tan Hiep Phat, headquartered in the southern province of Binh Duong, has commented on the issue, shortly after the case was widely covered by the local press. The companys director of public relations, Nguyen Phan Huy Khoi, said it would be impossible for a fly to remain in its full shape after being kept in the bottle for more than three and a half months, from its manufacturing date to the time when it was discovered. We do not use any preservatives in our drinks, so it is irrational to say there is an undamaged fly inside, he said in a media note released Friday. Khoi said while Tan Hiep Phat has yet to confirm if the bottle was unopened, the company always feels sorry when a defective product is sold to consumers. We express our sincere apologies to consumers, he said. According to the media note, on December 13, Hoang Ngoc Hieu, sales manager in charge of the central region for Tan Hiep Phat, went to meet Hung after receiving his complaint. Hieu wanted to recall the Number 1 bottle in question for investigation, and suggested giving Hung a cardboard box of the energy drink, worth VND250,000 (US$12), plus an ice tank and a crash helmet. But Hung rejected both the request and offer. Instead, Hung insisted that the bottle be sent to the local consumer protection association, according to the minutes of the meeting between the two men. I do not want to ask for money from the company, Hung told Tuoi Treon Friday. I just want to know if they would ever buy back that bottle, which is a defective product. Hung added that he only seeks a civil agreement with the company, but Tan Hiep Phat said it does not have any policy to buy back defective products. I demand a clear answer from the company regarding that strange object found inside its product, he said. In 2014, a man named Vo Van Minh also found a fly inside an unopened Number 1 bottle at his eatery in the southern province of Tien Giang, and decided to use it to ask for VND500 million (US$23,300) from Tan Hiep Phat. The drink maker agreed to pay Minh, but at the same time secretly called for police help. Minh was arrested when he was about to receive cash from Tan Hiep Phat, and was condemned to seven years behind bars on December 17, 2015 for extorting assets from the beverage maker. The court ruled that by demanding money from the drink maker, the man had mentally intimidated the company and caused harm for the entire society. After Tan Hiep Phat won the lawsuit, it was immediately hit by strong protests by consumers, who insisted it was unethical for the firm to treat its customer that way. A huge wave of people have taken to the Internet to urge one another to boycott products made by Tan Hiep Phat, leading to the company admitting to suffering whopping damage worth at least VND2 trillion ($89.29 million). The Goujian sword is almost 56 centimeters long and weighs 875 grams. It is known for its dark rhombic patterns, decorated in blue and turquoise crystals. (Photo : Wikimedia) The Sword of Goujian, discovered by archaeologists in 1965, is a legendary weapon from the Spring and Autumn Period (771-403 B.C.), a time when swords were prized, according to historical records, as reported by Shanghai Daily. Advertisement The Goujian is almost 56 centimeters long and weighs 875 grams. It is known for its dark rhombic patterns, decorated in blue and turquoise crystals. The royal ownership of the sword is noted by the engravings on its blade. The sword is currently housed in the Hubei Provincial Museum. The scarcity of metals and lack of experienced blacksmiths made swords of distinction during this period of history into the stuff of legends. The most distinguished swords of this period were made by two famous swordsmiths, Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang, who are believed to have learned under the same master. Ou Yezi, one of the two swordsmiths who often appears in ancient texts, is said to have forged legendary swords for various kings, including Goujian, the king of Yue, today's northern Zhejiang Province. This is one of the prominent theories for the origin of the Sword of Goujian. Ou is also known for making Long Yuan, or "crouching dragon," a sword commission by a king who wanted him to make the best sword in the world. To meet the king's demand, he searched the country for a good source of iron and found it in what is today known as Longquan in Zhejiang. Ou is recorded to have forged three swords in Longquan. Ou's skills when it comes to forging are still celebrated today in Longquan, which has become renowned in China for making swords for martial artists and those used in films. Gan, the other renowned swordsmith, together with his wife Mo Ye, was a master of forging swords. The couple produced a pair of swords for the king, who was notorious for killing craftsmen after they presented him with a sword so that there could be no similar rival. Gan anticipated this fate, so he left the second sword at home, so that his son could avenge him years later. In honor of their memory, the two swords were named after the couple. According to a few ancient texts, the swords were later buried in what is now Fujian Province. Mogan Mountain, the popular resort in Zhejiang Province, was also named after the couple, who are said to have worked in the region. Alex Brandon Two runners jog as the snow falls on Capitol Hill, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, in Washington. One in seven Americans will get at least half a foot of snow outside their homes when this weekends big storm has finished delivering blizzards, gale-force winds, whiteout conditions and flooding to much of the eastern United States. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Internet live broadcast is an offshoot of online gaming, which is reported to have three times the size of Chinas film market in revenue. (Photo : Reuters) Studies from the American Chamber of Commerce in China said that the country implements heavy internet censorship, which made four out of five American businesses say their company had a negative impact, while 5 percent of them made no complaints. The said report centered on American businesses in China, though the trends say it includes almost all foreign companies in the country. The survey was made from more than 500 companies in varying scales and disciplines. Advertisement The first question is: "To what extent does the Internet censorship of websites and content influence your capacity to manage business in China? Many responded that this is indeed a severe hassle as many businesses in China utilize Gmail for online correspondences, Facebook for press release, YouTube for training materials, and more. These companies get around with the limitations by utilizing VPN programs. VPNs may furnish access for Facebook feeds, but it sacrifices speed. Studies show that slow Internet speed top instantaneous censorship, where lots of complaints from these companies were received. Only 5 percent of these respondents say Internet controls never hampered their business. These companies are referred to those who seldom used the Internet, or have insane levels of patience in doing so. In China, mobile web and broadband speeds are quite fast if these were Chinese websites alone, especially in Shanghai and Beijing. If the connection comes from abroad, then they need to wait. The second question is "Which facets of internet control particularly hamper business? Around 20 percent of American businesses in China say the censorship apparatus or the Great Firewall has indeed a positive impact on their company. They say the reason for this is probably due to the lack of competition. It is easier to handle searches for data without competing with Google and Facebook. In China, you can utilize WeChat or Baidu. As per reports, due to Internet restrictions, 71 percent of American companies say they have poor access especially when it comes to relevant information for the business. The interrupted access led to lower productivity, incapacity to sufficiently engage in research, and trouble in data exchange with other professionals. Respondents were also asked to rate optimism with China's business and restrictive framework for the next couple of years - only 6 percent say they were optimistic. Officials in at least three Latin American and Caribbean countries have cautioned women to avoid becoming pregnant because of the severe birth defects caused by the Zika virus, but womens advocates say that advice is not appropriate. Colombia, El Salvador and Jamaica have advised women to delay pregnancy after a number of babies born with brain defects caused by the virus have emerged in Brazil. Alejandro Gavinia, Colombias health minister said Colombia is advising the measure because its a good way to communicate the risk, to tell people that there could be serious consequences. Monica Roa, vice president of strategy for Womens Link Worldwide, a womens rights group, said Its incredibly naive for a government to ask women to postpone getting pregnant in a context such as Colombia where more than 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned and across the region where sexual violence is prevalent. Roa said, In a crisis like the Zika outbreak, the lack of sexual education is exposed. Health ministries should inform rather than recommend. A reproductive rights activist in El Salvador said telling women not to become pregnant is not so simple. Sara Garcia said There are pregnancies that arent planned, are imposed on women and girls and are the product of sexual abuse. Womens rights activists have also faulted health ministries for failing to address the role of men in pregnancies. Paula Avila-Guillen, programs specialist at the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights said, Once again, governments put the burden on women to protect themselves from any risks. CDC guidance Earlier this week, U.S. health officials issued new guidance for women who might have been exposed to the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne infection that can cause brain damage in a developing fetus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday warned the virus is spread through mosquito bites and there are no vaccines to prevent the spread and no drugs to treat those affected. The agency issued a warning to pregnant women to avoid travel to 14 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America affected by the virus. They are Puerto Rico, Martinique, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, French Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Mexico. The symptoms for Zika include mild fever and rash. An estimated 80 percent of people infected with the virus have no symptoms at all, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected. Bell stressed that there are still many unknowns about the Zika virus. "This is an emerging situation, it's an emerging virus and things are definitely going to change," she said. Scientists first discovered the virus in Uganda in 1947 while studying monkeys, and isolated it in the 1950s in a human in Nigeria. But medical historians say confirmed cases were rare until 2007, when an outbreak was identified in the South Pacific Federated States of Micronesia. Ahead of the current Latin America crisis, cases have been identified in Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. As he tries to scrape funds together to treat his daughters life-threatening condition, Fouad Abu Khaled is fearful, not just for the future of his family, but for the entire Palestinian diaspora. Recent changes in medical support offered by UNRWA the U.N. body created to support Palestinian refugees have left him, and many other Palestinians living in Lebanon, angry and uncertain. Im sure they will stop the funding, Abu Khaled told VOA, referring to the financial aid given by UNRWA to help 26-year-old Wafaa, who suffers from a hereditary blood condition called Thalassemia. It hasnt happened yet as weve not gone to the hospital, but they will, he said, his voice rising. And then, soon, all UNRWA services will stop. There are many Palestinians in Lebanon who share Abu Khaleds fears. Shifts, not cuts At the start of this month, UNRWA shifted the way it offers medical support for Palestinians in the country. The response was swift; and desperate. In the latest of many such protests, UNRWAs Beirut headquarters were besieged Friday by demonstrators who believe that medical aid is set to be reduced, or wiped out entirely. Recently, Mohammad Omar Khodeir, who also suffers from Thalassemia, set himself on fire in response to the changes. UNRWA contends the changes are just that shifts in where the cash in being spent, rather than an overall cut in the top-line budget. We did not do this to save money, claimed Zizette Darkazally, a spokeswoman for UNRWA in Lebanon who was equally emphatic to dismiss any fears about the imminent demise of UNRWA. She told VOA the medical aid budget for 2016 in Lebanon remained unchanged from last year at $10 million. But now funding has been shifted to offer greater support for specialist care and for those suffering long-term conditions, like cancer. Funding for medicines remains unchanged. Tensions easily stoked Many will still be hurt by the shift in funds. Palestinians who previously enjoyed free care must now pay 20 percent of costs for visits to private hospitals, 15 percent for care at government hospitals and five percent for care at hospitals run by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. In a country where, according to UNRWAs own figures, more than half the registered Palestinians live below the poverty line and 80 percent are unemployed, reliance on aid is high. Palestinians in Lebanon, in particular, cannot access the labor market, or a welfare state, or a range of other services, said Rex Brynan, professor of political sciences at the McGill University, and author of several books about Palestinian refugees. Thats why, in Lebanon, when the UNRWA sneezes, Palestinians catch a cold, he said. In this context, when it comes to aid, tensions are easily stoked. Darkazally argued the changes had been misrepresented and politicized, with rumors replacing facts as Palestinian political factions sought to drum up popularity. Abu Khaled, for one, is convinced that he will have to pay the full $200 a month to help treat his daughters condition, rather than the $100 he used to pay. The reality, however, is that the cost of his daughters treatment is likely to remain funded. The idea that some will benefit from the changes has not filtered through, Darkazally added. People are in despair and hanging on to every word. Growing costs A critical lack of funding for other provisions has exacerbated this despair, fueling the rumors currently swirling through the Palestinian community. Though donations to UNRWA marginally increased last year, they have not kept up with growing costs. Last year, the $100 a month cash assistance for housing the estimated 42,000 Palestinian refugees who escaped Syria for Lebanon - a system that helped Abu Khaled and his family who fled in 2012 - was cut. Shortly before the start of the school term last summer, the future of UNRWAs extensive network of schools across the region also came under question amid a $110 million cash shortfall. The crisis was averted and the cash raised, but many Palestinians do not see it that way. Twenty-one-year-old Islam Durani heard about the change in medical funding from her friends and neighbors, though shes unsure exactly whats being cut. Im sure they have the funds, she said, and Im sure they just want to put pressure on Palestinians. I cant think of another reason, she told VOA. A voice for the Palestinians Yet for all the cynicism, once the protesters take their placards home, it is upon UNRWA that many will remain dependent a dependency that stretches well beyond the provision of day-to-day basics. Palestinians see UNRWA as an international representative of their rights and theyre constantly worried about those rights being eroded, said Brynan. Thats why anything that is a deviation from the status quo is seen as an attempt to liquidate the refugee issue. Meanwhile, Abu Khaled has vowed to keep attending the protests, and not just for the sake of his daughter. Im fighting for my bread, for my family, he said. But the bigger goal is to show people that we are human beings. No one will listen to us unless we show that we will fight for this right. Australia and Thailand are strengthening anti-terror cooperation amid fears of more attacks in the region by groups associated with Islamic State supporters. The agreement came during an official visit by the Australian Justice Minister and amid concerns over regional security capabilities and coordination. The move by Australia and Thailand to step up security cooperation comes during what Australias Justice Minister, Michael Keenan, calls a deteriorating security situation. During a visit to Bangkok for talks with Thai government ministers, Keenan said the increased cooperation is a result of the deadly January 14 attacks in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. We know weve got a big regional challenge," he said. "This is a menace that is stalking Indonesia, its certainly stalking Australia, - it's troubling the Philippines and no country in the region is immune from that. This is a challenge we all share together and thats why cooperation is vitally important. Islamic State Keenan says the increased security cooperation will remain in place as long as Islamic State exists and looks to export terror across the region, including Australia. Australia has already spend more than $700 million to improve security in the country. Panitan Wattanayagorn, an advisor to the Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, says a regional security cooperation structure came into place after the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali that claimed 200 lives. But Panitan says shortcomings leave several countries vulnerable to attacks. What is still problematic is the capability, the implementation, the enforcement actually, in many areas," said Panitan. "You see clear commitment but lack of capability, lack of coordination, lack of capacity, in many areas and these may create risks or pose risks to an extremist attack in certain countries so thats the concern. Analysts fear a potential escalation in attacks by militants in the year ahead. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told Turkey on Saturday that the United States recognizes that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is as much a threat to Ankara as Islamic State militants are, even as Washington supports Kurdish forces fighting the jihadists in Iraq. Biden was in Istanbul for meetings with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ahead of efforts next week to begin international talks on Syrias future. After meeting with the Turkish prime minister, Biden said Islamic State fighters are "not the only existential threat to the people of Turkey. The PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that. It is a terror group, plain and simple, and what they continue to do is absolutely outrageous." No denunciation of Peoples Protection Units Turkish observers noted that Biden did not also denounce the Syrian Kurdish militia known as the Peoples Protection Units, which Ankara opposes as strongly as it does the PKK. The militia, known as YPG in Kurdish, is the armed branch of Syrias powerful Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). Militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party have battled against the Turkish government for the past 30 years, fighting for autonomy for southeastern Turkeys Kurdish majority. The PKK also has actively fought against Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, aided by U.S. air support. Davutoglu defended Ankara's controversial troop deployment into Iraq in December, which has drawn repeated protests from Iraqi leaders in Baghdad. The prime minister said Turkey respects Iraqs sovereignty, and that its troops are targeting Islamic State. Biden said he discussed with Davutoglu how Turkey can help Sunni Arab forces in Syria in their fight against Islamic State and to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Islamic State controls a wide swath of northern Iraq and Syria a self-proclaimed caliphate with the city of Raqqa as its capital. The United States supports a political settlement to end nearly five years of fighting in Syria, but Biden said the United States is "prepared ... if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation and taking out" Islamic State. Freedom of expression Biden's meetings in Istanbul came a day after he rebuked Turkeys leaders for cracking down on freedom of expression. He told civil society representatives that the Turkish government is not setting the right "example" with its imprisonment of journalists and investigation of academics who have criticized the government's military campaign against Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeastern sector. In an unusually strong criticism of Washington's NATO ally, Biden said, "When the media are intimidated or imprisoned for critical reporting, when Internet freedom is curtailed and social media sites like YouTube or Twitter are shut down, and more than 1,000 academics are accused of treason simply by signing a petition, that's not the kind of example that needs to be set." Before the meeting, Biden told reporters, "The more Turkey succeeds, the stronger the message sent to the entire Middle East and parts of the world who are only beginning to grapple with the notion of freedom." He said Washington wants Turkey to set a strong example for the Middle East of what a "vibrant democracy" means. Biden criticized the November jailing of Cumhuriyet daily editor-in-chief Can Dundar and its Ankara bureau chief, Erdem Gul, on charges of revealing classified information. The U.S. vice president also lamented Turkey's widespread investigation of more than 1,200 academics who signed a petition attacking Turkey's military campaign against Kurdish strongholds. About two dozen academics were detained for questioning; they were released but remain under investigation. Turkey also has blocked feeds in the country from YouTube, Twitter and other social networks. Dorian Jones contributed to this report from Istanbul. Burundis president remained firm Friday in his rejection of an African Union-proposed peacekeeping force to help restore calm to his country. The people decided through the National Assembly, President Pierre Nkurunziza told a visiting delegation of the U.N. Security Council. He said the African Union must respect Burundi as a member state and we must be consulted on the matter. Last month, the African Union announced it would deploy a 5,000-strong prevention and protection force to Burundi for an initial period of six months, following election-related violence that killed at least 439 people since April and caused more than 220,000 to flee the country. The situation in Burundi is expected to be a key topic when African heads of state meet next week at their annual summit in Addis Ababa. Observers fear that the violence sparked by what is seen by many as an unconstitutional third term for Nkurunziza could result in another civil war between the countrys ethnic Tutsis and Hutus similar to the one that plagued the country from 1993 to 2005. Nkurunziza dismissed international concerns that a genocide, similar to the one that Rwanda experienced in 1994, could happen in Burundi. Im here to guarantee that there will never be another genocide in Burundi, he said of massacres during his countrys civil war. Rwandan interference He also lashed out at neighboring Rwanda, telling the Security Council that the threat is not from within Burundi it comes from outside. The Rwandan government must be told to stop. Nkurunzizas government has previously accused Rwanda of supporting a rebel group that recruits and arms Burundian refugees on Rwandan territory. Albert Shingiro, Burundi's permanent representative to the United Nations, who attended the meeting, said he welcomed remarks from his U.S. counterpart, Samantha Power, about the need to warn Rwanda not to interfere in Burundi. Disappointment, but efforts continue Power told reporters after the more than two-hour-long meeting with the president that we did not achieve as much, frankly, as I think we would have liked. She said, however, that the council would not be deterred, because the cause of peace in Burundi is too important to give up. Council members have been urging the government to hold meaningful, inclusive dialogue with the opposition. On Friday, they also held a series of meetings with political parties, civil society groups and religious leaders who reflected both pro-government and opposition views. They also met with a group of independent media representatives. Power said the council believes that a more substantial international presence could help restore stability. That would include a beefed-up U.N. presence, led by the secretary-generals special adviser, Jamal Benomar. Rural retreat The council met Nkurunziza at his rural retreat 100 kilometers north of the capital, Bujumbura. As their convoy snaked through the hills, it passed lush agricultural areas with banana groves and coffee and tea farms. The convoy periodically encountered pro-government demonstrators carrying identical signs urging no interference and pronouncing Burundi a peaceful country. Some protesters chanted Burundi sawa! Burundi is OK! in Swahili. Their numbers swelled to the hundreds just before the convoy approached the presidential residence. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is calling for closer economic and security ties with China, saying Iran has "never trusted the West." Khamenei told Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting Saturday that Tehran was seeking to expand ties with "more independent countries" like China. Xi is the first head of state from the group of global powers that negotiated the historic nuclear deal with Iran to meet with Khamenei. The Chinese leader arrived in Iran late Friday on a tour of the Middle East. Prior to meeting with Khamenei on Saturday, he met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the presidents residence, where the two leaders oversaw the signing of 17 agreements aimed at expanding diplomatic and economic cooperation. The two countries also agreed to boost mutual trade. "Today, we discussed strategic relations between the two countries, regulating and signing a comprehensive 25-year document and also upgrading bilateral ties in the coming 10 years. We decided to increase mutual trade up to $600 billion, Rouhani said. Strategic partnership Xi, who is making the first trip to Iran by a Chinese president in 14 years, said the two sides agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership. "We decided to turn mutual relations into relations that would turn into strategic relations, and also issues that joined us. A statement on both sides should also take this opportunity in order to further upgrade mutual exchanges at different levels and further boost the political trust between the two countries, Xi said. China was a top consumer of Iranian oil even during the three years of international sanctions that targeted Irans nuclear program. Now that the sanctions are lifted and Iran is ramping up oil production, that relationship could grow further. China played a key role in international efforts to roll back sanctions against Iran in exchange for Tehran scaling back its nuclear program. Ahead of the visit, the U.S. said it hoped Beijing would continue to work with Washington to ensure Iran does not reconstitute its nuclear capabilities. Nuclear issue "Were certainly not trying to stop [Chinas] economic or diplomatic engagement with Iran. We would just hope that, just as China has played a very constructive role throughout this process, that China will continue to play that role in all of its engagement with the Iranian government, said U.S. Ambassador Stephan Mull, lead coordinator for Iran nuclear implementation at the State Department. The U.S. and China are co-chairing a working group to oversee the new design of Irans heavy-water reactor at Arak so that it will not produce weapons-grade plutonium. We expect strong cooperation to continue as we all work together to ensure Irans continued compliance with the [nuclear agreement], Anna Richey-Allen, a spokeswoman from the State Departments East Asia and Pacific Bureau, said Friday. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action China is among the world powers that reached the agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran last July. In that nuclear pact, Tehran pledged to scale back its uranium-enriching activities and submit to inspection, in exchange for lifting sanctions. In an op-ed article appearing in an Iranian newspaper and quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi said: China appreciates Iran's assurance of not intending to develop nuclear weapons, supports Iran in upholding its legitimate rights and interests, and fully recognizes Iran's contribution to the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. China has been Irans biggest trading partner in the past six years, according to Xi. Bilateral trade in 2014 was around $52 billion, but dropped off last year because of falling oil prices, according to Iranian officials. Seeking a new international order But a key analyst says ties between the two counties go beyond economic benefits. Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said both countries share the goal of reshaping the international order in a way that excludes us more. Singh, who served as senior director of Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council from 2005 to 2008, testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. He said that China really sees Iran as its main strategic partner by virtue of its geographic location, by virtue of the fact that it's really the only major power in the region which isn't allied with the United States. Chinese Xis visit to Iran came after a stop in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week during that country's heightened tensions with Iran. A State Department official told VOA the U.S. anticipates that China will join us and others in encouraging all parties to avoid actions that escalate sectarian tensions in the region. An American student detained in North Korea for alleged anti-state activities is being described by his fellow travel partners as a typical tourist. North Korea announced Friday it detained Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia undergrad student, for the unspecified hostile acts, and was conducting an investigation. The 21-year-old Warmbier had entered Pyongyang with the China-based Young Pioneers Tours company, which regularly takes foreigners to the isolated country. Charlotte Guttridge, a tour leader with Young Pioneer Tours, told the Reuters news agency Saturday that Warmbier was detained at the airport as he was trying to board a flight back to China. Warmbier apparently was detained over an earlier incident at the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang, said Guttridge, who declined to comment on the specific nature of the incident. Typical tourist "Throughout the trip, Otto behaved as a typical tourist taking pictures, enjoying himself. We had no indication that anything untoward had happened until the airport," Guttridge told Reuters. In a statement published in the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korean officials hinted that Warmbier was acting with the support or on behalf of the U.S. government. North Korea, which has provided no evidence for this claim, has regularly detained American and other foreign citizens, on trumped up charges. The detainees are often convicted of crimes in hasty trials and sometimes are sentenced to hard labor. But they are typically released, sometimes following visits by U.S. officials. Analysts say North Korea often tries to use the detainees as bargaining chips with the West. After 25 years of marriage and five children, Maria Elena and Rene Burgos of Los Angeles have become a unified force on many things, including decisions on Election Day. Mostly we discuss and we agree and then we usually mark our ballots together, and we start marking together, and we decide together. We try to support each other, said Maria Elena Burgos. We discuss it with the family, too, now that we have the grownup kids, Rene Burgos said. All born in the United States, four of the Burgoses' children are old enough to vote in the 2016 presidential election. It will be 18-year-old Monica Burgos first presidential election. She said its the issues, including immigration, that will help her pick the best candidate. Immigration is serious because people are always crossing the border. Theyre always trying to come to America for a better life, and thats what my parents did, she said. Maria Elena Burgos mother was American, which allowed her to get U.S. citizenship. Rene Burgos escaped the civil war in El Salvador and arrived in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant. Under the Regan administration, he received amnesty and ultimately citizenship. So after I became a citizen and I was able to exercise [my right to vote], I said I have the duty to do it and I was really happy to be able to participate," he said. "I think coming from another country to the United States and seeing that you can participate, it is a great opportunity. When you come from a country where sometimes you do not have the rights or the voice, having that opportunity here makes a difference, said Maria Elena Burgos. That commitment was passed down to their children, including Stephen, 22. Our parents always encourage us to vote, to be able to be the voice for change, he said. Latino vote The belief that a vote still matters is what motivates many naturalized immigrants and their children to try and be the most engaged Latinos in American politics. They dont take the vote for granted, said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials' Educational Fund. The immigrant voter, the naturalized citizen and his or her children, the children of immigrants are the most engaged in American politics," Vargas said. "They are following politics very, very closely. Those that we need to bring into the process are those that have been here for four, five, six generations: Mexican-Americans that speak English only because thats the only language they know. [Its] the same thing with Puerto Ricans and Latinos of other national origin groups who, unfortunately, many of them have lost faith in the American political system. For many Latinos, the issue of immigration has become a litmus test for a candidate. How a candidate talks about immigrants is symbolic of how that candidate then appears towards Latinos," Vargas said. "So if a candidate is bashing immigrants, Latinos hear that as bashing Latinos. So how a candidate talks about immigration is even more important than what the candidate has to say about immigration policy. While a large number of Latinos identify themselves as Democrats, Vargas said the fastest-growing party affiliation of Latinos is either declined to state or independent. WATCH: Latino Support for Democratic Ticket Could Determine Next President Choosing a candidate Members of the Burgos family have not decided which presidential candidate they will vote for, but that person needs to share their values, said Martin Burgos, 20. Since were practicing Roman Catholics, well talk about abortion especially. Thats one of the major topics, he said. Maria Elena Burgos said she knows there is no perfect candidate. We have to just balance and see which one is the least evil and which is the one that we would be more happy with, even though its not perfect. No person, no party, no decision will be 100 percent perfect, she said. While theyll take a close look at the two Latino candidates, sharing the same ethnicity is not enough, said Rene Burgos. It would be nice to have a Latino president, but we mostly like to see the values, he said. Rene and Maria Elena Burgos say theyll look at the entire package in a candidate before making a final decision. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday expressed confidence that Syrian peace talks will proceed next week. Kerry made the comments in the capital of Saudi Arabia, where he plans to meet with members of Syrias opposition groups. "We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so those talks can get going and that the U.N. representative special envoy Staffan De Mistura will be convening people in an appropriate manner for the proximity talks that will be the first meeting in Geneva," he told reporters. The U.N.-mediated peace talks between Syrias government and opposition groups were initially scheduled to begin Monday. However, officials have hinted the talks may be delayed briefly, in part because of disagreements over who will take part. This represents the third attempt by world powers to get Syrian parties to agree to a negotiated end to the five-year civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people. The latest effort has been complicated by souring relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional powerhouses that support different sides in the Syrian conflict. Kerrys trip to Riyadh, which began Saturday, is aimed largely at improving ties between the Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran. Earlier Saturday, Kerry participated in a forum with members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The top U.S. diplomat also met with Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, and later will confer with King Salman. After his meeting with Kerry, Jubeir said he does not foresee the U.S. and Iran drastically improving ties in the near future. "No, I don't see a coming together of the United States and Iran. Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism," Jubeir said. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is," he said. Saudi Arabia and many of its Sunni regional allies have long seen Iran as a foe, but relations have deteriorated drastically in recent weeks. The situation worsened earlier this month after Saudi Arabia executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who had encouraged protests opposing the Saudi government. In response to the execution, protesters in Tehran attacked the Saudi embassy, prompting Riyadh and some of its allies to cut or downgrade diplomatic relations. Many Sunni nations were already wary that the Iran nuclear deal will provide Tehran with billions of dollars in economic relief and could lead to improved ties with the West. Kerry flew to Saudi Arabia from Switzerland, where he participated in an annual World Economic Forum. Later, he will head to Laos, Cambodia and China. 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. Is Libya ready for a leading political figure who looks like Moammar Gadhafi? Ahmed Mohmamed Gaddaf al-Dam, the late dictators cousin, is seen by some observers as a man to watch. From exile in Cairo, he calls for the remnants of the ousted government to be included in a political settlement the United Nations is advocating. And he says that without them, a U.N.-brokered unity government struggling to get off the ground will fail and the turmoil engulfing the country will persist. Gaddaf al-Dam s regular appearances on Egyptian television outlining his proposals for ending the chaos in Libya, combating the threat of Islamic State militants and resolving the standoff between the countrys two rival parliaments, the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli and House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk, are resonating with powerful tribes in eastern and southern Libya, say observers. He is a moderate figure and influential with some of the tribes who see him almost as a head of state, said Hafed al-Ghwell, a Middle East analyst who formerly worked with the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Gaddaf al-Dam, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a youthful version of his late cousin, has been meeting regularly with tribal leaders along the Libyan-Egyptian border. Islamists reject his efforts His political work, though, elicits sneers and threats from the mainly Islamist politicians in the Libyan capital, some of whom were exiled during the Gadhafi dictatorship. They say they will never work with anyone from the ousted government. That hasnt prevented Gaddaf al-Dam from continuing to promote the idea of reconciliation between Libyan revolutionaries and the old guard. In a phone interview with VOA, the dictators onetime trusted international fixer insists he harbors no political ambitions. What we are trying to say is, Lets save our country, he said. We are not struggling to lead the country. We are struggling to keep our country in peace because it might not exist tomorrow." Since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of Moammar Gadhafi, most media attention has focused on the late dictators children when a possible revival of Gadhafi family fortunes are discussed. Three of the dictators sons were killed in the uprising and three sons are in jail two in Libya and one in Lebanon. Only the strongmans daughter, Ayesha, and one son, Muhammad, remain at liberty, in Oman. Increasingly it is Gaddaf al-Dam who is emerging as the Gadhafi clans standard bearer. He is the official spokesman of the Gadhafi tribe, a branch of the large Berber tribe known as Houara, whose members are spread across North Africa. He also is related to leaders of the Awlad Ali tribe, which dominates parts of Libyas Sahara, as well as western Egypt and eastern Libya. He enjoys close ties to Egypts ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi they trained at the same military academy in Egypt as well as Saudi royals. Gaddaff Al-Dam was a highly trusted member of the Moammar Gadhafi's inner circle. He was one of five top loyalists, including Abdullah al-Senussi, the dictators brother-in-law and intelligence chief, tasked with countering exiled dissidents overseas. They targeted specifically opposition groups like the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, which they were convinced had the backing of the CIA and British security services. Break with Gadhafi But Gaddaf al-Dam broke with Gadhafi in the first few days of the 2001 rebellion, disagreeing with the governments harsh repression of the uprising and fleeing to Cairo. I was not against him but I did not agree with the way the protesters were treated in the first few days of the uprising. I wanted a different way of dealing with it and the new generation needed to be talked to in a different way, he said. He said the popular protest movement did not at first amount to a revolution but that NATOs intervention, which he said was ill-advised, transformed it into one. Gaddaf al-Dam's critics maintain he broke with the dictator because he realized the regime was finished and he wanted to avoid the consequences of remaining by his side. Since Gadhafi's fall, Libya has splintered. In December, United Nations diplomats and Western leaders announced the creation of a Government of Naitonal Accord, but the House of Representatives still hasn't recognized it. Gaddaf al-Dam told VOA he supports the idea of the U.N.-brokered unity government but that his backing is conditional on the release of jailed Libyans. We have more than 30,000 people in jails for five years without even going before courts. We have 2 million refugees inside and outside Libya," he said. "Lets forget about the past and get together and solve the mess and stop the bloodshed we see every day. The priority, he argues, is to stop Islamic State militants from expanding their reach in the country. There are thousands of them now in the country and if it persists, then Libya will become like Somalia, there will be no peace in the Mediterranean or across North Africa, and we will have conflict for 20 years or more. Lets wake up and forget about the past. Lets build a new country, he said. While welcoming the new unity government, he harbors doubts it will prevail. He said the newly announced members of the government have no experience and I dont think they will be able to do anything for Libya. He said former government figures should be in the administration. Why not? It is their country too, he said. It isnt a sentiment embraced by Libyan revolutionaries. It is sailing season in Myanmar, a time when thousands of persecuted Rohingya Muslims have typically taken to the seas in pursuit of better lives abroad. But this year is different. Government crackdowns on human traffickers and a historic election have many people cautiously optimistic that the situation for the Rohingya may finally improve. In recent years, thousands of ostracized Rohingya Muslims have fled from beaches at Sittwe, capital of Myanmar's Rakhine state, on dangerous trips abroad. Some have fallen prey to traffickers. Despite the risks, many have chosen to flee rather than endure life in Myanmar, in restrictive camps, with little education, substandard medical care and mass unemployment. Many are despondent. I am planning to leave by boat because we are not able to suffer anymore," said refugee Muhammed Kasim. "We suffer the most here. For example, Hitler killed Jews. But not like this. This is killing people step by step, gradually committing genocide. By this time last year, an estimated 25,000 Rohingya had fled. This year, only about 1,000 have taken to the seas. Thats partly because of the crackdown on smugglers, which has left those who want to flee on their own. There are no smugglers now, so Im going to buy a boat," said refugee Abdul Malik. "It is better to sink into the water than to live here with no freedom of movement or rights. Situation 'is very bad' Noor Muhammed is also planning his voyage to Malaysia. All of his familys clothes and possessions must fit into a single rice sack. Living in this camp, the situation is very bad," he said. "We are living in one 90-square-foot room with eight family members my wife, my parents and also my children. So it is not enough. Its like our life is an animals life. Im afraid for the futures of my children. At least in another country well get basic human rights. I will be able to work there and support my family. Although Noor yearns to escape the camp, he is postponing the trip for now after the sweeping victory of Aung San Suu Kyis opposition party in the recent elections. Many Rohingya hope Suu Kyi's party will work to improve life in the camps, even though the Nobel laureate has been virtually silent on the plight of the Rohingya. For now, thousands like Noor are left in limbo, while they hope for signs of change. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is weighing a late entry into the 2016 U.S. presidential contest as an independent candidate. The 73-year-old Bloomberg served three terms as the mayor of the biggest U.S. city and, since leaving office two years ago, has unsuccessfully sought to win support for tighter gun control laws in the U.S. Bloomberg, with a net worth of more than $40 billion, is one of the wealthiest of Americans, his fortune in part stemming from the widespread use of what many in high finance and media circles know as the "Bloomberg machine," a vast and costly collection of financial data about companies and economies from across the globe. According to U.S. news accounts, Bloomberg has told associates he would be willing to spend $1 billion of his own fortune on a campaign, but is giving himself until early March to decide whether to run, after the first Democratic and Republican party presidential nominating contests are held in the coming weeks. Bloomberg's associates say he is particularly concerned about the domination of the Republican contest by another billionaire, flamboyant New York real estate mogul Donald Trump, someone Bloomberg has known for two decades, and also is worried about the outcome of the Democratic race. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the leading Democratic contender, according to national surveys. But the polling shows Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who calls himself an independent socialist Democrat, has edged ahead of her in the first two states set to vote next month, Iowa and New Hampshire. Bloomberg, once a Republican who later declared himself an independent, also floated the possibility of a presidential candidacy in 2008, but won little support and abandoned the effort. Pakistan arrested five suspects Saturday for the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda that left at least 20 people dead, 18 students and two teachers. Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, military spokesman Asim Bajwa said the suspects are charged with facilitating the assault because they provided the attackers with shelter, transport and weapons. Bajwa said that three other suspects, including two women, are still at large. They received training in Afghanistan and crossed over into Pakistan from the Torkham border between the two countries, he said. Mastermind Umar Mansoor Bajwa said that the Wednesday attack was masterminded by Umar Mansoor, a Pakistani Taliban militant based in Afghanistan who is also held responsible for the December 2014 massacre of 134 children in the city of Peshawar. On Friday Mansoor released video footage of the fighters he said carried out Wednesday's deadly assault and vowed more attacks on schools and universities in the future. Pakistan has killed and arrested hundreds of suspected militants under a major crackdown launched after the December 2014 school attack. Canadian police charged a 17-year-old male with four counts of first-degree murder following a pair of shootings Friday in a remote aboriginal community in northern Saskatchewan. The suspect was not identified, and police said Saturday that they had not determined a motive for the attacks. A police spokesman said the youth also faced seven counts of attempted murder for shootings at a home and at a high school in the town of La Loche. The teen is expected to appear in court in the coming days. Two of the dead were identified as teachers Marie Janvier and Adam Wood. Two brothers, ages 17 and 13, were also killed, apparently at the nearby home. Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shootings were the worst tragedy ever to hit the community. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the shootings "every parent's worst nightmare." In 2014, a teacher voiced concern about an unidentified student at the La Loche school. She said the student had tried to stab her, and she complained when he was placed back in her classroom after serving a 10-month jail term. In a separate incident, she said, another student tried to attack her at home. It was not immediately clear whether either the attackers or the victim in the 2014 incidents were connected to Friday's violence. Syrian opposition said Saturday that it is impossible to start negotiations with the government before the implementation of U.N. resolutions on humanitarian issues. A joint statement signed by 45 opposition and rebel groups said that while they support a political process, they hold Syrian government and Russia responsible for any failure of peace talks to end the country's civil war, due to their ongoing crimes. Peace talks at risk The latest round of Syria peace talks are scheduled to begin on Monday in Geneva. However, the talks are at risk of being delayed partly because of a dispute over who should be in the opposition delegation. Opposition groups have denounced Russia for dictating conditions for their participation in the Geneva talks. They say will not take part in talks while Syrians die from blockades and Russian and government airstrikes. Moscow is a key ally of the Syrian government and has been carrying out airstrikes against insurgents since Sept. 30. Biden in Turkey U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said after meeting with Turkeys Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Syria should the Syrian government and rebels fail to reach a political settlement. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday he was confident the Syria peace talks would proceed. Kerry made his comments after holding talks with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Saudi Arabia. Five people were dead and at least two were critically wounded Friday in connection with a shooting at a Canadian high school in the western plains province of Saskatchewan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday evening. A male suspect was custody, according to Trudeau, who spoke from the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland. He did not give a motivation for the attack. "This is every parent's worst nightmare,'' Trudeau said. Trudeau and Canadian police said the shooting occurred in the high school of a remote community called La Loche, a town of 3,000 people located 600 kilometers north of Saskatoon. Officers seized a gun afterward. It was unclear how many victims died at the school. Kevin Janvier, La Loche's acting mayor, told the Canadian Press that the incident apparently started at the suspect's home. "I'm not 100 percent sure what's actually happened, but it started at home and ended at the school," Janvier said. La Loche police wouldn't release any details. The school was locked down afterward, and its Facebook page said it would remain closed until the Royal Canadian Mounted Police resolved the matter. The public was asked to stay away. Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, said the shooting was the worst tragedy to ever hit the community. "It's not something you ever imagine happening here. The whole community, province and country has been affected, and we will all go into mourning,'' he said. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has stricter gun laws than the United States. With five dead, La Loche would be the country's worst school shooting since 14 college students were killed at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989. In 2014, a teacher expressed concern about violence at the La Loche school, noting that a student who had tried to stab her was put back in her classroom after serving his sentence, and another attacked her at her home. "That student got 10 months," Janice Wilson told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to the student who had tried to stab her in class. "And when he was released, he was returned to the school and was put in my classroom." Among Canada's provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of police-reported family violence in 2014, double the national rate of 243 incidents per 100,000 people, according to a Statistics Canada report Thursday. The U.N. Security Council departed Africa on Saturday, considering its options to help quell political violence in Burundi. Council members had a disappointing meeting with President Pierre Nkurunziza on Friday, in which he showed no sign of softening his rejection of an African Union peacekeeping force or engaging in a substantive and inclusive dialogue with the opposition. The African Union has to work through what its next move is, now that the force it authorized is rejected, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told reporters after meeting with the AU Peace and Security Council for more than two hours Saturday here in Ethiopias capital. African heads of state will hold their annual summit next week, and diplomats said they would be watching to see what comes out of the gathering. AU must decide They need to decide how to respond to the Burundian block of the deployment of the mission, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said of the African leaders, and really work out what their input will be into the mediation that will ensure the dialogue happens. Last month the African Union announced it would deploy a 5,000-strong prevention and protection force to Burundi, in response to election-related violence that has killed at least 439 people since April and caused 220,000 others to flee the country amid growing human rights violations. Nkurunziza has rejected the AU proposal, however, and the peacekeeping plan is stalled. The AU also authorized sending 100 human-rights observers to Burundi, but so far only 10 have arrived in Bujumbura, the capital. Members of the rights team are camped out in a hotel, unable to begin work because a memorandum of understanding with the government has not yet been agreed. As reports of abuses grow, so do doubts that the contingent is adequate in size to do its work effectively. In July, the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to mediate an inclusive dialogue between the Burundian government and opposition. The mediation obviously is at the center of what the international community can do to put end to this crisis, said Frances deputy U.N. Ambassador Alexis Lamek. Because without mediation there will be no political process, there will be no inclusive and unconditional dialogue. No progress on dialogue Some diplomats have expressed frustration with Musevenis lack of progress in getting the parties to the table, in part because he is preoccupied with his own re-election campaign. Burundis political crisis began in April, when President Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term despite a constitutional limit of two terms for the head of state. Critics said Nkurunziza, a former Hutu rebel, also was violating the peace agreement that ended 12 years of civil war between Burundis Hutu majority and its Tutsi minority. Violent clashes soon erupted between protesters and forces loyal to the ruling party. A failed coup d'etat escalated the violence in May, as large numbers of Burundians left the country. Nkurunziza carried on with his re-election plan and won what was described as a landslide victory in July, but the violence has continued. The U.N. secretary-general has appointed a special adviser on Burundi, Jamal Benomar, and with the councils approval he has been assembling a team to expand the U.N.s political presence in Bujumbura. UN options This weeks two-day visit is the second time the Security Council has come to see the situation in Burundi in less than a year, a clear indication of its growing concern. As the envoys head back to New York, they will consider the councils options in light of what they have seen and heard in their meetings with the president, political parties, civil society, religious leaders and independent media. Some council members have expressed support for the proposed AU force, hoping it can help stabilize the country and foster a climate for dialogue. Others, like Russias deputy ambassador Petr Iliichev, say violent clashes have taken place only in three or four neighborhoods in the capital, making a police force a good option. If we have trainers that are going to upgrade not only the skills of policemen and the perception of whats required human rights, due process then we are going to improve the situation, he said. Egyptian ambassador Amr Aboulatta recommends an incremental approach. You begin step by step: begin by observers, and then police force and then full force, he said. Whatever the Councils ultimate decision, it could have repercussions, not only for Burundi but for the wider region. As Defense Secretary Ash Carter calls for continued U.S. "boots on the ground" in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State (IS) group, the public is still trying to figure out the current role of U.S. troops deployed there. The United States currently has about 3,550 service members in Iraq, with about 2,750 of those aiding Iraqi security forces as trainers, advisers or support staff, according to U.S. Central Command data released to VOA. Some 100 of these are special forces, according to defense officials. There are also 50 U.S. special operations forces in Syria. The front lines Last week, Carter told service members at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, that U.S. special operators have unique capabilities, from intelligence gathering to "the ability to provide advice and assistance, or accompany local forces to the front lines." Despite assertions from the Obama administration that the U.S. is "not in a combat role" in Iraq and Syria, some officials appear mixed as to whether special forces are on the front lines in the war against the Islamic State. "The SOF [special operations forces] in Syria are going to have to get to the front lines to get the best situational awareness of what's there," a U.S. official who wished to remain anonymous told VOA. "To truly understand do they need more weapons? Do they need more ammunition? Who are the right partners? They've got to go out there and see it for themselves," he added. Another U.S. official told VOA that "the guys in Syria aren't hanging out on a base," but he wasn't aware of them going to the front lines. They were "advising and assisting" local fighters, he said. But the so-called advise-and-assist role sometimes glosses over what's really going on with special forces, according to Michael Weiss, the author of the book ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror. "I don't think special forces are sent in to advise anything. They're sent in to kill people, to offer backup to somewhat reliable and trustworthy militant proxies," Weiss told VOA. Even if the military wanted to discuss the activities of the approximately 7,500 special operations forces deployed to at least 85 countries on any given week, the work done by those elite teams is often shielded from the public. "Most of it is classified," said Ken McGraw, the spokesman for U.S. Special Operations Command. Incredibly important' in fighting IS One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told VOA that the role of the approximately 150 U.S. special forces in Iraq and Syria is "incredibly important to the fight" against IS militants. Carter and others have said publicly that special forces soldiers have taken part and will continue to take part in action targeting IS. Colonel Steve Warren, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, said in December, "Make no mistake about it, these forces, along with their Iraqi partners will be conducting raids." Special forces conducted at least two raids in Syria: a failed rescue attempt and the raid in eastern Syria last May that killed IS commander Abu Sayyaf. They also participated in an October raid in Hawijah, Iraq, that freed 70 hostages held by IS. A Delta Force soldier, 39-year-old Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler, was killed during that mission. The May 2015 raid on Abu Sayyaf also provided a treasure trove of intelligence materials that led to several operations targeting Islamic State's financial network. Airstrips and eyewitnesses Recent imagery and eyewitness accounts in Syria and Iraq appear to support increased involvement by U.S. special forces. According to the global intelligence company Stratfor, low-resolution satellite imagery taken December 28, 2015, shows construction to extend the runway at an airfield in Syria's al-Hasaka province. The extension would allow the airfield to accommodate larger aircraft. And Peshmerga sources in Iraq interviewed by The Guardian said the U.S. has been involved in a several front-line fights with IS fighters. As The Guardian reports: * On April 20, U.S. forces played a role in an operation to retake Dawus al Aloka village southwest of Kirkuk, in which they fired about 47 mortars at Isis positions. * They were also involved in two attempts to retake the villages of Wastana and Saddam settlement southwest of Kirkuk on June 11 and August 26. * On September 11, special forces troops participated in the successful operation to retake Wastana. The Pentagon denied involvement in these fights, but an increase in special operations assistance to fighters and special forces raids could play into the hand of a president who might be willing to take more risks his last year in office than he took in the first 18 months of the campaign against IS, according to Weiss. "For a president who doesn't want to deploy American troops, but who does fancy what we call 'dirty war' or covert ops such as the Abbottabad raid on Osama bin Laden, this makes perfect sense," Weiss said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated support for ally Saudi Arabia as he finished a visit to the country Sunday, saying the two nations have as strong a friendship as ever. Kerry said nothing has changed as a result of the agreement the U.S. and five other world powers made with Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting billions of dollars in sanctions. His comments were similar to ones he made Saturday as he met with Saudi and other Gulf officials in Riyadh. The meetings in Riyadh come on the heels of a flurry of Iran-related activity, including implementation of the nuclear deal, Tehrans temporary detention and release of 10 U.S. sailors, and a negotiated swap that resulted in freedom for four Americans jailed in Iran. A fifth American was released by Tehran around the same time, last week. In spite of these developments, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said, I dont see a coming together of the United States and Iran. Jubeir commented as he and Kerry sat side-by-side in a Saturday news conference. I dont believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is, he added. WATCH: Joint news conference of Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir Although implementation has brought Iran relief from nuclear-related sanctions, it is still under U.S. penalties for activities including human rights violations and support of terrorist groups. Also, shortly after implementation of the nuclear deal, Washington imposed new sanctions on Irans ballistic missile program. Sanctions But some say the sanctions relief from implementation that, according to U.S. estimates, gives Tehran direct access to at least $55 billion in previously frozen assets, could empower Iran. Iranians feel confident that they are being brought back into the international community and that their role in the region and the world will be better recognizes, particularly by the U.S. and Europe, said Atlantic Council Middle East analyst Nabeel Khoury. This bothers Saudi Arabia because they dont trust Iran, he said. In an interview with CNN, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed a similar sentiment. We believe that Iran and Saudi Arabia can be two important players who can accommodate each other, in the region, he said. But he added, Unfortunately, the Saudis have had the illusion that backed by their Western allies, they could push Iran out of the equation in the region. Tensions heightened between Saudi Arabia, the dominant Sunni country in the region, and Shiite-led Iran following this months Saudi execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shiite cleric. Protesters responded by storming Saudi missions in Tehran a move that prompted Saudi Arabia to cut ties with Iran. Saudi Arabia may have been trying to send out a broader message by executing the cleric, said Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle Eastern studies scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. We [the United States] have made it worse, said Schanzer. The Saudis feel less secure and now they are taking matters into their own hands, he said. In a Friday briefing, a senior State Department official said the U.S. understands the Saudi anger over the attack on their facilities in Iran. Regional tensions The official said lessening tensions is an important objective for the U.S. and for the region. There has been ongoing concern that tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia could hamper progress on other regional issues of concern for the U.S., such as the crisis in Syria. The U.S., Saudi Arabia and Iran are part of the International Syria Support Group, which is backing next weeks planned launch of talks on a political transition in Syria. In his Saturday news conference with the Saudi foreign minister, Kerry indicated there was a way forward for the U.S. and its Gulf allies, in spite of lingering concerns about Iran. The relationship between the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Saudi Arabia, is built on mutual interest, and mutual defense, said Kerry. He added, there was no doubt among GCC countries that the U.S. would stand with them against any external threat and defend them, if necessary. The presidential contenders from both major U.S. political parties are making a last-minute push for votes in Iowa in advance of the February 1 party caucuses. And its clear the main battle lines are now drawn in both party races national frontrunner Donald Trump versus Texas Senator Ted Cruz on the Republican side and frontrunner Hillary Clinton in a much tighter than expected matchup with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders among Democrats. In the Republican race, Trump has intensified his attacks on Cruz and is wielding the endorsement of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a major advantage as the Iowa race moves into the final stage. Will Palin make a difference? Trump remains locked in a tight race with Cruz and Trump hopes the endorsement from Palin will give him an edge with conservative voters. This is a woman who, from day one, I said if I ever do this I have to get her support. She feels it and she understands it better than anybody, Trump told cheering supporters in Ames, Iowa, during a joint appearance with the former Alaska governor. Palin remains influential with Tea Party activists in Iowa and elsewhere and many analysts saw her decision to side with Trump as a blow to the Cruz campaign. Palin helped Cruz win his Senate race in Texas in 2012 but decided to back Trump in this years presidential race. He is beholden to no one but we the people. How refreshing! He is perfectly positioned to let you make America great again, Palin said to cheers at the rally in Ames. Palins star within the party, however, has faded a bit in recent years. Her decision to quit the Alaska governors job early and focus on building up her career as a hybrid political pundit-celebrity has made her more of a conservative pop icon than someone who has broad political influence within the Republican Party. Trump Surges to Lead in Iowa The latest CNN-ORC poll has Trump ahead of Cruz in Iowa now by a margin of 37 to 26 percent, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio in third place with 14 percent. Previous polls had Cruz ahead in Iowa and some analysts now wonder if the Palin endorsement and Trumps intensified attacks on Cruz are taking a toll. The Trump campaign has issued a new attack ad directed at Cruz and accuses him of "flip-flopping" on the key issue of immigration. Trump has made stopping illegal immigration the core of his campaign pitch. For his part, Cruz remains focused on winning over evangelical voters, a key constituency in Iowa that reliably turns out to take part in the Republican caucus votes every four years. People are waking up. There is an awakening that is powerful, that is sweeping the country, Cruz told supporters during a recent meet-and-greet event in Iowa. And whats happening is very simple. The spirit of freedom is sweeping America, so Im thrilled to be here with you today. The battle for Iowa Cruz supporters insist they are better organized on the ground than the Trump campaign. Trump has dominated the debate in the Republican race since last August but some experts say it remains an open question as to whether the Trump supporters, who seem so enthusiastic at his rallies, will actually take the time to register to vote and show up on caucus night. Some voters will say, Look, I like Donald Trump, but I really want a candidate who can win, who can beat Hillary Clinton. So those types of considerations become much more apparent for voters as they get closer to their actual vote, said John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington. Party divisions could intensify Some establishment Republicans seem to be trying to become comfortable with the notion that Trump could become the party nominee. Part of that stems from a deep distrust of Cruz among Republican congressional leaders and establishment worries that Cruz at the head of the GOP ticket could cost them control of the Senate in November. Diehard conservative groups are fighting back and raising questions about whether Trump is a committed conservative or whether he would transform himself into a moderate once he wins the nomination. The conservative National Review magazine, founded by iconic conservative William F. Buckley, is devoting a special issue aimed at stopping Trump with Against Trump on the cover. This battle is just beginning. Establishment contenders still struggling After Rubio in Iowa, the rest of the so-called establishment field is lagging well behind, including former Florida governor Jeb Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich. Bush continues to take shots at Trump with the hope of coalescing the support of those opposed to Trump becoming the nominee. Someone who proposes a 45 percent tariff across the board on China? That is not a serious proposal. Its basically the advocacy of a global depression, Bush said this past week during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Bush, Rubio, Christie and Kasich have set their sights on what they see as the bigger battle among the Republican establishment contenders in the New Hampshire primary on February 9; but, they face two major challenges. Trump still has a big lead in New Hampshire and the four establishment challengers are running ads targeting each other, not Trump. Sanders surges in Iowa as Clinton supporters fret The Democratic race in Iowa is less crowded but no less intense. Hillary Clinton had built up a big lead in Iowa months ago over Bernie Sanders; but, the latest CNN-ORC poll shows Sanders pulling into a lead by 51 to 43 percent over Clinton. Other recent polls have shown the race tightening but Clinton still holding to a slight lead. Clinton has stepped up her attacks on Sanders, something the campaign avoided for months. In a new ad, Clinton touts her service as secretary of state and her experience in dealing with international affairs. Sanders has a new ad out as well, a feel-good inspirational call to action for the progressive Democrats around the country who have flocked to Sanders rallies, especially younger voters. Who would be stronger against Republicans? Clinton now argues she is the more practical candidate, could work well with Republicans in Congress and that Sanders plans for wider health care coverage would lead to huge tax increases for the middle class. Weve got to get out of the partisanship into statesmanship, Clinton told supporters at a recent rally in Toledo, Ohio. We have to look for opportunities to work with each other in order to give all of you the government you deserve to have, a government that is accountable to you! Sanders has been busy trying to convince skeptical Democrats that he could win a national election against a Republican candidate even with his own self-described label of a Democratic socialist. If you want somebody who is going to beat Donald Trump, who is going to beat the other Republicans, I think Bernie Sanders is that candidate, Sanders told a recent rally in Iowa. Younger voters playing key role The key for Sanders is building enthusiasm within the liberal base of the Democratic Party, especially among younger voters. Sanders has also struck a chord with his focus on battling income inequality and reining in what he calls the billionaire class. Average people have declining incomes. Huge growth in inequality. Billionaires buying influence. And so they want change and some of that has to do with reining in the way corporate money has influenced government and Bernie Sanders has given voice to that, said Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg in an interview with VOAs Cindy Saine. With the Iowa vote only days away, it appears that Republican Trump and Democrat Sanders have the momentum, perhaps putting an exclamation point on what has been an unpredictable and chaotic presidential election cycle. There seems to be an extraordinary amount of anger in the United States, both on the left and on the right and maybe even in the center and its a little disconcerting, said political analyst Stan Collender. I dont think anyone saw this coming or anyone predicted it. In Iowa, the time for campaigning is growing short. The voters are about to have their say and it just might turn out to be something that no one could have predicted just six months ago. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has released the schedule of dates of nominations, including for those running in the presidential poll, in preparation for the country's August 11 general election. The ECZ also announced it has so far registered more than 1.5 million prospective voters in an ongoing bid to compile a new voter list to be used for the presidential, parliamentary and local elections. The ECZ's director of elections, Priscilla Isaac, says the commission has also announced the date for official campaigning to give all candidates and political parties adequate time to prepare for the poll. We have over 1.5 million, which is good," she said. "It is about 96 percent of our target of 1.7 million new registrations. ... It is our intention to go back to do another 14 days mid-February and then close the voter registration, both in terms of the mobile and at district centers by February 29, so that we can now start the cleaning of the register to enable us to produce the provisional voters roll for inspection. "Once we do the inspection and do the final cleanup of the register, we expect to certify the final voters register for this years election on the 31st of July. Isaac says the ECZ expects the cooperation of voters. Dissolution of parliament Zambias new constitution requires that parliament should be dissolved 90 days before elections are held. We will start nominations for the mayors and the council chairperson on the 28th of June," Isaac said. "And then the following day ... we will have nominations for national assembly elections thats for members of parliament and then for councilors. Nominations for the presidential election will run concurrently with these sets of nominations." The commission has set the 16th of May as the official start of this years elections, and it will close a day before the election on the 10th of August," she said. "This period fits in with the dissolution of parliament. "It is our estimation that by the 16th of May, parliament would have been dissolved. It makes it slightly easy to manage the election because then you dont have any ministers in office and so forth." The electoral commission also announced that all candidates need to ensure their school certificates are authenticated by the Examinations Council of Zambia, as required by the constitution. Zimbabwe's state run newspaper the Herald, reported the arrival of President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, after a more than month long vacation. The nation has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 91-year-old leader, following unsubstantiated reports earlier in the month that he had had a heart attack and was in serious condition. The paper offered a picture of the country's first couple, showing President Mugabe walking alongside his wife, and chatting with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had been acting during part of his absence. Earlier, Mnangagwa welcomed President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who is on a three-day working visit to the country. According to the Herald, President Mbasogo is expected to consult President Mugabe ahead of the 26th African Union General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President Mugabe is the current chair of the AU body, but will relinquish the chairmanship at the next gathering. Gender activists continue praising Zimbabwes Constitutional Court for outlawing child marriages. They say the government and stakeholders should ensure that the court ruling is implemented. One of the activists, Angela Machonesa of Plan International said outreach programs will play a critical role in implementing the court order. We understand that causes of child marriage are deeply entrenched in our social norms attitudes and practices. Therefore we want to urge government, civic society organizations, the media and the church to collectively engage in public education so that they raise awareness at grassroots level, at household level and communities and also to bring young people on board. There is power to peer education among the youth and let the girls speak about it and be role models to each other. She noted that there was also need to engage traditional leaders and members of the Apostolic Faith, who normally engage in child marriages, in order to concientize them about the dangers of such marriages. The vapostori (members of the Apostolic Faith) in as much as this issues affects them and they have been perpetuating child marriages as far as research shows, we have been engaging the vapostori and most of them welcome the social programs that we have been having but we still need to intensify bringing them on board. And it doesnt stop at engaging them we also need to give them enough material to read, you know, and get the best information that can allow them, especially leaders, go back to the church, women and the fathers and bishops and explain to them in layman language (the court ruling). Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court outlawed child marriages decreeing that any person who intends to get married should be at least 18 years of age. The ruling followed an application by human rights lawyers who wanted legal age of marriage be moved to 18 for both men and women. The case was filed by former Finance Minister and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tendai Biti, and two women, Ruvimbo Tsopodwa and Loveness Mudzuru. Following the courts ruling, Biti, who is also a lawyer, described the judgment as an important milestone in the protection of women and childrens rights. The court has passed what I can only describe as a revolutionary judgment for women and for girl children; the declaration that whether at customary law, whether in terms of religious rights or other cultural practices no person below the age of 18, man or woman, can get married. I think its an amazing judgement. I am pleased to be part of this history. We accept many different kinds of announcements. Just click on the button below and submit a form. Go to forms L-R: Writers Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, Sam Esmail, Adam Rapp, Dan Lyons, and Kim Caramele. Photo: Gary Gershoff/WireImages/Getty Images This years Writers Guild Awards television nominees include Inside Amy Schumers Kim Caramele, Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields of The Americans, and Sam Esmail, whose show, Mr. Robot, became the breakout hit of 2015. The writers gathered at the New York Institute of Technology auditorium Wednesday night for an hour-plus conversation that covered how Keri Russell was cast in The Americans, and why Esmails decision to direct all ten episodes of Mr. Robots second season is keeping him up at night. Keri Russell was cast on a hunch. Discussion of casting strategies featured prominently throughout the panel, included this tidbit of how Keri Russell was hired to star as Elizabeth Jennings in The Americans. According to Weisberg: I was in a room with John Landgraf, the president of [FX] and five other people, and a list of the 100 best-known television and some film actresses in Hollywood, who were in a certain age range. Everyone was studying the list, and John went, Keri Russell. Thats how [she was cast]. The reason? John had this intuition that she had played such a 100 percent different type, says Weisberg, [and] that it would be incredibly fascinating and rich to have her move in an entirely different direction. Sometimes actors talk in gibberish when asked to audition a scene in Russian. Fields revealed that when they cast for The Americans, the actors do the audition scenes in both Russian and English. Caramele asked Weisberg and Fields whether any actors spoke gibberish to fake their way onto the show. The funny thing is, they try, said Fields. But we have a translator that, when someone gets close, their auditions get sent out to the translator for vetting, and sometimes the translator will say, Ha-ha no. Not remotely. Writing and directing is really hard. Toward the end of 2015, it was announced that Esmail, along with helping write season two of Mr. Robot, would direct all ten episodes. While he is still committed to that trajectory, the prospect has been giving him nightmares. I get up at six, and I go to bed at two a.m., and I am a nervous wreck the whole day, he said. I am a control freak on set, but I am less so in the writers room. I actually like to hide there, because it is the most fun place. We are yelling at each other, and telling each other to fuck ourselves, but nothing is personal. Its all constructive. He continued, On set, it is execution time. It is about making it what you have on the page all those ideas you fought so hard for in the room really come to life. And that is where I get hands-on. He was asked by the panels moderator what will happen this year when he begins to direct scripts he also wrote. I had great directors in the first season, but they probably hate me, he said. Which is one of the reasons that drove me to direct all the episodes. I wanted to make it easy on [the directors], [and] harder on me. Everything is derivative. Several comments elicited applause throughout the evening, the loudest following Esmails defense of the numerous influences that helped shape Elliot Alderson and Evil Corp. I think there is a way to be inspired without being derivative, he said, adding it doesnt matter that he ripped off American Psycho, Dexter, Clockwork Orange, and Fight Club. The landscape is pretty derivative, he said. Everything is a remake of a sequel of an adaptation that is a prequel. As much as I enjoyed watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, its literally beat-for-beat A New Hope. There is no bones about it. And now everybody is like, This is amazing and the most original [and] best film. Im like, Okay, I guess it works now. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Egyptians to take care of the security, stability and the prosperity of their country, in a Saturday speech marking Egypt's upcoming National Police Day. "We have paid a lot for the security and stability that we currently live in, so I ask all Egyptians for the sake of the martyrs and the blood to take care of their country," said the president, in an address to an audience that included the families of slain police personnel at Cairo's Police Academy. "It is an extremely hard day on me," El-Sisi began. He asked the families of the dead police personnel to stand next to him while he gave his speech, in order for Egyptians to see them. Among those included were the families of 40 police personnel who were killed in militant attacks in 2015. National Police Day, established by former president Hosni Mubarak, is celebrated on 25 January. Protests against police violence on the day in 2011 led to that year's revolution and the ouster of Mubarak. "I have asked for your support and authorisation to combat terrorism 24/7. We have lost a lot of souls and blood in order to establish the current security and stability that we live in, said El-Sisi. We will never forget them and we will never forget to avenge them," he added. During his speech, El-Sisi praised the police's efforts. "Security and stability have helped us to work in a secured environment so that we can prosper, invest and encourage tourism, decrease unemployment rates, and allow all productive sectors to flourish," he said. The president said that the role of police as well as that of the military had multiplied during the recent past, in order to secure Egyptian borders. He has also praised the work of policewomen in society, in particular in combating an alien phenomenon in our country, a veiled reference to sexual harassment. Warning to Tunisians Turning to regional affairs, El-Sisi spoke about the situation in Tunisia. On Friday, Tunisia declared a nationwide curfew after four days of protests and rioting over jobs and economic conditions, the worst unrest since the revolution five years ago that toppled autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, according to AFP. At least 19 people were arrested in the capital in connection with the unrest, a security official said. "I do not mean to interfere in the internal affairs of our neighbouring country Tunisia, but I call on all Tunisians to take care of their country," El-Sisi said. He said that the economic situation all over the world is deteriorating and that no nation could endure any more unrest. Benefits of civil service law Speaking about the civil service law, which the country's newly convened parliament rejected on Wednesday in a 468-332 vote, the president expressed his displeasure. He said he didn't want to interfere in parliamentary affairs but urged MPs to further study the issue for the sake of future generations. The law, which was signed by Egypt's cabinet in November 2015, has met with widespread criticism by many state employees, labour unions and other labour rights activists, who say the legislation would destroy the long held rights such as job security, and could also push many thousands of the six million government workers out of work. El-Sisi cited three main points concerning the law. Firstly, that the state has up to seven million workers, whereas there may be a need for only one million; however, they will keep all workers after the law is passed. Secondly, he stressed that wages will not decrease by any means, and thirdly, that any raises in salaries will be given to those owed them. The law is likely to be returned to the parliamentary committee on labour issues for further review and modifications before returning to the floor of the house again. Search Keywords: Short link: By letting the good times roll, the Waco area created a lot of jobs in December, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday. The number of people working in the leisure and hospitality category that includes lodging and restaurants reached about 12,000 last month, a sizable increase from the 11,100 employed in that sector in December of last year, according to the TWC and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes McLennan and Falls counties, saw its jobless rate dip to 3.8 percent in December. The number of McLennan and Falls county residents with jobs, either inside their counties or outside, increased from 112,700 to 113,700 over the past 12 months. The MSAs unemployment rate is down from 4.1 percent in November and 4 percent in December of last year. Statewide, Texas employers expanded their payrolls with the addition of 24,900 seasonally adjusted jobs, marking the 10th month of increases in 2015. Texas finished 2015 on a strong note in December, with employers adding 166,900 jobs over the year across a diverse range of industries, TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar said. Our state offers many advantages to employers who choose to do business in Texas, and we are pleased employers continue to create opportunities for Texas workers. The states seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased slightly to 4.7 percent in December, up from 4.6 percent in November. Figures released by the TWC for metropolitan areas such as Waco are not seasonally adjusted. The Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded the months lowest jobless rate among Texas MSAs at 2.9 percent. That was followed by Austin-Round Rock and Lubbock, each with rates of 3.1 percent in December. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA had the highest jobless rate in the state at 7.8 percent. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on Friday said Texas faced challenges in the area of job growth in 2015, in part due to layoffs in the oil patch. Senior economist Keith R. Phillips said jobs grew at an annualized pace of 1.4 percent after growing 3.6 percent in 2014. Despite a sharp fall in oil prices in November and December, the Texas economy continued to add jobs at a modest pace in December, Phillips said in a statement the Federal Reserve Bank released. Overall, 2015 was testament to the diversity of the states economy. Incorporating Decembers employment data, the Federal Reserve is forecasting a jobs growth rate of 1.1 percent in 2016, with declining oil prices and the impact they could have on the states economy still creating concern. This is a downward revision from the 1.4 percent forecast the bank released earlier in January. Karr Ingham, an Amarillo-based economist who prepares a monthly economic snapshot of McLennan County, said this week that plummeting oil prices may result in 20,000 additional oil field-related jobs losses in Texas by the middle of the year, double what Ingham had predicted earlier. Ingham, who also works for the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, originally predicted 10,000 jobs would be lost by mid-year. But crude crashed to about $26 a barrel Wednesday, and world economic factors began to align in such a way that economists are predicting a long-standing oil glut. Not pretty at all On Friday, oil prices spiked 9 percent the biggest daily jump since August to close at $32.19 a barrel. But most economists viewed this as temporary relief. It is not pretty at all, Ingham said, expressing his view of the impact dropping prices will have on Texas economy. It would not have been pretty if oil prices had stabilized at $30. Now we have worse than that. For the first half of 2016, we will continue to suffer job losses in the industry, and 10,000 per quarter is not unthinkable. Waco is not part of the oil patch, but some economists have said ripples will make their way across the state, including through Central Texas. That in mind, Ingham said job losses in the oil and gas fields may reach 80,000 for the period between January 2015 and mid-2016. Wacos 3.8 percent unemployment rate in December was its lowest since it hit 3.7 percent in April 2015. In the past year, it has seen 100 jobs added in construction, 600 jobs added in professional and business services, 100 jobs added in education and health services, 900 jobs added in leisure and hospitality, and 200 jobs added in the category of other services. Waco has suffered 200 job losses in manufacturing and 700 job losses in the trade, transportation and utilities category. The figures released Friday reflect Wacos strong economy, said Kris Collins, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. Collins said she could see a strong possibility that workers losing their jobs in the oil patch would pursue work in Waco and Central Texas. That could benefit both employers and employees, she said, as local companies get access to skilled workers searching for employment. The trend also could enhance Wacos image in the eyes of prospective industry considering Waco, as it could show it has a workforce to meet demand. ----- Statewide December jobless rates in Texas cities, with November rates in parentheses: Abilene, 3.5 (3.9) Amarillo, 2.9 (3.2) Austin-Round Rock, 3.1 (3.3) Bryan-College Station, 3.3 (3.5) Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 3.7 (4.0) Killeen-Temple, 4.4 (4.8) Lubbock, 3.1 (3.4) Midland, 3.3 (3.5) San Antonio-New Braunfels, 3.5 (3.8) Tyler, 4.5 (4.6) Waco, 3.8 (4.1) Wichita Falls, 4.3 (4.6) Source: Texas Workforce Commission Waco school officials decided to delay a decision on redrawing attendance zones for three elementary schools until they get more information on the possibility of a large group of students moving and making the change unnecessary. The Waco Independent School District board of trustees requested additional information on homeless family movement patterns during its meeting Thursday. Almost 110 homeless students attend Crestview Elementary, 14 percent of the 765 students enrolled at the campus. Its full capacity is 790 students, and being at 97 percent of capacity has stretched the schools resources. Crestview Principal Kathy Densmore explained to trustees Thursday that state law prohibits her from refusing admittance to any homeless child regardless of how full the campus is. Students have gravitated to Crestview because displaced families often attend the same school because they know each other and share resources, she said. Administrators are considering trying to relieve the pressure of overcrowding in some of Crestviews classrooms by trimming its attendance zone and shifting about 70 students to Mountainview Elementary School and Parkdale Elementary School. Densmore said many of the small groups for students who need intervention for dyslexia or speech therapy are meeting in storage rooms. The cafeteria and library also become strained when the campus reaches capacity, she said. State waivers Crestview applied for five state waivers during the past six months that allow more than 22 students in a class. Yolanda Williams, Waco ISD assistant superintendent of elementary schools, said a campus must apply for a waiver if a classroom has more than 22 students for 30 days. But, she said, that doesnt mean that the class stays that large throughout the year. Williams also said no Crestview classroom has more than 23 students and that enrollment doesnt have a great influence on state testing outcomes. The district is recommending the line adjustments only because of a lack of space, she said. You get a quality education in each of the classrooms, Williams said. Texas Education Agency records show that Crestview didnt pass standards last year. At the campus, 48 percent of students passed the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. In comparison, 76 percent of Mountainview Elementarys student population passed the STAAR exams, and 72 percent of Parkdale Elementary students passed. Superintendent Bonny Cain said state test scores were not taken into consideration when looking at the district lines. But trustees seemed hesitant to redraw lines without more information on typical homeless family movement patterns. Trustee Angela Tekell said she didnt want to redraw lines if the homeless population suddenly decided to attend another school next year, leaving gaps at Crestview. She requested additional data on homeless mobility trends throughout the state that could be used for comparison. Cain said she is open to looking at other options to relieve the overcrowding at Crestview, including other elementary campuses and portable buildings that would provide more cafeteria and library space. I have total confidence in Crestview, Cain said. We dont like rezoning. McLennan County commissioners were focusing this week on resolving Americans with Disabilities Act violations at voting centers as they paid another $25,000 toward the unknown cost of resolving ADA violations the U.S. Department of Justice found at county facilities. Waco attorney Mike Dixon, who represents McLennan County and its officeholders, updated county leaders on the detailed and itemized repair list that must be completed by deadlines listed in a settlement agreement between the county and the Department of Justice. Dixon said it appears that the more than 350 violations outlined will require outside contractors, though staff continues to look for ways work can be done in-house. Commissioners wrote another check this week in working toward meeting the requirements of the 145-page settlement agreement, which county leaders have said has no total price tag yet for work. The county paid almost $25,000 to The Wallace Group Inc. As part of the settlement, the county has to retain an independent licensed architect to provide officials with reviews, certifications and other architectural services. The Wallace Group will be paid monthly by the county for work done on a hourly basis. This is a hard project for an architect to get their arms around because you have multiple facilities, multiple things that have to be done, that also have multiple different timelines, Dixon told commissioners. Initially just to break this down into chunks that make sense to try to put into projects to either bid or do in house, together is a daunting undertaking. The county has two years from the date of the agreement to complete the bulk of the work more than 200 items. The Department of Justice surveyed county properties in 2011 and, by 2014, presented its report back to county leaders, who then negotiated the final settlement by the end of last year. The final agreement started the clock to complete work. The settlement includes polling locations used by the county. The county only owns one of the voting centers, the Records Building. The polling centers on private property still have to comply with the ADA and were included in the Department of Justices survey in 2011. They are providing it to the county as a civic contribution. Its not something they have to do, Dixon said. They are doing it out of their support of the community. Were very sensitive to that and want to help. Dixon said the county relies on volunteer agencies to offer their space and time to have convenient polling locations throughout the county. With violations at those locations, the county will have to coordinate with the owners to get work completed. Without their gracious assistance it would be difficult to hold elections, Dixon said. Violations at polling locations include problems with physical accessibility, including how steep slopes are, the size of door openings and the force required to open doors. March election County Judge Scott Felton asked if the violations would affect the election in March. Dixon said the county has a year to resolve issues at the polling locations, so the election wont be affected. He said the county may have to eventually find other voting centers if it cant partner with owners of those locations to make the improvements. Dixon said Kathy Van Wolfe, McLennan County elections administrator, has put in for a grant to help meet accessibility requirements at the polling locations. The settlement agreement covers more than 20 buildings, including justice of the peace offices, the Extraco Events Center and the Jack Harwell Detention Center, among others. Dixon said officials are also in the process of reviewing the countys emergency shelters. Those facilities are used mainly for other purposes but are outfitted for natural disasters or other emergencies that displace people from their homes in large numbers, he said. Those locations are primarily city buildings, including the Dewey Community Center and the Cameron Park Clubhouse. Commissioner Kelly Snell said Friday that its probably too early to say how much the total work will end up costing the county. When you look at all that stuff they got, just the courthouse and the (Extraco Events Center fairgrounds and) coliseum, youre talking about big, big money when that happens, Snell said. County leaders already have approved spending more than $22,600 for 15 assistive listening devices for county courtrooms and more than $5,400 for a doorbell at an annex entrance that disabled people can use instead of going in the main entrance and crossing the skywalk. Snell said he hates starting any project without knowing the end cost. U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, thinks a reprimand of U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith Jr. for improper sexual advances toward a courthouse employee was not harsh enough and said he will explore procedures to impeach the judge. The Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals formally reprimanded the 75-year-old Smith in December after finding he made inappropriate and unwanted physical and nonphysical advances toward a female courthouse staff member in his court chambers in 1998. Smith, a federal judge since 1984 and a former chief judge of the Western District of Texas, also was suspended for one year from hearing any new criminal or civil cases filed after Dec. 3. But he continues to receive full pay. Federal judges have lifetime appointments and are set to earn $203,100 in 2016. Flores said Thursday he will meet next week with the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to familiarize himself with impeachment protocol. Meanwhile, Ty Clevenger, the former Dallas attorney who initiated the complaint against Smith, filed an appeal of the reprimand on Monday with the Judicial Conference Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability of the Administrative Office of United States Courts in Washington, D.C., because he thinks it was too lenient. Flores said his staff members have been contacted by those who are upset with the punishment meted out to Smith and calling for stiffer penalties. What I am doing is looking at the allegations, I am looking at the punishments that were given and Im also looking to see what the impeachment process is for a federal judge, Flores said. Nobody has ever asked me about impeaching a federal judge before and I dont have all the answers. So I want to have the answers before we start to move forward. Smith declined comment through a judicial assistant Friday when asked about Flores statements. Flores said he will talk to U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, House Judiciary Committee chairman, about procedures involved in impeaching a federal judge. At the end of the day, (Goodlatte) is going to have to decide. I will make a recommendation about should we or should we not, and then we will move forward, Flores said. Councils decision While the Judicial Council of the New Orleans-based federal appellate court found that Smiths conduct was in contravention of existing standards of behavior for federal judges, it concluded that his actions do not warrant a recommendation of impeachment. The order of the Judicial Council also said Smith does not understand the gravity of such inappropriate behavior and the serious effect that it has on the operations of the courts. The Judicial Council also finds that Judge Smith allowed false factual assertions to be made in response to the complaint, which, together with the lateness of his admissions, contributed greatly to the duration and cost of the investigation, the order, signed by 5th Circuit Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart, said. The court has denied Tribune-Herald requests for records showing how much the investigation of Smith cost and for copies of investigative reports. The council also directed Smith to complete at his expense a sensitivity training course about appropriate professional interaction. The former clerk who accused Smith of groping her wrote a letter to Smith in 1998, telling the judge that his proposition to me completely caught me off-guard. It frightened me and has caused me much grief and emotional anguish, she wrote. It was very inappropriate, and I did nothing to provoke it. According to the womans testimony in a sworn deposition, on the day she said she was assaulted, she saw Smith at the third-floor water fountain in the Waco federal courthouse and he asked her to come to his chambers. She said it was 8:30 a.m. and he had a pretty strong smell of liquor on his breath. When she went to the judges office, Smith closed the door behind her, put his arms around her and kissed her, she testified. I just froze. I couldnt move. And he said, Let me make love to you. And I, and I, I just freaked out, she said in the deposition. She said Smith tried to touch her inappropriately, but she pulled away and told him she had to get back to work. The woman testified that after the incident, Smith sent her flowers at work and continued to make advances. Flores said he intends to learn more about the 14-month investigation into Smiths behavior, but said he thinks Smiths punishment was too lenient. At face value I dont know all the details but at face value it doesnt seem like the punishment fit the crime. I do know that there was a judge in Galveston who was impeached for less, for a lesser offense, so it looks to me . . . one of the things that our judicial system is supposed to be is fair, Flores said. So if you commit a certain kind of crime, you should have this kind of a punishment; more severe, harsher punishment. So there does seem to be a mismatch here. And so, I am going to look into it and see what we need to do. I just dont know enough about impeaching judges today. 2009 case Flores was referring to former U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to lying to 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals investigators who were looking into allegations that Kent had repeatedly groped and made unwanted sexual advances on two female employees who worked in the federal court in Galveston. The U.S. House impeached Kent on charges of sexual assault, obstructing and impeding an official proceeding and making false and misleading statements, making Kent the first federal judge to be impeached since Walter L. Nixon Jr. in 1989. Kent served 25 months of a 33-month federal sentence for lying to investigators. Clevenger, who has been sanctioned and fined by Smith for filing what Smith called a frivolous lawsuit, has since moved to New York. He said he is pleased that Flores is exploring the possibility of impeachment. Judge Smith is morally unfit to pass judgment on anyone else. He destroyed the life and career of his victim, so I dont think its too much to ask that he be removed from office and denied his retirement, Clevenger said. The issue is much bigger than Judge Smith. The constitution makes Congress responsible for judicial oversight, but Congress keeps punting that duty back to the judiciary. Time and again, the federal judiciary has shown that it is not up to the task. In his two-page letter of appeal filed Monday, Clevenger said Smiths conduct, as determined by the courts investigation, could have been classified as a felony. Im sure most felons wish they could receive such lenient treatment, Clevenger wrote. It seems the (5th) Circuit has created a new category of crime the de minimis felony for those cases where the perpetrator is a federal judge. Clevenger supplemented his complaint against Smith in October to allege that Smith and Waco attorney Greg White violated conflict-of-interest standards by failing to disclose that White represents Smith in the judicial sexual misconduct investigation to attorneys opposing White in a civil case presided over by Smith. The investigation council also found that Smith did not follow appropriate procedures regarding his subsequent recusal from the case involving White. Recent comments on President Obamas gun-control executive order actually span two issues: The first is the unconstitutionality of Obamas executive order. This is a problem regardless of the executive orders topic. Congress deliberated and rejected possible legislation desired by Obama. The president in response took his toys, went home and picked up his pen. His executive order overrides Congress, in effect implementing legislation. This violates the Constitution, perverting the separation and balance contained therein. His similar attempt to override Congress on immigration policy resulted in a federal judge staying Obamas immigration executive order due to its likely unconstitutionality a case that will now be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court with a decision due by June. Additional executive orders are now being contested in court. If a president can override Congress constitutionally granted authority, then we have surrendered a democracy for a dictatorship. Regarding gun-control measures imposed unilaterally by Obama, not one of the regulations would have prevented any of the so-called mass shootings Obama cited as an excuse. Regulations were in place in the Dylann Roof incident. The problem was not a lack of regulation. The problem was government inefficiency imagine that! This cannot legitimately be used as an excuse for further regulation. Would more resources devoted to the checks have helped? Possibly if one has any faith the government would execute its duties better with a larger budget. Yet Obama could have reallocated resources seven years ago with a mere phone call. This is not a regulation, however. Nor have I heard anyone complain about this aspect of the executive order. Anyone wanting to prevent another Dylann Roof needs to tackle government inefficiency and incompetence. Address the root cause rather than promoting an agenda. As to the lady writing in this newspaper of the gun-control opponent paranoia, I recommend studying history. Gun control has progressed to confiscation in England, Australia and elsewhere. Rigid gun-control laws in France and California did not prevent their tragedies. Norways strict gun control failed to prevent a school tragedy. In fact, the U.S. cities with the most onerous gun control are typically those with the most violent crime (e.g., Chicago, Detroit, etc.). At one time, the German government required Jews to register their firearms. The next action was confiscation of said firearms. Overly concerned? Perhaps or perhaps not. Paranoid? Absolutely not. Anyone wanting to be effective must focus his efforts where the greatest good will be realized. Those who truly want to reduce gun violence need to get into the ghetto. Where are most of the gun crimes? Chicago, Detroit, D.C., etc. again, mostly in cities with the greatest gun control. Get the economy growing again, so that jobs will be created. People with jobs have dignity. Their time is more occupied. They have less need or incentive to turn to crime. Get people off the government dole, which robs them of their dignity. Rather than give handouts, pay people to graduate from jobs/skills training. A helping hand not a handout. Encourage family values. Such will address the root cause and do more good. Brent Doty has served in manufacturing and operations management for more than 30 years. He has served on the boards of directors for various organizations, including corporations, chambers of commerce and churches. He lives in Robinson. President Obamas eagerness to go it alone and bypass the electorate to implement new policy has unfortunately become a hallmark of his presidency. And it has come at great cost. Besides abandoning the democratic process, the presidents regulations reportedly have an almost $200 billion price tag. In his last year in office, the president doesnt appear to be taking a break. This month he announced that more unilateral actions were coming, this time in the form of unlawful gun control measures that show he has little respect for our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Whats more, they wont solve the problem they purport to fix. Since the presidents announcement, multiple media outlets have reported that had his measures been implemented, they would not have prevented many of the recent incidents of mass violence that have occurred across our country. The American people agree. Earlier this month, more than 70 percent of Americans said they believed increased access to mental health treatment and screening would by contrast prevent violence. If President Obama is serious about making our communities safer and protecting civil rights, he should work with a Congress eager to voice the concerns of those who elected us. Together we can advance substantive legislation to address mental health, a common thread found in many violent tragedies. Last year, I introduced the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act with this in mind. The goal of this legislation is to help those suffering from mental illness find treatment, support and a path to recovery. Too often we hear stories of families facing a series of bad options: Stand by as they watch the condition of a mentally ill loved one continue to deteriorate or have them involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. The Mental Health and Safe Communities Act increases the availability of a better option by encouraging state and local governments to empower families of the mentally ill. Under my legislation, family members could petition a judge for an order requiring their loved one to undergo treatment at home or in the community, free of stigma or forced detention. In other words, this bill would help families by giving them more options and greater flexibility to find treatment solutions for those they love. But this bill is also designed to help entire communities families, schools and law enforcement spot warning signs of mental illness and get treatment for offenders who may pose a public safety risk. It would also equip our nations law enforcement officials with the tools they need to quickly and effectively de-escalate mental-health crises, preventing harm to the mentally ill and other acts of violence before they occur. A diverse coalition of advocates have endorsed my approach, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Associations of Social Workers and, yes, the National Rifle Association. Time and time again we are confronted with mental-health crises that go untreated and turn into tragic headlines. We cant responsibly stand by any longer and watch this pattern repeat itself. But we dont need to restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens to do this. My legislation would not just reform our mental health and criminal justice system it would actually increase public safety and prevent tragedies involving individuals with mental illness. Now we need the president to commit to working with elected representatives of the American people and to stop legislating by executive edict. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed his dissatisfaction on Saturday with the parliament's rejection of a controversial law which aims to reform the civil service, the first criticism the president has directed at the body since it convened last month. In a speech at Egypt's police academy to mark the upcoming National Police Day, El-Sisi said that although he didn't want to interfere in parliamentary affairs, he urged MPs to further study the issue for the sake of future generations. "When a law that aims to reform is presented, and then the MPs view it as a law that can't pass, then okay, no problem but take note that you're asking me for reform and development. Never consider that such [plans] are an easy task. The responsibility of the Egyptian people is a full responsibility on us all," El-Sisi said. El-Sisi cited three main points concerning the law. Firstly, that the state has up to seven million workers, whereas there may be a need for only one million; however, they will keep all workers after the law is passed. Secondly, he stressed that wages will not decrease by any means, and thirdly, that any raises in salaries will be given to those owed them. "We are not living alone. We are living while we have to be ready to provide our children and grandchildren with a good future. This is integrity in our hands. Before saying a word, further study the issue," El-Sisi said, his voice animated. The law, which was signed by Egypt's cabinet in November 2015, has met with widespread criticism by many state employees, labour unions and other labour rights activists, who say the legislation, would destroy the long held rights such as job security, and could also push many thousands of the six million government workers out of work. On Wednesday, MPs voted 468 to 332 against the law. The law is likely to be sent to the parliamentary committee on labour issues for further review and modification before returning to the floor of the house. Search Keywords: Short link: Imagine a birthday party for a fish under the sea; such was the request made of Egyptian teenagers in a Cairo art exam that went viral on Facebook recently. Around 150,000 students in Cairos public schools, aged around 15, were asked on Tuesday to sketch various marine creatures who had gathered, with a cake and decorations, to celebrate the birthday of a fish. The question has been doing the rounds on Facebook, causing mockery and leading parents to claim that it underestimates their children's intellectual abilities. E3dady Sarcasm Society, a popular Facebook page that generates funny posts about life for Egypt's school-aged teenagers, posted a comic that poked fun at the exam. Habiba Ashraf, a student at Al-Waily middle school in east Cairo, told Ahram Online she and her fellow pupils asked the teachers who were monitoring them during the arts exam what would they draw regarding a birthday for a fish. They [teachers] werent able to answer us, Ashraf, who had expected the drawing question to be more realistic, said. But prominent Egyptian artist Mohamed Abla defended the question, describing the parental criticism as unjustified and telling Ahram Online that such questions are good for children's imaginations. Search Keywords: Short link: Police say a Waramanga man who was found dead at a Kambah home this week was house-sitting with his partner, who was seriously injured in a disturbance on Wednesday. Nearby residents reportedly heard a woman scream for help and one neighbour called police after hearing a loud argument at the Everard Place home about 2.20am on Wednesday. ACT Policing investigate a suspicious death in Kambah which occurred during the early hours of Wednesday morning. Credit:Karleen Minney When officers arrived they found the man, 47, dead and the woman, 41, injured inside the home. She was taken to Canberra Hospital with serious injuries and was in a stable condition on Friday. But by the next morning, by the time the story had then appeared in print, something had changed. Within an hour of publishing "The Big Sleep" online hundreds of people were reading the story; an encouraging start, if not out of the ordinary. Would our readers click on a story about an elderly couple's suicide pact? Or was it too much for a sunny afternoon at the end of the week? When my article about Peter and Pat Shaw, the husband and wife who took their own lives , went up on Fairfax websites at noon last Friday, I didn't know what to expect. On my personal Facebook page, people of all ages were sharing the article, urging friends and family to read it. Then the emails, phone calls and text messages started. Parents of children I'd gone to school with; cousins; colleagues; CEOs, politicians; doctors; people I had not seen for years. They all felt a compulsion to talk about it. They clearly felt that Peter and Pat Shaw, who had decided to end their lives before their bodies and minds deteriorated further, had done well to avoid that suffering. One old friend wrote to say that her father had flagged his intention to take his own life one day in the future and that she felt deeply conflicted about it. The Shaws' story had made it easier for her family to discuss it. Doctors and social workers who work in aged care emailed to say that they were saddened by the lack of choice around death in Australia. One emergency doctor said she had cared for elderly people who wanted to die while their families demanded "everything" be done to keep them alive. "Sometimes they scream they want to die, or that they don't want me to touch them," she said. "I then have to decide how far I need to go with treating the patient." We estimate the story has now been read by nearly a million Australians. Thousands have made the effort to comment on the Facebook posts about the story, many sharing their own, often harrowing, experiences of seeing loved ones die in difficult circumstances. 25 January marks both the national Police Day as well as the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled Mubarak's regime Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi honored on Saturday the widows, children and parents of police martyrs during the national Police day celebration in New Cairos police academy. The president also laid a flower wreath on the monument that commemorates police martyrs.. El-Sisi is scheduled to give a speech during his visit. On 25 January 1952, Egypts police fought a heroic battle against the British occupation in Ismailiya City, overlooking the west bank of the Suez Canal. The British occupation, which was present in Egypt from 1882 until 1956, issued a warning to the Egyptian forces to evacuate the area, so they can take full control of the Canal, but the police forces stood their grounds. Fifty police personal were killed, and over 80 were injured. On 25 January 2011, Egyptians took to the street to protest the repressive policies and brutality of the Egyptian police, under the rule of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. The uprising eventually toppled Mubarak and his regime. Last December, El-Sisi paid a visit to the Police Academy, where he said that individual violations by Egypts police should not take a toll on the rapport between the people and the security apparatus. El-Sisi's remarks last month came amid increased reports of torture at police stations. Search Keywords: Short link: The decision comes two days after gunmen killed five policemen in Al-Arish Egypts interior minister appointed a new head of security in North Sinai on Saturday, two days after a terrorist attack in the area killed five police personnel. Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar appointed Sayed El-Habal as the new head the governorate's security directorate, replacing Ali Abou Zeid. Abou Zeid will occupy the position of deputy to the assistant minister for Sinai affairs. No reason was given for the replacement. However, the decision comes two days after gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint in North Sinai's local capital, Al-Arish, killing three officers and two lower-ranking police personnel. The attack also left three policemen injured. Islamist militants based in North Sinai have killed hundreds of police and military troops in the last few years. Authorities have also reported that hundreds of militants have been killed in army campaigns in the governorate. Search Keywords: Short link: Kentucky State Police are looking for a missing Monticello woman last seen in Hopkinsville Advertisement By Rep. Danny Carroll Jan. 22, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By Rep. Danny Carroll Jan. 22, 2016 | 01:39 PM | PADUCAH, KY Here is a legislative update from Kentucky's 2nd District Senator Danny Carroll: Although week three of the General Assembly was short due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and the inclement weather Friday, the Kentucky Senate passed significant bills and welcomed visitors who braved the snow in Frankfort. On Tuesday we passed two of our priority bills: Senate Bill (SB) 4 and SB 10. SB 4 would require those seeking an abortion to have a face-to-face, in-person counseling session with a physician 24 hours prior to the procedure. This effort to promote the rights of the unborn passed with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 10 would move statewide constitutional elections to even-numbered years. Final passage of SB 10 would save the Commonwealth and its counties an estimated $20 million per election cycle. Research has also shown that hundreds of thousands of additional Kentucky voters participate in elections during even-numbered years, as opposed to odd-numbered years. The measure would not extend Governor Bevins current, four-year term. Also on Tuesday, we passed SB 45 which creates transparency in the public retirement system. On Wednesday we welcomed participants for Kentucky Arts Day, hosted by the Kentucky Arts Council. Artists from across the state came to celebrate Kentuckys rich arts heritage. On the Senate floor, we proudly honored the recipients of the Governors Awards in the Arts. I was very pleased to honor the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau who was a recipient from the 2nd District. We also unanimously passed SB 52 on Wednesday which would allow veterans to receive a provisional teaching certificate upon the completion of certain criteria. This bill would not only encourage veteran participation in the civilian workforce but also would relieve some of the burdens our veterans face while making that transition. We also passed SB 56 which would increase the DUI look-back window from five to 10 years in order to discourage repeat offenders. Senate Bill 81 passed as well; this bill would create identifiers for students from military families in order to support those students and keep them from falling through the cracks in the education system. On Thursday we welcomed the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) to the Capitol for their annual KAM Day. SB 60 and SB 68 passed the Senate on Thursday. SB 60 creates additional protections for the vulnerable child victims of sex crimes during a continuous course of conduct. SB 68 would not hold property owners responsible for dog bite incidents caused by irresponsible tenants dogs. I was pleased to get two bills passed in the Judiciary Committee this week. SB 16 would grant civil immunity to a person who, after taking certain preliminary steps, forcibly enters a locked vehicle in order to remove a child who is in imminent danger of physical injury. SB 53 grants the same immunity to remove a dog or cat. In these cases, the dog or cat would have to be in immediate risk of death. As these winter storms come through, please remember to stay safe and take every precaution. Dont forget to check road conditions by calling the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at 511, and stay tuned for weather updates from the National Weather Service. If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov. You can also review the Legislatures work online at www.lrc.ky.gov. Senator Danny Carroll (R-Paducah) represents the 2nd District encompassing Ballard, Carlisle, Marshall and McCracken counties. Senator Carroll serves on the Senate Appropriations & Revenue; Education; Health & Welfare; and Judiciary Committees. He also serves as Chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance & Public Protection and as a member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education. Court lifts travel ban on the founder of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper; assets still frozen Giza Criminal Court decided on Saturday to lift a travel ban imposed in November on Egyptian businessman and newspaper owner Salah Diab, who is charged with possessing unlicensed firearms at his home. Diab is a co-founder of Al-Masry Al-Youm, one of Egypt's most widely read daily newspapers. On 8 November, he was detained for questioning on charges of possessing firearms; his detention was then renewed for 15 days. However, he was released on a LE50,000 bail after his lawyers presented reports of his chronic medical conditions. His son was also detained on the same charges, then released with his father on the same day. Following the investigations, the Egyptian stock exchange froze the assets of the business mogul and 16 others, following an official notice by the Egyptian prosecution banning the businessmen from trading in the market. Diab is also facing charges of financial corruption. The Public Funds Prosecution Bureau had received a complaint in 2011 that Diab along with several others had acquired agricultural land on the Alexandria Desert Road from the agriculture ministry at a very low price, and built tourist resorts on those plots in violation of the contract. The prosecutor-general ordered in November that Diab's assets be frozen along with those of his wife and a number of other associates, including other co-founders of Al-Masry Al-Youm. Search Keywords: Short link: By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 22, 2016 | 04:31 PM | PADUCAH, KY Community members of all ages can use West Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges Community Education Catalog to find out about a variety of classes such as digital photography, social media marketing, arts and design, defense tactics and much more.The catalog has been an excellent tool for showcasing the numerous community education classes we are offering at WKCTC because it provides community members with one convenient place to find a class or classes they want to sign up for each month, said Kevin ONeill, WKCTC community education director.February classes are listed as follows.Computer Offerings"Smile: Have fun with photographs using Word"February 2, 1:30 pm 8:00 pmEmerging Technology Center, Room 112Age: AdultLearn to easily take a good snapshot and include it in a Word document, use Word 2010 and 2013 to edit the image and apply all sorts of styles and special effects to make it look better in a few simple steps. Helpful hints for the advanced beginners. First part of class taught by a professional photographer. Bring a digital camera or phone and learn the secrets behind taking outstanding photos. The class meets two sessions in one day, three hours at a time. Cost: $115.Windows 8.1February 4 and 16, 9:00 am 4:00 pmEmerging Technology CenterAge: AdultThis hands-on course takes a unique approach to teaching the skills necessary to navigate and use the Windows 8.1 operating system. Designed for both home and business users, this course will cover the start screen, keyboard shortcuts, basic commands, computer maintenance and more. Basic PC navigation skills highly recommended. Class meets two sessions in one day for three hours at a time. Cost: $100.Microsoft Excel 2013February 9-11, 6:00 pm 9:00 pmFebruary 11, Noon 6:00 pmEmerging Technology CenterAge: AdultIndividuals who enjoy working with computers and numbers or need a refresher course in the basics of Microsoft Excel should register for this class. The class will help participants with shortcuts, hands-on training and help with personal support from an experienced instructor. Learn the fundamentals of setting up worksheets quickly and efficiently. Cost: $100.Basic PCFebruary 9, 10:00 am 4:30 pmEmerging Technology CenterAge: AdultLearn quick tips for getting around in a computer environment, file management, smarter ways to surf and shop online and how to share photos via a PC. Class will cover understanding hardware and software, turning a computer on, parts of a computer, measuring memory networks, the Internet and much more. Class meets two sessions in one day for three hours at a time. Cost: $100.Paducah School of Art and Design Community OfferingsIntroduction to Oil PaintingFebruary 3, 10, and 172D and Graphic Design Building, Room 201905 Harrison Street, Downtown PaducahAge: AdultThis class provides basic instruction in oil painting for beginners with PSAD Associate Professor of Art BiLan Liao. Working from still life, participants will learn how to set up the palette, color mixing, brush selection and oil painting techniques. Participants should wear appropriate clothing for painting with oils and a shop apron. Cost: $110.Photoshop Digital ManipulationFebruary 2, 9, 16, and 23, 6:30 pm 9:30 pm2D and Graphic Design Building, Room 112905 Harrison Street, Downtown PaducahAge: AdultParticipants will learn to use Adobe Photoshop to manipulate images, create composite images and retouch photographs. This course is the perfect introduction to the power of Photoshop for beginners or to add the basic skills with the software. Students must be computer literate. Cost: $125, which includes $15 for studio supplies.S.T.E.A.M. (Junior Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) OfferingsBrick Pi RoboticsFebruary 4 March 10, 4:00 pm 5:30 pmEmerging Technology Center, Room 223Age: High School StudentsThe S.T.E.A.M. Team Club provides students robotic experiences using a Raspberry Pi interface. Students will get a primer in advance programming language so they can provide robotic instructions to the Brick Pi Robot. They will learn to create robotic arms, robotic cars, and use their own imagination to explore the possibilities with the open robotics environment. Sessions meet six consecutive Thursday afternoons. A light snack is provided at each session. Cost: $150.More catalog offerings will be offered later in February. Registrations for summer camps are now being taken. Download a full listing of summer camps and upcoming community education classes at http://issuu.com/jblythe0001/docs/communityeducation/1 Preregistration is required for all classes and early registration is encouraged. The registration deadline is seven days prior to class starting date. Classes may be cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Register online at http://ws.kctcs.edu/westkentucky/category/category.aspx or by calling 270-534-3335. For more information about the Community Education Catalog or upcoming offerings, contact Kevin ONeill at kevin.oneill@kctcs.edu r 270-534-3206. West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been recognized three consecutive times by The Aspen Institute as an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College and twice as a Finalist with Distinction for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 22, 2016 | BENTON, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 22, 2016 | 12:55 PM | BENTON, KY Kentucky State Representative Will Coursey filed paperwork Thursday to seek another term representing the 6th House District. Coursey, a Democrat, has served since 2008, representing people in Marshall, Lyon, and McCracken Counties, and said he has found it more rewarding than he ever imagined. I have been able to establish a good working relationship with the leadership of the General Assembly and especially my colleagues from West Kentucky, making it possible to really help this region through projects like I-69 improvements and the Land Between the Lakes bridges and a new middle school in Lyon County. I also supported construction of a new modern health department and a new childrens art center in Marshall County. My goal is to build on this progress during the current legislative session and in the years ahead, and I look forward to asking voters for their continued support. In a press release, Coursey reminds voters of his stance on 2nd Amendment rights. In 2011, he sponsored the law that made it easier for those without concealed-carry permits to keep their firearms in any manufactured-created container in their vehicle. An earlier court ruling had limited firearms to gloveboxes, which some vehicles do not have. A year later, Rep. Coursey sponsored another law that made it possible for people to carry concealed weapons on their own property without a concealed-carry license, a move that also included sole proprietors of their own business. In Frankfort, Coursey is chairman of the Houses Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee, vice chairman of the chambers Banking and Insurance Committee, and a member of the committees for Agriculture and Small Business; Labor and Industry; State Government; and Transportation. In addition, he is vice chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance and Public Protection, a role that gives him the ability to guide state spending in those areas. Coursey said his top priorities include funding and supporting schools and workforce development programs, strengthening the public retirement systems, and making sure vulnerable citizens are protected. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 22, 2016 | MAYFIELD, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 22, 2016 | 10:03 PM | MAYFIELD, KY UPDATE from KYTC: During the overnight hours a crew used heavy equipment to clear the monster drifts. These highways are now OPEN.. The roadway at these locations may have drifting snow at the edge of the roadway and snow on the pavement, but all are now possible with appropriate caution. We also had two highways closed in Henderson County overnight due to large drifts. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews in District 1 continue to do battle with snow drifts. In many locations KYTC says crews can return every few hours to plow through them. Several locations where the drifts have grown to 4 and 5 feet deep have forced the closure of at least three roadways Due to the size of some drifts in Graves County KYTC has closed highways at the following locations: KY 339 between KY 303 and US 45 KY 384 at 2mm KY 944 entire route All of these highways have snow drifts in the 4 to 5 foot range. In Murray, the Murray Police Department is requesting motorists to remain home. Police say they have multiple reports of stranded motorists with the roads quickly refreezing. KYTC wants to remind everyone that drifting snow and refreezing will create driving hazards during the night. KYTC continues to urge motorists to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. 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. Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world A National Security officer died on Saturday from injuries sustained two days earlier in an explosion during a security raid on a suspected militant hideout in Giza, bringing the total death toll from the blast to 11. The explosion initially killed ten people, including seven policemen and three civilians. Ten police personnel were injured, including Major Ahmed Ibrahim El-Refai who died at Cairo's Police Hospital to increase number of slain policemen to eight. Four civilians were injured in the attack. A civilian who lived in the building was killed in the explosion, and two charred bodies were found inside the apartment, according to the ministry statement. The interior ministry said that the police officers were attempting to defuse a time-bomb during the raid on an apartment in Marioutiya, where suspected Islamist militants were believed to be staying. An ISIS-affiliated group and another militant group called "Revolutionary Punishment" have both claimed responsibility for the incident, which took place days before the fifth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution. In a statement issued on Friday and published on its alleged Twitter accounts, Sinai-based Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis "ABM" claims police personnel were killed and injured when they entered a "booby-trapped" house. In recent months, Egyptian security forces have carried out dozens raids on apartments where suspected or fugitive Islamists militants were reportedly either hiding or preparing for terrorist operations. These raids have often ended with suspects killed by police, who say they were met with gunfire upon arrival at the hideouts. Police have also reportedly conducted door-to-door raids of dozens of apartments in downtown Cairo ahead of the 25 January anniversary, questioning occupants about their political activities. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al met a delegation from the Press Syndicate to discuss laws aimed at regulating Egypt's media in line with the new constitution In a first meeting of its kind, Egypt parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al received Saturday a delegation from the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate to discuss a number of issues ranging from issuing new media laws to problems facing parliamentary reporters. The delegation, led by Journalists Syndicate chairman Yehia Qalash, included seven journalists who are members of the syndicate board as well as two media figures who are also MPs journalists Mohamed Badawi (Al-Ahram) and Radwan Al-Zayati (Al-Gomhouria). Qalash told reporters that the syndicate delegation visited Abdel-Al to congratulate him on his election as speaker of the House of Representatives and to discuss media laws that should be amended in line with the new constitution. "We aim to discuss in detail laws prepared by the Journalists Syndicate and other experts on media affairs in Egypt and stress that these draft laws are the ones that reflect the wish of the majority of journalists and media people in Egypt," said Qalash, warning that "any alternative government-drafted laws in this respect would be a step in the wrong direction." Qalash explained that seven articles in the new constitution deal with media affairs, stating that new laws giving greater freedoms to journalists and media people should be passed and that prison sentences in publication offences should be eliminated. Qalash said two laws, the first with 230 articles entitled the "Law on Regulating the Press and the Media." and the second with four articles entitled the "Law on Amending Articles Related to Crimes of Publication in the Penal Code," were drafted upon coordination between the Journalists Syndicate and a government legislative reform committee. "I would like to remind that speaker Abdel-Al was a member of this committee that played a positive role in drafting this law," said Qalash. Qalash said his meeting with Abdel-Al also reviewed the conditions of journalists in detention and problems facing parliamentary reporters. "We know that parliamentary reporters do not have good facilities to perform their very difficult task of covering parliament's news, and that this task will be much more difficult when the number of parliament's committees increase to 30," said Qalash. Parliamentary reporters complain that they lack good internet facilities, while the space allowed to them to cover plenary sessions from parliament's balcony has become very limited. Mahmoud Nafadi, chairman of the division of parliamentary reporters, told Qalash that "the number of parliamentary reporters increased to 140, with each four allocated just one desk to use their iPads to send reports to their newspapers and magazines, not to mention that as few as 12 seats in parliament's balcony were granted to as many as 140 reporters to cover the House's sittings." Search Keywords: Short link: Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Almost a century after Nellie McClung pushed Manitoba to become the first province to allow women to vote or run for office, she would have been pretty proud of what women have achieved, says her granddaughter Marcia McClung. But she also probably would have been a little disappointed to see women have not achieved true equality, be it in the workplace, the political world or even in many families. Although Nellie McClung dreamed that if women could secure the right to vote, all the other rights to become equals with men would surely follow, she knew when she died, in 1951, that had not happened. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Executive of Political Equality League of Manitoba snapped after witnessing the passage of the Suffrage bill. She did acknowledge there wouldnt have been any progress without the vote, Marcia said in an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press. It was a really significant step. McClung, one of the most well-known leaders of the suffrage movement in Canada, did not really set out to secure the right to vote. She, like other suffrage leaders, was drawn to it out of her work on other issues. Marcia says McClung was particularly concerned with horrible labour conditions for child workers, and was also influenced by her mother-in-law, who was the president of the Manitou chapter of the Womens Christian Temperance Union. Veronica Strong-Boag, a professor of history at the University of British Columbia and the general editor of a seven-volume series on womens suffrage and social justice in Canada that will be published in 2017, said the temperance movement was closely aligned with the suffrage movement because many saw they werent going to get anywhere on the former without gaining the latter. Strong-Boag says most of the suffragists were middle-class women, dominated by farmers and professionals, including author McClung, journalists E. Cora Hind and Lillian Thomas and Dr. Amelia Yeomans. The history of the vote in Canada is not just a womens issue. During the time of British North America before Confederation, and for nearly a century afterwards, the only group of people who were never disenfranchised were white, Protestant, wealthy men. At various times, the vote was withheld from women, Catholics, Hindus, Chinese, Japanese, Indo-Canadians, indigenous people, Mennonites, blacks and the poor. But the womens suffrage movement was the most widespread and well-organized franchise in Canada. Prior to Confederation, there were some examples of women being allowed to vote if they met the property-owner requirements, particularly in Lower Canada, where French civil law prevailed. However, by the 1850s, all the provinces in British North America had passed laws barring women from voting. Between Confederation in 1867, and the early parts of the 20th century, different governments passed varying laws about voting eligibility. Some provinces barred public servants from casting ballots, others prevented voting based on race or class. Nova Scotia didnt allow people to vote if they were on social assistance. British Columbia ruled out voting for people convicted of treason or other serious crimes. After Confederation, additional laws were passed preventing other groups from voting, and the eligibility requirements were different in each province. The Franchise Act of 1885, which Sir John A. Macdonald touted as one of his greatest achievements as prime minister, unified federal voting rules for a time, limiting it to men, at least 21 years old, who were British subjects by birth or naturalization. Property-ownership requirements varied depending on whether you lived in a city, town or rural area. This law also prevented indigenous people and Chinese from voting. It was during these latter years of the 19th century the suffrage movement began to take shape in Canada. Organizations such as the Womens Suffrage Association and later the Dominion Womens Enfranchisement Association arose in Ontario in the 1880s. Many women began securing the right to vote in municipal or school board elections, starting in Ontario in 1884 and Manitoba in 1887. But the big prize was enfranchisement at the provincial and federal levels, where women could affect change on divorce laws, custody rights and property rights. In Manitoba, Margaret Benedictsson was leading a suffrage push among Icelandic women, and launched the Icelandic-language magazine Freyja in 1898 to publish stories about their issues. Calgary Herald / The Canadian Press files The Famous Five, the group that fought to have women declared persons, included Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung and Irene Parlby, shown in these undated photos. A little over a decade later, McClung was among a group which founded the Political Equality League. The leagues members travelled the province to give speeches at town halls and country theatres. McClungs granddaughter says the barriers they faced were many, the opposition intense and the criticism sharp, yet they didnt back down. There was something about that prairie grit, Marcia said. They were very undaunted, especially in those early years in Winnipeg with (premier Rodmond) Roblin, who was so patronizing. In January 1914, the group appeared at the Manitoba legislature to argue its case for womens enfranchisement. Roblin dismissed them entirely, rejecting their arguments outright and telling them if women got to vote, it would break up families and throw children into the arms of servant girls. Winnipeg Tribune, Oct. 23. 1915 This latter was particularly poignant for McClung who, as the mother of five children, constantly had to defend herself when she was out speaking at night and ensure crowds her children were fine. That same month, the Political Equality League staged the womens mock parliament at the Walker Theatre in Winnipeg, ridiculing the arguments Roblin made against womens suffrage by turning them around on men. The play, which was quite popular and performed in additional locations, was recounted in a Heritage Minutes TV spot in the 1990s as a pivotal moment in the suffrage era. It was hoped the growing support for womens enfranchisement in Manitoba would push Roblin to act, but it wasnt until after he was defeated in the provincial election of 1915, and Liberal premier Tobias Norris elected, the government took action. On Jan. 28, 1916, an Act to Amend the Manitoba Elections Act passed in the legislature, making Manitoba women the first in the country to be able to vote in a provincial election. A little over six weeks later, Saskatchewan followed suit; about a month after that, so did Alberta. There was a domino effect across the country, with B.C. and Ontario granting women the vote in 1917, and every other province but Quebec doing so by 1925. Quebec would not allow women to vote until 1940. Federally, prime minister Robert Borden began moving the needle on women voting in 1917, but only out of a need to gain support for his governments conscription policy. His anti-democratic wartime election bills allowed him to rig the election in his favour by disenfranchising those unlikely to vote for him and allowing military votes to be distributed among ridings as he wished. Women were allowed to vote if they were in the military or had a husband, son or father who was. It wasnt until 1918 that Borden introduced and passed a bill for universal womens suffrage in Canada. In 1920, property-ownership requirements were also discarded. It would be many more years before universal suffrage was achieved for all groups. In 1948, the federal government passed a law prohibiting race as a reason for excluding someone from voting, although it wasnt until 1960 that indigenous people were allowed to vote in federal elections without giving up treaty rights. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS This card says "We should worry - We should Fret. Mother ain't no Suffragette." Strong-Boag says while its true women may not have gained the kind of equality McClung dreamed of, gaining the vote did make a difference, particularly in the first decade afterward. We dont have polls to prove it, but its quite clear the 1920s were incredibly fruitful for women, she said. The first women were elected to a provincial legislature in Alberta in 1917 and in Manitoba in 1920. Federally, Agnes McPhail became the first female MP in the House of Commons in 1921. Laws were changed around divorce, child custody, property rights and minimum wages for women. This would not have happened but for the fact legislatures were looking at women voters, said Strong-Boag. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Walker Theatre program with advertisement for "A Women's Parliament." In 1929, the Famous Five, including McClung and Emily Murphy, won the Persons Case, successfully convincing Britain to change the definition of person to include women, thereby opening the door for women to be appointed to the Canadian Senate. The progress slowed almost to a halt with the Great Depression, as the economy forced attention away from progressive legislation. It would be decades before women started being elected at any level in large numbers and even in 2016, women still represent about one-in-four city councillors, between one-tenth and one-third of provincial legislators, and one-in-four MPs. Women didnt hit double-digits in the House of Commons until 1979, after which a slow creep upwards has been recorded. There were 88 women elected last fall. Manitoba didnt elect a single female MP until 1963, and to date has elected just 13 women in total. Nationally, 315 women have been elected to the House of Commons since 1921. In 1993, Kim Campbell briefly became the first female prime minister when she took over leadership of the Progressive Conservatives, but she would hold office for just 132 days before being defeated in the 1993 election. There have been 10 female premiers in Canada, including three currently. Manitoba is one of four provinces yet to have a woman occupy the premiers office. Marcia McClung says one of the most common questions she gets from people who recognize her last name is: what would her grandmother would think of what is happening in the world today when it comes to womens rights? Its a hard question to answer, says Marcia, who was just four years old when her grandmother died. I think she would generally agree there has been progress on many fronts. She would, however, certainly have been quite proud of the attention being given in Manitoba to the 100th anniversary of its women getting the vote. She would have loved to see there was a recognition of the significance of this step, but she would remind us there is still work to be done. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/01/2016 (2462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For all those parties and politicians seeking the right to govern in the April 19 election, be careful what you wish for. Just consider the convergence of issues that will face the next government. Commodity prices, notably oil, are perilously low, a trend that is degrading the Canadian economy and pushing the loonie to dangerously low levels. This and other factors mean economic growth will be modest, as will growth in government revenues. This will make sustaining core government services extremely difficult, indeed. Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The breach in the dike at the hoop and holler bend is seen along the Assiniboine River outside of Portage La Prairie in May 2011. A report commissioned by Manitoba warns flood protection in the province has dozens of significant weaknesses and needs $1 billion in upgrades now to prevent billions in damage down the road. But thats not all. Were coming off the globes warmest year on record, according to climate scientists. That trend will continue to wreak havoc on the planet, causing weather extremes that will challenge governments everywhere to keep up with the costs of natural disasters. In Manitoba, the collision of these issues presents a specific problem: how to protect the province from significant floods. Over the decades, the province has built or improved dikes, channels and diversions. Unfortunately, a report released this week found our efforts have not met all our immediate needs. A 1,600-page consultants report, three years in the making, concluded the province needs to spend more than $1 billion on flood-prevention infrastructure in the Assiniboine River basin or face the prospect of billions more in costs from devastating floods. This report has identified an infrastructure need that is beyond the current capacity of the Manitoba treasury. It would take decades to accomplish all of the work identified, and even then, its quite likely no government would be able to accomplish every project. That is bad news for the communities in the Assiniboine River basin and interconnected lakes, such as Lake St. Martin and Lake Manitoba. Its a 246,000-square-kilometre region in which consultants found more than 100 vulnerabilities in the flood-protection system. How did this one area of the province become so deficient in its flood-mitigation infrastructure? While vulnerable to floods, the western regions of the province are not as high-risk as communities along the Red River, including Winnipeg, where most of the focus, and spending, of successive provincial governments have occurred. As evidence, we need only look at the Red River Floodway. First excavated in 1969, and then expanded in the 2000s, the floodway is a good example of what government can do when it plans ahead. Its also a good example of how bloody expensive planning ahead can be. The expansion itself was a nearly $700-million project, expensive enough that it partially eclipsed other infrastructure priorities in the province for several years. It was never expressed as such, but when the Doer government set out to expand the floodway, it effectively excluded any significant work being done on other flood-fighting infrastructure. At least for the short term. The deficit in the Assiniboine River flood-mitigation infrastructure was driven home in 2011, when water flooded in from Saskatchewan and triggered an unprecedented one-in-300-year flood event that spring and summer. Water was diverted into Lake Manitoba, devastating communities along its shores. The flood-fighting measures in that part of the province were exposed as too old and too small to handle a deluge of this magnitude. This weeks report was commissioned, putting a price tag on better protection. This will become an election issue in March when the campaign officially starts. A pre-writ blackout on government advertising limits what the NDP can say about the report, or its plans for the Assiniboine basin. The Progressive Conservatives say the NDP dithered while the flood infrastructure there fell apart. It is true the NDP did not shore up flood-mitigation measures there, but neither did preceding governments. Since 2011, the province has spent some money, including $80 million on the Lake St. Martin emergency channel. But there is much more work to do. Whoever forms government after the election will have a difficult choice to make. These projects cannot be started and completed in a single year. The Red River Floodway expansion was finally completed 13 years after the 1997 flood. Even with more cash coming from Ottawa, the work in the Assiniboine basin will affect how many highways can be resurfaced or rebuilt, bridges can be replaced and the infrastructure transfers to municipalities. Flood-mitigation improvements for the Assiniboine basin will get plenty of attention in the provincial election. It will also be one of the biggest challenges for the winner. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Isaiah Reidel, a Southeast Technical College student, has been nominated to the Phi Theta Kappa honor societys All-USA Community College Academic Team. The nomination recognizes high achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor, combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. This year Isaiah is working on a PTK Honors in Action research project. Honors in Action is a process that provides opportunities to apply learning and practice real world problem solving by developing an in-depth, action-oriented project. PTK will announce the 20 finalists for the All-USA Academic Team in April 2016. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship and are featured in USA Today. The Egyptian military was deployed on Friday to assist the police in securing state institutions and vital facilities, the Egyptian army said in a statement, ahead of the anniversary of the 2011 revolution. The official army spokesman said that the military had been dispatched to aid the interior ministry's security apparatus in protecting citizens and securing vital facilities, including main roads in Greater Cairo and other parts of the country. "Preparations have been raised for all commissioned forces with an understanding of their missions that involve securing state facilities and public and private property, as well as dealing with the possible hostilities and threats that affect the security of citizens. There is a full coordination between the military and police to counter any attempt to break the law and affect the country's security and stability," the statement read. In Greater Cairo, army patrols and rapid deployment forces have been mobilised. A military battlegroup assigned to the northern region was also dispatched to Alexandria and other governorates to secure vital facilities. The army said that the air force and border guards are to secure the country's borders, to stop the infiltration of criminals and outlaws through borders. In Sinai, the army said it will continue its comprehensive Martyr's Right operation, the largest and most comprehensive operation aimed at combating and killing militants in North Sinai since July 2015. The preparations come ahead of the fifth anniversary of the 25 January revolution which toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Several calls for protests to mark the day have been made on social media, but it remains unclear whether such calls will materialise into demonstrations, which are illegal without prior police permission. Police have also reportedly conducted door-to-door raids of dozens of apartments in downtown Cairo ahead of the anniversary, questioning occupants about their political activities. Government officials have warned citizens against protesting on the day. In December, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi questioned the calls for protests. "Do you wish to destroy your country and the people? Look at the countries whose names I do not wish to recall; they have been suffering for the past 30 years," El-Sisi said. Search Keywords: Short link: Minnesota City Community Readers will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the City Hall in Minnesota City. The book being discussed is "The Hummingbird's Daughter" by Luis Alberto Urrea. All readers are invited whether or not you have read the book. The next book selection, which will be discussed at the Feb. 25 meeting is "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline. Copies of each month's selection will be handed out at the meeting and are to be returned at the next meeting. Please note that there is a change in location. Suspect charged with holding hostages in shoe store robbery ANOKA, Minn. A Minneapolis man is charged with taking two employees hostage as he robbed a shoe store in the northern Twin Cities. Thirty-eight-year-old Benjamin Elmer Flanders was charged in Anoka County on Friday with one felony count of first-degree robbery and two felony counts of kidnapping. According to court documents, Coon Rapids police responded Thursday night to a robbery in progress at a Payless Shoe Store. Officers arrived to find a man with a gun leaving the store. The two employees told police the suspect threatened them with a gun and used duct tape to tape one employees hands. Construction worker death under investigation LAKEVILLE, Minn. A construction worker is dead after a fire and possible explosion at a housing development in Lakeville. Thirty-five-year-old Chris Cahoon of Inver Grove Heights was hurt Thursday morning when a fire started in the basement of a house where he was doing construction work. Lakeville police and firefighters responded to a 911 call at 9:30 a.m. and found Cahoon, who died late that afternoon at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The state fire marshal and Lakeville Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fire. Minnesota OSHA started its investigation Friday. Fort Campbell will reject Minnesota licenses FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. Fort Campbell will no longer be able to accept drivers licenses from Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Washington as proofs of identity. Fort Campbell spokesman Bob Jenkins tells local media that as of Thursday, anyone from those five states or the American Samoa who tries to get a pass with a drivers license will be turned away. Visitors from those states will have to use another form of ID, like a passport, to gain access to the installation. UW leader to meet with students over diversity demands MADISON, Wis. University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross has offered to write a statement acknowledging shortcomings in serving minority students, a system spokesman said Friday. The move comes after Cross met with students, alumni and faculty from UW-Parkside, UW-Madison and UW-Fond du Lac on Thursday. They presented Cross with a set of demands that included addressing the failure of progress on diversity; creating mandatory diversity training for all system students and staff; and creating a task force to evaluate the experiences of students of color. House fire that killed 2 sisters ruled accidental WAUZEKA, Wis. Investigators say the house fire that killed two young sisters in southwestern Wisconsin this week was accidental, but they dont know how the fire started. Crawford County Sheriff Dale McCullick released the results of a state investigation Friday. That investigation found that the fire started at the center of the home near a staircase, which prevented escaped from upstairs. But investigators could not determine how or what started the fire. Fifteen-year-old Trinity Bartels and her 12-year-old sister, Lena, were killed in the fire at their home in the village of Wauzeka. Dog found abandoned in duffel bag PORTAGE, Wis. Authorities say someone abandoned a dog in a large duffel bag at a wildlife area in south-central Wisconsin. The Columbia County Sheriffs Office says the dog was reported found Thursday in a Department of Natural Resources parking lot at the French Creek Wildlife Area. Authorities say the dog is an adult female black Lab. The dog apparently had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, but authorities dont know if that happened before or after the dog was placed in the duffel bag. A Wisconsin Dells man accused of assaulting and raping a woman at gunpoint will serve four years in state prison after taking a plea deal. Sauk County Assistant District Attorney Dennis Ryan said in court Friday that four years behind bars may seem out of the ordinary, given the seriousness of the charges against 52-year-old Gregory A. Nimmo. However, he said, it was the best resolution that was possible from the prosecutions standpoint, given details of the cases. As these two cases proceeded, it became sadly clear that, even though the charges were drafted in good faith and filed in the same, the state would have an uphill battle proving the charges at trial, Ryan said. Rather than risk the possibility of a full acquittal, the district attorneys office entered a deal with Nimmo in which he agreed to plead no contest to three felony bail jumping charges. In return, prosecutors dropped eight other felonies, including first-degree sexual assault, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, felon possession of a firearm, second-degree sexual assault with the use of force, strangulation and intimidation of a victim. Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Guy Reynolds sentenced Nimmo to four years of imprisonment, which will be followed by three years of community supervision. The term was jointly recommended by the prosecution and defense as part of the plea deal. Before he handed down the sentence, Reynolds heard from the alleged victim in the case. The woman stood at the back of the courtroom while a statement she prepared was read aloud by Sauk County Victim Witness Coordinator Laura Moffit. The woman said she has suffered from anxiety since the incident occurred one year ago and is taking medication. She has difficulty in relationships and has lost friends because of the incidents that occurred between November 2014 and February 2015. She also said her children became terrified of Nimmo. It has become a ritual to go through my house and show my children that Greg isnt hiding anywhere, including bathrooms, the statement said. Authorities said the woman moved into a shelter for battered women following an October 2014 incident in which Nimmo allegedly strangled her. He later began sending her text messages, and showed up at her home demanding that she drop the charges, according to the criminal complaint. The woman said Nimmo even had his attorney produce an affidavit for her to sign that would result in the case being dropped, but she refused. In January 2015, the woman told authorities that Nimmo showed up at her home, demanded sex, and assaulted her so violently that she suffered serious injury. However, the woman said she did not report the incident to authorities or see a doctor because she was embarrassed. On another occasion, authorities said, Nimmo came to the womans home while intoxicated, pointed a gun at her and demanded sex. Prosecutors said Nimmo used the weapon to sexually assault her as well. Investigators copied more than 50 text and voice messages sent by Nimmo. The firearm used in the incident belonged to the alleged victim. The four-year state prison sentence handed down Friday will not begin until Nimmo completes a three-year federal prison term that was imposed in November for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was convicted of sexual battery in California in 1992. Nimmo has been in jail since charges were filed in the Sauk County rape case last January, and was therefore credited with nearly a year of time served. Between the federal and state prison sentences, he will likely serve the next six years behind bars. In court Friday, Nimmo offered a brief apology for the trouble he had caused. All I have to say is that I do want this to be over and move on with everybodys lives, he said. Im sorry and I accept responsibility for what Ive done. Recent events with Iran have represented some of the most dramatic developments in U.S./Iranian relations since 1979. Last week, 10 U.S. Navy personnel were caught in Iranian waters, as the Pentagon kept changing its story on how they got there. It could have been a disaster for President Barack Obamas big gamble on diplomacy over conflict with Iran. But after several rounds of telephone diplomacy between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, the Iranian leadership which we are told by the neocons is too irrational to even talk to did a most rational thing: weighing the costs and benefits they decided it made more sense not to belabor the question of what an armed U.S. Naval vessel was doing just miles from an Iranian military base. Instead of escalating, the Iranian government fed the sailors and sent them back to their base in Bahrain. Then on Jan. 16, the Iranians released four Iranian-Americans from prison, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. On the U.S. side, seven Iranians held in U.S. prisons, including six who were dual citizens, were granted clemency. The seven were in prison for seeking to trade with Iran in violation of the decades-old U.S. economic sanctions. This mutual release came just hours before the United Nations certified that Iran had met its obligations under the nuclear treaty signed last summer and that, accordingly, U.S. and international sanctions would be lifted against the country. How did the irrational Iranians celebrate being allowed back into the international community? They immediately announced a massive purchase of more than 100 passenger planes from the European Airbus company, and that they would also purchase spare parts from Seattle-based Boeing. Additionally, U.S. oil executives have been in Tehran negotiating trade deals to be finalized as soon as it is legal to do so. The jobs created by this peaceful trade will be beneficial to all parties concerned. The only jobs that should be lost are the Washington advocates of re-introducing sanctions on Iran. These events have dealt a harsh blow to Washingtons neocons, who for decades have warned against any engagement with Iran. These true isolationists were determined that only regime change and a puppet government in Tehran could produce peaceful relations between the U.S. and Iran. Instead, engagement has worked to the benefit of the U.S. and Iran. Proven wrong, however, we should not expect the neocons to apologize or even pause to reflect on their failed ideology. Instead, they will continue to call for new sanctions on any pretext. They even found a way to complain about the release of the U.S. sailors they should have never been confronted in the first place even if they were in Iranian waters. And they even found a way to complain about the return of the four Iranian-Americans to their families and loved ones the U.S. should have never negotiated with the Iranians to coordinate the release of prisoners, they grumbled. It was a show of weakness to negotiate. Tell that to the families on both sides who can now enjoy the company of their loved ones again. I have often said that the neocons greatest fear is for peace to break out. Their well-paid jobs are dependent on conflict, sanctions and pre-emptive war. They grow wealthy on conflict, which only drains our economy. Lets hope that this new opening with Iran will allow many other productive Americans to grow wealthy through trade and business ties. Lets hope many new productive jobs will be created on both sides. Peace is prosperous. MADISON (AP) | Gov. Scott Walker made a national name for himself among conservatives by redefining Wisconsins labor landscape, eliminating public unions, wiping out closed shops and erasing local prevailing wages. Now, coming off a short-lived presidential bid, hes poised to revamp the states 110-year-old civil service system. A handful of states have recently rolled back civil service protections. The rules are designed to keep officials from handing out government jobs as rewards to their political allies. But some officials say they lead to inefficiencies, offer little incentive for hard work and unfairly protect employees who behave badly. Just days after Walker dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination in September, Republican legislators introduced a bill to revamp Wisconsins civil service system. Walker is poised to sign the measure any day despite Democrats complaints that the changes will open the door to cronyism. The bill marks another in a string of labor policy victories for Walker, who has made rewriting employment law his claim to fame. In 2011 he authored a bill that all but eliminated public workers union rights, becoming a national GOP star in the process. Last year he signed a bill making Wisconsin a right-to-work state where private workers cant be forced to join a union. This past summer he signed a state budget eliminating requirements that local governments pay workers on government projects the prevailing wage for such work. Wisconsin is the place where all things good for labor have gone to die, Paul Secunda, who directs the labor and employment law program at Marquette University. You want the 30,000-foot view? It looks like a bomb went off in Wisconsin in regards to workers rights. The new bill follows the lead of legislation that Arizona, Tennessee and Colorado enacted in 2012 scaling back civil service protections. In Washington, congressional Republicans last year launched an effort to remake the federal system as well. Supporters of change say government should handle its employees more like a business. The Wisconsin measure would centralize hiring decisions within Walkers Department of Administration, eliminate exams for job applicants, extend probation periods and create merit bonuses. It would eliminate bumping rights, which allow senior employees to avoid layoffs by forcing less experienced workers out. And it would define what amounts to just cause for discipline. The changes would affect about 30,000 state workers. The bills authors, Rep. Jim Steineke and Sen. Roger Roth, said their proposal would enable state agencies to replace retiring baby boomers quickly and ensure employees are properly disciplined. But Democrats say the changes would open the door to corruption. We shouldnt go back to the days of hiring people because of who they know rather than what they know, said Sen. Fred Risser, a Madison Democrat whose grandfather wrote the 1905 bill establishing Wisconsins system. Walkers administration said in 2014 he had no interest in changing the system, but he quickly threw his weight behind the bill last year and traveled the state to promote it. One of the stories he told was how the current rules protected two railroad commission workers caught having sex on state property from being fired. The workers actually could have been fired for just cause under the current system, but records show no one pushed for their termination. In September, Walker issued a statement calling the legislation common-sense reforms that would give state agencies tools to recruit good people and fire the bad actors who abuse the system. AFSCME Council 32, the labor union that represents state workers, didnt respond to a message seeking comment on the bill. Senate Republicans put the finishing touches on the bill Wednesday, passing it on a party-line vote and sending it to Walker. The governors spokeswoman declined to say when the governor might sign it, but when he does it will mark yet another defeat for labor, employment experts said. Without exams to ensure applicants have some competence, fears of cronyism creeping into state government are legitimate, they said. The rationale the governor and Legislature is giving is theyre streamlining the process, making positions easier to fill, said Will Jones, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who specializes in labor history. The question is, do you want to just fill them or put the most qualified people in those positions? Growing up on a farm just south of Beaver Dam has given me some great life experiences. Every spring and early summer new life was everywhere. Newborn calves, lambs, pigs and numerous types of poultry appeared; kittens and sometimes puppies filled our lives with excitement. When I married and our first baby was due in June I told my dad, This spring we are going to have little calves, lambs, pigs and people. I was familiar with all those animals giving birth, but when that little girl came out into the light of day, it was unbelievable. It was so great an experience that I shed tears of joy and awe. I felt unworthy of the miracle I had just witnessed, and I thanked God for that new life. That was in 1978 and the U.S. Supreme Court had legalized the killing of this new life in the womb five years earlier. I also shed tears that day for those mothers and their babies who were told that it was OK to have an abortion. How sad and unnatural and demeaning for those involved. We need to build a civilization worthy of the human person, where every life is welcomed and loved. Abortion is not love. We are living in a culture of death created by humans and need to turn from our wicked ways. Consider the wonder of the human person. We are made up of one billion trillion atoms combined into 75 trillion cells. We have one billion neurons, stretching over one million miles, processing 38 thousand trillion bits of information per second. Science stands in awe of the human person. We are truly wonderfully made. God the almighty creator of all things seen and unseen created us in his image and likeness. We should act like it. God is love. Abortion is biologically, scientifically and morally wrong. Those of us who promote and legitimize abortion are waging a war on women and their babies. Alice Paul, the author of the 1923 Equal Rights Amendment, stated that Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women. This holocaust continues everyday killing as many as 3,600 human babies. Pope John Paul II came to the U.S.A. and said, A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope. Mother Teresa came to the U.S.A. to tell us that, If you want peace, protect life. Peace begins in the womb. What can you do to stop this? You can pray, you can educate yourself and communicate the wonder of the human person to others. You can support the pregnancy help centers that offer positive alternatives to abortion that have sprung up all over this nation and you can vote the anti-life people out of their political offices. The Democratic Party supports abortion and works to keep it legal. Former Democratic Senator Russ Feingold wants you to vote him back into office. Dont forget he supported partial birth abortion when he was in office. Right now at the state level of government in Madison there are bills that should be voted on and passed by the Assembly and the Senate and sent to the governor for his signature. Assembly bill 305/Senate bill 260 bans the sale and use of aborted baby body parts. Assembly bill 310/Senate bill 237 redirects federal Title X family planning funds away from organizations that perform abortions. Assembly bill 311/Senate bill 238 dramatically reduces Planned Parenthood of Wisconsins artificially inflated Medicaid reimbursement rate for contraceptive drugs. Tell your state senator and state representative to move these bills forward to defend the dignity of aborted unborn children and take taxpayer dollars away from Planned Parenthood, Wisconsins largest abortion provider. Herb Lehner Jr., Beaver Dam BARABOO Getting healthy and staying healthy takes a lot of work. For some area residents, its more than just planning healthy meals and fitting in the recommended daily exercise. Lack of transportation, lack of financial stability, type of employment and more can make it challenging for some to access the health care they need. St. Clare Hospital President Laura Jelle sees the needs of these vulnerable residents first-hand. We routinely work with patients who need assistance with items like medications, transportation to necessary doctors appointments and more, she says. According to Jelle, all of uslocal hospitals, clinics, county health departments and nonprofit groupsare stepping up to improve community health for everyone. What is community health? The term community health generally references the overall health of people who live in a specific geographic area or other defined community. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control created a Division of Community Health as a way to help Americans prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Through coordinated efforts across the country local public health departments, hospitals and community groups are bringing sharper focus to these chronic diseases as a way to both improve quality of life for those living with chronic conditions as well as prevent more people from developing the conditions. Why does community health matter? If we look at the needs of our area as a whole, we can better understand where the greatest needs lie, says Jelle. Once we know what is needed, we work collaboratively to build a plan to address the those needs. A community-wide, or in the case of Sauk and Columbia Counties, a county-wide approach, allows organizations to partner with each other to provide a greater impact than individuals working alone. When it comes to needed health changes or services, understanding the health of the overall community helps businesses and organizations better partner with each other to leverage their existing resources. For example, if research and health data show a community has a significant percentage of lower income residents struggling to control their diabetes, health care organizations can partner with local grocers, food banks and community groups to provide more education and access to healthy foods. Why is community health measured? First and foremost, community health is measured to provide government agencies and health care organizations a better understanding of the health needs of residents and patients. Locally, the state of Wisconsin and the Centers for Disease Control require local public health departments to measure and track the health needs of their communities. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act requires nonprofit hospitals to participate in a Community Health Needs Assessment at least every three years to maintain their federal tax-exempt status. While these measurements are mandated, local health care organizations find immense value in the information these assessments provide. The CHNA becomes a roadmap for St. Clare Hospital, as well as local health organizations, says Jelle. We use the information collected to plan for, prioritize and implement services that meet the needs of our communities and provide for enhanced population health and wellness moving well into the future. How is community health measured? In the Sauk and Columbia County area, health care organizations partner with each other to conduct the CHNA every three years. In 2015, St. Clare Hospital, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Sauk Prairie Healthcare, the Sauk County UW Extension, plus the Sauk County Health Department and Columbia County-Health & Human Services Department combined area health statistics with community feedback gathered through an online survey and focus groups. The resulting information helped determine the areas largest, most pressing health needs. Health priorities were set and each hospital commits to focusing their efforts on the priorities they are best positioned to positively impact. What health needs will St. Clare focus on? For the 2016-2018 CHNA periods, St. Clare Hospital will focus on the following three health needs: Mental health Chronic disease Obesity Israeli occupation soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenage girl who allegedly tried to stab an Israeli guard at a West Bank settlement on Saturday, police said, in the third settlement attack in a week. "A 13-year-old Palestinian girl with a knife in her hand ran toward the civilian security guard at Anatot (settlement)," a police statement said. "The guard opened fire, gravely wounding her and medics pronounced her dead shortly afterward." Israel and the Palestinian territories have seen a wave of violence in recent months, with 23 Israelis and more than 160 Palestinians killed since October 1. 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. *The story has been edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: The dozen or so attendees at Thursdays discussion shared a few hopeful thoughts about the future of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, in the wake of statewide budget cuts. Maybe, said Columbia County Supervisor Tim Zander of the town of Columbus, a closer collaboration with Green Lake, Dodge and Fond du Lac counties will result in new insights. Youll have more groups of people meeting with each other, he said. Its bound to make people travel more, which is good and bad. Meeting different people usually is good. But Jeff Breuer of Wyocena former Extension agriculture agent in Adams County said the additional educational opportunities afforded by a more regional approach to Extension might be out of reach to people who cannot easily travel to take advantage of them. Education is about people, he said, and theres not an app for that. Thursdays discussion at the Columbia County Annex was the second in two days. On Wednesday, about 25 people participated in an interactive discussion that included Extension officials in Wisconsin; part of a video recording from that presentation was played for Thursdays group. Thursdays participants were invited to think about opportunities that might arise from the state budget cut of $3.6 million, which will affect not only county and tribal Extension offices, but also Extensions statewide and campus-based programs. One opportunity that is arising from the budget-driven reorganization is the intention to keep a local Extension presence in every county, rather than set up regional hubs, as has been done in states such as Minnesota, said Patti Herman, UW-Extension Columbia County family living educator. But as Extension moves toward thinking regionally as well as locally, she said, a vital characteristic of county Extension services could be at risk. Weve formed relationships with people of Columbia County, she said. They know us. They trust us. They feel comfortable calling us. I think it might be challenging forming those relationships in a larger area. Matt Hanson, Extensions southwest regional director who oversees 17 Wisconsin counties, including Columbia said the diagram of Extensions potential reorganization doesnt necessarily mean that every county and tribal Extension office will have only half of the personnel that they have now, nor does it mean that there wont be resources in all the key areas agriculture, 4-H/youth, community development and family living available to the people of every county. Furthermore, the map showing proposed multi-county regions is not set in stone, though Extension officials gave a considerable amount of thought to it, Herman said. That map shows Columbia County in a region that also includes Dodge, Green Lake and Fond du Lac counties. A proposed adjacent region shows Sauk, Juneau, Adams, Waushara and Marquette counties in the same region. Herman said many factors were considered in deciding how to group the counties, including geography, ease of transportation and existing relationships among the Extension offices. However, Hanson noted, the regional groupings, even if they remain as proposed, would not preclude county Extensions from working with other counties that are not included in their region. Such cooperation, in fact, goes on now, he said. Theres no denying, however, that cuts are coming. Hanson noted that a vast majority of state legislators represent urban areas where the Extension may not have a prominent presence. And many of them voted for steep cuts to the University of Wisconsin without realizing that those cuts affect not just Madison, but also rural areas that depend on Extension programs. Columbia County Supervisor John Stevenson of the town of Arlington said one of his immediate concerns is the effect of the Extension reorganization on county budgeting. In Columbia County, 40 percent of Extensions funding comes from the county, with 60 percent coming from the state. How the amount and proportion of county funding would be affected is not yet known. How, Stevenson asked, do we get the best value out of the hand that were dealt? Planning nutrient management prior to harvest Harvest is always a fast-paced season for growers, that's why it is important to meet nutrient management goals prior to harvest. A rocket fired from Syria on Saturday slammed into the town of Kilis on the Turkish side of the border, wounding two people, reports said, quoting the local governorate. The rocket hit a street causing an explosion that damaged nearby buildings and wounded an 18-year-old youth and a 14-year-old Syrian refugee girl, the Anatolia news agency said. Local governor Suleyman Tapsiz said that the rocket had been "fired from Syria" but did not specify who by. The Dogan news agency described the rocket as Katyusha-type. The incident comes after one person was killed and one more seriously wounded Monday when a rocket fired from a jihadist-controlled area in Syria slammed into a schoolyard in Kilis. According to Turkish media reports, the army had ascertained that the January 18 attack was carried out by Islamic State (IS) jihadists and responded by destroying their positions. Kilis, a town of just under 100,000, lies just north of the Syrian border, some 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Syrian town of Azaz. Turkish officials have said it is the only town in the country with a majority of Syrians, some of the estimated 2.2 million living in Turkey who have fled the civil war at home. That area of northern Syria south of Kilis has in the last months been the scene of fierce clashes involving IS jihadists who have seized swathes of northern Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to Saudi Arabia, sought Saturday to reassure Gulf allies concerned about a perceived warming of ties between Washington and Iran. He also announced that the Syria Support Group of 20 nations and organisations will meet "very shortly" to help push peace in the war-ravaged country. Kerry spoke in Riyadh after meeting his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. "The United States remains concerned about some of the activities that Iran is engaged in in other countries," Kerry told reporters, citing as an example Iran's "support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah" in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran's "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with the historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to calm concerns among his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, the world's leading Shia power whose relations with Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have worsened this month. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters there burned Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shia put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". Jubeir told reporters that he did not see a "coming together" of the US and Iran. "Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism," he said, adding that Arab states are ready "to confront" Iran's interference. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities... I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is", Jubeir added, while Kerry appeared defensive and less at ease than usual. A senior State Department official earlier told journalists that the US understands Saudi anger over the embassy attack but "lessening tensions is an important objective". Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said violence against the Saudi embassy was wrong, and against Islam. Kerry later met with King Salman and the monarch's son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister. He will also hold talks with Riad Hijab, Riyadh-based general coordinator of Syria's largest opposition coalition, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks. Kerry has expressed confidence that those talks will go ahead on Monday in Geneva despite a dispute over opposition representation. On Saturday he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed by telephone the makeup of the opposition side. "Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation," a Russian foreign ministry statement said. Kerry told reporters the Syria Support Group will meet "very shortly" after the first round of Syria talks "because we want to keep the process moving". The group of 20 nations and organisations has devised a plan for a political transition aimed at ending the nearly five-year war in Syria that has cost more than 260,000 lives and displaced millions. The group includes Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries who say President Bashar al-Assad can have no role in Syria's future, and Assad's allies Iran and Moscow. Kerry spoke of the "urgency" of ending the conflict but said there are no illusions "that obstacles don't still exist to trying to seek a political settlement in Syria." Saudi Arabia and Iran back opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. A Saudi-led military coalition since March has been supporting local forces and the internationally recognised government against Iran-backed Huthi Shia rebels. "We have made it clear that we stand with our friends in Saudi Arabia," on Yemen and the threat from violent Sunni extremism, said Kerry, who travels Sunday to Laos in Southeast Asia. Search Keywords: Short link: Council on Track to Meet Housing Improvements Deadline This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jan 23rd, 2016 Wrexhams Council houses are set to achieve the Welsh Governments Welsh Housing Quality Standard by the 2020 deadline. This is according to figures which were recently released by Wrexham County Borough Council. The figures show how much of the work has been completed over the last six months. The Welsh Housing Quality Standard is a set of minimum criteria, set by the Welsh Government, for the quality and condition of social housing. All local authorities in Wales are required to achieve this standard by the 2020 deadline. All 11,300 of Wrexham Councils housing will receive the necessary improvement work to achieve the standard over the next few years. This includes installing new kitchens and bathrooms in properties, where required, along with other internal and external improvements such as electrical rewiring, central heating, external insulation and roofing. The current figures show that, over the last six months: 1,452 kitchens were completed 1,527 bathrooms were completed 382 properties received central heating improvement work 863 properties received electrical rewiring improvement work 357 properties received roofing improvement work 289 properties received external improvement work Lead Member for Housing, Cllr Ian Roberts, commented, We are making a big investment to ensure that all our properties achieve the standard by 2020. Improvement work on this scale presents many challenges, but it is encouraging to see that we are still well on track to meet the deadline. The Council is investing over 40m on housing improvement work in 2015/16. This includes a 7.5m Major Repairs Allowance grant from the Welsh Government which is awarded to local authorities to support the achievement of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Local community projects and job opportunities have also received a boost from this investment, thanks to Community Benefit schemes set up by contractors carrying out on the Councils housing properties. All major contracts now require firms to contribute something extra back to the local community. This can include taking on local labour and apprentices, funding community projects, refurbishing community buildings and purchasing supplies from local businesses. Latest figures released by the Housing Service show that in the last 12 months at least 61 modern apprentices have been take on, 14 weeks of work experience have been provided 36 employees have been provided with short term employment 34 employees have been given long term employment 63,197 has been donated as cash or in-kind to organisations or projects within Wales A timetable to show when work is due to be carried out in each area of Wrexham can now be viewed on the Housing Service website: www.wrexham.gov.uk/whqs Anomalisa, directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, screenplay by Kaufman; Where to Invade Next, directed by Michael Moore Anomalisa Anomalisa is an adult animated film created with stop-motion puppetry. The film is written by Charlie Kaufman, and jointly directed by Kaufman and Duke Johnson, a specialist in stop-motion animation. It is based on Kaufmans play, which he wrote under the pen-name Francis Fregoli. Centering on an angst-ridden, middle-aged self-help author, the movies remarkable features have won wide acclaim. Anomalisa collected the first Grand Jury Prize ever awarded to an animated film at the Venice International Film Festival. It was also nominated for a best animated film Golden Globe award and has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Animated Feature category. Produced outside the Hollywood studio system, a portion of Anomalisas budget was raised on Kickstarter. The film uses the voices of only three performers: British actor David Thewlis as Michael Stone, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lisa Anomalisa Hesselman and Tom Noonan as every other male and female character. This combination of voices breathing something human and recognizable into the visually arresting, inorganic puppetsmade of silicone with 3D printed facesis eerie and disturbing. It is 2005 and Michael Stone, the Los Angeles-based author of How May I Help You Help Them? is on his way to Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the keynote speaker at a convention for customer service professionals. From the films opening moments, one knows he is suffocating spiritually. While he gives advice to others, he is unable to extricate himself from a profound existential quagmire. He is a man waiting for deliverance, but from what exactly? On the plane, he reads a crumpled letter sent him 10 years ago by a former girlfriend who lives in the destination city. After a ride in a cab whose drivers chatter grates on his nerves, Michael checks into the upscale Hotel Fregoli. (Fregoli is a delusional, paranoid syndrome that causes the sufferer to believe the different people he or she meets are in fact the same person who changes appearance or is in disguise.) In a bland, soulless hotel room, he calls his wife and young son, nicknamed Slugger. It is a strictly pro-forma conversation. Michael summons the courage to phone his old lover, who proves to be still traumatized by the abrupt manner in which he broke off their relationship a decade earlier. Their get-together in the hotel bar does not go well and Michael sets off to buy a toy for his son. He ends up in the wrong kind of toy shopan all-night one for adults. Later, a depressed Michael walks along the seemingly endless, prison-like hotel corridor and passes a young couple in the midst of an obscenity-laden quarrel. Bleakness piles upon bleakness, until he hears an unusual voice. Knocking on a few doors, he eventually discovers the voice belongs to Lisa (Leigh), who is in Cincinnati with her friend Emily to hear Michael deliver his talk. Lisa, an Akron, Ohio, baked goods service rep, is over the moon to meet the author. She tells him excitedly that his book led to a 90 percent increase in productivity at her company. Lisa is a shy, small-town girl with a slightly disfigured face (Thats why Ive always done phone work), who has not been with a man in eight years. But Michael is immediately smitten, convinced he has found his muse and the salvation from his desperation. She is both an anomaly, a deviation from the norm, at least for Michael, and Lisa, hence Anomalisa. Will it work out, or will she end up acting and sounding like everyone else? Charlie Kaufman has created and directed some original, unusual work. He scripted Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and made his directorial debut with Synecdoche, New York (2008). He is creatively associated with figures like Michel Gondry, director of Eternal Sunshine, and Spike Jonze, director of John Malkovich. The inventive trio specialize in creating quite personal, often self-reflexive movies that treat individuals afflicted by the alienating character of modern American life. The encroachments of technology often play a role in their efforts. (Jonze wrote and directed Her, 2013, a science fiction work about a lonely, professional letter-writer who falls in love with his female-voiced, intelligent computer operating system.) In an interview about his new work, Kaufman comments that [a]lienation is a big problem in this culture. I think it has a lot to do with computers and social media, and the inauthenticity of peoples interactions. But were going down that road, and theres nothing I can do about it. Of course, Kaufman seems to forget that Anomalisa is one non-alienating product of technological innovation in alliance with artistic imagination. Technology is estranging under specific social and historic circumstances. The driving forces behind the current isolating and hostile conditions in America, more than anything else, are the combined effects of extreme social polarization, general economic decline and decay, and the lurch to the right by a widely hated political establishment. The Internet, for example, is not the guilty party hereas global events have already demonstrated, it has as much power to bring people together, and in enormous numbers at that, as to separate them. There is something a bit shallow in this concentration on modern psychic alienation, which helps explain the tendency of Kaufman, Jonze and Gondry, at their weakest, to focus on the merely eccentric and quirkybulwarks presumably against the conformism and monotony of contemporary techno-dominated lifeas qualities in themselves. Of the three, the French-born Gondry, in The We and the I (2012, about teenagers in the South Bronx), has come closest to showing an interest in the conditions of wide layers of the population in the US. In any event, Anomalisa is remarkably crafted with some genuinely moving and amusing moments. That Tom Noonans voice is used for every personality other than Michael and Lisa creates some delights on its own, including in the brief scene when Michael is listening on his iPod to his favorite opera star, Joan Sutherland, singing an ariaperformed (horribly but with great sincerity) by Noonan! Another inspired sequence takes place while Michael is watching television in his room and we see a quick glimpse of a well-known scene from Gregory La Cavas My Man Godfrey (1936). Actress Carole Lombard, as a rich, scatterbrained young woman, skips around happily because the man she imagines to be the family butler loves her. Lombard and the other cast members are all puppets, also voiced by Noonan. The Lombard puppet, like the performer herself, is wildly comic. Is there some significance in a reference to a Depression-era film that considered class relations? One doesnt know. Kaufman rapidly passes on. The most telling, heart-breaking episode in Anomalisa comes when Lisa sweetly sings a couple of verses of Cyndi Laupers Girls Just Want to Have Fun. The lyrics she sings include these words: Oh mother dear were not the fortunate ones and When the working day is done / Oh girls, they want to have fun. Then repeating a line from the song, she says to Michael: I want to be the one to walk in the sun. It is notable that Kaufman has made Lisa a modest, working class woman from an industrial townnot a jaded cynic like Michael, but someone fresh and open to the world. Hers is the magic voice that distinguishes itself from all others in its individuality. (Leigh is magical and brings a lovely theatricality to the comedy-drama.) Lisa is at oddsan anomalywith officially valued looks and tastes. The use of puppets underscores Kaufmans theme of modern alienation. In Michaels most fragile, distressed moment, a section of his face falls off to reveal a mechanical interior. The character is also plagued by a Kafkaesque nightmare that points to the malignity of celebrity. A puppet, of course, suggests the existence of a puppet-master. Is Kaufman hinting, or more than hinting, at the extent to which he believes the American population is manipulated from above? In another of Anomalisas remarkable moments, during Michaels eventual address to the convention, he loses composure and goes off script, suddenly blurting out that the world is falling apart and that the president is a war criminal (the movie is conspicuously set during the George W. Bush administrationdo the filmmakers feel the same way, as they should, about Barack Obama?) It is the movies only suggestive, but all-too-brief direct reference to bigger social concerns. Unfortunately, Anomalisa is not consistent in its attitude toward humanity and their difficulties. It veers between genuine empathy, as in the initial scene with Lisa, condescension (other moments with the same character) and near misanthropy (in the case of the talkative cab driver and others). Kaufman has not worked out his viewsand it tells, weakening the work. While a movie with all-too-human puppets (and, like a Mel Blanc cartoon, the voices of only three actors) certainly commands and holds ones attention, that same element tends to disguise some of Anomalisas shortcomings. The fascinating and effective technological paraphernalia operate to make the spectator forget at times that he or she is watching a relatively slight and somewhat incomplete drama. Michael on his own is a rather self-pitying, tedious character. Much in Kaufmans film is left hanging in mid-air. In addition, one is not quite sure what to make of Anomalisas ending at which point Michael suffers from the opposite of the Fregoli Syndromethat is, the inability to recognize his own friends. Tellingly, the filmmakers only tentatively or unsatisfactorily address the question Michael asks: What is it to be human? They avoid taking a sharp enough look at the social environment, which generates not only psychological but, more significantly, social and political alienation, rooted in the vast class divide, as well as the possibility of mass opposition. Nonetheless, at its best, Anomalisa suggests that human beings should think deeply about and reflect upon their relations with others. The movie also encourages a much-needed critique of conventional film narrative. Where to Invade Next American documentary filmmaker Michael Moores latest movie is now opening in theaters. The following is a slightly edited reposting of the October 8, 2015 comment that appeared as part of the WSWS coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival. Michael Moores Where to Invade Next is not a much-needed comment on the American governments never-ending invasions and wars. Far from it. Moore simply tells the generals to stand down. The filmmaker then becomes a one-man army that invades various countries to appropriate not geopolitical advantagebut beneficial social or political ideas or practices. From Italy, for example, he takes their lengthy vacations; from Finland, their education system; from Slovenia, free college; from Iceland, the dominance of women in politics and banking (we are told that womens DNA makes them less aggressive); from Norway, a more humane penal system; from France, gourmet school lunches; from Germany, the ability to confront the legacy of the Holocaust (as opposed to the situation in the US, where supposedly through the prison system the white man is once again resurrecting slavery); and from Portugal, the legalization of drugs (Moore happily poses with three cops who look like remnants of the Salazar/Caetano fascist dictatorship). With Where to Invade Nexts potted racialist history of the US and its view that women should rule the world, Moore has, of course, added identity politics into the mix in his happy film, as he calls it. It is hardly accidental that Moore has been so inactive since Barack Obama took office in early 2009. (Capitalism: A Love Story came out that year.) His new movie is a ludicrous attempt to cover for the Democratic Party, hoping against hope that he can convince it to adopt policies that, he takes pains to point out, all originated in the US. Moving the Democratic Party to the left is the most hopeless and pathetic of perspectives. Moore has become a sometime critic of the Obama administration, after endorsing the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008 and supporting the auto bailout in 2009, which halved autoworkers pay. However, he is hopelessly tied to the Democratic Party and capitalist politics by a thousand strings. While excoriating Obamacare, for example, as a pro-insurance-industry plan, he termed the plan a godsend because it provides a start to get what we deserve: universal quality health care. The filmmaker is a seriously compromised and increasingly discredited figure. For three weeks now, the events of New Years Eve in Cologne, Germany have been exploited for the purposes of an unrestrained campaign of racism against immigrants and Muslims. Not a day goes by without media reports, commentaries, special bulletins and talk shows in which the growing threat of foreign criminality is raised, along with calls for the expedited deportation of criminal immigrants. The words foreigner and asylum seeker are overwhelmingly linked with the adjective criminal. Integral to this campaign are demands for more police, more government surveillance and, more generally, a stronger state. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) is calling not only for the expediting of asylum procedures, but also for the immediate deportation of asylum applicants who have committed criminal offences. In a resolution entitled Public Security, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) calls for the creation of 12,000 new posts for state and federal police by 2019. The Left Party also calls for a vigorous crackdown by police and the judiciary. The current lack of enforcement, they declare, must be overcome. The events of New Years Eve in Cologne have been used repeatedly to justify this racist hysteria. But after three weeks of intense investigation and the establishment of a ten-member special police commission called New Year, what really took place at the central train station of Cologne on New Years Eve remains largely unclear. Many reports and pieces of information contradict each other. On Thursday, the North Rhine-Westphalia committee on internal affairs met once again. In preparation for the meeting, North-Rhine Westphalias Interior Minister Ralf Jager (SPD) submitted a 34-page report. He also answered 19 pages of questions from the state parliament. The report not only addresses Cologne, but also deals with three other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. It states that, in connection with New Years Eve, there has now been a total of 982 criminal charges filed: 821 in Cologne (359 of them relating to sexual offences), 113 in Dusseldorf (69 due to sexual offences), 28 in Dortmund (including 4 sexual offences) and 20 in Bielefeld (5 sexual offences). That fewer than 100 complaints were received in the first 10 days of the New Year and the number only began to rise with the escalation of the media campaign is not examined in the report. In the meantime, there are 30 suspects in the Cologne case, among them 25 Moroccans and Algerians, according to Jager. The other suspects come from Albania, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Libya and Iran. Jager does not explain why, after three weeks, only one suspect has been taken into custody for sexual assault. Two men arrested earlier have since been released because suspicions against them could not be substantiated. Facts and evidence are apparently lacking, even though the central train station in Cologne is monitored by 80 video cameras, and several private cell phone recordings were analysed. The claim that it was too dark to make out the recordings from surveillance cameras is refuted by the release of videos showing the train station brightly lit. In the past week, the police searched through several bars, casinos and Internet cafes in the Cologne district of Gremberg and in Dusseldorf. These efforts also produced no new information. All 40 men arrested in Dusseldorf have been released, 6 cell phones and one laptop were seized, presumably stolen. Authorities did not say whether these originated from New Years Eve in Cologne, wrote ZeitOnline, which received a copy of the investigation report. With regard to the total number of rapes reported, the Jager report also remains vague. In each case, the alleged crimes are listed as sexual assault/rape, with some accompanied by notes indicating that acts committed by groups were, on occasion, full-scale assaults while others involved minor offences. ZeitOnline noted that it is often difficult to distinguish between a sexual assault and a rape, adding that so far, two rapes have been reported. Immediately following the Cologne events, Federal Minister of Justice Heiko Maas (SPD) spoke of a new form of organized crime. North-Rhine Westphalias interior minister now contradicts this. The Ministry of the Interior sees no organized activity, according to Jager. There were clear indications that the crimes were committed by different perpetrators or groups of perpetrators, said Jager. The minister explained that there were heterogeneous motives among the perpetrators: One wanted to commit a crime against property, another a sexual assault. Of the 30 suspects in Cologne, only six were accused of having committed a sex crime. Pickpocketing, receiving stolen goods, and robbery were the most common charges. These investigation results stand in stark contrast to the hysterical media coverage about a new dimension of sexual violence and a runaway African sex mob. One week ago, Thomas Fischer, a federal judge in the city of Karlsruhe, contributed a small interjection on the theme of sex mobs (Bild). Fischer writes a regular column on legal affairs for Die Zeit. With bitter irony, he lashed out at the media campaign, pointing out that at this stage of the investigation in Cologne, it appears that what has taken place there is unfortunately precisely what often happens at large events with unrestrained alcohol consumption. Fischer writes: Let us consider, rather, what we can learn from our experiences with sex mobs and hordes of young men drunk on alcohol and testosterone. We have here an especially disgusting example of it. Fischer cites a report about the Munich Oktoberfest from the September 29, 2011 edition of the Suddeutsche Zeitung: The shortest way to the bathroom is an absolute gauntlet. In the space of 30 meters, there are three hugs from complete strangers, drunken men, two slaps on the behind, a raised skirt and a torrent of beer poured deliberately onto your cleavage. It is 11 am on a Saturday at the brewery tent. Oktoberfest has just begun also dangerous are the lawns beneath the Bavaria statue. Women especially () are defenceless victims. Because this is nothing out of the ordinary at the Oktoberfest and is repeated each year, it is barely even noticed. To emphasize the difference between this indifference and the exaggerated and bizarre media campaign in the wake of the events in Cologne, Fischer writes sarcastically: Yes, and so it was! We remember it like it was today. The different special broadcasts! The resignation of the police chief! The emergency debate in parliament! Angela Merkels video message to German women. The judge cites another press report on the Cologne carnival in the Zulpich quarter from 2014 which shows how dishonest and politically calculated the current racist smear campaign in the media is. The report reads: Officials have issued a total of 43 (88) dispersal orders and taken 47 (39) people into custody (the previous years figures are in parentheses). Police initiated 55 (46) criminal proceedings for offenses involving bodily injury, property damage, pickpocketing, robbery and narcotics violations. 18 (9) offenders were arrested. () As the night progressed and the alcohol continued to flow, the number of crimes involving bodily injury, property damage and abusive language also grew. Police provided security with rigorous interventions and by maintaining a visible presence, reported police commissioner H. Judged by these numbers, nothing different, or nothing more, happened at the central train station in Cologne than what has taken place at similar large-scale gatherings on other occasions such as Carnival or Oktoberfest. That has not prevented the media and politicians from unleashing an unprecedented international smear campaign that does not shrink from even the worst racist prejudices. The reason for this campaign is not the events in Cologne. They serve only as a pretext to justify an unparalleled build-up of police and intelligence agencies domestically and new combat missions in North Africa and the Middle East. The Australian federal governments industrial court, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), on Friday ordered a suspension of all industrial action by port workers at sites operated by Patrick Stevedores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and imposed a 35-day cooling off period. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) called 24-hour strikes at all Patricks terminals last Monday, in the first national port strike since the unions betrayal of the 1998 waterfront dispute. Further strikes, including a 48-hour stoppage at Patricks Port Botany terminal in Sydney and four-hour stoppages in Brisbane and Melbourne, had been planned for the beginning of next week. The FWCs intervention follows a campaign by the company, the financial press and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls government to present the unions demands for improved pay and conditions as unreasonable and any strike action as a potential threat to the national economy. Patrick controls 45 percent of the waterfront industry nationally. Federal Employment Minister Michaela Cash declared last week that strike action should be a last resort and never be used to promote unrealistic claims which run contrary to the long-term interests of employees. In line with the FWCs subsequent ruling, Cash declared: Freight, rail and port logistics play a crucial role in ensuring Australia remains productive and competitive in an increasingly globalised economy. Actions that compromise productivity and put our international reputation at risk do nothing to serve the national interest. Cash said the government would not intervene in the dispute at that point, but did not rule out future intervention. Under the Fair Work laws introduced by the previous Labor government in 2009, and backed by the trade unions, the government has sweeping powers to end any industrial action that has threatened, was threatening, or would threaten to cause damage to the Australian economy or would cause significant economic harm to the employer or threaten to endanger the welfare of any part of the population. The unions have invariably used these and other draconian conditions of the Fair Work Act to intimidate workers, shut down industrial action and then broker agreements along the lines demanded by the employers. The MUA has enforced round after round of job losses that have decimated the waterfront workforce and eroded its conditions. The current industrial action is part of a long-standing dispute between the company and the MUA over a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA). Negotiations began last April amid growing anger among dockworkers over casualisation and fears of further redundancies. In an industrial ballot at the beginning of December, 83 percent of Patricks 878 dockworkers voted for strike action. The MUA only called for the strike action after having secured a deal for redundancies and further restructuring at ports owned by Hutchison Ports in November. The MUA will undoubtedly use the Fair Work Commissions decision as the pretext for seeking a deal through closed-door discussions with Patrick. Foreshadowing such an outcome, Patricks human resources director Alex Badenoch responded to the court decision by stating: Its pretty realistic we can reach an agreement during that period, but it will be tough. The union has not commented on the decision or issued any statement. During the EBA negotiations, the MUA has reportedly demanded a cap on casualisation, along with a three-year, annual 5 percent pay rise across the board. At the Port Botany terminal it has called for 35 hours pay for a 32-hour working week and an increase in penalty rates for weekend work. Patricks management has branded the demands unrealistic. The dispute emerged amid preparations for the sale of the Australian Stock Exchange-listed company, Asciano, which owns Patrick along with other major concerns. In August, Brookfield Infrastructure, a Canadian firm, and Qube Logistics both made bids of $9 billion for Asciano. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is evaluating both bids, with a decision to be handed down after February 18. The prospective new owners are demanding further inroads into the conditions of port workers. The Australian Financial Review on Tuesday noted that both bidders have made plain that they would be hostile to any EBA involving the signing away of any future management prerogativesthat is, limiting their ability to restructure jobs and conditions. The union has indicated that it is not seeking a confrontation, but rather more closed-door talks. MUA assistant national secretary Will Tracey said this week: Action was only taken as a last resort because the company cancelled a number of meetings after a period of obfuscation and belligerent obstruction. The MUAs claims to defend jobs and conditions are an utter fraud. In reality, the union has played the central role in enforcing waterfront restructuring, working hand-in-hand with management and successive governments against the workers they falsely claim to represent. In what was a major turning point, the MUA struck a deal with the Howard Coalition government and Patrick Stevedoring in 1998 to end a six-week waterfront dispute. That betrayal was rapidly followed by the elimination of more than 650 jobsalmost half of the companys permanent workforceand opened the way for successive EBAs featuring further casualisation, sackings and restructurings involving ever-greater automation. In 2012, the union called off industrial action after an intervention by Labor Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten. It entered into conciliation with the company at the Fair Work Commission and struck an EBA covering four of Patricks ports. The union cut its pay claim from 10 percent per year to 4.5 percent, conditional on productivity improvements, and agreed to the removal of limits on contract and casual labour. Immediately after the deal was struck, the company announced 270 job cuts through the introduction of automated straddle cranes to slash costs by $50 million annually. The MUA claimed to be shocked, even though it had been in behind-the-scenes negotiations over the EBA for two years, and had collaborated in similar automation measures at other sites. Last August, after Hutchison Ports sacked 97 workers by text and email, the MUA initiated limited strike action, while turning to the courts and back-room talks in a bid to wear down the port workers. In November, the union secured a deal for the destruction of 65 jobs, an extension of the working week from 30 to 32 hours and the expansion of casualisation. The betrayal involved the collaboration of the entire union bureaucracy, including the Australian Council of Trade Unions, along with the Labor Party and pseudo-left organisations. Port workers should draw the political lessons from these experiences. The only way to oppose the stepped-up assault on jobs and conditions being demanded by the entire political establishment is through a rebellion against the thoroughly corporatised trade unions and the establishment of rank-and-file factory committees aimed at uniting all port workers, along with other sections of the working class. Above all, a new political perspective is required, based on the fight for a workers government that would carry out socialist policies, including the nationalisation of the ports and other basic industries under the democratic control of the working class. A hospital associated with the deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Flint, Michigan was contaminated with Legionella bacteria from the citys tainted water supply, the Detroit News reported Friday. The revelation is further evidence that the decision to provide polluted drinking water from the Flint River to the citys residentsin which the administration of Governor Rick Snyder is deeply implicatedhas already had deadly consequences. On January 13, state health officials said that an outbreak of Legionnaires disease caused 10 people to die and 77 others to become ill. The news came a day after the federal government opened an investigation into the US Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) handling of the disaster in Flint, in a sign that the deepening crisis could further implicate the Obama administration. While about 47 percent of patients who fell ill from Legionnaires disease drank tainted water from the Flint River, an even larger share had visited McLaren Regional Medical Center hospital, which may have served as an incubator for bacteria from municipal water. In addition to the deaths from Legionnaires disease, state officials say that they have identified dozens of people with elevated bloodstream lead levels, while residents report countless other symptoms, including rashes. The citys 100,000 residents, including its 9,000 children, were placed at risk. There is no cure for lead poisoning, and its effects can include reduced IQ and academic performance over the victims lifetime. On Friday, Snyder hired a new PR firm, Mercury LLC, to help his administration weather growing demands for his resignation, impeachment and criminal indictment for his administrations complicity in the poisoning of Flint residents. The governor was in damage control mode Friday, telling MSNBC that his subordinates in the states Department of Environmental Quality were to blame for the crisis. The department people werent, the heads were not being given the right information by the quote-unquote experts. Snyder scrambled to defend his record as governor since 2010, declaring, Flint is a place Ive been devoted to helping. He added, Ive made a focused effort since before I started in office to say, we need to work hard to help people that have the greatest need. Snyder announced the suspension without pay of two employees from the states Department of Environmental Quality on Friday. Also Friday, State Representative Sheldon Neeley accused the Snyder administration of hiding some of the governors correspondence on the issue. On Thursday, Snyder released over 250 pages of documents which he said constituted the totality of his personal correspondence on the Flint water crisis, but Neeley said an email he had written to the governor in January 2015, nine months before the state took action on the issue, warned of civil unrest if nothing was done to correct the situation. The city of Flint started drawing water from the poisoned Flint River in April 2014 after the nearby city of Detroit began charging higher water rates in the aftermath of the citys bankruptcy restructuring. Despite vocal complaints and protests from residents and environmental groups, the city used water from the river for 19 months before growing evidence of lead poisoning forced it to revert back to using Detroit river water in October 2015. On Thursday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that Michigan authorities had failed to adequately respond to the crisis, and that it would begin doing its own tests of the citys drinking water. EPA head Gina McCarthy wrote in a letter to Snyder that she was deeply concerned about inadequate transparency and accountability by the state. This took place even as the federal government announced Thursday that it has opened up an inspector-generals investigation into the EPAs handling of the Flint drinking water crisis. The EPA also announced Thursday that its regional head responsible for the six states in the Great Lakes region, including Michigan and Illinois, had resigned. The EPA and the state environmental department had evidence since at least January 2015 that there were elevated lead levels in Flints drinking water, but did nothing to warn the public. Even as the Snyder administration worked overtime to contain the political fallout from the crisis, the New York Times concurrently went into damage control mode for the Obama administration, seeking to lay blame for the disaster solely at Snyders feet and presenting the poisoning of Flint's workers as a racial, not class, issue. A Times article, A Question of Environmental Racism in Flint, asked, If Flint were rich and mostly white, would Michigans state government have responded more quickly and aggressively to complaints about its lead-polluted water? The article states, For civil rights advocates, the health crisis in Flint smacks of what has become known as environmental racism. In a separate article Friday, the newspaper asked whether the state has overreached in imposing too many emergency managers in largely black jurisdictions. In fact, Flint is racially mixed, and the neglect of infrastructure and corporate looting is repeated in city after city throughout the country, affecting workers of all races. The aim of presenting the issue in a racial light is to absolve the local black Democratic Party establishment, as well as the White House, from responsibility for the crisis, despite the fact that the move to use water from the Flint River was supported by the Flint City Council, which is composed largely of Democrats and African-Americans. The Times has also drawn attention to the comments of filmmaker Michael Moore, a longtime apologist for the Obama administration, who has called the disaster Governor Snyders [Hurricane] Katrina. While the comparison to Hurricane Katrina is aptthough in the case of Flint the disaster is entirely man-madethe truth is that it is as much Obamas Katrina as it is Snyders. The White House gave its full support to the Detroit bankruptcy that led to Flints decision to disconnect from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and the Obama administration took no action for months in the face of mounting popular protests and a growing body of scientific evidence that Flints water was poisoned. Indeed, Snyder has been a key ally of Obama in seeking to use the bankruptcy of Detroit to set a precedent for the dismantling of public employee pensions and the hiving off of public assets to speculators such as billionaire Dan Gilbert, the head of Quicken Loans who has bought up large sections of downtown Detroit on the cheap. The crisis now unfolding over the poisoning of the population in Flint is the outcome of the criminal and antisocial policies pursued by the Obama administration over the past seven years, and by the entire political establishment for decades. In Greece, an increasing number of professional groups are protesting against the planned pension cuts of the Syriza government. Sailors are striking the ferry service, doctors and lawyers have demonstrated on Syntagma Square and angry farmers have repeatedly paralyzed major public transport hubs for days. The protests by farmers have expanded considerably. Up to 6,000 tractors have been parked on the fringes of major roads. Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday farmers drove their vehicles for a few hours onto main roads, thus blocking traffic. Some 1,300 tractors have been parked, ready for action, in Promachone on the border with Bulgaria. On Wednesday about 2,000 farmers demonstrated in front of the regional administration in Komotini, during a visit by Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou. They demanded a meeting with the minister, but he declined. Instead, police attacked the protesters with tear gas. The protests of farmers are marked by anger and despair. The Guardian spoke with one of the protesting farmers, who had tried in November to storm the Greek parliament, as Syriza announced their plans for pension cuts. He already has problems providing for his three children, he said. In September he had voted for Syriza because he thought the party was a new hope for the country. Now I dont want to hear anymore from them, he said. Another farmer denounced all the parties, saying, If the politicians continue to drive us in the corner and humiliate us, we go to Athens and burn them down. Talks between trade unionists and Labour Minister Giorgos Katroungalos remained inconclusive on Friday and the farmers have announced they will continue their protests. On Wednesday and Thursday sailors took strike action and virtually paralyzed the entire ferry service. On Thursday, the sailors marched to the Ministry of Shipping, where employees also are on strike. The sailors trade union PNO announced the next 48-hour strike for January 27-28. Last weekend, public sector unions and private sector workers held a demonstration in front of the Greek parliament, which was attended by about 5,000 people. In addition to the farmers, workers and sailors, doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and other self-employed persons took to the streets to demonstrate against the pension reform. About 4,000, mostly well-dressed persons gathered in the Syntagma Square. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has made clear he is determined to enforce the brutal pension reform irrespective of public protest. At the economic forum in Davos he assured his backers that he would carry out his planned reforms to the letter. The plans involve future cuts in pensions of up to 30 percent. The only protection afforded is to a minimum pension of 384. In addition, contributions to the pension fund are to be raised significantly. In future, farmers will have to pay 20 percent instead of 7 percent of their income. Social Security payments are expected to increase for both employers and employees. Some self-employed workers must reckon with contribution increases of more than 100 percent. The massive cuts in pensions are a fundamental attack on the living conditions of millions of Greeks. Many families, plagued by unemployment, already depend on the already meagre pensions. The official unemployment rate continues to be extremely high, at 24 percent. The latest reform is the 12th cut to pensions in Greece since 2010. Average pensions have declined during this period from 1,355 to 833 per month today. In return for new cuts Greece is to receive a small tranche of loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU) of 5.7 billion. However, it is not yet certain whether the banks consider the planned measures as adequate or if they will demand even deeper cuts. At the meeting in Davos investor representatives made clear that the cuts to pensions were insufficient and that further attacks should be made on current retirees. At the fringes of the meeting Tsipras met on Thursday with IMF chief Christine Lagarde. The meeting was cordial, according to the Greek side. Lagarde had stressed that Greece still had to make additional cuts before there could be any talk of debt reduction. There is no doubt that the Syriza government will implement any and all the demands of the representatives of the EU and IMF. It has made that abundantly clear in the past. Since its re-election in September it has implemented fresh cuts and privatisation in cycles of one to two weeks, which have been met with strong resistance in the population. In September the new government increased VAT on many basic goods and thus hit the poorest of the poor. In October, parliament decided to increase the retirement age to 67 years, and carried out its own first pension cuts. On November 6, more taxes were increased. Farmers now have to pay 200 instead of 66 per ton for diesel taxes. On November 19, the Syriza government allowed the seizure of indebted residential buildings in order to improve the finances of the banks. On December 6, the government majority finally decided the 2016 budget in parliament, involving cuts of 5.7 billion. In the middle of the same month it gave a green light for the privatisation of regional airports to be carried out by the German company Fraport. This balance sheet speaks for itself and now Syriza is preparing to implement its pension cuts despite widespread opposition. In so doing it is supported by the major trade union federations, the ADEDY and GSEE, which are doing everything in their power to render the massive protests harmless for the government. For February 4, the federations have announced a general strike. Such actions are a weapon in the arsenal of the unions to allow workers to let off steam while effectively demobilising them. They are the permanent accompaniment to the cuts orgies. The ADEDY and GSEE functionaries were recruited from the ruling parties New Democracy (ND) and PASOK, and supported their policies. Today, they maintain close links with Syriza and play the same supporting role. The only way to dismiss the EU diktat is an unsparing struggle against the programme and practice of Syriza, the unions and their pseudo-left appendages. Deadly militant attacks in Paris and a string of New Year's Eve sex assaults in Cologne have increased the need for Britain to leave the European Union, one of the leading 'Out' campaigners said on Saturday, citing the need to control national borders. To loud applause, Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, told a Grassroots Out campaign event that Europe's policy of taking in migrants with few checks had endangered the lives of those living in the 28-member bloc. British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership, with a vote expected to take place later this year and polls showing the outcome is likely to be close. "I'm a great believer of helping those around the world in need but it's time to put the interests of men and women and our communities first and we only do that by taking back control," Farage said. For years the face of Euroscepticism in Britain, Farage failed to win a national parliamentary seat in the 2015 election but is expected to take a leading role in the campaign for a Brexit, or British exit from the EU. On Saturday he noted that two of the men who killed 130 people in Paris in November had posed as migrants to enter the EU. Those men accused of groping and assaulting women on New Year's Eve in Cologne would, he said, have European passports in a few years and be able to enter Britain. Police have blamed the assaults on migrants, mainly from North Africa. "It's now even more serious," he told the audience of 2,000 people at the cross-party event in Kettering, central England. "The best way to insure ourselves against future terrorism is to take back control of our borders. "The European Union has made a massive, massive error with its open door policy to anyone that wants to come. To see what was happening with 1,000 young men in public sexually molesting women in the street was a very great shock." Farage was joined on the stage by Britain's former defence secretary Liam Fox from Cameron's ruling Conservative party who is also campaigning for an exit. Search Keywords: Short link: A major tax abatement program intended to promote the construction of affordable housing in New York City, known as 421-a, expired last Friday. In the context of the citys acute shortage of affordable housing, the expiration of 421-a has been portrayed by politicians and the news media as a major blow to Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasios pledge to build or preserve 200,000 affordable housing units over 10 years. The immediate cause of its demise was the failure of real estate developers (the Real Estate Board of New York) and building trades unions (the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York) to reach an agreement regarding wage rates for construction workers hired for projects falling under this program. The program, which provides multi-year, highly lucrative tax breaks for developers who include a specified proportion of affordable apartments in new construction projects, has been in place for over 40 years. During that time, the deficit in affordable housing has reached crisis proportions. Far from solving the housing shortage, the major accomplishment of 421-a has been to provide a huge monetary windfall for developers. The program has been strongly supported by the industry; real estate interests are major campaign donors to both Democrats and Republicans. In one example, Glenwood Management, a major New York real estate company, received 421-a tax breaks worth more than $700 million over 20 years. Glenwood was implicated in the recent corruption conviction of Sheldon Silver, former State Assembly speaker. During last years state budget negotiations, which included the question of renewing 421-a, Mayor de Blasio proposed raising the proportion of affordable housing units in newly constructed residential developments from the current 20 percent to between 25 and 30 percent. This change was acknowledged by Crains New York Business as making a negligible difference in dealing with the dire housing shortage for working people. Renewal was delayed, however, by a measure proposed by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, requiring builders and unions to negotiate the payment of union-level wages for construction workers employed on projects covered by 421-a. This created uncertainty over whether the program would actually be renewed. Developers have scrambled to begin as many new projects as possible before the expiration deadline, which was extended for six months. Real estate interests claim that the requirement for union-level wages would significantly increase the cost of construction (most private construction projects do not pay union rates), making it unprofitable for them to participate in 421-a. This, they argued, would greatly reduce the construction of new affordable housing units in the city. The unions countered that the cost of increased wages was far outweighed by the substantial benefits the developers accrue from the tax abatements. The mayor and the governor, both Democrats, have engaged in a long-running and highly theatrical feud over housing, education and other issues. This rivalry represents cynical political maneuvering between capitalist politicians, with Cuomo, the more experienced and Machiavellian, generally outflanking de Blasio. Cuomo, whose first term as governor was characterized by savage attacks on social services, has recently taken some superficially more left positions on a number of issues, tactically designed to humiliate de Blasio, who was promoted as a progressive during his election campaign. As de Blasios first two years in office have clearly demonstrated, his promises to address the citys extreme social and economic inequality have been unfulfilled. His election was engineered to divert, at least temporarily, the anger of the working class against their rapidly deteriorating living conditions with left-sounding rhetoric. That veneer has worn extremely thin. Whatever measures the mayor has proposed, be they regarding housing, homelessness or education, have been designed with the interests of the citys elite at the forefront. His recent proposal for mandatory inclusionary housing in poor neighborhoods, for example, amounts to little more than city-promoted gentrification to benefit the private housing interests, and has been widely rejected as such. The mayor has also received severe criticism for the deplorable condition of the citys homeless shelters, which have been described as Dickensian. Nevertheless, Cuomo, who has loftier political ambitions, finds any potential rival, who might divert support from the middle class and union bureaucracies away from him, to be intolerable. Hence, the governors countering of a number of initiatives by the mayor with his own proposals. Cuomos insertion of the union wage provision in the 421-a renewal had nothing to do with helping working people and everything to do with political jockeying. The requirement that private parties, the developers and the unions, agree on the wage provision in order for the legislation to be implemented was highly unusual and unlikely to succeed, pointing to its being blatant political sabotage directed at the mayor. In another apparent effort to undercut the mayor, last weeks State of the State address by Cuomo included the announcement of a major new program to address housing and homelessness, estimated at a cost of $20 billion. However, the funding source for this program was not specified, marking this as another political maneuver with dubious substance, unlikely to pass the legislature. The rivalry between these two Democratic Party politicians may best be characterized by quoting Shakespeare: It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The claim that the loss of 421-a, which has been ineffective in stemming the increasingly acute shortage of affordable housing in the city, would be a major setback in dealing with the housing crisis is thoroughly disingenuous. Developers have found numerous ways of manipulating the program to their own advantage, while it failed to seriously ameliorate the housing shortage. Furthermore, 421-a has been widely criticized by housing advocates for using a formula to calculate affordability that is wildly unrealistic, especially given the citys high cost of living, thereby excluding a large portion of the citys population. The fraud being perpetrated to promote this program as a major element in providing affordable housing is further exposed by the citys own analysis, which indicates that its expiration will result in the loss of 18,000 new units over the next four years, or an average of 4,500 per year. This is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the estimated current shortfall, by some estimates, of over 700,000 units, a figure that is likely to increase significantly in coming years. All of the housing proposals from both the mayor and the governor are predicated on the principle that the provision of decent, affordable housing for the citys working class are contingent on developers making substantial profits. The needs of the working class, both for decent housing and livable wages, are of little consequence. The acute scarcity of affordable housing demonstrates the intrinsic inability of capitalism to provide decent living conditions for a growing proportion of the population. A massive program of public housing construction and rehabilitation, the only way to realistically address the lack of affordable housing, is simply out of the question. If no post-deadline compromise is reached, the end of the 421-a program will simply mean that developers will abandon any pretense of building affordable housing and concentrate all their efforts on the ballooning and highly lucrative luxury market. Even if some mechanism is found to continue a version of the program, it will no more make a substantial dent in the outstanding need than it has in the past. In either case, workers and their families will find ever greater difficulty in securing affordable housing and increasing numbers will be forced onto the streets. The author also recommends: Behind the struggle for affordable housing in New York City [4 December 2015] New York mayor promotes gentrification of Brooklyn neighborhood [8 October 2015] New York City intensifies assault on the homeless [30 October 2015] Behind New Yorks Cuomo-de Blasio feud [14 June 2015] Leaders of the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, issued denials this week that their party is seeking to jointly contest this springs West Bengal state assembly elections with the Congress Party, the Indian bourgeoisies traditional party of government. Speaking to the Indian Express on Monday, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury claimed that Electoral alliances are now not on the agenda. When asked by the Express about the possibility of a tie-up with the Congress, he said the partys policy is no front or alliance with the Congress. CPM Politburo member Brinda Karat made similar comments, telling reporters, Whatever is being said about an electoral alliance with Congress in West Bengal is speculation and there is no truth in it. These denials are entirely hypocritical. They come after weeks of open discussion by top CPM leaders and state-level officials about the possibility of an electoral bloc with the Congress. On Saturday, former CPM West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called on the Congress to align with the CPM and its Left Front at a party rally in Singur. We ask the Congress, said Bhattacharjee, which side are you on? We need to be together to save West Bengal. In his Indian Express interview, Yechury brazenly tried to reinterpret this statement. With a straight face, he claimed that Bhattacharjee was only seeking to underline the CPMs determination to oust West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress state government. Bhattacharjees remarks, insisted Yechury, had nothing to do with an appeal to Congress for an electoral alliance. The CPM general secretary said the partys stance is in accordance with the political line of its 21st Congress held last year, which declared that The main direction of our attack should be against the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) when it is in power but this cannot mean having an electoral understanding with the Congress. However, as the World Socialist Web Site in its coverage of the CPM Congress explained, and as even the bourgeois press has noted in many of its recent articles, the Stalinists gave themselves an escape clause in regards to their relations with the big business Congress Party. The same policy document that Yechury cited declares, There can be swift changes in the political situation. New contradictions may emerge amongst the bourgeois parties and within them Flexible tactics should be evolved to deal with the situation. (See: Indian Stalinists meet amid political-organizational crisis) In recent weeks, numerous CPM leaders, Yechury included, have repeatedly invoked this flexible tactics formula when speaking of the partys approach to the West Bengal state elections. For his part, Prakash Karat, Yechurys predecessor as general secretary, speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a four-day plenum on party organization December 30, indicated an electoral tie-up with the Congress was far from precluded. There is a popular mood to oust the TMC [Trinamul Congress] government, declared Karat. Regarding alliance with Congress, we will take it into account when we will discuss the electoral tactics. Expressing the CPMs consummate opportunism, Karat went on to say: Theres no yes or no in politics. Tactics can change on the situation evolving at a particular time. He then insisted that West Bengal was in an extraordinary situation and that the CPM would have to take this into account in devising its election strategy. Karat, in contradistinction to Yechury, is identified as a leader of the CPMs hardline faction that has generally opposed formally allying with the Congress Party, preferring Third Front alliances with regional and caste-based parties. Yet, it was under Karats leadership that the Stalinists and their Left Front propped up the Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance government (UPA) at the Centre from 2004-2008 as it forged an Indo-US strategic partnership and pressed forward with neo-liberal reform. That the CPM leadership has been considering an electoral alliance with the Congress is symptomatic of its deep crisis and alienation from and hostility toward Indias workers and toilers. The Congress, which over the past quarter-century has spearheaded the bourgeoisies drive to transform India into a sweatshop for global capitalism and a junior partner of US imperialism, is in unprecedented crisis. It has been eliminated as a major player in large parts of India and failed to win enough seats to even be recognized as the Official Opposition in the 2014 national election. The CPM, as a result of its pursuit of what it has itself described as pro-investor policies in West Bengal and support for the big business UPA government in New Delhi, has suffered a series of electoral debacles since 2009. In 2011 it fell from power in West Bengal, after 34 years of leading the states government and in the 2014 national elections it won just two of West Bengals 42 seats. There are two main reasons that the CPM leadership has drawn back, at least for the moment, from forging a formal electoral alliance with the Congress Party for the West Bengal election. First, there is considerable opposition to such an alliance from the CPM unit in Kerala, the only other major state in which the CPM has ever led the government. In Kerala, where state elections are also to take place this spring, the chief rival of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF, which has held power since 2011, has been rocked by a series of scandals and otherwise discredited due to its right-wing socioeconomic policies. The Kerala state CPM is hoping that it can benefit from this to return to office and, toward that end, continues to welcome Congress defectors into the LDFs ranks and pursue alliances with other right-wing forces. Nonetheless, it fears a CPM-Congress electoral alliance in West Bengal would blunt the edge of its attack on the UDF and enable the BJP to tout itself as the real opposition to the Congress in Kerala. Whatever electoral tactical line we adopt in Kerala or West Bengal should not be contradictory or harmful to each other, declared Kerala Stalinist leader M.A. Baby. The second reason the CPM leadership has apparently drawn back from publicly pursuing an electoral bloc with the Congress is that the All-India Congress high command, led by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, is opposed to such an alliance. According to press reports, the leadership of the West Bengal Congress wrote to Sonia Gandhi, the national Congress Party president, at the end of last year, seeking authorisation to form an electoral alliance with the CPM and its Left Front. A Congress-Left Front seat adjustment with a declared common minimum programme would dethrone the TMC government and usher in a Congress-Left Front alliance in West Bengal, the general secretary of the West Bengal Congress, O.P. Mishra, informed Gandhi. But no authorisation has been forthcoming. Instead, when Mamata Banerjee traveled to New Delhi this month she met with Sonia Gandhi, for what the Deccan Herald reported as a friendly exchange. According to news reports, the national Congress leadership is looking to the 2019 national election and calculates an accommodation with the Trinamul Congress will help it oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government. The Congress Party national leadership has also taken the measure of the Stalinists, with whom they worked very closely between 2004 and 2008 when the Left Front was providing the UPA with the votes that it needed to retain office. The Congress high command likely calculates that if and when they deem it in their interests to seek the Stalinists support in opposing the BJP such support will be forthcoming. To this day, the Stalinists promote the Congress as a secular bulwark against the Hindu supremacist BJP. To the embarrassment of the CPM, only one of its three main Left Front allies in West Bengal, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, was ready to support a tie-up with the Congress. Both the Communist Party of India (CPI), the other main Stalinist parliamentary party, and the All India Forward Block (AIFB) voiced their opposition to aligning with Congress, no doubt at least in part because such an alliance would cost them influence and potentially assembly seats. This springs state assembly elections will take place under conditions of intensifying class struggle. With Indias economy failing to return to the high growth rates of the last decade, domestic and international capital are clamouring for Modi to move even more aggressively in pushing through socially incendiary pro-investor reforms. Working class opposition is developing against the Modi government. Last September, tens of millions of workers participated in a one-day protest strike called by the trade unions including those controlled by Stalinists to deflect the mass anger against the BJP governments attacks. The CPM, as exemplified by its recent flirtation with the Congress in West Bengal, is working to chain the working class to the parties of big business, including a host of regional and casteist parties, many of them former close allies of the BJP, like the Bihar-based Janata Dal (United). The CPM continues to defend and promote the industrialization policy it pursued in West Bengal under Bhattacharjees leadership. In the name of that policy, the CPM-led West Bengal government made massive tax concessions to big business, banned strikes in IT-enabled industries, and used police and goon violence to suppress peasant opposition to land expropriations for big business projects. The main theme of Saturdays rally at which Bhattacharjee appealed for Congress to join with the CPM was the need to return the Stalinists to government so they can press forward with their pro-investor industrialisation drive. The authors also recommend: India: Stalinist CPM shifts still further right [21 April 2015] Asia More strikes by Chinese taxi drivers Thousands of taxi drivers in 13 Chinese cities have been holding strikes and protests since January 8 over low wages and competition from Uber and other app-powered car-hire services. This follows a two-day strike by drivers of Shenzhens 16,000 taxis on January 4 over the same issues. The demands include a reduction in the crippling fees extracted by local government-backed taxi companies and for the companies to take over drivers insurance payments. Taxi drivers in Chengdu, Changchun, Jinan, Nanjing and Shenyang struck at the end of December over similar issues. Drivers complained that they work 12 hours every day but only receive 4,000 yuan ($US613) a month, from which they must pay rental fees and other running expenses. Indonesian metal stamping factory workers end strike Over 2,000 employees from PT Amtek Engineering in Batam, Riau Islands, ended their five-day strike on January 16 after the Apple subcontractor agreed to meet demands over job certainty. The workers walked out on January 12 and picketed the factorys vehicle entrance, closing down production until ten military personnel forcefully removed them. Workers wanted clarity with regard to their status following an announcement of the Singaporean companys plan to change its name to Interplex after it had become a subcontractor for Apple. Workers demanded the company dismiss them and give them a severance payment. A representative from the All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI) PT Amtek said the name change was made in July but workers were not told. He claimed that according to Indonesias labour laws a company is required to pay severance allowances to its employees when a change is made to the companys name or if a company is acquired by another company. Workers ended the strike after PT Amtek owners agreed to drop the name change. South Korean airline pilots protest About 100 unionised pilots of South Koreas flagship airline Korean Air demonstrated in front of the companys main office near Gimpo International Airport on January 12. They are demanding a 37 percent pay increase, but the company has offered just 1.9 percent. About 1,900 members of the Korean Pilots Union (KPU) and the New Korean Air Pilot Union will vote on the companys proposal until January 29. The unions anticipate that the pilots will reject the companys offer. A KPU spokesman said the pilots pay had been suppressed for several years. He added that Korean Air pilots are paid relatively less than pilots at other international airlines. Last year, 140 pilots left to join other companies in China and the Middle East on salaries up to three times higher. Korean Air pilots are paid 170 million won ($US140,334) a year on average. Cambodian garment workers walk out Over 650 employees from the H.R. Grand Garment factory in Kandal province, southeast Cambodia, went on strike on Monday after their union representative was fired. The sacking of Yern Sophindara, 37, president of the Khmer Union Federation of Workers Spirit, was in response to a strike by workers in the factory. Management told the provincial Labour Council that Yern could return to work if she dropped the demand for higher wages. Filipino pharmaceutical workers protest Around 200 medical representatives employed at the Philippines subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis demonstrated on January 19 in Angeles, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao and Iloilo. Three months of talks for a new collective bargaining agreement remained deadlocked. The Sanofi-Aventis Employees Union said ten items, including a wage increase, remain in dispute. Workers said they want a living wage that is commensurate to their labour productivity and company profitability. India: Jharkhand municipal workers on indefinite strike Workers at the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), Jharkhand walked out on an indefinite strike on January 19 over long-standing demands. The corporation failed to distribute unpaid wages by the deadline of January 14 set by the RMC Mens Workers Union. The demands are for payment of arrears as per the fifth pay commission for around 800 employees, increases in family and regular retirement pensions from between 1,500 and 3,200 rupees to 20,000 rupees, and provision of jobs on compassionate grounds. A union spokesman said the demands had been pending for two years. Punjab sanitation workers end strike Sanitation workers employed by the solid waste management contracting company JITF Jindal Infrastructure Limited called off their six-day strike in Jalandhar on January 19 after management agreed to their demands. The company reached agreement with workers after Jalandhar residents made formal complaints over tonnes of rotting garbage in the citys streets. The demands of the workers were timely payment of monthly wages and the companys share of the provident fund, and the transfer of a rude company manager. The company replaced its regional manager as part of the agreement with workers. Jammu Kashmir food distribution workers on strike Food distribution workers at state-owned CAPD (Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution) stores across the state of Jammu Kashmir have been on strike since January 8. The Food & Allied Workers Union (J&K) is demanding a wage review to compensate for no increase since 2012. Other demands are for minimum wages at par with Food Corporation of India workers, increases in loading/unloading pay per bag to be reviewed every six months, the release of wages before the 10th of every month and implementation of a pension scheme. Pakistan: Sindh health workers oppose privatisation Members of the Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association (PPSA) demonstrated outside the Karachi Press Club on January 16 to oppose the privatisation of Sindh government hospitals. The protest followed a strike by doctors and paramedical staff at the Dadu Civil Hospital on January 5 over the issue. The PPSA alleged that the Sindh government is privatising 219 government hospitals in 24 districts throughout the province. Workers demanded that the government stop privatising hospitals and meet the chronic shortage of staff and medicines. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health workers demonstrate for pay and benefits Workers at the state-run Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar held a demonstration at the hospital on January 13, demanding that a financial package agreed to by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government in November be implemented within 15 days. The demonstration included paramedics, nurses, sanitary workers and clerks. The protest was called by the Health Employees Coordination Council, which was represented by various unions at the hospital. The unions have warned that they would begin legal action under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act 2015. By doing so, however, they are preventing a joint struggle of broad sections of workers who are facing similar issues. Utility workers continue anti-privatisation campaign Another round of one-day protests and office closures was held across Pakistan on Tuesday by workers of the Water and Power Development Authority and its power distribution companies against the planned privatisation of the state-owned power utilities. The long-running ineffective campaign is being conducted by the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union. Workers in multiple cities enthusiastically joined the protests, boycotting duties and locking offices. At the rallies, union leaders issued futile demands that the government shelve its privatisation plans. The government agreed to implement the demands of the International Monetary Fund and plans to privatise power distribution facilities of Kot Addu Power Company by June and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company by September. Other state enterprises, including in aviation and airports, health and education, are being targeted by the government. Australia and the Pacific Australian dock workers strike Stevedores at shipping container ports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle walked off the job for 24 hours on Monday. Seven months of negotiations for a new enterprise agreement (EA) between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and Patrick Stevedores (owned by logistics company Asciano) reached a deadlock. An estimated 44 percent of the freight moving through Australias docks was affected. Negotiations over the new EA were held under the threat of the loss of several hundred jobs as Patrick implements its $350 million plan to install automated robot cranes. Some 270 jobs at Port Botany in Sydney will be axed. This follows the axing of 97 stevedores jobs at Hutchisons Port Holdings terminals at Brisbane and Sydney in May. In an effort to get members to accept the job losses, the MUA has demanded that the EA include increases in pay and overtime. Patrick claims this would amount to a 53 percent increase in labour costs. The union proposes 35 hours pay for working 32 hours a week, penalty rate increases to 3.5 times the standard rate on weekends and the end of casual employment. Tugboat engineers hold more strikes Tugboat engineers at Port Botany in Sydney and Fremantle and Kwinana in Perth stopped work for 48 hours on Monday in a dispute for a new enterprise agreement (EA). Their action follows strikes at ports in Newcastle, Sydney and Geelong on January 12 and at Brisbane and Melbourne on January 13. The previous agreement expired on December 31. The dispute between the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers and operator Svitzer Australia is over the companys attempts to bring engineers into the same agreement as deckhands and tugboat skippers, who are represented by the Australian Maritime Officers Union and the Maritime Union of Australia. These unions have accepted the companys proposal for a four-year combined EA. The tugboat engineers are concerned that hard-won conditions and entitlements specific to their duties and qualifications will be traded away by the other unions. They want to remain in a separate agreement. Svitzers tugboat workers will vote on the proposed EA this week. The engineers union has recommended that its members reject the agreement. Lockout continues at Dulux Queensland plant More than 100 workers at the Brisbane plant of paint manufacturer Dulux have been locked out without pay since January 12 after they voted for strike action following the companys refusal to remove a cap on redundancy entitlements in a proposed enterprise agreement. Dulux installed temporary fencing outside the factory, which is located in the suburb of Rocklea, in an attempt to stop workers forming a picket line. The United Voice trade union and Dulux have been negotiating a new enterprise agreement for several months. The company offered 3 percent annual pay increases and no adverse changes to conditions but workers want the 20-year service pay-out cap on redundancy removed. Most workers have been at the plant for more than 20 years. Dulux is opening a new factory in Melbourne in 2017 and plans to axe at least 40 jobs at Rocklea. United Voice has offered no opposition to the actual job destruction. It has not mobilised other workers in support of the locked-out members, just appealed for donations to make up for their lost pay. New Zealand aviation security workers threaten to strike After twice rejecting the governments proposed collective agreement, Aviation Security Service workers have threatened to strike if management does not soon resume negotiations. The trade unions covering the workers, the Public Service Association, the E tu (a merger of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Service and Food Workers Union) and the National Union of Public Employees, called off strike action planned for December. They claimed it would cause massive delays for the public during the holiday season. A union spokesman said workers want a modest pay increase and retention of current conditions. The government wants to cut some entitlements, which would mean a pay cut of $2,100 a year. Workers also complained that their workload has increased by 10 to 15 percent without any increase in resources. A crowd of more than a thousand workers and students, anticipating a calculated and self-serving cover-up by Governor Rick Snyder in his State of the State address on Tuesday evening, rallied at the state Capitol building. Reporters for the World Socialist Web Site interviewed demonstrators, who reported that virtually every living thing in the city of Flint has been poisoned in one way or another. Young children, the elderly and pets suffer the worst immediate effects, but the poisoning is everywhere. It doesnt matter if it is Flint, or anywhere else, said Cornelius Hooper, an autoworker at Pontiac Metal Stamping, who had driven to the rally with Peggy Gilbertson whose grandchildren live in Flint. Both are outraged by the entire situation and furious that no agency has intervened to hold those responsible accountable. This is outrageous, he continued. The governor is making excuses. It doesnt matter whether its a Republican or Democrat. All of them are responsible. People are not even held accountable for what they have done, Hooper said. Water is a right, he continued. It is a social right! This should never have happened in this modern age. We can send people to the moon and to Mars. But here, in 2016, we have an entire city which has been poisoned by the government. Opposition to the stranglehold of the unions, which have suppressed the class struggle for more than three decades, began to erupt in the recent auto contract struggle and has continued in the sickouts of Detroit teachers. That shift in the political landscape found expression in the make-up of the crowd, as well as in some of the conclusions people are beginning to draw. This whole situation is outrageous, said Lila Kadaj, an award-winning art teacher from the Detroit Public Schools (DPS). She told a heartbreaking story of the effects of budget cuts and the abandonment of essential infrastructure. The emergency manager [Darnell Earley was moved by the governor from Flint to DPS] gets $225,000 a year, she added with disgust. And water is leaking into the classrooms and mold is growing on the walls. With 20 years seniority, she was forced into retirement in 2014 because of the intolerable conditions that had developed in her classroom. No windows would open and the air conditioning was broken, she said. I was teaching for six years without any ventilation. Voted art teacher of the year in 2006, she is devoted to teaching but could not continue. The University of Michigan did a study on the roof of the school, she said. The area has among the highest levels of pollution in the state. The situation in Flint represents a flashpoint that exposes conditions of rampant pollution and dangerously decayed infrastructure in city after city. Larry Hutchinson said that his mothers skin had turned very dark and had begun to peel off. Her hair is falling out, he reported. They said she had skin cancer, but they never checked for lead poisoning. His wife Sharman added that her oldest son, who is age 5, had been diagnosed with lead poisoning. There were crowds of students from different colleges and universities chanting and carrying signs demanding prosecutions, accountability and adequate funding for medical care. Jacob Shaver, from Michigan State University, felt compelled to attend the rally. I am outraged, he said. I want someone to be held accountable. The people of Flint have suffered a crime. He went on to explain, It is a bipartisan problem. Both the Democrats and the Republicans are responsible. And like many others in attendance, he is beginning to draw a more far-reaching conclusion: Honestly, at the root, it is a class question. Tonya Burns owns a small business installing alarms in a working class neighborhood of Flint. A friend is an attorney representing a number of people diagnosed with lead poisoning. Some people have died, she began. They had legionnaires disease, skin rashes, poisoning. This is serious. You cannot get away with saying, Im sorry, for killing people. The buck stops some place: the emergency manager, the governor. They take on the responsibility when they take the job. No one has been held accountable. They are not going to be held accountable and thats the problem, she continued. It is not the rich people who are suffering. The question of the class divisions in society arose repeatedly. Clean water is for everyone, Burns added, It is a right. She summed up her anger and frustration saying, I spent $700 on one pet. He cant drink the water. He cant bathe in it. Hes got rashes. The dog didnt die from the bullet lodged in his back that he had when he was adopted. But the water is killing him. Dorothy Batchelder lives in Holly, Michigan. She has family in Flint, including two young nephews who have recently been diagnosed with blood lead levels of 5.5 and 4.5. She spoke to the WSWS over the phone on Thursday: Snyder lies. They all lie. All the Democrats and Republicans are guilty! Enough lip service from them. I want to see shovels in the ground. Im just finished with both the Democrats and Republicans. Im from a working class family, and was for the Democratic Party, but no more. They knew how to treat the water, but they didnt want to spend the money. They spend $400 billion on fighter jets, but they dont want to spend $1.5 billion in Flint to repair the infrastructure. Im appalled. They have poisoned people, destroyed their teeth, their bones, their brains and no one is accountable. This is genocide. If you or I poisoned someone we would not be getting away with Im sorry. This means they can kiss democracy goodbye because this is not a government of the people, by the people or for the people. Im for repealing Michigan Act 436 [Snyders Emergency Manager Law], which has allowed the emergency managerseven though we voted this down. There are 62 billionaires who own more wealth than the population of the world, so what does that tell you? Darnell Earley! Didnt he do enough damage in Flint? And now look what hes doing to the Detroit public schools, teachers and students. Im 72 years old. Youd think I wouldnt have to be out fighting at this age, but I am. I lost my house when my husband died in 2011. There was no help from the government to try to save my house. Im finished with them. The historian Heinrich August Winkler has described the history of Germany as a long road to the West. By West, the Social Democrat means parliamentary democracy, human and civil rightsas they were defined by the American and French revolutionsclass compromise and social balance. After a long Sonderweg (special path), according to Winklers interpretation, Germany had finally arrived in the West through the Constitution of 1949, the nonviolent reunification of 1991 and the integration into the European Union, which finally led the European continent to peace. Winklers conception of the West was always ideologically driven and involved a significant glossing over of reality. However, if recent events are assessed on the basis of his criterion, then Germany and Europe have rapidly travelled the road to the West in reverse over recent months. Almost overnight, the political culture has been violently transformed. The social democratic and liberal Europe has collapsed. Everywhere, the ruling elites are moving sharply to the right. Chauvinism, xenophobia, militarism and the call for a strong state are on the rise. This applies not only to the emerging ultra-right-wing parties such as the French National Front, the Alternative for Germany, the Austrian Freedom Party, the Hungarian Fidesz and the Polish PiS, but also for every establishment party, including those supposedly on the left. Pseudo-left publications such as the Pabloite United Secretariats International Viewpoint are among the leading voices in the chorus calling for state intervention and imperialist war in the name of allegedly defending womens rights. In Germany, political parties and the media have sparked a campaign of racist incitement against refugees following the wildly hyped events in Cologne on New Years Eve, reminiscent of the anti-Semitic campaigns of the Nazis. Government and opposition parties try to outdo each other in the call for more police and tougher laws, with the Left Party excelling in this regard. In France, the Socialist Party government has imposed a permanent state of emergency and threatened to deprive convicted criminals of foreign origin of their citizenship, in the tradition of the Vichy regime. Everywhere in Europe the borders are being imposed, and the Schengen system is as good as dead. Conflicts between EU members are escalating. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the EU could very well break up in a very short time. His Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte spoke of six to eight weeks remaining for the EU to resolve the refugee crisis. The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote, Never before was the end of the EU as realistic as it is today. Europes ruling elites are agreed when it comes to increasing military capacity, waging war in the Middle East and Africa and deploying the military at home. But even here, the unity of Europe should not be taken for granted. With the growth of national antagonisms, it is only a matter of time before tanks are deployed to the borders between EU member states. Seventy years after the end of World War II, the threat of war in the heart of Europe has reemerged. The approximately 1 million refugees who have entered Europe in the past year, about 0.2 percent of the total EU population of 508 million, are the pretext and not the cause of the political shift to the right. This shift is not the result of widespread sentiments in the general population, as the media seeks to present it, but the expression of a rebellion of the ruling elites. They are systematically fanning reactionary moods, using the media and the official parties. The real reason for this rebellion from above is the explosive social, economic and political contradictions that have been building up since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the wider Soviet bloc 25 years ago, and especially since the international financial crisis of 2008. German imperialism has played a crucial role in these developments. Germany has ruthlessly exploited its economic predominance to force its rivals to the wall and to gain hegemony over Europe. It has used the euro in order to impose merciless austerity measures on weaker southern and eastern European countries--measures that have ruined their economies, plunged millions into misery and robbed the youth of any future. A cursory glance at European economic statistics is sufficient to show the illusory character of the idea that Europe could be united harmoniously and peacefully on a capitalist basis. For example, Germanys gross domestic product, just short of 3 trillion in 2014, was more than seven times as high as that of neighboring Poland, which has nearly half as many inhabitants. Germanys exports were seven times larger than those of Poland; the German export surplus of 220 billion alone was higher than total Polish exports of 163 billion. Even France, which exported less than half as much as Germany in 2014 and had a trade deficit of 71 billion, and the United Kingdom, with a trade deficit of 134 billion, were cast in the shadow of Germany. The contrast in the social statistics is even more blatant. The average monthly gross earnings of full-time workers within the EU varies between 306 in Bulgaria, 902 in Poland, 3,106 in Germany and 4,217 in Denmark. These averages mask the huge social gulf that has opened up within the individual countries. For example, Germany owes its economic supremacy not least to its extensive low-wage sector, which resulted from the Agenda 2010 reforms introduced by the Social Democratic Party-Green Party government of Gerhard Schroder. Millions of workers are living on the edge of subsistence and often need two or three jobs to make ends meet. These sharp social contradictions are the real reason for the shift to the right by the European elites. They know that below the surface, a massive social explosion is brewing and that they have little time to prepare for it. As in the 1930s, they are stirring up chauvinism and xenophobia to divert social tensions into right-wing channels, build up the police apparatus, and establish a right-wing movement to use against social protests in the same manner as they did in the 1930s with the Nazi stormtroopers (SA). The growth of militarism serves the same purpose. There has hardly been a war in recent history that has not in part served to direct internal tensions outwards. At the same time, the conflicts between the great powers are very real. In Germanys ruling class, the belief has long prevailed that its global economic interests can be secured only by military means. For two years, it has agitated intensively for an aggressive foreign policy under the slogan, New power, new responsibilities. Currently, these missions take place in the framework of international alliances, primarily NATO. But this will not last. The conflicts of interest between the great powers are so deep that due to the crisis of the world capitalist economy they are being driven inevitably toward a Third World War. Only the political intervention of the working class can prevent such a catastrophe. In contrast to the ruling elites, the mood among the masses is predominantly left-wing. But this sentiment finds no expression in official politics. The experiences of the past yearfrom Syrizas betrayal in Greece to Germanys Left Party supporting the call for increased state powershave powerfully demonstrated that no opposition can be expected from the ranks of the official parties. The fight against war, racism and social cuts, as well as the defense of refugees and democratic rights, is inseparable from the struggle against capitalism and the building of an international socialist workers party. This requires the building of sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International throughout Europe. The Fourth International is the only political tendency that has warned that Europe cannot be unified on a capitalist basis, and that new wars are inevitable if capitalism is not overthrown. Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International, explained at the end of the First World War, a halfway complete and consistent economic union of Europe coming from the top by means of an agreement of the capitalist governments is sheer utopia. That analysis is being confirmed today. The only possibility of uniting Europe in the interests of its peoples is in the United Socialist States of Europe. Twenty-five years ago, David North, now the chairman of the WSWS International Editorial Board, warned in a speech on the eve of the launching of the first Gulf War by the US against Iraq, just as World War I and World War II were preceded by bitter inter-imperialist rivalries, the ground is being prepared for World War III. The weapons which are now being used against the Iraqi people will in the future be used in even more bloody and horrific conflicts. (1) Since then, US imperialism and its European allies have destroyed a great part of the Middle East, which now threatens to become the source of a new world conflagration. 1) One of the great crimes of the twentieth century, speech by David North, January 20, 1991 in New York City, in: Desert Slaughter. The Imperialist War Against Iraq, Detroit 1991, p. 246 Some 45 refugees, including 17 children, drowned in boat sinkings in the Aegean Sea Friday, after capsizing near the Greek island of Farmakonisi, according to Greeces coast guard. The dead were among the growing toll of victims to die while fleeing from the fallout of a decade of relentless imperialist war in the Middle East and North Africa. The deaths come just days after 15 refugees died in another sinking near Farmakonisi. More than 110 refugees have died in the Mediterranean in January, surpassing the total for January 2015, according to statistics compiled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). During the past year, the IOM has documented at least 2,910 refugee deaths and disappearances occurring during transit of the Central Route, an area roughly between Libya and the Italian coast. Some 900 more refugee deaths have been confirmed in the Eastern Mediterranean from January 2015 to January 2016, according to IOM. At least 7,000 have drowned in the Mediterranean since late 2013, according to the IOM. Despite the immense perils of the journey, more and more are attempting to cross into Europe. Nearly 40,000 refugees have landed in Greece and Italy this month, a figure more than 10 times higher than that of January 2015. Every day sees the arrival on Mediterranean shores of rickety boats packed with refugees desperately fleeing the fallout of wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen. Millions have abandoned their homes in response to the constant threat of death at the hands of US military forces and proxy armies, and the absence of employment and reliable food and water created by the widespread destruction of infrastructure. The death toll will only continue to grow as European governments increasingly target the growing displaced masses with air and naval military operations. As part of the European Union Naval Force operation launched last year, an armada of EU warships, aircraft and drones has been deployed under orders to target suspected smuggling boats. Refugees who survive the crossing to European shores are being welcomed by a growing refugee management system of concentration camps, militarized police and ever more authoritarian refugee laws. The Danish parliament is preparing policy changes that will empower the state to seize personal property of refugees. Any assets over $10,000 are subject to confiscation under the proposed law, with an exception for wedding rings being inserted only after the deliberations produced unexpectedly high levels of public outrage. The murderous crackdown on refugees is closely linked with the preparations for dictatorship being pursued by the entire European ruling class. On January 13, German police carried out mass raids against hundreds of Berlin residents in an area associated with left-wing anarchist and anti-fascist groups. Hundreds of heavily armed officers swarmed into an entire neighborhood, occupying it for days. Swedens top diplomat called for a military draft to reinforce Stockholms anti-migrant operations on January 10, and Stockholm passed anti-refugee legislation last October banning refugees from acquiring permanent residency status in Sweden. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias emerged from talks with King Felipe of Spain Friday morning to declare that his party is ready to form a progressive government of change with the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Communist Party-led United Left (IU). If the PSOE wants it, there can be a government of change, Iglesias said. It would be an honour for me and us to form part of that government. He told reporters he saw the PSOEs leader Pedro Sanchez as prime minister and himself as deputy prime minister. Such a government would still be 15 seats short of the 176 seats needed to form a majority government and would need the support of nationalist parties or their abstention in parliamentary votes. The inconclusive general election of December 20 produced a hung parliament, with 123 seats going to the ruling Popular Party (PP), 90 to the PSOE, 69 to Podemos and 2 to the IU. Iglesias call echoes that of Sanchez, who travelled to Lisbon to meet with Portugals new prime minister, Antonio Costa, last week and said a broad coalition for government with progressive forces along Portuguese lines was needed in Spain. Costas Socialist Party (PS) heads a minority government relying on support from the Portuguese equivalent of Podemos, the Left Bloc, and the Portuguese Communist Party. The left governments first act in seeking to rescue Portuguese capitalism was to engineer a 2.2 billion state bailout of failing Bank Banif and to put forward a 2016 State Budget, which will impose further austerity on Portugals working class and youth in order to cut the countrys huge debt and budget deficit. Since the December 20 general election, Podemos has intensified its overtures to the PSOE. Last Wednesday, Podemos announced that its three sister parties from Valencia, Galicia and Catalonia, where it is in alliance with various nationalists and social movements, would integrate into one single parliamentary group rather than four separate ones. Only Valencias Compromis, which elected four MPs, declined, leaving Podemos with 65 rather than 69 representatives but free to negotiate an alliance with the PSOE. The PSOE was opposed to the demand for the recognition of four groups, which would give its coalition partners-to-be more representation on parliamentary committees. A remaining hurdle is Podemos support for a referendum on independence in Catalonia. This option has so far been rejected by PSOE leader Sanchez, who is under pressure from the ruling elites as well as PSOE leaders from southern regions of Spain, particularly Andalusia, which are heavily dependent on Catalonia and other richer regions for subsidies. Sanchez is facing a leadership challenge from the head of the Andalusian regional government, Susana Diaz, who wants to call a party congress to replace him. She has managed to get the PSOE executive to pass a resolution requiring that Podemos and other forces renounce a referendum on Catalan independence as a precondition for negotiations. While Podemos has not officially renounced its call for a referendum, its main leaders have called on Sanchez to put forward proposals for forming a left government even if they do not include the referendum. Podemos number two, Inigo Errejon, stated that if Pedro Sanchez wants to be invested, it is he who has to decide what project he wants for Spain We have always said this: we are willing to reach out [to the PSOE] against evictions, in favour of a plan to modernize the economy, to stop inequality and reverse cuts. Podemos sister party in Catalonia, En Comu, has dropped the issue as a red line to negotiate with the PSOE. En Comus leader, Marcelo Exposito, said that the referendum was the partys proposal for resolving the dissatisfaction in Catalonia Our idea is a binding referendum, but we do not know exactly what the PSOE proposes or how they think it will work. Iglesias inclusion of the IU, which saw a precipitous decline from 11 seats to 2 in Decembers elections, in a future coalition government is based on its offer to mediate between Podemos and the PSOE. During the round of meetings between King Felipe with party heads, IU leader Alberto Garzon said that he thought it was perfectly possible for a left-wing coalition government to be formed and that IU would support any candidate who puts a proper social programme on the table. Another possible coalition partner is the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which has stated that it would support a PSOE government if the Basque people were given a new political status, greater prominence given to the economic agreement the region has with Spain and more emphasis on the right to self-determination. What is taking place is a conspiracy against the working class led by Podemos, which is using all the political influence it has to spread the lie that a PSOE-Podemos government will be a vehicle for the social change Spain needs. The opposite is true. All of these parties willing to form or support a left government have a historical record and programme of pro-austerity and war. The PSOE has ruled Spain for 25 of the 38 years since the end of the fascist Franco dictatorship, acting as the main instrument of capitalist rule in Spain. It spearheaded Spains entry into the European Union, the common currency and NATO. It imposed deep cuts in public expenditure, labour and pension reforms, and wage cuts, and supported the war on Libya in 2011 and the continued US-led occupation of Afghanistan. Its programme is no different from that of the PP. For the Spanish ruling elite, a majority PP government would be the preferred option and a PP-PSOE coalition second. However, the PSOE fears that accepting calls for a grand coalition with the PP would discredit it completely and end in a possible surge in support for Podemos. Podemos, regardless of its rhetoric, has cheered Syrizas austerity measures in Greece, making clear its readiness to facilitate the imposition of similar attacks in Spain. For the past two years it has invested huge amounts of energy in promoting itself as a serious party to rule in the name of the bourgeoisie. It has included former judges, police and even a former Chief of the Defence Staff in its leadership; made patriotic speeches in defence of national salvation; and horse-traded the formation of regional governments and local town councils with the Socialist Party and other parties. The IU has an even longer record of supporting the PSOE and even the right-wing Popular Party (PP). In Andalusia, IU was in a regional coalition government with the PSOE, cutting the regions budget by 2.6 billion in two years. In the region of Extremadura, it supported a PP government that devastated the region with austerity measures. More important still, IU has played a pernicious role in working hand-in-hand with the trade unions, specifically the IU-aligned CCOO, in demobilizing the working class, calling the occasional strike to let off steam and then agreeing to wage cuts and redundancies. Pseudo-left groups such as El Militante, En Lucha, Corriente Roja and Anticapitalistas have dedicated themselves systematically to the creation, promotion and packaging of Podemos and IU as a progressive alternativejust as they did with Syriza and the Left Bloc. By doing so, they have sought to prevent the working class from building its own, independent revolutionary party to politically challenge the ruling classs warmongering and austerity policies. On Wednesday, Detroit Public Schools (DPS) filed a complaint for injunctive relief in the Michigan Court of Claims against thousands of teachers who have been participating in sickouts to protest devastating conditions in the citys public school system. Though Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens rejected DPSs motion for a temporary restraining order on Thursday, the injunction is still on the table and a show cause hearing is scheduled for Monday. On the same day that DPS filed its complaint, 90 percent of Detroit schools were closed as a result of teacher sickouts. Acting independently of and in opposition to the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT), teachers continued their protests against decades of budget cuts and the funneling of school funding to private, for-profit charter school businesses. As a result of these policies, Detroits public schools are in shambles, suffering from rat infestation, the growth of black mold and mushrooms, a lack of heating and holes in ceilings and floors. Teachers are defending not just themselves but also the districts 46,000 children, 57 percent of whom live in poverty. Due to school underfunding and deplorable living conditions for working class children, only 18 percent of Detroit students are college-ready when they graduate high school, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Education in 2014. A 2011 report by the National Institute for Literacy revealed that 47 percent of Detroit adults200,000 peopleare functionally illiterate. DPSs legal action is an attack on the democratic rights of teachers and on the working classs right to education. First, the complaint is based on Michigans reactionary anti-strike law, which makes it illegal for teachers and other public sector workers to strike. Second, the home addresses of the 22 teachers named as defendants were published in the complaint, with DPS citing teachers Facebook posts and comments to the media as justification for civil penalties totaling over $25,000. Third, in a January 15 order from DPS Emergency Manager Darnell Earleywho also served as Flints emergency manager and helped cover up the poisoning of the citys waterthe district ordered teachers to snoop on their coworkers. Teachers must immediately make a written report to the Emergency Manager each and every time the employee receives or is aware of information advocating for a strike or other unauthorized concerted work stoppage, the order reads. Failure to immediately comply with this order may be grounds for discipline up to and including termination. The complaint for injunctive relief has been filed as part of a city, state and federal government strategy to crush the demands of Detroit teachers. Detroits Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan announced his opposition to the sickouts Wednesday, stating, the solution is not to send the kids home. The state legislature will soon be voting on legislation allowing officials to immediately decertify and fine teachers en masse for their involvement in the protests. At the same time, the DPS is threatening the DFT with fines in order to create an additional incentive for it to suppress the opposition of teachers. The DFT is leaving the teachers completely isolated and unprepared in advance of Mondays hearing. One of the teachers who is a named defendant told the World Socialist Web Site that although just days remain before the court appearance, the DFT had not provided this teacher with an attorney. The DFT did not return a call seeking comment on the matter. In its complaint, DPS seeks to blame teachers for the conditions caused by decades of neglect at the hands of the district and the government. DPS claims the teachers actions have and will have an adverse impact onthe public at large and that teachers are adversely impacting the academic progress of DPS students. The school district also blames teachers for the hunger and poverty of tens of thousands of students, saying they are depriving DPS students of breakfasts and lunches provided at school and are causing a decline in DPS enrollment. The claims against the teachers are based on legal theories that reveal the hostility of the ruling class toward teachers and public education. For example, Count II of the DPS complaint alleges, The Michigan Revised School Code prohibits a public school district employee from engaging in conduct that is or causes a violation of the school code. By this logic, DPS has proven itself guilty, because the code also states that the school district is responsible for providing the safety and welfare of pupils while at school, and for maintaining, repairing, [and] renovating school buildings. (MCL 180.11a(3)(b-c)). For decades, DPS has allowed conditions to deteriorate to such a degree that teachers are forced to demand an improvement through protest. Count III claims that teachers have intentionally interfered with the contract between DPS and the DFT, but under Michigan law an intentional interference with contract claim can only succeed if the interference is unjustified. (Mahrle v. Danke, 216 Mich. App. 343). Here, the teachers action is justified by the fact that without their intervention, difficult learning conditions for tens of thousands of children would continue to deteriorate even further. Furthermore, the fact that the collective bargaining agreement between DPS and the DFT contains no provisions relating to the conditions of schools is proof that the union has no interest in protecting teachers or public education and is only interested in collecting teachers dues money. The contract itself is an agreement between DPS and DFT. Since neither party represents the interests of teachers, why must they be contractually bound by the terms of the agreement? Protest actions are therefore justified by the fact that there is no other way of addressing the crisis in public education. In Count IV, DPS claims the teachers have interfered with their advantageous relationshipwith creditors [and] financial rating services. This is a striking admission. In the DPSs view, slashing funding to pay off Wall Street creditors supersedes the right of students to learn in safe, clean and heated schools. Even if DPS can prove that teachers violated the collective bargaining agreement, teachers will want to know why they cannot oppose the terms of a contract when Michigan Public Act 436 says that the emergency manager can reject, modify, or terminate 1 or more terms and conditions of an existing collective bargaining agreement. According to PA 436, the emergency manager can wield such powers if there is a legitimate public purpose. There is no legitimate public purpose for slashing funds for public education and filing injunctions against teachers for protesting deplorable school conditions. For decades, the siphoning of funds from social programs like public education has only served to enrich a financial elite who have subordinated every social interest of the working class to the drive for personal profit. When workers oppose conditions that are the outcome of these policies, the government brings to bear the full force of the law. But teachers have powerful allies in many sections of the working class who face similar conditions in their workplaces and communities. Many workers in Detroit have children at DPS schools and sympathize deeply with the struggle of the teachers. The Socialist Equality Party has called an emergency meeting at Wayne State University on Wednesday, January 27 to bring together all sections of the working class. At this meeting, teachers, autoworkers, students and youth will discuss the crisis in Detroit and Flint and the urgent need for workers to develop their own strategy. We call on all workers to attend this meeting. Meeting details: Wednesday, January 27, 7:00 p.m. Wayne State University Student Center, Hilberry Room C 5221 Gullen Mall, Detroit, Michigan Map Five years after the self-immolation of graduate and vegetable seller Mohamed Bouazizi triggered mass protests against unemployment that escalated into revolutionary struggles that brought down Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, mass protests against unemployment by workers and students have again erupted across Tunisia. After the death at a protest last Saturday of Ridha Yahyaoui, a young man seeking a teaching job in the city of Kasserine in southern Tunisia, protests spread across southern and western Tunisia, to the capital, Tunis, and, by Thursday, across the entire country. A policeman died when his vehicle overturned, and unspecified numbers of protesters were hurt Thursday during clashes in Kasserine, where Tunisian security forces killed dozens of protesters during the 2011 uprising. I have been out of work for 13 years, and I am a qualified technician. We are not looking for handouts, just our right to work, electrician Mohamed Mdini told Reuters at a protest in Kasserine. After a rally by unemployed university graduates on Thursday in Tunis, calling for jobs and the fall of the Tunisian regime, the state declared an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew yesterday across all of Tunisia. The Tunisian interior ministry warned that protests were causing damage to public and private property. It threatened to prosecute anyone who defied the curfew, though protesters in Kasserine have already defied a local curfew declared in their region earlier in the week. The eruption of mass protests in Tunisia shows that none of the grievances that drove the working class into revolutionary struggle five years ago against first the Ben Ali dictatorship in Tunisia, then the Mubarak dictatorship in Egypt, have been resolved. The United States and the major European powers spent billions of dollars on wars that devastated the region, from Libya to Mali. At the same time, the NATO powers and the Tunisian capitalist class have failed to meet fundamental social needs of working people or to respect basic democratic rights. After an interlude where the Islamist Ennahda party held power, Ben Alis party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), freshly renamed Nidaa Tounes, returned to power in 2014, with support from Tunisias corrupt union bureaucracy and middle class left groups. Protests began a week ago, when Ridha Yahyaoui died, electrocuted after climbing on a pole to address a rally of unemployed workers whom the Education Ministry had turned away for jobs. Yahyaoui was one of seven unemployed graduates who were denied employment after organising a sit-in last year and meeting with local authorities to present demands at the beginning of this year. Salem Ayari, the secretary-general of the Union of Unemployed Graduates, told the Huffington Post-Maghreb that Yahyaoui had recently discovered that his name had been pulled from the list of files to be handed to the prime minister to regularise their situation. The list was modified and manipulated without consultation with the mayor or the deputy who were taking care of the matter. Yahyaouis tragic death, like that of Bouazizi, triggered protests across the depressed industrial and mining heartlands of southern Tunisia where Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid are located. Construction workers and day laborers in Beja joined the protests, demanding papers and regular working conditions, and protesters marched, blocked roads and tried to occupy municipal buildings in cities across southern and central Tunisia, including Meknassi and Sousse. When the government tried to end the movement on Wednesday by offering concessions to Kasserine and promising to create a few thousand jobs, workers in other cities across Tunisia joined the movement. Sidi Bouzid, Beja, Kebili, Meknassi, Mazouna, Gabes, Sfax, and Sousse were all hit by protests. Several government buildings, including in Jendouba and Tozeur, were occupied by students and unemployed workers demanding jobs. Protests also hit working class districts of Tunis, where protesters reportedly blocked roads and set a police station aflame. President Beji Caid Essebsi, a former Ben Ali regime official, spoke to the Tunisian people in a televised address last night, as the government became alarmed over the spread of protests at the end of the week. Briefly posturing as sympathetic to the masses, admitting that the unemployed cannot wait forever, Essebsi attacked unidentified people active in the protests for having helped fan the flames and ordered acts of sabotage and pillage. Essebsi cynically said he would create jobs without spending any extra money, saying he felt sure the state can find the necessary funds, at need by taking them away from other projects. He pledged, however, that whatever his government did, it would respect all its engagements, financial and otherwise, to its foreign partners, that is, the major banks and governments in the imperialist countries in Europe and America. Essebsis rhetorical promises notwithstanding, the last five years have shown conclusively that the working masses demands for basic social and democratic rights are incompatible with capitalist rule in North Africa, and in particular the escalating military interventions of the imperialist powers. Tunisia has been starved of investment and jobs, and hit by bloodshed spreading from neighboring Libya after NATO and its Islamist allies toppled Colonel Muammar Gaddafis regime in a bloody war. In Tunisia, unemployment is over 15 percent (including over a third of the youth), the informal economy is equivalent to 54 percent of gross domestic product, and purchasing power has fallen 40 percent since the beginning of the revolution, Tuniscope reported. Above all, the five years since Ben Alis collapse have illustrated that no social protest, however powerful, can produce a victory for the working class without having at its head a revolutionary party. The uprisings of 2011 in Tunisia and Egypt were powerful revolutionary struggles mobilising masses of workers that rapidly smashed the resistance of security forces of feared dictatorships that had previously seemed invincible. In the absence of a revolutionary party fighting to lead the working class in Tunisia, Egypt, and beyond to seize state power and create a socialist society, however, both regimes ultimately were able to stabilise themselves. After power briefly shifted into the hands of the Islamists, figures in the entourage of the former autocratsEssebsi in Tunisia, and General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egyptultimately succeeded in returning to power with the backing of various petty-bourgeois left organisations. The bourgeoisie internationally is quite conscious of the role played by these forces and has rewarded them handsomely. The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) and the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH) shared the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize with various business and professional groups. The Nobel committee hailed their decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia. As the Tunisian protests are now showing, the UGTT and LTDH did not build a democracy, but a new facade for the return of the old dictatorship, built on intense economic oppression and the suppression of mass opposition in the working class. Their democratic pretensions notwithstanding, they are now trying to strangle the protests and help justify police repression by spreading lurid tales that the protests are infiltrated by terrorists from Libya. The UGTT, a pillar of the Ben Ali regime, issued a statement that briefly called demonstrators demands legitimate, then proposed deploying UGTT members around state buildings to protect them from protesters. In a statement, it said it denounces the looting and theft committed by criminal gangs that try to manipulate social protest and appeals for a general mobilisation of its members to protect the facilities of public and private institutions. Hamma Hammami, the leader of the Workers party that is a key element of the Popular Front, a middle class left grouping that allied with Nidaa Tounes before the 2014 elections, is also making clear that his party again wants to block a revolution in Tunisia. Speaking to Mosaique FM, he said that while Popular Front members admittedly join the protests, this is with the objective of giving structure to them, so that they preserve a pacific character and are nothing else. On his way back from his first trip to Washington as Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull stopped in Hawaii on Wednesday for talks with the head of US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris. According to the Australian Financial Review, they discussed the maritime territorial disputes between China and its Asian neighbours. Turnbull also visited the Pearl Harbor base and inspected the USS Preble, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, accompanied by high-level US officers. No official explanation has been provided as to why Turnbull felt the need to hold discussions with Admiral Harris, an increasingly prominent military figure. After all, the prime minister had just held meetings over two days with US President Barack Obama, the civilian commander-in-chief, and US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, the civilian head of the defense department, as well as with Democrat and Republican political leaders, intelligence chiefs and business executives. Turnbull evidently wanted to draw attention to his Pearl Harbor visit to underscore his commitment to the US alliance. He tweeted two photographs of himself with Harris and US naval commanders. One was captioned: In Honolulu with Admiral Harry Harris, Commander US Pacific Command, discussing maritime security in the West Pacific. The other said: At Pearl Harbor this morning with Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery & the Commander of USS Preble, Jeffrey L. Heames. No briefings emerged from the talks, but the US Pacific Command issued a statement about Harriss meeting with Turnbull. Over breakfast, the leaders discussed the alliance, regional security issues, and Australias key role in the US strategic rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific, it said. They also discussed ways to deepen cooperation in maintaining the rules-based order in which all countries can prosper and pursue their interests peacefully according to international law. The reference to leaders itself points to Harriss elevation, as a military officer, to the status of a significant political figure. Over the past year, the admiral has played a vocal role in inflaming tensions with China, particularly over its territorial claims and island reclamation operations in the South China Sea. During a trip to Beijing last November, he provocatively warned his hosts that the US military would continue to fly, sail and operate whenever and wherever international law allows. The South China Sea is notand will notbe an exception. For much of 2015, Harris pressed for Obama to authorise freedom of navigation operations within the 12-nautical mile territorial limit surrounding Chinese-controlled reefs. In March, speaking in Canberra, the admiral implied that Chinas land reclamation activities in the region posed a threat, describing it as creating a great wall of sand. Last October 27, the USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer, intruded within the 12-mile limit surrounding at least one Chinese-administered islet in the Spratly Islands. This deliberate violation of Chinese territorial claims had nothing to do with freedom of navigation or upholding international law. It marked an escalation of the Obama administrations pivot or rebalance to Asiaan all-encompassing diplomatic, economic and military strategy aimed at isolating China and subordinating it to US interests, by war if necessary. On January 15, just days before hosting Turnbull, the admiral delivered another belligerent speech, thanking local Hawaiian officials for their contribution to the rebalance. After emphasising Hawaiis role as the cockpit of the Pentagons plans to base 60 percent of US military forces in the Asia Pacific region, Harris accused China of aggressive actions in the South China Sea as well as disturbing rhetoric about restricting freedom of navigation. Beijing has repeatedly denied any intention to interfere with shipping through the sea, through which much of Chinas trade passes. But a central component of the Pentagons war plans against China is to ensure control of strategic waterways so as to mount an economic blockade of, as well as offensive military operations against, the Chinese mainland. Harris declared that Chinas actions, plus the ambiguity surrounding its military strategy were causing great concern throughout the theaterthus nominating the region as a potential theater of war. He also referred to Australia as a staunch ally that was critical to our theater strategy. Harris said the Rebalance is reassuring our allies and partners, and the Rebalance is enabling us to grow new partnerships with nations like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam and many more. These partners were working with the US to reject coercive attempts to undermine the security architecture in the region. Reiterating the importance of Australia to this line-up, the admiral added an aggressive reference to the US Marines currently rotating annually through the strategic northern Australian port of Darwin. They say that Australia is home to 9 of the 10 most dangerous creatures on the planet, Harris said, and now that we have over 1,200 Devil Dogs in Darwin, Australia has all 10! This Marine force is due to increase to 2,500 troops by next year. In Washington, Turnbull reaffirmed his governments commitment to the Obama administrations military build-up against China, as well as the US-led war in Iraq and Syria. He also used a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent US government-backed think tank, to warn that China must stop construction on the islands and reefs it controls in the South China Sea and refrain from militarisation. He called on all parties in the territorial disputes to do the same, but his comments were clearly directed against China, echoing a standard line from Washington. If Australia were to openly join the US in conducting freedom of navigation operations through Chinese-claimed territories in the South China Sea, that would enable Washington to depict its confrontational approach as a regional one, not purely a US initiative. The Australian Financial Reviews North American correspondent John Kehoe reported that when Turnbull met Obama and Pentagon officials in Washington, it is understood he did not receive a request for Australia to physically participate in future freedom of navigation exercise[s], but a range of possible other tactics were broached. Kehoe said the Turnbull government also planned to continue to speak out publicly against Chinas aggressive reclamation efforts, despite being reluctant to confront Beijing directly in a freedom of navigation exercise, partly because China is Australias largest trading partner. An editorial in yesterdays Australian endorsed Turnbulls delicate stance, reflecting Australian capitalisms heavy dependence on exports of raw materials to China. It differed with a call by the Labor Partys defence spokesman Stephen Conroy for Australia to mount its own military operations in Chinese-claimed areas. In this context, Turnbulls visit to Hawaii for talks with Admiral Harris is another warning sign of intensifying US plans to confront China, with the Australian population placed on the front line of any military conflict. The House of Representatives is clearly ready to ratify all but very few of the 340 laws issued in the past two years. Anyway, the majority of these laws are difficult to reverse, or are not significant enough to merit review. But there are 1015 laws that deserve a substantive debate, either due to their vital social importance (such as the civil service law), their negative repercussions on the economy (the investment law and the law on the Suez Gulf economic zone), or their infringement of the constitution (criminal laws restricting freedoms and civil society). I discussed these in detail last week so theres no need for a replay here. Nevertheless, the parliaments wholesale endorsement of so much legislation is worrying. It suggests the assembly is abandoning its constitutionally designated role of reviewing laws issued by the president. More worrying is that arguments made to approve legislation without any serious debate are based on three false assumptions. First, such appeals assume the constitution gave MPs only two choices: ratify the laws in whole or reject them in whole. If rejected, all their legal and economic consequences would be reversed. This, however, is a misinterpretation of Article 156 of the constitution, which gives the parliament a third option: reject a law and send it back to the assembly for discussion while retaining its effects, to avoid upsetting existing legal and economic rights arising from these laws. The constitution is crystal clear on this point, but this third option was disregarded to affirm the inevitable adoption of all the laws. The second assumption is that rejecting some presidential economic and social legislation will impede reform and suggest that the parliament doesnt appreciate the difficult economic circumstances. Some officials have even said that rejecting any economic law could hinder or preclude already agreed upon foreign aid and loans. This argument is unacceptable since the parliament has the sovereign power to legislate. The threatened loss of foreign financing is beside the point. In fact parliament must intervene to understand the conditions and restrictions of such funding, which have not been disclosed to the public. The third assumption is that a parliamentary review of the 340 laws issued from January 18, 2014 to January 9, 2016 is no more than a formal procedure necessary to satisfy constitutional requirements. Theres no need to delve into the substance of the lawsthat would cast doubt on the government and president who issued them. But this again is a highly misleading argument. The constitution is based on the balance of powers; and parliamentary oversight of the executive is part of such balance and is no insult to the executive. Otherwise, whats the need for a parliament? Many people who followed the first parliamentary sessions were troubled by the tumultuous proceedings, fearing the performance and credibility of the assembly would suffer in the future. I think its still too early to judge a legislature of this size. Many of the more boisterous voices will soon calm down and be replaced by serious MPs striving after the public interest rather than the media spotlight. But this wont happen unless parliament reclaims its full legislative authority and insists on debating all submissions from the government with the required diligence and detail, refusing to bow to pressures, even those wrapped in concern for the tight deadline and the need to support the government. I hope the parliament wields its constitutional power of reviewnot to obstruct the economy, undermine international agreements, or question the competence of the executive - but to repeal several flawed, unconstitutional laws issued over the past two years and to restore the proper order of things, in which the parliament holds undisputed legislative power. The writer holds a PhD in financial law from the London School of Economics. He is former deputy prime minister, former chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority and former chairman of the General Authority for Investment. This article was published in Arabic in El-Shorouq newspaper on Monday, 18 January. Search Keywords: Short link: TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- More than 400 people have signed a petition to push back what time high school starts in Leon County. The movement has been gaining interest at the Leon County School Board meets next week. The push to start school later has been part of an ongoing national conversation. Much of the argument comes from several scientific studies, making connections between start times and students' physical and mental health. Kimberly Dramon, the parent of a local eighth grader, says she worries about how her son will adjust to the time change when he goes to high school. Currently, middle school starts at 9:30 a.m., and high school starts two hours earlier at 7:30 a.m. Dramon says teens typically sleep later than other students, and having to wake up earlier to go to school is an unfair challenge. "There's a lot of stress on teenagers these days," Dramon said. "They've got to do so many things right now to be competitive. Why don't we just give them an extra hour of sleep? At least! To try to give them a better chance at being successful." A Facebook group called "Start School Later Leon County" is asking the community to get involved. There will be a workshop Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Howell Building on Pensacola Street, which will be followed by the school board meeting at 6 p.m. The group is aiming for 500 signatures on the petition, which they plan to deliver to Superintendent Jackie Pons. On an April day in 1948 a small plane landed in Bukittinggi, a mountain town in West Sumatra. At the time Indonesia was in turmoil, divided between Republican forces attempting to forge an independent state from the post-World War II chaos, and the resurgent Dutch, determined to regain and retain their former colonial territories. Bukittinggi was an isolated republican outpost, and the plane had had to run a Dutch air blockade to get there. Aboard the aircraft was a 31-year-old Englishman named John Coast. This was his very first visit to Indonesia. And yet, he was already a committed recruit to the anti-colonial cause, "a fairly sincere example of that type of Englishman which for odd, idealistic reasons, becomes emotionally mixed up with remote causes..." Coast's extraordinary memoir of his time working for the Indonesian cause in the late 1940s, Recruit to Revolution, was first published in 1952. It has now been reissued in an excellent scholarly edition edited by Laura Noszlopy. The book is a combination of high adventure, partisan politics, and astute observation, and as a first-hand account by a man who was at once insider and outsider in the Republican milieu, it is highly unusual among literature on the Indonesian revolution. Coast's journey to Indonesia had been an improbable one. It began when, as a prisoner of war in Japanese-occupied Burma, he was introduced to the delights of Javanese and Balinese classical dance by Indonesian fellow inmates. Coast was a serious dance aficionado, and this glimpse was enough to incline him towards Indonesian nationalism. He always insisted that, all political sympathies aside, his primary reason for committing to the cause was that "eventually I wanted to take a really perfect Indonesian dancing company round the world to convince all those who saw its performances that the culture of Indonesia was a thing of excellence" It was an ambition that he would eventually realize, once Indonesia had finally gained its independence (a story he told in another memoir, Dancing out of Bali). But before that point, there was a battle to win. One of the most interesting aspects of Recruit to Revolution is the light it casts on the far-flung stages upon which minor acts of Indonesian revolution were played out. Coast's active involvement began in the draughty bedsits and stark meeting rooms of post-war London, where inexperienced Indonesian diplomats, attempting to champion their cause internationally, rubbed shoulders with British socialists and sundry other radicals. From here, Coast travelled to Bangkok, where he had been taken on by the British Foreign Office to work as a press officerbut where much of his energy was dedicated to the Indonesian cause. The Thai capital was a hub of diplomacy, where Indonesian and Dutch spokesmen, overseas journalists, Thai politicians, and freebooting airmen mingled in a scene that might have been drawn from the pages of a Graham Greene novel. Released by the British Foreign Office in 1948, Coast finally reached Indonesia itself, touching down in the temporary Republican capital at Yogyakarta after his stopover in Bukittinggi. There he was employed as a sort of international press attache cum special advisor. One of his most important early tasks was in organizing the terrifying blockade-running flights which carried supplies, missives, and officials between republican territories and Singapore and Thailand. In the story of these flights, Recruit to Revolution features a cast of forgotten figures from the sidelines of Indonesia's independence struggle. The flights were generally piloted by Bangkok-based airmen originally from Britain or America, men like Dave Fowler, Wade Palmer, and Bob Freeberg whose statuses and motivations teetered between mercenary and idealist. Other bit-players, otherwise lost to history, appear in Coast's account here tooincluding Pungpit, an understandably bad-tempered Thai stewardess who somehow ended up handing out drinks on the rickety blockade-running flights. It is in the sections about blockade-running that Recruit to Revolution contains its greatest air of adventure, and there are echoes of Antoine de Saint-Exupery in the accounts of the tiny, poorly maintained planes dodging both Dutch antiaircraft guns and tropical weather systems in settings of ethereal, if hazardous, beauty: "Landing in Singapore by night is a luxurious experience. The island lies below you like a gigantic piece of thick, black velvet, and the pale greens and yellows and whites of its myriad lights seem somehow to be deeply embedded in its rich texture, exactly as if a fantastic number of precious stones have been carelessly tumbled out into the darkness below..." For students of Indonesian history, meanwhile, the book's greatest interest lies in Coast's first-hand account of life within the beleaguered Republic, a scene he convincingly describes as "a mixture of the gallant and the pathetic, of high hope and fatalistic resignation." Coast was, of course, a committed and self-conscious partisan. When he spoke of "us" and "we" at the time, he notes, he meant "we Indonesians," and he was inclined to regard the belligerent Dutch as "armored hoodlums." But he was enough of an outsider to retain an ability to judge the nascent Indonesian state and its leading figures critically at times. He also displayed an intelligent grasp of the complexities and the contexts of the political situation, and had no particular inclination to inflate the significance of his own role. In this Recruit to Revolution stands in marked contrast to the memoir of another notorious foreign recruit to the Indonesian revolution, the self-styled "K'tut Tantri", a British-American woman whose Revolt in Paradise, while highly entertaining, is mainly a wildly unreliable exercise in self-glorification. Tantri had already departed Indonesia by the time Coast arrived, and he mentions her only once, in passing, as "a lady from the Island of Man." Coast also had a sharp eye for the humanizing details so often lost in grand historical narratives: the exhaustion of the veteran independence leader Agus Salim; Mohammad Hatta's tendency to rapidly gain and lose weight. The book also contains one of the finest accounts available of Sukarno, Indonesia's flamboyant first president, in oratorical action. Coast notes that: "His power can be frightening, for the man who can command the mob is the man who can control the most potent, the most fearful and the most primitive of all forces," an observation given a chilling frisson by the knowledge that, before World War II and before his subsequent and total political about turn, the young Coast had flirted seriously with fascism. John Coast remained with the Indonesian Republic after its existence was finally accepted by the former colonial power in 1949, taking a post as a public relations expert at the Foreign Ministry. Later he engineered a permanent leave of absence and moved to Bali, where he was at last able to put into action his planfirst conceived in a prison camp in Burmafor bringing Indonesian dance to the wider world. Later he returned to London, where his life remained distinctly colorful: he became a popular music impresario, working with everyone from Bob Dylan to Ravi Shankar, and was also involved in screenwriting and documentary making, until his death in 1989. All this will surely make rich material for the Coast biography upon which editor Laura Noszlopy is currently working. In the meantime, readers have access to a unique personal view of the birth of modern Indonesia, and an intriguing introduction to the person of John Coast, through this new edition of Recruit to Revolution. Tim Hannigan is an author and journalist specializing in Indonesia and the Indian Subcontinent. His Raffles and the British Invasion of Java won the 2013 John Brooks Award Reprinted with permission from The Asian Review of Books YAKIMA, Wash. -- A Yakima business that produces lollipops made with Yakima Valley hops is in the running for a spot in the Samuel Adams Brewi Goods made for one- or two-member households are rapidly becoming the most popular items in the market these days. The changing family structure in Korea is exerting a significant influence across the consumer products and services industries. Daewoo Electronics sells a small-capacity air conditioner which has become popular with singles and dual-income families living in studio apartments. Since its launch two years ago, sales of the product have grown 50 percent a year. Half-sized washing machines weighing only six kg are also enjoying surging sales. Haier, a Chinese brand, has even introduced a mini-washing machine that weighs about three kg. "Compact appliances have traditionally been targeted at Japanese consumers, but the domestic consumer base for such products recently has grown even larger," said Chae Kyung-ah, an executive at Daewoo Electronics. "While bigger household appliances have been popular as dowry items, nowadays compact products are selling just as well." In the housing market, demand for small apartments and studios has skyrocketed. Prices for 46-sq.m homes at Hill State Apartments in Samseong-dong, which opened last December, have jumped dramatically, with some now exceeding W400 million. Prices for 39-sq.m homes at Regents Apartments in Jamsil-dong have climbed more than W60 million since last year, and now currently range from W380 million to W410 million. Although it was believed that many of these small apartments would be difficult to sell as they were forcibly constructed under the government's reconstruction policies, they have since become popular among individuals and two-member households. Kim Seon-deok, director of the Construction Industry Strategy Research Center, said, "The increase in the number of people living alone has boosted demand for small, practical residences located within metropolitan areas and close to work, with easy access to public transportation and other conveniences." Meanwhile, the growing number of households with pets is stimulating pet-related businesses and industries. The Korea Pet Products Manufacturers' Association estimates that some 10 million Koreans own pets, while the value of the market for pet goods and services is close to W1 trillion. The growth of the market has spawned not only hospitals, hotels, cafes, preschools, hairdressers, and clothes for pets, but professions such as pet undertakers. Now some credit card companies even offer discount coupons for pet care and pet medical insurance. "The rapid growth of the domestic pet market since 2000 is closely connected to the rise in the number of one- and two-member households," said Professor Suh Seung-kyo of Daegu Polytechnic College. The matchmaking industry is also changing. The increasing number of remarriages has created an important source of income for matchmakers, with some businesses now mainly specializing in remarriage. "A firm specializing in remarriages made a sensation last year by becoming the second-highest earning company in the industry," said a market insider. "The proportion of remarriages in the matchmaking market has grown from five percent to 20 percent in a decade." The rise in the number of families comprised of working moms and stay-at-home dads has also prompted companies to create products targeted at such househusbands, such as baby interpreters, diaper bags and easy-to-use vacuum cleaners and rice cookers. Shinsegae Department Store recently installed diaper changing stations -- previously exclusive to women's restrooms -- in men's bathrooms as well. In fact, the National Statistical Office last year forecast stay-at-home dads to be an emerging consumer group. Professor Lee Dong-jin of the School of Business at Yonsei University believes the market for products designed for one- or two-member families will continue to expand. "Systematic approaches and analyses of lifestyles and values of such households are needed in order to effectively attract them to the market," Lee said. A two-year-old girl who returned to Israel with her parents after visiting South America was diagnosed as carrying the Zika virus by the Health Ministry's central laboratory in Tel HaShomer. She was released in generally good condition and is not considered a hazard to others, as the virus mostly infects through mosquito bites. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported three new Zika infections in the US. All three were also recent returns from South America, and are in good condition. Mosquito bites are the main way the zika virus infects people. (Photo: Shutterstock) Zika is mainly limited to flu-like symptoms, but can sometimes cause complications. It generally takes between three and 12 days before symptoms such as fever, rashes, joint pains, and redness in the eyes - become apparent. In rare cases, the disease can cause more severe neurological complications that lead to paralysis. The CDC has issued travel warnings for the heavily infected area, especially aimed at pregnant women, whose fetuses can be endangered if they are infected. The Zika virus has no direct treatment or vaccine. Infected patients are usually treated for their symptoms, including hospitalization, fluid intake and frequent monitoring. The disease usually subsides within a few days. "What we need to do is adopt norms that were accepted by the US House of Representatives." These were the words with which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened a recent government meeting , after announcing changes for the NGO identification bill proposed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. But when you read the draft bill, which is set to be voted on by the Knesset next week, you see that Netanyahu is supporting a bill that doesnt exist in the US or in any other democratic nation. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter In fact, the justice minister's proposal contains draconian clauses that severely violate people's basic right for freedom of speech, and are reminiscent more of Russia and North Korea than the US. The American procedure Netanyahu was referencing merely consists of the requirement of any representative of an organization appearing in front of a House committee to give a statement detailing the funding the organization received from foreign governments or the American government. PM Netanyahu. Compared the new bill to procedures in the US Congress. (Photo: Reuters) In comparison, the Israeli bill requires any NGO that receives over 50 percent of its funding from a foreign government state that it is supported by donor nations in every one of its official publications, including newspaper ads, road signs, and even Facebook posts. Such an extreme situation, in which the government dictates what an organization must write in every official publication or letter, doesn't exist in any sector in Israel and certainly doesn't have any equivalent in the democratic world, including the United States. If the bill becomes law, it would be the first time the state dictates what its citizens must write and say, and forces any NGO representative to go through public shaming in a discriminatory and vicious manner. Furthermore, the bill perpetuates the discrimination between right and left-wing NGOs, and will bring about a situation in which an NGO that accepts donations from foreign association, foundations, and private donors will be able to express its position freely and without revealing the sources of its finances at all. On the other hand, an NGO that accepts donations from foreign governments as well will not only be forced to disclose these donations in special public forms as is the case today it will be forced to write it in every official document, to create the impression that its main goal is fulfilling the donor country's will. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Admittedly, the NGO labeling bill will not include representatives having to wear a badge while visiting the Knesset, as Netanyahu ordered, but its other clauses that demand the NGO's representatives to mention their sources of funding at every moment, are several times worse. In principle, they're no different from wearing a badge on one's clothes. When Netanyahu demands transparency, he forgets to mention that MK Ze'ev Elkin already passed a special law that deals exclusively with donations from foreign nations, according to which every NGO must reveal the donations it receives from other governments every quarter. The Israeli law is also more severe than the American procedure, since it applies to all NGOs, not just those that appear before the parliament. Unsurprisingly, the Israeli law differs from the American procedure when transparency is concerned as it does not require NGOs funded by the State of Israel to be transparent. The situation as it is today and the bill proposed by Minister Shaked give "immunity to right-wing organizations and don't demand transparency about money that comes from the State of Israel or from foreign residents." Peace Now General Director Yariv Oppenheimer (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) I asked the general director of left-wing NGO Peace Now, Yariv Oppenheimer, what he thought about the bill that will be brought to a vote at the Knesset next week. "Over the past few weeks," Oppenheimer said, "the government and right-wing organizations have been running a campaign with the sole purpose of delegitimizing anyone who thinks differently from them. This campaign's climax is the NGO labeling bill, which turns Im Tirtzu's 'plant' campaign into official Israeli law." "The very thought," he continued, "that the government will decide for me what is written in an ad or a Facebook post, in order to force me to present myself as representing foreign interests is angering and outrageous. The anger intensifies when the law is pointed only towards certain NGOs and the rest of the right-wing organizations can keep enjoying foreign donations and undisclosed state financing without the public ever finding out about it." TORONTO - A gunman opened fire at a high school and a second location in an aboriginal community in northern Saskatchewan on Friday, leaving four dead and at least two injured, officials said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said from Davos, Switzerland that a suspect was in custody. Trudeau initially said five died, but police later corrected that to four. Kevin Janvier told The Associated Press that his 23-year old daughter Marie, a teacher, was shot dead by the gunman. He said police told him that the gunman first shot two of his siblings before killing his daughter. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed hope in an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu towards the normalization of ties with Turkey. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We are talking to them (Turkish officials), and they are talking to us and if we succeed, that will be good for both countries," Netanyahu told the news agency on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. We are always hopeful," he added. Turkish President Erdogan and PM Netanyahu (Photos: AP, GPO) Last month, it was reported that Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, at the time Israel's national security advisor, and Joseph Ciechanover, Netanyahu's envoy to talks with Turkey, met in secret with the Turkish Foreign Ministry's director general Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu in Switzerland. The representatives of the two countries were able to reach a number of understandings towards the normalization of relations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed his desire to normalize ties with Israel , some five years after the Israeli raid on the Marmara flotilla that tried to break the blockade over Gaza. Ten Turkish citizens were killed during the raid. "Israel is in need of a country like Turkey in the region," Erdogan said. "And we too must accept that we need Israel. This is a reality in the region." Despite this, Ankara is still raising obstacles. A senior Turkish official stressed that Turkey demands complete, free access to the Gaza Strip The Turkish official, who spoke to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, said Turkey wants access so that it can provide any aid necessary to the Palestinians living there. "Turkey is committed to reject any limitations on Turkish aid to Gaza," said the source. A 20-year-old Palestinian woman tried to stab a security guard at the entrance to the settlement of Anathoth in the West Bank's Binyamin region on Saturday morning. The security guard shot her and neutralized her before she was able to hurt him. She is in critical condition. Initial investigation into the attack found the Palestinian woman tried to stab the security guard while he was trying to identify her. He managed to dodge the knife and then shoot her. Police and IDF forces that arrived at the scene are trying to ascertain where the would-be stabber came from. ANKARA - Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Iranian counterpart on Saturday in Tehran, where they will discuss how to improve economic and political ties after international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Xi was welcomed by President Hassan Rouhani in Sa'dabad palace in northern Tehran. The Chinese president will meet Iran's most powerful figure, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, later in the day. "China is seeking to improve bilateral ties with Iran to start a new season of comprehensive, long-term and sustainable relations with the Islamic Republic," President Xi was quoted as saying by Iran's state news agency, IRNA, on his arrival in Tehran on Friday night. "Some 16 accords, including a strategic cooperation agreement, will be signed during the Chinese President's Iran visit," Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour said, according to state television. Trade between Iran and China stood at around $52 billion in 2014, Rahimpour said, but falling oil prices caused it to drop last year. Over the past few months I have been visiting American campuses. Ive also met with students who are affiliated with Open Hillel, an initiative that wants, or so they claim, to allow for a little more openness to criticism against Israel at Hillel clubs on campuses. The initiative has been publicly backed by a group of professors. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter There's no doubt that "openness," "the freedom of expression," and "inclusion" are important components in any student and academic activity. There's no doubt that students and lecturers who deviate from the song of the choir and voice different opinions need a lot of courage. There's no doubt that barring irritating positions is against the principle of free thinking. So every initiative that wants to broaden the canvas in order to allow for public discussions that encourages the plurality of opinions rather than a limitation of opinions - should be welcomed. The thing is, every text has a context. And the context is that on many campuses in the US, there are many groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Islamic associations, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and many others. They have a lot of power. They act, sometimes with violence, against Israelis coming onto campuses. Sometimes it's just because they're Israeli, regardless of their opinions. This phenomenon is called a boycott. The members of these groups, most of whom support the BDS Movement, are the ones behind a campaign to silence other opinions. So an interesting thing is happening here - in order to strengthen "openness" and "inclusion," we seek to open the door to those who use violence against openness. Open Hillel Conference. Facing all of these groups, on some of the campuses, there is one group - only one - Hillel, which is trying to give Jewish students one space - just one - that would be clean of anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli propaganda. The three are not always the same thing. In recent years, differences between them have eroded. And now, there are those who seek to take away even this small space, so the exact same anti-Israeli opinions are voiced again - those already voiced over and over again everywhere else. Has anyone asked JVP to form Open JVP, so the claim can be voiced that real Israel is a little bit different than the one their activists and lecturers told them about? I once met two students from JVP. They were surprised by the facts I presented them with. I've asked them to organize a meeting with all members of their JVP branch. Several days later, they were ashamed to admit that the heads of the group rejected the idea out of hand. It's the same story in most or all of the other groups. Did anyone seek to form Open SJP in order to voice the fact the Arabs and Palestinians, time and again, rejected any peace initiative based on two states to two peoples? Did anyone ask one of the Islamist associations to present the real picture of Hamas, who calls for the annihilation of Jews and Christians (yes, Christians too. That's what Hamas' TV channel is broadcasting)? Do they know that senior Hamas spokespeople, just like the Islamic State, are preaching the takeover of Rome and America? How many students even know that Hamas' charter calls for the annihilation of Jews? All of these things are not happening, because there is no open discussion, there's no freedom of expression, there's no inclusion and no openness. In many of the campuses, only one opinion is allowed. Instead of demanding the anti-Israel associations to allow for a broader selection of views, Hillel is being demanded to repeat the venomous anti-Israel propaganda that is already coming from all of the other groups. The result is that many students, both Jews and non-Jews, are operating in an environment in which they have no basic information about the Middle East conflict. Every involved student knows about the Nakba, the catastrophe, which created the Palestinian refugee problem during the 1948 War of Independence. But how many of them know about the Jewish Nakba? How many know that more Jews were expelled from Arab states? How many of them know they were disinherited of their property? How many of them know that in those years, tens of millions went through the difficult experience of population transfer? And how many know the "occupation" in 1967 was a result of a declaration of war in which both the Arab League and all of the leaders of the Arab states announced their intention to annihilate the Jews? And why weren't they presented with the simple question: Why is it that over the course of two decades - from 1949 to 1967 - when the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were under Arab control, a Palestinian state was not established? After all, Israel wasn't there. I could go on and on, the list is long. Most students, even those who visit Hillel clubs regularly, don't know the basic facts. That's because there is no open debate. That's because there's an effort to silence other voices. That's because there's a ban on any position that doesn't fit with the opinions of those who want to lead Open Hillel today. Former Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg at Open Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania. In order to see how it works one must remember, for example, who were the stars of the Open Hillel conference: Prof. Rashid Khalidi, Judith Butler, and Peter Beinart. They belong to the radical end of the spectrum. Some of them support a boycott on Israel. If this is Open Hillel, which demands open debates, why is it that there wasn't a single lecturer - not even one - with a different position? After all, when most of the opinions being voiced on campuses, even by lecturers or student associations, are anti-Israel, then there is an urgent, important and vital need for an open debate. There's a need for an open space, in which students can be told everything they don't know and don't hear because of the ban on any pro-Israel position. Some of the professors on Open Hillel's academic council are public supporters of the BDS Movement. It's important to clarify: BDS is not against the occupation, and is not in favor of peace with Israel, nor does it support human rights. The BDS Movements, as its main spokespeople - Omar Barghouti and Ali Abunimah - declare openly, is against the very existence of Israel. And the BDS Movement, just as its name suggests, is against having a dialogue with Israelis. The BDS Movement, again as its name suggests, refuses to hear about or allow positions that support peace based on the right of both nations for self-determination. So the BDS Movement is now the biggest enemy of dialogue, the peace process, and open debate. How many students are aware of the BDS Movement's real ideology? Two months ago I asked two students who support Open Hillel if they ever heard from a pro-Israel speaker, or invited one for a lecture. They looked at each other. They haven't heard from a pro-Israel speaker, nor have they invited one for a lecture. But they were very informed of the claims, most of which are fictitious, against Israel. So where exactly is the "open" part of the name, I asked them. They once again looked at each other. Those who are only exposed to one position are not open minded, they're narrow minded. And this is how this absurd situation was created. Those who support the boycott and the silencing of differing opinions, are suddenly pretending to be great supporters of open dialogue, inclusion, and of hearing different views. Israel is a democracy. It's doubtful there is any other country that has the kind of open and piercing self-criticism as in Israel. Yours truly, it's important to note, is no fan of the current government's policies either. When the need arises - I provide piercing criticism. But there is a difference between criticism and propaganda of lies. There's a difference between open dialogue and places where the environment bars different opinions. The problem with Open Hillel is that it seeks to add more of what already exists: More speakers against Israel, further strengthening the brainwashing against Israel. Those who support an open debate should voice the opposite opinion: No boycotts, no propaganda of lies, but instead an open and fair debate, in which even those who have something good to say about Israel could voice their opinions on campuses without needing body guards. That should have been Open Hillel's real fight. It's not too late to start. Bullying at work may be much more serious than it appears. In a survey conducted by job-search site Saramin on 2,975 office workers early this year, 45 percent of respondents said that bullying occurs in their workplaces. Some 58.3 percent said they have seen colleagues quit their jobs because of this. Bullying at work comes in many forms. The most frequently cited case was of a team leader singling out one employee and encouraging other members of the team to gang up on them. The second-biggest scourge mentioned was when a number of workers ostracize one of their colleagues. There are also cases of employees ostracizing their boss. Although bullying is rampant in workplaces, the majority of companies do not seem to take this social ill seriously. Rather, in some cases, companies fire the bullied employee for disrupting the harmony of the organization. Lee Jun-hee at the Korea Employers Federation said, "Just as companies run mandatory education programs to prevent sexual harassment in the office, so they should recognize the seriousness of bullying and come up with preventative measures." A 13-year-old Palestinian girl tried to stab a civilian security guard at the entrance to the settlement of Anathoth in the West Bank's Binyamin region on Saturday morning. The security guard shot and killed her before she was able to hurt him. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Initial investigation found that the Palestinian girl, Raqiya Abu Eid, had a fight with her family, leading her to leave her home in the nearby village of 'Anata with a knife in her bag, apparently planning to die. Her father went after her, but arrived at the scene shortly after the attempted stabbing. The would-be attacker after she was shot dead at the scene of the attempted stabbing (Photo: Police) When she arrived in Anathoth at around 8am, she encountered the settlement's security guard who asked her to identify herself, leading her to run towards the guard, knife-in-hand. The guard managed to dodge the knife and then shoot her, critically wounding her. Paramedics tried to resuscitate her, but had to declare her dead at the scene. The girl's father was arrested and taken for questioning at the Ma'ale Adumim police station, and police will try to ascertain whether the family knew the girl intended to stab Israelis and if so, whether they did anything to stop her. Her mother, Reeda Abu Eid, said there had been no trouble before her daughter left the family home, a tent in the Palestinian village 'Anata. "Her father works in a farm and Raqiya used to go to him. I didn't see her when she left so I expected she had gone to her father," she said. "Raqiya is a small girl, how could she stab someone?" The family is originally from the village of Yatta, near Hebron, and has only recently moved to 'Anata. Statistics show that a third of the attackers or would-be attackers in the current wave of violence have been under the age of 20, with the most recent of them being Othman Shaalan, 19, who carried out the stabbing attack in Tekoa that wounded Michal Fruman, and Morad Adais, 16, who murdered Dafna Meir in Otniel. The door of the Meir family home in Otniel is painted intense blue. The fresh paint is vivid and full of life. Mother Dafna, with uncontainable joy, painted the door herself, energetically stroking the brush and softly singing as she worked. On Sunday this week, she moved on to painting the doorpost white. And then, on the threshold of the home, her holiest of places, she was stabbed to death. The pure white was stained with red blood. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Dafna painted the door after we made a barter," Tehiya Hillel, a friend and close neighbor, says. "She, as the great priestess of thousands of women in everything to do with sexuality, femininity and relations, taught me about fertility, and I, as an amateur stylist, helped her redecorate the house. We went through each room, and together with the children and the father Natan, she planned what to redo in each of them. She also had moments in which she cried when she had to get rid of sentimental objects from her past. It was an amazing process. The physical structure of the house, just like anything else for Dafna, had spiritual meaning. Redecorating it was not something technical for her; it was yet another layer in life, after her skin and clothes. Especially as this house, which she built with Natan, was the first home that was truly hers." Behind the blue door the husband now sits. He's surrounded with Dafna's heartbroken friends, army friends, friends from the yeshiva, neighbors, and even strangers, who came from far and wide to bow their heads and take in something of her strength. Natan asks for the consolers' names, hugs them, and personally thanks anyone who comes to share the pain. And just like the life he built with his wife, a life of a deep and complex connection between contradictions, he cries and laughs, laughs and cries. Dafna Meir's husband, children and adoptive mother at her funeral (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) "If Dafna were here, we'd all be holding our stomachs with laughter," Natan says and the tears in his eyes make way for a mischievous spark. A smile peeks from under his chestnut beard as another witty joke his wife once told floods his memory. "One of the first things I asked the children after the murder was whether they were angry," he says, suddenly serious. "But not one of them expressed anger. I'm not angry either. This isn't the language we speak. Dafna had a friendship with Dr. Ahmad Nasser, a young Arab doctor she worked with as a nurse in Soroka. He called to ask if he could come to offer his condolences. I was a bit offended. We're people of peace; we are lovers of man, and lovers of life. It bothers me that I even have to explain it. Our home is open for all, all are invited, you don't even need to ask." Dafna and Natan are not rare birds in Otniel. The settlement, which numbers 150 families, is characterized by spirituality and social openness. In the days before the current wave of terror, the community's leaders worked to build a joint industrial area with the nearby villages of Yatta and Dahariya, but the violent attacks put a hold on the plans for local peace. "One of my best friends is Otniel's Arab tractor driver, the man responsible for all the earthworks in the settlement," Natan says. "We're the same age, married in the same year and our children are the same age. I convinced him not to marry a second wife and promised him I won't marry a second wife either. For a while I worked in construction, that's when the connection was made. I came to his village. There was one really funny incident. He's a giant, really big guy, and he tried to grab me from behind and scare me. I had two bags of sand in my hands and I poured it all over him, and we both wrestled and couldn't stop laughing. He's a real friend, not just any guy. When we needed to raise money for the kindergartens here in Otniel, I went to him and asked him to donate, and he gave several thousands of shekels just because I asked and I'm his friend. I'm sure that if he had met the terrorist, he would've killed him on the spot for daring to stab Dafna." Natan is uncomfortable with the journalists around him. He stresses that he's not giving interviews; he's sitting shiva, and invites the reporters to be part of it, to console, to talk about his wife without any poses or pretense, without putting on a sad face for the cameras. "I realize that Dafna is no longer just my Dafna," Natan says. "It hurts and it's emotional. Once, there was a photo of her in one of the women's magazines and she was so excited, she was really stoked with herself. I told her, 'Dafna, why do you need this?' But she loved it, wanted to be famous." How did you meet her? "It's a romantic story, prepare the tissues. We met at an army post in southern Lebanon. I was sent there as a medic in a field unit. I was told there was a religious female soldier there, an Air Force lookout. Poor thing, looking at the blue sky all day and all night looking at the dark sky through a night-vision machine. Very boring. I was also somewhat of a religion NCO there, because the scouts kept made the kitchen traif (non-kosher). "Ahead of Passover, there were a lot of issues of kashrut, and I was looking for the religious soldier to update her on the details. I remember I hardly dared look at her, a yeshiva student like me, a goodie two shoes. I showed her where the synagogue was. Synagogue? More like a little tent. I told her I was there every now and again and that she was welcome to come, if she needed to ask me anything. Dafna really did come to the synagogue tent, and after that guarded with me for half a shift. I fell in love with her instantly, head over heels. Such a small soldier, with a lot of energy and a mane of rebellious curls. When she left the post it was horrible, really depressing, to stay alone for the rest of the guarding shift." Dafna Meir with husband Natan. A romantic story. Shortly before Seder night 19 years ago, Natan asked Dafna where she planned to spend the holiday. The young soldier said the plan was to find a retirement home of some sort and offer to volunteer there. Natan, however, made it clear to her he wanted her to come spend the holiday with him. "I realized this was a lone soldier, who had nowhere to spend the holiday, and of course I also wanted to be close to her. She really did come over for Seder night, and after the holiday we went on a walk, and it was already obvious to both of us that it was forever. I told her that for the sake of my punctilious parents we won't talk about marriage just yet, we'll give them some time to get used to the idea," he laughs again, despite the pain. One of their friends from the army remembers how love blossomed between the two. "It was a time when Natan was completely losing it, he would forget to show up for guard duty. All he did was spend time with Dafna. Natan was happy, but we suffered." "When my father saw my cellphone bill, he said it would be better if we got married. So we did," Natan continues. "We came here, to Otniel. I went to yeshiva here. I remember Dafna walked into the house and told me, 'This is the first time I have a home. A home of my own.' She had an old bag, with some personal items she would take everywhere. That's all she had. She once told me how someone threw the only doll she had out the window." Going toe-to-toe with a rabbi Dafna, the youngest child with two older brothers, had a difficult childhood. When she was five, her father, a Holocaust survivor, left home. Her mother kept raising her, but when she was 10 she was taken away to boarding school. Two years later she arrived at the Tirat Zvi kibbutz and that's where she lived until she joined the army. During that time, the kibbutz found her a host family from central Israel. The Muati family invited her over for holidays and Shabbats and as the years went by, adopted her. After they got married, the couple had four children: Renana, 17, Akiva, 15, Noa, 11, and Ahava, 10. The pregnancies, and giving birth, were not easy for Dafna. When she had Renana, Natan says, Dafna's life was in real danger. Five years ago, the couple decided to fulfill a condition Dafna made when Natan asked for her hand in marriage. They decided to give a home to two foster children, brothers - Nadav and Itay (in accordance with the law, these are not their real names), who were three months and a year and a half old at the time, and are now five and six and a half. Natan and son Akiva embrace in front of Dafna's body at the funeral (Photo: Reuters) "I remember when mom and dad came to ask us, the children, if we were okay with taking in Itay and Nadav," says Renana, who has orange hair and green eyes, and whose intense look and honesty are echoes of her mother. "It was after we passed the entire process and all of the trials for potential foster families. I was the only one among the children who didn't immediately say yes. I wasn't sure I wanted this, that I had the ability in me to open up our small family to others. After a while, I said yes, that I wanted it and agreed to it, and now they're the light of our lives. They bring so much joy to us. Yesterday, when dad gathered all of us, the children, for a talk, the first question we asked was whether they'll take Itay and Nadav away from us. I don't want them to be taken away. We'll keep taking care of them. Dad will keep taking care of them and we're going to help him." Natan with two of his daughters (Photo: TPS) Pnina Gefen, one of Dafna's close friends, says she was a great mother. "The girl who didn't know what home was has built, along with Natan, a palace of plentifulness. She taught herself how to be a mother and knew she was a good mother. Her WhatsApp status was 'the number one mother in the galaxy.' This wasn't vanity; it was her recognizing her own self-worth. She loved herself, learned how not to be critical of herself. She had the ability to forgive herself and others." Natan remembers such forgiveness. "There was a tradesman that caused us a lot of damage," he says. "Dafna spent days convincing me to forgive him. In the end, I didn't have a choice and I forgave." Dafna also found the strength to forgive her father. When he was on his death bed, the two got back in touch and she took care of him with great devotion until he passed away three years ago. But Dafna also knew how to fight for the things she believed in, even when faced with great obstacles. As part of her work helping women with fertility and her belief in a natural lifestyle, she fought for the right of women trying to conceive to dip in the mikveh during the "seven clean days," rather than take hormones to postpone ovulation. When she heard a well-explained halacha ruling that allows women to dip in the mikveh earlier in the month so they could conceive, she told all of her patients about this option. One of the expert rabbis in the field severely rebuked her for this, and claimed there is no important rabbi that allows this. Dafna Meir had great ability to forgive. And this is what Dafna wrote him in response: "I don't differentiate between important and non-important rabbis. I don't have a 'wise-o-meter.' As far as I'm concerned, a rabbi who deals with rabbinate work, who received his ordination honestly, follows God's ways and observes his commandments, is a rabbi for all intents and purposes. And a real rabbi that allowed ... God is with him, and so if there is a sin committed, it's on the rabbi, not the couple or the child. That's why I convince people to turn to a rabbi. All of this hatred and condescending that rabbis express towards one another is the biggest and most regretful Chillul Hashem there is in the world. And this I write you with tears. Please, humbly accept this admonishment, which is an unfortunate truth... there is a Lord in heaven who protects me of any slander. And everything is always for the best." The same rabbi responded to Dafna with these words: "I will advise you, from the bottom of my heart and out of a true desire to only help you, not to take upon yourself permissions relating to kareth and half a kareth (offenses whose punishment is death for the offender and his seed - YE). You have too many good purposes to meddle with such things." Husband Natan and daughter Renana during the shiva (Photo: Yochai Hillel) Dafna replied to him with no hesitation, in her own special way: "I don't take anything upon myself. I am not a rabbi. I answer to those who ask me that such permission exists, that there are rabbis who allow it. And I refer them to these rabbis, because to my understanding, it's better for a 'non-important' rabbi to give them that permission, than for them to not have children at all... It's a good thing that there are rabbis willing to endanger their next life for their flock in this life. I don't think God will let these rabbis burn in hell. Nor me - who sent couples to them... in general I'm a good woman who does mitzvas every day. A good woman to my family, my husband, and my children, I treat patients at intensive care in Soroka, raise two foster children at home, in addition to my own children. And I'm not worried about receiving a kareth punishment. God loves me very much. And I definitely don't put much stock when other people, no matter who they are, tell me that I'm at risking of receiving a kareth punishment. I don't talk to people like this, and don't believe in talking like this. You have to try to be good. And that's it." Natan remembers the day he learned of these exchanges. "When I saw some of the correspondence, I grabbed my head in despair. As a yeshiva student, I wasn't used to talking to rabbis like this. But that was Dafna. And in the end that rabbi sent women to her, because he knew she was the most professional, and Dafna wouldn't stop defending him and saying how much he was doing everything out of piety." Her unique character was also expressed in her work at the Neurosurgery Department in Soroka. Alongside her deep bonds with her coworkers, both Arabs and Jews, Dafna had exceptional ties with the patients and their families. "She taught herself Arabic and Russian, and was able to have proper conversations in both of these languages," says Dafna's friend Hillel. "Dafna believed in her ability to communicate with people who suffered head trauma through their spirit. She had full conversations at the hospital with patients who were not conscious. There was one patient who was in a coma for eight months. He was transferred from there, was rehabilitated, and came back to visit the department. When he met Dafna he told her, 'I remember you. I remember your voice. You're the nurse whose shift I waited so much for. You'd sing and talk to me. You kept the flame burning and pulled me back to this world.' Dr. Ahmad Nasser, a close friend of Dafna's at Soroka hospital, standing next to a notice of her death (Photo: Haim Horenstein) "Dafna's entire attitude towards sexuality and fertility also came from a deep spiritual place. For years she ran a blog in which she answered the most intimate questions sent by women, with simplicity and honesty. She would accompany each woman personally, knew how to handle the issues between a woman and her partner with sensitivity, and all out of enthusiasm and charm. She would sit almost every night, for at least two and a half hours, and answer phone calls and e-mails." Natan says Dafna drew even complete strangers to her. "We'd walk into an empty store, in the most out-of-the-way street, and in minutes the place would fill up. I'd ask myself, 'Goodness, where did all of these people come from?' But that was Dafna, with unique powers of attraction." Bennett left his phone number Natan says that in the ten days before the attack, he spent quite a lot of time with his wife. "I got a lot of Dafna hours. I was sick and we spent a lot of time together. In the past few months she decided to work a little less so she can be with the kids more and invest time at home. She just finished redecorating all of it; only the corner with my work tools is left. "On Sunday, Dafna got all of the tools out and started organizing them. I remember that I managed in the morning to thank her for keeping her curls. Every day she'd get up with a mountain of unruly and electrified hair on her head. A while ago she said she was sick of the rebellious curls and she wanted to shave her head. I begged her not to, and she kept it just for me. In general, we kept working on our relationship every day, we had 18 years of happiness, I really am grateful for every minute." Later that morning, even though he wasn't fully recovered from his illness, Natan returned to work as the director of the yeshiva for high school students in Susya. Dafna convinced him to come home to have lunch with her, and he agreed. "I came home, we had our last meal together, and I went with Nadav to the clinic in Alon Shvut," he says. At home, Renana, Noa, Ahava and Itay were left with their mother. Akiva was at the Makor Chaim yeshiva at the time, where he received the news of his mother's death. Dafna with her husband Natan and their children Renana, Akiva, Ahava and Noa. Shortly after lunch, the terrorist arrived at the house. "Itay was always at Dafna's heels," Natan says. "He's the only one who saw everything, but he hasn't spoken about it so far. The challenges God puts to this child." While the murderer attacked Dafna, the rest of the children were in the rooms at the house's lower level. Renana, the eldest child, heard her mother's screams and ran up the stairs. "I saw someone leaning over her and she's fighting him with her legs. She wouldn't let him hurt us, the children, as well. I didn't feel like this was a terrorist, I didn't think about it. I screamed and he panicked from my screams. I think I also hit him out of instinct. He couldn't pull the knife out of mom, and he ran away. Natan and four of the couple's children at the funeral (Photo: Reuters) "I realized mom was seriously wounded. At first I thought about pulling the knife out, but then I remembered what they taught us at Magen David Adom, not to touch foreign objects. I took Itay downstairs to be with the rest of the children and yelled at them that if they came upstairs, I'd kill them. I stayed with mom on the ground floor, glued to the phone, calling an ambulance. Her cellphone was ringing, it was dad. I didn't know what to do, so I hung up on him. After a few minutes he called again. I told him mom was wounded, but that she was okay, she was breathing. She really was breathing. I remember she took three deep breaths, with her entire body, her last." "The incredible and wise Renana spared me," her father takes over. "On the way home I called again and again, and the entire time she told me 'mom is being treated' and hung up." But Natan, who volunteered as an ambulance driver in the past, knew what such a long treatment meant. The news broadcast he listened to on the way made him lose whatever hope he had left. "I opened the radio. I heard there was a murder in Otniel, and I knew what that meant. When I got home, Dafna wasn't here anymore. I'm glad my memory of her is a memory of life." Natan kisses his wife one last time (Photo: AFP) "They're two righteous people, Renana and Natan, the way they functioned," says Rachel, Dafna's mother-in-law. "Natan called me from the drive home. He told me no one told him anything, but he figured it out on his own. He asked me to say 'Amen,' and started blessing 'Baruch dayan emet. The Lord has giveth and the Lord has taketh,' and then quickly added, 'And thank you for every minute.'" Renana looks down and sweeps away an errant lock of hair from her forehead. "I know I functioned well," she says. "I kept my siblings safe, I called for help. The truth is, this isn't the first time I found myself in an emergency. Once, one of my brothers caught his hand in the door and nearly lost it. Mom has seen a lot in her line of work as a nurse, including in intensive care, but this time she lost her cool. I guess it's different when it's your son. She started screaming, so I handled the incident and called an ambulance. Maybe I learned how to act then. And still, it's very painful for me. It hurts that I couldn't help my mommy in her toughest moments. "I also still can't grasp that it was a terrorist. That a terrorist infiltrated our home. When a fighter from the emergency squad came in and asked 'where's the terrorist?' it took me a moment to understand who he meant. I only said he escaped outside . I still feel like I'm in a move. I open Ynet and read a eulogy by some girl, Renana, 17 years old. It can't be me." Renana is a senior at the AMIT high school in Be'er Sheva, near Soroka. "Mom always made fun of me, saying that if I skip school to go to the mall, she could see it from the hospital's balcony," she says. Dafna's children Renana and Akiva. This week, Renana was supposed to take the matriculation exam in math. When Education Minister Naftali Bennett came to offer his condolences, he promised her a special date will be set so she could take the test. "It's only because of you, because of your pressure, that I'm trying to take five units of math (advanced level -ed)," she accuses him and laughs. Bennett likes the sharp-tongued redhead, and leaves her his personal phone number. For a few minutes she pulls away from the crowds and goes downstairs to her room, where she withdraws inwards to her pain, peeling away the cynicism. "Now all of the famous people are coming. But in the end it'll just be us, dad and the kids, and we'll have to rebuild our lives. This morning I filled the washing machine so we could have clean clothes after the shiva. I know I can't replace mom. I have my own life, and I won't change them. My plan is to go to prep school next year, and then enlist in the IDF. It's important to me to enlist, like mom. There are jobs in the army girls can do better than boys. I'm not a crazy feminist who will go to Caracal (combat unit with a high percentage of female fighters - ed) or something, fighting is for boys as far as I'm concerned. But it's still important for me to enlist." Dafna with her elder daughter Renana: 'My mom was my best friend' Did you sometimes fight with your mom? "Of course. Mom was my best friend. We had an open relationship, and we spoke about everything, like only mom knows how, but we also fought. That's adolescence, isn't it? On the other hand, mom never commented about my clothes or about my modesty. What good would it do to fight about this with a teenager? After all, at the end of the day, it's my decision what to wear. There was only one thing that bothered her, that I wore black clothes a lot. But mom only asked, 'Why black, Renana?' and that's it. This also isn't a house of non-stop indulgences. Mom and dad know how to demand things of the children, even the two little ones. If Nadav says 'water,' no one gives him water until he says a full sentence, properly." Dafna and Natan with three of their six children. What do you tell the little ones now? "Dad spoke to them. I asked Nadav yesterday where mom was. At first he said 'in the ambulance,' and later he said 'mom is in my heart.' So sweet." Are you afraid now? "My dad asked us if we wanted to put bars on the windows. I don't know, I don't like it. The terrorist came through the door anyway. I had a moment when I was afraid to go brush my teeth at night, but it passed. I feel protected here in Otniel. Every person has his fate. I have a bullet-proof ride to school, but mostly I'm not afraid to ride in a normal car, or hitchhike from the settlement." A settler with white hair Over the past few months, Dafna was afraid. She chose to avoid taking the northern road towards Jerusalem as much as possible, and only went south towards Be'er Sheva, for work. "Dafna always made fun of the fact that it wasn't clear how she, someone who voted for Shimon Peres, got to Otniel, and said there's an agreement between us: 'Once in four years, Natan decides for me who to vote for, the rest I decide.' She really did decide everything. My luck is that in the last few years I got the privilege of deciding something in this world once every two years rather than once every four years," Natan says, with the mischievous laughter radiating from his face again, playing hide and seek with the pain and loss. Dafna's children Noa and Ahava. "The fear of terror was present here at home. We spoke about it and Dafna even wrote about it in the settlement's news bulletin. Since its foundation, over 10 people have been murdered in Otniel. Maybe that's why she was happy about every white hair on my head. 'A settler with white hairs is definitely an achievement,' she told me. Dafna wasn't afraid of death, she was afraid of suffering. There were a lot of jokes here about the Shin Bet's torturing. Dafna said that after they put out one cigarette on her, she will immediately admit to any crime in the world. Renana told her they didn't need a cigarette, it would be enough to blow up a balloon next to her and she will immediately admit to murdering Arlozorov. I think Dafna didn't suffer much." The eldest daughter says her mother never took life for granted, and treated each day like it could be her last. "She tried not to postpone anything. If she wanted to paint the door, she would just do it. When there were things I'd plan for tomorrow, mom would say, 'if I wake up in the morning.' That was her life philosophy." And Natan, he remembers the things he heard from his wife only one day before the murder. "Last Saturday she suddenly says this sentence, that was very much like her to say, half kidding, half seriously, 'It's not so bad to die.' And then we talked about how hard it is for those left behind. But Dafna is here. Her spirit and her educational way will remain here." US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Gulf Arab officials on Saturday to ease their concerns about warming US-Iranian ties and seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking after meeting in Riyadh with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council who have sided with Saudi Arabia in its spat with Iran and who back the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key Iranian ally, Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front. They said the US and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified "understanding" that will allow the UN-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned. "Let me assure everybody that the relationship between the United States and the GCC nations is one that is built on mutual interest, on mutual defense and I think there is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the countries that make up the GCC that the United States will stand with them against any external threat," Kerry said. US Secretary of State Kerry meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (Photo: AFP) Al-Jubeir denounced Iran for its "hostile and aggressive stance" against Arab nations. But he said he did not believe that Washington would act rashly in dealing with Tehran because of the nuclear deal, which was implemented earlier this month and has given Tehran access to billions in formerly frozen assets. "Overall, the United States is very aware of the mischief that Iran's nefarious activities can do in the region," Jubeir said. "I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is." He criticized Iran for briefly taking 10 US sailors captive in early January, saying "normal countries do not act like this." He also took a swipe at Iran by noting that in the prisoner swap that resulted in the release of four imprisoned Americans in Iran, none of the seven Iranians cleared of charges in the United States opted to return to Iran. It "tells you what a great country Iran is that no one wanted to return to it," he said. Kerry avoided such blunt criticism of Iran but stressed that the US shares concerns about Iran's behavior and will act against it when necessary, including imposing new sanctions, as it did last week in response to Iranian ballistic missile tests. Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia are longtime regional rivals that support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Relations plunged to a new low when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite opposition cleric earlier this month, drawing outrage from Shiites across the region and igniting mob attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies responded to those attacks by cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran, and accusing Tehran of being behind numerous terrorist attacks around the world over the past three decades. Although both Riyadh and Tehran have said the mutual animosity won't affect the Syria talks, there are still serious disagreements over who can represent the opposition at the negotiations, which were initially supposed to begin on Monday but are likely to be delayed for several days. Kerry, who was also meeting in Riyadh with Saudi King Salman, the Saudi deputy crown prince and the chief negotiator for the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition, said that despite ongoing disagreements over who should attend, an "understanding" had been reached on how to begin the talks. He did not elaborate but said the more than 20 nations and groups that make up the International Syria Support Group would meet almost immediately after the first round of peace negotiations to address any issues that arise in Geneva. "We are quite confident that there is a way to invite the various interested stakeholders that provides for cohesion and the ability to make the process move forward," Kerry said. The Russian Foreign Ministry meanwhile said Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke Saturday at Kerry's request. "Particular attention was paid to the need to form a truly representative delegation of the opposition and ensure compliance with the requirements of the negotiating agenda of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups, as well as respect for the right of Syrians themselves to determine the fate of their country," the ministry said in a statement. Russia is a close ally of the Syrian government, and began carrying out airstrikes in Syria last year. Moscow says it is targeting the IS group and other extremists, but the airstrikes have also hit Western-backed rebels. Kerry is in Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his latest round-the-world diplomatic mission, which began in Switzerland and will also take him to Laos, Cambodia and China. DUBAI - Iran and China agreed to expand bilateral ties and increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is the second leader of a UN Security Council member to visit Tehran after the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran in November. "Iran and China have agreed on forming strategic relations (as) reflected in a 25-year comprehensive document," he said. Iran and China signed 17 accords on Saturday, including on cooperation in nuclear energy and a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route, known in China as One Belt, One Road. ISTANBUL - US Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution in Syria if a political settlement was not possible. "We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared ..., if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation and taking out Daesh," Biden said at a news conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Daesh is the pejorative Arabic acronym for Islamic State insurgents who hold parts of Syria. Biden said he and Davutoglu also discussed how the two NATO allies could further support Sunni Arab rebel forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. He said Washington recognised the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey was as much of a threat to Ankara as Islamic State, and that Ankara had to do whatever was needed to protect its people. Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) met with French President Francois Hollande and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Friday evening at the Elysee Palace, and urged them to stop promoting international moves against Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Herzog was referring, among other things, to a recent announcement by the European Union that its agreements with Israel only apply within the 1967 borders , and the French plan to push a resolution at the UN Security Council to force negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. "Decisions of this nature serve as a reward for terrorism and for BDS. They paralyze the chances of regional moves," Herzog said. "Israelis would not accept diktats from the world. Israel is a sovereign nation and any move or decision of this nature hurt the Israeli public's willingness to move forward towards changing the situation in the Middle East." Herzog meets with Hollande (Photo: Erez Lichtfeld) Instead, Herzog presented Hollande and Fabius with the principles of his plan of separation from the Palestinians. "The attempt to try and reach a Palestinian state now is unrealistic. A Palestinian state cannot be established now because the Palestinians currently do not have a leadership that controls all of their territories and could lead such a move," he said. "First of all, we need to create a separation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We need to invest all possible energy into that. The separation will be accompanied by security and economic measures that will lead to calm in the area and to increasing the sense of security," Herzog continued. "Right now, the lack of separation increases the friction and the hatred between the two nations in a way that foils any chance of reaching an agreement. Therefore, the world's nations must change directions and aim for what's realistic - primarily a separation that brings calm to the area, and then the international community should back diplomatic moves," he went on to say. The Opposition leader stressed while he is "a big supporter of the two states vision, we have to be realistic. It can't become a reality now. The hatred and incitement among the Palestinians is just too great, the hostility between the two nations and the leaders' inability to act is preventing the two states solution. Separation and security are a necessary first step on the way to the two states vision becoming a reality." Herzog thanked Hollande and Fabius for their determined fight against anti-Semitism in France, and expressed solidarity with their fight against terrorism. "We have a common enemy - Islamic terrorism. The enlightened world needs to join forces against it because it threatens all of us," he said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Saturday for closer economic and security ties with China, saying both countries could be reliable partners, especially in energy. "Iran is the most reliable country in the region for energy since its energy policies will never be affected by foreigners," Khamenei was quoted as saying by his official website at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Khamenei said the United States was "not honest" in the fight against terrorism in the region, and asked for more cooperation between Iran and China. In an agreement reached Wednesday between the European Union (EU) and the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government, the EU agreed to provide approximately two million euros in grants towards social infrastructure projects in Area C. The region referred to as Area C is comprised of sections of the West Bank that are still under full Israeli control. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The European Union is committed to continuing its work in Area C on two frontshumanitarian assistance and development, explained EU Representative Ralph Tarraf. The EU provides humanitarian assistance to Area C communities in need in accordance with the humanitarian imperative, continued Tarraf. The EU is also working with the Palestinian Authority to develop Area C and to support Palestinians living there. The European Union Parlaiment (Photo: Tazpit) Although Tarraf stressed the EUs commitment towards providing both humanitarian and developmental assistance to Palestinians, the EU assistance package totaling 9.5 million euros is primarily geared towards master plans of developmental assistance rather than humanitarian assistance to Palestinian communities in Area C. The master plans are more of a developmental approach on how to develop the communities, such as providing water networks to the people living there, EU Palestinian Delegations Communication Officer, Shadi Othman told Tazpit Press Service (TPS). The master plans have been developed in coordination with the EU and with Palestinian localities. They dont have a zoning plan for the community so the EU works with the communities and with other donors and organizations to develop these master plans in the first phase and to be sure that they are in line with all the requirements. It then submits them to the Israelis, elaborated Othman to TPS. The first package of EU assistance will provide funding for 15 social infrastructure projects in nine Palestinian communities thus supporting approximately 3,000 Palestinians. The social infrastructure projects include financial assistance for kindergartens, water networks, roads, playgrounds, and additional classrooms. Othman told TPS that despite the absence of Israeli opposition to the development of master plans, Israel still requires that such plans be submitted for approval. The Israeli government has said that it does not oppose Palestinian development in Area C in principle, but it still asked for master plans to be submitted, he said. Othman also explained to TPS that the the structures that have been built from such plans have not been targeted by recent demolitions of illegal Palestinian buildings in Area C. So far, the projects that were demolished have to do with humanitarian assistance packages provided by the EU, Othman noted to TPS. Were talking about ten shelters or caravans in some cases that were confiscated. We are in touch with the Israeli government about that and we have an open dialogue about these issues. Othman said that these developmental projects in Area C fall in line with the EUs statement of expectations for both Israel and the Palestinians that was released earlier this week. There was a clear call by the EU Council and the 28 EU foreign ministers in their conclusions this past Monday to allow for social and economic development in Area C, Othman explained to TPS. This was also expressed by EU Representative Tarraf earlier yesterday. I would like to reiterate Mondays Foreign Affairs Council conclusions. EU foreign ministers emphasized that a fundamental change of policy by Israel with regard to the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Area C, would significantly increase economic opportunities, empower Palestinian institutions, and enhance stability and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, Othman said. Othman told TPS that the request for a fundamental change of policy calls upon Israel to allow for many more social infrastructure projects to be developed. The EU believes that Israel has the responsibility to facilitate, accelerate, and allow for all forms of development in Area C, whether social or economic, Othman told TPS. For the EU, Area C remains part of occupied territory of the West Bank and without it, there will be no Palestinian state. Three Arab-Israeli students at Haifa University were sentenced this week to community service for attacking an Egyptian professor from Yale University as he delivered a lecture on coexistence. The school's disciplinary committee also forbade the students from participating in public activism for two months. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The incident occurred about a month ago, when Dr. Omer Salem, an Egyptian Religious Studies academic from Yale University. Dr. Salem visited Haifa University to lecture psychology students about coexistence and peace between different faiths. The three men attacked him during the lecture, accusing him of "collaborating with the Zionists". Arab-Israeli student heckling Egyptian lecturer at the University of Haifa One student photographed the scene and said: "Go talk to the Dawabsheh family about coexistence." Another pointed to the lecturer who brought Salem to the university and said: They came to silence us, the Zionists who are protecting you. You should be ashamed of yourself, the Zionists are protecting you. You came here to support colonization. You are dancing on the blood of martyrs. This week the committee gave the heaviest penalty 100 hours of community service to Jool Ilyas. It also decided to suspend him for a semester. The other two students received similar penalties, but will only have to do 50 hours of community service. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday called for "intensive action" against anti-Semitism,urging vigilance particularly regarding young people from countries "where hatred of Israel and anti-Semitism is widespread". Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Anti-Semitism is more pervasive than we imagine and that is why we must act intensively against it," Merkel asserted in her weekly video podcast. She is set to inaugurate an exhibition on "the art of the Holocaust" in Berlin on Monday. The chancellor called on people to seriously consider the concerns raised late November by the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, who was worried that many asylum seekers "come from cultures where hatred of Jews and intolerance are deeply ingrained." German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: gettyimages) Germany welcomed some 1.1 million asylum seekers in 2015, many fleeing war and persecution in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. "We must be specifically careful with young people who come from countries where hatred of Israel and Jews is widespread," she insisted, without mentioning the names of any countries nor directly referring to asylum seekers. "We have seen manifestations of anti-Semitism in several schools and meeting places by young people, against which every adult must act," Merkel added. "We must also encourage students who do not think that way and enable them to make it possible for them to clearly say this is not the way it should be," she stressed. "We can argue about this issue but it should also be clear: (anti-Semitism) has no place in our society (...) we must simply set clear limits," Merkel concluded. People across the Washington, D.C. region are hunkering down for a massive winter storm that is expected to dump near record amounts of snow and create crippling blizzard conditions as it moves up the east coast. Forecasters say the storm could bury the U.S. capital in more than 60 centimeters of snow, which began falling midday Friday and is expected to continue into Sunday. Dangerous winds and coastal flooding are also expected. Ahead of the storm, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency and closed local schools Friday. "This has life-and-death implications, and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way," said Bowser. Federal government offices in the city have also shut down. Authorities are even taking the rare step of closing the DC Metro public transit system. So far, more than 4,500 flights have been canceled across the nation. Widespread power outages are also expected, and authorities warned residents to stock up on essential food and supplies. Search giant Google reportedly paid archnemesis Apple $1 billion to remain the default search engine for Apple's mobile devices, according to a report by Bloomberg News. Bloomberg made the claim based on court documents in a copyright lawsuit filed by Oracle Corporation against Google. Google, which is now under the umbrella company Alphabet, pays Apple a percentage of the revenue it earns via search, but the exact percentage has never been disclosed. Bloomberg reported the revenue sharing reached as high as 34 percent. Sign up to get the latest news delivered to your inbox every week! Since the 18th century, scientists from all over the world have been formally discovering and classifying species of animals and insects. However despite three centuries worth of taxonomy, it seems like there a team of are still creatures left to be discovered. For instance, just recently several new species of beetles have been discovered from the land down under. Just this week, museum curator and scientist, Dr. Alexander Riedel, from the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe, and Rene Tanzler, from Zoological State Collection in Munich, uncovered twenty four beetles from the weevil genus Trigonopterus in a previously un-catalogued collection recovered almost thirty years ago. According to the scientists, the new weevils hail from the tropical rainforests in northern Queensland, Australia. The twenty four beetles exclusively live in the area mostly due to their lack of wings. Advertisement "There are millions of species on our planet with whom we co-exist. What's most exciting for me is to make a few of these new forms of life visible to others as well" quipped Riedel in an interview with Live Science. Most are interested as to why it took three decades before the beetles were classified. Both Reidel and Chris Reid, and entomologist from the Australian Museum in Sydney, were quick to give two reasons for the scientific delay. According to Reid, it is very difficult to classify and catalogue Trigonopterus weevils. The scientist explains that not only do these beetles pretend to be seeds but most of them look exactly the same. Reidel further clarifies that there a troves of species that are left to be discovered and only a few specialists with enough knowledge available to identify them. "There are millions of unidentified insect specimens stored in collections around the world but only few people have the training necessary to identify those of special interest" explains Reidel. "We should always remember that the danger to societies from security services is not that they will spontaneously decide to embrace [Stasi style] mustache twirling and jackboots to bear us bodily into dark places, but that the slowly shifting foundation of policy will make it such that mustaches and jackboots are discovered to prove an operational advantage toward a necessary purpose. ~ Edward Snowden "America: just a nation of two hundred million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns and no qualms about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us uncomfortable." ~ Hunter S. Thompson "Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws." ~ Mayer Rothschild "News is what somebody does not want you to print. All the rest is advertising." ~ LACUNA "What matters in journalism isn't politics, which are as universal and inescapable as breathing. What matters -- along with a fundamentally adversarial attitude toward government, without which "journalism" is simply public relations -- is integrity, transparency, evidence, coherence, and principle. These are the principles on which we should evaluate the quality of journalism, and their absence is why some journalists are so desperate to get you to focus on something else." ~ Barry Eisler "There is no inverse relationship between freedom and security. Less of one does not lead to more of the other. People with no rights are not safe from terrorist attack." ~ Molly Ivins "The brain of our species is, as we know, made up largely of potassium, phosphorus, propaganda, and politics, with the result that how not to understand what should be clearer is becoming easier and easier for all of us." ~ James Thurber "The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plane....When you hold up your arm and swear to uphold the Constitution, you dont say, 'Except in wartime.'" -- George McGovern "Ill believe that corporations are people when Texas executes one." ~ Bill Moyers It often becomes painful when you are supposed to write the obituary of a man you loved and admired the most. Ask those who wrote Nehrus obituary. But as a cricket writer, I can say that its more painful to write a match report when the team you fancy, loses without giving a fight. I and my fellow sports writers in media are feeling the same at the moment.

The demand of my profession requires neutrality, but the passion, unarguably on certain occasions, gets reflected in work. You may argue on the neutrality part, but honestly speaking, a cricket columnist faces that situation quite often in his life-time.

Yours truly is now caught in a similar situation. Out of the eight matches, KKR has lost seven in a row. Somehow they have managed to successfully chase defeat from the jaws of victory, much to the disappointment of fans and cricket pundits.

Its not that the situation is unique for me as a cricket writer. I remember writing the match report when India went down to Bangladesh in a crucial tie in 2007 World Cup held in the Caribbean Islands. The loss meant India had to suffer an ignominious opening round exit, as the team failed to qualify even for the Super Six. The next day, a story which could have appeared on the first page saw the daylight on the last page with the header crying, Indian fans marooned in Caribbean Islands.

It is a similar situation for Kolkata Knight Riders fans in the Indian Premier League season 2 (IPL 2009). Nothing seems to be going right for the team, either in the field or off it. What started as a difference of opinion between skipper and the coach grew into a big controversy.

A media war followed soon and Kolkatas two most trusted lieutenants turned into protagonists at war. There are numerous theories coming from all quarters, which go into analyzing the reasons for Kolkatas pitiful run so far. I have already mentioned one earlier in this column.

Then, before that reason could gather some dust, another one came to haunt the Riders. An anonymous blogger called himself a KKR player and created a furore, which shattered the team think-tank completely and that was reflected in their results. Blame it on anything: bad selection, poor cricket, lack of co-ordination, multiple-captaincy, Ganguly being sidelined, Buchanan given a free hand or, to some utter nonsense like not-so-sexy cheerleaders- one fails to heal the pain of Kolkata fans, who love both SRK and Ganguly and want their team to succeed.

Reacting to the consecutive defeats, a KKR fan wrote in his blog; Can SRK tell us why he cheated us? If Dada does not become a captain within two days, then I will not support KKR. I will only watch a KKR match if Dada is there and will continue to support only Dada, not KKR. I suggested to SRK not come to Kolkata please, because if he comes here, I am sure that he would get a pair of shoes on his face like George Bush.

Of course, I was putting my money on KKR and the jury is still out on its performance. A friend earlier suggested, "These are different times, and with so much money at stake no one can afford to lose. At least the corporate sector believes that if a product is not delivering, then it is better to withdraw it from the market." Alas! He speaks the truth.

Just like its management, the game of cricket has changed. Gone are the days when one could see players like Zaheer Abbas crafting a memorable century with his deft touches as the packed Sydney crowd clapped in appreciation?

Its the T20 era where commentators shout at you if the batsman has hit a six or four. Soft touches have become a thing of the past and batting is all about power hitting. Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar of KKR learnt the lesson the hard-way.

The trend continues among fans and sports lovers as well. Defeat is no longer digested somberly; proper protest marches follow it. Fan clubs sprout up on the Internet and signature campaigns are held in order to thrust opinions. If stone pelting was not enough, players have taken the task of slapping each other. Times are changing, for sure.

But one thing has remained the same in sports and I think all our readers would agree to what Benito Mussolinis Foreign Minister and son-in-law, Galeazzo Ciano once said, Victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan.

Ask any one in the KKR camp and you will realize how true Ciano was. Hyderabad: Agitating students of Hyderabad Central University on Saturday termed as "insulting" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks over suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula even as the student's distraught family rejected the Rs eight lakh ex-gratia relief offered by the institution. The students vowed to step up their stir and said the PM's "inaction" reflected his "political interests". The students also rejected an appeal by Minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha, who urged them to withdraw their agitation and assured them justice, a day after the Centre decided to set up a judicial commission to look into the sequence of events leading to suicide of Rohith. Giving a push to the agitation, Rohith's family rejected the ex-gratia amount and also criticised the NDA government for "delay" in its response in condoling his death. Rohit's mother Radhika, sister Neelima and brother Raju, who visited the restive campus, demanded that "those responsible for his death" be brought to book. "Not Rs eight lakh, we don't want even if you give Rs eight crore from HCU, where he died," Neelima said. Radhika said, "I want to know why he died. Those responsible should be punished...why he was suspended." "Smriti Irani (Union HRD Minister)...she called up after five days. Why it took five days. You are also a woman...you are also a mother...it took five days (to call up the family and condole the death)," Neelima added. Rohith's body was found hanging in a hostel room on HCU campus on January 17. All the seven students, including a girl, who have been on a hunger strike on the issue, were today shifted from the hunger strike camp to the HCU's health centre after their health condition deteriorated, even as the agitating students tried to prevent the officials from taking them away. Patna: Janata Dal (United) MLA Sarfaraz Alam, who was booked for allegedly abusing a couple inside Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, was on Saturday suspended from the party. "Yes he has been suspended from the party but it does not end there. He will also be further quizzed and an investigation will be conducted. But as of now, based on the footage that we have seen, the party is convinced of his crime," JD (U) leader Vashishtha Narayan Singh said, as per ANI. Alam, however, has denied the charges, saying he didn't even board the train. "These allegations are baseless. I did not even travel by that train. There is politics behind this to tarnish my image. I will initiate legal action," Alam said. "I was in Patna and I went by road and came back. The development work is underway in full swing in Bihar and some people do not like it," he added. Meanwhile, the Congress has lauded the move by the Nitish-Kumar led government in Bihar. "It is good that such impartial level of investigation on a party is taking place," Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said. The suspension comes hours after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured that action will be taken against Alam and said such incidents can never be tolerated. The Patna police had yesterday served notice to the JD(U) MLA to appear before it for questioning. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on January 17 when Alam, third time JD(U) MLA and son of RJD MP Mohammad Taslimuddin, misbehaved with the couple on board the train. An FIR was registered against him with GRP Patna the next day. The MLA was alleged to have been travelling without ticket and was drunk. Train Superintendent Saheb Singh, in his statement, said Alam was travelling in the Rajdhani Express on that day without ticket, as per PTI. Notably, Alam's father Mohammad Taslimuddin is a RJD Lok Sabha member from Araria. (With Agency inputs) Nagpur: A Bhubaneswar-Mumbai bound GoAir flight had to make an emergency landing early Saturday in Nagpur after a bomb scare. The flight G8-243 with 150 passengers aboard had taken off from the Odisha capital at 8.20 a.m. and after getting the bomb threat was diverted to Nagpur in Maharashtra where it landed at 9.29 a.m. The GoAir Bhubaneshwar office informed police. All passengers were deplaned and a thorough security check was carried out but no bomb was found inside the flight. After the relevant security clearances, the airplane was permitted to depart at noon for the onward flight of the private carrier to Mumbai. Of late, there has been an increased number of hoax calls being made to Airport Authority of India (AAI) alerting them of bomb presence inside a plane. New Delhi: Reacting on expected lines, the Congress, Saturday, said the manner in which Modi government has carried out the declassification of files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has raised serious questions on its intent. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said, This is a deliberately created confusion and conspiracy by political forces and elements who have been ideologically opposed to the leadership of Indias struggle for independence led by the Indian National Congress. Terming it as a targeted mischief, Sharma said that the Modi government is trying to belittle the stalwarts of freedom struggle like Jawaharlal Nehru. Chiding the ruling party, Sharma said, The BJP and their mother organisation and their affiliate organisations cannot claim any leader who were at the forefront of freedom struggle and made notable contribution. By these cheap conspiracies and spreading canards truth cannot be suppressed. The Congress not only condemns this mischief but is determined to identify and punish those behind it, he said. New Delhi: If reports are to be believed, the man behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphatic win in Lok Sabha and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's victory Assembly polls last year - Prashant Kishor is all set to now manage the election campaign of Capt Amarinder Singh of Congress party in Punjab Assembly polls next year. Quoting AICC general secretary and Punjab Congress in-charge Shakeel Ahmad, a news report in the Indian Express says that Kishor's team has already done the first round of survey for the party in Punjab. The party is hopeful that Kishor and his team will start its work on poll campaign from March this year. The news report also said that Kishor was not charging any money for the assignment so there is no issue of conflict of interest for Kishor, who was given a Cabinet rank by the Bihar government on Saturday. Sources also say that 37-year-old Prashant Kishor is scheduled to visit Punjab to meet Amarinder Singh other party top leaders to finalises the agreement. The Bihar government, Friday, announced that Kishor has been appointed as advisor to CM Nitish Kumar with cabinet minister rank. Kishor, a master strategist, was the brain behind the strategy to project Narendtra Modi as the face of good governance in the 2012 Gujarat polls and last year's general elections, had switched over to Nitish Kumar's side in the run up to Bihar assembly elections and successfully managed his poll campaign. Kolkata: General Iwaichi Fujiwara, a Japanese military intelligence officer who had close ties with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army, had urged the Indian government in 1979 to take care of the disposition of Bose's ashes lying in a temple in Tokyo. He was assured by then Indian prime minister Morarji Desai that he would take care of the issue in "one or two years", reveals the files declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Indian revolutionary leader's 119th birth anniversary. In a correspondence dated March 9, 1979, from Tokyo, Genera Fujiwara (retired from the Japan Self Defense Forces) expressed gratitude to the prime minister for listening to his plea about the "disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo". The letter -- in file no.2/64/79-PM of the declassified files -- addressed to the Indian prime minister, came a month after Fujiwara and his delegation's visit to New Delhi. "Allow me to offer my gratitude for your understanding and sympathy with which you listened to my plea about the disposition of Netaji Chandra Bose's ashes still lying in a temple in Tokyo. "Your assurance to take care of the matter in one or two years was most gratifying to me as I have dedicated most of my life to the cause of Netaji Bose and the Indian National Army during war years, contributing in a small measure to the independence of India." Addressed in a Fuijiwara Asia Research Institute letterhead (Fujiwara organised the institute in the 1970s), the correspondence shows the general's dedication to furthering friendly India-Japan ties. "I shall never forget for the rest of my life the deep-felt emotion when you gave me the assurance. "I shall dedicate myself, for the rest of life, to friendly India-Japan relations in return for your sympathy and understanding with which you accorded my wishes." Kolkata: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose`s grand-nephew and parliamentarian Sugata Bose on Saturday found fault with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing the revolutionary leader`s birthday to declassify files, and said he should have spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to clear the air about Netaji`s "death". Sugata Bose, who has been a staunch votary of the theory that Netaji died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945, in Taiwan, also alleged that the central government`s decision to release the secret files in phases would give a grist to the rumour mills. "Before his recent visit to Russia, Modi had said he would speak to its president Vladimir Putin, and let us know the outcome on his return. "He went to Russia, made stopovers in Lahore and Kabul. But on his return to the country, he kept mum. He should have told the nation what transpired in the talks between him and Putin," said Bose, the Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha from Jadavpur in West Bengal. Describing Abe as an admirer of Netaji, Bose said: "At the outset, Modi should have spoken to him. It was from the Japanese government that we first came to know of the air crash." While asserting that all files on Netaji should be brought into the public domain, Bose said the freshly declassified documents would not bring up any new information. "All files should be made public simultaneously. No document on Netaji should be kept secret. But the government`s decision to make the files public in phases, will only give a grist to the rumour mills." On Modi declassifying the files on Netaji`s 119th birth anniversary, Bose said: "There was no need to choose this date for this. The files could have been declassified two-three weeks back." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declassified the secret files relating to great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Here are the live updates: Acccording to the declassified government documents, one person named - Juichi Nakamura, who an eyewitness of the Netaji's last moments at the military hospital, he was taken to a room where Netaji, in a critically injured condition, was lying on a bed. His body was covered with bandages and he could see blood spots in bandages on head. In 1962, Nehru told Subhas Chandra Bose's relatives that Netaji was dead. Also Read: Declassification of Netaji files, a cheap conspiracy, says Congress Also Read: Declassification of Netaji files, a cheap conspiracy, says Congress The the declassified documents reveal that the Indian government was giving Rs 6,000 per year to the daughter of Netaji Subhas Chandra. It was discontinued after her marriage in 1965. Documents also say this amount was initially offered to his wife but she refused to accept it. After releasing the secret files, PM Narendra Modi meets family members of Netaji at National Archives. PM Narendra Modi declassifies secret files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. PM arrives at the National Archives, pays tribute to the freedom fighter. PM Modi to arrive at National Archives shortly and release the secret files. Netaji's family members get emotional after seeing the declassified files pertaining to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at National Archives. While remembering Netaji on his birth anniversary, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury says unity, trust and sacrifice were the motto of Azad Hind Fauj. Also Read: Netaji's memory deserves dignity of closure, says TMC Family members pay tribute to Netaji in Parliament; senior BJP leader LK Advani and other party members meet them. Bose's family reach Parliament, meet Venkaiah Naidu. PM Modi expected to release files on Netaji at 12:30 pm. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh pays tribute to the iconic freedom fighter. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu says Bose's family is happy with government's decision to release Netaji files today. Congress president Sonia Gandhi pays homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119th birth anniversary. In a statement issued, Sonia says, the Congress can never forget his contributions to the national struggle for freedom for founding of an independent democratic republic of India. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi pays homage to Subhas Chandra Bose. He tweets: A man of extraordinary courage,a patriot &a charismatic leader,Netaji's contribution to India's freedom struggle will continue to inspire us Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 23, 2016 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar says, people who had played no role in the freedom struggle just want declassification of files on Netaji to create conflict among freedom heroes. However, the Janata Dal (United) leader maintained that files should be declassified. In an attempt to take credit for the release of Netaji files, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien says, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first person to make public the files related to the great freedom fighter. The TMC leader opines Bose's deeds deserve the dignity of closure. Family of Netaji leave for Parliament to meet PM Modi. Home Minister Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Netaji saying "I bow to 'Netaji' Subhash Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary today. He is one of the greatest heroes of India's freedom struggle." Commenting on the declassified files, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said: "Today is going to be historic day in India's history as PM Shri Modi will begin the process of declassifying documents pertaining to Netaji." PM Modi will himself put the files in the public domain on the birth anniversary of Netaji. On October 14 last year, the Prime Minister had promised to declassify the files when he met 35 members of Bose's family at his official residence. Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today. Will go to National Archives myself for the same. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2016 The PM will release digital copies of 100 files related to Netaji following the government's decision to declassify files on the freedom fighter. The files, digitised and given "preliminary conservation treatment" by the National Archives of India, will be released on the birth anniversary of Netaji. The iconic freedom fighter's family members have sought making public the documents, hoping questions about his mysterious disappearance seven decades back would be answered. The demand for declassification of secret files with the Centre had gathered momentum, especially after the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal declassified 64 files in its possession last year. Meanwhile, Netaji's daughter Anita Bose Pfaff believes that her father died in the air crash in Formosa (now Taiwan) on August 18, 1945, en route to Japan. Anita is convinced that the great freedom fighter died in the plane crash and demanded a DNA test to be done on his remains kept at Renkoji Temple in Japan. The demand for declassification of secret files with the Centre had gathered momentum, especially after the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal declassified 64 files in its possession last year. Banerjee has maintained that she didn't believe that the freedom fighter died in air crash and demanded that the 'Russian angle' in Netaji's disappearance needs to be probed. Colombo: Adding to the significance of INS Vikramaditya's friendly visit to Colombo, Sri Lankan President Maitripala Sirisena got on board Indian Navy's biggest warship and aircraft carrier. President Sirisena was welcomed onboard by Rear Admiral Ranveet Singh, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet and Captain Krishna Swaminathan, Commanding Officer of the ship. YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Vice Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne of the Sri Lanka Navy were among those present on the special occasion. The Sri Lankan President was given a Guard of Honour and was then introduced to the ship's officers. The President walked around the ship and was shown various aviation facilities on board the state-of-art ship. Colombo is INS Vikramaditya's first visit to a foreign port ever since it was indicted into the Indian navy in 2013. Also, Sirisena has become the first Head of State to visit the ship. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Excise Minister K Babu resigned on Friday after a vigilance court ordered that a case be filed against him in the bar bribery scandal. The Vigilance Court in Thrissur asked the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case against Babu and asked the VACB to complete the probe in a month. The probe will be held under supervision of the Vigilance Court. Babu announced his resignation after he met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and discussed the matter. Babu is the second minister in Chandy government to resign over the bribery scandal after KM Mani as Finance Minister in November last year. The court was acting on PIL based on bar owner Biju Ramesh's claim that Babu had taken a bribe of Rs 50 lakhs from Kerala Bar Hotel Association (KBHA) to renew bar licences. Importantly, the court also observed that offering bribe is a crime and a case should be registered against Biju Ramesh as well. Kochi: AC Jose, senior Congress leader and managing editor of Congress party organ Veekshanam, died on Saturday, party officials said. Jose (78) was actively involved in the organisation of the ongoing state `yatra` being undertaken by state president of Congress VM Sudheeran and was rushed to hospital after complaining of uneasiness late Friday night, they said. He breathed his last in the hospital early Saturday morning. Jose was a two time legislator besides being the speaker of the Kerala Assembly for a brief period from February to June 1982 when his casting vote prevented the then K Karunakaran ministry from falling down. After his tenure in Kerala politics, Jose shifted his political arena to Delhi. Since 1996 he has been elected three times as a Lok Sabha member. After losing the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, Jose remained an active leader of the party in the state. In the second UPA government (2009-14), Jose was appointed as the chairman of the Coir Board. All through his political career he was a hugely popular trade union leader also. The Congress party has announced that the funeral would be held here on Tuesday. Bhopal: Archbishop of Bhopal, Leo Cornelio, on Saturday said the Madhya Pradesh government was yet to respond to its request regarding handing over some of the state-run schools in backward districts to the Catholic Church to improve their educational standards. "A year ago, I personally asked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to hand over a couple of government schools in backward districts to us, so that we improve the educational standards in such institutes," Cornelio told reporters here. He said this while providing details of the concluding ceremony of 'Year of Consecrated life' scheduled to be held here tomorrow. "After my meeting, one of our principals wrote to the government for adoption of government schools. But we have not received any response from it. We are not worried at all over the issue," he said. According to the Archbishop, the education system in government schools needs to be improved urgently. "Students get free mid-day meal and books and other facilities, except education in government schools," he claimed. "I visit villages and I am of strong view that education system needs to be improved in government schools in Madhya Pradesh," he added. The Church is observing Year of Consecrated Life as Pope Francis dedicated the period November 30, 2014 to February 2, 2016 for it. The objectives of this year is to look to the past with gratitude; live the present with passion and embrace the future with hope, he said. "We have been asked to work for spiritual upliftment and to set new trends in education, health care, social work, rehabilitation and work for the uplift and welfare of poor and oppressed classes with more strength and devotion," the Archbishop added. Mumbai: Security agencies went on high alert following a threat to blow up Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, official sources said on Saturday. The threat was made by an unidentified caller who spoke to a woman official in Hindi around 6 p.m. The caller reportedly said the Mumbai airport would be blown up before February 2. The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee met and discussed the situation, and later concluded that the threat was "non-specific". However, security has been beefed up following the incident which came barely 10 hours after after a similar bomb threat to a Bhubaneshwar-Mumbai GoAir flight earlier on Saturday morning. New Delhi: Ludhiana Police on Saturday beefed-up its security in Dholewal area of the city after two suspicious-looking people were spotted near a military area. According to the ANI news agency, the police have begun a search operation in the Cantonment area in Dholewal in order to rule out any terrorist threat. Can't disclose more details right now. Routine search operation is going on in view of the Republic Day, ACP Ravinder Singh Cheema said. Initially we thought them to be robbers but later when I checked my camera, I was suspicious and thus I alerted the police, ANI quoted a local counsellor as saying. Reported to police in morning about seeing 2 suspicious people near a military area, couldn't see their face, the counsellor said. Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: Space and UFO enthusiasts will enjoy decoding this mystery! Shocking images have surfaced on the internet that involves two military aircraft following what seems to be a UFO! The photographs appear to have been taken in a rural field in Bulgaria and were published by a Bulgarian paranormal website, by the name of Portal 12. A translated version of the report stated that, Military planes chased an unidentified flying object near Nova Zagora yesterday afternoon. 'The craft were flying at very low altitude in the area above the villages of Gaz, Zagortci, and Han Asparuhovo.' According to the editor of UFO Sightings Daily, Scott C Waring, who picked up the story, a UFO was seen over farm land near some very tall power lines and it was being monitored by a military aircraft. "The UFO seems to not be in any kind of hurry to move and the jet seems like its only there to identify the craft to those back at base, he said. The report further said that although the incident was witnessed by many people, no one has come forward to confirm the bizarre sighting, yet. New Delhi: Pakistan was carved out of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 apparently to `protect` the largest religious minority, and its first Governor General Mohammed Ali Jinnah, assured that it would be a secular Muslim majority state. Farhanaz Ispahani, a former parliamentarian, author and former spokesperson for the Pakistan People`s Party, has written a well-researched book `Purifying the Land of the Pure: Pakistan`s Religious Minorities`, in which she has pointed out that the rulers of Pakistan who followed Jinnah, both civilian and military, have steadily converted the country into a Sunni Islamic nation, moving away from Jinnah`s modern pluralist vision. Jinnah, himself a Shia, appointed Zafrullah Khan, a prominent Ahmadi, as Pakistan`s first foreign minister. In her book, Ispahani analyses the steps taken by Pakistan`s rulers since independence to change the country into an Islamic State. She points out that a major change that occurred was when the `Objectives Resolution` was passed by the Constituent Assembly in March 1949 which said the State of Pakistan would exercise authority "within the limits" set out in the Holy Quran and the Sunna. It opened the door for further legislation based on the interpretation of Islam by a Parliament majority. Initially, the target were the Ahmadis. As many as 2000 Ahmadis were murdered in Punjab in 1953. It was a prelude to the community being declared non-Muslim. In 1956, Pakistan`s second Constituent Assembly named Pakistan `The Islamic Republic of Pakistan`, which barred non-Muslims from holding the office of Head of State. Ispahani has pointed out that military rulers General Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan, did not reverse the process. General Ayub Khan ruled the nation from October 1958 for over a decade. He was was keen to wrest Jammu and Kashmir before India got stronger following rebuilding of its defence forces after Chinese aggression of 1962. The 1965 war was portrayed in the Pakistani Press as a Hindu-Muslim war won by Pakistan. Ayub faced criticism over compromises made through the Tashkent Agreement. He was succeeded by Yahya Khan, who promised to conduct elections.The 1970 elections saw the emergence of the Awami League in East Pakistan which won a clear majority in the 300 member Constituent Assembly by winning all but two seats in East Pakistan. A compromise could not be worked out and General Yahya Khan ordered the military to crack down. It cost the nation three million lives. According to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, 7,144, 300 refugees fled to India and as a result of the war that followed, Pakistan lost more than half its population and two-fifths of its country. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who headed the country for five years, tried to side step the controversy regarding the Ahmadis. But Bhutto himself lost power when there was a controversy over the results of 1976 elections, and on July 5, 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq assumed power. Major changes occurred when General Zia took over. He legitimised his dictatorship by claiming the mantle of Islamization. Ispahani points out that Zia legalised the Islamization of Pakistan, described himself as a `soldier of Islam`, ordered a massive rewriting of history and an indoctrination of children through schoolbooks. Portraits of Pakistan`s founder MA Jinnah were changed to show him in the formal traditional sherwani rather than western attire. Ispahani points out that Zia altered Pakistan`s character completely and irreversibly. The West overlooked the massive violation of human rights by the Zia dictatorship as he was willing to sponsor the jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Millions of Afghans took refuge in Pakistan, and with some covert funding, Zia`s intelligence service armed and trained a massive guerilla army, the Mujahideen, to convert Afghanistan into Soviet Union` s Vietnam. The result was the creation of a monolithic Islamic image of Pakistan with exclusively Muslim citizens. In the 11 years that Zia held power, his regime was the recipient of massive institutional military and economic assistance of around four and half billion US dollars which came primarily from America. His regime also saw the initiation of proxy-war against India in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Ispahani points out that as an ally and benefactor, the West turned a blind eye to Zia`s domestic policies and to his pursuit of acquiring nuclear weapons for Pakistan. According to the author, "subsequent events proved that the order created by Zia did not die, and secular political forces were eventually forced into pragmatic compromise over Islamization." On the Musharraf regime, which was in place between October 1999 and August 2008, the author opines that at the start there was a promise to rein in religious extremism, but in the end this remained unfulfilled. She also talks of Musharraf making jihad an instrument of Pakistan`s foreign policy against the Taliban and al Qaeda. The author points out that Musharraf was apparently playing a "double game" after 9/11, supporting the United States and the Taliban at the same time." Shias fared even worse under Musharraf than they had under earlier regimes. Between 2001 and 2008, at least 713 Shias were killed and 1,343 wounded in 86 incidents against the community. It was during the final phase of the Musharraf regime that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan from self exile, projecting herself as a viable political and civilian alternative to the former, and as a person who could mobilise the people of Pakistan against Islamist extremists. She was, however, assassinated in Rawalpindi in December 2007. In the polling held in Pakistan in February 2008, Bhutto`s Pakistan People`s Party emerged the winner. Musharraf, facing the possibility of impeachment, had to eventually resign. The Army continued to be in control and there was a little progress either in offering greater protection to religious minorities or in controlling jihadi groups. The author says that Zardari`s initiative for normal ties with India was undermined by the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. Within Pakistan, the situation did not improve. The notable incident was when a poor illiterate woman Asia Bibi was accused of blasphemy, and not given access to a lawyer. Punjab Governor Salman Taseer went to prison to console her. Taseer`s defiance of the religious establishment resulted in one of his bodyguards killing him in Islamabad on January 4, 2011. Two months later, Pakistan`s Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed. The author has pointed out that Islamists have sought to purify Pakistan -- the land of the pure -- but in doing so, have embraced bigotry and prejudice instead of invoking nobler examples from Muslim history. This book by Farhanaz Ispahani, the wife of former Pakistan Ambassador to United States, Husain Haqqani, holds a mirror to persons in authority in Pakistan. New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a padyatra in drought-hit Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday to meet drought affected farmers. "Visiting Bundelkhand now on Sat, 23rd Jan. Will undertake a Kisan Padyatra in Mahoba District & meet drought affected farmers & their families," the Congress vice president said in a tweet. Rahul will arrive in Mahoba district of the Bundelkhand region by road and will walk six kilometres to hold meetings with farmers in Supa village. The Congress vice-president will also hold meetings with the women self-help group at the Supa railway station. Uttar Pradesh`s Bundelkhand, a home to 18.3 million people, as per the 2011 census, is shattered with drought and unseasonable rains have destroyed standing winter crops in the region. Several farmers have committed suicide due to poor crop production in 13 districts in that comprise the region. The promised compensation by the Uttar Pradesh government has not reached the farmers. A month back, the Congress vice-president had visited western Uttar Pradesh to interact with sugarcane growers, hit hard due to failure of sugar mills to give their dues. Berlin: Greece faced fresh pressure Saturday on its handling of the migrant crisis after Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner warned that Athens faced "temporary exclusion" from the EU`s passport-free Schengen zone. In midweek, Greece`s top migration official slammed a report in the Financial Times alleging several European ministers and senior EU officials believe threatening suspension from Schengen could persuade Greece to protect its borders more effectively. Junior interior minister for migration Yiannis Mouzalas said the report contained "falsehoods and distortions" but Mikl-Leitner said temporary exclusion was a real possibility. "If the Athens government does not finally do more to secure the (EU`s) external borders then one must openly discuss Greece`s temporary exclusion from the Schengen zone," Mikl-Leitner said in an interview with German daily Die Welt. "It is a myth that the Greco-Turkish border cannot be controlled," Mikl-Leitner insisted. "When a Schengen signatory does not permanently fulfil its obligations and only hesitatingly accepts aid then we should not rule out that possibility," she added. "The patience of many Europeans has reached its limit ... We have talked a lot, now we must act. It is about protecting stability, order and security in Europe," she insisted. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde added her voice to Schengen concerns when she said the refugee crisis had pushed Europe to a "make or break" point. "The refugee crisis is a bit of a make or break, from my personal perspective," Lagarde said at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Asked if it endangered Schengen, she said: "Yes, I think so." Cash-strapped Greece has for months come in for criticism from its EU partners on its attempts to manage the largest flow of migrants in decades as hundreds of thousands flee war and repression. Many of the migrants have reached Greek islands from nearby Turkey after perilous sea voyages before streaming further north, with many targeting a new life in Germany, Europe`s economic powerhouse. The EU last month ruled out excluding Greece from Schengen, with Luxembourg`s Minister of Immigration Jean Asselborn observing that "it is not legally possible to exclude a state from the Schengen zone." But the issue came to the fore once again with Wednesday`s FT report. But a spokesman for Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras denied the EU made any threat to that effect. Ontario: Shots rang out at a high school in Canada`s western plains province of Saskatchewan on Friday, leaving five people dead and two others critically injured, the prime minister said. The school in La Loche was on lockdown for most of the afternoon, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police urged parents to stay away while they responded to the "ongoing serious incident." A nearby elementary school was also shuttered "as a precaution," a federal police spokeswoman told AFP. The school shooting is the deadliest in 26 years in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Summit, said: "There was a shooting in the community, five people were killed (and) two others are in critical condition." The suspected shooter has been taken into custody and police have the situation under control, he said. "We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible tragic day," Trudeau added. Earlier, students told public broadcaster CBC they heard six or seven shots ring out at around 1:00 pm (1900 GMT). Several patients were being treated for gunshot wounds in the remote northern town`s hospital, the broadcaster added. Several witnesses reported seeing a "boy," who was either a student or formerly attended the school, opening fire inside the building. "I ran outside the school," Noel Desjarlais, a Grade 10 student at the school, told CBC. "There was lots of screaming. There was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out." "Many people are in shock, that`s something you usually see on television," local aboriginal chief Teddy Clark told the local Star Phoenix newspaper. La Loche is a community of 2,500 about 600 kilometers (375 miles) north of Saskatoon. Residents are mostly aboriginal. Lawmaker Georgina Joliebois, who was also once the mayor of La Loche, said she was "shocked and saddened by the shooting." "The shooting hits close to home for me as my family members attend the school," Joliebois said. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall also expressed "shock and sorrow at the horrific events," adding that the province was preparing to send up "crisis support" to the community. Dubai: Iran and China agreed to expand bilateral ties to form a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Hassan Rouhani and visiting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said on Saturday, calling it a "new season" in bilateral relations. The Chinese president is the first leader to visit Iran since international sanctions on the Islamic Republic were lifted on Jan. 16 after it struck a deal with six major powers to limit its nuclear programme. China was one of the six. "We are happy that President Xi visited Iran after the lifting of sanctions ... Iran and China have agreed to increase trade to $600 billion in the next 10 years," Rouhani said at the news conference with Xi broadcast live on state television. "Iran and China have agreed on forming strategic relations (as) reflected in a 25-year comprehensive document," he said. Both countries signed 17 accords on Saturday, including agreements on a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route and cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy. Rouhani said the two countries had also agreed to cooperate closely to resolve the issue of "terrorism and extremism in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen". Riyadh: US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday hoping for an easing of tensions between the Sunni power and its predominantly Shi'ite rival Iran. Kerry was attending a joint meeting with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir and other foreign ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The US chief diplomat is also scheduled to meet with top officials of the Syrian opposition ahead of UN-sponsored peace talks with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. He will hold talks with King Salman and his powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the defence minister. Saudi Arabia and some of its allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran this month after protesters there burned Riyadh`s embassy in Tehran and a consulate in the second city of Mashhad. The violence against Riyadh`s missions occurred after the kingdom executed dissident Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests. Nimr was one of four Shi`ites put to death on January 2 alongside 43 Sunnis. All were convicted of "terrorism". "We understand the Saudi anger over the attack on their facilities in Iran," a senior US State Department official said before Kerry`s arrival. "But we also understand that lessening tensions is an important objective not only for the United States but for the region". Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours perceive a lack of US engagement in the region, particularly in the face of what they see as Iran`s "interference" in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere. Those feelings crystallised with a historic international deal which this month lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for a scaling back of its nuclear capabilities. Kerry has long sought to reassure his Gulf allies about the overtures to Iran, and will continue those efforts in Riyadh.Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the foremost Sunni and Shi`ite powers, have caused concern around the globe. China, France and Pakistan have all sought a de-escalation. Iran`s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said the embassy attack was wrong, and against Islam. "That was, I think from our perspective, extremely noteworthy," the State Department official said. "And hopefully, maybe that will open up the possibility that the situation will resolve and that the Saudis will find their way forward in reopening their embassy in Tehran." On Tuesday Saudi Arabia issued a 58-point "fact sheet" which it said illustrates "Iran`s aggressive policies" over nearly four decades. Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen wars. But the State Department official said "one of the things that we think is relatively positive" is that neither Iran nor Saudi wants the bilateral problems to affect issues like Syrian peace negotiations. "We also, of course, think that it`s important that the Saudis and the Iranians be able to have some kind of modus vivendi, if you will," that would allow a return to political negotiations on Yemen. A Saudi-led military coalition since March has been supporting local forces and the internationally recognised government against the Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels. During his one-day stop, Kerry is to meet Riad Hijab, general coordinator of Syria`s largest opposition coalition, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks. Kerry arrived from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where on Thursday he expressed confidence that those talks will go ahead on Monday in Geneva despite a dispute over who would represent the country`s opposition. Hijab insists the delegation from his High Committee should be the only opposition representative. The committee`s decision to name a member of the Saudi-backed Islamist Jaish al-Islam rebel group as its chief negotiator has drawn criticism from some of its own members as well as opposition figures excluded from the coalition. On Sunday, Kerry travels to Laos, in Southeast Asia. Riyadh: US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Gulf Arab officials today to ease their concerns about warming US-Iranian ties and seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks. Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front when they spoke at a news conference after a meeting of foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Gulf states have sided with the kingdom in its spat with Iran and backed the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of the Islamic Republic. Kerry and al-Jubeir said the US and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified "understanding" that will allow the UN-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned. "Let me assure everybody that the relationship between the United States and the GCC nations is one that is built on mutual interest, on mutual defense and I think there is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the countries that make up the GCC that the United States will stand with them against any external threat," Kerry said. Al-Jubeir denounced Iran for its "hostile and aggressive stance" against Arab nations. But he said he did not believe that the Washington would act rashly in dealing with Tehran because of the nuclear deal just put in place. It has given Tehran access to billions in formerly frozen assets. "Overall, the United States is very aware of the mischief that Iran's nefarious activities can do in the region," Jubeir said. "I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is." He criticized Iran for briefly taking 10 US sailors captive in early January, saying "normal countries do not act like this." He took a swipe at Iran by noting that in the prisoner swap that resulted in the release of four imprisoned Americans in Iran, none of the seven Iranians cleared of charges in the United States opted to return to Iran. It "tells you what a great country Iran is that no one wanted to return to it." Six of the seven are dual nationals. Kerry avoided such blunt criticism of Iran but stressed that the US shares concerns about Iran's behavior and will act against it when necessary, including imposing new sanctions as it did last week in response to Iranian ballistic missile tests. Davos: A new European counter-terrorism centre opening this month will improve information-sharing among national police forces whose performance is under scrutiny after the jihadist attacks in Paris in November, the director of Europol said. "It establishes for the first time in Europe a dedicated operation centre," Britain's Rob Wainwright said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday. "It will provide French and Belgian police services and their counterparts around Europe with the platform they need to share information more quickly and to crack down on the terrorist groups that are active." Although the creation of the centre was announced seven months before the Paris attacks, the coordinated shootings and suicide bombings in the French capital by a team mainly based in neighbouring Belgium have given the 28-country project new impetus. "We will be working to improve intelligence sharing and to maximise our capability to track terrorist financing," Wainwright said. The centre at Europol's headquarters in the Hague will also monitor the way in which Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups "are abusing the Internet and social media, in particular for their propaganda and recruitment purposes," he added. French investigators believe the attacks that killed 130 in Paris were planned by a Belgian national, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was widely thought to have been in Syria fighting with IS forces. The apparent ease in which Abaaoud slipped back into Europe and moved around the continent has thrown into question the intelligence-sharing capabilities of EU police forces. Wainwright said the attacks had already acted as a catalyst. "In the context of what happened after the attacks in Paris, France and Belgium have established an extremely close working relationship involving Europol," he said. "What I have seen over the last few years but particularly in the last year, in the face of the worst terrorist attacks we have seen in Europe for over a decade, is intensified cooperation." Wainwright said he was deeply concerned about the "significant growth" in the faking of ID documents for use by extremists. Investigators believe at least two of the Paris suicide bombers entered Europe through Greece, posing as migrants and using Syrian passports that were not theirs. Their true identity remains unknown. Peshawar: Four persons have been arrested in Pakistan for facilitating the deadly Taliban attack on a prestigious university in the country's northwest that killed 21 people, mostly students, the military announced on Saturday. "We have arrested four facilitators who helped the attackers enter Pakistan and took them to Mardan before attack on Bacha Khan university in Charsadda district," Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said. On Wednesday, four heavily-armed terrorists attacked the Bacha Khan University named after the iconic Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in the volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The attackers had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan via the Torkhum border, Bajwa said. According to Bajwa, the main facilitator -- "terrorist A" -- who received and made arrangements for the attackers at Torkhum border checkpost is still at large. The arrested men helped militants purchase their weapons in the country's tribal belt and relied on women close to the accused to help smuggle guns. "Women wearing traditional veils do not usually undergo a routine body search at the checkpoints," said Bajwa. He said the attack on BKU was planned and controlled from Afghanistan as the phone call of commander Omer Mansoor, who later claimed responsibility, was made from Afghanistan. Mansoor and his deputy Qari Zakir made calls to attackers from Afghanistan and on Wednesday - the day of the attack - around 10 calls were made from Afghanistan, he claimed. He said that Pakistan army chief Gen Raheel Sharif has exchanged intelligence-based information with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Bajwa said one of the arrested men recently did masonry at BKU and later drafted a map to aid the attackers. On Friday, the Taliban faction behind the massacre posted a video message vowing to target schools throughout Pakistan, calling them "nurseries" for people who challenge Allah's law. The BKU assault came about an year after terrorists attacked an army-run school in Peshawar that killed nearly 150 people, most of them students. The Pakistani military intensified an ongoing offensive, named operation Zarb-e-Azb, against extremists in the tribal areas after the 2014 attack. Bajwa said the operation was progressing successfully. To a question on border management with Afghanistan, Bajwa said the issue is under consideration and a lot of measures have been taken in this direction. By Tim Hepher and Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) - Freed from nuclear-related sanctions, Iran has signaled its appetite to buy more than 100 Western planes, a prospect that would usually have the giants of the $130 billion-a-year jet industry scrambling for a piece of the action. But a muted response from both Airbus and arch-rival Boeing underscores the lingering uncertainty and complications of doing business with Tehran. Western and Iranian officials say Iran will require at least 400 jets over a decade to replenish its ageing fleet. Of those, 100-200 are pressingly needed, and would be worth over $20 billion at list prices. That makes it a hugely enticing market at a time when planemakers are facing a slowdown after years of strong orders. But industry leaders say it could take months or longer to remove all the legal, regulatory and political obstacles so that significant numbers of jets can be sold to Iran, which still remains subject to a broad range of other U.S. sanctions. "This is an opportunity in a big market that needs a lot of replacement capacity, let alone growth capacity. But we have to be crystal clear that sanctions have been removed," said Aengus Kelly, chief executive of Dutch leasing giant AerCap. The willingness and ability of planemakers to enter the Iranian market will provide an early test case of how quickly the country can reopen for business after years of U.N., U.S. and European Union sanctions over its nuclear program, which the West feared was aimed at developing weapons. Iran has always denied that charge. In recognition of Tehran's moves to curb its atomic program, the nuclear sanctions were lifted on Saturday. The same day, an Iranian news agency quoted the transport minister as saying Tehran had "taken the first step in agreeing with Airbus to buy 114 planes". The announcement caught some European officials off guard and drew a cautious reaction from the planemaker itself, which said it could not start negotiations before laws allowed. Still, analysts said the comment delivered a clear signal to foreign businesses and political rivals in the region that Iran was serious about restoring its economy and welcoming investors. WELCOME TO TEHRAN Echoing that sentiment, Iran is to host aviation leaders on Sunday and Monday at a Tehran conference together with Australian consultancy CAPA to discuss ambitious plans to restore and expand its airline and tourism industries. The first major business gathering since the lifting of sanctions comes against the backdrop of opposition to the nuclear deal from Republicans in the U.S. Congress and escalating tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. That leaves aerospace firms, especially those based in the United States, facing a dilemma over whether to risk upsetting Congress and key Gulf customers, or bide their time and lose business, diplomats and industry sources said. Despite its edge over rival Boeing in the headlines, any deals Airbus strikes will also require U.S. license approval, since more than 10 percent of its planes come from U.S. parts. With significant U.S. interests including a new Alabama factory, the European company is expected to tread carefully. "We are studying our way forward ... in full compliance with all international laws," a spokesman said. Although Washington has liberalized rules to allow U.S. and foreign firms - including Airbus - to seek licenses to sell passenger jets to Iran on a case-by-case basis, Boeing and other U.S. companies have displayed little appetite to take the lead. "Europe dialled restrictions down from an eight to a four, while the U.S. went from 11 to 9 on a scale of 10," said Christopher Swift, a former U.S. sanctions official and a lawyer at Washington-based Foley & Lardner. A Boeing spokesman said, "There are many steps that need to be taken should we decide to sell airplanes to Irans airlines. For now, we continue to assess the situation." SANCTIONS SNAPBACK Some aircraft executives are worried about the risk that sanctions can be reintroduced if Iran fails to curb its nuclear activities, under a so-called 'snapback' mechanism. If that were to happen, there are conflicting views on the status of any deals negotiated during the break in sanctions. Republican candidates have meanwhile signaled a more aggressive posture towards Iran if they succeed President Barack Obama in the Nov. 8 U.S. election. "I think there is a huge opportunity. But I think most of us, especially in the U.S., are a bit cautious," said John Plueger, president of Air Lease Corp. "We have an election coming up in the United States (and) we could have a very different person in the White House in November." European business groups have displayed more willingness in recent months to put out feelers to Iran, vexing their U.S. rivals. Lawyers say this stems in part from a discrepancy in the way the lifting of sanctions has been implemented. "In Europe it is 'Yes Unless' and in the U.S. it is 'No Unless'," Brian Mulier, partner of law firm Bird & Bird, said. A senior Western diplomat said companies would have to make their own decisions and their reticence was understandable. "If I was a company I would certainly be wanting to look at the opportunity, but I would also want to be looking at how stable I thought this was and how confident I was that the Iranian government was going to keep its word," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday his country would not breach its deal with world powers as long as the West honored its commitments. In an opportunity for further business announcements, Rouhani is due to visit France, where Airbus is based, on Jan. 27. Iran says it welcomes U.S. and European companies, but has made clear it will also look towards Russia and China. LEGAL TESTS Sponsors of Sunday's Tehran meeting include Chinese-backed Dublin leasing firm Avolon and other foreign lessors, who could have a significant role due to long delivery times for new jets. Lessors control 40 percent of the world's fleet and act nimbly, moving jets around the world to meet demand. But they need to be confident they can always recover their assets. Iran may be urged to join a treaty of over 60 nations that have agreed to set up an international aircraft registry to protect foreign aircraft owners in the event of defaults. "Lessors and banks will want to see what kind of legal framework is available. They always want to know: Is my ownership status going to be respected? said aviation banker Bertrand Grabowski, a managing director of Germany's DVB Bank. Answers to questions such as these may set the tone for tens of billions of dollars of other investments in Iran. "One would assume that if they are serious about getting aircraft in, there will be the ability for creditors to exercise their rights," AerCap's Kelly said, predicting that this would be resolved. In the longer term, Irans rebound may depend on significant spending on airports, air traffic control and other infrastructure: topics also due to be discussed with investors. "It will take some time. It requires upgrades in infrastructure...and won't happen from one day to the next. But I see this as an important point of departure," Grabowski said. (Additional reporting by Louis Charbonneau, Alwyn Scott, Victoria Bryan, Nadia Saleem, Andrea Shalal, Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on Friday for a meeting of five countries, excluding North Korea, to discuss the North's nuclear program alongside long-stalled "six-party talks" that include Pyongyang. Park's comments came amid a flurry of diplomatic exchanges involving Washington and Beijing as the international community seeks to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test, on Jan. 6. "In the past, six-party talks had usefulness as a framework to resolve North Korean nuclear issues via dialogue," Park said in remarks at the presidential Blue House. "But even if the talks open but don't help denuclearize North Korea, the question of being effective will be brought up," she said. China, Pyongyang's main ally, has been calling for a resumption of so-called six-party talks among the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Numerous efforts to restart the six-party talks have failed since negotiations collapsed following the last round in 2008. "Relevant parties, although it is not an easy matter, should find out various and creative approaches such as trying five-party talks excluding North Korea," Park said. Park also said China's role was essential in adopting strong sanctions at the United Nations Security Council, repeating her calls for Beijing to act. "I expect China to take an effective measure that can make North Korea realize development of nuclear weapons is futile and come into the international community like Iran," she said. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Tony Munroe and Paul Tait) BANGKOK (Reuters) - A piece of suspected plane wreckage has been found off the coast of southern Thailand, a local official said on Saturday, prompting speculation it might belong to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished nearly two years ago. A large piece of curved metal washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where villagers reported it to the authorities to help identify it, Tanyapat Patthikongpan, head of Pak Phanang district, told Reuters. "Villagers found the wreckage, measuring about 2 metres wide and 3 metres long (6.6 by 9.8 feet)," he said. The find has fuelled speculation in the Thai media that the debris could belong to MH370, which disappeared with 239 people on board during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. There has been no official confirmation that the wreckage belongs to a plane. And Patthikongpan added that "fishermen said it could have been under the sea for no more than a year, judging from barnacles on it." Investigators believe someone may have deliberately switched off MH370's transponder before diverting it thousands of miles off course. Most of the passengers were Chinese. Beijing said it was following developments closely. A piece of the plane washed up on the French island of Reunion in July 2015 but no further trace has been found. Lingering uncertainty surrounding its fate has tormented the families of those on board. Some have said even the discovery of debris would still not solve the mystery. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) BANGKOK (Reuters) - A piece of suspected plane wreckage has been found off the coast of southern Thailand, a local official said on Saturday, prompting speculation it might belong to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished nearly two years ago. A large piece of curved metal washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where villagers reported it to the authorities to help identify it, Tanyapat Patthikongpan, head of Pak Phanang district, told Reuters. "Villagers found the wreckage, measuring about 2 meters wide and 3 meters long (6.6 by 9.8 feet)," he said. The find has fueled speculation in the Thai media that the debris could belong to MH370, which disappeared with 239 people on board during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. There has been no official confirmation that the wreckage belongs to a plane. And Patthikongpan added that "fishermen said it could have been under the sea for no more than a year, judging from barnacles on it." Investigators believe someone may have deliberately switched off MH370's transponder before diverting it thousands of miles off course. Most of the passengers were Chinese. Beijing said it was following developments closely. A piece of the plane washed up on the French island of Reunion in July 2015 but no further trace has been found. Lingering uncertainty surrounding its fate has tormented the families of those on board. Some have said even the discovery of debris would still not solve the mystery. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) 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 IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Saturday said the slowdown in China would not bring catastrophe for the global economy and that the jolts hitting financial markets were "very normal". Lagarde spoke on the last day of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos where news this week of decreasing growth in China, the world's second biggest economy, spooked attendees from the global financial elite. But Lagarde told a panel: "We are not seeing a hard landing... We are seeing an evolution, a big transition which is going to be bumpy. "We have to get used to it and it's a very normal and proper way to actually move towards a more sustainable and a more quality growth we all hope," she said. The Chinese government announced this week that its economy grew by 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest rate in a quarter century. Worries of a weak Chinese economy had already sown fears across global markets with share prices plummeting since January 1, also affected by low oil prices as a supply glut destabilises fragile energy-producing countries. "What on earth is going on is simply the worst start of any year on the record on financial markets ever, it's simple," said French banker Tidjane Thiam, the CEO of Credit Suisse. "The market is very worried about China of course. They fear we will fall into a global recession," he said. British finance minister George Osborne, who also faced questions about Britain potentially voting to leave the European Union, said China had overshadowed proceedings at Davos. "The world has not been very good over previous centuries at accommodating rising powers and it has often led to unhappy outcomes," Osborne said bleakly. "I think it is massively in our interest that we bring China into the multilateral institutions of the world," he said. - Support for Lagarde repeat - Lagarde herself was also an issue at Davos, as she quietly campaigned to win backing for a second mandate as IMF managing director. With her term coming to an end in July, the IMF formally began accepting nominations on Thursday for who will guide the global crisis lender for the next five years. Story continues The biggest powers governing the Washington-based Fund, including Britain Germany and France, all gave their support to Lagarde this week. In her first term, she was deeply involved in the decision to add the Chinese yuan to the IMF's basket of reserve currencies, a highly symbolic move appreciated by Beijing. Her plans to run again nonetheless face a potential hurdle: she could stand trial in France over her role in a banking scandal that predates her arrival at the IMF. In December, judges placed her under formal investigation in the long-running affair of former Adidas boss Bernard Tapie, who received a large state payout for his dispute with a state bank during her time as finance minister. Lagarde has said she will fight the trial order, and the IMF executive board at the time reiterated its confidence in her. IMF chief Christine Lagarde said on Saturday China's slowdown, which has spread fear on global finance markets, is "very normal" but the road ahead will be bumpy. Lagarde told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos that China's transition to an economy led by consumer demand instead of state investment was unlikely to lead to a "hard landing" for the world's second-largest economy. The Chinese government announced this week that its economy grew by 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest rate in a quarter of a century. Lagarde told a panel on the final day of the Davos meeting: "We are not seeing a hard landing... We are seeing an evolution, a big transition which is going to be bumpy. "We have to get used to it and it's a very normal and proper way to actually move towards a more sustainable and a more quality growth, we all hope," she said. Even before the growth figures were released, worries of a weak Chinese economy had sown fears across global markets. Share prices have been plummeting since January 1, with low oil prices also having a negative effect as a supply glut destabilises fragile energy-producing countries. "(It) is simply the worst start of any year on the record on financial markets ever, it's simple," French banker Tidjane Thiam, the CEO of Credit Suisse, said at the same Davos session as Lagarde. "The market is very worried about China, of course. They fear we will fall into a global recession," he said. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said China should do more to manage the yuan currency that has fallen sharply and sparked concern that cheaper China exports will flood the world economy. "Capital controls could be useful to manage (the) exchange rate as well as domestic monetary policy in a consistent and appropriate way," Kuroda said. British finance minister George Osborne said China had overshadowed proceedings at the annual gathering of the rich and powerful. "The world has not been very good over previous centuries at accommodating rising powers and it has often led to unhappy outcomes," Osborne said bleakly. "I think it is massively in our interest that we bring China into the multilateral institutions of the world," he said. - Support for Lagarde repeat - Lagarde herself was also an issue at Davos, as she quietly campaigned to win backing for a second mandate as IMF managing director. With her term coming to an end in July, the IMF formally began accepting nominations on Thursday for who will guide the global crisis lender for the next five years. The biggest powers governing the Washington-based Fund, including Britain, Germany and France, all gave their support to Lagarde this week. In her first term, she was deeply involved in the decision to add the Chinese yuan to the IMF's basket of reserve currencies, a highly symbolic move that was greatly appreciated by Beijing. Lagarde's plans to run again nonetheless face a potential hurdle -- she could have to stand trial in France over her role in a banking scandal that predates her arrival at the IMF. In December, French judges placed her under formal investigation in the long-running affair of former Adidas owner Bernard Tapie, who received a large state payout for his dispute with a state bank during her time as finance minister. Lagarde has said she will fight the trial order, and the IMF executive board at the time reiterated its confidence in her. Thousands of protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur Saturday to denounce the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade alliance, demanding the government reject the accord in a parliamentary debate next week. The peaceful protest, involving various NGOs and opposition parties, saw scores of people wearing anti-TPP t-shirts and holding placards warning against the mammoth trade deal. While a few hundred gathered near the capital's Independence Square, around 3,000 others, mainly supporters of opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, marched to a nearby field to listen to speeches given by critics of the agreement. Prominent Malaysian opposition figure Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, told the crowd that the TPP will affect Malaysia's sovereignty and that "jobs will be reduced and prices of medicines will go up." "This (TPP) will only help the rich people. It will not help the poor people in Malaysia and I don't see any benefits for my family and I," said Mohammad Noor Ismail, a student who attended the protest. The TPP aims to create the world's biggest free-trade area including Canada, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, the United States, Japan and Australia. In October, 12 Pacific nations finally reached an agreement on the pact, a major diplomatic coup for Washington. Both China and the United States are pushing their own free trade visions for the economically vibrant and populous region. China is pointedly excluded from the TPP, part of Washington's attempt to ramp up influence in the region with its "pivot" to Asia. The trade deal will be formally signed in New Zealand next month, officials in Wellington said Thursday. Following the signing, each country has two years to complete the ratification process before the trade accord takes effect. Critics in the countries involved have vowed to fight ratification, saying it threatens labour rights and environmental protection. The Malaysian government is widely expected to sign and ratify the deal according to reports. Story continues In October, it had hailed the Pacific Rim trade deal as a boost for commerce, saying it won key concessions in areas including its controversial system of business preferences for its ethnic Malay majority. Parliament is expected to debate next week whether the country should sign the accord which involves significant market openings from Canada, the United States and Japan, and establishes mechanisms to handle disputes between foreign investors and governments. Malaysian opponents of the trade deal have criticised the secrecy of the talks and warned that the TPP could saddle consumers with higher medicine costs and provides too much protection for foreign companies. US President Barack Obama has described the deal as a foundation for "21st century trade". Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel, with Ambassdor-at-Large Tommy Koh, who moderated the session. Photo: U.S. Embassy Singapore Americas top diplomat for Asia has warned that Chinas reclamation and military activities on disputed islands in the South China Sea is destabilising the region.? In a dialogue with Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel?at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) on Friday night (22 Jan), entitled The United States: Southeast Asias Economic and Security Partner, two key themes emerged. Firstly, Russel assured the audience of academics, students and journalists that the United States is here to stay in the Asia-Pacific.?Diplomatically, militarily, institutionally and morally, the United States is invested in Southeast Asia; we are fully present and accounted for, both now, and for the long term, he said.? Alluding to common interests such as shared prosperity and shared security, Russel added, Because in this Pacific century, our futures are bound together. Regardless of who wins [the election], Im confident Americas attention to the Asia-Pacific will endure. He noted that some 60 per cent of the US Navy is stationed in the region, and that the US has close military ties with the likes of Singapore, Australia and Thailand. The US is also the main consumer of Asian exports, and has contributed to humanitarian efforts such as disaster relief and recovery in the Philippines.? Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel. Photo: U.S. Embassy Singapore Secondly, China is undermining its relationships with neighbouring countries by its?coercive and threatening behaviour in the South China Sea, and its activities are generating?alarm and fear, said Russel.? Noting a?massive campaign of reclamation and the construction of military-grade runways and facilities on disputed reefs in the Spratlys, Russel claimed the Middle Kingdoms?relentless pursuit of advantage in the region is actually working against its own interests.? Story continues So the unintended effect of the behavior that China is exhibiting in the South China Sea, is to create a network of countries that are linking themselves in security relationships with the United States, and creating the very dynamic that you would expect Chinas leaders are seeking to avoid, said Russel, in response to a question from the audience.? Stressing that neither Singapore nor the US seek territory in the South China Sea, he noted, The US and Singapore both agree that this issue isnt about the rocks, its about the rules. You cant claim to uphold freedom of navigation and then block access to international waters by calling it a quote security zone. Combating terrorism Assistant Secretary Russel also alluded to joint efforts with the likes of Singapore and Malaysia to combat terrorism, and stop the flow of recruits and funds to the battlefields of Syria and Iraq.?For example, Singapore is partnering with civil society to address radicalisation and recruitment, while Malaysia is setting up a counter-messaging centre to push back against the propaganda of the Islamic State.? Russel was in Singapore for the bilateral Strategic Partnership Dialogue. The LKYSPP dialogue was moderated by Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh. PARIS (Reuters) - France will provide 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) over 5 years to help Tunisia deal with its transition to democracy, President Francois Hollande said on Friday, as Tunis struggles with the worst unrest since an uprising five years ago. Tunisia declared a nationwide curfew on Friday after four days of protests and rioting over jobs and economic conditions, which have worsened since autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled in 2011. "One of the main objectives of the plan is to help disadvantaged regions and youth, by acting strongly on jobs," the French president said in a statement after a meeting with Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid. ($1 = 0.9247 euros) (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; Writing by Michel Rose) Hungary and Slovenia on Friday urged the erection of a fence along Greece's northern border, effectively sealing off the EU's passport-free Schengen area to migrants seeking to enter the bloc via the western Balkans. Both countries criticised Greece -- the asylum-seekers' first entry point into the bloc after crossing from Turkey -- for failing to protect its sea borders. "Just complaining that Greece is not protecting its borders isn't enough," Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a joint news conference with Slovenian counterpart Miro Cerar. "We should take a man's stance and say we expect a fence to be built on the Macedonian and Bulgarian border with Greece and stop the migrant wave," said Orban. The two leaders held talks Friday at Brdo Castle, some 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) northwest of the capital, Ljubljana. Cerar warned that Europe faced "conflicts and disintegration" if the EU failed to find a solution for the migrant crisis before the flow picked up again with the onset of spring and warmer weather. "We have no time, we can't wait until the spring. Millions of people are waiting on the borders to enter the EU as migrants, and that figure will increase to tens of millions," the centrist Slovenian leader said. "If we aren't able to find an efficient solution for Greece (on its southern sea borders), we need to do something immediately where that could be effective (on the Macedonian border with Greece)," Cerar said. More than one million migrants and refugees made the perilous journey by sea to Europe in 2015, the majority fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. With most crossing the Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece, they then travel overland through Macedonia and Serbia to reach EU countries. Very few try to enter the bloc via Greece's frontier with EU member Bulgaria. With the crisis showing no signs of abating, Macedonia has already fenced off several kilometres along its 250 kilometre (155 mile) Greek border and imposed stricter entry controls. Hungary's response to the influx was to seal off its southern borders with barbed wire to migrants in autumn last year. This diverted the flow to Slovenia, a tiny state of two-million people, which is now a key transit country for migrants heading for Austria and Germany. Malaysia is anything but a liberal state, DAP lawmaker Zairil Khir Johari (pic, below-left) said today, adding that speech and dissent are suppressed despite the country being hailed as a leading moderate nation abroad. Speaking at a forum titled "Can Islamists be Liberals?" in Kuala Lumpur, the Bukit Bendera MP said in contrast, Malaysians walked around with a "leash fastened around our necks", which he added, has been tightened over the past two decades. "In Malaysia today, being a Muslim means one has to adhere to a certain denomination defined by the state. "Anything else, and one risks being labelled a deviant. "And if telling people what to believe is not bad enough, Muslims in Malaysia are also prevented from reading a whole list of publications, ranging from Ultraman to Charles Darwin, because according to the wisdom of Jakim, these writings may compromise our faith," he said, referring to the Department of Islamic Development. He said the supposedly moderate Malaysia had also seen cases of body-snatching by religious authorities and infringement of private spacesby badge-carrying moral police. He added that the state's attempt to exert control over religion was dogmatically extreme, citing as example the prosecution of Borders bookstore manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz. "Her only crime was to be a manager of a bookstore that happens to sell a book that was banned, and at the time they raided the store, the book was not even officially banned yet." He said even more sinister were the increasing divisions between Muslims and non-Muslims, as seen in the Ministry of Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Consumerism's recent announcement to implement the segregation of halal and non-halal trolleys in supermarkets. "Perhaps the air that we breathe also needs to be segregated," he said. Zairil said what was more worrying was that Islamisation had affected the lives of non-Muslims, as in the case of kindergarten teacher Indira Gandhi, who is separated from her daughter after her Muslim-convert husband took her away as a baby. Zairil said when citizens of a country were divided and discriminated against on the basis of their identity, the state would become dysfunctional. "On a more philosophical level, the illiberal Islamic experience in Malaysia only serves to condemn the religion. "Muslims in Malaysia are under threat, but the enemy is not the Christians or the Jews, or the West or neo-imperialism. "The real threat to Islam in Malaysia is the rise of illiberalism and as much as we like to blame it on colonial legacy and foreign conspiracies, the reality is, these illiberal visions of Islam propagated by the state is causing the most harm," he said. January 23, 2016. WARSAW (Reuters) - Britain will permanently station 1,000 military personnel in Poland from next year, Poland's defence minister said late on Thursday, in an apparent contradiction of an announcement by Britain about plans for temporary exercises on Polish soil. On Wednesday, the British defence ministry said London would send 1,000 military personnel to take part in defence exercises in Poland, as part of an agreement with Warsaw to strengthen security ties. But Poland's Antoni Macierewicz told Catholic broadcaster Radio Maryja that Poland and Britain have agreed at a meeting of foreign and defence ministers in Scotland that a number of troops would stay in Poland permanently. "One of the decisions, which resulted from yesterday's talks (is) a permanent presence of the British forces on Polish territory, that is 1,000 soldiers, who will permanently station on Polish territory from next year," Macierewicz said. "They will switch around, it will be a rotational, but permanent presence of 1,000 soldiers." The British defence ministry was not immediately available to comment. Warsaw, which is due to host a NATO summit in July, has repeatedly pressed for more North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces on its soil and in former communist-ruled Europe, arguing it needed a stronger response to Russia's aggression in eastern Ukraine. But some of its NATO allies are reluctant to permanently station troops in central Europe, wary of violating a 1997 NATO-Russia agreement on the size of forces the alliance can have in former Warsaw Pact countries. Moscow has previously signalled it would regard the establishment of a standing NATO presence on its borders as a hostile act. Some western governments are also concerned about the cost of permanent new bases at a time when defence budgets are strained by fiscal austerity or costly engagements elsewhere. Macierewicz said, however, that having British troops in Poland meant that permanent NATO presence in Poland was "realistic". "Not so long ago we were told that it will be impossible to get permanent bases, NATO presence ..., that it's an unrealistic demand," he said. "Well, it turns out it's realistic." Macierewicz's spokesman was not immediately available to comment about the apparent contradiction with the British announcement. Aside from the troops, Britain will also station a ship on the Baltic Sea to support the Polish fleet, Macierewicz said. Warsaw and London have also agreed to form a joint "situational awareness" unit, tasked with gathering information on any potential threats to NATO's eastern flank, he said. (Reporting by Wiktor Szary and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Bernard Orr) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye called on Friday for a meeting of five countries, excluding North Korea, to discuss the North's nuclear programme alongside long-stalled "six-party talks" that include Pyongyang. Park's comments came amid a flurry of diplomatic exchanges involving Washington and Beijing as the international community seeks to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. "In the past, six-party talks had usefulness as a framework to resolve North Korean nuclear issues via dialogue," Park said in remarks at the presidential Blue House. "But even if the talks open but don't help de-nuclearise North Korea, the question of being effective will be brought up," she said. China, Pyongyang's main ally, has been calling for a resumption of so-called six-party talks among the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said talks were still the best way to resolve the problem and that the six-party talks process should resume as soon as possible. Numerous efforts to restart the six-party talks have failed since negotiations collapsed following the last round in 2008. "Relevant parties, although it is not an easy matter, should find out various and creative approaches such as trying five-party talks excluding North Korea," Park said. Park also said China's role was essential in adopting strong sanctions at the United Nations Security Council, repeating her calls for Beijing to act. "I expect China to take an effective measure that can make North Korea realise development of nuclear weapons is futile and come into the international community like Iran," she said. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Tony Munroe and Ryan Woo) TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia declared a nationwide curfew on Friday after four days of protests and rioting over jobs and economic conditions, the worst unrest since an uprising five years ago that toppled autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. There were further demonstrations on Friday in several regions, including Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid. In Tunis, demonstrators blocked a major thoroughfare and burned tyres in the street. At least 19 people were arrested in the capital in connection with the unrest, a security official said. Tunisia has been held up as a model for democratic progress since the 2011 revolution that toppled Ben Ali. But there has been rising discontent over a lack of jobs and high living costs, especially in the country's interior. There is also concern over attacks by Islamist militants, including an assault on a beach resort in June that killed 39. The Interior Minstry said in a statement that due to the risk to public and private property from the protests it was imposing a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. with immediate effect. The protests started on Tuesday in the impoverished central town of Kasserine after a young man who was apparently being refused a public sector job killed himself. They have seen demonstrators storm local government buildings and clash with riot police. One policeman has been killed and dozens injured. (Reporting by Tarek Amara; Writing by Aidan Lewis; editing by Ralph Boulton) Research Yes, High School Graduation is Up, but Not Uniformly A group of organizations monitoring the high school graduation rate report that the country is overall behind in the stated goal of seeing 90 percent of students graduating annually by the year 2020. While meeting that goal will require an increase of at least 1.3 percentage points each year in the number of people who graduate, the 2013-2014 school year rate of growth was only 0.9 percent, reaching 82.3 percent. Likewise, reported "Building a Grad Nation," even as the United States Department of Education applauded a graduation rate that is the highest on record, what received less attention were the hefty gaps for specific groups of students. 35 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 English-language learners, and seven of those states have ELL graduation rates under 50 percent; 33 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 students with disabilities, and seven graduate less than half; 17 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 African American students; 16 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 low-income students; 11 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 Hispanic/Latino students; and 10 states graduate fewer than seven in 10 students in all five subgroups. The report on graduation rates was the result of a joint research project undertaken by four organizations. It was co-authored by Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Education and released in partnership with America's Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education. The work was funded as part of an education initiative by AT&T. "These numbers tell a cautionary story of tremendous progress and sobering challenge," said John Bridgeland, co-author and CEO of Civic Enterprises, in a statement. "Yes, we are making national progress, but too many students are being left behind in today's economy. Without a high school diploma, they won't have a chance at the American dream." For example, almost half of all public school students come from low-income families. Among that segment, fewer than 75 percent graduate on time, compared to 89 percent for non-low-income students. The gap is largest in South Dakota, where there's a difference of 26 percentage points between the two groups, and lowest in Indiana, where the variance is only four percentage points. Among students with disabilities, who make up about 13 percent of all students in public schools, the overall graduation rate is 63 percent, vs. 85 percent for students without disabilities. That gap ranges from a high of 54.5 percentage points in Mississippi to a low of 4 percentage points in Arkansas. So far, the report noted, one state has already reached the national goal. In 2014 Iowa had a 90.5 percent graduation rate. Four additional states Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Texas are within shouting distance of the goal, each just shy of two percentage points. On the other end is New Mexico, which, at 68.5 percent, has the lowest number of graduating students. Three states South Dakota, Wyoming and Arizona have experienced declines in graduation rates over the previous four years. The results are especially "troublesome" for the latter two states, the researchers wrote, because they graduate fewer than 80 percent of their students and "are well off pace" to reaching the 90 percent goal. The report also identified about a thousand "dropout factories," schools where the promotion rate falls under six in 10 students. The total enrollment for those schools is about a million students, and the majority (65 percent) are from low-income homes; 63 percent are either African American or Hispanic/Latino. "It is clear," the report stated, "these schools and students need greater support to improve and become places where graduation is the norm." "The nation has fallen off track to reaching the GradNation goal and huge graduation rate gaps still exist for many," concluded the report. "If we are to meet our nation's greatest ideals, we cannot be satisfied with graduating only the easiest to reach students and much work lies ahead to ensure opportunity exists for every student." This spring the project will release a more extensive annual update that will highlight the progress that is being made to raise graduation rates for student subgroups. The current "data brief" is available online on the GradNation Web site. LONDON (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Friday Europe cannot cope with the number of refugees arriving at its borders and that the influx was threatening the idea of the European Union. "We cannot say or accept that all refugees ...can be welcomed in Europe," Valls told the BBC, adding that the migrant crisis would threaten to destabilise the European Union and that stronger control was needed to exercised at its borders. Valls also said Europe needed to send a different message to the one issued by Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, who called for her European partners to take on quotas of refugees. "Germany is faced with a major challenge. We need to help Germany. But the first message we need to send now is with the greatest of firmness is to say that we will not welcome all the refugees in Europe," said Valls. "Because a message that says come, you will be welcome, provokes major shifts," he added. (Reporting by Li-mei Hoang; Editing by Dominic Evans) By Marja Novak BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia (Reuters) - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that a fence should be erected on the Macedonian and Bulgarian borders with Greece to curb the inflow of migrants into Europe. "If we cannot secure the outer border (of the EU), regardless of how costly or demanding that is, we will destroy the Schengen regime by ourselves," Orban said, referring to Europe's free-travel area. He was speaking during a one-day visit to Slovenia. Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar told the same news conference the European Union needed a joint solution within weeks to the migrant crisis to avoid possible conflicts between countries. "We do not have time until spring to find a solution. We need a solution within weeks ... if not, we can expect conflicts between countries," Cerar said. "The (migrant) situation is entirely out of control and has nothing to do with humanitarianism, integration and help," Cerar added. Over 411,000 migrants have entered Slovenia since Hungary fenced off its borders in October and pushed the migrant flow to the west through Slovenia. Almost all of them continued on their way to Austria and further north to Germany and other EU states. Slovenia on Thursday followed Austria with an announcement that it will reject all migrants apart from the ones seeking asylum in Austria or Germany. Over the past months Slovenia, too, has erected about 156 kilometres of fence on its southern border with Croatia to ensure that migrants can only enter the country through official border crossings. Cerar said Slovenia would pull the fence down as soon as a joint EU solution to the migrant crisis is found. Orban said Bulgaria, which lies north of Greece, should also join the Schengen area as it has shown that it is ready to secure its borders. (Reporting By Marja Novak; Editing by Tom Heneghan) By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland could become the latest euro zone country to face political deadlock in an election expected next month that risks delivering an inconclusive verdict and leaving Prime Minister Enda Kenny's coalition short of an overall majority. Despite boasting Europe's fastest-growing economy and a lead in opinion polls, Kenny's Fine Gael will almost certainly need the support of junior partner Labour to gain re-election - and the pair remain a few percentage points light. Similar to recent elections in Spain and Portugal that led to no clear victor, unnerving some investors, Irish voters are weighing the impact of an unpopular EU/IMF austerity programme against the start of economic recovery. As the euro zone slowly emerges from its debt crisis with the help of massive stimulus from the European Central Bank, a wave of political uncertainty that could slow economic reforms adds to a list of problems that include rising euro-scepticism, the migrant crisis and heightened security fears. Deadlock in Dublin could also put one of Europe's biggest bank floatations since the financial crisis on hold - of state-owned Allied Irish Banks . And analysts say it could slow crucial decision-making if a government were not in place by the time neighbour and trade partner Britain voted on EU membership. The uncertainty surrounding the election was typified by a voter who spoke to Fine Gael candidate Noel Rock on her north Dublin doorstep. "We're disappointed by all the cuts, they have made things extremely hard," she told Rock, referring to her work teaching special-needs pupils which has experienced sharp budget cuts. The former nurse, who declined to give her name, says she can also sympathise with the "terrible" pay some young public-sector workers face after years of cuts. Another concern is her grown-up son who lives at home and can only find low-paid work. She is undecided about who to vote for, and Rock - a 28-year-old councillor aiming to win Fine Gael's first seat in the constituency for almost 20 years - believes the "lack of credible alternatives" will swing such voters towards Fine Gael. The largest opposition party, Fianna Fail, is trailing Fine Gael by over 10 points in some polls after being hammered in the 2011 election - and it says it will not govern with its rivals, especially Sinn Fein, the one-time political wing of the IRA with which it could potentially reach a majority. "I'm not ready to forgive Fianna Fail and I would be worried and concerned if Sinn Fein were in a position of power," said another voter, 71-year-old pensioner Dan. "I will be voting Fine Gael, I'm generally happy with how things are going." SPAIN, PORTUGAL The uncertainty seen so far in countries like Portugal and Spain risk slowing the pace of economic reforms in the euro zone, potentially creating obstacles for growth in high-debt economies seeking to build on fledgling recoveries. Spain is without a government one month after no party won an outright majority in an election, and political analysts say that if the next administration is a fragile coalition of many parties, it could struggle to agree on a strong reform agenda. Meanwhile in Portugal, following an inconclusive October election, a shaky alliance of the moderate and far left is struggling to reconcile pledges to end austerity with budget deficit cuts promised to the EU. In Ireland the recovery is more established and a bout of political stalemate is unlikely to derail an economy that grew by around 7 percent last year and where the jobless rate has fallen to 8.8 percent from over 15 percent in 2012. But Danske Bank said on Thursday that a "muddled" result could lead to a short-term rise in record low Irish borrowing costs and a postponement of a possible credit rating upgrade by Moody's, the only agency holding Ireland below an 'A' rating. And the Allied Irish Banks flotation could be affected; the government wants to sell a 25 percent stake but only if re-elected, while the two main opposition parties have said they would not rush to sell the state's shares. However the main risks to Ireland come from external risks, such as a downturn in the global economy and a possible British exit from the EU, say analysts. Ireland has more to lose than other EU members in a "Brexit". Trade with its larger neighbour Britain could fall by at least a fifth, according to a government-commissioned report that also flagged "far-reaching consequences" in other areas. "External factors are the main risk for the Irish economy," said Theresa Reidy, a politics lecturer at University College Cork. "Should they deteriorate and require an unstable government unsure of its majority to take decisive action, that could become a problem." If Rock gets elected, it could spell a return towards the 36 percent of the national vote Fine Gael captured in 2011. However it would likely be at the expense of Labour, which has borne the brunt of public anger over austerity. On the most recent polls, the two parties are 13 seats short of the 79 needed for a majority, according to Adrian Kavanagh, a politics lecturer at National University Ireland Maynooth who conducts constituency-level analysis on each survey. Such an outcome could lead to a minority government, a coalition relying on a large number of independent MPs or an election re-run. "It is looking less and less likely that a combination of Fine Gael and Labour are going to be able to get back into government," said Reidy. "Unless Labour see some steady improvement in the campaign, which is hard to envisage right now, you'll be left in the quite challenging position where government formation is up in the air. I expect a very uncertain period after the election." (Editing by Pravin Char) COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has launched an investigation into allegations that a group of surgeons ran a racket trading human kidneys, the health ministry said on Saturday, two days after the authorities banned all kidney transplant surgery for foreigners. The health ministry has appointed a committee of five experts to run the investigation, it said in a statement. Allegations of the racket first surfaced in Indian media. Most of the alleged recipients of the illegally traded kidneys were Indian nationals. Trading in human organs in illegal in Sri Lanka. On Thursday, Sri Lanka's Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said all kidney transplant surgery performed on foreigners had been suspended until an investigation was completed. "If somebody has done business with kidney, that is unacceptable and illegal. What we have heard is that intermediaries have earned an exorbitant amount of money and six doctors have been involved." Indian media, quoting a top police official, said one person detained in the case had facilitated 15 kidney donations at a fee of 100,000 Indian rupees ($1,480) per transaction, while each donor was given 500,000 rupees. According to the reports, around 60 people sold their kidneys for transplants at four hospitals in Colombo since 2012. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) ZURICH (Reuters) - Five Swiss soldiers deployed to protect the World Economic Forum in Davos were sent home after testing positively for cocaine, the Swiss army said. Seven more were disciplined for cannabis consumption after all 12, returning from leave, were suspected of intoxication. "All 12 soldiers consumed cannabis and five of them additionally consumed cocaine," Swiss army spokesman Stefan Holder said. "These five were immediately sent home. The others are receiving disciplinary punishment during their duty." The five sent home were immediately dismissed from their military duty, Holder added, and one of them, discovered with around 3 grams of cocaine, will face civilian legal consequences as well as military discipline. Those could include fines or detention. "From the army's perspective, it went well: there was a suspicion, which was then investigated, and we determined that 12e had consumed (drugs) and were able to remove them before they took up a weapon again or were able to drive a vehicle," Holder said. The Swiss army functions under a militia system in which young men reaching adulthood do terms of military conscription, so it reflects society as a whole, Holder said. "Those who take drugs in their civil life surely also take drugs in the military or, in some cases, during military duty," the spokesman said. The army has made roughly 4,500 soldiers available to protect the gathering of high-powered and high-profile leaders at Davos. It does not comment on the actual number of personnel deployed, Holder said. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, editing by Larry King) News Ex-Microsoft, BMC Exec Tapped for Citrix CEO Kirill Tatarinov led Redmond's Business Solutions Division. Citrix Systems Inc. has its new CEO. The company's major restructuring effort filled its most important position Wednesday, when it appointed Kirill Tatarinov to the post. Tatarinov was a 13-year veteran of Microsoft before he left the company last summer as part of a companywide reorganization. He spent his last eight years at Microsoft leading its Business Solutions Division, which included, among other Microsoft products, the Dynamics CRM and ERP line of business applications. Before Microsoft, he was the senior vice president and CTO of BMC Software. Tatarinov's CEO role at Citrix will take effect on Jan. 25, when he will also join the company's board of directors. He succeeds Mark Templeton, who announced his retirement from Citrix in mid-2015 after 14 years as CEO. "Following a thorough review of candidates, the Board determined that Kirill's strong product management background and extensive technology leadership experience make him the right person to oversee Citrix's innovation and growth strategy," said Robert Calderoni, Citrix executive chairman, as well as interim CEO and president in the wake of Templeton's announcement, in a prepared statement. Tatarinov's appointment to CEO has been the most significant step in a series of major restructuring moves at Citrix, which in recent years has struggled to grow at the same pace as its virtualization and cloud computing rivals. The company reported significant financial losses in its fiscal 2014 and announced plans early last year to lay off about 900 employees. In mid-2015 Citrix gave activist investor Elliott Management, which had been urging Citrix to spin off its non-core businesses to improve its bottom line, a seat on its board. Since then, Citrix has either discontinued or sold off several products, including its XenClient VDI product, its GoTo line of virtual conferencing applications, and its cloud management products, CloudPlatform and CloudPortal Business Manager. Elliott believed that Citrix was too diversified, and needed to focus on fewer core products. "I am honored to join Citrix during this exciting time," Tatarinov said in a prepared statement. "Citrix is an iconic company with a world-class brand, innovative products, and a large installed base, including 99 percent of the Global 500. Citrix is a key enabler of digital business. Across every industry and region, the secure delivery of apps and data is a strategic imperative for organizations of all sizes. I look forward to working alongside Citrix's leaders, talented employees, and dedicated partners around the world to push the boundaries of innovation and create greater value together." Junipero Serra and The Mission System: The Destructive Legacy Date: Thursday, January 28, 2016 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Event Type: Speaker Organizer/Author: Andy Location Details: The Green Arcade 1680 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Join us as we shed light on the dark history of the man who Pope Francis canonized in 2015. Elias Castillo, author of A Cross of Thorns will be in conversation with noted indigenous author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. Castillo, a former reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, spent years researching life at the missions through historical documents at Santa Barbara Mission Historical Archives, Mexico's National Archives in Mexico City and numerous university libraries. He studied documents written in Serra's hand and little-known letters and reports from Serra and other Franciscans, documents from Spanish governors and military leaders, and eyewitness accounts from travelers. The truth is painful and not widely understood. Elias Castillo is the author of A Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California's Indians by the Spanish Missions. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is the author of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, which won The Before Columbus Foundations American Book Award in 2015. Praise for the book: A must-read for anyone interested in the truth behind this nations founding.Veronica E. Velarde Tiller, PhD, Jicarilla Apache author, historian, and publisher of Tillers Guide to Indian Country . This may well be the most important US history book you will read in your lifetime.Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams "Food & Water Watch applauds Assemblymember Eggman for introducing legislation that empowers everyday Californians to vote on the wasteful Delta tunnels project," said Adam Scow, California Director of Food & Water Watch." Its only fair that Californians get to vote on a project that demands so much of our water and money, especially when we need to invest billions toward fixing our aging local water and wastewater systems." Photo meme of Assemblymember Eggman by Restore the Delta (RTD). Assemblymember Eggman introduces bill to force vote on Delta Tunnelsby Dan BacherSacramento On the day after Governor Jerry Brown once again touted his Delta Tunnels Plan ("reliable conveyance") as a "solution" to California's water problems in his State of the State address, Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) announced the introduction of legislation to block the Governors controversial project unless it is approved by California voters on a statewide ballot.An enormous amount of time and energy has been wasted rebranding and repackaging the same old Peripheral Canal plan that voters rejected decades ago, Eggman said. Its tragic that despite our ongoing drought, this flawed plan is being forced on us without any true debate even though it will not add one drop of water to Californias supply, but it will raise the water rates and potentially property taxes of millions of Californians.The California voters overwhelmingly defeated a measure to build the earlier version of the project, the Peripheral Canal, in November 1982. Jerry Brown opposes a public vote on the tunnels, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger did before him.Eggman said the new bill will require approval via ballot initiative for "any infrastructure project that conveys water directly from a diversion point in the Sacramento River to pumping facilities of the State Water Project or the federal Central Valley Project south of the Delta."In 2012, the Governor was committed to asking the voters to approve a substantial tax increase. Im hopeful he will be just as committed to seeking voter approval before embarking on a project that will cost tens of billions of dollars and greatly impact the Delta region, Eggman said.Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis), a recognized leader on state water policy issues who has represented the Delta region in the State Legislature for 13 years, joined Eggman in announcing the introduction of the bill.Californias taxpayers and ratepayers should have the opportunity to weigh in on whether to commit billions of dollars to a project that economists say isnt a good investment, scientists say is a disaster for the Deltas ecosystem, and the water exporters own studies show will not produce a single drop of new water supply," said Wolk.The proposed tunnels are the most expensive, most controversial water project proposed in half a century with the potential to permanently destroy the Deltas ecosystem and community. Californians have the right to look at the facts and decide whether the tunnels are good for California, or whether we should drop this plan once and for all, she concluded.The state and federal water agencies rebranded the Peripheral Canal/Tunnels project as the California Water Fix last summer after the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) failed to meet environmental standards required to obtain the necessary permits from the federal regulatory agencies. The agencies split the BDCP into two components the tunnels plan, the California Water Fix, and the habitat restoration plan, California Eco Restore.The tunnels project would cost at least $15 billion to $25 billion, according to the administration's estimates, although the real cost of the tunnels could be over $67 billion. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the widely-contested project a failing grade, calling the new environmental impact report inadequate," according to a news release from Eggman's Office.Assemblymember Catharine Baker, Assemblymember Susan Bonilla, Assemblymember Jim Cooper, Assemblymember Jim Frazier and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty are joining Eggman and Wolk as co-authors of the legislation.While the Eggman bill focuses just on the Delta Tunnels, there is currently on the November 8 ballot a measure, the "No Blank Checks Initiative," that would force voter approval for public infrastructure bonds amounting to more than $2 billion and requiring new or increased taxes or fees. This initiative, if passed, would effectively force a vote on the tunnels and other similar projects. Dean Cortopassi, a Stockton region farmer and landowner, is spearheading the initiative. ( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/03/1444112/-Initiative-threatening-Delta-Tunnels-Qualifies-For-Ballot Environmental groups praise billRepresentatives of environmental, fishing and anti-corporate groups praised the introduction of the legislation, since it will force a vote on a project that will hasten the extinction of Central Valley steelhead, Sacramento River winter Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish species and will destroy the San Francisco Bay/Delta Estuary, the largest estuary on the West Coast of the Americas.The California Water Fix also imperils the steelhead and salmon run on the Klamath and Trinity rivers, fish populations that are an integral part of the culture and livelihood of the Yurok, Karuk and Hoopa Valley Tribes.Restore the Delta supports fully Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman's legislation blocking the tunnels without a vote of the people," said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta (RTD). "The tunnels will destroy the sole source of drinking water for one million Delta residents, the physical environment and the state's most magnificent fisheries and breathtaking habitat for birds on the Pacific flyway - not to mention the agricultural and related economies for an additional three million Delta area residents. The Delta is not California's sacrifice zone."Conner Everts, Executive Director of the Southern California Watershed Alliance, said, Given this so called Delta fix has grown in costs, lost any illusion of environmental mitigation, and doesn't provide Southern California with any new water, the time has come to know what the true cost-benefit ratio is and allow a vote. This legislation reinstates the legislatures prerogative, and gives the entire state a voice, especially those in Southern California who would have to pay for the project. The drought has shown that people in Southern California want a say in how their water utility payments are invested and that local water strategies are the best result for each dollar spent."Food & Water Watch applauds Assemblymember Eggman for introducing legislation that empowers everyday Californians to vote on the wasteful Delta tunnels project," said Adam Scow, California Director of Food & Water Watch. "Its only fair that Californians get to vote on a project that demands so much of our water and money, especially when we need to invest billions toward fixing our aging local water and wastewater systems."Jerry Brown pushes "reliable conveyance" in his State of the StateDuring his speech in Sacramento on January 22, Brown promoted building "reliable conveyance" - the twin tunnels - and building storage as key components of his water "vision" for California. However, the Governor was not as brash in his promotion of the tunnels as he was last week when he told reporters after his address at the Association of Water Agencies (ACWA) event in Sacramento that the construction of the project was "absolutely necessary."Our goal must be to preserve Californias natural beauty and ensure a vibrant economy on our farms, in our cities and for all the people who live here, Brown stated. There is no magic bullet but a series of actions must be taken. We have to recharge our aquifers, manage the groundwater, recycle, capture stormwater, build storage and reliable conveyance, improve efficiency everywhere, invest in new technologies including desalination and all the while recognize that there are some limits.The Governor also proclaimed some achieving balance between conflicting parties rhetoric, all while he continues to serve the interests of the corporate agribusiness, Big Oil, Big Timber and other corporate interests through his anti-environmental water policies. These policies have brought Central Valley steelhead and salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, Sacramento splittail, green sturgeon and other fish species to the brink of extinction under his administration.Achieving balance between all the conflicting interests is not easy but I pledge to you that I will listen and work patiently to achieve results that will stand the test of time," Brown claimed. Water goes to the heart of what California is and what it has been over centuries. Pitting fish against farmer misses the point and grossly distorts reality. Every one of us and every creature that dwells here form a complex system which must be understood and respected.The Governor's Office also unveiled a new video promoting the tunnels, a video that Barrigan-Parrilla described as "mockworthy." The California WaterFix Video is hyperlinked to the words "reliable conveyance" in the on line transcript of Browns speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFaQ9D_joI Barrigan-Parrilla also said, "We are thrilled to hear Governor Browns commitment to protecting ecological systems," while blasting Brown for moving ahead with the Delta Tunnels plan, considered by many to be potentially the most environmentally destructive project in California history.Unfortunately, Governor Brown insists on moving forward with the Delta tunnels project despite serious environmental concerns raised by numerous organizations including the Environmental Protection Agency which found the plan incomplete with required analysis not yet done, Barrigan-Parrilla said.Delta Tunnels are just one of Browns many anti-environmental policiesWhile Brown has posed as a climate leader and green governor at conferences and photo opportunities around the globe, including the Paris Climate Talks in December, he has overseen water policies that have have brought once robust Central Valley salmon and steelhead and Delta fish populations to extinctions edge, in addition to promoting the Delta Tunnels Plan, a project that will only cause further ecological, economic and cultural damage.As Caleen Sisk, Chief and Spiritual Leader of the Winnemem Tribe, said at a protest outside of a California Water Fix workshop in Sacramento on July 28, 2015: Right now the existing water projects continue to damage our ecology. They have already harmed our fish and driven them to extinction. The tunnels will only complete the job. The tunnels that they want to build are large enough to divert the entire Sacramento River.The tunnels are one key part of the plan that includes the Sites Reservoir, Shasta Dam Raise and Proposition 1, the water bond, she said.She said the water for the tunnels would be provided by Shasta Lake and Sites Reservoir and that to fill Sites Reservoir, the Shasta Dam would be raised to hold more water from the Sacramento River. ( http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/protesters-sing-wave-signs-and-blast-delta-tunnels-at-open-house/ The "green" Brown administration in 2011 presided over record water exports out the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the killing of millions of Sacramento splittail, an imperiled native minnow, and other species at the Delta pumps. ( http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/30452-the-extinction-governor-rips-the-green-mask-off-his-tunnels-plan More recently, fish species ranging from endangered Delta Smelt to Striped Bass plummeted to record low population levels in 2015, according to the annual fall survey report released on December 18 by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). ( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/01/05/1466156/-Delta-Smelt-and-other-fish-species-plummet-to-record-low-levels Only 6 Delta Smelt, an endangered species that once numbered in the millions and was the most abundant fish in the Delta, were collected at the index stations in the estuary this fall. The 2015 index (7), a relative number of abundance, is the lowest in history, said Sara Finstad, an environmental scientist for the CDFWs Bay Delta Region.Meanwhile, Brown promotes the expansion of fracking and other extreme oil drilling techniques in California and backs potentially genocidal carbon trading policies and REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), according to indigenous leaders. ( http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/9/1458504/-Indigenous-activists-challenge-Governor-Brown-for-backing-genocidal-carbon-trading-program In addition, Brown oversaw the completion of marine protected areas, created under the privately-funded Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative, that dont protect the ocean from fracking, offshore oil drilling, pollution, corporate aquaculture, military testing and all human impacts on the ocean other than sustainable fishing and gathering.And it was only after months of intense pressure from environmentalists, public health advocates and Porter Ranch residents that Governor Brown declared a state of emergency in the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak disaster that began on October 23.In an apparent familial conflict of interest, Browns sister, Kathleen, plays a significant role at Sempra Energy, the corporation that owns SoCal ( http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/19/1462031/-Jerry-Brown-s-ties-to-the-oil-and-gas-industry-highlight-regulatory-capture-in-CA Conflicts of interest like this one abound in a state where the regulatory apparatus has been captured by the regulated, including Big Oil, corporate agribusiness, the timber industry and other corporate interests. This week, British Doctors call for boycott actions against Israel, in the meantime two Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks in the West Bank. These stories, and more, coming up, stay tuned.The Nonviolence ReportLets begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. Five residents including a child were injured by Israeli troops gunfire, scores others suffered effects of tear gas inhalation on Friday when Israeli forces attacked nonviolent protests organized in West Bank villages. IMEMCs Majd Batjali with the details :This week protests were organized in the villages of Bilin, Nilin and al Nabi Saleh in central West Bank, and in the northern West Bank village of Kufer Kadum.Three villagers were injured, as Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest organized by the villagers of Kufer Kadum. Troops fired live rounds, mushroom bullets and tear gas at protesters and their supporters at the village entrance. Soldiers also fired at residents homes live rounds and tear gas.Nine-year-old Ayat Zahi was among the three villagers injured. She was hit with a live round in her hand and was moved to a nearby hospital for treatment. The other two were hit with rubber-coated steel bullets.In central West Bank, at the villages of Bilin and Nilin, Israeli soldiers attacked the protesters as soon as they reached the gate in the wall that separates local farmers from their lands. Many protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and were treated by field medics at both locations. Two local youth were lightly wounded in Bilin after being hit by rubber coated steel bullets.At the nearby al Nabi Saleh village, Israeli troops fired several rounds of rubber-coated steel bullets at the villagers as soon as they reached the village entrance. Moreover Israeli troops fired tear gas at residential areas causing damage to homes. Many residents suffered effects of tear gas inhalation as a result.For IMEMC News this Majd Batjali.The Political ReportBritish Doctors call for boycott actions against Israel and Human Rights Watch slam the Israeli settlements. IMEMCs George Rishmawi has more:British doctors have called for the removal of Israel from the World Medical Association (WMA) over claims of medical torture on Palestinians seeking treatment.Ze'ev Feldman, the representative of the Israeli doctors, told an Israeli Parliament meeting that some 71 UK doctors have started to pressure the WMA to revoke the membership of the Israel Medical Association, over claims that Israeli doctors perform medical torture on Palestinian patients.According to media sources, if the British physicians succeed, the Tel Aviv regime will be banned from taking part in international medical conferences and publishing in journals.The move follows similar measures launched by scholars around the world over the past few months. In December, over 200 South African scholars released a statement announcing their support of an academic boycott of Israel.In November, the American Anthropological Association, the largest professional organization of anthropologists in the world, approved a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions.Moreover, the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel, known as BDS, is gaining momentum in US college campuses and churches as well as in many places in Europe. The BDS movement seeks to end the Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands.In other news, Human Rights Watch, this week, called on Israeli and international businesses to withdraw from Jewish-only settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying they contribute to and benefit from Israeli violations.The international rights group said in a statement, according to Palestinian media sources, that Israel's violations of Palestinian rights -- as well as international humanitarian law -- were "intrinsic to abusive, harmful, and longstanding policies in the West Bank."The organization said that the only way for businesses to avoid contributing to this violation of international law would be to completely withdraw their business activity from the occupied Palestinian territory.The statement was issued following the release of a 162-page report on Israeli and international businesses operating in the occupied Palestinian territory, entitled Occupation Inc.Studies conducted for the report said settlement businesses contributed to rights violations through the labor abuse of Palestinians, development of Israeli Jewish-only infrastructure in the occupied territory, as well as the confiscation and restriction of Palestinian lands.PLO Secretary-General Dr. Saeb Erekat said in response to the report that the findings countered statements made by Israeli leadership that settlement businesses contributed to the Palestinian economy.In a statement, Erekat praised the report, but expressed disappointment that it fell short by failing to call for a complete ban on trade with Israeli settlements.For IMEMC News, this is George RishmawiThe West Bank and Gaza ReportThis week, Israeli attacks leave two killed Palestinians in the West Bank, meanwhile in Gaza, troops attack farmers and fishers. IMEMCs Ghassan Bannoura Reports:A Palestinian youth was killed, on Saturday, by Israeli troops manning a military checkpoint located at the southern entrance of Nablus city in northern West Bank. Wesam Qasarwah, 21, was shot with ten bullets after he crossed the checkpoint. Local sources said that he tried to throw a knife at soldiers from a distance and that he did not threaten the life of the soldiers barricaded inside the checkpoint.On Monday, Palestinian youth was killed and his brother was critically injured on Monday when a settler hit them with his car near the northern West Bank city of Salfit. Khalil Ammer, 19 and his brother Udai, 18, were riding their bicycles near the main road of their village Massah when a settler hit them with his car and fled the scene. Khalil was killed on spot and Udai was critically injured and moved to a nearby hospital in Salfit, Palestinian sources added.Moreover, a Palestinian family was attacked, on Tuesday, by Israeli settlers near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, Palestinian sources reported. According to local sources, the family was in their car at the Bartaa-Jenin road when they were attacked by the armed Israeli settlers. Witnesses told local media that the group of armed settlers came from the Dotan illegal Israeli settlement near Bartaa village. Medical sources said that the all-family members including two children sustained cuts and broses and were moved to a hospital in Jenin, due to the settlers attack.Elsewhere, three Palestinians homes were demolished by the Israeli army on Wednesday during in deferent parts of occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.Israeli soldiers demolished, Wednesday, an under construction Palestinian home, and its surrounding walls, in Beit ar-Roush village, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West bank. On Wednesday at dawn, the soldiers invaded Wad Qaddoum neighborhood in Silwan town, in occupied Jerusalem, and demolished an under construction home, after surrounding the area. also in Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers demolished a newly-built Palestinian home in Beit Hanina neighborhood,; the family was preparing to move into their residence next week.Also this week, Israeli forces conducted at least 127 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. During these invasions, Israeli troops kidnapped more than 77 Palestinian civilians including four children.In the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers station along the southern borders with the costal region attacked farmers on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Damage was reported to farmlands but no injuries. On Friday Israeli navy attacked Palestinian fishing boats in Palestinian waters forcing them to go back to shore.For IMEMC News this is Ghassan Bannoura.ConclusionAnd thats all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for January 16, to the 22, 2016. From the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at http://www.imemc.org , This weeks report has been brought to you by Maher Qasiess and me Eman Abedraboo-Bannoura. The City of Oakland is also expected to vote on some legislation in the near future, that involves impact fees to be used for creating so-called affordable housing projects, in addition to some form of additional existing renter protections. Renter protections are being considered in three cities within daysBy Lynda Carson - January 23, 2016Oakland - During the week of Jan. 25, renter protections that may include rent control, and just cause eviction protections, are being considered in the nearby cities of Lafayette, Pacifica, and Santa Rosa.Additionally, more renter protections are also expected to be considered in Alameda and Oakland within weeks, due to the massive housing crisis that exists in the Bay Area, and throughout California.The Lafayette City Council, is expected to consider rent control on Monday Jan. 25. The City Council is considering to pass renter protections in their town after many tenants repeatedly accused Sack Properties (CEO Kirby Sack), of allegedly ripping them off. Allegedly, Sack Properties was requiring the tenants to pay more for their utilities, than what the entire complex they resided in was being billed for. Additionally, Sack Properties faces many other allegations of alleged tenant abuse, according to the Contra Costa Times, http://tinyurl.com/jc4fkuh As a result of the lack of renter protections in Lafayette, on Monday Jan.25, at 7:00pm, at the library/community hall located at 3491 Mt. Diablo BLVD, the City Council will be considering renter protections. The renter protections may include a moratorium on rent increases, and just cause eviction protections.On Monday Jan. 25, at 7:pm, at the Pacifica City Hall, located at 2212 Beach BLVD, the Pacifica City Council is expected to consider some form of renter protections, including rent control. Renters and activists have been struggling to convince the council to protect their households from major rent increases and unjust evictions, according to the SF Examiner, http://tinyurl.com/h7bgvel Several options of renter protections will also be discussed by the City Council of Santa Rosa on Tuesday Jan. 26, http://tinyurl.com/jjzs8k5 . The renters and families have been struggling to get protection from the greedy multi-billion dollar housing, and real estate industries, that have been displacing them from their communities.Rent hikes in California have outpaced the national average during every month of 2015, according to ApartmentList.com, http://tinyurl.com/zccoulx . Of the ten most expensive cities in California, San Francisco is at the top of the list followed by Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Palo Alto, West Hollywood, Berkeley, Pacifica, San Mateo, San Rafael, and Foster City.Another recent survey that was reported on by the East Bay Express, also reveals that the fair market rents in Oakland have almost doubled since 2011. Additionally, in the top ten cities throughout the nation with the greatest rent increases during recent years, Oakland tops the list according to Smartasset.com, http://tinyurl.com/z2m7roh , surpassing San Francisco, New York City, San Jose, Houston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Chicago.Recently there was a huge battle in nearby Richmond, revealing how big money stole renter protections that were passed by the City Council in that town, when many voters were tricked into signing a petition that stopped the renter protections from going into effect, http://tinyurl.com/py63a9r In numerous nearby cities during the past year and more, renters have been terrified. Tenant activists and renters have been struggling to convince city officials that excessive uncontrollable rent hikes, and unjust no-cause evictions, are devastating their communities. The renters are being abused, and in city, after city, they often are being tossed out of their housing by members of the multi-billion dollar housing and real estate industry. Industries that are involved in economic cleansing throughout California. Families are facing eviction by the thousands throughout the Bay Area, as many City Council members are turning a blind eye to what has been going on.Prominent wealthy restaurant owner / landlord Chris Henry, of nearby Marin County, has been accused of being a slumlord in Fresno, and on January 14, 2016, the tenants at Summerset Village filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against him, http://tinyurl.com/hnycfzv According to the Fresno Bee, allegedly, the property manager at the site was accused of threatening the tenants with eviction, if they dared to report any slum-like conditions existing at the property. Meanwhile, it was reported that Chris Henry was allegedly raking in $100,000 a month from rents collected at the property, while around 150 tenants or more, were allegedly living in slum-like conditions, http://tinyurl.com/j3gm2bc In November 2015, while discussions were taking place in Alameda involving renter protections, barely a few days after a moratorium on evictions was passed that had a loophole in it, Sridhar Equities LLC (CEO Matt Sridhar), out of San Jose, issued eviction notices to 33 households, according to the East Bay Express, http://tinyurl.com/jk9g2hz Ranting and raving against renter protections for the rental housing tenants of Alameda, local landlord Donald W. Lindsey (Don), and his companies, have been accused of allegedly being involved wrong doing by the California Bureau of Real Estate (BRE), http://tinyurl.com/jqv87qw . The accusations being made by Robin Tanner, a Supervising Investigator of the State of California, are serious enough, that Lindsey may lose his real estate license, according to BRE.Don Lindsey is the leader and founding member of a large group of landlords called Alamedans for Fair Rents, who are totally opposed to renter protections in Alameda.At a recent January 5, City Council meeting, leading the pack of landlords that spoke out in anger against some weak renter protections being proposed, was Don Lindsey. Lindsey was followed shortly, by landlord lobbyist Gregg McConnell, in addition to around 37 other landlords that evening to speak out against renter protections being considered by the council.Hours later, the City Council was trying to figure out how they can satisfy the landlords, while debating the weak tenant protections being proposed that the Alameda Renters Coalition denounced as being ineffective. The council members kept referring to what Gregg McConnell had to say earlier, before making some of their decisions in the effort to avoid voting for real rent control, and just cause eviction protections permanently.Landlord lobbyist Gregg McConnell, http://tinyurl.com/j48roap , has appeared at many City Council meetings throughout the Bay Area for many years, to oppose renter protections, including rent control, and just cause eviction protections. McConnell, also claims that he is the mastermind behind the Costa Hawkins Act. The Costa Hawkins Act, is a state law that restricts cities in California from implementing strong rent control measures, as a way to protect renters in rental housing that was built after 1995.On Tuesday February 9, the Alameda City Council is expected to consider passing some weak renter protections that were proposed on Jan. 5, http://tinyurl.com/gllbk3p , that are opposed by the Alameda Renters Coalition, http://www.thealamedarenterscoalition.org/ The City of Oakland is also expected to vote on some legislation in the near future, that involves impact fees to be used for creating so-called affordable housing projects, in addition to some form of additional existing renter protections.Oakland has a weak rent stabilization program that is landlord friendly, and for many years tenant and housing activists have been insisting that the city needs real control. Rent increases in Oakland have skyrocketed in recent years, http://tinyurl.com/z2m7roh , as a direct result of not having a real rent control program.Lynda Carson may be reached at tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com >>>>>> Greenpeace Arctic Director Jon Burgwald Loves his Seal Fur Vest by Commentary by Captain Paul Watson - Reposted Greenpeace Arctic Director Jon Burgwald Loves his Seal Fur Vest Commentary by Captain Paul Watson My recent highlighting of Greenpeace Arctic Campaign director Jon Burgwalds endorsement of sustainable sealing has elicited a response. Here it is with my comments. Greenpeace Arctic Director Jon Burgwald Loves his Seal Fur Vest Commentary by Captain Paul Watson My recent highlighting of Greenpeace Arctic Campaign director Jon Burgwalds endorsement of sustainable sealing has elicited a response. Here it is with my comments. Where Does Greenpeace Stand on Seal Hunting? by Jon Burgwald January 21, 2016 This article was originally published by Greenpeace Denmark. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: Greenpeace is completely against the commercial hunting of seals for profit. We always will be. Captain Paul Watson: Unless the commercial sealing operation pretends to be indigenous. When a seal pelt is processed by a factory for sale in Asia or Europe that is all the proof needed that the product is commercial. Jon Burgwald stated loud and clear that it is time to move on and I quote: I think its great, also, we need to move beyond the notion that all sealing and seal products are a bad thing. I think its good that we can start promoting sustainable seal products. When asked if it was now okay to wear seal products, Its true.. It is a sustainable hunt. Its a very sustainable way of hunting. Burgwald goes on to say that he thinks it is good that Greenpeace can start to promote sustainable seal products. Now being in favor of killing seals is bad enough but Burgwald say that Greenpeace intends to promote seal products. I fail to see what possible justification that Greenpeace can have for not only endorsing seal products but also for promoting seal products. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: Late last year, I was interviewed about Greenpeaces position on seal hunting by the American news channel MSNBC. I think its important to clarify where we stand on this important subject. Greenpeace is completely against the commercial hunting of seals for profit. We always will be. But the large-scale, commercial hunt is a world away from the traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic. In fact, Indigenous communities have shown time and again that they understand how to protect the Arctic ecosystem they call home, and their hunting practices have never been a threat to seal or whale populations. They do not hunt seal pups, and their hunt is conducted with respect for the animal. They hunt because it is a crucial way to sustain themselves and their families in the harsh Arctic environment. Captain Paul Watson. Come on Jon, you were speaking directly to the marketing of seal fur as fashion. When we see a fashion model traipsing down the runway displaying a seal fur jacket are you asking us to believe that she needs that jacket to survive the harsh Arctic environment? Once seal fur leaves the environs of the Arctic to be worn in Tokyo, Beijing, or strangely even in Dubai, it can no longer be classified as indigenous. There is nothing indigenous, cultural or traditional about marketing fur to wealthy people in climates outside of the Arctic. When fashion designers like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood denounce fur in fashion, why would Greenpeace even think of promoting it? Back in the Eighties at an International meeting of fur and whaling industry executives in Iceland, the Canadian Department of Fisheries proposed a marketing scheme to counter anti-fur and anti-whaling protests by linking their industry with indigenous communities to present the illusion that the product is both cultural and sustainable. It is a lie that seems to have seduced even Greenpeace. Nobody, not Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd or any other organization has ever campaigned against Inuit communities. But Canadian Federal monies were pumped into Inuit communities to enlist them in the defense of the commercial sealing industry. The government of Canada says that baby seals are no longer slaughtered. That depends of course on the definition of a baby seal, which the government now claims is older than three weeks. They may be helpless on the ice, unable to swim, with survival skills unlearned, but a redefinition according to the industry now defines them as adults. When indigenous people are employed by commercial interests their killing for the industry can no longer be considered indigenous. The Great Greenland Fur Tannery sells millions of Euros of seal and polar bear fur every year. This is not subsistence, its a commercial business. In an article by Kevin McGwin (November 11th, 2015) on the World Policy Blog provides more insight: Despite everything the organization had done to express its support for indigenous sealing in recent years, most people still seemed to be caught off guard when Jon Burgwald, a Danish Greenpeace Arctic campaigner, appeared wearing a sealskin vest. (At the Arctic Circle conference in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2015) The vest was a gift to Greenpeace, presented to Burgwald by Great Greenland, a tannery, after he explained during a report broadcast on MSNBC, an American news outlet, that it was never Greenpeaces intention to damage the livelihoods of indigenous hunters. Burgwald admits that the comments and wearing the vest are a part of the Greenpeaces efforts to own up to its mistakes, but he underscores that the organization supports sealing primarily because it is the right thing to do. This is something that is good for our relationship to the people of the North, but its not a way to win new members. The Great Greenland Tannery is not some little cottage business. It is a major exporter of seal and polar bear fur. It is a commercial enterprise supplying the demand from the fashion industry. By accepting a vest worth about 750 Euros and publicly wearing it, Burgwald is sending a clear message that Greenpeace endorses commercial sealing. And as Burgwald clearly stated supporting seal is the right thing to do. What really makes me angry is that Burgwald states that the Greenpeace seal campaigns of the past, initiated and organized by myself were a mistake. They maybe a mistake to corporate Greenpeace today but we who led and participated in those campaigns have no apologies for the success of our activism. Our efforts brought about the collapse of the commercial seal fur market and we are damn proud of the results. My crew and I were beaten, jailed, dragged through frozen Labrador waters, fined and persecuted in Greenpeaces name and Burgwald dismisses our efforts today as a mistake. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: We respect their right to continue this tradition. Captain Paul Watson: This statement implies that anyone opposed to the marketing of seal fur does not respect the rights of indigenous communities. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: Ive visited many communities in the Arctic over the last decade and have seen both how Indigenous Peoples conduct the hunt and how extremely important it is for them. It is not just a matter of culture, it is a matter of survival. Many Indigenous communities in the far north rely on seal products for food, warmth and clothing. They sell some of these products so they can sustain their livelihoods and keep their families alive through the harsh Arctic winter. Captain Paul Watson: Once again Burgwald implies that seal fur products marketed outside the Arctic are a necessity for survival of indigenous people. He paints a pretty picture of the Inuit hunter depending upon the seal for survival and this associates with the image of the hunter with his dog sled, handmade bone spear, patiently waiting for hours before a hole in the ice in sub-zero temperatures waiting for a seal to deliver itself to him. The reality is a hunter on a snowmobile or a power boat with a high powered rifle with scope shooting seals from a distance and hauling dozens of pelts at a time back on a sled pulled by his snow-mobile. The odds for the seals and polar bears have changed dramatically. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: On the other hand, the Canadian Government continues to allow the killing of upwards of half a million seal pups a year. This Government has a long history of sacrificing the health of our oceans for the short-term interests of the fishing and sealing industry. This is why we started our sealing campaign in the 1970s and why we still oppose the commercial hunt. Captain Paul Watson: First of all Jon, you did not start the Greenpeace seal campaigns in the Seventies. I did. You were not there and thus you speculate about the reasons. Greenpeace then, as I do now, opposed the entire commercial fur industry. When seal fur is marketed it becomes commercial and that is exactly what you were endorsing in your interview. Today Canada sets a quota of over 400,00 seals each year but the kill is lower than 20% because the work of anti-sealing groups has undermined the markets in most of the world. Canada needs the association with indigenous traditions to continue to push for the re-opening of the markets. For example, The European Union offered the Inuit an exemption but the Inuit under the direction of the government of Canada refused this exemption and refused to disassociate the indigenous hunt from the commercial hunt. We need to continue to undermine the lobbying of the fur industry especially the sealing industry and your statements are ammunition for that industry. Just like Patrick Moore did when he betrayed Greenpeace principles to sell-out to the nuclear, GMO and chemical industries, you are now doing the same for the fur industry. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: But when Greenpeace and others campaigned against the seal hunt in the 1970s and 1980s, we didnt adequately distinguish between the inhumane and cruel industrial hunt and the traditional one. The results were devastating to many Arctic Indigenous communities. Hunting and fishing in this harsh landscape is, for many, their only means of survival. Captain Paul Watson: Again what do you mean by we Jon? We did indeed distinguish between indigenous hunting and commercial hunting and you would know that if you were there but again, you were not there. There never has been any campaign to target traditional Inuit communities. We opposed the Canadian and Norwegian commercial hunts and not a single indigenous person living a traditional life style was involved in that activity then, nor are they today. I fail to see how it was devastating to Arctic indigenous communities. They continued to kill seals without interference for food and clothing. What they could no longer do was supply fur to the commercial markets. And it was through the Inuit communities that the fur industry secured arctic fox, polar bear and other species they could no longer legally exploit themselves. The destructive fur trade that began with the Hudsons Bay and Northwest Companies in the 18th Century was fueled by recruitment of Native American communities to supply the fur they marketed to Europeans. Whereas Native Americans were not a major threat to wildlife populations, their alliance with the European fur companies devastated beaver and otter populations and drove species like the sea mink to extinction. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: Greenpeace is campaigning to protect marine mammals across the world including critically endangered species like the Vaquita, Mauis dolphin, and Okinawa dugong. Were also tackling some of the huge global issues that affect their survival, like overfishing, ocean pollution and acidification. We will never stop campaigning for healthy, clean oceans, or supporting the rights of Indigenous Peoples everywhere. Captain Paul Watson: Sea Shepherd has two vessels in the Sea of Cortez working in cooperation with the Mexican Navy. This is the 2nd year of Operation Milagro. Greenpeace is not there. Greenpeace does not oppose the slaughter of pilot whales in the Danish Faroe Islands, nor the massacre of dolphins in Japan. Greenpeace has not sent a ship to the Southern Ocean to defend whales since 2007. Greenpeace does good work on numerous issues but refuses to address important factors contributing to the destruction of life in the ocean and contributing to climate change, things like industrial fish consumption and meat production. Greenpeace refused to be interviewed for the film Cowspiracy for fear of alienating their meat-eating supporters. Greenpeace has taken the position that there is sustainable fisheries and sustainable logging and refuses to acknowledge that 7.5 billion people cannot allow for sustainable exploitation. There is simply no such thing as sustainable exploitation of species presently under assault by escalating consumer demands. There is no necessity for an industrial fur industry and when fur coats are marketed to the public, the word sustainable used in such a context is absurd. Greenpeace Director Jon Burgwald: Im hugely grateful to all of our supporters who continue to make this work possible. Captain Paul Watson: I would think Jon, you will be losing a great many supporters who will not agree with Greenpeace endorsing commercial sealing with the lie that it is sustainable. Greenpeace needs to do some damage control here and that involves sacking Jon Burgwald and issuing a statement that Greenpeace is absolutely 100% opposed to the commercial trade in fur with an acknowledgement that fur is not a sustainable product nor can it be described even remotely as eco-friendly. Note: John Burgwald has taken pains to delete online pictures of himself wearing seal fur but these two pictures expose Jon Burgwald as the seal fur loving traitor to Greenpeace and the seals that he is and the attached tweets from Burgwald shared with Nauja Bianco, a marketing director for the Great Greenland Tannery Company speak for themselves. Pictures: Bergwald and a friend sporting sealskin coats and Burgwald (with red bowtie) proudly wearing his sealskin vest gift from Great Greenland Tannery. Indianapolis, IN Although most of the news regarding Although most of the news regarding denied Harvoni insurance claims and resulting lawsuits involves private insurance providers, it appears Medicaid is also denying patients necessary Harvoni treatment. Patients allege Medicaid and other insurance providers are playing with their lives by deeming the hepatitis C treatment not medically necessary. NPR (12/27/15) reports that Sarah Jackson was prescribed Harvoni treatment for her hepatitis C, but Indianas Medicaid program refused to pay for it. Harvoni costs around $95,000 for a 12-week course - incentive for insurance providers to deny coverage - but it has a more than a 90 percent success rate. Thats a high success rate for a condition that can cause serious liver problems and even death.According to NPR, however, at least 34 states will not pay for Harvoni treatment unless a patient already has liver damage, a consequence of hepatitis C. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (6/30/15) found that 42 states including the District of Columbia have public information about their Medicaid reimbursement criteria for sofosbuvir (the generic name for Sovaldi, a similar drug to Harvoni). Of those, 74 percent limit access to patients who have advanced liver disease. Nine states have unknown criteria. Nevada is the only state in which it is public information that there is no prior authorization required for sofosbuvir.In other words, patients who have a disease that could cause severe liver damage have to show enough liver damage to warrant treatment before they are given access to the treatment that could prevent liver damage in the first place.The US Senate Finance Committee has weighed in, criticizing Gilead Sciences - maker of Sovaldi and Harvoni - for basing the price of the drugs on maximizing revenue.Sovaldi costs $1,000 per pill or $84,000 for a full treatment. According to a letter from the committee, in the 18 months following Sovaldis approval on the market, Medicare spent an estimated $8.2 billion on Sovaldi and Harvoni.Gilead pursued a calculated scheme for pricing and marketing its Hepatitis C drug based on one primary goal, maximizing revenue, regardless of the human consequences, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) said. Gilead knew these prices would put treatment out of the reach of millions and cause extraordinary problems for Medicare and Medicaid, but still the company went ahead.For now, patients are left to fight with Medicaid and other insurance providers to try to get the treatment they desperately need, while insurance providers continue to demand evidence of sufficient liver damage before they approve treatment. According to NPR, Sarah Jackson has filed a lawsuit with the help of the ACLU of Indiana, arguing that Medicaid is legally obligated to pay for any drug a doctor deems medically necessary. China Voice: Supply-side structural reform key to China's growth 2016-01-22 18:20 BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tourists have grabbed global attention for their frenzied shopping overseas in recent years, bringing home goods from designer outfits to quality life necessities, electric cookers for instance. While domestic consumption is slack, enthusiasm for haitao (buying overseas goods online) is running high. The scenario is a perfect opportunity to explain "supply-side structural reform" in layman's term. The current scenario is a result from a structural imbalance of domestic supply, meaning Chinese consumers can't find a supply of quality goods they particularly want. Fixing the problem through reforms is the key to China's economy. At a symposium attended by ministers and provincial officials on Monday, President Xi Jinping said supply-side structural reform will advance economic restructuring by reducing noneffective and low-end supply, and boost productivity by expanding medium-to-high-end supply. Supply-side reform, a buzzword used by Chinese leaders and economists, focuses on better provisions for high-quality goods and services, lower costs for businesses and stronger consumption. The phrase is created against the backdrop of a slowing economy. China's economy grew by 6.9 percent year on year in 2016, its slowest annual expansion in a quarter of a century. However, a V-shaped rebound is beyond the reach of short-term stimulation. The root causes of the slowing economy must be addressed. China has been transforming from an export- and investment-powered model to one based on stronger consumer spending, innovation and the service sector. After decades of economic reform, the growth model and consumption demand have changed fundamentally, from a universal short of supply to oversupply in some sectors, and from an emphasis of quantity to a preference for quality. The root cause of the slowing economy appears to be lack of consumption demand, but the actual cause is an imbalanced supply structure and mismatch between supply and demand. That explains why China imports a large amount of fine steel, while crude steel domestically mass produced is priced "as cheap as cabbage", and the buying overseas frenzy against sluggish domestic consumption. Future growth will rely on a balance between supply and demand, a requirement for adapting to the economic "New Normal". At present, the priority should be dissolving industrial overcapacity, phasing out "zombie enterprises", lowering business costs, developing strategic and emerging industries as well as service sectors, and expanding supply of public goods and services. Statistically, China is accelerating its pace in optimizing economic structure. For instance, the share of the value added of the service sector in the total GDP increased by 2.4 percentage points year on year in 2015. The contribution of end-user consumption, including resident and government spending, to the national GDP growth in 2015 jumped by 15.4 percentage points from 2014, according to latest official data. Moving in the same direction, the supply-side structural reform is expected to inject renewed vitality into Chinese economy. Related: Spotlight: China's economy transitioning not derailing: experts DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's economy is going through a series of historic transitions, and recent short-term market volatility will prove temporary, experts attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2016 here said on Thursday. The Chinese government is implementing wrenching reforms trying to shift its growth driven from investment and manufacturing to services and consumption. Experts warned that the uncertainty during the process will lead to periodic market disruptions. Full Story Chinese economy not in crisis: expert PRETORIA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China is not facing an economic crisis but adjusting its economic structure, a Chinese expert said on Tuesday. "There is a global slowdown in the market and China is part of the world facing those challenges and risks. The economic slowdown would facilitate industrial structure to adjust demand to supply," said Gu Hailiang, Deputy Chair of the State Committee of Social Sciences at the Chinese Ministry of Education. Full Story Report from SaharaReporters suggests that there are fears over President Muhammadu Buhari's health. President Muhammdu Buhari According to a source from the presidency, some of President Buharis aides are concerned about his health. READ ALSO: Militants In Trouble: Read What Ijaw-Elders Told Buhari [article_adwert] The aides are of the thought that the presidents frequent travels might be taking a toll on his wellbeing. A sources informs that the presidents personal physician, Dr Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi, now stands very close to him during and after public events on foreign and sometimes domestic trips. It is also gathered that Buharis chief security officer, Abdulkarim Dauda, travels two days ahead of the president in order to spend two days in hotel rooms where Mr. Buhari is expected to sleep. It is a precautionary measure, said the source. The president will be embarking on another whirlwind of global travel beginning with trips to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Nairobi, Kenya before the end of January. Starting from February, President Buhari is scheduled to visit Paris, London, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for official visits. Some of the trips are also related to conferences. Buharis trip to Saudi Arabia comes on the heels of the Nigerian Armys alleged massacre of Shiite Muslims and the arrest of Shiite leader, Ibrahim El Zakzaky. Meanwhile, in carrying out his domestic responsibilities, President Buhari will be in Ogun state as from Febraury 1 to celebrate 40 years of the state existence. The celebration is said not to be just for the state's birthday, but to harvest some completed projects across the three senatorial districts. Source: Legit.ng An attack by three suicide bombers in Maiduguri on Friday, January 22 was foiled by the military just a kilometre into the troubled town, The Punch reports. Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency in the northeast have recorded successes against Boko Haram fighters in recent times. The attackers were intercepted while trying to get passage into Maiduguri, according to Brigadier General Lucky Irabor, the deputy commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East). READ ALSO: Boko Haram Launches Another Attack In Cameroon [article_adwert] He said: "The three suicide bombers, two females and a male, attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri but were intercepted by vigilant men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road. General Lucky Irabor added that one of the bombers on sighting the troops detonated the bomb on her, getting killed in the process alongside the other bomber. The third one while attempting to run at the checkpoint to detonate the bomb on him, but before he could get to the soldiers was shot." Irabor said the Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency in the northeast had recorded other successes in the last one week. He said troops on January 17 raided Boko Haram enclaves at Shentimari general area recovering 78 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Similarly, on January 18 at Chukun Gudu, troops encountered and destroyed terrorists camps along Jillam, Bula Butube general areas. During the exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed, two AK47 rifles, two AK47 magazines, two solar panels and two GSM handsets were recovered, while one Isuzu vehicle was destroyed. On January 20, troops cleared terrorist camps/enclaves at Ngwalimiri and Gazama in Damboa Local Government Area. While conducting operations in Mufurundi village along Damboa-Bale road, our gallant troops intercepted 10 Boko Haram suspects from Bego, Mesemarri and Bale villages carrying bags containing food condiments, soaps, and other items. Suspects are presently undergoing interrogation. Also, troops had an encounter with terrorists during advance from Wajirok to Ajigin. During the encounter, three of the terrorists were killed, he added. READ ALSO: Christians And Muslims Unite To Fight Boko Haram He also disclosed that three suspected Boko Haram terrorists who voluntarily surrendered themselves to Damboa Vigilante Group at Kaya village made confessional statements that they were forced to join the Boko Haram terrorist group and also participated in the groups previous attacks at Askira and other locations. Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has insisted the Boko Haram insurgency has been decimated in the country as members of the group can no longer launch attacks. General Gabriel Olonisakin, the chief of defence staff said on Tuesday, January 12 that Boko Haram has been degraded and they are not fit any longer to carry out coordinated attacks but off course suicide bombing is an issue we are still battling with. He assured the people that the military would take the issue of suicide bombing seriously and end the activities in the country. Source: Legit.ng An Islamic cleric, Alfa Shehu Lukman has been accused of having carnal knowledge of a married woman for more than two years after he threatened that she would run mad if she divulged the secret. [article_adwert] The Punch reports that the woman, Kemi Kamorudeen and her husband, Dayo Kamorudeen with their three children lived in the Akute area where the alfa was living before they moved to the in Oke-Ogun area in Lagos. According to the husband, his wife was always going back to Akute and that when she insisted on going on Sunday, January 17, he forced her to tell him why she was always going to the place. In tears, she confessed that the cleric had been sleeping with her with after she went to tell him a bad dream she had. Alfa Lukman who is accused of having carnal knowledge of a married woman She said: The dream was frightening. I narrated the dream to him and he told me that a spirit husband was behind my problem. He said the problem required an urgent solution so that the spirit husband would not be able to kill me. READ ALSO: Woman Stops Rapist By Biting Off Benitals He told me that after I had taken my bath the following day, I should call him and he would come with the medicine. The following morning, I took my bath and called him. When he came, he brought out a razor and some medicine he had prepared and said he would need to make an incision on my private part. I asked why he couldnt just explain how it would be done so that my husband could do it for me when he came back from work but he said that it was a taboo for husbands to handle such medicine. He told me that to ward off the spirit husband, the incision was just the preliminary treatment. He said the medicine would be rubbed on the incision after it had been made: She said when she agreed; he grabbed her by the neck and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. He later brought out a Quran an forced her to swear that if she told anyone, she would run mad and members of her family would die. It was also reported that Lukman had also conducted a spiritual bath for the daughter of the couple. Kamorudeen claimed his daughter told him when the alfa visited their house one day, he tried to force himself on her. Our landlady at the time came out when she heard the noise but the Alfa quickly told the woman that he was just trying to continue the Quranic studies and she was proving stubborn. He used that opportunity to escape that day. My daughter too could not tell the woman what actually happened. READ ALSO: Man Defiles Pregnant Woman In Kano Lukman however denied that he ever slept with Kemi or tried to do so with her daughter. I am a spiritual doctor to the woman and her children. It is true that I made incisions on her, but it was not on her private part. It was just beside her private part, on the inner part of her thighs. I have been a spiritualist for more than 30 years and I do not lie. It is true that I also did a treatment for her daughter which required a spiritual bath. There is nothing strange in that. There is a stream not far from here where she had the bath. Source: Legit.ng Thousands of Nigeria who fled the country due to Boko Haram attacks have begun their return from Cameroon. [article_adwert] According to Mail Online, about 15,000 Nigerians have made the return journey from Cameroon to Gamboru although houses and livelihood were found destroyed. READ ALSO: Army releases Report On Operation Lafiya Doyle An official in the town said more are coming in everyday, Gamboru was taken over by Boko Haram fighters in August, 2014 after a fierce battle which forced residents to flee to the Fotokol town of northern Cameroon. Chadian forces as part of the military coalition created to fight the insurgency defeated and reclaimed the town in February last year. The battle left a lot of Boko Haram fighters dead pavin the way for the military announcement urging people to return to the liberated town. Abacha Mari, one of the returnees said on Wednesday, January 20 that the town was in ruins. We found a looted and burnt out town which is a shadow of its former self. More than nine-tenths of the buildings in the town have been damaged by fire while the rest have been washed away by the rains. Everything was looted and the streets are barely recognisable. READ ALSO: Soldiers Foil Suicide Attack The returnees noted that although the town had been liberated early last year, the presence of military personnel was what gave them the confidence to return. The return is being coordinated by Cameroonian and local officials. The returnees and their belongings were first screened by Cameroonian soldiers before they were allowed into Nigeria and given necessary papers. Source: Legit.ng Macao Post issued stamps to greet Chinese New Year From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-01-22 17:36 Macao Post released a new set of stamps and souvenirs featuring monkeys to welcome Chinese Year of the Monkey on Jan 21. [Photo/Xinhua] On Jan 21, Macao Post released a new set of stamps and souvenirs featuring monkeys to welcome Chinese Year of the Monkey which falls on Feb 8 this year. With the application of imprint technology the characteristics of monkeys are vividly demonstrated, adding happiness and hilarity to the New Year. Wu meiqi, director of the Stamp Collection Apartment at Macao Post noted that the design is based on the combination of various shapes of Monkey and traditional Chinese culture wuxing, the five elements including metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Considering the year of monkey belongs to the category of "fire", designers focus on the theme "Fire Monkey" by presenting the scene in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West in which the main character Sun Wukong, the Monkey King puts down the conflagration on the Fire Mountain with a magical fan. Consisting of five stamps, the monkey set of stamps is the ninth issue in the third 12-year Lunar New Year series released by Macao Post. A total of 650,000 stamps will be on sale starting Jan 22 as well as other souvenirs including material sheets, postcards, unique auspicious pendants and teapots with monkey forms. Nigeria's minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has finally opened up on the protests by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) for a sovereign state. The former governor of Anambra state, who spoke with Legit.ng in Alor, venue of his late father's funeral ceremony, insisted that there is nothing like Biafra. [article_adwert] According to him, the protesters are only a group of discontented people, a situation which is not peculiar to the eastern part of the country where they are domiciled. Senator Chris Ngige addressing people during the condolence visit to his Alor residence on Saturday, January 23, 2016. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi When asked what he thinks about the incessant protests by the pro-Biafrans, he noted with a lot of assurance, that the protesters are to the east, what Boko Haram is to the northern part of the country and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in the southwestern part of the country. Senator Chris Ngige and his elder brother, Chief Edwin Ngige. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi He said, therefore, that there is really no need for Nigerians to panic about their presence or activities as they would be handled the same way others were dealt with by the federal government. "Biafra? What do you mean by Biafra?" he retorted rhetorically when asked about the struggle by the protesters. "There is no struggle anywhere. There is even no agitation. It is just discontent." Senator Chris Ngige during the condolence visit to his residence on Saturday, January, 2016. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi. "In Yoruba land, they say they are OPC, Oodua Peoples Congress; in the Niger Delta, they say they are militants; in the northern part of Nigeria, especially the northwest and northeast, they say they are Boko Haram. They are against western education. They say that it is from western education that they learn how to steal money. "So, it is discontent. The people who say they are doing Biafra agitation are the same thing and they will be handled the same way others have been handled. Dialogue!" the former Senator quickly added. Watch the video below: Source: Legit.ng The identity of one of the masterminds of the abduction of Chibok girls on April 14, 2014, will soon be made public subject to verification by the Nigerian Army. The Chibok girls were kidnapped from their government secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno state by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014. Jarasu Shirawho, who is believed to be the sect leader around Damboa-Chibok-Askira axis of Borno state before he was apprehended last week in the state is believed to be one of the masterminds of the Chibok girls abduction. READ ALSO: Thousands Return To Town Liberated From Boko Haram [article_adwert] Disclosing details of the arrest of the suspected leader of the Boko Haram sect, Major General Lucky Irabor, the deputy theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the suspect was arrested in one of the routine operations by soldiers. He said: "We have in our custody a good number of suspected terrorists that were apprehended as a result of our routine operations. "One of those suspects is believed to be on the list of our 100 most wanted terrorists leaders." General Irabor however noted that there was need to ascertain the true identity of the suspect before final confirmation to the media. He said this was to avoid past mistakes where individuals were arrested based on mistaken identities. "There are checks that must be done before final confirmation, facial attributes tended to show that he is the one. READ ALSO: Boko Haram: Army Releases Report On Operation Lafiya Dole "But then, there are other things we need to do to ensure that is he who we said he is. Although the facial attributes confirmed he is the one, but it is not just by looks alone. "We have had cases where we had mistaken identity only to come up to say we are sorry, that is what we are trying to avoid this time," he said. Meanwhile, an attack by three suicide bombers in Maiduguri on Friday, January 22 was foiled by the military just a kilometre into the troubled town. Brigadier General Lucky Irabor who disclosed details of the botched attack said the suicide bombers were intercepted while trying to get passage into Maiduguri by vigilant men a kilometre ahead of the town, along Mafa road. Source: Legit.ng British troupe brings its physical theatre Missing to Beijing From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-01-22 19:34 Rehearsal images of Missing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] If you appreciate good plays, then you don't want to miss the one in Beijing this weekend. Missing is a physical theatre presented by British troupe Gecko. Spending two years brewing the idea of a soul departing from the body, director Amit Lahav presents a middle aged woman, Lily, who faces the dilemma of having what she doesn't want and wanting what she doesn't have. "Her soul appears decaying to her, and something is just wrong about her life. She thinks she married the wrong person, her childhood memories is plaguing her, and she just can't take everyday life as it is though others think she is a quite successful woman," said Lahav. Such a figure, despite deriving from contemplation of Lahav's childhood memories, where family conflicts left an impression on him and the experience of moving from Israel to Britain imposed a culture shock is not just Lahav's own imaginative story. "I didn't create the play by myself; the story is a mix of experiences from the actors and dancers. Everyone is exploring their personal experiences in the play, and the play ends up being very personal for them and hopefully for the audience too," said Lahav. Georgina Robertson who stars as Lily suggests we embrace the play with an open heart, and not assume the character as it is, but to immerse in it. Rehearsal images of Missing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] "In fact, it is a journey into the depths of the human psyche. And some people might feel the need to take such a journey early in their 20s. So maybe we could view the play in terms of life, culture, emotion and many other things. It is not merely a play about a middle aged woman, it is about reclaiming a soul, which is sexless," Robertson said. As a physical theatre with few lines and mostly dancing body gestures, the play has no trouble awaking the audiences' heartening memories of the past while bringing consciousness to those buried inflictions that in some way deserves to be reconciled in order to live on. Last night, Missing had its 2016 China debut at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. The dancers' fantastic visual and visceral presentation, the extraordinary choreography amazed the Beijing audience. The play will also perform today and tomorrow. Lahav said that aside from Missing, he's planning to collaborate Gecko with the Shanghai Drama Arts Center to produce another play, a physical theatre adapted from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The play is expected to come out this summer. If you go 7:30 pm, Friday-Saturday. Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xi Cheng district. 400-6350-3355. Rehearsal images of Missing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Rehearsal images of Missing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Rehearsal images of Missing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Related: European-Chinese Festival Orchestra makes debut in Berlin Quju keeps authentic flavor of Beijing alive

Dumb Friends League

Phoenix the cat has been through a lot. Now, she's going home with someone who truly understands. The sweet kitty was found outside a laundry room two months ago with burns all over her ears and body - likely because she was trying to keep warm under a clothes dryer. Dumb Friends League in Denver, Colorado, took her in. Dumb Friends League Dodo Shows Wild Hearts Guy And Wild Shark Have Been Best Friends For Decades Dumb Friends League Dumb Friends League Dumb Friends League They named her Phoenix for her incredible recovery. Dumb Friends League Dumb Friends League Now, 1-year-old Phoenix is finally getting the loving family she deserves. Her new home is with Gloria, a Colorado mom who was severely burned in a household accident at age 16. Gloria told Dumb Friends Rescue that while she connected with Phoenix's story after hearing it on the local news, she didn't intend to adopt another pet. But Gloria had a change of heart when her daughter called and said, "Mom, this is the cat for you." "Walking into the room and seeing Gloria with Phoenix curled up and purring in her lap, you could tell there was an instant connection," Dumb Friends League's Megan Rees told The Dodo. "We knew Phoenix would need a very special home and we're honored that we could help bring these two together," she added. Gloria plans to give Phoenix a new name: Rosebud, in honor of her little pink ears. Dumb Friends League Dumb Friends League An opossum who fell victim to a heartless act has left his rescuers stunned - not only for the cruelty inflicted upon him, but by the fact that he survived. Warning: Graphic photographs below Authorities from Riverside County Animal Services, in California, were alerted to the animal on Friday morning. Given the nature of the injuries, the responding officer was expecting to be picking up a dead opossum, but that turned out not to be the case. "Shockingly enough, the animal was still alive, so the officer brought it to the shelter clinic right away," John Walsh, of Riverside County Animal Services, told The Dodo. Riverside County Animal Services Despite being pierced through with two large arrows, one through his face and the other his body, the opossum's desire to live hadn't been dampened. "The animal was very alert and you could tell it was trying to remove the arrows itself," said Sgt. Cynthia Lee. "The opossum was grabbing the arrow on its side. What a horrible thing to do to an animal." Emergency surgery was performed to remove the arrows. Riverside County Animal Services Dodo Shows Foster Diaries This Pregnant Pittie Foster Story Is The Happiest Thing Ever Amazingly, X-rays following the surgery showed that the opossum's internal injuries were not considered life-threatening. "You will be shocked to discover that only some lung tissue was damaged," said Walsh. "The vet had to remove the left eye, but he says he is very optimistic that this despicable act will not cause the animal to expire." Rescues have since named the opossum Robin. Riverside County Animal Services

RSPCA

"These are her animals. She never feeds them, just collects them." That's what a British veterinarian reportedly told police last year after revealing a filthy "dungeon" under his office where more than a dozen cats and dogs starved in almost total darkness. RSPCA Dodo Shows Odd Couples Kitten Isn't Sure About His Pittie Brother At First RSPCA In February, officers were called to Armley Vets in Leeds over a domestic dispute between veterinarian Gary Samuel and Rochelle McEwan, his partner and assistant. Once there, however, prosecutors say Samuel moved a table and pulled back a rug to uncover a secret trapdoor to a urine-soaked basement where 12 huskies and three cats were hidden. RSPCA RSPCA "The condition of these animals and the way in which they were being kept was appalling," said RSPCA Inspector Nikki Cheetham. "It was filthy, there [were feces] everywhere, and they had no access to food or water. Most of the cats were shut in one room, which was also covered with excrement." "It is unthinkable to consider what was going on in this surgery as clients were coming and going, paying their vet fees." In the end, authorities removed a total of 30 animals from the office where the couple lived and worked. Twenty-one of them have since been adopted, the BBC reports. RSPCA RSPCA Prosecutors believe Samuel was trying to incriminate McEwan, but on Friday both of them were convicted of six different animal cruelty and neglect charges. At most, Samuel and McEwan will spend only six months in jail, The Express reports, but at least one RSPCA official seemed satisfied with the case's conclusion. "I am very pleased with the decision made by the judge," said Cheetham. Mustafa Koc in 2013.The billionaire chairman of Turkeys top industrial conglomerate, Koc Holding, died Jan. 21 at a hospital in Istanbul. He was 55. (Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images) Mustafa Koc, the billionaire chairman of Turkeys top industrial conglomerate, Koc Holding, died Jan. 21 at a hospital in Istanbul. He was 55. The American Hospital in Istanbul said Mr. Koc died there after suffering a heart attack at his home. Mr. Koc had been the head of Koc Holding since 2003, when he took over from his father, Rahmi Koc. The company was founded in 1926 in Ankara by Mustafas grandfather, Vehbi Koc, who died in 1996. The conglomerate, now based in Istanbul, has interests in the automotive sector, durable goods, energy and other businesses. It employs about 100,000 people. Koc Holding had 2014 sales of $31.3 billion, accounting for about 5 percent of Turkeys gross domestic product. The Koc family is among the wealthiest in Turkey. During Mr. Kocs term as chairman, he engineered landmark deals to expand the conglomerate, including a $4.1 billion takeover of 51 percent of Turkeys sole crude-oil refiner from the government in 2005. In 2004, he bought 57 percent of a banking concern for $1.5 billion in a deal undertaken in partnership with Italys Unicredit. Mustafa was an outstanding business leader, a man of true integrity and a loyal friend and partner to Ford over many decades, Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., said in an emailed statement. Ford and Koc Holding have been partners for more than 80 years in motor-vehicle production in Turkey. Koc Holding also has a joint venture with Fiat and owns many other companies, including Turkeys biggest maker of home appliances, a heavy-vehicles manufacturer and companies producing food products and liquefied gas. Mustafa Vehbi Koc was born Oct. 29, 1960, in Istanbul. After schooling in Switzerland, he graduated from George Washington University in 1984. Mr. Koc had a complicated relationship with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During protests at Istanbuls Gezi Park in 2013, demonstrators escaping police actions took refuge at a hotel owned by the Koc family. After the protests, Koc Holding was subject to extensive tax investigations by Erdogans government. Forbes magazine reported that Mr. Kocs likely successor at Koc Holding will be a younger brother, Mehmet Omer Koc, who is the companys deputy chairman. In addition to that brother, survivors include his wife, Caroline Giraud Koc; two daughters; his father, Mustafa Rahmi Koc; and another brother, Ali Koc. Brewers from 20 Virginia breweries gathered at Fair Winds Brewing in Lorton to brew Kerri's Cure. These growlers represent the breweries that participated. (From Fair Winds Brewing) Brewers compete with each other for festival medals and for draft lines at bars. But when the chips are down, the local brewing fraternity comes together as a community. Last March, Kerri and Matt Rose, the owners of Forge Brew Works in Lorton, Va., found out they were expecting their first child. In August, they learned Kerri had Stage 4 stomach cancer. Their son, Lance, was born in September, two months premature, so his mother could begin chemotherapy as soon as possible. Casey Jones, the owner of Lortons Fair Winds Brewing and a friend of the Roses, wanted to do something to help. When Kerri and Matt got pregnant, we were so excited for them, he said. When she was diagnosed with cancer, we were like, Youve got to be kidding me. After consultations, Fair Winds decided to brew a special beer to raise money for Kerris treatment. Representatives from 20 breweries, including Port City, Lost Rhino, Capitol City Brewing and Mad Fox Brewing, gathered at Fair Winds on Jan. 7 to brew 30 barrels of Kerris Cure, which Jones describes as a very, very classic Belgian pale ale. Matt and Kerri founded a Belgian-focused brewery, so as a nod to them, obviously we had to do a Belgian beer. The day was a community effort: The Brewers Supply Group donated all the malt. Old Ox Brewery provided the yeast; the other breweries supplied the rest of the ingredients, including Saaz and Citra hops. Ocelot Brewing brought breakfast for the assembled crew. Lawyers and publicists offered their services free. Kerri died just over a week later, at age 32. We felt like theyd be facing a long and expensive fight against an aggressive cancer, Jones says. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a short and expensive fight against an aggressive cancer. Matts a single parent raising an infant with a long road ahead of him. All 20 breweries will tap Kerris Cure on Jan. 29. Different breweries received different amounts of the beer; after that first day, you might want to call ahead to check availability. Over the first weekend, the brewers together expect to raise at least $23,000, which will go to cover outstanding medical bills and help pay for Lances future education. A GoFundMe page for the family has raised $53,000 so far. Kerris Cure Belgian Pale Ale. Available on tap and in growlers at 20 Virginia breweries Jan. 29, including Forge Brew Works, 8532 Terminal Rd., Lorton, Va. 703-372-2979. forgebrewworks.com. As news about the winter storm plays on the television, patrons socialize at the Main Street Pub on Friday in Clifton, Va. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post) At 10 p.m. Friday, architect Jerry Yantis and his buddies were still nursing their last beers at the Main Street Pub in Clifton, Va., howling and high-fiving as they recounted a night of joy-riding on sleds towed by a truck in 2010, the last time it really snowed in this tiny historic village. By 10 a.m. Saturday, Kevin Hutto, 55, a financial planner, was having steak and eggs at the bar. He had just brought over his snowblower to clear a space outside the front door, where a chalkboard said BLIZZARD and noted that on this date in 1981, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were on the cover of Rolling Stone. The owners of the pub, a lively watering hole and general store in a converted Texaco station, had vowed to remain open all weekend as long as the power didnt fail. On Friday night, they left pitchers of hot coffee on the porch for the snowplow drivers whose trucks rumbled by every half-hour or so. [Blizzard updates from the Capital Weather Gang] As the snow kept falling, the customers kept coming, many of them walking from home in the woodsy area of winding roads, horse pastures and country houses tucked in a corner of southwestern Fairfax County. Almost all were regulars, and many were characters, too. With a winter storm on the way, patrons socialize at the Main Street Pub on Friday in Clifton, Va. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post) On Friday night, the mood grew increasingly boisterous as the snow intensified and more hardy souls arrived. Yantis and his friends, all middle-aged family men, gleefully relived their sledding exploits on that one crazy night. Doug Fourney, 61, a retired engineer, ordered a drink named for him, with lemonade and two shots of vodka. This is the hub and the heart of Clifton, Fourney said. Everyone here knows each other. Everyone here helps each other. Everyone knows what you like to order. And they even have a drink called The Dougie. Pub owner Judy McNamara, 64, was determined not to miss the fun. Instead of commuting from Arlington, she packed an overnight bag and wangled places to stay with friends in exchange for nips from a special bottle of whisky. After a late-night escapade Friday involving lost keys, security alarms and police cars, she was back at the pub first thing Saturday. Welcome to all the brave souls that came out, McNamara called from the kitchen to a swelling brunch crowd that included three snowplow drivers, a family with three bundled-up kids, and a couple who had stayed Friday night until last call. You know us, she reassured everyone. As long as we have electricity, well still be here. [Live updates on the storm and its impact] The rest of the town official population less than 300, but bustling with tourists on most weekends and holidays was dead quiet and thickly blanketed with white. Even the annual Christmas tree bonfire had been canceled. But the pubs phone kept ringing, and bartender Brigette Keen, 24, kept encouraging people to make the trip. With a winter storm on the way, patrons Andy Melton, 59, and his wife, Sherrie, 58, (left and center) talk with Matt Filipowicz, 48, and his wife, Margot, 42, at the Main Street Pub on Friday in Clifton, Va. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post) If you can get out of your driveway, well see you soon, she said cheerily to one caller. The bar featured winter drinks including an Irish whisky toddy. On the wall, a giant screen showed monster drifts and driving winds across the D.C. region, and an announcer solemnly warned people to stay home and safe. Customers shared snow sagas and winter woes. Jeff Van Allen had tested his brand new Toyota 4-Runner and reached the pub without incident. Carlos Palomino, 55, who has been plowing Virginia roads for 30 years, said the trick was to be patient, precise and stay alert. But the main thing is that you have to love the snow. Right behind him came Dawn Van Dyke and Bryan Taylor, pink and perspiring as they peeled off mittens, hats, scarves and layers of wool. They had walked half a mile from home after shoveling out their goat pen. Van Dyke, 33, who works for a health-care nonprofit, was not enthralled with the weather. I hate winter. I want to be inside eating chocolate chip cookies, she said, and then compromised and ordered a beer. She said she and Taylor moved from Arlington in 2012, in part because its also a community where you can walk to a pub Even in a snowstorm. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) delivers his State of the Commonwealth Address before a joint session of the 2016 Virginia Assembly at the Capitol in Richmond on Jan. 13, 2016. Sitting behind McAuliffe are Lt. Gov Ralph Northam, top left, House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), center, and Senate President Pro Tem Stephen D. Newman (R-Lynchburg). (Steve Helber/AP) Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffes administration is seeking an extra $110 million over the next three years to provide more services to residents with severe disabilities to comply with a federal court settlement. The money would intensify the states efforts to move people off a waiting list for services that currently has about 10,100 names. It would fund 855 Medicaid waivers for residents who do not have them and pay for an overhaul of how the state awards those waivers to better prioritize services for people in immediate need of aid. The state Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) also plans to expand the services it offers to families of the disabled who are in crisis; shut four state-run institutions; and finance the construction of more homes or apartments for the disabled in communities where those facilities are in short supply. This will be a really significant step forward, said Jack Barber, interim commissioner of the state agency for people with disabilities. It will be very significant in moving us into compliance with the settlement agreement, but more importantly, providing the kinds of services in integrated settings that we want to provide. Virginia has struggled to comply with the terms of a 2012 federal court settlement that, based on the Americans With Disabilities Act, requires the state to offer more opportunities for people with disabilities to live and work in community environments rather than in institutional settings. [Justice Dept: Virginia not trying hard enough to reform disabilities services] Last fall, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Gibney threatened to appoint a receiver to take over the states role in making the changes after federal attorneys highlighted several areas in the 10-year settlement agreement where the state is far behind. Those areas included finding ways to move severely disabled children out of large institutions and into smaller group homes or back to their families, with appropriate support. State and federal attorneys have since agreed to a series of timelines for program changes that hinge largely on the McAuliffe administrations new funding request, the Justice Department said in a court filing earlier this month. That means the states ability to comply rests mostly with the Republican lawmakers who control both houses of the General Assembly and whose leaders say they have been waiting for the McAuliffe administration to unveil its reform plan so they can move forward. [Va. lawmakers, McAuliffe poised for fight and compromise this session] Legislative leaders say they support the Democratic governors proposed changes and are pushing to fund even more Medicaid waivers for those with disabilities possibly at the expense of other state programs that McAuliffe also favors. Ill push for this to be a priority, and I think some of the other items well look at will obviously be a lower priority for me, said House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights). As an example, he said, the state could take at least $10 million that McAuliffe wants to use to address food deserts in Virginia and reallocate it to fund the request for disability services. McAuliffe has proposed spending $86 million over two years on revamping the states system of Medicaid waivers, which currently covers about 12,000 people with disabilities. In July, DBHDS officials are preparing to roll out a new system for awarding Medicaid waivers, and they want to expand the number of people covered by waivers to about 16,000 by 2021 about 2,000 more than what the court settlement mandates. The redesigned waivers will cover a wider array of services than the current waivers, making it easier for people to receive care at home or in smaller group settings, DBHDS officials said. Theyll also offer reimbursement rates that are, on average, 5.4 percent higher than what care providers are now paid. The agency plans to trim the waitlist of people seeking Medicaid waivers by dividing that group into three tiers of need. The list has largely been first come, first served. First priority under the new system would go to the roughly 3,100 people who require services right away, many of them former students whove recently finished school and therefore aged out of other state-provided subsidies. Next would come about 2,500 people who would need Medicaid-funded services in the next two to five years. Final priority would go to the 4,100 people, many of them children, who dont expect to need a waiver for at least five years but whose families have put them on the waitlist just in case. Local government community service boards, which facilitate services for the disabled, will determine who falls into which tier, DBHDS officials said. We need to consolidate this into a better system, Barber said. Assuming all the slots in the next five years come on, well be a lot closer to taking care of who needs a waiver when they need it and have a much better idea of what the future needs may be. Advocates for people with disabilities argue that more should be done to deal with the waitlist problem and some Republican lawmakers agree. Jamie Liban, executive director of The Arc of Virginia nonprofit group, and other advocates point out that since the settlement was signed, about 3,000 more people with disabilities have been added to the states waitlist for Medicaid vouchers. Diagnoses for autism and other ailments are becoming more common, advocates say, and people with disabilities are living longer, which adds to the need for vouchers. If they only do the minimum of what the settlement requires, the waiting list will continue to grow, Liban said. Republican state legislators introduced a series of budget amendments last week that would offer several thousand new Medicaid waivers over the next two years to people on the waitlist who are able to live alone or with family or friends. One amendment sponsored by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee would create 5,000 Medicaid waivers for functionally independent people on the waitlist who are already receiving aid from another state program or near the top of the list. State Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) is among a handful of Democrats who signed on to co-sponsor that amendment, which estimates that $42 million would be needed to fund the new waivers. Ebbin said he was unsure of how the new waivers could be financed but argued that the money should come from new taxes for yacht owners or people who buy e-cigarettes ideas Republicans have opposed. This is a serious matter that needs to be funded, Ebbin said. These are families who need help, and the backup is too great. The Justice Department has told a community activist that statistics she is seeking on the outcomes of criminal prosecutions in the District are not available, though the agency says it will try to provide her data that could be useful. Denise Rucker Krepp, an advisory neighborhood commissioner for Hill East, adjacent to Capitol Hill, said she plans to appeal the decision, which she called nonsense. The Justice Department is still formulating a new response to Krepp, who gained attention when she held a bake sale and raised $2,000 to pay for any documents that were uncovered. [Neighborhood activist holds fund raiser for information request] Krepp, motivated by a surge of robberies on Capitol Hill, is trying to learn what happens to people after theyre arrested by D.C. police. She asked for conviction rates for people arrested in the District, broken down by all eight political wards. The prosecutors executive division wrote her that the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia does not track this information and has no means of searching for or retrieving it. Krepp was incredulous. How are they going to solve crime if they have no idea how many people they are prosecuting? she asked. The Justice Department had already warned Krepp that her request made under the Freedom of Information Act might not be fulfilled. They told her it was on the complex track, meaning it could take months. Then they told her it would cost $40 an hour to research. That was when she held the fundraiser. But after inquires from the media, a spokesman for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys said officials are trying to find information that responds to the spirit of Krepps request. In a statement, David Ausiello said that the office properly processed and responded to Ms. Krepps Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which seeks specific statistical information. We are now working with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia to see if other agencies might be able to provide data that is useful to her. While Krepp has a reputation as an agitator, she has gained support on her push for statistics. Both D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) have called for ways to make it simpler for people to figure out how a criminal defendant is winding through the judicial system. Both have made repeat violent offenders a mantra for explaining last years rise in homicides and robberies, and they have called on holding other parts of the criminal justice system accountable. [Lanier, Bowser made accountability part of robbery task force] At a news conference last year, Bowser told Krepp, You already have my support in asking the Department of Justice to look very closely at their cases and move on their cases. The mayor said she is working on a way to track criminal cases from arrest through prosecution and post-sentence supervision, a task she said even District officials have had a difficult time doing. This month, the mayor and police chief announced a new robbery task force to more quickly identify robbery sprees. A prosecutor has been assigned to the group to target robbery suspects. Krepp noted that during one recent news conference on robberies, a top prosecutor said there were 300 robbery suspects awaiting trial at that moment. If you can find that number, surely you can find others, she said. Krepp said she will donate the $2,000 she has raised so far to charity, such as groups that help crime victims. D.C. police have charged an 18-year-old in Friday mornings fatal shooting of a man at an apartment building in Washingtons Mount Vernon Square neighborhood, according to a department statement. David Davalier Harvey of Southeast has been charged with first-degree murder while armed and was being held pending an initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. The victim has been identified as Matthew Shevlin, 37, of Northwest. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. The apartment building in which the shooting occurred is a few blocks east of the convention center and near New York and New Jersey avenues. Dustin Sternbeck, a D.C. police spokesman, said the shooting occurred during a what he described as a home-invasion burglary of a targeted residence. He said the incident does not appear to be random. Sternbeck said that surveillance video captured the suspect forcing his way into the apartment and that Harvey was arrested at the scene. Cancellations and postponements: Washington National Cathedral will be closed Saturday for all worship services and special events. The Cathedral Sings: Music for Kings and Queens program, which was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, has been postponed until Sunday, Jan. 31. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200 or nationalcathedral.org. Epiphany Quiet Morning, which was schedule for Saturday at Christ Church, Georgetown, has been postponed a week. Sunday morning worship services will continue at their regular Sunday times. The clergy and staff urge everyone to put safety first and be attentive to weather-related advisories. Christ Church, Georgetown, 31st and O streets NW. 202-333-6677. christchurchgeorgetown.org. Panel discussion: Young Black Males: An Endangered Species, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed. Calvary Episcopal Church, 820 Sixth St. NE. Free. 202-546-8011. The Winter Challenge Trivia Night has been postponed from this Saturday to Saturday, Feb. 6. St. Michaels Episcopal Church, 1132 North Ivanhoe St., Arlington. $10. 703-241-2474. stmichaelsarlington.org. Contemplation in a World of Action, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled. Washington National Cathedral, Nave, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200 or nationalcathedral.org. A benefit concert to support Beacon House, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled. Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Sanctuary, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda. 301-493-8300. www.cedarlane.org. Church of the Epiphany programs listed in last Saturdays Religion Events as scheduled for Saturday through Monday, have been canceled. The church will remain closed through Monday. Those desirous of religious readings for this period may visit lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Epiphany/CEpi3_RCL.html. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202-347-2635. Lincoln and his Pastor has been postponed from this Saturday to next Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. Lincoln scholars John OBrien and Elizabeth Smith Brownstein discuss the presidents relationship with his pastor. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave. NW. Free. 202-393-3700. LincolnGroup.org. Jazz@wesley, which was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, has been canceled. Wesley United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 5312 Connecticut Ave NW. 202-966-5144. wesleydc.org. Arts Council concert and exhibition, which were scheduled for Sunday at 3 and 4 p.m., have been canceled. Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. 202-363-4900. Sweeney Todd performances scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been canceled. St. Marks Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. 202-543-0053. Stmarks.net. Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes has canceled regular Sunday worship services. If a priest can get to the church Sunday, a Low Mass will be held at 10 a.m. The church is at 1217 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Free. 202-347-8161. Galilee Lutheran Church has canceled all Saturday and Sunday activities. Those interested in an online worship service should visit the churchs website: galileelutherandchurch.org. Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church has canceled all Saturday and Sunday activities. The church is at 610 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. For further information contact the church office at 301-948-9418. Grace Episcopal Church has canceled some programs that were scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Call the church to learn whether a particular event has been canceled. The church is at 1607 Grace Church Rd., Silver Spring. 301-585-3515. Sundays through Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m.: Adult Sunday Schools January term. Three-week courses. National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. Free. nationalpres.org/adults. 202-537-0800. Sundays through Jan. 31, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Firmly Rooted: Talks for Christian Parents. Five sessions will cover topics such as digital media, stress, anxiety, friendships, achievement and keeping the faith. National Presbyterian Church, Jones Hall (school gym), 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. Free. 202-537-0800. Sundays through Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m.: January Term, classes for adults, led by Peter Wehner, journalist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. A brochure about the program is available in the church on the information table. National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. Free. nationalpres.org/adults. 202-537-0800. Sunday, 10 a.m.: Larry Rubin, a voting rights organizer in the 1960s, will discuss lessons of the civil rights movement and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jewish Primary Day School, 6045 16th St. NW. Free. Call 202-686-1881 or email info@machar.org. Sunday, 12:30 p.m.: The State of the Dream II. A panel discussion with pastors and members of Annandale United Methodist Church about the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Lunch will be provided. Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Registration: free. Email jkitzmiller@annandale-umc.org or call 703-256-8330. Sunday, 3 p.m.: Music with the angels. Sopranos Emma McDermott and Emma Gorin, and pianist Tatiana Loisha will perform opera arias and duets by Mozart, Bellini, Rossini, Verdi and others. Meet the artists after the concert. Church of the Holy City, 1611 16th St. NW. $10. 202-462-6734. ChurchoftheHolyCityDC.org Sunday, 5 p.m.: Organ concert. Christopher Betts, director of music, will perform a varied program that highlights the versatility of the churchs DiGennaro-Hart pipe organ. Compositions by J. S. Bach, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Franz Liszt, Percy Whitlock and Leo Sowerby will be featured. A reception will follow. Church of the Redeemer, 6201 Dunrobbin Dr., Bethesda. Free-will offering. 301-229-3770. Mondays through Fridays: St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls has begun a tutoring program with Reading Partners at King Elementary School, 3200 Sixth St. SE, in the Districts Ward 8. Tutors are asked to sign up for a minimum of one hour a week. Training will be provided. No experience necessary. Ginger Roll, 703-759-5270 or groll@cox.net. Mondays, 9 to 9:45 a.m.; Wednesdays, 4 to 4:45 p.m.: Senior Strength and Stretch. Wellness coordinator Judy Jurkowski teaches exercises to music that may help increase strength and range of motion. This class is geared to healthy seniors and those with joint, mobility or balance issues. Classes are open to seniors whose doctors give their approval. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. 703-765-6555, Ext. 626, or judy@aldersgate.net. Mondays, 10 to 11 a.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. to noon: Gentle Yoga. Certified exercise instructor Judy Jurkowski teaches classes that focus on deep breathing, slow movement, gentle stretching and strengthening posture. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. Free. judy@aldersgate.net. 703-765-6555. Most weekdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Behind-the-scenes cathedral tour for ages 11 and older. See gargoyles and stained-glass windows and climb a lot of stairs to view the city from above. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $25; children, seniors, students and military, $21. 202-537-6200. nationalcathedral.org. Mondays, noon: Brown Bag and Bible. The Rev. Janice Mynchenberg leads a weekly study of the Gospel of Luke, with the help of a commentary by N.T. Wright. Bring a lunch. Georgetown Lutheran Church, 1556 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Free. 202-337-9070 or georgetownlutheran.com. Mondays, 7 p.m.: Monday night worship services have a less formal atmosphere, in a somewhat smaller setting, at a more convenient or comfortable time. Holy Communion is celebrated. Refreshments following worship. Child care available. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. info@mystandrew.org or 301-384-4394. mystandrew.org. Mondays, 7 p.m.: Sally Jones leads A Course in Miracles. Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 7400 Temple Hills Rd., Camp Springs. Free. 301-449-4308. dmuuc.org. Mondays, 7 p.m.: Kirsten Norris leads yoga sessions. Bring a mat. Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Social Hall, 2206 Briggs Rd., Silver Spring. Suggested donation, $5 to $10. The Rev. Jessie Lowry, jessdoerrer@gmail.com , or 877-792-8479. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:15 a.m.: Senior Fit, an exercise class for ages 55 and older to build strength, fitness and cardiovascular health. Required physician-consent form is available at the information center or by visiting the website. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Free. Call Marilee at 301-384-4394 or go to mystandrew.org. Tuesday, 12:10 p.m.: Classical piano concert. Tzu-yi Chen, a recent runner-up at the 7th Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition and prize winner for the Best Liszt Interpretation Award will perform works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Debussy. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. $10. 202-347-2635, ext. 20. Tuesday, 7 to 8 p.m.: Caregiver support group. Come and share your holiday experiences and ideas for the new year. All are welcome. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. info@mystandrew.org or 301-384-4394. mystandrew.org. Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m.: Family Friendly Gentle Yoga. Certified exercise instructor Judy Jurkowski teaches classes designed to focus on deep breathing, slow movement, gentle stretching and strengthening posture. All ages are welcome, but parents must stay and supervise children ages 13 or younger. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd., Alexandria. Free. judy@aldersgate.net. 703-765-6555. Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.: Homework Helpers invites parents or guardians to bring children in grades 1 to 8 for free after-school tutoring, advice and homework help. The program is certified by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington under its mandatory Safeguarding Gods Children training. St. Johns Church, Broadcreek, Bayne Hall, 9801 Livingston Rd., Fort Washington. Free. Registration: Ruth LaBelle, program director, 240-461-5330 or hwhelpers@stjohnsbroadcreek.org . Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Bible study. Three co-conveners will meet for a reading of the Gospel for the coming Sunday, reflection and discussion. Neither preparation nor regular attendance is required. A healing service and an exploration of the life of the saints follows in the chapel. St. Patricks Episcopal Church, 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy. NW. Free. 202-342-2800. Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Weight Watchers meeting. Trinity Episcopal Church, 14515 Church St., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-2636. Wednesdays, 7 p.m.:Tai chi classes. A certified instructor will teach advanced and intermediate classes in the movement discipline, which may strengthen the mind and body. Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 7400 Temple Hills Rd., Camp Springs. Suggested donation, $5. 301-449-4308. dmuuc.org. Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m.: CancerShare, a faith-based support group, invites people living with cancer, cancer survivors and those who sustain them to a weekly support group. Child care available. Burke United Methodist Church, 6200 Burke Centre Pkwy., Burke. Free. 703-250-6100. burkeumc.org. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: High school students are invited to earn community service credits by volunteering at Fort Washington Food Pantry. St. Johns Episcopal Church, Broad Creek, 9801 Livingston Rd., Fort Washington. 301-248-4290. stjohnsbroadcreek.org. Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Barnabas Bread Basket community meals. Dinner will be served on the last Thursday of every month. First Baptist Church, 9258 Center St., Manassas. Free. 703-368-2958. Thursdays, 4 p.m.: Bible study. The Worship Center, 99 Adams St., Manassas. Free. Thursday, 6 p.m.: Evening of Storytelling, led by storyteller Donald Davis and students from the Original Stories for Proclamation course at Virginia Theological Seminary. All are welcome. Virginia Theological Seminary. 3737 Seminary Rd., Alexandria. Free. vts.edu. 703-461-1753. Thursday-Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.: Sweeney Todd. Christine Callsen directs the St. Marks Players performance of the Broadway hit by Stephen Sondheim, from the book by High Wheeler. The story of an unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and the resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop. St. Marks Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. $15-$20. 202-543-0053. Stmarks.net. Friday, 7 p.m.: Bridge and Fellowship. Bob and Ginny Bronaugh will host this event in the Commons. Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Bob.ginny@comcast.net. or 301-384-4394. mystandrew.org. Washington National Cathedral will be closed to visitors during a day-long special event. The Cathedral is at 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200 or . Jan. 30, 8 a.m.: The 121st Convention of the Diocese of Washington. Registration at 8 a.m. Attendees should have received a special email with final convention instructions. Free. Child care will be available for ages 5 and younger from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the rectory of St. Albans Episcopal Church on the cathedral close. Volunteer are still needed to assist with convention activities. A variety of jobs and time-slots are available. The cathedral will be closed to tours all day Jan. 30. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $65 includes materials, parking and meals. Information and registration: Kim Bujak, 202-537-6526 or dadams@edow.org . 202-537-6200 or edow.org/news-and-events/convention/. Jan. 30, 8:30 to 10 a.m.: Faith and Public Policy Breakfast: Racism Beyond the Confederate Flag. All are welcome. Special guest: The Rev. Charles Swadley, interim CEO of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy in Richmond. A continental breakfast will be served. Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean. Free. 703-356-7200. Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to noon: Lincoln and his pastor. Lincoln scholars John OBrien and ElizabethSmith Brownstein will discuss the presidents relationship with his pastor. There will be a performance of music from which the president derived inspiration. New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Ave. NW. 202-393-3700. LincolnGroup.org. Free. Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to noon: Parenting presentation: Raising Compassionate Kids. What the Bible says about bringing up children with good character. Christ Lutheran Church, 12570 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville. Free. office@christlutheran.net. 301-854-2100. christlutheran.net. Jan. 30, 2 p.m.: Adult Forum: a Field Trip to the National Gallery of Art. Art historian Christopher Wilson, a Holton-Arms School faculty member, will lead an inquiry into religious images by classical painters. St. Johns Episcopal Church, Georgetown Parish, 3240 O St. NW. Free. 202-338-1796. stjohnsgeorgetown.org. Jan. 30, 4 p.m.: Pianist Sarah Masterson will perform music by 20th-century American composers, including arrangements of folk songs, a solo version of Rhapsody in Blue and a concert fantasy on the spiritual Wade in the Water. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church. admin@holytrinityfallschurch.org or www.holytrinityfallschurch.org. 703-532-6617. Jan. 30, 4 p.m.: Tempest Trio, with pianist Alon Goldstein, violinist Ilya Kaler and cellist Amit Peled, will perform works by Beethoven and Dvorak. St. Patricks Episcopal Church, 3241 Brush Dr., Falls Church. $20. 703-200-7489. odeonchambermusicseries.org. Jan. 30, 8 p.m.: O Rosa Bella: Courtly Love Songs of the 14th and 15th Centuries, performed by Alkemie, an early music ensemble, with vocalists Tracy Cowart, Elena Mullins and Sian Ricketts, and string instrumentalists David McCormick and Niccolo Seligmann. St. Georges Episcopal Church, 915 N. Oakland St., Arlington. info@capitolearlymusic.org. $25; students 18 and younger, $10. capitolearlymusic.org. Compiled by Gerri Marmer For more religion events, visit washingtonpost.com/religion. Send submissions with event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable telephone number at least one week before our Saturday publication day to Religion Events, The Washington Post, 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071; or email rpevents@washpost.com. A Metro rider takes a picture of the snow-covered Potomac River on Jan. 22, 2016, hours before the unprecedented shutdown of the system for the weekend due to a powerful snowstorm forecast to hit the Washington region. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Metros extraordinary decision to shut down mass transit in the Washington area during a potentially historic blizzard was driven mainly by safety concerns, the agencys board chairman said Friday. But he said there was more to it than that. If the nations second-busiest subway had stayed open for the convenience of a relatively small number of weekend riders, Chairman Mortimer L. Downey said, the odds of full service being available Monday would have been considerably reduced. And with hundreds of thousands of commuters possibly returning to work Monday morning, depending on post-storm conditions, Metro chose the lesser of two evils. I know some people will be put in a difficult situation, Downey said, referring to essential employees such as hospital and public-safety personnel, as well as others who must get to their jobs on weekends, including hotel workers. All we can tell them is, Were very sorry, but we had to make a decision for the good of the majority of our customers, he said, meaning the riders who make more than 700,000 passenger-trips on Metrorail each weekday. Metro's General Manager and CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld announced Thursday that rail and bus systems will be closed this weekend due to the snowstorm heading toward the region. (WUSA9) Closing the subway and sheltering rail cars in idle tunnels will make a massive snow-removal effort easier for Metro crews before Mondays start of the work week, Downey said. The agency also suspended bus service for the weekend, as well as MetroAccess, the door-to-door van service for disabled riders. [Capital Weather Gang: This storm was strangely easy to predict.] The dilemma an unusual one for Metro, but not a unique problem in the mass-transit industry forced General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld to make his biggest decision since taking over as the beleaguered agencys top executive shortly after Thanksgiving. In announcing the shutdown, Wiedefeld said that the snowfall, which could exceed two feet in parts of the region, would make above-ground train service virtually impossible during the storm. And he said high winds and resulting electrical outages might have stranded riders in tunnels if Metro had tried to operate trains only in underground parts of the system. Like other major subways, Metrorail is too large to run entirely on self-generated power, said Downey, a career transportation official who was executive director of New Yorks mass-transit system in the 1980s. I dont know of any transit system that does that today, he said. They all have to rely heavily on outside utility companies. In Chicago, for example, a major power failure in the city would mean limited service in the subway, said Catherine Hosinski, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Transit Authority. Still, she said, there is no record of the Chicagos subway closing proactively in advance of adverse weather. Citing a litany of major snowstorms and arctic-style deep freezes that her city has endured, Hosinski said: We operate 365 days a year, no matter what. New York, however, cannot say the same. At 11 p.m. last Jan. 27, with a blizzard thought to be bearing down on Gotham, the citys subway was shut down ahead of a storm for the first time in its 110-year history, and hundreds of rail cars were sheltered in tunnels. Then, in the wee hours of Jan. 28, it became clear that the blizzard would deliver only a glancing blow to New York. It was 9 a.m. before the subway began operating again. This weekend, we will make every effort to keep our services up and running, Thomas F. Prendergast, chairman of New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said in a statement. But there may come a point throughout the winter months when it is no longer prudent to roll out buses or send trains onto some outdoor sections of the lines. As for inconveniencing would-be Metro riders Saturday and Sunday, perhaps prompting some to dare driving to work in hazardous conditions, Wiedefeld skirted the issue at a Thursday news conference. He simply reiterated that officials throughout the region were urging people to stay home during the storm. It was absolutely the right call, Downey said of Wiedefelds decision. The weekend closure is believed to be the longest in Metros 40-year history. During Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the system closed for about 36 hours. Its the call I would have made, Downey said. After one of the most troubled periods in Metros history including repeated, sometimes calamitous service breakdowns in 2015 and unremitting criticism of the agency by riders and public officials Wiedefeld also was clearly eager to expedite weekend snow removal and maximize the chances of avoiding a post-storm commuting debacle. By sheltering about 900 rail cars in tunnels and allowing workers unfettered access to the idle tracks, he said, crews can continue plowing throughout the weekend, keeping up with the snowfall, and will not have to shovel out hundreds of snowbound rail cars after the storm, which might not end until Sunday. Of Metrorails 117 route-miles (there are 234 miles of actual tracks, running in two directions), about 60 are above ground. However, there were no promises about a Monday reopening. Lets see how the storm plays out and what we have on our hands, Wiedefeld said. [D.C. officials: Blizzard will be deadly.] In Boston, in the early weeks of 2015 as one giant storm after another walloped the Northeast the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shut down its oldest-in-the-nation transit system twice, each time for more than 24 hours. The MBTAs general manager, Beverly Scott, resigned in February, complaining that the system had long been starved of money, technology and other resources. Ive seen cases in the past where transit managers say, Weve got a tough system and We have to service the public were going to keep running, Downey said. And then they totally lose control during the storm. And they live to regret it. Craig DeAtley, the head of emergency management at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said Metros decision to close came as a surprise. But the Thursday announcement gave the hospital enough to time get ready by bringing in weekend staffers early and preparing sleeping quarters for them to stay until Monday. I have been around for 43 years and I dont remember Metro ever closing the whole system for two days, DeAtley said. But, candidly, I dont consider that to be a bad idea. Nobody should be out and about in the storm. However, he said, We will be anxious . . . for Metro to resume on Monday. Meanwhile, the Maryland Transit Administration canceled MARC commuter rail service Saturday on the Penn Line. Officials said they will decide Saturday night whether the line will operate Sunday, and will decide later about Monday service. The regions other major commuter railroad, Virginia Railway Express, does not operate on weekends. We will be ready for service on Monday, VRE spokesman Bryan Jungwirth said. In Philadelphia, the Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority also suspended weekend commuter rail service. But the Philadelphia subways two major lines, also operated by SEPTA, will stay open, General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel said in a statement. The Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines are important to carry emergency personnel, hospital employees, and other essential workers during the storm, Knueppel said. We also have the option of continuing service on these routes just within the underground tunnels should operating conditions become unsafe above ground. Amtrak spokeswoman Chelsea Kopta said the railroad intends to keep operating along the Northeast Corridor line this weekend, including service in and out of Washington. But she had no advice for passengers who arrive at Union Station with plans to ride Metros Red Line from there to their final destinations. We know a lot of people are wondering what is going to happen with public transportation this weekend, she said. Like the weather, this is unpredictable. All we can control is Amtrak, and we are doing the best we can. THE DISTRICT 1 killed, 1 arrested in apartment shooting D.C. police have charged an 18-year-old in the fatal shooting Friday morning of a man at an apartment building in Washingtons Mount Vernon Square neighborhood, according to a department statement. David Davalier Harvey of Southeast has been charged with first-degree murder while armed and was being held pending an initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. The victim was Matthew Shevlin, 37, of Northwest. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Dustin Sternbeck, a D.C. police spokesman, said the shooting occurred during what he described as a home-invasion burglary of a targeted residence. He said the incident does not appear to be random. Peter Hermann MARYLAND Custodial supervisor charged with theft A Charles County government employee was charged with theft for allegedly selling cleaning supplies at a reduced rate out of his home, investigators said last week. The official, 51-year-old Eric Bernard Riley, headed the custodial department. Authorities said he would order more cleaning products than needed for facilities and sell them at a discount. During an Aug. 5 search of Rileys home in Hughesville, investigators found cases of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, dish soap and laundry detergent. On Jan. 13, authorities issued a criminal summons charging Riley with theft over $10,000, according to a Charles County Sheriffs Office news release. Victoria St. Martin THE REGION Commission studying Potomac algae blooms A government agency is asking people in four states and the District of Columbia to report algae blooms in rivers and streams that drain into the Potomac River. The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin said in a statement Thursday that it is in the fifth year of studying the prevalence and ecological impact of algae and plants in freshwater systems. Agency biologists hope to identify more hot spots within the basin to target for more localized research. The agency is composed of commissioners representing the federal government, the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Associated Press Jan. 15, 2016 Laura Jean Schneider works with a 3-year-old colt in a pen on acres of the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico. Mark Holm/For The Washington Post Although Laura Jean Schneider comes from four generations of Midwest farmers, she is uncertain sometimes about her agricultural acumen. For the past two years, she has ranched cattle across 100,000 acres on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in southern New Mexico with her husband. It is, she says, dangerous work compared with the farming she once did in Minnesota with her family. For one thing, should either she or her husband need immediate medical care, it would be a hard ride over 27 miles of uneven dirt roads that flood during monsoon season. And at age 31, she suffers from debilitating migraines, back pain and ongoing dental work following a near-fatal car accident a decade ago. There are bank loans, and the Wests ongoing drought, that weigh on her. Yet shes learned the ropes, as it were, keenly observing how cattle learn the landscape they live in, and how not all of them are naturally good at rearing their young. I rope, ride and build fence, she says matter-of-factly. This is what I do. Its my job. As unique as Schneider seems, she is far from alone. According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, the number of women-operated farms increased from 5 percent to 14 percent between 1978 and 2007. Today, counting principal operators and secondary operators, women account for 30 percent of all farmers in the United States, or just under 1 million. Laura Jean Schneider prepares a lunch of green chile cheeseburgers, beans and salad for her husband and a hired hand who are fixing fences on their ranch. (Mark Holm/For The Washington Post) As striking as those numbers are, particularly when considering the financial risks and physical demands that accompany the work , researchers say they would like to learn more about the full contribution these women make, and what it means for the future of farming and ranching in the United States. Researchers have observed some possible reasons why more women are farming and ranching. Some women regard themselves less as entrepreneurs and more as gentle stewards of the land, or bulwarks against corporations overtaking family farms and developers sweeping in with seductive offers. Others are drawn to the farm-to-fork movement, where locally grown produce and meat hold much greater appeal. Also, more women are inheriting farms and ranches. Downsizing and mechanization have also made the work more affordable and less physically demanding although smaller parcels tend to require more physical labor because they are typically managed using hand tools and practices, said Breanne Wroughton, program assistant for the California Farm Academy at the Center for Land-Based Learning in Winters, Calif. To that end, Green Heron Tools in New Tripoli, Pa., is part of a burgeoning niche industry that customizes farm equipment for women, including a tractor rapid hitch, because the traditional tool for attaching and detaching parts is at best difficult and at worst impossible for women (and many men) to safely manage on their own, according to the companys website. None of this much matters, however, to Megan Brown, as she leans over her squealing Red Wattle pigs with a fork in her hand so that she can poke and stroke their backs, which, she claims, soothes them and stimulates their appetites. Born and raised on her parents sprawling ranch at the base of Table Mountain near Oroville in northern California, Brown, 34, has made a name for herself raising her heritage pigs and selling their savory meat to local residents and gourmet San Francisco restaurants. With a swashbuckling demeanor that has attracted a loyal following to her Twitter account (@MegRaeB) and made her a regular fixture at agriculture conferences, she emphatically calls for more women to, so to speak, enter the field. My mother taught me to develop as many marketable skills as possible, so its not just the ranching with me, said Brown, as she swerved her Polaris ATV across the rocky plateau skirting her parents ranch. I cure olives, make beef jerky. Ive planted tobacco, I can skin my own deer. I got a tractor, and I can lift heavy things with it myself. . . . I really believe any woman can do what Im doing. According to the USDA, the women who identified themselves as earning their primary income from farming or ranching run the gamut in terms of what they produce. They raise cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs and goats in the West and Midwest. They are viticulturists or, as they refer to themselves at times, vit-chicks who nurture malbec and pinot noir grapes in California, Washington and Oregon. They grow lavender, melons and seemingly every other delicacy under the sun.Some have taken on teaching roles and find that more and more women are joining their ranks. [Womens] enrollment in the classes has been fairly consistent throughout the last four years of the program, said Wroughton, and 51 percent of our graduates have been women. And then there are women like Donna Schroeder, who at 77 was never schooled in ranching but was clearly born to the land and still ranches it in Shonkin, Mont. She says she has no plans to retire, despite admitting to a small profit margin along with plenty of bank debt and machinery upkeep. If someone wants to do ranching these days, she said, basically someone has to get out so you can get in. Theres only so much to go around. One of the few women to be inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Schroeder is wizened and walks with a slight limp. Her husband died more than 30 years ago; neither of her two children live nearby nor plan to take over the ranch when she no longer can run it. Cheryl Cosner, 52, who runs a sheep and cattle ranch with her husband in northeastern Oregon, speculates that one of her two daughters could eventually take the reins. She studied agriculture economics and animal science at a time when, she estimates, about only 30 percent of her fellow students were female. She later taught business administration in China and took art classes that proved helpful when she started marketing her farm products. Last year, Brenda Kirsch Frketich prepared to take over her familys Oregon farm. When her father retired, he appointed her to carry the torch at this 1,000-acre Willamette Valley farm thats been in the family for four generations. Shed proven her mettle: When she was pregnant with her first child, she was out in the fields long days, long nights, she recalled, when she had to swath and cut the grass into rows so that the dew would hold the seed on the straw stems for when the combine came through. She is now 32 and has a business degree. In taking over the farm, she oversees three employees, seasonal workers and the planting and harvesting of perennial rye and tall fescu grass, wheat, crimson clover, hazelnuts, green beans, Swiss chard, peas, cabbage and radishes. When I started with all this, I was 11 years old, she said. My feet couldnt reach the tractor pedals. While moving some records and files into her new makeshift office, she came across a weathered leather-bound ledger book, with orderly figures and notes marching across the pages. She marveled at the detailed, pristine penmanship, now fully aware of her grandmothers essential role in the familys business and legacy. You can learn the dirt, learn the soil, you can learn the tools, Frketich said, but you also need to understand the business. She did. Zach is a fellow at Stanford Universitys Bill Lane Center for the American West. SYRIA Bombing said to kill dozens of civilians At least 29 civilians were killed Saturday in airstrikes targeting areas under the control of Islamic State militants in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Those deaths bring to at least 73 the number of civilians killed since Friday in airstrikes in the province, according to the Britain-based monitoring group. Jets that were believed to be Russian struck the area of Khsham on the eastern outskirts of the province of Deir al-Zour. The Islamic State controls most of Deir al-Zour and has besieged regime-held areas in the province for more than a year. Deutsche Presse-Agentur Four arrested in connection with Pakistani college attack: At least four people who allegedly helped militants launch an attack on Bacha Khan University in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday have been arrested, military sources said Saturday. Four militants stormed the school, killing 21 people before they were shot dead by security forces. Four others who acted as facilitators of the terrorists have been arrested, Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa said in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Havana's seafront Malecon continued to be slammed by massive waves that flooded parts of the seaside city on Saturday. (Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters) Thousands march in protest in Poland: Protesters marched in cities across Poland Saturday in freezing temperatures to protest a slew of measures by the countrys new right-wing government. An estimated 10,000 took part in Warsaw. Protesters are furious about government steps that they fear limit checks and balances on the Law and Justice party. Soon after taking power in November, the party took steps to curb the power of the Constitutional Tribunal, increased government control over state media and widened the scope for police surveillance. Zimbabwes leader Mugabe shows no signs of heart attack: President Robert Mugabe arrived home from a weeks-long vacation looking sprightly, quashing rumors that he had a heart attack. The 91-year-old president arrived in Harare, the capital, late Friday and was seen joking with cabinet ministers, military leaders and senior members of the ruling ZANU-PF party who welcomed him at the airport. A website had reported that Mugabe suffered a heart attack while on vacation in the Far East. From news services In the year of the angry candidate and the even angrier voter, John Kasich stands out as the self-proclaimed prince of light and hope. As Kasich instructed voters at a town hall meeting here his second in this town, population 1,444 If you want to just yell and scream at the other side, you should not vote for me. . . . Dont vote for me. Little about Kasichs message is standard political operating procedure. He is more apt to mention God on the campaign trail than he is his Democratic opponents, much less his Republican ones. This is not a political speech this is a life talk, Kasich told workers at a warehouse in the town of Bow, observing that the Lord has put his hand on me for some reason. But hes got his hand on everybody in this room if you let him. Then he wondered, What do you think? Am I out of my mind here telling you this stuff? His style is folksy and meandering, bordering at times on goofy. One minute hes talking about streamlining government regulations, the next hes musing about parking. You ever notice, youre at a crowded mall and somebodys getting ready to back out, and youre waiting there. Did you ever notice how long it takes them to leave that space? Huh? Kasich has a reputation for prickliness, yet he seems the happiest warrior on the 2016 campaign trail, with a message that is distinctly populist and bipartisan. The Kasich stump speech invariably begins with his roots: his mailman father, his coal-miner grandfather who died of black lung, his grandmother who could barely speak English. I come from a blue-collar Democrat town, and all the people I grew up with, most of them are doing exactly what youre doing, Kasich told the workers in Bow. So . . . who do you think I respond to? You, or rich people? If elected, my job is to make sure that the lives of people just like you get better, Kasich said. I happen to be a Republican, but so what? The Republican Party is my vehicle, not my master. If any state is made for Kasich, it is New Hampshire, where independents make up the biggest chunk of likely voters more than 40 percent and are free to vote in either primary. In addition, even in this angry year, this is not a particularly angry state; unemployment is down to 3.1 percent. All this presents a potential opening for Kasich, one that may be bearing fruit. He is running second in the RealClearPolitics average of polls in the state, although far behind Trump and closely bunched with Sens. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.). One measure of his tenuous new stature: Right to Rise, the super PAC backing Jeb Bush, just launched a television ad attacking Kasich as wrong on New Hampshire issues. The harder challenge, if Kasich were to do well here, lies ahead, but thats a headache Kasich would be delighted to suffer. The theory of the Kasich case is to do well enough to pick up delegates along the Southern coast, concentrate on Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont and Tennessee among Super Tuesday states, and aim to score big in Michigan the next week. Kasich is only a moderate, rhetorically and politically, in the acid context of the current Republican Party. As Ohios governor, he tried to strip public-employee unions of bargaining rights and signed a law banning abortion after 20 weeks but also accepted the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. Asked in Contoocook about his approach to health care, Kasich spent four minutes discussing methods of paying doctors and hospitals for above-average performance without mentioning Obamacare, much less denouncing it. (For the record, as he hastened to say when I noted this to him afterward, hes against it.) At a senior citizen center in Concord, a voter lamented the presence of millions of illegals in the country, asking, What is your plan to deport them? Kasich didnt try to soften the blow of disagreement. I wouldnt, he said. Its never going to happen. . . . There is no practical way to go searching neighborhoods, grabbing people out of their homes. If he fails to produce a strong showing in the primary here Feb. 9, Kasich acknowledged, Im pretty well done I am done. Still, he said, weve raised the bar in this election. Ive talked about hope and the future and positive things and a can-do attitude. . . . So whatever you do, even if you dont love me, I love you. Hows that? Pretty refreshing actually. Read more from Ruth Marcuss archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook. Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. Humanitys horizon expanded last month when SpaceX used a Falcon 9 rocket to deliver 11 communication satellites to orbit and then landed the rockets first stage all 156 feet of it upright and undamaged at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Last Sunday, the company nearly replicated that feat. It used another Falcon 9 to launch a single, larger satellite for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and guided the first stage to a barge off the California coast. The landing itself went well, before a locking mechanism on one of the rockets legs failed. None of SpaceXs competitors doubts that a breakthrough has been achieved. Jeffrey P. Bezos, founder of Blue Origin (and owner of The Post), tweeted that SpaceX will soon make Falcon 9 landings routine so good for space! Getting to space used to involve building the equivalent of a Boeing 787 and discarding it after a single three-minute flight. The rocket constituted 99 percent of the cost of a launch; that cost can now be spread over multiple missions. For this reason, reusable rockets could well lead to the colonization of Mars, something SpaceX founder Elon Musk has long been planning. Musk himself hopes to travel there, in the company of thousands of other settlers. The establishment of a Mars colony would take our species to an entirely new level of potential. It would also raise many issues, including about the long-term legal status of the settlement and its inhabitants. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which has been ratified by the United States and more than 100 other nations, stipulates that celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation. The fact that this prohibition is directed at nations rather than corporations such as SpaceX was not an oversight. Corporations exist by virtue of being incorporated under a national legal system. Their vessels whether ships, airplanes or spacecraft are registered under those laws and operate as extensions of national territory when they venture abroad. The East India and Hudsons Bay companies governed vast territories from the 17th to 19th centuries, but they did so under British royal charter and not as independent sovereigns. However, the drafters of the Outer Space Treaty did overlook the mid-20th- century development of international human rights law and, most significantly, the principle of self-determination. Most Mars settlers will never return to Earth. Their children and grandchildren will be born on Mars and might, as the colony expands, wish to govern themselves. For centuries, international law accepted the outcome of successful revolutions against colonial powers, including the American Revolution. But recognizing the necessity of diplomatic relations with a new government is not the same as acknowledging the right of a colony to seek independence; that only came later, in the 20th century. President Woodrow Wilson was the first world leader to articulate the principle of self-determination. In 1918, he said: National aspirations must be respected; people may now be dominated and governed only by their own consent. Two decades later, when Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, they recognized the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live. In 1966, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirmed, All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. These developments in international human rights law led to a wave of decolonization. Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies have gained independence and become U.N. members. It is also accepted that a peoples right to self-determination is not dependent on their territorys economic viability as an independent nation. A Mars colony would likely remain dependent on Earth for centuries, though the relationship could depending on the presence of high-value mineral deposits be one of mutually beneficial trade. In short, a Mars colony would be entitled to independence if the majority of colonists made this desire clear through a referendum. The mother country of any Mars colony would be wise to accept this eventuality. Human rights are universal; they apply to every human being, on this planet and elsewhere. A self-governing outpost on Mars would also serve as an insurance policy for humanity. Human life on Earth could one day be eradicated by an untreatable disease or asteroid impact, or subjugated by tyrannical forces or a rogue artificial intelligence. Of course, self-government entails the right to choose a leader. Perhaps an elderly Elon Musk will become president of Mars, thanks to reusable rockets and international human rights law. Then-Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton stands with his wife, Hillary Clinton, at a campaign stop in Carrollton, Ky., on July 21, 1992. Bill Clinton promised voters theyd be getting two for the price of one if they elected him to the White House. (Greg Gibson/Associated Press) I appreciate the clarifications that the Fact Checker gives on the issues, but I take exception with the last sentence in his Jan. 18 column, Some statements are up for debate. He referred to then-President Bill Clinton signing the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton are not the same person. Bill Clintons actions are not what the voters should be concerned about. Women are not carbon copies of their husbands and should not be judged for their husbands actions. Hillary Clinton is running on her record, opinions and potential policies, not her husbands. Janet Devine Smith, Herndon Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, right, demonstrates with others against the decision by Anglican Primates to punish pro-gay equality churches in North America, in front of the Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (Frank Augstein/AP) Last week, the Anglican Communion, the worldwide collection of national and regional churches that consider themselves Anglican or Episcopalian, suspended the U.S. Episcopal Church from full participation in the global body because of its decision to perform same-sex marriages. The suspension should have been the other way around. It is the Anglican Communion that deserves sanction. It, not the Episcopal Church, of which I am a member, has departed from the faith and teachings of Jesus with its un-Christian treatment of gay men and women. The Anglican Communions strike against the Episcopal Church has ramifications beyond intra-denominational discord. Under the sway of some conservative African and Asian bishops, ably assisted by weak-kneed Church of England primates, the Communion has thrown in its lot with some of the most anti-gay regimes in the world. In Africa, 38 of 53 nations outlaw same-sex relationships. In four Sudan, Somalia, Mauritania and Nigeria they are punishable by death. The Anglican Communions murmured criticism of homophobic prejudice and violence and criminal sanctions against same-sex attracted people hardly rivals its condemnation of the U.S. Episcopal Church. In March 2011, the U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a statement, supported by more than 80 countries, on gay rights called Ending Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. In June that year, it passed a measure supporting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. Although not having the force of law, the international statement had the effect of identifying countries with laws criminalizing homosexuality or discriminating against gays as being governments that tread on human rights. How many African Anglican bishops are in bed with those countries? The decision to suspend the Episcopal Church is the culmination of a conservative-led campaign to punish it for its acceptance of gays and lesbians. African bishops became positively apoplectic when V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, was elected bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese in 2003. The Church of Uganda went so far as to break communion with the Episcopal Church. The Anglican bishop of South Rwenzori Diocese in Uganda withdrew a request for funds from the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to support an HIV/AIDS program after he learned that the Pennsylvania diocese had voted yes on Robinsons election. Michael B. Curry, the new presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, advised the Anglican Communion before the Jan. 14 vote that the U.S. church would not end its support for same-sex marriage. Curry told the Associated Press, They basically understand we made our decision, and this is who we are, and were committed to being a house of prayer for all. The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, was equally strong in her stance. In a statement to the diocese, she observed: That there is a cost for making decisions that we believe are faithful to the love of Jesus is not a surprise to us. We have always known as Episcopalians that we might face consequences for declaring, unequivocally, that LGBT Christians are beloved members of the Body of Christ. Those consequences, she declared, are insignificant in comparison with the rejection, marginalization and violence LGBT Christians have been asked to endure, even in their churches. Besides, the Anglican Communion doesnt believe in strict constructionism when it comes to its description of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Communions conference in 1988 took on the issue of marriage as Gods plan and discovered that some brethren from the African continent had a rather elastic definition of union. Marriage, by their lights, could be the union between a man and several women in shorthand, polygamy. Anglican leaders, recognizing the rapid growth of African churches, bought the argument that requiring converts to Anglicanism to discard all but one wife would be a slap at African culture. So the Communion came up with this: A polygamist who . . . wishes to join the Anglican Church may be baptized and confirmed with his believing wives and children on the following conditions: That the polygamist shall promise not to marry again as long as any of his wives at the time of his conversion are alive and that such a polygamist shall not be compelled to put away any of his wives, on account of the social deprivation they would suffer. Hypocrisy or what? It is the Anglican Communion that should repent. Read more from Colbert Kings archive. Christine Emba edits The Posts In Theory blog. Taking for granted that when youre shopping, you probably arent going to be followed or harassed. Knowing that you can curse, dress sloppily or misspell a word in a memo without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, poverty or substandard education of your race. Assuming that if you buy a house in a nice neighborhood, your neighbors will be pleasant and welcoming. Understanding that if you ask to speak to the person in charge, youll almost certainly end up facing someone of your own race. Christine Emba and Karen Attiah of The Washington Posts opinions section explain what white privilege means, how it originated and how it manifests itself in America. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Feeling comfortable and normal in all the usual walks of public life. What is white privilege? Its the social advantage that comes from being seen as the norm in the United States, automatically conferred irrespective of wealth, gender or other factors. It smooths out life, but in a way thats barely noticeable unless it doesnt apply to you. In her 1988 paper White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Wellesley College professor Peggy McIntosh described it as a set of unearned assets that white people can count on cashing in each day even as they remain largely oblivious to their advantage. The concept has been percolating in academic circles ever since and is approaching broad usage among young people on the political left. Yet as Post reporter Janell Ross noted this month, its a term that many Americans instinctively dont trust or believe to be real, despite reams of evidence to the contrary. Black children 4-year-olds! compose 18 percent of preschool enrollment but are given nearly half of all out-of-school suspensions. Job applicants with white-sounding names are 50 percent more likely to get called in for an interview. Black defendants are at least 30 percent more likely to be imprisoned than white defendants for the same crime. Why does such a fraught piece of academic lingo matter now? Because people are beginning to talk about what it means in their own lives. At a time when minorities are growing more vocal about the ways in which their experiences in the United States differ from those of their white counterparts, the idea might finally be entering the mainstream. Two weeks ago, at a forum in Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was asked by an audience member to explain what white privilege meant to her and how it had affected her life. Her response? Look, where do I start? Yet every time white privilege is acknowledged, there is a backlash. When a version of this column ran online over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the comments posted in response were disappointing, to say the least. An overwhelming number of readers wrote to remind me that not all white people are privileged, a clear misreading of the term. Others denounced the very idea of white privilege, arguing that it was a falsehood invented to justify discrimination against white people at a time when we should all be moving past race. And many others suggested that perhaps black people deserved any disadvantage they faced, trotting out old canards about black-on-white crime, black violence and how if black people for once just pulled up their pants, got off welfare and worked as hard as these commenters had, everything would be fine. Obviously not all white people are wealthy, and obviously many minorities are rich and powerful. Lots of white people are disadvantaged. But white privilege is something specific and different from the ordinary rising and falling of a free society. Its the fact that simply by virtue of being a white person, of whatever socioeconomic status, you get the benefit of the doubt. That simply isnt the case for those of other races in the United States, no matter how wealthy, smart or hard-working they are. Even when black people work as hard as or harder than their white counterparts, they have this additional barrier to surmount. This shouldnt be controversial. Agreeing that yes, there is some advantage to being white in the United States, doesnt then mean stripping white people of their jobs and possessions. A request to acknowledge ones privilege is just a reminder to be aware aware that you might not be able to fully understand someone elses experiences, that the assumptions you were brought up with may be blinding you, that some people may have to struggle for reasons foreign to you. Pointing out that white privilege exists isnt the same as accusing every white person of being a racist. And acknowledging that you might benefit from such privilege doesnt mean that youre apologizing for being white or joining the ranks of those dreaded social justice warriors. The most heartening comments I received last week were those from readers who understood that. Rather than reacting defensively, they asked: Whats next? Heres whats next. Generally, we expect those with advantages to help out those who are disadvantaged. The leg up provided by white privilege offers a chance to do just that. Understanding that you benefit from white privilege offers the freedom to amplify important issues in ways that those without it cannot. It represents an opportunity to speak out more loudly against injustice, knowing youre better-protected from negative outcomes. Its the ability to use the access youre given to create opportunity and space for others. The use of white privilege tends to be unintentional. White privilege isnt asked for, but its also not earned. The advantages it brings are uncomfortable to acknowledge and easy to take for granted. But they shouldnt remain invisible. Theres no way to level the playing field unless we first can all see how uneven it is. There are two large questions as the Democratic campaign in Iowa enters its final days. One is whether Sen. Bernie Sanders can generate a significant turnout among first-time caucus attendees. The second is whether the organization that Hillary Clinton has been building there since last spring is sturdy enough to withstand the Sanders insurgency. The last thing Clinton can afford now is for Sanders to get a head of steam from Iowa and New Hampshire. A pair of victories by the Vermont senator could produce a protracted and, for Clinton, debilitating nomination battle. Even if Clinton were to survive and capture the nomination, she would start the general election as a weakened candidate and with her resources significantly depleted. Thats why a Clinton victory in the Iowa caucuses is so crucial. A win in Iowa would blunt Sanderss momentum and provide some insurance against an expected loss in New Hampshire. Clintons 2016 campaign has been shaped from the start by what happened in Iowa eight years ago, when then-Sen. Barack Obama won the caucuses and she finished in third place behind former North Carolina senator John Edwards. Some mythology about what happened in Iowa in 2008 has taken hold in the years since then, namely that Obamas organization was vastly superior to Clintons. There is no question that the Obama organization was superb, perhaps the best ever assembled in Iowa. But in fact, the two were more evenly matched than conventional wisdom suggests. In her previous Iowa campaign, Clinton got a slow start organizationally and was plagued by internal problems. By caucus day, however, both the Clinton and Obama campaigns (as well as that of Edwards) were sophisticated and well organized. And all three were caught by surprise by the huge turnout. [Reinforcements headed to Iowa to help Clinton] Both the Clinton and the Obama operation significantly underestimated the eventual turnout. What proved decisive for Obama was that the surge in first-time caucus participants benefited him far more than it did Clinton. Organization counted, but inspiration counted more. That again is the danger for Clinton on Feb. 1 and the opportunity for Sanders. Jerry Crawford, one of the Clintons longest and closest confidants in Iowa, said recently that her 2016 Iowa organization is better than it was in 2008. Knowing that he believes that the 2008 operation was far better than its reputation, I asked him what makes him think the 2016 is superior. He offered two reasons. First, weve been given the resources we needed to put together a good organization here, he said. Second, theres been no distraction here from the kind of drama that existed in 2008 between the Iowa operation and the national operation. Weve been able to be fully focused on task all the time. The 2008 Clinton operation was handicapped in Iowa by the fact that her national advisers did not understand the caucus process and the perception among Iowa Democrats that they did not care about what they didnt understand. The current campaign team approached Iowa far more humbly, according to Iowa Democrats, and was determined to build deeper relationships with potential supporters. [David Brock: Help or hindrance for Hillary?] Clinton was criticized eight years ago for not campaigning as hard in Iowa as her rivals. Her travels in Iowa were significantly more limited than were Obamas or Edwardss. This time she vowed to be a better candidate. In fact, she again has trailed behind Sanders and former Maryland governor Martin OMalley in counties visited and events held. As of mid-January, she had visited just 29 of Iowas 99 counties, compared with 37 during a comparable period of campaigning in 2007. Campaign officials say there are strategic reasons owing in part to Iowas almost impenetrable caucus process for where she has spent her time. The caucus process requires voters to show up at a specified time on the evening of Feb. 1. But beyond that, the Democrats caucus process is quite different from that of the Republicans. Republicans conduct what amounts to a straw poll, voting by secret ballot. The state Republican Party reports the percentages of that raw vote on caucus night to determine the winner. Democrats require voters to cast their votes in public, grouping themselves in different parts of the room. If any candidate does not reach a certain percentage in a precinct (generally 15 percent of the total number of voters who show up), his or her supporters are allowed to caucus for any of the viable candidates. Only when this reshuffling takes place are the results tabulated. [OMalley supporters could play key role in Iowa] Thats not the only wrinkle. Democratic results reported to the public and the media are not raw vote percentages, as are the Republican results. Instead, the percentages reported are of what are called state delegate equivalents, or SDEs. In each precinct, they are allocated among the candidates on the basis of a complex formula. Precision targeting is valuable, and both the Clinton and Sanders campaign teams say they are determining where the candidates campaign with the idea of maximizing their SDEs. But as 2008 showed, sometimes turnout can overwhelm the most careful of calculations and sophisticated of models. Enthusiasm counts, and expanding the electorate is another key to winning. This is the key to Sanderss hopes of defeating Clinton in Iowa. By now, he has a robust paid staff and an army of volunteers. Pete DAlessandro, who has helped to build the Sanders organization in Iowa, said there are 15,000 individuals who have done one type of volunteer shift or another. The Vermont senators campaign has been looking for new people. Weve said from the beginning we have to expand the definition of who goes to caucus, he said. The prime targets are young people between the ages of 17 and 25, none of whom were eligible to participate in 2008, and older voters who have either never attended a caucus or havent caucused in many years. Estimating turnout can be perilous. Eight years ago, almost 240,000 people participated in the Democratic caucuses. Obamas team had predicted 167,000 to 180,000. Clintons projections were 150,000 to 160,000. In 2004, when there were four competitive campaigns trying to get voters to the caucuses, turnout was about 125,000. In 2000, a contest that pitted Al Gore against Bill Bradley, turnout was just under 70,000. The campaigns are reluctant to offer their precise estimates of turnout, in part because they do not want to signal some of their organizational goals. At this point, the Clinton and Sanders campaigns are willing to say they think participation will exceed that of 2004. Exit polls from 2008 found that 57 percent of the Democratic caucus attendees were newcomers. Obama won them decisively. So far, the Des Moines Register-Bloomberg Politics poll of likely Iowa caucus participants shows nothing close to the level of newcomers as the exit polls showed eight years ago. Sanderss challenge will be to boost the percentage of newcomers substantially. Clintons burden is to find a way to overcome the lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy. Allies say she has yet to crystallize her message and has lacked a consistent and effective line of attack against Sanders. Absent any real change in either during the final week of campaigning, she will be relying on the strength of her organization to pull her through. David Brock, a former conservative, is now an ally of Hillary Clinton and is attacking her main rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders. (Danny Johnston/AP) David Brock swings hard. He did it for the right in 1992, when he went after Anita Hill for accusing Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. And hes doing it now against Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), who is threatening to defeat Brocks more recent ally, Hillary Clinton, in the first two presidential nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire. Less clear is whether Brocks shock-troop tactics are helping or hurting her. Clinton began the race last spring as the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But Sanders leads her in polling in New Hampshire and is closing the gap in Iowa. [Sanders prepares to challenge Clinton on Super Tuesday and beyond] Brock has weighed in several times in the past week with harsh attacks against Sanders. Most recently, after Sanders released a feel-good ad in Iowa featuring thousands of images of his supporters and set to the Simon and Garfunkel tune America Brock noted not so gently that the overwhelming majority of the people in the ad were white. From this ad, it seems black lives dont matter much to Bernie Sanders, Brock told the Associated Press. A spokesman for Sanders, who has sought to incorporate many of the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement in his campaign, called Brock a mudslinger and said Clinton should be ashamed of her association with him. It was the third time in recent days that Brock had leveled such sharp criticism at Clintons main rival for the nomination. Last weekend, Sanders released his medical records and declared himself very healthy, after Politico reported that Brock was planning to demand the documents. And Tuesday, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Brock suggested that Sanders could not win the general election because hes a socialist. Think about what the Republicans will do with the fact that hes a socialist in the fall. Sanders describes himself as a democratic socialist, arguing for economic equality and the right to such services as health care and education. Although the tone from both sides has become more critical as the race has tightened before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses, the Sanders campaign has mostly bragged about his poll numbers and focused on the candidates policy differences. [Sanders says hes very healthy amid reports that a Clinton ally is seeking his medical records] Brock once employed these kinds of rhetorical takedowns in the service of conservatism. During the contentious nomination hearings for Thomas, Brock wrote a magazine article, which later became a book, attacking Hills character and raising doubts about the veracity of her accusations. He also published an article about allegations of sexual misconduct during Bill Clintons tenure as governor of Arkansas that led to Troopergate and a lawsuit by Paula Jones accusing Clinton of sexually harassing her. Testimony in that suit included revealing details about Clintons relationship with Monica Lewinsky that nearly derailed his presidency. But in 1998, Brock penned an open apology to Clinton and has since played the role of liberal crusader. He founded Media Matters for America, which describes itself as a watchdog for correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. He has also started or works closely with several PACs and super PACs aimed at helping Hillary Clinton win the presidency, including Correct the Record, a rapid-response operation. David Brock is one of the worst practitioners in the dark arts of dirty politics, said Michael Briggs, spokesman for Sanderss campaign. [Super PAC launches Lets Talk Hillary to reveal a softer side of Clinton] When he was a right-wing extremist, he tried to destroy Anita Hill, a distinguished African American professor, Briggs said Friday. He later apologized for his lies about her. Now he is lying about Sen. Sanders. It is unfortunate that Hillary Clinton would be associated with such a professional mudslinger. The Clinton campaign did not respond to requests for comment about Brocks most recent criticism of Sanderss ad. But Saturday, after the story about Brocks threat to demand Sanderss medical records, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta chastised Brock via Twitter: Chill out. Were fighting on who would make a better President, not on who has a better Physical Fitness Test. Jamal Simmons, a Democratic political strategist with the Raben Group, a Washington consulting firm, said Brocks observation about the lack of diversity in Sanderss ad was fair game: It wasnt that he was wrong, but he put a little too much sauce on it. Every campaign has shock troops, someone out there who is willing to say things and put the conversation in a certain direction, and I think thats Davids strength for the Clinton campaign, Simmons said. The danger for the Clinton campaign is that so many voters think of her as being too political that when overly political things happen, it reinforces that negative. So the danger for her is that her negatives get reinforced more than the opponent gets defined. I think the big challenge for the Clinton campaign is theyve got to try to dampen the enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders but also light more of a fire under her supporters. John Wagner in New Hampshire contributed to this report. CALIFORNIA Manhunt underway for escaped inmates Southern California authorities launched a frantic manhunt Saturday after three inmates charged with violent crimes, including torture and murder, escaped from an Orange County jail. The inmates were last seen at 5 a.m. Friday at the Orange County Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana, about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They could have escaped at any time between then and late Friday night, Lt. Jeff Hallock, a spokesman with the Orange County Sheriffs Department, said Saturday. Hallock said investigators believe they know how the three men escaped the 900-inmate jail, but for now, he wouldnt release those details. He said its the first escape from the facility in at least the past 20 years. The inmates are Jonathan Tieu, 20; Hossein Nayeri, 37; and Bac Duong, 43. Hallock said the sheriffs department is doing everything it can to find the men. Obviously the safety of the community is No. 1, Hallock said at a news conference. Were exhausting all investigative resources and measures to bring these three inmates back into custody. Associated Press WISCONSIN Boy, 5, fatally shot riding in dads car A 5-year-old boy riding in the back seat of his fathers car in southern Wisconsin was killed after an SUV pulled up alongside them and someone opened fire, authorities said. Police were searching Saturday for the person responsible for the attack, which happened Friday night in Beloit, a city 65 miles southwest of Milwaukee along the Illinois border. The Beloit Daily News reported that the boy was shot at least once in the abdomen and died at a hospital. Interim Police Chief David Zibolski said the sport-utility vehicle had been following the fathers car. He said he didnt know how long the SUV had pursued the car or whether the father was the intended target, but added that the father was cooperating with authorities. He said investigators hadnt determined how many shots were fired. The father was not hit. We really ask that our community in Beloit come forward and help solve this crime, Zibolski said. Associated Press Armed activist plans rancher protest: The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon planned to have a ceremony Saturday for ranchers to renounce federal ownership of public land and tear up their federal grazing contracts. On Friday, Ammon Bundy met briefly with a federal agent as authorities attempt to resolve the three-week-old standoff over federal land policies, but Bundy left because the agent wouldnt talk with him in front of the media.The short meeting occurred as Oregon officials are putting increased pressure on federal authorities to take action against Bundys group. Guilty plea in egg farm slave labor case: Pablo Duran Jr., 23, the third of four people accused of smuggling teenagers into the United States and keeping them as virtual slave laborers at an Ohio egg farm, has pleaded guilty to charges in a case that brought national attention to the exploitation of young immigrants fleeing unrest in Central America. The defendants were at the center of what prosecutors said was a scheme to take custody of the victims at the border, then force them to work at the farm and hand over most of their earnings to pay for their passage to the United States. West Point cadet found not guilty: A West Point cadet was acquitted Saturday of sexually assaulting a fellow cadet he was dating. A panel of five Army officers reached a not-guilty verdict in the military trial of Cadet Lukas M. Saul. Saul, 23, had been charged with violations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice involving inappropriate contact with a cadet without her consent in 2012. Shootout suspect mistakenly released from prison: The suspect in a robbery in which an Oklahoma bank president was fatally shot had been released from a Texas prison by mistake, records show. The Oklahoman reported Saturday that the records indicate Cedric Lamont Norris had been allowed to leave the Texas prison in March 2012 even though he had to complete prison sentences of 60 years and 10 years in Oklahoma. Norris, 39, died during a shootout with police following the robbery Thursday at the Bank of Eufaula in eastern Oklahoma. From news services Members of a group called the Soldiers of Odin walk the streets Jan. 16 near a refugee center in suburban Tampere, Finland. After some reported cases of harassment against women, allegedly by migrants, the Soldiers of Odin decided to start patrolling in the evenings. (Alessandro Rampazzo/For The Washington Post) On a frigid night in this industrial city, three local men pulled up to a curb in a beat-up van sporting the stars and bars of the American Confederacy (because, they said, they just liked the look of it). Soon, they joined a dozen other beefy vigilantes gathering on a sidewalk for their first patrol to keep our women safe. These are the Soldiers of Odin, a new far-right citizens group sprouting chapters across Finland. Its members are multiplying as this northern nation becomes a case study in the fear and suspicion gripping Europe after multiple sexual assaults allegedly committed by asylum seekers and others on New Years Eve. [Clowns mock Finlands anti-immigrant vigilantes] Those incidents, in cities across central and northern Europe, included hundreds of complaints of sexual harassment in Cologne, Germany, as well as 15 alleged sex-related crimes in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. They have quickly altered the debate over a record wave of asylum seekers arriving in Europe from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Fresh barriers to new migrants are going up from Sweden to Greece. Germany has announced moves meant to delay refugees from bringing in close family members for at least two years, and to reject and deport more asylum seekers arriving from North Africa. The Danish Parliament backed a measure allowing seizures of cash and valuables from migrants. Citing sexual harassment of women, some public pools and nightclubs in Germany have begun banning men who live in asylum shelters. Vigilante groups are taking to the streets. And Europeans are fretting on social media about an unfolding culture clash with the newcomers. Suddenly, many are asking an uncomfortable question: Do asylum seekers more specifically, some of the men from conservative Muslim nations pose an inherent threat to liberated and casually dressed Western women? These refugees do not respect our women, said Ilkka, a 33-year-old sprinkler installer who would give only his first name. I have four daughters, and they used to be safe in Finland. We need to do something about it. Critics say the danger is vastly exaggerated, and they denounce the attacks as the work of a few bad characters. Yet even asylum seekers concede that some in their ranks have a steep learning curve to accept progressive Western European norms, especially regarding women. New reports of sex crimes suspected to have been committed by asylum seekers are now emerging in Finland, including several alleged rapes that predate the New Years Eve crime wave. In neighboring Sweden, a 22-year-old female aid worker was stabbed to death last week by a 15-year-old migrant, authorities said. Her death sparked a fresh debate about the security threat posed by the newcomers, who include large numbers of young men traumatized by war. Inside a refugee center in Tampere. More than 4,000 asylum seekers, mostly from Iraq, have arrived in the city over the past six months. (Alessandro Rampazzo/For The Washington Post) [German chancellor pledges crackdown on criminal asylum seekers] Just as worrying is a spate of hate crimes against asylum seekers, illustrating the new social tensions in European communities like Tampere. A city in south-central Finland bordered by miles of Christmas-tree forests, Tampere saw more than 4,000 asylum seekers, mostly from war-torn Iraq, arrive over the past six months. In that time, there have been at least 50 incidents involving asylum seekers as either suspects or victims including the alleged rape of a Finnish woman and the alleged stalking of a local teenage girl. Even foreign-born residents who have lived here for years say they have noticed a disturbing change. Abbas al-Arja a 25-year-old former Iraqi boxer who moved to Finland in 2010 said he intervened in the town center last month to stop two young Iraqi asylum seekers who were pushing themselves onto a Finnish woman who was clearly uncomfortable. Some of them coming now have a lot to learn, he said. They do not understand a woman dressed like that. From left, Mahmoud Machaal, Abbas al-Arja and Anwar Hassan. Arja, 25, who moved from Iraq to Finland in 2010, said he recently intervened when he saw two young Iraqi men bothering a Finnish woman. They do not understand a woman dressed like that, he said. (Alessandro Rampazzo/For The Washington Post) Yet after the recent stabbing of an asylum seeker by a group of Finnish men and a suspicious arson at a refugee center near Tampere, the newcomers are also more fearful. The new patrols by the Soldiers of Odin, Arja said, have only made the situation worse. Now Muslim women are afraid to go in the streets because of the Soldiers of Odin, Arja said. What have we achieved? We are afraid of them, and they are afraid of us. The concerns arent limited to Tampere. In recent weeks, sales of pepper spray have gone through the roof across Finland and Germany. New self-defense classes are popping up. In some German communities, sales of fake weapons are soaring. In several German cities, including Bornheim, men from asylum shelters were banned last week from using public pools after female swimmers complained about harassment. In the city of Zwickau, asylum seekers allegedly ejaculated and defecated in a public pool, sparking a firestorm on social media. In addition to Denmark and Switzerland, two German states Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg say they are now reserving the right to seize cash and valuables from asylum seekers worth more than 750 euros ($818) to help defray the cost of care and benefits. On Wednesday, the European Commission warned Greece that it could face suspension from the regions passport-free travel zone meaning possible checks on flights and ships arriving from the Mediterranean nation if it does not do more to control and properly process migrants on the front lines of the refugee crisis. France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Austria have imposed some new border checks, putting the future of Europes open borders at risk as nations seek ways to curb the flow of migrants. We want to have a society again in which women and elderly people can move safely and freely in our streets, the leader of Austrias right-wing Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, said in January. The misogyny and contempt we have seen unfortunately has Islamist roots . . . because it is directed against infidel women who are often insulted as whores for not wearing a headscarf and a veil. A snowy street in Tampere. Alleged sex crimes committed by migrants in Finland and Germany have changed the tenor of the debate over the refugee crisis in Europe. (Alessandro Rampazzo/For The Washington Post) [German police report describes chaotic and shameful night of attacks on women] In Helsinki, large numbers of male asylum seekers were hanging out one recent day at the central train station, the site of many of the New Years Eve incidents. Satu Eklund, a 28-year-old hairdresser who looked flustered before her commute home, said that one young man who looked like a refugee had grabbed her rear end and offered her a salacious grin only moments before. No, Im not scared, but I am mad, she said. I dont have anything against the refugees, but we should be able to live in peace. Helsinki police say there was an increase in rapes in the latter half of 2015, coinciding with a surge of 32,000 asylum seekers arriving in Finland. But the increase 196 rapes in 2015, compared with 179 in 2014 is statistically small. Officials, while declining to offer more details, said asylum seekers or refugees are suspects in at least three rapes. But they added that it is too early to say whether the numbers constitute a trend. We still need more specific information and analysis before we can say that there is a connection between the increase in rapes and sexual harassment cases and the increase in the number of refugees, Helsinki Police Chief Lasse Aapio said. But we need to be alert, and of course we are worried, because its obvious that were facing some changes in our society right now. Police and national authorities are also worried about the rise of vigilante groups and citizen street patrols with names such as the Finnish Resistance. The Soldiers of Odin, whose name refers to the Nordic god of war and death, includes known neo-Nazis and followers with criminal records, as well as more typical men. But the Soldiers first foray in Tampere recently proved less successful than theyd hoped. Moments after they hit the streets, a troop of protesters dressed as clowns and calling themselves the Loldiers of Odin (a play on the Internet shorthand for laughing out loud) ambushed the black-clad vigilantes. At one point, the clowns most of them women surrounded the men and taunted them by singing a local version of Ring Around the Rosie. They are clowns, too, doing what theyre doing, said one young protester, who, like the others, declined to give her name. We are here to show tolerance, because these clowns, she said, gesturing toward the men, are the ones who are winning in Finland. Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report. Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir shake hands after speaking to the media Saturday at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Reuters) Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Saturday toggled from uncertainty over Syrian peace talks to rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran as he met with Gulf Arabs in the Saudi capital. After meeting with foreign ministers from the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Kerry said he was confident initial talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups would take place as planned next week in Geneva. The warring participants wont be at the same table, or even in the same room, but they will be in the same venue while U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura acts as a go-between. Diplomats have cautioned the Syrian talks might be delayed, due to disagreements over which opposition groups will be invited to attend. If disputes or other problems arise, Kerry told reporters, a 20-member multinational group that has promoted peace talks will convene immediately after the Geneva meetings end. We want to keep the process moving and put to full test the readiness and willingness of people to achieve peace, Kerry said, expressing concern that the violence in Syria could spill over its borders. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria since peaceful protesters were attacked by government forces, resulting in a civil war that has set off a flood of refugees, spawned an Islamic caliphate run by militants and drawn both foreign fighters and military invention by a host of alarmed countries, including Russia, Iran and the United States. Two previous attempts to negotiate an end to the conflict have both failed. [Death by siege in Syrias civil war] Kerry noted there are sharp divisions over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The United States insists Assad must eventually leave power and elections called within 18 months of a cease-fire and peace talks starting. We know that the war in Syria cannot end its not that it will not end, its not that people choose otherwise its that it cannot end, because he is the magnet that attracts the violent terrorism and jihadis who will continue to come as long as he or his supporters insist he is a part in a long term future, Kerry said. Rejecting that notion, Kerry vowed, We are going to do everything in our power as nations that are deeply impacted by the consequences of Syria to try to push this process forward and help to act as constructive catalysts and try help Syrians to bring about the peace that they desire so much. Kerry also came to Saudi Arabia to try to diffuse tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and urge Riyadh to restore diplomatic relations with Tehran. After Riyadh executed a Shiite cleric in early January, and protesters stormed Saudi diplomatic compounds in Tehran and another city, Saudi Arabia cut the ties. Both countries, bitter regional rivals, are involved in organizing the Syrian peace talks, and the rising hostilities have raised concerns their spat will spill over and impact the peace talks. [David Ignatius: The costly blunders of Saudi Arabias anxiety-ridden monarchy] Talking to reporters after meeting with Kerry, Saudi Prime Minister Adel al-Jubeir dismissed the idea that the United States and Iran will improve their relations after a landmark nuclear deal was implemented this month. "No, I don't see a coming together of the United States and Iran, he said. Iran remains the world's chief sponsor of terrorism. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed regrets over the attack on the Saudi embassy, but Jubeir on Friday called the apology meaningless unless it changes its policies and stops supporting terror. Jubeir took another swipe at Iran on Saturday, telling reporters that the recent prisoner release of seven Iranian Americans and Iranian nationals imprisoned in the United States and five Americans imprisoned in Iran was a trenchant example of how Irans government is viewed by its own people. I wouldnt call it an exchange of prisoners, because every person released in the United States, as I understand, chose to remain in the United States, which tells you what a great country Iran is, that none of them wanted to look forward to going back to it. [Post owner Jeff Bezos flies reporter Jason Rezaian to U.S. after Iran release] Jubeir said he was confident the United States shared Saudi Arabias view of Iran. "Overall I think the United States is very aware of the danger of Iran's mischief and nefarious activities, he said. I don't believe the United States is under any illusion as to what type of government Iran is. Kerry said the United States has assured the six countries in the GCC that the United States, as we have said many times, will stand with them against any external threat and defend, if necessary, together with them against those threats. Read more Death by siege in Syrias civil war: Hundreds of thousands at risk The costly blunders of Saudi Arabias anxiety-ridden monarchy Post owner Jeff Bezos flies reporter Jason Rezaian to U.S. after Iran release House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward Royce (R-Calif.) has called for further inquiry into the Obama administrations handling of a deal that won the release of several Americans held in Iran. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) Republican lawmakers are calling for an inquiry into the administrations decision to pay a $1.7 billion claims settlement to Tehran after Iranian hard-liners reignited concerns that the money was ransom to secure the release of American prisoners. The dispute is the latest point of contention between the Obama administration and Republicans vehemently opposed to its handling of negotiations with Iran over a deal to curb Tehrans nuclear ambitions and an agreement to free several Americans, including Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, from Iranian detention. The settlement was over a claim long pending before an international tribunal in The Hague set up to resolve disputes between the United States and Iran in the wake of the hostage crisis spanning from 1979 to 1981. The sum of $400 million, plus $1.3 billion in interest, settled claims over money Iran paid decades ago to buy weapons from the United States that were never delivered, after Irans revolution broke out. There was no benefit to the United States in dragging this out, President Obama said of the settlement last weekend after the nuclear deal was implemented, adding that the country probably saved billions by striking a deal instead of waiting for a judgment. With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well. But where the administration presented the confluence of events as simply politically expedient timing, leading Republicans saw the troubling sketches of a ransom deal. And in Iran, the commander of the countrys Basij force reportedly boasted this week that Iran had secured the money as a price for letting the Americans go. This money was returned for the freedom of the U.S. spy, and it was not related to the [nuclear] negotiations, said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, according to Irans Fars news service. Now some Republicans in Congress want a reckoning from the State Department over a deal they say will encourage other countries and groups to capture Americans and try to bilk the United States out of more cash. The timing and details of the U.S. cash transfer of $1.7 billion indicates it might be a ransom payment and it is likely interpreted as such by our adversaries, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) wrote in a letter to Secretary of State John F. Kerry this week, citing Naqdis comments and asking several pointed questions about how the payment was discussed in diplomatic negotiations. This concession was never raised by the State Department as on the table, which the Administration must answer for, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.) said in an emailed statement Friday. He is also angling for an inquiry into the claim settlement and how it may have related to the prisoner release. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) was one of the first critics to label the transaction ransom, though he has not decided whether to establish an official inquiry into the matter. The administration has denied any suggestions that the United States engaged in a quid pro quo arrangement for the release of the American detainees, financial or otherwise. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest described the prisoner deal as a humanitarian gesture. And the parallel timing of deals is hardly unique. Its not uncommon for the U.S. to have to play three-dimensional chess in its relationships with other countries, said John Bellinger, who was the legal adviser for the State Department under President George W. Bush and currently works for the firm Arnold & Porter. He added, however, that if the negotiations over prisoners and the settlement of the claim really were separate, the White House could have done more to ensure that the two events would not look like a quid pro quo. If there really was no linkage, Im surprised the State Department did not delay the announcement for several weeks, he said. Officially, the United States maintains a zero-tolerance policy for negotiating the release of prisoners or hostages with ransom payments, unlike some of its European allies, who have paid for the release of their citizens. Such policies have come under close scrutiny in the past few years as extremist groups have captured Westerners and demanded ransom payments for their return. The Justice Department maintains the right to charge private citizens and companies who arrange ransom payments to such groups with providing material support for terrorism, though last year the department stated that it would not prosecute such cases. Brian Michael Jenkins, a Rand Corp. expert who has written extensively about prisoner exchanges, said that policies on how to deal with terrorists do not apply to agreements such as those ironed out between the United States and Iran. Jenkins cited deals to send medical supplies to Cuba in order to release brigade prisoners who were captured during the Bay of Pigs crisis and assets that were released to resolve the American hostage crisis with Iran as examples of prior crises in which the United States made similar arrangements. The terms of the 1981 release of the American hostages, negotiated under President Jimmy Carter but carried out under President Ronald Reagan, was a lot closer to a ransom than the current arrangement, Jenkins added. This is in the category of diplomacy. Vice President Biden, left, talks as Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu looks on during a joint news conference following their meeting Saturday at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. (Sedat Suna/Associated Press) Turkey and the United States continued Saturday to disagree about the status of Kurdish forces who have become a key part of the U.S. strategy to defeat the Islamic State in Syria. In statements after a two-hour meeting here, Vice President Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu praised the sometimes rocky U.S.-Turkish alliance. Calling Turkey a strategic partner, Biden said the relationship is enduring, its rooted in history, its in the hearts of our people. But in the stew of overlapping conflicts, regional rivalries and competing interests in the civil war in Syria, and the expansion of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, U.S.-Turkey ties have often been strained. Bidens visit here was intended to shore them up, officials traveling with him said, and to add some high-level impetus to resolving a range of issues. Standing at Bidens side for statements after their meeting, Davutoglu repeatedly referred to Syrian Kurds allied with the United States a fighting force called the Peoples Protection Units and known as YPG as a terrorist organization on par with the Islamic State and in league with Turkish Kurds, who have recently escalated a long-standing campaign of secessionist violence in southeastern Turkey. Despite Davutoglus frequent references to the terrorist YPG, Biden never mentioned them. He referred only to Turkeys Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, which the United States agrees is a terrorist organization. We want to make sure, because its such an important relationship . . . that there is no misunderstanding with Turkey, Biden said. That where we agree, we agree with precision; where we have disagreement, we state it flatly. On strategic issues, including the need to work together to defeat the Islamic State, he said, there is no disagreement. [Biden criticizes crackdown on dissent in Turkey] The Syrian Kurds have become a major sticking point, both in U.S.-Turkey collaboration against the Islamic State and in coming negotiations to end a civil war in Syria that the United States considers a distraction from the larger anti-terrorist fight. The negotiations, between representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government and Syrian opposition forces, were scheduled to begin Monday in Geneva but now appear to have been postponed. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, after meeting in Riyadh with foreign ministers from the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council, said he was confident that an initial negotiating session would take place. The warring participants wont be at the same table or even in the same room, but they will be at the same venue while U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura acts as a go-between. We want to keep the process moving and put to full test the readiness and willingness of people to achieve peace, Kerry said. Kerry noted that there are sharp divisions over the future of Assad. The United States insists that Assad must eventually leave power and elections be called within 18 months of a cease-fire and peace talks starting. We know that the war in Syria cannot end its not that it will not end, its not that people choose otherwise its that it cannot end, because he is the magnet that attracts the violent terrorism and jihadis who will continue to come as long as he or his supporters insist he is a part of a long-term future, Kerry said. Part of the reason for the delay is a dispute between Russia and Turkey, which shot down a Russian fighter jet that crossed over its border from inside Syria in November. Russia, which provides military assistance to Assad, has joined the United States in promoting the negotiations. But it insists, in what appears to be an effort to strike back at the Turks, that the YPG be included as part of the opposition delegation. If that happens, Turkey has said it will withdraw its support for the talks. [Turkey fires at U.S.-allied Kurds in Syria] With the bulk of the Syrian opposition focused on fighting Assad, the United States last year turned to the YPG as a capable fighting force and the only one available to it with thousands of fighters to wage war against the Islamic State on the ground. Since early last year, the Syrian Kurds have gradually cleared much of the Syrian side of the lengthy Turkish border, supported by U.S. airstrikes. Turkey does not want them to move any farther, particularly to the western portion of the frontier, where a 65-mile strip remains under Islamic State control and is used for moving foreign fighters and goods into Syria. Both the United States and Turkey want to drive the remaining militants from the area but have so far failed to assemble a mutually agreeable, non-Kurdish force to occupy it on the ground. The challenge is getting enough warm bodies willing to prioritize the fight against [the Islamic State] over the fight against Assad in western Syria, said a senior Biden official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks with Turkey. Turkey says it can supply hundreds, if not thousands, of Syrian Arab and other non-Kurdish opposition fighters for the mission, but it has been slow to do so. The administration, wary of the involvement of Islamist groups within the opposition that Turkey supports, has insisted on a list of names it can vet before arming the fighters and coordinating airstrikes with them. Part of Bidens mission here was to speed that process. Long accused of hedging its bets with the Islamic State and allowing passage across its border, Turkey has taken some very important steps to improve the situation, Biden said. American and coalition aircraft are operating out of Turkish bases and have ramped up the air campaign against ISIL targets to the highest tempo since the beginning of the airstrikes in the fall of 2014, he said. ISIL is another name for the Islamic State. Biden also solidified a U.S. offer of border-monitoring assistance, including aerostat balloon-mounted cameras and tunnel- detection equipment, along with increased intelligence sharing to give the Turks more visibility on the border. Morello reported from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Vice President Biden, his wife Jill Biden (second from right) and granddaughter Naomi Biden (third from right) visit the Ottoman-era Sultanahmet mosque in Istanbul on Friday. (Sedat Suna/AFP/Getty Images) Vice President Biden urged a change of attitude by the Turkish government toward its domestic critics Friday, saying that the media and all others here must be free to challenge orthodoxy, including political and religious beliefs, if Turkey is to thrive. Bidens two-day visit is primarily to meet with top government officials on Syria and other regional crises. But he began with sharp criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans crackdown on journalists, political opponents and academics, including the recent arrest of dozens of academics who questioned government violence in Turkeys ethnic Kurdish region. Speaking at the beginning of a private meeting with Turkish journalists and civil society representatives, Biden praised U.S.- Turkish cooperation. But when the media are intimidated or imprisoned for critical reporting, when Internet freedom is curtailed and social media sites . . . shut down, when more than 1,000 academics are accused of treason simply by signing a petition, he said, thats not the kind of example that needs to be set in the region. [Why Turkeys government is threatening academic freedom] Critics at home have accused the Obama administration of downplaying human rights abuses here as it seeks Turkeys full cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State. Biden also defended U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass, who has come under official fire here for speaking in support of the petitioners. He speaks for my . . . government, he speaks for the American people, Biden said of Bass. During an earlier meeting with Turkish lawmakers from a range of political parties, Biden said that the United States supported Turkeys fight against militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, but noted that the Turkish governments policy of using force against militant-allied villages in the southeastern Kurdish region was not sustainable. The Turkish government did not publicly respond to Bidens remarks. Speaking separately to reporters in Istanbul, Erdogan said that the PKK as well as Syrian Kurds who are fighting with U.S. help against the Islamic State in Syria is no different from the Islamic State. In addition to complicating U.S. relations with Turkey, the Kurdish issue is one of several obstacles that may lead to the cancellation or postponement of a Monday meeting in Geneva between Syrian opposition forces and representatives of the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The meeting is part of a process designed by the United States and its European and regional partners supporting the opposition, as well as key Assad backers Russia and Iran, to end Syrias domestic conflict and allow the parties to join forces against the Islamic State in both Syria and Iraq. There are a lot of front-burner national security issues for which Turkey is at the heart of our ability to get things done . . . including Iraq, Syria, Cyprus and energy in the eastern Mediterranean, said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity about Bidens upcoming meetings with Erdogan and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. [17 things Erdogan has said about journalists] Turkey charges that Syrian Kurdish fighters, known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, share the PKKs goal of establishing a separate political entity in Kurdish regions of Turkey, Syria and Iraq. To add to the complexity, Turkey has sent troops into northern Iraq near PKK havens, leading Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to threaten to invite Russian planes to strike in the region. Turkish-Russian relations have been strained since Turkey shot down a Russian jet that strayed into its territory from Syria in November. To assuage Turkeys concerns about the Syrian border, the Obama administration has pledged that the Syrian Kurdish fighters it supports will not move west beyond the Euphrates River. To secure the remaining 60 miles of border contested with the Islamic State in northwest Syria, Biden plans to firm up U.S. offers of additional equipment and intelligence assistance. He also hopes to obtain more Turkish cooperation in assembling groups of vetted Syrian opposition fighters most of whom are currently fighting against Assad to occupy the remaining border region. That goal has been complicated by pro-Assad Russian airstrikes against opposition forces in the area. In statements Friday, one of the chief opposition negotiators, George Sabra, said that there would be no Geneva talks unless the airstrikes stop, Syrian government blockades of populated areas are lifted and opposition detainees are released. Meanwhile, Russia has said it wants the Syrian Kurds added to the opposition negotiating team, and it has rejected attendance by Islamist opposition groups backed by Turkey. Biden and his wife also visited the 17th-century Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, and walked from there to a nearby square to lay red carnations on the site where a suicide bomber killed 10 German tourists a little more than a week ago. As a soft snow fell on Istanbul, they then toured a covered shopping area, where the vice president bought his wife a necklace after Jill Biden and a Secret Service agent persuaded the shopkeeper to lower his price from $350 to $100. Cleane Serpa, 18, holds 1-month-old cousin Maria Eduarda, born with microcephaly, at her aunts home in Recife, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The newborns parents, who are poor, did not want her, so Cleane and an aunt are raising her. The nation has the highest number of babies born with microcephaly from mothers testing positive for the mosquito-born Zika virus. Jan. 9, 2016 Cleane Serpa, 18, holds 1-month-old cousin Maria Eduarda, born with microcephaly, at her aunts home in Recife, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The newborns parents, who are poor, did not want her, so Cleane and an aunt are raising her. The nation has the highest number of babies born with microcephaly from mothers testing positive for the mosquito-born Zika virus. Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post South Americas biggest country has seen a rise in cases of a disease triggered by the little-known Zika virus being linked to a spike in birth defects. South Americas biggest country has seen a rise in cases of a disease triggered by the little-known Zika virus being linked to a surge in congenital brain malformations. South Americas biggest country has seen a rise in cases of a disease triggered by the little-known Zika virus being linked to a surge in congenital brain malformations. The rapid spread of the Zika virus has prompted Latin American governments to urge women not to get pregnant for up to two years, an extraordinary precaution aimed at avoiding birth defects believed to be linked to the mosquito-borne illness. What until recently was a seemingly routine public health problem for countries that are home to a certain type of mosquito has morphed into a potentially culture-shaping phenomenon in which the populations of several nations have been asked to delay procreation. The World Health Organization says at least 20 countries or territories in the region, including Barbados and Bolivia, Guadeloupe and Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Panama, have registered transmission of the virus. [Heres a quick explanation of Zika] Although the Zika virus has been documented since the 1940s, it began its assault on Latin America in the past several months. The hardest-hit country has been Brazil, where more than 1 million people have contracted the virus. In the past four months, authorities have received reports of nearly 4,000 cases in which Zika may have caused microcephaly in newborns. The condition results in an abnormally small head and is associated with incomplete brain development. Colombia, which shares an Amazonian border with Brazil, reacted to its own Zika outbreak, numbering more than 13,000 cases, by urging women not to get pregnant in the next several months. Other countries, including Jamaica and Honduras, also have urged women to delay having babies. After more than 5,000 suspected Zika cases were reported last year and in the first weeks of 2016, El Salvador on Thursday took the most extreme stance so far: Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza urged women to refrain from getting pregnant before 2018. The Central American nation saw its first suspected Zika cases in November and sent samples to the United States to be tested for the virus, Espinoza said in an interview. Authorities have confirmed a dozen cases of Zika virus in the United States. Heres what you need to know. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) The recommendation is that people plan their pregnancies, that they avoid if at all possible to have babies this year, Espinoza said. This is the first time that we have suffered an attack of Zika virus, and the first attack is always the worst. A campaign to delay pregnancy would seem to be an implicit endorsement of birth control. For a region that is majority Roman Catholic, this presents a potential conflict, as the church has long condemned contraception. The Rev. Hector Figueroa, a priest in charge of health issues in the San Salvador archdiocese, said that the pregnancy alert appeared in the Salvadoran news media Friday morning and that the archbishop had not had time to formulate an official response. Morality says that people shouldnt have that control over procreation, Figueroa said. But the church also isnt going to say something that runs contrary to life and health. This is a very delicate issue, he said. As in other countries in the region, Salvadoran authorities have tried to slow the spread of Zika by launching fumigation programs in mosquito-breeding areas. Radio and television public-service campaigns have called on pregnant women to cover their skin to avoid bites. Outside the National Maternity Hospital in San Salvador, Selina Velasquez Cortez, a 30-year-old employee of a sardine factory who has been trying to get pregnant for two years, said there is no way she will stop trying now. After so much time wanting to be a mother, Im not going to give up now because of the deputy health ministers statement, she declared. I think its absurd. Most people who have contracted the illness experience no symptoms. But Dinora Martinez, a 46-year-old secretary at a private health clinic in San Salvador, said she, her husband and their two adult sons had suffered when they contracted the virus in 2015. Pain, fever, aching joints. I couldnt move my feet and thought Id never be able to walk again, she said. Her office has seen a rise in the number of Zika patients. The clinic has been full, she said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday added eight to a list of 14 countries and territories it has urged pregnant U.S. women to avoid because of the risk associated with Zika outbreaks. So far there is no vaccine for the virus. Zika is spread by two types of Aedes mosquitoes, which carry a clutch of fever-causing pathogens as they buzz in search of fresh blood. Besides the Zika virus, the mosquitoes transmit dengue, chikungunya and yellow fevers. An adult who contracts Zika might find the experience relatively mild: a slight fever, a rash, and pain in the joints and behind the eyes. But the real devastation apparently strikes the children born to women with the illness, who can have permanent physical and mental defects, according to research in Brazil linking a surge in the number of microcephaly cases to Zika. There is also growing concern that Zika virus could be linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can result in weeks of paralysis. In the city of Santa Marta on Colombias Caribbean coast, a nurse in the maternity ward at the Clinica La Milagrosa said that the news about Zika and possible birth defects has scared many people. At least 500 of Colombias reported Zika cases involve pregnant women, according to the Health Ministry. There are women coming in really worried, said the nurse, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. With everything thats on the news about malformations, mothers are scared. Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria has advised Colombians to delay pregnancy for the next six to eight months. So far, 106 babies have been born to Zika-infected mothers, and the infants are under observation to determine whether their development has been affected by the virus, the ministry said. Colombia expects as many as 700,000 infections in the general population. Gabriela Martinez in Mexico City, Julia Symmes-Cobb in Bogota, and Sarah Esther Maslin in San Salvador contributed to this report. Read more: Florida, Illinois officials report travel-related Zika virus cases Brazilians panic as mosquito-borne virus is linked to brain damage in babies This mother drank while pregnant. Heres what her daughters like at 43. Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Your visit includes two nights by the Arenal Volcano. (Photo: Thinkstock) The deal: A seven-night, self-guided driving tour of the rivers, volcanoes, and towns of Costa Rica, including airfare, hotels, SUV rentals, and all breakfasts, starting at $1,256 per person. Youll fly into San Jose and fly home from Liberia. When youll go: Dates are flexible. Why we love it: If you prefer to explore beautiful scenery at your own pace but with the help of an itinerary at a great price, this is the trip for you. Breakfasts are no meager bagels, either: youll get real, hearty traditional meals such as gallo pinto. What youll do there: After picking up your (manual-drive) SUV and map at the airport, your first night will be in Vara Blanca, where youll stay at the four-star Poas Volcano Lodge, which includes gorgeous views of the volcano its named after. Youll stay two nights near the Arenal Volcano, one of the worlds most active. Then youll head to the turquoise-colored Celeste River for one night, ending with three nights at Tamarindo Beach, with a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. How long does this deal last? Jan. 31 (subject to availability) View the deal This deal was provided by Travelzoo The High Court had earlier expunged the remarks by the Kozhikode sessions court that the attire of the survivor at the time of the alleged assault was sexually provocative. #S Korea-households Number of households in Seoul set to decline from 2030: Statistics Korea The number of households in the capital city of Seoul is expected to gradually decrease starting in 2030, data showed Thursday, as more people move to other areas in search of affo... #golf Ex-world No. 1 Park Sung-hyun slowly returning to form On the heels of a top-three finish at a domestic tournament earlier this month and a solid opening round at an LPGA stop on home soil Thursday, former world No. 1 Park Sung-hyun sa... Daniel Radcliffe's career post-Harry Potter has been pretty interesting, to say the least. Since the massive franchise came to a close in 2011, Radcliffe's starred in a number of arthouse films, including Kill Your Darlings where Radcliffe played the beat-poet Allen Ginsberg and the gothic horror Woman In Black. Radcliffe has increasingly tried himself out in more obscure, challenging roles - but his latest one is definitely his weirdest. Swiss Army Man opened at this year's Sundance Film Festival and the film itself has a stink about it already. Can't decide if SWISS ARMY MAN is completely trolling the audience. #sundance Richard Lawson (@rilaws) January 23, 2016 Written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the film concerns a man (Paul Dano) who discovers a corpse in the wilderness that farts. The corpse is played by Daniel Radcliffe. The directors are known for making odd choices with their projects, having directed the downright-insane music video for Lil Jon's Turn Down For What. In fact, they describe Swiss Army Man as "a fart drama." However, the experimental film hasn't gone down well and it's been reported the Sundance screening had a number of walk-outs during its first screening. As it stands, Swiss Army Man is currently sitting at a 5.6 rating on iMDB. It's unclear if Swiss Army Man will receive an Irish screening or release. 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 Emergence of American Political Issues its ability to mentally order and organize our world for us. In short, the mass media may not be successful in telling us what to think, but they are stunningly successful in telling us what to think about . to a considerable degree the art of politics in a democracy is the art of determining which issue dimensions are of major interest to the public or can be made salient in order to win public support . In(1977) McCombs and Shaw state that the most important effect of the mass media is ""[13] The presidential observer Theodore White corroborates this conclusion in The Making of a President (1972):The power of the press in America is a primordial one. It sets the agenda of public discussion; and this sweeping political power is unrestrained by any law. It determines what people will talk and think about - an authority that in other nations is reserved for tyrants, priests, parties and mandarins.[14]McCombs and Shaw also note that the media's tendency to structure voters' perceptions of political reality in effect constitutes a bias: ""[15] Join our efforts to get the IRS out of Israel, and other countries! Description Billy Bones is generally a Good Pirate! Youngsters of all ages have a little bit of pirate in them. Like pirates, kids naturally yearn for adventure, independence and self-actualization. They love discovery, carousing and challenging authority. It captivates childrens imaginations and, when presented in a nurturing, non-violent environment; its embraced by parents. This production was created by David Engel, a veteran family entertainer based in New York who has toured throughout the U.S, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Ages: 3 and up. Fee: $9 with museum admission ($7 LICM members), $12 theater only. CONTACT US: Interested on a high-quality scan of Quattro Libri dell'Architettura (The Four Books of Architecture, 16th Century)? DVD Digital Edition, 19,95 USD. Email me: facsimilium AT gmail DOT com (Adds details on Abengoa's Belo Monte transmission line project) By Luciano Costa SAO PAULO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's Mines and Energy Ministry said on Friday it held talks this month with various investors in the transmission line and wind sectors to feel out potential interest in taking over local projects abandoned by Spain's financially distressed Abengoa SA. The ministry told Reuters it had met with executives from local and international energy firms including Spain's Cymimasa and Elecnor, China State Grid and Brazil's Engevix and Alupar. It also met with wind investors from Italy's Enel Green Power and local firm Casa dos Ventos. The ministry said in an email that it was seeking investors to take over Abengoa's transmission line and wind farm projects in an effort to avoid delays in delivery of new energy supplies. Among other projects, Abengoa had been building an important transmission line that will link the massive 11,233 megawatt Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in the lower Amazon state of Para with the grid. Abengoa estimated that 1.5 gigawatts of wind generation capacity would be connected to transmission lines it was constructing. The Spanish company said in a statement it was in constant contact with local authorities to find a solution. The indebted Spanish renewable energy and engineering group Abengoa declared insolvency on Nov. 25 in Spain. (Writing by Reese Ewing; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Meredith Mazzilli) British Prime Minister David Cameron addresses the attendees during the session "Britain in the World" during the Annual Meeting 2016 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich By Elizabeth Piper and Martinne Geller DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron called on business on Thursday to speak out in favour of Britain staying in a reformed European Union, but warned those wanting a quick fix that he would settle only for the "right deal". Cameron, who was attending the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, hit back at criticism that his decision to call a referendum increased global uncertainty, saying he was a democrat who wanted to "confront this issue" once and for all. His appeal, though, was to a largely sympathetic, if small, audience, increasingly worried that a Brexit, or British exit, would further hurt their businesses and London's status as a financial centre at a time when the global economy is shaky. "I hope that business ... and other organisations won't hold back. I would say don't hold back right now, even though the question isn't settled," Cameron said, adding he hoped to achieve agreement with the European Union at a February summit. "If there's a good deal on the table I will take it and that's what will happen. But I do want to be very clear, if there isn't the right deal, I'm not in a hurry," he told a half-empty hall at the leading business conference. The referendum will not only shape Britain's role in world trade and affairs, but also the EU, which is struggling to maintain unity over migration and financial crises. Cameron described the referendum, which could be held as early as June if he wins a deal next month, as "a massively important generational question for Britain and for Europe". The prime minister met business leaders in Davos after being boosted by pledges from several banks to fund a campaign to keep Britain inside the European Union and by senior European leaders who said a Brexit would be a "tragedy" and "disaster". "We would all be worse off if you were to leave," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country holds the EU presidency for the first half of this year, told a British questioner. Story continues Paul Polman, the head of consumer goods company Unilever, likened a possible Brexit to a messy, costly and ultimately regrettable divorce. "I think the UK has to ask themselves some profound questions, even the people that emotionally would say right now I need a short term solution that I might run away from something," he told Reuters. "Its not necessarily the right long-term solution." BRITONS SPLIT But the British leader must still persuade Britons, who according to opinion polls are deeply split over EU membership. Although official campaigning on both sides of the debate will not begin until Cameron has finished negotiations with the bloc which he hopes will secure a better membership deal for Britain, the battle lines have already been drawn. And Cameron's courting of companies and pledges from banks to help fund those lobbying to stay in the EU were swiftly met by the 'out' campaign saying the donations were proof that the EU protects vested interests. Many British businessmen say the EU needs deeper reform to secure them the financial advantages they need. They want the single market in the digital and service industries to be developed and bureaucracy to be cut. "If Britain decides to stay in a reformed Europe at no stage will you hear me say that 'that is perfection, this organisation is now fixed'," Cameron told the audience. "There are many things that are imperfect about the European Union today and there'll be many things that will be imperfect about the European Union even after this negotiation." (additional reporting by Paul Taylor in Davos and Kylie MacLellan in London, editing by Anna Willard) By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The flood of class action litigation against Wall Street merger deals may be at a turning point after a top Delaware judge laid out new standards for settling such cases. Friday's ruling involves a class action lawsuit challenging the $3.5 billion takeover of Trulia Inc by Zillow Inc, two companies that offer online information to home buyers. In rejecting a proposed class settlement, Andrew Bouchard, the chancellor or chief judge of Delaware's Court of Chancery set a tough standard for approval of so-called "disclosure-only settlements" in his court. "Given the rapid proliferation and current ubiquity of deal litigation," wrote Bouchard, "the court's historical predisposition toward approving disclosure settlements needs to be reexamined." Most U.S. companies are incorporated in Delaware, and the bulk of the merger class actions are filed in the Court of Chancery. Merger class actions have flooded state courts over the last decade, becoming so common that business groups and academics have labeled them a "deal tax," driving up the cost mergers. Judges have noted real wrong-doing by directors and bankers may never be investigated in the rush to settle. Bouchard said the court will no longer approve a settlement that provides information, and no money, to shareholders unless the information meets the tough "clearly material" standard. The 2014 Trulia merger is typical of how the case and disclosure-only settlements work. Several shareholders filed class actions opposing the deal beginning in late September 2014 and settled less than two months later. The board of directors got a release that protects against future lawsuits and the shareholder attorneys sought a fee of up to $375,000. Trulia shareholders only got information, such as the methods used by bankers to value deal synergies, which Bouchard said was not material, or "even helpful." Shareholder attorneys have defended the cases, saying they ensure that minority shareholders are fairly treated. Several cases in recent years have fetched more than $100 million for investors. Story continues "Companies will face more injunctions if they don't disclose material information," said Juan Monteverde, a Faruqi & Faruqi attorney who represented Trulia investors, in an email. Sean Griffith, a Fordham Law School professor, filed an amicus brief in the Trulia case and has been a critic of the cases. "Because those settlements fuel the merger litigation frenzy, this may well be the beginning of the end of the deal tax as well," he said. Zillow, which acquired Trulia, declined to comment. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Noeleen Walder) donald trump Real-estate tycoon Donald Trump boasted during a Saturday campaign speech that he fully exploits the tax code to pay as little as possible to the government. "I mean, I pay as little as possible. I use every single thing in the book. And I have great people," the Republican presidential front-runner told supporters in Sioux Center, Iowa. He contrasted his approach to how former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) addressed the tax issue during the 2012 presidential race. Romney, who made millions in private equity, faced criticism during that race for supposedly paying a lower tax rate than members of the middle class. On Saturday, Trump mocked Romney for trying make it seem as if he paid more than he absolutely had to. "Remember Romney when he said, 'No, no. I paid. I paid.' He was trying to build it up: 'Oh yeah, I've paid,'" Trump said. In contrast, Trump said: "I pay as little as possible. It's an expense, right? That's the American way. I mean, do you want stupid people?" Trump brought up the tax issue after saying his administration would "rein in some of these hedge fund guys" and do away with the so-called carried interest loophole that benefits them. "Some of these Wall Street guys don't want to talk to me anymore. But we're taking away carried interest, which is a very big thing if you're a Wall Street hedge fund guy," Trump said. "What's going on on Wall Street is ridiculous," he added. "Who knows it better than me? Who knows the system, who knows the tax code better than me?" NOW WATCH: Shockingly common misconceptions about Islam More From Business Insider Getty Images. The election is likely to exacerbate the credit crunch hitting the oil industry, says longtime oil man Mark Harrington. Here's why. An oil-induced credit contagion is unfolding, and a recovery will be challenging, especially given that industry fundamentals and collateral integrity are already well below market expectations and it's an election year. Energy fundamentals have cratered faster than the market can keep up, but the reason is sometimes confusing and not well understood. For one thing, it's operating margins that set value. Price is only one component and it is still not accurately accounted for. Prices a producer receives in the field are well below WTI Nymex oil prices. On the cost side, direct lease operating expenses may be very significantly understated on the income statement, thus serving to increase reported net income and earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). What truly are ongoing expenses may not appear on the income statement, but rather in the statement of cash flows as they are classed as a maintenance capital expenditure under GAAP accounting rules. Combine that with a significantly overstated Financial Accounting Standards Board-mandated 2015 year-end price of $49 WTI for deeming "SEC reserve values" and the magnitude grows profoundly, and very quickly. Risk avoidance emerges from fundamentals such as these. Equally important, energy lenders' credits are deteriorating faster than expected. In fact, the ferocity of recent price declines and the potential magnitude of hard defaults are already unprecedented. Attempting to play catch up and accurately judge oil and gas reserve values is hard enough. But how about the magnitude of forthcoming charges to bank capital? Even more difficult. Compounding lending practices is questionable credit worthiness of counterparties in energy derivatives. We may be heading towards a conundrum similar to 2008 when investors ran to "A-rated" paper as a safe haven but after the fact discovered they were subprime credits. Make no mistake: Commercial banks and the Federal Reserve are deeply concerned with rapidly rising defaulted energy credits. No wonder, last week's disclosure of relatively small amounts of impaired loans by the major money center banks contributed to meaningful market declines. Story continues Will there be an attempt by bank regulators to "manage" the recognition of significant increases in loan charge-offs and the impact on bank's capital? In an election year you bet. And it is surprisingly easy to do. Here's how: Most loans to U.S. energy producers are in the form of "evergreen revolvers." Those loans are interest only for the first year, and perhaps thereafter if they are renewed. To renew a revolver, the collateral value of the borrower's underlying assets securing the loan must equal or exceed the year-earlier value, as measured by third party engineering reports. If so, the revolver may be extended for one additional year. Periodic "redeterminations" are based on prices only. These may be done in the interim, but typically no full-scale redo of the engineering is required. If the borrowing base is not renewed it converts to a term loan (typically four years) and the borrower now pays both interest and amortization. Any default on term loan payments triggers a virtually irreparable hard credit default, so many commercial bank revolvers remain in place when credit stats would not warrant. Postponing the conversion to term-out helps obviate a likely tidal wave of loan portfolio charge-offs. Several sources indicate that the Fed may "exempt" revolver credits from stress tests against a bank's capital base. That practice allows a continuance of a non-performing collateral-deficient revolver, which is not charged against bank capital as it is not yet a term loan. Here's how that happens: In an effort to defer the bank's problem, a regulator questions the senior credit officer as to why the loan has not yet been termed out. The credit officer tries to explain using reasons that may include: "The company is reducing general and administrative (overhead) costs and lowering lease-operating expenses to get back into compliance." "The company has a number of capital-expenditure projects on low-hanging fruit that will increase its collateral value." "They have been a long-term and highly regarded borrower of ours for years and they are working on a plan to increase collateral values" "The company has a series of assets on the block for sale that will generate cash to reduce our exposure and bring them into compliance." And, the last-resort explanation: "There is no question prices are going back up very soon as a result of lower producing supply, so let's give them a little time." In all those cases save the last in my opinion there may be some merit. Most importantly, though, they may be acceptable to a regulator (who may have been given an election-year imperative) to "cut the energy banks some slack it's a cyclical commodity." That said, the credit quality of the bank could, in the time the report is rendered, deteriorate significantly. Multiple forbearance agreements and credit amendments with the borrower may be executed over a period of several years, in a failed hope the borrower can cure its problems, or prices rebound. To that point, the continuing extensions, via amendments and forbearances, do not cure the hard defaults of shrinking economics, but only help postpone an unfavorable outcome past the election year. Result: Once more, overstated credit quality emerges as it did in 2008. Significantly though, it is due to the fundamentals of a global commodity's price set by others that we have no control over. That shock becomes very toxic, very quickly. What may lie ahead? We are now in uncharted waters for many reasons. Overstated values and credit collateral is one. The overstating of 2015 year-end 10K reserve values is obvious, given a $49 per barrel NYMEX WTI benchmark, and daily cash operating costs for the well (electric, chemicals, etc.) of $15 to $40 for each barrel produced, not including corporate overhead, interest costs, etc. Banks using escalated price decks and kicking the can further down the road to avoid more charge-offs is another contributor. But what about curing the underlying element of depressed prices? Not easy. First, many U.S. producers still believe in a "V" price recovery, triggered when domestic production decreases, so sub-economic production continues. Ironically, it is that very thinking that creates the protracting of the problem. Second, OPEC's price "hawks" produce every barrel they can to prop up their own economies. Not to do so imperils the host country's ruling parties. Case in point: With the lifting of sanctions, Iran is now gearing up its production and liquidating significant inventories. Third, the leading price "dove," Saudi Arabia, continues to increase both its production and its productive capacity. Yes, there is a booming market in rigs and drilling activity in the world, though certainly not here. Where? In Saudi Arabia and its fellow price doves such as Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Oman. In a scenario where, as a result of falling prices, Canada, the U.S and other non-OPEC production falls rapidly, these price dove countries want to preserve their ability to set the price as they always have, by raising production as needed to fill the gap. These fundamentals, when taken together, are setting the stage for a credit-contagion redux. And there's no clear way to arrest it: The Fed is out of bullets and an oil-industry bailout is highly unlikely. At the end of the day, the similarities to 2008 are profound. One must hope this full cycle scenario is being planned for and not being treated with the benign neglect endemic to an election year. The alternative would be potentially catastrophic. If there is a master plan at the Fed or Treasury, may we see it very soon please? The crisis of confidence has started and the elements propelling contagion numerous, profound and moving very quickly. Commentary by Mark G. Harrington, an oil-industry consultant who, over his 35-year career, has served as either founder, chairman or president of seven private and public oil and gas companies. At the previous 1986 industry nadir, he created Energy Vulture Funds and out of that grew two portfolio companies: HarCor in the United States and HCO Energy. From an incubation capital of $1.4 million, the group grew to $358 million when he liquidated it in 1997 along with the funds at a key oil market peak. He is currently organizing an event-driven fund to try to replicate his success in this cycle. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. More From CNBC From small solar power companies to regional hospitals in California, there's cautious preparation ahead of forecasts for El Nino-related weather this year, including heavy rain, mudslides and more. "So far it's not the worst weather I've seen," said Gary Gerber, president and chief executive of Sun Light & Power, a solar energy equipment supplier based in Berkeley. Given solar work often happens outside on roofs, stretches of nice weather are key to its business. "It feels like a normal, nondrought year," Gerber said. Across the bay in San Francisco, Julia Strzesieski works for Cole Hardware, which has been selling goods like tarps and modern sandbags in advance of severe weather. "We've been stocking up on supplies that people need for El Nino," she said. From the San Francisco Bay Area down into the Central Valley and Southern California, businesses are shoring up supplies and disaster relief plans in case a weather trend known as El Nino delivers a forecast punch. "A strong El Nino is expected to gradually weaken through spring 2016," according to an update released last week from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. For now, much of the weather news is focused on the U.S. East Coast. Forecasts are calling for a "potentially paralyzing storm" headed for that region this weekend. Read More NOAA explains what to expect from winter storm Across industries, California businesses are monitoring weather, rainfall, rising river levels and especially burned areas that are barren and susceptible to mudslides with excessive rainfall. "Where we have the biggest concern is the burn areas," said Cheri Hummel, vice president of emergency management and facilities for the California Hospital Association. The trade group represents about 400 hospitals in the state. And while regional hospitals have been preparing for El Nino for months, California often seems to have its share of natural disasters, including earthquakes, wildfires, floods and droughts. Disaster preparedness efforts for hospitals include ensuring emergency backup supplies of power, fuel and water. Story continues "A few months ago it was drought, and now we're preparing for El Nino," said Jan Emerson-Shea, a spokeswoman for the hospital association. "It's feast or famine." Down in the Central Valley, in the middle of California, farmers are also tidying agricultural properties in advance of severe weather. Farmers are doing things like ensuring drains and creeks are cleaned and open. Read More California farmers shore up for El Nino For agricultural regions, a big concern is four consecutive years of a drought that have created extremely parched land. When land is that dry, vast amounts of furious rainfall can only be absorbed at a certain pace with the remaining water leaving the land quickly susceptible to mudslides and cascading land. "The land has been so dry for so long, it's almost impermeable," said Mary Simms, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA. And like burned land, fallowed farm acres left to idle amid lack of water raises flash flooding concerns, Simms said. The California drought in 2015 alone was forecast to result in the fallowing of 542,000 irrigated acres, according to an update last year from the University of California at Davis. Nearly all of that fallowed land was in the Central Valley. Individual homeowners, of course, are also prepping for El Nino's reach. California residents bought 28,000 new National Flood Insurance Program policies in advance of El Nino's risk, according to FEMA data released earlier this month. The agency is working with 80 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to business owners, homeowners and renters. "The major increase in flood policies show Californians are taking the threat seriously," said Robert Fenton, a FEMA administrator, in prepared remarks. Read More California's El Nino floods keep roofers, insurers busy Meanwhile, scientists this week said 2015 was the warmest year in recorded history. And the strong El Nino has continued into 2016, raising the possibility that this year will also set a global temperature record. At least in California, all eyes now are on rainfall and El Nino's path. Back over in Berkeley, Gerber of Sun Light & Power is calm about the weather and getting on with the business of running his shop that has been operating for 40 years. The business opened in 1976, when the solar market was nascent. "What market? There was no solar market then," he recalled. But as always for a business that's based on working on roofs outside in a state like California, there's always weather in the peripheral vision. What Gerber doesn't welcome is massive, back-to-back rainfall. That's when work crawls and you can't catch a break. "But we're not experiencing that yet this year," he said. In San Francisco, hardware store employee Strzesieski works with store owner Rick Karp, who owns a total of five locations in the Bay Area. One of their best sellers has been "Quick Dams," a gel-based lightweight barrier that when exposed to rain expands and acts like a sand bag. "We've had those about a month and sold 200 already," she said. Read More How businesses are preparing for hurricane season More From CNBC Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), attends the session 'Where Is the Chinese Economy Heading?' of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich By Michel Rose and Andrew Callus PARIS/DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Christine Lagarde launched her campaign for a second term as managing director of the International Monetary Fund on Friday with ringing endorsements from a host of major economies that looked past a court case against her in her native France. The former French finance minister who trained as a lawyer has no obvious challengers and has long been open to serving another five-year term. Britain and France backed her publicly on Thursday. Others, including Germany, joined in after her announcement. "I am candidate for a new mandate. I was honoured to receive from the start of the process the backing of France, Britain, Germany, China, Korea," Lagarde, 60, told France 2 television in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew stopped short of a formal endorsement, but appeared to suggest Washington wanted her to stay in the role. "I have a very close working relationship with Christine Lagarde," Lew said. "I have the highest regard for her. I think she's done a great job. I look forward to continuing working with her." The early endorsements from such powerful economies may act as a disincentive for others to apply and mute any talk of her legal difficulties disqualifying her. Lagarde has been dogged off-and-on since her initial appointment in 2011 for her role in a long-running business scandal while she was France's finance minister. Last month, a French judge ordered her to face trial for negligence in a special ministerial court over the 2008 payout of some 400 million euros ($430 million) to businessman Bernard Tapie. Tapie himself was ordered last year to repay the money, which he received as state compensation for a business transaction in which he later claimed he had been defrauded. Lagarde has said she will appeal the judge's order and repeated on Friday that she had acted within the law. EUROPEAN MONOPOLY Aside for the legal problems, her candidacy is likely to raise questions among some emerging countries about whether a European should still lead the Washington-based institution. Story continues Although there is no formal requirement that the leader of the IMF come from Europe, it has been the practice ever since the institution was set up after World War Two, while the World Bank has always been led by an American. French candidates in particular have held the post for almost 40 of the last 70 years. Lagarde's predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Khan, was forced to resign over a sex scandal in 2011. The IMF's first deputy managing director David Lipton told the BBC last year that the next appointment could come from a non-European country and would be "strictly merit-based". But Lagarde was praised for winning U.S. Congress approval of a landmark reform program that shifted more voting power to China and other key emerging market countries and has generally been considered a skillful, charming negotiator. Some emerging countries were quick to offer their support. "I think she has done well in restoring confidence in the leadership after the scandal that plagued the institution," Philippines finance minister Cesar Purisima told Reuters. "She is also quite vocal in talking about issues that face the world vocal but not threatening, which is a very good way to engage countries." During her tenure, Lagarde also had to deal with the most acute bout of the euro zone debt crisis in tandem with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, head of the currency bloc's biggest economy. "I think she has been a very substantial force in avoiding big, big, big damages during the euro crisis," Andrea Illy, CEO of Italian coffee company Illycaffe told Reuters. "The two women, Lagarde and Merkel, they did a good job together." Dutch finance minister and head of euro zone finance ministers Jeroen Dijsselbloem seemed to sum up the mood in Europe: "Great. Let's get that done," he told Reuters TV. A synchronised swimmer in her youth, Lagarde, the first woman to hold the IMF post, once said in an interview it was that sport which taught her the maxim "grit your teeth and smile" in the man's world she moves in. She joined the international law firm Baker & McKenzie in Paris aged 25 after completing a master's degree in English and labour law, and quickly rose to the top of the Chicago-based firm before entering politics. As finance minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, she attracted criticism early in her tenure by suggesting that the French had become work-shy and that navel-gazing hindered reform. Born in Paris and raised in the northern port city of Le Havre, Lagarde is a vocal proponent of women as senior executives, once noting dryly that if Lehman Brothers had been Lehman Sisters, it might have survived. Lagarde's first term ends on July 4 and the IMF has said it wants to wrap up the selection process by March 3. (Additional reporting by Michel Rose in Paris, Paul Carrel in Berlin, Axel Threlfall, Ben Hirschler, Paul Taylor and Martinne Geller in Davos; Editing by Geert De Clercq/Jeremy Gaunt) NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - January 22, 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 March 7, 2016 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against KLX Inc. (KLXI), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 9, 2015 and November 11, 2015, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. What You May Do If you purchased shares of KLX 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 March 7, 2016. About the Lawsuit KLX and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On November 12, 2015, KLX disclosed that it would be forced to recognize an impairment charge of approximately $435 million related to its Energy Services Group. On this new, the price of KLX's shares plummeted by 16%. 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. WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Michigan legislators need to pass legislation quickly to overhaul Detroit's beleaguered public schools before courts intervene, the state's governor said on Friday. Republican Rick Snyder said he is still pushing a plan for the school system that he offered last year that he said would provide $700 million to deal with the schools' massive debt and make other investments. "I need legislative support," he told MSNBC in an interview. "I've asked the legislature to do that and I want to get that done before we have court intervention in the situation." Snyder spokesman Dave Murray said municipal bankruptcy is not an option the state wants for the Detroit Public Schools, although Snyder would have the ultimate say on whether the district could head to federal bankruptcy court. Snyder's plea for action comes after teachers' protests closed nearly all Detroit schools this week. All but nine of the district's 97 schools closed because of the teachers' sickout on Wednesday over complaints about low pay and crumbling infrastructure. Detroit's schools, like the city, have suffered from financial hardship that has shaken the region in recent years. The schools now are run under state oversight. Declining enrollment as well as heavy pension and debt obligations have left the district strapped for cash and it could run out of money as soon as April. Bills were introduced earlier this month in the Michigan legislature to create two entities - the Detroit Community District to run the schools, and the current Detroit Public Schools to retire debt. The school system faces an estimated $3.5 billion in debt, according to one report from a nonprofit public affairs group, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Karen Pierog in Chicago; Editing by Bill Trott) VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 22, 2016) - Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. ("Peregrine" or "the Company") (PGD.TO) is pleased to report that it has settled its litigation with BHP Billiton Canada Inc ("BHPB") relating to the Chidliak Royalty. The dispute arose in May, 2015 in regards to BHPB's transfer of the Chidliak Royalty to South32 Limited. By a royalty agreement, dated February 2, 2012, ("Royalty Agreement") Peregrine had granted BHPB a 2% Gross Over Riding Royalty on future mineral production, including diamond production, from its 100% owned Chidliak project. In consideration of Peregrine terminating its legal action against BHPB and a cash payment of $125,000, BHPB has agreed to terminate the Royalty Agreement and thereby cancel the Chidliak Royalty. Mr. Eric Friedland, Peregrine's Executive Chairman said, "The termination of the Chidliak Royalty is a very good outcome for Peregrine's shareholders and the Chidliak project. The project is now completely unencumbered, and the removal of this significant charge will have a substantial positive impact on any future diamond production at Chidliak. On behalf of the board and shareholders, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tom Peregoodoff, Peregrine's President and CEO, for his diligence in determining the issues related to the Chidliak Royalty, managing the subsequent litigation and reaching a successful outcome." PEREGRINE DIAMONDS RIGHTS OFFERING Peregrine Diamonds wishes to remind right holders of the upcoming expiry of the Company's rights that were issued in accordance with the offering announced on November 19, 2015. Rights expire at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on January 26, 2016. For further information regarding exercising of rights please contact your financial advisor or broker. ABOUT PEREGRINE DIAMONDS Peregrine Diamonds is a TSX listed diamond exploration and development company with assets located in northern Canada and Botswana. Story continues The Company's core asset is its 100 percent-owned Chidliak project, located 120 kilometres from Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut. An Inferred Mineral Resource of 8.57 million carats in 3.32 million tonnes of kimberlite at a grade of 2.58 carats per tonne has been defined for a portion of the CH-6 kimberlite. An independent diamond valuation by WWW International Diamond Consultants, of a 1,013 carat parcel of diamonds from CH-6 returned an average market price of US$213 per carat. A Target for Further Exploration ("TFFE") of 3.72 to 6.01 million tonnes to a depth of 290 metres has been defined at the CH-7 kimberlite, where a 2015 bulk sample returned a grade of 0.88 carats per tonne. A TFFE of 1.27 to 3.19 million tonnes to 250 metres depth has also been defined at the CH-44 kimberlite pipe. The TFFEs identified above are conceptual in nature and are not Mineral Resources. It is uncertain whether further exploration will result in any of these tonnages being delineated as Mineral Resources. In addition, Peregrine now controls eight prospective diamond prospecting licenses in Botswana that cover 574,600 hectares. The Company is actively exploration these licences. Peregrine Exploration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Peregrine Diamonds holds the 8,493 hectare Lac de Gras project in the Northwest Territories, located approximately 27 kilometres from the Diavik Diamond Mine. The nine hectare 72.1%-owned DO-27 kimberlite, located at Lac de Gras, hosts an Indicated Mineral Resource of 18.2 million carats of diamonds in 19.5 million tonnes of kimberlite at a grade of 0.94 carats per tonne and it is open at depth. Peregrine Exploration is also active in developing new diamond exploration plays in North America. For information on see the technical reports, "2015 Technical Report for the Chidliak Project, " dated February 23, 2015, and "Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. Lac de Gras Project Northwest Territories, Canada " dated July 15, 2014, both of which are available on SEDAR and the Company's website. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, statements relating to proposed exploration and development programs, funding availability, anticipated exploration results, grade of diamonds and tonnage of material, resource estimates, anticipated diamond valuations and future exploration and operating plans are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions by the Company and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of diamonds, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: receipt of regulatory approvals; anticipated timelines for community consultations and the impact of those consultations on the regulatory approval process; market prices for rough diamonds and the potential impact on the Chidliak Project; and future exploration plans and objectives. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. michael bloomberg Donald Trump could have a billionaire rival on his hands in the presidential election former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg is newly considering a third-party bid and has asked his advisers to come up with a plan for what a theoretical campaign would look like, The New York Times reported on Saturday. He has considered running in the past, but didn't think he could win. But now, "a confluence of unlikely events in the 2016 election ... has given new impetus to his presidential aspirations," according to The Times' Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns. The "unlikely events" are the rise of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, and of the fellow New York City billionaire Trump, the Republican front-runner. The 73-year-old Bloomberg has reportedly said that he would be willing to spend $1 billion of his own money on a run for the White House, according to The Times. Bloomberg will reportedly decide on whether to go ahead with a campaign by early March. Any later entry might make it impossible for him to get on the ballot as an independent candidate in all 50 states. A source familiar with Bloomberg's thinking told Business Insider in October that Bloomberg might run if he "sees a highly flawed field of candidates emerge." The sources said that if Trump looks set to take the Republican nomination and Sanders is primed to win the Democratic nomination, then Bloomberg would run. The Times added Saturday that Bloomberg would be likely to run in the event that Cruz wins the GOP nomination. Bloomberg, a Democrat turned Republican turned independent, would likely try to carve a path up the middle to counter Trump's popularity with the far right and Sanders' with the far left. The Times further elaborated on Bloomberg's plan for a run: "Bloombergs aides have sketched out one version of a campaign plan that would have the former mayor, a low-key and cerebral personality, deliver a series of detailed policy speeches, backed by an intense television advertising campaign that would introduce him to voters around the country as a technocratic problem-solver and self-made businessman who understands the economy and who built a bipartisan administration in New York." Story continues This could serve as a moderate foil to Trump he has also crafted an image as a businessman and problem-solver, but with bombastic rhetoric and a bigger focus on sound bites than on detailed policy plans. Bloomberg reportedly hired a consultant to advise him on getting on the ballot in every state, asked aides to study past third-party bids, and commissioned polls to gauge whether he could beat the other candidates in the race. The Times noted that no independent candidate has ever won the US presidency and that his "close Wall Street ties and liberal social views, including his strong support for abortion rights and gun control, could repel voters on the left and right." Still, Bloomberg might be able to win support from establishment Democrats. Edward Rendell, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told The Times that if Sanders wins the Democratic nomination, he might throw his support behind Bloomberg. "As a lifelong Democrat, as a former party chairman, it would be very hard for me to do that," Rendell told the Times. "But I would certainly take a look at it absolutely." Sanders is currently leading by a huge margin in New Hampshire, the first primary state, and the first-caucus state of Iowa is a dead heat. Polling on Bloombergs potential effect on the race has been sparse, but a recent Morning Consult poll showed that Bloomberg would take more votes from Clinton than from Trump and would net 13% of the support, most of it coming from independents. Jay Yarow contributed to this report. NOW WATCH: Watch out Hillary Clinton new polls show Bernie Sanders is leading in New Hampshire and Iowa More From Business Insider Iran's Sanctions Lifted, Saudi Arabia May Not Cut Production (Continued from Prior Part) Saudi Arabia and growth of shale technology The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, is engaged in a price war with US (SPY) shale oil producers. The concern of the kingdom is the rapid growth of the market share of shale oil producers in the US market. The recent price war has put these shale producers in financial distress, but Saudi Arabia hasnt successfully wiped them out from the market. As the kingdoms economy is highly dependent on crude oil, It cant afford to lose market share to US shale oil producers. Any production cut from Saudi Arabia is a direct advantage for those producers, both in terms of market share and crude price. Shale is abundantly available on the planet. If the technology advances, then other markets like Asia and Europe may reduce their dependence on crude oil imports. Though extracting oil can be costlier from shale as compared to importing it, it gives a strategic advantage to the different net importer of crude oil. Also, the growth of renewable energy signals lesser demand of crude oil in the future. As it may reduce the use of oil, the kingdom cant keep high crude oil reserves in the future. Iran worries Saudi Arabia Iran is planning to raise its crude oil export to one million barrels per day as the sanctions are already lifted. A few months ago, Iran had hosted a conference where companies like Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), Total (TOT), and Lukoil (LUKOY) showed an interest in investing in the country. The graph above shows the performance of the US-based upstream benchmark SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) on a month-to-date basis. In the next part, well analyze the cost of production and crude oil reserves of different oil producing countries. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Temporary changes in consumer behavior following the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris had a big negative impact on Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)' business, according to the company. In its earnings report for the prior quarter, the coffee behemoth reported that in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, revenues dropped by 6 percent from the same quarter in the year prior. Same-store sales in the region increased, but by just 1 percent, widely missing analysts' expectations. In the earnings report itself, Starbucks wrote that the revenue decrease "was primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency translation and the shift in the portfolio toward more licensed stores." But in later commentary, the company offered an additional explanation for the weak numbers. "EMEA's performance was particularly strong given the impact of foreign exchange and challenges to topline growth following the tragic terror attacks in Paris," chief financial officer Scott Maw said in introductory comments on the company's Tuesday evening earnings call. When an analyst asked for more details, Maw added: "October looked like a really good month to us, and it looked like we were right on track to what we expected for the year. And then after what happened in Paris, we've seen some softening, and now it's coming back." In an interview Friday on CNBC, CEO Howard Schultz amped up the drama: "We were on track to have a record quarter in Europe, and that unfortunately came to a screeching halt as a result of the act of terror in Paris." Read More Starbucks' Schultz: We're no longer just a morning business While some might view the newsy explanation for European softness as a convenient excuse, analysts say it appears legitimate. "It's not like them to be evasive," Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan told CNBC. "I think the probability of them trying to use this as an excuse is very unlikely." Story continues For his part, Setyan says a check of the numbers suggests that the Paris terror attacks hurt EMEA comparable sales to about 2 percent, if not more. Further, Starbucks' ability to draw this conclusion actually points to some underlying strengths in the company's business, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Nicole Miller Regan. "It's one of the few companies that have the best systems to parse out what that impact is," Regan said. "Not everyone could walk away and say if they were impacted, and if it was material enough to call out or not. At least they know, which shows a layer of technology savvy and transparency." Nonetheless, investors probably shouldn't be surprised to hear more and more companies that operate in Western Europe bring this same thing up as earnings season progresses. "I spoke to almost every other retailer who's doing business in France and in the [Middle East and Africa], and we all had a similar situation," Schultz said Friday. Indeed, "Howard's take on the impact of the terror attacks is generally consistent with what we've heard from other retailers in recent weeks," said Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy. Some more light may be shed on the business impact of the Paris terror attack when McDonald's reports results on Monday. Then again, this is the type of story that could take on exaggerated attention. Said Regan: The question is being asked "by the media more than anybody." More From CNBC world economic forum davos For the past few years, the conversation that the world's rich and powerful have been having about China at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has sounded like this: BULLS: China is going to be a world power, surpassing the US, and one with the power to cleanly vault over the challenges posed by a modernizing economy with a management capability and store of cash reserves to weather a storm. BEARS: China will suffer terrible shocks to its economy in order to manage a transition from a system based on investment to one based on consumption. It seems, though, that in 2016 that conversation has shifted to something more specific. World leaders speaking candidly about China's progress no longer speak in generalities. Now they point to specific, crucial issues that need to be handled as soon as possible. Some don't see them being handled at all. And there are some who think it's too late. Handle it This isn't to say that there aren't China bulls in Davos. It's just that across the board, money managers and political leaders can point to China as a point of consternation and confusion. They can point to when that all started too. "Since August, weve seen some very large inconsistency out of the Chinese leadership," said Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, in an interview with Bloomberg Television. larry fink "China is a really important economy, its very important for the emerging world and that uncertainty from China, that lack of a cohesive message really has become very unsettled. And for me, that probably was the most unsettled component of why we had this huge capitulation." In August, China which had already experienced two stock market crashes in short order devalued its currency. Around the world outsiders were confused. The government had said that it was committed to keeping a stable currency and stable markets. After that devaluation, though, the yuan held stead until December. Then it started to slide, compounding the fears of those worried about other indicators flashing red. Story continues "I think the Chinese situation with the currency is very important. Very important. If there is significant currency weakness for the yuan that will mean more imported deflation and it will make things more difficult," said Ray Dalio, founder of massive investment fund Bridgewater Associates. China's continued intervention in its stock market and financial sector in general is giving the world's elite pause as well. "There have been signs that China wants to have an open, free economy, an open, free marketplace, but in certain situations the Chinese have intervened into their market, making it less than a free and open market," said Goldman Sachs' COO Gary Cohn during the conference. christine lagarde, gary cohn, jiang jiamin, Fang Xingha, davos How is it being handled? Where Cohn sees mixed messages some see no messages at all. The yuan's continued slide into 2016 has roiled markets, and left leaders with unanswered questions. "There is a communication issue," said Christine Lagarde, managing director at the International Monetary Fund, who was also on Cohn's panel. "Better and more communication would certainly serve that transition better." Because of that lack of transparency, it's hard to tell exactly why and what the Chinese are doing. To recap, China faces a falling currency that it is spending billions to keep stable, and massive companies in sectors that used to drive growth getting swallowed by debt and buried by overcapacity. The Chinese government has said it has plans to combat these problems, but the plans are yet to be made public. Measures to keep money flowing through the economy aren't having the same effect as they used to. Credit growth, for example, is yielding less than half of what it did back in 2011 $0.27 for every dollar pumped in. So leaders have a right to wonder, is the government having success in restructuring state-owned enterprises? Is it planning on allowing the yuan to fall more, risking competitive devaluations and more global stock market turmoil? "I think that if they stick to the reform program that theyve announced, they can have a soft landing and level off at a rate of growth that is sustainable," Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said in an interview with CNBC. "If they dont they have bigger problems than weve seen in the indicators. I think theyve announced the policies that they know they need. Now the question is, can they implement them? ... They have not been entirely clear in their movements how theyre behaving and it creates confusion." Can it even be handled? George Soros George Soros, the billionaire investing living legend, is not confused. "It's serious," he said in Davos. "And the Chinese left it too long to address the changeover in the growth model that they have to adopt from investment and export-led to domestic-led. So a hard landing is practically unavoidable," he said during separate Bloomberg event in Davos. Soros is in the camp of people who think it's too late for China to avoid a period of intense pain. The state-owned enterprises are too heavily indebted. The world is slowing down and the demand for Chinese goods isn't what it used to be. And of course there's the falling yuan. Over and over again, conference attendees point to it as a source of major consternation. "There is a huge financial problem and economic problem that its not easy for them to solve. Theyve been talking about liberalizing their capital account for a long time. At the same time, they do not want a massive depreciation of their currency, they want a nice gradual one. That may be impossible with massive capital outflows that have been in recent months," said economist and historian Niall Ferguson. "I think one of the big questions here, to which nobody really knows the answer is, is it going to give? Is there going to be a big slide in the renminbi in the coming months? That would be a huge blow to other emerging markets and to the world economy as a whole." It would also be a money suck for China. Yes, the country has implemented capital controls, but as long as market forces compel yuan holders to sell, they'll find ways to get around them and the currency will be expensive to defend. That complicates this entire picture one that looks murkier to the world's elite than it ever has before. NOW WATCH: 7 inventors who were killed by their own inventions More From Business Insider Pedestrians walk past a logo of Toshiba Corp outside an electronics retailer in Tokyo September 14, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Toshiba Corp plans to sell part of its chip business as it aims to recover from a $1.3 billion accounting scandal, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. The electronics conglomerate has started accepting bids, with early interest shown by the Development Bank of Japan Inc, said the sources, who declined to be identified because they are not authorized to talk to the media. The state-owned bank has already invested in Seiko Holdings Corp's semiconductor operations. The sale would exclude Toshiba's mainstay NAND flash memory operations, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter and one person familiar with the discussions. On the block are businesses that handle system LSI and discrete chips, which are widely used in cars, home appliances and industrial machinery. The loss-making operations posted sales of 330 billion yen ($2.78 billion) in the year ended March 2015. A Toshiba spokesman told Reuters the company hasn't made a decision yet on the sale of its chip operations, while a spokeswoman at the Development Bank of Japan declined to comment. Following the accounting scandal, Toshiba has been focusing on nuclear and other energy operations, as well as its storage business, which centers on NAND flash memory chips used in smart phones. The Tokyo-based company, which is selling off non-core chip operations, plans to invest heavily in its flash memory production capacity in Japan to better compete with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. (Reporting by Kentaro Hamada, Makiko Yamazaki, Taiga Uranaka; Writing by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) Detail view of a Volkswagen logo at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, January 12, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Blinch FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Many of Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) managers and staff dealing with emissions problems in the engine-development department knew about test "defeat devices" being developed, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said on Friday, citing results from VW's internal investigation. A whistleblower, who was himself involved in the deception, alerted a senior manager outside the department in 2011 who did not react, said the newspaper, which researched the matter together with regional broadcasters NDR and WDR. A Volkswagen spokesman declined to comment on what he called "speculation", saying the investigation was continuing. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung said a culture of secrecy prevailed within the department, where a large group of employees discussed installing the "defeat" software designed to cheat diesel-emissions tests as long ago as 2006. Volkswagen has said that to the best of its knowledge only a small circle of people knew about the manipulation, which was admittted to by Europe's biggest carmaker to the U.S. environmental authorities in September last year. The admission led to the resignation of Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn and is expected to cost Volkswagen billions of dollars in recall and compensation costs, legal fines and settlements. (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan, Jan Schwartz and Edward Taylor; Editing by Greg Mahlich) ted cruz Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is ramping up his attacks on Donald Trump as the February 1 Iowa caucus approaches. On Monday evening The New York Times reported that Cruz had launched his first attack on Trump unprompted at a campaign event. Many of the barbs reported by The Times were echoed by Cruz's Monday appearance on "The Kuhner Report," a Boston-based talk-radio show. There, Cruz launched a variety of criticism against the Republican presidential front-runner. In 16 minutes of that radio interview, Cruz hit Trump for bragging about his dealmaking ability, for expressing support for the bank bailout, for praising President Barack Obama's stimulus package, for once supporting universal healthcare, for giving money to Democrats, for not speaking out when Congress was debating comprehensive immigration reform, for contributing to the Clinton Foundation, for supposedly flip-flopping too recently on the issues, and for once touting socially liberal views, among other things. "Donald seems very rattled right now," Cruz said. "He has been launching an awful lot of attacks in the last couple of days. And it seems every time his poll numbers go down, he gets angrier and angrier. And he lashes out." Trump has dominated the recent polls of the Republican primary in nearly every state, but in recent weeks Cruz has surged in Iowa to roughly tie the real-estate mogul there among likely caucusgoers. And indeed, Trump has aggressively lashed out at Cruz on a host of issues after a long detente between them. "Ted Cruz is falling in the polls. He is nervous. People are worried about his place of birth and his failure to report his loans from banks!" Trump exclaimed Monday on Twitter. "Wow, new polls just out have Trump up and Cruz down he is a nervous wreck!" he added Tuesday morning. donald trump liberty university Trump has repeatedly and constantly questioned Cruz's eligibility to be president because the Constitution has a "natural-born" citizen requirement, and Cruz was born in Canada. Most legal scholars believe Cruz meets that test because his mother was a US citizen at the time of his birth. But Trump doesn't seem so sure. Story continues "I don't think Ted Cruz can even run for president until he can assure Republican voters that being born in Canada is not a problem. Doubt!" Trump said on Monday. The billionaire businessman has also repeatedly attacked Cruz for not properly reporting two bank loans that were used to finance his 2012 Senate campaign. Cruz has dismissed the issue, first reported last week by The New York Times, as a "paperwork error." "It is a ridiculous charge," Cruz said Monday on the radio show. "I don't come from wealth," he added as he explained why he needed the loans. "Unlike Donald, I didn't inherit millions of dollars. Instead, my dad came as an immigrant from Cuba with nothing, with $100 in his underwear." Cruz further said it was hypocritical for Trump to criticize him for being too close to the big banks. Cruz pointed out that Trump once expressed support for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the bank bailout opposed by many conservative activists. According to PolitiFact, Trump also doubted whether it would work. "It is more than a little rich for Mr. Trump to make that accusation," Cruz said. "You want to assess who stands with Wall Street? Then look at the actual records of the candidates." Cruz also pointed to Trump's once expressing support for Obama's economic stimulus package and for once backing the concept of universal healthcare. Trump is now one of Obamacare's biggest critics. "Now that is very much a record of standing with Wall Street and the giant banks," Cruz said. "My record is exactly the opposite: We should have no bailouts, ever. Period. The end." Ted Cruz Donald Trump Trump also raised a new issue against Cruz over the weekend. Trump called Cruz a "very nasty guy" whom nobody could work with in Washington. Cruz tried to flip that charge against Trump. "If you think the problem with Republicans is they haven't made enough deals they haven't been willing to get along with Democrats enough, and give in to Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi enough then maybe his critique has some force," Cruz said Monday on "The Kuhner Report," referring to the US senator from New York and the House minority leader. He later added: "If you want yet another Republican to cozy up to Chuck Schumer by the way, he's written checks to Chuck Schumer, I never have then you ought to be backing him. But if you think we need Republicans who are willing to stand up to Washington, then this decision becomes far, far easier." Cruz's campaign has also done its best to promote a 1999 "Meet the Press" interview in which Trump said his New York background comported with socially liberal views. Trump notes on the campaign trail that former President Ronald Reagan was also once a Democrat. "He explained that on abortion, he is very, very pro-choice," Cruz recalled Monday. "And indeed that he supports partial-birth abortion. He also said that he was open to gay marriage. And his explanation to both of those: He said, 'I'm a New Yorker.'" Despite all this, Cruz stressed that he didn't want to get into a "food fight" with Trump and that he wouldn't be "responding in kind" to Trump's insults. Listen to Cruz rip into Trump below: NOW WATCH: Cruz: The birther argument would make Trump ineligible to run for President More From Business Insider 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. An area archive which houses a large assortment of Danish documents and photographs is helping to bring an international bestselling author to Nebraska. The Danish American Archive and Library in Blair is co-sponsoring an event featuring Sara Blaedel of Copenhagen, author of the No. 1 international bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Blaedel will speak at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the University of Nebraska at Omahas Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library. The public is invited to the free event. Those who attend can learn more about Blaedel, author of nine bestselling crime fiction novels published in 23 countries and translated into more than 13 languages. In 2014, Blaedel was voted Denmarks most popular novelist for the fourth time in 2014. Her latest crime fiction novel, The Killing Forest, includes details of ancient Nordic religions. In the book, readers take a journey with the detective as she reconnects with a longtime close friend and navigates a small towns network of deadly connections. Blaedel is a former journalist and books-in-translation publisher. She is visiting Omaha on her United States tour of The Killing Forest. Blaedels talk is co-sponsored by the Danish American Archive & Library, which collaborates with UNO on different projects. The first collaboration in 2011 was a large photo exhibit called, Danish Children Growing Up American, said Sandra Wigdahl, archive board member. Wigdahl said the Danish archive originally was formed at Dana College in Blair. After the college closed in July 2010, thousands of documents and books were transferred to a building at 1738 Washington St., in Blair. The books include anything pertaining to Danes or Danish Americans, Wigdahl said. Different than a museum, the archive has a collection of documents such as letters, postcards, diaries, business and medical records anything thats paper. It portrays the lives of these Danish American immigrants and it shows how they lived day to day, Wigdahl said. The documents range in date from the mid to late 1800s to the present day. Were still collecting documents to this day, Wigdahl said. Books include Danish bibles from 1500s. Recently, the archive received a large collection from the estate of the late operatic tenor Lauritz Melchior. The Danish and later American opera singer appeared in movie musicals, radio and television and made many recordings. Dana College formerly displayed Melchoir memorabilia. Area residents are encouraged to attend Blaedels talk in February. Parking is free on the UNO campus on Saturdays. Light refreshments will be served at the event. Delmer L. Rice, 91, of Fremont died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, at his home. Delmer was born Nov. 13, 1924, in Royal and grew up in the Clearwater area. His parents were Alva and Selma (Rabbas) Rice. Following high school, he served in the United States Navy from May of 1943 to July of 1946. On his return to civilian life he went to work for the Burlington Railroad as a telegrapher. Later, he worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad as a fireman, then became an engineer for the Chicago Northwestern and Union Pacific Railroads. He retired in 1987. Delmer was also an antique dealer, and had a shop in Fremont beginning in the mid-1960s. On Oct. 11, 1947, Delmer was married to Dorothy Bennett, and she preceded him in death in September of 1986. Also preceding him was a grandchild and five brothers and a sister. Delmer was a member of the Fremont Eagles Aerie 200, and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 854 of Fremont. Survivors include: three sons, Delmer Rice of Lincoln, Dennis (and wife, Nancy) Rice of Fort Worth, Texas, and Douglas (and wife, Barbara) Rice of Fremont; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont. The Fremont Honor Guard will present the U.S. flag. An online guestbook may be signed at www.ludvigsenmortuary.com. Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg encourages seventh- and eighth-graders to enter the 14th annual Why I Want to Go to College writing contest for a chance to win a Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) scholarship and a ticket to the May 1 Storm Chasers game at Werner Park in Papillion. The annual writing contest is sponsored by the Nebraska State Treasurers Office and the Omaha Storm Chasers. Three winners will be chosen in each of Nebraskas three U.S. Congressional districts, and three winners will be selected from outside Nebraska. First-place winners will each receive a $2,000 contribution to a NEST college savings plan. Second-place winners will each receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST plan, and third-place winners will each receive a $500 contribution to a NEST plan. Nebraska winners and their families will receive tickets to the May 1 game. Entries are due March 18. Contest rules are available at https://treasurer.nebraska.gov/csp/scholarships/essay/college/2016/contest-announcement. A Native Texan reflects on being a Husband, Father and Lead Pastor of a church planted in the heart of the Cultural District of Fort Worth. Games-for-health startup Akili has secured a $30.5 million investment for the development of apps to treat ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, depression, Alzheimer's, and trauamtic brain injury. The company calls its games "digital medicine" and will use the money to fund further development of its apps and seek potential approval from the U.S.' Food and Drug Administration with a view toward a 2017 launch of its "digital medicine platform." The company has partnered with drug company Pfizer on its Alzheimer's app. "Particularly in pediatric populations, we see a significant demand for non-pharmacological options," said co-founder and CEO Eddie Martucci, in a statement. Its ADHD game, Project: EVO, is the furthest along. "The qualities of a good video game, things that hook you... could be a perfect vessel for actually delivering medicine," Akili's executive creative director Matt Omernick told NPR last year. The space has pitfalls, though: after Stanford neuroscientists raised $32.5 million for their startup Lumosity, the company ended up being fined $2 million by the Federal Trade Commission because its brain-games were judged to not live up to the advertisements. Akili will be under more scrutiny at the get-go, as it positions its games as "digital medicine" and seeks FDA approval to distribute them in a therapeutical context. Lumosity's games are widely available on major mobile app stores. These notes are for my Religion Class members & friends. I will post my teaching notes. Classes begin Wed. Sept. 2, 2015 at noon at the Layton East Stake Center on the corner of Gordon and Emerald in Layton and Thurs. Sept. 3 at 6:30 pm at the Wells Ward Chapel 1990 S. 500 E. Salt Lake City We will be studying The New Testament Acts to Revelation with emphasis on the Book of Revelation. There will be no charge nor registration. With the November rut long past, Iowa white-tails have no further need of their magnificent antlers. So what do deer do with something they dont need anymore? The same thing we do: They throw it away. Bucks annually accomplish this task through an involuntary process called shedding. Sudden spikes in stress levels may hasten the event. A scarcity of food or arrival of extreme cold may cause a buck to suddenly lose his head -- or at least a part of it. During the past week, an increasing number of shed bucks or deer sporting a single antler are being seen across the state. For human enthusiasts, its a "call to arms" as shed hunters take to forested ridge tops and timbered river bottoms in search of discarded treasure. Shed hunting has become an increasingly popular and competitive sport in Iowa during recent years. Some antler addicts have even began scheduling vacation days around shed hunting while others keep and train antler-hunting Labrador retrievers which are bred, in part, for this highly specialized task. But antler enthusiasts had better be quick. There are other hunters searching the local woodlands, and they dont all travel on two legs. Squirrels, white-footed mice and other small mammals are also hoping to find their fair share. But instead of collecting them as trophies, squirrels seek the antlers for their rich deposits of minerals and calcium -- a classic example of recycling in its purest form. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy MASON CITY | An Arizona man accused of forging more than $1,500 in checks at two North Iowa businesses faces criminal charges. William Lipphardt, 25, of Tucson, was arrested Thursday on seven charges of felony forgery. He's accused of using a stolen identity to write $1,553.38 in counterfeit checks in late December at Mills Fleet Farm in Mason City and Fareway in Clear Lake, according to court documents. Lipphardt was arrested in Germantown, Wisconsin, earlier this month. He was booked in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on Thursday on the forgery charges as well as a hold for authorities in Arizona. He remained in jail Friday without bond. Molly Montag The Gorilla Radio archive can be found at: www.Gorilla-Radio.com. G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in State and Corporate media. Gorilla Radio airs live Thursdays between 11-12 noon Pacific Time. Airing in Victoria at 101.9FM, and featured on the internet at: http://cfuv.ca and www.pacificfreepress.com. And check out Pacific Free Press on Twitter @Paciffreepress Mayor de Blasio's plan to ban carriage horses outside of Central Park is far from a done deal: at a hearing on Friday, city council members lambasted the bill for its lack of transparency and the negative effect that it would have on the carriage horse and pedicab industries. Queens Councilmember Van Bramer was the most scathing in his criticism, scolding: "The administration did a piss-poor job here today in explaining their case and defending this legislation." The proposed deal, which de Blasio announced on Sunday in conjunction with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and representatives from the Teamsters union representing carriage horse drivers, would reduce the number of carriage horses from 180 to 95 by October, 2018, when a new stable would open in Central Park. The bill would also ban pedicabs in Central Park below the 85th Street traverse, a twist that has enraged pedicab drivers who argue that this will give carriage drivers a monopoly and effectively put pedicabs out of business. As became rapidly apparent throughout Friday's hearing, which lasted nearly seven hours, there are several problems with the deal as it currently stands. City council members were concerned that the administration could not guarantee the Central Park stables would be completed by October 2018, at which point the numbers of horses would have already been reduced and their current stables on the West Side sold. There was considerable concern regarding the unexpected clause about pedicabs, given that pedicab drivers said they had not been consulted. And animal rights activists would rather see carriage horses banned altogether, though they see the reduction in numbers as a step in the right direction. It was also clear that the Teamsters unionwith whom de Blasio jointly presented the deal earlier this weekis not happy with the deal, but merely sees it as the lesser of two evils when it comes to either reducing or altogether banning carriage horses. "What we have here today is what we call a classic shotgun wedding," Brooklyn Councilmember Greenfield said when addressing representatives from the Teamsters union. "That's what it is. You and your industry is at the barrel of a shotgun and you are forced to come to the altar, and as a result of that you are getting married to folks of different perspectives, and, as tends to be the case in a shotgun wedding, no particular party is happy." Though Demos Demopoulous, the secretary treasurer speaking on behalf of the Teamsters, declined to answer nearly every question thrown his way by city council members, he did say that reducing the number of horses and the number of hours they can be worked would lead to a loss of somewhere between 40 and 50 jobs, representing a 25 percent cut in the industry. When pushed by Greenfield, Demopoulous admitted that no, the Teamsters are not happy with the current deal, but thought it was the only alternative to de Blasio's initial plan to abolish carriage horses completely. More vocally in opposition to the deal were pedicab drivers, who comprised the majority of the 110 members of the public who delivered testimony. Unlike carriage drivers, pedicab drivers are not unionized. "Not surprisingly, we werent consulted a single time by the mayor or by anyone involved in writing the bill," said Laramie Flick, president of the New York City Pedicab Owners' Association. "If there are any perceived problems with pedicabs they should be addressed in a separate bill." When pressed on whether pedicab drivers could pick up new customers in Times Square once carriage horses are banned from that area, pedicab driver Ibrahim Donmez adamantly disagreed, arguing that Uber has taken over more than 75 percent of business for pedicab drivers in the midtown area. The council seemed sympathetic to these concerns, with numerous members expressing support for legislation that would be more lenient on pedicabs. "We close a deal with the Teamsters, but we're opening another front with the pedicabs, and even though they're not organized, they are a large group," said Manhattan Councilmember Rodriguez. After hearing testimony from Mindy Tarlow, the mayor's director of operations who repeated the party line of "trying to strike a balance" between the competing industries in the park, Rodriguez stepped up his support for pedicab drivers, saying, "To ban [them] from south of 85th street is too much. I hope at the end of this process for the pedicabs also to be part of this conversation." The Manhattan District Attorney's office has indicted eleven people accused of impersonating account holders at major banks to withdraw $700K in funds, which they then used to purchase money orders. The group was allegedly helmed by 30-year-old Chester Taylor of the Bronx and 27-year-old Daniel Persaud of Brooklynthough they are accused of operating all over the country, the ring is based in New York, and all 11 defendants are from either New York or New Jersey. According to the DA's office Taylor and Persaud sent "soldiers" on more than 20 trips to JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Key Bank banks. The group allegedly posed as legitimate account holders and withdrew $2,000 to $100,000 in funds; one of the accused, Marie Ferris, allegedly impersonated more than 25 account holders. The funds were then used to purchase money orders through the United States Postal service. The group also reportedly forged documents and identification in order to carry out the fraud. The defendants have been charged with grand larceny, identity theft, and scheming to defraud. Sport Messi, Ronaldo, Benzema and Salah shortlisted for Dubai Globe Soccer Awards The shortlist of top international players and professionals has been announced by the DSC and Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, and football fans across the world can now vote for their favourites in the first round of public voting to decide the winners of the 13th edition of the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. Welcome to Karin's Backerei! I'd love to share with you my favorite recipes, from my native Germany, and my new home in Maine. Baking is my passion, especially breads. But, on the other hand: Life is uncertain - eat the dessert first! This was passed along from Bob B. and also credit to Kevin Sorbo. For me When the State tells you its safe to go to Home Depot to buy a ... PORTLAND, Ore. -- Violent extremism is a chief concern for Americans and a hot topic in the media. But what can average Americans do about it? A panel of Muslims and scholars convened at Portland State University Tuesday night to tackle that question. The event was organized by the Pacifica Institute, a nonprofit that promotes interfaith dialogue and social justice. We boiled the discussion down to three major questions. The panelists were: Abdullah Polovina, imam at the Bosniak Educational and Cultural Organization Salma Ahmad, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Portland Abdul'Hafeedh bin'Abdullah, assistant imam at the Muslim Community Center of Portland Etga Uger, assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington, Tacoma, who studies religion and politics in the Middle East Mohamed Jawad Khaki, president emeritus of the Ithna-asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest in Kirkland, Washington What are the root causes of extremism? Panelists agreed psychological, economic and political factors are more relevant than theological ones. "We have angry people," Polovina said. "They will try to find the words in scriptures and take it out of context to justify their actions." Young people turning to extremism are angry, alienated or disenfranchised, Polovina said, perhaps due to relationships with their peers or families. They turn to the Internet for connection. Extremists are sophisticated recruiters, Uger said, and might spend hundreds of hours on one individual. They build a relationship online, learning about the target's problems and ultimately offer a sense of belonging and mission as an answer. ISIS and other extremist groups have that going for them -- they offer young people a sense of purpose. "Youth are not very into things that are moderate," Uger said. "They want to conquer the world. They want to do extraordinary things." What can American Muslims do or say to discourage extremism? American Muslims need to help their youth build a positive narrative, Uger said, which starts with a good education. Young people should not only be taught the true teachings of the Quran, but also receive a liberal arts education that will empower them to think critically about information they see on social media. To avoid the temptation of belonging to a radical cause, young Muslim Americans need opportunities to belong and succeed in a positive way. They need a dream, Uger said, and they need to believe it's attainable. Mentorship and a positive peer environment are also important, Uger said. Ahmad said she thinks the Muslim community can do a better job of rallying around young people -- especially ones who are going through tough times at home or at school. "Both the government and the community has to have counseling," Ahmad said, recalling a Muslim teen who attempted to bomb Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square in 2010: "If someone had identified that Mohamed Mohamud was lost and he wanted his father back, we could have offered that." Ahmad said local Muslims should also continue to speak out against extremism, as they have done since 2001, so young people know their local community doesn't approve of violence. What should non-Muslims do? Start by examining themselves, said Abdul'Hafeedh bin'Abdullah. "In what way does racism exist in me? In what way does sexism exist in me? In what way does ageism exist in me?" he said. "Are we willing to be courageous and examine ourselves?" Then, non-Muslims should do some research on colonialism and its consequences as well as the systemized white patriarchy of the United States. They should study Islam and the history of its people, bin'Abdullah said, and they should get to know Muslims in their city who are "speaking truth." "We need to begin appreciating diversity," said Khaki. "You have tolerance then acceptance the appreciation. Non-Muslim Americans should also avoid alienating their Muslim countrymen, Polovina said. Given that a feeling of alienation contributes to an individual's capacity for radicalization, he said, making Muslims feel unwelcome will only increase extremism. A Helena district judge on Friday ruled on several of James George Stiffler's motions to prohibit the use of certain information during his deliberate homicide trial. Stiffler is accused of shooting and killing an alleged intruder who was ransacking his home in 2013. The defense motioned to prohibit prosecutors from contending Stiffler was the aggressor in the scenario. "Whether he was or was not the aggressor will be determined by the evidence, and the jury will be instructed accordingly," Seeley wrote in her order. Stiffler's attorneys had also asked the court to not allow autopsy photos to be admitted during the trial, which is set to begin Feb. 1. The defense argued the photos of the alleged victim, Henry Thomas Johnson, are prejudicial and unnecessary. There is no dispute "about the matter of death or the bullet path through Johnson's body," his attorneys wrote in documents. Prosecutors countered the photographs they intend to admit are instructive and needed to explain their case to jurors. In her ruling, Seeley stated, "In the case of photographs of a homicide victim, the Montana Supreme Court has recognized that while such photographs may be gruesome or graphic, their probative value may indeed outweigh whatever prejudice is inherent in such photographs." Seeley wrote that in accordance with foregoing precedent, she intends to determine the admissibility of the photos either in a hearing on the record or during the presentation of testimony. Stiffler's attorneys also asked that prosecutors not be allowed to use the words "arsenal" and "weapon" during the trial. Seeley said the word "weapon" is synonymous with gun, rifle, pistol and their kin and therefore not prejudicial and allowable. "The term 'arsenal' conjures up a more sinister and potentially prejudicial concept when applied to a private residence. The Court sees no need for the State to characterize the firearms in Stiffer's home as constituting an arsenal," Seeley wrote, granting that portion of the requests. Stiffler was charged with felony deliberate homicide in April 2015. The court has set aside two weeks for the trial. Prosecutors say Stiffler shot Johnson in the back on May 22, 2013 as Johnson attempted to flee the home through a window. Stiffler has not denied shooting and killing Johnson but through his attorneys said "he was left with no choice but to fire his weapon." Attorneys wrote Stiffler expects the jury will find the shooting was justified by Johnsons threatening and felonious acts. Stiffler's attorneys filed a request to dismiss the charge, arguing preaccusation delay. It took 665 days for charges to be filed. Seeley ruled no evidence presented supported the claim of prejudice based on lost or diminished memory, nor that prosecutors had delayed charges as a tactical maneuver. Prosecutors say the evidence collected in the case does not corroborate Stiffler's version of events. Stiffler called 911 about 2:40 p.m. that day to report he shot and killed a home intruder, who was later identified as Johnson, charging documents state. Stiffler told investigators that he arrived at his home on Canyon Ferry Road to find the door open, a strange car in the driveway and an unknown man inside. Stiffler armed himself with a pistol from his pickup truck and went into his house. When he saw Johnson heading for the back door, Stiffler told him to stop, according to the account in the affidavit. Stiffler told investigators that Johnson then moved toward him threateningly, and Stiffler fired his pistol. At that point, Johnson allegedly turned and fled out a window in an adjacent room. MISSOULA -- The University of Montana will lay off 27 people -- and reduce 192 full-time positions in all -- on or before June 30, President Royce Engstrom said Friday in a letter to colleagues. "I ask that you show compassion and support to those colleagues whose positions are eliminated or reduced," Engstrom said in the letter. The reductions account for $7.5 million of the "at least $12 million in total reductions needed" for the 2017 fiscal year, according to UM. UM is the largest employer in Missoula. Its budget for the coming year assumes 1,463 full-time positions will be in the general fund. The plan announced Friday cuts 58 faculty FTE (full time equivalent) positions and 134 non-faculty jobs, according to a chart posted on the UM budget communications website. The largest college, the College of Humanities and Sciences, is facing the highest number of reductions, 32.72 FTE, according to the data. The number reflects "open positions that wont be filled, a layoff, hours reduced, or a position moved from general funds to another funding source." In the last school year, the faculty FTE in the college was 300.82. Missoula College will drop 10.37 faculty FTE based on unfilled positions, hour reductions or other changes from 72.47 FTE in the last school year. It will lose 5.42 non-faculty FTE out of 20.58 positions. UM vice president for communications Peggy Kuhr said supervisors have been meeting this week with employees whose jobs will be affected and anticipate the announcements will be complete by the middle of next week. UM officials don't believe any layoffs will take effect before June 30. In November, Engstrom announced UM would need to cut 201 full-time positions to deal with a continued enrollment decline. He targeted specific programs as "challenged" and in need of reduction: journalism, anthropology, English, geography, liberal studies, art, political science, forestry management and several Missoula College programs. Some members of the campus community protested the announcement as an attack on the liberal arts, and some questioned the ability of UM's leaders to protect the flagship university. Others also called the administration's methodology into question in identifying "challenged" programs. Earlier this week, the Montana Board of Regents approved raises for UM leaders, as much as $6,093 for the president. One regent questioned the raises for being classified and presented as "normal" despite a budget situation at that is far from normal, at least at UM. The reductions at UM don't shore up the budget completely, and the administration has discussed the changes as necessary to realign its workforce with its enrollment. Vice president for finance Michael Reid said UM will review its operations, such as purchasing, travel and other areas, to make up the remaining $4.5 million. UM officials have also planned to reduce scholarships by $2 million over the next two to four years. In Engstrom's announcement Friday, he spelled out the plan UM is putting in place, and he also pointed out the "important changes" made in response to feedback from faculty, staff, students and community members. "One was to keep a higher number of graduate assistantships; one was to reinforce the core intellectual capital of our tenure/tenure-track faculty; a third was to uphold the core liberal arts and sciences foundation of the University; and a fourth was to respect the contributions of long-term staff members who might be affected by these changes," Engstrom wrote. In an email to students, the president said UM will continue to offer the courses students need to graduate: "I expect students overall will see little change since, on a per-student basis, we will have more faculty members than we had in 2004, when we had a similar enrollment level." Engstrom pointed out the following as "significant changes" between the proposed and actual budget reductions: The total number of FTE reductions is lower -- 192 rather than 201. Thats because we kept a higher number of graduate assistantships in response to your feedback. Of the 192 FTE reductions from the general fund, 46 FTE are from open lines (unfilled positions). Almost 90 FTE are from layoffs, non-renewal of contracts, adjunct pool reductions or resignation/retirements. The total number of faculty FTE (to be reduced) is greater than proposed, 58 versus 52. No current tenure/tenure-track faculty members will see their positions eliminated. The numbers reflect capture of open lines and decreases in the adjunct, instructor and lecturer faculty pools. Many non-tenure-track faculty members will continue to teach on a semester-by-semester basis. Our foundation in the liberal arts and sciences is protected. Of particular concern has been the humanities. If you add up the FTE reduction associated with programs in the humanities in the College of Humanities and Sciences, it totals 5.5 out of the 58 faculty FTE. Academic program and support program consolidation, reorganization or elimination involved five changes: consolidating International Programs and Foreign Student and Scholar Services; consolidating Academic Enrichment, Civic Engagement, Career Services, and Internship Services; moving Alumni Relations to Integrated Communications; moving the School of Extended and Lifelong Learning entirely to a self-support model; and reorganizing the budgeting and data analysis offices in the Administration and Finance sector. Since we are down to our last few days at this five-week house sit near Alicante, I thought one last trip to Benidorm was a must. If you re... WASHINGTON (AP) In what environmentalists hailed as a victory for efforts to curb climate change, an appeals panel in Washington on Thursday rebuffed efforts to delay enforcement of President Barack Obama's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions until legal challenges are resolved. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order denying requests for a stay that would have barred the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing the Clean Power Plan. The plan has been challenged by more than two dozen mostly Republican-led states, including Montana, and allied business and industry groups tied to fossil fuels. The states deride the carbon-cutting plan as an "unlawful power grab" that will kill coal-mining jobs and drive up electricity costs. Thursday's order allows federal regulation of carbon emissions pending the court's review of the case, set for June 2. Attorney General Tim Fox said in a statement Thursday, "It's unfortunate that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the states' motion for a stay on the EPA's carbon regulations. I am, however, pleased that the court agreed with the states that the case should be expedited. The 28 states and broad coalition of groups that have filed suit against the regulations are considering petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay, which would prevent businesses, state agencies, ratepayers, and energy workers from bearing the burden of regulations that we believe will be overturned ultimately." Obama press secretary Josh Earnest said the White House was pleased with the decision. "We are confident that the plan will reduce carbon pollution and deliver better air quality, improved public health, and jobs across the country," Earnest said. "We look forward to continuing to work with states and other stakeholders taking steps to implement the Clean Power Plan." West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, whose state is heavily reliant on coal mining, said his office will consider urging the U.S. Supreme Court to halt what he termed the "ongoing, irreversible harm" caused by the new federal regulations. Implementation of the rules is considered essential to the United States meeting emissions-reduction targets in a global climate agreement signed in Paris last month. The Obama administration and environmental groups also say the plan will spur new clean-energy jobs. The federal plan aims to stave off the worst predicted impacts of climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions at existing power plants by about one-third by 2030. The plan also encourages further development of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar by further ratcheting down any emissions allowed from new coal-fired power plants. Thumbs down Whether its meant to be a joke or something more sinister, the surge of bomb threats called in to public buildings locally and nationwide has become a serious problem. In our area, the latest string of threats started last week, when they were called in to local courthouses in Helena and Butte as well as the Montana Supreme Court. A total of four recent bomb threats have now been called in to Butte facilities, including the courthouse and a school, and the Associated Press has reported on additional bomb threats against schools in at least nine New Jersey towns recently. None of the threats have been credible, thankfully, but they didnt come without consequences. The evacuations ordered after the bomb threats have resulted in a significant loss of work time for employees and instruction time for students, and emergency responders have wasted a lot of their valuable time investigating the bogus claims. If those responsible for these threats are captured, we hope authorities will make an example out of them to dissuade any would-be copycats. *** Thumbs up Capital High Schools student workers have successfully turned trash to treasure. After obtaining stacks of old pallets from local businesses, the students of Bob Pearces sophomore woodworking class broke them down, removed all the nails and used the wood to build a variety of quality furniture. The students then donated the items to Big Hearts Under the Big Sky, which will auction them off during its annual banquet scheduled for 6-10 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Radisson Colonial Hotel. With help from Montana Outfitters & Guides, Big Hearts Under the Big Sky provides outdoor experiences for veterans, children facing life-threatening illnesses and women fighting breast cancer. And we are proud to see these young craftsmen putting their talents to good use for this excellent cause. *** Thumbs up Speaking of creativity for a cause, Helenas Playable Playgrounds is seeking volunteers to make and donate art to its two upcoming silent auction fundraisers. Abstract, cutting-edge art tends to sell well at the organizations adult-only Zombie Prom, which is scheduled for Feb. 13. The group is looking for more family-friendly artwork, such as pottery, to sell in its Princess Tea Party for moms and daughters scheduled for March 6. Anyone willing to donate artwork is asked to register by March 5. For more information, visit volunteerhelena.org or contact Helenas Playable Playgrounds at playablepark@yahoo.com. An evaluation of city of Helena facilities for compliance with federal accessibility standards will create competition for funding for city commissioners in future years. Recreation Accessibility Consultants of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, found $3,355,622 of changes that need to be made at city facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. When additional, optional improvements are included, the total climbs to nearly $4.7 million. However, city commissioners were told on Thursday that this retrofitting to make facilities such as parks and buildings accessible will have to be phased in during future years. Improvements to the City-County Building alone, which houses offices for the city and Lewis and Clark County, would cost slightly more than $603,000, city commissioners were advised during a meeting that highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing city departments. The meeting helped to educate the two newest commissioners, Ed Noonan and Robert Farris-Olsen, on many of the issues the commission will begin to address this year as it decides funding for city departments. While those future city projects such as for streets and sidewalks will include funds to meet accessibility standards, City Manager Ron Alles said, the city will need to show its making progress on retrofitting facilities to meet the federal mandates. The consultants recommendations will be studied by city officials to find the money to make improvements, Alles said. Improving accessibility to city facilities wasnt the only challenge that the commission and city face, he continued. While noting that the city is in good financial shape, Alles presentation conveyed issues that will call for commission decisions affecting the city budget. Work on this years budget is already beginning, although it wont be presented to the commission for discussion and revision until possibly May. The commission typically sets aside several days as it goes through spending requests and needs of each city department. The current fiscal years budget calls for spending up to $65 million, although the full spending authority is unlikely to be used for reasons that include projects spanning more than a single year and saving by departments to have money left that can be reallocated toward the future purchase of big-ticket items. Expenditures in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, are projected to be $68 million and would include projects and purchases that tap a fund where money is saved for those most costly purchases. A priority for Alles is the water transmission line that taps Ten Mile Creek, which is the citys primary and preferred water supply. The pipe has pinholes in it that allow water to leak, Alles told the commission, adding, We have to get that system replaced. Another priority for him is the replacement of the Front Street stormwater piping, which he said needs to start sooner than later. Converting the citys single bus route into a two-route system that serves more of the city and reduces the time people spend on buses is another issue facing the city. Accessibility improvements to the proposed bus stops are projected to cost $800,000. Helenas fire department had some 4,100 calls in 2015, compared to the roughly 3,000 calls five or six years ago, and managing the call volume is a concern for the city manager. We cannot staff the fire department to the level that some think we should, Alles said and explained there are at least six firefighters on duty with three at each of the two fire stations. While the number of calls is rising, the nature of those calls is changing too, Alles said. While less than 5 percent of calls are for fires, between 60 percent and 70 percent involve emergency medical services, he said. The remainder of the calls involves other issues such as for hazardous materials when fuel is spilled on a roadway as a result of a traffic accident or someone reports the smell of natural gas in a residence or business. The city is evaluating how it can reduce the demand on firefighters instead of responding with three firefighters and an engine every time a call comes in, Alles said. Rethinking how the department responds to some calls, he continued, will allow it to be available for others that may involve a life-threatening situation. Alles said he also wanted the commission to be aware of the future need for a second municipal court and to understand that as police write more citations or make more arrests, that creates greater demand on the city attorneys office and ultimately the city court system. The city is seeking a grant to hire a person to work with crime victims, which would remove this duty from other of the city attorney office staff. There are 309 full-time equivalencies on the city payroll, although some of these positions could be filled by part-time staffing. Some openings in city staffing are slated to go unfilled in the coming fiscal year. The current budget included no cost of living adjustment for employees, although new city employees, who start at 80 percent of what the position actually pays, see incremental increases in their first four years to bring them up to the positions full wage. I argue that we run ourselves much like a business, Alles said and added, I think our profit is measured on the service delivery side. BILLINGS -- On the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, abortion-rights supporters said Friday in Billings they need to continue to fight restrictions on reproductive services, particularly in rural areas. Ending access to abortions will not end abortions. It will end access to safe and legal abortions with medical assistance, Martha Stahl, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said at a small gathering at the Billings Public Library. Stahl was joined by two state Democratic legislators from Billings, Reps. Jessica Karjala and Kathy Kelker, for a roughly 15-minute news conference in the Royal Johnson Community Room in the library. A womans right to choose should not depend on other peoples approval, and it should not depend on where she lives, Karjala said. Roe v. Wade is the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision issued on Jan. 22, 1973, that secured abortion rights for women. Abortion is a deeply personal decision," Kelker said. "It cannot and should not be made by anyone but the woman, perhaps her family and her physicians." The speakers blasted a Texas law, House Bill 2, that would impose severe restrictions on abortion providers, including a requirement that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital that provides ob/gyn services and is located no more than 30 miles away. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear a challenge to the law in March. Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, came under fire last summer when a pro-life group's video surfaced of a top official purportedly discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Supporters say the video was unfairly edited, but the backlash was large enough to provoke action. The Republican-controlled Congress approved a largely symbolic measure to defund Planned Parenthood in December, which President Barack Obama later vetoed. In Montana, Planned Parenthood has five clinics in four cities: Billings, Missoula, Helena and Great Falls. In the past year, the organization had at least two reported cases of arson at clinics nationwide and a shooting at a Colorado Springs, Colorado, clinic that left two dead. The group will continue providing medical care for women, including birth control, cancer screening, abortion counseling and other services, Stahl said. At Planned Parenthood, we will never back down, and we will never shut our doors, she said. Air raids killed scores of people over the past 24 hours in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir al-Zor in northern and eastern Syria, which are mostly controlled by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) combatants, a monitoring group said on Saturday. Air strikes carried out by Russian or Syrian warplanes killed at least 29 people in the town of Khasham near the city of Deir al-Zor on Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The death toll in two other towns near Deir al-Zor reached 44, in strikes also carried out by Russian or Syrian warplanes the day before, it said. In Raqqa city, ISILs de facto capital in Syria, at least 32 people were killed. Russian jets have been bombing around Deir al-Zor as Syrian pro-government forces clash with ISIL fighters, who control most of the province. The group has besieged remaining government-held areas of the city since last March and last week launched new attacks. In Raqqa, Russian warplanes have been bombarding ISIL positions. Jets from a U.S.-led coalition have separately struck the group in both Raqqa and Deir al-Zor provinces. The United States says most of Russia's airstrikes in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are targeting non-ISIL groups in the west of the country, including foreign-backed fighters. Reuters DECATUR Some Millikin University business students are ready for the spring semester to start after spending the past week learning a new approach to consulting work in a case study about a large retailer. Five groups were given four days during a January immersion course to research as much information as possible about Ann Taylor and present their ideas Friday to a panel of judges for opportunities to help the women's fashion stores succeed and grow in a global market. The thought process for the project was different than developing a business plan, said Nate Trout, a senior from Highland. Trout's group suggested the company focus on fixing basic issues, laying a foundation for being able to successfully expand sales in other parts of the world. This was a consulting gig, Trout said. We want to go in and be able to tell them something that they don't know already. Students used an approach professor Mark Munoz detailed in a Managerial Forensics book published this year and taught to a class for the first time. Munoz, interim dean of the Tabor School of Business, co-authored the book with Diana Heeb Bivona, an adjunct professor and the owner of an international business and management consulting firm who was one of the judges for the presentations. Other judges included business consultant Myung Kim of Decatur, Antonio Varela of Caterpillar Inc. and Jonan Tiarks from Land of Lincoln Credit Union. Managerial forensics is about providing solid evidence to highlight turnaround strategies, Munoz said. One of the biggest challenges was gathering information in such a short a period of time, said Stephanie Williams, a senior from Decatur. Given more time, Williams would have liked to have been able to contact the company to get their perspective rather than rely on information they could search for mostly from Internet sources. It made us realize we had to back what we thought with evidence, Williams said. It was an interesting style as it brought in the marketing side. Part of the class were students from Paris, France studying at Millikin for the school year. Jeremy Li had never heard of the Ann Taylor brand but came away with an optimistic outlook for its future, suggesting the company could do things such as focus on brand image and improve customer service. Cassandre Menage said each of the groups came to different conclusions based on similar information they found, which made the approach interesting to learn about. Clement Leroux said he benefited from being able to work with other members of his group, which is the kind of teamwork he said will be needed in a business setting. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The Arkansas-Louisiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and two church members filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against an Arkansas city that says the group must obtain a permit to go door-to-door evangelizing and seeking donations. The city of White Hall, about 40 miles south of Little Rock, passed a 2014 ordinance requiring most solicitors to obtain a permit before knocking on the doors of private residents. The city created exceptions for political canvassers, but the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Pine Bluff says White Hall did not create an exception for religious groups. "The requirement that a person pass a discretionary and standardless review process as a pre-condition for exercising the protected right to engage in religious speech violates the First Amendment," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit claims the ordinance violates the group's constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion. It said a major tenant of the church is spreading the gospel of Jesus. Students and staff of the Literature Evangelism Program at the Adventist-affiliated Ouachita Hills College were told by White Hall officials that they would need a permit for a planned outreach to residents last month. The group then rescheduled its outreach effort for the college's spring break in April and asked city officials to reconsider their stance. Todd McFarland, associate general counsel for the conference, said the city's attorney, Tom Owens, hasn't responded to the group's emails and phone calls. Owens didn't respond to a message The Associated Press left at his law office seeking comment on the group's lawsuit Tuesday. "We've had several communities push back on us in regards to this issue, but usually we've been able to work this out," McFarland said. "And we tried to do that in White Hall. But what do you do when the attorney won't return your phone calls?" After the Seventh-day Adventists filed a lawsuit over a similar ordinance in Alabaster, Ala., the two sides reached a settlement and the city its solicitation laws. The lawsuit over the Arkansas ordinance alleges it places an overly broad restriction on speech, levees an unfair tax on that speech with the permit application fee and vests too much power in city officials to decide when permits will be granted or denied based on unclear terms of something being a nuisance. The conference also alleges that the restriction violates Arkansas' Religious Freedom Restoration Act passed last year. IRBIL, Iraq (AP) The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been reduced to a field of rubble, yet another victim of the Islamic State group's relentless destruction of ancient cultural sites. For 1,400 years the compound survived assaults by nature and man, standing as a place of worship recently for U.S. troops. In earlier centuries, generations of monks tucked candles in the niches and prayed in the cool chapel. The Greek letters chi and rho, representing the first two letters of Christ's name, were carved near the entrance. Now satellite photos obtained exclusively by The Associated Press confirm the worst fears of church authorities and preservationists St. Elijah's Monastery of Mosul has been completely wiped out. In his office in exile in Irbil, Iraq, the Rev. Paul Thabit Habib, 39, stared quietly at before- and after-images of the monastery that once perched on a hillside above his hometown of Mosul. Shaken, he flipped back to his own photos for comparison. "I can't describe my sadness," he said in Arabic. "Our Christian history in Mosul is being barbarically leveled. We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land." The Islamic State group, which broke from al-Qaida and now controls large parts of Iraq and Syria, has killed thousands of civilians and forced out hundreds of thousands of Christians, threatening a religion that has endured in the region for 2,000 years. Along the way, its fighters have destroyed buildings and ruined historical and culturally significant structures they consider contrary to their interpretation of Islam. Those who knew the monastery wondered about its fate after the extremists swept through in June 2014 and largely cut communications to the area. Now, St. Elijah's has joined a growing list of more than 100 demolished religious and historic sites, including mosques, tombs, shrines and churches in Syria and Iraq. The extremists have defaced or ruined ancient monuments in Nineveh, Palmyra and Hatra. Museums and libraries have been looted, books burned, artwork crushed, or trafficked. "A big part of tangible history has been destroyed," said Rev. Manuel Yousif Boji. A Chaldean Catholic pastor in Southfield, Mich., he remembers attending Mass at St. Elijah's almost 60 years ago while a seminarian in Mosul. "These persecutions have happened to our church more than once, but we believe in the power of truth, the power of God," said Boji. He is part of the Detroit area's Chaldean community, which became the largest outside Iraq after the sectarian bloodshed that followed the U.S. invasion in 2003. Iraq's Christian population has dropped from 1.3 million then to 300,000 now, church authorities say. At the Vatican, spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi, noted that since the monastery dates back to the time Christians were united, before the break with Orthodox and Catholics, the place would be a special one for many. He said it was the first news he had had of the destruction. "Unfortunately, there is this systemic destruction of precious sites, not only cultural, but also religious and spiritual. It's very sad and dramatic," Lombardi said. The destruction of the monastery is a blow for U.S. troops and advisers who served in Iraq and had tried to protect and honor the site, a hopeful endeavor in a violent place and time. Suzanne Bott, who spent more than two years restoring St. Elijah's Monastery as a U.S. State Department cultural adviser in Iraq, teared up when the AP showed her the images. "Oh no way. It's just razed completely," said Bott. "What we lose is a very tangible reminder of the roots of a religion." Army reserve Col. Mary Prophit remembered a sunrise service in St. Elijah where, as a Catholic lay minister, she served communion. "I let that moment sink in, the candlelight, the first rays of sunshine. We were worshipping in a place where people had been worshipping God for 1,400 years," said Prophit, who was deployed there in 2004 and again in 2009. "I would imagine that many people are feeling like, 'What were the last 10 years for if these guys can go in and destroy everything?'" said Prophit, a library manager in Glenoma, Wash. This month, at the request of AP, satellite imagery firm DigitalGlobe pulled a series of images of the same spot from their archive of pictures taken globally every day. Imagery analyst Stephen Wood, CEO of Allsource Analysis, reviewed the pictures for AP and identified the date of destruction between Aug. 27 and Sept. 28, 2014. Before it was razed, images show a partially restored, 27,000-square-foot religious building. Although the roof was largely missing, it had 26 distinctive rooms including a sanctuary and chapel. One month later, "the stone walls have been literally pulverized," said Wood. "Bulldozers, heavy equipment, sledgehammers, possibly explosives turned those stone walls into this field of gray-white dust. They destroyed it completely," he said. "There's nothing to rebuild." The monastery, called Dair Mar Elia, is named for the Assyrian Christian monk, St. Elijah, who built it between 582 and 590 A.C. It was a holy site for Iraqi Christians for centuries, part of the Mideast's Chaldean Catholic community. Here's the News. All the news worth reading. (To me anyway) Note that this is a news clippings blog. Articles (mainly from Straits Times) are NOT written by me. Due to spam comments, comments are now moderated. Please read "This Blog" and "Before you comment". U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States and Turkey were prepared for a military solution against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria if a political settlement was not possible, amid uncertainty over scheduled peace talks. The latest round of Syria peace talks are planned to begin on Monday in Geneva but are at risk of being delayed partly because of a dispute over who will comprise the opposition delegation. "We do know it would better if we can reach a political solution but we are prepared ..., if that's not possible, to have a military solution to this operation in taking out Daesh," Biden said at a news conference after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for ISIL combatants who hold parts of Syria. A U.S. official clarified that Biden was talking about a military solution to ISIL, not Syria as a whole. The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition has meanwhile ruled out even indirect negotiations unless Damascus takes steps including a halt to Russian air strikes. Biden said he and Davutoglu also discussed how the two NATO allies could further support Sunni Arab rebel forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad. Saleh Muslim, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, the main Kurdish political grouping in Syria, said on Friday the Syria peace talks would fail if Syrian Kurds are not represented. While the United States draws a distinction between Kurdish Democratic Union Party, whose fighters it supports, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, Davutoglu reiterated the Turkish position that the democratic union party's military wing is part of and supported by the PKK. The Kurdish Democratic Union Party's military wing, the People's Protection Units, has seized swathes of Syria from ISIL with the help of U.S.-led strikes and declared it an autonomous administration, to Ankara's chagrin. Davutoglu said on Saturday the party had become an increasing threat to Turkey. Ankara has fought a decades-long insurgency against Kurdish PKK separatists which in July reignited into a violent confrontation with Turkish security forces. Biden strongly criticized the PKK, which is designated a "terrorist" organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. "ISIL is not the only existential threat the PKK is equally a threat and we are aware of that," Biden said. "The PKK has shown no desire or inclination to do that [live in peace]. It is a terrorist group plain and simple. And what they continue to do is absolutely outrageous, he said. Reuters We approach the semi-dilapidated dormitory in the Armavir Province village of Lernagog. The building looks like it was bombed a few days ago. Some of the walls have collapsed and the roof ominously sways. A huge crack traverses whats left of the building. The only evidence that people actually live here is the laundry hung out to dry on the second floor balcony. Just one family lives on the second floor. The other rooms lack doors and windows. The building is full of trash and dirt. Are you surprised that anyone lives her? asks Norvart, a mother of three, casting a cold glance our way. I dont answer. The woman voice takes on an even ruder tone. She invites us in. There are two young neighbors with us. Even their presence does nothing to suppress the womans mocking words and her pent-up anger. Norvart has just returned from the post office to pay the electricity bill. Norvarts mother gave her the money. She was still 2,000 AMD short. Norvart escorts us to the sitting room, or, as she says, what passes for one. The family has lived in the dorm for the past two years. Previously, the family lived rent free in a private house in the village. The landlord later sold it and the family was put out. They went to the village mayor, asking that he at least allocate them one room in the dormitory. Its better than living on the street, says Norvart. That is if you call this living, she adds. Weve been conversing for ten minutes or so. I try not to ask too many questions. Norvart responds in curt fashion. Her gaze never leaves my face. Shes placed six green teacups side by side in the dinner service cabinet. Theres nothing else in the cabinet. The room doesnt get much light from outside since the windows are covered in plastic and have a layer of black grime from the stove. Six year-old Erik stands near the entrance to the room, holding an enamel pot. Hes looking at us. The enamel has long since worn away. Eriks brother, eight year-old Argisht, breaks off large chunks of lavash while watching TV. Ten year-old Tigran, the other brother, sits on the bed. Hands cupping his chin, he listens to what his mom is saying. I ask Norvart to come with me out on the balcony to talk. I dont want the kids to hear our conversation. She refuses and coarsely adds, I have nothing to hide. They know everything. Norvarts had a difficult life, leaving her with a cold exterior. Inside, though, shes fragile and sensitive. I wait for her to express that sensitivity. What? You think Im a strong person because I endure all this? she says. Our conversation then settles down and Norvarts initial mistrust gradually fades. We snatch days from God and live here Norvart Ghazaryan, 32, was born in Lernagog and married in the village. Martiros, her husband, left for Russia eight months ago to work. Before leaving he had some painful dental surgery that caused him terrible headaches. Norvart says her husband cant even make enough in Russia to pay for the fare back to Armenia. She doesnt have any money to send him. Norvart, a hairdresser by trade, doesnt work. She describes her three sons as rambunctious boys and shes afraid to leave them alone in the building where, as she says, danger lurks all around. Shed definitely work if there was someone to watch over the boys. The family survives on a monthly 35,000 AMD ($72) child assistance stipend. Most of it goes to the local food store to pay off the debt owed. An adjacent room, where theres a double bed, also serves as a shower and kitchen. There are no washing facilities or toilets in the building. The wood stove is used not only to cook meals but to heat water for bathing and laundry. The boys and I collect stuff to burn. We get by until this blasted winter ends. We burn everything; brushwood, clothes, even shoes. We burn everything except people, Norvart says. The boys are a big help, she says. They fetch water from the spout in the yard for laundry and bathing. Like other village residents, the family purchases drinking water. The boys school attendance has been spotty. Sometimes they dont have appropriate clothes or shoes. A neighbor told us that Norvart is even thinking of sending the boys to boarding school. Argisht boasts that hes the best student of the three. The others take issue with the statement. Norvart smiles for the very first time. Tigran and Erik say they want to become policemen. Argisht dreams of becoming a boxer. We all smile. The building sways when the strong winds blow. The boys say they grown used to the movement. This is no place to live. We are here simply in order not to sleep outside. We snatch days from God and live here. Norvarts relatives support the family. They bring food preserves and clothes for the boys. If it wasnt for that assistance, I dont know what our situation would be, says Norvart, looking down from the balcony. You see how we live. What more can I say? the mother asks. I have no answer. Ive given up all hope, Norvart adds. Its only now that I understand Norvarts coarse manner of talking. Shes direct and to the point. There are no theatrics here, no crying about their lot in life. The building has become a refuge for stray dogs. People and animals seem to live harmoniously. This understanding doesnt include the foxes and wolves roaming about in the winter or the snakes and scorpions hiding out in the summer. Im raising three future soldiers. Do you see what conditions we live in? If you can call this living, says Norvart, this time looking away. Laurel White Laurel White covers technology and writes features on music, craft beer and culture for The Capital Times. She joined The Capital Times in 2014, having previously covered politics, agriculture and arts at Wisconsin Public Radio. She graduated with her master's in public affairs reporting from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in 2014. Jolynne Roorda is a co-founder of Arts + Literature Laboratory on 2021 Winnebago St. The grand opening is Saturday night. 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. Its a model that the Madison Metropolitan School District is planning to implement at two schools starting next school year, in another effort to address the persistent achievement gap between white students and students of color. FUKUSHIMA, Japan Morihiko Shimamura has a vision for the future, depicted in a cartoonish community map on his partially biomass-powered truck. In the drawing, solar panels sit atop self-sufficient buildings, as waterways generate hydropower alongside wind turbines, and transmission cables are buried underground. As he drives around this large prefecture, teaching schoolchildren how to make rudimentary photovoltaic cells, the 57-year-old cofounder of an umbrella of not-for-profit sustainability organizations advertises his optimistic vision. But current reality is very different. The landscape here still bears the scars of a 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear reactor meltdown. Piles of black bags containing contaminated topsoil litter hillsides; display panels along an expressway show high radioactivity readings; and some villages remain ghost towns, largely off-limits to residents. I want people to know that the technology, we can make it, and then also we can make by ourselves the energy [and] create the society without nuclear plants, Shimamura explained through a translator. Local officials endorse his plan, in theory. They too want Fukushima to get all its energy from renewables by 2040. Solar panels are already visible on rooftops, in backyards and open spaces, while green enterprises and research institutes are encouraged to locate there. Nor is the prefecture is not alone in its hope to use the tragedy as the catalyst for change. In opinion polls, a majority of Japanese citizens consistently support the goal of abandoning nuclear power while harnessing more renewable energy. Former prime ministers, leading businessmen and a one-time nuclear industry executive are among those urging rapid transformation. Proponents now argue the national energy landscape of Japan has already been altered irreversibly, but that progress could be expedited. Now I know that without nuclear energy we can still carry on peoples lives and also the Japanese economy, former Prime Minister Naoto Kan told Al Jazeera. There are obstacles but in the long term there will be more renewable energy. But a survey of the complex landscape of Japans power industry also reveals a complicated picture remains, with entrenched corporate and government interests resisting a full embrace of renewable energy sources. Panels in a small hillside solar park in Fukushima prefecture operated by Morihiko Shimamura. Joe Jackson In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Kan, then premier, ordered all 50 of the countrys reactors shut down. They had accounted for nearly a third of Japans needs, but required rigorous safety assessments and upgrades. Once a proponent of building more nuclear power stations, Kan announced Japan would instead phase out all its existing plants. Meanwhile the government reengineered a subsidy scheme, called a feed-in tariff, which mandated and incentivized utility companies to buy renewable energy at favorable prices initially 42 ($0.36) per kilowatt-hour for big projects, guaranteed for a 20-year period. The price then declines in subsequent years of the program, funded by a surcharge on electricity bills. Pacifico Energy, a subsidiary of the California-based Jamieson Group, was a newcomer attracted to the rates. The company started Japanese operations in 2012 and has four mega-solar projects (over 10 gigawatts) in the pipeline. You have to go where theres going to be a market, said Nate Franklin, Pacificos Tokyo-based country manager. Japan was very aggressive wanting to procure renewables and solar, and so that really was the driver. The tariff has achieved some of its aims; by April 2015, Japan had added nearly 88 GWs of renewable energy capacity, though only around a fifth was operational. Meanwhile, solar generation contributed to about 10 percent of the peak power supplies in Japan last summer, equivalent to more than 10 nuclear reactors. However, growth has come almost exclusively in solar. Other renewables have barely budged, due to overly long and stringent permitting processes, according to analysts. And with tariff rates falling, they note solar growth may slow now too. Furthermore, Japans utility companies have begun blocking access to their still-monopolized grids, claiming they are overwhelmed and solar supply is unreliable, which led the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to review and alter aspects of the scheme, creating further uncertainty. Dr. Yoshiro Owando, director-general of the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, in Koriyama, Japan, looks out over a small solar park and wind turbine, which help power pioneering research into renewable energy. Joe Jackson Yoshiro Owando, director-general of the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute (FREA), conceded some solar installation projects approved were unsound. The institute, part of the prestigious government-funded National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, is pioneering research into solar power storage to help create more consistent output, as well as developing next generation panels. But Owando believes the limits to Japans electrical grid capacity and intra-regional transmission are the real barriers to growth. Things are changing, he added. Many people are saying the mega-solar period [has] ended. Japan is one of a few advanced economies without a fully deregulated energy market: regional utilities monopolize power supply. Among other problems, it also lacks a single national grid; instead, the east operates at 50 Hz, the west at 60 Hz, with conversion capacity limits badly exposed after Fukushima. [We are] a very rich country, we have technology, but we dont have any tools to deploy renewables, said Mika Ohbayashi, director of the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF), established in 2011 by Masayoshi Son, one of the countrys wealthiest men. Long overdue reforms are finally underway, with the gradual introduction of electricity market competition. Residential power customers will be able to choose a provider for the first time later this year, and a total unbundling of the system should happen by 2020. The transmission system has to be neutrally managed, Ohbayashi added. It has to be very much separated from power generation. Other Japanese inefficiencies, such as in construction, also stop solar from expanding. Comparisons show Germany, a global leader in solar power, has half Japans panel installation costs, despite higher labor rates. You can sell the power for more money here, but it costs more to build projects, said Franklin. In 2012 the longtime incumbent Liberal Democratic Party of Japan ousted the Democratic Party of Japan, after three years in charge, immediately altering the energy landscape. The powerful nuclear industry, frozen in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, has since reasserted itself. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe allowed the first reactor to be turned back on last year and has announced nuclear power will account for over 20 percent of the nations needs by 2030, with renewables making up closer to 25 percent. Professor Kenichiro Ota, chair of the Green Hydrogen Research Center at Yokohama National University, believes it could actually take 50 years to create a comprehensive renewable energy network. In that time we need energy resources, so I think partly using nuclear power is very reasonable, he said, though he doesnt favor building new reactors. Ota and Owando, of FREA, believe at most ten reactors can come back online given the new safety requirements, making the governments nuclear ambitions difficult to meet. Meanwhile, critics claim the renewables target is woefully unambitious. We should be able to exceed [that], Owando added. The goal is lower than world standards. [Japan is] a very rich country, we have technology, but we dont have any tools to deploy renewables. Mika Ohbayashi director, Japan Renewable Energy Foundation The reemergence of nuclear angers some in Fukushima. Prime Minister Abe is trying to sell nuclear power plants to foreign countries, to continue on with nuclear policies they should clean up all the radiation first, said Yoshitomo Yoshida, 76, a coffee shop owner in Minamisoma, less than 20 miles from the stricken power station. Critics also claim the so-called nuclear village a term applied to the various intersecting groups with an interest in the industry has deliberately thwarted renewables progress, through things like grid access refusal and misrepresenting costs. [Theres] a community that gets profit from nuclear energy, Kan, the former prime minister, told Al Jazeera. In order to protect their right, theyre trying strongly to revive nuclear energy. They are strongly against the progress of renewable energy. The Abe government has also announced plans to build 41 new coal-fired power plants over the next decade, claiming they are needed to meet demand and counter costly imports of natural gas and rising consumer energy bills. This is the worst policy of Prime Minister Abe, added Kan. Ohbayashi, of JREF, also called the plan crazy given Japans already-rising CO2 emissions. She said Japanese officials at the recent COP21 climate change talks were conspicuously silent and thinks Tokyo will fail to meet the mandates set in Paris without a rethink. Japans energy policy, especially the renewable energy policy, is quite behind the other advanced renewable energy countries policies. The entrance to FujisawaSST, a sustainable smart town being built by a collaboration of 19 companies in Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo, Japan, where planners hope the community will emit 70 percent less CO2. Joe Jackson Despite resistance, parts of the private sector believe public attitudes have changed. An hour south of Tokyo by commuter train, a community is emerging that resembles the mural on Shimamuras truck. Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town, a collaboration of 19 companies, sprawls over a 47-acre former Panasonic factory site. More than 200 of the 1,000 planned housing units have been completed, as well as some commercial areas. The site, to be finished by 2018, aims to use 30 percent renewable energy and cut CO2 emissions by 70 percent through solar panels, storage batteries and energy-saving equipment, while reducing water consumption by 30 percent. A central office gathers household energy usage data that it shares with residents monthly. At first, I didnt think that much [about energy use], admitted resident Yuko Ogata, 38, cradling her infant son at the community playground. But once I started living here I think I have to save more power. Households elsewhere are taking matters into their own hands independently. Kevin Meyerson, 52, a retired online entrepreneur, has constructed a certified Passive house a style that meets high levels of energy efficiency in Karuizawa, 80 miles northwest of Tokyo. He claims the property, featuring arm-length wall insulation, triple-glazed windows and a naturally ventilating heat exchange system, is the most advanced in the nation. Meyerson sells surplus power from rooftop panels back to the grid, while lowering his bills through efficiencies. He sees these kinds of incentives, coupled with electricity market deregulation and other coming reforms, as powerful drivers of renewables. The political system is fighting it, but theres the opposite pressure because they opened up Pandoras box and allowed people to invest in renewable power and get a reasonable return, he said. So its just a matter of time now. Opponents of a bill that would allow the excavation of some Indian mounds rally Jan. 12 outside the Capitol. Several hundred people, many who came on buses from throughout the state, attended the outdoor demonstration opposing an Assembly bill that would allow property owners partial excavation rights to determine whether human remains exist in mounds on their land. If burial remains were found, the mounds would maintain their protected status. Opponents of the legislation contend that allowing excavation defeats the purpose of mound preservation. JOHN HART/State Journal Madisons startup community is a growing economic engine, providing more than 800 jobs and bringing in more than $66 million from investors in 2015 alone. The annual survey by Capital Entrepreneurs shows some impressive gains, said Forrest Woolworth, a co-founder of the networking organization. Of 57 young companies that responded to the survey about their 2015 achievements: They created 215 full-time jobs, up from a net increase of 175 full-time jobs in 2014. They now employ more than 675 full-time and 165 part-time workers, compared with 500 full-time employees a year ago. They raised $66.5 million in outside financing, a jump from $44 million raised in 2014. Fifteen companies drew $1 million or more from investors in 2015, up 50 percent over the prior year. EatStreet, a mobile and online restaurant ordering tool, got $15 million, the largest investment. Woolworth said the results were surprising. I thought last years numbers, as far as job creation and funding raised, were really strong, he said. With investment running 50 percent higher than the year before, that raises the bar and prompts the question: Can we maintain this level? Woolworth said. For the third straight year, tech startups have raised at least $40 million, and two were acquired. Social media marketing firm Shoutlet was purchased by Spredfast, of Austin, Texas, and Quickstep Technologies, with a fast way to process data, became part of Pivotal, of Palo Alto, California. Terms of the deals were not announced. Two industry clusters began to come together last year with new meetup groups formed: health IT (information technology) and digital game development. They tie us together as an industry more, said Woolworth, who also is chief operating officer of game development company PerBlue. He said food tech came to the forefront, too. The survey shows the startup economy in the Madison area is not just a fluke. There is success happening, he said. This is an actual foundation thats emerged and is becoming stronger. Efforts, meanwhile, are advancing to provide an entrepreneurial hub, known as StartingBlock, which will include the gener8tor business accelerator, Sector67 maker space and Capital Entrepreneurs. Slated to be built in the 800 block of East Washington Avenue, with groundbreaking anticipated before the end of this year, StartingBlock plans to start by providing some interim space as early as June, executive director Scott Resnick said. We are touring spaces this week, Resnick said. We have narrowed our search to several spaces between East Washington and the Capitol Square. He said StartingBlock hopes to be able to house three to seven companies when the temporary facility is available. Having a physical presence for startup activity will boost the entrepreneurial climate further, Woolworth said, and will act as a beacon to attract entrepreneurs in Madison and outside of the city, at the national level. Both Woolworth and Resnick caution, though, a lot more is needed for the entrepreneurial ecosystem to flourish. Though many great things are happening in the Madison startup world, its still relatively small and fragile, Woolworth wrote in his 2015 summary. Resnick said Madison will move into a new tier of startup communities in 2016. But, he added, Not every startup will make it. Judging by national market trends, Madison will see our own growing pains in 2016, but we have a bright future with a growing pool of experienced entrepreneurs and solid ideas. To further fuel that community, Capital Entrepreneurs will host the fourth annual Startup Fair on Feb. 3 at the UW-Madisons Gordon Commons, open to UW students and alumni. FUNDS RAISED: Two Madison companies are reporting new investments: Centrose, a biopharmaceutical company, has raised $1.45 million. The company is working on several drug compounds, including one that would enhance the effectiveness of Rituxan, used to treat patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, said CEO James Prudent. Kiio reported receiving $850,000 in convertible debt, which can be turned into equity at a later date. It amounts to a net increase of about $700,000, to be used as working capital, and about $150,000 to retire previous bridge loans, CEO Dave Grandin said. Kiio is developing products to measure and record a patients progress with physical therapy after an injury or illness. Fifty years after a soldiers act of bravery in Vietnam was rewarded with a Purple Heart, the medal was found affixed to an abandoned backpack in Madison, months after its owner discovered it missing from a northern California boarding house. When the backpack was found last month outside the City-County Building, the medal was almost overlooked. But due to the diligence of Madison Police Officer Mike Brennan and Capt. Zachariah Fike of the Army National Guard in Vermont, the owner of the medal, who has no connection to Wisconsin, has been located. Specialist 4 Craig E. Hampton a 69-year-old veteran of Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, depicted in the 2002 film We Were Soldiers lives in California. Somehow, his Purple Heart ended up in Madison. Hampton earned his Purple Heart after being wounded in action on Nov. 12, 1966, during Operation Paul Revere IV while conducting search-and-destroy missions in Chu Pong and the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam. He believes his medal made its way to the Dairy State after it disappeared from a boarding house several months ago, Fike said. Fike, also a Purple Heart recipient, is skilled at returning lost Purple Heart medals which are awarded to members of the military who are wounded or killed in action to their owners. He spends much of his time running the nonprofit organization Purple Hearts Reunited Inc., which he founded in 2012. Purple Hearts are often lost or stolen, Fike said. Purple Hearts Reunited has returned more than 200 of the medals. The organization gets three to five medals a week, while others are purchased from various auction websites. Posthumously awarded medals can be purchased for about $300 or more if they hold historical value, said Fike, who tries to get as many of those medals as possible and return them to families. After Hamptons medal was found in Madison on Dec. 9, Brennan, a veteran whose son Josh was killed while serving as a paratrooper with the Armys 173rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan in 2007, was determined to not only locate the medals owner, but ensure it was given back in a respectful manner. Being a veteran, and losing our son, this means the world to me, Brennan said. I know what (the Purple Heart) means and the sacrifice that a person made in combat to receive a Purple Heart you dont just send that in the mail. You dont have them stop by the station and pick it up. Brennan reached out to Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who in 2010 became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam war. Giunta then contacted Fike. Its such a small world, said Fike, who met Giunta at a medal reuniting in Denver. There was something about Sal that spoke to me and I knew I would see him again. Brennan said Giuntas involvement in reuniting Hampton with his Purple Heart is particularly personal, as Giunta received a Congressional Medal of Honor after defending his men in an ambush and trying to save Brennans son Josh, a recipient of multiple medals including three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. When Giunta introduced Brennan and Fike, Fike was not optimistic about finding the medals owner. But it took less than 48 hours to make the connection. We were able to track him down with some help, Fike said. Once we pulled his military record, we were able to identify that this was the veteran in California so we knew where he was. ... The residence that we found had no working numbers, so we called the sheriffs department to go to the residence to pass a note. When deputies arrived at the residence in the Apple Valley area of southern California, Fike said, there was no answer to a knock at the door. Being a small town, neighbors came out after seeing the squad car outside. They told the deputies that Hampton had moved away. Thats when the search for the Purple Heart recipient could have gone cold. The deputies could have given up and gone back to work, Fike said. Instead, they went to the Post Office, which had a phone number for Hampton. Fike and Brennan were able to get in touch with Hampton to let him know his medal had been found. He was very grateful, Brennan said. Brennan and Fike are now trying to arrange a reunion ceremony to return the medal to Hamptons safekeeping. While Fike has been a part of many medal reunions, he said this one will remain special because of the circumstances of the medals discovery and the networking that led to finding its owner, whose son is now stationed at Fort Hood serving in the same cavalry his father had. Its a circle of veterans, Fike said. You have myself, who is a veteran currently serving active duty, a police detective who is a veteran and a Gold Star Father, a Vietnam veteran who lost a medal, and his son who is currently serving. Editor's note: This story has been updated. Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta in 2010 became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. How Big Oil Conquered the World is a brilliant piece of investigative journalism presented by James Corbett, revealing the immense extent to which the oil industry has shaped and is ruling the world as we know it. From farm to pharmaceutical, diesel truck to dinner plate, pipeline to plastic product, it is impossible to think of an area of our modern-day lives that is not affected by the petrochemical industry. The story of oil is the story of the modern world. And this is the story of those who helped shape that world, and how the oil-igarchy they created is on the verge of monopolizing life itself. Corbett carefully details the sordid back story of todays oiligarchy. While most people are well-acquainted with the Rockefeller name, few probably know the true history of the Rockefellers rise to power. Big Oil An Industry Founded on Treachery and Deceit As noted by Corbett, certain details of the Big Oil story are well known. Others are more obscure. The story begins in rural New York state in the early 19th century, with William Avery Rockefeller, an authentic snake oil salesman going by the fictional name of Dr. Bill Livingston. While neither a doctor nor a cancer specialist, Rockefeller, aka Dr. Livingston, aka Devil Bill, traveled the countrys back roads conning people into buying his Rock Oil tonic for cancer a useless mixture of laxative and petroleum that had no effect whatsoever, according to Corbett. William Avery Rockefeller fathered numerous children with three women, and took the name Livingston after being indicted for rape in 1849. One of those children was John D. Rockefeller, who became the worlds first billionaire after founding Standard Oil. As noted by Corbett: When he wasnt running away from them or disappearing for years at a time, [William Avery Rockefeller] would teach his children the tricks of his treacherous trade. He once bragged of his parenting technique: I cheat my boys every chance I get. I want to make em sharp The world we live in today is the world created in Devil Bills image. Its a world founded on treachery, deceit, and the naivete of a public that has never wised up to the parlor tricks that the Rockefellers and their ilk have been using to shape the world for the past century and a half. The Birth of the Oil Industry Another character with a similarly dubious background is Colonel Edwin Drake, an unemployed railroad conductor who managed to secure himself a job with the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company after running into the founders, George Bissell and James Townsend, at a hotel. The title Colonel was bestowed on him by Bissell and Townsend, who thought it might help him win the respect of the locals as he went about the companys business, collecting Seneca oil, which the company distilled into kerosene (lamp oil). His mission was to collect enough Seneca oil to make the business profitable a task that turned out to be more difficult than expected, as mere gallons could be collected using the standard collection methods. Eventually, he tried drilling through the shale bedrock to reach greater reservoirs of oil, and on August 28, 1859 literally the day hed used up the last of his funds the oil began to flow from the ground. And with that, a new industry was born. It didnt take long before homes and factories around the world were using lamp oil refined from crude, and prospectors from around the country flocked to Pennsylvania in search of the black gold. Among them was John D. Rockefeller, a Cleveland bookkeeper who, according to Corbett, had two ambitions in life: To make $100,000 and to live to 100 years old. With a $1,000 loan from his father, Devil Bill, John D. Rockefeller set off to make his fortune. The Standard Oil Monopoly After a series of partnerships and mergers over a seven-year period, John D. Rockefeller eventually incorporated Standard Oil of Ohio in 1870. According to the report: The next year, he quietly put what he called our plan his campaign to dominate the volatile oil industry into devastating effect. Rockefeller knew that the refiner with the lowest transportation cost could bring rivals to their knees. He entered into a secret alliance with the railroads, called the South Improvement Company. In exchange for large, regular shipments, Rockefeller and his allies secured transport rates far lower than those of their bewildered competitors. Ida Tarbell, the daughter of an oil man, later remembered how men like her father struggled to make sense of events: An uneasy rumor began running up and down the Oil Regions, she wrote. Freight rates were going up. Moreover all members of the South Improvement Company a company unheard of until now were exempt. On every lip there was but one word and that was conspiracy.' By the time he was 40, John D. Rockefeller controlled 90 percent of the global oil refineries. Within another few years (early 1880s), he also controlled 90 percent of the marketing of oil, and one-third of all oil wells. His power and influence cannot be overstated at this point. He had an international monopoly on what was to become the most important commodity in the world economy. Following in Rockefellers footsteps were a handful of other wealthy families, including the Nobels, the Rothschilds, the Dutch Royal family, and millionaire William Knox Darcy, who was the first to strike oil in Persia. These early oil barons became enormously wealthy. And as billions of people became increasingly dependent on oil for virtually every aspect of life, they gained tremendous power and influence. However, oil could have been replaced by other resources, were it not for the shrewd manipulation by these early oiligarchs. The Death of the Electric Car, and Other Lucky Breaks The advent of the electric light bulb took a good chunk out of the lamp oil market and temporarily threatened the oil monopoly. But lamp oil was quickly replaced by the need for gasoline to run the two-stroke internal combustion engine, invented by German engineer Karl Benz. In 1888, Benz Motorwagen became the first commercially available automobile, and with that, the petroleum industrys profits were again secured. But even then their ongoing monopoly was not guaranteed. The first electric car had been built in 1884, and by 1897, electric cars were gaining popularity in London. In the early 20th century, 28 percent of cars sold in the U.S. were also electric. As noted by Corbett: The electrics had advantages over the internal combustion engine: they required no gear shifting or hand cranking, and had none of the vibration, smell or noise associated with gasoline-powered cars. Lady Luck intervened again on January 10, 1901, when prospectors struck oil at Spindletop in East Texas. The gusher blew 100,000 barrels a day and set off the next great oil boom, providing cheap, plentiful oil to the American market and driving down gas prices. It wasnt long before the expensive, low range electric engines were abandoned altogether and big, loud, gas-guzzling engines came to dominate the road Watch: Who Killed the Electric Car? Interestingly, the event that made John D. Rockefeller into the worlds first billionaire was supposed to rein in his unbridled power. Hed come under intense scrutiny as his wealth increased and, on May 15, 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court declared Standard Oil a monopoly in restraint of trade and ordered its dissolution. But by dissolving the company into multiple entities, shares of Standard Oil tripled in value, and in a few short years, Rockefellers worth equaled nearly 2 percent of the total U.S. economy. For the oiligarchy, the lesson of the rise and rise of Rockefeller was obvious: the more ruthlessly that monopoly was pursued, the tighter that control was grasped, the greater the lust for power and money, the greater the reward would be in the end. From now on, no invention would derail the oil majors from their quest for total control. No competition would be tolerated. No threat to the oiligarchs would be allowed to rise. The Continued Squashing of Competition While the electric car had been successfully eliminated, thereby securing Big Oil profits, another competing resource was on the horizon: alcohol. Henry Ford designed his Model T automobile to run on either gasoline or alcohol, stating that just about anything that could be fermented could be used for fuel, predicting the future of fuel was wide open to a number of alternatives. However, the oil industry succeeded in eliminating the competition yet again, this time by supporting the anti-alcohol movements and the formation of the Prohibition Party in 1869. While Rockefeller avoided alcohol, his chief concern was not to uphold morality in the U.S. The prohibition served his agenda by creating burdensome restrictions on ethanol producers, and as ethanol became more costly, its attraction as an alternate fuel ceased. Also, as detailed in my previous article about Clair Pattersons fight to eliminate leaded gasoline, once the high compression engine was invented, car manufacturers started running into performance problems. General Motors diagnosed the problem, realizing that the problem originated with the fuel. General Motors tried about 15,000 different combinations of elements to find a solution to the engine knocking. Adding benzene from coal to gasoline was found to work. Ditto for adding grain alcohol. Adding 10 percent alcohol to gasoline raised the quality of the fuel, causing less knocking in the engine. It also had other benefits, including clean combustion, which eliminated soot emissions, and increased horsepower without engine knocking. But as research continued, General Motors determined that adding lead to the gasoline produced an ideal anti-knock fuel ideal mostly because manufacturing the lead additive, tetraethyl lead, would allow them to make the greatest profits. Were they to add alcohol to the gasoline, the oil industry stood to lose a large amount of petroleum sales, anywhere from 10 to 20 percent, depending on how much alcohol was added. By adding lead, the oil industry had a product it could again control in its entirety. So Standard Oil partnered with General Motors, creating a joint corporation known as Ethyl Corporation. Leaded gasoline became the norm, and over the next 80 years, countless people were sickened and harmed by this neurotoxic fuel additive, thrust upon the people for no other reason than it created the greatest profits. Big Oil Secretly Buys Up and Dismantles Public Transportation System In 1936, Standard Oil and General Motors also took part in the reformation of public transportation. Only 10 percent of Americans owned a car, and most city dwellers relied on electric trolley networks. By replacing the electric streetcars with gasoline-guzzling buses, the oil industry secured an even greater foothold within the U.S. economy. As detailed in Corbetts report: The cartel had been careful to hide their involvement in National City Lines, but it was revealed to the public in 1946 by Edwin J. Quinby He uncovered the oiligarchs stock ownership of National City Lines and its subsidiaries and detailed how they had step by step bought up and destroyed the public transportation lines in Baltimore, Los Angeles, St. Louis and other major urban centres [I]n 1947 National City Lines was indicted for conspiring to form a transportation monopoly and conspiring to monopolize sales of buses and supplies. In 1949, GM, Firestone, Standard Oil of California and their officers and corporate associates were convicted on the second count of conspiracy. The punishment for buying up and dismantling Americas public transportation infrastructure? A $5,000 fine. H. C. Grossman, who had been the director of Pacific City Lines when it oversaw the scrapping of LAs $100 million Pacific Electric system, was fined exactly $1. Next came the undermining of the railway system. In 1953, General Motor President Charles Wilson was appointed Secretary of Defense, and Wilson, along with Francis DuPont, Chief Administrator of Federal Highways, set into motion the largest public works project in U.S. history with the creation of the interstate highway system. As a result, railway travel declined by 84 percent between 1945 and 1964, while private car ownership soared, and along with it, gasoline sales, which rose 300 percent in that same time frame. Similar social engineering feats took place in Europe, further securing the future of the oil business as a primary force to be reckoned with. The report also goes into the details behind the gas shortages that sent the U.S. into a financial tailspin in the early 1970s, revealing how the secretive Bilderberg Group, created by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1954, successfully created a new financial system based on the petrodollar a system that granted the oiligarchs unprecedented control over the economy. The Rockefeller Transformation In his day, John D. Rockefeller was a despised man. This all changed when he hired Ivy Ledbetter Lee, who essentially invented the public relations industry as we now know it. John D. was filmed handing out dimes to the poor, and was publicly portrayed as a kind and warm-hearted man. While hokey by todays standards, such simple stunts worked. Yet, Rockefeller needed to go even further to truly gain the publics trust. As Corbett notes: In order to win the public over, he was going to have to give them what they wanted. And what they wanted wasnt difficult to understand: money. But just as his father, Devil Bill, had taught him to do in all his business dealings, Rockefeller made sure to get the better end of the bargain. He would donate his great wealth to the creation of public institutions, but those institutions would be used to bend society to his will. As every would-be ruler throughout history has realized, society has to be transformed from the ground up. Americans in the 19th century still prized education and intellectual pursuits with a remarkable 93 to 100 percent literacy rate. Before the first compulsory schooling laws in Massachusetts in 1852, education was private and decentralized, and as a result a solid grounding in history and science was widespread. But a nation of individuals who could think for themselves was an anathema to the monopolists. The oiligarchs needed a mass of obedient workers The Takeover of Education John D. Rockefellers first great act of charity was the establishment of the University of Chicago, followed later by a $180 million donation to the establishment of the General Education Board. But contrary to what you might think, these acts of generosity were not to further education, but to control and impoverish it. Frederick Taylor Gates became a trusted ally, and in The Country School of Tomorrow, Gates lays out Rockefellers plan for the education of future Americans: In our dream, we have limitless resources, and the people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hand. The present educational conventions fade from our minds; and, unhampered by tradition, we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or science. We are not to raise up from among them authors, orators, poets, or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians. Nor will we cherish even the humbler ambition to raise up from among them lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, statesmen, of whom we now have ample supply. The Effective Strategy That Eliminated Natural Medicine Other oil-backed schemes to mold and reshape the American education system followed, including a scheme to alter the teaching of American history to promote a view of collectivism, as well as a program culminating in the transformation of the practice of medicine. Naturopathic-based herbal medicine was the norm, and Rockefeller set out to shift the medical industry toward using oil-derived pharmaceuticals. To this end, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research was established in 1901, headed up by Simon Flexner. His brother, Abraham, was an educator who was contracted by the Carnegie Foundation to write a report on the state of the American medical education system. His study, The Flexner Report, along with the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Rockefeller and Carnegie Foundations were to shower on medical research in the coming years, resulted in a sweeping overhaul of the American medical system. Naturopathic and homeopathic medicine, medical care focused on unpatentable, uncontrollable natural remedies and cures was now dismissed as quackery; only drug-based allopathic medicine requiring expensive medical procedures and lengthy hospital stays was to be taken seriously The fortunes of Carnegie, Morgan and Rockefeller financed surgery, radiation and synthetic drugs. They were to become the economic foundations of the new medical economy The oiligarchy birthed entire medical industries from their own research centers and then sold their own products from their own petrochemical companies as the cure.' The Takeover of Americas Financial System and the Creation of a Food Monopoly The financial power of these oil industry giants is by now near-unfathomable, but the aim was to control the entire financial system. This was effectively accomplished with the creation of the Federal Reserve, established in 1913 following a secret meeting on Jekyll Island, during which the details were ironed out. Attendants at this meeting included John D. Rockefeller Jr.s father-in-law, Senator Nelson Aldrich, and various banking representatives. Later, in the 1950s, James Stillman Rockefeller, the grandson of John D.s brother, became the head of National City Bank, while David Rockefeller, John D.s grandson, took over Chase Manhattan Bank. Still, they were not satisfied. Springboarding from success to success as they consolidated monopolies across every field of human activity, the oiligarchs ambitions became even larger. This time, their goal was to consolidate control over the very food supply of the world itself, and once again they would use philanthropy as the cover for their business takeover, Corbett explains. The Rockefeller Foundation funded the Green Revolution that led to the introduction of petroleum-based agricultural chemicals, which quickly transformed agriculture, both in the U.S. and abroad. President Lyndon Johnsons Food for Peace program actually mandated the use of petroleum-dependent technologies and chemicals by aid recipients, and countries that could not afford it were granted loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Gene Revolution was next, and as noted by Corbett: The players involved in this Gene Revolution are almost identical to the players in the Green Revolution, with I.G. Farben offshoots Bayer CropScience and BASF Plant Science mingling with traditional oiligarch associate companies like Dow AgroScience, DuPont Biotechnology and, of course, Monsanto, all funded by the Rockefeller Foundation The Final End Game: Monopolizing Life In his usual style, Corbett manages to squeeze in an incredible amount of information in as compact a timeframe as is humanly possible, and I highly recommend taking the time to watch the video in full. What Ive included here is but a summary overview of the many details he brings forth in this fascinating report. Those who are ignorant of history are bound to repeat it, and if this story tells us anything, it is that unless we realize what has been done, well be deceived again and again, because the oil oligarchys end game is yet to be realized if we let them. As Corbett notes in closing: The takeover of education, of medicine, of the monetary system, of the food supply itself, showed that the aim was much greater than a mere oil monopoly: it was the quest to monopolize all aspects of life, to erect the perfect system of control over every aspect of society, every sector from which any threat of competition to their power could emerge But the oiligarchs are not done yet. Their next project, launched in the late 20th century, is almost too ambitious to be comprehended It is about the monopolization of life itself. They have spent decades preparing the path for this takeover and marshaled their mind-boggling resources in service of the task. And the vast majority of the worlds population, still playing the shell game that the oiligarchs perfected and abandoned long ago, are about to fall right into their hands yet again. By Dr. Joseph Mercola From the author: The existing medical establishment is responsible for killing and permanently injuring millions of Americans, but the surging numbers of visitors to Mercola.com since I began the site in 1997 we are now routinely among the top 10 health sites on the Internet convinces me that you, too, are fed up with their deception. You want practical health solutions without the hype, and thats what I offer. 6 Reasons Snapchat Will Own 2016 2016 is shaping up to be a big year for Snapchat, which has already seen massive user growth across a broad swath of demographics, meaning now is a good time for artists to start taking advantage of some of Snapchat's underutilized features. ___________________________________ Guest post by Jesse Kirshbaum of the Nue Agency As 2016 continues to roll, its becoming pretty clear that its going to be a huge year for Snapchat. Even though Ive been a user for a few years, Ive been starting to have a lot of fun on the platform as my community grows and engages more and more. Im noticing a few things I want to share: Snapchat is poised to win this year as it appears to be gearing toward a 2016 IPO. At a 10 billion + valuation in 4 short years thats beyond big business. It took Facebook 8 years to IPO just to put that into perspective. Snapchats engagement is also way up. To give some context back in April 40 million people tuned into the Coachella story. Thats way more than the live stream or any other platform and Snapchat is seeing an averaging of seven billion mobile views per day. The audience is aging up. Meaning, its where millennials have been communicating regularly, but now its clearly gaining more traction in other demos. Over the last year in the U.S., Snapchat added 25-to-34-year-old users (103%) and older-than-35 users (84%) faster than 18-to-24-year-old users (56%), according to measurement firm Comscore. Snapchats own data now peg 12% of its nearly 50 million daily users in the U.S. as 35 to 54. [ LATimes The stories are useful, but direct messages are the best way to use the medium. Its really not about how many followers you have, its all about how you communicate with your community. I personally try to respond to every direct message I get. More so than any other medium. Its a grind but way more personal to me. So hit me up at @JesseKay3000. With that said Snapcodes are completely under utilized. Just take a picture of my Snapcode on Snapchat and it will allow you to add me as a friend. Im surprised this isnt taking off more. Why arent stores putting their Snapcodes on the front doors? Why dont artists have their Snapcodes as their profile pictures? Billboards should include Snapcodes along with tv commercials, print ads, all marketing, because its just that easy to connect with Snapchat. And pulling up my Snapcode at a party or event reminds me of my early days in this game when you beamed youre Two Way info with your new contacts. That was an era. And its just that easy again with Snapchat to connect. JesseKay25 for 25% off expires Feb 18 If you want to learn how to put music in your story, check out this video tip . PS. Get your tickets to Social Media Week NY now! Disclaimer Im on the advisory board and its going to be the best one yet NYC! Use the code:for 25% off expires Feb 18 Anyway, Im having a lot of fun playing the medium and I see a lot of you are too. If you are loving Snapchat and crushing it (aka gaining followers, innovating, gaining traction, breaking ground, putting out fresh content) id love to chat with you. Hit me on the Snap or email me directly. -JesseKay3000 Jesse Kirshbaum. // @JesseKay For more than a decade, Jesse Kirshbaum has been in the trenches of the music business, specializing in securing talent for concerts, tours, and endorsement deals for his various clients and brand partners internationally. He founded NUE, a creative music agency recently named to the Inc. 5000 as the third fastest-growing media company in America, to sit at the center of music, brands, and technology . Jesse is also the executive producer for both the hit digital series #CRWN and The FlashFWD Awards, honoring premierstars in music tech. Share on: